Tuesday 31 December 2013

Saturday 28 December 2013

History and Debate of Abortion

Abortion involves terminating a pregnancy by the removing or expelling of a fetus or embryo from the uterus. This is sometimes due to the death of the fetus; however, it can also result in the death of it. Abortion is a very controversial topic because its frequency of occurrence, legal, cultural and religious status varies extensively in different regions of the world. There are many high-profile groups that champion either pro-choice or pro-life, and such organizations bring up a host of issues to further their often political agenda. In the United States, pro-life groups favor greater legal restrictions on abortion, or even the complete prohibition of it. They argue that a human fetus is a human being with a right to live, so abortion is similar to murder. In contrast, pro-choice groups argue that a woman has certain reproductive rights, especially the choice on whether or not to carry a pregnancy to term.
One of the most common reasons why some women want to have an abortion is because they have the desire to delay childbearing because they themselves are young. Other reasons include not wanting to stop work or schooling and/or because of financial or relationship instability. These reasons are consistent across numerous countries, including America. Most abortions that occur in the United States are obtained by women of a minority race because they are having higher incidences of unintended pregnancies. In developing countries, women have the additional concern of health risks and complications that occur as a result of unsafe practices in medical settings.
Some abortions happen because of societal pressures. This occurs to when there is little social support, when a specific gender of a child is preferred or when governments enforce population control, such as China's one child policy. It is suggested that sex-selective abortion could account for disparities between the birth rates of male and female children in some countries. Many countries in Asia like China, South Korea and India have cultures that prefer male children.
When abortion occurs because of societal pressures, women sometimes have to resort to unsafe practices because the legalized healthcare route is not an option. As a result, countries that have restrictive abortive laws have more women that seek unsafe abortions. Unsafe abortions occur when they are performed by individuals without adequate medical skills or in an unhygienic environment. Such situations occur globally, and result in about 70,000 maternal deaths and 5 million maternal disabilities per year.
Currently, laws regarding abortion are diverse and differ by states in the U.S. Some states have a 24-hour waiting period before an abortion can be carried out and require that information regarding fetal development is given out. The abortion debate also focuses on whether laws should be passed mandating that the pregnant woman has the consent of others, especially if the woman is a minor.

Abortion Debate Controversy

Induced abortions have aroused debate, controversy and activism because it is related to ethical, moral, philosophical, biological and legal issue. This is a personal topic because it touches on a person's value system. Some pro-life groups have taken their case to the extremes and have targeted doctors and facilities that provide abortions with various types of violence, from murder to arson. Four United States doctors were even assassinated to further their cause. The question remains: is violence really necessary?
What's your position? Add your comment.

History and Debate of Environmental Protection

The environmental movement is a movement that pushes for the conservation of natural resources and the passing of legislation that promotes environmentally friendly behavior. Those who support the movement advocate sustainable management of resources as well as taking responsibility for the welfare of the environment through public policy and personal participation in efforts to preserve the earth and its resources.
This movement can be traced back the 19th century when protectionists such as John Muir wanted to set aside land for its own sake. In order to do so, he founded the Sierra Club, one of the largest environmental groups in the United States. He also founded Yellowstone Park, the world's first ever national park. Around this time, Gifford Pinchot also proposed managing natural resources for human use. Thoreau, a well-known poet, also was very concerned about environmental protection and wrote the poem Walden about the wildlife that he saw from his cabin.

Varying Environmental Movements

There are several primary foci in the realm of the environmental movement. The conservation movement seeks to protect natural areas for hunting, fishing and trapping. Environmental conservation is another process that involves pollution control, reforestation and recycling. The Ecology movement is a newer movement and involves analysis and improvement of the interactions of humans with the earth and its resources. The anti-nuclear movement is a relatively new movement in environmentalism that involves the prohibition of nuclear technology on the grounds that it causes damage to plants and animals on the earth.
Environmental reactivism is a term that refers to a staunch opposition to technology, such as harmful pesticides and water additives. Adding fluoride to the water system, for example, can lead to problems in fish populations. The NIMBY movement, which stands for Not in My Back Yard, is one that illustrates the public outcry against potentially harmful plants and centers being installed in neighborhoods.
Environmentalism has quickly become a concern on the community level. Many churches and local groups now have programs to support environmental issues. They may collect recyclables for donation or they may even volunteer to spend a weekend picking trash out of local creeks and streams. Some groups also go door-to-door spreading information on greener ways of living and reducing one's consumption of valuable fuels and resources.
In the last several years, a form of environmentalism called radical environmentalism has arisen. This movement is based on activism and pushes for a change in government policy in an effort to change the way people live and consume resources in their daily lives. Radicals often cite religious reasons for their beliefs and suggest a reconsideration of policies as deep as capitalism and globalization.

