In life, he was a safflower, you were always dependent on him, when he dried up, he dried up, look at Madhuvan’s chest, how dry are its buds, how many flowers have withered, where did they bloom when they withered, but tell me when Madhuvan will make noise on dried flowers. creates havoc let it go. These lines of Harivansh Rai Bachchan, the wonderful fan of Hindi literature, fit perfectly on his own village Babupatti in Pratapgarh. Now he looked like a stranger among his own people. There was no noise or preparation on his 115th birth anniversary in the village. But on being asked, it was definitely told that Bachchan ji was from our village only. The new generation here may not have read Bachchan’s works but have definitely heard his name.
Ration warehouse became a library built to save memories in the ancestral village
Renowned litterateur and poet Harivansh Rai Bachchan, who left an indelible mark with an immortal work like Madhushala, has become a stranger in his own village. Memories related to him are scattered in the ancestral village Babupatti, but could not be saved. There were definitely a few attempts, which did not work. The condition of the library built in his memory can be seen in this episode. It has now been converted into a ration warehouse.
Books were not visible even after searching in the library. There, a cupboard and Babuji’s picture covered with dust was definitely visible. There are racks to keep books in the library with two rooms and a big hall, but all are lying empty. Even though there will be conferences on his 115th birth anniversary, tributes will be paid, but there will hardly be anyone to clean the dust accumulated on his picture in the library of his own village.
According to the family members, Bachchan himself visited the ancestral village only twice while living in Prayagraj. In his autobiography Kya Bhooloon Kya Yaad Karoon, the attachment and love for the soil of the forefathers is clearly visible. In his book, after getting down from the train at Vishwanathganj and then at Dandupur station and reaching the village on foot, the neem chaura and the well he mentioned are still there. Daughter-in-law Jaya Bachchan did come to Babupatti on March 5, 2006 to revive the memories she got from Babuji and to connect with the soil of ancestors, but her program remained completely political.
Daughter-in-law Jaya Bachchan inaugurated the library built in the memory of Dr. Harivansh Rai Bachchan on March 5, 2006. While bowing his head at Neem square, he had also promised to build a college in the village, but it could not be completed till now. The thing to note is that with the passage of time the existence of the library is disappearing. Far from saving his memory, the villagers are forgetting his personality. That’s why the Kotedar has made a store of ration in the library building. During the rainy season, people also organize small events in the same building.
No property in the name of Bachchanji
Babupatti is definitely the village of Harivansh Rai Bachchan, but he does not have any ancestral property here. According to the villagers, a library building has been built at their ancestral place. Apart from this, there is no land registered in his name.
Once upon a time the tavern was sung Kedarnath Yadav of the village says that his Baba used to tell that earlier the people of the village used to sing Bachchan ji’s Madhushala in Antakshari while sitting on the well. Now the family of Bachchan ji is forgetting the village and the people of his family.
Jaya Bahu made promises, but did not fulfill
Vijay Srivastava, a resident of Babupatti, says that Jaya Bachchan, who came to inaugurate the library, had made promises to the people that she would bring her daughter-in-law Aishwarya Rai here. Will definitely do something for the village and society. Then expressing sorrow said that big things happen to big people. Everyone forgets you as soon as you leave here.
The books were taken away the very next day Kotedar Ramakant, who distributed ration in the library building, says that on the second day of its inauguration, some supporters of former MP CN Singh came and took away the books. The building was lying vacant, so a ration godown has been made.
The library building was dilapidated. Which was repaired. Contrary to the rule, the Kotedar has made the library building a ration warehouse., – Vikas Yadav, Pradhan Babupatti
Expansion
In life, he was a safflower, you were always dependent on him, when he dried up, he dried up, look at Madhuvan’s chest, how dry are its buds, how many flowers have withered, where did they bloom when they withered, but tell me when Madhuvan will make noise on dried flowers. creates havoc let it go. These lines of Harivansh Rai Bachchan, the wonderful fan of Hindi literature, fit perfectly on his own village Babupatti in Pratapgarh. Now he looked like a stranger among his own people. There was no noise or preparation on his 115th birth anniversary in the village. But on being asked, it was definitely told that Bachchan ji was from our village only. The new generation here may not have read Bachchan’s works but have definitely heard his name.
Ritika
