और सनी लिओन हिंदू राष्ट्र की सहिष्णुता है!
https://t.co/9BIVqmpKol के 5 वर्ष पूरे होने पर 'असहिष्णुता की चुनौतियां और सोशल मीडिया' विषय पर आज लखनऊ में सेमिनार https://t.co/q3Z7mlxzZJ
हिंदी में हस्तक्षेप.कॉम एक अनूठा प्रयोग है और अमलेन्दु उपाध्याय इसे अपनी जिद से चला रहे हैं।- अभिषेक श्रीवास्तव
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-1ia5XF40o&feature=youtu.be
#Sunnyleone live#Obama#Maa Kali #Japanese #Tolerance #Business #ISIS#Nuclear#RSS#Aamir #Hindu Nationalism#Governance#Freedom #how much land does a man need#Tolstoy
दो गज जमीन भी मयस्सर नहीं इस जरजमीं पर मरने के लिए?
अपने ही घर से बेदखल लोग फिर कहां रचेंगे घर जीने के लिए?
आज ही कोलकाता के सबसे बड़े बांगाला अखबार के पेज पर फूल पेज जापानी तेल है और एनाटामी,बायोलाजी,सेक्सिओलाजी का खुल्ला इजहार है।पुत्रक प्रकरण का किस्सा शाश्वत है प्रिंट और इलेक्ट्रानिक मीडिया में।थ्रीजी फोर जी पर देवर भौजी के तमामो रसीले वीडियो व्हाट्स अप है और रोज इस मुल्क के चप्पे चप्पे पर बलात्कार सुनामी है और कत्लेआम है।यही मुक्तबाजार है।
STORY "how much land does a man need" : LEO TOLSTOY (english)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idrclExyfoM
जाहिरे हैं कि समूचा बालीवूड और दुनियाभर की मेधा उनके काम और बिजनेस के आगे दो कौड़ी की भी नहीं,हिंदू विरोधी और राष्ट्रविरोधी है और सनी लिओन हिंदू राष्ट्र की सहिष्णुता है!
बीडी शर्मा की मौत हो गई और आसमान में धान बोने वाले विद्रोही कवि भी चले गए। दोनों फकीर थे। इन्हें याद करते हुए महसूस होता है कि इस जमाने में भी फकीर होते हैं।अब बाकी लड़ाई हमारी है।
বাংলার ছেলেমেয়েরা ভিক্ষে করিবে না!
বলির পাঁঠা পাঁঠি বুঝিবে না মুদিখানা রম রম কালীর বর
সেই বর,ভূতের রাজা দিল বর,তিন বর জব্বর
গুন্ডামি যত রকম,মাফিয়া রাষ্ট্র,সন্ত্রাস
প্রভূ কহিলেন হাঁকি,ভূত প্রেত এবে করিব ধ্বংস
Obama vs ISIS: President's Oval Office address tries to ease anxiety over terrorism
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78kmR7J9Vq0
Obama's National Address on Keeping America Safe *Edited for Accuracy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OsdWwLvSRa4
प्यारे अफजल! Chemistry of Love!Physics of Crime!Phenomenon of Mafia Raj across the borders!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4b8FVaNytc
पाकिस्तान की इस बच्ची ने जो कहा है उसे जरूर सुनें!# Oil War#IMF#World Bank #Mandal VS #Kamandal
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkefnIAXJds
# CALIBAN# Mandate#ISIS Execution#Pay Scales #Manto# Reforms# Tempest# Avatar#Toba Tek Singh
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuUFYDhqOLo
হোয়াইট হাউস কাঁপিল থর থর,আইসিস কাঁপিল!হাহাহা,কাঁপিল আইসিস আহা!
গুন্ডারা ভয়ে কুপোকাত,থর থর কাঁপিল!
কাঁপিল তালিবান,কাঁপিল আল কায়দা
কাঁপিতেছে আইসিস থর থর,কি কাঁপন!
Obama vs ISIS: President's Oval Office address tries to ease anxiety over terrorism
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78kmR7J9Vq0
पलाश विश्वास
उन्नाव से आए हुए ज़मीर साहब अपने विचार रख रहे हैं।
... लखनऊ में "असहिष्णुता की चुनौतियां और सोशल मीडिया" विषय पर सेमिनार जारी...
एटा (उप्र) से आए अंकुर यादव अपने विचार व्यक्त कर रहे हैं। लखनऊ में "असहिष्णुता की चुनौतियां और सोशल मीडिया" विषय पर सेमिनार जारी...
मंगलौर में एक पब से लड़कियों को निकालकर मारा गया था, इसी असहिष्णुता के विरोध में सोशल मीडियापर सफल कैंपेन चला-अभिषेक श्रीवास्तव
आरएसएस दलितों को यूज़ एंड थ्रो करता है। - अशोक मुन्ने (नागपुर)..
लखनऊ में "असहिष्णुता की चुनौतियां और सोशल मीडिया" विषय पर सेमिनार जारी...
इलाहाबाद से आए निरंजन अपने विचार व्यक्त कर रहे हैं। ...
लखनऊ में "असहिष्णुता की चुनौतियां और सोशल मीडिया" विषय पर सेमिनार जारी...
बीडी शर्मा की मौत हो गई और आसमान में धान बोने वाले विद्रोही कवि भी चले गए। दोनों फकीर थे। इन्हें याद करते हुए महसूस होता है कि इस जमाने में भी फकीर होते हैं।अब बाकी लड़ाई हमारी है।
हम सबकी जिंदगी का एक अनिवार्य हिस्सा आज हमसे जुदा हो गया। प्रतिरोध और आंदोलन के कवि ने आंदोलन के बीच आखिरी सांस ली। आपकी याद हमेशा आएगी, आंदोलनों और संघर्षों में आप रहेंगे, जनकविता का कोई इतिहास आपके बगैर अधूरा होगा। लाल सलाम कामरेड विद्रोही!
वैज्ञानिक सोच के साथ दमनकारी रवैया अपना रहे हैं।- निरंजन
लखनऊ में "असहिष्णुता की चुनौतियां और सोशल मीडिया" विषय पर सेमिनार जारी...
जनपथ.कॉम के अभिषेक श्रीवास्तव अपने विचार व्यक्त कर रहे हैं।
लखनऊ में "असहिष्णुता की चुनौतियां और सोशल मीडिया" विषय पर सेमिनार जारी...
विदा कहने को मन नहीं होता .....सलाम मेरे कवि
जो खून बहा अल्हूत सनम
वो खून तुम्हारा था तो नही
उस खून को फर्जी दर्ज करे
कानून तुम्हारा था तो नहीं
यह था तो नहीं वह था तो नहीं
कुछ है तो नहीं फ़िर है कैसा
तुम कहते हो सब ऐसा है
मैं कहता हूँ सब है "वैसा"!
-विद्रोही
हर जगह एक बाजार की गुंजाइश है और हर बाजार मेंजगह की गुंजाइश है।-अभिषेक
"असहिष्णुता की चुनौतियां और सोशल मीडिया" विषय पर सेमिनार जारी...
अंकुर यादव
हमें अपनी बातों को उन लोगों तक पहुंचाना है, जो असहिष्णुता फैलाने वाले लोगों का हथियार बन जाते हैं।
समाज में ऑफलाइन बोलने के खतरे ज्यादा हैं। -अभिषेक श्रीवास्तव ...
लखनऊ में "असहिष्णुता की चुनौतियां और सोशल मीडिया" विषय पर सेमिनार जारी.
2009 में फेसबुक पर पिंक चड्ढी कैंपेन चला, जो सफल रहा। - अभिषेक श्रीवास्तव
"असहिष्णुता की चुनौतियां और सोशल मीडिया" विषय पर सेमिनार जारी..
