Thirteen Years and Counting.........(Part-23)

The distance between workshop place and Digambar Akhara is roughly two and half kilometers. But as was predicted ,the streets,the bylanes, the intersection and the roof tops of temples and houses were occupied by some 5000 people in this two and half kilometers stretch. Most of them were residents and a little over thousand and half would be the people who penitrated from near by villages,who were refered as 'Karsewaks'. Ramakant Awasthi and me reached to workshop place by an isolated route and as we reached we found there was no place in and around workshop place where we could stand or view the 'Havan'( a pre ritual before the Ram Shila Pujan).We waited out side.

TV media(doestic and international) both have stationed themselves in the places they found suitable to cover,but mostly were ready to accompany the procession.Some of them were on roof top to get clearer view of whole event.

It was almost impossible for me to look out for Ami in the occean of men,women and Sadhus.I realized that I have lost her .A worried me looked towards Awasthi. Ramakant Awasthi moved towards entrance gate and as I headed I saw a fat man in his fourties coming towards me.
Richard a British, has landed from Biejing along with his small crew.Richard himself was editor,while Peter,another British,rather young man was correspondant while Germany born Inka Kretchmer was producer of the team representing Sky News. To tell all of you little about Sky News,I must say that Sky News is a sister company of media empire created by Richard Murdoch of News Corporation. Sky News primarily broadcasts in Europe and its another sister company Fox News is aimed on American Continent. While we have Star in India.

This small Sky News team was badly confused on what to cover and what to not.So Richard asked for helping hand I could not deny. Knowing that may be I would not be able to meet Ami and also it would be a great learning experience for me I agreed. Sky news team was having best of technology with them. Sattelite phone, a link with Biejing studio and such smart and beautiful producer. We all just walked around and searched for a place where we can station our camera. Finally Richard suggested that we should occupy a roof top. Since all the temple sturctures were in bad shape we managed to get on to a rather good building.

Now we were on roof top of an old structure just across the road and infront of workshop place. Now we could see all what was going on inside but I could not see Ami and Ima. Richard asked me to explain what was going on inside the workshop place and I explained that VHP leaders and Ram Chandra Param Hans and his 500 followers were performing 'Rudra Ashtadhyayai'--A worship to Lord Shiva. There after procession was supposed to move towards Digamabar Akhara.

Richard started his PTC on satellite link , Hail To Shri Ram..........that is what we are listening here in the holy town of Ayodhya'. He completed his PTC in three minutes and soon we saw that procession had satarted. We wrapped, thanked that all went well but all of suddent we saw that something banged an all of sudden there was a hole in the roof top.The building was collapsing an all we could see that a man reporting for an Indian channel collapsed inside hole along with debris. It was a one meter diameter hole . we helped out to Indian reporter to come out and landed safely on the floor of building and joined the procession.

The VHP ,the karsewaks and the people joined the procession while the residents of town occupied the streets and roof top.

As I joined the procession I could see that an elderly and rigid monk who had challenged the entire government on his commitment to perform Ram Shila Pujan had a great fan following. The Ram Shila was kept on a wooden chariot while VHP leaders like Ashok Singhal and Ram Chandra Pramhans was walking bare feet behind the chariot. The atmosphere was filled up with chant of 'Jai Shri Ram' and we were crawling amidst heavy load of crowd.

All of sudden I saw Ami,and I could easily judge that she was more than tensed while she kept herself busy clicking photograph. Inka Kretchmer,who by now was well versed with me whispered in my ears...."Oh that American photographer....she is awasome". I could not utter a world.

While keeping a vigilance on Ram Chandra Paramhans,who by then has trembled and fallen down for two times was sweating while shouting ' Jai Shri Ram'. Ashok Singhal was holding his hands but he insisted to be on his own.

And some how we reached to Digamabar Akhara. It all was a mess. Thousand of people,each inch of the ground was occupied by a single individual and we stood in crowd,me and Inka,while Richard and Peter went inside Akhara to cover Ram Shila Pujan. Inka offered me a bottle of water and that is all what we had that time.

Ram Shila Pujan lasted for two and half hours amidst a constant fear of a possible lathi charge,we some how remained static.The moment it finished we coould hear the karsewaks shouting, "Jai Shri Ram ,Ho Gaya Kaam". I saw Richard and Peter coming out from inside. Soon we rode his hired taxi and rushed to Krishna Palace,from where he was supposed to do live for Sky News.

I farewelled the sky news team at "Krishna Hotel" and rushed to "Shan-E-Awadh" to find if I would be able to see Ami. As soon as I reached to "Shan-E-Awadh" and to my astonishment Ami and Ima both had left to cath a flight from Lucknow to reach Delhi.

I was nervous,pained and emotional and thought that perhaps when I knocked at her hotel room door and Ima opened the gate was the last chance to see Ami. I was determined to see her atleast once in Delhi,so I did not bother to go my village as I had my luggage with me. An Associated Press Journalist gave me a ride uptil Lucknow and I reached Charbaagh Railway Station at 10:00 PM to catch Lucknow mail.

Next day I knocked at my brother's residence in Noida early in the morning.