Public Opinion on the Environmental Protection Debate

Though the environmental movement has grown dramatically over the years, there are still many people opposed to this movement. One study reported that most critics are opposed to a greener society because they believe it is being approached in the wrong way. In fact, studies have concluded that the people who are most environmentally conscious are those who are more likely to travel across the ocean on large flights and buy foreign vehicles that require shipping. This often outweighs the efforts that they make to live a greener lifestyle.
There is much public concern for the well-being of the environment and many ways to approach the issue of environmental conservation and protection. Whether changes need to occur on the political level or with individual remains a matter of opinion and a source of much controversy.
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History and Debate of Animal Rights

Animals are used for research in a variety of settings, including tests to determine the safety of drugs, cosmetics and other substances. Whether or not humans should use animals for testing purposes, however, is a controversial subject. There are both pros and cons to using animals for testing, but the scientific community, the government and society in general have yet to reach a consensus on this ethical issue.
One of the primary advantages of animal testing is that it allows researchers to develop new medications and treatments, advancing the field of medicine and enhancing the health of society. For instance, many drugs used to treat or prevent cancer, HIV, diabetes, infections and other medical maladies have resulted from tests performed on animals. Many proponents of animal testing support the practice for this reason, even if they do not support testing cosmetics or other non-essential substances on animals.
Animal testing also enables scientists and researchers to test the safety of medications and other substances with which humans have regular contact. Drugs, for instance, may pose significant risks to humans, so testing them on animals first gives researchers a chance to determine drugs' safety before human trials are performed. While scientists are cognizant of the differences between humans and animals, the similarities are considered significant enough to produce relevant, useful data that they can then apply to humans. Thus, animal testing reduces harm to humans and saves lives, not only because the exposure to risky substances is minimized, but because resulting medications and treatments have such positive impacts on the overall quality of life experienced by humans.

Critiques of Animal Testing

One of the major disadvantages to animal testing is that a significant number of animals are harmed or die as a result of experiments and testing. Unfortunately, many of the substances used on animal subjects never receive approval for human use or consumption. Those who oppose animal testing consider this a very important point, because humans receive no direct benefits as a result of the deaths of these animals. Opponents also argue that animals are dissimilar enough from humans to make the results of animal tests unreliable. A related criticism is that testing induces stress in the animals, meaning that the subjects do not react to experimental substances in the same way that they might in more natural circumstances, making the results of experiments less valid.
Using animals as research subjects is also expensive, because the animals require food, shelter, care and treatment in addition to the costs of experimental substances. Long-term or multi-phase tests can increase the costs of the practice as well. The actual price paid for the animals is also worth consideration; there are companies that breed and sell animals specifically for testing purposes.
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Friday 27 December 2013

Horror Story (film)

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Horror Story
Horror-Story-movie-poster-2013.jpg
Theatrical release poster[1]
Directed by Ayush Raina
Produced by ASA Productions and Enterprises Pvt. Ltd.
Written by Vikram Bhatt
Mohan Azad
Starring Karan Kundra
Nishant Malkani
Ravish Desai
Hasan Zaidi
Aparna Bajpai
Radhika Menon
Nandini Vaid
Sheetal Singh
Editing by Kuldip Mehan
Distributed by ASA Productions and Enterprises Pvt. Ltd.
Release dates
  • September 13, 2013
Running time 90 Minutes
Country India
Language Hindi
Horror Story is a Bollywood dramatic horror film written by Vikram Bhatt and directed by Ayush Raina.[2] The film stars Ravish Desai, Hasan Zaidi, and features the Bollywood movie debut of television actor Karan Kundra.[3] The film was released on September 13, 2013.[4] The plot revolves around a night spent by seven youngsters at a haunted hotel.The film received positive reviews and succeed at the box office.[5] and sequels are already being planned.[6]