टेलिविजन मोदी का एजेंडा सेट कर रहा है। टेलिविजन और मोदी का एजेंडा एक दूसरे से जुड़ा हुआ है।-अभिषेक श्रीवास्तव
मैं खुद चलकर हस्तक्षेप के कार्यक्रम में आया हूँ।- अशोक मुन्ने (नागपुर)
निरंजन देव अपना कविता पाठ कर रहे हैं। ...लखनऊ में "असहिष्णुता की चुनौतियां और सोशल मीडिया" विषय पर सेमिनार जारी...
अशोक मुन्ने (नागपुर) से आए हैं। एक पैर कृत्रिम है उनका। अपने विचार ख रहे हैं। रामदेव से ज्यादा व्यायाम करते हैं।
Those who neither like or share while a genuine issue is focused on,they seem to be proactive in defence of Sunny Leone branded tolerance as counterview to intolerance debate as if exposing this hypocricy and Open market of free sex has set on fire all the holy books.All icons speaking tolerance have to be excluded ,executed but Sunny leone is allowed to attack Aamir Khan on intolerance with her professional exposure like SENSEX and she claims Porn is business.While we expose the PORN business of fascism it is justified as woman lib.Funny!
Porn Industry Is Also A Business - Says Sunny Leone ...
▶ 1:03Apr 27, 2015 - Uploaded by Bollywood LivePorn Industry Is Also A Business - Says Sunny Leone! ... behind and she is here to work hard and prove her .
Sunny Leone's SHOCKING REACTION On Aamir Khan's ...
▶ 1:23https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xr567Gsc9iA
1 day ago - Uploaded by Bollywood TriviaSunny Leone and her opinion trends and this time again she has nailed a perfect reply when she was ...
দাঁত কেলাইয়া ভাবতাছি,বহুতে মজা,কেয়া বাত!
সব কালির হাতেই খড়গ লেলিহান জিহ্ভা সব কালীর
সব কালীর গলেতেই মুন্ডমালা,কোমরে মুন্ডু সারি সারি!
রক্তবীজের ধ্বংস নাই কিছুতেই পাব্লিক বুঝিল না!
কোন্ বানচো বুঝাবে কোন হালায় ক্যান বুঝিল না!
তেলের আগুন পোহাইতেছেন যত ন্যাতে নেতি!
প্যাকেজ জাপানি তেল,সহিষ্ণুতা সানি!
আহা কি আনন্দ,বুঝাই কোনঅ হালায়!
প্যাকেজ জাপানী তেলে ভাজিয়া যতনে
করিও মা কালীর পুজা,পুঝিবে উন্নয়ন!
মায়ের গলায় ঝুলিও,কোমরে ঝুলিও
করিও মা কালীর পুজা,বুঝিবে উন্নয়ন!
শ্মশান কালী,ভদ্রকালী,রক্ষা কালী,কালিঘাটে কালি আবার দক্ষিণেশ্বরে কালী!
সুখবরঃএকটু ভাল আছেন বর্ধন!
বলির পাঁঠা পাঁঠি বুঝিবে না মুদিখানা রম রম কালীর বর
সেই বর,ভূতের রাজা দিল বর,তিন বর জব্বর
গুন্ডামি যত রকম,মাফিয়া রাষ্ট্র,সন্ত্রাস
প্রভূ কহিলেন হাঁকি,ভূত প্রেত এব করিব ধ্বংস
দাঁত কেলাইয়া ভাবতাছি,বহুতে মজা,কেযা বাত!
বলির পাঁঠা পাঁঠি বুঝিবে না মুদিখানা রম রম কালীর বর
সেই বর,ভূতের রাজা দিল বর,তিন বর জব্বর
গুন্ডামি যত রকম,মাফিয়া রাষ্ট্র,সন্ত্রাস!
প্রভূ কহিলেন হাঁকি,ভূত প্রেত এব করিব ধ্বংস
দাঁত কেলাইয়া ভাবতাছি,বহুতে মজা,কেয়া বাত!
পাড়ায় পাড়ায় কালী,পাড়ায় পাড়ায় শনি মন্দির,শিবঠাকুরের থান
গড় করি রক্ষা কর মোরে,দুধে ভাতে রাখো সন্তানে মা, মা গোয়া
তবুও অশনি সংকেত ঘনিয়ে আসিছে,তবুও বলাত্কার সুনামি!
কোন্ বানচো বুঝাবে কোন হালায় যেকানে আছে থান
যেকানে হইতাছে উত্সব,সব খানেতেই পাক্কা ইন্তেজাম বলির!
বলির পাঁঠা পাঁঠি বুঝিবে না মুদিখানা রম রম কালীর বর
সেই বর,ভূতের রাজা দিল বর,তিন বর জব্বর
গুন্ডামি যত রকম,মাফিয়া রাষ্ট্র,সন্ত্রাস!
প্রভূ কহিলেন হাঁকি,ভূত প্রেত এবে করিব ধ্বংস
দাঁত কেলাইয়া ভাবতাছি,বহুতে মজা,কেয়া বাত!
ফুল ফ্লেম কেয়ামত বাতাস বহিতেছে স্বর্গে মর্ত্যে বাজারে!
সব কালির হাতেই খড়গ লেলিহান জিহ্ভা সব কালীর
সব কালীর গলেতেই মুন্ডমালা,কোমরে মুন্ডু সারি সারি!
রক্তবীজের ধ্বংস নাই কিছুতেই পাব্লিক বুঝিল না!
কোন্ বানচো বুঝাবে কোন হালায় ক্যান বুঝিল না!
ভূতের রাজা তিল তিন বর ,তিন বর জব্বর!
গুন্ডামি যত রকম,মাফিয়া রাষ্ট্র,সন্ত্রাস!
প্রভূ কহিলেন হাঁকি হোয়াইট হাউস কাঁপিল!
হোয়াইট হাউস কাঁপিল থর থর,আইসিস কাঁপিল!
গুন্ডারা ভয়ে কুপোকাত,থর থর কাঁপিল!
কাঁপিল তালিবান,কাঁপিল আল কায়দা
কাঁপিতেছে আইসিস থর থর,কি কাঁপন!
কাঁপনে লন্ডন কুপোকাত!মোস্ট সেফ
হেভেনে ঘরে ঘরে সন্ত্রাস,কুটির শিল্প!
আহা রে বাছা যুদ্ধ চাই যুদ্ধ চাই!
কিছ্চূ না হোক্,গৃহযুদ্ধ টাই সব খানে!
অশনি সংকেত ঘনিয়ে আসিছে,তবুও বলাত্কার সুনামি!
কোন্ বানচো বুঝাবে কোন হালায় যেকানে আছে থান
যেকানে হইতাছে উত্সব,সব খানেতেই পাক্কা ইন্তেজাম বলির!
তেলের আগুন পোহাইতেছেন যত ন্যাতে নেতি!
প্যাকেজ জাপানি তেল,সহিষ্ণুতা সানি!
আহা কি আনন্দ,বুঝাই কোনঅ হালায়!
প্যাকেজ জাপানী তেলে ভাজিয়া যতনে
করিও মা কালীর পুজা,পুঝিবে উন্নয়ন!
মায়ের গলায় ঝুলিও,কোমরে ঝুলিও
করিও মা কালীর পুজা,বুঝিবে উন্নয়ন!
রাতি পোহাইল,প্রভাতে পাখির কলরব
মুদিখানায় সাঁজাল জ্বলতাছে সারি সারি
সব ব্যাটা বেটি দিল্লীত্যে দৌড়ায় খালি
প্রভূ কহিলেন হাঁকি,ভূত প্রেত এবে করিব ধ্বংস
দাঁত কেলাইয়া ভাবতাছি,বহুতে মজা,কেয়া বাত!
