**[txt. a01**]
0010A01 **<*3Politics of Job Reservations*0**> $**[begin leader comment, begin
0020A01 underscoring**] *3^The Bihar Government did not foresee or forestall
0030A01 the complications that_ followed its decision to_ reserve jobs for
0031A01 backward
0040A01 classes. ^The present violence in the State has raised the controversy
0050A01 over the criterion for backwardness-- whether it should be caste or
0060A01 economic conditions.*0 **[end underscoring, end leader comment**]
0070A01 $^WHY has the Bihar Government*'s decision to_ reserve jobs for backward
0080A01 classes led to a violent outburst? ^It is not such an original idea
0090A01 that it should have triggered demonstrations and riots or attracted all-India
0100A01 attention. ^Similar concessions had been in force for years in
0110A01 the southern States-- Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala.
0120A01 ^For the north, it is a comparatively novel concept but there too
0130A01 the recent decision in Uttar Pradesh went virtually unnoticed. $^The
0131A01 answer
0140A01 lies in many factors-- the strong base of caste politics in Bihar,
0150A01 the link between the Patna decision and the power pressures within the
0160A01 Janata Party, the abruptness of the announcement and vague, mysterious
0170A01 fears that policies could be launched without planning and without
0171A01 regard
0180A01 to overall repercussions. ^The only precaution that the State Chief
0190A01 Minister, \0Mr. Karpoori Thakur, took before making public the
0191A01 decision
0200A01 was to_ get the clearance of the Central Parliamentary Board of
0210A01 the Janata Party. ^He may thus have protected himself against criticism,
0220A01 but obviously did not foresee or forestall the complications that_ followed.
0230A01 ^The current talk of a caste war is ominous. $^As the Home Minister,
0240A01 \0Mr. Charan Singh, told Parliament last week, the Bihar Government
0250A01 was well within its powers to_ provide for 26 per cent reservation
0260A01 for backward classes. ^There was no legal bar either, for together
0270A01 with the quotas fixed for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes,
0280A01 the reservations would not exceed the 50 per cent limit which is to_ be
0290A01 observed under the present dispensation. ^It is, therefore, not a questin
0300A01 whether the Bihar Government could or could not have taken the step.
0310A01 $*<*3Strong Influence*> $^Of all the States, caste influences are
0320A01 perhaps the strongest in Bihar, and what is equally important, the
0321A01 barriers
0330A01 of caste and class coincide in many cases. ^The Bhumihars, Rajputs,
0340A01 Thakurs, Scheduled Castes and the sub-groups among them and Muslims
0350A01 are clearly identifiable. ^Politics in Bihar, for decades, had been
0360A01 caste-ridden and the strong influence of caste had been evident in practically
0370A01 every other activity. ^The reservation of jobs for certain castes
0380A01 was interpreted by the other castes as denial of opportunities for them
0390A01 and, considering the sharpness of their divisions, led to a violent reaction.
0400A01 ^In \0U.P. a 16 per cent reservation for the backward
0401A01 classes
0410A01 was announced recently but in the absence of the Bihar-type
0411A01 stratification
0420A01 of castes, passed off virtually as a routine measure. $^The goings
0430A01 on in the Bihar Janata Party unit, too, complicated the situation. \0^*Mr.
0440A01 Thakur was elected leader of the legislature party last year after
0450A01 a bitter contest in which caste considerations played a major role. ^With
0460A01 the passage of time, the estrangement caused by his election increased
0470A01 and inter-caste bitterness not only remained alive but was aggravated.
0480A01 ^The Chief Minister*'s opponents within the Janata Party kept on
0490A01 sniping at him and he, in turn, felt compelled to_ take defensive measures,
0500A01 was always on the look out for steps to_ bolster his image and to_ make
0510A01 himself less vulnerable to their attacks. ^The reservation decision
0520A01 could not be divorced from his strategy to_ strengthen his position and
0521A01 to_ give a caste orientation to
0530A01 what was essentially a factional quarrel within the party. ^The fact that
0540A01 he belonged to the backward section and his main rival to a forward caste
0550A01 becomes highly relevant in the present controversy. $*<*3Poll Promise*>
0560A01 $^Stress on the backward classes was an integral part of the late
0570A01 Ram Manohar Lohia*'s political philosophy and it was, therefore, understandable
0580A01 for a Janata Government to_ have decided on steps like job
0590A01 reservation, specially when it was promised on the eve of the *5Lok
0600A01 Sabha*6 poll. ^The party*'s manifesto spoke of its resolve to_
0601A01 "reserve between
0610A01 25 per cent and 33 per cent of all appointments in Government service
0620A01 for the backward classes." ^In the last budget session, \0Mr. Madhu
0630A01 Limaye, Janata General Secretary, gave notice of a non-official resolution
0640A01 on the subject. $^Despite all this, there was a suddenness about
0650A01 the Bihar decision which in the peculiar context of the State, turned
0660A01 out to_ be explosive. ^The supporters of \0Mr Thakur establish a parallel
0670A01 between the Bihar step and the arrangement in the south, but they
0680A01 lose sight of an important point that the four southern States had witnessed
0690A01 sustained agitations, though varying in intensity, on the issue of
0700A01 backword classes which had been in public gaze for years. ^In Bihar,
0710A01 there was no comparable political campaign. $^The reservation idea was first
0720A01 mooted by the Backward Classes Commission, headed by Kaka Kalelkar
0721A01 in 1955. ^It suggested reservations on a graded scale-- 25 per cent
0730A01 in Class
0740A01 *=1 services, 33-1/3 per cent in Class *=2, and 40 per cent in Class
0750A01 *=3 and *=4. ^This was its conclusion, after taking into account relevant
0760A01 factors-- the interests of the State, the effeciency of the
0770A01 administrative machinery and its expanding role and the dictates of social
0780A01 justice. "^We are in no way inclined to_ allow efficiency to_ suffer.
0790A01 ^But we want the maintenance of efficiency in conjunction with the rendering
0800A01 of social justice to all sections of the population," the report said.
0810A01 $^That this was not the ideal solution was recognised by the Chairman
0820A01 in his letter to the President, while submitting the Commission*'s
0830A01 report. "^I am definitely against reservation in Government services for
0840A01 any community," he said, "for the simple reason that the services are
0850A01 not meant for the servants but for the service of society, as a whole. ^Administration
0860A01 must have the services of the best men available in the
0870A01 land and these may be found in all communities. ^Reservation of posts for
0880A01 certain backward communities would be as strange as reservation of patients
0890A01 for particular doctors. ^The patients are not meant to_ supply adequate
0900A01 or proportionate clientele to all the doctors, whatever their qualifications."
0910A01 $*<*3"Generous Preference"*> $^*Kaka Kalelkar regarded
0920A01 the principle of "generous preference" to the backward classes in higher
0930A01 services to_ be more desirable than reservations. ^He was also conscious
0940A01 of the past experience that reservations came in the way of healthy
0950A01 emulation and that those who learnt to_ depend on reservations were, often
0960A01 times, not alert enough to_ improve their quality and tended to_ rest
0970A01 on their privileges, losing the zest for self-improvement. ^But recourse
0980A01 to reservation was justified because of the need to_ undo the injustice
0990A01 of the past, when the British rulers sought to_ placate, for their
1000A01 own colonial reasons, some sections and ignore others. $^The present agitation
1010A01 has brought to the fore the old controversy over the criteria for
1020A01 backwardness. ^The Bihar Government followed the traditional line and
1030A01 listed castes and communities which, as a whole, were considered to_
1040A01 be in need of special concessions. ^The Backward Classes Commission
1050A01 too had gone by the caste criteria and was guided in drawing the list for
1060A01 backward elements by the "low social position in the traditional caste
1070A01 hierarchy of the Hindu society, and lack of general educational advancement
1080A01 among the major sections of a caste or community." ^But its Chairman
1090A01 admitted-- again in his letter to the President-- that "two years
1100A01 of experience have convinced us of the dangers of the spread of casteism,
1110A01 and the warnings of the well-wishers of the country have also led
1120A01 us, almost towards the end of our investigation, to the conclusion that
1130A01 it would have been better if we could determine the criteria for backwardness
1140A01 on principles other than caste." $^A study group on the welfare of
1150A01 the weaker sections of the village community headed by \0Mr. *(0J.
1160A01 P.*) Narayan in its 1961 report, resisted the temptation of going exclusively
1170A01 by the caste factor and instead preferred to_ classify the
1171A01 village
1180A01 community in terms of its economic structure. ^And, recently, the West
1190A01 Bengal Government, obviously recognising the relevance of the economic
1200A01 factor to the need for concessions, announced unemployment benefits
1210A01 to those whose names are on the live registers of the employment exchanges
1220A01 for specified periods. ^There is, thus, a case for replacing the "communal"
1230A01 criteria by economic yardsticks in the approach to backward classes.
1240A01 $*<*3Cautious Line*> $^The Congress Government, under Jawarharlal
1250A01 Nehru, preferred not to_ act on the Kalelkar Commission report
1260A01 so far as the Central services were concerned. ^*Govind Ballabh Pant,
1270A01 the then Home Minister, left the decisions on the State services to
1280A01 the Governments concerned. ^*New Delhi*'s caution then implied recognition
1290A01 of the complexities that_ would follow wide-ranging reservations.
1300A01 ^Nothing has happened to_ call for a departure from the cautious line.
1310A01 ^There are reasons to_ believe that the present Central Government realises
1320A01 the dangers of hasty decisions. $**<*3Indo-Pakistan Dialogue**>
1330A01 $^WHEN \0Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee arrives in Islamabad to-day,
1340A01 he would be the first Indian Minister to_ set foot on Pakistani soil
1350A01 after 12 years, the last being the trip of \0Mr. Swaran Singh in
1360A01 1966. ^That a visit of this type should be possible is, by itself, significant.
1370A01 ^It is reflective of the changed moods, of the realisation on
1380A01 both sides that the good of their peoples lies in co-operation and that
1390A01 if mutual conflict had proved futile in the past it is unlikely to_ be
1400A01 rewarding in the future. ^Above all it may help the logic of geographical
1410A01 proximity to_ assert over prejudices and irrationalities. $^How exactly
1420A01 the visit came to_ be arranged is not quite clear yet. ^The official
1430A01 explanation only partially answers the point. ^Some two months ago, it is
1440A01 stated, \0Mr. Vajpayee was asked by a newsman at Ujjain as to why he
1450A01 did not visit Pakistan when he had gone to other neighouring
1451A01 countries and
1460A01 his reply was that he was ready, provided there was an invitation. ^This
1470A01 comment reached Pakistan and a formal invitation was extended to him.
1480A01 ^The Government of India reciprocated by inviting \0Gen. Zia-ul-Haq,
1490A01 Chief Martial Law Administrator, to_ come to Delhi. ^All this
1500A01 may be true but a stray comment could not have led to a major diplomatic
1510A01 move, had the desire to_ talk been not there. $^The visit is important in
1520A01 many other ways. ^First, it fits in with the conscious efforts of the
1530A01 two countries to_ remove misunderstandings with their respective
1531A01 neighbours.
1540A01 ^If Pakistan (though during the previous regime) was able to_ mend
1550A01 its fences with Afghanistan and India had succeeded in sorting out the
1560A01 intractable Farakka problem with Bangladesh, Indo-Pakistan relations,
1570A01 despite their savoury nature, could not have remained insulated from this
1580A01 process. $^Secondly, the present contact comes at a time when the two
1590A01 countries have new governments and if there is a break with past internally,
1600A01 the external extension of this approach is logical. ^*Pakistan could
1610A01 not have missed the meaning behind the present Indian Government*'s
1620A01 efforts to_ remove the irritants to Bangladesh even at the risk of its
1630A01 own popularity, by ensuring observance of correct norms at the borders.
1640A01 $*<*3Motivation*> $^Thirdly, unlike the earlier contacts at different
1650A01 levels, the motivation for the present visit was not provided by immediate
1660A01 compulsions. \0^*Mr. Nehru and \0Mr. Liaquat Ali Khan had
1661A01 met
1670A01 to_ resolve the problems arising out of the influx of refugees from
1680A01 what was then East Pakistan. ^*Tashkent was directly linked with the 1965
1690A01 war and the Simla Conference of 1972 was aimed at clearing the
1700A01 debris of the preceding confrontation. \0^*Mr. Swaran Singh (accompanied
1710A01 by \0Mr. Sanjiva Reddy, then Union Shipping Minister), too, had
1711A01 gone
1720A01 with a specific assignment, while he and \0Mr. Bhutto had had marathon
1730A01 rounds of discussions with a set agenda. ^That_ is not the case
1731A01 with the present
1740A01 vist of \0Mr. Vajapayee. ^Officials describe it as essentially
1750A01 a goodwill visit, with no fixed agenda and for once, they are not being
1760A01 evasive. $^The task now is more challenging for the leaders have to_ reverse
1770A01 the 30-years-old trend of hostility and replace suspicions by trust
1780A01 and understanding.*#
        **[no. of words = 02004**]

        **[txt. a02**]
0010A02 **<*3A CLOSE LOOK*0 $*3The Sri Lanka Constitution*0**> $^*PRESIDENT
0020A02 *(0J. R.*) Jayawardene told the Sri Lanka Parliament the day
0021A02 the
0030A02 new Constitution came into force earlier this month that it had enlarged the
0040A02 people*'s democratic freedom. ^It had extended their sovereignty to_
0050A02 include the process of government, Fundamental Rights and the franchise.
0060A02 ^It had ensured that the President and Parliament did not extend their
0070A02 terms without public approval in a referendum. ^Prolonged rule through
0080A02 Emergency regulations, as in the past, was out. ^Parliament must now
0090A02 debate and vote on every Public Security Ordinance and, after three
0100A02 months, it must be passed by a two-thirds majority. ^Fundamental Rights
0110A02 had been made justiciable, there was a provision for an Ombudsman
0111A02 (Parliamentary
0120A02 Commissioner for Administration) and the method of voting
0130A02 by Proportional Representation had been introduced. $^The President laid
0140A02 special emphasis on the fact that "no dictator-motivated individual
0141A02 or
0150A02 group of individuals can govern for more than six years without people*'s
0160A02 permission granted at a referendum. ^This Constitution takes its place
0170A02 among those of the developed nations of the free world, nay more, we
0180A02 set an example others may choose to_ follow." $^That the Sri Lanka
0181A02 Constitution
0190A02 is like no other is a fact. ^But this is true of almost every
0200A02 Constitution, which must, in order to_ be successful, answer to the
0210A02 particular needs of a country. ^The Sri Lanka Constitution*'s claim to
0220A02 distinction lies in the fact that it follows neither the Presidential
0230A02 system nor the Prime Ministerial one, a claim with which none need quarrel
0240A02 for Constitutional straitjackets are the invention of professors.
0250A02 ^What needs to_ be noted, however, is that even President Jayawardane
0260A02 admits, by implication, that the Constitution contains the possibility
0270A02 of a "dictator-motivated individual" ruling for six years. ^The President*'s
0280A02 assurance elsewhere to his people that his Government would not
0290A02 misuse its overwhelming majority in Parliament (it has a five-sixths majority)
0300A02 is reassuring, as also are his follow-up actions, but the character
0310A02 of a Constitution needs to_ be judged not by individual assurances
0320A02 but by its express provisions and the practice to which it is
0330A02 put. *<*3PYRAMIDAL SHAPE*0*> $^And what strikes an outsider most is the
0340A02 Constitution*'s tilt towards the executive in particular, the President.
0350A02 ^The people, no doubt, are declared to_ be sovereign, their
0351A02 legislative
0360A02 power being exercisable by elected representatives and by the
0361A02 people
0370A02 directly at a referendum, their executive power by the President and their
0380A02 judicial power by Parliament through courts. ^But, in effect the
0381A02 structure
0390A02 is pyramidal, the President being the fountain-head of all power.
0400A02 ^He is the Head of the State, the Head of the Executive, and the Commander-in-Chief
0410A02 of the Armed Forces, all rolled into one. ^*Prime
0411A02 Ministers
0420A02 and Parliaments may come and go, but he remains, at least for
0421A02 six
0430A02 years, possibly for 12, if the people vote him to power again. ^Like
0440A02 the American President he is authorized to_ have his own staff (secretaries
0450A02 and other officials) but unlike the American President he has access
0460A02 to the legislature too. ^He is made responsible to Parliament for
0470A02 the "due exercise, performance and discharge of his powers, duties and
0471A02 functions
0480A02 under the Constitution, any written law, including any written
0490A02 law for the time being relating to public security." ^There is a provision
0500A02 for a Cabinet of Ministers being collectively responsible to Parliament,
0510A02 but the President has been made the Head of the Cabinet, without
0520A02 the usual hazard of a Prime Minister losing his job should he lose
0530A02 the confidence of Parliament. ^In such an event it is the Prime Minister
0540A02 who gets fired. $^The irony is that whereas the President alone has
0550A02 been given the right to_ make the statement of Government policy to
0560A02 Parliament, should Parliament reject it (or any appropriation bill) it
0570A02 is not the President, but the Prime Minister and other Ministers who
0580A02 lose their jobs. ^The President stays and appoints a fresh Cabinet.
0590A02 ^It is a case of head I win, tail you lose. $^Indeed the Constitution
0591A02 does
0600A02 not envisage any independent or important role for the Prime Minister.
0610A02 ^The President may appoint as Prime Minister a person who in his
0620A02 opinion may command Parliament*'s confidence, but in the appointment of
0630A02 other Ministers or in fixing their portfolios he has to_ consult the
0640A02 Prime Minister only if he considers such consultation necessary. ^He may
0650A02 keep to himself such portfolios as may take his fancy. ^He has the authority
0660A02 to_ dismiss the Prime Minister and other Ministers. *<*3TWO-TERM
0670A02 RULE*0*> $^The two Constitutional checks on the powers of the President
0680A02 are the two-term rule and the provision for impeachment on grounds
0690A02 of intentional violation of the Constitution, treason, bribery,
0691A02 misconduct
0700A02 and moral turpitude. ^But a notice for impeachment can be given only
0710A02 by two-thirds of the total strength of Parliament or half the strength
0720A02 plus a certificate from the Speaker that the allegations made in the
0730A02 notice deserve an inquiry by the Supreme Court. ^There is the
0731A02 added
0740A02 provision that even if the notice is adopted by a two-thirds majority, the
0750A02 resolution must be examined by the Supreme Court. ^If the Supreme
0760A02 Court upholds the allegations, Parliament must again pass it by a two-thirds
0770A02 majorty before the President can be removed. $^Parliament can act
0780A02 as a check (of sorts) on the vast powers of the President. ^If a general
0790A02 election follows a dissolution of Parliament, then the President
0800A02 cannot dissolve Parliament within a year of the elections (but here too
0810A02 there is the rider that he may do so if Parliament resolves to that_
0811A02 effect).
0820A02 ^Nor can the President dissolve Parliament during the first session
0830A02 if the Government*'s policy statement is rejected or if notice of
0840A02 an impeachment resolution has been given, unless such notice fails.
0841A02 ^Qualified
0850A02 checks have hardly curbed the ambitions of authoritarian leaders
0851A02 with
0860A02 overwhelming majority in Parliament. ^This has been the experience
0870A02 of both Sri Lanka and India. $^The Constitution seeks to_ put a check
0880A02 on Parliament*'s legislative powers but, as in the case of the President
0890A02 so here too, the checks are full of riders. ^Parliament cannot suspend
0900A02 the operation of the Constitution or any of its parts or repeal
0910A02 it altogether. ^But it can have a wholly new one. ^Further, any part of
0920A02 the Constitution can be amended, that_ is repealed or altered. ^A
0921A02 Constitution
0930A02 Amendment Bill must be labelled as such and certain Amendments
0940A02 cannot be made without a referendum. ^These include the sovereignty of
0950A02 the people, the unitary character of the State, the national flag and
0960A02 the Anthem, the national religion and certain Fundamental Rights, but
0970A02 curiously enough not the vital clause that_ gives the people sovereignty
0980A02 over the legislature, Parliament and the judiciary. $^The provision
0990A02 for referendum is a significant extension of sovereignty residing in
1000A02 the people. ^Apart from certain Constitutional amendments, a referendum
1010A02 becomes mandatory if a Bill is certified to_ require a referendum by the
1020A02 Cabinet or if the President chooses to_ submit a rejected Bill to
1021A02 the people or refers to them
1030A02 any matter of national importance. ^This device, however, gives the President
1040A02 the whip hand of Parliament and can, in the case of authoritarian
1050A02 Presidents, prove disastrous. $^The judiciary*'s powers are
1051A02 limited.
1060A02 ^The Constitution creates a Supreme Court, a Court of Appeals and
1070A02 a High Court. ^While the Supreme Court may test the Constitutional
1080A02 validity of a statutory law, it cannot sit in judgment on a Constitutional
1090A02 Amendment, except to_ decide the question whether a Bill
1091A02 requires
1100A02 the people*'s approval at a referendum. ^It may also interpret the Constitution.
1110A02 $^The Sri Lanka Constitution cannot be said to_ provide checks
1120A02 and balances in the sense the American Constitution does. ^By giving
1130A02 the President vast powers and dominance over all arms of government,
1140A02 it enables him to_ take the country along right directions, if he is
1141A02 democratically
1150A02 minded, and along wrong lines, if he is not. ^Since a Constitution
1160A02 is expected to_ outlast a particular government, how the Sri Lanka
1170A02 Constitution will ultimately shape it is difficult to_ say at this
1180A02 stage. ^Even in our own country the Constitution has worked
1181A02 differently
1190A02 under Nehru and his daughter. $^In the right setting and under the right
1200A02 leadership, the Sri Lanka Constitution should work. ^Fundamental
1210A02 Rights are guaranteed to citizens and the more general ones even to non-citizens.
1220A02 ^All are guaranteed: freedom of thought, conscience and religion,
1230A02 freedom from torture, from arbitrary arrests and detention, except
1240A02 according to authority established by law. ^No one can be tried on charges
1250A02 which legally did not constitute an offence at the time of commission,
1260A02 except if it was deemed criminal according to the general principles
1270A02 of law recognized by the community of nations. (^Since there is a good
1271A02 deal
1280A02 of debate in this country on whether or not \0Mrs Gandhi can be tried
1290A02 for her deeds during the Emergency the significance of this provision
1300A02 is worth noting). *<*3BASIC FREEDOMS*0*> $^Citizens are guaranteed freedom
1310A02 of speech and expression, including publication, of peaceful assembly,
1320A02 of trade, of lawful occupation or business, but these rights are
1330A02 by no means absoulte nor need they be. ^The State is authorized to_ have
1340A02 special provisions in favour of national security, public order, public
1350A02 health and morality. ^Further, some of the Fundamental Rights can
1360A02 be withheld in the interest of the national economy. ^Although Directive
1370A02 Principles outline the expectations from the Government, these do not
1380A02 supersede the Fundamental Rights. $^The Constitution has special provisions
1390A02 for the minorities, especially those of Indian origin. ^The basic
1400A02 freedoms reserved for citizens have been extended for a period of
1410A02 10 years, to those permanently and legally resident in Sri Lanka. ^While
1420A02 the official language is Sinhala, the national languages are both
1421A02 Sinhala
1430A02 and Tamil. ^A person has the right to_ be educated through the medium
1440A02 of either, and educational institutions providing for one have to_
1441A02 provide
1450A02 for the other, should there be a demand for it. ^Competitive examinations
1460A02 also have to_ be held in both languages. ^Although Sinhala alone
1470A02 is the language of administration, Tamil may be used both by the administration
1480A02 and courts in the northern and eastern provinces. ^All laws have
1490A02 to_ be in both languages, with additional translation in English. $^Although
1500A02 the Sri Lanka Constitution has provisions which may give theoretical
1510A02 experts nightmares, initially, under the Presidency of \0Mr
1520A02 Jayawardane, it may be said to_ have begun well. ^About the future
1521A02 future
1530A02 alone can tell, for that_ Constitution is best which works best. $**<*3SCIENCE
1540A02 IN DECLINE-- *=1*0 *3How Government Is Running \0R & \0D*0**>
1550A02 $^NEVER before has morale in India*'s Government
1551A02 scientific establishments
1560A02 been so low as today. ^Those in charge are embittered by decisions
1570A02 taken at higher levels; heads of research and development groups
1580A02 are frustrated by lack of encouragement and direction; and personnel at
1590A02 other levels are baffled when not cynically indifferent. ^What seems to_
1600A02 hurt scientists most is that their work seems no longer to_ be considered
1610A02 particularly important. ^They may have failed to_ fulfil expectations
1620A02 when they were better treated; but the answer to that_ failure is not
1631A02 the kind of neglect that_ marks the Janata Government*'s policy. $^Apparently,
1640A02 the policy reflects the Prime Minister*'s own attitude to
1641A02 scientific
1650A02 research. ^A notion has grown that \0Mr Desai, who is in direct
1660A02 Ministerial charge of some of the most important scientific departments,
1670A02 does not believe in science; some say that he does not believe in
1680A02 any development on modern lines. ^The notion may be wrong, but he has
1681A02 not
1690A02 done much to dispel it. ^The impression he has created is that he considers
1700A02 modern science, especially research, to_ be at best a necessary
1701A02 evil.
1710A02 ^His attitude towards the work done at two large organizations under his
1720A02 direct control-- the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research
1730A02 and the atomic energy establishment-- can hardly have been calculated
1731A02 to_
1740A02 create a sense of confident purpose. $^The Prime Minister, who is the
1750A02 president of the \0CSIR Society, the council*'s highest policy-making
1760A02 body, has met the directors of \0CSIR laboratories only once--
1770A02 in May 1977, soon after the Janata Government was formed. ^The
1780A02 meeting was brief; according to reports, his manner was curt and his tone
1790A02 abrasive.*#
        **[no. of words = 02000**]

        **[txt. a03**]
0010A03 **<*3Creeping Detente In Africa**> $"^*DETENTE," said \0Dr Bruno
0020A03 Kreisky, Chancellor of Austria (which alongwith Switzerland and
0030A03 Sweden is one of the three official neutral States in Europe) in his
0040A03 address to the Royal Institute of International Affairs in London
0050A03 on July 4, "is not the consequence of sublime human insight but simply
0060A03 a result of a state of military balance". ^This realistic definition
0070A03 of a State of relationship between the Soviet bloc and Western Europe,
0080A03 \0US and Canada, which has been widely criticised in the West
0090A03 as tattered by developments in Africa (and Afghanistan and South Yemen)
0100A03 explains the about-turn in Western policy on Angola that_ appears
0110A03 to_ be taking place now quietly and even secretively. $^It was just a
0120A03 month ago, following the incursion of Katangan exiles to the mineral rich
0130A03 Shaba province of Zaire and the massacre of whites in Kolwezi,
0140A03 that Western Europe, backed by the \0US, were planning the establishment
0150A03 of a pan-African force (armed and funded by the West) to_ protect
0160A03 states threatened by "Soviet-Cuban" ventures. ^President d*'3Estaing
0170A03 of France, after his French Legionnaires repelled the Katangans and
0180A03 rescued the surviving whites in Kolwezi was hailed as "the \Gendarme
0181A03 of
0190A03 Africa." ^The \0US later supplied transport planes to_ ferry the units
0200A03 formed from Morocco, Senghor and some other former French colonies
0210A03 to the Shaba Province. ^Meetings were held in Brussels at which western
0220A03 countries considered how to_ strengthen the economy and the security
0230A03 forces of President Mobutu. ^It appeared that the detente was to_ give
0240A03 place to an east-west confrontation in Africa; that the Western hawks
0250A03 were prevailing over the doves among them the British Prime Minister
0260A03 Callaghan and some of his \0EEC colleagues notably Holland and
0270A03 Denmark. $*<*3Grave Concern*> $^The developing situation today projects
0280A03 a completely different picture and is generating grave concern to
0290A03 rightwing European politicians and papers (and equally so in the \0US).
0300A03 ^Having advanced to the brink, as it were, the Kreisky equation of
0310A03 detente as nothing more than a state of military balance is compelling
0320A03 the West to_ retreat, a movement accelerated by the opposition of most
0330A03 of the African states to the "\gendarme" plan as well as of India and
0340A03 other non-aligned countries to the revival of the cold war. ^It seems as
0350A03 if the detente, so far as it applies to East-West confrontation is creeping
0360A03 back in Africa. ^This does not of course mean that the conflicts
0370A03 that_ plague the continent in the Horn, Central and South Africa are
0380A03 going to_ disappear. $*<*3Cuban Entry*> $^The war dance of the super
0390A03 and big powers of the world soon after the last war ended, has assumed
0400A03 a pattern that_ merits it with a distinct choreography. ^The confrontation
0410A03 builds up from an incident (such as the Soviet closing of land routes
0420A03 to West Berlin in the sixties) an intrusion into sensitive territorial
0430A03 regions (as in Cuba by the Soviet Union) subversion or attack
0440A03 against an ally (as in South Vietnam and South Korea) or a threat to
0450A03 sources of vital minerals or fossil fuels. ^The dance begins with recrimination,
0460A03 escalates into warnings, military preparations or alerts. ^But
0470A03 at the height of the crisis, confrontation is avoided by two well-tried
0480A03 movements. ^If one side gets involved in a dispute, as "the United Nations"
0490A03 in South Korea, the other side sends in volunteers as China did
0500A03 to North Korea; or if a super power takes the field as \0US did in
0510A03 South Vietnam, the other side avoids confrontation by pouring arms advisers
0520A03 and aid but not getting directly involved as did Soviet Union and
0530A03 China in North Vietnam. $^The choreography has been modified by the
0540A03 entry of Cubans in African conflicts but remains unchanged as far as
0550A03 its confrontation avoidance safety system is concerned. ^This is what
0560A03 seems to_ be happening in Africa. $^The first indication of the retreat
0570A03 from confrontation was provided by a deliberately unpublicised meeting
0580A03 of President Neto of Angola with President Eanes of portugal last
0590A03 month in Guinea Bissau, a former Portuguese colony. ^If one recalls
0600A03 that the Portuguese who had over a half million citizens and vast interests
0610A03 in their former colony of Angola were driven out by the \0MPLA
0620A03 led by \0Dr Neto with the support of Cubans the significance of the
0630A03 meeting becomes clear. ^*Portugal is a member of the \0Nato, its
0631A03 government is seeking entry into the \0EEC
0640A03 and it is wholly dependent on
0650A03 aid from western powers and its government is Socialist but non-Communist.
0660A03 ^In the circumstances the rapproachement effected at the Neto-Eanes
0670A03 meeting could not but have the blessings not only of the West but
0680A03 also of the Soviet Union and the Cubans who sustain the integrity of
0690A03 Angola by resisting the Western (and Chinese) aided rebel groups \0UNITA
0700A03 and the \0FNLA led by President Mobutu*'s brother-in-law.
0710A03 $^The agreements on economic co-operation that_ the Presidents signed will
0720A03 mean the return of a large number of Portuguese experts, technicians
0730A03 and administrators to_ revive the badly battered economy of this very
0740A03 richly endowed country. ^They will replace or in any case work side
0750A03 by side with Cubans who remain in Angola. ^The tie that_ still binds "Marxist"
0760A03 Angola to Portugal is the Portuguese language spoken by all
0770A03 educated Angolese and understood by most of the workers. ^The Cubans
0780A03 who speak Spanish have a communication problem wherever they are involved
0790A03 in the economy or reconstruction but the returning Portuguese will
0800A03 have no such barrier. ^The co-operation will be mutually beneficial as Portugal
0810A03 badly needs to_ recover some of the markets she lost in her former
0820A03 colonies of Africa. ^Obviously it is the West, chiefly West Germany
0830A03 and 13 other Western countries who will support the Portuguese return
0840A03 to Angola. ^They have already given a *-750 million loan to Portugal.
0850A03 $*<*3Paris Comment*> $^The Paris right-wing paper L*'3Aurore
0860A03 last week published "revelations" that France herself with the \0US
0870A03 and other Western governments were now planning to_ give massive aid to
0880A03 Angola to_ build up its economy, disregarding the presence of a big Cuban
0890A03 force there and the prevailing Soviet influence. ^Echoing the anger
0900A03 of European right-wingers, it called it an "African Munich". ^It
0910A03 attributes this to the overruling of President Carter*'s National Security
0920A03 Adviser \0Mr Brezinski who after his return from Peking wanted
0930A03 the West to_ play the "China card" against the Soviet Union. ^He
0940A03 was overruled, according to it because China was suspected of deliberately
0950A03 trying to_ bring about a confrontation between the Soviet Union and
0960A03 the West by the haste she showed in despatching naval and military teams
0970A03 to Zaire after the visit of the Chinese Foreign Minister to that_
0980A03 country. $^This explanation may be far-fetched for the Western
0981A03 turna-about
0990A03 in Angola may indeed be the result of an understanding with the Soviet
1000A03 Union to_ defuse the situation which was leading to a confrontation.
1010A03 ^There has been in the policy statements made in \0US, Britain,
1020A03 France (and echoed by Chancellor Schmidt of West Germany on his recent
1030A03 tour of Africa) a consensus which cannot be a coincidence. ^As expressed
1040A03 by American Secretary of State Cyrus Vance and British Foreign
1050A03 Secretary \0Dr Owen, the two basic points are: "Africa should
1060A03 not be an area of east-west competition," and "Our best course is help
1070A03 resolve the problems which create the excuse for external aggression".
1071A03 ^The
1080A03 last means a big increase in aid among other things. $*<*3Aid Issue*>
1090A03 $^The confirmation that the Soviet-Cuban side reciprocates is evident
1100A03 from the recent disclosure by President Castro of Cuba that he
1110A03 gave forewarning of the Shaba raid to Washington-- a statement not
1111A03 challenged.
1120A03 ^Although the \0US has no diplomatic relations with Angola, \0Mr
1130A03 Donald McHenry, recently visited Angola as President Carter*'s
1140A03 envoy and was assured by the Angola government that it had disarmed the
1150A03 Katangans and moved them to an area away from the Zaire border and
1160A03 would prevent further incursions into Shaba. ^In this connection, it is
1170A03 interesting to_ note that one of the conditions of Western governments
1180A03 for aid asked by President Mobutu is that he meet the legitimate demands
1190A03 of the Shaba tribes and effect a reconciliation with them. $^It is
1200A03 of course likely that the Angola government, even if Marxist, does
1210A03 not want to_ be too dependent on the Soviet side. ^It may be working towards
1220A03 non-alignment of the Tito type. ^It has not cut off links with the
1230A03 West. ^Its chief source of external earnings is from the American
1240A03 Gulf Oil Company which pays it over *-300 million a year as royalties
1250A03 for oil it extracts. ^*Angola is minerally and agriculturally rich. ^It
1251A03 used
1260A03 to_ be one of biggest coffee producers till the civil war shut most
1270A03 of its plantations. $^There appear to_ be other signs of the creeping
1280A03 detente. ^The Ethiopians reportedly have been discouraged and denied help
1290A03 by the Soviet Union against the Eritrean guerillas and instead asked
1300A03 to_ offer them autonomy. ^On the Western side, the refusal of Britain
1310A03 and the \0US to_ accept the internal settlement in Rhodesia, though
1320A03 pressed at home and their insistence that the Patriotic Front which
1330A03 is attacking Rhodesia should be part of any settlement are clearly
1340A03 intended to_ prevent confrontation. **<*3On Being Young And Right**>
1350A03 $*3^A FEW years ago, before the "Moscow connection" and the
1351A03 emergency
1360A03 tarnished \0Mrs Gandhi*'s image in this country, she was described
1370A03 in the media here as "India*'s Kennedy." $^It has now been left
1371A03 to
1380A03 \0Mrs Gandhi*'s electoral rival to_ have that_ reference turned around:
1390A03 the word among the cognoscent in the corridors of power here, just the
1400A03 other day, was that United Nations Ambassador Andrew Young is "Carter*'s
1410A03 Raj Narain." $^The reference, of course, was to Andy Young*'s
1420A03 alleged penchant for putting his foot in his mouth, to the obvious
1430A03 embarrassment of his chief and of the administration. ^The latest example
1440A03 of "Andy*'s indiscretion," and one that_ evoked comparison with the
1450A03 Janata Party*'s *(enfant terrible,*) was a comment in an interview
1451A03 with
1460A03 a French newspaper that there were hundreds of persons in American jails
1470A03 whom the \0UN envoy would consider "political prisoners." $*<*3Awkward
1480A03 Timing*> $^The remark was particularly awkward at a time when Washington
1490A03 was launching an all out human rights campaign against the Soviet
1500A03 trials of Anatoly Scharansky, Alexander Ginsburg and other dissidents.
1510A03 ^But the comparison must end right there. ^When \0Mr Raj Narain
1520A03 tells a London audience, for instance, that he intends to_
1521A03 propagate
1530A03 birth control by popularising yogic principles among the masses, he is
1540A03 obviously talking through his very distinctive cap. ^*Andy Young, on
1541A03 the
1550A03 other hand, despite the waves he makes with his outspoken pronouncements,
1560A03 has generally been proved correct in the long run. $^Which brings us
1561A03 to
1570A03 the question of how such "dissidence" is tackled in New Delhi and in
1580A03 Washington. ^Under the American system of an executive president, cabinet
1590A03 members are hired hands, serving at the express pleasure of the chief
1600A03 executive. ^Thus we have the instance of President Ford unceremoniously
1610A03 replacing Defence Secretary Schlesinger with \0Mr Rumsfeld who
1620A03 was more in tune with presidential perceptions. ^Unlike in parliamentary
1630A03 democracies where a minister cannot be dismissed without political
1640A03 repercussions, an American secretary is vulnerable for having no political
1650A03 constituency of his own. $^The paradox is that \0Mr Raj Narain was
1660A03 relieved of his ministership, while Ambassador Andy Young got away
1670A03 with a little rap on the knuckles and a large pat on the back from the
1680A03 President. ^No wonder \0Mr Young has gained the reputation of being
1690A03 "fire-proof." $^Despite the propaganda by hard core conservatives, Andy
1700A03 Young*'s 'untouchability' is not because of his personal friendship
1701A03 with
1710A03 the President. ^Nor can it be ascribed entirely to his strong and loyal
1720A03 following of black voters whom \0Mr Carter cannot afford to_ alienate
1730A03 at a time when his own popularity rating is slipping among practically
1740A03 every section of his erstwhile supporters. $^The real reason is that
1750A03 it is unreasonable and even risky to_ fire an official for being right
1751A03 on
1760A03 major policy even if he is verbally reckless at times. \0^*Mr Young is
1761A03 currently
1770A03 in the world spotlight, being lionised for the notable success
1780A03 of the African policy he has steadfastly advocated, often in the face
1790A03 of opposition from the hawks in the White House.*#
        **[no. of words = 02015**]

        **[txt. a04**]
0010A04 **<*3A policy without rationale**> $^THE Centre-State
0011A04 relationship
0020A04 is getting increasingly strained. ^People who speak of decentralisation
0030A04 seem to_ resist any attempt on the part of the States to_ assert their
0040A04 rights to_ manage their own affairs much more effectively. $^If problems
0050A04 of people like increased agricultural production, rural development,
0060A04 massive unemployment and removal of obstacles in the way of the progress
0070A04 of the under-privileged in our society are to_ be solved it is inevitable
0080A04 that the States will have to_ increasingly and effectively take
0090A04 on themselves greater responsibilities. $^The problem of India, which
0100A04 is the problem of 650 million people, cannot be solved by sitting in
0110A04 cosy Delhi rooms with pious resolutions or formulating paper programmes.
0120A04 ^Nobody denies the need for a national goal in which everybody in India
0130A04 participates. ^But such a plan cannot possibly have national solutions
0140A04 to local problems. ^Let us not forget that we are a vast subcontinent
0150A04 with a sizable population and if State Governments are effective, there
0160A04 would be greater progress. ^Wherever States are ineffective in agricultural
0170A04 production, small scale industries, cottage industries*' development,
0180A04 even public distribution through inefficient civil supplies department,
0190A04 the national policies have failed. ^And all the grand designs remain
0200A04 only on paper. $^Our planning process unfortunately is not responsive
0210A04 to developing situations in particular areas. ^If the problem of West
0220A04 Bengal or Kerala is of 'educated unemployment' it is no use having for
0230A04 the whole country schemes which presuppose mobility of people from one
0240A04 State to another. ^And not only sons-of-soil but sometimes even sons-of-village
0250A04 and in extreme sense, sons-of-street slogans raise their ugly
0260A04 heads. ^The Central plans therefore have become very unrealistic. $^Whenever
0270A04 particular areas have been affected by serious droughts or cyclones
0280A04 or floods, the usual idea has been to_ let the State affected take care
0290A04 of itself. ^Certainly plans do not provide for resources for the States
0300A04 concerned to_ prevent the recurrence of these calamities. ^But to_
0310A04 expect the States to_ find their own resources in these circumstances without
0320A04 making it a national problem, is to_ pretend that while one*'s leg
0330A04 is affected by cancer, the rest of the body is without the malady.
0340A04 $^*I visited two years ago the north-eastern region-- Meghalaya,
0341A04 Manipur, Tripura,
0350A04 Assam and Nagaland. ^This area is rich in agricultural potential:
0360A04 in plantations, in water resources, in forest and mineral wealth, coal
0370A04 deposits, gas and oil. ^It is an irony that if it was part of \0OPEC
0380A04 instead of being part of India, we ourselves would have rushed
0390A04 there to find out whether we can participate in power generation or housing
0400A04 schemes involving ourselves in the industrial development or joint venture
0410A04 enterprises if necessary as we are doing in Malaysia and elsewhere.
0420A04 ^Merely because it is part of India, we take it for granted that the
0430A04 associate gas available in Assam can be allowed to_ burn rather than
0440A04 utilise it for the benefit of the region and those areas are starved of cheap
0450A04 power. ^Industrial development, therefore, becomes a mockery. ^When
0460A04 we talk of backward areas development, industrial licences issued to
0470A04 these areas remain only on paper. $^We have been strongly supporting the
0480A04 Arab cause for the high price of oil on the ground that this is an exhaustible
0490A04 resource. ^And Arab countries must have alternate sources of
0500A04 development. ^Also is this not the very ground on which States like Assam,
0510A04 Gujarat and Maharashtra have a better claim on their oil resources?
0520A04 ^How can the rest of the nation deal with exhaustible resources paying
0530A04 them only one-third of the price that_ we are willing to pay to Arab
0540A04 countries? $^And if these are not resources of the States, what else
0550A04 are resources? ^How can our States develop themselves if they are denied
0560A04 a fair price for this? ^How else can they find resources? ^If thorough
0570A04 development of these resources within the States is no means of finding
0580A04 out employment for the people of that_ area, what are the alternatives
0590A04 left to them? $^The States are asked to_ mobilise additional resources
0600A04 for development as their contribution. ^Resources can be raised by tax,
0610A04 by loans and through the savings of the people. ^While a State is
0620A04 entitled to_ get two-thirds of the shares of the postal savings deposits
0630A04 and national savings certificates collected in the State as part of
0640A04 their resources, what happens to bank deposits within the State? ^Don*'4t
0650A04 they represent savings of the people? Isn*'4t their capacity to_ raise
0660A04 public loans related to bank deposits*' mobilisation? ^How can they
0670A04 build their infrastructure and solve their problems, depending upon the
0680A04 National Plan and faulty allocation from the Centre? $^I was surprised
0690A04 to_ find while in one State deposits mobilisation was \0Rs. 20
0700A04 *4crores, advance given there was only \0Rs. 2.50 *4crores. ^And when
0701A04 I pointed
0710A04 this out to the banks, they pleaded that there was "lack of absorption
0720A04 capacity" within the State. ^This is a strange argument, to_ say the least.
0730A04 ^Can*'4t the banking system explore small borrowers, shopkeepers,
0740A04 small farmers or small industrialists who would borrow from them? ^The
0741A04 biggest
0750A04 bank in the world, the Bank of America, has a one-man branch in Rockey
0760A04 Mountains. ^This essentially caters for hunters. ^It is the bank
0770A04 which has to_ find profitable "business absorption capacity". ^This should
0780A04 be inbuilt in the banking system itself. ^If the money mobilised in
0790A04 the States does not go directly or indirectly for the development of the
0800A04 State, where else can the resources come from? ^That is why Rajaji
0810A04 justified overdrafts by the States, asking if the Centre can have recourse
0820A04 to Nasik printing press, why can*'4t the States have the same opportunity?
0830A04 $^Again what is the problem with subsidies where by design or
0840A04 by accident the policies pursued by the Government were entirely in favour
0850A04 of wheat-growing States? ^People are subsidised for eating wheat to
0860A04 the extent of \0Rs. 23 a quintal whereas the claims of the rice and
0870A04 millet growing States and the people has gone by default. ^Last year, the
0880A04 rice-eating people got a subsidy of \0Rs. 4 a quintal which has now
0890A04 been slashed to a mere four *4paise a quintal. ^Millet which has been getting
0900A04 a subsidy of \0Rs. 17 a quintal now gets only \0Rs. 13 a quintal.
0910A04 $^The reduction in the subsidy affects the southern and eastern States.
0920A04 ^The increase in subsidy benefits mainly the North. ^The result would be
0930A04 to_ reduce the small farmers to perpetual penury. ^They would not get
0940A04 a fair price for the rice they produce. $^The uneven development of food
0950A04 crops-- a phenomenal crowth in wheat production and a marginal increase
0960A04 in rice production-- can easily be traced to the subsidy without
0961A04 rational
0970A04 basis. ^Rice production has therefore not shown as enthusiastic increase
0980A04 as wheat production. ^While in the North, rice is produced as a cash
0990A04 crop, along with the main wheat crop, in the South it is the mainstay
1000A04 of the farmers in general, and the small farmers in particular. ^This
1010A04 distinction in production pattern seems to_ have been lost on the policy-makers
1020A04 of the Government of India, and they compel the highly subsidised
1030A04 wheat while showing a less-than-indifferent attitude to rice-growing
1040A04 areas. ^Is there any hope of change now?
1050A04 $**<*3Limits of the judicial check**> $^THE Constitution (45th
1060A04 Amendment) Bill is a welcome step towards fulfilment of the Janata
1061A04 Party*'s
1070A04 electoral pledge to_ rescind the 42nd Amendment Act. ^In some respects,
1080A04 it improves the constitutional checks on the arbitrary exercise of
1090A04 power which existed before the emergency. $^Constitutional restraints
1100A04 are very necessary in a country which has few of the other checks which
1110A04 the older democracies enjoy, especially those of established democratic
1120A04 tradition and a strong, articulate public opinion. ^No country has them
1130A04 in as full a measure as Britain. ^Yet, in recent years a powerful
1131A04 movement
1140A04 has grown there, led by its most distinguished jurists, for a written
1150A04 constitution including a judicially enforceable bill of rights. $^The
1160A04 Constitution (45th Amendment) Bill and other like measures that_
1170A04 might follow, therefore, deserve fullest support. ^In a very real sense,
1180A04 the exercise is an endless one. ^For, experience might dictate other constraints
1190A04 on power, as well. $^That_ said, the irony cannot escape any
1191A04 observer
1200A04 that the process of constitutional reform proceeds side by side with
1210A04 a marked deterioration in the values which sustain a democratic order.
1220A04 ^It is not a cheering prospect. ^The question must be faced squarely.
1230A04 ^What good can constitutional restraints do to a polity which is corroded
1240A04 from within? $^Constitutional limitations are enforced by the judiciary.
1250A04 ^But as the class federalist papers point out, "the judiciary is beyond
1260A04 comparison the weakest of the three departments of power", the other
1270A04 two being the legislature and the executive. ^It has "no influence over
1280A04 either the sword or the purse; no direction either of the strength or
1290A04 of the wealth of the society; and can take no active resolution whatever.
1300A04 ^It may truly be said to_ have neither force nor will, but merely
1310A04 judgement: and must ultimately depend upon the aid of the executive
1320A04 arm even for the efficacy of its judgements". $^Experience has demonstrated
1330A04 time and again that a judgement of the highest court of the land on
1340A04 a vital issue affecting the nation needs the fullest backing of public
1350A04 opinion to_ be enforced against the powers of the day. ^On the other
1360A04 hand, the judiciary is as exposed to the values which prevail in the society
1370A04 as the other institutions are. ^It is essentially these values which
1380A04 will mould the polity and sustain its institutions. ^If they are inimical
1390A04 to democratic norms, it is vain to_ think that constitutional
1391A04 checks
1400A04 or the judiciary can save democracy. ^If the judiciary tries to_ perform
1410A04 such a role it runs the risk of exceeding the limits of its own proper
1420A04 functions as the Supreme Court did in the Golak Nath case. $^It is necessary
1430A04 to_ emphasise this because parliamentary democracy rests as much
1440A04 on convention as on the written text of the Constitution. ^It is a system
1450A04 of government which makes particularly high demands on the qualities
1460A04 of moderation and fair play. ^They were none too evident in the recent
1470A04 ministerial crises in Haryana and \0UP. $^On the morrow of the
1480A04 massive popular verdict of March 1977, the acting President, \0Mr.
1490A04 *(0B. D.*) Jatti, confidently told Parliament on March 28 that the
1500A04 election had "effectively and decisively demonstrated the power of the
1510A04 people, the vitality of the democratic process in India and the deep root
1520A04 that_ it has taken". ^It is not comforting to_ be gnawed by doubt so
1530A04 soon after an exhilarating experience. ^But doubt must not be suppressed.
1540A04 ^A certitude which rests on a denial of the realities is the surest guarantee
1550A04 of disaster. ^We must accept the fact that the fine constitutional
1560A04 structure we have today stands on foundations which are insecure
1561A04 and
1570A04 need to_ be strengthened. $^The Germans went through a far worse experience
1580A04 of dictatorship than we did. ^The basic law of the Federal Republic
1590A04 of Germany reflects a keen awareness of the limits of the judicial
1600A04 check even while it endows the constitutional court with great power
1610A04 and protects the "essential content" of the basic rights from constitutional
1620A04 amendment. ^But Article 20 lays down the basic principles of the
1630A04 constitution-- democracy and the rule of law-- and proceeds to_ declare
1640A04 in categoric terms: "*_^All Germans shall have the right to_ resist
1641A04 any
1650A04 person or persons seeking to_ abolish that_ constitutional order, should
1660A04 no other remedy be possible". $^We might claim to_ possess in *4Satyagraha
1670A04 an effective instrument for such contingencies. ^But over the years
1680A04 the instrument has been blunted through misuse and there are two opinions
1690A04 as to its efficacy during an emergency. ^But rather than wait till
1700A04 the worst happens, the prudent course is to_ check the unhealthy trends
1710A04 which are there for all to_ see. ^How can a people resist arbitrary
1720A04 rule if as a result of maladministration or crassly cynical politics
1730A04 they have ceased to_ care for liberty? $^To_ repeat, the point is not
1740A04 that constitutional limitations or judicial reviews are futile. ^Far
1750A04 from it.*#
        **[no. of words = 02002**]

        **[txt. a05**]
0010A05 **<*3*PERSONALITY *IN *INDIAN *POLITICS*0 $*3\0Mrs. Gandhi*'s Appeal
0020A05 To The Poor*0**> $*3\0^*Mr. NANAJI DESHMUKH, one of the three general
0030A05 secretaries of the Janata party, must be far more percipient than
0040A05 most of his colleagues and other political observers if he has, as he
0050A05 claims, not been taken by surprise by the performance of the Indira
0060A05 Congress in Karnataka, Andhra and Maharashtra. ^For while the party
0070A05 was expected to_ do well in Karnataka, hardly anyone expected it to_ win
0080A05 two-thirds of the seats in that_ state, almost a similar percentage of
0090A05 constituencies in Andhra and fare reasonably well in Maharashtra. $^But
0100A05 irrespective of whether or not \0Mr. Deshmukh predicted even privately
0110A05 the results of the recent *5Vidhan Sabha*6 polls, he has made an
0111A05 analysis
0120A05 which deserves attention. ^Though it is more detailed and realistic
0130A05 than any other publicly offered by any significant political figure in
0140A05 the country, it contains an element of wishful thinking which can do
0150A05 no good to the Janata party in the task of coping with \0Mrs. Gandhi*'s
0160A05 challenge. $\0^*Mrs. Gandhi, he has said, continues to_ have an image--
0170A05 apparently he means a good image-- among the scheduled castes and some
0180A05 other minorities, obviously an euphemism for the Muslims. ^Her actions
0190A05 during the emergency-- the forcible sterilisation and slum clearance--
0200A05 caused suffering to these communities in north India and therefore led
0210A05 to their alienation from the Congress. ^But that_ was not the case in
0220A05 south India. ^Which means these communities in south India have had
0230A05 no reason to_ be particularly aggrieved against either the Congress or
0240A05 \0Mrs. Gandhi. ^Also, according to \0Mr. Deshmukh, she had an
0241A05 unlimited
0250A05 amount of money at her disposal. $*<*3solicitude*> $^The last point
0260A05 may have had propaganda value before the recent poll. ^It can have none
0270A05 now. ^Even a political innocent knows that the Indira Congress does
0280A05 not owe its spectacular victories at least in Andhra and Maharashtra to
0290A05 money. ^There neither the rival official Congress in office at the time
0300A05 of the poll nor the Janata party was short of funds. \0^*Mrs. Gandhi
0310A05 was clearly not without resources. ^But her candidates were not flush
0320A05 with money. ^Just because a helicopter was hired for her use on certain
0330A05 occasions by her supporters, it does not follow that her success can be
0340A05 explained in terms of money. $\0^*Mr. Deshmukh has referred to a Muslim
0350A05 majority constituency in Bombay to_ make the point that the Janata
0360A05 party is meeting with a measure of success in its efforts to_ win over
0370A05 this biggest minority. ^On the face of it, this is not a wholly unjustified
0380A05 claim. ^As far as it is possible to_ assess the voting pattern of
0390A05 particular communities-- there is inevitably an element of conjecture in
0400A05 all such assessments-- it does appear that a substantial section of the
0410A05 Muslims in the two southern states and in Maharashtra has supported,
0420A05 as in the March 1977 *5Lok Sabha*6 elections, the Janata party. ^But,
0430A05 according to some sources at least, around 60 per cent of the Muslims
0440A05 have voted for the two Congress parties, most of them for the Indira Congress.
0450A05 ^If this is, indeed, so, the Janata has cause enough for concern.
0460A05 $^The Janata party leader has also said: "*_^Personalised politics
0470A05 always fails. ^No one can sustain (himself or herself) on the basis of
0480A05 such politics for a long time. \0^*Mrs. Gandhi failed on that_ account.
0490A05 ^Unfortunately she is trying to_ come up again on that_ very basis which
0500A05 will prove more damaging to her." $^Even \0Mrs. Gandhi will find this
0510A05 solicitude for her touching. ^But as a piece of analysis it is rather
0520A05 weak. ^In fact, personality has always been an extremely important factor
0530A05 in politics in India or for that_ matter any other democratic
0531A05 country.
0540A05 ^Witness the ease with which Gandhiji dominated the scene before Independence,
0550A05 \0Mr. Nehru from 1950 to 1962 and \0Mrs. Gandhi from 1969
0560A05 to 1974. ^Indeed, one of the Janata*'s main handicaps may well be the
0570A05 absence of a charismatic figure who can easily dominate the party and
0580A05 through it the country. $^Even more pertinent is the social reality behind
0590A05 this phenomenon. ^In no small measure was Gandhiji*'s, \0Mr. Nehru*'s
0600A05 and \0Mrs. Gandhi*'s political power based on their pull with the
0610A05 scheduled castes and other weaker sections of society. ^And it is precisely
0620A05 this support which \0Mrs. Gandhi is seeking to_ capture. $*<*3dominated*>
0630A05 $^This has been by far the most important fact about Indian
0640A05 polity in the last 60 years which has not received much attention all
0641A05 these
0650A05 years. ^This is understandable inasmuch as the political process in the
0660A05 country has been dominated by the western educated middle class on the
0670A05 one hand and up and coming propertied classes-- commercial and industrial
0680A05 houses and the upper and middle class peasantry-- on the other so completely
0690A05 that the other elements in it have tended to_ be ignored. ^But understandable
0700A05 or not, the fact that weak and depressed communities have
0710A05 consistently followed certain individuals needs to_ be noted and its
0711A05 causes
0720A05 fully investigated. $^Tentatively it seems to me that these people instinctively
0730A05 realise that they have a stake in a strong centre and a leadership
0740A05 capable of providing such a centre because they cannot expect justice
0750A05 even at the state level, not to_ speak of the district, the subdistrict
0760A05 and the village level. ^*Indian society, it is hardly necessary
0761A05 to_
0770A05 emphasise, is highly inequitous. ^At the village level it remains positively
0780A05 cruel. ^That_ is why social reform movements in India have by
0781A05 and
0790A05 large been led by western educated idealistic youth who have since independence
0800A05 found support in the central leadership of the Congress party
0810A05 and the Union government. $^To_ generalise a rather complicated problem
0820A05 in simplified terms, Indian polity has operated broadly at two levels.
0830A05 ^While under \0Mr. Nehru the upper and middle peasantry came to_ dominate
0840A05 various state governments, the centre remained relatively immune to
0850A05 these influences. ^More or less the same situation continued under
0851A05 \0Mrs.
0860A05 Gandhi. ^Only she was even less inclined than \0Mr. Nehru to_ show
0870A05 respect to Congress chief ministers after 1971. ^And needless to_ add
0880A05 that with the proclamation of the emergency most of the Congress chief
0890A05 ministers lost whatever status they had before it. $^It is clearly \0Mr.
0900A05 Deshmukh*'s contention that \0Mrs. Gandhi has suffered as a result
0910A05 of this concentration of power. ^But he will find it difficult to_ substantiate
0920A05 it. ^On the contrary, it can be argued that the emergency was
0930A05 fairly popular in the first six months and that the big mistake she made
0940A05 was to_ let loose \0Mr. Sanjay Gandhi precisely against those sections
0950A05 of society which had little stake in the democratic political process--
0960A05 it enabled the dominant peasant communities to_ exercise enormous power
0970A05 up to the state level-- and which were therefore willing to_
0971A05 support
0980A05 her authoritarian regime if it helped them in some way. \0^*Mr. Devraj
0990A05 Urs among the chief ministers followed a policy of depriving the dominant
1000A05 castes of political influence and the result is there for anyone to_
1010A05 see. $\0^*Mrs. Gandhi is not a revolutionary. ^But even if she was, she
1020A05 could not have used the emergency to_ bring about a socio-economic revolution
1030A05 in the countryside. ^She would have needed a much stronger and much
1040A05 more ruthless administrative machinery of a different kind to_ attempt
1050A05 anything of that_ kind on whatever scale. ^But to_ begin with, she wanted
1060A05 to_ utilise increased political power to_ help the scheduled castes
1070A05 and other weak and backward communities. ^The allotment of house-sites
1080A05 to Harijans in villages was one expression of that_ desire. ^She could
1090A05 have consolidated her regime if she had continued this programme and not
1100A05 fallen for her son*'s superficially modernising programme of curbing the
1110A05 growth of population and cleaning up the cities. ^On a cool assessment,
1120A05 therefore, the inference must be that she has suffered not as a
1121A05 result
1130A05 of "personalised politics" but as a result of sharing power with a callow
1140A05 and callous young man in a hurry. $*<*3strategy*> $^Apparently \0Mrs.
1150A05 Gandhi realised her fatal blunder after her traumatic defeat last
1160A05 March and decided that her best strategy would be not to_ own up the
1170A05 excesses of the emergency-- she could not have won over the educated middle
1180A05 classes in any case-- but to_ take up the cause of the *4Harijans
1181A05 at
1190A05 the first opportunity. ^The murders in Belchi (Bihar) last summer offered
1200A05 her that_ opportunity. ^Her visit to that_ little known hamlet after
1210A05 a six-hour elephant ride marked the beginning of her return to the fray
1220A05 and she has not looked back since. ^The point whether or not the atrocities
1230A05 on the *4Harijans have increased under the Janata rule is
1231A05 pertinent
1240A05 but more pertinent is their perception of it and the availability of
1250A05 \0Mrs. Gandhi as a centre of hope. $^Clearly neither the Janata nor
1260A05 the official Congress has been able to_ meet this challenge. ^On all
1270A05 accounts \0Mrs Gandhi has come to_ command the loyalty of the
1271A05 *4Harijans
1280A05 and the landless throughout the country with the possible exception of
1290A05 West Bengal. ^But while this makes for a formidable political figure,
1300A05 it does not and cannot assure her return to power. ^She has to_ reunite
1310A05 the Congress under her leadership and win over a significant part of
1320A05 the dominant peasant communities to her side. ^Her willingness to_ allow
1330A05 her followers in Maharashtra to_ form a ministry in alliance with the
1340A05 official Congress under \0Mr. Vasantdada Patil*'s leadership is a step
1350A05 in that_ direction. ^She will promote and lead agitations. ^But these
1360A05 cannot constitute her total strategy. $**<*3India*'s Nuclear Policy,
1370A05 A Hard Grind Ahead**> $*3^Regardless of whatever decision is taken--
1380A05 or not taken-- by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission in Washington
1390A05 on the supply of fuel for Tarapur, New Delhi will have to_ reappraise
1400A05 its atomic policy and chart out a clear course. ^In stark terms,
1410A05 the question is whether it could retain the option, so zealously promoted
1420A05 and safeguarded by \0Mr. Nehru and \0Dr. Homi Bhabha, of "going
1430A05 nuclear" whenever the security interests of the nation so demand. ^Both
1440A05 \0Mr. Lal Bahadur Shastri and \0Mrs. Gandhi had stubbornly refused
1450A05 to_ give it up during the mid-sixties when international pressures on
1460A05 the country to_ do so were strong and it was suffering from a grievous shortage
1470A05 of food and foreign exchange. ^Despite the absence of these constraints,
1480A05 it is by no means simpler today to_ tackle the issues at stake.
1490A05 $^For, the proliferation of both nuclear power plants and atomic weapons
1500A05 has radically changed the international environment and there is much
1510A05 greater awareness the world over of the hazards of unbridled progress
1520A05 in either sphere. ^The distinction between the peaceful and non-peaceful
1530A05 uses of atomic energy is becoming increasingly blurred as several countries
1540A05 have acquired the competence to_ build a pretty sophisticated
1550A05 atomic weapon even without testing it. ^What is more, these and the
1551A05 established
1560A05 nuclear powers are increasingly "ganging up" to_ deny the others
1570A05 the fruits of nuclear technology while vigorously pursuing their own individual
1580A05 nuclear programmes. ^Significantly the ban on the export of a
1590A05 vast variety of nuclear materials without cast-iron safeguards-- the so-called
1600A05 trigger list-- is enforced by the member-nations of the "London
1610A05 Club" against one another as much as against outsiders.
1611A05 $*<*3advantages*> $^But
1620A05 this is only one side of the story. ^The other is that the advantages
1630A05 of nuclear power are so great and the technological possibilities so
1640A05 immense that no industrialised country of any consequence wants to_ give
1650A05 up its own atomic programme. ^It only wants the others to_ do that_.
1651A05 ^President
1660A05 Carter*'s nuclear policy-- particularly his campaign against
1670A05 the construction of new fast-breeder reactors and fuel reprocessing plants--
1680A05 has thus run into serious trouble at home, in Britain, among the
1690A05 member-nations of Euratom and in Japan. ^Few countries want to_ resile
1700A05 from their existing export commitments, for example, in order not to_
1710A05 'jeopardise' future sales. ^Even the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Act,
1720A05 recently enacted by the \0U.S. Congress, cannot be regarded by Americans
1730A05 themselves as their last word on the subject. ^For, the \0U.S.
1740A05 will have successfully to_ renegotiate its supply agreements with as many
1750A05 as 31 countries and, apart from India, at least five of them-- Spain,
1760A05 Argentine, Isreal, South Africa and Egypt-- have yet to_ accept
1770A05 full-scope safeguards.*#
        **[no. of worrds = 02024**]

        **[txt. a06**]
0010A06 **<*3*THE NATIONAL SCENE*0 *3At The End Of Their Tether*0**> $*3^The*0
0020A06 self-styled mediators are at the end of their tether. ^They know
0030A06 that the uneasy truce they have brought about between the Prime Minister
0040A06 and the former Home Minister cannot last, and that the storm that_
0050A06 is apt to_ follow the sullen silence the two men are maintaining with some
0060A06 difficulty can wreck the party. ^Indeed with the party affairs in what
0070A06 may well turn out to_ be a permanent tangle, some Janata members who
0080A06 realise what is at stake, already wonder if the government at the Centre
0090A06 can master any of the frightening problems it faces. $^The old cliche
0100A06 about working by consensus begs the very question it seeks to_ answer.
0110A06 ^For, the crisis which threatens to_ tear the party apart has arisen because
0120A06 the Janata remains a loose coalition of disparate groups and interests
0130A06 pulling in different directions and is unable to_ achieve a consensus.
0140A06 ^The fear of \0Mrs. Gandhi*'s return to power still provides a kind
0150A06 of cement which holds them together. ^But it does not have enough binding
0160A06 force to_ enable them to_ run the government with any degree of
0170A06 celerity. ^The party can still survive if those who are outvoted on a particular
0180A06 issue invariably submit to the majority decision. ^But what those
0190A06 who advocate consensus demand in effect is the right of every group
0200A06 in the Janata to_ veto any decision it does not like. ^The huge amount
0210A06 of vinegar that_ any such course is likely to_ produce, far from helping
0220A06 to_ pickle and preserve the party*'s unity, is apt to_ give a new tang
0230A06 and a new edge to the existing frustrations, resentments and hatreds and
0240A06 hasten its break-up. $^Meanwhile the sorry figure that_ the Janata has
0250A06 cut is giving an ironical twist to its thinking. ^The hue and cry raised
0260A06 by \0Mr. Kripalani and some others over the party leaders washing their
0270A06 dirty linen in public does not quite square with their earlier protests
0280A06 against the hush-hush methods used by Congress governments in dealing
0290A06 with public issues. ^Since when have they realised the virtues of
0291A06 secrecy?
0300A06 ^What are the new factors which have made them change their minds and
0310A06 conclude that in certain circumstances, the cause of integrity of public
0320A06 life is best served by discussing public issues in strict privacy?
0330A06 $*<*3LIMITS*0*> $^If this is only a grudging admission on the part of
0340A06 some Janata leaders that there are limits to openness even in an open
0350A06 society, and that inner party democracy does not give the right to every
0360A06 dessenting group to_ carry on a bitter feud against the majority once a
0370A06 decision has been taken, it is a sign of welcome change in their outlook.
0380A06 ^Indeed they need to_ go further and ask themselves whether some of
0390A06 the evils they condemn are not inherent in the very system of competitive
0400A06 politics which encourages a shameless exploitation of communal and
0410A06 caste loyalties and prejudices, a gross simplification of complex issues
0420A06 by unabashed demagogues, a blatant distortion of priorities to_ serve
0430A06 narrow ends and the use of tainted money in electioneering. $^This is not
0440A06 to_ say that any authoritarian system can work better. ^The experience
0450A06 of scores of countries in the third world, apart from that_ of the emergency
0460A06 here is sufficient warning against any such delusions. ^For, the
0470A06 sort of arbitrary exercise of power at every level which an authoritarian
0480A06 system involves is destructive of both freedom and popular initiative.
0490A06 ^But it is one thing to_ condemn authoritarian systems, whatever their
0500A06 ideological pretensions, and quite another to_ believe that it is enough
0510A06 for a people or their leaders to_ renew their faith in the democratic
0520A06 system by holding free elections every few years to_ ensure its eventual
0530A06 success. $^What are the limitations of the system? ^What are the conditions
0540A06 under which it can perform reasonably well in a poor country with
0550A06 very large areas of distress and destitution? ^And what are the dangers
0560A06 that_ threaten to_ overwhelm it? ^It is most tempting to_ evade these
0570A06 questions and take refuge in the simple belief that there is nothing
0580A06 wrong with the system as such and that everything will be ticketyboo if
0590A06 we can somehow get hold of the right kind of men to_ run it. ^But this
0600A06 is only an indirect way of dodging the question as to why the system so
0610A06 often throws up undesirable men. ^Can anyone hope to_ win an election
0620A06 by holding fast to the truth, by telling the people that it may take several
0630A06 decades to_ end degradation, not to_ speak of poverty, that a higher
0640A06 rate of growth demands a higher rate of saving and a cut in current
0650A06 consumption and so on? ^And who can ever hope to_ mobilise the votes of
0660A06 conflicting interest groups to_ make a tally of 40 to 50 per cent without
0670A06 making tall and often contradictory promises? $*<*3EVASION*0*> $^To_
0680A06 attribute the failings of the system to the faceless bureaucrats who
0690A06 administer it is to_ indulge in a different kind of evasion. ^When the
0700A06 public expects more and more from the government and implores it to_ intervene
0710A06 in ever new areas of economic and social life to_ redress old
0720A06 wrongs and remove new inequities it in fact asks for an expanding bureaucracy.
0730A06 ^The more the number of new laws and regulations, some of them too
0740A06 complex (for the ordinary citizen to_ grasp their full import) the greater
0750A06 is the scope for arbitrary use of power and the daily harassment
0760A06 which he suffers. ^Some of the evils of bureaucracy can be corrected
0770A06 by piecemeal reforms. ^But it is moronic to_ expect the government to_ go
0780A06 on increasing its sphere of activity and dispense with all the ugly aspects
0790A06 of bureaucracy at the same time. $^In fact one of the main limitations
0800A06 of the democratic system today, as \0Mr. Macpherson, who has
0810A06 studied the problem in great depth, has pointed out, is that it is far from
0820A06 fully competitive. ^It is to_ use an economist*'s term oligopolistic.
0830A06 ^That is, there are only a few sellers, a few suppliers of political
0840A06 goods, in other words only a few political parties... when there are so
0850A06 few sellers, they need not and do not respond to the buyers*' demands as
0860A06 they must do in a full competitive system. ^This often distorts the very
0870A06 formulation of political issues. ^As another equally keen student of
0880A06 democratic systems has ruefully remarked "what we are confronted with
0890A06 in the analysis of political issues is largely not a genuine but a manufactured
0900A06 will," manufactured in ways "exactly analogous to the ways of commercial
0910A06 advertising." $^Some people anxious to_ see that the democratic
0920A06 system performs much better, look forward to a new breed of politicians
0930A06 devoted to the public weal and a new corps of bureaucrats dedicated
0940A06 to the service of the people. ^But why don*4't they go a little further
0950A06 and hope for a miraculous change in the people themselves so that they
0960A06 can sift the true from the false, distinguish the truly democratic from
0970A06 the incipient totalitarian and refuse to_ be carried away by empty rhetoric?
0980A06 ^It all comes to educating the electorate more rigorously. ^But then
0990A06 who will educate the would-be educators? $*<*3NAIVETY*0*> $^It is the
1000A06 same kind of naivety which sees the main threat to the system not in
1010A06 its own flabbiness but in the presence of \0Mrs. Gandhi who, though once
1020A06 rejected by the people because of the way she imposed and ran an emergency
1030A06 regime, is once again able to_ sway the mass of voters more dramatically
1040A06 than anyone else. ^The all-important question is why is she able
1050A06 to_ attract such big crowds or mobilise so many votes even while the
1060A06 memories of the emergency are so fresh? ^The Janata leaders have only
1070A06 to_ put it to themselves to_ see how inept they have been in political management.
1080A06 ^To some extent the very spectres they raised in the months preceding
1090A06 the emergency-- carrying political issues to the street, forcing
1100A06 the premature dissolution of a duly elected legislature, exploiting every
1110A06 source of discontent irrespective of the means at the disposal of
1120A06 the system to_ dispel it, obstructing legislative business-- are coming
1130A06 to_ haunt them. ^They cannot fail to_ see now what they refused to_ do
1140A06 in 1974, that the democratic game has its rules like any other, that it
1150A06 calls for an understanding between not only the groups which form the ruling
1160A06 party or coalition but also between the government side and the opposition,
1170A06 and that any foul play by either side cannot but lead to its disruption
1180A06 sooner or later. $^The catch here is that when things get hot
1190A06 for the fovernment-- when its performance is so poor that its support begins
1200A06 to_ dwindle-- neither side can resist the temptation to_ play foul.
1210A06 ^This is what happened before and is happening again. ^Appeals for fair
1220A06 play are likely to_ be of little avail in a climate of opinion vitiated
1230A06 by mutual hatreds, a new spirit of vengeance and new caste and group
1240A06 conflicts. ^It will be very difficult for the government to_ establish the
1250A06 authority it desperately needs to_ cope with the problems in hand not
1260A06 only because of the increasing pressure from the Congress (\0I) and other
1270A06 opposition groups but also because of its own folly in carrying the
1280A06 campaign against authoritarianism to a pitch where any kind of
1281A06 authority
1290A06 has become suspect. $^It is difficult even in the best of circumstances
1300A06 to_ strike a workable balance between freedom and authority or spontaneity
1310A06 and discipline. ^In the new circumstances it has become almost impossible.
1320A06 ^It is precisely the kind of situation which made a great poet
1330A06 exclaim in sorrow: "*_^The best lack all conviction while the worst are
1340A06 full of passionate intensity!"
1350A06 **<*3*SOVIET-*AFGAN *RELATIONS*0 $*3Possible Moves By Rival Powers*0**>
1360A06 $*3^It*0 is immaterial from India*'s point of view whether Moscow
1370A06 dominates Kabul or not. ^Given the ideological leanings of the new regime
1380A06 and the regional geopolitical situation, India is not likely to_
1390A06 be disadvantaged in either case. ^For, whatever the exact equation between
1400A06 Moscow, Kabul and New Delhi, there is a coincidence of interests
1410A06 among them. $^For example, no Communist regime in Kabul with close ties
1420A06 with Moscow is likely to_ help further either \0U.S. or Chinese
1430A06 goals in the region. ^It must work to_ contain \0U.S. and Chinese
1440A06 influence in the region and cause concern to regimes which have been close
1450A06 to them-- Iran and Pakistan. ^Indeed, Kabul has already reopened the
1460A06 Pushtoonistan question to the embarrassment of both Islamabad and
1470A06 Teheran. $^There has been a great deal of talk to the effect that it is
1480A06 premature to_ assume Afghanistan will be controlled by the Soviet Union.
1490A06 ^But given the fact that the coup leaders are Soviet-trained, that
1500A06 scarcely a week passes without yet another Kabul-Moscow agreement, that
1510A06 the Afghan forces are entirely Soviet-equipped and that Soviet advisers
1520A06 are reportedly arriving in Kabul in large numbers, it can be safely
1530A06 assumed that the two governments are close to each other. ^But the advantages
1540A06 to India are clear. ^What counteraction are Iran, Pakistan,
1550A06 China and the United States likely to_ take? ^*New Delhi appears
1551A06 to_
1560A06 have convinced itself that there is nothing much these countries can do.
1570A06 ^But this is not true. $^Prediction is a tricky business.
1571A06 ^Nonetheless,
1580A06 it is possible to_ say that for some time all these countries will pursue
1590A06 a policy of wait and watch. ^Even if Afganistan*'s swing into the Soviet
1600A06 orbit is confirmed, they are unlikely to_ do anything dramatic. ^Instead,
1610A06 we are almost certain to_ witness resort to several low-cost options.
1620A06 $*<*3Low profile*0*> $^*China will keep a low profile because that_
1630A06 is currently its preferred foreign policy style. ^The \0U.S. government
1640A06 is constrained both by Congress and by disagreement within it on
1650A06 the best method of handling the new Soviet thrust in Afghanistan and
1660A06 elsewhere. ^*Pakistan has little capacity to_ do anything on its own. ^*Iran
1670A06 has the resources for undertaking a major counteraction. ^But while
1680A06 it was one thing for it to_ intervene in Oman, it will be quite another
1690A06 for it to_ tackle a Soviet-backed Afghanistan.*#
        **[no. of words = 02016**]

        **[txt. a07**]
0010A07 **<*3Hazeman Wins Motorcycle Gfand Prix in Keen Finish*0**>
0011A07 $^There
0020A07 were many races held in the Mafras Motor Sports Club*'s All-India
0030A07 meet and Grand Prix yesterday. ^But just one of those races made every
0040A07 one of the 17 miles that_ one travelled to_ reach the airstrip at Sholavaram
0050A07 worth the while. ^That_ was the Grand Prix for motorcycles which
0060A07 saw the two Malaysian riders-- Hazeman Bin Abdul Aziz and
0061A07 Sonny
0070A07 Soh-- fight every metre of the 30-lap, 69-kilometer trip. $^Both wereon
0080A07 Yamaha 750 \0TZ*'3s the most powerful 'bikes' seen at
0081A07 Sholavaram,
0090A07 and only skill or possibly luck could separate them at the wire. ^Whenever
0100A07 one of them held the lead, it was never more than a few metres and
0110A07 the lead too changed hands often enough to_ keep the capacity audience glued
0120A07 to its seat. ^Finally, in the 28th lap, Hazeman streaked into the
0130A07 lead and held on till the chequered flag was waved at him. ^The unassuming
0140A07 shy lad who is just 21, was himself one of the happiest men, as this
0150A07 brought him his first ever victory in a big race and that_ too happened
0160A07 to_ come in a Grand Prix. $^The same 30-lap event for the more powerful
0170A07 cars came as an anticlimax. ^For, the Maharajkumar of Gondal took
0180A07 off from the start like a scalded cat and soon placed himself and his tremendous
0190A07 Formula Four 5,000 \0cc racer so far ahead of the others that
0200A07 it became a one-horse race. ^*Gondal could even relax after a short while
0210A07 and complete the stipulated 30 laps in a nochalant manner to_ gain himself
0220A07 a prestige prize that_ has often eluded him in the past due to mechanical
0230A07 trouble. $^The day*'s programme was itself an eventful one but
0240A07 that_ great race between the two Malaysians seemed to_ have taken its toll
0250A07 of the emotions of the public. ^Such skill and machines have, perhaps,
0260A07 never been seen in India*'s premier meet. ^In the race were also such
0270A07 distinguished riders as Dilip Singh Chagger of Kenya and Hashmath
0280A07 Sheriff of Madras. ^But engine capacity and that_ inexorable fact--
0290A07 miles per hour-- did not allow them to_ take a greater share in the contest
0300A07 that_ was taking place over every bend, around every chicane and
0310A07 on every straight just ahead of them. $^His richer experience helped Sonny
0320A07 Soh dominate the early part of the race. ^But Hazeman brought every
0330A07 ounce of his talent into the fight and prevailed. ^*Sonny conceded
0340A07 that Hazeman rode a great race but added that after having had the measure
0350A07 of Hazeman in the 28th lap he had the ill-luck to_ collide with a less
0360A07 powerful vehicle near the chicane and by the time he could settle his
0370A07 'bike' Hazeman had stolen a useful lead again. $^The only interest in
0380A07 the four-wheelers \0GP was who would get the second place--
0381A07 Maharajkumar
0390A07 of Wadhwan in a E type Jaguar or *(0A. D.*) Jayaram in his
0400A07 own Special. ^*Jayaram placed a creditable second to Gondal beating
0401A07 Wadhwan,
0410A07 with some skilful driving that_ saw him outmanoeuvre the more powerful
0420A07 machine at every bend. $^The day*'s proceedings began on a comical
0430A07 note with the two wheeler riders taking off much before the starter*'s
0440A07 flag came down. ^The red flags were waved at them and soon the race was
0450A07 re-started but once again it became a false start with many jumping the
0460A07 flag. ^But the race was allowed to_ go on this time. ^There was a minor
0470A07 mishap in this race and a moped rider was reported to_ have suffered
0471A07 some
0480A07 fractures. $^Another thrilling contest was seen in the course of the day.
0490A07 ^This time the women provided it. ^The two sisters-- \0Mrs. Indira
0500A07 Subramaniam and \0Miss Malathy Nilakantan-- went for each other*'s
0501A07 Other*'s
0510A07 throats in two Fiats. ^The cars too almost touched while they were jockeying
0520A07 for positions to_ negotiate the tight chicane at the finishing end
0530A07 for the penultimate time. ^In that_ mad scramble, Indira managed to_ squeeze
0540A07 through on the inside and won the event. $^There were two other minor
0550A07 mishaps during the day. ^*Aspi Dalal had to_ apply the brakes in
0551A07 his
0560A07 Fiat violently in order to_ avoid an erring motorist at the bend and
0561A07 his
0570A07 gear-box gave way spilling oil on the track. ^But Aspi Dalal escaped
0580A07 unhurt even though he sent his car into the light fencing. ^But the more
0590A07 serious one happened in the \0GP when luckily nobody was behind Afrose
0600A07 Pasha when his rear wheel took an independent course on the track
0601A07 near
0610A07 a chicane. ^Those present at the site helped get Afrose*'s car off the
0620A07 track in time. $^A minor disappointment was caused to the spectators when
0630A07 it was announced that both Gondal and Wadhwan would not be participating
0640A07 in the Grand Prix. ^Having seen Gondal*'s car break down on its
0650A07 way to the starting grid for the minor four-lap race (his wheel was
0651A07 not
0660A07 properly resting on its hub then) the announcement was believable. ^But
0670A07 very soon a huge cheer rented the air as the much talked about Formula
0680A07 racer came out of the pits before the start of the big race. ^*Gondalalso
0690A07 lived up to the expectations of the crowd with his performance. ^His
0700A07 lap time of *(01m 20.1s*) must be way ahead of the existing marks.
0710A07 **<*3Bengal Retains Santosh $Trophy*0**> $^In a hard fought encounter
0720A07 the holder, Bengal, in full bloom beat Punjab 3-1 in the replayed
0730A07 final of the National football championship for the Santosh Trophy on
0740A07 the Mohun Bagan ground here to-day. $^The interesting feature of the
0750A07 day*'s play was that all the four goals scored including the one which went
0760A07 to the credit of Punjab were by the Bengal players. ^*Bengal*'s Dilip
0770A07 Palit in a desperate attempt to_ clear the ball before the eager Inder
0780A07 could get to it when he raced down to_ trap a lob found to his
0781A07 horror
0790A07 that he had sent the ball into his own goal. ^This was in the 36th minute
0800A07 of the first half when Bengal was leading by a solitary goal. $^The
0810A07 Bengal forwards did not hold back any punches to-day. ^They came up
0811A07 with
0820A07 relentless attacking bouts, in which they had to_ strain every nerve
0830A07 to_ beat the stubborn Punjab defence which was reinforced by the inclusion
0840A07 of Sukhvinder Singh (senior). ^*Sukhvinder was specially got down
0841A07 for
0850A07 the encounter, along with Parminder and Nand Kishore, who played in
0860A07 the attack. $^The Bengal players proved beyond doubt that whatever the
0870A07 type of defence they might encounter they had the individual capacity
0880A07 and fluent ball play to_ counter it if they applied themselves to the task
0890A07 wholeheartedly. ^In this mood the Bengal attack was seen making intricate
0900A07 moves to_ break through the rival defence which stood like a rock.
0910A07 ^The Punjab defence fought gallantly with little support from its attack
0920A07 which failed to_ keep the ball long enough to_ allow it some breathing
0930A07 time. ^*Bengal*'s youthful Bidesh Bose was in splendid form. ^Instead
0940A07 of running into the rival defence he waited to_ draw the defenders out
0950A07 and was a constant source of threat to Punjab. ^When Punjab began
0960A07 to_ move well in the second-half it found the Bengal defence sharper than
0970A07 ever. $^*Darshan, the Punjab medio, took the first shot of the match
0980A07 which was well directed but Bhaskar Ganguli, at the Bengal goal punched
0990A07 it over neatly. ^It was then that the Bengal attack picked up rhythm
1000A07 and was seen in precise and deliberate movements. ^It was the most hard
1010A07 worked Punjab defence which came in the way of an early goal. ^Within
1020A07 10 minutes Akbar had it well placed for him by Bidesh but his hard
1021A07 drive
1030A07 was directed straight to Surjit, at the Punjab goal. $^There was
1040A07 just one good move from the Punjab attack when Inder found Harjinder
1050A07 on the left who cut in for Parminder, but Bhaskar was too quick to_ intercept.
1060A07 ^Then came the lead for Bengal, Akbar, moving in on the
1061A07 left,
1070A07 sent a hard swerving cross towards the Punjab goal which Surjit failed
1080A07 to_ hold. ^*Shyam Thapa, running in, headed the ball in. ^*Surajit
1090A07 Sen cutting his way past everyone tried to_ beat Surjit as well, but
1091A07 failed.
1100A07 ^Followed this up with a good shot but Surjit effected a fine save.
1110A07 $^The most unexpected equaliser then followed. ^*Inder raced down for
1120A07 a high lobbed pass with three Bengal defenders close on his heels.
1121A07 ^*Dilip
1130A07 Palit sliding down, tried to_ play the ball out but it went in. ^A
1140A07 minute before the break Harjinder, who was well marked, came up with a
1150A07 hard shot but the ball hit the left upright and deflected away. $^A few
1160A07 minutes after the break Pradeep Choudhury who was the mainstay of the
1170A07 Bengal defence was injured and had to_ leave the field. ^*Dilip
1171A07 Sarkar
1180A07 replaced him. ^A little earlier a stone thrown into the field hit the
1190A07 Bengal captain Akbar who, while being carried away, decided to_ take the
1200A07 field again. ^*Punjab looked better organised in the second half and
1201A07 tried
1210A07 the lofted passes and running in tactics with Inder trying his very
1220A07 best to_ break past the Bengal defence, which kept a wary eye on him.
1230A07 ^There were attacks and counter attack by both the teams, which made the
1240A07 play fast and keen. $^In the 15th minute the hard working Bidesh Bose
1250A07 took a hard drive from the left and the ball deflected in off the foot
1260A07 of a Punjab defender giving no chance to Surjit who was caught on the
1270A07 wrong foot. ^Along with the lead Bengal*'s morale also shot up. ^It stepped
1280A07 up its efforts and its attack moved like a fleet-footed gazelle. ^In
1290A07 this mood Surajit sent Akbar up with a defence splitting pass. ^The
1300A07 Bengal captain had only to_ trap the ball with Surjit at his mercy, but
1310A07 in a hurry he failed to_ do so. $^*Ulaganathan came in place of Akbar
1320A07 and his contribution was a well directed drive, which came off the left
1330A07 upright. ^The never relaxing Bengal attack had to_ be rewarded and it
1340A07 came just a minute before the close when Shyam Thapa cleverly feinted
1350A07 to_ dish out a fine through pass for Surajit Sen. ^The latter ran in
1360A07 and struck the ball which went in off Surjit*'s hands. ^This sealed the
1370A07 fate of Punjab which had put up a gallant fight. $\0^*Mr. *(0T. N.
1380A07 *) Singh, the Bengal Governor, gave away the prizes. ^*Shyam Thapa
1390A07 with nine goals got the best scorer*'s award.
1400A07 **<*3CRICKET*0 $*3Emphasis will be on Entertaianment*0**> $^The Board
1410A07 of Control for Cricket in India*'s ruling that cricketers who have
1420A07 played for the country in Tests after 1976 would be paid on retirement
1430A07 a sum commensurate with the services rendered by each of them to the
1440A07 country, based on the number of Tests played, quite naturally places cricketers
1450A07 who have represented the country in Tests earlier at a disadvantage.
1460A07 ^The Board*'s desire to_ reward cricketers financially is certainly
1470A07 commendable. ^However, having passed a resolution to the effect that
1480A07 eminent players like Jaisimha, Borde, Hanumant Singh, Durrani and
1490A07 Baig to_ mention a few, would not be eligible to payment from its benevolent
1500A07 fund, the only way it can help these players is by giving them permission
1510A07 and all help possible to_ organise a match from which the financial
1520A07 return would be useful to them now and for the future. $^The concept
1530A07 of benefit matches to cricketers who have played throughout as amateurs
1540A07 is peculiar to India. ^For professionals in a country like the \0UK,
1550A07 it is a matter of right as it is the only money they can regard as savings
1560A07 for the inactive days ahead. $*(0^*M. L.*) Jaisimha, undoubtedly
1570A07 Hyderabad*'s biggest name in cricket for over two decdes, has had the
1580A07 luck, he richly deserves, in being able to_ have some major international
1590A07 cricketers to_ participate in his benefit match which starts here at
1600A07 the Lal Bahadur Stadium to-morrow. ^One can understand how worried he
1610A07 and the organisers must have been when weather seemed very likely to_ intervene.
1620A07 ^Rain was spoilsport in the recent Ranji trophy quarter-final
1630A07 match between Hyderabad and Bengal.*#
        **[no. of words = 02005**]

        **[txt. a08**]
0010A08 **<*3Nigeria boycotts C*'3wealth $Games because of \0N.Z. ties
0020A08 with \0S.A.**> $^*NIGERIAN sports minister Sylvanus Williams announced
0030A08 his country would boycott the Commonwealth Games in Edmonton,
0040A08 Canada, due to_ start on August 3, as part of its anti-apartheid policy.
0050A08 $^The minister accused New Zealand of circumventing the 1977 Gleoneagles
0060A08 agreement which committed all Commonwealth countries to_ sever
0070A08 sporting ties with South Africa. $^He stressed Nigeria*'s decision
0080A08 was not directed against Canada or the Commonwealth, but said that
0081A08 in the
0090A08 present circumstances his country had no alternative but to_ boycott
0100A08 the Edmonton Games. ^The announcement came as a surprise in view of a
0110A08 recommendation by the Supreme Council for Sport in Africa (\0SCSA)
0120A08 that all African Commonwealth countries should take part in the
0130A08 games. $^*Nigeria was one of 13 African countries expected to_ take part
0140A08 in the games. $^*Nigeria was also one of the prime movers behind a boycott
0150A08 of the 1976 Olymic Games in Montreal when 22 African and Arab
0160A08 countries walked out in protest against New Zealand*'s sporting ties
0170A08 with South Africa. $^*New Zealand had refused to_ call off a tour of
0180A08 South Africa by its All-Blacks rugby union team just before the
0181A08 Olympics.
0190A08 $^The Nigerian statement today said New Zealand had not yet been persuaded,
0200A08 either by action or by the Gleneagles agreement among Commonwealth
0210A08 leaders, to_ review relations with South Africa. $"^It would be
0220A08 illogical in the extreme, therefore, if Nigeria were now to_
0221A08 participate
0230A08 at Edmonton when the reason for boycotting the Olympic Games remains
0240A08 unchanged," the minister said. $\0^*Mr. Williams said most Commonwealth
0250A08 countries had observed the Gleneagles declaration, which condemned apartheid
0260A08 in sport. ^But New Zealand had not had a change of heart. ^He
0270A08 said New Zealanders travelled to South Africa as individuals and regrouped
0280A08 there as a team. ^The New Zealand government openly defended
0290A08 this method of circumventing the Gleneagles agreement, \0Mr. Williams
0300A08 added. $*3London: ^The British ministry of sports expressed surprise
0310A08 here today of the Nigerian decision to_ boycott the Commonwealth
0320A08 Games. ^A spokesman for the ministry said: "*_it*'1s a strange
0321A08 decision.
0330A08 ^It*'1s upsetting that it should happen now, hardly a week before the games
0340A08 start. ^We don*'4t wish to_ make any further comments."
0350A08 **<*3"Times" Shield-- the stiffest test**> $*3^FOR*0 a few hours on
0360A08 Friday some 300 cricketers of the city will take time off from their
0370A08 internal rivalry to_ applaud each other. ^The occasion: the annual
0380A08 prize-distribution function of "The Times Of India" Challenge Shield
0390A08 cricket tournaments to_ be held at the Taj. $^Once the function is
0400A08 over, they will be back to_ jostle one another for prizes in the country*'s
0410A08 most coveted tournament outside first-class cricket. $^They have already
0420A08 set their eyes on the next season. ^*Nirlon, who reached the 'A'
0430A08 division final on their first appearance, have brought off the biggest catch
0440A08 by signing on Sunil Gavaskar. ^*Mafatlal, the reigning champs for
0450A08 the last six years, are not prone to changing and chopping. $^But for a
0460A08 change they have recruited a local player, Zulfiqar Parkar, the young
0470A08 wicketkeeper who earned his Bombay cap last season. $^With the careers
0480A08 of cricketers depending on their performances in the tournament, the "Times"
0490A08 Shield provides the stiffest test. ^Naturally, the matches have
0491A08 a
0500A08 needle touch about them. ^Last season we had a throwing controversy
0501A08 added
0510A08 to the usual fuss about umpiring. ^Players complain about the umpiring
0520A08 without realising that they have brought it on themselves by antagonising
0530A08 by their behaviour the best umpires, who chose to_ stay away from the
0540A08 big matches. $^The only drawback of the tournament is that the matches
0550A08 come at the fag end of the season so that form shown by the young hopefuls
0560A08 is of little consequence. ^Matches cannot be held earlier because
0570A08 they clash with the first-class programme and players from every zone except
0580A08 the east take part in this tournament. $^If form in the "Times" Shield
0590A08 was to_ count, then Bharat Nadkarni of Tata Electric and Chintaman
0600A08 Vaidya of Mahindras would be among the contenders for the Bombay
0610A08 team. ^It is true Mafatllal*'s Jayantilal takes the batting prize
0620A08 for his 244, but the batsman of the tournament was fast-medium bowler
0630A08 Pandurang Salgaonkar who scored centuries for Mahindras-- typifying the
0640A08 spirit of the tournament. ^It is believed that Salgaonkar is keen on
0650A08 playing for Bombay to_ avail of the best fielding support in the country--
0660A08 a thing he has missed with Maharashtra. $^Another player who should
0670A08 be better for "Times" Shield experience is Brijesh Patel, who uncharacteristically
0680A08 ran the risk of being called a plodder while making 231
0690A08 and making Mafatllal*'s task of scoring the 453 runs to_ win easier.
0700A08 $^The "Times" Shield is not a bowler*'s tournament but there were
0701A08 some
0710A08 venues last season where wickets took inordinate turn. ^*Nirlon off-spinner
0720A08 Avadhoot Zarapkar made full use of one such to_ spin out five Aristo
0730A08 batsmen for 21 to_ win the bowling prize on his debut. $^The other
0740A08 prize-winners have not been so lucky, having had to_ wait for years to_
0750A08 gain the distinction. ^At the same time, there are some like Bank of
0751A08 Maharashtra*'s
0760A08 Prakash Patil who is winning his third prize and Crompton
0770A08 Greaves*' Janardhan Choudhary who is winning a second prize after a gap
0780A08 of 16 years. $^Yes, it is true that the game gives you back what you
0790A08 give to it and it is no different with the "Times" Shield. ^If the same
0800A08 were to_ hold true for cricketers *8vis-a-vis*9 their firms, then purpose
0810A08 of the "Times" shield will have been served.
0820A08 **<*3Challenge tourney $a *8fait accompli*9*0**> $*3^THE*0 challenge
0830A08 tournament envisaged by former table tennis international "Monty" Merchant
0840A08 has become a *8fait accompli*9. ^All hurdles have been cleared, a
0850A08 sponsor found and August 1 has been tentatively fixed as the date for the
0860A08 big event. ^The University Stadium will be the venue. $^Soon after
0870A08 his return from the \0U.S. after a five-year stay, Merchant had said
0880A08 that he would take on all of Bombay*'s top three players. ^The trio,
0890A08 Atul Parikh, Suhas Kulkarni and Kamlesh Mehta, quickly accepted
0900A08 the challenge. ^After discussions, all four agreed that the tournament will
0910A08 be to_ raise funds for the Bombay Table Tennis Players*' Association.
0920A08 $^At a press conference today, it was made clear that the challenge
0930A08 tournament would not be a bet match. ^This is a shift from the original
0940A08 concept but it has been necessitated largely by the restraints governing
0950A08 prize money tournaments. ^Besides, the foursome felt that they should
0960A08 not try to_ profit from a competition being organised in aid of the Players*'
0970A08 Association. $^The basic idea to_ introduce something different
0980A08 from the tournament routine, however, is being brought to fruition. ^The
0990A08 challenge tournament is being sponsored by the makers of \0V.I.P.
1000A08 underwears, who are contributing \0Rs. 5,000 towards the project.
1010A08 $^Besides, the Players*' Association hopes to_ swell their income by putting
1020A08 up special "boxes" which will be sold at \0Rs. 1,000 each. ^Each
1030A08 box will seat five and the Players*' Association representatives made
1040A08 a fervent plea to commercial firms and sports-minded patrons to_ book
1050A08 these "boxes". ^There will be 20 boxes in all. $^The date has been tentatively
1060A08 fixed as August 1 as the organisers are racing against time. ^However,
1070A08 should they succeed in selling the "boxes" in the next couple of
1080A08 days, the tournament will most certainly take place on August 1. ^Else,
1090A08 it will be on August 11, immediately after the South Zone at Hyderabad
1100A08 and the Bombay Championships in the city. $^Tickets have been modestly
1110A08 priced at \0Rs. 5 each and will be on sale at the University Stadium
1120A08 from Monday.
1130A08 **<*3Frontier Canadian spirit should overcome money problems*0**>
1131A08 $*3^COMMONWEALTH*0
1140A08 athletes, who watched anxiously as officials sorted out the threat of
1150A08 a mass boycott last week, settled down today to the tense
1160A08 final days of training before Thursday*'s opening ceremony. $^After
1170A08 the eventful week-end, crowned by the arrival of most of the African
1180A08 teams, the Games Village was filling up rapidly and there was a flurry
1190A08 of activity on competition venues. $^Two parties of the Australian
1200A08 track and field squad, coming from their training camp in Washington State
1210A08 or from meets in Europe, brought in a host of medal hopefuls, and
1220A08 the expected late night arrival of teams from Swaziland, Ghana and
1230A08 Trinidad and Tobago brought the village population to over 1,750. ^Even
1240A08 without the 100-strong Nigerian party, the figure is likely to_ be close
1250A08 to the 2,000 mark. ^Four years ago, at Christchurch New Zealand,
1260A08 there were 1,600 athletes. $^There were the usual pre-Games incidents
1261A08 this
1270A08 time involving Scottish athletes caught in the women*'s quarters, a mild
1280A08 row over whether Australian track star Raelene Boyle would wear official
1290A08 team uniforms, injury scares and fears as dope and sex testing began.
1300A08 $^The two Scots, runners Paul Forbes and John Robson, escaped
1310A08 with stern reprimands when they explained their only reason for being caught
1320A08 in the room of two Scottish girls was the wish to_ escape notice
1330A08 after coming home after the curfew hour. ^No blame was attached to the
1340A08 girls but Scottish officials, who had earlier disciplined Forbes and
1341A08 four
1350A08 others for curfew-breaking warned that any future wayward acts would
1360A08 result in immediate expulsion from the team. *<*3dress rehearsal*0*> $^A
1370A08 dress rehearsal of the opening ceremony was held yesterday. ^One of the
1380A08 few obvious hitches was that the placard for the Mauritius team during
1390A08 the parade of athletes was mis-spelled. $^The frontier spirit of the
1400A08 Canadian north west and the informal family nature of the member countries
1410A08 promise to_ overcome the inevitable money and political problems
1411A08 which
1420A08 have reared up on the eve of the games. $^The games here are a triumph
1430A08 of community organisation by Edmonton*'s half million citizens, who
1440A08 move right from their current "Klondike Days" annual fair to playing
1450A08 host to visitors from around the world. ^The proudest boast is that the
1460A08 Games have been organised without major construction problems and within
1470A08 the modest budget. ^There has been no talk of the vast municipal deficits
1480A08 that_ marred the 1976 Olympics in Montreal, and which have frightened
1490A08 citizens of Los Angeles who had hoped to_ host the 1984 Olympics.
1500A08 ^Centrepiece of the new facilities is a 42,000-seat Commonwealth stadium,
1510A08 built at the surprisingly low price of 20.9 million dollars. $^The
1520A08 natural green of the turf and the bright red track and seats form a
1530A08 beautiful picture under the clear blue summer skies. ^And, although athletes
1540A08 expect there will be technical problems for some of the jumping and
1550A08 throwing events, this is a fitting site for the quality of the cast
1560A08 who will perform. $^There are no team sports at the Commonwealth Games,
1570A08 except within the cycling, badminton and lawn bowls competitions, and
1580A08 this has allowed construction or refurbishment of other facilities at
1590A08 reasonable prices. ^The city has been cleaned up, and a new central railway
1600A08 system inaugurated. ^Otherwise there have been few costly building operations.
1610A08 $^Athletics and swimming are the central sports of these Games.
1620A08 ^But the Commonwealth also has some of the world*'s best badminton
1630A08 players, some of the best shooting marksmen and women and a handful
1640A08 of top amateur boxing champions. ^Gymnastics, new on the programme, lacks
1650A08 a Korbut or Comaneci, but Canada and England have exciting newcomers
1660A08 who promise close battles and the weightlifting and wrestling are traditionally
1670A08 hard-fought events. $^The European athletics championships
1680A08 and the world swimming championships next month have diverted some stars,
1690A08 notably England*'s top 1,500 metres runner Steve Ovett. ^*Ovett will
1700A08 miss a meeting with Tanzanian Filbert Bayi, who crowned the last Commonwealth
1710A08 Games in Christchurch with a sensational world record run.
1720A08 $^*Bayi is back in form and has tough challengers. ^But the great
1721A08 track
1730A08 events here could be the 5,000 and 10,000 metres, which bring Kenyan Henry
1740A08 Rono against Brendan Foster and Nick Rose, of England, Rod
1750A08 Dixon and Dick Quax, of New Zealand and another Kenyan, Wilson
1760A08 Waigwa. *<*3golden treble*0*> $^*Henry Rono, Kenya*'s world record-breaking
1770A08 wonder runner, is expected to_ attempt a golden treble here. ^*Rono,
1780A08 26, who has set four world records this year, was cheered on his first
1790A08 morning in Edmonton by news that the 3,000 metres steeplechase
1791A08 could
1800A08 be reduced to a straight final, without qualifying heats.*#
        **[no. of words = 02008**]

        **[txt. a09**]
0010A09 **<*3Khetri residents not aware of 'mass rape'*0**> $*3^IT*0 was like
0020A09 waking up to fame (or notoriety?) for the residents of this sleepy copper
0030A09 township when it hit the headlines in newspapers and, perhaps, for
0040A09 the first time, it was mentioned in foreign broadcasts. $^When the *5Lok
0050A09 Sabha*6 and the *5Vidhan Sabha*6 agitatedly debated the "sordid incident"
0051A09 that_
0060A09 was supposed to_ have occurred here, it took quite some time for the people
0070A09 to_ realise, and believe, that it was this little township that_ had
0080A09 suddenly shot into the limelight. $^The incident-- whatever was known
0090A09 to_ have happened-- had almost been forgotten. $^It was not a matter of
0100A09 pleasure for \0Mr. Babulal Sharma, an employee of the copper complex.
0110A09 ^There were many things, he thought, in Khetri which could have caught
0120A09 the public eye. $*<*3police report*0*> $^Similar sentiments were expressed
0130A09 by a cross-section of the residents, from *(panshop*) owners to
0131A09 officials
0140A09 of the copper complex. \0^*Mrs. Pushpa Tuli, ward *4panch of the
0150A09 area who lives in the neighbourhood of the site of the alleged incident--
0160A09 a cinema hall-- claimed that she would surely have known if some such
0170A09 grave things had occurred there. $^The allegation that something "shameful"
0180A09 involving women had occurred at Khetri on February 26, was the first
0190A09 made in a "letter to the editor" in a national Hindi daily on March
0200A09 7. $^Later, some other newspapers gave lurid details of the alleged
0210A09 incidents. "^We do not know" or "these cannot be true" was the reaction
0220A09 of all whom this correspondent interviewed in the township. $^Yet the story
0230A09 has to_ be told, reconstructed from the bits and pieces of information
0240A09 this correspondent could gather. $^According to the first information
0250A09 report prepared by the station house officer of the Khetri police station,
0260A09 \0Mr. Shambhu Singh, an agent of *(0R. K.*) distributors in
0270A09 Cuttak, \0Mr. Gopal Joshi, had organised a "Junior Mahmood nite"
0280A09 in the compound of Deenbandhu cinema hall at the township on February
0290A09 26. $^There were seating arrangements for 3,400 people, but only some 2,500
0300A09 tickets were actually sold. ^All the advertised film artistes-- Junior
0310A09 Mahmood, \0Miss Kalpana and \0Miss Latika-- except \0Miss Black
0320A09 Billi, had turned up to_ give performances. $^Before the function began,
0330A09 a procession of striking workers went to the nearby power sub-station
0340A09 shouting slogans and asking the sub-station workers to_ join the strike.
0350A09 ^The processionists, however, dispersed after some time. $^As the
0360A09 function started at 9 \0p.m. sharp, a crowd of about 300, which had
0370A09 come from different places in buses but were without tickets, tried to_
0380A09 enter the *4shamiana. ^When they were pushed back by the police, they
0381A09 started
0390A09 throwing stones from a distance. $*<*3chairs carried away*0*> $^At 9.27
0400A09 *(0p.m.*) lights went off. ^Power supply was restored soon, but lights
0410A09 failed again after two minutes. ^There was confusion, shouting and breaking
0420A09 of chairs. ^The policemen on duty escorted "the 30 or 40 women"
0430A09 among the audience to the front lobby of the cinema hall. ^Some candles
0440A09 were lit to_ provide light. $^The crowd started melting away. ^Many of
0450A09 them carried away chairs. ^After about half an hour or so it was possible
0460A09 for the women to_ come out of the cinema hall. ^They were then sent
0470A09 home. $\0^*Mr. Shambhu Singh*'s statement differed somewhat from what
0480A09 two other persons in authority had to_ say. \0^*Mr. Ramjilal Verma, sub-divisional
0490A09 magistrate, who was present at the function, said that there
0500A09 were nearly 100 women in the audience, some quite fashionably dressed.
0510A09 $\0^*Col. Bhanot, chief of the industrial security force at the copper
0520A09 complex, said that since workers of the complex had gone on strike the
0530A09 previous day, he was busy deploying his men at different installations.
0540A09 $^He had gone to a mine site and was returning around midnight when he
0550A09 found huge crowds in the streets. ^On inquiry, he was told that there was
0560A09 a film-star show at the cinema hall two and a half hours after the break-up.
0570A09 $^At Jhunjhunu, the district headquarters, the collector, \0Mr.
0580A09 Samant, said the women among the audience must have been 100 to 150.
0590A09 ^He, however, hastened to_ add that according to reports he had received,
0600A09 there were 60 or 70 women. $*<*3location of stage*0*> $^The function
0610A09 was held on the "L" shaped ground outside the cinema hall. ^The dais was
0620A09 set up at the angle of the two arms of the improvised auditorium allowing
0630A09 only an angular view to the audience. $^There is nothing to_ suggest
0640A09 that what was supposed to_ have followed after the film-star show fiasco
0650A09 was a night of orgy as alleged in some quarters. ^At any rate, there
0660A09 was no tell-tale evidence of broken bangles and women*'s garments strewn
0670A09 around.
0680A09 $**<*3New deal alone can pacify $*4Harijans in Tamil Nadu*0**> $*3^THE*0
0690A09 gory killings in Villupuram have mystified officialdom, it would
0700A09 seem. ^With 12 bodies, including those of a 35-year-old woman and a 12-year-old
0710A09 boy bearing marks of sadistic beating, on view in the government
0720A09 hospital mortuary, the South Arcot collector said he did not know "who
0730A09 fought whom and for what." ^Seven of the victims have been identified
0740A09 as *4Harijans and there is little room for doubt about the others*' identity.
0750A09 $^The one-man inquiry commission of \0Mr. \0R. Sadashivam, retired
0760A09 high court judge, appointed by the Tamil Nadu government to_ inquire
0770A09 into "the incident leading to the communal clashes", will no doubt
0780A09 clear up the mystery. $*<*3new militancy*0*> $^According to many in Villupuram,
0790A09 however, the seeds of conflict were sown long ago. ^The incident
0800A09 in question merely triggered the chain of events leading to arson involving
0810A09 some 100 huts of the *4Harijans and some houses and shops of
0820A09 the prosperous mercantile community, consisting mainly of caste Hindus
0830A09 and Muslims. $^The Villupuram riots are a watershed marking the emergence
0840A09 of militancy on the part of the *4Harijans in Tamil Nadu. ^When
0850A09 the *4Harijans were butchered by the dominant community in Ramnad district,
0860A09 the then chief minister, \0Mr. \0K. Kamaraj, took harsh measures
0870A09 against the erring section. ^In 1968, when at least 44 *4Harijan
0880A09 men, women and children were locked inside their huts and burnt alive by
0890A09 the caste Hindu landlords of Kilavenmani, the then chief minister, \0Mr.
0900A09 *(0C. N.*) Annadorai, did his best to_ prosecute the culprits
0901A09 but
0910A09 to no avail. ^In the last two years, however, the mood and temper of
0920A09 the *4Harijan community has been changing with the younger elements growing
0930A09 conscious of their rights and privileges. $^This correspondent was witness
0940A09 to the change in the comparatively backward Union territory of
0950A09 Pondicherry early this year. ^The *4Harijans of a hamlet called Puranasingapalaym
0960A09 put up their own shrine of the legendary Harishchandra to_
0970A09 watch over their part of the cemetery. ^But the caste Hindu landlords
0980A09 thought the *4Harijans were putting on grand airs. $^They demolished
0990A09 the small shrine. ^Their men, armed with sticks, raided the *4Harijan
1000A09 colony, smashed the car, then cooking pots-- the only possessions of the
1010A09 *4Harijans and damaged some of the huts. ^The terrorised *4Harijans
1020A09 starved for a couple of days, for none of the shops was prepared to_
1030A09 give them foodstuffs even for ready cash. ^They were denied work in the
1040A09 fields. ^When some tried to_ go to far off villages to_ find work word
1050A09 had been passed around by the landlords and the men and women were denied
1060A09 work. ^Intervention by the \0Lt.-governor of the Union territory, \0Mr.
1070A09 *(0B. T.*) Kulkarni, saved the day for the *4Harijans. ^The
1071A09 younger
1080A09 elements justified their defiance. $^Coming to the grisly happenings
1090A09 at Villupuram, the *4Harijan community has lately started asserting itself.
1100A09 ^There have been clashes between them and caste Hindus and also
1110A09 Muslims. ^The *4peria (big) colony of the *4Harijans is adjacent to the
1120A09 busy bus stand and the vegetable and dry fish markets. ^They eke out
1130A09 a living by plying cycle *4rikshaws or working as *4hamals in the
1131A09 markets.
1140A09 ^One more avenue for making extra cash has been opened up by prohibition.
1150A09 ^The town people allege that the colony harbours some illicit distillers
1160A09 and bootleggers. $^The "incident" of July 23 would not have raised
1170A09 an eyebrow normally, it being taken for granted that taking liberties
1180A09 with a *4Harijan girl was one of the privileges of the "higher" castes.
1190A09 ^A young *4Harijan woman was teased by a tomato-seller. ^Five *4Harijan
1200A09 youths from the *4peria colony visited the house of the tomato merchant
1210A09 the same evening and allegedly beat up the man and his wife, not sparing
1220A09 their child. $*<*3economic noose*0*> $^On Monday, the entire
1221A09 mercantile
1230A09 community of caste Hindus and Muslims closed their shops. ^They would
1240A09 not open them, they said, unless the authorities took drastic action.
1250A09 ^The meaning of this becomes clear when one finds that a top civic official
1260A09 and some police officers are *4Harijans. ^The imputation is obvious.
1270A09 $^The *4hartal acted as an economic noose to the *4Harijans. ^Knowing
1280A09 too well that they would be starved into submission, the community
1290A09 leaders surrendered the five youths to the police on Monday evening and
1300A09 requested the merchants to_ call off the *4hartal and treat the incident
1310A09 as closed. $^At this stage, firm and imaginative action by the authorities
1320A09 could have nipped the trouble in the bud, say some of the citizens
1330A09 belonging to the "higher" castes. ^*Monday night was crucial and many
1331A09 *4Harijans
1340A09 told this correspondent that their huts were set on fire the same
1350A09 night. ^Apparently, retaliation followed the next day. ^According to
1360A09 the caste Hindu accounts, a drunken gang of *4Harijans descended on
1370A09 Naickenthope from the nearby *4peria colony and set fire to huts and shops
1380A09 using kerosene and *4arrack. $^Tuesday and Wednesday saw armed mobs
1390A09 on both sides clashing and setting fire to huts, houses and shops, the
1400A09 action mainly confined to the *4Harijan colony and the surrounding markets
1410A09 and caste Hindu residential areas. ^The hospital treated over 70 people
1420A09 for injuries. ^Apparently, the authorities were helpless. ^On Wednesday
1430A09 a Railway Protection Force (*(0RPF*)) patrolman noticed six
1440A09 bodies lying in a shallow pond on one side of the track, outside Marudoor
1450A09 hamlet, and three more bodies tied to a girder on the other side. ^Many
1460A09 people were aware of those bodies but apparently, not the police. ^For,
1470A09 it was only on Thursday morning that the police picked up the bodies
1480A09 and deposited them in the government hospital mortuary. $*<*3devastated
1490A09 colony*> $^From *4Harijan accounts, it would appear that these were
1500A09 of the people who rushed from the *4Peria colony to nearby Annanagar
1510A09 to_ aid their *4Harijan brethren under attack. ^But they seem to_ have
1520A09 been intercepted on the way and done to death. ^Six bodies were found
1530A09 with hands and feet tied. ^They were apparently tied to trees and beaten
1540A09 to death. ^One of the victims was a 12-year-old boy, Sakthi, who was
1550A09 said to_ have been carrying a firecracker. ^In the course of the day, three
1560A09 more bodies were recovered from near the arts college, two of them,
1570A09 one of a 35-year-old woman, had multiple injuries and burns. ^The third
1580A09 one, of a youth, bore evidence of having been strangled. $^On Thursday,
1590A09 the fourth day of rioting and *4hartal, the *4Harijan colony looked
1600A09 devastated and forlorn. ^It was almost deserted and only women and children
1610A09 and a few old men fearfully peeped out of some huts. ^Many of
1620A09 them were sobbing in an open place with a few belongings with them. ^They
1630A09 had not eaten for days. ^This correspondent did not find a single policeman
1640A09 or official in the *4Peria colony to_ give protection to the homeless
1650A09 and frightened families. $^It was only at the end of the gruesome
1660A09 week that ministers, officials, and more policemen along with a horde of
1670A09 politicians descended on Villupuram to_ organise a peace campaign. ^Officialdom
1680A09 claims that peace and goodwill have returned but the portents
1690A09 are otherwise. $^The Dalit Panther spirit has definitely trickled down
1700A09 south and it would be naive to_ expect the *4Harijan community to_ be
1710A09 cowed down by age-old "pacification" method. ^Many thoughtful observers
1720A09 here feel that only a brand new deal for the *4Harihans coupled with
1730A09 the giving up of superior attitudes by the other communities would ensure
1740A09 peace in future.*#
        **[no. of words = 01998**]

        **[txt. a10**]
0010A10 **<*3The same style again**> $*3^REPUBLIC DAY*0 observances
0020A10 in New Delhi underscore the main deficiency of the Janata Government.
0030A10 ^It does not lie in lack of cohesiveness; the Congress umbrella
0040A10 sheltered as wide a spectrum of viewpoints for a far longer period. ^Nor
0050A10 in a gulf between policymaking and achievement. ^To_ judge so soon is
0060A10 unfair. ^The fault stems from an inability to_ devise a style to_ match
0070A10 the role for which it was returned to office. $^Never has Republic Day
0080A10 been more meaningful. ^A year ago, it had been reduced to a farce. ^What
0090A10 was being celebrated was dynastic rule, as capricious and occasionally
0100A10 cruel as under the late Moghuls, under the cloak of constitutional authority.
0110A10 ^Today we are able to_ celebrate the return of constitutional government.
0120A10 ^Vindicated by a massive popular vote against the previous regime,
0130A10 its sanction further strengthened by the refusal of the electorate
0140A10 to_ be cowed by demonstrated ruthlessness. $^The Janata Party was the
0150A10 instrument of this unprecedented peaceful overthrow of authoritarianism.
0160A10 ^In spite of their diverse political origins, its leaders had realised
0170A10 that they would have to_ present an image that_ was not only diffrent
0180A10 to the authoritarian face of \0Mrs Gandhi*'s government but also to
0190A10 the elitist, callous, bureaucratic complexion that_ Congress had inherited
0200A10 from the British. ^They committed themselves to an essentially Gandhian,
0210A10 rural-oriented, decentralised approach to administration,
0211A10 personified
0220A10 by Jayaprakash Narayan. $^Thus the ballot-box revolution went beyond
0230A10 the rejection of \0Mrs Gandhi and her son. ^It also represented rejection
0240A10 of the western-cum-Soviet pattern of forced industrial development
0250A10 through maximisation of material wants, engineered by an elite that_
0260A10 always claimed to_ know what was better for the masses than they themselves
0270A10 and felt it deserved very special privileges in return. $^The huge
0280A10 responsive crowd that_ turned out at the Republic Day parade showed
0290A10 that people were aware of the significance of the occasion, but there
0300A10 was no such sign from the government. ^Judging from the official arrangements,
0310A10 nothing had changed. ^President Sanjiva Reddy was conveyed to the
0320A10 saluting base in the same Victorian horse-drawn carriage in which
0321A10 the
0330A10 Viceroys drove down the very same road. ^He was escorted by the same glittering
0340A10 bodyguard and came from the same place in which they had lived
0350A10 (six months after it was reported that he would prefer to_ move into a less
0360A10 ostentatious residence in the grounds of *5Rashrapati Bhavan*6).
0370A10 $^As before, the President was welcomed by a 21-gun salute and the parade
0380A10 was dominated by the armed forces. ^Yet this was a day that_ commemorated
0390A10 a pledge taken 48 years before to_ attain independence by peaceful
0400A10 means, and the subsequent adoption of a Constitution assuring government
0410A10 by consent. $^In 1947, the absurdity had been overlooked by leaders anxious
0420A10 to_ take over power, complete with its colonial and bureaucratic
0430A10 trappings, from the British. ^Once the need for mass struggle was over,
0440A10 they had ignored Mahatma Gandhi, except when unable to_ quell the communal
0450A10 fires fanned by their own haste. ^The fires were controlled, though
0460A10 not extinguished, by his martyrdom, remembered four days after
0461A10 Republic
0470A10 Day. ^But now a government elected on a pledge to_ revive Gandhian values
0480A10 appears equally oblivious of the contradiction. $^It would have been
0490A10 far more fitting to_ organise a separate Armed Forces Day parade
0500A10 to_ recognise their services to the country. ^But for arms to_ dominate
0510A10 a day on which the nation commemorates non-violent revolution and constitutional
0520A10 government is as contradictory as the decision to use a gun carriage
0530A10 as Gandhiji*'s bier. $^The stereotyped style of the ceremonies
0540A10 could have been disregarded or minimised as at worst indicating a lack
0550A10 of sensitivity and imagination but for the typically bureaucratic tone
0560A10 of President Reddy*'s broadcast on the eve of Repubblic Day. ^In contrast
0570A10 to the non-partisan mediatory style of his previous broadcasts,
0580A10 the language used this time was reminiscent of some of the phrases used
0590A10 during the emergency. $^Take these excerpts: "*_^Some frustrated and
0600A10 desperate elements in our society are determined to_ scuttle the principles
0610A10 of our democratic way of life and destroy the very fabric of our
0620A10 secular society. ^No one should be permitted to_ drag each and every issue
0630A10 to the streets, excite dormant passions, advocate disrespect for law
0640A10 and order and incite violence. ^Let not a few misguided and disgruntled
0650A10 sections of society imagine that they can hold the rest of us law abiding
0660A10 citizens to ransom. ^Swift and stern action will be taken against anyone
0670A10 acting in a manner prejudicial to the national interest..." $^Such
0671A10 phrases
0680A10 have been used repeatedly to_ justify suppression of democratic rights
0690A10 and liberties. ^They are vague enough to_ provide the administration
0700A10 with an excuse to_ put down any inconvenient agitation whether legitimate
0710A10 or otherwise. ^Presumably, the immediate provocation is the incendiary
0720A10 tone of \0Mrs Gandhi*'s speeches and threats of terrorism. ^But
0730A10 if this provokes the Government into hasty counter-action, they will only
0740A10 be playing into her hands, as they did when her arrest was bungled.
0750A10 $^The risk of waiting until criminal charges can be established against
0760A10 someone sponsoring agitation against the Government is the price a democracy
0770A10 pays to_ guard against the bigger risk of misuse of executive power.
0780A10 ^In any case, to_ suggest that the Congress splinter that_ has followed
0790A10 \0Mrs Gandhi*'s desperate recourse to adventurism is significant
0800A10 enough to_ pose a major threat is premature. ^No one with any knowledge
0810A10 of the Mahatma will take her move to_ exploit his name in her campaign
0820A10 against the Janata Party without evidence of sincere realisation of
0830A10 and regret for the far more serious crimes against minority groups committed
0840A10 under her rule. $^Another passage in \0Mr Reddy*'s broadeast is
0850A10 more disquieting, since it suggests a reversion to the iron frame civil
0860A10 service mentality. ^It reads: "*_^Not even during the times of Ashoka
0870A10 nor Akbar was India politically one. ^To our good fortune, the Britishers
0880A10 with their might and skill moulded us into one large political entity."
0890A10 ^Apart from being of doubtful historical validity and overlooking
0900A10 the trauma of partition, this hardly fits in with the content of the
0910A10 *5Purna Swaraj*6 pledge taken on January 26, 1930, that_ Republic
0911A10 Day
0920A10 also commemorates. ^The central point of that_ was that British rule
0930A10 had impoverished every aspect of Indian life. $^To_ assert the opposite
0940A10 today suggests that whoever drafted the President*'s broadcast has
0950A10 returned to the colonial concept of government as a machinery to_ maintain
0960A10 law and order and the *8status quo*9 by whatever means possible, whether
0970A10 the people like it or not. ^It is hard to_ understand how a Janata
0980A10 Government could have allowed this to_ go through. **<*3Modern feudalism*0**>
0990A10 $*3^SOME*0 ten miles south of New Delhi lies an extensive
1000A10 tract of land developed over the years as gentleman*'s farms for some of
1010A10 the most influential people in the capital. ^Among them are industrialists,
1020A10 senior civil and military officers, ex-ministers and \0Mrs
1021A10 Gandhi.
1030A10 $^The modern houses, carefully tended fields and wide range of produce
1040A10 suggest that these must be model farmers. ^But this attitude does not
1050A10 extend to labour relations. ^In fact, many of the landowners have used
1060A10 their \0VIP status and proximity to power to_ evade labour laws and
1070A10 terrorise workers claiming minimum wages and other rights guaranteed
1080A10 under the law. $^The police and district administration have tended to_
1090A10 ignore breaches of the law by the landowners, but come down heavily against
1100A10 workers attempting to_ protest against their conditions of work. ^The
1110A10 rare official who has tried to_ execute the law fairly has usually found
1120A10 himself transferred. $^A stark first-hand account of how impoverished
1130A10 migrant workers in search of work and poorer residents of the area
1140A10 have been exploited with the connivance of local officials is given in
1150A10 "Reason wounded" by Primila Lewis. ^The book is subtitled "An experience
1160A10 of India*'s emergency". \0^*Mrs Lewis had broken no law and no official
1170A10 action could be taken against her until \0MISA became available
1180A10 under emergency conditions. ^Then she was detained for 18 months.
1190A10 ^This is another instance of the kind of use made of the emergency that_
1200A10 \0Mrs Gandhi is now trying to_ whitewash. $\0^*Mrs Lewis*'s
1201A10 account
1210A10 of conditions in the Mehrauli area is of the pre-emergency period.
1220A10 ^The rest of the book recounts her experiences in jail. ^We will have
1230A10 to_ await her next book to_ know whether the Janata Government has made
1240A10 any difference. ^But the interlocking attitudes and interests of the
1250A10 big landowners and the bureaucracy make it unlikely. ^Nor is there any reason
1260A10 to_ believe that conditions are better elsewhere. ^But it is particularly
1270A10 shocking to_ find them within sight of *5Rashtrapati Bhavan*6
1280A10 $"^*Reason wounded" tells the story of how \0Mrs Lewis and a woman
1290A10 colleague (who was also imprisoned during the emergency) tried to_ organise
1300A10 migrant farm workers to_ demand their rights. ^It is a graphic account
1310A10 of what it feels to_ be on the other side, to_ have the entire ruling
1320A10 establishmant ranged against you. ^This included the local village elders
1330A10 who were equally opposed to anything that_ might make *4Harijans
1331A10 and
1340A10 other oppressed groups question their lot. $^When the police were not available,
1350A10 *4goondas were employed. \0^*Mrs Lewis was herself beaten up--
1360A10 kicked so hard that three ribs were broken. ^Yet the book is not an account
1370A10 of defeat. ^The Dehat Mazdoor Union was registered. ^Some landowners
1380A10 were obliged to_ pay workers their dues. ^The union was gathering
1390A10 strength when the emergency provided a cover to_ jail its organisers. $^But
1400A10 the book also describes how difficult it is to_ organise men to whom
1410A10 the loss of jobs means starvation, and with plenty more like them available
1420A10 for employment under the worst of conditions. ^They know nothing
1430A10 about the Minimum Wages Act and other labour legislation. ^Even if they
1440A10 find out the procedures and expenses are beyond them, unless helped
1450A10 from outside. $^One of the union*'s failures recounted in the book concerns
1460A10 the effort to_ secure compensation for a young Nepali employed on a
1470A10 stud farm who was kicked by a horse so badly that he could neither walk
1480A10 nor see nor hear properly thereafter. ^His employer, a retired General,
1490A10 had paid him nothing after the accident. $^According to legal advice,
1500A10 not only could compensation be claimed but overall improvements demanded
1510A10 under the Industrial Disputes Act, the Delhi Shops and Establishments
1520A10 Act and the Workmen*'s Compensation Act. ^Other workers threatened
1530A10 to_ strike. ^But the General was ultimataly able to_ cow them down
1540A10 with police assistance. $^The union was more successful in securing payment
1550A10 of dues owed to workers dismissed without notice. \0^*Mrs Lewis describes
1560A10 the process: $"^As soon as an employee presented his claim or the
1570A10 union sent a letter to the *4malik, the wheels went into action. ^First
1580A10 the worker would be threatened with jail or worse if he did not leave the
1590A10 premises at once. ^If threats failed, they would send *4goowdas or
1591A10 the
1600A10 police, although the latter had to_ move more cautiously now. ^Those who
1610A10 succumbed at this stage were forced to_ sign or, as most of them were
1620A10 illiterate, to_ put a thumbprint on a blank sheet of paper or under a notice
1630A10 saying that all their accounts had been settled and they were leaving
1640A10 the farm of their own accord. ^Where these tactics failed as well,
1650A10 we won. $"^It took a lot of courage to_ stand up to these threats and this
1660A10 intimidation from the combined might of the Indian elite and its police-cum-*4goonda
1670A10 force. ^Facing them was the *5Purabiya Bhayya*6 gentle,
1680A10 simple, illiterate, timid, and often terrified, but goaded on by a
1690A10 glimmer of new light, hope, and understanding." $^Even limited success was
1700A10 catching, especially after the union was able to_ secure ration cards
1710A10 for all its members. ^They were helped by a sympathetic senior official
1720A10 who told them that rations supplied in the names of migrant labour were
1730A10 being siphoned off into the black market. ^Even so, a demonstration had
1740A10 to_ be organised before the ration office before cards were issued. $^Workers
1750A10 in stone quarries, brick kilns and small factories in the vicinity
1760A10 began to_ stir. ^But this antagonised more influential people. ^Pressures
1770A10 began to_ mount, the police and local officials turned attacks on union
1780A10 workers into charges against them.*#
        **[no. of words = 02015**]

        **[txt. a11**]
0010A11 **<*3Rural Scene Woodpickers of Girnar*0**> $*3^LEOPARDS*0, wild
0020A11 boars, stag, deer, fox and lions abound in the thick forests of the Gir
0030A11 mountains in Junagadh district, Gujarat. ^But undaunted, many women visit
0040A11 the forests regularly with a small axe, some food (usually left-overs
0050A11 of the previqus night) and an old tin water can. ^Generally they walk
0060A11 three to four miles deep into the forests. ^When they reach their destination,
0070A11 they hang their food packets on tree branches and get down to the
0080A11 work of cutting dry branches. ^Periodically they shout to_ keep track
0090A11 of others on the same errand. $^As the sun gets hotter they gather together
0100A11 and sit in the shade for lunch. ^In the evening the women come back
0110A11 with a load of wood on their heads to_ be sold in the towns. $^They are
0120A11 strictly prohibited to_ cut the *5sisam sag*6 timber or green trees.
0130A11 ^If caught with any of these, the checking inspector at the toll station
0140A11 seizes their axe which will be returned only when the fine is paid in
0150A11 cash. ^The inspector fixes the fine by the length of the log cut illegally.
0160A11 $^According to a recent survey, 58 per cent of the women are accidentally
0170A11 hurt by the axe sometime or the other, and 10 per cent bitten by
0180A11 wild animals while at work. ^In case of injury, they usually apply fine
0190A11 dust or tobacco powder which they carry for chewing. ^The average monthly
0200A11 income of the women is around \0Rs. 120, the earnings being higher
0210A11 from March to May. ^They do this strenuous and risky work because it would
0220A11 be difficult to_ make both ends meet if they relied solely on the income
0230A11 of the male members. $^Seven per cent of the women engaged in firewood
0240A11 collecting borrow money from money lenders and one per cent from banks.
0250A11 ^Ninetynine per cent do not own any agricultural land. ^50 per cent
0260A11 live in their own houses, while 46 per cent live in rented houses. ^While
0270A11 26 per cent use firewood and dung cakes only for fuel purposes, 74 per
0280A11 cent use kerosene also. ^Ninetyseven per cent of them do not care about
0290A11 family planning; only 2 per cent have undergone tubectomy. $^To_ ameliorate
0300A11 the plight of these women, the self-employed Women*'s Association
0310A11 (\0SEWA) has decided to_ form an organisation of their own.
0320A11 ^*Manjula, an educated girl of the wood-cutter community, is being trained
0330A11 in Ahmedabad for this purpose. $\0^SEWA* has also drawn up a programme
0340A11 for constructive forestry in Girnar. ^If taken up seriously,
0350A11 it will prove to_ be a boon to the people of Junagadh.
0360A11 **<*3Why they go to towns**> $*3^A STUDY*0 based on data from forty
0370A11 Indian villages has shown that the majority of migrants from villages
0380A11 to towns and cities are adult males, married and on balance educationally
0390A11 more advanced than their fellow villagers. ^It has also revealed that
0400A11 while the unequal distribution of resources in the village is a key factor
0410A11 in inducing migration, it is not necessarily the landless or the poorest
0420A11 who migrate. $^The study conducted by \0Mr Bilap Dasgupta, a noted
0430A11 economist, forms one of the chapters in a recently published book
0440A11 entitled 'Village studies in the third world.' ^The object of the study
0450A11 was to_ find anwers to two main questions-- one, which social, economic
0460A11 and demographic factors in village life are associated with migratory
0470A11 movements, and two, who are the migrants? $^The village-level data collected
0480A11 by the author have been used in two ways. ^Firstly it focuses attention
0490A11 on the differences between villages in terms of migration and other
0500A11 socio-economic variables; and secondly, it pools together information
0510A11 on individual migrants for several villages in order to_ identify the migrant
0520A11 population. $^The forty villages covered by the study are in Uttar
0530A11 Pradesh, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh,
0540A11 Gujarat and Rajasthan. ^The maximum number of villages covered is
0550A11 in Gujarat (9), followed by Uttar Pradesh (8), Himachal Pradesh has
0560A11 the least number of villages covered (3). $^According to the study, within
0570A11 the migrant group, the majority belong to two opposite ends of the
0580A11 educational scale-- illiterates and those with secondary or higher education.
0590A11 ^Occupation-wise the majority of working migrants comes from self-employed
0600A11 agriculturist and non-agriculturist households, while the agricultural
0610A11 labour households contributed only 5.4 per cent-- a much smaller
0620A11 proportion than in non-migrant households. ^Data on caste are scanty
0630A11 and do not suggest any caste-selectivity of migration, although defferent
0640A11 caste groups work in different types of occupation after migrating.
0650A11 $^Investigation on village characteristics associated with migration shows
0660A11 that both village-base and urban-relations are two factors which induce
0670A11 migration. ^Among the village-base factors, the following are major ones--
0680A11 land-shortage, low fertility of land, skewed distribution of land,
0690A11 and the resulting high proportion of landless agicultural workers. $^The
0700A11 two major urban-relations factors are commercialisation of agriculture,
0710A11 and the percentage of land under main cash crop, followed by access
0720A11 to towns. $^The village with high rates of migration is characterised
0730A11 by a pattern of unequal resource distribution. ^Such a typical village
0740A11 consists of a relatively commercialised agricultural base with a
0741A11 well-developed pattern of interaction with
0750A11 a wider economic network. ^Land distribution between the village households
0760A11 is particularly unequal, thus implying a concentration in the returns
0770A11 to agriculture to a few, relatively prosperous households. $^The study
0780A11 says that such a diversified village structure produces a dualistic
0790A11 pattern of migration, consisting of both younger sons of prosperous farmers,
0800A11 well-educated and migrating to_ secure urban employment, and of
0810A11 various family members from the labour classes moving to other rural areas,
0820A11 or to low paid insecure and marginal urban employment. ^The cause of
0830A11 such migration lies in intra-rural inequality. ^Both the accumulation
0840A11 of surplus by the rich and the poverty of the landless result in the situations
0850A11 where rural development opportunities are limited in large migration.
0860A11 $^Some migrants leave the village permanently; some for short periods
0870A11 with the objective of accumulating some savings in the town and then
0880A11 returning home; some during off-seasons in agriculture migrate just
0890A11 for a change of atmosphere and incidentally earning a little ready cash.
0900A11 ^Seasonal migration is not possible unless work is available in their
0910A11 destinations. ^If there is a prosperous town nearby and a few miles away,
0920A11 people commute to the town returning home after work every evening. $^The
0930A11 study further says that many of those going to the city during famine
0940A11 or riots intend to_ return to their villages with the restoration of
0950A11 normal conditions, but not all of them manage to_ do so. ^Similarly many
0960A11 of those who intend to_ permanently migrate to the city actually return
0970A11 when they fail to_ get jobs or find life in the city unattractive. $^Who
0980A11 leaves the village, to which destination, and for how long, depends
0990A11 a great deal on whether the migration is in response to recruitment
0991A11 drive by
1000A11 employers outside the village such as factories, mines and plantations;
1010A11 whether the migration is organised or involuntary, and whether it is related
1020A11 to perceived variation between economic opportunities in the village
1030A11 and outside the village. $^Lastly, there are cases of households maintaining
1040A11 two establishments, one in the village and the other in the town.
1050A11 ^Often the individual members of these two establishments change over
1060A11 time. ^The working members in the town return to the village after a few
1070A11 years when their places are taken up by other members. ^On the other
1080A11 hand, there are cases where the individual migrating member severs the link
1090A11 with his household and the village and sets up his own household in
1100A11 the town. ^The relationship between the migrant and his family in the village
1110A11 thus fluctuates very often.
1120A11 $**<*3Participation yes, but no populism*0**> $*3^IN*0 India popular
1130A11 participation at the village level has been known throughout the ages.
1140A11 ^It was effected through the village *4panchayats. ^After Independence
1150A11 in 1947, however, the search for a systematic approach in this respect started.
1160A11 ^The recommendations of the Balwant Rai Mehta Committee in
1170A11 1959 gave the search a further impetus and the three-tier hierarchical system--
1180A11 *4panchayat, *(Block Samiti*) and *5zila parishad*6-- was
1181A11 introduced
1190A11 in the country. $^These institutions were designed to_ be a live forum
1200A11 of elected representatives, which would reflect the problems, needs and
1210A11 aspirations of the people to the bureaucratic system of administration.
1220A11 ^The role assigned to *4panchayats was, however, limited, which seemed
1230A11 inevitable with the increase in the State*'s regulatory powers and
1240A11 functions. ^Party politics in a largely illiterate, caste-ridden country,
1250A11 made matters worse. ^With little power and resources and training and
1260A11 still less expertise, the *4panchayats became a shadow or caricature of
1270A11 what they were supposed to_ be. $^At the *(Block Samiti*) and
1271A11 *5zila Parishad*6 levels
1280A11 the inherent contradictions and conflicts with the bureaucracy
1290A11 added to the mess. ^State politics intruded directly into their
1300A11 affairs. ^Even in some states like Maharashtra, where the resources available
1310A11 were larger and there was a clear-cut demarcation of the role
1320A11 of the bureaucracy, the institutions by and large floundered owing to the
1330A11 conflict of personalities, interests and ideologies. $^Today popular
1340A11 participation is a bogey to administrative circles and an obsession for
1350A11 the politicians-- at least from the appearance. ^Caught between these pulls,
1360A11 the system has been in suspended animation in some states and a purposeless
1370A11 exercise in other states. $^An analysis of the malady afflicting
1380A11 the system is necessary before any remedial measures can be suggested.
1390A11 ^For this purpose it is essential to_ understand the meaning and nature
1400A11 of popular participation in rural development and administration. ^Raising
1410A11 the income, productivity and consumption levels, improving the educational
1420A11 and health standards, enrichment of the social and cultural life,
1430A11 awakening the civic consciousness of the people, and strengthening
1440A11 the democratic institutions. ^All these fall within the broad spectrum
1450A11 of development. ^Thus the area of people*'s
1460A11 participation could include the formulation of a suitable strategy to_
1470A11 achieve these objectives: the preparation of projects, mobilisation
1480A11 and allocation of resources and finally, the implementation. ^A regular
1490A11 review and evaluation of the programmes should also be provided for. $^Obviously,
1500A11 popular participation in all these spheres is neither feasible
1510A11 nor desirable. ^So, it would be necessary to_ identify the areas where
1520A11 it is possible. ^The extent of participation should also be spelt out
1530A11 early enough. $^This selective participation cannot take place in a political
1540A11 or administrative vacuum. ^It depends on the level of political
1550A11 and social awareness and administrative factors. ^The Indian village-group
1560A11 is not a Swiss canton where the sense of responsibility is greater
1570A11 than the sense of rights. ^It is not a British County where the roots
1580A11 of democratic behaviour are almost as old as civil administration. ^While
1590A11 popular participation at Central and State levels has thrown up
1600A11 people with the requisite intelligence and vision, it is a different story
1610A11 at the disirict and *4tehsil levels. ^Things are still worse at the local
1620A11 *4panchayats. $^It is also at these grassroots that the machinery
1621A11 of
1630A11 administration is at its weakest. ^And paradoxically, it is here that the
1640A11 need as well as the opportunity for popular involvement is the greatest.
1650A11 $^There is an inherent imcompatability in popular control and administrative
1660A11 autonomy, but the inevitability of the former in a democratic
1670A11 system must be understood. ^Popular pressures cannot be wished away; they
1680A11 act not only as brakes but also as steering wheel and the accelerator.
1690A11 ^Admixture of politics with administration is thus a fact of life. $^On
1700A11 the other hand, the dangers of populism are too many and too real to_
1710A11 be ignored while talking of popular participation. ^If unchecked it could
1720A11 usurp the role of developmental administration and make the administrator
1730A11 ineffective. ^These limitations of popular participation were
1740A11 often overlooked in our anxiety to_ go the whole hog everywhere-- we created
1750A11 a parallel administration, the *5Zila Parishad*6, at the district
1751A11 level,
1760A11 in the process of weakening both the administration and real participation
1770A11 of the community. ^We did not provide for education or training,
1780A11 so necessary for building competence and character. ^We devalued the
1790A11 local unit of *4panchayat and made it too small, weak, resourceless and
1800A11 personalised. ^In short, we made the entire system dependent on compromise.
1810A11 $^*I will now proceed to_ identify the possible areas as well as the
1820A11 limits of popular participation.*#
        **[no. of words = 02017**]

        **[txt. a12**]
0010A12 **<*33 Die in Akali-Police Clash $in Delhi: Curfew Imposed*0**> $^Three
0020A12 persons, including a police constable, were killed and 50 policemen
0030A12 and 40 Akali demonstrators injured in pitched battles between the demonstrators
0040A12 and the police here today. $^The Police Commissioner of
0050A12 Delhi today imposed curfew for 16 hours in areas around Parliament House
0060A12 and the venue of the Nirankari convention near the India Gate. ^The
0070A12 curfew will last till 8 \0a.m. tomorrow. $^The situation in the tension-ridden
0080A12 areas was under control late to-night, a police spokesman said.
0090A12 $^The Akali-Police battle was triggered by the Akali attempt to_
0100A12 stage a demonstration against the holding of a three-day Nirankari convention
0110A12 which began here yesterday. $^The Police Commissioner, \0Mr.
0120A12 *(J. N.*) Chaturvedi, told newsmen that police fired 29 rounds at four
0130A12 places to_ prevent sword-wielding Akalis from reaching the site of the
0140A12 Nirankari conference. $"^The police fired to_ save constables from being
0150A12 butchered with swords by Akalis," he said. $^The Deputy Commissioner
0160A12 of Police, \0Mr. Kulbir Singh, said most of the firing was in
0170A12 the air. $\0^*Mr. Chaturvedi said, of the three dead, one was a Delhi
0180A12 police driver Darshan Singh, who was killed in heavy stoning at the
0190A12 Baba Kharak Singh Marg near the Banglasaheb Gurudwara, where the day*'s
0200A12 troubles started. $^*Akali (rebel) group leader Avtar Singh
0201A12 Kohli
0210A12 died of cardiac arrest following suffocation from tear-gas. ^The third
0220A12 victim was an unidentified teenager who had bullet injuries. $\0^*Mr.
0230A12 Chaturvedi said three companies of \0BSF (about 300) and 20 companies
0240A12 of the Central Reserve Police force had been deployed to_ protect
0250A12 vital installations like All India Radio in the city. $^He said
0260A12 that 339 rounds of tear-gas were fired and 317 persons, including 48 women,
0270A12 arrested. $*<*3ban order*> $\0^*Mr. Chaturvedi said that orders banning
0280A12 carrying of weapons and assembly of five or more persons had been
0290A12 promulgated throughout the city for a week. $^This would, however, not
0300A12 affect the Nirankari conference which had been allowed special permission.
0310A12 $^The Police Deputy Commissioner, \0Mrs. Kiran Bedi, and three
0320A12 Assistant Commissioners were among the injured. $^Seven vehicles--
0330A12 four buses, had been destroyed in the incidents of arson. ^Thirteen vehicles--
0340A12 eight buses, three police trucks and two jail vans-- were damaged
0350A12 in brick-batting. ^The Andhra Pradesh guest house was also damaged.
0360A12 $\0^*Mr. Chaturvedi has sanctioned an *8ex-gratia*9 payment of \0Rs.
0361A12 5,000
0370A12 to the family of Darshan Singh. $^The organisers of the demonstration
0380A12 alleged that \0Mr. Kohli had died after he was taken into custody and
0390A12 tear-gas shells were fired into a vehicle in which he was being taken.
0400A12 $\0^*Mr. *(0N. K.*) Singhal, Additional Commissioner of Police (Range),
0410A12 said \0Mr. Kohli had not been taken into custody and according
0420A12 to their information, he was rushed to a hospital by his own people. ^He
0430A12 denied that police had fired any tear-gas shells into any vehicle. $^The
0440A12 police driver, who died in the hospital was stabbed in his stomach with
0450A12 a full length sword. ^A number of constables had also received sword
0460A12 injuries, he said. $^Six policemen were brought to the Lohia Hospital
0470A12 in a serious condition. $^The Deputy Commissioner of Police (\0CID),
0480A12 \0Mr. \0S. Sundararajan, was attacked by a demonstrator with
0490A12 a screw driver. ^He, however, managed to_ snatch it. $^A traffic police
0500A12 sub-inspector whose motor-cycle was damaged was attacked by a young demonstrator
0510A12 with a sword. $^The demonstrators raised anti-Prime Minister
0520A12 and anti-Nirankari slogans. $^The demonstrators also burnt an effigy of
0530A12 Baba Gurbachan Singh, head of the Nirankari mission, at Windsor
0540A12 Place round-about in New Delhi. $^However, unmindful of the violent
0541A12 incidents,
0550A12 the Nirankari convention continued on the second day with a large
0560A12 number of people seeking entry into the ground. $^It is estimated that
0570A12 about two *4lakh persons, including some delegates from abroad, are
0571A12 participating
0580A12 in the convention. $^A spokesman of the Nirankari Mandal saaid
0590A12 the main aim of the convention is to_ discuss spirirual issues, unity
0600A12 and brotherhood of mankind. $^The trouble began shortly before noon
0610A12 when the Akalis, after a congregation at the Gurudwara, decided to_ send
0620A12 groups to_ court arrest at Windsor Place by defying the prohibitory
0630A12 orders enforced around the conference area. $^As members of the first
0640A12 *4jatha, led by the Delhi Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee president \0Mr.
0650A12 Jaswant Singh Sethi, was taken into the waiting police van, a crowd
0660A12 of supporters tried to_ break through the police cordon to_ move towards
0670A12 the conference site. $^*Akalis poured into Windsor Place in
0671A12 waves,
0680A12 broke through the police cordon and headed towards the conference site
0690A12 along two roads. $^Pitched battles ensued as the police tried to_ stop
0700A12 the groups at different points. ^The Akalis set fire to buses along Ashoka
0710A12 Road near the *4Gurudwara. $^One group allegedly tried to_
0720A12 set fire to the post office but were foiled by the \0CRP personnel.
0730A12 $^Many Akalis reassembled at the Gurdwara premises and threw stones
0740A12 at the \0CRP unit stationed nearby with stones. $^The \0CRP
0750A12 personnel retaliated by bursting tear-gas shells and the two sides fought
0760A12 a running battle, which continued till nightfall. $^Newsmen covering
0770A12 the Akali demonstration were threatened and accused of being pro-Nirankari.
0780A12 $^A photographer of "The Tribune" from Chandigarh was injured
0790A12 by some young Sikhs and his equipment snatched away, at the Bangla
0800A12 Saheb Gurudwara. $^Another reporter from a local daily was asked not
0810A12 to_ smoke near the processionists. $^*Giani Amer Singh, Secretary of
0820A12 the Shiromani Akali Dal, Amritsar, now here, demanded a judicial probe
0830A12 into the death of \0Mr. Kohli.
0840A12 $**<*390 Perish in $Nilgiris Rain: $Ooty Town Hit**> $^At least
0850A12 90 persons perished in landslips, house collapses and floods in Ooty town
0860A12 and suburbs following non-stop rain that_ lashed the blue mountains from
0870A12 last night, taking the monsoon toll in Tamil Nadu well beyond 100.
0880A12 $^The State Information Minister, \0Mr. *(0R. M.*) Veerappan, told
0890A12 newsmen this evening that according to reports reaching the headquarters
0900A12 here 90 bodies had been recovered so far. ^Among those killed was a
0910A12 woman doctor whose house collapsed during the night. $^Also killed in a
0920A12 building collapse were eight members of a school excursion party from Jaipur,
0930A12 Rajasthan. ^The 60-member group was trapped when a lodge caved
0940A12 in during the night. ^Among the eight killed were five students and two
0950A12 teachers. ^There were in all 37 students. ^The Rajasthan Government has
0960A12 been informed of the safety of the rest of the party. $^Twenty-four
0970A12 persons were killed on the spot when mounds of earth smothered a few huts
0980A12 in Ketti, six \0km. from Ooty. ^They were asleep at the time. $^The
0990A12 destruction in Ooty and nearby areas was caused by the deep depression
1000A12 which, after crossing Cuddalore yesterday morning, travelled westwards
1010A12 and merged into the Arabian Sea off the north Kerala-Karnataka coast.
1020A12 ^It lay as a depression, centred at 8-30 \0a.m. to-day about 100
1030A12 \0km. west-south-west of Calicut. ^It is likely to_ intensify further
1040A12 and move away in a west-north-westerly direction. $^It brought heavy rain
1050A12 and misery to the population in a wide area. $^The system is likely to_
1060A12 cause widespread rain with scattered heavy fall in the districts of Norht
1070A12 Arcot, Dharmapuri, Salem, Coimbatore, Nilgiris, Tiruchi and
1080A12 Madurai during the next two days. ^Fairly widespread rain with isolated
1090A12 heavy falls is likely in the remaining districts of Tamil Nadu and in
1100A12 Pondicherry. $*<*3Flood Warning $to Tiruchi Town*> $^Flood warning
1110A12 has been issued to Tiruchi town. ^Flood waters entered Bhavani town
1120A12 last night but receded by this afternoon. $^The Army has been alerted
1121A12 to_ stand by to_ help the
1130A12 civil authorities in Tiruchirapalli and Thanjavur districts and in Pondicherry.
1140A12 $^In response to a request from the State Government, Major
1150A12 General *(0S. P.*) Mahadevan, \0GOC-in-Chief, Andhra, Tamil
1160A12 Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala, directed the deployment of a task force
1170A12 of *4jawans from the Madras Regimental College in Ooty to_ help
1180A12 restore communication between Coonoor and Ooty. $^The Government has
1190A12 deputed \0Mr. *(0K. S.*) Sivasubramanian, \0IAS, member, Board
1200A12 of Revenue, to the Nilgiris to_ take charge of relief operations.
1210A12 ^He left for Ooty to-night. $\0^*Mr. Manoharan, contacted the Agriculture
1220A12 Minister, \0Mr. \0P. Kolandaivelu and the Co-operation Minister,
1230A12 \0Mr. *(0K. A.*) Krishnaswamy, camping at Udumalpet, and asked
1240A12 them to_ rush to Ooty. $^The Finance Minister announced an *8ex-gratia*9
1250A12 payment of \0Rs. 1,000 each to the families of the persons
1251A12 killed in
1260A12 the Nilgiris district. ^Similar relief will also go to the families of
1270A12 six persons who died in house collapses in Thanjavur district. $^In
1280A12 a statement, \0Mr. Manoharan expressed shock at the tragedy and conveyed
1290A12 sympathies to the bereaved families on behalf of the Chief Minister,
1300A12 \0Mr. *(0M. G.*) Ramachandran. $^The Governor, \0Mr. Prabhudas
1310A12 Patwari, has in a message expressed sympathy with the families of those
1320A12 who lost their lives in the rains in Tamil Nadu. $^Among the centres
1330A12 which received heavy rainfall during 24 hours ending 8-30 \0a.m. to-day
1340A12 were Ooty 33 \0cms, Sathyamangalam 25 \0cms, Coonoor 16 \0cms, Namakkal
1350A12 13 \0cms, Salem and Kodaikanal 10 \0cms each, Meenambakkam,
1351A12 Dharmapuri,
1360A12 Coimbatore, Tiruchi and Kumbakonam 7 \0cms each, Nungambakkam
1370A12 and Mannargudi 6 \0cms each and Parangipettai, Tiruchi airport
1380A12 and Vedaranyam 5 \0cms each. $^Our Staff Reporter writes from Ooty:
1390A12 $^The overnight rain in the Nilgiris left a toll of 74 dead in house collapses
1400A12 and landslips in Ooty and its suburbs and 12 in flash floods near
1410A12 Kotagiri. ^Twentyfour others were reported missing. ^With \0Dr. (\0Miss)
1420A12 Satiabhama, 28, a Civil Assistant Surgeon, died a
1421A12 19-year-old
1430A12 girl when their house collapsed. $^The Coonoor-Ootacamund area received
1440A12 between 45 and 60 \0cm of rain in 24 hours which caused all the havoc,
1450A12 an official spokesman said. $^According to latest reports, rain water
1460A12 gushed into a warehousing godown of the Hindustan Photo Films, causing
1470A12 damage to imported film rolls. ^According to an official of the \0HPF,
1480A12 the extent of damage could be considerable. ^He said they were
1490A12 engaged in draining out water from the godown. $^Landslips were reported
1500A12 to_ be heavy in Manthada in Ketti.
1510A12 $**<*3Bombay *4Bandh Turns Violent 300 \0BEST Buses Damaged**>
1520A12 $^The one-day Bombay *4bandh called by the Congress (\0I),
1521A12 Congress,
1530A12 the Shiv Sena and the Republican Party (Ghavai Group) to_ protest
1540A12 against the *5Lok Sabha*6 action against \0Mrs. Indira Gandhi, was
1550A12 marked by violent incidents and arson. $^The sponsors of the *4bandh
1551A12 gave
1560A12 an assurance yesterday that it would be peaceful but the incidents which
1570A12 took place to-day particularly in North Bombay belied that_ statement.
1580A12 $^Two \0BEST buses were set on fire, one at Santa Cruz (West)
1590A12 and another near Kurla. ^The miscreants also attempted to_ set fire to
1600A12 a milk van near Lamington Road police station in Central Bombay and
1610A12 another near Haffkine Institute. $^A spokesman of the \0BEST undertaking
1620A12 said that more than 300 buses had been damaged. $^Two private
1630A12 cars were damaged near Bandra and three cars were overturned in the vicinity
1640A12 of Shiv Sena Bhavan at Dadar. $^As the 17-hour *4bandh ended
1641A12 at
1650A12 5 \0p.m. the city became normal, all shops reopened, all buses were on
1660A12 the road though taxis were conspicuous by their absence. $^A police official
1670A12 said that there were 47 incidents in the city and two inspectors
1680A12 received injuries. $^A first class compartment of a stationary train at
1690A12 Elphinston Road (a suburban station on the Western Railway) was set
1700A12 on fire by hooligans early this morning. ^The fire was put out. $^From
1710A12 the early hours of this morning miscreants began to_ place stones as barricades
1720A12 at important junctions. ^Such barricades on the Western Express
1730A12 highway prevented cars from reaching Santa Cruz airport. ^Those who
1740A12 attempted to_ remove the blockade were subject to a fusillade of stone-throwing.
1750A12 $^With the break of dawn stone-throwing was intensified at key
1760A12 points from Shivaji Park to Mahim. ^Not a car was spared. ^Roads were
1770A12 littered with broken glass pieces. ^Many of the unfortunate victims
1780A12 were air passengers hurrying to_ catch early morning flights. $^Taxis were
1790A12 off the road from early morning. \0^*BEST buses stopped plying
1800A12 in North Bombay, where stone-throwing was heavy. ^Only in South Bombay
1810A12 buses were seen moving under police escort. $^Many of the passengers
1820A12 who came from foreign countries were stranded at the airport because ofthe
1830A12 non-availability of transport. ^They could not get accommodation in
1840A12 the nearby Tourist Corporation Hotel which had been booked heavily last
1850A12 night itself.*#
        **[no. of words = 02005**]

        **[txt. a13**]
0010A13 **<*35 Buried Alive $under Garbage**> $^Five people were killed and
0020A13 another was injured when a garbage heap, about 20 feet high, collapsed
0030A13 at the Kadapara dumping ground in the Phulbagan *4thana area on
0031A13 Monday
0040A13 afternoon. ^One workman was reported to_ be missing. $^The bodies of four
0050A13 men and one woman were taken to the Nilratan Sircar Hospital. ^Among
0060A13 the dead were Santosh Bera (22), Ratik (22), Kashi Nath Panja
0070A13 (18). ^The bodies of a 20-year-old worker and the 50-year-old woman could
0080A13 not be identified. $^*Prabhas Chandra Doloi (17) said in hospital that
0090A13 10 of the workmen were cutting through the garbage heap which had already
0100A13 turned into soil. ^A lorry was being filled up with the garbage.
0110A13 ^Suddenly, the heap collapsed, and Prabhas, who was standing in front of
0120A13 the lorry, was covered with soil. ^He, however, extricated one of his
0130A13 hands and waved for help. $^Some people saw it and started the rescue
0140A13 operations. ^About an hour after the accident, the police, the Fire Brigade
0150A13 personnel of the Civil Emergency Mobile Force and some other
0160A13 people were busy digging for the garbage victims. $^*Biswanath Das and
0170A13 Sambhu Nath Sau, two local residents who claimed to_ have started the
0180A13 rescue work, said that the lorry was probably moving in reverse gear towards
0190A13 the diggers. ^In the process, it hit the heap which collapsed, engulfing
0200A13 the workers sitting near the cavity made by the cutting. ^Some other
0210A13 people said that the woman killed was not a worker but had gone there
0220A13 to_ collect burnt coal. $^Police sources said that the garbage had already
0230A13 turned into soil. ^They alleged that the Calcutta Metropolitan
0231A13 Development
0240A13 Authority was selling the material as fertilizer and had employed
0250A13 private contractors to_ remove the soil. ^The victims were casual workers
0260A13 hired by a contractor. $^A police spokesman said that the driver
0270A13 of the lorry was absconding. ^The bodies were sent for post mortem. ^A
0280A13 senior police official later added that a worker who had been given first
0290A13 aid and discharged from the hospital might have been the missing person.
0310A13 $**<*3FORMER PRESIDENT OF $COMORO $SHOT DEAD*0**> $\0^*Mr Ali Soilih,
0320A13 former President of the Comoro Islands, recently deposed in a coup,
0330A13 was shot dead here early today when he tried to_ escape from house arrest,
0340A13 the Government announced, reports \0Reuter. $\0^*Mr Ali Soilih
0350A13 was deposed on May 13 after ruling the Indian Ocean republic since shortly
0360A13 after it became independent from France in 1975. $^Today*'s announcement
0370A13 by the ruling politico-military executive said he was fatally wounded
0380A13 as he tried to_ flee with "certain outside elements". $^The statement,
0390A13 broadcast by Comoro Radio, said the former President had been told
0400A13 he would be put on trial before a special court. $^On May 23, it was
0410A13 anounced that former President Ahmed Abdallah and his one-time deputy,
0420A13 Mohamed Ahmed, had become leading members of the executive replacing
0430A13 \0Mr Ali Soilih*'s Government. $^Both had returned to the island
0440A13 after three years of exile in Paris. ^The committee confirmed the Prime
0450A13 Minister, \0Mr Abdallah Mohamed, in his post. $\0^*Mr Abdallah
0460A13 and \0Mr Ahmed were later named co-Presidents of the executive. ^The
0470A13 new rulers have described the policies of the deposed Government as
0480A13 "inhuman and barbarous". $\0^*Mr Ali Soilih had survived three rebellions
0490A13 against his rule before finally being overthrown. $^After becoming President,
0500A13 he promised the 300,000 people of the islands, situated between
0510A13 Madagascar and the East African coast, that he would introduce socialism.
0520A13 $^Most of the islanders are devout Muslims and \0Mr Ali Soilih*'s
0530A13 attempt to_ create a Chinese-style revolutionary system which frowned
0540A13 on religion was believed to_ have angered the population.
0550A13 $**<*3Masani Leaves $Minorities Panel*0**> $\0^*Mr *(0M. R.*) Masani,
0560A13 chairman of the Minorities Commission, and \0Mr *(0V. V.*) John,
0570A13 one of its members, have resigned from the commission, effective from
0580A13 May 31, report \0PTI and \0UNI. $\0^*Mr Masani said in a Press
0590A13 statment here today that he and \0Mr John had submitted a joint letter
0600A13 of resignation to the Prime Minister on may 9. $\0^*Mr Masani said
0610A13 in his statement that most of the reasons for the resignation had been
0620A13 set out in his letter to the Prime Minister on April 27 written on
0630A13 behalf of the entire commission, and in the joint letter of \0Mr John
0640A13 and himself on May 9. "^Both these letters have remained unanswered
0641A13 to
0650A13 this day", he said. $^The basic reason for his action, \0Mr Masani said,
0660A13 was that three major assurances which were given to the commission
0670A13 when it was appointed, had not been honoured by the Government. $\0^*Mr
0680A13 Masani alleged that contrary to an assurance that the government would
0690A13 consult the commission on all relevant matters concerning the minorities
0700A13 and give considerable weight to their recommendations, the experience
0710A13 of the very first occasion was that the commission found itself "ignored
0720A13 and bypassed". $^This happened in connexion with a crucial matter concerning
0730A13 India*'s Largest minority, namely, the Bill which was proposed
0740A13 to_ be introduced in Parliament to_ amend the Aligarh Muslim University
0750A13 Act, \0Mr Masani added. $\0^*Mr Masani said as chairman of the
0760A13 commission he wrote to the Education Minister on March 30 mentioning
0770A13 the commission*'s involvement in the Aligarh Muslim University Act
0780A13 expressing a hope that the commission would be given an opportunity to_
0790A13 make its recommendations before any amending Bill was introduced in Parliament
0800A13 but no reply was received to his request. $^The members of the
0810A13 commission were surprised to_ read in the Press on May 5 that the
0811A13 Education
0820A13 Minister had announced in the *5lok Sabha*6 that a Bill had been
0830A13 prepared and would be introduced in Parliament within the next few days,
0840A13 \0Mr masani said. $"^There was ample time between March 30 and May
0850A13 5 to_ consult the commission without delaying by a single day the introduction
0860A13 of the Bill", \0Mr Masani said. $^He said the second assurance
0870A13 that a Bill would be introduced in the last Budget session suitably
0880A13 to_ amend the Constitution to_ give the commission a statutory status
0890A13 but "we were pained and surprised to_ find that no such amendment has
0900A13 been tabled either as part of the forty-fifth amendment to the constitution
0910A13 or otherwise". $\0^*Mr Masani explained that an anomalous situation
0920A13 had developed as a result of the Minorities Commission having been
0930A13 set up by an executive order and it was necessary to_ remove this anomaly
0940A13 by a Constitutional Bill giving the commission statutory status and
0950A13 allow it replace the commission for linguistic minorities. ^This was to_
0960A13 take place as part of the assurance given, he added.
0970A13 $**<*3Provident Fund Penalty: $New System Planned*0**> $^There is
0980A13 a move to_ change the existing system of levying damages for delayed deposits
0990A13 of provident fund and instead, impose a fixed percentage on the
1000A13 amount due as damages. $^If accepted it would mean an amendment of section
1010A13 14-b of the Provident Fund Act which was changed last in November,
1020A13 1973. $^Prior to the last amendment, the maximum damages leviable were
1030A13 25% of the arrears and the State Government could levy the damages.
1040A13 $^The 1973 amendment made two important changes. ^First, the powers of
1050A13 levying were given to the central and regional provident fund commissioners,
1060A13 instead of the State Governments. ^Secondly, the maximum amount
1070A13 of damages that_ could be levied was raised to 100% of the arrears in
1080A13 accordance with a set formula. $^The new formula had been objected to
1090A13 through petitions in courts and also by way of representations to the
1100A13 Government. ^It was pointed out that among other things the scheme made
1110A13 no distinction between an employer who had delayed payment by a few days
1120A13 on ten occasions and another who had delayed payment continuously for
1130A13 10 months. ^Also, it was felt that a rigid formula took away all discretion
1140A13 from the levying authority. $^The High Courts of Kerala, West
1150A13 Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat had held that the damages must have some
1160A13 correlation with the loss suffered due to delayed payments and if this
1170A13 was not so, the damages were unreasonable. ^The Kerala High
1180A13 Court held that a defaulter under the Act was liable to_ pay damages
1190A13 representing the loss and nothing more. ^The Karnataka High Court
1200A13 held that there were many incongruities in the table of damages. $^Employers
1210A13 also complained that notices had been received re-opening cases eight
1220A13 or ten years old. ^They suggested that instead of launching prosecutions
1230A13 and levying penalties as high as 100% of the amount due, only exact
1240A13 dues, including the loss suffered by the fund should be recovered. $^In
1250A13 the light of these circumstances, the entire question of damages has
1260A13 come under review. ^It is felt that since defaulters face prosecution,
1270A13 in addition to levy of damages, the damages should be considered only
1280A13 as a financial levy on the employers to_ compensate the fund. ^It is considered
1290A13 that the rate of damages should be so fixed that it is higher than
1300A13 the bank rate so that provident fund contributions are not misused.
1310A13 ^For continued default, the courts could impose higher penalties under the
1320A13 Act. $^Pending a decision, it has been suggested that after examining
1330A13 all aspects, the regional provident fund commissioners may, as far as
1340A13 possible, levy damages at a fixed percentage of 20% per annum, calculated
1350A13 on the basis of the amount delayed and the period of the delay.
1360A13 $**<*3Luminous Object $over Ahmedabad*0**> $^An unidentified flying object
1370A13 was sighted by a group of scientists of the Space Application
1380A13 Centre and the Physical Research Laboratory here last night, reports
1390A13 \0PTI. $^One of the scientists, \0Dr *(0P. S.*) Sehra, said it was
1400A13 a strange luminous object moving from north-west to south-east at 9.12
1410A13 \0p.m. ^The object, sighted from the \0P.R.L campus, had a glowing
1420A13 double head and a long, narrow tail. ^It was seen for about 10 to 15 seconds;
1430A13 the object was "bluish yellow" in colour and the elevation was about
1440A13 70*@, he added. $^This is the second time that such an object had been
1450A13 sighted here. ^The first was sighted on April 3. $^Professor \0D. Lal,
1460A13 director of the Physical Research Laboratory, and his colleagues,
1470A13 \0Dr *(0J. N.*) Desai and \0Dr *(0J. N.*) Goswami, who collected
1480A13 evidence and interrogated eye-witnesses, have come to the conclusion
1490A13 that the bright object seen on April 3 was a large meteorite passing
1500A13 through the upper atmosphere.
1510A13 $**<*3Deshmukh Disputes \0U.P. Dissidents*' Claim*0**> $\0^*Mr Nanaji
1520A13 Deshmukh, general secretary of the Janata Party, today refuted
1530A13 the \0U.P. dissidents*' claim that he had asked them to_ vote according
1540A13 to their conscience and discretion. $\0^*Mr Raj Narain, Union Health
1550A13 Minister, was instrumental in getting the "clarification" from \0Mr
1560A13 Deshmukh. ^He telephoned him to_ confirm in the presence of reporters
1570A13 that what he had told him earlier was true. ^He then passed on the telephone
1580A13 to a reporter, who took down \0Mr Deshmukh*'s clarification. $^Though
1590A13 \0Mr Deshmukh had promised \0Mr Raj Narain that he would issue
1600A13 a clarification, he did not do so until \0Mr Raj Narain spoke to him
1610A13 on the phone. $\0^*Mr Deshmukh said that some dissidents had met him
1620A13 and asked him whether they should vote according to their conscience or
1630A13 discretion. ^He told them that they had not asked him about their actions
1640A13 or decisions so far and it was pointless to_ seek his advice now. ^He
1650A13 had told them that he had not given any directive to members of the erstwhile
1660A13 Jana Sangh. $\0^*Mr Deshmukh said he had also refused to_ meet
1670A13 \0U.P. Janata legislators representing the constituents of the Janata
1680A13 Party in Lucknow. ^The party stood for integration, which could not
1690A13 be achieved unless everybody tried to discipline himself. ^Otherwise,
1700A13 democracy could not function, he had told them. $^Earlier, in a written
1710A13 statement, \0Mr Deshmukh warned Janata workers not to_ make "public statements
1720A13 or indulge in acts of indiscipline". ^Otherwise, the central
1730A13 leadership "will have no option to taking action against such people". $^He
1740A13 said: "*_^It is destressing to_ note that some members of Janata
1750A13 are engaged in acts of indiscipline in many States. ^I may here refer
1760A13 to \0Mr \0K. Anandan, \0M.P., of Tamil Nadu, who has been airing
1770A13 differences publicly on internal party matters and is reported to_ be
1780A13 setting up a parallel organization.*#
        **[no. of worrds = 02006**]

        **[txt. a14**]
0010A14 **<*3College boys teargassed, $eight in custody*0**> $^Police burst 24
0020A14 tear gas shells this evening to_ prevent some students of \0S.G.T.B.
0030A14 Khalsa College from clashing with the students of Shivaji collge
0040A14 in the latter*'s premises at Raja Garden over the issue of demolition
0050A14 of a *4gurudwara there on \0Feb. 4. $^Eight persons were taken into
0060A14 custody on charges of rioting, and no one was reported to_ have been badly
0070A14 injured in the near clash. $^Trouble began soon after two bus-loads
0080A14 of Khalsa College boys descended on the spot shortly after 5 \0p.m.
0090A14 loudly protesting against the demolition of the *4gurudwara (which the
0100A14 college authorities claim has been unauthorisedly constructed on land
0110A14 belonging to them) by the students of Shivaji College. ^Raising anti-police
0120A14 slogans, some of them tried to_ storm Shivaji College building
0130A14 and also stoned it. ^Police chased them and also burst tear gas shells
0140A14 to_ disperse them. $^A large number of \0DTC buses were also held up
0150A14 by the Khalsa College boys near their college to_ demand the immediate
0160A14 release of their colleagues who had been arrested in connection with
0170A14 the incident at Shivaji College. ^Some students later complained to reporters
0180A14 that they had been tricked into releasing the buses by the local
0190A14 authorities who had led them to_ believe that the arrested students had
0200A14 been released, whereas they found that about eight of them were still
0210A14 under arrest. $^Some students of Shivaji College are reported to_ have
0220A14 pulled down the wall of the *4gurudwara on Saturday last and this had
0230A14 led to the formation of an "action committee", led by Sardar Richpal
0240A14 Singh, which demanded the arrest of students as well as some police
0250A14 officials, for their hand in the demolition. $^An '*5akand path*6' was organised
0260A14 by the committee and this was in progress at the time the incident
0270A14 took place. ^*Sardar Richpal Singh said they would go ahead with the
0280A14 re-construction of the *4gurudwara and were not prepared now to_ accept
0290A14 an alternative plot being offered by the Administration. $^One of
0300A14 them, Sardar Mohinder Singh, he said, had gone on a fast till the building
0310A14 was reconstructed. $^Senior district and police officials including
0320A14 \0DIG *(0G. S.*) Mander, Central District \0SP Nikhil Kumar
0330A14 and \0ADM (Central) *(0V. K.*) Duggal reached the spot and Section
0340A14 144 *(0Cr PC*) was imposed in the area. $^Later, it was stated that
0350A14 the police had been investigating a case registered on the complaint
0360A14 of the '*4mahant' of the *4gurudwara that some students of Shivaji College
0370A14 had demolished the building on Saturday last. ^Even as this case
0380A14 was being investigated, the Administration had offered an alternative
0390A14 site nearby for the *4gurudwara. $^An official spokesman said the '*4mahant,
0400A14 and the president of the Delhi *5Gurudwara Prabandhak*6
0401A14 Committee
0410A14 had agreed to this arrangement and that the new site had been shown to the
0420A14 *4mahant this afternoon. $^The '*4mahant', he said, had announced
0421A14 that
0430A14 a new *4gurudwara would be constructed at the site to_ be allotted by the
0440A14 Administration. $^In the meantime, there was an attempt to_ enter Shivaji
0450A14 College by some "outside elements" who also pelted stones damaging
0460A14 the building the spokesman said adding that this had led to the bursting
0470A14 of tear gas shells.
0480A14 $**<*3\0UPSC turns down \0MCD $plea on appointments**> $^The Union
0490A14 Public Service Commission has in a letter to the municipal Commissioner
0500A14 (\0ME) observed that \0Mr *(0J. D.*) Goyal is not eligible
0510A14 for the appointment as Deputy Municipal Engineer in the Municipal
0520A14 Corporation, and as such the "question of promoting him to the post of
0530A14 municipal engineer does not arise". $^In a letter of \0Sept. 12, 1977,
0540A14 the deputy secretary of the \0UPSC also turned down the corporation*'s
0550A14 proposal to_ make \0Mr \0B. Dayal Deputy Municipal Engineer on
0560A14 an *8ad hoc*9 basis since he also is not eligible for the post. $^Quoting
0570A14 the eligibility rules for both the posts the \0UPSC deputy secretary
0580A14 said: "*_^The post of municipal engineer is to_ be filled by promotion
0590A14 of a superintending engineer with 5 years*' service and the post of
0600A14 deputy municipal engineer with 5 years*' service." $^The letter says:
0610A14 "*_^It is observed that neither \0Mr *(0J. D.*) Goyal nor \0Mr
0611A14 \0B.
0620A14 Dayal is eligible for appointment as \0Dy. \0ME as their regular service
0630A14 as Superintending Engineer commences from *(024. 3. 76*)." $^The
0640A14 commission expressed its inability to_ agree to the continuance of *8ad
0650A14 hoc*9 appointments of \0Mr Goyal and \0Mr Dayal in their respective
0660A14 posts. $^The commission has advised the corporation to_ fill these posts
0670A14 "by transfer on deputation as enjoined by the recruitment rules for
0671A14 the
0680A14 respective posts." $^It was in July last year that the former Deputy
0690A14 Commissioner of the corporation, \0Mr *(0V. K.*) Chanana had requested
0700A14 the \0UPSC to_ approve the appointments of \0Mr Goyal and
0710A14 \0Mr Dayal since it was essential to_ fill up these posts as the "corporation
0720A14 had taken up a large number of development projects of public
0730A14 utility." $^It is about six months that the \0UPSC sent its letter
0731A14 to
0740A14 the corporation. ^But the civic body is yet to_ move according to its observations.
0750A14 $^At present all the three posts in the Engineering Department,
0760A14 one of the biggest and most important departments of the corporation,
0770A14 are being held by those who are not eligible according to the rules
0780A14 and regulations prescribed by the \0UPSC. $^However, \0Mr Dayal
0790A14 has made a representation to the commissioner that he should be considered
0800A14 as Superintending Engineer since April 1969, when he was given the
0810A14 charge on an *8ad hoc*9 basis, though the Departmental Promotion Committee
0820A14 had regularised him in March, 1976. $^Almost all the major departments
0830A14 of the corporation are being run by *8ad hoc*9 officers. ^Even
0840A14 the gardens superintendent is on an *8ad hoc*9 basis. ^There is no education
0850A14 officer. ^The deputy education officer has been given the "current
0860A14 charge" of \0EO. ^For some months, \0Mrs Pande had acted as \0EO
0870A14 on an *8ad hoc*9 basis. ^But she has been reverted as \0Dy. \0EO and
0871A14 has
0880A14 been given the "current charge" of \0EO under which she draws the salary
0890A14 of \0Dy. \0EO.
0900A14 **<*3Double-decker coaches for Delhi shuttles**> $^Double-decker coaches,
0910A14 which are still at the trial stage, may come to the rescue of commuters
0920A14 who endure the daily crush in the shuttles between Delhi and its
0930A14 surrounding towns. ^The Northern Railway has forwarded a request for these
0940A14 coaches to the Railway Board. $^Commuter traffic on the short distance
0950A14 suburban trains has reached saturation point. ^An estimated 25,000
0960A14 travel each day between Delhi and Meerut, Ghaziabad, Rohtak, Faridabad,
0970A14 mostly office goers, shopkeepers and students. ^With the housing squeeze
0980A14 in Metropolitan Delhi the number is steadily rising. $^A spokesman
0990A14 in Northern Railway*'s operating division said that until additional
1000A14 trains can be introduced, double-decker coaches offer the only solution.
1010A14 ^While planned work has begun on increasing line capacity and adding
1020A14 platforms, this will take time. $^Pushing in additional trains on the existing
1030A14 lines can be done only at the cost of punctuality. ^And adding
1040A14 extra bogies is out of question since all the suburban trains are already
1050A14 hauling to the maximum capacity. $^Typical of the over-burdened shuttles
1060A14 is the New Delhi-Meerut shuttle. "^*I get a seat two or three times
1070A14 a month," says a passenger matter-of-factly. ^People wait on both sides
1080A14 of the track as the train pulls in and then hurl themselves in one
1090A14 on top of the other. ^At peak hours these trains are even more tightly
1100A14 packed than \0DTC buses. $^The large number of buses now plying on these
1110A14 routes has not taken the pressure off the trains because the latter
1120A14 are infinitely cheaper. ^To and fro travel from Ghaziabad to Delhi, for
1130A14 instance costs \0Rs 10 a month with a pass, whereas bus travel costs
1140A14 three times as much. $^Hauling capacity of most of the present suburban
1150A14 trains is limited by the fact that they are hauled by steam engines.
1160A14 ^The Meerut shuttle for instance can haul only 15 bogies, any more would
1170A14 slow down the train and affect punctuality. ^But it can handle the
1171A14 same number
1180A14 of double-decker bogies, the railway spokesman said. $^Transfer to
1190A14 diesel engines is ruled out by the economics of the proposition: an engine
1200A14 costs \0Rs 26 *4lakh, and ordinarily runs 600 \0km a day. ^In a
1201A14 suburban
1210A14 service it would run about 160 \0km a day. $^The only alternative method
1220A14 of increasing capacity is by introducing modified coaches which do
1230A14 not have lavatories. ^This is being done now on the Rohtak route. ^It
1240A14 was also introduced on the Meerut shuttle for a short period, but passengers
1250A14 represented to_ say that it made travelling uncomfortable for the
1260A14 women and children in the train. $^The double-decker coaches are being
1270A14 made at the Integral Coach Factory in Madras. ^They have not been put
1280A14 into use as yet anywhere in the country.
1290A14 $**<*3Banks will give loans $to cottage industries**> $^Banks will give
1300A14 loans to cottage industries located in backward areas of the city at
1310A14 a nominal interest of 4 per cent. $^The loans will be given under a Central
1320A14 Government scheme. ^Among the first beneficiaries will be the units
1330A14 run in the community work centres of the Delhi Small Industries
1340A14 Development Corporation (\0DSIDC). $^Executive Councillor (Revenue)
1350A14 Madan Lal Khurana told newsmen today the banks had been persuaded
1360A14 by the Delhi Administration to_ advance the loans. ^The primary objective
1370A14 was to_ help poor artisans achieve self-sufficiency. $^At present
1371A14 there
1380A14 are 17 \0DSIDC work centres. ^Their number will be raised to 28
1390A14 by March 31. ^Each of them has around 150 people working there. ^Their
1400A14 monthly output is worth nearly \0Rs 1 *4lakh. ^It is expected to_ touch
1410A14 \0Rs 5 *4crore per annum by the time the scheme is fully
1411A14 implemented. $^Each
1420A14 of the banks will adopt three to four work centres and advance a
1430A14 loan of \0Rs 6,500 to each of the cottage industries. ^Out of the total
1440A14 sum, \0Rs 5,000 will be for the purchase of machinery and the rest for
1450A14 working capital. $^In addition, the Administration has under another
1460A14 scheme sanctioned loans totalling nearly \0Rs 28 *4lakh to 768
1461A14 industrial
1470A14 units, 470 of which belong to *4Harijans and other backward classes.
1480A14 ^These loans are being distributed by the Administration*'s
1481A14 Industries
1490A14 Department at only 3 per cent interest. $^The total money provided for
1500A14 this scheme under the budget is \0Rs 30 *4lakhs. ^However, another
1501A14 sum of \0Rs 10 *4lakh
1510A14 is likely to_ be sanctioned for it by the end of the financial year. $^Another
1520A14 sum of \0Rs 13.45 *4lakh had been earmarked as loan or grant-in-aid
1530A14 for village and *4khadi industries this year. ^Out of this \0Rs 10
1540A14 *4lakh worth aid has already been sanctioned.
1550A14 $**<*3Students warn \0Govt**> $^The Delhi University Student*'s Union
1560A14 and the Delhi branch of the Akhil Bharattya Vidyarthi Parishad
1570A14 today warned the Government that they would take direct action if three
1580A14 office-bearers of \0DUSU, including the president, Vijay Goel,
1590A14 and some other students were not released forthwith. $^In separate statements,
1600A14 the two organisations have deplored what they called "discriminatory
1610A14 attitude" of the authorities in releasing the student leaders. ^They
1620A14 pointed out that while all the other arrested students had been released
1630A14 on personal bonds, the \0DUSU leaders have been asked to_ produce
1640A14 bail bonds, which they have refused to_ do. $^The \0DUSU note claimed
1650A14 that 100 students of \0PGDAV College had demohstrated in front
1660A14 of the \0Lt-Governor*'s house today to_ demand the immediate release
1670A14 of the three \0DUSU office-bearers-- \0Mr Vijay Goel (president),
1680A14 \0Mr Sunil Mittal (vice-president) and \0Mr Rajat Sharma (secretary)--
1690A14 and other workers of the \0ABVP. $^According to the press
1700A14 release of the \0ABVP, about 100 university students took out a procession
1710A14 on the campus demanding the immediate and unconditional release
1720A14 of \0DUSU leaders. "^It is strange and deplorable that those very
1730A14 students who fought against the totalitarian regime of \0Mrs Gandhi
1740A14 have not been released whereas most of the other students have been released",
1750A14 it said. $^It also demanded withdrawal of police cases against
1760A14 all the concerned students. $^The students of Law Centre-*=1 today
1770A14 boycotted their classes in protest against the arrest of \0DUSU leaders
1780A14 and other students.*#
        **[no. of words = 01995**]

        **[txt. a15**]
0010A15 **<*3Marathwada politicians baffled**> $*3^The violent flare up in
0020A15 the Marathwada region over the renaming of the university there as "\0Dr.
0030A15 Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada university" has created confusion
0040A15 among the political circles in the state. $^Baffled politicians and legislators
0050A15 from Marathwada give a number of reasons that_ led to the violence
0060A15 in this backward region of the state. ^This confusion and a little
0070A15 panic was evident even at a meeting of all party legislators from Marathwada
0080A15 at the residence of the chief minister, \0Mr. Sharad Pawar,
0090A15 last night, a source said. $^There was no going back on the decision taken
0100A15 by the assembly, \0Mr. Pawar is reported to_ have said when some
0110A15 legislators pleaded for the postponement of its implementation. $^However,
0120A15 the meeting was told that all sections of people, including the agitating
0130A15 students and the Dalit Panthers, would be consulted before brining
0140A15 an amendment to the Marathwada university act. $*<*3boycott by \0cong-i*>
0150A15 $^The legislators from Marathwada were asked to_ go back to their
0160A15 co  tituencies and try to_ pacify the people there. ^The state transport
0170A15 buses and the railways were still not operating in the region. ^However,
0180A15 the chief minister told the legislators that the district collectors
0190A15 in the region would be asked to_ help them to_ reach their destinations.
0200A15 $^A source said the Congress (\0I) legislators from Marathwada boycotted
0210A15 yesterday*'s meeting on the ground that they had not been invited
0220A15 to an earlier meeting. ^However, they have conveyed their willingness
0230A15 to_ participate in any peace-making efforts. $^The legislators from Marathwada
0240A15 feel that the agitation was not an organised one. ^It was an amorphous
0250A15 affair and if there was any political undertone to it at all, it
0260A15 was negligible. $*<*3communal tension*> $^It was an explosion of the
0270A15 accumulated communal tension in the region which had been building up in
0280A15 these five districts over the last few years. $^Significantly, the students,
0290A15 who had played a mojor role in the "save Marathwada" agitation of
0300A15 1974, were in the forefront this time too, it was pointed out. ^This
0310A15 was because the students community in this region, especially in Aurangabad,
0320A15 the seat of the university, is sharply divided on caste lines. $^The
0330A15 demand for renaming the university after \0Dr. Ambedkar was made
0340A15 by the Dalit Panthers first. ^Many observers claim that at the initial
0350A15 stage there was not little opposition to the demand. $^But it was the aggressive
0360A15 language of the Dalit Panther leaders and their abusive speeches
0370A15 that_ created resentment among the other sections about the demand,
0380A15 they allege.
0390A15 $**<*3Pollution threat to Belur temple**> $^The celebrated Chennakesava
0400A15 temple, erected and endowed by the Hoysala king, Vishnuvardhana,
0410A15 in the beginning of the 12th century, when he changed his faith from Jainism
0420A15 to Vaishnavism, is being threatened by pollution. $^The pollution
0430A15 is caused by smoke emanating from a private saw mill operating within the
0440A15 temple premises. $^The exquisite stone carvings in the temple, situated
0450A15 in Belur in Hassan district, which have brought it world fame, are
0460A15 being damaged. $^An urgent meeting of archaeologists and experts in the
0470A15 preservation of ancient monuments is being called on August 5 for an
0480A15 on-the-spot discussion about the deteriorating condition of the temple,
0490A15 according to an announcement made by the chief minister, \0Mr. \0D. Devaraj
0500A15 Urs, and the minister of state for information, \0Mr. *(0K.
0510A15 H.*) Srinivas, in the Karnataka assembly today. $^The "callous" manner
0520A15 in which the state government was handling the situation was highlighted
0530A15 by \0Mr. *(0M. V.*) Rajashekaran (Janata), who feared that the monument
0540A15 would be lost if no immediate action was taken to_ arrest the
0541A15 erosion
0550A15 of the temple carvings. ^The government had already delayed taking
0560A15 action to_ prevent damage to the temple or shift the saw mill from the premises.
0570A15 ^Once erosion sets in, it would be difficult to_ restore the temple
0580A15 to its former glory, he said. $^The chief minister gave the assurance
0590A15 that the government was second to none in wanting to_ preserve the monument.
0600A15 $\0^*Mr. Srinivas stated that although the Belur temple was a
0610A15 Centrally-protected monument, the state government did not want to_ shirk
0620A15 its responsibility. $^He had asked the saw mill to_ raise the height
0630A15 of its 15.6-metre chimney. ^If it came to it, the government would pay
0640A15 compensation to the saw mill owner and ask him to_ shift the factory from
0650A15 the temple. ^But the owner could not be asked to_ stop his operations
0660A15 as he might go to court and get a stay. $^The mill uses steam to_ dry
0670A15 and press veneers. ^The steam is generated in a boiler using wood as fuel.
0680A15 ^Although the distance between the temple and the chimney is about 108.3
0690A15 metres, the smoke is driven towards the temple by a south-easterly
0700A15 wind.
0710A15 $**<*3Charan*'s letter to speaker**> $\0^*Mr. Charan Singh, former
0720A15 home minister, has in a letter to the speaker of the *5Lok Sabha*6, explained
0730A15 that he felt his political integrity had been questioned by \0Mr.
0740A15 *(0K. P.*) Unnikrishnan, Congress member, in commenting on his meeting
0750A15 with \0Mr. Bansi Lal. $^He had, therefore, called the
0751A15 statement
0760A15 of \0Mr. Unnikrishnan "mischievous" but had no intention to_ impute any
0770A15 motive to the member, he said in his letter, since he was not able to_
0780A15 attend the house because of his illness, he had given his reaction to
0790A15 the press on \0Mr. Unnikrishnan*'s comments in the house. \0^*Mr.
0800A15 Charan Singh gave this explanation to the speaker who had drawn his attention
0810A15 to a privilege motion \0Mr. Vayalar Ravi and \0Mr. Unnikrishnan
0820A15 had given notice of. $^The speaker, \0Mr. *(0K. S.*) Hegde, ruled
0830A15 in the house today that he was withholding consent to the privilege
0840A15 motion in view of the explanation. ^It was not, however, to_ be a precedent,
0850A15 he said. ^Members should issue any rejoinder to statements in the
0860A15 house only on the floor. **<*3\0PM wants Big-2 to_ come closer**> $^The
0870A15 Prime Minister said today that in the interest of world peace it
0880A15 was necessary for the \0U.S. and the \0U.S.S.R to_ become friends
0890A15 and give up their suspicions of each other. $\0^*Mr. Morarji Desai
0900A15 told a group of American clergymen that he had been pleading with both
0910A15 the super-powers to_ become friends and India could act as a buffer, if
0920A15 they liked. $^The Prime Minister expressed full satisfaction with the
0930A15 outcome of his recent visit to the \0U.S. ^He said he did not go with
0940A15 any expectations and there was, therefore, no dissatisfaction. $^Referring
0950A15 to Indo-\0U.S. co-operation on world issues, \0Mr. Desai said
0960A15 that both countries believed in the same values. ^The \0U.S. could do
0970A15 more because it was more powerful; India could only co-operate in the
0980A15 process. $*<*3main issue*> $\0^*Mr. Desai said the main issue facing
0990A15 India was saving democracy and removal of fear. ^The Janata party had
1000A15 reversed the divisive trend in Indian politics. ^Five parties with different
1010A15 backgrounds had merged. ^The merger was not yet complete. ^There were
1020A15 eruptions here and there, but they would not last long and the party
1030A15 would progress. $^Replying to a question whether democratic methods would
1040A15 solve India*'s problems, \0Mr. Desai asked the clergymen not to_ have
1050A15 any doubt on this score. ^He said it was wrong to_ think that democracy
1060A15 was a luxury for a developing country.
1070A15 $**<*3Walk-out in $Kerala over $"black law"**> $*3^THE*0 \0CPM,
1080A15 the Janata and the opposition Muslim League walked out of the Kerla
1090A15 assembly today in protest against the passing of what they called the
1100A15 "black legislation". $^They opposed the bill to_ prevent the destruction
1110A15 of public property. ^The congress (\0I) and the \0NDP in the opposition
1120A15 had also opposed its enactment. $^The bill, which was passed,
1130A15 provides for imprisonment up to five years and fine up to \0Rs. 2000
1131A15 for
1140A15 a proved offence. $^All the public properties of the Central and the state
1150A15 governments, municipalities, *4panchayats and corporations
1151A15 controlled
1160A15 or owned by the state government will come within the scope of this Act.
1170A15 $*<*3"sabotage" movement*> $^While conceding that public property
1180A15 should be protected, the opposition members felt that the enactment of
1190A15 this legislation would serve as a cover for suppressing all the agitations
1200A15 of the working class. $^The bill itself was first issued as an ordinance
1210A15 to_ combat the strike in the electricity board. ^The government had
1220A15 described the strike as a "sabotage" movement causing the board a heavy
1230A15 loss. ^Costly power installations had been destroyed, according to the
1240A15 government. $^The ordinance was invalidated by the Kerala high court as
1250A15 it lacked presidential approval. ^The Bill passed by the legislature today
1260A15 will not become law before the President gives his assent to it.
1270A15 $**<PROBE ORDERED INTO *LOHA FIRING**> $*3^A MAGISTERIAL*0 inquiry
1280A15 is being instituted into the Loha firing, according to the divisional
1290A15 commissioner, \0Mr. \0A. Alvi. $^In the present agitation, the police
1300A15 had to_ resort to firing at two places-- Loha and Kallam. ^Though curfew
1310A15 was clamped for a few hours at Bhir and Porli, the situation was generally
1320A15 improving, \0Mr. Alvi told this correspondent. $^However, according
1330A15 to reports, there was no let-up in the situation and the agitation
1340A15 was now spreading towards the villages. ^Villagers and students were obstructing
1350A15 vehicular traffic and attempting to_ set the vehicles on fire.
1360A15 $^As a result, vehicular traffic had almost stopped in the region, according
1370A15 to the state transport regional manager, \0Mr. *(0B. L.*)
1371A15 Pawar.
1380A15 ^Four state transport buses had already been burnt and over 40 damaged
1390A15 in stone-throwing incidents by the agitators and the corporation was losing
1400A15 more than \0Rs. 6 *4lakhs every day. $^The telecommunication
1401A15 system
1410A15 has also been badly hit. ^According to \0Mr. *(0K. M.*) Bhide, divisional
1420A15 engineer, telegraphs, telephone connections were either cut or damaged
1430A15 at many places. $^Meanwhile, prominent citizens of Aurangabad formed
1440A15 a city regional-level committee. ^It is expected to_ meet the Maharashtra
1450A15 chief minister, \0Mr. Sharad Pawar, and elicit his views on the
1460A15 renaming issue.
1470A15 $**<*3Defections by $\0MPs banned*0**> $^Under the constitution bill
1480A15 before the Sri Lanka Parliament defections by members of the house are
1490A15 banned. $^A member elected on the basis of the panel drawn up by a recognised
1500A15 political party or an independent group under the proportional
1510A15 representation system will lose his seat in Parliament after one month
1511A15 of his **[text mutilated**]
1520A15 to_ be a member of the party or the group. $^The vacancy willbe
1530A15 filled in by the concerned political party or the group. $^If an \0M.P.
1540A15 is expelled from a party or group he can appeal to the supreme court
1550A15 to_ rule on the validity of the expulsion. ^The appeal will be heard
1560A15 by a three-man bench which will decide the case within two months. $^There
1570A15 is also no provision for by-elections under the proportional representation
1580A15 system envisaged in the constitution bill. $^If a vacancy occurs
1590A15 in the 196-member Parliament, the party or the group which had the
1591A15 representation
1600A15 in Parliament could nominate another of its party member. $^Thus
1610A15 the party position in Parliament will remain unaltered during the six-year
1620A15 term of the house. ^The present name of the "national state assembly"
1630A15 will be changed to Parliament.
1640A15 $**<*3Floods hit more $\0UP villages*0**> $*3^ALL*0 major rivers in
1650A15 the flood-ravaged eastern Uttar Pradesh and adjoining Bihar
1651A15 continued
1660A15 to_ rise today. $^In Uttar Pradesh, where 3.8 million people in 8,315
1670A15 villages are suffering, the flood waters advanced to_ swamp 102 more villages,
1680A15 affecting 63,000 people in Ballia district. $^Three deaths of
1690A15 children by drowning were reported from the district, raising the toll in
1700A15 the state to 153. $^A six-member Central team headed by the joint secretary
1710A15 of the planning commission, \0Mr. *(0P. N.*) Vaishnav, left
1720A15 today for a study of the situation in the \0UP districts. ^They will
1730A15 tour Gonda, Basti, Bahraich, Deoria and Gorakhpur districts. $^In Bihar,
1740A15 the Buri Gandak has eroded a 1.6 \0km stretch of the Madhubani
1750A15 *4bund. ^A gap in the *4bund was plugged, but the threat of a major
1760A15 breach persists. ^Should it occur it would be calamitious for 60 villages
1770A15 in Bihar and 111 villages in Padrauna *4tehsil of Deoria district
1771A15 in Uttar
1780A15 Pradesh. $^The Ganga, which is rising steadily right from Buxar to
1790A15 Farakka, and the Poon Poon pose a threat to Patna. $^The flood forecasting
1800A15 division at Patna today sounded an alert for the protection of
1810A15 the Poon Poon embankment on the south-eastern flank of the city.*#
        **[no. of words = 02014**]

        **[txt. a16**]
0010A16 **<*3Hotel planning in India $Coordinating approach needed*0**> $^A lot
0020A16 has already been said, written, and read about foreign tourist arrivals
0030A16 into India and the receipts therefrom. ^But no one has so far ventured
0040A16 to_ ascertain if the hotel industry in India is geared to_ meet the
0050A16 inflow of different "classes" of foreign tourist expected in the year
0060A16 1980, 1990, or 2000? ^All one knows of the present is the presence of
0070A16 265 "approved" hotels (as on July 1, 1977) in India with 16,771 rooms.
0080A16 ^And all one knows of the future is the need for an additional 10,000
0090A16 odd hotel rooms to_ meet an estimated inflow of 8 *4lakh foreign tourists
0100A16 by 1979. ^The requirement for additional hotel rooms, as mentioned
0101A16 above,
0110A16 is apparently for the country as a whole and does in no way express
0120A16 the requirement of rooms in different star-categories of hotels in different
0130A16 locations. $*3Insufficient data:*0 ^Why is it difficult to_ know
0140A16 the number of hotels, "approved" or otherwise, there are in the country
0150A16 today? ^And why is it difficult to_ know the number of hotels and rooms
0160A16 in different star-categories together with their annual growth? ^The gaps
0170A16 in information on tourism in general, and hotels in particular, have
0180A16 no bounds, with the result that an entrepreneur wishing to_ set up a hotel
0190A16 today has to refer to data that is either outdated or is loaded with
0200A16 incoherencies. ^Planning of hotels on sketchy information as this is replete
0210A16 with risks, and unless backed by well-organised marketing set-ups,
0220A16 hotels invariably fail to_ take off because of the simple reason that
0230A16 the estimation of their size was based on wrong assumptions, leading to
0240A16 wrong forecasts, and hence dearth of business. ^Where do the lacunae lie?
0250A16 ^An attempt has been made in the present paper to_ probe a little further
0260A16 into these and other informational gaps of the hotel industry, and
0270A16 suggest ways by which these could be minimised. $^To_ start with, let us
0280A16 jot down data that are usually required by an entrepreneur to_ estimate
0290A16 the demand for a hotel in a particular tourist location. ^To my mind,
0300A16 the following information will be necessary: $**=1) ^Number of domestic
0310A16 tourist arrivals per year in that_ tourist location. $**=2) ^Number of
0320A16 foreign tourist arrivals per year. $**=3) ^Number of domestic and foreign
0330A16 tourists utilising hotel facilities per year. $**=4) ^Average nights
0340A16 spent by domestic and foreign tourists. $**=5) ^Existing room- and bed-capacity
0350A16 of hotels by star-category. $**=6) ^Average room- and bed-occupancy
0360A16 of hotels (not individually, but as a group) by star-category. $**=7)
0370A16 ^Places of interest to domestic and foreign tourists; and $**=8) ^Rail,
0380A16 road, and air connections between the tourist location and other major
0390A16 cities within the country. $^The starting point of a market survey
0400A16 for hotels is an estimation of domestic and foreign tourist arrivals in
0410A16 a location where the hotel is to_ be set up, and of those utilising hotel
0420A16 facilities in the same location. ^The two figures need not be the same,
0430A16 for, there are tourists who visit a location during the day only and
0440A16 do not utilise existing hotel facilities. ^Two cases that_ automatically
0450A16 spring to my mind are those of Delhi-Agra and Madras-Mahabalipuram.
0460A16 $^An attempt has been made in the present article to_ compare information
0470A16 available on domestic and foreign tourists, as well as that_ on hotels,
0480A16 with that_ which is not available but is nevertheless vital for a
0490A16 planned growth of the hotel industry. $*3Domestic tourists:*0 ^Take for
0500A16 example the domestic tourists. ^The only information available on domestic
0510A16 tourists is the ratio of domestic and foreign tourists utilising
0520A16 hotel facilities in India-- mind you, not Delhi, Bombay, Calcutta or
0530A16 Madras, but India-- which is placed at 40:60. ^This ratio was
0531A16 estimated
0540A16 as early as 1968 but is still being fervently used by researchers for
0550A16 compiling market-studies on hotels. ^Now in an everchanging situation,
0551A16 one wonders if ratios
0560A16 that_ were arrived at almost a decade ago still hold true. ^Moreover,
0570A16 this ratio was probably arrived at for all hotels taken together-- there
0580A16 is no information available to the contrary-- thereby immersing the
0590A16 researcher further into its vagaries: ^Should an entrepreneur wishing
0600A16 to_ set up a three-star hotel in, say, Delhi assume that 40 per cent
0610A16 of the residents in his hotel will be domestic tourists? ^Or is the ratio
0620A16 of domestic and foreign tourists utilising hotel facilities in India
0630A16 different for different categories of hotels in different tourist locations?
0640A16 ^If so, what are these ratios and where are they available from?
0650A16 $^A survey of hotels in Delhi done by this writer shows that the ratio
0660A16 of domestic and foreign tourists utilising hotel facilities is not the
0670A16 same for all categories of hotels, and it is certainly not 40:60 for
0680A16 any hotel. ^For 1976 for which information was sought and analysed, this
0690A16 ratio was roughly 75:25 for two-star hotels, 66:34 for three-star hotels
0700A16 and 30:70 for four- and five- star hotels. ^Do these figures not
0701A16 provide
0710A16 enough reason to_ believe that the ratio of domestic and foreign tourists
0720A16 utilising hotel facilities could as well be different for different
0730A16 categories of hotels in tourist locations such as Agra, Jaipur, Bombay,
0740A16 or Aurangabad? $*3Foreign tourists:*0 ^On to figures for foreign
0750A16 tourists. ^Data on actual foreign tourist arrivals in a particular tourist
0760A16 location are not available although hotels do maintain details of both
0770A16 foreign and domestic tourists for reasons of security. ^The Central
0780A16 Department of Tourism, or for that_ matter the state departments of
0790A16 tourism, maintain and publish figures on overall foreign tourist arrivals
0800A16 into India and the direct-entries into the ports of Delhi, Bombay,
0810A16 Calcutta, Madras, Tiruchirapaili, Hussainiwala, Haridaspur, Wagah
0820A16 and Raxaul. ^Figures for the latter, however, do not include foreign
0830A16 tourists who come to these ports from other tourist locations, and hence
0840A16 are not very useful. ^How does one then estimate the foreign tourist arrivals
0850A16 in a particular location? ^There are two studies done by or on behalf
0860A16 of, the Department of Tourism which were published in 1968 and
0870A16 1972-73 respectively. ^The latter study is based on interviews with a sample
0880A16 of 7,114 foreign tourists and presents their arrivals in forty-odd
0890A16 tourist locations as a percentage of overall foreign tourist arrivals
0900A16 into India. ^The strategy of collecting information through sample studies
0910A16 is agreed to, but how does one cross-check it? ^Moreover, can this
0920A16 exercise not be repeated more often, say after every two years? ^And
0930A16 if this is not possible for want of time or money, can the hotels not be
0940A16 asked to_ divulge tourist statistics to the Department of Tourism,
0950A16 the hotel federation, or some newly-constituted body to_ ensure an organised
0960A16 growth of the industry in India? $^Indications are available that
0970A16 the Department of Tourism has, in the past, asked hotels for such
0980A16 details but the latter have quite often shied from disclosing such information
0990A16 for fear of harm it may bring to their image, especially in cases
1000A16 of hotels whose occupancies are lower than those that_ are frequently
1010A16 talked about. ^It irks one to_ note that while on one hand hotels are craving
1020A16 to_ be recognised as an industry, on the other, they are doing everything
1030A16 possible to_ prevent a systematic growth of the industry in India.
1040A16 $*3Hotel statistics:*0 ^The Department of Tourism publishes annual
1050A16 statistics on foreign tourists that_ are indeed useful from many
1051A16 an
1060A16 angle, but what an entrepreneur needs, in addition, is the following information
1070A16 on hotels: $**=1) number of present and projected "approved" hotels
1080A16 and rooms by star-category, by location, by sector, and for the
1081A16 country
1090A16 as a whole; $**=2) present shortfall of "approved" hotels and rooms,
1100A16 also by star-category, by location, by sector, and for the country as
1110A16 a whole; $**=3) number of hotels awaiting approval; and $**=4) ratio of
1120A16 domestic and foreign tourists utilising hotel facilities by star-category
1130A16 and by location. $^And what is even more important is that he needs
1140A16 this information not sporadically, but at set intervals of, say, a year.
1150A16 ^A study of the hotel industry was last conducted in 1968 as a part
1160A16 of the Report of the Hotel Review and Survey Committee. ^It is about
1170A16 time that a detailed study on growth of hotels in different locations
1180A16 of interest to foreign as well as domestic tourists was conducted or
1190A16 sponsored by the Department of Tourism. ^As hotels are a vital part
1200A16 of the total tourism activity in the country, and since the Department
1210A16 of Tourism is easily the most well-informed of all sources, it may prove
1220A16 worthwhile for them also to_ explore the possibility of merging statistics
1230A16 on foreign and domestic tourists with those on hotels. $^Like so
1240A16 many industries and industry-groups, hotels too have an apex organisation
1250A16 that functions in the name and style of the Federation of Hotel
1260A16 and Restaurant Associations of India and has made attempts to_ bring
1270A16 representatives of hotels to a common platform for mutual exchange of
1280A16 ideas, and for discussions on problems common to all. ^However, all that_
1290A16 has been done in the past is not enough. ^What needs to_ be done, and
1300A16 urgently at that_, is to_ urge the large, successful hotels to_ view the
1310A16 gnawing disparities in management organisation and practices between them
1320A16 and the small hotels, and devise ways by which these could be reduced
1330A16 over a period of time. $^What the industry needs at the moment is a change
1340A16 of thought on the part of successful hotels towards the not-so-successful
1350A16 ones. ^This, perhaps, is the only way by which the overall standard
1360A16 of hotels in the country can be improved. ^While the performance of
1370A16 large and medium hotels has been more or less satisfactory, that_ of
1380A16 small hotels (unclassified, and those belonging to the one- and two-
1381A16 star
1390A16 categories) has left much to_ be desired. ^And to_ reduce this gap in operational
1400A16 efficiency, hotels will have to_ shed the veil of secrecy adorned
1410A16 by them for years. ^If not done willingly, the change will come by
1420A16 itself, for, with the increasing competition between large hotels, and the
1430A16 consequent turnover in management, one wonders if hotels will ever be
1440A16 able to_ retain their so-called operational secrets. $*3Need for a data
1450A16 bank:*0 ^At the moment, however, hotels are shy to_ even disclose their
1460A16 room occupancies and the number of domestic and foreign tourists utilising
1470A16 their facilities in a given year. ^Are these statistics so vital to
1480A16 hotels that their disclosure will tarnish their image and result in loss
1490A16 of business to their competitors? ^Or, are there other aspects like
1500A16 marketing organisation, contacts with travel agents in India and abroad,
1510A16 and, above all, quality of service and management that_ are more relevant
1520A16 to the success or failure of a hotel? ^If hotels still have a reason
1530A16 for not disclosing these figures to all and sundry, can this information
1540A16 not be made available to the department of tourism, or, as mentioned
1550A16 earlier, to an independent body which can compile and present such information
1560A16 in a way so as not to_ disclose the identity of individual hotels?
1570A16 ^After all, what is the use of setting up a hotel at a place where the
1580A16 existing capacity already exceeds the demand? ^Whose needs will it serve?
1590A16 ^An agency or organisation of the type mentioned above could not only
1600A16 act as a storehouse of knowledge or data on hotels, but also as a source
1610A16 of advice on problems faced by the industry from time to time. $^A
1620A16 systematic compilation of relevant information on hotels is not the
1630A16 only thing that_ needs to_ be done on an urgent footing. ^What is also required
1640A16 is a plan to_ regulate the growth of hotels in locations of tourist
1650A16 interest. ^The absence of any concrete plan to_ regulate the growth
1660A16 of hotels in the country has resulted in under- and over- capacity of
1670A16 hotel rooms in different tourist locations. $^There are also examples
1680A16 of under- and over- capacity of hotel rooms in different categories of
1690A16 hotels within the same location. ^Atleast one tourist location where
1700A16 the absence of a plan to_ regulate the growth of hotels is reflected in
1710A16 full measure is the city of Agra.*#
        **[no. of words = 02001**]

        **[txt. a17**]
0010A17 **<*3Deficit financing is modest*0**> $*3^CONTRARY*0 to the general impression,
0020A17 deficit financing in the first nine months of the year has been
0030A17 very modest and, unless there is a drastic change in the last quarter,
0040A17 the government*'s finances could end up in a very reasonable shape. $^Deficit
0050A17 financing in the proper economic sense is defined as the increase
0060A17 in net bank credit to the government. ^This rose very sharply by more
0070A17 than \0Rs. 1,000 *4crores in the first four months of the financial
0071A17 year,
0080A17 but thereafter there has been a steady improvement, with net \0RBI
0090A17 credit falling month after month. $^By the end of December the increase
0100A17 in such credit to the government was no more than \0Rs. 164 Crores
0101A17 since
0110A17 the beginning of the financial year. $^The budgetary deficit is different
0120A17 from deficit financing though the two are mistakenly thought to_
0121A17 be
0130A17 identical by laymen. ^The budgetary deficit is defined as the increase
0140A17 in the short-term debt of the government, as measured by the fall in its
0150A17 cash balances with the \0RBI and the increase in treasury bills outstanding.
0160A17 $^Between April 1, 1977, and January 13, 1978, the cash balances
0170A17 of the Centre and the states taken together fell by \0Rs. 806
0180A17 *4crores, but this was often to the tune of \0Rs. 616 *4crores by a
0181A17 reduction
0190A17 in the outstanding treasury bills. ^Thus, on balance, there was a deficit
0200A17 of only \0Rs. 190 *4crores. $^While this is certainly more than the
0210A17 budgeted amount of \0Rs. 84 *4crores it is far less than the alarmist
0220A17 figure of \0Rs. 1,000 *4crores which has been gaining currency in
0221A17 many circles.
0230A17 $*<*3windfall receipts*0*> $^The remarkable thing is that net \0RBI
0240A17 credit to the government has been falling in spite of a series of adverse
0250A17 factors. ^Thanks principally to additional demands from the states
0260A17 for cyclone relief and additional plan assistance, it was necessary to_
0270A17 approach Parliament in December with supplementary demands for grants
0280A17 involving a net amount of \0Rs. 689 *4crores. $^Another instalment of
0290A17 dearness allowance has become due for government employees, costing \0Rs.
0300A17 4.7 *4crores per month. ^The fertiliser subsidy has been increased
0301A17 considerably,
0310A17 while the tax on sugar was reduced to_ try and lower prices. ^The
0320A17 surpluses of public-sector undertakings have been eroded by the decision
0330A17 to_ restore a minimum bonus of 8.33 per cent. $^These adverse factors
0340A17 have not been offset by windfall receipts of any kind. ^A major item
0350A17 of expenditure which has been postponed is the subscription of \0Rs
0360A17 208 *4crores to the \0IMF which will probably figure in next year*'s
0361A17 budget.
0370A17 ^Market borrowings have exceeded the budgeted amount by almost \0Rs.
0380A17 200 *4crores. $^There may have been major shortfalls in expenditure
0381A17 in the
0390A17 first nine months of the financial year. ^If this shortfall is made up
0400A17 in a substantial measure in the last quarter, there could be a very steep
0410A17 rise in the budgetary deficit. ^It looks as though most government calculations
0420A17 assume that this will happen. ^Both the Prime Minister and
0430A17 the finance minister have claimed that the "ruined" economy they inherited
0440A17 from the Congress has made deficit financing inevitable, lending substance
0450A17 to fears that the year will end with a massive deficit. $^The government
0460A17 still has, however, quite a few reserves on which it can draw to_
0470A17 reduce the budgetary deficit. ^The commercial banks continue to_ be flush
0480A17 with funds, and there should be no difficulty in raising an additional
0490A17 \0Rs. 100 *4crores or so in market loans by the end of the financial
0491A17 year.
0500A17 ^Besides, the government has not yet borrowed from the \0RBI either
0510A17 the sum of \0Rs. 30 *4crores it had budgeted against impounded dearness
0520A17 allowance or \0Rs. 800 *4crores against a drawal on foreign exchange
0530A17 reserves. $^Thus, it has something like \0Rs. 1,200 *4crores which
0540A17 it can produce at the last moment. ^The economic significance of large
0541A17 borrowings
0550A17 from the \0RBI at the tail-end of the year is very small, but it should
0560A17 be recollected that, in 1976-77 too, the government borrowed \0Rs.
0570A17 480 *4crores against impounded \0D.A. in the very last week of the
0571A17 financial
0580A17 year. ^It seems to_ have become standard financial practice to_ indulge
0590A17 in last-minute window-dressing to_ improve the financial picture.
0600A17 $**<*3Tax on consumption hinted at*0**> $*3^THE*0 finance minister,
0601A17 \0Mr. *(0H.
0610A17 M.*) Patel, is expected to_ initiate the process of recasting the
0620A17 country*'s fiscal structure when he presents the Union budget for 1978-79,
0630A17 reflecting the Janata government*'s economic objectives, to Parliament
0640A17 on February 28. $\0^*Mr. Patel is better placed in so far as he
0650A17 can set the course for the economy in the coming year with the highly
0660A17 comfortable food and foreign exchange reserves at his disposal. $^The foodgrain
0670A17 harvest in 1977-78 will be higher than in 1976-77. $^The industrial
0680A17 picture is, however, dim because of power cuts and labour trouble and
0690A17 demand recession in certain sectors. ^Tax yields are not having the earlier
0700A17 buoyancy. ^Investments are stagnating and new issues other than by
0710A17 way of dilution of foreign holding are hardly encouraging. $*<*3detailed
0720A17 picture*0*> $^Detailed picture of the economic scene will be presented
0730A17 in the pre-budget survey which will be laid on the table of the two
0740A17 houses of Parliament on February 22. $\0^*Mr. Patel favours an impressive
0750A17 step-up in investments, in both public and private sectors, though
0760A17 he is dismayed at the "failure" of the private-sector industry to_ respond
0770A17 to all the reliefs and incentives already provided in 1976-77. $^On
0780A17 the other hand, industrial and business circles feel that \0Mr. Patel
0790A17 ought to_ do much more to_ make savings and investment attractive by
0800A17 lowering tax levels, direct and indirect, bringing down the cost of credit
0810A17 and freeing the economy of most of the controls. $^With large deficit
0820A17 looming for the current year on account of developments not foreseen
0830A17 when \0Mr. Patel presented his first budget in June 1977, and the states
0840A17 having raised a merry \0Rs 42 *4crores by way of additional
0841A17 resource
0850A17 mobilisation in 1977-78, the outlook for budgetary resources, at existing
0860A17 levels, can hardly support current levels of expenditure, both plan
0870A17 and non-plan. $^Faced with the difficult task of matching resources even
0880A17 for a modest plan effort with the thrust on objectives like providing
0890A17 more employment and lifting up the rural economy, the finance minister,
0900A17 it is noted in business circles, cannot have much elbow room for any significant
0910A17 lowering of the entire tax structure through the forthcoming
0920A17 budget. ^It is, however, widely expected that \0Mr. Patel will make a
0930A17 real beginning in the directions that_ the Jha committee on indirect taxation
0940A17 and the Choksi committee (in its interim report) on simplification
0950A17 of direct taxes have set out. $^There is also speculation as to whether
0960A17 \0Mr. Patel will introduce a tax on consumption or revive the expenditure
0970A17 tax.
0980A17 $**<*3Fall in growth $rate of exports*0**> $*3^THE*0 growth rate of
0990A17 India*'s exports has fallen this year and this has been officially attributed
1000A17 to growing protectionism in the developing countries and the continuing
1010A17 recession in the world. $^Added to these was the regulation of
1020A17 export of mass-consumption items such as sugar, rice, vegetable oil, oilseeds,
1030A17 groundnut extraction and fresh vegetables. $^In the first nine months
1040A17 of the current financial year the exports recorded a rise of 8.7
1050A17 per cent over the performance during the corresponding period last year.
1060A17 ^As against this, the exports during 1976-77 had registered an increase
1070A17 of 27.2 per cent, over the exports of the previous year. $^The balance
1080A17 of trade last year was favourable to the extent of \0Rs. 69.99 *4crores
1081A17 in sharp contrast with a deficit of \0Rs. 1,222.41 *4crores in
1082A17 1975-76. ^The
1090A17 year 1976-77 thus marked a turning point in India*'s foreign trade. $^According
1100A17 to the annual report of the department of commerce, the export
1110A17 performance improved in respect of tea, coffee, tobacco, cashew kernels,
1120A17 spices, engineering goods, gem and jewellery and jute manufactures.
1130A17 $*<*3weakening trend*0*> $^However, the exports showed a weakening trend
1140A17 in items including readymade garments, leather and leather manufactures,
1150A17 marine products, iron and steel, sugar, cement, raw cotton, oils and
1160A17 oilseeds and vegetables and fruits. $^Imports in the first nine months went
1170A17 up by four per cent, and final figures may show even a sharper rise.
1180A17 $^The import policy for 1977-78 was further liberalised with a view to
1190A17 meeting the requirments of imported raw materials, components, spares and
1200A17 equipment as well as certain items of mass consumption. ^Imports were
1210A17 particularly heavy in the case of edible oils, cotton and man-made fibres.
1220A17 $^Import licences worth \0Rs. 5,375 *4crores were issued during
1230A17 April-December, 1977, as against \0Rs. 2,825 *4crores in the
1231A17 corresponding period
1240A17 of 1976. ^Of the licences during April-October, about 75 per cent
1250A17 were against free foreign exchange since the foreign exchange position
1260A17 was comfortable. $^While India*'s exports to almost all the regions increased
1270A17 during the year, the increase was most impressive in the case of
1280A17 exports to West Asia. ^The \0UK continued to_ be the biggest market
1290A17 for Indian products in the European Common Market. $^Normalisation
1300A17 of trade with People*'s Republic of China was reflected in 1977 by
1310A17 way of trade contracts and exchange. ^As a result of India*'s participation
1320A17 in the Canton Fairs, the volume of trade contracted with China
1330A17 amounted to \0Rs. 3.94 *4crores consisting of import of zinc antimony
1340A17 metal and mercury and exports of pig-iron and shellac. $^The new export
1350A17 strategy lays emphasis on dynamic exports such as engineering goods,
1360A17 marine products, garments, leather manufactures, handicrafts and technology-intensive
1370A17 products. ^In regard to traditional exports, steps are being
1380A17 taken to_ increase their volume and diversify the commodity mix. $^As
1390A17 regards the import-export policies and procedures, the Union government
1400A17 is examining the issues of simplification of procedures and reorganisation
1410A17 of the office of the chief controller of imports and exports.
1430A17 $**<*3Banks*' profitability may be reduced this year*0**> $*3^INQUIRIES*0
1440A17 with some major commercial banks indicate that profitability of banks,
1450A17 which was generally lower in 1977 than in 1976, is likely to_ be reduced
1460A17 further this year. $^Only a few banks have published their balance
1461A17 sheets
1470A17 for 1977 so far. ^Others are expected to_ announce their results in
1480A17 the coming weeks. ^While most banks will show an increase in the quantum
1490A17 of their published profits for 1977, their profitability is likely to_
1500A17 be lower than in 1976. $^Bankers point out that following the reduction
1510A17 in deposit and advance rates from last month, the spread between their
1520A17 income and expenditure on this account has narrowed down. ^In some cases,
1530A17 the spread has come down from 1.25 per cent to less than one per cent.
1540A17 $^On the other hand, expenditure on staff and other expenses have been
1550A17 on the increase. ^Banks will have to_ pay higher dearness allowance to
1560A17 their employees this year than in 1977. ^Moreover, the burden on the banks
1570A17 as a sequel to the recommendations of the Pillay committee is likely
1580A17 to_ be larger. ^Expenses on branch expansion, particularly in the rural
1590A17 and semi-urban centres, have been growing while such branches start earning
1600A17 profits only after a few years. $*<*3lending rates*0*> $^In this
1610A17 context, any further reduction in the banks*' lending rates is virtually
1620A17 ruled out by banking circles. ^Industry circles have been expecting
1621A17 that
1630A17 since banks are currently flush with funds and some banks might be anxious
1640A17 to_ find avenues for these funds, they might choose to_ effect a reduction
1650A17 in advance rates. $^One top banker told "The Times of India"
1660A17 that this would be a suicidal policy for banks. ^He agreed that the demand
1670A17 for bank funds was "not very high" at present mainly because of uncertainty
1680A17 in various spheres of economic activity and there were also no
1690A17 signs as yet of demand for funds picking up. "^But we do not want to_ go
1700A17 out into proposals which might prove ultimately unfruitful," he said.
1710A17 ^He felt the growth rate in bank deposits in 1978 might not be as high as
1720A17 in 1976. ^As it is, the growth rate in bank deposits in 1977 was lower
1730A17 than in 1976. $*<*3company deposits*0*> $^Following the stipulation of
1740A17 keeping ten per cent of the maturing company deposits in bank deposits
1750A17 and other approved securities, some moneys might come to the banks, though
1760A17 a part is also expected to_ go to the Unit Trust of India.*#
        **[no. of words = 02016**]

        **[txt. a18**]
0010A18 **<*3caucus officials still run \0Govt.*0**> $*3^IF*0 the Janata Government
0020A18 is wobbling and falling flat on its face each time it attempts
0030A18 to_ uncover the corruption and the excesses of the previous Government,
0040A18 there is good reason for that_. ^The bureaucrats who were placed in the
0050A18 most sensitive posts and who served the previous Government with the greatest
0060A18 commitment during the Emergency, continue to_ function in the same
0070A18 or in equally sensitive posts after the Janata came to power. $^It
0080A18 is largely because this bureaucratic caucus, which has a personal vested
0090A18 interest in covering up the excesses of the Emergency, continues to_
0100A18 function in key positions that certain vital government files of the investigative
0110A18 agencies have not come to light. $*<*3Two vital \0VVIP
0120A18 files missing*0*> $^There are at least two prominent vital files which have
0130A18 either disappeared or have been tampered with to_ make deletions of
0140A18 information which was very damaging to certain \0VVIPS of the previous
0150A18 regime. ^One such file which seems to_ have been quietly buried is
0160A18 the '*3Bastikar File' which disclosed how a \0VVIP very close to
0170A18 the ex-Prime Minister was also involved in the smuggling racket and had
0180A18 links with very big international smugglers. $^Another file, which dealt
0190A18 with certain activities of Dhirendra Brahmachari, and which was
0200A18 alluded to during the proceedings of the Shah Commission, also contained,
0210A18 according to reliable sources, some sensational information about how
0220A18 one \0VVIP, very close to \0Mrs. Gandhi, went abroad with a group
0230A18 accompanying the late President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed, but travelled
0240A18 incognito under a fictitious passport. $*3^According to the information
0250A18 which was reportedly contained in this file earlier, this \0VVIP
0260A18 carried with him half a dozen boxes containing his enormous assets which
0270A18 he took to America via Cairo. ^A very senior official in the Central
0280A18 Board of Excise and Customs personally supervised the departure formalities
0290A18 of this \0VVIP. $*<*3Emotionally committed $to Gandhi regime*>
0300A18 $^These are but two instances. ^The fact is that the upper echelons
0310A18 of the sensitive areas of the bureaucracy are riddled with personnel
0320A18 emotionally committed to the previous regime due to the close liaison
0330A18 that_ had developed between politicians and officials just before and
0340A18 during the Emergency. ^Obviously, the solution to this problem would not
0350A18 lie in starting a witch-hunt against a section of the bureaucracy, but
0360A18 to_ implement a rational transfer policy for such officials in order to_
0370A18 give them a much needed change and also to_ induct fresh blood and a new
0380A18 approach in their places. ^Officials who played such a key role during
0390A18 the Emergency cannot be expected to_ untangle the mess created during
0400A18 the Emergency and give a new direction to the administration. $^Thus,
0410A18 the activities of the \0CBI during the Emergency have received prominence
0420A18 because of the Shah Commission hearings, and have, therefore,
0430A18 excited considerable comment. ^For instance the following comment by \0Mr.
0440A18 Kuldip Nayar in the *3Indian Express is typical: $"*3^The misuse
0450A18 of the \0CBI was worse. ^Some of the instances that_ have come before
0460A18 the Shah Commission indicate that the Department was at the beck
0470A18 and call of \0Mrs. Gandhi and her men and they used it to_ initiate
0480A18 false investigations and even cases against those who did not fall in line.
0490A18 ^In fact, this is one department which should not be under the Government
0500A18 because the executive can have the temptation to use it arbitrarily.
0510A18 ^When the institution of *4Lokpal comes into being, the \0CBI
0520A18 should preferably be transferred to it." $*<*3\0Mrs. \0G*'3s conduits
0530A18 still occupy key posts*> $^This view of the \0CBI is fairly representative
0540A18 among current opinion. ^How strange, therefore, that the official
0550A18 who controlled \0CBI activities during the Emergency, acting as
0560A18 the most effective conduit for \0Mrs. Gandhi*'s personal wishes, continues
0570A18 to_ function in the same place, and with added responsibility! ^He
0580A18 is \0Mr. *(0R. C.*) Mishra, Additional Secretary in the Ministry
0581A18 of
0590A18 Home Affairs. ^It was during \0Mrs. Gandhi*'s regime that \0Mr.
0600A18 Mishra was brought from his parent cadre of the Central Board of Excise
0610A18 and Customs to_ fill a specially upgraded post of Additional Secretary
0620A18 in the Home Ministry in the vigilance cell of the Department
0630A18 of Personnel and Administrative Reform. $^During the Emergency, \0Mr.
0640A18 Mishra, in this position, was overall in charge of the key investigative
0650A18 agencies-- \0CBI Revenue Intelligence and the Directorate
0660A18 of Enforcement. ^Many intimidatory raids carried out during the Emergency
0670A18 by these three agencies were done so after the respective directors
0680A18 of these agencies got the go-ahead from \0Mr. Mishra. ^Ultimately,
0690A18 \0Mr. Mishra himself became the Director General of Revenue Intelligence
0700A18 in addition to holding charge of \0CBI and the Directorate
0710A18 of Enforcement. $*<*3Emergency ace controls *4lokpal cell*> $^It might
0720A18 be recalled that while deposing before the Shah Commission, \0Mr.
0730A18 *(0A. M.*) Sinha, the former Deputy Director of the Enforcement Directorate,
0740A18 had described how \0Mr. *(0R. C.*) Mishra had constantly
0750A18 entered and left the room while the officials were finalising the details
0760A18 of \0Mrs. Gayatri Devi*'s arrest during the Emergency. ^The degree
0770A18 of trust that_ the ex-Prime Minister placed on \0Mr. Mishra might
0780A18 be judged from the fact that it was \0Mr. Mishra who initiated the
0790A18 case against \0Mr. Subramaniam Swamy during the Emergency, and who drew
0800A18 \0Rs. 40,000 from the secret service funds of the Directorate of
0810A18 Revenue Intelligence, and went to America in an effort to_ apprehend
0820A18 him. \0^*Mr. Mishra was also considered to_ be the brain behind the
0821A18 prosecution
0830A18 in the Baroda Dynamite Case involving \0Mr. George Fernandes
0840A18 and others. ^After the Janata Government came to power, \0Mr. Mishra
0850A18 not only continued to_ hold his position but increased his power. $^TODAY
0860A18 IN ADDITION TO CONTROLLING THE THREE VITAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES,
0870A18 \0*MR. *MISHRA HAS ALSO BEEN PUT IN CHARGE OF THE *4LOKPAL CELL AND
0871A18 IS LOOKING
0880A18 AFTER THE WORKING OF ALL THE COMMISSIONS OF INQUIRY SET UP BY THE
0890A18 JANATA GOVERNMENT. $\0^*Mr. Mishra is not alone. ^There is an entire
0900A18 net of like-minded officers occupying key posts and working in close harmony
0910A18 with Mishra. ^While the role of \0Mr. \0D. Sen, the Director
0920A18 of \0CBI during the Emergency got exposed, the other members of
0930A18 the bureaucratic caucus who co-operated with him have not been disturbed.
0940A18 ^Apart from \0Mr. *(0R. C.*) Mishra, there were \0Mr. *(0M. G.*)
0950A18 Abrol, then Chairman of the Central Board of Excise and Customs
0960A18 and \0Mr. *(0G. S*) Sawhney, then Director of Revenue Intelligence.
0970A18 $*<*3Politically motivated $postings*> $^It might also be noted
0980A18 that these officers were elevated to their positions during the previous
0990A18 regime after some controversy among bureaucratic circles, and their postings
1000A18 were considered to_ be politically motivated. ^Thus \0Mr. *(0R.
1010A18 C.*) Mishra himself had got his appointment as Joint Secretary in
1020A18 the Department of Personnel largely due to the pressure of \0Mrs. Gandhi,
1030A18 exerted through \0Mr. *(0P. N.*) Haksar, in face of opposition
1040A18 from \0Mr. *(0R. N.*) Mridha, former Minister of State in the
1050A18 Home Ministry. $\0^*Mr. Mridha*'s objection to \0Mr. Mishra arose
1060A18 because several years earlier \0Mr. Mishra had played a controversial
1070A18 role in what came to_ be known in Bombay Customs circles as the *3'Fake
1080A18 Diamonds Case'. ^Similarly \0Mr. *(0G. S*) Sawhney, largely due
1090A18 to the recommendation of \0Mr. *(0K. K.*) Shah, then Governor of
1100A18 Tamil Nadu, was transferred from Collector of Customs, Bombay,
1110A18 to become Director of Revenue Intelligence, despite having himself been
1120A18 under investigation by the \0CBI and having been listed as a suspect
1130A18 in the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence. $*3^During the Emergency,
1140A18 \0Mr. Sawhney worked in close liaison with \0Mr. Om Mehta and
1150A18 \0Mr. *(0R. K.*) Dhawan. ^After the Janata came to power, \0Mr.
1160A18 Sawhney became Member (Customs) under the Ministry of Finance. $^The
1170A18 question that_ should exercise the Janata Government is whether it
1180A18 does not put too much strain on officers who have been in close liaison
1190A18 with the previous Government to_ take charge of sensitive posts when
1200A18 the Janata Government is attempting to_ bring about a political transition.
1210A18 $^A rational personnel policy is urgently needed and there are a
1220A18 very large number of such officials presently posted in Delhi who could
1230A18 be transferred to new postings with great advantage to the Government
1240A18 and possibly relief for themselves.
1250A18 $**<*3With infights turning into open war...**> $*3^THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE*0
1260A18 of the Janata Party had yet another non-session last week.
1270A18 ^Judging by its outcome, it has only served the purpose of finally proving
1280A18 that the ruling party is a real menagerie. $^Deliberate or otherwise,
1290A18 the end of the Janata Party*'s exercise in mutual mud-slinging coincided
1300A18 with a ringing call of \0Mrs. Gandhi which the Congress-\0I Working
1310A18 Committee put out for THE UNITY OF ALL CONGRESSMEN to_ meet
1311A18 the
1320A18 challenge of what it called the reversal of nationally accepted policies
1330A18 by the Janata Party. $*3^All said and done, the futility of the Janata
1340A18 Party*'s conclave is an invitation to \0Mrs. Gandhi to fill the
1350A18 political vacuum that_ is being created by the ruling coterie by its
1351A18 total
1360A18 incapacity to_ manage its own house. $^The alarming situation is compounded
1370A18 by the increasing arrogance of \0Mrs. Gandhi*'s son, who has
1380A18 been behaving like a bull in a China shop at every judicial forum. ^Its
1390A18 latest manifestation at Delhi*'s Patiala House, where the Sen Commission
1400A18 meets, is an eye-opener. $*3^Many people in this country, albeit
1410A18 wrongly, are prepared to give the benefit of the doubt to \0Mrs. gandhi
1420A18 on all that_ had happened during the dark days of the emergency. ^BUT
1430A18 *SANJAY *GANDHI IS A DIFFERENT KETTLE OF FISH. ^This little prig,
1431A18 who
1440A18 had somewhat withdrawn after the electoral cataclysm of March 1977,
1450A18 is back to the fore, thanks to his mother*'s triumph in the recent State
1460A18 Assembly elections. $^The mother is fully behind all his antics. ^Besides,
1470A18 his chum Bansi Lal is as active these days like a volcano and,
1480A18 for all practical purposes, he is part of the \0Cong-I leadership.
1490A18 $*<*3Janata*'s failure $helps Indira*> $^The manner in which the Janata
1500A18 Party is conducting itself is only helping this Fascist hoodlum of
1510A18 a Sanjay and his entourage headed by that_ motor mechanic named Arjun
1520A18 Singh. ^It will be a great tragedy if this nation which successfully
1530A18 faced many oppressors cannot deal with Sanjay Gandhi, an antithesis of
1540A18 everything that his grandfather had stood for. $*3^But judging by what
1550A18 transpired in the air-conditioned annexe of the Parliament House, where
1560A18 the National Executive of the ruling party met for two days last
1570A18 week, it is clear as daylight that it cannot prevent the return of Indira
1580A18 Gandhi and her son. $^It was a crucial meeting of the National
1590A18 Executive following the failure of the so-called Big Five to_ compose
1600A18 their differences at their "*5priti bhojan*6". ^And yet, in the two
1601A18 days
1610A18 of deliberations, neither Charan Singh nor Jagjivan Ram spoke a word.
1620A18 ^In between, Biju Patnaik arranged a dinner for the two, but failed
1630A18 to_ break the ice. $*<*3Morarji Desai*'s $non-leadership*> $^Of the
1640A18 Triumvirate, only Morarji Desai spoke-- for 15 minutes. ^And predictably,
1650A18 it was a sermon. ^He said that the Janata Party had adopted Gandhism,
1660A18 but the party-men had not become Gandhians. $^At any rate, it is
1670A18 futile to_ expect any leadership from Morarji Desai, whose only pre-occupation
1680A18 is the promotion of Hindi and Prohibition, besides preventing
1690A18 any Commission of Inquiry into the extra-curricular activities of
1700A18 his son. ^*Morarji seems to_ have a point-- namely, that if every
1701A18 Janata
1710A18 man had not become a Gandhian, why single out Kanti for punishment!
1720A18 $^It was really billingsgate on the first day of the meeting of the National
1730A18 Executive. ^*Chandrawati, President of the Janata Party in Haryana,
1740A18 with Raj Narain in tow, was at the throat of Chand Ram, a
1750A18 *4Harijan Minister of State at the Centre from Haryana. ^Both of
1760A18 them accused him of sabotaging the prospects of the Party candidate in
1770A18 the recent Karnal by-election. $*<*3"Leaders in second $childhood"*>
1780A18 $^Haryana Chief Minister Devi Lal, who was not present on the first
1790A18 day, joined issue with Chand Ram the next day, despite objections from
1800A18 those who conducted the proceedings. ^He accused Chand Ram of taking
1810A18 bribes in the distribution of party tickets in the last election to
1820A18 the State Assembly. $^He also accused Krishan Kant of conspiring with
1830A18 Bansi Lal in destabilising the set-up in Haryana who, in turn, issued
1840A18 a press statment saying that Devi Lal was suffering from "hallucinations."*#
        **[no. of words = 02025**]

