Mughal and Google

The golden sun rays finally hit the divine atmosphere of the temple where Ram had spent his entire night with a troubled mind. The golden sun rays clearing off the mist encouraged Ram to wake up and end the dilemma churning in his mind throughout the course of the night. He stepped out of the temple. A strong breeze was mingling around him. It was as if, the breeze had the purpose of clearing the view so that Ram could see the taller core fort rising inside mountainous walls of the main fort clearly. It was a serene early morning ambiance. Clouds were drifting across the valley comprising of fields, rivers and villages spread till the distant mountains. For a moment, Ram felt he was in heaven with the Gods .This view surged a sense of belonging within In the midst of this beautiful early morning atmosphere, why is Ram’s mind restless? It was sunny outside, but it was stormy within Ram’s inner mind. Well, it was a clear decision till yesterday. But was it all about the place where he was or was it about some strange guilt lying somewhere down for no apparent logical reason. But then why was this confusion? His mind zoomed past events in his young life.

Working at Google was a dream Ram cherished since he got his digital senses.  In normal human life one gets actual senses at the age of around three to four after which their memory starts recording the motion picture of life. In the modern context another significant event happens when one acquires digital senses and starts his online life as an individual. Ram got his digital sense when he was eight. It started with playing games then creating cartoons using animation software taught by a graphic designer who lived next door. Then he got into programming while appearing for tenth standard and got into the most premier engineering institute in the region after twelfth standard.  He had cracked the entrance exam and got into Computer Sciences stream at the Institute.  He was one of top three in the class and he got selected in the campus round of selection in Day2 Company Flipkart while getting rejected by few Day1 companies including Google. Ram worked for almost a year at Flipkart and applied for job at Google.   He got selected at Google. He now waited to join their Gurgaon Campus in August. 

In Flipkart he was working on Deep Learning models for tuning supply chain to improve profitability. At Google he was assigned role in team working on Governmental cooperation model for predictive analysis of disaster management strategies. As soon as he got his dream job, he proposed to Mitali his longtime friend and neighbor. Ram adored Mitali but had always felt his career was the priority.  In those golden days, he waited to catch glimpse of Mitali, creating ‘coincidences’ of bumping on to her outside her building or her college. He had spent nights on analyzing certain conversations to interpret inner meanings and metaphors. Now that he had achieved his goal to enter Google, first thing he did was to propose Mitali. He was so nervous whole day on which he had invited Mitali for coffee at a neighborhood joint. He popped up the question and got the positive response. He then knew it was mutual all along. He was on the top of the world.

He called Sameer his longtime friend to share this news. Sameer was happy and suggested a celebration by planning a trek, an old form of recreation popular in earlier generations of 80s and 90s. Trekking though was way of life then. Trekking today is popular but as a cool happening thing most suitable to be posted on social media for the current generation.

His friend Sameer was working for Infosys. Sameer and Ram went to same playgroup, primary, high school and junior college. They parted way during Engineering but were always in touch especially in vacations hanging around urban places as well as during countryside foray for treks and trips.  Sameer’s elder brother Srimaan had started a company helping Agricultural planters effectively use their resources like seeds, fertilizers, ground water, and electricity while doing so automating few processes using basic mobility. He also had recently added a unit further adding value to supply chain dynamics for farmers. Being in the same field of technology used,   Srimaan had called Ram to his development  unit in MIDC, discussing few possible algorithms and discussing few other technologies that can possibly be used. He was amazed by Srimaan’s energy. Ram could make out that Srimaan had motivated his employees. Ram wondered about what packages Srimaan was giving them, definitely not comparable to what he got at Flipkart or was offered at Google. Srimaan also would have to face challenges of finance either through bankers or investors or bootstrap model in addition to employee attraction/retention. He wondered about working capital required for salaries, rentals, data storage, data security, connectivity, accounting, tax compliance. And then he tried to comprehend the most important thing of all the business model, marketing and sales. He got to know the ‘fun part’ of being entrepreneur that too promoting an entity which identified real world problems very socially relevant to  the motherland. He could feel that sense of satisfaction in Srimaan’s eyes.  He surely sensed that hiding behind that façade were concerns of all the pains on business uncertainties Srimaan faced.  Srimaan had offered him an idea to associate in some manner possible in future based on his skills in the field. Ram said he will be in touch in future and thanked Sameer for coordinating his meeting with Srimaan.

He agreed to join Sameer for trek. He was counting the days in July to join Google , when monsoons had set in beautifully in and around Pune. His friend Sameer called him to see if he can join trek to Torna-Rajgad on a weekday to avoid weekend crowd which throng the forts around Pune these days. Again when a good hobby turns into fashion or an ‘in thing’, many unscrupulous elements join bandwagon which gives hobby a bad name. Just like we have an amateur wildlife photographer in every house, they throng the wild life sanctuaries like pests disturbing the very wild life they claim to love. Same thing has happened with trekking on weekend: fully crowded and boisterous.  There is nothing like enjoying monsoon on top a fort in Sahyadris, laden with history on every step, Ram could not refuse this idea. So he joined Sameer and other two friends on a Thursday to climb Torna from Base village of Velhe, travel to Rajgad, stay there and reach back Pune on Friday evening.