विद्रोही जी की अंतिम यात्रा
दुखद खबर है कि हम सब के प्रिय कवि रमाशंकर यादव 'विद्रोही' जी का आज दुपहर 4 बजे दिल्ली में निधन हो गया है. अपने अंतिम समय में भी कामरेड विद्रोही यू जी सी के खिलाफ़ छात्रों के संघर्ष में शामिल थे. कल सुबह 12 बजे उनका पार्थिव शरीर अंतिम दर्शन के लिए जवाहर लाल नेहरु छात्रसंघ भवन में रखा जायेगा फिर दुपहर 2 बजे उनकी अंतिम यात्रा लोधी रोड शमशान स्थल के लिए शुरू होगी. लोधी रोड शमशान स्थल जवाहर लाल नेहरु मेट्रो स्टेशन और लाजपत नगर मेट्रो स्टेशन के नजदीक है.
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आज ही कोलकाता के सबसे बड़े बांगाला अखबार के पेज पर फूल पेज जापानी तेल है और एनाटामी,बायोलाजी,सेक्सिओलाजी का खुल्ला इजहार है।पुत्रक प्रकरण का किस्सा शाश्वत है प्रिंट और इलेक्ट्रानिक मीडिया में।थ्रीजी फोर जी पर देवर भौजी के तमामो रसीले वीडियो व्हाट्स अप है और रोज इस मुल्क के चप्पे चप्पे पर बलात्कार सुनामी है और कत्लेआम है।यही मुक्तबाजार है।
यहां सनी लिओन के काम और बिजनेस की सारी खिड़कियां खुली हैं और सहिष्णुता के राजकाज की वे ही प्रवक्ता हैं।
सनी लिओन की आलोचना निषिद्ध है क्योंकि सहिष्णुता के फूल फ्लेम देश में जापानी परमाणु उर्जा और जापानी तेल के रीमिक्स माहौल में यह मेहनतकशों का हकहकूक और औरत की आजादी का मामला भी है।
जो भद्र लोग लुगाई मोबाइल पर कुछ भी देखने सुनने को अभ्यस्त हैं और अाफिस से लेकर राज्य सचिवालय और विधानसभाओं में भी जो लोग बैठे ठाले कुछ भी देखते सुनते हैं,उनके सौदर्यबोध,उनकी भाषा और उनके व्याकरण और उनके धर्म कर्म को मैंने कल दिलफरेब झटके दिये सनी लिओन का जलवा लाइव टेलीकास्ट,सिनेमा,वीडियो और मैनफोर्स शेयर करके।
लगता है काफी नहीं है।
टेक्स्ट से मामला बना नहीं है तो आज प्रवचन उन्हीं सनी लिओन को समर्पित जिनने आमीर खान की असहिष्णुता के जवाब में अपनी आजादी को सहिष्णुता बताया है और सहिष्णुता साबित करने के लिए भारत और दुनियाभर के साहित्यकारों, कलाकारों, इतिहासकारों, वैज्ञानिकों,समाजशास्त्रियों के खिलाफ हिंदू विरोधी और राष्ट्रविरोधी होने के आरोप में पाकिस्तान या अन्यत्र चले जाने का फतवा है।केसरिया नजरिये से सनी लिओन जो कि कल्कि महाराज हिंदू ह्रदय सम्राट से भी पोपुलर हैं,जाहिरे हैं कि समूचा बालीवूड और दुनियाभर की मेधा उनके काम और बिजनेस के आगे दो कौड़ी की भी नहीं,हिंदू विरोधी और राष्ट्रविरोधी है और सनी लिओन हिंदू राष्ट्र की सहिष्णुता है।
इसलिए सनी देवी का काम और बिजनेस के सच का सामना करना अनिवार्य है क्योंकि इसी सनी सहिष्णुता का जलवा है कि दो गज जमीन भी मयस्सर नहीं इस सरजमीं पर मरने के लिए?
इसलिए सनी देवी का काम और बिजनेस के सच का सामना करना अनिवार्य है क्योंकि इसी सनी सहिष्णुता का जलवा है कि अपने ही घर से बेदखल लोग फिर कहां रचेंगे घर जीने के लिए?
इसलिए सनी देवी का काम और बिजनेस के सच का सामना करना अनिवार्य है क्योंकि इसी सनी सहिष्णुता का जलवा है कि मीडिया में,थ्रीजी फोर जी पर देवर भौजी के तमामो रसीले वीडियो व्हाट्स अप है और रोज इस मुल्क के चप्पे चप्पे पर बलात्कार सुनामी है और कत्लेआम है।यही मुक्तबाजार है।
सनी लिओन की आलोचना निषिद्ध है क्योंकि सहिष्णुता के फूल फ्लेम देश में जापानी परमाणु उर्जा और जापानी तेल के रीमिक्स माहौल में यह मेहनतकशों का हकहकूक और औरत की आजादी का मामला भी है।
दूसरी ओर, हम लोग इस सहिष्णुता को असहिष्णुता मानते हैं और उसके प्रतिरोध के लिए देशभर में मानवबंधन बनाने की जुगत में हैं।इसीलिए मानवाधिकार दिवस की पूर्व संध्या और न्यूज पोर्टल
हस्तक्षेप डाॅट काॅम के पांच वर्ष पूरे होने पर इंसाफ अभियान और नागरिकपरिषद 'असहिष्णुता की चुनौतियां और सोशल मीडिया' विषय पर 9 दिसम्बर को,यानी आज ही लखनऊ प्रेस क्लब में 3 बजे से सेमिनार करेगा।
इंसाफ अभियान के प्रवक्ता अनिल यादव और नागरिक परिषद के रामकृष्ण ने जारी संयुक्त बयान में बताया कि आज मानवाधिकारों के समक्ष बढ़ती हुई असहिष्णुता ने चुनौती रख दी है। समाज विरोधी तत्व लोगों में धार्मिक और जातिय असहिष्णुता और उन्माद फैलकर समाज और देश को कमजोर कर रहे हैं।
गौर करें कि यह बयान सनी देवी के दावे के उलट है।
हमारा मानना है,मानना ही नहीं है,हमारी जमीनी स्तर पर लड़ाई है कि धार्मिक और जातिय असहिष्णुता और उन्माद के खिलाफ निणार्यक लड़ाई के लिए ऐसी शक्तियों के खिलाफ वैचारिक संघर्ष चलाना आज की अनिवार्यता है।
गौरतलब कि इस सेमिनार में हस्तक्षेप डाॅट काॅम के सम्पादक और वरिष्ठ पत्रकार अमलेंदु उपाध्याय उपस्थित रहेंगे।हमारा दिलोदिमाग वहींच हैं हालांकि हम वहां न होंगे।मजबूरी है।
इस सेमिनार में सोशल मीडिया और वेव पोर्टलों के जरिए मजबूत हस्तक्षेप रखने वाले चर्चित युवा पत्रकार अभिषेक श्रीवास्तव, यशवंत सिंह, रणधीर सिंह सुमन, लक्ष्मी शर्मा, मीडिया स्टडीज ग्रुप के अवनीश राय, सामाजिक कार्यकर्ता आशीष सागर, जीशान अख्तर, विनय सुल्तान आदि वक्ता रहेंगे।
आयोजकों ने सोशल मीडिया के जरिए सामाजिक-राजनीतिक आवाम से सेमिनार में शामिल होने की गुजारिश की है।
Letter from Admiral Ramdas to Shinzo Abe and Modi, against the India-Japan Nuke Deal
It is indeed very surprising that Japan, as the only country which has
experienced the horrors of nuclear explosions at Hiroshima and
Nagasaki , and later the disastrous accident at the Fukushima power
plant and its downstream effects, should now be promoting the sale of
nuclear power plants to India. The fault no doubt lies with both the
buyer and the seller, but in this case we feel a greater
responsibility for promoting such a sale lies at the door of Japan.