        **[txt. a19**]
0010A19 **<*3JANATA CRISIS AT $BOILING POINT*0**> $*3^THE RIVALRY AT THE JANATA
0020A19 SUMMIT*0 is sizzling towards boiling point. ^Concerted efforts are being
0030A19 made to_ polarise the Janata Parliamentary Party to_ replace the
0040A19 present Government by a different outfit. $^The opposite side is not taking
0050A19 it lying down, either. ^Its trump card is the loaded club it brandishes
0060A19 against the New Caucus that_ allegedly wallows in stinking corruption.
0070A19 $^The numbers game is going ahead at a furious pace. ^The Janata
0080A19 Party in the *5Lok Sabha*6 is the principal target of manipulation,
0081A19 for
0090A19 it is the Lower House that_ counts in sustaining the Government. $*<*3Janata
0100A19 banks on Congress help*0*> $^The attempt is to_ knock
0101A19 together
0110A19 a sizable block of \0MPs, leaving out the Charan Singh loyalists
0120A19 and the Jan Sangh. ^The authors of these behind-the-scene exercises
0130A19 claim a strength of 184 \0MPs while the minimum required is around 280,
0140A19 the *5Lok Sabha*6 having a strength of 542. $*3^For the remaining,
0150A19 they are heavily banking on the Swaran Singh Congress. ^The undivided
0160A19 Congress Party in the *5Lok Sabha*6 had 153 members. ^After \0Mrs.
0161A19 Gandhi
0170A19 broke away, conflicting claims have been made about their respective
0180A19 strength.*0 $^However, according to the most reliable estimate, the Swaran
0190A19 Singh Congress has 80 members in the Lower House and the Indira
0200A19 Congress 54. ^Of the balance, half a dozen are sitting on the fence,
0210A19 three have declared themselves Independent and the rest have joined
0211A19 the
0220A19 Janata Party. $*3^The word as of now is that the Congress will not
0230A19 join the Government, but will support it from outside. ^Its going in
0240A19 will provide \0Mrs. Gandhi a sharper weapon to_ attack her erstwhile colleagues.*0
0250A19 $*<*3Where stand \0BLD & Jan Sangh?*0*> $^Even if all
0260A19 the 80 Congress \0MPs, support the Government, which is problematical,
0270A19 it will not have the requisite majority. ^This lag, it is hoped, will
0280A19 be made up by other groups like the \0AIADMK. $^No authoritative figures
0290A19 are available of the strength of the \0BLD and the Jan Sangh
0300A19 in the *5Lok Sabha*6, though they together constitute the bulk of
0301A19 the
0310A19 Ruling Party. ^It is, however, generally believed that the \0BLD
0320A19 has a block of 90 and the Jan Sangh 80 odd. $^Those engaged in realigning
0330A19 the ruling outfit confidently claim that Charan Singh*'s hold on
0340A19 the \0BLD has considerably eroded over the months and his firm supporters
0350A19 have dwindled to 40 or so. ^It is stated that \0BLD Cabinet Ministers
0360A19 like Biju Patnaik and *(0H. M.*) Patel, would cross over
0370A19 if it comes to the crunch and the Home Minister will be left with only
0380A19 two ministerial colleagues, Raj Narain and Bhanu Pratap Singh. $^It
0390A19 is also claimed that almost all *4Harijan \0MPs in the \0BLD have
0400A19 deserted the strong man. ^Influencial *4Harijan \0MPs like Ram
0401A19 Dhan
0410A19 and Ram Nihore Rakesh, have been carrying on a tearing campaign against
0420A19 the Home Ministry since the Belchi episode. $^The claim is also made
0430A19 of an insipient rift in the Jan Sangh between the \0RSS and non-\0RSS
0440A19 elements. ^But the scene is still foggy in that_ terrain, though
0450A19 the Jan Sangh has been slowly drifting away from its axis with \0BLD
0460A19 forged since last year*'s Assembly elections. $*<*3Morarji
0461A19 gripped
0470A19 $with fear*> $*3^There are many imponderables in these exercises. ^If
0480A19 the Jan Sangh chooses to_ stay on in the revamped Government minus
0490A19 Charan Singh and his group, the Congress support will not be available.
0500A19 $^The biggest imponderable is Morarji Desai himself, who is gripped
0510A19 by the fear of the unknown which will be the case in any act of dismantling.
0520A19 ^Besides, he, a moralist, is being pressed by Raj Narain and
0530A19 his men to_ redeem his pledge to Charan Singh to_ treat him in the same
0540A19 way as Nehru had treated Sardar Patel in the first Congress Government
0550A19 at the Centre. $^These considerations apart, the Prime Minister
0560A19 knows that he is vulnerable thanks to the extra-curricular activities
0570A19 of Kanti Desai. ^There are persistent demands from a section of the
0580A19 Janata Party for a Commission of Inquiry into his affairs, which Morarji
0590A19 had promised at Bhavnagar but had gone back upon it on reaching
0600A19 Delhi. $*<*3Home Minister*'s $trump card*> $^*Shyam Nandan Mishra,
0610A19 a deputy leader of the Janata Parliamentary Party, has been making
0620A19 concerted attempts in Parliament to_ expose the New Caucus. ^His first
0630A19 motion concerning a major cover-up operation, made some three weeks
0640A19 ago, is yet to_ be answered by the Government. $*3^If anything happens
0650A19 to Charan Singh, he is sure to_ expose the fact that he is a martyr to
0660A19 his determined crusade against corruption in public life. $^The outcome
0670A19 of the current exercises will be known only after Morarji Desai returns
0680A19 from his visit to the United States in mid-June.
0690A19 **<*3Janata, be warned! $JUNE OF $DESTINY**> $^*JANATA, BE WARNED!
0700A19 $^*May is drawing to its close; and we have repeatedly declared June
0710A19 to_ be India*'s month of destiny. ^It is likely to_ be the watershed
0720A19 which will decide whether the future of the nation belongs to *JANATA
0730A19 AND DEMOCRACY or to *INDIRA AND DICTATORSHIP. $^When a Janata journal
0740A19 ridiculed the recent Congress call for unity with the headline,
0750A19 "Congress 'men' of the two Congresses unite, you have nothing to lose
0760A19 but your bangles" (ORGANISER: May 14), a prominent member of the
0770A19 \0Cong-I retorted, "Everybody knows who wears the bangles. ^The twenty
0780A19 men of the Morarji Cabinet dare not touch a hair on \0Mrs. Gandhi*'s
0790A19 head, leave alone arrest or punish her, she has put them all in bangles."
0800A19 $*<*3On highroad to $Hitlerism*> $^Confirmation for this derisive
0810A19 assessment came from another Delhi magazine (INDIA TODAY, May
0820A19 16-31), which compared \0Mrs. Gandhi*'s defiance of the feuding old foggies
0830A19 of Delhi with the challenge posed by Hitler to the flaccid leadership
0840A19 of Germany in the 1920s. ^The parallel drawn by author Arun Shourie
0850A19 between the 1924 trial of Adolf Hitler and today*'s assorted
0860A19 cominissions investigating Indira Gandhi is indeed frightening. $^The
0870A19 Shah Commission*'s findings not only expose Indira Gandhi in the
0871A19 Emergency
0880A19 role of a ruthless dictator; they also reveal the Sanjay caucus
0890A19 as Indiar*'s potential as well as parallel to the Hitler gang; and yet
0900A19 we find Morarji and his minions displaying an extraordinary impotence
0910A19 even to_ make up their minds as to what to_ do about the challenge of
0920A19 neo-Hitlerism to India. $^Never more sadly was the absence of Union
0930A19 Home Minister Charan Singh, about the only person who has staked his
0940A19 office on the punishment of \0Mrs. Gandhi and the Caucus, felt than
0950A19 at the Cabinet meeting which discussed the follow-up action. ^Indeed,
0960A19 even the elders were surprised when the leader of the so-called *3"Young
0970A19 Cabinet Ministers" (age 62!) sprang a surprise by bluntly telling
0980A19 the Prime Minister that it would be foolish to_ arrest \0Mrs.
0981A19 Gandhi!
0990A19 $*3^This gentleman*'s theory is that "SHE HAS TO_ BE FOUGHT POLITICALLY."
1000A19 ^We would agree if we saw anything resembling political guts, will
1010A19 or unity at the Janata top to_ fight so formidable a foe. ^There seems
1020A19 to_ be none. $*<*3Report on terror $of Emergency*> $^Why, their own
1030A19 spokesmen are loudly complaining that even the Shah Commission*'s
1031A19 Report,
1040A19 damaging as it is, has not been effectively publicized through the
1050A19 mass media and particularly the Government-owned radio and \0TV. ^What
1060A19 a superb drama a deft compere like Melville de Mellow could have made
1070A19 of \0Mr. Justice Shah*'s revelations. ^Indeed, books can be written,
1080A19 live dramas staged, doucumentaries made, even a feature film built
1090A19 on the scenario of the inhuman terror of existence that_ was the Emergency.
1100A19 $*3^But who cares? ^Who dares? ^Who even wants to_ bell the jungle
1110A19 cat that_ is about to_ be brought back to power by the defaults and death-wish
1120A19 of Morarji Desai & \0Co? $*<*3Countdown to $doom*>
1121A19 $^The
1130A19 Prime Minister confessed to us during one of our interviews that he
1140A19 and his colleagues owed their power and office to \0Mrs. Gandhi and her
1150A19 excesses. ^So we suppose that now a grateful Morarji is returning the
1160A19 compliment by making it easy for her to_ take over the Prime Ministership!
1170A19 $*3^We fail to_ see any cause or justification for the Janata Government*'s
1180A19 abdication of its prime responsibility to the nation, unless
1190A19 it be that the Prime Minister knows that his government is a leaky boat
1200A19 floundering in storm-tossed seas and will do nothing to_ rock it.
1210A19 ^But \0Mrs. Gandhi is determined not only to_ rock but wreck the Janata
1220A19 vessel. ^A few more *4Azamgarhs in her purse (*3though her party lost
1230A19 the Banera by-election, thank God for this small mercy), and she is
1240A19 likely to_ call for a midpoll under threat of putting the land to fire
1250A19 and violence. ^*Morarji and his colleagues are unlikely to_ resist
1251A19 this
1260A19 kind of blackmail; and even if they do there are higher authorities reportedly
1270A19 ready to_ pressurise them into submission. $*<*3Bid for Congress
1280A19 $re-union*> $^She may not even have to_ go through this exercise as
1290A19 moves are afoot by leading Congressmen within as well as outside the
1300A19 Janata Party for an all-Congress reunion which would bring the rival
1310A19 Congress groups back into the common fold of the mother party as before
1320A19 the 1969-split and help them with the majority required to_ form a government.
1330A19 $^This involves nothing short of the destruction of the great
1340A19 Janata merger as well as the stupendous hope and faith the Indian people
1350A19 put in it. \0^*Mrs. Gandhi would probably ride such a Congress
1351A19 back
1360A19 to leadership and power. *3^What a pity! ^What a tragedy! ^It amounts
1361A19 to
1370A19 nothing less than suicide for the nation together with all the cherished,
1380A19 human values of its democracy and ideology. $*<*3Nation can still
1390A19 be saved*> $^Cannot something be done even now, at the eleventh hour,
1400A19 to_ halt the time machine on its course to doom? ^The younger ministers,
1410A19 good men of the people like Atal Behari Vajpayee and George Fernandes,
1420A19 could have stopped the countdown, but their efforts have apparently
1430A19 been pulverised by the 62-year-*3young Biju Patnaik who has jumped
1440A19 like a monkey upon their shoulders to_ project his own claim to the Prime
1450A19 Ministership. $*3^This kind of divided and half-hearted efforts cannot
1460A19 any longer avert the crisis. ^What is called for is a powerful intervention
1470A19 by a strong and determined group of the Janata, like the Jan
1480A19 Sangh-\0BLD combine together with the Socialists to_ carry forward
1490A19 Nanaji Deshmukh*'s appeal for the voluntary resignation of the elders
1500A19 above 60 years of age to its logical conclusion of pushing out these
1510A19 old men. $^We welcome Subramanyam $swamy*'s initiative on these lines.
1520A19 ^Let a young and dynamic team led by a Vajpayee or any other person
1530A19 of common choice take over the leadership of the nation. $*3^Before
1540A19 this happens, the ancient leadership of both the Janata and Congress
1550A19 parties, which is identical for all practical purposes, must be forced into
1560A19 retirement. ^These old men of 1947 are responsible for all the rot
1570A19 that_ is vitiating today*'s politics; and their continued leadership is
1580A19 likely to_ destroy popular faith in political solutions. ^Let us rid the
1590A19 nation of these pests with the slogan: OUT WITH THE 1947 GANG! $^June,
1600A19 we repeat, is likely to_ be India*'s month of destiny. ^We would
1610A19 have expected the entire Janata leadership with Morarji as the captain
1620A19 at the helm to_ mobilise all hands on the deck in a mighty and desperate
1630A19 effort to_ salvage the sinking ship. $*<*3Cabinet on jaunt $abroad*>
1640A19 $^But what do we find? ^The Prime Minister, quite unconcerned about
1641A19 the
1650A19 looming catastrophe, is busy planning his trip abroad. ^For him the outcome
1660A19 of this mission in \0UK and \0USA is more important than the
1670A19 crisis bedevilling his party and government. ^A communication from President
1680A19 Carter expressing appreciation of the fine way he handled the
1690A19 explosive nuclear-pack issue has so euphorised him that he does not realise
1700A19 that his colleague in charge of External Affairs is seriously considering
1710A19 resignation from a Cabinet that_ has degenerated into a caboodle.
1720A19 $^His second in command, Jagjivan Ram (in the absence of Charan
1730A19 Singh, who has been hospitalised), has already left on an extended tour
1740A19 all the way from the Soviet Union to the United Kingdom. ^The rest
1750A19 of the Cabinet are either abroad on "working holidays", as they like to_
1760A19 put it, or planning foreign jaunts.*#
        **[no. of words = 02019**]

        **[txt. a20**]
0010A20 **<*3Too Late for Experiment**> $*3^THE*0 point has been reached
0020A20 where we can no longer afford to_ experiment in the selection of the sixteen
0030A20 who will go to Buenos Aires to_ defend the World Hockey Cup
0031A20 we
0040A20 won at Kuala Lumpur in 1975. $^Since then, our game has dropped and it
0050A20 is apparent with the "forced retirement" of several of our stars just
0060A20 where our weakness lies. ^At this stage trying out "fresh talent" will
0070A20 not help matters. $^As things stand at the moment, there is no choice before
0080A20 the chairman \0Mr. Luis Cordeiro-- on him has been thrust at a
0090A20 very critical time an unenviable task in the preparation of the team--
0100A20 and the selection committee, if one takes the stand that discipline must
0110A20 at all costs be maintained. ^They have to_ make do with what they have
0120A20 and it is up to coach Gentle to_ fashion the material at his disposal into
0130A20 as close a cup-winning combination as possible-- another unenviable
0140A20 task. $^But if the Indian Hockey Federation agree to_ forgive and forget
0150A20 the misdemeanours of the three trouble-makers, who like Don Quixote
0160A20 tilted their lances at the windmills of their imaginary slight against
0170A20 the Sikh community, and also revise the decisions they have mistakenly
0180A20 taken that all but Phillips of the Montreal brigade, could be dispensed
0190A20 with, the Indian side could be given a look of class. $^*Varinder
0200A20 Singh, one of the three banned, is without a doubt streets ahead of
0210A20 anyone in the country in the right-half berth. ^But of course his return
0220A20 can only be possible if he tenders an apology for his walk-out from the
0230A20 Patiala camp. ^Rumours have it that he has done so, and belated though
0240A20 it is in coming, particularly as feelers to this effect were put out long
0250A20 ago, there is still time for matters to_ be put right. $^It was apparent,
0260A20 and ironically during the four-match Test series against Holland
0270A20 where we won two and drew the others, that Claudius is not quite ready
0280A20 to_ take over. ^Some may feel that he is being singled out in the light
0290A20 of our triumphs over the Dutch which could be looked upon as revenge
0300A20 for the reverse at Montreal, but there is an immaturity about his play
0310A20 that_ the coverings of right back Dung Dung could not quite conceal.
0320A20 ^And the additional strain told on Dung Dung*'s game. ^Youth, it is generally
0330A20 acknowledged, should be given preference, but when they do not adequately
0340A20 fill the bill it is but natural that store should be laid by experience.
0350A20 ^Here is where i feel Harcharan Singh should have been on the
0360A20 list of outside-left probables until another was found to_ function
0370A20 as well. ^With none forthcoming it would not be unwise to_ recall him. $^It
0380A20 would seem that, with erstwhile right winger Phillips coming in at
0390A20 inside-left, our attacking problems were solved, particularly as the switch
0400A20 led to the first victory over Holland. ^But there is not a doubt that
0410A20 our wingers are not functioning as we would like them to_. ^However,
0420A20 with Charanjit Kumar now virtually assured of the right flank berth,
0430A20 he would gain in confidence and skill. ^If Harcharan comes in, the line
0440A20 will be balanced. $^Another aspect of our game which needs considerable
0450A20 bolstering up is the execution of corners. ^In the series we looked
0460A20 so much like novices, particularly when viewed against the manner in which
0470A20 Ties Kruize struck. ^Now there is no particular talent that_ Kruize
0480A20 possesses which is not within reach of our players. ^It is just that
0490A20 we have not done enough training in the basics to_ attain that_ level of
0500A20 proficiency. $^We make heavy weather of the primary need of stopping
0510A20 the ball correctly. ^*Claudius more often than not bungled the stops.
0511A20 ^*Gentle
0520A20 advances the excuse that Surinder who is temporarily incapacitated
0530A20 was trained for the task. ^But surely adequate coaching should have also
0540A20 been given to the stand-by. ^With fewer opportunities to_ strike the
0550A20 ball both Dung and Bhengra suffered in consequence, but on rare occasions
0560A20 showed that they could be dangerous. $^In the circumstances another
0570A20 of the naughty trio Baldev could be recalled if he also apologises. ^That
0580A20 he still maintains his form was evident at Delhi. ^With corner awards
0590A20 playing so vital a role in the game we can ill afford not to_ try and
0600A20 make the best of these awards. ^These awards should in the main be entrusted
0610A20 to one man, but this is not to_ imply that another should not also
0620A20 be subjected to as rigorous a training schedule. ^And what about Ashok
0630A20 Kumar? ^There is really no need to_ press his claims. ^Both his
0631A20 bloodlines
0640A20 and his form speak loud, and clear. ^He should have been there from
0650A20 the start of the training campaign. ^Even now it is not too late. ^However,
0660A20 it would be a mistake to_ try and shape his skills to_ conform to
0670A20 standard roles. ^Maybe he lost favour because the authority in the past
0680A20 could not bend him to_ fit in with their designs. ^It would be better if
0690A20 his colleagues adjust their game to_ make the best use of his genius.
0700A20 $**<*3FOR MEN QNLY*0**> $*3^THAT_*0 purveyor of fiction for women,
0710A20 Barbara Cartland, once declared that the only sport women were eminently
0720A20 fit for was chasing men. ^This is, of course, an extreme view, but the
0730A20 fact is that some games seem to_ be totally unsuited to women. $^Some
0740A20 years ago two celebrated sportsmen, each in his own field, Jesse Owens
0750A20 and Percy Ceruty, risked the wrath of women by holding that some sports
0760A20 were not for them. ^Both these, no doubt, were men of the old school
0770A20 who believed that the more taxing field and track events tended to_ rob
0780A20 women of their essentially feminine qualities. $^One wonders what these
0790A20 two experts would have thought of women*'s cricket and women*'s soccer?
0800A20 ^It is a pity that in this land, where we have yet to_ make any headway
0810A20 in the traditional women*'s sport, like athletics, hockey, tennis,
0820A20 and badminton, we should be wasting time, effort and money over women*'s
0830A20 cricket. ^One can understand the enthusiasm of the few devoted feminine
0840A20 followers of the game in the western metropolis-- but what should have
0850A20 been just a sport played at club level has now received financial support
0860A20 and publicity which is totally out of all proportion to the number
0870A20 who actually play the game. $^Women*'s cricket had barely been organised,
0880A20 when those in charge of it, some of them publicity-seekers and opportunists,
0890A20 exploited it to_ organise tours abroad and internationals at home.
0900A20 ^*Indian cricket had its origins toward the end of the last century
0910A20 but it was not until 1928 that India were able to_ entertain a team
0911A20 from
0920A20 England. ^It took centuries before women were allowed at Lord*'s. ^Yet,
0930A20 here we are hosting a women*'s World Cup, and at Eden Garden*'s too.
0940A20 $^This tournament will no doubt draw a large crowd, which supports the
0950A20 cynical view that you*'1d still get a full house if you had eleven monkeys
0960A20 from an overseas country playing cricket here. $^The West Indies
0970A20 have been hard pressed to_ hold together as a unit in international cricket.
0980A20 ^And yet the organisers here, with a contact or two, tried to_ fob
0990A20 off a Jamaican team as a representative one-- a move which, fortunately
1000A20 failed as the "West Indies" withdrew. ^Last year, I was assured by
1010A20 cricket writers in New Zealand that they did not constitute a representative
1020A20 side. ^It was as if the Hyderabad Blues team, which was then touring
1030A20 India with former Test stars, like Pataudi, Baig and Abid, were
1040A20 to_ tour abroad in Indian colours. $^All this would not have mattered
1050A20 greatly if the grants and patronage given were not at the expense of
1060A20 the tax-payer. ^Already this fledgling body has been riven with politics
1070A20 and "dunned" for hotel bills that_ have been unpaid. ^At best, women*'s
1080A20 cricket should have been a club game, run by women for women. ^As for women*'s
1090A20 football, a plague on it!
1100A20 $*<*3So Little For So Much*0**> $*3^HOW*0 poor Indian tennis is
1110A20 without the top three, Vijay and Anand Amritraj and Sashi Menon, could
1120A20 be seen during the Maharashtra State Lawn Tennis Association*'s
1130A20 "mini" Grand Prix. ^As much as \0Rs. 1,50,000 was at stake in prize-money
1140A20 but the quality of the fare dished out seldom rose above the mediocre.
1150A20 ^That near-veterans like Ramanathan, Krishnan and Jaideep
1151A20 Mukherjea
1160A20 can still hold their own and that not a single junior could get past
1170A20 two rounds in the men*'s should provide a telling commentary on the state
1180A20 of the game today. $^Under the circumstances, Nandan Bal*'s triumph
1190A20 in the Western India and the State championships, the first two legs
1200A20 of the "mini" Grand Prix, came like a whiff of fresh air. ^It wasn*'4t
1210A20 easy going, though, for Bal. ^He had to_ struggle against Jaideep
1220A20 in both the events and ultimately lost to the former Davis Cup player
1230A20 when they met a third time in the Nirlon "Masters", which was the third
1240A20 and final leg for the best eight on the basis of performances in the
1250A20 first two. ^Nevertheless, he did enough to_ show that here*'1s a player
1260A20 with a future. $^Out of the junior ranks this year, Bal has made significant
1270A20 improvement in his play. ^He has a fine first serve and uses his
1280A20 tremendous reach to advantage, especially in executing the stretch volley.
1290A20 ^He is also probably the fastest mover on the court we have ever seen.
1300A20 ^As impressive as his speed is the tenacity with which he chases the
1310A20 ball. ^Above all, he has a most positive approach and continues to_ courageously
1320A20 attack even when the chips are down. ^These truly are the ingredients
1330A20 that_ go to_ make a champion. $^While Bal delighted, Ramesh Krishnan,
1340A20 the reigning National and All-India hard court champion, disappointed.
1350A20 ^A clash between the two would have not only heightened interest
1360A20 but also have enabled one to_ judge their relative merits. ^Unfortunately,
1370A20 the hard cement court at Singapore, where he scored over John
1371A20 Feaver and went down to David Lloyd in the final, had jarred
1380A20 Ramesh*'s leg muscles.
1390A20 ^This was not apparent at once when he was shocked by \0K.
1400A20 Raghuram in the Western India semi-final but one could see that he was
1410A20 sluggish and far below his best. ^He conceded his first-round match against
1420A20 junior Ilyas Hussain after rallying to_ take the first set in
1430A20 the state tourney and thus went out of the reckoning for the Masters.
1440A20 $^*Ramesh*'s surprise exit and the decision of Krishnan and Premjit
1450A20 Lall to_ concede their matches in the state championships robbed the Masters
1451A20 of what little appeal it had.
1460A20 ^It also led to_ murmurs from those whose chances had been jeopardised.
1470A20 ^In the end, Chiradeep Mukherjea, who struggled against lesser lights
1480A20 like Priyadarshi and Ilyas Ghouse, walked away with the top prize of
1490A20 \0Rs. 10,000. $^The players had to_ come and get their cash during the
1500A20 "mini" Grand Prix. ^This was a departure from the usual practice of
1510A20 hospitality plus "terms." ^Certainly it is the best way to_ make a player
1520A20 work harder at the game. ^This is the reason why there is fierce competition
1530A20 at the international level. ^However, the prize-money was not
1531A20 equitably
1540A20 distributed with the result that those who got knocked out in the
1550A20 first or second rounds in a field of 32 barely got back their fare. $\0^*Mr.
1560A20 Ram Batra, a vice-president of the \0M.S.L.T.A. admitted
1570A20 that such disparity was not fair and added: "*_^We learn from mistakes.
1580A20 ^An we want players to_ guide us. ^In fact we want player*'s associations
1590A20 to_ become stronger so that we can serve tennis better." $^The players
1600A20 are unanimous in their view that the \0M.S.L.T.A. is doing a lot
1610A20 to_ promote tennis. ^However, their efforts, commendable though they are,
1620A20 will be in vain unless other units in the country, particularly the leading
1630A20 centres of tennis, Bengal and Tamil Nadu are just as enterprising.
1640A20 ^For the last National at Calcutta, there was no prize-money at all.*#
        **[no. of words = 02000**]

        **[txt. a21**]
0010A21 **<*3Defenders Dominate*0**> $*3^THE*0 inaugural Federation Cup Football
0020A21 Tournament at Ernakulam last year was made memorable by one performance.
0030A21 ^As ultimate winners, Indian Telephone Industries of Bangalore
0040A21 stroked the ball short and long to one another and mesmerised Mohammedan
0050A21 Sporting in the first leg of the semi-final, it was clear to
0060A21 the goodly crowd at the floodlit Maharaja*'s College stadium that they
0070A21 were witness to something unique. ^Not even a full Indian team at their
0080A21 best have matched that_ sustained display of one-touch football. ^It was
0090A21 also clear that \0I.T.I. would not scale that_ peak again. ^And they
0100A21 did not. ^The second Federation Cup, which concluded at Coimbatore,
0110A21 earlier this month, did not bring forth anything comparable, though the
0120A21 field was stronger and more representative. ^Even \0I.T.I did not reproduce
0130A21 that_ form. ^But then they are going through a process of reconstruction.
0131A21 ^Two of the men who made the triangular moves, the
0140A21 basis of their strategy, Anthony Ambrose and Sadatullah, came in only
0150A21 as substitutes, while the third, the graceful, fluid Lionel was not
0160A21 fully fit and raised his game only in the second half of the second leg
0170A21 semi-final against Mohun Bagan. $\0^*I.T.I., however, held out hope
0180A21 that they will carry the standard of the Bangalore brand of football.
0190A21 ^As replacements for Ambrose and Sadatullah they have chosen players
0200A21 of an almost like mould, though Prakash, who played at right back last
0210A21 year, before he dislocated his cheek bone and was hospitalised looked more
0220A21 enterprising than Ambrose. ^The gradual induction of players who can
0230A21 fit into their pattern of play and the maturing of Kumar, Emmanuel,
0240A21 Rajasekhar and Prakash should keep the Bangalore champions in the forefront
0250A21 of Indian football for some years. $^*Mohun Bagan may have drawn
0260A21 some satisfaction from avenging last year*'s defeat, but not much from
0270A21 their showing in the tournament. ^As last year, they had more names
0280A21 to_ boast of than performances of merit. ^The one exception was the replayed
0290A21 final and a hectic spell in the second half of the first leg meeting
0300A21 with \0I.T.I. ^On both occasions, however, the opposition did not
0310A21 stretch them. ^Against \0I.T.I, it was more the old powerful running
0320A21 of Subash Bhowmick that_ built for them the 2-0 advantage. ^Against
0330A21 East Bengal, they were allowed to_ romp around by an opposition that_
0340A21 was incomprehensibly out of touch for the full 90 minutes. $^*Mohun Bagan*'s
0350A21 defensive methods do not give much scope for attractive build-up
0360A21 in midfield, nor for fluent ball play. ^Centre-backs Subroto Bhattacharjee
0370A21 and Pradeep Choudhury strive more to_ destroy their rivals than
0380A21 to_ contain them and launch counter attack with fine skill. ^Their influence
0390A21 has permeated to the midfield men. ^*Gautam Sarkar, always a good
0400A21 defensive half, and Prasun Banerjee improved towards the later stages
0410A21 but never were so dominant as to_ keep Mohun Bagan continuously on the
0420A21 ascendant. ^The forwards rarely pulled together. ^Speedy but monotonous
0430A21 Bidesh Bose, apart from Bhowmick in brief spells, was the one who posed
0440A21 most problems to the opposition. $^*Chinmoy Chatterjee enhanced the
0450A21 reputation he built up when playing for Bengal in the last National.
0460A21 ^His snaring of Bidesh into the middle where the Mohun Bagan left winger
0470A21 was dispossessed either by Samaresh Choudhury or Manoranjan Bhattacharjee,
0480A21 a rugged right stopper who had a fine tournament. ^*Chinmoy
0490A21 is one of three right backs who showed up well, the others being \0I.T.I*'s
0500A21 Mathews and Mohun Bagan*'s Shyamal Banerjee. ^On the opposite
0510A21 flank of defence, there was more forthright play in evidence from Mustafa
0520A21 (\0I.T.I.), Dilip Palit (Mohun Bagan) and Satyajit
0521A21 Mitra
0530A21 (East Bengal). $^The last named shaped as the best of the three. ^He
0540A21 found a good ally in left half Prasanta Banerjee, the youth international
0550A21 who bids fair to_ overshadow his more illustrious counterparts from
0551A21 Mohun
0560A21 Bagan. ^He was quicker on the ball than his senior colleague in midfield,
0570A21 Samaresh Choudhury. ^*Prashanta*'s percentage of accuracy in
0580A21 passing was remarkably high. ^Their two half-backs, a sound deep
0581A21 defence
0590A21 and the best pair of goalkeepers in Bhaskar Gangulli, despite his nearly
0600A21 costing his side the first meeting in the final when he dropped the
0610A21 ball at the feet of Manas Bhattacharjee, and Tarun Bose gave the East
0620A21 Bengal attackers the secure feeling that they could go all out. ^Of
0630A21 the attackers Ranjit Mukherjee lagged behind in skill, but he was able
0640A21 and willing to_ thrust forward. ^More skilled and more energetic was
0650A21 Mihir Bose. ^The midfield men found Mihir*'s coming back most welcome.
0660A21 ^Moreover, it also created space up front for skipper Surajit Sengupta
0661A21 to_
0670A21 flit into. $^*Surajit held the key to East Bengal*'s success. ^His
0680A21 upright stance when coming with the ball kept guessing and catching on
0690A21 the wrong foot his immediate opponent. ^His shooting as he popped up unexpectedly
0700A21 in the middle was as good as any other forward*'s. ^But it was
0710A21 his skilful combination with his linkmen, his ease at playing on either
0720A21 wing and occasional and effective close liaison with Ulaganathan on
0730A21 the flanks that_ carried East Bengal past rivals impressively. ^*Ulaganathan
0740A21 was little behind in dexterity, but he gave the impression of not
0750A21 being as dangerous as his skipper. ^Together they are the most skilful
0760A21 pair of wingers who can operate together on one flank or separately on
0770A21 either flank. ^They are a striking contrast to the Mohun Bagan wingers.
0780A21 ^*Bidesh Bose is limited in range and like Manas Bhattacharjee,
0781A21 who
0790A21 rarely moves down the flank towards the goal-line to_ hit the ball back
0800A21 across into the middle, cannot play with equal felicity on both flanks.
0810A21 $^Better equipped in this respect are \0I.T.I. ^*Emmanuel and Rajasekhar,
0820A21 the son of former international left back Muthu, are the two most
0830A21 similar to Surajit Sengupta and Ulaganathan. ^And they also have the
0840A21 backing of intelligent, ball-playing colleagues. ^With greater experience
0850A21 they should be shedding their tentativeness. $^There were no such inhibitions
0860A21 about Jagatjit Cotton and Textiles Mills of Phagwara (Punjab)
0870A21 and Rajasthan Police. ^Both teams, however, looked to one man
0880A21 each, both former Indian skippers, to_ carry them forward. ^Both Inder
0890A21 Singh and Magan Singh, the top-scorer of the tournament with nine goals,
0900A21 were great-hearted triers. $^*Magan singh, however, was a bigger draw
0910A21 with the spectators because of his inspiring his team to_ rally from
0920A21 the brink of defeat to a sensational victory. ^But more than his being
0930A21 instrumental in wiping out a half-time 1-4 deficit and upsetting Mafatlal
0940A21 Group 5-4, his heading away from his own goalline to_ prevent an equaliser
0950A21 in the closing minutes will always be remembered. ^It symbolised
0960A21 the spirit of his football. $^A different type is Inder. ^The high ball
0970A21 puts him at a disadvantage. ^His taller, sturdier and tough opponents
0980A21 would have had their task considerably lightened if their duels with
0990A21 Inder were confined mostly to the air. ^*Inder, however, laboured under
1000A21 the handicap of colleagues who were more direct than subtle. ^The positioning
1010A21 of his colleagues, as also years of having to_ make the plays
1020A21 as well, have tended, perhaps, to_ make Inder hold on to the ball. ^The
1030A21 innocuousness of Inder was most evident when East Bengal left him free
1040A21 in midfield but picked him up near their box. ^His colleagues, including
1050A21 international Sukhvinder Singh, were not mobile enough to_ help Inder.
1060A21 $^In defence, however, \0J.C.T. had a steady pair in Ashok Kumar
1070A21 and *(0G. S.*) Parmar. ^The two kept at bay their Calcutta rivals.
1080A21 ^But Surjit Singh in goal was shaky and cost them vital goals against
1090A21 East Bengal and Premier Tyres. $^*Premier, who had paid for laxity
1100A21 in marking Inder early in their match, played well in patches. ^Goalkeeper
1110A21 Sethumadhavan looked competent till he let in the goals against
1120A21 \0J.C.T. ^But their strength was the young and enthusiastic Xavier Pious,
1130A21 a beautiful ball player who has come on very well in the last year
1140A21 or so, and bearded Najeeb, who was not as sharp as he was in the National
1150A21 at Calcutta. $^*Premier Tyres drew all their three group matches,
1160A21 giving both Mohun Bagan and \0J.C.T. Mills a good run. ^But they
1170A21 were fortunate to_ escape defeat at the hands of Hindustan Aeronautics
1180A21 Limited of Bangalore. ^The latter used the short pass to_ confuse
1190A21 Premier Tyres. ^But against Mohun Bagan and \0J.C.T. Mills they
1200A21 threw in the towel too early. $^A striking contrast were Bombay*'s Mafatial
1210A21 Group. ^They had recovered to_ beat Mohammedan Sporting of Calcutta,
1220A21 thanks to a hat-trick by Bhupinder Rawat, in the preliminary stages,
1230A21 shrewdly broke through the off-side trap of Rajasthan Police to_
1240A21 gain the imposing half-time lead of 4-1 before losing both points to
1250A21 Rajasthan Police. ^That_ defeat and illness to their players-- almost
1260A21 all teams were hit by stomach ailments-- did not demoralise them when
1270A21 taking the field against East Bengal. ^Again only lapses by the referee
1280A21 and their own defence cost them the match against \0I.T.I. ^But they
1290A21 can take heart from the promising displays of Keith Swain and another
1300A21 newcomer, Manuel.
1310A21 $**<*3Learning from \0Pak Squash*0**> $*3^ANYONE*0 who is familiar
1320A21 with squash in the country could not have been shocked at the very early
1330A21 exit of the Indian team from the World Open Team Championship for
1340A21 the Hashim Khan Trophy at Karachi last May. ^In fact many must have
1350A21 been agreeably surprised to_ see the team come out on top in the Plate
1360A21 competition, an event confined to teams eliminated in the first round.
1370A21 $^Understandably our team which was led by National champion Major Raj
1380A21 Manchanda and comprised Soli Colah, Yogendra Singh and Gajendra
1390A21 Singh, could be excused for not doing better. ^The belated invitation
1400A21 from Pakistan prevented the best from making the trip because of the
1410A21 short notice. ^What was worse, the uncertainty of the visit materialising
1420A21 dampened the enthusiasm of the players, and the very limited practice
1430A21 sessions at their disposal prevented the team from reaching peak
1431A21 fitness. $^This
1440A21 is to_ be regretted as Major Manchanda was of the view that had
1450A21 Anil Nayar, runner-up to Manchanda in the National, and Senapati,
1460A21 a semi-finalist like Colah, been available, India, who were ranked ninth
1470A21 in the tournament, may well have moved up one place which would have
1480A21 earned for the Squash Rackets Federation of India *+400 sterling given
1490A21 to teams filling the fifth to eighth places. ^The first four received
1500A21 *+2000, *+1400, *+800 and *+800, respectively. $^The trip by
1501A21 Manchanda
1510A21 and his boys however was not without reward and not just the onyx ash tray
1520A21 and box presented to each member of the team for winning the Plate
1530A21 event. ^In the first place the team must have benefitted considerably by
1540A21 the exposure to squash of the highest order with teams from fourteen
1550A21 countries participating. ^Then again it is hoped that the trip could lead
1560A21 to a frequent exchange of visits, and with Pakistan as the world*'s
1570A21 leading exponents, Indian squash stood to_ gain. $^In this context the
1580A21 views of Manchanda in the course of a chat with this writer will make
1590A21 interesting and enlightening reading. ^But before that_, a resume of the
1600A21 championship and our team*'s performances would be in order particularly
1610A21 as the world event did not secure the press notice it deserved. $^*India
1620A21 lost to Sweden, 0-3, in the first round, Manchanda losing to Lars
1630A21 Kvast 2-9, 3-9, 2-9, Colah to Mikael Hellstrom, 5-9, 3-9, 2-9; Yogendra
1640A21 to Bo Bostron, 4-9, 0-9, 6-9. ^The Swedes had an all-round game,
1650A21 using the side wall and drop quite a lot, but prevailed basically because
1660A21 of their superior fitness. ^*Manchanda had long rallies but faltered
1670A21 often Colah, who played a hard-hitting game, made more errors and Yogendra
1680A21 was nervous in his first international. $^In the Plate event India
1690A21 beat Nigeria, 2-1. ^*Manchanda beat Cladonjoye 9-2, 9-1, 9-5; Colah
1700A21 beat Martin 9-3, 9-0, 5-9, 9-4; Yogendra lost to Afolabi 9-0, 9-7,
1710A21 6-9, 4-9, 7-9. ^Then they scored over Hong Kong 3-0 in the final. ^*Manchanda
1720A21 beat Cashin 9-2, 9-3, 9-1; Colah beat Wasan 9-4, 8-10, 9-2,
1730A21 9-3; Yogendra beat Parashar 10-8, 9-1, 9-4. ^The Nigerians were fitter
1740A21 but India were more experienced. ^*Manchanda scored with his clever
1750A21 drops and impeccable length while Colah pleased with his all-round
1760A21 game.*#
        **[no. of words = 02002**]

        **[txt. a22**]
0010A22 **<*3Stephen Assails Centre*'s Policies*0**> $^The bickerings in the
0020A22 Janata Party, the indecision of the Central Government on various
0030A22 issues, open allegations of one Minister against another and the tendency
0040A22 to_ squander the foreign exchange built up by the economic policies
0050A22 of the Congress Government clearly showed that the Janata was not
0060A22 good enough to_ govern a vast country like India. $^This was stated by
0070A22 \0Mr. *(0C. M.*) Stephen, leader of the Opposition in the *5Lok
0080A22 Sabha*6 while inaugurating the Salem district Congress (\0I) conference
0090A22 here to-day. ^He said atrocities on *4Harijans and other poor people
0100A22 were on the increase, labour and student unrest had created a serious
0110A22 situation in many Janata-ruled States, prices were soaring and the strong
0120A22 industrial base nurtured by the previous Government was being undermined
0130A22 by halfbaked economic policies. $^At the same time the Janata Party
0140A22 leader \0Mr. Chandra Shekar, was being insulted by various Ministers
0150A22 both at the Centre and in the States. ^Even the Prime Minister
0160A22 cut a sorry figure in the face of the political bickerings and pressure
0170A22 tactics adopted by his Ministerial colleagues. $^The recent election
0180A22 results in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh and of the by elections in several
0190A22 Janata-ruled States showed that the common man had realised the
0200A22 mistake of electing the Janata to power. $^The Janata leaders were
0210A22 trying to_ cover up their pitfalls and deficiencies by blaming the Congress
0220A22 (\0I) for all the ills of the country. ^But the people had seen through
0230A22 their game , \0Mr. Stephen added. $^The millions of poor and
0231A22 down-trodden
0240A22 were once again considering \0Mrs. Indira Gandhi as their champion.
0250A22 ^The propaganda by all organised government agencies had only made
0260A22 the common man angry. $\0^*Mr. Stephen said it was the fear that \0Mrs
0270A22 Indira Gandhi had the massive backing of the poor that_ made the Janata
0280A22 leaders talk of arresting her. ^By arresting her, the Janata Government
0290A22 would only further alienate itself from the masses, \0^*Mr. stephen
0300A22 said. $^He appealed to the Congress to_ stand united and face the
0310A22 "alarming and dangerous situation" when the country would again slip into
0320A22 "the old colonial type of rule by landlords, blackmarketeers and smugglers".
0330A22 $\0^*Mr. \0N. Ramaswamy Udayar, chairman of the Reception
0340A22 Committee and Treasurer of the Tamil Nadu Congress (\0I) Committee
0350A22 welcomed the gathering. \0^*Mr. \0R. Narayanan, \0MLA and \0DCC
0360A22 (\0I) President was in the chair. \0^*Mr. \0M. Marimuthu, leader
0370A22 of the party in the Assembly hoisted the flag.
0380A22 $**<*3Posting of Teachers: $Haryana Decision*0**> $^The Haryana Government
0390A22 on Friday reversed a major policy decision of the Bansi Lal
0400A22 Government to_ post teachers 20 \0km. away from their home towns, villages.
0410A22 ^About 60,000 teachers will be benefited by this decision. $^The
0420A22 Education Minister, \0Mr. Hira Nand Arya, told pressmen that the
0430A22 demand of the teachers to_ withdraw this ban was legitimate because the
0440A22 old policy involved long-distance cycling, physical fatigue and housing
0450A22 problem.
0460A22 $**<*3\0Mrs. Gandhi*'s Condition for Congress Unity*0**> $\0^*Mrs.
0470A22 Indira Gandhi, Congress (\0I) President, said here on Thursday
0471A22 that
0480A22 she was not opposed to the unity move between the two Congress parties.
0490A22 ^But it must be based on the party programme, she said. $^She told pressmen
0500A22 that it was not a matter of acceptance of the party programme on
0510A22 paper only. "^Those who want to_ join our party must be prepared for hardship
0520A22 and danger which are being faced by our partymen". ^She complained
0530A22 that in many States, hundreds of Congress (\0I) workers were subjected
0540A22 to violence on false pretext. ^In West Bengal, for instance, many
0550A22 of our party members had been killed during the last few months, she
0570A22 alleged. $^Replying to a question \0Mrs. Gandhi said 'our party is the
0580A22 real Congress and we did not split the Congress Party. it is they (Congress-Reddy
0590A22 group) who are responsible for the split'. $^On the proposal
0600A22 to_ hold an \0AICC session of the united Congress, \0Mrs. Gandhi
0610A22 said '*_^*I do not oppose any such move. ^*I have left it to my senior
0620A22 party colleagues'. $^Asked about the possibility of \0Mr. *(0S. S.*)
0630A22 Ray, former Chief Minister of West Bengal joining her party,
0640A22 \0Mrs. Gandhi said '*_^It will be for the State unit to_ decide the
0650A22 matter'. $\0^*Mr. Pranab Mukherjee, former Union Minister, who was
0651A22 present,
0660A22 at the press conference, however, said the \0PCC members had very
0670A22 serious reservations over \0Mr. Ray*'s admission into the congress
0680A22 (\0I). $^When her attention was drawn to a remark of the \0CPM leader,
0690A22 \0Mr. *(0E. M. S.*) Nambudiripad that there was a possibility
0700A22 of military take-over in the country because of political instability,
0710A22 \0^*Mrs. Gandhi said it was the \0CPM which was supporting the
0711A22 Janata
0720A22 Government and thereby adding to the confusion. $^Referring to the sale
0730A22 of gold by the Government, \0Mrs. Gandhi said '*_^*I don*'4t find
0740A22 any point in selling the country*'s gold'. ^She said the Janata Government
0750A22 claimed the country*'s economy was sound but while we left the economy
0760A22 sound they were ruining it. ^They claimed that prices had come down,
0770A22 but she did not find a single man to confirm it, she added.
0780A22 $**<*3Screening $Committee for $Congress (\0I)**> $^By announcing
0790A22 a screening committee, to_ consider the cases of those seeking to_ join
0800A22 the Congress (\0I), its President, \0Mrs. Gandhi, has made clear
0810A22 she was not anxious for unity, on the basis of equality, of the two Congresses.
0820A22 $^The decision to_ set up the committee was taken some two months
0830A22 ago, but its composition was not announced, presumably in view of the
0840A22 efforts for unity. ^Yesterday*'s announcement, thus, could only be interpreted
0850A22 to_ mean that \0Mrs. Gandhi wanted "unity" on her terms. $^The
0860A22 screening committee is headed by Mir Qasim and includes \0Mr. Kamlapati
0870A22 Tripathi, \0Mr. *(0P. V.*) Narasimha Rao, Giani Zail Singh
0880A22 and \0Mr. *(0A. R.*) Antulay. $\0^*Mrs. Gandhi appointed two other
0890A22 committees, one to_ deal with organisational elections and the other
0900A22 for the enrolment campaign. ^The chairman of the election committee is
0910A22 \0Mr. Narasimha Rao and the other members are:-- **[list of names**]$**<*3Action
0920A22 Plan for $Handloom $Development**> $^Aggressive sales
0930A22 promotion has been proposed as part of the action plan for handloom development.
0940A22 $^This was indicated at the meeting of the secretaries and Directors
0950A22 of Handlooms of all State Governments held here yesterday.
0960A22 ^The meeting was a follow-up of the Ministerial level meeting held yesterday
0970A22 under the presidentship of the Union Industry Minister, \0Mr.
0980A22 George Fernandes. $^The official-level meeting was presided over by
0990A22 \0Mr. *(0M. A.*) Rangaswami, Special Secretary in the Industry Ministry,
1000A22 who underlined the need for stepping up publicity for handlooms.
1010A22 ^A note circulated by the Development Commissioner at the meeting claimed
1020A22 that the series of national fairs organised recently for handlooms
1030A22 had created an enduring impact and indicated that in the course of the
1040A22 next five years these fairs would be a regular feature of the handloom
1050A22 development programme. ^Besides national fairs, international fairs would
1060A22 be held. $^While this would take care of the marketing aspect, efforts
1070A22 would be made to_ improve the availability of inputs and other facilities
1080A22 to the weavers. ^The setting up of a mechanism to_ absorb the fluctuations
1090A22 in yarn price and preparation of a scheme to_ reconstruct weavers*'
1100A22 houses were also considered at the meeting. $^Some participants
1110A22 suggested extension of the "janatha" clothing scheme to shirtings and other
1120A22 dress material but it was pointed out by the officials of the Industry
1130A22 Ministry that the scheme was essentially directed to_ meet the needs
1140A22 of the weaker sections of the consumers. ^As such it would be more
1150A22 relevant to_ have the coverage limited to *4dhoties and *4sarees. $\0^*Mr.
1160A22 Mani Narayanaswami, Development Commissioner for Handlooms presented
1170A22 the conclusions of the Ministerial-level conference and outlined
1180A22 the action plans drawn up for each State.
1190A22 $**<*3\0Rs. 135-*4crore \0IDA $Credit for Dairy $Development**>
1200A22 $^The International Development Association (\0IDA), the soft-lending
1210A22 associate of the Worid Bank, is giving a credit of *- 150 millions
1220A22 (\0Rs. 135 *4crores) to india for its National Dairy Development
1230A22 Project to increase milk production and rural incomes through cooperatives
1240A22 covering about 3.5 million subsistence farmers. ^The proceeds of
1250A22 the loan will be channelled by the Union Government through the
1260A22 indian Dairy Co-opration to dairy co-operatives and through the National
1261A22 Dairy
1270A22 Development Board. $^The \0Rs. 327.60-*4crore project will help
1280A22 to_ improve the incomes and living standards of about 20 million persons
1290A22 and increase milk production by five million litres a day. ^The resulting
1300A22 increase in the annual farm income is estimated at \0Rs. 207 *4crores.
1310A22 ^The scheme is already under implementation and about 1,500 co-operative
1320A22 societies have already been set up. $^The project is to_ be fully
1330A22 implemented over a period of seven years and will lead to the establishment
1340A22 of about 20,000 co-operative societies grouped into co-operative
1350A22 dairy unions and milk marketing federations. ^It will bring into being dairy
1360A22 processing facilities with a total additional capacity of five million
1370A22 litres a day, besides the creation of packaging, distribution and
1380A22 transport facilities, storage, training and technical assistance. ^The project
1390A22 represents the first phase of India*'s plan to_ develop about 33,000
1400A22 dairy co-operatives and their related unions and federations in selected
1410A22 milksheds. ^The market includes Bombay, Delhi, Calcutta and Madras
1420A22 in addition to 150 smaller urban centres and rural towns.
1430A22 $**<*3Calcutta \0Varsity $Officials Suspended $on Graft Charges**>
1440A22 $^The Controller of Examinations, Calcutta University, \0Mr. *(0H.
1450A22 K.*) Basu and seven other officers and staff of the university have
1460A22 been suspended for alleged gross irregularities and corruption. $\0^*Dr.
1470A22 *(0S. K.*) Mukherjee, Vice-Chancellor, told \0PTI yesterday
1480A22 that all of them were charge-sheeted on the basis of an enquiry committee
1490A22 report and asked to_ submit a written explanation within 12 days. $^Besides
1500A22 the Controller, others suspended were two Assistant Controllers,
1510A22 one of whom had recently retired, two superintendents, one senior assistant,
1520A22 one junior assistant and a driver of the Controller Department.
1530A22 $\0^*Dr. Mukherjee said the Calcutta University Council yesterday
1540A22 decided to_ suspend them after discussing the report of the inquiry committee,
1550A22 appointed by him, in the wake of a series of allegations against
1560A22 the department. $^The committee had recommended that \0Mr. Basu
1561A22 should
1570A22 not be allowed to_ continue as the Controller of Examinations or in
1580A22 any other post in the University and he might be granted special leave
1590A22 till he attained superannuation. $^He said some outsiders were also involved
1600A22 in "racketeering" in the department and the State Government would
1610A22 be approached to_ take appropriate action against them.
1620A22 $**<*3Protection to $Shore Temple**> $^Work has begun on the \0Rs.
1630A22 30-*4lakh project to_ protect the ancient sea shore temple at Mamallapuram
1640A22 from possible ravage by high tides. $^The existing filled up area
1650A22 in front of the temple facing the sea, constructed a few years ago is
1660A22 to_ be expanded. ^The rising waves now lash against the groyne, at times
1670A22 engulfing the monument, particularly during the monsoon. $^The shore temple,
1680A22 not in worship, is part of the ancient Pallava monuments in this
1690A22 historic tourist town of Tamil Nadu and is about 1,200 years old. ^Foreign
1700A22 naval ships have recorded the presence of this imposing structure
1710A22 in the 16th century. $^To_ ensure total protection *4bund walls,
1711A22 about
1720A22 three metres high from sea level, running to about 80 metres perpendicular
1730A22 to the temple, are being erected. ^The length of the parallel wall in
1740A22 the sea connecting the side walls will be about 100 metres. ^The impounded
1750A22 area will be filled with sand. ^The scheme is expected to_ be completed
1760A22 by October.
1770A22 $**<*3Mettur Water $Release**> $^Water from Mettur reservoir will
1780A22 not be released for irrigation on June 12, the scheduled date, owing to
1790A22 inadequate storage and as the south-west monsoon has not actively set
1800A22 in so far in the Cauvery catchment area. $^According to a notification
1810A22 issued by the Government in a Gazette Extraordinary, the position is
1820A22 being watched and as soon as the situation improves, water will be released,
1830A22 after due notification.
1840A22 $**<*3\0Rs. 4,000 \0*4Cr. Loss $Annually**> $^The country was incurring
1850A22 a loss of \0Rs. 4,000 *4crores in industrial production every year,
1860A22 because of the acute power crisis, \0Mr. *(0S. K.*) Birla, President,
1870A22 Indian Chamber of Commerce, said here yesterday. $\0^*Mr. Birla
1880A22 told a press conference that the Government was also losing annually
1890A22 \0Rs. 1,000 *4crores which would have accrued as revenue from Excise,
1900A22 Sales and similar other taxes from the industries throughout the country.*#
        **[no. of words = 02016**]


        **[txt. a23**]
0010A23 **<*3Marketing \0& advertising*0**> $**<PROSPECTS OF NEW-COMERS**>
0020A23 $^About twenty years ago a girl triumphantly told me within a few days
0030A23 of her marriage that she had learned to_ light a kitchen fire. $^This
0040A23 surprised me somewhat, as she had the reputation (notoriety?) of being
0050A23 a total stranger to kitchencraft. ^The surprise lasted only till I learned
0060A23 that the reference was to a gas stove. $^Today she doesn*'4t even have
0070A23 to_ strike a match to_ light a "kitchen fire." ^*Bajsons of Bombay
0080A23 has announced the introduction ("for the first time in India") of an automatic
0090A23 self-lighting gas hot plate called 'Planet.' "^Switch on with
0100A23 the flick of a finger-- no match, no lighter required." ^An \0ad said that
0110A23 no replacements were required as no battery or stone was used in 'Planet'.
0120A23 ^Then how on earth would it light up? ^No clue was offered in the
0130A23 \0ad; perhaps it is a trade secret. (^*I wish the copywriter had put in
0140A23 something about the mechanism, at least to_ reassure the reader that nothing
0150A23 would go wrong in the first seven days; some people are deeply suspicious
0160A23 of 'automatic' gadgets). $^What are the prospects of new products
0170A23 like 'Planet' in the market? ^Is there some way of predicting whether
0180A23 they would succeed? ^Before me is a paper on "Predicting new product
0190A23 success: role of product category related variables" by Subhash \0C.
0200A23 Mehta and Anil Pandya (Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad).
0210A23 ^They chose five product categories for investigation: toothpastes,
0220A23 washing powders, headache pills, light bulbs and pressure cookers. ^The
0230A23 respondents were 100 educated housewives (convenience sample) from lower-middle
0240A23 and middle-income households in Ahmedabad who were users of
0250A23 these products. ^They answered questions arising from a simulated buying
0260A23 situation posed before them, relating to the following:. $1) ^Brand loyalty;
0270A23 2) perception of quality variations; 3) confidence levels in relation
0280A23 to untried brands; 4) perception of danger of consequences; 5) price-quality
0290A23 relationships; 6) housewife*'s confidence in her own ability
0300A23 to_ judge quality; 7) perception of technological complexity. $^The conclusions
0310A23 of the study were as follows: "^The findings of this study
0320A23 clearly suggest that role and importance of various product-category related
0330A23 variables as predictors of new product success do differ across product
0340A23 categories. ^It is, therefore, necessary that marketing managers
0350A23 take into account the behaviour of these variables while planning their
0360A23 new product offerings. ^The following are the major conclusions that_ emerge
0370A23 from the results of this study: $"1) ^Measures of behavioural intentions
0380A23 in this study indicated that while new brands of products like
0390A23 washing powders, light bulbs and even toothpastes, may find easy acceptance
0400A23 among consumers, the marketers have heavy odds against them in the case
0410A23 of products like headache pills and pressure cookers. ^The major common
0420A23 characteristics of these difficult to_ introduce products are a strong
0430A23 consumer loyalty towards existing brands, low certainty of untriedbrands
0440A23 in these product categories, high perceived danger of consequences
0450A23 in the event of new product failure, and high technological complexity
0460A23 involved in their manufacture. ^Whenever a product category is characterised
0470A23 by these factors, marketing managements should recognize the inherent
0480A23 difficulties of introducing new brands in the market and take these
0490A23 factors into account in potential determination and marketing strategy
0500A23 formulation for the new product. $"2) ^In general, stronger loyalty to
0510A23 existing preferred brands, perceived wide quality variations among different
0520A23 brands in the market, high danger of consequences arising out of
0530A23 new product failure and greater uncertainty of untried brands appear to_
0540A23 be the major barriers to initial success of a new brand in any product
0550A23 category. ^Of course, danger of consequences and perceived uncertainty
0560A23 of untried brands are highly inter-correlated. ^Also, perceived risk
0570A23 as well as perceptions of wide quality variations among existing brands
0580A23 directly contribute to strengthening of loyalty to certain chosen brands.
0590A23 ^In product categories when such perceptions are strong, marketer
0600A23 will have to_ resort to multi-pronged attack aimed at projecting good-quality
0610A23 image, risk reduction through credible information and attempts at
0620A23 weakening loyalty to existing brands through appropriate steps like sampling,
0630A23 demonstrations, trade support, deals and other consumer promotions.
0640A23 $"3) ^Perceived relationship of higher price with better quality can
0650A23 prove a favourable factor in cases where product, in the consumer view,
0660A23 involves high technology, high risk and low rate of use. ^In such cases,
0670A23 marketer can exercise some freedom in pricing the new product somewhat
0680A23 higher for comparable quality. ^If, however, the product category is perceived
0690A23 as involving low technology, low risk and high usage, such pricing
0700A23 freedom might be limited and pricing the new product at the existing
0710A23 level may be a better strategy. ^In any case, perceptions about price-quality
0720A23 relationship do not appear to_ be very significant in predicting
0730A23 new product success. $"4) ^Interestingly, consumer confidence to_ judge
0740A23 quality appears to_ be the lowest in case of most frequently purchased
0750A23 and every-day use items like toothpaste and washing powders. ^A check
0760A23 on the data regarding characteristics of these is perceived as products
0770A23 with high quality-variations among brands, easy to_ manufacture, and
0780A23 having a wide range of brands available in the market. ^Faced by many
0790A23 alternatives with wide variations in quality, consumers probably resort
0800A23 to routinised decision making in brand choice but continue to_ feel unsure
0810A23 of the choices actually made. ^Simplification of choice decisions becomes
0820A23 a mode of dealing with brand "noises" in the market place. ^In any
0830A23 case, this predictor is not strongly correlated with buying intentions
0840A23 towards new brands. ^Only in the case of pressure cookers, confidence
0850A23 to_ judge quality turned out to_ be a significant predictor with negative
0860A23 association with buying intention. ^Stronger confidence to_ judge quallty
0870A23 is confounded with perceptions about price being the indicator of
0880A23 quality and if the new brand is not higher priced, buying intentions become
0890A23 weak in view of long-term financial commitment involved and doubts
0900A23 about the quality (based on price cues) exercising dominance over own ability
0910A23 to_ judge quality. $"^As discussed earlier, the direction of relationship
0920A23 between confidence to_ judge quality and buying intention is
0930A23 product-specific and each case has to_ be investigated to_ find the nature
0940A23 of relationship between the two. $"5) ^If in a certain product category,
0950A23 consumers generally feel that brand choices available are somewhat
0960A23 limited, such a feeling can become a favourable factor in the purchase
0970A23 intentions of the consumer towards the new brands. $"6) ^In the case of
0980A23 low consumption items like headache pills and light bulbs, heavy users
0990A23 appear to_ be more willing to_ try new brands than light users. ^The relationship
1000A23 appears similar in more frequently used items also but definite
1010A23 statements cannot be made in view of the results not being statistically
1020A23 significant. $"^To our knowledge, the relationships of these variables
1030A23 with buying intention towards new brands have been investigated for
1040A23 the first time among Indian consumers. ^This research utilised limited
1050A23 product categories as well as a small consumer sample. $"^The direction
1060A23 of various relationships turned out to_ be quite consistent with the
1061A23 hypotheses,
1070A23 though strength of many relationships was weak. ^This pilot study
1080A23 has given some direction to this type of research and future studies
1090A23 can hopefully improve upon the results so that more definitive statements
1100A23 about the relationships can be made. ^Coverage of more and different
1110A23 product categories, use of larger and better selected samples, and improvements
1120A23 in variable operationalisations should all help in getting better
1130A23 results. ^Companies would find it advantageous to_ get some measures
1140A23 of these variabies regarding the product categories of specific interest
1150A23 to them so that their new product choices, as also the introductory marketing
1160A23 strategies for them, are based on deeper insights into the behaviour
1170A23 of these variables which may hinder or help the chances of success
1180A23 of the new products." $^Some of these findings come as a surprise to
1190A23 me-- like heavy users of headache pills being more willing than light
1200A23 users to_ try new brands. ^The authors state that a number of previous
1210A23 studies have shown high correlations between buying intentions and actual
1220A23 purchases later (Martin Fishbein, John \0A. Howard, *(0J. N.*)
1230A23 Sheth and Fleming Hansen). ^The experience of Indian marketers is
1240A23 yet to_ corroborate what is thus established elsewhere. ^My own experience
1250A23 (limited as it is) makes me extremely wary of buying intention statements
1260A23 in any research report. ^What is needed is the model of a validation
1270A23 study as well.
1280A23 $**<*3Tea industry apprehends $cash flow problems**> $^The tea industry
1290A23 in north-east India apprehends serious cash flow problems with a sizable
1300A23 quantity of tea, stocked in city warehouses, damaged by rains and
1310A23 gardens unable to_ despatch because of disruption in road and rail communications.
1320A23 $^According to the Indian Tea Association, nearly 1.5 *4lakh
1330A23 chests of tea stores in warehouses-- some ready for export and others
1340A23 awaiting sale through auctions-- have been affected. ^Also, a fairly
1350A23 large quantity of tea in transit has been damaged. $^While a precise assessment
1360A23 of the damage is being made, it is feared, the industry has
1361A23 lost
1370A23 tea worth \0Rs. 8 to 10 *4crore. ^The industry does not know, at this
1380A23 moment, how much compensation the companies will receive from the insurance
1390A23 companies. $^Realisation of sale proceeds will be considerably delayed
1400A23 in respect of the quantity now held up at the gardens because of disruption
1410A23 in road and rail communications. $^The tea industry has urged
1420A23 the working group set up by New Delhi to_ take into account these factors
1430A23 and recommend steps so that production of tea is not hampered because
1440A23 of shortage of working capital. $^The industry is at present facing
1450A23 shortage of coal. ^The task force now going into the problems of business
1460A23 and industry, arising from the unprecedented floods in the state, has
1470A23 been requested by \0ITA to see that gardens get coal supplies. $^Meanwhile,
1480A23 according to the Consultative Committee of Plantation Associations,
1490A23 there have been several cases of agitation by workers in north
1500A23 Bengal for payment of bonus at rates higher than that_ admissible under
1510A23 the law.
1520A23 $**<*3Crushing delay $\0U.P. cane farmers sore**> $^Though the sugar
1530A23 season this year started on October 1, as yet crushing by 85 sugar mills
1540A23 of Uttar Pradesh has not commenced even though last year*'s 16 *4lakh
1550A23 tonnes of bonded sugarcane was still standing in the fields
1560A23 with the farmers hoping that it would receive top priority. $^During the
1570A23 current season as cane farmers have not been compensated for not getting
1580A23 this cane crushed the farmers are in a quandary with the over-ripening
1590A23 of cane as the sucrose content of standing cane crop would go down if
1591A23 not
1600A23 crushed before this month-end. ^It is feared it will have to_ be burnt.
1610A23 ^This was learnt here from sources close to cane farmers. $^It was also
1620A23 given out last year because of a bumper crop of sugarcane the acreage
1630A23 should be reduced from 20 *4lakh hectares in 1977-78 to something like
1640A23 15 *4lakh hectares in 1978-79 so that the aggregate cane availability
1650A23 does not exceed 550 *4lakh tonnes of which 202 *4lakh tonnes could still
1660A23 remain as bonded cane during 1978-79. ^But actual acreage under
1670A23 sugrcane this year is around 18 *4lakh hectares and the cane crop is
1680A23 expected to be around 600 *4lakh tonnes because even during large scale
1690A23 floods not much damage was done to crop. ^This would mean that even if
1700A23 crushing is attempted on the same scale as last year by sugar mills and
1710A23 *4khandsari units another bumper sugar output should be expected in \0U.P.
1720A23 during 1978-79. $^But this output rise would be possible only, sugar
1730A23 mill managers assert, if cane prices are not allowed to_ exceed \0Rs.
1740A23 10 as against an average cane price of \0Rs. 13 per quintal, they will
1750A23 simply refuse to comply with. ^Already sugar mills in \0U.P. owe cane
1760A23 farmers as much as \0Rs. 48 *4crore till September, 1978 and even if
1770A23 the cane price is fixed at \0Rs. 10 per quintal outstandings are
1771A23 likely
1780A23 to increase to \0Rs. 100 *4crore at the end of 1978-79 sugar season
1790A23 and mill managements do not want that the state government should force
1800A23 them to_ clear even last year*'s outstandings not to_ talk about this year*'s
1810A23 likely outstandings which are bound to_ increase. ^Sugar mill
1811A23 managements
1820A23 contend that prices of sugar have slumped to \0Rs. 260 to \0Rs.
1830A23 275 per quintal even for D-30 variety and at those rock bottom prices
1840A23 they cannot pay even \0Rs. 10 per quintal as cane price.*#
        **[no. of words = 02037**]

        **[txt. a24**]
0010A24 **<*3Jail reforms: justice denied**> $^It is reported that the Union
0020A24 home minister is collecting information about the present conditions in
0030A24 Indian prisons and is anxious to_ introduce radical reforms in the management
0040A24 of penal institutions. $^There are glaring defects in the administrative
0050A24 system of prisons which the all-India crime prevention society
0060A24 has been unsuccessfully drawing the attention of the Union and state
0070A24 governments. ^At the Central level, prisons are under the ministry of
0080A24 social welfare as social defence is a section of that_ ministry but technically
0090A24 and administratively, it is under the home ministry with the
0100A24 result that the social defence section helplessly watches on the open defiance
0110A24 of its directives and the home ministry has little time or intention
0120A24 to_ take any interest of those who are institutionalised because of
0130A24 the activities of another section of the same ministry, the police.
0140A24 $^When those who have suffered incarceration themselves come to power,
0150A24 their first reaction is to_ embark upon penal reforms. ^Thus a healthy and
0160A24 refreshing wave of reformation and re-orientation of prison administration
0170A24 started in 1937-38 and again in 1947 when Congress came to power.
0180A24 ^Between 1947-1952 many far-reaching changes were made in prison administration
0190A24 in India. ^Open camps, especially Sampurnanand camps-- open
0200A24 jails with no watch and ward were established with prisoners running their
0210A24 own industry. ^When in 1955 I presented the picture of Indian prisons
0220A24 in the first Congress on the prevention of crime and treatment of
0230A24 offenders, organised by the United Nations in Geneva, criminologists
0240A24 from all over the world were deeply interested with the advances made
0250A24 in India and our open camps were considered the 'most organised' and 'most
0260A24 advanced' in the world. ^The 80-year-old prison administrator,
0261A24 \0Mr.
0270A24 Scudder, father of open camps in the United States, confessed that
0280A24 he could not imagine of such bold experiments in his country. $^But when
0290A24 jail-goer administrators settled down to office, it did not take long
0300A24 to_ forget the past jail experience and consequently prison administration
0310A24 began to_ deteriorate rather too fast. ^In the states especially, those
0320A24 who had to_ be given some portfolio but were fit for no department were
0330A24 entrusted with this work; and whenever any economy was needed, the axe
0340A24 fell on prisons first. ^One main reason for a lack of co-ordination in
0350A24 prison administration is the unplanned allotment of this department to
0360A24 other ministries. ^For instance it is under judicial department in Tamil
0370A24 Nadu; in \0U.P. and a few other states, it is under home for a few
0380A24 years and then shifted as per the importance of the minister himself.
0390A24 ^In Maharashtra it comes under the home department. ^Probation is an important
0400A24 integral part of penal reform but it is in an extremely bad shape
0410A24 in India because it is under social welfare in the Centre; similar
0420A24 is the position in \0U.P., Punjab, Haryana, and Gujarat. ^In Tamil
0430A24 Nadu, Maharashtra and Rajasthan, it is either with law or with home
0440A24 or sometimes with the social welfare department. $^Probation service is
0450A24 becoming a huge farce in this country. ^Several states have a chief probation
0460A24 officer with no probation officer to_ chief about. ^In one state,
0470A24 not more than \0Rs. 2 are paid to a briefless lawyer to_ appear in a
0480A24 court for release under probation. ^Nowhere in the world more than 35 probationers
0490A24 are put under a probation officer. ^But in India, which has
0500A24 no more than about 300 paid officers for the whole country, the case-load
0510A24 under one probation officer is absolutely ridiculous. ^For instance, in
0520A24 Amritsar on September 19, 1977, there were 349 probationers under the
0530A24 supervision of one probation officer and Punjab has 11 such officers
0540A24 all over the state with an average load of 200. ^But for Maharashtra
0550A24 and Tamil Nadu no other state can boast of a real organised service.
0560A24 ^In \0U.P., which had the best service in the fifties is a complete mess
0570A24 with no fixed cadre or permanency for this service and social welfare
0580A24 department treats it as a step child. $^Therefore, if the present
0581A24 attention
0590A24 of the home minister is not a temporary phase, as we have seen in the
0600A24 past, he shall greatly benefit by the information supplied below.
0601A24 ^*I have
0610A24 reasons to_ be sceptic. ^In my forty years of experience I have found
0620A24 that prison reforms is an individualist craze. ^As soon as the minister
0630A24 changes, all his part endeavours disappear. ^*I produced a comprehensive
0640A24 report on prison reform in India, a 600-page report as chairman of
0650A24 Rajasthan Prison Reforms Commission. ^But as soon as the minister who
0660A24 was responsible for setting up the commission left this department for
0670A24 another assignment, the report was abandoned. ^If after 50 years India
0680A24 has not been able to_ implement the recommendations of Jail Committee
0690A24 of 1919-20, set up by the British government, there is no wonder that
0700A24 the All India Jail Manual, an enlightening document, is still going
0710A24 abegging and states are ignoring it with impunity. ^President Johnson*'s
0720A24 Commission in America consulted this manual while formulating its
0730A24 views on jails. $^The average turn-over of Indian prisons is about 1 2
0740A24 million prisoners a year. ^Our daily prison population, in all jails is
0750A24 about 160,000. ^Average cost on the maintenance of one prisoner, per month,
0760A24 is about \0Rs. 140. ^Thus the tax payer spends about \0Rs. 100 million
0770A24 every month or 1200 million a year in keeping this population within
0780A24 its walls. ^More than 30 per cent of this population is a short-termer,
0790A24 conviction ranging from one to three months and 50 per cent of this
0800A24 short-term population should not have been in jails at all under the present
0810A24 changed concept of penology which abhors short-terms and prefers
0820A24 imposition of fines or release on probation. ^One third of our prisoners
0821A24 are undertrials
0830A24 awaiting disposal of cases for more than six months
0840A24 and fifty per cent of the same are ultimately released, only 30 per cent
0850A24 are sentenced to short terms. ^Thus, although the conviction is for only
0860A24 a month, the person concerned spends seven months in jail at the cost
0870A24 of the tax-payer. $^The total capacity of Indian prisons is for 1,75,000
0880A24 prisoners but the population is so unevenly distributed that most of
0890A24 the jails are real hell. ^*I have travelled far and wide and visited
0900A24 hundreds of jails in India and abroad. ^In most of the jails in India,
0910A24 we keep inmates like cattle. $^For instance, in all jails in \0U.P.,
0920A24 more than 300 to 400 prisoners are lodged over and above the capacity.
0930A24 ^In Sabarmati, Gujarat, I found an overflow of 250; in Amritsar, there
0940A24 were 800 more than the capacity (1,710 lodged while capacity was 990).
0950A24 ^In nearly all jails, horrible conditions prevailed in juvenile and
0960A24 women sections, one of the dirtiest and uncleanest aspect of prison life.
0970A24 ^In Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra arrangements for juveniles and women
0980A24 are far better but it is very bad in most of the jails in states; for
0990A24 instance, in Amritsar, in a barrack meant for 25 women, 92 were found
1000A24 packed like sardines. ^A progressive state like West Bengal has very
1010A24 bad arrangements for keeping juveniles. ^It has a very skeleton probation
1020A24 service, which hardly exists beyond Calcutta district. $^Most of the
1030A24 prisons in India have some industry or pretext of industry. ^Total production
1040A24 from these runs into about \0Rs. 20.5 million but industrial
1050A24 policy is so defective that the prison labour gets a very poor amount as
1060A24 wages if he or she is skilled. ^It ranges from 5 *4paisa to \0Rs. 2 (very
1070A24 rarely). ^Thus any question of rehabilitation is impossible and there
1080A24 is no chance of a prisoner coming out with even \0Rs. 500 after serving
1090A24 for 14 years. ^For example, in 1966, total production in Amritsar
1100A24 Central prison amounted to \0Rs. 12,00,000; 10 per cent was added as
1110A24 state*'s share, 5 per cent as wear and tear and all told total market value
1120A24 was \0Rs. 15,00,000 but the share of the workers was only \0Rs. 6,500.
1130A24 $^In \0U.P., the turnover is about \0Rs. 5,000,000, and the worker
1140A24 does not get beyond \0Rs. 12,000. ^And most of the prison industries
1150A24 are useless and have no rehabilitative value. ^The government is the
1160A24 biggest exploiter of labour in prisons. ^If prison industries are run on
1170A24 proper lines, if expertise is obtained from private sector and if there
1180A24 is collaboration between private sector and prison industries, like America,
1190A24 and prison factories become anciliaries the tax-payer would be
1200A24 saved from any burden of prisons. ^But no proper policy for prison industries
1210A24 has been laid down thus far. $^Every advanced country in the world
1220A24 is seriously planning to_ change the structure of prisons. ^We are now
1230A24 in an age of decriminalisation and de-penalisation. ^Started by Denmark,
1240A24 the system of day-fines is being introduced in many countries. ^The
1250A24 principle is that because most crimes are mainly for economic gains, punishment
1260A24 should be in terms of money. ^Thus instead of sending a prisoer
1270A24 to_ serve his term, his offence is evaluated in terms of money and he
1280A24 or she has to_ serve for an equal number of wage-days in any assignment
1290A24 fixed by the state and after the amount is paid for, the sentence is
1300A24 over. ^Sometimes, an 'extension' of period for payment is also made. ^Thus
1310A24 the state gets money, the tax-payer is not burdened and the guilty
1320A24 is saved from prison life. $^Release on probation is another way to_ economise
1330A24 in institutional care. ^Then, cost per probationer in India is not
1340A24 more than \0Rs. 25 or so, all told, against \0Rs. 140 in jails.
1341A24 ^Prison
1350A24 budget would be reduced to half by adhering to these two policies. ^*Australia
1360A24 and Denmark are the first two countries in the world to_ start
1370A24 closing prisons instead of increasing their number. ^In Finland, conditionally
1380A24 suspended sentence and conditional release is an established
1390A24 practice since 1972. ^A government report of Finland has recommended
1400A24 that there should be 'punitive' supervision in as many cases as possible,
1410A24 the offender shall have to_ report to the police twice or once a week;
1420A24 release from prison shall be after serving half the term or only three
1430A24 months, whichever is earlier. ^In this era of decriminalization, in several
1440A24 European countries, offences against morality or family, like adultery,
1450A24 prostitution, gambling \0etc. are being depenalised. $^The new phrase
1460A24 is 'victimless crime'-- and Milton \0G. Rector, president, National
1470A24 Council on Crime and Delinquency, \0USA, has started a world-wide
1480A24 agitation to_ remove such crimes in which no body else is harmed, to_
1490A24 be removed from penal offence, like gambling, drunkenness, prostitution,
1500A24 drug-addiction, homosexuality, and truancy and running away from home
1510A24 among children \0etc. ^He writes: "*_^Legislating morals is ineffective
1520A24 and, in some instances, worsens rather than reduces social discomfort.
1530A24 ^We must allow the criminal justice system, unburdened with drug addicts,
1540A24 prostitutes and drunkards, who wrestle with real crime, and leave regulation
1550A24 of moral behaviour to families and church. ^*Knut Sveri of
1560A24 the University of Stockholm states: "*_^The overwhelming empirical evidence
1570A24 presented by criminological research-workers during the last 20
1580A24 years shows clearly the poor effect of treatment in prisons... ^We do hope
1590A24 to_ find means to_ reduce the number of persons inside walls.... what
1600A24 kind of alternative measures may be used instead of imprisonment...".
1610A24 \0^*Mr. Poland of Scotland has been recently quoted by the International
1620A24 Prisoners*' Aid Association: "*_^It has always seemed strange
1630A24 to me that we create danger for ourselves, and misery for many, by labelling
1640A24 all wrong-doers as evil people who should be locked up when so many
1650A24 of them are no more than casualities of our social system. ^In the
1660A24 lifetime of many, Hitler and Stalin solved the problem by eliminating
1670A24 those whom they considered to_ be enemies of the social order; our forbears
1680A24 hanged small boys for stealing loaves and in the Middle East, potentates
1690A24 still lop off the hands of convicted felons. ^In Scotland we
1700A24 are content to_ lock up proportionately more people than any other Western
1710A24 European nation because we have not taken the trouble to_ devise more
1720A24 efficacious ways of dealing with minor offenders." $^The average percentage
1730A24 of repeaters in Indian prisons was only four in two decades,
1740A24 now it is about 14 per cent.*#
        **[no. of words = 02015**]

        **[txt. a25**]
0010A25 **<*3Marriage Counselling in India**> $^MARRIAGE counselling is
0020A25 an established institution in a number of Western countries but not so
0030A25 well-known in India except in the large urban centres. $^In the West,
0040A25 where almost one in every three marriages ends up on the rocks, separations
0050A25 and divorces have become a common feature in life. ^When that_ is so,
0060A25 marriage counselling naturally plays a major role. $^What is the
0061A25 situation
0070A25 in India? ^There was a time when we had the joint family system prevalent
0080A25 in a big way. ^Even now in the rural sector, by and large, it continues
0090A25 to_ exist. ^As for friction in marriage, it has always been there
0100A25 and will continue to_ be there. ^That_ is a truism, but then the
0101A25 argus-eyed
0110A25 mother-in-law who often ruled the roost, albeit sometimes with an iron
0120A25 hand, also applied the much-needed salve when differences arose between
0130A25 the various couples living under the same roof. ^The father-in-law in
0140A25 turn gave the healing touch and more often than not peace and goodwill
0150A25 could be restored. ^The older people in effect functioned as whole-time
0160A25 marriage counsellors. $^But now the situation has changed. ^Especially
0170A25 in the urban areas there is a gradual disintegration of the old modes of
0180A25 living. ^Where the so-called emancipated women work and earn their living,
0190A25 they prefer to_ lead an independent life. ^More and more young people
0200A25 are tending to_ set up their own small but independent apartments. ^And
0210A25 when marital problems arise, and there are no elders in the home to_
0220A25 sort them out, they have now to_ look outside for marital guidance. ^Elderly
0230A25 friends and relations may sometimes oblige and help them. ^Occasionally,
0240A25 sides are taken. ^There is often undue interference particularly
0250A25 from the close relations. $^Quite often, the approach of the participants
0260A25 is subjective with the result that tempers get frayed, nerves become
0270A25 raw, attitudes get hardened which in turn transforms an early quarrel into
0280A25 a major issue. ^Sometimes the gulf is not healed at all and separations
0290A25 follow which could well have been avoided with objective guidance. ^With
0300A25 the best of will all round, the cracks keep widening and no amount
0310A25 of pampering helps. $^Why have many more problems come up to the forefront
0320A25 today? ^For one thing, women*'s liberation itself has by no means been
0330A25 an unmixed blessing. ^Freedom in life is fun but then it also brings added
0340A25 responsibilities. ^Women rub shoulders with men on the jobs and quite
0350A25 often extra-mural work brings them together on the social front also.
0360A25 ^Exciting and hitherto unexplored vistas of life are often unfolded before
0370A25 them. ^It is not unusual to_ find attachments taking place which are
0380A25 either transitory and hence inclined to_ die down or evolve into lasting
0390A25 relations, leading ultimately to separations. $^The simple phenomenon
0400A25 of both the husband and wife at work sometimes brings about unexpected
0410A25 results. ^When two people earn, affluence is not uncommon. ^Women who have
0420A25 not wielded the purse strings before suddenly become conscious of the
0430A25 power of the pelf and what it can buy. ^Since a lot of them use the
0440A25 earned money on themselves, there is greater interest in personal appearance,
0450A25 more investment in beauty aids and beauty parlours. ^Sometimes
0451A25 the
0460A25 effect can be stunning and the woman in the early thirties may in consequence
0470A25 find herself surrounded by new male faces which make her feel suddenly
0480A25 very desirable. ^Her ego gets a boost; there is a flutter in the heart
0490A25 she had not felt for a long time. ^Daily life is often dull and dreary
0500A25 and any romantic diversion affords a welcome change. ^Quite often it
0510A25 is indulged in thoughtlessly. $^Men having a five-day work week often find
0520A25 the leisure hours creating other types of problems particularly if
0530A25 money is no problem. ^With leisure comes boredom more so when people don*'4t
0540A25 have worthwhile games and hobbies to_ occupy them. ^Then follows the
0550A25 interest in women. ^At this stage complications are likely to_ arise
0560A25 and the marriage counsellor may well step in. $^Certain other factors have
0570A25 created further difficulties and made the situation still more complex.
0580A25 ^While contraceptives were an excellent device to_ control the population
0590A25 explosion, they have also made the indulgence in sex an easy matter.
0600A25 ^The motor car has made temporary affairs still
0601A25 more possible. ^The pill
0610A25 has added a new dimension. ^More inventions in this direction will only
0620A25 result in more nails being dug in the coffin of morality and make sexual
0630A25 permissiveness still more feasible. ^A number of writers have stated
0640A25 that if both the partners felt the same way about the issues, there would
0650A25 probably have been no bones of contention in their lives. ^However,
0660A25 quite often, while the man accepts permissiveness, the wife does not and
0670A25 so on. ^And there comes the rub! $^With increasing work load on the women
0680A25 both at home and on the office/ factory/ farm front, there is more and
0690A25 more insistence on their part wanting the menfolk to_ do the role-sharing
0700A25 at home, with the children, on the kitchen front, dealing with the
0710A25 servants, and so on. ^When the husbands willingly accede to these demands,
0720A25 all goes well. ^On the other hand, when they feel it *8infra dig*9 to_
0730A25 lend a helping hand in the household chores, friction is easily generated.
0740A25 $^What are the problems facing the counsellors? ^For one thing men
0750A25 and women both complain, often accuse each other, of having lost interest
0760A25 in love and sex as the years have rolled by. ^This may be due to more
0770A25 work responsibility on the shoulders of men-- and now it will be on women
0780A25 also-- arrival of children, a hectic social and official life after
0790A25 the working hours, more work on the home front and so on. ^But then in all
0800A25 this, there is only one casualty. ^And that_ is marriage, which probably
0810A25 gets only the leftovers of the time and energy of the couple. $^Unfortunately,
0820A25 marriage itself is a demanding mistress. ^Come to_ think of
0830A25 it, have you really got the time for it? ^If not, it may well save a visit
0840A25 to the marriage counsellor, a few hundred rupees, and the loss of
0850A25 your time, to_ say nothing of the frustration which may result after you
0860A25 have consulted the so-called experts. $^Men and women often talk of the
0870A25 sexual problems besetting them when they may in reality be smoke screens
0880A25 functioning as a facade for something else. ^Yes, sexual problems can
0890A25 be real. ^Sexual inadequacy in men and frigidity in women can pose serious
0900A25 pointers. ^On the other hand, a man may be thoughtless, cold and indifferent
0910A25 to his wife, treat her as a glorified maid-servant for the rest
0920A25 of the day and yet when he feels the desire expect his wife to_ hop into
0930A25 bed at a moment*'s notice. ^And if at that_ time, with a lot of other
0940A25 resentments surging in her bosom she finds herself unresponsive to the
0950A25 instant needs of her mate, she may be labelled with the frigidity syndrome.
0960A25 ^If, on top of all this, there is an absence of communication,
0970A25 the tag is not likely to_ be removed for quite some time and that_ too,
0980A25 if there is a lot of understanding brought into play. $^This apart, there
0990A25 are a number of things men are afraid of sexually. ^The major worry
1000A25 being not able to_ satisfy a woman in bed. $^Men and women often have dissensions
1010A25 both over *7trivia and essentials outside sex. ^Each one wants
1020A25 to_ be proved right. ^If both the parties are egoistic and have strong
1030A25 personalities, friction can be generated on a large scale. ^Confided a
1040A25 wife to me, she and her husband quarrelled over such inanities as the use
1050A25 of the toothpaste-- should it be ejected from the top, the middle or
1060A25 the bottom? ^A kindly marriage counsellor has perhaps the right answer:
1070A25 why not indulge in some kind of rationalising. ^You (the husband) take
1080A25 the blame on the occasion and you (the wife) on the next, irrespective of
1090A25 the issues involved. ^It is ever so simple. $^Said another marital counsellor
1100A25 by way of advice: Perhaps it would be a good thing not to_
1101A25 over-analyse
1110A25 marriage. "^It*'1s like yanking up a fragile outdoor plant every
1120A25 twenty minutes to_ see how its roots are growing." $^A lot of men in particular
1130A25 feel the loss of their independence after marriage. ^They liken
1140A25 it to a tourniquet; it stifles their circulation. ^No more of flitting
1150A25 from bough to bough. ^No more searching of fresh fields and pastures
1160A25 new. ^Frankly, a change of scenery is not going to_ help such people as
1170A25 there is no knowing that history will not repeat itself. ^What they really
1180A25 want is promiscuity which has no place in marriage. ^They may well
1190A25 have a divorce and forget the shackles of matrimony. $^The marital problems
1200A25 brought before the marriage counsellors of extroverts and introverts
1210A25 are common but make pathetic reading. ^Quite often the issues are insignificant
1220A25 but the communication gap enlarges them beyond all proportions
1230A25 and makes mountains out of mole-hills. ^An introvert husband married
1240A25 to an extrovert wife straightaway qualifies for a horizontal trip to the
1250A25 psychiatrist*'s couch, more so if the wife has disproportionate sexual
1260A25 demands which he is not able to_ cope up with. ^Understanding an introvert
1270A25 person is a problem by itself and I doubt if all marriage counsellors
1280A25 are equipped to_ handle it. $^Women do not always understand that introverts
1290A25 are also individuals. ^Withdrawn husbands, quite often artists and
1300A25 intellectuals, philosophers and poets, academicians and
1301A25 spiritualists,
1310A25 have their own inner needs to_ satisfy. ^Sharing does not come easily to
1320A25 them. ^They have often to be drawn out-- itself a painful and frustrating
1330A25 exercise. ^They are the people who would want you to_ be comfortable
1340A25 in their prolonged silences, in the dreams they weave in the twilight on
1350A25 the sea beach. $^Lack of understanding on the part of their mates can
1360A25 bring about disastrous consequences. ^One can only give them the basic
1370A25 philosophic advice-- not to_ marry. ^Unfortunately their number is so large,
1380A25 that the advice becomes hardly practicable. ^On the other hand, once
1390A25 dipped in the scalding sea of matrimony, they are like fish out of
1400A25 water and life becomes a *8cul de sac*9 from which there is no escape. ^You
1410A25 can only feel sorry for them and glad there are marriage counsellors
1420A25 around to_ look into their problems. $^A couple of fallacies may well be
1430A25 dispelled. ^One is the common notion that quarrels in marriage betoken
1440A25 unhappy relationships and constitute poor marriages. ^There is an old saying
1450A25 that if two persons fight, they should make it up before the curtain
1460A25 falls on the night. ^In marriage, of course, it means in bed. ^This
1470A25 is not always correct. $^Disagreements by themselves do not necessarily
1480A25 result in failures in marriages. ^In fact, these are nature*'s catalytic
1490A25 agencies and we need not make much of them. ^When two persons live together,
1500A25 day in and day out, for years together, the areas of disagreement
1510A25 are bound to_ widen. ^To_ agree to_ differ is a sound principle in life
1520A25 and an approach to the counsellor is not warranted. $^An expert on the
1530A25 subject says: "^*Indeed it is far healthier for a marriage to_ be punctuated
1540A25 from time to time by hurt feelings and arguments than to_ rest on
1550A25 a basis of deceit." ^Hence the conclusion that occasional bouts in the
1560A25 home serve to_ make successful marriages. $^The other revolves around
1570A25 the old statement of the Lebanese poet, Kahlil Gibran, "let there be
1580A25 spaces in our togetherness..." Husbands and wives are often inclined to_
1590A25 be overpossessive, a little too curious about each other*'s activities,
1600A25 unusually jealous and hence prying and so on. ^They forget that they
1610A25 are two separate individuals in their own way, their own wants may be their
1620A25 very personal dreams and visions. ^Not everything can be shared between
1630A25 two persons. ^Here again if one partner intends to_ create a buffer
1640A25 zone and the other has the key-hole approach of a *7voyeur if one is afraid
1650A25 of personal domination and the other wants just that_, well, the field
1660A25 is fertile enough for the counsellor to_ step in.*#
        **[no. of words = 02012**]

        **[txt. a26**]
0010A26 **<*3Colony where lepers get $a new lease on life**> $*3^IT*0 is a
0020A26 bright, sunny morning. ^The village resounds with its customary sounds.
0030A26 ^Suddenly 60 villagers armed with sticks march up to a village hut, threatening
0040A26 to_ beat up the sole occupant. $^She is \0Dr. (\0Miss) Indu
0050A26 Patwardhan Also known affectionately as Indutai) who set up a colony
0060A26 for leprosy patients in 1965 called Anandgram on the outskirts of Pune.
0070A26 $^Plump and a little taller than average, \0Dr. Patwardhan has a determined
0080A26 look on her face which often gives place to a warm smile. ^She put
0090A26 up a steady fight for Anandgram despite initial opposition from the
0091A26 local
0100A26 people. $^A donation of about \0Rs. 20,000 from \0OXFAM (London)
0110A26 helped to_ set her project on wheels. ^She purchased an 18-acre plot
0120A26 of land at Dudulgaon, 26 kilometers from Pune. ^Her next step was to_
0130A26 collect 120 lepers from Pune*'s roadsides with the intention of giving
0140A26 them a new lease on life. $^This was only the beginning. ^A barren stretch
0150A26 of land had now to_ be converted into a habitable place. ^The enthusiasm
0160A26 of the lepers was boundless. $^The financial position was not
0170A26 very bright, so they had to_ content themselves with building dwellings
0180A26 with mud walls and tin roofs which were made by straightening out drums.
0190A26 ^These drums were obtained by Indutai from the former Police Commissioner,
0200A26 *(0S. P.*) Marathe, who had confiscated them during an illicit
0210A26 liquor raid. $^Within a few weeks, 100 hutments were ready for occupation.
0220A26 ^Here began a new life for these leprosy patients who had until then
0230A26 to_ face tough competition from other beggars in Pune. $^The next problem
0240A26 to_ be tackled was obtaining a constant supply of water for the residents.
0250A26 ^A well was dug but it soon ran dry. ^It was now necessary to_ get
0260A26 a more scientific form of lift irrigation to_ bring the waters of the
0270A26 Indrayani up the hill. $^But the Alandi municipality was not in an obliging
0280A26 mood. ^Consequently, the fields had to_ remain dry while the authorities
0290A26 "dwelled on the matter." ^The lift irrigation project was held
0300A26 up indefinitely while Indutai ran from door to door, convincing the authorities
0310A26 of the urgency of the matter. $^In desperation, Indutai approached
0320A26 the former Chief Minister of Maharashtra, \0Mr. *(0S. B.*)
0330A26 Chavan. ^With his arbitration, things took a turn for the better. ^The
0340A26 authorities concerned finally got moving. ^Water flowed into Anandgram
0350A26 and lush green fields replaced the barren land. $^Today, Anandgram is
0360A26 rapidly becoming a self-sufficient village with the residents cultivating
0370A26 and harvesting their own crops. ^They produce pulses, rice,
0371A26 *4jowar and
0380A26 groundnuts. ^But the dream of self-sufficiency can be shattered any day
0390A26 as the Alandi municipality can cut off the water supply according to
0400A26 their whims and fancies. "^We live from moment to moment, trying to_ make
0410A26 best of the present," says an old woman at Anandgram. $^Some lepers
0420A26 make slippers which fetch a good amount of money. ^In another hut others
0430A26 are busy weaving cloth and turning it into a variety of ready-made garments.
0440A26 ^Every resident has a role to_ perform. $^*Ravindra Surve is an
0450A26 energetic youngster who does a lot of work at Anandgram. ^He was formerly
0460A26 a garage mechanic at Goregaon, Bombay, till he contracted leprosy.
0470A26 ^Someone told him about Indutai and he came down to Anandgram. ^His
0480A26 treatment turned out to_ be expensive, but effective. ^Luckily for him,
0490A26 Anandgram shouldered the expenses. $^*Ravindra is completely cured today
0500A26 and has gone a step turther. ^He is attempting to_ come back into
0510A26 society. ^One of his tasks is to_ do the marketing for Anandgram, hence
0520A26 he comes into contact with a lot of people. "^*I love people and want
0530A26 to_ mix with them," he says, breaking off into a smile. ^For him and for
0540A26 many others, Indutai signifies the mother. $^There are 46 children in
0550A26 the colony. ^They are perfectly healthy but suffer because of prejudice
0560A26 against their parents, who are leprosy patients. ^*Indutai says emphatically
0570A26 that "leprosy is not hereditary" and adds that a school has been started
0580A26 to_ ensure that these children have a better future. ^The elderly
0590A26 teacher, \0Mrs. Joshi, was afflicted by leprosy ten years back. "^My
0600A26 people at home don*'4t want me and I don*'4t intend to_ go back now. ^*I
0610A26 have found a more meaningful way of life here." $^*Kusum is a young woman
0620A26 who looks after the children and tends to the minor wounds of the
0630A26 residents. "^Sometimes I get about 50 patients a day. ^Even if they have
0640A26 a little cut, they rush to me for treatment," she says. ^She also takes
0650A27 the more serious patients to Sassoon Hospital in Pune for regular treatment.
0660A26 ^For their transport they have a bullock-cart like in any other
0670A26 village. $^*Anandgram has its own pathological laboratory. ^All the necessary
0680A26 medicines and injections are stocked in neat piles and the patients
0690A26 are trained to_ give themselves injections. ^The awareness of the residents
0700A26 of the need for immediate treatment is remarkable. $^*Anandgram
0710A26 has its own cattle. ^There is a well-fed Jersey cow, a calf, and 800
0720A26 fluffy chickens. ^Nevertheless, the problem of finances is a Damocles
0730A26 sword hanging over the people of Anandgram. $^The government has put forth
0740A26 a helping hand by providing \0Rs. 45 per month for each resident of
0750A26 Anandgram. ^In these days of sky-rocketing prices, it is impossible to_
0760A26 feed, clothe and give shelter to a person within this amount.
0761A26 ^*Anandgram
0770A26 manages to_ give its people a fair deal with the help of the numerous
0780A26 social organisations in Pune. ^The lepers certainly don*'4t look like
0790A26 social outcasts as they sit and work industriously at their respective
0800A26 tasks. $^The lepers have no inhibitions about exhibiting their wounds
0810A26 to visitors. ^Probably they realise that visitors to Anandgram do not come
0820A26 out of ouriosity alone. $^In Anandgram, the lepers fight, love, marry,
0830A26 cry. ^The whole saga of human life is played out here daily. ^And
0840A26 the lepers find solace in each other. ^Even if society shuns them, they
0850A26 have their own kind to_ turn to. $^*Anandgram is an achievement and at the
0860A26 same time an indictment of the rest of society. ^We have become inhuman
0870A26 enough to_ reject a large part of our society. ^There are millions
0880A26 of leprosy patients in India today who can be cured. ^What they need
0890A26 is sympathy and love. $\0^*Dr. Patwardhan expresses both her happiness
0900A26 at seeing the growth of Anandgram and her frustration at not being able
0910A26 to_ include the thousands of lepers within Pune itself. ^For such a
0920A26 gargantuan task she would need a task force of doctors and more financial
0930A26 support. ^But most of all she would need social sanction. ^Otherwise,
0940A26 she will always have an uphill task. $^Today, one doctor comes to Anandgram
0950A26 voluntarily. ^He however, cannot work for more than two hours a day
0960A26 because he has to_ attend to his regular practice. ^But how many are
0961A26 there
0970A26 who are willing to_ brave stiff opposition from members of society?
0980A26 $^A visit to Anandgram helps one to_ regain faith in humankind. ^In the
0990A26 midst of tragedy there is so much of joy. ^The experiment at Anandgram
1000A26 is bearing fruit and with every dawn life becomes more meaningful.
1010A26 $^In the words of a visitor, "If there were more Anandgrams, the world
1020A26 would be a better place to_ live in."
1030A26 $**<*3They also serve, who stand and wait**> $*3^THEY*0 come on racy
1040A26 motorbikes today, the waiters at Bombay*'s Taj Mahal Hotel. ^They
1050A26 make a cool three grand on tips, every month. ^Ergo-- the racy motorbikes,
1060A26 and much else. $^This was not so fifty years ago, for neither were there
1070A26 such contraptions nor such extravagant tips. ^The waiters then
1080A26 merely stood and served the moneyed. ^But they are of history. $^After
1090A26 all, how many people do you know who have come in contact with the likes
1100A26 of Dinshaw Petit Cawasji Jehangir, Jamshetji Jeejeebhoy, John
1110A26 Barrymore, *(0JRD*) Tata! ^Personages whose names are to_ be seen
1120A26 all over the city on street name-plates; who are with us, reposing on
1130A26 pillars, surveying the city solemnly, enshrined in marble; who built the
1140A26 city*'s buildings and gave it its institutions-- the founders of what
1150A26 is today called Bombay. ^Without them it would have been just a sleepy
1160A26 harbour favoured by the British, being the first in the spine of their
1170A26 empire, No India-- no empire. $^*Martin Lobo was a waiter at the Taj
1180A26 in 1896. ^He has had the privilege of seeing many of these personages
1190A26 in flesh and blood, probably unaware that at the table he attended sat
1200A26 the makers of modern India. $^Today you will find him sitting on the
1210A26 doorstep of the Holy Cross Church in the Juhu Koliwada suburb of
1220A26 Bombay looking through his misty spectacles, a perpetual growth of quarter
1230A26 inch white stubble on his chin. ^It is not uncommon to_ see old men,
1240A26 both rich as well as poor, just sitting and staring toward the end of
1250A26 their life. $^But despite this, the faded striped pajama and the dirt coloured
1260A26 bush shirt which was once doubtlessly white, there is a certain
1270A26 urbanity about Martin Lobo. ^Probably it has rubbed off from his years
1280A26 in service when he came in contact with the elite of India*'s first city
1290A26 for twenty-five years. ^And from the memory of having once strutted
1300A26 about dressed immaculately in starched white monkey jacket and trousers,
1310A26 green waistcoat and a black tie. $^For in the early years of the century
1320A26 only two kinds of people could associate with the rulers-- the very
1330A26 high born or extremely affluent and the servant. ^As *(0S. K.*) Kooka
1340A26 observes in the Taj magazine of December 1977: "*_in those days you
1350A26 could count on one finger the number of first class hotels in India where
1360A26 Indians were permitted entry. ^Servants were excluded, for without them
1370A26 life would have been burdensome as the affluent West discovered after
1380A26 World War *=2" ^And further: "^Those were the days when no gentleman
1390A26 in India removed his own trousers: this was performed by his bearer.
1400A26 ^And even today, at the Willingdon Club in Bombay, the older attendants
1410A26 in the Men*'s Changing Room will bend down to_ remove the
1420A26 netherwear of a member who is accustomed to such attention." $^*Martin
1421A26 Lobo joined
1430A26 the Taj when he and the hotel were a mere twenty years old. (^The Taj
1440A26 will be 75 on the December 16 this year). ^Earlier he had been working
1450A26 in one of the lesser hotels and kept in touch with a fellow Goan who
1460A26 was head waiter at the Taj. ^When a vacancy occurred, he graduated to
1470A26 the premier hotel. "^In those days one needn*'4t have been an \0S.S.C.
1480A26 to_ become a waiter," he says with a mixture of envy and scorn, "one
1490A26 just had to_ know how to_ wait upon people and how to_ lay a table where
1500A26 each seat had five glasses and a dozen pieces of silver to_ be laid
1510A26 in a strictly unalterable order." $^The waiter*'s lot was a hard one in
1520A26 those days, even at the Taj. ^The monthly pay was \0Rs. 21, of which
1530A26 \0Rs. 2.50 were deducted at source against breakages (which explains the
1540A26 aplomb with which the waiters of old could glide across the floor flourishing
1550A26 a tray full of soup bowls on an arm raised jauntily over their
1560A26 heads). ^This left \0Rs. 18 and 8 \annas in hand at the end of a month--
1570A26 a month full of four holidays and 26 nine-hour working days of
1571A26 which four
1580A26 were extended to 10-12 hour days, being the weekend dance nights. ^Of
1590A26 course the next day was off and there was time to_ recoup from the
1600A26 long night, but no recompense. $^One retired to the premises at Wellington
1610A26 Mews, which was first a stable for the residents*' horses, later a
1611A26 garage,
1620A26 then quarters for the waiters. ^There were no furnishings, just a
1630A26 roof above and the floor below (and today many would be more than grateful
1640A26 for such accommodation, and in Colaba too!). ^Bring your cot and bedding
1650A26 and call it home. $^This was gratis, as were the three meals,
1651A26 Bread and
1660A26 "as much tea as you want" for breakfast.*#
        **[no. of words = 02009**]

        **[txt. a27**]
0010A27 **<*3\0UP political cauldron simmering*0**> $*3^THE*0 political cauldron
0020A27 in Uttar Pradesh continues to_ simmer with the dissidents determined
0030A27 to_ push ahead with their bid to_ dislodge \0Mr. Ram Naresh Yadav
0040A27 from the Chief Ministership of the State. ^The Janata Parliamentary
0050A27 Board has looked into the problem carefully. ^It has also had the benefit
0060A27 of the assessment of the situation from \0Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee
0070A27 and \0Mr. George Fernandez, both of whom were asked to_ talk
0080A27 to the ministerialists and the dissidents. ^The Board has decided not
0090A27 to_ do anything in "*4jaldbazi" (hurry), to_ quote a top Janata leader,
0100A27 and not to_ allow itself to_ be hustled into taking action one way or the
0110A27 other. ^The Board would particularly like to_ wait till \0Mr. Charan
0120A27 Singh gets well enough to_ join a discussion. \0^*UP affairs will thus
0130A27 be in the cold storage for a few weeks at least. $^The Janata Parliamentary
0140A27 Board is clear that the issue in Uttar Pradesh is not merely
0150A27 one of a change in the leadership of the party. ^Even if this were to_
0160A27 be brought about, a question mark would still continue over the unity
0170A27 of the party. ^The current exercise is therefore, directed towards bringing
0180A27 the rival groups together so that they can jointly and effectively
0190A27 face the challenge posed by Azamgarh. ^Time is of the essence since another
0200A27 by-election to the *5Lok Sabha*6 is due to be held at Fatehpur.
0210A27 ^The Janata Party in \0UP has not only to_ close its ranks but project
0220A27 an image of unity if Fatehpur is not to_ go the Azamgarh way. ^In
0230A27 Azamgarh, the electoral battle became one of *4Yadavas versus non-*4Yadavas.
0240A27 ^In Fatehpur, voters belonging to the intermediate classes
0241A27 (Yadavas
0250A27 \0etc.) are in a minority. ^The majority comprises the Thakurs,
0260A27 Brahmins, *4Harijans and the Muslims. $^There are no two opinions that
0270A27 the manner in which the Chief Minister, \0Mr. Yadav, sacked \0Mr.
0271A27 Satya
0280A27 Prakash Malaviya, was unfortunate. ^But some top Janata leaders
0290A27 at the Centre now cencede that \0Mr. Yadav, too, had a case. ^He was
0300A27 needlessly driven to the wall by the dissidents who, it is alleged, started
0310A27 working against him from the very moment he was elected leader. \0^*Mr.
0320A27 Yadav also felt that the time had come to_ cut the dissidents to size.
0330A27 ^In fact, \0Mr. Yadav has been able to_ prove that the dissidents
0340A27 are not as strong as they claim to_ be; only 30 of them joined the Opposition
0350A27 walk out in the Assembly last week. ^This has also emboldened \0Mr.
0360A27 Yadav to_ give a virtual notice to the other dissidents in his Ministry
0370A27 thanks to the solid backing of \0Mr. Charan Singh. ^They have
0380A27 been told to_ behave or get ready to_ face the same fate as \0Mr. Malaviya.
0390A27 $^Meanwhile, an analysis of the Azamgarh poll shows that the performance
0400A27 of the Indira Congress is not as spectacular as has been made
0410A27 out by \0Mrs. Gandhi and others. ^It is not as though the Azamgarh
0420A27 voters have decided to_ go back to the congress (\0I). ^True, the congress
0430A27 (\0I) candidate polled about 30,000 votes more in the by-election
0440A27 than in the general elections of March 1977. ^True also that the Janata
0450A27 Party fared badly: its vote slumped from 2,30,000 to barely 90,000
0460A27 some 1,40,000 votes less. ^But there are two other factors to_ remember,
0470A27 according to knowledgeable circles. ^First, the percentage of polling
0480A27 this time was much less, second, other candidates, totalling 19, accounted
0490A27 for nearly 85,000 votes or about 28 per cent of the votes cast. ^In
0500A27 March 1977, the other candidates drew a virtual blank. ^Voting this
0510A27 time was thus more against the Janata Party than, for the Indira Congress.
0520A27 $^Unity also continues to_ elude the Janata Party in
0521A27 neighbouring
0530A27 Madhya Pradesh, despite the compromise formula evolved by New Delhi
0540A27 to_ defuse the crisis precipitated by the head-on clash between the President
0550A27 of the *8Ad Hoc*9 Janata Committee of the Pradesh and his
0560A27 two General Secretaries. ^Trouble errupted when the two General Secretaries
0570A27 belonging to the erstwhile Socialist Party announced the constitution
0580A27 of parallel committees in 18 districts and the President thereupon
0590A27 suspended them from the party for what was called "anti-party"
0600A27 work. ^Realising the gravity of the situation, the Janata High Command
0610A27 sought to_ restore peace by dissolving the parallel bodies and revoking
0620A27 the suspension of the two General Secretaries. ^But the formula, which
0630A27 restored *8status quo ante*9 and appeared to_ be workable, has failed
0640A27 to_ yield desired results due to sharply conflicting interpretation of
0650A27 the Central decision. $^Controversy has been revived by a circular issued
0660A27 by the Pradesh office. ^According to this circular, the district
0670A27 committees constituted by the President, \0Mr. Kusha Bhau Thakre, formerly
0680A27 of the Jana Sangh, are to_ continue as the only constitutional
0690A27 bodies. ^The circular denies that both the existing and parallel bodies
0700A27 have been dissolved by the Janata President, \0Mr. Chandra Shekhar.
0710A27 ^However, one of the General Secretaries, \0Mr. Raghu Thakur, has
0720A27 contested the veracity of this version, ^He maintains that the Central
0730A27 leaders have yet to_ take a final decision about the dissolved committees
0740A27 set up in the districts. ^Behind the clash is a tussle for power between
0750A27 the erstwhile Socialists and the erstwhile *5Jana Sanghis*6.
0751A27 ^The
0760A27 political scene is again threatening to_ thicken in Madhya Pradesh, requiring
0770A27 fresh Central intervention. $^*Andhra Pradesh is pushing ahead
0780A27 vigorously with its implementation of the Land Ceilings Act, 1972, considered
0790A27 a landmark in the evolution of land reforms. ^Actual possession
0800A27 of the land is being given to the allottees speedily. ^The weaker sections
0810A27 of society have already benefited most. ^By the end of March a
0820A27 total of 1,41,034 persons were assigned land, of whom 82,880 belong to
0830A27 the scheduled castes, 20,705 to the Scheduled Tribes and 31,082 to
0840A27 backward classes. ^The surplus land taken over by the Government under
0850A27 the Act is being given as house sites to agricultural labour, village artisans
0860A27 or other poor persons owning no house sites or house, or to the
0870A27 weaker sections of the people depending on agriculture. ^The Government
0880A27 has stipulated that no less than a half of the total land shall be assigned
0890A27 to the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes. $^An assignee
0900A27 will have to_ pay 50 times of the land revenue payable subject to a
0910A27 maximum of \0Rs. 1,250 per hectare in the case of wet and \0Rs. 375
0920A27 in the case of dry land in 15 instalments. ^To_ enable the assignee either
0930A27 to_ cultivate the land or construct a house, the collectors have been
0940A27 organising the assignees and helping them with
0950A27 institutional finance. ^*Nellore district with 54,520 beneficiaries
0951A27 and
0960A27 28,408 acres of dry land tops the list of the 21 districts and Anantapur
0970A27 with a wet acreage of 2,660 tops the list of wet lands in the State
0980A27 so far. ^*Nellore comes a close second with 2,004 acres of wet
0981A27 land.
0990A27 s^*West bengal is facing a recessionary trend thereby creating an acute
1000A27 problem for the industrialists and labour. ^Industrial production has been
1010A27 hit by power shortages, labour unrest, reduction in the income of workers,
1020A27 lock-outs and strikes. ^The industry fears that the coming months
1030A27 will see further deterioration in power generation, affecting big and
1040A27 small industries and other consumers. ^This will be in spite of the approval
1050A27 given by the Centre to_ build gas turbines in the State as a
1051A27 short
1060A27 term measure to_ meet the power crisis. ^*West Bengal has continuously
1070A27 suffered from power famine. ^It is estimated to_ have lost \0Rs. 3,000
1080A27 *4crores in production alone, costing the exchequer a revenue loss of
1090A27 about \0Rs. 1,000 *4crores.
1100A27 **<*3....and now it*'1s Samastipur*0**> $*3^THE*0 dust and heat having
1110A27 died down in Chikmagalur, attention is now turned on the crucial *5Lok
1120A27 Sabha*6 contest from Samastipur in Bihar. ^This is evoking keen interest
1130A27 because of the important issues involved. ^The fight here appears
1140A27 to_ be between the forward classes and the backward classes; the accent
1150A27 on the Emergency excesses and survival of democracy is almost muted.
1160A27 ^*Bihar had returned the Janata Party from all its 54 constituencies in
1170A27 the March 1977 elections and any reversal here will be considered a reflection
1180A27 on the functioning of the Janata Party both at the Centre
1190A27 and in the State. ^The election has also assumed importance because of
1200A27 the entry of \0Mrs. Tarakeshwari Sinha, the glamour girl of the Congress
1210A27 (\0I). ^She is being opposed by \0Mr. Ajit Kumar Mehta, a professor
1220A27 of Ranchi, besides 22 others. $^*Samastipur has six Assembly
1230A27 constituencies, namely, samastipur, Sarai Ranihan, Mohiddi Nagar, Bibhutpur,
1240A27 Kalyanpur and Lalsingh Sarai and five of them returned Janata
1250A27 candidates in the Assembly elections in June 1977. ^The Chief Minister,
1260A27 \0Mr. Karpoori Thakur, who resigned the *5Lok Sabha*6 seat
1270A27 on his being elected to the State Assembly had won the *5Lok Sabha*6
1280A27 seat by a margin of over three *4lakh votes. ^But that_ was over a
1290A27 year ago when there was a Janata wave and the State had not experienced
1300A27 the forward and backward class antagonism. ^In this constituency with
1310A27 over 820 polling booths, there are nearly 7.5 *4lakh voters. ^But unlike
1320A27 many other constituencies this cannot claim the predominance of any single
1330A27 particular caste, and more so the upper castes. ^In the last three
1340A27 elections it returned backward class candidate only. ^The upper castes who
1350A27 dominate the countryside in Bihar believe that \0Mrs. Tarakeshwari
1360A27 Sinha will win with a handsome margin. ^This belief is based on two factors;
1370A27 first the people*'s disillusionment with the functioning of the
1380A27 Janata Government; and secondly, the vote pulling capacity of the upper
1390A27 castes, particularly the *4Bhumihars to which community \0Mrs. Sinha
1400A27 belongs. ^An analysis of the composition of the constituency shows that
1410A27 the *4Bhumihars are by no means a dominant community in this area. ^The
1420A27 other upper castes *4Rajputs and *4Maithilis are also not considered
1430A27 a big force. ^This is also true of the minorities like the *4Harijans
1440A27 and the Muslims who have been traditional supporters of the Congress
1450A27 (\0I). ^On the other hand the Koeries to which caste the Janata
1451A27 candidate,
1460A27 \0Mr. Mehta belongs constitute the largest single group. ^They account
1470A27 for nearly a *4lakh and a half votes. ^The next dominant community is
1480A27 the *4Yadavs who number about 80,000. ^The other backward classes like
1490A27 the *4Kurmis and the *4Dhanuks also have sizable votes. ^The backward
1500A27 classes thus total more than four *4lakhs. $*3^WITH THE STATE SHARPLY*0
1510A27 divided between the upper castes and the backward classes as a result
1520A27 of the controversy created by the reservation formula, the election
1530A27 would be fought on class lines. ^While the upper castes are not united,
1540A27 the backward classes appear to_ be solidly behind the Chief Minister
1550A27 who hails from the same constituency and knows every inch of the area.
1560A27 ^*Samastipur election, in more than one sense, will be an acid test for
1570A27 the reservation policy of the Thakur ministry. ^The upper castes seem
1580A27 determined to_ defeat the Janata candidate to_ prove the unacceptability
1590A27 of the reservation formula and the backward classes appear equally resolved
1600A27 to_ demonstrate that the Thakur Government enjoys the backing
1610A27 of the people on this issue. $^What finally influences the outcome of
1620A27 a contest is the fairness of the election itself. ^It is common knowledge
1630A27 that in Bihar the muscle power of the community to which the candidate
1640A27 belongs and the money power behind it which direct the course of the
1650A27 electorate. ^The upper castes have so far dominated because of their
1660A27 resources. ^But this may not be the case in Samastipur now. \0^*Mr. Karpuri
1670A27 Thakur is a shrewd campaigner and will be personally in charge of
1680A27 the electioneering on behalf of the Janata candidate. ^It is doubtful
1690A27 if the upper castes would be able to_ succeed in their tactics. ^Apart
1700A27 from this, the reservation issue has aroused political awareness among
1710A27 the backward classes and they are no more prepared to_ be dictated by the
1720A27 upper castes whom they have been serving from centuries. $^Another issue
1730A27 to_ weigh with the election will be the decision of the State Government
1740A27 to_ take over errant sugar mills. \0^*Mr. Thakur had opposed de-control
1750A27 of sugar and his latest step in taking over sugar mills has earned
1760A27 him the gratitude of the *4kisans.*#
        **[no. of words = 02015**]

        **[txt. a28**]
0010A28 **<*3Janata faces a debacle in azamgarh poll?*0**> $^Three major developments
0020A28 have affected the Janata Party*'s prospects on the political scene.
0030A28 ^First, the sudden illness of the Home Minister, \0Mr. Charan
0040A28 Singh. $^Political observers believe that this will lead to greater bitterness
0050A28 and infighting among the Janata Party factions in the absence
0060A28 of the Home Minister*'s contribution to party politics. $^A senior party
0070A28 leader said: "*_^It will be unfortunate but one can expect a free-for-all
0080A28 exchange of political blows, with \0Mr. Raj Narain trying to_
0090A28 set the tone of politics. ^We are not happy with \0Mr. Raj Narayan*'s
0100A28 style. ^Can we do anything at all to_ persuade the Health Minister
0110A28 to_ be less destructive than what he is normally?" $^A second issue really
0120A28 disturbing the Janata is the forthcoming by-election at Azamgarh in
0130A28 Uttar Pradesh, on May 7. $^Most reports underline the fact that the
0140A28 Janata is facing a formidable opponent \0Mrs Mohsina Kidwai (Congress-\0I).
0150A28 \0Mr Charanjit Yadav the official Congress candidate, it
0160A28 appears, is not able to_ muster enough strength from his old constituency.
0170A28 ^His followers, it seems, have switched their allegiance to \0Mrs. Gandhi.
0180A28 $^An experienced observer of the \0U.P. scene says: "*_^The
0190A28 point has been reached when the Janata wave is no longer what it was. ^It
0200A28 is not even a small wind. ^One can ascribe different reasons for the
0210A28 change in public attitude towards the ruling party. $"^You may call it the
0220A28 absence of an effective government. ^The anger of the youth is another
0230A28 factor. ^But more than anything else somehow people have begun to_ realise
0240A28 that \0Mrs. Gandhi cannot be pushed too far in the background."
0250A28 $^Another analyst makes the point that people in the Hindi-speaking belt
0260A28 are not really concerned with the sophistry of political thought. ^They
0270A28 do not distinguish between the dictatorial style of \0Mrs. Gandhi
0280A28 and the saintly sermons of Morarji Desai. ^They want a man of action
0290A28 or for that_ matter a person who can deliver the goods. \0^*Mr. Desai
0300A28 is virtually unknown in \0U.P.*'s villages. \0^*Mrs. Gandhi always had
0310A28 an image, although the atrocities under the emergency regime threw her
0320A28 back for the time being." $^Pro-\0Mrs. Gandhi politicians point out
0330A28 that neither the Janata Party nor the official Congress have managed
0340A28 to_ grow any roots in the countryside. ^Perhaps for the wrong reasons, \0Mrs.
0350A28 Gandhi is once again drawing crowds in the Hindi-speaking areas.
0360A28 ^People are not really interested, it seems, in the puritanical policies
0370A28 of \0Mr. Desai nor the antics of some of his Cabinet Ministers.
0380A28 $^The youth are angry because they have no jobs. ^The village elders want
0390A28 more money for the rural community. ^The Janata, of course, is pledged
0400A28 to_ provide a flow of more funds to the villagers. ^But there has
0410A28 been quite a muddle about this issue. ^Most villagers do not know that they
0420A28 are being offered an interesting economic deal by the government. ^Is
0430A28 it the failure of government machine? $^In fact, the publicity departments
0440A28 in New Delhi and the State capitals are overdoing their jobs.
0450A28 ^It is a simple question of over-kill. $^At the same time, All-India
0460A28 Radio and television are busy with their pre-occupation with \0Mrs. Gandhi.
0470A28 ^They have not been able to_ tell the man in the village of what
0480A28 the new rural policies of the Janata are. $^Indeed, one of the unfortunate
0490A28 results of the ruling party*'s so-called push towards the villages
0500A28 is that the urban youth and educated white-collar class in the city blocks
0510A28 have lost faith in the Janata Party*'s promises and performances.
0520A28 $^He is disillusioned with the patch-work unity of the Janata. ^Then
0530A28 there are the party squabbles. ^The Janata has yet to_ prove that it is
0540A28 a cleaner party than \0Mrs. Gandhi*'s organisation despite the Shah
0550A28 Commission. $^According to critics of the Desai Government, there are
0560A28 sordid tales of what the Ministers*' relations and friends are doing
0570A28 in secretariat corridors. $^One economic analyst, who was until recently
0580A28 a senior official in the Department of Economic Affairs, points out
0590A28 that "big business has been really delivered from fear". ^It is a free-for-all
0600A28 society. ^Big business executives are telling each other at their
0610A28 board meetings that they could not have had a better deal under any
0620A28 other government. ^Of course, the irony is that business leaders keep on
0630A28 publicly complaining about the stagnant investment climate and lack of
0640A28 incentives. $^The fact of the matter is that although investment is lagging
0650A28 behind, there is very little government examination of the so-called
0660A28 misdeeds of big business. $^And yet the Janata Leaders seem to_
0670A28 be blissfully unaware of what goes on. ^The Prime Minister delivers
0680A28 a familiar sermon to the business community. ^He asks them to_ look after
0690A28 the villagers. ^Are they not doing so already by raising the prices of
0700A28 consumer goods in village shops? $^The fact is that the government and
0710A28 business community are operating on different wavelengths. ^And as usual
0720A28 the big business is one jump ahead of the squabbling Ministers. $^As
0730A28 one senior business leader says: "*_^We do not really know what the government
0740A28 wants from us. ^They are speaking with different voices. ^We are
0750A28 getting a little tired of being ordered to_ behave. ^As if we are the
0760A28 anti-social elements in the country and the rest of the crowd is really
0770A28 decent". $^A third major element in the political situation concerns
0780A28 \0Mr. Nanaji Deshmukh*'s sudden urge to go constructive. ^What politicians
0790A28 mean by constructive activity, it is not possible to_ express or understand
0800A28 in plain English. $^For, \0Mr. Deshmukh and politicians like
0810A28 him speak in a different language from the rest of the community. ^After
0820A28 making a sensible statement that some of the top leaders must retire,
0830A28 he hastened to_ withdraw his operative part of the statement. ^He was
0840A28 clearly over-stepping his limits in wanting \0Mr. Desai to_ go. $^But
0850A28 Deshmukh is a shrewd politician. ^His influence with the Jana Sangh
0860A28 cadre cannot be underestimated. ^His statement seems to_ be a clear warning
0870A28 to the rest of the Janata crowd that the Jana Sangh means business.
0880A28 ^And so \0Mr. Deshmukh*'s \0RSS men have to_ sharpen their knives
0890A28 to_ hasten their timetable for capturing power within the Janata.
0900A28 $^Four years is too short a time to_ achieve this ambition. ^But who knows
0910A28 that \0Mrs. Gandhi by that_ time may be able to_ show the door to the
0920A28 |nata at least in the Hindi-speaking States. $^For the Janata is
0930A28 too feeble an alliance to_ withstand the shock treatment being given to
0940A28 it by a determined \0Mrs. Gandhi, who knows all the techniques of a
0950A28 fascist movement. $^Her followers are not interested in any principles or
0960A28 philosophy. ^They are simply there to_ atone for the past. ^And, perhaps,
0970A28 they will succeed in their game.
0980A28 $**<*3Chikmagalur poll campaign *7sans national issues*0**> $^There is
0990A28 nothing like 100 per cent accurate prediction of an election contest.
1000A28 ^At best there can be the nearest approximation for, one has to_ make margin
1010A28 for several uncertain factors. $^As far as the contesting sides are
1020A28 concerned, they always exude confidence and will try to_ impress every
1030A28 one about how the situation is in favour of their party. ^They will try
1040A28 to_ construe every little development in favour of their candidate and
1050A28 against their opponent. ^It does not therefore help to_ go by what the
1060A28 party loyalists say about the results. $^An impartial observer has therefore
1070A28 necessarily to_ go by what the people outside the party folds say about
1080A28 the election. ^That_ was how I had given my predictions about some
1090A28 of the key contests in Sangli, Kolhapur and Satara districts during
1100A28 the last assembly elections. $*<*3Reluctant voter*0*> $^But in Chikmagalur,
1110A28 while common people are enjoying the excitement of the election,
1120A28 they seem to_ be reluctant to_ say anything one way or the other. ^In any
1130A28 other area in Maharashtra, election discussions would have been everywhere,
1140A28 in shops, in buses, at market places. ^But i am surprised that common
1150A28 people in this sprawling constituency should be so stoical on the
1160A28 subject. $^*Chikmagalur *5lok Sabha*6 constituency comprises eight assembly
1170A28 segments-- Chikmagalur, Kadur, Birur, Tarikere, Sringeri and Mudiger
1180A28 in Chikmagalur district and Belthangdy and Karkal in South
1190A28 Kanara district. ^*Chikmagalur town is nearly 150 \0kms away from Bajpe
1200A28 airport at Mangalore. ^It took me nearly seven hours to_ cover that_
1210A28 distance partly because of the heavy rains in the evening in this part
1220A28 of Karnataka. ^Darkness descends around 6 \0p.m. and thereafter there
1230A28 is very little activity in the region. $^At about 8 \0p.m. when I arrived
1240A28 in Belthangdy along with two friends who had come to_ receive me at
1250A28 the airport, I had my first encounter with the people of the area in a
1260A28 hotel where \0Mr. Mahendra Kumar Jain, one of the independent candidates
1270A28 for the by-election, was enjoying his dinner. ^*I saw a couple of
1280A28 persons seated round him more out of curiosity than out of excitement.
1290A28 $*<*3Anti-Emergency*0*> $^For one thing, the people here, except a
1300A28 handful of them, cannot understand any language other than Tulu and Kannada.
1310A28 ^*I had, however, the advantage of conversing with them through
1320A28 my Kannada friends. \0^*Mr. Mahendra Kumar, who hails from Haryana,
1330A28 said his candidature was in protest against the family planning atrocities
1340A28 committed on the people of Haryana during the emergency. ^Another
1350A28 independent candidate I ran into at my lodge in Chikmagalur was inimitable
1360A28 Kartar Singh Thatthe, who said he was fighting to_ propagate for
1370A28 ban on cow slaughter. "^*I will get enough votes to_ save my deposit",
1380A28 he said. $^*Belthangdy looked like a Congress stronghold. "^Not in town
1390A28 area but rural vote will go to \0Mrs. Gandhi", said \0Mr. Harishchandra,
1400A28 an advocate from the area, who also owned the restaurant. ^He sounded
1410A28 like an admirer of the Janata Party but was honest enough to_ give
1420A28 his frank opinion. $*<*320-Point Programme*0*> $^The labourers in the
1430A28 area have been the direct beneficiary of the 20-point programme. ^Elsewhere,
1440A28 no one might know what the 20 points of the programme are but
1441A28 in this
1450A28 area the point relating to abolition of bonded labour has benefitted
1460A28 them. ^They are no more bonded. \0^*Mr. Urs, no doubt, implemented that_
1470A28 programme but people believe-- and their belief seemed unshakable--
1480A28 that it was \0Mrs. Gandhi who came to their rescue. $^In the past, they
1490A28 said they voted Congress not so much because of \0Mr. Urs but only
1500A28 because of '*5Badwar tai*6' **[kannada**] Indira Gandhi. ^They thought
1510A28 that \0Mrs. Gandhi is contesting from this area has made them happy.
1520A28 ^No wonder they will vote solidly for her. ^From my conversation with
1530A28 the people in the area, I felt that their faith in \0Mrs. Gandhi is
1540A28 so total that nothing can shake it. ^At about 8.45 \0p.m. I stopped at
1550A28 a roadside meeting at Mandaje near Ujare on my way to Chikmaglur. ^It
1560A28 was a Congress meeting. ^After about 10 minutes of my arrival at the
1570A28 venue, the meeting ended. ^But in those ten minutes I could see nearly
1580A28 100 persons present there applauding every sentence of what the Congress
1590A28 \0MP, \0Mr. Janardan Pujari was speaking in Tulu, \0Mr. Pujari*'s
1600A28 oratory seemed to_ have a magic effect on those present. ^For the
1610A28 sheer beauty of the language, I also felt as if I was following every
1620A28 word of what \0Mr. Pujari was saying. ^The meeting ended with vociferous
1630A28 '*5Indira Gandhi ki jai*6'. $*<*3Roadside meetings*0*> $^The Janata
1640A28 Party has also embarked on roadside meetings in the area. ^One such
1650A28 I saw a little distance away from Mandaje. ^But there was hardly any
1660A28 crowd at the meeting. (^This area comes in Mudigere constituency). ^At
1670A28 about 11.30 I reached Chikmaglur. $^Next morning I went round Chikmaglur
1680A28 town. ^*Ramchandra Pai, a young graduate, gave me a reasonably
1681A28 clear
1690A28 picture of the Janata party campaign. "^You have only to_ see how
1700A28 George (Fernandes) is working in the constituency. ^And if Janata candidate
1710A28 wins, it will be a personal victory for George". ^He narrated how
1720A28 George*'s speeches moved the people making them weep at times to_ know
1730A28 of the atrocities during the Emergency. \0^*Mr. Fernandes has a definite
1740A28 advantage of being able to_ speak in Kannada and Tulu, the two
1750A28 largely understood languages in the region.*#
        **[no. of words = 02010**]

        **[txt. a29**]
0010A29 **<*3a glaring contrast in styles*0**> $^Nothing in the past 31 years of
0020A29 our independence has changed so much in the country*'s political life as
0030A29 the style of the leaders*' functioning. ^A whole era seems to_ have passed
0040A29 since the pioneers of free India strode the stage. $^Where are the
0050A29 sophistication and the restrained passions of the forties and the fifties,
0060A29 the cut and thrust of argument that_ achieved its object without
0070A29 a vulgar exhibition of tempers almost amounting to indecent assault? ^We
0080A29 appear to_ be living in an altogether different universe from the
0071A29 days
0090A29 of Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Patel, \0C. Rajagopalachari, Govind
0100A29 Ballabh Pant and Maulana Abul Kalam Azad. $^They, too, had their
0110A29 quarrels, and they too wrote letters to one another on issues of policy
0120A29 or personal differences. ^But these exchanges had a certain tone which
0130A29 reflected the leaders*' respect for superior values. ^The personal quarrels
0140A29 did not degenerate into squabbles of the market place. $^When Maulana
0150A29 Azad had his historic dispute with Purushottam Das Tandon in
0160A29 the *5lok Sabha*6 the two fought like giants but in language that was civilised.
0170A29 ^We all knew at the time of the differences between Pant and
0180A29 Rafi Ahmed Kidwai, of the displeasure of Rajagopalachari over having
0190A29 been ignored for the office of President of the Republic, of the
0200A29 temperamental conflicts between Nehru and Rajendra Prasad, and of
0210A29 other tensions and disagreements, some of which were, indeed, very powerful.
0220A29 *<*3classic row*0*> $^But these men conducted their disputes in a
0230A29 manner which suggested self-respect if not chivalry. ^Their written communications
0240A29 were based on accepted ground rules in which a hit below the
0250A29 belt was inconceivable. ^Love of office or personal prestige or factional
0260A29 loyalty did not take precedence over acknowledged standards of good
0270A29 conduct in public. $^It is in this context that the classic row between
0280A29 Nehru and Patel needs to_ be recalled. ^Many even today remember the episode
0290A29 but perhaps not in great detail. ^Here, briefly, is the story. $^In
0300A29 the winter of 1947 Ajmer, which was then administered by a Chief Commissioner,
0310A29 was torn by communal riots. ^*Nehru, then Prime Minister,
0320A29 was anxious to_ visit the place to_ see things for himself and to_ give
0330A29 the sufferers comfort. ^He was unable to_ go and, instead, sent his Principal
0340A29 Private Secretary, *(0H. V. R.*) Iengar, a distinguished
0350A29 \0I.C.S. officer, to_ study the situation and report back to him.
0360A29 $^*Patel was the Deputy Prime Minister and, as Home Minister, in charge
0370A29 of law and order, he showed his resentment over Nehru*'s action,
0380A29 saying that this was an encroachment and administratively incorrect, especially
0390A29 as he himself had already made a public statement on the subject.
0400A29 ^Letters were exchanged between Patel and Nehru and the dispute became
0410A29 serious when Nehru put forward the claim that as Prime Minister he
0420A29 should not have his freedom restricted and should have a certain "liberty
0430A29 of direction". $^To this Patel took objection, saying that according
0440A29 to his conception, the Prime Minister*'s position, though pre-eminent
0450A29 and "first among equals", did not give him overriding powers over his
0460A29 colleagues. ^If he had such overriding powers, a Cabinet and Cabinet
0470A29 responsibility would be superfluous. ^Meanwhile the correspondence grew,
0480A29 and first Nehru and then Patel offered to_ resign their posts.
0481A29 *<*3recriminations*0*>
0490A29 $^But when they volunteered to_ leave the Cabinet-- over
0500A29 an important matter of principle and not personal animosity, mind you--
0510A29 it was in a spirit of gallantry and, to a large extent, self-denial,
0520A29 which reads strange in today*'s poisonous atmosphere of recriminations
0530A29 and hunger for power. ^Some parts of the correspondence between Nehru
0540A29 and Patel deserve to_ be quoted at this time for sheer contrast in functioning
0550A29 styles. $^On December 23, 1947, Nehru wrote to Patel: "$_I
0560A29 am very sorry that what i wrote to you gave you pain. ^*I am myself very
0570A29 unhappy about the trend of events and the difficulties that_ have arisen
0580A29 between you and me. ^It seems that our approaches are different, however
0590A29 much we may respect each other, and the issues that_ have arisen
0591A29 have
0600A29 to_ be considered very carefully and objectively by all of us. ^If i
0610A29 am to_ continue as Prime Minister I cannot have my freedom restricted
0620A29 and I must have a certain liberty of direction. ^Otherwise, it is better
0630A29 for me to_ retire. "$^*I do not wish to take any hasty step, nor
0631A29 would
0640A29 you wish to_ take it. ^We must, therefore, give full thought to the situation
0650A29 that_ has arisen, so that our decisions may be for the good of
0660A29 the country we have saught to_ serve these many years. ^If unfortunately
0670A29 either you or I have to_ leave the Government of India, let this be
0680A29 done with dignity and goodwill. ^On my part I would gladly resign and
0690A29 hand over the reins to you." $^*Patel*'s reply was sent on the following
0700A29 day, December 24, and this is what the Iron Man said: "$^It was common
0710A29 knowledge between us that our approaches on certain vital problems were
0720A29 different but, as on the conclusions or final decisions there was no
0730A29 difference, we pulled on together so long in the common interest of the
0740A29 country, particularly as the stakes involved were very heavy. "$^*I have
0750A29 no desire to_ restrain your liberty of direction in any manner nor have
0760A29 I ever done so in the past. ^It is also not my desire to_ hustle you
0770A29 or to_ embarrass you in any manner, but when it is clear to us that on
0780A29 the fundamental question of our respective spheres of responsibility,
0790A29 authority and action there is such vital difference of opinion between
0800A29 us, it would not be in the interest of the cause which we both wish to_
0810A29 serve to_ continue to_ pull on longer. "$^The question of your resignation
0820A29 or your abdicating your functions does not arise at all. ^*I am at one
0830A29 with you in that the decision may be taken with dignity and goodwill
0840A29 and I will strain every nerve to_ help you in doing so but you will not,
0850A29 I am sure, want me to_ continue for long as an ineffective
0851A29 colleague.
0860A29 ^Under the restrictions (of) ministerial responsibility which you consider
0870A29 legitimate and which, judging from the stand you have taken in Gopalaswami*'s
0880A29 case also, would include even another Minister*'s encroachment,
0890A29 under your direction, on such responsibility, it would be impossible
0900A29 for me to_ function." *<*3nehru*'s note*0*> $^After the two leaders had
0910A29 thus volunteered to_ quit the Cabinet it was suggested that the matter
0920A29 should be handed over to Mahatma Gandhi for decision. ^Both prepared
0930A29 notes of their own for the Mahatma*'s attention. ^*Nehru*'s note, dated
0940A29 January 6, 1948, said, *8inter alia*9: "$^In the present set-up this
0941A29 means
0950A29 that either I should go out or that Sardar Patel should go out. ^For
0960A29 my part, I would greatly prefer my going out. ^Of course, this going
0970A29 out of either of us need not and should not mean any kind of subsequent
0980A29 opposition. ^Whether we are in or out of the Government we remain,
0990A29 I hope, not only loyal Congressmen but loyal colleagues, and we will still
1000A29 try to_ pull together in our respective spheres of activity.......^If
1010A29 someone has to_ leave, I repeat, I would prefer to_ leave." $^*Patel*'s
1020A29 note to the Mahatma admitted "the existence of temperamental differences
1030A29 and different outlook on economic matters and those affecting Hindu-Muslim
1040A29 relations." ^Patel added. "$^Both of us, however, place the
1050A29 interests of the country above these personal differences and, aided
1060A29 by mutual regard, respect and love for each other, have cooperated in a
1070A29 common endeavour. ^Through our joint efforts we have weathered many a storm
1080A29 that_ beset us and despite such differences we have got over one of
1090A29 the most critical phases in the history of any country or any Government.
1100A29 ^It is painful and rather tragic to_ reflect that we cannot carry
1110A29 this any further, but I fully realise the strength of feeling and conviction
1120A29 behind the Prime Minister*'s stand as regards his own position."
1130A29 *<*3patel*'s offer*0*> $^And then, a gracious reiteration of his offer
1140A29 to_ resign: "$^The Prime Minister has also referred to his preference
1150A29 for leaving office if mutual accommodation cannot be secured. ^*I maintain,
1160A29 however, that if anybody has to_ go, it should be myself. ^I have
1170A29 long passed the age of active service. ^The Prime Minister is the acknowledged
1180A29 leader of the country and is comparatively young; he has established
1190A29 an international position of pre-eminence for himself; I have no
1200A29 doubt that the choice between him and myself should be resolved in his
1210A29 favour. ^There is, therefore, no question of his quitting office." $^Soon
1220A29 after this note Patel wrote a letter to Mahatma Gandhi (January
1230A29 13, 1948) in which his graciousness was only further emphasised: "$^The
1240A29 burden of work has become so heavy that I feel crushed under it. ^*I now
1250A29 see that it would do no good to the country or to myself to_ carry on
1260A29 like this any more. ^It might even do harm. "$^*Jawahar is even more burdened
1270A29 than I. ^His heart is heavy with grief. ^Maybe I have deteriorated
1280A29 with age and am no more any good as a comrade to_ stand by him, and
1290A29 lighten his burden. ^The Maulana (Azad) too is displeased with what I
1300A29 am doing and you have again and again to_ take up cudgels on my behalf.
1310A29 ^This also is intolerable to me. "$^In the circumstances, it will perhaps
1320A29 be good for me and for the country if you now let me go. ^*I cannot do
1330A29 otherwise than I am doing. ^And if thereby I become burdensome to my
1340A29 lifelong colleagues and a source of distress to you and still I stick
1350A29 to office, it would mean-- at least that_ is how I would feel-- that I
1360A29 let the lust of power blind my eyes and so was unwilling to_ quit. ^You
1370A29 should quickly deliver me from this intolerable situation." $^There is
1380A29 not much trace in this correspondence of bitterness or rancour, nor are
1390A29 there any
1400A29 claims about who made whom Prime
1410A29 Minister and who owed whom his position in the Government. ^The contrast
1420A29 in the situation now and 30 years ago hits one in the eye. ^There has
1430A29 been a precipitate decline from the lofty stance to whimpers and groans.
1440A29 $^As things turned out, neither Nehru nor Patel resigned. ^Within a
1450A29 few days of Patel*'s last letter to the Mahatma the Father of the
1460A29 Nation was assassinated, and on February 3 Nehru had this to_ say in
1470A29 a letter to Patel: "$^Now with Bapu*'s death, everything is changed and
1480A29 we have to_ face a different and more difficult world. ^The old controversies
1490A29 have ceased to_ have much significance and it seems to me that the
1500A29 urgent need of the hour is for all of us to_ function as closely and
1510A29 cooperatively as possible. ^Indeed, there is no other way." $^*Patel*'s
1520A29 reply, sent two days later, showed full agreement: "$^We should also find
1530A29 an early opportunity to_ have a long talk and clear our minds
1540A29 of any doubts and difficulties that_ may be there. ^Continued harping
1550A29 on our differences in public or in private is bad for us, bad for the
1560A29 Services and bad for the country. ^The sooner we set this at rest
1561A29 once
1570A29 for all and clear the murky atmosphere the better." $^It is true that Mahatma
1580A29 Gandhi*'s death became the catalyst for reconciliation between Nehru
1590A29 and Patel. ^Nevertheless, even before the reconciliation, their complaints
1600A29 about each other never lacked in dignity or decency. ^We seem
1610A29 to_ have forgotten in the short period of 30 years the high traditions
1620A29 that_ were set by two of the greatest Indians born in this century.
1630A29 **<*3restructuring the polity*0**> $^The 17 months since the memorable
1631A29 elections
1640A29 of 1977 have reaffirmed that a change in government, however momentous,
1650A29 is no cure for the structural inadequacies in a political system.
1660A29 $^The period has underscored once again what the previous 19 months of
1670A29 the Emergency had temporarily obscured that substantial reform of the
1680A29 Constitution is imperative if the political system is to_ cope with
1690A29 the problems of resource mobilisation, modernisation, and social mobility,
1700A29 which are the inevitable preconditions for a situation generically termed
1710A29 as "development."*#
        **[no. of words = 02017**]

        **[txt. a30**]
0010A30 **<*3Assault On Parliament*0**> $^The ways of destiny are strange indeed.
0020A30 ^Way back in 1951, Jawaharlal Nehru as free India*'s first Prime
0030A30 Minister and Leader of the *5lok Sabha*6 struck an early and welcome
0040A30 blow for upholding the dignity of Parliament and ensuring proper behaviour
0050A30 of every hon*'3ble member. ^One witnessed then the Mudgal case
0060A30 and the virtual expulsion of \0Mr. *(0H G*) Mudgal from membership
0070A30 of the Provisional Parliament on a motion moved by none other than
0080A30 Nehru who said. "^It is most important and it should be clearly understood
0090A30 that Parliament is bent on maintaining the highest standards for its
0100A30 members." ^Twenty-seven years later, Nehru*'s own daughter, \0Mrs. Indira
0110A30 Gandhi, is in the dock today, held guilty by the Privileges Committee
0120A30 of the *5lok Sabha*6 of a conduct derogatory to the dignity and
0130A30 sovereignty of the House and inconsistent with the standard which Parliament
0140A30 is entitled to_ expect from its members and, more especially,
0150A30 from one who as the Prime Minister and Leader of the House for 11
0160A30 years, was expected to_ be among the foremost champions of the rights of
0170A30 the House. *<*3Collective Wisdom*0*> $^Contrary to normal practice,
0180A30 the Privileges Committee, headed by \0Prof. Samar Guha, has
0181A30 chosen
0190A30 not to_ recommend any specific punishment to_ be awarded to \0Mrs. Gandhi
0200A30 and the two accomplices, \0Mr. \0D Sen and \0Mr. *(0R. K.*)
0210A30 Dhawan, for what is described as "serious breach of privilege and contempt
0220A30 of the House." ^Instead, it has considered it desirable to_ leave
0230A30 it to the "collective wisdom" of the House 'to_ award such punishment
0240A30 as it may deem fit' in view of the unprecedented nature of the case
0250A30 and the importance of the issues involved "in maintaining the authority,
0260A30 dignity and the sovereignty of the *5lok Sabha*6 and upholding the
0270A30 principles underlying the system of parliamentary democracy." ^Much serious
0280A30 thought and quiet confabulations have, therefore, been devoted behind
0290A30 the scenes in New Delhi during the past week to the stand which the
0300A30 Janata Party and others should take even as people everywhere ask. ^What
0310A30 is going to_ happen? ^Will it be admonition or reprimand? ^Or, will
0320A30 it be one of the three other options available, suspension from the service
0330A30 of the House, imprisonment or expulsion? $^Opinion among the members
0340A30 of the *5lok Sabha*6 appears to_ be divided broadly into three categories.
0350A30 ^Expectedly representing one view are Indira Congressmen and
0360A30 those eager to_ find an excuse to_ jump on to her promising bandwagon. ^They
0370A30 would like further proceedings to_ be dropped and, in the name of
0380A30 realism, ask in the words of \0Mrs. Gandhi*'s principal publicists: *_^Is
0390A30 it advisable for the House whose membership she has regained after
0400A30 a massive victory in the Chikmagalur by-election to_ go ahead with the
0401A30 move
0410A30 to_ punish her? ^Equally expectedly representing the other two views
0420A30 are the doves and the hawks in the Janata Party as also among the Marxists,
0430A30 Congressmen, Communists and others. ^The doves are of the view
0440A30 that political factors must not be ignored and nothing done which would
0450A30 give \0Mrs. Gandhi a fresh halo of martyrdom. ^They, therefore, feel
0460A30 that the ends of justice would be served by a reprimand and
0470A30 at the most, by suspension for the rest of the session. ^The hawks, however,
0480A30 want her either imprisoned or expelled-- and assert: "*_^The time
0490A30 has come to_ show Gandhian courage and not merely talk about it." $^Some
0500A30 principal objections raised by \0Mrs. Gandhi in regard to certain constitutional
0510A30 and legal aspects of the privilege issue need to_ be considered
0520A30 and sorted out as these have been endorsed by four members of the
0530A30 Committee in two separate notes. ^First, whether a case of alleged breach
0540A30 of privilege against Parliament in one *5lok Sabha*6 can be raised
0550A30 in a subsequent *5lok Sabha*6? \0^Mrs. Gandhi asserted in her written
0560A30 statement on March 1, 1978. "^*I am advised that all contempt proceedings
0570A30 or breach of privilege do not endure beyond the life of the House."
0580A30 ^Second, in order to_ attract the disciplinary jurisdiction of the
0590A30 *5lok Sabha*6, the conscious disobedience or obstruction must be to a
0600A30 servant or agent of the House acting in the course of duty of the House.
0610A30 ^None of the four officers allegedly obstructed by her in their
0620A30 efforts to_ collect information for Parliament, she said, was an officer
0630A30 of the House or employed by it or entrusted by it with the execution
0640A30 of any of its orders." ^Third, whether \0Mrs. Gandhi was assured of
0650A30 a fair hearing by the Committee which, in her opinion, consisted mainly
0660A30 of Janata \0MPs. $*<*3Justification*0*> $^Those who support \0Mrs.
0670A30 Gandhi*'s view that the present Sixth *5lok Sabha*6 cannot go into
0680A30 the contempt of the Fifth *5lok Sabha*6 justify the stand on the
0690A30 following grounds. ^First, when the House is dissolved, its consequences
0700A30 are absolute and irrevocable. ^Dissolution passes a sponge over the Parliamentary
0710A30 slate and all business pending before it lapses. ^Second, the
0720A30 precedents of the House of Commons on which the Committee has relied
0730A30 to_ hold her guilty are of the 16th and 17th centuries. ^Third, under
0740A30 Rule 222 of the *5lok Sabha*6 Rules the House is entitled to_ go
0750A30 by its own precedents and not follow those of the House of Commons.
0760A30 ^Accordingly, "the most relevant precedent" is the case of \0Mr. *(0T
0770A30 N*) Kaul, India*'s former Ambassador to the \0USA, relating
0780A30 to his statement in July 1975 that during the Emergency political leaders
0790A30 in India had not been jailed but only detained in houses. ^An issue
0800A30 of privilege was raised last year. ^But the then Speaker, \0Mr. Sanjiva
0810A30 Reddy ruled: "\0^*Mr. Kaul*'s remarks were made in July 1975 when
0820A30 the Fifth *5lok Sabha*6 was in existence. ^The matter cannot be raised
0830A30 as a privilege issue in the Sixth *5lok Sabha*6". $^In taking the
0840A30 view that a successor House has jurisdiction to_ deal with a privilege
0850A30 issue committed in the previous House, the Committee has relied as a
0860A30 precedent on the Tulmohan Ram case which the Fifth *5lok Sabha*6 referred
0870A30 to the Committee of Privileges. ^This case was under the consideration
0880A30 of the Committee of Privileges of the Fourth *5lok Sabha*6.
0890A30 ^But those who back \0Mrs. Gandhi*'s stand point out that the Attorney
0900A30 General, \0Mr. *(0S V*) Gupte, in his opinion submitted to the
0910A30 Committee, had refused to_ accept it as a precedent on the ground that
0920A30 the question whether a case pending before the Privileges Committee of
0930A30 the Fourth *5lok Sabha*6 could be taken up by the Fifth *5lok Sabha*6
0940A30 had not been raised and there was no ruling by the Speaker in Tulmohan
0950A30 Ram*'s case. ^The Attorney General categorically stated: "*_^In
0960A30 the absence of any ruling this cannot be regarded as a precedent". ^According
0970A30 to \0Dr. Seyid Muhammed, a Committee member, "it is strange that
0980A30 in spite of the Attorney General*'s unequivocal and definite opinion
0990A30 in this regard the Report thought it wise to_ treat it as a
0991A30 precedent".
1000A30 $*<*3Not Troubled*0*> $^Advocates of the majority view in the Committee
1010A30 are not troubled by these arguments. ^Most important, they point
1020A30 out that under Article 105(5) of the Constitution, first quoted by Nehru
1030A30 in the Mudgal Case, "the powers, privileges and immunities of each
1040A30 House of Parliament and the members shall be such as may from time
1050A30 to time be defined by parliament and by law and until so defined shall
1060A30 be those of the House of Commons... and of its members". ^*May*'s Parliament
1070A30 Practice is cited as providing a conclusive answer. ^Its 19th
1080A30 edition states: "*_^It also appears that a contempt committed against
1090A30 one Parliament may be punished by another; and libels against former Parliaments
1100A30 have often been punished. ^In the debate on the privilege of
1110A30 Sir \0R. Howard in 1625, \0Mr. Selden said, "*_^It is clear
1120A30 that a breach of privilege in one Parliament
1130A30 may be punished in another succeeding". ^Significantly, this privilege
1140A30 has not vanished by disuse over the past two centuries. ^On July 13
1150A30 last year, the House of Commons held John Cordle guilty of contempt
1160A30 of a previous Parliament-- in 1964. $^Four other arguments are advanced
1170A30 in support of the Committee*'s stand. ^First, the Parliament slate
1180A30 might be wiped clean by the sponge of dissolution. ^But nothing can
1190A30 be wiped clean which never existed on the slate. ^Second, a specific ruling
1200A30 may not have been given in the Tulmohan Ram case. ^However, as \0Mr.
1210A30 Ram Jethmalani, another Committee member, points out the fact cannot
1220A30 be ignored that "when the House consciously exercised jurisdiction,
1230A30 it is evidence that the House at least believed that it had the requisite
1240A30 jurisdiction". ^Third, the *(0T N*) Kaul case is not applicable
1250A30 as there was no discussion on the important issue of jurisdiction. ^It
1260A30 could not have been the Speaker*'s intention to_ have laid down the law
1270A30 in a matter of such importance in a cryptic four-line ruling. (^The Kaul
1280A30 case was dismissed, it is argued, mainly on the ground of "staleness").
1290A30 ^Fourth, the Attorney General conceded in his opinion given on August
1300A30 8 last (he appeared before the Committee first on July 23 last)
1310A30 that in view of May*'s statement "it may be assumed that such a power
1320A30 exists". $^That_ is not all. ^Some "commonsense points" are also
1321A30 emphasised
1330A30 in support of the view that a contempt committed against one Parliament
1340A30 may be punished by another. ^For instance, a member after committing
1350A30 a grave contempt of Parliament has only to_ abscond for the remaining
1360A30 term of Parliament to_ acquire immunity from punishment for all time.
1370A30 \0^*MPs, especially belonging to the ruling party, could with impunity
1380A30 commit wanton contempt of Parliament during the last days of its term.
1390A30 ^A ruling party could play ducks and drakes with Parliament*'s rights
1400A30 and privileges once it succeeded in reducing the House to a captive
1410A30 Parliament-- as came to_ pass during the Emergency. ^Again, the Tulmohan
1420A30 Ram case could never have been thrashed out if a successor House was
1430A30 barred from going into contempt committed in a previous House. ^Such
1440A30 an approach, it is argued, would be destructive of the very purpose for
1450A30 which the contempt jurisdiction was created and disastrous to the dignity
1460A30 of Parliament.
1470A30 $**<*3The Moment Of Truth*0**> $^Two important issues thrown up by the
1480A30 *5lok Sabha*6 debate on the breach of privilege and contempt of the
1490A30 House committed by \0Mrs. Indira Gandhi have not received the attention
1500A30 they deserve in the tumult and excitement generated all round. ^First,
1510A30 the opening day of the discussion saw a leading member \0Mr. Ram
1520A30 Jethmalani, elected leader of India*'s Bar, indict the Attorney-General,
1530A30 \0Mr. *(0S V*) Gupte, official leader of the Bar, and demand
1540A30 an "investigation" into why the latter had said something to the Privileges
1550A30 Committee "which he ought not to_ have said". ^Second, the "failure"
1560A30 of the Privileges Committee to_ go into the question of the "original
1570A30 sin" raised by \0Mr. Madhu Limaye. ^While bringing forward his
1580A30 motion of privilege against \0Mrs. Gandhi, \0Mr. Limaye had complained
1590A30 that his first question had been "mutilated" under pressure from the
1600A30 then Prime Minister*'s Secretariat. ^At the same time, the debate
1610A30 also threw interesting light on \0Mrs. Gandhi*'s complaint in regard to
1620A30 the Committee*'s composition and "fairness". $*<*3Compositon*0*>
1621A30 $^To_
1630A30 take the last first, \0Mrs. Gandhiteit may be recalled, questioned the
1640A30 composition of the Privileges Committee at the outset and contended
1650A30 that she could not be sure of a fair trial since it consisted mainly
1660A30 of Janata \0MPs. ^But in doing so \0Mrs. Gandhi conveniently forgot
1670A30 not only the convention that the Committee must reflect the composition
1680A30 of the House but one other fact; *_^The very same Committee, headed
1681A30 by
1690A30 \0Prof. Samar Guha had decided against recommending any punishment to
1700A30 her in another case barely nine months ago. ^The Privileges Committee
1710A30 then took the view that certain remarks made by \0Mrs. Gandhi against
1720A30 \0Mr. Charan Singh, then Home Minister, amounted to "a breach of
1730A30 privilege and contempt of the House". ^However, considering the totality
1740A30 of the circumstances of the case, the Committee felt that the "matter
1750A30 need not be pursued further". ^The Committee*'s report was signed
1760A30 on January 24 last and presented to the House on March 1-- prior to the
1770A30 Assembly elections in the South and long before Chikmagalur.*#
        **[no. of words = 02016**]

        **[txt. a31**]
0010A31 **<*3Whither Assam Politics?*0**> $^As the Assembly elections are drawing
0020A31 near, the political situation in Assam is taking an extremely curious
0030A31 complexion. ^The atomization of politics can hardly do any good to
0040A31 our small State, even so certain circumstances due chiefly perhaps to the
0050A31 none-too-wise leaderships of the major parties, have made a great many
0060A31 politicians to_ form rather hurriedly a good many new parties for the
0070A31 ensuing election battle. ^In result, the number of 'not-to-be-underrated'
0080A31 contesting parties is much larger than ever, and so is the number of
0090A31 candidates-- party and Independent. ^There will be as many as 16 parties
0100A31 in the fray, and around 1,000 candidates for 126 seats. ^The political
0110A31 picture acquiring a starker hue every day it is nearly impossible even
0120A31 to_ guess which party is actually on a stronger wicket, and in whose
0130A31 favour the wind is likely to_ blow. ^Never before was there in our State
0140A31 such a pre-election atmosphere-- an atmosphere suffocating to the
0141A31 uncommitted
0150A31 voters, and intriguing to the political observers. ^An unprecedented
0160A31 political situation indeed. $^For all its built-in advantages the Congress
0170A31 is now in disarray, being reduced virtually to two warring rump
0180A31 organisations and thus with much of its former hold loosened and popularity
0190A31 eroded, apparently at least. ^Moreover whether the quality, performance
0200A31 and popularity of the present Cabinet, larger in size and longer
0210A31 in town than any other in the past are edifying or otherwise to the Congress
0220A31 party can properly be judged by the Congressmen themselves. ^In the
0230A31 past such multi-cornered contests as indicated by the visible contours
0240A31 of the election profile, would have simply helped the Congress to_ win
0250A31 hands down. ^But things are different now. ^It will be idle and unrealistic
0260A31 to_ pretend that they are not. $^Against this back-drop the Janata
0270A31 Party appears to_ be facing the elections more with hopes and a sort
0280A31 of romantic view of people*'s support than with expediency, strategy
0290A31 and extensive and effective arrangements. ^Presumably, its election machinery
0300A31 is not as well-oiled and well-fuelled as that_ of the Congress.
0310A31 ^With the elections only a few days away, the average voter doesn*'4t yet
0320A31 know how the Janata is better than or different from the Congress
0330A31 in ideologies and policies. ^Its leadership*'s observance of the pledge
0340A31 to_ serve selflessly the cause of the common people is also yet to_ be
0350A31 sufficiently perceptible to the people. ^Possibly, some of these things
0360A31 will be made clear to the voters in the hustings already afoot. ^The
0370A31 squabbles and dissent over the distribution of party tickets, and the
0380A31 subsequent events have provided no little grist to the mills of the other
0390A31 parties and of the Independents. $^The parties with which the Janata
0400A31 has come into electoral alliance are favoured only by some particular
0410A31 sections of the voters. ^The Janata*'s conceding a good number of seats
0420A31 to these parties-- though making compromises was perhaps unavoidable
0421A31 in
0430A31 the circumstances-- has not only caused a wave of resentment among the
0440A31 Janata members but has also gone to_ compromise its position to a degree.
0450A31 ^It is a healthy sign that many members of the youth organisations
0460A31 attached or allied to the party are observant and bold enough to_ discern
0470A31 and point out some of the lapses and mistakes of their elders. ^Vigilance,
0480A31 particularly of the youth workers will always be for the good
0490A31 of a party, old or new. $^As for the new parties their aims and ideals
0500A31 are yet unknown to the people at large. ^In all probabilities the candidates
0510A31 set up by them will be regarded by the voters as hardly different from
0520A31 the Independent candidates. $^Circumstances being what they are it
0530A31 may not be unreasonable to_ say that except the committed and conditioned
0540A31 voters, whose number cannot be expected to_ be so large as it was in the
0550A31 past, the voters in general will exercise their franchise in consideration
0560A31 of the popularity and personalities of the individual candidates
0570A31 rather than of the professed ideologies and policies of the parties they
0580A31 may belong to. ^As such, neither the Congress nor the Janata may view
0590A31 the likely results with any considerable amount of optimism though
0600A31 both the parties have a good fighting chance. ^People*'s opinions in favour
0610A31 of this party or that_ cannot, this time, be prejudged and predicted
0620A31 as they could be done in some measure in the past. ^Even the 'hoipol-loi'
0630A31 seem to_ have become politically conscious and clever and most of
0640A31 them have learnt to_ form their own judgments on political matters. ^They
0650A31 can no longer be easily bemused and swayed by populist demagogy, rhetoric
0660A31 or slogans. ^So from the present indications the only thing that_ seems
0670A31 certain is that the political future of Assam is distressingly uncertain.
0680A31 ^The nagging doubt remains that there may not be any party with
0690A31 an absolute majority to_ form a stable Government. ^There is also an assailing
0700A31 apprehension that a party with the support of other parties or
0710A31 Independents may be on the rails only to_ be derailed in no time and that_
0720A31 to the grave detriment of the State as a whole. ^What a frightful prospect
0730A31 even to_ imagine! $^Some observers are led to_ fear that the 1978
0740A31 Assembly elections may be a water-shed in the history of political
0750A31 parties in Assam-- they being the last battle of the ballot fought in
0760A31 the main among the all-India parties. ^They even hazard the opinion that
0770A31 a new and popular party geared to the national ideals but with a clear
0780A31 focus on the socio-economic problems of this region may be in the making
0790A31 even before the echoes of the ensuing elections die down. ^Have they
0800A31 seen the signs aright?
0810A31 **<*3Crusade For Speedy Trial*0**> $^*Acharya Kripalani*'s crusade
0811A31 for
0820A31 a speedy trial of *4Srimati Gandhi and his support to the demand voiced
0830A31 earlier by \0*4Sri Charan Singh is beginning to_ yield results.
0840A31 ^After a great deal of dithering on the subject, the Union Cabinet
0850A31 has finally decided to_ do what many had been advocating for the past few
0860A31 months: to_ request the President to_ obtain the opinion of the Supreme
0870A31 Court under Article 143 of the Constitution on the demand that
0880A31 special courts be established to_ deal with offences committed during the
0890A31 Emergency. ^But, curiously enough, the Government is still dragging
0900A31 its feet in the matter and in the process, lending credence to the charge
0910A31 that some in authority are calculatedly pursuing a 'soft-line' if they
0920A31 are not openly launched on 'Operation Scuttle'. ^My own ringside view
0930A31 of the goings-on has left me both puzzled and intrigued. ^Only a few days
0940A31 ago, a Central Minister frankly admitted in a quiet talk: "^No, the
0950A31 delay is not due to incompetence but extra competence. ^Some people seem
0960A31 determined to_ delay...." $^About two months ago, a few prominent \0MPs
0970A31 and others informally suggested to the powers that_ be the establishment
0980A31 of special courts for expeditious trial of *4Srimati Gandhi and
0990A31 others accused of crimes during the Emergency. ^When some doubts were
1000A31 raised in regard to the legal and constitutional validity of the courts,
1010A31 these \0MPs and others suggested: "^Why not seek the opinion of
1020A31 the Supreme Court and set all doubts at rest-- one way or the other."
1030A31 ^But they were firmly told: "^No, we can*'4t afford to_ waste time. ^Reference
1040A31 to the Supreme Court will needlessly take up a good few months.
1050A31 ^Remember, we have already lost more than a year". ^Yet, we are back to_
1060A31 square one after drifting all over the place. ^Worse, little has moved
1070A31 since the Cabinet took the decision on the special courts a fortnight
1080A31 ago. ^Nothing, moreover, looks like happening until August 4, when
1081A31 \0*4Shri
1090A31 Ram Jethmalani, who has been pursuing the issue energetically is due to_
1100A31 introduce in the *5Lok Sabha*6 his bill providing for the setting up
1110A31 of special Emergency Courts. $^Most members of the Cabinet were originally
1120A31 inclined to_ seek the Supreme Court*'s opinion on \0*4Sri Jethmalani*'s
1130A31 bill without any loss of time. ^But the Law Minister, \0*4Sri
1140A31 Shanti Bhushan, reportedly argued that any reference of the bill
1150A31 to the Supreme Court before it was introduced in the *5Lok Sabha*6
1160A31 would involve a contempt of the House. ^The Prime Minister is understood
1170A31 to_ have sharply disagreed with the Law Minister and failed to_
1180A31 see how it would involve a contempt of the House. ^A few colleagues
1190A31 supported \0*4Sri Desai*'s contention. ^However, the Cabinet agreed to_
1200A31 go along with the Law Minister following his insistence in the matter--
1210A31 a stand which does not find much support among legal luminaries, both
1220A31 inside Parliament and outside. ^On the other hand, some \0MPs in
1230A31 the *5Rajya Sabha*6 have put forward another view. ^A contempt of the
1240A31 House, they argue, may be involved if the reference is made to the Supreme
1250A31 Court after the bill is introduced in the *5Lok Sabha*6 and becomes
1260A31 its property. ^They would, therefore, like the bill to_ be referred
1270A31 immediately-- or opinion sought in general terms. $^The Constitution
1280A31 clearly provides scope for making the reference without delay. ^Article
1290A31 143 provides: "*_^If at any time it appears to the President that a question
1300A31 has arisen, or is likely to_ arise which is of such a nature and
1310A31 of such public importance that it is expedient to_ obtain the opinion
1320A31 of the Supreme Court upon it, he may refer the question to the Court
1330A31 for consideration and the Court may, after such hearing as it thinks
1340A31 fit, report to the President its opinion thereon". ^According to experts,
1350A31 \0*4Sri Jethmalani*'s bill could be referred to the Supreme Court
1360A31 straightaway since its opinion can be sought not only when a question has
1370A31 arisen but also when it "is likely to_ arise"-- as implied in \0*4Sri
1380A31 Jethmalani*'s notice to_ introduce the bill in Parliament; a copy of
1390A31 the proposed bill was supplied by him to the Government on June 27 last.
1400A31 (^Incidentally, a suggestion was made during the Cabinet meeting that
1410A31 the Court*'s opinion might be sought on a general reference. ^It was,
1420A31 however, decided to_ refer the non-official bill itself as a matter of
1430A31 abundant caution.) $^Meanwhile, those who favour a special court have
1440A31 come out with more powerful material in support of their demand. ^A judgement
1450A31 on April 11, 1974 by a seven-member constitution bench of the Supreme
1460A31 Court is now cited, in addition to the Supreme Court
1461A31 judgements
1470A31 in the Kathi Rawat \0vs Saurashtra case (1952) and Bajoria \0vs West
1480A31 Bengal case (1954) which conceded to the Government its right to_
1490A31 establish special courts. ^The constitution bench in 1974 was presided over
1500A31 by the then Chief Justice, \0*4Sri *(0A N*) Ray. ^Other members
1510A31 were: \0*4Sri *(0D J*) Palekar, \0*4Sri *(0H R*) Khanna, \0*4Sri
1520A31 *(0K K*) Mathew, \0*4Sri \0A Alagiriswami, \0*4Sri *(0P N*)
1530A31 Bhagwat and \0*4Sri *(0V R*) Krishna Iyer. ^The case, filed by Maganlal
1540A31 Chhaganlal (\0P) \0Ltd, questioned the decision of the Municipal
1550A31 Corporation of Greater Bombay to_ provide "for a speedy procedure
1560A31 of eviction in addition to the procedure in a civil suit." ^The supreme
1570A31 Court held that the special procedure was not discriminatory and
1580A31 violative of Article 14 which, in its view, did not demand "a fanatical
1590A31 approach." $^The Law Commission of India, in its 47th report submitted
1600A31 in 1972, not only expressed the view that the establishment of special
1610A31 courts and provision of a special procedure for speedy trial was
1620A31 constitutionally valid but proposed that Parliament should enact law authorising
1630A31 the setting up of such courts for economic offences. ^Significantly
1640A31 the Commission was then headed by \0*4Sri *(0P B*) Gajendragadkar,
1650A31 former Chief Justice of India. ^Its two other members were \0*4Sri
1660A31 *(0V R*) Krishna Iyer, at present a Judge of the Supreme
1670A31 Court, and \0Prof. *(0P K*) Tripati. ^Equally significantly the commission's
1680A31 report underlined the special advantages of special courts which
1690A31 are equally applicable to the Emergency offences. ^The report says:
1700A31 "*_^The very appointment of such courts will highlight the social importance
1710A31 of such prosecution.... ^And, above all, if properly armed with
1720A31 an expeditious procedure, these special courts will be able to_ create
1730A31 the suitable social climate in which the representive anti-social character
1740A31 of these offences will be more adequately brought home to both the
1750A31 general public and the offenders themselves.*#
        **[no. of words = 02015**]

        **[txt. a32**]
0010A32 **<*3CHANDRA, VISHWANATH PUT KARNATAKA ON TOP*0**> $^Winning the Ranji
0020A32 Trophy seems to_ be a distant dream for Uttar Pradesh. ^Any hopes they
0030A32 had entertained received a severe jolt on the opening day of the five-day
0040A32 final when they batted poorly to_ be skittled out for 129 runs at
0050A32 Mohan Nagar today. ^And Karnataka proved what a force they are when
0060A32 they overhauled this total for the loss of only two wickets well before
0070A32 the stumps. ^They ended the day with 165 on the board and their star batsman
0080A32 Vishwanath only a single short of his century. $^It turned out to_
0090A32 be an unequal battle with disappointment writ large on the face of some
0100A32 8,000 odd home fans who had expected Uttar Pradesh to_ display something
0110A32 of the fight they had exhibited in the earlier rounds. ^After the
0120A32 batting debacle the \0U.P. bowlers were subjected to heavy punishment
0130A32 by Test stars Vishwanath and Brijesh Patel. ^With an unbeaten third-wicket
0140A32 century stand the pair laid the foundation of a handsome Karnataka
0150A32 total. ^In the process they also gave ample evidence of the trend
0160A32 the match would follow. $^Rarely had a Ranji final taken such a course
0170A32 on the opening day itself. ^The man to_ bring about the \0U.P. landslide
0180A32 was crafty Chandrasekhar who claimed six wickets for 57 runs. ^His
0190A32 one spell of eight balls in which he dismissed three batsmen without conceding
0200A32 a run was the turning point. \0^*U.P. striving to_ rehabilitate
0210A32 their position after losing two wickets for 38 runs, crashed to 67 for
0220A32 five as the Karnataka spinner got going. ^There was no rearguard action,
0230A32 no customary rally and the Uttar Pradesh first innings folded up 45
0240A32 minutes after lunch. $^It would have turned out to_ be a tame day but for
0250A32 Vishwanath who took time to_ settle down and then opened out. ^He cut
0260A32 and drove gloriously and climaxed it all by hammering five boundaries in
0270A32 the last two overs in a bid to race to the charming three figure digit.
0280A32 ^The distinction should come to him in the morning tomorrow. $^The Karnataka
0290A32 innings flourished as Brijesh Patel provided Vishwanath adequate
0300A32 support. ^After some subdued batting, Patel too swung about to his
0310A32 three boundaries and a mighty six off Rafiullah. ^This mood was in sharp
0320A32 contrast to the one prevailing after the tea break when the batsmen were
0330A32 tied down by the \0U.P. spinners among whom Rajinder Singh Hans
0340A32 certainly commanded respect and at times gave anxious moments to both Vishwanath
0350A32 and Patel. $^The two wickets Uttar Pradesh captured were those
0360A32 of opener Sanjay Desai and Roger Binny. ^The former was beaten
0370A32 by medium-pace bowler Aslam before the Karnataka score had touched double
0380A32 figures. ^There were expectations of further successes. ^But Roger
0390A32 Binny and Vishwanath raised the score to 44. ^The two were separated
0400A32 by left-arm spinner Hans who trapped Roger leg before. ^The batsman*'s
0410A32 individual score was 11. ^For the remaining period the spotlight was on
0420A32 Vishwanath and Patel, the latter was on 44 at close. ^They have already
0430A32 added 121 runs for their unbroken third-wicket partnership. $\0^*U.P.
0440A32 won the toss and batted on an easy wicket. ^Opener Kamal Juneja badly
0450A32 hooked a shortpitched ball off Binny and the catch was duly accepted
0460A32 by Jayaprakash at fine leg. ^*Juneja*'s contribution was only four. ^There
0470A32 were no hints of a collapse when Vijay Chopra and veteran Anand
0480A32 Shukla made the second-wicket partnership worth 34 runs. ^*Chopra literally
0490A32 spooned the ball to Vijaykrishna off Chandrashekhar. ^*Shukla and
0500A32 Abdul Hai added 29 runs for the third wicket. ^It was at this stage
0510A32 that Chandrasekhar brought about a swift change in the complexion of the
0520A32 game by dismissing Shukla. ^*Shashi Kant and skipper Shahid. ^The
0530A32 last two failed to_ score. ^Skipper Prasanna dealt a further blow as he
0540A32 forced Anil Mathur to_ offer an easy catch to Vishwanath. ^Six wickets
0550A32 down for 76, Rafiullah was the lone \0U.P. hope but a fine catch in
0560A32 the slips by Sanjay Desai off Chandrasekhar led to his dismissal. ^He
0570A32 scored 17. ^*Haseen was beaten by Prasanna but the Karnataka captain
0580A32 was treated harshly by Aslam who pulled him for a six. ^*Chandra however
0590A32 put an end to the tailender*'s bold front. ^The six wickets he claimed
0600A32 lifted Chandra*'s tally to 387 in the championship.
0610A32 **<*3Murray*'s charges against Board*0**> $^The West Indies Cricket
0620A32 Board of Control (\0W.I.C.B.C.) knew long before
0621A32 their deadline of March 23, that all the West
0630A32 Indian players contracted to World Series Cricket (\0W.S.C.) might
0640A32 be available to tour India this winter former West Indies wicketkeeper
0650A32 Deryck Murray has said. $^Murray, who was sacked from West Indies
0660A32 cricket last Thursday along with the 17 other West Indians contracted
0670A32 to \0W.S.C., said here yesterday that the possibility was raised in
0680A32 his presence during a meeting with the \0W.I.C.B.C. held before the
0690A32 first Test of the current series against Australia which began on
0700A32 March 3. $^The Board*'s representatives said they could not talk directly
0710A32 to the \0W.S.C. but suggested there was nothing to_ stop them from
0720A32 continuing to_ talk to the players while the players talked to the \0W.S.C.,
0730A32 Murray added in a statement. $^They also felt that as India
0731A32 was
0740A32 the host nation it should have the final say in any changes in dates
0750A32 and the \0W.S.C. should therefore contact the Board of Control for
0760A32 Cricket in India, he said. $"^In reply to the Board*'s availability
0770A32 deadline I wrote that the \0W.S.C. did not wish to_ commit itself until
0780A32 a reply had been received from India and on behalf of the \0W.S.C-contracted
0790A32 players I asked the \0W.I.C.B.C. to_ extend their deadline.
0800A32 ^*I added that I had received information from the \0W.S.C.
0810A32 that a date had been set for them to_ meet representatives of the Indian
0820A32 Board regarding tour dates", Murray added. $^In a statement the
0821A32 \0W.I.C.B.C.
0830A32 denied it had suggested that the \0W.S.C. contact the Indian
0840A32 Board. "^The \0W.I.C.B.C. has made no such suggestion. ^This
0850A32 bears no relation to truth", the Board said. $^It also denied that the
0860A32 Indian Board had agreed to_ meet the \0W.S.C. "^Once again Deryck
0870A32 Murray*'s information was not correct", it said. $^*Murray said today
0880A32 that the Board*'s statement was "a personal attack on my integrity". $"^It
0890A32 is not difficult to_ see that any cricket authority will deny any contact
0900A32 with the \0W.S.C. in order to_ preserve its image as an "honest
0910A32 citizen" of the \0I.C.C. (International Cricket Conference)", he
0920A32 said.
0930A32 **<*3\0I.H.F. Stalemate may be resolved*0**> $^The stalemate in the
0940A32 Indian Hockey Federation (\0I.H.F.) is likely to_ be resolved shortly.
0950A32 ^This is the opinion of \0Mr. Bhalindra Singh, one of the members
0960A32 of the three-man committee set up by the Indian Olympic Association
0970A32 (\0I.O.A.) to_ look into the affairs of Indian hockey. $^The \0I.H.F.
0980A32 was suspended by the \0I.O.A. following a series of events
0990A32 at the National Institute of Sports (Patiala) leading to three World
1000A32 Cup probables walking out of the camp. $\0^*Mr. Bhalindra Singh,
1010A32 who was in Chandigarh today, said the suspension would be lifted only
1020A32 after the \0I.H.F. improved its working. ^He was hopeful that a new and
1030A32 mature leadership will take over the reigns of the \0I.H.F. so that
1040A32 India could field a really representative team of the Asian Games
1050A32 in December this year. $^The \0I.H.F. leadership should be more tactful
1060A32 in dealing with discipline. "^Harsh actions gets us nowhere," he said.
1070A32 ^He was apparently referring to the Patiala episode which resulted
1080A32 in the walkout by Surjit, Varinder and Baldev. $^The \0I.O.A. had
1090A32 not received any letter from the Federation Internationale de Hockey
1100A32 (\0F.I.H.) protesting against the suspension of the \0I.H.F. $\0^*Mr.
1110A32 Bhalindra Singh said the \0I.O.A. was the only body comprising
1120A32 various National Sports Federations (\0N.S.F.s) which could ask
1130A32 erring \0N.S.F.s to_ improve their working. ^If the Government intervened
1140A32 there would always be a hue and cry. ^Therefore the \0I.*0.A. was
1150A32 the only body which could keep the \0N.S.F.s "within their limit."
1160A32 $^The former \0I.O.A. President, however, was not very clear about
1170A32 India*'s hockey preparations for the Asian Games in December this year.
1180A32 ^While on the one hand he said the \0I.H.F. stalemate would be resolved
1190A32 shortly, on the other he maintained that the \0I.O.A. would not
1200A32 lift the suspension unless the \0I.H.F. set its house in order. $^Recalling
1210A32 the preparations for the World Hockey Cup at Buenos Aires,
1220A32 where India finished sixth, \0Mr. Bhalindra Singh said the \0I.H.F.
1230A32 had been ruined by its "policy makers". ^Nobody knew who they were.
1240A32 ^He felt that even the \0I.H.F. President, \0Mr. *(0M.A.M.*) Ramaswamy,
1250A32 who has since resigned, was not aware of the men who controlled
1260A32 the Federation*'s policies. $\0^*Mr. Bhalindra Singh had favoured the
1270A32 inclusion of Ajit Pal Singh and Surjit Singh in the World Cup
1280A32 squad but the \0I.H.F. thought otherwise. $^He was happy that world
1290A32 hockey supremacy had returned to the sub-continent. ^*Pakistan*'s triumph
1300A32 was a conclusive victory for the traditional Indian style of hockey
1310A32 over the European style. ^Experts who wanted India to change its style
1320A32 of play should take a lesson from Pakistan who played a traditional game
1330A32 and emerged victors. $^However, \0Mr. Bhalindra Singh was quick to_
1340A32 add that in goalkeeping and penalty-corner conversions the Europeans
1350A32 were the best in the tournament. "^We can learn from all but we must maintain
1360A32 our style of hockey. ^It is the best." $\0^*Mr. Bhalindra Singh
1370A32 would not comment on the offer of the Punjab Government to_ train the
1380A32 hockey team for the Asian Games. $^Regarding inroduction of hockey
1390A32 in the Commonwealth Games he said it was not possible as no team games
1400A32 were played at the Games. $^He was hopeful of India doing well in the
1410A32 shooting events at the Commonwealth Games. $^On the \0I.H.F. elections
1420A32 he said the Federation*'s constitution had been amended extending
1430A32 the term of office bearers from three years to four years. "^That means
1440A32 the elections are not due until December."
1450A32 **<*3Hockey team a psychological wreck*0**> $"^Victories we celebrate but
1460A32 defeats we refuse to_ face", says a senior psychologist of Punjab University
1470A32 who has tried to_ assess the Indian defeat in the recent World
1480A32 Cup Hockey Tournament. "^The Indian players were neither physically
1490A32 nor mentally fit to_ put up their optimum performance in an international
1500A32 match", he says. $^According to \0Dr Jitendra Mohan, Reader in
1510A32 the Department of Psychology, the players lacked team spirit, a sense
1520A32 of involvement and an appropriate sense of achievement. ^Compared with
1530A32 the situation in 1975, India did not train her players well. ^There
1540A32 was not enough time to_ work out a team schedule. ^The uncertainty about
1550A32 who would really make it to the World Cup wrecked their nerves. $*<*3KUALA
1560A32 LUMPUR VICTORY*0*> $^The Indian victory at Kuala Lumpur in 1975
1570A32 from the third position at Barcelona in 1971 and the second position
1580A32 at Amsterdam in 1973 was the culmination of correct selection, sincere
1590A32 and strenuous training and minimal political manipulation. $\0^*Mr. Jitendra
1600A32 Mohan, \0Dr Vidu Mohan and \0Mr *(0N. N.*) Mal made a study
1610A32 of players who attended the hockey camp run by the Punjab Government
1620A32 on the Punjab University campus in 1975. ^A few members of the present
1630A32 Indian World Cup team were also members of the 1975 hockey camp.
1640A32 ^The study took into account the following factors: personality, motivation,
1650A32 sociometric choices, flexibility, reaction time, speed, grip, balance
1660A32 and choice of an ideal hockey star. $^Most of them rated Dhyan
1670A32 Chand and Balbir Singh as their ideal hockey stars. ^They were generally
1680A32 found to_ be introverted but highly motivated and had a very high rate
1690A32 of physical fitness. ^It was a closely knit group. ^Of the 1975 campers
1700A32 the Buenos Aires team included Bhaskaran, Varinder Singh, Baldev
1710A32 Singh, Ashok Kumar and Phillips. *<*3CLOSE SUPERVISION*0*> $^The
1720A32 1975 team was kept under the close supervision of tough hockey experts
1730A32 and was given the best of facilities and a regular plan of preparation
1740A32 for physical and psychological fitness. ^There was excellent cooperation
1750A32 among hockey stalwarts, physical educationists, doctors, psychologists,
1760A32 trainers and players. $^The emphasis was on physical conditioning,
1770A32 hockey tactics, teamwork and morale building. ^The emotional bonds of
1780A32 the team as a whole were brought about by the never-too-assertive but dynamic
1790A32 Balbir Singh as a coach.*#
        **[no. of words = 02007**]

        **[txt. a33**]
0010A33 **<*3India face defeat despite great fight-back*0**> $*3^DESPITE*0 *3a
0020A33 gallant fifth day batting performance, India seem destined for defeat
0030A33 in the fifth and deciding Test against Australia at the Adelaide Oval.
0040A33 ^At close of play, today, India were 362 for six, still needing 131
0050A33 runs for victory.*0 $^*India*'s three top scorers, Gundappa Viswanath,
0060A33 Mohinder Amarnath and Dilip Vengsarkar, all got out when they appeared
0070A33 set for a century. ^These lapses in concentration are likely to_ cost
0080A33 their team the match and the series. $^At close of play, Syed Kirmani
0090A33 (14) and Karsan Ghavri (6) were at the crease with Prasanna, Bedi
0100A33 and Chandrashekar to_ follow. $^*Viswanath reached 73 and looked extremely
0110A33 dangerous, but played a crude drive at a well-pitched delivery from
0120A33 Wayne Clark and edged the ball into the slip cordon. ^*Australian captain
0130A33 Bob Simpson, showing great anticipation and agility, dived to his
0140A33 right to_ take the ball inches from the ground. $^*Viswanath had batted
0150A33 188 minutes for his 73 and hit seven fours in a partnership of 131 with
0160A33 Amarnath for the third wicket. $^*Amarnath then found a staunch ally
0170A33 in Vengsarkar and the pair looked well set until their partnership reached
0180A33 46. $^Both men were finding Bruce Yardley*'s off-spin difficult
0190A33 to_ score from and Amarnath decided it was time to_ hit him out of the
0200A33 attack. $^He played an indiscreet sweep at a ball too short for the stroke
0210A33 and lofted a catch to Ian Callen at backward square-leg. ^*Amarnath*'s
0220A33 86 took 316 minutes and included seven fours. $^*Vengsarkar then took
0230A33 over the role of stroke-player and made all but 12 of a 67-run partnership
0240A33 with Anshuman Gaekwad. $^*Gaekwad was magnificently caught and
0250A33 bowled by Yardley for 12, and then 25 runs later India*'s hopes dimmed
0260A33 when Vengsarkar attempted a cross-bat shot at Yardley. $^*Vengsarkar
0270A33 succeeded only in getting a top edge to the ball which flew to Peter Toohey
0280A33 at mid-wicket. $*3^*Vengsarkar, like Viswanath and Amarnath, virtually
0290A33 threw his wicket away when in complete command.*0 $^The 493 that_
0300A33 india needed to_ win the Test and the series looked huge on paper but
0310A33 was by no means impossible on a beautiful batting wicket against a depleted
0320A33 attack. $^The Australians have not had the services of their main
0330A33 attacking force. ^*Jeff Thomson, and the other pacemen, Callen and Wayne
0340A33 Clark have been able to_ extract no assistance from the strip. $^*Yardley*'s
0350A33 and Simpson*'s spin attack has been persistent rather than
0360A33 dangerous and each batsman has had plenty of time to_ play his shots. $^The
0370A33 batsmen who resume tomorrow, Ghavri and Kirmani, both have scores
0380A33 of over 50 to their credit in the series so far, but Erapalli Prasanna,
0390A33 Bishen Bedi and Bhagwat Chandrasekhar will have to_ produce so far
0400A33 unseen batting talent to_ assist them. $^*Bedi still believes his side
0410A33 has a chance but obviously ruled the sudden "rushes of blood" that_ caused
0420A33 the downfall of his three top batsmen. $"^*Australia have the runs,
0430A33 we have to_ get them," said Bedi. "^Some of our batsmen were a little
0440A33 impetuous". $^*Simpson said he was still confident of victory but added
0450A33 the day had been a long, frustrating one. $"^Thought we*'1d have wrapped
0460A33 it up today, but we are still on top and our bowlers will be fresh tomorrow
0470A33 said the skipper. $"^The boys stuck to their job well on an unsympathetic
0480A33 wicket". $^*Simpson was adamant, he will not use Jeff Thomson
0490A33 tomorrow. ^He*'1s not 100 per cent fit and anyway we wouldn*'4t need him.
0500A33 $^There*'1s no reason why the bowlers we have should not be able to_
0510A33 clinch victory for us, he said.
0520A33 **<*3Punjab move into final in a blaze of glory*0**> $*3^PUNJAB*0 entered
0530A33 the final of the 34th National Football Championship for the Santosh
0540A33 Trophy in a blaze of glory by knocking out Kerala by an aggregate
0550A33 of 6-4 when they beat the latter in the second leg semi-final by 4-3.
0560A33 $^*Punjab will meet Bengal, holders in the final on February 4. ^This
0570A33 is Punjab*'s third entry into the final, which they won in their previous
0580A33 two appearances in 1970 and 1974, both staged at Jullundur. $^A
0590A33 capacity crowd, which supported Kerala throughout, were kept on their toes
0600A33 despite a barren first-half in which the teams went all out-- Punjab
0610A33 to_ consolidate their first match lead of 1-0, and Kerala to_ neutralise
0620A33 it. ^*Kerala did it in the second half but ultimately went down to
0630A33 a superior team. $^*Kerala wiped out their 0-1 first match deficit with
0640A33 a 72nd minute goal through Najumuddin, right-winger raising their hopes
0650A33 of forcing a draw to_ be decided by tie-breaker or a possible win but Punjab
0660A33 coming back menacingly drew level in the 79th minute. ^Their ebulient
0670A33 skipper Inder Singh hit the net with a spectacular shot to_ regain
0680A33 the overall lead. ^Substitute Sukhvinder Singh then put the issue beyond
0690A33 recovery with a last minute goal.
0700A33 **<*3HOCKEY RULE CHANGED*0**> $^The rules of men*'s and women*'s Hockey
0710A33 will become almost identical next month when an experimental free hit
0720A33 law comes into force. $^The new rule has been drawn up by the International
0730A33 Hockey Rules Board to_ combine the best of men*'s and women*'s
0740A33 rules on the subject. $^The law will be introduced on August 1, and is
0750A33 expected to_ become permanent on September 1, 1979. ^This will leave
0760A33 the maximum weight of the stick-- which is 141.7 \0gms. heavier for men
0770A33 than women-- as the only difference between the two versions of the game.
0780A33 ^And the Rules Board is considering reducing the men*'s maximum. $^The
0790A33 new free hit rule means that the men will adopt much of the rule as
0800A33 at present used by the women. ^A defender in men*'s hockey will now have
0810A33 a third option on the free hit because he may now take from anywhere
0820A33 in the circle. $^But the women will have the opportunity of taking the
0830A33 free hit from outside the circle for the first time. ^It will also mean
0840A33 that women will no longer be able to_ use a scopor click shot. $^The changes
0850A33 are designed to_ help the flow of the game and also reduce dangerous
0860A33 play. $^Although the experimental rule will be considered mandatory from
0870A33 August 1, it is not yet certain if it will be applied to the next major
0880A33 hockey events-- the men*'s European Cup in Hanover and women*'s
0890A33 World Cup in Madrid in September-- because teams will not have had the
0900A33 opportunity to_ practise with it.
0910A33 **<*3Players to_ bear food cost*0**> $^Each of the 16 selected players
0920A33 for the Indian team to the women*'s World Cup Hockey Championship
0930A33 to_ be held in Madrid (Spain) in September will have to_ pay \0Rs. 3,400
0940A33 as part of the expenses of the tour. $^According to a spokesman
0950A33 of the All-India women*'s Hockey Association, unlike in the past, this
0960A33 time hosts will not provide meals to the participating teams, and most
0970A33 of the amount will be spent on this. $^The Spanish counterpart will
0980A33 provide breakfast, snacks and facilities for transport, accommodation \0etc
0990A33 \0etc. ^The air passage of the squad will be borne by the Union Education
1000A33 Ministry. $^The final phase of the camp for 25 girls will start
1010A33 at Patiala on July 27 to_ select the final 16. $^The concerned State
1020A33 Associations have been asked to_ get ready the required amount by mid-August
1030A33 so that foreign exchange can be arranged.
1040A33 **<*3\0C.M.P. hold goal-shy \0P.&.T to goalless draw*0 PUTTIAH MEMORIAL
1050A33 SOCCER**> $*3^SPURNING*0 away some golden opportunities that_
1060A33 knocked at their door the Post & Telegraphs Recreation Club frittered
1070A33 away a glorious chance of making the last 16 grade of the Puttiah
1080A33 Memorial Soccer Tournament at the \0R.S.I. Stadium on Thursday evening.
1090A33 $^The team to_ benefit and live to_ fight for another day was spirited
1100A33 Corps of Military Police (\0C.M.P.). ^They renew their battle
1110A33 tomorrow evening at the same venue and the winners of this encounter
1120A33 will challenge powerful \0I.T.I. Seniors. $^Although it was true that
1130A33 the *(0P. & T.*) defence had a hard time in keeping the thrustful
1131A33 and
1140A33 gallant \0C.M.P. forwards at bay for most part of the time, speaking
1150A33 in terms of real chances, it was the *(0P. & T.*) men who had more.
1151A33 ^It
1160A33 was their goal-shyness that_ certainly deprived them of a certain victory
1170A33 and there were no two opinions about the same. $^Perhaps the worst offenders
1180A33 in the *(0P. & T.*) ranks were \0Md. Mustafa and
1181A33 Elangovan. ^The
1190A33 latter in particular though foiled by goalkeeper *(0S. K.*) Paul
1200A33 on two or three occasions muffed two gilt-edged chances in the second session.
1210A33 ^While on the first he failed to_ get the better of onrushing goalkeeper
1220A33 Paul after being put through by left-half Susainathan on the
1230A33 second occasion he balooned the ball over inches from the goal. ^This was
1240A33 followed by a good cross from rightwinger Keshavan in the 26th minute
1241A33 of
1250A33 the second moiety. $^Had Elangovan seized the second opportunity
1251A33 *(0P. & T.*)
1260A33 could have sent the \0C.M.P. men packing instead of sharing
1270A33 the spoils of the evening with them. ^It was, indeed an absolute sitter.
1280A33 ^*Mustafa too was guilty of wasting some chances with his feeble and
1290A33 hasty kicks from close range. $^But it should be said to the credit of
1300A33 \0C.M.P. that they too gave a harrowing time to the *(0P. & T.*)
1301A33 defence
1310A33 with their forceful play. ^They were certainly faster on the ball whenever
1320A33 they broke through and on a couple of occasions it certainly became
1330A33 a problem to Jabbar Sheriff and company to_ contain them. ^They always
1340A33 went for the ball unlike their counterparts who were a wee bit slow.
1350A33 $^While Jabbar Sheriff and Altaf Ahmed nipped many a dangerous move
1360A33 of the \0C.M.P. strikers in the bud their alert custodian Lazras Joseph
1370A33 kept his charge with quite efficiency. ^As a matter of fact on
1380A33 occasions when he was tested seriously by the \0C.M.P. strikers he rose
1390A33 to the occasion very well displaying good anticipation. ^In the first
1400A33 half he nullified a good effort by inside-left Sundar Rajan but later
1410A33 the same player failed to_ connect a good pass from left-half Majhi.
1420A33 $*3^*Orkay Mills, a reputed team from Bombay have in a telegram to the
1430A33 \0B.D.F.A. expressed their inability to_ take part in the Tournament
1440A33 due to injuries to four of their prominent players*0
1450A33 **<*3LORD*'S PITCH TO_ BE INSPECTED*0**> $^*Bernard Black, the English
1460A33 Test and County Cricket Board*'s (\0T.C.C.B.) inspector of pitches,
1470A33 has been asked to_ inspect the Lord*'s wicket on which Middlesex
1480A33 were hustled to an innings defeat by the New Zealand tourists here
1490A33 on Tuesday. $^When the game ended before lunch on the final day the two
1500A33 Umpires Ken Palmer and Tom Spencer, both on the Test match panel,
1510A33 instructed the ground staff not to_ work on the pitch so that the evidence
1520A33 would be available for Black. $^It is the second time this season
1530A33 that a Lord*'s strip has been reported to the Board. $^Umpire Spencer
1540A33 said: "*_^Obviously, I can*'4t say much because of the report I have
1550A33 to_ make about the pitch, but we began to_ suspect this strip on the first
1560A33 day." $^Captain Mike Brearley, who did not bat in the second innings
1570A33 because of a badly bruised finger, said: "*_^It was a poor pitch but
1580A33 it is difficult to_ know what Jim Fairborther, the groundsman, can do.
1590A33 ^The surface is just not firm and the bounce is always uneven."
1600A33 **<*3KARNATAKA MAKE MINI BASKET BALL KNOCKOUT*0**> $^Holders Haryana
1610A33 and Chandigarh from Group 'A' runners-up Punjab and West Bengal from
1620A33 Group 'B' and Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh from Group 'C' entered
1630A33 the knock out stage of the National Boys Mini Basketball Championship
1640A33 here this evening. $^*Chandigarh and Punjab remained undefeated
1650A33 in their respective groups and thus were directly seeded into the semi-finals.
1660A33 $^In the two quarter-finals Andhra Pradesh will meet West Bengal
1670A33 and Karnataka will face Haryana. $^*Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh
1680A33 shared points when their match in Group 'C' ended in a tie, each
1690A33 side scoring 38 points. ^*Madhya Pradesh led 24-20 at the break. $^In
1700A33 the last league tie Rajasthan routed Bihar 101-73 after leading 40-28
1710A33 at the half time. $^*Rajasthan and Karnataka logged four points each,
1720A33 but the former finished on top in the group due to better scoring average.*#
        **[no. of words = 02018**]

        **[txt. a34**]
0010A34 **<*3\0TN Farmers*' Agitation One More Dies in Police Firing*0**>
0020A34 $^One more death in police firing today took the number of fatalities
0030A34 in the current Tamil Nadu farmers*' agitation to six, reports Samachar.
0040A34 $^Today*'s firing-- near Sanarpatti in Madurai district on the Dindigul-Natham
0050A34 road-- injured three, one of whom succumbed in hospital.
0060A34 ^A Madurai report on the incident, quoting information reaching police
0070A34 there said a huge crowd had set up road blocks, stoned buses and then
0080A34 encircled and attacked a Police party. ^Tear gas and *4lathi charge
0081A34 proved
0090A34 futile. ^The firing yesterday at Vedesandur, also in Madurai district,
0100A34 had taken five lives. $^An official Press release in Madras this evening
0110A34 gave the total number of arrests in the State till then as 229, spread
0120A34 over the districts of Madurai, Coimbatore, Ramanathapuram and Tiruchirappalli.
0130A34 ^The agitators who are demanding lower power tariff for
0140A34 farmers and deferred recovery of loans, had also disrupted road traffic
0150A34 in north Arcot, Salem and Dharmapuri. $^Meanwhile \0Mr \0C. Vaiyapuri,
0160A34 organiser, Tamil Nadu United Agriculturists Association, and
0170A34 member of the high level committee set up by the Government, has announced
0180A34 his decision to_ go on a fast from 6 \0p.m. tomorrow in front of
0190A34 the office of the Salem district collector in protest against the farmers*'
0200A34 agitation. ^In a statement today, \0Mr Vaiyapuri appealed to
0210A34 the farmers to_ give up "violent agitational approaches." $^The three-day-old
0220A34 violent farmers*' agitation spread to many parts in Tamil Nadu today,
0230A34 mainly to the dry-farming districts of Salem, Coimbatore, Madurai
0240A34 and the Arcot. $^However, the rice bowl districts of Trichy and
0250A34 Tanjore, where Communists are known to_ have a foothold among the landless
0260A34 labourers and small farmers, have not reported any major problem. $^The
0270A34 Agriculture Minister, \0Mr \0P Kulandaivelu has stated that the
0280A34 credit instalments could be paid after the harvest. ^High level committee
0290A34 is at present investigating other grievances of the farmers. $^Some
0300A34 of the members of the high-power committee are now organising the agitation.
0310A34 ^The Government has arrested about 50 of them so far in the State.
0320A34 ^In some places the agitation is for the release of these leaders.
0330A34 ^Government spokesmen, however, have stated that only one section of
0340A34 the farmers is behind the agitation, "which is politically motivated".
0350A34 $\0^*Mr \0K Manoharan, Minister for Finance and Revenue, today asserted
0360A34 that there was no Naxalite behind the violence, but some political
0370A34 parties have taken to violence in the name of the farmers, who are by
0380A34 and large peaceful and anti-violence. $^Reports received here say that
0390A34 as many as 30 culverts and some bridges have been blown up by the agitators
0400A34 in the last two days. ^A number of buses have been attacked and damaged
0410A34 or set on fire. ^As a result, express bus services, a pride of this
0420A34 State, have remained heavily dislocated since yesterday. ^There are reports
0430A34 of attempts to_ hold up Government vehicles, including milk vans.
0440A34 ^Milk supply from the interior has been affected. $^According to a late
0450A34 night despatch army moved into Dindigul town from Coimbatore.
0460A34 **<*3Anti-Defection Bill urged this session*0**> $^The Executive Committee
0470A34 of the Janata Parliamentary Party today requested the Government
0480A34 to_ introduce the Anti-Defection Bill in the current session of
0490A34 Parliament. $^The Prime Minister, who presided, and the Home Minister
0500A34 were "favourably inclined" to this request of the Executive Committee,
0510A34 \0Mr. Digvijay Narayan Singh, and \0Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi,
0520A34 party secretaries told newsmen after the meeting. $^The meeting was
0530A34 marked by heated exchanges on the issue of admission of members from
0540A34 other parties into the Janata Party. $^The exchanges reportedly took place
0550A34 when admission of two *5lok Sabha*6 members \0Mr. *(0A. K.*) Kotrashetti
0560A34 (Congress) of Karnataka and \0Mr. Baldev Singh (Independent)
0570A34 of Jammu and Kashmir into the Janata Party was taken up at
0580A34 the meeting. $^The party secretaries announced that the Executive Committee
0590A34 admitted \0Mr. Kotrashetti and \0Mr. Baldev Singh into the Janata
0600A34 Party. ^They said that with these two admissions today, the Executive
0610A34 had so far admitted seven members of the *5lok Sabha*6 to the party.
0620A34 $\0^*Mr. Krishna Kant and \0Mr. Ram Dhan, two senior members of
0630A34 the party reportedly urged the party leader to_ see that some criterion
0640A34 was laid down by the party for admission of members from other parties
0650A34 to the Janata Party. ^They said this when the issue of admission of
0660A34 the two new members was taken up at today*'s meeting. $^In the past,
0670A34 there had been criticism in the \0J.P.P. Executive Committee over the
0680A34 issue of admissions from other parties. ^Some members had then opposed
0690A34 admission of those members who had fought against the Janata in the
0700A34 last *5lok Sabha*6 poll. $^Several members including \0Mr. Atal Behari
0710A34 Vajpayee, had reportedly then objected to admission of some members
0720A34 including, \0Mr. \0K. Raghuramaiah, a former Minister of \0Mrs.
0730A34 Gandhi*'s Cabinet, who won as a Congress candidate in the last *5lok
0740A34 Sabha*6 election and defeated the Janata Party: admission of \0Mr.
0750A34 Dinesh Singh, another former Minister of \0Mrs. Gandhi*'s Cabinet,
0760A34 into the Janata Party had also been criticised. $^The Executive Committee
0770A34 is having a special meeting tomorrow night at the Prime Minister*'s
0780A34 residence to_ discuss "functioning" of the Janata Parliamentary
0790A34 Party. ^The question of enforcing party discipline is likely to_ figure
0800A34 during the deliberations of this meeting. $^The Prime Minister, who
0810A34 will preside over the meeting of the Executive Committee, is likely
0820A34 to_ appraise the members of the outcome of the meeting of the "big five"
0830A34 leaders of the party affairs on Wednesday last. $^A letter written
0840A34 by 25 party \0MPs to the Prime Minister, which is likely to_ have
0850A34 a direct bearing on party discipline, is reported to_ come up during the
0860A34 discussion. $^The letter is believed to_ have drawn the attention of the
0870A34 party leader to \0Mr. Shyam Nandan Mishra*'s remarks about purchase
0880A34 of fighter-bomber aircraft by the Defence Ministry. $^The signatories
0890A34 of the letter reportedly felt that why **[sic**]
0891A34 \0Mr. Mishra, who is a deputy
0900A34 leader of the \0J.P.P. did not bring the issue to the notice of the
0910A34 party leader before.
0920A34 **<*3Time capsule-- a historical error*0**> $^The independence silver jubilee
0930A34 time capsule was replete with howlers, inaccuracies, incongruities,
0940A34 distortion of the history of freedom struggle and wrong interpretation
0950A34 of the constitution. $^The Parliamentary committee*'s report on the
0960A34 time capsule placed before the *5lok Sabha*6 today by the Minister for
0970A34 Education, \0Dr. *(0P. C.*) Chunder, showed that the capsule not
0980A34 only showed complete disregard for sanctity of facts but ommitted names
0990A34 of many great leaders who had played a very prominent role in fighting
1000A34 for a nation. $^The 10,000 word account of the history of India from
1010A34 1947 to 1972 sought to_ give the impression that India*'s freedom struggle
1020A34 began in 1920 under the leadership of Gandhiji. "^*India*'s struggle
1030A34 for freedom was led since 1920 by Mahatma Gandhi who, believed in
1040A34 non-violence," said the document. ^Apart from this single instance Gandhiji
1050A34 did not find a place anywhere else. $^The capsule had been silent
1060A34 about the role of the early pioneers in the freedom struggle, the Swadeshi
1070A34 movement of 1905, Jalianwalabag massacre, the non-cooperation movement,
1080A34 the civil disobedience, the Quit India movement \0etc. ^The document
1090A34 also did not make any mention of the great leaders like Jatin Mukherjee,
1100A34 Surya Sen, Bhagat Singh, Lala Lajpat Rai, Netaji Subash
1110A34 Chandra Bose, \0Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, \0Dr. *(0B. R.*)
1120A34 Ambedkar, \0Mr. \0C. Rajagopalachari, \0Mr. Jaya Prakash Narain,
1130A34 \0Dr. Rammanohar Lohia and several others. $^The document only mentions
1140A34 the names of Mahatma Gandhi, Abul Kalam Azad, Rajendra Prasad,
1150A34 Dada Bhai Nawroji, Motilal Nehru, Lajpat Rai, Sarojini Naidu,
1160A34 Vallabhbhai Patel, Rabindra Nath Tagore, *(0C. R.*) Das, Madan
1170A34 Mohan Malaviya, Balgangadhar Tilak and Jawaharlal Nehru. $^While
1180A34 making a passing reference to the armed conflicts in 1962 and 1965 and
1190A34 to the Soviet offer of mediation in the Indo-Pakistan conflict of
1200A34 1965 the document was silent about the great service and sacrifice of
1210A34 the then Prime Minister, \0Mr. Lal Bahadur Shastri. $^In regard to
1220A34 the Constitution while emphasis had been laid on the Directive Principles
1230A34 and Fundamental Rights the unique feature, \0*7viz, the federal
1240A34 structure, had not been highlighted. ^What is worse, the *4pandits who had
1250A34 drafted the document had only betrayed their ignorance about some constitutional
1260A34 provisions. ^The document would have us believe that the President
1270A34 "has the power to_ nominate to the *5Lok Sabha*6 a few members
1280A34 to_ represent the backward communities or backward territories," whereas
1290A34 there is no such provision in the Constitution except Article 331 under
1300A34 which the President may nominate not more than two members of the
1310A34 Anglo-Indian community to the House of the People if, in his opinion,
1320A34 the community is not adequately represented in the House. $^About the
1330A34 Legislative Council of a State it was stated that this body "is indirectly
1340A34 elected by public bodies such as municipalities, universities
1341A34 \0etc"
1350A34 which does not reflect the correct position as provided under Article
1360A34 171 of the Constitution. ^It was also stated in the narrative that
1370A34 the Union Territories "have their own legislative bodies which are authorised
1380A34 to_ make laws on State subjects." ^This is also a factually incorrect
1390A34 statement as several Union Territories have no legislative bodies
1400A34 which can legislate subjects. $^The narrative also makes mention of
1410A34 "right of all adult citizens of the country to_ elect their representatives
1420A34 to the legislative bodies, and through them the executive agencies
1430A34 of the Government." ^The fact is that not only is the age of eligibility
1440A34 for a voter different from that_ of an adult as recognised by Indian
1450A34 laws, the executive agencies of the Government are also not elected.
1460A34 ^The Governor is not elected by the citizens nor are the members of
1470A34 the services elected and certainly they are to_ be included in the executive
1480A34 agencies of the Government. $^While referring to the political parties
1490A34 the narrative made one-sided version. ^For example, the
1491A34 "Congress
1500A34 (Opposition) party was founded in 1969 after break with the all-India
1510A34 Congress of Indira Gandhi (the present Prime Minister): this party
1520A34 advocates a socialist programme in theory, but in practice, tends towards
1530A34 conservative policies favouring the upper and middle classes". $^Among
1540A34 the important political parties mentioned in the document were the Communist
1550A34 Party of India which favours "a national democratic front of
1560A34 all patriotic forces, including workers, peasants, intelligentsia and
1570A34 the bulk of the non-monopolist bourgeoisie. ^This party aims at the non-capitalist
1580A34 path of economic development and a socialistic democracy to_
1590A34 be achieved by winning a stable majority in Parliament". $^The Communist
1600A34 Party of India (Marxist) has been termed as "Marxist Communist
1610A34 Party" which according to the document "favours a people*'s democracy
1620A34 based on the coalition of all genuine anti-feudal and anti-imperialist
1630A34 forces headed by the working class and it sees an inevitable clash with
1640A34 the present Indian State". $^About the \0PSP the document says that
1650A34 the party was formed in 1951. ^Its objective "is the establishment of
1660A34 a free, democratic and classless society by peaceful means. ^It calls for
1670A34 a strong central government with vigorous, and as far as possible, autonomous
1680A34 units. ^The \0PSP merged in June 1964 for a short time with
1690A34 the Socialist Party, but subsequently, broke away in Junuary 1965 and
1700A34 has been functioning since then as a separate party." ^*Jan Sangh (peoples*'
1710A34 party) was described as a "militant, orthodox Hindu party, opposing
1720A34 the concept of secular State and seeking a political and economic
1730A34 programme which is less radical than that_ of the Congress." $^Even relatively
1740A34 simple facts were stated wrongly. ^For example, the Bhakra and
1750A34 the Beas dams have been described as joint projects of Gujarat, Haryana
1760A34 and Rajasthan. ^As a matter of fact Gujarat is not at all a party
1770A34 to these projects. ^It is Punjab which is the third State benefiting
1780A34 from these joint projects. $^In the calendar of events glaring mistakes
1790A34 have been found in the correlation between the happening and the year
1800A34 in question. ^The Imperial Bank of India was nationalised in 1955
1810A34 but was shown in the calendar as in 1949. ^The Export Credit and Gaurantee
1820A34 Corporation was set up in 1964 but was shown under 1957. ^Some of
1830A34 the "events" were mentioned twice in the same year or in different years.
1840A34 ^For instance, the "Fertiliser Corporation of India formed" fell
1850A34 under 1956 whereas "Fertiliser Corporation of India set up" fell under
1860A34 1961.*#
        **[no. of words = 02021**]

        **[txt. a35**]
0010A35 **<*3Plea to_ lift goods tax on trucks*0**> $^The members of Bihar Transport
0020A35 Association took out a procession and staged demonstration before
0030A35 the Bihar Legislative Assembly today to_ press their demands. $^Later,
0040A35 a 12-man delegation consisting of \0Messrs Raghunath Pandey, Badshah
0050A35 Prasad Azad, Kailash Prasad and others presented a memorandum
0060A35 to the Chief Minister who assured a sympathetic consideration. $^The
0070A35 memorandom threatened to_ stop the vehicular traffic throughout Bihar
0071A35 by
0080A35 August 9 if their demands were not conceded latest by August 8 evening.
0090A35 ^Their demands include withdrawal of 'passengers and goods tax' for
0100A35 trucks, declaration of transport business as small industry, withdrawal
0110A35 of toll tax reduction in the rate of different taxes by 50 per cent for
0120A35 petrol vehicles release of permits for jeep taxies compensation to the
0130A35 private operator for requisition of the vehicles on emergency duties
0140A35 of the Government restoration of the system of single point taxation
0150A35 for goods carrying vehicles withdrawal of the notification reducing the
0160A35 area of operation of private buses on nationalised routes from 40 \0kms
0170A35 to 24 \0kms \0etc. $^The memorandum also expressed deep concern over
0180A35 rough behaviour of the concerning government officials with the transport
0190A35 operators. $^Earlier some 40 legislators also endorsed the demands
0200A35 at a meeting held here last evening under the chairmanship of \0Mr Vishvanath
0210A35 Modi, \0MLA according to association sources.
0220A35 $**<*3Noisy scene over teachers*' *4dharna*0**> $^Noisy scene prevailed
0230A35 in the zero hour of the Bihar Legislative Council today and the House
0240A35 was adjourned for lunch by the Deputy Chairman, when the members
0250A35 representing the teachers and others jointly pressed for the government
0260A35 assurance not to_ disturb the peaceful *4dharna of teachers outside the
0270A35 Secretariat boundary. $^Earlier, \0Mr Kailashpati Mishra, Finance
0280A35 Minister had assured that the government would maintain the assurances
0290A35 what **[sic**] was given by the Agriculture Minister in the house.
0291A35 ^He also assured
0300A35 to_ examine the allegation of the members. $\0^*Mr Jageshwar Mandal
0310A35 Co-operative Minister **[sic**] had also assured investigation
0311A35 and necessary
0320A35 action on the allegation of the members. $^But the members including \0Mr
0330A35 Dip Narain Choudhary \0Mr Sheo Chandra Jha, \0Mr Brinda Prasad
0340A35 Rai Birendra, \0Mr Diwakar Prasad Singh, \0Mr *(0C. M.*)
0350A35 Mishra, \0Mr Kamal Nath Singh Thakur categorically wanted government
0360A35 assurance that the peaceful *4dharna launched by the Secondary teachers
0370A35 outside Assembly Boundary should not be disturbed by the police. $^Earlier,
0380A35 \0Mr Jai Mangal Singh in the Zero hour drew the attention
0390A35 of the government towards the removal of tents from *4Dharna ground
0400A35 of the secondary teachers and they are being misbehaved **[sic**] by the
0401A35 police though
0410A35 they were peaceful. $^The House resumed the work after lunch when
0420A35 the Finance Minister assured that the tents of the Secondary teachers
0430A35 who were launching peaceful *4dharna would not be removed. $\0^*Mr Gajendra
0440A35 Prasad Himansu State Minister for Irrigation, while replying
0450A35 to \0Mr Pasupati Singh said that the Chief Engineer has been directed
0460A35 to_ examine and to_ take necessary action on the report of the erosion
0470A35 of the agricultural land of Pachi tola, Narbigha Circle of the
0480A35 Monghyr District. $^The State Irrigation Minister while replying
0490A35 to \0Mr Ramnandan Singh said that \0Rs 4.34 *4lakhs had been spent over
0500A35 the repairing of the different canals of the Sobe circle in course
0510A35 of the last ten years. $^He also said that it had increased 24 percent
0520A35 irrigational potentiality in the area. ^He further said that now it was
0530A35 irrigating 11000 acres of Agricultural lands against 9000 earlier. $^The
0540A35 \0PWD Minister \0Mr Anup Lal Yadav while replying to \0Mr
0550A35 Brinda Prasad Rai Birendra said that 75 percent construction work of
0560A35 the bridge at Sindhia Ghat had been completed and now the work would
0570A35 start after rainy season. $^The Excise Minister \0Mr Baijnath Mehta
0580A35 while replying to \0Mr Pasupati Singh said that the government will
0590A35 consider for **[sic**] closing the allegator **[sic**] wine shops. ^Here
0600A35 also noisy scene prevailed for few minutes.
0610A35 $**<*3\0PU \0VC greeted with "go back"*0**> $^The Commissioner of
0620A35 Patna Division, \0mr *(0G. S*) Grewal, today took over the charge
0630A35 from the Vice-Chancellor of Patna University, \0Dr *(0A K*) Dhan,
0640A35 amidst shouts of 'go back go back' by the students. $^It may be recalled
0650A35 that \0Dr Dhan has been appointed Vice-Chancellor of the North
0660A35 Eastern Region Central University. \0^*Dr Dhan left for Delhi after
0670A35 handing over the charge of the university. $^The students had been
0680A35 opposing the State Government decision to_ appoint administrators as
0690A35 vice-chancellors of the universities in place of academicians. ^Hundreds
0700A35 of students tried in vain to stop \0Mr Grewal at the gate of the
0710A35 University office. ^The students started slogans 'Grewal go back, Grewal
0720A35 go back. ^We don*'4t want bureaucrats as vice-chancellors.' $^When the
0730A35 situation became tense police was called in and six students were taken
0740A35 into custody. $^Meanwhile, the students of the University have decided
0750A35 to_ boycott their classes from tomorrow in protest against the
0751A35 Government
0760A35 decision to_ appoint \0Mr Grewal as Vice-Chancellor. $^One of
0770A35 the student leaders, \0Mr Balmukund Sharma, condemned the arrest of
0780A35 students and the Government decision. ^He appealed to the students to_
0790A35 oppose the Government move to_ install bureaucrats as vice-chancellors.
0800A35 $**<*3Blind men plead for job quota*0**> $^The *5Netrahin Sangharsh
0810A35 Samiti*6, Bihar has decided to_ stage demonstration on July 27 before
0811A35 the
0820A35 Bihar Assembly in support of its demands. $^The important demands of
0830A35 the *4samiti are: establishment of a blind girls*' school in Patna and
0840A35 reservation of four per cent jobs for the blind. $**<*3\0Govt rapped
0850A35 for inefficiency*0**> $^Both the Janata and the Opposition members today
0860A35 charged the Government with administrative inefficiency and failure
0870A35 in improving the law and order situation in the State. $^Participating
0880A35 in the debate on the Bihar Appropriation (\0No. 2) Bill, 1978, in the
0890A35 Bihar Assembly \0Mr Tej Narain Jha (\0CPI) said that the administrative
0900A35 machineries had totally failed and it was unable to_ solve the
0910A35 problem of unemployment. $\0^*Mr Jha said that a year back the Chief
0920A35 Minister, \0Mr Karpoori Thakur, had announced in the House that the
0930A35 Governor of Bihar would be shifted to a smaller house but the decision
0940A35 had not been implemented so far. $\0^*Mr Babulal Shastri (\0J) stressed
0950A35 the need for uniformity in the pattern of education. $\0^*Mr Bhola
0960A35 Prasad Singh (\0ISP) sought clarification on the resignation of
0970A35 the Minister of State for Revenue, \0Mr Shivanandan Paswan. $\0^*Mr
0980A35 Rana Shivalakhpati Singh (\0J) said that during the Janata regime
0990A35 corruption had gone up. ^He stressed that without launching a movement
1000A35 corruption could never be eradicated in Bihar. $\0^*Mr Singh also criticised
1010A35 the policy of reservation in jobs to backward castes. ^The policy
1020A35 of reservation should be based on poverty. ^A poor *4Brahmin or
1030A35 *4Rajput should also be given the same facilities in jobs. $\0^*Mr Bhola
1040A35 Singh (\0Cong-I) asked the Government to_ place before the House
1050A35 the documents seized at the residence of \0Mr Hardwar Pande. ^He also
1060A35 expressed concern over the deteriorating law and order situation.
1070A35 $**<*3Labour policy condemned*0**> $\0^*Mr Kripa Shankar Chatterjee
1080A35 criticised the labour policy of the Government. ^He said that it had
1090A35 not been able so far to_ implement the recommendations of the Wage Board.
1100A35 $^The debate remained inconclusive. $^The House adjourned till 11
1110A35 \0a.m. tomorrow.
1120A35 $**<*3School students denied state bus facility*0**> $^Utter confusion
1130A35 prevails outside \0St. Joseph*'s Convent High School at 3 \0p.m. when
1140A35 the school is over. ^It coincides with the arrival of steamer at Mahendru
1150A35 Ghat. \0^*BN College students add more to the confusion and
1151A35 the
1160A35 office crowd is always there. ^Worst off are the little girls who have
1170A35 to_ trudge half way home, for they have been deprived of the State bus
1180A35 services. $^It is not only difficult to_ get *4richshaws but the fares
1181A35 their
1190A35 drivers demand are high, because they know that school children have
1200A35 no other option but to_ hire them. ^Children are spending as much as \0Rs
1210A35 6 to \0Rs 8 per day on transport. ^Children coming from Danapur and
1220A35 Khagaul are now coming by train to the railway station and then taking
1230A35 a Richshaw to school. $^Trouble started when the Bihar State
1231A35 Road Transport
1240A35 Corporation withdrew its buses from the schools. ^The schools
1250A35 like \0St. Michael*'s and Notre Dame Academy which retain bus services
1260A35 because of the contract system have not been affected. ^Every month
1270A35 they pay the \0BSRTC a bill of \0Rs 9,000 on an average. $^Other
1280A35 schools are feeling the pinch because the facility of concessional rates
1290A35 has been withdrawn. ^Contract system is the only way out. ^But this
1300A35 means that parents will have to_ pay more than they can afford. ^Some teachers
1310A35 of the \0St. Joseph*'s Convent have taken the initiative and
1320A35 have hired two State buses for students. ^But, says Mother Thecla, Principal,
1330A35 'they leave their class and go round collecting money which is
1340A35 not good.' ^Her demand is that rates be lowered on the contract basis.
1350A35 $\0St. Xavier*'s School had more than 50 per cent of students using
1360A35 state transport buses. ^Sixty boys have bought new bicycles after buses
1370A35 were withdrawn. ^Says the Principal, \0Fr Scaria \0J. Marmmootil,
1380A35 \0SJ "Ours is not a prestigeous school. ^We have poor boys also studying
1390A35 here whose pparents*' income averages \0Rs 300 a month. ^It is a false
1400A35 notion that being an English medium school the parents can afford to_
1410A35 pay high bus fares for their children. $^It is unjust that contract rates
1420A35 did not apply to Secretarial staff, University students and \0LIC
1430A35 staff. ^Only a couple of schools are the chief target. ^If University
1440A35 students are allowed concessional rates students of
1441A35 this school should get
1450A35 the same facility, he said. ^If not, the Ministry of Education should
1460A35 subsidise the amount. $^At present the rates for contract system are:
1470A35 \0Rs 3.75 per \0k.m. with load, \0Rs 1.75 per \0k.m. empty haulage
1480A35 and \0Rs 75 minimum charge. $^The Additional \0DM Patna, stalled the
1490A35 decision of the two schools to_ take a silent procession to the Chief
1500A35 Minister. ^However, they are due to_ meet him soon. ^They feel that just
1510A35 because they are disciplined and "don*'4t shout" they are made to_ suffer.
1520A35 ^Had they burnt down a couple of buses the concessional facility
1530A35 would be maintained for them, too. $\0^*Mr *(0VV*) Nathan, Administrator,
1540A35 of the then Bihar State *4Rajya Transport Corporation said
1541A35 that
1550A35 33 buses had already been taken on contract service. ^He felt that the
1560A35 two schools should also fall in line. "^*I would help them in small ways
1570A35 so that mileage would be the least, but I can*'4t find a solution to
1580A35 all the problems." ^He said that this problem was common to Jamshedpur
1590A35 and Ranchi also. ^The biggest drawback was that town services had been
1600A35 withdrawn by the State buses so he could not ask the conductors to_ pick
1610A35 up passengers while they return empty after dropping students. ^School
1620A35 service means partial utilisation of buses. ^It boils down to this: *_who
1630A35 should pay the subsidy? ^The tax-payer or a few chosen parents? $\0^*Mr
1640A35 Nathan showed this reporter an apt finding recently published after
1650A35 a seminar held in Poona by the Central Institute of Road Transport.
1660A35 ^It read: "*_^The workshop noted that city operations all over the world
1670A35 were unable to_ break even because of several operational conditions
1680A35 external to the undertakings, such as uneconomic fare, traffic congestion
1690A35 the one-way nature of traffic, high cost of labour, concessions to
1700A35 students. ^It was, therefore, felt that city operations should be completely
1710A35 exempted from taxation and the social costs incurred by the undertakings
1720A35 should be quantified and subsidised." $^Perhaps this is the answer
1730A35 to the ordeal being created by the withdrawal of state buses.
1740A35 $**<*3Teachers to_ demonstrate*0**> $^The primary teachers of all over
1750A35 the State **[sic**] will demonstrate on August 5 before the \0BDOs to_
1751A35 press
1760A35 their demands according to \0Mr Jagdish Misra general secretary of
1770A35 the *4Sangh. $^The teachers working under municipal areas will
1780A35 demonstrate before \0BDOs. $\0^*Mr Misra told newsmen this evening
1781A35 said **[sic**] that the transfer orders
1790A35 of inspecting officers had been stayed, but the poor primary teachers
1800A35 were being transferred arbitrarily. $^There is great resentment over transfer
1810A35 of nearly 1000 teachers in one district alone. $^Demands include
1820A35 Government apathy to primary teachers **[sic**] delay in payment of
1821A35 pensions,
1830A35 gratuity and other dues. $^He also said that if the demands were not fulfilled
1840A35 the primary teachers in batches would sit on *4Dharna in front
1850A35 of the Chief Minister*'s residence from August 28.*#
        **[no. of words = 02019**]

