गुल्ली-डंडा -प्रेमचंद

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

hamare aangreji dost manean ya n manean maian to yahi kahooanga ki gulli-danda sab kheloan ka raja hai. ab bhi kabhi l dakoan ko gulli-danda khelate dekhata hooan, to ji lot-pot ho jata hai ki inake sath jakar khelane lagooan. n lan ki zaroorat, n kort ki, n net ki, n thapi ki. maje se kisi pe d se ek tahani kat li, gulli bana li, aur do adami bhi a jae, to khel shuroo ho gaya.

vilayati kheloan mean sabase b da aib hai ki usake saman mahange hote haian. jab tak kam-se-kam ek saik da n kharch kijie, khila diyoan mean shumar hi nahian ho pata. yahaan gulli-danda hai ki bana harr-phitakari ke chokha rang deta hai; par ham aangareji chijoan ke pichhe aise divane ho rahe haian ki apani sabhi chijoan se aruchi ho gee. skooloan mean harek l dake se tin-char rupaye salana keval khelane ki phis li jati hai. kisi ko yah nahian soojhata ki bharatiy khel khilaean, jo bina dam-kau di ke khele jate haian. aangareji khel unake lie haian, jinake pas dhan hai. garib l dakoan ke sir kyoan yah vyasan madhate ho? thik hai, gulli se aankh phoot jane ka bhay rahata hai, to kya kriket se sir phoot jane, tilli phat jane, taang toot jane ka bhay nahian rahata! agar hamare mathe mean gulli ka dag aj tak bana hua hai, to hamare kee dost aise bhi haian, jo thapi ko baisakhi se badal baithe. yah apani-apani ruchi hai. mujhe gulli hi sab kheloan se achchhi lagati hai aur bachapan ki mithi smritiyoan mean gulli hi sabase mithi hai.

vah prat:kal ghar se nikal jana, vah pe d par chadhakar tahaniyaan katana aur gulli-dande banana, vah utsah, vah khila diyoan ke jamaghate, vah padana aur padana, vah l daee-jhag de, vah saral svabhav, jisase chhooth-achhoot, amir-garib ka bilkul bhed n rahata tha, jisamean amirana chochaloan ki, pradarshan ki, abhiman ki guanjaish hi n thi, yah usi vakt bhoolega jab .... jab .... gharavale big d rahe haian, pitaji chauke par baithe veg se rotiyoan par apana krodh utar rahe haian, ammaan ki dau d keval dvar tak hai, lekin unaki vichar-dhara mean mera aandhakaramay bhavishy tooti huee nauka ki tarah dagamaga raha hai; aur maian hooan ki padane mean mast hooan, n nahane ki sudhi hai, n khane ki. gulli hai to jara-si, par usamean duniya-bhar ki mithaiyoan ki mithas aur tamashoan ka anand bhara hua hai.

mere hamajoliyoan mean ek l daka gaya nam ka tha. mujhase do-tin sal b da hoga. dubala, bandaroan ki-si lambi-lambi, patali-patali uangaliyaan, bandaroan ki-si chapalata, vahi jhallahat. gulli kaisi hi ho, par is tarah lapakata tha, jaise chhipakali ki doan par lapakati hai. maloom nahian, usake maan-bap the ya nahian, kahaan rahata tha, kya khata tha; par tha hamare gulli-klab ka chaimpiyan. jisaki taraph vah a jae, usaki jit nishchit thi. ham sab use door se ate dekh, usaka dau dakar svagat karate the aur apana goiyaan bana lete the.

ek din maian aur gaya do hi khel rahe the. vah pada raha tha. maian pad raha tha, magar kuchh vichitr bat hai ki padane mean ham din-bhar mast rah sakate hai; padana ek minat ka bhi akharata hai. maianne gala chhu dane ke lie sab chalean chalian, jo aise avasar par shastr-vihit n hone par bhi kshamy haian, lekin gaya apana daanv lie bagair mera piand n chho data tha.

maian ghar ki or bhaga. anunay-vinay ka koee asar n hua tha.

gaya ne mujhe dau dakar pak d liya aur danda tanakar bola-mera daanv dekar jao. padaya to b de bahadur banake, padane ke ber kyoan bhage jate ho.

