Hum Jayega
Encyclopedia
Dal Bahadur Gurung, popularly known as Hum Jayega (हम जाएगा) (1922–1992) is a legendary person often cited as a funny character in folklores and jokes in Eastern Nepal, Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Sikkim
, Assam
and Manipur
. Because of several unrealistic jokes and tales about him, many people still consider him as an imaginary person. He was born in Marebong Tea Estate of Darjeeling, India
in March 1922. His ancestors were from Makluwa, a hamlet in Panchthar district
of Nepal
. Hum Jayega's great grandfather Dhaujbeer Gurung migrated along with his family in 1814 AD.
In 1936, he ran away to Calcutta to become a pilot but it was not possible due to his poor academic background. With hurdles and economic hardships, he hanged around an engineering college and learned driving with a professor who was fond of his jokes. In 1948, he returned to Darjeeling. With his driving skills, he became cab driver with a post second world war short-chassis Land Rover
. He was the first driver ever to take a vehicle to the summit of Tiger Hill, Darjeeling
and Tumling
. In this new circle of friends he was popular by his nickname Hum Jayega. Whenever the tourists asked who will go to the muddy underdeveloped roads to the hills, he used to answer "hum jayega" (meaning "I'll go" in Hindi
) and this is how he got his nickname.
His famous jokes were available as three booklets but some pirated versions were also published. Currently, his jokes are popular over the Internet and several facebook
pages. Most of these jokes are in Nepali, lingua franca
of Darjeeling, Nepal and surrounding areas but many of them have been translated to English. In early 1980s he was screened for about two minutes in a popular Nepali
movie Kusume Rumal
and it cleared that he is not just an imaginary character.
He continued working as a driver until he was 53 and engaged in publishing booklets of his jokes. His daughter remembers him as a responsible father who looked after children even after his wife's death. He was concerned about good education and future of the children and grandchildren. He was a father of seven daughters and three sons. However, it is also said that Hum Jayega lost all his wealth due to his drinking habit leaving his family to live in poverty. But the misery was never able to estrange Hum Jayega from laughing and making others laugh. He died in April 1992.
Sikkim
Sikkim is a landlocked Indian state nestled in the Himalayan mountains...
, Assam
Assam
Assam , also, rarely, Assam Valley and formerly the Assam Province , is a northeastern state of India and is one of the most culturally and geographically distinct regions of the country...
and Manipur
Manipur
Manipur is a state in northeastern India, with the city of Imphal as its capital. Manipur is bounded by the Indian states of Nagaland to the north, Mizoram to the south and Assam to the west; it also borders Burma to the east. It covers an area of...
. Because of several unrealistic jokes and tales about him, many people still consider him as an imaginary person. He was born in Marebong Tea Estate of Darjeeling, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
in March 1922. His ancestors were from Makluwa, a hamlet in Panchthar district
Panchthar District
Panchthar District of 202,056. Panchthar's majority population is that of Kirantis and other ethnic groups and hill castes.-Village Development Committees :*Aangna*Aangsarang*Aarubote*Ambarpur*Bharapa*Chilingdin*Chokmagu...
of Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
. Hum Jayega's great grandfather Dhaujbeer Gurung migrated along with his family in 1814 AD.
In 1936, he ran away to Calcutta to become a pilot but it was not possible due to his poor academic background. With hurdles and economic hardships, he hanged around an engineering college and learned driving with a professor who was fond of his jokes. In 1948, he returned to Darjeeling. With his driving skills, he became cab driver with a post second world war short-chassis Land Rover
Land Rover
Land Rover is a British car manufacturer with its headquarters in Gaydon, Warwickshire, United Kingdom which specialises in four-wheel-drive vehicles. It is owned by the Indian company Tata Motors, forming part of their Jaguar Land Rover group...
. He was the first driver ever to take a vehicle to the summit of Tiger Hill, Darjeeling
Tiger Hill, Darjeeling
Tiger Hill is the summit of Ghoom, the highest railway station on the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway – a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is famous for spectacular sunrise view over the Himalayas...
and Tumling
Tumling
Tumling is a small hamlet in Nepal. It is situated in the Eastern Himalayas, and its population is composed mostly of Gurung families. It is roughly 35 minutes' walk from Meghma and not far from Darjeeling. Only vehicle going to Tumling is the old Landrover from Manebhanjan. There is Shikhar...
. In this new circle of friends he was popular by his nickname Hum Jayega. Whenever the tourists asked who will go to the muddy underdeveloped roads to the hills, he used to answer "hum jayega" (meaning "I'll go" in Hindi
Hindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
) and this is how he got his nickname.
His famous jokes were available as three booklets but some pirated versions were also published. Currently, his jokes are popular over the Internet and several facebook
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
pages. Most of these jokes are in Nepali, lingua franca
Lingua franca
A lingua franca is a language systematically used to make communication possible between people not sharing a mother tongue, in particular when it is a third language, distinct from both mother tongues.-Characteristics:"Lingua franca" is a functionally defined term, independent of the linguistic...
of Darjeeling, Nepal and surrounding areas but many of them have been translated to English. In early 1980s he was screened for about two minutes in a popular Nepali
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
movie Kusume Rumal
Kusume Rumal
Kusume Rumal is a 1985 Nepali romantic film directed by Tulsi Ghimire. It was produced by Sumitra Paudel under the banner of Sayapatri Films. This was the first film in which singer Udit Narayan acted. In 2009, the son of the producer of this Kusume Rumal directed Kusume Rumal 2, which was the...
and it cleared that he is not just an imaginary character.
He continued working as a driver until he was 53 and engaged in publishing booklets of his jokes. His daughter remembers him as a responsible father who looked after children even after his wife's death. He was concerned about good education and future of the children and grandchildren. He was a father of seven daughters and three sons. However, it is also said that Hum Jayega lost all his wealth due to his drinking habit leaving his family to live in poverty. But the misery was never able to estrange Hum Jayega from laughing and making others laugh. He died in April 1992.