आहुति- प्रेमचंद

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is lekh ka punarikshan evan sampadan hona avashyak hai. ap isamean sahayata kar sakate haian. "sujhav"

anand ne gaddedar kursi par baithakar sigar jalate hue kaha-aj vishambhar ne kaisi himakat ki! imtahan qarib hai aur ap aj valantiyar ban baithe. kahian pak d gaye, to imtahan se hath dhoeange. mera to khayal hai ki vajifa bhi band ho jaega.

samane doosare beanch par roopamani baithi ek akhabar padh rahi thi. usaki aankhean akhabar ki taraph thian; par kan anand ki taraph lage hue the. boli-yah to bura hua. tumane samajhaya nahian? anand ne muanh banakar kaha-jab koee apane ko doosara gaandhi samajhane lage, to use samajhana mushkil ho jata hai. vah ulate mujhe samajhane lagata hai.

roopamani ne akhabar ko sametakar baloan ko sanbhalate hue kaha-tumane mujhe bhi nahian bataya, shayad maian use rok sakati.

anand ne kuchh chidhaqar kaha-to abhi kya hua, abhi to shayad kaangres aphis hi mean ho. jakar rok lo.

anand aur vishambhar donoan hi yoonivarsiti ke vidyarthi the. anand ke hisse mean lakshmi bhi p di thi, sarasvati bhi; vishambhar phooti takadir lekar aya tha. prophesaroan ne daya karake ek chhota-sa vajipha de diya tha. bas, yahi usaki jivika thi. roopamani bhi sal bhar pahale unhian ke samakaksh thi; par is sal usane kalej chho d diya tha. svasthy kuchh big d gaya tha. donoan yuvak kabhi-kabhi usase milane ate rahate the. anand ata tha. usaka hriday lene ke lie, vishambhar ata tha yoan hi. ji padhane mean n lagata ya ghab data, to usake pas a baithata tha. shayad usase apani vipatti-katha kahakar usaka chitt kuchh shant ho jata tha. anand ke samane kuchh bolane ki usaki himmat n p dati thi. anand ke pas usake lie sahanubhooti ka ek shabd bhi n tha. vah use phatakarata tha; zalil karata tha aur bevakooph banata tha. vishambhar mean usase bahas karane ki samathry n thi. soory ke samane dipak ki hasti hi kya? anand ka us par manasik adhipaty tha. jivan mean pahali bar usane us adhipaty ko asvikar kiya tha. aur usi ki shikayat lekar anand roopamani ke pas aya tha. mahinoan vishambhar ne anand ke tark par apane bhitar ke agrah ko dhala; par tark se parast hokar bhi usaka hriday vidroh karata raha. beshak usaka yah sal kharab ho jaega. sambhav hai, chhatr-jivan hi ka ant ho jae, phir is 14-15 varshoan ki mehanat par pani phir jaega n khuda hi milega, n sanam ka visal hi nasib hoga. ag mean koodane se kya fayada. yoonivarsiti mean rahakar bhi to bahut kuchh desh ka kam kiya ja sakata hai. anand mahine mean kuchh-n-kuchh chanda jama kara deta hai, doosare chhatroan se svadeshi ki pratijna kara hi leta hai. vishambhar ko bhi anand ne yahi salah di. is tark ne usaki buddhi ko to jit liya, par usake man ko n jit saka. aj jab anand kalej gaya to vishambhar ne svarajy-bhavan ki rah li. anand kalej se lauta to use apani mej par vishambhar ka patr mila. likha tha-

priy anand,

maian janata hooan ki maian jo kuchh karane ja raha hooan vah mere lie hitakar nahian hai; par n jane kaun-si shakti mujhe khianche liye ja rahi hai. maian jana nahian chahata, par jata hooan, usi tarah jaise adami marana nahian chahata, par marata hai; rona nahian chahata, par rota hai. jab sabhi log, jin par hamari bhakti hai, okhali mean apana sir dal chuke the, to mere lie bhi ab koee doosara marg nahian hai. maian ab aur apani atma ko dhokha nahian de sakata. yah ijjat ka saval hai, aur ijjat kisi tarah ka samajhauta (compromise) nahian kar sakati.

   tumhara-‘vishambhar’

khat padhaqar anand ke ji mean aya, ki vishambhar ko samajhakar lauta laye; par usaki himaqat par gussa aya aur usi taish mean vah roopamani ke pas ja pahuancha. agar roopamani usaki khushamad karake kahati-jakar use lauta lao, to shayad vah chala jata, par usaka yah kahana ki maian use rok leti, usake lie asahy tha. usake javab mean rosh tha, rukhaee thi aur shayad kuchh hasad bhi tha.