Background

Of the film, Bhatt has stated that he did not want Horror Story to contain any songs or any sex scenes.[7] He also remarked that he wanted to avoid casting "big stars" in the film, as he believed that they "cannot turn the audience fearful" in what he termed as a "hardcore horror film".[7][8] Ravish Desai has commented that the movie will be the first in a franchise and that planning for further films has already begun.[6]
Bhatt had earlier made films in the same genre, namely - 1920, 1920: Evil Returns and Haunted. In an interview, he had commented, “While [my] Raaz 3 and 1920 were romantic sagas with songs and full-on drama, this one is more of a Hollywood kind of drama. The horror lies in the story.” [9]

Synopsis

A group of seven youngsters - four guys and three girls decide to spend a night at a reportedly haunted hotel to celebrate the farewell of one of them leaving for the USA. Despite people's warnings and other "signs" trying to ward them off from there, they enter the hotel, and then the truth dawns on them.

Plot

The film opens with a man entering deserted hotel Grandiose all by himself. He proceeds to room 3046, and for reasons unknown, he then goes to the terrace and jumps off to the ground, killing himself.
The plot then moves to seven friends - Sam alias Samrat, Magesh, Achint, Neel, Neena, Sonia and Maggie who reunite after several years apart to celebrate the farewell of one of their friends, who is going abroad for higher studies. At the pub, they learn on the news broadcast about an abandoned hotel with a reputation of being haunted. Apparently, the hotel had originally started out as a mental asylum for the criminally insane, but was almost completely destroyed in a fire, the origin of which has never been fully explained. After years of sitting in neglect, rumors began to circulate that the place was haunted. Despite this, a builder decided to refurbish the ruins into a five star hotel, but was unsuccessful and committed suicide as a result- although rumors state that he was pushed by a ghost of one of the asylum's inmates. Intrigued by these rumors, the group decides to explore the abandoned building, but soon come across strange and inexplicable occurrences, much against the warnings of the barman.
The group of seven arrive at the hotel, but find that it is locked. It would be as though something is warning them to keep away, but Sam, the most hyperactive of all, remains adamant on entering. The group decide to leave, but then on hearing a radio playing somewhere, they think that there must be someone inside, and try to gain entry through the back door. They do find one and enter the hotel. As they proceed in, the door closes behind them and disappears into the wall.
The group starts to explore the hotel. With Sam leading everyone and trying to play the fool and scare everyone, Neena starts to observe strange things, but Neel brushes her claims aside. They then come across a room with a TV set on with no transmission or power, and a voice saying "welcome". Still not taken aback, they proceed to room 3046, a supposedly notorious suite room, and here Sam is killed first when he enters the bathroom on hearing someone turning on the shower. The group then flee the room in chaos and panic, too shocked to believe that Sam has been brutally killed by someone or something, but to their utter shock, they are not able to find the door through which they came in. The six of them realize that they are trapped inside the hotel with no way out.
Magesh and Achint decide to go to the terrace to gain network range for their mobile phones. But on the way, they are confronted by ghostly figures, and Magesh is killed by one when he tries to approach a moving wheelchair out of curiosity. Achint goes into hiding, and when Magesh and Achint don't return, the remaining four go in search of them. Achint is found and the group heads towards the terrace, when they are attacked by a ghostly looking woman, who now starts to terrorize them. Sonia gets stuck while escaping and is dragged into the darkness by the ghost, while the others make a miserable escape to elsewhere in the hotel.
With three people dead, the remaining four decide that they must stay together because the ghost attacks them when they are alone. So again, they move to find an escape. Soon they are confronted by Sonia, whom Achint and Neel think is just the ghost trying to get them, but a tearful Sonia tells them that it is she, and that she was taken to some room where she came across some material. The group read it and come to know that the hotel was first a mental asylum, where a possessed girl named Maya was admitted after she murdered all her family members. Maya would always claim to have 'married the devil', and would become very violent at the hospital, even killing the treating doctors. One day a fire broke out, killing all the inmates. A hotel would be started at the site, but that too would not run because of strange happenings. The group soon realize that it is Maya who is terrorizing them.
Sonia tries to contact Maya to know what she wants, at which she gets a call from Maya, saying that the spirit wants to kill them all, nothing else. The terrified group then decide to stay together, no matter what might happen. Soon they realize that Sonia is actually dead and it is Maya speaking through her. The remaining four (Achint, Neel, Maggie and Neena) now flee to the basement and find an abandoned jeep, which they start and try to get out of the hotel, amid-st ghostly apparitions and blockades. After a tiring drive, through misty areas, the group reach someplace new, only to find that they are back at the door of room 3046. Then they realize that the only way to escape is to survive till dawn. Neena asks the time from Neel only get to know that it is the same which she had seen on the clocks in one of the rooms shortly after entering the hotel. Believing that it is some kind of intuition, they decide to go back to same room to understand Neena's extrasensory perception. They find a book which has paranormal explanations and a way to locate the energy source of dark spirits. With the help of incantations from the book, they have hallucinations about the past when the hotel was actually a mental asylum where they find out the energy source of the dark spirit in a shock machine. They decide to burn it down to end the horror. Neel and Maggie go to kitchen in search of inflammable where Maggie is killed by Maya. Back in the room, Achint is beheaded by the spirit leaving only Neel and Neena alive.
Neel calms Neena down and tries to burn the machine, before he is pulled by the spirit into the nearby closet. Then the spirit starts terrorizing Neena and pushes her out to the main hall. After regaining her composure, Neena creates a flame and decides to finish the task and amid-st ghostly apparitions and obstructions, and with the help of the business man's spirit (who dies in the beginning of the film) that now appears, she manages to burn the machine down, resulting the destruction of Maya's spirit. The film ends with the opening of entrance doors of the hotel and being the only survivor, Neena walks out of the hotel.

