Goutam Shankar Das
Hari Mittal’s book is, at best, a recount where he relives his school, college and university days in a bitter-sweet aura amid which, another yesterday is always welcome. A joint family, one of the favourites and most loved at homes, a top-grader student and the penchant for theatre getting the early sting during the high school period, have been tellingly depicted by Hari. His stints at St Xaviers College in Ranchi and Cooperative College at Jamshedpur were not bereft of his stage appearances. But the pains and pangs that confronted the production units and actor Hari Mittal personally before the plays went on stage have been written so lucidly that the reader gets involved in the narrative. In fact, the author has walked into the minds and hearts of his readers which makes ‘Uljhe Doe Rahe Ka Safar’ a pleasant and gripping read.
After completing his B Tech course from BIT, Sindri with flying colours in 1965, Hari Mittal flew out to the USA where he joined the crown of engineering institutions, California University, for his MS (ME) Degree. He once again emerged in the top bracket in 1967.
In this, his first of three stints in the United States of America, Hari Mittal won many friends and admirers because of his warm, friendly and helpful nature. To earn his way through, he worked in industrial concerns and left his mark as an ingenious, hardworking and reliable colleague.
Since his graduation from the University of California in Berkeley, his folks back home wanted him in India with expectations of his becoming a leading industrialist. His friends, colleagues and some relatives in the USA suggested him not to go back at that moment as his prospects looked more than good in this foreign land and it coincided with Hari’s mental setup. He too wanted to stay back and make his way up professionally and socially as he had developed an appreciable group of friends and was also making his mark in the field of theatre, having directed and acted in quite a number of stage presentations with all-round appreciation.
Author Hari Mittal has mentioned that before flying off for the US, his family had seen to his marriage and as he himself has mentioned in a jocular manner that this was done perhaps to keep him away from getting a ‘foreign bahu.’ His wife joined him while he was on his way up the job front, or, economic incline.
However, at the end of the day, Hari had to accede to his family’s wish and, almost unwillingly, braced up for the return. In his heart he knew that his visa allowed him to return whenever he wanted to within a span of two years. The couple decided to make the return trip memorable by visiting several foreign destinations. It was a longish journey but never tedious.
Upon touching the home shore, the couple was given a tumultuous welcome with all family members, relatives and several friends present when the train glided into the station. It was celebration time at home with uncountable joy adding to the atmosphere.
Then things gradually settled down to professional concerns. Many deals, considerations, partnership permutations and combinations were worked out. Projects were laden on Hari Mittal’s young and untested shoulders. With time, there were several ups and downs but the downtrend ultimately lasted. A few years down, the hopes and expectations of the family ran up the economic blind alley. Excitement and expectations had fizzled out.
Hari Mittal, his wife and two sons faced the brunt of this almost financial rock bottom bravely. Hari peered into bleakness. The Hari Mittal couple tried its extreme best to put two and two together but the burning candle’s flickering wick was nearing the end.
Hari took the final decision to take another plunge into his US luck and with the bare minimum of greens, took off for his American sojourn; the difference this time was that while during his first trip his eyes radiated the glint of hopes and expectations, this time, he was folded up in his shell of a shaky future.
But during his second tenure that was to be very brief, the brave Hari Mittal ran into good weather and in quick time and luck on his side, he was able to get hold of jobs, support of friends and see America in a new socio-economic light. He not only had a more confidence-arousing wallet but felt much reassured when he touched down in Jamshedpur a few months later.
Hari Mittal mentions many more ups and downs that flowed down the bridge of time. His two sons were into handsome earning ways and there was high quality contentment in the family. One of his sons had settled down in the USA while the other was now a senior law official with Tata Steel. Hari himself was able to register his presence more in theatre as actor, director and team organizer. Here too, he occasionally had to taste a sour bowl of soup every now and then while coming across situations and people. Meanwhile, he made a third visit to the USA, this time, on the invitation of his son. He was now a more at-ease person and enjoying the air of a land that he had come to respect because of its culture, ethics and opportunities.
Perhaps, that twitch for the missed opportunities to stay and work in America instead of falling into an unfathomed socio-economic manhole back home may still be with Hari Mittal. But as ‘Uljhe Doe Rahe Ka Safar,’ concludes, there is light enough to broaden the path and take things as they come.