‘tum din-bhar padao to maian din-bhar padata rahooan?’

‘haan, tumhean din-bhar padana p dega.‘

‘n khane jaooan, n pine jaooan?’

‘haan! mera daanv diye bina kahian nahian ja sakate.‘

‘maian tumhara gulam hooan?’

‘haan, mere gulam ho.’

‘maian ghar jata hooan, dekhooan mera kya kar lete ho!’

‘ghar kaise jaoge; koee dillagi hai. daanv diya hai, daanv leange.‘

‘achchha, kal maianne amarood khilaya tha. vah lauta do.

‘vah to pet mean chala gaya.‘

‘nikalo pet se. tumane kyoan khaya mera amarood?’

‘amarood tumane diya, tab maianne khaya. maian tumase maangane n gaya tha.‘

‘jab tak mera amarood n doge, maian daanv n dooanga.‘

maian samajhata tha, nyay meri or hai. akhir maianne kisi svarth se hi use amarood khilaya hoga. kaun ni:svarth kisi ke sath salook karata hai. bhiksha tak to svarth ke lie dete haian. jab gaya ne amarood khaya, to phir use mujhase daanv lene ka kya adhikar hai? rishvat dekar to log khoon pacha jate haian, yah mera amarood yoan hi hajam kar jaega? amarood paise ke paanchavale the, jo gaya ke bap ko bhi nasib n hoange. yah sarasar anyay tha.

gaya ne mujhe apani or khianchate hue kaha-mera daanv dekar jao, amarood-samarood maian nahian janata.

mujhe nyay ka bal tha. vah anyay par data hua tha. maian hath chhu dakar bhagana chahata tha. vah mujhe jane n deta! maianne use gali di, usane usase k di gali di, aur gali-hi nahian, ek chaanta jama diya. maianne use daant kat liya. usane meri pith par danda jama diya. maian rone laga! gaya mere is astr ka mukabala n kar saka. maianne turant aansoo poanchh dale, dande ki chot bhool gaya aur hansata hua ghar ja pahuancha! maian thanedar ka l daka ek nich jat ke lauande ke hathoan pit gaya, yah mujhe us samay bhi apamanajanak maloom ha; lekin ghar mean kisi se shikayat n ki.

2

unhian dinoan pitaji ka vahaan se tabadala ho gaya. nee duniya dekhane ki khushi mean aisa phoola ki apane hamajoliyoan se bichhu d jane ka bilakul du:kh n hua. pitaji du:khi the. vah b di amadani ki jagah thi. ammaanji bhi du:khi thian yahaan sab chiz sasti thian, aur muhalle ki striyoan se gharav-sa ho gaya tha, lekin maian sare khushi ke phoola n samata tha. l dakoan mean jit u da raha tha, vahaan aise ghar tho de hi hote haian. aise-aise ooanche ghar haian ki asaman se batean karate haian. vahaan ke aangareji skool mean koee mastar l dakoan ko pite, to use jehal ho jae. mere mitroan ki phaili huee aankhean aur chakit mudra batala rahi thi ki mujhase unaki nigah mean kitani spardgha ho rahi thi! mano kah rahe the-too bhagavan ho bhaee, jao. hamean to isi ooj d gram mean jina bhi hai aur marana bhi.