        **[txt. a36**]
0010A36 **<*3Nine killed, 30 hurt in Hyderabad police firing*0**> $^Nine persons
0020A36 were killed and 30 others injured in police firings at different places
0030A36 in the twin-cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad as widespread violence
0040A36 and cases of arson were reported during a "*4bandh" organised by
0050A36 the opposition parties today. $^The Army and the Central Reserve Police
0060A36 moved into troubled spots in the course of day to_ control the situation.
0070A36 ^The twin cities were also placed under a curfew from 12.30 hours
0080A36 today till 06.00 hours on Wednesday in the wake of the growing violence
0090A36 including arson and stone-pelting by mobs at many places which continued
0100A36 till late this evening. $^The Commissioner of Police. \0Mr. *(0R
0110A36 K*) Munuswamy, said tonight that five columns of Army and six companies
0120A36 of \0CRP had moved into the disturbed areas. ^Police arrested
0130A36 220 persons in connection with the disturbances today. $^He announced that
0140A36 the curfew would be relaxed between 05.00 hours and 09.00 hours tomorrow.
0150A36 $^The call for the *4bandh was to_ protest against last Thursday*'s
0160A36 incident of police allegedly beating a man to death and also molesting
0170A36 his wife followed by a police firing the next day. $^Inspector General
0180A36 of Police \0K Ramachandra Reddy told pressmen that two Deputy Inspectors
0190A36 General of Police, two Superintendents of Police, a Sub-Inspector
0200A36 and a number of constables were injured in attacks on them
0210A36 by unruly mobs. ^The Sub-Inspector was in a serious condition, he said.
0220A36 $^The State Road Transport Corporation did not ply its buses in the
0230A36 twin cities today in view of the "*4bandh". ^Train services
0231A36 were run with armed
0240A36 escort. ^Long distance services were run with the help of the police.
0250A36 $^The worst-affected areas were the old city of Hyderabad, and Sanathnagar
0260A36 in the outskirts of the city. $^The residence of Education Minister
0270A36 \0B Venkatarama Reddy was stoned and six municipal trucks were
0280A36 set ablaze in the Masab Tank area. $^Mobs moved in different localities
0290A36 right from the morning setting up road blocks and stoning public buildings.
0300A36 ^A Samachar correspondent who toured some parts of the affected
0310A36 areas reported that a mob looted the branch of a bank and set fire to it
0320A36 at Yakunthpura area after the curfew was clamped. ^The mob set fire to
0330A36 a railway overbridge nearby and a palatial building of the Government
0340A36 Ayurvedic College in the vicinity. $^Mobs also set fire to the entire
0350A36 building complex of the district office of the Directorate of Health
0360A36 and Medical Services near Dabeerpura. ^Eight Government vehicles
0370A36 parked in the compound, stocks of medicines, cash brought for distribution
0380A36 of salary and records were all gutted completely. $^A 2000 strong mob
0390A36 surrounded a police party near the Yakuthpura overbridge and snatched
0400A36 away two rifles and 19 cartridges and ran away. ^Policemen were severely
0410A36 beaten. ^One constable was injured in his left eye. ^Police then opened
0420A36 fire as a result of which one person died here. $^A mob also set on
0430A36 fire the Chatrinaka police station in the old city and attacked the Rainbazar
0440A36 police station in the old city. $^Police opened fire at two more
0450A36 places in the city late this evening to_ disperse violent crowds. $^Fire
0460A36 was opened at Kavadiguda area soon after five \0p.m. to_ disperse a
0470A36 violent mob indulging in vandalism. $^When a Sub-Inspector was removing
0480A36 a person injured in the firing to the Gandhi Hospital, the mob attacked
0490A36 him. $^In the second incident, police opened fire to_ disperse a mob
0500A36 attacking the Habibnagar police station as a result of which two persons
0510A36 were injured. $^Violent mobs also attacked the Saidabad police station,
0520A36 set on fire the Yakutpura traffic outpost, attacked the police station
0530A36 at Chadarghat bridge and set fire to police records and cycles belonging
0540A36 to the police constables. $^Police opened fire at Hanumakonda in
0550A36 Warangal District today to_ disperse a violent mob indulging in vandalism,
0560A36 a message reaching the police headquarters said here tonight. ^As
0570A36 a result five were seriously injured.
0580A36 $**<*3Free house sites plan flops*0**> $^The Government*'s scheme to_
0590A36 enable the landless to_ build houses by providing them free house sites
0600A36 has yielded poor results. $^As per the information provided to the Goa
0610A36 Assembly by Law Minister Shanker Laad a total of 1435 house sites
0620A36 were provided to landless agricultural labourers. ^But so far only 148 houses
0630A36 have been built out of which 55 houses are still to_ be occupied.
0640A36 ^The houses have remained vacant either because water is not available
0650A36 there or because works like plastering and flooring have not been completed.
0660A36 $^Besides, 13 houses have since collapsed and they are not fit for
0670A36 occupation. \0^*Mr. Laad told Opposition Leader *(0A N*) Naik that
0680A36 the nine houses at Shiroda and one each at Nagorcem and Loliem collapsed
0690A36 due to heavy rains while two houses at Sanvordem were damaged when
0700A36 a truck rammed into them. $^It is clear from the answer that not even
0710A36 all the beneficiaries belonging to the Scheduled Castes have been able
0720A36 to_ construct houses. ^A total of 192 house sites were given to *4Harijans.
0730A36 $^Replying to supplementaries of \0Mr. Naik and \0Mr. Pratapsing
0740A36 Rane, Deputy Opposition Leader, the Minister stated that no
0750A36 special efforts had been made to_ help the beneficiaries to_ build houses
0760A36 on the plots. ^The government had spent \0Rs 300 on the development of
0770A36 each site. ^The total amount thus spent amounts to \0Rs 430500. \0^*Mr.
0780A36 Laad stated that the beneficiaries belonging to the Scheduled Castes
0790A36 were entitled to loan and subsidy under the existing scheme. ^The non-*4Harijan
0800A36 beneficiaries had to_ raise their own resources to_ construct
0810A36 the houses.
0820A36 $**<*3Court ruling on vehicle tax*0**> \0^*Mr. Justice Tito Menezes,
0830A36 Judicial Commissioner, has ruled that motor vehicles which were not
0840A36 used on public roads could not be taxed. $^His Lordship gave this ruling
0850A36 while allowing four writ petitions filed by two mining firms challenging
0860A36 the orders of the Government seeking to_ collect taxes on the dumpers
0870A36 and shovels operated by the petitioner firm under the Goa Daman and
0880A36 Diu Motor Vehicles Taxation Act 1963. $^Allowing the petitions filed
0890A36 by \0M/s Chowgule and Company Private Limited and another firm the
0900A36 Judicial Commissioner observed that there was no doubt that the State
0910A36 could not impose any Compensatory Tax in respect of the roads which
0920A36 were not built and maintained by it, "Motor vehicles which are not used
0930A36 on public roads cannot be taxed." $^The Court held that the ambit of
0940A36 definition of motor vehicles given in Section 2(b) was controlled by
0950A36 the provisions of Section 4 and 13. ^That_ definition must be read in
0960A36 harmony with the provisions of these two sections. ^If so read vehicles
0970A36 which were not used on public roads were not included in the definition
0980A36 of motor vehicles given in Section 2(b). $^His Lordship ordered the
0990A36 respondents to_ refund the tax already collected on the dumpers and
0991A36 shovels
1000A36 of the petitioner firm and further directed them not to_ recover the
1010A36 said taxes in regard to the dumpers and shovels.
1020A36 $**<*3Student*'s death: probe plea*0**> $^A demand to_ institute a proper
1030A36 inquiry into the alleged murder of 21-year old Sham Ramachandra Varik
1040A36 of Masnem Canacona has been made to Chief Minister Shashikala
1050A36 Kakodkar by the local \0MLA, \0Mr. Vasu \0P Gaonkar, three *4sarpanchas
1060A36 and prominent citizens. $^*Sham, a senior \0BSc student of
1070A36 the Dhempe College of Arts and Science had gone hunting wild fowls
1080A36 in the jungle near his house in the afternoon of February 19, 1978. ^He
1090A36 had carried a gun with him. ^But since then he was missing. ^His body
1100A36 was later traced deep into the jungle at Supagudi about 10 \0kms from
1110A36 Mashem. ^His gold chain and wrist watch were missing. \0^*Mr. Gaonkar
1120A36 and others in a memorandum submitted to the Chief Minister have listed
1130A36 the circumstances in which the body was found at such a distant spot and
1140A36 alleged the police have not taken proper measures to_ unravel the mystery
1150A36 surrounding the alleged murder. ^They have said that it was
1151A36 unbelievable
1160A36 that Sham who was of sound mind could have gone so far to_ commit
1170A36 suicide. $^They have stated that a similar murder had taken place in the
1180A36 locality a decade ago and it had gone undetected. ^In view of the alleged
1190A36 murders the residents of the locality were living in a dreadful life.
1191A36 **[sic**]
1200A36 . "^Safety of life appears so uncertain and nothing is being done about
1210A36 it. ^What safety can the police and the Government offer to the public
1220A36 if such cases take place now and then?", they asked and added that if
1230A36 the police were avoiding their responsibilities and neglecting them leaving
1240A36 the people to_ carry out their crosses on their own shoulders what
1250A36 was the use of the authorities who were bound to_ establish law and order.
1260A36 \0^*Mr Gaonkar and others have demanded that the case be investigated
1270A36 with due seriousness and the alleged murderers of Sham be traced
1271A36 out
1280A36 and thereby allow the people the right of living in safety. $^Similar
1290A36 representations have been addressed by \0Lt *(0S R*) Varik and Sub-Inspector
1300A36 *(0V R*) Varik, brothers of the deceased to the Inspector
1310A36 General of police and other police authorities.
1320A36 $**<*3Imports, exports system simplified*0**> $^A new import-export policy
1330A36 with a large measure of liberalisation and simplification of procedures
1340A36 coupled with redesignation of the Chief Controller of Imports
1350A36 and Exports as Directorate General of Foreign Trade was announced
1360A36 here today by Minister for Commerce, Civil Supplies and Co-operation,
1370A36 Mohan Dharia. \0^*Mr Dharia said, the new policy which has emerged
1380A36 after a national debate and studies by official committees into the framework
1390A36 introduced 30 years ago will now form an integral part of the country*'s
1400A36 overall development planning. $^A radically new system has been
1410A36 evolved out of 30 years of cobwebs of import controls and regulations
1420A36 to_ facilitate the industry, agriculture, Commerce, science and technology
1430A36 advance with utmost speed and confidence, he said. $^The new policy
1440A36 also represented a landmark in decentralisation of Central Government
1450A36 working, he said. $^The Minister announced that the small tiny and
1460A36 cottage sectors will now receive their import requirements wholly in free
1470A36 foreign exchange and local committees set up at licensing offices will
1480A36 decide applications for capital goods upto \0Rs ten *4lakhs. $^Answering
1490A36 questions at a Press conference later, \0Mr Dharia said that the
1500A36 scheme of cash assistance to exporters would continue with certain modifications.
1510A36 ^The new emphasis will be on helping people to_ establish markets
1520A36 for non-traditional products. $^Good care had been taken to_ use the
1530A36 leverage of canalisation to_ promote growth. \0^*Mr. Dharia announced
1540A36 facility of direct import of diamonds by jewellery exporters and said
1550A36 , the country*'s gem and jewellery exports had gone up from \0Rs 150
1560A36 *4crores last year to \0Rs. 400 *4crores. $^While subserving the
1561A36 larger
1570A36 social objectives of employment generation and self-reliance he expected
1580A36 the new policy to_ give a tremendous boost to diversification of agricultural
1590A36 and industrial activity and exports.
1600A36 $**<*3Janata bags 4 seats in \0MP*0**> $^The Janata Party annexed
1610A36 four seats and the Congress (\0I) one in the biennial elections to
1611A36 the
1620A36 *5Rajya Sabha*6 here today. \0^*Mr. Ladli Mohan Nigam, \0Mrs Vijaya
1630A36 Raje Scindia and \0Dr Bhai Mahavir (all Janata Party) were declared
1640A36 elected with 60, 56 and 55 first preference votes respectively. $^The
1650A36 fourth Janata Party candidate, Mama Baleshwar Dayal and the Congress
1660A36 (\0I) candidate \0Mr Bhagat Ram Manhar were elected with the
1670A36 help of second and third preference votes. $CHANDIGARH: ^*Janata
1680A36 Party nominees \0Dr Sarup Singh and \0Mr Sujan Singh were today
1690A36 declared elected to the *5Rajya Sabha*6 from the Haryana *5Vidhan
1700A36 Sabha*6 constituency.
1710A36 $**<*3Jumbe confers with Morarji**> $^Bilateral relations and international
1720A36 issues, notably the situation in Southern Africa and Horn of
1730A36 Africa dominated the talks which the visiting Vice-President of Tanzania,
1740A36 \0Mr Aboud Jumbe had with Prime Minister Morarji Desai
1750A36 today. $^It was learnt that \0Mr. Jumbe described the existing bilateral
1760A36 cooperation between India and Tanzania as "most encouraging". ^It was
1770A36 agreed at the meeting that detailed discussions would be held by the
1780A36 Ministers and officials of the two sides to_ explore new areas of cooperation.
1790A36 $^These meetings will take place tomorrow. $^On the situation
1800A36 in Africa, there was complete identity of views on the need for speeding
1810A36 up negotiated settlement and agreed transitional measures that_ would
1820A36 lead to early independence and majority rule in Zimbabwe and Namibia.*#
        **[no. of words = 02023**]

        **[txt. a37**]
0010A37 **<*3Crucial Haryana \0JLP meet today**> $^The Haryana Legislature
0020A37 party meet here tomorrow, amid reports that Central Party President
0030A37 Chandra Shekhar has rejected the demand of Chief Minister Devi
0040A37 Lal for an 'open vote' instead of a secret ballot. $^Sources close to
0050A37 the Chief Minister are confident that the ministerialists will force an
0060A37 open vote in the eleventh hour, while the dissidents are banking upon
0070A37 the Parliamentary Board*'s decision of secret ballot tomorrow. $^Excepting
0080A37 the Chief Minister all the ministerialists have reached here, while
0090A37 only two top dissident leaders-- \0Mr Balwant Rai Tayal and \0Mr
0100A37 Peer Chand-- landed here on the eve of the crucial meeting where the
0110A37 Chief Minister is to_ seek the vote of confidence from the party in
0120A37 the presence of External Affairs Minister *(0A B*) Vajpayee. $*<*3More
0130A37 Support*> $^Two more Haryana \0MLAs today pledged their
0140A37 support to Chief Minister Devi Lal. $^The two \0MLAs \0Mr Bhalee
0150A37 Ram and \0Mr Ram Kishan issued separate statements saying that they
0160A37 had agreed to_ support \0Mr Devi Lal following an assurance that he
0170A37 would look into their complaints. $^With the announcing of support of
0180A37 these two dissidents to Devi Lal who appears to_ have an edge over the
0190A37 dissidents whose strength has gone down to 33 as compared to 38 when the
0200A37 party met last in Delhi at the Prime Minister*'s residence. $^In the
0210A37 absence of the Chief Minister who is expected to_ reach here tomorrow
0220A37 from Delhi by train the ministerialists were not sure of the dissidents*'
0230A37 move in electing \0Mr Mukhitiar Singh, \0MP as their leader.
0240A37 $\0^*Mr Mukhtiar Singh, a former Jana Sangh Vice President of
0250A37 the State, is a *4jat and is likely to_ make a dent in the Jana Sangh
0260A37 unity. $^The External Affairs Minister \0Mr. *(0A B*) Vajpayee
0270A37 who will be the observer at tomorrow*'s meeting will arrive by air here
0280A37 in the morning. $^Meanwhile Janata Party General Secretary, Nanaji
0290A37 Deshmukh today branded as "pointless" Haryana Chief Minister Devi Lal*'s
0300A37 reported demand for open vote in place of secret ballot to_ decide
0310A37 the leadership issue of the State Legislature Party. $^He was replying
0320A37 to a question on the issue at "meet the press" programme, organised
0330A37 by Pune Reporters*' Guild, here. $*<*3charan*'s issue*> *^*Nanaji
0340A37 reiterated that the Janata Party would not split up in the face of
0350A37 seemingly controversial problems presented from time to time by its
0351A37 constituent
0360A37 units. $^He said, the Parliamentary Board would soon take a decision
0370A37 on \0Mr. Charan Singh*'s resignation from the Board and whatever
0371A37 decision
0380A37 it might take, it would certainly not develop enmity among Janata
0390A37 Party leaders, he contended.
0400A37 $**<*3SOBHANI 'EXPELLED'*0**> $^Non-Jan Sangh members of Bhopal district
0410A37 Janata *8ad hoc*9 body today 'expelled' their president Sevakram
0420A37 Sobhani and later dissolved the district committee itself. $^Styling
0430A37 himself as acting president of the new *8ad hoc*9 body, Sardar Navrang
0440A37 Singh told reporters this evening that both the decisions were taken
0450A37 by the majority. ^He said 22 of the 43 executive members attended the
0460A37 meeting held at the residence of Syed Iqbal Ahmed. $\0^*Mr Singh, who
0470A37 was till the dissolution vice president of the district body, said the
0480A37 meeting authorised state party secretary Rabhu Thakur to_ nominate the
0490A37 executive. $^He said \0Mr Sobhani was 'expelled' because of the recent
0500A37 High Court aspersions on his character. ^He had also committed many
0510A37 "unconstitutional irregularities," \0Mr Singh added. $^Fifteen \0MLAs
0520A37 belonging to the erstwhile Jana Sangh today charged party general
0530A37 secretary Madhu Limaye with instigating the erstwhile socialist members
0540A37 of the Madhya Pradesh Janata Party to_ work for the very collapse
0550A37 of the state unit. $^A statement issued on behalf of the 15 \0MLAs
0560A37 by \0Mr Surajmal Jain, called upon party president Chandra Shekhar
0570A37 to_ remove \0Mr Limaye from the National Executive of the party
0580A37 for his alleged anti-party activities. $^The \0MLAs included, besides
0590A37 \0Mr Jain, \0Mr Himmat Singh Kothari, \0Mr Basanti Lal Sharma,
0600A37 \0Mr Brajmohan Mishra and \0Mr Goverdhan Sharma.
0610A37 $**<*3Indore doctor may be suspended*0**> $^In the much talked alleged
0620A37 rape case of a girl Vijayakumari in a private nursing home by \0Dr.
0630A37 *(0K.L.*) Bandi, a prominent local surgeon the police has filed *4challan
0640A37 under section 376 of \0CRPC in the court of Additional Judicial
0650A37 Magistrate. $^According to the prosecution on November 24, 1977,
0660A37 \0Dr. *(0K.L.*) Bandi forcibly molested and raped Vijayakumari, daughter
0670A37 of Snjjanlal of Pratapgarh (Rajasthan), a patient admitted
0680A37 in the nursing-home of \0Dr. Gukuldas at Jawahar Marg, Indore. ^On
0690A37 the report of Sajjanlal Central Kotwali Police had registered a case
0700A37 under section 376 and seized some clothes of \0Dr. Bandi and the girl
0710A37 and sent them for chemical analysis to Calcutta. ^After receipt of
0720A37 chemical report police completed investigation and arrested \0Dr. Bandi
0730A37 on May 4. \0^*Dr. Bandi is at present on vacation leave from May 1,
0740A37 and the Government is thinking to_ suspend him, it is learnt.
0750A37 $**<*3Azamgarh poll peaceful*0**> $^The fate of the 21 candidates contesting
0760A37 the prestigious by-election for the Azamgarh *5Lok Sabha*6 seat,
0770A37 was sealed in the ballot boxes with the end of polling this evening.
0780A37 $^An estimated 55 per cent of the over 6.7 *4lakh voters cast their votes,
0790A37 it was reported. $^The Superintendent of Police told \0UNI on
0800A37 trunk telephone that the polling all through the day was completely peaceful
0810A37 and no untoward incident had been reported from any where in the
0820A37 constituency. $^The polling, which was moderate to_ start with picked up
0830A37 with the advance of the day. ^Women voters, attired in their colourful
0840A37 best, vied with their men folk in exercising their franchise. $^The main
0850A37 contest was expected to_ be among \0Mr Ram Bachan Yadav (Janata),
0860A37 \0Mrs Mohsina Kidwai (Congress-\0I) and \0Mr Chandrajeet Yadav (Congress).
0880A37 $**<*3Eating from top to bottom*0**> $^A new vegetable plant being introduced
0890A37 in India for the first time for easing the problem of protein
0900A37 malnutrition, is all edible-- from top to bottom-- the leaves, the
0901A37 stem,
0910A37 the flowers, the tubers, the seeds and the pods. $^The 'Winged Bean' as
0920A37 the plant is called because of the fur wing-like flanges on the pods,
0930A37 has been successfully grown at the National Botanical gardens here and
0940A37 has generated a ray of hope among the experts who worry about the new
0950A37 food sources for the over-populated under-developed world. $\0^*NBG director
0960A37 \0Dr *(0T N*) Khushoo told \0UNI that the winged bean contained
0970A37 37 per cent protein besides 56 per cent carbohydrates. $^Leaves of
0980A37 the plant resemble those of spinach, the stem is like asparagus and
0990A37 one can eat the flowers and pods. ^After steaming or boiling the seeds
1000A37 and pods taste like good mushrooms. ^Any part not relished by human beings
1010A37 can be fed to cattle rich fodder, **[sic**] he added. $^The winged
1011A37 bean plant
1020A37 can be grown on almost every type of soil during rainy season without
1030A37 much furtilisers.
1040A37 $**<*3Clandestine clubs!*0**> $^Many a social club are **[sic**]
1041A37 spread all over
1050A37 the city but a survey has shown that very few are genuine while the rest
1060A37 are a front for illegal activities. $^A \0UNI correspondent, who visited
1070A37 some of the clubs, found that apart from gambling there are illicit
1080A37 liquor bars and contact-points for prostitution. $^None of the clubs,
1090A37 having similar names to that of **[sic**] race horses with the words
1091A37 'social club'
1100A37 added, was registered. ^Thick curtains cover the inside while a tough
1110A37 sentinel at the entrance. **[sic**] ^Entry which is on daily
1111A37 subscription is strictly
1120A37 on the genuineness of the constant visitors. $*4^*Satta and *4Matka
1130A37 are regular forms of major gambling in these joints. ^For *4matka,
1140A37 money is collected at the gate by a person who goes in and brings back the
1150A37 number slip, the person, who also acts as watchdog, alerts the insiders
1160A37 of any impending police raids by code signals-- whistling or voice
1170A37 of a particular bird. $^Liquor of all brands are available for asking.**[sic**]
1180A37 $^A person, much harrassed by a social club near his house, said it was
1190A37 risky for his young daughters and other girls in the neighbourhood to_
1200A37 pass that_ area after dusk, while a housewife residing near a club said
1201A37 a
1210A37 constable, seen near the joint, was friendly with the club bosses. ^Some
1220A37 of the clubs had gone a step ahead by supplying narcotics, according
1230A37 to a visitor to a club. $^Recent raids have brought relief to the citizens
1240A37 while the bosses have been obsessed with fear. $^Richer clubs have all
1250A37 the things of an American type casino with roulettes and other games
1260A37 being provided for. $^A conservative estimate put the number of clubs
1270A37 at over four figures.
1280A37 $**<*33,50,000 people on the run in Delhi furious Jamuna starts taking
1290A37 its toll: 20*0**> $^The capital of India is confronted with a near catastrophic
1300A37 situation. ^And this is the first time. ^Over 3,50,000 people
1310A37 are on the run as the Jamuna keeps gushing with ferocity and without mercy
1320A37 over the danger mark. $^Official reports say that some 20 people have
1330A37 already died as for the first time in the history of New Delhi, urban
1340A37 areas have been struck by untamed nature. ^*Model Town, built by the
1350A37 East India Company a little beyond the Delhi University complex has
1360A37 been totally submerged as the Army and the Air Force assisted by police
1370A37 are engaged in the biggest ever "Operation Evacuation" to_ be undertaken
1380A37 in this city. $^Official sources confirmed that at least eight
1390A37 persons were drowned, four of them women when a rescue boat capsized in
1400A37 the swirling currents of sumberged Smalpur village in the Seelampur
1410A37 area last evening. ^A lone baby was rescued in the ensuing operations. $*<ALARMING*>
1420A37 $^The raise **[sic**] in the Jamuna level as **[sic**]
1421A37 has been a phenomenal
1430A37 ten centimetre per hour much to the helplessness of the authorities
1440A37 and flood forecasters. ^With at least 45 villages in the northern periphery
1450A37 completely washed away a minimum of four metres of water in some
1460A37 places, a dozen North Delhi colonies besides Model Town have been hit
1470A37 by the never-ending gush. ^It is nature*'s very own *8cul-de-sac.*9 $^The
1480A37 Radio Colony on the Mall, and Adarsh Nagar have been invaded by
1490A37 the waters and Jehangirpur is swallowed. ^So also \0Dr Mukherjee Nagar
1500A37 and the Kingsway Camp areas. ^The Khalsa College, Miranda House
1510A37 as well as Probyn Road have been run over. $^That_ is to_ say that
1511A37 the
1520A37 vehicular traffic on the Grant Trunk Road has been completely halted
1530A37 as the authorities are battling against a grim situation threatening
1540A37 to_ go worse with every hour. ^Official sources report that 80 per cent
1550A37 of the residents of Model Town have been pulled out to safety and some
1560A37 40,000 have been evacuated from Alipur zone in New Delhi. $*<*3rail
1570A37 traffic*> $^All rail traffic has been ground to a halt over the bridges
1580A37 over the Jamuna. ^In fact, such is the speed of the flow of water
1590A37 that some authorities fear for the old bridge over Jamuna whose piers
1600A37 are now under the current. ^The Railway Minister Madhu Dandavate along
1610A37 with functionaries of the Railway Board visited these sites for a spot
1620A37 study. $^The Prime Minister \0Mr Morarji Desai went on an ariel
1630A37 view of the submerged areas while the rescue operations on the ground
1640A37 were in full swing. ^The authorities have been asking the people to_ vacate
1650A37 the danger zones as speed boats were whizzing through where people found
1660A37 it too late to_ quit. $^At 14.30 hours, the Jamuna was running wild
1670A37 on the level of 207.23 metres: ^The portends were not good as the danger
1680A37 level of the river is 204.83 metres. ^According to eye witness accounts
1690A37 from officials the river was almost kissing the foot of the bridge.
1700A37 $*<*(0*G *T*) ROAD*> $^Some 30 kilometres stretch of the Grand
1701A37 Trunk
1710A37 Road, if not more, were under water with huge Leyland and diesel trucks
1720A37 lying fully immersed like little toys. ^Many vehicles were abandoned
1730A37 on either side of the Trans-Jamuna colonies. ^Some *4bunds have breached.
1740A37 $^This afternoon fresh warnings were flashed to West Delhi areas
1750A37 where the New Friends Colony and Maharani Bagh area lie right in
1760A37 the way of the coming waters. ^Never before in the Capital*'s history
1770A37 these colonies had faced such a flood threat. ^The Okhla industrial complex
1780A37 in this sector is deserted: ^The displaced residents are praying
1790A37 that the tide will turn soon.*#
        **[no. of words = 02007**]

        **[txt. a38**]
0010A38 **<*3Shipping industry wants \0Rs 360 \0*4cr. as rescue loan**> $^The
0020A38 shipping industry wants an astronomical \0Rs. 360 *4crores by way of
0030A38 rescue loans. ^This is larger than the \0Rs. 300-*4crore loan provided
0040A38 for shoring up five ailing industries-- cotton textiles, jute, cement,
0041A38 sugar
0050A38 and engineering. $^The demand was made by the shipowners here today
0060A38 when they met the Inter-Ministerial Working Group appointed by the
0070A38 Union Finance Ministry. ^The group headed by \0Mr *(0W. S.*) Tambe,
0080A38 Secretary Department of Economic Affairs of the Union Ministry
0090A38 of Finance is currently here to_ look into the immediate assistance
0100A38 needed by the shipping companies and to_ examine their liquidity positions.
0110A38 ^A team representing the Indian National Shipowners*' Association
0120A38 met the group here. $^Shipowners pleaded that the \0Rs. 500 *4crore
0130A38 foreign exchange allocation granted for buying ships should be utilised
0140A38 for repayment of the outstanding foreign exchange loans to_ be repaid
0150A38 in the coming three years. $^They pleaded that the loans should be granted
0160A38 with an interest of 4.5 per cent with a moratorium of three years in
0170A38 respect of both interest and principal and the repayment period should
0180A38 be spread over the balance income tax life of the ship including the
0190A38 moratorium period. $^It was indicated by them that approximately the total
0200A38 amount of outstanding foreign exchange loans against all shipping companies
0210A38 including those in the public sector was of the order of \0Rs.
0220A38 600 *4crores. ^Of which 60 per cent amounting to \0Rs. 350 to \0Rs.
0230A38 360 *4crores fell due for repayment during the next three years. $^The
0240A38 team also told the Group that the current loss of shipowners were estimated
0250A38 to_ be around \0Rs. 65 to \0Rs. 75 *4crores a year. ^There was therefore
0260A38 real risk of shipowners*' failing to_ honour their commitments
0270A38 in regard to repayment of foreign exchange loans unless speedy relief
0280A38 was granted by the Government. $^The erosion in the equity and the steep
0290A38 decline in the market values of ships had also made it difficult for
0300A38 shipowners to_ conform to the debt-equity and security norms the Group
0310A38 was appraised. $^The Group wanted more details about the liquidity positions
0320A38 of individual shipping companies which the Indian National Shipowners*'
0330A38 Association will submit tomorrow.
0340A38 $**<*3Cotton price rise feared**> $^The fear of Indian cotton prices
0350A38 moving up in view of the anticipated supply gap is expressed here by
0360A38 cotton trade. ^Cotton production according to trade estimates is placed
0370A38 around 66 *4lakhs bales. ^Calculated on the basis of the expected consumption
0380A38 of the industry the requirement would be around 69 *4lakh bales.
0390A38 $^After allowing for a couple of *4lakh of bales for extra consumption
0400A38 by the industry the gap would be between 4 and 5 *4lakh bales. $^World
0410A38 cotton output this year is higher by about 5 million bales and though
0420A38 the present prices are somewhat higher than about two months ago, they
0430A38 are still considerably lower than the high prices India paid last year.
0440A38 ^Since there was no other go but to_ import to_ fill the gap the trade
0450A38 feel that this is the time for the government to_ decide on imports. ^The
0460A38 fairly reasonable price level obtaining at present is likely to_ move
0470A38 up as the season advances, the trade feel. $^At the annual meeting of the
0480A38 East India Cotton Association a plea to_ lift the ban on Bengal
0490A38 *4deshi cotton export was made by \0Mr. Purushottamdas, President
0500A38 of the Association. ^His argument was that Bengal *4Deshi fetched a
0501A38 better
0510A38 price last year from Japan at about 110 cents per pound and even this
0520A38 year Pakistan had sold at the same price. ^At this price the country
0521A38 could
0530A38 earn the necessary foreign exchange to_ import better quality cotton
0540A38 required for the mills.
0550A38 $**<*3High cost of Bombay High gas Indo-Yugoslav sponge iron Project
0560A38 may be dropped**> $^The proposed Indo-Yugoslav joint venture to_
0570A38 manufacture sponge iron along the west coast may be abandoned because
0580A38 of high cost of \0ONGC gas supplies. $^Informed sources say the
0590A38 Yugoslav Government is giving 'a second thought' to its own proposal,
0600A38 originally intended to_ make profitable reinvestment of *4rupee funds
0610A38 built up during those years of bilateral trade. $^The Oil and Natural
0620A38 Gas Commission supply of Bombay High or Gujarat basin gas is saidto_
0630A38 be three times costlier than average prices of natural gas in other
0640A38 countries, including Bangladesh, where most of the furnaces draw their
0650A38 energy requirement from natural gas. $^The public sector \0ONGC
0660A38 which figures among the top profitmaking State-owned organisations, charges
0670A38 nearly \0Rs 1,000 per 1,000 cubic metres of gas. ^The average
0680A38 international price of the same amount of supply is around \0Rs 300.
0690A38 $^The Yugoslav Government made the joint venture proposal to the Union
0700A38 Steel Ministry and wanted to_ utilise the abundant supply of natural
0710A38 gas, which is regarded to_ be the cheapest source of fuel, from Bombay
0720A38 High and Gujarat basin for the purpose. $^The Steel Ministry entrusted
0730A38 a public sector consultancy firm with preliminary survey to_ assess
0740A38 the economic viability of the project. ^The survey report, which is said
0750A38 to_ have highlighted the high \0ONGC gas prices, is lying with
0760A38 the Government without any further progress. $^Ash content in Indian
0770A38 coke being as high as 30 per cent, as against an international average
0780A38 of 10 per cent, the conversion cost in conventional furnaces becomes high
0790A38 and the quality poor. ^The use of natural gas can solve both the problems.
0800A38 ^Experts say that natural gas can be used even for running those
0810A38 most conventional 'Cupola' furnaces for melting iron to_ make grey iron
0820A38 castings or high-duty castings. $^Several private sector units, which are
0830A38 keen on setting up furnaces using natural gas as fuel in the region,
0840A38 are also stated to_ be going slow because of the prevailing high fuel costs.
0850A38 ^Despite huge gas finds in Tripura, which is believed to_ have been
0860A38 carrying the same sub-soil structure passing through Bangladesh, and
0870A38 a large amount of natural gas being produced at Gujarat and Bombay High
0880A38 basins, the \0ONGC has not indicated any substantial reduction
0890A38 in future prices when the additional supply of gas is transported through
0900A38 pipelines right at the door of the industry.
0910A38 $**<*3Big money sunk in empty wells**> $^Most of the 50,000 wells dug
0920A38 up during the last drought in Maharashtra were not sited by any geologist
0930A38 and 60 per cent of them have therefore yielded no water, says \0UNI.
0940A38 $^Quite a number of them have remained incomplete and of those
0950A38 completed, a fairly large proportion are not capable of yielding water
0960A38 to_ sustain large-scale farming for which they were dug up. $^A committee
0970A38 of the Maharashtra Academy of Sciences (\0MAS) in its interim
0980A38 report has stated that many of those wells are unproductive and are
0990A38 out of use, resulting in wastage of government funds. $^The report
1000A38 was released at the \0MAS annual general body meeting, presided over
1010A38 by the Atomic Energy Commission chairman, \0Mr. *(0H. N.*) Sethna,
1020A38 who is also the chairman of the academy. $^The committee was appointed
1030A38 at the instance of the then State Governor the late \0Mr. Ali
1040A38 Yavar Jung on May 21, 1976. ^The interim report was submitted to the
1050A38 Government in August last year, with specific recommendations on the collection
1060A38 of data on existing wells and watershed and organisation and
1070A38 manpower utilisation. $^A member of the committee told \0UNI that
1080A38 no action was taken by the Government on the report so far. $^One of
1090A38 the recommendations was that the Government*'s Groundwater Survey and
1100A38 Development Agency (\0GSDA) should prepare and keep ready a blue
1110A38 print for locations of wells for areas generally affected by drought.
1120A38 ^The Government should insist that sites for the wells should be taken
1130A38 up for digging during future droughts. $^The committee, led by \0Dr.
1140A38 *(0G. R.*) Udas, pointed out that there were no groundwater level contour
1150A38 maps of the watershed and large-scale topographical maps to_ determine
1160A38 the drainage pattern of the watersheds. $^At present, maps are often
1170A38 simply taken from the village maps, which are not adequate, it said.
1180A38 $^The committee noted that the probe into elementary watershed basins
1190A38 had not so far been given the importance it deserves. $^The \0GSDA
1200A38 had examined 1,467 elementary watersheds. ^The committee said it was
1210A38 essential to_ examine the demarcation of these watersheds for delineation
1220A38 and precision. $^It was necessary to_ demarcate and delineate the basin
1230A38 into three generally well-defined sectors, namely, the sector of recharge
1240A38 area, the intermediate sector and the sector of discharge area.
1250A38 $^The surface water courses in the three sectors of streams needed further
1260A38 scrutiny into their hydrological settings, since surface courses did
1270A38 not necessarily coincide with the ground or sub-surface courses. $^The
1280A38 committee recommended that photogeological maps of the State should
1290A38 be prepared with the help of the Survey of India. ^The maps would help
1300A38 in photo-interpretation of the terrain for quick understanding of the
1310A38 geomorphology, geology and ground water potential of the State. $^The
1320A38 committee said the general observation of the \0GSDA that no
1330A38 aquifers were available below 40 meters could not be completely discredited,
1340A38 but the exercise of some other agencies was contrary to this. $^The
1350A38 agencies, such as the Central Ground Water Board, the Geological
1360A38 Survey of India and the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Madhya
1370A38 Pradesh, have indicated some cases where the best quality of water has
1380A38 been tapped from deeper aquifers for consistant supply for irrigation
1390A38 in basaltic regions. ^The committee therefore suggested that the exploration
1400A38 for tapping deeper aquifers should not be overlooked. $^The committee
1410A38 recommended, as a 'first and urgent measure', that the data of dug
1420A38 and bore wells for the entire state be obtained. ^This data needed to_
1430A38 be collected in a format which would enable computerising of the same.
1440A38 $**<*3\0RBI rejects all bids, speculators fear action-Gold falls to
1450A38 \0Rs 900**> $^Gold prices nosedived to \0Rs 900 per 10 \0gms. from
1460A38 \0Rs. 950 over the weekend following market reports that the authorities
1470A38 were contemplating stern action to_ check speculation. ^The market
1480A38 also witnessed buyers*' resistance. $^The Reserve Bank rejected all the
1490A38 bids for the 13th auction held on October 12 on the ground that none
1500A38 of the bids came up to the reserve price. ^The \0RBI had received
1510A38 in all 1,207 bids. ^This is the second time that \0RBI has rejected
1520A38 the auction bids outright, the previous occasion being the 8th gold
1530A38 auction held on August 8. $^Despite this move the prices dropped on arrivals
1540A38 of smuggled gold as the current high prices have made gold smuggling
1550A38 remunerative. ^Market sources, however, think that prices may soon
1560A38 start its upward climb as there is no prospect of the \0RBI offering
1570A38 any gold till at least the *4Diwali. ^But this has to_ be placed against
1580A38 the possibility of larger arrivals of smuggled gold depressing
1590A38 prices. $^In official dealings, standard gold (mint) price dropped by \0Rs.
1600A38 40 from its peak of \0Rs. 940 last week-end, to_ close at \0Rs.
1610A38 900 per 10 \0gms. ^But in kerb, prices rebounded sharply to \0Rs. 930
1611A38 and
1620A38 later advanced further to \0Rs. 940. $^The next auction will be held
1630A38 on October 23 and the terms and conditions for the 14th gold auction by
1640A38 the \0RBI will be the same as the previous one except for some minor
1650A38 changes. ^As a special case it has been decided to_ permit all those
1660A38 who participated in the 13th auction to_ submit fresh bids for the 14th
1670A38 on the strength of the cheques already submitted by them for the 13th,
1680A38 even though the amount of each cheque may be less than 10 per cent of
1690A38 the fresh bid. $^Official circles in Delhi do not seem unduly concerned
1700A38 over the steep rise in gold prices in the past few days with the onset
1710A38 of the marriage season when demand for the precious metal normally touches
1720A38 the peak, adds \0PTI. $^One reason for the rise they feel is
1730A38 the trend in international gold prices with the weakening of some hard
1740A38 currencies like the \0US dollar. ^On the contrary they take comfort
1750A38 from reports that the narrow margin between world prices and the ruling
1760A38 gold prices in India offered no incentive to smugglers on whose list gold
1770A38 had always occupied top place.*#
        **[no. of words = 02003**]

        **[txt. a39**]
0010A39 **<*3What to_ do with Slums**> $^Slum is full of human miseries, it
0020A39 can be told. ^Yet, shelter being a basic human need, slums found in all
0030A39 cities and towns in the country fulfil this need to a considerable extent.
0040A39 ^It is estimated that over two and half *4crores people live in slums
0050A39 throughout the country-- there is no dearth for stories or statistics
0060A39 relating to slums and slum-dwellers. ^The Government and other authorities
0070A39 concerned have always been making attempts to_ solve the problem of
0080A39 slum clearance but to very little avail. ^Slums still grow alarmingly.
0090A39 $^The influx of the people coming to the cities and towns from villages
0100A39 in search of jobs and ending up in slums cannot be immediately curbed.
0110A39 $*<NEEDS AND RESOURCES*> $^Provision of houses itself to the slum-dwellers
0120A39 is a great problem. ^For two and half *4crores slum-dwellers on
0130A39 an average of five people per household, it is necessary to_ construct
0140A39 fifty *4lacs houses. ^Assuming on an average, a modest minimum
0141A39 construction
0150A39 cost of \0Rs. 8,000/00 per house a total outlay of \0Rs. 4,000/00
0160A39 *4crores is required for the total implementation of the slum clearance
0170A39 programme. ^But either the Central Government or the State Governments,
0180A39 or the Civic Bodies or all the three joined together would not
0190A39 be in a position to_ defray this much money for the purpose urgently. $^Nor
0200A39 it will be politic or practicable to_ raise loans to this extent from
0210A39 the public exclusively for this purpose and treat the newly constructed
0220A39 houses as priced commodities and charge the allottees of these houses
0230A39 accordingly. ^For, the slum-dwellers often do not have stable jobs and
0240A39 good incomes. ^Thus it becomes necessary to_ phase the slum clearance
0250A39 programme according to the extent of finance available. $^Even if a total
0260A39 expenditure of \0Rs. 200 *4crores for slum clearance is envisaged per
0270A39 annum it would be possible to_ solve the problem within a period of
0280A39 20 years only. ^The possibility of renovating the present huts or constructing
0290A39 new *4pucka shanties in the slum, with minimum habitation standards,
0300A39 could be examined. ^Funds could be raised to an extent for the purpose
0310A39 of slum clearance by way of public loans. ^One other possible way
0320A39 to_ raise some funds towards this end is to_ levy a small charge on each
0330A39 *4pucka house, say, a *4rupee a month. ^The burden of such a charge should
0340A39 be considered by the owners of such houses as a gracious gesture
0350A39 shown to these homeless. ^Ironically those who are placed in better
0351A39 positions
0360A39 often choose to_ forget that they owe something to these unfortunates.
0370A39 ^This is where the shoe pinches. $^Under these circumstances, we should
0380A39 be more concerned about the steps to_ be taken to_ provide some environmental
0390A39 hygiene and a package of essential services and facilities to
0400A39 the slum-dwellers. ^There is no need to_ elaborate here the physical and
0410A39 environmental aspects of the slums \0*7viz., insanitations,
0411A39 dilapidated
0420A39 huts, over-crowding water-logging \0etc. ^Often the inhabitants are under
0430A39 continuous eclipse of poverty. ^Illiteracy and unemployment are also
0440A39 parts of their life. ^Obviously under the slum clearance programme we
0450A39 are dealing with the slum-dwellers and not with the slum as such in isolation.
0460A39 $*<A PROFILE*> $^Generally the population mix in slums is unhealthy.
0470A39 ^Many of the slum-dwellers are engaged in petty economic activities
0480A39 like vending vegetables, fruits, toys \0etc. weaving baskets and mats;
0490A39 preparing eatables; collecting empty tins gunny bags \0etc. keeping
0500A39 very small retail shops *4paan shops \0etc., exchanging old clothes and
0510A39 garments for utensils; hand-cart pulling; plying *(cycle-rikshaws*);
0511A39 head-loading
0520A39 \0etc. \0etc. ^The growing children could be trained in carpentry, iron-smithy,
0530A39 masonry, laundering, cycle repairing, dairying, book-binding,
0540A39 shoe-making; toy-making, painting, mat-making, basket weaving, handloom
0550A39 weaving, gardening, kite-making; white washing \0etc, the list could
0560A39 be long. $^It would be apt to_ observe here that unfortunately a feeling
0570A39 has gone around in the general public that a slum is a den of vices
0580A39 and the inhabitants do not deserve any assistance from outside. ^Vices
0590A39 are there as everywhere. ^There may be quarrels too often, but a slum should
0600A39 not be considered as a vortex of violence. ^The slum-dwellers*' general
0610A39 outlook towards life is peaceful. ^They are as a section a part
0620A39 of our society and not by any reckoning a pest on the society. $*<EFFORTS
0630A39 IN AHMEDABAD*> $^In a slum called Machhipur Slum Colony at
0640A39 Ahmedabad various constructive activities have been initiated by a team
0650A39 of slum-dwellers from that_ slum colony itself for the upliftment of the
0660A39 slumdwellers as a whole. ^They are being assisted by benevolent organisations
0670A39 like the Red Cross Society, *5Gandhi Sadnana Kendra*6,
0671A39 LionsClubs,
0680A39 \0etc. and also by \0N.S.S. students. ^Even a wellknown
0690A39 story-teller, Appa Hamirbhai Mehta visits the area twice a week to_
0700A39 tell fables to the children. $^It would be interesting to_ note that the
0710A39 nationalised banks in our country have now started financing the slum-dwellers
0720A39 and adopting slums for economic activities. ^The State Bank Group
0730A39 has been premier in adopting slums for social as well as economic activities.
0740A39 ^In one of the slums adopted by State Bank of India two
0750A39 years back at Ahmedabad it has been taking up education and skill development
0760A39 programmes. ^They also conducted painting and doll-making classes
0770A39 with the assistance of two organisatons of women and a noted woman teacher
0780A39 of painting. $^The bank has even brought out a greeting card based
0790A39 on some slum-dweller*'s painting and the sale proceeds of the cards
0800A39 were used for the developmental activities in the slum. ^The bank was also
0810A39 conducting a lower primary school in the slum. ^Many slum-dwellers engaged
0820A39 in economic activities have also been financed by the bank with a
0830A39 view to_ enable them to_ get released from the clutches of the money lenders
0840A39 and also to_ generate more income. $*<WHERE TO_ BEGIN*> $^A
0841A39 question
0850A39 that_ should be asked here is that if an organisaton like State Bank
0860A39 of India can assist the slum-dwellers in the above fashion, why
0870A39 it should not be possible for the other commercial bank*'s office and the
0880A39 various social organisations in our country to_ take care of at least
0890A39 one slum each. $^Any organisation interested in the upliftment of the
0900A39 slum-dwellers would be able to_ take among others a few of the following
0910A39 steps:-- $1 ^Moving the Civic or the State authorities to_ provide
0920A39 the slum-dwellers a minimum standard of environmental hygiene, sanitary
0930A39 arrangements, provision of water, lights, roads \0etc. $2 ^Launching 'keep
0940A39 the slum clean', 'literacy', 'savings'; \0etc. campaigns. $3 ^Arranging
0950A39 to_ conduct education cum entertainment programmes, medical camps,
0960A39 vocational guidance classes \0etc. $4 ^Persuading the dwellers to_ give
0970A39 up evil habits like drinking alcohol (in which activity they often spent
0980A39 a considerable part of their incomes); persuading the adults to_ join
0990A39 some service bodies like Home Guards and also to_ send their children
1000A39 to schools. $5 ^Conducting games and sports for and on behalf of the
1010A39 slum-dwellers. $6 ^Arranging for cultural programmes of the slum-dwellers
1020A39 themselves and of outsiders in the slums on festive occasions. $7
1030A39 ^Educating or arranging to_ educate the children and adults in the slums.
1040A39 $8 ^Teaching the slum-dwellers the importance of hygiene. $9 ^Instituting
1050A39 some awards for the up-keep and cleanliness of the slum and its
1060A39 total improvement, in order to_ create an awareness of hygiene and an
1070A39 element of competition among the dwellers themselves. $10 ^Persuading
1080A39 the dwellers to_ move to the places where, as and when, they are given
1090A39 new residential accommodations. $11 ^Moving financial institutions to_
1100A39 assist the economic activities of the slum-dwellers, after the indigent
1110A39 dwellers are identified and also providing the necessary follow-up and
1120A39 recovery assistance to the financial institutions, if possible. $^The
1121A39 commercial
1130A39 banks can cater to the economic needs of such slum dwellers under
1140A39 their various schemes for lendings to weaker sections of the society
1150A39 and create more self-employment opportunities. ^They themselves can identify
1160A39 the needy ones and assist them or can assist those who are already
1170A39 identified by other agencies involved in the slum upliftment. $^The students
1180A39 could play a vital role in bettering the living conditions of the
1190A39 slum-dwellers. ^They, especially the college students, can, during their
1200A39 spare time, but on a continuous basis, take up some social work in the
1210A39 slums. $^It would indeed be heartening and worthwhile if every college,
1220A39 or a group of students from every college, under a responsible student
1230A39 leader or a teacher-leader, could adopt a slum each for some social work.
1240A39 ^Their activities in the slum will have far reaching results. $^The
1250A39 question is how far the slum-dwellers would be able to_ tread on their
1260A39 own old paths and stay in their old slums, content with poverty, illiteracy
1270A39 and unemployment. ^Let us make some beginning before they choose to_
1280A39 assert themselves.
1290A39 **<*3Culture and Counter-Culture**> $^AFTER passing through several
1300A39 phases during the past quarter century the world youth scene has shifted
1310A39 as it were to plateau. ^The openly flaunted rebellion and the strident
1320A39 counter-culture of the 1960s are now mere memories. ^That there
1330A39 were national diversities within the world scene is undeniable. ^If in the
1340A39 developed countries the turbulance was a reaction against soulless consumerism,
1350A39 in India it was an explosion caused by an amalgam of frustrations.
1360A39 ^The global factor was the mass waywardness of youth. ^*Moscow
1370A39 was as much plagued by it as Washington, London or Tokyo. ^In retrospect,
1380A39 however, the waywardness appears to_ have been a mini mass phenomenon.
1390A39 ^It was centred in the middle or rather the upper middle, class. ^The
1400A39 vast masses of youth in the lower classes were totally untouched by
1410A39 the craze for trend life-styles of permissiveness. ^Even the small minority
1420A39 of college students who identified themselves with the New Left
1430A39 came largely from the upper end of the social spectrum. ^It is no secret
1440A39 that many of those who were stirred by the call of Naxalbari came
1450A39 from elite institutions. $^Only the children of elite could afford the
1460A39 luxury of an identity crisis or a sense of flatness in life. ^The children
1470A39 of the poor, who constitute the bulk of society, have their adolescence
1480A39 moulded by more earthy and less transcedental pressures. ^If they
1490A39 drop out of school, it is not in response to the call of radical ideologies
1500A39 but to_ add to the meagre income of their family. ^Their highest
1510A39 priority is to_ come to terms with their poverty. ^They lack the necessary
1520A39 flamboyance to_ attract attention and are invariably left out of focus
1530A39 when one seeks to_ concentrate on a single image of the Indian youth
1540A39 scene. ^Only to Gandhi, they collectively represented the image of *4Daridranarayan.
1550A39 $^Perhaps this is one reason why Gandhi has been put
1560A39 on a pedestal and left in the cold. ^The elite have really no use for Gandhi
1570A39 and would rather go with George Orwell. ^In his essay on Gandhi,
1580A39 Orwell makes the point that saintly renunciation is not a better version
1590A39 of ordinary human life but an alternative to it. ^The average person,
1600A39 who chooses to_ go on loving, breeding, reacting to life on the level
1610A39 of day-to-day existence is not just a failed saint but one who has chosen
1620A39 to_ get involved with life just as the saint has chosen not to. ^On this
1630A39 view, the pleasure-oriented counter-culture becomes almost apocalyptic.
1640A39 ^This is what the affluent youth had sought through their rebellion.
1650A39 ^Let *4Daridranarayan look after himself. $^It was John Wain
1651A39 who,
1660A39 in his study of William Empson, made the remark that the kind of Buddhistic
1670A39 doctrine **[sic**] preached the Fire Sermon has never led
1671A39 anyone to_ become
1680A39 Mother Tereasa. ^Something similar could be said of the Marxism,
1690A39 Maoism or Marcuseism preached by the votaries of counter-culture.
1700A39 ^They never went beyond being impatient of moral considerations and social
1710A39 responsibilities. ^The few who did, hastily withdrew to their side
1720A39 of the barricade. ^In India there was the additional factor of their
1730A39 political exploitation. ^The bleak economic scene, particularly the lack
1740A39 of employment opportunities, also induced a sense of frustration among
1750A39 young men standing at the threshold of life. ^The problems of adjustment
1760A39 peculiar to a society in transition too tended to_ baffle Indian
1770A39 youth. $^All these problems still remain, although the youth scene has shifted
1780A39 to sobriety.*#
        **[no. of words = 02006**]

        **[txt. a40**]
0010A40 **<*3STRATEGY TO_ COMBAT ILLITERACY*0**> $*3^EXCLUSION*0 of a vast
0020A40 majority of the people from the process of education is a most disturbing
0030A40 aspect of educational planning in India. ^A massive National Adult
0040A40 Education Programme covering about 100 million illiterate adults
0041A40 within
0050A40 about five years is going to_ be inaugurated on October 2, 1978. ^This
0060A40 is the most stupendous educational task undertaken in the country since
0070A40 independence. ^The Government has resolved to_ wage a clearly conceived,
0080A40 well-planned and relentless struggle against illiteracy to_ enable
0090A40 the masses to_ play an active role in social and cultural change. $^Literacy
0100A40 ought to_ be recognized, as an integral part of an individual*'s
0110A40 personality. ^The present thinking on Adult Education is based on the
0120A40 assumptions that illiteracy is a serious impediment to an individual*'s
0130A40 growth and to country*'s socio-economic progress; that education is
0140A40 not co-terminus with schooling but takes place in most work and life situations:
0150A40 that learning, working and living are inseparable and each acquires
0160A40 a meaning only when correlated with the others: that the means by which
0170A40 people are involved in the process of development are at least as
0180A40 important as the ends; and that the illiterate and the poor can rise to
0190A40 their own liberation through literacy, dialogue and action. $*<*3Dimensions*0*>
0200A40 $^The progress of literacy in India presents a very tardy picture.
0210A40 ^According to the census of 1971, three out of every five men and
0220A40 four out of every five women in the country are illiterate. ^The number
0230A40 of illiterates has increased from 298 millions in 1951 to 386 millions
0240A40 in 1971. ^The picture in Andhra Pradesh is even worse. ^Among the 31
0250A40 States and Union Territories, Andhra Pradesh occupies 23rd place
0260A40 in the literacy. ^The percentage of literacy in the State is 25 compared
0270A40 to the nation*'s figure of 29. ^Discouraging aspects of the problem
0280A40 are the wider disparity between literacy percentage among men and women
0290A40 in the urban and rural areas. $^The programme which will cover the entire
0300A40 country (22 States and 9 union territories) and will be related to
0310A40 the physical environment of the area and the socio-economic and cultural
0320A40 conditions of the people will necessarily have considerable diversity.
0330A40 ^The occupational and cultural characteristics of the learning groups
0340A40 will differ from area to area and so will the elements in the programme
0350A40 which is to_ serve them. $*<*3Favourable*0*> $^The results of the
0360A40 Experimental World Literacy Programme as well as the experience of
0370A40 the countries where illiteracy eradication programmes have successfully
0380A40 been implemented show that a systematic effort must be made for creation
0390A40 of an environment favourable for launching of such a massive programme.
0400A40 ^No country, however, perhaps with the exception of China, faced the
0410A40 problem of illiteracy of the magnitude we are facing. ^And hardly any
0420A40 country has had such a long tradition of respect for learning and knowledge
0430A40 or the vast resources which we have. ^What is necessary, it is indeed
0440A40 a pre-requisite for motivation of all persons to_ be involved in the
0450A40 programme, is to_ engender a spirit of hope and confidence. ^The Prime
0460A40 Minister, the Union Education Minister and the State Education
0470A40 Minister have already declared that the highest priority needs to_ be given
0480A40 to adult education. $^Leaders of almost all political parties in Parliament
0490A40 have wholeheartedly endorsed the programme and have given assurance
0500A40 of support. ^This, it is hoped, would be followed up by leaders in
0510A40 various other walks of life such as trade unions, trade and industry,
0520A40 students and youth. ^A critical role can be played, in this context, by
0530A40 the mass media-- films, \0TV, radio, newspapers, publicity posters
0531A40 \0etc.
0540A40 ^This would require an ingenious and co-ordinated effort, in which official
0550A40 and non-official media shall have to_ converge to_ serve the objectives
0560A40 of the Programme. ^In addition, a number of other methods could
0570A40 be explored, including holding of seminars and symposia, celebration
0580A40 of the World Literacy Day in schools and colleges, \0etc. ^The various
0590A40 ways in which an environment can be created shall have to_ be studied
0600A40 in details and necessary measures taken as soon as possible. $*<*3Components*0*>
0610A40 $^The two most basic problems faced by our country are poverty
0620A40 and illiteracy. ^One obliges a vast mass of our citizens to live under
0630A40 conditions of want and degradation, the other hinders opening of the
0640A40 doors of development and affects the ability of the poor to_ overcome
0650A40 their predicament. ^Indeed, the problems of poverty and illiteracy are
0660A40 two aspects of the same stupendous problem and the struggle to_ overcome
0670A40 one without at the same time waging a fight against the other is certain
0680A40 to_ result in aberrations and disappointments. ^For this reason, the
0690A40 programme is visualised as a means to_ bring about a fundamental change
0700A40 in the process of socio-economic development; from a situation in which
0710A40 the poor remain passive spectators at the fringe of the development
0720A40 activity to being enabled to_ be at its centre, and as active participants.
0730A40 ^The learning process involves emphasis on literacy, but not that only:
0740A40 it also stresses the importance of functional upgradation and of
0750A40 raising the level of awareness regarding their predicament among the poor
0760A40 and the illiterate. $^In addition to organising a massive programme for
0770A40 adult illiterates, it is necessary to_ provide special programmes for
0780A40 special groups based on their special needs. ^For example, programmes
0790A40 are needed for urban workers to_ improve their skills, to_ prepare them
0800A40 for securing their rightful claims and for participation in management:
0810A40 Government functionaries such as office clerks, field extension workers
0820A40 and police and armed forces personnel to_ upgrade their competence: employees
0830A40 of commercial establishments such as banks and insurance companies
0840A40 to_ improve their performance and housewives to_ inculcate a better understanding
0850A40 of family life problems and women*'s status in society. ^Programmes
0860A40 for these and several other categories of persons could be organised
0870A40 through class-room participation, correspondence courses or mass
0880A40 media, or by a combination of all these. $*<*3Dropouts*0*> $^One of
0890A40 the recurrent issues in adult education planning is motivation of the
0900A40 adult learners. ^Even when they can be stimulated to_ participate in adult
0910A40 education programmes initially, their interest is not sustained and
0920A40 they tend to_ drop out. ^The problem is particularly grave in respect of
0930A40 women and persons belonging to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
0940A40 ^It is true that if the programme has organisational flexibility
0950A40 and relevance of the content and methods with the felt needs and problems
0960A40 of the learners, it would fulfil the pre-conditions of sustained participation
0970A40 of the learners. ^Also, creation of an environment favourable
0980A40 to the organisation of mass programme can act as an effective motivation.
0990A40 ^However, these may not suffice and the matter needs to_ be examined
1000A40 in a much greater detail. $^Adult education must cease to_ be a concern
1010A40 only of the educational authority. ^It should be an indispensable
1020A40 input in all sectors of development, particularly where participation of
1030A40 the beneficiaries is crucial to the fulfilment of development objectives.
1040A40 ^A pre-requisite of an adult education movement is that all agencies,
1050A40 Governmental, voluntary, private and public sector industry, institutions
1060A40 of formal education \0etc. should lend strength to it. ^Voluntary
1070A40 agencies have a special role to_ play and necessary steps shall have
1080A40 to_ be taken to_ secure their full involvement. ^Instructional work shall
1090A40 have to_ be done by the teachers, students and unemployed men and women.
1100A40 ^It would be of great advantage if unemployed or under-employed youth
1110A40 having the potentiality to_ organise adult education programmes are provided
1120A40 necessary training and then entrusted with the responsibility for
1130A40 organising such programmes. $*<*3Challenging*0*> $^For too long the universities
1140A40 have theoretically espoused about desirability of contact with
1150A40 the community. ^The adult education activity provides a challenging
1160A40 situation for the universities and colleges to_ overcome their seclusion
1170A40 and to_ enter the mainstream of mass education. ^What is needed is that
1180A40 adult education should cease to_ be the concern of only one department,
1190A40 but should involve all members of faculty and of course, the students.
1200A40 ^Indications are already discernible that the university system is preparing
1210A40 itself for this massive involvement and to_ make necessary reorganisations
1220A40 in its priorities. $^As a part of the National Service Scheme,
1230A40 students in Institutions of higher education may provide a valuable
1240A40 agency for organisation of adult education centres. ^For this purpose
1250A40 it would be necessary to_ involve the teachers of these institutions
1260A40 also. ^It would be necessary to_ re-think regarding the present timing
1270A40 of academic sessions, the system of credits, certification \0etc. ^Student
1280A40 involvement in this programme should be voluntary but the leaders in
1290A40 the university system shall have to_ create an atmosphere in which students
1300A40 find this work worthwhile and satisfying. $^Many previous attempts
1310A40 at organising the adult literacy and adult education campaigns including
1320A40 the select programme of Farmers*' Functional Literacy did not succeed
1330A40 to the extent desired for several reasons among which the most important
1340A40 was lack of flexibility and even more so the lack of appropriate
1350A40 training programmes for instructors, supervisors and other functionaries
1360A40 directly responsible for conducting the whole operation. ^While some
1370A40 agencies organized short training or orientation courses, others did not
1380A40 arrange any training whatsoever. ^It is crucial to the success of the
1390A40 new programme that this past shortcoming is not allowed to_ recur. $^The
1400A40 size and diversity of the new task will necessitate well organised training
1410A40 for all the functionaries involved in the programme throughout the
1420A40 length and breadth of the country. ^Even though the implementation of
1430A40 the programme is to_ be largely decentralised and scope is to_ be given
1440A40 to the field level workers to_ use their initiative and resourcefulness,
1450A40 all of them will need a minimum training in order to_ assimilate the
1460A40 values and objectives of the Programme and to_ grasp the various techniques
1470A40 essential for achieving the objectives. ^The States, and the
1480A40 union territories and voluntary agencies will have therefore, to_ conduct
1490A40 a large scale and well-designed training operation built on the objectives
1500A40 of the Programme and sound principles of adult learning. ^The task
1510A40 is not easy by any means, but it is absolutely unavoidable. $^A mass
1520A40 education programme, inevitably faces the risk of considerable wastage
1530A40 and misreporting. ^In this connection the importance of systematic monitoring
1540A40 and evaluation cannot be exaggerated. ^It must permeate the entire
1550A40 programme and should provide feedback for introducing necessary correctives
1560A40 from time to time.
1570A40 $**<*3FROM DELUGE TO DELIGHT*0**> $*3"^WOULD you not get a metal
1580A40 road while I am still alive? ^Can*'4t I get a chance to_ reach my village
1590A40 by bus? ^I had an uphill task trekkin through the mud and slush!" said
1600A40 65 year old Addanki Bhushayya, *4Sarpanch of Gollapalem. ^His words
1610A40 still echo in my ears. ^He came to Avanigadda to_ have a glimpse
1620A40 of \0Mrs. Nirmala Gandhi and \0Mr. Kanu Gandhi,
1621A40 daughter-in-law and grandson of Mahatma Gandhi,
1630A40 who arrived there to_ participate in the conference of \0A.P.
1640A40 Constructive Workers and inaugurate the Sevashram in October 1977. $^*Bhushayya
1650A40 was a *4Gauda, one of the backward castes. ^He may be an illiterate
1660A40 but an upright man. ^He had a lean and thin frame and looked simple
1670A40 but had a heart of pure gold. ^He was open and frank and had arbitrated
1680A40 in several disputes. *4^*Raja of Challapalli used to_ like him
1690A40 very much. ^*Bhushayya was steady and honest. $^It was some 40 days later
1700A40 on the 19th November that he went round his village house to house and
1710A40 cautioned the inmates to_ be alert and careful against the severe cyclone.
1720A40 ^At the end of the rounds, he reached home. ^And then there had been
1730A40 the tidal wave! ^He became a part of the ocean and the legend! .^*Gollapalem
1740A40 is about 3 \0kms. away from the coast. ^A tidal bank constructed
1750A40 for protection in 1956 when \0Mr. Neelam Sanjiva Reddy was the State
1760A40 Chief Minister had been washed away by the tidal wave. ^The bank
1770A40 gave away at a place in direct line with Gollapalem, Pata Upakali. ^*Gollapalem,
1780A40 Chintakolla, Mandapakala which lay along that_ straight line
1790A40 were wiped off. ^The wave further went on to_ batter the Addankidibba,
1800A40 Mandapakala central channel and Kodur-Nagayalanka road. ^It carried
1810A40 the huts, house tops and carcasses over to Jayapuram ten miles away
1820A40 on the Kodur-Avanigadda road.*#
        **[no. of words = 02006**]

        **[txt. a41**]
0010A41 **<*3Beautiful dribbler**> $^Ashok Kumar is a "beautiful dribbler" stated
0020A41 \0Mr Sikandar Bakht, Union Minister for Public Works and Housing
0030A41 in Patiala and yet "He plays more to the gallery and often destroys
0040A41 the whole forward line." ^Now this statement is contradictory. ^To_
0050A41 get goals the forward must be an expert dribbler and acquire mastery with
0060A41 his stick and the ball and that_ is what Ashok is. ^Who scored the
0070A41 winning goal in Kuala Lumpur? ^If Ashok lacked dribbling and that_ sure
0080A41 scoop with placing the ball in the net, India would have been defeated.
0090A41 ^It is not for nothing that continental teams employ some times two
0091A41 best
0100A41 defenders who constantly police him (Ashok) throughout the game and yet,
0110A41 he often either himself scores a goal or is instrumental in scoring by
0120A41 placing well marked pass to his mate. $^He is a born hockey player and
0130A41 can fit in any right or left position although he has often excelled in
0140A41 the left like his uncle, the great Roop Singh. ^He is as much gifted
0150A41 to_ play forward as was his famous father \0Mr Dhyan Chand. ^*I have
0160A41 seen him in action at Bhopal and elsewhere and can confidently put him
0170A41 with the best during the last 50 years. ^His style and speed approach that_
0180A41 of Jaggit Singh who was equally confident with his stick and could
0190A41 dodge often four or even five men and score with a stinging shot. ^Most
0200A41 of Bhopal hockey enthusiasts may be aware of his performance in Obaidullah
0210A41 Hockey Tournament in early sixties, when he raced with ball covering
0220A41 3/4 ground. $*<*3FORMATIONS*0*> $^Hockey is played in the World
0230A41 now on various formations akin to soccer and certainly not on Indian
0240A41 style. ^The Western teams keep 2 backs 4 half backs and four forwards.
0250A41 ^Thus both backs and halves literally encircle the fast moving forward
0260A41 and make him difficult to_ run with the ball. ^Passes either short or long
0270A41 are easily intercepted. ^No wonder, it is impossible to_ get field goals
0280A41 under such circumstances. ^Then forwards like Ashok or Govinda come
0290A41 in the picture. ^A breezy piercing the rest by any can on a day earn India
0300A41 a winner more easily than a combined movement by two or three which
0310A41 can easily be snapped off and disintegrated by the crowding out tactics
0320A41 as also by the typical man to man marking of the leading hockey powers.
0330A41 ^*Ashok has the knack to_ dodge dash and dupe his watchers once he gets
0340A41 the ball and flies to the goal either himself placing it in the net (Mind,
0350A41 you, not hitting because goalie will surely stop) in the corner.
0360A41 ^So has also Govinda. ^Surely Pakistan could not throw away, Shahnay
0370A41 or Salamuddin who are expert dribblers first and scorers afterwards. $^*India
0380A41 is to_ play 4 test matches with Pakistan in preparation for the
0390A41 World Cup Hockey Tournament, scheduled in Argentina in march \0i.e.
0400A41 just 30 days this year. ^It is a tragedy that_ no Indian eleven has yet
0410A41 been declared although Pakistan, is fully ready. ^Whatever the Hockey
0420A41 politics India cannot afford to_ reject such a sure and sustained goal
0430A41 getter as Ashok who has scored every time despite rigid encirclement
0440A41 by opponents. ^To_ lose him would mean dropping Pele from a soccer team.
0450A41 **<*3Hunter*'s paradise in danger*0**> $^*Kashmir may soon cease to_
0460A41 be a hunter*'s paradise and a game preserve. $^For, only three of the six
0470A41 lake "sanctuaries" are functional now. ^They are Hokura, Haigam and
0480A41 Mirgund. ^The three lakes which have dried up are Pampore, Krunchu and
0490A41 Shalbug. $^The Kashmir *4Shikar Club has therefore, urged the
0491A41 State
0500A41 Government to_ take immediate steps to_ revive the "dead" lakes. $^Set
0510A41 up in 1963, the Club wants the immediate constitution of a wildlife
0520A41 board and a consultative committee "to_ devise schemes for improvement
0530A41 of the sports of hunting and fishing." $^Incidentally, Kashmir attracts
0540A41 birds from as far as Siberia. ^The inflow begins from around September
0550A41 15 every year and the exodus starts from around April 15. ^The birds
0560A41 generally fly in moonlight, covering a distance of about 1,100 miles
0570A41 in 24 hours. $^Not very long ago, the Secretary of the Kashmir
0571A41 *4Shikar
0580A41 Club, \0Mr. Ghulam Ahmad Batku, said, 'the birds coming from Siberia
0590A41 used to_ be received ceremoniously.' $^But, he lamented the fact that
0600A41 the whole romance and sanctity had now been lost as a result of the
0610A41 negligence in the preservation of sanctuaries and increase in the incidence
0620A41 of poaching. $^This has adversely affected not only the sport of
0630A41 hunting the small game but also the wildlife. $^It all started in 1947-48,
0640A41 \0Mr. Baktu recalled, when there was no control on the use of gun
0650A41 by ordinary citizens following the partition of the country and the subsequent
0660A41 Pakistani attack on Kashmir. $^The situation became worse with
0670A41 the increase in the number of defence personnel who killed the small
0680A41 and big game recklessly. $^As a result, \0Mr. Baktu said, while small
0690A41 birds were forced to_ look for other habitats, the number of animals like
0700A41 *4Hangul (a type of deer exclusive to Kashmir), *4Markhor, Ibex,
0710A41 Snow Leopard and Brown Bear, had gone on declining at a 'very fast
0720A41 rate.' $^However, following the steps taken for preservation of
0721A41 *4Hangul,
0730A41 its population has risen from 150 in the past few years to 200 at present.
0740A41 $^At one stage, *4Hangul was feared to_ have become almost
0741A41 extinct.
0750A41 ^Even the World Wildlife Fund and the International Union for the
0760A41 Conservation of Nature put the animal on its 'Red Book.' $^An immediate
0770A41 measure suggested by the Kashmir Club for the preservation of
0780A41 small and big game in the State is that the authorities must take up the
0790A41 issue with defence authorities and simultaneously bring about an effective
0800A41 control on the use of ammunition issued to civilians and non-civilians.
0820A41 $**<*3Who is responsible for hockey debacle?*0**> $^Hockey lovers in the
0830A41 country have risen in revolt against the humiliating exit of India
0840A41 in the pre-semifinal round of the World Hockey Cup at Buenos Aires.
0850A41 ^They feel that it is a matter of shame that India who taught hockey
0860A41 to the world has herself failed to_ qualify this time even for a semi-final
0870A41 berth. ^Rightly one seasoned critic puts, "When India for the first
0880A41 time since 1928 suffered the humiliation of not making it to the semi-finals
0890A41 in the Montreal Olympics one thought and hoped for an authentic
0900A41 revival of India*'s hockey genius through the World Cup tournament
0910A41 in Argentina. $^*India had fought with gusto and skill at Barcelona
0920A41 (1971) and Amsterdam (1973) with at least the face-saving bronze and silver
0930A41 medals won in that_ order. ^Then Kuala Lumpur, the venue of the
0940A41 third World Cup, indeed crowned India as World Cup champions. ^All
0950A41 eyes were thus set on Buenos Aires to_ see the reassertion of India*'s
0960A41 powers and not this dis-illusionment.' $^The pertinent question is:
0970A41 *_^Who is responsible for this debacle? ^Basically, it is the dirty politics
0980A41 in the rank and file of the Indian Hockey Federation that_ was
0990A41 responsible for this poor showing in the Tournament. ^The responsibility
1000A41 for this lies squarely with the authorities. ^While selecting the team
1010A41 they were swayed by favouritism and other extraneous considerations.
1020A41 ^Merit was hardly a factor in the choice of players. ^Several inexperienced
1030A41 players were selected while stalwarts like Ajit Pal, Surjit, Harcharan,
1040A41 Govinda and Aslam were, one would like to_ say "brutally axed."
1050A41 $*<*3WEAK-KNEED POLICY*0*> $^The Government cannot escape responsibility
1060A41 for its weak-kneed policy in this behalf. ^At one stage, one of
1070A41 the central minister, **[sic**] \0Mr. Sikander Bakht tried to_
1071A41 intervene
1080A41 in the Hockey affairs but without any tangible result. ^He was adament
1090A41 that the hockey "rebels" should at no cost be included in the team.
1100A41 ^This was a very unfortunate decision. ^According to one report, he was
1110A41 even pulled up by Prime Minister Desai to_ "take his hands off from hockey
1120A41 affairs" and that there should be no Government interference in the
1130A41 autonomous character of the Indian Hockey Federation. $^Perhaps the
1140A41 saddest person in the country is Dhyan Chand the Hockey Wizard, who
1150A41 in no uncertain words has said, "If political interference is removed
1160A41 from national hockey, our performance can reach its past glory again."
1170A41 ^Though short, it is a meaningful statement and the Government will, I
1180A41 believe, pay heed to it. ^Meanwhile, the Punjab Sports Minister, Sukhdev
1190A41 Singh Dhindsa has demanded the resignation of the President
1200A41 of the Indian Hockey Federation and the \0IHF selectors and a public
1210A41 apology from them for bringing disgrace to the country in the World
1220A41 Cup. ^Some other hockey 'fans' have urged the Government to_ institute
1230A41 a full fledged enquiry into this debacle.
1240A41 $**<*3Young Sikh may make cricket history**> $^*Steven Gurpal Singh,
1250A41 a 16-year-old left-arm spin bowler could become the first Asian to_
1260A41 play for Yorkshire the county cricket club that_ is unique in British
1270A41 cricket for refusing to_ engage not only overseas stars but any players
1280A41 born outside the county boundaries. $^*Steven, whose parents come from
1290A41 Jullundur district (Punjab), lives in Pudsey, the Yorkshire town known
1300A41 to cricket lovers throughout the world as the birthplace of Sir Len
1310A41 Hutton and Ray Illingworth, both former Yorkshire and England captains.
1320A41 $^His talent was spotted by Yorkshire coach Doug Padgett when
1330A41 playing for his school-- Pudsey Grammar School, where he is a fifth former--
1340A41 and the Yorkshire under 15 schoolboys*' side. ^Now he has been
1350A41 called up for coaching at the county*'s famous Test match ground and club
1360A41 headquarters-- Headingley, Leeds. $^He was encouraged by his League
1370A41 cricket club Undercliffe, to_ turn from seam bowling to slow left arm.
1380A41 $*<GROOMING PROCESS*> $^*Steven thrilled by his call to the Yorkshire
1390A41 nets, recognised as the first step in the grooming process for
1400A41 Yorkshire players, said "I*'1d love to_ play for Yorkshire if I got
1410A41 the chance, but at present I intend to_ concentrate on my studies, at school.
1420A41 ^It*'1s important that I do well in my examinations, so I can*'4t
1430A41 look too far ahead." $^For more than 100 years Yorkshire have fiercely
1440A41 defended their policy of only recruiting players born in the county.
1450A41 ^They have been accused of being insular for not importing overseas star
1460A41 players. $^\0Mr. John Temple, Yorkshire*'s cricket committee chairman,
1470A41 commenting on Steven*'s trial, struck back at the critics: "^The
1480A41 only prejudice there ever has been in Yorkshire is against the principle
1490A41 of importing players, whether from another county or from another
1500A41 country. ^*Steven was born in Ilkley, virtually the heart of Yorkshire.
1510A41 ^He may be a Sikh, but in my book he*'1s a true Yorkshireman."
1511A41 $^*Ray
1520A41 Illingworth said: "^This lad will be judged strictly on merit-- there
1530A41 has never been any room for sentiment in Yorkshire cricket. ^It will be
1540A41 interesting to_ see if he chooses to_ play for England or India if he
1550A41 ever makes the Test grade." $^*Steven Gurpal Singh has an elder brother
1560A41 and sister and three younger sisters.
1570A41 $**<*3Cricket coaching**> $^The Board of Control for Cricket in India
1580A41 has decided to_ undertake a wholesale review of its coaching programme.
1590A41 $^The decision is believed to_ have been taken at a meeting held last
1600A41 month in Bombay by the Coaching Sub Committee of the Board. $^The
1610A41 meeting was presided over by \0Mr *(0S K*) Wankhade: ^The Board
1620A41 President, \0Mr \0M Chinnaswamy, was present by special invitation.
1630A41 $^Members of the Sub-Committee, it is learnt, have been asked to_
1640A41 submit proposals for future training of promising cricketers in the
1650A41 country. $^It is further learnt that a senior member of the Board, \0Prof.
1660A41 *(0D B*) Deodar, has been requested to_ send his proposals in the
1670A41 light of the past experience. $^Authoritative sources said that during
1680A41 its day-long deliberations, the Coaching Sub-Committee noted that
1690A41 the lack of fast bowlers was not the only problem afflicting Indian cricket.
1700A41 $^It was pointed out with regret that all that_ had been achieved
1710A41 during the past so many years was the training and discovery of only one
1720A41 new fast bowler, Kapil Dev, who made his Test debut in Pakistan in
1730A41 the just-ended three match series. $^Some members feared that India was
1740A41 also about to_ lose its supremacy in the field of spin bowling.*#
        **[no. of words = 02002**]

        **[txt. a42**]
0010A42 **<*3can minqrities expect a fair deal?**> **[begin leader comment**]
0020A42 *3^The 'minorities question' has featured in Indian politics for a long
0030A42 time now. ^The Constitution has sonorous phrases about the rights of
0040A42 minorities, but riots and other more insidious acts of discrimination
0050A42 against them persist. ^But what is this majority that_ is blamed? Moin
0060A42 Shakir says the whole concept of a majority-minority confrontation is
0070A42 false and that secularism has not succeeded in India because it has never
0080A42 amounted to more than political rhetoric. **[end leader comment**]
0090A42 $^Every polity-- capitalist, socialist, developed or developing-- has to_
0100A42 confront the problem of minorities and integration. ^This is inevitable
0110A42 as no country has a perfectly homogeneous people. ^Every government has
0120A42 to_ make an effort to_ achieve cohesion and unity and introduce common
0130A42 symbols of identity among the various segments of its population. ^If
0140A42 the people are of a mixed character, there is bound to_ be social differences,
0150A42 ethnic cultural variations, political discords, economic rivalries
0160A42 and historical antagonisms. ^The minorities are the product of this
0170A42 situation. ^There is no sovereign remedy to_ eliminate the majority-minority
0180A42 problem in order to_ bring about a uniform pattern of thinking and
0190A42 behaviour. ^One way is to live with these differences and see that they
0200A42 do not lead to the disintegration of society. ^In the context of nation-building,
0210A42 the problem of minorities is at the centre of politics
0220A42 and it cannot be tackled piecemeal and without a definite perspective. ^It
0230A42 should be noted that there is no perfect model of majority-minority
0240A42 relationship though experiments under different systems can provide useful
0250A42 guidelines. $^In India now, the question of the minorities and how
0260A42 to_ satisfy their aspirations is of crucial importance. ^It is the criterion
0270A42 of the success or failure of the democratic experiment in this
0280A42 country. ^When we want to_ tackle the minorities*' problems, it is nothing
0290A42 but an attempt to_ deal with certain problems of particular sections
0300A42 of the Indian people. ^They are considered to_ be minorities because
0310A42 they perceive themselves as minorities. ^Really speaking, they constitute
0320A42 a national category. ^From the standpoint of theory no concept of a
0330A42 'minority' and a 'majority' is tenable. ^No definition of 'minority' can
0340A42 be taken as wholly satisfactory. ^Those who constitute less than 50 per
0350A42 cent should be called a minority. ^But the difficulties arise when one
0360A42 asks the question-- 50 per cent of what? ^In the total population of
0370A42 the country, Hindus are a majority, since they are 82.72 per cent. ^But
0380A42 they are not a majority in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab and Nagaland where
0390A42 Muslims, Sikhs and Christians respectively are more than 50 per
0400A42 cent of the total population. ^The fragmentation of Hindu society, the
0410A42 rigid stratification and hierarchy among Hindus prevent them from exercising
0420A42 what is called the tyranny of the majority. ^The vertical and
0430A42 horizontal divisions of the Indian social structure show that the 'majority'
0440A42 and the 'minority' are both fictitious entities. \0^Dr Ambedkar
0450A42 and \0Mr Jinnah were very wrong when they formulated that the communal
0460A42 majority in India was a governing class and the minority a subject race.
0470A42 ^As a polyglot country India displays a diversity of religion and
0480A42 culture. ^Fortunately or unfortunately, there is no all-India language
0490A42 or all-India culture. ^Owing to these diversities and some subjective perception,
0500A42 a section of people may choose to_ be a minority, a nationality,
0510A42 a nation, a sub-nation or a ritually superior group. ^The purpose of
0520A42 the foregoing argument is not to_ deny the existence or the validity
0530A42 of the minority groups, as Hindu chauvinists have been doing. \0^*Mr Deen
0540A42 Dayal Upadhyaya held that "the word minority denotes a section of
0550A42 the people living in this land but belonging to some other nation". $^On
0560A42 the contrary, we want to_ argue that India is a confederation of minorities.
0570A42 ^For example, the Muslims (11 per cent of the Indian population)
0580A42 who are generally believed to_ be a communally organized and more
0590A42 politically articulate group are divided along social, economic and political
0600A42 lines. ^There are not only sectarian differences but a number of
0610A42 sub-communities and small fanatic groups in the community. ^Apart from the
0620A42 Shia and the Sunni sects there are many prominent groups like the Bohras,
0630A42 the Khojas, the Memons etc. ^The practices of the Bohras, under
0640A42 the sway of the Syedna priestly family, are so contrary to the general
0650A42 belief pattern of the common Muslim that doubts are often expressed
0660A42 if they should be described as 'Islamic'. ^The style of asserting
0670A42 the hegemony of the priestly family is thoroughly fascist and authoritarian,
0680A42 but practically the entire Muslim leadership (intellectuals and
0690A42 the religious elite included) willingly becomes a prey to the money power
0700A42 of the Syedna priesthood. ^The same is the case with the so-called Scheduled
0710A42 Castes (14.60 per cent of the population) and the Sikhs (1.89
0720A42 per cent of the population). ^The present Akali-Nirankari controversy,
0730A42 and the presence of the Mazhais and the Kabir *4panthis reveals
0731A42 the
0740A42 fragmented and stratified nature of the Sikh community. ^So both the
0750A42 majority and the minorities are divided into a multitude of particular
0760A42 groupings with their own passions and prejudices. $^There is nothing wrong
0770A42 if certain sections of the people consider themselves different from
0780A42 other section **[sic**] on the basis of religion, race or language.
0781A42 ^Even if such
0790A42 groups are all described as minorities, their respective problems and
0800A42 grievances are remarkably varied and different. ^Economic uplift, integration,
0810A42 socio-cultural security and end of discrimination are the basic
0820A42 problems of the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Muslims.
0830A42 ^The problems of the impoverished, belonging to all the minorities-- including
0840A42 Anglo-Indians-- is common and therefore, the solution of the
0850A42 same should also be common. ^In this sense, the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled
0860A42 Tribes and Muslims are the core minorities in contrast to others
0870A42 like Sikhs, Jains, Parsis \0etc. $^The traumatic experience of
0871A42 partitioning
0880A42 the country compelled Indian leaders to_ give special attention
0890A42 to the minorities question. ^It was a baffling task for them as the British
0900A42 had already formulated a colonial strategy of satisfying the ambitions
0910A42 of the minority groups. ^The Indian leadership inherited the legacy
0920A42 of the British policy of non-interference in religious matters, giving
0930A42 religious freedom to all and providing special representation for
0940A42 them in the legislative bodies and administration. ^The ruling 'elite' in
0950A42 independent India faithfully followed the British approach to minorities
0960A42 except for the abolition of separate electorates. ^The Indian Constitution,
0970A42 a charter of the bourgeoisie rule in the country, ensures freedom
0980A42 of religion, freedom to_ preserve one*'s script and culture, freedom
0990A42 to_ maintain educational institutions, and representation in legislatures
1000A42 and civil services for the various minorities. ^This is claimed
1010A42 to_ be part of the secular policy of the State. $^The limitations of
1020A42 this approach are quite obvious. ^First, the Western notion of secularism
1030A42 has no relevance to the Indian situation. ^The role of religion in
1040A42 the West and that_ in the oriental countries are not similar. ^The separation
1050A42 between Church and State has never been a feature of history
1060A42 or of political tradition in India. ^No leader in India, with the sole
1070A42 exception of *(0M. N.*) Roy, paid any attention to the philosophical
1080A42 content and implications of the concept of secularism. ^For all practical
1090A42 purposes, secularism means giving equal treatment to all religions
1100A42 and not separation of State and religion and even using public funds
1110A42 for religious purpose. ^If some religions are more equal than others
1120A42 the former may get more funds and more State patronage. ^The same confusion
1130A42 is equally evident in the issue of imparting religious and social
1140A42 instruction. ^Various committees of the government and the commissions
1150A42 headed by \0dr. \0S. Radhakrishnan and \0dr. Kothari suggested that
1160A42 exclusion of spiritual training would amount to a denial or reversal
1170A42 of our whole historical development. ^Even if religion is kept apart from
1180A42 the text-books, the irrational beliefs of the majority community are
1190A42 being included in them in the garb of culture. ^The Sayyaiddin Committee
1200A42 Report on \0UP text-books makes startling revelations in this
1210A42 regard. ^Secularism in India means a limited freedom of religion and
1220A42 not freedom from religion. $^Secondly, the class character of the State
1230A42 determines its attitude to the minorities. ^*Marx while writing on
1240A42 the Jewish Question beautifully described the nature of the bourgeoisie
1250A42 State. ^According to Marx, this "abolishes in its own way distinctions
1260A42 of birth, social rank, education, and occupation, when it declares
1270A42 that birth, social rank, education, and occupation are *3non-political distinctions
1280A42 when it proclaims, without regard to these distinctions, that
1290A42 every member of the nation is an *3equal participant in national
1300A42 sovereignty... ^Nevertheless the State allows private property, education,
1310A42 occupation to_ act in their own way, \0i.e. as private property,
1320A42 as education, as occupation, and to_ exert the influence of their *3special
1330A42 nature. ^Far from abolishing these real distinctions, the State
1340A42 only exists on the presupposition of their existence,..." ^Such a State
1350A42 cannot do justice to the minorities. ^It invariably fails to_ solve their
1360A42 real problems. $^It is pointed out by economists and sociologists that
1370A42 in the United States discrimination against ethnic minorities annually
1380A42 brings the monopolies at least *-30,000 million in super-profits.
1390A42 ^Unlike the United States, India is a land of scarcity. ^Economic resources
1400A42 are meagre. ^Jobs are few. ^Discrimination is inherent in such a
1410A42 situation. ^The first casualties are the members of the minority groups,
1420A42 particularly of the large ones. ^The greatest beneficiary in this system
1430A42 is the industrial- bureaucratic- military- landlord combination.
1440A42 ^The non-political distinctions, as described by Marx, matter and matter
1450A42 effectively. ^Poverty, ignorance, injustice, and exploitation are inseparably
1460A42 linked with one another. ^The minority groups are condemned to_
1470A42 be inequal and discriminated against. $^Third, neither the founding fathers
1480A42 of the Indian Constitution nor the political elite have ever
1490A42 been serious about the economic and religious emancipation of the members
1500A42 of the minority groups. ^No justiciable Article of the Constitution
1510A42 ensures that_. ^It should also be noted that the political elite
1520A42 among the minorities are concerned only with articulating the demands
1530A42 of the educated middle class segment or with non-issues like the Personal
1540A42 Law of Muslims or with renaming a university in case of Scheduled
1550A42 Castes. ^Their politics are a compromise with the 'national' elite
1560A42 who are keen on accommodating them. ^This is how the facade of a consensus
1570A42 in the polity is maintained. ^A break-down in the pattern means the
1580A42 dissatisfaction of a section of the same elite with the total
1590A42 group*'s style or performance. ^The participation or involvement of the
1600A42 common man implies nothing but legitimization of the 'elite rule'. $^Even
1610A42 from the point of view of elite politics, let alone the real
1620A42 question of economic emancipation of the oppressed and suppressed ones,
1630A42 the performance of the system is absolutely unsatisfactory. ^Take the
1640A42 example of the Muslim minority. ^The Muslims are greatly under-represented
1650A42 in the civil services, army, private and public undertakings and
1660A42 even that rate is continuously on the decline. ^They are discriminated against
1670A42 in other walks of life. ^They have invariably been the victim of
1680A42 communal violence. ^Their language-- Urdu-- is not getting its due place
1690A42 in \0UP which is ensured by Article 346/347 of the Indian Constitution.
1700A42 $^In spite of the guarantees provided for in the Constitution,
1710A42 the representation of the Scheduled Castes in the higher cadres
1720A42 of the civil service was 1.77 per cent, in the clerical category 8.86
1730A42 per cent, and in the category of attendants and peons 17.44 per cent.
1740A42 ^In the public sector undertakings the corresponding percentage in the Class
1750A42 *=1 cadre was 0.2, in Class *=2 1.07 and in Class *=3 0.92. ^The
1760A42 ruling elite is keen on giving representation in services but not
1770A42 interested in the real land reforms programme which is the concern of
1780A42 the overwhelming majority of the Scheduled Castes. ^On minor issues
1790A42 they are subjected to humiliation and caste-violence. ^All this happened
1800A42 when the "saviour of minorities" was the Prime Minister of this country.
1810A42 ^The Fakhruddin Ali Ahmeds and the Jagjivan Rams cannot come
1820A42 to the rescue of their communities, whatever position they may occupy
1830A42 in the system. ^The simple way of asserting their hold on the community,
1840A42 as described by Marx, is to_ adopt a religious attitude to politics and
1850A42 a political attitude to religion.*#
        **[no. of words = 02005**]

        **[txt. a43**]
0010A43 *<*3Money didn*'4t belong to ex-\0PM*> **<*3Nagarwala took \0Rs
0020A43 60 *4lakhs for some secret use**> $\0^*Rs 60 *4lakhs taken out of the
0030A43 State Bank of India by Rustam Sohrab Nagarwala on may 24, 1971,
0040A43 belonged to the Bank and was removed for some secret use, according to
0050A43 the findings of the Reddy Commission which investigated the so-called
0060A43 bank fraud case. $^The Commission*'s report which is now with the Government,
0070A43 says that though the possibility of unaccounted money being kept
0080A43 in the Bank could not be ruled out, there was no evidence to_ show that
0090A43 the money belonged to former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. ^The
0100A43 Commission did not accept Prime Minister Morarji Desai*'s view in this
0110A43 regard. $^Admitting that there were several 'dark spots' for which
0120A43 no explanation could be found the report criticises \0Mrs Gandhi who
0130A43 also held the Home Portfolio at the time for not ensuring proper investigation
0140A43 of the case. ^The Commission has taken a serious note of evidence
0150A43 that certain officers of the then Prime Minister*'s secretariat
0160A43 tried to_ hamper the investigation and told the police officers concerned
0170A43 to_ finish the case quickly. $^The report says that an examination of
0180A43 the Bank*'s Parliament Street branch from where the money was removed
0190A43 showed that private unaccounted articles were being kept in the Bank*'s
0200A43 strong room, particularly by some Bank officials and employees. $^The
0210A43 Commission does not rule out the possibility of important persons keeping
0220A43 unaccounted money in the Bank. $^It says that it could not ascertain
0230A43 who requisitioned the money and for what purpose, but that there is
0240A43 evidence to_ suggest that the practice of removing money from the Bank
0250A43 this way was prevalent even before the Nagarwala case, although the amounts
0260A43 involved in those transactions may not be as big. $^Both \0Mr Desai
0270A43 and \0Mrs Gandhi had deposed before the Commission. $^The report
0280A43 says that although the Bank*'s chief cashier, \0Mr *(0VP*) Malhotra,
0290A43 had persistently maintained that he was unwittingly involved in it, his
0300A43 cross-examination indicated that he had been handling similar transactions
0310A43 earlier. $^Discrepancies in his statement made to police and the fact
0320A43 that he was so easily able to_ take such a huge amount out of the strong
0330A43 room, and then out of the Bank*'s premises itself to_ give it to
0340A43 Nagarwala, also confirmed this. $^There was also evidence to_ suggest
0350A43 that both Nagarwala and \0Mr Malhotra knew each other before the case.
0360A43 $^According to the case history prepared by police at that time, Nagarwala
0370A43 fraudulently telephoned \0Mr Malhotra mimicking \0Mrs Gandhi*'s
0380A43 voice on May 24, 1971, and asked him to_ hand over the money to him as
0390A43 it was needed for a top secret work. \0^Mr Malhotra thought it was needed
0400A43 actually for Bangla Desh operations and gave it. ^*Nagarwala who
0410A43 made a confession, was sentenced to prison within three days. ^The money
0420A43 was recovered from him on the day of the incident. $*<*3NO EVIDENCE*0*>
0430A43 $^The Commission says that there was no evidence before it to_ show
0440A43 who actually requisitioned the money and for what purpose. $^The report
0450A43 draws attention in this regard to the depositions of \0Mr *(0N F*) Suntook
0460A43 of Research and Analysis Wing (\0RAW), \0Mr *(0S N*)
0470A43 Mathur of Intelligence Bureau (\0IB) and \0Mr John Lobo of
0480A43 Central Bureau of Investigation (\0CBI). $\0^Mr Ram Nath Ra0,
0490A43 who headed \0RAW during the tenure of \0Mrs Gandhi, had also
0500A43 denied the agency*'s involvement in the affair. $^The Commission did
0510A43 not accept the confession made by Nagarwala before a New Delhi magistrate
0520A43 as it could not be substantiated by evidence. $^Nagarwala said in the
0530A43 confession that he mimicked \0Mrs Gandhi*'s voice while talking to
0540A43 \0Mr Malhotra, but his friends and persons known to him said that he could
0550A43 not even speak properly because of the injuries he had sustained on
0560A43 the face and the month in two car accidents before the Bank case. $^Besides,
0570A43 there were also discrepencies between his version and \0Mr Malhotra*'s
0580A43 version, particularly about the code words they used. $^The confession
0590A43 had said that there was nothing 'pre-arranged or pre-planned and
0600A43 that he simply happened to_ be in the Bank*'s vicinity and on the spur
0610A43 of moment, just for 'adventure' phoned Malhotra from within the Bank
0620A43 imitating \0Mrs Gandhi*'s voice. ^Initially, he pretended to_ be \0Mr
0630A43 *(0P N*) Haksar, principal secretary to the then Prime Minister.
0640A43 $**<*3INDIRA CONFIDENT OF SUCCESS*0**>
0650A43 $\0^*Mrs Indira Gandhi is confident
0660A43 of winning the Chikmagalur by-election though she could not hazard
0670A43 with what lead. $^Addressing a Press conference today \0Mrs Gandhi
0680A43 said that she had never predicied the electoral chances of any individual
0690A43 during her over 30 years of political life. $^Asked whether she would
0700A43 like to be the Opposition leader if elected, \0Mrs Gandhi said an opposition
0710A43 leader would have to_ devote a lot of time in Parliament and
0720A43 she did not know whether she could spare so much time, any way it was
0730A43 for her party to_ decide, she said.
0740A43 $**<*3NIRANKARIS MEET PEACEFUL*0**> $^The first day of the three-day annual
0750A43 *4Samagam of Nirankaris ended peacefully today, save for a
0751A43 small
0760A43 demonstration by a group of Akalis who were not allowed to_ go anywhere
0770A43 near the venue of the congregation. $^Police arrested about 40 Akalis,
0780A43 led by \0Mr Kirpal Singh Sangatpuri, senior Vice-President of
0790A43 the Delhi Gurdwara *4Prabhandak Committee, for violating the prohibitory
0800A43 orders. $**<*3Encephalitis in 2 more districts*0**> $^Two more
0810A43 districts-- Gaya
0820A43 and Aurangabad came in the grip of encephalitis today with eight and one
0830A43 seizures respectively. ^A victim of Aurangabad died in the Gaya Pilgrim
0840A43 Hospital. ^In Patna the total death toll is four till today, according
0850A43 to official sources. $*<*3Virus presence in Bihar confirmed*0*>
0860A43 $^There is presence of the Japanese Encephalitis (\0JE) virus in Bihar,
0870A43 according to the National Institute of Virology (\0NIV) here.
0880A43 $\0^Dr *(0N P*) Gupta, Director of the Institute, told \0PTI
0890A43 that existence of the virus in the State had already been shown from
0900A43 patients in Dhanbad and Bokaro. $^He said he proposed to_ visit Patna
0910A43 to_ help the Bihar Government authorities in setting up a field investigative
0920A43 unit in case local outbreaks of the disease occurred in that_
0930A43 State. $^The sources said that in all 13 districts were now in the grip
0940A43 of the disease in which 229 persons had been attacked with it, out
0950A43 of whom 84 of them had died. $^Meanwhile, the Patna Medical College
0960A43 Hospital has opened a 20 bed separate ward today to_ keep patients of
0970A43 encephalitis in isolation. ^This ward has been opened keeping in view that
0980A43 most of the patients coming from outside rushed directly to the \0PMCH
0990A43 and some of the attendants of the patients resist to_ go elsewhere.
1000A43 ^The Government has already started a 200-bed hospital at Agamkuan.
1010A43 $^The Superintendent of the \0PMCH \0Dr Raghubir Sharan said
1020A43 that in his hospital there were 22 cases of encephalitis, but it had
1030A43 not been detected whether any of them was suffering from Japanese Encephalitis
1040A43 or not. ^Among the admitted patients seven were children and death
1050A43 rate in them was 90 percent as in the case of old-age group. ^Among
1060A43 adult **[sic**] the death was 50 to 75 per cent, he added.
1061A43 $*<*3ADVICE TO PEOPLE*0*>
1070A43 $\0^Dr Sharan appealed to people that if any person got severe headache
1080A43 or high fever suddenly he should immediately be rushed to the nearest
1090A43 hospital for diagnosis. $^While this killer disease has made deep dent
1100A43 in the capital and citizens have become panicky the authorities of
1110A43 the Patna Municipal Corporation appeared to_ be completely apathetic
1120A43 to the civic condition of the town. $^A survey made by this reporter brought
1130A43 in focus that night soil is floating due to chocking of drains in
1140A43 Pirmohani area garbages are being dumped in open drains along roads \0No.
1150A43 35 and 36 in Gardanibagh by sweepers. ^The Gulab Bagh Road in old
1160A43 Kadamkuan is littered with cowdung and nightsoil. ^Roads \0no. 11 and
1170A43 12 of Rajendra Nagar are paradise for buffaloes and cows. ^But even
1180A43 such vulnerable places had not been cleaned and sprayed by civic authorities
1190A43 so far. ^Garbages could also be seen dumped by shopkeepers on the
1200A43 southern boundary wall of the Patna Medical College Hospital. $^But
1210A43 the most unfortunate part of the story is that the Patna Municipal
1220A43 Corporation inserted an advertisement in newspapers giving five telephone
1230A43 numbers so that citizens could contact for cleaning their areas if
1240A43 they were dirty, but seldom anyone responded and if at all anyone lifted
1250A43 the phone and took note of the complaint that_ was never attended to.
1260A43 $^However in response to the Bihar Health Minister*'s appeal to_ fight
1270A43 the disease at war-level, the management of Bata India Limited Bataganj,
1280A43 has taken up intensive spraying in the villages Digha; and Ramjichak,
1290A43 Nach Bagicha, Nasriganj, Banskothi, Nawab Kothi and Dighaghat.
1300A43 ^Other *4Harijan *4mohallas have also been chosen by it for spraying
1310A43 \0DDT with Malathion. $^An auto-sprayer, a stirrup-sprayer and
1320A43 a gatore sprayer have been put into action under the direct supervision
1330A43 of the Company Medical Officer \0Dr *(0TDB*) Singh with a dozen
1340A43 of para medical staff. ^Also gamexene powder will be sprayed freely.
1350A43 $^After fully covering these areas for which work has been started and
1360A43 about half done, the idea is to_ extend this programme to Patliputra
1370A43 Colony and to those families who require the help, according to a press
1380A43 note issued by the company. $^A government press note said that Sonepur
1390A43 fair was essentially a cattle fair and it had been established that cattle
1400A43 form the main carriers of encephalitis virus through culex variety
1410A43 of mosquito. ^People were being advised not to_ bring their cattle to
1420A43 the fair and also to_ avoid visiting the fair. $^However, the Government
1430A43 was launching a vigorous anti-mosquito drive in the fair area.
1431A43 ^Aerial
1440A43 spraying in and around *4mela area was being organised and the district
1450A43 authorities were also launching a sanitary drive there, it added.
1460A43 $**<*3Chikmagalur tense but peaceful**> $^The overall situation in the
1470A43 Chikmagalur *5Lok Sabha*6 constituency was peaceful barring some clashes
1480A43 and tension in a few places today. ^Home Commissioner \0Mr *(0V.*)
1490A43 Venugopal Naidu told newsmen this evening. $^He said everything was
1500A43 quiet in the entire constituency on the eve of the polling. $^Reports
1510A43 of tension were received from Mudigere town. ^He said one Janata Party
1520A43 worker was beaten up in Narasimharajapura last night while a number
1530A43 of Congress (\0I) workers were assaulted and two of their cars were
1540A43 damaged in Sringeri this morning. ^A Congress (\0I) worker was
1541A43 beaten
1550A43 up with rod at the bus-stand in Chikmagalur town today he said. $^The
1560A43 Central Reserve Police had taken position in all *4taluk towns and sensitive
1570A43 areas \0Mr Naidu said. $^Meanwhile there was rain in Chikmagalur
1580A43 since morning today and reports about rain had been received from some
1590A43 other areas also. $^Chikmagalur goes to the polls tomorrow to_ decide
1600A43 the political future of \0Mrs Indira Gandhi former Prime Minister,
1610A43 contesting the *5Lok Sabha*6 seat with the backing of the ruling Congress
1620A43 (\0I) Party in Karnataka. $\0^Mr Veerendra Patil former Chief
1630A43 Minister of the State fielded by the ruling Janata Party at the
1640A43 Centre, is her principal challenger among 28 in the field. $^The poll
1650A43 will be held, according to weather forecast in light to heavy downpour
1660A43 which might discourage a big turn up of the middle-class voters considered
1670A43 to_ be the main hope of the Janata Party. ^Local opinion is that
1680A43 the weather would not dampen the enthusiasm of plantation and other workers
1690A43 on whom Congress (\0I) is said to_ be relying for the difference
1700A43 between defeat and victory.
1710A43 $**<*3BOMBS HURLED ON TRAIN*0**> $^Bombs were hurled by some
1711A43 unidentified
1720A43 people on 422 Down Chakradharpur-Gomoh passenger train as it steamed
1730A43 off from Sijua station, 13 \0km. from here yesterday afternoon. $^The
1740A43 bombs hit the engine and caused no damage. $^According to official sources
1750A43 here, the incident is believed to_ be a sequel to the agitation going
1760A43 on for the past one week in the Tata*'s Sijua colliery where 400 colliery
1770A43 workers are reported to_ have become jobless with the introduction
1780A43 of mechanical loading system in the colliery by the management. ^The
1790A43 agitation is spearheaded by the Kumagar union demanding permanent jobs
1800A43 for the workers rendered unemployed.*#
        **[no. of words = 02005**]

        **[txt. a44**]
0010A44 **<*3DOES PUNJAB HAVE A LITERATURE OF ITS OWN?*0**> $*(0^*I. D.*) SEREBRYAKOV,
0020A44 the well known Indologist, in his interesting monograph
0030A44 "Punjabi Literature", has tried to_ come to grips with the phenomenon
0040A44 of linguistic pluralism in the literary history of Punjab in an ingenious
0050A44 manner by offering a concept of national literature of Punjab. ^He
0060A44 is of the view "that the writer*'s use of one language or the other
0070A44 is determined by the objective conditions under which the spiritual life
0080A44 of the given people is developing. ^The language does not separate his
0090A44 writing from the national literature of the people with whom he is linked
0100A44 by the cultural and literary traditions that_ moulded his creative personality,
0110A44 his art. ^This is why we refer such writers to Punjabi literature,
0120A44 irrespective of whether they write in Urdu or English, or Farsi,
0130A44 \0Etc." $^Pursuing this line of argument he went even to the extent
0140A44 of considering the Urdu works of Krishan Chander and English novels
0150A44 of Mulk Raj Anand as an integral part of the history of Punjabi
0160A44 literature. ^There is some obvious merit in this approach in so far
0170A44 as it takes cognisance of this vital problem, alike of the literary historiography
0180A44 of Punjabi and the vision of an integrated cultural personality
0190A44 of the Punjabis. $^But unfortunately \0Mr Serebryakov*'s otherwise
0200A44 laudable concept is seriously faulted in its oversimplification.
0210A44 ^It will be agreed that there can be no concept of a national literature
0220A44 as a mere aggregate of several independent and sometimes even mutually
0230A44 hostile literary traditions without any shared memory and a unified area
0240A44 of mutual interaction. ^Sadly enough, that_ need is not met by the rarefied
0250A44 and idealistic concept of national literature offered by \0Mr
0260A44 Serebryakov. ^Besides, he has given only a suggestion of what he believes
0270A44 to_ be the national literature of Punjab but has balked at making
0280A44 available a viable definition and comprehensive history of that_ literature.
0290A44 $^A more serviceable and better manageable concept would be of the
0300A44 literary history of Punjab which accounts for all the parallel traditions
0310A44 of distinct linguistic scriptal and credal identities and sub-identities.
0320A44 ^Only when this entire literary heritage of the people of Punjab,
0330A44 created in diverse languases and written in different scripts becomes
0340A44 internalized as a part of a shared awareness of its past by the present
0350A44 or a future generation will the possibility of a national literature
0360A44 of Punjab realised. ^Just how there are only independent movements
0361A44 of literary
0370A44 activity in which different sections of Punjabis participate in a mutually
0380A44 exclusive manner. $^To_ illustrate my point, I would like to_ invite
0390A44 attention to the literature produced by the Punjabis on a single
0400A44 theme which, incidentally, relates to a traumatic experience of the recent
0410A44 history of the Land of Five Rivers. ^Reference here is to the cataclysmic
0420A44 events of the partition of Punjab and the great killings
0430A44 and mass migration which both preceded and followed it. ^In the sense in
0440A44 which the partition of Punjab casts its reflection on the lives of several
0450A44 generations of the people of Punjab on both sides of the newly
0460A44 carved borders it can be said to_ be perhaps the only really commonly
0470A44 shared experience of all the Punjabis in this century. $^In its universal
0480A44 sweep, the reality of the partition with its socio-economic upheavals,
0490A44 political conflicts and psychological scars, has no other parallel in
0500A44 the recent history of Punjab. ^It was quite natural that attempts should
0510A44 have been made both to_ artistically exploit this catastrophic happening
0520A44 which involved vast multitudes of Punjabis at one level or the other,
0530A44 and discover an order in the human and moral chaos that_ it had
0531A44 brought
0540A44 forth. ^*Punjabi writers in different languages were attracted to
0541A44 the
0550A44 theme, which still remains far from exhausted as is evidenced by the great
0560A44 success of the two recent novels: one in Hindi, "*4Tamas" (darkness)
0570A44 by Bhisham Sahni and the other in English, "*4Azadi" by Chaman
0580A44 Nahal. $^My intention here is not to_ dilate upon their comparative merits
0590A44 but to_ refer to the overall cultural context in which these and other
0600A44 creations were born and situated. ^There are more than a dozen novels
0610A44 written by Punjabis dealing either directly with the events relating to
0620A44 the partition or with the struggle, of the people uprooted in the partition
0630A44 to_ strike their roots again in their new habitats. $^In English
0640A44 "Train to Pakistan" by Khushwant Singh and "*4Azadi" by Chaman Nahal
0650A44 have attracted a good deal of deserved attention. "*5^*Jhootha Sach*6"
0660A44 by Yashpal and "*4Tamas" proved to_ be trend-setters in Hindi writing.
0670A44 "*5^*Khoon De Sohilay*6" and "*5Agg Di Khed*6" by Nanak Singh,
0680A44 "*5Nauhn Te Maas*6" (Nails and Flesh) by Kartar Singh Duggal
0690A44 "*4Ahlna" by Amrita Pritam, "*5Mera Roop Mera Noor*6" by Manjit
0700A44 Singh Rana, "*5Jug Badal Gaya*6" by Sohan Singh Sital are amongst
0710A44 the well known Punjabi novels called forth by the theme. $^There
0720A44 are several other novels as "*5Haal Muridian Da*6" by Kartar Singh
0730A44 Duggal or "*5Deen Te Duniya*6" by Surinder Singh Narula, which
0740A44 touch upon the social and moral issues thrown up by the partition. $^*I
0750A44 have deliberately kept out the novels written in Pakistani Punjab dealing
0760A44 with this theme: firstly, because of the different national identity
0770A44 of that_ literature and, secondly keeping in view the ambivalence of
0780A44 the Pakistani intellectuals towards the phenomenon of partition without
0790A44 which Pakistan could not have come into existence. $^A Pakistani thinker,
0800A44 \0Mr Aijaz Ahmed writing about "Sense of History in the Modern
0810A44 Urdu Novel", has put his finger on the source of this ambivalence
0820A44 by pointing out that "the creation of Pakistan is, indeed, the great
0830A44 romance of his (Pakistani writer*'s) life but, the partition is the great
0840A44 modern tragedy. ^He would have liked to_ have had Pakistan without
0850A44 the riots that_ accompanied the partition, without the destruction of the
0860A44 integrated Muslim-Hindu culture of the great cities of Northern
0870A44 India, without the social consequences and the human tragedy." $^Most
0880A44 probably, to_ resolve this dilemma the writers of Pakistani Punjab fell
0890A44 back upon the element of nostalgia as a fictional device. ^In the three
0900A44 major Punjabi novels, "*5Diwa Te Darya*6" by Afzal Ahsan Randhawa,
0910A44 "*4Saanjh" by Saleem Khan Gimmi and "*4Haath" by Mohd Baqr,
0920A44 the authors have tried to_ recapture with a touching simplicity of faith
0930A44 and design the scenes of pre-partition Punjab in which Sikhs and Muslims
0940A44 shared a corporate social life and common human values. $^There
0950A44 is a great similarity of literary ambition and effect between these novels
0960A44 and the Urdu novel "*4Talash-I-Rafta" by Jamila Hashimi. ^All
0970A44 these writers have made bold attempts to_ faithfully reconstruct the genuine
0980A44 Sikh atmosphere, religious, social and cultural, in which their Sikh
0990A44 characters lived, suffered and met their destinies before the great
1000A44 divide. $^The writers of Indian Punjab, however, did not suffer from
1010A44 any such ambivalence. ^For them the partition was an unmitigated tragedy
1020A44 and yet we find that the writings in one language do not relate themselves
1030A44 to those in the other. ^While there can be several parallels between
1040A44 the English, Hindi and Punjabi novels about partition to which I made
1050A44 a reference earlier, there is no continuity whatsoever either of sensibility
1060A44 or of the evolution of the literary form between the works of
1070A44 one language and those of the other. $^The works in different languages
1080A44 constitute islands of isolation: there are vast differences of approach
1090A44 to the theme and its existential and experiential details, with the
1100A44 English works clinically detached in their treatment of their characters
1110A44 caught up in the clashing times, the Hindi novels deeply involved
1120A44 in the rootlessness of the urban Punjabis uprooted by the catastrophe
1130A44 and the Punjabi works greatly concerned with the social milieu. $^In shifting
1140A44 from the writings in one language to those in another one experiences
1150A44 a sudden change of atmosphere and social and individual environment.
1160A44 ^As a consequence, it will be quite legitimate to_ relate these works
1170A44 to literary traditions of different languages, such as Hindi, Indo-Anglian
1180A44 and Punjabi, than to an amorphous national literature of Punjab,
1190A44 though they have been inspired by the universally shared experience
1200A44 of the vast historical proportions like the partition of the Land of
1210A44 Five Rivers. $^It does not need any special pleading to_ assert that
1220A44 the national literature of Punjab, if and when it comes into being, will
1230A44 have to_ be in the language native to genius to the Punjabis: Punjabi.
1240A44 ^That_ at least is the lesson of the literary history of Punjab.
1250A44 ^Literature in no other language could strike as deep roots in Punjab as
1260A44 that_ in Punjabi. ^While the Persian and Arabic writings of the Punjabis
1270A44 during the medieval times are subject only of historical research
1280A44 today, the sensitive lyrics and enchanting narratives of the Sufi mystics
1290A44 in Punjabi language continue just like Punjabi folk songs, to_
1300A44 thrill the hearts of the Punjabis on both sides of the Wagha border,
1310A44 apart from providing the essential cultural base for the contemporary
1320A44 Pakistani Punjabi writings. $^Similarly, the most sophisticated compositions
1330A44 of the Sikh tradition in Hindi and *5Braj Bhasha*6 spread over
1340A44 more than two centuries, have come to_ be confined only to scholastic
1350A44 scrutiny and endless annotations and reinterpretations while the sacred
1360A44 compositions of the Sikh *4gurus in the spoken language of the people
1370A44 have been directly assimilated into the mainstream of modern Punjabi
1380A44 writing. $^This relatedness to the language and, through that_, to the
1390A44 life concerns whether small or big of the vast multitudes of the Punjabis
1400A44 alone can lead to the evolution of the national literature of Punjab.
1410A44 ^But before that_ the modern Punjabi writing will have to_ expand
1420A44 in different directions to_ accommodate the yearnings, hopes and struggles
1430A44 of the people other than the Sikhs as well and to_ work out a true
1440A44 Punjabi identity transcending differences and divisions which keep the
1450A44 Punjabis confined to emotional suggestions. $^A beginning in this direction
1460A44 can be made by transferring through translations of all the major
1470A44 works by the Punjabis whether in Hindi, Urdu, or English, into punjabi.
1480A44 ^That_ single step will ensure promotion of the proper literary culture
1490A44 in the language and radical expansion of its emotional base and
1500A44 intellectual horizons. ^It will also work for dissipating the insularity
1510A44 of the contemporary Punjabi writing from the mainstream of the Indian
1520A44 culture. $^A second step worth consideration will be introduction of
1530A44 a composite course on the literature of Punjab, covering representative
1540A44 writings by Punjabis in Hindi, Urdu, English and Punjabi in the
1550A44 modern age, and Sanskrit, Pali, Apbhramsa Punjabi and Braji in ancient
1560A44 and medieval ages in the teaching programmes for \0M.A. in languages
1570A44 in all the universities of Punjab. ^That_ alone can provide the
1580A44 composite Punjabi cultural context in which the contribution of all the
1590A44 languages and the achievement of each writer can be properly appreciated.
1600A44 $^But more than these, the real breakthrough will be achieved when
1610A44 the Punjabi writing becomes mature enough to_ concern itself directly with
1620A44 the problems, conflicts and confrontations in the Punjabi society which
1630A44 frame the destinies of the individuals in a transcendent Punjabi
1640A44 perspective. ^It is remarkable that no Punjabi writer in any language has
1650A44 projected any communal bias in his treatment of the contemporary social
1660A44 phenomenon. $^But it is equally remarkable that none of the writers
1670A44 of Punjab has dared to_ confront the reality of communalism in the Punjabi
1680A44 society. ^Search for escape routes from such inconvenient and embarrassing
1690A44 aspects of Punjabi reality into romantic negation has remained
1700A44 the major concern of the writers of Punjab in the present century.
1710A44 ^Quest for the highway back into the Punjabi reality alone will ensure
1720A44 for the literature of Punjab the same central place in the cultural
1730A44 self-awareness of the Punjabis which comes so naturally to the Bengali
1740A44 literature in Bengal or Malayalam literature in Kerala.
1750A44 $**<*3REQUIEM FOR A CULTURAL TROUPE*0**> $*3^THE*0 brusque manner in
1751A44 which
1760A44 the Punjab State Cultural Troupe has been disbanded curiously enough
1770A44 bears close resemblance to the unimaginative and capricious nature
1780A44 of the original decision to_ set it up about three years ago. ^Both the
1790A44 decisions are similar in nature in so far as they derived from the personal
1800A44 whims of the men at the helm of affairs rather than from any clearer
1810A44 cultural objective.*#
        **[no. of words = 02014**]


        **[txt. b01**]
0010B01 **<*3A Moratorium on Reform*0**> $^LORD MACAULAY IS alleged to_
0011B01 be
0020B01 guilty of having, through his educational system, rendered educated Indians
0030B01 into nothing better than glorified clerks. ^Critics of that_ "colonial"
0040B01 system have recommended nostrums which will reduce basic national
0050B01 competence to nothing more than a literally elementary knowledge of the
0060B01 three '\0R*'3s with a tinge of vocational competence which will be
0070B01 neither here nor there. ^For its part, the University Grants Commission*'s
0080B01 policy frame prepared for the Rajkot conference of the Association
0090B01 of Indian Universities offers details of reform which take one*'s
0100B01 breath away. ^It asks for a delinking of university degree from jobs,
0110B01 ostensibly to_ ease the pressure of admissions and all that_ it means
0120B01 to the \0UGC*'s budget of subsidies; in the altered situation, the
0130B01 degree as a basic qualification for Government jobs will not be insisted
0140B01 upon. ^Could the real, unstated reason be that the Government wants to_
0150B01 divert a good part of its allocations to primary and lower secondary
0160B01 education from higher education and has found that one way of achieving
0170B01 this is to_ water down the significance of the university degree in the
0180B01 job market? ^The \0UGC does not seem to_ be interested in working
0190B01 out a plan to_ raise the competence of the ever increasing numbers that_
0200B01 seek a degree; instead, it seems to_ want the numbers reduced, by voicing
0210B01 the view that not everyone can walk into college but only a select
0220B01 few. ^This is clear from the \0UGC*'s anxiety about showing the English
0230B01 language its place which, according to its proposed reform, is not
0240B01 at the undergraduate level but at the post-graduate level where admissions
0250B01 will come to a trickle. ^The curriculum proposed at the undergraduate
0260B01 stage is to_ consist of foundation courses supplying knowledge about Indian
0270B01 culture, Gandhian thought and the like, core courses in chosen disciplines
0280B01 and a programme (written into the syllabus) of national or social
0290B01 service. ^In effect, the undergraduate syllabus will have a bigger,
0300B01 more diversified and therefore thinly laid out content than the original
0310B01 three-year degree curriculum and with much less time for imparting it.
0320B01 ^Is this sound reform? $^But the more serious objection to the entire
0330B01 proposal arises from the \0UGC*'s predilection in favour of the 8 plus
0340B01 4 system badind which the Prime Minister has thrown his full weight,
0350B01 and quite unreservedly. ^If the eighth standard becomes a terminal point
0360B01 in place of the tenth standard, the one great advantage will be that
0370B01 those who now drop out at that_ level can be described as pass-outs and
0380B01 not drop-outs! ^The contention that four years on the vocational stream
0390B01 will be better than the present two years may not measure up to much if
0400B01 students drop out as now after the eighth standard. ^And what is the skill
0410B01 that_ a boy can have acquired at that_ stage except that_ which, as
0420B01 of old, can find him work as a peon, *4daphtry, *4amin or *4nazar? ^Will
0430B01 that_ not mean that earning capacity and levels of prosperity will be
0440B01 much lower than they are now? ^There is also the possibility that any
0450B01 learning of crafts-- against the background of restricted admissions to
0460B01 colleges-- will be but to_ tie the village youth to the village for good.
0470B01 ^Can there be a more callous way of solving the problem of migration
0480B01 to the cities? $^There is also the additional handicap in that_ the eight-year
0490B01 school is difficult of implementation because the majority of
0500B01 schools are oriented to primary education and cannot take up three more
0510B01 classes. ^Their inability is even greater than that_ of the tenth standard
0520B01 schools most of which are not exactly comfortable in having to_ manage
0530B01 the plus two stage under the present system. ^If the 8 plus 4 idea
0540B01 is implemented, it will, in these circumstances, deteriorate to 5 plus
0550B01 3 plus 4, with most schools resting content with the fifth standard, a smaller
0560B01 number taking an additional three standards and only a few the full
0570B01 12 standards. ^Whom can such a reform satisfy? ^Why on earth should the
0580B01 10+2+3 consensus not be permitted to_ work long enough to_ see the results
0590B01 of the huge effort that_ has already gone into it? ^Why is it not
0600B01 obvious to the reformers that provoking a discussion afresh on the 10 plus
0610B01 2 plus 3 system will undermine its effectiveness because the teachers
0620B01 will think that it is after all not going to_ last and therefore not worth
0630B01 trying? ^What is required is not a reform but a moratorium on reform.
0650B01 $**<*3The Sick Dollar**> $^THE LATEST DETAIL about the crisis
0651B01 of
0660B01 the United States dollar is that Saudi Arabia which is reported to_
0670B01 have some *_80 billions of its oil money invested in the \0U.S. is
0680B01 unhappy over the continuing slide in the value of the dollar. ^This unhappiness
0690B01 is likely to_ induce the Saudis to_ suggest to the Organisation
0700B01 of Petroleum Exporting Countries to_ delink their oil prices from
0710B01 the dollar and relate them to a basket of currencies which will include
0720B01 besides the \0U.S. and Canadian dollars, the British sterling, the
0730B01 Swiss and French francs, the West German mark and the Japanese yen.
0740B01 ^The weakness of the dollar is due to the flush of that_ currency in
0750B01 the Eurodollar market caused by the rising American trade deficit. ^The
0760B01 deficit is due largely to oil imports-- *-12 millions worth every day,
0770B01 according to President Carter-- and the oil conservation bill before
0780B01 the \0U.S. Congress is, according to money market critics, unlikely
0790B01 (even if it were passed in its present form) to_ bear down on such imports
0800B01 within the time and in the measure required to_ reverse the deficit.
0810B01 $^To the European and \0OPEC criticism that the \0U.S. has not
0820B01 done enough to_ support the strength of the dollar, that_ country has
0830B01 two stock answers. ^One is that the existing swap arrangement of *-20 billions
0840B01 coupled with the agreement signed between the \0U.S. Treasury
0850B01 and the West German Central Bank "extending a credit line to the Treasury*'s
0860B01 Exchange Stabilisation Fund which can be drawn on for intervention
0870B01 in the dollar market" should provide effective protection to the
0880B01 dollar against disorderly conditions in the exchange market. ^This hope
0890B01 has been belied by the absence of any clear indication of the amount
0900B01 available under the credit line and the continuing weakening of the dollar
0910B01 in the teeth of \0U.S. assurances to the contrary. ^The other
0920B01 answer is that, in the bid to_ pull the world economy out of recession,
0930B01 the \0U.S. has been expanding economic activity at home while, to its
0940B01 surprise, the West Germans and the Japanese have done mighty little
0950B01 in the same direction. ^Further while the sales of American goods to
0960B01 these markets have not been allowed to_ pick up, imports from these markets
0970B01 are in a way dumped into the \0U.S. to the detriment of the American
0980B01 industry. ^Trade deficit-- the unwanted baby in any economic expansion--
0990B01 is left cruelly in \0U.S. hands! $^Some of the unspelt details
1000B01 behind all this window dressing of facts appear to_ be the following:
1010B01 ^First, no indication is available of the exact dimension of the injury
1020B01 to \0U.S. industry that_ may arise from any pruning of its oil imports.
1030B01 ^The impression given is that it is massive but this does not carry
1040B01 much conviction abroad. ^Secondly, the relatively high degree of competitiveness
1050B01 of \0U.S. goods is reported to_ have of late been eroded
1060B01 by higher home costs. ^And not much has been done to_ contain and reverse
1070B01 cost increases. ^Thirdly, the world economy cannot escape frequent
1080B01 attacks of illness so long as its health depends heavily on the volume
1090B01 and direction of buying and selling among the richer countries. ^More
1100B01 open trading which will allow the less developed countries a larger share
1110B01 in world trade will help, albeit only to a modest extent, to_ soften
1120B01 the kinks in the flow of goods between countries and thus spread the gains
1130B01 and strains of the payments problem in a more manageable fashion than
1140B01 now. ^Above all, oil exporters should recognise that the flight of
1150B01 oil cash from one financial capital to another will undermine the credit-worthiness
1160B01 of any currency and even of a basket of currencies. ^How
1170B01 to_ recycle oil surpluses in a manner that_ will meet the requirements of
1180B01 the developed and less developed countries, besides helping the Arab
1190B01 world to_ modernise as desired, is what should engage the leaders of that_
1200B01 world like Saudi Arabia.
1210B01 $**<*3Two Premiers at Bay**> $^AS A POLITICAL event, there is
1211B01 little
1220B01 novelty in an Italian Cabinet crisis. ^The Christian Democratic
1230B01 Government of Prime Minister Guillo Andreotti, which quit office on
1240B01 Monday, is the 39th to_ fall in 35 years; that_ gives an average of
1250B01 more than one Cabinet a year. ^If at all there was any surprise in the
1260B01 turn of events in Italy, it is \0Mr. Andreotti, walking the tight-rope,
1270B01 could survive for as long as 17 months. ^His party, a minority in Parliament,
1280B01 was in office by leave of others who together commanded a majority.
1290B01 ^In the June 1976 elections, the Christian Democrats had gained
1300B01 only a slight edge over the communists, 38.8 per cent of the vote against
1310B01 34.5 per cent. ^Neither could form a majority with its traditional
1320B01 allies. ^In july 1976, communists, Socialists and Republicans agreed to_
1330B01 abstain from voting on important parliamentary issues. ^In July last
1340B01 year, \0Mr. Andreotti worked out a broader agreement with five Opposition
1350B01 parties on economic and law and order legislation. ^But in the past
1360B01 six months, terrorism has flared up even in the capital city of Rome
1370B01 and the economic situation has deteriorated. ^Italy is the worst-off among
1380B01 the four major European Common Market countries-- its unemployment
1390B01 rate is 7 per cent of the labour force, industrial production fell by
1400B01 6 per cent in 1977 and prices went up by more than 12 per cent. $^The first
1410B01 firm demand for Cabinet reorganisation-- with six-party participation--
1420B01 came from the Republicans in November. ^Last month, the Socialists
1430B01 and the communists checked in with their new terms. ^The Italian developments
1440B01 have caused international ripples of concern, especially in
1450B01 the \0U.S. and Britain, over communist participation in a Government
1460B01 in Rome. ^The Christian Democrat leaders stick to the view that the
1470B01 last Italian election was not a clear enough mandate to_ bring the communists
1480B01 into the Cabinet. \0^*Mr. Andreotti has thus given a sort of ultimatum
1490B01 that, if the communists do not give up their demand for participation,
1500B01 he would advise the President to_ order a new general election.
1510B01 ^There is no unanimity on this course among the leaders of any of the
1520B01 parties and it could well be that negotiations will take place for a new
1530B01 understanding with the communists for another minority Government. $^In
1540B01 Portugal too, the political times are hard and six weeks after his Government
1550B01 fell on a vote of confidence, the Socialist leader, \0Mr.
1560B01 Mario Soares, who stayed as caretaker Prime Minister, has been asked
1570B01 by President Eanes to_ form a new Cabinet. ^*Portugal has had seven
1571B01 Governments
1580B01 and three military insurrections after the April 1974 military
1590B01 coup, and \0Mr. Soares*'s minority Government was the first democratic
1600B01 experiment in that_ country since \0Dr. Salazar took over way
1610B01 back in 1926. ^In his 16 months in office, Premier Soares was unable to_
1620B01 set the house in order-- annual inflation around 30 per cent, 500,000
1630B01 jobless in a work force of just four millions and a balance of payments
1640B01 deficit of more than *-1000 millions. ^The right of centre Social Democrats
1650B01 and Centre Democrats have 114 parliamentary seats between them
1660B01 against the Socialists*' 101. \0^*Mr Soares could not get a reprieve
1670B01 through the help of the 40 communists in Parliament whose leader, \0Mr.
1680B01 Alvaro Cunhal, demanded firm agreements on an economic recovery programme.
1690B01 ^The effort now is to_ form a new Government to_ include the
1700B01 Centre Democrats. ^Any severe austerity programme which such a new administration
1710B01 may launch-- to_ conform with the conditions prescribed by the
1720B01 International Monetary Fund for a big loan-- is likely to_ spark widespread
1730B01 protests from the communist-controlled trade unions. ^Both Italy
1740B01 and Portugal look set for a period of political and economic instability.*#
        **[no. of words = 02023**]

        **[txt. b02**]
0010B02 **<SENTENCE ON \0*MR. BHUTTO**> $^PROPERLY administered, the
0011B02 law--
0020B02 whether in Pakistan or anywhere else-- is no respecter of persons.
0030B02 \0^*Mr Zulfikar Ali Bhutto*'s former high position or his undoubted
0031B02 services
0040B02 to his country, especially when he helped Pakistan regain national
0050B02 confidence, political initiative and economic viability after the humiliation
0060B02 of 1971, cannot, therefore, be advanced as pleas in mitigation
0070B02 of his alleged crimes. ^Murder certainly should not be condoned, especially
0080B02 not as an instrument in politics; if an exception is made for a head
0090B02 of Government, the example might prove tempting for people in less exalted
0100B02 walks of life. ^Though the former Prime Minister predictably condemned
0110B02 his trial as "a handle for political exploitation", there has been
0120B02 no serious charge of judicial impropriety. ^If the Lahore High Court
0130B02 proceedings had been rigged, \0Mr Bhutto and the four Federal Security
0140B02 Force members against whom the prosecution case has apparently
0150B02 been "proved to the hilt" would hardly have been allowed time to_ appeal
0160B02 to the Supreme Court. ^How the latter will view the death sentence remains
0170B02 to_ be seen. ^But failing reprieve or commutation into some form of
0180B02 prolonged imprisonment, the five men now in condemned cells have a chance
0190B02 of throwing themselves on the clemency of President Fazal Elahi
0200B02 Chaudhury. $^The exercise of this prerogative might well be justified
0210B02 by an objective assessment of Pakistan*'s external image and troubled
0220B02 internal conditions. ^Liberal opinion all over the world is increasingly
0230B02 opposed to the death penalty. ^Its imposition on a ruler who was deposed
0240B02 in a military coup will inevitably provoke unfavourable suggestions about
0250B02 General Mohammed Zia-ul-Haq*'s motives. ^It is no secret that the
0260B02 Chief Martial Law Administrator regards the Pakistan People*'s
0270B02 Party leader as his principal opponent. ^In this he
0280B02 enjoys the full support of politicians such as Khan Abdul Wali Khan,
0290B02 Air Marshal Asghar Khan and the obscurantist leaders of the Pakistan
0300B02 National Alliance who were unable to_ make any impact at all so
0310B02 long as \0Mr Bhutto dominated the scene. ^Nor can it be denied that earlier
0320B02 and sustained efforts to_ discredit the former Prime Minister were
0330B02 so signally unsuccessful that General Zia-ul-Haq has repeatedly
0331B02 postponed
0340B02 elections rather than face the prospect of \0Mr Bhutto*'s triumphant
0350B02 return. ^The waters of the five rivers of Pakistan may not turn
0360B02 red if \0Mr Bhutto is executed, as his daughter warned recently, but
0370B02 public opinion is quite often irrationally impervious to the demands of
0380B02 justice, being unable to_ distinguish it from vengeance. ^Were it not
0390B02 so, the military regime would not have found it necessary to_ take such
0400B02 strict security precautions and arrest 500 \0PPP members. ^Such measures
0410B02 cannot indefinitely be maintained. ^Nor can Pakistan afford the danger
0420B02 of further widespread unrest. ^*General Zia-ul-Haq should bear this
0430B02 in mind as well as the precedent likely to_ be created in taking a final
0440B02 decision on \0Mr Bhutto*'s fate. ^Some formula which tempers justice
0450B02 with mercy might best serve Pakistan*'s interests at this crucial
0460B02 juncture in the country*'s history.
0470B02 **<NOT BY WORDS ALONE**> $^BONDED labour was officially
0471B02 abolished
0480B02 in 1975 by a Presidential ordinance, but to no one*'s surprise it persists.
0490B02 ^This is so much a commentary on official efforts to_ eradicate a
0500B02 pernicious system of exploitation as on its inherent resiliency. ^By the
0510B02 end of last year a little over 100,000 bonded labourers were freed but
0520B02 fewer than 30,000 have so far been rehabilitated. ^There is little information
0530B02 about the precise status of the rest and it is not unreasonable
0540B02 to_ assume that, if they have not already returned to bondage, they must
0550B02 be on the point of doing so, for the hungry might find it preferable
0560B02 to starving in freedom. ^Apart from "releasing" bonded labourers with
0570B02 much fanfare the States have done little so far. ^In fact not many are
0580B02 in a position to_ throw any light on what has become of all those who
0590B02 have ceremonially been emancipated. ^There is reason to_ suspect that
0591B02 some of
0600B02 them were shows stage-managed by district officials in collusion with
0610B02 local politicians. ^The process of "identifying" bonded labour may also
0620B02 have been rigged to_ suit official need for publicity. ^The number of
0630B02 bonded labourers at the end of last year was an incredibly low 100,962.
0640B02 ^If the available statistics are highly suspect, it is not due entirely
0650B02 to official mendacity. ^The plain but frequently overlooked fact is that
0660B02 the system of bonded labour is self-perpetuating, given the extent of
0670B02 rural indebtedness and the extremely low level of rural income. ^When
0680B02 it happens, as it often does, that the slave driver as well as the slave
0690B02 are relative strangers to money economy, bonded labour is the only means
0700B02 of repaying a debt. $^There are no compelling ethical sanctions against
0710B02 the system except the vaguely moral ones which are easily cancelled
0720B02 out by the old saw that every morsel of food has to_ be sweated for.
0730B02 ^Checking the spread of bonded labour and rehabilitating the liberated
0740B02 have become major problems for the States and they have plainly said so
0750B02 to the Union Labour Ministry. ^In a collective effort to_ resolve the
0760B02 problem they have suggested that liberated labour should be helped to_
0770B02 find its feet in "land-based" programmes, which might mean almost anything
0780B02 relating to the rural economy. ^In real terms this is an instance
0790B02 of emphasizing the obvious, for labour in this category is by and large
0800B02 unskilled and for social reasons simply cannot be relocated outside familiar
0810B02 environment. ^There has also been some talk of persuading nationalised
0820B02 banks to_ give loans on easy terms, which will probably be wheedled
0830B02 out by precisely those to whom they were last in bond. \0^*Mr Jagjivan
0840B02 Ram was on to a good thing when he told a workshop on bonded labour
0850B02 last November that the strictest enforcement of the Agricultural Minimum
0860B02 Wages Act, backed by social legislation and "people*'s action",
0870B02 might be the answer to the problem. ^A Supreme Court judge went on record
0880B02 that "bare-foot legal advisers" could resolve the problem. ^Neither
0890B02 is by itself wholly adequate, but a combination of the two might add
0900B02 up to a formidable attack on the system.
0910B02 **<CAUTION ON MIZORAM**> $^IT might be premature to_ pin too
0911B02 many
0920B02 hopes on the reported breakthrough in the New Delhi talks with \0Mr
0930B02 Laldenga, leader of the proscribed Mizo National Front. ^True, \0Mr
0940B02 Laldenga has promised to_ settle the "problem within the Constitution
0950B02 of India". ^He has also announced his group*'s willingness to_ surrender
0960B02 its arms and ammunition "within a time-bound programme". ^These are
0970B02 certainly significant gains; but it deserves to_ be remembered that they
0980B02 do not really lie outside the provisions of the peace accord that_ was
0990B02 signed in New Delhi on July 1, 1976. ^The rebel chief*'s position and
1000B02 statements since then have been more than a little ambiguous.
1001B02 ^*Mizoram
1010B02 remains a "disturbed" area, and there is little sign as yet of the 20
1020B02 camps in which underground weapons were to_ be lodged. \0^*Mr
1021B02 Laldenga
1030B02 himself has been in New Delhi since last April, apparently discussing
1040B02 the modalities of an agreement that_ has not yet been enforced. ^Even
1050B02 more ominous is the fact that intervening months appear to_ have been
1060B02 used by some \0MNF groups to_ reinforce their position and strengthen
1070B02 links with guerrilla fighters in the Chittagong Hill Tracts and
1080B02 Burma*'s Chin Hills. ^It is argued that \0Mr Laldenga is not responsible
1090B02 for this breach of faith; and that there are extremists both in the
1100B02 \0MNF and in the outlawed Mizo National Army who are unwilling
1110B02 to_ abide by their leader*'s commitments. ^Even if "independence" is ruled
1120B02 out, they, apparently, want to_ use their rebellion to_ bargain for
1130B02 a greater degree of autonomy. ^The Centre will have to_ assess the strength
1140B02 of these groups and decide whether a renewed agreement with \0Mr
1150B02 Laldenga will be binding for all. $^The Union Finance Minister, \0Mr
1160B02 *(0H. M.*) Patel, however, seems optimistic of "prospects of bringing
1170B02 the insurgency to a close". ^Elections to the Union Territory*'s
1180B02 33-member Assembly might possibly help as it has done in Nagaland where
1190B02 President*'s Rule was seen as an imposition. ^But the Mizo Government,
1200B02 headed by \0Mr *(0L. C.*) Chhunga, resigned last May only because
1210B02 the \0MNF regarded it as too subservient to the Centre; in a
1220B02 sense, a democratically elected ministry had to_ be sacrificed to_ persuade
1230B02 rebels to_ come to the negotiating table. ^These animosities might surface
1240B02 again during campaigning though this is not to_ suggest that the
1250B02 local unit of the Janata Party (mostly made up of Congress defectors)
1260B02 is justified in objecting to elections. ^The ostensible argument is
1270B02 that elections might affect **[sic**] a *7raprochement but Janata
1271B02 politicians are
1280B02 aware that their own chances of success are slender. ^The Mizo Union
1290B02 is anxious for the termination of President*'s Rule. ^So too is the
1300B02 far more influential People*'s Conference. $**<CHASING
1310B02 MOSQUITOES**> $^IT would be unwise in the extreme to_
1320B02 derive too much comfort from the reported decline in the incidence of malaria
1330B02 in Calcutta. ^More relevant to national and international trends--
1340B02 the main topic of discussion at the World Health Organization*'s
1350B02 May 8 meeting in Geneva-- is the alarming disclosure that Delhi*'s health
1360B02 officials detected 33,296 positive cases between January and May,
1370B02 against only 5,389 in the comparable three months of last year. ^*Calcutta
1380B02 Corporation should also bear in mind that recorded cases usually reflect
1390B02 only a fifth of the actual number of sufferers, which suggests there
1400B02 were nearly 10,000 victims in 1977. ^The all-India picture continues
1410B02 to_ be disturbing since the number of patients increased from only 40,000
1420B02 in 1966 to six million a decade later. ^On a world-wide basis,
1421B02 the
1430B02 \0WHO believes that more than a million children die annually from the
1440B02 disease. ^Malaria would not today have posed such a serious health hazard
1450B02 in India but for official complacency in 1965 when the eradication
1460B02 programme was virtually disbanded. ^Research into causes, effects and cure
1470B02 tapered off. ^The National Malaria Institute was converted into the
1480B02 National Institute for Communicable Diseases with consequent diffusion
1490B02 of aims: and the near-collapse of almost all sanitary services--
1500B02 and resultant pools of stagnant water-- encouraged mosquito breeding grounds.
1510B02 ^The diversion of health funds and personnel to \0Mrs Gandhi*'s
1520B02 birth control campaign further exacerbated the problem. $^But this is
1530B02 not to_ suggest that the authorities today display any greater realism
1540B02 in coping with a major threat. \0^*Mr Raj Narain*'s recommendation of
1550B02 dry agriculture and a weekly water-less day is hardly practicable in a rice-growing
1560B02 country. ^The controversy over merger of the malaria eradictation
1570B02 and filaria control programmes (which involves the Union Health
1580B02 Ministry and the Planning Commission) is not very helpful either.
1590B02 *5^*Nirman Bhavan*6 is incredibly naive in its thinking, apparently
1591B02 convinced
1600B02 that a massive mosquito-swatting campaign is all that_ is called for. ^This
1610B02 simple approach overlooks the fact that the main reason why the earlier
1620B02 effort, which was launched in 1953 and initially met with outstanding
1630B02 success, failed was because 43 species of mosquitoes developed immunity
1640B02 to \0DDT and several other kinds of pesticide. ^The suggestion of
1650B02 a joint exercise is strongly resisted by experts who are convinced that
1660B02 malaria and filaria have very little in common and that the "mixed game",
1670B02 as it is called, will only weaken the effort and encourage both diseases.
1680B02 $^Clearly, the authorities-- both Indian and international-- are
1690B02 baffled by the dimensions and complexity of the problem. \0^WHO has
1700B02 carried out some experiments in sterilizing male mosquitoes through radiation
1710B02 so that the female insect (which draws human blood only to_ fertilize
1720B02 its eggs) is robbed of the motive for biting. ^But this is obviously
1730B02 too expensive and time-consuming a method for a country of India*'s
1740B02 size and geographical diversity. ^The same objection applies to the scheme
1750B02 to_ breed varieties of fish that_ survive on mosquito larvae.
1751B02 ^*New
1760B02 Delhi*'s plan to_ provide 1,200 million chloroquine tablets (which has
1770B02 replaced quinine treatment) seems more realistic, but this is a cure and
1780B02 not a preventive. ^Similar difficulties are faced by Bangladesh, Burma,
1790B02 Sri Lanka, Nepal, Indonesia and Thailand where also the incidence
1800B02 of malaria is rising, particularly such dangerous strains as Plasmodium
1810B02 Falciparum.*#
        **[no. of words = 02003**]

        **[txt. b03**]
0010B03 **<*3HELP FOR TRIBALS*0**> $^Most of India*'s 40 million tribals continue
0020B03 to_ eke out a precarious living despite massive investment in their
0030B03 welfare. ^The reasons are not far to_ seek. ^The substantial progress
0031B03 made
0040B03 in opening up the hitherto inaccessible forest regions, where they mostly
0050B03 dwell, and the elaborate infrastructure created to_ better their lot,
0060B03 have not been followed up with imaginative programmes relevant to their
0070B03 lives. ^This is because tribal sub-plans, seldom prepared at the field
0080B03 level, are not dove-tailed to the special needs and requirements of each
0090B03 area and its inhabitants. ^For instance, few tribals hold skilled or
0100B03 semi-skilled jobs in the mining and industrial establishments set up in
0110B03 some of the tribal areas. ^Training centres to_ equip them with the basic
0120B03 skills might have altered the picture, but are almost nowhere in the
0130B03 scene. ^Similarly, education has made little headway, because it is formal
0140B03 and clashes with the compulsions of shifting cultivation which keeps
0150B03 children on the field during school hours. ^Lacking in an action component
0160B03 enabling the tribals to_ intervene in their age-old environment and
0170B03 alter their living and working conditions, **[sic**] non-formal
0171B03 education too has
0180B03 faild to_ make a difference. ^Special classes, suggested by the Education
0190B03 Ministry*'s working group, can attract and hold the tribal students
0200B03 only if the curricula are framed by people with first-hand experience of
0210B03 the tribal world and its limitations. $^One point tellingly brought out
0220B03 in the review of tribal welfare plans, recently undertaken by the Centre
0230B03 with the concerned State Governments, is that the economic life of
0240B03 the tribals is almost totally dependent on forests. ^Things can improve
0250B03 faster only if there is a harmonious balance between population and the
0260B03 growth of forests. ^The best way of achieving this, as suggested by
0270B03 the Prime Minister at a recent conference of State Ministers of Forests
0280B03 and Tribal Welfare, is to_ help the formation of forest co-operatives
0290B03 run by the tribals themselves to_ get the maximum returns from
0300B03 the minor forest produce with which they supplement their income. ^Regular
0310B03 commercial plantations of fruit, fodder and fuel trees by the State
0320B03 is one of the welcome decisions taken by the Ministers to_ improve the
0330B03 tribal economy. ^These have to_ be backed up by measures in the fields
0340B03 of agriculture, animal husbandry and cottage industry. ^But surely, the
0350B03 most important was the decision to_ give the tribals inalienable rights
0360B03 to land in tribal forest villages; the absence of this had in the past
0370B03 caused land alienation, throwing many tribals deeper into poverty. ^But
0380B03 a point of crucial importance needs constantly to_ be borne in mind.
0390B03 ^The administrative and legal systems in the tribal areas must come in for
0400B03 a closer review if the Janata Government*'s aim of bringing the tribals
0410B03 at par with the rest of their countrymen is to_ be realised in the
0420B03 five years set for it. $**<*3Coping
0430B03 With Floods*0**> $^Even as the Administration was approvingly
0440B03 surveying its flood control work on Delhi*'s traditionally vulnerable
0450B03 western flank, capricious nature struck from the north last week, flooding
0460B03 knee-deep three villages of the Alipur Block. ^A sudden rise
0470B03 in the Yamuna level sent a backflow coursing along Drain \0No. 6, which
0480B03 surprisingly swelled to a height of 11 feet and breached the *4bund
0490B03 near the Bawana escape wide enough to_ submerge 600 acres in a matter of
0500B03 minutes. ^Though the breach was plugged in record time and engineers
0510B03 kept constant vigil, it remains a mystery how there was so much back-flow
0520B03 when the Yamuna stood only half a metre above the danger mark. ^While
0530B03 hydrologists grapple with this new phenomenon, the Administration can
0540B03 take a second look at the *4bunds along the drains emptying into the river,
0550B03 and not rely solely on the 12-\0km embankment erected to_ protect the
0560B03 14 flood-prone villages here. ^One way of coping with the river*'s wayward
0570B03 behaviour is to_ line the drain *4bunds with rubble all along the
0580B03 vulnerable stretches. ^Some long-term measures are also overdue to_ arrest
0590B03 the steady erosion of the riverbanks. ^On the western front, most of
0600B03 the suggestions thrown up in the wake of last year*'s massive floods
0610B03 have been translated into practice. ^The Najafgarh Drain has been strengthened
0620B03 and its banks raised by two feet over last year*'s flow level,
0630B03 increasing the intake capacity four-fold to 3,000 \0cusecs. ^The
0631B03 Dhansa
0640B03 *4bund has been rubble-lined and 50,000 bags of earth are **[sic**]
0641B03 stacked in the
0650B03 area for any emergency operation. ^There is enough stock of chlorination
0660B03 pills to_ meet the kind of drinking water shortage witnessed last year
0670B03 and, more important, the Najafgarh Road level has been raised to_
0680B03 make it usable by water tankers and relief trucks. ^So, all in all, Delhi
0690B03 may be better-placed to_ weather a major flood this time, provided
0691B03 it
0700B03 comes where it is expected. $^Here lies the crunch. ^With every good monsoon,
0710B03 the Yamuna level shoots up alarmingly and the swirling waters seldom
0720B03 stay confined within the barriers erected. ^The Najafgarh Drain, that_
0730B03 other sorrow of Delhi, is notorious for throwing awry all the best-laid
0740B03 plans of the flood control department, threatening, of late, urban
0750B03 pockets too. ^This is because following the land reclamation in the
0760B03 semi-arid belt of the Sahibi Nadi in Rajasthan much of the rain water
0770B03 that_ used to_ get absorbed there has started flowing into low-lying
0780B03 Delhi. ^Unable to_ stem this flow effectively, the Dhansa *4bund has
0790B03 breached three times since it was constructed in 1962. ^The Administration*'s
0800B03 ambitious scheme for protecting Delhi from floods has run into
0810B03 rough weather over the preventive measures to_ be taken by Rajasthan and
0820B03 Haryana. ^If the problem remains intractable, despite the many rounds
0830B03 of talks held and more planned, the Centre has to_ step in to_ see that
0840B03 the Capital does not come at the receiving end of floods originating
0850B03 elsewhere, year after year. $**<DARKNESS
0860B03 AT NOON**> $^Despite all the protests and warnings and advice
0870B03 from Western capitals and the Soviet leaders*' solemn undertaking
0880B03 at Helsinki (reaffirmed in Belgrade) to_ abide by the human rights code,
0890B03 Ginzburg and Shcharansky have received depressingly long and utterly
0900B03 undeserved terms of imprisonment and "work" in labour camps. ^*Shcharansky
0910B03 campaigned for human rights; the Soviet authorities accused him
0920B03 of espionage and alleged that he worked for the \0US Central Intelligence
0930B03 Agency. ^President Carter, according to reports, has personally
0940B03 denied the allegation. ^*Ginzburg, a dissident of long standing and
0950B03 a founding member of the human rights group in the Soviet Union, has
0960B03 been sentenced for anti-Soviet agitation and propaganda. ^The Soviet action
0970B03 in sentencing both to prison and labour camp, in trials that_ were
0980B03 from all accounts a mockery of just dispensation, is condemnable on two
0990B03 clear grounds. ^First, it is indicative of tyranny and regimentation,
1000B03 of the individual*'s unabashed suppression, in the face of a spreading
1010B03 trend towards liberalism everywhere; it is contrary, crassly, to all
1020B03 the freedoms that_ make for dignity and self-respect in a person, and
1021B03 indicates
1030B03 the presence of a Dark-Middle-Ages attitude incongruously in
1040B03 the midst of unprecedented scientific and technological progress. $^Secondly,
1050B03 Soviet violation of the human rights part of the Helsinki accords
1060B03 tends to_ infect the entire agreement, endangering the near-detente
1070B03 achieved step by laborious step. ^The Soviet Union will not be immune
1080B03 to the disastrous consequences of this. ^In London, Prime Minister
1090B03 Callaghan is reported to_ have said that the trials had "some of the
1100B03 hallmarks of trials in Stalin*'s days". ^In Paris, an official spokesman
1110B03 is quoted as having remarked that the trials were causing much anxiety
1120B03 because "respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms is the essence
1130B03 of the Franco-Soviet joint statement on international detente signed
1140B03 at Rambouillet in 1977 by \0Mr Brezhnev and President Giscard d*'3Estang".
1150B03 ^Similar sentiments have been expressed in Bonn, at The Hague
1160B03 and elsewhere; even the West European communist parties have made
1170B03 known their unhappiness. ^In Washington, reports recently said the Carter
1180B03 administration was reviewing the full range of its economic, technological
1190B03 and cultural relations with the Soviet Union. ^Officials were
1200B03 quoted as stating that steps were being considered for expressing adequately
1210B03 \0US displeasure at the trials. ^Two \0US scientific missions
1220B03 due to_ go to the Soviet Union were cancelled. ^However, both \0Mr
1230B03 Cyrus Vance and \0Mr Zbigniew Brezezinski have reportedly also indicated
1240B03 that the Carter administration would be reluctant to_ let the
1250B03 trials delay the pending strategic arms talks. $^It is an interesting thought
1260B03 whether the talks should have been called off. ^One can doubtless
1270B03 argue that the move would have not only stalled progress in a vital area
1280B03 but closed another Washington Moscow communication channel without achieving
1290B03 anything for the dissidents. ^On the other hand, one can also contend
1300B03 that it is precisely hard measures like these-- as distinct from criticism
1310B03 and gestures like cancellation of scientific missions-- which
1320B03 can deter the Russians. ^It is possible to_ argue at length on both sides.
1330B03 ^Meanwhile, what the \0US could do is to_ take up the cause of
1340B03 civil rights in countries other than the Soviet Union, China, for example.
1350B03 $**<*3Between Two Koreas**>
1360B03 $^*South Korean President Park Chung Hee*'s
1370B03 recent proposal to Pyongyang for the creation of "a consultative
1380B03 body for the promotion of north-south economic cooperation comprising representatives
1390B03 of civilian economic circles of both sides in order to_
1400B03 open the path for, and promote effectively, mutual trade and technical
1410B03 and capital cooperation" is probably much more than a propaganda gimmick.
1420B03 ^There may be political and economic reasons prompting such a move. ^For
1430B03 a variety of reasons most American leaders are perhaps not too happy
1440B03 with the way that **[sic**] the South Koreans have behaved in past
1441B03 months. ^There
1450B03 have been Korean pay-offs for American legislators and others to_
1460B03 encourage favourable lobbying-- up to now such pay-offs have tended to_
1470B03 be made to others by \0US and European interests, and the reverse
1480B03 process does not make the South Korean pay-offs to American legislators
1490B03 particularly heinous in Afro-Asian eyes! ^In Seoul, there seems to_
1500B03 be anger at being taken for granted as an American satellite: a write-up
1510B03 in the highbrow socio-cultural "Korea Journal" for May this year
1520B03 remarks on "the tone of arrogance one can read in the anti-Korean statements
1530B03 uttered on the other side of the Pacific Ocean"; it points out
1540B03 that "the surest way for an American statesman to_ alienate the Korean
1550B03 people is to_ do no more than intimate that the latter should be perpetually
1560B03 grateful for what his country has done for them"; and it remarks
1570B03 also that "the quickest way for an American politician to_ nauseate the
1580B03 Korean people is to_ threaten aid cut-off unless they are unconditionally
1590B03 cooperative". ^Such statements would hardly be printed if the South
1600B03 Koreans did not have cause for resentment. $^There has also been in
1610B03 the air some speculative reporting to the effect that \0US politicians
1620B03 and leaders are working quietly for an understanding with North Korea,
1630B03 keeping the South out and, to some extent at least, uninformed. ^It
1640B03 is entirely possible that \0Mr Park and his friends decided to_ make
1650B03 the proposal for a North-South economic consultative body a gambit for
1660B03 capturing the initiative: the "*7shokku" that_ went through North-East
1670B03 Asia when the Americans made their deal with Hanoi, abandoning Saigon*'s
1680B03 Nguyen Van Thieu, after all their solemn assurances, is still
1690B03 a troubling memory. ^Economically, the South Korean economy has arrived
1700B03 at a stage where, in order to_ keep the engines of industry humming,
1710B03 an uninterrupted and inexhaustible supply of raw material is essential.
1720B03 ^An economic arrangement that_ laid emphasis on extended and extensive
1730B03 trade ties with Pyongyang would be more than ordinarily welcome in Seoul.
1740B03 ^Traditionally, most industrial establishments were in the northern
1750B03 zone, and the economy of the southern half was essentially agrarian. ^Therefore
1760B03 at the time of partition, North Korea was ahead in terms of
1770B03 per capita \0GNP. ^In the late sixties this began to_ change. ^At
1780B03 the end of 1976, per capita \0GNP was estimated at *-700 in South
1790B03 Korea, and *-363 in North Korea. ^Lately, the economic position has
1800B03 not been particularly happy in the North (the South alleges that this
1810B03 is because of heavy military spending; there may be other causes too).*#**[no.
        of words = 02005**]

        **[txt. b04**]
0010B04 **<*3A Policy for Foreign Investment**> $\0^MR. ORVILLE \0*L.
0020B04 FREEMAN, Co-chairman of the Indo-American Joint Business Council
0030B04 stated at a New Delhi news conference that "he had made it clear to
0040B04 the Government of India that the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act
0050B04 and the restriction of investment only to certain sectors is not in India*'s
0060B04 interest and it will discourage investment that_ otherwise might
0070B04 come to India." ^A report prepared by the American section of the Business
0080B04 Council says that the investment environment in India, as far
0090B04 as foreign capital is concerned, is less attractive than what obtains in
0100B04 Brazil, South Korea, Mexico and Indonesia. ^The American point seems
0110B04 to_ be that poised as India*'s economic development is for achieving
0120B04 exciting results it is hard to_ understand why this country should pursue
0130B04 a needlessly restrictive policy. ^Going through the Prime Minister*'s
0140B04 observations at the same news conference, it becomes obvious that this
0150B04 disappointment is over \0Mr. Desai*'s refusal to_ keep the door open
0160B04 fully to foreign investment and his preference instead to_ screen requests
0170B04 for investment from foreigners in accordance with the guidelines set
0180B04 by the \0FERA and the Industrial Policy Statement. $^The question
0190B04 that_ has to_ be answered is whether the \0FERA is really the damper
0200B04 it is made out to_ be. ^The example of Korea, Brazil, Mexico or
0210B04 any other developing country does not appear very relevant here because
0220B04 the degree of India*'s technological self-reliance and the diversity of
0230B04 its home industry represent a situation which is not exactly the same
0240B04 as the one offered by the countries cited. ^If there is comparability anywhere,
0250B04 it will be revealed during the process of the study which the
0260B04 Indian section of the Business Council is going to_ make of the report
0270B04 presented by the American section referred to earlier. ^If the study
0280B04 suggests correctives to investment policy, it may not be difficult to_
0290B04 persuade the Government here to_ modify its policy if that_ is going to_
0300B04 be beneficial to the country. ^But what the foreign businessmen should
0310B04 recognise is that a *3complete reversal of the old policy of restriction,
0320B04 at one stroke, is just not possible from both the political and
0330B04 economic points of view. ^In fact the very preparedness of the Indian
0340B04 Government to_ bring about a pronounced shift in its general attitude
0350B04 towards the concept of a massive foreign investment entry into the country
0360B04 is itself a guarantee that it is not going to_ allow any mule-headed
0370B04 application of the rules to_ hamstring the developmental processes. ^There
0380B04 are now no ideological reservations against foreign investment. $^Actually,
0390B04 it is the difficulty in finding the rupee resources to_ match the
0400B04 foreign investment that the Indian Government should worry about. ^Existing
0410B04 plants are underutilised. ^Investment is patently sick because
0420B04 of the lack of buying power to_ absorb increases in output and also the
0430B04 total absence of guidelines from the Government on the direction and
0440B04 composition of production (as to what type of goods should be produced).
0450B04 ^The only guideline available is negative in character, outlining who
0460B04 should not produce what. ^A really positive approach against the background
0470B04 of a well spelt out economic policy, in place of the present confused
0480B04 and mutually contradictory views expressed on it, is the crying need
0490B04 of the hour. ^How soon the Government will meet it will decide how
0500B04 quickly the economic machine accelerates, drawing for the progressive increase
0510B04 of its momentum on both domestic and foreign resources to the satisfaction
0520B04 of both the home and foreign investors. ^The entire acceleration
0530B04 hinges also on prices-- a sphere where the Government has got sooner
0540B04 than later to_ shed its fears against the necessary upward adjustments.
0550B04 ^Such adjustments are taking place on their own already. ^Unless the
0560B04 Government views the problem with an open mind, there is the danger that
0570B04 price movements will tend to_ be too haphazard and mercurial to_ provide
0580B04 a reliable impetus to the kind of economic advance that_ the entire
0590B04 country has been looking forward to ever since the Janata Government
0600B04 took over the reins of power at the Centre nearly a year ago.
0610B04 $**<*3Fall-out From Bombay High**> $^IF THE SECOND phase of
0611B04 the
0620B04 Bombay High oil production programme has been completed a little ahead
0630B04 of schedule, it is partly because the wells already in production are
0640B04 yielding more than originally estimated. ^From four platforms in operation,
0650B04 the current output is 80,000 barrels a day-- or two million tonnes
0660B04 a year-- with a target of twice that_ quantity to_ be hit in another year.
0670B04 ^The oil is now collected and transported by tankers to Bombay and the
0680B04 submarine pipeline is stated to_ be completed by the middle of this year.
0690B04 ^The processing of the new crude is not expected to_ create any difficult
0700B04 problem because Bharat Refineries Limited (the former Burmah-Shell
0710B04 plant), with a potential capacity of 6 million tonnes, is being
0720B04 modified to_ take up to an annual 4.5 million tonnes of offshore crude
0730B04 by the end of 1979. ^When the Bombay High output reaches 10 million
0740B04 tonnes by 1981, it will be absorbed also by the Cochin, Visakhapatnam
0750B04 and Mathura refineries. ^A portion will go to the Koyali plant now dependent
0760B04 on the oilfields in Gujarat which are being fast depleted. $^The
0770B04 economic use of the large quantities of associated gas-- about one million
0780B04 cubic metres a day in 1978-79 itself-- bristles with innumerable
0790B04 difficulties. ^The Union Minister for Petroleum and Chemicals, \0Mr.
0800B04 *(0H. N.*) Bahuguna, has just announced the Cabinet*'s decision to_
0810B04 rely on gas from Bombay High as primary feedstock for fertilizer plants,
0820B04 coal coming next and naphtha, third. ^The Trombay *=1, *=2 and *=4
0830B04 fertilizer units are undergoing conversion to_ use gas which will be the
0840B04 basis for the fifth and sixth units too. ^The Government*'s decision
0850B04 is a natural consequence of technological compulsions stemming from the
0860B04 large availability of gas. ^Gas from Bombay High and North Bassein
0870B04 is expected to_ flow at the rate of 4 million cubic metres a day by 1980,
0880B04 and, if South Bassein prospects are added, the quantities available
0890B04 may be 10 million cubic metres a day. ^This is the estimate of the Oil
0900B04 and Natural Gas Commission, but an American company predicts a much
0910B04 larger supply. ^The quality of the gas is also different from what prevails
0920B04 in many other parts of the world. ^The proportion of ethane and
0930B04 propane is a high 23 per cent which is double the usual. ^The 60 per cent
0940B04 methane component is what forms the fertilizer feedstock. ^The \0ONGC
0950B04 is planning to_ put up a fractioning unit to_ separate the methane
0960B04 for the Fertilizer Corporation of India. $^While there will be no denying
0970B04 the merit in the priority given to the fertilizer industry, the expected
0980B04 large supply of ethane and propane is an argument that_ should
0990B04 induce New Delhi to_ swing towards a major plan to_ expand the petro-chemicals
1000B04 industry. ^*National Organic Chemicals Limited (\0NOCIL),
1010B04 voicing the consensus of 27 firms in the field, has suggested an exotic
1020B04 perspective programme for a four-fold growth in this sector in the next
1030B04 decade. ^There is, in this programme, an element of lobbying for the
1040B04 industry; some portions of it sound unrealistic, since the full potential
1050B04 of even the Baroda complex itself still remains untapped. ^As against
1060B04 this is the cry of the modernists to_ use petro-chemical products as
1070B04 a convenient substitute for a wide variety of structural materials and
1080B04 fibres and rubber. ^This demand should not be dismissed offhand, on the
1090B04 proven premise of addiction to traditional materials in use for long--
1100B04 whether they be natural commodities or manufactured metallurgical items.
1110B04 ^On the other hand, it should be studied in depth particularly in the
1120B04 matter of applying new techniques for the development of the rural areas.
1130B04 ^Apart from access to petroleum crude and associated gas off the coast
1140B04 of Bombay, a point worth considering is the fall-out possibilities
1150B04 in employment from petro-chemical products if the basic industry and the
1160B04 ancillary and user units are imaginatively conceived.
1170B04 $**<*3Sino-Indian Ties: Beginnings of a New Phase**> $^IT WILL
1180B04 BE quite appropriate to_ interpret the visit of the Chinese goodwill
1190B04 delegation led by \0Mr. Wang Pin-nan to India as a significant point
1200B04 of advance in the gradual, spontaneously building up process of normalisation
1210B04 between the two most populous countries in the world, that_ began
1220B04 several months ago with the re-posting of ambassadors in Peking and
1230B04 New Delhi. ^Although non-official in character, it is clear that the
1240B04 current approach by a leader of the calibre and experience of \0Mr.
1250B04 Wang Pin-nan is the result of a carefully prepared initiative from the
1260B04 Chinese side to_ open a fresh chapter in bilateral relations. ^The
1270B04 Government of India, and in particular the Prime Minister, \0Mr. Morarji
1280B04 Desai, have recognised this by according to the delegation the
1290B04 honour and the facilities usually given only to official missions of importance.
1300B04 ^The key message borne on this visit by the 72-year-old Chinese
1310B04 leader-- a close associate of the late Premier Chou En-lai and an
1320B04 eminent diplomat with long experience in negotiating difficult international
1330B04 issues-- has been that the friendship between the two geographically
1340B04 and historically close neighbours should be developed in a trusting and
1350B04 open spirit. ^The simple imagery \0Mr. Wang Pin-nan has evoked repeatedly
1360B04 during his brief sojourn here is that_ of two friends of very long
1370B04 standing desiring to_ come together after a temporary estrangement.
1380B04 $^The warm reception accorded to the delegation at the different centres
1390B04 reveals something of the current mood both among the people and the Government.
1400B04 ^A notable feature of the visit is the opportunity it has offered
1410B04 to a top-ranking Chinese leader to_ exchange views directly and
1420B04 frankly with those who count most in the Indian Government to-day, the
1430B04 Prime Minister and the External Affairs Minister. ^Their review of
1440B04 the normalisation process has undoubtedly been useful in charting out
1450B04 the way ahead. \0^Mr. *(0A. B.*) Vajpayee*'s official visit to China
1460B04 (which, according to an official announcement, will take place on the basis
1470B04 of detailed and concrete preparation) is likely to_ mark the beginning
1480B04 of a new phase. ^The emphasis on bilateral discussions and on the
1490B04 handling of issues without the interference or mediation of third parties
1500B04 is well placed, representing as it does a shared view. ^Apart from promoting
1510B04 direct talks on political questions, this approach will help raise
1520B04 trade, economic, technical, scientific and cultural relations above
1530B04 their present modest levels. $^The chief problem between the two countries
1540B04 remains, of course, the common borders. ^THE *HINDU has already
1550B04 expressed its opinion that, while the border question is by no means insignificant
1560B04 and must be taken up in due time through friendly negotiations,
1570B04 the line that_ all accumulated problems and disputes between countries
1580B04 must be solved here and now before new breakthroughs can be contemplated
1590B04 is not the most helpful of strategies. ^What is required is a bold,
1600B04 forward-looking policy that_ strengthens bilateral relations from many sides--
1610B04 political, economic, cultural-- by giving weightage to the strong
1620B04 points and letting advantages add up constructively. ^It is to_ be hoped
1630B04 that political perspectives and pressures dictated by narrow nationalism
1640B04 or influenced by sheer inter-party rivalries will not be brought to_
1650B04 bear on the Government of India even as it is engaged in what is obviously
1660B04 a very sensitive task that_ deserves the utmost support. $^That India
1670B04 and China, together accounting for over a third of the world*'s
1680B04 people, have a great deal to_ gain from each other needs no special advocacy--
1690B04 except, perhaps, to those whose basic interests lead them to_ look
1700B04 in a third direction. ^The two countries have profoundly different social
1710B04 systems; nevertheless they face a host of problems on which they can
1720B04 learn from each other. ^There is a wide prospect of developing trade
1730B04 relations, provided an earnest effort is made by both sides to_ follow up
1740B04 the discussions that_ have been initiated. ^The 16-member Chinese trade
1750B04 delegation that_ visited India in February has expressed interest
1760B04 in buying light engineering goods, some types of heavy equipment, rubber,
1770B04 iron ore, and agricultural machinery and machine tools. ^In return, India
1780B04 will be interested in buying life-saving drugs, antimony metal, zinc,
1790B04 mercury, tungsten, tin, silk yarn, newsprint and basic chemicals.*#
        **[no. of words = 02021**]

        **[txt. b05**]
0010B05 **<A GOOD TRIP**> $^If there is one nation in the vicinity with which
0020B05 this country has had a trouble-free relationship, it is Afghanistan.
0030B05 ^*President Daoud*'s three-day state visit here last week has reinforced
0040B05 those ties. ^The visit came only six months after the Union external
0050B05 affairs minister, \0Mr. Vajpayee, went to Kabul to_ meet his Afghan
0060B05 counterpart and to_ confirm that the Janata government, which had taken
0070B05 office a few months earlier, bore the same goodwill towards Afghanistan
0080B05 as previous governments of this country. ^But merely because the two
0090B05 countries have no particular problems to_ resolve **[sic**] does not
0091B05 mean that periodic
0100B05 visits by their leaders are little more than high-level jaunts or
0110B05 that they can take each other for granted. ^As the joint communique issued
0120B05 in New Delhi at the end of President Daoud*'s visit shows, both
0130B05 of them, individually and together, have an important role to_ play in
0140B05 the often turbulent and still unsettled geopolitics of the region. ^Their
0150B05 own ties depend to some extent on developments in the area. ^For instance,
0160B05 although the volume of trade between them has grown to around \0Rs.
0170B05 48 *4crores in 1976-77, it could grow much faster if goods could be moved
0180B05 overland through Pakistan. ^So it is in their joint interest to_ persuade
0190B05 that_ country to_ permit such transit across its territory, an issue
0200B05 which President Daoud has no doubt raised in his discussions with
0210B05 General Zia-ul-Haq during his visit to Rawalpindi which began immediately
0220B05 after he left New Delhi on Sunday. ^Such a facility would be one
0230B05 step nearer the kind of regional co-operation this country envisages
0240B05 as being essential if south Asia is to_ pull its weight on international
0250B05 issues especially when these concern the nations of the area directly
0260B05 as, for instance, super-power rivalry in the Indian Ocean region.
0261B05 $^*President
0270B05 Daoud*'s visit to this country (and to Pakistan) will itself
0280B05 be no mean contribution to the valuable process of detente among south
0290B05 Asian states, a process which this country has done much to_ initiate
0300B05 and keep going. ^The joint communique refers favourably to this "progress
0310B05 in normalisation" not so that the two countries can scratch each other*'s
0320B05 back but because of the additional clout such normalisation would give
0330B05 to every nation contributing to and benefiting from it. ^In Afghanistan*'s
0340B05 own case, the scramble by various powers to_ gain and wield influence
0350B05 is today fiercer than ever. ^All the more reason, therefore, for it
0360B05 to_ deepen its commitment to non-alignment. ^It is planning to_ do precisely
0370B05 that_ by hosting the conference of the foreign ministers of the
0380B05 coordinating bureau of non-aligned countries in May. ^Although it would
0390B05 be rash to_ say that regional co-operation in south Asia is round the
0400B05 corner, things are definitely on the mend. ^They can only improve still
0410B05 more as a result of President Daoud*'s trip.
0420B05 $**<*3Rural Health**> $^The bitterest opponents of the rural health
0430B05 scheme, put forward by \0Mr. Raj Narain in April last year, are undoubtedly
0440B05 members of the Indian Medical Association. ^They miss no chance
0450B05 to_ denounce it. ^In Pathankot the other day the President of the
0460B05 \0IMA, \0Dr. *(0J. V. R.*) Sharma, warned that the village health
0470B05 protectors (\0VHP) would add to the growing tribe of quacks. ^It
0480B05 is not difficult to_ understand why he should decry the \0VHPS. ^The
0490B05 three-month course that_ they will undergo at the primary health centres
0500B05 (\0PHC) is not going to_ give them much knowledge of medicine.
0510B05 ^Indeed, it is not meant to, because they are expected to_ deal only with
0520B05 common infections and ailments that_ afflict villagers, such as gastro-enteritis,
0530B05 malaria, influenza, for which they will need to_ dispense well-known
0540B05 medicines. ^But this is easier said than done. ^In this country,
0550B05 as in many others, even qualified doctors over-prescribe highly potent
0560B05 anti-biotics in utter disregard of possible side-effects. ^The best that_
0570B05 can be said for the scheme is that it will be implemented on a
0571B05 limited
0580B05 scale. ^In the first three years, 80,000 villages will be covered under
0590B05 it and only if it is found to_ be worthwhile will another five
0591B05 *4lakh \0VHPS
0600B05 be trained to_ cover the whole country (the aim is to_ have a
0610B05 \0VHP for a population of 1,000). ^But who is to_ decide whether the
0620B05 scheme is worthwhile? \0^*Mr. Raj Narain? ^Or those who have
0621B05 acquired
0630B05 a vested interest in its continuance? $^There is doubtless paucity of
0640B05 medical personnel in the rural areas. ^But does it follow that utterly ill-trained
0650B05 and ill-paid men and women should be sent into the
0651B05 countryside?
0660B05 ^And what about the complicated cases which will be referred to the \0PHC?
0670B05 ^For it is an open secret that most of the 5,372 \0PHCS are
0680B05 inadequately staffed; often there is no doctor there at all. ^This is
0690B05 not all. ^The \0PHCS rarely have in stock the necessary medicines. ^This
0700B05 problem is bound to_ be aggravated because as it is, each \0PHC
0710B05 is provided with minimal drugs-- the budget for medicines does not exceed
0720B05 \0Rs. 3,000 a year. ^The \0PHCs are also woefully equipped with surgical
0730B05 instruments. ^Even if the government is unable to_ provide a \0PHC
0740B05 for 10,000 population, as was initially intended-- at present it
0750B05 is required to_ serve 100,000 people-- the least it can do is
0751B05 to_ equip the
0760B05 centre adequately. ^That_, however, is not the end of the matter. ^For
0770B05 it is going to_ be even more difficult to_ find sufficient doctors to_
0780B05 man the \0PHCS. ^Under the scheme, the government intends to_ post
0790B05 three doctors in the \0PHC, one of whom is trained in the traditional
0800B05 medicines, and there is nothing to_ suggest that it can persuade so
0810B05 many doctors to_ go to the rural areas. ^All in all, the problem of providing
0820B05 the minimum medical facilities in the countryside continues to_ defy
0830B05 solution and it is plainly naive for anyone to_ pretend that this is
0840B05 not the case. $**<*3Medical
0850B05 Nemesis**> $^Private enterprise with a vengeance.
0851B05 ^That_*1's
0860B05 about the only way one can describe the American medical system.
0870B05 business is booming: the \0U.S. spends a staggering *-140 billion a year
0880B05 on health care and in the last decade, the number of doctors has risen
0890B05 by 50 per cent. ^Not that this is necessarily any cause for elation.
0900B05 ^Indeed, it is said that the \0U.S. (and Canada) has *3too many doctors!
0910B05 ^Of course they aren*'4t always evenly distributed: New York
0920B05 has one for every 500 people, while every 1,450 South Dakotans have to_
0930B05 make do with a single doctor (Bombay, incidentally, dosen*'4t compare
0940B05 too unfavourably with \0NY with one for every 700 citizens). ^The whole
0950B05 trouble is that with the craze for specialisation, \0GPS are on
0960B05 the way out; 'internists' (doctors who only treat internal disorders) and
0970B05 others of their ilk are in. ^And so the trade thrives. ^Even the government
0980B05 is candid enough to_ admit that doctors admit patients to hospitals
0990B05 at the drop of a stethoscope (if such old-fashioned implements still
1000B05 exist) and that one in every seven occupants of beds in acute care wards
1010B05 dosen*'4t deserve to_ be there at all. ^Now, at long last, there are
1020B05 rumbles, however feeble, of protest against the medical establishment.
1030B05 ^It is led, astonishingly enough, not by Ivan Illich and his iconoclasts
1040B05 but by big corporations themselves, who aren*'4t at all reconciled to
1050B05 footing the ever-rising health insurance bills of their employees. ^The
1060B05 wheel has thus turned full circle: it is the very bastions of free enterprise
1070B05 which are turning their wrath against the medical system, *3albeit
1080B05 for entirely selfish purposes. ^This is why a spokesman for the Rockefeller
1090B05 Foundation attributes America*'s health problems to excesses
1100B05 of various kinds and calls upon people to_ "simplify their lives." ^And
1110B05 *3Forbes, the business magazine, goes one step further in advocating
1120B05 acupuncture and even meditation: anything, in fact, which will cut corporate
1130B05 costs!
1140B05 **<AVERTING THE $NEXT CRISIS**> $^It is to the credit of the Janata
1150B05 leaders that they have been able to_ patch up their differences which
1160B05 only a few days ago threatened to_ tear the party apart. ^Given the sharpness
1170B05 and bitterness of the conflict between the Prime Minister and the
1180B05 former Union Home Minister, this is no mean achievement. ^The patch-up
1190B05 would, of course, not have been possible if \0Mr. Charan Singh
1200B05 had stuck to his earlier stance. ^But the credit for it goes not to him--
1210B05 after all he need not have precipitated the crisis in the first instance--
1220B05 but to men of goodwill in the party, principally \0Mr. Atal Behari
1230B05 Vajpayee, \0Mr. Biju Patnaik, \0Mr. George Fernandes and \0Mr.
1240B05 Madhu Limaye. ^To_ say this is not to_ suggest in any way that \0Mr.
1250B05 Morarji Desai has been unjustified in taking a tough stand. ^He has
1260B05 not been. ^He had been exasperated with \0Mr. Charan Singh for months
1270B05 and by the time the latter issued the wholly uncalled for "pack of impotent
1280B05 men" statement on june 28, his patience had clearly been exhausted.
1290B05 ^The former Home Minister had been too patronising-- he had time and
1300B05 again claimed to_ have made \0Mr. Desai the Prime Minister-- and
1310B05 too self-righteous. ^As such it is understandable that \0Mr. Desai has
1320B05 resisted pleas by some of the mediators to_ take \0Mr. Charan Singh
1330B05 back into the cabinet. ^In the process he has raised his stature considerably.
1340B05 $^There is, however, another aspect of the story which deserves
1350B05 notice. ^Some of \0Mr. Charan Singh*'s supporters have persuaded him
1360B05 to_ call off the *4kisan rally which was to_ be held on July 17, give
1370B05 up his insistence on stating his side of the conflict between him and
1380B05 the Prime Minister and finally withdraw his resignation from the Janata
1390B05 parliamentary board and national executive on the plea that the fight
1400B05 has shifted from the government to the party and that this calls for patience,
1410B05 cool nerves and a spirit of accommodation. ^In plain terms this
1420B05 means that the former Home Minister and his followers will spare no
1430B05 effort to_ strengthen their position in the party in the forthcoming organisational
1440B05 elections next October. ^And judging by recent developments
1450B05 it will not be surprising if \0Mr. Charan Singh or a nominee of his
1460B05 is a candidate for presidentship of the party and if the former Jana
1470B05 Sangh decides to_ support him, this can lead, on the one hand, to a
1480B05 curtailment of the influence of the erstwhile Congress (\0O), \0CFD
1490B05 and young Turks in the Janata and, on the other, to a clash between
1500B05 the ruling party and the government. ^If it is recalled that it was precisely
1510B05 a similar conflict which led to the split in the Congress in 1969,
1520B05 the need to_ avoid it becomes evident. ^But while it is easy to_ emphasise
1530B05 the need, it is extremely difficult, at least right now, to_ suggest
1540B05 how it can be met. ^The Janata leadership has bought time which it
1550B05 must utilise to_ avoid somehow another collision which, if it occurs, is
1560B05 likely to_ be far more serious and difficult to_ manage than the present
1570B05 one. ^The former Jana Sangh*'s role will be particularly crucial. ^Its
1580B05 leaders will be called upon to_ show far greater resilience and skill
1590B05 than they have shown so far. $**<*3Black
1600B05 Market**> $^The Union government has at last woken up to
1610B05 the fact that the blackmarketing of cement, steel, coal, soda ash and
1620B05 a number of other essential raw materials is back in a big way. ^Since
1630B05 the rise in consumption has been relatively small, the sharp spurt in such
1640B05 clandestine deals can only be attributed to gross mismanagement of the
1650B05 distribution network. ^Indeed, the ministers concerned are now bemoaning
1660B05 loudly that hoarders and profiteers, in cahoots with dishonest bureaucrats
1670B05 and managers of private firms, have contrived to_ create "artificial
1680B05 shortages" to_ make a fast buck. ^But they should know best that this
1690B05 is no sudden development. ^The merchants have been charging 10 to 30
1700B05 per cent more than the controlled rates for various varieties of coal in
1710B05 most parts of the country since March last: in fact, when some 12 million
1720B05 tonnes of coal were said to_ be lying at the pitheads, many power
1730B05 stations in the country were facing dire shortages, several trains on the
1740B05 South-Eastern Railway had been cancelled due to lack of coal and
1750B05 hundreds of engineering, textiles, tea, paper and chemical units were forced
1760B05 to_ switch over to furnace oil or firewood while some had to_ cease
1770B05 operations altogether.*#
        **[no. of words = 02050**]

        **[txt. b06**]
0010B06 **<JUDGMENT ON $EMERGENCY**> $^It is impossible to_ disagree with the
0020B06 Shah Commission*'s central finding that \0Mrs. Gandhi imposed the
0030B06 emergency on June 25, 1975, "in a desperate endeavour to_ save herself
0040B06 from the legitimate compulsion of a judicial verdict against her." ^This
0050B06 fact was obvious on June 26, 1975, when the country woke up to_ find
0060B06 that the then Prime Minister had staged a virtual coup with the help
0070B06 of an obliging President and a dozen or so trusted lieutenants. ^And it
0080B06 has remained obvious since. ^Indeed, neither she nor her supporters have
0090B06 produced the slightest evidence which can controvert the view that the
0100B06 country was not facing a law and order problem of such a magnitude as
0110B06 could not have been tackled effectively through the normal process and
0120B06 machinery. $^The opposition might have failed to_ grasp that she would go
0130B06 to any extent to_ keep herself in office if she was driven to the wall.
0140B06 ^It might have been well advised then to_ allow her to_ go through the
0150B06 legal remedy open to her-- an appeal to the Supreme Court-- before it
0160B06 decided to_ launch an agitation to_ force her resignation. ^But nothing
0170B06 that_ happened between June 12, 1975, when \0Mr. Justice Sinha of
0180B06 the Allahabad High Court set aside her election to Parliament and June
0190B06 25, 1975, could have justified so drastic a step as the proclamation
0200B06 of the emergency, the arrest of thousands of opposition leaders at all
0210B06 levels and the imposition on the press of curbs the like of which it
0220B06 had not known even under the British during the war. ^On the contrary,
0230B06 it was she who had tried to_ create an atmosphere of crisis by summoning
0240B06 crowds to the roundabout outside her official residence at all times
0250B06 of the day and making all manner of charges against those who had had
0260B06 the temerity to_ suggest that she should step down in response to the judgment
0270B06 of the Allahabad High Court. $^She had herself asked one of
0280B06 her ministers to_ resign in a similar situation and she failed to_ cite
0290B06 any worthwhile reason why she should be allowed to_ disregard an established
0300B06 convention. ^She had enough opportunity during the emergency and she
0310B06 has had enough opportunity since, including the one provided by the Shah
0320B06 Commission, to_ elucidate her favourite charge that external agencies
0330B06 in league with certain domestic elements were out to_ destabilise the
0340B06 country and that the emergency was necessary to_ frustrate them. ^She
0350B06 has failed to_ avail of these opportunities apparently because she has
0360B06 not been in a position to_ make the charge stick. $^The Shah Commission*'s
0370B06 report on \0Mr. Sanjay Gandhi*'s role as Delhi*'s overlord is also
0380B06 incontrovertible. ^The demolition of thousands of residential and
0390B06 commercial buildings which he unquestionably ordered might or might not
0400B06 have been exactly a source of amusement to this callow and callous young
0410B06 man. ^But there cannot be the slightest doubt that he was utterly insensitive
0420B06 to "the miseries he was heaping on the helpless population." ^Like
0430B06 dictators in banana republics in Latin America, he was determined to_
0440B06 make the capital look beautiful. ^He did not care for the cost to the
0450B06 people involved. ^Similarly, if \0Mr. Justice Shah*'s observation--
0460B06 that "not all the excesses that_ were committed during the emergency all
0470B06 over the country would surpass this one single excess in terms of the
0480B06 tragedy it involved" for *4lakhs of people and "all it meant for the country
0490B06 in the context of its utter illegality and unconstitutionality"--
0500B06 needs to_ be qualified, it is only because \0Mr. Gandhi presided over
0510B06 the family planning drive with the same "ruthlessness and effectiveness"
0520B06 and, of course, "without the slightest claim to that_ position except
0530B06 that he was the son of the then Prime Minister of India." ^Nothing
0540B06 is or can be-- not perhaps even the proclamation of the emergency and
0550B06 the bypassing of Cabinet colleagues, the Home Ministry, the Cabinet
0560B06 Secretary, the intelligence chiefs and less trusted chief ministers--
0570B06 as damning an indictment of the emergency regime as the rise of this extra-constitutional
0580B06 centre of authority, an euphemism (*3*8a la*9 the
0590B06 cult of personality in Stalin*'s case) for the usurpation of enormous
0600B06 powers and their abuse day in and day out, with the direct support of
0610B06 \0Mrs. Gandhi. ^Once she had secured her own position by amending the
0620B06 People*'s Representation Act and the Constitution and getting a favourable
0630B06 verdict from the Supreme Court on the basis of the new laws,
0640B06 she was as if determined to_ prove that nothing mattered to her more than
0650B06 to_ ensure \0Mr. Gandhi*'s succession to herself. ^It is not necessary
0660B06 to_ give credence to ugly rumours regarding his associations in order
0670B06 to_ conclude that \0Mrs. Gandhi gravely undermined her credibility by
0680B06 investing so much authority in him and those close to him in and around
0690B06 her house as distinct from the office in South Block which was more
0700B06 or less bypassed in that_ dark period. $^Except for the suppression of
0710B06 the press, for which it may be as fair or unfair to_ blame \0Mr. Vidya
0720B06 Charan Shukla as it would be to_ blame the officials in Delhi for the
0730B06 demolitions, other instances of violations of the rules and procedures
0740B06 for appointments, dismissals and arrests cited by the Shah Commission
0750B06 pale into insignificance in comparison with the first two issues-- the
0760B06 proclamation of the emergency and the rise of \0Mr. Gandhi. ^Perhaps
0770B06 \0Mr. Justice Shah would not have investigated these cases in such
0780B06 detail if he did not think it necessary to_ establish beyond reasonable
0790B06 doubt that power was abused during the emergency not only in the general
0800B06 sense that the people were terrorised into silence and submission but
0810B06 also specifically to_ punish those who had dared cross the path of those
0820B06 in authority and to_ reward those who were willing to_ comply with orders,
0830B06 however illegitimate. ^But all this having been said, the central
0840B06 question remains unanswered. ^What should be the follow-up action on the
0850B06 part of the government? ^It has already taken steps to_ redress to the
0860B06 extent possible the grievances of the evictees in Delhi and elsewhere
0870B06 and it has introduced in Parliament one bill to_ scrap the \0MISA,
0880B06 which \0Mrs. Gandhi used with deadly effect to_ paralyse the opposition,
0890B06 and another to_ amend the Constitution so as to_ ensure that a future
0900B06 prime minister is not able to_ promulgate an emergency except in the
0910B06 case of an armed rebellion and to_ make mincemeat of the Fundamental
0920B06 Rights as she did during those dark 20 months. ^But what is it to_ do with
0930B06 \0Mrs. Gandhi herself? $^The government faces a terrible dilemma
0931B06 to
0940B06 which there may not be a solution. ^On the one hand it is under pressure
0950B06 from its followers and supporters to_ arrest her and prosecute her and,
0960B06 on the other, it is only too well aware of the possible risks involved.
0970B06 ^What could have been done to her in the first few months after the end
0980B06 of the emergency is now at best an academic question. ^The present reality
0990B06 is that any attempt to_ put her on trial on the charges framed by
1000B06 the Shah Commission can win her a lot of sympathy and divide the country
1010B06 in a dangerous manner. ^It may be unpleasant to_ have to_ acknowledge
1020B06 that she has successfully outmanoeuvred the government, other opponents
1030B06 like the \0CPM and her detractors in the Congress by demonstrating
1040B06 that she has a sizable following in the country. ^The Janata leadership
1050B06 has helped her by its ineptness. ^It has, for example, selected wrong
1060B06 men as chief ministers in certain key states; it has handled the problem
1070B06 of the atrocities on the *4Harijans and communal riots poorly; it blundered
1080B06 in arresting her and two full-fledged secretaries to the
1081B06 Union
1090B06 government, on flimsy charges and it has damaged itself by engaging in interminable
1100B06 squabbles. ^But whatever the reasons, she is once again a formidable
1110B06 factor in Indian politics and to_ try her on complicated charges
1120B06 like the ones listed by the commission is to_ risk making a living martyr
1130B06 of her. \0^*Mr. Morarji Desai appreciates the gravity of the problem.
1140B06 ^Those who mean well by the country should not try to_ force his hands.
1160B06 $**<A VAIN QUEST**> $^After the latest statements by a number of prominent
1170B06 members of the Congress (\0I), there can be no doubt that \0Mrs.
1180B06 Gandhi*'s party is not interested if it ever was, in unity with the
1190B06 rival Congress, whatever she herself might or might not have said. ^Not
1200B06 that her own statements in recent days could have given much encouragement
1210B06 to the advocates of unity. ^On the contrary, by disowning the proposal
1220B06 to_ summon the "pre-split \0AICC", she had deprived them of
1230B06 their main plank, as \0Mr. Siddhartha Shankar Ray ruefully admitted
1240B06 during the two-day meeting of the Congress working committee. ^In the
1250B06 circumstances, the committee*'s decision, despite strong reservations by
1260B06 a majority of its members, to_ allow another three weeks to the votaries
1270B06 of unity to_ pursue their efforts has become irrelevant, and so has
1280B06 the continued search for the so-called unity with honour by the latter.
1290B06 ^This is a welcome development for senior Congress leaders like \0Mr.
1300B06 *(0Y. B.*) Chavan who have been opposed to unity moves because they have
1310B06 known that it would in effect mean surrender. ^They have had to_ show
1320B06 indulgence towards the advocates of unity because the sentiment in its
1330B06 favour within their ranks has been fairly strong and they have wanted
1340B06 to_ avoid a split. ^They can now perhaps hope that the ambivalence afflicting
1350B06 their party may end. $^The reasons why the Congress (\0I) leaders
1360B06 are riding a high horse are precisely the same as have made unity with
1370B06 it attractive in the eyes of Congress leaders like \0Mr. Ray, \0Mr.
1380B06 Vasantdada Patil, \0Mr. Mohanlal Sukhadia and \0Mr. Rajni Patel.
1390B06 ^The state assembly elections in south India and Maharashtra as well
1400B06 as the crucial parliamentary by-elections in Karnal and Azamgarh
1401B06 have
1410B06 shown that \0Mrs Gandhi remains the best bet for Congressmen anxious
1420B06 to_ return to office. ^And her position has become even stronger on account
1430B06 of the growing discontent with the Janata government. ^Naturally
1440B06 many of the present Congress (\0I) leaders do not want senior Congressmen
1450B06 like those named above to_ return on honourable terms because that_
1460B06 can mean diminution in their own status. ^To_ say this is not to_ justify
1470B06 the arrogance displayed by her or some of her lieutenants-- even
1480B06 \0Mr. Devraj Urs has been put in his place for having encouraged \0Mr.
1490B06 Ray to_ believe that it may be possible to_ convene the pre-split
1500B06 \0AICC-- but to_ take note of the reality. \0^*Mr. Chavan had bluntly
1510B06 warned \0Mr. Ray, \0Mr. Vasantdada Patil and others of his persuasion
1520B06 that unity with honour was not possible. \0^*Mrs. Gandhi and
1521B06 her
1530B06 minions have now proved that he was right and forced them to_ face their
1540B06 moment of truth. ^The crowning irony of it all is that even the willingness
1550B06 to_ surrender to the former Prime Minister might not win seats
1560B06 on her bandwagon for all those who wish to_ get there. ^She has said in
1570B06 so many words that not all Congressmen would be welcome. ^Only those cleared
1580B06 by a screening committee she has already appointed would be admitted.
1600B06 $**<*3*(0J. P.*)*'s Appeal**> $\0^*Mr. Jayaprakash Narayan has reason
1610B06 to_ be specially perturbed over the increasingly bitter factional struggles
1620B06 in the Janata. ^Unless one takes a rather cynical, though not
1630B06 a wholly, unjustified, view that the party is a product of the emergency,
1640B06 he more than any other single individual must be recognised as its architect.
1650B06 ^He was not only deeply involved, as he has put it with his characteristic
1660B06 modesty, in the "historic process which led to its formation"
1670B06 but he led that_ historic process. ^It is, therefore, only natural that
1680B06 he should be anxious lest the party tears itself apart.
1690B06 ^Three other facts must add to his anxiety. ^First, the Janata has
1700B06 already lost much of its popularity and the process is bound to_ be
1710B06 accelerated if it continues to_ make an exhibition of the division in
1720B06 it.*#
        **[no. of words = 02008**]

        **[txt. b07**]
0010B07 **<*3The Janata *7Shokku**> $^THE Janata set-up is administering
0020B07 what the Japanese would call "*7shokku" after "*7shokku" to our country*'s
0030B07 fumbling and faltering economy. ^The jerks and jolts come from all
0040B07 quarters, some of them odd or unexpected. \0^*Dr Raj Krishna, for
0050B07 instance, has characterised the recent changes in monetary and credit policies
0060B07 as irrational. $^The precise official status of a member of the
0070B07 Planning Commission may be vague and he is perhaps not bound by the Government
0080B07 Servants*' Conduct Rules. ^However, since he is appointed
0090B07 by the Government and draws a salary, besides other emoluments, from the
0100B07 Consolidated Fund of India, as authorised by Parliament, it could
0110B07 be supposed that he is bound by some rules having the purpose or effect
0120B07 of ensuring a minimum of decorum or discipline in the public appearance
0130B07 or functioning of the Government. $^*I am not suggesting that \0Dr
0140B07 Raj Krishna*'s outburst does not have a certain utility to the extent
0150B07 that it indicates that there is fierce debating of issues within the
0160B07 Government before policy decisions are taken. ^But, it cannot be ignored
0170B07 that such uninhibited expressions of dissent after decisions have been
0180B07 taken and announced by the Government must certainly cause the raising
0190B07 of hackles in official circles or the raising of eyebrows among the
0200B07 public. ^This no doubt makes life livelier, but only at a price. $^It will
0210B07 no longer be merely innocent fun if other dignitaries in or around the
0220B07 Government, such as \0Mr *(0I. G.*) Patel, Governor of the Reserve
0230B07 Bank, \0Dr Manmohan Singh, Secretary, Economic Affairs, Ministry
0240B07 of Finance, and \0Dr *(0R. M.*) Honavar, Chief Economic
0250B07 Adviser, Ministry of Finance, were to_ participate in the public controversy
0260B07 over the interest rate decisions which \0Dr Raj Krishna has
0270B07 so zestfully initiated. $^Some of us may feel sorry that the Government
0280B07 should have been embarrassed or harassed by this demonstration of robust
0290B07 individualism by a member of the Planning Commission. ^But why should
0300B07 sympathy be wasted? ^This government seems to_ have got the Planning
0310B07 Commission it deserves. ^When Ministers speak or otherwise act in public
0320B07 as if what the Government has decided or done is no responsibility
0330B07 of theirs, why should not members of the Planning Commission claim
0340B07 or practise similar detachment? $*<*3Giant-killer Pose*> $^Take, for
0350B07 instance, \0Mr George Fernandes. ^He chooses the occasion of a public
0360B07 meeting in Coimbatore to_ announce how he proposes to_ implement or
0370B07 rather not implement the industrial policy of the Government as restated
0380B07 on behalf of the Government by the Industry Minister in Parliament
0390B07 on December 23 last year. ^Striking his Giant-killer pose, he informed
0400B07 his audience that, after \0IBM and Coca Cola, he was taking
0410B07 on Hindustan Lever and \0WIMCO. ^According to the Press reports,
0420B07 he said that these "multinational" companies, as he termed them, were being
0430B07 asked to_ "phase out" their production of soap and safety match respectively
0440B07 over a period of three years. $^It has been suggested that the
0450B07 Industry Minister*'s intention is to_ initiate a public dialogue on
0460B07 the progressive development of the Janata Party*'s economic policy of
0470B07 ensuring that what can be produced in the decentralised sector is not
0480B07 produced in the large-scale sector. ^A public meeting in Coimbatore, however,
0490B07 is hardly the appropriate occasion for such a move especially when
0500B07 Parliament is sitting and the budget session should be providing the
0510B07 Minister with an early opportunity for expatiating on his intentions
0511B07 and
0520B07 efforts when his Ministry*'s demands for grants come up for discussion.
0530B07 \0^*Mr George Fernandes, presumably, believes in the virtue of shock
0540B07 tactics for preparing public opinion for his adventures in industrial
0550B07 policy. $^This approach, however, may not be without its disadvantages,
0560B07 even from the Industry Minister*'s point of view. ^His industrial policy
0570B07 statement has spelt out more than 500 items which are reserved for
0580B07 exclusive development in the small-scale sector. ^The meaning of this
0590B07 reservation is that further expansion of capacity will not be allowed in
0600B07 the case of firms in the large-scale sector which may also be producing
0610B07 these goods at present. ^There is no mention anywhere in the industrial
0620B07 policy statement that existing large-scale producers of these items
0630B07 will be required to_ go out of business altogether immediately or within
0640B07 a stated period to_ be specified now. ^On the contrary there is enough
0650B07 in the statement to_ warrant the expectation that the Government will
0660B07 not be bringing any such pressure on the large-scale manufacturers. $*<*3Reserved
0670B07 Items*> $^The passage dealing with the "reservation" describes
0680B07 how this policy is to_ be promoted in stages. ^It admits that it must
0690B07 be ensured that the production of reserved items in the small-scale
0700B07 sector is economic and of acceptable quality. ^It concedes that the list
0710B07 of industries reserved for the small-scale sector has to_ be continually
0720B07 reviewed so that capacity creation does not lag behind the requirements
0730B07 of the economy. ^It undertakes to_ carry out an annual survey of the
0740B07 small-scale sector for purposes of monitoring the progress of production
0750B07 of the reserved items in terms of quantity, quality, costs and prices.
0760B07 $^What \0Mr Fernandes proposes to_ do now is to_ start eliminating
0770B07 these safeguards for the consumer in respect of important mass consumption
0780B07 goods, when the industrial policy statement incorporating them
0790B07 is hardly three months old. $^As if this is not enough to_ shake public
0800B07 confidence in the policy statements of the Government, \0Mr Fernandes
0810B07 has not hesitated to_ ride rough-shod over another important feature
0820B07 or commitment of the industrial policy statement. ^This relates to the
0830B07 treatment of \0FERA companies which have been assured that, after
0840B07 the process of dilution of foreign equity under the provisions of this
0850B07 Act has been completed, they will be treated on par with Indian companies,
0860B07 except in cases where specifically notified, and that their future
0870B07 expansion will be guided by the same principles as those applicable to
0880B07 Indian companies. ^Both Hindustan Lever and \0WIMCO have been taking
0890B07 steps to_ meet the requirements of \0FERA so that their expansion
0900B07 schemes, relating to the core sector or other approved industrial activity,
0910B07 are sanctioned by the Government; \0WIMCO, in fact, is already
0920B07 out of the \0FERA classifications. ^They are thus qualifying for
0930B07 being treated on par with Indian companies as promised by the Government
0940B07 in its industrial policy statement. ^To_ apply the term "multinationals"
0950B07 to them is, therefore, grossly opportunistic. ^It is a clear case
0960B07 of employing an emotive appellation (which has come to_ acquire a pejorative
0970B07 character due to high pressure propaganda) merely in order to_ mislead
0980B07 public opinion. ^Both Hindustan Lever and \0WIMCO are integral
0990B07 parts of the Indian industrial scene. $*<*3Consumers*' View*> $^From
1000B07 the consumer*'s point of view, the Industry Minister*'s crusading
1010B07 zeal for fragmenting the production of mass consumption goods may have
1020B07 serious consequences. ^Whereas the \0MRTP Act is very much there
1030B07 to_ police or even over-police the operations of large firms such as
1040B07 \0WIMCO or Hindustan Lever, the presence of firms such as these
1050B07 in their respective industries has certainly helped to_ provide a degree
1060B07 of competition which has served to_ protect the consumer*'s interest,
1070B07 in matters such as the availability, quality and prices of major consumer
1080B07 products. ^Even in the case of the match industry, where \0WIMCO
1090B07 has a large share of the market, it is undeniable that its trading position
1100B07 has had a healthy effect on the quality and prices of these products
1110B07 in the small-scale sector, without interfering with the growth of that_
1120B07 sector. $^In his Coimbatore speech, \0Mr Fernandes has not made
1130B07 it clear whether Hindustan Lever is being asked to_ get out of the business
1140B07 of making toilet soap as well and not only washing soap. ^This lack
1150B07 of clarity is another failing attaching to off-the-cuff announcements
1160B07 of policy decisions by Ministers at public meetings. ^So far as washing
1170B07 soap is concerned, the larger manufacturers are taking more and more
1180B07 to the production of detergents and this is where real competition for
1190B07 washing soap producers in the small-scale sector will increasingly come
1200B07 from in the future. ^Consequently, even if \0Mr Fernandes does not
1210B07 propose to_ outlaw the production of toilet soap in the large-scale sector
1220B07 at present, the pressure on the Government to_ do so may grow. ^To_
1230B07 yield to such pressures would be most objectionable because people have
1240B07 a right to_ demand quality in toilet soaps for which they are prepared
1250B07 to_ pay, since this is a matter of skin health and personal hygiene. ^If
1260B07 artificial restrictions are placed on their access to supplies which
1270B07 meet their needs or preferences in this respect, the demand for alternatives,
1280B07 whether regularly imported or smuggled, will get a boost. ^Even now
1290B07 toilet soap of foreign make has a market among the more affluent sections
1300B07 of the community and the Government will be doing no service to Indian
1310B07 soap industry as a whole if it obstructs production of toilet soap
1320B07 by quality manufacturers in our midst. $*<*3Broad Attitude*> $^What
1330B07 is perhaps particularly frightening about \0Mr Fernandes*'s approach
1340B07 is that he seems to_ represent a broader attitude on the part of the
1350B07 Government towards private industry in the large-scale sector. ^Even \0Mr
1360B07 *(0H. N.*) Bahuguna, the Minister for Petroleum and Chemicals,
1370B07 from whom ideological pretensions must come with much less grace than
1380B07 from \0Mr George Fernandes, has unsheathed his sword and is itching to_
1390B07 cut the "multinationals" in the pharmaceutical industry to size, since
1400B07 they have dared to_ produce the drugs and medicines (which the people
1410B07 presumably have bought because they have needed them) in excess of the
1420B07 sacred limitations of their installed capacities as mentioned in the files
1430B07 of the Government. ^There can be no more ludicrous manifestation of
1440B07 the Alice-in-Wonderland logic of industrial licensing than this. ^It
1450B07 would take long to_ discuss this particular distortion. ^Here I would
1460B07 content myself with pointing out that the absurdity of the situation
1470B07 should not escape the notice of the Prime Minister, who has been saying
1480B07 that the Government should rid the economy of unnecessary controls.
1490B07 $^Finally, there are reports that a situation is being deliberately created
1500B07 for the virtual take-over by the Government of the operations of
1510B07 one of the automobile firms in the country. ^If these reports are true
1520B07 they will confirm the suspicions always entertained by the business community
1530B07 about the motives behind the \0LIC and other public financial
1540B07 or investment institutions having been steadily acquiring **[sic**]
1541B07 the shares of
1550B07 established companies, even where the yields are four per cent or less.
1560B07 ^These investment policies and practices have in fact been greatly responsible
1570B07 for the non-functioning of a real capital market as well as the
1580B07 reluctance of entrepreneurs to_ borrow from term-lending institutions
1590B07 for expansion schemes or new projects. ^The insistence of the \0LIC
1600B07 and other similar institutions on provisions for the convertibility of
1610B07 their loans into equity has now acquired a sinister meaning as a means
1620B07 of back-door nationalisation of companies in the private sector which
1630B07 would mean another violation of the spirit of the industrial policy statement
1640B07 since that_ document does not provide for the State take-over
1650B07 of private undertaking by means, overt or covert. ^At this, a crisis of
1660B07 confidence in Government-business relations cannot be far off. $**<*3My
1670B07 rural bias**> $*3^WANTING*0 to_ contribute my mite to the growth
1680B07 of India, I planned to_ set up an industry, away from pollution, exploitation
1690B07 and urban chaos, and where it was really needed-- in the village.
1700B07 ^That_ I thought was the real India. $"^Where would you like to_ establish
1710B07 your works?" the helpful official at Udyog Bhavan asked me.
1720B07 $^Pinched just that_ morning by the further 11 paise-a-litre hike in petrol
1730B07 prices, I almost said, "in my backyard". ^But then I thought of
1740B07 the nation*'s interest and said boldly, pride on my face, "atleast 267 miles--
1750B07 333 \0kms-- from the nearest railway station, preferably in Bihar."
1760B07 ^Suitably impressed, this new well-wisher of rural India promised
1770B07 me all help. $"^What item would you be making?", he asked, courtesy oozing
1780B07 out of his benevolent bureaucratic face as he summoned his stenographer
1790B07 to_ approve a blank cheque for me. ^He mildly suggested that I
1791B07 call
1800B07 a Press conference without loss of time. ^For, he said, the world must
1810B07 know that we have such people here.*#
        **[no. of words = 02012**]

        **[txt. b08**]
0010B08 **<*3Snakes and Ladders*0**> $^THE Finance Minister is reportedly
0020B08 on the defensive to the point of being aggressively apologetic. ^Currently
0030B08 his argument seems to_ be that those who criticise his tax proposals
0040B08 should tell him what else he could have done to_ raise the additional
0050B08 revenue of the order of \0Rs 500 *4crore, which he believes he needs.
0060B08 ^Although he is new to the office of Finance Minister, \0Mr Patel
0070B08 had earlier spent years in the Finance Ministry and should,
0071B08 therefore,
0080B08 know all the tricks of the debate. ^To_ argue with him without questioning
0090B08 quite a few of the basic assumptions of this budget would be impossible
0100B08 and to_ question them at this stage would be pointless if our immediate
0110B08 purpose is, as it should be, to_ secure some tempering of the
0120B08 wind to the shorn lamb. $^Last June, \0Mr Patel increased the rate of
0130B08 surcharge on income-tax in the case of all categories of tax-payers,
0140B08 except companies, from 10 per cent to 15 per cent. ^By doing so, he raised
0150B08 the marginal rate of personal income-tax from 66 per cent to 69 per
0160B08 cent. ^For months now \0Mr Patel has been bemoaning the stagnation of
0170B08 investment. ^He should now be prepared to_ allow that his reversal of
0180B08 the trend towards lowering the excessive taxation of personal incomes
0190B08 has not exactly helped the investment climate in the current financial year.
0200B08 ^It should also be possible for him to_ concede that it should not
0210B08 be impossible for a government, really keen on promoting small or medium-scale
0220B08 entrepreneurship, to_ realise that the growth of the smaller firms
0230B08 is markedly responsive to reductions in the taxation of individual incomes.
0240B08 $^The present budget has gone a step further in the wrong direction
0250B08 by raising the rates of compulsory deposits in the case of income-tax
0260B08 payers so that additional deposits of as much as \0Rs 25 *4crore could
0270B08 be secured from the same categories of assessees who were so severely
0280B08 hit by the surcharge levied by the last budget. ^If only because this
0290B08 measure of forced savings makes nonsense of the Finance Minister*'s
0300B08 effort to_ stimulate certain forms of approved savings or investments
0310B08 by means of the few incentives he has now offered, \0Mr Patel will be
0320B08 well-advised to_ think again. '^Snakes and Ladders' is essentially a
0330B08 game for people in one or the other of the two stages of childhood. $*<*3Minimal
0340B08 Measures*> $^The policy of surcharge on income-tax and the
0350B08 withdrawal of the proposed increase in the rates of compulsory deposits
0360B08 in the case of income-tax payers are two of the minimal measures
0370B08 needed for bringing about any improvement in the voluntary savings situation
0380B08 or the investment climate. ^The third is the removal of the surtax
0390B08 on companies. ^The total incidence of corporate taxation is now of the
0400B08 order of over 62 per cent and at least some modest relief is necessary
0410B08 in this case if the corporate sector is to_ improve its retained earnings
0420B08 or practise a reasonable dividend policy which would revive investors*'
0430B08 interest in equities. ^The government has repeatedly expressed the
0440B08 view that company managements should depend more and more on the generation
0450B08 of internal resources. ^But it is impractical to_ expect them to_ reduce
0460B08 their dependence on the banking system for working capital or on the
0470B08 financial institutions for their investment needs if corporate taxation
0480B08 continues to_ appropriate a major part of corporate receipts for the
0490B08 public fisc. $^The three measures of relief suggested here would mean
0500B08 that the Finance Minister will have to_ scale down his expectation of
0510B08 revenue from additional tax measures by about \0Rs 150 *4crore. ^This surely
0520B08 is not too high a price to_ pay for bringing about a change in the
0530B08 direction of the economy towards increases in the voluntary savings and
0540B08 the investment climate. $^The Finance Minister*'s proposal for disallowing
0550B08 in computations of taxable profits a part of the expenditure incurred
0560B08 by companies on advertisement, publicity and sales promotion, has
0570B08 raised a storm of protest. ^The fact that the loudest protesters represent
0580B08 interests whose jobs or earnings are directly hit should not cloud
0590B08 our recognition of the negative or harmful aspects of the move made by
0600B08 the Finance Minister. ^While it may be allowed as a general proposition
0610B08 that some part of the expenditure incurred on advertisement, publicity
0620B08 and sales promotion tends to_ be extravagant or socially wasteful, there
0630B08 are no means of determining how large this part is in the case of
0640B08 individual industries. ^This exercise becomes even more speculative when
0650B08 the advertisement publicity and sales promotion budgets of individual
0660B08 firms are to_ be looked into.
0670B08 $*<*3Major Anomalies*> $^The rule of thumb which the Finance Minister
0680B08 must necessarily adopt can therefore result in grossly unfair and
0690B08 improper distribution of the impact of the proposed scheme of disallowance.
0700B08 ^Already certain major anomalies have been identified. ^For instance,
0710B08 sales promotion needs are clearly more demanding in the case of
0720B08 manufactures production of mass consumption goods for a highly competitive
0730B08 market than in the case of firms manufacturing or marketing, say,
0740B08 capital goods or other speciality products for easily identifiable and narrow
0750B08 markets. ^Again, when a firm seeks to_ establish a new brand image
0760B08 for one or more of its products or is embarking on the merchandising
0770B08 of a new product resulting from its \0R and \0D efforts or policies of
0780B08 diversifying its production, it will naturally have to_ spend additional
0790B08 sums on advertisement and publicity. ^There are again industries such
0800B08 as pharmaceuticals which have to_ depend on relatively expensive means
0810B08 of field publicity or personalised sales promotion for bringing their
0820B08 products to the educated attention of the related professions or the knowledge
0830B08 of the general public. $^When the Finance Minister speaks of
0840B08 "socially wasteful" expenditure on advertisement, he should ask himself
0850B08 whether he is sure that his proposal to_ curb advertisement expenditure
0860B08 may not lead, in reality, to discouragement of some socially valuable expenditure
0870B08 as well. ^For instance, the Indian language newspapers and periodicals
0880B08 and small and medium newspapers and periodicals as a class will
0890B08 have to_ bear the brunt of the Finance Minister*'s assault on corporate
0900B08 expenditure on advertisement, publicity and sales promotion. ^Since
0910B08 his colleague, the Minister for Information and Broadcasting and, through
0920B08 him, the Government of India, seem to_ have taken a certain view
0930B08 of the social worth of these sections of the Press, the Finance
0940B08 Minister may perhaps ask himself whether his fiscal proposals with regard
0950B08 to corporate expenditure on advertisement, publicity and sales promotion
0960B08 are consistent with that_ view. $*<*3Good Alternatives*> $^The Finance
0970B08 Minister expects that the proposed curb on corporate expenditure
0980B08 will yield \0Rs 31 *4crore in a full year and about \0Rs 25 *4crore
0990B08 in 1978-79. ^It would be unrealistic therefore to_ expect him to_ give
0991B08 up
1000B08 his proposal completely and, in the hope that he would allow that some
1010B08 bargaining is possible and should be seriously considered, I would recommend
1020B08 that there should at least be no disallowance of expenditure on advertisement,
1030B08 publicity and sales promotion up to and inclusive of one
1040B08 quarter per cent of the turnover or gross receipts of the business or
1050B08 profession and that, where such aggregate expenditure exceeds one quarter
1060B08 per cent, the disallowance should be made at a uniform rate of 10 per
1070B08 cent of the amount in excess. ^Under the Finance Minister*'s scheme,
1080B08 the provision regarding disallowance will not apply in cases where the
1090B08 aggregate expenditure on advertisement, publicity and sales promotion does
1100B08 not exceed \0Rs 20,000 in a year. ^This exemption limit may be liberalised
1110B08 to "\0Rs 25,000 or one quarter per cent of the turnover or gross
1120B08 receipts, whichever is higher." ^The Finance Minister*'s proposals for
1130B08 raising the rates of disallowance as the aggregate expenditure on advertisement,
1140B08 publicity and sales promotion increases as a percentage of
1150B08 the turnover or gross receipts (10 per cent if the aggregate expenditure
1160B08 does not exceed 1/4th per cent of the turnover or gross receipts, 12-1/2
1170B08 per cent where it exceeds 1/4th per cent but does not exceed 1/2 per
1180B08 cent and 15 per cent where it exceeds 1/2 per cent) should be given up
1190B08 in favour of a less harsh scheme on the lines suggested here. $^The proposed
1200B08 levy of a duty of two *4paise per kilowatt-hour on electricity generated
1210B08 has provoked opposition from State governments, notably those
1220B08 of Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. ^This resistance cannot be without considerable
1230B08 political influence on the thinking of the Finance Minister.
1240B08 ^Apart from the issue of the Centre encroaching upon the revenue sources
1250B08 of the States, there is also the question of the appropriateness
1260B08 of a tax on electricity at a time when, in several large areas of the
1270B08 country, the availability of power for industrial or other consumers
1280B08 is far from satisfactory. ^Power shedding and breakdowns are in any case
1290B08 adding to the real cost of electricity and there is therefore a singular
1300B08 lack of grace in the Finance Minister burdening consumers with an
1310B08 additional imposition. $^There has been steadily growing disapproval of
1320B08 the two major excise duty proposals. ^As the implications of the raising
1330B08 of the Central excise tariff on "all articles not elsewhere specified"
1340B08 from the level of two per cent *8ad valorem*9 to five per cent *8ad
1350B08 valorem*9 and the proposed special duty of 1/20th of the basic excise
1360B08 duties presently collected on each item in the Central excise tariff
1370B08 are beginning to_ sink, a not so quiet resentment is building up against
1380B08 a fiscal policy which would raise manufacturing costs and consumer prices
1390B08 for a very wide range of goods at a time when industry is finding it
1400B08 difficult to_ sell and consumers are finding it even more difficult to_
1410B08 buy for the reason that prices have been steadily increasing over a period
1420B08 and are now at forbiddingly high levels. $*<*3Exemptions List*>
1430B08 $^With the Finance Minister licking his chops in anticipation of a combined
1440B08 additional revenue of \0Rs 314 *4crore from these two measures,
1450B08 there is no point in appealing to him for anything more than small mercies.
1460B08 ^It may therefore be suggested to \0Mr Patel that he should at least
1470B08 enlarge his niggardly list of exemptions. ^The less affluent sections
1480B08 of the community are surely entitled to_ expect that articles of mass
1490B08 consumption such as cotton and other textiles, *4vanaspati, sugar,
1500B08 paper, drugs and medicines without exceptions and basic house building materials
1510B08 are exempted from the new Central excise burdens. $^To_ sum up,
1520B08 it is reasonable that the Finance Minister should be willing to_ make
1530B08 changes on the above lines so that further injury to savings or investment
1540B08 is avoided, some improvement effected in the climate for industrial
1550B08 production and expansion and the long suffering public spared another
1560B08 round of assaults on family budgets. ^Quite possibly, by refraining from
1570B08 restricting still more the growth of the tax base, the Finance Minister
1580B08 may also be making it easier for the Government*'s fiscal management
1590B08 of the economy to_ escape from its procrustean bid some time or the
1600B08 other.
1610B08 $**<*3Briefly**> $*3^SERIOUS*0 concern is warranted over the report
1620B08 that foreigners have been buying much of the jewellery and gems of great
1630B08 antiquity and value being auctioned by the former *4Nizam of Hyderabad.
1640B08 ^It is not the money that_ the ex-prince will acquire as a
1641B08 result
1650B08 of the sale that_ is grudged. ^What is galling is that the country will
1660B08 lose for ever some of the most exquisite creations of inspired craftsmen
1670B08 of the period. ^There would have been an uproar in England if the
1680B08 crown jewels were allowed to_ go out of the country for any reason. ^Such
1690B08 historical artefacts are the heritage of the nation rather than the
1700B08 possession of an individual. ^If selling on this scale is allowed, there
1710B08 is no moral ground for taking preventive action against those who smmuggle
1720B08 sculptures in wood and stone, miniature paintings and other works
1730B08 of art that_ are the pride of the nation. $^What is worse, the former
1740B08 *4Nizam*'s example may be followed by other princes and feudal chiefs
1750B08 who also have old jewellery and gems kept as family heirlooms over the
1760B08 ages. ^Things may not stop there.*#
        **[no. of words = 02005**]

