Uhile nai euta Hum Jayega bhanney manchey thiyo harey.....

'Uhile nai euta Hum Jayega bhanney manchey thiyo harey.....'

[Once upon a time, there was a man called Hum Jayega......]

As soon as I used to hear this sentence, I would smile as I knew something funny would happen in the story. I dont know kids this days feel the same or not, as they are too much moved by the Golmaal kinda act!! :)

So, who actually was 'Hum Jayega'? Was he just a fictional character or a real life funny man? Most of the people are ignorant regarding these questions. Lets have a look at his biography:

'Hum Jayega', is a popular name among the youths of Nepal, Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Sikkim, Assam and Manipur. Literally, 'Hum Jayega' means ' I will go' in hindi. 'Hum Jayega' is a character widely used in the jokes and humorous pieces in the above mentioned areas.

'Hum Jayega', the name is so popular that every person has heard at least one joke\piece of him. Regaling friends with jokes and stories of 'Hum Jayega' has been a favourite pastime for decades.

Although, Hum Jayega is thought as the fictional character by most, he is in fact the person named Dal Bahadur Gurung who was born in the Chungthung tea garden of Darjeeling, a state of India on 1921 AD. His ancestors were from the place called Makluwa of Panchthar district of Nepal. Hum Jayega's great grandfather Dhaujbeer Gurung migrated along with his family in 1814 A.D. from his native land and settled in Darjeeling. 'Hum Jayega' was the son of Man Bahadur Gurung.

Hum Jayega was from a poor family. Due to this, he wasn't able to continue his studies further from third grade. Frustrated from being unable to continue his studies, Hum Jayega then ran away to Calcutta. It was 1936 A.D. and Hum Jayega was just 15 yrs. old. He had to face various troubles and hurdles in his journey. Lost in the crowds and alleys of Calcutta, Hum Jayega was rescued by a saint named Prabuddhanda who took Hum Jayega to the place called Bhawanipur and consigned Hum Jayega to his uncle's care.

It was the time of second world war and every unemployed was seeking their career as a British Soldier. Camps had been setup for recruiting the soldiers. Hum Jayega also reached one of the camp seeking job opportunity but was rejected because he could not reply in English to the British officials. Hum Jayega was frustrated and bereft of hope but then with the help of British, he admitted himself in the Baligunj Engineering College and studied there for a year. Then, he was recruited in the army.

Some people say that it was in the army where Hum Jayega learned to drive whereas some argue that he was close to a professor of his college who was very much fond of his jokes and taught him driving.

In 1948, at the age of 27, Hum Jayega returned to Darjeeling. He couldn't find any alternative employment opportunity. So, Hum Jayega became a cab driver at the club side Motor stand.

One day, an English couple wanted to go to tiger Hill, which was then known for its difficult topography. Since the roads to Tiger Hill were under construction, the journey to Tiger Hill was risky and hazardous. And due to this, no cab driver was ready to take the English couple to the Tiger Hill. Hum Jayega, being a new driver didn't know about the risk of the journey. So, he impulsively said, "Hum Jayega" ("I will go"). It is said that he got the nick name from here on.

Hum Jayega's friends believed that Hum Jayega wouldn't return alive from Tiger Hill but to their dismay, Hum Jayega not only returned safe but also became the first man ever to take a vehicle to the summit of Tiger Hill. Because of these deeds Hum Jayega gained popularity. His jokes (some told by himself and some with his name) added to his popularity.

From 1984 Hum Jayega started acting in humorous plays, satires and farces. By the help of these, he criticized the negative aspect and events of the society in a humorous way. He was a master at his act. Yet, he has published nothing except his jokes collections.

Father of seven daughters and three sons, Hum Jayega or Dal Bahadur Gurung had a vice, i.e. he drank excessively. He was aware of it but was unable to improve himself. He has satired his drinking habit in the poem below:

आज पनि मैले एक पेग रम खाँए र मन तातो छ

सेतो छ कपाल, चाउरे छ गाला, नाक मेरो रातो छ

यो मैलो कोट छ, फाटेको नोट छ, कसैले लिँदैन्

अब त मलाई सबैले चिने उधारो दिदैन् ।------हम् जायेगा

(Today also I drank a glass of Rum and my heart is warm

My hair is white, cheeks wrinkled and my nose is red

I had this dirty coat and a torn note, no one accepts

Now, Everyone knows me so nobody gives me anything in credit.)

Hum Jayega lost all his wealth due to his drinking habit. So, the family was compelled to live in poverty. But the misery was never able to estrange Hum Jayega from laughing and making others laugh. Hum Jayega, who become legend like in just about 6 years, passed away on the April of 1992.

- Amir Bhandari, Soreng