Prashant Subhashchandra Salunke
Translators :
Anupam Chaturvedi
&
Bhaumik Mehta (U.S.A)
Thank You Note….By Anupam Chaturvedi
Reading to Prashant sir’s story is always been interesting. I am fan of his stories since a long time. Each of his stories is damn inspirational and motivational. His stories always carry a message, a moral for his society. In addition, that is what keeps me stuck to him and his articles more and more. Even he, as a person is much helpful and inspirational. It is good to work with him.
This story, when I read it gave me a sudden feeling about people’s thinking of bad or good influence, which made me to translate this story in English for other read not so good in Hindi & Gujarati. I hope I would translate some more in future. As good things are, need to spread.
He is going to publish books I am glad to hear about it wishing him all the best for his ignited future.
Didn’T HAD COURAGE TO KNOW THE REAL THING, PRASH, RITUAL BECAME THE WRONG THING.
There was a festive mood in the village. Villagers gathered around the well on the outskirts of the village, for worshipping it and for the sacrifice of a rooster. Little Vinu was also there with his father Ganapat. In the afternoon, the celebration got over and everybody went to their home. On the way to home Vinu asked his father, “Dad, why do we sacrifice a rooster every year at this well?”
Father smiled and said, “It’s very old ritual of the village my son.”
Vinu asked with astonishment, “But dad, there must be some reason behind this ritual. Isn’t it?” Ganapat found a tree shadow and after sitting there he said, “You won’t understand this way? So listen, it’s a very old story. My grandfather, Arajandas got to know about this story from his father Virdas. One day his friend Bhikhadas went to the neighbor village for some work, he got late while returning. Darkness was spread everywhere in the evening. Therefore, he was in a hurry to get back to his home. At that time, suddenly he heard footsteps of someone. He got scared. Gathering courage, he asked, “Who is that?” And started looking here and there but no one was there. He started walking fast towards village. At that time, a stone fell on his back. He left a glance around and noticed that the branch of trees are shivering. Now Bhikhadas was completely frightened, he started running towards village. Now the voice wasn’t audible. So he stopped after a distance for having some breaths. Again, he heard same footsteps someone was following him. Now he wished to reach home as soon as possible. In sometime he was on the border of the village, there he heard something falling in the well and shouting, "Man, you escaped. You're safe." And Bhikhadas started shivering, and started running without looking behind. He went unconscious while entering the village, when he came back to his senses he told the full story to all the villagers.
An old man of village listened to him and said, “Because of his luck Bhikhadas could escape from there and save his life. Today is the night of new moon, and on this night, many unsatisfied souls wander around. Every soul has its specific area and it’s very powerful in that area. It can’t leave its limit under any circumstances. Such unsatisfied soul was following Bhikhadas. But before it can do any harm to Bhikhadas, Bhikhadas entered village, where the limit of soul must be ending. Seeing Bhikhadas escaping from its limit, it jumped off in well so that Bhikhadas look back and get into its trap. But Bhikhadas was wise so he didn’t look back, its trap failed and Bhikhadas escaped from there safely.”
One of the frightened villagers asked him, “What must we do now? Now that soul will trouble each and every one of us!”
That Old man replied, “No, we will satisfy that unsatisfied soul. Every year, on this new moon night, we will sacrifice a rooster for it. So that soul would be pleased with us and instead of troubling us, it will protect us.”
After hearing the story Vinu said to his father, “I got it dad, since then we are celebrating this ritual. I pass daily from there while going to school and from now on even I’ll worship that well”
Ganapat got up and was pleased with his lad, he understood the reason.
Now here is another story:
This is a very old story, a thief used to live in a village. His name was Champat. He used to steal during nights and during day, he behaved like a respected member of society. One day he got to know that the villagers doubt him for theft. In addition, the head of village is going to search his house for the investigation and discovery of truth. He was shocked because of this what to do now? After much thinking, he made a plan. And to initiate his plan he started waiting for evening. As soon as the darkness arrived, he gathered all his stolen goods into a bag and while taking care that nobody is noticing him, he started off for somewhere, After some distance, he thought the person walking ahead him stopped and coming towards him; he got scared and hid himself under tree’s trunk. Then he thought that, that man has passed from there, he came out and looked at the tree. It was a Mango tree. He thought to have some mangoes, so he picked up a stone and pelted it on the tree. But the mangoes were far, so it was tough to reach there. He held a branch of tree and tried to get a mango, but all his efforts were in vain. Now Champat thought that it’s better to complete his work first instead of wasting his time here. Now as per the plan, he reached the well, and threw all his goods in the well. His plan was successful. No one saw him. Now even if the head of village searches his house, he isn’t going to find anything. After all the matter calms down, he will take out the bag from the well. And with this thought he started shouting, "Man, you escaped. You're safe." After finishing his work, he left from there.
If Bhikhadas would have gathered courage and looked at the well, he would have seen Champat at the well. And whole village would have been saved from this blind faith. And life of those roosters too, who were killed in the name of sacrifice. But…
