My good friend in Calcutta, GYAN PRAKASH TIRKEY invited me to come his home in a little village called Helta in the District Gumla in the State of Bihar, a journey by train and bus of 12 hours. Bihar is one of the poorest States in India and it proved to be quite an adventure. On Tuesday May 16th 1978 we journeyed by train and bus, and at the end we had to walk a few kilometres to Gyan's village. I was greeted like I was Jesus, since the family washed and oiled my feet when I arrived. The little dwelling where the family lived was very modest and none of this area had any electricity at all. However, they had the most amazing well water I had tasted since I arrived in India. I was always very diligent in Calcutta to boil the water at least twice and strain it through a clean handkerchief. In this process there was always a heavy residue of alum left behind on my handkerchief. We slept outside, as was the custom and when we rose the next morning, I challenged Gyan to a water drinking competition. We began on Wednesay May 24th 1978 at 7:30am and finished at 10pm that night. The results follow below.
The next day, Gyan and I decided to perform a trick for all the local villagers. By late afternoon, we had quite a gathering of about 50 people. But first they insisted on providing a meal of chilli fish, rice and sunflower whisky. I was amazed that no one else was to eat, as the large group gathered around to watch me. The fish was a delicacy since it could not be obtained in this dry location. As I looked down at my thoughtfully prepared meal, I could see about 10 little fish about 5cm long on top of rice. They were seasoned with chillies and when I tasted them my mouth immediately caught fire and I felt steam coming out of my ears. But I pressed on not wanting to disappoint my guests. It was then that I took a mouthful of sunflower whisky brewed locally. “My God” …… I muttered under my breath, as my mouth was once more shocked by a new onslaught of culinary fright, but with resilience and strength of Will, I ploughed on until I finished the fish and whisky. Now for the entertainment! Gyan asked all the people to stand back while he would demonstrate my amazing spiritual power. The idea was that I would stand about 20 metres away with my back turned to 10 people who would line up, and Gyan would then explain that one person would be given an object and next I would then turn around, walk forward the point to that person. No one knew that Gyan and I had worked out that the numbering was from left to right and if for example it was the fourth person, he would have his arms folded across his chest with 4 fingers resting on his other arm. Similarly, if it was the 8th person, he would fold his arms and display 4 fingers on the left arm and 4 fingers on the right arm etc etc etc. OK – so with great difficulty I stood to my feet and turned with my back facing the chosen 10 and Gyan gave one of them the object and then invited me to face the eager participants. When I turned around, I tried as hard as I could, but everything was blurry, and my head was spinning. I couldn't even see Gyan's fingers let alone count them. I decided to walk forward and choose anyone randomly, but with the odds stacked me, of course I WAS WRONG! To my amazement everybody clapped in appreciation so I wouldn't feel bad, and then I just slunk away to lie down, trying to recover from my ordeal.
My good friend Gyan Prakash Tirkey age 26 in 1978. A fun guy who liked to play the board game draughs. |
