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Sonu and Golu [contd.]

"Is that because of the recent Kargil war?

"No", she butted in, with visible pride. "He has been wanting to join the army since he was eight. Only Mother has been making it difficult for him. He is my only son, she used to say. Now she has come around, seeing how determined he is."

"Life in the Army is good, Uncle. They teach many things, I get to see places and I will be doing something for and have many things to learn still. I will be happy as a soldier" he said.

In their school, they have a prayer to Saraswati every morning and they touch their teacher's feet. The Inspector in the train has been his father's long time friend. Their Hindu and Muslim families visit each other and get along well. There was no communal problem in Chhattisgarh, they said. Now and then some political party begins some nonsense, but we flick that off and carry on with our lives.

The train was moving briskly through green ravines and past gentle green slopes. People were scarcely to be seen for miles. All seemed peaceful and prosperous. The turbulence of India was far away.

Obviously one can't read about India and know it. Here were two youngsters quite happy with their lives. They were not tempted by the places and life styles that satellite TV showed them.

She'd like to go to college yes, but if her parents were to find a boy and ask her to marry him, she'd drop her education and get married.

"High school is enough. Besides who knows me better than my parents?". She went on: "Yes, I'd like to see Singapore once as a tourist but I always pray, 'Eh Bhagwan, marry me to a man who makes his home between Bilaspur and Anuppur!' There cannot be anything more beautiful than this in the whole world!"

Our conversation was roaring along. She asked if she could sing a song she knew; and sang it!

He told me of a memorable visit to Chitrakoot, a few years ago. "You can feel the presence of Ram and Sita even today!"

Now, she clapped her hands, demanding silence: "The train will be on a curved track soon and we can see the engine and the last box at the same time." We all kept a vigil for the event at the window. They were flaunting their familiarity with their pretty country.

the event at the window. They were flaunting their familiarity with their pretty country.

There was such simple joy about them. India must be a good place in most parts. People like Sonu and Golu and their parents and their friends keep the country's core, stable and productive, even if some outer layers tend to tear off from time to time.

I was astonished at my own surprise that life in this remote part could be happy! It showed how little I knew of the substantial part of India.

When about three months later the goodnewsindia.com idea occurred to me, I realised, Sonu and Golu and others I met on that trip had no doubt seeded it. I saw through them a world many city dwellers in India do not realise, exists: that world is what I call middle India.

Rabari Women

I saw them as I waited in Pendra Road for a bus to Amarkantak.

They stood out among the small made locals: they were strapping, handsome women, if somewhat unwashed.   [NEXT PAGE]