Saturday, May 10, 2003
M A I N   F E A T U R E


A sangam, thanks to the Ganga
Tirtho Banerjee

Rakesh Jaiswal and Gudrun
Rakesh Jaiswal and Gudrun

AMIDST the chanting of Vedic mantras, the couple took rounds of sacred fire followed by seven steps. The man applied sindoor on the woman’s forehead. They garlanded each other and thus their marriage was solemnised according to Hindu rites in an Arya Samaj Temple in Kanpur on April 8 this year.

Only this time the woman was a 38-year-old German named Gudrun Knoessel. She converted herself into Hinduism and her husband, 43-year-old Rakesh Jaiswal, gave her a new name Gauri. Rakesh says, "Lord Shiva and Parvati are the ideal couple in my eyes. Among the many names of Parvati, Gauri is one. So I thought of naming my wife Gauri."

It may sound queer but Rakesh and Gudrun’s love story has its roots in the Ganga. Rakesh Jaiswal has been involved in the clean-Ganga campaign for the last 10 years. In fact, he is the executive secretary of a local non-government body called Eco Friends. In March 2001, Gudrun (Gauri) chanced to see a film made on the river, featuring Rakesh, on a German TV channel. Avers Gudrun, "I was highly impressed by Rakesh’s valiant crusade to save the Ganga, which I knew was a holy river of India.

 


You could see in the film how Rakesh had launched a movement single-handedly. His steely spirit and inveterate commitment moved me. I got the film recorded and saw it a number of times." Gudrun couldn’t stop herself from writing to Rakesh on his e-mail. She showered words of praise on him and expressed her keenness to donate to his organisation. Rakesh thanked her and there the matter ended for the next three months.

In July 2001, Gudrun got the news that Rakesh had been bestowed the ‘Unsung Heroes of Compassion’ award by the Dalai Lama. She sent a congratulatory mail to Rakesh. Rakesh replied. From then on, there was no looking back. Both indulged in e-romance and sweet nothings over the phone for hours together every day. There were exchanges of gifts too.

They had fallen in love intensely. Now, the urge to see each other arose. The distance was killing them. To bridge this exasperating distance, Gudrun came to India in November 2001. Remarks Gudrun, "When I saw Rakesh for the first time, we met like we had known each other for years." Rakesh says, "We never felt that it was our first meeting and not for a moment did we behave like strangers." The bond was established. Luckily, Rakesh was invited for a conference to France and went to meet Gurdrun in Germany in December 2001.

Their togetherness was brief. Gudrun’s heart sank when she bade goodbye to Rakesh in December 2001. Both of them knew that this time the separation would be long. During this separation, both longed to be close to each other and finally Gudrun came to India in May 2002, and again in November 2002. And in April 2003, on her fourth visit, they decided to tie the knot.

Admits Rakesh, "Gudrun is very honest, loving and simple." Totally vegetarian, Gudrun enjoys dal, roti, sabzi and yogurt — the traditional Indian food.

Gudrun has gelled very well with Rakesh’s family. In fact, the kanyadaan at the wedding was performed by Rakesh’s sister and brother-in-law.

For a German, the Hindu marriage ceremony was very unusual. However, points out Gudrun, "I liked the wedding ceremony and, mainly, the seven steps I took with Rakesh. Every step symbolised that we should remain together in sun or shade. The mantras made our hearts and souls one. I never knew that a ceremony could be so emotional and touching." Gudrun wants to learn Hindi and help Rakesh in his project to save the Ganga. She believes that the Ganga still has hope and it can be cleaned just like the Rhine river was done in Germany.

A rejuvenated Rakesh feels he has found the ideal soul mate in Gudrun at a time when he needed her most. As far as Gudrun is concerned, she has started believing in the Hindu concept of rebirth and she wants to be married to Rakesh in all the births she takes hereafter.