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There was once a Bansuriwala who used to pass through a housing society located next to a hillock at a scenic location in a megalopolis every morning playing his flute. Indeed, he was a good flute player. His melodious tunes alone made people buy his flutes and he did not have to sell them like other hawkers who went around with their loud street cries to sell their products. Every day in the morning at a particular time he used to enter the housing society playing a particular tune to announce his arrival and attract the Residents attention. Thereafter, he used to play several other songs out of his oeuvre to attract his prospects into buying his flutes. Residents of the society had got willy-nilly used to this Bansuriwala. They inadvertently used to wait for him in the morning to listen to his melodious songs. The birds and the animals who resided there, and who only understood the language of sweetness thought that the flute and the Bansuriwala were just one. They merely thought it was just the melodious voice of a human being coming out through the flute. But then they were also surprised as to why only one human being spoke so melodiously and others remained quiet. And the Bansuriwala was full of sargam and composition.

    Once it so happened that the Bansuriwala didn’t come to the society for a week when everyone started missing his melodies in their own quiet manner. The birds and the animals there, also felt lifeless and bored and thought their communication with human beings had all of a sudden stopped without any reason. They concluded with their little understanding that human beings have gone quiet just because the flute had stopped playing. Some more days passed like that but the Bansuriwala still didn’t turn up. Upon not finding him and his melody there, the birds and the animals soon withered away and stopped coming to the society.

    But what had the Bansuriwala done? The Bansuriwala had actually created a craving for the melody that emanated out of his flute which he use to play in the society. Saddened at the absence of the Bansuriwala, one day a young boy in the society took out the flute that he had purchased from the flutist and started playing it, but awkwardly. Of course, he didn’t know how to play it but he dared to make an attempt.

    This irritated the neighbours. They started complaining to the society management that the boy was disturbing their peace. But the boy was determined to continue with his endeavours. And after some persistent efforts the boy finally started playing some good melodies through his flute even when they were not up to the standards of the Bansuriwala. Slowly the complaints of the neighbours started waning when they gradually started appreciating his tunes. The boy in the meanwhile improved his flute skills significantly.

    After a few weeks an old retired person also took out his flute that he had bought from the Bansuriwala and started playing it regularly. After seeing the child and the old man playing the flute several other members of the society too started their foray with the flute that they had casually purchased from the Bansuriwala. Soon a ‘Flute Club’ was founded in the society. The club functioned every morning and evening under the tall banyan tree in the housing complex. The birds and the animals rejoiced once again. They returned when they felt more human beings have started talking to them.

    After about six months the Bansuriwala finally returned to the society. He came at his usual time in the morning and was surprised to see the ‘Flute Club’ in full flow under the huge banyan tree. The flute playing child was delighted to see him there. He ran across to welcome him. He asked him where he had vanished. The observant Bansuriwala then replied him with his ready wit saying.

    ‘Dear Child I used to come to this society regularly playing my flute. Everyone liked the way I played it and that included even birds and animals in the vicinity. But one day I sadly realised no was wanting to learn the flute even when they had bought one from me. This disappointed me. So, I thought of exploring some other housing societies in this megalopolis, where people would not only buy a flute but also play it. When I left this place months ago I considered myself a failure. Though, I had sold many flutes here I was unable to inspire anyone to learn how to play it. They only listened to what I played and kept praising me. I realised my success didn’t lie in the selling of flutes alone but in how to make these flutes play. But today, when I have returned after so many months I’m thrilled to see so many of you playing the flute in complete solidarity … ekta. This alone is my success. Flute is like God’s tongue and the songs that the flute plays are like God’s lyrics that reaches out equally to both human beings and animals. The Bansuriwala then turned around and started walking out of the society as his mission here was accomplished since he had created a Bansuriwala in the child, only to discover, another sleeping society where he still had to create a Bansuriwala to accomplish his mission.

    Moral of the story: Be the Bansuriwala of your society. Spread music which is God’s language. Encourage people to learn God’s language. Don’t just keep your flute with you, play it. Treat your tongue like your flute and play it. And finally there is a great difference between possessing an instrument and playing it to please the ambience. Remember, the lyrics of God that come out of the flute are loved and understood by one and all.

