A Happiest Man From The Busiest City.

Rourkela a place of brotherhood. Many call it as Mini India. Every Rourkelities have a different feeling towards Rourkela and that can not be described in pen and paper. This is the most cleanest,Smartest and safest city in Odisha. Though Rourkela has a Steel Plant,many educational institute and many more things which are lightened but it also has a very dark side .

               A picture of Rourkela Steel Plant first steel plant in the country post independence.

Today I am writing a story on an old man. Despite he puts himself towards the dark side but he always carries a positive thinking with him. This may encourage many of us who thinks I CAN'T. So   let's begin.

                                         A picture from Rourkela Junction Railway Station

Meet Mr. Meghanada Lenka from Rourkela. He was born and brought up in Bhapur town now in Nayagarh district then from the undivided Puri district. Went till class Fifth in Bhapur school and then stopped going school due to bad financial condition. When he was 20 the whole family moved to Rourkela as his father got a contractual job inside the Rourkela Steel Plant.

What ever his father was earning was not sufficient to the family of six people and being the elder son he has to work here and there for some extra income. One evening while coming back from work he got a Pull cart on a very cheap rate.This was the turning point and he never looked back.

He started selling sprouts chat as he had some experience working in a shop. He opened his Cart Stall near Sector-2 bus stand and moved to many places due to the restrictions of the local government authorities. He changed many places inside the town but now from the last few years keeping his cart near the Konark cinema hall in Sector 21.

Though Rourkela has many big educational institutes this man failed to give a proper education to his children. This couple have four children two are sons and the rest daughters.Both the daughters are married and settled happily. The sons are too married though they are jobless. This man has a grandson from his elder son, who is reading in an English Medium School in Standard 2.

When he was struggling for a place to keep his trolley the RUPAM cinema hall shifted from Bondamunda in the late 80s. The same cinema hall can be seen as KONARK hall near Sector 21. In the late 90s Mr. Lenka thought to keep his cart near to the hall. Time changed and from the last 22 years he is keeping his cart next to Hotel Deepti .

I am personally a great fan of his sprouts. When I was in Rourkela Muncipal College everyday we used to visit his shop. Now also whenever I visit Rourkela , I try to meet him. Still he remembers me and the best thing is that the sprouts tastes as it was before 15 years. I never felt a change.

This time when I was talking to him I noticed his face was dull and he is becoming older day by day.  He was depressed as both his sons are jobless.He is the one man who is earning for a family of 7.

Still he is more happy. He is not working under anyone.Expressed his happiness as a businessman. Said both his sons help him . The elder one opens the shop in the morning and the younger one does the marketing.  Both the daughter in law are well cultured and caring. As he is becoming older his health is not so sound. 

                                 A picture of Lord Hanuman from Hanuman Vatika in Rourkela                             

At the end he is having a happy family.Though the earnings he is having is not a huge but they are happy in that. Wished him all the success,happiness,joy and prosperity in his future .Hoping to see him again I said a good bye and went to Koelnagar where my parents lives.

His story reminds me 

                                               
 "MONEY CAN'T BUY HAPPINESS"

Shibashish Mahapatra