LOVE

Bonda hills,Malkangiri,Orissa

Bonda,the world's most aboriginal tribe.According to research 20 Bondas die on an avg. every year,50 are injured and 30 land in police custody following brawls under the influence of liquor.Bows and arrows are wielded against each other.In addition,the tribe has a custom of men(read boys) marrying women older than them. In the past several years, the Bonda population has been stagnant around 5,500.

In the past two decades, efforts by the state government and NGO's to usher in modern ways of life and practices into the villages has not been successful. The tribe has shown little inclination for modern medicines and health care provided by outsiders. The Bondas' believe in the use of herbs and roots for serious ailments. Medicines provided by the Health Department have been rejected — one reason for the high death rate and stagnant population.

For uplifting the tribe,Govt. has formed B.T.D.A(Bonda Tribe Development Authority) and appointed Prakash Agarwal,I.A.S as Director of the authority and his wife Dr.Veda Agarwal as medical officer.

23 April,1983.........

While Prakash Agarwal visiting the hospital, found a woman rejecting to take medicine for her serious ailment.He asked his wife to convince her.He tried all the ways to convince her.Finally by force, he insisted to take the medicine and this has earned him a villain image in the tribe.

4 May,1983...........

In their way of morning walk, they have been surrounded by group of Bonda men.An youngster pointed a suchi(poisonous arrow)at him.To save his husband,she came in b/n and a second is enough for the poison to spread all over the body.The next minute, another arrow touched his heart.

They made the couple into pieces and threw both the heads at B.T.D.A office.This is the way Bondas treat their enemies.This made B.T.D.A as a passive organisation

4 May,2007..........

B.T.D.A office at malkangiri received a D.D from France.A Small message at the back of D.D............."In memoir of Late Prakash and Veda Agarwal, please spend this 5 lakh rupees for the Bonda tribe development.I ll join u by December."

* * * * * *

" If an angel come with a color paper and asks me to write about love-I write my feelings,my aspirations and everything regarding Lekha.Lekha Agarwal,my heart throb.If I find the angel as Lekha herself,I would be the luckiest and happiest person as I cant express my love in the life time"

* * * * * *

INSEAD,France

Hi, I am Siddarth.Its the name given by my parents.Of course, they have given nothing except the name.When I was 5, they have been divorced.They think more about their careers and never their son come in the way.They both married again after divorce and left me to the international schools.

All thru the career,I have never been at second place in academic records.Teachers have always praised,"Whether it is science project/maths assignment, no body can do better than Siddarth."

I can read, analyse,reproduce perfectly only on papers.I cant even give a single verbal answer.I am such an introvert,who is unable to gossip with friends too.I blame my parents for the condition.If they had loved and cared,I wouldn't have got this condition.Who the hell asked to give birth,if they cant take the responsibility in hands?

* * * * * *

Abhishek shouted," Hey Siddarth, wake-up.Its already 6 a.m"

In sleep,I half-replied,"oooooooo........."

"Just wake-up, today is ur birth day"

Sleep has three-forth gone,"then........."

"I arranged a party and all are waiting at........"

I have stood on the bed and raged,"Why? Where? When?"

He just smiled and said,"For pleasure..........At college canteen......Exactly at 7 a.m"

"Ooh stupid....! pleasure for u and tension for me.U will enjoy the party with girls on my name and my condition................."

"Take it easy,Dude"

I can gossip,argue and do everything freely with only one individual in this world-Abhishek,my best friend from the graduation.For every one he is a cool pal.Ever smiling guy always saying,"Take it easy,Dude"

* * * * * *

At party hall,Lekha wished me happy birth day and in tension and confusion,I have given napkin to her and everyone in the hall laughed at once.This made my condition so worse that unable to spell-out 'sorry' even.She laughed,has took napkin and effaced on my wet face.

After the party, every one moved to academic block as final CAM results are out.I moved to seminar room as there is nothing much for me to do with the results.

Comfortably I found the seminar hall vacant.When I am in thoughts of guilty for my behaviour at party hall,Lekha has come there."Lekha..........."just I wanted to ask her apology but words are not coming out.

She asked,"Have u seen the results?"

I said,"Actually Lekha,napkin , me ,tension........"'ohh god! whats the hell.Give me a little power to say words in order'

She again asked,"Leave it man,Do u know the result?"

"Lekha,Sorry,napkin,tension......."

She held my neck and said,"U idiot! leave it and u topped the batches"

I am surprised and in stun asked"What?"

"U stupid...! U r the highest percentage scorer in the history of insti."

While I am in shock,every one approached and finally professor entered and started,"Dears,Every year I see a topper.The toppers have got sum speciality.They have sum different thinking and attitude.I congratulate this year topper Siddarth"

Silence in the room turned into a loud applause.

He continued"I read his paper on 'Economic drought eradication thru market liberalization'.Really its the best idea and analysis.Every year we arrange an INSEAD alumni meet in which our best student of the year will adreess the whole INSEAD alumni and this year Siddarth got that chance

The bomb has been blasted over my head.I may be a topper but I cant address any meet.

* * * * * *

Their topic has turned on to love.I am just there at the farewell party but my brain is roaming sumwhere else......

sumone asked Lekha,"What is love?"