Cast

Saturday 21 December 2013

marathi stories.

शंकराचं उत्तर

Chaturya Katha - Shankarache Uttar

सबंध वर्षभर उनाडक्या करण्यात घालविलेला एक विद्यार्थी परीक्षा सुरु व्हायच्या आदल्या दिवशी संध्याकाळी गावाबाहेरच्या शंकराच्या देवळात गेला, आणि गाभार्‍याच्या तोंडाशी उभा राहून व शिवलिंगाकडे तोंड करुन नमस्कार करीत म्हणाला,
'भगवन, शेर हजारोंकी किस्मत तेरे हाथ में है /तो मुझे पास करना, क्या तेरे लिये बडी बात है ?त्याची ती विनंती पूर्ण होताच गाभार्‍यातून आवाज निघाला - शेर किताबोंकी किल्ली तेरे हात में है ?

Bhimtola.

भीमटोला

Chaturya Katha 12 - Bheemtola

एकदा धर्मराज दरबारात बसले असता, त्यांच्याकडे एक गरीब ब्राह्मण मदत मागायला आला. धर्मराज त्याला म्हणाले, तु उद्या ये, मी तुला दान देऊन संतुष्ट करीन. 'धर्मराजांचं ते अश्वासन ऎकुन तो ब्राह्मण बाहेर पडला. त्याच वेळी धर्मराजांचं ते बोलणं ऎकलेला भीमही त्या ब्राम्हणापाठोपाठ दरबारातून बाहेर गेला.
दरबारातून बाहेर पड्ताच भिमानं त्या ब्राह्मणाला जरा एका बाजुला बसायला सांगितलं आणि स्वतः तो नगारखान्याकडे गेला.नगारखान्यात दोन प्रकारचे नगारे होते. एक नगारा कुठ्ल्याही तर्‍हेचं संकट आलं असता वाजवायचा होता, आणि त्याचा आवाज अंगावर काटा उभा करणारा होता. दुसरा नगारा काहीतरी आनंदाची वा आश्चर्यांची गोष्ट घडून आली असता वाजवायचा होता आणि त्याचा ध्वनी गोड होता.
नगारखान्यात जाऊन भिमानं आनंदाचा नगारा वाजवायला सूरुवात केली. तो आवाज ऎकुन ‘काय आनंददायी घडले?’ हे पहाण्यासाठी प्रत्यक्ष धर्मराज तिथे आले. स्वतः भीम तो नगारा बडवीत असल्याचं पाहुन त्यांनी विचारलं, भिमा ! असं काय आनंददायी घडलं, म्हणुन तु हा नगारा वाजवु लागलास ?' भीम म्हणाला, 'दादा, आजपर्यंत शास्त्रे व आपला अनुभव आपल्याला असं सांगत आला की, जन्माला आलेल्या कुणाही जिवाला आपल्या आयुष्याचा भरंवसा देता येत नाही. कुणाला केव्हा 'वरचं आमंत्रण ' येईल याची शाश्वती नाही. म्हणून कुठलीही आज करता येण्यासारखी चांगली गोष्ट उद्यावर ढ्कलु नये.
पण नूकत्याच मदत मागायला आलेल्या ब्राह्मणाला ज्या अर्थी तुम्ही उद्या यायला सागिंतले आहे, त्या अर्थी तुम्ही व तो ब्राह्मण किती जगणार आहात, हे तुम्हाला निश्चीतपणे समजलं आहे. ही नवलाची व आनंदाची गोष्ट मला कळली, म्हणून मी हा नगारा वाजवीत आहे.'या भीमटोल्यानं धर्मराजांचे डोळे उघडले. त्यांनी तिथल्या तिथे त्या ब्राम्हणाला मदत केली आणि भीमाच्या चातुर्याची प्रसंशा केली.

Lagnatali Deni Gheni.

