At about 10 am, around the time Vinesh Phogat’s flight from Paris landed in the Capital, 10-year-old Anshaj Kumar, a resident of Balali, was tasked with guarding the temple premises that had 750 kg of desi ghee laddoos.
IT’S BEEN a long day for 10-year-old Anshaj Kumar, a resident of Balali, aka Vinesh Phogat’s village in Haryana’s Charkhi Dadri district which is a three-and-a-half hour drive away from Delhi on most days. At about 10 am, around the time Phogat’s flight from Paris landed in the Capital, he was tasked with guarding the temple premises that had 750 kg of desi ghee laddoos.
The wait for Phogat gets over past midnight, when she finally reaches the village, over 12 hours after she walked out of the Delhi airport. With every Haryana village on the way wanting to honour her, she couldn’t have driven past the men, women and children lined up on the highway.
Through the day, Anshaj sits in a corner of the stage set up for Phogat’s felicitation, maintaining a single-line school notebook that has entries of voluntary donations by the villagers for their “chhori” who missed out on a medal at the Paris Olympics. As the pile of laddoos shrink, the amount in his accounting book increases.
The list of contributors is a heartening read, an indication of how much the villagers — cutting across social strata — care for the little girl who they saw grow up to be a champion wrestler. The neatly-bunched soiled notes in Anshaj’s drawer don’t have the sparkle of gold or silver, but it is an assurance to Phogat that she is not alone.
There is Sanjay Chowkidar, the village watchman who is the tenth person on the list of contributors, with Rs 100 next to his name. Raghbir Master with Rs 500; Shalu Badal with a garland of notes worth Rs 5,100; Kunwar Bir Singh with a pagdi and sword; Natu (Vikrant Fauji) of Fauji Bhaichara group with Rs 21,000 among others.
Deep into the night, as the debate over the Phogat entourage’s GPS location continues, donors keep queuing up. And Anshaj, with a smile, lists their names, counting and re-counting the notes.
Sanjay Chowkidar is reluctant to talk but agrees when coaxed. His memories about Phogat date back to the day when she was barely five years old. “She was like my daughter,” he says, and goes on to narrate his Phogat story. “When I used to take my round at night, she would often tell me, ‘uncle, you are so brave’. See now, who turned out to be brave? She is the bravest girl in the world and the strongest too.” He chokes with emotion, but doesn’t bother to wipe his tears as he takes his seat next to the stage.