roopamani ne garv se usaki or dekha aur boli-achchhi bat hai, maian jati hooan.

ek kshan ke bad usane darate-darate poochha-tum kyoan nahian chalate?

phir vahi galati. agar roopamani usaki khushamad karake kahati to anand zaroor usake sath chala jata, par usake prashn mean pahale hi yah bhav chhipa tha, ki anand jana nahian chahata. abhimani anand is tarah nahian ja sakata. usane udasin bhav se kaha-mera jana vyarth hai. tumhari batoan ka zyada asar hoga. meri mej par yah khat chho d gaya tha. jab vah atma aur kartavy aur adarsh ki b di-b di batean soch raha hai aur apane ko bhi koee ooanche daraje ka adami samajh raha hai, to mera us par koee asar n hoga.

usane jeb se patr nikalakar roopamani ke samane rakh diya. in shabdoan mean jo sanket aur vyangy tha, usane ek kshan tak roopamani ko usaki taraph dekhane n diya. anand ke is nirday prahar ne use ahat-sa kar diya tha; par ek hi kshan mean vidroh ki ek chinagari-si usake andar ja ghusi. usane svachchhand bhav se patr ko lekar padha. padha sirph anand ke prahar ka javab dene ke lie; par padhate-padhate usaka chehara tej se kathor ho gaya, garadan tan gayi, aankhoan mean utsarg ki lali a gayi.

usane mej par patr rakhakar kaha-nahian, ab mera jana bhi vyarth hai.

anand ne apani vijay par phoolakar kaha-maianne to tumase pahale hi kah diya, is vakt usake sir par bhoot savar hai, us par kisi ke samajhane ka asar n hoga. jab sal bhar jel mean chakki pis leange aur vahaan tapedik lekar nikaleange, ya pulis ke dandoan se sir aur hath-paanv tu dava leange, to buddhi thikane avegi. abhi to jayajayakar aur taliyoan ke svapn dekh rahe hoange.

roopamani samane akash ki or dekh rahi thi. nile akash mean ek chhayachitr-sa najar a raha tha-durbal, sookha hua nagn sharir, ghutanoan tak dhoti, chikana sir, popala muanh, tap, tyag aur saty ki sajiv moorti.

anand ne phir kaha-agar mujhe maloom ho, ki mere rakt se desh ka uddhar ho jaega, to maian aj use dene ko taiyar hooan; lekin mere jaise sau-pachas adami nikal hi aean, to kya hoga? pran dene ke siva aur to koee pratyaksh phal nahian dikhata.

roopamani ab bhi vahi chhayachitr dekh rahi thi. vahi chhaya muskara rahi thi, saral manohar muskan, jisane vishv ko jit liya hai.

anand phir bola-jin mahashayoan ko pariksha ka bhoot sataya karata hai, unhean desh ka uddhar karane ki soojhati hai. poochhie, ap apana uddhar to kar hi nahian sakate, desh ka kya uddhar kijiega? idhar phel hone se udhar ke dande phir bhi halake haian.

roopamani ki aankhean akash ki or thian. chhayachitr kathor ho gaya tha.

anand ne jaise chauankakar kaha-haan, aj b di majedar film hai. chalati ho? pahale sho mean laut aean.

roopamani ne jaise akash se niche utarakar kaha-nahian, mera ji nahian chahata.

anand ne dhire se usaka hath pakadaqar kaha-tabiyat to achchhi hai? roopamani ne hath chhu dane ki cheshta n ki. boli-haan, tabiyat mean hua kya hai?

‘to chalati kyoan nahian?’

‘aj ji nahian chahata.’

‘to phir maian bhi n jaooanga.’

‘bahut hi uttam, tikat ke rupaye kaangres ko de do.’

‘yah to tedhi shart hai; lekin manjoor!’

‘kal rasid mujhe dikha dena.’

‘tumhean mujh par itana vishvas nahian?’

anand hostal chala. jara der bad roopamani svarajy-bhavan ki or chali.

2

roopamani svarajy-bhavan pahuanchi, to svayansevakoan ka ek dal vilayati kap de ke godamoan ko piket karane ja raha tha. vishambhar dal mean n tha.

doosara dal sharab ki dookanoan par jane ko taiyar kh da tha. vishambhar isamean bhi n tha.

roopamani ne mantri ke pas akar kaha-ap bata sakate haian, vishambhar nath kahaan haian?

mantri ne poochha-vahi, jo aj bharati hue haian?

‘ji haan, vahi.’

