Power Of Becoming A Witness

Aditi Ghosh

Recently I joined a discourse on the ‘power of becoming a witness (sakshi)’ of an event- when you just brace yourself and witness it happen in front of you. Do not try to manage, control or influence it. It could be avoiding the temptation to join, speak or jump into a conversation too. I had the opportunity to practice it last afternoon on the Delhi to Durgapur flight. I was in the 2nd row, while Shatrughan Sinha( SS), an Actor cum Politician, was sitting in the front row window and a young lady ( not known to him) seating in the aisle seat. Inquisitive passengers were randomly clicking his photos. As the flight took off, SS started chitchatting with the young lady. I did not have any intention of eavesdropping but no way I can avoid listening to it sitting just behind him.

I recalled that SS is an MP from Asansol and learned from the discussion that he will be going to Asansol, his constituency, from the airport. The lady, on the other hand, is from the HR department of IGL. A Bengali from Durgapur now living in Delhi. Soon the conversation turned into Bengali from Hindi, then to bong food ( Hilsa of CR Park market, Kamala sweet, etc) and the culture ( Durga Puja). I was surprised to learn that SS not only speaks fluent Bengali but is also conversant with bong ways of living. The lady was travelling with her 4 colleagues to NIT- Durgapur ( my college) for the recruitment of engineering final-year students. They will conduct a written test that evening, then GD and interview the next day morning. It was a bit nostalgic for me..it reminded me of those early days of struggle in college and career.

I found SS very grounded and composed as a person. If you did not know about his stardom, you might think just another pleasant elderly co-passenger. One lady with her cute daughter approached SS for a picture together. I guess a veteran like him knows well how to deny nicely to avoid the chaos of similar requests from other passengers as well. However, SS was speaking casually with the lady next to him, also offered her a candy ( which she accepted) and then offered to share his chicken sandwich, when the young lady mentioned that she is a vegetarian. SS smirked: ‘Bengali and vegetarian? I did not know, I should have taken a veg sandwich. It embarrassed her. She was trying to explain that she has recently become vegetarian, however, she cooks non-veg for the family. So, no issue.

The conversation continued.. lady mentioned that she is a fan of Sonakshi, and recently watched Double XL in Netflix, which she loved. SS asked if she has seen ‘Lootera’. It has a Bengali feel. It seems SS liked her daughter’s performance in Lootera and the movie too. No discussion on the blockbuster movies of Sonakshi with Salman Khan though. Maybe as a dad, he is not so much proud of it. What I was thinking, how SS was feeling, to discuss only the fame of his daughter… there was no mention of SS’s movie at all. Not expected from such a young one also…. while I was visualizing his towering performances from Kalicharan, Kala Pathaar, Mangal Pandey, etc sitting behind. Maybe he was amused too like me. It seems we are a bridge generation who has seen both the father and now the daughter.

Conversation continues. SS shared his next schedule from Asansol to Kolkata by road then to Nagpur and then to Mumbai….about his frequent travel to Delhi as an MP for a Parliamentary affair. When asked if his schedule is always busy? SS said .. no no.. at times it is busy with back-to-back travel. He acknowledged that even if he has to travel, he has the privilege to get priority and security etc which reduces his travel hassles….not the case for so many. Good to see this consciousness. I do not know how good or bad he is as an MP, but I found him quite gathered as a person. Finally, the lady asks (maybe I was waiting for it too!!) if it is fine to take a picture with him when the aircraft lands. I did appreciate her patience and approach. SS gladly responded ‘DONE’.

I know by now you are expecting a photograph of SS. No …I did not request him for a photograph with me. But again, like the conversation, I witnessed the lady take a selfie with SS and then I got down behind SS and his bodyguard ( who actually did not sit next to him in the aircraft but jumped next to him as soon the aircraft landed).

The writer is a globe traveller