A tea seller from Gujarat went on to become the Prime Minister of the country. In stark contrast, a tea seller from Dhanbad, who is also a hardcore Gandhian, is struggling to get something as basic as old-age pension since 2011.
Meet Shambhu Dayal Tamrakar (76), who sells lemon tea from a small cart at Kendua, Dhanbad, but who is more popular as "Gandhi ji" - his devotion to the Mahatma's principles of honesty, simplicity and integrity earning him the sobriquet.
"I am happy with what I have. This is because I never compromised on my principles, which have been inspired by Gandhian ideals. The best part is that my family has never complained," said Tamrakar, uncannily resembling the Father of the Nation in the way he was dressed - a khadi kurta, dhoti, oval-shaped spectacles and slippers.
Tamrakar, whose tea stall is located near Durga Sthan at Karkend More, could not properly educate his three children - elder daughter Sulekha Kumari (22), younger daughter Punam Kumari (19) and son Durga Prasad (15) - because of his poor financial condition.
In 2011, he had applied for old-age pension, but is yet to hear anything from the administration.
"I did several rounds of the office of Dhanbad's subdivisional officer for old-age pension. But nothing happened," he said with no bitterness or anger in his tone.
Yes, he has no complaint against the administration or the society. In fact, he does his bit for the society, distributing clothes among the poor on Independence Day or Republic Day or Gandhi Jayanti by collecting donation from the people or contributing from his own pocket.
Like every year this day too, he was at Gandhi Seva Sadan in Dhanbad to garland the Mahatma's statue on the occasion of his birth anniversary.
Having studied till the level intermediate from RSP College, Jharia, in 1977, Tamrakar had the chance to see Gandhi during the pre-Independence era when the Father of the Nation came to Jharia to address a public rally.
"Such was the popularity of Mahatma Gandhi that people came from far-off places just to catch a glimpse of him during his stay in Jharia. The values of honesty and simplicity that the Mahatma stood for cannot be matched and I believe that all of us should follow the same in our lives," he said.
He then added: "So what if my children are not being able to pursue higher education? I am proud that I have been able to inculcate some of my ideals and principles in them. I am grateful to my wife, Uma Devi (70), for never complaining. She encouraged me to lead me a life of honesty and great values. I would request the government to include the life and works of Mahatma Gandhi in school and college syllabi."
Tamrakar makes around Rs 5,000 to Rs 6,000 a month by selling lemon tea for Rs 3 (small cup) and Rs 5 (large cup).
"I am selling tea here since 1990. Before that, I had tried my luck in the business of selling onions and potatoes, but didn't meet success. My tea is good for health as I mix a lot of ingredients that aid digestion," the teaman added.
That Tamrakar's popularity goes beyond his little cart or his "healthy" lemon tea was apparent when right from a general store owner of Karkend Bazaar area to a Class XI student of Rajkamal Saraswati Vidya Mandir, Dhansar, spoke about him with reverence.
"We have grown up drinking Gandhi ji's tea. But we never call him chaiwala. Rather to us, he is Gandhi ji because of the principles he stands for," said shopkeeper Sunil Agarwal, adding that the government should do something for this selfless septuagenarian.
Agreeing, student Avinash Kumar said: "Everybody in Kendua respects Tamrakar as a man of true ideals, who offers tea to every willing customer with or without money. This kind of honesty is very rare."
Dhanbad deputy commissioner Kripa Nand Jha said he would definitely check whether Tamrakar qualified for government old-age pension and he would accordingly do the needful.
What is your message for Shambhu Dayal Tamrakar? Tell ttkhand@abpmail.com