Lekha tried to answer,"Love is sumthing......." and unable to continue,in turn asked me,"Siddarth, u say what is love?"

I have many things to say.The feeling which I have for her is love.What my parents don't have for me is love........Many things but the same old problem,unable to say out a single word.

I looked at Abhi for the help.He just smiled but Lekha observed it and asked,"OK Abhi,U say What is love?"

He has given a pleasant smile and said,"Love is beauty"

Lekha exclaimed,"Beauty means.......!?"

He normally said,"Beauty means happiness"

She was surprised and asked,"Do u mean that love spreads happiness?"

He instantly,"It spreads if there is no selfishness in love."

She continued questioning,"What selfishness u can get in love?

The intelligent Abhi stopped sipping his drink and said,"Expecting anything back is selfishness.Unable to get back the expected spreads glumness."

"Ooh maverick! unable to understand........"

He just smiled with a spark in his eyes and said,"Love is just giving and forgiving.Giving and not expecting.Love is a feeling of happiness.Love is just a gaiety of beauty.Elating everything with a smile,trial and finally winning is love.Winning and distributing the fruits of win is love."

With a splosh,she asked,"U mean,u don't need anyone to love u..."

He is quite normal as earlier ,"People say,U want another heart to recognise ur smile and a shoulder to cry.That's why one should love

But if u look 2 inches down ur left shoulder,U find the reason for ur cry.Smash it and smile,the entire world starts loving u.

Give love.Dont expect it.It would come to u."

She half-nodded her head.

In room,I asked,"Abhi,can we love every instance,situation and person without any difference?U know, what I have lost in my life.I cant love my parents at any cost.I hate them for they have never cared me."I bursted out and cried,"I hate this bloody world as it never cared me"

He moved close and said,"Siddarth,at first we have to grow up as an humanbeing then we have to think about others.Deceivers always try to betray us.They misinterpret our humanness as incapability.We cant hate the entire world because of one or two cheaters.Loving every one is the only way for infinite happiness.U can smile every second if u love everyone.WHAT HAPPENS IS NOT IMPORTANT AS HOW U REACT TO WHAT HAPPENS"

My attitude and fear are half-dead but its completely dead after 2 days.

After 2 days ,I met Lekha at college auditorium and she asked about my topic for the speech at alumni.I bursted out again and said that I couldn't deliver any speech because of my parents

She heard me with patience and in return she told me the story of Prakash and Veda Agarwal.I was bit normal hearing as I know the story before but I was mystified hearing about the D.D they received on 4 May,2007.

Her final words changed my attitude completely and I decided to reveal the pleasant secret behind Agarwal's life in my speech-"NOTHING IN LIFE IS SO HARD THAT U CANT MAKE IT EASIER BY THE WAY U TAKE IT."

* * * * * *

INSEAD ALUMNI MEET,2007

We know that every student of INSEAD love to attend the alumni meet.Reaching our expectation,the hall hasnt got a single vacant seat.Most of the old students are present days ' leading CEO's

I has come over dais.From the dias,I looked at Lekha and she raised her thumb and then searched for Abhi and found him at the hall entrance.

I came near to the podium and started,"My Dear brothers and sisters of INSEAD"Every one turned their attention on to the dais."My name is Siddarth.By God's grace I am the topper of the insti and thus I got this oppurtinity to address u.U r all leaders of present day economy.What can I address u?U know pretty much than me and u know,how to win over the deadly deals

As I got the chance,lets allow me to tell a leader's life story.The life story of a leader,who mastered the skill of winning hearts.The life of a leader,whose only weapon to target people is love"

I took a pause and looked at Lekha.She stood smiling and Abhi has been stunned as he never expected me to deliver such a good speech.

"Ok Friends, can anyone define love?"

There is no much change in the hall.They are winning leaders in business but none know about love beacuse they feel,there is nothing much for them to do with love.

"By ur silence ,I can conclude that u feel love as an object beyond expression but I challenge u change ur attitude after hearing my leaders story

Friends,sum of u may know about Bondas ,the worlds most aborginal tribe.In 1983,to uplift the tribe,Indian govt. has appointed Prakash Agarwal and Veda Agarwal.Misinterpreting them as enemies,Bondas killed the couple on 4 May,1983.After 24 years,the BTDA at orissa received a DD of 5 lakh rupees from France.Do u know ,who has sent that D.D?"

I took a pause and looked at the entire audience.Everybody sit with a question mark face but one person is looking at the sky thru the window.

" At the time of their death,they had got a 2 month baby and that baby is presently at INSEAD,France.He is going to sacrifice his luxurious life for the tribe,Which killed his parents.I feel he is the leader and I proud to say that he is none other than my friend Abhi ,Sorry,..Abhishek Agarwal,son of Mr.and Mrs.Prakash Agarwal"

The deep silence in the hall has been turned into a long appaulse and a standing ovation.

1 more minute.......,

I am sorry that I have written the worst blog and wasted ur time.I can expect ur comments before hand,"No logic in the story,worst story line etc., etc.,I invite and accept every comment of u.

Sum days before,I had read a novel in telugu.This story is just a tribute to the novel.If u want to know about love,I suggest u to read that interesting novel-"PREMA" by Yandamoori veerendranath.The writer got a strong story back up and fine definitions of love in the story itself(Sum lines of this blog has been copied from that novel)