Love at First Sight – Series 1 of 4

Many moons ago, it was yet another broiling day in Benaras Hindu University and I went to meet a professor to acquaint him about the AOL activities in the campus. The professor completely in agreement with Guruji’s work and His vision told me to accompany him to a tribal village nearby. I acceded to the request immediately, but little did I know that I had signed a bond of love for many many years to come.

We fixed a Sunday evening, now four years ago, placed ourselves into a vintage Mahindra jeep and it sped past the beautiful Kashi Nagari in no time. The Naugarh district pathways are very beautiful with paddy fields on both sides and ancient trees to ogle at. I was deeply mesmerized with the nature heralding herself to me after every rise and fall of the roads.

The terrain quickly changed from plain lands to thick forests, passing by us were armed posts of CRPF. Men in khakhis standing tall with Kalashnikov rifles and the eyes of a hawk. I totally unaware of any facts and figures then, only wondered why would the government spend so much money to have a vigilant CRPF post in the middle of the forest. The journey unrevealed many skirts of happiness in shapes of trees, flowers, villagers eyeing our jeep and small children shouting, playing and frolicking to mother nature.

The path had become thinner but the bushes were getting thicker. The air was fresh but there was something which whispered the rancidity of life. The Jeep stopped at a village called Aurwan Tand in front of a small hut and my mind started its journey to think – Does human life exist here? I was introduced to a very feeble, scrawny woman who was the head of the village. My refreshments included water, rice water and some sliced onions to quench my appetite.

Still oblivious to the purpose of my visit, I goggled the village with my eyes. I was totally unaware of what I was getting into. The village with 100 families wore ornamental look amidst thick trees, mountains and I like an inquisitive bird warbling away, didn’t know that love at first sight had again become a reality in my life!!

With whom, keep reading… 🙂

This Post Has 12 Comments

  1. Neha

    i am curious to no more… not good to make ur readers wait 🙂

  2. Neha

    sorry…the previous comment was…
    curious to read more…:) sorry for the goof-up

  3. swati

    beautiful it is…
    🙂

    luv ya

  4. Dinesh

    Dear Rajesh

    Without any doubt, whatever I heard about Arwan Tand or by video on youtube, its an amazing effort to show how much the students of BHU and YES+ Varanasi team in your guidance has served and shown their unconditional love to these villagers. To your input my younger brother “Dev” He is working as full time yuvacharaya in lucknow, saharanpur and I hoping now after Adv course with guruji in Ashram, their team is planing to eastern UP and I will tell their team to visit arwan tand and get inspired to create many more service centers like Arwan Tand

    Love
    Dinesh

  5. Rohit

    Oh Vaao ! So this is the history..of its start.
    Astonishing…

  6. swati

    waiting for more 😉

  7. bhawana

    Jai Gurudev

    looking forward for more

    🙂

  8. K.S. Bais

    A new beginning indeed ! May be village waited for its mentor, who knows?

  9. Rajat

    Junta …………..Beware of Rajesh Bhaiya………..He is very addictive:P

  10. sachin

    Jai Gurudev to All my friends & Rajesh Bhaiya… Love u

  11. Pravin Jagasia

    Great going bhaiya!!! Feeling very proud to be your brother.

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