My Nanaji...

My grandparents run a small school in Gorakhpur. Located on the central Medical College road, it is one of the oldest Hindi medium schools in Gorakhpur. As far as I know, the total number of students in the school never reached 300. Despite the low count, the students who passed out were disciplined and well-behaved. Without a doubt, I can say, that the reason behind that was the principles which had been laid by my Nanaji - who was also the founder of the school.

Nanaji reminded me of Mahatma Gandhi. He led his life on Gandhian principles - which inspired many. He always wore a white Kurta-Lungi and his food matched his lifestyle - simple.

Until sunset, Nanaji spent most of his time inside the school campus – where he had a unique family – a small farm, where he planted vegetables. He also planted mango trees in the farm and looked after the greenery in the campus. It was very rare that vegetables were bought for the market. Every time guests or relatives visited the house; he would invite them to have a look at his farm and then give them vegetables in return. With extreme love and affection, he looked after the flowers and the vegetables - just like parents do for their kids. 

While he barely got angry, he would lose his cool whenever a cricket ball reached his small farm. While the kids ran over the vegetables to fetch the ball in a hurry, he would get furious and yell – “inmein bhi jaan hoti hai.” Sometimes, he even hid the ball in his lungi and pretended as if he had seen nothing. He would return the ball only after the entire team appealed him to do so. He would also warn us not to play shots in that direction. Even he knew that the ball would reach his farm in another 10 minutes but for Nanaji, the happiness of his 14 grandchildren had far more importance than any other thing in the world.

During my school days, he often asked me to read and learn more about politics. Sometimes, he even tried to teach me the basics of politics, which then bounced off my head. I told him about my interest in cricket. He smiled and said, “Politics ki bhi knowledge honi chahiye, bahot kaam aati hai.” When I entered my professional career, I realised that politics was something I got to study and learn. I realised if I had listened to him, he would have taught me and things would have been much easier. Today, when I am into journalism and very much acquainted with politics, I wish he was here and we could have some interesting sessions on politics.

Nanaji always taught us to care for the animals - who are unable to express their feelings. As a part of his daily routine, after having his dinner, he carried chapattis for dogs and cows - who waited for him outside the house to arrive with their meal.

Hatred was something that never existed in his life. Nobody has a clue, about how much of financial help he did for the needy. It was only after he passed away, that we realised it.

In a procession to feed people thirteen days after his death, hundreds of people gathered at the house with tears gushing from their eyes. "He was a great man. We can never forget what he did for me and my family," was something we heard from most of them. The family didn't know how to react when people, who were strangers, came up with similar reactions. He wasn't a celebrity, yet his popularity had no boundaries.

Things are back to routine. There is a gardener who has pledged to look after Nanaji’s family inside the school campus till his last breath. Yet, I am sure; the flowers do not blossom as they did in his presence. There are chapattis cooked especially for dogs and cows - who still get their meals every night. Now, their eyes search for their maseeha and not the food. Nanaji's room is equally well taken well care of. His belongings are neatly kept inside his room. Nanaji's demise has affected the entire family’s appetite. His smiling photograph, neatly framed in his room, is something we all look up to as a source of inspiration. The kids miss his presence, so do elders. Things are back to routine, yet his absence is felt every day.

I am sure if ever God plans to take a break from his daily routine, he will approach my Nanaji asking for a replacement. May his soul rest in peace.

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Note: My Nanaji left for heavenly abode on March 7, 2010. This article is dedicated to him on his first death anniversary.