We were driving downhill after a short and beautiful holiday at Sikkim. Early monsoon rains made the weather cool. The fragrance of the hills after a shower was very sweet and intoxicating.We were enjoying the view of the river Teesta as it flows down with full swing. We were driving down with the beautiful river by our side. We had to stop at a few places during our journey because of landslides due to heavy rains during the night. After sometime when we were hungry, we requested Vinod Gurung, our driver to stop near some eateries so that we can have our lunch. Vinod Uncle was an excellent driver and had the right attitude to promote tourism in the region, always smiling and telling us stories about the various tourist spots around. We felt that we need to come again to see the spots we missed and Vinod Uncle was more than willing to take us to those places once again.
Vinod Uncle said he would stop at a place called Kirney where we can have a sumptuous chicken meal. Vinod said that he used to stop here whenever he was on his way up or down to Sikkim to have his meal. He seemed to be very emotionally attached to the place. He poured out all his praise for this place. We too became very inquisitive about the place. We were eager to reach Kirney and felt more hungry than before.
We finally reached Kirney, it was not much different from any other stopover for meals place. But we found a number of vehicles stopping there. It was small stretch at one of the turns. All restaurants were on the one side and the parking was on the other side of the road. We stopped at the last shop from where the road turns downhill once again. We saw a lady sitting at the counter giving orders to her staff, calling the customers. She was loud but caring As we came nearby she ushered us in and in her warm voice asked us to wash our hands showing us the way to the top. After washing our hands, we could not find an empty table. The lady ensured that we would get the chair as soon as one was empty. It was an ordinary roadside eatery so we were not confident as to what kind of food we will get. A female waiter took the order from us and served us almost instantly. Thee food was served on copper plates. We finished our meal very fast and it was just delicious. My father paid for the meals and was talking to the lady at the counter. He thanked her for the tasty meal and the hospitality.
During the conversations with my father I found that she was not just an ordinary person but an extremely brave lady. She was an excellent entrepreneur and a real life example of a winner of good over evil.
Ten years ago not a single vehicle used to stop at Kirney. The reason: this place was infested by notorious criminals and a den for drug pedlars. Drugs were in free flow. The place was known for all the wrong reasons. Drivers were afraid to stop at this place.
But then what happened to bring about this revolution? Were the people of this place fed up of the negativity? Yes they were, but were clueless of how to get rid of the negativity. It requires a lot of Courage to bring about a change. A lot more courage is required to risk one's own life.
One day the wife of a truck driver came with a request to her husband to open a hotel to cater to her husband's friends. The truck driver apart from helping his wife requested his friends to have their meal at his wife's hotel. One friend came in to have his meal. He liked the meal and the hospitality.
He told his friends about the new hotel. From word of mouth the story of the delicacies of the hotel started spreading. From one or two vehicles the number started increasing. The new hotel started making profits. Inspired by the success of this new hotel, a few more hotels started in the place. They also started working hard to match with the food quality of their inspiration. The place became a hustle bustle of good people.
But not everything was rosy; drug business was not going well. The criminals attacked the house of the lady one night with swords. However she shouted at the top of the voice at the goons from behind the doors instead of just giving up. The neighbourhood heard her shouts and then quite a number a people came out with whatever weapon they had with them.The mere sound of the few doors opening made the goons run for their life.
From that day onwards nobody heard of the goons and their crimes in the place. The social revolution led to a realisation among the residents that to be positively jealous can lead to a clean and progressive society.
So next time when you are on your way up to Sikkim| or down to Siliguri apart from the fresh air of the hills do not miss the chicken meal of Kirney. The smiling brave lady will be there waiting at the counter| to welcome you.