Tees January Essay: स्थितप्रज्ञ (Sthitaprajna - Steady Wisdom)

Tees January Essay 2026

Photos taken in Birla House

and Rajghat on my last India trip on 30th December 2025.

स्थितप्रज्ञ (Sthitaprajna - Steady Wisdom)

Debi Prasad Choudhary

Los Angeles (01/30/2026)

In 1978, I visited the Ashram of Acharya Vinoba Bhave in Paunar near Nagpur and spend about a week. During daily prayer in presence of the Acharya, we used to recite 18 verses in the second chapter of Srimad Bhagawat Gita (54-72) that describe the properties of individuals with "Sthita-Prajna" or Steady Wisdom. Since then, I kept this practice and later, my father asked that my son must get these verses by-heart and I obliged. Mahatma Gandhi included these verses in his all religion prayer that were recited daily by all who attend them. My early schooling up to 8th grade was in Gandhian Basic Education, where we used to recite these during weekly prayer., There is practice to recite them in most Gandhian prayer gatherings.

In second chapter of Srimad Bhagawat Gita, Sri Krishna describes the properties of an individual who has a steady (Stita) wisdom (Prajna) after narrating the insignificance of death that is certain for all things born. These 22 slokas describe the characteristic of an individual who is steady as rock. I have been in look out for such a real individual that perhaps never exists. Mahatma Gandhi used these as guide to prepare himself for a long fight against many evil that existed and engulfed humanity 100 years ago. It would be over simplification to selectively cite an incident and evaluate his performance. He, as many today, use these 22 slokas to perform in difficult situations that most probably lead success. 

The most striking property of Stita-Prajna is defined by the following verse, which is elaborated in the rest of slokas. 

दु:खेष्वनुद्विग्नमना: सुखेषु विगतस्पृह: |

वीतरागभयक्रोध: स्थितधीर्मुनिरुच्यते || 56||

The mind of Stita-Prajna is free of anxiety in difficulty and devoid of intense desire in the gratification of success. Those mind are devoid of deep desire or craving, devoid of fear and devoid of anger. 

Gandhiji lived with most influential people of his contemporary world as a representative of unfortunate and miserables. He recognized that the goal of all individuals is to be happy. Happiness is the present and future goal of every one that is equipped by hope. The cruelty of a cruel man is with the hope of attaining happiness with the cruel actions. A drug addict uses substance with the hope of happiness. A killer, kills the opponent with a hope for a happy life without his opponent. Accumulation of wealth, power to control others and influence to alter the situation, all are with the hope to acquire happiness.  This is common to rich and famous and poor and unknown individuals of the human society. Even animals hope for happiness. Perhaps Gandhiji realized this simple truth from his extensive interaction with the breadth of humanity.

There are three kind of happiness (Sukha) that are described elsewhere in Srimad Bhagawat Gita. The most lowest form is instant gratification that appears to be happiness but neither so in the beginning nor in the end. My wise master used to give an example of a dog who chews a hard bone that raptures resulting a bleeding mouth. The dog is gratified by tasting his own blood. This is defined as Tamishek Sukha or the pleasure resulting from darkness of ignorance. 

The little higher kind is Rajasik Sukha or the pleasure derived from the actions of ego and attachment to results that often lead to restlessness and anxiety. For example such pleasure is derived from the desire of defeat of others. In a sports event be it a Cricket or football match the result are linked to nationality pride without any relation to individuals achievement. When some one from the team we support makes a spectacular performance, we are gratified without any of our contribution. Same thing applied to happiness derived from group hyping success. These happiness are very short living, soon fads away and often result in lasting pain. These give initial happiness but the pain comes in the end when you realize that there is nothing that can be owned by the individual that carried away by hype. 

The third kind, the most lasting and the hight form that are Swatik Sukha that result from the knowledge of self. They may appear difficult and unpleasant in the beginning and full of bless in the end that gives the lasting happiness. Example of such happiness can be very well be recognized by the individuals who master difficult skills of mathematics and physics with hard work in the beginning to build a solid career. A sports man endures pain in the beginning to attain glory in the end. A man with less fortune in the beginning works hard to master skills that makes his and his offspring lives better. I have personally witnessed my father working for his Master of Arts (MA) in literature degree in his 40s, during which he was studying long hours using a kerosine lamp in a small hut. His success from that that hard work paved way for a better next generation by liberating them from acute poverty. I have witnessed many such individuals who followed the instinct of their inner self.