लग्नातली देणी-घेणी

Chaturya Katha 1 - Lagnatali Deni Gheni

लग्नातली देणी-घेणी
उन्मत्तसिंग नावाचा एक अत्यंत जुलमी राजा होता. त्याच्या छळाला व अत्याचाराला कंटाळून त्याची प्रजा आपआपली गावे सोडून, दुसऱ्या राज्यात जाऊ लागली. त्याचा प्रधान चतूर व प्रामाणिक होता, पण राजाला काही सांगू जाणं, म्हणजे स्वत:चं मरण स्वत:च ओढवून घेण्यासारखं होतं. त्यामुळे राजाला ताळ्यावर कसं आणावं, हा त्याच्यापुढे प्रश्न पडला.
एकदा तो प्रधान शिकारीसाठी रानात बराच दूरवर गेला असता त्याला एका झाडाखाली जप करीत बसलेला साधू दिसला. प्रधानाने घोडयावरुन उतरुन व त्या साधूजवळ जाऊन त्याला नमस्कार केला असता साधूनं त्याला विचारलं, 'कोन तुम्ही ?'
प्रधान म्हणाला, 'मी या राज्याचा मुख्य प्रधान आहे.'
ते एकुण गोसाव्यान विचारलं, 'राजाच्या जुलमाला कंटाळून प्रजा स्थलांतर करीत असताना, ते केवळ उघडया डोळ्यांनी बघत राहण्यासाठीच तुम्ही प्रधान झाला आहात काय?
यावर प्रधान म्हणाला, गोसावीबुवा ! मग मीही तुम्हाला विचारतो की, राजाच्या जुलमाला कंटाळून प्रजा घरेदारे सोडून दुसऱ्या राज्यात जाऊ लागली असताना तुम्ही केवळ 'राम राम' म्हणत राहून स्वत:चीच मुक्ती साधणार आहात काय ? ज्या समाजाच्या जिवावर आजवर तुम्ही जंगलात त्याला या जुलुमजबरदस्तीतून मुक्त करण्यासाठी काहीतरी प्रयत्न करणं हे तुमचं कर्तव्य नाही का?'
प्रधानाच्या या प्रतिप्रश्नान काहीसा ओशाळून तो गोसावी म्हणाला, 'प्रधानजी ! मला झेपेल अशी कोणतीही कामगीरी तुम्ही मजवर सोपवा. या राज्याच्या जुलमी राजाला ताळ्यावर आणण्यासाठी मी माझे प्राणही पणाला लावीन . सुचतो आहे का तुम्हाला एखादा उपाय?' तो गोसावी याप्रमाणे म्हणताच त्या चतुर प्रधानाच्या मनात काहीतरी कल्पना आली आणि त्याने ती हळूच त्या गोसाव्याला सांगितली. गोसाव्याने त्याप्रमाणे वागण्याचे वचन देताच प्रधान तिथून निघून गेला.
दुसऱ्या दिवशी राजा उन्मत्तसिंगाचा दरबार भरला असता, एक सेवक आत आला आणि राजाला म्हणाला, 'महाराज ! पक्ष्यांची भाषा जाणणारा एक बैरागी बाहेर आला असून, तो आपली भेट घेऊ इच्छितो. त्याला आत पाठवू का?'
राजानं होकार देताच, आदल्या दिवशी प्रधानाला रानात भेटलेला तो गोसावी दरबारात आला व राजाला नमस्कार करुन म्हणाला, 'महाराज ! मी बहुतेक सर्व पक्ष्यांची भाषा जाणतो. मजकडून काही सेवा करुन घ्यायची असल्यास आपण ती घ्यावी. मला त्याबद्दल पैसे वगैरे काहीच नकोत.'
