Dhabha's Food For The Soul

An elderly dhaba owner Fauja Singh was supervising food service to a group of students and teachers. Making conversation he appreciated the initiative of taking students trekking, getting them know their physical endurance, experience nature, the woods and hills which is absent in cities concrete jungle.

Fauja Singh suddenly spoke of trekking in the city among the corridors of certain institutions which caught everyone’s attention. He spoke the Youth in early stages needs to be managed better, to live a cultured and disciplined life. To receive education, moral values and life skills under highly committed mentors as in ancient Gurukool days. Back home most working parents have little time for children hence hired nannies, trainers, tutors have taken over. Age 13 to 31 defines a youth in India. Poorly planned academic syllabus taught over generations has messed our ‘Learning’s, Lessons, Lifestyle’. Competitive culture has overshadowed Collaborative functioning in all fields making journey to success unpleasant with selfishness and many compromises.

Citing few examples how trek to institutions could matter;

Walking corridors of government hospitals seeing pain and suffering, youth will start respecting and caring its own and others body. Knowing the challenges for the poor to access affordable good medical facilities, the new degree holders will condition themselves to recondition and make the profession nobler.

Media corridors shout news of hatred, crime, social divisions, largely political undressing but seldom naked truth is breaking news. The Youth visiting these corridors will look at improving transparency, refrain unethical media law practices, stop proliferation of fake news and paid news when they take over.

The corridors of civil courts are an expression of lost trust, respect, values, tolerance, and fractured family bonding. Divorce cases are on the increase, dragging family to courts over property and wealth is quite common. Corridors of criminal courts are even worse. Kal-yuga is influencing minds to sin and thus overflowing jails reflect crime rate. Corridors can influence youth to respect (Andha Kannon) keeping its eyes shut for not discriminating to deliver justice to any individual, but improve vision to increase efficiency. use scientific technology to compliment for fair and speedy trials.

Visit to the Homes for the aged might help youth see how their old age could possibly be like. The corridors whisper forced loneliness, helplessness and insecurity some children subject their parents to. This may help youth realize the company, care, comfort and love they need to offer their parents.

Religious institutions corridors reflect more elderly presence and hardly the young. Education from scriptures knows the Creator at an early age, knowing His Oneness, seeing His presence in everyone and everything, sharing, caring, and doing honest labor. Fauja Singh connected with Gurbani's way of life early which helped him during his tough times. He had joined the army at age 16, quite unnoticeably is one artificial leg, the original which he lost in 1962 war. Indian army taught Fauja Singh to team with all from any religion, nation first, unflinching loyalty and preparedness for ultimate sacrifice. Experiencing the saying “the more you sweat in peace the less you bleed in war”.

In conclusion Fauja Singh said If Youth is nation’s future great caution must be taken in grooming their personal, national and social perspectives. When the youth visits an institution without being part of it, better seen are its challenges, failures, incompetency unbiased. This Knowing and self-realization when joining those institutions could bring corrective reforms, efficiency and better deliverance of services to citizens.

The group left in their vehicle, heads out hands waving continued until the Dhabha with food for soul was out of sight.