bis sal gujar ge. maianne ianjiniyari pas ki aur usi zile ka daura karata hua usi kasbe mean pahuancha aur dakabangale mean thahara. us sthan ko dekhate hi itani madhur bal-smritiyaan hriday mean jag uthian ki maianne chh di uthaee aur kasbe ki sair karane nikala. aankhean kisi pyase pathik ki bhaanti bachapan ke un kri da-sthaloan ko dekhane ke lie vyakul ho rahi thian; par us parichit nam ke siva vahaan aur kuchh parichit n tha. jahaan khandahar tha, vahaan pakke makan kh de the. jahaan baragad ka purana pe d tha, vahaan ab ek sundar bagicha tha. sthan ki kaya palat ho gee thi. agar usake nam aur sthiti ka jnan n hota, to maian use pahachan bhi n sakata. bachapan ki sanchit aur amar smritiyaan baanhean khole apane un purane mitroan se gale milane ko adhir ho rahi thian; magar vah duniya badal gee thi. aisa ji hota tha ki us dharati se lipatakar roooan aur kahooan, tum mujhe bhool gee! maian to ab bhi tumhara vahi roop dekhana chahata hooan.

sahasa ek khuli jagah mean maianne do-tin l dakoan ko gulli-danda khelate dekha. ek kshan ke lie maian apane ko bilkul bhool gaya. bhool gaya ki maian ek ooancha aphasar hooan, sahabi thath mean, raub aur adhikar ke avaran mean.

jakar ek l dake se poochha-kyoan bete, yahaan koee gaya nam ka adami rahata hai?

ek l dake ne gulli-danda sametakar sahame hue svar mean kaha-kaun gaya? gaya chamar?

maianne yoan hi kaha-haan-haan vahi. gaya nam ka koee adami hai to? shayad vahi ho.

‘haan, hai to.‘

‘jara use bula sakate ho?’

l daka dau data hua gaya aur ek kshan mean ek paanch hath ke kale dev ko sath lie ata dikhaee diya. maian door se hi pahachan gaya. usaki or lapakana chahata tha ki usake gale lipat jaooan, par kuchh sochakar rah gaya. bola-kaho gaya, mujhe pahachanate ho?

gaya ne jhukakar salam kiya-haan malik, bhala pahachanooanga kyoan nahian! ap maje mean ho?

‘bahut maje mean. tum apani kaho.‘

‘dipti sahab ka saees hooan.‘

‘matee, mohan, durga sab kahaan haian? kuchh khabar hai?

‘matee to mar gaya, durga aur mohan donoan dakiya ho ge haian. ap?’

‘maian to zile ka ianjiniyar hooan.‘

‘sarakar to pahale hi b de jahin the?

‘ab kabhi gulli-danda khelate ho?’

gaya ne meri or prashn-bhari aauankhoan se dekha-ab gulli-danda kya khelooanga sarakar, ab to dhandhe se chhutti nahian milati.

‘ao, aj ham-tum khelean. tum padana, ham padeange. tumhara ek daanv hamare oopar hai. vah aj le lo.‘

gaya b di mushkil se raji hua. vah thahara take ka mazadoor, maian ek b da aphasar. hamara aur usaka kya jo d? bechara jheanp raha tha. lekin mujhe bhi kuchh kam jheanp n thi; isalie nahian ki maian gaya ke sath khelane ja raha tha, balki isalie ki log is khel ko ajooba samajhakar isaka tamasha bana leange aur achchhi-khasi bhi d lag jaegi. us bhi d mean vah anand kahaan rahega, par khele bagair to raha nahian jata. akhir nishchay hua ki donoan jane basti se bahut door kheleange aur bachapan ki us mithaee ko khoob ras le-lekar khaऍange. maian gaya ko lekar dakabangale par aya aur motar mean baithakar donoan maidan ki or chale. sath mean ek kulha di le li. maian ganbhir bhav dharan kie hue tha, lekin gaya ise abhi tak majak hi samajh raha tha. phir bhi usake mukh par utsukata ya anand ka koee chihn n tha. shayad vah ham donoan mean jo aantar ho gaya tha, yahi sochane mean magan tha.

maianne poochha-tumhean kabhi hamari yad ati thi gaya? sach kahana.

gaya jheanpata hua bola-maian apako yad karata hajoor, kis layaq hooan. bhag mean apake sath kuchh din khelana bada tha; nahian meri kya ginati?

maianne kuchh udas hokar kaha-lekin mujhe to barabar, tumhari yad ati thi. tumhara vah danda, jo tumane tanakar jamaya tha, yad hai n?

gaya ne pachhatate hue kaha-vah l dakapan tha sarakar, usaki yad n dilao.