‘b da diler adami hai. dehatoan ko taiyar karane ka kam liya hai. steshan pahuanch gaya hoga. sat baje ki ga di se ja raha hai.’

‘to abhi steshan par hoange.’

mantri ne gh di par najar dalakar javab diya-haan, abhi to shayad steshan par mil jaean.

roopamani ne bahar nikalakar saikil tej ki. steshan par pahuanchi, to dekha, vishambhar pletapharm par kh da hai.

roopamani ko dekhate hi lapakakar usake pas aya aur bola-tum yahaan kaise ayi. aj anand se tumhari mulakat huee thi?

roopamani ne use sir se paanv tak dekhakar kaha-yah tumane kya soorat bana rakhi hai? kya paanv mean joota pahanana bhi deshadroh hai?

vishambhar ne darate-darate poochha-anand baboo ne tumase kuchh kaha nahian?

roopamani ne svar ko kathor banakar kaha-ji haan, kaha. tumhean yah kya soojhi? do sal se kam ke lie n jaoge!

vishambhar ka muanh gir gaya. bola-jab yah janati ho, to kya tumhare pas meri himmat baandhane ke lie do shabd nahian haian?

roopamani ka hriday masos utha; magar bahari upeksha ko n tyag saki. boli-tum mujhe dushman samajhate ho, ya dost.

vishambhar ne aankhoan mean aansoo bharakar kaha-tum aisa prashn kyoan karati ho roopamani? isaka javab mere muanh se n sunakar bhi kya tum nahian samajh sakatian?

roopamani-to maian kahati hooan, tum mat jao.

vishambhar-yah dost ki salah nahian hai roopamani! mujhe vishvas hai, tum hriday se yah nahian kah rahi ho. mere pranoan ka kya mooly hai, jara yah socho. em0e0 hokar bhi sau rupaye ki naukari. bahut badha to tin-char sau tak jaooanga. isake badale yahaan kya milega, janati ho? sampoorn desh ka svarajy. itane mahanh hetu ke lie mar jana bhi us zindagi se kahian badhaqar hai. ab jao, ga di a rahi hai. anand baboo se kahana, mujhase naraz n hoan.

roopamani ne aj tak is mandabuddhi yuvak par daya ki thi. is samay usaki shraddha ka patr ban gaya. tyag mean hriday ko khianchane ki jo shakti hai, usane roopamani ko itane veg se khiancha ki paristhitiyoan ka antar mit-sa gaya. vishambhar mean jitane dosh the, ve sabhi alankar ban-banakar chamak uthe. usake hriday ki vishalata mean vah kisi pakshi ki bhaanti u d-udaqar ashray khojane lagi.

roopamani ne usaki or atur netroan se dekhakar kaha-mujhe bhi apane sath lete chalo.

vishambhar par jaise gh doan ka nasha chadh gaya.

‘tumako? anand baboo mujhe zinda n chho deange!’

‘maian anand ke hathoan biki nahian hooan!’

‘anand to tumhare hathoan bike hue haian?’

roopamani ne vidroh bhari aankhoan se usaki or dekha, par kuchh boli nahian. paristhitiyaan use is samay badhaoan-si maloom ho rahi thian. vah bhi vishambhar ki bhaanti svachhand kyoan n huee? sampann maan-bap ki akeli ladaqi, bhog-vilas mean pali huee, is samay apane ko kaidi samajh rahi thi. usaki atma un bandhanoan ko to d dalane ke lie zor lagane lagi.

ga di a gayi. musaphir chadhऩe-utarane lage. roopamani ne sajal netroan se kaha-tum mujhe nahian le chaloge?

vishambhar ne dridhata se kaha-nahian.

‘kyoan?’

‘maian isaka javab nahian dena chahata!’

‘kya tum samajhate ho, maian itani vilasasakt hooan ki maian dehat mean rah nahian sakati?’

vishambhar lajjit ho gaya. yah bhi ek b da karan tha, par usane inakar kiya-nahian, yah bat nahian.

‘phir kya bat hai? kya yah bhay hai, pitaji mujhe tyag deange?’

‘agar yah bhay ho to kya vah vichar karane yogy nahian?’

