He has been essaying this role of a ‘Pithu’ – aka ‘Porter’
for more than 20 years now. He has a daughter who stays in his native village somewhere
in Jammu, so does his wife ‘Chameli’.
He caught my attention quite uniquely as he smoothly whispered
as he came near me ‘ Bhaiya Pithu Chahiye?” – [Sir, do you want a porter?]. The
journey was arduous as it was almost 13 kms uphill. A journey to Mata
VaishnoDevi is known for its vast experiences, not only of treading this walk
but also by way of meeting versatile people telling his own stories and life
situations. Many of the porters and Ponny and horse owners are inhabitants of far-off
places and live at the foothill of revered ‘Trikuta’ Parbat on which resides The
Divine Mother ' Mata Vaishno Devi'
“Shamsher Singh hai Mera Naam – [My name is Shamsher Singh],
and I am a native of Jammu and have been in this profession since more than two
decades.”, he tells me in his baritone voice. At first look, you will find him
as a wanderer, just passing his time, loitering around at the foothill
observing the stack of tourists who have just come together as a flock of birds
together ready to start their journey.
I don’t know what made him approach me and that he came to
me with a subtle smile and gesture of politeness asking if his services were
required. I instantly obliged as I had too much of a baggage to be carried and I
was a loner. The ‘Deal’ was stuck instantaneously as he didn’t argued much and
obliged to go with the government rates for such services, he further gave me
his id card as a token of security – this is norm of the place.
The journey thus began, he went off carrying my bags, which
he had tied up in a particularly unique fashion only he could have done, then suddenly,
step by step has started to walk way and soon he just disappeared into the sea
of humanity, not to be seen but with a promise to meet sometime later in the
evening at a designated spot!
‘Agaye Janaab, sab khari meri!” [Sir, reached safe and
sound?], I revered in affirmative but with a laggard tone as I was tired beyond
a measure – I asked him ‘Shamsher-ji, how you traverse this journey up and down,
sometimes twice and still look afresh!”
He answered in a calm tone, which defeated my intellectual arrogance, “Sir, this is my Karma and duty and I am doing this for my family! I have submitted myself to the Goddess and have an attitude of complete surrender!” – He just nailed it – I had no words but to oblige him with a folded hands – I had just judged the source of such a satisfied man. A final goodbye awaited both of us and this happened too soon, as he had just made another deal with a customer who was in quick hurry to get down to catch hold of the evening train – I just thought, the tough terrain Shamsherji had just treaded and reached his destination and now was ready to go back, without taking much break. I asked him this question, he smiled and started to walk away , not before saying a final goodbye with a waving hand and saying ‘Jai Mata Di’…
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