In the modern era of social media and loud speakers, individuals are often separated from their own self. They easily loose the capacity of analytical skill to recognize the absurdity of comparing Prabhu Ram and his brothers, who according to the legend - god incarnation, with a modern Mughal king Aurangjab and his brothers, who followed the practice of midlevel rulers. Modern man craves for shorter hate prompts on the neighbor that would often serve as the imaginary cause of his misery for momentary gratification. There by he looses capacity for analytical assessment, which is essential for gaining lasting, long term happiness. 

Incapacitating human compassion by constant hate propaganda and lauding the failure of others can be and perhaps is performed by employing modern technology. That danger was recognized by Mahtma Gandhi very early when he called off the non-cooperation movement in 1922 following the death of 3 police man and 22 individuals in Chouri Choura incident. Gandhiji, a master of self knowledge (Atma Gyana), was well aware of that fact that a society with lasting happiness can not be founded on hate and falsehood. In the modern age, with greater tools of mass influencing in hands of all, reading Gandhiji would be an useful activity to spread hope for happiness for all.

--------------------------------------------------------------

Gita Pravachan by Acharya Vinoba Bhave Audio Book

https://youtu.be/DF-gxdfOfqY?si=_QXY0EHsERGYurRF

Please click the picture of Acharya to listen his Pravachan.

--------------------------------------------------------------

अर्जुन उवाच |
स्थितप्रज्ञस्य का भाषा समाधिस्थस्य केशव |
स्थितधी: किं प्रभाषेत किमासीत व्रजेत किम् || 54||

Arjun said : O Keshav, what is the disposition of one who is situated in divine consciousness? How does an enlightened person talk? How does he sit? How does he walk?

श्रीभगवानुवाच |
प्रजहाति यदा कामान्सर्वान्पार्थ मनोगतान् |
आत्मन्येवात्मना तुष्ट: स्थितप्रज्ञस्तदोच्यते || 55||

The Supreme Lord said: O Parth, when one discards all selfish desires and cravings of the senses that torment the mind, and becomes satisfied in the realization of the self, such a person is said to be transcendentally situated.

दु:खेष्वनुद्विग्नमना: सुखेषु विगतस्पृह: |
वीतरागभयक्रोध: स्थितधीर्मुनिरुच्यते || 56||

One whose mind remains undisturbed amidst misery, who does not crave for pleasure, and who is free from attachment, fear, and anger, is called a sage of steady wisdom.

य: सर्वत्रानभिस्नेहस्तत्तत्प्राप्य शुभाशुभम् |
नाभिनन्दति न द्वेष्टि तस्य प्रज्ञा प्रतिष्ठिता || 57||

One who remains unattached under all conditions, and is neither delighted by good fortune nor dejected by tribulation, he is a sage with perfect knowledge.

यदा संहरते चायं कूर्मोऽङ्गानीव सर्वश: |
इन्द्रियाणीन्द्रियार्थेभ्यस्तस्य प्रज्ञा प्रतिष्ठिता || 58||

One who is able to withdraw the senses from their objects, just as a tortoise withdraws its limbs into its shell, is established in divine wisdom.

विषया विनिवर्तन्ते निराहारस्य देहिन: |
रसवर्जं रसोऽप्यस्य परं दृष्ट्वा निवर्तते || 59||

Aspirants may restrain the senses from their objects of enjoyment, but the taste for the sense objects remains. However, even this taste ceases for those who realize the Supreme.

यततो ह्यपि कौन्तेय पुरुषस्य विपश्चित: |
इन्द्रियाणि प्रमाथीनि हरन्ति प्रसभं मन: || 60||

The senses are so strong and turbulent, O son of Kunti, that they can forcibly carry away the mind even of a person endowed with discrimination who practices self-control.

तानि सर्वाणि संयम्य युक्त आसीत मत्पर: |
वशे हि यस्येन्द्रियाणि तस्य प्रज्ञा प्रतिष्ठिता || 61||

They are established in perfect knowledge, who subdue their senses and keep their minds ever absorbed in Me.

ध्यायतो विषयान्पुंस: सङ्गस्तेषूपजायते |
सङ्गात्सञ्जायते काम: कामात्क्रोधोऽभिजायते || 62||

While contemplating on the objects of the senses, one develops attachment to them. Attachment leads to desire, and from desire arises anger.

