Smallest ICICI bank branch at the feet of Lord Bahubali

Recently, I came across one of the smallest branches of ICICI bank in the Kolhapur district of India. We visited Kolhapur recently in February. Near Kolhapur city, there is a small town called Hatkanangale. Hatkanangale comes under the sugarcane production belt of western Maharashtra. There are many sugar factories around. Famous Marathi writer and critic Mr. M. D. Hatkanangalekar belongs to this place.

Hatkanangale is also known for Jain natives and their monuments. Jainism is quite prevalent in the area. We saw a huge Parshwanath temple being built in the town. But the biggest monument in the town is the grand statue of Lord Bahubali. One can see him standing tall and looking at surroundings from such a towering height. Bahubali, who is also known as Gomateshwara, was the second son of Lord Rishabha, the first Jain Tirthankara.

When looking at such a towering statue of Lord Bahubali, I asked myself – “Why the statue is so tall? And then why the statue is being placed at such an enormous height?” While thinking about it further, I got my answer. It is so much difficult, if not impossible for an ordinary man to attain the virtues what Bahubali has achieved in his lifetime. He had won everything from his brother, his kingdom, money, armed forces, literally everything. He could have become emperor and ruled the large part of the country. But he did not do that. In fact, as he realized the “mithya” behind these worldly possessions, he put aside all of them to become a solitary renunciant.

His towering appearance and heighted location only demonstrates his real position which is all above the worldly pleasures. He not only exemplifies the strength of the man’s body (as per the literal meaning of the name – Bahubali – Immense Strength of arms) but also exemplifies the true strength of mind, the inner strength which is much more important and precious than the outer one. While looking at his calm and composed face, I start treating him as an ideal man who has conquered deadly vices such as jealousy, selfishness, pride, and anger. And while he has achieved such a towering place, the expressions on the face and the overall appearance still remains totally modest for all the capabilities that he possesses.

In front of this monument, there is a huge school campus being run by some Jain charitable trust. I saw lots of small school going kids playing cricket in their recess time. I spoke to a couple of them. All of these children are from poor farmer families; most of them Marathi. For these children, the school’s campus is their world. They would be spending about 10 important years of their life in this school. They stay here, play here, learn here, fight here and even plan for their future in their formative years in this school. Do these children think of their life back home? Do they remember their parents, siblings, friends back home? Do they feel nostalgic at times? These questions remained unanswered. From their faces, the children looked reasonably happy. Being a day scholar, these questions never appeared in my mind when I was a school-goer. I remembered myself becoming nostalgic when I went for a mere 5 day school picnic at Hyderabad. Really, the circumstances make humans adaptable.

We had tea in one of the small restaurants over there. Strangely, I saw small kids serving tea to the customers. I wondered why these kids are working over here when it was the time to go to school and learn. I asked the boy who served tea to us whether he goes to school or not. The answer as expected was a sheepish NO. I told the hotel manager about it but he gave me such a look as if I have asked him to undergo any sin. What will happen to these children once they grow up? Will they continue to serve tea or do some such lowly paid work? Or would they get into some criminal activity due to lack of decent living? As always, the questions remained in my mind.

While walking back, I saw a small branch (maybe perhaps the smallest branch) of ICICI bank named ironically, the Bahubali branch. The branch is located in one small garage like gala. Including security, there were a total of 5 employees. Strange enough, the branch was displaying the same advertise it displays now a days in any of its Mumbai branches – “Open a fixed deposit for 5 years of more than 50000 and get a watch signed by M S Dhoni as gift.” This was surprising. How come they advertise exactly similar for both urban and rural markets? Who would have the capacity and the will to invest 50000 in such remote area that too in such a small branch?

This was a strange day. I saw so many anomalies in the existence at the feet of the perfection personified, Lord Bahubali. These anomalies might look abnormal but in India, their whole existence is absolutely normal as they exist everywhere in every nook and corner. I looked again at Lord Bahubali to find answers. He had a calm and smiling face as if he was telling me - ‘My dear son, it is YOU and only YOU who should, can and must find answers to these anomalies. You can’t always be a third person to only watch and comment on the things. You must be right there in the system to change it in any positive way.’ Anyway, I didn’t do any such thing. I only bowed in front of Him and left the place.


Next: Musings on Krishna river and its surroundings