        **[txt. b09**]
0010B09 **<*3Re-organisation of *4Taluks*0**> $^Sir,- ^The Andhra Pradesh Government
0020B09 proposes to_ increase the number of *4taluks from 208 to 270
0030B09 and to_ reduce the number of *4panchayats from 324 to 270, and to_ make
0040B09 *4taluks and *4samithis co-terminus. ^The proposed increase in the
0041B09 number
0050B09 of *4taluks is a well-thought-out realistic programme because several *4taluks
0060B09 are really unwieldy in size, with increasing work and increasing
0070B09 problems. "^Small is beautiful". ^Small *4taluks conduce to effective administration
0080B09 and adequate attention to all spheres of work. $^The authorities
0090B09 are aware that in the scheduled areas, the *4taluks are generally
0100B09 large-sized and are created without reference to *4taluk re-organisation
0110B09 committee and without much regard to the levels of development of
0120B09 the areas or the composition of the people. ^*Bhadrachalam and Nugur *4taluks
0130B09 of the former East Godavari and the present Khammam district
0140B09 together measure 1,550 \0Sq. miles (950 and 600). ^These two *4taluks can
0150B09 be made into atleast three *4taluks not only for administrative convenience
0160B09 but also for the promotion of developmental activities. $^Similarly,
0170B09 Yellavaram and Chodavaram, the pair of Agency *4taluks in East
0180B09 Godavari may be converted into three taluks. ^Geography shows that Yellavaram
0190B09 and Chodavaram *4taluks together measuring 1,500 square miles,
0200B09 sprawl across the map of East Godavari to about a third of its entire
0210B09 size. $^The Agency Yellavaram *4Taluk now comprises the *4mutta area
0220B09 (just settled) and 129 Government villages. ^The *4muttas occupy about
0230B09 3/5ths of the entire *4taluk, and are just now surveyed and settled.
0240B09 ^Nevertheless, much of the area is a primitive rubble lorded over till
0250B09 recently by *4muttadars, practising a sort of mediaeval feudalism. ^Far
0260B09 removed from the ordinary routes of travel, tucked up in the heart of
0270B09 the mountainous range, known as the Eastern *4Ghats, infested with
0280B09 wild animals like the bear and the tiger, and peopled with generally famished,
0290B09 sickly pot-bellied indigenous natives, husbanding on rocky, slopy,
0300B09 infertile soil and without any kind of amenities, these erstwhile *4mutta
0310B09 areas alone in Yellavaram *4taluk deserve the compassionate name the
0320B09 Scheduled Areas or the tribal areas. ^It is there that there is infinite
0330B09 scope for original work and an enormous field for the pioneer. ^Now
0340B09 that the scheduled areas and the scheduled tribes, occupy a warm corner
0350B09 in the heart of our Government, it behoves the Government to_ form
0360B09 the former *4mutta areas into a separate tribal *4taluk with a centrally
0370B09 situated headquarters to_ house the administrative offices. ^These former
0380B09 *4mutta areas may have separate *5Panchayat Samithi*6 headed by a real
0390B09 tribal and not a certificate-made tribal. ^The Government should bestow
0400B09 whole-hearted attention on these areas and develop them and the unfortunate
0410B09 indigenous populations who have been neglected thus far. $^Similarly,
0420B09 the former *4mutta villages in Chodavaram *4taluk should form one
0430B09 tribal *4taluk; even as all the former *4mutta villages in Yellavaram
0440B09 *4taluk should form another tribal *4taluk. ^The 129 Government villages
0450B09 in Yellavaram should form a separate *4taluk taking into their fold
0460B09 the Government villages in Chodavaram *4taluk and some villages of Prathipadu
0470B09 *4taluk, adjoining the present Yellavaram *4taluk. ^This arrangement
0480B09 will enable the Government to_ concentrate on the areas and develop
0490B09 them.
0500B09 $**<*3Promotion of Traditional Art*0**> $^Sir,- ^The measures contemplated
0510B09 by the working group on art and culture (THE HINDU, October
0520B09 28) to_ counter hybrid commercialised mass culture of to-day and to_ promote
0530B09 traditional art forms in tune with the demands of contemporary society
0540B09 have to_ reckon with some insuperables and basic contradictions.
0550B09 $^First, the forces of 'modernisation' have come to_ stay as a historical
0560B09 necessity replacing the old world views of man and his social order
0570B09 and God and His cosmic order. ^An aristocratic principle and its concomitant
0580B09 of hierarchic values informed every mode of thought and action
0590B09 in the medieval and ancient worlds. ^Not that India is to-day a seamless
0600B09 fabric of secularism, socialism and democracy or that all art is a matter
0610B09 of Pavlovian conditioned reflexes. ^Yet the governing modes of
0620B09 thought and the dominant institutions of to-day cannot spur an artistic
0630B09 activity beyond their own frames of reference. $^Secondly, all true artistic
0640B09 spirit is transcendental and universal. ^Yet a hybrid form of art
0650B09 is not necessarily a spurious one to_ be discountenanced. ^Cross-fertilization
0660B09 may produce new and welcome varieties, if modern genetics is
0670B09 anything to_ go by. ^Too much of inbreeding has dangers of its own. $^Thirdly,
0680B09 at least after Frazer and Freud myth and archetype have lost
0690B09 their imaginative appeal to us and have become subjects of academic study
0700B09 in symbology and cultural anthropology whereas they were the very core
0710B09 and breath of traditional artistic expressions. ^Consequently imagination
0720B09 atrophies and a diseased artistic sensibility emerges with a craving
0730B09 for titillations and tawdry stuff which an interreacting art, now
0731B09 become
0740B09 decadent, supplies in rich abundance. ^The situation is irretrievable
0750B09 unless some supreme individual genius supervenes.
0760B09 $**<*3Keep Sugar Cheap'**> $^Sir,- ^This has reference to the editorial
0770B09 (THE HINDU, October 28) on "Keep Sugar Cheap". ^It has not
0780B09 been mentioned how "cheap" it should be kept, whether the present retail
0790B09 price, ranging between \0Rs. 2.30 and \0Rs. 2.40 per kilogram is considered
0800B09 as "reasonably cheap" and hence should be maintained or the prices
0810B09 aimed at by the Government while giving effect to decontrol, \0viz.
0820B09 between \0Rs. 2.75 and \0Rs. 3.00 per \0kilo, should be allowed to_ be
0830B09 achieved. ^The Government, which is having the entire cost data of the
0840B09 industry, has considered it satisfactory if the retail price does not
0850B09 exceed \0Rs. 3 per \0kilo. ^On their own reckoning, which has not been
0860B09 accepted by the industry, the average cost of production per quintal
0870B09 of sugar during 1977-78 season of bumper production has been arrived at
0880B09 about \0Rs. 223 per quintal. ^Adding a sum of \0Rs. 60, which the Government
0890B09 itself has allowed (the tariff value \0Rs. 215, the selling
0900B09 price \0Rs. 275) towards excise duty (\0Rs. 39) and other charges towards
0910B09 transport, insurance, margin for wholesalers, retailers, \0etc., it
0920B09 comes to \0Rs. 283 per quintal or \0Rs. 2.83 per \0kilo to the consumer.
0930B09 ^It is only to_ ensure that the industry realises atleast the said
0940B09 minimum price that all the pleadings are presently made by the industry.
0950B09 $^Contrary to the expectations of everyone concerned, namely the Government,
0960B09 the industry, the many politicians, some State Governments, \0etc.,
0970B09 the price of sugar has crashed after the decontrol to such an extent
0980B09 that it is not only "some sugar units" but almost all units
0981B09 that_ have
0990B09 been hit hard and are incurring losses at present, which has been estimated
1000B09 to_ aggregate to about \0Rs. 200 *4crores. ^If the present
1001B09 situation
1010B09 is allowed to_ continue, there will be no option, in spite of the warning
1020B09 held by the Government*'s spokesman, for the "natural evolution"
1030B09 to_ follow, namely the closure of many weaker units spread mainly in the
1040B09 Northern States. $^Perhaps, it is not sufficiently known that when
1050B09 a consumer buys sugar in Tamil Nadu to-day, for every \0kilo, he pays
1060B09 on average \0Rs. 1.18 as cane price, \0Re. 0.40 as Central excise, \0Re.
1070B09 0.21 as State dues and about \0Re. 0.21 as transport, insurance,
1080B09 \0etc. charges, making a total of \0Rs. 2.00, over which the industry has
1090B09 no control. ^The Government has arrived at the conversion cost at an
1100B09 average of \0Re. 0.68 per kilo, making a total of \0Rs. 2.68. ^There
1110B09 is not much the industry can do to_ bring this figure further down. $^The
1120B09 industry indeed would be happy if "stable and reasonable" price are allowed
1130B09 to_ obtain for its product, as proposed by you. ^The question is,
1140B09 when even for many vegetables one has to_ pay about \0Rs. 2.50 per \0kilo,
1150B09 and when for several more essential agricultural products like chillies,
1160B09 oil, tamarind, \0etc. leaving apart such items as coffee seeds, tea,
1170B09 \0etc., one has to_ pay very much higher, a price of \0Rs. 3/- per
1180B09 \0kilo for a manufactured article like sugar should be considered as "unreasonable."
1190B09 ^If any one thinks that by the Government running the sugar
1200B09 mills the consumer could get "sugar cheap", he would be mistaken. $^The
1210B09 suggestion that the Government should reduce the excise duty is most
1220B09 welcome. ^If the industry is not allowed to_ run on healthy lines, millions
1230B09 of cane growers would be the first to_ get hit, followed by the large
1240B09 work force engaged in the industry and ultimately, but surely, the consumer
1250B09 himself.
1260B09 $**<*3New Tamil Script**> $^Sir,- ^The Government of Tamil Nadu
1270B09 has recently announced changes in 15 Tamil letters with immediate effect.
1280B09 ^Is it proper for the Government to_ take quick decision of this
1290B09 nature on the recommendation of Periyar \0E.V.R. Centenary Committee
1300B09 whose propriety for this purpose is open to question? ^To_ modify artificially
1310B09 and officially the scripts of Tamil so as to suit modern appliances
1320B09 is hardly justifiable. ^Thanks to the rapid progress in printing
1330B09 technology, old types of machine will have to_ yield to new ones. ^Is
1340B09 the Government prepared to_ go on revising Tamil letters as and when
1350B09 new machines come into vogue? ^It is also not good augury for the safeguarding
1360B09 of a language if party-run Governments issue orders prescribing
1370B09 roles for the orthography, morphology and syntax of a language. ^To_
1380B09 think of altering the letters of Indian languages in terms of English
1390B09 alphabet for the sake of printing and typing is nothing but ignorance
1400B09 of the phonetic and phonemic pattern of them. ^*Indian scientists are
1410B09 capable of evolving various types befitting the genius of our native tongues.
1420B09 $^The State Government should withdraw its notification or keep
1430B09 it in abeyance for the present. ^In the meantime if the Government feels
1440B09 the need for reform in Tamil script, it may kindly arrange for the
1450B09 conduct of seminars to_ discuss this problem,
1451B09 inviting Tamil Scholars,
1460B09 linguists, journalists and printers. $**<*3Incidence of Cancer**> $^Sir,-
1470B09 ^This has reference to the expression made in these columns (THE
1480B09 HINDU, \0Oct. 26) by \0Dr. \0R. Subramaniam of his impressions
1490B09 that 'the incidence of cancer in active or quiescent cases of tuberculosis
1500B09 is almost nil or negligible'. ^Numerous cases were reported in the
1510B09 modern medical literature of coexisting tuberculosis and cancer. ^In
1520B09 one paper in an issue of the official publication of the American College
1530B09 of Chest Physicians it is mentioned: "*_^With the discovery of
1540B09 effective anti-tuberculosis drugs, and the resulting survival of more patients
1550B09 to the age when lung cancer is common, an increasing number are
1560B09 found to_ have co-existing pulmonary tuberculosis and carcinoma (cancer)."
1570B09 ^It is also mentioned: "*_^In this series coexisting tuberculosis did
1580B09 not impair, and may have enhanced, the chance for cure of lung cancer,
1590B09 once a diagnosis of the lung cancer had been made."
1600B09 $**<*3Learning Process and English**> $^Sir,- ^The above captioned
1610B09 editorial (THE HINDU \0Oct. 27) has stressed the need for arranging
1620B09 group discussions at periodic intervals among those who have
1621B09 anything
1630B09 to_ do with the examinations so that the required co-ordination is achieved.
1640B09 ^Viewed from any angle this suggestion appears to_ be highly impracticable.
1650B09 ^Instead, the following reforms can be considered for improving
1660B09 the examination system in vogue, or providing a proper idea of the competence
1670B09 of the student to the outside world. $^First, it is invariably
1680B09 the practice of all the Universities to_ enlist the services of teachers
1690B09 outside their jurisdiction and sometimes, with no specialisation in
1700B09 a particular field, for question-paper setting as well as evaluation of
1710B09 answer scripts related to that_ field. ^Only in this context, a
1711B09 peculiar
1720B09 situation of what has been described in your editorial as the paper setter*'s
1730B09 understanding of the syllabus becoming different from that_ of
1740B09 the teachers who impart to the students in the class-rooms, arises. ^The
1750B09 Universities can easily avert this unpleasant situation by enlisting the
1760B09 services of only those teachers from their respective areas or jurisdictions
1770B09 with proven specialisation in a particular field of study for
1780B09 question-paper setting as well as evaluation of answer scripts related
1790B09 to that_ field, so that the understanding of the syllabus in a different
1800B09 way than that_ perceived and followed by the teachers in the class-rooms,
1810B09 can never arise. $^Secondly, the question-paper setters can be required
1820B09 to_ give model answers or briefly the points they expect by way of answers
1830B09 from the examinees for the questions set by them.*#
        **[no. of words = 02012**]

        **[txt. b10**]
0010B10 **<THE LANGUAGE OF REASON**> $*3SIR*0,-- ^In his article "Language
0020B10 Governs Life" (April 25-26) is Sunanda \0K. Datta-Ray expiating
0030B10 his sin for knowing English? ^*I wish he had come out with his contention
0040B10 in a more forthright manner, instead of trotting out those all-too-familiar
0050B10 shibboleths. ^He laments the "all-pervasive way of life" English
0060B10 has brought in its wake. ^Echoing \0Mr Raj Narain, he too asks
0070B10 us "to_ drop the tie and wear the loin cloth for the sake of Indian
0080B10 culture". ^Though this term is used very often, its precise meaning is not
0090B10 yet clear. ^However, if learning English makes us opt for a way of
0100B10 life which is rational, dynamic, and liberal, as opposed to one that_ is
0110B10 obscurantist, moribund and orthodox, we should do so with no regrets. $^Much
0120B10 has been made of the so-called gulf which exists between English-speaking
0130B10 and non-English speaking Indians, and \0Mr Datta-Ray talks
0140B10 about English-educated Indians "living in permanent exile". ^He fails
0150B10 to_ understand that knowledge (or ignorance) of a language creates a gulf
0160B10 when, in a given society, there is otherwise a homogeneity in the thoughts
0170B10 of the people. ^In India what has brought about discord is the
0180B10 differences in the way of thinking. ^Besides, there exists a social gulf
0190B10 between the educated "gentry" and the uneducated "lower class". ^This
0200B10 is a heritage from medieval times, long before English education was introduced.
0210B10 ^If we want to_ bring them together English, with its rich store
0220B10 of modern knowledge and thought, will act as an ally, not as an enemy.
0230B10 $^*I appreciate \0Mr Datta-Ray*'s concern for society*'s lowest common
0240B10 denominator, but nothing significant can be done in this respect till
0250B10 we achieve a state of complete industrialization. ^To_ reach it we
0260B10 would do well not to replace English in a hurry. $^Sir,-- ^*Sunanda Datta-Ray*'s
0270B10 fervent hope that "the language of the future will be a language
0280B10 that_ is comprehensible to all" is at best wishful thinking mixed
0290B10 with a bit of utopian idealism. ^As history will testify, Sanskrit and
0300B10 Persian continued as the official languages of the country for several
0310B10 centuries when the majority of the people did not understand them. $^The
0320B10 continuance of English has not posed any difficulties and there is
0330B10 no reason to_ justify acceptance of Hindi as the common language unless
0340B10 it is sought to_ be imposed on the majority of Indians. ^In the present
0350B10 national context, it is a pious wish to_ expect the emergence of an
0360B10 acceptable common Indian language in the forseeable future. ^There is
0370B10 no reason to substitute Hindi in place of English unless it is meant
0380B10 to_ further the interests of a particular section of the people.
0390B10 $**<*3DUTCH RECORDS*0**> $^Sir,-- ^In "The Way of our Archives" (September
0400B10 1-2), *(0G. N.*) Das has complained about the non-availability
0410B10 of certain records in the National Archives. ^He made a written
0420B10 enquiry whether material on cyclones on the east coast of India was available
0430B10 in the Archives for research. ^He had earlier seen in Holland
0440B10 some relevant records of the Dutch East India Company. $^He was informed
0450B10 by the National Archives that it had acquired 449 microfilm rolls
0460B10 of records of the Dutch East India Company and that it was not
0470B10 possible to_ identify the documents required by him as the records were
0480B10 in Dutch. ^He was requested to_ visit the Archives and select the records
0490B10 needed by him. ^An application form and a copy of the historical
0491B10 research rules were forwarded to him.
0500B10 $^Sir,-- ^*India is a vast country with people speaking different languages
0501B10 and following different
0510B10 customs. ^The country cannot be compared with Japan, China or
0520B10 Israel. ^When the question of national integration arises, the role of
0530B10 English is no less significant than that_ of Hindi. ^It may not be
0540B10 an oversimplification **[sic**] to_ say that English has become very
0541B10 much a language
0550B10 of the country. ^We have inherited from the British the Parliamentary
0560B10 system of government; we have also imported technological know-how
0570B10 from them. ^So there is no harm if we derive some benefit by continuing
0580B10 to_ use English. $^Sir,-- ^If a "Quebec" is to_ be avoided in India,
0590B10 the only sensible course is to_ accept both Hindi and English as link
0600B10 languages. ^We should also learn a lesson from Sri Lanka. ^Unfortunately
0610B10 our politicians are too busy using Hindi to_ capture centres of power
0620B10 to_ think of national interests. ^How else would you explain the latest
0630B10 decision of Bihar to_ ban English in schools?
0640B10 $**<DOCTOR*'S DILEMMA**> $^Sir,-- ^In the leading article "Ills and
0650B10 Pills" (April 29-30) you have rightly echoed the anxious voices of
0660B10 many in this country and abroad against useless medication and over-medication.
0670B10 ^*Britain*'s problem, as mentioned by \0Mr Ennals, is endogenous,
0680B10 but if that_ problem threatens to_ engulf us, it has to_ be exogenous.
0690B10 $^It is true that many of those who visit a doctor need only advice,
0700B10 not a prescription for medication. ^But the main problem is that modern
0710B10 society is fast becoming crazy for medicines and the doctor is forced to_
0720B10 prescribe broad spectrum antibiotics even for minor ailments such as
0730B10 cold, fever and gastro-intestinal upsets just to_ avoid an unpleasant relationship
0740B10 with patients. $^Besides, people are getting used to self-medication.
0750B10 ^The main reason for this is the publicity about many drugs and
0760B10 the direct mailing service by some manufacturers. ^This tendency among
0770B10 people may encourage consumption of many drugs with unknown and partially
0780B10 known pharmacological action which may pose a threat to their health.
0790B10 ^The Government should begin talks with the Indian Medical Association
0800B10 as to how excessive drugging could be avoided and a campaign started
0810B10 without delay with the slogan "Down with Drugs".
0820B10 $**<RIGHT TECHNIQUE**> $^Sir,-- *7^Apropos of the leading article
0830B10 "A humiliating defeat" (March 30-31) the Indian hockey team*'s performance
0840B10 in Buenos Aires has been more than humiliating because India has
0850B10 been declassified in the world hockey championship. ^You have suggested
0860B10 that a return to the classical pattern of play may help us retain our
0870B10 reputation in Moscow in 1980. ^*I do not agree. $^The standard of play
0880B10 has improved in all countries and one can no longer be certain of an
0890B10 Indian victory. ^*Pakistan has been playing a consistently excellent game.
0900B10 ^In Buenos Aires not a single goal could be scored against them and
0910B10 they emerged as the world champions. ^Against fast play by sides like
0920B10 West Germany, India should try to_ play a slow, long-pass game. ^That_
0930B10 will stop the fast pace of the opponents. ^*India should adjust their
0940B10 technique to_ cope with the game played by their opponents.
0950B10 $**<CHINESE PUZZLE**> $^Sir,-- ^*Victor Zorza*'s report "Veiled Attacks
0960B10 on Mao in Chinese Press" (April 27-28) throws up a few intriguing
0970B10 sociological questions. $^If the pragmatists headed by \0Mr Teng
0980B10 Hsiao-ping and the moderates led by \0Mr Hua Kuafeng could present
0990B10 a united front against the radicals immediately after Mao*'s death, have
1000B10 they now fallen foul of each other because the radicals, as a polarizing
1010B10 force, are out of the national scene? $^Secondly, where do the military
1020B10 in China stand by way of socio-economic policies? ^Lastly, if speech
1030B10 in China is as much muzzled as it is made out to_ be, why aren*4t
1040B10 a few Sakharovs and Solzhenitzyns coming to the surface?
1050B10 $**<THE *SANTHAL *GOD**> $^Sir,-- ^The Santhal Social Assembly held
1060B10 at Kalkapur near Asansol on April 13 has misinterpreted the name
1070B10 of the Santhal god Marang Buru as "Mountain God". ^*Marang Buru is
1080B10 not a god of the mountain but the herald of heaven, the saviour of
1090B10 human beings and all creatures of the earth, and also the sole protector
1100B10 of the soul of the departed in the other world as well as in the *7inferno.
1110B10 ^Thus Marang Buru is the supreme god of the Kherward or the
1120B10 Santhal community. $^The assembly described Jaher Than as the sacred
1130B10 grove of the mother goddess. ^It is also the sacred grove of Marang Buru
1140B10 and the Morewo (five deities). $^The assembly decided to_ initiate
1150B10 a non-Santhal woman married to a Santhal to the community religion. ^This
1160B10 is welcome, but on condition that the bride should have at least some
1170B10 acquaintance with the Santhal language and culture. ^If a Santhal
1180B10 marries a non-Santhal girl who refuses to_ adopt the Santhali language
1190B10 and culture, the bridegroom should be excommunicated from Santhal society.
1210B10 **<RIGHT APPROACH**> $^Sir,-- ^The Union Industries Minister deserves
1220B10 to_ be complimented for his plainspeaking to industrialists at the
1230B10 annual session of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce
1240B10 and Industry. ^His proposal to_ levy a cess on profits is both fair and
1250B10 reasonable. ^*I would suggest that such a cess, computed at a reasonable
1260B10 rate, should also be paid by affluent industrial and commercial workers.
1270B10 ^The funds could be used by the Government to_ improve rural economy.
1280B10 $^In the 30 years since independence city dwellers have benefitted the
1290B10 most from the Government*'s programmes. ^It is only fair that the Janata
1300B10 Government has now started to_ think of the rural population. $^Sir,--
1310B10 ^*I would suggest to the Union Industries Minister, who is critical
1320B10 of private industrialists making profits, to_ make use of the profits
1330B10 of monopoly concerns in the public sector, like the Food Corporation,
1340B10 Coal India, Indian Oil, Indian Airlines, \0Etc. to_ build
1350B10 houses for the 100 million homeless in the country. ^Any shortage of funds
1360B10 can be made up by the private sector. $^Regarding \0Mr Fernandes*'s
1370B10 concern for the "bright young men" held in captivity by big industrial
1380B10 houses, I can assure him that they get more opportunities to_ prove their
1390B10 worth than their counterparts in Government-run monopoly houses where
1400B10 they are shackled by red tape.
1410B10 $**<MANAGEMENT COURSE**> $^Sir,-- ^Hundreds of private institutions
1420B10 are now providing "management" courses for students all over India. ^They
1430B10 have their own prospectuses to_ be obtained by paying not less than
1440B10 \0Rs 5. ^Registration, tuition, examination and other fees amount to \0Rs
1450B10 1,000. ^None of them is recognized by the Ministry of Education.
1460B10 ^But by telling that their case is under the "active consideration" of
1470B10 the Ministry they have been able to_ attract students. $^The Ministry
1480B10 of Education does not recognize any management course done by correspondence
1490B10 and conducted by an organization not instituted by an Act of
1500B10 Parliament and so those who go through such courses do not benefit. ^The
1510B10 Government should ban courses run by unrecognized institutions and ask
1520B10 universities to_ start business administration and business management
1530B10 courses.
1540B10 $**<DEMANDING RESPECT**> $^Sir,-- ^*I have the greatest respect for
1550B10 \0Mr Jagjivan Ram and so should every right-thinking member of society.
1560B10 ^He rose to his present position through sheer hard work and brilliance,
1570B10 and at a time when untouchability was rigorously observed. ^Let every
1580B10 man of his caste aspire to_ be like him. $\0^*Mr Jagjivan Ram needed
1590B10 neither Government support nor did he care for prejudices. ^With him
1600B10 in the Cabinet introduction of a new cult of the obsolete *4Brahminism
1610B10 would be a shame. ^All poor men are equal in a democracy. ^Why should
1620B10 we follow the "divide and rule" policy of a nation of shopkeepers who
1630B10 bought and sold our country?
1640B10 $**<ARTFUL DODGER**> $^Sir,-- ^*I took a long and close look at the
1650B10 weekend Crossword No. 1,626 (April 23) and put in a word or two
1651B10 which
1660B10 locked without really understanding why and then it suddenly dawned on
1670B10 me that the compiler had altered one letter in the key word of each clue
1680B10 after which the whole thing worked out successfully. $^Whether this artful
1690B10 dodge was ethical might be debated, but it certainly added to the enjoyment
1700B10 of the morning. $**<*3parliament \0& people**> $^Sir,-- ^The
1710B10 present confusion in the Janata Government at the Centre reflects lack
1720B10 of stability in the administration. ^This may portend rise of an unknown
1730B10 authoritarian force which may be disastrous for the country. ^It is
1740B10 now clear that the *5Lok Sabha*6 elected in 1977 no longer reflects
1750B10 the mood of the electorate. ^Does not the Prime Minister, therefore,
1760B10 owe it to the country to_ recommend to the President to_ dissolve the
1770B10 *5Lok Sabha*6 and hold national elections?*#
        **[no. of words = 01987**]

        **[txt. b11**]
0010B11 **<*3Cultural Revolution**> $^Sir,-- ^This refers to \0Mr. Girilal
0020B11 Jain*'s recent article "Cultural Revolution in India." ^He has tried
0030B11 to_ bring out more of similarities than dissimilarities between the much
0040B11 publicised Chinese cultural revolution and what is supposed to_ be
0050B11 its Indian counterpart. \0^*Mr. Jain proceeds first with
0051B11 so-called
0060B11 superficial dissimilarities between the Chinese and Indian situations
0070B11 and dismisses them as of no consequence. ^For instance, unlike Mao, \0Mrs.
0080B11 Gandhi in her heyday was supposed to_ have made no efforts to_ ensure
0090B11 the triumph of man over machine to_ abolish the distinction between
0100B11 manual and mental work and *3to_ destroy the old culture and its value
0110B11 system. ^And yet \0Mr. Jain calls them as "essentially superficial
0120B11 differences." ^*I am afraid, in doing so, Jain has missed the whole point.
0130B11 ^His analysis implies that the basic aim of a cultural revolution
0140B11 is not cultural at all. $\0^*Mr. Jain is less than fair to Mao when he
0150B11 says that the basic aims of the Chinese cultural revolution were to_
0160B11 "undermine the position of the party and state bureaucracy, weaken the
0170B11 hold of the mandarin tradition (sic) because it was supposed to_ be *3status
0180B11 quo-oriented, disrupt education by letting loose the worst elements
0190B11 among the students on teachers, lowering standards by placing undue
0200B11 emphasis on manual work in factories and farms (and) giving preference in
0210B11 respect of admissions to colleges and universities to_ the sons and daughters
0220B11 of poorest peasants and workers often in utter disregard of their
0230B11 poor performance in schools." ^If one chooses to_ ignore the revolutionary
0240B11 aspect of the revolution, as \0Mr. Jain does, one will eventually
0250B11 end up with such an analysis. ^It is a pity that a shrewd analyst like
0260B11 him confuses the *3manifestations of the cultural revolution with
0270B11 its basic objectives. $^One cannot destroy the old culture and its value
0280B11 system without constantly questioning the ideological purity of the party
0290B11 and state bureaucrats. ^For, however laudable the party was in its
0300B11 revolutionary heyday, once it comes to power and gets exposed to internal
0310B11 socio-economic problems and international politics, it tends to_ lose
0320B11 its grip over revolutionary ideology and slide back into the pre-revolutionary
0330B11 ideological and cultural quagmire. ^Also, the bureaucracies of the
0340B11 ruling party and the state develop vested interests, and in order to_
0350B11 perpetuate themselves in power and serve their interests, they cease to-
0360B11 be revolutionaries. ^As a matter of fact they tend to_ become a *3class
0370B11 by themselves-- a class which virtually owns the means of production.
0380B11 ^This bureaucratic-technocratic class has almost the same socio-cultural
0390B11 moorings as the former bourgeoisie which it was supposed to_ have expropriated.
0400B11 ^A revolutionary society has to_ ward off the danger from this
0410B11 state bourgeoisie. $^Hence the necessity of a cultural revolution and
0420B11 the exhortations of Mao to_ question, criticise and defy the party
0430B11 and state authorities. ^This had understandably resulted in chaos, factional
0440B11 squabbles and violence. ^It was bound to_. ^And perhaps it is the price
0450B11 a communist society has to_ pay to_ create a new man and establish
0460B11 a new culture. ^A cultural revolution in its basics is a readjustment mechanism.
0470B11 ^True, it can be misused, as it has been to some extent in China.
0480B11 ^It had become a powerful tool in the hands of the Maoists to_ discredit
0490B11 dedicated workers and leaders. ^Again this is understandable. ^However,
0500B11 this should not minimise the significance of the cultural revolution--
0510B11 a concept which was originally propounded by Lenin. $^Undermining
0520B11 of the so-called autonomy and norms of the civil servants in post-independence
0530B11 India, demoralising them (sic) with inquiry commissions and
0540B11 arresting a couple of them at the top level and lowerng the standards of
0550B11 education are, according to \0Mr. Jain, Indian "achievements" comparable
0560B11 to those of the cultural revolution of China. ^If one were to_
0570B11 search for such 'revolutionary achievements' one can find them in abundance
0580B11 in any society. ^This leads us nowhere. ^Instead, \0Mr. Jain could
0590B11 have compared and contrasted *(0J. P.*)*'s 'Total Revolution' with
0600B11 the Chinese cultural revolution to_ have a better insight into the Indian
0610B11 problems.
0620B11 $**<*3*5Panchayati Raj*6**> $^Sir,-- ^In his article "More Powers
0630B11 for *4Panchayats" (September 11/12), \0Mr. *(0A. S.*) Abraham has
0640B11 naively argued against decentralisation even at the district level as recommended
0650B11 by the Asoka Mehta committee. ^The fact that some state governments
0660B11 are opposed to such decentralisation and that most of them had
0670B11 so far treated with unconcealed contempt all *5panchayati raj*6 institutions
0680B11 is presented as a valid argument against any extension of democratic
0690B11 functioning beyond or below the state headquarters. $\0^*Mr. Abraham*'s
0700B11 solution is simplistic. ^Let power be shared in certain proportions
0710B11 between the Centre and the states; let the *4panchayat district devil
0720B11 take the hindmost; we should not "give local elites vast powers of patronage
0730B11 and invite misuse of such powers." ^Evidently he prefers the present
0740B11 system of the urban elites at the state and central levels continuing
0750B11 to_ enjoy these vast powers of patronage. $^Surely, after 30 years of
0760B11 political independence based on adult franchise the countryside should
0770B11 be considered ripe enough for a small dose of self-governance. $^The
0780B11 Asoka Mehta committee deserves credit for its bold gesture in recommending
0790B11 decentralising at the district level so that polarisation of political
0800B11 parties and economic forces can work overtly with the developmental
0810B11 processes. ^The trouble with \0Mr. Abraham and the urban elite is that
0820B11 they have lost faith in the political maturity and personal or collective
0830B11 integrity of our countrymen unless they choose to_ have their residence
0840B11 at the traditional power centres, namely, the metropolitan towns.
0850B11 ^They forget that some of our districts are as populous and widespread,
0860B11 with hoary traditions of good government, as some modern states represented
0870B11 in the \0U.N.
0880B11 $**<*3Ordinances**> $^Sir,-- \0^*Mr. *(0A. S.*) Abraham*'s article,
0890B11 "Government by Ordinance" (October 9/10), raises several pertinent
0900B11 questions. ^Law-making through ordinance seems to_ have become quite common
0910B11 in the states. ^Whenever a *5vidhan sabha*6 meets, most bills it approves
0920B11 are those moved to_ replace the ordinances promulgated during the
0930B11 intervening periods between two sessions. ^Even the bills introduced to_
0940B11 replace ordinances are rarely subjected to serious scrutiny of members.
0950B11 ^Though the main task of a *5vidhan sabha*6 is to_ legislate it hardly
0960B11 gets enough time for it. $^What happened during the last session of the
0970B11 Madhya Pradesh *5Vidhan Sabha*6 is a classic example of the failure
0980B11 of the legislature to_ perform its main task of law-making. ^Its last
0990B11 session began on August 28 and ended on September 8. ^In between there
1000B11 were four holidays. ^Thus it had only seven sittings. ^Much of its time
1010B11 was consumed by calling attention and adjournment motions and special
1020B11 debates on matters like the Narmada award. ^Only at the last moment on
1030B11 the last day of the session could the bills be taken up. ^It was decided
1040B11 then to_ sit beyond the normal hours and the sitting was over two hours
1050B11 past midnight. $^It was during these odd hours that the more important
1060B11 bills were approved, including one which made basic changes in the structure
1070B11 of sales tax. ^Thus one of the factors responsible for the frequent
1080B11 promulgation of ordinances is the short period for which the *5vidhan
1090B11 sabha*6 is called. ^In Madhya Pradesh its total sittings do not
1100B11 exceed 50 each year. $^Most leaders of the present government, when they
1110B11 were in the opposition, used to urge the then Congress regime to_ hold
1120B11 longer sessions. ^But they seem to_ have abandoned their old posture.
1130B11 ^To_ avoid or minimise the need for ordinances, state governments should
1140B11 be pressurised to_ hold longer sessions. ^Nobody will subscribe to the
1150B11 view that state governments should be divested of the power to_ legislate
1160B11 through ordinances. ^A government which has to_ take measures to_ control
1170B11 a sudden explosive situation can hardly afford to_ give up such power.
1180B11 ^The next best course is to_ place as many checks as possible with
1190B11 a view to preventing the arbitrary use of this power.
1200B11 $**<*3Procurement Policy**> $^Sir,-- ^The members of the Parliamentary
1210B11 Consultative Committee have expressed their unhappiness over the
1220B11 procurement price of paddy fixed by Agriculture Prices Commission.
1230B11 ^They have suggested considering the views of the paddy growing cultivators
1240B11 in respect of the prices of inputs such as seeds, fertilisers, pesticides,
1250B11 weedicides, labour and electricity before determining the cost
1260B11 of paddy. ^This was the support price which would not hit the small and
1270B11 marginal farmers and landless labourers directly involved in the cultivation
1280B11 of paddy and the interest of the consumers will be safeguarded.
1290B11 $^If the procurement prices of all agricultural commodities are announced
1300B11 before the commencement of the sowing season, farmers will be able
1310B11 to_ plan their crop pattern on the basis of the resources available with
1320B11 them. ^This will also help in controlling the prices of other commodities
1330B11 required for crop cultivation on the one hand and maintaining the balance
1340B11 between the consumers and the producers on the other. $^Our farmers
1350B11 have been most unfortunate. ^They are not organised and have no voice
1360B11 of their own nor a lobby to_ press their grievances. ^Grain dealers control
1370B11 the market and express themselves against a rationalised policy and
1380B11 manipulate grain prices. $^In spite of the high yielding varieties programme,
1390B11 (\0HYVP), nobody will say that the income of farmers has
1400B11 increased. ^It is high time that more representation was given to farmers
1410B11 in the \0APC.
1420B11 $**<*3Battle At Baguio**> $^Sir,-- ^In the compact editorial (October
1430B11 20/21) you put the whole chess controversy in the right perspective.
1440B11 $^Throughout the thirteen weeks of the battle between the chess giants,
1450B11 there were allegations and counter allegations. ^From the press reports
1460B11 of those days it would appear that Korchnoi had a grudge against the
1470B11 champion because of what happened in 1975 in the match between them
1480B11 to_ qualify for challenging the then world champion, Bobby Fischer. ^*Korchnoi*'s
1490B11 real grievance, however, was against the Soviet Union for
1500B11 showing preference to Karpov in that_ match. ^By bringing up this issue
1510B11 in the battle at Baguio and attributing his lack of adequate equipmennt
1520B11 in the earlier phase of the battle to some extraneous issues, the challenger
1530B11 showed lack of sportsmanship. ^Equally bad was the complaint on
1540B11 the side of the champion which resulted in ousting the *4Yogis from
1541B11 Baguio
1550B11 city on the eve of the last game. $^The challenger, after he drew
1560B11 level with the champion in the thirty-first game, had expressed the right
1570B11 sentiment in stating that at that_ stage winning the match was a lottery.
1580B11 ^Having said so, he should have accepted his defeat in the last game
1590B11 more gracefully and should have completed the other formalities of signing
1600B11 the relevant papers and attending the closing ceremony, which Korchnoi
1610B11 left to his chief second, the British grandmaster, Raymond Keene.
1620B11 $^In the game of chess psychological pressures do count; they were
1630B11 used in 1972 at Reykjavik in the fight between Boris Spassky and Bobby
1640B11 Fischer. ^In contrast to what the champion and challenger did at Baguio
1650B11 city, however, Fischer and Spassky are reported to_ have discussed
1660B11 their last game and exchanged views on where Spassky went wrong in
1670B11 the end game. ^*Fischer on his part convinced Spassky that, even if he
1680B11 had not gone wrong, on the alternatives suggested by the then champion the
1690B11 challenger would still have won. ^That_ is the spirit in which the two
1700B11 giants should have played at Baguio.
1710B11 $**<*3Anti-Riot Squads**> $^Sir,-- ^In his letter the other day, the
1720B11 former \0IGP of Maharashtra, \0Mr. *(0E. S.*) Modak, did well
1730B11 to_ stress the importance of maintaining "an extremely mobile, highly
1740B11 trained, specially equipped and highly motivated anti-riot squads", in
1750B11 the states (though the suggestion is not entirely new). ^Such anti-riot
1760B11 squads should not be called out for other duties. ^A notable example is
1770B11 that_ of the Malabar Special Police which has given a good account
1780B11 of itself. ^In the ultimate analysis it is the public which has to_ pay
1790B11 dearly for want of an efficient police force meant specifically to_ curb
1800B11 riots. $\0^*Mr. Modak has, however, overlooked the fact that poor intelligence
1810B11 has also made it difficult to_ check violence on the streets.
1820B11 ^No effort or money should be spared in removing this shortcoming in the
1830B11 police set-up.*#
        **[no. of words = 02005**]

        **[txt. b12**]
0010B12 **<A NEW DEFINITION**> $^APPARENTLY \0Mr \0P. Ramachandran,
0020B12 the Union Minister for Energy, does not think that there is any power
0030B12 scarcity in West Bengal; he is reported to_ have said so during a stopover
0040B12 at Calcutta airport on Friday. ^There cannot be anyone in West
0050B12 Bengal who agrees; if the view is shared by others in New Delhi, the
0060B12 quite incredible ignorance on which it is based must be a cause for grave
0070B12 concern. \0^*Mr Ramachandran said that breakdown of machinery could
0080B12 not be described as "scarcity". ^Of course not; but breakdown can result
0090B12 in scarcity. ^Presumably what was implied was that there was no shortage
0100B12 of generating capacity. ^That_ is an arguable proposition. ^What is
0110B12 beyond question is a crippling shortage of power, a fact of agonizing
0120B12 experience every day and night. \0^*Mr Ramachandran may have wished to_
0130B12 suggest that the shortage is due entirely to technical breakdowns, that
0140B12 these are temporary, and that so is the resulting shortfall in generation
0150B12 and supply. ^Yet he himself referred to the situation 14 months ago,
0160B12 which he said was no better. ^The shortage has continued, and been periodically
0170B12 aggravated, for years. ^If this is not scarcity, the Minister
0180B12 must have definition unknown to the public. ^The matter is too serious to_
0190B12 be decided by a quibble. $^There is indeed reason to_ believe that \0Mr
0200B12 Ramachandran*'s unfortunate remark was not entirely a result of semantic
0210B12 confusion. ^At the back of his mind seems to_ have been the notion
0220B12 that there is no inadequacy of generating capacity in West Bengal,
0230B12 and that generation and supply should be able to_ cope with demand with
0240B12 an improvement in operation and maintenance of power plants. ^This, in
0250B12 fact, is said to_ be the view of the Central Electricity Authority.
0260B12 ^That there is scope for considerable improvement would be conceded even
0270B12 by the State Government. ^But there is similar scope all over the country;
0280B12 performance in West Bengal has not been the only, or even the
0290B12 main, factor in bringing down average capacity utilization of the country*'s
0300B12 power plants to 51 per cent and that_ of new plants to 35 per cent.
0310B12 ^If an equation were to_ be established between demand and installed
0320B12 capacity, there would have been no case for increasing total capacity at
0330B12 the rate \0Mr Ramachandran himself has been advocating for months. ^A
0340B12 shortage will remain in West Bengal even if efficiency in operation
0350B12 and maintenance is raised to a level that_ can be reasonably expected.
0360B12 ^It is disturbing that the Centre is showing imperfect appreciation of
0370B12 this central fact, and delaying action on projects desperately needed
0380B12 to_ remove the present shortage. ^The West Bengal Finance Minister,
0390B12 \0Mr Ashok Mitra, indicated on Friday that there had been no progress
0400B12 over the State*'s proposal for the import of gas turbines; much the
0410B12 same was the meaning of \0Mr Ramachandran*'s remark that the State*'s
0420B12 projects were being examined. $**<FAMOUS LAST WORDS**> $^THE
0421B12 simple
0430B12 may well express surprise at the claim advanced by the Congress (\0I)
0440B12 general secretary, \0Mr Buta Singh, that though the Janata Party
0450B12 has "technically" won the Karnal by-election, \0Mrs Gandhi*'s is the
0460B12 "moral victory". ^To_ palter in a double sense, as Macbeth said of
0470B12 the witches, has always been the prerogative of politicians. ^Their predictions
0480B12 before an event inevitably takes care of all contingencies while
0490B12 their analyses afterwards invariably attempt to_ justify a modified version
0500B12 of what was said before. ^Politicians, pollsters and prophets have
0510B12 this attribute in common; and the only reason why they are seldom found
0520B12 out is the public yearning for a straw to_ clutch at. ^A miracle is
0530B12 an act that_ inspires faith, never mind how it is achieved, was the purport
0540B12 of the prelate*'s advice in Shaw*'s Saint Joan. ^That_ cynical assessment
0550B12 of what people seek continues still to_ influence our leaders.
0560B12 ^Even such an eminently rational being as Chou En-lai once blithely
0570B12 predicted that the people would benefit whether war gave rise to revolution,
0580B12 or revolution prevented war. $^That_ piece of casuistry deserves to_
0590B12 rank with the findings of an astrologer who announced that his client*'s
0600B12 health would improve in certain specified years. ^When instead, the
0610B12 man suffered protracted illnesses, the astrologer blandly explained that
0620B12 there could not be scope for improvement unless there had first been occasion
0630B12 for debilitation. ^*European crystal gazers, West Asian soothsayers,
0640B12 Indian palmists and readers of the stars, indeed all those who
0650B12 claim the uncanny knack of being able to_ dispense with the limitations
0660B12 of Time and peer into the great unknown, are equally gifted in the art
0670B12 of speaking in riddles. ^The ordinary man may not comprehend how a technical
0680B12 defeat can be a moral victory; but then the man in the street in
0690B12 England in 1956 did not understand either how Britain was not at war
0700B12 with Egypt, but only in a state of armed hostilities. ^The ancients too
0710B12 were subjected to such sophistry as when the oracle advised the Persian
0720B12 king, Xerxes, that a great army would be lost if he crossed the Hellespont.
0730B12 ^Convinced that this meant the rout of his enemies, Xerxes and
0740B12 his six-million-strong force continued on their way only to_ be utterly
0750B12 defeated at Salamis. ^The oracle had, of course, been proved right,
0760B12 but history does not tell us whether Xerxes*'s court jester claimed to_
0770B12 have won a moral victory. $**<HASTENING SLOWLY**> $^THE
0771B12 Consultative
0780B12 Committee of Parliament attached to the Planning Ministry was
0790B12 told by the Prime Minister recently that "detailed guidelines" were on
0800B12 their way to State Governments on block level planning. ^Such planning
0810B12 is central to the strategy of rural development. ^Its logic is derived
0820B12 from the necessity to_ relate development to local endowments and needs,
0830B12 and planning to detailed assessment of local factors and formulations
0840B12 of viable projects which can be implemented without delay or waste.
0850B12 ^Experience has shown that "models" handed down from above have little relation
0860B12 to the conditions on the ground. ^The involvement of the local
0870B12 population in both the planning and execution of projects is essential
0880B12 if there is to_ be a self-sustaining impulse for economic development.
0890B12 ^These truisms have found a place in every plan but the operational problems
0900B12 of genuine "grassroots" planning have proved insuperable so far. ^There
0910B12 have indeed been instances of genuine local planning, but they have
0920B12 depended on the initiative and leadership provided by individuals or
0930B12 groups of exceptional ability and dedication. ^It is not possible to_ count
0940B12 on such leadership in every block. ^It therefore becomes necessary
0950B12 that experts in rural development should evolve a general frame that_ could
0960B12 be adopted at the local level. ^With this frame and a planning machinery
0970B12 at the district level-- which, at the moment is non-existent-- it should
0980B12 be possible to_ draw up block and district level plans which could
0990B12 then be implemented. $^Guidelines have been prepared on the basis of the
1000B12 reports of the Dantwala and Sivaraman Working Groups. ^These experts
1010B12 bodies-- particularly the first-- were acutely aware of the difficulties
1020B12 in formulating and executing these plans and had advocated a step
1030B12 by step approach in extending such planning. ^This is entirely understandable,
1040B12 given the near absence of planning expertise at the block level
1050B12 and the many socioeconomic forces at work in rural India. ^If the aim
1060B12 of block level planning is to_ ensure that the poorest in the countryside
1070B12 get a fair deal, then the block level plans will have to_ be drawn up
1080B12 and implemented taking into account the opposition from entrenched interests
1090B12 to such conscious shifts in incomes and rural power. ^The Planning
1100B12 Commission was earlier inclined to_ rush things through by setting targets
1110B12 like 300 blocks being covered in two years. ^Obviously such a target-shooting
1120B12 approach is wholly inappropriate. \0^*Mr Desai was right in
1130B12 saying that it was far more important that the plans should be drawn with
1140B12 care and attention to detail, even if it meant some delay in launching
1150B12 the programme. ^Tasks like drawing up a resources inventory, collecting
1160B12 adequate data on available manpower and their skills and tying them in
1170B12 with total development are sophisticated planning exercises that_ cannot
1180B12 be done in a hurry. ^The plans themselves will need evaluation at a higher
1190B12 technical level before they can be taken up for implementation. $**<UNHAPPY
1200B12 BIRTHDAY**> $^THURSDAY*'S violent demonstrations
1201B12 against
1210B12 the Shah of Iran in nearly all the cities made his 59th birthday memorable
1220B12 in an unhappy sort of way. ^*Iranian media have spoken of an "untold
1230B12 number of lives" having been lost in clashes between demonstrators
1240B12 and the police. ^Most cities have reported "serious devastations". ^Ranking
1250B12 police officers have begun to_ figure among the casualties and this
1260B12 could hardly fail to_ affect the morale of the martial law enforcers.
1270B12 ^*Ayotollah Khomeini, who has shifted from Baghdad to Paris, has renewed
1280B12 his pledge to_ continue the "war of attrition" against the Shah to
1290B12 the bitter end, intimations of which abound. ^Martial law has lost its
1300B12 quality of deterrence, as is evident from reports of demonstrations
1310B12 on a massive scale even in Teheran. ^The economy is gravely threatened
1320B12 and the administration*'s readiness to_ concede extravagant wage demands
1330B12 to head off strikes has not helped. ^The absence of a political will has
1340B12 never been more conspicuous. ^Judging from the interviews which the Shah
1350B12 has been giving to the western media, it is a reasonable assumption
1360B12 that he does not quite know what to_ do. ^The fact that religious leaders
1370B12 and radical politicians have made common cause is something for which
1380B12 he was wholly unprepared. ^So far there has been no sign of the army turning
1390B12 against him. ^Professional officers, pampered and cosseted, have
1400B12 much to_ lose if the Shah and the existing system buckle under. ^But the
1410B12 Shah himself has on occasion expressed vague apprehensions about the
1420B12 conscript rank and file. $^One of the failings of the Iranian command
1430B12 structure is the lack of any provision to_ motivate the rank and file.
1440B12 ^Links between officers and the men under their command are brittle and
1450B12 the political and religious leaders have turned the heat on them. ^The
1460B12 wage demands and the crusade against what the *7ayotollahs hold immoral
1470B12 are two edges of the same sword. ^The Shah is on record that he is
1471B12 prepared
1480B12 to_ accept a diminished role for the monarchy, but he is not quite
1490B12 sure how to_ translate this into tangible terms acceptable at the popular
1500B12 level. ^There is much sympathy for him in the west. ^President Carter
1510B12 has commiserated with him and the British Foreign Minister, \0Dr David
1520B12 Owen, has gone so far as to_ say that keeping the Shah of Iran
1530B12 in power to_ safeguard western interests is more important than preventing
1540B12 human rights abuses in Iran. ^But such display of concern, notable
1550B12 chiefly for its lack of political sophistication, is not going to_ moderate
1560B12 popular feelings against the Shah or help him in any way. ^On the
1570B12 contrary it may weaken his position. $**<CHOPPING THE CHOP**>
1571B12 $^IN
1580B12 many countries of the world, though by no means all, capital punishment
1590B12 has by now been abolished, or at least has to_ face a strong humanitarian
1600B12 lobby. ^A curious exception, till recently, has been France. ^There
1610B12 the subject has not even been debated by the National Assembly, or
1620B12 by its predecessor the Chamber of Deputies, since as long ago as 1908.
1630B12 ^One possible reason is that the guillotine, though looming luridly in
1640B12 fiction, was less often employed in real life, except for particularly
1650B12 brutal or multiple murders, such as those of Landru. ^Its inventor considered
1660B12 it a particularly humane method of execution (the story that he
1670B12 was later executed by it during the French Revolution is a historical
1680B12 myth); indeed what was till recently the alternative, life imprisonment
1690B12 on "Devil*'s Island" in Cayenne, was not always considered preferable.
1700B12 $^Lately, however, in France as elsewhere, the debate has been reopened,
1710B12 though so far unsuccessfully. ^The reason is not lack of support for
1720B12 abolition, which is believed to_ be extensive. ^But this nobody really
1730B12 knows, since the Ministry, which controls the agenda of the Assembly,
1740B12 has persistently refused to_ allow the matter to_ be discussed at all.*#
        **[no. of words = 02006**]

        **[txt. b13**]
0010B13 **<GOATS AND HALF-TRUTHS**> $^There is, has been and always will be
0020B13 a great deal to_ say for animals, their naturalness, their admirable instincts
0030B13 and general disregard of the wastes of please and thank you. ^When
0040B13 they demand affection, they demand it without much fuss or fretting,
0050B13 as the cat does in its curly selfish cuddling way. ^When they give of
0060B13 their affection, they give of it without expecting encomiums, as dogs do,
0070B13 faithful to the end and ready to_ follow one wherever one goes. ^But
0080B13 there is also another aspect about animals which needs to_ be praised, duly.
0090B13 ^This is in their contentment with their own world: they do not talk
0100B13 too much. ^All animals, all brutes, show, when compared with humans,
0110B13 a real and genuine wisdom in this kind of quiet, non-committal living.
0120B13 ^Without anxiety, without worry, and without any attempt at foresight, they
0130B13 enjoy placidly the present moment while it is here as well the next,
0140B13 when it comes, without thoughts about where the next morsel is to_ come
0150B13 from, without regard for what tomorrow might bring. ^But while this has
0160B13 been said of animals generally, the goat has not come in for praise invariably.
0170B13 ^There was Toynbee the historian, for instance. ^He is reported
0180B13 to_ have expressed the view that if it were not for the goat*'s thoroughness
0190B13 in denuding all the bushes and trees where it can reach the leaves,
0200B13 there might not have been as much desert land as there is in the world
0210B13 today. ^Another unconfirmed report that_ has been current for a long
0220B13 time, though without being verified, says that out of every 24 hours, the
0230B13 goat spends two in hell. $^Why and how such a report spread, it is difficult
0240B13 to_ say. ^The world seems to_ keep alive only on rumour and gossip--
0250B13 not very unjustifiably, though, what spice would there be in life
0251B13 without
0260B13 gossip? ^Is not half-truth much more interesting than the whole truth?
0270B13 ^How banal the faces of the women that Rabindranath Tagore painted
0280B13 would become if they did not remain half in shadow! ^What mystery would
0290B13 the mountains have without the accompanying ravines and dark valleys?
0300B13 ^What subtle secrecy would the desert possess without its moving sand ripples,
0310B13 without its singing sand-dunes? ^So, even if there be but half truth
0320B13 in the report that the goat spends two whole hours every day of its
0330B13 life in hell, there is much to_ tickle the inquiring, probing, prying
0340B13 mind. ^For, there may be but half truth, not non-truth. ^Consider, the Arcadian
0350B13 god, Pan, who loved the nymph Syrinx and who, pursuing her into
0360B13 a growth of reeds, discovered the first reed pipe to_ produce intense
0370B13 and passion-rousing music. ^*Pan had the horns, legs and ears of a goat;
0380B13 perhaps every goat goes every day to_ pay him homage? ^But does he
0390B13 live in hell? $^And have not deserts played their part in humanising the
0400B13 earth? ^And have they not contributed to an enlargement of the humanities?
0410B13 ^Think of the mystic poets and *7dervishes and *7sufis who came
0411B13 out of
0420B13 the flaming desert, and brought their message of image and metaphor that_
0430B13 has remained alive and relevant even when they were themselves humiliated
0440B13 or killed for heresy. ^The desert, clean and dry and star-silent
0450B13 of nights, seems to_ capture and hold the mind of man as he sits alone,
0460B13 forced into communication with himself-- himself, suddenly released of
0470B13 all that_ held him in the day with its noise and petty demands. ^Released,
0480B13 he must perforce seek in some kind of bewilderment his own company,
0490B13 and realise with astonishment that he is a stranger to himself. ^Perhaps
0500B13 an interesting stranger. ^And all this in the desert, which Toynbee
0510B13 is reported to_ have said that_ the goat is responsible for. ^But things
0520B13 are beautiful if one loves them-- goats, and rock, and sand, and singing
0530B13 dunes. ^At least one poet compared a goat to_ a genius, and who will question
0540B13 poets? "^*G", said this poet, "stands for goat and also/ For
0541B13 genius.
0550B13 ^If you are one/ Learn from the other, for he/ Combines domestication,
0560B13 Venery, and Independence." ^This could have been a paean for the lusty,
0570B13 grape-giggling, pipe-playing Pan himself-- and why not? ^Why should
0580B13 not all goats aspire to the condition of Pan? $**<THE OTHER ENVIRONMENT**>
0590B13 $^It is a great pity that the environmental crisis in India
0600B13 should be viewed merely in terms of Western problems of industrial pollution,
0610B13 losing sight of more fundamental issues such as soil erosion
0620B13 and flooding, waterlogging and salinity, which are directly relevant to
0630B13 a poor country*'s need to_ grow more food. ^Witness the highly-charged public
0640B13 debate recently sparked off by the quality of water that_ sophisticated
0650B13 south Delhi-ites get in their taps. ^Or the air pollution caused
0660B13 by the fly-ash fall out of Delhi*'s Indraprastha thermal power station.
0670B13 ^Or the possible hazard that_ the Mathura petroleum refinery may pose
0680B13 to the pearly whiteness of the exquisite Taj Mahal. ^These are valid
0690B13 concerns no doubt, but only on the fringe of the envitonmental problem.
0700B13 ^And even in the field of agriculture the discussion is largely on
0710B13 the polluting effect of misused chemicals. ^The greater pity is that the
0720B13 National Committee for Environmental Co-ordination and Planning has
0730B13 done precious little to_ educate the public mind on Indian environmental
0740B13 priorities. $^Consider the tiny village called Jharoda in rural Delhi
0750B13 which has been in the news for some time. ^It is over a week since
0760B13 the village was inundated by a backflow of the Yamuna but despite its
0770B13 proximity to Delhi with all the Capital*'s resources, the three feet of
0780B13 water around the village will take at least a fortnight to_ drain out.
0790B13 ^The soil thereafter will take some months to_ recover from the waterlogging
0800B13 and the salinity. ^This is but one little village, noticed merely
0810B13 because it is less than two kilometres away from urban Delhi. ^Magnifying
0820B13 one village hundreds and hundreds of times gives some idea of the
0830B13 immense problem in the vast flood-affected areas of Bihar, for instance,
0840B13 or Uttar Pradesh. ^A flood most dramatically focuses the need for man-made
0850B13 or natural drainage systems to_ drain excessive water away from
0860B13 the land. ^But every wise farmer knows that as important as good irrigation
0870B13 to_ get the water to the land is good drainage to_ get the surplus
0880B13 water and salts out. ^As the population has increased, requiring more and
0890B13 more land to_ grow more food, irrigation has become more intricate and
0900B13 complex. ^Modern irrigation systems have progressed a long way from the
0910B13 primitive "*4dhenkli" in our photograph and Persian wheel, seen only in
0920B13 some pockets of India now, to canals, barrages, dams and tubewells.
0930B13 $^However, many including the eminent environmentalist Erik Eckholm,
0940B13 believe that civilisations which have prospered on their irrigation systems
0950B13 may also have perished through the concurrent problems of waterlogging
0960B13 and salinity that_ massive irrigation brings in its wake. ^This is perhaps
0970B13 what happened to ancient Mesopotamia, now an arid desert. ^And the
0980B13 Indus Basin, the largest continuously irrigated stretch of land on
0990B13 earth, is similarly threatened today. ^At one stage, Pakistan was estimated
1000B13 to_ be losing a good hectare of agricultural land every 20 minutes,
1010B13 even as it gained a new claimant on the land, by a birth every 24 seconds!
1020B13 ^It is not quite as bad on the Indian side of the subcontinent,
1030B13 maybe, but even here a seventh of the total irrigated area is said to_
1040B13 have been badly damaged by waterlogging and salinity. ^Tubewells have helped
1050B13 draw the water table down in some areas but the problem remains acute
1060B13 in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, parts of the Punjab,
1070B13 \0U.P. and Orissa. $^Along with the salt comes the silt, filling up
1080B13 vital reservoirs and raising river beds. ^As excessive deforestation in
1090B13 the upper reaches of the Himalayas continues practically unchecked,
1100B13 the protective cover of humus is lost, the land no longer holds the water,
1110B13 eroded slopes cave in causing landslides and blocking roads and rivers.
1120B13 ^Sooner or later there are flash floods leaving behind a trail of devastation.
1130B13 ^This is happening right now in the Bhagirathi valley. ^And
1140B13 it happened even more tragically in the Alakananda valley in the 1970
1150B13 monsoon when silt deposits were so enormous that farm production in the
1160B13 plains of western \0U.P. that_ year was cut by a third. ^But our environmentalists
1170B13 seem content to_ let this happen time and again; the
1180B13 authorities deal with the immediate problems with relief measures and forget
1190B13 about it thereafter. $^Nothing could better illustrate the futility
1200B13 of all our high-sounding environmental plans and professions that_ progressive
1210B13 Jawaharlal Nehru University*'s backtracking on its \0M.Sc.
1220B13 course in environmental science. ^Introduced just two years ago, the course
1230B13 has since been scrapped. ^Its first and only batch of students are
1240B13 graduating this year not in the environmental science for which they had
1250B13 taken admission but in traditional disciplines of geology, physics or
1260B13 biology! $^Our environmentalists are yet to_ learn that there can be
1261B13 no
1270B13 environmental policy for India unless the priorities are genuinely Indian
1280B13 and the ecological balance of the countryside, the focus of the
1290B13 planning. $**<THE STATUS OF DOGS**> $^*India does not have dog lovers,
1300B13 claims and aspirations notwithstanding. ^It does not even have a name
1310B13 for a dog keeper. ^The horse keeper is called the "*4syce", the elephant
1320B13 keeper "*4mahout". ^The shepherd is called "*4gadaria". ^But a man keeping
1330B13 dogs is a situation so entirely out of India*'s cultural framework
1340B13 as never to_ have gained consolidation through nomenclature. ^The dog,
1350B13 in fact, has never qualified here for kept status. ^It has never been
1360B13 seen as material for traditional elite pastimes. ^The royal hunt was the
1370B13 show of elephants. ^Or of falcons as in the nimbler life styles of the
1380B13 Moghuls. ^The royal park was a deer park with peacocks dancing in and
1390B13 out. ^Kings have set the tone of living here, after all. ^If not the
1400B13 kings, then the priests. ^And in the priest*'s mediatory tasks with God,
1410B13 dogs have had no place. ^Occasionally kings and priests came together
1420B13 on royal-sacramental events such as the *4Ashwamedha. ^But that_ was
1430B13 a horse sacrifice. ^They never combined for a Shvanamedha, a dog sacrifice.
1440B13 ^One dog has made it to the roll call of mythology, as in the story
1450B13 of Yudhishthira being tagged by a dog on his ascent to the Himalayas.
1460B13 "^Not without him", Yudhishthira pointed to the dog when they swung
1470B13 open the gates of heaven for him. ^But "no dogs" was the immigration policy
1480B13 of heaven. ^So the story made the dog Yama in disguise, and maintained
1490B13 *4dharmic status quo: dog out, sage in. $^The dog*'s watchman
1491B13 qualities
1500B13 have come in for a measure of recognition in the prevailing system
1510B13 of animal placements and ratings. ^But somehow the preference has remained
1520B13 for real watchmen ask those with things to_ be watched. ^This leaves
1530B13 out the majority. ^They do not particularly care for the dog as pet but
1540B13 are aware of its presence out on the roads, scavenging for life. ^They
1550B13 do not do wilful injury to the dog as they do not do wilful injury to
1560B13 poor relatives and dependents. ^They do see it has its uses, just as poor
1570B13 relatives and dependents have theirs. ^It does bark and raise ballyhoo
1580B13 when a stranger enters the neighbourhood. ^This stranger might be a long
1590B13 lost uncle returning home, but it might just as well be the tax collector.
1600B13 ^The one in ten possibility saves the dog. ^For the rest, it does not
1610B13 insist on a roof over its head which makes it better than poor relatives
1620B13 and dependents. ^It can live off leavings, unlike the poor relatives
1630B13 and dependents again, who insist on things like form. ^And if circumstances
1640B13 demand, it can be simply disowned, which makes it better, once more,
1650B13 than poor relatives and dependents who will not be disowned. ^If it is
1660B13 stupid enough to catch rabies and uppity enough to bite the hand that
1670B13 feeds it-- where does it think it gets its refuse from-- stone it off or
1680B13 club it down and no questions will be raised in Parliament.*#
        **[no. of words = 02008**]

        **[txt. b14**]
0010B14 **<MORE DOCTORS?**> $*3^IF*0 anyone bothered to_ list all that is
0020B14 wrong with public hospitals, he would hardly know where to_ stop. ^It is
0030B14 a moot point, however, whether some at least of these problems can be
0040B14 solved, or mitigated, by hiring more staff. ^The Public Accounts Committee
0050B14 of parliament, for instance, has only the other day expressed concern
0060B14 about the shortage of staff in the emergency wards of some public
0070B14 hospitals in the capital. ^While it is true that the services of such
0080B14 institutions are overstretched, it is as well to_ remember that people who
0090B14 live in big cities have more than their fair share of medical facilities.
0100B14 ^*Delhi, for example, has 2.5 hospital beds for every thousand people
0110B14 whereas the national average is 0.5 (and seven more hospitals may come
0120B14 up there shortly). ^In Bombay too, there is a doctor for every 700
0130B14 citizens as against 5,000 in the country as a whole. ^If there is any shortage
0140B14 of doctors, therefore, it is in rural areas, not in the cities. ^For
0150B14 that_ matter, one way of reducing the pressure on the big city hospitals
0160B14 will be to_ treat the rural patients, now forced to_ flock to them,
0170B14 at the district and village level instead. ^Moreover, many studies of
0180B14 the working of hospitals have shown that the "turnover" of patients
0190B14 can easily be speeded up so that the hardship caused by lengthy queues is
0200B14 drastically reduced. $^Although nearly everybody concedes that there is
0210B14 a grave shortage of medical skills in the villages, bodies like the Indian
0220B14 Medical Association, which safeguards the interests of private
0230B14 doctors, are bitterly opposed to \0Mr. Raj Narain*'s new rural health
0240B14 scheme which will press *3*5jana swastha rakshaks*6*0 into service because
0250B14 they believe that full-fledged doctors alone can fit the bill. ^But
0260B14 the idea is basically sound, for barefoot paramedics can fan out into the
0270B14 countryside and treat the basic ailments of people (and, of course,
0280B14 refer more complicated cases to the nearest primary health centre or district
0290B14 hospital). ^Since the real problem in rural medicine is to_ prevent,
0300B14 rather than cure, disease, such cadres will have to_ help villagers
0310B14 to_ take elementary precautions, live hygienically and improve their food
0320B14 habits. ^All this may well be beyond the capacity of the hastily-trained
0330B14 *3*4rakshaks*0 for some time to_ come. ^But something is surely better
0340B14 than nothing and in any case, the scheme is proposed to_ be introduced
0350B14 in one village out of every six. ^For a comprehensive solution of the
0360B14 country*'s problem, therefore, there is no alternative to a thorough
0370B14 overhaul of medical education so that a new class of "basic doctors" is
0380B14 created. ^These doctors-- science students who don*'4t make it to the
0390B14 medical college-- may be taught only the basic elements of clinical medicine
0400B14 in a two-year intensive course, leaving a few brighter students to_
0410B14 specialise. ^Even as things are, two of every three \0M.B.B.S graduates
0420B14 end up in private practice in cities and there is no reason why the
0430B14 authorities can*'4t think of reversing the trend by reducing the number
0440B14 of conventional graduates each year and allowing for a far bigger complement
0450B14 of second-rung personnel who will automatically gravitate to
0460B14 the countryside. ^Otherwise, the present system will perpetuate itself:
0470B14 only recently, for instance, the Maharashtra government nearly doubled
0480B14 the number of medical college seats in the state! $**<HISTORIANS IN DISTRESS**>
0490B14 $*3^THOUGH*0 some of the moves by the ruling party to_ impose
0500B14 restrictions of one kind or another on academic freedom have not succeeded,
0510B14 the historians still feel insecure not so much perhaps in a personal
0520B14 as in a professional sense. ^This much is obvious from the resolution
0530B14 adopted at the recent session of the Indian History Congress in
0540B14 Bhubaneswar, calling for an assurance from the Union government that
0550B14 it will not collaborate with communal or chauvinistic forces in distorting
0560B14 history. ^For this resolution was not the handiwork just of historians
0570B14 who might be called Marxist or leftist. ^Many others voted for the resolution
0580B14 which was unanimously approved and they feel concerned that obscurantists
0590B14 calling themselves historians might come to_ influence the government*'s
0600B14 decisions. ^The fears may be exaggerated. ^But they are not
0610B14 misplaced as is evident from the contents of the so-called anonymous note
0620B14 which was submitted to the Prime Minister last summer and the remarkable
0630B14 speed with which it was attended to_. ^Moreover, since then the authorities
0640B14 have done nothing to_ set at rest these apprehensions. ^On the
0650B14 contrary, they have created the impression that they are well disposed
0660B14 towards historians who take what cannot but be considered a communal view
0670B14 of history. ^It may or may not be quite correct to_ divide Indian
0680B14 history into Hindu, Muslim and British periods. ^But surely there is
0690B14 either way no need to_ rule out the other approach-- to study history not
0700B14 in terms of personalities and dynasties but of movements and social
0710B14 reality. $^History, like other social sciences, cannot be free from controversy
0720B14 which is, indeed, its life breath. ^It is necessary, even obligatory,
0730B14 for good historians constantly to_ question facts and their interpretation.
0740B14 ^It goes on all the time in the West. ^Witness, for instance,
0750B14 the rise of what is called the revisionist history of the cold war in
0760B14 the United States whereby the radicals have sought to_ make out that
0770B14 America*'s search of markets began it all, and its demolition or, for
0780B14 that_ matter, the new interest in Hitler. ^In India itself, a re-evaluation
0790B14 of arts-- Devangana Desai*'s "Erotic Sculptures" is a case in
0800B14 point-- and of the origin and meaning of the caste system have, for
0810B14 instance, modified our view of the early period. ^And who does not know
0820B14 that Aligarh scholars have dug up enormous material which makes it difficult
0830B14 for any serious student of the medieval period to_ subscribe to
0840B14 views which early British historians popularised on questions like inheritance,
0850B14 the land tenure system under the Mughals and so on. ^The process
0860B14 is irreversible even if some simple-minded individuals wish to_ return
0870B14 to the kind of "history" with which village preachers familiarised them.
0880B14 ^Indeed, this is a universal problem, not a uniquely Indian one. ^Perhaps
0890B14 we have more sacred cows and we are perhaps a little more anxious
0900B14 than other mature societies to preserve them. ^But except for the brief
0910B14 20-month emergency our record in respect of academic freedom, too, has
0920B14 seen quite good. ^Indeed, that_ is precisely why the dismissal of \0Dr.
0930B14 *(0P. V.*) Ranade or the denial of permission to_ travel to \0Dr.
0940B14 *(0R. S.*) Sharma or the demand for the withdrawal of some books has
0950B14 attracted the attention it has. ^But why should even such incidents take
0960B14 place when the party in power in New Delhi professes to_ believe in
0970B14 individual liberty and the country has had a taste of what the denial
0980B14 of that_ freedom can lead to? $**<THIRD *THOUGHTS?**> $*3^THE*0
0981B14 Janata
0990B14 government seems to_ be having third thoughts about family planning.
1000B14 ^Early this year, the redoubtable \0Mr. Raj Narain confessed that
1010B14 the situation was "very serious"-- as if the facts and figures showing a
1020B14 precipitate fall in the use of contraception since March last year (at
1030B14 least partly because of his own declared attitudes) hadn*'4t been staring
1040B14 him in the face months earlier. ^Now there are reports that the family
1050B14 welfare ministry is prepared to_ shed its aversion for certain features
1060B14 of the programme which had provoked such a strong popular reaction
1070B14 under the previous regime. ^One is the fixing of targets, which sounds
1080B14 innocuous enough in itself, but was a major source of abuse under the
1090B14 emergency when officials were compelled to_ fulfil impossibly high goals.
1100B14 ^As long as there are no penalties or "disincentives" for not reaching
1110B14 targets, there can surely be no objection to the move to_ prescribe them.
1120B14 ^Again, the ministry wants to_ reintroduce sterilisation in a big way.
1130B14 ^Nothing has done more to_ discredit family planning than the coercive
1140B14 methods used under the emergency to_ make people submit to the surgeon*'s
1150B14 scalpel. ^This explains why in the first nine months of Janata rule,
1160B14 only 636,000 sterilisations were performed-- less than 10 per cent of
1170B14 the number in the previous year. ^There is everything to_ be said for trying
1180B14 to_ coax more people to_ get themselves sterilised, provided they
1190B14 do so voluntarily. ^After all, it is by far the most popular means of
1200B14 contraception (after abortion) in the world today. ^It is as well, therefore,
1210B14 that the monetary incentives for voluntary vasectomies and tubectomies
1220B14 are also proposed to_ be restored. ^Care ought to_ be taken, however,
1230B14 that the system isn*'4t abused as it was even before the emergency by
1240B14 registering fictitious cases, badgering unsuspecting passers-by and so
1250B14 on. ^The authorities can also safely avoid mass sterilisation camps-- such
1260B14 as that_ in Ernakulam in 1971 where 60,000 men were vasectomised in
1270B14 a single month!-- which are little more than *3*4melas*0. $^With the prospects
1280B14 of a sudden spurt in population growth looming larger every day--
1290B14 the Planning Commission has indicated that the target of bringing down
1300B14 the birth rate to 30 per 1,000 will have to_ be postponed from 1979
1310B14 to 1984-- there is plainly little time to_ lose in launching a massive family
1320B14 planning drive with renewed vigour. ^The best way perhaps will be
1330B14 to_ adopt the "cafeteria" approach, which implies that a wide range of
1340B14 contraceptive methods ought to_ be provided for a person to_ choose from.
1350B14 ^Indeed, the authorities did try to_ do this initially but after several
1360B14 setbacks, began, around the beginning of this decade, to_ rely almost
1370B14 exclusively on sterilisation. ^The fact is that sterilisation is an extreme
1380B14 measure, which most couples will want to_ resort to only when they
1390B14 have two or more children, what about those who want to_ postpone having
1400B14 their first child or space out their children? ^The only answer is to_
1410B14 let them choose for themselves. ^As a matter of fact, the loop is in many
1420B14 ways an ideal contraceptive, since it is cheap and easily reversible.
1430B14 ^But it has fallen out of favour simply because the follow-up facilities
1440B14 for treating women simply don*'4t exist in the countryside. ^The real
1450B14 need, therefore, is to_ give top priority to upgrading primary health
1460B14 centres and man them with competent para-medical staff who can advise patients
1470B14 what contraceptives to_ use and when. $*<BELATED*> $*3^THE*0
1480B14 government*'s belated admission that virtually all family planning programmes
1490B14 in the country have suffered a disastrous setback in 1977-78 would
1500B14 have been welcome only if it had been accompanied by a statement of
1510B14 measures to_ remedy the alarming situation. ^True to style, the union minister
1520B14 of state for family welfare, \0Mr. Jagdambi Prasad Yadav, has
1530B14 only reiterated the time-worn appeal to all and sundry to_ implement
1540B14 the programmes more effectively. \0^*Mr. Yadav apparently does not realise
1550B14 that in order to_ go about their jobs what field workers desperately
1560B14 need are not exhortations but larger funds and, more than that_,
1561B14 clear-cut
1570B14 directives. ^But to_ ask for that_ is to_ ask for the impossible.
1571B14 ^The
1580B14 health ministry is in no position to_ give such directives since the government
1590B14 as a whole is reluctant to_ adopt an unequivocal stand on the issue.
1600B14 ^To_ be fair, the ruling party at the centre has over the past year
1610B14 or so taken a more flexible and pragmatic view of the need to_ enforce
1620B14 birth control. ^It has come a long way since \0Mr. Raj Narain condemned
1630B14 sterilisation as an "insult to Indian culture". ^It has even set targets
1640B14 for sterilisations and other methods of birth control for 1978-79.
1650B14 \0^*Mr. Morarji Desai has informed sate chief ministers that in some
1660B14 measure at least Central assistance to them would be dependent on how
1670B14 well they fulfil the family planning programme. ^But while these steps
1680B14 are welcome they do not go far enough to_ revive the morale of the
1681B14 family planning workers. $^The main
1690B14 reason for the collapse of morale is not far to_ seek. ^It is the result
1700B14 of the lack of political support from the top. ^How many central ministers
1710B14 have gone on record to_ deplore the fact that the rate of voluntary
1720B14 sterilisations has declined by as much as 88.8 per cent last year?*#
        **[no. of words = 02016**]

        **[txt. b15**]
0010B15 **<*3Need for fresh thinking on Tagore*0**> $*3^The*0 Twentyfifth of
0020B15 *4Baisakh the birthday of Rabindranath Tagore is widely celebrated
0030B15 in the country, specially in Bengal, with boistrous sessions of Tagore
0040B15 songs (Rabindra *4Sangit) sung by a special class of artists.
0041B15 ^Dance
0050B15 dramas are enacted with glamour and pomp and show. ^Much of this Tagorean
0060B15 festivity is thus songs and dance and mirth. $^In the gaiety of celebrations
0070B15 Tagore*'s abiding contribution to creative literature is overlooked.
0080B15 ^*Tagore wrote serious literature apart from songs he set to music.
0090B15 ^He produced in his life some of the best novels in Bengali literature.
0100B15 ^He wrote thought provoking essays, and high-strung poetry that_
0110B15 dealt with abstruse metaphysical topics and drama that_ can stand comparison
0120B15 with the best in the world. ^He has written on grammar, philosophy
0130B15 folk-songs and even on science. ^He rarely touched any sphere of literature
0140B15 which he did not enrich. $^Rarely do we hear of a serious symposium
0150B15 held on such occasions to_ discuss Tagore*'s special genius in shaping
0160B15 Bengali literature or in bringing it to its present stature. ^It is conveniently
0170B15 forgotten that Tagore was not only creative in the literary
0180B15 sphere. ^He evolved a special system of education and was the founder
0190B15 of a unique university, which has been widely acclaimed and has drawn students
0200B15 and teachers from far and near. ^He was also a sensitive artist
0210B15 who turned out several thousand paintings widely admired for their delicate
0220B15 and meaningful beauty and grace. $^*Tagore is the culminating point
0230B15 of several trends of literary movement which has given Bengali literature
0240B15 a form, thought-content and imagery and shape to_ fit in with modern
0250B15 concept and ideas. $^The movement began as a reaction of the Bengali
0260B15 mind to its contact with the West. ^*Westerners themselves took the initiative
0270B15 in giving shape to Bengali literary prose. ^The missionaries of
0280B15 Serampur were particularly relevant. ^But the missionaries were mainly
0290B15 interested in the propagation of the Bible and Christian religious
0300B15 thought. ^This brought into the field Raja Ram Mohan Roy. ^From then
0310B15 on a distinct religio-devotional line of thought began to_ develop in
0320B15 this devotional stream and after meandering it found fullest expression
0330B15 early this century in Tagore. ^It was nourished on its way by such eminent
0340B15 persons in their own way as Devendranath Tagore, Ramkrishna Paramhansa,
0350B15 Keshab Chandra Sen, Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, Vijoykrishna
0360B15 Goswami and Vivekanand. ^*Tagore brought this stream to its full
0370B15 flood both in the richness of thought and subtlety of diction. $^*Tagore
0380B15 was, in his own way, a great religious poet. ^If his Gitanjali appealed
0390B15 to the Western mind it was largely because to the Western mind it
0400B15 appeared to_ contain biblical expressions and thought. ^In the course of
0410B15 his triumphant tour of the West after the Nobel award he was looked
0420B15 upon by many as a new Messiah who would bring new hope and peace to human
0430B15 beings shattered by World War. ^He was flooded by letters from bereaved
0440B15 relatives expressing gratitude to him for bringing them peace and
0450B15 mental poise. $^*Tagore*'s other trend was mainly meant to_ rouse the national
0460B15 sentiment. ^Along with contact with the West came the spirit of
0470B15 nationalism, a desire to_ throw off the political domination of British
0480B15 colonial rule. ^This trend was given the necessary boost by Rangalal
0490B15 Bandopadhyaya, Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, Dwijendra Lal Roy, Tagore
0500B15 and Nazrul Islam. ^In this case also the culmination point was Tagore.
0510B15 ^*Nazrul had chosen other fields and pastures new. ^He began experimenting
0520B15 with new forms of song and the musical technique to_ fit them
0530B15 in. ^In a way Tagore was a terminating point for patriotic poetry. $^In
0540B15 the realm of pure poetry the movement began predominantly with Michael
0550B15 Madhusudan Dutt, Hem Chandra Bandopadhyaya, Behari Lal Chakraborty,
0560B15 Dwijendra Lal Roy and other minor poets to_ reach its culmination
0570B15 in Tagore. ^The poetry that_ Tagore has written is unrivalled in
0580B15 its mastery of rhythm, variety of subject matter and richness of thought.
0590B15 ^From simple love-songs and passionate lyrics Tagore has dealt with
0600B15 in his poetry mysticism of a very esoteric order as also the inter-relationship
0610B15 of time, space and matter. $^In fiction the passage from Bankim
0620B15 Chandra Chatterjee and Sarat Chandra Chatterjee to Tagore is
0630B15 a national corollary. ^*Tagore included in his novels much metaphysical
0640B15 discussion without allowing the flow of the plot or story to_ suffer
0650B15 in the process. $^The essay form took definite shape with Raja Ram Mohan
0660B15 Roy and passed through Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, Bhudev Mukherjee
0670B15 and others and ultimately found its peak in Tagore. ^He has written
0680B15 hundreds of essays replete with linguistic charm and depth of thought.
0690B15 ^They are as appealing and relevant today as when they were written.
0700B15 $^Drama had passed through one phase with Michael Madhusudan Dutt, Dinabondhu
0710B15 Mitra, Girish Chandra Ghosh, Dwijendra Lal Roy. ^But with
0720B15 Tagore it reached new heights that_ it never attained before. ^He endowed
0730B15 it with melody and lyric grace. ^Specially his unique dance
0731B15 dramas.
0740B15 $^*Tagore truly remains the outstanding literary figure not only of Bengal
0750B15 but of Indian Literature as a whole thirtyfive years after his
0760B15 death. ^It is natural that his birth should be celebrated and people should
0770B15 gather to_ pay their homage to one who gave the Bengali language flexibility,
0780B15 a rare grace and expressive power. ^Yet, there is surprisingly
0790B15 no commitment to Tagore. ^A few days around the 25th *4Baisakh, we do
0800B15 organise musical *7soirees and dance dramas of Tagore*'s composition.
0810B15 ^But what about other occasions? ^The observance of Tagore*'s birth
0820B15 day needs to be pulled out of this ritualistic observance.
0830B15 $**<*3End of an era for catholicism*0**> $*3^The*0 death of Pope Paul
0840B15 *=6 the 261st successor to \0St. Peter and the head of the most amazing
0850B15 and durable monument to man*'s desire to_ come to terms with the
0860B15 unanswered questions of his existence and his future thereafter, is the
0870B15 end of an era for the Catholic Church which, though rooted in Rome,
0880B15 commands the devotion and loyalty of 700 millions in every part of the
0890B15 globe. $^From 67 \0AD through every form of human vicissitude, war,
0900B15 conquest, corruption, rebellion, centuries of brutality, superstition
0910B15 and fanaticism, Pope has succeeded Pope in an unbroken line, to_ be the
0920B15 Vicar of Christ and arbiter of the Catholic faith. ^No other dynasty,
0930B15 institution, empire or State has lasted intact so long. $^The Popes
0940B15 of today have no temporal power (although the Vatican is perhaps the
0950B15 richest institution in the world) but a moral influence if not authority
0960B15 that_ can and does sometimes profoundly affect the thinking and behaviour
0970B15 of millions, particularly in the non-Communist developed world, and
0980B15 thereby have an impact on the political and even economic activities
0990B15 of their countries. ^It is this aspect of the Holy See and its role
1000B15 in the evolution of Western civilization as it exists today, that_ gives
1010B15 the Pope and the Catholic Church a relevance that_ cannot be ignored
1020B15 in world affairs. $^*Pope Paul, who had spoken of his coming demise
1030B15 in his Easter message earlier this year, momentorily united the troubled
1040B15 world in his death. ^Politics were forgotten when tributes to him as
1050B15 a relentless champion of world peace and international justice came from
1060B15 every quarter, from Moscow, Poland, the German Democratic Republic,
1070B15 Yugoslavia, from Africa, Asia, from Israel, Japan, Iran, Syria,
1080B15 Egypt apart from the Christian States of the West. ^He was the first
1090B15 Pope to_ travel by air visiting every continent. ^*India will remember
1100B15 the great enthusiasm and respect for Indians of all religions that_
1110B15 moved him so deeply when he visited Bombay. ^He was also the first Pope
1120B15 to_ visit Jerusalem where Christianity was born. ^More than any other
1130B15 of his predecessors this centutry, he took a direct interest in world
1140B15 problems in his pursuit for World peace. ^He was a most persistent champion
1150B15 of disarmament and opponent of the diversion of more and more
1160B15 resources of the world to the arms race. ^He was appalled at the exploitation
1170B15 of the developing countries by the developed and in his Encyclical
1180B15 of 1967-- the "Development of Peoples"-- deplored those evils of
1190B15 the capitalistic system which pursued the profit motive without concern
1200B15 for social justice. ^He was deeply perturbed by the growth of political
1210B15 terrorism and offered himself as a hostage to the hijackers of the
1220B15 German plane in Mogadishu last year and to the Italian Red Brigade
1230B15 kidnappers of the former Italian Premier Aldo Moro who was killed by
1240B15 his captors later. $^Nevertheless with all these qualities and achievements,
1250B15 Pope Paul has left a heritage to his successor of a Church more
1260B15 divided within than under his predecessor and of a world wide congregation
1270B15 in the painful process of disillusionment with the Head of the
1280B15 Church. ^*Pope Paul started with the great disadvantage of having succeeded
1290B15 perhaps the best loved and respected Pope for centuries, Pope
1300B15 John *=23, who was the initiator of the "dialogue with the modern world,"
1310B15 a long delayed attempt by an ancient establishment which was highly
1320B15 conservative and afraid or slow to_ adapt to change, an essential attribute
1330B15 of survival and vigour for any institution. $^The Catholic Church
1340B15 is by its mission as the custodian of the doctrine of Jesus Christ,
1350B15 authoritative in its organisation on religious matters. ^The Pope as the
1360B15 Vicar of Christ is "infallible" in exposition of doctrine and laying
1370B15 down the moral law to Catholics. ^He is armed with the sanction of
1380B15 excommunication (now rarely used) which had been a potent weapon against
1390B15 defiant kings or individuals including scholars and scientists who challenged
1400B15 the Papal edicts. ^It is in this sphere that_ Pope Paul*'s adherence
1410B15 to tradition has created the present ferment in the Church. ^He
1420B15 could not (or was hampered by his devotion to the doctrines of \0St.
1430B15 Peter and the Apostles on which the Church is founded) meet all the
1440B15 challenges of the changes today. $^*Pope Paul did, however, meet some
1450B15 of the challenges. ^He broke the dominance of the Italian Cardinals
1460B15 in the Curia, the governing body of the Church which had enabled the
1470B15 election of an Italian Pope continually since 1522. ^The Sacred College
1480B15 of Cardinals which will elect his successor by August 28 consists
1490B15 of 130 Cardinals (15 of whom are inelegible to_ vote as they are over
1500B15 80 years of age). ^Only 33 of these are Italians, 63 come from rest
1510B15 of Europe (East and West) 38 from North and South America, 12 from
1520B15 Africa and 15 from Asia. ^This internationalisation of the Church
1530B15 could possibly produce a non-Italian Pope after 476 years. ^He has come
1540B15 to terms with advancement of scientific thought and the Vatican does
1550B15 not now object to clerics and laity debating such Catholic sacred concepts
1560B15 as Original Sin, Virgin Birth, the existence of Heaven and
1570B15 Hell. ^So long as the spiritual teachings of the Bible are accepted as
1580B15 immutable the rest-- metaphors and explanations of physical phenomena--
1590B15 are considered embellishment appropriate to the state of knowledge then.
1600B15 $^He has also dissipated the old Catholic concept of considering
1610B15 all other religions and atheists as doomed to Hell. (Indeed it was this
1620B15 presumption of missionaries combined with lust for gold of the Spanish
1630B15 conquisidors that_ destroyed the great Aztec and Inca civilizations
1640B15 of central and South America and brought the Inquisition into Portuguese
1650B15 Goa). ^The Vatican has departments today headed by Cardinals
1660B15 dealing with "atheists"-- that_ is the Communist countries, with other
1670B15 religions including a special one for relations with Muslims. ^All Catholic
1680B15 priests and missionaries are now instructed to_ respect other faiths
1690B15 and carry out their work without offence. $^Similarly he has broken
1700B15 the monopoly of Latin in liturgy and ritual by permitting native languages,
1710B15 local artistic traditions and dress. ^The Vatican*'s diplomatic service
1720B15 now includes Indian and other "coloured" priests in high positions.
1730B15 $^But where Pope Paul*'s conservatism came in the way in his Encyclical--
1740B15 *8humanae Vitae*9-- which prohibited all forms of artificial
1741B15 birth
1750B15 control, and on such problems as priestly celibacy, women priests \0etc.
1760B15 ^Of these the most damaging to the Church has been his ban on birth
1770B15 control which had the christian objective of preventing the destruction
1780B15 of human life even in the foetal stage.*#
        **[no. of words = 02006**]

        **[txt. b16**]
0010B16 **<ACT NOW**> $*3^READING*0 the article, "The Agony of Palamau"
0020B16 (May 7), was a most distressing experience. ^It makes me wonder if the
0030B16 Janata government at the state and the Central level will be sensible
0040B16 enough to_ forget their bickerings and rivalries, and act quickly and provide
0050B16 relief to the exploited, landless tribals who have been held in bondage
0060B16 in Palamau and elsewhere, for decades. $^Recently, I was taken
0070B16 aback to_ see a small news item that in Indore a scheme is being launched
0080B16 to_ 'survey' bonded labour in \0U.P., \0M.P., Bihar and many other
0090B16 states. ^What a remedy for such oppressive tyranny. ^Instead of some
0100B16 concrete relief measures, we are promised some academic studies which may
0110B16 drag on for years. $^The existence of bonded labour is a proven fact.
0120B16 ^What we immediately need is implementation of adequate relief measures.
0130B16 ^Instead of having visions and dreams of prohibition, *4Bhoodan,
0140B16 total revolution \0etc., it is far more important for the government to_
0150B16 walk on the ground, get down to finding workable solutions to the problems
0160B16 of exploitation, and pull the victims out of the maze of legal technicalities
0170B16 which throttle bonded men like Chander Uraon. $^The urgent
0180B16 requirement is swift and efficient action which can bring lasting relief
0190B16 to the deprived, and not platform speeches on the high ideal of *5Ram-raj*6,
0200B16 of which we have had enough.
0210B16 $**<*3In Praise Of Tippu*0**> $^WHILE complimenting \0Mr. Akhilesh
0220B16 Mithal on his article "Remembering Tippu" (May 7) I am compelled
0230B16 to_ point out some of the disappointing features in that_ article.
0240B16 $^The author attempts to_ list the sterling qualities that_ made Tippu
0250B16 different from contemporary Indian *4rajahs and he refers chiefly to the
0260B16 religious tolerance of Tippu and his concern for the people*'s welfare.
0270B16 ^There were even far more outstanding traits in Tippu. $^In our 5,000
0280B16 years of recorded history, Tippu was the only Indian ruler who actually
0290B16 died on the battlefield. ^The others chose either to_ flee or to_
0300B16 surrender. ^*Tippu had ample opportunities to_ save himself by running
0310B16 away but he chose to_ court death so as to_ set an example to future generations
0320B16 of Indians. ^*Tippu was also the only Indian ruler who never
0330B16 joined the British against the Indian princes while the *4Marathas
0331B16 and
0340B16 the *4Nizam, for instance, joined the British at one time or another.
0350B16 $^What I would consider Tippu*'s outstanding gift was his vision of
0360B16 the future of India: "$^Will each part of India try to_ tear the eyes
0370B16 of the others; will neighbour rise against neighbour and brother against
0380B16 brother; will each of its provinces or divisions try to_ march forward
0390B16 in isolation from the rest? ^If that_ happens, it shall then be no
0400B16 different from being the plaything of a foreign conqueror." $^Besides,
0410B16 Tippu knew that India was weakened not so much by an outside power but
0420B16 by the sickness within the country. ^The spirit of liberty was in danger
0430B16 of extinction through internal strife. $^*Tippu Sultan also had decided
0440B16 views on the American Declaration of Independence, the French
0450B16 revolution, women*'s emancipation, bonded labour, prohibition, religious
0460B16 tolerance, the promotion of exports, the protection of wild life and
0470B16 the environment, administrative reforms, judicial systems, the rights of
0480B16 man, the role of government, the establishment of industry and the
0490B16 encouragement of agriculture.
0500B16 $**<*3*8Faux Pas*9**> $*3^*I HAVE*0 generally admired \0Mrs.
0501B16 Amita Malik*'s
0510B16 column on the \0AIR and *4Doordarshan programmes as being
0511B16 candid.
0520B16 ^But I found her comments on 'People Places, And Things' (April
0530B16 30) unfounded. ^She has criticised \0Mrs. Usha Joshi*'s programme
0540B16 on "two" counts. ^In fact, they work out to_ be six. $^One, the manner
0541B16 in
0550B16 which \0Mr. Chanchal Sarkar conducted the discussion on the 'underground
0560B16 literature' published and distributed during the dark days of emergency.
0570B16 ^The fault obviously lay with \0Mr. Sarkar, whom \0Mrs. Malik
0580B16 "admires for his professionalism." ^He had to_ be included in the programme
0590B16 because it was his 'baby', The Press Institute of India, which
0600B16 had organised the exhibition of the underground liferature. ^Perhaps, \0Mr.
0610B16 Sarkar was unduly conscious all the time of the poor quality and
0620B16 quantity of exhibits. $^Two, the programme did not click because the producer
0630B16 was "doing too many things." ^This remark exposes \0Mrs. Malik*'s
0640B16 lack of knowledge of the entire gamut of \0TV production. ^She
0650B16 should have known by now that voice recording and filming are done separately
0660B16 and then synchronised. ^If the vision did not match the spoken word,
0670B16 the fault obviously lay with \0Mr. Sarkar who, according to her, "chivvied
0680B16 on the participants." ^But as an ordinary and regular viewer, I
0690B16 can say without any fear of contradiction that \0Mrs. Malik*'s comment
0700B16 springs from an overheated imagination. $^Three, "everyone seemed to_
0710B16 be shot solo at the wrong angle." ^*I for one, at least, did not find
0720B16 that "the table loomed larger than the panel." \0^*Mrs Malik was probably
0730B16 concentrating not on the content of the programme but on furniture.
0740B16 $^Four, Usha Joshi*'s Hindi narration "barely passed muster." ^*Usha
0750B16 Joshi*'s pronunciation was impeccable and her nuances were admirable. ^It
0760B16 was because of these qualities that Usha Joshi was a Hindi broadcaster
0770B16 in \0BBC for nearly 11 years. $^Five, absence of "more visuals".
0780B16 ^*I suspect \0Mrs. Malik did not visit the exhibition. ^*I have a bigger
0790B16 collection of underground literature than was exhibited at \0AIFACS.
0800B16 $^Six, Usha Joshi*'s imperfect pronunciation of English. ^*I
0810B16 don*'4t think \0Mrs. Malik*'s assessment is correct. \0^*Mrs.
0811B16 Joshi
0820B16 has worked in a number of \0MGM productions as well as in several films
0830B16 produced in Britain. ^Those producers would not have availed of her
0840B16 services if her English pronunciation was far from perfect.
0850B16 $**<*3Work Of Art*0**> $*3^MANY*0 of your readers (including myself)
0860B16 are indebted to \0Mr. Dnyaneshwar Nadkarni for his article on the
0870B16 late Hansa Wadkar, her autobiography, *3*5Sangtye Aika*6*0, and Shyam
0880B16 Benegal*'s *3*4Bhumika*0 (April 30). $^None can dispute that Hansa
0890B16 Wadkar was an uninhibited Bohemian, an alcoholic and a sort of maverick
0900B16 in the Bombay *3*5filmi duniya*6*0. ^And, she had the guts to_ write
0910B16 an unvarnished account of her life. ^We ought to_ feel proud of this
0920B16 honest-to-goodness woman, who blossomed in our world of humbugs and
0930B16 hypocrites, radiated charm and goodwill, enthralled thousauds and then went
0940B16 the way of all mortals. $^But my contention is that whatever \0Mr.
0950B16 Nadkarni has said about the film vis-a-vis the book does not diminish
0960B16 the value of the film which has been widely acclaimed and in fact has won
0970B16 a national award. ^*I never knew Hansa Wadkar in person. ^*I have not
0980B16 read her autobiography. ^But I have seen *3*4Bhumika,*0 which is based
0990B16 on Hansa Wadkar*'s life. it is a first-rate film in form and content.
1000B16 ^*Shyam Benegal dared to_ choose a bold theme which neither the commercial
1010B16 cinema nor cinema directors would have thought of even once. ^Then
1020B16 with Satyadev Dubey (now Pandit) the script was worked out neatly
1030B16 with flashbacks. $^As \0Mr. Nadkarni knows, whenever any book is rendered
1040B16 into a film, liberties are taken. ^The art of the film has its own
1050B16 norms, mores, grammar and prosody. ^Accordingly, Shyam Benegal has made
1060B16 an artistic film shooting the film in colour, with the flashback sequences
1070B16 in sepia. ^Though Smita Patil had a *7penchant for untying her
1071B16 sari
1080B16 three or four times in the film, I thought she had acquitted herself
1090B16 very creditably. ^She conveyed the buoyant vivacity of *3a *4tamasha*0
1100B16 artiste on the screen. $^The technical virtues of this film are far too
1110B16 many to_ be listed here. ^It is enough if I say that the film is an artistic
1120B16 whole as all the ingredients that_ go to_ make a good film are in
1130B16 perfect proportion and blend well. $^As a filmologist, who has seen hundreds
1140B16 of films, written and taught about them-- and even censored them
1150B16 in an advisory capacity, I hold the view that *3*4Bhumika*0 is a first-rate
1160B16 contribution to contemporary Indian cinema, as has been endorsed
1170B16 by the cinegoers and the *3*7cognoscenti*0, alike. ^*I may as well add that
1180B16 I am an admirer of Benegal*'s films without being in any way his
1190B16 \0PRO. $^If only \0Mr. Nadkarni had interviewed the director and the
1200B16 screen play writer on the basis of his (Nadkarni*'s) extensive knowledge
1210B16 as to why they made the departures and why they suppressed the "bottle"
1220B16 part of the story, then that_ could have been a contribution to an
1230B16 understanding of fact and fiction, art and reality, an autobiography and
1240B16 a feature film. $**<*3Bending Of Light*0**> $*3^As*0 a student of
1250B16 science, I would like to_ thank \0Mr. Minaz Merchant for letting your
1260B16 readers be in the audience, as it were, during \0Prof. Narlikar*'s
1270B16 masterly exposition of his theory of gravitation (April 30). $^However,
1280B16 the first confirmation of Einstein*'s prediction-- bending of light
1290B16 in the sun*'s gravitational field-- came after observations made during
1300B16 a solar eclipse and not during a lunar eclipse as mentioned by \0Mr.
1310B16 Merchant. ^It is doubtful whether such observations can be made during
1320B16 a lunar eclipse even today because the moon does not provide a strong
1330B16 enough gravitational field. ^The Royal Society, London, had sponsored
1340B16 a special expedition to_ photograph the solar eclipse on May 29, 1919,
1350B16 on Principa-island in the Gulf of Guinea and thus the confirmation
1360B16 could not have been announced in 1915 as conjectured by \0Mr. Merchant.
1370B16 ^The confirmation of Einstein*'s prediction was announced by the Royal
1380B16 Society in November of that_ year.
1390B16 $**<*3*7Rapport In Music*0**> $*3^Chetan*0 Karnani*'s article on 'Creativity
1400B16 in Indian Music' (March 26) certainly led to an interesting
1410B16 exchange of ideas through these columns. $^The general belief is that
1420B16 until the 13th century there was one Indian school of music, but later,
1430B16 due to the Muslim influence, the two schools of Hindustani and Karnatak
1440B16 music came into existence. ^Perhaps Muthuswami Deekshitulu was
1450B16 among the earliest to_ have gone to the north to_ study Hindustani music.
1460B16 $^It is now known that King Sarfoji composed in Telugu, Sanskrit
1470B16 and Marathi, and Swati Tirunal did so in many more languages including
1480B16 Hindustani and both these rulers had at their courts Hindustani musicians.
1490B16 $^It is true that Ravishankar, in the last three decades, adopted
1500B16 South Indian melodies like *4Charukesi (this is supposed to_ be
1510B16 the result of union of *4Sankarabharanam and *4Todi) and *4Kiravani.
1520B16 ^But Karim Khan was possibly the first to_ have given a record of Tyagaraja
1530B16 *4Kriti in *4Kharaharapriya. ^We have now quite a few musicians
1540B16 who can handle the Hindustani and Karnatak *4ragas, maintaining the
1550B16 distinctive style of each, *(0M. S.*) Gopalakrishnan and *(0M. S.*)
1560B16 Anantharaman (their father, Sundaram Iyer, was a great exponent of
1570B16 both styles on the violin); *(0M. N.*) Rajam, Manchala, Voleti Venkateswarlu,
1580B16 Emani Sankara Sastry, and Balamurali Krishna, to_ mention
1590B16 a few. $^But the late Dwaram Venkataswamy Nayudu was the initiator
1600B16 in this respect. ^With his special technique of bowing, he used to_
1610B16 play, most melodiously, Hindustani and Karnatak *4ragas. ^His style was
1620B16 unique. ^It has, however, been a one-way traffic.
1630B16 $**<MAJOR LAPSE**> $\0^*Mr. Simon Winchester*'s assessment of
1640B16 John Le Carre*'s book *3The Honourable Schoolboy ("Less Than a
1650B16 Masterpiece," (July 2)), made enlightening reading for those of \0Mr.
1660B16 Le Carre*'s fans, like myself, who always had the feeling that the super
1670B16 spy-novelist could never falter even in giving the minutest details
1680B16 about his characters. ^But \0Mr. Winchester, by pointing out glaring
1690B16 flaws in the characterisation of the journalist community posted in the
1700B16 southeast Asian states like Laos, Cambodia and Hong Kong, as portrayed
1710B16 in the book, has shattered the myth. $^It is strange that a man whose
1720B16 success comes, as much from research as from instinct, and who can go
1730B16 to any length (make five trips to Asia, as he has done in case of *3The
1740B16 Honourable Schoolboy), and was even "pinned down by automatic weapon
1750B16 fire in Cambodia and dived under a car and coolly noted his impressions"
1760B16 for the sake of getting the right effects under various difficult
1770B16 situations to_ build up his characters accurately, failed to_ portray
1780B16 the journalistic fraternity in its true colours. ^This is especially so,
1790B16 as the latter play a significant part in the whole set up of the book.
1800B16 ^It seems all the more strange since a team of helpers belonging to the
1810B16 cream of the community, including big names from *3The Washington
1820B16 post, were there to_ help the novelist to_ note vividly Asian reporters*'
1830B16 lives.*#
        **[no. of words = 02031**]

        **[txt. b17**]
0010B17 **<POUND OF FLESH**> $*3^THE*0 victory of the Congress (\0I) in
0020B17 two southern States of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka and its unexpected
0030B17 success in Maharashtra has established beyond doubt that \0Mrs. Gandhi
0040B17 is a force to_ be reckoned with in Indian politics. ^Her claim that
0050B17 the Congress (\0I) is the real Congress also stands vindicated. ^As
0060B17 we observed in these columns after the announcement of the Karnataka
0070B17 election results, the official Congress has now no alternative but to_
0080B17 dissolve its separate identity either by merging with the Congress (\0I)
0090B17 or with the Janata Party. ^While, however, the verdict of the people
0100B17 expressed through the ballot box must be respected, we have no doubt
0110B17 that the re-emergence of \0Mrs. Gandhi on the country*'s political
0120B17 scene is an ominous development for the country and poses a grave threat
0130B17 to democracy. ^And the reality cannot be wished away. ^How to_ contain
0140B17 this danger will depend not only on the capacity of the Janata Government
0150B17 to_ accept the challenge but also on the seriousness with which the
0160B17 people view such a development. ^But the *7interregnum is presenting a
0170B17 strange spectacle of prostitution of loyalties. ^As far as Maharashtra
0180B17 is concerned, \0Mr. Vasantrao Patil*'s half-hearted overtures to \0Mrs.
0190B17 Gandhi for support in forming the government in the State marks
0200B17 a new low in the politics of opportunism. ^He is so impatient to_ become
0210B17 the Chief Minister that he does not mind throwing even the elementary
0220B17 decencies to the wind. ^On what strength does he expect \0Mrs. Gandhi*'s
0230B17 support after having made every possible attempt to_ denigrate her
0240B17 ever since the split in the party? ^The split was prompted by \0Mrs. Gandhi*'s
0250B17 absolute contempt for the ideal of collective leadership. ^For
0260B17 her, what matters is the public recognition of her supremacy. \0^*Mr.
0270B17 Patil cannot be so innocent politically as to_ be unaware of \0Mrs.
0280B17 Gandhi*'s way of thinking and her capacity to_ keep her dependants under
0290B17 her thumb. ^Assuming that \0Mr. Patil is really so innocent, the way
0300B17 he was made to_ shuttle between Palam airport and 12 Willingdon Crescent
0310B17 in New Delhi on Thursday must have convinced him of \0Mrs. Gandhi*'s
0320B17 ways. ^She has rightly claimed her pound of flesh by insisting
0330B17 on making one of her minions the deputy chief minister and by also making
0340B17 it clear that hers will be the last word in the allocation of portfolios
0350B17 and chalking out policies. ^And she was right. ^The beggars cannot
0360B17 be choosers and no humiliation is too great for a person who wants to_
0370B17 cling to office by hook or by crook. \0^*Mr. Patil could have avoided all
0380B17 this and achieved his ambition more honourably by straightaway joining
0390B17 \0Mrs. Gandhi*'s camp. ^This he will have to_ do sooner or later if
0400B17 he wants to_ parade as a Congressman. ^And what if \0Mr. Patil had
0410B17 preferred to_ lie low and remain in the opposition? ^Surely there would
0420B17 not have been a deluge in the State if \0Mr. Patil were not to_ be the
0430B17 Chief Minister! ^The utterances of \0Mrs. Gandhi since the announcement
0440B17 of the election results should convince anyone that she will not
0450B17 only stage a come-back but will do so with a vengeance. ^If \0Mr. Patil
0460B17 does not want that_ to_ happen, as seen in his subsequent rejection of
0470B17 \0Mrs. Gandhi*'s conditions, he and other Congressmen of his way of
0480B17 thinking must either join the Janata Party unconditionally or decide
0490B17 to_ support the Janata Government from outside. ^That_ will be Maharashtra*'s
0500B17 contribution in keeping away fascism.
0510B17 $**<FEE RELIEF IN STATE**> $*3^THE*0 Maharashtra Government*'s decision
0520B17 to_ widen the definition of economically backward classes for purposes
0530B17 of making their children eligible for free education is a step
0540B17 in right direction. ^The decision, announced by Chief Minister Vasantrao
0550B17 Patil last week, seeks to_ raise the income limit to \0Rs. 4,800 uniformly
0560B17 as against the present \0Rs. 2,400 for secondary education, \0Rs.
0570B17 1,800 for higher secondary education and \0Rs. 1,200 for college education.
0580B17 ^Nearly 60 per cent of the students at the secondary level, 50
0590B17 per cent at the higher secondary level and 45 per cent at the college
0600B17 level are expected to_ be benefitted by the new scheme. ^Knowledge is, indeed,
0610B17 much more than power. ^It is a major catalyst in bringing about a
0620B17 social change. ^As such any measure that_ enables people to_ acquire
0621B17 knowledge
0630B17 without much difficulty must be welcomed. ^One of the sorry features
0640B17 of the present system, however, is that the high cost involved in acquiring
0650B17 education has kept an incredibly large number of poor but deserving
0660B17 students away from it. ^Any handicap in the way of securing knowledge
0670B17 is sad but that_ created by economic conditions must be termed unfortunate.
0680B17 ^In a democracy where the emphasis is on equality of opportunity,
0690B17 such a situation cannot be allowed to_ persist for long. ^But whether
0700B17 one likes it or not, it persists in this country, thanks to the utter
0710B17 indifference with which this vital question has been looked upon by the
0720B17 rulers all these years. ^Soon after the formation of the unilingual Maharashtra,
0730B17 the State Government made education free for students whose
0740B17 parents*' annual income was below \0Rs. 1,200. ^The limit was later
0750B17 raised. ^But over the years, with rupee fast losing its real value, the
0760B17 income limit also lost meaning and more people fell in the category of
0770B17 the economically backward classes. ^The new income limit of \0Rs. 4,800
0780B17 cannot also be said to_ be ideal for in an household with a monthly income
0790B17 of \0Rs. 400 and with two school-going children, the parents will
0800B17 still find it difficult to_ spend on education after spending on daily
0810B17 needs. ^But then the limit has to_ be drawn somewhere, keeping in view
0820B17 the resources position of the State Government. ^The new scheme can
0830B17 be taken as a measure of the State Government*'s determination to_ bring
0840B17 education within the reach of the larger segment of population. ^Having
0850B17 taken such a commendable decision, the State Government must now
0860B17 ensure that it is scrupulously implemented. ^There is a tendency among
0870B17 those belonging to upper classes to_ declare themselves as those from
0880B17 backward classes just to_ avail of the concessions the latter are entitled
0890B17 to. ^In the same way those belonging to higher income group may well
0900B17 declare themselves as belonging to the group specified for educational
0910B17 concessions. ^There is, therefore, need to_ create some machinery to_ keep
0920B17 track of such malpractices. ^The new decision will understandably attract
0930B17 more children to schools. ^Efforts must be made to_ ensure that larger
0940B17 attendance does not result in lowering of the standards. ^The incidence
0950B17 of school drop-outs is still very high in rural areas, what with
0960B17 the work the children have to_ do in agricultural operations. ^This is also
0970B17 the problem the government must address itself to. ^The new scheme will
0980B17 impose a burden of \0Rs. 3 *4crores on the State exchequer. ^But
0990B17 part of it is sought to_ be recovered by raising the tuition and term fees
1000B17 in schools. ^There need not be any objection to this for those who have
1010B17 must sacrifice a little for those who have not. ^A directive to the
1020B17 universities to_ rationalise their fee structure will also help improve
1030B17 the finances of the universities, which are faced with a problem, among
1040B17 others, of paying their staff. ^The new scheme will fetch popular goodwill
1050B17 to the State Government whose next goal should be to_ make secondary
1060B17 education free in the State.
1070B17 $**<ADDING FUEL TO FIRE**> $\0*3^*Mr. *(0R. S.*) Gavai*'s observations
1080B17 at a press conference in Bombay on Thursday only show how our
1090B17 political leaders lose a sense of proportion in their anxiety to_ secure
1100B17 publicity. ^By his chameleon-like capacity to_ change political colour,
1110B17 \0Mr. Gavai, who is chairman of the *5Vidhan Parishad*6, manages
1120B17 to_ remain in the news. ^Only a fortnight ago, he somersaulted to \0Mrs.
1130B17 Gandhi*'s camp by severing his \0RPI faction*'s relations with the
1140B17 Congress. ^If the ruling \0PDF can assure him an extension of his
1150B17 term as the chairman of the *5Vidhan Parishad*6, which is due to_ expire
1160B17 in the next few months, he will not hesitate to_ throw in his lot with
1170B17 the Front too. ^But that_ is not what concerns us. ^What does is the
1180B17 dangerous utterances he has been making from time to time on the recent
1190B17 riots in Marathwada. ^Last month he said at a press conference (incidentally,
1200B17 he shares his fondness for press conferences with \0Mr. Vitthal
1210B17 Gadgil) that although he would not immediately ask for a judicial
1220B17 inquiry into Marathwada riots, he reserved his right to_ do so at a future
1230B17 date. (^In other words, he would continue to_ capitalise on the issue
1240B17 until he was assured of some position after his present tenure). ^By
1250B17 his statements on Thursday, \0Mr. Gavai proved how faithful he was to
1260B17 his last month*'s declaration. ^He put the entire blame for the riots
1270B17 on the State government. ^Indeed, the State government cannot escape
1280B17 its share of responsibility for Marathwada riots for, had it not been
1290B17 for its haste in getting the resolution passed in the Assembly on the university
1300B17 renaming issue, there would have been no trouble in that_ region.
1310B17 ^But what \0Mr. Gavai has tried to_ suggest is fantastic. ^The implication
1320B17 of \0Mr. Gavai*'s remarks is that the State government directed
1330B17 the operations from Bombay by asking the district authorities to_
1340B17 "deal gently" with the *4Maratha agitators in Marathwada and "shoot at
1350B17 sight" at the *4Dalits, who started the counter-agitation in Nagpur.
1360B17 ^This is nothing but a crude way of adding fuel to the fire and the State
1370B17 government will be justified in taking legal action against \0Mr. Gavai
1380B17 and his ilk who by their irresponsible utterances have been lending
1390B17 edge to the trouble. ^Strangely enough, \0Mr. Gavai was sucking and
1400B17 bawling at the same time. ^He prefaced his allegation by saying that he
1410B17 did not want to_ politicise the issue. ^What else was he trying to_ do if
1420B17 not politicising? ^If \0Mr. Gavai had any proof that the State government
1430B17 had, in fact, given such instructions to the district authorities,
1440B17 why did he not disclose them at the same press conference? ^And what if
1450B17 somebody counters \0Mr. Gavai*'s fantastic allegation by an equally
1460B17 baseless accusation that the *4Dalits have been grabbing all the government
1470B17 facilities and also fomenting troubles? ^It is sad that when the
1480B17 need of the hour is to_ forget the past and strive to_ bring about peace
1490B17 in the riot-torn region and understanding among the people, some politicians
1500B17 should look upon the trouble as an opportunity to_ plan their careers.
1510B17 \0^*Mr. Gavai is, indeed, fortunate that he has the benefit of education
1520B17 which the majority of the *4Dalits do not have. ^As such, it
1530B17 ought to_ have been his endeavour to_ work for ensuring peace in the area.
1540B17 ^He said he visited Marathwada twice. ^Surely he has wasted his time
1550B17 and money (the latter, if his two visits to the region were undertaken
1560B17 at his own expense), if he has not understood the immediate problem of
1570B17 the people of Marathwada. ^His utterances become all the more objectionable
1580B17 because he holds the high office of the *5Vidhan Parishad*6 chairman.
1590B17 \0^*Mr. Gavai has already done enough damage to that_ august office
1600B17 by joining hands with the opposition parties in the State in a bid
1610B17 to_ topple the new State government. ^If he did not like the present government,
1620B17 the honourable course open to him was to resign his office. ^But
1630B17 to_ remain in the office and to_ work against the government is extremely
1640B17 reprehensible. ^It is opportunist leaders like \0Mr. Gavai who are
1650B17 responsible for the plight of the *4Dalit people. ^The *4Dalits must
1660B17 themselves realise how they are being hoodwinked by their so-called leaders.
1670B17 $**<*4RICKSHAW RACKET**> $*3A week ago, our Crime Reporter
1680B17 had occasion to_ highlight in his Crime Round-up the fact that while
1690B17 the Police Commissioner of Pune was taking a good many measures
1700B17 to_ improve the law and order situation in the city, the lower cadres of
1710B17 the police set-up were not pulling their weight as they should.*#
        **[no. of words = 02002**]

        **[txt. b18**]
0010B18 **<UNEASY ECONOMIC FRONT**> $*3^CONSTANT PREOCCU*0pation with political
0020B18 quarrels and politics of survival have left little time for the
0030B18 Janata Government to_ concentrate on the economic problems facing the
0040B18 country. ^It is unfortunate that economic issues are being given a low
0050B18 priority. ^Now and then a Central Minister makes a casual mention of
0060B18 a problem and promises the launching of a harebrained scheme and then promptly
0070B18 forgets all about it. ^Even if there is some follow-up action, it
0080B18 is tardy, ill-conceived and wasteful in its effect. ^Meanwhile things
0090B18 are slipping and getting out of control. ^There is so much talk about Planning
0100B18 but so little visible evidence of it. ^And when the worthies choose
0110B18 to_ talk about it, they always start from first principles. ^That_
0120B18 is precisely what the Union Finance Minister had done the other day.
0130B18 ^Addressing a seminar in Calcutta, \0Mr. *(0H. M.*) Patel said there
0140B18 was no alternative to a massive transfer of resources to the public
0150B18 sector if the country was to_ attain its basic objectives of planning.
0160B18 ^The basic objectives again! ^He said the basic objectives as redefined
0170B18 in the draft Plan for 1978-83 were the removal of unemployment (outright
0180B18 removal, mind you), provision of basic services to the poorest segments
0190B18 of population within a reasonable period of time (how much time is
0200B18 reasonable?) and improvement of the living standards of the majority.
0210B18 ^These objectives, according to \0Mr. Patel, connote certain imperatives
0220B18 in economic policy, an important one being a large involvement of the
0230B18 public sector in development. ^If the aims of the plan are to_ be achieved--
0240B18 and the nation is committed to its broad objectives-- there is no
0250B18 alternative to a massive transfer of resources to the public sector.
0260B18 ^He urged the researchers in monetary and fiscal economics to_ indicate
0270B18 how best this could be done with the least cost to the community and without
0280B18 destroying the impulses of growth and the fabric of a mixed economy.
0290B18 ^Well, to_ start with, has he any ideas? ^Everybody knows the proclaimed
0300B18 objectives of Planning. ^How does \0Mr. Patel propose to_ translate
0310B18 them into reality? $^First principles and fundamental objectives
0320B18 apart, how is the present state of the economy? ^The Reserve Bank*'s
0330B18 report on Currency and Finance for the year ending June 1978 has been
0340B18 published only last week. ^It may be of use to_ researchers and economic
0350B18 *4pundits but otherwise a belated publication like that_ has no use
0360B18 as a guide for the present. ^Its prescriptions for the economy have lost
0370B18 their relevance because the picture has changed. ^The country*'s economy
0380B18 is on the down-gradient for the last six months. ^The rate of industrial
0390B18 growth has received a set-back due to several factors like bottlenecks
0400B18 in coal supply and wide-spread power shortages. ^There has been marked
0410B18 deterioration in the finances of the railways which is one indication
0420B18 of ill-health in the industrial sector. ^According to the National Council
0430B18 of Applied Economic Research, the targeted over-all growth rate
0440B18 of 4.7 per cent for 1978-79 cannot be achieved, given the present "sluggishness".
0450B18 ^At the most, a three per cent rate is within the realm of
0460B18 possibility. ^The optimism of the Reserve Bank is based on bumper agricultural
0470B18 reserves. ^The former has created a problem, due to lack of
0480B18 imagination and timely action on the part of the Union Government. ^And
0490B18 Andhra Pradesh farmers are the worst victims of the Centre*'s apathy.
0500B18 ^The failure of the Food Corporation in purchasing grain from the
0510B18 farmers has landed the latter in serious economic trouble. ^They are unable
0520B18 to_ get even the minimum support price for their produce. ^Even a
0530B18 justified agitation has failed to_ evoke sympathetic response and the help
0540B18 offered by the State Government is not adequate; it is more symbolic
0550B18 than real. ^In one village, out of sheer frustration, some farmers are
0560B18 reported to_ have burnt some stocks of paddy. ^This to_ happen in a land
0570B18 of hunger and poverty is its own commentary on the efficiency and responsiveness
0580B18 of those who run the government. ^Should agricultural plenty
0590B18 result in a burden and embarassment in a country which is one of the
0600B18 poorest in the world? ^And governments implement "food for work" programmes!
0610B18 $^Both industry and agriculture, have become problems for diagonally
0620B18 opposite reasons. ^But the Union Government is in a mood of supreme
0630B18 satisfaction leading to more supreme complacency. ^As for foreign exchange
0640B18 reserves they too have dipped. ^That_ is mainly because all is not
0650B18 well on the export front. ^It is estimated that the actual earnings this
0660B18 year will be lower than the level of the previous year by \0Rs. 500
0670B18 *4crores. ^What exactly are the constraints is not clear to the Government.
0680B18 ^Are the exporters failing to_ maximise the available advantages? ^The
0690B18 liberalisation of import policy is meant to_ modernise the plant, increase
0700B18 productivity and also upgrade the quality of industrial output.
0710B18 ^But actually, the country is witnessing increased sickness in indutry.
0720B18 ^Shortages of coal, cement, power and railway wagons may offer a partial
0730B18 explanation for the unsatisfactory conditions. ^But there does not seem
0740B18 to_ be any concerted effort on the part of the Government to_ remedy
0750B18 the situation. ^It is the Reserve Bank*'s hope that larger investment
0760B18 in the public sector in turn will help industrial growth in the private
0770B18 sector. ^But \0Mr. *(0H. M.*) Patel is still in the initial stage
0780B18 of inviting suggestions from the private sector. ^Perhaps it has not occurred
0790B18 to him that he is knocking at the wrong door. ^And he has yet
0791B18 to_
0800B18 find the resources. ^As for the growth of the foreign exchange reserves
0810B18 in recent years, one reason for it is the heavy influx of remittances
0820B18 from abroad by Indian emigrants. ^But this enchantment cannot last for
0830B18 ever and emigration is already slowing down. ^The boom has already crossed
0840B18 the hump. ^The Government cannot always bank on this source and fritter
0850B18 away reserves by liberalising importants too far. ^But in the ultimate,
0860B18 everything hinges on a clear-cut industrial policy. ^The Janata Government
0870B18 is caught in the web of its own confused and contradictory industrial
0880B18 priorities. ^In sum this is a drift which will hurt the country
0890B18 a lot more than the political drift. ^But then the two things are inter-locked.
0910B18 $**<RAW DEAL TO *TELUGU**> $*3^THE CHAIRMAN OF*0 the Official
0911B18 Language
0920B18 Commission, \0Mr. Vandemataram Ramachandra Rao, said that Telugu
0930B18 must be in use for all purposes at the district level by March 31,
0940B18 1979. ^If officials did not follow this time schedule, they would be deemed
0950B18 to_ have flouted the Government orders. ^He added that by the end
0960B18 of this year, all correspondence from the district to the State Government
0970B18 at Hyderabad should be only in Telugu. ^The year has almost ended
0980B18 and the switch-over to Telugu as desired by the Chairman of the Commission
0990B18 has not even started. ^Targets keep on shifting. ^He wants that
1000B18 in another three months, Telugu must be in use for all purposes at the
1010B18 district level. \0^*Mr. Ramachandra Rao is asking for the Moon and
1011B18 he
1020B18 cannot have it. ^It cannot be said he is unaware of the tremendous official
1030B18 resistance to the usage **[sic**] of Telugu even at the *4taluq
1031B18 level. \0^*Mr.
1040B18 Vandemataram said that 1979-80 would be observed in Andhra Pradesh
1050B18 as the "Official Language Year" in which efforts would be made to_
1060B18 create an "atmosphere for Telugu".
1061B18 ^*Telugu signboards would be put up at
1070B18 all Government offices and inscriptions on all Government vehicles would
1080B18 also be made in Telugu. ^The Chairman was of the view that Telugu
1090B18 should also be used in subordinate courts, at least for recording depositions,
1100B18 to_ start with. $^No less a person than the Chief Justice of
1110B18 India, \0Mr. Chandrachud, made the same suggestion. ^The Chief Justice
1120B18 said that proceedings in lower courts should, as far as possible be
1130B18 conducted in regional languages. ^It is not as though this had never been
1140B18 done before. ^Until the last decade of the last century, proceedings
1150B18 in lower courts were conducted only in Telugu and there were eminent
1160B18 "pleaders" in those days who did not understand a word of English. ^If
1170B18 the rulers genuinely desire a *7rapport between the administration and
1180B18 the common man, the language of administartion in State should be the
1190B18 regional language. ^At least in theory, the administration is expected
1200B18 to_ serve the common man in full measure. ^In other States, the administration
1210B18 at the *4taluq and district levels has already switched over to
1220B18 the regional language. ^Only Andhra Pradesh lags behind. ^Even in the
1230B18 State Capital, no effort has so far been made to_ create the proper
1231B18 "atmosphere"
1240B18 for Telugu as \0Mr. Vandemataram has put it. ^In fact, Telugu
1250B18 has been relegated to a back-seat, all in the name of cosmopolitanism.
1260B18 ^Anyone who pleads for Telugu is dubbed a "chauvinist". ^Whereas in
1270B18 the neighbouring States of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra,
1280B18 it is not called chauvinism, it is accepted as doing justice to the language
1290B18 of the State. ^In Karnataka for instance, some of the lower courts
1300B18 have been using Kannada for writing judgements for which prizes have
1310B18 been offered. ^It is all a matter of a sense of commitment to the welfare
1320B18 of the people. $^*Telugu is the second largest linguistic group
1330B18 in the country and it has been consistently getting a raw deal both from
1340B18 the State and Central Governments. \0^*Mr. Vandemataram wants to_
1350B18 achieve in three months what could not be **[sic**] in 22 years.
1351B18 ^How he plans to_ fight
1360B18 the official resistance remains to_ be seen. ^The \0AP Official
1370B18 Language Commission has recommended to the State Government that Telugu
1380B18 should soon be introduced as the language for all administrative purposes
1390B18 at the level of the directorates and offices of heads of departments.
1400B18 ^That_ is too tall an ambition. ^The entire officialdom at higher
1410B18 levels, which is elitist both in nature and preference, will sabotage
1420B18 it. ^Let the Commission first achieve its objective upto the district
1430B18 level. ^According to Government orders already in vogue, the deadline for
1440B18 the use of Telugu from village to district level administration would
1450B18 end on March 31, 1979. ^Is there any assurance that the deadline will
1460B18 not be further extended? ^The Chairman said that thereafter those Government
1470B18 officials who would not use Telugu in drafting office notes and
1480B18 correspondence would be deemed to_ have flouted orders and dealt with
1490B18 under charges of insubordination. ^All that_ can be said is, it remains
1500B18 to_ be seen. ^No serious efforts have so far been, made to_ create the
1510B18 necessary climate in Government offices. ^Nobody suggests banishing of
1520B18 English from this country. ^But retention of English does not mean banishing
1530B18 the language of the people from the administration. ^Even an illiterate
1540B18 person can understand a Government communication in Telugu if
1550B18 it is read out to him. ^*English creates a mental and psychological barrier
1560B18 between him and the Government. ^The elitist classes suppress this
1570B18 vital fact for their own reasons. ^It is a pity that the Official Language
1580B18 Commission has to_ start from the signboard level 22 years after
1590B18 the formation of Andhra Pradesh! ^No other State in India presents
1600B18 such a sorry spectacle. $^The new scheme of civil serivce examination
1610B18 provides for the use of regional languages as the medium for answering
1620B18 question papers and it will come into effect from 1979. ^The Prime Minister
1630B18 had confirmed it in the *5Lok Sabha*6. ^He said there would be no
1640B18 difficulty in ensuring uniform standards in valuation papers written in
1650B18 various regional languages. ^There is fear and anxiety in some quarters
1660B18 about the desirability of such a change. ^It bristles with so many problems,
1670B18 they say. ^Very true and the fear is genuine. ^But not all critics
1680B18 who are opposing the change are really worried about the standards. ^An
1690B18 element of favouritism may creep in and the Hindi belt people may score
1700B18 an advantage over others. ^The quality of the administrative apparatus
1710B18 may be diluted, the critics caution. ^It could be true. ^But there
1720B18 is another dimension to it. ^The nation has experienced the "quality" of
1730B18 administrative apparatus during emergency. ^Those administrators who are
1740B18 supposed to_ be the "cream of society," inflicted the worst possible
1750B18 crimes on thousands of innocent people without a qualm of conscience.*#
        **[no. of words = 02022**]

        **[txt. b19**]
0010B19 **<A PRIVILEGED PRISONER**> $*3^SEVERAL*0 newspapers in this
0011B19 of country
0020B19 carried in their issues of Saturday the report of the Supreme Court*'s
0030B19 judgement on the question of \0Mr Sanjay Gandhi*'s anticipatory
0040B19 bail on the same page as the story being unfolded before the Shah Commission,
0050B19 now meeting in Bangalore, concerning the treatment received at
0060B19 the hands of the police by \0Mr Lawrence Fernandes during the Emergency.
0070B19 \0^*Mr Fernandes has alleged that severe physical and mental torture
0080B19 was inflicted on him in the course of investigation about the then
0090B19 whereabouts of \0Mr George Fernandes who was wanted at the time in
0100B19 what came to_ be known as the Baroda dynamite case. ^There is already
0110B19 enough evidence to_ show that \0Mr Lawrence Fernandes suffered a great
0120B19 deal of physical damage during his detention and that this damage was
0130B19 caused by those entrusted with the job of interrogating him. ^The extent
0140B19 of \0Mr Fernandes*'s crime was that he was not willing to_ give information
0150B19 about his brother*'s movements, assuming that he had such information.
0160B19 ^Compared to such punishment by proxy, the cancellation of \0Mr
0170B19 Sanjay Gandhi*'s bail by the highest judicial court in the land, and
0180B19 his detention for a month as a "special class" prisoner in judicial
0190B19 custody, on the proven ground that he had been tampering with witnesses
0200B19 in the "Kissa Kursi Ka" case (in which he is co-accused with \0Mr *(0V.
0210B19 C.*) Shukla), would appear to_ be lollypop treatment. $^And yet \0Mr
0220B19 Gandhi had the cheek to_ ask for privileged status in jail because
0230B19 he is used to a high standard of living and pays income-tax. ^He also
0240B19 expressed fear about bodily harm while in detention and was told that he
0250B19 was in the hands of civilised custodians of the law and would have every
0260B19 right to_ go to court in the event of a complaint. \0^*Mr Gandhi could
0270B19 not have been unaware of the brutal treatment given to \0Mr Lawrence
0280B19 Fernandes and the inhuman indignities heaped during the Emergency
0290B19 on hundreds of others. ^He had also probably heard of \0Miss Snehlata
0300B19 Reddy and the former Maharani of Gwalior. ^Meanwhile \0Mr Gandhi*'s
0310B19 mother, naturally solicitous of his welfare and physical comfort,
0320B19 told newsmen: "^The Janata Party is acting in a desperate manner. ^Anything
0330B19 against us will go against them. ^That I am sure of". \0^*Mrs Gandhi*'s
0340B19 intemperate and unwarranted statement about her son*'s detention
0350B19 is surprising. ^How was the Janata Party concerned with his detention?
0360B19 ^This was an executive act following upon the Supreme Court verdict
0370B19 which said, *8inter alia*9: "^The evidence and material on record
0371B19 furnish satisfactory
0380B19 proof that the respondent (\0Mr Gandhi) has abused his liberty
0390B19 by attempting to_ suborn prosecution witnesses".
0391B19 ^Elsewhere in the course
0400B19 of the judgement the Supreme Court remarked: "^He has, therefore,
0410B19 forfeited his right to_ remain free". $^There could not have been a clearer
0420B19 and a more emphatic indictment of \0Mr Gandhi*'s conduct during
0430B19 the period prior to the cancellation of bail. ^But the mother not only
0440B19 thinks he is innocent but she blames the Janata Party, with a veiled
0450B19 threat of dangerous consequences because the Delhi Administration dared
0460B19 to_ appeal to the Supreme Court to_ cancel the privilege of bail in
0470B19 favour of the son. ^That \0Mr Gandhi should receive fair treatment
0480B19 and justice all the way must be ensured, and the Supreme Court has left
0490B19 no doubts on this score. ^But for the accused to_ ask for jail comforts
0500B19 and other privileges to which he is not entitled under the law would only
0510B19 further infuriate the people of this country against a person who
0511B19 has
0520B19 not greatly endeared himself to the nation by his actions during the Emergency
0530B19 and after. ^It is also in \0Mr Gandhi*'s own interest that the
0540B19 mother stops sniping at those who have the responsibility to_ dispense
0550B19 justice and others who have been entrusted with the job of implementing
0560B19 the verdict of the judiciary.
0570B19 $**<A CRISIS OF SORTS**> $*3^OFF*0-the-cuff suggestions and comments
0580B19 do occasionally cause serious trouble even at the international level,
0590B19 but the impromptu remarks which Air Marshal Sir Neil Cameron made
0600B19 in Peking on May 1 have created a furore of a different kind. ^Responding
0610B19 to a toast at a lunch given in his honour, Sir Neil reportedly
0620B19 said: "^Our two countries (Britain and China) are coming more and more
0630B19 together... we both have a common enemy at our door whose capital city
0640B19 is Moscow." ^The British Foreign Secretary, \0Dr David Owen, in
0650B19 an apparent attempt to_ play down the episode, felt confident that Sir
0660B19 Neil*'s remarks would not alienate the Soviet Union. ^However, he took
0670B19 the opportunity of calling upon Moscow to_ remember that democratic
0680B19 socialists in the West would strive for peace but not for peace at any
0690B19 price. ^Reacting sharply to the Peking incident, a Soviet spokesman denounced
0700B19 the British defence chief for "behaving like a swaggering intoxicated
0710B19 hare." ^*Pravda has called for an explanation from the British
0711B19 authorities.
0720B19 ^The incident is unlikely to_ cause tension between Britain
0730B19 and the Soviet Union, though sooner or later it may lead to the defence
0740B19 chief*'s exit from his post which demands the highest standards of
0750B19 caution and responsibility, especially at public functions in a foreign
0760B19 country. $^Far more important are the cross-currents in the British political
0770B19 arena which were revealed in a Parliament discussion on the incident.
0780B19 ^While some left-wing Labour \0MPs were critical and the party
0790B19 treasurer, \0Mr Norman Atkinson, demanded the resignation of Sir
0800B19 Neil, another Labour Member wanted the defence chief to_ be dismissed
0810B19 straightaway. \0^*Mr Ian Mikahdo, also a Labour \0M.P., described
0820B19 Sir Neil*'s remarks as "a declaration of war on the Soviet Union".
0830B19 ^The diverse opinions are not a happy sign for Labour. ^The Conservatives
0840B19 have not hesitated to_ make political capital out of the defence chief*'s
0850B19 tactless observations. ^To_ make things worse for Labour, a leading
0860B19 Tory spokesman, Sir Ian Gilmore, asserted that Sir Neil*'s remarks
0870B19 were "extremely sensible". ^A more significant blow to \0Mr James
0880B19 Callaghan, the British Prime Minister, came when another Member expressed
0890B19 the view that Sir Neil "had said what every ordinary man and woman
0900B19 in this country knows to_ be true." ^No wonder \0Mr Callaghan finds
0910B19 himself in a tight corner. ^The Labour Government, he affirmed, would
0920B19 continue to_ work for detente in its relations with the Soviet Union.
0930B19 ^Only, a few days ago \0Mr Callaghan was reported to_ have been greatly
0940B19 disturbed by certain leaks from the Defence Ministry. ^He then ordered
0950B19 an enquiry to_ locate the sources of the "mischief-making leaks to
0960B19 the press" one of which suggested that \0Mr Callaghan had refused to_
0970B19 meet Sir Neil Cameron and his colleagues over the question of a rise
0980B19 in the pay of the defence forces.
0990B19 $**<TO_ BE OR NOT TO_ BE**> $^HAVING decided against a merger with
1000B19 the Congress (\0I), the Parliamentary Party of the other Congress
1010B19 will now, presumably, take active steps to_ keep the organisation alive
1020B19 for as long as it is possible. ^This would, however, seem to many outside
1030B19 the party (and to some inside) a less than hopeful prospect because
1040B19 the trend is clearly towards liquidation. ^Quite a few members of the
1050B19 party have, indeed, thrown feelers to \0Mrs Gandhi*'s camp suggesting
1060B19 a reunion with honour. ^This implies basically the suggestion for an appeal
1070B19 to the waverers to_ come over to the other side. \0^*Mrs Gandhi has
1080B19 not, so far, made such a gesture. ^Apparently she has chosen to_ be silent
1090B19 from a position of strength and because she is getting the results
1100B19 she wants without going out of her way to_ court members of the opposing
1110B19 group. ^The reported move of \0Mr Ram Niwas Mirdha and \0Mr Nathu
1120B19 Ram Mirdha to_ cross over to the Congress (\0I) together with several
1130B19 \0M.L.A.s from Rajasthan is a significant straw in the wind.
1140B19 ^In their case the three \0U.P. by-elections appear to_ have tilted
1141B19 the
1150B19 balance in \0Mrs Gandhi*'s favour. ^Some others of their way of thinking
1160B19 may also show their preference in the near future. $^There are three
1170B19 hard liners in the Congress Party which has come to_ be identified
1180B19 with \0Mr Swaran Singh, its current and clearly temporary President--
1190B19 \0Mr *(0Y. B.*) Chavan, \0Dr Karan Singh and \0Mr Chandrajit
1200B19 Yadav. ^All three are reportedly on \0Mrs Gandhi*'s "black list" for
1210B19 having spoken up against her and for having opposed moves for a merger.
1220B19 ^Of the three \0Mr Yadav-- the left wing*'s potential nominee for succession
1230B19 to \0Mr Swaran Singh-- has been reduced to a light weight
1240B19 after his poor performance in the Azamgarh by-election. ^The other two
1241B19 are
1250B19 members of the *5Lok Sabha*6 and \0Dr Karan Singh has only recently
1260B19 been elected Treasurer of the party*'s Parliamentary group. \0^*Mr
1270B19 Chavan remains leader of the group, having already lost the status
1280B19 of Leader of the Opposition. ^One of the two will probably become President
1290B19 of the main party, although \0Mr *(0K. C.*) Pant*'s name
1300B19 has also been mentioned in this connection. ^The choice of the new President
1310B19 will possibly indicate the personality and the role which the Congress
1320B19 Party wishes to_ acquire for itself. ^Are the personality and role
1330B19 going to_ be clearly defined and positive, or defensive and concerned
1340B19 with mere survival? $^Since the split in the Congress five months ago
1350B19 \0Mrs Gandhi*'s faction has come to_ acquire an identity which flows directly
1360B19 from the leader*'s personality-- energetic, aggressive and calculated
1370B19 to_ provide an alternative to the Janata Party. ^This can hardly
1380B19 be said of \0Mr Swaran Singh*'s following. ^For one thing they do not
1390B19 have a leader of the calibre of \0Mrs Gandhi. ^For another they find
1400B19 themselves in a cleft stick. ^They cannot afford to_ be unreservedly
1410B19 critical of the Janata Party (\0Mrs Gandhi plays that_ part already),
1420B19 nor can they support the opposing faction without losing face and
1421B19 further
1430B19 blurring the frontiers that_ divide the two groups. ^As it is \0Mrs Gandhi
1440B19 has been accusing the Swaran Singh Congress of being in league
1450B19 with the Janata Party. ^The charge is not true but it leaves a smear.
1460B19 ^In its search for an identity \0Mr Swaran Singh*'s organisation must
1470B19 make up its mind-- and soon-- about the kind of image of itself it
1480B19 wishes to_ project. ^Considering the composition of the group, and the
1490B19 important fact that it cannot survive by merely imitating \0Mrs Gandhi*'s
1500B19 obstreperous style, the party*'s only hope seems to_ lie in presenting
1510B19 itself as a sober and practical alternative to the Congress (\0I)
1520B19 opposed to gimmickry and temporary advantage gained through cheap and explosive
1530B19 oratory. $^It must also decide for itself whether in its opposition
1540B19 to \0Mrs Gandhi and her Emergency record it can really live down
1550B19 the part which some of its leaders-- then in the Government-- played.
1560B19 ^A stand will also have to_ be taken on what may soon become a burning
1570B19 issue-- the proposed prosecution of the former Prime Minister. ^On the
1580B19 whole the future of this party, as of the Congress (\0I), hangs by
1590B19 the future of \0Mrs Gandhi herself. ^As long as she is around and in
1600B19 active leadership the opposing Congress is unlikely to_ make much headway,
1610B19 and survival as a diminishing force would only amount to putting off
1620B19 the unhappy day of extinction.
1630B19 $**<THE *SARKARIA VERDICT**> $*3^THE*0 charges on which the Sarkaria
1640B19 Commission has found \0Mr Karunanidhi, former Tamil Nadu Chief
1650B19 Minister, guilty cover an extensive field and confirm the view that the
1660B19 responsibility for the chaos in that_ State during his rule lay squarely
1670B19 on the \0D.M.K. leader himself. ^Squandering of public money by
1680B19 Ministers to_ promote personal and party ends is not uncommon in this country,
1690B19 but the inference from \0Mr Justice Sarkaria*'s findings is that
1700B19 \0Mr Karunanidhi threw all propriety to the winds and was reckless
1710B19 in the conduct of public affairs. ^The misuse of public money, amounting
1720B19 to \0Rs 6 *4crore, was in respect of the infructuous Veernam Project
1730B19 the execution of which was entrusted, through "a major administrative
1740B19 blunder", to a firm known as Satyanarayana Brothers. ^Among the undue
1750B19 favours reportedly shown to the firm, which are reminiscent of the
1760B19 misdeeds of \0Mr Sanjay Gandhi*'s henchmen during the Emergency, was
1770B19 the grant of large amounts as advances outside the contract and against
1780B19 inadequate cover.*#
        **[no. of words = 02022**]

        **[txt. b20**]
0010B20 **<*3Double-edged sword*0**> $^IT is doubtful if the political parties
0020B20 in the country, whether big or small, will be anxious to_ avail themselves
0030B20 of tax reliefs, the Union Government has decided to_ make available
0040B20 to them. ^An official announcement discloses that certain categories
0050B20 of income and property of political parties will be exempted from
0060B20 income tax and wealth tax. ^This will be presumably done through suitable
0070B20 amendments to the relevant Acts-- the Income Tax Act, 1961 and the
0080B20 Wealth Tax Act, 1952. ^When precisely this will be done has not been
0090B20 indicated. ^Since, however, no ordinance has been promulgated, the official
0100B20 intention apparently is to_ give legal shape to these decisions with
0110B20 parliamentary approval during the coming Budget session. ^The amendments
0120B20 may form part of the Finance Bill for 1978 which will incorporate
0130B20 all \0Mr. Patel*'s financial proposals. ^The Government has acted with
0140B20 wisdom in not invoking its ordinance making power to_ enforce the decision.
0150B20 ^The urgency of the matter is not such as would brook no delay.
0160B20 $^There is unlikely to_ be much open opposition to the Union Cabinet*'s
0170B20 decision in political circles. ^For one thing, it does not confer any
0180B20 special privilege on the political parties. ^Trade unions already enjoy
0190B20 such tax concessions. ^A registered trade union is exempt from income tax
0200B20 in respect of interest on securities, income from house properties and
0210B20 income from other sources. ^For another, it is desirable that the political
0220B20 parties*' fund-raising efforts be not obstructed by fiscal imposts.
0230B20 ^For the performance of their legitimate activity all political parties
0240B20 need funds and the smooth functioning of the party system which is
0250B20 essential for the success of parliamentary democracy demands that free
0260B20 flow of funds should not be impeded by fiscal constraints. ^The facility
0270B20 will be available only to recognized political parties which will mean
0280B20 parties approved by the Election Commission either as national or regional
0290B20 parties. ^Such a selective approach is imperative to_ prevent misuse
0300B20 of the tax exemptions. $^The political parties that will seek to_ take
0310B20 advantage of the proposed fiscal reliefs will have to_ function in
0320B20 a businesslike way, maintaining proper books of account and subjecting
0330B20 themselves to normal fiscal discipline including getting their accounts
0340B20 audited by chartered accountants. ^But those that_ will agree to_ do so
0350B20 will have to_ forgo use of black money that_ finances the operations of
0360B20 many a political party. ^It is no secret that the election expenses of
0370B20 candidates whether in parliamentary or State elections exceed the limits
0380B20 prescribed in the law. ^If political parties be required to_ maintain
0390B20 proper books either they will have to_ keep election expenses within
0400B20 the legal ceiling or desist from using black money for promoting their
0410B20 political interests. ^The contemplated measure will put the political parties
0420B20 in a quandary. ^Few will be willing to_ refrain from using black money
0430B20 in electioneering. ^Their reaction to the Centre*'s move is likely
0440B20 to_ be unenthusiastic and cold.
0450B20 $**<*3Iran*'s offer**> $*3^INSTEAD*0 of sitting back till the immediate
0460B20 neighbours agree to_ form a common market, Iran, and India have
0470B20 done well to_ forge closer co-operation. ^To that_ end the Shah of Iran
0480B20 has offered at \0O.P.E.C. prices additional crude oil supplies the
0490B20 rupee equivalent of which could be used for investment or expenditure
0500B20 or financing approved projects. ^To India this is particularly welcome
0510B20 at the present moment when she is short of rupee resources. ^Oil she could
0520B20 buy with the bulging foreign exchange reserves from other exporting
0530B20 countries. ^But many would not have agreed to_ sell, in effect, for rupees
0540B20 which will be spent in this country, as Iran has done. ^She is willing
0550B20 to_ take in repayment grains which India will be in a position to_
0560B20 supply as a result of implementation of the second stage of the Rajasthan
0570B20 canal-- a project approved for financing in the Indo-Iranian joint
0580B20 communique. ^In the meantime the rupee equivalent of instalment payments
0590B20 or lumpsum, as the case may be, will be funded in India as required.
0600B20 ^The two countries have thus set an example of co-operation to mutual
0610B20 benefit among developing countries. ^Such increased co-operation promotes
0620B20 better utilization of their industrial, scientific and technological
0630B20 capabilities and resources. ^That_ helps them to_ minimize their dependence
0640B20 on affluent countries and maximize their own strength, jointly and
0650B20 severally, enabling them to_ deal with their own economic problems. for
0660B20 quite some time India will need to_ buy crude in addition to what she
0670B20 may get by way of contracts with oil-exporting countries. ^And Iran will
0680B20 have the oil to_ spare. ^Which means such co-operation may continue,
0690B20 enabling the latter to_ help on a rather long-term basis the former find
0700B20 rupee resources for investment in this country and the former to_ meet
0710B20 the latter*'s requirements of both consumer and producer goods. ^This
0720B20 drawing together of the two economies will accelerate their economic development
0730B20 and will convince the neighbours of the benefits of regional
0740B20 co-operation. ^If the two countries could gain so much from bilateral action
0750B20 how much more could be had from multilateral action, the neighbours
0760B20 are likely to_ ask themselves. ^And that_ will be the right time for taking
0770B20 concrete steps for launching a common market for the six or seven
0780B20 countries, to_ start with, the Shah has been advocating for. ^True, a common
0790B20 market will benefit all members. ^But a colonial past, compounded
0800B20 with a wide disparity in economic strength among the prospective members,
0810B20 makes not a few rather queasy about such an arrangement. ^Discussions
0820B20 no doubt help remove misunderstanding, fear and distrust. ^But a demonstration
0830B20 as the new Indo-Iranian accord will provide will be much more
0840B20 effective than an appeal to reason. ^The two are not to_ be looked upon
0850B20 as alternatives. ^They are, in fact, complementary. ^Discussions should
0860B20 be undertaken as and when an opportunity arises, for dispelling nervousness
0870B20 and fears. ^Side by side the demonstration the new agreement will entail
0880B20 will be having its effect **[sic**] on the neighbours of the two
0881B20 countries,
0890B20 Iran and India. ^And that_ will be no small gain, delayed though that_
0900B20 may be.
0910B20 $**<*3Rethinking needed*0**> $*3^THE*0 setting up of an official committee
0920B20 to_ make an in-depth study of the existing controls and the President*'s
0930B20 critical observations on their operation should not be construed
0940B20 to_ mean that all curbs on production, distribution and consumption are
0950B20 about to_ be scrapped. ^The Janata philosophy patently favours restoration
0960B20 of full freedoms to citizens in as wide an area as is possible,
0970B20 but it is doubtful if it is a champion of free economy, too. ^Progressively
0980B20 quite a few controls, some of which had been in force for over three
0990B20 decades, have been abolished and freedom to_ trade and business is being
1000B20 increasingly restored. ^But there is no indication that all controls
1010B20 will be struck down in one fell swoop leaving prices and outputs to_ be
1020B20 determined exclusively by market forces. ^That_ will be neither desirable
1030B20 nor feasible. ^There is no country in the world where business activity
1040B20 is absolutely unregulated making businessmen the arbiters of the people*'s
1050B20 economic destiny. ^In all countries the State takes an active
1060B20 interest in business activity primarily to_ offer protecttion to consumers
1070B20 and weaker sections of the community. $^There is, however, no denying
1080B20 the fact that a wide range of controls have long outlived their utility.
1090B20 ^They have been retained on the plea of ensuring distributive justice
1100B20 and are supposed to_ prevent the affluent from appropriating all the
1110B20 benefits of economic development brought about largely with massive public
1120B20 investment at the instance of the State. ^Facts, however, do not
1130B20 substantiate such tall claims on the virtue of controls most of which
1140B20 work to the advantage of big business and to the detriment of the interests
1150B20 of the small man. ^The former*'s indictment of controls is often
1160B20 a make-believe. ^With its abundance of resources it knows how to_ circumvent
1170B20 controls and keep the wheels of its profit-making machines going.
1180B20 ^Indeed, many businessmen have developed a vested interest in controls
1190B20 which constitute a source of high profit to them. $^Even so, it will be
1200B20 hardly prudent to_ dispense with all controls. ^Some of them will have
1210B20 to_ be retained perhaps permanently as a foil to the unscrupulous businessman*'s
1220B20 nefarious practices. ^As long as shortages will remain and prices
1230B20 will be subject to wide fluctuations it will be scarcely prudent to_
1240B20 repeal all measures designed to_ regulate prices, distribution and consumption.
1250B20 ^The time for dismantling the elaborate public distribution system
1260B20 has not come yet. ^On the other hand, its expansion in selected areas
1270B20 would seem to_ be called for in the current price situation which is
1280B20 yet to_ attain stability. ^Subsidies which also have come in for severe
1290B20 public criticism in view of their impact on public finance may have to_
1300B20 be continued in specific cases to_ alleviate the hardships not only of
1310B20 consumers but also of producers and traders in appropriate cases. ^It
1320B20 would be improper for the Government to_ act on prejudices or biases. ^The
1330B20 appointment of the six-man committee to_ evaluate the working of controls
1340B20 as also subsidies is well conceived. ^Its expert exercise will
1350B20 enable the Government to_ spell out its policy on controls and subsidies.
1360B20 ^Whatever decision is eventually taken should be based not on sentiment
1370B20 but hard economic reasoning.
1380B20 $**<*3New drug policy*0**> $*3^ANNOUNCEMENT*0 of drug policy is itself
1390B20 an achievement. ^That it is based on the Hathi Committee report, though
1400B20 not closely following this, is yet another. ^The report was submitted
1410B20 in 1975 and was under consideration by the Centre till now. ^But Authority
1420B20 could not make up its mind on the major recommendations, including
1430B20 the one on nationalization of the multinational drug companies, which
1440B20 is not understandable. ^These multinationals had all this time been driving
1450B20 a coach and six through the law of the land. ^They deserved to_
1460B20 be disciplined, at the least. ^But a wholesale take-over could disorganize
1470B20 production and supply of essential and life-saving drugs and medicines.
1480B20 ^But Authority has now been bold enough to_ discipline these erringforeign
1490B20 firms. ^New policy stipulates that foreign drug companies making
1500B20 low-technology formulations or bulk drugs will be asked to_ dilute their
1510B20 equity immediately to 40 per cent. ^This is not the only important modification
1520B20 of the Hathi Committee*'s recommendations. ^The other change
1530B20 relates to the special status the drugs and pharmaceuticals industry enjoys
1540B20 as an Appendix *=i (in the Industrial Policy Statement) industry
1550B20 whereby foreign firms in this industry need not dilute their equity beyond
1560B20 26 per cent. ^Contrary to the Hathi Committee*'s recommendation
1561B20 for
1570B20 ending this privilege, Authority leaves the situation undisturbed so
1580B20 that foreign firms turning out products, intermediates or bulk drugs, requiring
1590B20 high technology will continue to_ enjoy this special treatment.
1600B20 $^Patently both are major deviations. ^But Authority has taken two measures
1610B20 to_ control the foreign drug campanies. ^One, 66 per cent of the
1620B20 shares to_ be transferred to Indian hands under the equity dilution programme
1630B20 are to_ be passed on to Government financial or the public sector
1640B20 institutions. ^This will enable Authority to_ exercise close vigilance
1650B20 on the functioning of the foreign firms and to_ bring down prices. ^Two,
1660B20 a Government committee will investigate the allegations of undue profits
1670B20 being made by the companies and, if necessary, try to_ regulate
1680B20 profits. ^Anyway, Authority has decided immediately to_ freeze the prices
1690B20 of 100 bulk drugs, initially for one year. ^All bulk drugs used for
1700B20 controlled formulations will be subject to price control. ^The post-tax
1710B20 return on essential bulk drugs and formulations will be kept at 14 per cent
1720B20 and on other bulk drugs at 12 per cent of the net worth (equity plus
1730B20 free reserves). ^Even so, price manipulations may not be completely stopped.
1740B20 ^But honestly enforced, all these measures should go a long way towards
1750B20 curbing unduly high profits. ^To_ compel foreign drug companies
1760B20 producing formulations based on imported bulk drugs or producing bulk drugs
1770B20 from the penultimate stage will be directed to_ manufacture, within
1780B20 a period of two years, the bulk drugs concerned from the basic stage. ^Surprisingly
1790B20 enough some of the well-known foreign firms pleaded the
1791B20 other
1800B20 day that the Industrial Development and Regulation Act did not apply
1810B20 in their case, because they do not manufacture any drugs or medicines
1820B20 themselves but get these manufactured by others or carry on a purely trading
1830B20 activity.*#
        **[no. of words = 02030**]

        **[txt. b21**]
0010B21 **<*3Land Reforms*0**> $^The committee on land reforms set up under the
0020B21 chairmanship of \0Prof. Raj Krishna has in its first report made some
0030B21 useful suggestions which no Government interested in the speedy resolution
0040B21 of one of India*'s age-old problems would find it difficult to_
0050B21 accept. ^Not that there is anything far-reaching in the panel*'s recommendations
0060B21 which are in the nature of essential first steps which should
0070B21 have been taken long ago to_ give meaning and reality to the land reforms
0080B21 initiated since independence. ^The committee has only confirmed what
0090B21 everyone knew by now-- that the path of land reform is strewn with legal
0100B21 traps and hurdles. ^It was because of the protracted delays caused
0110B21 by litigation that land ceiling laws were put in the Ninth Schedule of
0120B21 the Constitution to_ give them immunity from being challenged in the
0130B21 courts. ^But the Janata Government at one time even toyed with the idea
0140B21 of scrapping the mechanism of the Ninth Schedule. ^In any case, its
0150B21 prejudice is reflected in its reluctance to_ put four land reform enactments
0160B21 of the Haryana and West Bengal assemblies in the Ninth Schedule.
0170B21 ^The Raj Krishna Committee has suggested that these laws be given
0180B21 the protection of the Ninth Schedule. ^It finds no validity in the
0190B21 Janata Government*'s claim that after abolition of the fundamental right
0200B21 to property, land reform measures will be secure under Article 31-A
0210B21 and 31-C. $^The committee has found that more than 27,000 writ petitions
0220B21 challenging land reform laws were pending in the courts. ^It is no
0230B21 accident that the highest number is in Karnataka, where the Devraj Urs
0240B21 Government has implemented land reforms with speed, vigour and conviction.
0250B21 ^It has been suggested that High Courts should be strengthened with
0260B21 more judges if required to_ dispose of pending cases. ^While it is
0270B21 hoped, that this would be done, the Government should give the most urgent
0280B21 consideration to the committee*'s suggestion for a two-tier system
0290B21 to_ cut short the scope and duration of litigation in land reforms. ^It
0300B21 is sensible that land reform cases should be dealt with by revenue officials,
0310B21 and even more so that only one appeal and one revision should be
0320B21 allowed against the decision of the revenue authorities. ^The Government*'s
0330B21 attitude to the recommendation will be a test of its approach to
0340B21 the problem of land reforms. $^\0Prof. Raj Krishna has stated that his
0350B21 committee would submit a series of reports to the Government instead
0360B21 of coming up with one final report running into a series of unwieldy
0370B21 tomes. ^The procedure of submitting reports on specific aspects of land
0380B21 reforms periodically should enable the Government to_ consider the recommendations
0390B21 and take immediate action on major issues. ^The next report
0400B21 of the committee, on tenancy reforms, is to_ be submitted in January.
0410B21 ^Will the Government see to it that action is taken by then on the report
0420B21 now in its hands?
0430B21 $**<*3Children*'s Year*0**> $^The Tamil Nadu Government should be
0440B21 complimented on its decision to_ institute a \0Rs. one *4crore children*'s
0450B21 fund in connection with the observance of the International Year
0460B21 of the Child in 1979. ^It is hoped that the other state Governments will
0470B21 follow the example set by the Tamil Nadu Government. ^Children seem
0480B21 to_ be the most neglected section of society in this country. ^Malnutrition
0490B21 among them is the most serious problem; every year five *4lakh
0500B21 children die in India mostly because of malnutrition. ^How can a healthy
0510B21 and prosperous nation be built if the majority of children do not get
0520B21 nutritious food? ^Mental and physical retardation is common among children
0530B21 of the poor. ^*India is one of the few countries where children
0540B21 with swollen legs, discoloured skin and bony chests are a common sight.
0550B21 ^Although foodgrain output is adequate, millions do not consume the minimum
0560B21 quantity of cereals necessary to_ ensure a healthy life because they
0570B21 do not have sufficient purchasing power. $^Although several schemes to_
0580B21 promote the welfare of children have been launched by the Central Government,
0590B21 their impact has been feeble. ^Lack of resources is not the
0600B21 only obstacle in the way of implementing child welfare programmes. ^There
0610B21 is not adequate will on the part of the Government to_ draw up and
0620B21 implement major schemes for the benefit of poor children. ^Ignorance among
0630B21 parents is another problem. ^Cheap vegetables like *4palak and drumstick
0640B21 leaves contain vitamins and they are within the reach of the poor.
0650B21 ^What is necessary is proper education of parents in nutrition. $^It is
0660B21 not enough if **[sic**]
0661B21 the Government thinks of children just before the International
0670B21 Year of the Child. ^A long-term programme to_ ensure their
0680B21 mental and physical growth is essential and such a programme should be
0690B21 jointly implemented by the Centre and the state Governments. ^It does
0700B21 not matter if the number of steel mills or of such big projects is reduced
0710B21 in order to_ accommodate child welfare schemes. ^The casual reference
0720B21 to child welfare in our five-year plans is a sad reflection on the order
0730B21 of priorities which the Government has in mind.
0740B21 $**<*3The Saddest Day*0**> $^Tuesday, December 19, 1978 will go down
0750B21 as the saddest day in the history of the world*'s largest democracy,
0760B21 India. ^A Government formed by five disparate political parties at loggerheads
0770B21 with each other mustered their transient majority in the *5lok
0780B21 Sabha*6 to_ execute their one-point programme, \0*7viz. to_ punish the
0781B21 most distinguished,
0790B21 respected and loved daughter of the country who as Prime
0800B21 Minister for eleven years had taken the nation forward on the road of
0810B21 progress and prosperity. ^She is being punished for crimes of which she
0820B21 knew nothing and which still remain to_ be proven against her. ^She has
0830B21 been arraigned at the same time to_ appear before a criminal court, a
0840B21 commission of inquiry and Parliament. ^The only choice given to her was
0850B21 to_ either admit the charges made against her or take punishment without
0860B21 proper trial. ^For Indira Gandhi it was Hobson*'s choice: *_be damned
0870B21 if you do and be damned if you don*'4t. $^It does not appear to the
0880B21 Janata conglomerate that anyone who will have no judge but himself condemns
0890B21 himself. ^In the eyes of the vast majority of the common masses of
0900B21 India, Indira Gandhi is not guilty of any crimes and Janata stands
0910B21 condemned as a group of never-do-wells during whose 20-month rule there
0920B21 has been unprecedented explosions of communal and caste violence, and
0930B21 the country instead of moving forward has stagnated and even gone backwards.
0940B21 ^By gaoling Indira Gandhi the Janata perpetrated the classical
0950B21 act of self-destruction by hacking its own legs with an axe. ^*Indira
0960B21 Gandhi will emerge from her ordeal greater than before. ^*Janata will
0970B21 surface from its momentary triumph even smaller than they are **[sic**]
0971B21 as a bunch
0980B21 of vindictive but impotent non-entities. ^The day of reckoning is not
0990B21 far off. $^The essence of democracy is to_ administer the country according
1000B21 to the wishes of the people. ^The only way to_ elicit the wishes
1010B21 of the people is to_ periodically invite them to_ elect men and women
1020B21 who will represent them in the *5Vidhan Sabhas*6, state councils, *5Lok
1030B21 Sabha*6, and *5Rajya Sabha*6. ^Other ways of eliciting public opinion
1040B21 on matters of national importance are to_ have a referendum or gauge
1050B21 the way the wind is blowing through the pattern of voting in by-elections.
1060B21 ^The one issue that_ has been uppermost in the minds of everyone
1070B21 for the last three years has been \0Mrs. Gandhi*'s role in the Emergency.
1080B21 ^Through a massive concerted propaganda campaign carried out by the
1090B21 Jan Sangh and its uniformed drill-boys of the \0R.S.S. and other
1100B21 disgruntled politiclans, millions of people mainly in northern India
1110B21 were misled into believing that there had been gross abuse of authority
1120B21 during the Emergency. ^Stories of how the aged and the adoleseent had
1130B21 been forcibly sterilised and died in the hundreds **[sic**] were
1131B21 assiduously circulated
1140B21 amongst the gullible. ^Clearance of slums was made out to_ be some
1150B21 kind of *7bhitzkreig and the numbers of people detained exaggerated
1160B21 beyond credibility. ^The vicious propaganda yielded handsome dividends
1170B21 and the northern states voted \0Mrs. Gandhi and her party out of power.
1180B21 ^It did not take long for the people to_ realise that they had been duped
1190B21 and that the so-called excesses of the Emergency had been blown up
1200B21 out of all proportion-- that the numbers of those detained without trial
1210B21 or forcibly sterilised had been recklessly multiplied: that while clearance
1220B21 of slums built on public land had been made out into an act of
1230B21 vandalism nothing was told them of the alternative accommodation provided
1240B21 to the slumdwellers. ^Slowly the truth began to_ dawn. ^Thereafter
1250B21 despite the adverse publicity given through proceedings of the innumerable
1260B21 commissions of inquiry and a regular barrage of "disclosures" which
1270B21 were subsequently withdrawn or found to_ be totally false, no one really
1280B21 believed anything that the Janata leaders said and the press subservient
1290B21 to them wrote as "Emergency excesses". ^The minorities, particularly
1300B21 the *4Harijans and the Muslims, turned their back on the Janata and
1310B21 reaffirmed their faith in Indira Gandhi. ^No more proof of this phenomenon
1320B21 is necessary than to_ look at the results of the by-elections that_
1330B21 have taken place in recent months. ^Despite extensive "booth-capturing"
1340B21 and misuse of the state machinery Janata*'s massive majorities of
1350B21 the spring of 1977 have been substantially reduced and many have returned
1360B21 \0Mrs. Gandhi*'s Congress Party candidates. ^What more proof does
1370B21 anyone require to_ know that the climate of the spring of 1977 has
1380B21 undergone a vast change? ^*Janata knows that_ and has come to the conclusion
1390B21 that the only way to_ hold back the Indira wave is to_ put Indira
1400B21 Gandhi in gaol and continue to_ persecute her. ^The people of India
1410B21 will give them a befitting reply-- soon.
1411B21 $*<*3Punishment*0*> $^How far the
1420B21 collective wisdom of the *5Lok Sabha*6 has gone into the punishment
1430B21 meted out to Indira Gandhi will be debated so long as parliamentary
1440B21 democracy survives in this country. ^Not only a bad precedent has been set
1450B21 **[sic**] but a tragedy of the worst form unconceivable in a
1451B21 civilised society,
1460B21 let alone in a democracy, has been allowed to_ take place. ^This is the
1470B21 first occasion when a dispassionate discussion of an important issue
1480B21 was made impossible in Parliament by the bias and prejudice of the ruling
1490B21 party. ^From the beginning the effort of the Government had been to_
1500B21 trap Indira Gandhi and it did not matter to \0Mr. Desai and hiscolleagues
1510B21 in what manner she was trapped. ^Otherwise the energy and resources
1520B21 of the Government would not have been spent on persecuting a person
1530B21 in inquiry commissions, in the court and in Parliament. \0^*Mr. Desai
1540B21 has only fooled himself by taking shelter under the plea that he has
1550B21 only carried out the wish of the majority in his party. ^The discussion
1560B21 of the privilege issue in the party forums itself was wrong. ^The few
1570B21 saner elements in the party never wanted to_ punish her but reason fled
1580B21 from the Janata mob. ^The spirit of revenge has overtaken dispassionate
1590B21 thinking. $^*Indira Gandhi in office or out of office, in Parliament
1600B21 or outside Parliament in jail or free has emerged as the moving spirit
1610B21 behind the nation: ^Neither prison walls nor persecution of any sort
1620B21 can defeat her or the ideals which she stands for. ^She has been as
1630B21 much a product of the Indian revolution as that_ of suffering. ^Her father,
1640B21 her grandfather and even her mother went to jail to_ free India
1650B21 whose present Prime minister happens to_ be \0Mr. Morarji Desai.
1660B21 ^The nation may shed tears in sorrow at the moment but this is not the
1670B21 time to_ feel despondent. ^*Indira Gandhi is the nation*'s leader and wherever
1680B21 she is, she will continue to_ inspire and lead the nation. $^*Indira
1690B21 Gandhi*'s expulsion from the *5Lok Sabha*6 has made a mockery of
1700B21 parliamentary democracy. ^Hardly six weeks after her election to the *5Lok
1710B21 Sabha*6 and her election as chairman of the Congress (\0I) Parliamentary
1720B21 Party, she has been expelled from the house merely on the charge
1730B21 that she had committed a breach of privilege in the previous *5Lok
1740B21 Sabha*6.*#
        **[no. of words = 02005**]

        **[txt. b22**]
0010B22 **<*3AN INSULT TO THE PEOPLE*0**> $^The happenings of the last two days
0020B22 in both the Houses of the Maharashtra Legislature and the most ugly
0030B22 and reprehensible act of *(chappal-throwing*) at the Chief
0031B22 Minister
0040B22 and the Treasury benches, bring no credit to the Opposition parties. ^The
0050B22 public demonstrations and *4morchas on the *5Vidhan Bhawan*6 were
0051B22 quite
0060B22 understandable. ^But the outbreak of violence in the Kasturchand Park
0070B22 about which two versions are now available, one by the Opposition
0080B22 leaders and the other by the Police Commissioner, have marred the otherwise
0090B22 peaceful demonstrations and have landed them into the realm of both
0100B22 impropriety and unconstitutionality. ^But the most unfortunate and disturbing
0110B22 part is the behaviour of the Opposition parties on the floor
0120B22 of the House in not allowing the proceedings to_ go on. ^That responsible
0130B22 leaders in public life who were till yesterday holding high offices
0140B22 in Government should be a party to this irresponsible behaviour only
0150B22 goes to_ show how they have lost their balance and sense of proportion
0160B22 and perspective because of loss of power. ^They were the loudest in condemning
0170B22 such tactics of the then opposition parties and very rightly so.
0180B22 ^But when they themselves resort to the same tactics when out of office,
0190B22 how can they escape the blame of double standards and double talk?
0200B22 ^It is perfectly legitimate for them to_ dislike the present Government
0210B22 and it is open to them to_ dislodge it from power by legal and constitutional
0220B22 means. ^As experienced legislators, they know they can bring a censure
0230B22 and no-confidence motion against the Government and can build up
0240B22 their majority in order to_ throw it out of office. ^But to_ resort to
0250B22 obstructionist tactics which do injury to the dignity and decorum of the
0260B22 House cannot be justified on any ground, whatever be the provocation.
0270B22 ^Our Parliamentary and representative institutions do not merely reflect
0280B22 the Government of the day; they reflect the collective will and voice
0290B22 of the people which, in the last analysis, is the Voice of God.
0300B22 $^Legislatures like the Courts of Justice are symbols of our democratic
0310B22 system and it is the duty of every citizen to_ see that their dignity
0320B22 and decorum are maintained and nothing is done that_ brings them into
0330B22 contempt or disrepute. ^This responsibility devolves all the greater on
0340B22 the legislators who are the elected representatives of the people and
0350B22 who are expected to_ set up a model in democratic behaviour. ^Yet again,
0360B22 this responsibility lies the heaviest on the shoulders of those who had
0370B22 once occupied the Treasury benches and were charged with the executive
0380B22 responsibility of running a Government in accordance with the wishes
0390B22 of the people. $^Governments come and go but the Legislature remains
0400B22 a distinct and abiding entity which is well beyond and above party politics
0410B22 and the power game. $^We hold no brief for the present Government
0420B22 nor did we hold any brief for the previous Government for they were and
0430B22 are competent enough to_ take care of themselves. ^But we do feel deeply
0440B22 involved in the proper functioning of the democratic system in accordance
0450B22 with our constitution, and that no political party strays from the
0460B22 well-establisned norms of parliamentary democracy. $^And what is the 'sin'
0470B22 of Pawar Government? ^Judging from the slogans shouted against it,
0480B22 it is a 'treacherous' Government (*5Gaddar Sarkar*6). ^Who will sit
0490B22 in judgement over the acts of so-called 'treachery'? ^And 'treachery'
0500B22 against whom? ^The Congress Party? ^Which Congress? ^And if one starts
0510B22 speaking on this level, what was the manner in which the previous Government
0520B22 had come into being? ^It is all a matter of very recent memory
0530B22 that the Congress Party was split early this year and the two factions
0540B22 of the Congress who fought the last Assembly elections against each
0550B22 other as deadly enemies were each reduced into minority parties but who,
0560B22 over-night, joined hands with each other to_ entrench themselves in power,
0570B22 contrary to the pledges which they had given to the electorates. ^Was
0580B22 there much of a moral basis in that_ kind of get-together? ^Was it not
0590B22 an opportunistic alliance with no better purpose than sharing the spoils
0600B22 of office? ^But we did not go into that_ question in depth at that_
0610B22 time because it is a part of the democratic process and once you establish
0620B22 and demonstrate your majority, you acquire the right to_ form the Government.
0630B22 ^Similarly, the moment \0Mr. Sharad Pawar demonstrated his
0640B22 majority within the frame work of the Constitution, he acquired both
0650B22 the legal and constitutional right to_ form a Government and his Government
0660B22 is in fact the Government constituted according to law even as the
0670B22 previous Government was. ^It is therefore entitled to all respect and
0680B22 consideration because it, for the time being, is the Government of the
0690B22 people. ^It cannot be ousted by merely shouting slogans or throwing
0691B22 *4chappals.
0700B22 ^Nor by obstructing the proceedings of the House with un-constitutional
0710B22 means like squatting on the floor or loud thumping. ^Reduce it
0720B22 into a minority and, certainly, the Government will have no justification
0730B22 to_ stay even for a minute thereafter. ^There are no short cuts in
0740B22 this exercise and there is no room for unconstitutional, improper behaviour,
0750B22 whatever the extent of anger, frustration or impatience. $^The legislator
0760B22 who hurled *4chappals at the Chief Minister or the Treasury benches
0770B22 may have been hurt or wounded in the *7melee at the Kasturchand
0771B22 Park,
0780B22 but he had no business to_ import his passions into the *8sanctum sanctorum*9
0790B22 of the house of the people whose dignity and prestige has to_
0800B22 be maintained at all costs. ^The hurt that_ he has caused is not so much
0810B22 to the Chief Minister or his Government but it is a hurt to all enlightened
0820B22 public opinion and an insult to the people whose collective mind
0830B22 and wisdom the *5Vidhan Sabha*6 represents. ^In fact, the act has
0840B22 resulted in giving greater strength to the Pawar Government and has dealt
0850B22 a heavy blow to the opposition in general and to the party to which
0860B22 the legislator belongs in particular. ^The behaviour is contrary to the
0870B22 culture and traditions of our country and people and is certainly an affront
0880B22 to the spirit of hospitality, warmth, and refinement of the people
0890B22 of Vidarbha.
0900B22 $**<*3PARTING OF THE WAYS*0**> $^The Charan group, after the fateful
0910B22 culmination of the top leadership crisis, is poised for parting of the
0920B22 ways. ^This is despite \0Mr. Charan Singh*'s recent averment that
0930B22 he would not quit the Janata Party. ^Discontent and frustration, giving
0940B22 rise to anger, stupefy one*'s sense of fairness and propriety. ^It was
0950B22 the amalgam that_ imparted unique strength to the Janata constituents
0960B22 which individually were groping in the wilderness for years. ^Sensible
0970B22 people thought that the constituents would never forget this stark reality
0980B22 and would triumph over the amalgam*'s internal disparities. ^But this
0990B22 was not to_ be. ^It is now amply proved that hunger for power and false
1000B22 sense of prestige on the part of \0Mr. Charan Singh caused the leadership
1010B22 crisis and the stage is set for parting company. ^This is unfortunate
1020B22 not only for the Janata but also for the country which was envisioning
1030B22 the onset of a balanced two-party democracy. $^The Charan group
1040B22 which has 68 members (\0B.L.D.) in the *5Lok Sabha*6 is reportedly
1041B22 appointing
1050B22 a committee to_ bargain with the Janata leadership over the organisational
1060B22 elections being held shortly. ^Obviously they want some key posts
1070B22 failing which they would boycott the elections. ^There is a section
1080B22 in this group which prefers fighting from within the party. ^But in almost
1090B22 all similar cases such preliminary tactics are employed to_ make things
1100B22 difficult for the leadership and then find an excuse to_ part company.
1110B22 ^This is one of the many-splendoured hues of politics. ^There is then
1120B22 the *4Kisan Rally to_ be held shortly which, to all intents and purposes,
1130B22 is designed to_ show the strength of the \0B.L.D. group. $^According
1140B22 to a political observer, the Charan group has already set a date
1150B22 for launching a new party (second week of January) and even its name
1160B22 has been tentatively fixed as 'National Front'. ^According to him, a
1170B22 \0B.L.D. leader has threatened that "if they (Janata leaders) do anything
1180B22 to us in our States (Haryana, \0U.P. and Bihar), we shall do
1190B22 our best to_ break the Desai \0Govt. without \0Mrs. Gandhi*'s support
1200B22 if possible, and with it if necessary". ^Now one can clearly see how politicians
1210B22 make strange bedfellows. ^An agency report from Bangalore says
1220B22 that \0Mr. Devraj Urs (Congress-\0I) said he would consider attending
1230B22 the *4Kisan Rally if he received the invitation. ^According to a
1240B22 New Delhi report both Congress-\0I Chief Ministers of Karnataka
1250B22 and Andhra Pradesh, \0Mr. Urs and \0Mr. Chenna Reddy, were among
1260B22 the leaders requested to_ attend the *4Kisan Rally. ^It is a subtle attempt
1270B22 to_ invite an invitation. ^The Congress-\0I leaders are adept in
1280B22 capitalising an opportunity to_ make inroads in the ranks of their rivals,
1290B22 if they come across one. ^It is funny that the Charan group which
1300B22 was recently so firmly set on wreaking vengeance on Indira Congress is
1310B22 now inclined to_ shake hands with them. ^But that_ is politics, Indian
1320B22 style and the less said about it, the better. $^For the Janata leaders,
1330B22 no purpose would be served by belittling the Charan group*'s threats
1340B22 and challenges. ^There are still some leaders in the Party who have not
1350B22 lost hopes. ^They may yet go a few miles to_ find a meeting point at
1360B22 the organisational level. \0^*Mr. Charan Singh may be offered
1361B22 Presidentship
1370B22 and some others some of the key posts. ^The Charan group is aware
1380B22 that after parting company with Janata, their future political course
1390B22 involves an element of risk which may send them in wilderness. ^On this
1400B22 exigency hangs the slender hope of their choosing to_ stay in the Janata
1410B22 Party and fight for power from within \0i.e., to_ capture the organisation
1420B22 first and then find the way to power. ^So long as \0Mr. Morarji
1430B22 is there at the helm of \0Govt, \0Mr. Charan Singh has not an iota
1440B22 of chance to_ get what he has so ardently desired. ^So, their strategy
1450B22 is bound to_ bring about \0Mr. Morarji*'s ouster which is not so simple
1460B22 as they think. ^Things can still be straightened if \0Mr. Morarji
1470B22 changes his mind in the interests of the party and offers Home to \0Mr
1480B22 Charan Singh. ^But this is hoping against hope. $^If the Charan
1481B22 group
1490B22 breaks away and goes in for unscrupulous alliances, then it becomes
1500B22 a real threat to the Janata \0Govt. and the party. ^At this point of
1510B22 the situation, the Janata leaders cannot afford to_ be complacent.
1520B22 ^*Janata*'s tragedy will be a national tragedy.
1530B22 **<*3Nosy Love*0**> $^They say quarrels provide the much needed spices
1540B22 of marital life. ^This appears to_ be an exercise in making a virtue of
1550B22 adversities. ^Quarrelling couples often miss the bliss of married life.
1560B22 ^It may be all right so long as quarrels are 'uncorporal'. ^But if
1570B22 they are fought bodyline style, it is havoc and devastation. $^According
1580B22 to a report, a 27-year-old Pakistani was arrested this week in a town
1590B22 in Denmark for biting off the tip of his Danish wife*'s nose during a
1600B22 domestic quarrel. ^Fortunately the wife*'s nose tip was recovered by the
1610B22 police and hospital surgeons sewed it back. ^The doctors hope but are
1620B22 not certain if the tip would stay. ^If it stays, so far so good. ^If it
1630B22 doesn*'4t, what a problem for the woman, and the hubby too! ^This takes
1640B22 us to a similar story which happened in South Korea exactly ten years
1650B22 ago. ^A young jobless Korean boy went to his beautician girl friend one
1660B22 night, and proposed. ^Getting a frozen mitten from her, the enraged boy
1670B22 bit her nose clean off. ^The girl picked up the piece of flesh and hurried
1680B22 to a hospital but lost the tip on the way. ^Next day she visited the
1690B22 police station and pleaded for her lover*'s release-- "I will marry him;
1700B22 I didn*'4t know he loved me so much". ^Whether the Korean boy was
1710B22 released and whether he accepted his noseless beloved is not known.*#
        **[no. of words = 02009**]

        **[txt. b23**]
0010B23 **<*3Legal right to property*0**> $^Sir,-- ^The remarks of \0Mr. \0G.
0020B23 Thimmiah (\0D.H. July 3) in his rejoinder to my letter (\0D.H.
0021B23 June 21)
0030B23 are unfortunately based on incorrect impressions. $^As stated by him I
0040B23 have not raised doubts about the incentive role of right to property.
0050B23 ^In fact I have pleaded for a powerful legal right to property, with the
0060B23 proviso of a more than the market value, **[sic**]
0061B23 as compensation, if circumstances
0070B23 necessitate the confiscation of property. ^This plea of mine has
0080B23 been ignored in his writing. $^In general the hereditary property owner,
0090B23 in the lower strata will not have the necessary incentive and ability
0100B23 to_ acquire new property, except in rare cases. ^This fact can be refuted
0110B23 only by conducting a statistical survey, not by verbal arguments. $\0^*Mr.
0120B23 Thimmiah*'s assertion that the law of diminishing marginal utility
0130B23 acts as a disincentive to the acquisition of property at higher levels
0140B23 is based on an incorrect understanding. ^The law of diminishing marginal
0150B23 utility is a psychological law. ^But this is not the only psychological
0160B23 factor that_ operates on the human mind. ^There are other factors
0170B23 as well. ^One such factor is the man*'s intense desire or greed to_ possess
0180B23 more property. ^This increases with the increase in property. ^At higher
0190B23 levels individuals possess greater ability and desire to_ acquire additional
0200B23 property, whereas at lower levels they have to_ struggle even
0210B23 to_ retain the property. $^Supposing the law of diminishing marginal utility
0220B23 operates; then to_ attain a given level of satisfaction, an individual
0230B23 has to_ acquire more property than he would do if he possessed less
0240B23 property. ^This, combined with the desire to_ accumulate, will cumulatively
0250B23 act to_ acquire more wealth. $^The law of diminishing marginal utility
0260B23 applies only to articles of consumption and not to property. ^It is
0270B23 based on Weber*'s and Fechner*'s law in psychology. ^The relation between
0280B23 sensation and stimulus, which is the basis of the law, is not valid
0290B23 in this case. $\0^*Mr. Thimmiah says he is concerned about people possessing
0300B23 small property in houses, lands, copyright, patents \0etc. ^It
0310B23 is only for their very concern, that I am insisting upon an irrevocable
0320B23 legal right. ^He is not perhaps aware how the poor land-owners were deprived
0330B23 of their property, with a meagre belated compensation. $^*I am completely
0340B23 aware of the changes in the law structure, but I do not agree
0350B23 with his contention about their utility to the economic development. ^The
0360B23 existing basis of the tax system and its structure is only a modified
0370B23 form of the British system. ^A thorough revolutionary approach with
0380B23 a complete change in the underlying tenets suited to our social and economic
0390B23 conditions, is needed. $^*I have argued for a substantial legal right
0400B23 and not for an illusory fundamental right based on a false sense of
0410B23 prestige. \0^*Mr. Thimmiah should have tried to_ present his views on
0420B23 the pros and cons of the fundamental and legal rights. $**<*3Family pension*0**>
0430B23 $^Sir,-- The Government of Karnataka has taken a commendable
0440B23 step in introducing the Family Pension Scheme, which is a boon to
0450B23 many an economically backward family. ^This humanitarian gesture of the
0460B23 Government under the able stewardship of Chief Minister Devaraj Urs,
0470B23 speaks volumes of its unshakable commitment to_ alleviate the sufferings
0480B23 of the poor. ^But I wish to_ draw the attention of the Government
0490B23 to a glaring anomaly in the scheme which calls for rectification. ^The
0500B23 Government is agreeable to_ pay pension to the retired staff of District
0510B23 Board, *4Taluk Board and aided educational institutions. ^But
0511B23 it
0520B23 denies the Family Pension benefit to the wives of the deceased who
0530B23 have retired from service in these institutions. $^To_ cite a case my father
0540B23 was a Kannada Pandit in a Girls*' High School at Kollegal, which
0550B23 was formerly run by the District Board and was subsequently handed
0560B23 over to the *4Taluk Development Board. ^He retired in 1961. ^The
0561B23 school
0570B23 was taken over by the Government in 1973. ^In spite of having retired
0571B23 from
0580B23 service in a quasi \0Govt. institution he drew pension for nearly 17
0590B23 years. $^He passed away last year and my mother sought the benefit of
0600B23 Family Pension. ^But to her disappointment, the Accountant General*'s
0610B23 office turned down the request, on the ground that my father was not in
0620B23 service when the institution was taken over by the Government. $^This
0630B23 is a glaring discrepancy which warrants immediate rectification. ^Any delay
0640B23 will only result in untold misery to all those facing the ordeal as
0650B23 my mother. $**<*3Reservations*0**> $^Sir,-- ^Of late, there is much discontent
0660B23 over reservations. ^If reservations are made on the basis of caste
0670B23 and communities, we are making a permanent division among our own people.
0680B23 ^It is nothing but driving a wedge between several castes and communities.
0690B23 $^In their attempt to_ get the benefit of reservations overnight,
0700B23 people are opting to some community which is in the list of \0S.Cs
0710B23 and \0S.Ts or even a hill tribe. ^A Kapu becomes a Konda Kapu; a
0720B23 Jangama becomes a Bedara Jangama; a Kuruba becomes a Kadu Kuruba,
0730B23 a Kshatriya becomes a Vanyakula Kshatriya and so on. ^There is competition
0740B23 in degrading their communities in the social order just to_ come
0750B23 into the penumbra of the reservations. ^If this trend is allowed, there
0760B23 is no end to the false pretensions and representations leading to corruption
0770B23 and nepotism. $^Thus the reservations are an anachronism. ^They do
0780B23 immense harm to the national life. $^It will be the finest day in the
0790B23 history of our country when reservations are abolished. ^These reservations,
0800B23 instead of uplifting the down-trodden and the so-called backwards,
0810B23 confirm them in their places and take away the incentives and push, which
0820B23 are so necessary to_ come up in life. ^The people must learn to_ face
0830B23 open competition and work hard for the advancement of their interests.
0840B23 ^They should stop depending on reservations to_ bring them up. ^For this,
0850B23 they have to_ plan their lives and those of their children in such a
0860B23 way that no reservations are necessary for them to_ come up. $^Those who
0870B23 hanker after reservations develop an inferiority complex. ^There are many
0880B23 ways in which they can assert themselves and come up without seeking
0890B23 the protection of reservations. $**<*3External courses*0**> $Sir,-- ^The
0900B23 Bangalore University is still the most orthodox University in not
0910B23 implementing or modifying the system of administration, admission \0etc.
0920B23 $^External courses are meant for those persons who are interested to_
0930B23 enrich their knowledge and obtain a Post-graduate degree in the Arts
0940B23 or Commerce disciplines. ^It is a pity that the Bangalore University
0950B23 is not fulfilling this noble cause. ^In this regard, Karnatak University
0960B23 and Mysore University have gone serveral steps ahead. ^The Mysore
0970B23 University has introduced 'open-air' courses. ^The Karnatak University
0980B23 is allowing even the candidates from other universities to_ obtain Post-graduate
0990B23 degrees. ^When other universities are making provision for a
1000B23 person to_ become a Post-graduate without becoming the graduate why can*'4t
1010B23 the Bangalore University provide a Post-graduate and graduate of
1020B23 this University the facility to_ take up another Post-graduate degree,
1030B23 without insisting that the candidate should have obtained the degree
1040B23 in the discipline of his higher studies or in the allied subjects?
1050B23 $**<*3Wastages over seminars*0**> $^Sir,-- ^One of the characteristic features
1060B23 of our age is the awareness about poverty and injustices. ^A tragedy
1070B23 of our time is that the very same institutions or structures we make
1080B23 with laudable intentions become millstones or white elephants. $^Take
1090B23 for instance, the Food and Agricultural Organisation (\0F.A.*0).
1100B23 $^This Rome-based world organisation was instituted to_ mitigate mankind*'s
1110B23 worst suffering \0viz starvation. ^But the sorry state of this august
1120B23 body was brought to light last year by one of its directors. ^He disclosed
1130B23 that 80 \0p.c. of \0F.A.O*'s budget is spent on the pay and
1140B23 perquisites of its inflated bureaucracy. ^Another 11 \0p.c. goes to_ meet
1150B23 the cost of travel to seminars and conferences constantly held at exotic
1160B23 places round the world. ^Another 6 \0p.c. is spent to_ meet the expenses
1170B23 of the glossy publicity material of the \0F.A.O in seven different
1180B23 languages. ^Thus out of every 100 dollars that the world community
1190B23 is made to_ contribute to the \0F.A.O, 3 dollars are left for rushing
1200B23 emergency grain supplies to famine-stricken areas or to_ promote research
1210B23 aimed at increasing food production. $^Recently \0UN Secretary-General
1220B23 Kurt Waldheim complained about the worthlessness of many of
1230B23 the international meetings and conferences. ^He said: "*_^We have too many
1240B23 gatherings, conferences and sessions of one sort or another. ^The result
1250B23 is that fewer people listen to the speeches, even among the representatives
1260B23 of the Governments, let alone the press or the public" (\0D.H.--
1270B23 \0Sept. 15). $^In India also we have a plethora of conferences
1271B23 and
1280B23 seminars conducted by various institutions and organisations and what
1290B23 huge expenses are incurred on them. ^And nobody knows what tangible results
1300B23 they make. ^Unless a moratorium or ceiling is imposed on conferences
1310B23 and sessions, they will continue to_ gobble up people*'s money without
1320B23 any limit. $**<*3A
1330B23 motorist*'s complaint*0**> $^Sir,-- ^How foreign one feels in India
1340B23 when one owns an automobile is to_ be experienced. ^An automobile can
1350B23 be registered in only one State of India and by some chance you have
1360B23 stayed more than a month in another State, you run the risk of getting
1370B23 your automobile seized by the authorities. ^*I feel, it is high-time
1380B23 to_ repeal such laws from our statutes book, which make us feel as foreigners
1390B23 in one*'s own country.
1391B23 $**<*3Multinationals*0**> $^Sir,-- By accusing
1400B23 the Government of India and charging the Union Industries Minister
1410B23 George Fernandes for their attitude to multi-national corporations,
1420B23 \0Mr. Orville Freeman, former Agricultural Secretary and now the
1430B23 co-chairman of the \0Indo-U.S. Joint Council, has only betrayed
1440B23 the imperialist attitude of the super powers. $\0^*Mr. Freeman*'s remarks
1450B23 have already invited sharp criticism from Janata \0M.P. Krishna
1460B23 Kant who has called for the winding up of the Joint \0Indo-U.S. Business
1470B23 Council which, he said, had become a lobbyist for \0U.S. multi-nationals*'
1480B23 creed and policies. "^It is for us to_ decide what kind of
1490B23 industry and business we shall establish and what is good for our system,"
1500B23 \0Mr. Krishna Kant said. $^Multinationals operating in India, not
1510B23 merely repatriate huge profits, but deny us the latest technology available
1520B23 in their countries. ^And the avenues they choose to_ operate are
1530B23 not meant for the people but such luxuries as soaps, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals
1540B23 yielding high profit. ^And their marketing system to_ say the
1550B23 least is meant for the sophisticated and urbanities. ^All their systems
1560B23 have never been straight. $^According to information available with the
1570B23 Department of Company Affairs the asset of 393 Indian branches of
1580B23 multinational corporations have increased by about 25 per cent in three
1590B23 years. ^Their assets increased from \0Rs. 1672 *4crores in 1972-73
1591B23 to\0Rs.
1600B23 2084 *4crores in 1975-76. ^The bulk of these assets-- \0Rs. 1479
1610B23 *4crores-- is accounted for by branches of companies incorporated in
1620B23 the \0U.K., followed by branches of \0USA based corporations, whose
1630B23 assets were \0Rs. 390.5 *4crores. $^It has been stated that multinational
1640B23 corporations have a growing role to_ play in the world capitalist economy
1650B23 and politics by bringing considerable influence on social process
1660B23 occurring in the non-socialist part of the world. ^According to certain
1670B23 estimates, by the end of this century, about 100 super-giants will control
1680B23 three quarters of the capitalist world*'s production. $^The latest
1690B23 figures published in the bulletin "Survey of Current Business," issued
1700B23 by the \0U.S. Department of Commerce, says direct capital investments
1710B23 by the \0U.S. monopolies in the developing countries increased
1720B23 from 20,700 million in 1971 to 29,100 million in 1976. ^The intensive exploitation
1730B23 of the developing countries by subsidiaries of the American
1740B23 monopolies guarantees such a high rate of profit that in 1976 the \0US
1750B23 was able to_ repatriate 5,800 million dollars in net profit. ^The total
1760B23 sum of profits remitted to the \0US in the past five years reached
1770B23 22,900 million dollars. $^Thus, one finds that the developing countries
1780B23 whose economics become dominated by multinational corporations, face inevitably
1790B23 as ruthless an exploitation as they suffered under colonialism
1800B23 of the past.
1810B23 $**<*PAVEMENT HOGS**> $^Sir,-- ^Your columnist*'s comments regarding
1820B23 misuse of pavements (City Beat-- *(0D. H.*) \0Sept. 24) are
1830B23 timely.*#
        **[no. of words = 02007**]

        **[txt. b24**]
0010B24 **<*3A Commendable Achievement**> $^Sir,-- ^Collection of accurate
0020B24 statistics on vital sectors of the economy is a pre-requisite for any
0030B24 planning process. ^In the context of Rolling Plan commencing in April,
0040B24 1978, timely availability of data on the economic activity in the non-agricultural
0050B24 sector covered by the Economic Census conducted by the
0060B24 Government of India throughout the country in collaboration with the
0070B24 State Government machineries will go a long way in fixing the reasonable
0080B24 targets and allocation of resources. ^The data so far available on
0090B24 this sector (non-farm establishments) are sketchy and are therefore not
0100B24 dependable. $^The release of the sky figures, albeit provisional, thrown
0110B24 up by the Economic Census conducted by the Government of Assam as
0120B24 a part of nationwide programme of economic census in a record time of
0130B24 barely two-and a half months is an achievement to_ reckon with (Assam
0140B24 Tribune, February 3). ^The success of this gigantic operation covering
0150B24 77 towns and 23,158 villages in the State of Assam is the result
0160B24 of team work of several hundreds
0170B24 of dedicated workers right from the field enumerators to the supervisory
0180B24 and administrative level officials of various Government departments
0190B24 like Revenue, Education, Economics \0& Statistics \0etc. $^According
0200B24 to the findings of this Economic Census, there are 1.02 *4lakh
0210B24 non-agricultural establishments in Assam engaging 8.14 *4lakh workers
0211B24 of
0220B24 which 7.27 *4lakh (or 89 \0pc) are hired workers. ^This means the self-employed
0230B24 category comprise only 87,000 persons or 11 \0pc. ^As was expected
0240B24 Gauhati subdivision occupies the top position with 12,000 establishments
0250B24 with a little over 1 *4lakh persons engaged. $^Again, of the total
0260B24 establishments (1.02 *4lakh) 70 per cent of the establishments with
0270B24 above 67 per cent of persons engaged are located in rural areas. ^This
0280B24 shows that there has been a dispersal of non-farm establishments in the
0290B24 rural areas which employ more than two-thirds of the workers in this sector.
0300B24 ^This is a happy trend as this will stop mobility of the working
0310B24 force from rural to urban in search of job opportunities where the prospect
0320B24 is already lean. $^Against this backdrop, the Planning commission*'s
0330B24 shift of emphasis from heavy industries to village and small industries
0340B24 has been timely as the latter is expected to_ generate greater number
0350B24 of job-opportunities for the rural unemployed.
0360B24 $**<*3Uniformity Of Wages**> $^Sir,-- ^Recently Prime Minister
0370B24 Morarji Desai told the leader of the striking employees of Maharashtra
0380B24 that it is beyond the capacity of the Government to_ concede to their
0390B24 demand for the uniformity in the \0DA rate of Central and State
0400B24 Government employees and gave a concrete example of difference of wages
0410B24 of a driver in public and private sector. ^According to him it may
0420B24 be possible for a driver in private company to_ receive \0Rs. 700 per month,
0430B24 but is not possible to_ give the driver a salary beyond \0Rs. 200
0440B24 in Government service. $^So, when such a statement of different wages
0450B24 comes from a highest echelon of the Government it is something amusing
0460B24 to_ find in the argument of the Additional Solicitor General in the
0470B24 case of \0LIC (Bonus) Modification Act, 1976 in the Supreme Court
0480B24 on 14.12.77. **[sic**]
0481B24 ^The Additional Solicitor General defended the Act
0490B24 by his argument that the Act has to some extent brought uniformity in
0500B24 wages to other section of employees who receive less and helped check inflation
0510B24 in the country by not pumping out about \0Rs 6 *4crores into
0520B24 the market. ^To this argument, the honourable Judges quipped to_ know if
0530B24 there is uniformity of wages for some jobs in the country and any opinion
0540B24 from an established economist that the inflation has been contained
0550B24 due to this Act. ^The Additional Solicitor General failed to_ reply
0560B24 to these queries from the honourable Judges of the highest body of the
0570B24 judiciary. $^So, the absurdity of differential wages in different sectors
0580B24 in the present structure of economy will continue unless the Government
0590B24 sincerely want radical change in the national economy to_ make an
0600B24 egalitarian society.
0610B24 $**<*3A Pity**> $^Sir,-- ^It has become a risky business,
0611B24 posthumously,
0620B24 for those of our not too affluent literary celebrities to_ die nowadays.
0630B24 ^They may, or may not be accorded the tribute and homage they so richly
0640B24 deserve. ^The historic Homer-living Homer-dead public somersault
0650B24 is unthinkable in the case of our poor writers. $^The latest victim of
0660B24 this heinous public apathy was Koka Phukan who practically gave his life
0670B24 for our literature. ^That_ great son of Assam had a quiet end followed
0680B24 by a quieter last journey to his cremation. ^The number of our so-called
0690B24 elite who willy-nilly accompanied the apology of a funeral procession
0700B24 could be counted on the fingers of one hand. ^But they are great
0710B24 ones at attending clubs, going to English movies on Sunday mornings,
0720B24 sending their children to English medium schools and what is downright
0730B24 funny sporting Lufthansa and British Airways stickers on their car bumpers.
0740B24 ^They are oblivious to the reflection their attitude casts on their
0750B24 education and culture as Assamese. ^But it certainly betrays a dangerous
0760B24 trend and unless checked in time will condition us a generation or
0770B24 two hence into looking askance at everything Assamese. ^Our children are
0780B24 already growing up miles away from the "contamination" of the Gita, the
0790B24 Ramayana and the Mahabharata, let alone our dying-folklore. ^*God bless
0800B24 our '*5Chiro senehi bhasha jononi*6'.
0810B24 $**<*3Paper Mills \0& Jobs**> $^Sir,-- ^I refer to the letter published
0820B24 in your esteemed daily (January 8) under the caption 'Paper mills
0830B24 and jobs'. \0*4^*Shri Amrit Kumar Talukdar has rightly suggested that
0840B24 the Government of Assam should take all precautionary measures to_
0850B24 see that local people are recruited in all cadres both technical and non-technical,
0860B24 for the Projects of Hindustan Paper Corporation \0Ltd
0870B24 in Nowgong and Cachar. ^*I think there will not be any shortage of
0880B24 qualified and experienced persons in this State. $^So long our State Government
0890B24 had done little to_ protect the legitimate interests of the local
0900B24 people insofar as employment is concerned. ^Will they now wake up and
0910B24 take up this vital matter with the Central Government?
0920B24 $**<*3South Beltola Road**> $^Sir,-- ^The South Beltola Road
0921B24 bifurcating
0930B24 from the main Ganeshguri-Basistha Road towards the High School
0940B24 and a Primary School is a new road constructed with the help of local
0950B24 school boys and villagers. ^The road will be little more than a kilometre
0960B24 in length and there is one culvert which needs to_ be strengthened.
0970B24 ^This is a tribal populated area and needs immediate development providing
0980B24 better communication and electricity and all civic amenities. ^The
0990B24 attention of the authorities concerned is therefore drawn to_ make this
1000B24 road serviceable and also to_ take proper steps for development of this
1010B24 backward tribal area.
1020B24 $**<*3Social Justice**> $^Sir,-- ^Although there has been much talk
1030B24 and discussion on social justice in the Press and platform in recentlyears
1040B24 in our country the establishment of a society based on the concept
1050B24 of social justice has been eluding our grasp. ^Rather, social injustice
1060B24 has been manifesting itself in different fields of the life of the people
1070B24 and there are political, economic, legal and other types of inequalities
1080B24 prevailing in our country. ^In our country still man "finds himself
1090B24 in chains" even after thirty years of our political liberation. $^One
1100B24 of the main reasons of this strange phenomenon is the age-old caste
1110B24 system, which has raised barriers everywhere, and has divided the community
1120B24 and the society a hundred-fold and perhaps a thousand-fold.
1121B24 ^It has
1130B24 thus rendered Indian life a very weak vehicle for democracy having led
1140B24 the people along paths of various exploitations. ^Another weak limb of
1150B24 the Indian society is the vast chunk of tribal and semi-tribal population
1160B24 who **[sic**]
1161B24 still remains pinned to a primitive way of life and stark poverty.
1170B24 ^The Constitution of India has provided ample safeguards for these
1180B24 backward sections of the society and has devised special ways for their
1190B24 progress. ^But for reasons not known even those provisions have not
1200B24 borne the expected fruit. $^While backwardness is a disability to_ be removed
1210B24 through these measures, people now consider it a form of privilege
1220B24 and have tried to_ perpetuate it by rushing on it and enlarging the list
1230B24 of the backward classes. ^The old order of social fragmentation has
1240B24 thus not only yielded to a new order of equality and integration, but
1250B24 has, on the other hand, been finding new dimensions for itself by way
1260B24 of gaining political patronage and polarisation and manifesting itself
1270B24 in an added strength in the election and other processes of parliamentary
1280B24 democracy. $^Another glaring instance of caste and other disparities
1290B24 is evident in respect of the women population of our country. ^Even
1300B24 though we have a number of instances of the progress of Indian women
1310B24 to the highest of glory, women in India still remain in a state of 'bondage
1320B24 and surveilance' mainly due to the age-old beliefs and superstitions
1330B24 denying equality to them even in respect of a honourable **[sic**]
1331B24 living. $^In
1340B24 our view, there is possibly not one method or step to_ remove social
1350B24 injustice and disparities. ^In the matter of *4Harijans or the tribes,
1360B24 or women constitutional safeguards, legislations and social organisations
1370B24 alone may not work well so long as there is hiatus between the word
1380B24 and the deed between the heart and the hand. ^Just as caste and other disparties
1390B24 have evolved through the ages almost organically there must be
1400B24 an organic growth of liberalism and liberal ideas in the mind of the individual
1410B24 members of the society. ^In the absence of such a mental growth
1420B24 and development the establishment of a new order based on the concept
1430B24 of social justice shall remain as elusive as ever before.
1440B24 $**<*3Railway Timings**> $^Sir,-- ^The 166 \0Dn Janata Express
1441B24 leaves
1450B24 New Bongaigaon for Howrah at 10-10 hours. ^It has no separate connecting
1460B24 train: passengers have to_ go to New Bongaigaon by 1 \0Dn (Gauhati-Lucknow)
1470B24 *(0A T*) Mail which leaves Gauhati at 5-50 hours. ^In
1480B24 many areas of Gauhati and its suburbs city buses do not ply before
1490B24 7-30 hours and taxis are very difficult to_ get so early. ^Many passengers
1500B24 are, therefore, forced to_ stay overnight at the railway station or in
1510B24 nearby hotels or elsewhere. $^We hope that the *(0N F*) Railway
1511B24 would
1520B24 appreciate the difficulties of the passengers and shift the time of departure
1530B24 of 1 \0Dn *(0A T*) Mail (or extend Barak Valley Express
1540B24 beyond Gauhati to New Bongaigaon) by two hours to 7-50 hours and that
1550B24 of 166 \0Dn Janata Express by two hours and 15 minutes to 12-45 hours
1560B24 (this will increase the time available for transhipment at New Bongaigaon
1570B24 to 40 minutes from the present 25 minutes which is too short). ^With
1580B24 dieselization this two hours and 15 minutes can be easily made up and
1590B24 the train will arrive at Howrah more or less at the present timing of
1600B24 6.20 hours and the Eastern Railway should have no difficulty or objection.
1610B24 ^Dieselization will increase the carrying capacity and the *(0N
1620B24 F*) Railway authority is also requested to_ increase the number of three-tier
1630B24 sleeper coaches.
1640B24 $**<*3Dikhou On Rampage**> $^Sir,-- ^The river Dikhou, no doubt,
1650B24 has added natural beauty to the Sibsagar town. ^When one crosses the steel
1660B24 bridge on this river and enters the town one takes with him the
1661B24 green
1670B24 memory of blue water and zig-zag course. ^The river will appear very innocent
1680B24 and harmless. ^But actually it is not so. ^If one makes a comparative
1690B24 study of the municipal maps of Sibsagar town of the years 1948
1700B24 and 1977, one will be able to_ get an idea about the ravages through erosion
1710B24 done to this small town by this small river. ^The damage is not insignificant.
1720B24 $^The dyke on the river Dikhou and the road known as Dhaiali
1730B24 form the boundary of the town on the South and the west respectively.
1750B24 ^The area lying between the Durbar Road and the dyke is the worst
1760B24 affected one, so far as erosion is concerned. ^In 1950, the dyke on this
1770B24 river between Thanamukh and Puccaghat was more than a furlong away
1780B24 from the present one. ^During these years how many families of this
1781B24 area have
1790B24 been rendered homeless, the municipal record can also reveal.*#
        **[no. of words = 02008**]

        **[txt. b25**]
0010B25 **<*3Foreign travel and baggage rules**> $^The liberalisation of the
0020B25 baggage rules announced by \0Mr. Satish Agrawal, Union Minister of
0030B25 State for Finance, is no doubt a concession to Indian travellers returning
0040B25 from foreign trips. ^But the minister*'s claim that the rules will
0050B25 also facilitate clearance of passengers at the international airport
0060B25 is over-optimistic. ^The delay in clearing passengers at the international
0070B25 airports does not entirely depend on the money limit for duty-free baggage.
0080B25 ^It is the rigidity of the baggage rules and their harsh application
0090B25 that_ cause a hold-up at the airports. ^Normally, several international
0100B25 airlines reach New Delhi in the early hours of the morning. ^Such
0110B25 aircraft offloads on an average 250 to 300 passengers and there are
0120B25 occasions when 500 to 1,000 passengers are awaiting clearance. $^Though
0130B25 for some time past separate counters for tourists and passengers carrying
0140B25 non-dutiable articles have been provided, each passenger has to_ have
0141B25 his
0150B25 baggage opened and checked. ^The check is often rigorous. ^At times disputes
0160B25 arise whether the value of articles is within the permissible
0170B25 limit or exceeds it and unending arguments go on. ^These cause great delays
0180B25 in clearance of passengers. ^The number of customs officials at the
0190B25 airports is inadequate to_ cope with the traffic. ^By raising the limit
0200B25 of duty-free articles from \0Rs. 500 to \0Rs. 1,000, the problem does
0210B25 not get solved. ^The dispute will now be whether one has got goods within
0220B25 the present permissible limit or has exceeded it. ^Moreover, considering
0230B25 the steep rise in the prices of consumer articles in the West, the
0240B25 real benefits of the concession are largely illusory. ^Shirts, blade packs,
0250B25 cosmetics, pens, and other presentation articles, which are normally
0260B25 brought on one*'s return from a foreign trip, are four to five times
0270B25 costlier than they were a few years ago. ^The entire conception behind the
0280B25 baggage rules appears to_ be that Indians going abroad go primarily
0290B25 on a shopping spree and their aim is to_ get the maximum foreign stuff in
0300B25 the country somehow or other. ^This is far from true. ^Those who go on
0310B25 short visits are mostly ministers, officials, academics, scientists and
0320B25 journalists or people who have their relations abroad. ^The scale of
0330B25 foreign exchange sanctioned to them leaves them very little to_ buy costly
0340B25 articles. ^Some cosmetics, ties, toys, a fountain pen or two or cassette
0350B25 tapes are the maximum they can afford. ^The dirty looks they get from
0360B25 some customs people seem to_ place them on par with smugglers which they
0370B25 are not. ^The smugglers do not get their goods cleared through the customs.
0380B25 $^Some of the items excluded from the duty-free entitlement make
0390B25 strange reading, it is said that air-conditioners, cars, scooters, motor
0400B25 cycles, refrigerators and deep-freezers, \0T.V. sets \0etc. are outside
0410B25 duty-free entitlement. ^Except for those who are transferring their
0420B25 residence, hardly any other Indian returning after a short visit can afford
0430B25 to_ go in for these luxuries on the duty-free entitlement that_ he
0440B25 has been given. ^In one respect, however, the new baggage rules are welcome.
0450B25 ^These permit import of professional equipment of a specialised nature
0460B25 up to \0Rs. 5,000 for scientists, doctors, engineers and technologists.
0470B25 ^Despite the minister*'s desire, the Government did not accept his
0480B25 suggestion that journalists should be permitted to_ import typewriters
0490B25 and cameras duty-free. ^All in all, the new baggage rules are an improvement
0500B25 on the old. ^How far they will facilitate speedy customs clearance
0510B25 of passengers will depend on the way the customs staff implement the
0520B25 rules. ^If they implement the rules by rote they can tie the passenger in
0530B25 knots.
0540B25 $**<*3Shibbanlal Saksena*'s Fast**> $\0^*Mr. Shibbanlal Saksena,
0550B25 who is known throughout the country as a doughty champion of the working
0560B25 class and is respected by all political parties, has completed about
0570B25 twenty days of his fast, which he started on May 1. ^Yet, the fast has
0580B25 been little noticed and seems to_ have suffered a black-out in the press.
0590B25 ^This probably will be fit to_ be one of the terms of reference for
0600B25 what is known as the Second Press Commission. ^We have taken notice
0610B25 of the fast not because \0Mr. Saksena is a senior Janata Party member
0620B25 and is fasting for self-purification and purification of the Janata
0630B25 Party but because we took notice of all his fasts against the Congress
0640B25 and are bound to_ take notice of such long fasts. ^Fasting, or hunger-strikes
0650B25 which it can degenerate into on some occasions, should not be
0660B25 lightly undertaken and, while Gandhi laid down salutary rules for it, it
0670B25 cannot be said that \0Mr. Saksena*'s fast is not Gandhian. ^There are
0680B25 times when no way out is open to a conscientious person, who has exhausted
0690B25 alternative courses, except to_ fast. ^It is difficult to_ think that
0700B25 Morarji Desai is impervious to this kind of moral appeal and that
0710B25 he remains adamant to \0Mr. Saksena*'s repeated appeals. \0^*Mr. Saksena
0720B25 has made some allegations against certain ministers and wants an inquiry
0730B25 to_ be made into them. ^*Morarji Desai, who has allowed so many commissions
0740B25 of inquiry to_ be set up in so many cases by his indefatigable,
0750B25 though now unfortunately sick, Home Minister, cannot turn a deaf ear
0760B25 or give the same stock reply. \0^*Mr. Saksena is not a defender of
0770B25 the Emergency or an admirer of the Congress, divided or united. ^He joined
0780B25 the Janata Party with high hopes and finds that his hopes have been
0790B25 frustrated. ^He should have been a senior minister of the Government,
0800B25 but merit or service was not the criterion of selection, and \0Mr.
0810B25 Saksena has been content to_ be a non-minister all his life, which has
0820B25 been dedicated to ceaseless service. $\0^*Mr. Saksena has given a list
0830B25 of his disappointments and grievances against the Janata Party. ^But
0840B25 it is not for us to_ take advantage of them. ^We leave it to Janata
0850B25 \0MPs and workers to_ assess the depth of his feelings and the extent
0860B25 of his torment and prevent further suffering on his part or, in the extreme,
0870B25 loss of the life of such a first-rate worker. \0^*Mr. Saksena
0880B25 has condemned the weaknesses of the party which have become well known
0890B25 and are corroding it, particularly the evil of casteism, and while he appreciates
0900B25 the civil liberties that_ people enjoy, he wants them to_ achieve
0910B25 security and not starve, as civil liberties alone will not do. ^The
0920B25 party has not been able to_ redeem its pledges, and he does not think that
0930B25 it can retain the people*'s confidence at this rate. \0^*Mr. Saksena,
0940B25 we understand, has been met by several \0MPs predominantly of the
0950B25 Janata Party but they have not been able to_ assuage his agony. ^Even
0960B25 minor fasts on minor issues attract attention and sympathy, but \0Mr. Saksena*'s
0970B25 fast for nothing less than the regeneration of the Janata Party
0980B25 has been sought to_ be silenced by deliberate unresponsiveness by
0981B25 the
0990B25 party leadership and seems to_ be helped by a conspiracy of censorship
1000B25 or self-censorship. ^*Morarji Desai does not seem to_ be even aware
1010B25 how long \0Mr. Saksena has been fasting or that he has been fasting at
1020B25 all, and this can be due to his admirers and to the press at large. ^It
1030B25 should be everyone*'s effort, particularly that_ of Morarji Desai and
1040B25 other Janata Party leaders, to_ save a precious life before it is
1050B25 too late. ^The mass media cannot be a party to this cold neglect.
1060B25 $**<*3Man*'s rights**> $^While observing the 30th anniversary of the
1070B25 universal declaration of human rights by the United Nations and non-governmental
1080B25 organisations last week, India was chosen for the keynote
1090B25 address "in recognition of the restoration of human rights after the
1100B25 1977 elections that_ ended the Emergency." ^Should we be proud of this
1110B25 distinction? ^Perhaps yes, perhaps no. ^What exactly are human rights?
1120B25 ^The right to_ die of hunger and malnutrition? ^The right to_ live like
1130B25 animals in slums? ^The right to_ be unemployed, uneducated *8et al*9? ^If
1140B25 so, then we have full human rights today. ^Man, it is true, does not
1150B25 live by bread alone; but without bread or the opportunity to_ earn it,
1160B25 does 'human right' mean much? ^In a country where men are still "classified"
1170B25 on the basis of their caste and where *4Harijans are still treated
1180B25 as subhuman, these "rights" are not very important. ^There is, however,
1190B25 reason not to_ be depressed. ^Senior leaders of the ruling party firmly
1200B25 believe not only in "human rights" as is known internationally but also
1210B25 in the right of the hungry millions to a decent life. $^People in glass
1220B25 houses should, however, be careful. ^As *4Harijans here, the Americans
1230B25 have their Negro issue. ^It will be recalled that not long ago a Brazilian
1240B25 delegate bluntly told the \0UN General Assembly that "no
1250B25 country or group of countries may be conferred the status of Judge of
1260B25 other countries." ^If, however, taken to its logical extreme, this denial
1270B25 of the worthy concepts of a collective conscience, international responsibility
1280B25 and joint action should also argue in favour of liquidation
1290B25 of the \0UN and all its specialized agencies. ^The Brazilian impatience
1300B25 is understandable only in the context of the former Congress regime*'s
1310B25 resentment against Amnesty International*'s revelations about
1320B25 prisoners and prison conditions in India. ^But that_ mote in the eye did
1330B25 not prevent New Delhi in those days from delivering homilies on the
1340B25 suppression of human rights in South Africa and elsewhere. $^There is
1350B25 a point obviously where a nation*'s self-interest must take precedence
1360B25 over all other considerations. ^But dual standards have already resulted
1370B25 in something like a deadlock at the Belgrade talks to_ review the Helsinki
1380B25 Declaration on human rights. ^It is a pity too that only 46 countries
1390B25 have so far ratified last year*'s International Covenant on Civil
1400B25 Rights and Political Rights.
1410B25 $**<*3And the rains came...**> $^The more elaborate the equipment
1411B25 for
1420B25 predicting the weather, the less accurate seem to_ become the predictions.
1430B25 ^Or, at least, so it appears to some, though in reality perhaps the prophets
1440B25 never had much honour, in their own country or anywhere else. ^Seldom
1450B25 are allowances made for the extreme difficulty in accurately forecasting
1460B25 Mother Nature*'s unpredictable behaviour. ^The Poona meteorological
1470B25 people, however, "scored" this time: ^They predicted monsoon ahead
1480B25 of the "scheduled day" by a week; and it came with all its grandeur,
1490B25 majesty and misery. ^Last week for days people in Goa never saw the Sun;
1500B25 the intensity was unusual for this time of the year. ^The wise nodded
1510B25 their head: ^Something is wrong; it*'1s all because of atom bombs,
1520B25 polluting factories \0etc., they averred. $^Those who were sweltering in
1530B25 the June heat prayed for early rains; but when it came it was too much.
1540B25 ^Suddenly everybody recalled that all the accompaniments of rains were
1550B25 not particularly pleasant. ^The fields were flooded; so were most of
1560B25 the streets in Goa*'s towns; muddy roads, rotting uncollected garbage,
1570B25 polluted drinking water-- it was too much for most. ^And going to office
1580B25 became a task for many: when it is time to_ go to or return from office
1590B25 it poured-- nature does have a perverted sense of humour. ^When one
1600B25 made one*'s way to office, after getting down from the overcrowded, rain
1610B25 soaked buses at the filthy and slimy terminals, avoiding puddles and mud
1620B25 spots carefully-- an impossible feat at Panjim*'s permanently
1621B25 "temporary'
1630B25 bus stop-- cars, scooters, trucks and buses splashed past throwing
1640B25 the puddle and mud spots up at one, as if to_ say scornfully, "here, catch".
1650B25 ^Occasionally one might suffer the ignominy of having a bicycle ram
1660B25 into one while dodging a huge 'crater' on the road. ^Whoever sang that_
1670B25 little bit about a little morning rain foretelling a pleasant
1671B25 **[sic*] did not
1680B25 know at all Goa*'s roads. ^And the old, old ideals that_ the (now) middle-aged
1690B25 were brought up on, like the Knight in the Canterbury Tales
1700B25 who loved "Chivalrie, trouthe and honour, freedom and courteisie"-- well,
1710B25 these also got splashed in the tear and terror of rain-driven days in
1720B25 this rain-driven territory during the monsoon downpours. ^Courtesy used
1730B25 to_ be Goa*'s outstanding virtue, something which used to_ amaze people
1740B25 from other parts of the country, but it is also vanishing in our hectic
1750B25 march towards "progress"-- as a lady demonstrated the other day when
1760B25 a young man obviously living in the past by hearing too much from old
1770B25 folk how courteous and gallant people were in days gone by, stood up and
1780B25 offered her seat in a bus; the lady plopped down without a word, and the
1790B25 young man bent down to_ say, "*_^I beg your pardon?" ^The lady replied,
1800B25 "^No, I didn*'4t say anything", and the young man said, "^Oh, I thought
1810B25 you said, "thank you".
1820B25 (^A lady sitting nearby consoled him: "^You see, she is a Bombay Goan")
1830B25 $^There is, however, little gain in wasting breath and praise on
1840B25 what politeness had inevitably to_ become in a "progressing Goa", a
1850B25 fugitive cloistered virtue. ^It were more profitable, and therefore,
1860B25 more useful, to_ dwell upon what wits in every age have remarked upon--
1870B25 that politics goes by the weather; and that a good voyager turneth his
1880B25 mind where the wind most listeneth.*#
        **[no. of words = 01927**]

        **[txt. b26**]
0010B26 **<*3New deal to villages**> $^PRIME MINISTER MORARJI Desai*'s
0020B26 call to voluntary agencies to_ adopt villages for their "total development"
0030B26 has apparently more than one objective. ^Firstly, it is intended as
0040B26 part of the national programme of providing full employment in the next
0050B26 nine years. ^Although the voluntary effort can only be marginal and cannot
0060B26 be a substitute for governmental efforts through plan programmes, its
0070B26 basic purpose is to_ involve institutions and people, who can afford
0080B26 the time and money, in the big task of uplifting the rural poor. $"^Take
0090B26 a village and see that it is able to_ stand on its own feet", the Prime
0100B26 Minister told a national seminar on rural development. ^Spelling out
0110B26 how productive work can be provided to the villagers, \0Mr. Desai pointed
0120B26 out that farm methods, which were "natural" to each village, could
0130B26 be strengthened by introducing effective and simple technology. ^Cottage
0140B26 industries can be started to_ make every village hum with activity and
0150B26 provide employment to the underemployed and the unemployed. ^School buildings
0160B26 can be put up, roads laid and proper sanitation facilities provided
0170B26 by actively associating the villagers with the execution of these works.
0180B26 $^Above all, the Prime Minister has emphasised that nothing should
0190B26 be given free to the people, but they should be made to_ feel they have
0200B26 earned what they get. ^In other words, the emphasis is on active participation
0210B26 and involvement of the entire rural community in the development
0220B26 works undertaken by "outside" agencies. $^No doubt, urban-based service-minded
0230B26 organisations like the Rotary and Lions Clubs, doctors and women*'s
0240B26 associations have periodically engaged themselves in some aspects
0250B26 of rural service; but by the very nature of their activities, they are
0260B26 not able to_ tackle the problems in their entirety. ^At best, visits
0270B26 to rural areas have helped a small section of the urban elite to_ come
0280B26 to_ know of the needs and problems of the countryside and to_ bridge,
0290B26 though in a very limited way, the communication gap between the urban elite
0300B26 and the rural poor. ^Actually, the urbanites go to the villages as "do-gooders"
0310B26 and not as persons who have identified themselves wholly with
0320B26 the villagers in their lives and aspirations.
0330B26 $**<*3Not by punitive action**> $^IT IS REALLY disturbing that even
0340B26 after thirty years of independence incidents of atrocities against
0350B26 *4Harijans in various parts of the country are coming to_ light. ^This
0360B26 is in spite of massive propaganda by parties, social legislation, and
0370B26 strong Governmental action to_ ensure social justice to the weaker sections
0380B26 which are kept down by centuries of tradition and ignorance. ^Seeing
0390B26 the frequency of the reports of atrocities, it appears that the measures
0400B26 taken by the authorities have not proved to_ be deterrent enough.
0410B26 ^That_ is perhaps why Chief Minister Deveraj Urs has even thought
0411B26 aloud
0420B26 of levying punitive fines if the enforcement of existing laws has
0430B26 not proved very effective. \0^*Mr. Urs was speaking on a call-attention
0440B26 notice raised in the State Assembly by the Opposition about an incident
0450B26 last month in which a *4Harijan woman was alleged to_ have been beaten
0460B26 up by members of another caste. ^In his speech, \0Mr. Urs has clarified
0470B26 that the incident had no caste overtones. $^While it is agreed on
0480B26 all hands that the Government must take all steps to_ protect the vulnerable
0490B26 sections like the *4Harijans and create a sense of confidence
0500B26 in them, the question is whether imposing collective fines on the rest of
0510B26 the village community will really help to_ solve the problem. ^On the
0520B26 other hand, punishing an entire community for the crimes of a few, which
0530B26 is what the imposition of a collective fine means, will only exacerbate
0540B26 the strained feelings between different sections of the rural population
0550B26 instead of bringing them together. ^Imposition of collective fines
0560B26 was resorted to during the days of the British *4Raj under very special
0570B26 circumstances. ^Even then Indian public opinion was wholly against
0580B26 the practice. $^In villages, the factors contributing to friction between
0590B26 *4Harijans and others are largely economic and social and they should
0600B26 be primarily tackled. ^Some political parties posing themselves as exclusive
0610B26 champions of the *4Harijans and the down-trodden are openly exploiting
0620B26 the *4Harijan problem for their own ends. ^They are only interested
0630B26 in perpetuating the differences among the rural sections instead of
0640B26 trying to_ promote unity and harmony among the rural population. ^The
0650B26 *4Harijans and other backward sections should be educated to_ assert their
0660B26 rights and to_ fight against social and other disabilities and inequalities.
0670B26 ^Enlightened members of the so-called upper castes should give
0680B26 the lead in this regard without any political motives or appearing to_
0690B26 patronise the weaker sections.
0700B26 $**<*3MOLECULE WITH A FUTURE*0**> $^THE best way to_ enjoy life is
0710B26 to_ have good health. ^This is possible only when we are alert in our eating
0720B26 habits; any deviation from this, considered necessary to_ enjoy life,
0730B26 is reflected in ill-health. $^It is only in this background the necessity
0740B26 of chemicals is felt. ^Millions of people are either under-fed,
0750B26 ill-fed or over-fed. ^This imbalance necessitates the use of the drugs.
0760B26 ^Drugs, natural or synthetic, are a boon to the suffering public. ^Their
0770B26 judicious use is also equally important. $^Drug is nothing but a chemical
0780B26 compound; it may be available in nature or synthesised in the laboratory
0790B26 by scientists. ^For example, antibiotics are derived from natural sources.
0800B26 ^A chemical compound like aspirin and thousands of others are synthesised
0810B26 in the laboratories. ^There are a number of guide-lines that_
0820B26 help in designing an effective molecule. ^Empirical approach to drug-design
0830B26 is of great help even to-day. ^Whenever the chemical compound is orally
0840B26 taken it changes the working of the body cells and tissues. $^The
0850B26 study of how this happens is the science of pharmacology. ^A chemical
0860B26 compound is called a drug when all the pharmacological tests are successful.
0870B26 ^There are different categories of drugs. ^They are stimulants, depressants,
0880B26 and many others. ^Smaller classes of compounds indicate the
0890B26 specific action of drugs; anesthetics; sedatives and tranquilizers, painkillers
0900B26 are a few examples of specificity. $*<*3ASPIRIN EXAMPLE*0*>
0910B26 $^One familiar example of aspirin, often taken to_ get rid of headache,
0920B26 is undergoing pharmacological tests even to-day. ^A chemical compound
0930B26 may be known for years but new therapeutic applications are being found
0940B26 out by scientists all over; this is true atleast of aspirin. $^Aspirin,
0950B26 a small molecule of acetylsalicylic acid, is the most commonly used analgesic
0960B26 and antipyretic against neuralgia, influenza, colds, arthritis,
0970B26 headache and fever. ^It was for these properties it was introduced into
0980B26 therapy in 1899. ^Since then, aspirin has been a common name known to millions!
0990B26 ^When taken in the form of tablets or powder in capsules, often
1000B26 mixed with sodium bicarbonate, a chemical by name salicylic acid is liberated
1010B26 later to_ be absorbed through the intestinal membrane. ^Because of
1020B26 this action physiological responses have been possible. $^Innovative
1030B26 efforts of \0Dr. *(0R. K. S.*) Lim during the last decade have
1031B26 explained
1040B26 how exactly the aspirin acts to_ relieve the pain. ^In the last two decades
1050B26 interest in aspirin has increased because of the discovery that it
1060B26 modifies the synthesis of prostaglandins, and because of a reinterpretation
1070B26 of its side effects. ^Prostaglandins participate in a variety of
1080B26 biological reactions and are synthesised on demand and released. ^This
1090B26 is inhibited by aspirin and other peripheral analgesics. ^But in the organism,
1100B26 the clinical significance of the aspirin-effect on prostaglandin
1110B26 is still open to question since bronchi are controlled not only by prostaglandins
1120B26 but by multiple chemical mediators, some of which are not
1130B26 affected by aspirin. $^Intolerance to aspirin is not uncommon. ^It occurs
1140B26 in thousands of individuals. ^In United States where aspirin is consumed
1150B26 more frequently there are about 500,000 individuais showing intolerance.
1160B26 ^Bronchial asthma, uticaria are some of the side effects. $^Drug
1170B26 evaluation in all aspects and finding out new therapeutic applications
1180B26 go on continuously in cases of at least a few drugs. ^Aspirin is one such
1190B26 example that_ comes out with new properties. ^Very recently, it has been
1200B26 found as an effective weapon against stroke. ^These are the results
1210B26 of a recently completed three-year study involving ten medical institutions
1220B26 and 307 high-risk patients in United States. $^Clinical trials indicated
1230B26 that four aspirins a day significantly reduced the incidence of
1240B26 mild strokes in 178 patients who had previous history of strokes. ^Of
1250B26 these patients treated with aspirin 880 had no additional strokes during
1260B26 the test period or reported a "significantly reduced number". ^This was
1270B26 revealed recently by \0Dr. William Fields of the University Health
1280B26 Science Centre in Houston. ^In 129 patients who formed a placebo group
1290B26 only 55% showed favourable results. ^This long study did not clearly
1300B26 indicate that favourable results lowered the death rate or the onset of
1310B26 full-blown stroke. $^But an ongoing Canadian study, \0Dr. Fields
1320B26 says, confirms the \0U.S. results and also indicates a 50% reduction in
1330B26 death and disability in man. ^Patients in the study had mild strokes resulting
1340B26 primarily from the dislodgement of blood clots in the carotid
1350B26 artery that_ supply blood to the brain. $^It was 25 years ago a physician
1360B26 in California published the results of his clinical trials; two aspirins
1370B26 a day seemed to_ lower the incidence of heart attacks in his elderly
1380B26 patients. ^In other clinical trials it was reported that aspirin regularly
1390B26 taken for headaches or to_ reduce the pain and inflammation of arthritic
1400B26 had a lower than normal rate of heart attack and stroke. ^It was
1410B26 also indicated that aspirin might inhibit blood clot formation and subsequent
1420B26 heart attack and stroke by inhibiting synthesis of prostaglandins
1430B26 normally considered to_ contribute to the coagulation of specialised
1440B26 blood cells, called platelets which in turn seem to_ accelerate clot formations
1450B26 in ailing arteries. $^The experiments involving aspirin are going
1460B26 on. ^More clarification is necessary to_ confirm good effects of aspirin.
1470B26 ^Meanwhile, \0Dr. William Fields warns that excessive use of aspirin
1480B26 may cause intestinal bleeding. ^He also warns against taking this
1490B26 familiar drug as a hedge against strokes in future. $^It is not the size
1500B26 of the molecule that_ determines the therapeutic effect. ^A small molecule
1510B26 of aspirin may also do wonders if the present clinical trials are
1520B26 proved successful.
1530B26 $**<*3Leave it to reformers*0**> $\0^*Mr. MORARJI DESAI IS strong in
1540B26 his views, but not evidently in history. ^The Aztecs of South America,
1550B26 who had built a high civilisation by the thirteenth and fourteenth
1560B26 centuries and later fell to the Spanish marauders, were among the first
1570B26 to_ try their hand at Prohibition. ^Ancient China, feudal Japan, Iceland,
1580B26 Finland, Norway, Sweden, Russia, Canada, and India have at
1590B26 several times in their history tried to_ enforce Prohibition; some of
1600B26 them continue to_ try. ^*Finland and the United States introduced total
1610B26 national Prohibition in 1919 and both had to_ beat a hasty retreat and
1620B26 repeal the dry law in the early *'3thirties. $^Prohibition has been defined
1630B26 as the legal prevention of the manufacture, sale, or transportation
1640B26 of alcoholic beverages, with a view to obtaining partial or total abstinence
1650B26 through legal means. ^The realisation that the law was unequal
1660B26 to the task gave birth to the temperance movement to_ promote moderation
1670B26 in the consumption of liquor, with total abstinence as the ideal. ^The
1680B26 churches and, naturally, women took a big hand in this drive and today
1690B26 both the temperance movement and the women*'s movement have worldwide ramifications,
1700B26 including India. $^So the struggle continues. ^But it is an
1710B26 unequal struggle in a world that_ is growing increasingly permissive.
1720B26 ^It is against all historic evidence that \0Mr. Morarji Desai can succeed
1730B26 where reformers in other times and climes have failed so conspicuously.
1740B26 ^He has issued a five-point fiat laying down dos and don*'4ts for officials
1750B26 on the drink evil. ^Would it not be a better idea to_ leave it
1760B26 to unofficial organisations, social reformers and women to_ tackle this
1770B26 evil? ^As the head of the Government of the world*'s second most populous
1780B26 country beset with weighty problems of poverty and unemployment,
1790B26 \0Mr. Desai has more urgent things to_ attend to than mending people*'s
1800B26 morals and personal habits. ^For one thing, he has repeatedly made the
1810B26 promise that unemployment will be wiped out in ten years.*#
        **[no. of words = 02003**]

