Ranjit Bajaj

Is the 'Brat' bad? Let's find out...

Glimpse writer Munish Dhiman scrutinises and explores the authentic ups and downs Ranjit Bajaj has undergone in his life.

I am not usually apprehensive about interviewing people, but I was indeed anxious about my rendezvous with Ranjit. The curiosity had been throbbing ever since I had heard about him. I had preconceived a reflection of his which was al-together poles apart from what I actually experienced on meeting him. Son of B.R.Bajaj and Rupan Deol Bajaj, the high-profile Punjab cadre bureaucrats, Ranjit bared deep secrets of his beleaguered heart and I couldn’t believe that he was the same person I had heard of…?

Coming from one of influential families of IAS officers, Ranjit, a big stick himself, hardly needs a foreword. Embroiled in many a controversy, and hogging headlines day in and day out, pangs of privations have not spared him also. He cries out “life of an IAS officer’s kid is not that easy, my friend! It’s indeed a curse ...!”

Rocking Childhood

I vividly recall my childhood days of yore when I used to play in the lush green lawns of my house with my pals. I had treasured every single precious moment of my childhood, as I was not really scared of the prying eyes around me. I always go nostalgic about my endearing school days I ever cherish relive. I studied in one of the reputed convent schools. Theatre had been a raging passion with me till the age of 12 during which I performed in Germany, Turkey and Finland. But, times have now changed for the worst. Now, whatever I do today make ‘catchy’ headlines for various newspapers, the following day.

First Encounter with Law

It always gives me goose bumps whenever I am reminded of the first encounter with the law. The case, which was never registered against me, dates back to 1996. The alleged case slapped against me was on the alleged charge of beating three commandos, in the presence of a sub inspector. I was 15 and a half years of age then. It is not yet decided by the law of the land whether a juvenile case be registered against the teenager or the personnel on duty, allegedly thrashed by the youth should be suspended? What a mockery of the law, this!

Open eye nightmare.

Even in my wildest dreams I had never imagined that something like that recurs in my life. Man proposes and God disposes, they say. Way back in 2000, I was brutally stabbed by a group of miscreants without a slightest provocation on my part. Miraculously, I escaped the murderous bid in which I left with 184 bleeding stitches. So, I am hard of conviction that that god saves, are free from all material pangs.

How the destitution forayed in my life.

It was a strange cataclysm that changed my life forever. Even being IAS officers’ kid didn’t prove much of a help to me. Police failed to trace a single culprit in three long months. Just because of it I was forced to intervene in the matter and I searched around for them personally. It was all my effort that helped put them behind the bars. During the period of four months several cases were registered against me. But all these purported cases were resolved and I was acquitted in nearly all.

Beliefs…

Dude, I just believe in facts. Neither I believe in God nor in ghosts. I’ve never experienced any thing that could make me believe in it. I do believe that there is a universal power up above that is making things happen, but till I don’t see, I won’t believe.

The Virtue

I was acquitted in all the cases I was convicted in. Can anyone one who put a finger on me answer me, how the clean chits were given to me, a perpetrator never gets it. Even many of the cases were dismissed by court. There’s a single case pending whose result will be declared after a few hearings. I’ve faith that in that to I’ll get justice. And if, I am found guilty the law should be made obligatory and I should be treated like all offenders.

My Strengths

My friends and family are my biggest strengths. I believe in them and they trust me. My mom and dad have always supported me and were always by my side. At no point of time they left me alone.

Turning Dream into Reality

Starting the venture, ‘Score’ was my dream. I had nurtured the design, architecture, hiring of bouncers, security system, the décor, autographs on the walls for the ambience of a happening club, and the powerful music system. From the idea till the grand opening of the club everything was projected and executed by me. The restraint, the V.I.P lounge, the bar, the dance floor every single idea is a collective result of just my creativity.

I personally trained the bouncers to work in a professional way. They lacked ‘emotions’, concentrated towards their work, and were well trained to cope up with disasters like earthquake, fire, brawls and others.”

Attainment

The first two months that I spent in Score was my biggest achievement. Just because of the quality control there were no brawls, no problems at all. It became a happening place and jus in two months a nightmare for all existing places. Score made huge scores financially. The success story of the place was outcome of my wits only. Leaving it wasn’t nice but I couldn’t work there just because what I wanted to do, the way I wanted to do I was barred for all.

I’ll be back with a bang/ So what’s he doing these days?

I am working very hard on my new project. After creating ‘Score’ it would preferably not be another Score. But I would bounce back giving a happening night life to chandigharians who want to enjoy life to the fullest. Then, not only on Saturdays but they’ll rock throughout the week. Chandigarh has the potential for meeting the night life as of metros, but the only lacking factor is a happening place, and I’ll provide them with one such place to groove out everyday. I’ll give Chandigarh the biggest night club with international night club quality and the safest place for people to party.

What’s my gaffe…?

I had always been portrayed as the spoiled brat. Is it my fault that whatever I do make way to the headlines? “Manish see… I applied for a passport and can you imagine it was published on the front page and a triple murder case story was published on the third page of the same newspaper. Now tell me who is wrong? My applying for a passport is a bigger crime than a triple murder case.”

Wheels for me.

I have no fantasies about any car as I had always loved whatever car I had possessed. Right now, I drive a civic and I keep it as my baby. I had modified her myself. There are no plans yet to change it but in future I would love to drive Lamborghini or a Gallardo.

Roadie is Really Roaring.

MTV roadie has been the best experience ever in my life. It was the first and now the longest running reality show ever made in the history of Indian television. I feel honoured that I was a part of it and was first from Chandigarh. I, Ranvijay and Tony were the only contestants to reach the finals making it from Chennai to Chail, covering a distance of 4800kms in 40 days. I was the first roadie to have met with an accident. That too happened because I had never driven a two wheeler before.

Multi Sports star.

Sports are my life and cricket is my passion. Apart from what I have achieved in cricket I’ve played a number of games and gave the best shot in each of them. Professionally, now I play cricket only but I have loads of accolades in other games under my belt. I was captain of my school and college football team, and even lead the game in two international matches. After being selected for India under 19 football team represented India in Asian schools Football Tournament at Malaysia. Three times runner up in Chandigarh Open tennis, represented school in inter school swimming meets. That’s not all I am national silver medal winner in taekwondo.

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Punjabi’s Rock…

There’s nothing like Punjabis in the whole world. Happy go lucky type of people born with the biggest balls… I personally don’t believe in caste, religion or anything like such but Punjabiyat runs in my genes. My mom’s from a Jatt Sikh family and I had cherished to be baptized as a Punjabi. If given choice between any other place, probably, I would never leave the rich soil of Punjab.

Why not Civil Services?

Lots of people ask me the same question but I don’t mind at al saying that I don’t want to. Corruption has rooted deep as termites and has left no one in government sector. I’ve seen my parents doing justice to their post. But does it matter? No, the work never stops. Wo nahi karenge to koi aur karega lekin kaam to chalta hi rahega. And that’s why I don’t want to plunge into it.

The article appeared in the June Edition of the Glimpse magazine.