I do not need to explain the horrors of a nuclear explosion or an
accidental burn out -‐ for this is now common knowledge. I am of the
firm belief that if humanity is to survive, both nuclear power and
nuclear weapons should be abolished for all time to come.
As a former Indian military person, and one who headed the Indian
Navy, I firmly believe that nuclear weapons are politically counter
productive, economically a disaster, militarily inefficient, ethically
and morally totally indefensible.
Nuclear power likewise has a huge risk potential which as has been
experienced by the USA at Three Mile Island, by the erstwhile Soviet
Union at Chernobyl, and most recently by Japan at Fukushima.
The current proposal to conclude an Indo-‐Japanese Nuclear supply
agreement, to supply nuclear power plants to India, is fraught with
danger and potential consequences which are unimaginable.
I would therefore strongly urge both Prime Minister Modi and Prime
Minister Shinzo Abe that India and Japan should not conclude the
planned nuclear supply agreement.
Regards,
Admiral L. Ramdas
सनी लिओन ब्रांडेड सहिष्णुता और सहिष्णुता का राजकाज का आलम यह है ः
On the evening of 2nd December, RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) and Bajrang Dal goons brutally attacked student and youth activists from PDSF (progressive Democratic Students Federation) and KNS (Krantikari Naujawan Sabha) peacefully protesting the presence of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat in Kolkata, near Science city. Beaten with sticks, sharp weapons, hit directly on the heads, molested and abused, three of them had to be hospitalized and several others are still recovering from serious injuries. Police stood as a mute witness.
We know that this kind of hooliganism from the fascist lumpen brigade is nothing new and is in fact what defines their brand of 'tolerance'. However, as protestors who shouted 'Bhagwat Go Back' were attacked by fascist forces at the gates of the venue where he was speaking, what was brewing inside is even more sinister. Bhagwat came into the city with an expressed communal agenda, ahead of the West Bengal assembly elections early next year and more immediately to stoke communal frenzy as another 6th December approaches. The RSS was commemorating the 'martyrdom' of kar-sevaks Ram and Sharad Kothari who had died during L.K. Advani-led rath-yatra during the Ram Mandir 'movement' in 1990. Bhagawat has been quoted as saying in the meeting, "The grand goal (of building the Ram Janmbhoomi Mandir) may be realized in our own lifetime. May be we can see it with our own eyes…None can say when and how the temple will be constructed, but we need to be prepared and ready".
सहिष्णुता का सनी ब्रांड यह भी हैः
People opened the doors of their houses to strangers, shared food and supplies and went out of their way to rescue those stranded in the floods. However, while most of Tamil Nadu experienced these heartwarming scenes, the situation in Cuddalore – one of the state's worst affected districts – proved why true humanity may still be a distant dream.
A recent report published by the National Campaign for Dalit Human Rights (NCDHR) and the Social awareness Society of Youth (SASY),exposed the dejection that people from lower castes are facing in the state's most underprivileged areas. As if the devastation of the floods were not hard enough on the Dalit community in Cuddalore district, they were also denied the compassion that the rest of the state seemed to receive in the aftermath of the floods.
'The floods washed away everything'
The floods left the low-lying areas in Cuddalore district completely crippled – with houses and roads submerged in water. Keenanur, Manavalanallur, Kottumulai, Ottimedu and about 10 other villages were inundated.
Also read
Photo: NCDHR
The survey by NCDHR and SASY, which covered 8,400 Dalit and non-Dalit families in 20 villages in the region, revealed that around 90 per cent of the houses, livestock and crops destroyed by the deluge belonged to Dalit families.
One of the reason for the acute damage is that the schedule castes are mostly living either on the edge or close to the river on the low-lying areas – making them more vulnerable to damage. A majority of their houses are made of mud and thatch – that were washed away in the deluge.
"This is reaffirmation of caste divide as the choice of these people to stay secluded from the other residential areas in their respective villages is borne out of the social norms which are strictly observed there," said Rajesh, NCDHR's Coordinator of National Dalit Watch.
No shelter
The Dalit population in the district lack government infrastructure – like schools and community halls – leaving villagers from Dalit communities in Vadakkuthurai, Kongarayanpalayam, Agaram andAmbedkar Nagar villages with no place to take refuge.
Photo: NCDHR
According to reports, there were also instances where the government rescue teams failed to visit some remote Dalit villages for lack of connectivity. As a result, the Dalit families from Vadukathirumedu, Chillankuppam, Kaduvetti, Varagurpettai and Annavalli could not shifted to safer place after the huge flood hit in their villages.
'Can't quench thirst'
In around 90 per cent of the surveyed villages, there was no adequate provision of drinking water. "A number of Dalit families did not receive any drinking water. Most of the public sources are destroyed and villagers in hamlets like Vadakkuthurai, Ennanagaram and Kongarayanpalayam had to travel miles for getting the access," said Pandeyan from the SASY.
He narrated of a chilling reminder of Munshi Premchand's story – the Thakur's well. "In Kongarayanpalayam, people from the dominant caste blocked clean water access for the Dalits. This is reflective of the eople's attitude which refuse to compromise with their rusted caste-system even at the time of such hardships," he alleged.
Struggle for survival
According to the survey, relief efforts are restricted to specific villages which belong to the upper caste people – mostly in the more accessible district blocks.
Reportedly, in the Alamelumangapuram village, a medical camp has been organised in an area which is dominated by high caste people. According to reports, people from the Dalit communities were avoiding the camp for fear of violence and discrimination.
"Majority of the Dalit villages have been filled with flood water, mixed with sewage. Villages like Nalanthethu, Alamelumangapuram and Vadakkuthurai are under threat of malaria and dengue outbreak," said Rajesh.
Catch tried to reach the District Collector of Cuddlore on the issue but he did not comment on the issue.http://www.catchnews.com/social-sector/chennai-s-darkest-moment-yet-dalits-in-flood-hit-cuddalore-denied-drinking-water-shelter-1449558126.html
अलविदा विद्रोही -
"हम गुलामी की अंतिम हदों तक लडेंगे"
लेकिन इंसान की कुछ और बात् है
जो तुमको पता है, वो हमको पता है
यहाँ पर कहाँ बेपता बात् है
ये पुल हिल रहा है तो क्यों हिल रहा है
तुमको पता है हमको पता है सबको पता है कि क्यों हिल रहा है
मगर दोस्तों वो भी इंसान थे जिनकी छाती पर ये पुल जमाया गया
अब वही लापता है
न तुमको पता है न हमको पता है न किसीको पता है कि क्यों लापता हैं
तो इस ज़माने में जिनका जमाना है भाई
उन्हीके जमाने में रहते हैं हम
उन्ही की हैं साँसें उन्ही की हैं कहते ,
उन्ही के खातिर दिन रात बहते हैं हम
ये उन्ही का हुकुम है जो मैं कह रहा हूं
उनके सम्मान में मैं कलम तोड़ दूं
ये उन्हीं का हुकुम है मेरे लिये और सबके लिये
कि मैं हक छोड़ दूं
तो लोग हक छोड़ दें पर मैं क्यों छोड़ दूं
मैं तो हक की लड़ाई का हमवार हूं
मैं बताऊँ कि मेरी कमर तोड़ दो, मेरा सर फोड दो
पर ये न कहो कि हक छोड़ दो
तो आप से कह रहा हूं अपनी तरह
अपनी दिक्कत को सबसे जिरह कर रहा
मुझको लगता है कि मैं गुनहगार हूं
क्योंकि रहता हूं मैं कैदियों कि तरह
मुझको लगता है मेरा वतन जेल है
ये वतन छोड़ कर अब कहाँ जाऊँगा
अब कहाँ जाऊँगा जब वतन जेल है
जब सभी कैद हैं तब कहाँ जाऊँगा
मैं तो सब कैदियों से यही कह रहा
आओ उनके हुकुम की उदूली करें
पर सब पूछते हैं कि वो कौन हैं और कहाँ रहता है
मैं बताऊँ कि वो एक जल्लाद है
वो वही है जो कहता है हक छोड़ दो
तुम यहाँ से वहाँ तक कहीं देख लो
गाँव को देख लो शहर को देख लो
अपना घर देख लो अपने को देख लो
इस हक़ की लड़ाई में तुम किस तरफ हो
आपसे कह रहा हूं अपनी तरह
कि मैं तो सताए हुओं की तरफ हूं
और जो भी सताए हुओं की तरफ है
उसको समझता हूं कि अपनी तरफ है
पर उनकी तरफ इसकी उलटी तरफ है
उधर उनकी तरफ आप मत जाइए
जाइए पर अकेले में मत जाइए
ऐसे जायेंगे तो आप फंस जायेंगे
आइये अब हमारी तरफ आइये
आइये इस तरफ की सही राह है
और सही क्या है
हम कौन हैं क्या ये भी नहीं ज्ञात है
हम कमेरों कि भी क्या कोई जाति है
हम कमाने का खाने का परचार ले
अपना परचम लिये अपना मेला लिये
आखरी फैसले के लिये जायेंगे
अपनी महफिल लिये अपना डेरा लिये
उधर उस तरफ जालिमों की तरफ
उनसे कहने कि गर्दन झुकाओ, चलो
और गुनाहों को अपने कबूलो चलो
दोस्तों उस घड़ी के लिये अब चलो
और अभी से चलो उस खुशी के लिये
जिसकी खातिर लड़ाई ये छेडी गयी
जो शुरू से अभी तक चली आ रही
और चली जायेगी अन्त से अन्त तक
हम गुलामी की अंतिम हदों तक लडेंगे
- विद्रोही
Say NO to India-Japan Nuclear Agreement! Protests planned across India ahead of Japanese PM's visit.
