Tags:
Journalism of Courage
Whenever I got out of my flat I used to find a Sikh gentleman across the lane washing a car. This, despite the general stricture that in these water-starved times, it is best that this precious resource is not wasted on washing cars.
I have often wondered whether the sardarji is a car-washer or a car-owner. In my locality, there is hardly any difference between the two categories. Most car owners look like car-washers. But this gentleman seemed a different kettle of fish. For him, car-washing seemed a pastime, pleasure and passion.
Then one day I noticed that both the sardarji and his car were missing. There were only two assumptions to be made8212;either the car was stolen or had been sold. On further investigation I discovered that both assumptions were wrong. It appears that the sardarji was forced to change his parking place after a quarrel with an army officer living on the first floor, who insisted on parking his new Zen at that very spot. The sardarji tried to defend his turf but his opponent proved too tough.
8216;8216;I will teach you such a lesson that you will lose your sleep,8217;8217; the officer is believed to have shouted after brandishing his baton.
8216;8216;And I will show you your date of birth when I tell the CBI what8217;s going on in your garage all the day,8217;8217; the sardarji is believed to have responded.
8216;8216;What is done in my garage during the daytime is the same as what8217;s done in yours at night,8217;8217; the officer is believed to have shot back.
Having realised then that their respective sins were no secret, they decided to be friends. In Punjabi there8217;s a proverb: 8220;First threaten the enemy but when the enemy refuses to be threatened, be threatened yourself8221;. Both the ex-serviceman and serving officer, being Punjabis, accepted this principle.
Since then they appeared reconciled to each other. The other day, when I saw the sardarji washing the car of his erstwhile enemy, I was filled with joy. I asked him his name. He smiled, drew closer to me and said, 8220;My name is Barabar Equal Singh, my creed is 8216;barabari8217; equality, my slogan: 8216;car-washers of the world, unite for you have to lose nothing but your time8217;.8221;
