Those were the days of bandits, I board a train to Delhi which passes through the ravines of Chambal, the heartland of bandits.
As the train moved through Chambal, I could imagine the scenes from movies where dacoits ran along the fast moving train on their horses. This was my first visit to this region and my imagination, inspired from movies of course, started working. Their faces covered with long pieces of cloth with rifle in one hand and the leash of horse in another, running in pack like lions who hunt their prey. With rage in eyes and body filled with aggression they hail their horses as they place themselves strategically to attack the train. Chanting to Goddess Kali or Lord Shiva they would first torment the passengers from their sheer presence to create panic and havoc. Then one of them would board the train. The running horse now under the guidance of one of their colleagues continues to run along the train to be with his rider in case of need. These well bred horses, symbol of power, create an atmosphere of energy. Their strong muscles competing with the speed of train. I was on a fantasy ride taking pieces from all those movies I have seen where bandits would ransack the train, loot the passengers and leave them in distress.
I did not realise in my fantasy trip when an old man with a small girl joined the same coach and sat on the seat opposite to my window seat. As if he could read my thoughts and eager to reply to he said “what you imagine right now ceases to exist”. Started by the voice I quickly turned towards the speaker and saw an old man in late 60’s. Salt- pepper hair, experience and maturity drawn on face, for a split second I couldn’t take my eyes off. Recovering myself I said “Excuse me!” He looked at me as if he expected this reaction and once again said “What you imagine right now ceases to exist. Those were some days when dacoits and bandits use to rule this region. But not now.” Surprised again, I replied “How did u know what I was thinking?” He chuckled. “Every person, on their first visit to this region looks out and imagines the dacoits on their fast running horses. It’s same. Every time” came a prompt reply in a girly voice. The simple reply got my attention. A cute girl of maybe around 12 years, her face was devoid of innocence you would expect from a 12 year. It was clearly visible that life has not been easy for her. The confidence she possessed could give some professionals a run for their money. The look on my face was enough and she said “Don’t be surprised. Every kid who is born and brought up in this area can tell you this. Everybody loves to fantasise about these things they watch in movies and television, what news people cover and report without any idea about the reality.” Truth struck me like lighting. How true I thought. And it is this thought that held me throughout the journey.
The old man offered me something to eat and just then the chai-walla came, we had our cups filled with steaming hot tea. This is when my true journey from the ravines of Chambal started. The old man narrated the story of two dacoits. Nobody knew the true name of these dacoits. They were famously called Col Damle and Chandramoukhi.
Col Damle was a fearsome person. Miles and miles of Chambal region shook in terror of Damle. His aura was to an extent that if a village local mentions his name the jamindars would go numb. Police had been searching for Dalme for years with the prize money increasing every year. The loyalty people had towards him was impeccable. Some of the people referred him as the “Robin of Chambal”. He would steal from the rich, cruel and torturous land owns and help the villagers. He would help the villagers financially as well as morally by teaching bad land owners a good lesson. The police under the pressure of the influential land lords would initiate the search missions, interrogate the villagers and increase the reward money but all in wane. The activities of Col Damle were strong, pronounced but in undetectable. The modus operandi being smart and subtle. He was praised among the bandit community for his planning and execution skills. On the other hand, Chandramoukhi was full of energy, fervour and violent streak. She was known as a rebellion to the existing system, rough, always challenging the authorities to catch her. She would tease the local authorities with her activities in close proximity, robbing the banks. She was feared none less as Col Damle. Always on the move, she had been on the hit list of local authorities of many states. As she had her operations confined to the central and Northern India she had good networking in the region. She was known to have a charm that would help her build strategic terms with other dacoits. A good negotiator and communicator that she was, slipping away from the authorities was never an issue. A person of business she believed in give and take. Always repaid the favours she asked for. Her networking strength was unknown outside the bandit fraternity.
So happened a fateful day that Col Damle and Chandramoukhi were chased by the police and they crossed ways. Experienced as they were, both of them understood each other’s situation. When they introduced themselves to each other both could see that with other person’s skill they can plan a smooth get away. They successfully executed the get-away mission and moved on. However something changed. Both of them unaware of what it was carried on with their life. Some years later again their paths led them to face each other. Same situation as earlier they repeated their successful get-away. However one thing was different. Both of them continued shared their experience, what did they do after the last meeting, how life was before they met for the first time. Slowly as the time passed they understood that different feeling which they were unable explain earlier. This was the last time that their paths crossed. After lot of clash of thoughts within the gang of each one of them , Col Damle and Chandramoukhi married.
Col Damle was not answerable to anybody except his gang members whom he had convinced; it was the father of Chandramoukhi who was not happy with the arrangement. Although he could do nothing about it he always expressed his disapproval in one way or the other. Col Damle and Chandramoukhi gave birth to a baby girl and named her Bella. After Bella was born their operations had expanded to lot of districts thereby increasing their territory, their mobility was reduced but the operations were more smooth and refined. More strategic relationships were formed. However in between all of this their cause never changed.
As time passed by what happens to a group of roudies who come together, form a large group, have increased power and the inability to digest all of it in one go. They start falling part. Same happened to the combined gang of Col Damle and Chandramoukhi. The sheer size of the gang was becoming unmanageable. And soon a day came when the police was able to track them down. During the chase Bella and Chandramoukhi’s father were made to escape along with some trusted gang members. This troop which successfully escaped had to change their style of living. Rest were either captured or encountered. However Col Damle and Chandramoukhi surrendered. Both of them were given 10 years imprisonment.
I was so engrossed in the story that I did not realise when train reached Delhi. The moment train stopped at the station I heard something. Something I was not ready to believe. The old man called the girl “Bella”. I was stunned. The old man looked at me and said “Tomorrow Col Damle and Chandramoukhi will be released from Tihar and we are going there to receive them. Bella won’t let me stay in peace if we don’t go and be the first to greet both of them. I feel so happy to meet my daughter and son-in-law after all these year.”
