रिक्शावाला

Guest Post by Lalit Surjan-


‎'मैं रिक्शावाला, मैं रिक्शावाला 
है चार के बराबर, ये दो टांगवाला 
कहां चलोगे बाबू, कहां चलोगे लाला''
सन् 1956 में बनी फिल्म 'छोटी बहन' में हास्य अभिनेता महमूद पर यह गाना फिल्माया गया था, जो जाहिर है कि एक रिक्शेवाले की भूमिका निभा रहे थे। यह वही फिल्म है, जिसका एक और गाना ''भैय्या मेरे राखी के बंधन को निभाना'' आज तक लोकप्रिय बना हुआ है। 


प्रिय पाठक, भारत में ऐसा शायद ही कोई व्यक्ति होगा, जिसने रिक्शे की सवारी न की हो। और तो और प्रियंका गांधी भी अपने बच्चों के साथ रायबरेली, अमेठी में चुनाव के दिनों में रिक्शे पर घूमती दिखाई दे जाती हैं। लेकिन एक रिक्शा चालक का जीवन कैसे बीतता है उस पर शायद ही कभी हमारा ध्यान जाता हो। अगर कोई सर्वेक्षण करवाया जाए तो रिक्शा चालकों के बारे में सवारियों की राय कुछ बहुत अच्छी नहीं होगी। हम रिक्शे में बैठने के पहले चालक से बड़ी देर तक भाव-ताव करते हैं। यदि बिना रेट तय किए बैठ गए तो उतरने के बाद उसके साथ हुज्जत करते हैं। हमें अक्सर लगता है कि रिक्शावाला लूट रहा है। सचमुच हमारे लिए लूट की परिभाषा कितनी छोटी है! रिक्शेवाला बरसात में पानी में भीगते हुए रिक्शा चलाता है, गर्मियों में सड़क के पिघले कोलतार के कारण पहिया खींचना मुश्किल होता है, ठंड में ठिठुरन से बचने के लिए उसके पास शायद ही कभी पर्याप्त साधन होता हो, यह सब जानते हुए भी रिक्शा चालक से हमारी शिकायत बनी ही रहती है। तथापि मुझे इस बात का संतोष है कि हमारी भाषा में ऐसे लेखक हैं जिन्होंने अपनी संवेदना के तार रिक्शेवालों के साथ जोड़े हैं।


सुधा अमृत राय ने अपने माता-पिता की जीवनी ''मिला तेज से तेज'' में बयान किया है कि लक्ष्मण सिंह चौहान सिध्दांतत: रिक्शे में बैठते ही नहीं थे कि मनुष्य मनुष्य को क्यों ढोए। लेकिन सुभद्रा कुमारी चौहान रिक्शेवाले को हमेशा दुगुने पैसे देती थीं कि उसका शोषण न हो। भिलाई में हमारे लेखक मित्र स्व. कनोजकांति दत्ता ने गहरी सहानुभूति के साथ ''रिक्शावाला'' शीर्षक कहानी लिखी थी। भिलाई के ही दूसरे साथी लोकबाबू ने भी अपनी कुछ कहानियों में सघन आत्मीयता के साथ उनका चित्रण किया है और दिल्ली निवासी युवा कथाकार सुशांत सुप्रिय ने भी।


आज रिक्शेवालों की बात इसलिए उठी कि अभी थोड़े दिन पहले सर्वोच्च न्यायालय ने उनके पक्ष में एक बढ़िया फैसला सुनाया है। इसकी खबर ''देशबन्धु'' के अलावा और कहां छपी, मुझे मालूम नहीं। संपूर्ण घटना ऐसी है कि दिल्ली नगर निगम ने दिल्ली में रिक्शा चालन पर प्रतिबंध लगाने का फैसला किया। वे इसके खिलाफ दिल्ली उच्च न्यायालय में गए जिसने नगर निगम का निर्णय रद्द कर दिया गया। इस पर नगर निगम ने सर्वोच्च न्यायालय में अपील दायर की, लेकिन वहां भी उसे हार का मुंह देखना पड़ा। सर्वोच्च न्यायालय ने स्पष्ट कहा कि वह निन्यानबे हजार रिक्शे वालों को उनके जीवनयापन के अधिकार से वंचित नहीं कर सकता। बहुत से चर्चित फैसलों के बीच यह फैसला खो भले ही गया हो, लेकिन यह सचमुच एक बड़ा फैसला है। 