क्रोधाद्भवति सम्मोह: सम्मोहात्स्मृतिविभ्रम: |
स्मृतिभ्रंशाद् बुद्धिनाशो बुद्धिनाशात्प्रणश्यति || 63||

Anger leads to clouding of judgment, which results in bewilderment of memory. When memory is bewildered, the intellect gets destroyed; and when the intellect is destroyed, one is ruined.

रागद्वेषवियुक्तैस्तु विषयानिन्द्रियैश्चरन् |
आत्मवश्यैर्विधेयात्मा प्रसादमधिगच्छति || 64||

But one who controls the mind, and is free from attachment and aversion, even while using the objects of the senses, attains the Grace of God.

प्रसादे सर्वदु:खानां हानिरस्योपजायते |
प्रसन्नचेतसो ह्याशु बुद्धि: पर्यवतिष्ठते || 65||

By divine grace comes the peace in which all sorrows end, and the intellect of such a person of tranquil mind soon becomes firmly established in God.

नास्ति बुद्धिरयुक्तस्य न चायुक्तस्य भावना |
न चाभावयत: शान्तिरशान्तस्य कुत: सुखम् || 66||

But an undisciplined person, who has not controlled the mind and senses, can neither have a resolute intellect nor steady contemplation on God. For one who never unites the mind with God there is no peace; and how can one who lacks peace be happy?

इन्द्रियाणां हि चरतां यन्मनोऽनुविधीयते |
तदस्य हरति प्रज्ञां वायुर्नावमिवाम्भसि || 67||

Just as a strong wind sweeps a boat off its chartered course on the water, even one of the senses on which the mind focuses can lead the intellect astray.

तस्माद्यस्य महाबाहो निगृहीतानि सर्वश: |
इन्द्रियाणीन्द्रियार्थेभ्यस्तस्य प्रज्ञा प्रतिष्ठिता || 68||

Therefore, one who has restrained the senses from their objects, O mighty armed Arjun, is firmly established in transcendental knowledge.

या निशा सर्वभूतानां तस्यां जागर्ति संयमी |
यस्यां जाग्रति भूतानि सा निशा पश्यतो मुने: || 69||

What all beings consider as day is the night of ignorance for the wise, and what all creatures see as night is the day for the introspective sage.

आपूर्यमाणमचलप्रतिष्ठं
समुद्रमाप: प्रविशन्ति यद्वत् |
तद्वत्कामा यं प्रविशन्ति सर्वे
स शान्तिमाप्नोति न कामकामी || 70||

Just as the ocean remains undisturbed by the incessant flow of waters from rivers merging into it, likewise the sage who is unmoved despite the flow of desirable objects all around him attains peace, and not the person who strives to satisfy desires.

विहाय कामान्य: सर्वान्पुमांश्चरति नि:स्पृह: |
निर्ममो निरहङ्कार: स शान्तिमधिगच्छति || 71||

That person, who gives up all material desires and lives free from a sense of greed, proprietorship, and egoism, attains perfect peace.

एषा ब्राह्मी स्थिति: पार्थ नैनां प्राप्य विमुह्यति |
स्थित्वास्यामन्तकालेऽपि ब्रह्मनिर्वाणमृच्छति || 72||

O Parth, such is the state of an enlightened soul that having attained it, one is never again deluded. Being established in this consciousness even at the hour of death, one is liberated from the cycle of life and death and reaches the Supreme Abode of God.

--------------------------------------------

Dasarathi’s Director Dream

Dasarathi’s Director Dream

Debi Prasad Choudhary

Los Angeles

5/25/2016

(This is a fictional story of an individual who wanted a position of power)

Dasarathi travelled with his father to live in a small isolated village at an age of about 14 years. This was the first major promotion in the career of his father as headmaster of a high school. While travelling, he over heard the conversation of his parents with excitement that they might virtually own the new organization, similar to the headmaster of the school where his father served. He discovered that his father became the boss of a large campus that had 15 teachers of different ranks and five peons. Although his mother did not have any official power, she exercised considerable influence to secure major domestic help from peons. A peon from low cast carried water for external use such as washing and bathing, whereas the one from higher cast brought few buckets for cooking food. The vast open field of the school was used for grazing of cow. Every evening, few teachers used to visit their home and sit around his father to praise him and talk ill of the people they disliked. He and his siblings received very special treatment by the teachers and the community. He did not even had to comply with the due dates for library books or attend school activity in time. As his father was invited to many important village functions, Dasarathi slowly but surely started realizing the importance of their family in the contemporary society even though their financial situation was not much different. For the first time, he started admiring his family and wanted to become like his father.