Dear friends,
During the Japanese Prime Minister Mr. Shinzo Abe's visit to India, protests have been organised against the proposed India-Japan Nuclear Agreement between 11th to 13th December.
Protests have been announced all over India during Shinzo Abe's visit this week. Farmers and fisherfolk whom this deal directly and immediately affects would be protesting in Jaitapur, Mithi Virdi, Kovvada and Koodankulam. Solidarity groups have also called for protests in Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore, Nagpur, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Ahmadabad and other cities.
Protests by civil society groups are also being organised in New York, London, Tokyo and other international cities, as this nuclear agreement has serious international implications.
The deal with Japan is actually a missing piece in the massively destructive nuclear energy expansion that India has embarked upon after signing the disastrous Indo-US nuclear deal. The nuclear projects of America and France in Gujarat's Mithi Virdi, Andhra Pradesh's Kovvada and Maharashtra's Jaitapur cannot proceed without an India-Japan deal, as these designs use crucial components supplied by Japan.
It's important to oppose this agreement as it unleashes an insane and irreversibly destructive nuclear expansion, imposed through brutal repression and denial of local democracy. These projects are being strongly opposed on the ground by farmers and fisherfolk as they displace hundreds of thousands of people and endanger their safety and environment. Several eminent independent experts and former policy makers have also risen it protest highlighting the specific hazards of the new designs, the shoddy environmental clearances issues under political pressure, the lack of transparency and accountability in the nuclear sector, the non-independence of India's nuclear regulator and the insistence of the foreign suppliers for not complying with the Nuclear Liability Act passed by the Indian parliament. After Fukushima, a number of countries have shifted away from nuclear energy and international commitments like this deal to import nuclear technology actually distort India's sovereign energy choices.
People in Japan are also opposing this agreement for the sheer absurdity of Mr. Shinzo Abe selling nuclear technology to other countries even as ongoing nuclear accident in Fukushima takes a turn for the worse. We urge you to lend your support to this urgent cause and stop the India-Japan nuclear agreement that would push the country into a destructive spiral.
How Much Land Does a Man Need?
I
An elder sister came to visit her younger sister in the country.
The elder was married to a tradesman in town, the younger to a
peasant in the village. As the sisters sat over their tea talking,
the elder began to boast of the advantages of town life: saying how
comfortably they lived there, how well they dressed, what fine
clothes her children wore, what good things they ate and drank, and
how she went to the theatre, promenades, and entertainments.
The younger sister was piqued, and in turn disparaged the life of a
tradesman, and stood up for that of a peasant.
"I would not change my way of life for yours," said she. "We may
live roughly, but at least we are free from anxiety. You live in
better style than we do, but though you often earn more than you
need, you are very likely to lose all you have. You know the proverb,
'Loss and gain are brothers twain.' It often happens that people who
are wealthy one day are begging their bread the next. Our way is
safer. Though a peasant's life is not a fat one, it is a long one.
We shall never grow rich, but we shall always have enough to eat."
The elder sister said sneeringly:
"Enough? Yes, if you like to share with the pigs and the calves!
What do you know of elegance or manners! However much your good man
may slave, you will die as you are living-on a dung heap-and your
children the same."
"Well, what of that?" replied the younger. "Of course our work is
rough and coarse. But, on the other hand, it is sure; and we need
not bow to any one. But you, in your towns, are surrounded by
temptations; today all may be right, but tomorrow the Evil One may
tempt your husband with cards, wine, or women, and all will go to
ruin. Don't such things happen often enough?"
Pahom, the master of the house, was lying on the top of the oven,
and he listened to the women's chatter.
"It is perfectly true," thought he. "Busy as we are from childhood
tilling Mother Earth, we peasants have no time to let any nonsense
settle in our heads. Our only trouble is that we haven't land
enough. If I had plenty of land, I shouldn't fear the Devil himself!"
The women finished their tea, chatted a while about dress, and then
cleared away the tea-things and lay down to sleep.
But the Devil had been sitting behind the oven, and had heard all
that was said. He was pleased that the peasant's wife had led her
husband into boasting, and that he had said that if he had plenty of
land he would not fear the Devil himself.
"All right," thought the Devil. "We will have a tussle. I'll give you
land enough; and by means of that land I will get you into my power."
II
Close to the village there lived a lady, a small landowner, who had
an estate of about three hundred acres. She had always lived on
good terms with the peasants, until she engaged as her steward an
old soldier, who took to burdening the people with fines. However
careful Pahom tried to be, it happened again and again that now a
horse of his got among the lady's oats, now a cow strayed into her
garden, now his calves found their way into her meadows-and he
always had to pay a fine.
Pahom paid, but grumbled, and, going home in a temper, was rough
with his family. All through that summer Pahom had much trouble
because of this steward; and he was even glad when winter came and
the cattle had to be stabled. Though he grudged the fodder when
they could no longer graze on the pasture-land, at least he was free
from anxiety about them.
In the winter the news got about that the lady was going to sell her
land, and that the keeper of the inn on the high road was bargaining
for it. When the peasants heard this they were very much alarmed.
"Well," thought they, "if the innkeeper gets the land he will worry us
with fines worse than the lady's steward. We all depend on that estate."
So the peasants went on behalf of their Commune, and asked the lady
not to sell the land to the innkeeper; offering her a better price
for it themselves. The lady agreed to let them have it. Then the
peasants tried to arrange for the Commune to buy the whole estate,
so that it might be held by all in common. They met twice to
discuss it, but could not settle the matter; the Evil One sowed
discord among them, and they could not agree. So they decided to
buy the land individually, each according to his means; and the lady
agreed to this plan as she had to the other.
Presently Pahom heard that a neighbor of his was buying fifty acres,
and that the lady had consented to accept one half in cash and to
wait a year for the other half. Pahom felt envious.
