THE MOST IMPORTANT ROAD IN MY LIFE
Gursharn Singh Randhawa
This road has been recently constructed, precisely in the year 2012. This is a small road, just 0.9 Km long
and 11 feet wide; yet this is the most important road in my life. Exactly 40 years ago, when I was 19 years
old, I saw this path (kaccha rasta) for the first time. I observed that many persons were using this path
and facing difficulties, particularly in the rainy season. At that time the idea of a road did not occur to me.
Many years passed, people continued to suffer. Then one day a question came to my mind: Can a road be
constructed here? But nothing more happened in the next many years except the occasional thought of the
question again. I could not gather courage to talk to anybody about my idea. Then about three years ago,
reluctantly, I said to a person living not very far from the above path: Can we make efforts to construct
a road here. He said, "It would be very difficult since the cost would be very high and limited resources
available to generate the money; moreover the official markings on the path are not present. Hence you
should give up this idea." I became quiet but did not give up hope. After two months I happened to meet
this person again. He said that he did not contact anybody but, on its own initiative, a government team
came to make a survey of this path to construct a road. I was too happy to know this! I felt that God put
the idea in my mind and then made it a reality soon. Unfortunately nothing happened for one more year.
Then that person said that the government authorities are saying that the money is less, they can make
either a part of the road or only a brick road can be constructed. I said, don't worry we will make efforts.
I talked to some of my friends and relatives about it. I did not ask any money but on their own they
contributed generously and as a result the complete road became a reality!
Where is this road? Many among you would ask this question. I would like to say that the location is not
so important. It can be in any country, any state, any district or any village. The important point is that
when I think of this road or look at its picture, I feel satisfied, inspired and encouraged. One must have a
vision and a day comes when it becomes a reality.
(The author is a Professor in the Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Uttarakhand, India; E.mail : SHARNFBS@IITR.ERNET.IN)