After a couple of years, Dasarathi travelled to his major town for higher education where he was exposed to a plethora of religious sects.  The leaders of these organizations earned much more money compered to his father and had more influence among their followers. Yes, they were less educated and virtually performed no structured duty.  They were not accountable to anybody, unlike his father, who had to report to a school superintendent every month. The head of the religious groups, who visited the town, were good public speakers. But, their material had no difficult concept of trigonometry or English grammar that his father used to narrate in the classroom. Dasarathi considered this easier career path and tried to gather as much information as possible from different groups.  As the college educations of physics, chemistry, biology or English language were inconsequential he had little interest in them. In the end, his poor performance in final examination did not fetch him an engineering or medical seat. By this time, he knew that it was impossible for him to become sufficiently “crook” to lead the religious groups that visit his town often times and slowly abandoned the idea.  Most of his friends joined jobs in banks or went for higher study in professional colleges. Just to keep family honor, he decided to become a student of physics, which was sufficiently honorable in his town. With some difficulty, he secured a seat and developed a taste for the subject. Now, let alone heading an organization like his father, he was not sure of getting a real job and continued higher and higher studies with scholarships.

Dasarathi saw a ray of hope to head an organization in the middle of his graduate studies few years before completing PhD. He was offered to become the director of a planetarium that was newly built in the capital city of his home state. As his university paperwork was not in good shape for completing the PhD degree, he considered the job for a moment. Anyway, there was no guarantee of a good job with great monitory compensation after completing PhD, which was going to take long years. Dasarathi thought, after getting a nice secured job as a head of an organization, he might be able to get married and entertain his parents to earn the admiration of his native society. Soon, Dasarathi’s dream faded away as his fellow students and classmates taunted him. They told him it is foolish of him to abandon pursuing the path of knowledge for shortsighted quick gain. His PhD supervisor mocked in public that it is time for Dasarathi to play and enjoy life as a kid! It is not wise to take burden of heading organizations at such an early stage. Of course, his PhD supervisor was an extraordinary wise and simple man with almost no taste for power or public command. Scholarship and pursuit of knowledge was his passion. Dasarathi resisted his desire to send the application for the post, as he feared that it would make his desire public, when a secretary types the curriculum vitae and application in the institute. In fear of public humiliation for his desire to become director of a planetarium Dasarathi abandoned the idea, and eventually completed the degree and travelled abroad.

His regret of not opting for the directorship became apparent while looking for a suitable groom, whose parents were asking Dasarathi’s father about the job status. Those days scientist was not known as a job, it was considered some thing like a “good man” or a “saint”!! So, it was not easy to find a bride for a jobless scientist, who was living on fellowship. His parents had to say that he is a “scientific officer”. The “officer” title was more useful than “scientist”, although scientific officers in his institutes were to perform bookkeeping jobs in purchasing equipment and help in research work. Fortunately, Dasarathi located a bright, ambitious, independent thinking young girl, who was also good looking, to get married and travel abroad. While working abroad, he found that the institute director, a distinguished researcher in his field, did not enjoy as much power as his father. He had some unpleasant job of looking after administrative affairs and mostly enjoyed while goofing around with colleagues and students. Dasarathi’s dream of becoming a director started to change.

After a couple of years of staying abroad, Dasarathi returned to his country to join as a postdoctoral fellow in a new research center. The institute was new, full of active young people and few powerful old men, who newly acquired power to give away stuff.  Dasarathi was offered meager salary but an accommodation to live. As he was expecting his son, a good accommodation and medical benefit was good enough a package to accept the job. Dasarathi got a two-bedroom apartment in a decent locality, even though some others fellows lived in better houses in the campus. Timid Dasarathi did not have enough courage to demand equal facility because; by this time it was clear to him that he belonged to a slightly inferior community. He did not belong to the community of known scholars, famous scientists; ancient warriors who were Tamils, Bengalis and few Marathas. Even though Dasarathi’s ancestors were great architects, poets and also astronomers, the contemporary conditions of his community were not as good enough. Added to this, Dasarathi did not belong to any famous or powerful family nor he had any recommendation from such people. So, he used to receive whatever came his way as benevolent offer from the society. After a week or so, he became annoyed as he was forced to share the apartment with other institute guests. Following the advise of some friends, he brought the matter to the attention of institution head Sri. Kumar Phirke. Phirke asked Dasarathi, “as a mere postdoctoral fellow, what more do you expect? You should be grateful with what you are given”. Dasarathi was not only shocked and got depressed but came close to see - what powerful positions do in his society. It was also encouraging for him to see, how powerful people can make others happy or sad, as they wanted. Desire to become a director again aroused in him. Silently, he started looking for another place where he might get some respect apart from enough compensation. Later of course, he developed a decent friendship with Phirke while working in another organization. Many years later, he heard that American Embassy asked if the PhD degree of Phirke was genuine. And Dasarahi joked even he had the same doubt!

