CH 29 :PANCHVATI: SEARCHING SOUL IN SLUM

The elusively named slum panchvati near karamsad village was 2-3 kms away from our hostel. Dr Mehta’s health circle used to work there. As a part of the health circle, we used to go there weekly. The slum was just touching a small dirty pond. (Presently there is sardar patel memorial in place of that pond.)

“So friends, how will you approach the people in the slum?” before leaving for slum, dr mehta asked us all “you first need to introduce yourself in proper manner. Let us play a role. Uma sister, can you please be a slum dweller for a few minutes?”

Uma was a senior student from nursing college and was very enthusiastic lady. She was natural leader of the nursing students. Our pre slum visit meeting was as usual at the small garden of dept of psm.

“Ok sir. This is my home and I am sitting outside.” She said as she folded her legs on the lawn. “Who is coming to my home?” she smiled.

“Yes neh and tapasvi go to her and introduce yourself. Do it as if she really is a lady from slum!” dr mehta asked us.

We both stood up as all other friends of ours watched us. We approached ‘the slum lady’, uma sister. She was not shabana aazmi or something but was very honest about the role play.

“Ben,” started tapasvi “namaste! My name is tapasvi” he turned to me “this is my friend Neh. We both study in medical. (That is what the local public used to call our grand college!)

Uma looked to us skeptically “so why are you disturbing me then? Go to medical and study for yourself. Let me do my home chores.”

“Ben, we are here to teach you people about how to keep healthy.” I said a bit in proud manner.

‘just a minute there neh,” dr Mehta interjected immediately “ you must remember you are not obliging her but rather she is obliging you by allowing you strangers to go near her home. Be more polite.”

“Ben namaste!” I folded my hands made my tone softer and shabana- I mean uma sister- could not help herself from smiling. “My name is neh. May we talk to you for a minute?”

This time uma acted less apathetic to my request “yes please” she said
“We both study in medical near your village. We are here to talk with you and others. We want learn about how you live. We will also run a small clinic here and you and your family can come to us if anyone is sick.” I tried my best.
“You are welcome here.” Said azmi at last. Dr Mehta approved.

Dr Mehta gave us small bag of drugs and we started walking towards the slum. It was 2-3 kms away from our college. It was evening time.

The entry to slum was typical. There was filth and dirt every where on even the main road. Native dogs stared our party but somehow allowed us in as it was not complete dark then! The goats wandering outside were very indifferent to our movement. Dr Mehta and our seniors already had contact with the people of slum and so some of the people greeted dr Mehta as we headed in.

The houses were ill ventilated and mostly were made with mud and stones. There was collection of dirty water here and there. As it was evening, it was time to cook and so sagdis were lit near some houses with thick smoke coming our from the coal. The smell of the smoke filled our nostrils admixed with the smell of dirty waters. Probably there were no bathrooms and toilets in any of the house. The pond near the slum served as a huge open toilet for them. It also provided the luxury of water to wash their clothes.

some men of the community were probably coming back to home from the farms where they worked. some old men were relaxing on hand woven char-pai just at the entrance of their huts. some were seen in groups-relaxing, smoking bidis and talking something to each other. they hardly noticed us. we also noticed some age old grandmas outside their home smoking bidis! this was a strange and striking similarity of page thee celebrities and slum grandmas!

a few mothers were seen with their babies in their hand.they were hardly concerned about the house flies irritating en mass on the nose eyes and mouths of their loved ones. by looking at them, it was horrifying and obvious, they must had not been given bath since days.in schools, we read what mahatma said "uncleanliness is our national disease". this was live demonstration of that terrible fact.

we heard there was no any school or anganwadi! but how any one could forget god? of course there was a small temple of some goddess just at the center of the slum. it was probably the cleanest part of the slum.

Some children were playing on the street. They were first to be disturbed by our movement. As they looked at us, I could see feelings of amusement in their eyes. Some of them started following us. Some ran to walk in front of our small procession. A few dogs also joined their friends. Soon, a herd of children collected around us.

Dr Mehta stopped for a while and turned to children “children, can you all please repeat loudly what I say? Let all of your friends and mothers in kitchen listen to you.” The children were already excited to do something.
“Je khay chana, te jive gana” (those who eat Bengal gram, live more) he shouted the slogan. And the mass of children repeated pulling their vocal cords apart!

“ je khay bhaji, eni tabiyat taji!” (Those who eat green leafy vegetables, have good health) again the repetition was like to break the sky in pieces! ‘How come such a post graduate of medicine shouts slogans on the road? Isn’t he worried of his social status?’ I thought.

“Je khay mag, ena jor ma chale pag” (those who eat green gram, walk with strength) dr Mehta banged the ground with his foot as he spoke “pag” making a thud. The sounds of thump made by small children with their tiny unclean feet filled our ears and I still can hear that!

As we progressed in, other children joined us. The elders saw us with questions in their eyes. From the streets, our circus traveled to a small hut. One school aged boy, probably his mane was ramesh, as I faintly remember rushed to us with some keys in his hand. He was probably son of the head of the community.

The hut was given to the health circle for running the weekly clinic. Some of my senior friends soon arranged the drugs and took out the hallmark of the doctors- the stethoscope!

kp, one of my seniors, was a great enthusiast. He took all the children to a small ground and arranged them in rows. He stood in front of them and asked the children to do physical exercise with him. others sat down in the hut and started the slum clinic as a routine.

This was a completely new experience for us. we had read about true India in our books. This was in front of our own eyes- poor, dirty, illiterate, crowded, un organized, backward… far from the world we came from. It was a different world.

but still, despite all disturbing facts, one striking fact i must remember- the people of the slum were caring for each other. whole slum was probably a single family. if some one was sick, he or she was accompanied by relatives and the neighbors - without any yearly premium paid! like many parts of india, families were joint. no elders were thrown away from their homes however sick or dying they were!

we could see love and affection in eyes of the elders of the community for us.they relied on dr mehta, relied on us unconditionally.

With all odds, they still were making their living. They welcomed us and soon accepted us.

ye mera India! I love my India!