राजा प्रधानाला म्हणाला, 'प्रधानजी, आज संध्याकाळी आपण दोघे फ़िरायला जाऊ तेव्हा बैरागीबुवांनाही आपल्याबरोबर घेऊन जाऊ.' राजा असे म्हणाला व त्याने एका सेवकाला त्या गोसाव्याची राहण्या-जेवणाची चांगली व्यवस्था ठेवण्यास सांगितले.
संध्याकाळी फ़िरायला जाताना राजा व प्रधान यांच्याबरोबर अर्थातच तो गोसावीही होता. ते तिघे त्या राजधानीच्या शहराबाहेर जातात न जातात, तोच राजाने एका झाडाच्या फ़ांदीवर बसलेले पक्षी आपापसात चिवचिवत असलेले पाहिले. त्यांच्याकडे बोट दाखवून राजाने त्या गोसाव्याला विचारलं, 'बैरागीबुवा ! हे दोन पक्षी एकमेकांशी कय बोलत आहेत हो?'
त्या गोसाव्यानं त्या दोन पक्ष्यांच चिवचिवण थोडा वेळ लक्षपूर्वक ऎकल्याचा आव आणला आणि तो राजाला म्हणाला, ' महाराज ! ते दोन पक्षी एकमेकांशी जे बोलत आहेत, त्याचा अर्थ जर मी आपल्याला सांगितला, तर आपण मला जिवंत ठेवणार नाही.'
यावर राजानं अभय देताच तो गोसावी निर्भिडपणे म्हणाला, 'महाराज ! त्या फ़ांदीवरच्या दोन पक्ष्यांपैकी जो डाव्या बाजूला बसला आहे, त्याची मुलगी लग्नाची असून त्याने आपली मुलगी उजव्या बाजूला असलेल्या पक्ष्याच्या मुलाला देण्याची गोष्ट त्या पक्ष्याकडे काढली. यावर वरपिता असलेला तो पक्षी त्याला म्हणाला, 'तुझी मुलगी मी सून म्हणून आनंदाने स्वीकारतो, पण मुलीबरोबर 'स्त्रीधन' म्हणून शंभर गावे आंदण द्यायची तुझी तयारी आहे काय?'
राजा आश्चर्यानं म्हणाला, 'अरे वा: ! असं म्हणतोय तो वराचा बाप ? मग वधूचा बाप घासाघीस करुन, आदंण म्हणून द्यावयाच्या गावांची संख्या पन्नास पाऊणशेवर आणू पाहत असेल नाही का?'
गोसावी म्हणाला, 'नाही महाराज! तिथे उलटाच मामला चाललाय. वधूपिता परराज्यातून उडून आलेल्या वरपित्याला म्हणतो आहे, अहो. शंभरच काय घेऊन बसलात, सध्याच्या राजाची जुलमी राजवट जर अशीच आणखी एक वर्षभर चालू राहिली, तर वर्षभरात पाचशे गावातले लोक आपली घरदारं सोडून परराज्यात रहायला जातील. मग ती ओस पडलेली पाचशेच्या पाचशे गावं माझ्या भावी जावयाला मी आंदण म्हणून देईन. मात्र तुमच्या मुलाचं व माझ्या मुलीचं लग्न सध्या जमवून ठेवायचं आणि वर्षभरानं लावायचं.'
वास्तविक त्या दोन पक्ष्यांच्या चिवचिवण्याचा हा सोयीचा व केवळ काल्पनिक अर्थ त्या गोसाव्याने प्रधानाने आदल्या दिवशी त्याला केलेल्या मार्गदर्शनानूसार राजाला सांगितला, पण राजाला तो खरा वाटून, तो एकदम शरमून गेला. त्या दिवसापासून त्याच्यात बराच फ़रक पडला व तो प्रजेचं अपत्यवत पालन-पोषण करु लागला.
नविन/लोकप्रिय निवडक १०