‘vah! vah mere bal-jivan ki sabase rasili yad hai. tumhare us dande mean jo ras tha, vah to ab n adar-samman mean pata hooan, n dhan mean.‘

itani der mean ham basti se koee tin mil nikal aye. charoan taraph sannata hai. pashchim or kosoan tak bhimatal phaila hua hai, jahaan akar ham kisi samay kamal pushp to d le jate the aur usake jhoomak banakar kanoan mean dal lete the. jeth ki sandhya kesar mean doobi chali a rahi hai. maian lapakakar ek pe d par chadh gaya aur ek tahani kat laya. chatapat gulli-danda ban gaya.

khel shuroo ho gaya. maianne guchchi mean gulli rakhakar uchhali. gulli gaya ke samane se nikal gee. usane hath lapakaya, jaise machhali pak d raha ho. gulli usake pichhe jakar giri. yah vahi gaya hai, jisake hathoan mean gulli jaise ap hi akar baith jati thi. vah dahine-baean kahian ho, gulli usaki hatheli mean hi pahuanchati thi. jaise gulliyoan par vashikaran dal deta ho. nayi gulli, purani gulli, chhoti gulli, b di gulli, nokadar gulli, sapat gulli sabhi usase mil jati thi. jaise usake hathoan mean koee chumbak ho, gulliyoan ko khianch leta ho; lekin aj gulli ko usase vah prem nahian raha. phir to maianne padana shuroo kiya. maian tarah-tarah ki dhaandhaliyaan kar raha tha. abhyas ki kasar beeemani se poori kar raha tha. huch jane par bhi danda khele jata tha. halaanki shastr ke anusar gaya ki bari ani chahie thi. gulli par ochhi chot p dati aur vah jara door par gir p dati, to maian jhapatakar use khud utha leta aur dobara taan d lagata. gaya yah sari be-kayadagiyaan dekh raha tha; par kuchh n bolata tha, jaise use vah sab kayade-kanoon bhool ge. usaka nishana kitana achook tha. gulli usake hath se nikalakar tan se dande se akar lagati thi. usake hath se chhootakar usaka kam tha dande se takara jana, lekin aj vah gulli dande mean lagati hi nahian! kabhi dahine jati hai, kabhi baean, kabhi age, kabhi pichhe.

adh ghante padane ke bad ek gulli dande mean a lagi. maianne dhaandhali ki-gulli dande mean nahian lagi. bilkul pas se gee; lekin lagi nahian.

gaya ne kisi prakar ka asantosh prakat nahian kiya.

‘n lagi hogi.‘

‘dande mean lagati to kya maian beeemani karata?’

‘nahian bhaiya, tum bhala beeemani karoge?’

bachapan mean majal tha ki maian aisa ghapala karake jita bachata! yahi gaya gardan par chadh baithata, lekin aj maian use kitani asani se dhokha die chala jata tha. gadha hai! sari batean bhool gaya.

sahasa gulli phir dande se lagi aur itani zor se lagi, jaise bandook chhooti ho. is praman ke samane ab kisi tarah ki dhaandhali karane ka sahas mujhe is vakt bhi n ho saka, lekin kyoan n ek bar sabako jhooth batane ki cheshta karooan? mera haraj ki kya hai. man gaya to vah-vah, nahian do-char hath padana hi to p dega. aandhera ka bahana karake jaldi se chhu da looanga. phir kaun daanv dene ata hai.

gaya ne vijay ke ullas mean kaha-lag gee, lag gee. tan se boli.

maianne anajan banane ki cheshta karake kaha-tumane lagate dekha? maianne to nahian dekha.

‘tan se boli hai sarakar!’

‘aur jo kisi eeant se takara gee ho?

mere mukh se yah vaky us samay kaise nikala, isaka mujhe khud ashchary hai. is saty ko jhuthalana vaisa hi tha, jaise din ko rat batana. ham donoan ne gulli ko dande mean zor se lagate dekha tha; lekin gaya ne mera kathan svikar kar liya.

