The man was chased with everything the police had. Hounds, armed soldiers, and even an order to shoot at sight. He was fit, strong and fearless. He was really giving them a run for their money. Sweating profusely in that cold winter predawn hours, when the night wore its darkest blanket and the air its coldest jewels, he started humming his favourite song of late … Vande Matram, sujalam sufalam malayaj sheetalam… Easily jumping over the walls of the narrow lanes, he vanished into the murky darkness. But as Fate would have it he was confronted by another police patrol. ‘Pweee’ the loud whistle blasted the cold air ashe was recognized and the chase picked up again. He ended up in a garden, a park. He found himself surrounded by Indian faces in British uniforms, while the British officer commanded him to put his ‘hands up’. He reached for his pistol and shot down one of them, then turned it towards himself, ending his life with a ‘Bang!’ Finally he was ‘Azad’.
*******
The Red coats were left awe struck. The fierce movements of the horseback warrior were mesmerizing as they were powerful. Wherever she went she blazed a trail of fire, grit and determination. Her face and attire spattered in blood and gore rendered her no less than ‘Ma Kali’! Her very presence fired her soldiers and generals with vigour and vengeance… And there was an infant tied to her back. Just as much as they wanted to conquer her, they bowed their heads mentally in reverence, to this lioness. As she kept retreating, after each onslaught of the mercenaries, she found herself on the ramparts of her dear ‘Fort of Jhansi’. Without pausing for a moment she led her horse to jump off the wall with a blood curdling ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’!
Khub lari mardani woh to Jhansi wali Rani thi!
*****
To look at he was just another erudite, gentle ‘babu moshai’. His flowing snow white mane and beard, so misleading. It kept from sight the ignited mind which fervently pined to free his ‘Mother’ from all the chains that kept her bound, a slave. From music, to drama, to poems, to prose, to art, you name it and he produced the very best in that field. Mother Saraswati seemed to have showered him with blessings. The first Indian Nobel Prize winner and the first to turn down the honour.
‘Where the mind is without fear And the head held high ……. Into that Heaven Let my country awake!’ Said he.
*****
Its been over 73 years now, have we woken up? Along with millions of others I too pray that one day we shall awake from slumber and recognize what we have inherited. And that day of awakening is not far …..
