N.B. Nair
Ramji Nishad is yet another boatman ferrying visitors for a ride in the Sarayu River in Ayodhya at Gupt Hari Ghat. There are dozens of such boatmen operating at the ghat, but what makes Ramji different is his initiative to save anyone who falls into the river or drowns when they take a bath.
Ramji has been living on his traditional occupation for the past 18 years and he must have saved the lives of at least 50. But in almost 250 cases, luck was not in favour of those who drowned in the river and were taken out by him.
“The latest incident was when a few people got into the Sarayu River for a bath, but one of them drowned. I was coming on the boat with visitors when I saw a commotion. I dived into the river and got hold of the person, but by the time I brought him up, he was dead,” Ramji recalled the last incident of drowning when he tried to save a life.
In yet another incident almost a year ago, a 12-year-old boy accidentally slipped into an open well, while chasing a kite near the ghat. The police and fire force was called in, but none jumped into the well to save the child. The firemen just lowered a rope with a hook but failed to recover the boy.
It was then, someone in the gathered crowd suggested calling Ramji Nishad. The police called him. “I jumped into the well, dived down, and got hold of the boy by his jeans. But unfortunately, by the time I brought him up, he was dead.”
A resident of Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh, Ramji’s family has his wife and four children – two daughters and two sons. His children have all studied well, except one, who left his college mid-way and now runs a small provision store. But neither of his sons wants to join his profession of the boatman. Nishad also does not want them to join the family profession of boatman or Nishad in the local language.
“There is no regular income in this profession. On a day from four to eight trips at the most, I earn around Rs. 350/- per trip, which has to take care of fuel and maintenance of the boat,” he said.
Ramji lamented that he has not been given any monetary reward by the administration, except a certificate of commendation. Even those who have been saved from drowning or their family just say ‘thank you’ and disappear, never to remember him.
Gupt Hari Ghat on the Sarayu River is believed to be the place, from where Lord Ram took Jal Samadhi, or water burial along with his brothers and all the citizens of Ayodhya ending his mortal life to reach his supreme abode, Vaikunta.
As part of the upcoming temple of Lord Ram, Gupt Hari Ghat and the riverfront along the Sarayu River up to the river bank known as Ram Ki Paidi, the venue of evening aarti or light offering performed are getting a major facelift.