Chiken Munia: An epidemic or fantasy?

I visited my home-town (Ambah, Morena district, M.P. India) during Diwali festival and found something strange there. The instant I entered my home I came to know that almost every member of my family has pain in their hands, legs/feet. They had fever too just a few days back which vanished over time. My mother, who was on bed told me that we are not the only victims of this strange disease but entire district is struggling. My father added that not only Morena but people in almost 500kms range are suffering. He concluded that its Chiken Munia, an EPIDEMIC!

Chiken Munia starts with very high temperature and ends up leaving pain and swelling in hands/legs which seems never-lasting. There was no medicine available in the market for the disease, doctors were recommending people to have good rest and patience. They said, it will go on its own. However, no one could believe them and people were taking pain-killers, injections in order to reduce the pain. I saw my mother's right hand which she could barely use for any work in last couple of weeks. She took injections on alternate days but in vain. Visited a few friends/neighbors and realized that almost every Ambahite is suffering or at least have suffered! In nutshell, none at Ambah seemed 100% fit, doesn't matter how good or bad at finance s/he was. When I went to Bhopal (which is 450 kms far from Ambah), Auntie told me that she too had suffered from Chiken Munia and still have some pain in hands.

I was wondering what Indian government, doctors did in this regard. There was no medical camp held, no special medicines provided, no precautions aired, virtually nothing happened. It seemed that there is no disease/epidemic named Chiken Munia. My brother took me back to reality, reality of Indian government, Indian politics. He told that there was some statement in newspapers/TV by some health minister that "Chiken Munia is no epidemic. Its merely a fantasy which is originated in idle minds in order to create some buzz around." I couldn't stop myself from smiling at my brother's declaration and thought, 'Wah minister sahib, how true you are!'

Goli by Acharya Chatursen

You must be thinking where do I find these books? Its quite possible that you are completely unaware of the fact that there have been a good Hindi writer in India, Acharya Chatursen, reading his work is out of question. Including this one, I have read three books from this writer, Vayam Rakshamah (the best among three) and Vaishali Ki Nagarvadhu. And I am sort of fan of this writer. Sometimes I wonder why Mr. Chatursen is so forbidden? After reading his works, I find him good enough to be considered in good Hindi authors. Mohit sir/Priya didi once suggested me Vayam Rakshamah and I was wary of the title/author/book. After reading that book I realized that I have no idea of Hindi literature, how can I miss such good writer. Later I came to realize that it wasn't me who didn't know about him, it was he who is not so popular. A few months back, Google search for Chatursen used to return absurd/irrelevant results. Today when I searched again, I got this Wikipedia article and got a reason why Chatursen must have been forbidden.

Goli (a term for females, for male, its Gola, plural is Gole) is (or was, no idea!) a caste/subcaste in Rajasthan. Golis are bound to become concubines of kings, they live in king's Rangmahal the same way as queens live. They get everything except for the proper respect. Everybody in kingdom knows what and who Golis are. In nutshell, they get every possible luxury in life but at the cost of dignity. Kings don't marry them, produce children with them and in order to give those children father's name, kings marry these females to some similar caste person or Gola. Gola takes care of his wife (so called, he cannot even touch her!) and children. Kings play with these females, enjoy, humiliate and throw away, if Goli has got some brain then King makes sure that she is killed silently.

Goli is based on a true story of such a female, Champa (virtual name. Chatursen hasn't revealed identity of any character or place). Time period of story is around 1900-1950 (India was ruled by English people then). In a 242-pages novel, Chatursen has elaborated the story quite nicely. Entire life of Champa from birth to elderly-age is narrated in her own words. Unlike Vaishali Ki Nagarvadhu, characters are not in huge numbers and are prominent. Hindi too is not as hard as Vayam Rakshamah or Vaishali Ki Nagarvadhu. Since the background is recent enough, Acharya ji have used Urdu and English words very often (you can starve for one such word in most of his books).

Story seemed genuine and in a sense it touched me. Overall I liked the book, 7/10. Now I look forward for more Chatursen literature, I'm lovin' it! ;~)

Book Details:
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Goli by Acharya Chatursen,
Publisher: Hind Pocket Books,
Pages: 242 (paperback)
Price: Rs.90