        **[txt. b27**]
0010B27 **<*3In The Melting Pot**> $^Sir,-- *(0^*M. J.*) Kanetkar*'s
0011B27 centre-page
0020B27 article in your issue of the 3rd instant, entitled "In The Melting
0030B27 Pot", is very thought-provoking, and serves as a guideline for those
0040B27 really interested in returning competent men to our legislatures. $^But
0050B27 coming to the very basis of our system of elections, let us for a
0060B27 moment pause to_ think whether adult franchise is suited to our country.
0070B27 ^With illiteracy being as high as it is, are our masses capable of exercising
0080B27 the right choice? ^It is in such situations that "crooks" make merry.
0090B27 ^All worthwhile human values having been devalued these days, it is
0100B27 easy for unscrupulous leaders to_ make capital out of the gullibility
0101B27 of our villagers who behave like
0110B27 dumb driven cattle. ^All promises made before the elections are made to_
0120B27 be broken; \0*4Shri Kanetkar has very rightly said that the candidate
0121B27 who
0130B27 comes to one*'s door to_ beg of his vote immediately becomes his master
0140B27 after winning the election. $^Adult franchise is unsuited to our country.
0150B27 ^What is required is an educated franchise, wherein only those who have
0160B27 a prescribed minimum standard of education can participate in the battle
0170B27 at the hustings. ^Then, and only then, can we expect some quality
0180B27 in our legislatures. $*=2 $^Sir,-- ^This refers to an article "In The
0190B27 Melting Pot" by \0*4Shri *(0M J*) Kanetkar appearing in the Nagpur
0200B27 Times of 3rd February. ^The diagnosis and the prescription is so accurate,
0210B27 that there is hardly any room to_ differ. ^Even the thought for
0220B27 today by Lala Lajpatrai beautifully tenders the identical advice. $^But
0230B27 the most baffling problem is who is to_ bell the cat? ^*George Bernard
0240B27 Shaw, during World War *=2 gave vent to his similar feelings thus:
0250B27 "^Those who have power to_ think, have no power to_ act, and those who
0260B27 have power to_ act, have no time to_ think". $^If all thinkers like \0*4Shri
0270B27 Kanetkar merely remain content with their prescriptions, who is to_
0280B27 administer them to the 'patients' who are inevitably the people at large?
0290B27 ^Why \0*4Shri Kanetkar alone? ^All the leaders of the Sarvodaya
0300B27 who were so vocal during last general elections, seem to_ be lying low
0310B27 now. ^*Loknayak *(0J. P.*) had hinted at establishment of people*'s committees
0320B27 then. ^One can understand his inability in the matter because
0330B27 of his failing health. ^But many like me expected that effective institutions
0340B27 to_ organise public opinion and grievances would be set up soon
0350B27 by his followers. ^Unfortunately that_ has not been done. $^Those who call
0360B27 themselves as the friends of the people should educate and organise the
0370B27 people at various levels instead of merely prescribing remedies.
0380B27 $**<*3Lessons From The Strike**> $^Sir,-- ^The 54-day strike of
0390B27 the ten *4lakh Maharashtra \0Govt. and semi-Government employees,
0391B27 which
0400B27 ended on Monday, has a great lesson to_ teach both to the employers, \0viz.
0410B27 the government and the strikers. $^The employees have gained nothing
0420B27 by their prolonged strike, in spite of their wonderful unity and great
0430B27 suffering, on the contrary they have lost public sympathy. ^Only the
0440B27 Government servants, their family members, members of other trade unions
0450B27 supported their strike, the rest of them, the common men, never support
0451B27 either a strike or *4hartal or *4bandh. ^The common men, who pay these
0460B27 employees through their direct and indirect taxes, suffer the most through
0470B27 such strikes. $^The intelligentsia never thought that the strikers
0480B27 will succeed in getting more than what was offered by \0Mr. Vasantdada
0490B27 Patil, Chief Minister of Maharashtra; more so because the strike
0500B27 leaders did not listen even to the appeals of the President, the Prime
0510B27 Minister and the Governor, in addition to the repeated requests of
0520B27 the Chief Minister. ^The Janata Party top leaders and the Congress
0530B27 leaders also did not support the strike; only a few other Janata Party
0540B27 leaders lent their support. $^The Central and State Governments will
0550B27 have to_ put their heads together and find out a way of settling all
0560B27 labour disputes, without the workers having to_ take recourse to strike.
0570B27 ^Tribunals or committees consisting of representatives of the employers,
0580B27 the employees and impartial public men must be entrusted with the task
0590B27 of finding a solution for any dispute, and their decision must be made
0600B27 binding on the two parties. ^If the employees continue to_ ask for more
0610B27 and the employers continue to_ say that they are not able to_ meet their
0620B27 demands, the dispute will never end. $^There has to_ be reconsideration
0630B27 of the wage structure in different sectors in our country and the vast
0640B27 gap lessened, otherwise there will always be discontent in the low-paid
0650B27 employees. $^It is true that wages of all workers in all sectors cannot
0660B27 be equal. ^They have to_ be different. ^But the difference has to be
0670B27 narrowed down considerably if jealousy and heart burn are to_ be avoided.
0680B27 $^The citizens are tired of strikes, lock-outs, go-slow tactics which
0690B27 result in lower production and rising prices. ^Government at the Centre
0700B27 must expedite its legislation to_ evolve a machinery for settling all labour
0710B27 disputes. ^The sooner it is done the better for industrial peace and
0720B27 prosperity of the country. $**<*3Minorities Commission**> $^Sir,--
0730B27 ^It is in the fitness of things that certain provisions are made by the
0740B27 Government to_ safeguard the interests of the various religious and
0750B27 linguistic minorities in the country. ^Thanks to the Janata Party Government
0760B27 for the establishment of 'Minorities Commission'. ^But the
0770B27 terms of reference for the commission, as detailed in the Government notification
0780B27 do not make the scheme foolproof, since they are vague. ^The
0790B27 very character of the commission that it will not be a mandatory authority
0800B27 and the recommendations and suggestions of the commission will not
0810B27 be binding on the Government creates a doubt about Commission being
0820B27 effective. $^Secondly the most important demand of the minorities, \0i.e.
0830B27 their representation in the Government Services in the ratio of their
0840B27 population does not find a place among the terms of reference of the
0850B27 Commission. $^If Janata Party Government is really keen and sincere
0860B27 to_ ameliorate lot of the minorities it should arm the Commission with
0870B27 the mandatory powers and assign to the Commission the duty of assessing
0880B27 the present inadequate representation of the minorities in Government
0890B27 services and finding out the ways and means of ensuring their representation
0900B27 in Government services commensurate with their population. $^Last
0910B27 but not the least they should appoint such persons on the Commission
0920B27 as are able to_ inspire confidence in the minorities. $**<*3The Role
0930B27 Of The \0RSS**> $^Sir,-- ^A few days ago I met one \0Dr. Jacob
0940B27 Devesahayam, of the Good Samaritan Hospital, Ujjain, who had gone
0950B27 as a volunteer to_ render medical aid to the cyclone affected areas
0960B27 in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, and worked in co-operation with "\0CASA"
0970B27 for two months. ^Amongst many things of the utmost importance
0980B27 and interest, I just want to_ mention here only three things. $^No
0981B27 relief
0990B27 measures of any sort could be carried out until the dead bodies, tens
1000B27 of thousands of them could be disposed of. ^The figures given in the
1010B27 press are a gross understatement. ^While the army and the Police were
1020B27 arguing whose job it was to_ dispose of the dead bodies, it was the \0RSS
1030B27 volunteers and Christian agencies which personally carried the dead
1040B27 bodies and cremated them or otherwise disposed them off effectively.
1050B27 ^They did magnificent, selfless service in every way in bringing succour
1060B27 to the dying and in the distribution of aid and in the reconstruction
1070B27 work still going on. $^Whereas the *(0T. N.*) Government forcibly
1071B27 evacuated
1080B27 people from the danger zone, when they received advance notice, the
1090B27 Andhra Government was fiddling when Rome was burning and was engaged
1100B27 in politicking. ^Even today their callousness continues. $^The \0RSS
1110B27 is an army of dedicated, cultured, trained volunteers. ^The secret of
1120B27 their strength lies in their training and devotion to the country. ^Their
1130B27 loyalty and above all the religious zeal, and the faith they have, akin
1140B27 to 'missionary zeal'. ^This common faith and zeal are required. ^You
1150B27 cannot mix up with the people of different culture, ideals and faith.
1160B27 ^A common bond is their strength. ^They should not dilute or compromise
1170B27 their faith and their oath. ^If they should continue to_ be a force for
1180B27 good, they should continue to_ eschew communalism, and consider all Indians
1190B27 as their brothers and the right to_ live as one people, and at the
1200B27 same time prevent inroads into their ranks. ^Let Muslims and Christians
1210B27 build up their own youth organizations, inspired by their own faith and
1220B27 with dedication to_ serve one another and Mother India. ^We want an
1230B27 army of dedicated youths, like the \0RSS in every village and town.
1240B27 $**<*3Repair The Road At Once**> $^Sir,-- ^We wish to_ bring to
1250B27 the notice of the authorities concerned, the very bad state of the road
1260B27 adjacent to Harihar Mandir, off Bhandara Road, in Lakadganj area.
1270B27 ^This road is full of pot holes and poor metalling \0etc. ^This road commences
1280B27 from *(0R K*) Flour Mills and culminates with our premises at
1290B27 the end of the road. ^We have about 500 workers who have to_ use this
1300B27 road daily in all three shifts for our factory, and there are also various
1310B27 other industrial units on both sides of this road. ^The present condition
1320B27 of the road poses accident hazards and it is a usual feature that
1330B27 this road becomes useless during rainy season. $^We had taken up this
1340B27 matter with both the Nagpur Municipal Corporation and Nagpur Improvement
1350B27 Trust several times and the appeal seems to_ have fallen on deaf
1360B27 ears as the condition of the road remains the same going from bad to worse
1370B27 day by day. $^Is i pperhaps both of them are in doubt as regards the
1380B27 ownership of the road and have decided to_ leave it unattended? ^Will
1390B27 the city fathers kindly make a decision and get the road repaired at once
1400B27 in public interest?
1410B27 $**<*3FOREIGN AID*0**> $^Sir,-- ^The visit of World Bank President,
1420B27 \0Mr. Robert McNamara, to India should reoccasion thinking on our
1430B27 national policy of receiving foreign aid. ^First, we borrowed in order
1440B27 to_ industrialise. ^Then we borrowed more to_ buy raw materials, spares
1450B27 and components to_ keep those industries going. ^Then we borrowed further
1460B27 to_ repay old borrowings. ^Now we are borrowing because it seems
1461B27 to_ have
1470B27 become a habit. $^Foreign aid is against our self-respect. ^Moreover,
1480B27 today most of that_ aid is distorting India*'s economic development.
1490B27 ^The World Bank financed flyovers in Bombay which are not needed while
1500B27 one out of three villages in India still lacks a link road. ^This
1510B27 is an instance of the topsy-turvy economic thinking of World Bank experts.
1520B27 ^These experts have no proper appreciation of Indian economic realities.
1530B27 ^Neither do they have any appreciation of the value of money
1540B27 which they handle because they do not know what it means to_ pay taxes.
1550B27 ^Their income is tax-free both in the \0U.S.A. and their home country.
1560B27 $^Not only is India*'s growth pattern distorted, but also the real strength
1570B27 of the economy, which can easily dispense with foreign aid, does
1580B27 not develop because of easy-gotten foreign aid. ^The diamond cutter,
1590B27 goldsmith, jeweller, skilled and semi-skilled workers of India who go
1600B27 abroad, are but some of the reservoirs of strength in the Indian economy.
1610B27 ^If they are properly attended to the problem of foreign exchange
1620B27 will be solved by them and not by depending on doles from abroad. $**<*3DOWRY
1630B27 SYSTEM*0**> $^Sir,-- ^Recently I went through the views of \0Mr.
1640B27 Ambrish Saxena on the dowry system. ^The dowry system still continues
1650B27 because of our blind adherence to old customs. ^We have to_ be broad
1660B27 minded in our thinking and have to_ make a rational and impartial analysis
1670B27 of the problem if we really want to_ abolish this social evil. $^It
1680B27 is wrong to_ say-- as \0Mr Saxena has stated-- that the British rulers
1690B27 did a lot for the reformation of our society. ^We should not forget
1700B27 that Britons were unfavourably disposed towards Indians. ^They wanted
1710B27 to_ suppress the desires, ambitions and sentiments of the people of India.
1720B27 ^*I am not going to_ prove that they did nothing for the welfare of
1730B27 the country but they did very little to_ uplift the nation and to_ do
1740B27 away with traditions like these of dowry, child marriage and "*4Sati".*#
        **[no. of words = 02035**]


        **[txt. c01**]
0010C01 **<*3Culture and anarchy:*0**> $*<GOLDEN HARVEST:*> $^*Kafka wrote:
0030C01 "^If the Book we are reading does not wake us, as with a
0040C01 fist-hammering on our skull, why then do we read it? ^A book must be an
0050C01 ice-axe to_ break the sea frozen inside us." ^*Chandrasekharan*'s lectures
0060C01 as the Tagore Professor of Humanities of the Madras University,
0070C01 succeed admirably in this mission--
0071C01 with his formidable condition, depth
0080C01 of argument and terse yet lucid style. ^His perception of the probelms
0090C01 is acute and humane-- rich in portraits and anecdotes, in perspective
0100C01 and implications.
0110C01 $^The lectures cover all aspects of culture, as exemplified in Tagore*'s
0120C01 writings and of our present cultural crisis, as reflected in many spheres
0130C01 of national life. ^Running through the discussion of diverse problems
0140C01 is the unifying theme of the role of the intellectual in the spiritual
0150C01 regulation of society. ^Literature and art are not merely a mirror
0160C01 of whatever passes for contemporary social and cultural values, but
0170C01 a powerful force which helps shape the way people should live and behave.
0180C01 ^Their function is to_ discipline the individual to_ surrender some of
0190C01 his self-love and self-seeking for the progress of society. ^In *4advaitic
0200C01 terms, all education and culture are but methods whereby man transcends
0210C01 his sense-bound ego. ^The ego separates, but behind it is the *4Atman
0220C01 which is the true Self of all.
0230C01 $^The author shows how Tagore*'s comprehensive range of culture and his
0240C01 profound thinking on many of the trends in modernity have added much
0250C01 to any serious discussion of the probelms facing humanity. ^*Gandhiji said
0260C01 that Gurdev as a person was greater than his works. ^This again is true,
0270C01 as Chandrasekharan illustrates from the lives of great men from Valmiki
0280C01 onwards, of all great and good men. ^It is a mark of the freedom
0290C01 of the spirit in which they lived and worked. ^Genuine literature and
0300C01 art are rooted in spiritual living.
0310C01 $^The author has traced the evolution and present status of various forms
0320C01 of literature-- poetry, novel, biography and so on in relation to
0321C01 life. ^The lecture: "^Humour is life-belt" illustrates, with reference
0330C01 to Western, Indian and particularly Tamil writers, the wholesome role
0340C01 of laughter in life. ^Quite often however, pathos underlies humour as
0350C01 where *(0K. S.*) Venkatramani wrote:
0351C01 "^When the youth is yet unequal to the hard labour of the field, he is
0360C01 cheered into adult suffrage." ^*Dickens
0370C01 still remains "the high priest of pathos interlarded with humour" but
0380C01 in all his novels, laughter is used not just to_ define a theme, but to_
0390C01 commit the reader to it irrevocably. ^To the author as much as the reader,
0400C01 laughter becomes a means for liberation and joy. $^It is not possible
0410C01 in a review to_ touch on all the themes discussed but at the end of
0420C01 it all, is the author*'s poser: "^What is the golden harvest we have gathered
0430C01 by freedom?" \0^*Mr Chandrasekharan argues that literary and artistic
0440C01 culture is related to our current social realities and gives a grim
0450C01 survey of future prospects, unless we recover the will to_ restore civilised
0460C01 values and honour human greatness.
0470C01 $^The younger generation seems caught up in one of those twilight ages
0480C01 which recur periodically in history-- when traditional institutions decay,
0490C01 values crumble and culture is corrupted by the dominance of the bizarre
0500C01 and the coarse. ^Here is a perceptible alienation of the spirit in
0510C01 the art and literature of our times. ^The proliferation of civil rights
0520C01 is attended by licence, rather than the liberation of the creative mind.
0530C01 ^Our biggest failure during the thirty years of independence has been
0540C01 the inability to_ gain an intellectual foothold of our own. ^Such intellectuals
0550C01 as the country has produced have largely either been corrupted
0560C01 by power or stifled by authority. ^The greatest menace to freedom is an
0570C01 inert people: there is urgent need to_ educate people in responsible citizenship.
0590C01 $^While we repeat monotonously that real India dwells in the villages,
0600C01 we forget that the rural folk, despite their vulnerability to cruel forces
0610C01 and gnawing hunger, are rich in spirit, and still possess something
0620C01 of the indigenous culture. ^What have we done to_ develop folk arts? ^Our
0630C01 education generally with its emphasis on the utilitarian is bereft of
0640C01 culture and has failed to_ nurture values vital to a democracy.
0650C01 $^The task ahead can be successfully undertaken only by intellectuals
0660C01 including professionals in voluntary association. ^The primary task of
0670C01 the intellectual in a democracy is, through his own sensitiveness to social
0680C01 change and to developing sensibilities, to_ make himself the voice
0690C01 of the inchoate, confused and complex aspirations of the society of which
0700C01 he forms part. ^He must be a poet and a prophet, rather than a legislator.
0720C01 $^Reading these closely argued, deeply felt, and often moving lectures,
0730C01 one has the curious feeling of standing uneasily with one foot in a dying
0740C01 world and the other in a world that_ at all costs we must see born. ^Again
0750C01 and again we have faced this problem all through history from the
0760C01 Roman days-- that when man loses the centre, his world falls apart and
0770C01 his life becomes meaningless. ^But always the miracle has happened-- whatever
0780C01 happens to a civilisation as a whole, for each individual the centre
0790C01 and the truth are there-- to_ restore a tranquil belief. ^*Tagore wrote:
0800C01 "^Every child comes with a message that God is not discouraged
0820C01 of Man." $**<*3Search for relevant educational system**>
0830C01 $*<THE SOCIAL CONTEXT OF EDUCATION:*>
0840C01 $^This is a collection of twenty essays including one by Naik himself
0850C01 by different persons known to him largely through his connection with the
0860C01 Kothari Education Commission and his association with the Education
0870C01 Ministry in Delhi. ^As may be expected from such diverse authorship,
0880C01 the essays show the subjective nature, though all are primarily concerned
0890C01 with the primary and secondary stages in some way, with the tertiary
0900C01 stage only occasionally touched on. ^The subjective nature of each individual
0910C01 is noticeable in every essay. ^The approach of Ivan Ilyich on
0920C01 the alternative to schooling is shown by a few excerpts:
0921C01 "^All over the world the cost of educating man for society rises faster
0922C01 than the productivity of the entire economy, and fewer people have a
0923C01 sense of intelligent participation in the commonweal." "^For several
0930C01 decades a quota system in the \0USSR favoured the admission of sons
0940C01 of working parents over sons of university graduates in the university,
0950C01 nevertheless the latter are overrepresented in Russian graduating classes
0960C01 much more than in \0USA." "^When knowledge became a commodity, it
0970C01 acquired the protections of private property". "^An egalitarian economy
0980C01 cannot exist in a society in which the right to_ produce is conferred by
0990C01 schools".
1000C01 $^*Gore*'s essay indicates the abstractness of an academic in dealing with
1010C01 the complex problem. ^He raises some pertinent questions: "^Do we emphasise
1020C01 the individual or the group? ^Which is the major group of orientation
1030C01 of the individual? ^Is it the family, the caste, the village, the
1040C01 workgroup of an industry, a commune or the abstract group entity of
1050C01 the nation? ^*Gunnar Myrdal*'s comments are apt." ^There is no view except
1060C01 viewpoint. "^In referring to underdeveloped countries students were
1070C01 commonly expected to_ be 'deskmen' not soiling hands. ^Importance was
1080C01 given to passing examinations and acquiring status while practical training
1090C01 for life was ignored". ^*Mary Bowman shows a clear understanding
1100C01 of our problems by her comment that it is relatively easy for the new
1110C01 political elites of an ex-colony to_ import a familiar school system with
1120C01 an ordered examination structure-- often more rigid and unresponsive
1130C01 than the metropole system taken as a model. ^*Anderson clearly indicates
1140C01 the role of elementary schools on national horizons "unless provincial
1150C01 versions are locked inside a barrier of languages" and few can disagree
1160C01 with his comment that it is the elementary schools everywhere that_
1170C01 receive the lowest expenditure per pupil.
1180C01 $^*Shah*'s essay indicates the chief concern of one who has studied the
1190C01 problem and those in power may not relish his remark that "the professions
1200C01 of policy makers and exhortations of political leaders, no matter
1210C01 how high falutin, count for little to_ deceive the people and in the end
1220C01 themselves too." ^The other comment of his which the reviewer appreciates
1230C01 is that the debasement of university life during the emergency was merely
1240C01 the symptom of a malaise that_ has afflicted universities for a
1250C01 number of years." "^Conceived in sin and brought up in bondage the university
1260C01 in India could not promote creativity and innovation". ^Space does
1270C01 not permit further comments. ^The volume deserves a careful study and
1280C01 is a well deserved compliment to the devoted career of *(0J. P.*) Naik
1290C01 in the cause of education. ^It is well got up but the price is beyond
1300C01 the means of an average individual who may want to_ possess a copy.
1310C01 $**<*3Books in Indian Languages**> $*<MALAYALAM*>
1330C01 $*<*5*PANIYA BHASHA*6*>
1340C01 $^This is an interesting and useful work dealing with the language of
1350C01 the *4Paniya tribe of the *4Wynad region in Kerala. ^The author has
1360C01 already published a book on this tribe and this is the companion volume
1370C01 which describes their language. ^Though not exhaustive, it gives the reader
1380C01 a clear idea of the subject, as the writer is well equipped with the
1390C01 necessary scientific training.
1400C01 $^The book is divided into three parts. ^The first gives a general idea
1410C01 of the aboriginal tribes (some 54 in number) inhabiting the hilly borderlands
1420C01 of Kerala and their languages. ^Salient differences in language
1430C01 are pointed out with examples. ^The second chapter is a detailed study
1440C01 of the *4Paniya dialect which was conducted with the aid of a good number
1450C01 of informants in the course of field study. ^The phonology and morphology
1460C01 of the language are described briefly but clearly. ^This is followed
1470C01 by lexical material and also by a list of about 300 short sentences
1480C01 in the language. ^A good bibliography also is provided. ^At a time when
1490C01 the uplift of the aboriginal tribes has become a national problem
1500C01 of immense magnitude, it is but proper that we should have first-hand
1510C01 information of their cultural state and dialects. ^It is
1511C01 gratifying to_ note that
1520C01 the Linguistic department of the Kerala University is doing substantial
1530C01 work in this field and this book, though small, written by a member
1540C01 of this department appears to_ be especially valuable. ^It is useful
1550C01 for scholars and lay men alike who take genuine interest in the culture
1560C01 and language of aboriginals. $*<TAMIL*> $*<*5MANNIN MANAM:*6*>$^This
1590C01 novel depicts how the back-of-beyond village Poonkundram in Ramanathapuram
1600C01 district slumbering for ages under the sway of a family of
1610C01 self-centred plutocratic landlords suddenly comes to life thanks to a
1620C01 shambles. ^*Singaram, fresh from the college and full of visionary schemes
1630C01 for an egalitarian society coupled with the gift of the gab, comes
1640C01 as stormy petrel and looks daggers at his own father Somayya, the last
1641C01 of the tribe of plutocrats. ^The yawning gulf of ideologies between
1650C01 father and son constitutes the plot. ^It is a tense drama, wheels within
1660C01 wheels, though the militant movement launched by Singaram the Proteus
1670C01 was a flash in the pan. ^How Somayya himself turned *8volte-face*9 and
1680C01 brought about a silent revolution of rising expectations is delineated
1690C01 with startling realism.
1700C01 ^A series of musical discourses on Ramayana by that_ paragon of virtues
1710C01 Ponnamma-- an unlettered genius and eldest daughter-in-law of Somayya--
1720C01 proves the prime mover of the silent revolution. ^This is a very
1730C01 rare angle from which the novelist tries to_ transform the rainbow of
1740C01 *4Ramarajya in the horizon of an intellectual backwater into a reality
1750C01 in an incredibly short period.
1760C01 $^All the 807 pages of the novel are heavily freighted with wit and wisdom
1770C01 which are bound to_ give the author a niche in the temple of fame.
1780C01 ^There is no dross in his imagery, which is keyed to a keen visual sense......
1790C01 and he infuses his paced-down **[word mutilated**] muscular narrative
1800C01 with a profound, illuminating insight into the symbolic significance
1810C01 of events. ^This book is that_ rarest creation, a gravely beautiful
1820C01 celebration of hard-won and timeless faith. ^Who cannot be struck with
1830C01 awe by the leonine courage exhibited by Meena at feud with her own uncle
1840C01 Somayya.*#
        **[no. of words = 02001**]

        **[txt. c02**]
0010C02 **<*3Sedate Stream of Musical Skill**>
0020C02 $^A serious-minded approach marked Calcutta *(0K. S.*) Krishnamurthi*'s
0030C02 vocal concert for the *5Krishna Gana Sabha*6, \0T. Nagar, last
0040C02 week. ^While his manner of presentation revealed that he does not believe
0050C02 in dramatising classical music, the form and substance of the concert
0060C02 testified to a musical mind in pursuit of orderly and thoughtful direction.
0070C02 ^The programme was offered as a sedate stream of musical expertise
0080C02 with a quiet and unruffled execution characterising the exposition of
0090C02 both the sensitive and skilled aspects. ^The recital was supported by Radha
0100C02 Narayan (violin) and Palghat Hariharan (*4mridangam).
0110C02 $^The impression one got during the initial stages of the recital was
0120C02 of a fairly pleasant but none-too-compelling voice and a sobriety which
0130C02 bordered on tameness. ^Only on keen and intent listening could one perceive
0140C02 the merits informing the music. ^The technical embellishments for "*4Aparadha"
0150C02 (*4Lathangi) gave a sampling of Krishnamurthi*'s measured
0160C02 *4vidwat. ^His studied renditions of "*4Pariyachaka" (*4Vanaspati) and
0170C02 "*4Koniyade" (*4Kokiladhwani) brought out with clarity the *4ragas*'
0180C02 colours and contours as conceived by Tyagaraja and packed into the song
0190C02 structures. ^They also bore testimony to an unusual repertoire.
0200C02 $^In *4Poorvikalyani (*4Paripoorna), the vocalist made a determined bid
0210C02 to_ rid his tonality of its propensity to_ float and capture firmness.
0220C02 ^This was quietly achieved without giving the impression that the task
0230C02 was impairing fluency of *4raga phrasing. ^The melody was developed with
0240C02 logic and dignity of movement and the *4neraval and *4swaras for the
0250C02 song at "*4Saketha..." flowed smoothly and with sense indicating musicianship
0260C02 of a high order. $4*^*Sankarabharnam
0270C02 (*4Emineramu) which was taken up as the central *4raga
0280C02 of the evening saw the singer*'s voice deepen in quality and the intelligently
0290C02 formulated essay registered with effectiveness on the strength
0300C02 of a steady *4bhava sense running through the thoughtfully conceived
0310C02 passages. ^There was a small dose of top octave singing mounted on the
0320C02 *4gandhara which did not seem very natural to the vocalist. ^Perhaps, it
0330C02 was felt that this was a "must" to_ fulfil conventional *4cutcheri
0340C02 requirement. $^One relished the reposeful *4Kalapramana
0350C02 at which "*4Emineramu" was sung by Krishnamurthi. ^It suited the mood
0370C02 and spirit of the composition and the interpretation came through evocatively.
0371C02 ^The *4neraval and *4swaras for it displayed *4vidwat
0380C02 which combined musical goodness with clean rhythmic grip.
0400C02 $^It was in the *5ragamalika sloka*6 comprising *4Sahana, *4Varali, *4Ahiri
0410C02 and *4Surati that the aesthetic stature of this vocalist*'s art
0420C02 stood fully revealed. ^His voice acquired a warm glow and his phrases
0430C02 were invested with vivid feeling. *4^*Varali was, indeed, resplendent and
0440C02 provided a striking example of *4manodharma wedded to ripe *5gamaka gnana*6.
0450C02 ^Violinist Radha played with a measure of restraint generally
0460C02 and contributed sweet spells in the *4ragamalika. ^*Palghat Hariharan revealed
0470C02 himself as a very desirable *4mridangam accompanist. ^Apart from
0480C02 the sweet and subdued character of his support, he was never guilty of
0490C02 running ahead of the main performer in the name of anticipatory art.
0500C02 $*<VIOLIN DUO EXCELS*>
0510C02 $^Excellent instrumental music was offered in the concert by the father-daughter
0520C02 violin duo of *(0M. S.*) Gopalakrishnan and \0G. Narmadha
0530C02 presented by *4Nadopasana at the *(0P. S.*) High School, Mylapore,
0540C02 on Saturday. ^The recital was ruled by a pronounced virtuosic slant but
0550C02 it was all extremely clean and neither melody nor atmosphere suffered.
0560C02 $^The *4Chalanata piece of Kotiswara Aiyar, "*4Edhayagathi", was among
0570C02 the early highlights and evoked moody melody. ^Young and remarkably
0580C02 talented Narmadha claimed attention in the *4swaras for the song with charming
0590C02 contributions which gave proof of her prowess.
0600C02 $^The highly stylised method of instrumental presentation affected the
0610C02 duo*'s song renditions and compositions like "*4Dharadhi" (*4Gowlipantu),
0620C02 the *5Yadukulakambhoji navagraha*6 piece "*4Diwakaram" and "*4Marivere"
0630C02 (*4Anandhabhairavi) came through quaint, at times, without the
0640C02 pregnant *4Carnatic *4rasa that_ should normally inform their interpretation.
0650C02 ^Still, they were melodically slick. ^The *4swaras for "*4Marivere"
0660C02 registered with engaging skill.
0670C02 $^Gopalakrishnan*'s *4alapana of *4Anandhabhairavi, was marked by his customary
0680C02 poise and gave of lucidly phrased melody. ^It was lovely music
0690C02 despite "*5Pa ma ga ri sa*6" played in a style more appropriate to *4Ritigowla.
0700C02 ^A slight *4rishaba-based oscillation of the *4gandhara in
0710C02 this sequence would have made it impeccably *4Anandhabhairavi.
0720C02 $^A major event of the recital was Narmadha*'s interpretation of *4Simmendhramadhyamam
0730C02 as a preface to "*4Natajana". ^It was done with striking
0740C02 beauty. ^Showing remarkable composure for one so young, she blended
0750C02 long *4karvais and sweet phrasings with fine musical deliberation. ^It
0760C02 created splendid atmosphere. ^The father watched the daughter faring
0770C02 excellently in the *4alapana of *4Simmendhramadhyamam with silent and
0780C02 concealed pleasure and chose to_ pack all his skills in the *4swaras for
0790C02 "*4Natajana". ^It was a stunning display of virtuosity. ^The finale movement
0800C02 was tremendously exciting and partook of the nature of vivacious
0810C02 Western classical music too. ^Later, he asserted his quality in a sensitive
0820C02 and sparkling version of *4Janaranjani (*5Smarane Sukham*6). ^*4mridangist
0830C02 Kuttalam Viswanatha Aiyar enlivened the concert with support
0840C02 designed artistically to_ meet its varied requirements.
0850C02 $*<IMPRESSIVE *4VEENA*>
0860C02 $^Listening to the *4veena recital provided by Ranganayaki Rajagopalan
0870C02 for the \0*4Sri Bhaktha Samaj in West Mambalam last week one was
0880C02 really impressed by the strength of her tone and the firmness of her
0890C02 fingering technique. ^The use of the contact mike made her *4veena sound
0900C02 like the cello at times. ^The music she created struck a middle path between
0910C02 the brazenly entertaining and the uncompromisingly classical.
0920C02 $^The *4Gowlai piece "\0*4Sri Mahaganapati" helped to_ create atmosphere
0930C02 in this recital in which "*5Sadha Madhi*6" (*4Gambiravani) was a
0940C02 welcome substitute for the excessively gimmicky piece. ^*Ranganayaki*'s
0950C02 *4alapana of Begada gave evidence of colourful *4raga instincts but
0951C02 her version
0960C02 of "*4Sankarinee" in this *4raga saw its beauty submerged in her percussive
0970C02 style of rendition. ^Her essay of *4Saraswathi (*4Anuragamule)
0980C02 was attractive and fell pleasantly on the ears.
1010C02 $^Considerable weight was conferred on the concert in Ranganayaki*'s
1020C02 evocative *4alpana of *4Madhyamavathi followed by "*4Palinchu". ^In the
1030C02 second tempo *4swaras for the piece "*5Pa dha ni pa*6", a special *5Sriraga
1040C02 prayoga*6 (Tyagaraja has not found use for it), crept in inadvertently.
1041C02 "*4^*Annapurne" (*4Sama) was a popular song in this
1060C02 recital supported on the *4mridangam with lively *4savalaghu flavour by
1080C02 Nellai Devaraja Aiyar. $**<*3More Sensitive in *4Odissi**>
1090C02 $^Two dance styles, *4Bharatnatya and *4Odissi figured in Menaka
1091C02 Thakkar*'s
1100C02 performance on Sunday for the *5Narada Gana Sabha*6 at the Music Academy.
1110C02 ^*4Odissi was presented after the interval and proved Menaka
1120C02 an exceedingly sensitive dancer. ^The *4Bharatnatya session earlier, especially
1130C02 in its pure dance aspects, had vigour bordering on rudeness and
1140C02 one wondered whether this type of treatment of *4Bharatanatya was deliberately
1150C02 designed to_ heighten the effect of her excellence in *4Odissi.
1160C02 $^*Menaka was unquestionably sound in *4Bharatanatya too but just did
1170C02 not have the superior grip needed to_ make a delicate exhibition of it.
1180C02 ^Her *4adavu execution had an athletic force which needed tempering down
1190C02 though her movements, gestures and posturing were crisp and correct.
1200C02 $^The *5Useni Swarajathi*6 was interpreted effectively, if not gracefully,
1210C02 as the principal number. ^The *4aridis would have registered better
1220C02 rhythmicality if the footwork had been stretched to the last beat instead
1230C02 of the right leg being lifted at the culminating point in the name of
1240C02 choreographic novelty. $^The
1250C02 *4abhinaya pieces in the *4Bharatanatya session were sung at an extremely
1260C02 slow *4kalapramana and it was praiseworthy that Menaka captured
1270C02 the essence of lingering *4bhava in her dance. ^Her *4abhinaya in the *4Odissi
1280C02 session was even better. ^Her pure dance in *4Odissi was in expressive
1290C02 rapport with the evocative music and the grace, wile and captivation
1300C02 which one missed in her *4Bharatanatya were generously present
1310C02 in the *4Odissi exposition.
1320C02 $**<*3"*5Ilamai Oonjaladukirathu*6"**> $^*Sridhar has certainly come
1330C02 back with his eternal love triangle (or is it a quadrilateral this time?)
1340C02 in a new dimension \0*4Sri Chitra*'s "*5Ilamai Oonjaladukirathu*6"
1350C02 (colour) has an air of aesthetic sophistication.
1370C02 $^*Kamalahasan gives a good performance with Sripriya vying with him at
1380C02 every stage. ^*Rajinikant as the rich, pompous rival, is the perfect
1390C02 foil. ^*Jayachitra, as the frustrated young widow battling to_ suppress
1400C02 nature*'s rebellion in her, is excellent. ^In the supportnig cast are *(0Y.
1410C02 G. P. V.*) Gopalakrishnan and senior Nirmala. $^*Prabhu
1420C02 (Kamalahasan) in the midst of a tempestuous romance with Padma
1430C02 (Sri Priya) a college girl, gets involved with her friend, Jayanthi
1440C02 (Jayachitra), a young widow, working under him. ^*Padma discovers the affair
1450C02 by accident and goes away in a huff. ^*Murali (Rajinikant), Prabhu*'s
1460C02 adopted brother, is gradually drawn into the triangle, widening the
1470C02 gap between Padma and Prabhu. ^As the misunderstanding deepens, Prabhu
1480C02 learns from Padma herself about Jayanthi*'s impending motherhood,
1490C02 repents, and goes in search of her, to_ marry her on her death-bed. ^The
1500C02 engagement between Padma and Murali does not end in marriage, as Prabhu
1510C02 re-enters their lives.
1520C02 $^*Sridhar*'s dialogues are incisive. ^Enhancing the values are the photography
1530C02 of Niwas, and the delightful music of Elaya Raja.
1540C02 $^The film is being released at Midland Pandian, Roxy and Kamala.
1550C02 $^*Rajinikant adds pep and tempo to the usual story of blind loyalty betrayal
1560C02 and revenge, in Valli Velan Movies "*4Bairavi" directed by
1570C02 \0M. Bhasker. ^*Sripriya, as the village belle, who loves and protects
1580C02 the hero, is attractive. ^*Srikant manages to_ play the suave villain with
1590C02 skill. ^New face Gita, looks pretty but has still to_ go a long way
1600C02 in histrionics while Sudhir makes an impressive debut. \0^*Y. Vijaya
1610C02 is wasted in an insipid role, while the comedy track by *(0V. K.*) Ramasamy,
1620C02 Manorama and Surilirajan in stale and repetitive Elaya Raja*'s
1630C02 music is folksy with a couple of catchy tunes. \0^*N. Sankar*'s
1640C02 composition of fights is spectacular with a craggy background. ^The story
1650C02 is by Madurai Thirumaran.
1660C02 $^*Mookaian (Rajinikant) is separated from his sister Bhairavi (Gita)
1670C02 in childhood because of a drunken father. ^He finds refuge in a rich man*'s
1680C02 house, and becomes the loyal, devoted servant of the heir (Srikant)
1690C02 who is a profligate. ^He takes all the blame and undergoes punishment
1700C02 for his master*'s crimes, against the advice of his beloved (Sripriya),
1710C02 only to_ discover to his dismay, that his master had not only molested
1720C02 his sister, Bhairavi, but also refused to_ marry her, when confronted.
1721C02 ^*Srikant even goes to the extent of murdering her and foisting the
1730C02 blame on Mookaiyan. ^Then begins the story of revenge, where the loyal
1740C02 servant turns avenger and the film ends in a climax of chases, and fights.
1760C02 $^The close-ups of Rajinikant, his jerky mannerisms, his powerful
1770C02 look, as he frowns and glares will enthuse his fans. ^The film tends to_
1780C02 amble in the first half but picks up tempo after interval.
1810C02 $^The film is on show at Plaza, Agastiya, Sayani and Rajkumari.
1820C02 $**<*3"*4chittukuruvi"**>
1830C02 $^An ordinary detective story given a new look by projecting it in a rural
1840C02 setting, \0*4Sri Vishnu Priya Creations*' "Chittukuruvi" has delightful
1850C02 colour photography. ^*Sivakumar has a double role-- the innocent
1860C02 hero branded a murderer, and a seasoned smuggler who turns into a benevolent
1870C02 dogooder as a result of his romance with a buxom village girl
1880C02 played casually by Sumitra. ^*Srikant makes a brief but impressive appearance.
1900C02 $^*Vali*'s screen play tends to_ meander at some places, and fails
1910C02 to_ grip attention since the mystery is no secret.
1920C02 $^*Raja, the "boss" (Shivakumar) of a gang of smugglers murders in a
1930C02 hotel one of his members, who has betrayed him. ^*Ganesh (Shivakumar),
1940C02 an innocent, jocular young man, accidentally picks up the hotel room-key
1950C02 and returns it to the hotel receptionist. ^He
1960C02 is in love with the sparkling, mischievous sister (Meera) of an alert
1970C02 Inspector (\0A.R.S.) who is in charge of this murder mystery. ^On
1980C02 Ganesh*'s wedding day, he is mistaken for the smuggler. ^On hearsay evidence
1990C02 and finger-print clues on the hotel room key the inspector is forced
2000C02 to_ arrest Ganesh.
2010C02 $^The smuggler, hiding in a village falls in love with his childhood playmate
2020C02 Chittu (Sumitra) who persuades him to_ spend his wealth on improving
2030C02 the village temple, the village school and water-supply. ^A blackmailer
2040C02 (Srikanth) however forces Raja to_ commit a theft. ^Wounded, he seeks
2050C02 refuge in the Inspector*'s residence, where he is mistaken for Ganesh.
2060C02 ^The truth is finally revealed.
2070C02 $^It is a complicated and contrived story. ^*Elayaraja*'s rerecording makes
2080C02 the rustic setting more appealing.
2090C02 $^The film is being released at Willington, Shri-Krishna and Uma.*#
        **[no. of words = 02009**]

        **[txt. c03**]
0010C03 **<*3Indian Films Screened At Tashkent Festival**>
0020C03 $^Almost half-way through the international film festival being held here,
0030C03 three Indian films have been screened in the film market, reports
0040C03 \0UNI. ^These were *5Safed Hathi*6, *4Godhuli and *4Priyatama.
0050C03 $^Iraq, Mozambique and some Latin American countries have shown interst
0060C03 in buying the films. ^Negotiations are in progress.
0070C03 $^Over the weekend, Indian film personalities visited a polytechnic at
0080C03 Tashkent University. ^The Indian directors answered questions from students.
0100C03 $^Another group visited a collective farm some distance
0101C03 from Tashkent and
0110C03 visited a martyr*'s memorial and a rose farm. ^Later, a "*7Uzbekpolao"
0120C03 lunch was given in an open pavilion in charming rural surroundings followd
0130C03 by Uzbek songs and dances. $^The
0140C03 language difficulty provided some lighter moments. ^*Shyam Benegal,
0150C03 Gulzar and some others were driven out 120 \0km from Tashkent for the
0160C03 screening of an Indian film in a rural cinema. ^They found on arrival
0170C03 that it was a Pakistani film. $^Meanwhile, the screening of films in the
0180C03 main festival continues. ^The Cuban film "*7Rancheador" about the
0190C03 rebellion of black slaves against exploitation by Spanish rulers proved
0200C03 to_ be a period film of absorbing visual attraction and powerful content.
0210C03 ^The Pakistan film, which followed turned out to_ be an imitation
0220C03 of the Bombay film and did not offer much competition. ^The Australian
0230C03 and Mexican films were also poor in content, although visually outstanding.
0250C03 $^The delegations will soon leave for a day*'s visit to the ancient
0260C03 city of Bukhara, well-known for its carpets and silks. ^*Indian students
0270C03 in Tashkent are acting as guides for the Indian delegates.
0280C03 $**<*3Black Humour Is Good Fun**>
0290C03 $*3NEGROES*0 in films were generally allotted only minor roles till
0300C03 the cinema industry discovered that catering to America*'s black population
0310C03 can prove profitable at the box-office. ^The first film, or series
0320C03 to_ start this trend was "Shaft", and Richard Roundtree, its superstar,
0330C03 is reported to_ have said "What we want in our movies from now on is
0340C03 to_ show black people winning because they use their heads,
0350C03 not because they do violence with their hands".
0360C03 $^He should also have added "because they use their flair for comedy".
0370C03 *3^Let*'3s Do It Again*0 (New Empire) is a crime caper that_ is
0380C03 ethnically negro, fun, and as unabashedly out to_ entertain as those antic
0390C03 success stories that_ Billy Wilder has made with all white casts.
0400C03 ^*Sidney Poitier stars in and directs the film and Bill Cosby steals
0410C03 the scenes from under his nose.
0420C03 $^They play friends, members of a lodge that_ is in desperate need of money.
0430C03 ^The only way, they can lay their hands on such a large sum is by
0440C03 betting heavily on a puny dumb-bell, and then hypnotising him so that he
0450C03 can \0K.O. the world middleweight champion. ^But first they have to_
0460C03 catch that_ boxer, and their attempts are deployed with much well-engineered
0470C03 comedy.
0471C03 $^Six months later the leader of one of the gangs they had fleeced
0472C03 tracks them down. ^They are ordered to_ do it again, so that he can recoup
0473C03 his losses. ^More credit is due to the film for coming up with new
0474C03 ideas and not letting the comedy sag during this second time around.
0480C03 $^Though the pair are a milkman and a factory hand, there is nothing shoddy
0490C03 in the production. ^The girls are pretty. ^Their clothes are flamboyant.
0500C03 ^And they hit some of the high spots of New Orleans. ^If there
0510C03 is a drawback it lies in the slow development of the film, and in the fact
0520C03 that we, in Calcutta, are still unfamiliar with the pungency of Afro-American
0530C03 humour. ^Even so "Let*'3s Do It Again" is a film during
0540C03 which some of the people for most of the time, or most of the people
0550C03 for some of the time, can be seduced to_ laugh.
0600C03 $^The negroes in *3\0Mr. Ricco*0 at the Metro are also intelligent
0610C03 and attractive, but are not inclined towards comedy. ^The antagonism
0620C03 between them and the whites surfaces easily, and the theme of racial intolerance
0630C03 is woven into a crime story that_ does not sustain the power of
0640C03 its beginning. $^As a detective thriller the action seems dragged out
0641C03 and unnecessarily
0660C03 contrived. ^It lacks sufficiently convincing suspects. ^Few questions are
0670C03 asked, and those are easily answered. ^Somewhere around the third
0680C03 quarter a clue is planted so heavily that the adept will recognise its
0690C03 significance before the denouement arrives in a hail of bullets.
0700C03 $^The film has the perfunctory number of fist-fights, murder attempts,
0710C03 car chases, harassed policemen and lines like "a cop is not the law, he
0720C03 is only the enforcer". ^*Dean Martin is the Defence Attorney who dons
0730C03 the mantle of hero. ^He is getting on in years now, so he is made to_
0740C03 live with a dog instead of with a girl, and any sex that_ is added seems
0750C03 more of an obligation than as a necessity in his characterisation.
0760C03 $^There are views of San Francisco, an interesting exhibition, and music
0770C03 that_ is determined to_ signal excitement. ^This is by no means a hair-raising
0771C03 thriller-- just a lazy detective story with more than the usual
0780C03 quota of negro characters. $*<*3*4Kadambari*0*>
0790C03 $*3TO*0 a discerning audience drawn to *3*4Kadambari*0 by the unconventionality
0800C03 of Amrita Pritam*'s novel, the film will make painful viewing.
0810C03 ^Descriptions like "bold" and "provocative" will perhaps be readily
0820C03 forthcoming in the context of the madness that_ still rules a large section
0830C03 of "commercial" Hindi cinema. ^The approach is undoubtedly different,
0840C03 the acting and music low-keyed and the accent more on the psychological
0841C03 adjustment between the two main characters than on loud heroics or
0850C03 display of emotion. ^And yet all this leaves no lasting impression. ^Its
0860C03 script is excruciatingly dull; it fails to_ give a complex situation a
0870C03 convincing cinematic form; and it tends to_ foist an alien style on an
0880C03 Indian milieu-- an attempt that_ has proved disastrous in many of the so-called
0890C03 "new wave" Indian films. $^Considering the apparently progressive
0900C03 outlook of both the film-maker and his characters and the educated,
0910C03 urban circles in which the characters move, it does appear a bit odd that
0920C03 illegitimacy should stand in the way of the young couple, deeply attached
0930C03 to each other, marrying. ^Indeed, there was promise of an absorbing
0940C03 emotional conflict depicted in a quiet, reflective style. ^But the boy*'s
0950C03 mother fixation never carries enough conviction nor does it seem necessary
0960C03 for the boy to_ give the poor girl such a long and listless account
0970C03 of his predicament. ^The incidental story of unrequited love involving
0980C03 the girl*'s brother and another girl is equally pointless and contributes
0990C03 not a little to the boredom. ^It*1s almost as if the film-maker is
1000C03 so desperately lost more than half-way through a difficult and slightly
1010C03 dated theme that he had no option but to_ impose a pedestrian happy ending,
1020C03 passionate embraces, an illegitimate son forming the ultimate bond,
1030C03 identifying marks and all. $^This
1040C03 is a pity because the interrelationships have in patches a quiet sensitivity
1050C03 and realism. ^There is no moralizing tone or any attempt to_
1060C03 offer dramatic justification for the hero*'s odd behaviour. ^There is also
1070C03 an honest attempt to_ break convention to_ present easily recognizable
1080C03 characters in a contemporary situation. ^*Delhi and Bombay offer interesting,
1090C03 very natural locations. ^Seldom has the camera made Shabana Azmi
1100C03 look so beautiful and Vijay Arora and the other male characters so
1110C03 wooden. ^The tragedy lies in a laboured style a fondness for long and
1120C03 not particularly engrossing verbal exchanges and shades of misplaced technical
1130C03 zeal. $*<*3*5Pronoy Pasha*6*0*> perhaps indicates a point of
1140C03 no return. ^It is
1150C03 by Tollygunge standards, a glossy production. ^It has a director who
1160C03 has observed audience reaction for decades. ^It has a formidable cast headed
1170C03 by Suchitra Sen and Soumitra Chatterjee. ^And it is one of the
1180C03 most ill-conceived films to_ have emerged in recent times. ^It would be
1190C03 futile to_ look for scape-goats; there is little hope of survival withot
1200C03 a thorough shake-up.
1210C03 $^The makers were apparently quite confident that having secured the services
1220C03 of Suchitra Sen they did not need so much as a credible story.
1230C03 ^Hack writers, proliferating on studio floors, have perhaps been the biggest
1240C03 source of disaster for Bengali cinema. ^*Suchitra*'s admirers will
1250C03 find it painful to_ discover that the charming romantic heroine of
1260C03 yesteryears is today so unsure of herself-- trying frantically to_ conceal
1270C03 her advancing years, resorting to_ cheap melodrama, not flinching even
1280C03 from wild sensationalism and ending with a wrestling match. ^It is doubtful
1290C03 how far she is responsible for all this. ^She is as much a victim
1300C03 of puerile imagination as Soumitra, the polished villain who has so
1310C03 little to_ motivate his monstrous crimes.
1320C03 $^It is quite shocking that a Bengali director could conceive of villainy
1330C03 in such an absurd manner and of happenings that_ would do a C-grade
1340C03 Hindi film proud. ^It is more shocking that Suchitra and Soumitra
1350C03 chose to_ get involved in an abomination of this kind and to_ demonstrate
1360C03 that even in its darkest years, Bengali cinema can afford to_ dump talent
1390C03 so contemptuously. $<*3Destination Calcutta*0*>
1400C03 $^*Calcutta should present a bewildering subject for short film makers.
1410C03 ^The imposing serenity of the Victoria Memorial coexists with the desecration
1420C03 of the *4maidan about 100 yards away. ^The unique collection
1430C03 of antiques at the Marble Palace is to_ be reached only after experiencing
1440C03 the horrors of waterlogging and unremoved garbage. ^To the makers
1450C03 of "Destination Calcutta", however, the task is quite simple. ^Presented
1460C03 by Films Division, the film turns its back on the controversial
1470C03 issues and concentrates on the treat that_ awaits a tourist.
1480C03 $"^You will find what you want" entreats the mellow background voice. ^The
1490C03 rush-hour traffic, the rapidly changing skyline, the races and the furore
1500C03 on a football ground are familiar marks of a teeming metropolis. ^The
1510C03 film points to some of the city*'s special features that_ might interest
1520C03 the visitor-- the splendid collections at the zoo and the Botanical
1530C03 Gardens, the ancient monuments embracing the major religions, the cultural
1540C03 diversity, the National Library, museums and other places of academic
1550C03 interest, the coexistence of the traditional and modern.
1560C03 $^The film*'s purpose is more clearly evident in the emphasis on the city
1570C03 being the take-off point for a number of attractive tourist spots--
1580C03 the beaches at Digha and Puri, the temples of Orissa, the unique charms
1590C03 of Darjeeling and Santiniketan. ^The camera focuses on absorbing
1600C03 details. ^In presenting a wider view, it stresses the beauty and bounties
1610C03 of nature. ^The editing is brisk, allowing a wealth of information in
1620C03 the space of 15 minutes. ^But because of so much work that_ has already
1630C03 been done on Calcutta, the information might appear stale even to those
1640C03 for whom it is primarily intended. ^And pronouncing Rabindranath in
1650C03 British or American accent is not the best way to_ promote tourism.
1660C03 $*3^A GROUP*0 show is being held by four young artists of Bangladesh
1670C03 in the North Gallery of the Academy of Fine Arts. ^The participants
1680C03 are Farida Zaman, Abdus Shakoor Shah, Alak Roy and *(0A. K. M.*)
1690C03 Alamgir. ^There are paintings, drawings, graphics and terracottas.
1700C03 $^The standard of work is generally good and most of the exhibits mirror
1710C03 the artist*'s involvement. ^Though they are going through a period
1720C03 of absorption, they emulate styles with sensitivity. ^All of them have
1730C03 a flair for technique that_ enables them to_ carry out their explorations
1740C03 with aplomb.
1750C03 $^*Farida Zaman is represented by a group of oils and some drawings. ^She
1760C03 mostly projects landscapes and bazaar scenes, seeking to_ evoke emotions
1770C03 with restraint. ^She has a penchant for formalism and treats her canvases
1780C03 in terms of segments of painted surface. ^Though she works in one
1790C03 or two cases in a single tonality such as yellow, she does not hesitate
1800C03 to_ enlarge her palette to_ include blues, purples, greens, pinks and
1810C03 reds. ^Her landscapes show an abstract prospect flanked by rows of thick
1820C03 colour which look like vestigal houses. ^The bazaar scenes feature seated
1830C03 women broken into small units of paint and merged with the background.
1840C03 ^Her shaded drawings, involving similar imagery, are also technically
1860C03 compentent. $^*Abdus Shakoor presents a gallery of faces-- clearly
1870C03 outlined and contrasted-- with suggestive features.*#
        **[no. of words = 02003**]

        **[txt. c04**]
0010C04 **<*3Expertise marks Tapan*'s graphics*0**>
0020C04 $*3^*Tapan*0 Ghosh, who teaches design and graphics at the Film and
0030C04 Television Institute in Pune, holds his first one-man show in the city
0040C04 at the Taj art gallery.
0050C04 $^*Ghosh has had extensive training in painting and graphics both here and
0060C04 abroad. ^That he has learnt under such internationally known printmaking
0070C04 masters as *(0S. W.*) Hayter of Paris*'s Atelier 17 is clear
0080C04 from even a cursory look at the graphics he has on show.
0090C04 $^*Tapan also has a distinguished background of exhibiting in Delhi and
0100C04 Calcutta, not to_ speak of more than one European capital. ^The French
0110C04 titles of his graphics are soothing to the ear, and one should make
0120C04 an attempt to_ realise that their musicality would have been destroyed
0130C04 in Anglo Saxon terminology.
0140C04 $^Besides, the inspiration of at least a few of these prints is French,
0150C04 "Champs Elysee", for instance, succeeds in transforming a possibly
0160C04 nocturnal view of the famous Parisian locale into a hauntingly bluish
0170C04 abstraction.
0180C04 $^While almost each one of those graphics displays a certain blending
0190C04 of imagination and expertise, Tapan opts out for harmonious patterns and
0200C04 colours rather than austere or crass ones. ^For this reviewer his best
0210C04 is "*8Etoile de Mer*9", which depicts a wall-like crescendo of sea
0220C04 waves. ^*Tapan*'s chequered patterns again have full play in "*8L*'3ombre
0230C04 et la Lumiere*9". ^Yet another notable work is "*8La Terre Obliee*9"
0240C04 (The Forgotten Earth) in which the edge of the land mass is highlighted
0250C04 by way of reflecting a luminous, extra-terrestrial, phenomenon.
0260C04 $^The sea, the skies, the heavens and the universe-- this is the world
0270C04 of Tapan*'s picture-making, indicating a very sensitive temperament, a
0280C04 poetic sensibility and a spontaneous flair for responding to the music
0300C04 of nature. $*<LACK ORIGINALITY*>
0310C04 $^The young artist*'s paintings do not stand comparison with his graphics.
0320C04 ^This is not because graphics are today a palpably more impressive
0330C04 medium which disguises the obvious flaws that_ a painting compulsorily projects.
0340C04 ^*Tapan*'s paintings are in themselves lacking in originality.
0350C04 ^Such abstractions have been painted by hundreds of artists in this country.
0360C04 ^In fact, these works suggest, once for all, that in a country endowed
0370C04 with a rich pictorial tradition abstraction is no longer a novelty
0380C04 to_ enthuse over but a cliche beaten to death. $^There is nothing to_ relate
0390C04 Tapan*'s graphics with his paintings. $**<*3Mediocre mystery**>
0410C04 $*3^*Dean Martin shuffles through at the Metro without burbling a
0420C04 single note as "\0Mr. Ricco", a sort of do-it-yourself criminal lawyer
0430C04 who does his own sleuthing when he finds himself the target of a crazy
0440C04 assasin. ^The assaults follow his successful defence of Thalmus Rasulala
0450C04 a Negro charged with the murder of a white girl.
0460C04 $^Racial prejudice has been the motivation for a spate of violent, cops-and-criminals
0470C04 essays recently, although in \0Mr. Ricco*'s none-too-novel
0480C04 adventures the racist angle is treated in lighter vein the garnish
0490C04 of violence, chases, shootouts being plentiful.
0500C04 $^Legal eagle Martin succeeds in getting Rasulala off the hook of a murder
0510C04 charge on the technicality that part of the police evidence against
0520C04 his client was faked. ^Homicide Captain Eugene Roche, Martin*'s friend,
0530C04 is convinced about Rasulala*'s guilt and is chagrined that mistaken
0540C04 zeal on the part of policemen has resulted in a murderer getting off scot-free
0560C04 $*<UNGRATEFUL EX-CLIENT*>
0570C04 $^The court verdict is followed by the killing of two white cops, the finger
0580C04 of suspicion pointing to Martin*'s ex-client who is in hiding. ^The
0590C04 lawyer prefers to_ do his own leg-work in hunting down Rasulala and
0600C04 is surprised no end when he himself becomes the target for someone who looks
0610C04 like his ungrateful ex-client.
0620C04 $^*Rasulala confronted escapes but not before Martin elicits the truth
0630C04 about the murder, the cop killings and the pot shots at himself. ^Back tracking
0640C04 to the beginning and reviewing all the new evidence, he hits upon
0650C04 the true identity of the villain, but not before the climactic blood bath
0660C04 set in the clinical precincts of an art museum.
0670C04 $^One man*'s colour prejudice has been responsible for so much killing,
0680C04 both of blacks as well as whites termed nigger lovers. ^The evil of
0690C04 unreasoning hatred of man for his fellow man is underplayed and buried
0700C04 in \0Mr. Ricco*'s brief exercise to_ provide an excuse for the usual routine
0710C04 violence and action. ^Very much of a muchness after all.
0730C04 $**<*3Sarla and Dinkar shine at *4thumri *4sammelan**>
0740C04 $^As part of its efforts to_ present the various musical forms in vogue
0750C04 in the North Indian tradition, the Music Centre of Bombay University
0760C04 has organised a four-day *4thumri *4sammelan in observance of its foundation
0770C04 day this year.
0780C04 $^The first two sessions of the *4soiree which started on Monday, featured
0790C04 a thought-provoking panel discussion between leading scholar-musicians
0800C04 like *(0V. R.*) Athavale, Madhuvanti Mirashi, Sarla Bhide and
0810C04 the *4Kathak veteran, Mohanrao Kalyanpurkar, on the art, science and
0820C04 aesthetics of *4thumri presentation, followed by brief but memorable recitals
0830C04 by Sarla Bhide and Dinkar Kaikini, the noted exponent of the
0840C04 Agra '*4gayaki'. $*4^*Thumri,
0850C04 which came into vogue in eastern Uttar Pradesh (Purab) towards
0860C04 the close of the 18th century, has flowered into one of the most
0870C04 enchanting forms of expression in *4Hindustani music. ^Sensuous romanticism
0880C04 is the keynote of *4thumri and, unlike *4drupad and *4khayal, the
0890C04 expressive aspect of the lyrical import of the song becomes basic to its
0900C04 effective delineation. ^Imagination thus plays a vital role in the rendition
0910C04 of *4thumri and it calls for a sense of restraint and discrimination
0920C04 on the performer*'s part to_ be able to_ give full musical expression
0930C04 to the poetic mood of the chosen theme.
0940C04 $^The recitals of Sarla Bhide and Dinkar Kaikini were deeply reflective
0950C04 of the shining facets of *4thumri singing as it is in vogue in Uttar
0960C04 Pradesh and as interpreted by the maestros of the *4khayal '*4gayaki'
0970C04 of Agra. ^*Sarla*'s presentation of the great Gohar Jan*'s *(*4tappa-oriented*)
0980C04 '*5Hori Kafi*6', as also the succeeding '*5thumri ki bandish*6'
0990C04 based on 'Khamaj', '*4Adana' and '*4Bahar' and the
1000C04 final *4dadra were all redolent of the distinctive Purab flavour.
1010C04 $*<CHANGING FACES*>
1020C04 $^On the other hand, Kaikini*'s six-piece repertoire served to_ unfold
1030C04 the changing face of *4thumri-- from its *(*4khayal-based*) depiction
1040C04 to its latter-day portraiture. ^It was a masterly effort by any reckoning--
1050C04 it captured the hearts of *4thumri connoisseurs, bringing back to their
1060C04 minds the nostalgic memories of maestros like Ustad Faiyaz Khan.
1070C04 $^The artistes received ideal support from percussionists *(0D. R.*)
1080C04 Nerurkar and Shripad Nageshkar and harmonist Baban Manjrekar. $^In
1090C04 keeping with the centre*'s convention, the opening session featured a faculty
1100C04 member, Feroz Dastur, who is also one of the leading lights of the
1110C04 *4Kirana '*4gharana'. ^His slow-and-fast-tempo presentations in '*4Patdeep',
1120C04 '*5Puriya-Dhanshri*6', '*4Chandramukhi (self-composed) and
1130C04 '*4Bahar', with the perennially charming '*5Gopala meri karuna*6' as
1140C04 the tail-piece, brilliantly revealed the lineaments of the sweet, soft
1150C04 and serene vocalism of Abdul Karim Khan.
1160C04 $^*Deepak Nerurkar and Shejwadkar lent able support on the *4tabla and
1170C04 the harmonium. ^*Achyut Abhyankar talented though he is, should be more
1180C04 restrained in his vocal '*4sangat'. ^*Upadhye the other accompanist, was
1200C04 rightly cautiouus. $**<*BRILLIANT *THRILLER**> $*"3^*Sleuth"
1210C04 at the Strand, is a scintillatingly plotted stage success
1220C04 adapted for the screen by its author Anthony Shaffer and its direction
1230C04 has been entrusted to Joseph \0L. Mankiewicz whose wizardry with murder
1240C04 mood-mystery subjects is a byword. $^In
1250C04 addition, the portrayals in an all-male, two-star cast have been entrusted
1260C04 to a pair of virtuoso performers, Laurence Olivier and Michael
1270C04 Caine, who project the protagonists with such fascinating impact, that
1280C04 far from finding the hundred and twenty minutes of their sleuthing tedious,
1290C04 one feels almost deprived when their hijinks eventually terminate.
1310C04 $^Like the maze of its opening sequence, the plot of this delightful spine
1320C04 chiller is a series of puzzles within puzzles, possible openings
1330C04 ending in blank walls over and over again to the bafflement and the enjoyment
1350C04 of alert viewers. *<BIZZARE SCHEME*>
1360C04 $^The story concerns an eccentric, almost maniac, author of mysteries who
1370C04 invites his barber neighbour for a drink, lets him know that his affair
1380C04 with the author*'s wife is an open secret. ^Untypically, he proposes a
1390C04 bizarre scheme wherein the lover is to_ rob the jewels of his lady love
1400C04 and arrange to_ live with her on the proceeds, while the author-husband
1410C04 collects the insurance money and enjoys it with his mistress. $^The
1420C04 baffled barber plays along with the crazy schemes of the writer, robs
1430C04 the jewels and tumbles on the fact that matters don*'4t end there. ^The
1440C04 old boy has some further wierd tricks up his sleeve. ^Equal to his adversary,
1450C04 it becomes a cat and mouse game, the advantage shifting from author
1460C04 to barber and back with every new development till the unexpected climax
1470C04 overtakes them.
1480C04 $^*Olivier as the kooky author and Caine as the Italian barber lover are
1490C04 both at their superb best, engaging in the battle of words penned by
1500C04 the author for his two characters who are bent on destroying each
1510C04 other with the rapid-fire incisive wit of verbal sparring, here harnessed
1520C04 to perfection in devising a delicious send-up of the classic story
1530C04 of crime and detection.
1540C04 $^Virtuoso performances from its two stars keeps audience attention riveted
1550C04 and guessing even while they play out this complicated mystery with
1560C04 a core of subtle comedy, a story not without social significance in its
1570C04 digs at class distinctions and racial prejudice of the Britisher in whose
1580C04 eyes the foreigner is always suspect. $^See these
1590C04 sleuths in action, enjoy them but please don*'4t reveal their secrets.
1610C04 $**<*KASHMIR PAINTINGS COLOURLESS**>
1620C04 $^With Sharad Waykool*'s Kashmir paintings the Taj art gallery carries
1630C04 on its strongly entrenched traditon of picture postcard landcapes.
1640C04 $^However, there are distinct grades even among the tribe which turns out
1650C04 these superficially-pleasant view of nature. ^*Waykool does not quite
1660C04 belong to the class of Shenvi and Nayak; he is much cruder.
1670C04 $^The paradox about Waykool*'s highly conventional and atrociously photographic
1680C04 work is that, despite splashes of loud colours, the canvas remains
1690C04 essentially colourless.
1700C04 $^Viewed with some generosity, the following efforts may be termed passable:
1710C04 "Mountain surf", "Green paradise", "Spring bloom" and "Reflection".
1720C04 ^These have to_ be viewed from a slight distance and can then be tolerated
1730C04 even though they, too, form part of a deep and desolate rut.
1740C04 $^One is constrained to_ use strong words simply because the artist*'s output
1750C04 has never changed in character from year to year. ^It shows a clear
1760C04 failure of both sense and sensibility.
1770C04 $^Strangely, there is one redeeming factor about Waykool. ^This is not
1780C04 on the artistic level but on a human one. ^His small son is a very sensitive
1790C04 artist, to_ judge from the boy*'s work displayed in Waykool*'s last
1791C04 show in the city. ^This boy could well compensate for the mediocrity of
1800C04 his father-- a mediocrity which might well be born of commercial considerations
1810C04 rather than innate lack of talent.
1820C04 $**<*3Outstanding cello recital by Valter Despalz**>
1830C04 $^The young Yugoslav cellist, Valter Despalz, with Tehmie Gazdar at
1840C04 the piano was presented by the Time and Talents Club on Tuesday in
1850C04 one of the outstanding cello concerts heard in Bombay in recent years.
1860C04 $^Opening with Bach*'s unaccompanied Suit \0No. 5 in C Minor, the lightness
1870C04 of Despalz*'s touch and his preference for the upper range
1880C04 of his instrument were quite evident. ^However his approach in this piece
1890C04 seemed too restrained so that the expressiveness of Bach*'s phrases
1900C04 and the soaring nobility in the Courante were not given their due
1910C04 place. ^Greater dynamic contrasts in the later movements might also have
1920C04 helped towards that_ vision which Bach so uniquely projects. $^If
1930C04 there were any reservations about the Bach, they were completely dispelled
1940C04 in Schubert*'s Sonata in A Minor. ^The opening theme has all
1950C04 the characteristics of Schubert*'s marvellous melodic line, and Tehmie
1960C04 Gazdar set the mood admirably. ^Taking
1970C04 up the lead Despalz*'s bow flowed in sheer enchantment. ^Heir to
1980C04 the great tradition in cello playing after Casals, we had in Despalz the
1990C04 pleasure of witnessing that_ lightness of touch, that_ charm of phrasing
2000C04 and the romantic aura which could do full justice to Schubert.
2010C04 ^What could only be described as the steely lightness of his bowing was
2020C04 remarkable in the first movement. ^*Schubert maintains his inspiration
2030C04 in the second movement, and if Despalz*'s playing in the first movement
2050C04 was inspired, here it was sheer magic.*#
        **[no. of words = 02019**]

        **[txt. c05**]
0010C05 **<*3Paradkar, Kaikini \0& Vyas offer rich classical fare**>
0020C05 $^A rich fare in pure classicism, as exemplified by the hallowed vocal traditions
0030C05 of Gwalior and Agra, was presented by two senior executants
0040C05 and an up-and-coming stylist at a three-hour concert held to_ mark the third
0050C05 death anniversary of the noted Gwalior veteran, Padnit Rajaram Buva
0060C05 Paradkar, on Sunday.
0070C05 $^*Shripad Paradkar, Panditji*'s son, who organised the memorial programme,
0080C05 gave a fitting start to the proceedings with a brilliant portrayal
0090C05 of *3*4Lalit in *3*4khayal *4vilambit and *3*4drut
0100C05 ^The scrupulous care and exactitude with which he delineated the *4raga*'s
0110C05 melodic contours compelled unstinted admiration. $^The unfolding was
0120C05 notable for its *(*4bandish-oriented*) manner so typical of the Gwalior
0140C05 *4gayaki. $^The young vocalist, one felt, deserved to_ be heard more
0160C05 often on the concert stage. $*<*3"*5bhupal todi*6"*>
0170C05 $*(0C. R.*) Vyas, who was first groomed by Paradkar Buva and later
0180C05 by other *4vidwans like Ratanjankar and Jagannath Buva Purohit, brought
0190C05 tremendous vocal ability and intellectual skill to his delineations
0200C05 of *3*5Bhupal Todi*6 (a pentatonic submelody of *4Todi without *4madhyam
0210C05 and *4nishad) in *4vilambit and *4drut and *4Goud-Malhar, the celebrated
0220C05 monsoon *4raga in *4drut. $^Rendered
0230C05 with great verve and animation, the presentations showed his erudtion.
0250C05 $^The last to_ perform was Dinkar Kaikini, the well-known exponent of
0260C05 Faiyaz Khan*'s *4rangila vocalism of Agra and now principal of the
0270C05 Bhavan*'s college of music. $^Despite indisposition,
0280C05 he managed to_ offer us a magnificent *(two-*4Dhaivata*)
0290C05 *4Desi in *4vilambit and *4drut. ^The *4raga depiction emerged
0300C05 as a charming blend of classical restraint and aesthetic freedom, revealing
0310C05 something far nobler, far subtler than a mere display of deliberate
0330C05 virtuosity. ^He rounded off with a *4Bhairavi. $*(0i*. S.*)
0340C05 Nirodi and *(0D. D.*) Ratanjankar lent intelligent vocal support.
0360C05 $^The instrumental accompaniment to the main artistes came from harmonists
0370C05 Purushottam Walavalkar and Mukund Nene and percussionists Shripad
0380C05 Nageshkar and Vibhav Nageshkar. $**<*3Exquisite fare by young artistes**>
0400C05 $^The penultimate session of the 17th *5Kal-ke-Kalakar Sammelan*6
0410C05 on Friday evening was memorable for two exquisite performances
0420C05 by Shovana Narayan (Delhi) in *4Kathak
0430C05 and Anandi Ramachandran (Bombay) in *5Bharata Natyam*6. $^*Shovana
0440C05 is already an established and accomplished dancer. ^Trained by
0450C05 the *4Kathak maestro, Birju Maharaj, in Lucknow *4gharana, she revealed
0460C05 her firm grip over the idiom in a delectable manner. ^Her *4Kathak
0470C05 was polished, delicate, graceful and impressive. *4^*Tritaal, *4Savapanch
0480C05 *4matra and *4tatkar showed her *4nritta in a favourable light. ^The
0490C05 lyric dwelling upon the message from Krishna by Udho was enacted in a
0500C05 poignant manner. ^*Shovana deserves to_ visit Bombay more often.
0510C05 $^*Anandi Ramachandran, a disciple of *4guru Mahalingam and Govindraj
0520C05 Pillai (Rajrajeswari school), is a dancer worth watching. ^She has an
0530C05 eye-catching grace that_ permeates her dancing in a pleasing manner. ^Petite,
0540C05 with winsome stage presence and a vibrant frame, Anandi scored
0550C05 well in her *4nritta. ^It had a quicksilver quality. ^The movements were
0560C05 crisp and complete with beautiful patterns. ^In *4abhinaya she acquitted
0570C05 herself with equal success as seen in Mira *4bhajan and *4Kshetragna
0580C05 composition '*4Idendu *4Vachithira'. $*<*3*4Sammelana a success*>
0600C05 $^The concluding session on Saturday night featured two dancers from
0610C05 Delhi: Aarati in *4Odissi and Neelma Azeem in *4Kathak. ^The former
0620C05 presented traditional *4Odissi repertoire as taught to her by *4guru
0630C05 Mayadhar Raut. ^The *4chauka position and the *4Bhangis were well-maintained
0640C05 and the *4abhinaya to the *4ashtapadis from the *5Geet Govinda*6
0650C05 was performed with dignity. ^However, she needs to_ liven up her dance
0660C05 else it would look listless.
0670C05 $^*Neelma Azeem was trained in *4Kathak by Birju Maharaj and Munna
0680C05 Shukla. ^Her *4nritta was graceful and reminded one of the miniature paintings.
0690C05 *4^*Thaat, *4amad, *4gatabhava and *4tatkar were highly enjoyable.
0700C05 ^She has a good command over *4laya and *4tala, and a fine sense of
0710C05 programming and presentation. ^She made the grade with a bang.
0720C05 $^An important cultural landmark in the city, the *4Sammelan was a huge
0730C05 success and focussed attention on the young exponents of considerable talent,
0740C05 who, given the right encouragement showed sufficient promise to_
0750C05 join the grade of the front rankers.
0760C05 $^Special mention must be made of the panel of judges who sat through
0770C05 daily with patience. \0^*Mr. Brijnarain deserves congratulations for organising
0780C05 this festival every year where admission is free. ^One looks forword
0790C05 to seeing the young exponents again.
0800C05 $**<*3Bid to_ revive puppet show**>
0810C05 $*3*"THIS*0 universe is nothing but a puppet show," says Purandara Dasa,
0820C05 the great Kannada composer, whose songs are on the lips of many a
0830C05 musician. ^They still sing of the "divine strings" that_ manipulate the
0840C05 puppets, the mere mortals who have inherited the earth.
0850C05 $^The dextrous hands that_ manipulate puppets behind a screen in the shadow
0860C05 theatre are human. ^Puppetry is classified into many schools, most
0870C05 of which are dying, not excluding the most intricate of them-- leather
0880C05 puppetry. $^A welcome attempt to_ revive interest in puppetry, leather
0900C05 puppetry in particular, was made recently in Bangalore by the Central
0910C05 *4Sangeet *4Natak Akademy. ^The occasion was a five-day national festival
0920C05 on shadow theatre, consisting of seminars, workshops, performances
0940C05 and an exhibition. $*<LACK OF PATRONAGE*>
0950C05 $^As it turns out the shadow theatre is much older than the stage plays
0960C05 we know. ^However, it is now practised by only a few wandering tribal families,
0970C05 the tradition having been handed down from generation to generation.
0980C05 ^They have moved from their original occupation to_ work as agricultural
0990C05 labourers, with leather puppetry as pastime. ^Will these families
0991C05 be enabled to_ carry on this unique art form? ^Or will
1000C05 the art, like many other folk arts, be wiped out? ^Can the shadow theatre
1010C05 be employed as a tool in rural education and communication? ^These were
1020C05 some of the questions discussed during the festival. $^Participating
1030C05 in the festival were troupes from Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh,
1040C05 Kerala, Orissa and Tamil Nadu. ^Besides, experts on the subject
1050C05 from various parts of the country and abroad also participated.
1070C05 $^Practitioners of leather puppetry in the South originally belonged to
1080C05 Maharashtra. ^Lack of patronage and economic considerations seemed to_
1090C05 have forced them into moving southward. ^Whether they will survive the
1100C05 onslaught of present-day art forms remains an open question.
1110C05 $^The main raw material for leather puppetry is normally goat or sheep skin,
1120C05 although buffalo hide and deer skin are also used. ^The leather is
1130C05 carefully cleaned, soaked in water and beaten till it almost becomes transparent.
1140C05 ^Various figures of men and women, birds, animals and trees are
1150C05 then marked out with a sharp nail. ^They are carefully cut out and coloured.
1160C05 ^Small perforations are made to_ fix jewellery.
1170C05 $^Colours are usually made with herbs or seeds. ^Red, indigo, jungle-green
1180C05 and black are popular colours because they show themselves much better
1190C05 through the screen than lighter shades. (^Interestingly, the western
1200C05 shadow theatre has started using plastic instead of leather.)
1210C05 $*<SCREEN ILLUMINATED*>
1220C05 $^Leather puppet shows are conducted mostly in open air. ^A stage is erected
1230C05 four or five feet above the ground. ^A white cloth tightly hung on
1240C05 the stage serves as a screen. ^During the performance the screen is illuminated
1250C05 by an oil flame or torch from behind. ^Formerly, a coconut oil lamp
1260C05 was used, but this has been replaced by *4petromax or electric light
1270C05 these days.
1280C05 $^The characters, showed in profile, include heroes and heroines of the
1290C05 Ramayana and Mahabharata and the innumerable gods and goddesses in the
1300C05 *4Hindu pantheon. ^Birds and animals, both mythical and real, are part
1310C05 of the scenario. ^The grandeur of a royal *4durbar, the bewitching beauty
1320C05 of a queen, a hunting scene, the wintry face of the poor-- all are
1330C05 grist to the mill of a puppet show.
1340C05 $^The story of puppet show is accompanied by animated speech coupled
1350C05 with music from behind the screen, the dramatic effect often being highlighted
1360C05 by a running commentary or continuous flow of dialogue. ^The movements
1370C05 of the puppets are manipulated by thin canes strung to their limbs
1380C05 and timed to the dialogue, or music.
1390C05 $^Leather puppetry is fascinating and its survival is a must, according
1400C05 to \0Mrs. Kamaladevi Chattopadhyaya, chairman of the Central *4Sangeet
1410C05 *4Natak Akademy. ^Adding his voice for the revival of leather puppetry
1420C05 is the Karnataka governor, \0Mr. Govind Narain. "^It should co-exist
1430C05 with modern art forms," he says. $^The
1440C05 gifted puppeteers opened up during seminars and workshops, says \0Dr. **(0H.
1450C05 K.*) Ranganath, festival director and professor and head of Bangalore
1460C05 University*'s department of drama and music, which made the participants
1470C05 feel that they had "come to_ learn rather than air their own
1471C05 views".
1480C05 $^According to \0Dr. Ranganath, the festival had two purposes-- to_ preserve
1490C05 the traditional art of leather puppetry in its pure form and consider
1500C05 how it can be used in informal and mass education and communication.
1510C05 ^There was broad agreement that worthwhile efforts in these directions
1520C05 should be made.
1530C05 $^The executive committee of the Central *4Sangeet *4Natak Akademy scheduled
1540C05 to_ meet in Delhi on December 15, is expected to_ consider the
1550C05 suggestions that_ came up during the Bangalore festival, including the
1560C05 grant of fellowship for the study of the shadow theatre and its application
1570C05 to a wider spectrum than at present.
1571C05 $**<*3Fine one-woman North-South "*4jugalbandhi"**>
1580C05 $^The eight-day 17th *5Kal-ke-kalakar Sangeet Sammelan*6 where over
1590C05 75 artistes danced, sang and played on their instruments, ended at the *(0C.
1600C05 J.*) Hall on Saturday on a high note, holding great promise for
1610C05 tomorrow-- for the artistes and Indian dance and music. ^The marathon
1620C05 programme was organised by the *5Sur-Singar Samsad*6.
1630C05 $^The highlights of the last session were an evocative *4khayal by Somanatha
1640C05 Mardur and a fine one-woman *4Hindustani-Carnatic
1650C05 "*4jugalbandhi" by Shakuntala Narasimhan.
1660C05 $^*Somnatha*'s was perhaps the best vocal recital of the *4sammelan. ^There
1670C05 is depth and range in his voice and imagination and aesthetic beauty
1680C05 in his style of unfoldment of the melody. ^That he could generate so
1690C05 much *4bhava in his half-hour *5Purva Kalyan*6, speaks of his *4raga,
1700C05 *4swara and *5Tala Gnyana*6. $^Though
1710C05 a disciple of Basavaraj Rajguru, Mardur, however, has a near
1720C05 obsession with imitating Bhimsen Joshi, particularly in the *4taan phase.
1730C05 ^And of his exasperating gesticulations, the less said the better.
1740C05 ^Still this spirited Dharwar artiste deserves to_ be heard more in the
1760C05 city. $^*Shakuntala*'s "double role," alternatively as a *4Hindustani
1761C05 and a *4Carnatic vocalist,
1770C05 was impressive. ^Her *4Carnatic "*4jawab" in *4Kalyani set to *5Adi
1780C05 Tala*6 to the *4Hindustani "*4sawal" in *4Yaman in *5Teen
1790C05 Taal*6 clearly demonstrated the similarities and the differences between
1800C05 North and South Indian music. ^The two "voices" of Shakuntala sailed
1810C05 smoothly from one style to the other through *4alap, *4taan, *4sargam
1820C05 and Bandish. ^And she got the applause she deserved. $^*Rajinder
1830C05 Prasanna (Flute, *4Jog), Vidyadhar Oak (harmonium, *4Chandrakauns),
1840C05 Lakshmikant Doshi (*4sarod, *4Chandranandan) and Shobha Doshi-Vijayanthi
1850C05 Limaye (vocal duet, *4Marubihag) gave above-average recitals.
1860C05 ^So also did Rajnarayan (flute) who played *4Hindustani *4Jhinjhoti
1870C05 and the corresponding *4Carnatic *4Kambhoji using the talometer
1880C05 for marking the time and the electronic *4shruti box, both his own inventions.
1900C05 $**<*3*5Krishna Leela*6 a mixed fare**>
1910C05 $^The Krishna legend with its many splendoured facets has a perennial
1920C05 appeal, but the presentation of "*5Krishna Leela*6", a combination of
1930C05 melody, dance and colour by the *4Natya Ballet Centre, Delhi, on Saturday
1940C05 at the Ravindra Natya Mandir was a mixed fare. $^True,
1950C05 the *(*4Kathak-based*) dance-drama moved "on the wheels of music," a spontaneous
1960C05 blend of melody and mood brought about by Anil Biswas. ^Gorgeous
1970C05 costumes and ornaments added to the glitter, while subdued lighting
1980C05 by Tapas Sen lent a pleasing effect. ^And slick handling of the scene-shifts
1990C05 maintained the continuity. ^Not so spontaneous, however, was the
2000C05 dance itself which appeared more like precision movements of a well-oiled
2010C05 machine. ^In ensemble dance numbers such precision lent a coordinated
2020C05 effect, but in individual depictions it suffered from monotony. ^The
2030C05 ballet running through Krishna*'s life-- *4Gokul, *4Brindavan, *4Dwarka,
2040C05 *4Hastinapur and *4Kurukshetra-- had some scenes with philosophic
2050C05 content and morals subtly woven into them. ^Of the few that_ had telling
2060C05 mimetic effect, the message of *4bhakti simple and total, of the *4Brindavanites,
2070C05 especially Radha and *4gopis was one of the finely etched
2080C05 depictions. ^*Radha*'s agony yearning for Shyam and the song "*5Akhiya
2090C05 Hari Darshanki Pyasi*6 in soulful Shivaranjani made the scene moving.
2100C05 ^However the same dancers in the amorous *5Maha Raas*6 made the spiritual
2120C05 look mundane! $^The meeting of old friends, Krishna and Sudhama,
2130C05 was another such scene.*#
        **[no. of words = 02007**]

        **[txt. c06**]
0010C06 **<*3Don*'4t Look, They*'3re Kissing: Aspects of a controversial
0011C06 Play**>
0020C06 $*3^THE*0 curtain parts on a couple violently kissing, biting and clawing
0030C06 each other in a mad sexual frenzy. ^The scene is a holiday resort,
0040C06 the couple are a rich landlord and a prostitute from Calcutta*'s infamous
0050C06 Sonagachi. ^Physical exertions of a similar nature follow in a few
0060C06 more scenes along with dialogue culled from the red-light area. ^The
0070C06 action of the first three minutes is more daring than anything the Indian
0080C06 theatre has produced in recent times.
0090C06 $^The single-set play, Baarbodhu, in which these scenes occur, has been
0100C06 showing at least five times a week at a diminutive Calcutta theatre, and
0110C06 travelling to all parts of Bengal for more than five years. ^It has
0130C06 been seen by more than 700,000 people and has collected about \0Rs
0140C06 36 *4lakhs as gate money. ^Aided by sustained publicity (with captions
0150C06 like "blow hot love" and "Every scene for adults") it has evoked more
0160C06 violent likes and dislikes than any other play produced on the city*'s
0170C06 professional stage.
0180C06 $^The producers of Baarbodhu, a theatre group called Chaturmukh, while
0190C06 celebrating the play*'s 1,600th night last year, decided to_ invite the
0200C06 State*'s Information Minister, \0Mr Buddhadev Bhattacharya, who had
0210C06 shown a keen interest in tackling the problems of the Bengali stage
0220C06 and screen. ^An appointment was fixed and \0Mr Asim Chakravarti, the
0230C06 chairman of the group, arrived at Writers Building with the invitation
0240C06 thinking the Minister*'s acceptance would be a mere formality. ^But
0250C06 he was reportedly told by the Minister: "*_^*I have called you not to_
0260C06 receive the invitation but to_ appeal to you to_ stop staging the play.
0270C06 ^It is an affront to our society and culture." $\0^*Mr
0280C06 Chakravarti tried to_ reason with \0Mr Bhattacharya (hadn*'4t
0290C06 so many well-known figures in the cultural sphere seen the play and given
0300C06 their verdict?) but the latter was not convinced.
0310C06 $\0^*Mr Chakravarti was not unnerved by the Minister*'s action. ^He ignored
0320C06 the threatening telephone calls he had been receiving. ^He instilled
0330C06 confidence in the members of his shaky troupe. "^If it comes to the
0340C06 worst, we will have to_ seek court protection," he told every one who met
0350C06 him.
0360C06 $^The court was a place where \0Mr Chakravarti had gone several times
0370C06 in the last five years. ^The authorities of the Pratap Memorial Hall,
0380C06 where the play is being staged, struck the first blow by asking Chaturmukh
0390C06 to_ quit just when Baarbodhu was sweeping the box-office. ^The group
0400C06 went to_ court. ^An agreement was reached under which it could continue
0410C06 to_ perform at Pratap as long as Baarbodhu ran. ^This made it difficult
0420C06 for the group to_ stage its next production although it had at least
0430C06 three more plays ready. ^Then the Culcutta Corporation made an attempt
0440C06 to_ lock the group out of Pratap for its failure to_ pay trade licence
0450C06 fees. ^This matter was also settled in court.
0460C06 $^*Chaturmukh finds it difficult to_ leave Pratap because Baarbodhu has
0470C06 come to_ be closely associated with it. ^Situated away from Calcutta*'s
0480C06 traditional theatre locality, Pratap was scarcely used before August
0490C06 15, 1972, when the play*'s long journey began. ^In the first one and
0500C06 a half months, Baarbodhu incurred a loss of \0Rs 17,000. ^The group had
0510C06 been suffering losses in the past 20 years during which it had staged
0520C06 about 25 plays.
0530C06 $^Heavily indebted and having to_ support a dejected group of unfamiliar
0540C06 actors and actresses, \0Mr Chakravarti moved into the Pratap Memorial
0550C06 Hall (in a non-Bengali quarter of the city) with a briefcase and
0560C06 \0Rs 40 in his pocket. ^All that_ he found there was a stage and a screen,
0570C06 a 10 \0ft. by 6 \0ft. greenroom for the actors and a 4 \0ft. by 5 \0ft.
0580C06 room for female cast. ^He sold his set of the Encyclopaedia Britannica
0590C06 and approached the ubiquitous Kabuliwala for loans to_ pay for
0600C06 lighting and other equipment. ^He had left a prize job in a multinational
0610C06 firm. ^This was to_ be his last gamble with the theatre.
0620C06 $^Today, Pratap is the locality*'s most prominent landmark. ^More important,
0630C06 the play and the group are regarded as permanent features of what
0640C06 is now a much-sought after hall. ^The interior has been renovated while
0650C06 the adjoining space is used to_ maintain a garden and run a canteen.
0660C06 ^A drama library has come up on the first floor containing books worth
0661C06 more than \0Rs 91,000. ^The group
0670C06 has installed furniture and fittings costing \0Rs 3.2 *4lakhs all
0680C06 of which it cannot remove should it be forced to_ leave. ^Its association
0690C06 with Pratap is financial as well as emotional.
0700C06 $^What of the play itself? ^It is based on a widely read story by Subosh
0710C06 Ghosh which was recently filmed, ironically enough, with aid from the
0720C06 State Government. ^The prostitute of the opening scene is subjected to
0730C06 the "torture" of having to_ behave like a wife in the presence of holiday
0740C06 makers. ^In the process, she undergoes a change of heart. ^Normal
0750C06 human relationships come to the surface but all too temporarily. ^She
0760C06 realises what it means to_ have a father, a mother, a husband, a son, a
0770C06 brother and a friend. ^But the emotional struggle is futile: she must
0780C06 return where she has come from. $^It is a taxing role,
0790C06 but a challenging one. ^When Baarbodhu was staged
0800C06 five years ago Kataki Dutta acquitted herself creditably. ^When she
0810C06 left to_ form a *4jatra unit, \0Mr Chakravarti, who also directs the play,
0820C06 tried several other actresses, but they all succumbed to the tremendous
0830C06 strain of the role. ^About two years ago, he tried out Manju Chakravarti
0840C06 who was at that_ time playing a relatively minor role in the play.
0850C06 ^She was an instant hit. ^The play got a fresh lease of life **[sic**]
0860C06 and Manju bagged the Pramathesh Barua Award. ^It was a stroke of
0870C06 good luck that her departure from the group a few months ago coincided
0880C06 with Kataki Datta*'s retrun.
0890C06 $^The biggest problem the play*'s critics face is to_ prove that it is obscene.
0891C06 ^Unlike films, plays are not subjected to censorship laws.
0900C06 ^Whether kissing, hugging or plain exposure is necessary in a particular
0910C06 scene is a matter of opinion.
0911C06 \0^*Mr Chakravarti argues that the scenes of drunken revelry,
0920C06 physical assault and exposure were absolutely necessary to_ establish
0930C06 the character the novelist had visualised of Lata, the prostitute.
0940C06 ^Without them, the subsequent scenes in which she struggles with her
0970C06 conscience would lose their significance and depth. $^The
0980C06 play*'s detractors tend to_ believe that \0Mr Chakravarti has gone
0990C06 a little too far, that he might have achieved the same effect by keeping
1000C06 within more reasonable limits, of exposure and physical intimacy. "^It
1010C06 is a question of what appears vulgar to the eye in the context of the
1020C06 society in which the play is staged. ^If one is to condone such scenes,
1030C06 can one honestly decry cabaret dances that_ have become a regular feature
1040C06 of the commerical theatre?", an actor associated with another group observed.
1050C06 ^It is also alleged in some quarters that a few of the play*'s
1060C06 "excesses" are omitted when \0VIPs are in the audience. $\0^*Mr Chakravarti
1070C06 says he can hardly be accused of overstepping the limits of decency.
1090C06 ^Indeed, some foreigners who had seen the play had said that the
1110C06 theme was promising but the treatment had left them rather cold. ^Whether
1120C06 they had plays like "Oh Calcutta" in mind is irrelevant. ^The point
1130C06 he stresses is that so many people in the city and the villages (including
1140C06 audiences in the heart of Naxalite territory) would not have seen
1150C06 it without any kind of protest if it was really pornographic. ^Does it
1160C06 really debase the taste of a mentally healthy audience? "^Show me one person
1170C06 who has gone back from the play feeling the need for a drink or a
1180C06 woman. ^The trouble with those who are shouting against the play is that
1190C06 they are either jealous of its phenomenal success or have not cared to_
1200C06 see it at all. ^There were protests even during the Congress regime
1210C06 from within the party camp till \0Mr Siddhartha Sankar Ray saw the play
1220C06 and gave it a clean *4chit. ^*I can*'4t help it if others shy away from
1230C06 realism. ^Somebody must come forward." ^There was an unmistakable note
1240C06 of self-assurance in his voice.
1250C06 $^What irks \0Mr Chakravarti most is that the play*'s detractors ignore
1260C06 the group*'s record of the past 20 years. ^The group was founded in 1959
1270C06 with little-known names in the theatre world. ^They received no allowance
1280C06 and were bound together by their intense love for the medium. ^The
1290C06 group reinterpreted Arthur Miller*'s Death of a Salesman in a
1300C06 critically well received production called Janaiker Mrityu. ^It was one
1310C06 of the first Calcutta groups to_ handle a Brecht text in *5Ath Malathibhrishay
1320C06 Katha.*6 ^The themes it subsequently selected ranged from
1330C06 the literary (Bisarjan, Saroshi and Shesh Raksha) to the political.
1340C06 ^It was with this background and consciousness of the medium that the
1350C06 group had handled Baarbodhu-- a background and a consciousness that_
1351C06 "some are
1360C06 attempting to_ destroy in one stroke." ^The attempt has assumed several
1370C06 ugly forms. ^Like being driven out of the Academy of Fine Arts,
1380C06 having power and telephone lines cut, withdrawal of the Rabindra Bharati
1390C06 recommendation for tax exemption, having its accounts seized by the
1400C06 Income Tax Department, and being served with a demolition order from
1410C06 the Corporation for its construction work at the theatre. ^On each occasion,
1420C06 the group had to_ make emergency arrangements or seek a legal remedy.
1440C06 $^Even in theatre circles, however, sympathy for Chaturmukh is mixed with
1450C06 an awareness of the unmistakable shift in its commercial aims. ^Quite
1460C06 a few feel that in the early idealistic years, the group might not have
1470C06 considered staging Baarbodhu at all.
1471C06 $**<*3The World of Women Novelists*0**>
1480C06 $*3^IT*0 is not my intention in this article to_ treat Indian women novelists
1490C06 writing in English as a distinct group sharing common concerns
1500C06 or stylistic peculiarities that_ mark them out from their male counterparts,
1510C06 or to_ display a patronising attitude in according them a somewhat
1520C06 grudging recognition. ^As a matter of fact India*'s women novelists in
1521C06 English share the same cultural
1530C06 dichotomy and sense of intellectual alienation from the earth-bound realities
1540C06 of a major segment of the Indian society as are revealed by Indo
1550C06 English writers, male or female, poets or novelists. ^And yet, in several
1560C06 significant respects, these women novelists are closer to the earthy
1570C06 reality, to the subtle nuances of social behaviour, to the complex structures
1580C06 of man*'s and woman*'s inner life, and to the use of a language
1590C06 that_ varies from the pedestrian and prosaic to the poetic and ornate.
1600C06 $^Nevertheless what seems to_ be a uniting link among the Indo-English
1610C06 women novelists is that they are all emancipated and have all had at least
1620C06 a cross-cultural, if not an altogether cosmopolitan, experience that_
1630C06 has liberated them from the narrow grooves of a highly stratified and
1640C06 traditional society with its rigid codes and nauseating orthodoxies. ^To_
1650C06 name only the leading women novelists writing in Engish today, there
1660C06 is Kamala Markandaya who is married to an Englishman and settled in
1670C06 England; there is Ruth Prawer Jhabvala of Polish parentage, who had
1680C06 her upbringing in Germany and education in England and is married to
1690C06 an Indian architect; there is Anita Desai who has a German mother and
1700C06 a Bengali father; there is Santha Rama Rau who is married to an American
1710C06 and settled abroad; and finally there is Nayantara Sahgal, daughter
1720C06 of \0Mrs Vijay Laxmi Pandit. ^All these women novelists have
1730C06 had a part of their education and experience abroad, which naturally sets
1740C06 them apart from the traditional Indian woman living in the suffocating
1750C06 atmosphere of deep psychic repression, economic exploitation and the tyranny
1760C06 of obsolete conventions and ritual. ^And yet they carry the indelible
1770C06 imprint of Indian sensibility and culture in their blood and consciousness
1780C06 which not all the out-landish slogans of women*'s \0lib can
1790C06 totally suppress.
1800C06 $^*Kamala Markandaya, with her nine novels to-date is not only the most
1810C06 prolific, but also one of the most significant novelists that_ india has
1820C06 produced after Independence. ^She is not just a female *(0R. K.*)
1830C06 Narayan or an Indian Jane Austen, using the modes of comedy and irony
1840C06 with the assurance of a highly skilled artiste.*#
        **[no. of words = 02036**]

        **[txt. c07**]
0010C07 **<*3Aristophanes, Shakespeare, Gogol and Sudraka in Bhopal*0**>
0020C07 **[begin leader comment**]
0030C07 *3^The Hindi versions of the four plays by the Greek dramatist Aristophanes,
0040C07 Shakespeare, Gogol of Russia and Sudraka presented in folk style
0050C07 in Bhopal recently provided ample proof of the vibrancy of contemporary
0060C07 Indian theatre and its readiness to_ meet the challenges of experimentation.*0
0070C07 **[end leader comment**]
0090C07 $*3^A DRAMATIC*0 performance becomes, according to "*5Natya Drapana*6",
0100C07 an art when it arouses sentiments in the minds of the audience. **[sanskrit
0110C07 verse quoted**]. ^A great drama, as \0Dr. radhakrishnan says,
0120C07 overwhelms, devastates and annihilates us and yet exalts us and makes us
0130C07 new. ^The dramatist induces in us sympathy for the good and hatred of
0140C07 evil. ^Wherefore it is well said **[sanskrit verse quoted**] (of all
0150C07 literary forms, drama is lovely).
0160C07 $^*Aristophanes of Greece, Gogol of Russia, Shakespeare of England
0170C07 and Sudraka of India were among some of these ageless dramatists
0180C07 who came in a bunch to Bhopal to_ delight vast admiring audiences. ^Part
0190C07 of the silver jubilee celebrations of the Government *4Kala *4Parishad,
0200C07 these classics presented in folk styles bear evidence that contemporary
0210C07 theatre in India is freeing itself from the superficial Western influences
0220C07 and finding its own identity.
0230C07 $"^*Lysistra" of Aristophanes brings with overwhelming relevance to the
0240C07 modern age, the voice of protest of 2400 years ago against senseless wars.
0260C07 $"^*Inspector General" of Gogol is a satire on the corrupt bureaucracy
0270C07 of the 19th century Russia which could well apply to the official
0290C07 apparatus of to-day. $"^*King Lear" of Shakespeare is a gruesome tragedy
0300C07 of philosophical complexities of age-old emotions rising into a crescendo.
0310C07 $"*4^*Mrichhakatika" of Sudraka is a wholly artificial but profoundly
0320C07 moving play because "it is not realistic but real".
0330C07 $"*4^*Mrichhakatika" (Clay Cart) will still be fresh and gripping when
0340C07 the jumbo jet will be an anachronism. ^It will be so not because the clay
0350C07 cart carried the weight of two human hands but because it is the cart
0360C07 of man and of humanity, a cart which never grows old, defies time and
0370C07 is ever new. ^Age does not wither not custom stale it.
0380C07 $^An English translation of this drama staged in New York in 1924 provoked
0390C07 this comment from *(0J. W.*) Krutch. **[text mutilated*D**]
0410C07 $^*Habib Tanvir*'s Hindi adaptation in folk style of this drama reminds
0420C07 us of its relevance for all climes and all times. ^The local dialect,
0430C07 the folk style, the superb direction and the histrionic talent of the actors
0440C07 all joined to_ produce an impact. ^Various devices have been adopted
0450C07 in this drama to_ illumine the relations between Charudatta, Vasantasena
0460C07 and Shakar, the
0470C07 brother-in-law of the king. ^The scenes were skilfully presented in order
0480C07 to_ bring the drama to a happy climax.
0490C07 $^Drama mirrors the soul. ^It expresses the desires, the urges of man and
0500C07 the problems of life and the struggle of man to_ make himself at home
0520C07 in this world. ^One such drama is Gogol*'s "Inspector General" which
0530C07 was presented as "*5Aaya afasar*6", Hindi adaptation produced by the
0540C07 talented young Bansi Kaul. ^This drama satirising as it does the corrupt
0550C07 and degenerate bureaucracy of 19th century Russia, has immediate
0560C07 relevance to our days when corruption is conceded as a way of life. **[mutilated**]
0570C07 "^Here, if anywhere, the spectator will be able to_ see a
0580C07 genuine example of that_ pure art theatre of which theorists talk and here
0590C07 too he will be led to_ meditate upon that_ real wisdom of the East
0600C07 which lies not in esoteric doctrine but in a tenderness that_ is far deeper
0610C07 and truer than that_ of traditional Christianity. ^Here wisdom comes
0620C07 from the heart. ^Such a play can be produced only by a civilisation that_
0630C07 has reached stability." $"*4^*Mrichhakatika" as Nehru says in his
0640C07 "Discovery of India" is a tender and artifical play with a reality which
0650C07 moves us and gives us a glimpse into the life. ^Little wonder, this drama
0660C07 has been translated into all the major languages of the world. $^The
0670C07 drama was presented in Uttar Pradesh*'s *4Nautanki style which is
0680C07 one of the earthiest and most hilarious dramatic styles. ^*Bansi Kaul
0690C07 told this writer that *4Nautanki style is singularly adapted to deal
0700C07 with themes full of ridiculous and melodramatic situations. ^Modifications
0710C07 were however made and chorus introduced to_ heighten effect. ^The
0720C07 theme of Inspector General and the style of *4Nautanki go very well together.
0740C07 $^The arrival of an imposter Inspector General throws four corrupt and
0750C07 unscrupulous officials into panic. ^They devise ways to_ save their face
0760C07 and save their skin. ^The imposter takes advantage of their fears.
0770C07 ^By the time he was found out, he had already reaped a rich harvest.
0780C07 $^The music, the freeze and rhythmic action judiciously produced dramatic
0790C07 situations. ^The adaptation transmuted an alien milieu to_ emerge as
0800C07 a satire on contemporary society with telling effect.
0810C07 $^The play has potential for becoming an instrument of mass awakening provided
0820C07 it is taken to the people for whom it is intended. ^The formless
0830C07 anger, impotent fury, protest and disenchantment which rankle in the hearts
0840C07 of the people find expression in the play and could inspire them to_
0850C07 raise the voice against the exploitative order.
0860C07 $^The sets here were too slick for a country theatre. ^So were the costumes
0870C07 of some of the performers. ^A little slovenly uncouthness would have
0880C07 made for greater authenticity. *4^*Nautanki characters are more caricatures
0890C07 than true-to-life images by tradition which makes them identifiable
0900C07 types who need no introduction to the rural audiences. $^It
0910C07 is the function of drama and other forms of literature to_ produce,
0920C07 what \0Dr. Radhakrishnan calls, a climate of ideas which will prepare
0930C07 for a universal republic and world society. ^One drama that_ comes under
0940C07 this category is "Lysistra". ^This was the most audacious performance
0950C07 ever given in Bhopal. ^No wonder a section of the audience walked
0960C07 out in noisy protest against the obscene portions of the play. $^The
0970C07 drama shows Athenian women in a belligerent mood against their men
0980C07 whose senseless military campaigns infuriated them. ^*Aristophanes who stood
0990C07 supreme in the field of comedy in Greece which delighted in tragedies,
1000C07 may have been voicing his own protest against the penchant for war
1010C07 which was the bane of Greek city states.
1020C07 $^It is remarkable that anti-war protest should have been articulated through
1030C07 the medium of drama 2,400 years ago. ^The conscientious objectors
1040C07 of first and the second World Wars were doing nothing new. ^The women
1050C07 of Lysistra used their bodies as a weapon against their men to_ compel
1060C07 them to_ desist from war. ^They tell them that if they wanted to_ sleep
1070C07 with them they should give up war.
1080C07 $^Women, a critic says, have used their bodies for far worse purposes.
1090C07 ^*Aristophanes in Greece in 411 \0BC and producer Rajendranath in Bhopal
1110C07 in 1977 \0AD did not shiver on the brink. ^They took the plunge
1120C07 and produced a frank bedroom scene between an aroused husband and a strategically
1130C07 cold wife.
1140C07 $^This scene produced a storm of protest. ^It was said that the play had
1150C07 been vulgarised beyond dramatic necessity. $^The
1160C07 agony of men who were denied sexual comforts could have been suggested
1170C07 by other means and it was certainly not necessary to_ show the bedroom
1180C07 scenes in order to_ present a realistic picture. ^There is a wide gap
1190C07 between excellent presentation and its cultural impact. ^For example, the
1200C07 scene shows that while the State delegates of Athens and Sthakyarga
1210C07 were negotiating a treaty, a girl enters whose breasts are marked by a
1220C07 map of Athens. ^During the negotiations ambiguous language and signs
1230C07 are used to_ refer to parts of her body. ^Were they necessary? ^No.
1240C07 $^It is necessary to_ keep the question of good taste uppermost in mind.
1250C07 ^The stress on realistic presentation nearly marred the pleasure. ^This
1260C07 is all the more to_ be regretted because the costumes, stage direction,
1270C07 music and all reflected high imagination and a high standard of faithfulness
1280C07 to the drama.
1290C07 $^With perfect imperturbability, the supporters replied: "*_^Almost every
1300C07 married person has experience of a like nature in his bedroom. ^There
1310C07 is no point in growing indignant. ^They should have done far better to_
1320C07 applaud and laugh."
1330C07 $^The music, songs and dance were delightful and calculated to_ heighten
1340C07 the sensuality of the scenes of this full-blooded Greek comedy.
1350C07 $^Presentation in Karnataka*'s *4Yakshagana style by nationally renowned
1360C07 Karanth of the Hindi version of Shakespeare*'s "King Lear", renamed
1361C07 "*5Pagla Raja Teen Betiyan*6" was an important attraction. ^It
1370C07 was enchanting to_ see the wicked daughters of King Lear intensifying
1380C07 the effect of their poisonous speech against their father by flitting
1390C07 around the stage in *4Yakshagana style to the accompaniment of beautiful
1400C07 music. ^They really stung the silly old king, stark mad... $^The
1420C07 experiment of an English play in *4Yakshagana style makes it both
1430C07 an exciting creative phenomenon and a challenge.
1440C07 $^*Karanth*'s form asserted itself over the Elizabethan structure and many
1450C07 recognizable elements disappeared revealing the more elemental folk
1460C07 tale of love and betrayal. $**<*3Of chivalrous deeds of men and women*0**>
1470C07 **[begin leader comment**] *3^The
1490C07 folk paintings of Rajasthan are as satisfying to the connoisseurs
1500C07 as the miniatures. ^Artistic creations on long scrolls with legendary motifs
1510C07 are given to bards, known as *4Bhopas, who keep their listeners spell-bound
1520C07 by singing ballads explaining the episodes depicted by folk artists.*0
1540C07 **[end leader comment**]
1550C07 $*3^*RAJASTAN*'S*0 rich heritage of folk paintings has fascinated scholars,
1560C07 historians and critics for a long time. ^The efforts expended on
1570C07 these works of art are immense and the blending of the fine and subtle
1580C07 is so unique that even connoisseurs marvel at the artistic skill bestowed
1590C07 on them. ^They show evidence of dexterity and patience in execution and
1600C07 also firmness of conception.
1610C07 $^Men and women who are traditional painters, prepare intricate and exquisite
1620C07 designs during auspicious occasions like festivals and marriages.
1630C07 ^The symbolic motifs which embellish the walls and floors of houses, gateways
1640C07 and arches, temples and shrines are usually associated with rituals
1650C07 based on mythological themes and chivalrous deeds of men and women.
1670C07 $^These murals are folk in character. ^This can be seen in a developed
1680C07 form in the murals at the Bairrath palace. ^While the historical Amber
1690C07 palace has paintings in some of its *4chhatris, the Udaipur palace has
1700C07 large beautiful frescoes. ^*Bikaner, Kota and Bundi also have very fine
1710C07 murals. ^A large-size mural showing the procession taken out on the
1720C07 occasion of the colourful festival of *4Gangor adorning the walls of the
1730C07 Jaipur railway station, shows that the tradition is still alive.
1740C07 $^An interesting folk technique is painting on long scrolls known as '*4phards'.
1750C07 ^On these are depicted scenes from the life of legendary heroes
1760C07 and heroines of Rajasthan, worshipped and admired by the people. ^The
1770C07 story of Pabuji Ramdeoji and Devi Narainji are vividly portrayed through
1780C07 the '*4phards'. $^They
1790C07 are prepared by folk artists attached to temples and given to the
1800C07 singing bards who move from one village to another. ^Attracted by large
1810C07 crowds, the wandering bards popularly known as *4Bhopas point out the scenes
1820C07 painted on the *4phard and keep their audience spell bound with interesting
1830C07 anecdotes rendered in the local dialect to the accompaniment of
1840C07 music. ^Besides, small paper paintings of Lord Ganesa, Goddess Lakshmi
1850C07 and scenes from *5Krishna-leela*6 are painted in large numbers and
1860C07 sold to the local people for a small amount. $^Another
1870C07 folk painting-- the *4Pechwai-- was originally the cloth painting
1880C07 which was hung at the back of the idol in temples. ^This particular painting
1890C07 was done according to the season and particular festivals. ^Later,
1900C07 the image was also introduced on the *4Pechwai which was popular with
1910C07 the pilgrims who purchased it.
1920C07 $^Painting on cloth is an ancient art as can be seen in the banner paintings
1930C07 of Tibet known as *4chitrapat. ^This form underwent suitable
1940C07 modifications to_ permit rolling of the painting and as such it had to_
1950C07 develop its own technique. ^However, orthodox-minded people who promoted
1960C07 the modified Pechwai form under Vaishnav influence did not favour
1970C07 the use of glue made out of animal skin and bone. ^Only a thin layer of
1980C07 '*4lai' or starch was applied and the cloth painted with the tempera
1990C07 technique. $^The art of painting on cloth is elaborate and interesting.
2000C07 ^The cloth is first starched heavily. ^Then with the help of a book and
2010C07 with the preparation of an outline, the various colours are filled on
2020C07 the cloth; first the yellow, then green followed by vermillion and lastly
2030C07 the blue, the outlines being worked out in black-- almost similar to
2040C07 the modern technique.*#
        **[no. of words = 02041**]

        **[txt. c08**]
0020C08 $*<*3OUR NEIGHBOURS*0**> $*<*3AUSTRALIA*'S MILITARY ALLIANCES*0*> $AUSTRALIA,
0030C08 the smallest and the most sparsely populated but a rich and
0040C08 developed continent, is currently caught in a dilemma of being at "the
0050C08 cross roads of self-reliance and American alliance of insular self-development
0060C08 and international involvement, of its wish to_ develop independnt
0070C08 defence capability and reliance on military alliance". ^*Chakravarty*'s
0080C08 book, the result of research undertaken at Australian National
0090C08 Univeristy, seeks to_ explain this dilemma within the framework of Australia*'s
0100C08 military alliance, its strategic environment, its defence and
0110C08 nuclear potential and regional ties. $^The
0120C08 problems inherent in Australia*'s strategic situation derive from its
0130C08 geography and history though their seriousness at any particular moment
0140C08 is influenced by international and internal political climate (which
0150C08 in Australia*'s case have changed remarkably over the past couple of years).
0160C08 ^The geographical compulsions flowing from close "Asian geo-political
0170C08 proximity" and the ethnic-cum-cultural ethos, emanating from a strong
0180C08 European heritage pull the country in different directions. ^In the
0190C08 early post-war period, withdrawal of British military forces and fear of
0200C08 "monolithic Asian" personality with its regional threat variables, led
0210C08 Australia to_ seek the alliance of the most powerful force in the region.
0220C08 ^The result was that whereas in the early post-war period, the economic
0230C08 political and defence links with Britain constituted almost the whole
0240C08 of Australian foreign policy, by the late \050*'3s the United States
0250C08 assumed a role that_ has steadily been increasing over the years and
0260C08 now it is probably the single most important factor in Australia*'s foreign
0270C08 relations.
0290C08 $^A military pact known as Amzus was signed in 1951 with the United States,
0300C08 along with New Zealand, as a defence arrangement against a rearmed
0310C08 Japan as well as international communism. ^This later became a shield
0320C08 against Indonesian adventurism. ^*Australia joined hands with America
0330C08 also in the South East Asia defence system (\0SEATO) to_ deal
0340C08 with the communist infiltration in the region. ^It later resulted in Australia*'s
0350C08 involvement in the Vietnam conflict. ^Whereas the latter had
0360C08 become almost defunct with the improvement of China*'s relations with
0370C08 the \0USA and other South-east Asian countries Amzus has continued
0380C08 to_ play an important role. ^The \0US has at present no less than sixteen
0390C08 defence installations in Australia, including seven \0NASA
0400C08 tracking stations.
0410C08 $^Though Australian Labour Party had been critical of this alliance
0420C08 and of the over-dependence on the \0USA and has sought to_ maximize
0430C08 the country*'s freedom of manoeuvre its own record in power testifies a
0440C08 lack of conviction for evolving a dynamic Asian policy. ^This heavily
0450C08 documented book lacks in fresh conclusions and interpretations.
0460C08 ^In view of the recent changes in international politics with the \0USSR
0470C08 and China becoming major contestants in South-east Asia and the
0480C08 United States playing a greatly reduced role, Australia*'s foreign
0490C08 policy-- for instance, its open support to Peking in the contest with
0500C08 \0USSR-- should have been analysed in greater detail.
0510C08 $*<*3SOUTH EAST ASIAN POLITICS: MALAYSIA AND INDONESIA*0*>
0520C08 $*3THIS*0 brief study dealing with the evolution of the foreign policies
0530C08 of Malaysia and Indonesia could have been more aptly entitled 'The
0540C08 origins of the foreign policies of Malaysia and Indonesia'. ^The author
0550C08 maintains that the two important factors which shaped the foreign policies
0560C08 of these nations were their colonial experience and the prevailing
0570C08 international situation, in that_ order. ^Analysing this thesis he points
0580C08 out that the low key and pragmatic foreign policy of Malaysia was due
0590C08 to its peaceful transition from a colony to an independent nation, whereas
0600C08 the strong anti-Dutch overtones in Indonesian foreign policy were 
0610C08 primarily caused by the bitter struggle which the newly independent Republic
0620C08 had to_ wage against Dutch colonialism and later, on the question
0630C08 of West Iran. $^Before
0640C08 coming to the main theme, the author provides us with background information
0650C08 (in the first two chapters) on the strategic importance of South-east
0651C08 Asia, the various cultural layers which have contributed to
0670C08 plural societies in the region and the serious problem of national integration
0680C08 created thereby. ^The second chapter deals with the history of colonialism
0690C08 specifically in these two countries. ^A short final chapter deals
0700C08 with the theme of regional co-operation and here the author contends
0710C08 that regional co-operation in this area developed following the phase
0720C08 of *3Confrontation*0, a phase which "led to an unprecedented growth in
0730C08 the exchanges between the countries of the region". ^According to the author,
0740C08 this in fact fostered the growth of co-operation in the region.
0750C08 $^The basic theme of the book is by no means original and it leaves one
0760C08 wondering as to what exactly the author is trying to_ prove. ^The title
0780C08 itself is misleading, for there is very little of South-east Asian politics
0790C08 in the book. ^The preface gives the impression that the theme of
0810C08 regional co-operation would be dealt with in detail, but no such attempt
0820C08 has been made. ^The questions regarding regional co-operation, raised at
0830C08 the beginning, remain unanswered. ^A more comprehensive enquiry into
0840C08 this subject would certainly have made the book more topical.
0850C08 $^Besides, the emphasis the author has put, in the case of Malaysia, on
0860C08 its fear of Communist China and, in the case of Indonesia, on the issue
0870C08 of anti-colonialism seems to_ be exaggerated. ^Domestic considerations
0880C08 have been as important in shaping their foreign policies. ^Political
0890C08 ambitions of leaders, equally have shaped the destinies of these nations.
0900C08 ^For instance, Singapore*'s withdrawal from Malaysia in which Lee
0910C08 Kwan Yu*'s own ambition was a factor of no less significance than
0920C08 the conflicting economic interests of the two countries. ^Similarly Sukarno*'s
0930C08 own world outlook moulded in large measure Indonesia*'s foreign
0940C08 policy. ^It is worth pointing out in this connection that Sukarno*'s
0950C08 Guided Democracy was not based on the Chinese model as the author would
0960C08 have us believe. ^Its basic concepts of *3*7Mushawarah*0 and *3*8Gotong
0970C08 Royong*9*0 were totally indigenous. ^The book, however, gives
0980C08 a lot of facts and figures, and some useful appendices at the end.
0990C08 $**<*3BOWING TO THE CENSORS*0**>
1000C08 $*<*3LIBERTY AND LICENCE IN THE INDIAN CINEMA*0*>
1010C08 $*3A BOOK*0 on film censorship without illustrations is like having the
1020C08 choicest food without spice. ^Whatever may be the author*'s reasons
1030C08 for doing away with pictorial illustrations-- the mounting cost of prodution
1040C08 may be one, keeping a cool dispassionate stance on a subject which
1050C08 is easily given to sensationalising may be another-- *3Liberty and Licence
1060C08 in Indian Cinema*0 remains at best a well-researched, well-documented
1070C08 and copiously foot-noted dissertation on an aspect of the Indian
1080C08 mass entertainment which not many have ventured so far to_ tackle.
1090C08 $^In fact, the author*'s introductory remarks confirm that the book is an
1110C08 expanded version of a doctoral thesis for the University of Paris.
1120C08 ^But unlike many academic exercises of this kind Vasudev has scrupulously
1130C08 avoided a pedantic approach to her subject. ^Her chatty, conversational
1140C08 prose, full of asides, betrays the extent of painstaking research that_
1150C08 has gone into the making of this book, which telescopes almost 60 years
1160C08 of film censorship in India.
1170C08 $^The rise and development of censorship is viewed in the context of socio-political
1180C08 factors, first under colonial domination, then under post-independence
1190C08 Congress regime and finally under the spectre of Emergency,
1200C08 when all existing norms and criteria were conveniently twisted to the
1210C08 sole purpose of boosting the cult of two personalities.
1220C08 $^In the early days the censors*' attention was mainly devoted to coping
1230C08 with the influx of imported films into India. ^Armed with statistics
1240C08 and quotations, the author says that in 1921-22, of the 1,320 films exhibited
1250C08 in India only 64 were Indian. ^In 1920 the Culcutta Censor Board
1260C08 made cuts in 49 films and refused certificates to 13. ^Some of the
1270C08 censors*' directives of the twenties make interesting reading and may
1280C08 not be in any way different from the ones given almost half a century later.
1290C08 ^Portions that_ were required to_ be entirely deleted included scenes
1300C08 such as: "*_^Woman
1310C08 on bed beckoning to man on couch", "The dinner scene showing the
1320C08 man and woman drunk and fondling each other", "scenes where the hero is
1321C08 holding the heroine by the bust", "scene of
1330C08 Eve leaning over the body of Abel, where her breasts can be seen".
1340C08 $^Certain films, now considered classics, were first banned, then released
1350C08 with a large number of excisions. ^Thus *3Sadie Thompson*0 (1929) was
1360C08 refused a certificate because it "is unwholesome and of low moral tone".
1370C08 *3^*Potemkin*0 (1925) was banned because "it depicts scenes of brutality
1380C08 and mutiny and tyranny of successive governments, driving people to_
1390C08 rebel". *3^*Metropolis*0 (1928) was passed with 18 cuts; *3The Birth
1400C08 of a Nation*0 with 19 cuts.
1410C08 $^*Indian films with political undertones were frowned upon, while a lenient
1420C08 view was taken about their sexual contents, including kissing. ^Thus
1430C08 many films made in the twenties and thirties contained scenes of passionate
1440C08 love-making. ^This writer distinctly remembers seeing in the mid-fifties
1450C08 two such films, *3*5Sher Ka Panja*6*0 (1936) and *3*5Bake Sanvaria*6*0
1460C08 (1938) which starred Sardar Akhtar (Mehboob*'s wife) and
1470C08 Vatsala Kumtekar respectively. ^One lost count of the number of kisses
1480C08 the heroes of these films showered on their sweethearts. ^If shown
1490C08 today the scenes would raise many an eyebrow.
1500C08 $^The censorship issue is discussed in detail, but one searches in vain
1510C08 to_ find out how and when kissing in Indian films was introduced and when
1520C08 exactly was it banned by the censors. ^Was it before the start of the
1530C08 Second World War or after? ^In a chapter titled, "Zero for Conduct"
1540C08 the author has some revealing things to_ say about the invidious ways
1550C08 censorship was used to political ends during the Emergencey. ^While a
1560C08 chosen few, dancing to the tune of powers that_ be, gained in the process,
1570C08 many independent-minded film makers had to_ pay a heavy price for their
1580C08 non-commitment, if not for their tacit disapproval.
1590C08 $^An exhaustive bibliography appears at the end of the book. ^Conspicuous
1600C08 by their absence are the three books on censorship, perhaps the best of
1610C08 their kind on the subject: John Trevelyan*'s *3What the Censor Saw*0
1620C08 (1974) giving an account of the British film censors; Murray Schumach*'s
1630C08 *3The Face on the Cutting Room Floor*0 and Doug McClelland*'s
1640C08 *3The Unkindest Cuts*0, the latter two viewing the subject from
1650C08 the American point of view. ^If the author had cared to_ go through
1660C08 these books, particularly the first one, I am sure she would not have
1670C08 left the present book without pictures-- "the unkindest cuts" for the readers
1690C08 at least. $**<*3THE ROLE OF ORGANISATION*0**>
1700C08 $*<*3REVOLUTIONARY VIOLENCE: A STUDY OF THE MAOIST MOVEMENT IN INDIA*0*>
1720C08 $^THE book seeks to_ answer five questions regarding Maoist movement
1721C08 in India. ^Why
1730C08 did the Naxalites fail to_ evolve their own formulations to_ suit Indian
1740C08 conditions? ^Which factors were responsible for keeping the movement
1750C08 at a "pre-organisation stage"? ^What were the advantages and disadvantages
1760C08 of an organisational character? ^How did the strategy of armed
1770C08 mass struggle peter out to_ become "armed squad action"? ^What lessons
1780C08 do revolutionaries derive from the experience of the past ten years?
1800C08 $^These questions have been answered within a theoretical frame-work of
1810C08 four concepts: environment, ideology, organisation and strategy, and the
1820C08 relationship between them. ^It has been stated that "the interaction between
1830C08 ideology and strategy is constrained by the environment. ^The interaction
1840C08 between environment and strategy is constrained by ideology. ^The
1850C08 organisation tries to_ balance the conflicting considerations while
1860C08 formulating strategy". ^In other words, ideology is a universal category,
1870C08 while the others are variables.
1880C08 $^The Indian Maoists applying their ideological tools to the analysis
1890C08 of the Indian environment concluded that the situation in Darjeeling
1900C08 and Srikakulam, taken together, reflected the entire Indian environment
1910C08 which, accoridng to them, resembled what prevailed in China prior to
1920C08 1949. ^Encouraged by the favourable Chinese pronouncements, the Indian
1930C08 Maoists consequently did not undertake any independent ideological
1940C08 studies and discussions. ^They just mechanically applied Chinese strategy,
1950C08 emulating particularly the ideological activities of the Chinese Red
1960C08 guards during the Cultural Revolution. ^This caused an ideological
1970C08 stagnation, whose impact was noticed in 1973.
1980C08 $^To_ put it bluntly, the Maoists repeated the mistake of Communist Party
1990C08 of India, \0*7viz imitativeness. ^As in Telangana in 1948, international
2000C08 factors played an important role and the Maoists, like the
2010C08 \0CPI rationalized their prior commitment to_ strategy based on a
2020C08 foreign ideology.*#
        **[no. of words = 02000**]

        **[txt. c09**]
0010C09 **<*3Indian in White House**>
0020C09 $^WHEN I switched on my \0TV set on Christmas evening and found
0030C09 \0Mr Sayeed Naqvi sitting pretty at the White House in Washington
0040C09 interviewing \0Mr. Zbigniew Brzezinski, the national security adviser
0050C09 to the \0U.S. President and a key figure in President Carter*'s
0060C09 administration, it seemed to_ be someone from outer space.
0070C09 $^Because while any established foreign correspondent can get an exclusive
0080C09 interview with our Prime Minister, foreign minister and President
0090C09 with ease, Indian correspondents abroad seldom seem to_ make it with the
0100C09 top political brass of western countries. \0^*Mr Amrit Mehta and \0Mr.
0110C09 *(0K. K.*) Sood of \0AIR have shown some enterprise in this respect
0120C09 in West and East Asia. ^But certainly *4Doordarshan never even
0130C09 seems to_ have attempted anything of the sort. ^But for the rest, Indian
0140C09 correspondents abroad get so obsessed with living on the periphery of
0150C09 our embassies and high commissions, and sending glowing reports of Indian
0160C09 \0VIP visits abroad (mostly quite disproportionate to the coverage
0170C09 the same dignitaries get in the media of the countries they are visiting),
0180C09 that we have all got into a state where such interviews are looked
0190C09 on as unattainable. $^And
0200C09 yet \0Mr. Naqvi, who is a free-lance journalist in the \0USA.
0210C09 was able to_ establish sufficient contacts with the White House press
0220C09 department to_ have even offered to_ try and get an advance interview with
0230C09 President Carter for \0AIR and *4Doordarshan. ^Apparently his offer
0240C09 remains unacknowledged to date. ^Since one does not get presidents
0241C09 at once, he got the next most
0250C09 important man. ^And it was a neat, sophisticated, professional job which
0260C09 proved that if Indian correspondents have enterprise and are willing to_
0270C09 take calculated risks India can do it. ^In fact, *4Doordarshan should
0280C09 have its own man in Washington with sufficient standing to_ get these
0290C09 exclusives. ^Certainly, the White House was willing to_ co-operate.
0300C09 $^In reverse, new ground is also going to_ be broken in connection with
0310C09 the coverage of President Carter*'s visit to India. \0^*TV foreign correspondents
0320C09 in India had so far been handicapped by the inconvenient
0330C09 night departures of connecting planes from India to_ take their newsreel
0340C09 footage to their \0TV networks. ^The lack of colour processing \0labs.
0350C09 for 16 \0mm. added to their woes. ^On this occasion, some of President
0360C09 Carter*'s important engagements and speeches will be telecast live in
0370C09 colour with the aid of modern electronic cameras which will enable video-cassettes
0380C09 to_ be plugged in direct to our overseas communications service
0390C09 and then via satellite to \0TV. networks abroad. ^This sort of instant
0400C09 coverage has certainly gladdened the heart of at least one seasoned
0410C09 American \0TV correspondent already in Delhi who has often felt frustrated
0420C09 on previous occasions.
0430C09 $^However, with all this, there still seems to_ exist some sort of communication
0440C09 gap between the \0USA and India, which one trusts this trip
0450C09 will help overcome. ^It is not merely the report that the \0US President
0460C09 might offer us a satellite to_ resume where \0SITE left off.
0470C09 ^It has something to_ do with media attitudes on both sides. \0^*U.S.
0480C09 radio and \0TV have, by and large, carried disaster-oriented news from
0490C09 India, that_ sordid negative picture that_ exists in any country and all
0500C09 against a backdrop of elephants, *4maharajahs, snakecharmers, poverty,
0510C09 beggars and caste.
0520C09 $^*Les Brown of *3The New York Times told this writer that partly
0530C09 this is due to the exigencies of western media where matters have reached
0540C09 a stage where evil is news. ^Even if \0US media are not deliberately
0550C09 picking specially on India, certainly their radio, and \0TV mostly
0570C09 give an impression of being patronising and, at times, downright ignorant.
0580C09 ^Our American media colleagues, who will, hopefully, notice that the
0590C09 Indian capital bears more than a visual resemblance to their native Washington,
0600C09 and that Indian media people can be a highly sophisticated
0620C09 lot, might like to_ attempt a little basic homework on India even during
0630C09 their brief visit and go away a little more informed after what might
0640C09 well be a first aquaintance with the highly complicated country, a blend
0650C09 of ancient culture and modern technology. $^*Indian media, on their
0660C09 part, must, admittedly, within financial limitations,
0670C09 stir themselves a little more and discover some more Sayeed Naqvis
0680C09 abroad, who have dash, enterprise, contacts and talent, so that such
0690C09 interviews and coverage for *4Doordarshan are not sporadic but steady.
0700C09 ^Indeed, since \0Mr. Naqvi is not unfamiliar to *4Doordarshan, it seems
0710C09 strange that they should not have utilised him for two years as a *4Doordarshan
0720C09 correspondent, in the same way as they had a television correspondent
0730C09 in West Germany. ^Is there, for instance, going to_ be an advance
0740C09 \0TV interview by an Indian correspondent with \0Mr. Callaghan
0750C09 in London before he arrives? ^Why should we wait meekly at home for
0760C09 someone to_ arrive and let other networks beat us to it and depend on foreign
0780C09 news agencies? $^*India, let us repeat, can do it and should start
0790C09 the new year with more confidence and zest.
0800C09 $^*American media, to their credit, did a splendid job of coverage of India
0810C09 during the emergency when our own media were bogged and helpless.
0820C09 ^They did an equally splendid job on the elections and the restoration of
0830C09 democracy apparently gladdened Americans to the extent that they now
0840C09 welcome positive news from India. ^Currently they are looking with shrewd
0850C09 eyes at the Janata government*'s performance and Indian media are
0860C09 looking with equally critical eyes at the new American attitudes towards
0870C09 India. ^That_ is how it should be between democracies and this includes
0880C09 not being over-sensitive to each other*'s reactions, which has existed
0890C09 in the past.
0900C09 $^If President Carter*'s visit acts as a stimulus to narrowing the media
0910C09 communication gap between India and the \0USA, it would have at least
0920C09 one major achievement to its credit. $**<*3Meeting The People**>
0940C09 $*3ONE*0 of the programmes which Delhi, and presumably other \0AIR
0950C09 stations have been featuring since the change of government at the Centre,
0960C09 is question and answer sessions between what are described as "common
0970C09 people" and ministers.
0980C09 $^We have had Central ministers meeting actually far from common people:
0990C09 they are usually not only uncommon, but specialists in their line. ^For
1000C09 instance, academics and students, as well as some people who questioned
1010C09 \0Mr. *(0A. B.*) Vajpayee were specialists in international affairs
1020C09 and extremely knowledgeable in their spheres. ^Similarly, when \0Mr.
1030C09 *(0L. K.*) Advani met "the common people", as the announcement rather
1040C09 under-estimated them, there were media specialists from both the older
1050C09 and younger age-groups, some had written books on broadcasting, others
1060C09 had held top positions in \0AIR and some were well-known broadcasters.
1070C09 ^The questions and answers on both foreign policy and mass media were
1080C09 as a result intelligent, topical, and with answers to match.
1090C09 $^This is a good thing and one wonders why the presentation of the programme
1100C09 does not make it clear that everything is going to_ be on a high intellectual
1110C09 and specialist level and thereby admit that it is of interest
1120C09 to specialist listeners as well. ^Some time ago, three or four lively
1140C09 students also had a prolonged question and answer session with \0Mr. *(0L.
1150C09 K.*) Advani which was later carried on transmitters other than *5Yuva
1160C09 Vani*6, from where it originated. ^On \0TV, we have similarly
1170C09 had ministers talking to people but, sadly, mostly to one person at a time.
1180C09 ^Some of the interviewers were very able and coped with different
1190C09 aspects of a particular minister*'s portfolio. ^But one cannot help feeling
1200C09 the discussions would have had much more scope and variety if they
1210C09 had had a panel to_ put questions to ministers. ^Fortunately, solo viewers
1220C09 in some cases were independent-minded people who put tough questions
1230C09 to the ministers and challenged them on various issues. ^One needs much
1240C09 more of this kind of frankness and non-conformism and this implies drawing
1250C09 questioners from different disciplines as well as differing opinions.
1260C09 \0^*TV in this respect can take note of how much more interesting and
1280C09 worth-while radio*'s programmes have been because of the multiplicity
1290C09 of questioners. $^However,
1300C09 as far as the common man (and hopefully women) are concerned, their
1310C09 participation mostly extends to quiz programmes. ^The *5prashan Manch*6
1320C09 programme of \0TV now has a format whereby specific subjects-- such
1330C09 as music, films or theatre are taken up separately and draw audiences
1340C09 from specific interests, in welcome contrast to the previous audiences,
1350C09 who were frankly people anxious to_ get on to \0TV and not necessarily
1360C09 good at it. ^People, overdressed for the occasion and trying to_ look
1370C09 straight at the camera and mostly inaudible when they spoke, are gradually
1380C09 being replaced by more poised and relaxed people who know their subjects
1390C09 and their answers.
1400C09 $^But in the field of youth programmes the guessing games between different
1410C09 colleges are now getting so monotonous and pointless that they well
1420C09 illustrate the Verghese Committee*'s comments that the youth programmes
1430C09 are too urban-based and too student-oriented. ^One misses genuine dialogues
1440C09 between city and rural folk, between artists and young industrialists,
1460C09 between people who work with their hands and those who work with
1470C09 computers. ^One is also getting tired of folk singers and the 'Hi folk'
1480C09 type of dialogue. $^As a reminder of old-world modishness and as part
1490C09 of its broadcasts of
1500C09 archive material for its 50th birthday, \0AIR Delhi broadcast one of
1510C09 its most precious archive recordings on Friday. ^This was a recording
1520C09 of a studio concert before an invited audience at \0AIR Bombay as long
1530C09 back as 1939. ^It was a rendering of *4khayal in the *5Raga Mian
1540C09 Ki Malhar*6 by the noted Marathi vocalist, Ram Krishna Bua Baze,
1550C09 with accompaniment on the *4sarangi by Ustad Bundu Khan and *4tabla
1560C09 by Alla Rakha.
1570C09 $^Most charming of all, the announcements were made by *(0Z. A.*) Bokhari,
1580C09 then the station director at Bombay. ^A timely reminder of the fact
1590C09 that in those days, it was performing artists who headed radio stations
1600C09 and no doubt creative activity flowed from the top.
1610C09 $^*Sai Paranjype*'s half-hour documentary on the Warnanagar children*'s
1620C09 orchestra, trained and projected by musician Shankar Rao Kulkarni,
1630C09 was a good subject. ^But one felt that \0Miss Paranjype would have got
1640C09 a much more compact film in 20 minutes. ^Her close-ups of the child mussicians,
1650C09 from the age of 2-1/2 to 5 were among her best sequences. ^The
1660C09 recitals on bullock carts and in a boat were rather more contrived. ^But
1670C09 there were some light touches, such as the *4ustad getting his pupils
1680C09 only by going round with the milkman, when orthodox parents could not dodge
1690C09 him. ^And the children mostly self-conscious in speaking were at their
1710C09 best when playing. $**<*3Spotlight Changes Spots*0**>
1720C09 $^ONE has really lost count of the weary years during which, Spotlight,
1730C09 \0AIR*'s rather over-ambitious news commentary after the 9
1740C09 o*'3clock news in English and '*4Samayaiki', its Hindi counterpart,
1750C09 have been on the air.
1760C09 $^But one regrets to_ say that, by and large, it has been endured down the
1770C09 years as a government handout belonging to the same 'genre' as the handouts
1780C09 put by the Press Information Bureau down the road, and about as
1790C09 exciting. ^Which is to_ say not exciting at all. ^What has robbed
1791C09 'Spotlight' of most of its credibility
1800C09 and indeed, personality, is the fact that most scripts are ghost-read.
1810C09 ^Thus we hear the name of some well-known journalist, and up booms
1820C09 the unmistakable voice of \0Mr. Surajit Sen or \0Mr. Susheel Jhaveri.
1830C09 ^Some tough propaganda is put across dutifully by Latika Ratnam or
1840C09 Pamela Singh. ^One does not expect these newsreaders to_ get really
1850C09 worked up or sound interesting reading somebody else*'s usually rather
1860C09 badly-written-for-radio copy.
1870C09 $^Happily, some change and liveliness has been apparent recently. ^Thus,
1880C09 instead of the usual tack stuff, there was a discussion on the Azamgarh
1890C09 election hot on the heels of the results. ^One of \0Mr. *(0K. K.*)
1900C09 Sood*'s recent despatches went a little off the beaten track, and at
1910C09 some length, into Indians in Saudi Arabia. ^In fact, ghost voices are
1920C09 at such a discount that actually one has to_ look out for them. ^Naturally,
1930C09 all this has made a perceptible difference to listening. ^What needs
1940C09 to_ be done now is to_ take away at least the veneer of government
1950C09 propaganda.*#
        **[no. of words = 02013**]

        **[txt. c10**]
0010C10 **<*3Kumar Gandharva Sings *4Tukaram**> **[begin leader comment**]
0030C10 $*3^For generations the verse of the Marathi poet-saint, Tukaram, has
0040C10 been sung by the devout. ^Recently, for the first time, the well-known
0050C10 vocalist, Kumar Gandharva, tried to_ render it in a classical manner.
0070C10 **[end leader comment**] $**[verses**]
0090C10 $*3^THUS*0, on *4Gokulashtami day, sings Professor narayan Godbole,
0100C10 in *(0E. M.*) Forster*'s novel, *3A Passage to India*0.
0110C10 $^As interesting as the link between the Marathi poet-saint Tukaram and
0120C10 noted vocalist Kumar Gandharva is that_ between the latter and Forster.
0130C10 ^For during his years in India, the British novelist was a tutor
0140C10 in the princely court of Dewas, the very town which Kumar has made his
0150C10 home. ^Indeed, the musician*'s house is located at the very foot of the
0160C10 Hill of *4Devi which gives Forster*'s loving memoir of the period its
0170C10 apt name.
0180C10 $^Unlike Professor Godbole, Kumar Gandharva was not born to a specifically
0190C10 Maharashtrian tradition which looks up to various poet-saints as
0200C10 the blessed who light up One*'s path to god. ^Having tackled the problems
0210C10 of life and attained celestial bliss in different literary veins, these
0220C10 poet-saints have long ago achieved the status of transcendental philosophers
0230C10 whom even agnostics may read with profit.
0240C10 $^*Kumar*'s mother-tongue was Kannada when he was transplanted on to Maharashtrian
0250C10 soil during his formative years. ^He had no reason to_ master
0260C10 the nuances of the centuries-old Marathi, which these poet-saints used.
0270C10 ^It was during his long convalescence in Dewas that along with the
0280C10 realisation of many other musical truths, the innate musicality of such
0290C10 poet-saints as Mira, Kabir and Surdas impinged on his restless imagination.
0310C10 $^But Tukaram does not primarily strike one as a poet who has a special
0320C10 consideration for musicians. ^This is a paradox, considering that he was
0330C10 known to_ perform *4kirtans and forget himself in solitude. ^The tradition
0340C10 of *4bhajan-singing, adopted by some of our well-known classical
0350C10 singers, was restricted to the songs of Mira, Kabir and Surdas. ^The
0360C10 Marathi poet-saints were never touched. ^*Kumar Gandharva, however, approaches
0370C10 Tukaram convinced of his musicality-- but when one hears him
0380C10 meeting the challenge of an unconventional interpretation, one realises
0390C10 that the *4abhangs are literally a tough nut to_ crack, (*4Abhang
0400C10 means 'unbreakable'.)
0410C10 $^To_ begin with, Tukaram writes in a matter-of-fact, prosaic manner.
0420C10 ^What lifts many of his *4abhangs to the unambiguous level of poetry is
0430C10 their depth and urgency of feeling. ^In the *4abhangs
0440C10 which are addressed to the god, Panduranga, a direct communication between
0450C10 man and divinity is implied.
0460C10 $^Secondly, almost ever since Tukaram wrote these verses, they have been
0470C10 sung by groups of *(*4bhajan-singing*) devotees in a set fashion and to
0480C10 the accompaniment of set instruments such as the *4mridang or *4pakhawaj
0490C10 and cymbals. ^Classical musicians who have tackled them have kept to
0500C10 the orthodox format and the prime example of this is Bhimsen Joshi. ^*Lata
0510C10 Mangeshkar, in her recordings of Tukaram, has taken somewhat greater
0520C10 freedom. $^But
0530C10 it is only Kumar Gandharva who appears to_ have made the first bold
0540C10 break from the *(*4bhajan-singing*) tradition. ^On April 29, he staged
0550C10 a recital of 14 *4abhangs in Pune, calling it with pragmatic modesty,
0560C10 '*5Tukaram-- Ek Darshan*6' (a viewpoint). ^He had earlier presented
0570C10 this programme only once, in August 1976, and has yet to_ repeat it in
0580C10 Bombay.
0590C10 $^Two of Kumar*'s close friends, Rahul Barpute and Sharatchandra Chirmule,
0600C10 wrote a foreword to the programme. ^They went out of their way
0610C10 to_ prove that Tukaram was a musically oriented creature. ^They referred
0620C10 to the *4veena which Tukaram always carried with him and suggest that
0630C10 if the saint could strum its strings, he definitely had a mature knowledge
0640C10 of the *4swaras.
0650C10 $^Surely, as a poet, Tukaram must have had a customary knowledge of musical
0660C10 rhythm but do we have adequate evidence today to_ prove that the Maharashtra
0670C10 of the saint-poet*'s time was exposed (say by Moghul invasions)
0680C10 to the art and science of classical music? ^But we can afford to_ keep
0690C10 this point debatable because \0Messrs. Barpute and Chirmule say that
0700C10 the programme is "an attempt on the part of a modern musican to_ explore
0710C10 the poetic world of an impassioned poet of yore through the medium
0720C10 of music". ^It was precisely this that Kumar*'s highly innovative programme
0730C10 failed to_ achieve in large measure. $^The
0740C10 14 *4abhangs were tuned to classic *4ragas, including *4Kalyan, *4Bihagad,
0750C10 *4Hamir, *4Marwa, *4Jait-Kalyan, *4Paraj, \0etc. ^The *4taal
0760C10 that_ was used followed the convention of *4bhajan singing. ^The accompaniment
0770C10 was the usual harmonium and *4tabla.
0780C10 $^What was sought for in the programme slipped through the hands of the
0790C10 musician for obvious reasons. ^Most of the *4abhangs chosen are invocations
0800C10 of Panduranga. ^With the exception of "*5Sundar te dhyaan*6", which
0810C10 evokes the vision of the idol of Panduranga as it stands on a brick,
0820C10 with arms akimbo (as in the Pandharpur temple), almost all the other
0821C10 *4abhangs have an abstract quality.
0830C10 ^The cold abstraction of the words is paralleled by the tantalising abstraction
0840C10 of the classical *4raga. ^One found oneself getting carried away
0850C10 by Kumar*'s characteristic music style hardly caring about Tukaram.
0870C10 $^Indeed, this is the basic snag of our classical music which appears to_
0880C10 be inadequately realised. ^When we are listening to the rendering of
0890C10 a *4raga we can*'4t care less for the words of the *4cheez (which
0900C10 are clear to us anyway, only at the opening); all we are concerned about
0910C10 are the undulations of the *4swaras, their infinite permutations and
0920C10 combinations and the total form of the *4bandish, which is an unadulterated
0930C10 abstraction.
0940C10 $^And it was this aspect one tended to_ concentrate upon. ^Also, while
0950C10 some *4abhangs (\0e.g., "*5ayadel taise tuja*6" in *5Jait-Kalyan*6)
0970C10 had a remarkable force and a few others, the typical Kumar Gandharva lilt
0980C10 in fast tempo, a composition like, *5mee tava bajsalo*6" in *4Bhoopali
0990C10 had a disturbingly modern air, somewhat like a *4bhavgeet.
1000C10 $^The last thing one thought of during the recital was god! ^The effect
1010C10 of a *4bhajan, conventionally played, is quite otherwise. ^Not only does
1020C10 a feeling of divine frenzy envelop you but the traditional rhythms touch
1030C10 listeners-- or rather, participants-- endowed with a less than average
1040C10 musical sensibility.
1050C10 $^However, this comparative failure only emphasises the consistency and
1060C10 single-mindedness with which Kumar Gandharva is experimenting with music.
1070C10 ^His record of exploration and innovation (\0e.g., his *4ritu-sangeet
1080C10 and *4thumri-tappa-tarana) continues to_ remain as eclectic and dynamic
1110C10 as ever. $**<*3To-day*'s *4Qawwali: Both Sensuous and Spiritual*0**>
1120C10 $^IN March last year, three *4qawwali fans died and fourteen
1130C10 were injured at Biharsharif. ^The *4qawwali programme warmed up around
1140C10 midnight, when Jani Babu, a Bombay *4qawwali singer, chose to_ sing
1150C10 one of his songs recorded for *5Do Khiladi*6, which was being shown
1160C10 at a local cinema.
1170C10 $^No sooner had he begun singing "*5Raat abhi baki hai, baat abhi baaki
1180C10 hai*6", the crowd outside became restive and tried to_ enter. ^Policemen
1190C10 wielding *4lathis came on the scene. ^The crowd retaliated by
1200C10 throwing bricks at them....
1210C10 $^The *4qawwali, which evolved around the 13th century, is a product of
1220C10 a cultural synthesis. ^During the Turko-Afghan rule. the best-known
1230C10 literary luminary was Amir Khusrau, a refugee in the court of Balban.
1240C10 ^He lived to_ enjoy the patronage of at least five *4sultans and was known
1250C10 as the "Parrot of Hindu." ^Besides being gifted with literary talent,
1260C10 Amir Khusrau was a musician, too. ^With his rare insight and art,
1270C10 he introduced new and finer variations of the *4ragas and invented a new
1280C10 instrument-- a typical lyre, which later evolved into the *4sitar.
1290C10 $*4^Qawwali is primarily religious in content and appeal. ^Its style and
1300C10 technique have been mainly developed by the *4qawwals who had an unflinching
1310C10 respect for Amir Khusrau as its creator. ^*Amir was a *(*7sufi-poet*),
1320C10 and a very favourite disciple of Hazarat Nizamuddin Aulia,--
1330C10 who issued instructions to his followers that they should visit the tomb
1340C10 of Amir Khusrau first and then his. ^However, the *7sufi-saint Aulia,
1350C10 is respected by all the *4qawwals, even today, mainly because Amir Khusrau
1360C10 was his devotee. ^Recently, Pakistan*'s popular *4qawwals, the Sabri
1370C10 brothers, gave their first recital in their two-month India tour,
1380C10 in commemoration of this great saint.
1390C10 $^The *4qawwali recital, as a formal occasion, is ordinarily chosen at the
1400C10 time of the '*4urs' (the birthday ceremony) of saints and prophets.
1410C10 ^For instance, the birthday ceremonies of Nizamuddin Aulia in Delhi and
1420C10 Khaja Mainuddin Chisti at Ajmer are celebrated every year when the
1430C10 best *4qawwals of India assemble at these places.
1440C10 $^However, the *4qawwali achieved its excellence during the reign of Mohammad
1450C10 Shah (1719-1748), whose encouragement and love for music earned
1460C10 him the sobriquet "*4Sadarangile". ^During his period, musicians composed
1470C10 a number of good *4khayals. ^This, in turn, helped make *4qawwali more
1480C10 melodious. ^Though the traditional style was allowed to_ continue till
1490C10 the reign of the last Moghul emperor, Bahadur Shah Zafar, it had
1500C10 already started losing its devotional fervour since the period of Moghal
1510C10 rule. ^Women began participating in *(*4qawwali-singing*), the subject-matter
1520C10 was secularised and the *(*7sufi-saints*'*) strong influence
1521C10 curbed.
1530C10 $^Today, the *4qawwali is a curious combination of the secular and the spiritual.
1540C10 ^Its lyrics and music are both virile and deep so much so that
1550C10 the listener*'s mind wanders from the "*4mazaz to *4haqiqat" (the physical
1560C10 to the transcendental). ^Most of these are very delightful compositions
1570C10 with a ready appeal and charm. ^When two groups of *4qawwali singers,
1580C10 facing each other from either side of the canopy, start singing with
1590C10 the accompaniment of the harmonium, *4dholak and *4sarangi, it not only
1600C10 creates a mystical world of music but also an air of musical competition
1610C10 among the singers.
1620C10 $^Considering that the *4qawwali is the religious music of the muslim, and
1630C10 that its lyrics were written in incomprehensible, chaste Urdu, many
1650C10 Hindu music lovers first shunned this form. ^But, for the last thirty
1660C10 years, the emergence of many Hindu *4qawwals, has made the *4qawwali popular
1670C10 among the Hindus in North India and Bengal. ^Noted among these
1680C10 *4qawwals are the late Ustad Ram Naresh of Banaras, Pannalal Bose
1690C10 of Calcutta, Shankar-Shambhu and Raghunath of Bombay.
1700C10 $^The Hindu *4qawwal, especially Pannalal Bose, started composing in
1710C10 simple Hindi, lyrics on popular themes and quickly became popular. ^In
1720C10 one word, the Hindu *4qawwals, have now brought the *4qawwali, from the
1730C10 '*4mazar' to the '*4mandir' (from the tombs of Muslim saints to the temple).
1740C10 $^According to
1750C10 conservatives among *(*4qawwali-lovers*), the *4qawwali has to
1760C10 day degenerated and is much below the standards set by the famed *4qawwals
1770C10 of yesteryear, such as the late Pearoo Qawwal, Bande Hasan and Abdul
1780C10 Rauf Chaus of Bombay. ^But Pannalal Bose, puts it this way "*4Qawwali
1781C10 singing has not fallen from its musical excellence. ^It has been
1790C10 commercialised and the listeners, too, are of two classes: religious
1800C10 and general. ^So the compositions are of two types according to the class
1810C10 of listeners. ^Neither of the varieties are bad if sung with proper
1830C10 articulation, virtuosity and above all with respect. ^Though I am a Hindu
1840C10 by religion, I always sing a '*4nath' or devotional song at the beginning
1850C10 of each recital." ^An open-minded attitude that_ also helps a great
1870C10 deal in easing communal tension. $**<*3Bengali Poetry To-day**>
1880C10 $^The use of modern idiom in Bengali poetry began in the *'3thirties
1890C10 as a necessary reaction to Tagore*'s beauty-centred, harmonious pastoral
1900C10 universe. ^The new poetry was city-centred and attempted to_ give
1910C10 expression to the city man*'s sense of ambivalence and alienation, his international
1920C10 outlook and inescapable insecurity in the concrete jungle
1930C10 of his own city.
1940C10 $^It is a comprehensive description of this poetry to_ say that it is intellectually
1950C10 alive, socially conscious, sceptical yet optimistic about the
1960C10 future. ^It is and it is not. ^For though the description is fair enough
1970C10 for its initial impulse, it does not embrace many of its significant
1980C10 aspects-- especially, its lyrical and imaginative quality and the wonderful
1990C10 poems of love and nature which have added a new tone to Bengali poetry.
2010C10 $^It is impossible to_ give a conclusive label to this poetry, for its variety
2020C10 of technical excellence and diversity of interests defy neat cataloguing.
2030C10 ^If they express rebellion and protest, there is also a spirit
2040C10 of acceptance; if there is anxiety, scepticism and dilemma, there is also
2050C10 a sense of faith and humble surrender; as there is weariness and lassitude,
2060C10 so there is the unquestionable spirit of wonder and joy at life.*#
        **[no. of words = 02021**]

        **[txt. c11**]
0010C11 **<*3Indian Arts as Europeans Saw It**>
0020C11 $*<*3Much Maligned Masters*>
0030C11 $*3^THE*0 purpose of this book is set out with unfussy clarity though
0040C11 some reservations are in order as to whether fulfilment has been achieved.
0050C11 \0^*Mr. Mitter*'s is a wide-ranging and exhaustive account **[foot
0060C11 note**] of European reactions to Indian art from Marco Polo to Havell
0070C11 and Coomaraswamy.
0080C11 $^It is a sequential panoramic view of the entire field encompassing western
0090C11 responses too bewildered to_ be capable of assimilating many armed
0100C11 'monstrosities', the compulsions of curiosity, puzzled veneration for
0110C11 the overwhelming magnitude of the rock-cut temples, respect for the
0120C11 technical skill of individual sculptures in isolation from their physical
0130C11 and philosophical context, emergent intimations of the transcendental,
0140C11 and finally a recognition of the idealistic force in Indian art. ^Yet
1500C11 the author*'s conclusion is that a satisfactory aesthetic comprehension
0160C11 has not been reached, relative to the reception given to Chinese and
0170C11 Japanese art. $^The subject
0180C11 is comparatively untrodden ground and \0Mr. Mitter treads it with
0190C11 assurance and has produced a text of exceptional readability. ^It is gripping
0200C11 in that it is a sophisticated version of "as others see us", not
0210C11 without hilarity even in so weighty a matter. ^Not the least of \0Mr. Mitter*'s
0220C11 accomplishments is that he does not unduly obtrude. ^Analysis
0230C11 and comment are subordinated to factual narrative, and there is an abundance
0240C11 of material from the Middle Ages onwards culled from travellers*'
0250C11 reports and diaries, from 18th century antiquarians, from the quite delightful
0260C11 period of the pursuit of the picturesque, and from the Victorian
0270C11 "interlude". ^That the "monster" theme should have predominated, though
0280C11 weakening with the years, is reason for neither surprise nor complaint.
0290C11 ^Difficulties of accessibility, the labyrinthine complexities of
0300C11 mythology, and the seeming grotesquerie of Hindu iconography added up
0310C11 to a near insuperable barrier. ^It says much for the fearsome inquistiveness
0320C11 of travellers and the readers of their exposes that, despite this
0330C11 formidable obstruction, and the weight of their own tradition, they succeeded
0340C11 in penetrating to some degree of percipience. ^The marvel is not
0350C11 that they grasped so little but that they grasped as much as they did.
0360C11 $^*Pietro della Valle, whose travels were published in 1657-63, was able
0370C11 to_ record his conviction "that Indian images contained rational and
0380C11 profound truths behind their monstrous exterior." ^He was smart enough to_
0390C11 be persuaded that the fables of which the monster figures were seen to_
0400C11 be an embodiment, concealed the secrets of an arcane philosophy from
0410C11 the probings of the vulgar. ^This was a measured advance on the medieval
0420C11 identification of Indian gods with demons, reports of which, it seems,
0430C11 were avidly read more for the thrills they offered than for enlightenment.
0450C11 $^*Valle*'s attitude owed a great deal to the tradition of symbolism
0460C11 and allegory, particularly after the Renaissance stimulated an interest
0470C11 in neo-Platonism with its opposition to a literal acceptance of an image.
0480C11 ^The concept of art as reticent and allusive is shared by most cultures;
0490C11 and it is one step removed from the related idea of a mystery too
0500C11 sacred for disclosure to the common gaze. ^*East Asian connoisseurship
0510C11 dictates that works of art are not available for all to_ see.
0520C11 $^Awareness of symbolism did not immediately lead to an understanding
0530C11 of what Indian art was symbolic of. ^Meanwhile, there was no insufficiency
0540C11 of applause for the sculptor*'s craft and of awe for the monumentality
0550C11 of the temples; and this was not the less sincerely conceded because
0560C11 these skills were ascribed to the Greeks, a discredited theory that_
0570C11 was apparently fortified by *4Gandhara art. ^The extravagance of
0580C11 language of early British, Portuguese and French visitors testifies
0590C11 to the fact that they were indeed spell-bound, groping for such terms as
0600C11 "antique" and "Romanesque" from the vocabulary of their own aesthetic
0610C11 framework to_ capture something that_ was quite outside their range
0620C11 of experience. ^Nevertheless an offshoot of this activity was an increase
0630C11 in the expertise of documentation of sculptures and architecture;
0640C11 and a responsiveness to the overall conception of such complexes as Elephanta,
0650C11 Kanheri and Ellora. ^Scrupulous measurements were taken, the
0660C11 beginnings of scholarship were laid and the link between religion and
0670C11 mythology on the one side and art on the other was formally recognised.
0680C11 $^This was the age of the "cabinet of curiosities" followed "by a scientific
0690C11 inquiry into Sanskrit sources" until by the third decade of the
0700C11 eighteenth century a fairly detailed picture emerged of the conceptual
0710C11 significance of Indian gods and their place and role in Indian art."
0720C11 ^So earnest, liberal and, within limits, impartial was this exercise that
0730C11 even "the representation of sexual organs in sacred art" which otherwise
0740C11 might have been expected to_ arrest assimilation, was taken with commendable
0750C11 cool.
0760C11 $^The momentum of literary, archaeological and iconographic investigation
0770C11 rose sharply but, as \0Mr. Mitter points out, the primary concern
0780C11 was academic, not aesthetic, and reactions though laudatory were related
0790C11 to Greco Roman and Renaissance terms and not to those which had
0800C11 inspired the Indian craftsman and artist. ^It was not too distant from
0810C11 the sort of thing that_ impelled ancient cartographers to_ inscribe "here
0820C11 to dragons" to_ indicate areas of the world of which nothing was known.
0840C11 $^The institution of the "grand tour" and the restored magic of the Greek
0850C11 and Gothic resulted in an added impetus to Indian studies. ^The
0860C11 Daniells, among others, gave currency to the visual impact of the picturesque
0870C11 in India the artistic consequences of which can be traced to such
0880C11 English country houses as Melchet Park and Sezincote and, of
0890C11 course, to the Royal Pavilion at Brighton. ^The notion of the sublime,
0900C11 and of Asian art as static and non-progressive had begun to_ shape the
0910C11 way the West looked at the East and soon the field was crowded by officials
0920C11 and army officers of the East India Company, responsible for
0930C11 such landmarks towards comprehension as the discovery that "the chief
0940C11 marks of recognition of each Hindu deity were certain symbols or attributes"
0950C11 similar to the armorial bearings of the leading European families
0960C11 by which they could be identified.
0970C11 $\0^*Mr. Mitter conducts us through all this meticulously and with forbearance
0980C11 but not without an ill-concealed impatience at the failure of the
0990C11 West to_ enter fully into the spirit of Indian art. ^Insights deepened
1000C11 quite early such as those of Creuzer who observed that these statues
1010C11 of Indian gods "were a call for meditation on the infinite". ^*Indian
1020C11 design and craftsmanship came into their own in the Victorian period,
1030C11 championed by the revulsion against industrialisation. ^Then arrived
1040C11 the climacteric of Havell and Coomaraswamy, the exponents of the transcendental
1050C11 in Asian art as against what \0Mr. Mitter calls the "archaeological"
1060C11 school to which the majority of painstaking East India Company
1070C11 officials and officers belonged. ^To what extent if at all aesthetic
1080C11 responses were retarded by the somewhat dry and methodical punctilio
1090C11 of this officer-cum-official approach is arguable. ^To them we certainly
1100C11 owe much of the necessary ground work, the prelude as it were to Havell
1110C11 and Coomaraswamy who burst on the scene, particularly the former, with
1120C11 an enthusiasm, infectious, penetrating, subtle and profound.
1130C11 $^The story, it would seem, was complete. ^How otherwise could it have been.
1140C11 \0^*Mr. Mitter, however, is not satisfied. ^His verdict is that a
1150C11 new look at Indian art is necessary by restoring its "religious, cultural
1160C11 and social contexts", which sounds more impressive than convincing. ^An
1170C11 almost parallel story of responses to East Asian art could be told
1180C11 but the conclusion that much in Asian art remains a "mystery" is a shaky
1190C11 one to_ make. \0^*Mr. Mitter takes exception to the Coomaraswamy tenet
1200C11 of art as "uncaused spiritual activity" but does not develop this challenge.
1210C11 ^The Havell-Coomaraswamy school is as near the heart of the matter
1220C11 as it is possible to_ be through verbalisation; and obviously it is
1230C11 only the minority that_ finds within it the capacity to_ appreciate. ^But
1240C11 this minority in the West is larger than is suspected.
1250C11 $^The conviction in the East that its esoteric arts are never understood
1260C11 by the West dies hard from Tokyo to Peking of South Asia; and
1270C11 the hint of hidden glories behind the veil is a trifle hard to_ swallow.
1280C11 ^It is not easy, but for the initiated-- these alone are concerned--
1290C11 the arts of the Orient, as keys to the transcendental, are an open book.
1300C11 \0^*Mr. Mitter asks for a "precise" definition of the relation between
1310C11 art and religion and by so doing surely exposes himself as a paid up
1320C11 member of the "archaeological" school where precision is possible and
1330C11 desirable. ^No one can tell us "precisely" why a misshapen pottery bowl
1340C11 by a Japanese master is beautiful. ^Yet it is, and those who know this
1350C11 are content to_ know and recognise others who know as brothers in that_
1360C11 knowledge.
1370C11 $^*Indian art objects as vehicles of the transcendent bear no resemblance
1380C11 to the familiar and rational as encountered in our daily lives. ^Neither
1390C11 do Chinese landscapes, Noh drama, or Japanese puppets, although the
1400C11 gap separating representation from what is represented is greatly more
1410C11 intellectualised in India and is perhaps one factor in the slow rate
1420C11 of assimilation. ^There is no qualitative difference at the aesthetic level
1430C11 between the elongated and, therefore, "monstrous" necks of the ladies
1440C11 in *7ukiyo-e and the multiplicity of arms of Indian gods. ^The Japanese
1450C11 ladies even with such necks are recognisable as ladies while the
1460C11 Indian gods are identifiable only by reference to iconography. ^But the
1470C11 spirit and philosophy are identical, as also in the case of Chinese land-scapes.
1480C11 ^They are clearly land-scapes and at the same time something
1490C11 more, sharing a rhythm to an understanding of which the dedicated labour
1500C11 of the "archaeological" school can contribute nothing. $\0^*Mr.
1510C11 Mitter has done something for Indian art that_ is a model for
1520C11 emulation in the cause of all Asian art. ^But his call for precision and
1530C11 the assumption that there is more to_ unravel strike a false note in
1550C11 an otherwise enthralling work. $**<*3Revolution As A Picnic*0**>
1560C11 $*3COMRADE *4SAHIB:*0 $*3^COLLEGE*0 students who become leftists
1580C11 are as common as adolescents who get acne, the only difference being that
1590C11 while one is endured as a private ordeal, those suffering from ideological
1600C11 acne insist on inflicting it on everbody else.
1610C11 $^There is no reason to_ believe that the hero of \0Mr. Rohit Handa*'s
1620C11 first novel, young Pratap (Peter to his parents) Dingra, only son
1630C11 of the Dingras, \0I.C.S., foreign service, members of the new government
1640C11 aristocracy, should turn out to_ be any different when inevitably
1650C11 during his second term at \0St. Stephen*'s, he becomes a naxalite.
1660C11 $^He does so by sending long letters to his "Dearest Mama" explaining
1670C11 why he has opted out of society, (apparently he has been influenced as much
1680C11 by the example of Gauguin as of Mao) and vanishing into a village
1690C11 in the Punjab. ^This gives an opportunity for everyone else connected
1700C11 with him to_ examine their lives and come up with an answer to the burning
1710C11 question, "*_^What is wrong with Indian society?" ^The usual culprits
1720C11 are trotted out, the weather, the colonial system, the moral decay
1730C11 of Hinduism and so on.
1740C11 $^Meanwhile Peter has been floating about in his ideological soup, with
1750C11 his mentor, Bullu the Bengali, who has done his homework so well that
1760C11 as far as Peter is concerned, he is the Party, the only authority above
1770C11 him is Mao Tse-tung, so the revolutionaries can function entirely on
1780C11 their own.
1790C11 $^There is also the local unit boss Gurjit Singh, a *4Jat, who is immediately
1800C11 envious of Peter*'s unquestionable superiority and whose self-serving
1810C11 adventurist behaviour brings about their eventual down-fall.
1820C11 $^Before this happens, there are feeble attempts at action as two clerks
1830C11 of the local electricity board are executed as "enemies of the people"
1840C11 and Peter writes home to Mama that he does not mind killing any more
1850C11 because he has realised that "in India beauty flows out of the sparkling
1860C11 barrel of a gun."
1870C11 $^Fortunately before any further insights of this kind are made, Peter*'s
1880C11 father with the help of his home ministry contacts and the police,
1890C11 who are described at length as sex hungry morons, all conspire to_ bring
1900C11 Pratap/Peter*'s career as a Naxalite to an end.*#
        **[no. of words = 02013**]

        **[txt. c12**]
0010C12 **<*3*4tamasha artistes*0**>
0020C12 $*<*3When the Glitter Fades, Poverty Stares*0*>
0030C12 $^RURAL entertainment, including *4tamasha in Maharashtra, *4burrakatha
0040C12 in Andhra and *4yakshagana or *4bailata in Karnataka, has been a
0050C12 popular diversion for *4lakhs of people in the countryside. ^The image
0060C12 of a clown entertaining the whole world and shedding bitter tears in his
0070C12 private moments, is popular. ^The tragedy of the funny man seems to_ be
0080C12 equally true of folk entertainers like *4tamasha artistes.
0090C12 $^The word *4tamasha really means a dispeller of darkness but is today
0100C12 a spectacle and a potpourri of drama, dance, song and bawdy jokes. ^To_
0110C12 provide this over 200 troupes consisting of 25 to over a hundred people
0120C12 tour all over Maharashtra. ^The entourage, besides the artistes, includes
0130C12 cooks, wiremen, musicians, playwrights and comedians. ^They move in
0140C12 trucks, made into buses, and are similar to a travelling circus party.
0150C12 $^Except for the rainy months of June and July and part of August and
0160C12 September when they perform in theatres, the parties are constantly
0170C12 on the move touring remote villages and putting up shows under tents or
0180C12 in open grounds. ^Usually the itinerary coincides with fairs and shandies
0190C12 or *4urs and *4jatras when large rural crowds assemble in a place and
0200C12 are in the mood for some fun.
0210C12 $^A typical *4tamasha show commences after dinner and can go on till the
0220C12 early hours of the morning. ^Its format is generally standardised and
0230C12 commences with *4Gan, a prayer song to the God Ganapati and *4Gawalan,
0240C12 a piece based on the life of Lord Krishna. ^The incidents chosen
0260C12 include Krishna pinching the figures of *4Gopis, *4Gopis complaining
0270C12 to Krishna*'s mother about his pranks and naughtiness, or visiting
0280C12 the fair with Krishna. ^This bit is made up of songs and dances and
0290C12 some ribald jokes which are popular with the rural audience. ^This is followed
0300C12 by *4Rangbazi, or *5Sawal Jawab*6 and the play for the evening.
0310C12 $^Each of these items takes an hour and half to two hours. ^During *4Holi
0330C12 and *4Diwali the *4tamasha has its venue in Bombay and several other
0340C12 areas, particularly the industrial belt.
0350C12 $^The problems of the *4tamasha artistes are representative of those
0360C12 of the poor in society. ^They get a salary ranging from \0Rs 200-500
0370C12 per month and are provided two meals and a place to_ sleep in during their
0380C12 arduous tours. ^They are cut away from their families and have to_ provide
0390C12 for them from far off places. ^The cook, or *4achari as he is
0400C12 known, makes *4jowar *4bhakris (*4rotis) and one curry for them twice a
0410C12 day. ^The first meal is around noon, while the next is after the show
0420C12 which may be around 2 or 3 \0a.m. ^Most of them sleep during the day and
0430C12 it is difficult to_ imagine the wide difference between their condition
0440C12 while the show is on when they glitter in bright lights and in their free
0450C12 moments when they lie in crumpled clothes on dirty beds. ^Some of
0460C12 the men play cards or imbibe the local brew and generally seem a little
0470C12 lost and depressed.
0480C12 $^Talking to the *4tamasha artistes is absorbing for they are forthright
0490C12 and open in their attitudes. ^*Bapu Rao "*4Gawai" sports long hair and
0500C12 has small, shining eyes. ^He plays the role of a villain and speaks fluent
0510C12 Hindi. ^He joined the *4tamasha group as a youngster after initial
0520C12 experience in *4Ramlila and other village plays, and has graduated to
0521C12 more important roles. ^He is bitter that he has to_ leave his wife and two
0540C12 children with his parents and is unable to_ supervise their education.
0550C12 ^He feels that the government and other social welfare and arts institutions
0560C12 should set up colonies for *4tamasha artistes at important centres,
0570C12 where they can have a semblance of a settled life and provide proper
0580C12 education for their children. ^Being constantly on tour, the family life
0590C12 of the artistes is shattered and their meagre earnings are hardly sufficient
0600C12 to_ make both ends meet. $^*Mangal
0610C12 is a talented middle aged singer-dancer in a leading *4tamasha
0620C12 group and is married to Ramchandra Laxman Bansude who is a playwright
0630C12 in the group. ^She has left two of her children in Bombay to_ undergo
0640C12 schooling and keeps only the younger three with her. ^Speaking with a mixture
0650C12 of pathos and helplessness, she said she has no alternative but
0660C12 to_ live in this nomadic way. "^Our only chance of a *4Sansar (leading
0670C12 a family life) are during the two rainy months, when we can reunite with
0680C12 others in the family." ^But this is a fleeting pleasure and the shadow
0690C12 of long tours and a hard life looms over them perpetually.
0700C12 $^Older members of the troupes are kept as long as they are useful and
0710C12 can perform well and are later sent away. ^They have hardly any savings
0720C12 and have nearly nothing to_ fall back on, in their last days. ^A scheme
0730C12 to_ provide a pension of \0Rs. 200 per year is being implemented by the
0740C12 government but the beneficiaries of this meagre amount are very few and
0750C12 far between. ^There is a need to_ survey the *4tamasha parties and identify
0760C12 their special requirements with a view to reducing their exploitation
0770C12 and hardship.
0780C12 $^*Moos Inamdar is a stocky middle-aged man and is manager of a *4tamasha
0790C12 group. ^Explaining the economics of *4tamasha in a guarded tone, Moos,
0800C12 who sports an Errol Flynn moustache and is keenly anticipating his
0810C12 marriage with a lovely *4tamasha dancer, said that the main beneficiaries
0820C12 are the contractors and owners of the company.
0830C12 $^Two hundred and ten shows are performed in a year, of which about half
0840C12 are sponsored by contractors, while the rest are put up by *4tamasha company.
0850C12 ^The contractors pay about \0Rs 2000 for a show and provide accommodation,
0860C12 publicity and a stage for the party. ^The fees vary, depending
0870C12 on the size of the place, the audience and the season. ^*Moos master-minds
0880C12 the itinerary of the group and carefully chooses dates to_ coincide
0890C12 with village fairs and pilgrim spots during their season. ^The cost
0900C12 of putting up a show is about \0Rs. 1000. ^Once the group reaches a
0901C12 place it does shows both for the contractor and by itself. ^In the
0902C12 latter case, the box office collection can be in the range of \0Rs.
0903C12 5000, all of which goes to the *4tamasha
0910C12 party *4malik or owner. ^The *4maliks can manage with the contracors*'
0920C12 show payments and usually save the proceeds from their own shows. ^On
0930C12 a conservative estimate both the contractors and *4maliks make a 100
0940C12 per cent net profit. $^There
0950C12 is no union for *4tamasha artistes and hence no collective bargaining
0960C12 power. ^Their hours of work and travel are not regulated and they
0970C12 have to_ be on hand round the clock. ^They are paid during the months they
0980C12 work and not in the off season. ^Several wage boards have looked into
0990C12 the working conditions and pay scales of different industries and it is
1000C12 desirable that such an enquiry is made in regard to *4tamasha arttistes
1020C12 also. $^A *4tamasha board has been set up by the state government which
1030C12 looks into some of these problems and also censors the plays. ^But efforts
1040C12 to_ improve the standard of living of *4tamasha artistes are yet to_
1050C12 be launched.
1060C12 $^*Vithabai Bhanu Mang Narayangaonkar is a leading *4tamasha artiste
1070C12 and owner of a company along with her husband. ^She has been honoured by
1080C12 the President of India and has performed widely. ^She has entertained
1090C12 troops in border areas at \0NEFA and has also performed in Gujarat
1100C12 and Delhi. ^Tall with a soft musical voice and a compelling stage presence,
1110C12 though she is in her fifties and has had eight children, she is
1120C12 remarkably well-preserved and has a zest for life. ^She sings Hindi film
1130C12 songs, dances with aplomb and is totally uninhibited in her "conversation"
1140C12 and exchanges with large audiences. ^As a result, Vithabai has become
1150C12 a legend in her lifetime. ^Rural audiences are crazy about her and
1160C12 walk several miles to_ watch her shows. $^Comparing the *4tamasha of the
1170C12 *'3thirties and the *'3seventies, Vithabai asserted that the
1180C12 popularity of *4tamasha had increased over the years despite the challenge
1190C12 of cinema. ^She has recently acted, danced in a Marathi film *4Sakshant,
1200C12 but is not very enthusiastic about making films, not considering
1210C12 it a "live art", like *4tamasha. ^However, there have been changes in
1220C12 the form and style of *4tamasha over the years and the modern version has
1230C12 a focus on present-day society and focuses on some of its problems.
1240C12 $^The plays are written fairly well, and attention is paid to characterisation
1250C12 and social conflict. ^There is scope for song and dance also and
1260C12 the result is a marathon performance that_ could last for four to six hours.
1270C12 ^In between, there are comedians who take liberties with the script,
1280C12 and often extempore jokes on some current event or personality, are introduced.
1290C12 ^The humour is often bawdy, and refers to marital aberrations,
1300C12 sex and other titillating subjects. ^The use of puns, and slapstick comedy
1310C12 are much in evidence during a show and the audience laps up the fare
1320C12 with enormous pleasure. ^It is not unusual for the successful jokes to_
1330C12 be repeated in other plays also, particularly during *4Rangbazi, or *5Sawal
1340C12 Jawab*6.
1350C12 $^When a new play is staged, audience reaction is carefully gauged and *4tamasha
1360C12 artistes in plain clothes mingle with the crowds to_ find out the
1370C12 strength and weakness of a show. ^Accordingly, alterations are made
1380C12 and the presentation improved upon. $^A word about the music and dance.
1390C12 ^A four-piece orchestra, consisting of
1400C12 an organ, *4dholki, clarinet and *4halgi (a small drum) supports the singing
1410C12 which does not pay too much attention to *4sur (tune) and *4taal
1420C12 (rhythm) *4^Lavanis (traditional song and dance) have steadily yielded place
1430C12 to film songs and *4qawalis. ^The dancing is also of an indifferent
1440C12 standard and there is no choreography worth the name. ^All one sees is
1450C12 body movements, struggling to_ keep pace with a fast *4dholki. ^The make-up
1460C12 of the female artists is garish and no sophistication is attempted.
1470C12 ^Entertainment is the sole purpose of this show.
1480C12 $^It is estimated that in Maharashtra alone, over two hundred *4tamasha
1500C12 parties are operating while a similar number may be entertaining in other
1510C12 states also. ^The total number of people employed in rural *4tamashas
1520C12 all over India is roughly 15 *4lakhs. ^There is an urgent need for organising
1530C12 this popular form of entertainment on sound and productive lines
1540C12 while making full use of its wide appeal and potential for educational
1550C12 themes. ^The *4tamasha artiste is also an important part of our rural poor
1560C12 and requires sympathy and assistance to_ obtain basic necessities like
1570C12 housing, education, a proper wage and working conditions. ^But probably
1580C12 the first step is to_ organise this force into a well-knit body that_
1590C12 could stand on its own legs and fight for its rights. ^The akademis and
1600C12 the corporate sector can give them a helping hand, to_ supplement the much
1610C12 needed government guidance and assistance.
1620C12 $^According to \0Mr. Damu Kenkre, director for cultural affairs, Maharashtra,
1630C12 the government is aware of the problems and hardships of the
1640C12 *4tamasha artistes and is eager to_ provide them assistance. ^An important
1650C12 constraint is resources, though a good beginning has been made by arranging
1660C12 *4tamasha festivals, training camps for *4tamasha artistes and
1670C12 an old age pension scheme. ^However, it would be necessary to_ prepare
1680C12 a master plan, not merely for *4tamasha but also various folk arts in the
1690C12 country. ^Much will depend on the financial and manpower resources made
1700C12 available for the purpose.
1701C12 $**<*3Oldest Exponent of Gwalior *4Gharana**>
1710C12 $^*KRISHNARAO Shankar Pandit, at the age of eighty-four is the oldest
1720C12 performing exponent of Gwalior *4Gharana. ^In fact, he is also
1730C12 the only surviving musical genius of the Gwalior *4Gharana in Gwalior.
1750C12 $^*Panditji, as he is affectionately called, was born in a distinguished
1760C12 and highly-talented family of musicians on July 26, 1893. ^His grandfather,
1770C12 Vishnu Shastri Pandit was a great scholar and a close friend
1780C12 of brothers Hassu Khan, Haddu Khan and Natthukhan who were founders
1790C12 of Gwalior *4Gharana. ^His father, the late Shankar Pandit, was
1800C12 yet another celebrity of the Gwalior *4Gharana and had acquired the
1810C12 title of '*5Sangeet Maharshi*6'.*#
        **[no. of words = 02017**]

        **[txt. c13**]
0020C13 **<*3History of Kashmir**> $*<*HISTORY AND DOCUMENTS*>
0030C13 $^BEING the only State in India having a separate Constitution a
0040C13 study of the constitutional history of Jammu and Kashmir is of special
0050C13 interest to the students of politics. ^Within a span of one hundred
0060C13 and ten years (1846-1956) the people of the State freed themselves
0070C13 from the hereditary *4Dogra Rule and attained sovereignty for themselves.
0080C13 ^The book under review is the first attempt made at presenting a well-knit
0090C13 record of the Government and the politics of the State during
0100C13 the *4Dogra regime as also of the later developments.
0110C13 $^The book is divided in two parts, the history and the documents. ^The
0120C13 first 221 pages cover the history of the evolution of political institutions
0130C13 and the related constitutional process. ^The authors have, however,
0140C13 not mentioned the steps taken by *4Maharaja Ranbir Singh (1857-1885)
0150C13 to_ ensure effective participation of the representatives of the
0160C13 people in the administration of the State. ^For instance, contemporary
0170C13 historian Peer Ghulam Hassan, in his *3Twarikh-I-Hassan (\0Vol:
0180C13 *=2., Page 871) has mentioned establishment of Councils in the Provinces
0190C13 of Kashmir and Jammu in Bhadon \0S. 1939 (1882). ^The historian
0200C13 has mentioned six members of the Kashmir Council-- Suraj Bal,
0210C13 Hiranand Akbar Beg, Mirza Mohi-ud-Din and Khwaja Sanna Ullah
0220C13 Shawl. ^The Governor of Kashmir, Dewan Badri Nath, was its President,
0230C13 "who had to_ conduct all administrative and financial business
0240C13 in consultation with the Council". ^Similarly there is no mention of
0250C13 the process of decentralisation of the administration started by *4Maharaja
0260C13 Ranbir Singh who assigned the various departments to his Prime Minister.
0270C13 ^*Dewan Anant Ram and three other Ministers-- Babu Nilambar
0280C13 Mukerjee, Wazir Punnu and Sheikh Wahab Din (J \0& K Archives:
0290C13 file \0No: 1288 Persian Records).
0300C13 $^The story of the court intrigues which began soon after the death of
0310C13 *4Maharaja Ranbir Singh (1885) culminating in the virtual deposition
0320C13 of his son and successor, *4Maharaja Pratap Singh has been very well
0330C13 described by the authors.
0340C13 $^After having created an "independent" State in 1846, the British soon
0350C13 began to_ give second thoughts to their transaction. ^In the name of
0360C13 their paramountcy, they soon began interference in the administration
0370C13 of the State. ^The first two *4Dogra rulers-- Gulab Singh and Ranbir
0380C13 Singh-- resisted the pressure as best as they could, keeping also in
0390C13 view that after all the State was a "gift" to them from the British.
0400C13 ^But even before he was duly recognised the ruler of Jammu and Kashmir,
0410C13 Pratap Singh was told that a Resident Political Officer was posted
0420C13 in his State without whose consultation no important step could be taken
0430C13 and whose advice he was bound to_ accept "whenever it was offered".
0440C13 $^To_ tighten their grip over Kashmir, a plot to_ implicate the *4Maharaja
0450C13 and charge him with treason, was well laid out in 1888 in Pratap
0460C13 Singh*'s own words, "by the Resident supported by my own brother". ^The
0470C13 Resident dashed into the *4Maharaja*'s palace with a batch of 34 letters
0480C13 written in *4Dogri character some of them addressed to the Czar
0490C13 of Russia and to the deposed Punjab ruler-- Prince Duleep Singh--
0500C13 which were testified by Pratap Singh*'s own brother to_ be in the *4Maharaja*'s
0510C13 handwriting. ^Threatening that the *4Maharaja could even be
0520C13 hanged for treason, "the Resident brought such a great and many-sided
0530C13 pressure in all solemnity and seriousness that I was obliged to_ write
0540C13 what was desired-- rather demanded by him."
0550C13 "$^Who is in Russia to_ read the *4Dogri vernacular?" wailed the *4Maharaja.
0560C13 ^But the British wanted possession of Kashmir without actually
0570C13 annexing the State and all the protests made by the *4Maharaja brought
0580C13 him no relief. ^This is the story of Pratap Singh*'s so-called "voluntary
0590C13 resignation" which the documents reproduced in the book reveal.
0610C13 $^The major part of the book-- 455 pages-- cover the documents pertaining
0620C13 not only to the political history of the State but of the speeches
0630C13 and statements of all concerned. ^The documents relating to the freedom
0640C13 movement, the State Constituent Assembly and the Constitution add
0650C13 to the utility of the book. ^This is a pioneering study of its kind and
0660C13 fills a gap in the political history of the State Jammu and Kashmir.
0680C13 $^As Article 370 of the Constitution of India is the bridge which connects
0690C13 it with the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir, inclusion of
0700C13 its history and contents with comments would have added to the utility
0720C13 of the book $**<*3Man and values**> $*<*3MAN AND SOCIETY*0*>
0740C13 $^THE theme linking the collection of essays in this slim volume is
0750C13 that modern man in his pursuit of ephemeral values, has created a dehumanized
0760C13 and sick society in which privacy, freedom, and call to serious
0770C13 living have come to_ be dreaded. ^Bereft of spiritual moorings, the
0780C13 human race, like the Gadarene swine, is moving fast on the road to catastrophe.
0790C13 ^How can the disaster be averted?
0800C13 $^As Arnold Toynbee said, Man has to_ re-integrate himself with the
0810C13 environment from which he has been sundered and this he can do only through
0820C13 the ecstasy of the mystery of the contemplation of the sage. ^Science
0830C13 and Technology have to_ become humanised and life oriented. ^The author
0840C13 quotes \0Shri Aurobindo statement that Man is now undergoing an
0850C13 evolutionary crisis and that the evolution of Mind has developed an organisation
0860C13 and use of Matter which can no longer be supported by human
0870C13 capacity without an inner change. ^The author*'s language is often obscure
0880C13 and there is a failure to_ clarify ambiguities. ^The book could have
0890C13 done with more careful editing. ^These caveats apart, this is an interesting
0900C13 and thought provoking collection of essays. $**<*3Two Sanskrit
0920C13 Classics**> $*3*4Sastradipika of Parthasarathi Misra with the commentary
0930C13 *4Prabha by Tatsat Vydyanatha, Part *=1,
0940C13 $*3*4Paribhashendusekhara of Nagesa Bhatta with Sanskrit commentary
0950C13 *4Durga and Hindi annotation by \0Dr. Harishnath Misra,
0960C13 $^THE *4Sastradipika is an independent running commentary on the *5Mimamsa
0970C13 Sutras*6 of Jaimini, following the footsteps of Kumarila
0980C13 Bhatta. ^The *4Mimamsa system is sharply divided into two schools, one
0990C13 following the interpretations of Prabhakara and the other those of
1000C13 Kumarila (both of 7th century \0A.D. ^*Parthasarathi
1010C13 Misra, the learned author of this treatise, was a native of Mithila
1020C13 who lived about the 11th century. ^Two earlier editions of this work,
1030C13 one from Varanasi (about 1898) and another with an excellent commentary
1040C13 from Bombay (1915) have been long out of print. ^The present edition with
1050C13 an unpublished but useful commentary by Vydyanatha Tatsat (17th century)
1060C13 is edited by one of the foremost Sanskrit scholars of the day,
1070C13 Pattabhirama Sastry of Banaras. ^Though it contains only half the work,
1080C13 it fulfils a long-felt want of both students and scholars in the field,
1090C13 who will be eagerly looking forward to the appearance of the second
1100C13 part.
1110C13 $^The *4Paribhashendusekhara is a standard classic in Sanskrit grammar.
1120C13 ^The author Nagesa Bhatta (*4circa 1680-1750) was the last bright star
1130C13 in the galaxy of Sanskrit grammarians. ^His fame mainly rests on his
1140C13 valuable contributions to this diffcult branch of Sanskrit lore. *4^Paribhashas
1150C13 constitute the maxims for interpretation of the intricate,
1160C13 terse *4sutras of Panini. ^In explaining them with critical acumen and
1170C13 originality, Nagesa has driven into oblivion almost all the earlier
1180C13 works on this subject. ^The present edition of the book contains an erudite
1190C13 original commentary in Sanskrit by \0Dr Harshnath Misra, the
1200C13 present senior lecturer in the \0S.L.B.S.K.S. *4Vidyapeeth. ^He has
1210C13 brought to_ bear on his work all the experience of a Professor in that_
1220C13 subject for over two decades. ^Keeping in view the needs of the student
1230C13 more than those of the scholar, he has made judicious use of some
1240C13 of the earlier commentaries on the text-- over thirty have been unearthed
1250C13 so far.
1260C13 \0^Dr Misra has also added a detailed commentary in Hindi. ^Had the book
1270C13 been published in two volumes, one with the Sanskrit commentary and
1280C13 another with the Hindi one, instead of combining the whole into one unwieldy
1290C13 tome of over 800 pages, it would have been better.
1300C13 $^The *4Vidyapeetha is to_ be congratulated for bringing out the two treatises
1310C13 in their series devoted to the publication of ancient classics.
1320C13 $**<*3little light on a dark plot**>
1330C13 $*<*3MIDNIGHT MASSACRE IN DACCA:*0*>
1340C13 $^THE title may lead readers to_ expect a gripping account and hitherto
1350C13 unknown details of the diabolical murder of Sheikh Mujib and almost
1360C13 all his kith and kin who could be found in Dacca in the grisly morning
1370C13 of August 15, 1975. ^If it was the author*'s intention to_ focus
1380C13 on the massacre and the conspiracy behind it, he should have to_ extend
1390C13 the imagery of photography a little further, restricted the depth of
1400C13 field. ^He did not follow this principle and the outcome is a somewhat
1410C13 diffused picture of Bangladesh politics in a wide time-frame with one
1420C13 end stretched to the army mutiny against General Ziaur Rehman in Bogra
1430C13 and Dacca in September October, 1977.
1440C13 $^The story of the massacre of the Mujib tribe is in fact one of the
1450C13 weakest parts of the work. ^No special effort seems to_ have been made
1460C13 to_ ferret out facts from wherever they may still be locked up. ^The result
1470C13 is such sentences as: ^According to "foreign journalists,
1480C13 the operation started at 12.30 \0a.m." and "what happened afterwards (following
1490C13 the shooting of the chief of military intelligence at the gate
1500C13 to Mujib*'s residence) is not clear. ^Probably the exact details of the
1510C13 massacre will always remain shrouded in mystery".
1520C13 $\0^*Mr. Dasgupta can claim to_ have some intimate knowledge of what went
1530C13 on in Bangladesh during the liberation struggle and for a few years
1540C13 that_ followed. ^He worked in Dacca for "Ananda Bazar Patrika." ^He
1550C13 developed interesting connections: for instance, with Tajuddin Ahmed,
1560C13 prime minister of the provisional government of Bangladesh at Mujibnagar
1570C13 and later finance minister in Mujib*'s cabinet in Dacca. ^The
1580C13 story of Tajuddin, the much-wronged Bangladeshi patriot, deserves to_
1590C13 be told fully-- his role in the creation of Bangladesh, the intrigues
1600C13 against him by Khondaker Moshtaque Ahmed, the Othello-like naivette
1610C13 of Mujib who failed to_ distinguish between a friend and a foe and
1620C13 the final bloody chapter in Dacca central jail where the entire Mujibite
1630C13 old guard was finally wiped out in another burst of brutality at the
1640C13 moment General Ziaur Rehman came to power. \0^*Mr. Dasgupta knew this
1650C13 was a job worth doing but for his part he has done it only in patches.
1660C13 ^His accounts of conversations with Tajuddin are interesting but episodic
1670C13 in a fuzzy whole.
1680C13 $^Nevertheless, if it is true that Tajuddin alerted \0Mr Dasgupta and
1690C13 through him the the Indian intelligence well in time to_ avert the then
1700C13 impending coup against Mujib, many questions cry out for answers from
1701C13 those concerned.
1710C13 ^*Mujib was probably of the type of a marginal Greek tragic hero
1720C13 who was ready to_ fall at the first stroke of a malevolent fate. ^But what
1730C13 were the others doing? ^If Golok Mazumdar of the Border Security
1740C13 Force in Calcutta warned his boss, *(0K. F.*) Rustomjee in Delhi
1750C13 of something sinister cooking in Dacca why was India*'s High Commissioner
1760C13 Samar Sen away from his post in Bangladesh? ^Poor Tajuddin! ^He
1770C13 believed the Indian High Commission in Dacca had its ears to the
1780C13 ground!
1790C13 $^*Indira Gandhi has been reported in this book as having commented well
1800C13 after she had fallen from power, that Indian intelligence had not been
1810C13 very alert in Bangladesh in those crucial days. ^At the same time she
1820C13 claimed she had warned Mujib of possible assassination attempts. ^Where
1830C13 then did she get that_ intelligence? ^The failure evidently lay somewhere
1840C13 else, unless it is contended that Indira Gandhi*'s \0RAW was
1850C13 empowered in those days to_ engage, like America*'s \0CIA in murky
1860C13 operations.
1870C13 $^With better editorial advice and care, the book might have counted as
1880C13 an aid to the understanding of the cruel and convoluted trends in Bangladeshi
1890C13 politics. ^In the form it has appeared it will disappoint many.
1900C13 ^There are mistakes of all kinds. ^*Chattagram (also sometimes identified
1910C13 as Chittagunj) is supposed to_ have fallen "before the concerted attack
1920C13 of the two brigades of a Third Command Battalion and of the Pakistani
1930C13 Navy and Air Force." ^Another sentence reads: "^If the South
1940C13 Block believes that they can improve relations with the military leaders
1950C13 at Dacca it is still living in a fool*'s paradise."*#
        **[no. of words = 02027**]

        **[txt. c14**]
0010C14 **<*3From Son-rise to Son-set! THE SANJAY STORY**> $^WHEN
0020C14 it is dawn, and the Sun rises in the East, there is hardly any
0030C14 strength or glow in the Sun, but by the time it sets its glow colours
0040C14 the clouds in the sky and the Sun sets in a blaze of glory. ^Afterwards
0050C14 there comes eerie silence and darkness.
0060C14 $^What is true about the sun-rise is also ture of the son-rise-- for
0070C14 instance the rise of Sanjay (one almost wrote Son-jay) Gandhi in
0080C14 the political-economic firmament of India. ^The son-rise was muffled in
0090C14 the darkness of pre-dawn, but the son-set was a colourful phenomenon to_
0110C14 watch. $*<*3POWER AND PROFIT*0*>
0120C14 $^This phenomenon of Sanjay Gandhi and his rise to power and profit
0130C14 had both political overtones and it had psychological undertones which
0140C14 are well delineated by Vinod Mehta*'s fair and impartial biography.
0150C14 **[foot note**]
0160C14 $^The mutually-warring Genes inherited from Feroze Gandhi and Indira
0170C14 Nehru-- an extrovert and an introvert, an out-going jolly fellow and
0180C14 an enthusiast, and an insular and lonely child with a martyr (Joan of Arc)
0190C14 complex, were complex enough, but they were inherited by both the
0200C14 sons. ^Why they should produce two boys of disparate characteristics?
0210C14 $^The indulgences shown to the younger boy by the mother and father both,
0220C14 and also by the grandfather who once ordered a toy-train to_ be brought
0230C14 or bought at midnight after all the shops had closed, to_ satisfy the
0240C14 whims of a whining naughty brat, gave Sanjay a feeling that he was something
0250C14 special and out-of-the-ordinary run of mortals. ^The rules of
0260C14 etiquette and the laws of the country did not apply to him.
0270C14 $^He became proud and moody, rebellious and violent (once he almost
0280C14 died in a car crash but he survived) and doubtless, imagined himself to_
0300C14 be one of the deathless immortals. $*<*3THE CAR CRAZE*0*>
0310C14 $^The wild orgies of reckless car driving had their origin in his early
0320C14 interest in toy-cars. ^He was still playing with toys in the Rolls Royce
0330C14 factroy at Crewe or at Maruti enterprises in Delhi.
0340C14 $*3^He had a grudge against both his mother and father, for neither of them
0350C14 had been able to_ give him the love and attention that_ was his due.
0360C14 ^So he transferred his anger and violence to the people at large.*0
0370C14 $^He had contempt for the Socialist ideals and ideals of his grandfather,
0380C14 and even the populism of his mother*'s pseudo-Socialistic sounding slogans.
0390C14 $^*Vinod
0400C14 Mehta has analysed the development of Sanjay Gandhi with the
0410C14 meticulous attention to detail worthy of a Le Carre mystery-story, piling
0420C14 incident upon incident, detail upon detail-- starting with the Nehrus
0430C14 of Anand Bhavan (the ancestral background), mummy*'s Boy (Relation
0440C14 with his parents), Maruti (the car craze, the collusion with Bansi
0440C14 Lal), "Future Light of India" (The
0450C14 Youth Congress phase), Indira *4bachao (The passion for Forced Sterilization),
0460C14 The Selling of Sanjay (the elaborate Press and the Media
0470C14 Build-up), "Amethi" (The election that_ was a rout), and the last
0480C14 chapter "Getting to_ know her Achilles Heel" (in which Vinod confesses
0490C14 to having "a sneaking sympathy for Sanjay,... in a family of successes
0500C14 he stuck out like a sore thumb.") $*<*3HE IS NO FOOL*0*>
0520C14 $^The best part of the book (which is throughout well-written and eminently
0530C14 readable) is the last chapter, "Getting To_ Know Her Achilles Heel".
0540C14 ^The objectivity and fairness to his subject comes through Vinod*'s
0550C14 writing. "^Let us begin with his intelligence, and straightaway refute
0560C14 the popular impression that he is a fool. (^If he was a fool, he would
0570C14 have done much less damage!-- \0K.A.A.) $"^He
0580C14 could handle difficult situations with cunning and guile", adds Vinod
0590C14 Mehta, and cites the interview to the Foreign Press Journalists
0600C14 Association of Delhi. ^He quotes a Reuter man as saying "^It was a masterly
0610C14 performance. ^He was very impressive."
0620C14 $^*Vinod also gives Sanjay credit for a "simplicity" which he calls "frightening"
0630C14 because Sanjay does not believe in greys, "things were either
0650C14 black or white." ^That_ is a symptom of a magalomania-- or a sadist--
0670C14 like Hitler. $*<"*3SANJAY-*4VAD*0"*>
0680C14 $^Intellectually, Sanjay does not get full marks from his biographer.
0690C14 "^He was an \0I.S.C. and at that_ educational level you are not likely
0700C14 to_ learn... the art of resolving involved problems."
0710C14 $^In this context, I am sorry, Vonod failed (or forgot) to_ fully analyse
0720C14 the implications of the presumptuous and impudent SURGE interview
0730C14 which, for some time at least, was regarded as summing up Sanjay-*4Vad--
0740C14 the Sanjay ideology, however amateurish and immature it might have
0750C14 been. ^His distrust of intelligent men and intellectuals is really fear
0760C14 of exposing himself.
0770C14 $^It is true that he speaks softly, he does not lose his temper, but that_
0780C14 only speaks of his innate shyness and lack of confidence, his feeling
0790C14 of inadequacy which might include his physical and sexual inadequacies,
0800C14 not of his modesty or humility.
0810C14 $^*Vinod Metha does well to_ debunk the outlandish and exotic theories
0820C14 about Indira and Sanjay and thereby adds to the credibility of his narrative.
0830C14 "^Incest?... it is a preposterous assumption, not worth expanding."
0840C14 "^Blackmail?" ^He believes the Washington Post story about Sanjay
0850C14 slapping Indira six times to be false. ^*Vinod says frankly, "*_^*Sanjay
0860C14 had no file on his mother, nor did he blackmail her". $*<*3ONLY
0880C14 A MOTHER*0*> $^His final theory is astonishingly simple and true.
0890C14 $"*3\0^Mrs. Gandhi permitted her son to_ do all the things he did during
0900C14 the Emergency because he was her son. ^Period".*0
0910C14 $^That_ may be an anti-climax after all the hopes and fears roused of exotic,
0920C14 esoteric and melodramatic elements.
0930C14 $^But I think Vinod Metha is right, and it lends credibility to his book,
0940C14 it authenticates what he has written and speaks of his fairness and
0950C14 objectivity as a biographer.
0960C14 $^Also, it approximates to my own conclusions about Indira and Sanjay
0970C14 in my book "20TH *MARCH, 77-- *A *DAY *LIKE *ANY *Other Day" in which
0990C14 I wrote: "$*3^Ultimately she proved herself to_ be not only a woman but
1000C14 the weakest and the most vulnerable of women-- a mother." $"*3^
1010C14 for a son, mothers have been known to_ lie, to_ cheat, and to_ rob, to_
1020C14 kill and be killed. ^Evidently, she had not only done all this, she had
1030C14 allowed her son the freedom to_ order to_ kill, torture, and render homeless
1040C14 hundreds of thousands." $^She was a Mother. $^He was her son.
1070C14 $^But Mohters, because of their weakness for their sons, have no right
1080C14 to_ be the Prime Ministers of a great country. ^Only exceptional men--
1090C14 and women-- can rise to_ a higher position of disinterestedness-- both
1100C14 political and personal. ^Only they have the right to_ preside over the
1120C14 destiny of their people! $**<*3Horrorabad or hyderabad?**>
1130C14 $^*I ALWAYS thought Hyderabad was a beautiful city.
1150C14 $^But now I think its name should be changed to Horrorabad.
1160C14 $^What happened there last week was horrible-- and shameful-- enough.
1170C14 $^But also shameful-- and horrible enough-- is what happened in Bihar.
1180C14 $^*Hyderabad is the capital of Andhra which is ruled-- or was ruled--
1190C14 by the Indira Congress Party.
1200C14 $^*Bihar is ruled-- or misruled would be better-- by the Janata Party.$^Yet
1210C14 both, within the same week were rocked by violence. ^It shows that
1220C14 the name-- Congress or Janata-- does not matter. ^It is the same
1240C14 always. ^*Bihar or Andhra. $*<*3POLICE *4ZOOLUM*0*>
1250C14 $^What matters is that casteist violence in one place and Police *4zoolum
1260C14 in the other was at the root of the trouble.
1270C14 $^In Hyderabad, the Chief Minister has tried to_ make political capital
1280C14 out of the holocaust-- he blames the Opposition parties, particularly
1290C14 the communists and the *3NAXALITES!*0
1300C14 $^But our reporters in Hyderabad have traced the roots of violence in Police
1310C14 *4zoolum in the 'national integration' of two constables-- one
1320C14 Hindu and the other a Muslim-- who thought they could harass a Muslim
1330C14 and his comely wife who were returning in a *4rickshaw after the last
1340C14 cinema show.
1350C14 $^There was bribe demanded, much more than the poor couple could afford
1360C14 to_ pay and so they were dragged to the Police station on the "suspicion"
1370C14 that they were bad characters. ^Then the man was beaten-- to death--
1380C14 and the woman was raped.
1390C14 $^There was another case where a man, Das by name, was dragged out of his
1400C14 hut in a *4jhonpad-patti and beaten to death. $*<*3NAXALITES?*0*>
1420C14 $^There were four other arrests. all in the same *4jhonpad-pattis on the
1430C14 charge of gambling. ^The Police would want us to_ believe that gambling
1440C14 goes on only in the *4jhonpad-pattis, and not in the palatial bungalows
1450C14 of the Banjara Hills. ^*Das, according to the testimony of a neighbour
1460C14 of his, was mercilessly beaten and kicked by the Police. ^He was
1470C14 later taken to a hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
1480C14 $^These two incidents sparked a mass anger and mass violence which was first
1490C14 directed against the Police, but later became general, diffused and
1500C14 confused. ^Once the contagion of mass violence catches on, reason
1501C14 and logic are the first casualties. $^*British
1510C14 Government or National Indian Government, Congress or Janata.
1540C14 $*3^Police-- and its methods-- have remained the same through the ages.
1550C14 ^Only its masters-- and apologists-- have changed.*0
1560C14 $^Even in sophisticated Bombay, one reads only in today*'s paper of a young
1570C14 man aged 21, one Uttam Mahadev Jagtap, caught selling cinema tickets
1580C14 in the "Black Market", was beaten to death in Police custody.
1590C14 $^Would the Andhra Chief Minister have us believe that Das, Ahmad Husain
1600C14 and Jagtap were all Naxalites-- or communists;-- and that is why
1610C14 the Police beat them to death? "^Naxalites" is a general excuse to_
1620C14 liquidate all radical-minded and self-respecting young men who are not
1630C14 'intelligent' enough to_ pay bribes to the Police! $*<*3ROOT IS CASTE*0*>
1650C14 $^Casteism is at the root of violence in Bihar, though Police *4zoolumm
1660C14 is evident there also.
1670C14 $^A Government order fixing a proportion of jobs to the scheduled castes
1680C14 and *4Harijans has sparked off mob violence of the upper castes who resent
1690C14 this order or any concessions given to the *4Harijans.
1700C14 $*3^The Janata Party won the last election by pandering to casteism of
1710C14 the Bihar voters, specially in the villages. ^*Bihar is perhaps, the
1720C14 most caste-ridden state in India!*0
1730C14 $^So *4Harijans*' homes have been burnt down (they were already being burnt
1740C14 down by men of the upper castes), even women have been roasted alive.
1750C14 ^Poor *4rickshaw-pullers have been beaten up by the Police.
1760C14 $^The Janata Party itself has been split on casteist lines by their attitude
1770C14 to the Job Reservation Order. ^Large-scale demonstrations are
1780C14 being held and led by Janata \0MLAs of the upper castes. $*3^The
1790C14 interesting thing is that, while in Andhra, the Government is blaming
1800C14 the Janata opposition, the Bihar Government is blaming the Indira
1810C14 Congress and Communists for disturbing the peace of Bihar.*0
1820C14 $^So everyone is blaming the other Party, no one is able to_ look within
1830C14 and see the canker of violence and casteism that_ is eating up the vitals
1840C14 of the body politic.
1850C14 $**<*3Liberty for licence in Indian Cinema*0**> $*3^SHOULD*0 there
1860C14 be more, or less or no, Censorhip (at all) of films?
1870C14 $^This question has been discussed and re-discussed and is perennially debated
1880C14 at symposia and seminars.
1890C14 $^A Government Committee (headed by Justice Khosla) was appointed to_
1900C14 go into the matter and after thorough investigation of the problem and
1910C14 after meeting all those who had an opinion on the subject-- for, against
1920C14 or in between-- produced a voluminous report which has been only partly
1930C14 implemented by the present Government.
1940C14 $^Now a young woman, Aruna Vasudev has produced a scholarly book on the
1950C14 subject-- LIBERTY AND LICENCE IN THE INDIAN CINEMA. Vikas Publishing
1960C14 House, New Delhi, 220 pages, Price: \0Rs.40.
1970C14 $^Prepared originally as a thesis for doctorate of the Sorbonne University
1980C14 (Paris), it has both the merits of a scholarly treatise. ^It is authentic
1990C14 and authenticated, with bibliography, footnotes, and index, which
2000C14 adds to its value yet does not rob it of its readability on a popular
2010C14 theme. ^In fact Aruna traces the history of censorship in India as a
2020C14 part of the history of the evolution of the Indian cinema from the earliest
2030C14 bioscope to the multi-starrers of today.
2040C14 ^And the cinema itself is seen and examined in the social, cultural and
2050C14 political framework of Indian society as a whole.*#
        **[no. of words = 02012**]

        **[txt. c15**]
0010C15 **<*3Movie world**>
0020C15 $*<*3Benegal*'s "*4Bhumika" is sensitive biography*> $^*Blaze Film
0030C15 Enterprises*' Eastmancolor "*4Bhumika" (The Role) portrays in depth
0040C15 and with mature understanding the search for happiness of an actress.
0060C15 $^The Shyam Benegal and Blaze Enterprises combination, which had presented
0070C15 '*4Ankur' and '*4Nishant' explore an entirely different field--
0080C15 a bold peep into the life of an actress who defied all social taboos of
0090C15 her time.
0100C15 $^Inspired by the noted Marathi actress Hansa Wadkar*'s autobiography,
0110C15 "*5Sangte Aika*6", the film probes in flashbacks the unhappy and fitful
0120C15 childhood of Usha, whose only solace in life is provided by her lonely
0130C15 flights into the woods and music.
0140C15 $^The death of Usha*'s drunkard father brings into the family Keshav,
0150C15 a man a decade older than her, who has his eye upon her. ^Seeing that
0160C15 Usha is becoming something of a singer, he takes the family to Bombay,
0170C15 where she is selected in an audition.
0180C15 $^The world of grease paint and studio lights and her exploitation by Keshav,
0190C15 who marries her and lives on her earnings makes Usha seek happiness
0200C15 elsewhere.
0210C15 $^The search for happiness of this intensely sensitive girl leads her into
0220C15 the arms of a playboy producer-director Sunil Varma, and of a feudal
0230C15 and possessive estate-owner Kale, whose family comprises his invalid
0240C15 wife, mother and child.
0250C15 $^The suffocation in the Kale household is too much for her. ^She secretly
0260C15 writes to her husband who rescues her with the help of the police. ^Her
0270C15 co-star Rajan, who had silently nursed his love for her wants her to_
0280C15 enter the films once again-- but on realising that she had come a long
0290C15 way without yet finding any meaning, decides to_ make life on her own.
0310C15 $^*Shyam Benegal, who is quite at home in presenting themes of contemporary
0320C15 social significance, has deftly tackled the highly evocative theme
0330C15 with restraint. ^The almost acidic dialogue of Pandit Satya Dev Dubey
0340C15 therefore seems to_ come as a pleasant surprise.
0350C15 $^The waspish and sarcastic overtones of the dialogue are all the more evident
0360C15 in the sequences leading to periodical clashes between Usha and
0370C15 Keshav.
0380C15 $^Considering the fact that Smita Patil, who is comparatively a newcomer
0390C15 to emotional cinema, has to_ portray the entire gamut of the actions,
0400C15 and feelings of an actress into play, her performance could be said to_
0410C15 be good, judged by any yardstick. $^Here is an acctress, who, if
0420C15 moulded on correct lines, could mature into a sensitive artist.
0440C15 $^*Amol Palekar as Keshav Dalvi, and the Benegal Characters-- Naseeruddin
0450C15 Shah as Sunil Varma, Amrish Puri as Kale and Anant Nag
0460C15 as the silently suffering Rajan-- fit into the plot quite admirably.
0470C15 $*<*3"Guardian" hails fair discard*>
0480C15 $^Director Bapu*'s Telugu film in colour, "*5Seetha Kalyanam*6" (Seetha*'s
0490C15 Wedding), which could not find a place among the 30 Indian Panaroma
0500C15 selections shown to foreign visitors to the *4Filmotsav-*'378 held
0510C15 in Madras last month, has won praise from the film critic of the "Manchester
0520C15 Guardian".
0530C15 $^The critic, Derek Malcolm, who saw this film only at a private showing,
0540C15 has compared it with a Hollywood Bible epic.
0550C15 $^Indeed, this mythological film, based on the *4Ramayana, is scheduled
0560C15 to_ be shown at the London Film Festival in November this year.
0570C15 $^*Malcolm writes: "^It is done with real taste-- an amalgam of lyricism,
0580C15 poetry and spectacle achieved with rare authenticity.
0590C15 ...I*'2ve seen nothing like it before and can*'4t help thinking that its
0600C15 popularity in the West is assured".
0610C15 $^Ironically, *4Filmotsav organisers ignored *5Seetha Kalyanam*6, assuming
0620C15 that few foreign delegates to the festival would care to_ see it.
0630C15 $"^How wrong were the organisers", comments Derek Malcolm. ^This, he
0640C15 says, was proved when other fellow Western critics, after seeing the film,
0650C15 agreed that he was not "going off his head".
0660C15 $^Director Bapu is no flash-in-the-pan film maker. ^He has so far made
0670C15 13 films, mostly in Telugu. ^But he does not figure in the official list
0680C15 of India*'s leading directors. $**<*3Movie World**> $*3"*5Des Pardes*6",
0700C15 "*5Pati Patni Aur Woh*6", and "*4Paradh" from Friday $^*Dev
0720C15 Anand*'s "*5Des Pardes*6", a film based on the life of Indian
0730C15 immigrants in the United Kingdom, *(0B.R.*) Chopra*'s "*5Pati Patni
0731C15 Aur Woh*6", a satire on middle class morality, Shivshakti Productions*'
0740C15 "*4Paradh', chronicling the trials and tribulations of an Indian
0750C15 woman, will be the three new films to_ hit the Pune screen on July 21.
0770C15 $^Produced and directed by Dev Anand, "*5Des Pardes*6", is based
0780C15 on a story idea by Dev Anand himself. ^It describes the exploits of an
0790C15 Indian youth, played by none else than Dev, going in search of Gurnam,
0800C15 a racketeer indulging in the smuggling of illegal immigrants into
0810C15 Great Britain.
0820C15 $^*Tina Munim, a model-turned film star, makes her debut in the film,
0830C15 the cast of which also includes Pran, Ajit, Amjad Khan, Prem Chopra,
0840C15 Bindu and a host of other leading character actors. ^*Anand Bakshi*'s
0850C15 lyrics have been set to tunes by Rakesh Roshan. $^The film will open
0860C15 at the Natraj, Ashok, Vaibhav, Capitol and Arun theatres.
0880C15 "*5^Pati Patni Aur Woh*6", which will have a solitary release at the
0890C15 Neelayam, tells of *4Pati (Ranjit played by Sanjeev Kumar) *4Patni
0900C15 (Sharada played by Vidya Sinha) and *4Woh (Nirmala Deshpande played
0920C15 by Ranjita Thakur). ^*Asrani too has an important role in the film.
0930C15 $^The placid married life of Ranjit and Sharada gets disturbed when
0940C15 the husband gets interested in his sexy-looking secretary. $^Produced
0950C15 and directed by *(0B. R.*) Chopra, "*5Pati Patni Aur Woh*6"
0960C15 has Kamleshwar*'s dialogue. ^*Anand Bakshi*'s lyrics are set to music
0970C15 by Ravindra Jain.
0980C15 $"*4^Paradh" based on the novel of the noted Marathi writer, Madhusudan
0990C15 Kalelkar has for the first time leading Hindi stars playing important
1000C15 roles in a Marathi film. ^Besides Sachin, and Sarika in the lead roles,
1010C15 the film also has Nutan, Ramesh Deo, Dhumal and \0Dr. Shreeram
1020C15 Lagu in other important roles.
1030C15 $^The film, which will be released at the Vasant, is produced, and directed
1040C15 by Kishore Miskin. ^*Ram Kadam has composed the musical score.
1050C15 $*<*3Favourites continue:*> $*3"*5Kala Aadmi*6"
1070C15 $^*Anubhav Film*'s "*5Kala Aadmi*6", an action-filled drama of an atheist
1080C15 turned aesthetic, is drawing huge rush at seven picture houses in
1100C15 Pune since last Friday. $^*Sunil Dutt, Saira Banu, Pran, and
1110C15 Parikshit Sahani head the cast of the film. $^*Laxmikant Pyarelal
1120C15 have composed the musical score of the film. $*<*3"*4Damaad"*>
1140C15 $^*Radha Mohan Arts*' "*4Damaad" a hilarious comedy of would-be father-in-laws*'
1150C15 hunt for suitable grooms for their daughters, is a big draw
1160C15 at Laxmi-Narayan. $^*Amol Palekar, Ranjita, \0Dr. Shreeram Lagu
1180C15 head the cast, Hemant Bhosle has scored music for the film.
1190C15 $*<*3The rest:>
1200C15 $^*Raj Kapoor*'s "*5Satyam Shivam Sundaram*6" (Love Sublime) 4th
1210C15 Week at the Alankar and Deccan; Tahir Hussein*'s "*5Khoon Ki Pukar*6"
1220C15 2nd Week at the Shree Krishna and Neelayam; Ramesh Behl*'s
1230C15 "*5Kasme Vaade*6", 10th Week at the Mangala, are among other
1240C15 films doing well at the box office.
1250C15 $^Among the other films enjoying good box-office response are Geeta Films*'
1260C15 "*4Phandebaaz" , Dharmendra-Mausami Chatterjee starrer (6th week
1270C15 at the Sonmarg); Amitabh-Zeenat starrer "Don" (8th week at the Alpana)
1280C15 and *(0G. P.*) Sippy*'s "*4Sholay" on second run at the Sreenath.
1300C15 $*<*3"*4Pushpa-Saram":*>
1310C15 $^*Subair Anwar*'s "*4Pushpa-Saram" (Lake of Flowers) is a roaring
1320C15 comedy, depicting the blooming and energetic world of young men and women.
1330C15 ^The world is mostly gay, as most of the women are the inmates of a
1340C15 women*'s college hostel. ^The major problem of the girls, the matron and
1350C15 the lady principal is to_ find a male partner.
1360C15 $^*Jayabharati, Vidhubala, Adoor Bhasi, Prem Nasir, Vijaylalitha and
1370C15 Sri Vidya provide this Malayalam film with the realism which the
1390C15 story demands. $^*Prem sings some pathetic songs to the child of the principal
1400C15 and also figures in some fighting scenes.
1410C15 "*5^Puspa Saram*6" is a good treat for all, especially college-goers.
1420C15 $^Having had a release last Sunday, the film will have a repeat run on
1430C15 the morning of Sunday July 23, at the Capitol.
1440C15 $*<*3"*4Shalimar"-- Sleak but Weak handling of drama*>
1450C15 $^*Krishna Shah*'s much talked about Hindi-English production, "*4Shalimar"
1460C15 could at the most pass the test of being a sleek presentation
1470C15 nothing more, nothing less.
1480C15 $^The film, like Raj Kapoor*'s "*5Satyam Shivam Sundaram*6" suffers
1490C15 from over-publicity, what with a book published and stories of its fabulous
1500C15 production hourly dished out.
1510C15 $^This "international suspense-caper movie" as the publicity blurbs claim,
1520C15 is based on Manohar Malgaonkar*'s novel does little credit to the
1530C15 well-known author of "Bend in the Ganges" and other literary works. ^All
1540C15 the same, set against the present genre of Hindi films, its production
1550C15 values and general handling deserve commendation. $^Storywise,
1560C15 the film centres around a famed precious ruby *4Shalimar, in
1570C15 the possession of an aging international jewel thief, Sir John Locksley,
1580C15 who, having no family of his own, devises a scheme to_ find an heir
1590C15 who should inherit *4Shalimar. ^He invites five master thieves and
1600C15 challenges them to_ steal the ruby. ^The one who succeeds in stealing
1610C15 *4Shalimar will do it for keeps.
1620C15 $^Among the guests is an amateur thief, Kumar, in the disguise of one of
1630C15 Sir John*'s invitees. ^Here Kumar meets his former sweetheart,
1640C15 Sheila, who is secretary and nurse to Sir John Locksley. $^The fabulous
1650C15 jewel is protected by the most meticulously devised electronic surveillance
1660C15 system and a group of Naga tribals ready to_ lay down their lives.
1680C15 $^Where the master criminals, while trying to_ pull their capers in
1690C15 their own inimitable style, meet with failure and disaster, the amateur
1700C15 Kumar succeeds in his mission. $^Director
1710C15 Krishna Shah, who has made a name as a producer of social themes,
1720C15 finds himself lost in the maze of adventures of his own creation.
1740C15 $^The net result, therefore, is that while the audience should be sitting
1750C15 at the edges of their chairs, follow the doings of the master-criminals
1760C15 in a relaxed manner as if viweing the happenings through Sir John*'s
1780C15 television screen. $^It is this overzealous emphasis on Krishna Shah*'s
1781C15 part to_ cling to the
1790C15 electronic room of Sir john Locksley to_ unfold the plot that_ more
1800C15 or less kills most of the suspense element in the film.
1810C15 $^*Hollywood-trained Shah also fails to_ grasp a heaven sent chance of
1820C15 providing a thrilling climax when, to a frightened Sheila who comes to_
1830C15 announce in their hotel hide-out that they are surrounded by the Naga
1840C15 tribals and other jewel hunters, Kumar flourishes his \0CBI identity
1850C15 card.
1860C15 $^The reporter who attended the special show of "*4Shalimar" held at New
1870C15 Excelsior in Bombay last Tuesday, was surprised at the side remarks
1880C15 of some well-known journalists to the effect that Zeenat looked positively
1890C15 dull and lack-lustre.
1900C15 $^On the other hand, I would say that Sylvia Miles, who plays the trapeze
1910C15 artist, positively looked haggard and the mouthing of chaste Hindi
1920C15 dialogue by her and Rex Harrison, playing the role of Sir John, appeared
1940C15 quite out of place. $^Histronics-wise all said and done, Shammi
1941C15 Kapoor takes the cake with Rex Harrison, Dharmenndra, Zeenat Aman,
1960C15 *(0O. P.*) Ralhan and John Saxon playing only second fiddle.
1970C15 $*(0^*R. D.*) Burman*'s music in Stereophonic sound system is one hell
1980C15 of din and cacophony. ^*Harvey Genking*'s photography is the most redeeming
1990C15 factor of the film. $"*4^*Shalimar" in spite of all its shortcomings,
2010C15 will go a long way at the box-office.
2030C15 $*<*3"*4Dillagi", a light comedy*>
2040C15 $^*Basu Chatterji*'s "*4Dillagi" running at the "Neelayam", a light comedy
2050C15 with Dharmendra and Hema Malini*'s good performances. ^Perhaps
2060C15 Basu has made this film for this pair and they have not failed him.
2070C15 $^*Kamal (Dharmendra) is a Sanskrit professor in a girls*' college, while
2080C15 Renu (Hema) is a Chemistry professor and rector of the hostel.
2090C15 ^*Kamal is romantic, but Renu is strict. ^*Kamal*'s target is Renu.
2100C15 ^By hook or by crook, he wants to_ come close to her, but he is rebuffed
2110C15 every time. ^Finally, they get married after a typical Hindi film drama.
2130C15 $^*Basu*'s direction is remarkable as usual, while Dharmendra and
2150C15 Hema have acted well. $^*Rajesh Roshan*'s music is not impressive compared
2160C15 to his previous offerings. $*<*3Three new releases for Christmas*>
2180C15 $^The \0X*'3mas Week will herald the release of three new films,
2190C15 Vijashree Pictures*' "*5Badaltey Rishtey*6", \0B Nagi Reddi*'s
2200C15 "*5Swarag Narak*6" and Chitrashala*'s "*4Bhookh" in over a dozen picture
2210C15 houses in Pune.
2220C15 $*5^*Badaltey Rishtey*6", produced by Sudesh Kumar and directed
2230C15 by \0R. Jhalani, is based on a story by Mahendra Saral.*#
        **[no. of words = 02009**]

        **[txt. c16**]
0020C16 **<*3AT THE CINEMA*0**> $*<*3The Marx brothers*0*> $^In the beginning
0030C16 there were just the two of them, Sam and Linnie, an incompetent
0040C16 tailor married to an inefficient house-wife. ^In the ripeness of time
0050C16 they begot five sons-- Chico, Harpo Groucho, Gummo and Zeppo--
0060C16 the crazy quintet which came to_ be known as the Marx Brothers.
0070C16 ^They were so proud of being brothers that they would not allow anybody
0080C16 else to_ be so. ^In a famous letter Groucho wrote to Warner \0Bros.
0090C16 $"^*Warner Brothers? ^Do you own that_, too? ^You probably have the right
0100C16 to_ use the name Warner, but what about Brothers? ^Professionally,
0110C16 we were brothers long before you were. ^We were touring the sticks as The
0120C16 Marx Brothers when Vitaphone was still a gleam in the inventor*'s
0140C16 eye." $^In appearance they were so similar to one another that no one would
0150C16 have the temerity to_ say that the quintuplets were not brothers. ^Physical
0160C16 resemblance however, was a thoroughly misleading factor in their
0170C16 mental make-up. ^Each brother was unique and on the stage or the screen,
0180C16 no one could mistake one for another. ^Ultimately, when time had lengthened
0190C16 its shadows the quintet dissolved itself into the trio of Chico,
0200C16 Harpo and Groucho which made cinema history.
0210C16 $^Not immediately, however. ^There were years of failure, frustration and
0220C16 futility until they caught up with success. ^Years of vaudeville-- endless
0230C16 travel, bad food, scant money, execrable audience-- made them so
0240C16 miserable that they wanted to_ quit. ^Only the indomitable spirit of
0250C16 Minnie kept them going. "^No, sir!" she would exclaim heatedly, "^There
0260C16 must be some way." ^And, miracle of miracles, the way was there!
0270C16 $^All the ventures, adventures and misadventures of the Brothers had toughened
0280C16 them so much that not only could they take a hundred falls without
0290C16 batting an eyelid. they could go through a play like a battering ram.
0300C16 ^They cared nothing for conventions and demolished acts and scenes with
0310C16 outrageous improvisations. ^It is said that they usually "opened like
0320C16 a tornado and were a riot before they closed." \0^*Prof. Eysenck would
0330C16 probably suffer a heart attack were he to_ attempt the \0IQ. of the Marx
0340C16 Brothers. ^In no time at all they would make toilet paper of the professor*'s
0350C16 score card!
0360C16 $^The Brothers cannot be typed at all; because, as I have already said
0370C16 they are unique. ^They are a law unto themselves in as much as they are
0380C16 utterly lawless. ^Much of the fun in their films comes from the chaos
0390C16 which they deliberately create. ^Here is an example. ^Before he took
0400C16 his vow of silence Harpo had an encounter with Groucho:
0410C16 $"^What*'1s the shape of the world?" asked the latter.
0420C16 $"^Don'4t know" replied Harpo candidly. ^*Groucho condescended to_
0430C16 give him a hint:
0440C16 $"^What*'1s the shape of my cuff buttons?" "^Square," asserted Harpo.
0450C16 $"^*I mean the cuff buttons I wear on Sunday," reminded Groucho, "Not
0460C16 every day. ^Now! ^What*'1s the shape of the world?"
0470C16 $"^Round on Sunday, square on weekdays," replied Harpo. $^The laughter
0480C16 of the Marx Brothers is quite out of the world. ^It cannot
0490C16 be even properly labelled or catalogued. ^Things happen so unexpectedly
0500C16 that they literally take your breath away-- like the occasion when
0510C16 Harpo drinks the water of the goldfish bowl and eats the fish. ^Or when
0520C16 Groucho declines an invitation to tea at a Women*'s college-- $"^*I
0530C16 eat like a vulture. ^Unfortunately the resemblance does not end there".
0550C16 $^Though surprise is one of the main elements of Marxist humour, it is
0560C16 not the only one. ^Ruthlessness is their chief hallmark. ^They take nothing
0570C16 for granted and no tradition is too time-honoured for them. ^It
0580C16 is possible that their Jewish background, loaded with suffering and persecution,
0590C16 gave the Brothers the hard edge that_ they had. ^They made war
0600C16 on anything cheap, shoddy or sentimental with unholy glee. ^And when
0610C16 the battle was over, it was not the end of the war: it was the prelude
0620C16 to another skirmish. ^It is conceivable that the Brothers were not knights
0630C16 in shining armour. ^They were certainly laughing cavaliers!
0640C16 $^It is said that the night Rudolf Hess parachuted into England, Winston
0650C16 Churchill was busy witnessing one of the Marx Brothers films, THE
0660C16 BIG STORE. ^When he was told about Hess, Churchill refused to_ stop
0670C16 the show. ^Thus the Brothers halted history if only for a brief hour!
0690C16 $^The American Center in arranging their retrospective show of Marx
0700C16 Brothers*' film has rendered us a valuable service. ^For us, old fans,
0710C16 it will be a case of "recapturing the first fine rapture", for others,
0730C16 it will be ecstacy unlimited. $*<*3A Sincere effort*>
0740C16 $^*BONJUI, a recent Assamese film by Abdul Majid, attempts to_ retain
0750C16 the flavour of the soil, despite its occasional lapses into sentimentality
0760C16 and is a sincere effort to_ interpret complex psychological issues
0770C16 in visual terms. ^Set in the pre-independent India, the freedom movement
0780C16 serving as an interesting backdrop to the emotional turmoil of the
0790C16 protagonists the story dwells on the yearning of a couple for a child
0800C16 and the final fulfilment of their dreams through much agony and pathos.
0810C16 ^The film, shot on actual locations, presents the pristine beauty of Assamese
0820C16 landscape in beautiful shades and tones. ^The direction and
0830C16 treatment though not always free from conventional cliches have a ring
0840C16 of honesty and Bhupen Hazarika*'s music makes a creative use of the regional
0860C16 folk tunes. $*<*3A Tortoise-paced Comedy*>
0870C16 $^A young man who leaves his wife on the wedding day to_ join the office
0880C16 should definitely get a raise and a lift and that_ is exactly what is in
0890C16 store for Vinod Mehra in *5SAFED JHOOTH*6. ^The newly wed wife
0900C16 Mithu Mukherjee sits at home sulking all day and Vinod*'s soaring spirits
0910C16 at being promoted to a top executive position are somewhat dampened
0920C16 when the boss Ashokkumar cancels all staff leave for two months and
0930C16 pop goes the blithe honeymoon. ^So there is the resort to the little
0940C16 lie when Vinod reports sick and the couple dashes off to Khandala for
0950C16 a short holiday. ^But the long arms of the boss reach out to_ catch the
0960C16 truant employee and a hill-station circuit-house becomes a scene of a crazy
0970C16 hide-seek game when Ashokkumar lands there on an unscheduled tour.
0980C16 ^*Vinod somehow gives him the slip but Mithu has to_ go through severe
0990C16 grilling by Ashokkumar who thinks that this girl has eloped with her boy-friend.
1000C16 ^*Vinod devises many schemes for extricating himself and hiswife
1010C16 from the embarassing situation with the help of Deven Varma,
1020C16 the garrulous caretaker Amol Palekar, the smart-alee actor and Manick
1030C16 Dutt a compulsive rescuer of damsels in distress. ^The film dithers through
1040C16 a mesh of unfunny incidents to a drab climax when all the problems
1050C16 are sorted out to everybody*'s advantage and the big boss is revealed
1060C16 as having a heart of gold beneath the tough exterior.
1070C16 $^The film somehow confirms the lurking suspicion that a steady rust is
1080C16 being set in Basu Chatterjee*'s comedy arsenal. ^His earlier films abound
1090C16 in robust humour down from the incongruities of daily life. ^But
1100C16 in this film the attempts to_ weave fun around a single thread have proved
1110C16 a little undisciplined and disparate. ^Even Basu*'s genuine flair
1120C16 for funny faces (a creative heritage of his cartoonist*'s past) is lacking
1130C16 here. ^The story unreels with tortoise pace and half-way through the
1140C16 script runs out of gags \0& meanders into a hurried and patched-up resolution.
1150C16 ^*Ashokkumar is full of self-conscious mannerisms and Vinod and
1160C16 Mithu Mukherjee look hopelessly wooden. $*<*3Boundless fun*>
1180C16 $^Though the film is full of corpses, killings and shootouts,
1190C16 SILVER STEAK (Globe) is essentially boundless fun. ^The side-splitting
1200C16 jaunt of the luxury train which carries a cargo of hardened criminals,
1210C16 art-fakers, \0FBI agents and part-time sleuths, crashes its way through
1220C16 crowded streets shops and station establishments, ends in the manner
1230C16 of small-scale disaster movie when it comes to a screeching halt with
1240C16 a crack showing on the engine. ^Throughout the journey the train throbs
1250C16 with excitement and suspense and the comic idiosyncracies of the passengers,
1260C16 a collection of odd types, provide wholesome laughter.
1270C16 $^*Gene Wilder plays the young publisher who smells a rat at the sudden
1280C16 disappearance of a professor who has been doing some revealing researches
1290C16 on Rembrandt fakings. ^He takes his time off from a romantic interlude
1300C16 with the professor*'s secretary and is on the trail of the real culprit.
1310C16 ^After much violent struggle and hairbreadth escapes laced with wild
1320C16 humour, the climax sees the villain put out of the way, come out of the
1340C16 hotel rooms and **[text mutilated**]
1350C16 $^The director Arthur Hiller has hospital cabins of his earlier films
1360C16 (PLAZA SUITE and HOSPITAL) to_ make the train compartment his
1370C16 chamber for psychological probe. ^He has raised the film to the level of
1380C16 creative absurdity and some atmospheric vignettes like the train romping
1390C16 through the desert landscape cluttered with well-designed cactus and
1400C16 the dot-image of the automobile against the purple sky create moments
1420C16 of rare visual grandeur. $**<*3AT THE CINEMA*0**>
1430C16 $*<*3The fairy-tale charm*0*>
1440C16 $^Perhaps the most significant aspect of Alexander Ptushko*'s RUSLAN
1450C16 AND LYUDMILLA (Elite) is that it is made after Pushkin*'s poem by the
1460C16 same name. ^That_ apart, there is lush colour and technical expertise
1470C16 in a film which goes the way of all Sovexport films. ^Since this is
1480C16 a fairy tale witches and wizards galore, Witchcraft, sorcery, magic, and-what-have-you
1490C16 are as strange as strange can be. ^The film begins in explosive
1500C16 style with Lyudmilla, the beautiful bride of Ruslan, being kidnapped
1510C16 by supernatural powers. ^It is interesting to_ see her fly out of
1520C16 the window. ^But it is not as interesting as all that_ thereafter as Ruslan
1530C16 goes searching for his lady-love. ^The antics and tantrums of the
1540C16 witch Naina and of the midget wizard Chernomour with his "mighty" beard
1550C16 begin to_ bore and drag after sometime. ^Like most big budget Bombay
1560C16 films almost everything has been included, valour, chivalry, romance, music
1570C16 and dancing, revenge and the inevitable triumph of the hero, and, like
1580C16 most Bombay films, the monotony at times, is agonising. ^But it is very
1590C16 likely that children would enjoy Ruslan*'s feats inspite of the patriotic
1600C16 slogans that_ have been thrown in frequently. ^For what begins with
1610C16 a "once upon a time" note ends with the most relieving "they lived happily
1630C16 ever after". $*<*3Numbered account*>
1640C16 $^THE SWISS CONSPIRACY (New Empire) unrolls as the five holders of
1650C16 numbered accounts of a Zurich bank receive black mail notes demanding
1660C16 hush money, the non-payment of which will lead to the disclosure of their
1670C16 financial status with the bank. ^The President of the bank, Johann
1680C16 Hurtil enlists the aid of a private detective, David Christopher who
1690C16 meets the blackmail victims by turn to_ get the proper picture. ^He comes
1700C16 up against a bunch of queer characters, Robert Hayes, a Chicago
1710C16 gangster fiddling with Syndicate funds who tries to_ kill Christopher,
1720C16 but is himself shot by the hoodlums, Denise Abbott, a charming socialite
1730C16 whose bank reserves come from an English nobleman anxious to_ steer
1740C16 clear of the romantic entanglement with her (incidentally, she attempts
1750C16 to_ hook Christopher into bed with her), Dwight McGowan, an American
1760C16 businessman on the run from the Inland Revenue authorities, and
1770C16 Andre Kosta who always keeps mum.
1780C16 $^Added to this tangle, there is the inexplicable behaviour of the Bank
1790C16 executive Benninger and his fiancee Rita, creating extra problems for
1800C16 Christopher. ^After a series of shoot-outs and killings, Christopher
1810C16 is able to_ unearth the crafty plot (the final twist should better not
1820C16 be revealed) and the Bank authorities get back their night*'s sleep.
1830C16 $^This is a pointless thriller with superficial flashiness and with a laboured
1840C16 pattern of the complicated plot which does never build up to any
1850C16 effective climax. ^The wooden performances of an impressive cast add to
1860C16 the boredom making the film appear like a long and tiring grind. $*<*3Bond
1880C16 spoof*> $^RETURN OF THE TALL BLOND (Jamuna) features Francois,
1890C16 an unassuming violinist, "that_ guy with the one black shoe" who has
1891C16 been almost hijacked
1900C16 into the espionage world to_ serve as a pawn in the official power
1910C16 game. ^As in the earlier Yves Roberts*' film, here also he is called
1920C16 upon to_ play a similar role to_ don a super-Bond image.*#
        **[no. of words = 02016**]

