Tuesday, April 17, 2007

My visit to Ranipur Village

Two days ago, from Babatpur Airport, Varanasi, I took a waiting car (generously sent by my Brother-in-law, Mr. Anand Prakash) towards Ranipur Village near Jaunpur, UP.

Somehow, at the back of my mind, I thought this would be a "small town" type of place with the hustle-bustle of rickshaws, tempos, tractors, etc.

But, just before our destination, when I saw a series of mud-houses and crops, I realized that I was about a visit a "true-blue" village with mud-houses and no public (and very few private toilets).

Now, a confession...I never been to such kind of village... Considering that there are 6,38,365 villages in India (including the uninhabited villages, as per the Census of India 2001, www.censusindia.net/results/eci6.html), that is an unbelievable depravity in my part. But, more on that part later.

I always wanted to visit such a village. So, it was turning out to be a “dream” visit. At that moment, it was exhilarating to pass through those mud-houses and crops across barely two-meter wide roads with friendly villagers guiding us to our destination.

Although, comparing that with the explosion of flyovers, malls and cineplexes in Delhi and rest of urban India, I didn’t know which emotion to choose.

Should I celebrate truly being in natural surroundings OR do something about the wealth and infrastructural gap? I certainly didn’t miss the first part…

But, what about the second option?

What do you say guys?

Let us brainstorm…I know we may be doing our bit by paying taxes and lot of people and institutions (incl. govt and NGOs) seem to be doing something at least…..But, let us see WHAT IS MISSING…Are there any GAPS, not being plugged….Are we doomed or are we progressing?

4 comments:

Mish said...

Well I think that any type of developments is followed by encroachments. Hence we shud leave the virgin beauty of this village as it is. Its we in urban area who feels this kind of life to be hardship. Rather as a kid I never had aversion to go to this place since what we enjoyed was natural surrounding and pleasure to climb a tree to eat mangoes, brushing teeth with neem datun, taking bath in open tube well. Although on second thought I do think that basice necessities like toilets is a MUST :)) !!!

Nupur said...

I agree on the thought that the natural surroundings should not be altered.
Felt the same on my visit to Ratnagiri few weeks back, villages (actually) spaced at least 15 km apart and the villages were a cluster of 10 houses and amazing stretches of greenery, something we would never ever see in our metros or mini metros.
Also, today, we scour virgin stretches for a second home, where the common man in this village doesnt know of such a commodity.
True, "THE WHAT IS MISSING" needs to identified and taken care off by a master craftsman, hopefully not at the cost of losing the environment.
I am pretty sure, I shall retire at the earliest and settle in a village!!!

CoolMoon said...

अरे भाईसाहब यह तो भारी सवाल पूछ दिए!
खैर हम तो इतना कुछ सोच समझ नहीं सकते। बचपन की हर गरमी छुट्टी में दिल्ली से गांव जाते थे। वो बाल मन काफी खुश होता था खुले वातावरण में, खेतों और आम के बागानों में धमाचौकडी मचने में। पर जैसे जैसे दुनिया देखनी शुरू की, देखा की गांव में बिजली नहीं है, सड़क ना होने से बच्चे पढ़ने के लिए, जवान रोजगार के लिए और बीमार इलाज के लिए नहीं जा पा रहे। क्या अच्छा है यह तो पता नहीं पर खुद को दिल्ली में ही पाया।

Anonymous said...

even i went to a village in kenya
it was very filghty
but there are people who are trying to develop the country
everyone should take an incinitive in fixing up villages
thnx!!!