Have you heard about Dr. Vashisht Narayan Singh ??

Ref : http://www.bhojpuria.com/people/vnsingh.htm

I am really very sorry, I don’t have words to write anything, very confuse what to write about him, thats why just copied this content and paste here. After reading this post if you could suggest me anything, will appreciate and thankful to you.

Reported by Sudhir Kumar on behalf of Bhojpuria.com with special thanks to Mr. Sahil Suman and Mr. Sagar Singh (both from Ara)

On Monday, November 28 2005, I took Shramjivi Express from Patna to meet the World’s best mathematician. I reached ARA at 12:00, Mr. Sahil Suman and Mr. Sagar Singh were there to recieve me.

We took some light food and moved to the Bank of India (ARA Branch), the Manager was absent but other Bank Officails confirmed us that Dr. Vasishtha Narayan Singh is in his village only. Now, started our visit to Basantpur, a typical Bihari village,where development is yet to come.

There was no alternate to go but a BIKE, there were so many small villages in this 12 km journey, the roads are as bad as any other Village road in Bihar. One thing, which is good about this place is, Everyone knows Basantpur as “Vashishtha babu ka gaon” (The village of Dr. Basishtha Narayan). After one hour of long tedious journey, we reached his vilage.

Our first encounter was with a Villager, he said “vashisth babu” is not supposed to be treated by his family, or even this village, Vashishtha babu is a national Asset and government should take care about him. “Ab jaun ego ped howela, ookara ke hila ke jhar dehal jala, log ke bujhe ke chahi ki, agar ee ped thik rahi ta bahut fayada ho sakela (we should not waste his potential but should take special care about him, this will benefit us)” He added.

We entered his house, HE was sleeping on a KHATIYA (a kind of BED) wearing an old baniyan and a dhoti. He asked me “PEN BAWE (do you have Pen)” I gave my Pen to him. He started to write something on the Top of the Hindi newspaper, which he was reading.

We met his younger brother Aayudhya Prasad Singh, who have retired from ARMY a few months back. We started our conversation with his younger brother Ayudhya Prasad Singh, the moment we asked our first question Vashishtha babu stood up and said… “ja log, ja log, aail bada log majaa lewe… (Go, go now, you had come here for plesure…)”. This was the time, my eyes were full of tears, Not for the reason he was sending me back, but only to understand his feeling. I was able to feel that, this man had seen a lot of EMPTY Promises and is not interested for the next one.

We Left his home and went back to his neighbours. They told us, that a lot of Politicians used to visit the village, but thats an old story now. They even told us that everything depends on his mood, if he is not in the mood, no one can make him talk.

After 10 minutes, we were back to his home, now talking with his brother in Bhojpuri, within 5 minutes Bashishthjee came and asked me “Camera bawe, ego Photo la log hamaar bhai ke saath (do you have a camera, take my picture with my brother)”. It was atime of Joy, we took two photgraphs immediately. He sat of the next chair to his brother while putting his hands on his shoulders, no one can believe by that photgraph that he is mentaly disturbed.

While talking his brother told us that Shatrudhan Sinha (Former Health Minister and famous Actor) came to his house once. He even arranged a Job for his (brother’s) Son in somewhere in Health Ministry in New Delhi. Due to that employment, now they are able to get medicines at discounted rates. He says, even then, it takes Rs 1200/- per month for his medicines.

When we asked his brotyher about reasons for being mentally disturbed, He said “Aapan-aapan tareeka ba soche ke, lekin hamra ta ehe bujha ta ki adheek samman bhi ghatak howela kehu-kehu khatir. Ehija waisan mahoul naikhe, basic suvidha naikhe, bijli naikhe, bahut tarah ke dikkat ba (Everybody have their own opinions, but what I belive is, sometimes, the RECOGNISATION in the world also makes people like this. There is a lack of basic facilities like Electricity, and even the atmospheare for him to work)”.