        **[txt. c17**]
0020C17 **<*3*4Hoysala Art**> **<*3Marg: In Praise of *4Hoysala Art*>
0030C17 $^When the *4Chola empire started decaying, the *4Chalukyas defeated
0040C17 them in 1052 \0A.D. ^The *4Chalukyas were, however, defeated by the *4Cholas
0050C17 10 years later. ^At this time further south new dynasties were
0060C17 gathering strength and consolidating empires. ^The result was that when
0070C17 in the 13th and 14th centuries the descendents of the *4Cholas and the
0080C17 *4Chalukyas lost their sway, their kingdom was divided by the *4Hoysalas,
0090C17 the *4Yadavas and the *4Kakatiyas amongst themselves. ^The last two
0100C17 were overcome by the Muslims, but the *4Hoysalas flourished.
0110C17 $^The *4Cholas had left behind a rich heritage of art and architecture
0120C17 and the *4Hoysalas did not let this be lost. ^This far there were three
0130C17 main styles of temple architecture of the Hindus, each with its own
0140C17 distinct features. ^Under the patronage of the *4Hoysalas, the art reached
0150C17 new heights and in this there was a divergence from the traditional
0160C17 forms in vogue during the 13th and 14th centuries.
0170C17 $^The concept of the one *4Brahman becoming the Many had been inherited
0180C17 from the *4Vedas. ^These early poems were *4Sruti, inspired by the
0190C17 Gods but they had been transcended in the aphorisms of the *4Upanishads
0200C17 and the *5Bhagavad Gita*6. ^Life was thought to_ be a sacred tree
0210C17 whose roots were in Heaven and branches and fruit spread
0220C17 downward into the world of experience-- *4samsara. ^The inevitably
0230C17 perilous descent must of necessity compel an upward return through a
0240C17 sudden conversion and the tree must be severed by the razor edge of non-attachment.
0250C17 ^The Gods had to_ remain close by to_ be able to_ remind
0260C17 the mortals of the need for a change of attachments. ^The goal of worship
0270C17 was to_ go from the seen to the unseen, the Chloristic Schist temples
0280C17 of the *4Hoysala however seem to_ radiate their energies from within
0290C17 to the various arrows of the stellate plan. ^The change in style can
0300C17 be seen in the architecture of the Chennakesavara Temple in Belur
0310C17 (1117 \0A.D.) to the Hoysalesvara Temple at Halebid and the Kesava
0320C17 Temple at Somnathpur (about 1230).
0330C17 $^The *4Hoysala temples are marked for their complex, well articulated
0340C17 wall surface and the exuberence of detail hinders true and complete appreciation
0350C17 of the emphasis on detail. ^The Gods Goddesses, *4apsaras and
0360C17 demons literally seem to_ merge into each other. ^Each surface is covered
0370C17 with figures. $^It
0380C17 was in the times of the *4Hoysalas that the art of friezes was perfected.
0390C17 ^An emphasis is found on the female form, *4Mohinis abound and women
0400C17 are portrayed in all their roles-- mother, spouse, paramour nourisher,
0410C17 spy, goddess and attendant of the Gods. ^The *4Hoysala artist was
0411C17 primarily an architect but this did not hinder the creativity which gave
0430C17 birth to the perfection found in the friezes. ^Speaking of the *4Hoysala
0440C17 artist Yeats said that they were men who gave women their dreams and
0450C17 dreams the looking glass. ^He specifically had the *4Mohinis in mind.
0460C17 $^This issue of Marg tries to_ convey a lot about the art of this period.
0470C17 ^The emphasis is on pictorial representation rather than on texts, for
0480C17 the wealth of the *4Hoysala legacy has to_ be seen to_ be believed.
0490C17 ^Nevertheless the main text by Robert \0J. Del Bonta and a short
0500C17 note on the female form by Carmel Berkson do go a long way in satisfying
0510C17 the itch for more details. ^The selection of photographs both in
0520C17 colour and black and white could have been no better. ^And this book does
0530C17 go a long way towards filling the lacunae that exist and hinder a true
0540C17 and complete appreciation of this glorious heritage.
0550C17 $**<*3Do we have a national culture?**>
0560C17 $*<*3THE NATIONAL CULTURE OF *INDIA*0*>
0570C17 $^In this book \0Dr. Husain presents the essential features of the culture
0580C17 that_ has existed in India through the ages, in all its major forms.
0590C17 ^The book is a faithful account of the growth of what is, or at best
0600C17 can be called a national culture, right from the time of the Indus
0610C17 Valley Civilisation.
0620C17 $^The book is predominantly visionary as far as what \0Dr. Husain calls
0630C17 present day culture is concerned. ^He visualises an ideal state in the
0640C17 development of culture and this makes him overlook, at times, the harsh
0650C17 realities that_ exist today or for that_ matter existed back in 1958
0660C17 when the book was written.
0670C17 $^There is now a semblance of unity in Indian life, but keeping all the
0680C17 hard facts in mind, it is difficult to_ say how and why that_ unity is
0690C17 there. ^*India has never been united in the strictest sense of the word,
0700C17 and still is not. ^There is only a semblance of unity brought about due
0710C17 to certain reasons like joining forces to_ oust a common foe; remove the
0720C17 pressures and the unity will vanish. ^This state is the same as it was
0730C17 in the past when there was unity, political or otherwise, only to_ face
0740C17 a common threat.
0750C17 $"^Secularism does not mean athiesm," nor does it mean a facade of peaceful
0760C17 co-existence. ^*India is a secular country, but the attitudes of
0770C17 its people have a deep-rooted violent, communal tendency and in fact they
0780C17 are bred in an atmosphere of mistrust for other religions. ^One cannot
0790C17 deny this, for then one would also have to_ deny the numerous communal
0800C17 riots that_ take place in India even today.
0810C17 $^Religious tolerance has been there and still is there, but again only
0820C17 to an extent and that_ too under duress. ^What little tolerance is there
0830C17 is present not because of an inborn spirit of tolerance but because of
0840C17 the efforts of the numerous
0850C17 *7sufis, saints, visionaries and philosophers who have been able
0860C17 to_ curb the basically volatile nature of those living in their times.
0880C17 $"^Religion is a transforming experience... self-discovery and contact with
0890C17 the Divine. ^When the individual withdraws his soul from all outward
0900C17 events there breaks upon him an experience, sacred, strange, wondrous,
0910C17 which quickens within him, lays hold of him, becomes his very being."
0920C17 ^Yes, but only as long as he is meditating. ^When the individual wakes
0930C17 to reality, the experience is relegated to a corner of the mind. ^We recognise
0940C17 that all paths lead to the same goal, and we talk about the common
0950C17 ground on which all religions stand, but do we practice what we talk
0960C17 about? ^For one to_ be convinced that the path his particular religion
0970C17 preaches is the right one to him, all other religions must of necessity
0980C17 be a farce otherwise he is beset by doubts. ^In such an atmosphere how
0990C17 can there be unity and till there is national unity, how can there be a
1000C17 national culture? $*<*3DIFFERENCES*0*>
1010C17 $^Then, along with religious differences, there are caste differences.
1020C17 ^There are still places in India where *4Harijans are not allowed into
1030C17 temples. ^And amongst the Christians and the Muslims there is a class
1040C17 consciousness even though it is vehemently denied.
1050C17 $^To many citizens of this land, Delhi is a foreign land. ^This attitude
1060C17 is there because of the language issue. ^One of the major forces which
1070C17 bind a nation together is language. ^With 14 regional languages and
1080C17 scores of dialects, which should we choose as the national language. ^The
1090C17 North says "Hindi," the South says "Hindi-never".
1100C17 $^Perhaps the only force that_ binds Indians together is art and music,
1110C17 ^These are the only things which have surmounted the barriers of religion,
1120C17 caste and language.
1130C17 $^The question that_ arises is-- do we have a national culture? ^At present
1150C17 the only truthful answer is-- "No; but we are trying to_ evolve
1160C17 one". ^A distinct culture can be evolved only after there is a polarisation
1170C17 of attitudes towards life and a radical change comes about in the
1180C17 way we Indians think. ^As it stands, the very bases that \0Dr. Husain
1190C17 has laid for a culture to_ take birth, do not exist in India and this
1210C17 fact he has not tried to_ deny. $*<NATIONAL CULTURE*>
1220C17 $^When we do not have a national culture what do we have? ^As far as culture
1230C17 is concerned, what we have is predominantly an offshoot of Vedic
1240C17 culture complete with all the evils it acquired till it took its present
1250C17 form. ^Side by side, we have in small pockets individual cultures which
1260C17 can be associated with the different religions being followed in India.
1270C17 $"^Unity in diversity" is the catchword, but the catch has surpassed
1280C17 the word. ^Diversity is very much evident, but unity is not. ^It is fast
1290C17 becoming a non-existent thing. ^A cultural disintegration is taking place.
1300C17 ^There are strong opponents of progress and the cycle of history
1310C17 has again brought us to a point where centrifugal forces are gaining strength.
1320C17 ^The need of the hour is a "reformation". \0^*Dr. Husain has
1330C17 proposed certain remedies to_ cope with this situation, if all these proposals
1340C17 were implemented, we would have a culture we could be proud of.
1350C17 ^And for this the vision of \0Dr. Husain is second to none.
1360C17 $**<*3Consumption economics**>
1370C17 $*<CONSUMPTION IN A SOCIALIST ECONOMY*> $^The book explores
1400C17 the relationship between consumption and accumulation in a socialist
1410C17 economy during the so-called phase of "extensive growth". ^*Maurice
1430C17 Dobb writes in his foreword to the book that the time dimension in
1440C17 industrial development of Soviet Union provoked much controversy and
1450C17 continues to_ be so even now. ^According to him this study of the author
1460C17 is a deeply researched study of a difficult but important subject which
1470C17 is sure to_ commend itself not only to serious students of Soviet economic
1480C17 development but also to students of economic growth and development
1500C17 in general. $^Being a modified version of the author*'s doctoral dissertation
1510C17 the book usefully examines the relationship between consumption
1511C17 and accumulation
1520C17 with a theoretical construct and practical experience. ^The first part
1530C17 deals with the theoretical analysis and the second part describes the
1540C17 Soviet industrial experience during 1929-37. ^It is observed that substantial
1550C17 declines in real wages were inevitable given the objective of industrialisation
1560C17 even at a pace less rapid than the actual. ^The author examines
1570C17 extensively the views of Erlich and Lewin. ^He also analyses the
1580C17 contributions of Millar and Barsov. ^An attempt is made to_ find if
1590C17 the Soviet pattern of development can be imitated.
1600C17 "$^A wholesale imitation of the Soviet experience is clearly not possible
1610C17 in many of the underdeveloped countries of the world today-- firstly,
1620C17 their initial conditions are much more unfavourable than the Soviet Union
1630C17 in 1928 (lower per capita income levels, agricultural output, \0etc.
1640C17 and secondly the international pressures for rapid industrialisation have
1650C17 become much less urgent-- there is no threat of capitalist encirclement.
1660C17 "^There is generally insufficient stock of capital in relation to the
1670C17 available supply of labour in underdeveloped countries. $^The book has
1680C17 the merit of provoking thought on controversial aspects of
1690C17 economics in socialist societies, particularly which centre around the
1700C17 subject of consumption. ^The bibliography given is quite exhaustive and
1720C17 many sided. $**<*3FAMILY LIFE IN *ASIA*0**>
1730C17 $^This magnificent book has contributions from a constellation of internationally
1740C17 known eminent scholars in the field of sociology. ^Its editors
1750C17 have done a good job of it in its organisation. ^The editors*' introduction
1760C17 and summary of the specific issues as discussed in the fifteen papers
1770C17 of the book have greatly added to its usefulness. ^Amongst the Indian
1780C17 contributors are Giri Raj Gupta, Man Singh Das and Promilla
1790C17 Kapur, the first two of whom have been teaching in American universities.
1800C17 ^Almost all the contributors are in the field of sociology.
1810C17 $^Family perspectives have been explained and analysed in respect of Thailand,
1820C17 Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, Iran, China, Korea, Japan
1830C17 and Philippines. ^Regardless of whether the population size tends towards
1840C17 stability (Japan) or growth (China) the traditional extended family
1850C17 living in a single residence has declined in favour of smaller nuclear
1860C17 family households. ^Because the family circle is smaller the intensity
1870C17 of interaction between mother and child is likely to_ be much greater than
1880C17 in the traditional Asian family. $^In the countryside, nuclear family
1890C17 residences along with residences of unrelated household members are
1900C17 likely to_ be located in the close proximity of a family compound.
1910C17 ^This leads to a slight reduction in the number of adults supervising
1920C17 the care of infants and young children.*#
        **[no. of words = 02012**]


        **[txt. d01**]
0010D01 ^The Jains have been charged with holding that even an unintentional act
0020D01 of killing will have retribution, while Buddhism specifically rejects
0030D01 this view. ^The character of the doer, his motives and volitions and
0040D01 other factors equally go into the nature of punishment. ^An *4Anguttara-nikaya
0050D01 passage declares that holding that 'Just as this man does a deed,
0060D01 so does he experience it' makes the destruction of ill impossible.
0070D01 ^The correct approach should be 'Just as this man does a deed that_ is
0080D01 to_ be experienced, so does he experience its fulfilment.' ^The deed
0090D01 is not to_ be repeated in retribution but only its effect or fulfilment,
0100D01 *4vipaka. ^As Woodward comments, "the particular kind of action does
0110D01 not find its exact replica in fulfilment, because times and men and
0120D01 things are always changing." ^The field of morality cannot be an exception
0130D01 to the generally dynamic outlook of early Buddhism. ^Thinking in static
0140D01 terms in a perpetually changing world can never lead to truth.
0150D01 $^This passage also illustrates how the character of the doer figures in
0160D01 the decision about punishment. ^The same deed which causes severe punishment
0170D01 in the case of a habitual offender does not do so in the case of
0180D01 a better person. ^The pinch of salt that_ makes a cup of water undrinkable
0190D01 does not matter much in the water of the Ganga! $^The *4karma theory
0200D01 assumes a truly moral character in the *5Brihadaranyaka Upanishad*6
0210D01 and early Buddhism. ^As Thomas observes, "Buddhism by making the
0220D01 ethical character of an action depend upon the motive and not upon the
0230D01 external performance transformed the doctrine of *4karma. ^The aim was no
0240D01 longer to_ attend to external actions, but to motives that_ inspire
0250D01 them." $*<*NATURE OF *4*KARMA IN THE *PALI *CANON*> $^THE DOCTRINE
0260D01 OF moral retribution is basic to early Buddhism, whatever writers
0270D01 like Jennings may feel about it. ^A belief in the reality of self, as
0280D01 Poussin points out, was considered to_ be a heresy which was at worst
0290D01 responsible for preventing the winning of merits and a birth as a god.
0300D01 ^Denial of moral retribution, on the other hand, was a sin to_ be dealt
0310D01 with by the executioners of Yama. ^A *4Majjhima-nikaya passage seems
0320D01 to_ imply that even the winning of heaven was not possible for those
0330D01 who did not admit *4karma. ^The Buddha tells Vacchagotta that while
0340D01 no *4Ajivika ever attained final deliverance, only one went to heaven,
0350D01 but unlike the rest of his creed, he taught moral retribution. $^The
0360D01 Pali Canon does not claim to_ have originated or even discovered this
0370D01 all-important tenet. ^In fact, according to Law, the text clearly indicates
0380D01 that "the doctrine was propounded before the advent of the Buddha
0390D01 by an Indian teacher who was a householder". ^In course of time,
0400D01 it seems to_ have captured the Indian mind so thoroughly that the materialists,
0410D01 as reported by their detractors of a much later period, remained
0420D01 the sole voice of dissent. ^Even so, Poussin sounds very correct in
0430D01 his observation that "It is in Buddhism... that the doctrine of
0440D01 *4karma reaches its climax and assumes a unique character." $^Is this doctrine
0450D01 compatible with the absence of a permanent self? ^This problem has
0460D01 apparently intrigued a number of writers. ^Moral retribution implies
0470D01 some sort of survival after death. ^Even Western philosophers have felt
0480D01 the need to_ provide for such a survival and continuance to_ make
0490D01 retribution possible. ^Retribution is meaningful only when the same person
0500D01 who performs the act receives the desserts. ^But if the person does
0510D01 not remain the same, does
0511D01 it not mean that one person acts and quite another person pays for it?
0520D01 ^As early as 1896, Kern confessed his bafflement. ^Quoting the view of
0530D01 Childers that *4Kamma was the only link between two incarnations of
0540D01 a person, he comments, "^Such a theory, it will be admitted, is beyond
0550D01 the reach of human reason, but that_ is no argument against its appropriateness
0560D01 in the original system of the creed. ^For Buddhism is professedly
0570D01 no rationalistic system, it being a super-human (*4uttarimanussa)
0580D01 Law founded upon the decrees of an omniscient and infallible Master,
0590D01 and in such a creed mysteries are admissible." ^*Farquhar is prepared "to_
0600D01 suppose that the Buddha denied the existence of the soul while he
0610D01 affirmed transmigration and deliverance, and that he refused to_ enter
0620D01 into any philosophic justification of these positions". ^Even Stcherbatsky
0630D01 believes that the Buddha landed in "the contradiction of a moral
0640D01 law without a personality on whom this law would be binding, and of a
0650D01 salvation without altogether the existence of somebody entitled to_ reach
0660D01 that_ goal which we, more or less generally, understand by Salvation".
0670D01 $^The problem or contradiction arises, it is obvious, only if it can
0680D01 be proved that the denial of self was in a materialistic sense. ^It scarcely
0690D01 needs any reiteration that there is no ground for such an assumption.
0700D01 ^The doctrine of no-self was purely a logical consequence of the fundamental
0710D01 doctrines of universal impermanence and causal production of
0710D01 all phenomena, mental and physical, coupled with the fact that the early
0720D01 Buddhists always treated self as part of the phenomenal world and not
0730D01 beyond it. ^Their opposition was directed not against any particular
0740D01 sect or school. ^They adhered strictly to seeing the world as it really
0750D01 was, and consequently opposed changelessness and fixity in all forms
0760D01 because, in their view, it militated against the facts. ^It can safely be
0770D01 assumed that a socially responsible thinker cannot deny the soul materialistically.
0780D01 ^The Buddha, therefore, never denied the reality of self
0790D01 but only its static version as it did not conform to facts as known through
0800D01 actual experience. ^Self by way of a psycho-physical continuum or
0810D01 series was explicitly asserted time and again. ^The Ganga water is not
0820D01 the same at Hardwar and at Howrah, because it is continuously flowing.
0830D01 ^And yet anything that_ affects the Ganga at Hardwar necessarily
0840D01 affects it at Howrah also. ^To the early Buddhists, the proponents
0850D01 of the static view appeared to_ deny the flow of water. ^There is no
0860D01 contradiction in believing that every point on the course of a stream serves
0870D01 as the necessary pre-condition to the next point. ^Our actions decide
0880D01 the nature of that_ stream at one point, and in this way pre-determine
0890D01 the course it is bound to_ take. ^Far from being incompatible, the
0900D01 *4karma theory is indispensable to_ explain why the stream takes a
0910D01 particular course. ^But for it, the movement itself would be rendered incomprehensible
0920D01 and everything reduced to a play of whims and caprices.
0930D01 $^Viewing the self as a perpetually changing process, never the same for
0940D01 two consecutive moments and yet retaining its identity, is psychologically
0950D01 a difficult exercise. ^Man, by nature, seeks the security of a stable,
0960D01 changeless ultimate ground of all reality. ^Rigidly sticking to the
0970D01 dynamic point of view is not easy, and the Heraclitean point of view
0980D01 did not win many followers even in the scientific-minded West. ^To the
0990D01 Buddha should go the credit of initiating a long and fruitful tradition
1000D01 of dynamic thinking. ^Nonetheless, the Pali Canon abounds in passages
1010D01 depicting a relapse into the static mode of thinking. ^It prescribes
1020D01 an elaborate course of mental training designed specifically to_ eliminate
1030D01 all traces of static thinking. $^The *4Milinda-panho clearly
1040D01 realizes the pitfalls in the way of dynamic thinking and provides many
1050D01 a simile to_ illustrate how retribution is possible without envisaging
1060D01 an underlying fixed entity. ^Does the person undergoing rebirth become
1070D01 another, or does he remain the same? '^Neither the same, nor another',
1080D01 replies Nagasena. ^The king was no longer what he was as a child, and
1090D01 yet he had to_ be the same, otherwise it would follow that he had neither
1100D01 mother nor father. ^The various changing states were knit together
1110D01 by the body. ^The whole process has been likened to a lamp which burns
1120D01 all night, with its flame changing continuously. '^Just so, O king, is
1130D01 the continuity of a person or thing maintained. ^One comes into being,
1140D01 another passes away; and the rebirth is, as it were, simultaneous. ^Thus
1150D01 neither as same nor as another does a man go on to the last phase of
1160D01 his self-consciosness.' $^Further on, transmigration has been compared
1170D01 with the process of lighting one lamp from another, or a child learning
1180D01 a verse from his teacher. ^There is rebirth, but there is no being to_
1190D01 transmigrate. ^The lamp cannot come into existence without another lamp
1200D01 being there, and yet it remains different from the other. ^The king admitted
1210D01 that one stealing mangoes from another person's garden would certainly
1220D01 be punished, although the mangoes stolen would be different from
1230D01 those used as seeds. ^He who owns the seed-mangoes owns all the mangoes
1240D01 produced by those seeds. '^Just so, great king, this name-and-form commits
1250D01 deeds, either pure or impure, and by that_ *4karma another name-and-form
1260D01 is reborn. ^And, therefore, is it not set free from its evil deeds.'
1270D01 $^*Buddhaghosa is in agreement with the *4Milinda viewpoint. ^He
1280D01 observes that "those aggregates which were born through *4karma in the
1290D01 past ceased even there. ^But other aggregates are born in this existence
1300D01 because of past *4karma; there is not a single state that_ has come
1310D01 over to this existence from a past existence. ^And the aggregates born
1320D01 through *4karma in this existence will cease. ^Others will be born in the
1330D01 next existence; there is not a single state that_ will go over to the
1340D01 next existence from this." ^This accords well with the view that death
1350D01 is nothing more than the breaking up of the factors of existence and
1360D01 rebirth a fresh conglomeration formed under the impact of the actions.
1370D01 $^The evidence from these a-canonical works perhaps indicates a hardening
1380D01 of attitude during the course of the development of becoming-view.
1390D01 ^*Childers and Rhys Davids concluded on the basis of this evidence that
1400D01 nothing but the *4karma transmigrates. ^None of the elements of personality
1410D01 figures in transmigration. ^Similarly, Barth declares that "the
1420D01 individual, being throughout a compound of compounds, entirely perishes.
1430D01 ^The influence of its *4karma, alone, of its acts, survives it, and through
1440D01 this the formation of a new group of *4skandhas is immediately effected;
1450D01 a new individual arises into existence in some other world, and continues
1460D01 in some degree the first." ^*Tachibana also thinks, "In this repetition,
1470D01 in beings, old and new, there are no personalities; it is only
1480D01 *4Karma that_ works as a link connecting old and new being and that_
1490D01 transmigrates from one being to another." $^The Canon, we shall see,
1500D01 does not seem to_ justify this conclusion. ^It leaves no doubt that
1510D01 the early Buddhists envisaged a real transmigration, not radically different
1520D01 from the popular notion of it prevalent at that_ time. ^According
1530D01 to Thomas, "the view that *4karma is the only link between two existences
1540D01 is unsupported by the texts. ^So also is the further inference that
1550D01 there is no real transmigration". ^Moreover, as a Japanese Buddhist
1560D01 scholar remarks, "Theoretically Buddhism teaches neither the existence
1570D01 of the soul nor its transmigration, but insists on the revolution, or
1580D01 stream (*4samsara), of existences. ^In its practical influence on the
1590D01 popular mind, however, this doctrine amounted to much the same as any other
1600D01 doctrine of transmigration." ^It is obvious that a needless amount
1610D01 of rigidity has been ascribed to early Buddhism on this point. ^Not only
1620D01 the Canon does not, but it need not deny real transmigration and continuity,
1630D01 for continuity is the very essence of dynamism. $^What was the
1640D01 mechanism of *4karma or retribution according to early Buddhism? ^The
1650D01 *5Cula-Kamma-vibhanga-sutta*6 of the *4Majjhima-nikaya affords an
1660D01 insight into this question. ^*Subha, a *4brahmana wants to_ know why there
1670D01 is inequality among human beings. ^The Buddha tells him that it was
1680D01 the deed which makes us high or low, and that we are heirs to our deeds.
1690D01 ^He even narrates by doing exactly what one becomes a certain type of
1700D01 individual in the next birth. ^For instance, one who was a murderer in
1710D01 his past life becomes a short-lived man in this one. ^Action alone, by
1720D01 itself, however, was not able to_ produce any result, as the next passage
1730D01 makes clear.*#
        **[no. of words = 02009**]

        **[txt. d02**]
0010D02 February 12, 1960 $Gurudas Maharaj: ^You see this photo of Swami Vivekananda
0020D02 with the inscription: "Arise, awake, and stop not till the goal
0030D02 is reached." ^It is Swamiji who said that_. ^The *4Upanishadic text
0040D02 is: "Arise, awake, contact the great teachers, and attain wisdom."
0050D02 ^*Swamiji made a little deviation from the original text. ^*Hari Maharaj
0060D02 often used to_ make free translations. $February 13, 1960 $Gurudas
0070D02 Maharaj: ^Many people like rituals and plenty of external display. ^To
0080D02 me it seems that there are two ways of thinking about this. ^Here is
0090D02 a bird in a nice cage, very comfortable, and the bird is satisfied. ^Another
0100D02 bird wants to_ be in the open, no matter how beautiful be the cage
0110D02 offered to him. ^This *4Darshan and that_ *4Darshan-- it is good,
0120D02 no doubt. ^It makes life bearable. ^But even if it should be bearable,
0130D02 I want to_ get out of this life. ^That_ is the difference. ^However
0140D02 pleasant life may be, I want to_ get out of it, once and for all. $February
0150D02 14, 1960 $Gurudas Maharaj: ^*Hari Maharaj used to_ say, "In
0160D02 India people do not know how to_ enjoy life." ^But people here have
0170D02 got their own enjoyments, their little desires, which are satisfied. ^It
0180D02 is true that the type of enjoyment differs. ^Perhaps Hari Maharaj meant
0190D02 that in India people don*'4t enjoy a high standard of living. ^Here
0200D02 most people do not know what a warm house means, to_ protect themselves
0210D02 from cold. $February 15, 1960 $Gurudas Maharaj: ^Somebody has written
0220D02 an article that in the West every five minutes one has to_ face
0230D02 a sexual temptation. ^It is nonsense to_ say that this is true only of
0240D02 the West. ^Temptations are everywhere, in the East, the West, at the
0250D02 North Pole and at the
0251D02 South Pole. ^It is man who sees temptations. ^So, to_ make such a
0260D02 general statement is utter foolishness. ^The writer must have read the
0270D02 situation from his own angle of vision. $February 16, 1960 $Gurudas
0280D02 Maharaj: ^There are laws of nature which men will never fathom. ^An airplane
0290D02 pilot preferred to_ go by plane to Kashmir and Karachi, just to_
0300D02 see the places. ^He was not asked to_ do it. ^The plane crashes and
0310D02 he dies. ^Now who can explain it? $^Sometimes I ask myself: ^If I were
0320D02 to_ be born again, possessed of a strong, beautiful body, good intellect,
0330D02 and so on and with sufficient wealth, would that_ be desirable? ^But
0340D02 I find no desire, nothing charming in it. ^However charming the body
0350D02 may be, it is not without miseries. $February 17, 1960 $Gurudas maharaj:
0360D02 ^*I think it was at the Udbodhan Office that I first saw the photograph
0370D02 of \0*4Sri. Ramakrishma*'s body taken after his *4Mahasamadhi
0380D02 [death]. ^The photo is preserved but covered, and is never published.
0390D02 ^But I think it should be made known to all. ^First I read about Thakur*'s
0400D02 suffering, but could not imagine its extent; but, after seeing the
0410D02 photo I could realize it-- how much he must have suffered. ^He was
0420D02 reduced to skin and bone and the photo shows it. $February 19, 1960
0430D02 $Gurudas Maharaj: ^People carry Ganges water from the Brahma-Kund to
0440D02 their respective places of worship, for bathing the Lord Siva at the
0450D02 time of the next Siva *4Ratri [annual nocturnal Siva festival]. ^One
0460D02 day two of our *4Sadhus asked a man at the Brahma-Kund where he was
0470D02 planning to_ transport that_ water. ^At this the man grew furious: "^What?
0480D02 ^You say water? ^It is holy *4Gangajal!" ^How nicely they decorate
0490D02 with silk cloth the containers of the water and the baskets in which
0500D02 they carry the urns. $February 20, 1960 $Gurudas Maharaj: ^In America
0510D02 Hari Maharaj always spoke of Mother, Mother: "^Mother is everything.
0520D02 ^*I heard Mother*'s voice," he used to_ say. ^It was not any external
0530D02 voice, I think. ^It was something that_ flashed in deep meditation.
0540D02 ^*Swamiji used to_ say, "I am the *4Atman." ^*Swami Abhedananda
0550D02 also stressed that_ idea. ^People say, "By God*'s grace we are well,
0560D02 we are saved from calamities." ^This merely is love of life. ^*I don*'4t
0570D02 want it. ^*I want to_ get out of the cage, however pleasant the cage
0580D02 may be. $^At Shanti *4Ashrama I used to_ think often that I am the
0590D02 *4Atman. ^In that_ I used to_ find great joy and satisfaction. ^So
0600D02 the thought came to my mind: "^Since I am the *4Atman and this body
0610D02 matters not at all, why should I keep this body? ^It is better to_ destroy
0620D02 it in fire." ^These things are better said than done, for next I
0630D02 thought that, in consuming my body, the fire might spread and destroy
0640D02 the whole countryside. ^So I desisted from that_ attempt. ^*Thakur says
0650D02 that, for a man of knowledge, it is no sin to_ destroy the body, but
0660D02 for others suicide is sinful. $February 21, 1960 $Gurudas Maharaj:
0670D02 ^It depends on the mind; the very same thing which at one time looks beautiful,
0680D02 at another time may appear ugly. ^Sometimes I see so much beauty
0690D02 in trees, avenues, sunlight, and so forth. ^But this appreciation of
0700D02 externals is also a bondage, worldliness. ^*I was fond of scenic beauty.
0710D02 ^One day at Shanti *4Ashrama I decided to_ seat myself for meditation
0720D02 outside the meditation room. ^It was sunset and the light effect on the
0730D02 nice countryside was splendid. ^Then I thought: "^What is this? ^*I
0740D02 really want to_ go beyond this wordly beauty." ^So I went inside for
0750D02 meditation. ^At Kashmir I was charmed by the natural beauty, but Swami
0760D02 Turiyananda told me, "There is more beauty inside you." ^*Swamiji told
0770D02 Nivedita, who was enjoying a beautiful sunset, "It is I who made
0780D02 it beautiful." *(0S.D.*): ^You see, Maharaj, when people show me something
0790D02 impressive, like a colossal structure or something like that_,
0800D02 the opposite reaction comes to my mind. ^On seeing a huge building, I
0810D02 see nothing but a pile of bricks and stones. \0^*Mrs. \0S. at Almora
0820D02 once called me a cynic for that_. $Gurudas Maharaj: ^You had better
0830D02 say in such cases, "It is beautiful indeed, but I find nothing spiritual
0840D02 in it." $^Nowadays I don*'4t find any attachment for anything. ^It
0850D02 is only on a lower plane that things seem to_ be beautiful or ugly.
0860D02 ^All beauty is inside us. ^We extend it outwards. ^One day I asked Jagadanandaji,
0870D02 "If everything is the blissful Brahman, then wherefrom does
0880D02 this misery come?" ^*I don*'4t think he gave me any reply. ^Worldly
0890D02 joys and sufferings are all creations of the mind. ^If you say that misery
0900D02 is the creation of *4Maya, then wherefrom does *4Maya come? $^*I
0910D02 think an actor, while playing on the stage, can never forget his identity.
0920D02 ^He remains conscious of the audience and of what he himself is doing.
0930D02 ^If he should forget his identity, then there will be no play. ^So both
0940D02 ideas-- who he is and what role he is playing-- the consciousness of
0950D02 both-- remain in his mind simultaneously. ^Naturally the role-idea may
0960D02 be uppermost in his mind during the play, but his own sense of identity,
0970D02 too, is there. ^Likewise, a *4Jnani, when he deals with the world,
0980D02 always remains conscious of his own real nature. ^Both ideas will be present.
0990D02 $^Once I asked Hari Maharaj if Indian Sadhus meditate much.
1000D02 ^He replied that they were always in meditation. ^If one is conscious
1010D02 of his Self at all times, even when doing so many things, then what else
1020D02 is meditation? $February 23, 1960 $Gurudas Maharaj: ^As long as you
1030D02 are in *4Maya, there is no end to questions. ^*Christianity demands
1040D02 belief in the Resurrection and the Last Judgment. ^*I rejected Christianity
1050D02 and embraced Hinduism because the former has no place for the
1060D02 theory of *4Karma and reincarnation. ^Had these been accepted, Christianity
1070D02 would stand on a par with Hinduism. $February 25, 1960 $Gurudas
1080D02 Maharaj: ^Today is Siva *4Ratri. ^There will be a great rush in all
1090D02 the Siva temples tonight. ^In the early days, I used to_ feel like
1100D02 having *4Darshan on such days, but afterwards that_ inclination ceased.
1110D02 ^It all depends on the attitude of the mind. $^Once Hari Maharaj
1120D02 and I were sitting at the Rajghat in Kankhal. ^Now there are a few temples
1130D02 there and I asked the Swami if he wanted to_ visit any temple.
1140D02 ^He replied, "^No, I am not in that_ mood now." ^And he sat there completely
1150D02 poised. ^Different mental moods come, and we act accordingly.
1160D02 $February 26, 1960 $Gurudas Maharaj: ^*Swami Turiyananda often said
1170D02 that in this world 90 per cent of the troubles are due to misunderstanding.
1180D02 ^*I say something, and you take it in a different sense, and in this
1190D02 way troubles arise. ^Words, both spoken and written, may be dangerous
1200D02 things. ^If people would try to_ understand one another, then there
1210D02 would be less trouble. $February 27, 1960 $Gurudas Maharaj: ^In his
1220D02 book Swami Nikhilananda writes that it is doubtful whether \0*4Sri Ramakrishna
1230D02 actually suffered in the closing days of his life. ^To me the
1240D02 matter is clear. ^When the mind is in the upper plane, and the person
1250D02 is in an ecstatic mood, there is no suffering; but when body-consciousness
1260D02 comes, then there is suffering. $^*Hari Maharaj was not very particular
1270D02 about "holy" and "unholy". ^Once, while bathing in the Ganges,
1280D02 he spat in the water. ^Another *4Sadhu objected to it; but Hari Maharaj
1290D02 replied, "^Why? ^There are fish to swallow it." ^He took a modern view.
1300D02 $^Westerners will say, "Oh! what a dirty water it is, all sorts of filth
1310D02 is floating in it." ^But the orthodox people will say, "Oh! what of
1320D02 that_? ^*Ganges water is always pure; it can never be impure." ^So what
1330D02 you see, all depends on the attitude. $^In the library room there is
1340D02 an oil painting of Swamiji. ^It looks as if Swamiji*'s face is unshaven.
1350D02 ^*I remarked on this to \0N. but he replied, "^Oh! you Westerners
1360D02 always look at the externals. ^But we try to_ see the inside." $^Now
1370D02 you see, if you put these small incidents together, they will make a book.
1380D02 $February 29, 1960 $Gurudas Maharaj: ^After eleven years*' stay
1390D02 in India, when I visited Holland last, I went to Geneva also. ^There
1400D02 is a fine burial ground there, a cemetery with beautiful sculptures,
1410D02 including myriads of carved angels. ^Now, I was shocked to_ see it.
1420D02 ^*I had lived in the Indian atmosphere so long that I had the strong
1430D02 idea: "^*I am the Divine." ^But in this cemetery I found that all the
1440D02 angels had been made to_ look at or point towards the tomb and the body
1450D02 that_ lies in the grave. ^The very idea was repulsive to me: everything
1460D02 pointing to the body, body, body. ^There I realized the difference
1470D02 in the atmosphere between the West and here in India." "^*I am divine;
1480D02 divinity is in everything"-- this idea is lacking there. $March 1,
1490D02 1960 $Gurudas Maharaj: ^When one experiences truth, then everything
1500D02 to him is full of bliss. ^When that_ state of mind is no more, then again
1510D02 one faces suffering. ^*Thakur saw everything as consciousness, but the
1520D02 appearance also was there. ^He called that_ consciousness Mother.
1530D02 ^Of course, even when the appearance persists in the normal plane, to a
1540D02 man of knowledge it is all dream, no doubt. ^But I want to_ get rid of
1550D02 this nightmare. $^You have read that_ article in the *3Reader*'s Digest
1560D02 of June 1959, "Twenty Minutes of Reality". ^The author experienced
1570D02 everything as bliss. ^But it didn*'4t last long. ^At that_ time
1580D02 she felt that the covering was removed and that she stood face-to-face
1590D02 with Reality. ^Again the covering veiled the vision. ^She did not have
1600D02 that_ experience again. $March 2, 1960 $Gurudas Maharaj: ^*I believe
1610D02 only in my own experience. ^About others*' experiences I cannot say anything.
1620D02 ^Often people speak high-sounding words which mean nothing. ^When
1630D02 people write "Yours in the Lord" or "Mother tells me", is there any
1640D02 meaning in it? ^It is mere talk. ^At Barlowganj one day, \0Dr. \0G.--
1650D02 and I went out for a walk.*#
        **[no. of words = 02005**]

        **[txt. d03**]
0010D03 **<*316. DIVINE LIFE**> $^Blessed immortal seekers! ^Glorious rays of
0020D03 the Eternal Divine Light! ^Friends! ^*I greet you in the name of my
0030D03 Master, the great Master, Swami Sivananda, and I greet you in Divine
0040D03 Life. $^To such of you who are new to this type of gathering, who
0050D03 have come here for the first time today, I extend my warmest welcome and
0060D03 I express my love and greetings-- especially to the people who are
0070D03 attending for the first time. $^In this Divine Life gathering, we make
0080D03 it a special point to_ see that our meetings are thrown open to all
0090D03 groups. ^Ours is a group which embraces in itself every group that_ seeks
0100D03 God, and we identify ourselves with all seekers, absolutely, without
0110D03 any thought or reservation. ^It is quite immaterial whether they belong
0120D03 to any specific religion, faith or church or not. ^So, here are welcome
0130D03 Hindus, Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Parsis, even people who have
0140D03 not found anything yet but who are seeking something, seeking peace,
0150D03 happiness, seeking a nobler way of life, seeking upliftment of soul, the
0160D03 improvement of their total nature-- this is a group which welcomes all
0170D03 such seekers. ^Therefore the absolutely non-denominational name "^The
0180D03 Divine Life Group". ^We welcome all people who aspire for the Divine.
0190D03 ^We welcome all people who live to_ seek the Divine and who seek
0200D03 to_ live divinely, and therefore, in the name of Divine Life, my warmest
0210D03 and cordial greeting and welcome to you all once again. $*<*3What
0220D03 is Divine Life?*> $^*Divine Life is life lived in the awareness of
0230D03 your divine destiny. ^*Divine Life is life lived in the full consciousness
0240D03 of your true divine nature, in the knowledge that you are not a body
0250D03 and a mind, but an eternal, all-pure and perfect spiritual being. ^That_
0260D03 is the innermost central truth of your being; that_ is the true fact
0270D03 of your real nature. ^You are divine. ^You are spiritual. ^Therefore you
0280D03 are imperishable and ever-perfect. ^You partake of the nature of the
0290D03 eternal and inexhaustible source of your being, \0viz., God, even as
0300D03 every ray of the sun partakes of the sun*'s radiant and luminous nature.
0310D03 ^As is the source, so is the emanation. ^Therefore, as God is divine,
0320D03 ever-pure and perfect, whatever emanates from Him is also divine, ever-pure
0330D03 and ever-perfect, is also of the very nature of indescribable bliss
0340D03 and supreme peace. ^A life lived in the awareness of this true nature
0350D03 of yours is Divine Life. ^A life constantly lived in order to_ express
0360D03 this divine nature of yours through all your thoughts, sentiments
0370D03 and feelings, through all your spoken utterances and, more important than
0380D03 anything else, through all your actions, your practical life-- such
0390D03 is Divine Life. $^This Divine Life is the great need of the world today,
0400D03 not only of the individuals that_ live in the world, but of all
0410D03 nations and communities, all groups of people, all races and countries
0420D03 that_ are trying to_ evolve in today*'s world. ^For, in such an effort
0430D03 to_ express the higher nature that_ is within man, lies hope of the emergence
0440D03 of a better world from this war-torn and troubled times of ours,
0450D03 from this great and eventful age filled with so much wonderful achievement
0460D03 and advancement, but at the same time oppressed with so much of
0470D03 distrust, mutual suspicion, discontent, hatred and strife. ^*Divine Life
0480D03 is, indeed, the great answer-- individually and collectively-- to this
0490D03 vexing problem of world discord and the great solution to this problem
0500D03 of a total breakaway from spiritual values. $^This Divine Life is the
0510D03 one message of the great Master Swami Sivananda; this Divine Life
0520D03 is the great way of life which he had been trying ceaselessly to_ spread
0530D03 throughout the modern world. $^*Divine Life is a life of divinity
0540D03 in practice. ^*Divine Life is a life of our divine nature expressed
0550D03 in divine thoughts, divine work and divine action. ^It is, as it were,
0560D03 an expression of the spiritual man through the human man upon the plane
0570D03 of this physical world. ^This Divine Life should be lived both inwardly
0580D03 as an ascent into its all-full perfection, and also outwardly as beauty,
0590D03 as love, as goodness, as peace, as humility, as selflessness, as the
0600D03 spirit of service, for all these great qualities are part and parcel
0610D03 of the ever-perfect divine nature which lies within you and awaits to_
0620D03 be unfolded and made manifest by your wise conscious effort. $^The man
0630D03 of Divine Life seeks to_ live for a great ideal. ^The man of Divine
0640D03 Life is a peace-maker, for he beholds the essential spiritual oneness
0650D03 of all mankind. ^He knows that one great divine essence knits all life
0660D03 into a great oneness and thus ever tries to_ see the whole world as
0670D03 a manifest expression of the Divine Essence, and thus deals with all
0680D03 with reverence and love. ^He sees God in man and thus seeks to_ live
0690D03 worshipfully. ^He seeks to_ give love as his worship to this immanent Divinity.
0700D03 $^A person who practises this Divine Life, therefore, spreads
0710D03 love, mutual regard and respect. ^He works for goodwill and understanding
0720D03 and he ever seeks to_ bring greater spiritual harmony. ^The person
0730D03 living the Divine Life, wherever he goes, will make people feel the
0740D03 oneness of life and the spirit of brotherhood. ^The follower of Divine
0750D03 life is a great example of selflessness and service. ^This is the outward
0760D03 aspect of the inward spiritual transformation which everyone seeks
0770D03 to_ bring about through *4Yoga, through practical religion, through
0780D03 prayer and worshipfulness, through the life spiritual. $*<*3Significance
0790D03 of the Human Birth*> $^The Supreme Self illumines everything,
0800D03 but is overlooked in apparent appearances. ^When the great *4Atman
0810D03 is like the absolute void-- nameless and formless-- there is no creation.
0820D03 ^The world is not then, and there is no universe either. ^There is no
0830D03 matter and no motion, but only absolute ineffable stillness. ^There is
0840D03 no matter and no motion, but only Pure Consciousness. ^And then the
0850D03 Pure Consciousness sets itself into motion as an act of the Absolute
0860D03 Will Divine. ^This motion brings into being subtle matter or *4Prakriti,
0870D03 as the Indian philosophy terms it. ^Then, from *4Prakriti, the universe
0880D03 comes into being. ^From the *4Atman or Supreme Spirit is light.
0890D03 ^From the Supreme is desire. ^From the Supreme is love. ^From the
0900D03 Supreme are all the elements from ether down to water. ^The Supreme sustains
0910D03 the physical world as physical proof. ^Even the broad sky above
0920D03 and the boundless ocean around remind you of the Supreme Absolute Spirit.
0930D03 ^From the Supreme Absolute come the countless universes; yet the
0940D03 Pure Consciousness remains absolutely unaffected. ^The sun*'s rays
0950D03 fall on the pure water of the Ganges, on the ocean, on streams, pools
0960D03 and ponds and on dirty puddles, but the sun is not at all affected in any
0970D03 way by this contact. ^Even so, the Absolute being is totally unaffected
0980D03 by the later evolutes, such as the countless universes. ^The world
0900D03 and the universes, however, continue to_ exist because of the divine
1000D03 motion set by the Pure Consciousness through the Absolute Will. $^Motion
1010D03 or energy is not different from Pure Consciousness; it is only
1020D03 Pure Consciousness expressed or made manifest. ^Motion or energy cannot
1030D03 exist without matter to_ play upon; therefore the subtle matter or
1040D03 *4Prakriti was first created. $^The subtle matter, the transcendental matter
1050D03 or *4Prakriti, was whirled into motion in its three qualities and
1060D03 it divided itself into various grosser entities. ^The grosser entities
1070D03 became still more grosser and found themselves as different universes.
1080D03 ^From the universes were created worlds. ^In the worlds, there evolved
1090D03 the various forms of life. ^The universal motion or consciousness found
1100D03 at last its expression in the human being, the last species to_ evolve
1110D03 upon the worlds. ^In the human being was created the mind. ^Mind thus
1120D03 became the most powerful agency of perception, discernment and understanding.
1130D03 $^At first the human mind was gross-- only instinctive, a little
1140D03 more efficient than that_ of the animal; but, as evolution progressed,
1150D03 it gradually started refining itself. ^When a higher stage of evolution
1160D03 was reached by the mind of man, there came the separate awareness of
1170D03 the lower mind and the higher mind. ^The lower mind identified itself
1180D03 with gross matter. ^The limited consciousness was thus identified, but
1190D03 the higher mind ever sought the eternal. ^It was dissatisfied with the
1200D03 limitation, bondage and imprisonment and thus started the quest of the
1210D03 discovery of the real nature of being. ^When that_ is realized, the cycle
1220D03 is completed, the consciousness which limited itself in the human
1230D03 form having become freed, having once again merged in its infinite, all-perfect,
1240D03 absolute, original source. ^This is the cycle. ^This is the true
1250D03 meaning of your human nature, of your human birth. ^Complete the cycle
1260D03 and culminate in spiritual glory. ^To_ lead the Divine Life is the
1270D03 secret of bringing about this achievement in a conscious way here and
1280D03 now. $^This message becomes especially significant to you who are listening
1290D03 to me today, because today, the 2nd of October, is the birthday
1300D03 anniversary of one of the greatest of India*'s spiritual men of this
1310D03 century-- one who embodied in himself such a divine life of ever seeking
1320D03 to_ reach and realize the Reality. ^And this man was the venerable Mahatma
1330D03 Gandhi. ^You all know the father of the Indian nation, the architect
1340D03 of Indian independence, the saintly man who developed the great theory
1350D03 and technique of non-violence-- the technique of overcoming hatred
1360D03 through love. ^He was the twentieth century version of the great and
1370D03 benign Buddha of three thousand years ago. ^*Mahatma Gandhi was a living
1380D03 embodiment of divine life and I wish to_ speak a few words upon how
1390D03 he exemplified this divine life in his own person; and that_, I think,
1400D03 would indeed be a very fitting tribute to him on this day of his birth
1410D03 anniversary. $^In India there are celebrations going on right at this
1420D03 moment in honour of Mahatma Gandhi*'s birthday, for the Mahatma is
1430D03 still regarded not merely as a politician, but as a worshipful sage who
1440D03 once again revived the ancient message of the great Indian sages-- the
1450D03 message of *4Dharma. ^*4Dharma implies a life based upon ethics, a
1460D03 life based upon prayer, a life based upon a living faith in God, a life
1470D03 of truth. ^Thus, Mahatma Gandhi was the modern representative of the
1480D03 great sages who gave us our cultural idealism, and in his name, I wish
1490D03 to_ place before you a little thumb-nail sketch, as it were, of the
1500D03 great Gandhian pattern of life. $*<*3Mahatma Gandhi as a Spiritual
1510D03 Seeker*> $^*Mahatma Gandhi said at a certain stage of his life: "^Those
1520D03 who think me to_ be a politician and those who think that my business
1530D03 is politics have really not understood me at all. ^They have totally
1540D03 missed the real being in me. ^*I am a seeker or nothing at all. ^The
1550D03 truth about my life is my seeking, my quest for God. ^Politics is only
1560D03 an incidental part of my life". $^*Gandhi was ever seeking after the great
1570D03 Reality and this seeking started right in his little boyhood. ^He
1580D03 was a deeply devoted son of very religious and pious parents and he got
1590D03 the habit of repeating *5Ram Nam*6 even when he was a little boy
1591D03 going to
1600D03 secondary school, and his seeking developed and took the form of service
1610D03 of the living God in the poor millions of India and, as India was
1620D03 at that_ time going through a political phase, his service took the form
1630D03 of political agitation for the welfare of his people. ^To Mahatma Gandhi
1640D03 it was all a part and parcel of his worship of God in and through
1641D03 man, in and through the suffering people of India, in and through
1650D03 his poor brethren, and thus it was a *4Sadhana to him. $^*Gandhi*'s
1660D03 life was based absolutely upon the ideal of truth, purity and compassion
1670D03 and his was the path of service. ^In his life we see the ideals of self-discipline,
1680D03 of ceaseless inward striving, of moderation, and a sublime
1690D03 simplicity, the parallel of which the world has seldom seen except perhaps
1700D03 in the life of Christ.*#
        **[no. of words = 02028**]

        **[txt. d04**]
0010D04 **<*3*=4. THE CRUSH AND THE FIRE**> $'^*I came to_ set the earth on
0020D04 fire; how I wish it were already kindled! ^*I have a baptism to_ receive;
0030D04 how distressed I am until it is over' (Luke 12:49-50-- Today*'s
0040D04 English Version). $'^*I am distressed!'-- these are words which we soofter
0050D04 hear in this woe-filled world. '^When will I find money to_ pay
0060D04 my son*'s college fees? ^And how to_ pay the school fees for the two
0070D04 younger boys? ^My daughter and son-in-law are expected to_ come home for
0080D04 their first Christmas after marriage. ^*I have to_ purchase dresses
0090D04 for them and entertain them in proper style. ^My younger daughter*'s
0100D04 wedding day is nearing, and no arrangements have been made as yet. ^My
0110D04 youngest son has injured his leg on the playfield and lies in the hospital.
0120D04 ^My wife is ever sick and bed-ridden. ^*I don*'4t know what sin of
0130D04 mine has brought all this distress on me?' **[sic**] $^This lament is
0140D04 typical of the wailing of *4crores of men and women. ^It is no wonder
0150D04 that mortals, unable to_ cope with the problems of life, are thus distracted.
0160D04 ^But the one who thus laments in the text prefixed to this chapter
0170D04 is not a human being, but Jesus Christ, the Son of God. ^It is
0180D04 unbelievable, yet it is true. ^The Bible says that those painful words
0190D04 proceeded from Him. ^If so, let us see in the Bible itself what is
0200D04 it that_ made Him confess such pain and anguish. $*<*3God is Love!*>
0210D04 $^*God is love! ^In the Old Testament we see how much He loved the
0220D04 people of Israel. ^Whenever they were oppressed at the hands of enemies
0230D04 it seems He would also suffer. ^Whenever they were tortured He would
0240D04 consider Himself as tortured likewise! '^And when the Lord raised
0250D04 them up judges, then the Lord was with the judge, and delivered them
0260D04 out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge; for it repented
0270D04 the Lord because of their groanings by reason of them that_ oppressed
0280D04 them and vexed them' (Judges 2:18). $^He bemoans the hardships
0290D04 of His people at the hands of their enemies! '^Now therefore, what have I
0300D04 here, saith the Lord, that_ my people is taken away for nought? ^They
0310D04 that_ rule over them make them to_ howl, saith the Lord, and my name
0320D04 continually every day is blasphemed' (Isaiah 52:5). $'^In all their
0330D04 affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them;
0340D04 in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried
0350D04 them all the days of old' (Isaiah 63:9). '^He that_ loveth not,
0360D04 knoweth not God: for God is love' (*=1 John 4:8). '^Yea, He loved
0370D04 the people' (Deuteronomy 33:3). $^How true do these words ring! ^Let us
0380D04 verify this truth with a few examples from the Bible itself. $^After
0390D04 the people of Israel had been slaves in Egypt for 430 years the Lord
0400D04 heard their groanings and sent His servant Moses to_ liberate them.
0410D04 ^He pleaded with the Pharaoh, performed so many miracles with the power
0420D04 of God, redeemed the Israelites and led them to the land of *3Canaan.
0430D04 ^During their journey they would pitch their tents and rest awhile.
0440D04 ^The Lord raised a pillar of cloud to_ lead them by day and a pillar
0450D04 of fire to_ lead them by night. ^*He dwelt with them all through (Exodus
0460D04 6:2-8; 12:40-41; 13:21-22). ^*He was not content with merely being
0470D04 their guide. ^*He spoke to Moses: '^And let them make me a sanctuary,
0480D04 that I may dwell among them' (Exodus 25:8). '^And I will dwell among
0490D04 the children of Israel, and will be their God' (Exodus 29:45). '^And
0500D04 I will set my tabernacle among you' (Leviticus 26: 11)-- Thus He
0510D04 disclosed His desire to_ dwell with His people even in their tents.
0520D04 ^He who claimed: '^The Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool'
0530D04 (Isaiah 66: 1), whose praises are sung by a host of angels (Revelations
0540D04 5:11), who dwells in the light which no man can approach unto (*=1
0550D04 Timothy 6:16), delighted to_ dwell in desert tracks amidst Israelites
0560D04 who loved Him! ^How amazing was His love and compassion! $^One of
0570D04 the great martyrs for India*'s freedom-- Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose--
0580D04 was leading towards Singapore the Indian National Army he had raised.
0590D04 ^A slight misunderstanding led to a division of the army into two.
0600D04 ^On hearing it, Bose drove straight and camped amidst his soldiers.
0610D04 ^Because of Bose*'s presence in their midst the differences did not show
0620D04 themselves. ^Yet Bose knew that all was not well with the two factions.
0630D04 ^One day at meal time Bose made the two rival factions sit in two
0640D04 rows facing each other. ^As they began eating, Bose slowly walked in their
0650D04 midst, took a morsel of rice from each plate and ate it with relish.
0660D04 ^This act of Bose brought tears to the eyes of every soldier. ^His humility,
0670D04 his boundless and indiscriminate love for every soldier touched
0680D04 their hearts. ^Unable to_ repress their feelings, they leaped to their
0690D04 feet. ^Hugging their beloved leader, they 'wept aloud'. ^For a while
0700D04 Bose could not emerge from their '*4ghaero' of love. ^Before long he
0710D04 was moved to tears by the sight of the two bitter groups of soldiers locked
0720D04 in fond embrace, shouting unitedly: 'Long live our leader, Netaji'!
0730D04 $^We notice here the unfailing love that_ Netaji had for his soldiers,
0740D04 even when they erred and quarrelled among themselves. ^With no pride
0750D04 whatever of being their leader, he went and lived in their midst, prompted
0760D04 by genuine love for them, and shared their simple food. ^Even so,
0770D04 God 'who is love', loved to_ dwell among the people of Israel. ^When
0780D04 they were oppressed by enemies, He Himself felt oppressed. $^When
0790D04 you are in travail and tears, and if your love for God is genuine and
0800D04 deep, forget not that He is also in travail with you. ^Long time ago,
0810D04 Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, set up an image of gold, and ordered
0820D04 all his subjects to_ fall down and worship it on pain of being cast
0830D04 into a burning furnace. ^Three Jewish Chiefs-- Shadrach, Meshach and
0840D04 Abednego-- defied the order, saying that they would serve none other
0850D04 than their true God. ^The enraged King commanded the three men to_
0860D04 be bound and cast into the fiery furnace. ^Just when the King thought
0870D04 that he had disposed off the three who had defied him, he saw a strange
0880D04 sight which made him burst forth: '^Lo, I see four men loose, walking
0890D04 in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the
0900D04 fourth is like the Son of God' (Daniel 3: 25). $^Yes, the invisible
0910D04 God, when His faithful devotees were cast into the fire, Himself leaped
0920D04 into the fiery furnace to_ share with them their agony. ^How boundless
0930D04 is His love! $^If your love for Him is real, He will likewise be
0940D04 oppressed at times of your distress. ^In his presence the fire will lose
0950D04 its fury, and you will come unscathed from any peril. ^As the poet
0960D04 has well said: **[verses quoted**] $^Our God is no distant 'father, which
0970D04 art in Heaven'. ^*He loves to_ dwell in the midst of his devotees
0980D04 sharing in their weal and woe. $*<*3The Son of God was Love Manifested!*>
0990D04 $^Two thousand years ago, the invisible God came to this earth
1000D04 in mortal form to_ redeem His creation, mankind, wallowing in sin.
1010D04 ^He was named 'Jesus', 'for He shall save His people from their sins'
1020D04 (\0St. Matthew 1: 21). $^*Jesus declared of Himself: '^He that_
1050D04 hath seen me hath seen the Father.' '^*I and my Father are one' (\0St.
1060D04 John 10:30). $^Describing Jesus, the Bible says: 'who is the image
1070D04 of the invisible God, the first-born of every creature' (Colossians
1080D04 1: 15). '^Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image
1090D04 of his person' (Hebrew 1: 3). $^In Jesus, the Son of God, is seen
1100D04 reflected the entire nature of God. $^In Isaiah 63: 9 we read: '^In
1110D04 all their affliction He was afflicted.' ^The same God, when revealed
1120D04 in flesh, painfully declared: 'How distressed I am......!' (\0St. Luke
1130D04 12:50-- Today*'s English Version). ^The same compassion seen in
1140D04 God was seen in the Son of God as well. $^There is yet another significant
1150D04 aspect of the affliction experienced by the Son of God. ^In the
1160D04 Book of Revelation 5: 6, \0St. John sees a vision. ^He saw the open
1170D04 door in heaven and God*'s throne set up therein. ^Amidst these pleasant
1180D04 sights he also saw a gruesome sight: '^And beheld, and lo, in themidst
1190D04 of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders,
1200D04 stood a Lamb as it had been slain' (Revelation 5: 6). $^The prophet
1210D04 Isaiah, who had been vouchsafed a vision of the suffering of Jesus
1220D04 hundreds of years ago, had forecast: '^He is brought as a lamb to the
1230D04 slaughter' (Isaiah 53: 7). ^We can readily infer that this vision depicts
1240D04 Jesus being led to the Cross. ^The lamb seen by \0St. John also
1250D04 points to Jesus. ^But there is a striking difference between the two
1260D04 visions. ^*Isaiah saw a lamb being brought for slaughter, while \0St.
1270D04 John saw a lamb in the process of being slaughtered. ^This lamb was being
1280D04 slaughtered day and night. ^What a gruesome experience this would have
1290D04 been! ^We feel inclined to_ ask how long this lovely lamb is being
1300D04 slain. ^The answer is that it is being slain not today or yesterday,
1310D04 but 'from the foundation of the world' (Revelation 13: 8). ^The Bible
1320D04 speaks of God*'s foreknowledge: 'known unto God are all His works from
1330D04 the beginning of the world' (Acts 15: 18). '^Although the works were
1340D04 finished from the foundation of the world' (Hebrews 4: 3). ^Even as
1350D04 He willed to_ create the world, He willed to_ create mankind which
1360D04 will multiply, fill and rule the world. ^He seems to_ have so resolved
1370D04 even before He created the world. ^The Bible also says: 'According
1380D04 as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world' (Ephesians
1390D04 1: 4). ^In the beginning, even before the creation of the world--
1400D04 when God decided to_ create man-- was also born the Son of God. ^This
1410D04 truth is evident in the words of the psalmist: '^*I will declare the
1420D04 decree; the Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son, this day have
1430D04 I begotten thee' (Psalm 2: 7). $^Even before the creation of the world
1440D04 the Son of God was born to_ bear the sins of mankind that_ was to_
1450D04 fill the world later. ^From the day man sinned and fell from Divine
1460D04 favour, the sins of mankind are being heaped upon the Son of God in his
1470D04 Father*'s lap. ^*He was being scourged for the sins of mankind. ^When
1480D04 He appeared in flesh in this world of ours, John the Baptist rightly
1490D04 described him: '^Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin
1500D04 of the world' (\0St. John 1:29). ^*Jesus, the Son of God, the Lamb
1510D04 of God, is being continually scourged, right from the creation of the
1520D04 world. ^For how long is this agony to_ last? God was distressed; His
1530D04 son was distressed, was scourged, is continually being scourged. ^Why?
1540D04 ^One is reminded of a moving episode in English history. $^When Oliver
1550D04 Cromwell ruled over England as the Lord Protector, very stringent
1560D04 rules were in force. ^A young soldier was charged with an offence before
1570D04 Cromwell, who sentenced him to be shot dead at the ringing of the
1580D04 Church bell the next evening. ^As the fateful hour drew near the solider
1590D04 was blindfolded, his hands were bound together, and he was set on a
1600D04 rock. ^His executioners were ready, waiting for the chimes of the Church
1610D04 bell. ^Darkness was stealing in, but no chimes were heard. ^*Cromwell
1620D04 was stunned, the executioners were confused. ^The culprit himself was
1630D04 at a loss to_ know how he was still left alive.*#
        **[no. of words = 02002**]

        **[txt. d05**]
0010D05 ^At one place, it is said that *4Pra*?1n*?0a is so called because he
0020D05 leads forth (*4pran*?0ayate) the food into the body. ^At another place,
0030D05 *4Pra*?1n*?0 is connected with *3*4pra and *4Uda*?1na with *3a*?1.
0040D05 ^It is clear, from these etymological efforts to_ arrive at the literal
0050D05 sense of the term, that, in that_ period, the original connotation of
0060D05 the term was becoming gradually obscured. ^It may also be argued that the
0070D05 texts gave such fanciful etymologies intentionally, presumably in accordance
0080D05 with their doctrine of *4bandhuta*?1, though they knew the original
0090D05 conception of the word concerned. $^Leaving aside such etymologising,
0100D05 let us consider the mythology proper. ^The *4Bra*?1hman*?0as seem
0110D05 to_ have just developed the earlier mythology rather than having added
0120D05 any new traits. ^It has been pointed out how *4Pra*?1n*?0a was closely
0130D05 connected with birth. ^The \0*4S*?2Br accordingly mentions that
0140D05 the *4Pra*?1n*?0s are co-born, one is born together with them. ^This
0150D05 statement, however, contradicts the one in the \0*4AV, where it is
0160D05 said that the human infant in the womb draws vital breath and sends it
0170D05 out and that when *4Pra*?1n*?0a quickens the babe it springs anew to
0180D05 life. ^The purport is that the physical aspect of *4Pra*?1n*?0a (breaths)
0190D05 is connected with the first birth whereas his divine aspect is connected
0200D05 with the second or worldly birth. ^Thus the breaths
0210D05 (*4pra*?1n*?0oda*?1nau) or *4Pra*?1n*?0a are described as affecting
0220D05 the progenitive seed (\0*3vi*?22kr*?0), or *4Pra*?1n*?0a is equated
0230D05 with the seed. ^Another passage in \0*4S*?2Br seems to_ state more
0240D05 explicitly that birth and *4Pra*?1n*?0a are simultaneous and that
0250D05 when actual birth has not yet taken place, one breathes after the breath
0260D05 of the mother. ^It was on account of this close connection of *4Pra*?1n?0a
0270D05 with birth that *4Pra*?1n*?0a was connected with-- or even equated
0280D05 with-- *4Praja*?1pati who originally was the presiding divinity of
0290D05 progenation. ^When *4Praja*?1pati*'s sphere of action was widened, that_
0300D05 of *4Pra*?1n*?0 also widened correspondingly. ^Thus it is said in
0310D05 the \0*4S*?2Br that *4Praja*?1pati assumed the form of *4Ku*?1rma
0320D05 (a tortoise) and created living beings. ^The text further adds that
0330D05 *4Pra*?1n*?0a is, indeed, the tortoise, because *4Pra*?1n*?0a creates
0340D05 all the *4praja*?1s. $^However, the *4Bra*?1hman*?0as not only
0350D05 confirm and develop *4Pra*?1n*?0a*'s connection with birth or creation,
0360D05 but they also confirm the earlier concept that relates the whole span
0370D05 of life to him. ^The *4S*?2Br remarks that the span of life and *4pr*?1n*?0a
0380D05 are connected with each other (*4sam*?00sr*?0s*?0t*?0e).
0390D05 $^Now we have to_ see how through *4Pra*?1n*?0a*'s connection with
0400D05 *4Praja*?1pati a myth-complex originated in the *4Bra*?1hman*?0as.
0410D05 ^The members involved in this are Agni, Praja*?1pati, Purus*?0a, and
0420D05 Pra*?1n*?0a. ^It is, however, notable that we have some mythological
0430D05 reasoning behind the mutual connection amidst the members. ^As far as
0440D05 Agni is concerned, we have seen above that in the \0RV, it is said that
0450D05 *4Pra*?1n*?0a clings to the life just as *4Agni to the woods. ^It
0460D05 seems to_ be implied thereby that *4Pra*?1n*?0a works firelike in the
0470D05 body. ^With this, one may compare the *3Atharvanic expression,
0480D05 *5agnis*?0 t*?0e gopa*?1 adhipa*?1 vasis*?0t*?0hah*6. ^The \0*4S*?2Br,going
0490D05 a step further, states that Agni, after having taken the form of
0500D05 Pra*?1n*?0a, bears these *4praja*?1s. ^In this way, *4Pra*?1n*?0a-Agni
0510D05 concept is evolved. *4^*Pra*?1n*?0a*'s characterisation as *4R*?0s*?0i
0520D05 has already been discussed above. ^Going a step further, the \0*4S*?2Br
0530D05 and the \0*4ABr directly equate *4Pra*?1n*?0as with *4r*?0s*?0is
0540D05 or *4Pra*?1n*?0a with Vasis*?0t*?0ha *4r*?0s*?0i. ^Thus this
0550D05 concept seems to_ have been developed. ^Enough has already been said
0560D05 about the *4Pra*?1n*?0a-Praja*?1pati concept. ^As regards the *4Pra*?1n*?0a-Purus*?0a
0570D05 concept, it may be shown that a peculiar process of
0580D05 thought is inherent in its development. ^Firstly, through the connection
0590D05 between Praja*?1pati and Pra*?1n*?0a, the latter also was being associated
0600D05 with Purus*?0a. ^It must, however, be noticed that the concept
0610D05 underlying Pra*?1n*?0a was not limited for Male Progenitor as it was
0620D05 regarding Praja*?1pati or Purus*?0a. ^Moreover, in this context, it
0630D05 is the divine aspect of Pra*?1n*?0a which finds expression rather than
0640D05 the physical one. ^Thus the \0*4GBr remarks that Pra*?1n*?0a lies in
0650D05 the body, and so, really being *4purisaya, he is called Purus*?0a.
0660D05 ^Thus in a peculiar manner, the Pra*?1n*?0a-Purus*?0a concept was being
0670D05 evolved. $^On this back-ground of *4Pra*?1n*?0a-r*?0s*?0i-Agni-Praja*?1pati-Purus*?0a
0680D05 mythological concept, let us examine a Bra*?1hman*?0a
0690D05 passage. ^*Praja*?1pati is Purus*?0a. ^He is produced by the gods.
0700D05 ^This myth is thus narrated in \0S*?2Br: "^The seven R*?0s*?0is
0710D05 became manifest from the non-existing state. ^They toiled and practised
0720D05 austerity. ^These R*?0s*?0is were the seven *4Pra*?1n*?0as or vitalbreaths.
0730D05 ^The central vital breath kindled activity in other breaths.
0740D05 ^So the central one was called Indra since he enkindled (*4indha). ^These
0750D05 enkindled seven *4Pra*?1n*?0as were incapable of effective creation;
0760D05 they joined themselves into one *4Purus*?0a comprising in himself all
0770D05 glory of S*?2ri*?1. ^This one *4Purus*?0a was Praja*?1pati. ^This
0780D05 Praja*?1pati was the same as Agni. ^Then he created the Brahman
0790D05 (\0n.)". ^All of the traits underlying this myth are explained above
0800D05 except *4Pra*?1n*?0a-Purus*?0a-Praja*?1pati relation with S*?2ri*?1.
0810D05 ^This latter may be explained in two ways. ^Firstly, it may be remembered
0820D05 that man*'s real beauty can exist only when he is alive. ^*Pra*?1n*?0a,
0830D05 indeed, comprises in himself all the glory of Beauty; S*?2ri*?0*?1
0840D05 being originally the presiding divinity of beauty. ^Secondly, it
0850D05 may be pointed out that, through Purus*?0a, Vis*?0n*?0u was connected
0860D05 (and later on identified) with Na*?1ra*?1yan*?0a, and at the same time,
0870D05 Laks*?0mi*?1-s*?2ri*?1 also came to_ be connected with Na*?1ra*?1yan*?0a.
0880D05 ^Subsequently, she was connected with Pra*?1n*?0a-Purus*?0a also,
0890D05 thus indicating a consistent mythological evolution. *4^*Pra*?1n*?0a-Purus*?0a,
0900D05 in this second way also, comprises all the glory of S*?2ri*?1
0910D05 in himself. ^In the second explanation, of course, the two concepts
0920D05 stand for Male and Female aspects of progenation respectively. ^Incidentally,
0930D05 the *4Bra*?1hman*?0a passage under discussion may be understood
0940D05 as confirming the evolutionary character of *4Vedic mythology.
0950D05 $^Turning to the relation of *4Pra*?1n*?0a with other divinities, as developed
0960D05 further in the Bra*?hman*?0a*?1s, one may first consider that_
0970D05 with Va*?1yu. ^It has been shown above how the \0*4AV establishes
0980D05 the relation between the two. ^The *4Bra*?1hman*?0as seem to_ confirm
0990D05 and further justify it. ^The \0*4S*?2Br states that *4Pra*?1n*?0a is,
1000D05 indeed, *4Va*?1yu; because animals move about with (the help of)
1010D05 *4Pra*?1n*?0a. ^The same *4Bra*?1hman*?0a elsewhere says that when
1020D05 an animal is killed, his *4Pra*?1n*?0a goes into *4Va*?1ta. ^Going a
1030D05 step further the *4Bra*?1hman*?0as directly equate *4Pra*?1n*?0a with
1040D05 *4Va*?1yu or *4Va*?1ta. ^As far as the physical aspect is concerned, it
1050D05 is said that *4Va*?1yu, after entering into the body of a man, becomes
1060D05 threefold: *4pra*?1n*?0a, *4uda*?1na, and *4vya*?1na. ^It is further
1070D05 said in that_ *4Bra*?1hman*?0a that *4Pra*?1n*?0as have *4Va*?1yu
1080D05 as their divinity. ^In this way, the *4Pra*?1n*?0a-Va*?1yu connection
1090D05 is confirmed. $^Another mythological relation that_ is further developed
1100D05 by the *4Br*?1hman*?0a writers is that_ between *4Pra*?1n*?0a
1110D05 and Speech. ^As has been said already, *4Pra*?1n*?0a and the Goddess
1120D05 of Speech are mentioned together. ^The *4Bra*?1hman*?0a texts adduce
1130D05 some sort of justification for the same. ^The \0*4JBr says that
1140D05 when one remains silent, *4Pra*?1n*?0a enters into the Speech! ^The
1150D05 \0*4JUBr says: "*_*4^*Pra*?1n*?0a is the essence of Speech!" ^Going
1160D05 a step further, the \0*4S*?2Br mentions both as constituting a couple
1170D05 (*4mithuna). ^This is confirmed by the *4S*?0ad*?0-\0Br which characterises
1180D05 Speech as the wife of *4Pra*?1n*?0a. ^The \0*4S*?2Br
1190D05 identifies *4Va*?1k with *3*4brhman, sacred speech; and the *4S*?0ad*?0-Br,
1200D05 correspondingly, remarks that the *4Brahma*?1 priest has
1210D05 *4Pra*?1n*?0a as his divinity. ^AGRAWALA remarks: "*_^The vowels
1220D05 are *4Pra*?1n*?0, the immortal form of *4S*?2abdabrahma, and the
1230D05 consonants the mortal form." ^An attempt seems to_ have been made further
1240D05 to_ confirm the relation between *4Pra*?1n*?0a and Speech, from
1250D05 the physical point of view. ^The \0*4S*?2Br says that the *4Pra*?1n*?0as
1260D05 sustain themselves by the food acquired through mouth (*4va*?1ca*?1);
1270D05 therefore, *4Va*?1k is the foundation of the *4Pra*?1n*?0as! ^It is
1280D05 evident that in this justification Speech and its organ are interchanged.
1290D05 ^A similar phenomenon occurs when the same *4Bra*?1hman*?0a remarks
1300D05 that all of the *4Pra*?1n*?0as are established in *4Va*?1k (*4va*?1ci).
1310D05 ^Anyhow, the authors of the *4Bra*?1hman*?0as seem to_ be engaged in
1320D05 constant effort to_ confirm the various mythological relations involving
1330D05 *4Pra*?1n*?0a. $^This is true also regarding the divine aspect of
1340D05 *4Pra*?1n*?0a. ^Regarding the nature of the divine *4Pra*?1n*?0a, several
1350D05 conclusions are drawn in the *(Bra*?1hman*?0a-texts*). ^The \0*4s*?2Br,
1360D05 for instance, states that everything runs away from a sleeping
1370D05 man, except *4Pra*?1n*?0a. ^The text expresses the fact, in ritualistic
1380D05 terminology thus: *4Pra*?1n*?0a follows every limb just as the
1390D05 *(sruta*?1-ladle*) follows every *4sruc. ^The *4Bra*?1hman*?0a also
1400D05 identifies *4Pra*?1n*?0a with the movement of limbs (*5pra*?1n*?0o vai
1410D05 samancanaprasa*?1ran*?0am*6) and adds that expansion or other movement
1420D05 can be seen in that_ limb only in which *4Pra*?1n*?0a exists. ^Further
1430D05 it is said that a limb that_ is not invested with *4Pra*?1n*?0a becomes
1440D05 dry or pale. ^In this way, the concept of divine *4Pra*?1n*?0a
1450D05 seems to_ have been confirmed by the *4Bra*?1hman*?0as with some sort
1460D05 of experimental method based on observation. $^As far as the physical
1470D05 aspect of *4Pra*?1n*?0a is concerned, suffice it to_ quote the following
1480D05 passage from the \0*4JUBr: "^According to Caikita*?1neya, he
1490D05 (*4Pra*?1n*?0a) is the son, because he is the son only one. **[sic**]
1500D05 ^He himself comprises of two sons, because *4Pra*?1n*?0a and *4Apa*?1na
1510D05 are two. ^Himself comprises of three sons because *4Vya*?1na is
1520D05 the third one; four sons, *4Sam*?1na being the fourth; five, with *4Ava*?1na;
1530D05 six, together with *4Uda*?1na. *4^*Pra*?1n*?0a means seven
1540D05 sons also, because in the head there are seven *4Pra*?1n*?0as. ^The
1550D05 number of sons becomes nine when the two *4Pra*?1n*?0as from the lower
1560D05 body are added. ^And the figure goes upto ten when *4Prana existing
1570D05 in the navel is countered. *4^*Pra*?1n*?0a, indeed, may be called *4bahuputra,
1580D05 because these all creatures (*4prajas) belong to himself?" ^In
1590D05 this way, physical and divine aspects of *4Pra*?1n*?0a are cleverly
1600D05 fused together. ^And, for that_ purpose, some other mythological concepts
1610D05 also are found to_ be used. ^Thus *4Pra*?1n*?0a and *4Apa*?1na or
1620D05 *4Pra*?1n*?0a and *4Uda*?1na are equated with Mitra and Varun*?0a.
1630D05 ^In either case, *4Pra*?1n*?0a is made to_resemble Varun*?0a, who represented
1640D05 a wider concept than Mitra. ^The actions of the two gods perfectly
1650D05 correspond with those of Breaths. ^It is presumably in this very
1651D05 sense
1660D05 that the \0*4TBr remarks that Mitra and Varun*?0a protect Pra*?1n*?0a
1670D05 and Apa*?1na. ^A different mythological concept is used in the
1680D05 identification of *4Dya*?1va*?1pr*?0thivi*?1 with *4Pra*?1n*?0a and *4Uda*?1na.
1690D05 ^Heaven and earth also constitute a dual divinity in Vedic
1700D05 mythology. ^Heaven corresponds with the divine *4Pra*?n*?0a as it is
1710D05 wider than the earth. *4^*Pra*?1n*?0, *4Uda*?1n*?0a, and other physiological
1720D05 aspects of *4Pra*?1n*?0a in the end merge into one divine *4Pra*?1n*?0
1730D05 as is suggested in the *4Bra*?1hman*?0a passage quoted above,
1650D05 where, after dividing *4Pra*?1n*?0a into various factors, the epithet
1750D05 *4bahuputra is ascribed to him. ^This unity of *4Pra*?1n*?0as seems
1760D05 to_ be implied even in the following statements. ^It is said that the
1770D05 *4Pra*?in*?0as are not removed from one another even by the breadth of
1780D05 a hair! ^Even though many, *4Pra*?1n*?0s live in the body which is
1790D05 only one. ^The same is implied in the \0*4S*?2Br where it is said that
1800D05 the *4Pra*?1n*?0as move forth in one form even though they are many
1810D05 in number. $^When we come to the *4A*?1ran*?0yakas, we become aware of
1820D05 the fact that the *4A*?1ran*?0yakas, constitute a kind of connecting
1830D05 link between the earlier texts and the later *4Upanis*?0ads as far as
1840D05 the *(Pra*?1n*?0a-mythology*) is concerned. ^The *4A*?1ran*?0yakas
1850D05 preserve the earlier mythological-ritualistic conceptions and also, cleverly
1860D05 turn them into philosophical ideas of the *4Upanis*?0ads. ^As for
1870D05 the connection between *4Pra*?1n*?0a and the span of life, established
1880D05 earlier, the \0*4TA*?1 says: "*_^They who worship *4Pra*?1n*?0a,
1890D05 live the whole span of life, because he is nothing but the life of creatures."
1900D05 ^In keeping with this idea, we have in the \0*4Sa*?1n*?00-A*?1
1910D05 the following passage: "*_^*I am Pra*?1n*?0a; worship me as 'the duration
1920D05 of life' and 'immortality' personified." ^Thus the conception of *4Pra*?1n*?0a
1930D05 being closely associated with the span of Life seems to_
1940D05 have been preserved in the *4A*?1ran*?0yakas. ^As regards Pra*?1n*?0a*'s
1950D05 connection with other divinities, the *4A*?1ran*?0yakas embody some
1960D05 peculiar considerations. ^In the \0*4Sa*?1n*?00-A*?1 we have the
1970D05 following passage: "*_^When the Knower advances further he arrives at
1980D05 the couch of unsurpassed splendour. ^It is *4Pra*?1n*?0a. ^The past
1990D05 and the future are its two feet; *4S*?2ri*?1 and *4Ira*?1 its
2000D05 remaining feet; (the *4sa*?1mans) Bhadra and Yajn*?4a*?1yajn*?4i*?1ya
2010D05 are the (bars) at the head (and foot); *4Br*?0had and Rathantara
2020D05 are the (bars) across, the \0*4R*?0k verses and the *4Sa*?1mans the
2030D05 cords running east (and west); the *4Yajus verses the cords across; the
2040D05 rays of the moon are the cushion; the *4Udgi*?1tha the coverlet;
2050D05 *4S*?2ri*?1 the pillow.*#
        **[no. of words = 02038**]

        **[txt. d06**]
0010D06 ^*Ra*?1jagr*?0ha, which was intimately associated with the activities of
0020D06 Maha*?1vi*?1ra, was a flourishing Jain centre during Yuan Chwang*'s
0030D06 visit. ^We are told that he saw many *4Digambaras on the Vipula mountain
0040D06 practising austerities incessantly. "^They turn round with the Sun,
0050D06 watching it from its rising to its setting". we have already referred
0060D06 to the fact that in the Gupta period also Jainism was quite popular
0070D06 at *4Ra*?1jagr*?0ha. $^The undivided Bengal was one of the greatest centres
0080D06 of Jainism from practically the days of Lord Maha*?1vi*?1ra.
0090D06 ^But unfortunately, beyond a few references to various *3S*?2a*?1kha*?1s
0100D06 connected with Bengal, nothing tangible is known regarding the state
0110D06 of Jainism here in the pre-Gupta days, ^The Paharpur inscription,
0120D06 which has already been discussed, surely proves the popularity of the *4Digambara
0130D06 religion in North
0131D06 Bengal in the Gupta period. ^The account of Yuan
0140D06 Chwang conclusively shows the tremendous popularity of Jainism in Pundravardhana
0150D06 and Samatata, the two provinces of ancient Bengal. ^In
0160D06 both these states the pilgrim noticed 'numerous *4Digambaras'. ^In spite
0170D06 of such popularity, neither the literary texts, nor the available inscriptions
0180D06 throw any light on Jainism in Bengal in the post-Gupta period.
0190D06 ^Archaeology also has not given us any help so far. ^However, the
0200D06 discovery of a large number of Jain temples and icons, particularly from
0210D06 Bankura and Purulia proves the popularity of Jainism in West Bengal
0220D06 during the Pa*?1la period. ^It further appears that a few Jina images
0230D06 of Bankura and Purulia, which are generally assigned to the Pa*?1la
0240D06 period, are actually the products of an earlier age. ^A detailed
0250D06 and systematic study is necessary to_ ascertain the actual position in
0260D06 this respect. $^There are only a few known Jain inscriptions of Northern
0270D06 India belonging to the 7th century \0A.D. ^From Pindwara (Sirohi
0280D06 district, Rajasthan) was discovered a brass image of R*?0sa*?0bhana*1tha
0290D06 with an inscription of Samvan 744 corresponding to 687 \0A.D. ^^the
0300D06 image was first noticed by *(0D. R.*) Bhandarkar. it was discovered
0310D06 from the fort of Vasantgad*?0h and is now preserved in the Maha*?1vi*?1ra
0320D06 temple there. ^*Vasantgad*?0h was formerly known as Vasantapura,
0330D06 but its oldest name was Vata*?0pura ^The present Jain temple is, however,
0340D06 not old. ^We gather from this damaged inscription that one Dron*?0raka
0350D06 Yasodeva had the Jina image built by the architect S*?1ivana*?1ga.
0360D06 ^There is little doubt that the temple, where this icon was installed,
0370D06 existed in the 7th century \0A.D. ^We have some other evidences to_
0380D06 show that Jainism was quite popular in Rajasthan in the post Gupta period.
0390D06 ^*Udyotanasu*?1ri, who wrote his *3Kuvalayama*?1la*?1 in S*?1aka
0400D06 700 during the time of Pratih*?1ra Vatsara*?1ja, refers to the fact
0410D06 that S*?2ivacandragan*?0i, the disciple of *4*3Maha*?1kavi Devagupta
0420D06 and disciple*'s disciple of Harigupta, the *3a*?1ca*?1rya of Hu*?1n*?0a
0430D06 Torama*?1n*?0a, visited Bhinnama*?1la on pilgrimage. ^This surely
0440D06 shows that Bhinnama*?1la or Bhi*?1nma*?1l (Jalor district) was
0450D06 a great Jain centre from the 7th century, if not earlier. ^*Jinaprabha
0460D06 refers to this place as sacred to Maha*?1vi*?1ra. ^It was the capital
0470D06 of the Ca*?1pa king Vya*?1ghramukha in the year 628 \0A.D., as we
0480D06 learn from Brahma-gupta. ^From a later inscription we learn that Maha*?1vi*?1ra
0490D06 himself came to this city. ^The kings of the Ca*?1pa dynasty,
0500D06 as we will note afterwards, were great patrons of Jainism. ^It further
0510D06 appears from the *3Kuvalayama*?1la*?1 that some of the spiritual
0520D06 predecessors of Udyotanasu*?1ri were specially connected with Rajasthan.
0530D06 ^We should further remember that Ja*?1va*?1lipura (modern Jalor)
0540D06 was a very well known Jain centre and the native town of Udyotanasu*?1ri.
0550D06 ^That_ author further informs us that his work was completed
0560D06 in the R*?0s*?0abhadeva temple of that_ city which was also adorned with
0570D06 a large number of Jain shrines. ^The temple of R*?0s*?0bha according
0580D06 to Udyotanasu*?1ri, was built by one Ravibhadra. ^A number of Jain
0590D06 saints ,according to the author of the *3Kuvalayama*?1la*?1, lived
0600D06 in this town. ^Another place, called Aga*?1savan*?0a*?1, which was probably
0610D06 situated not far from Jalor, was also adorned with a large number
0620D06 of Jain temples. ^This place was connected, according to the author,
0630D06 with the activities of Vedasa*?1ra, who lived in the 2nd half of the 7th
0640D06 century \0A.D. $^That_ Jainism was in a flourishing condition in
0650D06 Rajasthan during the days of Vatsara*?1ja is further proved by an inscription,
0660D06 discovered from Osia (Jodhpur district) and is dated \0V.S.
0670D06 1013 (956 \0A.D.). ^We learn from this inscription that there was a
0680D06 temple dedicated to Maha*?1vi*?1ra in the extensive city of Ukes*?2a,
0690D06 which existed during the days of Vatsara*?1ja. ^The temple afterwards
0700D06 had fallen in disrepair **[sic**]
0701D06 and was renovated by a merchant called Jindaka
0710D06 in the year 1013 (956 \0A.D.). ^It is clear from the inscription that
0720D06 the Maha*?1vi*?1ra temple here existed even before the days of Vatsara*?1ja
0730D06 and probably built a century or two before his time. ^It is interesting
0740D06 to_ note that Jinaprabha, the famous author of the Vividhati*?1rthakalpa
0750D06 mentions Upakes*?2a (Ukes*?2a, of this inscription) as
0760D06 a place sacred to Lord Maha*?11vi*?1ra. ^The well known Upakes*?2a
0770D06 *4gaccha apparently derived its name from this place. $^It was during the
0780D06 days of Vatsara*?1ja in the year S*?2aka 705 that another Jain poet
0790D06 produced a work of considerable merit. ^We are referring to Jinasena
0800D06 *=2, the author of the Harivam*?00s*?2apura*?1n*?0a. ^However, there
0810D06 is nothing to_ show that Vatsara*?1ja himself took active part in the
0820D06 promotion of Jainism. ^He, however, appears to_ be a person of religious
0830D06 catholicity. ^His personal religion was S*?2aivism as we learn from one
0840D06 of the records of his great-grandson Bhoja *=1. $^Chronologically the
0850D06 next important Jain record from Rajasthan is the Ghat*?0iya*?1la*?1
0860D06 inscription of Kakkuka, which supplies the date \0V.S. 918 or 861 \A.D.
0870D06 ^*Ghat*?0iya*?1la*?1 is some 20 miles north of Jodhpur city. ^We
0880D06 learn from this record that the chief Kakkuka, who is described as belonging
0890D06 to the Prati*?1ha*?1ra family, founded a Jain temple in 861 \0A.D.,
0900D06 and handed it over to a Jain community of *4gaccha Dhanes*?2vara.
1000D06 ^The same chief also erected two pillars at the village of Royin*?0ku*?1pa
1010D06 (probably situated not far from the find-spot of the inscripition).
1020D06 ^The *4gaccha, mentioned here, is otherwise unknown. ^This inscripition
1030D06 and the inscription of Osia prove the immense popularity of Jainism
1040D06 in the Jodhpur area from the days of Vatsara*?1ja if not earlier.
1050D06 $^Then we must refer to an extremely important inscription, now preserved
1060D06 in the Ajmer Museum. ^It was discovered by Captain Burt and according
1070D06 to local report it was fixed in the wall of a solitary temple, situated
1080D06 two miles from the village of Bijapur in the present Pali distrrict,
1090D06 Rajasthan. ^There are altogether three dates \0Viz. 973, 996 and
1100D06 1053 corresponding to 915, 938 and 997 \0A.D. respectively. $^We learn
1110D06 from this inscription that king Vidagdha who is described as the R
1120D06 a*?1s*?0t*?0raku*?1t*?0a-kulaka*?1nanakalpavr*?0ks*?0a, and who was the
1130D06 son of Harivarman, being induced by his spiritual preceptor (*4a*?1ca*?1rya)
1140D06 Va*?1sudeva, built a temple for the god Jina (R*?0s*?0abha) at
1150D06 the town of Hastikun*?0d*?0i*?1 (modern Hathundi close to the village
1160D06 of Bijapur, 10 miles south of Bali) in the year 973 corresponding
1170D06 to 915 \0A.D. ^The king then weighed himself against gold, of which
1180D06 two thirds were allotted to the god and the the remainder to the Jain
1190D06 preceptor (\0viz. Va*?1sudeva). ^This inscription further mentions the disciple
1200D06 of Va*?1sudeva called Su*?1ri S*?2a*?1ntibhadra. ^We are then
1210D06 told that the *4gos*?0t*?0hi*?1 of Hastikun*?0d*?0i*?1 renovated the
1220D06 temple (of R*?0s*?0abhana*?1tha*?1), originally built by Vidagdha
1230D06 and after its restoration the image was installed by S*?2a*?1ntibhadra
1240D06 in the Vikrama year 1053 corresponding to 997 \0A.D. ^We further learn
1250D06 that the original grant of Vidagdha, which was made in \0V.S. 973
1260D06 was renewed in the year 996 \0i.e. 938 \0A.D. by Mam*?00mat*?0a the
1270D06 son of Vidagdha. ^This Mam*?00mat*?0a as we learn from this inscription,
1280D06 played a very prominent part in the political affairs of Northern
1290D06 India in his time. ^The son of Mam*?00mat*?0a \0viz. Dhavala is also
1300D06 mentioned in the inscription as having given the gift of a well called
1310D06 Pippala to the temple. ^The Pras*?2asti of the first part of the
1320D06 inscription, which was actually inscribed afterwards in 997 \0A.D., according
1330D06 to the epigraph, was composed by the Jain saint Su*?1rya*?1ca*?1rya.
1340D06 ^We further learn from the first part that the original image,
1350D06 before restoration, had been set up by certain members of the *4gos*?0t*?0hi*?1,
1360D06 whose names are enumerated. $^The second part of this inscription,
1370D06 which is an independent record, was incised earlier. ^Here one Balabhadra
1380D06 appears as the *4guru of Vidagdha. ^It records that Vidagdha
1390D06 had erected a *4caityagrha for his *4guru Balabhadra and gave certain
1400D06 endowments in the year 973. ^Some interesting details regarding the nature
1410D06 of the grant by Vidagdha are given in this part of the record. ^These
1420D06 details are extremely important for the students of economic history.
1430D06 ^Two thirds of these proceeds were to_ go to the Jina (Arhat) and
1440D06 a third to Balabhadra as *4vidya*?1dhana \0i.e. fees for imparting
1450D06 knowledge. ^The closing verse of the second half expresses the wish that
1460D06 these endownments may be enjoyed by the spiritual progeny of Kes*?2avasu*?1ri.
1470D06 $^The inscription, discussed above, not only discloses the names
1480D06 of a number of Jain saints, who lived in the tenth century \0A.D.
1490D06 in Western Rajasthan, but also a number of royal personages of this
1500D06 Ra*?1s*?0t*?0raku*?1t*?0a branch who actively helped the Jain religion.
1510D06 ^The Jain poet-saint Su*?1rya*?1ca*?1rya, the author of the first
1520D06 part of the inscription, was certainly a very accomplished man of letters,
1530D06 as is evident from the language of this inscription. ^These Ra*?1s*?0t*?0raku*?1t*?0a
1540D06 kings were not only sincere patrons of Jainism but
1550D06 also successful military generals. ^It is also evident from the inscription
1560D06 that the king Vidagdha, who flourished in the first quarter of the
1570D06 tenth century, had two Jain preceptors \0viz. Balabhadra and Va*?1sudeva
1580D06 in honour of whom he built two Jain temples. ^His son and successor
1590D06 Mam*?00mat*?0a also patronised the Jains, a policy followed by
1600D06 the next king Dhavala, who probably became a Jain *4Sa*?1dhu before
1610D06 his death. ^The first and the last verse of the first part of the inscription,
1620D06 composed by Su*?1rya*?1ca*?1rya, are in praise of the Jina.
1630D06 $^Several other Jain inscriptions from Rajasthan, belonging to the tenth
1640D06 century \0A.D., have been discovered. ^We should particularly mention
1650D06 the recently discovered epigraph from Rajorgarh (Alwar district)
1660D06 which gives the date \0V.S. 979 or 923 \0A.D. ^It discloses the existence
1670D06 of a temple, dedicated to S*?2a*?1ntina*?1tha, which was built by
1680D06 the Jain architect Sarvadeva, son of Dedullaka and grandson of Arbhata
1690D06 of the Dharkata family hailing from Pu*?1rn*?0atallaka. ^The ancient
1700D06 name of Rajorgarh, according to this inscription, was Ra*?1jyapura.
1710D06 ^Another recently discovered inscription comes from Bharatpur district.
1720D06 ^It gives the date Vikrama 1051 corresponding to 994 \0A.D.
1730D06 ^This inscription refers to a *4guru called S*?2ri*?1 s*?2u*?1rasena
1740D06 of Va*?1gata San*?0gha. ^It is incised on the pedestal of a Jina image.
1750D06 ^*Maha*?1sena, the author of the Pradyumnacaritaka*?1vya belonged
1760D06 to this San*?00gha. $^A few more Jain inscriptions of Rajasthan before
1770D06 1000 \0A.D. are also known. *(^*G .H.*) Ojha in his mounmental work
1780D06 on the history of Rajputana has referred to a damaged, fragmentary inscription
1790D06 of the time of Guhila king Allata, who reigned in the middle
1800D06 of the tenth century \0A.D. ^This Jain inscription was discovered from
1810D06 Ahar near Udaipur, a place still known for its Jain shrines. ^For
1820D06 the reign of S*?2aktikum*?1ra, another Guhila prince, who reigned in
1830D06 the last quarter of the tenth century, we have two undated Jain inscriptions
1840D06 also from Ahar. ^*Ojha also refers to a number of other Jain
1850D06 inscriptions found from different old Jain temples of Rajasthan. ^The
1860D06 flourishing state of Jainism in Rajasthan is also evident from an intimate
1870D06 study of the Vividhathi*?1rthakalpa of Jinaprabha who refers
1890D06 to a number of Jain centres of pilgrimage, quite a few of which were situated
1900D06 in Rajasthan. ^We should particularly mention Satyapura, which
1910D06 according to Jinprabha, was first attacked by the Muslims under Mahmu*?1d
1920D06 of Ghazni*?1 in the Vikrama year 1081 corresponding to 1024 \0A.D.
1930D06 ^The temple according to Jinaprabha was built even before the destruction
1940D06 of Valabhi in \0V.S. 845. ^*Satyapura, which Jinaprabha places
1950D06 in Maruman*?0d*?0la is the modern Sanchor in Jalor district and is
1960D06 near the Gujarat border. ^The temple of Satyapura was dedicated to
1970D06 Maha*?1vi*?1ra and is also mentioned in a later inscription found from
1980D06 Sanchor.*#
        **[no. of words = 02007**]

        **[txt. d07**]
0010D07 ^She always feels comfortable, and nothing in the world can harm her. ^It
0020D07 is said that not even a bird can fly over her during the period of gestation.
0030D07 ^She enjoys heavenly perfumes and music, and is honoured by all.
0040D07 ^She becomes rid of passion, and no man can approach her with carnal thoughts.
0050D07 ^She can see the *4bodhisattva, occupying the right side of her
0060D07 womb. $^Miraculous phenomena like earthquakes and illumination which manifest
0070D07 on the important occasions in the Buddha*'s life are also to_ be
0080D07 included in the accounts of this category. $*<SECTION *=2*> $*<Ja*?1taka
0090D07 stories*> $^As has already been said, the textual body of the
0100D07 \0Mv. comprises a considerable number of *4ja*?1taka stories. ^There are
0110D07 approximately forty *4ja*?1takas, narrated in prose, in verse, and in
0120D07 both covering roughly one third of the text. ^Almost all these *4ja*?1taka
0130D07 stories can be found adopted and adapted by a number of other authorities
0140D07 representing different schools. ^Here again, it is in the Pali
0150D07 tradition that we find the greatest number of compatible references, mainly
0160D07 the stories of a similar literary form as found in the *4Ja*?1taka
0170D07 Commentary. ^More than half the number of the \0Mv *4ja*?1taka tales
0180D07 find their counterparts in the \0JA., whereas some other *4ja*?1takas
0190D07 exhibit an indirect relation with certain narratives preserved in Pali
0200D07 sources. ^The \0AbhiS. contains some *4ja*?1taka versions virtually
0210D07 identical with the \0Mv. *4ja*?1takas, and the striking affinity that_
0220D07 is to_ be noted between the \0mv. and the \0AbhiS. versions is that
0230D07 they frequently have identical introductions as well as similar motifs.
0240D07 $^Other Sanskrit sources also preserve some stories which agree with
0250D07 the \0mv. *4ja*?1takas in substance. ^The \0JM., \0Av.Kalp., \0Divy.,
0260D07 and the \0Av. embody such narratives derived from the self-same original
0270D07 source that_ provided material for our text. ^The plain and obvious
0280D07 factors of time and place have indeed brought about conspicuous differences
0290D07 among these versions, all the same the common origin of these divergent
0300D07 stories is unmistakable. ^We all here have
0301D07 a look at the *4ja*?1takas
0310D07 of our own authority with special reference to similar accounts in other
0320D07 annals representing the common heritage of the ancient Buddhist tradition.
0330D07 ^And trying to_ be as much comprehensive as succinct, we may for
0340D07 convenience*'s sake classify these stories into four groups, according
0350D07 to the central theme and the literary motive of each *4ja*?1taka, as follows:
0360D07 the *4ja*?1takas concerning (**=1) the *4bodhisattva*'s virtues,
0370D07 (**=2) Yas*?2odhara*?1, (**=3) Ma*?1ra, and (**=4) miscellaneous subjects.
0380D07 $*<*3The Ja*?1takas on The Bodhisattva*'s Virtues*> $^The greatest
0390D07 number of the \0mv. *4ja*?1takas deals with the Buddha*'s previous
0400D07 existences in which he displayed and practised certain virtues in
0410D07 the capacity of a *4bodhisattva following the course of training for the
0420D07 attainment of Enlightenment. ^The singular object of the Pali *4ja*?1taka
0430D07 stories is, it may be remembered, to_ provide illustrations to the
0440D07 *4bodhisattva*'s vigorous exertions which he fervently adhered to by
0450D07 way of fulfilling the ten perfections (*4pa*?1ramita*?1s). ^A smaller proporation
0460D07 of the Pali *4ja*?1takas may have been introduced merely in order
0470D07 to_ explain the unusual behaviour of a peculiar individual, but the
0480D07 great majority of stories in the \0JA. are intended to_ exemplify the
0490D07 *4bodhisattva*'s exertions. ^The Cariya*?1pit*?0aka is especially
0491D07 remarkable in
0500D07 this respect, as it presents a clear classification of stories on the
0510D07 basis of the *4pa*?1rimita*?1s. ^The \0Mv. *4ja*?1takas also do embody
0520D07 this main object as some stories seem to_ have been narrated with this
0530D07 in view. ^The *4ja*?1taka of the monkey (**=2. 246.3-250.12) or that_
0540D07 of the prudent bird (**=2. 250.20-255.5) can be pointed out as illustrating
0550D07 his wisdom (*4praajn*?4a*?1), or the *4ja*?1takas of Amara*?1 and
0560D07 s*?2ri*?1 as depicting his exertion (*4vi*?1rya). ^Nevertheless, the
0570D07 narration as well as the theme of the \0Mv. tales do not seem to_ lay
0580D07 stress on the theory of Perfections, and hence we cannot be categorical
0590D07 as to the relation between these *4ja*?1takas and the developed doctrine
0600D07 of the course of Perfections. ^The \0Mv. selection of *4ja*?1takas
0610D07 does not in any case appear to_ be a unique attempt to_ illustrate
0620D07 what can be called an advanced theory of Perfections. $^There are however
0630D07 a number of stories which are inserted in the textual body of the
0640D07 work with the direct aim of magnifying the *4bodhisattva*'s virtues and
0650D07 merits that_ form an inseparable part of the course of Perfections. ^In
0660D07 this category we may include the *4ja*?1takas of the white elephant,
0670D07 the bull, the deer, and many others such as Hastinika*?1, S*?2ya*?1maka,
0680D07 Suru*?1pa, Pun*?0yavanta, Vijita*?1vi*?1, Ks*?0a*?1ntiva*?1di*?1,
0690D07 S*?2arabhan*?00ga, Dharmapa*?1la and S*?2araks*?0epan*?0a *4ja*?1takas.
0700D07 $^The three stories, supposedly narrated by the Buddha on his visit to
0710D07 Vais*?2a*?1li*?1, \0i.e. the *4ja*?1akas of the sage Raks*?0ta, the white
0720D07 elephant, and the bull extol the *4bodhisattva*'s power to_ repel
0730D07 and remove the epidemics caused by unearthly beings and by Natural elements.
0740D07 ^In the first story the *4bodhisattva is said to_ have been born
0750D07 as Raks*?0ita, the son of the Pan*?4ca*?1la king*'s chaplain. ^Once the
0760D07 city of Kampilla was taken by a demonic plague, and Raks*?0ita, who
0770D07 had become a mighty sage in the Himalayas, was invited to the city in
0780D07 order to_ get rid of the disaster. ^In the other two stories a white elephant
0790D07 and a graceful bull are seen to_ possess similar powers to_ repel
0800D07 such catastrophes. ^The belief that there exists a rare quality in elephants
0810D07 and bulls who are efficacious in bringing good luck and prosperity
0820D07 was prevalent in the contemporary society, and we may be sure that
0830D07 the expounders of the ancient Buddhist tradition had nothing against
0840D07 such popular ideas so far as they did not pose a direct impediment in the
0850D07 way of inculcating the Buddhist principles of ethical and moral value.
0860D07 ^On the contrary it appears that the Elders more often than not employed
0870D07 these current ideas and beliefs of public consciousness as a vehicle
0880D07 for a better propagation of their religion. ^The purport of these stories
0890D07 seems to_ be to_ lay stress on the Buddha*'s magical power to_
0900D07 vanquish disastrous elements hostile to the well-being of humanity. $^The
0910D07 Pali tradition does not represent the Buddha as introducing these
0920D07 stories on his spectacular visit to the plague-stricken city, but the
0930D07 idea of removing through such means the threat of pestiferous calamities
0940D07 out of human control was definitely known to that_ tradition, too. ^We
0950D07 hear of an auspicious white elephant capable of bringing rain, which
0960D07 was given away by Vessantara the *4bodhisattva in favour of the drought-stricken
0970D07 kingdom of Kalin*?00ga. ^In the Kurudhamma-ja*?1taka, however,
0980D07 we find a protest against the popular belief in such objects as efficient
0990D07 in bringing prosperity which is according to that_ *4ja*?1taka
1000D07 definitely to_ be accomplished by virtuous conduct. ^It is too obvious to_
1010D07 state that the \0Mv. authors have adopted the idea as it suited the
1020D07 occasion, the Buddha himself bringing happiness to a doomed city, and
1030D07 accordingly, the elephant, the bull, and the sage in the above said stories
1040D07 were identified with the *4bodhisattva. $^The S*?2ya*?1maka and Hastinika*?1
1050D07 *4ja*?1takas extol the *4bodhisattva*'s loyal service rendered
1060D07 to his parents; a high virtue included in the Perfection of Morality
1070D07 (*4s*?2i*?1la). ^In both stories he is described as waiting upon his
1080D07 blind parents; in the Hastinika*?1 *4ja*?1taka as an elephant full of
1090D07 filial affection, and in the S*?2ya*?1maka-*4ja*?1taka as a young hermit
1100D07 loving his parents more than his own life. ^In the Pali tradition we
1110D07 find the counterparts of both the stories in the Sa*?1ma and Ma*?1tuposaka
1120D07 *4ja*?1takas. ^The \0AbhiS. preserves a similar version of the
1130D07 Hastinika*?1 *4ja*?1taka, whereas Ks*?0emendra in the eleventh century
1140D07 \0A.D. found the story of S*?2ya*?1maka still competent to_ appeal to
1150D07 the hearts of dutiful sons. $^In these two stories the pious son*'s duty
1160D07 towards the aged and decrepit parents is so touchingly elaborated that
1170D07 the faithful, moved by the pathetic tone of the narrative, cannot but
1180D07 regard the stories as true and solid examples for an ideal son. ^In bothth
1200D07 stories the son, who happens to_ be the only succour of the helpless
1210D07 parents, falls into serious trouble; S*?2ya*?1maka hit by a poisoned arrow
1220D07 and the elephant captured and taken to the royal elephant-stall in
1230D07 Va*?1ra*?1n*?0asi, but in both the cases the virtuous Great Being is
1240D07 saved mainly because of his moral power. $^Despite these similarities,
1250D07 there are some notable differences among the various narratives of these
1260D07 two stories as found in our sources. ^In the \0Mv., the S*?2ya*?1maka-*4ja*?1taka
1270D07 is introduced in the form of an illustration for S*?2uddhodana*'s
1280D07 conviction that Sidda*?1rtha would not die a premature death,
1290D07 in contradiction to which the \0JA., and the \0Av. \0Kalp. relate the
1300D07 story as a suitable instance of the son*'s duty towards his parents.
1310D07 ^Evidently the \0Mv, authors did not know the proper place for the *4ja*?1taka
1320D07 , and finding the faint resemblance between S*?2uddhodana*'s
1330D07 strong faith and that_ of S*?2ya*?1maka*'s parents as to the 4bodhisattva*'s
1340D07 survival, they inserted the story in the account of the mortifications.
1350D07 ^But the facts speak for themselves as even the \0Mv. version, given
1360D07 in the two distinct forms in prose and verse, lays emphasis on the
1370D07 commendable virtue of waiting upon the parents. $^In the \0Mv. and the
1380D07 \0Av. \0Kalp. versions the parents of S*?2ya*?1maka are brahmins, but
1390D07 in the \0JA. account they are but the son and daughter of two hunter
1400D07 chieftains. ^Our text does not name the father, and the mother*'s name
1410D07 is given as Pa*?1raga*?1. ^The \0JA. knows them as Duku*?1laka and
1420D07 pa*?1rika, whereas the \0Av.Kalp gives the two names as Subandhu and
1430D07 Gomatika*?1. ^The couple adopted the religious life in the Himalayas,
1440D07 according to the Sanskrit versions, after S*?2ya*?1maka was born,
1450D07 but the \0JA. maintains that they had a son only after they were prompted
1460D07 to_ do so by S*?2akra who foresaw that they were destined to_ become
1470D07 blind. ^The Pali commentary is more informative as it describes how
1480D07 they became blind due to the venom of a furious cobra, and what sinful
1490D07 act in their former life eventuated in this tragedy. ^Another difference
1500D07 is that the Buddhist Sanskrit versions hold that the king shot him
1510D07 with a poisonous arrow by mistake, but in the \0JA. he is seen deliberately
1520D07 shooting him. ^Our text seems to_ hold that S*?2ya*?1maka hit
1530D07 by the king*'s arrow, died whereas the Pali version makes him only subject
1540D07 to a temporary state of unconsciousness. $^The Hastinika*?1 *4ja*?1taka
1550D07 elaborates how the *4bodhisattva, born as an elephant, looked after
1560D07 the aged and blind mother in the dense forests of the Himalayas. ^In
1570D07 the Pali tradition the story is given as an illustration of the high
1580D07 virtue of serving parents, but in the \0Mv. and the \0AbhiS. the incident
1590D07 of Maha*?1-praja*?1pati*?1 Gotami*?1*'s becoming blind and the restoration
1600D07 of her vision on the occasion of the Buddha*'s miracle at Kapilavastu
1610D07 becomes the preamble to the narrative. ^The story is a good
1620D07 example to_ prove how the same story has been utilized by different schools
1630D07 for different didactic purposes. ^The Pali *4ja*?1taka concerns the
1640D07 Bodhisattva*'s release from the royal elephant-stall, which was possible
1650D07 only because of the meritorious practice of attending upon his mother,
1660D07 but in the \0Mv. and the \0AbhiS. it is the restoration of the female
1670D07 elephant*'s vision that_ gains prominence. ^In the Pali \4ja*?1taka
1680D07 the female elephant is not said to_ have regained her eyesight even
1690D07 after the return of her son, though in the Sa*?1ma-ja*?1taka the blind
1700D07 parents*' eyesight was restored simultaneously with the son*'s resurrection.
1710D07 ^The importance of the story is, however, equally recognized by different
1720D07 schools as, to_ quote Foucher, **[french quotation**] $^The Sura*?1pa-ja*?1taka
1730D07 emphasizes the Bodhisattva*'s keen and sincere love for
1740D07 didactic utterances (subha*?1s*?0ita) the *4ja*?1taka is very short,
1750D07 and our text has three forms of it, though one of them is a mere reference
1760D07 to the well-known story. ^In the first version Suru*?1pa is a king
1770D07 who offered wife, son and himself to_ be devoured by an ogre in exchange
1780D07 for religious instruction, and the text speaks of the event as it actually
1790D07 took place, the ogre being a real *4ra*?1ks*?0asa. ^The second
1800D07 reference tells us of a king who, in his quest for religious instruction,
1810D07 gave away the whole Jambudvipa as the price for a single stanza.*#
        **[no. of words = 02020**]

        **[txt. d08**]
0010D08 ^He has to_ have great endurance if he is to_ evolve to the highest state
0020D08 which is reserved for him. ^But such enduring effort on his part will
0030D08 not be fruitful unless he is also the recepient of God*'s grace. ^Let
0040D08 us therefore comprehend and grasp truly the divine purpose and by a
0050D08 coordination of all the *4tattvas in our lives forge them into a Unity
0060D08 and harmony with the original purpose of the Divine. ^This is the riddle
0070D08 before man. ^He can solve the riddle once he understands the divine
0080D08 plan. ^Until then all this multiplicity in this world appears meaningless
0090D08 and disconnected. ^What strings them into a Unity is the thread of
0100D08 the Divine plan or purpose of cosmic evolution and creation. $^The *4Vedas
0110D08 and the scriptures have declared that it is only by knowing Him
0120D08 and having a realisation of His supreme powers that we become concious
0130D08 of the purpose of this evolution. ^We have said earlier that it is His
0140D08 will that set all these worlds into being. ^Why did He so generate
0150D08 these worlds? ^The answer cannot be given by our poor powers of mind and
0160D08 intellect. ^For it is something beyond the reach of the mind, the intellect
0170D08 and the senses. ^As the Lord in the Bhagavad Gita says:
0180D08 *5Divyam dadami te chakshuh*6-- I shall give you Divine sight from which
0190D08 alone you can have a knowledge and *4darshan of me. ^To_ understand
0200D08 the true purpose of creation therefore we must be blessed with this divine
0210D08 sight by the grace of the Lord. $^Such divine sight has been given
0220D08 to man again and again by the Divine manifestations on this earth, which
0230D08 the crude nature itself cannot produce and perfection cannot be had
0240D08 from it. ^It is for this reason that the Lord manifests Himself as Divine
0250D08 entities and passes on to man the knowledge that_ transcends the
0260D08 mental and the psychical. ^Man has till now tried innumerable ways of realising
0270D08 the ultimate end and aim of life. ^He has mastered many techniques,
0280D08 different *4Yogas, and has disciplined himself to_ awaken various
0290D08 hidden powers of body and mind. ^These have given him certain attainments
0300D08 and powers. ^But there is still in him left a residual feeling that
0310D08 all is not over yet. ^He has not felt at the end of all such achievements
0320D08 of that_ fullness and completeness. ^This can come to him only when
0330D08 he realises the supreme intention of the Lord in this evolutionary and
0340D08 creative process. ^That_ realisation is beyond the scope of mere words.
0350D08 ^It has to_ be felt and experienced as a transcendental experience beyond
0360D08 body, senses and the mind. $^Once he becomes aware of the divine purpose
0370D08 that_ is infused into every little thing or big **[sic**]
0371D08 in this universe then
0380D08 he becomes free from all doubts and difficulties and willingly utilises
0390D08 his life, its opportunities and the powers bestowed on him by the
0400D08 Lord for the furtherance of the Lord*'s plan in a most willing manner.
0410D08 ^Then he does not stumble on obstacles and does not feel that he is swimming
0420D08 against the current. $^The Lord in the Gita has summed up this
0430D08 attitude when he says: "Whatever you do, whatever you eat or enjoy,
0440D08 whatever penances you perform, whatever oblations you offer, whatever gifts
0450D08 you donate to others, O son of Kunti, that_ you do as an offering
0460D08 unto Me. $^Let thy mind be moulded in Me, become my devotee, be my worshipper,
0470D08 offer your salutations unto Me, Verily doing thus you will
0480D08 reach me with the least doubt." $^Such indeed is the fundamental purpose
0490D08 of cosmic evolution and creation. ^It remains a riddle and an enigma
0500D08 as long as we don*'4t bring in the will of God and the purpose that_ manifests
0510D08 through Him. ^But once we realise it all our doubts disappear,
0520D08 all our delusions vanish and like Arjuna at the end of the Lord*'s discourse
0530D08 in the battle field, we will also be able to_ affirm: $^Our clouded
0540D08 mind has regained its vision and we shall act abiding by Thy purposes.
0550D08 $<*4Chaturvyuha*> $^The views on the creative principle and
0560D08 cosmic evolution and the picture of the world as constructed by science
0570D08 with innumerable researches fails to_ give us even a glimpse of that_
0580D08 inexplicable something transcending the three aspects which the *4Rishis
0590D08 and seers have called unmanifested Supreme Power or reality in its
0600D08 vastness and infiniteness. ^In the words of the *4Shruti, *5Satyam,
0610D08 Gnanam, Anantam Brahman*6. ^The same has been described in the Upanisads
0620D08 as the original symbol '*4OM', '*4OM', which is the form of
0630D08 Eternal *4Brahman where "the *5Ardha matra*6 as *[11Param Bindu*]
0640D08 or the central *4Bindu" transcends the three powers of '*4OM'
0650D08 which according to *5Vaishnav Panchratra*6 is the same as the *4Caturvyuha,
0660D08 \0i.e. Vasudev, Aniruddha, Pradhyumna and Sankarshana has been
0670D08 described previously as the four aspects of God. (Gita \0Ch. *=5.
0680D08 V. 3 and Bhagavat Purana, also vide 2-8-32). ^The Eternal *4Akshar
0690D08 as the Absolute Brahman in this *4Parambhava in four aspects of God
0700D08 or Divinity, \0i.e., *5Parambhava, Adhyatmabhava, Bhutbhava*6 and
0710D08 *4Visargabhava, is in another form the spirit, the nature, the life
0720D08 or existence and consciousness as *5Satchidanand Swaroop*6 as
0730D08 the Eternal *4Brahman. ^In some systems nature has been equated with
0740D08 *4Prakriti, *4Maya or *4Shakti or creative energy and thus ultimately
0750D08 the four aspects of God are reduced to two aspects namely *4Shiva-Shakti
0760D08 or *4Purush-Prakriti or *4Ishwar-Shakti and Purushottam
0770D08 transcending both the aspects as the Supreme Lord. ^This point has been
0780D08 very clearly brought out in qualified monism known as *5Vishishta
0790D08 Advaita*6 propounded by *4Shri Ramanuja but it is most authentically
0800D08 stated by Lord Swaminarayana with the enumerations of the five Eternal
0810D08 Entities *4Jiva, *4Ishwar, *4Maya, *4Brahma and *4Parabrhman.
0820D08 ^They are the Eternal Entities governed by the five aspects of supreme
0830D08 Reality as *4Sri Ramanuja has explained. ^Here, according to the
0840D08 chart, therefore, Vasudev or the Eternal *4Purush who is the master
0850D08 and controller of *4Prakriti or nature assuming the Divine nature of
0860D08 God, enters into the *4Jiva and *5Virat tattvas*6, bodies and activates
0870D08 *4Prakriti to_ release from her womb various universes from the individual
0880D08 life or embodies self to the cosmic self as being and also from
0890D08 the *4Virat to *5Pradhan Purush*6 (the first produced), *4Mahatattva
0900D08 or cosmic intelligence culminating in *5Prakriti Purush*6 or the pure
0910D08 soul or the pure *4Satchidanand consciousness. ^*Swaminarayana*'s views
0920D08 differ from that_ of the *4Bhagvat explanations; *4Purushottam does
0930D08 not assume the form of *4Purush or *4Vasudev, but as transcendental
0940D08 highest entity or the Supreme Lord inspires *4Purush through *4Akshar
0950D08 *4Brahman. ^This Eternal *4Purush as separate from *4Prakriti
0960D08 indivisible, infinite and unaffected by factors of time, space and substance,
0970D08 but possessing the Divine Body and the Divine nature and inspired
0980D08 by *4Purushottam, through *4Akshar in the form of will for the Cosmic
0990D08 Evolution is responsible for the creations and evolution by activating
1000D08 *4Prakriti. ^With this activation *4Prakriti which is in a state
1010D08 of equilibrium and motionlessness (state of *4Samyavastha) gets disturbed.
1020D08 ^When there is the *5Guna Kshobha*6 all the *4tattvas, 24 or
1030D08 36 as have been enumerated and through *4Prajapati, all these different
1040D08 agencies, the innumerable universes merge and dissolve in different
1050D08 ages as constant and continuous creative processes. ^Thus there are various
1060D08 planes of existence and four states of consciousness namely the waking,
1070D08 the dreaming, the sleeping and the awakening, \0i.e. the *4Jagrat,
1080D08 the *4Swapna, the *4Sushupti and the *4Turiya which the individual
1090D08 soul and *4Virat complete their cycle of final liberation, transcending
1100D08 the *4Turiya state and assume Divine consciousness and attain *4Brahmisthiti
1110D08 and permanently reside in the Eternal Abode *4Akshardham
1120D08 as free souls or *5Jivan Muktas*6. ^This is a process of evolution
1130D08 of the souls. ^Such souls are known as *4Nityamuktas, which are
1140D08 in the state of pure consciousness and enjoy all the Divine qualities
1150D08 in this life, in this world and also become Divine instruments in spreading
1160D08 the Eternal *4Dharma or the *5Ekantiki Bhakti*6 for the
1170D08 ultimate goal of human beings. ^The spiritualisation is of entire inner
1180D08 instrument so that it becomes fully Divine and to_ work out the Divine
1190D08 Plan in sharing and enjoying with the fellow being for self-realisation
1200D08 and Mastery of nature and perfection which is the final aim of
1210D08 this process. ^This is said in *4Vachanamrita \0G. 1,12,46 **[ft note**]
1220D08 $*<GAD 1-12*0*> $*4^*Purush and *4Prakriti are the two sources ofcreation
1230D08 of this universe. *4^Purush the controller is *4Akand, *4Anadi,
1240D08 *4Anant, *4Satya, *4Swayamjyoti, *4Sarvajan, *4Divyavigraha, *4Kshetrajna,
1241D08 the
1250D08 invisible energy) and the source of evolution, (the unmanifest principle).
1260D08 ^*Prakriti is *4trigunatmak (with three *4gunas-- *4Satta, *4Rajas
1270D08 and *4Tamas) *4Nitya, dormant, a divine power of God. (the manifest
1280D08 principle) and the womb of all creation including the *4Mahattattvas
1290D08 and *4jivas. $^That_ by which *4Maya is disturbed and moved from her dormant
1300D08 state with equibalance of three *4gunas is known as *4Kala. $^The
1310D08 Almighty Lord Krishna as *5Akshara Purush*6 sowed the seed of creation
1320D08 in the womb of Maya (*4Prakriti) through whom infinite universes
1330D08 were born. ^From *4Maya came the *4Mahattattva; through *4Mahattattva
1340D08 *4sattavic, *4rajasic and *4tamasic *4ahambhavas were created. ^Again
1350D08 through *4sattavic *4ahankara the mind and the presiding deities of
1360D08 *4indriyas were created. ^Through *5Rajasik ahankara*6 ten *4indriyas,
1370D08 *4Buddhi and *4Prana were created and through *4tamasik *4ahankara,
1380D08 the *4panchbhutas and their quintessences were created. ^Then at the instance
1390D08 of God*'s will the bodies of Ishwara and *4jivas were created out
1400D08 of the *4tattvas. ^This is how the creation began. $^By the will of God
1401D08 these *4tattvas created the bodies of Ishwar and Jiva. ^*Ishwar with
1410D08 his three bodies, *4Virat, *4Sutratma, *4Avyakrut, extend his life.
1420D08 *4^*Dwi-Parardhas and one day of *4virat is equal to 14 *4manvantaras.
1430D08 ^Here night is equal to his day and *4trilok is sustained in the day and
1440D08 dissolve at night which is known as *5nimitta Pralay*6. ^When the
1450D08 life of *4Virat comes to an end, *4Virat along with *5Satya Loka*6,
1460D08 the twenty four *4Tattvas including *4Mahattattva, *4Prakriti and *4Purush,
1470D08 all merge in *4Mahamaya which is known as *4Pakrut-Pralaya. ^Again
1480D08 *4Mahamaya also merges in *4makshara-Brahman, just as night fades
1490D08 into day, is known as *4Atyantika Pralaya*6. ^And this process is repeated
1500D08 in cycle. $^One who thus basically understands how this universe
1510D08 is evolved, sustained and dissolved gets detached from the worldly things
1520D08 and develops devotion to God. ^When all the universes are destroyed,
1530D08 the *4jivas residing in these various universes rest in the womb of *4Maya.
1540D08 ^However the devotees of God are transmigrated to the eternal abode
1550D08 of God. $^One who really knows the process of cosmic evolution develops
1560D08 devotion and true renunciation. $^At the time of dissolution, the
1570D08 *4jivas return to *4Maya and the devotees of God are transmigrated
1580D08 to the eternal abode of God. $*<GAD*0 1-46*> $^There are two types of
1590D08 *4Akasha. ^The first type which expands, contracts and fades out in *4Samadhi
1600D08 and known as *5Bhautic Akasha*6 or physical space, is the evolute
1610D08 of *4Maya from *4Ahankara. ^The second type known as *4Chidakasha
1620D08 or *4Mahakasha is all pervading and eternal and holds *4Purushottama
1630D08 and His innumerable released souls as His Divine Abode and sustains
1640D08 millions of macrocosms. $^At the time of evolution, the union of *4Purush
1650D08 with *4Prakruti results in the evolution of *4Mahattattva and
1660D08 other evolutes just like the birth of a child through the union of husband
1670D08 and wife. ^The state of expansion of *4Prakriti through 24 *4tattvas
1680D08 is in the form of her concomittance with physical bodies and various
1690D08 cosmoses; and that_ of *4Purusha is in the form of his various all pervading
1700D08 powers. ^The state of contraction of *4Prakriti is in the form
1710D08 of her fading out in the light of *4Purusha at the time of Final Rest
1720D08 when all the evolutes of *4Purusha and *4Prakriti dissolve and the
1730D08 state of contraction of *4Purusha is resembled when he is self-centred
1740D08 and static. ^This process of expansion and contraction of *4Purusha
1750D08 and *4Prakriti in the states of evolution and dissolution is that_
1760D08 of tortoise who expands his limbs when active and contracts them when
1770D08 silent and static in water. $*4^*Purush though self-centred retains his
1780D08 individual entity and still remains concomitant with all the evolutes
1790D08 of *4Prakriti.*#
        **[no. of words = 02001**]

        **[txt. d09**]
0010D09 **<*3MAN IN SOCIETY: THE BUDDHIST VIEW*0**> $^With the progressive universality
0020D09 of the scientific outlook and the humanitarian temper among
0030D09 the enlightened peoples of all countries, we are now drawing nearer to
0040D09 the establishment of an abiding world community inspired by common ideals
0050D09 based on political liberty and economic equality. ^Individuals and nations
0060D09 are becoming increasingly united in their common allegiance to the
0070D09 sovereignty of the scientific method. ^The searchlight beam of scientific
0080D09 scrutiny is now being directed not only towards the physical, biological
0090D09 and mathematical sciences but also to the social and psychologiical
0100D09 disciplines as well. ^Science has invaded not merely the domain of
0110D09 the profane and the mundane but also that_ of the sacred and the religious.
0120D09 ^This development consisting in the widest extension of the frontiers
0130D09 of science to_ comprehend the totality of human thought and action is
0140D09 the surest indication of the ultimate inevitability of the establishment
0150D09 of the universal brotherhood of man as a social and historic reality.
0160D09 $^This then is a supreme challenge to those of us who are nurtured in
0170D09 religious traditions and are therefore dedicated to the realisation of
0180D09 spiritual ideals in our perennial pilgrimage to ultimate perfection. ^As
0190D09 people who profess creeds and faiths we seek to_ inculcate universal
0200D09 principles in the minds of all humanity. ^In theory we tend to_ take high
0210D09 grounds and profess to_ unify and unite all mankind. ^Outwardly and
0220D09 intellectually we are all for the unity of humanity. ^Inwardly and deeply
0230D09 we are really one against the other. ^The great teachers of religion
0240D09 had all been apostles of peace and progress, unity and solidarity and
0250D09 understanding and tolerance. ^Today, however, the paths of denominational
0260D09 religion have often become the hotbeds of intolerance and fanaticism,
0270D09 dogmatism and obscurantism, persecution and oppression, and training grounds
0280D09 of reaction and exploitation. $^Leaders of religious thought and
0290D09 action amongst us therefore cannot bewail the decline of religion in
0300D09 our time without a readiness to_ accept a measure of responsibility for
0310D09 this predicament. ^It is now not a day too soon for all of us to_ realise
0320D09 that religious belief and action can only continue to_ be valid and
0330D09 justified if only we can show their relevance to the solution of the manifold
0340D09 problems which affect the individual and society in the modern world.
0350D09 ^Unless we are active enough in this urgent matter there is a grave
0360D09 risk that we shall all be made radioactive ourselves. $^One of the prime
0370D09 needs of the hour in the matter of upholding the validity of religion
0380D09 is to_ work harder for the realisation of inter-religious harmony and
0390D09 understanding. ^The mere academic study of comparative religion cannot
0400D09 hope to_ achieve this difficult but desirable objective. ^We must lay
0410D09 the foundations for inter-religious understanding in our time. ^We must
0420D09 disabuse our minds of the tendency towards ethnocentrism and seek to_
0430D09 promote in ourselves the virtues of cultural empathy. ^We must in short,
0440D09 realise the truth that the religious teachings of humanity must form
0450D09 the essential basis of the world view of our international community. $^One
0460D09 of the distinctive features of the modern era is the predominant emphasis
0470D09 and value placed on social consciousness. ^There is today an unparallel
0480D09 devotion to the espousal of the cause of the common man. ^The masses
0490D09 have largely asserted their rights and have successfully compelledrulers
0500D09 to_ dedicate themselves to the never-ending task of realising the
0510D09 well-being of their subjects. ^This is pre-eminently the age of unionised
0520D09 labour and organised peasantry. ^The greater part of the social ills
0530D09 of our time are causally connected with the institutional framework of
0540D09 economics and politics. ^The effective way in which people could alleviate
0550D09 their suffering and obtain security and happiness is by seeking to_
0560D09 change and transform social institutions. ^Religion and religious institutions
0570D09 are found to_ be incapable of helping them to_ improve the lot
0580D09 of their material life. ^Hence the exceeding popularity of economics and
0590D09 politics. ^Hence also the obvious decline in the appeal and popularity
0600D09 of religion throughout the countries of the modern world. ^This truth
0610D09 also helps us to_ understand why countries which have liberated themselves
0620D09 from the shackles of too much traditionalised and institutionalised
0630D09 religion have continued to_ forge ahead as advanced nations whereas those
0640D09 countries which are completely dominated by the dead-weight of authoritarian
0650D09 religion still continue to_ remain backward and under-developed.
0660D09 $^The reaction to this on the part of most men of religion is to_
0670D09 claim that religion is essentially a matter of personal life and that therefore
0680D09 religion as such is indifferent to the social environment of man.
0690D09 ^What is aimed at in religion, we are assured, is the communion of
0700D09 man with God or the engagement of man with the highest level of reality
0710D09 considered as *4Brahman or *4Nirvana. ^If this is true and religion
0720D09 is a matter of private belief and practice I fail to_ see the necessity
0730D09 for the perpetuation of such a large number of highly organised and institutionalised
0740D09 religions. ^Speaking particularly of Buddhism I have
0750D09 heard and read students of Buddhist philosophy declare that the teachings
0760D09 of the Buddha are essentially of the nature of a personal religion
0770D09 and that Buddhism as such is indifferent to the social, economic and
0780D09 political problems faced by man in society. ^*I do not however share
0790D09 this conviction if only because the sayings of Buddha contain evidence
0800D09 which proves the contrary of what is thus asserted. $^If religion concerns
0810D09 itself with the understanding of reality in its totality it must necessarily
0820D09 recognise the reality of social life no less than that_ of personal
0830D09 or individual life. ^Life as historically manifested is two-fold,
0840D09 individual and social as well. ^If Buddhism, for instance,
0841D09 is concerned with the cessation
0850D09 of suffering it must necessarily teach the way to the cessation
0860D09 of social suffering no less than the suffering of each individual. ^And
0870D09 this is precisely what we discover in the teaching of the Buddha. $^The
0880D09 facts of history indicate to us very clearly that Buddhism assumed
0890D09 its historical form as a gospel for the many and in this sense it differs
0900D09 clearly from the character of the *4Upanishadic teachings which were
0910D09 by contrast meant for the minority of the initiated and the awakened.
0920D09 $^Granted the possibility for perfectibility of human life there have
0930D09 been, in the history of human thought, two alternate answers to the question
0940D09 as to how this perfection was to_ be realised. ^One view is that
0950D09 human life can be perfected by an inner evolution in the individual in
0960D09 terms of a thorough-going catharsis of his mind and spirit. ^The other
0970D09 view is that human life can be perfected only by an outer revolution
0980D09 in the enviroment in terms of institutional change. ^The first view is
0990D09 largely the one adopted by the exponents of the religious life whereas
1000D09 the second view has largely been adopted by politicians and statesmen
1010D09 of all times and climes. $^*I wish to_ submit for the consideration of
1020D09 my readers the thesis that in the teachings of the Buddha we have a harmonious
1030D09 combination of these two views in so far as the social philosophy
1040D09 of Buddhism is concerned. $^With the help of a selected number of sayings
1050D09 of the Buddha, I wish to_ impress on my readers that the teachings
1060D09 of Buddhism are meant as much for the building of a social order
1070D09 as for the harmonious ordering of an individual*'s personal life. $^Consider
1080D09 the parable of the Lotus in the Pond referred to in the *4Nikayas
1090D09 of the *4Pali Canon. ^The lotus stalk is born in the unclean mud
1100D09 at the botton of the pond. ^As it grows up all the while nourished by
1110D09 unclean mud it pierces through the unclean waters infested with matter,
1120D09 both animate and inanimate, equally unclean and impure. ^But when it appears
1130D09 on the surface of the water it ends its upward journey with a bud
1140D09 which then blossoms forth in all its multi-petalled purity and glory untouched
1150D09 by the waters of the pond and unsullied by their impurity and
1160D09 uncleanliness. $^The lotus is in the pond but not of the pond. ^Even so
1170D09 is man in society. ^The lotus of the individual can blossom forth only
1180D09 in the pond of human society. ^The man perfected is in the world but not
1190D09 of the world. ^The unclean mud is symbolic of the impurity of parturation
1200D09 at the birth of man, as well as of his inheritance of his *4karmic
1210D09 heritage. ^The unclean waters of the pond are again symbolic of the worldly
1220D09 circumstances into which man is born. ^In his growth to adulthood
1230D09 through infancy and childhood man cannot altogether divest himself of
1240D09 *4Lokadharmas consisting of gain and loss, fame and notoriety, censure
1250D09 and praise and happiness and misery. ^Just as the stalk gives birth to
1260D09 the pure and glorious lotus in spite of the surrounding impurity of the
1270D09 pond, even so the individual can rise above the circumstances of misery
1280D09 and conflict and realise his purity and greatness right in the midst
1290D09 of his environment consisting of material forces and fellow-beings. $^The
1300D09 symbolism of the lotus dominates the architecture, sculpture, painting
1310D09 and literature of Buddhism wherever these are found and what is sought
1320D09 to_ be inculcated by means of this symbolism is the reality of man
1330D09 in society. $^Perfection of individual and social life of man is possible
1340D09 only through the twin revolution referred to above. ^The life of the
1350D09 Buddha is the historic living embodiment of this perfection through
1360D09 revolution. ^The inner revolution must necessarily precede the outer revolution.
1370D09 ^The Buddha*'s own inner revolution consisted in the *4Sambodhi
1380D09 or enlightenment which he experienced at the foot of the historic
1390D09 *4Bodhi Tree. ^But he was not content with inner revolution alone. ^His
1400D09 biography records that he decided to_ dedicate the remainder of his
1410D09 earthly career to_ preach a social gospel which sought to_ bring about
1420D09 not merely an inner revolution in the minds of his listeners but also an
1430D09 outer revolution in the social life of this time. ^The system of exploitation
1440D09 through caste, for instance, was not entirely a matter for inner
1450D09 revolution. ^It was a stark social reality which enabled an oligarchy
1460D09 of privileged people to_ exploit the ignorance, innocence and credulousness
1470D09 of vast masses of unfortunate peoples. ^Throughout his long ministry
1480D09 of forty-five years he succeeded in creating an effective tradition
1490D09 of enlightened opinion against the evils of this social institution. ^The
1500D09 mission of the Buddha had its beneficient consequences in the subsequent
1510D09 history of not merely India but many other parts of the world where
1520D09 his teachings were adopted and adapted by communities of peoples. ^The
1530D09 adoption by the Government of India of the *4Dharmacakra in the
1540D09 national flag after it achieved *5Purna Swaraj*6 is a measure of the
1550D09 abiding influence that_ the Buddha still exercises in the minds of the
1560D09 Indian people who are dedicated to the gigantic task of social reconstruction
1570D09 within a vast sub-continent. $^The life of the Buddha is again
1580D09 a remarkable record of a fully developed social consciousness. ^He mingled
1590D09 among the mighty and lingered among the lowly. ^He moved with kings
1600D09 like Bimbisara and Pasenadi Kosala. ^He associated with wealthy capitalists
1610D09 like Anathapindika. ^He had disciples among aristocratic ladies
1620D09 like Visakha, Khema and Uppalavanna. ^But this did not prevent him
1630D09 from cultivating the company of robbers like Angulimala, scavengers like
1640D09 Sunita and courtesans like Ambapali, Patacara and Sundari. ^He
1650D09 ministered to the sick, succoured the helpless and the destitute, consoled
1660D09 the stricken and brought happiness to the miserable. ^He did not run
1670D09 away from society but continued to_ live to his last hour among constantly
1680D09 changing groups of peoples. $^The Buddha taught the virtues of liberty
1690D09 and democracy and established an order of monks and nuns precisely
1700D09 on the basis of democratic and corporate principles. ^In so doing he
1710D09 undoubtedly expected also to_ indicate to the lay peoples the desirabiility
1720D09 of following such principles in the matter of organising their own
1730D09 institutions. ^He emphasised the need for the liberty of the individual
1740D09 without failing to_ remind him of the rights of his society.*#
        **[no. of words = 02007**]

        **[txt. d10**]
0010D10 **<*3MIND IN THE BHAGVADGITA AND THE DHAMMAPADA*0**> $^In the Bhagavadgita
0020D10 and also in the Dhammapada, apart from the five senses of eyes, ears,
0030D10 nose, tongue and touch, mind is considered as the sixth sense. ^In
0040D10 discussing about mind, the following questions arise in mind itself: $1.
0050D10 ^What is mind? $2. ^Where does mind exist? $3. ^How do we know about the
0060D10 existence of mind? $4. ^What are the characteristics of mind? $^Mind
0070D10 is that_ which helps us to_ feel things, to_ know or perceive things
0080D10 and to_ act things \0i.e. action. ^Normally, we associate five senses
0090D10 of vision, hearing, touch, taste and smell with feeling, knowledge and
0100D10 action. ^But how do these senses function? ^The senses function through
0110D10 the mind. ^We can see things when we have the mind to_ see them. ^Surely,
0120D10 we do not see things when we are absent-minded. ^Similarly, we hear
0130D10 what we intend to_ hear and the intention comes in the mind. ^Even in
0140D10 a noisy place, we do not hear many things, hear only what we want to_
0150D10 hear. ^In a crowd, even if several persons may pass by and see us, we
0160D10 may be quite oblivious of any one of them unless we intend to_ know who
0170D10 has passed by us. ^Likewise, we may be fond of sweets but if taking
0180D10 of sweets reaches a point of satiety, there will be no inclination or
0190D10 taste for sweets. ^Inclination or taste actually arises in mind only.
0200D10 ^In the same way, we may miss the fragrant smell of a rose if we do not
0210D10 bring about our mind to_ smell. ^It would thus appear that without mind
0220D10 the five senses cannot function purposefully. ^Further, the five senses
0230D10 can be activated only from the spring-board of mind and the purpose
0240D10 of working of the senses is given by the mind. ^Mind is also a co-ordinator
0250D10 of senses and enables us to_ get integrated feeling, perception
0260D10 and knowledge. ^Further, when the senses or the sensory organs work, mind
0270D10 is the recepient of their impressions. ^Memory is but another name for
0280D10 impressions left in the mind. ^In other words, the reservoir of senses
0290D10 is mind. $^Mind also manufactures its own world. ^For this purpose when
0300D10 mind is rational, it reasons or draws inferences or conclusions. ^Mind,
0310D10 when it is affected by emotion or impulse, is not so rational. ^Mind
0320D10 has also immense creative power. ^It is a moulder of thought and belief
0330D10 which arise in it only. ^Imagination and dream arise in mind only.
0340D10 ^Mind is rational when it is active, healthy and pure-- when the physical
0350D10 body in which mind rests is healthy. ^When there is disease in the physical
0360D10 body, mind cannot be healthy. ^Similarly, when mind is affected
0370D10 by wrong desires, worries, anxieties, malice, lust, ambitions \0etc., the
0380D10 body is also affected. ^Thus, mind and body interact with each other
0390D10 and ill health of one affects the other. ^Harmony of the mind within itself
0400D10 and with the physical body is another name for happiness. ^Finally,
0410D10 when the mind is stilled (it can never be vacuum), there is calm and quiet
0420D10 and peace. ^Mind thus becomes like a lamp in a windless place and does
0430D10 not flicker (*=6 19). ^When mind goes above the senses and is in a
0440D10 supra-sensory transcendent stage, a stage of perfection is reached. ^At
0450D10 this state, there is no sense of conflict or duality. ^This stage ends
0460D10 up in peace and bliss. $^We know that mind exists in all of us. ^But mind
0470D10 is not an organ of the body. ^It is not identical with our brain or heart
0480D10 though it can nonetheless at times be guided by them. ^Mind is a non-matter
0490D10 but at the same time it is not external to our material body,
0500D10 but we know that mind does exist because we can feel its existence within
0510D10 ourselves. ^Mind is vibrating, pulsating, and agitating within
0511D10 us and the vibrations, pulsations and agitations of mind can be felt
0520D10 by all of us. ^Though mind vibrates within us, it is not limited to our
0530D10 bodies only because it flits and floats all around both in 'physical',
0540D10 and 'non-physical' world. ^Mind establishes contact with things and objects
0550D10 at far distant places and flies in such worlds with infinite speed
0560D10 irrespective of space and time. ^Mind helps us to_ know the existence
0570D10 of material things but even non-material world of dream, imagination,
0580D10 inference, thought \0etc. is also known with the help of mind. $^The first
0590D10 characteristic of mind, as its functional analysis would reveal, is
0600D10 that it arises out of consciousness (*4Citta) which term would also
0610D10 include its variants of sub-consciousness and unconsciousness but not non-consciousness.
0620D10 ^Mind has the characteristic of vibrant consciousness
0630D10 which is ever present in all of us when we are living. $^The second characteristic
0640D10 of mind is that it is very fickle and restless and it has a
0650D10 tendency to_ wander or move about all over in different directions. ^It
0660D10 is recalcitrant in character. ^Getting distracted is one of its features
0670D10 and it is therefore, very often described as uncontrollable. ^That
0680D10 mind is fickle or that it has a tendency to_ wander about and to_ come
0690D10 back to_ us at all sorts of moments will be obvious if we try to_
0700D10 concentrate our mind. ^Whenever any effort at concentration is made, the
0710D10 mind tries to_ run in all directions and all kinds of thoughts which
0720D10 are products or lying in the sub-stratum of the mind come to us. $^Knowing
0730D10 mind as we have done now, it is interesting to_ examine its role
0740D10 in the life of man for his physical or spiritual progress and development.
0750D10 ^In this regard, the Bhagavadgita and the Dhammapada throw considerable
0760D10 light. $^In the Bhagavadgita, as already stated, mind is called
0770D10 the sixth sense (*4Manahsasthanindriyani-- chapter *=15 verse 7). ^Chapter
0780D10 *=6 of the Bhagavadgita talks of the *4Yoga of Meditation (*4Dhyanayoga).
0790D10 *4^Yoga is explained in verse 48 Chapter *=2 as "evenness of
0800D10 mind" (*5samatvam Yoga ucyate*6). ^That mind is uneven and restless is
0810D10 recognised in verses 33 and 34 of chapter *=6 of the Bhagavadgita. **[Sanskrit
0820D10 quotation**] ^Mind had no stable foundation on account of restlessness.
0830D10 ^Mind is fickle, impetuous, obstinate and is difficult to_
0840D10 control as the wind. ^Mind wanders away from concentration (*5yogac calitamanasah*6
0850D10 verse 37, Chapter *=6). ^Though such are the characteristics
0860D10 of mind, it can be disciplined, subdued, controlled and regulated. ^In
0870D10 chapter *=6, verse 14, there is a reference to_ control of mind. ^Verse
0880D10 18 talks of discipline of mind, Verse 20 talks of restraining of thought
0900D10 by the practice of concentration (of mind). ^Verses 10-22 refer to
0910D10 intense fixation of mind through discipline and control on the supreme
0920D10 objective. ^\0^V.10 talks of concentration of mind by remaining in solitude
0930D10 and alone through self-control freedom from desires and longing for
0940D10 possessions. ^Mind should be free from anxiety, greed or possessiveness.
0950D10 ^Verse 12 speaks of mind being made one pointed (*4ekagramanah)
0960D10 and purified by controlling thought and senses. \0^V.14 also refers to
0970D10 subjugation of mind and its turning to one direction. ^Verse 15 talks of
0980D10 achieving harmony through subdued mind. ^Verse 18 mentions about disciplining
0990D10 of mind. $^For mind fixation, has to_ give up all desires born
1000D10 of selfish will. ^For this purpose, mind has to_ be restrained in regard
1010D10 to senses. ^Mind has to_ be made peaceful and passion-free to_ be
1020D10 set at rest. ^By disciplining the mind, the senses can also be restrained
1030D10 and regulated (*5manasaive indriyagramam viniyamya samantatah*6 \0v.
1040D10 24 *=7). ^Mind can be controlled or curbed by constant practice (*4abhyasena)
1050D10 and by non-attachment (*4vairagyena). ^By intelligence and patience,
1060D10 one can slowly control the mind. ^Inspite of our best efforts,
1070D10 we would be confronted at times with restlessness and unsteadiness of mind.
1080D10 ^We shall then have to_ bring it back to its proper state of tranquillity
1090D10 and peace for making it one-pointed (*5ekagram manahkritva*6, \0v.
1100D10 12 chapter *=7). ^Mind becomes restless because desires arise in it and
1110D10 to_ control mind it is necessary to_ put away desires. ^In defining
1120D10 '*4Sthitaprajna' a person stable in intelligence, there is a reference
1130D10 to his putting away all the desires of his mind (*5prajahati yada Kaman
1140D10 sarvan manogatanam*6 \0v. 55,Chapter *=2). ^A person of settled intelligence
1150D10 or "*4sthitadhi" is one whose mind is untroubled in the midst
1160D10 of sorrow and is free from eager desire in the midst of pleasures and
1170D10 from whom pain, fear and rage have passed away (\0v. 56, Chapter *=2).
1180D10 ^Nevertheless, in \0v. 60, Chapter *=2, it is mentioned that impetuous
1190D10 senses still carry off a man*'s mind by force-- (*5indriyani pramathiniharanti
1200D10 prasabhm manah*6). ^It goes on to_ say in \0v. 62, chapter *=2,
1210D10 that when a man thinks of the objects of sense, attachment to them is
1220D10 produced which finally leads to "*4buddhinasha" \0i.e. loss of intelligence
1230D10 and the power of discrimination between right and wrong. ^When the
1240D10 mind is carried away by the senses, concentration is disturbed and understanding
1250D10 is taken away and mind becomes like a ship carried away by
1260D10 the wind (\0v. 67, Chapter *=2.) ^In \0v. 78. \0Ch.*=2, it is stated that
1270D10 one should abandon all desires (*5Vihaya Kaman*6) in one*'s mind and
1280D10 act free from longing (*4nihsprah). ^When one acts without any sense
1290D10 of mineness \0i.e. ego, he attains peace. ^Mind is also ever-active in
1300D10 our conscious, sub-conscious and even unconscious planes. ^No one can
1310D10 remain even for a moment without doing any work and mind is behind every
1320D10 work. ^Further, even if the senses of action are inactive, mind continues
1330D10 to_ work and can brood over objects of sense. ^In \0v. 6, Chapter
1340D10 *=3, it is stated that if one does not act, but continues in his mind
1350D10 to_ brood over objects of senses, he is considered to_ be a hypocrite
1360D10 or a man of false conduct. ^In \0v. 16, *=17, it is stated that serenity,
1370D10 gentleness, silence, self-control, purity are called the penance of
1380D10 mind (*4tapomanasam). ^In \0Chap. *=2, \0v. 45, Arjuna is exhorted to_
1390D10 make his mind free from dualities and to_ be firmly fixed in purity.
1400D10 ^In \0v. 48, \0Chap. *=2, *4Yoga is called as evenness of mind (*4samatvam)
1410D10 in success or failure. ^A person is superior when he controls his
1420D10 senses by the mind (\0v. 7 *0Chap. *=3). ^Desires have a seat in the
1430D10 mind (\0v. 40, \0ch. *=3). \0^V.9, 0\ch. *=12 says that one can fix one*'s
1440D10 thought only by the practice of concentration of mind. ^In \0v. 24,
1450D10 \0ch. 13, there is a reference to meditation to_ perceive one*'s true nature
1460D10 (Self). $^Thus, according to the Bhagavadgita, control and regulation
1470D10 of mind is indicated as a process of progress in meditation and for
1480D10 eventual self-realisation. $^When we turn to the Dhammapada, it is
1490D10 interesting to_ observe that one Chapter of the Dhammapada is known
1500D10 as *4Citta-Vagga (Mind Chapter). ^Apart from this chapter, which is
1510D10 exclusively devoted to analysis of mind, the other chapters like *4Yamakavagga,
1520D10 *4Puppavagga, *4Arahantavagga, *4Panditavagga, *4Papavagga,
1530D10 *4Jaravagga, *4Piyavagga, *4Buddhavagga, *4Krodhavagga, *4Nagavagga,
1540D10 *4Tanhavagga, *4Bhikuvagga \0etc. also refer to control and regulation
1550D10 of mind. ^The first two verses of the Dhammapada start with mind
1560D10 and emphasise its importance as the precursor of all action. ^It emphasises
1570D10 on the need for achievement of purity of mind and for this purpose
1580D10 to_ regulate speech and action and through such purity of mind to_
1590D10 achieve happiness. ^It also says that if one acts or speaks with impure
1600D10 mind, unhappiness or pain follow: **[verses**] $^In a very beautiful
1610D10 imagery in \0v. 13 and 14, it refers to development of mind by preventing
1620D10 any lust (*4Kamachanda). ^This verse reads that even as rain penetrates
1630D10 an ill-thatched house, so does lust penetrate an undeveloped mind
1640D10 and that lust does not penetrate a well developed mind: **[verses**]
1650D10 $^Mind is described as fickle, difficult to_ guard and control in the
1660D10 very first verse of *4Chittavagga: **[verses**] $^It advises a wise
1670D10 man to_ straighten his mind as an arrow is straightened by a fletcher.
1680D10 ^It emphasises the need for control of mind which is conducive to happiness
1690D10 because it flits and floats all over and it is very difficult to_
1700D10 check and control it: **[verses**]*#
        **[no. of words = 02010**]

        **[txt. d11**]
0010D11 **<THE INDIAN MUSLIM CONTRIBUTION TO RELIGIOUS THOUGHT**> $^At the
0020D11 very outset I want to_ make it clear that I would like to_ limit myself
0030D11 only to Muslim religious thought. ^And even in the development of
0040D11 Muslim religious thought Indian Muslim thinkers have been influenced
0050D11 by the outstanding Muslim thinkers who flourished outside India. ^Therefore
0060D11 it would be desirable to_ have a glance at the development of
0070D11 Muslim religious thought before its gaining ground in India. $^As six
0080D11 Hindu orthodox (*4Astika) philosophical systems, namely, *4Nyaya,
0090D11 *4Vaisesika, *4Sankiya, *4Yoga, *4Mimamsa and *4Vedanta, accept the
0100D11 authority of *4Vedas, in like manner the main schools of muslim religious
0110D11 thought such as *7Mu*'7tazilism, *7Ash*'7arism and *7S*?0ufism are
0120D11 deeply rooted in the *7Qur*'7a*?1n. $^After the death of Prophet Muhammad
0130D11 the Muslims faced the theologico-philosophical problems and most
0140D11 of these problems were related to *7Kala*?1m-illa*?1hi*?1 (the *7Qur*'7a*?1n).
0150D11 ^To_ solve these problems the Muslims developed the science
0160D11 of dialectics (*8*'7ilm u*'7l-kala*?1m*9). ^According to Shahrastani,
0170D11 the main problems were (**=1) relation between essence (*7dhat) and attributes
0180D11 (*7s*?0ifa*?1t) of God, (**=2) the vision of God (**=3) the creation
0190D11 of the *7Qur*'7a*?1n (**=4) the problem of *7jabr (predestination)
0200D11 and *7qadar (freedom of will); (**=5) the supremacy of reason (*7*'7aql)
0210D11 over revelation (*7wah*?0i*?1); (**=6) the problem of good (*7khair)
0220D11 and evil (*7shar), \0etc. $^The very first rational school of Muslim
0230D11 philosophy was *7Mu*'tazilism founded by Wa*?1sil \0b. *'7At*?0a*?1
0240D11 (699-748 \0A.D.). ^The outstanding thinkers of this school were Hudhail
0250D11 (748-840 \0A.D.), Nazzam (\0d. 845 \0A.D.), Ja*?1h*?0iz (\0d.
0260D11 869 \0A.D.)
0260D11 and Jubbai (\0d. 849 \0A.D.) $*7^*Mu*'7tazilites gave supremacy
0270D11 to reason (*7*'7aql) over revelation (*7wah*?0i*?1), made attributes
0280D11 of God identical with His essence, denied the vision of God and declared
0290D11 the *7Qur*'7a*?1n as created. ^They affirmed the freedom of will
0300D11 (*7qadar) and opposed the theory of predestination. $^As a reaction to
0310D11 this school, the school of *7Ash*'7arism was founded by *'7Abu*'7lH*?0asan
0320D11 Ash*'7ari*?1 (873-941 or 945 \0A.D.) ^Though *7Ash*'7arism
0330D11 was not against reason it gave superiority to revelation over reason. ^Regarding
0340D11 relation between essence and attributes of God, it propounded
0350D11 the theory of "*8Za*'7id al-Dha*?1t,*9" \0i.e., attributes are over
0360D11 and above the essence of God. ^It affirmed the vision of God and advocated
0370D11 the eternity of the *7Qur*'7a*?1n. ^In connection with the freedom
0380D11 of will, it propounded the theory of acquisition (*7kasab). ^This school
0390D11 was supported by Imam Ghazali (1058-1111 \0A.D.) and Ima*?1m
0400D11 Fakhr al-Di*?1nRa*?1zi*?1 (1149-1209 \0A.D.). $^Side by side with *7Mu*'7tazilism
0410D11 and *7Ash*'7arism the school of *7S*?0u*?1fism was also
0420D11 developing. ^The *7s*?0u*?1fis unanimously made Prophet Muhammad as
0430D11 their model and after the Prophet, the Companions of the Prophet
0440D11 (*7S*?0ah*?0a*?1bas) and the Companions of the Companions of the Prophet
0450D11 (*7Ta*?1bi*'7i*?1n) were chosen. ^It was Abu Ha*?1shim of Ku*?1ah
0460D11 who came to_ be called by the name of a *7s*?0u*1fi for the first
0470D11 time. ^The
0471D11 main concern of *7S*?0u*?1fism was to_ attain the love and vision
0480D11 of God and for that_ they developed the different doctrines slowly and
0490D11 gradually. $^*H*?0asan of Bas*?0rah (642-729 \0A.D.), a noted scholar
0500D11 and *7s*?0u*1fi, represented a tendency towards other-worldliness, piety
0510D11 and asceticism in which the element of fear of God predominated.
0520D11 ^But his contemporary Ra*?1bi*'7a Bas*?0ari (713-801 \0A.D.), a noted
0530D11 woman *7s*?0u*1fi advocated disinterested love of God and after her 'Love
0540D11 of God' became the backbone of *7S*?0u*?1fism. ^After Ra*?1bi*'7a
0550D11 Bas*?0ari we find a galaxy of *7S*?0u*?1fis such as... **[list of names**]
0560D11 and others who propounded the *7s*?0u*1fi doctrines individually.
0570D11 ^This phase may be called doctrinal *7S*?0u*?1fism. $^In addition to
0580D11 these schools of muslim religious thought, there were also some independent
0590D11 Muslim thinkers such as... **[list of names **]. ^They were greatly
0600D11 influenced by Greek philosophy and especially by neo-Platonism. ^They
0610D11 devoted their attention mainly to science and pure philosophy, such as
0620D11 logic, metaphysics, ethics, \0etc. ^They were *7Mu*'7tazali in spirit
0630D11 and tried their best to_ bring harmony between religion and philosophy.
0640D11 ^But Ibn Si*?1na*?1, by presenting the theory of co-existence of God
0650D11 and matter came into direct conflict with the basic doctrine of Unity
0660D11 of God presented by *7Mu*'7tazilites, *7Ash*'7arites, Su*?1fi*'7s
0670D11 and orthodox Muslims. ^These philosophers also presented the theory
0680D11 of Emanation on the pattern of Plotinus, which was vehemently opposed
0690D11 by Ghazali and others. $^Thus we see that upto the 10th century Muslim
0700D11 religious philosophy was in its full shape represented by *7Mu*'7tazilism
0710D11 *7Ash*'7arism, Su*?1fism and the philosophers (*7h*?0ukama*?1).
0720D11 ^In the 11th century there came an outstanding personality Abu*?1 H*?0ami*?1d
0730D11 al-Ghaza*?1li*?1 (1058-1111 \0A.D.) by name. ^*Al-ghaza*?1li*?1
0740D11 in turn was a canon-lawyer and a scholastic, a philosopher and a sceptic,
0750D11 a mystic and a theologian, and a traditionist and a moralist. ^He
0760D11 occupies a position unique in the history of Muslim religious and philosophical
0770D11 thought by whatever standard we may judge, whether breadth of
0780D11 learning, originality or influence. ^He vehemently criticized philosophers,
0790D11 especially Ibn Si*?1na*?1, in his book, *8Taha*?1fatu*'7l Fala*?1sifah*9,
0800D11 presented the *7s*?0u*1fi doctrines in a systematic and codified
0810D11 form, formulated the method of doubt five hundred years before Descartes
0820D11 (\0b. 1596 \0A.D.), rejected the 'Correspondence theory of causation'
0830D11 and established 'the Sequence theory', seven hundred years before
0840D11 Hume (\0d. 1776 \0A.D.). ^*Al-ghaza*?1li*?1 has fully dominated
0850D11 the Indian Muslim thinkers. $^Another dominant personality who has
0860D11 influenced the Indian Muslim thought, was Shaikh Moh*?0i*1 al-di*?1nIbn
0870D11 *'7arabi (1165-1240 \0A.D.). ^He is one of the most prolific authors
0880D11 of Muslim history. ^He is the founder of the doctrine of '*8Wah*?0dat
0890D11 u*'7l-Wuju*?1d*9' (Unity of Existence). ^It is a curious blend
0900D11 of reasoned truth and intuitive knowledge. ^According to Ibn *'7Arabi,
0910D11 Reality is an essential unity but it is also a duality in so far as
0920D11 it has two differentiating attributes, *7h*?0aqq (God) and *7khalq (Universe).
0930D11 ^It can be regarded from two different aspects. ^In itself it
0940D11 is the un-differentiated and Absolute Being which transcends all spatial
0950D11 and temporal relations. ^On the other hand we can view Reality as
0960D11 we know it; and we know it invested with Divine Names and Attributes.
0970D11 ^In Ibn *'7Arabi*'s own words, "We are His names or His external
0980D11 aspects. ^Hence Reality is one and many; unity and multiplicity; eternal
0990D11 and temporal; transcendental and immanent. ^It is capable of receiving
1000D11 and uniting in itself all conceivable opposites." $^*Ibn al-*'7Arabi*'s
1010D11 book, *8Fus*?0u*?1s*?0 u*'7l-h*?0hikam, was very popular among the
1020D11 *7su*?1fis in india in the 15th and 16th centuries. ^It is unfortunate
1030D11 that Ibn *'7Arabi is the most controversial figure in Isalamic history.
1040D11 ^By some he is considered to_ be one of the greatest figures of
1050D11 Isalam as an author and a *7su*?1fi, while others regard him as a heretic
1060D11 and impostor. $^It is also very important to_ note that *7Su*?1fism
1070D11 in the 11th and 12th centuries became a movement for propagating the
1080D11 *7su*?1fi doctrines. ^The different *7su*?1fi orders (*7silsilahs) sprang
1090D11 up outside India and four of them namely Chishti, Suhrawardi, Qa*?1diri*?1
1100D11 and Naqshbandi, developed in India. $^With the outbreak of the
1110D11 Crusades and onslaught of Changez Khan a large number of Muslim
1120D11 *7*'7ulma*?1 and saints and scholars migrated to India to_ take refuge,
1130D11 as India, at that_ time, was a haven of peace for Muslims. $^The Chishti
1140D11 *7silsilah in India was founded by Shaikh Mu*'7i*?1nu*'7ddin
1150D11 Chishti (1142-43--1235-36 \0A.D.). ^It was popularised by Shaikh Qutbu*'7ddi*?1n
1160D11 Bakhtiya*?1r Ka*?1ki (1186-1235 \0A.D.) and Shaikh Faridu*'7ddin
1170D11 Ganj-i Shakar (1175-1265 \0A.D.) and it reached its zenith
1180D11 at the time of Shaikh Niza*?1m*'7ddin Auliya*?1(1238-1325 \0a.d.).
1190D11 ^At the time of Shaikh Niza*?1m*'7ddin Auliya*?1 the Chishti
1200D11 *7khaqahs and orders were established in every major city of the Indian
1210D11 subcontinent. ^After the death of the Shaikh, Shaikh Nas*?0ru*'7ddin
1220D11 Chira*?1gi*?1 Delhi (\0d. 1356-57 \0A.D.) further strengthened it
1230D11 and his *7khali*?1fah Syed Husain Gaisu*?1 Dra*?1z established a
1240D11 Chishti centre at Gulbargah in south India. $^*Shaikh Baha*?1*'7uddin
1250D11 Zakariyya*?1 established the Suhrawardi order in India, but this order
1260D11 remained limited to Sindh and Multan. $^*Shaikh Sharfu*'7ddi*?1n
1270D11 Yah*?0ya*?1 Munairi founded the Firdausi order in the 14th century
1280D11 and the activities of this order remained confined to Bihar. ^Thus we
1290D11 see that during the period 11th to 14th centuries Chishti, Suhrawardi
1300D11 and Firdausi orders were most active. ^Their main concern was to_
1310D11 reform humanity at large. ^For this purpose they were preaching and practising
1320D11 the higher moral values. ^They were also engaged in discussing
1330D11 metaphysics. ^The central problem in metaphysics was the relation between
1340D11 creature (*7banda) and creator (*7Khuda). ^They were further interested
1350D11 in discussing the essence, attributes, knowledge, love and vision
1360D11 of God. $^As has already been stated, Ibn *'7Arabi put forward the
1370D11 doctrine of *7Wah*?0da tu*'7l-Wuju*?1d, but the Chishti, Suhrawardi
1380D11 and Firdausi saints and scholars of this period were almost unanimous
1390D11 in presenting and preaching the theistic conception of God. ^They categorically
1400D11 rejected the doctrine that the creature is identical with the
1410D11 creator. ^The *7Maktu*?1ba*?1 of Shaikh Sharfu*'7ddi*?1n Yah*?0ya*?1
1420D11 Munairi after Kashf-a*'7l Mah*?0ju*?1b of Shaikh *'7Ali Hujwiri
1430D11 is the earliest Indian authentic record of the *7s*?0u*1fi doctrines and
1440D11 thought. $^In his Mukiu*?1ba*?1t Shaikh Munairi says, "As in the
1450D11 bright light of the sun the particles of dust become invisible, in
1460D11 like manner after the attainment of Divine Light the seeker of God completely
1470D11 absorbs himself in God. ^Due to his deep absorption he even forgets
1480D11 the existence of his own self. ^This does not mean that things other
1490D11 than God have actually been annihilated or he (mystic) himself has
1500D11 become non-existent or he has become one with God but it simply means
1510D11 that he does not see anything except God. ^And to_ be 'nonexistent'
1520D11 is different from 'not to_ see.'" $^*Syed H*?0sain Gaisu*?1 Dara*?1z
1530D11 was a prolific writer. ^Among his writings are *8Sharh*?0 Tamhi*?1da*?1t*9
1540D11 and *8Shrah*?0 Risa*?0lah Qushairiya*9. ^His collection of
1550D11 eleven pamphlets is known as *8Majmu*?1*'7ah Ya*?1dah Rasa*?1*'7al.*9.
1560D11 ^There is also a collection of his letters known as *7Maktu*?1ba*?1t.
1570D11 ^In the form of questions and answers he has written a book known as
1580D11 *7Kita*?1bu*'7l-*'7a*?1qaid. ^His collection of sayings (*7Malfu*?1za*?1t)
1590D11 is known as *8Jawami*'7 ul-Kalim*9.
1591D11 ^Besides the Maklubat of Shaikh Munairi
1600D11 and books of Sayyid Gaisu*?1 Daraz, we find the authentic *7malfuzat
1610D11 such as *8Fawa*?1*'7id u*'7l-Fu*'7a*?1d;*9 *8Khair u*'7l-Maja*?1lis*9
1620D11 and *8Siyar u*'7l-Auliya.*9 *7^*Ghazalis*'7Ih*?0ya*?1 and
1630D11 *8Ki*?1maya i Sa*'7a*?1dat,*9 '*8Awa*?1rif u*'7l-Ma*'7a*?1rif*9 of
1640D11 Shaikh Shaha*?1bu*'7ddin Suhrawardi and *8Kashf u*'7l-Mah*?0ju*?1b*9
1650D11 of Shaikh *'7ali Hujwiri*?1 were very popular among the Indian
1660D11 *7s*?0u*?1fis and intellectuals of this age. $^At this stage it is very
1670D11 interesting to_ note that in Hindu philosophy, too the same central problem
1680D11 was being discussed. ^Some like Sankara (788-820 \0A.D.) hold
1690D11 that the self (*4Jiva) and god (*4Brahman) are absolutely identical.
1700D11 ^Some others like Ramanuja (1017-1137 \0A.D.) again hold that the two
1710D11 are identical only in some special sense. ^*Ramanuja accepted the attributes
1720D11 of God and the reality of the world. ^But the third Madhva (1199-1278
1730D11 \0A.D.) believed that the self and God are two totally different
1740D11 entities. ^Here it may be shown that the thought of Ramanuja was
1750D11 nearer to that_ of Ibn *'7Arabi which became the dominant phase of
1760D11 the Bhakti movement and *7su*?1fism in the 15th and 16th centuries and
1770D11 the thought of Madhva was in keeping with the time of Orthodox *7su*?1fis.
1780D11 ^But the thought of Sankara could not get a convincing general
1790D11 acceptance in India and like-wise we find that in Muslim philosophy,
1800D11 too, except some accidental utterances of 'Anal H*?0aqq', the doctrine
1810D11 of 'absolute identity' could never get a congenial atmosphere. $^From
1820D11 the 15th century onward we find a very significant change. ^*Sulta*?1n
1830D11 Muhammad Tughlaq gave a death-blow to the central organisation of
1840D11 Chishti order. ^The Sulta*?1n himself fell into the clutches of an irreligious
1850D11 person like Sa*'7d Mant*?0aqi*?1 (the logician), a false believer
1860D11 like *'7Ubaid, the poet, a philosopher like Najm Intisha*?1r, and
1870D11 Maula*?1na *'7Alimu*'7ddin, the father of religious sophists. ^These
1880D11 personalities were known as philosophers. ^They had no regard for *7shari*'7a
1890D11 (formal laws of Islam). ^They were the supporters of reason and
1900D11 took only those things from revelations and inspirations which were supported
1910D11 by reason. $^*Su*?1fism itself was moving swiftly towards decay and
1920D11 disintegration. ^*Sulta*?1n Firoz Sha*?1h, in his *8Futu*?1h*?0a*?1t-i
1930D11 Fi*?1ru*?1z Sha*?1hi*?1*? writes, "Again a sect under the guise
1940D11 of theism, renunciation and celibacy, led the people astray and made disciples
1950D11 and uttered blasphemous words. ^For instance, Ahmad Bah*?1ri,
1960D11 the religious head of these misguided persons, lived in the city and was
1970D11 considered to_ be God by a body of men from Bihar. ^There was a man
1980D11 in Delhi named Ruknu*'7ddin who claimed to_ be the Mahdi. ^Again,
1990D11 one of *7Maulazadahas of Ain Mehru had set himself up as a religious
2000D11 leader in Gujarat. ^Collecting a number of disciples he used to_ declare,
2010D11 'I am God.'*#
        **[no. of words = 02040**]

        **[txt. d12**]
0010D12 **<*3ORIGIN AND EVOLUTION OF SUFISM*0**> $**[quotation in Urdu**]
0020A12 $^THERE is no task more delicate than to_ assess the factors which
0030D12 go to_ determine the nature and degree of influence exerted by one thought
0040D12 upon another. ^Commercial and historical contact may tend to_ ease
0050D12 mental fusion, yet even without this, thought travels unbridled on wings
0060D12 of imagination whether the political relations of the people concerned
0070D12 are friendly or hostile. ^Thoughts expressed in literature wait for
0080D12 literary analysis to_ prove their worth. ^Thus ideas of inherent value
0090D12 spread far and wide and do not stop at political frontiers. $^If one side
0100D12 is to_ give and the other side is willing to_ take, this implies
0110D12 recognition of superiority of the side whose thought is being taken. ^The
0120D12 Greeks*' exquisite poetry and prose have inspired countless writers
0130D12 all the world over; there are profound and rich ponderings on the meaning
0140D12 of life and exploration of delicate personal situations in Arabic and
0150D12 Persian literatures that_ appeal to and satisfy our senses and imagination.
0160D12 ^Love palpitates with fantastic imagery and literary refinement
0170D12 among the elite finding expression in the simple and passionate songs
0180D12 of the people. $^While new ideals of chivalry inspired the upper classes
0190D12 in almost all European countries, we find Arabic poetry striding in
0200D12 the desert with measured steps (like their camels) in rhyme and metre
0200D12 to_ prepare the norms for polished ode and short lyric to_ enable
0210D12 the "love laden heart to_ assuage its grief at parting from some beloved"
0220D12 in a dignified manner. ^The Persians could write "timeless truths"
0230D12 in a way that_ makes the reader feel that he is taking a walk in a quiet
0240D12 wood or bathing in a cool stream-- it soothes the spirit. ^This lyrical
0250D12 poetry paved the way for the emergence of a distinctive type of Platonic
0260D12 love that_ embraced ethical elements. $^The name of Ibn-i Dawud
0270D12 of Baghdad is dear to many who regard *3The Book of Venus almost
0280D12 as a book of devotion. ^It depicts in soul-stirring verse, all the aspects
0290D12 of love its nature, laws, forms of expression and effects. ^It
0300D12 deals with the ideal love of which the holy Prophet said: "One who loves
0310D12 and conceals his love remains chaste and dies a martyr." $^*Ibn-i Hazm
0320D12 (\0d. 1064 \0A.D.) of Spain, a proverbial name in Islam for
0330D12 purity in religious thought, came out with his own treatise in verse on
0340D12 love, namely *3Tawaq al-Hammama. ^The majesty and beauty of the language
0350D12 in which he clothed his ideas caught the imagination of the western
0360D12 scholars who honoured him, declaring him as the founder of the science
0370D12 of Comparative Religion. ^He believes the Platonic theory of love being
0380D12 the means to_ attain union between earthly and heavenly beings. $^With
0390D12 the exception of Spaniards, the Europeans of those days were of
0400D12 opinion that Arabic and Persian were nothing more than fables narrated
0410D12 from the mouth of birds and animals, as they were acquainted with only
0420D12 *3Kalila wa Dimna of Sanskrit origin, (Panchatantra), translated
0430D12 by Ibn al-Muqaffa*'7 into Arabic in the 8th century, which was rendered
0440D12 into Spanish for Alfanso, the Wise (1252-1284). ^Its Latin version
0450D12 *3*8Directorium Humanae Vitae*9 by John of Capua evaluated its
0460D12 worth and opened the floodgates for translation into almost all other
0470D12 languages of the West. $^The infiltration of eastern thought into medieval
0480D12 Europe led to an intellectual movement of vast dimensions. ^Latin
0490D12 suffered due to the lack of originality and Greek due to the passage
0500D12 of time. ^Hence the learned were compelled to_ look elsewhere in their
0510D12 literary quest and lyrical thirst. ^Greece that_ once supplied food
0520D12 to the intellect was languishing; and Arabia, that_ looks a desert,
0530D12 produced intellectual giants. ^The military superiority of the Arabs was
0540D12 well established; now Europe had to_ recognise their intellectual
0550D12 pre-eminence as well. $^History records that Arabic studies were pursued
0560D12 in Dante*'s time in Italy with much vigour and interest. ^Books like
0570D12 Legends of *3Tundal, *3\0St. Patrick Purgatory and *3Divine
0571D12 Commedia
0580D12 were profoundly influenced by element of Muslim Cosmogony and the ascent
0590D12 of the holy Prophet to heaven. ^*Dante marvellously succeeded in fusing
0600D12 into one magnificent synthesis the Christian and classical mysticism.
0610D12 $^The richest and highly developed doctrines of the early *7sufis
0620D12 taught the western scholars to_ realise that our daily life is our religion;
0630D12 faith cannot be separated from actions or one*'s belief from one*'s
0640D12 occupation. ^Worship is not a window to_ open and shut: ^The spirit of
0650D12 worship should infuse in that-- it must be translated into action. ^In
0660D12 worshipping God we cannot rise higher than the angels who praise Him day
0670D12 and night. ^Then why have we been created? $^It was the effect of such
0680D12 writings that_ made Sir William Jones once observe: "^No appreciation
0690D12 of Asiatic poetry was possible without a scholarly knowledge of
0700D12 the peoples and natural history of Asia." ^And without making a proper
0710D12 assessment of Asiatic poetry, to_ assess the spiritual heritage of the
0720D12 orient will be an effort, undoubtedly, at second hand. $^It was at one
0730D12 time held that the word "*7sufi" was synonymous with the word "mystic".
0740D12 ^But the word "*7sufi", as used in Arabic, Persian, Turkish and Urdu,
0750D12 has a religious connotation. ^According to the *7sufis themselves,
0760D12 the word is derived from an Arabic root "*7safa" (purity). ^This view
0770D12 is also held by Bashr al-Hafi, the barefooted (\0d. 841-42 \0A.D.)
0780D12 and Junaid Baghdadi (\0d. 909-10). ^According to them the *7sufi is he
0790D12 who keeps his heart pure with God. $^*Noldeke has conclusively established
0800D12 that the word was derived from an Arabic word "*7suf" meaning coarse
0810D12 wool and was originally applied to those Muslim mystics who wore
0820D12 coarse woollen garments as a sign of self renunciation and penitence. $^*Ibn
0830D12 Khaldun says that coarse woollen garments were put on so that those
0840D12 who wore them might be distinguished from those who indulged in luxury.
0850D12 ^According to Qushayri, the term "*7sufi" got currency before the
0860D12 close of 200 \0A.H. (815-816 \0A.D.). ^According to Jami, Abu Hashim
0870D12 of Kufa (\0d. 78 \0A.D.9 was the first *7sufi of Islam. ^According
0880D12 to Gibb, the West can still learn, in respect of mystical psychology
0890D12 and specuiation, something from the East, though it had learned much
0900D12 during the Middle Ages when Muslim philosophy and science radiated
0910D12 from Spain through Christian Europe. ^*Thomas Aquinas Eckhart and
0920D12 Dante heavily drank from it, as mysticism was the common ground where
0930D12 Islam and Christianity touched each other in those days. ^They seem to_
0940D12 bear the stamp of one and the same spiritual genius. ^Towards the second
0950D12 decade of the 7th century (719-816 \0A.D.), history records the name
0960D12 of *7sufi, in Mesopotamia probably derived from '*7suf', coarse woollen
0970D12 garb donned by Muslim and Christian ascetics. ^This goes to_ show
0980D12 their affinity in the matter of choosing dress. $^The *7sufis claim
0990D12 to_ have inherited their doctrines direct from the teachings of the holy
1000D12 Prophet, who, strictly speaking, has given no dogmatic or mystical theology.
1010D12 ^The Qur*'7an of course supplies raw material for both when it
1020D12 says: Allah is the highest of the heaven and the earth (*=24- 35); He
1030D12 is the First and the Last, the Outward and the Inward (*=s7- 3); there
1040D12 is no God but He; everything is to_ perish except He (*=28- 88),
1050D12 I breathed into Man, My spirit (*=15- 29); I have created man and I
1060D12 know what his soul suggests to him, for I am near to him than his jugular
1070D12 vein (*=1- 15); wheresoever you turn, there is the face of Allah (*=2-
1080D12 109); To whom Allah gives no light, he has no light at all (*=24-
1090D12 40). $^Compare the above verses with those of Bhagvad Gita (the
1091D12 *4Yoga
1100D12 of the vision of Universal form-- the dialogue between Shri Krishna
1110D12 and Arjuna) which reads thus: I am the generator of all (Gita-- 8).
1120D12 "^Thou art the Supreme Eternal," Arjuna says to Krishna, "the Supreme
1130D12 abode, the Supreme purity, eternal divine man, primeval Deity, unborn,
1140D12 the Lord (*=5- 12); whatsoever is glorious, good, beautiful and mighty,
1150D12 and thou emanates from a fragment of my splendour (*=5- 41); If thou
1160D12 thinkest that by me, it can be seen, O Lord! Lord of *3Yoga, then
1170D12 show me thine imperishable self (11 discourse, (*=5- 4). ^Compare this
1180D12 with the Quranic verses in respect of Moses addressing God; "My Lord!
1190D12 show me thyself so that I may look upon thee." ^But God said: ^You
1200D12 cannot bear to_ see Me, look at the Mount Senai, have a flash of Me
1210D12 if it can bear to_ stand, (Quran **=7- 143). $**[quotation in
1211D12 Urdu**] $^The English poet whiile
1220D12 giving vent to his feeling about the unity in diversity had the same
1230D12 conception of divine being as held by the *7sufis and the *4Bhaktas:
1240D12 **[verses**] $^And read with it the verses of Bhagavad Gita:-- **[verses**]
1250D12 $^\0Dr. \0Md. iqbal echoes the same idea in Urdu in the following
1260D12 verses:-- **[Urdu verse**] $^Rites and creeds count for little with
1270D12 God. ^*He dwells neither in mosque nor church nor temple, but in the pure
1280D12 heart. ^A voice cannot carry the tongue and the lips that_ give it
1290D12 wings. ^One must seek the Ether Alone; alone and without his nest the
1300D12 eagle flies across the sea. $^Reverting to the *7Quranic verses referred
1310D12 to before, there is no doubt that they contain mystical nuclei, but
1320D12 the passages in regard to the Prophet*'s ascension to heaven, gave a spur
1330D12 to the *7sufis to_ attain mystical experience. ^Along with this, the
1340D12 political upheaval in Europe made the *7sufis face new problems. ^With
1350D12 the opening of a new horizon of time and place new ideas began to_
1360D12 infiltrate in Muslim society. ^They came into contact with the ideas of
1370D12 older civilization both in the West and the East. $^Before Islam *3Hellenism
1380D12 ruled supreme in European countries. ^Theologeans of Islamwere
1390D12 extremely busy in controversies with Christian and Greek mystics
1400D12 on one side, and with the Manichaeans and the Zoroastrians on the other.
1410D12 ^The result was that after 1000 \0A.D. *7sufism began absorbing Christian
1420D12 asceticism and Hellenic gnosticism. ^The Christian monks or
1430D12 hermits were known as "*7Raheb" (**[arabic word **]) who renounced the
1440D12 world to_ attain divine knowledge. ^They took refuge in some solitary
1450D12 cave, mountain or forest as the holy Prophet, in his early days, did
1460D12 in the cave of *7Hira **[Arabic word**].
1461D12 ^As there was a fear that his pious and overzealous
1470D12 followers should make it a model for their life the well-known
1480D12 verse appeared: (**[arabic verse**]) "there is no nunnery in Islam". ^This
1490D12 in fact meant disapproval of the Christian ideal of asceticism.
1500D12 $^The purpose of all religions is to_ discipline the human behaviour and
1510D12 create an atmosphere in which men could live in peace and harmony. ^But
1520D12 man is a queer combination of contradictions. ^The devil in man keeps
1530D12 him always tempted and lured by fascinating objects. ^Penal codes by
1540D12 temporal powers may discipline his mind and regulate his conduct for a
1550D12 while, but sooner or later it turns like a curly tail. ^The religious
1560D12 codes and the *7sufi*'s preachings about "Hell and Heaven" are a powerful
1570D12 deterrent to_ keep mankind within bounds, organised and disciplined.
1580D12 ^Philosophers, scientists and educationists, in their own ways, do the
1590D12 same by conquering new fields of production that_ go a long way to_
1600D12 contribute to the advancement of civilization, so that the world may enjoy
1610D12 peace and progress. $^When Islam spread to Persia and India, the
1620D12 *7sufis had an amazing experience of going through the Manichaeans and
1630D12 the Zoroastrians esoteric expositions of their holy scriptures. ^The
1640D12 *7sufis felt that the precious corn from the rich granary of the East
1650D12 may be fruitfully gathered. "^Birds alight where they pick up grains,
1660D12 and the inn of generosity remains ever crowded" is an old maxim. ^The *7sufis
1670D12 began taking interest in the *4Vedas that_ contained much of the
1680D12 grains of monotheistic character. ^They had nothing but praise for the
1690D12 sublime verses of the *4Vedas, as they testified to the veracity of
1700D12 the Qur*'7an wherein Allah says: "I sent my apostles and messengers to
1710D12 all people in all countries." $^According to *4Vedantic philosophy we
1720D12 find that in the whole course of a soul*'s journey from eternity to the
1730D12 days of resurrection, few events are so epoch-making as those of the strong
1740D12 and genuine love for God which is called "*4bhakti".*#
        **[no. of words = 02020**]

        **[txt. d13**]
0010D13 **<*3The Relation of The Church in Kerala and The East Syrian Church
0020D13 from 1787 to 1860 \0A.D.**> $^By the East Syrian Church I
0030D13 mean both the Nestorian Church and the Catholic Chaldean Church.
0040D13 ^Because it was a time when defection from one to the other was common.
0050D13 ^Although John Sulaqa had submitted himself to the Pope in 1552 \0A.D.,
0060D13 the Holy See did not succeed in getting a sizeable following in
0070D13 the Middle East. ^Moreover the followers of Sulaqa reverted to their
0080D13 old traditions. ^There was no unbroken line of Catholic Chaldean
0090D13 Patriarchs since 1552. ^The present writer thinks that it is only by the
0100D13 time of Patriarch Joseph Audo (1848-79) the Holy See could claim
0110D13 a steady Catholic Chaldean Patriarchate. ^Even Joseph Audo was
0120D13 not steady. ^It was only after his death, the loyalty of the Chaldean Patriarchate
0130D13 to the Holy See became more stable and unequivocal.
0140D13 $^The church of Kerala in this paper means the present Syro Malabar
0150D13 rite of the Roman Catholic Church and the present Chaldean Syrian
0160D13 Church centered around the Big Church, Trichur which was built in 1814
0180D13 \0A.D., \0i.e., in the period of our investigation. $^The period of
0190D13 our present paper is fixed as between 1778 and 1860. ^The first date,
0200D13 \0i.e., 1787 is significant because it is the year of the Angamaly meeting
0210D13 which decided to_ establish the early connection of the Syrian Christians
0220D13 in Kerala with the East Syrian Church. ^The second date is
0230D13 significant since it was in 1860 Thomas Rocos was consecrated as Mettropolitan
0240D13 by Patriarch, Joseph Audo. $^On 9th September 1786, Archbishop
0250D13 Joseph Kariattil died at Goa on his way back to Kerala. ^This
0260D13 was a terrible shock to the Syrian Christians in Kerala who were looking
0270D13 forward to his return after his consecration at Lisbon four years
0280D13 eariler. \0^*Fr *(0E. R.*) Hambye rightly remarks: $^"if he had succeeded
0290D13 in reaching Malabar and in governing his archdiocese for some time,
0300D13 it can hardly be doubted that he would have gathered all the Catholic
0310D13 Thomas Christians under his leadership". $^This did not happen, however.
0320D13 ^The news of the unexpected death of their own Metropolitan Kariattil
0330D13 stirred up the Syrian Christians for a revolt. ^The Syrian Christians
0340D13 in Kerala were not willing to_ tolerate the interference of the
0350D13 Latinites any more. ^They wanted to_ re-establish the earlier connections
0360D13 with the East Syrian Patriarch of Babylon. $^In February
0370D13 1787 \0A.D. the representatives of 84 churches of the Syrian Christians
0380D13 met at Angamaly under the presidentship of Archdeacon Paremakkal
0390D13 Thoma, Administrator of Cranganore, and executed the famous Angamaly
0400D13 *4Padi0la. ^This document attacked the Carmelites and threatened
0410D13 to_ get Archdeacon Paremakkal consecrated as Archbishop by the Patriarch
0420D13 of Babylon. ^The leader of the Syrian Christians was a layman
0430D13 named Thachil Mathoo Tharakan. $^In the Angamaly revolt we find
0440D13 the desire of Syrian Christians to_ be free from the Latin interference.
0450D13 ^They demanded that their leader Paremakkal must be consecrated
0460D13 as a Bishop by the Patriarch, probably the Catholic Chaldean Patriarch.
0470D13 ^The Syrians again asserted that they were Syrians first and
0480D13 foremost. ^They became Roman Catholics due to the circumstances both in
0490D13 India (since the arrival of the Portuguese) and in the Middle East
0500D13 (since the split in the Patriarchate in \0A.D. 1552). ^They also got
0510D13 divided into two groups, one group becoming West Syrian at the arrival
0520D13 of Mar Gregorius in \0A.D. 1665. $^Still the desire for the unity
0530D13 of the Syrians was always there $^*Paremakkal undertook a journey to Rome
0540D13 and Portugal in the company of Kariattil in \0A.D. 1778 hoping
0550D13 to_ bring about the reunion of both the East Syrians and West Syrians.
0560D13 $^Some Syrian Christians in Malabar under Paremakkal sent a
0570D13 deputation in 1796 to Catholic Chaldean Patriarch under the leadership
0580D13 of Paul Pandari, whom Placid Podipara calls 'an obscure person'.
0590D13 ^*Pandari was consecrated by Mar Hanara Hormizdas, the Patriarchal
0600D13 Administrator as Bishop Ward, with the title of the monastery of Mar
0610D13 Abraham. ^Although Pandari was able to_ reach Kerala in 1796, he could
0620D13 exercise authority only after the death of Paremakkal. $^After the
0630D13 death of Paremakkal, Paul Pandari presided over a meeting on june
0640D13 21, 1799, in which Mar Dionysius *=1, the head of the West Syrian group
0650D13 united with the East Syrians under Bishop Pandari who was under
0660D13 the Catholic Chaldean Patriarch. ^But after six months this union was
0670D13 dissolved and the East Syrians and West Syrians separated again.
0680D13 ^The incident added only more confusion. ^*Podipara thinks that "Rome
0690D13 does not seem to_ have known of the affair in time, otherwise things would
0700D13 perhaps have taken another course". ^*Bishop Pandari with the help
0710D13 of one Kattakayam Abraham led a group of Syrian Christians independent
0720D13 of the Carmelites. ^*Abraham Nidhiry, a Syro Malabar writer, calls
0730D13 this attempt of Pandari and Kattakayam as the "second revolt that_
0740D13 fizzled out". ^It did not fizzle out easily as we will see later. $^There
0750D13 was not a single Nestorian Bishop in Malabar in the second half
0760D13 of the eighteenth century to give leadership for the Syrian Christians.
0770D13 ^Hence Nestorian influence might have diminished substantially. ^Moreover,
0780D13 these Syrian Christians were insignificant compared to the powerful
0790D13 Catholic Church organised with the support from the West. ^One
0800D13 must admit the possibility of these Syrian Christians, to a certain
0810D13 extent, willing to_ acknowledge the supremacy of the Pope as long as they
0820D13 had their Syrian Traditions under Syrian or Indian bishops consecrated
0830D13 by the East Syrian Patriarch, Nestorian or Catholic Chaldean.
0840D13 ^Moreover, at that_ time, even the Patriarchs used to_ change sides
0850D13 so often and therefore, it did not matter much which Patriarch consecrated
0860D13 the bishops coming to India from the Middle East. $^To_ end
0870D13 the domination of Pandari Kattakayam group, one Sankurikal George was
0880D13 appointed Administrator of Cranganore, by Rome in 1800. ^*Pandari
0890D13 left Malabar and is said to_ have died in Constantinople. ^*Sankurikal
0900D13 died in \0A.D. 1808. ^Propaganda Congregation in Rome nominated a
0910D13 Catholic Chaldean Bishop, Guriel Mar John, as Visitor Apostolic
0920D13 of Malabar. ^But owing to troubles in Mesopotamia, this Bishop was
0930D13 prevented from proceeding to India. $^An important event that took place
0940D13 in Kerala at the turn of the century is the transplanting of 52 Syrian
0950D13 Christian families around Trichur in the heart of the Trichur
0960D13 town for developing commerce in that_ area. ^The Hindu Maharaja of Cochin
0970D13 called Sakthan Thampuran got these 52 Christian families settled
0980D13 down in Trichur in 1796 \0A.D. ^His successor granted a *4theetooram
0990D13 in 1814 \0A.D. to one Palayil Abraham Kathanar to_ dedicate this
1000D13 church and conduct services according to Chaldean Syrian rite. ^The
1010D13 present writer is inclined to_ think that this priest is Abraham of Kattakayam
1020D13 family from Palai. $^This church at Trichur became a place of
1030D13 refuge in the later years for the prelates of the East Syrian Church
1040D13 to_ worship without interference from the Roman Catholics in Kerala.
1050D13 ^As we see in the history in the second part of the 18th century this
1060D13 Church received Metropolitans consecrated by both Patriarchs \0i.e.,
1070D13 Nestorian Patriarch and his Catholic Chaldean counterpart. $^*Joseph
1080D13 Cor-Episcopa who served this church from 1830 to 1849 \0A.D.
1090D13 as the successor of Abraham Kathanar, is considered to_ be the first
1100D13 East Syrian who reached Kerala during this period. ^There is a record
1110D13 of his letter written in 1832 to the church in Trichur and other churches
1120D13 enclosing a communication from Nicholas Elia (Elia *=8,
1121D13 Catholic Chaldean
1130D13 Patriarch of Babylon at Mosul). ^The letter of Patriarch Elia
1140D13 was unfortunately lost long ago and therefore its contents are not
1150D13 known. ^The letter of Cor-Episcopa is nothing special. ^It is only a
1160D13 covering letter invoking the blessings of Messiah and the Holy Virgin
1170D13 Marth Mariyam. ^Therefore, he seems to have been in touch with the Catholic
1171D13 Chaldean Patriarch. ^The word *1Theotokos is not used
1180D13 anywhere in the letter. ^The absence of Theotokos is significant since
1190D13 it will help to_ establish the identity of this church. $*<*3Denha
1191D13 Beriona*> $^*Joseph Cor-Episcopa*'s successor, Enha Beriona ruled
1192D13 the Trichur church from 1849 to 1860 \0A.D. as an archdeacon. ^During
1193D13 his life time also there were no significant events put on record.
1194D13 ^This name Denha
1200D13 Beriona (meaning Denha son of Jonah) is not common among the priests
1210D13 in Malabar. ^He was an East Syrian priest. $^*Denha Beriona came
1220D13 to Bombay and then to Cochin. ^When the people in Kuruvilangad heard
1230D13 that Denha Beriona was staying in Cochin, a priest named Panakuzha
1240D13 went to Cochin and took him to Kuruvilangad. ^It was claimed by some
1250D13 that Denha Beriona was a real bishop and his crown and staff were in
1260D13 his box and it would be taken out only if everybody unanimously requested
1270D13 him to_ do so. ^It was also stated that he acted himself to_ be a priest
1280D13 due to the fear of the Latin group. ^Though he was acceptable in
1290D13 many churches nobody from the monastery of \0Fr Kuriakose Elias Chavara
1300D13 at Mannanam went to_ see Denha Beriona. ^Therefore a prominent
1310D13 Jacobite priest named Edavazhikal Philipose and others went to_ meet
1320D13 Denha Beriona and stated that the Syrians must be delighted in getting
1330D13 such an excellent scholar. ^The Jacobites told them that it was a
1340D13 shame for them to_ be under the feet of the Latinites and Italians,
1350D13 when they had such qualified Syrians. ^*Denha finally made a visit to
1360D13 the monastery at Mannanam and stayed there for the night. ^But when
1370D13 he wanted to_ celebrate Qurbana in the morning they prevented him to
1380D13 do so without a written permission from the Vicar Apostolic of Verapoly.
1390D13 ^*Denha Beriona got angry and went to Athirumpuzha Church where
1400D13 he celebrated Qurbana and stayed there for several days. $^In the
1410D13 *[Dictionnaire D*'3histori et de Geographie Ecclesiastique*] we read
1420D13 that Denha Beriona came in response to a request written by some Chaldean
1430D13 Syrians in Malabar to Nicholas Zeya, the Chaldean Patriarch,
1440D13 and sent to the Middle East through the help of the Jacobite Metropolitan
1450D13 Mathews Mar Athanasius who knew the Middle East well. ^*Joseph
1460D13 Audo, the successor of Nicholas Zeya, received this request and
1470D13 forwarded it to the Propaganda in Rome. $^*Denha visited Malabar,
1480D13 held out brightly his title of Propaganda student, represented the Carmelites
1490D13 as the only opponents to the coming of a national Bishop and
1500D13 pretended he could manage to get him... ^In 1856, Anthony and Denha,
1510D13 accompanied by a cleric, left for Chaldea. $^The main contribution of
1520D13 Denha Beriona for fostering the relation between Kerala Church and
1530D13 the East Syrian Church was to_ take Anthony Thondanatta to Mosul.
1540D13 ^*Denha Beriona*'s immediate presence among the Chaldean Syrians in
1550D13 Malabar gave them strength and hope in their fight both for identity
1560D13 and against the Latin Roman Catholics. ^In the Middle East it produced
1570D13 immediate results in the consecration of Thomas Rocos as Metropolitan
1580D13 of Basra on Sunday, September 23, 1860 with a view of sending
1590D13 him to India. $^In conclusion, it is clear to us that during the period
1600D13 1787 to 1860\0A.D. there was no strong and concrete tie between the
1610D13 Kerala Syrian Christians and the East Syrian Church. ^Only one
1620D13 Kerala priest was consecrated in Mosul \0i.e., Paul Pandari in 1796.
1630D13 ^Similarly only two East Syrian priests arrived in Kerala, \0i.e.,
1640D13 Joseph Cor-Episcopa and Denha Beriona. ^One more observation is that
1650D13 only the Catholic Chaldean Patriarchs were able to_ do anything for
1660D13 the Kerala Church during this period, although the Nestorian Patriarch
1670D13 Mar Abraham Shimun was able to_ consecrate a Kerala priest, Anthony
1680D13 Thondanatta, in 1862 as Metropolitan by the name Mar Abdisho.
1690D13 ^The reason for the lack of contact of the Kerala Church with the
1700D13 Nestorian hereditary patriarchate of Mar Shimun family was that the
1710D13 headquarters of that_ Patriarchate had retreated into the mountains of
1720D13 Kurdistan, north of Mosul. ^The Nestorian patriarch was almost cut
1730D13 off from the outside world. $^In short, there was no East Syrian Bishop,
1740D13 whether Nestorian or Catholic Chaldean who visited Kerala during
1750D13 the period from 1787 to 1860 \0A.D. ^Still the Syrian Christians
1760D13 in Kerala wanted to_ strengthen their ties with the East Syrian Patriarchs.*#
        **[no. of words = 01987**]

        **[txt. d14**]
0010D14 **<*3Streamlining Our Religion**> $*<1.*3Decadence of Religion*>
0020D14 $^THE *4Vedas, the Ramayana, the Mahabharata and even Chinese
0030D14 travellers have given accounts of a society which was affluent, law-abiding
0040D14 and ethical. ^Ancient Indians were far-sighted and enterprising. ^They
0050D14 built temples in distant lands where their influence may be seen even
0060D14 today. $^Then came a change. ^*Hinduism began to_ shrink and shrivel
0070D14 and fossilize. ^Society became ridden by superstition, untouchability
0080D14 and inertia. ^The result was that for centuries we remained under foreign
0090D14 yoke and ended up with a partition of our homeland. ^Even years after
0100D14 Independence, many people are illiterate and grovelling in poverty and
0110D14 squalor. $*3^Moral values have suffered grievously and indiscipline, bribery,
0120D14 corruption and inefficiency are rampant everywhere. ^Hard work and
0130D14 mutual cooperation, the key to success and happiness, are at a discount.
0140D14 ^Even people who are honest and decent can-not work together for common
0150D14 good. $^All this points to continuing rot and calls for serious thought.
0160D14 ^Excellent work has been done during the last two centuries in putting
0170D14 the message of *4Vedanta across to the people at home and abroad.
0180D14 ^But it does not carry conviction because the claims made on its behalf
0190D14 are belied by the actual condition of its followers in India. ^Surely
0200D14 something is wrong somewhere. ^It is for us to_ find it out and take
0210D14 corrective action. $^There is a world of difference between Hinduism
0220D14 as it is found today and as it can and ought to_ be according to our scriptures.
0230D14 ^It is no longer sufficient to_ write learned commentaries on
0240D14 the *3Gita, the *3Upanishads and other ancient texts. $*3^The
0241D14 need of
0250D14 the hour is to_ chalk out a clear-cut plan for the uplift of the people--
0260D14 physically, economically, socially,morally as well as spiritually. $^Many
0270D14 factors have combined to our present condition. ^Here we will confine
0280D14 ourselves to religious causes, because religion is our dominant interest
0290D14 and many of our troubles are actually due to religious misunderstandings
0300D14 and aberrations. ^Legal, administrative or political solutions of
0310D14 such problems can at best be superficial and temporary. ^It is necessary
0330D14 to_ back them up with effective measures on the religious side. $*3^There
0340D14 is a law of nature according to which things left to themselves tend
0350D14 to_ decay, deteriorate, fall to pieces or gather dust and dirt. ^This law
0360D14 of disorder is universal and inexorable. ^Even religion has a natural
0370D14 tendency to narrowness, rigidity and perversion, which can be kept in check
0380D14 only by constant vigilance and well-directed effort by religious leaders
0390D14 and other men of religion. $^At the best of times it is an uphill
0400D14 task to_ translate religious precepts into action. ^But this becomes
0410D14 impossible if the meaning, scope or priority of a rule is misunderstood.
0420D14 ^And nothing is easier than to_ misinterpret and misapply religious
0430D14 principles-- with disastrous results. $*<*3Science and Art of Spirituality*>
0440D14 $^It is well known that science has two broad divisions-- pure
0450D14 and applied. ^Pure science deals with the laws of nature; applied science,
0460D14 or technology, puts them to use for the well-being of mankind.
0470D14 ^Without technology science would be largely barren, with no impact on
0480D14 our lives. $^Similarly religion is divisible into two parts-- *5BrahmaVidya*6
0490D14 and $*5^*Yoga Shastra*6 the terms used as the general caption of
0491D14 the *3Gita
0500D14 chapters. *5^*Brahma Vidya*6 is the pure science of spirituality,
0510D14 expounding such matters as man*'s relationship with God, with fellow
0520D14 man, with other creatures, and with Nature. $*5^*Yoga Shastra*6 is
0530D14 the technique of putting these truths into practice or the art of living
0540D14 which leads to perfection and bliss. ^Our troubles, as we shall see, are
0550D14 largely due to the fact that many essentials of *5Yoga Shastra have
0560D14 been left out of the religious curriculum. ^Spiritual discipline, instead
0570D14 of covering the *3Whole of life, has been reduced to a few minutes
0580D14 of prayer and meditation. ^The other works, which necessarily occupy 90
0590D14 per cent of a man*'s time,have been declared useless or even harmful for
0600D14 his spiritual evolution, leaving him no incentive whatever to_ do them
0610D14 properly. $^It is said that man is really spirit. ^Reflection on this
0620D14 truth can give hope and comfort in time of distress. ^But over-emphasis
0630D14 on it reduces the body to a futility and is dangerous. ^For the body is
0640D14 the gateway to the soul and no spiritual progress is possible without proper
0650D14 training and development of the body-- including the senses and the
0660D14 intellect. ^It may be all vary well to_ disregard one*'s own body but
0670D14 it is terribly wrong to_ apply the same principle to others and ignore
0680D14 their bodily needs for food, comfort, respect and the like. $^Spirituality
0690D14 is developed by being tough and hardy in one*'s own sufferings but
0700D14 kind and compassionate to others*'. ^But through a widespread misunderstanding
0710D14 we practise even-mindedness more often in the sufferings of others
0720D14 than in our own. ^Every one suffers as a result of this general indifference
0730D14 to the needs or sufferings of others. $^Our ancient sages recognised
0740D14 two different aspects of God: one invisible and traditionally residing
0750D14 in heaven, the other appearing as bird, beast and man. ^To_ worship
0760D14 these different forms of God they prescribed different methods; one
0770D14 by conventional religious exercises and the other by common acts of duty
0780D14 or special acts of charity or social service. ^They laid very great stress
0790D14 on the latter type of adoration. ^In particular, at the end of the Bhagavata
0800D14 in reply to a specific question by Uddhava, \0*4Shri Krishna
0810D14 declared: "^To_ regard Me as the one present in all beings, to_ look
0820D14 upon all beings as Myself in thought, word and deed is, I think, the best
0830D14 of all modes of worship." $^If four religious teachers can be persuaded
0840D14 to_ give even half as much importance to the worship of the God in
0850D14 man as they do to the worship of the God in heaven, the face of our
0860D14 country will be changed in no time. $*<*3Religion is Quest of the Best*>
0870D14 $^Spiritual development requires progress
0870D14 from good to better and best. ^Therefore, it is for religion
0880D14 to_ highlight the most fundamental and most fruitful lessons and to_
0890D14 distinguish them from the rest. ^The *3Gita, has done this with supeerb
0900D14 skill. ^In fact it is a book of fine distinctions, comparisons and
0910D14 contrasts. ^For example, *4Yoga is skill in action. *4^*Vibhooti *4Yoga
0920D14 is superlative skill. ^One chapter makes a distinction between divine
0930D14 and demonical properties, another divides into three grades many religious
0940D14 activities and acquisitions like faith, knowledge and *4Yajna, which
0950D14 are believed to_ be always good and unmixed blessings. ^Similarly action
0960D14 is compared with inaction, *4Sannyasa with *4Tyaga, *4Swadharma with
0970D14 the renunciation of the fruit of action;the Manifest with the Unmanifest
0980D14 God, and the devotee who is dear to the Lord with the devotee who
0990D14 is not. $^It has been well said that emphasis is exegesis. ^Change the
1000D14 emphasis and you change the meaning. ^The whole trend of religious teachings
1010D14 is radically altered when the emphasis is shifted from one precept
1020D14 to another. ^What is often repeated and emphasised tends to_ rule out everything
1030D14 else. ^The priorities of religious requirements must be correctly
1040D14 fixed,separating the universal truth from the half truth, the relevant
1050D14 from the irrelevant, the essential from the non-essential, and the
1060D14 important
1061D14 from the unimportant. $^In particular, it should be realised that
1070D14 the religious obligations of the common folk cannot be so intensive, extensive
1080D14 or exacting as of the few who take to religion as a full-time occupation,
1090D14 much less of the saint who is in a class by himself but who, in
1100D14 spite of all his greatness, cannot be adopted as a model by all and sundry
1110D14 without destroying the whole fabric of society. ^The religious instructions
1120D14 for the masses should be simple to_ understand and easy to_ carry
1130D14 out. $^The layman whose main interest in religion is to_ live by its
1140D14 teachings need concentrate only on the most important lessons which apply
1150D14 to him and which he should build into his character through daily
1160D14 practice. ^He should choose them with care, grasp their true import and
1170D14 scope and attend to the first things first. $^Let me illustrate how shift
1180D14 of emphasis alters the whole course of religion. $^One variety of
1190D14 religion limits itself to adoration and considers right conduct and altruism
1200D14 as secondary and in any case as by-products of adoration. ^Another
1210D14 school requires both worship and service as independent disciplines, with
1220D14 stress on the latter. ^These two varieties of religion, as discussed
1230D14 later, are as different from each other as chalk from cheese in respect
1240D14 of the effort they call for and the results they produce. $^To_ give
1250D14 another example. ^The *3Gita has given the assurance that worship by
1260D14 works brings the highest perfection as well as God-realization. *3^But
1270D14 the popular version has derecognised this kind of worship and this is
1280D14 one of the major causes of our downfall. $*<*3The Four Main Objectives*>
1290D14 $^Our ancient seers laid down four major goals for mankind--
1300D14 *4Dharma, *4Artha, *4Kama and *4Moksha. ^Thus in the *4Vedas there
1310D14 are many prayers for wealth, happiness and glory. "^We call on Thee for
1320D14 prosperity, to_ be free from sin and full of wealth, leading to happiness
1330D14 day by day." (\0*4Rig) "^May I be glorious among men.! ^May I be
1331D14 the foremost among the richest!"
1340D14 (\0*4Yajur). "May we enjoy the earth by being glorious!" (*4Atharva)
1350D14 "^May I be the most glorious!" (\0*4Atharva). $^The *3Gita
1360D14 has clearly recognised the need for wealth and desires. ^In his own
1370D14 picturesque style \0*4Shri Krishna has identified himself with Kuber,
1380D14 the god of wealth (**=10/ 23) and, again with the goddess of wealth (**=10/
1390D14 34). ^Among virtuous devotees those who seek wealth or other worldly
1400D14 goods are also noble, (**=7/ 16, 18). \0*4Shri Krishna also declared:
1410D14 ^In beings I am desire not contrary to *4Dharma" (**=7/ 11). $^We
1411D14 believe
1420D14 that desires-- even *4Sattvika ones-- and wealth are creations of the
1430D14 Devil, but according to the *3Gita they are creations and manifestations
1440D14 of God. ^We are told that desirelessness and poverty are passports
1450D14 to heaven but \0*4Shri Krishna went so far as to_ teach: **[verse**]
1460D14 $"^The ancient civilization of India," wrote \0*4Shri Aurobindo in
1470D14 his book *3The message and Mission of India, "founded itself very
1480D14 expressly upon four human interests-- first desire and enjoyment; next,material,
1490D14 economic and other aims and needs of the mind and body; thirdly,
1500D14 ethical conduct and the right law of individual and social life, and
1510D14 lastly, spiritual liberation: *4Kama, *4Artha, *4Dharma, *4Moksha...
1520D14 except in very rare cases the satisfaction of the three mundane objects
1530D14 must run before the other; *3fullness of life must precede the surpassing
1540D14 of life... ^There was no preaching of a general rush to the cave and
1550D14 the hermitage. $^Similar was the teaching of Swami Vivekananda who
1560D14 approvingly quotes from the *3Maha Nirvana Tantra: "^The householder
1570D14 is the basis, the \0prop., of the whole of society. ^He is the principal
1580D14 earner... he must struggle hard to_ acquire these things: first knowledge
1590D14 and second wealth... ^A householder who does not struggle to_ get
1600D14 wealth is immoral. ^If he is lazy and content to_ lead an idle life, he
1610D14 is immoral because upon him depend hundreds. ^If he gets riches, hundreds
1620D14 of the others will be thereby supported. ^Going after wealth in such
1630D14 a case is not bad, because that_ wealth is for distribution. ^The householder
1640D14 is the centre of life and society. ^It is a worship for him to_
1650D14 acquire and spend wealth nobly; for the householder who struggles to_
1660D14 become rich by good means and for good purposes is doing practically the
1670D14 same thing for the attainment of salvation as the anchorite does in his
1680D14 cell when he is praying: for in them we see only the different aspects
1690D14 of the same virtue of self-surrender and self-sacrifice prompted by
1700D14 the feeling of devotion to God and to all that_ is his."*#
        **[no. of words = 01959**]

        **[txt. d15**]
0001D15 **<*3WORLD TEACHER *4*ADI *SANKARA*0**>
0010D15 $*3^THE*0 glory that_ is \0Ind is fitly symbolised and represented by
0020D15 the Himalayas, the Ganges, Valmiki, Vyasa, and Sankara. $^*Sankara
0030D15 combined in himself the most extraordinary, varied, and almost contradictory
0040D15 qualities rarely found in union. $^He was a *5Brahma Jnani*6 compassionate
0050D15 and full of grace to the whole world, a first-rate philosopher,
0060D15 a strict logician, a good poet, a controversialist who vanquished
0070D15 his opponents traversing the entire length and breadth of India many a
0080D15 time, a dynamic organiser of *4Mutts, an active reformer in the social
0090D15 and religious fields and a prolific writer in prose and verse. $^Above
0100D15 all he was a great unifier of the religious consciousness of India. ^Many
0110D15 of the works ascribed to him are by later writers, but, as in the case
0120D15 of the great Italian painters, he has inaugurated a certain out look
0130D15 in philosophy, a mode or tradition in writing which when followed later
0140D15 bore so much of his authentic voice as to_ be indistinguishable from
0150D15 his; the name of Sankara got transformed, as it were, from a proper into
0160D15 a common noun. $^Allowing for all this, the volume, range, depth, subtlety
0170D15 and permanence of his work in the philosophic, literary, and equally
0180D15 in the practical mundane world, are such that it remains a marvel of
0190D15 overflowing, almost hectic, activity and achievement, so vital and significant,
0200D15 that many normal spans of life of men were all too short and insufficient.
0210D15 ^Hence probably sprang the tender legend of his death at the
0220D15 age of 32, symbolising the intense volume of work he has packed in the
0230D15 all-too-short span of one human life. $^What is the contribution then
0240D15 of Sankara to India and to the world? ^If it be conceded-- as it has
0250D15 justly been and must be-- that the *4Vedas represent a solid and abiding
0260D15 contribution to human thought and the solution of the eternal problems
0270D15 of religion and philosophy, then the value of proper exegetics on
0280D15 them cannot be underrated. $^The great service which Vyasa did was to_
0290D15 rehabilitate the *4Upanishadic view, and not allow it to_ be squeezed
0300D15 out of existence between its other powerful *4Vaidic and *(non-*4Vaidic*)
0301D15 rivals.
0310D15 ^He furnished the armoury which in the hands of Gaudapada to some extent,
0320D15 and as finally wielded by the mighty arms of Sankara turned into a
0330D15 veritable *4Brahmastra and destroyed "the mighty hordes of infidels
0340D15 utterly"-- in the language of Omar Kayyam. ^*Sankara successfully controverted
0350D15 and overthrew all the other mighty systems. ^From that_ day
0360D15 down to this, the only system extant and generally accepted is the *5Uttara
0370D15 Mimamsa*6, the *4Vedantic one. ^The other five *3Vaidik Darsanas*0
0380D15 and the *(non-Vaidik*) ones have become mere museum curiosities.
0390D15 $^The *4Vedas are the soul of India, Vyasa divided them into four, and
0400D15 in his *5Brahma Sutras*6 gave them a name and form by showing their
0410D15 purport and their logical foundations; Sankara completed what Vyasa
0420D15 had begun and established the supremacy of the *4Vedas and the *4Vedantic
0430D15 view as the sole and crowning *4Darsana. $^More insidious and poisonous
0440D15 were the underground horrible cults like the *4Kapali, *4Pasupata
0450D15 and certain brands of the *5Shakta Vamachara*6, with their low panderings
0460D15 and superstitions. ^As a matter of fact, Sankara was on the point
0470D15 of being assassinated by a *4Kapalin, and was saved by the timely intervention
0480D15 of his disciple Padmapada. $^Sankara saved India from all
0490D15 these horrors and preserved her soul and her sunny and cheerful festivals
0500D15 and worship. $^What is the core of Sankara*'s teachings? ^It is nothing
0510D15 less than giving an unqualified and literal meaning to one of the
0520D15 four *4Mahavakyas, the most famous one occurring in the *5Chandogya Upanishad*6,
0530D15 nine times reiterated by sage Uddalaka to his son Svetaketu
0540D15 (Sixth Chapter), and demonstrated in the most practical, scientific
0550D15 and logical manner-- "*5Tat Tvam Asi*6--" *3Thou art that_*0, that_
0551D15 is to_
0560D15 say, your real self and the divine self or God are not different but
0570D15 one and the same. ^It is only the Indian scriptures that_ state this
0580D15 startling, heart-shaking truth in its nakedness-- absolutely, fearlessly.
0590D15 ^*Sankara has in his *4Bhashya on the *3Brihad Aranyaka Upanishad*0
0600D15 (2-1-20) made fun of the fear of the common man at this statement
0610D15 of the *4Vedas. $^The other striking features of Sankara*'s philosophy
0620D15 are the following: $1. ^He has stressed that *4Brahmajnanins and the
0630D15 learned should not stand upon dignity and wait for disciples to_ come,
0640D15 but should go about and save men "even by grasping their hair as one does
0650D15 in saving a drowning man." $2. ^Of all the philosophers in India he
0660D15 is the most rationalistic,laying the greatest stress on free and independent
0670D15 thinking. ^He himself set the example for relentless logic and
0680D15 free and independent thinking. ^Refer, for example, to his stating (as
0690D15 Macaulay did in his notes on his draft Penal Code) that there is a
0700D15 distinction between an act of commission and omission, and that the non-performance
0710D15 of the *4Sandhyavandana by a man will not send him to hell,
0720D15 but it is a pointer that all is not well with his spiritual welfare--
0730D15 a statement at which many of our *4Shastrins stand aghast. $3. ^His
0740D15 glorification of man, of his divine inheritance and birthright. ^Every
0750D15 man is God, if he but realised it, not the weak puling *4Jiva as he mistakenly
0760D15 thinks himself to_ be. $4. ^Every age has a tendency to_ depreciate
0770D15 itself and glorify an imaginary past. ^This obtains in literature,politics
0780D15 and religion. ^*Sankara everywhere emphasises that it is wrong
0790D15 to_ exalt the past at the cost of the present. ^He asserts that man can
0800D15 attain God at all times and places, and man is born to_ attain God
0810D15 and God is there to_ be attained. $5. ^*Sankara states that *3Brahma
0820D15 Vidya*0 is not some high and mighty or mystic cloudy thing, but as much
0830D15 a practical science as mathematics or physics and chemistry, wherein
0840D15 the result is bound to_ follow as surely and demonstrably if proper steps
0850D15 are taken. ^He lists four qualifications in his notes on the first
0860D15 *3Brahma Sutra*0 and he stresses that the last *4Mumukshutvam or an
0870D15 overwhelming desire to_ be freed from the ills of *4Samsara alone is
0880D15 enough to_ carry a man through even in the absence of the other qualifications.
0890D15 $6. ^*Sankara has in his *4Bhashya on the *5Vishnu Sahasranama*6
0900D15 given practical hints on the steps to_ be taken by every aspirant
0910D15 for attaining God. ^They are worth to_ be written in letters of gold
0920D15 and to_ be broadcast throughout the world. (Vide notes on the first Name
0930D15 Viswam). $7. ^*God is *5Tat doore tat antike*6 ^*He is poles distant
0940D15 unto the unspiritual, but "nearer than hands and feet" (Tennyson*'s *3Ancient
0950D15 Sage*0) unto the spiritual. ^The flow of spirit in man is natural
0960D15 and easy,but unfortunately the senses have broken the banks and have
0970D15 carried the waters in turbulance elsewhere. ^Dam the senses, introvert,
0980D15 look into yourself; the roaming spirit will return and flow naturally
0990D15 and instinctively in its old bounds. $8. ^*Sankara is contemptuous of the
1000D15 arm-chair *4pandits and philosophers who mistake scholarship for experience;
1010D15 the proof of a study of the *4Vedas lies in the realisation of God,
1020D15 Sankara is famous for his method of striking off *4Sutras-- short
1030D15 cryptic statements of his own. ^One such occurs in his introduction to
1040D15 the *5Brahma Sutras*6 *5Pasvadibhyascha Aviseshat*6. *4^Pandits are
1050D15 nowise different from animals. *5^*Avagatiparyantam Brahmajnanam*6--
1051D15 realisation
1060D15 of God or the divine nature of one*'s self is the *8summum bonum*9.
1070D15 $9. *5^Vedah vai anantah nityascha*6-- *4Vedas are infinite and eternal
1080D15 in the sense that all men can gain spiritual illumination at any
1090D15 time, and by doing so they add to the *4Vedas. ^In his notes on the *5Taittiriya
1100D15 Sikshavalli*6, a Sage, Trisanku, declares his self-realisation--
1110D15 that he has obtained a shining treasure and that he has been sprinkled
1120D15 with the nectar of immortality, \0etc. *5^*Iti Trisankor Vedanuvachanam*6.
1130D15 ^These are the words spoken by Trisanku who became *4Brahman,
1140D15 who realised *4Brahman immediately as a result of his knowledge that
1150D15 the self is one and indivisible. ^Like the declaration of Sage Vamadeva
1160D15 that he has attained the *8summum bonum*9 this *4Mantra portion
1170D15 of the *4Vedas seen by him, in the fashion that *4Rishis have seen other
1180D15 portions, lights up *5Atma Vidya*6 and asserts his attainment of
1190D15 it. ^It is stated herein that, "in the case of one who is very devoted to
1200D15 *5Nitya Karmas*6 enjoined by the *4Srutis and *4Smritis who is *4Nishkama--
1210D15 without desires and attachments, and who realises the supreme
1220D15 *4Brahman,-- such experiences of *4Rishis arise in him regarding the
1230D15 Self and other matters." $10. ^*Macaulay*'s ambition was to_ make his
1240D15 history of England as interesting as a novel and to_ displace the latest
1250D15 novels from the tables of ladies. ^*Sankara*'s aim was to_ make the
1260D15 proverbially most difficult *5Brahma Vidya*6 as easy and interesting
1270D15 as a fairy tale. ^From his *4Ekasloki to his other works running over
1280D15 a thousand verses, he has written for the *4Pamara "average man." as well
1290D15 as the most learned; from the easy *4Bhajan style of the *4Bhajagovindam
1300D15 to that_ of the difficult *5Sarva Vedanta Sara Sangraha*6.
1310D15 ^And what a wonderful style it is! ^Keen controversy and daily teaching
1320D15 had developed his conversational powers and these have fortunately been
1330D15 carried into all his works, instead of the stiff bookish manner of the
1340D15 pedants. ^And how modern it is! $^Persons acqiainted with the best writings
1350D15 all over the world will be struck by the fact that an author writing
1360D15 more than a thousand years back has invariably adopted the method
1370D15 of writing introductions to the works and to each chapter or canto, and
1380D15 of close analysis and summary. ^But for him, the *3Brihad Aranyaka*0
1390D15 would have remained "the huge tangled forest" which it literally means.
1400D15 $^And how selective he is! ^He omits the entire first canto and some verses
1410D15 of the Second canto of the *3Gita*0 and begins with a brilliant introduction
1420D15 to the portions where Krishna begins his teachings, whereas
1430D15 Madhusudana Sarasvati has wasted his splendid powers in finding hidden
1440D15 meanings in the portions so omitted by Sankara. ^Nor is it a cast-in-one-mould
1450D15 style. ^It is varied, plangent, partaking of the nature of
1460D15 the subject. ^It can aptly be compared to the Alwaye river lovingly touching
1470D15 Kalady, the place where he was born; the stones and shingles on
1480D15 its bed seem so near, but the deeper it is. "*5^*Prasanna Gambhiryam*6"--
1490D15 unfathomable depth made to_ appear so near by absolute clarity-- this
1500D15 is the first and foremost tribute paid by two of his commentators Padma
1510D15 Pada and Vachaspati Misra. $^Commentaries are expected to_ be
1520D15 written in the *(*4Tarkika-scholastic*) logical style, with many long drawn-out
1530D15 *5Avachchhedaka-Avachchhedyas*6. ^*Sankara has not written even
1540D15 one sentence in this vein. ^The hard and rigid frame of logic is the
1550D15 bedrock of the river throughout, but it is implicit everywhere, never appaprent.
1550D15 ^That crowning work in *4Advaita Polemics, the *3Advaita Siddhi*0
1560D15 by Madhusudana Saraswati, has been erected on sentences of Sankara
1570D15 and is nothing but the explication of the logic implicit in his works.
1580D15 ^*5Brahma Jnana*6 and the possession of the keenest intellect in India,
1590D15 with a complete grasp of the subject, have conferred a clarity and
1600D15 limpidness to the style of Sankara which is at once the admiration of
1610D15 his votaries and despair of his enemies. ^The style is workman-like in
1620D15 ordinary places; it is rhetorical as in the place in the *3Gita*0 and the
1630D15 *3Mundaka*0 where he describes *4Samsara, in passages like the
1631D15 exposition
1640D15 of the definition of *4Brahma as *5Satyam-Jnanam-Anantam*6 in the
1650D15 *4Taittiriya it is like some weighty but lucid pronouncement of the
1660D15 Privy Council; it rises to prose-poetry in describing God and *5Brahma
1670D15 Vidya*0. ^In Sankara, Sanskrit prose reached its acme of perfection.
1680D15 ^It is no exaggeration to_ state that the style of Sankara is easily
1690D15 the best prose style in the world, approached only by that_ of Plato
1700D15 and Newman. $^This then is the lasting and unforgettable service which
1710D15 Sankara has rendered to the world-- in placing on an unshakeable basis,
1720D15 what Aldous Huxley has aptly styled as "the Perennial philosophy,"
1730D15 the *4Advaitic doctrine of "*5Tat Tvam Asi*6--" you are *4Brahman.*#
        **[no. of words = 02009**]

