The Notary !

By Manuwant Choudhary

One of the best legal invention is a Notary.

For a fee and an affirmation of oath an affidavit is made signed by a magistrate and it solves a host of problems.

But not anymore...Modi has created his own network of private sector bureaucrats issuing new forms every day.

Yet the Notary is a respectable man ....he sits generally out in the open even in the winter chill with just a desk and a chair.

The one I go to in Patna is an expert...at his job for decades...but even when you enter the collectorate you have dozens of lawyers shouting if you want an affidavit.

They can recognize their clients from a distance and not necessarily by their clothes.

On a winter morning I sat with one having a cup of tea. The notary is a big man now..he has an assistant...a girl...

As I sat I notice a Muslim gentleman approach him...and they spoke at length...he had some documents ...a constitution...of a new political party he wanted to set up...some Lok Samata Jan Kalyan Party !

All the right words.

I happened to browse over the document and it spoke of Gandhi, Nehru, Jai Prakash Narayan, Lohia, Karpoori....

The Notary told him he would even agree to go to New Delhi to meet the Chief Election Commissioner to get the Party registered...

But I noticed while the gentleman was dead serious about his party..his mind wandered...

He asked the Notary, "Kya aap Swarg Jaane Ka affidavit bana sakte hain?" (Can you make an affidavit to go to heaven too?)

Before the Notary could reply his assistant chipped in..."Lekin Sir, aap to Musalmaan hain to swarg kaise jaiyega? (You are Muslim so how can you go to Swarg?)

The Muslim, "Can't Muslims go to Swarg?"

The girl, "No".

The Muslim, "Acchaa Jannat to jaa sakte hain naa...Swarg aur jannat kya alag jagah hain?"

The Notary a wise man closed the debate, "Swarg ka bhee affidavit yahan banta hai.."

The Muslim backing off...."Jo log sochte bhee hain Swarg jaane ka..wo wahan nahin jaate hain...Sochna bhee gunah hai.." (Those who even think of going to heaven dont go there...even thinking about it is sinful..)