Belwan By Vyankatesh Madgulkar

चहूकडे विकासकामांचा धडाका सुरू झाला. अमक्या गावाने शाळा बांधली, तमक्या गावाने रस्ता करून घेतला, तर फलाण्या गावाने धरण उठविले. अन् मग हिवर्याच्या बेलवण नदीवर पूल बांधायची कल्पना अण्णा वाण्यानं काढली. पूल नाही, पण फरशी बांधण्याकडे गावाचा कल झुकू लागला... घरटी किती वर्गणी– याचा खल झाला. ...अन् भीमा वस्तादानं एकाएकी आवाज टाकला– ‘‘पूल टाकायचं काम जो करंन, त्येचं कल्यान व्हनार न्हाई!’’ झालं... हिवर्याच्या बेलवणचं घोडं अडलं. सगळ्यांच्या फायद्याचं अन् सोय होण्याचं हे काम– मग भीम्या अन् त्याच्या बरोबरच्या पोरांना ते होऊ नये, असं का वाटत होतं? बरं, नको तर नको... पण या पुलाचं काम न होण्यानं विरोध करणाऱ्या भीमाचा तरी त्यापुढं किती फायदा झाला, की... झालं आयुष्याचंच नुकसान? विकासकामांना आडव्या टाळक्याची अन् स्वार्थी मनोवृत्ती कशी खोडा घालते, याचं हुबेहूब चित्रण...बेलवण All over there was an excitement in the atmosphere…. All around the progress work had caught momentum. One village built a school, the other constructed a road while yet another constructed a dam. This initiated Anna Vani with an exclusive idea. He persuaded all to construct a bridge on the river Belvan in their village Hiwra. The villagers could not digest the idea of the bridge over the river but they agreed upon tiling. Much consideration was given to the amount required and the contribution expected. All of a sudden, Bhima Vastad dropped a bomb. He said that whosoever constructs the bridge will suffer lots of adversities. Hearing this each and every member preferred to stay in the background. None came forward. Actually, this work would have benefitted each and everyone. Then why did not Bhima and his company did not approve of it? Why did they oppose so strongly? Did it benefit Bhima or did it prove to be detrimental? Belvan is the most perfect example of those selfish mentalities who often take pride in obstructing the progress works…