"Look at that," thought he, "the land is all being sold, and I shall
get none of it." So he spoke to his wife.
"Other people are buying," said he, "and we must also buy twenty
acres or so. Life is becoming impossible. That steward is simply
crushing us with his fines."
So they put their heads together and considered how they could
manage to buy it. They had one hundred roubles laid by. They sold
a colt, and one half of their bees; hired out one of their sons as a
laborer, and took his wages in advance; borrowed the rest from a
brother-in-law, and so scraped together half the purchase money.
Having done this, Pahom chose out a farm of forty acres, some of it
wooded, and went to the lady to bargain for it. They came to an
agreement, and he shook hands with her upon it, and paid her a
deposit in advance. Then they went to town and signed the deeds; he
paying half the price down, and undertaking to pay the remainder
within two years.
So now Pahom had land of his own. He borrowed seed, and sowed it on
the land he had bought. The harvest was a good one, and within a
year he had managed to pay off his debts both to the lady and to his
brother-in-law. So he became a landowner, ploughing and sowing his
own land, making hay on his own land, cutting his own trees, and
feeding his cattle on his own pasture. When he went out to plough
his fields, or to look at his growing corn, or at his grass meadows,
his heart would fill with joy. The grass that grew and the flowers
that bloomed there, seemed to him unlike any that grew elsewhere.
Formerly, when he had passed by that land, it had appeared the same
as any other land, but now it seemed quite different.
III
So Pahom was well contented, and everything would have been right if
the neighboring peasants would only not have trespassed on his corn-
fields and meadows. He appealed to them most civilly, but they
still went on: now the Communal herdsmen would let the village cows
stray into his meadows; then horses from the night pasture would get
among his corn. Pahom turned them out again and again, and forgave
their owners, and for a long time he forbore from prosecuting any
one. But at last he lost patience and complained to the District
Court. He knew it was the peasants' want of land, and no evil
intent on their part, that caused the trouble; but he thought:
"I cannot go on overlooking it, or they will destroy all I have.
They must be taught a lesson."
So he had them up, gave them one lesson, and then another, and two
or three of the peasants were fined. After a time Pahom's
neighbours began to bear him a grudge for this, and would now and
then let their cattle on his land on purpose. One peasant even got
into Pahom's wood at night and cut down five young lime trees for
their bark. Pahom passing through the wood one day noticed
something white. He came nearer, and saw the stripped trunks lying
on the ground, and close by stood the stumps, where the tree had
been. Pahom was furious.
"If he had only cut one here and there it would have been bad enough,"
thought Pahom, "but the rascal has actually cut down a whole clump.
If I could only find out who did this, I would pay him out."
He racked his brains as to who it could be. Finally he decided: "It
must be Simon-no one else could have done it." Se he went to
Simon's homestead to have a look around, but he found nothing, and
only had an angry scene. However' he now felt more certain than
ever that Simon had done it, and he lodged a complaint. Simon was
summoned. The case was tried, and re-tried, and at the end of it
all Simon was acquitted, there being no evidence against him. Pahom
felt still more aggrieved, and let his anger loose upon the Elder
and the Judges.
"You let thieves grease your palms," said he. "If you were honest
folk yourselves, you would not let a thief go free."
So Pahom quarrelled with the Judges and with his neighbors. Threats
to burn his building began to be uttered. So though Pahom had more
land, his place in the Commune was much worse than before.
About this time a rumor got about that many people were moving to
new parts.
"There's no need for me to leave my land," thought Pahom. "But some
of the others might leave our village, and then there would be more
room for us. I would take over their land myself, and make my
estate a bit bigger. I could then live more at ease. As it is, I
am still too cramped to be comfortable."
One day Pahom was sitting at home, when a peasant passing through
the village, happened to call in. He was allowed to stay the night,
and supper was given him. Pahom had a talk with this peasant and
asked him where he came from. The stranger answered that he came
from beyond the Volga, where he had been working. One word led to
another, and the man went on to say that many people were settling
in those parts. He told how some people from his village had
settled there. They had joined the Commune, and had had twenty-five
acres per man granted them. The land was so good, he said, that the
rye sown on it grew as high as a horse, and so thick that five cuts
of a sickle made a sheaf. One peasant, he said, had brought nothing
with him but his bare hands, and now he had six horses and two cows
of his own.
Pahom's heart kindled with desire. He thought:
"Why should I suffer in this narrow hole, if one can live so well
elsewhere? I will sell my land and my homestead here, and with the
money I will start afresh over there and get everything new. In
this crowded place one is always having trouble. But I must first
go and find out all about it myself."
Towards summer he got ready and started. He went down the Volga on
a steamer to Samara, then walked another three hundred miles on
foot, and at last reached the place. It was just as the stranger
had said. The peasants had plenty of land: every man had twenty-
five acres of Communal land given him for his use, and any one who
had money could buy, besides, at fifty-cents an acre as much good
freehold land as he wanted.
Having found out all he wished to know, Pahom returned home as
autumn came on, and began selling off his belongings. He sold his
land at a profit, sold his homestead and all his cattle, and
withdrew from membership of the Commune. He only waited till the
spring, and then started with his family for the new settlement.
IV
As soon as Pahom and his family arrived at their new abode, he
applied for admission into the Commune of a large village. He stood
treat to the Elders, and obtained the necessary documents. Five
shares of Communal land were given him for his own and his sons'
use: that is to say--125 acres (not altogether, but in different
fields) besides the use of the Communal pasture. Pahom put up the
buildings he needed, and bought cattle. Of the Communal land alone
he had three times as much as at his former home, and the land was
good corn-land. He was ten times better off than he had been. He
had plenty of arable land and pasturage, and could keep as many head
of cattle as he liked.
At first, in the bustle of building and settling down, Pahom was
pleased with it all, but when he got used to it he began to think
that even here he had not enough land. The first year, he sowed
wheat on his share of the Communal land, and had a good crop. He
wanted to go on sowing wheat, but had not enough Communal land for
the purpose, and what he had already used was not available; for in
those parts wheat is only sown on virgin soil or on fallow land. It
is sown for one or two years, and then the land lies fallow till it
is again overgrown with prairie grass. There were many who wanted
such land, and there was not enough for all; so that people
quarrelled about it. Those who were better off, wanted it for
growing wheat, and those who were poor, wanted it to let to dealers,
so that they might raise money to pay their taxes. Pahom wanted to
sow more wheat; so he rented land from a dealer for a year. He
sowed much wheat and had a fine crop, but the land was too far from
the village--the wheat had to be carted more than ten miles. After
a time Pahom noticed that some peasant-dealers were living on
separate farms, and were growing wealthy; and he thought:
"If I were to buy some freehold land, and have a homestead on it, it
would be a different thing, altogether. Then it would all be nice
and compact."
The question of buying freehold land recurred to him again and again.
He went on in the same way for three years; renting land and sowing
wheat. The seasons turned out well and the crops were good, so that
he began to lay money by. He might have gone on living contentedly,
but he grew tired of having to rent other people's land every year,
and having to scramble for it. Wherever there was good land to be
had, the peasants would rush for it and it was taken up at once, so
that unless you were sharp about it you got none. It happened in
the third year that he and a dealer together rented a piece of
pasture land from some peasants; and they had already ploughed it
up, when there was some dispute, and the peasants went to law about
it, and things fell out so that the labor was all lost.
"If it were my own land," thought Pahom, "I should be independent,
and there would not be all this unpleasantness."