Lagnatali Deni Gheni.

लग्नातली देणी-घेणी

Chaturya Katha 1 - Lagnatali Deni Gheni

लग्नातली देणी-घेणी
उन्मत्तसिंग नावाचा एक अत्यंत जुलमी राजा होता. त्याच्या छळाला व अत्याचाराला कंटाळून त्याची प्रजा आपआपली गावे सोडून, दुसऱ्या राज्यात जाऊ लागली. त्याचा प्रधान चतूर व प्रामाणिक होता, पण राजाला काही सांगू जाणं, म्हणजे स्वत:चं मरण स्वत:च ओढवून घेण्यासारखं होतं. त्यामुळे राजाला ताळ्यावर कसं आणावं, हा त्याच्यापुढे प्रश्न पडला.
एकदा तो प्रधान शिकारीसाठी रानात बराच दूरवर गेला असता त्याला एका झाडाखाली जप करीत बसलेला साधू दिसला. प्रधानाने घोडयावरुन उतरुन व त्या साधूजवळ जाऊन त्याला नमस्कार केला असता साधूनं त्याला विचारलं, 'कोन तुम्ही ?'
प्रधान म्हणाला, 'मी या राज्याचा मुख्य प्रधान आहे.'
ते एकुण गोसाव्यान विचारलं, 'राजाच्या जुलमाला कंटाळून प्रजा स्थलांतर करीत असताना, ते केवळ उघडया डोळ्यांनी बघत राहण्यासाठीच तुम्ही प्रधान झाला आहात काय?
यावर प्रधान म्हणाला, गोसावीबुवा ! मग मीही तुम्हाला विचारतो की, राजाच्या जुलमाला कंटाळून प्रजा घरेदारे सोडून दुसऱ्या राज्यात जाऊ लागली असताना तुम्ही केवळ 'राम राम' म्हणत राहून स्वत:चीच मुक्ती साधणार आहात काय ? ज्या समाजाच्या जिवावर आजवर तुम्ही जंगलात त्याला या जुलुमजबरदस्तीतून मुक्त करण्यासाठी काहीतरी प्रयत्न करणं हे तुमचं कर्तव्य नाही का?'
प्रधानाच्या या प्रतिप्रश्नान काहीसा ओशाळून तो गोसावी म्हणाला, 'प्रधानजी ! मला झेपेल अशी कोणतीही कामगीरी तुम्ही मजवर सोपवा. या राज्याच्या जुलमी राजाला ताळ्यावर आणण्यासाठी मी माझे प्राणही पणाला लावीन . सुचतो आहे का तुम्हाला एखादा उपाय?' तो गोसावी याप्रमाणे म्हणताच त्या चतुर प्रधानाच्या मनात काहीतरी कल्पना आली आणि त्याने ती हळूच त्या गोसाव्याला सांगितली. गोसाव्याने त्याप्रमाणे वागण्याचे वचन देताच प्रधान तिथून निघून गेला.
दुसऱ्या दिवशी राजा उन्मत्तसिंगाचा दरबार भरला असता, एक सेवक आत आला आणि राजाला म्हणाला, 'महाराज ! पक्ष्यांची भाषा जाणणारा एक बैरागी बाहेर आला असून, तो आपली भेट घेऊ इच्छितो. त्याला आत पाठवू का?'
राजानं होकार देताच, आदल्या दिवशी प्रधानाला रानात भेटलेला तो गोसावी दरबारात आला व राजाला नमस्कार करुन म्हणाला, 'महाराज ! मी बहुतेक सर्व पक्ष्यांची भाषा जाणतो. मजकडून काही सेवा करुन घ्यायची असल्यास आपण ती घ्यावी. मला त्याबद्दल पैसे वगैरे काहीच नकोत.'
