Jodhpur diary: The tale of a star, the star-struck and the guardians
The scorching heat and soaring temperature in Jodhpur didn't stop fans of Bollywood superstar Salman Khan from flocking to the Jodhpur Central Jail. From the day Salman Khan stepped inside, the prison surroundings were more or less converted into a picnic spot with fan frenzy in full display. Amid the pandemonium, people seemed to be enjoying the attention their historic city was getting.
Fan frenzy outside the jail premises
Some hardcore fans came from far and wide and camped there for the three days that their hero was lodged inside. Salman is arguably the most enigmatic Bollywood superstar of recent times whose following cuts across social boundaries of age, caste, creed and religion. However, what drove Rukmini Bai to Jodhpur was the special bond she shared with Salman. Her eyes swelled up with tears as she recalled the day little Salman was born. Rukmini Bai is lovingly called Dai Ma and worked at the Kalyan hospital in Indore. She was among the first few to see Salman as a newborn. Her bond was renewed when Salman visited Indore and especially met her. With Salman in jail, she has been praying and felt duty-bound to be there in support of her "first son". In fact, that's one of the many stories of how "Sultan" has earned the reputation of "Being Human".
Selfie mania grips Jodhpur Central Jail
Cut to the scene inside the Jodhpur Central Jail and another drama unfolded. Within hours of the Dabangg star being lodged in the jail, the prison was reeling under Salman fever. From top officers to "jail preharis" everyone queued up to see the star face-to-face and enjoy a selfie moment with him.
Unsurprisingly, the influx of Salman's relatives visiting the jail doubled on the last day. "Our relative works here. We are going to meet her. I can make you talk to her on the phone," argued a group of women and girls restless to go inside. On asking whether they were hoping to see Salman, a youngster shyly admitted, "We are huge fans of Salman and we never miss his movies, hope to get to see him."
In fact, the policemen on duty at the main gate had a harrowing time as relatives of jail employees haggled to get in not willing to miss their golden chance of getting a glimpse of the Bollywood Dabangg.
Of course, there were some special invitees who didn't have to haggle at all. About an hour before Salman was granted bail, the family of a top official including children walked inside the premises with ease, certainly not their first visit in three days.
The usually drab jail environs were buzzing with activity with the lines almost blurred for once and Salman being the opium that kept everyone enchanted.
There were others who were wary of the attention the jail was got. "Ever since Salman has come, jail officials have been meeting him with their children and wives. If the boss is busy clicking selfies, then others would also follow, after all, who doesn't want a selfie with the famous hero?" said a jail inmate.
"No, I didn't go to meet him but other fellow prisoners went, Salman meets everybody warmly, but what option does he have?" he added. Understandably, prisoners were not the privileged selfie stars though they were more than happy to get the occasional autograph.
Bishnois - the guardians
Miles away from the maddening crowd in a remote village, members of the Bishnoi community gathered at the local temple for aarti. The setting sun rendered an almost ethereal feel to the rural set-up. A head of deer and peacocks hovered around the temple freely. The mystical Jajiwal village is where the Bishnois live. It is the tapobhoomi of their living Guru Swami Bhagirath Das.
Women clad in colourful dresses, men in turbans and youngsters in jeans and T-shirts assembled at the modest courtyard of the temple. As they sat under the trees on the cold sand and sang, the peacocks danced and sang too. Not wanting to get noticed, I sat in the corner trying to soak in the calm and serenity. I was lost in myriad question that crossed my mind.
"Mother earth and it's creatures are sacred to us, birds, trees and animals they are our family members. We have 29 commandments that our Guru Jambenshwar laid down for us and we follow his path," said Bhagaaraam, a local. "Our mothers breastfeed abandoned calves like their own children and we worship them as the reincarnation of Lord Krishna. Many of our members have died protecting them," he added. No wonder these animals and birds like the blackbucks, deer, chinkaras, peackocks and vultures find safe havens in Bishnoi villages.
The compassion of the Bishnois is legendary and an unparalleled example of the bonding between man and his ecosystem. The community came to the limelight when Salman Khan was accused of poaching two blackbucks. Surely, Salman would have learnt by now that the commitment of the guardian angels of wildlife is unflinching.