So Pahom began looking out for land which he could buy; and he came
across a peasant who had bought thirteen hundred acres, but having
got into difficulties was willing to sell again cheap. Pahom
bargained and haggled with him, and at last they settled the price
at 1,500 roubles, part in cash and part to be paid later. They had
all but clinched the matter, when a passing dealer happened to stop
at Pahom's one day to get a feed for his horse. He drank tea with
Pahom, and they had a talk. The dealer said that he was just
returning from the land of the Bashkirs, far away, where he had
bought thirteen thousand acres of land all for 1,000 roubles. Pahom
questioned him further, and the tradesman said:
"All one need do is to make friends with the chiefs. I gave away
about one hundred roubles' worth of dressing-gowns and carpets,
besides a case of tea, and I gave wine to those who would drink it;
and I got the land for less than two cents an acre. And he showed
Pahom the title-deeds, saying:
"The land lies near a river, and the whole prairie is virgin soil."
Pahom plied him with questions, and the tradesman said:
"There is more land there than you could cover if you walked a year,
and it all belongs to the Bashkirs. They are as simple as sheep,
and land can be got almost for nothing."
"There now," thought Pahom, "with my one thousand roubles, why
should I get only thirteen hundred acres, and saddle myself with a
debt besides. If I take it out there, I can get more than ten times
as much for the money."
V
Pahom inquired how to get to the place, and as soon as the tradesman
had left him, he prepared to go there himself. He left his wife to
look after the homestead, and started on his journey taking his man
with him. They stopped at a town on their way, and bought a case of
tea, some wine, and other presents, as the tradesman had advised.
On and on they went until they had gone more than three hundred
miles, and on the seventh day they came to a place where the
Bashkirs had pitched their tents. It was all just as the tradesman
had said. The people lived on the steppes, by a river, in felt-
covered tents. They neither tilled the ground, nor ate bread.
Their cattle and horses grazed in herds on the steppe. The colts
were tethered behind the tents, and the mares were driven to them
twice a day. The mares were milked, and from the milk kumiss was
made. It was the women who prepared kumiss, and they also made
cheese. As far as the men were concerned, drinking kumiss and tea,
eating mutton, and playing on their pipes, was all they cared about.
They were all stout and merry, and all the summer long they never
thought of doing any work. They were quite ignorant, and knew no
Russian, but were good-natured enough.
As soon as they saw Pahom, they came out of their tents and gathered
round their visitor. An interpreter was found, and Pahom told them
he had come about some land. The Bashkirs seemed very glad; they
took Pahom and led him into one of the best tents, where they made
him sit on some down cushions placed on a carpet, while they sat
round him. They gave him tea and kumiss, and had a sheep killed,
and gave him mutton to eat. Pahom took presents out of his cart and
distributed them among the Bashkirs, and divided amongst them the
tea. The Bashkirs were delighted. They talked a great deal among
themselves, and then told the interpreter to translate.
"They wish to tell you," said the interpreter, "that they like you,
and that it is our custom to do all we can to please a guest and to
repay him for his gifts. You have given us presents, now tell us
which of the things we possess please you best, that we may present
them to you."
"What pleases me best here," answered Pahom, "is your land. Our
land is crowded, and the soil is exhausted; but you have plenty of
land and it is good land. I never saw the like of it."
The interpreter translated. The Bashkirs talked among themselves
for a while. Pahom could not understand what they were saying, but
saw that they were much amused, and that they shouted and laughed.
Then they were silent and looked at Pahom while the interpreter said:
"They wish me to tell you that in return for your presents they will
gladly give you as much land as you want. You have only to point it
out with your hand and it is yours."
The Bashkirs talked again for a while and began to dispute. Pahom
asked what they were disputing about, and the interpreter told him
that some of them thought they ought to ask their Chief about the
land and not act in his absence, while others thought there was no
need to wait for his return.
VI
While the Bashkirs were disputing, a man in a large fox-fur cap
appeared on the scene. They all became silent and rose to their
feet. The interpreter said, "This is our Chief himself."
Pahom immediately fetched the best dressing-gown and five pounds of
tea, and offered these to the Chief. The Chief accepted them, and
seated himself in the place of honour. The Bashkirs at once began
telling him something. The Chief listened for a while, then made a
sign with his head for them to be silent, and addressing himself to
Pahom, said in Russian:
"Well, let it be so. Choose whatever piece of land you like; we
have plenty of it."
"How can I take as much as I like?" thought Pahom. "I must get a
deed to make it secure, or else they may say, 'It is yours,' and
afterwards may take it away again."
"Thank you for your kind words," he said aloud. "You have much
land, and I only want a little. But I should like to be sure which
bit is mine. Could it not be measured and made over to me? Life and
death are in God's hands. You good people give it to me, but your
children might wish to take it away again."
"You are quite right," said the Chief. "We will make it over to you."
"I heard that a dealer had been here," continued Pahom, "and that
you gave him a little land, too, and signed title-deeds to that
effect. I should like to have it done in the same way."
The Chief understood.
"Yes," replied he, "that can be done quite easily. We have a scribe,
and we will go to town with you and have the deed properly sealed."
"And what will be the price?" asked Pahom.
"Our price is always the same: one thousand roubles a day."
Pahom did not understand.
"A day? What measure is that? How many acres would that be?"
"We do not know how to reckon it out," said the Chief. "We sell it
by the day. As much as you can go round on your feet in a day is
yours, and the price is one thousand roubles a day."
Pahom was surprised.
"But in a day you can get round a large tract of land," he said.
The Chief laughed.
"It will all be yours!" said he. "But there is one condition: If
you don't return on the same day to the spot whence you started,
your money is lost."
"But how am I to mark the way that I have gone?"
"Why, we shall go to any spot you like, and stay there. You must
start from that spot and make your round, taking a spade with you.
Wherever you think necessary, make a mark. At every turning, dig a
hole and pile up the turf; then afterwards we will go round with a
plough from hole to hole. You may make as large a circuit as you
please, but before the sun sets you must return to the place you
started from. All the land you cover will be yours."
Pahom was delighted. It-was decided to start early next morning.
They talked a while, and after drinking some more kumiss and eating
some more mutton, they had tea again, and then the night came on.
They gave Pahom a feather-bed to sleep on, and the Bashkirs
dispersed for the night, promising to assemble the next morning at
daybreak and ride out before sunrise to the appointed spot.
VII
Pahom lay on the feather-bed, but could not sleep. He kept thinking
about the land.
"What a large tract I will mark off!" thought he. "I can easily go
thirty-five miles in a day. The days are long now, and within a
circuit of thirty-five miles what a lot of land there will be! I
will sell the poorer land, or let it to peasants, but I'll pick out
the best and farm it. I will buy two ox-teams, and hire two more
laborers. About a hundred and fifty acres shall be plough-land, and
I will pasture cattle on the rest."
Pahom lay awake all night, and dozed off only just before dawn.
Hardly were his eyes closed when he had a dream. He thought he was
lying in that same tent, and heard somebody chuckling outside. He
wondered who it could be, and rose and went out, and he saw the
Bashkir Chief sitting in front of the tent holding his side and
rolling about with laughter. Going nearer to the Chief, Pahom
asked: "What are you laughing at?" But he saw that it was no longer
the Chief, but the dealer who had recently stopped at his house and
had told him about the land. Just as Pahom was going to ask, "Have
you been here long?" he saw that it was not the dealer, but the
peasant who had come up from the Volga, long ago, to Pahom's old
home. Then he saw that it was not the peasant either, but the Devil
himself with hoofs and horns, sitting there and chuckling, and
before him lay a man barefoot, prostrate on the ground, with only
trousers and a shirt on. And Pahom dreamt that he looked more
attentively to see what sort of a man it was lying there, and he saw
that the man was dead, and that it was himself! He awoke horror-struck.
"What things one does dream," thought he.
Looking round he saw through the open door that the dawn was breaking.
"It's time to wake them up," thought he. "We ought to be starting."
He got up, roused his man (who was sleeping in his cart), bade him
harness; and went to call the Bashkirs.
"It's time to go to the steppe to measure the land," he said.
