SANTHOSHGARH.....MISNOMER .....

Certain names are misnomers…They mean something and in reality the status is totally opposite. Say for example a man named “KHUBER” in fact he was found begging near a bus stand all the time during my school days. There was one “ AAROGYA SWAMY” who was having highest sick leave to his credit in the work place. Same way one “ MARKANDEYA” who had a tragic death before he entered into his 30s. 

Santhoshgarh is one such village in the foot hills of Shiwalik range of mountain in Una district of Himachal Pradesh. Himachal is called as Dev Bhoomi! This great village is a small patch with a population of less than a hundred thousand. Every day I have to cross this patch twice at the least. There is a stretch of 400 meter road in this village which has taught me the meaning of the word PATIENCE in letter and spirit. 

This patch is having the ultimate distinction of having the highest density of pot-holes. The road in this small patch is bounded by drainage in both the sides. Both these drainage have the distinction of having some of the best sweet meat shops over them. These mouth watering samosas, paneer pakodas & other savories fried fresh on one side and all non-vegetarian dishes like Chicken Tikka, Murgi da Tang, Momos, Patties and Sandwiches attract clientele from far and wide. 

Probably the drainage flowing down (occasionally and clogging always) adds to the flavor of these food stuff. The customers wait in queues and buy these items nicely wrapped in news paper and without any concern walk…rather cat walk oblivious to the fact that there is a bumper to bumper traffic jam and they are adding fuel to the fire by their buffalo style cat walk !

The patch of road is barely sufficient to accommodate two small trucks, but we can find apart from these trucks innumerable two-wheeler, modified hand carts, bullock carts, modified two wheeler which are used to carry nearly half a ton of milk pass through this road. Added to this bullets carrying LPG, trucks and trailers carrying gravel all snail through this road. Encroachment into the road has virtually eliminated path ways.

This stretch of road has the distinction of housing two or three Gurudhwars, Temple for Vishwa Karma and other religious institutions. There is a Ghosala too. The cattle are left out exactly around office time in the morning so that they too can contribute to the chaos. We are a nation of great tradition. We wish to celebrate everything on the road. So whenever there is any festival Santhoshgarh road becomes truly a public property with all and sundry joining the procession with full religious devotion and adding merrily to the commotion!!!

Santhoshgarh people are known for their brilliance. Be careful they know the full meaning of Right for information (RTI) act and every small instance leads to some court case filed against each other. Thus public interest litigation are purely to protect the personal interest of the residents, who instead of making the gate to open inside invariably fix the gate to open outside ignoring commuters and pedestrians’ convenience. After all we are a democratic republic and who cares for you and me! 

There are many stories on why this small patch of road connecting Punjab with Himachal is ignored always. I do not have the political acumen to write this as the same may stir up many controversies. The number of press reporters having their offices in the small stretch of road may file a PIL against me for the same. 
There are some beauty parlors too on this small stretch of road, that gives some solace to the strained eyes staring at the windscreen all the time waiting for the traffic to clear ! 

Though there is no "SANTOSH" ( Happiness) for the commuter in Santhosh Garh the people here are found to be very happy as they stand hours together staring at the traffic and puffing away their beedies. Tekka Sharab and English wine shops on this stretch of road do roaring business. Bank ATMs are by and large known to always show the sign “TEMPORARILY OUT OF ORDER”. I have spoken to the bank manager to change the sign to “PERMANENTLY OUT OF ORDER” I think I should also file a PIL for the same as still there is no compliance noticed!!

Other day, I saw a man in his early sixties puffing away beedies and in his hand there was a small baby girl of less than a year old. I could not resist from advising the man to stop smoking at the least while holding a baby….probably his granddaughter. I waved to him and showed him in sign language my idea. 

He came up to my window and I was getting a bit uncomfortable as I was all alone. He showed a namasthe sign and smiled. The traffic started moving and I felt after all the soul is intact in Santhoshgarh !