Tags:
Journalism of Courage
RAM VILAS PASWAN, an alliance partner of V.P. Singh8217;s Jan Morcha in the Uttar Pradesh elections, has fielded over a dozen candidates from his Lok Janshakti Party. Obviously he is campaigning extensively this time but one needs to be unduly generous to believe that his party will be able to open its account in the state. This, however, does not deter me from meeting up with him whenever he is in Lucknow. The reason for this dates back to my student days.
It was a summer night in 1992. At Allahabad, I boarded the sleeper coach of the Toofan Express heading for Patna without a proper reservation. There were many who, like me, had only a general class ticket but got to stay in the coach after paying a bribe of Rs 10 to the Government Railway Police. Although I always preferred to submit to life8217;s vagaries, something in me rebelled at having to pay a bribe to keep my berth. As happens in most cases of this kind, they asked me to follow them towards the lavatory where they usually negotiate the bribe in a discreet corner. I refused to do so in an unusually high voice. This was not expected from a young passenger who was also apparently scared.
To my surprise, my threat worked like a charm. The men suddenly released me and began to apologise. They told me that I should have explained earlier that I was from Hajipur 8212; Ram Vilas Paswanji8217;s area. One of them observed gravely, 8220;He wins elections with record margins and knows the art of being in power always.8221; He then ordered a passenger with a proper ticket to accommodate me on his berth.
That8217;s why I always make it a point to meet up with Paswan. He saved me from the ugly attentions of a knife!
