Bhairon Singh Shekhawat had once been ghostbuster

Jaipur, Jan 2 (UNI) Former Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekawat had once been a ghostbuster! He took the role in a bid to clear the thinking of his village folk who believed in ghosts and even challenged the age-old tradition of 'mrityubhoj'-- a customary practice -- after the death of his father.

The interesting incident was narrated in the biography of the 84-year-old leader titled ''Matti Bann Gai Chandan'' written by noted journalist Milap Chand Dandia.

After the death of Mr Shekawat's father, Devi Singh, the villagers and his family members insisted on organising 'Mausar' (mrityu bhoj).

According to the people's belief, if mrityu bhoj was not organised, the soul of the dead would stalk the village as 'bhoot' and harrass the villagers.

Mr Shekhawat, however, was against the practice.

On the 12th day after the death of his father, a villager of his ancestral village, Khachariyawas in Sikar district, went to the well one night. He returned yelling ''bhoot... bhoot.

The news spread like wild fire and the villagers believed that it was Devi Singh's soul which had returned as his family did not perform the customary bhoj'.

Not ready to yield to the pressure, young Shekawat went to the well next night to 'catch' the bhoot.

After some time, he heard a whirling sound. But, soon realised the sound was the outcome of the clashing of the leaves of 'Aank'(Caiotropis Gigantia) plants grown in abundance around the area.

He and his friends later cleared the plants from the area and busted the ''bhoot of the village''.

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