‘maian unaki trin barabar parava nahian karati.’

vishambhar ne dekha, roopamani ke chaand-se mukh par garvamay sankalp ka abhas tha. vah us sankalp ke samane jaise kaanp utha. bola-meri yah yachana svikar karo, roopamani, maian tumase vinati karata hooan.

roopamani sochati rahi.

vishambhar ne phir kaha-meri khatir tumhean yah vichar chhodऩa p dega.

roopamani ne sir jhukakar kaha-agar tumhara yah adesh hai, to maian manooangi vishambhar! tum dil se samajhate ho, maian kshanik avesh mean akar is samay apane bhavishy ko garat karane ja rahi hooan. maian tumhean dikha dooangi, yah mera kshanik avesh nahian hai, dridh sankalp hai. jao; magar meri itani bat manana ki qanoon ke panje mean usi vakt ana, jab atmabhiman ya siddhant par chot lagati ho. maian eeshvar se tumhare lie prarthana karati rahooangi.

ga di ne siti di. vishambhar andar ja baitha. ga di chali, roopamani mano vishv ki sampatti aanchal mean liye kh di rahi.

3

roopamani ke pas vishambhar ka ek purana raddi-sa photo almari ke ek kone mean p da hua tha. aj steshan se akar usane use nikala aur use ek makhamali phrem mean lagakar mej par rakh diya. anand ka photo vahaan se hata diya gaya.

vishambhar ne chhuttiyoan mean use do-char patr likhe the. roopamani ne unhean padhaqar ek kinare dal diye the. aj usane un patroan ko nikala aur unhean dobara padha. un patroan mean aj kitana ras tha. vah b di hiphajat se raitiang-baks mean bandakar diye gaye.

doosare din samacharapatr aya to roopamani us par toot p di. vishambhar ka nam dekhakar vah garv se phool uthi.

din mean ek bar svarajy-bhavan jana unaka niyam ho gaya. zalasoan mean bhi barabar sharik hoti, vilas ki chizean ek-ek karake sab pheank di gayian. reshami sadiy़oan ki jagah gadhe ki sadiy़aan ayian. charakha bhi aya. vah ghantoan baithi soot kata karati. usaka soot din-din barik hota jata tha. isi soot se vah vishambhar ke kurate banavaegi.

in dinoan pariksha ki taiyariyaan thian. anand ko sir uthane ki phurasat n milati. do-ek bar vah roopamani ke pas aya; par zyada der baitha nahian shayad roopamani ki shithilata ne use zyada baithane hi n diya.

ek mahina bit gaya.

ek din sham anand aya. roopamani svarajy-bhavan jane ko taiyar thi. anand ne bhavean sikodaqar kaha-tumase to ab batean bhi mushkil haian.

roopamani ne kursi par baithakar kaha-tumhean bhi to kitaboan se chhutti nahian milati. aj ki kuchh taji khabar nahian mili. svarajy-bhavan mean roj-roj ka hal maloom ho jata hai.

anand ne darshanik udasinata se kaha-vishambhar ne to suna, dehatoan mean khoob shoragul macha rakha hai. jo kam usake layaq tha, vah mil gaya. yahaan usaki jaban band rahati thi. vahaan dehatiyoan mean khoob garajata hoga; magar adami diler hai.

roopamani ne usaki or aisi aankhoan se dekha; jo kah rahi thian; tumhare lie yah charcha anadhikar cheshta hai, aur boli-adami mean agar yah gun hai to phir usake sare avagun mit jate haian. tumhean kaangres buletin padhane ki kyoan phurasat milati hogi. vishambhar ne dehatoan mean aisi jagriti phaila di hai ki vilayati ka ek soot bhi nahian bikane pata aur n nashe ki dookanoan par koee jata hai. aur maja yah hai ki piketiang karane ki zaroorat nahian p dati. ab to panchayatean khol rahe haian.

anand ne upeksha bhav se kaha-to samajh lo, ab unake chalane ke din bhi a gaye haian.

roopamani ne josh se kaha-itana karake jana bahuut sasta nahian hai. kal to kisanoan ka ek bahut b da jalasa hone vala tha. poore paragane ke log jama hue hoange. suna hai, ajakal dehatoan se koee mukadama hi nahian ata. vakiloan ki nani mari ja rahi hai.

anand ne k davepan se kaha-yahi to svarajy ka maja hai ki jamiandar, vakil aur vyapari sab marean. bas, keval mazadoor aur kisan rah jaean.

roopamani ne samajh liya, aj anand tulakar aya hai. usane bhi jaise astin chadhate hue kaha-to tum kya chahate ho ki zamiandar aur vakil aur vyapari gariboan ko choos-choosakar mote hote jaean aur jin samajik vyavasthaoan mean aisa mahanh anyay ho raha hai, unake khilaf jaban tak n kholi jae? tum to samajashastr ke pandit ho. kya kisi arth mean yah vyavastha adarsh kahi ja sakati hai? sabhyata ke tin mukhy siddhantoan ka aisi dasha mean kisi nyoonatam matra mean bhi vyavahar ho sakata hai?