मुझे ध्यान आता है कि मुख्यमंत्री अर्जुन सिंह ने मध्यप्रदेश में रिक्शा चालकों को उनके रिक्शे पर मालिकाना हक देने का निर्णय लिया था। सुप्रीम कोर्ट का यह फैसला उस भावना को आगे बढ़ाता है और समाज को अपने बीच के एक मेहनतकश समुदाय के बारे में पली भ्रांत धारणाओं को बदलने का अवसर भी देता है। आज जब देश में तेजी के साथ शहरीकरण हो रहा है, खेती की जमीन पर कारखाने लग रहे हैं और छोटे किसान मजदूर बनने के लिए विवश हो रहे हैं तब इस बारे में सोचना पहले से कहीं ज्यादा आवश्यक हो गया है। यह कौन नहीं जानता कि अधिकतर रिक्शे-वाले गांवों से इसीलिए आते हैं कि वहां उनके लिए रोजगार के अवसर नहीं हैं। शहर आकर वे रिक्शा इसलिए चलाते हैं कि वही सबसे सुलभ रोजगार होता है। 


उनके लिए कोई कानून नहीं होता बल्कि वे बिना बात पुलिस की गालियों और पिटाई का शिकार होते हैं। पैडल मारते-मारते उनके पैरों की नसें गुत्थी हो जाती हैं और वे आठ-दस साल में ही वेरीकोज वेन, टीबी और अस्थमा जैसे रोगों के शिकार हो जाते हैं। अपने श्रम का परिहार करने के लिए वे शराब पीते हैं और फिर शराबी होने के नाम पर अलग गाली खाते हैं। इसके बावजूद उनके बिना हमारा काम नहीं चलता। आज भी हर शहर में हजारों बच्चों को स्कूल लाने ले जाने का काम वे ही करते हैं। अपने बच्चों से पूछिए तो उनके पास अपने रिक्शे वाले काका या भैय्या के बारे में कुछ मीठे संस्मरण ही होंगे। मेरी बेटियां कला नामक उस रिक्शा चालक को आज भी याद करती हैं जो बचपन में उनको नर्सरी स्कूल ले जाता था, और वे जब लौटते में सो जाती थीं तो अपना गमछा सीट के आर-पार बांध देता था ताकि वे गिर न जाएं। रायपुर के बैरनबाजार कुंदरापारा में रहने वाले हजारी, जगसीता आदि रिक्शेवाले मेरे दोस्त बन गए थे जिनका ध्यान मुझे अनायास यहां हो आया।


मैं विषय पर वापिस लौटूं। सुप्रीम कोर्ट के फैसले पर मद्देनार सोचना चाहिए कि रिक्शा चालकों के जीवन-यापन और उनके काम के बारे में क्या सुधार लाए जा सकते हैं। 1970 के आसपास नागपुर में बैटरी चालक रिक्शे सड़कों पर देखे जा सकते थे। आधा हॉर्स पावर बैटरी वाले इस रिक्शे की रफ्तार तीस किलोमीटर प्रति घंटा होती थी और चालक को इससे काफी आराम मिल जाता था। मैं नहीं जानता कि ये रिक्शे क्यों बंद कर दिए गए। आटो रिक्शा के मुकाबले ये ज्यादा सुरक्षित भी थे और इनमें प्रदूषण का सवाल ही नहीं था। गांधी जी के पांचवें पुत्र जमनालाल बजाज के बेटे रामकृष्ण बजाज यदि ''हमारा बजाज'' बनाने की बजाय ये रिक्शे बनाते तो अपने व्यापार में बिना नुकसान किए वे खादी आंदोलन की भावना से देश का भला भी कर सकते थे। 


