Dead Govind Singh became Alive: A Garhwali Folk Story

(Garhwali Folk Tales from Gangasalan Series)

Garhwali Folk Tales, Fables, Traditional Stories, Community Narratives -51

         Narrated by Udaya Ram Sharma (Barsudi, Walla Langur)

       Edited by: Bhishma Kukreti (Management Training Expert)

            There is village Sandanya in Langur Valla near Bhairongadh, Pauri Garhwal. One day, a couple of hours before evening, Pundit Sachida Nand Kukreti of Barsudi came to know that his Jajman Govind Singh of Sandanya died. It was not his age to die. Sachida Nand was his Baman. Sachida Nand had to perfrom all religious rituals for cremation of Govind Singh. Therefore, completing his urgent work, Sachida Nand went to Sandanya.

           Sachida Nand was also grief to find that family of Govind Singh was in grief. Since, it was evening and as per custom of Garhwal dead body can’t be cremated in evening as usually Ghats (cremation place near a River bank) are far from the village.

         In night, a couple of persons have to sit awaken in the room where dead body is kept. This sitting or presence of people in the same room of dead body is called ‘Murda Jagwalan’. Pundit Sachida Nand was one of persons who had to be in the room where dead body of Govind Singh was kept.

           Though, it is advised that those who sit in the room of dead body should not sleep but sleep is a natural phenomenon and not a man made custom. There were four males in ‘Murda Jagwalan’ (to protect dead body) in the room including Pundit Sachida Nand.

      The dead body was kept on ground and an earthen lamp was burning nearby head of Govind Singh. Every person was trying not to sleep but everybody got sleep. Pundit Sachida Nand was half sleep. He saw that Govind Singh stood up and went inside the side - small room (Kuthadi) and brought roasted Bhatt (Soybean type) from the Kuthadi. Govind Singh sat on the same place where his dead body was kept and started chewing roasted Bhatt.

         Initially, Sachida Nand felt he was dreaming but he checked that it was not dream but in real. Sachida Nand cried and asked his fellow to awake.  

              Govind Singh said,” Don’t worry. I am alive.” Every persons in the room got shock. Govind Singh said,” O My God! It was tiresome to go there and return from there.”

Sachida Nand asked,” Where? What are you talking about?”

              Govind Singh replied,” Death agents took me to Yamraj home by misjudging that I was Govind Singh of Bhiladganv. When they came to know that I am Govind Singh from Sandanya village they left me.”

             Everybody was in shock but was happy that Govind Singh was alive. The family members of Govind Singh also became happy.

             It was night and all heard a Shankh (conch shell) ‘ikhari bhaun’ sound from village Bhiladganv. Bhiladganv is in south of Sandanya towards Nayar River. The sound of Shank was in ‘ikhari bhaun’ that means that somebody had died in Bhiladganv that was near Sandanya village. After some time, two messengers from Bhiladganv village came to Sandanya and informed that Govind Singh of their village died just a time before.

Copyright @ Bhishma Kukreti 8/1/2014 for review and interpretation

Garhwali Folk Tales, Fables, Traditional stories, Community Narratives for Effective Managers, Effective executives, Effective Boss, Effective Supervisors or Stories for Effective management, management Lesson from Garhwali Folk Literature from Garhwal, to be continued …in next chapter

                                 References

1-Bhishma Kukreti, 1984, Garhwal Ki Lok Kathayen, Binsar Prakashan, Lodhi Colony, Delhi 110003, 

2- Bhishma Kukreti 2003, Salan Biten Garhwali Lok Kathayen, Rant Raibar, Dehradun

3- Bhishma Kukreti, Garhwali Lok Kathaon ma Prabandh Vigyan ka Tantu , Chitthi Patri’s Lok Kathayen Visheshank  , Dehradun

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