Eventually, Dasarathi joined his home institute, where he completed his higher studies as a junior most scientist. Since most of his professors and supervisors were still working, he started feeling like a student again. It was a refreshing experience, but his new group head Dr. Gobardhan Giri, who was of same age as his PhD supervisor, was worried and stared training him as a responsible employee. Gobordhan-babu asked him to come to office regularly shaved and well dressed, unlike a student. Gobordhan-babu appointed Dasarathi in many committees, and insisted quitting smoking. Essentially, Dasarathi’s was now molded into a responsible salaried employ. As Dasarathi was learning new field of research from Gobordhan-babu, he felt it like a second PhD and forgot about the directorship all together. By this time, he had access to the top leadership of the country and spent most of his effort in travelling the world and being busy in high quality scientific research. Even though the salary was not really great, as he became a young father his life was good.

After few years, on his return from a few months visit to America, he found his immediate senior, Dr. Gajanan Gantayat, in the office of Dr. Giri, who retired in the mean time.  Now Dasarathi experienced power from close quarter with Gajanan Babu.  Now he started liking the power again. Gajanan babu used to get money every month to run the center and had absolute power and freedom to spend the way he liked. Everybody in the office used to surround him and praised him for several hours. The office guards started carrying the briefcase of Gajanan babu as soon as he came out of his car. Dasarathi became jealous of this, especially when his wife started feeling the burn upon the gossip of office staff. Even though Dasarathi would have liked to become a director, he was keen to go to America to earn some more money and focused on some good quality work without antagonizing anybody. Eventually, after he left for America for a couple of years, Gajanan babu faced many problems apparently due to excessive use of newly acquired power and replaced by Hanumant Rao, a reputed scientist from south. Rao sahib asked Dasarathi to come back as soon as possible, so that he can try to fetch some national awards for him and participate in building large research facilities. Dasarathi returned with excitement and full of hope of getting some national awards, so that he can face his wife to counter neighbor’s gossip.

This time, on his return from America, Dasarathi faced tremendous trouble especially as his family could not fully integrate in the changing environment. His son had forgot the native language and his wife did not like the accommodation. With the hope of better tomorrow, Dasarathi continued and got opportunity to come in proximity to the top science managers of the country. In the mean time Dasarathi got a promotion to the next stage with a salary hike that gave him a hope of a better future, eventually leading to a directorship. On one occasion Dasarathi was in charge of taking care of the top most manager, Sri Ravana Jani of his organization during his visit to the city. He accompanied Sri Ravana everywhere and eventually carried the check from his office to pay for the accommodation and other expenses. The check carried the amount equivalent to what Dasarathi would earn in ten years as a result of his new promotion. This observation renewed his interest in directorship and he decided to work hard with Rao sahib in making a new research facility and managing to get national awards. Rao sahib could not help achieving any of his personal ambitions and progress became slow. Dasarathi neither got any national award nor could see any large project coming. He became increasingly frustrated from both family pressure and professional non-progress. Eventually, after a couple of years he returned back to America.

Dasarathi focused on “various paperwork” and raising a family in America like any first generation immigrant. He focused in the professional excellence that demanded most of his time. The “Director Dream” was eventually dead. Without notice, after few years he was asked to take the position of an associate directorship of a small organization. This position came with some incentive of additional monetary benefit but lots of responsibility.  Even though, the workload was a bit more, his long cherished dream was finally fulfilled. His family was happy as some people started recognizing his new position of high honor. That aroused his old desire of directorship that would bring real power and lots of honor. Such positions in America are non-existent, so he again looked for them in his native country. During one of visits to his native place, he met an old friend, who was the director of a large government organization. Watching the servants, drivers and praisers, Dasarathi thought, it may be worth giving another try for such a position. After all, now he is an associate director of a reputed American Organization, what ever that might mean!!