        **[txt. d16**]
0010D16 **<*3SCIENCE AND SPIRITUALITY*0**> $*3^TRUTH*0 is man*'s perennial quest.
0020D16 ^Science is probing into the secrets of Nature, discovering its laws,
0030D16 and making its knowledge available to humankind, to_ be used for good
0040D16 or for evil. ^Man himself is a part of Nature, and the physical man,
0050D16 \0i.e., the body, senses and mind, is within the scope of scientific
0060D16 enquiry. $^The search, however, does not end here. ^Ever since the dawn
0070D16 of civilization, man has put to himself the vital and persistent questions:
0080D16 ^Who am I? ^Where have I come from? and where am I going? ^Physical
0090D16 nature is only a phenomenal world subject to constant change. ^There
0100D16 is another world, however, 'the kingdom within.' ^Inner world is subtle
0110D16 as distinct from the outer which is gross. $^My endeavour will be to_
0120D16 show that the two worlds are really one, as the Reality is one. ^The
0130D16 one witho0t the other is partial truth. ^To_ get the whole truth man
0140D16 must also be a whole and complete man, not merely a physical man. ^Science
0150D16 deals with the outer world and spirituality is concerned with the inner.
0160D16 ^To_ get a complete and integral picture of the whole truth, one
0170D16 must understand both. $^Newton found that the universe was orderly and
0180D16 perfectly balanced. ^On observing the speeds and movements of the planets
0190D16 round the sun and of the moons round the planets, Newton remarked that,
0200D16 if the speed of the planets were too high, they would escape the solar
0210D16 system. ^If the speed were too low, they would fall into the sun.
0220D16 ^He concluded: $*3^A most beautiful system... could only proceed from the
0230D16 counsel and dominion of an Intelligent and Powerful Being*0. $^The
0240D16 scientist may well ask: Did the same considerations of order and balance
0250D16 pertain to the world of living beings as well as to the world of celestial
0260D16 bodies? ^*Newton was certain that the answer was in the affirmative.
0270D16 $^Long before Newton made the above observation, *4Rishis (sages)
0280D16 in India were engaged in research into the inner Reality, 'the kingdom
0290D16 of God within us.' ^They were spiritual scientists who experimented
0300D16 on the life and thought of man and discovered cosmic laws. ^They studied
0310D16 the state of man in wakefulness, dreaming, dreamless sleep and *3Turiya
0320D16 Brihadaranyaka Upanishad*0 records that the great *4Rishi, Yajnavalkya,
0330D16 noticing the same phenomenon as Newton did, told Gargi: "Under
0340D16 the mighty rule of this Immutable, O Gargi, the sun and the
0350D16 moon are held in their positions; under the mighty rule of this Immutable,
0360D16 O Gargi, heaven and earth maintain their position; under the mighty
0370D16 rule of this Immutable, O Gargi, moments (*4Muhurtas), days and
0380D16 nights, fortnights, months, seasons and years are operated in perfect order.
0390D16 ^It (the *4Brahman) is the controller of all, the lord of all, the
0400D16 ruler of all,.... ^It is the protector of all beings. ^It (the *4Brahman)
0410D16 is the bank (or the bridge) which serves as the boundary to_ keep
0420D16 the different worlds apart, \0i.e., prevents them from clashing together.
0430D16 ^This is the power that_ dwells and rules in every thing, and is
0440D16 in its essence Consciousness." $^*Newton*'s observation and conclusion
0450D16 was an echo of what had been ascertained through and experienced by the
0460D16 *4Rishis during the *4Vedic period. ^On the controversy whether the
0470D16 universe is finite or infinite, Newton asserted that it is finite as God
0480D16 alone is infinite. $^In *3Aitareya Upanishad*0, it is stated: "All
0490D16 Gods, all elemental substances and all organic beings-- all this is
0500D16 guided by consciousness, grounded in consciousness; by consciousness this
0510D16 universe is governed; consciousness is its foundation, consciousness
0520D16 is *4Brahman." ^*Gods here are the various forces and aspects of divine
0530D16 power operating in the universe. $^In his book *3Science and the
0540D16 Modern World*0, Whitehead asked; "^What is the status of the enduring
0550D16 stability of the order of Nature?" and he said: $"^There is the summary
0560D16 answer, which refers Nature to some greater Reality standing behind
0570D16 it. ^This Reality occurs in the history of thought under many names. ^The
0580D16 absolute *4Brahman, the Order of Heaven, God." ^The author speaks
0590D16 of a wider evolution beyond nature itself, and within which the nature
0600D16 is but a limited mode. ^To this, however, I shall come later. $^To the
0610D16 same effect, speaks James Jeans in his book, *3Mysterious Universe.*0
0620D16 ^He says that the universe shows the evidence of a designing or controlling
0630D16 power that_ has something in common with our own individual minds....
0640D16 (and that) we cannot claim to_ have discovered more than a very faint
0650D16 glimmer of light at the best. $^While in the seventeenth century Newton*'s
0660D16 basis of observation was the solar system and cosmology and the
0670D16 law of universal gravitation, scientist Julius Adler in the twentieth
0680D16 century was engaged in research into the nature of unicellular Bacilli
0690D16 (\0A.E. colicell), size one micrometer (1,000th of a millimeter)
0700D16 wide and twice as long. ^He found that this one-cell organism felt attracted
0710D16 by, and moved towards, certain chemicals, while it was repelled by,
0720D16 and moved away from, other chemicals. ^The scientist during his research
0730D16 extending over 15 years could not discover the reason for this phenomenon.
0740D16 ^He described it as a mystery. ^Wherefrom did this least-developed
0750D16 organism acquire the capacity to_ choose, the power to_ decide, in
0760D16 favour of or against the substance presented to it? ^The *4Upanishadic
0770D16 sage would say that the essence of *4Brahman is consciousness. $*4^*Brahman
0780D16 pervades the entire creation. ^Each part partakes of the quality
0790D16 of the whole. ^For the sage the answer was on the surface. $^In the
0800D16 seventeenth century Francis Bacon had reached the conclusion: "^It is
0900D16 certain that all bodies whatsoever, though they have no sense, yet they
0910D16 have perception, for, when one body is applied to another, there is
0920D16 a kind of election to_ embrace that_ which is agreeable and to_ exclude
0930D16 or expel that_ which is ingrate...." $^The problem is to_ be appreciated
0940D16 in the background of the vastness and the littleness in the universe.
0950D16 ^*Whitehead truly remarked: the astronomers say, how big is universe
0960D16 and the chemists and biologists tell us, how small it is. $^The closest
0970D16 planet is 36,000,000 miles distant from the sun, and the farthest more
0980D16 than 3,500,000,000 miles. ^Distance of earth from the sun is 93,000,000
0990D16 miles, the sun moves through space in the milky way. ^The milky way
1000D16 (galaxy) itself is in motion. ^The sun participates in the rotation of
1010D16 the milky way. ^The temperature at the centre of the sun is several million
1020D16 degrees. ^The sun is one of the countless billions in the milky
1030D16 way. ^And there are millions, perhaps billions, of such galaxies. ^The nearest
1040D16 star *3alpha gentauri*0 is 25 trillion miles away = 4.3 light years
1050D16 distant. ^The most distant galaxy in the universe is 8 billion light
1060D16 years from the earth. ^It was identified in 1975. "^By space the universe
1070D16 encompasses and swallows me as an atom; by thought I encompass it," so
1080D16 said Pascal. ^Man is really an insignificant atom in this vastness, yet
1090D16 he has an incredibly great potentiality. $^As to the littleness, each
1100D16 element consists of minute molecules which are composed of minute atoms.
1120D16 ^Every atom has an electron (negatively charged), proton (positively
1130D16 charged) and neutron. ^Scientists tell us that the nucleus may be compared
1140D16 to the sun and electrons to the planets circulating round the sun.
1150D16 ^There is a constant whirl of electrons in the atom. ^The year 1932, described
1160D16 by scientists as *8annus mirabilis*9, saw the first splitting of
1170D16 the nucleus made by artifically accelerated particles. $^Thus we see innature
1180D16 movements throughout the universe and constant change-- creation, growth
1190D16 and death (\0i.e. from seed to tree to fruit and to seed again).
1200D16 ^But behind all these changes and mutations there is stability, regularity,
1210D16 and precision. ^In God*'s scheme there is no element of chance and
1220D16 uncertainty. "^*God does not play dice" was the firm belief of Einstein.
1230D16 ^The physical laws operating on the earth are identical with those
1240D16 operating in every part of the solar system and indeed in the entire
1250D16 universe. ^All things, great and small, are subject to fixed laws. ^The
1260D16 stability, certainty and precision indicate one Maker of the laws. ^If
1270D16 there had been different makers and different laws, there would have been
1280D16 chaos and confusion. ^The universe would not have been created, and
1290D16 even if created, would not have survived. $^A close analogy is a screen
1300D16 in a film show. ^The persons and scenes on the screen change
1301D16 but the screen
1310D16 remains unaltered. ^While we see the persons and scenes, we don*'4t see
1320D16 the screen. ^But without the screen the film cannot be seen. ^Scenes and
1330D16 figures keep on shifting, appearing and disappearing: the substratum
1340D16 remains the same. ^There is the unity, one-ness, behind the universal
1350D16 change. ^There must be one author, designer, planner, controller, indeed
1360D16 one Intelligence and Consciousness in the universe. ^The movement
1370D16 in the universe and God*'s relation to it is best illustrated by the *4Upanishadic
1380D16 text: **[Sanskrit Verse**] "all this, whatever moves in
1390D16 this Universe, including the Universe itself moving, is indwelt or pervaded
1400D16 or enveloped or clothed by the Lord..." ^The word *[1Isha*] connotes
1410D16 Ruler also. $^In passing, I might refer to the concept of *5Nada
1420D16 Brahman*6, the power of sound which is *4Brahman*'s power. ^The
1430D16 Greek philosopher, Phythagoras, stated that the pitch of notes depends
1440D16 on the rapidity of vibrations. ^It was also stated that the planets move
1450D16 at different rates of motion. ^He concluded that the planets make sounds
1460D16 in their motion according to their different rates and that, as all
1470D16 things in nature are harmoniously made, the different sounds must harmonise.
1480D16 ^This is the origin of the theory of the harmony or music of the
1490D16 spheres. ^The word "*4Om" in *4Upanishadic literature is the highest
1500D16 symbol of *5Nada Brahman*6. $^It is interesting to_ study the evolution
1510D16 of man and his future in this evolution. ^In *5Mundaka Upanishad*6 the
1520D16 process of evolution is thus described: $*3*4^*Brahman grows by His
1530D16 energy at work and then from Him is Matter born, and out of Matter life,
1540D16 and mind and truth and the world*0. $^Energy is the first step in
1550D16 creation, the second is matter. ^The 'world' in this context means different
1560D16 planes of consciousness. ^Thus the order in evolution is energy,
1570D16 matter, life, mind, truth and different planes of consciousness and after
1580D16 the highest level, immortality. ^How beautifully the *4Upanishad describes
1590D16 the various stages of evolution. ^Scientific discoveries take us
1600D16 upto the stage of mind because the scientific methods are limited to the
1610D16 application of the mind and the senses. ^Truth cannot be discovered
1620D16 merely by resort to methods applicable to science alone; upto a certain
1630D16 stage, there is close correspondence between what has been discovered by
1640D16 the scientist and that_ declared by the written text of the *4Upanishad.
1650D16 $^It is now acknowledged that energy is the source of the universe.
1660D16 ^Moreover, various energies are convertible into each other. ^Heat can
1670D16 be converted into electricity and *8vice versa*9. $^*Einstein enunciated
1680D16 the formula: **[formula**] $^In this formula, E stands for energy, 'm'
1690D16 for mass and 'c' is equal to the speed of light \0i.e., 1,86,000 miles
1700D16 per second. ^Energy is convertible into matter and possesses mass also.
1710D16 ^In the sun matter is converted into energy and on the earth energy
1720D16 is converted into matter. *4^*Brahman is the primeval source of energy.
1730D16 ^It is also acknowledged that from inorganic matter life was evolved.
1740D16 ^Thus Matter became the source of life and life in the course of evolution
1750D16 developed mind. $^According to the scriptures, the level of consciousness
1760D16 of an average man is not ultimate. ^There are several planes of
1780D16 consciousness ultimately leading to complete unity with *4Brahman, merging
1790D16 in the source itself. $^According to the *4Upanishads the universe
1800D16 is but an emanation from and part of *4Brahman Itself.*#
        **[no. of words = 01945**]

        **[txt. d17**]
0010D17 **<*3Keeping alive the sacred flame*0**> **[begin leader comment**] $^"I
0011D17 swore to_ save
0020D17 fire from the sin of forgetiulness," writes the poet, Keki Aruwala.
0030D17 ^This is precisely the threat hanging over the followers of Zarathushtra
0040D17 today. ^How this 3,000-year old religion could be explained to
0050D17 young in 20th-century terms was one of the major issues discussed at the
0060D17 five-day Third World Zoroastrian Congress. its theme was: "the Zoroastrian
0070D17 community in a changing world. **[end-leader comment**] "^All
0080D17 of you who have come from abroad will put forward dangerous theories in
0090D17 support of conversion and destroy our community." the delegate from Chicago
0100D17 who was confronted with this accusation by a cousin was most upset,
0110D17 especially because she was going to_ speak out strongly *3against*0
0120D17 conversion. "^What we in this community suffer from is an acute deficiency
0130D17 of cool-headed communication," she said sadly. $^The Zoroastrian
0140D17 Congress in Bombay was held to_ establish communication between Zoroastrians
0150D17 spread across India and the globe. ^For no one more than the
0160D17 Zoroastrians has realised that, if they don*'4t hang together, they shall
0170D17 all hang separately. $^Under the vaulted dome of Bombay*'s historic
0180D17 Cowasjee Jehangir Hall, watched over by a benign *8Asho Farohar*9,
0190D17 the winged symbol of their ancient faith, crowding into the main chamber
0200D17 and overflowing from the galleries, 1400 delegates from India, Iran,
0210D17 America, Canada and the United Kingdom absorbed the scholarship
0220D17 of the main speakers and took note of the many suggestions which came
0230D17 from the floor at "workshop" time. $*<"*3No Controversies*0"*> $^For
0240D17 long months the orthodox had fought against the holding of the Congress,
0250D17 afraid that the discussion of controversial issues would threaten
0260D17 their bastions. $^They need not have worried. ^The one session devoted
0270D17 to these questions showed that the Establishment was alive and quite well,
0280D17 thank you. ^After all, this was not a meeting of Bombay Parsis.
0290D17 ^It was the *3World*0 Zoroastrian Congress and issues which bring blood
0300D17 to_ boil here don*'4t really touch Zoroastrians living elsewhere.$^For
0310D17 instance, we were told that in many places abroad-- unlike in India--
0320D17 a Parsi woman married to a non-Parsi had as much right to_ bring
0330D17 up her children as Zoroastrians as a Parsi man married to a non-Parsi,
0340D17 that "outsiders" are allowed into fire temples in Iran. ^And elsewhere
0350D17 (except for Zanzibar which has an *7agiari), there are neither fire
0360D17 temples nor towers of silence, so the issue of entry into them simply
0370D17 doesn*'4t arise. ^Conversion too was drowned in "*7nays" as speaker after
0380D17 speaker argued that numbers weren*'4t as important as a distinctive
0390D17 identity. $^All this would not have been surprising coming from those
0400D17 pillars of tradition-- the middle-aged and over. ^But many of the speakers
0410D17 from the audience were young and it was inspiring to_ see how well
0420D17 informed they were, how articulate and how definite in what they wanted
0430D17 and hadn*'4t been getting all along-- correct information about Zoroastrianism
0440D17 and an inspiring spiritual leadership. (^Could the organisers
0450D17 of the Congress not find a single Parsi below 35 worthy enough to_ present
0460D17 a paper from the point of view of youth?) $^The decline of priests
0470D17 was given first priority in the list of subjects discussed. $^The Zoroastrian
0480D17 priest today lives in a squalor which his august, venerated,
0490D17 influential forefather in the court of King Jamshyd could never have
0500D17 dreamt of. ^The economic decline of the Parsis today has told directly
0510D17 on the decline of the priests. ^The decline-- in both number and standard--
0520D17 of the priests is Culprit \0No. 1 in the younger generation*'s
0530D17 loss of faith. $^What is the remedy? ^First among the suggestions put
0540D17 forward by both the priests and laity was the economic uplift of the
0550D17 *7mobeds (priests). ^If there*'1s no money in the job, no one of any
0560D17 calibre is going to_ take it. $^There should be a substantial central fund
0570D17 for training and then subsidising priests. ^Every Zoroastrian should
0580D17 contribute annually to the fund. ^Present rates for ceremonies, which
0590D17 are disgracefully low, should be periodically revised. ^As in any other
0600D17 job, give priests provident fund and medical and educational benefits.
0610D17 $^Once the priestly task becomes economically self-respecting, better,
0620D17 dedicated men will be drawn to it and automatically the priesthood will
0630D17 regain the veneration of the *7Behdins (laity). ^Such schemes would
0640D17 also tackle the acute shortage of priests. ^In 1874 there were 865 priests
0650D17 for the 48,000 Parsis of Bombay, today there are 250 priests for
0660D17 the city*'s 65,000-strong community. ^At least in Bombay, you can get
0670D17 a priest. ^The fire temples in other Indian cities are finding it impossible
0680D17 to_ replace priests who have died or left. ^Abroad, men of the
0690D17 priestly class (*7Athornam)-- who have been trained for priesthood
0700D17 but pursue other professions-- work as "part-time *7mobeds" helping
0710D17 out with *7navjotes, marriages and other ceremonies. *<*3No Books,
0720D17 No Zoroastrians*0*> $^As the community scatters, the threat may not
0730D17 be so much "No *7mobed, no Parsi," as "No books, no Zoroastrians".
0740D17 ^How can a Parsi parent in, say, Montreal, cut off from co-religionists
0750D17 and surrounded by an alien culture, teach his childeren to_ keep
0760D17 the faith of his forefathers?
0830D17 $^There have to_ be books. ^Books which explain this
0840D17 ancient religion in 20th-century terms. ^Books steeped in learning yet
0850D17 readable, books which are not bigoted for those no one, certainly not
0860D17 the young, will accept. $^*Zoroastrianism can stand on its own, it doesn*'4t
0870D17 need bigots. ^In it one can find the answers to sciences which
0880D17 are only being named in this century. ^*Zarathushtra, 3,000 years ago,
0890D17 taught that we cannot pollute the environment and expect to_ remain untainted
0900D17 ourselves. ^Nothing that_ Zarathushtra taught has been overthrown
0910D17 by Darwin & \0Co. ^There is irrefutable proof that Zoroastrianism
0920D17 influenced other religions in their theories of Heaven and Hell. ^Proof
0930D17 also that Zarathushtra first enunciated the concept of ethics. ^But
0940D17 the books on Zoroastrianism must give the proof along with the claims.
0950D17 $*<*3A Standard Text*0*> $^This was accepted by the Congress as
0960D17 a task which would have to_ be tackled at once-- the preparation of a
0970D17 standard, authoritative work on Zoroastrian teaching-- accomplished by
0980D17 a group of scholars familiar not only with the language of the Avesta
0990D17 and other relevant texts, but also with the traditions prevalent at the
1000D17 time in which they were written. $^*Zoroastrian scholar Piloo
1010D17 Nanavatty showed how the sublime can be made into the ridiculous by incorrect
1020D17 translation-- for instance, the phrase *8Guesh Urva*9 is invariably
1030D17 literally translated as "soul of the cow", whereas the translation
1040D17 should state not the imagery but its meaning-- the "soul of
1050D17 creation". ^Or take the phrase *8Genao Ahura Mazda*9 which is literally
1060D17 translated as the "women of Ahura Mazda; in the context it actually
1070D17 means "the feminine powers of creation of Ahura Mazda". $^For
1080D17 children there should be books with stories from the epic *3Shah Nameh*0,
1090D17 from the life of Zarathushtra, from the history of the Persian empires.
1100D17 ^They should be interesting enough for non-Parsis also to_ want to_
1110D17 buy. ^This will help the Parsi child to_ get the psychologically essential
1120D17 acceptance of his peer group in school. ^During the Congress an
1130D17 excellent film on the times of Zarathushtra was shown. ^There should be
1140D17 more like it. $^The message came home loud and clear during the Congress
1150D17 that Zoroastrianism would have to_ once again become a living faith
1160D17 for its followers, if it-- and they-- is to_ survive. ^That the moral fibre
1170D17 which sustained the community through centuries would have to_ be woven
1180D17 into a stronger and more tangible fabric. ^But today*'s generation
1190D17 is hardly willing to_ pray. ^How then do you expect them to_ pray in a
1200D17 language they can*'4t even understand? $^A plea was made to_ make available
1210D17 more translations of the *3Avesta*0. ^Translations which would preserve
1220D17 the depth and the lyrical beatuy of the original. "^But," cry the
1230D17 purists, "the power of our prayers is as much in the vibrations created
1240D17 by their sonorous intonation as in their compelling language." ^As
1250D17 always the answer lies in the golden mean. ^Let the prayers be chanted
1260D17 in the original, certainly during ceremonies, by priests trained to_
1270D17 chant them in the proper form. ^For our daily spiritual needs let us pray
1280D17 in the language we understand. $^More important, let children be constantly
1290D17 reminded of the tremendous symbolism in the wearing of the *7sudreh
1300D17 (the sacred vest) and the *7kusti (the sacred thread). ^They are
1310D17 more than symbols, they are a tradition. ^And to_ abandon tradition-- in
1320D17 its broadest sense-- would be fatal for a community that_ is fighting desperately
1330D17 to_ preserve its identity. *<*3Not By "*7Dhansak" alone*0*>
1340D17 $^The scholarly, patriarchal Dastur Minocher-Homji, in flowing robes
1350D17 and honorific *4shawl, waggled his finger and chastised the audience:
1360D17 "^Today, my dear brothers and sisters, the only heritage we Parsis know
1370D17 is the Hotel Heritage." ^It made people laugh, but hopefully it
1380D17 also made them think. $^Certainly Parsis need to_ know that there is more
1390D17 to their heritage than eating *7dhansak on Sunday afternoons. ^*Zarathushtra
1400D17 never commended asceticism. ^He preached that spiritualism
1410D17 and materialism are not mutually exclusive. ^But he certainly didn*'4t
1420D17 preach materialism to the exclusion of spirtualism. ^The prosperity of
1430D17 the Parsis has never been tainted, has always been admired, onle because
1440D17 of their adherence to that_ *8raison d*'3etre*9 of zoroastrianism--
1450D17 *8Humata, Hukta, Hvarashta*9. ^If they abandon this heritage of Good
1460D17 Thoughts, Good Words, Good D e e d s, the Parsis may continue
1470D17 to_ prosper but they can no longer hope to_ be admired. $^Today some of
1480D17 the best Zoroastrian scholars are non-Zoroastrians. ^Why? ^Religious
1490D17 scholarship must again be given the same intellectual stimulation as other
1500D17 research. ^As fiery Khojaste Mistree pointed out-- Christianity,
1510D17 Islam, Hinduism wouldn*'4t be in business if they didn*'4t have religious
1520D17 scholarship. $^Naturally the Third World Zoroastrian Congress
1530D17 would be expected to_ establish permanent links between far-flung pockets
1540D17 of Zoroastrianism. ^A World Zoroastrian Association could periodically
1550D17 collect and distribute reports to its member bodies, collect
1560D17 social and economic data of differnt Zoroastrian communities, keep
1561D17 a record of Zoroastrian studies all over
1570D17 the world and establish a centre itself for research into the religion.
1580D17 ^It could be custodian of a central fund of charities. ^It could plan
1590D17 and finance a stock of books, tapes and films. ^In short, it could do
1600D17 plenty. ^And it would have to_ do so fast. $^Most important, at the World
1610D17 Zoroastrian Congress one could sense the community*'s realisation
1620D17 that it wasn*'4t enough to_ organise a Congress, it wasn*'4t enough
1630D17 to_ extol the great religion, it wasn*'4t enough to_ thunderously applaud
1640D17 every mention of past achievement. ^The momentum generated by the
1650D17 Congress would have to_ be grasped and perpetuated by smaller action
1660D17 groups developing the suggestions flung out from dais and floor. $*<*3Words,
1670D17 Words, Words*0*> $^On the last day, one of the speakers from
1680D17 the \0USA told a story of a convention of cockroaches which met to_
1690D17 counter the threat of being wiped out by Man. ^After many grandiose
1700D17 speeches, it was decided that the only solution would be to_ transform themselves
1710D17 into grasshoppers and thus be able to_ escape faster. ^The resolution
1720D17 was wildly cheered. ^But one puny cockroach had the temerity to_
1730D17 ask how this could be done. ^The chairman shot back: "^We are only the
1740D17 policy-making body, we shall leave implementation to lower levels!" $^The
1750D17 Zoroastrians can*'4t afford to_ ignore the message of this story. ^Their
1760D17 fire was lit 3,000 years ago. ^It burned as proudly in humble
1770D17 mountain hideout as in splendoured court. ^It survived the sword of
1780D17 Arab conquerors and the tempests of the Arabian Sea. ^The flame has
1790D17 raged through generations and fired some of the greatest names in history.
1800D17 ^There could be no greater insult to the memory of those
1810D17 who were inspired by it, sacrificed all they had for it, were slain
1820D17 for it, than to_ let the flame die out only because of indifference.
1830D17 $*<*3WAS THE CONGRESS A TRIUMPH FOR TRADITION?*0*> ^As the community
1840D17 scatters, many of the old taboos are being cast aside. ^There are
1850D17 1,00,000 Parsis in India, of whom, 70,000 are concentrated in and
1860D17 around Bombay. ^There are about 4,500 Parsis in Karachi. ^*Iran has
1870D17 1,800 Zoroastrians settled in Teheran, Kerman and Yezd. ^About
1880D17 4,000 (both Parsis and Iranis) may be met across Canada and the \0USA,
1890D17 the largest concentration (350 families) being in the Toronto
1900D17 area.*#
        **[no. of words = 02026**]


        **[txt. e01**]
0010E01 **<*3ARTS AND CRAFTS OF *KASHMIR*0**>
0020E01 $^*Kashmir is known throughout the world as much for its arts and crafts
0030E01 as for its scenic beauty and bracing climate. ^These together have
0040E01 catered to the artistic urges of the people in India and abroad. ^The
0050E01 unrivalled environs of the valley, set against the snow-covered mountains
0060E01 have provided the perennial inspiration to the folk craftsman,
0070E01 whose products have won the appreciation of connoisseurs from far and wide.
0080E01 $^The handicrafts range from woollen textiles of fleecy soft texture
0090E01 and matchless excellence in weaving, hand-woven carpets of finest
0100E01 warp and weft, to the exquisite designs worked on papier mache, wood
0110E01 work, silverware, \0etc. ^The handicrafts made in the cottages play
0120E01 an important part in the economy of the State. ^Tourists form the
0130E01 largest clientele of the cottage industries: ^The products are also
0140E01 marketed through Government emporia set up in the State and the
0150E01 rest of India. $^The motifs drawn by the *4Naqqash (the designer)
0160E01 rival the natural beauty abundant in the long valley, and are inspired
0170E01 by the spearkling lakes and tarns, the broad curves of the serpentine
0180E01 Jhelum, the variegated flora and fauna as well as the breath taking
0190E01 colours of the skies at the sunrise and sunset over the blue mountains.
0200E01 ^He also draws upon the poetic fancies and religious or philosophical
0210E01 themes, portraying these attractively in his designs. ^The
0220E01 deft handwork of the folk craftsmen with the brush, chisel and needle
0230E01 completes the products which have delighted the world, from time
0240E01 immemorial. $^A unique position among Kashmir textiles is held by
0250E01 the celebrated *4shawl. ^The *4shawl industry is as old as the hills.
0260E01 ^The Mughals reorganised the industry. ^*Akbar and his succeessors
0270E01 wore *4shawls of Kashmir. ^After Napoleon presented a rare *4shawl
0280E01 to Empress Josephine, *4shawls became the craze of the day in France.
0290E01 ^A *4shawl is seen falling over the shoulders of the famous Mona
0300E01 Lisa. "^This fine, silky web of wool", says Larousse "worked
0310E01 with fanciful flowers, distinguished by the tints of its colours, its
0320E01 singular designs, those strange palms draped in shapes of great varieties,
0330E01 those borders formed of tortuous lines crossing each other
0340E01 in endless devices, all combine to_ inspire, at the vary sight of a
0350E01 *4Shawl, those who see it, with a desire to_ possess it". in *3The Marriage
0360E01 Contract*0, Balzac referred to "white Cashmere." $*<*3Shawl-making*0*>
0370E01 $^The process of *(shawl-making*) is fascinating from
0380E01 the start. ^Assiduously, rural women sort out the lustrous, rough
0390E01 substance from the smooth fleecy wool of the *(Kel-goat*), and then
0400E01 ply it over a *4Charkha (handloom) of the indigenous type, while chanting
0410E01 folksongs. ^This fabric, called *4Pashmina takes two forms
0420E01 on the loom: the loom *4shawl (entirely woven on the loom) and the embroidered
0430E01 *4shawl, which is woven with embroidered pattern. ^The celebrated
0440E01 'ring *4shawl' has been given the popular name, because it
0450E01 can actually pass through a ring. ^Rare and different from the others
0460E01 is the *4Jamvar *4shawl. ^In this case, the threads of the warp and
0470E01 weft are dyed before weaving. ^This famous *4shawl derives its charm
0480E01 from the symphony of colour schemes depicting architectural and
0490E01 mythological figures interwoven with landscape designs. ^A high class
0500E01 *4shawl is expected to_ have the designs worked evenly on both sides.
0510E01 ^The price of a *4Pashmina *4shawl may range anywhere from a few
0520E01 hundered rupees to thousands of rupees, depending upon the craftsmanship
0530E01 and the time factor involved in its creation. ^It can be said
0540E01 to the credit of the *(shawl-makers*) of Kashmir that the fine *4shawl
0550E01 of Kashmir has not been successfully made elsewhere, though attempts
0560E01 were made from the British days in India and in Britain itself.
0570E01 $*<*3Exquisite embroidery*0*> $^The embroidery of Kashmir called
0580E01 *4Kasida, is world-famous. ^Varied, rich in colour, elaborate
0590E01 in detail and exquisite in execution, the *4Kasida patterns are freely
0600E01 drawn by the *4Naqqash, mostly from memory. ^The finest *4Kasida
0610E01 work, particularly embroidered on *4shawls or *4saris, has no reverse
0620E01 side. ^The connoisseurs set great value on embroidery which displays
0630E01 the same fineness of work on both sides of the material. $^The
0640E01 *4Namda or felt rug made from beaten wool, which is then embroidered
0650E01 over, is an important branch of the *4Kasida industry of Kashmir.
0660E01 ^Its manufacture has been the proverbial boon to the poorer people
0670E01 of the Valley. ^The village worker can prepare two *4Namdas a day,
0680E01 with the help of three persons. ^Fine embroidery makes the *4Namda
0690E01 sometimes more attactive for decorative purposes than a pile carpet.
0700E01 $^The *4Gabba-- a unique type of floor covering, prepared from old
0710E01 wollens in a variety of forms and designs comes next to the *4Namda
0720E01 industry. ^Its manufacture is localised at Anantnag (Islamabad).
0730E01 *4^Baramulla specialises in printed *4Gabbas. ^Rich blending of colours
0740E01 gives the old material a new appearance, and the finished product,
0750E01 attractive as well as cheap, is suitable for use as divan spreads,
0760E01 bedding material and even drawing room rugs. ^The *4Gabba industry
0770E01 is more a home-based industry than cottage industry. ^It is an invaluable
0780E01 asset from the economic point of view, for it makes profitable
0790E01 use of waste material. ^The chain-stitch rug, which resembles the
0800E01 *4Gaba carpet, is also manufactured economically, as the base is
0810E01 of hessian cloth and coarse wool, over which floral and other motifs
0820E01 are worked. $^The carpet industry, introduced into the Valley by
0830E01 Sultan Zain-ul-Abidin, is justly renowned. ^From the point of weaving
0840E01 carpets are broadly divided into two classes, smooth-faced carpets
0850E01 and pile carpets. ^Pile Carpets (*4kalins) made in Kashmir since
0860E01 the Muslim rule, attained great perfection. ^Worked with floral and
0870E01 other designes, the hand-woven, pile carpet became the national craft
0880E01 of Kashmir. ^Excellent indigenously available wool form the basic
0890E01 raw material. ^The carpet industry flourished during the Sikh rule.
0900E01 ^During the British days, the Europeans provided further impetus
0910E01 to the industry, introducing Iranian motifs. ^As of now, the Kashmiri
0920E01 carpet can match the best made elsewhere in the world, and stands
0930E01 high on the export list of Kashmir. $*<*3Silverware*0*> $*4^*Kashmiri
0940E01 carpet craftsmen present an interesting spectacle, when the
0950E01 master craftsman orally directs the colour pattern and they skilfully
0960E01 ply coloured yarn balls. ^The origin of the magnificent colour schemes
0970E01 of *4Kashmiri carpets is traceable to the Elysian background
0980E01 of nature of the Valley. $^*Kashmir*'s silverware compares favourably
0990E01 with that_ turned out by the most fashionable establishment in
1000E01 London and Paris. ^Both plain and engraved work is executed to_
1010E01 cater to the differing tastes of the buyers. ^The range in silverware
1020E01 is wide, which includes silver tea sets, flower vases, perfume chests,
1030E01 ornamental picture-frames, cigarette cases, tumblers, \0etc.
1040E01 ^Among the flora and fauna, leaves of the *4Chinar and the lotus
1050E01 furnish the popular patterns. $^Kashmir copperware consists mostly
1060E01 of cooking pots and *4Samovars, a tea kettle of Russian origin. ^It is
1070E01 admiredly **[sic**] adapted for electroplating. ^Copper trays inlet into
1080E01 walnut-wood, are excellent examples of harmony achieved by a carpenter
1090E01 working in cooperation with a coppersmith. ^*Ladakh is known for copper
1100E01 bowls, tea cups, jugs and trays, wherein the exotic scenic environment
1110E01 is indelibly reproduced on products. $^Papier mache was introduced
1120E01 into the Valley by the great monarch, Sultan Zain-ul-Abidin,
1130E01 who has been aptly called the Akbar of Kashmir. ^Its products,
1140E01 beautifully painted with ornamental patterns, comprise picture-frames,
1150E01 pen-cases, screens which easily vie with their Chinese counterparts--
1160E01 tables, writing sets, candle-holders, handkerchief boxes and scores
1170E01 of other utility goods. $^Walnut and *4Chinar wood, abundant in
1180E01 Kashmir, provide the raw material for the wood-carving. ^This is
1190E01 among the best known cottage industries of Kashmir. ^The *4Kashmir*'s
1200E01 carver, second to none in the world in his skill as a designer,
1210E01 uses walnut wood to_ make excellent furniture, such as, chairs, cabinets,
1220E01 writing desks, dining tables, jewellery boxes and ornamental
1230E01 caskets. ^These are greatly appreciated. ^Some of the walnut-wood products--
1240E01 cigar boxes, trays, table-tops, handkerchief boxes and collar
1250E01 boxes are delicately carved. ^Floral designs of almost every conceivable
1260E01 nature are carved in great details. $^A Kashmiri is an intelligent
1270E01 and clever carpenter. ^The boats, mostly flat-bottomed, that_
1280E01 he makes, are of many sizes, and include the famous house-boats,
1290E01 the favourite residence of summer visitors. ^The wicker-work industry
1300E01 is marked by baskets, chairs, tables and various other articles of
1310E01 common use turned out in elegant designs. *4^*Kangri, the *4Kashmiri
1320E01 chafing vessel, its earthen bowl encased in wicker-work, dominate
1330E01 the subject of art creation. $^Of late, Kashmir has become one of
1340E01 the major regions for turning out excellent leather products. ^Leather
1350E01 saddles of Srinagar and some of the most recent outfits in tie
1360E01 and die leather have caught the foreign market. $^The arts and crafts
1370E01 of kashmir even today are distinguished by time-old attachment to
1380E01 traditional techniques and methods.
1390E01 $**<*3THE TEMPLE LAMPS OF *SOUTH *INDIA*0**> $^The lamps used in temples
1400E01 and rituals, familiarly known as *4deepams, are beautiful with artistic
1410E01 designs and intricate workmanship. ^There are sixteen varieties.
1420E01 ^In most of the lamps the figure of Lakshmi is seen. ^Some of them
1430E01 are made in such a way as if Lakshmi herself were holding the lamp.
1440E01 ^They got by the name Deepalakshmi *5pavai vilakku*6 (in Tamil).
1450E01 ^Many varieties can be seen in South Indian temples and homes.
1460E01 ^The temple lamps are huge in size and a treat to_ watch when those
1470E01 are lit. $^The most common form of the lamp goes by the name *5Kuttu
1480E01 Vilakku*6. ^The base is broad, round and hollow and is known as
1490E01 *4Peetam. ^In some varieties the base is in the form of a lotus. ^The
1500E01 middle cylindrical portion goes by the name *4Thandu and is fixed
1510E01 over the base. ^It has delicate workmanship. ^The Upper portion
1520E01 of the lamp is known as *5Mangala Vilakku*6 which holds the oil and
1530E01 the wicks. ^There are five or seven corners, each containing the wick.
1540E01 ^The topmost portion contains the figure of a swan or a peacock.
1550E01 $^Some lamps are in the form of a tree with arms branching off in
1560E01 all directions. ^They go by the name *5Vriksha deepams*6. ^In every
1570E01 branch small lamps are fixed to_ hold oil and wicks. ^Some of these
1580E01 lamps have 108 branches. $^There are lamps representing fish known
1590E01 as *5matsya deepam*6, the tortoise known as *5kurma deepam*6, fire
1600E01 known as *5Agni deepam*6 and Mount Mehru known as *5Mehru deepam*6.
1610E01 ^Lamps that_ are in the form of a snake or have the figure of
1620E01 the cobra attached to them go by the name *5Naga deepam*6. ^Similarly
1630E01 there are *5Rishaba deepam*6 (Bull) *5Mayura deepam*6 (Peacock)
1640E01 *5hamsa deepam*6 (Swan) and many more. ^They are used in the daily
1650E01 rituals of the temple and *4deeparadhans to the deity. ^Apart from
1660E01 these, there are *4Addukudeepams with five or seven tiers, broad
1670E01 at the base and tepering at the top with a conical form and handle.
1680E01 ^In each tier there is a plate with a number of small hollow portions
1690E01 to_ hold the oil and wicks. ^All the tiers are lighted when offered
1700E01 to the diety. $^There is another lamp which goes by the name *5Karpura
1710E01 Kilai*6 with five arms with a space to_ hold camphor. ^This lamp
1720E01 is offered at the end of the *3*4pujah rituals*0 to the deity. $^In
1730E01 *4Vaishnavite temples there are lamps with the figure of Garuda known
1740E01 as *5Garuda deepam*6 and figure of Anjaneya known as *5Hanuman
1750E01 deepam*6. $^*Chola Kings of ancient days presented these lamps to
1760E01 the temples. ^Apart from these there are lamps which hang in brass chains
1770E01 that_ go by the name *5Sangili villakku*6. ^These have containers
1780E01 to_ hold the oil. ^These lamps are lit just before the temples
1790E01 are closed and burn the whole night. ^They go by the name *5Thoonda
1800E01 Vilakku*6 or *5Thoonga Vilakku*6 lamp that_ never sleeps or needs
1810E01 attention. $^From time immemorial it has been the custom in Tamil Nadu
1820E01 to_ offer worship to *4deepams. ^In recent years the *5Tiru Villakku
1830E01 pujah*6 has become popular when people, especially women, instal
1840E01 hundreds of *5Kuttu Villakkus*6 and offer Puja to them. ^Women
1850E01 take the leading part while young girls assist them. *4^*Kumkum is
1860E01 used extensively in the *4Pujah of the Lighted Lamps. $^In ancient
1870E01 Sanskrit literature *4Deepam worship is vividly mentioned. ^The
1880E01 greatness of *4Agni and the principles involved in the worship of
1890E01 the lamps is mentioned in Kalidasa*'s *3Kumara Sambhavam*0.*#
        **[no. of words = 02014 words**]

        **[txt. e02**]
0010E02 **<*3HANDICRAFTS OF *GOA*0**>$^The life of the people of Goa has been
0020E02 imperceptibly influenced by the natural beauty surrounding them. ^Their
0030E02 inherent love for song, music and dance, their deep religious faith,
0040E02 their festivals and fairs, their rich folklore all have found expression
0050E02 in their arts and crafts. $^A visit to the old churches and
0060E02 temples reveals the magnificent work of the Goan artists, artisans
0070E02 and craftsmen created out of wood, metal, stone and clay. ^Old aristocratic
0080E02 homes abound in rare collections of beauitful and exquisite
0090E02 objects that_ have been collected for generations. ^Various media,
0100E02 from copper to gold, bamboo to wood and clay to marble have been shaped
0110E02 in pieces of aesthetic creation. ^The women of Goa maintain the
0120E02 tradition of feminine crafts, laces, embroidery and tapestry. $^Many
0130E02 of the traditional craftsmen and artisans come from a particular caste.
0140E02 ^Different crafts have been the preserve of artists coming from different
0150E02 castes. *4^*Shettis, for example, were the goldsmiths, the 'Zos'--
0160E02 wood carver, the *4charis blackmiths, the *4Mahars-- bamboo
0170E02 workers, the 'Chamars',-- leather craftsmen, the '*4kumbars',-- potters
0180E02 and 'Kansars', brass and copper craftsmen. ^It is a real pity
0190E02 that many of these traditional artisans and craftsmen have taken to
0200E02 more remunerative professions moving out of the villages into the towns.
0210E02 ^The few who have remained, pursue their inherited skill without
0220E02 imagination, and the objects they produce have lost part of their
0230E02 appeal. $^Gold and silver smithery has always fascinated women of Goa.
0240E02 ^Many stories abound about the exquisite jewellery, especially filigree
0250E02 made in Goa, one in particular relates to a gifted Goan goldsmith
0260E02 named 'Roulu Sheth'. ^His work was so exquisite and perfect that
0270E02 he was invited to Portugal to_ make ornaments for the royal famiily.
0280E02 ^With the coming of Christianity to Goa, the goldsmiths began to_
0290E02 make an entirely new set of objects discarding the usual ornaments
0300E02 like bangles, necklaces and gold *4veenies. ^The latter were used to_
0310E02 adorn the hair of Goan women. ^They now produce objects of sacred
0320E02 art like chalices, crowns for saints, rosaries, and crosses. ^In the
0330E02 Basilica, where the relics of \0St. Francis Xavier are enshrined
0340E02 in a richly carved silver casket, one of the finest examples of Goan
0350E02 artistic skill can be seen. $*<*3Traditional handicrafts*0*> $^Another
0360E02 traditional Goan handicraft patronised by most women and highly
0370E02 appreciated in India and abroad is embroidery. ^Many specimens
0380E02 can still be found in the homes of almost every family in Goa, and
0390E02 in many private collections. ^The old styles of dress worn by the
0400E02 women of Goa, like '*5pan baju*6', '*5pan pallo*6', '*7fortokimao', '*7ole',
0410E02 vestments and stoles, were richly embroidered in gold, silver and
0420E02 silk threads and are evidence of the tremendous skill, acquired by the
0430E02 women at home and prove that as a craft, embroidery for adornment
0440E02 has had a great appeal. $^As stories go, many of the rich and beauitful
0450E02 embroidered articles were taken away from Goa as far back as in
0460E02 the times of Alexandre Magno. ^Even the ambassador to the court of
0470E02 Chandraguptas, Megasthenes, used muslin embroidered in Goa. $^The
0480E02 Nuns of Santa Monica embroidered religious motifs, and most of these
0490E02 were used in the churches. ^One of them is still on view at the Basilica.
0500E02 ^Duringthe turn of the century they began to_ teach this art
0510E02 in schools. ^The Hindu women acquired the skill to_ embroider on
0520E02 the *4choli's and *4pallavs in their original designs, depicting scences
0530E02 from every day life. $^The embroidery introduced from the West was
0540E02 used for household linen and even today many women of Goa are skilled
0550E02 in special types of embroidery like 'Richelieu', Bordado Inglez
0560E02 crivo, all introuduced by the nuns of religious orders sent to Goa.
0570E02 $^The older women of Goa were highly accomplished in making laces.
0580E02 the '*8Renda de Birlos*9' (pin and cushion lace) was turned into a
0590E02 fine art in many villages in Salcete, particularly in villages of Loutolim
0600E02 and Verna. ^Even though they had become experts in this art
0610E02 there was no outlet for the sale of their work and most of the pices
0620E02 were accumulated and exported for sale outside Goa. ^All types of laces
0630E02 like malta, khuni ,puy, perrichis and brussels lace, invented in Europe
0640E02 were well-known in Goa. $^Crochet was a very common pastime in
0650E02 Goa, keeping the women busy after the house work was done. ^Motifs
0660E02 popular with them were peacock, coconut trees, cobweds, \0etc. ^Today,
0670E02 with the pattern of life having changed, very few women find time
0680E02 to_ use the crochet. $^Filet is a type of embroidery wherein hand weaving
0690E02 is done in different stitches on the fishermen*'s net, introduced
0700E02 by the nums. ^These were used for bags, caps, veils and as borders
0710E02 of tablecloths. $^Making artificial flowers has been one of the major
0720E02 cottage industries with the women of Goa. ^Whenever natural flowers are
0730E02 scarce, Catholics use the artifical ones in churches and for weddings.
0740E02 ^The nuns make beauitful artificial flowers which were sold at
0750E02 fairs-- especially at '*8Festa de Monte*9'-- Nativity of our Lady.
0760E02 ^Some of those were so perfect with hand painting of the petals
0770E02 to_ give them a realistic appearance, that those stand well in drawing
0780E02 rooms of private homes, adding colour and brightness to the background
0790E02 of heavily carved furniture. $*<*3Bead Weaving*0*> $^Bead
0800E02 weaving mostly took the form of bags, frames, toys and the motifs. ^Subjects
0810E02 are usually the objects visible around, like shells and fishes,
0820E02 and palm trees. ^Scales of fish and feathers of fowls and birds
0830E02 were also used to_ make beauitful bead picture frames. ^This craft
0840E02 has not been seen in Goa for over 30 years. ^Suddenly one comes across
0850E02 such specimens in an old trunk or cellar. ^Thus the women of Goa
0860E02 also helped to_ contribute to the economy of their land with their
0870E02 love of art and work and even though they led a passive existence,
0880E02 they believed in the maxim, "all that_ is good is beauitful and all
0890E02 that_ is beauitful is good." $^In Goa, which celebrates so many
0900E02 feasts of saints and has so many fairs, idol carving was a very lucrative
0910E02 handicraft. ^Idols were made of ivory wood or rose wood. ^Many
0920E02 can still be found in churches all over Goa. ^These depict the Virgin
0930E02 Mary, saints and angels. ^This art was known as "*7Santeiros".
0940E02 ^*Ribandar was noted for these carvings and making of wooden images.
0950E02 *0*4Shri Vaman Zo of Ribandar is the proud owner of the master craftsman
0960E02 award for ivory carvings. $*<*3Clay Work*0*> $^Clay has always
0970E02 been a popular handicraft. ^Unglazed vessels for domestic use are
0980E02 made of clay pottery. ^Those have distinctive shapes, and come in
0990E02 many sizes. ^Those are simple and attractive and are used in every
1000E02 day living. ^The earthenware pottery of Goa has vast universal appeal.
1010E02 ^The rich beauitful deep velvet red clay is used to_ make water jugs,
1020E02 flower pots and cooking vessels. ^Huge drum-like vessels are made and
1030E02 used in the manufacture of vinegar and liquor and also for the storage
1040E02 of grain, in all the villages of Goa. $^Panels made of clay with
1050E02 carved figures resembling sculpture are seen on the facades of many
1060E02 buildings of Goa, depicting scenes like woman and child, religious
1070E02 or historical stories, harvesting, fisherfolk, a peasant sowing seed,
1080E02 a farmer ploughing the ground, husking a coconut, woodcutter splitting
1090E02 wood, all represent aspects of daily common life. *4^Tulsi pot is
1100E02 a very popular item made here. ^Some enterprising potters have also
1110E02 made trays and ash trays and panels for hotels. ^*Bicholim is a well
1120E02 known centre for pottery. \0*4^*Shri Vishnu Mahadev Cuncolincar has
1130E02 received the coveted master craftsman award for clay works. $*<*3Wood
1140E02 Carving*0*> $^The rich tradition of wood carving in Goa can
1150E02 be seen from the structures of the churches, temples and old country
1160E02 houses. ^All of Goan carving is hand wrought so everything is a work
1170E02 of art. ^After the advent of the Portuguese, the talent of wood carving
1180E02 in Goa, was turned to making quality furnitures copying the Western
1190E02 style and retaining the Indian influences, Goan furniture became
1200E02 a unique blend of Eastern and Western culture. ^Carpentry under
1210E02 the Portuguese made very good progress, resulting in a new style which
1220E02 was termed as the 'Indo-Portuguese Style'. ^Typical examples can
1230E02 be seen in the church decoration, altars and pulpits. ^Several pieces
1240E02 of this richly carved furniture have found their way into stately
1250E02 homes, in the form of cabinets, tables, beds, chairs, sofas, chests and
1260E02 cupboards, some of which are carved and decorated with rich ivory inlay.
1270E02 ^Today those are valued as part of the Goan heritage. $^Rare carved
1280E02 and ornamental furniture can still be found gracing the old aristocratic
1290E02 houses tucked away in the villages. ^The house of the Menezes Braganza
1300E02 family at Chandor is a superb example, they have beauitful
1310E02 carved furniture executed by Goan craftsmen, some dating back almost
1320E02 200 years. $^The carpenters of Goa, prided themselves on carving
1330E02 tables, sofas, chairs, chests, jewellery boxes-- all out of teak and rosegood
1340E02 and adorned with heads of animals, often taking the form of a
1350E02 lion*'s or cobra's head carved on the arms of chairs and legs of tables.
1360E02 ^Many chests were inlaid with ivory brass or copper, plain or patterned.
1370E02 ^Verem and many other parts of Bardez, Cuncolim, and Ribandar
1380E02 are famous for this type of work. $^Today this Goan craftsmanship
1390E02 has received a severe setback. ^Through the years, it has become stereotyped
1400E02 and models of some of this exquisite skill are sold at fairs
1410E02 in the form of furniture cheaply imitating the highly skilled craft
1420E02 which was at one time deerned to_ be unique. $^Lacquer articles
1430E02 are made mostly for decorative and household use-- cribs, stools,
1440E02 imitation fruit, candle stands, chairs, walking aids for children, boxes
1450E02 and toys are some of the many things turned out at the hands of skilled
1460E02 craftsmen. ^One toy in particular, fashioned as a parrot has great demand.
1470E02 ^These simple articles require considerable labour and are much
1480E02 used in Goa. $^An art much appreciated in the past for which Diu
1490E02 was famous, was textile printing. ^Beauitful buttons, rings, bangles,
1500E02 fashioned out of ivory or tortoise shell were also made popular by
1510E02 artists of Diu. ^Because the supply of tortoise shell has decreased
1520E02 with the years the work is not produced profusely any more. ^Hence these
1530E02 decorative pieces are very much in demand. $^One can find baskets,
1540E02 trays and beauitful lampshades made of bamboo. ^The lampshades which
1550E02 are made in Guirim have great local demand. $^*Bicholim, the centre
1560E02 of brass and copper handicrafts of Goa, makes a variety of lamps
1570E02 in different shapes and sizes-- a very popular one is shaped like a
1580E02 tree, with a peacock proudly standing at the top. ^In the 400 year
1590E02 old Mangesh Temple there is an *4Aarti lamp shaped as a tortoise which
1600E02 has a very rare and unusual shape. $^Craftsmen sell their goods
1610E02 at their places of work, at their homes, or at the various fairs and
1620E02 weekly markets. ^A very popular market is the one held on Fridays
1630E02 at Mapusa where a large number of pottery vessels from Bicholim and
1640E02 other parts are on sale. ^Markets and fairs are held all the year
1650E02 round, in Goa, during the various festivals celebrated both by Christians
1660E02 and Hindus. $^Since liberation, some new varieties of crafts
1670E02 have found their way to Goa. ^These include decorative candles, *4sisal
1680E02 and Banana fibre bags, mats, coconut shell items, plaster of Paris
1690E02 articles, and tiles. ^The fibre craft alone has given employment to
1700E02 about 700 women. ^Important craft pockets in Goa are at present found
1710E02 at the following places-- Mapusa for brassware and copper items,
1720E02 Betim for fibre, Candolim for fibre and bamboo, Verem for woodcraft,
1730E02 Guirim for bamboo, Bicholim for clay and brass, Sanquelim for
1740E02 embroidery and decorative candles, Chimbel and Benaulim for wood,
1750E02 Cuncolim for wood carving and lacquerware and Diu for tortoise shell
1760E02 and ivory. $^Government-run wood craft production centres are at
1770E02 Verem and Guirim. ^The Government of Goa handicraft emporium, presently
1780E02 managed by \0MSSIDC is housed at the Tourist Hostel, Panaji.
1790E02 ^It is the only organised sale outlet for Goan handicrafts.*#
        **[no. of words = 02001**]

        **[txt. e03**]
0010E03 **<HOW & WHY**> $*<COMMON ELECTRIC TROUBLES*> $CIRCUIT:
0020E03 ^While checking electric troubles, one must remember that the eletric
0030E03 current flows through wires as water through pipes. ^As water flows
0040E03 by the action of a pressure pump, the pipe and tap offer resistance,
0050E03 similar is the case with current which flows when we light a lamp, or
0060E03 heat an iron. ^The electric switch acts as a tap, and when it is put
0070E03 off it breaks the circuit and there is no flow of current. $^The path
0080E03 travelled by electric current is called a 'Circuit', the term implies
0090E03 'a circle'. ^For example, there is a socket in the wall with two
0100E03 holes, the plug that_ fits into it has two prongs, the cord connecting
0110E03 that_ plug to a table lamp contains two wires. ^The current goes
0120E03 through one of the two wires to the filament of the bulb, and back through
0130E03 the other wire thus completing a circuit. $OPEN CIRCUIT:
0140E03 ^The switch is designed to_ open a circuit, but many 'opens' occur
0150E03 accidently in which case the light or the appliance affected will not
0160E03 operate. ^If a plug has a defective connection or the cord is broken
0170E03 in one of the wires, the open circuit will occur. $SHORT CIRCUIT:
0180E03 ^The second common trouble is the short circuit. ^The current travels
0190E03 shorter distance than it is meant to_ cover. ^Electricity like
0200E03 water has a downward flow. ^A short is a flood. ^If two wires in a heating
0210E03 appliance touch each other, they are shorted. ^In case of open
0220E03 circuit the appliance does not work, but in case of short circuit the
0230E03 fuse blows up, and some times a fire may break out. $GROUND: the
0240E03 earth is the point at which the voltage is zero. ^The 'neutral' side
0250E03 of most of the electrical systems is connected to the water pipes,
0260E03 since they go into the earth. "^An accidental ground" can occur when you
0270E03 happen to_ touch your iron, or fan which has become grounded, standing
0280E03 bare feet or with a wet hand, the result will be a shock. $PRECAUTIONS:
0290E03 ^The shocks should be avoided by having good wiring installation
0300E03 and properly earthed equipment. ^Do not be in touch with water
0310E03 while using any electric apparatus. ^For any examination of the equipment
0320E03 pull out the plug connecting your appliance to the socket, or
0330E03 else turn off the main switch. $^If the shock occurs switch off the
0340E03 current. ^If the switch is away and you cannot switch it off, then
0350E03 immediately remove the person in contact with live wire by means
0360E03 of a rubber article, a stout stick, a thick dry cloth or rug, coconut
0370E03 matting or even a thick wad of newspapers. ^Send for the doctor and
0380E03 start artificial respiration if the person does not appear to_ be breathing.
0390E03 ^When breathing resumes keep the person warm by means of hot
0400E03 water bottles and hot drinks. $*<FUSE REPAIRING *> $WHAT IS A
0410E03 FUSE? $^A fuse is the specially constructed link in the house circuit,
0420E03 so that if any fault occurs, the fuse will blow, or melt and the
0430E03 apparatus and the wiring in the wall will not be damaged. ^The fuse
0440E03 box is a weak link in the form of a length of wire. ^This wire is weaker
0450E03 in current carrying lower capacity than that_ in the cable used
0460E03 for the circuit wiring. it is placed across the porcelain fuse carrier,
0470E03 and at the time of fault in the circuit, it breaks. ^This wire must
0480E03 be replaced by one of the same size, always supposing the right size
0490E03 was there in the first place. $^The main faults which cause a fuse
0500E03 to_ blow are:-- $**=1) Overloaded circuit $**=2) Short circuit $**=3)
0510E03 Corrosion and breakage of the fuse wire itself. $*<WHAT YOU SHOULD
0520E03 DO*> $^The first thing to_ do is to_ turn off the main switch.
0530E03 ^Then take out the fuse carriers one by one and examine them ^It is
0540E03 easier to_ find the blown fuse, if the fuse carriers are labelled
0550E03 to_ match the rooms for which they are responsible. ^The carrier is
0560E03 often blackened by the blowing of the fuse, and the wire itself is
0570E03 : severed. ^Having located the fault, free the carrier from the remaining
0580E03 bits of wire by loosening the small screws which hold them in place.
0590E03 ^Cut a new piece of fuse wire, twist it round the top screw in
0600E03 a clockwise direction; and give the screw a turn. ^Reverse the carrier
0610E03 and repeat the process at the other end, afterwards tightening both
0620E03 screws so that the wire fits but is not taut. ^Some fuse carriers have
0630E03 groves instead of screws to_ hold the wire in place. ^Replace the
0640E03 carrier and turn on the main switch. $*<PRECAUTIONS*> $^When overloading
0650E03 has caused the fuse to_ blow it will immediately blow again if
0660E03 the same appliances remain connected. ^So calculate that everything is
0670E03 correct on this score. ^The fuse will also blow again if there is a
0680E03 fault in one of the appliances connected. ^So switch them all off and
0690E03 try each one separately to_ locate the fault. $**<HOW & WHY**>
0700E03 $^The electric toaster in its simplest form consists of a live cord
0710E03 attached to the heating element or grid. ^The heating element commonly
0720E03 consists of nichrome ribbon wound on mica strips. ^But certain types
0730E03 of toasters employ nichrome wire coils for their resistance heating
0740E03 elements. $^In single element toasters two slices of bread are toasted
0750E03 from one side at one time, then turned around to toast the other
0760E03 side. ^Toasters with three elements can toast two slices from both
0770E03 sides at the same time. ^The two outside heaters are a like, but the
0780E03 center heater has to do twice as much work and so is designed to_
0790E03 take more electric power. ^This difference must be kept in mind when
0800E03 replacing the elements. $^In Toasters that_ have more than one heating
0810E03 element, the elements must adapt to one another so that the bread
0820E03 is evenly toasted. ^Should there be a disorder in one of the elements
0830E03 it is always better to replace all elements. $^Since toasters come
0840E03 in many different designs the method used to_ open them depends
0850E03 on the way they are assembled. ^An inspection is therefore necessary before
0860E03 disassembling **[sic**] them. ^Electrical connections, springs, and
0870E03 operating mechanisms are usually under the bottom cover. ^Sometimes it
0880E03 is necessary to_ remove the shell that_ encloses the heating elements
0890E03 and bread holders. ^This shell often clips on to the base with the
0900E03 springy **[sic**] and snapping over projections. ^At the bottom of the
0910E03 shell are extending lips which pass through slots in the base where
0920E03 they are bent over. ^The parts of a single element toaster are shown
0930E03 in the figure. $^One should take extra care not to_ snag the resiistance
0940E03 wire on other elements while one is being removed. ^In toasters
0950E03 having more than one heating element all elements usually are parallel
0960E03 to the cord terminals \0i.e. all leads marked (a) in \0Fig 2 would
0970E03 connect to one terminal, and all those marked (b) would connect to
0980E03 the other terminal, so that the two leads from each element connect
0990E03 both terminals. $*<ELECTRIC IRON*> $^Electric iron is one of the most
1000E03 useful appliances in a household. ^With proper use and care this wise
1010E03 purchase can give a long and troublefree service. $^Keep the bottom,
1020E03 or soleplate of your iron shining clean so that it glides easily.
1030E03 scorched starch can easily be removed by rubbing the bottom of the hot
1040E03 iron over grains of salt. ^To_ ensure safety the iron cord should
1050E03 be replaced as soon it starts fraying. ^When removing the cord from
1060E03 an eletric iron, always remember to_ pull the eletric plug and not
1070E03 the cord itself. $*<STRUCTURE*> $^At the bottom is the sole plate,
1080E03 whose lower surface is smooth so that it moves easily on the fabrics
1090E03 being ironed. ^On top of this is the heating element. ^The pressure
1100E03 plate provides most of the weight required in the iron. ^These parts
1110E03 are covered with a thin shell which carries the handle. ^The terminals
1120E03 in which the connector or plug of the flexible cord is pushed are
1130E03 connected to the heating unit leads. ^Electricity flows in the heating
1140E03 unit as long as the cord remains connected, and soleplate temperature
1150E03 depends on the difference between rate of heat production and
1160E03 rate of heat loss to the air, and to materials being ironed. $^Should
1170E03 an iron fail to_ heat, first test the flexible cord and the cord
1180E03 plug, then test the iron itself for open circuits, high resistance and
1190E03 grounds. ^These faults may occur in either the heating elements or
1200E03 in connections between the parts. $^Take off handle and top cover.
1210E03 ^Examine all connections from external pin terminals for breaks and
1220E03 looseness. ^Check the switch contact surfaces which come together to_
1230E03 close the circuit. ^If they are rough, pitted, or burned, dress the
1240E03 contacting surfaces very carefully with a sand paper. then draw a
1250E03 strip of cloth between the contact to remove any sand fillings. ^Leave
1260E03 the contacts smooth. ^After this cleaning process wherever the fault
1270E03 is found replace the parts carefully. ^Defective heating elements
1280E03 usually require replacement, they generally do not stand repairs.
1290E03 $^If all the parts are frequently checked and the iron is kept absolutely
1300E03 clean then this friend will never fail you and it will continue to_
1310E03 give you a long and devoted service. $**<HOW & WHY**> $^The
1320E03 pressure cooker is widely used for meal preparation. ^Since by increasing
1330E03 the pressure the temperature is increased, so the cooking time
1340E03 is shortened. ^Foods are cooked at approximatelely 250*@ Fahrenheit
1350E03 instead of 212*@ Fahrenheit (boiling point), the steam pressure of
1360E03 15 \0lbs. per square inch is automatically maintained. $^There are
1370E03 two types of pressure cookers available in the market. ^There are those
1380E03 which have flexible cover that_ can be slipped under the rim of
1390E03 the pan, pressed into position, and held there by a hook attachment
1400E03 on the handle; others have an outside cover that_ slides into grooves
1410E03 on the rim of the pan and locks into position. ^A rubber gasket aids
1420E03 in sealing the cover tightly. $*<STRUCTURE*> $^Pressure cookers
1430E03 are saucepans with a single handle. ^They are made of aluminium, cast
1440E03 or pressed and of stainless steel. ^Most of them carry the manufacturer*'s
1450E03 guarantee and only those so marked should be purchased. ^They
1460E03 vary in size from 4 to 12 litres capacity, depending upon the manufacturer.
1470E03 $^The steam escapes through a vent tube. ^A weight gauge placed
1480E03 over the vent controls the pressure. ^The pressure is maintained
1490E03 by regulating the amount of heat. ^A safety device in the cover, a plug
1500E03 of fusible alloy or of synthetic rubber, automatically releases excess
1510E03 pressure, or reacts if the cooker goes dry. ^In this case you will
1520E03 have to_ replace the safety valve, which can easily be done at
1530E03 home. ^Unscrew the new safety valve with the help of spanners. ^Place
1540E03 flat spanner on nut at top lid. ^Place bent spanner on safety valve
1550E03 under lid. ^Turn spanners in anti-clock-wise direction, till nut is
1560E03 loosened. ^Remove fused safety valve. ^Fit new safety valve from under
1570E03 the lid. ^From top of lid, first fit washer, then nut. ^Tighten with
1580E03 bent spanner. $^When the food is cooked remove cooker from fire, the
1590E03 interior temperature is above boiling point. ^Cooking will continue
1600E03 until this temperature and pressure are reduced. ^Simply setting the
1610E03 cooker off the heat will permit slow temperature reduction, but many
1620E03 foods would be over cooked by the time the cooker cools sufficiently
1630E03 to_ permit removing the cover. ^Therefore, most foods require instant
1640E03 reduction. ^The usual method is to_ put cold water over the cooker.
1650E03 *<PRECAUTIONS*> $^It is important to_ keep the air very clean.
1660E03 ^Any obstruction in it may cause the pressure to_ build up without
1670E03 a means for the steam to_ escape. ^The rubber gasker should also be kept
1680E03 clean, free from food particles and grease. ^This gasket needs to_
1690E03 be replaced when it can no longer make a tight seal. $^Due to constant
1700E03 use the cooker may become discoloured.*#
        **[no. of words = 02003**]

        **[txt. e04**]
0010E04 **<*3BASIC STITCHING*0**> $*<SEWING TOOLS*> $^To women in all walks
0020E04 of life sewing is a source of lasting personal satisfaction. ^Success
0030E04 in sewing calls for the right tools at the right time. ^All tools must be
0040E04 in order and you must know how to_ use them, to_ save time and produce
0050E04 the best results. ^Sewing without the right equipment is like trying
0060E04 to_ cook without the right ingredients. $^Some of the things you
0070E04 need such as scissors, needles and pins, are in the house-- others you
0080E04 must buy for the occasion. ^The recipe you follow for sewing a garment
0090E04 is the detailed directions on your pattern. ^Some of the essential
0100E04 sewing tools and their uses are listed below: $SHEARS: ^These should
0110E04 be good, long and sharp ones. ^Shears are used for cutting heavy materials.
0120E04 ^They are made in sizes varying from 15 \0cm to 30 \0cm in length.
0130E04 ^A pair of small scissors is handy in cutting thread and buttonholes
0140E04 \0etc. ^Pinking shears are used for trimming the inside seam edges to_
0150E04 prevent fraying. $MEASURING TAPE: ^This is the most essential equipment,
0160E04 used while stitching a garment. ^It is 150 \0cm long. ^The material
0170E04 with which it is made should be firm and of good quality, the numbering
0171E04 should also be clearly marked.
0180E04 $TRACING WHEEL: ^A tracing wheel is used for marking different lines
0190E04 on the fabric and also for transferring these lines to other materials.
0200E04 $THIMBLE: ^It acts as a protection to your fingers when you have
0210E04 to_ push a needle through a heavy piece of material. ^While buying
0220E04 a thimble one must see that it fits the finger properly. $THREAD:
0230E04 ^Sewing thread comes in different sizes from 20 to 100. ^The larger
0240E04 the number the finer the thread. ^The selection of thread depends upon
0250E04 the type of fabric. ^Buy thread one shade darker than the material
0260E04 because it sews up lighter than it is on the spool. $NEEDLE:
0270E04 ^Needles come in different sizes. ^In selecting needles keep in mind
0280E04 the type of fabric and also the type of work to_ be done. ^For embroidery,
0290E04 you will need fine, slender needles with easy to_ thread eyes.
0300E04 ^Small needles are good for hemming, hand gathering and small tacking
0310E04 \0etc. ^So take care to_ fill your needle packet with needles of all
0320E04 sizes. $SCRAP BASKET OR BOX: after stitching a cloth do not throw
0330E04 away the pieces of thread and left over pieces of cloth, instead you
0340E04 can keep them in your scrap box. ^These left-overs can be used later
0350E04 on for patch work \0etc. $SEWING MACHINE: ^This is the most important
0360E04 of all sewing equipments. ^If you are buying a sewing machine,
0370E04 select one that_ is made by a well-known and reliable firm. ^So that
0380E04 if any part is damaged after years of use, they can easily be replaced.
0390E04 ^Keep the machine clean and properly oiled. ^For cleaning the machine,
0400E04 a hairpin, a soft brush and the habit of covering your machine when
0410E04 it is not in use is usually all that_ is required. $IRON AND IRONING
0420E04 BOARD: ^Somewhere in the house you will have an ironing board.
0430E04 ^Keep it near the sewing machine when you are stitching. ^Press your
0440E04 seams as you go along. ^Pressing speeds your sewing and is one of the secrets
0450E04 of that_ made-to-order look in clothes. $^Last of all to_ give a
0460E04 neat and pretty look to your sewing equipment keep all these in a sewing
0470E04 cabinet. ^For small items like needles, threads shears, measuring tape
0480E04 \0etc. you can use a shoe box and suit box. ^The heavy equipment can
0490E04 be arranged beside it. $^Now that your sewing tools are ready at hand
0500E04 you can stitch a material at any time without wasting much time in
0510E04 looking for these things. $*<STRAIGHT FULL MAXI*> $^Maxi is one of
0520E04 those very few western dresses which have come to_ stay for quite along
0530E04 period of time, inspite of the changing fashion trends. ^The only
0540E04 reason for its popularity is that it is ultra feminine. ^Indian women
0550E04 being shy by nature feel very much at ease in this uncomplicated dress.
0560E04 $^Here we tell you how to_ make a straight full maxi. ^The pattern
0570E04 given here is the basic one. ^By making few alterations here and there,
0580E04 you will be able to_ transform it into an exquisite piece. $MATERIAL
0590E04 REQUIRED-- (92 \0cm wide) 2 full lengths + 2 hem turnings + 1
0600E04 sleeve length + 1 hem turning. $MEASUREMENTS: FULL LENGTH: 137 \0cm
0610E04 $Shoulder length = 35.5 \0cm $chest = 91.5 \0cm $waist = 71 \0cm
0620E04 $Length from shoulder to waist = 35.5 \0cm $Dart = 25.5 \0cm $HOW
0630E04 TO_ MAKE A PAPER DRAFT: $^Maxi being a lengthy dress, a full
0640E04 paper draft is not easy to_ make. ^So, for convenience, a draft from
0650E04 neck to hip line is made on paper and the rest is drawn on the material
0660E04 itself. $1. ^Take 1/2 of shoulder length and mark the line as AB. from
0670E04 B, take full length and mark the point as C. $2. ^On line AB,
0680E04 mark the point D. BD = 1/12 chest = 2.5 cm. $3. ^On line BC, mark the
0690E04 point E, which is 1.5 \0cm below B. $^Join DE with a curve for back
0700E04 neck line. ^For the front, draw which ever shape you feel like.
0710E04 $4. ^On line BC, take point F, which is 1/4 chest-- 4 \0cm. (^This
0720E04 will be the case when the chest is more than 81 \0cm. ^If the chest
0730E04 is 81 \0cm or less than that_, the length of the arm hole will be 1/4 \0cm--
0740E04 2.5 \0cm). $5. ^From point F take a point G. $FG should be parallel
0750E04 to AB. ^*FG = 1/4 chest + 2.5 \0cm. $6. ^On line GFdraw a perpendicular
0750E04 from A, and mark is as H. ^On line AH, mark the
0760E04 point 1 which is 2 \0cms from A. ^Join 1 D with a straight line.
0770E04 $7. ^Divide the line IH into half and mark the point as J. ^Join I
0780E04 and G for the front arm hole curve, going in by 1.5 \0cm from J.
0790E04 ^For the back arm hole curve, join IG without going in from J. $8.
0800E04 ^On line BC, take shoulder to waist length and mark the point as K.
0810E04 KL = 1/4 waist + 5 \0cm. $9. ^From K, take 1/12 chest + 1.5 \0cm and
0820E04 mark the point as M. ^Take 1.5 \0cm on both the sides of M and mark
0830E04 the darts according to your needs. ^On line LG also, take 5 \0cm from
0840E04 L and mark the side dart for the front only. $10. ^On line BC, from
0850E04 point K, take 1/4 chest-- 2.5 \0cm and mark the point as O. ^From
0860E04 O draw a perpendicular on line BC and mark the point as P. ^*PO =
0870E04 1/4 hip + 2.5 \0cm. ^Join P and L with a straight line. $11. ^On point
0880E04 = C, draw a perpendicular and mark the point as N. ^*N = 1/2 chest--
0881E04 5 \0cm. ^Join P and N. $SLEEVES:
0890E04 Length = 17.5 \0cm $Width = 1/4 chest - 3.5 \0cm.
0900E04 $Depth = 1/12 chest + 2.5 \0cm $Round = 28 \0cm $arm $1. ^Take lengthAB.AC
0910E04 = 1/4 chest-- 3.5 \0cm CD = AB. ^Join D and B Now DB
0920E04 = AC $2. ^On line CD, take point E from C. ^*EC = 1/12 chest + 2.5
0930E04 \0cm. ^Join EA. $3. ^Divide EA into 4 equal parts and mark them as
0940E04 FGH. **=1) ^From F, go up by 6.5 \0mm. and down by 1 cm + 3 \0mm marking
0950E04 the points as F1 + F2. **=2) ^From G go up by 1 \0cm + 3 \0mm
0960E04 and mark the point as G1. **=3) ^From H, go up by 2 \0cm and mark
0970E04 point as H1. $4. ^Join EF1. ^*G1 and H1, with an upward curve for
0980E04 the back. ^Join EF2, G and H1 and A with a curve for the front.
0990E04 $5. ^From B, measure 1/2 of Round arm and mark it as J. ^Join JE with
1000E04 a straight line. $^Now cut out the paper draft and plan the different
1010E04 parts on the cloth. ^Keeping in mind the folds wherever directed. ^Cut
1020E04 the cloth, taking 1 \0cm as seam allowance. ^As the seams are to_ be machined.
1030E04 $^By following the directions given above you will be able to_ make a simple
1040E04 straight full maxi. ^Now it*'1s up to you to_ use you innovative ideas,
1050E04 make changes in the neckline or sleeves or the shape of the bodice
1060E04 block (as we have illustrated in sketch) and you will find, it is not
1070E04 as simple as it was before. $**<*3BASIC STITCHING*0**> $^In the earlier
1080E04 series of basic stitching we told you about the stitching terminology
1090E04 and stitching tools. ^We now bring you some of the basic sewing
1100E04 stitches and proper knowledge of these stitches will undoubtedly make
1110E04 you a good seamstress. $^You can sew a fine seam by hand or by machine.
1120E04 ^Hand stitching is used for finishing necklines, sleeve edges and
1130E04 for decorative edges on well made clothes $*<BASTING*> ^This is
1140E04 a temporary stitch and is used to_ hold two pieces of material together;
1150E04 so that permanent stitch can be fixed. ^It is a series of long and
1160E04 short stitches, which are removed after the final seam is stitched.
1170E04 $METHOD: ^Thread the needle and knot one end of the thread. ^Place
1180E04 the seams together; use a slender needle and thread, not more than 24*"
1190E04 long, of a different colour from your fabric. ^Keep the stitches going
1200E04 forward. ^Fasten the basting thread with two or three back stitches
1210E04 side by side. $*<TYPES OF BASTING*> $EVEN BASTING: ^In this
1220E04 the stitches are equal to each other. ^To_ remove clip thread every
1230E04 few inches and pull out. ^Do not pull the whole line at once because
1240E04 that_ will spoil the fabric. $UNEVEN BASTING: ^This is the fastest
1250E04 basting stitch. ^Pick up several stitches on the needle taking short
1260E04 stitches underneath and long on top. ^This is also called Galloping
1270E04 stitch. $PIN BASTING: ^Lay the two edges of the material together
1280E04 and hold them in place with pins. ^Place the pins at right angles
1290E04 to edge. ^Remove and put the pins away as you come to them in stitching.
1300E04 $MACHINE BASTING: ^This is the most convenient of all methods,
1310E04 set the machine for the largest stitch, hold the pieces of material
1320E04 together and machine. $RUNNING STITCH: ^This is the most useful
1330E04 of all stitches for in addition to being the first stitch employed in
1340E04 practically every seam, it is used a lot in other neating processes. ^Basically
1350E04 the stitches are very much similar to basting; the only difference
1360E04 is that in this the stitches are smaller than in tacking. $BACK
1370E04 STITCH: ^This is the finest of plain needlwork stitches and therefore
1380E04 a slow and tedious work. ^In working this stitch the needle goes back
1390E04 from where it comes out to the near end of the last stitch and then
1400E04 passes under the material to_ come out again at equal distance in front
1410E04 of the previous stitch. $OVERCASTING: ^This is most often used to_
1420E04 finish raw edges to_ keep them from rowelling. ^It is a slanting
1430E04 stitch made by bringing the needle through the fabric from the undersides
1440E04 and continuing to_ work the thread over and under the edge each
1450E04 stitch is taken from the underside and at an equal distance. $HEMMING:
1460E04 ^This stitch is used to_ fasten a raw edge, which must be turned
1470E04 in or to_ flatten a seam. ^It is always worked from wrong side of
1480E04 the fabric. ^The stitches must be as clear and defined on the right as
1490E04 on the wrong side. ^The stitch on the top together with the stitch
1500E04 on the underside should form the letter 'V'. $^Too often the home sewer
1510E04 spends time and effort in selecting the proper pattern, the right material
1520E04 and the most suitable trimmings, and then ruin the finished appearance
1530E04 of a garment by crooked or unfinished seams. ^Careful seaming
1540E04 gives an attractive and decorative touch to the garment. ^A seam is
1550E04 made by joining two or more pieces together.*#
        **[no. of words = 02016**]

        **[txt. e05**]
0010E05 **<*3Photojournalism In India**> $"^Why did India*'s cyclone disaster
0020E05 fail to_ move the world?" ^*I asked a friend, an eminent journalist.
0030E05 $"^It was a tragic case of a total let-down by the visual media,"
0040E05 he answered wryly. $^Indeed the sheer scale of the disaster was
0050E05 not grasped by people in the country not to_ speak of those abroad.
0060E05 ^Our \0TV did its best within its limited reach but, as it happens,
0070E05 its best is not always good enough. $^The newspapers were, of course,
0080E05 full of front-page stories. ^Apart from some excellent field reports,
0090E05 however, the coverage consisted of commentaries discussing the political
0100E05 rather than the human tragedy. ^Why? $^Looking back, the fault
0110E05 seems to_ lie not with the pen but with the camera. ^The disaster
0120E05 in which whole villages vanished without a trace, rooftops flew off
0130E05 like dry leaves and steel posts bent like pins had all the elements
0140E05 of a horror story which only the camera could tell. ^Mere words were
0150E05 not enough. ^This is because we have got so used to images that_ the
0160E05 mind refuses to_ imagine and looks for visual statement to_ grasp
0170E05 the intensity of a situation. $^Newspapers and magazines did publish
0180E05 pictures-- mostly the same set of pictures. ^But none could describe
0190E05 the disaster poignantly. ^There was not a single picture or group
0200E05 of pictures that_ etched the havoc vividly. $^Months after the tragedy,
0210E05 when one tries to_ recapitulate the disaster in the mind*'s
0220E05 eye, the images that_ appear are not of the havoc in Andhra but of
0230E05 the bloodshed in Bangladesh a long time ago. ^The visual media triumphed
0240E05 in Bangladesh and were able to_ move the conscience of the world.
0250E05 (^Perhaps because media men from all over the world covered Bangladesh.)
0260E05 ^In Andhra, the tragedy appeared somewhat domestic ("^Oh floods
0270E05 are an annual occurrence!") and the brunt of projecting its unusual
0280E05 dimensions fell on native talent. $^We have some eminent photojournalists
0290E05 in the country. ^But they are only a few, who have struggled to_
0300E05 come up and establish themselves, largely due to their association
0310E05 with the publishing industry abroad. ^Despite all odds in the country,
0320E05 this small band of dedicated practitioners are keeping the profession
0330E05 alive. $^It is hard for a photojournalist to_ find even the basic
0340E05 professional tools within the country. ^*India does not make professional
0350E05 cameras. ^*Hindustan Photo Films, a public sector undertaking,
0360E05 does market photographic films required for still cameras. ^These
0370E05 so-called *4desi rolls sold by \0HPF are mere cut and repacked
0380E05 versions of bulk supplies received from their principals abroad. ^This
0390E05 film is there for the photographer in the market but, unfortunately,
0400E05 it is a trifle undependable becasue of frequent packaging defects.
0410E05 $^We do manufacture photographic paper of a respectable quality. ^Again,
0420E05 the entire production is confined to two sources, Hindustan Photo
0430E05 Films and a private company, resulting in a sellers*' market and
0440E05 high prices. $^Professional photographers find it almost impossible
0450E05 to_ import cameras and other sophisticated equipment they require because
0460E05 of stringent regulations. ^A few years ago, the Government amended
0470E05 the rules specially to_ help full-time professionals. ^The current
0480E05 volume of *3Import Trade Control Policy of the Ministry of
0490E05 Commerce contains a small paragraph on the subject. ^It reads: $^Applications
0500E05 from *7bona-fide photographic studios and selt-employed professional
0510E05 photographers will be considered by the regional licensing
0520E05 authorities concerned with import of permissible types of photographic
0530E05 cameras. ^Applications should be made through the Director of Industries
0540E05 concerned in the prescribed form and manner so as to_ reach
0550E05 the sponsoring authority by 31.12.77. $^Not very generous! ^As with
0560E05 all rules, what is promised is rarely delivered. ^The whole process,
0570E05 I understand, involves unwinding of a lot of red tape. ^In any case,
0580E05 this should not dishearten the serious professional who is used to
0590E05 the business, however messy. ^His is a life of struggle and he knows
0600E05 it because, when it comes to the question of assessing his work, he
0610E05 is compared with the best in the world. $^Photography has been associated
0620E05 for long in this country with family groups, weddings and convocations.
0630E05 ^Even these days, some of our village elders feel that to_
0640E05 have themselves photographed would do them harm and reduce their life-span.
0650E05 ^On seeing a camera, the first reaction of a rustic mother with
0660E05 her child is to_ shy away from it. ^But some of our offcials also
0670E05 seem to_ have emulated this traditional belief. ^Even where there is
0680E05 no security risk, petty officials have regarded photography as a dangerous
0690E05 crime. ^Often, one finds them stretching their camera allergy
0700E05 to ridiculous limits. $*<*3How They 'Greeted' Him!*> $^Here is
0710E05 an amusing incident involving the Editor of *3Far Eastern Economic
0720E05 Review of Hong Kong. ^While on a visit to India, he happened
0730E05 to_ walk into a post-office on Parliament Street in Delhi. ^A
0740E05 board which displayed all the standard messages for greetings telegrams
0750E05 and their code numbers attracted his attention. ^Since there was nothing
0760E05 similar anywhere else abroad, he found the facility rather amusing.
0770E05 ^Hardly had he taken his camera out for a picture of the board
0780E05 when he found himself in the company of some agitated officials who
0790E05 lost no time in marching him to the nearest police station! $^It is
0800E05 a pity that there is not enough appreciation of the photographer and
0810E05 his work either by those connected with the medium in the Government
0820E05 or by the Press. ^Apart from *3The Illustrated weekly of India
0830E05 (whose editors have done commendable work in the cause of photography
0840E05 in the country), there is no other *3picture magazine. (*3^The Hindu
0850E05 of Madras had a weekly picture magazine in the early thirties,
0860E05 I am told.) ^Even the *WEEKLY has in recent years begun to_ merely
0870E05 *3illustrate its articles, obviously subordinating the picture to
0880E05 the word. ^Here and there one finds a newspaper like *3The Statesman
0890E05 of Delhi flashing a picture across a half-page every Sunday morning.
0900E05 (^*I understand that the editor concerned is fighting a battle
0910E05 with his management to_ keep this weekly picture page going!) ^Our
0920E05 magazines pay a pittance for pictures. ^Some of them go to the extent
0930E05 of publishing a picture even without a simple credit-line to the photographer,
0940E05 let alone paying him for it. $^There is no Indian newspaper
0950E05 or magazine with a full-fledged Picture Editor on its staff. ^The
0960E05 photographer has not yet become an active member of the editorial
0970E05 family. ^Most of the thinking is still being done only by the "wordmen".
0980E05 ^This is because our editors are not visually thrilled. ^Their pictorial
0990E05 judgement is often poor. $^In addition, they suffer from a \0VIP
1000E05 fixation. ^Politics is their meat. ^Opinion rather than report,
1010E05 word rather than picture, stirs them. ^Most of our leading editors
1020E05 are either political columnists or commentators. ^Few come up from
1030E05 the newsroom. ^Pictorial appreciation, understandably, is not their
1040E05 cup of tea. $^This reminds me of an interesting encounter I had a
1050E05 few years ago with the late \0Col *(0M.S.*) Rao, the celebrated
1060E05 physician. ^He walked into my office one day for a portrait of himself.
1070E05 ^While he talked, he looked at a large picture of a smiling woman
1080E05 on the wall at my back. "^That_*'s an excellent picture!" he said.
1090E05 ^*I felt flattered. ^Not because the picture on the wall was one
1100E05 of my favourites but because the kudos for it came, of all people, from
1110E05 a distinguished person known for the deft wielding of the stethoscope
1120E05 rather than the camera. ^*I asked \0Col Rao what it was that_
1130E05 appealed to him in the picture. ^Pat came the answer: "^Oh, it*+1s
1140E05 one of the finest illustrations for describing the flurotic condition
1150E05 of the teeth." ^*I sank back into my chair. $^They say that pictures
1160E05 tell their own story. ^They tell, in fact, different stories to different
1170E05 people. ^This is where photography becomes *3communication.
1180E05 ^So much of today*'s communciation is done by television that the traditional
1190E05 photo-and-journalism combination has been pushed to the background
1200E05 by the electronic image. ^It has made a radical encroachment into
1210E05 the newspaper and magazine reader*'s time. ^The competition has
1220E05 seen the end of some of the world*'s best-known journals. *3^*Life
1230E05 for example, and *3Look and *3Picture Post. $^Mercifully, the
1240E05 situation in India is less grim. ^If it is hopeful, it is not because
1250E05 of television but in spite of it. ^The threat to ink-on-paper journalism
1260E05 from the idiot-box is still a far cry in this country. ^In the
1270E05 last few years, there has been a magazine explosion, though a number
1280E05 of them are film journals. ^Many young people fresh from college are
1290E05 taking to the camera. ^Some of them have already made a mark as up-and-coming
1300E05 photojournalists. $^The big newspapers have, no doubt,
1310E05 their own staffers. ^Nevertheless, there is still scope for the freelancer.
1320E05 ^The large business houses have begun using photojournalistic
1330E05 techniques in their publicity ventures. ^Their annual reports and house
1340E05 journals are full of pictures. ^As in other trades, the rewards
1350E05 are high for those who are outstanding and lucky. ^But, for the most,
1360E05 the pickings are meagre compared with other jobs which are less exacting.
1370E05 ^Successful freelancers often have a part-time staff job on
1380E05 a national paper or agency. ^They spend their spare time reading magazines,
1390E05 finding ideas and shooting stories to_ sell on speculation.
1400E05 ^This is hard but there is an element of gamble in the game. ^There
1410E05 are also others, only a few, who have made the grade and are big names.
1420E05 ^They wait on commission from editors and agencies in India and
1430E05 abroad. ^They are in demand. $^This is the tragedy of photojournalism
1440E05 in India. ^It is confined to a limited circle of successful photographers.
1450E05 ^Until and unless this elitist group grows-- with more and
1460E05 more talented youngsters graduating into the circle-- photojournalism
1470E05 will continue to_ be the profitable occupation of a privileged
1480E05 few. $^Our editors have much to_ do in this regard. ^They should
1490E05 promote pictorial features in a big way and encourage the camera to_
1500E05 report for them. ^Of late, there has been a drop in the number of
1510E05 photographs one finds in newspapers. ^No longer do they subscribe to
1520E05 foreign picture agencies. ^There are no Indian agencies either; not
1530E05 even a feature service handling pictures. ^The Press Information
1540E05 Bureau*'s picture service fills a gap as far as the small newspapers
1550E05 and magazines go. ^They need to_ diversify their coverage, not
1560E05 confine themselves only to the offcial goings-on in the Capital.
1570E05 ^While \0UP and \0UPI handle both words and pictures, \0PTI
1580E05 and \0UNI feel satisfied with words. $^There are a number of camera
1590E05 clubs in the country which are active and have large memberships.
1600E05 ^Some of them, such as the Photographic Society of Bombay, were established
1610E05 as early as 1937. ^The primary aim of these clubs is to_
1620E05 promote photography. ^They have done this with a sense of dedication
1630E05 over the years. ^In fact, had it not been for the pioneering work of
1640E05 some of their founding members, photography would have remained a mere
1650E05 leisure-time hobby of the elite in the country. $*<*319th-Century
1660E05 Approach*> $^This is no exaggeration. ^What the photo clubs have not
1670E05 been able to_ achieve is to_ develop a dynamic attitude towards
1680E05 photography among their members, which will be in keeping with the rapid
1690E05 strides in the world of communication. ^Most clubs favour pictorialism.
1700E05 ^Their approach to photography is that of the painter-- an
1710E05 approach more akin to 19th-century easel painting than to contemporary
1720E05 trends in photography (or painting, for that_ matter). $^*I am not
1730E05 here questioning the validity of pure pictorialism as an essential
1740E05 sphere of photography. ^What worries me is the tendency to_ limit the
1750E05 scope of this great visual medium without taking fuller advantage
1760E05 of its unique power. ^Photography does not belong to the realm of the
1770E05 painter. ^It is not a poor relation of high art. ^The photographer
1780E05 should have artistry. ^But, when he pursues artistic values too sedulously,
1790E05 the picture he produces will be playing the ape to another
1800E05 art form rather than expressing the true nature of the madium of photography.
1810E05 ^It is the prerogative of the camera to_ record the present
1820E05 as a reliable witness-- and this is what is going to_ make photography
1830E05 a witness to the past as well.*#
        **[no. of words = 02021**]

        **[txt. e06**]
0010E06 **<*3ABOUT COLLECTION MANIA AND COLLECTION MANIACS*0**> $^Man is a born
0020E06 collector, but the reason why people collect, be it watches, clocks,
0030E06 or shoes, is as vague as the items collected. ^Like the Army Colonel
0040E06 who collected wines of different types, saying he would make a
0050E06 cocktail of the wines and take it on his death bed. ^Psychologists,
0060E06 in their own technical jargon have put it some thing like this, "^The
0070E06 tendency to_ collect things stems from the inhibition of the paraconscious,
0080E06 which is a result of the suppression of the subconscious, which
0090E06 is again due to a "Freudian complex of Ego, stimulation versus
0100E06 self subjugation which again has..." $^Whether you are a Bigwig or
0110E06 a Tagrag, some collections go along with life. ^As a tiny tot you
0120E06 collected the platform tickets and toys then you seemed fascinated
0130E06 with dolls and marbles. ^You set foot into your teens, and collected
0140E06 jokes. ^As you grew older, you collected those classified "matrimonials"
0150E06 and then a wife. ^Children followed next, as a collection. then
0160E06 you collect a family and with it the never ending nags from your
0170E06 wife, not to_ talk of the worries. ^Old age and grey hair come next.
0180E06 ^You collect mementoes trophies and also the sweet memories of the
0190E06 youthful days. ^You recollect your collection of kisses and love letters.
0200E06 ^Then, you die and someone else does the collection of your
0210E06 fading snaps and your memories. $^Some people collect the queerest things
0220E06 conceivable, Tutankhamon the Egyptian King of the 13th century
0230E06 \0B.C. who was the first collector on record, for example collected
0240E06 walking sticks. ^He was so much attached to his collection, that
0250E06 in his will he stated that "the entire collection be buried in my tomb
0260E06 in the event of my death." $^A sub-inspector in lucknow had a go
0270E06 at long hairs sported by young boys and collected them. ^He then used
0280E06 to_ gaze over his "weekly booty" for hours with a 'on the top of
0290E06 the world' feeling. ^Then there is another Police Officer who takes
0300E06 pleasure in collecting Long moustaches.' ^He has a record moustache,
0310E06 two feet long which he says was acquired from a dacoit of the
0320E06 Chambal area, through a barber. $^*Sir Winston Churchill collected,
0330E06 apart from cigars, hats, both used and unused. ^On his visits to
0340E06 foreign countries he made it a point to_ get at least one cigar of each
0350E06 brand available. ^Hats also caught his fancy. ^He was so avid a collector
0360E06 of hats that once he took possession of a hat from one of his
0370E06 guests almost forcibly. ^Most of us are probably, not aware of this
0380E06 hat collecting facet of this genuis. $^Equally interesting are the
0390E06 collections of a German man Paul Richter. ^He collects razor blades
0400E06 and has gained the distinction of possessing a unique collection
0410E06 of more than 8,000 of those flattened and sharpened metals. $^He
0420E06 shot into fame some years back when he found his name in a number of
0430E06 German magazines. ^He has been collecting these just on an impulse
0440E06 since the past 30 years and the oldest one is from 1904. ^He takes
0450E06 great care of his collections. ^Collectors have a passion akin to
0460E06 that_ of lovers*'s for their hard earned collections. ^At least, the
0470E06 fact that Li-Yi-An, one of China*'s greatest poets of the 10th
0480E06 century \0A.D. and her husband Tehfu were great collectors of books
0490E06 and art objects, inspite of their poverty, are a proof to this.
0500E06 $^When Henry *=2*'s physician suspected that the King was turning
0510E06 into a hypochondriac, he coaxed him to_ start 'collecting' as his
0520E06 hobby. ^The King started collecting artistically designed and engraved
0530E06 cutlery. ^It developed so far that the king turned into a kleptomaniac.
0540E06 ^His wife, they say, used to_ check his pockets before leaving
0550E06 dinner parties. $^*King Charles *=2 had more than 75 clocks ticking
0560E06 away in his chamber when death got the better of his. **[sic**] ^Doctors
0570E06 and psychiatrists suggested cultivating the habit of collecting something
0580E06 to_ sterile women to_ remove the complexes out of them, be it
0590E06 pets or buttons. $^It may be blood curdling to_ hear of this trend
0600E06 in the Naga community even until recent years. ^Boys could marry only
0610E06 after they collected a score of human skulls and displayed their
0620E06 chivalry before their fiancees. ^In fact a boy*'s worth was measured
0630E06 in terms of so many skulls collected. ^Thank God, they have become
0640E06 wiser now. $^The most dreaded piece of paper feared by people of my
0650E06 species is the Rejection Slip. ^But, I for one take great pleasure
0660E06 in collecting these. ^After all John Creasy, the celebrated writer,
0670E06 had more than 600 of these '\0R' slips. ^And now has an equal
0680E06 number of published works. ^Then, the literary genius, Somerset Maugham
0690E06 is said to_ have the world*'s largest collection of these. $^And
0700E06 then there are the eccentric collectors. ^*Peg Brecken collects
0710E06 sunrises and Captain Cook had a collection of sands from different
0720E06 places. ^People collecting kisses and worn out shoe soles aren*'4t
0730E06 unheard of. ^Then a 'cute young Thing' from Delhi collects autographs
0740E06 on places of great heights and interests. ^She showed off her 32*"
0750E06 of her vital statistics 32-28-34 for an autograph. $^And the story
0760E06 of a man who was worried about his wife*'s elopement only because she
0770E06 carried on her person one of the brooches from his collection. ^In
0780E06 fact, the things the people collect are too wide for any concise list.
0790E06 ^Someone said quite aptly that it depended on the grey cells and
0800E06 your bank balances. ^Don*'4t laugh at the maniac who, for vanity sake,
0810E06 bought off Victoria*'s Under Garment and Maggie*'s Bosom pads
0820E06 for his collection. $^Then there is the story of the old man from
0830E06 South America who died of shock when Zoologists told him that his
0840E06 treasured collection of 'Petrodactyll' feathers were nothing but
0850E06 feathers of the Indian crow.
0860E06 $**<'*3Shooting' Rhinos, Tigers & *4Langurs*0**> $^It was the European
0870E06 Sea-Eagle-- the squat dark body, flat topped head, great hooked
0880E06 beak and fierce golden eyes. ^The nest was atop a sturdy oak beside
0890E06 a swamp in Rumania*'s Leta Forest. $^As the camera began to_
0900E06 whirr, the bird screeched-- a plaintive *3keeookeii keeokeii*0,
0910E06 it was answered by her mate on an adjoining tree. ^The cameraman,
0920E06 concealed behind a well-camouflaged hideout, continued to_ shoot.
0930E06 $^The bird flapped its massive wings and rose majestically into the
0940E06 cloudless sky. ^It soared higher and higher, riding the air-currents
0950E06 until it became a speck against the vast blue. $"^It*'1s
0960E06 going to_ dive!" the cameraman said to himself as he quickly
0970E06 changed his lens. ^The eagle was gliding down in a wide spiral.
0980E06 $*<*3Spectacular Swoop*0*> $^The camera was barely started and
0990E06 the eagle swooped down at lightning speed. ^Its talons struck
1000E06 the water with a resounding splash and it again rose skywards with a
1010E06 large carp writhing in its claws. $^*I shot that_ spectacular footage
1020E06 for our television," said Karl-Heinz Kramer, the tall, burly
1030E06 German photographer. ^Although he speaks in halting English, the
1040E06 variety of evocative gestures and sounds he uses more than makes
1050E06 up for the lack of fluency. $"^With wildlife you don*'4t always get
1060E06 such spectacular shots," he admits. "^Cine photography in the wilds
1070E06 can be demanding and often hazardous; you need a lot of patience,
1080E06 determination and ingenuity." $*<*3Gunless quest*0*> $^He should
1090E06 know. ^He has made more than 200 wildlife films during the last 25
1100E06 years all over the world. ^He has filmed polar bears in the frozen
1110E06 Tundra and macaws in the steaming Amazon. ^While stalking herds in
1120E06 the African savannah, Herr Kramer has himself been
1130E06 stalked by the great cats. ^With bison, boar and elk, he has tramped
1140E06 across the European taiga on both sides of the Iron Curtain. ^And,
1150E06 throughout all this and much more, Kramer has never once carried
1160E06 a gun. $^He has also filmed wildlife in India-- since 1973,
1170E06 he and his wife Christel have spent 25 months in five trips
1180E06 in our jungles and sanctuaries. $"^Each of our films has either
1190E06 a single protagonist like the elephant, the rhino and the tiger or
1200E06 a group of species like monkeys, storks and deer," Christel Kramer
1210E06 explains in her charmingly German-accented English. ^She is an ash
1220E06 blonde with classic Teutonic features more suited to a film star
1230E06 than the wife of a wildlife photographer. ^She is a film editor
1240E06 and serves as a research assistant, a field journalist and, in
1250E06 general, is Woman Friday to Kari-Heinz who does the shooting,
1260E06 plans the safaris, writes and dubs the scripts and also sells the series
1270E06 to television centres the world over. $^Months, even years,
1280E06 of meticulous research and groundwork precede each series. "^But only
1290E06 after the expedition is launched comes the real test; we have
1300E06 to_ handle every detail in totally alien surroundings-- sometimes
1310E06 under the most trying conditions. ^There are rangers, wardens and other
1320E06 people to_ be contacted; scouts and trackers to_ be despatched;
1330E06 costly and fragile equipment to_ be lugged across strange and unfamiliars
1340E06 routes, tangles of red tape to_ be crossed and bureaucrats
1350E06 to_ be placated before we get to_ see the *8prima donnas*9-- the
1360E06 wild animals and birds. ^And that_ *3is*0 worth all the effort-- then
1370E06 we forget all our trials and hardships," says Christel. $^The kramers
1380E06 failed to_ film the fabulous "^*Flamingo City" in the great Rann
1390E06 of Kutch although they have been trying for the past four years.
1400E06 $*<*3Gruelling Camel Ride*0*> $^This year was the fourth
1410E06 attempt to_ film the elusive birds. ^Their scouts travelled to Khavda
1420E06 from Bhuj and then motored to Nir, the last human habitation
1430E06 in the Rann. ^A gruelling ten-hour camel ride brought
1440E06 them to the *4bets amid the salty lagoons where the flamingoes
1450E06 usually build their pail-like mud nests. ^To their dismay, the scouts
1460E06 found a vast flood encircling the flamingo colony. $^Moreover the
1470E06 flamingoes were already well launched on their breeding season;
1480E06 the spindly-legged downy chicks, herded by "nurse" flamingoes in
1490E06 the marshy flats, were well grown and therefore unsuitable for
1500E06 filming. $^The Kramers warmly recall the unstinted assistance they
1510E06 got from Indians in their quest of the flamingo. "\0^*Mr Reuben
1520E06 David, Superintendent of Ahmedabad Zoo, gave us valuable help and
1530E06 expert advice. ^In the field, but for the superb reconnaissance
1540E06 of Brigadier Irani and his boys of the Border Security Force,
1550E06 we would have wasted precious time and possibly damaged our sensitive
1560E06 equipme   in chasing false leads." $^Not all field trips end
1570E06 in disappointment. ^In Kaziranga early this year, when they were
1580E06 on their way to a pelican colony, the Kramers came upon a "rhino*'s
1590E06 toilet" smack in the centre of a vast sea of elephant grass. ^Fastidious
1600E06 creatures, the rhinos, unlike other beasts, use the same
1610E06 site day after day to_ ease themselves. $^The Kramers were about to_
1620E06 sit down near the great pile of ancient rhino-dung when a steaming
1630E06 and snorting rhino, obviously eager to_ relieve itself, charged
1640E06 them. ^Objecting to the "indelicate display" that_ would perhaps have
1650E06 taken place, the accompanying game warden fired in the air. ^Result:
1660E06 "No toilet for poor \0Mr Rhino that_ morning," said Karl-Heinz
1670E06 with a rueful laugh. $"^We got a remarkable sequence in the
1680E06 Periyar rain forest when we were shooting Nilgiri *4langurs leaping
1690E06 across a more than twenty-foot-long clearing in the forest. ^One
1700E06 adolescent male couldn*'4t make up his mind about the jump. ^For
1710E06 fifteen minutes he dithered on the tip of the branch, making
1720E06 many blustering false starts, always pulling himself back at the
1730E06 very last moment. ^The agony of indecision on the monkey*'s face
1740E06 was almost human. ^In the end, much to our relief and delight, the *4langur
1750E06 gathered himself in one spectacular effort and sailed across
1760E06 the gap in a thrilling graceful arc." $^While filming tigers,
1770E06 the Kramers refused to_ use *4machan and bait-- the traditional ploys
1780E06 of the *4shikari. "^Such a shot," says Christel Kramer, "is not only
1790E06 unauthentic but also very cruel. ^Just think of the luckless goat
1800E06 or buffalo lashed securely before the *4machan. ^What
1810E06 chance does it have against the tiger? ^We would rather abstain
1820E06 from filming than sacrifice a beast-- even if it be a mere goat."*#
        **[no. of words = 02008**]

        **[txt. e07**]
0010E07 **<*3Cultivating a kitchen garden*0**> $^Cultivating a kitchen garden has
0020E07 now become more of a hobby and a pastime among women. ^The average
0030E07 middle class housewife though interested in kitchen gardening
0040E07 hardly finds any space to_ cultivate her vegetables although
0050E07 she is aware that it would help her economically. ^Vegetable prices
0060E07 are rising steadily and they are beyond the reach of the common housewife.
0070E07 ^Kitchen gardening, therefore, is gaining a lot of importance
0080E07 today, and the housewife tries to_ make use of whatever little space
0090E07 that_ is available in the balconies or elsewhere. $^All the popular
0100E07 vegetables such as Tomatoes, Cauliflower, Cabbage, leafy vegetables
0110E07 \0etc. can be grown in your own house if you know the proper techniques,
0120E07 and hints with regard to planning your garden. ^Right from
0130E07 sowing the seeds indoors, transplantation, maturing, fertilising, pruning,
0140E07 pinching and harvesting \0etc. will be included in this feature.
0150E07 ^With a little effort on your part you will be able to_ grow enough
0160E07 vegetables for your needs, right through the year. $^We start this
0170E07 feature with tomatoes which can be grown very easily even if you
0180E07 have limited space. ^Tomatoes will flourish in containers, large or
0190E07 small, set on a sunny terrace, gallery or balcony. ^If you have neither,
0200E07 there are varieties that_ will grow in hanging baskets at windows
0210E07 with a southern exposure. ^Take your choice for it*'1s economical,
0220E07 and it allows you to_ choose varieties exactly suited to your family*'s
0230E07 needs and to your own particular gardening situation. ^Some
0240E07 of the popular varieties of tomatoes are Firestone, Raynold Super
0250E07 Giant, Bonny Best, American Mariglobe, Ponderosa \0etc. ^Select
0260E07 the variety that_ you are interested in and obtain the seeds from
0270E07 a standard seedseller. ^Sow them in boxes or earthen-pots at depths
0280E07 to_ suit their sizes. ^Large seeds may be sown 2 to 3 inches deep,
0290E07 while the smaller from 1/4 to 1/2 an inch deep to_ avoid excess of
0300E07 water during the seedling period. $*<*3How To_ Sow Seeds:*0*> $^Sow
0310E07 your seeds in pressed cardboard egg cartons. ^Fill the little
0320E07 cups with sphagnum moss leaving a little space on the top. ^Sow one
0330E07 seed in each cup of the cardboard egg carton, put some thin growing
0340E07 material over the seeds and envelop the container with a plastic wrap.
0350E07 ^Place this in moderate sunlight to_ germinate. ^In a few days,
0360E07 the seedlings will start to_ sprout. ^This is the time to_ remove the
0370E07 plastic wrap and remove the containers to the sunniest window-sill
0380E07 so as to_ enable the growing seedlings to_ have more sunlight and
0390E07 fresh air. $*<*3Preparing of the ground for cultivation*0*> $^Light
0400E07 or heavy soils may be used particularly for tomatoes. ^It is advisable,
0410E07 however, to_ dig heavy soil into ridges so that a greater surface
0420E07 area can be broken up. ^The ridges should be 2 1/2 \0ft. apart in
0430E07 which the tomatoes may be planted. ^The digging of the ground is
0440E07 equally important. ^It is wise to_ have the hold of the tool correctly
0450E07 fixed or set to one*'s height and arm movement by which one will
0460E07 be able to_ have the right lift and allow it to_ go into the ground
0470E07 as deep as it is made to_ bring its maximum quantity of soil up
0480E07 and over by digging systematically. $*<*3Transplanting:*0*> $^After
0490E07 a week or two, sprouting seedlings will fill up the cups with leaves
0500E07 having some roots at the bottom you will also notice some leaves. ^Transplant
0510E07 each to its own 3*" to 5*" pot, or transplantation bed filled
0520E07 with ordinary manure or domestic manure. ^The best time to_ transplant
0530E07 seedlings is at sundown or before midmorning. $^This can be
0540E07 made by everyone and particularly the housewife with least expense.
0550E07 ^The cheapest manure is none other than the kitchen refuse, leaves and
0560E07 wood ash. ^Besides this, cow, goat, pig or chicken manure is also
0570E07 ideal for such vegetable cultivation. $*<*3Transplanting:*0*> $^If
0580E07 you are transplanting seedings on a patch of land, the seedlings having
0590E07 some roots at the bottom and some leaves should be removed from
0600E07 the seedling-bed or pot or boxes carefully, keeping the ball of soil
0610E07 intact and transplanted on the patch of ground already prepared as
0620E07 above 15 \0in. apart in rows that are alternatively 1 \0ft. 9 \0in. and
0630E07 2 \0ft. 3 \0ins. apart. $^As they grow, start feeding the growing plants
0640E07 with a liquid fertilisers when the first truss of floweres has set
0650E07 and the fruit is beginning to_ swell. ^Frequent feeding gives best
0660E07 results, and should be confined entirely to the transplanted bed. ^Give
0670E07 about 2 pints per plant every alternate day and water them afterwards.
0680E07 ^All side shoots should be pinched out immediately as they appear,
0690E07 and dense foliage may be thinned to_ allow air and sunlight to_
0700E07 reach the fruit. ^All the tomato plants planted on a patch of ground
0710E07 need support. ^Bamboo can be used or lengths of string can be attached
0720E07 to_ overhead wires strung tightly from one end of a wall or
0730E07 pole to the other, about 4 to 6 \0ft from the ground. $^Tie other end
0740E07 of each string to the base of a plant, or to a short bamboo which
0750E07 can be driven in near base, and twist the string round the plant as
0760E07 it grows and needs support. $^The other way of cultivating tomatoes
0770E07 is by sowing the seeds in the open. ^Sow three seeds 1/2 \0in. deep
0780E07 at each point and cover it with a thin transparent or plastic cloth.
0790E07 the points of planting should be atleast 20 \0in. apart in rows
0800E07 2 1/2 \0ft. apart. $^Before planting in the final cultivating ground
0810E07 or transplanting bed/ ground, make the rows 2 1/2 \0ft. apart and
0820E07 allow 20 \0in. between the plants. ^Make a good hole and plant the
0830E07 ball of soil containing the roots when the seedlings have a few leaves
0840E07 on the top. ^Plant so that the top of the ball is about 1/2 \0in.
0850E07 below the level of the ground. ^Immediately after planting, put a
0860E07 strong 4 to 6 \0ft. bamboo into the ground at the side of the root ball.
0870E07 $^Do not remove the leaves of the tomatoes until they turn yellow;
0880E07 they manufacture the elaborated sap that_ feeds the fruit and helps
0890E07 it to_ mature. $*<*3Maturing:*0N $^To_ obtain fast maturing
0900E07 of the plants, fertilising the plants is vital. ^Feed tomatoes growing
0910E07 in containers, weekly, with all purpose plant food such as 5-10-10.
0920E07 ^One feeding should keep the plants producing abundantly for a fortnight.
0930E07 ^Water weekly or three times in a week unless there has been
0940E07 a good 2*" to 3*" rainfall. $*<*3Pruning & pinching*0*> ^As soon as
0950E07 the plants grow to average height of about 20 or 24 inches, care should
0960E07 be taken to_ see that the plant does not gravitate to one side
0970E07 only since this affects the plant and stunts its growth. ^The remedy
0980E07 lies in fixing a stick of one meter height strong enough to_ bear
0990E07 the plant*'s weight, next to the plant and tying the plant to it to_
1000E07 facilitate easy growth. ^Suckers will develop between main branches
1010E07 and the stem. ^Pinch these off. ^After the plant has bushed out and
1020E07 lots of blooms and buds appear, pinch off stems beyond developing
1030E07 buds to_ hasten the ripening of existing fruit. $*<*3Harvesting:*0*>
1040E07 $^The Firestone variety is very popular because of its attractive
1050E07 shape, rich shining colour and fine appetising flavour. ^So also is
1060E07 Reynold Super Giant which is of great commercial importance. $^This
1070E07 particular variety is grown on a large scale in north India and
1080E07 in Maharashtra. ^Vines are vigorous and produce an excellent crop
1090E07 even under adverse climatic conditions. $^Bonny Best is another popular
1100E07 variety which has its own charm attraction, and taste. ^*American
1110E07 Mariglobe introduced by the Department of Agriculture of United
1120E07 States of America some where in 1925 **[sic**] has now become a hot favourite
1130E07 all over India and is the first choice of every kitchen gardener.
1140E07 ^One should ensure that pests do not attack this variety and the
1150E07 moment it is noticed, effective measures should be taken to_ free
1160E07 the plant from further attacks of the pests. ^*Ponderosa is as popular
1170E07 as the later ones for vines are heavily set with large meaty and
1180E07 somewhat flattened fruits. ^In this, one will notice that these fruits
1190E07 are solid and weighty, flesh is firm and with small seed cavities.
1200E07 ^Harvesting the fruits in time is very important. ^When we notice
1210E07 that not a sign of green remains on the stem end, harvesting must be
1220E07 carried out. ^Keep picking tomatoes as they ripen to_ keep the plants
1230E07 producing. ^If we feel the harvest is over and still there are a
1240E07 few leftover green tomatoes hanging, the easiest way is to_ pull the
1250E07 tomato plants up by their roots and hang them upside down in a cool
1260E07 dark room when the remaining tomatoes will ripen. ^Pest control is
1270E07 very important in the cultivation of tomatoes as probable pests are
1280E07 "*8EPILACHNA-BEETLE*9" and "*8MILLOCERUS*9". ^These pests bore holes
1290E07 through the leaves into the fruit and then slowly envelop the whole
1300E07 crop. ^Beware of this calamity and avoid it in time so that all
1310E07 the efforts put into the cultivation are not lost. $*<*3Note:*>
1320E07 $*<*3*8Sphagnum Moss/ Bog-Peat*9 Moss:M> $^This variety is an off-shoot
1330E07 of peat-moss-- a vegetable matter decomposed by water and partly
1340E07 carbonised vegetable matter when decomposed, becomes *7Sphagnum
1350E07 Moss. $^Moss is an important group of plants that_ grow in almost
1360E07 every part of the world. ^There are thousands of different kinds
1370E07 of moss. ^Most moss grow best in places where the climate is moist
1380E07 and warm and the soil is damp. ^In places where the climate is cold
1390E07 and dry, moss shrivels up and looks as if it were dead. ^When the weather
1400E07 grows warm and there is rain, the moss comes to life again. ^Moss
1410E07 is found on tree trunks, on logs, on rocks and on objects in rivers.
1420E07 ^Some moss is pale green, some dark green, and there is moss that_
1430E07 is almost black. ^Moss is useful to other plants because it keeps
1440E07 their roots warm.
1450E07 $**<*3Cultivating A Kitchen Garden: Cabbage**> $^Cabbage is
1460E07 an easily grown vegetable and is grown in many parts of the world. $^Before
1470E07 we consider the different types of cabbage that_ can be grown,
1480E07 it is very important to_ prepare the soil. $*<*3Soil Preparation*>
1490E07 $^Generally cabbages grow in all kinds of soil, though the
1491E07 varieties that_ are ready for use naturally
1500E07 prefer a lighter soil which warms up quickly, after the turn of
1510E07 the year and encourages the roots to_ grow earlier. $^It is always
1520E07 better to_ cultivate cabbages by planting out in a field after a
1530E07 well manured crop. ^In any case, digging the soil over and adding well
1540E07 rotted compost at the rate of a large basinful per yard is
1550E07 necesary. $^When the soil is raked level for planting out, use fish
1560E07 manure at the rate of 3 \0oz. to a square yard. ^It is equally important
1570E07 to_ ensure that the soil is not acid. $pselect a seed-bed
1580E07 and water it well before the selected seeds are sown: pnow select the
1590E07 type of cabbages to_ be cultivated. ^Given below are the various types
1600E07 of cabbages that_ are generally grown in this country. $*<*31.
1610E07 Large Drumhead*> $^One of the best varieties, very large, weighing
1620E07 about 4 1/2 \0kg. each. ^It is large, flat, solid in its heads
1630E07 takes about 9 days to_ mature after transplantation. $*<*32. Golden
1640E07 Acre:*> $^A first class, very early, roundheaded variety of medium
1650E07 size, very uniform and solid. ^It takes about 60 days to_ mature
1660E07 after transplantation. $*<*33. Early Wonder:*> $^Ideal round-headed
1670E07 variety matures early round about 60-65 days after transplantation,
1680E07 yet producing large solid head weighing about 3 \0kg. under normal
1690E07 conditions. $*<*34. Savoy:*> $^Ideal for kitchen cultivation.
1700E07 ^Matures early and is very tender and delicious. $*<*35. Triumph:*>
1710E07 $^An early, medium-sized variety producing in about 50 days after
1720E07 transplantation, a uniform crop of pointed or conical shaped heads
1730E07 that_ are very solid, weighing 2 \0kgs. or more. $*<*3Sowing:*>
1740E07 $^After selecting the varieties, obtain packets of seeds and sow them
1750E07 in a semi-shade seed bed scratching out drills 1/2 inch deep and
1760E07 6 inches apart.*#
        **[no. of words = 02015**] ar

        **[txt. e08**]
0010E08 **<*3CULTIVATING A KITCHEN GARDEN*0 *3brinjals*0**> $*<*3Brinjals/ Egg
0020E08 Plants:*0*> $^Brinjal is a popular vegetable amongst people of all
0030E08 income groups. ^A wide variety of dishes can be prepared with brinjals
0040E08 ranging from *4chutney to several delicious dishes which can be
0050E08 prepared in the Indian style and Western style. $^Brinjal is a vegetable
0060E08 that_ can be grown round the year if proper care is taken
0070E08 with regard to its cultivation right from sowing to harvesting. $^Aubergine,
0080E08 also called brinjal or egg-plant comes in 2 varieties white
0090E08 and purple the latter being better in flavour. ^Brinjals grow well
0100E08 in loamy soil which is not only rich in organic matter, but is also
0110E08 warm. $*<*3Soil Preparation:*0*> $^Get the ground levelled and remove
0120E08 all the thistles and other unwanted matter before sowing the seeds.
0130E08 ^Allow the ground to_ dry well. and then start digging it mixing
0140E08 the soil well with rotted dung or compost. ^It should be ensured
0150E08 that the dung or the compost should be dug into the soil at the
0160E08 rate of 3 to 4 bucketfuls to 6 \0sq yards. ^Adding fish manure and bone
0170E08 meal at the rate of 4 \0oz. per \0sq yard will enrich the soil and
0180E08 give abetter yield. ^Allow the soil to_ settle for a few days before
0190E08 you start planting the seeds. $^Sow the seeds 1/2 inch deep on the
0200E08 seedling bed at normal distance making sure that when the plants germinate
0210E08 and grow, they do not rustle with each other. ^After about 3
0220E08 to 4 weeks remove them and plant them on the patch where they are to_
0230E08 grow. ^You can also sow the seeds directly on to the patch where
0240E08 they are supposed to_ grow. $*<*3Sowing:*0*> $^While transplanting
0250E08 the plants from the seedling bed, care should be taken to_ see
0260E08 that the root balls remain intact. ^This can be achieved by making holes
0270E08 around the base of the plant to_ make sure that the balls of
0280E08 soil are removed without disturbing the roots. ^Next comes the most important
0290E08 step in the cultivation of the plants. ^Transplant the seedlings
0300E08 firmly, in rows 2 feet apart with 20 inches between rows. ^Pinch
0310E08 an inch from the top of each plant to_ encourage boosting of branching.
0320E08 ^If more than six fruits form on one plant, thin them down to
0330E08 six, always leaving the best on the plant. $*<*3Harvesting:*0*> ^Brinjals,
0340E08 if carefully and property cultivated will yield excellent
0350E08 results, when compared to other vegetables. ^Watering the growing plants
0360E08 is necessary, but avoid excessive watering. ^Pick the brinjals
0370E08 when they grow to the size of a large hen*'s egg or in the case of longer
0380E08 varieties about 5 inches in length. ^It is at this stage that
0390E08 the flavour is fresh and not lost for a day or two. ^Always pick the
0400E08 fruits and collect them preferably in a cane basket so that they
0410E08 are exposed to fresh air. $*<*3Some Do*'3s and Don*'4ts:*0*> $1.
0420E08 ^Do not allow the leaves to_ remain dry throughout the day. ^But spray
0430E08 water over the leaves, particularly on the under-side of the leaves
0440E08 as usually these plants are attacked by red-spider and other common
0450E08 germs and insects which suck the sap causing the foliage to_ turn
0460E08 brown or ash-gray. $2. ^Do not allow any small plants to_ grow around
0470E08 the brinjal plants. ^Pick them up ensuring that the soil around
0480E08 the egg-plant does not turn up inside out. $3. ^The plants must be
0490E08 watered at least once in a day, preferably with a water can as a spray.
0500E08 $4. ^Remove all dirt and rotten leaves from the plants as infection
0510E08 of the plant diseases will soon spread from one plant to another.
0520E08 $**<*3CULTIVATING KITCHEN GARDEN *5KNOL KHOL*6*0**> $*5^*Knol Khol/
0530E08 Kohl*6 *4rabi known as *5Ganth Gobee*6 in Hindi, *4Nalu in Telugu
0540E08 and *5Navil Khol in Tamil is a popular vegetable all over India.
0550E08 ^There are two varieties of *5Knol Khol*6, known as Early White
0560E08 Vienna and Early Purple Vienna. ^The former is indicated by its
0570E08 light green and smooth skin, the flesh being white, tender and of delicate
0580E08 flavour while the latter though resembles White Vienna has
0590E08 a purplish colour with delicate greenish white flesh. **[sic**] $^Normally,
0600E08 *5Knol Khol*6 is sown or cultivated from August to December
0610E08 on the plains but on the hills it is sown from March to May, it
0620E08 is done so because during the period August to December, the rainfall
0630E08 is not very heavy and the weather is fairly cool while from March
0640E08 to May the weather is equally cool on the hills and the water resources
0650E08 are better. $^Essentially, *5Knol Khol*6 is a root crop but
0660E08 most of its root is really a swollen stem and grows above ground.
0670E08 ^Being a rapid grower, it makes a good cash crop. $*<*3Soil Preparation?*0*>
0680E08 $^Select a plot with light sandy soil and add a well-rotted
0690E08 compost at the rate of a bucketful to a square yard. ^Also add fish
0700E08 manure with 8 per cent potash content at 5 \0oz. per square yard.
0710E08 ^Thus a conditioned climate is created and this stimulates the seeds
0720E08 to_ germinate which will ultimately make the seeds mature in time
0730E08 and produce a rich yield of *5Knol Khol*6 within two months. $*<*3Sowing
0740E08 Procedure?*0*> $^It is better to_ sow the seeds in the last weeks
0750E08 of August or mid-March if on the hills. ^Sow the seeds thinly
0760E08 in drills 15 to 17 inches apart, at a depth of 1 inch or atleast 1/2
0770E08 inch. ^Thin out the plants to 8 inches apart when the seedlings are
0780E08 1 1/2 inches in height. ^It is also advisable that a second or follow-up
0790E08 thinning to 1 feet **[sic**] apart is done when the plants, are
0800E08 grown to half. $*<*3Post Sowing Plan?*0*> $^Water the plants liberally
0810E08 and remove the weeds so as to_ enable the root or the stem to_
0820E08 get full access to light and draw strength from water without any
0830E08 obstruction. ^Once in a week while irrigating add some fertiliser.
0840E08 ^Impeccable cleanliness is necessary around the plants. otherwise
0850E08 the pests will destroy the crop when ready for the harvest. $*<*3Harvesting?*0*>
0860E08 $^Harvesting *5Knol Khol*6 is a peculiar process unlike Cauliflower
0870E08 or Cabbage. the vegetable will not grow to the requisite
0880E08 size unless proper care is taken. ^In two months time and if harvest
0890E08 is earlier, the stem will be stunted in growth and will make the *5Knol
0900E08 Khol*6 to_ lose its flavour. ^If it is harvested after three
0910E08 months, the roots will be hard, coarse and disagreeable. ^A constant
0920E08 watch will help the cultivator harvest the vegetable in right time
0930E08 \0ie. when the roots are about the size of sweet limes or a little
0940E08 more but not less. ^The roots should be pulled gently. $*<*3General
0950E08 Care?*0*> $^It is essential that all possible care is taken against
0960E08 club root disease which is common to most of the root vegetables
0970E08 and *5Knol Khol*6 in particular since *5Knol Khol*6 belongs to the Cabbage
0980E08 family. ^This disease attacks the plants, pitting the leaves
0990E08 and also boring the flesh of the root-ball deeply. ^The only counteracting
1000E08 measure to this disease is dusting the leaves liberally with
1010E08 \0D.D.T. or Gammaxin. $^When hoeing between the rows, utmost care
1020E08 should be taken to_ ensure that the leaves are not injured. ^Hoe
1030E08 lightly, drawing the soil away from the roots rather than up to them.
1040E08 $**<*3My experience in developing a kitchen garden*0**> $^For the past
1050E08 eight years we have been living in rented houses. ^Last October we
1060E08 moved into the University quarters near the college where my husband
1070E08 works. ^My friends in metropolitan cities will envy me for the space
1080E08 we have in the quarters. $^Before marriage I was interested in
1090E08 developing a small kitchen garden in our house at Madras. ^By the
1100E08 time I could plan and start the work I got married and moved to
1110E08 the city of Lake Udaipur. ^*I thought my ambitions were going to_
1120E08 be fulfilled in the new house. (^We have got about 20*'6 x 30*'6
1130E08 in front and 20*'6 x 40*'6 at the back for developing a lawn and a kitchen
1140E08 garden respectively.) ^When I discussed this with my husband he
1150E08 replied that as long as I didn*'4t trouble him it was perfectly alright
1160E08 **[sic**] to_ develop any garden including a terrace garden. ^That_
1170E08 was the only green signal I needed. $^My friends were kind enough to_
1180E08 recommend *4Mali Magniram, quite a famous gardner in the staff colony.
1190E08 ^*I appointed him from 1st of November 1967 after finalising
1200E08 the wages \0etc. ^He was not only hardworking but also very talkative,
1210E08 he talks nothing but Mewadi-- the local dialect. ^In fact when
1220E08 I suggested demarking the area for different vegetables he put
1230E08 his foot down and said to me that developing a kitchen garden is his
1240E08 job and if anyone continued to_ interfere in his job he would quit. ^*I
1250E08 sensed the red signal and quietly withdrew from the scene. ^However my
1260E08 desire to_ develop a kitchen garden was so great so **[sic**] I followed
1270E08 his instructions. $^After a week he gave me an ultimatum to_ get
1280E08 the seeds and seedlings within two days. ^*I requested my husband to_
1290E08 go to the horticulture farm at 8 \0a.m. and get the items as desired
1300E08 by the *4mali (I pretended as though I had not heard his objections)
1310E08 ^To_ maintain peace at home(!) he bought the seeds \0etc and
1320E08 asked me to_ keep a separate account for the project-- Development of
1330E08 Kitchen Garden. $^*Mali Magniram was happy that_ evening when I
1340E08 showed the items and he was busy with them. ^The next day he suggested
1350E08 that I had to_ get **[sic**] a pipe for watering the garden. ^The
1360E08 present budget did not permit me to_ go in for this purchase for
1370E08 atleast two months. ^*I was perplexed for some time and then I told
1380E08 him to_ use the buckets until the *4Sahib gets the pipe. ^He kept
1390E08 quiet when I mentioned the *4sahib*'s name. ^After ten days he said
1400E08 that green manure is a must. ^With the help of the housemaid I got
1410E08 the manure on the very next day for fear of losing the mali. ^Everything
1420E08 was coming up nicely and the backyard was green. ^Even my husband
1430E08 started taking a few rounds on the cemented side opposite the
1440E08 kitchen garden (maybe appreciating the wife!) $^For some days the *4mali
1450E08 was busy with his work but never stopped talking in Mewadi (I
1460E08 started replying in broken Mewadi.) *4^Mali opened the topic of pipe
1470E08 once again. ^He further suggested that either myself or children
1480E08 could do the watering with the pipe. ^When I mentioned this to my
1490E08 better half he got annoyed and said the *4mali was not going to_ dictate
1500E08 terms. ^In the month of January when the budget permitted a
1510E08 pipe (50 feet length) was purchased. ^*Mangiram gave half an hour
1520E08 lecture about different types of pipe and finally concluded that our
1530E08 pipe was the best in the colony (perhaps he thought I should be given
1540E08 a certificate of merit!.) ^*I am sure he must be telling everyone
1550E08 the same thing. ^He then suggested that some spraying should be done
1560E08 with insecticides since dimake had come. ^The problem was solved
1570E08 with a great relief when a friend who happened to_ be a plant pathologist
1580E08 visited our house. ^He said that ash would serve the purpose
1590E08 since it might be difficult for us to_ arrange spraying \0etc. ^Like
1600E08 a sincere student I sprinkled the ash on the plants the next day.
1610E08 $^Raddish, turnip and spinach was coming very well. ^Normally I
1620E08 never used to_ purchase these in the market. ^But the situation is
1630E08 different now because these are grown in our kitchen garden, cauliflower
1640E08 and cabbage were not encouraging. $^Birds were creating a problem
1650E08 for peas. ^Tomatoes and onions were sown a little bit late. ^One
1660E08 fine morning my *4Guru (Mali) said that time had come to_ harvest
1670E08 the potatoes. ^According to expectations we were supposed to_ get
1680E08 15 times the seeds planted (5 \0kg). ^Everyone suggested ways and means
1690E08 to_ dispose 75 \0kgs of potatoes. ^After waiting for a week when I
1700E08 saw that the yield was only 15 \0kgs I was depressed.*#
      8 **[no. of words = 02013**]

        **[txt. e09**]
0010E09 **<*3CHAPTER*0 8**> $*<*3Brakes, Wheels and Tyres*0*> $\0Q. ^What
0020E09 are the reasons for rapid tyre wear? $\0Ans. ^The most important reason
0030E09 for rapid tyre wear is under-inflation or over-inflation of the tyre.
0040E09 ^Besides this, high speed causes excessive tyre wear. ^Tyre wear increases
0050E09 rapidly with speed and it is observed that the wear at 80 \0kms.
0060E09 per hour is double than **[sic**] the wear at 50 \0kms. per hour. ^Therefore,
0070E09 frequent rapid acceleration and braking and continued high speed
0080E09 driving result in heavy tyre wear. ^Misalignment and unbalanced
0090E09 wheels produce uneven tyre wear. ^Road surface finish also has an effect
0100E09 on tyre life. ^A rough road surface wears tyres rapidly whereas a wet
0110E09 smooth surface hardly at all. $\0Q. ^What can be the reasons for tyres
0120E09 not retaining pressure over a period? $\0Ans. ^All tyres lose air
0130E09 with time. ^It is advisable that the tyres are topped up to the specified
0140E09 pressure every week. ^It is also advised that before starting every
0150E09 day a visual check of the tyres should be made. $\0Q. ^What are the
0160E09 reasons for uneven tyre wear? $\0Ans. ^The tyres wear unevenly due
0170E09 to a number of reasons. ^A different wear pattern reflects the defects
0180E09 either in driving or in the mechanical composition of the car. ^If
0190E09 the tyre wears more on the shoulders than in the centre of the tread,
0200E09 this would indicate that the tyre was being run under-inflated. ^The
0210E09 opposite effect-- more wear on the centre portion of the tread, the
0220E09 sides being comparatively unworn-- indicates too high a pressure. ^Wear
0230E09 on one side of the tread only would suggest incorrect chamber angle.
0240E09 ^If the tyre wears unevenly in patches in a zig-zag form along the
0250E09 circumference, this is due to the tyre being incorrectly fitted on the
0260E09 rim, to a buckled wheel or to oval brake drums causing the brakes to_
0270E09 act unevenly. ^A badly imbalanced wheel will cause the tyre to_ wear
0280E09 unevenly. ^Even excessive braking on the driver*'s part affect **[sic**]
0290E09 tyre wear. $\0Q. ^What can be the reason for tyre burst? $\0Ans. ^A tyre
0300E09 burst mainly takes place only when the rubber casing of the tyre has
0310E09 been weakened. ^For example, if the tyre has been run while under-inflated,
0320E09 the walls are probably cracked. ^If the driver is unable to_ position
0330E09 his car properly and therefore habitually hits the curbs at an oblique
0340E09 angle so that the tyre is nipped, the tyre walls are likely to_ be
0350E09 cracked. ^When a tyre is damaged in this way there is usually no evidence
0360E09 of it on the outside, but the damage can easily be seen if the cover
0370E09 is examined on the inside. ^Such a cover is prone to_ burst. ^Sometimes,
0380E09 however, the outside appearance of the tyres clearly show **[sic**]
0390E09 the damage caused inside. ^Negligence on the part of the car owner
0400E09 to_ get the tyres retreaded in time sometimes results in the fibre
0410E09 of the casing to_ come out, which weakens the upper portion, and when
0420E09 tyres are inflated and run for a considerable distance, the pressure
0430E09 developed also increases and weakens the spots, resulting in tyre
0440E09 burst. $\0Q. ^Can there be any type of tyre wear other than already
0450E09 specified in the earlier questions? $\0Ans. ^There is one more type
0460E09 of tyre wear which is evident and is due to scuffing which indicates
0470E09 that the tyre is not rolling on the road surface but is also rubbing
0480E09 or skidding to some extent. ^The cause of this is incorrect wheel alignment
0490E09 and the toe-in requires to_ be checked. ^If such a defect is
0500E09 observed in the rear wheels, the chassis should be checked for alignment
0510E09 and the axle for displacement. $\0Q. ^Is it important to_ maintain
0520E09 correct tyre pressure? $\0Ans. ^A tyre is designed to_ operate
0530E09 at a certain pressure when installed on a car of known shape and characteristics
0540E09 and it is of utmost importance that this pressure be maintained
0550E09 to_ obtain the maximum service from the tyre. ^Under-inflation causes
0560E09 severe cracking of the tyre*'s side-walls and excessive wear. ^It
0570E09 is the cause of a majority of tyre bursts. ^Over-inflation, on the
0580E09 other hand, causes excessive thread wear and very frequent tyre changes.
0590E09 ^Both over and under-inflation cause dangerous defects in steering
0600E09 and control. $^If on visual check-up one tyre shows a pressure far
0610E09 below the other, look for the cause before adding more air. ^This situation
0620E09 is an indication of impending tyre trouble. ^Cars should not be run
0630E09 on flat tyres even for a very short distance. ^This practice will
0640E09 ruin both the tyre and the tube. ^Repairs on tubes can be made in glue
0650E09 patches in emergencies if the puncture is not too large. ^Tubes should
0660E09 be repaired by vulcanising. ^Emergency repairs of tubes should be
0670E09 made by the insertion of a boot or a patch. ^This boot should be removed
0680E09 as soon as possible because it interferes with the wheel. ^A hole
0690E09 in a tyre can be repaired by vulcanising it, if it is not extensive.
0700E09 ^Worn away tyre treads should be replaced by either of the process of
0710E09 retreading or repairing if the casing is still in good condition. ^It
0720E09 is observed that tyres can safely be retreaded upto three times if maintained
0730E09 properly. there are instances when tyres have been retreaded
0740E09 upto six times. $\0Q. ^What particular attention does a tyre require?
0750E09 $\0Ans. ^During visual inspection if it is observed that any object
0760E09 is embedded into the tyre surface, this should be removed. ^However,
0770E09 if any nail or similar object is observed in the tyre while driving
0780E09 do not try to_ remove it there itself but after driving to the nearest
0790E09 repair shop. ^If the nail is removed, the air will immediately
0800E09 pass out of that_ punctured portion. $^The car should not be run on a
0810E09 soft tyre even for a few hundred yards. ^This will easily take off the
0820E09 life of the tyres for a few thousands of miles. ^Also never allow
0830E09 weight of the car to_ rest on a flat or a very soft tyre. ^If a car
0840E09 is to_ be out of use for a considerable time, jack it up and place supports
0850E09 under the axles so that no weight comes on the tyres. $^The tyres
0860E09 which take the steering, wear out much faster and it is advised
0870E09 that the front pair of the tyres is always in good condition as it affects
0880E09 the steering ability of the car, as also the braking while cornering
0890E09 and even on straight ahead positions. ^The steering tyres wear
0891E09 out faster because of the road chamber and wear tends to_ be uneven
0900E09 on the inner side tyres than on the off side. ^Wear can be evened
0910E09 out by changing the tyres as shown in the figure 7. $\0Q. ^What precautions
0920E09 should be taken while fitting and removing tyres? $\0Ans. ^Some
0930E09 difficulties in fitting or removing tyres is observed when an attempt
0940E09 is made to_ stretch the tyre over the wheel. ^Steel wires are embedded
0950E09 in the edges of the tyre and these cannot be stretched. ^If excessive
0960E09 force is used there is every likelihood that the wires will be broken
0970E09 and the edges of the tyres damaged. ^It is always wrong to_ use
0980E09 a method in which a great force is required to_ put the tyre on or
0990E09 take it off the wheel. $^While removing a tyre from a wheel, first completely
1000E09 deflate tyre by removing the valve core. ^Then place the wheel
1010E09 flat on the ground and stand on the tyre moving the foot all round
1020E09 so as to_ break the adhesion between the tyre and the rim. ^Turn the
1030E09 tyre over and repeat the process on the other side of the tyre. ^The
1040E09 tyre should now be free of the rim and ready for removal. ^Insert
1050E09 the end of the tyre lever under the edge of the tyre at the valve position
1060E09 and apply pressure to the free end of the lever so as to_ lift the
1070E09 edge of the tyre over the wheel rim, at the same time pressing the
1080E09 tyre edge into the wheel of the rim at the opposite side of the wheel.
1090E09 ^Bend the lever so inserted and as far as possible at the sides also.
1100E09 ^Now insert the second lever close to the first and lift more of
1110E09 the tyre edge over the rim. ^Three tyre levers may be used if required
1120E09 but normally two are sufficient. ^When about half of the tyre has
1130E09 been lifted out of the wheel rim, it should be possible to_ pull the
1140E09 remaining edge by hand. ^For removing the tube, press the valve out
1150E09 of the hole in the wheel rim. ^The tube should then be pulled out of the
1151E09 tyre. ^If the tube has been position for a long time, it will
1160E09 probably be sprung up inside of the tyre and care should be taken
1170E09 not to_ pull the rubber or the tube may be patched. ^With one tyre
1180E09 edge clear of the rim, there is little difficulty in levering out the
1190E09 remaining edge if the instructions already given are followed. $^The
1200E09 procedure for fitting the tyre to the wheel is just the reverse of removal.
1210E09 ^Place the tube into the tyre before the latter is fitted to
1220E09 the wheel and inflate it slightly sufficient to_ maintain the shape of
1230E09 the tube. ^Now pull the tube out of the tyre a little at the point where
1240E09 the valve is attached so as to_ allow the valve to_ be inserted into
1250E09 the hole in the wheel rim. ^When this has been done, screw the retaining
1260E09 nut on to the valve to_ prevent it from slipping out of the hole.
1270E09 ^Now fit the first tyre edge to the wheel using the method described
1280E09 earlier. ^With the first tyre edge fitted, commence to_ fit the second
1290E09 tyre edge starting opposite the valve using the tyre lever to_
1300E09 place the tyre edge over the wheel rim. ^Use the levers close together:
1310E09 trying to_ take too big a bite only results in difficulty. ^Make sure
1320E09 that a tyre edge goes into the well of the rim as it is fitted. ^Do
1330E09 this by pressing the edge down all the way round using the hands or
1340E09 feet, but the last part to_ go in must be at the tyre valve position.
1350E09 ^Finally inflate the tyre slightly and note if it is true with the
1360E09 rim. ^There is a rib of rubber running round each side of the tyre near
1370E09 to the wheel rim, and this rib must be the same distance from the
1380E09 rim all the way round, otherwise the tyre will wobble as the wheel turns
1390E09 and it will wear unevenly. ^Bouncing the wheel after inflation on
1400E09 that_ part of the tyre which is too far in the rim should cure the
1410E09 trouble. ^A better practice could be to_ inflate and then deflate
1420E09 the tyre. ^This will allow the tyre to_ settle in the rim itself. ^Finally,
1430E09 inflate the tyre to the correct position. $\0Q. ^How are valve cores
1440E09 removed from the tyre valves? $\0Ans. ^The valve cores are screwed
1450E09 into the valve and may be unscrewed by means of a slotted tool which
1460E09 is inserted into the valve until it engages with the flat top of
1470E09 the valve core. ^If the tool is then rotated in an anti-clockwise direction
1480E09 the valve core will be unscrewed. ^The same tool is used for screwing
1490E09 the valve core back into the valve. $^To_ check if a valve is
1500E09 leaking, the cap could be removed and covered with some moisture. ^Bubbles
1510E09 indicate leakage. $\0Q. ^What can be the reasons of wheel not
1520E09 running true? $\0Ans. ^This may be due to a buckled wheel or to an incorrectly
1530E09 seated tyre. ^It is possible that extremely worn wheel bearings
1540E09 could cause the wheel to_ run out of true. ^Jack the wheel off the
1550E09 ground so that it can be turned. ^Some fixed point must be arranged
1560E09 so that it is almost touching the rim. ^A pencil or similar article
1570E09 can be held on the top of a box by a weight and placed so that its end
1580E09 is close to the edge of the wheel rim at about axle level.*#
        **[no. of words = 02028**]

        **[txt. e10**]
0010E10 *<TINY PRAWN PUFFS*> $^Separate: $2eggs $Mix until smooth: $2 \0ozs
0020E10 (55 \0gms) flour $egg yolks $Add and mix together: $salt $pepper $sugar
0030E10 **[flower bracket**] a pinch of $1 green chilli $twig celery $tiny
0031010 onion $6 \0oz (165 \0gms) prawn $1/2 pint milk **[flower bracket**]
0040E10 very finely chopped $Beat stiffly and fold in:
0050E10 $egg whites $Deep fry in smoking hot: $oil $Drain well and serve hot
0060E10 or cold. $*3Variations: $(1) ^Grated cheese may also be substituted
0070E10 or added to either vegetables or meats. ^Cheese gives it a richer
0080E10 flavour. $(2) ^Any other meats such as chicken, ham, fish, \0etc. may
0090E10 be substituted for prawns, or even a mixture of meats may be used.
0100E10 $(3) ^For vegetarian puffs use very finely chopped mixed vegetables instead
0110E10 of prawns and add more seasoning. $*<TOASTED SANDWICHES*>
0120E10 $^Normally one eats sandwiches with plain bread. ^As a variation toast
0130E10 the bread. ^They make crunchy sandwiches: $butter $slices of bread
0140E10 (crusts removed) $^Spread any of the following fillings between the
0150E10 slices, butter the outer slice too and grill under the griller. ^Turn
0160E10 on the other side, butter and grill again. $*3Filling (vegetarian)
0170E10 $(1) Grated cheese mixed with a pinch of chilli powder, prepared
0180E10 mustard & cream $(2) Grated cheese, mayonnaise & nuts $(3) Grated
0181E10 cheese, finely chopped onion, celery & butter $(4) Cream cheese,
0190E10 ground garlic, finely chopped chives or onion $(5) Seasoned
0200E10 cream cheese with finely chopped lettuce $(6)Mixed boiled vegetables
0210E10 & mayonnaise $(7) Mixed boiled vegetables, sweet mango pickle & butter
0220E10 $(8) Green chutney $(9) Sauted mushrooms with salt and pepper $(10)
0230E10 Mashed banana with pinch of salt, sugar and cinnamon $(11) Grated
0240E10 apple, with finely chopped celery, walnuts and pinch of cinnamon
0250E10 $(12) Pulp of avocado, onion juice, lime juice, dash of tomato ketchup
0260E10 $(13) Peanut butter & nuts $(14) Peanut butter & sweet pickle $(15)
0270E10 Slice of cheese with *4chutney spread on it. $*3Filling (non-vegetarian)
0280E10 $(1) Sardines mashed with lime juice and pepper $(2) Cooked
0290E10 and mashed liver and bacon $(3) Finely chopped hard-boiled eggs,
0300E10 onion and coriander leaves mixed with mayonnaise $(4) Scrambled eggs
0310E10 with finely chopped green chillies $(5) Anchovy paste with cottage cheese
0320E10 $(6) Pastes of different kinds, \e.g. chicken, liver, tongue, ham,
0330E10 \0etc. $(7) Seasoned sausage meat with a dash of mustard $(8) Minced
0340E10 crab meat, lobster, prawns or any sea-fish mixed with mayonnaise $(9)
0350E10 Finely chopped hard-boiled eggs mixed with sour cream and a pinch
0360E10 of chilli powder $(10) Finely chopped hard-boiled eggs with chopped
0370E10 olives and nuts $(11) Finely chopped hard-boiled eggs with finely chopped
0380E10 chicken and mayonnaise $(12) Avocado pulp, chopped shrimps and
0390E10 mayonnaise or tomato ketchup $(13) Caviar, finely chopped onion and
0400E10 lime juice $(14) Mix together home-made mustard, a pinch of pepper a
0410E10 dash of worcestershire sauce and butter spread on slices of bread. ^Place
0420E10 a slice of chicken, or ham, steak \0etc. and grill $(15) ^Vary the
0430E10 fillings according to what is available and what is at hand. $^Open
0440E10 sandwiches called "*7smorgasbord" in Danish can also be spread with
0450E10 the same fillings as for "Toasted Sandwiches" with a little garnish
0460E10 of parsley, celery, lettuce, pickled gherkins, sweet pickle and so on.
0470E10 $^Slimmers! enjoy an open sandwich as it dispenses with the second
0480E10 bread slice. ^The slice may be white, brown, rye or any that_ is preferred.
0490E10 ^Spread over with any of the sandwich fillings. $*<VEGETABLE
0500E10 COCKTAIL *4KABABS*> $^Chop finely: $1 onion $Fry in: $a little oil
0510E10 $until golden. $^Chop coarsely: $1 carrot $1 green chilli $6 french beans
0520E10 $and saute with the onion for about 3 minutes. ^Add water and boil
0530E10 until water evaporates. $^Boil, peel and mash: $3 large potatoes $boil:
0540E10 $3 \0tblspns peeled and shelled peas $mix together all the above
0550E10 ingredients thoroughly and also the following: $1 \0tblspn worcestershire
0560E10 sauce $1 \0tsp powdered sugar $ 1/4 \0tsp red chilli powder $1 \0tblspn
0570E10 chopped coriander leaves $salt $^Form balls the size of large marbles
0580E10 and roll in: $gram flour And then in: $bread crumbs $deep fry
0590E10 in hot: *4ghee or oil $until brown. ^Serve hot. $*<WAFFLES*> $^Waffles
0600E10 are a great favourite with both old and young. ^The most important
0610E10 thing about making waffles is that the mixture should not be beaten
0620E10 too much. ^For lighter waffles you may beat the eggs whites separately
0630E10 and fold in the mixture at the end. ^See that the waffle-iron
0640E10 is hot. ^Rub a little oil on both the sides of the iron. ^Pour just
0650E10 enough batter in the centre of the iron (about 3 to 4 \0tblspn so that
0660E10 when the cover is put on, the batter will not ooze out. ^It will take
0670E10 about 3 to 5 minutes for the waffle to_ be ready: an indication
0680E10 is when the steam stops coming out of the waffle-iron after about 3
0690E10 minutes try and lift up the cover and if it is still stuck to the iron
0700E10 it obviously means the waffle is not ready; leave it for another
0710E10 minute or so and when the top comes off easily the waffle is ready.
0720E10 waffle may be eaten for breakfast, lunch or tea or even served with
0730E10 ice-cream for dinner. ^This is the basic recipe for waffles which you
0740E10 can vary as you wish. $^For lighter waffles substitute 1/2 quantity
0750E10 of buttermilk for milk. ^A few variations are given below: $^Sift together:
0760E10 $2 cups flour $2 \0tsps baking powder 1 \0tsp powdered sugar
0770E10 1/2 \0tsp salt $^Beat together: $3 eggs $4 \0tblspns oil $1 1/2 cups milk
0780E10 $^Make a well in the sifted ingredients and pour in the beaten mixture
0790E10 and mix together. ^Keep for 30 minutes. ^Pour 3 to 4 \0tblspns
0800E10 of the batter on to a heated waffle-iron to_ bake. $^Serve with: $honey
0810E10 $or treacle and butter $*3Variations $^Add to the basic mixture:
0820E10 $(1) 1/4 cup chopped *4sultana and 1/4 cup chopped cashewnuts $(2)
0830E10 1/2 cup crisply fried and crumbled bacon $(3) 1/4 cup crumbled bacon
0840E10 and 1/4 cup grated sharp cheese $(4) 1/2 cup of either chopped ham
0850E10 or chopped chicken or both $(5) 1/2 cup of chopped crab meat or chopped
0860E10 prawns $(6) 1/2 cup of finely chopped mixed fruits $(7) 1/4 cup
0870E10 grated cheese $(8) 1/2 cup boiled rice tastes good with *4masala
0880E10 chicken on top $*3To serve on waffles: $(1) Scrambled eggs $(2)
0890E10 Creamed chicken, creamed eggs, creamed vegetables $(3) *4^Masala chicken
0900E10 $(4) Any leftovers $*<WHITE SAUCE*> $^Heat and mix together:
0910E10 $2 \0tblspns butter $2 \0tblspns oil $3 \0tblspns flour $When blended,
0920E10 gradually add: $1 cup water $so that no lumps form. ^Then mix in and
0930E10 simmer together until thick: $1 cup milk $salt and pepper $1 \0tsp
0940E10 sugar. $^This same sauce is called Veloute Sauce, if 1 cup water is
0950E10 substituted by 1 cup stock of chicken, veal, fish or other meats. $*<COCKTAILS*>
0960E10 $"^Come to cocktails at seven." ^A frequent invitation
0970E10 for a convivial evening. ^Cocktails? ^How did it originate? ^As
0980E10 the word suggests the primitive cocktail of the Manhattan pioneers
0990E10 consisted in cock*'s tails dipped in a concoction of red peppers (pimentos)
1000E10 with which they tickled their throats to_ incite them to_ drink.
1010E10 ^The french invented the drink-- the word *7Coquetel' bears testimony
1020E10 to this. ^There is also the *4Swadeshi cocktail-- purely non-alcoholic.
1030E10 $*3Cocktails (alcoholic)-- ^The drink itself consists
1040E10 of a base of brandy, gin, whisky or rum \0etc., the quantities of which
1050E10 should not be below 50% nor exceed 60% of the concoction. ^The alcohol
1060E10 base may be mixed with lemon, soda-water, egg-whites, \0etc. ^Cocktails
1070E10 are appetizers and should not be too sweet, nor have too much of
1080E10 cream or egg. ^They must whet the appetite, not ruin it! $^To_ serve
1090E10 cocktails you must have the basic equipment consisting of a bottle
1100E10 opener, an ice-bag, a pair of tongs, a lemon squeezer, a cocktail shaker,
1110E10 a sharp knife, an ice mallet to_ break the ice, a strainer, a
1120E10 large spoon, a large jug, a cork-screw (to_ open the bottles), a muddler
1130E10 for mashing sugar and bitters, a stirring stick and, of course,
1140E10 cocktail glasses-- generally a thick bell-shaped glass having a foot
1150E10 or stem, so that it retains its chill. $^Next, the liquor base of
1160E10 the cocktails-- whisky, brandy, rum, gin, champagne, vodka, vermouth,
1170E10 a mixture of 4 liquors together and no more. $^Garnishes should also
1180E10 be at hand, such as, lemons, oranges, olives, cherries, pineapple, squashes
1190E10 and whatever else pleases the palate. $^Besides all these cocktails,
1200E10 people love to_ have straight drinks such as whisky & soda, or
1210E10 whisky on the rocks; brandy; gin and lime; or gin, lime & soda; rum,
1220E10 cola, vermouth, beer \0etc., and of course the short eats have to_ go
1230E10 with them. $^Here are some typical cocktails and before we go on let
1240E10 us give you a simple sugar syrup recipe. ^In an emergency powdered
1250E10 sugar may be substituted. $^Bring to the boil: $1 part water $2 parts
1260E10 sugar $Cool, chill and refrigerate. $*3Cocktails (alcohol) $^When
1270E10 1 peg is mentioned in the book, it means 1 large peg-- 60 millilitres
1280E10 = 2 \0ozs. when 1/2 peg is mentioned it means 1 small peg = 30 millilitres
1290E10 = 1 \0oz $BASIC MARTINI $^Shake together in a cocktail
1300E10 shaker: $1 cup crushed ice $1 peg dry vermouth $1 peg sweet vermouth
1310E10 $6 pegs gin $^Pour out into chilled glasses and add to individual
1320E10 glasses: $a dash of bitters $Pop in an: $olive $at the bottom of each
1330E10 glass $*3Variations: ^Instead of an olive use a small pickled
1340E10 onion and it becomes a gibson. $BLOODY MARY $serves 2 $^Shake well
1350E10 together in a cocktail shaker: $1 cup crushed ice $3 pegs vodka $1
1360E10 cup tomato juice $2 \0tsps lemon juice $1 \0tsp worcestershire sauce
1370E10 $2 drops tobasco or chilli sauce $pinch of salt $Pour out into chilled
1380E10 glasses. $*BRONX $serves 4-6 $^Shake well together in a cocktail
1390E10 shaker: $1 cup crushed ice $1 peg dry vermouth $1 peg sweet vermouth
1400E10 $1 peg orange juice $5 pegs gin $^Pour into chilled glasses and add
1410E10 a slice of orange with peel $on and a toothpick going through it.
1420E10 $CHAMPAGNE COCKTAIL $(individual serving) $*3For a special occasion:
1430E10 $^Mix in a Champagne glass: $1/2peg sugar syrup $1/2peg brandy
1440E10 Fill the glass to the top with chilled champagne $Add: $2 dashes
1450E10 chatreuse $2dashes bitters $DAIOUIRI COCKTAIL $(individual serving)
1460E10 $*3Another famous cocktail: ^Shake togrther in a cocktail shaker:
1470E10 $1/2 cup crushed ice $1 large spoon (bar spoon) lime juice $1 peg
1480E10 bicardi rum (white rum) $1 peg sugar syrup $Pour into a cocktail glass.
1490E10 $GIMLET $serves 4-5 $^Shake well together in a cocktail shaker:
1500E10 $1 cup crushed ice $1 peg sugar syrup $2 large pegs lime juice
1510E10 $5 large pegs gin $^Pour into chilled glasses. $*3Variations: $1.
1520E10 ^Use vodka instead of gin. ^Vodka is now becoming very popular and is
1530E10 often used instead of gin in many drinks. $2. ^Substitute 1 peg of
1540E10 orange juice for 1 peg of lime juice and the gimlet changes to orange
1550E10 blossom. $GIN BITTERS $serves 2 $^Shake well together in a cocktail
1560E10 shaker: $1 1/2 cups crushed ice $2 pegs gin $3 dashes of angostura
1570E10 bitters $^Pour into chilled glasses. ^Fix a slice of orange on the
1580E10 glass. $GIN FIZZ $(individual serving) $^Shake well together in
1590E10 a cocktail shaker: $1/2 cup crushed ice $1 peg sugar syrup $1 \0tblspn
1600E10 juice of lime $1 1/2 pegs gin $Add $1/2 bottle of soda water $Stir
1610E10 and serve. $*3Variations: $1. ^Silver fizz is made by shaking
1620E10 1 egg white with the rest of the ingredients. $2. ^Other fizzers are
1630E10 made by substituting gin, with brandy, rum or whisky-- called brandy
1640E10 fizz, rum fizz, or whisky fizz. $MANHATTAN $^Pour over an ice cube
1650E10 in a chilled cocktail glass: $2 pegs whisky, bourbon or scotch $1
1660E10 peg sweet vermouth $a dash of bitters $a slice of lime $Garnish with
1670E10 $a maraschino cherry (optional). $OLD-FASHIONED COCKTAIL $(individual
1680E10 serving) $^Crush: $1 lump sugar $Moisten with: $2 dashes angostura
1690E10 bitters $1 \0tsp water or cherry juice and line it in a heavy based
1700E10 tumbler, or an old-fashioned glass.*#
        **[no. of words = 02006**]

        **[txt. e11**]
0010E11 **<*3*5SA RE GA MA PA*6 OF HINDUSTANI MUSIC*6*0**> $*3^IT WAS DURING*0
0020E11 the interval of a Ravi Shanker recital at the Sapru House,
0030E11 New Delhi. ^An ecstatic young thing was telling another, "^Wasn*'4t
0031E11 it wonderful! ^Though why did he take so long warming up, I can*'4t
0040E11 understand." "^Yes," said the other, "The fun started only after
0060E11 the *4Tabla player came on the scene." $^With the passage of time
0070E11 and more specially with the growing acceptance of Indian classical
0080E11 music in the West, Pandit Ravi Shanker is the 'in thing' even
0090E11 in India. ^But God knows only a miniscule minority has any idea as
0100E11 to what our *5Shastriya sangit*6 is all about. $^Yes, the most important
0110E11 thing about Indian classical music is that it is *4Shastriya
0120E11 or according to clearly set out rules. ^*Music in India is not merely
0130E11 the unbridled expression of emotions; the expression has to_ be
0140E11 according to certain melodic principles made sacrosanct by recorded
0150E11 treatises and given a measure of flexibility by performing masters over
0160E11 the ages. $^Broadly speaking, Indian music has never broken itself
0170E11 loose from its religious moorings. ^Music everywhere has sprung
0180E11 from the Church but elsewhere the musician has gone ahead and snapped
0190E11 the umbilical chord that_ bound it to the icon and the pulpit. ^In
0200E11 India, the musician even today talks of his vocation as '*4sadhana'
0210E11 and a means to achieving '*4moksha' or salvation. $^Not that our
0220E11 music has refused to_ recognise emotions other than the sublime. ^But
0230E11 for the worldly thoughts, it has thrown up different forms like the
0240E11 *4thumri *4gazal and *4dadra while its *4gharanedars or traditional
0250E11 singers have resolutely stuck to lofty idealism associated with their
0260E11 classical music. $^From times immemorial, the musicologist has accepted
0270E11 the existence of two kinds of music: The *5Margi Sangit*6 or the
0280E11 music for the Path of Salvation and the *5Deshi Sangit*6 or the
0290E11 Music of the Masses. ^The salvation-path music was supposed to_
0300E11 be unchangeable while the other kind could change according to times.
0310E11 ^Interestingly, however, it has been the change in the *5Margi
0320E11 Sangit*6 that_ has given Indian music its aura of mysticism and
0330E11 out-of-this-world charm. ^If the *4vedic thought went through the
0340E11 crucible of the *4Upnishadic enquiry and results, the *4Sufi and
0350E11 *4Bhakti movements, how could its musical offspring remain unchanged?
0360E11 $^The *4vedic music was simple, direct and evocative as only chant
0370E11 music can be. ^Then musicianship started to_ assert itself. ^The
0380E11 earlier history is not very clear but Sharangdev, the 12th, 13th
0390E11 Century musicologist, mentions Prabandh Vastu and Rupak as current
0400E11 forms. ^The musical scale had also fully evolved by that_ time
0410E11 and the *4raga system had fully asserted itself. ^It is interesting
0420E11 to_ note that *4Dhrupad and *4Dhamar, these days referred to as
0430E11 'time honoured styles', came later. ^In fact, *4Dhrupad is said to_
0440E11 be an evolution of *4Dhruvapad of the same times and it literally
0450E11 means the constant song. *4^*Dhrupad held unchallenged sway for two
0460E11 hundred years or more when the *4Khayal style started making its
0470E11 hesitant entry somewhere in the fifteenth century. ^It may be interesting
0480E11 to_ note that the celebrated musician Tansen was a *4Dhrupad
0490E11 singer. $^Since both the *4Dhrupad and *4Khayal styles are in vogue
0500E11 today, it will be easier to_ understand the basic urges of our music;
0510E11 its peculiar concept of beauty and its relationship to the philosophical
0520E11 thought of India, if we broadly grasp their forms. $^Both
0530E11 *4Dhrupad and *4Khayal styles of singing have two clearly definable
0540E11 compartments-- slow and fast singing. ^It is imprortant to_ state
0550E11 that in Indian musical tradition, instrumental music is supposed
0560E11 to_ follow the vocal format so what is said of vocal music generally
0570E11 holds good for instrumental music as well. $^In *4Dhrupad style,
0580E11 the artiste first sings the *4alaap with the help of 'nom tom', words
0590E11 that_ mean nothing. ^The *4alaap is supposed to_ unfold the *4raga
0600E11 in all its stages and the compositional singing with the rhythmic
0610E11 accompaniment comes afterwards and is less important than the *4alaap.
0620E11 ^An average instrumental music recital follows the same pattern
0630E11 and hence the talk of 'warming up' is absurd. ^In our music, the slower
0640E11 exposition is considered to_ be more important, the 'words' have
0650E11 only a secondary place. $^The *4khayal singer, because he found his
0660E11 audience not quite able to_ digest the full dose of abstract music,
0670E11 resorted to the use of the words and rhythmic accompaniment right
0680E11 from the beginning. ^Thus evolved the practice of the slow and the
0690E11 fast *4Khayal. $^It is important to_ note here that even though the
0700E11 *4Khayal singer made an important formal change in the *4Dhrupad
0710E11 style, he did this more as a tactic at audience-enticing than as a
0720E11 fundamental change in the essentials of music. ^*I have asked great
0730E11 musicians like Pandit Krishnarao Shanker and Ustad Amir Khan and
0740E11 they have confirmed that once the composition is rendered the main
0750E11 occupation of the musician is to_ unfold the *4raga. ^Words merely
0760E11 help. $*<*3^Music and worship*0*> $*3^UNCONSCIOUSLY,*0 it would
0770E11 seem, our musicians seem to_ have followed the Indian attitude towards
0780E11 idol worship. ^The idol is not god but it is a good means of concentrating
0790E11 one*'s vagrant mind on god. ^It must lead to the comprehension
0800E11 of the Undefinable, Limitless Lord. ^Similarly the text
0810E11 of a *4Khayal might give a starting point to a musician; a kind of
0820E11 convenient peg to_ hang his musical ideas upon. ^It might also give
0830E11 a sort of tangible emotion to the listener to_ grasp at the start
0840E11 of the recital. ^But the musician always seeks to_ unfold the *4raga.
0850E11 ^The labyrinth of language is a snare deliberately set to_ be
0860E11 broken later to_ move into the realm of pure melody, unsullied by
0870E11 words. ^For in music, the melody strives to_ exist by itself and needs
0880E11 no linguistic prop. $^Thus when you hear classical music, do not
0890E11 get involved in the text of the *4Khayal being sung. ^Lend your ear
0900E11 to the emerging melodic form and you would have reached the essence
0910E11 of music. ^Many of our foremost singers have been notorious mispronouncers
0920E11 of the words and yet their music has swayed generations of
0930E11 music lovers. $^In fact, it would be wiser to_ go a step forward
0940E11 in this direction and to_ examine the lighter forms of music as well.
0950E11 ^In semi-classical forms like *4thumri and Dadra, the word becomes
0960E11 important and the musician attempts to_ give it musical interpretion.
0970E11 ^The process is technically called '*5bol banana*6'. ^In *4ghazal
0980E11 singing the musical content yields further place to the poetry while
0990E11 in popular music the word is supreme. ^Music must become its vehicle.
1000E11 ^Thus in terms of the aesthetics of music the dominance of language
1010E11 in the song is a downhill journey. ^Or in the words of \0Dr.
1020E11 Saxena, the well-known thinker and writer, in Indian classical music
1030E11 the linguistic minimum is the aesthetic absolute. $^We have talked
1040E11 of the *4raga in Indian music. ^Now what exactly is a *4raga? a
1050E11 rough definition of a *4raga is that it is an arrangement of musical
1060E11 notes in which cretain notes are emphasised and certain others completely
1070E11 ignored in the ascending or the descending order. ^However,
1080E11 the *4raga is an integral entity. ^It has a personality and a basic
1090E11 emotional character of its own. ^And since it is an integral and not
1100E11 single dimensional entity, a *4raga lends itself to a myriad of emotional
1110E11 interpretations depending upon the capability, attitude or
1120E11 the mood of the musician. ^It is no wonder, therefore, that a *4ragacan
1130E11 be utilised both for achieving the highest musical *4samadhi and
1140E11 for creating a flippant film song. $*<*3^State of *4samadhi*0*> $*3^THE*0
1150E11 basic urge of Indian classical music is the achievement of
1160E11 a state of trance or *4samadhi. ^This is achieved by the slow, contemplative
1170E11 *4alaap portion. $^Consider for a while an average Indian
1180E11 classical music recital. ^The *4alaap portion-- be it an instrument,
1190E11 a*4dhrupad *4alaap or a slow *4khayal-- follows this pattern. ^The
1200E11 musician proceeds at a deliberate, leisurely pace. ^He does not use
1210E11 all the notes of the *4raga in one go. ^On the contrary, he takes
1220E11 up first the lower octave and then very gradually goes on notes from
1230E11 higher octaves, discarding lower notes as he proceeds. ^This process
1240E11 of gradual use of the scale is known as '*4barhat' which literally
1250E11 means carrying forward. $^This scheme leads to a cyclic unfoldment of
1260E11 the *4raga. ^The musician emphasises each note but also **[sic**] continues
1270E11 to_ expand his reference. ^Thus, while the melody proceeds linearly,
1280E11 the music goes on in advances, ripples of note combinations. ^In
1290E11 every *4raga, there is one pivotal note called the *5vadi swara*6.
1300E11 ^The melody must emphasise it. $^Among the many graces used in our music,
1310E11 the *4meend or the glide is the most important. ^It is this *4meend
1320E11 that_ lends to our music its characteristic dreamy charm. ^This
1330E11 technique also reminds one of the gliding figures of Konarak and
1340E11 Ajanta. ^On the other hand, the ripple-like cyclic movements are obviously
1350E11 the melodic use of the yogic techniques of contemplating through
1360E11 *4mandalas and *4chakras. $^It is basically this meandering movement
1370E11 that_ induces a hypnotic state or the state of a trance in
1380E11 Indian classical music. ^Whether it uses words as in the *4khayal
1390E11 style or it just uses a few meaningless syllables, the *4raga unfoldment
1400E11 gradually lifts you into another plane of experience where nothing
1410E11 but the melody remains. $^But our music does not end with this
1420E11 state of trance. ^It continues to_ find its finale in another gradual
1430E11 burst of speed building up to a crescendo. ^While our ancient music
1440E11 must have faster singing as well but the *4tana singing of the *4khayal
1450E11 style followed by most of the popular instruments is the result
1460E11 of Muslim influence on our music. ^It is notable that ancient instrument
1470E11 like the Been and Surbahar do not make use of super fast
1480E11 speeds and *4dhrupad style of singing also uses very fast tempo but
1490E11 rarely. ^What is the aesthetic significance of the super fast speed?
1500E11 $^For an answer to this question one must look to the *4Sufi concept
1510E11 of divine ecstacy or '*4Haal' as it is sometimes called. ^The *4Sufis
1520E11 believe that unlike the still posture of the Indian saints,
1530E11 the state of religious ecstacy induced frenzied activity before all
1540E11 became still. ^The *4drut singing of the *4khayal style is but the musical
1550E11 representation of this concept. $^In our musical tradition the
1560E11 divinity of a musical note has always been accepted. *4^*Naad is *4Brahma.
1570E11 ^The ancient texts refer to a single note a *4swara meaning
1580E11 '*5swayamev ranjyate*6' or one that is beautiful by itself. ^It is
1590E11 clear that only divinity can exist as beauty independent of everything
1600E11 else-- time, space or any other reference. ^This also explains the
1610E11 Indian musicians*' practice of emphasising each and every note and
1620E11 the concept of '*5Swara Sadhana*6'. $^From the foregoing, therefore,
1630E11 these conclusions emerge. ^*Indian classical music is not dependent
1640E11 upon language for its exposition. ^The slow movement is more important
1650E11 since it leads to contemplation. ^The *4raga system is the musical
1660E11 manifestation of the ancient Indian metaphysical thought and
1670E11 the *4drut singing of the *4Khayal style is the beautiful result of
1680E11 the *4Sufi impact on our religious attitudes. $^Though Indian classical
1690E11 music is generally divided into the *4Carnatic and *4Hindustani
1700E11 branches, there is no denying the fact that, in their essence,
1710E11 both the musical systems are the same. ^The writer does not claim expert
1720E11 knowledge of the *4Carnatic music but he has heard enough South
1730E11 Indian musicians to_ say with confidence that with some variations,
1740E11 the two systems have retained their basic unity remarkably.
1750E11 $^Having noted the salient features of our music, it will be profitable
1760E11 to_ acquaint ourselves with some of our great musicians. ^Such
1770E11 an exercise should make our understanding of our music clearer. $^The
1780E11 most important factor in the evolution of the practice of music in
1790E11 recent times has been the evolution of *4gharanas. ^Since the British
1800E11 did not quite care for Indian music, the musicians attached themselves
1810E11 to the native Princes and their courts and their music came
1820E11 to_ be labelled as the music of the *4gharana of the patron-prince.*#
        **[no. of words = 02011**]

        **[txt. e12**]
0010E12 **<THE WORLD OF THE *4GHAZAL**> $^Arriving in Dubai on a hot and
0020E12 sultry day in July, the first sound of music that_ reached my ears
0030E12 and touched my heart, was the melodious, emotion-laden voice of Mehdi
0040E12 Hasan '*5Ranjish hi sahi dil ko dukhaane ke liye aa.' 'aa phir
0050E12 se mujhe chhor ke jane ke liye aa.*6. $^As the Arab cabbie was busy
0060E12 adjusting the voice volume, my mind wandered back to Bombay*'s Birla
0070E12 Hall, where a few months ago I had heard the 'King of *4ghazals'
0080E12 sing the same melody to a packed house. ^Incidentally, Mehdi Hasan*'s
0090E12 Indian tour was not worked out in Pakistan, but in Canada, where
0100E12 he had gone to_ give concerts. ^On subsequent days in the Gulf,
0110E12 I had numerous occasions to_ listen to *4ghazal singing by celebrated
0120E12 singers like Lata, Rafi, Farida Khanam and Munni Begum. ^Brisk
0130E12 sale of *4ghazal cassettes and \0LPs goes on there and these are
0140E12 standard items of the baggage of many a returnee-expatriate. $^In
0150E12 the course of the last few years, the *4ghazal has acquired an unprecedented
0160E12 popularity in the sub-continent which is its natural habitat.
0170E12 ^In many other countries where Indians and the Pakistanis reside
0180E12 in sizeable numbers, it has become a way of life. ^It is an 'in' thing
0190E12 at social functions and is considered a mark of cultural refinement.
0200E12 $^There are many factors for the *4ghazals' instant appeal to
0210E12 the refined taste of the elite as well as that_ of the uninitiated,
0220E12 but an important and, perhaps, primary factor is its rhythmic pattern
0230E12 which is the same as used in Indian classical music. $*<*3Cultural
0240E12 significance*> $^However, the overriding factor is that the *4ghazal
0250E12 represents a culture-- the Urdu culture, which is the synthesis
0260E12 of many cultures-- Persian, Arabic, Turkish and Hindi. ^It is a refined
0270E12 version of the four to_ suit the genius of the people who have
0280E12 adopted it as their own. ^The *4ghazal, thus, is the weather-vane of
0290E12 the state of Urdu culture. ^If the *4ghazal thrives, Urdu culture
0300E12 thrives and vice versa. $^*Urdu culture is in no way synonymous to Muslim
0310E12 culture as some people erroneously consider it to_ be. ^It is
0320E12 one of the indigenous Indian cultures. ^If one goes to Saudi Arabia,
0330E12 Egypt or Iran or any other Muslim country, one cannot fail to_
0340E12 notice the great difference that_ exists between the cultures of
0350E12 those countries and Urdu culture. $^Religion, no doubt, plays a part
0360E12 in the growth of cultures, but religion is only one of the many factors
0370E12 and certainly not the most important one. $^*Urdu is as different
0380E12 from Arabic as, say, English is from Italian. ^*Urdu is only slightly
0390E12 closer to Persian, but still quite different from it. ^In fact
0400E12 Urdu is much closer to Hindi than to Arabic or Persian. ^All
0410E12 the verbs in Urdu are derived from Hindi. ^*Urdu can be much better
0420E12 understood by a Hindi-speaking person than by an Arabic or Persian
0430E12 speaking person. $^Politics and political considerations have,
0440E12 unfortunately, divided Hindi and Urdu by identifying the two languages
0450E12 with two communities or two religions, ignoring the basic fact
0460E12 that all Muslims do not speak Urdu and all Hindus do not speak Hindi.
0470E12 ^These languages do not have religious moorings. ^It will be
0480E12 more correct to_ say that they have regional or even sub-regional
0490E12 moorings. $^Considered in this context, the *4ghazal is merely a form
0500E12 of literature developed and nurtured in Urdu language, an indigenous
0510E12 language, as part of Urdu culture. ^The *4ghazal did exist in Persian
0520E12 and Arabic even before it was introduced in Urdu, but this statement
0530E12 is only true so far as the *4ghazal as an art form is considered.
0540E12 ^In Urdu it acquired a distinct multilingual idiom, imagery and thought.
0550E12 ^As it grew, it gained in refinement through the interaction
0560E12 of various languages. ^It acquired stronger local moorings. ^Today,
0570E12 the modern Urdu *4ghazal is totally Indian in content and concept
0580E12 while maintaining the original literary form. $*<*3Characteristics*>
0590E12 $^So much for *4ghazal and its cultural significance. ^The next
0600E12 question, before one tries to_ define a *4ghazal is, what are the characteristics
0610E12 of the *4ghazal which distinguish it from other forms of
0620E12 poetry. $^A good *4ghazal has to_ be subtle, gentle and compressed
0621E12 in expression. ^What can be expressed
0630E12 in the medium of *4ghazal can be said in thousand and one ways. ^But
0640E12 the *4ghazal writer says it in fewer words, because he has to_ say
0650E12 it in two short lines which have the added discipline of rhyme and
0660E12 meter. ^Therefore, in a good *4ghazal there is no room for word-padding.
0670E12 ^The hallmark of good expression in *4ghazal is the tightness of
0680E12 the language. ^No words should be superfluous. ^In reverse, every
0690E12 word used should add to the meaning and the test of an ideal line in
0700E12 *4ghazal is that even if one word is dropped, the thought content gets
0710E12 affected. $^The better the *(ghazal-writer*) the more stickler
0720E12 for the correct choice of words he has to_ be. ^The connoisseurs of
0730E12 *4ghazal would never fail to_ note, and much less condone any weakness
0740E12 in the form of expression. $^The *4ghazal also requires subtlety
0750E12 of expression and meaning. ^Many a time, it takes the form of dual
0760E12 meaning. ^The *(ghazal-line*) provides a gentle provocation to the mind
0770E12 of the reader or the listner, to_ think beyond the superficial
0780E12 or ostensible meaning of the lines. ^If he stops at the ostensible meaning,
0790E12 enjoys it, gets lost in it, he is free to_ do so, but if another
0800E12 person looks beyond the apparent meaning and discovers the subterraneous
0810E12 thought in it, he enjoys it better and more intensely. $*<*3Subterraneous
0820E12 Meanings*> $^There exists a great misconception about
0830E12 the scope of the *4ghazal. ^Detractors of this art form belittle it
0840E12 by such side remarks as "*5Yeh kissa hai gul aur bulbul ka*6". ^It
0850E12 is the story of the flower and the nightingale). ^This essentially reflects
0860E12 their own attitude and the limits of their understanding, as
0870E12 in most cases, they are not able to_ discover the latent or subterraneous
0880E12 meanings of the couplet. $^To_ illustrate the point, an eminent
0890E12 proponent of *4ghazal who preceded Ghalib, is Mir Dard. ^He was a mystic,
0900E12 a *7suffi and a deeply religious soul. ^He lived a chaste life, far
0910E12 far away from the pleasures of wordly life-- the jug and the bottle and
0920E12 the rest. ^But his *4ghazals are full of idioms and thoughts, which
0930E12 if superficially understood, would paint a totally opposite picture.
0940E12 $^The following couplet of Momin, a contemporary of Ghalib, eminently
0950E12 illustrates the point-- apparent meaning versus subterraneous meaning.
0960E12 **[quotation**] ^O *7allah, how misled is this man Momin, that_
0970E12 leaving behind the idol and the temple, he is now on his way Kaaba,
0980E12 alongwith a devout and pious man (muslim). $Subterraneous meaning.
0990E12 ^The essence of faith is to_ be loyal to your cause. ^Disloyalty to
1000E12 your cause, whatever it may be, is the antithesis of faith. ^And therefore,
1010E12 Momin, a muslim, who all his life lived in the midst of idols
1020E12 and who has loved them, when he leaves these symbols behind and decides
1030E12 to_ move to Kaaba, a symbol of islam, is guilty of an act of disloyalty.
1040E12 $^Yet another subterraneous meaning would be that it is not
1050E12 what religion or society one is born into, that_ should determine one*'s
1060E12 faith. ^Instead it should be determined by what one believes in
1070E12 and decides to_ be loyal to. ^Man*'s steadfastness and his convictions
1080E12 are the supreme test of his religion and not the symbols that_ surround
1090E12 him. ^In other words, a man has to_ be judged by his convictions
1100E12 and not by where he lives and how he prays \0etc. $^In this couplet
1110E12 of 18 words, Momin has expressed profound thoughts and the limits
1120E12 of its meanings are the limits of the readers*' own imagination
1130E12 and understanding. $*<*3Faiz Ahmad Faiz*> ^There is a well known
1140E12 couplet of Faiz Ahmad Faiz: **[quotation**] ^The things that_ were
1150E12 not at all mentioned in my narrative, those nonexistent things seem
1160E12 to_ have disturbed her (my beloved) the most. $Subterraneous meaning:
1170E12 ^This couplet is a vivid commentary on the subtleties of dealings
1180E12 among people who share an undefined delicate relationship. ^In this
1190E12 context, one should visualize a situation where one partner may or
1200E12 may not be the lover, relates a story embellished with detailed narration
1210E12 of events, but carefully and studiously avoids references to
1220E12 certain episodes, realizing full well that they were those very episodes
1230E12 the listener (beloved) was most intensely interested in hearing about.
1240E12 ^He also very well knows beforehand that this will greatly disturb
1250E12 and annoy the listener and yet he feigns surprise over the reaction
1260E12 of his beloved. $^*Faiz does not use the words "the lover" and
1270E12 "the beloved." ^He leaves it to the reader to_ visualize it with reference
1280E12 to his own experiences. ^*Faiz also does not say what was the
1290E12 story. ^He does not define what parts were narrated and which were
1300E12 left out. ^And yet he describes a human experience. ^The gaps have
1310E12 to_ be filled in by each according to the wealth of his or her experience.
1320E12 $^This distinctive quality of the *4ghazal can be noticed in
1330E12 all the couplets included in this article and the reader can himself
1340E12 discover them if he tries to_ look beyond the experience. $*<*3Compression*>
1350E12 $^Another distinctive trait of the *4ghazal is that it
1360E12 abounds in similies and metaphors. ^Partly, these are embellishments
1370E12 which add to the beauty of the expression, and partly these are necessitated
1380E12 by the characteristics of this form, that_ is, its pithiness.
1390E12 $^For expressing a profound thought, in the framework of a few words
1400E12 similies and metaphors come very handy. ^For example, the following
1410E12 couplet: **[quotation**] ^How luckless, how unfortunate Zafar is,
1420E12 that after his death, he could not get even two yards of space in
1430E12 his beloved*'s lane for his burial. $^These lines tell the tragic tale
1440E12 of the life of the last Mughal Emperor, Bahadur Shah Zafar
1450E12 his deposition, the beheading of his young sons by the British and
1460E12 his exile to Rangoon. ^The expression beloved*'s lane, brings out the
1470E12 nostalgia and longing for the lanes of Delhi (*5Dilli ki galiyan*6)
1480E12 for his lost kingdom, or for the whole of India, his motherland.
1490E12 $*<*3Imagery*> $^*Hasan Naim, leading exponent of the modern *4ghazal
1500E12 who has given a new and rich imagery to Urdu poetry, expresses
1510E12 a complex and sensitive thought of human relationship in the following
1520E12 couplet: **[quotation**] $^To_ come close to even one person is a
1530E12 long spiritual journey. ^As for myself, I travelled for years in my
1540E12 quest for love, to_ realize that only the shadow of my physical being
1550E12 could reach my beloved. $*<*3Definition*> $^It is easier to_ recount
1560E12 the characteristics of the *4ghazal as has been attempted in
1570E12 preceding part, than to_ formally define the *4ghazal. ^It is so because
1580E12 as stated in the introductory part of this article, the *4ghazal
1590E12 is a form of poetry which is so closely identified and linked with
1600E12 a culture that, unless one could define that_ culture, one cannot
1610E12 define the *4ghazal. ^A culture has to_ be experienced to_ be lived
1620E12 with, to_ be felt. ^It cannot be defined. ^The dictionary meaning of
1630E12 *4ghazal is misleading-- it is, 'dialogue with a woman.' ^That this dictionary
1640E12 meaning is totally incorrect and wholly inadequate, is proved
1650E12 by the following *4ghazal of Iqbal: **[quotation**] $^There is
1660E12 no dialogue with a woman in this *4ghazal. ^On the contrary, it is a
1670E12 deep and profound commentary and critique of the philosophy of creation
1680E12 and the relationship between man and his Creator. $^It does not,
1690E12 however, mean that the *4ghazal is devoid of the expression of love.
1700E12 ^It is a form of amatory poetry also. $^A *4ghazal consists of several
1710E12 couplets; but each couplet has to_ be complete in itself. ^The
1720E12 entire thought or idea must be conveyed in one couplet. ^Secondly,
1730E12 one complete *4ghazal has got to_ be in one meter. ^Change of meters
1740E12 as in English poetry or as in Indian '*4geet' is not permissible.
1750E12 ^Thirdly, the last words of all couplets have to_ be similar sounding;
1760E12 for example, if the last word of the first couplet is 'good', the
1770E12 last words of succeeding couplets have to_ be 'hood', 'wood' or 'should',
1780E12 so on and so forth.*#
        **[no. of words = 02031**]

        **[txt. e13**]
0010E13 **<*3Rita Ganguly: Trend-Setter**> $^There is a quality of silence
0020E13 in the auditorium. ^From behind the curtain, the faint droning of the
0030E13 *4tanpura barely penetrates the hush. ^People walk in, huddle together
0040E13 and then settle down for the musical evening ahead. ^This is the
0050E13 first performance in Bombay of a woman who has been a dancer of
0060E13 renown and a singer with the distinction of being the *4shagird of two
0070E13 great names in the world of Hindustani classical music: Siddeshwari
0080E13 Devi and Begum Akhtar. $^When the *4mehfil opens, Rita
0090E13 Ganguly, an intense, *(kohl-eyed*) woman, takes the audience
0100E13 in hand, as it were, and with it sets out on a musical journey of joy.
0110E13 ^She begins with a *4thumri and proceeds confidently to_ weave a
0120E13 string of familiar and unfamiliar compositions-- some heard often from
0130E13 Begum Akhtar or Siddheshwari and some attractive because of their
0140E13 yet undiscovered newness. ^Those who look for the stamp of the *4gurus
0150E13 in her art find that her own concept of melody and the construction
0160E13 of musical notes intermingles with her heritage to_ create a more
0170E13 original and individualistic singing style. $^She sings *4thumris, *4dadras,
0180E13 *4chaitis, *4horis, *4jhoolas and *4ghazals with the confidence
0190E13 of an artist who is used to creating joy, giving it to the audience
0200E13 and taking back from it a larger, deeper measure of joy and appreciation.
0210E13 $*<*3A Determined Person*> ^The quality that_ impresses one
0220E13 most about the personable Rita Ganguly is her determination. ^She knows
0230E13 where she wants to_ go and is prepared to_ muster the strength and
0240E13 hard work to_ reach her goal. "^*I am a singer of the lighter variety
0250E13 of classical compositions by choice," she says, "and I sing *4khayals
0260E13 only when I know that, without adding a rendition of *4khayal
0270E13 to my performance, I cannot get into a particular music conference
0280E13 or festival. ^But a day will come when there will be entire programmes
0290E13 devoted to *4thumri and *(ghazal-singing*) alone. ^That_ is the day
0300E13 I live for". $^In spite of this burning devotion to her music, Rita
0310E13 was once an equally devoted Kathakali dancer. ^In fact, if her childhood
0320E13 and upbringing are any indication, she was almost born to_ be
0330E13 a dancer. ^Smooth-complexioned and large-eyed, she has a tremendous sense
0340E13 of movement and expression and a flair for using shapes and colours.
0350E13 $^*Rita was born in a family of freedom fighters in the archaic city
0360E13 of Lucknow. ^Her father, \0Dr *(0K. L.*) Ganguly, was a recognised
0370E13 authority on Goethe and translated *3Faust into Bengali verse.
0380E13 ^He was an important short story-writer and one of the founders of
0390E13 *3The National Herald. \0^*Dr Ganguly*'s house was "home" to politicians,
0400E13 scholars and artists and his beautiful, frail. *(koel-throated*)
0410E13 wife played the gracious hostess to all of them. ^She too was a gifted
0420E13 woman and often participated in plays or musical programmes. $^It
0430E13 was during one such event that_ Rita*'s natural talent for dancing
0440E13 was accidentally discovered. ^*Lucknow was to_ play host to the great
0450E13 Allauddin Khan, who was to_ lead an orchestra, and two-year-old
0460E13 Rita, dressed in her best costume, was backstage with her mother. "^In
0470E13 those days, curtains did not open mechanically or electrically",
0480E13 says Rita. "^There would be a man whose job it was to_ pull it along
0490E13 either way. ^His work fascinated me and, when I saw the curtain open,
0500E13 I sauntered on to the stage and started dancing in front of the orchestra.
0510E13 ^*I could see the organisers furiously beckoning me to_ return
0520E13 and the audience amused at the goings-on, but I danced on till the
0530E13 curtain was back. ^Surprisingly, Allauddin Khansa*'3ab was very pleased
0540E13 with me. ^But, while he appreciated my dancing, he asked me to_
0550E13 learn singing!" $^When Rita finished secondary school at a
0560E13 young age, she found she could only go to Santiniketan for
0570E13 further training. ^With \0Dr Ganguly*'s encouragement, she
0580E13 began her formal training in Kathakali from Guru Haridas Nair. "^He
0590E13 gave me a totally professional attitude towards my art," says Rita.
0600E13 "^*I danced for 14 to 16 hours a day and, much later, went to
0610E13 my *4guru*'s village in the Palghat district of Kerala to_ give my
0620E13 first performance. ^In the audience were all the great names of Kathakali
0630E13 and, in spite of my fear, I did my best to_ make my teachers
0640E13 happy with my work." $^The career which began with that_ first attempt
0650E13 in a Kerala temple was to_ last till Rita gave some 2,000 Kathakali
0660E13 performances. ^She was trained by Kunju Kurup, Chandu
0670E13 Panicker, Rukmini Devi and even by Shambhu Maharaj who taught
0680E13 her to_ underplay *4bhava or emotions in dance. ^*Rita was immersed
0690E13 in Kathakali. "^This dance style has a wide intellectual range.
0700E13 ^You don*'4t have to_ be pretty and talk of romance all the while.
0710E13 ^There are so many beautiful aspects of human thought to_ be expressed.
0720E13 ^The other schools emphasise love and romance far too much," she
0730E13 observes. $*<*3The Turning-Point*> $^The sudden jolt which
0740E13 closed one door in Rita*'s life and opened another came while
0750E13 she was giving lecture demonstrations on Kathakali in the United
0760E13 States. ^Things went wrong in her family affairs and Rita was
0770E13 disturbed so much that she could not dance. "^Suddenly, the medium
0780E13 in which I had worked so long was of no use to me. ^*I couldn*'4t feel
0790E13 friendly towards it. I felt a great need for a medium which would
0800E13 help me express myself. ^This was the turning-point. ^Living at the
0810E13 visual level did not appeal to me any more. ^Very few artistes, it seemed
0820E13 to me, took dancing beyond their bodies and the leap of the spirit
0830E13 seemed far more important; and I looked for a medium which would
0840E13 be far more abstract and accommodating to my yearnings." $^Back home
0850E13 in India, the yearnings stayed with Rita. ^She continued to_
0860E13 dance but looked for an opportunity to_ leave one art behind and launch
0870E13 into a new career. ^It was then that she met Siddheshwari Devi who
0880E13 was in Delhi to_ look for a *4shagird at the behest of the Bharatiya
0890E13 Kala Kendra, exactly the place where Rita learnt Kathak from Shambhu
0900E13 Maharaj. ^*Siddheshwari heard the mellifluous strain of Rita*'s
0910E13 *5Kaun gali gayo Shyam*6 and sent for her right away. $^*Rita became
0920E13 her chosen *4shagird and began her training under the great
0930E13 singer. "^*I was especially fortunate to_ be with her at that_ specific
0940E13 time," says Rita. "^She was at the zenith of her career; had
0950E13 just been awarded the *5Padma Sri*6 and the *4Sangeet
0960E13 *4Natak Akademi award. ^She was travelling far and wide and I
0970E13 tagged along, singing with her everywhere." ^The three years she spent
0980E13 with Siddheshwari were an intense period of hard work, a time when
0990E13 the two women came very close to each other. $^Just about then, Rita
1000E13 was awarded a national scholarship to_ study music. ^Long before
1010E13 this, she had received scholarships for Kathakali and Bharata *4Natyam,
1020E13 making her the only recipient of the national scholarship thrice
1030E13 over. $^Would marriage hinder her career? ^*Rita did not think so despite
1040E13 the doubts of her *4guru. ^She met and married Keshav Kothari,
1050E13 Director of the Kathak *4Kendra at the *4Sangeet *4Natak Akademi.
1060E13 ^*Rita*'s priorities changed overnight and, for six months, she
1070E13 did not sing at all. "^*I felt it was the end of my career," she harks
1080E13 back. "^*I had been too close to my Guru, but still the wrenching
1090E13 away from my art caused little pain." $^According to Rita, Siddheshwari
1100E13 Devi and Begum Akhtar are both great artistes. ^But they
1110E13 are poles apart in personality. ^One was loving, warm, motherly, the
1120E13 other scintillatingly beautiful, impeccably turned out, with naturally
1130E13 good taste. ^Rita was charmed by the Begum when, on one occasion,
1140E13 she sang for the *4Sangeet *4Natak Akademi. ^As if the warmth was mutual,
1150E13 the Begum asked her to_ sing with her. ^Thus began the second
1160E13 part of Rita*'s training. ^From 1968 till the Begum died in 1974, Rita
1170E13 sang eight to ten hours each day under the Begum*'s guidance
1180E13 and accompanied her on all her singing tours. ^On one of the last
1190E13 such occasions, she was launched as a solo artiste by the Begum herself,
1200E13 who graciously played the harmonium with her. $*<*3New-Frontier
1210E13 Singer *> $^Today Rita is a new-frontier singer in Hindustani
1220E13 music. ^She does not use the *4ghumgat while on stage and makes
1230E13 rare use of the *4bhava associated with light classical music. ^Using
1240E13 her dance background, she teaches mime and movement
1250E13 at the National School of Drama. "^It took me some time to_
1260E13 evolve this course," she says, "because training an actor*'s body to_
1270E13 move is a new concept in modern Indian theatre. ^It is common in
1280E13 traditional theatre. ^It is a challenging job. ^*I work with young aspirants
1290E13 all the time." $^*Rita*'s day begins at four in the morning with
1300E13 music and ends at night, again with singing under her *4guru
1310E13 Pandit Mani Prashad*'s guidance. ^In between, she packs in the activities
1320E13 of mothering, teaching, keeping an unusually decorated
1330E13 barrack home, cooking and a host of other activities that_
1340E13 make up a modern Indian woman*'s day. $^And, like proud, self-reliant
1350E13 1970s*'3 member of the female sex, Rita wants to_ earn her success
1360E13 through merit and hard work. ^To_ avoid any embarrassment,
1370E13 she meticulously keeps her singing career disentangled from her
1380E13 husband*'s job as director of the *4Sangeet *4Natak Akademi. "^*I use
1390E13 my maiden name-- ganguly-- so people are not obliged to_ give me opportunities
1400E13 which I do not deserve. ^*I am confident that I can sing to_
1410E13 bring happiness to my listeners and fulfilment to myself. ^Soon,
1420E13 I*'3ll make singing my only career and devote all my energy to it."
1430E13 $**<*3Sitara Devi**> $^The venue was a very attractive salon in a bungalow
1440E13 on Malabar Hill, Bombay, built in Mughal style and named Aiwan-e-Rafat.
1450E13 ^The presiding genius was a very versatile and volatile
1460E13 lady called Atia Begum Fayzee. ^She had sponsored a cultural
1470E13 organisation called the Three Arts Circle which used to_ meet
1480E13 in the bungalow. $^In the late 1930s, the Three Arts Circle met to_
1490E13 honour Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore who was visiting Bombay. ^An
1500E13 entertainment programme arranged for the Poet included a dance recital
1510E13 in the Kathak 'tradition by a teenaged girl. ^She kept the audience
1520E13 spellbound. ^At the end of her performance, she was presented to Gurudev,
1530E13 who blessed her and gave her a poetic title: *5Nritya Shyam
1540E13 Ragini*6. ^This exquisite dancer was little "dhanno" destined to_ rise
1550E13 to astral heights as Sitara Devi, the greatest exponent of
1560E13 Kathak today. $*<*3Pioneer*> $^*Sitara Devi was born in Varanasi
1570E13 of Brahmin parents. ^Her father was Pandit Sukkhdev Maharaj
1580E13 and her mother a Nepalese. ^*Pandit Sukhdev Maharaj had studied
1590E13 Bharata *4Muni*'s *4Natyashastra and was a musician of
1600E13 repute. ^He regretted that music and dancing had come to_ be regarded
1610E13 as the domain of singing-girls and harlots. $^*Pandit Sukhdev struggled
1620E13 hard to_ popularise music and dance among the higher strata
1630E13 of Varanasi society. ^He made a beginning by training his own sons
1640E13 and daughters. ^He was promptly ostracised by his community and had
1650E13 to_ face a lot of humiliation. $he left Varanasi and went to_ calcutta
1660E13 with his family and started working in the palace of the Rajasaheb
1670E13 of Mymensingh who was a patron of the arts. $*<*3First Steps*>
1680E13 $^Taking the help of the *4Natyashastra and the *4Abhinayadarpana,
1690E13 he trained Sitara and her elder sisters, Alaknanda and Tara,
1700E13 in the basic principles of classical music and Kathak. ^Though not a
1710E13 dancer himself, he managed to_ convey the intricacies of *4tala and
1720E13 *4abhinaya by extensive explanations and demonstrations. ^Training with
1730E13 his children were the daughters of the Raja and Rani of Mymensingh.
1740E13 $^*Pandit Sukhdev Maharaj, realising that his own training
1750E13 was not enough and having observed that recitals of great exponents
1760E13 like Shambhu Maharaj, Acchan Maharaj and Lachhu Maharaj, of the
1770E13 *4Kalka *4Bindadin school of Lucknow who specialised in depicting
1780E13 the Radha Krishna lore with great delicacy and finesse, decided to_
1790E13 put his own three daughters under their care and tutelage. $^The lyricism
1800E13 of the lucknow *4gharana was infused in Sitara Devi at a very
1810E13 early age.*#
        **[no. of words = 02002**]

        **[txt. e14**]
0010E14 **<*3One big doggy family**> $^It was one of those cold drizzly days
0020E14 in Bangalore-- a wrong day to_ choose for a long walk. ^Suddenly
0030E14 I saw this house, looming large, with the 'Beware of dogs' sign
0040E14 prominently displayed. $"^*I watched with fascination as a huge shaggy
0050E14 dog (could be a giant Australian terrier, or Dennis the Menace*'s
0060E14 Ruff himeself) trotting to the gate. ^Close on his heels was this
0070E14 bustling darling old lady and, believe me, five, yes, five more
0080E14 dogs in hot pursuit. ^She was talking to them all the time and on reaching
0090E14 the gate, I distinctly heard, "My hands are full, Bozo please
0100E14 open the gate." ^*Bozo nudged at the gate latch, and hey presto,
0110E14 the lady walked out, placed the parcels she was carrying in the auto
0120E14 which was waiting outside and went back to_ close the gate. ^*I
0130E14 ran up to her. ^Could I see her the next day? ^Would four o*'3clock
0140E14 do? "^Of course dear," she put out her hand. "^*I*'3m Mahrooqh
0150E14 Master." $^When we met the next day, family introductions naturally
0160E14 followed. \0^*Ms. Master was beaming with pride. ^There was Bozo,
0170E14 Duke of Dishdom, 25*" high, measuring 45*" from nose to tail,
0180E14 and a good four footer when he stood on his hind legs. ^*Bozo was three
0190E14 years old, and a Himalyan sheep dog. $^*Bhonda Bubulini, his mother,
0200E14 was 13 and a Tibetan sheep dog. ^She was relatively smaller
0210E14 than Bozo, who must have been a throwback from some ancestor. $^*Mandi,
0230E14 a 13-year-old daschund, preferred to_ stay aloof, and near her
0240E14 mistress. $^*Sharuqh Papito, a cuddly male black poodle, was 14
0250E14 years old. $^*Bon Bonnie Bon Bon Bonnie la Douce was a four-year-old
0260E14 orange pomeranian. $^*Clyde, also an orange pom, was a good sire
0270E14 even though he was 10 years old. ^*Bonnie and Clyde are miniature
0280E14 poms. $^With her profound love for animals, Mahrooqh Master has
0290E14 been having pets ever since she can remember, not only dogs, but birds,
0300E14 horses, lambs and even a donkey. $^Being in the army, the Masters
0310E14 have been on the move with transfers since 1949. ^After her marriage.
0320E14 \0Ms. Master began with three to four dogs, increasing them steadily,
0330E14 till she had 14 dogs in Delhi. ^Wasn*'4t it terribly irksome to_
0340E14 travel with them? $"^My dear, if you had a large family, wouldn*'4t
0350E14 you accommodate them somehow?" ^Apart from dogs, Mahrooqh has
0360E14 also travelled with pigeons, love birds, peacocks and partridges,
0370E14 and the 'regiment' was aptly referred to as 'Masters' circus on the
0380E14 move'. ^Her pets, used to long hours of travel, generally settled themselves
0390E14 in the compartment without any bother. ^*Mahrooqh gleefully
0400E14 recalls the time she smuggled a parrot in a sewing machine case ^Each
0410E14 time the parrot began to_ talk, \0Ms. Master and her daughter would
0420E14 cough loudly and talk, to_ distract the official*'s attention. $^After
0430E14 her husband*'s retirement, the Masters have comfortably settled
0440E14 down in Bangalore, with their large family. ^Their own children
0450E14 have grown up with pets, and this has helped to_ imbibe in them
0460E14 a feeling of compassion and love for all animals. $^Was it very expensive
0470E14 looking after these six dogs? ^This is what most people thought
0480E14 and, according to \0Ms. Master, it is fallacious thinking. "^*I
0490E14 don*'4t think I would be spending more than \0*4Rs. 150 per month
0500E14 on all these dogs," said she, most emphatically. $^At 9 \0a.m., the
0510E14 dogs have their first meal of the day. ^Scraps of bread of leftover
0520E14 *4chappatis broken up and mixed with half a litre of milk, and some tea
0530E14 (tea is very good for the coat) and an occasional egg-- made a very
0540E14 satisfying breakfast, provided enough bread or *4chappati was added
0550E14 to_ make it fairly thick. $^The main meal of the day is served at about
0560E14 3 or 4 \0p.m. a thick porridge is poured into six aluminium bowls in
0570E14 proportion to each dog*'s size, while all of them lie patiently at \0Ms.
0580E14 Master*'s feet, wagging their tails. ^As she called them one by one,
0590E14 they licked their bowls clean, and strutted off in full appreciation
0600E14 of a balanced meal. ^The meal for all the dogs was prepared with
0610E14 1 1/2 cups *4atta 1/2 cup rice, a handful of *4dal finely grated vegetables,
0620E14 about \0*4Rs. 2 worth of beef without bones, a pinch of
0621E14 salt, and varying flavours like garlic
0630E14 or onion. ^All the ingredients were cooked till well assimilated,
0640E14 forming a thick porridge, the *4atta being added last. ^Periodically,
0650E14 Liv 52, yeast tablets, tonics and shark liver oil in winter are
0660E14 given. ^Indeed, they did look well conditioned and in the pink of
0670E14 health. ^Didn*'4t grooming them, take her all day? $"^If you do it
0680E14 regularly, it should take you only five minutes per dog. ^*I have this
0690E14 low stool in my bathroom for the dogs. ^*I just have to_ call Bonnie
0700E14 for her toilet, and the rest queue up, awaiting their turn. ^They
0710E14 even know their order. ^*I rinse a small towel in warm water, squeeze
0720E14 it out till dry, and thoroughly wipe the animal*'s nose, eyes,
0730E14 ear, undersides, paws and coat, and finish off with a day towel. ^When
0740E14 the daily sponging is done, the dog can be brushed and combed once
0750E14 in three or four days. ^Certain dogs like the pom, need to_ be brushed
0760E14 against the growth of the fur. ^Meticulous sponging and brushing
0770E14 should be done, and an occasional dusting with talcum powder. ^*I
0780E14 bathe my dogs once a month, and find that the last rinse with diluted
0790E14 dettol keeps away the ticks." $^It was only after Brigadier Master*'s
0800E14 retirement, that Mahrooqh began breading the poms for sale. ^An
0810E14 orange or sable haired pom could sell for \0*4Rs. 1,000 while a
0820E14 sire could fetch \0*4Rs. 500 for a single crossing, whereas a daschund
0830E14 sire would fetch \0*4Rs. 250 for a crossing. ^This way the dogs
0840E14 'paid' for their upkeep. ^All the other dogs have been sterilised
0850E14 since Mahrooqh was not interested in breeding them. $^With her intense
0860E14 love for animals, \0Ms. Master would not hesitate to_ pick up
0870E14 a dirty mongrel from the street, and nurse it back to good health.
0880E14 ^Her telephone constantly rings, with people who hardly know her, calling
0890E14 to_ get free advice on animals. ^Till recently, she was taking
0900E14 in 'boarders' free of charge, to_ help all those friends who had
0910E14 to_ leave station temporarily, but has now put a stop to it as some
0920E14 of the 'outside' dogs were spreading infection to her own canine family.
0930E14 $^As I turned to_ make hasty little notes, unwilling to_ miss
0940E14 out on a single detail, I heard Mahrooqh talk volubly to her dogs.
0950E14 "^*I sing and talk to them all the time," she says, "they do understand."
0970E14 $**<*3on breeding dogs**> $^For a novice owner wishing to_ breed
0980E14 the first litter of puppies, the choice of a sire may seem difficult.
0990E14 ^If your bitch comes from a well established kennel, you can seek
1000E14 her breeder*'s advice regarding the most suitable sire for her. ^Where
1010E14 this is not possible the dog magazines carry advertisements of dogs
1020E14 standing at stud, giving details of addresses and fees. ^You may
1030E14 consult your Veterinarian. ^You can also enrol yourself as a member
1040E14 of the Kennel Club who will guide you in finding a suitable sire.
1050E14 $^Bitches vary tremendously in the frequency with which they come
1060E14 into season. ^A six-monthly oestrus cycle is most usual, but with many
1070E14 bitches the interval is longer: with a few it is slightly shorter. ^If
1080E14 the interval is very much shorter, there is possibly some hormone
1090E14 imbalance that_ needs veterinary attention. ^The first season can occur
1100E14 at any age from six to eighteen months. ^No bitch should be mated
1110E14 until her own growth is complete, and this generally means before
1120E14 her second or in the case of a late maturing breed, her third season.
1130E14 ^Wild dogs come into oestrus once a year and though one of the effects
1140E14 of domesticity has been to_ increase the frequency in the domestic
1150E14 animal, it is inhuman to_ allow a bitch to_ mate every season.
1160E14 a litter a year is better both for the health of the bitch and the
1170E14 vigour of the puppies. ^The only exception might be where a small
1180E14 litter has been reared with little strain to the mother. ^In this case
1190E14 she might be mated again at her next season before being rested for
1200E14 a year. $^At such times, you should keep a constant vigil if a misalliance
1210E14 is to_ be avoided. ^She should always be exercised on the leash,
1220E14 as even a normally obedient animal may run off in order to_ follow
1230E14 her sexual instincts. ^You will find a lot of dogs running behind
1240E14 her; sponging her hindquarters with a deodorizing fluid, or
1250E14 masking her scent with an aerosol spray helps to_ prevent dogs from
1260E14 paying her so much attention. ^You will find that she also urinates
1270E14 more frequently when she is in season and this will enable her suitors
1280E14 to_ track her to her door. ^Carrying her or taking her by car for
1290E14 the first few hundred yards from home, helps to_ break the trail.
1300E14 ^Dogs are liable to_ show unexpected agility and resourcefulness in
1310E14 reaching a sexually attractive bitch, so she should not be left unwatched
1320E14 unless shut in the house, kennel or roofed run. $^Spaying \0i.e.
1330E14 removing the ovaries, is one method of dealing with the nuisance of
1340E14 having to_ confine a bitch for six weeks of the year, provided the
1350E14 operation takes place after the animal is sexually mature. $^Even after
1360E14 mating, the bitch needs supervision until the end of her season
1370E14 as she may be quite willing to_ accept a number of dogs as mates.
1380E14 ^Should a misalliance take place, the unwanted pregnancy can be terminated
1390E14 by a veterinary surgeon within 48 hours of the mating. $^Contact
1400E14 the owner of the sire as soon as the bitch comes into season; he
1410E14 can probably suggest the best day for the mating to_ take place.
1420E14 ^In most cases this will be the twelfth day or so from the first sign
1430E14 of a bloodstained discharge from the vulva. $^However, many bitches
1440E14 don*'4t work to rule, and successful matings have been recorded from
1450E14 the third to the twenty-fifth day. ^The signs to_ be watched, which
1460E14 indicates the bitch*'s readiness to_ mate are a typical stance
1470E14 with tail twisted to one side and the vulva very prominent, considerably
1480E14 swollen with a moist, flaccid appearance. ^The bloodstained discharge
1490E14 will have ceased too and been replaced by one of a yellowish
1500E14 colour. ^Many stud dog owners are prepared to_ board visiting bitches
1510E14 for a day or two in order to_ be completely sure that the mating
1520E14 takes place at the right time. $^The usual period of gestation is
1530E14 sixtythree days, but smaller breeds tend to_ whelp slighty earlier than
1540E14 larger ones. ^The puppies may be felt in the uterus by an expert
1550E14 between the twenty fourth and thirtieth day of pregnancy and anyway
1560E14 after the fiftieth day, after which X-ray diagnosis is also possible.
1570E14 $^The in-whelp bitch should be kept as fit as possible with exercise.
1580E14 ^Worming should be carried out between the second and third week.
1590E14 ^Vitamins and a mineral supplement such as "starmin" should be added
1600E14 to the diet. ^For the last 3 weeks the bitch should be accustomed
1610E14 to her whelping box and quarters. ^Newspaper makes a cheap, easily
1620E14 replaceable bedding. $^The most reliable sign that whelping is imminent
1630E14 is a drop in the bitch*'s temperature from the normal 101.5*@ to
1640E14 about 99*@ or 98*@. ^She will appear restless, lose her appetite and
1650E14 may make a bed by tearing up the paper \0etc. ^Someone whom the bitch
1660E14 knows and trusts should stay with her throughout. $^Puppies are
1670E14 normally born head first, encased in a membrane and with the umbilical
1680E14 cord still attached. ^The bitch will instinctively break the membrane,
1690E14 allowing the puppy to_ breathe, lick it vigorously to_ stimulate
1700E11 it, and nip through the umbilical cord. ^Apparently lifeless
1710E14 puppies can often be revived by warmth-- rubbing with a rough towel,
1720E14 and artificial respiration.*#
        **[no. of words = 02001**]

        **[txt. e15**]
0010E15 **<*3Indus Boat Expeditions**> $"^Duck!" shouted Jarav at the last
0020E15 moment. ^And we ducked. ^As we flashed past under the bridge. ^*I saw
0030E15 in a frozen moment of clarity, the fear and concern on the faces of
0040E15 those who stood on that_ bridge. ^Then that_ image was gone and again
0050E15 there was the overwhelming reality of the maddening waters. $^*Jarav
0060E15 Poncar shouted, "we bank on the right." ^Furiously then we began padding
0070E15 as he tried to_ steer the boat towards that_ bank. "^Harder, harder,
0080E15 harder!" ^*Jarav urged us on. ^His voice was harsh, cutting like
0090E15 a whiplash, and we reacted, padding even harder. ^It was obvious that
0100E15 we could not last very much longer. ^Wet and cold, our energies freezing,
0110E15 we were tiring quickly, very quickly. ^Somehow we made it. $^When
0120E15 we hit land I stepped out of the boat into knee deep water and
0130E15 began walking away. ^It was as if I was in a state of coma, for I
0140E15 didn*'4t know what I was doing. ^All I knew was that I could see
0150E15 land and that I had to_ step upon it. ^*I had hardly walked 10 metres
0160E15 when I heard Pali*'s voice, cold and loud. "^Come back, boss,
0170E15 we still have to_ empty the boat!" he shouted. ^That_ brought me back
0180E15 to reality. ^*I realised my mistake. ^*I was abandoning my companions.
0190E15 ^Immediately I walked back. $^The water was very cold, as if it
0200E15 was snow and ice that_ had just melted. ^*I looked down at it. ^It
0210E15 was marvellously clear and alive. ^*I could see the sharp stones on
0220E15 the floor. ^Those hurt me every time I stepped on them. ^But duty had
0230E15 to_ be done. ^The boat had to_ be emptied. ^Somehow I suffered
0240E15 through it all until the boat was empty of water. $^Then we were back
0250E15 on dry land. ^*I looked back at the river which had just given us the
0260E15 second thrashing this day. ^Unbeatably, majestically it flowed. ^In
0270E15 the rays of the sun it was a shining sheet of glass. ^It looked glorious.
0280E15 ^With a calm indifference, it seemed to_ be throwing a challenge
0290E15 at me. ^*I felt fear and anticipation. ^*I was ready to_ take that_
0300E15 river, again and again, until I had mastered it. ^And I knew even
0310E15 then, that in the end we would win. $^We all stood shivering on the
0320E15 bank. ^*I knew that as long as we shivered we should be okay. ^For
0330E15 shivering is a built-in mechanism in the body which becomes operative
0340E15 whenever the body needs heat. ^The heat thus generated keeps the
0350E15 vital organs warm. ^It is only after a person passes the shivering
0360E15 stage that hyperdermia sets in. ^A hot drink and sandwiches followed
0370E15 by a massage helped us recover to some extent. ^*Volkar and Pali were,
0380E15 however, in a bad condition even then, particularly Volkar. ^He
0390E15 began vomiting and complained of intense pain in his stomach. ^*Jagmohan
0400E15 took him to the ambulance and asked him to_ lie down. ^Obviously
0410E15 he was too exhausted and sick to_ indulge any more in vigorous
0420E15 exercises. $^Earlier there had been occasions when I wondered if I
0430E15 had taken on too much for my age, and whether I should lead the expedition
0440E15 from the banks, thus giving the youngest member of our team,
0450E15 Aziz, a chance on the boat. ^But Volkar*'s sickness completely changed
0460E15 things. ^Now Aziz would have to_ come on in any case. ^*I was
0470E15 sure he would do fine. ^For it was under me that he had done almost
0480E15 four years of training in boating and sailing. ^*Jarav, who had taken
0490E15 him on a practice ride earlier, agreed with me. $^It was then that
0500E15 I did something unforgivable. ^*I asked Aziz Wani to_ sign on a
0510E15 certificate which said that he would undertake the trip at his own risk.
0520E15 ^That_ is, in case of mishap, the responsibility would be his own
0530E15 not the \0J. & \0K. Government*'s. ^He signed. ^Though I myself had
0540E15 signed a similar certificate I felt bad at what I had done. ^*I felt
0550E15 guilty, the more so because Aziz was a student of mine, and I had
0560E15 always tried to_ teach my students to_ be brave, to_ take challenges,
0570E15 and to_ accept responsibilities.
0580E15 ^Before signing, however, Aziz said that he was
0590E15 worried about signing without first informing his director. ^But I
0600E15 knew *(0O. N.*) Dhar, the Director of the Jammu and Kashmir Tourism
0610E15 Department, and I assured him that everything would be fine. ^And
0620E15 so Aziz was taken on as a member of the team. $^*Kohli, or Pali
0630E15 as we called him, was still suffering the after effects of that_ jarring
0640E15 experience. ^But he recovered very quickly and without even consulting
0650E15 a doctor decided himself fit to_ carry on. ^While on the boat
0660E15 I had been unable to_ use my battery heated socks and jacket.
0670E15 ^But I put these on now. ^Warmth flowed into my body and immediately
0680E15 I began feeling better. ^*I walked back to the river to_ see the
0690E15 rapids which we had come through. ^From the bank these powerful,
0700E15 roaring rapids looked dangerous indeed. ^My confidence in our boat, Helena
0710E15 Dolma, which had so successfully stood up to these rapids, increased.
0720E15 ^*I then took a number of photographs of these rapids. $^We spent
0730E15 an hour resting, and then decided to_ have another go. ^We carried
0740E15 the boat away from the rapids and into deeper waters. ^This time Aziz
0750E15 was on the boat, instead of Volkar. ^Once again, before starting,
0760E15 Pali took out his GranthSahib and said prayers. ^*I joined him
0770E15 this time. ^Together we prayed for the safety of the crew and the success
0780E15 of the mission. $^The portion of the river we were on now was
0790E15 calmer and steadier. ^The river had spread out there, and slowed down.
0800E15 ^We barely felt the current under us. ^This gave us scope for experimentation.
0810E15 ^We tried out different techniques to_ make the boat respond
0820E15 as we wished it to_, taking it towards one side and then another.
0830E15 ^Slowly we were learning how to_ manoeuvre the boat. ^This continued
0840E15 for about 3 \0km. $^By now I was beginning to_ understand the river.
0850E15 *^I knew that this was merely the calm before a storm. ^We decided
0860E15 to_ bank and reconnoitre before carrying on. ^It was a wise decision.
0870E15 ^A short distance ahead the water went over a series of small
0880E15 falls before going over a sharp fall. ^Had we come to these falls unawares,
0890E15 we would certainly have been in serious trouble. $^The boat will
0900E15 not take this fall with too much load. ^*I would like to_ do it
0910E15 alone," said Jarav Poncar. ^*I knew he was right. ^But I was reluctant
0920E15 to_ let him go alone. ^*I asked him if it would be a good idea
0930E15 for at least one of us to_ accompany him. ^He said no. ^Since he knew
0940E15 his boat best, and was also the most experienced and expert boatsman,
0950E15 I agreed to_ let him try it alone. ^*Jarav walked back to the
0960E15 boat thoughtfully, shoulders stooped. ^Climbing on, he pushed away from
0970E15 the bank. ^Quite scared for him, we all watched as he approached the
0980E15 fall. ^The question was: would he make this 10 metre fall successfully?
0990E15 $^He did, but not without giving us, and I suppose himself, some
1000E15 anxious moments. ^Keeping to the right bank of the river, he hit
1010E15 a rock as he approached the fall, and the boat turned around. ^It could
1020E15 have been fatal had he gone over this way, but fortunately he hit
1030E15 another rock and the boat straightened once again. ^The front portion
1040E15 of the boat went riding over the waves at the edge, and the boat
1050E15 landed right side up on the water below. ^He had done it. $^But he was
1060E15 in trouble. ^Water had filled the boat. ^The waves were big, the
1070E15 current strong. ^He struggled but could not bank the boat. ^For over
1080E15 a kilometre the boat was dragged along despite all his efforts to_
1090E15 bank it. ^Then finally a large wave pushed the boat to a rock near the
1100E15 bank, and from there Jarav was able to_ make it to the bank. ^He
1110E15 was exhausted and almost on the point of a collapse. ^But, understandably,
1120E15 he was thrilled. $^Later, he described his experience as follows.
1130E15 "^The boulder which the boat struck was shaped like the prow of a
1140E15 ship. ^Before I knew what was happening the boat had started to_ bend
1150E15 in the middle. ^*I was scared stiff. ^The boat was almost V-shaped
1160E15 before the pressure of the water tossed it off the boulder. ^After
1170E15 that_ things went better, and I enjoyed myself-- enjoyed every challenge
1180E15 that_ the river threw at me, and every victory that_ I won
1190E15 over it." $^The boulder which Jarav had hit, however, had done its
1200E15 damage. ^It must have had a sharp, jagged edge, for there was a 10 \0cm.
1210E15 slit in one of the compartments. ^We had with us the puncture material
1220E15 but no pump, since we had lost that_ in our first mishap in the
1230E15 river earlier that_ morning. ^The valves in the compartment needed
1240E15 a special kind of a socket on the pump, and an ordinary pump could not
1250E15 be fitted on. ^So we improvised a socket out of whatever materials
1260E15 we had. ^It took us two hours to_ fix that_ puncture, and yet it leaked.
1270E15 ^The reason, Volkar pointed out, was that after a puncture had
1280E15 been fixed the boat had to_ be left deflated for at least one night,
1290E15 otherwise it wouldn*'4t mend. ^*Jarav, who was quite concerned about
1300E15 the boat, said that it would be best to_ call off the trip for
1310E15 the day. ^We all knew that the boat certainly wasn*'4t in a condition
1320E15 to_ take any more beating that_ day. $^Reluctantly then, the decision
1330E15 was made. ^We decided to_ revert to our original plan, that_ of
1340E15 boating from Upshi to Khalsi, a distance of 150 \0kms. ^On our first
1350E15 day, then, we had covered only 17 \0km, and were left with a damaged
1360E15 boat and, physically at least, a beaten crew. ^The river had not beaten
1370E15 our resolve, however, and we were ready to_ take it on the next
1380E15 day. $^Deflating our boat, we decided to_ motor down to Upshi. *8^En
1390E15 route*9, passing through Hemia, we found an excellent camping place and
1400E15 decided to_ spend the night there. ^We pitched our tents below
1410E15 a huge, vertical granite rock. ^The Indus flowed nearby. ^The water
1420E15 here quickened and broke and foamed over the grey-brown gravel, looking
1430E15 very picturesque. $^Since there was still plenty of light, I decided
1440E15 to_ reconnoitre the river for a launching site for the next
1450E15 morning. ^*Jarav Poncar came with me. ^Driving along the river, we
1460E15 were convinced that we had done the right thing in not attempting this
1470E15 part of the river in a damaged boat. ^All along there were bad rapids.
1480E15 ^Had we had a second boat and about ten days time, it might have
1490E15 been possible to_ take these kind of rapids. ^But as things were
1500E15 it definitely wouldn*'4t have been possible. $^Finally we came to the
1510E15 Upshi Bridge. ^There is a wide road from here that_ goes all the
1520E15 way to Manali. ^It passes through the highest motorable pass in the
1530E15 world. ^Happily enough this pass is open to tourists. ^It was a year
1540E15 earlier that I had been through this pass, the Tanglang La Pass.
1560E15 ^At places the road had been covered with ice. ^Despite the fact that
1570E15 our vehicle had no skid chains, we had made it. ^At this pass we
1580E15 have what can only be described as a real "house of god." ^A temple,
1590E15 a mosque, a church and a *4gompa have all been housed here under one
1600E15 roof. ^It is indeed a unique and fascinating place. $^Since the Upshi
1610E15 Bridge hangs low over the river, we decided to_ launch our boat
1620E15 downstream from it. ^We picked up for our site a point 1 1/2 \0km from
1630E15 the bridge. $^On our way back to camp I teasingly said to Jarav, "^What
1640E15 the hell*'1s the matter with your head today?*#
        **[no. of words = 02016**]

        **[txt. e16**]
0010E16 **<*3Extra Time or Sudden Death**> $^This is the reason why the
0020E16 Indian team which flew out to_ play in the 1978 Buenos Aires World
0030E16 Cup Hockey Tournament was a weak, second-rate team. ^Sure enough, the
0040E16 hockey situation in India being what it is, a good team could not have
0050E16 been sent, since a good team could not have been and cannot be formed.
0060E16 ^But a better team than the one which was sent could have been sent
0070E16 out to_ play against the best in the world. ^It was a case of suicide,
0080E16 therefore. $^And the Indian hockey bosses were responsible. ^Those
0090E16 who control hockey affairs, the men from the Indian Hockey Federation,
0100E16 the Indian Olympic Association, the All India Council of Sports,
0110E16 the other controlling bodies, and the government-- all of them were
0120E16 responsible. $^On way to Buenos Aires, Argentina, the Indian
0130E16 team played two preparatory matches against Holland in Holland. ^It lost
0140E16 both. ^It also played a match against England in England. ^It lost
0150E16 that_ too. ^This was the first-time ever that India had lost to England.
0160E16 $^Here, then, was the second-rate Indian team playing secondrate
0170E16 hockey. ^Surely, it could not be expected to_ do any better at Buenos
0180E16 Aires. $*<*31978 World Cup*> $^The weak, second-rate Indian
0190E16 team played weak, secondrate hockey at Buenos Aires. ^And paid for
0200E16 it. ^Just as expected. $^The players were not good enough. ^They were
0210E16 not able to_ play hockey as it demands to_ be played. $^The Indian
0220E16 attack was weak, ineffectual. ^The forwards were unable to_ score
0230E16 field goals. ^The full-backs were unable to_ score off penalty-corners
0240E16 and long-corners. ^That_ is why India ended up scoring so few
0250E16 goals. ^Even against the weak teams. $^The Indian defence, too, was
0260E16 weak, ineffectual. ^The half-backs and the full-backs were unable to_
0270E16 stop the opposing forwards from scoring. ^That_ is why India ended
0280E16 up having so many goals scored against them. ^Even against the weak teams.
0290E16 ^Even though Fernandes did a good job as the goalkeeper. $^The players,
0300E16 with the exception of Ashok Kumar, did not use their sticks
0310E16 to the full potential. ^They were incapable of it. ^Stickwork, at which
0320E16 once, not so long ago, the Indian players were masters, was not the
0330E16 strong point of these players who played for India. ^The hockey sticks
0340E16 were dead-weight in their hands-- heavy and stiff, not light and
0350E16 manoeuverable as these ought to_ be. ^The dribbling, the tackling,
0360E16 trapping and the hitting were all poor, sub-standard. $^The players
0370E16 were not fast enough, of either body or mind, they did not run too well,
0380E16 or speedily enough. ^They did not anticipate, or react quickly enough.
0390E16 ^Mostly, they were out-run and out-thought by their opponents. $^The
0400E16 players did not interact among themselves as players of a team ought
0410E16 to_. ^They could not. ^For one, they did not understand fully the exact
0420E16 function that_ each man in a team is supposed to_ perform, and the
0430E16 possible interrelations between different functions performed by different
0440E16 players in a team. ^For another, they were not even able to_ learn
0450E16 about interaction through experience, by the trial and error method.
0460E16 ^So often were their positions interchanged, with the forwards being
0470E16 switched about from one position to another, and with the defenders
0480E16 also being switched about, that no player (except the goalkeeper)played
0490E16 in a position long enough to_ learn all there was to_ learn
0500E16 about playing in that_ position. ^There was no specialisation of function
0510E16 in the team. $^Besides, the Indian team did not play by a pre-determined,
0520E16 well-defined overall strategy. ^The manager, the coach and
0530E16 the captain simply did not devise such a strategy. ^Instead the players
0540E16 played range-of-the-moment hockey-- hitting, running, hitting again,
0550E16 running again, without design, without purpose, hoping that somehow
0560E16 the goals would be scored, and that the Indian team would win.
0570E16 ^Well, goals were scored. ^But against India. ^And the Indian team
0580E16 lost. $^So, the Indian player at Buenos Aires often ended up not knowing
0590E16 where to_ position himself to_ receive the ball, and therefore,
0600E16 not being in the proper position. ^Even if he somehow did position
0610E16 himself correctly, and did receive the ball, he often ended up not knowing
0620E16 what to_ do with it. ^And, even if he did somehow know what to_
0630E16 do with it, he often ended up not being able to_ do it. $^One such
0640E16 player in a team would be bad enough. ^Eleven such players would
0650E16 be disaster. ^In the Indian team, there were eleven such players. ^Because
0660E16 even those players in the team who were capable of playing better
0670E16 hockey than this-- Baldev, Virender, Ashok Kumar, Phillips, Fernandes--
0680E16 were reduced to such a state by the powerful drag imposed upon
0690E16 them by the others. $^Such, then, was the hockey which the Indian
0700E16 team played at Buenos Aires. ^Aimless. ^Wasteful. ^Not even mechanically
0710E16 efficient. ^Definitely not creative, innovative hockey. $^*India
0720E16 played the first match of the 1978 World Cup against Belgium. ^Against
0730E16 a team which is among the strugglers of world hockey, it was
0740E16 the Indian team which became the struggler. ^*India just about tottered
0750E16 through to a 1-0 win. ^And that_ lone goal was scored off a penalty-stroke
0760E16 by Phillips. $^In this match, the Indian team was unable
0770E16 to_ play as good team ought to_ be able to_. ^There was little interaction
0780E16 among the players. ^There were few planned, coordinated and efficient
0790E16 moves. ^The players played listlessly, uninterestedly. ^They allowed
0800E16 the Belgians to_ come dangerously close to an upset win. $^This
0810E16 was a bad start for India, the defending champions. ^It was, however,
0820E16 a start which was consistent with the Indian team*'s ability to_
0830E16 play the game. ^It was the first confirmation, in the World Cup,
0840E16 that India would be outplayed, and badly. $^Confirmation followed confirmation.
0850E16 ^What Belgium had almost done, Canada did. ^They beat India
0860E16 3-1 after playing better hockey than India. $^This was another first
0870E16 for Indian hockey. ^It was the first time ever that Canada, who had
0880E16 begun playing serious hockey only a few years back, had beaten India.
0890E16 $^*Indian hockey had begun paying for what its bosses had done
0900E16 to it. ^The players had begun paying for what they had allowed the
0910E16 bosses to_ do them. $^The payments stopped temporarily in the match
0920E16 against Australia. ^Against this team of players who had been coached
0930E16 by mail, and who were therefore playing at less than peak efficiency
0940E16 in this early match, the Indian team played as well as it was possible
0950E16 for it to_ do. ^That_ was good enough for a victory. ^*India won the
0960E16 match 2-0. ^*Baldev and Ashok scored for India. $^Although the Indian
0970E16 team played better hockey in this match than it had played in the
0980E16 earlier matches, and was to_ play in the later matches, the forward-line
0990E16 did not at all function efficiently. ^Mostly, it was good defence
1000E16 that_ was responsible for the Indian victory. ^Even its best, therefore,
1010E16 was not good enough. $^This was amply proved in the next match,
1020E16 India*'s fourth. ^This was the crucial match against West Germany.
1030E16 ^The illusion which had been built following the freak-victory
1040E16 over Australia, that India might after all do reasonably well in the
1050E16 World Cup, was shattered in this match. ^Playing superb hockey, West
1060E16 Germany beat India 7-0. ^Along with the illusion was shattered
1080E16 the Indian team*'s confidence--
1090E16 whatever little it might have had. $^As goal followed goal in this
1100E16 match, six times in quick succession, so did life flow out of the Indian
1110E16 team. ^The whiplashing session over, the team was left drained and
1120E16 empty. ^It never recovered. $^Having begun paying once again, Indian
1130E16 hockey continued to_ pay, through to the end of the tournament. $^*India
1140E16 played their fifth Pool. ^A match against Poland. ^Their game
1150E16 was unimpressive, lustreless. ^They did manage to_ win 3-1. ^But after
1160E16 a tougher fight than the score suggests. $^In the last match against
1170E16 England, a victory which could possibly have given India a chance
1180E16 for a play-off against either Australia or West Germany, India
1190E16 once again played poor hockey. ^The match ended a 1-1 draw. ^And with
1200E16 it ended India*'s struggle for a semi-final place. $^For the second
1210E16 time in quick succession, India had failed to_ make the semi-finals
1220E16 of an important international tournament. ^After the Montreal-debacle
1230E16 of 1976, this was the second debacle. $^In the remaining two matches,
1240E16 to_ determine the lower positions, India somehow won 3-2 against
1250E16 Argentina, only to_ lose 0-2 to Spain. ^And so, India ended up sixth
1260E16 in this 14-nation tournament. $^*India, the World Cup winners of
1270E16 1975, had been pushed down five places in the 1978 World Cup. the world
1280E16 champions of one time had been wiped out. $^The opposition had been
1290E16 improving all along. ^*Pakistan, who won the gold at Buenos Aires,
1300E16 Holland who won the silver, Australia who won the bronze, West
1310E16 Germany who were fourth, Spain who were fifth, and New Zealand,
1320E16 who did not play at this World Cup but who won the gold at Montreal
1330E16 in 1976, all these countries had been taking longer, and faster strides
1340E16 in world hockey. $^*India had also been striding, with the strides
1350E16 becoming longer, and faster. ^But India had been striding backwards.
1360E16 ^Towards the destruction of its own hockey. $^The real cause had
1370E16 been the power-game which the Indian hockey bosses play. $^The 1978
1380E16 Buenos Aires experience was a consequence. ^It was one massive stride
1390E16 backwards. ^It was an effect of the same cause. ^The alleged mismanagement
1400E16 of the Indian team at Buenos Aires was merely a symptom,
1410E16 an indication that this cause was working. ^It was not the cause itself,
1420E16 as it has been made out to_ be. $^And Indian hockey continues to_
1430E16 stride backwards. ^The strides are becoming longer. ^The pace is
1440E16 increasing. $^The cause still exists. ^The power-game continues to_
1450E16 be played. ^And it is being played harder now, and faster. $*<*3Aftermath*>
1460E16 $^The Buenos Aires debacle, itself caused by subterranean,
1470E16 high pressure power-waves, has led to another series of just such waves.
1480E16 $^The bosses of Indian hockey-- the men from the Indian Hockey
1490E16 Federation, the State Hockey Associations, the hockey clubs, the
1500E16 Indian Olympic Association, the government, and from the other
1510E16 controlling organisations-- are still involved in the power-game. ^The power-battles
1520E16 are still being fought. $^And of course, the pretence is
1530E16 still on. ^The pretence that the power-game does not exist, is not
1540E16 played. $^The real reason for the debacle has as usual been covered by
1550E16 a gigantic blanket of untruth. ^There have been claims and counter-claims,
1560E16 allegations and counter-allegations. ^But on the real issue involved--
1570E16 power-- there has been uncomfortable silence. $^Sure enough, it
1580E16 is power that_ every boss is after. ^However, by the rules of the game,
1590E16 no boss admits that_. ^No boss even accuses another of that_. ^Whether
1600E16 a boss be in power, or out of it and aspiring for it, or even
1610E16 out of it and through with it, he simply does not speak about it to
1620E16 any 'outsider'. $^The players are silent. ^Mostly, they do not understand
1630E16 what has happened, is happening, and why, and how. ^If they did,
1640E16 then it would not be happening. ^If they knew that they were being controlled,
1650E16 and understood the reason for it, and the manner in which it
1660E16 was being done, then they would simply not allow it to_ happen. ^But
1670E16 since they don*'4t, and since they are being controlled, they say merely
1680E16 what they are told to_ say. ^And what they are told to_ say, and
1690E16 do say, is everything but the truth. $^Those players who do not allow
1700E16 the bosses to_ control them, and so are independent, are also silent.
1710E16 ^They understand, but do know that if they do say, then that_
1720E16 would be the end of their hockey playing days. ^So, to_ go on playing,
1730E16 they do not say. $^Thus does the pretence that the power-game is not
1740E16 being played goes on. ^But such pretence cannot succeed. ^No matter
1750E16 what the bosses and the players may say or not say, admit or not admit,
1760E16 their actions are starkly real, there to_ be judged. ^Objectively, by
1770E16 reason.*#
        **[no. of words = 02000**]

