Banarasilal

Prof. V.R. Shah and I had taken the students of the School of Architecture for a measured drawing trip. The students were busy in their own world. We thought of having a beer and a dinner somewhere. We were shown a darkish lane where the shop was located. There was a collapsible gate through which the shop keeper sold spirits. We stood in the line and after a long while when our turn came asked for two beers. The beer was given to us in paper bags while instructing us to stand in the darkness, quietly drink, not mess around with others and leave while leaving the bottles at the bottom of the wall. We followed the instructions and quenched our thirst! We looked for a cigarette shop and found a tiny one. A small boy was seating in it. I asked for a cigarette and asked him, “How come you are minding the shop? You are so small. Padhai ka kya?” He answered, “Hamare baba khana khane gaye hain to hum unko relib (relive) kar rahain hai.” I asked “Majaa aataa hai?” he answered, “Are saahib, majaa to aaneke liye hi hotaa hai naa!” We were stunned by the casual wisdom that this phrase had. For me this was like a new mantra that was to take my life further. This little fellow was nothing less than a guru. India is full of such encounters, if one has the time to stop and watch, stop and talk, stop and listen...