Hum Jayega: Man behind witty-funny stories

"I know many of you heard stories or jokes about the man called Hum Jayega. As a little kid, i heard many funny, cunning and witty stories of him from elders in school as well as outside. And remember those moments where we staged drama with his jokes as script. But until i saw this post shared in a facebook page, thought it was cooked or something mythical or other version of Bhutanese Ap Wang Drugay.

These days , with nearing of my semester exam, could not really think of a post and felt it's worth sharing"

Dal Bahadur Gurung, popularly known as Hum Jayega (1922–1992) is a legendary person often cited as a funny character in folklore's 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.......

Courtesy: - Humjayaga.... the great Gorkha Legend

P.S It's a direct copy paste from facebook page, just for you all's reading pleasure!!