As soon as Dasarathi noticed the advertisement of directorship for a relatively large reputed organization from his native land, he started talking to some of his colleagues and seriously explored the possibility of such venture. He knew that his family will strongly oppose any such move but his strong desire made him submit an application. Since, he was reviewed for a recent promotion in his organization that fetched him 11% pay raise, his curriculum vitae was almost ready. As he submitted the application, he announced it to many of his friends and colleagues, who encouraged him to actually take it up, if offered. He even had a vision - why he would like to become director of the organization. He prepared in American style, where all stakeholders in the organization, starting from ordinary workers to top level managers, take interview and ask question like, “why you want to become director?” He sent the application package, prepared meticulously, by email and waited for a response. After many months, he received a two-line response asking him to send a signed copy by airmail. There seemed to be no such enthusiasm of hiring a director. Later, he received a letter from the highest government office, asking him to come to the national capital for a discussion with management. He was excited partly because he might get a free air ticket to visit his native land and see his parents. He enquired if the travel expenses are provided. He thought, after all if selected he will decide the fate of at least 200 people, including about 90 high intellectuals. So, he might even get a first class airfare. He started dreaming the type of wine he might order in the plane. To his disappointment, the officer from the institute declined the airfare request. He had serious apprehension for the capacity of these directors, so decided to give-up the hope altogether.

In the mean time, Dasarathi had achieved a very respectable position in American society with a handsome pay package. So he had no intention of any superficial respect, as he learned everything is measured by green dollars. After a year or so, he again received a letter from the government office in national capital, to appear in the office for discussion. In the mean time, he started enquiring the status of contemporary directors in his country. To his surprise, he found that it has lost the charm to such an extent that some of them prefer to remain anonymous. He also found out that the salary package for the director would be much less than the income tax he is currently paying. Without real power to play an effective role of directorship or an attractive pay package, Dasarathi gave up his “Director Dream” forever and preserved the letters of correspondences with high government officials as valuable memories to convince his wife that he is an eligible director for the top institutes back home!! 

Act of Bribing

Act of Bribing

Debi Prasad Choudhary

Los Angeles, 1/8/2013

Dasrathi, called as Das by his friends, grew up in small villages of Orissa before completing college in a small town. Being son of a teacher, he was simple and totally inexperienced about day-to-day the dealings, even after graduating with physics Honors from a reputed college.  While pursuing Master degree in Kurukshetra University, he used to travel by train, many times without reservation. It was hard. In order to get a seat in the train, he would ask¹Coolies for help. Coolies would charge any where between ²10 to 25 rupees to help taking the luggage into the train and occupy a seat for him. Given the rush for the seats on the train, he would consider it a good deal. Even though he would get a seat they were not secured. Some body else can occupy them, when Dasrathi goes to bathroom, which was of course rare, except when the train used to pass Bihar. In that case, there was a chance that he would lose the seat. Later, he found that with a little more money, say 30 to 50 rupees, he could negotiate with the ticket collector on a reserved compartment of the train and get a sleeping birth permanently. Although it was an adventure, in which he would follow the collector for several hours among many people to finally get a seat by giving extra 50 rupees along with the fees. He always considered this as legitimate considering the fact that if he were to spend a night in a hotel he would pay similar amount.

In later life after getting job, he paid ³baksis to policeman for verification while making a passport for his wife and child or to postman on ⁴Dwali and Dashara. They are definitely not bribe. It was a pleasure. What was definitely bribe are painful and Das can count them in to three accounts.

One day while travelling, he was to change the train in Bombay Charchgate station. He went to buy a ticket for Ahmedabad, where he had joined a premiere center for space research to work on his PhD thesis. Suddenly he found a plain cloth policeman approached him and asked to follow to an office. He said that Das had travelled on train without ticket, so he can be arrested and put to jail before producing him in front of a Magistrate. It was devastating. Suddenly he thought, what would his parents think? What will happen when this news of his jail time reaches his friends and relatives in the small town? Before he could realize what is happening, the policeman took him to another person who was sitting on chair with a table and surrounded by many people. The policeman described the situation. Das told that he is travelling from a small town in Orissa to Ahmedabad and he was trying to get another ticket. Those days, it was not possible to buy the ticket for entire journey from one station. He showed his ticket of his previous journey. The officer sitting on the chair said, even in that case why did you come towards the metro side of the station where tickets are only sold for trains that run in Bombay. You should have gone to the section where interstate train tickets are sold. So, there is a possibility that you travelled in the local train without ticket. The consequence is that you appear in front of a Magistrate for adjudication, which might take at least couple of days. In the mean time another guy offered to help in negotiating. He said if Das can pay 50 rupees, the matter could be resolved. While this was going on, Das heard the policeman talking to his friend, who asked how much this boy can pay you think? Anyway, the matter was resolved with less than 50 rupees but was a nightmare.