“The Government provided him facilities for about 4 years at NIMHANS, when he was in Hospital, he seemed to be absolutely normal at that time. The Doctors and staff of NIMHNS were very co-operative, even your family members will not support you like that. BUT, we faced a lot of trouble for him at that time, so we had to take him back, after all the whole life can not be spent in a Hospital, if the Government wants, we can have facilities at Home as well. He returned at 1997 and since that time, he is here only. Although for about 2 years in 2002-2003, he went again, but to no help” He added.

When we asked him about the progress of treatment at this moment, he said “We are doing all treatment from Delhi only, my son sends all the medicines and we consult doctors on Phone regularly about condions (like sometimes, he was not able to sleep in nights, but thats resolved now). He does not want to leave this village, nobody knows, what he thinks but one thing is for sure, He is not thinking in negative all the time, sometimes he is positive as well”.

“He returned from America in 1973, he returned only due to his Love towards the nation. He is not a property of me or this village, he is for the whole world. If we die this time, nobody will care but, if a person like Vashisthjee have even FEVER, the world will be curious to know about him. The basic factors for his condition includes, the poverty, the arrangements, the electricity, his marriage, his divorce and a lot more. We do not know the actual reason, HE is the only person who knows it, but he can not tell” he said.

When we asked him about Vashisthajee’s educational background, he said “he had a research published in America, he was a TOPPER there in his time. He was an Associate Professor at University of California, when he returned. He had even worked for NASA.”

His brother feels, we should take good care of a person like HIM till the time he is alive. Although he is just 62 now. When asked about the Politicians, he said that the local MLA usually visits him. Ramvilas paswan and other Big leaders used to come, but thats an old story now. The Government also sends some aid from time to time but not regularly.

When asked about his daily actiities, he said “His day to day life is perfect even today, he reads newspaper, geeta and ramayan daily. He writes a lot as well, but nobody can understand what he is wrinting, atleast not anyone in ARA is able to understand anything till now.”

“Since YOU come from Bhojpuria samaj, its a relation of soil, please put this matter to the world so that we can help him in this condition. Although, he needs to be taken care by this world, and the whole Humanity” he requests. Then He requests HIS (vashisth jee’s) Mother to talk to us and leaves for a Marriage ceremony after giving instructions for Nasta-Pani.

When we started the conversation with her mother, the innocent lady said “His brother and family is taking care of him since past two and a half years, there is absolutely no support from government since then. The last time he was admiteed at New delhi for about 1 year and four months. HE was a lot better there during treatment. The Government wanted him to be there for long time, but we could not put him there for Life.”

“He is OK here, and I can not find any problem in him now. even if the government stopped helping us, we are taking care of all the treatment to him. WE do not have any expectations from Government. It is their duty to help him get the treatment and a better life, it depends on the government wheather they do their duty or not.” She says with hopes in her eyes.

When we asked her about reasons for his mental disbalance, she said “WE do not know any reasons, although when he returned from America, he used to take some medicines (?), when we(his mother) asked HIM (vashisthjee) about that, he said those were sleeping pills. He was even lost in 1989, in Khandarwa (Madhya Pradesh), when we were going for some treatment, after a gap of more than 4 years, in 1993 somebody recognised him in Chapra (Bihar) and informed us.”

“We demand a better atmospheare and better treatment facilities for him. We are not happy with the way his life is going on. This is a shame for this world that a talented person is sufferring like this. She added. She felt confident, when we asked her about new government in Bihar, she said, this new government will definately think something about him and will take good care of HIM.

When asked about future plans, she said “The Life will go like it is now. His brother and the family is taking care of him. Suppose, I raise my hands to you(the government) for help and if you(the government) decline to help, what would happen. We are not expecting any major changes in near future. It was the government, which stopped all the help and sent him back to this village. No government representetive comes to even meet now a days. All the politicians and Ministers visits him, but the results are only false promises.”

“The only aid we got in recent times was from Bank of India Emplyee’s Association, he presented us with Rs. 5001/- and a Shawl about 15 days ago. Yes, he reads or writes something continuously, only God knows, what he writes or reads.

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