(To be continued..........................Second phase of my joblessness)



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Thirteen Years and Counting......(Part-22)

The day ended with not so many speculations but as Sun dropped in western sky rumours and news both came hand in hand. Some Indian TV chanells were broadcasting that  thousnads of 'Karsewaks' are enetring in the twin town of Ayodhya and Faizabad from near by villgaes.Some extended one more step and claimed that VHP may start the foundation stone ceremony tommorrow and top BJP leaders may join.

As a sharp photo jouranlsit Ami asked me to remain in touch with Indian lobby of journalists and insisted not go to my village that night. Both the good hotels 'Shan-E-Awadh' and 'Krishna' were occupied by National and International media teams and we were unable to find a room for me.

We both were puzzeled and kept sitting in the cafetaria of hotel till late night,while chalking out plan for next day. Ami was joined by one of her Spanish photographer friend  Ima Garmendia who came from Madrid to cover the event. She joined Ami's room in the hotel.

And the problem of  valid Press ID card was still there. Late in night I contacted a freelance photographer and asked him if he could give me an ID card. He agreed but asked me to pay 500 Rs.And in next two hours I was having a press ID of a two page tabloid.However Ami was not satisfied with this.

Me, Ami and Ima had our dinner together and I then asked Ami to go to sleep. There was no place in hotel for me and somehow I realized it was not needed as most of TV journalists of Indian TV were awake on this information that thousands of Karsewaks were trying to beam in to town.

While I was sitting on reception around 01:00 AM,I saw Ami's driver coming to me.Some one had told him about the problem.Perhaps Ami.....

He requested me to occupy his bed in dormetary of hotel and then went to sleep in the parked car outside hotel. I was so tired that could not deny his humble request and soon fell asleep.

Around 02:30 I awake again and was feeling the need to see Ami,as I was in constant fear of  her not been in good state of mind. I knocked at the door.Ima opened the door and allowed me to see Ami.I returned back asking her to close the door and then again fell asleep.

I woke around 10:30 ,only to find that all of them had left to cover the event.Ami and Ima and all print and TV Journalists.There was no one in hotel. I was astonished why Ami did not call me only to find later that she was more worried about my safety.Her driver told me.

I came down in cafeteria and found that local Bureau Chief of Dainik Jagran had also not left as he was filing a breaking news to his HQ. I told him about my problem and he then accompnied me to the the place where 'Ram Shila Pujan' was scheduled.

In midway he told me that state government has not allowed  Ram Chandra Paramhans and other hardliners to cross the intersection which proceeded towards disputed site. Rather it was orderd to perform  Ram Shila Pujan at the residence of Ram Chandra Paramhans at Digambar Akhara.

I have already narrated the tight security in and around town . It was doubled up on the day. Me and Ramakant Awasthi(Local Bureau Chief of Dainik Jagran) headed to workshop place from where the carvan was supposed to proceed to Digamabar Akhara to perform Ram Shila Pujan.

To be continued.............The Sky News team and farewell to Ami.

Thirteen Years and Counting.....(Part-21)

The moment Flag March ended,we found that all media persons were rushing to their work stations to file the report and grab their breakfasts which they had avoided due to flag march. Also there was a press conference by Ram Chandra Paramhans at 11:00 AM. Me and Ami found that we were left alone at the crossroad which intersected towards Hanuman Garhi.

Ami put her right hand on my shoulders,in return I looked into her eyes and felt that we both were hungry. While we were grabbing our breakfast together Ami somehow manged to tell me the problem.She put her hand on my knees and asked very politely whether I was having any press ID card. All of sudden I realized what she was talking about.Next day was the event of Ram Shila Pujan and it was quite difficult for anybody to watch or assist the event without a valid press ID.


We headed for our hotel as we had to return soon to the press conference venue. While I kept thinking if I can manage any local press ID,Ami swiftly started transmitting the photographs to Getty Images office in Delhi. Right at 10:30 we were in the same red Maruti 800 car but something has changed between both of us. There was absence of talk and silnce occupied the place between both of us.

As we reached to the workshop(where the stone were getting constructed and PC was to take place), we found that scene was set. TV and print media people have occupied their place and Ram Chandra Paramhans was sitting on a 'Takht'(Wooden bed), we all were waiting for PC to start. As Ami and me was adjusting with the unbroaken silence between us, a cluster of people started cheering up,they said" Phone aa gaya....phone aa gaya." And Ram Chandra Paramhans rushed to an inside room where phone was kept. Some body utterd," Advani ji hain". And two three cars came inside the premise carrying the one of the most prominent hindu hardliner leader and general secretary of VHP(Vishwa Hindu Parishad) --Ashok Singhal.

All of sudden I realized the need of a press ID,but it was the moment when Ami needed me. I was determined to help her and assist her.Soon Ram Chandra Paramhans emerged out of the room and shouted a slogan " Jai Shri Ram...Karyakram kal hoga".

And with this the PC started where both the leaders shown their determination to carryout Ram Shila Pujan and subsequently to built a magnificient temple.


As soon as PC ended, we rode the car and headed for our hotel. In midway Ami showed me some of remarkable photographs she clicked on the banks of Saryu,of the bylane and PC. I was finding myself hard to react as I was busy thinking about next day's problem.



(To be continued---- The night in the hotel and the day of event)