Another incident happened when Das was returning to India after staying abroad for about two years. He shipped about 100 audio and 15 videocassettes by post. The audiocassettes contained songs of ⁵Lataji and classical renditions of ⁶Pt. Bhimsen Joshi and ⁷Pt. Jasraj. Videocassettes contained among others movies such as “The shining” and “one flew over the cook’s nest”. After receiving the intimation in Puna about the arrival of the boxes in Bombay foreign post office, he came to collect them. The officer, who was a middle aged man from Bihar with smelly cloths and ugly looking, refused to clear the papers and asked for import license. Das explained that he works in a premiere research organization in Pune, where the director is a great scientist in India and serves as adviser to the prime minister. The officer did not give a dam. He must have thought that if this guy is so powerful and connected, how come he is coming here in person. Anyway, nothing happened during the entire day while he watched the activities in the office. He noticed that people give the passport with some money to the ugly person who clears the papers. Towards the end of the day, he approached the officer and told he is ready to pay like others to get the job done. The ugly guy flared up and scolded Das for alleging him for bribery.  So, the ugly-looking officer decides that the matter must be adjudicated by tax collector in due course of time. With a sad face, Das went to the chair out side and sat in despair and helplessness. A relatively young man, most probably a south-Indian, approached him and offered to help. The day was over and Das spend the night in a cheap hotel with a bed spending about 50 rupees. It was a filthy place with many poor people around. The next day without even washing face, as there was no facility in the hotel, he arrived in the post office and took the help of the young south-Indian man, who told him that he should put some money in the drawer of the ugly-officer, without asking him and give the passport. With severing hands, Das performed this act and got the papers cleared. Before finally receiving, he noticed that several female officers gathered around his packets and selected the videocassettes (one flew over the cooks nest) to take them like vulchers. It was a painful experience.

On the third occasion, while returning from USA with his wife and little son after staying two years, Das was already an experienced man with confidence. He had a laptop computer, few electronic gadgets in six suitcases. After immigration clearance, a person approached him and offered help saying, “निकलवाना है क्या ?” (do you wants to take things out?). Das confidently said, “हाँ कितना लगेगा ?” (Yes, how much?). After discussing the list of items, he said it would be about 300 US dollars. Das negotiated for 100 US dollar and the middleman advised him to go through the gate number 3 in the red channel and put the money in the trash can while departing. On arrival at the gate, the officer said he must put 200 US dollars not 100 and he must do this fast since the cameras are watching. Das was already courageous, and said, no “पर्ची काटो” (give receipts for the money). Listening the confident voice perhaps, the officer said, “ठीक है जाओ” (alright go!). It was a great day for Das. Finally, he could participate in corruption in his own terms and with dignity. He did not feel humiliated not miserable like previous two occasions. Proudly he proceeded with his wife and son. He has been narrating this story more often to his friends with pride ever since.

¹Coolies: Porters in Indian Rail Way. There is even a Hindi movie named Coolie in which Amitav Bachan acts as coolie.

² Those days one US Dollar was about 25 rupees.

³baksis: kind of present. If some body is happy about the work of a subordinate little money is given as a token of appreciation.

⁴Dwali and Dashara: an Indian festival during which baksis is given to community servers such as a policeman, postman, electrician, and street cleaners etc.

⁵Lataji: A great Indian singer.

⁶Pt. Bhimsen Joshi and ⁷Pt. Jasraj: Great Indian classical vocalists.

Dasarathi gets Residency and Ration Card

Dasarathi gets Residency in Haryana and Ration Card in Rajasthan

Debi Prasad Choudhary

Los Angeles, 1/8/2013

After spending a hot summer in Delhi in pursuit of an opportunity to work in IIT Delhi, Dasrathi returned to University campus to join M.Phil Degree. It was an exciting opportunity to work on a project related to X-ray fluorescence funded by Department of Atomic Energy. Dasarathi was very happy as this job promised him of 600 rupees per month. This is the first time he will earn money, which is much more compared to 250 rupees he was receiving from his father while studying for MSc degree. In fact, his father was earning only about 1000 rupees at that time. Even though Dasrathi could not imagine the magnitude of the money, he was happy since it was enough to save some money for buying a cigarette that would cost one third of a rupee. After returning to campus, he went a friend’s room with a full pack of cigarette in anticipation of the job. Next morning he went to the admission office and found out that 75% of the seats in MPhil are reserved for Haryana Domiciles. Being a resident of Orissa, Dasarathi’s chance to join MPhil program was bleak, since there were only 10 seats. Dasarathi was a bit nervous and went to the chair of department for help.