आज जब शहरों पर यातायात का बोझ लगातार बढ़ रहा है, शहरी आबादी जहां प्रदूषण से परेशान हैं और जहां हर पल सड़क दुर्घटनाएं हो रही हैं, वहां बैटरी चालित रिक्शा एक उत्तम विकल्प के रूप में हमारे सामने मौजूद है। जिस तरह दिल्ली में डीजल बसों को सीएनजी से प्रतिस्थापित किया गया, उसी तरह इस बारे में भी सोचना चाहिए। आज बड़े शहरों में दिल्ली मैट्रो की सफलता के बाद मैट्रो स्थापित करने की होड़ लग गई है। निश्चित रूप से यह सार्वजनिक यातायात का बेहतर माध्यम है, लेकिन अच्छा होगा कि इसके साथ सिटी बस सेवाओं को मजबूत करने और ट्राम सेवाओं को प्रारंभ करने पर भी विचार किया जाए। ये दोनों साधन स्थापना और संचालन दोनों लिहाज से मेट्रो के मुकाबले किफायती हैं। इसके साथ-साथ निजी वाहन के प्रति बढ़ते मोह को कैसे रोका जाए, इस प्रश्न पर भी गौर करना जरूरी है। जरा सोचिए कि रेल, बस, ट्राम, रिक्शा ये सब मिलकर किस तरह मनुष्य के एक सामाजिक प्राणी होने के भाव को पुष्ट करते हैं, जबकि निजी वाहन हमें सिर्फ प्राणी, वह भी अक्सर हिंसक व आक्रामक, बनाकर छोड़ देते हैं। 


Author Lalit Surjan is Chief Editor of Hindi Daily "Desh Bandhu" published from Raipur, M.P. His contact:- lalitsurjan@gmail.com


After reading the plights of Rikshapullers,how about reading a satire on autocracies of Autowallas in Bangalore? Read the previous post-
http://srayyangar.blogspot.in/2012/03/bengaluru-auto-services.html

‘Bengaluru Auto Services’

Here is good news for those coming to ‘Namma Bengaluru’ (Hamara Bangalore). No more complaint galore against auto services. ‘Bengaluru Auto Services’ has just launched its operations in the city with professionally trained auto drivers for your riding pleasure without any hassle of arguments & fights! Don’t ask why this one more service to already existing ones. Here are the salient features of our services-

1-      On stopping the auto, you need not tell your destination. Auto driver himself will tell you which way he is going. You just have to hop in if you want to go his way otherwise let him go. If the driver does not like your face, he will not stop the auto but will politely nod his head or with hand signal from a distance indicating that he is not interested in taking you any where. So simple, you see. Happy conversation with the driver en-route.

2-      No need to check or recheck the meter reading. They have been properly tampered with as per our specification from approved shop. You need not pay a single paisa extra.

3-      Our auto drivers will never demand 1 & half times or double the meter fare during night times because they are already tuned to show double the fare from 7pm onwards up to 6 am. No headache of bargaining & argument.

4-      Our drivers have been specially trained to handle women passengers in case of any misbehavior or rape attempt by the driver. Shouting Women passengers or those seeking help from running auto will be done away with or thrown out of the auto. We ensure that number plate of the auto is not easily visible.

5-      Our 24 hours helpline will be boon to travelling public. Just wait for few hours if the person manning the helpline is unavailable. If you find the phone ‘engaged’ or ‘Busy’ like Telephones/Electricity/Gas agency offices, rest assured that the receiver has kept aside the phone and you need not waste your precious time and money on trying the number again and again.

6-      You can also avail our ‘Phone an Auto’ service. Sitting in front of TV set or sipping coffee with someone you love, just call us and our auto will be at your door steps any time as per ‘Indian time ‘habits after your repeated calls to us.