‘haan, kisi eeant mean hi lagi hogi. dande mean lagati to itani avaz n ati.‘

maianne phir padana shuroo kar diya; lekin itani pratyaksh dhaandhali kar lene ke bad gaya ki saralata par mujhe daya ane lagi; isilie jab tisari bar gulli dande mean lagi, to maianne b di udarata se daanv dena tay kar liya.

gaya ne kaha-ab to aandhera ho gaya hai bhaiya, kal par rakho.

maianne socha, kal bahut-sa samay hoga, yah n jane kitani der padae, isalie isi vakt muamala saf kar lena achchha hoga.

‘nahian, nahian. abhi bahut ujala hai. tum apana daanv le lo.‘

‘gulli soojhegi nahian.‘

‘kuchh paravah nahian.‘

gaya ne padana shuroo kiya; par use ab bilakul abhyas n tha. usane do bar taand lagane ka irada kiya; par donoan hi bar huch gaya. ek minit se kam mean vah daanv kho baitha. maianne apani hriday ki vishalata ka parichay diya.

‘ek daanv aur khel lo. tum to pahale hi hath mean huch ge.‘

‘nahian bhaiya, ab aandhera ho gaya.‘

‘tumhara abhyas chhoot gaya. kabhi khelate nahian?’

‘khelane ka samay kahaan milata hai bhaiya!’

ham donoan motar par ja baithe aur chirag jalate-jalate p dav par pahuanch ge. gaya chalate-chalate bola-kal yahaan gulli-danda hoga. sabhi purane khila di kheleange. tum bhi aoge? jab tumhean phurasat ho, tabhi khila diyoan ko bulaooan.

maianne sham ka samay diya aur doosare din maich dekhane gaya. koee das-das adamiyoan ki mandali thi. kee mere l dakapan ke sathi nikale! adhikaansh yuvak the, jinhean maian pahachan n saka. khel shuroo hua. maian motar par baitha-baitha tamasha dekhane laga. aj gaya ka khel, usaka naipuny dekhakar maian chakit ho gaya. taan d lagata, to gulli asaman se batean karati. kal ki-si vah jhijhak, vah hichakichahat, vah bedili aj n thi. l dakapan mean jo bat thi, aj usane praudhata prapt kar li thi. kahian kal isane mujhe is tarah padaya hota, to maian zaroor rone lagata. usake dande ki chot khakar gulli do sau gaj ki khabar lati thi.

padane valoan mean ek yuvak ne kuchh dhaandhali ki. usane apane vichar mean gulli lapak li thi. gaya ka kahana tha-gulli zamin me lagakar uchhali thi. is par donoan mean tal thokane ki naubat aee hai. yuvak dab gaya. gaya ka tamatamaya hua chehara dekhakar dar gaya. agar vah dab n jata, to zaroor mar-pit ho jati.

maian khel mean n tha; par doosaroan ke is khel mean mujhe vahi l dakapan ka anand a raha tha, jab ham sab kuchh bhoolakar khel mean mast ho jate the. ab mujhe maloom hua ki kal gaya ne mere sath khela nahian, keval khelane ka bahana kiya. usane mujhe daya ka patr samajha. maianne dhaandhali ki, beeemani ki, par use jara bhi krodh n aya. isalie ki vah khel n raha tha, mujhe khela raha tha, mera man rakh raha tha. vah mujhe padakar mera kachoomar nahian nikalana chahata tha. maian ab aphasar hooan. yah aphasari mere aur usake bich mean divar ban gee hai. maian ab usaka lihaz pa sakata hooan, adab pa sakata hooan, sahachary nahian pa sakata. l dakapan tha, tab maian usaka samakaksh tha. yah pad pakar ab maian keval usaki daya yogy hooan. vah mujhe apana jo d nahian samajhata. vah b da ho gaya hai, maian chhota ho gaya hooan.