The Department chair was always kind to him, who actually offered MSc seat two years before. The chair advised him to get a domicile certificate issued by the district magistrate. Since the magistrate was a Sanskrit scholar, Dasrathi went to meet Shastriji, the chair of Sanskrit Department. Shastriji immediately recognized Dasrathi, who was performing ¹Ganesh puja organized by ²odiya community. Since he was chanting Sankrit Mantras, Shastriji enquired about his background. Learning him as a Physics student, he was impressed. Shastriji was more than happy to help Dasrathi by recommending his student to issue a domicile certificate. As Dasrathi arrived at the residence of the magistrate, who was having evening tea, he heard him taking to Shastriji by telephone. The magistrate was telling Shastriji, “Yes Sir, I think he is here now. I shall do the needful. Your blessings Sir.” Within few minutes, the magistrate signed the paperwork, as told Dasrathi that Shastriji was praising him a lot.

The following morning a friend of Dasrathi, a Haryana resident was also worrying for obtaining a domicile certificate. Dasrathi proudly narrated his success and offered help. Both of them again went to the resident of the magistrate around noon, which was generally a time for rest after lunch. By this time the magistrate had forgotten Dasrathi’s connection with Shastriji and asked to give the paperwork in the office in a rude manner. Dasrathi was shocked recognizing his social worthlessness and returned with his friend.

Many years later, Dasrathi needed a ration card to apply for the passport of his son. Getting a voter identity card was easy, but that was not of much importance. Ration card provided a root in the society. He went to the magistrate’s office in Udaipur by his newly bought Hero Honda motorcycle with a student and found a long line of applicants in a make shift office under a banyan tree. After standing in the queue for about 30 minutes, he got a chance to meet the officer to give his application. Before even looking at the application, the officer asked: where is the previous ration card? Dasrathi said, he never had a ration card. The officer told that the ration card belonging to Dasrathi’s parents must contain his name, which must be removed before a new card can be made. Dasrathi must get a document indicating this removal. This was an impossible task, so he decided to return home to explore other options.

Before riding the bike, Dasrathi’s student reminded him about a friend Sitanath, who newly joined a sub-judicial magistrate. Sitanath was a new IAS officer, a scholarly man from odiya community. Sitanath was very interested in astrology. Since Dasrathi was also from odiya community and practicing astronomer, they were family friends. Dasrathi located the office Sitanath with the help of ³chaparasi and found that there were few layers of officers before meeting the magistrate. After waiting few minutes on a bench outside the office, Dasrathi proceeded to meet the magistrate passing a dark room with a courtroom setting. Sitanath greeted him and offered tea with biscuit. Dasrathi said it is so hard to obtain a ration card, that he will appreciate some help. The magistrate asked his peon to call the officer dealing with the ration card.

While waiting for the officer, Sitakanta engaged in intellectual discussion for a change from his monotonous routine activity. He said most officers are corrupt, but the political leaders actually like honest officers. If some body in IAS cadre want to climb higher in the ladder, it is important to remain honest. Sitanath was an honest man. Once some devotees of ⁴Sri Aurovindo came to request him for favor to acquire a government plot for constructing a center of spiritual discourse. They brought a set of are very expensive Sri Aurovindo books as gift. Sitanath was a scholar and would love to read these books but cannot effort to buy them. In this occasion, he refused to accept the gift, but agreed to read them before returning. This honesty elevated him as the personal secretary of the chief minister after few years.

Anyway, after a while the same officer under the banyan tree came and greeted the magistrate saying “⁴hukum” (हुकुम् ). Sitanath told, can you make a ration card quickly, to which the officer replied “hukum” (हुकुम् ). Dasrathi was delighted and said it is all right to get the card in couple of days. Sitanath brought the card after few days while visiting Dasrathi for a dinner. This was the first real world exposure for Dasrathi, where he learned the importance of contacts at high places.

¹Ganesh puja: Worship to Sri Ganesh by student community.

²odiya community: Community of students from the state of Odisa.

³chaparasi: Peon

⁴Sri Aurovindo: An Indian saint.

⁴hukum: Give me order.