7-      Please note that our autos stationed at designated auto stands will never come any where. They are there to chit-chat or fight with fellow drivers and if at all they agree to come, will be free to charge on their whims & wishes without the meter.

8-      If there is a strike on account of ‘Bandh’ or call for protest against price rise etc, our autos will ply in the public interest charging only 4 to 5 times of normal fare. Share autos would be allowed but every occupant has to pay full amount.

9-      Please visit our website, which are never updated to know our other services. Remember, our motto is ‘Service with a smile on Auto Driver’s face’!

Humpi Through my Camera

Carved Pillar

Balancing Sister Rocks

Beautiful carving on Black Stone

Bangle Pattern

Pushkarni

Humpi Famous Chariot

Rock Formation Found Everywhere

Rocks & Rocks

Balancing Rocks

Sunset at Humpi 2011- Dawn of New Year-2012

                  WISHING YOU ALL A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR.

                                    

                                   

                                  

       
                                        

                               (Photos taken by me during visit to Humpi this year end, Karnataka)

Another Towering Inferno

The devastating fire at the AMRI hospital in Calcutta where more than 90 people have perished once again raises a basic question -Why are we not prepared to handle such calamity where many precious lives were lost in panic and suffocation. There was utter chaos and people inside the building had absolutely no clue to save their own lives. People were running halter shelter to find a way out.Windows & doors were closed. None of the supporting staff had any idea about the emergency exits. Probably they  were also not aware of the water spots, fire safety valves and staircase exits. Doctors & staff were reported to have fled.The worst part was still to come when the fire brigades arrived 2 hours late.They had no high raised ladders to reach out to the people.

For some time now, there would be review of the causes of the fire and about the violation of rules and regulations by the competent authorities. Then the blame game would start to reach a point of no return. The local authority, Hospital management  and the Fire department would put the blame on each other as well as the builder, builder would abscond, common men would be writing ‘letters to the editor’ and finally the life would return to normalcy as if nothing has happened. In Delhi, the ‘Uphar Cinema’ fire case is still struggling to come to a final shape in court even after a decade.The devastating fire at the Carlton towers in Bangalore can not be easily forgotten.

According to the National Building code of India, high rise buildings need to have open space around the building, a proper and continuous pathway to safety as well as should have roof exits in a place which can be accessed from the ground but nothing existed in this case. There seems be no annual inspections of the building either by the fire department or by the emergency services officials. There is urgent need to sensitize the occupant of such high rise buildings to handle such kind of crises. They all should know the emergency exits and working condition of fire fighting equipments. Most of the shops and offices in such building do not feel the necessity of having their own safety measures putting the onus on the builder and owners.

In fact each and every person working in such place ought to know about the topography of the building and security and safety measures. Each establishment should conduct its own ‘mock drill’ at least once a year to ascertain the preparedness of each one. The security and watch & ward staff should be given training to handle fire fighting equipment. It should be ensured that all such equipments are in working condition, refills are not expired and there are adequate water outlets available inside or outside the building. It’s high time that builders must understand that even at the cost of building violations, lives of people working in their building are not jeopardized,   basements are not used for commercial purpose and enough space is left all around the building for the ambulances/fire brigades to enter the building in case of such  misshape.

Random Thoughts

The country is in turmoil. One after another VIP or Minister is going on a trip to jail for a while. Sukhram & Raja are now sharing the same cell in jail to discuss the fallout of telecom matter while the mining baron Reddy brothers & co have a rethink about their offerings to lord Balaji at Tirupati, a diamond studded crown costing several crores  was of any use or benefit? .  Newer and newer scandals are being unearthed.  While people of Andhra Pradesh are struggling to divide the state in to two, Madam Mayawati has taken the lead to divide U.P. in to four at a stroke of pen. Other states will follow with more division. 

