To trace footsteps of one's ancestors is always fascinating. Whenever i find time, i do that.
On 22nd September i was really fortunate to get an opportunity to visit my first homeland in Uttar Pradesh (as per the available records of my family from primary sources). This is my only third visit to this great place. I am still more inclined to call Naurejpur (District Jalaun) - the village of my grandmother as my village.
Shri Kesari Singh Ji migrated from our ancestral village Binega (District Karauli, Rajasthan) to Pura Baghraj village on the bank of Chambal in Bah region of Agra district. He was married to a lady from Bhadoria Rajput family. His son Shri Jawahar Singh Ji was my great grandfather. My grandfather Shri Kammod Singh Ji was born in 1938-39 in this village.I had never met my great grandfather but my grandfather is responsible for whatever i am today. He left me just before my UPSC CSE 2014 mains exam in Nov 2014. In 2019 i visited Binega (Karauli, Rajasthan) during Mundan ceremony of Rajyavardhan at Kaila Devi Temple.
The entire village came to the main Chauraha to receive me on 22nd Sept afternoon. There were DJs, bikes, flowers and garlands. I was so overwhelmed that i cant express in words. It was really a touchy moment for me. My brothers, uncles and entire village were so happy with tears welling in their eyes. It was a life time kind of a moment. After paying my regards to all of them and attending Shrimadbhagwat Katha ceremony organized by Lt Col (retd) Shri Gajendra Singh Ji i took the tour of the village and its surroundings.
I visited the place where Sunil Dutt and Wahida Rehman starred film 'Mujhe Jeeno Do (1963)' was shot. The shooting of this film was done in this region (Bah and Muraina) and it shows the lives of Bandits (also called Dacoit/Daku) of that era. I have heard so many stories of bandits since my childhood - Man Singh, Madho Singh, Lakhan, Roopa, Malkhan Singh, Pan Singh Tomar etc. Nirbhay Gurjar was the last bandit of this area and was neutralized in a Police encounter in 2005. Bollywood did dis service to this region by showing bandits with horses. There are no horses in Chambal ravines. Bollywood created image of Texas cowboys in Chambal. The only film that was close to reality was 'Pan Singh Tomar (2012)'. Chambal is couple of km from my village. It is full of crocodiles and my family relatives and my village people are closely associated with Operation Crocodile.
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This entire region surrounding Chambal covering parts of Madhya Pradesh (Bhind and Muraina districts) and parts of Agra district is locally called Bhadawar land (i.e. land of Bhadoria Rajputs). Two great rivers Yamuna and Chambal flow through this region. This land is also known for giving great soldiers and officers to Indian Army as well as to Police. So many sons of this soil have sacrificed their everything in the service of Bharat Mata. The last great Officer being former Air Chief Marshal R K S Bhadoria (2019-2021). Now the bandits are history and Indian Army/Police is present and future appears to be brighter.
Subedar (retd) Dal Singh made a huge contribution in changing the landscape of this region from the land of bandits to the land of soldiers. Shri Dal Singh served in Army and he fought in World War 2. He donated his entire land and helped in establishing a Junior High School with a big playground in Pura Baghraj. He died in 1954 but he left behind a great legacy. This ground gave hundreds of Soldiers/Officers. I inaugurated a Volley ball tournament in his memory during my visit..jpeg)
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Bateshwar Dham is a great religious place close to my village (about 15 km). It is a collection of 101 temples dedicated to Bhagwan Shiv. Yamuna Ji flows touching the steps of these temples. These were built about a 1000 years back and have played a great role in shaping the religious and cultural outlook of the people. I was so blessed to get a chance to pray in these ancient temples.
Its been my honour to be associated with this great land full of chivalry, rich cultural heritage and two mighty rivers.
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आदरणीय भाई साहब आपके लेख में बार बार डाकू शब्द का उल्लेख आया है। मानते हैं कि बॉलीवुड फिल्मों द्वारा जिन्हें डाकू प्रदर्शित किया गया है। उनमें से अधिकांशतः अपने आप को डाकू नहीं, बागी कहते थे। डाकू एवं बागी दोनों एक दूसरे से भिन्न हैं। डाकू जहां बिना किसी भेद भाव के आम जन मानस के प्रत्येक वर्ग को अपने निजी स्वार्थ के लिए लूट लिया करते थे। ऐसे लोगों की संख्या चम्बल में सीमित थी जैसे डाकू रज्जन गुर्जर, निर्भय गुर्जर, अतर सिंह गुर्जर इत्यादि। वहीं दूसरी ओर देखें तो बागी थे जो किसी न किसी हालात के मारे या अपने सम्मान की खातिर, हक के लिए जंगल का रास्ता चुनते। जनश्रुतियों के अनुसार बागी जैसे मान सिंह राठौर, दद्दा मलखान सिंह, लाखन सिंह, पान सिंह तोमर, रूपा महाराज इत्यादि ने चम्बल घाटी के निवासियों, बहू बेटियों को कभी गंदी निगाह से नहीं देखा बल्कि कई गरीब बेटियों की शादी भी करवाई थी वे लोग बागी होने के साथ ही एक सरल हृदय के लोग भी थे। स्वतंत्रता आंदोलन के दौरान बागी ब्रह्मचारी लक्ष्मणानंद ने अपने पूरे गिरोह को अंग्रेजो के खिलाफ बगावत में उतार दिया और अंत में 125 बागियों के साथ धीरे धीरे अंग्रेजो से मुठभेड़ में मारे गए। अतः मेरे मतानुसार हमें डाकू, बागी दोनों को अलग अलग समझना होगा।
मातृभूमि की महक अलग ही होती है
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