anand ne garm hokar kaha-shiksha aur sampatti ka prabhutv hamesha raha hai aur hamesha rahega. haan, usaka roop bhale hi badal jae.

roopamani ne avesh se kaha-agar svarajy ane par bhi sampatti ka yahi prabhutv rahe aur padha-likha samaj yoan hi svarthandh bana rahe, to maian kahooangi, aise svarajy ka n ana hi achchha. aangreji mahajanoan ki dhanalolupata aur shikshitoan ka svahit hi aj hamean pise dal raha hai. jin buraiyoan ko door karane ke lie aj ham pranoan ko hatheli par liye hue haian, unhian buraiyoan ko kya praja isalie sir chadhaegi ki ve videshi nahian, svadeshi haian? kam-se-kam mere lie to svarajy ka yah arth nahian hai ki j aaun ki jagah govind baith jaean. maian samaj ki aisi vyavastha dekhana chahati hooan, jahaan kam-se-kam vishamata ko ashray n mil sake.

anand-yah tumhari nij ki kalpana hogi.

roopamani-tumane abhi is andolan ka sahity padha hi nahian.

anand-n padha hai, n padhऩa chahata hooan.

roopamani-isase rashtr ki koee b di hani n hogi.

anand-tum to jaise vah rahi hi nahian. bilakul kaya-palat ho gayi.

sahasa dakie ne kaangres buletin lakar mej par rakh diya. roopamani ne adhir hokar use khola. pahale shirshak par najar p date hi usaki aankhoan mean jaise nasha chha gaya. ajnat roop se gardan tan gayi aur chehara ek alaukik tej se damak utha.

usane avesh mean kh di hokar kaha-vishambhar pak d lie gaye aur do sal ki saza ho gayi.

anand ne virakt man se poochha-kis muamale mean saza huee?

roopamani ne vishambhar ke photo ko abhiman ki aankhoan se dekhakar kaha-raniganj mean kisanoan ki virath sabha thi. vahian pak da hai.

anand-maianne to pahale hi kaha tha, do sal ke lie jaeange. zindagi kharab kar dali.

roopamani ne phatakar batayi-kya digri le lene se hi adami ka jivan saphal ho jata hai? sara jnan, sara anubhav pustakoan hi mean bhara hua hai. maian samajhati hooan, sansar aur manavi charitr ka jitana anubhav vishambhar ko do saloan mean ho jaega, utana darshan aur qanoon ki pothiyoan se tumhean do sau varshoan mean bhi n hoga. agar shiksha ka uddeshy charitrabal mano, to rashtr-sangram mean manobal ke jitane sadhan haian, pet ke sangram mean kabhi ho hi nahian sakate. tum yah kah sakate ho ki hamare lie pet ki chinta hi bahut hai, hamase aur kuchh ho hi nahian sakata, hamamean n utana sahas hai, n bal hai, n dhairy hai, n sangathan, to maian man jaooangi; lekin jatihit ke lie pran dene valoan ko bevakooph banana mujhase nahian saha ja sakata. vishambhar ke ishare par aj lakhoan adami sina kholakar kh de ho jaeange. tumamean hai janata ke samane kh de hone ka hausala? jin logoan ne tumhean pairoan ke niche kuchal rakha hai, jo tumhean kuttoan se bhi niche samajhate haian, unhian ki gulami karane ke lie tum digriyoan par jan de rahe ho. tum ise apane lie gaurav ki bat samajho, maian nahian samajhati.

anand tilamila utha. bola-tum to pakki krantikarini ho gayian is vakt.

roopamani ne usi avesh mean kaha-agar sachchi-khari batoan mean tumhean kranti ki gandh mile, to mera dosh nahian.

‘aj vishambhar ko badhaee dene ke lie jalasa zaroor hoga. kya tum usamean jaogi?’

roopamani ne ugrabhav se kaha-zaroor jaooangi, bolooangi bhi, aur kal raniganj bhi chali jaooangi. vishambhar ne jo dipak jalaya hai, vah mere jite-ji bujhane n paega.

anand ne doobate hue adami ki tarah tinake ka sahara liya-apani ammaan aur dada se poochh liya hai?

‘poochh looangi!’

aur vah tumhean anumati bhi de deange?’

siddhant ke vishay mean apani atma ka adesh sarvopari hota hai.’

‘achchha, yah nayi bat maloom huee.’

yah kahata hua anand uth kh da hua aur bina hath milaye kamare ke bahar nikal gaya. usake pair is tarah ladakh da rahe the, ki ab gira, ab gira.

sanbandhit lekh

ahuti- premachand