| Reputation of My State | | | | "I would lose a sum of rupees seven. But with the |
| I alongwith my wife were passing through Bihar | | | | loss of this money I shall know much about the |
| side. The train had lost its speed and that had | | | | people of Bihar. They can go down to such an |
| been the reason, it could not get clearances and | | | | extent. It shall become a part of my life and I |
| at that time it was stopping outside the signals. | | | | shall be advising people who shall be coming to |
| Some youths were coming in the compartment | | | | Bihar especially having a pilgrimage to Patna Sahib- |
| with Cucumbers (Kheeras) and Coagulant (jaman). | | | | the birth place of Shri Guru Gobind Singh Ji, the |
| Since it was very hot outside, we both were | | | | tenth Guru of the Sikhs." |
| enjoying these two fruits. At every outstation | | | | We finished our purchases and I closed down my |
| stoppages we were having these two items and | | | | eyes. I did not know when that young man left |
| finished the same till the next station or outside | | | | the train, went outside and came back with that |
| signal. Both these items were of very good | | | | boy who was to pay us the balances. He was |
| quality and tasty and at time I had been | | | | standing with the boy outside our window. He |
| commenting upon their quality. A young man | | | | asked the boy to give us the balances. He handed |
| having his seat across us on the upper seat. At | | | | over me the money and the train started once |
| this juncture, he was sitting and had been having | | | | again. That youth had come back and had |
| talks with us. | | | | occupied his seat. |
| This young man was a research scholar at | | | | When the train was in motion, I said, "You young |
| Mumbai. I had been to Nanded and therefore, I | | | | man took so much trouble to locate this fellow. |
| started telling him that the land in Nanded is sandy | | | | What was the necessity. I never requested you |
| and that is the reason it is not fertile. Since this | | | | to work for this small amount. Sometimes in |
| young man was a research scholar in soil | | | | pilgrimages, people have to suffer such losses." |
| conservation, I suggested that he should come | | | | "Sir, this is not the question of a sum of rupees |
| out with a proposal that fertile earth from Punjab | | | | seven only. I belong to Bihar. Your honour had |
| and Haryana side should be brought to this side | | | | said that this loss shall enable you to assess the |
| and spread on the earth of Nande side. A very | | | | character of the people of this area. I did not |
| small portion of this fertile earth shall turn the | | | | want that you return with this impression that |
| earth of that area fertile. "The young man laughed | | | | here people can deceive only for a sum of rupees |
| away on my proposal, but did not stop and we | | | | seven only. I never wanted that my state should |
| continued with the talks on different subjects. | | | | get this impression in your mind and heart. Since |
| At one outstation a boy have us goods of about | | | | you are a writer, you would give this event a |
| rupees three and I handed over a currency note | | | | wide circulation and the whole population of Bihar |
| of rupee ten. He assured me that he would be | | | | would face this humiliation. I did not like this. I could |
| coming back with the balance and shall be | | | | not tolerate all this and that had been the reason |
| returning me the balances. When he went away, | | | | of my going down and brining this boy to you. I |
| that young man commented, | | | | had already delivered a long lecture before all |
| "Sardarji, this boy would not come back. Your | | | | these sales boys." |
| money is lost." | | | | I still remember this event. |
| Since the amount was very meager, I said, | | | | |