Ten months ago when I received the marching orders from land of Srimad Bhagwadgita to historic Panipat, I had come without any expectation as I had little idea about my new place of work. The strange ness has its own charm and challenge. The warm welcome by people of Panipat was, I confess, unexpected but ofcourse very comforting and enthusing. The aura of open ness and affection set the tune and I could feel the strings inside yearning to compose a new song, sing once more in what hitherto seemed a strange land. In services the only certainty is uncertainty of tenure and this aspect enables one live (in Milton's words) 'what thou liv'st / live well/ long or short/ permit to Heaven.'
The first public encounter was through a media organised interaction on the issues that the city was seized of. The participation of people was encouraging, their grievances genuine, their anger justified, their angst against apathy and indifference of certain departments absolutely logical. And I did realise that they were sensitively concerned about 'the issues' affecting lives of common man; their ability and participation to be heard bespoke of their concern for Panipat, their own Panipat which had been ravaged by battle after battle yet built over and again by the relentless efforts of the people.
Amidst the arena of positive expectations and silent but somehow assured peoples' participation, the agenda was set -not too long spread nor too impractical or idealistic but to take small steps and endeavour to do things that mean the most to the comman citizen of Panipat regardless of age, gender, ability and intellect.
Small initiatives like Bus Queue shelter under elevated corridor, painting of pillars along this route, organising the fortnightly event of Raahgiri have brought rich dividend in terms of public participation, appreciation, inculcation of ownership amongst well meaning youth force of the town. An aura of enthusiasm the city abounds in, just-ready-to-say-I-can-do kind of zeal is heart touching indeed. I really wonder if a handful of enthusiasts have enabled change the overall environs, what would not happen for the good in Panipat if the population as a whole i.e. all the men, women, young people, children, teachers, businessmen, officers and employees, entrepreneurs and exporters start feeling with same gusto that its 'my Panipat (mera Panipat) !! The city needs the midas touch of affection and ownership by its own citizens, the wonders, it seems, are just about to happen.
Once I had written about the Pehowa spirit which taught me 'nothing is impossible' and I owe my gratitude to Pehowa for this. In my three decades if career, its Panipat which I feel has the potential and the spirit, the positivity incarnate this city is and all that is needed is the torch bearer amongst youth, icons, persons in seats of responsibility to lead the city in the direction of fulfilment of its dreams as the clean, green, well managed city. With back end support of administration 'ek prayas' can be a game changer; public schools too can come out of their elite environs to lend a helping hand in enhancing the happiness quotient of Panipat; all the local NGOs may join hands (as they do in celebrating Dussehra, Chelaiya, Gita Mahitsav) and put their best foot forward to make each ward competitively cleaner, parks greener, streets safe, traffic rules' following as a matter ofcourse; and who knows that business houses and exporters may come forward on their own to adopt a traffic junction or an area for upkeep of its street lights and maintenance of roads !! I see a healthy beginning having been made in 2018, the spirit of positivity may bloom and spread its fragrance and sunshine to enlighten Panipat in 2019.
Amen