राजा प्रधानाला म्हणाला, 'प्रधानजी, आज संध्याकाळी आपण दोघे फ़िरायला जाऊ तेव्हा बैरागीबुवांनाही आपल्याबरोबर घेऊन जाऊ.' राजा असे म्हणाला व त्याने एका सेवकाला त्या गोसाव्याची राहण्या-जेवणाची चांगली व्यवस्था ठेवण्यास सांगितले.
संध्याकाळी फ़िरायला जाताना राजा व प्रधान यांच्याबरोबर अर्थातच तो गोसावीही होता. ते तिघे त्या राजधानीच्या शहराबाहेर जातात न जातात, तोच राजाने एका झाडाच्या फ़ांदीवर बसलेले पक्षी आपापसात चिवचिवत असलेले पाहिले. त्यांच्याकडे बोट दाखवून राजाने त्या गोसाव्याला विचारलं, 'बैरागीबुवा ! हे दोन पक्षी एकमेकांशी कय बोलत आहेत हो?'
त्या गोसाव्यानं त्या दोन पक्ष्यांच चिवचिवण थोडा वेळ लक्षपूर्वक ऎकल्याचा आव आणला आणि तो राजाला म्हणाला, ' महाराज ! ते दोन पक्षी एकमेकांशी जे बोलत आहेत, त्याचा अर्थ जर मी आपल्याला सांगितला, तर आपण मला जिवंत ठेवणार नाही.'
यावर राजानं अभय देताच तो गोसावी निर्भिडपणे म्हणाला, 'महाराज ! त्या फ़ांदीवरच्या दोन पक्ष्यांपैकी जो डाव्या बाजूला बसला आहे, त्याची मुलगी लग्नाची असून त्याने आपली मुलगी उजव्या बाजूला असलेल्या पक्ष्याच्या मुलाला देण्याची गोष्ट त्या पक्ष्याकडे काढली. यावर वरपिता असलेला तो पक्षी त्याला म्हणाला, 'तुझी मुलगी मी सून म्हणून आनंदाने स्वीकारतो, पण मुलीबरोबर 'स्त्रीधन' म्हणून शंभर गावे आंदण द्यायची तुझी तयारी आहे काय?'
राजा आश्चर्यानं म्हणाला, 'अरे वा: ! असं म्हणतोय तो वराचा बाप ? मग वधूचा बाप घासाघीस करुन, आदंण म्हणून द्यावयाच्या गावांची संख्या पन्नास पाऊणशेवर आणू पाहत असेल नाही का?'
गोसावी म्हणाला, 'नाही महाराज! तिथे उलटाच मामला चाललाय. वधूपिता परराज्यातून उडून आलेल्या वरपित्याला म्हणतो आहे, अहो. शंभरच काय घेऊन बसलात, सध्याच्या राजाची जुलमी राजवट जर अशीच आणखी एक वर्षभर चालू राहिली, तर वर्षभरात पाचशे गावातले लोक आपली घरदारं सोडून परराज्यात रहायला जातील. मग ती ओस पडलेली पाचशेच्या पाचशे गावं माझ्या भावी जावयाला मी आंदण म्हणून देईन. मात्र तुमच्या मुलाचं व माझ्या मुलीचं लग्न सध्या जमवून ठेवायचं आणि वर्षभरानं लावायचं.'
वास्तविक त्या दोन पक्ष्यांच्या चिवचिवण्याचा हा सोयीचा व केवळ काल्पनिक अर्थ त्या गोसाव्याने प्रधानाने आदल्या दिवशी त्याला केलेल्या मार्गदर्शनानूसार राजाला सांगितला, पण राजाला तो खरा वाटून, तो एकदम शरमून गेला. त्या दिवसापासून त्याच्यात बराच फ़रक पडला व तो प्रजेचं अपत्यवत पालन-पोषण करु लागला.
नविन/लोकप्रिय निवडक १०