“The President has proclaimed emergency!” Those were the words of the then prime minister Indira Gandhi on All India Radio, in the wee hours of June 26, 1975. Neither the general public nor Gandhi’s cabinet had any idea that such a decision was on its way. Everyone was shaken to the core, owing to this declaration by the Prime Minister. No doubt, Government perceived it as a measure to curb Internal disturbance that could have, only aggravated the prevailing chaotic condition of this Independent nation.
In the streets of Cuttack, there was this two-year-old girl, waiting eagerly for her Dad to return from his office in Bhubaneshwar. Alok Mishra, who worked as an editor for a local Odiya newspaper was supposed to reach his parental house in Cuttack, the said evening for his daughter’s second birthday. Mrs. Mishra had prepared some of Alok Babu’s favorite Odiya delicacies and was looking forward to his return with curiosity.
“Maa, when is Bapa going to come?” the little one kept blabbering time and again.
“Don’t worry, Bapa is going to come soon!” Though Mrs. Mishra sounded stern but deep within, her mind was blocked with disturbing thoughts. As a Mom, she knew her duty was to console her toddler, but again she was wife of a person who never minced his words speaking against the current government or in that case Gandhi’s ideologies. Her worst fear was haunting her from within. Still she chose to be patient and kept looking towards the wooden door multiple times. Her heart knew, it was the calm before the storm, hardly realizing the storm would take such a violent form, that would leave her bewildered.
In her sweet voice she sang a lullaby and the young one was put to sleep. She lay beside her, her eyes hooked to the pitch-dark ceiling and her mind packed with conflicting thoughts. Finally, the dark night came to an end but there was no trace of her husband. Mrs. Mishra’s neighbor, Sarita Mausi whispered in her ears,
“Emergency is declared, coming days are going to be tough! Mousa was telling, Officers are arresting political opponents……………..I hope you understand!”
Mrs. Mishra’s heart skipped a beat hearing the hard truth. Since her Marriage to Alok Babu, in 1971 when India fought with Pakistan for Independence of Bangladesh, she had always seen his frown face. The months preceding this grave period was coupled with increasing unemployment, food scarcity and inflation. With rise in poverty people were struggling to have a square meal a day. She can’t forget January 1974 for obvious reasons. Navnirman Andolan was at its peak, with attacks and riots becoming a regular affair. Alok Babu had been writing on this aggressively in his newspaper. His thoughts got wings of its own, when he got the chance to participate in a mass rally organized by the followers of Jay Prakash Narayan in Odisha. “Bihar movement” which had been transformed to “JP Movement” influenced Alok Babu to such an extent that he didn’t mind, touring colleges and influencing students, to raise consciousness in general public against the system at large. The railway protest of 1974 further added fuel to fire and Alok Babu became as strong as Iron, to lead the people in the protest against their own government. All this while Mrs. Mishra had supported her husband to the hilt and today too, she is prepared to face this battle in full spirit.
Three days into Emergency and still there was no trace of Alok Babu. All of a sudden there was continuous knock on Mrs. Mishra’s door. As her steps drew close to the door, she could hear a male voice……………
“Bhauja………Please open the door!”
“Sobhagya Bhai? What’s the matter?” Mrs. Mishra exclaimed.
“Bhauja, Police are rampantly arresting protesters. We were without electricity for last three days. Press has been censored and our basic constitutional rights have been shelved. Police might arrest me any time. Here I have got some grocery for you! Please Manage with it.”
Before Mrs. Mishra could add he uttered, “Alok Babu is hiding from the officers, else they will arrest him. He will definitely reach you guys!”
Mrs. Mishra could hardly speak. Her throat choked, and her body started to shiver from head to toe. Petrified she closed the door and sat at the veranda with her little girl, who had the slightest idea as to what was happening around her.
“How can our freedom of speech be suspended? How can press be censored?” Mrs. Mishra kept on wondering every second.
July 10th 1975
Mrs. Mishra got the newspaper at her veranda for the first time after emergency was declared. Alok Babu’s whereabouts was still unknown and that was troubling her to the core. Prime Minister’s justification for Emergency was scribbled in the tabloid. While one justification was, need for economic development of the underprivileged, the other being India’s security and democracy. She tore apart the paper into two pieces, thereby venting her anger against the Government and its policies. Suddenly she saw a Hermit approaching the front gate of her house. She ran inside and locked the main door. Even the little one started to cry at the visual…………………
“Maa, please don’t open the door!”
The duo chose to remain inside, but the Hermit seemed to be persistent with its goal. Continuous knock followed which shook Mrs. Mishra from within. Somehow, she gathered herself, took a stick in her hand and opened the door in one go. To her utter dismay Hermit was her beloved Alok Babu in disguise.
“Bapa! Smita shouted at the top of her voice”
“Don’t shout Dear! Cops might come.”
By that time Mrs. Mishra had got a rough idea as to what was cooking. Alok Babu explained her about the ongoing tension and how he has been in disguise all this while, just to avoid the preying eyes of the cops.
“Are you afraid of getting arrested?” Mrs. Mishra said in a firm tone.
“Fear! can only shake the weak hearted. Not dogmatic ones like us. Anything for my country.”
Mrs. Mishra was happy with Alok Babu’s answer. She gave a coy smile and went into the kitchen to finish up her work.
August 1st, 1975
Alok Babu had just finished his Puja, when he could hear a loud noise outside. As he peeped from his window, he could see a group of policemen approaching his house with caution. Alok Babu had his plans ready, but before he could get into it, the cops arrested him, there by placing him under preventive detention.
Alok Babu’s family’s ordeal continued till 21st March 1977, when finally, Emergency was withdrawn after 21 months. With the general elections, congress lost while Janata party with its allies, won with a massive margin. Alas! Alok Babu was not there to celebrate this win with his family. Owing to his bad health, he breathed his last in the prison itself.
For Smita, Alok Babu was not only her Dad but a person who showed her to always choose…………..“what your heart tells you to”.
Opinionated, strong willed and determined, those were the words that best described her Father and she chose to follow his foot steps no matter what. Be it writing a mail to an NGO in Pune for Sunita’s case to making her way out from the scary Road in Exit 2A, Choosing Amit over Rajesh to having Rohan as the only child, Smita has always done what her heart has told her to. No doubt she is the proud daughter of a worthy Father!!
Source: Visit Now
