Hardik Bhadai

Of all the cities I have been to, Bikaner has a different rhythm. Though it has a history of more than 500 years, still it is as innocent and callow as a teenager. People, customs, trends, concepts everything here has a honesty, simplicity and tenderness.

"Hardik Bhadai" column in daily newspapers here is not a very old concept and believe me no other city has as good number of "hardik bhadai" ads as local newspapers of Bikaner have. And it's very obvious, how one can overcome the overwhelming temptation of having his photograph on page no.3 of such popular newspapers. Reasons for "hardik bhadai"-oh! that is not a big issue - 'You have won an election in your office union comprising of 13 people', 'your son has bagged 2nd position in class in viii std, 'you have won the coveted title "miss mohto ka chowk", or you claimed the consolation prize in Rangoli comptetion of your society, anything will do.

See the height- One day my good friend Amit Saxena popularly known as  'Tikadi' in Dungar College rushed to me with his first-year result in his hands. Looking very disappointed he said- "are yaar soucha tha agar is baar first year mein nikal gaya to patrika mein "hardik bhadai" nikal doonga." With apprehensive looks I asked-"to phir kya hua?". With a deep  breath he said-"Yaar! optional papaer to nikal gaye par Hindi-English ke compusory rook gaye". Looking distantly for a minute I said "par hardik bhadai ad to abhi bhi nikal sakta hai".With a look of disbeief and hope he asked "woh kaise?". I replied calmly "Kaise kya, chapwa do ki Dungar college ke chatra Amit Saxena ko tritiya (third) prayas mein first year ke sabhi compulsory paper pass karne par hardik bhadai."