The Bashkirs rose and assembled, and the Chief came, too. Then they
began drinking kumiss again, and offered Pahom some tea, but he
would not wait.
"If we are to go, let us go. It is high time," said he.
VIII
The Bashkirs got ready and they all started: some mounted on horses,
and some in carts. Pahom drove in his own small cart with his
servant, and took a spade with him. When they reached the steppe,
the morning red was beginning to kindle. They ascended a hillock
(called by the Bashkirs a shikhan) and dismounting from their carts
and their horses, gathered in one spot. The Chief came up to Pahom
and stretched out his arm towards the plain:
"See," said he, "all this, as far as your eye can reach, is ours.
You may have any part of it you like."
Pahom's eyes glistened: it was all virgin soil, as flat as the palm
of your hand, as black as the seed of a poppy, and in the hollows
different kinds of grasses grew breast high.
The Chief took off his fox-fur cap, placed it on the ground and said:
"This will be the mark. Start from here, and return here again.
All the land you go round shall be yours."
Pahom took out his money and put it on the cap. Then he took off
his outer coat, remaining in his sleeveless under coat. He
unfastened his girdle and tied it tight below his stomach, put a
little bag of bread into the breast of his coat, and tying a flask
of water to his girdle, he drew up the tops of his boots, took the
spade from his man, and stood ready to start. He considered for
some moments which way he had better go--it was tempting everywhere.
"No matter," he concluded, "I will go towards the rising sun."
He turned his face to the east, stretched himself, and waited for
the sun to appear above the rim.
"I must lose no time," he thought, "and it is easier walking while
it is still cool."
The sun's rays had hardly flashed above the horizon, before Pahom,
carrying the spade over his shoulder, went down into the steppe.
Pahom started walking neither slowly nor quickly. After having gone
a thousand yards he stopped, dug a hole and placed pieces of turf
one on another to make it more visible. Then he went on; and now
that he had walked off his stiffness he quickened his pace. After a
while he dug another hole.
Pahom looked back. The hillock could be distinctly seen in the
sunlight, with the people on it, and the glittering tires of the
cartwheels. At a rough guess Pahom concluded that he had walked
three miles. It was growing warmer; he took off his under-coat,
flung it across his shoulder, and went on again. It had grown quite
warm now; he looked at the sun, it was time to think of breakfast.
"The first shift is done, but there are four in a day, and it is too
soon yet to turn. But I will just take off my boots," said he to himself.
He sat down, took off his boots, stuck them into his girdle, and went on.
It was easy walking now.
"I will go on for another three miles," thought he, "and then turn
to the left. The spot is so fine, that it would be a pity to lose
it. The further one goes, the better the land seems."
He went straight on a for a while, and when he looked round, the
hillock was scarcely visible and the people on it looked like black
ants, and he could just see something glistening there in the sun.
"Ah," thought Pahom, "I have gone far enough in this direction, it
is time to turn. Besides I am in a regular sweat, and very thirsty."
He stopped, dug a large hole, and heaped up pieces of turf. Next he
untied his flask, had a drink, and then turned sharply to the left.
He went on and on; the grass was high, and it was very hot.
Pahom began to grow tired: he looked at the sun and saw that it was noon.
"Well," he thought, "I must have a rest."
He sat down, and ate some bread and drank some water; but he did not
lie down, thinking that if he did he might fall asleep. After
sitting a little while, he went on again. At first he walked
easily: the food had strengthened him; but it had become terribly
hot, and he felt sleepy; still he went on, thinking: "An hour to
suffer, a life-time to live."
He went a long way in this direction also, and was about to turn to
the left again, when he perceived a damp hollow: "It would be a pity
to leave that out," he thought. "Flax would do well there." So he
went on past the hollow, and dug a hole on the other side of it
before he turned the corner. Pahom looked towards the hillock. The
heat made the air hazy: it seemed to be quivering, and through the
haze the people on the hillock could scarcely be seen.
"Ah!" thought Pahom, "I have made the sides too long; I must make
this one shorter." And he went along the third side, stepping
faster. He looked at the sun: it was nearly half way to the
horizon, and he had not yet done two miles of the third side of the
square. He was still ten miles from the goal.
"No," he thought, "though it will make my land lopsided, I must
hurry back in a straight line now. I might go too far, and as it is
I have a great deal of land."
So Pahom hurriedly dug a hole, and turned straight towards the hillock.
IX
Pahom went straight towards the hillock, but he now walked with
difficulty. He was done up with the heat, his bare feet were cut
and bruised, and his legs began to fail. He longed to rest, but it
was impossible if he meant to get back before sunset. The sun waits
for no man, and it was sinking lower and lower.
"Oh dear," he thought, "if only I have not blundered trying for too
much! What if I am too late?"
He looked towards the hillock and at the sun. He was still far from
his goal, and the sun was already near the rim. Pahom walked on and
on; it was very hard walking, but he went quicker and quicker. He
pressed on, but was still far from the place. He began running,
threw away his coat, his boots, his flask, and his cap, and kept
only the spade which he used as a support.
"What shall I do," he thought again, "I have grasped too much, and
ruined the whole affair. I can't get there before the sun sets."
And this fear made him still more breathless. Pahom went on
running, his soaking shirt and trousers stuck to him, and his mouth
was parched. His breast was working like a blacksmith's bellows,
his heart was beating like a hammer, and his legs were giving way as
if they did not belong to him. Pahom was seized with terror lest he
should die of the strain.
Though afraid of death, he could not stop. "After having run all
that way they will call me a fool if I stop now," thought he. And
he ran on and on, and drew near and heard the Bashkirs yelling and
shouting to him, and their cries inflamed his heart still more. He
gathered his last strength and ran on.
The sun was close to the rim, and cloaked in mist looked large, and
red as blood. Now, yes now, it was about to set! The sun was quite
low, but he was also quite near his aim. Pahom could already see
the people on the hillock waving their arms to hurry him up. He
could see the fox-fur cap on the ground, and the money on it, and
the Chief sitting on the ground holding his sides. And Pahom
remembered his dream.
"There is plenty of land," thought he, "but will God let me live on
it? I have lost my life, I have lost my life! I shall never reach
that spot!"
Pahom looked at the sun, which had reached the earth: one side of it
had already disappeared. With all his remaining strength he rushed
on, bending his body forward so that his legs could hardly follow
fast enough to keep him from falling. Just as he reached the
hillock it suddenly grew dark. He looked up--the sun had already
set. He gave a cry: "All my labor has been in vain," thought he,
and was about to stop, but he heard the Bashkirs still shouting, and
remembered that though to him, from below, the sun seemed to have
set, they on the hillock could still see it. He took a long breath
and ran up the hillock. It was still light there. He reached the
top and saw the cap. Before it sat the Chief laughing and holding
his sides. Again Pahom remembered his dream, and he uttered a cry:
his legs gave way beneath him, he fell forward and reached the cap
with his hands.
"Ah, what a fine fellow!" exclaimed the Chief. "He has gained
much land!"
Pahom's servant came running up and tried to raise him, but he saw
that blood was flowing from his mouth. Pahom was dead!
The Bashkirs clicked their tongues to show their pity.
His servant picked up the spade and dug a grave long enough for
Pahom to lie in, and buried him in it. Six feet from his head to
his heels was all he needed.
Footnotes:
1. One hundred kopeks make a rouble. The kopek is worth about
half a cent.
2. A non-intoxicating drink usually made from rye-malt and rye-flour.
3. The brick oven in a Russian peasant's hut is usually built so
as to leave a flat top, large enough to lie on, for those who want
to sleep in a warm place.
4. 120 "desyatins." The "desyatina" is properly 2.7 acres; but in
this story round numbers are used.
5. Three roubles per "desyatina."
6. Five "kopeks" for a "desyatina."
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