This session of popular TV programme  ‘Kaun Banega crorepati’ made many poor  and common man from the street lakhpati and crorepati. So far so good but one wonders , how come in a random selection process not a single rich or senior person  could make up to the fastest finger seat , forget about the prestigious hot seat. Smelling fishy? And what on earth, Swamy Agnivesh doing in Big Boss house for a TV reality show? Poor fellow could not get a better platform for preaching

Baba Ramdeo’s crusade against the corruption and Swiss bank accounts proved to be a big fiasco, while Hazare is going strong despite reported cracks in his team. He is now demanding to pass the bill for ‘Right to recall’ any elected representative. Government is not relenting, rightly so because there are every chance of misuse the ‘right ‘, given the number of political parties and their dirty politics to drag the feet of opponent to gain power. Ultimately the governance will suffer and so also the electoral. In fact Hazare should demand for ‘health certificate’ from all the contesting candidates. Those contesting the election and those governing the country or states must be healthy all the time to steer the country or state from mess it is in. Unfortunately, what is happening with these people is ‘Chest pain’! The moment a CBI enquiry or arrest warrant issued against these politicians, they straight away head for pre- arranged hospital with chest pain or hypertension. Just like yearly appraisal, these politicians must under go medical tests.

Now, MPs belonging to NDA will submit a declaration in parliament stating that they have no foreign accounts. It’s a good initiative with a shrewd move to embrace the government. If really the intention is clean, they should also declare that they have, neither hoarded unaccounted money in Indian Bank lockers nor have any Benami accounts in India. During Emergency days, a slogan was coined ‘India is Indira, Indira is India’. Now looking to the frequent and exclusive visits by Rahul Gandhi to UP makes one think if ‘UP is India & India is UP’!

Politics is a BIG game in our country and each one from ruling party to opposition party,   spiritual leaders to sport players, Kamble’s revelation not withstanding, knows how to play their card at the appropriate time. Relevance of ‘United we stand, divided we fall’ is now out and ‘Divided we stand, united we make a mess’ is in thing. That’s where we Indians stand, in a big mess!

Traffic Management in Emergency

Have you ever observed that in the midst of traffic, whenever siren sound of an ambulance or fire brigade is heard, the first reaction from the public as well as the traffic police will be to look towards the approaching ambulance in amusement to find how far is it from them and how the vehicle is approaching. In this melee, the traffic becomes chaotic making it more difficult for the ambulance or the fire brigade to move forward. It takes some time for the moving traffic to come to a halt and give way to the ambulance. Even in such a situation, there would be some two-wheeler or vehicle driver wanting to go ahead of every one without bothering! The worst part is when the constable managing the traffic themselves becomes the onlooker to the scene. They will be just watching as to how the ambulance driver is able to negotiate and move ahead of the surging traffic jam!

Often the ambulances get stuck at the traffic signals where all other vehicles try to squeeze in to all the available space so as to move ahead as soon as the signal turns green. Unlike western countries, Indian cities can not think of having separate lanes for emergency purpose because the roads are not broad enough. Its time for the traffic experts, police and the transport authorities to evolve a clear cut guideline as to what is the correct procedure to be followed by the traffic constable, public and the drivers of ambulance/fire brigade as the case may be. In absence of any specific guidelines the drivers of ambulance tend to steer the vehicle from whichever side they find it convenient. Other vehicles while giving way move here and there creating more chaos than facilitate.

The need of the hour is to understand the gravity of such an emergent situation by every body. People should immediately act on hearing the siren instead of looking here and there in bewilderment. All vehicles must immediately be brought to the left side leaving the right side absolutely free for the un-obstructive passage of ambulance. The role of traffic constable should be well defined to bring all the vehicular traffic to a halt on to the left side on hearing any siren sound from approaching vehicle. They should ensure that no body (including VIP vehicle) is allowed to go ahead overtaking others until the ambulance passes.

‘Golden hour’ is the key to one’s life and instead of becoming a mere onlooker, let us be pro-active at the first sound of siren on road from an ambulance, fire brigade or even a police van/jeep (provided the last one is not carrying family of police personal to a school, mall or a film show!).