How Had I Reached DPS Korba

On the basis of my application forwarded from Vellore, while I was there alongwith my Jijaji who had to undergo brain tumor surgery, I had received the call letter for the interview to be held on 17^th June 1987. I had completed my PG and was preparing for my CS.  I had opted for Public Administration and Psychology. For Public Administration I was totally dependent on books available in the market.  But for Psychology I was fortunate to get to know the HOD of Psychology Andhra University.  I’m unable to recall his full name but we used to call him Babla Sir. He used to like me a lot.  He had given me direct access to the Library of Andhra University.

The day I had informed Babla Sir about my interview he was disappointed.  That very evening I was surprised to see him at my home when I had returned from my evening walk on the beach.

He was advising my father for not sending me for the interview.  He had said, “if Sukhwant joins teaching he will not be able to pass CS.”

My Dad had left the decision to me.  He said, “If you want to go to Delhi for Rao’s tutorials for IAS then you can do so.”

But from within I was aware of the fact that after the gutting of our shop in Jeypore as an aftermath of 84 riots our financial position was not good.  Hence I had decided to attend the interview so that I could start earning.

I had left Vishakhapatnam on 15^th night by Chattisgarh Express and had reached Raipur early next morning. From Raipur I had taken a train at around 10:00 am and had reached Champa at around 1:00 pm.  It was extremely hot and humid.  I learnt that for reaching Korba I had to travel another 40 odd kms by either taxi or bus.

As taxis were not available I had got into a state bus.  The bus was already over crowded.  I could manage to get a standing space behind the driver’s seat. I had thought that the journey would take about an hour or so. But I was totally wrong. The road was extremely bad.  We reached Korba bus stand at around 3:00 pm.  By the time I got down from the bus I was totally drenched in sweat.  When I had tried to look around my eyes caught the shop banner of ‘Singh Enterprises’ and I could see a young Sikh of around 25-30 years sitting inside.  So I went inside the shop and had asked, “Please guide me towards DPS Korba.” The young man had said, “DPS Korba is another 14 kms away, and asked ,”May I know the purpose of your visit ?”  He also extended a seat to me and ordered his salesman, “Give a glass of water, and turn the cooler towards him.”  I had replied to him by saying, “I have come to appear in the interview in DPS Korba.”  Mr. Singh was extremely happy and he immediately ordered his salesman to fetch sugarcane juice for me.  He advised me to stay in a lodge in Korba itself and leave for DPS Korba which was situated in Pragatinagar next morning.

After drinking the sugarcane juice I had thanked him and had taken his leave.  He had again asked his salesman to lift my bag and to reach me in ‘Anand Lodge’ which was situated within the bus stand campus itself.  I was by that time, totally drained out of energy.  I had got into the room had taken bath, and had gone out to have lunch.  In the evening I had again gone to ‘Singh Enterprises’ Shop.

This time Mr. Singh’s brother-in-law, who was from Kanpur, was also there.  We spoke for a long time and he had taken me to the nearby Gurudwara for evening Rehraas.

He showed me his house also. Before bidding me good night he said, “May I ask you something personal if you don’t mind ?” I had said, “Veerji please ask”. He had said . “Will you attend your interview in Patka or you will wear turban ?” I had replied by saying that  as I’m not able to fold the turban myself without someone’s help I had not brought a turban with me.”  To this he had said, “I will come to your hotel room early in the morning and bring a turban of my own and will help you to fold it and tie.”  This he had done the next morning for which I had thanked him from the core of my heart and after taking my breakfast had left by an auto for DPS Korba, Pragatinagar, a place that was going to change my life for years to come.

(19.09.2015)