I used to become depressed for the time being remembering the joy and fun of a joint family. Had our family remained united, neither my father would become very careful about me nor would he admit me in that boarding school.

 Anyway I didn't take much time to get rid of depression as I used to remember a story told by my Granny’s Gurudev. In that story a guru used to advise his disciple to “go ahead” and “go ahead”. And following his guru's advice, the disciple kept on achieving his goals as he was successful in ignoring the hardships, misfortunes, failures and frustrations in his long way of life. 

"Wonderful! What a beautiful spot! Had I seen it on the go, it would remain in my vision long after it was seen no more." I uttered spontaneously forgetting the presence of my super sir, seeing a beautiful spot by the side of Rampurhat Dumka highway. 

Actually we two set out for our usual evening stroll. Lalpahari was a place with endless variety for a boy like me. Super sir would never visit the same spot twice in a row. As a result the evening stroll became a highly enjoyable event for me. I accepted it as a reward for my day long study for half yearly exam.

Listening to my spontaneous utterance, Sir got startled and looked at my face keenly. We were not at all vocal while taking a stroll at the lap of nature but my sudden reaction made me ashamed and I felt shy. Sir said, “You are a good speaker.”

After some time, somehow I managed to say, “No sir, I am only a good listener.”

In reply he said, “Only a good listener can become a good speaker.”

His words of appreciation embarrassed me.

He continued, “Krish, unknowingly you uttered a universal truth. I do understand the observation came out from you spontaneously. I feel the presence of a poet in you. You just echoed a memorable line of a famous poet; Heard melodies are sweet, but those unheard are sweeter. Really explored places entertain us but unexplored one lingers.”

Unlike other days, he became an extrovert that day. I found him thoroughly economic in speech; either in the hostel or during strolls but that day I rediscovered him. Taking a long pause he again said,  “Your spontaneous utterance makes me nostalgic; it brings my bygone days back.”

He asked,  “Do you know the name of the square?”  

Giving a keen look at the spot I found it was a perfect square where the highway just crossed a wild path which joined two hilly villages. It was not possible for me to know the name of the spot, if any, as I came across the spot for the first time in life. I nodded my head in order to express my ignorance.

He informed that the square was known as Quit India square. The name sounded a bit odd and unique to me. Realizing my reaction, he again informed me that the name of the square contained a history.

There was a boy named Lalu Sarkar in Lalpahari. He didn't get much scope for education . Somehow he reached Calcutta and came in contact with the followers of M.K. Gandhi. In 1942 when the famous quit India movement started then Lalu Sarkar returned home.

Then he was no more a boy, he became a man. He too had some followers at Lalpahari and its adjoining villages. He was not a very obedient son of his rich father. He conveyed the call of Gandhi Ji among his followers.

One day eight of them got together in that square and planted one plant each to leave as witness behind them.  It was a common custom among tribal people. In their culture, plants were treated as children, friends, parents, gods and goddess.

Probably those plants too realized their role as they stood together joining branches with one another in order to prove solidarity. They looked thoroughly disciplined as they formed a square providing a large space amidst them. Their upper branches formed a perfect shade for travellers. The beauty of the spot was unparallel. After knowing the history of its origin I got enchanted.

Just out of curiosity I wanted to know whether the great freedom fighters were still alive or not.