Monsoon is the gift God has given to Indian Subcontinent. When god gives a gift HE holds one curse up his sleeve unknown to the beneficiary of  the fift making the playfield even for those whom he has not given such gift. Balance as they say is the law of Nature. So when we try to break the law of balance pertaining to weather, we suffer. When it rains it rains hard creating havoc while some regions are perennially cursed with famine. But this year it had rained as per seasonal norms till then and nature had responded splendidly to the monsoon creating unparalleled vistas across the trek route from Torna to Rajgad. 

 Sameer had got an old villager Shirpa from Velhe Village as guide mainly to help them guide across the ridges connecting between Torna and Rajgad. Shirpa had accompanied them from Velhe village. They climbed the steep gradients to reach top of Fort Torna in three hours. After eating packed lunch on the fort, they traversed the ridges to reach the Padmavati Machi one of the three wall sides of the fort. It was a strenuous day but a very satisfying one clicking great photos, getting drenched in the intermittent rain, enjoying intermittent sunshine typical of Indian month of Shravan and singing trekking songs.

They camped in the popular temple used by trekkers to stay. After sunset they cooked Khichdi a staple food for trekkers. That’s the best part of trek to share tasks and cook. During the dinner they had a long chat session. Shirpa was listening to them intently most of the time not comprehending what the urban groups were discussing. Ram observed Shirpa eating the khichdi outside their group. He wanted to include him the conversation and be part of group. He asked him about his whereabouts. He hailed not from Velhe village but in a village near Bhor. But he was working on his farm which his father bought in 70s and migrated from their native village. Those were days unaffected by urban land cost inflation around Pune and neighboring districts. He appended his farming income by helping trekkers. He said his family had rich history and was involved in Swaraj movement by Shivaji Maharaj. Ram and his friends got interested to know more and upon insistence of the group Shirpa started telling story about his ancestor Ramji Shinde.

Ramji was a farmer worked in his native village near Bhor. He farmed during the rainy season and was soldier in army of Adilshah Courtier Sardar Pilajii Mohite. Ramji was involved in the local unplanned skirmish between Mughals then under Prince Aurangzeb in Deccan and Adilshah army near Junnar. He had shown exemplary courage and helped Adilshah’s forces to recover ground against Mughal forces led by Sambhajirao Kate a big Sardar from Mughal army. Later a stalemate was reached and truce was announced between Aurangzeb and Adilshah as Aurangzeb had to retreat to Agra to solve bigger problems related to his succession of Mughal Throne. Later Sardar Pilaji Mohite was part of Adilshah army led by Fattekhan which was sent to fight Swaraj led by a rebel son of Adilshah’s sardar Shahajiraje Bhosale who was popularly and fondly known as Shivba in the valleys of Bara Maval region of Deccan. At that time Swaraj was very small and just had captured posts of Shirval and Torna fort and area around Pune.  The ideology was to fight oppression of Shahs and Mughals which had continued for more than three hundred years. Also at heart was a sincere intent to support farmers, artisans and establish local law of land and most importantly self-expression of culture and religion. This freedom was severely under threat by forces of Shahs and Mughals.  Ramji was in farming in his village when he was ordered by his employer Pilajirao Mohite to join Fattekhan’s army to fight Shivaji Maharaj. Few days before that, a trusted lieutenant in Sambhaji Kates Mughal army, having seen his valor during the skirmish near Junnar, had approached him to join Mughal army as leader of 1000 soldiers called as Hazari Mansabdar. He was offered a great compensation and benefits in Mughal court. Sambhaji Kate had personally recommended him to prince Aurangzeb who was then leader of Mughals in Deccan before he had left for Agra

Everyone from his family wanted Ramji to join Mughals except his mother and wife who felt human dignity was at the stake especially under Mughals and Shahs.  He then got in touch with Santoshji Jedhe  who was family friend of his cousin residing  in  adjoining village near Bhor. Santosh was part of Kanhoji Jedhe clan. Kanhoji Jedhe was trusted lieutenant of ShahajiRaje Bhosale and was part of Swaraj army of Shivaji Maharaj. Santosh told Ramji about Shivba and his Swaraj objectives.  Santosh suggested that a self-respecting person and a strong warrior like Ramji should join swaraj and its fight for self-rule and expression.

Ramji had an offer from Mughals, an order from Adilshah to join Fattekhan and was insisted by Santosh to explore option to join Swaraj Army. What should he do?

Ramji joined Swaraj. He grew within Swaraj army under Kanhoji Jedhe.  He played huge role in Battle of Pratapgad. He then was part of guerrilla armies which pestered and troubled Mughal forces led by Shahistekhan when Maharaj was sieged in Panhala by Siddhi Jouhar.

During one skirmish he was killed in Maval district. His successors then served three generations for the Maratha Empire and his family claims lot of respect in the region. His line of family though lost it all due to vagaries of nature and decline of intellect and valor across generations.  That concluded Shirpa’s story.