By Kamlesh Tripathi

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https://kamleshsujata.wordpress.com

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Shravan Charity Mission is an NGO that works for poor children suffering from life threatening diseases especially cancer. Our posts are meant for our readers that includes both children and adults and it has a huge variety in terms of content. We also accept donations for our mission. Should you wish to donate for the cause. The bank details are given below:

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GLOOM BEHIND THE SMILE

(The book is about a young cancer patient. Now archived in 8 prestigious libraries of the US that includes Harvard College Library; Harvard University Library; Library of Congress; University of Washington, Seattle; University of Minnesota, Minneapolis; Yale University, New Haven; University of Chicago; University of North Carolina, at Chapel Hill University Libraries. It can also be accessed in MIT through Worldcat.org. Besides, it is also available for reading in libraries and archives of Canada, Cancer Aid and Research Foundation Mumbai; Jaipuria Institute of Management, Noida; India. Shoolini University, Yogananda Knowledge Center, Himachal Pradesh and Azim Premzi University, Bangalore).  

ONE TO TANGO … RIA’S ODYSSEY

(Is a book on ‘singlehood’ about a Delhi girl now archived in Connemara Library, Chennai and Delhi Public Library, GOI, Ministry of Culture, Delhi; Available for reading in Indian National Bibliography, March 2016, in the literature section, in Central Reference Library, Ministry of Culture, India, Belvedere, Kolkata-700022)

AADAB LUCKNOW … FOND MEMORIES

(Is a fiction written around the great city of Nawabs—Lucknow. It describes Lucknow in great detail and also talks about its Hindu-Muslim amity. That happens to be the undying characteristics of Lucknow. The book was launched in Lucknow International Literary Festival of 2014. It is included for reading in Askews and Holts Library Services, Lancashire, U.K; Herrick District Library, Holland and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Library, Mecklenburg County in North Carolina, USA).

REFRACTIONS … FROM THE PRISM OF GOD

(Co-published by Cankids–Kidscan, a pan India NGO and Shravan Charity Mission, that works for Child cancer in India. The book is endorsed by Ms Preetha Reddy, MD Apollo Hospitals Group. It was launched in Lucknow International Literary Festival 2016)

TYPICAL TALE OF AN INDIAN SALESMAN

(Is a story of an Indian salesman who is, humbly qualified. Yet he fights his ways through unceasing uncertainties to reach the top. A good read not only for salesmen. The book was launched on 10^th February, 2018 in Gorakhpur Lit-Fest. Now available in Amazon, Flipkart and Onlinegatha)

RHYTHM … in poems

(Published in January 2019. The book contains 50 poems. The poems describe our day to day life. The book is available in Amazon, Flipkart and Onlinegatha)

MIRAGE

(Published in February 2020. The book is a collection of eight short stories available in Amazon, Flipkart and Notion Press)

Short stories, Book reviews and Articles published in Bhavan’s Journal: Reality and Perception, 15.10.19; Sending the Wrong Message, 31.5.20; Eagle versus Scholars June, 15 & 20 2020; Indica, 15.8.20; The Story of King Chitraketu, August 31 2020; Breaking Through the Chakravyuh, September 30 2020. The Questioning Spouse, October 31, 2020; Happy Days, November 15, 2020; The Karma Cycle of Paddy and Wheat, December 15,2020; Power Vs Influence, January 31, 2021; Three Refugees, March 15, 2021; Rise and Fall of Ajatashatru, March 31, 2021; Reformed Ruler, May 15, 2021; A Lasting Name, May 31, 2021; Are Animals Better Teachers?, June 16, 2021; Book Review: The Gram Swaraj, 1.7.21; Right Age for Achievements, 15.7.21; Big Things Have Small Beginnings, 15.8.21; Where is Gangaridai?, 15.9.21; Confront the Donkey Within You 30.9.21; Know Your Strengths 15.10.21; Poverty 15.11.21; Top View 30.11.21;

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