Maryam Amma(My experience)

G.P Girl’s was the hostel provided by the college of Jamia Milia Islamia. The hostel was maintained by hostel authorities and guards. Whether it was a hot summer or extremely cold winters, the guards performed their duties sincerely. On out corridors there were few ladies sweeper who cleaned our rooms regularly. Whenever they were with their friends company, they would laugh and talk loudly but when any lady sweeper sits alone at her favorite corner, she would light up her cigarettes and start smoking. That moment one could make out from their tensed facial expression that they are hiding some painful secret. Not only those hostel sweepers but also those guards have painful hidden story which is generally left unnoticed. I had come across a lady guard, Maryam Amma, who did all her duties sincerely bearing up various burdens of life.

It was my first night in hostel, I noticed a tired old lady approximately sixty years old, with her approximately nine year old boy. I was shocked to know that old lady was our hostel guard. I asked my roommate, “Who’s that boy and how they both are related to each other.” Her reply was, “That boy is an orphan grandson of Maryam amma. Her son and daughter died long time ago so she is the only guardian of the kid.”

Often Maryam amma asked me for a match stick to light a candle for her grandson because her unsecured kid was scared of darkness. Every night Maryam amma would sit next to her grandson and the nervous boy would hold her hands until he closes his eyes to a soundless sleep. The hostel girls were sympathetic towards the child and never refused to help him with his studies. For him, his grandma was everything who showers her grandson with his parents love. But he was unaware of the fact that his Grandma was also nervous because she was alone bearing up all his responsibility at this old age when she needed comfort from her children. In her prayers she would only ask for q bright future for her grandson.

This incident touched me so much that I realized that before complaining to others about our problems we should look at these people. Everywhere there is struggle but Maryam Amma was a good example, because despite having so many problems she was trying her level best to lead a normal life. Sweepers and guards also hid their personal problems behind their comforting smiles. One should live in present, forget about past but be prepared of future.

MANGAL PANDAEY: Was he a legendary hero?? (Editorial)

In the Indian history, the revolt of 1857 was the most outbursts of anger and discontent accumulated in the hearts of Indian Masses ever since inception of British rules in Bengal, following the battle of Plassey and Buxer. British historians dubbed it as a sepoy mutiny and Indian historians have hailed it as the first war of independence. Jawaharlal Nehru in his book, “Discovery of India,” described it feudal revolt of 1857.

The Indian soldiers of East Indian Company started the revolt and it spread like a fire across the country. Millions of peasants, artisans and soldiers participated in the revolt and formed a glorious chapter in the Indian History. Mangal Pandey was also among those freedom fighters but we know nothing about his personal life except that he sacrificed his life for the freedom of the country.

Resent researches conducted by the historians are different from the old ones. Personal life of Mangal Pandey is lacking with enough facts . According to the old researchers, Mangal Pandey was a Brahmin. Like his father he was also a loyal sepoy in the East India Company. New bullets were introduced with cartridges greased with cow and pig fat. (Blasphemous for both Hindus and Muslims soldiers). When Pandey saw manufacturing of grease, in the simmering flame he killed the two sepoys and later hanged to death. This incident made him a matyr among masses.

But few authors deny that he was a matyre. According to the authors, Rudranshaud and Shahid Amin, Mangal Pandey was not a matyre and the killing of two sepoys by Mangal Pandey was manipulated and he was hailed as a hero. According to theses researchers, it was by chance that Mangal Pandey had consumed opium and had killed two sepoys and then he was hanged to death. But Amaresh Mishra refuted them and said that they are manipulating the story. Mangal Pandey will always be a hero because he sacrificed his life for the freedom of the country. According to him he existed in 1857 and it’s too difficult to collect the facts that points out that he died after consuming opium.

The research that has been done confuses the reader. Before independence, maximum of those who were eyewitness of his life were illiterate. India had no constitution, no rules and regulation of its own but was a puppet of British. The credibility of facts is in question because the researchers are digging the facts of 1857 in this 21st century. It’s not sure how intensely the research has been done. According to the recent researchers, the existence of Sita Ram Pandey is also vague. Whatever is the truth, but one cannot deny the fact that this freedom fighter inspires the masses to be loyal their country. That was an era, when every Indian citizen participated in numerous revolts, and some legendary leaders gave up their life for the freedom of India.