After dinner they washed the utensils and spread their mattresses/sleeping bags and decided to continue other chat. They were talking about their college days. On the same topic, Sameer quoted  DJ a character played by Aamir Khan in the film Rang De Basanti: “Bhale Bhale Pis gaye” meaning all those who thought highly about themselves were lost over period of time in the daily humdrum of mundane routine.  DJ in the movie is scared to go out of college life saying he has a status in college and everyone thinks highly about him. Everyone In the campus said “DJ to kuch Karke Rahega” ie  DJ will do something in his life. But life outside campus has seen many “Campus Heroes” lose their identity. They become one amongst a big crowd leading life as a commoner. Everyone starts with dreams to conquer the world singing song “Chand Taare Tod lau” ie I will pick the stars and moons from the sky. Everyone in college and early career thinks that they are going to be the next best thing happening in his own field and society in general.  But life is so cruel that very few are able to live their dreams while rest just get into oblivion. Ram definitely did not want to be among them. They ended conversation very late into the night.

Later when everyone decided to rest and sleep, wind was howling with light rains. There was chill in the atmosphere but they had comfort of their sleeping bags. Shirpa  was asleep comfortable in his locally stitched blanket.    Ram realized that he was at the same place where it all happened. Rajgad saw rise and rise of Swaraj under Shivaji Maharaj. Rajgad saw events like Afzhal Khan war, Shahistekhan Surgical strikes, Down side of the treaty of Purandar with MirzaRaje Jaisingh, Capture and Escape from Agra, Revival of Swaraj, Tanaji martyrdom. This is a special place. It invokes strange and great feelings inside a true trekker and a devotee of Shivaji Maharaj.  The story told by Ramji, Dialogue from the film and overall concerns about his career and life were ringing in his mind.

He was scared about being driven to oblivion despite his top background. Could he afford to be amongst thousands of employees at his employer workspace? Or would he rise to something big? If so, he could rise till what level among 98771 people Google employed. He had recently checked the count on Google itself.  Should he continue his work at Filpkart which he was reasonably proud about. Or would he fight heroically at a local startup enduring all risks for the rewards to be next big thing in business. Or would he   just work towards gaining inner satisfaction of solving problems facing poor and needy at home. Strangely the film Rang De Basanti also depicted parallels between aspirations of freedom fighters like Bhagatsingh, Azad, Rajguru, Ramprasad Bismil, Asafullah Khan to those of the modern college going characters .

He then imagined parallels with Ramji starting with the name. Ramji was employed to a local sardar who owed allegiance to Bijapur kingdom which was an external entity. Ram was employed to Filpkart an Indian startup which was taken over by Walmart a foreign entity.  Ramji had an offer to join Mughals . Ram had an offer with Google.  Ramji was introduced to Swaraj while Ram was introduced to Srimaan’s Startup which had objective to help under trodden and provide self-expression.  Yes he would learn a lot at Google and then use that skills/network to start something on his own addressing a certain problem helping society. But then as DJ said in the movie, Would that time to take a plunge would ever be found right? Would he then be lost in crowds due to everyday routine and everything mundane?

Ramji had chosen Swaraj and later paid the price by laying down his life in the line of duty. Can he choose to work with Srimaan or start something like Srimaan?  Ram wondered whether his mom and Mitali would accept his decision like how Ramji’s Mom and wife accepted Ramji’s decision. Is he ready to throw away opportunity to work on his dream job. Would he be able to serve his own country like Ramji? In this millennium what had remained out of patriotism? Everyone is global citizen these days. Concept of Nationalism is maligned and thought out to be parochial and narrow minded: Read it any media globally: aren’t Trump and Johnson leaders of two most advanced nations on this planet maligned as ultra nationalist?  Isn’t Modi maligned as Hindutva hardliner? Imagine if fight for Swaraj had happened today even that might have been viewed in same angle maybe?  What is Srimaan’s company was later taken over by Multinational giant?  He kept on thinking and thinking till he slept out of daylong physical exertion.

A big shout from Sameer asking Ram to return to temple for breakfast of Maggi noodles broke his train of thoughts. They continued their trek and reached Pali village at the foothill of the fort.

Ram returned from Rajgad Trek to  get back to the realities of life.  Next day, Ram was invited to a party hosted by his college senior at Marriott to celebrate his deputation at Singapore. This friend of his had bought Hyundai Accent within first three months into his job last year. He had booked a flat as well.  Due to his own long term plans Ram had not taken any purchase decision on those lines. Ram’s mother always used to cite example of this friend of his. She was indirectly asking him to finalize upon his plans on similar lines. He himself had plans to throw party to his friends as well as Mitali’s friends at Marriott to celebrate. He made up his mind.

Next week Ram joined Google and left for Northern Latitudes not limiting to the Domestic boundaries wishing he would not be captivated permanently by attractions of modern life. In another parallel to the history, Shivaji Maharaj also was momentarily captivated by Mughals in North though for different reasons.

(All characters in this story are fictitious and historical references are for conceptual reasons and not part of recorded/authenticated history by any way attempted to demean/dishonour any historical personalities. )

Opening Paragragh credit: Riya Naik