Disclaimer : The story below is fictional and is not inspired by any true incident or person living or dead. If any similarity is found , then it is just a mere coincidence.
(But if you are able to relate this story with some one...You are not a fool. :) :) )
Na-Na to Nano
Cholbe nai .... Cholbe nai !!!.. The astonishing sound was filling up the environment. I was trying to see the scene happening at the center of the crowd. Oh...before the story let me introduce my friend and self.
I am Chirantan Bhattacharya from the very famous news channel – “Parson Tak – Barson Tak”. I am with my cameraman Pankaj Yadav. I am a Bengali by birth and working for this news channel to earn my livings. This is the case with Pankaj also, the only dissimilarity between us is that he is from Bihar. So coming back to the story again.
Yadav (With a pan in his mouth): Bhaiya ji, these politicians are the best contributors in our business. When they are on a strike, our TRP shoots the star. Thank god.....some hunger strike is to sell after such a long time. Till now I was using my camera for capturing birds in the sky and monkeys on the tree and mice in the gutter and ....
Me: Can you just shut up!!! Concentrate on the work dada. We will be paid well if we are able to interview this lady politician. And as far as I know she is fighting for the welfare of Kisaans. Let us try to talk to this lady.
I tried to walk inside the great crowd with an intention to interview the lady. As we were about to the reach at the center some one stopped us.
Person 1(Aggressive mood): Aren’t you able to see ? Didi is on strike and you are going to disturb her…. We will not let this happen!!!
Person 2: Cholbe Nai…Cholbe Nai !!!
Yadav (Equally aggressive) : Bhaiya ji ye kya bol raha hai ?? Kahiye to isko yahin par…
I stopped Yadav and spoke in Bengali that we are press reporters and we want to interview the lady. The person was not allowing us to do so. Finally he told :
Person 1: (Whispering) Dada...amake Rs 100 dao..tobei ami tomake didr interview nite debo
(Loudly: Cholbe nai ... Cholbe nai)
I recalled that our news agency has introduced a new policy of bribe reimbursement, i.e. if we have to pay any bribe to some one then we can get it reimbursed upon producing the bill. As this was my first time, so with a little hesitation, I told the person that I will pay him the amount but he has to provide me a cash memo receipt. I was surprised when I saw the cash memo book in his hand. He told me that earlier also he did received a lot of bribe from other press reporters from various news channels and he provided them the receipt. I was surprised to see the competition between news channels. How much flexible and updated they are with new policies to have more and more news. Anyways, I paid the person and received the bill.
Yadav : Bhaiya ji , You are making donations at this moment also. You are such a great person.
Me : Dada, don’t apply your brain now and let us start interviewing this lady.
We approached to the lady sitting comfortably on a red carpet. We greeted her and asked her for the reason behind her strike. What we received as her answer was not less than a great speech.
Lady: Today is a black day in the history of West Bengal. I am here to help the citizens of this state to fight for their rights.
Me : Can you please explain our audience what are the rights and who are violating the rights ?
Lady: Aree dada… When god created this place, there was water, air, land and every other thing, which are necessary for living. Today some people are trying to acquire our land to set up some factory. Now tell me, do these industrialist have more brains than god?
If these factories were really required, then wouldn’t God had created these factories in the beginning itself? They are trying to violate the organization created by God. To follow the rules and system made by God is our right and we will not allow any one to snatch these rights from our people. Aie factorybazzi cholbe nai…
With this statement of the famous politician, group of people followed her statement
Crowd: Cholbe nai Cholbe nai !!!!
Yadav saw them with boisterous eyes. I signalized him not to get irritated as we this is part of our life. I continued the interview.
Me : Ok Madam, I agree with you as god is the supreme power. But don’t you think that after a factory is settled here then citizens of west Bengal will get employment?
Lady : What will happen if they get employement ?
Me: They will earn their livings.
Lady: What will happen after that?
Me: They will lead a secured life.
Lady: So?
Me: They will have tension free days and nights.
Lady: Baba re… tumi ki pagal acche ???.
The citizens anyways are having tension free days and nights. They sleep all the time, day or night. And these industrialists want to acquire the land where they sleep. Sleeping is our right and we will not allow any one to snatch these rights from our people. Aie factorybaazi cholbe nai..
Once again “Cholbe nai Cholbe nai” echoed the environment.
And as I was about to ask another question, a person with a cash memo register came to me and told me that time is over. As the coverage was very important, I searched my wallet for more. I saw a crumbled Rs 100 note and few coins.
Me (To Yadav) : Do you have some money with you.
Yadav : Bahiya Ji...aaj bhore bhore aap humse udhaar liye the...pehle wo wapas kijiye nahi to lunch karne ka bhi paisa naaa hai humree paas !!!
I maundered and cursed the government for the ever rising inflation. Because of all those rising prices, I was unable to continue the interview.
With that crumbled Rs 100 note in my hand, I and Yadav walked from there looking for some cheap dhaba for lunch.
