Three Men & a Boat!! ( with no resemblence to the Original title-)

On my annual trip to the river banks at Delhi!!

There were actually two of them, trying to assuage the dogs who were trying to bark out the intruder dog on the other side of the cesspool of the waters called the Yamuna at Delhi!! Strewn with plastic, smelling of the sewers in our that the city generates, and just across the chronologically set symbols of development- the barrage, the metro bridge and the new Yamuna bridge!! Yes, there were the left out idols of many immersions- all deities being represented in Many sizes, to thankfully claim spirituality to the river.!!

I had met them when I came in. They had offered to row me to the inners of the cesspool ( waters! ) for the immersion i was there for!! Lathis in hand and the look of the hinterland Indian - did not inspire me much!! Well, what water to go in anyways!! So we passed by!

And then I came across the bathers!! Yes!! A couple , a set of friends and some others!! Well, looks like it was purnamasi ( full moon) and the dip is mandatory!! Really- in this water ?!! Yes- it's holy you see!! Didn't i just rest my idols in it?! Yes sir!! And then, as I watched them do it, did they have to take that water into their mouth?!!

Turning around, the place takes another meaning!! The morning sunlight, the primeval space, the idle idols, the moving in people setting up to perform puja's!! Yes, it's the river Yamuna- the beloved of Krishna and the sister of Yam!!

Ah yes, the man!! Well, we got talking!! Knowledgeable chaps!! They tell

Me that that the waters are releases sometime, from the barrage, mostly in night and usually on occasions! And that it is the nazargarh drain that lets in the entire sewer waters of delhi into the river!! What can be done!!

Yes, they live around here! On that brick enclosure on the hillock!!! The land actually belongs to the state of UP and actually all the safeda trees are theirs!! So the delhi police really don't have a say!!

So much urban land politics!! Being taught directly by the affected!! Oh, and they have no official license to run a boat- even though those who fish get one! Their names are registered at the police station and they are allowed to do the ferrying and stay here since they help in keeping away people from drowning in the waters!! ( i really think a course in urban administration should be done in the UD department-)

One of them is from beat muzzafarpur( Bihar) and the other from Bulandshahar. How did they meet?! Long story!! They have been here forever!!

Of course they are ethical! Just this morning people wanted to row into the waters to immerse the body of a child !! Jal pravah!! Not only is it illegal- they tell me- it is unethical - since the body is bound to come by the shores and there are the dogs and the other animals!! Besides the nearby cremation ghat wala will call up the police!! So they didn't care about their morning earning!!

Yes sir, So I give them each some money, and since I am being generous- why don't I give some to their other friend who stays with them!!?! Why not!! I do, as he come by!!

Yes it's Ram Ram all!! We d meet again!!