        **[txt. e17**]
0010E17 **<*3THE HUNTER*'S CODE*0**> $*3^HUNTING,*0 like any other "sport,"
0020E17 is said to_ have its special code of ethics. ^And much is made
0030E17 of this code. $^Hunters are a fairly self-righteous lot, some of whom
0040E17 think it unfair of the Pope not to_ have considered any of their
0050E17 ilk for canonization. ^There are, however, very few species, leaving
0060E17 aside the Papal bull, which they have not brought very close to extinction.
0070E17 ^Animal and bird life wilt away and die but the code still
0080E17 stands as if carved on granite. $^Briefly the hunter*'s ethical code
0090E17 is as follows: $^Don*'4t shoot at the female of the species when
0100E17 they are either pregant or with their young. ^Don*'4t shoot in the
0110E17 mating season. ^Don*'t sit over water holes. ^Don*'4t leave an animal
0120E17 wounded in the jungle whether it is a carnivorous cat or a limp stag.
0130E17 (^Much in fact is made of this unwritten law and the highest form
0140E17 of compassion a hunter knows is to_ put such an animal to_ sleep.
0150E17 ^In other words, having maimed a stag, when the hunter pursues it
0160E17 and finally blows its heart out, he feels he is entitled to some sort
0170E17 of Buddhahood-- pardon the scrambled metaphor in the hunter*'s Valhalla).
0180E17 $^The hunter is also supposed to_ put some limitations on
0190E17 the scientific gadgetry at his command. ^It won*'4t do to_ use a
0200E17 machine gun! ^That_ would tilt the balance unfavourably against the
0210E17 beast. ^As if the *4machan, the *4hawda securely tied on elephant
0220E17 back and a horde of beaters making a more frightful din than any beast
0230E17 in the world are not enough odds against \0Mr. Stripes or \0Mr.
0240E17 Spots. ^Or as if, for that_ matter, a dozen guns encircling a *4jheel
0250E17 before first light are not enough odds against the wintering duck.
0260E17 $^*I have heard hunters boast that there were so many teal, mallard
0270E17 and geese at a particular lake that they never bothered to_ take
0280E17 any aim. ^They just pointed their guns at the sky and let go and with
0290E17 each shot about two birds fell. ^A time came when they could not
0300E17 touch the barrels, they had become so burning hot. ^So they kept firing
0310E17 with only one hand, which must have done their forearm muscles
0320E17 a deal of good. $"^It was in stalking and in hunting that you had your
0330E17 fun," writes an old British *5Burra Sahib.*6 "^The actual shooting
0340E17 meant nothing really. ^The only thing was to_ kill outright."
0350E17 ^As long as you gave the blighter a barrelful in his heart or in his
0360E17 brain and knocked him stone cold everything was okay. ^You were on
0370E17 up and up, old chap! ^Hence these tiger-hunting manuals spend considerable
0380E17 time in describing where exactly to_ get at the tiger: the neck,
0390E17 or better still the root of the neck, the heart through the shoulder,
0400E17 the heart through the chest. ^And lastly comes that_ classic
0410E17 shot which makes every genuine hunter*'s mouth positively salivate,
0420E17 the bullet placed squarely between the eyes. ^But even with this kind
0430E17 of a shot bliss can be adulterated with regret. $^One hunter writes
0440E17 how he saw a huge pair of antlers, the rest of his body being hidden
0450E17 by a bush. ^He placed the bullet right where the head should have
0460E17 been. ^When he approached the dead stag what was his "disgust" to_
0470E17 find that the antlers had broken in two. ^How cruel fate can be
0480E17 to_ have robbed him thus of the chance of displaying a fine stag-head
0490E17 with those arboreal antlers on the *4varanda wall. ^It never occurs
0500E17 to anyone, I presume, to_ think of whether the brute also felt
0510E17 "disgusted" at having his brains turned into a mess. $^What I am trying
0520E17 to_ say is that too much is made of the hunter*'s code of conduct,
0530E17 which to the modern sensibility, appears irrelevant crap. ^Killing
0540E17 is precisely what hunting is all about. ^There is nothing which
0550E17 we homo sapiens cannot turn into a cult, no practise we cannot sanctify,
0560E17 no figure, animal or demonaic which we cannot apotheosize. $*<*3Caste
0570E17 systems*0*> $*3^AMONG*0 hunters there is also a caste system
0580E17 and gradations of contempt which one caste feels for another. ^The
0590E17 British hunter despised the local *4shikari. ^In the *4sahib*'s
0600E17 view, the *4shikari sat over salt licks and water holes. ^He was used
0610E17 to potting over does and fawns. ^He would not fire at anything which
0620E17 was not within tewnty yards of his gun. ^If the *4sahib took a long
0630E17 shot and missed, laments Silver Hackle in his vintage book, Jungle
0640E17 Lore, the *4shikari would turn round and say that *4Sahib can*'4t
0650E17 shoot a haystack. ^In his own jungle the *4shikari would prevent
0660E17 others from giving information about game. ^He lacked stamina over
0670E17 a long tiger shoot. ^He would get stale and would have to_ be kept
0680E17 happy with timely gifts at the end of the day to_ buy liquor with.
0690E17 $^The *4shikari, in turn, had his own code of ethics. ^His first
0700E17 responsibility was to his stomach and the only thing he could kill for
0710E17 his pot was wild life. ^But he in turn despised the poacher. ^Talking
0720E17 to a *4shikari once who was railing against the poachers, I intentionally
0730E17 egged him on. "^No," I said, "I can*'4t believe that poachers
0740E17 would come and slaughter a pregnant doe," "*5Sahib, Kya bat
0750E17 kartan hain!*6 ^They would shoot your cow if they got the chance."
0760E17 $^And this entire clan-- *4shikari and poacher-- detest the tribes who
0770E17 trap and net birds and even animals. ^But if you ever tell them that
0780E17 this animus stems from rivalry, both sides reaching out for limited
0790E17 wild game, they will be outraged. ^The very concept of "rivalry"
0800E17 with trappers and netters would scandalise them. ^The killers will
0810E17 talk about sport, ethics, "cricket", the pleasures of the chase. $^*I
0820E17 once got a very irate letter from a man complaining about the netting
0830E17 of partridge in the Bah area in Agra. ^The Agra club served titar
0840E17 everyday of the week, every month of the year. ^Sordid, I would say.
0850E17 ^But the same gentleman who had sent me the letter in one of his
0860E17 earlier postings in the Chambal ravines in the early fifties had
0870E17 shot, I was told, as many as 1300 buck. ^Does it matter one bit to
0880E17 us now whether he shot them sitting over a ford in the Chambal, (which
0890E17 he didn*'4t) or whether he slaughtered them according to all the
0900E17 laws of the chase and the highest canons of sportsmanship? $^<*3Joy
0910E17 of shooting*0*> $*3^I WAS*0 introduced to hunting, before I had
0920E17 got into my teens. ^It was in the company of a Nawab*'s family in Kathiawar,
0930E17 before Independence. ^Now they were no avid hunters indulging
0940E17 in mass scale slaughter of wild life. ^But they enjoyed a shoot.
0950E17 ^Jeeps had not come to Kathiawar till then and it was those remarkably
0960E17 sturdy British cars that_ were used for shoots. ^Two servants,
0970E17 known as "*4Pattawalas"-- probably because of the faded red sash
0980E17 they wore round one shoulder-- would, ridiculously enough, standing
0990E17 on each side of the car, legs planted firmly on the footboards, that
1000E17 used to_ jut out in those days. ^Once the deer was spotted the chase
1010E17 began in earnest. ^The car would plough through fields and scrub
1020E17 and wasteland. ^The deer would take one, two, three sometimes five
1030E17 shots all over the body without going down. ^The spoor would be marked
1040E17 with little clotted pieces of its entrails and even cartilage
1050E17 shavings, and still be running thirty miles an hour. $^On that_ terrain
1060E17 the cars could do no better. ^The deer were after all on their
1070E17 native heath. ^At times the stag or the hind got away and the thought
1080E17 of its insides all spray-gunned with lead did not leave me with much
1090E17 of a stomach for this kind of sport. ^And when the stag was brought
1100E17 down it would be worse. ^The car would stop and one of the *4pattawalas
1110E17 would leap out and get at the stag*'s throat with a knife in
1120E17 accordance with the Mosaic prohibition against eating the thing that
1130E17 died of itself. ^This bit was more difficult to_ witness because
1140E17 the deer would be looking at you right in the eye. $^Of course when it
1150E17 came to shot birds, they were often dead long before the servants
1160E17 could get at them. ^That_ never prevented them from going through
1170E17 with their ritual of frenzied knife-strokers across the windpipe and
1180E17 gullet. ^Once I saw a servant declare a bird dead before he could reach
1190E17 it, and then carefully hide the bird for his personal consumption.
1200E17 ^Which incident brings to_ mind the great Saadi*'s statement that
1210E17 "when a starving dog finds meat he inquires not whether it be Salih*'s
1220E17 camel or the ass of anti Christ. $^Though a decent princely
1230E17 family, they once showed us a picture of what they had done to a boar.
1240E17 ^Pig-meat of course was anathema to them. ^But they maltreated the
1250E17 body, drove a car over the carcass of the boar, and what is worse,
1260E17 filmed it. $^Once a wild boar was somehow caught or trapped and was
1270E17 taken to the zoo. ^In true gladiatorial style it was thrown in the
1280E17 lion*'s cage and I am told that the nobility sat back licking their
1290E17 chops to_ see what the lion would do to the boar. ^It didn*'4t. ^The
1300E17 lion had been in captivity for years. ^The boar was straight from
1310E17 the wilds. ^He grunted, lowered his head and made straight for the lion
1320E17 who after a semblance of a fight turned tail and ran. ^Round and
1330E17 round the cage the boar chased him, slashing him all over, till they
1340E17 had to_ shoot the boar in order to_ save the lion! $^*I am relating
1350E17 the above incident, only to_ show how hunting in all its forms put
1360E17 me off. ^During a long stint in the hills I was once presented with
1370E17 a male monal someone had shot. ^The monal is one of the most resplendent
1380E17 varieties of the Khaleej pheasant and is a protected bird at that.
1390E17 ^It was maddening. $^With the military and para-military forces
1400E17 moving into the hills a lot of wild species particularly the wild goat,
1410E17 the wild sheep and the *4Thar, are threatened with extinction. ^*I
1420E17 know of an incident in the vicinity of Rimkhim which is indicative
1430E17 of how men and animals behaved when armed personnel first moved up.
1440E17 ^An Assistant Commandant of a certain force took his .303 rifle
1450E17 to his shoulder and let go at a mountain goat, and missed. ^The shot
1460E17 echoed and reached up and down the craggy mountains. ^The wild goat
1470E17 could not make out where the sound had emanated from as the roar of
1480E17 the gun reverberated among the hills. ^Perhaps because its experience
1490E17 of man had been happy so far, or which is more likely, because it
1500E17 was dazed by this whirlwind of menacing sound around it, it made straight
1510E17 for the man. ^The officer took four more shots at the goat and missed
1520E17 each time. ^Eventually when he found his magazine empty and the
1530E17 wild goat at handshaking distance from him he caught the rifle by the
1540E17 barrel and tried to_ club the goat to death with the butt. ^It was
1550E17 then that the animal got wise to him and fled away. $*<*3Hunting*'s
1560E17 toll*0*> $*3^INDIA*0 with its vast, unending forest tracts was
1570E17 a great reservoir of wild life. ^But hunting took its toll. ^One hears
1580E17 about the drives organized by Alauddin Khilji in the neighbourhood
1590E17 of Delhi. ^In one drive organized by Akbar near Lahore 15,000
1600E17 animals are supposed to_ have been driven. *^Jehangir, who was meticulous
1610E17 about keeping his game score, has recorded that he killed
1620E17 in all 28,532 animals, including 86 tigers, 889 blue bull, 1372 deer,
1630E17 36 wild buffaloes, 90 wild boars and 23 hares. ^He also killed 13,964
1640E17 birds of which 10,348 were pigeons, 156 water fowl and the balance
1650E17 sparrows, doves, crows and owls. $^A book *3Things Indian*0, published
1660E17 in 1906 gives an account of the ravages during the British period.*#
        **[no. of words = 02001**]

        **[txt. e18**]
0010E18 **<*3SKIN-DIVING*0 *3An underdeveloped sport in India*0**> $*3QUITE
0020E18 A*0 few games have originated in India and have successfully been
0030E18 'exported' to the outside world-- for instance, hockey and polo, and,
0040E18 in the domain of the indoor sports, chess. ^Other games have come to
0050E18 us from abroad and we have made them our own-- for instance, cricket,
0060E18 football and tennis. $^However, skin-diving is the one sport which has
0070E18 gained popularity abroad but has not enthused us much. ^It is a sporting
0080E18 activity of underwater movement and exploration with the minimum
0090E18 of equipment. $^It is very different from 'helmet' or 'hard-hat' diving,
0100E18 which is a professional pursuit in which the diver, encased in a
0110E18 heavy and complicated diving suit, walks and works on the sea-bed. ^He
0120E18 remains tagged on to the ship through an umbilical cord which supplies
0130E18 him air and pressure. ^Skin-diving or free-diving is mostly an amateur
0140E18 activity and a true sport. $*<*3Challenging sport*0*> $^The mountain
0150E18 climber, if asked why he climbs mountains, may reply, "^Because
0160E18 they are there!" ^The skindiver, in a similar fashion, dives and delves
0170E18 into the underwater world of mysteries, just because the sea is there.
0180E18 ^He feels a challenge in the sport; there is a discipline and a skill
0190E18 to_ be acquired. ^In addition, the sport leads to useful practical
0200E18 applications in the marine science and archaeology. ^There is also the
0210E18 lure of hitting an ancient treasure under the sea. $^In its simplest
0220E18 form, the skin-diver (popularly known as the 'frogman') wears just
0230E18 a pair of fins on his feet and a diving mask and carries a snorkel.
0240E18 $^Fins have been known from ancient times. ^But it was only in the early
0250E18 part of this century that Captain Corleu, a Frenchman, got the
0260E18 idea of putting them on the feet (they had all along been clumsily worn
0270E18 on the hands). ^With fins on his feet, the modern skin-diver makes
0280E18 slow thrashing movements (the crawl-kick of the free-style swimmer).
0290E18 ^This leaves his hands free for steering and balance, and for holding
0300E18 such equipment as a knife, a spear or an underwater camera. $^The
0310E18 mask is a necessary piece of equipment. ^As the refractive index of water
0320E18 is very different from that of air, the human eye, when directly in
0330E18 contact with water, sees everything out of focus. ^The mask serves to_
0340E18 keep the eye in natural contact with air and this gives the diver a
0350E18 normal vision. $^The snorkel is a short tube, a couple of feet in length.
0360E18 ^The diver holds one end in his mouth. ^The other end projects
0370E18 out of the water when he comes up for air. ^Its use enables the diver to_
0380E18 avoid coming right up to the surface for air (that_ would be difficult
0390E18 in the choppy seas). ^It is a modern adaption of the hundreds of years*'
0400E18 old device of the hollow reed used by the primitive underwater fishermen.
0410E18 $^With this simple equipment (which need not cost more than \0*4Rs
0420E18 100), the skin-diver gets glimpses into the fascinating underwater
0430E18 world-- a world of colour and of bizarre shapes and happenings. $*<*3Modern
0440E18 diving*0*> $^From the very ancient times, people have been
0450E18 diving for pearls, corals, sponges, fish, \0etc. ^The modern skin-diving,
0460E18 however, began around 1945 when Capt Jacques Cousteau (the greatest
0470E18 name in underwater swimming and exploration) and Gagnan (both
0480E18 Frenchmen) invented the 'demand valve'. $^The skin-diver now carries
0490E18 his own supply of air in cylinders (known as aqua-lungs) strapped
0500E18 on to his back. ^The cylinders do not contain oxygen, as many of us would
0510E18 suppose, but just plain compressed air. $*<*3Not difficult to_
0520E18 learn*0*> $^The aqua-lungs contain 40 to 80 \0c. feet of air, compressed
0530E18 to about 150 atmospheres pressure. ^The skin-diver remains submerged
0540E18 for about half-an-hour at a time, diving to the depths of about 50
0550E18 to 70 \0ft, swimming at a steady 1 1/2 to 2 miles per hour. $^In the
0560E18 \0USA, the sport is known as scuba-diving ('scuba' stands for self-contained
0570E18 underwater breathing apparatus). ^There are over 500 diving
0580E18 clubs in the \0USA. ^In England, the sport is controlled by the
0590E18 British Sub-Aqua Club (founded in 1953) which controls the training
0600E18 and the general standards of the sport. $^For skin-diving, you need
0610E18 not be a powerful swimmer. ^In fact, many slow swimmers get on very
0620E18 well under the water. ^A sense of balance and smooth efficient movement
0630E18 (conserving air requirement to the utmost) are more important qualities
0640E18 than strength and power. $*<*3Basic qualifications*0*> $^The British
0650E18 Sub Aqua Club admits you for skin-diving training if you can:
0660E18 (**=1) swim 100 yards free-style, (**=2) swim 50 yards back-stroke,
0670E18 (**=3) swim 50 yards wearing a 10 \0lb belt, (**=4) float on the back for
0680E18 five minutes, (**=5) tread water using hands only for one minute and
0690E18 (**=6) retrieve objects from the deep end of the swimming pool. $^Age
0700E18 seems to_ be no barrier, either. \0^*Capt Cousteau*'s son was given
0710E18 his first dive at the age of four. ^And many youngsters of seven and eight
0720E18 are competent skin-divers. ^At the other extreme, a 73-year-old lady
0730E18 is said to_ be the star skin-diver of a Californian underwater club.
0740E18 ^This is one sport where women are absolutely on equal terms with men.
0750E18 $^Anyone in good normal health, not having serious respiratory troubles,
0760E18 can learn skin-diving. ^Thorough scientific training, however, is
0770E18 a 'must'. ^And there is one golden rule-- never dive alone. $^For most
0780E18 of us, the sea begins and ends at the surface. ^The skin-diver has
0790E18 the curiosity to_ know what the sea is like underneath. ^The fascinating
0800E18 underwater world soon attracts him. ^There he finds a world of quiet
0810E18 and seclusion. ^The sea is silent underneath. $^The skin-diver feels
0820E18 just the same thrilling sensation of weightlessness as the astronaut
0830E18 experiences in space. ^There are fascinating sights, especially
0840E18 if one is diving around an attractive location like a coral reef in
0850E18 the clear tropical waters. ^Down below, where so very little light penetrates,
0860E18 there is a surprising riot of colour, and there are fantastic shapes
0870E18 of corals, sea vegetation and fish. $^Fish-watching, like bird-watching,
0880E18 is very fascinating. ^*Cousteau said that he saw certain kinds
0890E18 of fish which allowed the shrimps to_ cling to their skins, as the shrimps
0900E18 served to_ keep them clean. ^There were places where the fish would
0910E18 regularly queue up to get themselves cleaned in this manner. ^Later,
0920E18 when hungry, the same fish had no qualms about eating up the shrimps
0930E18 that_ had served them. $*<*3Befriending fishes*0*> $^At one location,
0940E18 the skin-divers made friends with a five-foot long fish, which
0950E18 followed them like a dog as they worked, allowing itself to_ be tickled
0960E18 and petted. ^It showed distinct signs of jealousy when they gave attention
0970E18 to the other fish. $^Sooner or later, many sports divers branch
0980E18 off into more purposeful activities-- the most alluring one being of
0990E18 treasure-hunting in the sunken shipwrecks. ^Of course, every diver does
1000E18 not discover a golden mine under the sea, but there are distinct possibilities.
1010E18 $^The Spanish galleons in the 15th and 16th centuries used
1020E18 to_ carry home gold drained out from the South American colonies.
1030E18 ^Each galleon carried gold worth up to five million pounds. ^Many of
1040E18 these ships were chased by the pirates. ^Some of them ran aground, or
1050E18 were wrecked in hurricanes. ^The knowledge about the location of some
1060E18 shipwrecks has come down through tradition. ^Other shipwrecks can
1070E18 be hunted by studying the ancient marine chronicles. ^There have
1080E18 also been recent wrecks, \0e.g. of the \0S.S. *3Rio de Fanerio,*0
1090E18 sunk off San Francisco in 1901 with *- 40,000 worth of gold. ^Two
1100E18 ships laden with gold ingots blew up in Bombay harbour in 1944. ^Many
1110E18 shipwrecks have been discovered by the amateur skin-divers off Florida,
1120E18 the Bahamas and the Caribbeans. $*<*3Interesting discoveries*0*>
1130E18 $^An interesting quest was for the 'Port Royal', a gambling city
1140E18 set up by the pirates on the Jamaican coast. ^The city was destroyed
1150E18 by earthquake in June 1962, and was totally engulfed in the sea.
1160E18 ^The remnants of this city were discovered in 1960 by the skin-divers
1170E18 who retrieved many objects of archaeological value. $^The famous exploring
1180E18 vessel in the Mediterranean, the 'Calypso' found valuable historic
1190E18 finds in the Greek and Cretan ships sunk 4,000 years ago. ^Amongst
1200E18 the finds were amphora (jars used for carrying wine). ^Some of the
1210E18 amphora were intact and actually contained wine that_ was 2,000 years
1220E18 old. $^Some divers go in for spearing fish, others for 'shooting'
1230E18 them with a camera. ^Like big game hunters, the skin-divers have been
1240E18 depleting sea life to such an extent that in many countries, the spearing
1250E18 of fish is only permitted with fin-and-snorkel equipment. ^Aqua-lung
1260E18 and scuba are banned for fish-spearing. $^Skin-diving has a useful
1270E18 aspect. ^The skin-divers surveyed the Persian Gulf for oil. ^They
1280E18 undertook another challenging assignment. ^That_ was to_ trace an underground
1290E18 river which emptied itself into the Mediterranean. ^Swimming
1300E18 underwater into the caverns of this river*'s mouth, and taking the salinity
1310E18 measurements as they went along, they were able to_ suggest the
1320E18 spots where tube-wells could be drilled in the land to_ procure fresh
1330E18 water in a notably arid area. ^The surveys for an underwater pipe-line
1340E18 to_ convey oil from the Sahara, across the Mediterranean to Europe,
1350E18 have also been successfully undertaken by the skin-divers. $^In fact,
1360E18 they are contributing a lot to underwater exploration. ^The continental
1370E18 shelf, which is the area around the continents up to the (\0approx.)
1380E18 600 feet depth mark, is a vast store-house of untapped minerals,
1390E18 energy and food resources. ^The total area of the continental shelf
1400E18 of the world is as large as the area of Asia. ^It is an undiscovered
1410E18 continent. ^Its exploration is attracting the skin-divers increasingly.
1420E18 $^It is unfortunate that India, a maritime nation with 3,000 miles
1430E18 of coast-line, has not taken up the sport of skin-diving as yet. ^Maybe,
1440E18 it is an expensive sport. ^But its scientific and technical possibilities
1450E18 have induced the Governments of many countries to_ support the
1460E18 development of this sporting activity. $^A lot of scientific research
1470E18 has gone into developing the technique of underwater diving. ^The dreaded
1480E18 disease, known as 'the bends', which used to_ double up the deep
1490E18 sea-diver with excruciating pain when he came up to the surface, incapacitating
1500E18 him for life and often killing him, is now better understood.
1510E18 $*(0^*J. S.*) Haldane, the famous scientist, showed that it is due
1520E18 to the sudden release of nitrogen (compressed in the blood-stream)
1530E18 into the vital organs of the body. ^The diver nowadays is guided by Haldane*'s
1540E18 decompression tables. ^When coming up from the depth, he does
1550E18 not surface directly, but stays several minutes at various specific
1560E18 decompression levels on his way up. $^To_ study the psychological and
1570E18 physiological effects, various 'man-in-the-sea' experiments have been
1580E18 carried out, aimed at keeping the men several days under the sea
1590E18 in specially constructed shells. ^In one of these experiments of Marseiles,
1600E18 Cousteau*'s team of six divers remained 350 feet under water for
1610E18 22 days in 1965. $*<*3Doctor went underwater*0 $^Skin-diving is such
1620E18 a popular sport in Marseiles, that when one of the men under the
1630E18 water developed a toothache, a dentist (a keen amateur diver) could be
1640E18 found who swam down to the undersea (with his dental kit) to_ attend
1650E18 to the first underwater dental patient ever. $^Interestingly enough,
1660E18 just like his colleague, the big game hunter on land, the sea-diver
1670E18 has been finding recently that the savage creatures rarely attack without
1680E18 provocation. ^Even the shark, much dreaded by the swimmers, moves
1690E18 past the diver, hardly seeming to_ notice him. ^And if it is belligerent,
1700E18 it can be shooed away by a counter-demonstration with a camera.
1710E18 ^But if the diver carries a blood-stained spear or has any other signs
1720E18 of blood on him, then he has real trouble and danger. $^In the
1730E18 Persian Gulf, there are poisonous snakes which are very much feared.
1740E18 ^But Cousteau found scores of them in their natural habitat who did
1750E18 not bother to_ give the divers a second look, as long as they were left
1760E18 undisturbed. $^Diving need not be confined to the seas alone. ^The
1770E18 diving teams have fished out stolen cars, guns, bodies of missing persons
1780E18 from the rivers and lakes.*#
        **[no. of words = 02014**]

        **[txt. e19**]
0010E19 **<*3don*'4t cry over split milk*0**> $^Today a refrigerator is considered
0020E19 a necessity rather than a luxury, yet not every home is in the
0030E19 happy position of owning one. ^With the onset of summer the housewife
0040E19 has to_ be vigilant over a good many foodstuffs which store well
0050E19 in winter but are liable to_ go 'off' in warm weather especially without
0060E19 refrigeration. ^Milk is one such item which is a must in every
0070E19 home specially with infants and toddlers but unfortunately is prone
0080E19 to_ go sour in hot weather. ^Hence it requires special care. ^During
0090E19 summer therefore it is worth going through the extra trouble of purchasing
0100E19 milk twice daily to_ ensure freshness. $^To_ make sure milk
0110E19 does not split, it is advisable to_ reheat several times during the
0120E19 day, this will prevent bacterial fermentation. ^Always stand the milk
0130E19 vessel in a larger container filled with cool water; if you use a
0140E19 new earthenware pot to_ hold the water it will keep the milk cool
0150E19 and hence maintain freshness. ^A clean muslin rung out in cool water
0160E19 should be spread out over the vessel; a corner of the muslin can be
0170E19 made to_ just dip into the water. this will prevent complete drying
0180E19 out. ^Stand the whole arrangment in an airy well ventilated spot.
0190E19 $^In spite of all this if you find that you are still left with
0200E19 a quantity of milk that_ you cannot persuade the young ones to_ consume,
0210E19 try and use it up quickly as, if it is kept for a considerable
0220E19 length of time it is bound to_ split. ^This can be done in several
0230E19 ways. $^Setting it into curds is the easiest way of utilising milk.
0240E19 ^Remember in summer only a small quantity of starter is needed and
0250E19 the sweeter the curds the better. ^Curds can be put to_ good use
0260E19 the next day. ^Sweet curds can be kept for table use or lassi; sweet
0270E19 sour curds for buttermilk and sour curds for curries both vegetarian
0280E19 and non vegetarian. $^Milk adds a welcome change of flavour and additional
0290E19 nutritive value when used in cooking. ^Meat dishes improve
0300E19 vastly if cooked in milk or part milk and water. ^Bland tasting vegetables
0310E19 like *4lauki also do well if simmered in milk. $^When cooking
0320E19 rice dishes like *4khichdi, *4pulao or fried rice dishes in the Indian
0330E19 style, you can always cut down on the quantity of water needed
0340E19 and make up the liquid with some milk; this however, should be added
0350E19 towards the end of cooking. $^Make extra rich omelettes and scrambled
0360E19 eggs by mixing in a little milk into the beaten egg. ^Use egg-milk
0370E19 mixture as a base for breadcrumb coating. $^Milk or cream can be added
0380E19 to soups like chicken \0etc. ^Milk may be added while cooking but
0390E19 for soups like tomato \0etc it should be stirred in while off the
0400E19 fire and just before serving. $^Use a milk and water mixture to_ knead
0410E19 dough for *4chappaties, *4puries, *4samosas or for any sweet or savoury,
0420E19 flour based snack. ^If faced with the need of using a fair quantity
0430E19 of milk one of the following may prove of help. $^Turn milk into *4paneer
0440E19 by adding lemon juice to simmering milk. ^Stir and allow to_
0450E19 curdle; tie in muslin and hang till it drips dry; collect the whey
0460E19 that_ drips and use it in cooking. ^Whey can also be flavoured and
0470E19 used as a nutritive drink. $^Place the solid portion under weight
0480E19 between two flat surfaces and, cut into cubes. ^Fry lightly, and add
0490E19 cuber to any vegetable or mutton curry. ^*4paneer is specially good
0500E19 with a spinach gravy or along with potatoes and peas. $^*4paneer may
0510E19 be mashed and used as a salad ingredient or in any recipe calling
0520E19 for cottage cheese. $^Thicken milk by cooking on a low flame stirring
0530E19 constantly till it is of condensed milk consistency. ^Sweeten
0540E19 to taste and flavour with pounded cardamom. ^Garnish with nuts if desired.
0550E19 ^Serve this as a sweet or for breakfast with bread or *4chappati.
0560E19 ^Enhance thickening by mixing in a slice or two of bread soaked
0570E19 in milk and mashed to a pulp. $^In spite of your best efforts if you
0580E19 do find that on heating the milk has split, continue to_ cook on
0590E19 a low flame, stirring constantly till dry; sweeten and flavour to taste.
0600E19 ^Serve with bread or *4puri. ^The procedure is painstaking and
0610E19 tedious but you will find it well worth the effort since you will
0620E19 not have to_ let it go to waste. $^The true cheese lover can get pleasure
0630E19 from simply reading about cheese. ^For most of us, however, the
0640E19 joy of cheese is in the tasting. ^An English gourmet once said the
0650E19 only way to_ learn about cheese is to_ eat it. ^No one knows how cheese
0660E19 was discovered. ^The ancient Greeks believed it to_ be gift of the
0670E19 gods. ^A legend says that it was discovered quite by accident...
0680E19 ^An Arab traveller carried some milk with him as part of his food
0690E19 supply on a journey across the desert, in a crude container fashioned
0700E19 from a sheep*'s stomach. ^By some chance, the heat of the day
0710E19 and the rennet remaining in the container, caused the milk to_ separate
0720E19 into curds and whey. ^The whey satisfied the traveller*'s thirst
0730E19 and the curd his appetite... and so cheese was born. $^No other
0740E19 food offers such a dazzling variety of blandishments for both the gourmet
0750E19 and every day eater. ^Cheese is the most highly concentrated
0760E19 of all protein foods. ^It takes nearly 5 kilograms of milk to_ make
0770E19 1 kilogram of cheese. ^Eating a small piece of cheese weighing only
0780E19 50 grams is like drinking a quarter litre of milk. $^Its caloric content
0790E19 is quite high but a major part of the calories are **[sic**] those
0800E19 of proteins. ^The carbohydrate content is low because most of the lactose,
0810E19 the milk sugar is removed in the form of whey during the cheese
0820E19 making process. ^Cheese rates as a good source of vitamin B2 and an
0830E19 excellent source of vitamin A. ^If you ate 100 grams of cheese you
0840E19 will receive all the protein expected from a square meal. $^References
0850E19 to cheese were found on clay tablets in the temple of Ur dating
0860E19 around 3000 \0B.C. ^Homer speaks of caves filled with cheese and
0870E19 the Bible has a number of references to cheese. ^It was also known
0880E19 in India and even now *4paneer, a form of cottage cheese is extremely
0890E19 popular in the whole country. '*4^*Chana' used in *4rasagolla
0900E19 and other eastern Indian sweets, is also a form of cheese. $^It is a
0910E19 food both so simple that primitive nomadic people could make it and so
0911E19 complex that today
0920E19 large food factories spend millions probing its mysteries. ^However,
0930E19 the principle is the same-- liquid milk coagulated into a solid. $^We
0940E19 in India see only a few varieties of cheese. ^There are hundreds
0950E19 of varieties sold in States and Europe and more and more are being
0960E19 added every year. ^There are 28 basic types of cheese but flavour
0970E19 variations make a large total. $^What makes one cheese different from
0980E19 another? ^Several factors influence the type of cheese that_ is
0990E19 made. ^The kind of milk used also plays a great part. ^Most cheeses
1000E19 in Europe are made from cow*'s milk, but some are made principally
1010E19 from sheep*'s or goat*'s milk. ^Some cheeses are made from buffalo*'s
1020E19 milk also. ^Sometimes herbs are added to cheese. ^Clover leaves are
1030E19 added in Switzerland. ^Wild artichokes are added in Italy and
1040E19 spices are added in Scandinavia. $^Every kind of cheese has its own
1050E19 period of ripening. ^A Cheddar can be ripened from three or four
1060E19 months to one or two years, depending upon the flavour desired. ^Blue
1070E19 cheese takes two to three months; Parmesan at least 14 months.
1080E19 ^The grand old man of cheese, Saanen requires 3 to 8 years. ^Some cheeses
1090E19 like our own varieties need little or no ripening. $^The most
1110E19 popular variety in India is processed cheese. ^This is available in
1120E19 blocks or in the form of powder. ^Processed cheese is one which has
1130E19 been melted, mixed with milk solids, pasteurized and resolidified.
1140E19 ^The organisms in the cheese are destroyed and the result is a product
1150E19 that_ keeps indefinitely with little or no refrigeration. $^In
1160E19 our country consumption of cheese per head is deploringly low, but all
1170E19 those of us who can afford it should eat more and more cheese, particularly
1180E19 those of us who are strictly vegetarian. ^Try it in a salad,
1190E19 stuff cheese in capsicums or tomatoes. ^Use it in omelettes and souffles.
1200E19 $*<*3The Serving of Cheese*0*> $^Cheeses are always served
1210E19 before the sweet or dessert. ^Cheese is usually served on a separate
1220E19 plate by itself. ^It can also be served on a cheeseboard. ^Savouring
1230E19 biscuits and slices of brown bread may also be served along with
1240E19 the cheese. ^It is the custom in France to_ offer the cheese first
1250E19 to the master of the house. ^He examines it and then cuts it before
1260E19 it is handed to the guests. $**<*3HOW TO_ MAKE SUGAR SYRUP*0**>
1270E19 $^Sugar is with alcohol the only chemically purified food in our
1280E19 diet. ^It is a reasonably pure carbohydrate. ^It is a foodstuff that_
1290E19 is readily absorbed in the system. ^About 100 grams of sugar yield
1300E19 393 calories. $^Because of its rapid assimilation sugar restores
1310E19 energy very quickly in people who are fatigued. $^Mineral salts however
1320E19 are lacking in sugar. ^Sugar should therefore be considered
1330E19 as a condiment for balancing food. $^In cooking, sugar is used in confectionery
1340E19 and preparation of sweets. ^It is also used in making some
1350E19 sauces. ^Sugar boiled to the caramel degree is used as a colouring
1360E19 agent for soups. ^Sugar dissolved in a predetermined quantity of water
1370E19 and boiled to a syrup is used in the preparation of sweets. ^The
1380E19 usual proportion for the preparation of sugar syrup is 1 1/4 cups
1390E19 of water to 1 kilo of sugar. ^The mixture should be put on the fire,
1400E19 brought to the boil and impurities skimmed off as they come to the
1410E19 surface. ^If this sum is not removed it causes graining. ^As soon as
1420E19 the boiling process produces small bubbles very close together, the
1430E19 evaporation is complete. ^At this point the sugar starts to_ cook
1440E19 and one has to_ watch it with care to_ stop it at the degree desired.
1450E19 ^During this process the skin which forms on the side of the saucepan
1460E19 must be frequently removed. ^Another method of preventing graining
1470E19 is to_ add a spoonful of glucose for every pound of sugar. $^Before
1480E19 arriving at the stage called caramel, sugar passes through six
1490E19 different stages which are explained below. ^These stages can be determined
1500E19 by some indications which can be easily recognised after some
1510E19 careful practice. $*<*3First degree-- small gloss or small thread:*0*>
1520E19 $^Take a little syrup and test between the thumb and the index
1530E19 finger. ^Stretch the two fingers apart. ^Little threads forming between
1540E19 the two indicate that the sugar has arrived at the small thread
1550E19 degree. $*<*3Second degree-- Large thread*0*> $^Continue boiling
1560E19 for a few minutes more. ^Then carry out the same test. ^This time
1570E19 the threads will be more numerous, larger and stronger. $*<*3Third
1580E19 degree-- small ball:*0*> $^After the large thread degree, the heat of
1590E19 the sugar is such that it is necessary before carrying out subsequent
1610E19 tests to_ dip the fingers into cold water. ^When this is done the
1620E19 sugar detaches itself from the sugar, forming a kind of glue, which
1630E19 can be rolled into a soft ball. $*<*3Fourth degree-- large ball:*0*>
1640E19 $^After a little more boiling carry out the test again. ^The ball
1650E19 that_ is formed will be a little harder. ^This is the hard ball degree.
1660E19 $*<*3Fifth degree-- small crack:*0*> ^After a little more
1661E19 boiling dip the finger into the
1670E19 sugar and immediately into cold water. ^A thin piece of sugar will
1680E19 fall off the finger which if put into the mouth will stick to the teeth.
1690E19 ^This indicates that the sugar has arrived at the small crack degree.
1700E19 $*<*3Sixth degree or hard crack:*0*>*#
        **[no. of words = 02003**]

        **[txt. e20**]
0010E20 **<*3 WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT CARDAMOM*0**> $^Cardamom or *4elaichi,
0020E20 is the third costliest spice, after saffron and vanilla. ^Good varieties
0030E20 now cost about \0*4Rs. 180 a \0kg. $^This spice is indigenous
0040E20 to India and even now plants can be seen growing wild in the forests
0050E20 of Kerala. ^In fact, one method of commercial production of cardamom
0060E20 is to_ partially clear the forests, thin the naturally growing cardamom
0070E20 plants, and allow them to_ grow properly. $^Cardamom is mainly
0080E20 cultivated in Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. ^India produces
0090E20 about 3000 tonnes of the spice annually. ^Other producing countries
0100E20 are Sri Lanka, Gautemala and Tanzania, which together account for
0110E20 another 2000 tonnes. $^Different varieties of cardamom are available
0120E20 in the market. ^One is roundish and bleached white. ^It appears attractive
0130E20 but the seeds inside are off-flavour because of the chemical
0140E20 treatment given during bleaching. $^Another variety is greenish white, which
0150E20 is natural, due to drying of the fruit in the sun. ^This is good
0160E20 cardamom but the flavour of the seeds inside is somewhat harsh and camphor
0170E20 like, due to the presence of excess of a chemical called cineol,
0180E20 which is the chief ingredient of eucalyptus oil. $^The major quantity
0190E20 of caradamom produced in India is known as Alleppy Green. ^This
0200E20 variety is long and three-angled. ^Its colour is uniformly green.
0210E20 ^This is the best variety of cardamom. ^The seeds inside have a sweet, fruity
0220E20 flavour, due to the presence of some esters. $^Buy cardamom after
0230E20 tasting the seeds inside, which are the real source of flavour. ^Do
0240E20 not be carried away by the apperance of the skin, which does not have
0250E20 any flavour. $^One-third of the weight of the pod is made up of the
0260E20 husk, which only gives a protective coating to the seeds inside. ^As
0270E20 long as seeds are thus protected, they do not lose the flavour. $^Some
0280E20 people add the whole cardamom fruit to foods, without opening the
0290E20 pods and crushing the seeds. ^This is a very wasteful way of using such
0300E20 a costly spice. ^The flavour of the seeds is released only when they
0310E20 are crushed to_ break the oil cells. ^Always open the pods by hand
0330E20 or pestle, remove the seeds and grind them to a coarse powder just
0340E20 before adding to food. ^If you grind the seeds and store them as a
0350E20 powder, the smell is rapidly lost. $^The name *4elaichi or *4chota *4elaichi
0360E20 is given to the true cardamom, which is obtained from the plant
0370E20 botanically known as *8elettaria cardamomum*9. ^This has two varieties,
0380E20 Mysore and Malabar. ^*Alleppy Green cardamom, mentioned above,
0390E20 belongs to the Mysore variety. ^What is grown in Coorg and North
0400E20 Karnataka belongs to the Malabar variety. $^A giant-sized (1-2 inches
0410E20 long) wild cardamom is also found in Sri Lanka. ^It has a medicinal flavour
0420E20 and is used only in Ayurvedic medicines. ^It is commercially unimportant.
0430E20 $^The big brown fruits of *4bada *4elaichi used as a cheap substitute
0440E20 for the true cardamom, are derived from a different plant called
0450E20 *8amomum subulatum*9. ^This has no relation to true cardamom. ^However,
0460E20 the fruit looks somewhat like it and also has a slight resemblance
0470E20 in smell to cardamom. $^The seeds have a very inferior camphoraceous
0480E20 odour. ^These *7amomum fruits are produced in West Bengal, Sikkim,
0490E20 Darjeeling and Nepal. ^They cost only about \0Rs 10 per \0kg. ^Do
0500E20 not buy any *7amomum fruits in the belief they are also *4elaichi.
0510E20 ^If you buy cardamom seeds, they may be adulterated with *7amomum seeds.
0520E20 ^Look carefully, if possible, with a lens. *7^Amomum seeds are big
0530E20 and smooth unlike cardamom seeds which are small and pitted in appearance.
0540E20 $*<*3The plant*0*> $^The cardamom plant is a medium-sized perennial
0550E20 shrub, which thrives best in damp soil rich in humus. ^It requires
0560E20 a cool climate and good rainfall. ^The succulent leaf shoots grow
0570E20 to a height of 3 to 4 1/2 meters. ^In winter, long runners come out from
0580E20 the base of the plant with small greenish white flowers. ^The fruits
0590E20 are formed later and are ready for harvest by about September. ^They
0600E20 are plucked when still green in colour and dried in the sun or in
0610E20 heated rooms. ^It is necessary to_ use only artificial drying if
0620E20 the green colour is to_ be retained. $^These green pods fetch a very
0630E20 good price in the Arab countries, where people believe that good cardamom
0640E20 must be green in colour. ^The Arabs use a lot of cardamom to_
0650E20 flavour black coffee. ^If dried in the sun, the pods are partially
0660E20 bleached and look half white and half green. $^In some growing areas
0670E20 in Karnataka, the pods are bleached by sulphur fumes and dried in the
0680E20 sun repeatedly to_ get a very white skin. ^People in the east European
0690E20 countries and Russia, as also some parts of India, prefer
0700E20 this bleached cardamom. ^As mentioned earlier, the outward appearance
0710E20 of the pods has nothing to_ do with the flavour. $*<*3Commercial
0720E20 uses*0*> $^In industry, cardamom seeds are ground and distilled to_
0730E20 get a sweet smelling volatile oil. ^This oil is an important commercial
0740E20 commodity. ^It is used in food flavouring, pharmaceuticals and perfumery
0750E20 in western countries. ^The oil is the essence of the spice. ^The
0760E20 spice and its oil are used in baked goods like breads, cakes and
0770E20 pies in the Scandinavian countries. $^In India, cardamom is used
0780E20 in sweets, curries and *4pan. ^It is supposed to_ have carminative,
0790E20 stimulant and diuretic properties. ^Some people also believe that it
0791E20 is an aphrodisiac. $**<*3ARE FOOD ADDITIVES POISON?*0**>
0800E20 $^Colours and other food additives are now being indiscriminately used
0810E20 all over the world in sweets, spices, beverages, \0etc., to_ give
0820E20 them an attractive look. ^But very few people know that their persistent
0830E20 use may be dangerous and a serious health hazard as well. $^There
0840E20 is no denying that the appearance influences a consumer more than
0850E20 flavour or taste. ^The result is that artificial colours are added even
0860E20 to processed foods, canned and pulped fruits and vegetables which
0870E20 are likely to_ lose their natural colour during processing or storage.
0880E20 $^What are food additives? $^There is no internationally accepted
0890E20 definition for this term. ^The Food and Agriculture Organisation (\0FA*0)
0900E20 defines an additive as non-nutritive substance added to food, generally
0910E20 in small quantities. ^This improves the appearance, flavour,
0920E20 texture and storage properties. $^The food additives which are now generally
0930E20 used in food processing, have the ability to_ promote better
0940E20 utilisation of available foods. ^These also help maintain the nutritional
0950E20 quality of food and enhance their storage quality, stability
0960E20 and apperance. $^The storage and transport facilities in the underdeveloped
0970E20 countries are inadequate. ^And therefore, the use of food additives
0980E20 reduces the wastage due to seasonal surpluses. $^In tropical regions,
0900E20 where high temperature and humidity stimulate the microbial growth
1000E20 and development of rancidity in foods, use of anti-microbial agents
1010E20 helps avoid wastage to a great extent. $*<*3Major additives*0*> $^The
1020E20 food additives include nutrients, colourings, flavourings, flavour
1030E20 enhancers and antimicrobial preservatives. $^The most important group
1040E20 of food additives includes vitamins, amino acids and minerals, which
1050E20 are nutrients. ^They are added to_ compensate for the losses suffered
1060E20 during processing or to_ provide nutrients in which the food
1070E20 is lacking. ^Examples of their use include fortifying of margarine with
1080E20 vitamin A. ^Sometimes vitamin B*;1**; and B*;12**; and niacinamide
1090E20 are added to flour or bread. $^Food colours also constitute a major
1100E20 group of additives. $^In India, the use of ten synthetic dyes is
1110E20 permitted in foods such as beverages, candy, confectionery (orange,
1120E20 lemon juices \0etc.), dessert powders, canned fruits and vegetables, icecreams,
1130E20 dairy products, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. ^Colour only
1140E20 enhances consumer appeal, it does not add to the nutritive value. ^However,
1150E20 the long-term effects of even these permitted colours are gradually
1160E20 coming to light as more sensitive and sophisticated testing techniques
1170E20 are being developed. $^One of the permitted colours on our certified
1180E20 list is amaranth. ^This food colour is being extensively used all
1190E20 over the world. ^Approximately, 1.5 million pounds of this dye are
1200E20 used each year in foods, drugs and cosmetics in about 60 countries.
1210E20 ^But in 1968, it was discovered that when administered to rats, this
1220E20 universally accepted colouring agent caused cancerous tumours in several
1230E20 organs and tissues. ^Further experiments proved that the dye lowered
1240E20 fertility in rats, induced still-births and even produced malformed
1250E20 and macerated foetuses. ^These findings shocked the authorities in
1260E20 \0USA into taking the dye off the list of permitted colours. ^But
1270E20 in India, this is still being used. $*<*3Some are permitted*>
1280E20 $^Again, many additives are permitted in small concentrations. ^But some
1290E20 have shown toxicity, cancer or birth defects and genetic injury to
1300E20 future generations. ^So far only a few of these chemical additives
1310E20 have been adequately tested and even in their case, the testing has been
1320E20 confined to toxicity and carcinogenity (ability to_ produce). ^Practically
1340E20 no tests have been performed to_ test their tendency to_
1350E20 cause mutations and fundamental changes in the genes. ^Therefore their
1360E20 long-range effects are not at all known. $^Non-permitted colours
1370E20 are found to_ be highly toxic. ^Commonly used non-permitted dyes
1380E20 such as orange, pink, yellow, blue and green cause pathological injury to
1390E20 vital organs like kidney, spleen and liver. ^These were also reported
1400E20 to_ be carcinogenic. $^Malachite green increases the incidence of lung,
1410E20 breast and liver tumours. ^It is also known to_ produce inborn abnormalities
1420E20 of bone, skin and lung. $^Lead chromate, an inorganic pigment
1430E20 which is used in polishing whole turmeric (*4haldi), causes anaemia,
1440E20 paralysis and abortion. $^So to_ avoid the dangers of lead poisoning
1450E20 or cancer, the consumer should buy the whole turmeric in its natural
1460E20 state which appears dull and brown. ^It undoubtedly lacks colour
1470E20 and consumer appeal, but is definitely safer. $^Metanil yellow, the
1480E20 most popular among the non-permitted dyes, is generally used in various
1490E20 sweets, *4namkins, cereals, condiments, \0etc. ^Oral feeding and
1500E20 intratesticular administration of this dye in experimental animals produced
1510E20 testicular injuries. $^Flavouring materials are added to basic food
1520E20 stuffs to_ provide a characteristic product flavour or modify the
1530E20 original flavour. ^Both natural and synthetic flavours are used. ^However,
1540E20 their use is restricted to specified foods in amounts not exceeding
1550E20 300 parts per million (\0ppm) when used singularly or in combination.
1560E20 ^Some of the common natural flavouring agents are crude spices and
1570E20 herbs, essential oils or extracts. $^Crude spices and herbs are used
1580E20 in meat, pickle and bakery items. ^The essential oils are extensively
1590E20 used in the production of food flavour, perfumes and cosmetics. $^Flavours
1600E20 can also be influenced by the addition of flavour enhancer such
1610E20 as monosodium glutamate. ^It intensifies the perception of flavour.
1620E20 ^It is commonly used by housewives in Chinese cooking. ^Monosodium glutamate,
1630E20 when present in mother*'s food, causes extensive damage to foetus
1640E20 or infant during pregnancy and lactation. $^Preservatives or anti-microbial
1650E20 substances are capable of inhibiting, retarding or arresting
1660E20 the process of fermentation and decomposition of eatables. ^The
1670E20 food industry generally relies on such physical factors as heat, cold
1680E20 and low moisture for product preservation, but the use of antimicrobial
1690E20 preservatives is growing very fast. $^Preservatives are divided into
1700E20 two classes: (**=1) those, which can be added to any food generally
1710E20 on 'no limit' basis, acetic acid, acetate, common salt, dextrose,
1720E20 edible oils, honey, spices and sugar, (**=2) chemicals or their sodium,
1730E20 potassium or calcium salts-- acid, calcium, phosphate, benzoic acid,
1740E20 methyl and propyl parahydroxy bentoic acid, sodium diacetate, sulphur
1750E20 dioxide (sulphurous acid) and sulphites. *Text mutilated**]
1751E20 $^Nisin is a polypeptide
1760E20 antibiotic. ^It is used to_ increase the shelf life of sterilised milk
1770E20 for periods as long as 60 days. ^Nisin is considered safe for food because
1780E20 it is readily destroyed by digestive enzymes. $^Besides the permitted
1790E20 preservatives, the use of hydrogen peroxide in milk is considered
1800E20 harmless. ^Most of it evaporates while boiling. ^An amount of 3-4 \0ml
1810E20 of 30% hydrogen peroxide is sufficient for one litre of milk. **[text
1820E20 multilated**] $^There is a great demand for non-nutritive sweetener
1830E20 with a low calorie value for foods and beverages. ^Saccharin is permitted
1840E20 only at a level of 100 \0ppm in soft drinks, but it is now proposed
1850E20 to_ disallow its use. ^Addition of saccharin in other food stuffs
1860E20 is also being restricted to a bare minimum.*#
        **[no. of words = 02007**]


        **[txt. e21**]
0010E21 **<*3Around the World with Kushwant Singh*0**> ^My picture of the
0020E21 American negro had been somewhat blurred; Chameli*'s party with
0030E21 the black elite of the city put that_ picture completely out of focus.
0040E21 ^It took many visits to the United States to_ rid my mind of
0050E21 all pre-conceived notions I had of the country and its people. ^During
0060E21 the first sojourn Americans seemed to_ be the parody of everything
0070E21 that_ I had heard about them. ^*I still recall the sense of
0080E21 disbelief when I switched on the radio. ^Brought up on the \0B.B.C.
0090E21 pattern of a flat monotone to_ emphasise its objectivity, the announcement
0100E21 sounded like a circus clown*'s invitation to_ see the
0110E21 lion tamer. '^On the air, every where in San Fransisco, introducing
0120E21 your favourite telecaster-- Al or Bud something-or-the other,'
0130E21 followed by the telecaster*'s avuncular greeting: 'Hi folks! ^How*'1s
0140E21 that_ cup of kawfee this morning? ^Noos is good and bad. ^*Ole Fidel
0150E21 Castro*'1s having a spot of trouble. ^*I told you he would, didn*'4t
0160E21 I? ^That_*'1s good noos. ^But the weather*'1s bad. ^Snow flurries
0170E21 have jangled the traffic on the main routes. ^Be sure to_ keep warm.'
0180E21 ^And so on. ^It was the same with most of the newspapers. ^Bizarre
0190E21 headlines, pages and pages of ads, local gossip and sports-- the
0200E21 rest of the world relegated to_ obscure columns. ^Same with the television--
0210E21 all the 13 old channels devoting most of their time to commercials
0220E21 about new gadgets, pizza, coke, smoke, automobiles, airlines--
0230E21 the lot. ^How seriously could one take this nutty, non-serious conglomeration
0240E21 of people? ^How was it that while they seemed to_ spend
0250E21 more time having a good time than working, they produced almost half
0260E21 the wealth of the world? ^And though seemingly uncouth, unsophisticated
0270E21 and naive, they produced world*'s greatest scientists, writers,
0280E21 doctors and their politicians could outsmart the wiliest Europeans
0290E21 and Orientals? ^*I found my answers in the groves of academe: Rochester,
0300E21 Hawaii, Princeton and Swarthmore. ^*I could make very little
0310E21 of the Rochester students, even less at Hawaii where most students
0320E21 combined surf-riding and working in restaurants with lectures
0330E21 on exotic subjects which caught their fancy. ^Invariably a few dozed
0340E21 off during lectures on Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam and Sikhism.
0350E21 ^It is different at Princeton and Swarthmore. ^*I found that the American
0360E21 Campus had an ethos of its own unlike anything I had experienced
0370E21 in Indian, English or French universities. ^It was more
0380E21 relaxed, the professor-student relationship more cordial, the class-room
0390E21 atmosphere less formal. ^Students smoked, girls wore the briefest
0400E21 of dresses and often had their legs on the desks. ^There was less
0410E21 adulation of sportsmen, less awe of the intellectual, less fear
0420E21 of examinations. ^Nevertheless the American collegiate seemed to_
0430E21 extract more out of his years at college than his counterparts elsewhere.
0440E21 ^Lectures were at a discount; emphasis was on dialogue with the
0450E21 *4guru or seminar type discussions on papers written by them. ^*American
0460E21 boys and girls spent longer hours in libraries than Indian,
0470E21 English or French students. ^Although there was considerably more
0480E21 mingling of the sexes-- and perhaps cohabitation-- young Americans
0490E21 consumed less liquor and tobacco and put in longer hours of work.
0500E21 ^On my last assignment at Swarthmore College seven years ago, I saw
0510E21 the change that_ had taken place in the Black-white relationship.
0520E21 ^All the White students were for integration; most of the Blacks
0530E21 I met were for settling scores for past discriminations. ^As a Brown
0540E21 I was in the invidious situation where although my emotional sympathies
0550E21 were with the Blacks I found it diffcult to_ understand
0560E21 their point of view. $^My voyages of discovery of America have not
0570E21 ended. ^The last time I was in the States I was a guest of an old
0580E21 friend \0Dr. John Hazard, professor of Soviet Law at Columbia
0590E21 University. ^He had written advising me to_ take a cab from the
0600E21 airport: '^It will be between 8-9 dollars. ^Don*'4t let the cabby take
0610E21 you for a ride. ^You know what cabbies are!' ^Mine had an Italian
0620E21 name and what I later learnt was known as a Brooklyn accent. ^It
0630E21 didn*'4t take him long to_ sense that I was not familiar with the
0640E21 sights. ^He started pointing out the various landmarks. ^*I didn*'4t
0650E21 pay much attention because my eyes were glued on the meter. ^*I
0660E21 would pay upto 9 dollars: not a cent more . '^You noo?' he asked me.
0670E21 '^Yeah,' I replied in my best Yankee. '^Foist day: Foine city,
0680E21 Noo Yok. ^*I live on the way. ^Come and meet the missus. ^She*'1s
0690E21 never met a *4Hindoo with a toy-bon.' ^He was a sharp one. ^*I said
0700E21 no thank you, I was getting late. ^The meter showed 8.50. ^Another
0710E21 50 cents to_ go. Just as he pulled up he slammed down the flag. ^He
0720E21 couldn*'4t trick me because I had seen it read 8.50 and \0Dr. Hazard
0730E21 was at the door waiting for me. '^How much?' ^*I demanded in a not too
0740E21 friendly tone. '^Nuttin,' he replied. '^Its your foist day in my country.
0750E21 ^Let it be on me.' ^*I was taken aback. ^Was this some kind of confidence
0760E21 trick? ^*I insisted on paying the fare. ^He gave in. '^Okay,
0770E21 we*'3ll call it four dollars.' $^*I learnt my lesson; never generalise
0780E21 about a people, never believe in the stereotype-- not even the
0790E21 cab driver. ^*I recalled a cryptic remark made by the late Prime Minister
0800E21 Nehru on the eve of his visit to the United States. '^*I
0810E21 have been advised by my friends,' Nehru had written to a friend in
0820E21 Boston, 'that no one should be required to_ see America for the
0830E21 first time.' ^It sounded very clever but I did not understand what
0840E21 it meant except that every time I go to the United States it seems
0850E21 like the first time. $*<*3In Paris with Little French and less
0860E21 money*0*> $*3^A MODERN*0 form of torture is long-distance travel
0870E21 in a crowded Jumbo. ^Despite its monstrous size, its belly does not
0880E21 give much leg or elbow room to the passengers it ingests. ^Since
0890E21 there are so many people to_ serve there is little time for courtesy
0900E21 or indulging the gourmet. ^Food like rubber; champagne which should
0910E21 be chilled is warm; coffee which should be hot is tepid. ^Sound common
0920E21 sense! ^If you eat and drink little, there is less to_ get rid of.
0930E21 ^There are only 10 lavatories (for 320 economy class passengers) and
0940E21 a never-ending line of men and women with bladders about to_ burst
0950E21 and farting. ^By the time you make the loo and lower yourself on
0960E21 a much-soiled commode, a panel in front flashers messages in French
0970E21 and English and a voice orders you to_ return to your seat: '^We
0980E21 have begun our descent towards Paris. ^Fasten your seat-belts and
0990E21 observe the no-smoking sign.' $^If it was Air-India, I would have
1000E21 screamed. ^But this is Air France and my vocabulary of rude French
1010E21 is very dated. $^It is springtime in Paris. ^Visions of fountains
1020E21 in the Champs Elysees sparkling in bright sunshine; the Tuileries
1030E21 gardens strewn with daffodils and narcissi; hedges in the Bois de Boulogne
1040E21 ablaze with rhododendron and azalia. ^*Refrains of Oscar Hammerstoin*'s
1050E21 song echo faintly in my ears: **[song**] $^It is springtime
1060E21 in Paris. ^The sky is overcast: a grey fog spreads like a pestilential
1070E21 blanket; the runways are swept by a chill, blustering gale. ^The
1080E21 new Charles de Gaulle airport is clinically clean but as cold
1090E21 and unfriendly as the ward of a cancer hospital. $^An attractive young
1100E21 lady greets me on behalf of my hosts. ^Her English is worse than
1110E21 my French. ^She addresses me as 'Monsieur Singe (monkey)'. ^However,
1120E21 she pays the cab to the hotel and I save 35 francs. ^*I make another
1130E21 saving of foreign exchange by tipping the boy who brings up my
1140E21 valise in rupee notes. $^*I quickly glance round the room. ^It could
1150E21 be in any hotel in Sydney, Singapore, Srinagar, Dakar or Delhi.
1160E21 (^Why does one invariably alliterate in explaining such situations?)
1170E21 ^To_ make sure I have left Bombay, I switch on the television.
1180E21 ^*I am struck by the excellence of the colour picture-- it is much
1190E21 cleaner than anything I saw in Tokyo, London or New York. ^On
1200E21 the French channel, there is a panel discussing homosexuality. ^Two
1210E21 young men talk frankly about their preference for their own sex;
1220E21 a lesbian lady does likewise. ^Psychiatrists and doctors make comments
1230E21 I heard 40 years ago when these subjects first began to_ be discussed
1240E21 openly. ^The English channel has Julius Caesar. $^The landscape
1250E21 of Paris has not changed very much since I lived here 20 years ago.
1260E21 ^But the prices have more than doubled. ^Now more than ever it is
1270E21 true that Paris is a place where a man who has money to_ burn meets
1280E21 his match. ^However, though the Parisian skies are unwelcoming,
1290E21 the Bon Dieu has arranged that my friend Mischa Jucker of Sandoz
1300E21 should be in the city and in the same hotel. ^Mischa has the largest
1310E21 heart in the world with a wallet of equal size. ^He insists the
1320E21 evening is to_ be on him. ^*I do not protest. ^We take a cab to his
1330E21 favourite restaurant, Tsarevitch. ^We are the only guests. ^A five-man
1340E21 orchestra regales us with Russian and Hungarian gypsy music.
1350E21 ^We sup on blini and sturgeon (mother of caviare, reputed to_
1360E21 be highly aphrodisiac) and a bottle of chilled Pouilly Fume. ^The
1370E21 evening costs Mischa the equivalent of \0Rs. 1,000. ^What does
1380E21 an Indian allowed *+12.50 per day (plus *+3 at the airport) do but
1390E21 pray for a Mischa Jucker at every port of call! $^Before turning back
1400E21 to the hotel, we decide to_ take a stroll through Place Pigalle,
1410E21 the red-light district of Paris. ^It hasn*'4t 'progressed' much in
1420E21 vice. ^*Hamburg, Copenhagen and Amsterdam have much more to_ offer.
1430E21 ^Girls stand in the doorways; pimps (that_ loathsome tribe) solicit
1440E21 our custom. ^Striptease joints have larger-than-lifesize pictures
1450E21 of girls displaying their bosoms (not genitals). ^Sex shops sell outsize
1460E21 rubber penises, foam-rubber dolls fully equipped for intercourse
1470E21 and stimulators in many colours. ^In one shop, there is a cartoon
1480E21 of a white girl asking a Negro saleswoman for a black stimulator.
1490E21 ^The Negro lady replies, 'Blacks' don*'4t come in small or medium
1500E21 sizes, madam.' ^What about browns? $*<*3^Addressing a Conference*0*>
1510E21 $^The next morning begins the test of my French. ^*I have to_ address
1520E21 a conference. ^*I recall the predicament of an American diplomat
1530E21 sent to Paris to_ discuss trade. '^*I suppose you speak French?'
1540E21 asked a Senator. '^A little,' replied the diplomat.' ^*I have no
1550E21 trouble making waiters and cab-drivers understand me.' ^The senator
1560E21 retorted, '^But suppose there are no waiters and cab-drivers at the
1570E21 conference?' $^My conference has four Nobel Prize-Winners. ^Amongst
1580E21 the list of invitees are Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir, Natalie
1590E21 Sarraute, Allan Sillitore, Denis de Rougemont, Ignazio Silone,
1600E21 James Michener, mstephen Spender, Sir Arthur Rubenstein,
1610E21 Yehudi Menuhin and Isaac Sterne. ^Would it be wise to_ try French?
1620E21 ^Foreigners trying to_ show off their knowledge of the language
1630E21 often make asses of themselves. ^There was an English executive
1640E21 who, when he found that his bed had a very thin mattress, asked the hotel
1650E21 manager for a *7matelot. ^The word, though it sounds like the
1660E21 French equivalent of a mattress, in fact means a sailor. ^When the
1670E21 manager explained that *7matelots were only available in seaports, the
1680E21 Englishman told him, 'In my bed in England, I have two *7matelots.'
1690E21 ^The astonished manager exclaimed, 'My god! *8Quell nation
1700E21 maritime!'*9 $^Another word on which the English frequently come to
1710E21 grief is cabinet, which in French refers to a lavatory. ^Hence the
1720E21 amusement resulting from a Minister of State boasting: '^For the
1730E21 last three years I have been in the Cabinet!' ^Then there is the
1740E21 famous *8faux pas*9 ascribed to Winston Churchill. ^He was talking
1750E21 his past life being divided into two epochs-- \0viz, that_ of the journalist
1760E21 and that_ of the politician. ^The word he used for past was *7derriere
1770E21 which means behind or buttock: '^When I look at my behind, I
1780E21 see it is divided into two parts'.*#
        **[no. of words = 02002**]

        **[txt. e22**]
0010E22 **<*3GANGA SAGAR TO GOMUKH*0**> $^The Airbus dropped us at Calcutta
0020E22 Airport sharp at 8.40 \0a.m. ^*Ed was, as usual, surrounded by
0030E22 the photographers and airport authorities. ^The Department of Tourism
0040E22 had arranged to_ transport us in a mini-bus from the Airport to
0050E22 the Five Star Hotel in the posh area of Calcutta. ^The lobby of
0060E22 the hotel was in total darkness due to a power failure. ^By candle-light
0070E22 we filled up our entry forms. ^We had to_ literally search for our
0080E22 rooms like hunting for hidden treasure in the dark. ^It was here,
0090E22 during my stay, that I had an irritating experience with the waiters.
0100E22 ^Each time they entered the room, they expected a tip, even when
0110E22 they used to_ bring bed tea in the morning. ^Other members were also
0120E22 disturbed by this attitude. ^Arrival day in Calcutta was spent by
0130E22 all in last minute purchases of requirements for the expedition. ^That_
0140E22 evening, we were all told to_ meet next day at 9 \0a.m. in Ed*'s
0150E22 room for general briefing, discussion and suggestions. $20.8.77 $^Our
0160E22 crowd gathered sharp at 9 \0a.m. in Ed*'s room. ^The floor was
0170E22 given to Max. ^The first precaution he asked all of us to_ take was--
0180E22 "Always drink boiled water". ^In case of difficulty in boiling,
0190E22 he distributed some tablets for water purification. ^He gave us all
0200E22 a four weeks course of malaria tablets. ^My first assignment was to_
0210E22 purchase mosquito nets for all. ^*Max requested all members to_ approach
0220E22 him for medical help without any hesitation. ^A telephone bell
0230E22 in Ed*'s room started ringing every minute during our discussion. ^It
0240E22 was from various organisations and individuals in Calcutta, requesting
0250E22 appointments and asking for interviews with Ed and Party. ^The
0260E22 task of polite refusal was well taken over by \0BB with a cyclostyled
0270E22 answer in negative. ^He faced some difficulty only when an insisting
0280E22 feminine voice was on the line! ^*Pema and Mingma who had
0290E22 come from Nepal, joined us here. $21.8.77 $^Next day again, a meeting
0300E22 took place at 9 \0a.m. and we were told to_ take minimum clothes
0310E22 for our journey to Haldia, Ganga Sagar and Sunderbans. ^Torches
0320E22 were distributed. ^Evening was well spent at the residence of Desmond
0330E22 Doig where we had dinner. ^His house-cum-museum kept all of us
0340E22 very absorbed in books, records and curios. $22.8.77 $^At 7 sharp in
0350E22 the morning, Ed came down from his room with heavy luggage on his
0360E22 shoulders followed by all the expedition members. ^The porters of the
0370E22 Five Star Hotel were a bit disturbed by this unbelievable sight.
0380E22 ^The bus was loaded with members and luggage, and departure to Haldia
0390E22 took place as per schedule. ^The journey on a country road was
0400E22 very bumpy but it gave us a nice country view, allowing us to_ click
0410E22 our cameras here and there. ^On the way to Haldia we were surprised
0420E22 to_ find some banners welcoming "^Ocean to Sky" expedition members.
0430E22 ^On reaching Haldia, we were eager to see crates of three Hamilton
0440E22 jet boats which were brought by \0S.C.I.*'s *(0M.V.*) VISHVA
0450E22 VIKAS from Lyttleton, New Zealand to Haldia Port. ^The intact
0460E22 look of the three crates was the most pleasing sight to all of us.
0470E22 $23.8.77 $^We hurried for our breakfast and then to Haldia Dock.
0480E22 ^By this time one crate was unpacked and we saw our spick and span
0490E22 Ganga boat. ^Immediately Dingle started painting the Lord Shiva
0500E22 and Ganga coming out of his '*4Jata' (^Cluster of hair on his head).
0510E22 ^On the second boat, Air India, he painted the famous Maharaja
0520E22 who by now has gained the age of 45 years, and on the third boat, the
0530E22 Kiwi, the national bird of New Zealand. $^These were the three
0540E22 fibre glass hydro-jet boats invented by a New Zealand farmer, Sir
0550E22 William, father of Jon Hamilton. ^These boats are now used in many
0560E22 parts of the world. ^The top speed of these boats is 72 \0km per
0570E22 hour with the range of 260 \0km with full tank of petrol. ^Each boat
0580E22 is 5.27 metres long, 2.6 metres wide and weighs 3630 \0kg. ^Each will
0590E22 carry 5 expedition members and their light-weight belongings. ^The
0600E22 most important feature of these boats is that they can run even
0610E22 in a very shallow draught of 10 \0cm. $^The first boat to_ fill its belly
0620E22 tank was Ganga. ^The Indian Oil, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation
0630E22 and Bharat Petroleum Corporation had jointly made special
0640E22 arrangements for refuelling the three jet boats at more than 20 locations,
0650E22 rightfrom Haldia in West Bengal to Joshimath in \0U.P. ^At
0660E22 some places the arrangements were made by rolling barrels to the river
0670E22 side, special refuelling equipment and all through maintaining
0680E22 the quality of petrol. ^The average fuelling was 600 to 700 litres
0690E22 at each location, besides lubricating oils and kerosene (for cooking
0700E22 and night lamps). \0^*I.O.C. also supplied a newly developed Nutan
0710E22 wickstove for cooking. $^Significantly, Ganga was the first to_
0720E22 be lowered in the water for the first trial run followed by Air India
0730E22 and Kiwi. *(0^*B.G.*) was fortunate to_ get first ride on Ganga.
0740E22 ^Each one of us was working very hard. ^It was here that I felt
0750E22 it is high time that we learnt as a nation the dignity of labour.
0760E22 $^In the evening, Ed and party were invited for a cup of tea by
0770E22 \0Mr. Hemavati Nandan Bahuguna, Central Minister, who was at
0780E22 that_ time in Haldia. ^He said that he was very happy to_ know that
0790E22 the expedition was culminating at his birth-place, Garhwal. ^He
0800E22 also complimented Ed, saying "^Age is helping you look younger and
0810E22 younger". $24.8.77 $^It was a fine morning with a light drizzle, a good
0820E22 omen. ^Today marks our departure to Ganga Sagar, where Ganga
0830E22 merges with the ocean. ^*Jim (Cultural Adviser to this expedition,
0840E22 \0Ph.D. from Banaras Hindu University, his subject was Indian
0850E22 philosophy which he was teaching in New Zealand) had planned this
0860E22 occasion. ^He purchased at Calcutta a copper pot, three coconuts,
0870E22 scented sticks, flowers and garlands. ^On reaching Ganga Sagar Island,
0880E22 Jim, mike and I went to the main temple and contacted the old priest
0890E22 (in his 80*'3s) from Bihar, who has settled here for the last 20
0900E22 years. ^*Jim requested his blessing at the '*4puja' of the three boats
0910E22 for the success of the expedition. ^In the meantime, Mike Gill
0920E22 photographed the temple and the deity of Ganga and King Bhagirath
0930E22 who brought Ganga from heaven to earth. ^The priest informed Jim
0940E22 that he would do the job to their satisfaction. ^The priest came to
0950E22 the shore with a grinding-stone for sandalwood paste, a small temple-bell
0960E22 and a copper-pot full of water. ^After applying sandalwood paste
0970E22 on the three boats, he offered flowers and started chanting *4Vedic
0980E22 hymns. ^He was doing his job sincerely which took all of us in that_
0990E22 holy mood. ^He applied the sandalwood paste and *4Tika on the forehead
1000E22 of Ed, Jim and others and broke coconuts on 3 boats. ^*Jim
1010E22 asked me as to how much we should pay him. ^*I informed him that in
1020E22 the normal course, we would pay him for this job about 21 *4rupees as
1030E22 *4Dakshina. ^*Ed took out a hundred *4rupee note and offered it to
1040E22 the Priest. ^The old priest then started chanting *4Vedic hymns in
1050E22 a louder tone and blessing each one of us! ^*Jim collected water from
1060E22 Ganga Sagar in a copper-pot which he was to_ pour on climbing Narparbat
1070E22 at Badrinath-- symbolic success of expedition. ^We were astonished
1080E22 at the importance of these Hindu rituals for Jim. $^*Mike Dillon
1090E22 and Waker were busy in filming the entire sequence. ^Our return
1100E22 to Haldia was through the heavy tidal waves which were manoeuvred
1110E22 with great difficulty by Jim, Jon and Mike, the three expert drivers
1120E22 of the jet boat. ^With this first tough experience we reached
1130E22 Haldia safely for our night*'s rest. $25.8.77 $^The three jet boats
1140E22 were checked and refuelled and after our lunch we left for Namkhana,
1150E22 check Post for Sunderbans. ^We were given a lively send-off by
1160E22 the young boys and girls of Haldia High School. $^A crowd of about
1170E22 30,000 people, waiting for the last four hours, greeted us at Namkhana
1180E22 with thundering claps and repeated slogans-- "HILLARY
1190E22 *4SAHEB *4JINDABAD" (Long Live Hillary). ^All this was an unbelievable
1200E22 sight for the New Zealanders who come from a country of
1210E22 barely three millions. ^As the people were coming in their country-craft
1220E22 near our boats, we were hijacked in three Forest department
1230E22 launches waiting for us-- Bonoshree, Bonoshobha, Bono Loke-- and
1240E22 taken away from Namkhana. $^On the Forest \0Dept. launch, we
1250E22 were served with hot onion *4bajia and tea. ^The taste here was any
1260E22 day better than that_ at the Five Star Hotel in Calcutta. ^Late
1270E22 at night we were shifted to a big Forest launch-- Easter-- where
1280E22 our sleeping arrangements were made. ^We were dead tired and slept wherever
1290E22 we found a place to_ spread the foam rubber mattresses, 2*"
1300E22 thick and 6 1/2*" long, provided to all expedition members. $26.8.77
1310E22 $^At first light, we got up. ^We were in lush green surroundings with
1320E22 backwaters here and there. ^We were in the Sunderbans, the habitat
1330E22 of the Royal Bengal Tiger. ^Probably this is the only place in
1340E22 over-populated West Bengal where human habitation is subservient to
1350E22 wild life. ^Though the weather was sultry, it was peaceful all around
1360E22 us. $^Even our whispers appeared to_ be disturbing the silence
1370E22 of the Sunderbans. ^We were enjoying a ride in our three boats in search
1380E22 of tigers, crocodiles and deer. $^We were all in our half pants
1390E22 and sport shirts, our movements on ground being in muddy water. ^It
1400E22 was a job for the film crew to_ keep the equipment safe and capture
1410E22 whatever was going around. ^*Mike Dillon had a tough time. ^Whenever
1420E22 we used to_ get down on marshy land for filming we were covered
1430E22 by the forest guards with guns in case a Royal Bengal Tiger pounced
1440E22 on us! ^*Commander Minocha from Calcutta Port Trust was the
1450E22 best guide for our jet boats, from Haldia to Ganga Sagar and in
1460E22 Sunderbans. $^During the morning hours of low tide we moved inside
1470E22 the jungles and during high tide, afternoon, we were almost touching
1480E22 the tips of submerged jungle trees. ^All of us were warned by the
1490E22 forest authorities to_ be watchful, as during high tide tigers hide
1500E22 themselves in the trees. ^At two places Jon with Ed in Air India
1510E22 did some hair-splitting acrobatics of driving their jet-boats through
1520E22 the marshy land and water at full speed. ^We, the film crew, were
1530E22 the happiest to_ caputure this event. ^We also had a wonderful
1540E22 time at Sujankali Bird sanctuary. ^All the cameras were out. ^We did
1550E22 see some deer but no tigers. ^At sunset we anchored our forest launches,
1560E22 surrounded by dark green jungle, muddy backwaters and a sky
1570E22 full of stars. ^After our dinner in the forest launch, we slept. ^A
1580E22 Bengali folksong was coming soothingly from the launch*'s cooking
1590E22 cabin. ^This helped us in dozing off early. $27.8.77 $^After our breakfast
1600E22 in the launch, we moved towards the deeper jungle desperately
1610E22 in search of Royal Bengal Tigers. ^The more we heard from the Forest
1620E22 authorities about the behaviour of the tigers in becoming man-eaters,
1630E22 their mating season, their swimming feats and hiding on trees,
1640E22 \0etc., the more eager we were to_ see them. $^At last, the Forest
1650E22 Officer brought some 10*" x 12*" enlarged photographs from inside
1660E22 the Forest launch*'s cabin and started showing them to us. ^It seemed
1670E22 we had to_ be satisfied with mere photographs of the Royal Bengal
1680E22 Tiger as by this time we doubted the very existence of tiger in
1690E22 the jungle. ^All of a sudden, \0BB (Major \0B. Bhatia) shouted,
1700E22 "^See there is a cat-like animal swimming across the river". ^This
1710E22 was at a distance of about 300 yards from our launches. ^One of the
1720E22 men in the forest launch shouted in Bengali-- "It is a tiger".
1730E22 ^With lightning speed, we all jumped in whatever jet boats we could
1740E22 capture and rushed towards that_ swimming tiger with our cameras.*#
        **[no. of words = 02008**]

        **[txt. e23**]
0010E23 **<*3Sikkim $The land of mist and *7chhang**> $^If you decide to_ make
0020E23 an unplanned dash to sikkim in the middle of the holidays, a time
0030E23 must come when you are staring at a booking-clerk in Siliguri, and
0040E23 repeating in a kind of stupor, "No buses to Gangtok?" ^In the end
0050E23 he concedes that there is a private bus which you may just be able to_
0060E23 catch. ^You grab your bags and race to the bus-stop in a rickshaw,
0070E23 trying to_ say *4jaldi, *4jaldi in a Bengali accent. ^It is nine in
0080E23 the morning . ^The *4rickshaw driver deposits you on the pavement, informs
0090E23 you that the bus will arrive by four, and leaves. $^So that_ first
0100E23 day of the trip looked like being a grim one for Zai and myself. ^We
0110E23 were rescued by a kindly Sikkimese family across the road, who ran
0120E23 a small bar. ^They pressed us to_ wait inside till the afternoon,
0130E23 and when the bus finally came, the head of the family took it upon himself
0140E23 to_ persuade the driver that he had, unbeknown to himself, plenty
0150E23 of room. ^Being emancipated young women who believe in self-help,
0160E23 we left it all to him and clambered in, shouting to the street in general
0170E23 not to_ forget our luggage. $^It was when the drive to Gangtok
0180E23 started that it began to_ seem a good idea to_ have come. ^Almost
0190E23 from Siliguri on, the winding *4Ghat road follows the Teesta river,
0200E23 which is a wide, joyful green, and foamy on the pebble-smooth rocks.
0210E23 ^It is flanked by sandbanks, and the sides of the mountain which rise
0220E23 steeply from either side are thick with vegetation. ^A prominent
0230E23 plant is *7Pandanus, which so immediately invests any area with tropical
0240E23 ferocity. ^Pied and White-breasted Kingfishers testified that
0250E23 the Teesta was a well-endowed river, and a Grackie flying into the
0260E23 forest was an assurance that proper hill country had begun. ^We*'d already
0270E23 got used to seeing bamboo huts built on stilts, common in the neighbourhood
0280E23 of the river. ^Files of brown-clad Sikkimese woodcutters,
0290E23 each one armed with an umbrella, looked as foreign as anybody could
0300E23 want. $^Inside the bus, a well-dressed young man suddenly took up a leather
0310E23 bag and turned into the bus conductor. ^The driver himself looked
0320E23 more like a disc jockey. ^This was our first experience of a common
0330E23 Sikkimese phenomenon-- that people in most stations of life are surprisingly
0340E23 well dressed, and for the younger ones denim suits and wind-cheaters
0350E23 are the swanky norm. $^When the bus stopped for a tea-break at
0360E23 about 7 \0p.m. in a small mountain village, I noticed a sight that_
0370E23 was to_ become familiar-- a stall selling "Sikkim Supreme," juice
0380E23 made from the country*'s renowned export oranges. Sikkimese themselves
0390E23 believe in millet beer, or *7Chhang but orange juice is good enough
0400E23 for foreigners. $^*Gangtok at 9 \0p.m. was highly romantic, a succession
0410E23 of misty lights in the hills, everything smelling of rain. ^The
0420E23 bus driver dropped us at a small hotel, after evincing from us that we
0430E23 knew no one in Gangtok, and no, we didn*'4t know of any hotel, and
0440E23 that_*'1s right, it would have to_ be cheap, and could be, er....? $^But
0450E23 Green*'s hotel was reassuring, like any little hotel in a hill
0460E23 station-- bottles of biscuits and candy on the counter, small bamboo cubicles
0470E23 for an eatery, and rooms upstairs. ^We were glad to_ see that once
0480E23 again, it was run by a family. ^The proprietress was dressed in the
0490E23 traditional costume of a thick black pinafore-like dress reaching the ankles,
0500E23 with a long-sleeved silk blouse underneath. ^When we struggled
0510E23 to a cubicle for dinner, we found that both Chinese and Indian food
0520E23 was available. ^Not good enough for intrepid tourists like us. ^We launched
0530E23 an agitation demanding "real Sikkimese" cooking, till the harassed
0540E23 waiter produced a plate of something called "*7mosos", rather like
0550E23 unfried *4samosas containing mutton strongly flavoured with garlic.
0560E23 ^This was the closest we could get to sampling local food, barring
0570E23 a dish called "*7Cho-cho" (*7Chow-chow?) made with noodles and eggs.
0580E23 ^The staple food of the poorer Sikkimese seems to_ be very similar
0590E23 to simple Indian food- rice, dal, and curried meat-- the Sikkimese
0600E23 are strictly non-vegetarian. ^Variations are produced by local grasses
0610E23 and bamboo shoots. $^Our main ambition during this trip was to_ do some
0620E23 trekking, if possible in North Sikkim. ^This is still known for its
0630E23 unspoilt *7fauna and its profusion of flowering rhododendrons. ^Our
0640E23 first task, therefore, was to_ discover the best trekking routes and
0650E23 the possibility of finding coolies. ^So it seemed a godsend to_ see
0660E23 a printed board in our hotel. "^For all trekking arrangements, contact
0670E23 Yak and Yeti travel agency". ^Who could resist a name like that_?
0680E23 ^We followed the trail to_ find Yak and Yeti in a hotel room behind
0690E23 a large empty desk, busily engaged in sitting. ^In reply to our enquiry
0700E23 he said that we could go to North Sikkim, but it would be expensive,
0710E23 and he would have the details ready in the afternoon. ^The detail
0720E23 that_ he had ready in the afternoon was that it was "too difficult
0730E23 to_ go". ^We left his portals in grim silence. ^However, during a
0740E23 visit to the tourist office we were told that there was good trekking
0750E23 in Western Sikkim, and that if we went first to Singtam we would
0760E23 find coolies by the hundred. $^Meantime we spent the day enjoying Gangtok,
0770E23 which is like a cleaner, smaller, and less crowded version of
0780E23 Darjeeling, with the occasional Chinese roof for local colour. ^One
0790E23 of its most charming features was that all along the road hung wire baskets
0800E23 containing flowering annuals-- *7petunias, *7nasturtiums and *7phlox.
0810E23 ^A small house with a red Chinese roof proclaimed itself the Sikkim
0820E23 Legislative Assembly. ^The Chogyal*'s palace is some distance away,
0830E23 and the general public is not encouraged to_ visit it. ^The centre
0840E23 of the town consists of a row of jeeps and Land Rovers, the transport
0850E23 of the region. ^Around this an animated public life takes place,
0860E23 but it is nothing like as noisy as a comparable Indian town. ^The
0870E23 hill people have naturally soft and muffled voices, and Nepali-- the
0880E23 :ain language-- seems to_ be most congenially uttered in a fast,
0890E23 perpetual mumble. ^It sounds very much like Hindi spoken with a bad
0900E23 accent. ^Indeed Nepalis seem to_ constitute a majority of the local
0910E23 residents, and the Nepali costume- *4kurta and *4jodhpurs, with a
0920E23 tall cap-- was a common sight. ^The other local people are the Lepchas
0930E23 and the Bhutias, the Bhutia male costume being a dignified priestly
0940E23 robe, usually in black. $^The busy little *4bazar area has its own
0950E23 way of keeping in touch with world events. ^At the main corner stands
0960E23 a little blackboard on which newspaper headlines for the day are chalked
0970E23 out, saving everybody a lot of trouble. ^On the day we were there,
0980E23 the message read: 1. Renewed trouble in Pakistan 2, \0CFD May
0990E23 Join Janata. ^And that_ was that_. $^Since it was Saturday,
1000E23 the schools shut at noon, and we saw two or three different kinds of
1010E23 school uniforms all over Gangtok. ^The children who go to the Tashi
1020E23 Namgyal Academy (started by the Chogyal*'s American wife) are
1030E23 dressed in blazers and striped ties. ^Many of them were returning home
1040E23 in private jeeps. ^There were other groups of apple-cheeked children,
1050E23 barefoot, in ragged white shirts and black shorts. ^These belonged
1060E23 to the Government School. ^Later we met a Sikkimese girl, a graduate
1070E23 of Delhi University, who taught English there, and said that
1080E23 the first-generation students were rumbustious but enthusiastic. ^And
1090E23 finally, just outside Gangtok, we met a group of village children--
1100E23 they looked like Japanese dolls-- who carried slates and satchels but
1110E23 wore no uniform. ^This seemed to_ bear out what we had heard, that
1120E23 even the poorest children in Sikkim go to school. ^The small girls
1130E23 were all in trousers, like little Chinawomen. ^It appeared that they
1140E23 had been learning their English to some purpose. ^After much staring,
1150E23 giggling, and blushing, the leader of the little group raced
1160E23 up, shouted "^What is your nomm?", and scuttled back, the hero of the
1170E23 side. $^In the evening a thunderous downpour brought darkness at
1180E23 about 5.30 \0p.m. but this didn*'4t deter us from a visit to Lall Market,
1190E23 which is just below the main street and is reached by a series of
1200E23 stone steps. ^The shops in Lall Market are full of mysteriously foreign
1210E23 items, and it is as well not to_ enquire into their history.
1220E23 ^As far as we could see, several shops prided themselves on being
1230E23 "The Foreign Shop". $^The next morning our great trek was to_ begin.
1240E23 ^We took the bus to Singtam, as directed, and looked expectantly
1250E23 round for a million porters to_ materialise. ^They didn*'4t. ^When at
1260E23 length a misgudided coolie appeared to_ remove our backpacks from the
1270E23 bus, he found himself being furiously persuaded to_ carry the packs
1280E23 for three days. (^This would take us up to Namchi in the South).
1290E23 ^Whereupon the whole of Singtam*'s main street crowded round to_
1300E23 explain that there was a bus to Namchi, and to_ fall silent in varying
1310E23 degrees of incredulity when we repeated that we didn*'4t want
1320E23 the bus, we wanted to_ walk. ^After being cajoled for half an hour
1330E23 the coolie unhappily agreed to_ carry our packs for \0Rs. 20 a day.
1340E23 ^We told him to_ return in twenty minutes and adjourned to a tea-shop.
1350E23 ^An hour later we were tramping up and down the road, looking
1360E23 for the mislaid coolie. ^The owner of the tea-shop followed us. "^It
1370E23 is no use. ^He has run far away", he said sadly. ^Signal for Conference
1380E23 \0No. 2, this time attended by the entire village. ^There was
1390E23 a great deal of delighted Nepali at our expense, and enough English
1400E23 to_ convey, in the nicest way, what Singtam in general thought
1410E23 of the two agitated Moddoms... in short, we stuck to the bus from
1420E23 then on. $^Sitting in front of a bus on a kerosene tin, and hanging on
1430E23 to the gearbox with a feverish hand, is not the best of positions for
1440E23 observing the countryside. ^But seen from any angle, much of the scenery
1450E23 was striking. ^Steep gorges fell to the Teesta, and often the
1460E23 bus, at the very edge of a precipice, would appear to_ be going over
1470E23 nothing except a path of pebbles. ^Some parts of the hills were
1480E23 clothed in thick silent forest, but over large areas it was clear that
1490E23 Sikkim has been subjected to the same heartbreaking deforestation
1500E23 as the plains. ^Too many of the forested hillsides are under eucalyptus,
1510E23 with no hint of native species. ^In the thinner areas, slopes
1520E23 that_ are not completely bald are under terrace cultivation-- paddy,
1530E23 millet and maize. ^Cardamom plants grow freely, and some of the cardamom
1540E23 we ate there was the largest and most delicious we had ever tasted.
1550E23 ^Our desire to_ see yaks turned out to_ be a foolish one, but
1560E23 one of our co-passengers did offer us *7chhoorpi which are cubes of
1570E23 dried yak*'s milk, and are eaten like supari. ^We heard that these
1580E23 cubes are worn round their necks in a necklace till required. $^After a
1590E23 night in Namchi we went to Jorthang, a beautiful village on the
1600E23 Rangeet River, a tributary of the Teesta. ^On the other side of the
1610E23 river West Bengal begins, and eleven miles uphill from Jorthang
1620E23 is Darjeeling. ^We then went to Geyshing in the north-west, which
1630E23 appeared to_ be a village of cloth-shops. ^A few miles north was our
1640E23 destination, Pemayentse, accessible only by jeep. $^*Pemayentse is a non-place
1650E23 at about 7,000 feet. ^Forest around it was the best we saw anywhere
1660E23 in Sikkim, although a full-scale felling operation was under way.
1670E23 ^The brilliant blue-green Verditer Flycatchers are as common as
1680E23 cows are in the plains, and Chestnut-bellied Rockthrushes, Grey-winged
1690E23 Blackbirds, Scarlet Minivets, Himalayan Tree-Pies, and Fairy
1700E23 Blue Birds came close on their heels. ^On a clear morning, looking
1710E23 north-west, the entire Kanchenjunga range is visible, appealingly
1720E23 white and shiny.*#
        **[no. of words = 02003**]

        **[txt. e24**]
0010E24 **<*3LEATHER GARMENTS GO ABROAD*0**> $^*India*'s entry into the high
0020E24 fashion world of Europe last month, was the culmination of a tradition
0030E24 in leather which goes as far back as 3,000 \0B.C. as feather-light
0040E24 costumes of suede in breathtaking colours and designs were exposed to
0050E24 the fashion world of Italy, the press hailed the event with headlines
0060E24 like, "The birth of a star in the fashion galaxy" and "India makes
0070E24 exotic overtures to Italy*'s fashion." $^It was the materialisation
0080E24 of a dream which an intrepid Italian designer settled in the \0U.S.A.
0090E24 \0Dr. Gino Grande, had pursued with determination. ^For two
0100E24 years he had braved disappointments and red tape in the faith that his
0110E24 vision could be realised only through the agency of Indian craftsmen.
0120E24 ^It took him some time to_ convince the State Trading Corporation
0130E24 of India (\0S.T.C.), which handles a major part of the country*'s
0140E24 leather trade, of the scheme*'s potential. ^But once the initial
0150E24 reservations were overcome, a deal was struck in 1976 and the project
0160E24 got off to a start. ^However, with the change of government in 1977,
0170E24 work was stalled and it was the timely intervention of \0Mr. Morarji
0180E24 Desai, which put it back on the rails. ^The Di Grande-\0S.T.C.
0190E24 courtship with Indian craft was on the road to success. $^To_ begin
0200E24 with, the \0S.T.C. contracted four young Indian designers, Asha
0210E24 Gupta, Jaya Jaitley, Sita Nanda and Ruby Pal Chowdhry, who teamed
0220E24 with an equal number of Italian designers Laura Brioni, Litrico,
0230E24 Pucci and Vanozzi. ^The eight pooled their skills on how best to_
0240E24 exploit the the dormant talent of Indian craftsmen. ^Seventy-five
0250E24 designs were initially provided by Di Grande, but the eight were free
0260E24 to_ adapt then to native designs to_ substantiate the adage that
0270E24 "fashion lies in timeless handicraft tempered to contemporary fads and tastes."
0280E24 ^The designers went into the interior of villages, taking hundreds
0290E24 of photographs of native dresses. ^Finally what emerged after
0300E24 months of activity was a 'union style', a combination of the loose
0310E24 pants and *4chooridars, the long cape and the *4kurta or *4angarkha,
0320E24 and the Indian *4bandi jacket and the blouse. $^When the first set
0330E24 of dresses were ready, Di Grande flew to Rome to_ show them to
0340E24 those who still doubted Indian skill. ^*Italian fashion lords were flabbergasted.
0350E24 ^*Pucci and Gucci, the prestigious jetsetters of Italian
0360E24 couture, offered to_ lend their name to the sales. ^Encouraged by the
0370E24 response, the project culminated in a breathtaking display of 200
0380E24 suede costumes in 55 luxurious colours on the premises of the Indian
0390E24 Embassy in Rome under the aegis of our new ambassador, \0Mr. *(0A.
0400E24 K.*) Damodaran. ^It was preceded by a 'closed' preview at the
0410E24 India International Centre in Delhi. ^About 20 models, 15 girls
0420E24 and five men, from India and Italy moved on and off the stage with
0430E24 the grace of ballet dancers, to taped Indian instrumental music.
0440E24 $^That colour is India*'s speciality, needed no further evidence after
0450E24 the display of exotic combinations of emerald green and beige, black
0460E24 and fawn, violet and silver grey, midnight blue and burgundy
0470E24 and many out-of-the-world shades. ^*Indian suede, already known for being
0480E24 the softest in the world, seemed to_ have acquired an ethereal
0490E24 quality. ^Rustic touches of quilting, weaving, smocking and cording on
0500E24 loose and casual tunics, blouses and jackets provided stunning effects.
0510E24 ^For men too, there were, among other dresses, casual jeans and
0520E24 loose jackets. $^*Italians were convinced that India was not just silk
0530E24 and spices, and that the hands which produced cotton garments for
0540E24 as cheap as *-4, could also turn out high fashion outfits costing from
0550E24 *-150 to *-300. ^*Gina Lolobrigida, famed Italian actress, combined
0560E24 the general feeling of rapture and dismay when she said, "If this
0570E24 is what India can do, I am afraid we shall soon be replaced." ^The
0580E24 \0S.T.C. plans to_ take the show to New York in the first week
0590E24 of September. $"^But this is not a revolution," asserts \0Mr. *(0A.
0600E24 K.*) Sen, \0S.T.C.*'s energetic, chief marketing manager for leather.
0610E24 "^It*'1s only a breakthrough." ^And right he is. ^*Indian history
0620E24 from the earliest times has accounts of the use of leather in diverse
0630E24 forms. ^Portraits of kings like Kanishka, Babur and Akbar, to_ name a
0640E24 few, dressed in leather tunic, leather armour and long boots, give evidence
0650E24 of the high level of achievement in tanning and stitching that_
0660E24 existed in India even in those times. ^As early as 1950, India
0670E24 was the world*'s largest exporter of semi-processed leather. ^And in
0680E24 1972, realising the importance of protecting local craftsmen, India
0690E24 decided to_ place hides and skins exports under quota restriction,
0700E24 and to_ promote export of semi-processed leather. ^So far, the items
0710E24 exported had been footwear, shoe uppers, and fancy items like handbags
0720E24 and wallets. ^In 1977-78, India exported leather goods worth \0Rs.
0730E24 150 *4crores. $^According to \0Mr. Sen, the main objectives of the
0740E24 project were: first, the creation of additional employment opportunities
0750E24 in the small-scale sector; second, exposure of our craftsmen
0760E24 to foreign ideas, and most important, promotion of Indian design talent
0770E24 so as to_ make the industry independent of foreign designers. ^However,
0780E24 it is felt that because of the high cost of production and the
0790E24 limited clientele, the project may not be able to_ achieve all the
0800E24 desired results. ^But one thing it has assuredly done: it has opened
0810E24 new vistas for India*'s fast expanding garments industry.
0810E24 $**<*3Kolhapuri *4Chappals*0**> $^In America,
0820E24 when Lillian Carter wanted Kolhapuri *4chappals, she unwittingly
0830E24 created a controversy because it was our Indian ambassador who stooped
0840E24 down to_ get her measurement. ^Although there are two opinions
0850E24 as to whether he should have stooped or not, the popularity of the *4chappals
0860E24 is beyond controversy. ^They have a wide variety of styles and
0870E24 designs and while traditional types have not lost their grip on
0880E24 the market, the fancy ones have become equally popular. ^The *4chappal
0890E24 manufacturing industry at Kolhapur is mainly in the hands of poor
0900E24 artisans who have a hereditary business and have been in the trade since
0910E24 the time of their forefathers. ^But \0Mr. Vishnu Ganesh Abhyankar,
0920E24 a *4Konkanastha brahmin accepted the challenge to_ enter a line
0930E24 traditionally taboo to brahmins and, despite handicaps, has met with
0940E24 success. $^The story of \0Mr. Abhyankar*'s career is one of hardships
0950E24 and an indefatigable zeal and determination to_ overcome them. ^In
0960E24 his school days, he earned money by selling newspapers and vegetables.
0970E24 ^He worked as a waiter in a hotel at Ratnagiri, and was severely
0980E24 criticised by his relatives, who considered the job as undignified. ^Being
0990E24 frustrated by hardships at Ratnagiri, he left the place and came
1000E24 to Pune where he started selling lemons and vegetables. ^The elite at
1010E24 Pune also ridiculed his attempts at self-reliance and his refusal
1020E24 to_ adapt himself to the conventional life of a white collar worker.
1030E24 ^He therefore left Pune for Nagpur and after a few small jobs there,
1040E24 he entered a technical institute at Vilaspur in Madhya Pradesh
1050E24 where he studied the leather industry. ^At Madras, he took advanced
1060E24 courses in leather technology with special training under the able guidance
1070E24 of German experts, which enabled him to_ master both the
1090E24 technical and managerial skill required for success in business. $^*Kolhapur
1100E24 being a renowned centre, \0Mr. Abhyankar carefully surveyed the
1110E24 market situation there and decided to_ start his unit, and a small
1120E24 one named Abhyankar Footwear Company was established in 1962. \0^*Mr.
1130E24 *(0V. G.*) Abhyankar along with his wife, mother Anandibai began
1140E24 this off-beat venture of the manufacturing of fancy *4chappals of
1150E24 both plastics and leather. ^When \0Ms. Abhyankar died of jaundice,
1160E24 \0Mr. Abhyankar married Kunda, who is now actively assisting him
1170E24 in the industry. "^Vishnu left home in search of an independent career.
1180E24 ^This was a risk, but I did not mind it because it is better to_
1190E24 be self-reliant. ^When I saw that he started stitching *4chappals,
1200E24 I did not grumble, because even in this type of work, there is skill.
1210E24 I therefore participated in the work without any hesitation, along
1220E24 with my daughter in-law", says mother Anandibai speaking of her
1230E24 son*'s profession. $\0^*Mr. and \0Ms. Abhyankar have been working hard
1240E24 along with 15 workers, which includes **[sic**] a few ladies. ^During the
1250E24 last 14 years, the Abhyankar Footwear Company has gradually developed
1270E24 from the production of two to 50 pairs a day. ^Various types of *4chappals,
1280E24 both for gents and ladies, in normal and odd sizes are manufactured
1290E24 in the factory and sold in a retail shop which is visited by customers
1300E24 from south Maharashtra as well as from the Bombay Pune
1310E24 region. ^Referring to his production of *4chappals of odd sizes, \0Mr.
1320E24 Abhyankar said that the system of numbers of various sizes of *4chappals,
1330E24 currently followed, was based on British standard according
1340E24 to which the length of *4chappals was standardised. ^But when the
1350E24 size of the upper of a foot varied, modifications were needed. ^It is
1360E24 perhaps for the first time that *4chappals are being manufactured according
1370E24 to this system in the country. $^Though concentrating at present
1380E24 only on fancy *4chappals \0Mr. Abhyankar has studied the trade and
1390E24 peculiar craftsmanship of the traditional artisans at Kolhapur, where
1400E24 more than 150 cobblers with their small shops, have been manufacturing
1410E24 different types of Kolhapuri *4chappals of fine workmanship. ^Though
1420E24 their products attract a good number of customers, they are obviously
1430E24 not well off because most are being exploited by middlemen, some
1440E24 are addicted to drink and cannot maintain their families on the meagre
1460E24 income. $^According to \0Mr. Abhyankar, no systematic training
1470E24 is given in the various training courses of the leather industry and
1480E24 therefore traditional and obsolete methods are being followed in the
1490E24 manufacture of Kolhapuri *4chappals. ^The government should encourage
1500E24 small units by introducing new technology and skilled managers
1510E24 so that the quality of production will be improved and middlemen in the
1520E24 export market will also be removed.
1530E24 $**<*3*(0E.P.*) Alamelu*0**> $^The creative talent inherent in a person
1540E24 forever surges forward into unexpected areas and becomes a potent
1550E24 explorer of new and exciting mediums. ^Take the case of *(0E. P.*)
1560E24 Alamelu-- having inherited the aptitude from her father, she started
1570E24 learning painting at Kala Mandiram, Bangalore. ^By 14 she was painting
1580E24 seriously-- oils, charcoals, pencil sketches and water colours. ^A
1590E24 local exhibition inspired Alamelu to_ diversify into a new and intriguing
1600E24 dimension. ^One of the exhibits was a sketch of Lord Rama, using
1610E24 human hair. ^The idea was good, but the effect, in Alamelu*'s opinion
1620E24 rather repulsive. ^*Alamelu began to_ experiment. ^Removing the
1630E24 green, outer layer of the trunk of the banana tree she was able to_
1640E24 extricate thin strands of banana fibre, which could serve as embroidery
1650E24 threads. ^The next problem was colouring the thread. ^*Alamelu used
1660E24 the tiny fruit of the spinach plant to_ extract a fast colour dye
1670E24 in a lowing, natural purple. ^Today, she uses the basic dyeing powders
1680E24 from \0I.C.I. $^After a grounding in embroidery at the \0St.
1690E24 Theresa*'s Convent, Bangalore, Alamelu experimented for two months
1700E24 with other kinds of natural fibre like the sun hemp, sisal hemp, pinapple,
1710E24 billgeria, fishtail palm, coral hibiscus, and the palmyra. ^*Alamelu
1720E24 appears to_ be the inventor of this kind of embroidery and it
1730E24 has won her special prizes and certificates at the All India *4kadayi
1740E24 exhibition at Delhi and at the Dasara exhibition at Mysore
1750E24 in 1956. $^She is in great demand for lecture-cum-demonstrations at all
1760E24 leading women*'s clubs and organisations in Bangalore. ^Though Tamil
1770E24 is her mother tongue, Alamelu has a prolific knowledge of Hindi
1780E24 and Kannada, and she contributes articles to several magazines.
1790E24 ^She has held several 'one-woman' shows in places like the State Lalit
1800E24 Kala Akademi, the Asian Meet, and the All India Women*'s
1810E24 Conference. $^Middle aged, unmarried and very simple, Alamelu is an
1820E24 accomplished '*5veena vidwan*6' and teaches at Gana Mandiram, a
1830E24 musical institution in Bangalore. ^She has won gold medals and cash
1840E24 prizes for her outstanding performance in the *4vidvat examination
1850E24 in the *4veena, in which she obtained the first rank in Karnataka State.
1860E24 $^*Alamelu seems at her best in religious subjects, her dexterous
1870E24 fingers ably capturing the subtle nuances of expression on the faces
1880E24 of her subjects.*#
        **[no. of words = 02006**]

        **[txt. e25**]
0010E25 **<*3INDIAN EXECUTIVE THE OTHER SIDE*0**> $^The general public harbours
0020E25 an erroneous image of the Indian executives-- particularly those
0030E25 employed in foreign firms. ^They are supposed to_ be the sons of
0040E25 the senior Government officials and the members of the \0IAS,
0050E25 or the politicians in power. ^They exude over-confidence. ^They are
0060E25 endowed with plenty of showmanship. ^They look upon everything around
0070E25 them with disdain, enjoying the fruits of the labour put in by their
0080E25 subordinates, many of whom are senior in age, experience, qualifications,
0090E25 and sometimes, even in capabilities. $^Their working conditions
0100E25 are enough to_ make anyone envious. ^They sit in air-conditioned
0110E25 offices furnished with wall to wall carpets. ^And beautiful secretaries
0120E25 attend to their official and private chores. $*<*3False image*0*>
0130E25 $^Their style of living and social behaviour contribute to this
0140E25 image. ^They are more familiar with the latest developments in the
0150E25 primary elections in the United States than what is happening nearer
0160E25 home. ^Their reading is not complete unless they go through the
0170E25 latest issues of the *3Time*0 and *3Newsweek*0 from cover to cover.
0180E25 $^Their perquisites add to their exclusiveness. ^Spacious leased
0190E25 flats generous leave fares, membership of exclusive clubs, medical
0200E25 care at expensive nursing homes and late night parties set them apart
0210E25 from the others. ^Not only that_, even their training has to_ take
0220E25 place in five-star hotels, far away from the din of the work place
0230E25 and, perhaps, the realities of the work situations. $^Their wives
0240E25 exaggerate their living standards to_ build up their ego and be one
0250E25 up compared to their next door neighbours. ^Their employers prefer
0260E25 it this way because it makes them appear aristocratic. ^Permissiveness
0270E25 marks their private life. $^The executive class, as we see it today,
0280E25 came into existence during the early fifties. ^Earlier, the executive
0290E25 posts in the Indian firms were manned by the sons and relatives
0300E25 of the families that_ provided the necessary finance to these companies.
0310E25 ^In the case of foreign firms, the executive posts were filled
0320E25 almost exclusively by the expatriates. ^To_ secure the licences
0330E25 for importing material-- machines not available locally and for increasing
0340E25 capacity, or for just being on the right side of the people
0350E25 in power, the persons having the right know-how had to_ be recruited.
0360E25 $^The foreign executives were accustomed to a style of living that_
0370E25 befitted the rulers. ^When the Indians stepped in their shoes,
0380E25 even half of their emoluments and perquisites appeared very high by
0390E25 our standards. $^With the expansion of the industries and the departure
0400E25 of foreigners on account of the Government pressure, there were
0410E25 more vacancies than could be filled from the above source. ^The gates
0420E25 to this exclusive cadre were thus opened for others from the middle-class
0430E25 families with brilliant educational careers and technical qualifications.
0440E25 ^Some managed to_ secure promotion on the basis of long
0450E25 experience, professional qualfications acquired when in service
0460E25 and ability to_ deliver the goods and hard work. ^Some were just
0470E25 lucky to_ be at the right place at the right time. $^There are several
0480E25 levels in the executive hierarchy, though all executives are designated
0490E25 as the management staff. ^It is fashionable to_ call even
0500E25 the juniormost supervisor as a manager. ^The problems of each category
0510E25 are different. ^In some companies, there were as many informal grades
0520E25 in the managerial cadre as are the number of persons, if we are
0530E25 to_ go by the increments, perquisites and treatment to each executive.
0540E25 ^This article basically covers the so-called covenanted class
0550E25 or the senior management staff except the man at the very top. $^The
0560E25 executive pays a high price for this false image in the public mind.
0570E25 the other side of the medal conveys something just the opposite. ^To_
0580E25 begin with, an executive cannot do anything to_ seek redress
0590E25 against any inequity that_ he may be made to_ suffer. ^If the company
0600E25 decides to_ mistreat him, he shows a doggy willingness to_
0610E25 roll over and expose his soft underparts to the jackboot. ^To_ fight
0620E25 back, he has to_ join forces with those executives similarly placed.
0630E25 ^In the process, he would have to_ admit that he is not happily
0640E25 placed as he pretended to_ be all the while. ^It will lay bare his
0650E25 weakness. ^He would rather sacrifice his interests than hurt his ego.
0660E25 $^He pretends that he has a lot of authority. ^In fact, he has none.
0670E25 ^He is there to_ execute the policies-- orders laid down by
0680E25 his superiors rather than help formulate them. ^When he states, 'He
0690E25 is pleased...,' he really means, 'I am authorised to_ state... ^He
0700E25 is expected to_ execute dutifully the orders of his boss without
0710E25 questioning or reservations. ^Any expression of doubt would be regarded
0720E25 as insubordination or even treason. ^Failure, if any, or ill-effects
0730E25 of any policy are conveniently attributed to his failure to_ act
0740E25 effectively in time, or with sufficient will and vigour. $*<*3Multiple
0750E25 loyalties*0*> $^A complication from which he suffers all through
0760E25 is the multiple loyalties he has to_ proffer. ^He has to_ cater to
0770E25 the interest of the man at the top, his immediate boss, the company,
0780E25 the society, besides his subordinates, his family and his own self.
0790E25 ^These sometimes are in conflict with one another. ^He buys time
0800E25 by opting for the short-term gains. ^The subordination of his professional
0810E25 ethics to the wishes of his management is a rule rather than
0820E25 an exception. $^In case of the conflict of interests, he cannot protest
0830E25 against the policies and actions of his boss-- company, and still
0840E25 continue to_ work, as if nothing has happened. ^As a personnel
0850E25 manager, he may close his eyes to nepotism around, though this may
0860E25 be damaging the company*'s long-term interests. ^An accountant may
0870E25 ignore the production of goods that_ are not likely to_ be sold for
0880E25 quite some time because the product manager would like to_ have a
0890E25 month of 'record' production on the eve of a visit from his foreign
0900E25 principal. $^The quality control manager may pass goods of sub-standard
0910E25 quality because the company wants to_ exhaust such material accumulated
0920E25 over a period. ^If he was economically well-placed or sure
0930E25 of alternate employment, he would have followed his conscience. ^Backed
0940E25 by neither, he is forced to_ toe the line of his boss. $^Some
0950E25 of the big companies demand from their senior servants a degree of
0960E25 serfdom that_ has scarcely been seen since the Middle Ages. ^Except
0970E25 for the annual leave, he is expected to_ work all through the year.
0980E25 ^Unpaid overtime is taken for granted. $^A foreign pharmaceutical
0990E25 company has a permanent suite in a five-star hotel for accommodating
1000E25 its executives at night, should they miss their last transport back
1010E25 to their homes. ^Casual and sick leave is for the plebeians. ^The
1020E25 pension schemes induce increasing terror in the aging executives, in
1030E25 case they should be cut off from the pittance that_ would be available
1040E25 to them if they were allowed to_ retire in the normal course.
1050E25 $^The management makes sure that a man*'s own desperate promises made
1060E25 at the beginning of the year keep him on a treadmill that_ turns
1070E25 over faster. $^As regards a man*'s personality, every worthwhile eccentricity
1080E25 he has is dragged out and booted about by his colleagues,
1090E25 subordinates and superiors. ^To_ quote an example of serfdom, in one
1100E25 of the companies, the senior executives, along with their wives,
1110E25 were expected to_ see off and receive the chief executive whenever
1120E25 he made a trip abroad. $^The system of perquisites ensures that the
1130E25 executive is chained with golden shackles to the company. ^The relationship
1140E25 that_ is established is one which keeps the options open only
1150E25 to the employer. ^A leased flat is the surest way of tying him down.
1160E25 $^In major cities, particularly in Bombay, it is easier to_ secure
1170E25 an alternate employment than accommodation. ^Since the new employer
1180E25 may not be able to_ provide him suitable housing-- and executive,
1190E25 in the meantime, has got accustomed to living in a 'posh' locality
1200E25 and is not willing to_ move to a distant suburb-- he gets permanently
1210E25 stuck to his employer unless, of course, the management decides
1220E25 to_ get rid of him. $*<*3Keeping in debt*0*> $^Another method
1230E25 of keeping the excutive in bondage is to_ keep him permanently in
1240E25 debt. ^By the time the initial loan is over, another loan-perhaps for
1250E25 furnishing-- is offered. ^When this is over, another loan-- to_
1260E25 buy a new car this time-- is waiting for him. ^The perquisites ensure
1270E25 that he is out of pocket most of the time. ^Unless he has another
1280E25 source of income, full advantage of the perquisites cannot be taken.
1290E25 ^A spacious flat (paid for by the company) calls for substantial expenditure
1300E25 on furnishing and maintenance. ^The membership of a club is
1310E25 effective only if one is able to_ entertain others on a lavish scale.
1320E25 $^In spite of all his apparent aggressiveness, he seems to_ suffer
1330E25 from a sense of inferiority and inadequacy. ^How else can one explain
1340E25 hundreds of new books on 'how to_...' in management, which adorn
1350E25 every executive*'s bookshelf. ^The books that_ are more popular
1360E25 are those critical of every aspect of the executive life-- for instance,
1370E25 *3^The Peter Principle, Parkinson*'s Law, The naked ape,
1380E25 and Up the organisation*0. ^Quite often, these are irrelevant to the
1390E25 Indian conditions, and one can hardly practise the principles that_
1400E25 are developed at such great length in foreign books. $^More than
1410E25 anything else, a sense of insecurity dogs the executive, once he passes
1420E25 the prime of his life. ^At the first sign of economic difficulty,
1430E25 his employer comes down heavily on him. ^In some of the 'reputed'
1440E25 organisations, the senior officials rarely retire in the normal course.
1450E25 $^His climb along the managerial hierarchy is swift, particularly
1460E25 if he is a direct recruit. ^At 28, he is already a departmental
1470E25 head, and at 35, a manager. ^At 40, he is aspiring to_ be a director.
1480E25 ^He may make the grade, but more likely he will have to_ worry how
1490E25 long will he be able to_ hold on to this uncomfortable chair. $^Though
1500E25 his retirement age is 55 years (it is almost always lower than that_
1510E25 for the unionised staff), it is unlikely that he will retire and
1520E25 be entitled to his hard-earned pension. $^The young graduates from
1530E25 the \0IIMs and \0IITs are available in enough numbers to_ fill
1540E25 the vacancies, as the senior executives fall by the wayside. $^An
1550E25 executive, therefore, dreads his 40th birthday as if from that_ moment
1560E25 onwards, he will go into a moral, physical and intellectual decline
1570E25 from which nothing could rescue him. ^He is already half defeated
1580E25 long before the actual accusations are voiced that he has accumulated
1590E25 fat, ceased to_ be flexible, forgotten how to_ transmit youthful
1600E25 enthusiasm, or shows signs of failing memory and reduced decision-taking
1610E25 powers. $^He has no legal redress against the arbitrary termination
1620E25 of services, euphemistically called voluntary separation, early
1630E25 retirement, resignation for personal reasons, \0etc. ^So far, no
1640E25 organised effort has been made to_ ward off this contingency. ^Most
1650E25 of the executives succumb to these intimidatory tactics most willingly.
1660E25 ^The only feelings expressed are those of shock, indignation and
1670E25 hurt. $^The company can strike him down any time without notice and
1680E25 without assigning any cause. ^The employer is not bound to_ give
1690E25 any reason why a person who has put in 10 to 25 years of service and
1700E25 given the best part of his life to the company, has suddenly become
1710E25 unwanted. ^An executive who wanted to_ know from his employer the
1720E25 reason why he was being sacked was told not to_ be unnecessarily harsh
1730E25 on himself. ^He was not being sacked-- the post had become redundant.
1740E25 $^If need be, it is easy to_ prove anyone inefficient. ^In fact,
1750E25 according to the Peter Principle, all executives manage to_
1760E25 get promoted till they reach their level of incompetence. ^If you want
1770E25 to_ find fault with your accountant, you can ask him about the latest
1780E25 information on the \0FERA, Tandon Committee Report, gratuity
1790E25 Act, concessions offered by the last Finance Act, the extent
1800E25 and reasons for the non-moving inventory and the profitability of
1810E25 individual jobs. ^If these are not sufficient, one can always find
1820E25 some obscure payment made without proper authorisation, or paid twice
1830E25 over.*#
        **[no. of words = 02018**]

        **[txt. e26**]
0010E26 **<'*3IF ONLY THEY COULD TALK*0'**> $^*I put down the American best seller,
0020E26 *3All Creatures Great and Small*0, for the umpteenth time.
0030E26 ^And for the umpteenth time that_ ancient secret longing welled
0040E26 ferociously within. ^The nostalgia grew intense and gradually died as naturally
0050E26 as did that_ ambition long ago-- of becoming a vet. $^If
0060E26 only they could talk, I had thought they could provide about their
0070E26 widely varying lives, what we humans would have discovered about ourselves
0080E26 that_ we do not know. ^But alas! ^It is not so. ^The dumb animal
0090E26 kingdom gives no appraisals, no stirring or sad accounts of its experiences.
0100E26 $^A decade or so ago the field of veterinary science was neglected.
0110E26 ^In those days veterinarians were few and disrespected. ^They had
0120E26 no professional or social status and no real job opportunities. ^But
0130E26 time has a marvellous way of healing wounds, of giving credit where it is
0140E26 due. ^Today veterinary science graduates are in far more demand than
0150E26 the 18 or 20 colleges over the country can provide. ^And it is for
0160E26 them to_ choose from the amplitude of scope offered by universities,
0170E26 dairy, poultry and piggery farms, research institutes, firms and private
0180E26 practice. ^Says Principal *(0R.N.*) Deb of the Veterinary science
0190E26 College, Nagpur, "People have at last come to_ realise the
0200E26 immense need for trained vets. ^After all, is not man more dependent upon
0210E26 the animal kingdom than it is upon man and not just for food but even
0220E26 for things like entertainment, affection and recreation? ^And think
0230E26 of what would happen to an agriculture-based (and predominantly vegetarian)
0240E26 country like India if our animals are left absolutely uncared for?"
0250E26 $^In recent years there has been a steadily growing interest in veterinary
0260E26 science. ^For the 65 available seats at the Veterinary Science
0270E26 College, Nagpur (there were 45 only four years ago), there are about
0280E26 300 applications and admissions close at as high a percentage as
0290E26 78%. ^*Principal Deb even has to_ refuse applications from the \0U.S.
0300E26 ^Another significant phenomenon is the slow but flowering interest
0310E26 of women in this male dominated profession. ^It is not that women were offically
0320E26 barred from training as vets as they were in say forestry, but
0330E26 they restricted themselves mainly to the classical professions of teaching
0340E26 and medicine. ^Only a counted few ventured out in the last 60 years
0350E26 to_ discover what was in the field. $^*Maharashtra has the largest
0360E26 number of veterinary colleges, \0U.P. has two and the other states
0370E26 have one each. ^Bombay has the oldest college in the state with 18
0380E26 women trainees. ^*Parbhani has two women and Nagpur has four out of
0390E26 a total strength of 250. ^One of these is a junior and the rest are freshmen.
0400E26 ^*Kirti Sharan has a deep love for animals. ^She has always had
0410E26 pets and knows the pain of being mortally separated from them. ^Her
0420E26 special love and tenderness are reserved for little animals like rabbits,
0430E26 cats and dogs. ^Three years ago Kirti was the only girl in the
0440E26 college. ^She was warmly welcomed by the principal and the staff and the
0450E26 boys were good to her. ^In her studies she says, she had no difficulty.
0460E26 ^Instead the large variety of subjects (more than in medicine) and
0470E26 the variety of comparative studies in anatomy, physiology and parasitology
0480E26 made academics interesting and challenging. ^*Kirti is a gentle,
0490E26 soft-spoken girl. "^*I feel," she says, "that more women should take to
0500E26 vaterinary science. ^Their natural caring and maternal instincts make
0510E26 them better vets than men. ^But basic to becoming a good vet is a love
0520E26 for animals and a deep sense of responsibility towards our fellow creatures."
0530E26 ^A similar concern for animals inspired Lina Martin and
0540E26 Shubhangi Mandlekar. ^Tiny Lina, one would think, is the last person
0550E26 to_ go near an animal, especially a big one. ^Concerned over the fact
0560E26 that no pet survived in their home, Lina*'s mother encouraged her
0570E26 interest in this line of study. ^*Lina enjoys her course and Kirti
0580E26 assures her that size is no criterion for success as a vet! ^It is essentially
0590E26 the approach that_ matters in dealing with animals. ^Approach
0600E26 them from the left with a pat of affection and a soft word and they
0610E26 respond. $^Sudden physical contact or movement at the back of the animal
0620E26 results in kicks or lashings of the tail. ^At one time, narrates Kirti,
0630E26 she found herself in the dung channel just because a classmate,
0640E26 in a spurt of affection, suddenly patted the horse on its rump. ^The
0650E26 startled animal sent kirti on her haunches. ^Such experiences, says Kirti,
0660E26 are part and parcel of a vet*'s training. ^After all, one is dealing
0670E26 with animals and one has to_ humour their whims. ^Even an experienced
0680E26 vet like \0Dr. James Herriot, after years of work, was not surprised
0690E26 when his curiosity about the coal dealer*'s horse resulted in the
0700E26 silently irate animal picking him up by the scruff of his neck and holding
0710E26 him in mid-air. ^There he hung howling and kicking like a just-born
0720E26 babe while nonplussed spectators milled around helplessly. $^*Yvette
0730E26 Braganza is a government deputee from Goa. ^Quite outspoken and
0740E26 perspicacious, Yvette decided to_ become a vet because she didn*'4t get
0750E26 admission to medical school. ^She turned to veterinary science because
0760E26 it has more scope and one can (she thinks) establish oneself in the
0770E26 line fairly quickly. ^There is really no difference between human
0780E26 doctors and vets, she says. ^Both have been given equal status, so why
0790E26 shouldn*'4t more women take to veterinary science? ^Besides, there
0800E26 is job security. ^On graduation one gets appointed directly as a gazetted
0810E26 officer, Class *=2. ^This means a neat salary of \0Rs. 800 at
0820E26 the start. ^In all states vets are assured Class *=2 posts. ^Very recently
0830E26 Maharashtra has been brought on par with other states regarding
0840E26 the placements of vets. $"^That_*'1s where the snag is," puts in
0850E26 Kirti. "^Our women are not bold enough to_ try new fields. ^The scare
0860E26 of the unknown, ridicule of companions and fear of failure are some of
0870E26 the factors that_ deter women from entering new fields and especially
0880E26 something like veterinary science. ^*I personally would like to_
0890E26 see more women joining my line. ^There is a joy and satisfaction that_
0900E26 only animal lovers can experience. ^Also, since there are no special
0910E26 incentives for women, there is the pride that_ sheer merit is the basis
0920E26 for selection. ^Otherwise, what right have we women to_ claim equality
0930E26 with men?" $^For all the riches of the world \0Dr. James Herriot
0940E26 would not exchange his position as a vet. ^All his genial misadventures,
0950E26 abject failures, cruel accidents, bull stares, cold hard kicks,
0960E26 slammed doors, showers of abuses-- nothing deterred him. ^And so fascinating,
0970E26 so challenging is the work that_ after 30 years as a vet in
0980E26 the lovely Yorkshire dales, he still found his profession filled with
0990E26 fascination and was glad that he had not given it up for a white
1000E26 collar job. $**<*3The woman with the bison*0**> $^Ambling through the
1010E26 paddy fields of Kadaba, I was scared out of my wits to_ see a full-grown
1020E26 bison grazing in a shrubbery, just a few paces away. ^*I was about
1030E26 to_ flee when a villager appeared on the scene. "^Don*'4t be frightened,
1040E26 that_ is a tame bison," he smiled, and led me to a huge ancestral
1050E26 home belonging to the Kadaba Guttu Jain family. ^As we were entering,
1060E26 we heard the lady of the house, \0Ms. Vimalavathy Amma, calling
1070E26 out "Lakshmi" in a high tone. ^To my surprise, it was the bison again!
1080E26 ^There she came tripping merrily and stood near her mistress licking
1090E26 her hands. ^*Vimalavathy fed her a handful of coconut cake. ^The villager
1100E26 was studying me. ^Satisfied that he had brooked my curiosity, he
1110E26 bid goodbye and left me to_ feed on the details. $^*Kadaba is situated
1120E26 at a distance of 22.5 kilometres from Subrahmanya in the Dakshina
1130E26 Kannada district of Karnataka State. ^There are thick forests in
1140E26 the neighbourhood of Subrahmanya. $^In November 1972, Lakshmi,
1150E26 then a young and wounded bison calf barely 12 days old, was left behind
1160E26 by her group in the Bilinele forest. ^*Basket-weaving tribals of
1170E26 the locality, who usually visit this forest to_ collect cane, saw the
1180E26 poor calf. ^The thorns of the bamboo bush had pricked her all over.
1190E26 ^Hearing her crying in pain and hunger some of the tribals took pity
1200E26 on the calf. ^Carrying her out of the forest they handed her to a lorry
1210E26 driver who gave her a lift, with the hope of clinching a sale. \0^*Mr.
1220E26 Dharmaraja Ariga, husband of Vimalavathy, liked the bison calf,
1230E26 tipped the driver \0Rs. 25 and brought it home. ^All this time the
1240E26 placental cord was still attached to the calf! $^*Vimalavathy, who is
1250E26 very fond of cattle, was delighted to_ see this rare calf, and although
1260E26 it was weak and wounded she made up her mind to_ adopt it. ^For
1270E26 a day or two she fed the calf hot water and milk through a feeding bottle.
1280E26 ^But that_ proved impractical, and so a young bamboo was cut
1290E26 and a special feeding bottle was fashioned. ^*Vimalavathy*'s careful
1300E26 nursing cured the wounds in a couple of weeks. ^*Lakshmi recovered and
1310E26 started consuming one and a half litres of milk thrice a day, for seven
1320E26 months. ^Then onward, her main diet was dry grass. $^Friends in the
1330E26 neighbourhood started visiting the house to_ see the bison calf. ^Many
1340E26 of them warned Vimalavathy that the calf would grow up into a ferocious
1350E26 animal and might even endanger life. ^But overcome by her affection
1360E26 she did not heed this warning. $^*Lakshmi was brought up with 34
1370E26 other cattle. ^She led and continues to_ lead the uneventful life of
1380E26 an ordinary cow. ^She is not provided with any special food. ^Perhaps
1390E26 the only difference between her and the other cattle is that she is
1400E26 getting a lot more attention. ^Occasionally she occupies an exclusive place
1410E26 in the annexe of the house. $^Now in her sixth year, Lakshmi has
1420E26 attained a height of 157 \0cm. Dark brown in colour, having the characteristic
1430E26 horns with an inward bent, she has white patches covering almost
1440E26 half the length of her legs. ^During the night she has comparatively
1450E26 better eyesight than the other cattle. $^At daybreak she goes to
1460E26 the pasture along with the other cattle and returns at dusk. ^A small
1470E26 eight-year-old girl leads her to the grazing grounds and then back home.
1480E26 ^Lakshmi is very fond of her little governess. ^*Lakshmi loves to_
1490E26 exercise her long legs, skipping over the fences or wading through the
1500E26 small ponds in her path. ^She also enjoys playing in water. ^In the
1510E26 rainy season, one can often see her lying in the muddy water for hours
1520E26 together, with the other buffaloes. ^She is attached and well adapted
1530E26 to her new environment. ^So much so that, even if she is separated
1540E26 from the other cattle for a single day, she misses them and becomes
1550E26 very restless. $^When lakshmi is back from the hills, she goes straight
1560E26 to her mistress, who provides her with a tub of water mixed with rice
1570E26 bran. ^After drinking this, she looks for the handful of dry grass
1580E26 that_ Vimalavathy gives her regularly. ^Funnily enough, if any cow has
1590E26 smelt or tasted the coconut cake that_ Vimalavathy offers her, Lakshmi
1600E26 refuses to_ accept it. ^Only after her meal does she make her way
1610E26 to her living quarters. $^*Lakshmi has not shown any ferocious nature
1620E26 so far. ^Only once, she attacked a cow which used to_ tease her
1630E26 every now and then; however, to_ be on the safe side, Lakshmi was introduced
1640E26 to a nosering. ^*Lakshmi was treated by a vet when she was attacked
1650E26 by the foot-and-mouth disease and thereafter she is wary of any city-dweller
1660E26 in trousers! ^*I confess my heart was thumping when Lakshmi
1670E26 came near me as I was taking pictures and started sniffing at my
1680E26 camera. ^*I was so relieved when she walked back slowly and with dignity.
1690E26 $^Many people are interested in Lakshmi now. ^Among these was one
1700E26 gentleman who promised to_ give a Jersey milking cow in exchange
1710E26 but Vimalavathy turned down this offer.*#
        **[no. of words = 02019**]

        **[txt. e27**]
0010E27 **<*3Practical Hints for New Entreprenuers*0**> $*<*3How to_ begin--
0020E27 Form of Business Organisation*0*> $^The person who goes into an
0030E27 industry should realise that it is not an assembly line product. ^You
0040E27 just cannot push a button at one end and the assembly line starts
0050E27 working to_ deliver the final product in the shape of an industry at
0060E27 the other. ^Careful thinking and planning are essential at every stage.
0070E27 $^What form of Business Organisation should one choose? ^This
0080E27 is the first question to_ be answered by a private entrepreneur. ^Four
0090E27 forms of business organisation are generally, availble, and the choice
0100E27 depends on the finances at one*'s command and some other considerations.
0110E27 $^If the financial requirements are limited and are within
0120E27 one*'s own means, then for a small industry, the proprietory form is
0130E27 suitable. ^Formalities here are few, but the risk element is big. ^If
0140E27 the industry goes bankrupt, the entrepreneur stands to_ lose his all.
0150E27 ^The proprietory form is suited to very small industries wherein
0160E27 their total liability is of no consequence to the entrepreneur considering
0170E27 his holding powers. ^If there is a closure, the financial loss
0180E27 would be easily absorbed by him because of his total resources. $^If
0190E27 the risks are greater and more capital is required, a partnership form
0200E27 is suitable for starting an industry. ^A partnership deed has to_
0210E27 be drawn up including provision in detail for dissolution of partnership
0220E27 or release of partners. ^This prevents misunderstandings at a
0230E27 later stage. $^The main problem with partnership firms is the likelihood
0240E27 of partners not seeing eye to eye on policy matters. ^When the firm
0250E27 earns profit, it is generally smooth sailing. ^But the crisis comes
0260E27 when the firm starts losing money. ^The differences on policy matters
0270E27 then begin to_ get reflected in operational matters . ^Arguments
0280E27 and quarrels will start on petty issues. ^No industry can run successfully
0290E27 unless there is a unified command and firm policy decisions.
0300E27 ^So the industry goes into further losses and eventually ends up in
0310E27 a failure. $^In today*'s context, partnership firms are not a desirable
0320E27 form of organisation. ^The financial requirements of industries are
0330E27 becoming progressively large in view of technological developments.
0340E27 ^Therefore, unless the capital investment is small as in the case of
0350E27 some ancillary industries, there is very little choice for the entrepreneur--
0360E27 he has to_ form a limited company. $^For most industries
0370E27 a private limited company is the best form of organisation. ^It could
0380E27 be formed subject to a maximum of 50 shareholders. ^The formalities
0390E27 required for setting up a private limited company are not many. ^A
0400E27 good lawyer can draft the memorandum and articles of association of
0410E27 the company. ^Alternatively, the company law requirements can be stated
0420E27 as applicable to that_ particular company, specifying the changes
0430E27 required in the form of a few clauses. $^In smaller places, it is difficult
0440E27 to_ get good legal advice in drafting the Memorandum of the
0450E27 company. ^One should go to a metropolitan area for such advice. $^In
0460E27 drafting the objective of the company, great care should be taken to_
0470E27 make them as broad-based as possible. ^This will allow the company
0480E27 flexibility for expansion and diversification at a future date. ^A
0490E27 private limited company helps to_ limit the personal liability of the
0500E27 sponsor and the other shareholders and, therefore, the entrepreneur
0510E27 can take greater risks than in a partnership or a proprietory firm.
0520E27 $^Secondly, it helps the entrepreneur to_ raise capital by giving
0530E27 shares to relations and friends who have confidence in his abilities.
0540E27 ^A partnership firm may also enable him to_ get monies from relations
0550E27 by taking them as partners but there are practical difficulties in
0560E27 the number of partners one could have. ^A partnership firm of more
0570E27 than 3/4 becomes unwieldy and also results in unnecessary problems. $^All
0580E27 partners have to_ get the Balance Sheet, Partnership Deed, \0etc.
0590E27 while filing their Income Tax Returns. ^This is not the case
0600E27 with private limited companies. $^The other advantage in forming a private
0610E27 limited company is that in the event of differences of opinion
0620E27 with relations, there are no difficulties as in a partnership. ^The
0640E27 structure of partnership is much more difficult. $^Floating a public
0650E27 limited company involves considerable legal and procedural work. ^The
0660E27 industrialist can use the services of the merchant banking division
0670E27 of a bank for this purpose. ^This becomes necessary when the project
0680E27 is large and finance needs to_ be raised from the public. ^This form
0690E27 of organisation is meant only for sufficiently large projects and
0700E27 experienced promoters. ^Promotional formalities are complicated and
0710E27 hence legal help is necessary. $*<*3Finance*0*> $^Raising long-term
0720E27 finance for industry requires careful study. ^Mistakes in the initial
0730E27 stages can be very expensive, if not disastrous. ^The new entrepreneur
0740E27 who risks his all cannot afford them. $^Proprietary or partnership
0750E27 firms raise funds from friends and relations, at short notice and without
0760E27 any formalities. ^Small sized units running as private limited
0770E27 companies can also do the same. ^Not that money is easy to_ be raised,
0780E27 but the formalities are few and there is considerable flexibility
0790E27 of operations in such private transactions. $^One big limitation
0800E27 in raising funds from friends and relations for small industries is
0810E27 that the quantum available will be limited which means that the industry
0820E27 will always tend to_ remain small. ^The logic of industrialisation
0830E27 is the expansion of small industries into medium ones and later growth
0840E27 into large ones. ^This necessarily involves going to the banks
0850E27 or financial institutions for long-term finance, which is not available
0860E27 to partnership firms as easily as to corporations. $^Small industries
0870E27 can raise a part of long-term finance from special institutions
0880E27 set up for the purpose, except margin money of about 20%. ^The funds
0890E27 required are given by these institutions. ^The margin money has to_
0900E27 be found by the entrepreneur himself. ^This gives him a stake in the
0910E27 successful operation of the enterprise. ^Now there is rethinking even
0920E27 on margin money. ^The entire capital may be available from the institutions
0930E27 in some cases. $^In the case of medium and large industries,
0940E27 the problem of long-term finance is more complex. ^There is considerable
0950E27 form filling in addition to preparation of detailed project reports
0960E27 and the answering of numerous queries from lending institutions.
0970E27 ^In recent years the "Convertibility Clause" has also been inserted
0980E27 which gives the financial institutions an option to_ convert 20% of
0990E27 the loan into share capital of the enterprise at a later date. ^This
1000E27 option is exercised in the case of successful units. $^In this context,
1010E27 it is worthwhile to_ consider the alternatives. ^If the financial
1020E27 institutions buy equity in new ventures later on they can sell them
1030E27 to the entrepreneur after taking a reasonable profit. ^This will also
1040E27 provide an incentive to the new entrepreneur, just as stock options
1050E27 in some other countries give an incentive to top executives in big
1060E27 companies. $^The entrepreneur can use the services of an established
1070E27 financial consultant in applying for long-term loans. ^This will minimize
1080E27 his worries as also delays. $^The entrepreneur would do well to_
1090E27 study for himself the advantages and disadvantages of long-term finance
1100E27 as applied to his own case. $^In any event, the loan should not
1110E27 be availed of at one stroke as the "taximeter" of interest begins to_
1120E27 work at an early stage. ^It is necessary to_ plan the project in
1130E27 such a way that funds, once sanctioned, are availed of in stages, as
1140E27 and when necessary. ^Banks will help with what is known as "Bridge
1150E27 Finance" for the new entrepreneur when loans sanctioned by financial
1160E27 institutions are not yet disbursed, but the entrepreneur has to_ start
1170E27 his construction work. ^The Merchant Banking Division of commercial
1180E27 banks are of great help in sorting out problems of long-term finance.
1190E27 $^An important word of caution is necessary about initial estimates
1200E27 in the light of Indian experience. ^The projected estimates should
1210E27 be on a generous scale, providing for every contingency. ^Escalation
1220E27 of costs at various stages and "over-run" are quite common features
1230E27 of many new ventures in our country. ^In the case of established groups,
1240E27 they can manage additional funds. ^*Managing Agents used to_ come
1250E27 to their rescue. ^The new entrepreneur has to_ face numerous problems
1260E27 if there is an over-run. ^Half-way changes in the size of the plant
1270E27 and machinery, already ordered, production capacity \0etc. to_ suit
1280E27 the available budget are next to impossible. ^Short-term finance presents
1290E27 equally formidable problems once the entreprise is set up. ^Such
1300E27 finance, commonly referred to as "Working Capital", can be had either
1310E27 from the public by way of deposits or loans from the banks. ^Some
1320E27 of this can also come from one*'s friends and relations. $^The new
1330E27 entrepreneur will find it very difficult to_ get deposits and loans
1340E27 from the public as he will not command public confidence in the initial
1350E27 stages; therefore his main source of working capital is the bank.
1360E27 ^Even then, he will not get his full requirements but has to_ provide
1370E27 a part of it himself. $^Some care is necessary in selecting one*'s
1380E27 bank. ^Although rates of interest and conditions of business are uniform
1390E27 throughout the banking industry (except marginal differences in
1400E27 the case of small or co-operative banks), there is considerable difference
1410E27 in the services given by different banks. ^Some banks are known
1420E27 for their good systems, helpful attitude towards small industries and
1430E27 speedy service. $^It is essential to_ operate on available working
1440E27 funds with utmost care. ^Suppliers of goods will not extend credit to
1450E27 new enterprises as they would to established ones for the same duration.
1460E27 ^The suppliers would insist on early payments if the supply line
1470E27 is to_ be maintained while the buyers would not pay immediately or
1480E27 in short time. $^The Bill Market Scheme whereby payment is ensured
1490E27 at the end of a stipulated period of 90 days is useful in regulating
1500E27 the flow of funds but many suppliers and buyers will not agree to this
1510E27 arrangement. $^Many new enterprises come to financial grief by ignoring
1520E27 one basic factor conditioning industrial activity, \0viz., the
1530E27 tide of fortune does not rise all the time. ^Every industry has periods
1540E27 of boom as well as of depressed conditions or recession. $^Therefore,
1550E27 some cushioning should be provided for periods of recession. ^In
1560E27 other words, there should be financial viability even if the enterpriise
1570E27 operates only a part of the installed capacity. ^Initial planning
1580E27 care, investment and development of suitable production processes as
1590E27 also good marketing will ensure low break-even point for an entrepreneur.
1600E27 ^During periods of recession, this proves helpful. $^One more important
1610E27 word of caution to a new entrepreneur who feels he is as successful
1620E27 as an opening batsman who has piled up a good number of runs.
1630E27 ^When there are good profits in the initial stages, the day of problems
1640E27 should always be kept in mind. $^Profits in the initial stages should
1650E27 not be frittered away in unproductive investments, high dividends
1660E27 generous bonus or other payments. ^They should be conserved and ploughed
1670E27 back into the industry as financial prudence will enable the company
1680E27 to_ build up good resources for periods of crises which are
1690E27 inescapable in any industry. ^Thus, financial strength built up in the
1700E27 initial stages will stand in good stead. ^One reason why industries
1710E27 which are successful in the initial stages collapse during times of
1720E27 adversity is their failure to_ conserve their early profits to_ strengthen
1730E27 their financial base. $^The new entrepreneur should also remember
1740E27 that expansion is not always a hop, skip and jump affair. ^The best
1750E27 way is continuously to_ expand as and when resources are built up
1760E27 and experience is gained in the running of one*'s industry. $*<*3Building
1770E27 the Factory*0*> $^What are the considerations for choosing the
1780E27 factory site and the precautions to_ be taken in building the factory?
1790E27 $^For very small industries, industrial estates offer facilities.
1800E27 ^For a larger unit, care should be taken in locating a factory at
1810E27 the proper site. ^It should be in a place where the raw material is
1820E27 readily available and the marketing of the final product is easy. ^Other
1830E27 facilities like skilled labour, power supply, transport, water, \0etc.
1840E27 should also be ready at hand.*#
        **[no. of words = 02006**]

        **[txt. e28**]
0010E28 **<*3Promotional Aspects of Monetary Management in India*0**> $*<*3PROMOTION
0020E28 OF THE BANKING SECTOR IN INDIA*0*> $*3^ONE OF THE*0 important
0030E28 aspects of promotional monetary management is the extension of the
0040E28 banking sector to nonmonetized parts of the economic and other under-banked
0050E28 areas. ^In the first place, this would form the third aspect
0060E28 of the approach to 'institutionalisation'. ^From the standpoint of the
0070E28 Central banking theory, the growth of the banking sector is an integral
0080E28 part of the policy of mobilisation of savings. ^Unbanked and under-banked
0090E28 areas conceal enormous deposit potentials. ^Moreover, expansion
0100E28 of the banking sector is also an instrument for transforming the
0110E28 capital value-biased (Chapter 8:*=1) asset preferences into yield-biased
0120E28 assets preferences. ^Otherwise, the saving tends to_ be channelised
0130E28 into assets (real estate assets, gold, silver and hard cash) which
0140E28 do not promote specialisation of savings and investment. ^Therefore,
0150E28 the promotion of the banking sector alters the assets preferences and
0160E28 increases the degree of specialisation of economic activity. ^Both aspects
0170E28 are vital for promoting the process of real economic developemnt.
0180E28 ^In the second place, still another aspect of promotion of the banking
0190E28 sector is supply of credit. ^The credit supply energises economic
0200E28 activity. ^In view of the innovated concepts of creditworthiness and
0210E28 repayment capacity (Chapter 4:*=2), the supply of credit can be directly
0220E28 linked with the process of real development. ^The Schumpeterian notion
0230E28 of transforming credit into capital is the fundamental playground
0240E28 for the Central banker in a developing economy. ^Thirdly, promotion
0250E28 of banking sector is more than an institutional problem. ^It is related
0260E28 to capital formation in another sense as well. ^The Indian monetary
0270E28 set-up can be classified on (Chapter 1:*=2) the basis of the degree
0280E28 of monetization. ^The promotion of the banking sector is an instrument
0290E28 of increasing the degree of monetization in the economy. ^The concept
0300E28 of monetization and acceleration of capital formation can be closely
0310E28 knit together by what may be urban and upcountry centres. ^Commodities
0320E28 flow from upcountry to urban centres; and money flows in the reverse
0330E28 direction. ^But during a slack season, such links are snapped. ^Therefore,
0340E28 the monetary flows are not autonomous, instead they tend to_ assume
0350E28 an induced character. ^Promotion of the banking sector will be an
0360E28 instrument for a regular two-way movement of commodity and money flow.
0370E28 ^The introduction of money is vital for accelerating the pace of
0380E28 economic development. ^At least one financial asset (money) is a necessary
0390E28 condition for increasing the degree of specialisation between saving
0400E28 and investment and promoting economic development. $^The first
0410E28 section of the chapter (:7*=1) deals with the statutory provisions relating
0420E28 to the promotion of the banking sector. ^The statutory provisions
0430E28 have been examined in the light of four basic principles relevant
0440E28 to the promotion of the banking sector. ^The second section (7:*=2) is
0450E28 devoted to a factual analysis of the promotion of the banking sector.
0460E28 ^The objective is to_ evaluate the success gained by the Reserve
0470E28 Bank in this regard. $*=1 $^The pace of branch expansion was largely
0480E28 obstructed by the low deposit potential, unprofitability of opening
0490E28 branches, the small number of loan applications, lack of creditworthiness,
0500E28 and the high degree of risk involved in agricultural operations.
0510E28 ^These difficulties tended to_ dissuade banks from expanding their
0520E28 business in the semi-urban and rural areas. ^Thus, banking in these areas
0530E28 led to the evolution of certain basic principles. ^These are (a) an
0540E28 application of innovated concepts of creditworthiness and repayment capacity
0550E28 (b) the locational coverage in executing the branch expansion
0560E28 programme, (c) enlargement of remittance facilities, and (d) extending
0570E28 the operations through nationalised banking institutions. ^We shall
0580E28 examine each of these steps in turn. $^The first principle was the application
0590E28 of the innovated concept of creditworthiness (Chapter 4:*=2)
0600E28 and the repayment capacity in the conduct of banking business in
0610E28 these areas. ^In this field the cost-benefit calculus had to_ be applied
0620E28 on an altogether different basis. "^In entering rural business as
0630E28 a part of their normal functioning, banks will have to_ take a long-term
0640E28 and comprehensive view. ^Neither for each branch, nor for all
0650E28 concerned branches together, would at a profitable balance of costs and
0660E28 yield of funds be immediately expected. ^There is reason to_ believe
0670E28 for the banking system as a whole that in a full-fledged state of
0680E28 developing, the rural sector will save and send out funds for the non-rural
0690E28 sector. ^In the initial stages, and in the individual cases,
0700E28 the flow will have to_ be in the other direction. $^In other words,
0710E28 there are twofold implications. ^In the first place, if a bank has several
0720E28 branches, it is not necessary that the benefits are necessarily
0730E28 equalised with the cost of running a branch individually. ^In fact,
0740E28 the net benefit and cost have to_ be calculated in respect of all the
0750E28 branches taken together. ^The losses of one or two branches could
0760E28 be compensated by the net gain accruing in other branches. ^In the second
0770E28 place, the benefit-cost calculus has to_ have some reference to
0780E28 the time span as well. ^Thus even if all the branches yield benefits
0790E28 less than the cost incurred, it could be compensated at a later date
0800E28 just by an opposite performance. ^The second principle was latent in the
0810E28 search for the criterion of the locational coverage in executing the
0820E28 branch expansion programme, which finally gave rise to the concept
0830E28 of a 'Lead Bank'. $^The third principle was implicit in the promotion
0840E28 and guidance given to monetary flows, through enlargement of remittance
0850E28 facilities. "^One of the impediments in the growth of commercial
0860E28 banks in developing countries is the lack of facilities on an adequate
0870E28 scale as regards remittances and other clearing arrangements, which
0880E28 discourage people from taking increasing recourse to banks as a payment
0900E28 mechanism. ^This is because 'moneyness' of deposits, and this applies
0910E28 particularly to_ demand deposits, is less when there is uncertainty
0920E28 about their prompt encashment at any point in the system. ^Thus,
0930E28 an efficient system of bank clearings and remittances is a precondition
0940E28 for the rapid growth of the banking system. $^The fourth principle
0950E28 was the use of nationalised banks as an instrument for promoting the
0960E28 banking sector. ^This step is given the status of a separate principle
0970E28 as it capitalised the concept of deficit financing in the fiscal
0980E28 field. ^The concept of deficit financing was translated into a tool
0990E28 of promotional aspect of monetary management. ^The basic concept is that
1000E28 the cost of the establishment and running of a branch may not turn
1010E28 out to_ be economically feasible. ^But economic feasibility is subordinate
1020E28 to the concept of social marginal productivity. ^The establishment
1030E28 of a branch has to_ be viewed in terms of the net social marginal
1040E28 combination. $^Within the framework of these four principles, the
1050E28 statutory provisions relating to the promotion of the banking sector
1060E28 may now be examined. ^It is difficult to_ separate the regulatory and
1070E28 promotional aspects of monetary management in the statutory provisions.
1080E28 ^For example, the statutory provisions relating to the appointment
1090E28 and removal of banking personnel, management, amalgamations, winding
1100E28 up and the penalty imposition on banking companies, contribute both
1110E28 to the proper conduct and the growth of banking companies. ^A similar
1120E28 problem arises in repsect of various methods by which the Central
1130E28 Bank protects the interest of the depositors. ^Thus, to_ steer
1140E28 clear of this maze, attention is focussed on only a few aspects of the
1150E28 banking sector, \0viz., (1) the problem of branch expansion and (2) the
1160E28 problem of social control over the banking system which culminated
1170E28 in the (3) nationalisation of the major scheduled banks. ^The expansion
1180E28 of the banking sector served as a double-edged weapon in the sense
1190E28 that it could act as an instrument for mobilisation of savings as well
1200E28 as a medium of distribution of credit. ^The statutory provisions
1210E28 in this regard can be considered at fidur levels. $^The first set of
1220E28 provisions was laid down in the Banking Companies Act, 1949, regarding
1230E28 (a) nature of the subsidiary companies (b) licensing banking companies
1240E28 and (c) restriction on opening of new and transfer of existing places
1250E28 of business. ^Thus, the restrictions on the nature of subsidiary
1260E28 companies were provided with the intent of "preventing a banking company
1270E28 from carrying on trading activities by acquiring a controlling interest
1280E28 in non-banking companies". ^Though banks were prohibited to_
1290E28 form subsidiary companies, except with the permission of the Central
1300E28 Bank, they could be permitted to_ form such companies only under
1310E28 circumstances which were incidental to the conduct of the business of banking.
1320E28 ^Thus, excepting such approvals of the Central Bank "...no
1330E28 banking company shall hold shares in a company, whether as pledgee, mortgagee
1340E28 or absolute owner, of an amount exceeding thirty per cent of the
1350E28 paid-up share capital of that_ company or thirty per cent of its
1360E28 own paid-up share capital and reserves, whichever is less." $^Further,
1370E28 allowing for the provisions mentioned above, "-...after the expiry
1380E28 of one year... (a banking company shall not)... hold shares, as pledgee,
1390E28 mortgagee or absolute owner, in any company in the management of
1400E28 which any managing director or manager of the banking company is in any
1410E28 manner concerned or interested". ^The licensing policy of the Central Bank
1420E28 can thus go a long way in providing a sound banking structure and promoting
1430E28 banking as a whole by enlarging the area covered by it. ^This
1440E28 it can do by the pick-and-choose method, \0i.e., by selecting banks
1450E28 to_ expand and operate in different areas. ^Thus, except as provided
1460E28 for in the Banking Companies Act, no banking company was permitted
1470E28 to_ "...carry on banking business... unless it holds a licence (issued)
1480E28 by the Reserve Bank and such licence may be issued subject to such
1490E28 conditions as the Reserve Bank may think fit to_ impose." ^Thus,
1500E28 the banking companies in existence within 6 months and new companies
1510E28 before the commencement of the Act had to_ apply for such licence
1520E28 to the Central Bank. $^The issue of licence to a bank will depend
1530E28 on the fulfilment of certain conditions and on the satisfaction of
1540E28 the Reserve Bank (a) "that the company is or will be in a position
1550E28 to_ pay its present or future depositors in full as their claims accrue
1560E28 and (b) that the affairs of the company are not being, or are not
1570E28 likely to_ be conducted in a manner detrimental to the interests of
1580E28 its present or future depositors." ^Similar conditions were applicable
1590E28 to foreign banks as well, provided that the conduct of their business
1600E28 was in "conformity with the public interests in India." ^The Central
1610E28 Bank was thus empowered to_ grant or cancel the licence of a banking
1620E28 company, Indian or foreign. ^The cancellation could be effected
1630E28 if "the company at any time fails to_ comply with any of the conditions
1640E28 imposed under it under sub-section (1); or (2) if at any time, any
1650E28 of the conditions referred to in sub-section (3) is not fulfilled."
1660E28 $^Before cancelling the licence, the Reserve Bank "... in the interests...
1670E28 or depositors of public shall grant to the company, on such
1680E28 terms as it may specify, an opportunity of taking the necessary step
1690E28 for complying with or fulfilling such conditions. ^The banking company,
1700E28 where licence has been cancelled, may within 30 days appeal to the
1710E28 Central Government and its decision will be final." $^Similarly, the
1720E28 section relating to the restriction on the opening of new, and transfer
1730E28 of the existing, places of business without the prior approval
1740E28 of the Central Bank was also drastically amended. $^Thus, the amendment
1750E28 of Section 23 of the Banking Companies Act during 1959 was related
1760E28 to the locational aspects of the business of banks. ^For this purpose,
1770E28 the term 'place of business' was defined as "any sub-office, pay-office,
1780E28 sub-pay office and any place of business at which deposits are
1790E28 received, cheques cashed or moneys lent." ^Without the approval of
1800E28 the Central Bank, no banking company could open "...a new place of
1810E28 business in India or change otherwise than within the same city, town
1820E28 or village the location of an existing place of business... and (b)...open
1830E28 a new place of business outside India." ^Before the grant of
1840E28 permission as to the locational changes, the Central Bank would satisfy
1850E28 itself on two grounds.*#
        **[no. of words = 02014**]

        **[txt. e29**]
0010E29 **<*3GENERAL INSURANCE: PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE*0**> $*<*3CLAIMS*0*>
0020E29 $Claims: ^Claims occur under all types of insurance policies. ^But
0030E29 under marine, fire and accident policies claims may or may not arise,
0040E29 as they depend upon the happening of fortuitous events. $^The
0050E29 insurers try to_ build up their reputation for prompt settlements of
0060E29 claims. $^There are certain features of claims which are more or less
0070E29 common to all. ^They are the following: $(a) ^Proper notice is
0080E29 to_ be given to the insurers so that they may arrange for preliminary
0090E29 investigation where necessary. $(b) ^On receipt of the notice the
0100E29 insurers want that the claimants should submit claims in the forms
0110E29 of the insurers. ^The insurers then find out from their records whether
0120E29 the policies in question were in force. $(c) ^If the claim be of
0130E29 higher magnitude the insurers*' appointed officers known as assessors
0140E29 (sometimes known as adjusters) with specialised knowledge look into
0150E29 details so as to_ ascertain the extent of loss or damage caused.
0160E29 ^If, however, the claims be of a small amount the insurers send a
0170E29 cheque forthwith in settlement of claim without further enquiry. $(d)
0180E29 ^We have spoken of promptitude in settlement of claims; but there is
0190E29 one more thing which is tact. ^The insurers*'s officers are required
0200E29 to_ explain in common, non-technical way to the claimants so that
0210E29 the latter may understand the formers*' reasoning clearly. $^But care
0220E29 should be taken to_ collect all available information so that they
0230E29 may be made use of as and when neccessary. $^Let us now turn to the
0240E29 question branch by branch: $^Marine: Marine claims differ in many
0250E29 respects from those arising under other classes of business. ^Marine
0260E29 risks covered are many and varied. ^So when a loss arises it is
0270E29 just as important to_ discover the cause as the extent of the loss.
0280E29 ^Further a marine policy may have been assigned. ^An independent surveyor
0290E29 may be appointed when the policy-holder agrees, and the question
0300E29 of liability is decided by the insurers from documents. $^In case
0310E29 of cargo claims, when an agent, Lloyd*'s or otherwise, is advised
0320E29 of damage, he will appoint a suitable surveyor. ^The surveyor will
0330E29 ascertain the cause of the loss and will agree the extent with the
0340E29 assignee. ^All informations gathered from the agent*'s report incorporating
0350E29 the surveyor*'s findings will be important when liability is
0360E29 under consideration. ^The documents of title (including the policy,
0370E29 copy of the bill of lading, the invoice and the surveyor*'s report)
0380E29 are sufficient evidence on which to_ pay the holder any claim recoverable
0390E29 under the policy, even though that_ person may not be the original
0400E29 assured, provided he has an insurable interest at the time of
0410E29 loss, \0e.g., a buyer under a \0c.i.f. (cost, insurance, freight) contract.
0420E29 $^It should be noted that the first step taken by the underwriter
0430E29 or agent is to_ examine the policy to_ ascertain whether the
0440E29 loss is recoverable thereunder. ^If so, the extent of liability is then
0450E29 ascertained. $^In marine insurance claims are based on the insured
0460E29 value, \0i.e., the agreed value, and in case of a total loss the
0470E29 amount insured is paid. ^In case of partial loss it is necessary to_
0480E29 ascertain the percentage of depreciation which is applied to the
0490E29 insured value. ^When goods arrive damaged at destination, the percentage
0500E29 of depreciation is ascertained by comparing the gross sound arrived
0510E29 value with the loss damaged value. ^These values are based on
0520E29 market values on arrival. ^The following example will make the position
0530E29 clear: **[example**] $^But in the Marine Insurance Act, 1963,
0540E29 no example has been worked out to_ show how the total loss or partial
0550E29 loss is arrived at. ^The relative clauses are stated as follows:
0560E29 $\0^*Sec. 56. (1) ^A loss may be either total or partial. ^Any loss
0570E29 other than a total loss, as hereinafter defined, is a partial loss.
0580E29 $(2) ^A total loss may be either an actual loss or a constructive
0590E29 total loss. $(3) ^Unless a different intention appears from the terms
0600E29 of the policy an insurance against total loss includes a constructive
0610E29 as well as an actual total loss. $\0^*Sec. 57. (1) defines constructive
0620E29 total loss where the subject matter insured is reasonably abandoned
0630E29 on account of its actual total loss appearing to_ be unavoidable
0640E29 or because it could not be preserved from actual total loss without
0650E29 an expenditure which would exceed its value when the expenditure
0660E29 had been incurred. $^The effect of the constructive total loss is
0670E29 stated under \0Sec. 61 as follows: $"when there is a constructive
0680E29 total loss the assured may either treat the loss as a partial loss
0690E29 or abandon the subject matter insured to the insurer and treat the
0700E29 loss as if it were an actual total loss. $^In full claims the cost
0710E29 of repairs is paid in full subject to the limit of the insured value,
0720E29 and as a proportion of the insured value as in the case of cargo.
0730E29 $^The surveyor appointed by the underwriters inspects the damage in
0740E29 company with the ship*'s surveyor and a specification of the necessary
0750E29 repairs is drawn up. ^A price for the work is obtained from a suitable
0760E29 repairer and, if approved, the contract is arranged. $^When the
0770E29 work is completed, all the documents and vouchers are put into the
0780E29 hands of a professional average adjuster, who examines them and states
0790E29 the amount recoverable under the policy. $^In case of collision
0800E29 claims damage caused by a vessel to another, \0i.e. as a third party
0810E29 liability, is not to_ fall within the scope of an ordinary marine policy,
0820E29 as it is not loss of or damage to the subject matter insured.
0830E29 ^But by a separate contract they agree to_ cover loss or damage to
0840E29 another vessel. $^In case of freight \0i.e., the reward for conveying
0850E29 goods, or hire money for chartering of a vessel or part thereof
0860E29 provides an insurable interest. ^It is an intangible interest and the
0870E29 claims are adjusted on the principle of indemnity. $Fire: ^If the
0880E29 fire claims are of small amount there is no difficulty. ^On receipt
0890E29 of the claim form duly completed the insurers see whether the policy
0900E29 is in force and covers the property concerned. ^If so, they send the
0910E29 cheque in settlement of the claim. $^If, however, the claim be of
0920E29 higher amount, the insurers require detailed investigation and such
0930E29 investigation may be undertaken by the insurers*' own officials. $^But
0940E29 as a rule large claims are passed on to a firm of independent adjusters
0950E29 who investigate on behalf of the insurers and in due course submit
0960E29 their report recommending payment of an agreed amount. $^Under the
0970E29 conditions of the standard fire policy, the insurers may elect to_
0980E29 reinstate or replace the insured property. ^The majority of fire claims
0990E29 are settled by means of cash payments. ^But if the insurers elect
1000E29 to_ reinstate, they are bound to_ do so and cannot later make a
1010E29 cash payment. $^In case of claim for building damage, the insured usually
1020E29 obtains an estimate from his builders. ^The insurers*' assessors
1030E29 check the specification, quantities, and prices and when agreemet
1040E29 has been reached, the insured signs a form of acceptance, whereupon
1050E29 the insurer settles the claim by cash payment. ^The cost of specification
1060E29 and the surveyor*'s fees \0etc. are borne by the insured. $^When
1070E29 the claim relates to goods, it is necessary to_ take into account
1080E29 depreciation or appreciation in order to_ observe the basic principle
1090E29 of indemnity. $^If however, fire has been occasioned by the negligence
1100E29 of a third party, the insurers by the exercise of subrogation
1110E29 (explained later) rights may be able to_ recover from that_ third
1120E29 party any amount paid by the insurers under their policy. $^When
1130E29 several insurers are involved apportionment of losses are necessary
1140E29 so as to_ ascertain the claim liability of each. ^There are several
1150E29 methods of apportionment, one of which is on prorata basis according
1160E29 to sums insured. ^There is also a method on average loss basis. (explained
1170E29 later). $Fire Loss Prevention: ^While dealing with the
1180E29 subject it will be useful to_ say something about the measures necessary
1190E29 for the prevention of fire losses. ^Fire losses at times become
1200E29 very large. \0^*Mr. \0S. Chatterjee, Director of Fire Services,
1210E29 West Bengal told reporters at Durgapur on 9th August, 1975 (\0A.B.
1220E29 Patrika 12.8.75) that the incidence of fire in the country
1230E29 had increased by 250 per cent in the last five years and that the country
1240E29 was losing more than \0*4Rs. 50 *4crores a year on account of
1250E29 these fires. (^Flames lick up over \0*4Rs. 50 *4crores. ^He said
1260E29 further that adequate steps should be taken to_ augment the existing
1270E29 fire services in view of the 'rapid' industrialisation of the country
1280E29 and that considerable improvement could be made if even a 'small
1290E29 portion' of the amount collected as fire insurance premium was given
1300E29 to the department. ^He said that to_ serve the district-towns only,
1310E29 at least 50 more fire stations were needed in the state. $Fire
1320E29 Loss Prevention Seminar in Bombay: ^In February 1976, there was
1330E29 held in Bombay a Fire Loss Prevention Seminar sponsored by General
1340E29 Insurance Corportation of India (\0A.B. Patrika, 17.2.76).
1350E29 ^It was inaugurated by \0*4Smt. Sushila Rohatgi, Deputy Minister,
1360E29 Finance, Government of India. ^The Chairman of the Corporation,
1370E29 \0Mr. *(0G. V.*) Kapadia after having enumerated five kinds
1380E29 of losses caused generally by fire, \0viz., (1) material damage
1390E29 to the plant and equipment. (2) loss of important raw materials, (3)
1400E29 serious impairment of cash flow, (4) interruption of production and
1410E29 deployment of man power and (5) loss of market, deplored that even
1420E29 the payment of the insurance claim does not help the industries fully
1430E29 to_ rehabilitate business. ^He said that the objective of organising
1440E29 the seminar was to_ create an awareness amongst Indian industrialists
1450E29 and executives of the importance of fire loss prevention. $\0^*Mr.
1460E29 *(0R. K.*) Daruwalla, Managing Director of the Corporation
1470E29 stressed the point of 'insurers*' interest in loss prevention'.
1480E29 ^He observed that "as a part of their normal insurance service, particularly
1490E29 for the larger risks, insurers make an inspection of the risk
1500E29 with the help of technically qualified personnel and recommend to
1510E29 the client various measures to improve the hazard". "^In a vast country
1520E29 such as India," he said, "it is difficult to_ provide fire fighting
1530E29 facility at public cost at all localities of a sufficient magnitude
1540E29 to_ fight fires in the larger industrial risks. ^The \0Govt.
1550E29 should seriously consider introducing regulations requiring certain
1560E29 minimum standards of fire protection for the larger risks, to_ be
1570E29 installed and operated by the industrial units themselves". ^Lastly
1580E29 he said, "the insurers would always play their rightful role and provide
1590E29 the benefit of their expertise and guidance to all concerned."
1600E29 $\0^*Mr. *(0K. P.*) Modi, Chairman, Organising Committee (of
1610E29 the Seminar) in his contribution "Prevent rather than cure" enlisted
1620E29 several cases of fire losses, some of which are given below: $^Sometime
1630E29 back, 7000 quintals of cotton worth \0*4Rs. 2.5 million of *4rupees
1640E29 were burnt injuring 13 women of whom 5 died subsequently. ^Damage
1650E29 of about 6 million *4rupees was caused to the \0L.I.C. building
1660E29 in Madras. ^In May 1975, a transport warehouse in Poona Sholapur
1670E29 Street, Bombay, resulted in a fire loss of about 20 million *4rupees.
1680E29 ^The State Bank of India building, in Bombay also caught
1690E29 fire and the loss in this case was to the tune of 6 million *4rupees.
1700E29 $^He observed that both the insured public and the insurance companies
1710E29 had realised the limitations of insurance. ^The insurance companies
1720E29 had come to the conclusion that instead of merely letting the
1730E29 law of average work, they should also direct their activities towards
1740E29 avoiding the unwanted-event. $^Preventive measures in West Bengal:
1750E29 ^We have already given some instances of big fire losses in Bombay.
1760E29 ^In Calcutta also three big fire incidents occurred. ^One at
1770E29 Raja Bazar Tram Depot, the second on the Central Bank of India
1780E29 Building and the third at Banstalla Galli. $Fire Services Act
1790E29 to be amended: ^Accordingly the West Bengal Government (as reported
1800E29 in \0A.B. Patrika, 31-3-76) is going to_ amend the Fire Services
1810E29 Act to_ make it compulsory for owners of certain categories
1820E29 of buildings, godowns and establishments to_ take special measures
1830E29 for prevention of fire in their premises.*#
        **[no. of words = 02017**]

        **[txt. e30**]
0010E30 **<*3BUSINESS COMMUNICATION*0**> $*<*3*SPEECH OF A COMPANY CHAIRMAN
0020E30 ON THE EVE OF HIS RETIREMENT*0*> $^Before proceeding with the business
0030E30 of the Meeting, I have some important announcement to_ make concerning
0040E30 the top management of the Company. $^It is more than forty-five
0050E30 years since I went to_ work in Spring Mills as an apprentice,
0060E30 and I have now been your chairman for the last twenty five years. $^If
0070E30 I may say so, the Company has made remarkable progress in these
0080E30 years. ^Our capital has doubled. ^Our reserves have gone up from \0*4Rs.
0090E30 1.4 *4crores to \0*4Rs. 7.13 *4crores. ^The mills have been almost
0100E30 totally re-equipped. ^Gross Block has gone up from \0*4Rs. 3.46
0110E30 *4crores to \0*4Rs. 35.62 *4crores. ^The turnover has increased elevenfold.
0120E30 ^We now have 14,000 employees compared to 8,000 and their emoluments
0130E30 are ten times more than they were then. ^Our gross profit has
0140E30 risen from \0*4Rs. 80 *4lakhs to \0*4Rs. 526 *4lakhs. ^We have maintained
0150E30 our unbroken record of dividend since 1885. $^Apart from directing
0160E30 the affairs of a Company, the most important duty of a Chairman is
0170E30 to_ groom a successor to_ take his place. ^*I have been paying special
0180E30 attention to this task for the last few years, and I am now completely
0190E30 confident that I can leave safely the future management of the
0200E30 Company to the next generation. $^*I have, therefore, decided to_
0210E30 retire not only as Chairman but also from the board of Directors.
0220E30 ^*I am absolutely certain that this is the right thing to_ do and
0230E30 that this is the right time to_ do it. $^The fact that each and everyone
0240E30 of my colleagues on the Board has done his best to_ persuade me
0250E30 to_ stay on for a few more years has only convinced me that I am right.
0260E30 ^*I believe in the motto: "Five minutes too soon is better than
0270E30 one minute too late." ^It is better to_ go while you are wanted than to_
0280E30 wait to_ be thrown out. ^The Company, above all, must come first.
0290E30 ^It is in its best interest that I have decided to_ go now, while
0300E30 I am alive. ^By doing so, I can ensure a smooth transfer of both
0310E30 my powers and duties. ^If I had stayed on the Board, there would have
0320E30 been the danger that I would have taken too great a part in decision
0330E30 making. ^However, my advice will always be available whenever
0340E30 asked, though I will have to_ be asked before I give it. $^For myself,
0350E30 I can say I have had a wonderful innings. ^Sixty-six not out.
0360E30 ^Not only have I had a successful career, but throughout I have enjoyed
0370E30 the devotion, respect and affection of all who have worked with
0380E30 me, and you, dear shareholders, have always treated me most kindly.
0390E30 ^In every way, I have been amongst the most fortunate of men; and
0400E30 today it is my great pleasure to_ hand over this office to my son. ^He has
0410E30 proved his worth and built a remarkable reputation for himself in a
0420E30 very short time. ^*I am sure you will agree with me that he is now capable
0430E30 of taking on this added responsibility. $^After this meeting, there
0440E30 will be a special meeting of the Board at which my resignation will
0450E30 be formally accepted. $^It now remains for me to_ thank all the
0460E30 other Directors. ^It has been a great privilege to_ have had a distinguished
0470E30 group of men working with me on the Board. ^Each one of them
0480E30 is a personal friend, and this has made my term of office a pleasure,
0490E30 which I will always remember. $^Let me make it quite clear. ^*I
0500E30 am not retiring from business altogether. ^*I will continue to_ be
0510E30 the Chairman of National Peroxide, Sturdia and Citurgia. ^All these
0520E30 companies are either in the building stage or expanding, and I
0530E30 will not give up these responsibilities till I am sure all goes well
0540E30 for them. ^Lastly, I do hope to_ be here with you all to_ take
0550E30 part in the centenary celebrations of this Company in 1979. $*<*3*SPEECH
0560E30 OF A PRESIDENT, INDIAN MERCHANTS*' CHAMBER, WELCOMING*0 \0MR.
0570E30 ERIC GONSALVES, INDIAN AMBASSADOR TO JAPAN, TO A MEETING OF THE CHAMBER*>
0580E30 $\0*3^*Mr. *GONSALYES AND *FRIENDS: $^*I have great pleasure
0590E30 in extending a cordial welcome to you. ^We are, indeed, glad of this
0600E30 opportunity of a discussion with you, \0Mr. Gonsalves, on India-Japan
0610E30 commercial and economic relations. $2. ^The economic relationship
0620E30 between India and Japan has extended over a long period of time.
0630E30 ^In recent years, it has been strengthened considerably. ^The two
0640E30 countries have been important trading partners of longstanding. ^There
0650E30 have been frequent exchanges of missions and delegations between the
0660E30 two countries with the primary object of studying the economic conditions
0670E30 in each and exploring the possibilities of further improving the
0680E30 trade and economic co-operation between them. ^With the active interest
0690E30 evinced by Japan in India*'s development programmes and her participation
0700E30 in them with investment of capital and more particularly
0710E30 with technical collaboration, the ecomomic ties between the two countries
0720E30 have acquired a new dimension. ^A number of Indo-Japanese
0730E30 Technical Collaboration Agreements have been entered into in the
0740E30 last few years. ^*Japan has also assisted our country with credit facilities.
0750E30 $3. ^*Japan has emerged as one of the leading economies of
0760E30 the world. ^Its economy has, however, been affected by the recent phenomena
0770E30 of the oil crisis, inflation and subsequent recession. ^Last
0780E30 year, the Japanese economy recorded a negative growth rate. ^However,
0790E30 with the implementation of various measures, it has now started showing
0800E30 signs of a gradual recovery. ^*Japan is now concentrating more
0810E30 and more on labour saving, non-pollution and low-energy and resource
0820E30 consuming industries, and this can open new vistas of co-operation between
0830E30 India and Japan in the industrial field to their mutual benefit.
0840E30 ^Not only that_, but the marriage of Japan*'s sophisticated technology
0850E30 with India*'s intermediate technology could help the development
0860E30 of Asian and other developing nations. ^*Japan has a substantial
0870E30 stake in West Asia, and India could help in several ways for the
0880E30 mutual benefit by becoming a sub-contractor of supplies of equipment
0890E30 and intermediates and by assisting Japanese industrialists in various
0900E30 ways for the successful execution of their projects in that_ region.
0910E30 $4. ^On an overall view, there seems to_ be a vast scope for
0920E30 increasing Japan*'s investments in India, whose share in Japan*'s
0930E30 total investment in Asia is just 3 per cent while her share in Japan*'s
0940E30 global investment is still lower-- a bare 0.30 per cent. ^Between
0950E30 1957 and 1974, out of nearly 400 Indo-Japanese agreements, only one
0960E30 fourth have materialised. ^What is further worth noting is that the
0970E30 number of Indian enterprises having Japanese investments in textiles,
0980E30 chemicals, machinery and electrical industries have been decreasing
0990E30 every year. ^If we have to_ cash in on the present opportunities
1000E30 of a substantial increase in Japan*'s investments in, and collaborations
1010E30 with, Indian industries, both the Government of India and the
1020E30 business communities will have to_ take special care to_ ensure that
1030E30 there is no impediment whatever to such co-operation. $5. ^Some of
1040E30 these basic issues had come up for discussion at the various meetings
1050E30 of Business Co-operation Committees and an attempt was made to_
1060E30 remove the misapprehensions of the Japanese industrialists on this
1070E30 score, particularly at the Nagoya Meeting, at which there was considerable
1080E30 recognition amongst Japanese business circles of what India
1090E30 had been doing and proposes to_ do to_ develop her economy. ^Procedures
1100E30 have been simplified and streamlined. ^The level of efficiency has
1110E30 improved. ^Decision-making in Government has been expedited. ^There
1120E30 is greater industrial harmony. ^Prices have stabilised. ^This all-round
1130E30 improvement in the investment climate for foreign investors should
1140E30 be utilised for larger and more effective avenues of co-operation
1150E30 between Indian and Japanese industrialists and businessmen. $6. ^In
1160E30 the past, we saw that the apprehensions at the Japanese industrialists
1170E30 on the score of the Government of India*'s policy of nationalisation,
1180E30 labour unrest and procedural delays and handles acted as a great
1190E30 deterrent to Japanese investors. ^While there has been an improvement
1200E30 in the situation, there is need for continual effort on the part
1210E30 of both the Government and the business community to_ convince the
1220E30 Japanese investors that this improvement is going and to_ find out
1230E30 what their misgivings are in this regard. ^In this connection, I
1240E30 would reiterate the suggestion which I had made at the Nagoya Meeting
1250E30 of the Business co-operation Committee that a small Working
1260E30 Group may be set up to_ examine the problem in all its aspects and
1270E30 to_ find out what, exactly, according to Japanese businessmen, is
1280E30 lacking in India. $7. ^As regards trade between the two countries, it
1290E30 has been steadily expanding. ^*India*'s imports from Japan have risen
1300E30 substantially from \0*4Rs. 25.5 *4crores in 1950-51 to \0*4Rs.
1310E30 453 *4crores in 1974-75. ^In the same period India*'s exports to that_
1320E30 country increased from \0*4Rs. 143 *4crores to \0*4Rs. 295 *4crores.
1330E30 ^However, the composition of Indo-Japanese trade has not undergone
1340E30 any significant change. ^By and large, it still continues to_ be
1350E30 of the type subsisting before. ^Between the two countries iron ore, oil-cakes,
1360E30 \0etc., still continue to_ constitute the bulk of India*'s
1370E30 exports to Japan. ^What is required is a shift from raw materials
1380E30 exports to exports of intermediate and semifinished products. ^It is
1390E30 possible, in our opinion, to_ harmonise the larger interests of the
1400E30 two countries in achieving a higher growth rate in trade. ^For this
1410E30 purpose, it will be necessary to_ identify specific areas. $8. ^While
1420E30 iron-ore would, no doubt, continue to_ be the major item of trade between
1430E30 India and Japan, there is considerable scope for creating facilities
1440E30 in India for converting iron-ore into pellets. ^This offers
1450E30 a new avenue for collaboration in export production between the two
1460E30 countries. ^The processing of textiles into garments is another new
1470E30 area of expansion of trade, and there is scope for Japanese investment
1480E30 in export-oriented garment manufacturing units in India. ^Similarly,
1490E30 there are immense possibilities for exploiting India*'s marine
1500E30 resources. ^Expansion of trade seems to_ be possible also in respect
1510E30 of several non-traditional items such as finished components for Japanese
1520E30 manufactures, and even products of the chemical industry. ^While
1530E30 we are on this subject we would suggest that the Generalised System
1540E30 of Preferences (\0GSP), which Japan introduced in 1971, should
1550E30 be reviewd in a manner which would leave scope for larger Indian
1560E30 exports of items required in Japan. $9. ^These are some of the points
1570E30 that_ we thought would arise for discussion here. ^We have invited
1580E30 representatives of some of the firms and companies having trade and
1590E30 industrial collaboration managements with Japan . ^They would naturally
1600E30 like to_ tell you about the difficulties faced by them in their
1610E30 particular line of activity. $^Before concluding, let me thank you,
1620E30 again, \0Mr. Gonsalves, for providing us this opportunity of meeting
1630E30 you. ^May I request you to_ give us the benefit of your observations?
1640E30 $*<*3SPEECH WELCOMING TO INDIA OF THE ECONOMIC AND BUSINESS DELEGATION
1650E30 FROM YUGOSLAVIA*0*> $\0*3^*Mr.*0 *3Steven Susa, Leader, Other
1660E30 Members of the Delegation from Yugoslavia, \0Mr. Aleksander Stanic,
1670E30 Consul-General for Yugoslavia and Friends:*0 $^*I consider
1680E30 it a privilege and pleasure to_ extend a most cordial welcome to you
1690E30 all. ^We are happy at this opportunity of meeting you, \0Mr. Steven
1700E30 Susa, and your colleagues for a disussion regarding the recent trends
1710E30 in Indo-Yugoslav trade and economic relations. $2. ^Sir, we have
1720E30 watched with great interest and admiration the rapid economic recovery
1730E30 of your country from the destruction suffered by it during World
1740E30 War *=2. ^In fact, the Yugoslav economy has not only recovered
1750E30 but has shown a tremendous further growth in a relatively short span
1760E30 of three decades. ^We appreciate the new orientation which has been recently
1770E30 witnessed in Yugoslavia*'s economic policies on the basis of
1780E30 a pragmatic approach. $3. ^*Yugoslavia has been closely associated with
1790E30 India in recent years in several ways. ^Among the Asian Countries,
1800E30 India is a leading economic partner of Yugoslavia. ^In the last
1810E30 decade and a half, a good deal of improvement in the economic relationship
1820E30 between our two countries has taken place in all spheres-- trade,
1830E30 financial relations and industrial co-operation.*#
        **[no. of words = 02010**]

        **[txt. e31**]
0010E31 **<*3OF BULLS AND BEARS*0**> $*<*3Risk inevitable*0*> $*3^SPECULATING*0
0020E31 or accepting unavoidable risk is an inevitable part of the business
0030E31 of buying securities inasumuch as it is an inevitable part of
0040E31 just living. ^Whenever you are confronted with an unavoidable risk--
0050E31 as, indeed, you are in many of your actions every day-- you must
0060E31 speculate. ^You must meet the risk you must take your chances. ^Often
0070E31 you are presented with a choice of risks, when you make up your
0080E31 mind about which one you will take weighing the good and bad features
0090E31 of each, you arrive at a speculative decision. $^There is always
0100E31 an element of speculation involved in the purchase of any bond or stock--
0110E31 even a Government security-- because the risk that it might
0120E31 decline in value cannot be avoided. ^For that_ matter there is risk
0130E31 in just having money-- the risk that it will not buy as much in the
0140E31 future when you want to_ spend it, as it will if you spend it today.
0150E31 $^But when a man buys securities, he does not have to_ gamble
0160E31 or operate on the basis of chance. ^He can make a fairly intelligent
0170E31 estimate of just how much risk he assumes on the basis of the available
0180E31 record. ^And he has a wide range to_ choose from-- all the way
0190E31 from Government gilt-edged securities to shares of companies "whose
0200E31 assets may be made up principally of hope". $^It will be readily appreciated
0210E31 that risk involved in buying or selling securities affects
0220E31 as much the investor as the speculator. ^To some extent, therefore,
0230E31 every investor in stocks and shares is a speculator. ^He, however,
0240E31 speculates in fundamentals, that_ is, company sales, profits, earnings
0250E31 and dividend per share, bonus issues and the future outlook for
0260E31 companies. ^If he goes wrong in his estimates he naturally suffers.
0270E31 ^But he can certainly minimise the risk of error by carefully studying
0280E31 all the available data regarding the company in whose shares he
0290E31 intends to_ invest his capital. ^He can also reduce the risk of loss by
0300E31 carefully timing his purchases and through diversifying his holding,
0310E31 that_ is, by investing an almost equal amount of funds in each of
0311E31 several stocks instead of only one. $^Again, it has been established
0320E31 that long-term trend of share prices has always been upwards despite
0330E31 violent intermediate fluctuations. ^If, therefore, a person invests
0340E31 on the basis of a "buy and hold" philosophy he can always hope to_
0350E31 come out on the right side no matter what happens in the *7interregnum.
0360E31 $*<*3Public psychology*0*> $*3^SPECULATORS*0 are a different
0370E31 breed of cats. ^They speculate not so much in the fundamentals
0380E31 as in the behaviour of persons. ^This is not to_ say that they ignore
0390E31 the basic conditions altogether and concentrate solely on price fluctuations.
0400E31 ^Every successful speculator or stock operator not only
0410E31 takes full cognizance of the fundamental factors but also of the technical
0420E31 position of the stock market, remembers market precedents and
0430E31 keeps in mind the psychology of the public. $^Fundamental factors,
0440E31 it should be noted, change only gradually and influence the trend
0450E31 in share prices over a period. ^Human nature, on the other hand, is
0460E31 capricious and may react to given conditions in the most unexpected
0470E31 manner. ^The so-called speculator, therefore, thinks in short terms
0480E31 and remains on a constant alert for the unexpected. $^How unreasonable
0490E31 the trading public can at times be and how unexpected can be its
0500E31 reaction to some news and development will best be seen from the following
0510E31 two incidents. ^It will be recalled that the *4rupee was rather
0520E31 drastically devalued on June 6, 1966. ^Some six months prior to
0530E31 that_, the stock market had seen the end of the longest bear phase
0540E31 of recent times and had staged a fair recovery under the influence
0550E31 of the appointment of Sachin Choudhuri as the Finance Minister and
0560E31 the abolition in the 1966-67 Budget of the tax on issue of bonus
0570E31 shares by companies. ^On the eve of the devaluation, however, the market
0580E31 seemed well liquidated, the long position created during the
0590E31 preceding rise was almost squared out and, in fact, a certain amount
0600E31 of short interest had been created. $^Anyone with even a little knowledge
0610E31 of international trade would have realised that in the circumstances
0620E31 then prevailing, a devaluation of the *4rupee would only mean
0630E31 a further worsening of the country*'s balance of trade position
0640E31 with exports becoming less remunerative and imports costlier. ^Indian
0650E31 industry in those days, it will be remembered, depended heavily on
0660E31 imported raw materials and components. ^With the landed cost of these
0670E31 going up steeply, company profits were bound to_ go down correspondingly.
0680E31 ^In the light of these presumptions, share prices should
0690E31 have been expected to_ go down. ^But instead they jumped up to the
0700E31 sest-Budget high level and after a modest reaction continued to_ rise
0710E31 for the next six or seven months. $^At that_ time I was working
0720E31 with the Financial Express. ^Asked to_ explain the wayward behaviour
0730E31 of the stock market I said that if a rubber ball was lying on
0740E31 the ground and you hit it with a stick it would not go down any further
0750E31 because it just could not and would only bounce up. ^The same was
0760E31 happening to_ share prices now. $*<*3Bear-squeeze*0*> $*3^AN*0
0770E31 almost similar incident took place in June 1975 after the declaration
0780E31 of the Emergency. ^That_ year*'s Union Budget presented to the
0790E31 *5Lok Sabha*6 four months earlier had sorely disappointed the optimists
0800E31 in the stock market, who were forced to_ liquidate the long
0810E31 positions built up prior to the Budget on hope of tax reliefs. ^There
0820E31 was a good amount of short-selling also, as always happens on
0830E31 such occasions. ^So much so, that on the eve of the Emergency declaration,
0840E31 the technical position of the stock market had become imbalanced
0850E31 in favour of the bears. $^When emergency was declared, many among
0860E31 the outside public which is "in" the market most of the time, thought
0870E31 that there would be another break in the market and prices would
0880E31 decline further. ^They sold heavily with the view to buying back
0890E31 when prices had fallen. ^Coming at the lowest prices these sales were
0900E31 readily absorbed by bulls who were then without commitments and ready
0910E31 for fresh buying. ^When prices refused to_ go down any further the
0920E31 bears became apprehensive and started covering their short position.
0930E31 ^Immediately sensing their plight, the bulls pressed for more purchases
0940E31 and prices went up in one long and sharp swing. ^What materialised
0950E31 was one of the most effective bearsqueezes of modern times. $^The
0960E31 moral to_ be drawn from both these stories is the same: to a speculator
0970E31 in the stock market, the technical position of the market at
0980E31 any given time is of as much importance as the fundamental factors which
0990E31 influence share prices. ^He also must not ignore the human factor,
1000E31 that_ is, the psychology of the outside public and must remember
1010E31 the precedents, that_ is, the past performances of share prices. $^It
1020E31 is rightly said that there is nothing new in the stock market--
1030E31 there cannot be, because speculation is as old as the hills. ^Whatever
1040E31 happens in the market today has happened before and will happen
1050E31 again. ^The game does not change, neither does human nature. ^The outside
1060E31 public will make the same mistakes over and over again and lose
1070E31 money. ^The speculator must know how to_ take advantage of the mistakes
1080E31 done by the public if he is to_ make money. ^This he learns by
1090E31 experience and training extending over a period of many years. $*<*3Success
1100E31 story*0*> $*3^A STOCK*0 market speculator of yester-years
1110E31 who traded highly successfully on Wall Street and became something
1120E31 of a legend in his time, likened the training of a stock market speculator
1130E31 to medical education. "^The physician" he says, "has to_
1140E31 spend long years learning anatomy, physiology, and collateral subjects
1150E31 by the dozen. ^He learns the theory and then proceeds to_ devote his
1160E31 life to_ practise. ^He observes and classifies all sorts of pathological
1170E31 phenomena. ^He learns to_ diagnose. $"^If his diagnosis is correct--
1180E31 and that_ depends upon the accuracy of his observation-- he ought
1190E31 to_ do pretty well in his prognosis, always keeping in mind, of course,
1200E31 that human fallibility and the utterly unforeseen will keep him
1210E31 from scoring hundred per cent of bull*'s eyes. ^And then, as he gains
1220E31 experience, he learns not only to_ do the right thing but to_ do it
1230E31 instantly, so that many people will think he does it instinctively.
1240E31 ^It really is not automatism. ^It is that he has diagnosed the
1250E31 case according to his observations of such cases during a period of
1260E31 many years, and, naturally, after he has diagnosed it, he can only
1270E31 treat it in the way that experience has taught him is the proper treatment.
1280E31 $"^Observation, experiences, memory and mathematics-- these
1290E31 are what the successful trader must depend on. ^He must not only observe
1300E31 accurately but remember at all times what he has observed. ^He
1310E31 cannot bet on the unreasonable or on the unexpected, however strong
1320E31 his personal convictions may be about man*'s unreasonableness or however
1330E31 certian he may feel that the unexpected happens very frequently.
1340E31 ^He must bet always on probabilities-- that_ is try to_ anticipate
1350E31 them. ^Years of practice at the game of constant study, of always
1360E31 remembering, enable the trader to_ act on the instant when the unexpected
1370E31 happens as well as when the expected comes to pass. $"^A man can
1380E31 have great mathematical ability and an unusual power of accurate observation
1390E31 and yet fail in speculation unless he also possesses the
1400E31 experience and the memory. ^And then, like the physician who keeps
1410E31 up with the advances of science, the wise trader never ceases to_ study
1420E31 general conditions to_ keep track of developments everywhere that_
1430E31 are likely to_ affect or influence the course of the various markets.
1440E31 ^After years at the game it becomes a habit to_ keep posted. ^He acts
1450E31 almost automatically. ^He acquires the invaluable professional attitude
1460E31 and that_ enables him to_ beat the game-- at times! ^This difference
1470E31 between the professional and the amateur or occasional trader
1480E31 cannot be over-emphasised. ^*I find, for instance, that memory and
1490E31 mathematics help me very much. ^*Wall Street makes its money on a mathematical
1500E31 basis. ^*I mean, it makes its money by dealing with facts
1510E31 and figures. *<*3Practice and precept*0*> $*3^THERE*0 are two reasons
1520E31 for quoting at such length from the memoirs of the wellknown
1530E31 Wall Street speculator. ^The first is that the quoted passages convey
1540E31 the views and opinions of one who did nothing in life but speculate
1550E31 in the stock market, made and lost more than once millions of dollars,
1560E31 and earned reputation as the greatest Wall Street operator
1570E31 of all times. ^The quotations, therefore, have a personal touch and
1580E31 a ring of authenticity and provide the intending market speculator the
1590E31 advice and guidance which he is not likely to_ get in any of the books
1600E31 on the stock market which, though informative, deal only with the
1610E31 theory and not the practice of share speculation. $^The other and
1620E31 more weightly reason is to_ try to_ convince the critic or the man in
1630E31 the street that stock market speculation is not the hit or miss affair
1640E31 he thinks it is. ^It is not a matter of chances and hunches, nor
1650E31 is the speculator a gambler. ^No doubt, there are many who will bet
1660E31 on the price of a share going up or down so many *4rupees in a single
1670E31 day, or jump in or out of the market in an attempt to_ catch every
1680E31 movement in the share price. ^But these are amateurs, mostly belonging
1690E31 to the outside public whose sole objective is to_ get rich quick.
1700E31 ^The professional speculator operates not on the basis of chance,
1710E31 but on the basis of probabilities which he can estimate with fair accuracy
1720E31 in the light of the available facts. $^Having settled the point,
1730E31 I hope, that stock market speculation is not a game of chance but
1740E31 has a good amount of mathematical background and sophistication, let
1750E31 us turn to the professional speculator and see how he plays this exciting
1760E31 and intelligent game.*#
        **[no. of words = 02017**]

        **[txt. e32**]
0010E32 **<*3The Role of Directors in a Commercial Bank*0**> $^Essentially
0020E32 a bank is a joint stock company. ^In order to_ come into existence,
0030E32 it has to_ be first incorporated under the Companies Act. 1956.
0040E32 ^Before commencing business, banking company will also have to_ obtain
0050E32 a licence from the Reserve Bank of India (\0RBI) Under
0060E32 Section 22 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949. ^An incorporated
0070E32 company is a legal person and it cannot, therefore, act by itself
0080E32 but has to_ act through its executive body, namely, the Board
0090E32 of Directors. ^A company comprises a body of share-holders scattered
0100E32 over a wide area and matters resolved upon by a majority of those
0110E32 voting at the general meeting bind the company and all its members,
0120E32 provided decisions taken are not inconsistent with the Memorandum and
0130E32 the Articles of massociation in particular and common laws in general.
0140E32 $^Viewed in this context, to_ be elected by the body of shareholders
0150E32 of a bank or nominated by the Government or \0RBI to_
0160E32 serve as a Director in a commercial bank is an honour. ^Therefore,
0170E32 it follows that the Director has a primary responsibility to_ be a
0180E32 watchdog of the affairs of the bank so that the shareholders, depositors
0190E32 and the general public are served well and the bank*'s financial
0200E32 position is not adversely affected which is detrimental to the interests
0210E32 of depositors and shareholders. ^In doing so, he is supposed to_
0220E32 exercise due care and diligence. ^There are also legal responsibilities.
0230E32 ^A Director who does not exercise due care and diligence may
0240E32 subject himself to financial liabilities under the law. $^The management
0250E32 of companies by undesirable persons is sought to_ be prevented
0260E32 by law. ^If an undischarged insolvent discharges any of the functions
0270E32 of the Director or Chairman or indirectly takes part in the formation,
0280E32 promotion or management of any company, he shall be punishable
0290E32 with imprisonment or fine or both. ^Similarly, where a person is
0300E32 convicted of any offence in connection with promotion, formation or
0310E32 management of the company, the Court may make an order prohibiting
0320E32 that_ person from being a Director for such period not exceeding
0330E32 five years as may be specified in that_ order. $^The functioning of
0340E32 banking company, besides the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, attracts
0350E32 certain provisions of the Companies Act, 1956. ^The Banking
0360E32 Regulation Act, 1949, does not define a Director but under Section
0370E32 5 (h) defines a Managing Director who by virtue of an agreement
0380E32 with the banking company or of a resolution passed by the banking company
0390E32 in general meeting or by its Board of Director or by virtue
0400E32 of its Memorandum or Articles of Association is entrusted with the
0410E32 management of the whole or substantially the whole of the affairs
0420E32 of the company and includes a Director occupying the position of Managing
0430E32 Director, by whatever name called. ^The Companies Act, 1956,
0440E32 has not defined the precise status of a company Director, but
0450E32 under Section 2 (13) defines a 'Director' to_ include any person occupying
0460E32 the position of a Director by whatever, name called, and under
0470E32 Section 2 (30) \0ibid. as an officer of the company. ^All the
0480E32 directors of a company (inclusive of a banking company) are collectively
0490E32 referred to as 'Board of Directors' or 'Board' and persons through
0500E32 whom it acts and does its business are termed as 'Directors'.
0510E32 ^The shareholders are the members of the company and being proprietors
0520E32 of the said company, the supreme executive authority, within the
0530E32 ambit of Memorandum and Articles of Association and common law,
0540E32 vests in them. ^As the number of the shareholders is large and scattered
0550E32 over a wide area, and since the company has to_ enter into a large
0560E32 number of contracts with others, the affairs of the company are
0570E32 directed and managed by the directors, who are elected by the said 'members'
0580E32 provided they hold qualifying shares. ^The functions of 'Directors'
0590E32 bring in share focus their role as trustees or agents or managing
0600E32 partners of the company. $*<*3Directors as Trustees*0*> $^Directors
0610E32 of a company are referred to as 'trustees' since they have to_
0620E32 act in the best interests of the company. ^Being in charge of the company*'s
0630E32 assets and money, they should not make any personal gain out
0640E32 of such assets or money. ^As regards the use of company*'s property
0650E32 and exercise of powers the directors are like trustees of the company
0660E32 but in law their functions and responsibilities are quite different.
0670E32 ^The 'trustees' are legal owners of the trust property but directors
0680E32 are not. ^They are also not trustees of individual members of
0690E32 the company. $*<*3Directors as Agents*0*> $^The directors represent
0700E32 their company in its transactions with third parties and enter into
0710E32 contracts with them on behalf of the company. ^When they establish
0720E32 any contractual relationship between the company and the third party,
0730E32 they do not incur any personal liability on the contract. ^The directors
0740E32 manage the affairs of the company and have the powers to_
0750E32 carry on the business of the company on its behalf. ^Though the directors
0760E32 can be considered as agents of the company, their powers in
0770E32 certain respects are more extensive than those of agents (who work
0780E32 on instructions of the principal) as they are entitled to_ frame the
0790E32 policy of the company. $*<*3Directors as Partners*0*> $^Directors
0800E32 generally hold the shares of the company and are referred to as partners
0810E32 of the company with other shareholders. ^As they manage the affairs
0820E32 of the company, often they are compared with Managing Partners.
0830E32 ^But legally speaking, the powers and liabilities of a Director
0840E32 are quite different from those of the partners. ^Unlike directors
0850E32 of a company who have no implied authority, a partner of a firm has
0860E32 such authority to_ bind all other partners by his acts in the normal
0870E32 course of business of the firm. $^Thus, while directors resemble
0880E32 trustees in some ways, partners and agents in some others, legally speaking,
0890E32 they are neither trustees, nor agents nor partners. $*<*3Powers
0900E32 of Directors*0*> $^Directors derive their powers and authority
0910E32 from the Articles of Association of the Company and the Companies
0920E32 Act, 1956. ^The Articles of Association provide a list of powers
0930E32 which may be exercised either by the Board of Directors or through
0940E32 its executive-- sub-committees. ^Section 291 of the Companies
0950E32 Act lays down that subject to the provisions of the Articles, the
0960E32 Board of Directors of a company shall be entitled to_ exercise
0970E32 all such powers and do all such acts as the company is authorised to_
0980E32 do. ^All acts and things done by the 'Board' within the powers given
0990E32 by the Articles are binding on the company. ^A Director individually
1000E32 has no authority over the affairs of the company, except regarding
1010E32 matters which are specifically delegated to him by the 'Board'.
1020E32 ^Apart from general powers as expressed in the Memorandum and Articles
1030E32 of Association, the powers expressly provided for in the Articles
1040E32 include those to_ incur preliminary expenses, to_ acquire property,
1050E32 to_ raise funds, to_ insure property, to_ secure contracts
1060E32 by mortgages, to_ appoint trustees and attorneys, to_ invest funds,
1070E32 to_ appoint managers, other staff and remove them and to_ delegate
1080E32 powers under Section 292 of the Companies Act, 1956, which provides
1090E32 for making call on shareholders, issue debentures, only by resolutions
1100E32 passed at the Board meetings. ^However, in the case of a banking
1110E32 company, it can borrow money or make loans without the resolution
1120E32 being passed by the Board. ^The board decides about manpower plaanning
1130E32 and branch expansion also. ^A typical agenda for a Board meeting
1140E32 of a bank includes, such items as, to_ read and confirm minutes
1150E32 of the previous board meeting, to_ consider loan applications for
1160E32 advances and allotment-- transfer of shares, to_ consider performance
1170E32 sheet and profit and loss account, to_ confirm the advances sanctioned
1180E32 under the discretionary powers of the Chairman, to_ consider
1190E32 inspection reports from the \0RBI and internal inspection reports
1200E32 and to_ consider matters pertaining to staff, premises \0etc. ^This
1210E32 gives, in brief, an idea of work attended to by the bank directors.
1220E32 $*<*3Disqualification of a Director*0*> $^Most of the bank failures
1230E32 in the past were attributed to unsound policies pursued by their
1240E32 managements. ^Hence Section 10 of the Banking Regulation Act,
1250E32 1949, provides that no bank can employ or be managed by a managing
1260E32 agent. ^A bank cannot employ any person or continue employment of such
1270E32 person, who is or has been found to_ be of unsound mind, or has
1280E32 been adjudicated insolvent, or has suspended payment or has compounded
1290E32 with his creditors or has been convicted by a criminal court of an
1300E32 offence involving moral turpitude. ^A bank cannot employ any person
1310E32 to_ manage the bank, whose remuneration takes the form of commission
1320E32 or of a share in the profit of the bank or is excessive in the opinion
1330E32 of the Reserve Bank of India. ^A bank cannot be managed by
1340E32 a person who is a Director of another company or engaged in any other
1350E32 business or vocation. ^Further, the term of office of the Chairman
1360E32 of a bank is restricted to five years at a time. ^Under Section
1370E32 16 of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, a bank cannot have as
1380E32 Director any person who is a Director of any other bank or of companies
1390E32 having in the aggregate voting rights in excess of 20 per cent
1400E32 of the total voting rights of all the shareholders of the bank. $*<*3Composition
1410E32 of Board of Directors*0*> $^Banks were an extension
1420E32 of business houses for quite some time and the Board of Directors
1430E32 was dominated by persons who were promoting and safeguarding the
1440E32 interest of these business houses. ^With the introduction of social
1450E32 control measures which became effective in 1969, it was provided, under
1460E32 Section 10 A(2) of the Banking Regulation Act, that not less
1470E32 than 51 per cent of the total number of members of the Board of
1480E32 Directors have to_ consist of persons who have special knowledge or
1490E32 practical experience in respect of one or more subjects, such as, accountancy,
1500E32 agriculture or rural economy, banking, cooperation, economics,
1510E32 finance, law, small-scale industry or any other subject, the
1520E32 special knowledge of and practical experience of which, in the opinion
1530E32 of the Reserve Bank of India, would be useful to the banking
1540E32 company. ^Out of these directors, not less than two shall be persons
1550E32 having special knowledge or practical experience in respect of agriculture
1560E32 and rural economy, cooperation or small-scale industry and shall
1570E32 not have substantial interest in or be connected with, whether
1580E32 as employee, manager or managing agent of any company not being a company
1590E32 under Section 25 of the Companies Act, 1956, or any firm which
1600E32 carries on any trade, commerce or industry (other than small-scale
1610E32 industry) or be proprietors of any trading, commercial and industrial
1620E32 concern, not being a small-scale industrial concern. $^Under Sections
1630E32 10 A, 10 B, 35 B, 36 AB of Banking Regulation Act,
1640E32 1949, the \0RBI is vested with powers of appointment, removal or
1650E32 termination of services of not only the Chairman but also of any Director,
1660E32 the Chief Executive Officer (by whatever name called) or
1670E32 any other officer or an employee of a bank, wherever the circumstances
1680E32 so require. $*<*3Reserve bank*'s nominees as Additional Directors*0*>
1690E32 $^It has been the practice of the Reserve Bank of India
1700E32 since 1952 to_ depute its Officers as observers on the Board
1710E32 of Directors of banks chosen for the purpose. ^Such observers were
1720E32 then sent with the consent of the concerned bank. ^With the increase
1730E32 in banking activity in the country and to_ guide the working of banks
1740E32 on sound lines a need was felt to_ obtain legal sanction to_
1750E32 provide the \0RBI nominees on the Board of Directors of banks.
1760E32 ^Accordingly Banking Regulation Act, 1949, was amended in January
1770E32 1957 to_ provide for inclusion of one or more of its officers on
1780E32 the Board of Directors of commercial banks under Section 36(1)(d)(**=2)
1790E32 of the Act. $^A full-fledged Director on the Board of a commercial
1800E32 bank would not only be advantageous but also would better
1810E32 suit the purpose of meeting the social objectives of banking policy
1820E32 enunciated by the Government of India.*#
        **[no. of words = 02006**]

        **[txt. e33**]
0010E33 **<*3POLICE DOGS*0**> $^The arrival of a police dog at the scene of
0020E33 crime reassures the public, for many believe that it will find the
0030E33 culprit. ^But not all the impressions people generally have about it
0040E33 are correct. $^The idea of using dogs in the police force is not new,
0050E33 though serious training of dogs for this purpose started in Western
0060E33 countries only after the Second World War. ^Its origin can be
0070E33 dated back to 1000 \0BC. ^A wall painting in the tomb of Mereruka
0080E33 at Saqqarah in Egypt, shows a lion hunt. ^In this a dog along with
0090E33 a dwarf handler is shown hunting. $*<*3International significance*0*>
0100E33 $^It has been established that in Egypt dogs were used by the
0110E33 police for guarding the army camps and storehouses, and for carrying
0120E33 messages. ^It was in the 14th century that the Egyptians began using
0130E33 them to_ smell out thieves. $^Around this time, the French authorities
0140E33 too, started using dogs to_ guard the important structures.
0150E33 ^But they were vicious dogs, and not police dogs. ^In 1770, after
0160E33 a naval officer was killed by a dog, the practice was stopped. ^In the
0170E33 15th century, some constables used dogs in england. ^But here again
0180E33 they were guard dogs and did not take part in any detection. $^The
0190E33 first known attempt to_ train dogs for detection was made by the
0200E33 Paris police in the latter part of the 19th century. ^This was done
0210E33 to_ control the increasing rate of crime in Paris. $^After the French
0220E33 police had successfully used dogs, the German authorities
0230E33 too thought of using them. ^The dogs were used in the battlefields in
0240E33 the First World War for carrying messages, finding wounded soldiers,
0250E33 and patrolling with their masters. ^The pioneering work done by
0260E33 the Germans made other countries realise the value of dogs in the
0270E33 police force. $*<*3Historical facts*0*> $^However, even earlier in
0280E33 1899, experiments were made in the case of Belgium sheep dogs and
0290E33 wolf hounds. ^After studying the results of the experiments carried
0300E33 out in Gohent (Belgium), the New York police bought six sheep dogs
0310E33 in 1907. ^This was the first dog section in any police force anywhwre.
0320E33 ^But following an unfortunate accident in a demonstration, and
0330E33 complaints from the public, the dog squad was disbanded. $^Real serious
0340E33 efforts to_ use dogs for various duties involving police patrolling
0350E33 was made in London in 1946. ^This can be called the beginning.
0360E33 ^Six trained Labrador dogs were bought by the London police. ^After
0370E33 about two years of training, the dogs played a very important role
0380E33 in stopping a wave of handbag stealing in Hyde Park. ^The impressive
0390E33 work done by these dogs in tracking and chasing the thieves,
0400E33 encouraged the use of dogs throughout the world. $^*India too, did
0410E33 not stay behind. \0^*Mr Bezil Ken, an Indian police official was deputed
0420E33 in London to_ get training in handling dogs. ^With a gift of
0430E33 three Doberman pinscher dogs by the Maharaja of Baria, Gujarat,
0440E33 the Dog squad of Bombay started functioning in December 1959. $*<*3Breeds
0450E33 of dogs*0*> $^The dogs, accepted for the police assistance
0460E33 include Alsatian (German shepherd), Airedale, Boxer, Rottweiler,
0470E33 Doberman, Labrador, Bouvler, Reisenchnauzer and Weimaraner.
0480E33 $^In India, only three breeds of dogs are used.
0490E33 ^They are Doberman pinscher, Alsatian, and Labrador.
0500E33 ^*Indian dogs have not been found suitable for this work. $^The
0510E33 Alsatian is used for police work because it is said to_ be the most
0520E33 suitable all-purpose dog. ^It is intelligent, lively, watchful, and
0530E33 alert to every sight and sound, fearless, and suspicious of strangers.
0540E33 ^It is savage, and its ferocious looks have a marked effect in
0550E33 frightening the wrongdoers. ^It can work in all climatic conditions
0560E33 because of its double coat of skin. ^The undercoat being woolly in
0570E33 texture resists cold, and the outer coat provides protection against
0580E33 rain. $^The Labrador mixes more freely and is lovable. ^It is very
0590E33 useful because of its sniffing ability. ^*Doberman pinscher is a good
0600E33 helper, but is not so happy in the winter, since it has only one
0610E33 coat. ^It is temperamental. $^The Bombay Dog Squad is under the
0620E33 charge of \0Mr *(0R.S.*) Chavan, who is a sub-inspector in the
0630E33 prevention of Crime Branch (\0CID). ^A toughlooking, middle-aged
0640E33 Maharashtrian, he has been in charge of this branch since 1959.
0650E33 $^In an exclusive interview with CARAVAN, he spoke about various
0660E33 aspects of the dog*'s detective ability, their training, their food
0670E33 habits, and many other things. $Q: ^When are the trained dogs employed
0680E33 to_ detect a crime? ^Obviously, in all the cases, the dogs are
0690E33 not used. $A: ^The trained dogs are not utilised in all cases. ^When
0700E33 the identity of the culprit is not known, the dogs are asked to_
0710E33 step in along with the handlers. ^But when the identity of the culprit
0720E33 is already known, it is no use employing the dogs. ^In cases of
0730E33 burglary, murders and other crimes, where the culprit has left behind
0740E33 his belongings, the dogs are pressed into service. $Q: ^Do other
0750E33 Government agencies like the customs, use the police dogs? $A: ^Yes.
0760E33 ^The custom authorities or any other agency-- even private citizens--
0770E33 whenever they want, can ask for the help of our Dog Squad. $Q:
0780E33 ^Who handles the dogs? ^What is his relationship with the dogs?
0790E33 $A: ^Most of the handlers, while selecting, care is taken to_ see
0800E33 that they are dog-lovers. ^They are not given any other work normally.
0810E33 ^Except in emergency cases, they work along with the dogs as a
0820E33 team. ^The trainer is a Sub-inspector or an Inspector. ^He trains
0830E33 the dog and the handler together. ^One dog goes with one handler. ^The
0840E33 dog is taught to_ obey only one person, \0i.e. its handler. $Q:
0850E33 ^How many hours do the dogs and handlers work? $A: ^The police
0860E33 is on a 24-hour duty. ^The same goes for the dogs and handlers. ^Of
0870E33 course, you can never be certain about the workload. ^One day, there
0880E33 may not be a single case, and on another day, there may be three or
0890E33 even more cases. $Q: ^Where do the dogs stay? $A: ^There are special
0900E33 kennels for the dogs. ^They live there. ^They are cared for more
0910E33 than the children, as they are very delicate. ^A little infection
0920E33 can do them great harm. ^If the handler finds that dog looks dull or
0930E33 doesn*'4t take food properly, he reports the matter to the veterinary
0940E33 surgeon immediately. $Q: ^What is the normal expense on a dog?
0950E33 $A: ^It varies from month to month. ^Normally, it is between \0Rs
0960E33 170 and \0Rs 200. $Q: ^How many dogs are there in the Bombay Squad?
0970E33 $A: ^There are five gogs in our Squad. $Q: ^What are the minimum
0980E33 and maximum age limits for the dogs? $A: ^The training starts when
0990E33 the dog is six months old. ^It normally takes six to eight months.
1000E33 ^After that_, the dog is in active service. ^It can work up to the
1010E33 age of nine years. after that_, it is too old to_ do work. Still
1020E33 it is looked after properly. ^After all, it has given the best part
1030E33 of its life to the police department. $Q: ^Which breeds of indian
1040E33 dogs are used for detection work? $A: ^*Indian dogs are not found
1050E33 suitable for detective jobs. ^They are just not good enough. ^Crossbreeding
1060E33 has been tried, but the results have not been very encouraging
1070E33 as far as the police work is concerned. ^We use three foreign breeds
1080E33 Alsatian, Doberman, and Labrador. $Q: ^From where do you obtain
1090E33 the dogs? $A: ^There is no fixed agency. ^No one deals in dogs
1100E33 for the polic force specially. ^The dogs are sold by private citizens
1110E33 through advertisements in the newspapers. ^The dogs live for a short
1120E33 period, and there have been many cases, where the dogs have died
1130E33 very early, despite all care. $Q: ^Has any dog died while fighting
1140E33 a criminal? $A: ^No, there has not been any such case. ^But whenever
1150E33 any dog has shown courage, it has been appreciated and mention made
1160E33 in its record. $Q: ^Are there any other dog squads in Maharashtra?
1170E33 $A: ^There are six more dog squads in Maharashtra. ^They are
1180E33 under the Inspector-General of Police and are in Nagpur, Aurangabad,
1190E33 Pune, Kolhapur, Thana, and Nasik. $Q: ^Which other animals
1200E33 are used in police assistance? $A: ^No other animal is used in
1210E33 police work. $Q: ^What do you feel about dogs? $A: ^*I love them.
1220E33 ^*I can say one thing: the dogs are never wrong. ^They may fail because
1230E33 of certain circumstances, but they are never wrong. ^For instance,
1240E33 a dog is supposed to_ follow the scent of a person who has crossed
1250E33 various main roads with heavy traffic, but it cannot do it. ^It cannot
1260E33 track the scent in the face of various other scents like those
1270E33 of other persons of petrol fumes, \0etc. ^When they overlap, the scents
1280E33 cannot be chased. $Q: ^What can confuse the dogs? in a Hindi
1290E33 film, Achanak, the culprit makes the figure 8, two to three times
1300E33 around two trees and confuses the dogs, who momentarily fail to_ follow
1310E33 him. ^Is it a fact, that dogs can be thus confused? $A: ^No, the
1320E33 dogs can*'4t be confused this way. ^This can happen only in films,
1330E33 not in real life. $Q: ^Is it possible to_ confuse the dogs in any other
1340E33 way? $A: ^Well, there are ways, but I would not disclose them.
1350E33 ^From my experience of the dogs, I know a few ways of confusing them,
1360E33 but generally it can*'4t be done. $Q: ^Describe the dog*'s work
1370E33 at the scence of crime. $A: ^Whenever a crime has been committed
1380E33 by some unidentified person and he has left any of his belongings
1390E33 at the scene of the crime, the dog is asked to_ smell the object used
1400E33 by the criminal. ^It then starts following the scent. ^If the wind
1410E33 is blowing towards the opposite direction of the culprit, it is more
1420E33 favourable. $*<*3Team-work essential*> $^A police dog and his handler
1430E33 must work as a team. ^There has to_ be complete understanding
1440E33 between the two. ^Otherwise, the dog cannot give its best. ^Police
1450E33 dogs are looked after by their handlers. ^In western countries, the
1460E33 dogs live with the handlers in their homes. ^Off-duty, the dog is one
1470E33 of the family, and lives the life of an ordinary pet and plays with
1480E33 the children. ^But it is always ready to_ obey the handler*'s commands.
1490E33 ^In the case of the Bombay Squad, the dogs do not live with
1500E33 the handlers. ^They live in roomy kennels especially built for them.
1510E33 $^The diet of the dogs varies from force to force, and from country
1520E33 to country. ^In the Bombay Squad, the dogs are given Farex baby
1530E33 food for the first five months. ^After that_ they are given milk in
1540E33 the morning, dog biscuits every two hours, and cooked mutton and
1550E33 *4keema without bones twice a day. ^No spices are used as it affects
1560E33 their performance. $^According to experts, the right age to_
1570E33 start training is between twelve and eighteen months. ^In India, however,
1580E33 the dog starts field work when it is one-year-old. ^The training
1590E33 starts at the age of six months. $*<*3Absolute obedience*> $^The
1600E33 first essential thing in the training is the absolute obedience of the
1620E33 dog to its handler*'s commands. ^The handler, using a lead first,
1630E33 teaches his dog to_ walk in the correct posture. ^The lead is discarded
1640E33 once the dog has learnt the command, 'Heel!' $^On the command,
1650E33 'stand,' the dog is taught to_ remain stationary while standing, and
1660E33 when it hears, 'Sit!', he sits. ^After these exercises, the dog
1670E33 is taught what to_ do when ordered 'Down' and 'Come'. $^Next, the dog
1680E33 progresses to the 'Retrieve' exercises. ^These exercises are very
1690E33 important. ^The difficulty is not in getting the dog to_ find an
1700E33 object, but in getting it to_ return the same in an undamaged condition.
1710E33 $^To_ train a dog, the handler selects a rubber ball, and keeps
1720E33 it in his hands for a period, before taking the dog to an open space
1730E33 with light undergrowth.*#
        **[no. of words = 01998**]

        **[txt. e34**]
0010E34 **<*3Sickness: Small-Scale Units**> $^Sickness in industries has
0020E34 become a common feature of the large-scale sector as well as the small-scale
0030E34 sector. ^As a matter of fact, sickness in small-scale industries
0040E34 has now become rather rampant and is causing considerable alarm and
0050E34 concern. $^The Chambers of Commerce, the Government and the institutions
0060E34 set up to_ foster the development of small scale industries are
0070E34 all seized of this problem is evident **[sic**] from the fact that
0080E34 recently the West Bengal State Board of \0A.I.M.O. held a Seminar
0090E34 in Calcutta, to_ focus attention on the reasons for sickness in small
0100E34 scale industries and the possible remedial measures which could be undertaken
0110E34 for their revival; recently, the Small Industries Service Institute,
0120E34 Bombay, the Federation of Association of Small Scale
0130E34 Industries and \0A.I.M.O. Bombay, had a joint meeting at the
0140E34 \0SISI premises for a discussion in-depth on "Sickness in Small
0150E34 Scale Industries". $^The Reserve Bank of India and a Study Team
0160E34 constituted by the State Bank of India sometime back have given
0170E34 the following guidelines for identifying sickness in industrial units.
0180E34 ^According to the Reserve Bank of India, two criteria for sickness
0190E34 are (**=1) cash losses of the previous year, the current year
0200E34 and anticipated for the next year; (**=2) the deteriorating debt equity
0210E34 ratio; according to the Study Group of the
0220E34 State Bank of India, a sick unit is one which "fails to_ generate
0230E34 internal surplus on a continuing basis and depends for its survival
0240E34 on the frequent infusion of external funds". ^Generally, sickness can
0250E34 be easily diagnosed when for instance (a) there is a continuous decline
0260E34 in turnover, accumulation of finished goods (b) losses on a continued
0270E34 basis and erosion of profitability; (c) inability to_ generate internal
0280E34 surplus in gross income relatively to gross expenditure. $^Sickness
0290E34 in industry is due to reasons which may be technical, financial or
0300E34 economic. ^The technical ones are obsolescence of plant and
0310E34 equipment, poor maintenance and failure to_ replace worn out parts
0320E34 in time. ^The financial ones range from inadequacy or inefficiency of
0330E34 management to_ use funds, poor marketing arrangements, inadequacy of
0340E34 bill collection arrangements, excessive debts, over-extension of credit
0350E34 to_ purchasers \0etc. the economic factors may cover uneconomic
0360E34 pricing policies, general recessionary trends at home or abroad, incidence
0370E34 of steep taxation \0etc. $^From an analytical survey made by
0380E34 the \0SISI Study Team, Bombay, it was found that the major cause
0390E34 of sickness of the small-scale industries in Maharashtra, at least,
0400E34 were poor marketing arrangements which resulted in the units failing
0410E34 to_ achieve break-even. ^Several units were confronted with
0420E34 finance and inventory control problems and delays in the realisation
0430E34 of bills drawn on the large scale sector for supplies made by the small-scale
0440E34 sector, quite a significant percentage of the units suffered because
0450E34 of the shortage of raw materials. ^Other important reasons were
0460E34 over investment in fixed assets like plant and machinery; unplanned
0470E34 development; poor quality of the finished goods which were rejected by
0480E34 the customers; desertion by techaically qualified personnel of the units;
0490E34 cancellation of orders from Government; withdrawl of loans by money
0500E34 lenders; frequent changes in the production lines; fluctuations in
0510E34 international market commodities, family layout, accident due to fire
0520E34 and unethical practices by the proprietors. ^Several units went sick
0530E34 because of the shortage of power, high inventories and heavy excise
0540E34 duty; due to increasing labour costs shortage of capital and high interest
0550E34 rates, besides advance payment of sales tax, excise duties and
0560E34 octroi before the recovery of sales proceeds. ^With a view to enablng
0570E34 the small-scale industries to_ overcome sickness, the following remedial
0580E34 measures need careful and urgent consideration by the authorties
0590E34 concerned. $(**=1) ^Bank finance for working capital requirements
0600E34 or purchase of machinery should be made available on easy terms; $(**=2)
0610E34 ^The long-term capital base of the small-scale units should be
0620E34 broadened; $(**=3) ^There should be a mandatory stipulation for the
0630E34 prompt payment, with a view to helping the small-scale units to_ recover
0640E34 their dues from large-scale units on an expeditious basis; $(**=4)
0650E34 ^Small-scale units should be extended the facility of discounting
0660E34 earnest deposit money from banks or entrepreneurs whose tenders have
0670E34 been rejected by public sector or government undertaking; $(**=5)
0680E34 ^Large monopoly houses should be prevented from usurping the production
0690E34 of items exclusively reserved for small-scale sector; $(**=6) ^Anomalies
0700E34 in Central Sales Tax resulting in discrimination against
0710E34 the small-scale units should be rectified; actually there should be
0720E34 a ceiling limit below which there should be no tax. $(**=7) ^It would
0730E34 also be necessary to_ recast the labour legislation as a whole
0740E34 to_ protect the interests of the small-scale units; $(**=8) ^There
0750E34 should be a provision for adequate investment allowance or depreciation
0760E34 allowance for the replacement of the obsolete machinery. $(**=9)
0770E34 ^The State Government should earmark a sizable percentage (say 40%)
0780E34 of its purchase from the small-scale sector. $^It should also be emphasised
0790E34 that it would be necessary to_ train and educate the Government
0800E34 officials and the banking personnel to_ understand and appreciate
0810E34 the specific problems of the small-scale industrialists. ^As a matter
0820E34 of fact, it was suggested in the meeting of the West Bengal State
0830E34 Board of \0AIMO, by \0*4Shri Amar Das, Chairman of the State
0840E34 Board that "specialist banks" should be set up to_ cater entirely
0850E34 to the special needs of the small-scale and sick industries. ^Yet another
0860E34 suggestion of his which merits consideration is provision of loans
0870E34 at concessional rates of interest and expeditious payment of Government
0880E34 bills combined with moratorium on the realisation of the past liabilities
0890E34 such as sales tax, provident fund, and \0ESI contribution
0900E34 till the units concerned were firmly back on their feet and acquired
0910E34 viability. $^It would be of interest to_ note, that the Union
0920E34 Government is seriously considering to_ undertake a modernisation
0930E34 programme for the small industries with a view to increasing the productivity
0940E34 of this sector. ^It is understood that at the moment, there are
0950E34 in all 53 industries in the small sector which are virtually in a bad
0960E34 shape due to outdated machinery and brought under the coverage of the
0970E34 modernisation of equipment. ^All these ultimately have to_ be brought under
0980E34 the coverage of the modernisation programme. ^To_ make this programme
0990E34 a success, adequate arrangements should be made for the supply of
1000E34 both indigenous and improved machinery and equipment, adequate training
1010E34 facilities, technical and managerial assistance and training raw materials
1020E34 and components and finally credit facilities, both short-term and
1030E34 long-term. ^If the problems of obsolescence are not tackled urgently,
1040E34 there is every likelihood of the productivity of the small-scale units
1050E34 remaining at a low ebb. ^So among the remedial measures contemplated
1060E34 for overcoming sickness in the small-scale sector, modernisation programme
1070E34 should be accorded the highest priority. ^While the programme
1080E34 of modernisation has to_ be of a long-term nature, initially units
1090E34 which are export-oriented, ancillary units, labour-intensive units
1100E34 and units that_ cater to defence requirements should be given attention
1110E34 first. $^Since the funds required for this purpose are bound
1120E34 to _ be substantial, they should be provided at concessional rates
1130E34 of interest with longer periods of repayment. ^The current comfortable
1140E34 foreign exchange reserves should facilitate the financing of the importation
1150E34 of sophisticated equipment/ machinery or any particular replacement
1160E34 parts from abroad. ^However, care should be taken to_ ensure
1170E34 that, only those units whose sickness is curable should be helped to_
1180E34 get back to their full economic health. ^Such of those units where
1190E34 the sickness is beyond cure or repair should be written off. ^The imperative
1200E34 need, hence is to_ examine carefully each unit with a view
1210E34 to determining the extent and nature of its sickness and the type
1220E34 of remedial action it calls for. $**<3Controls**> $^Controls were
1230E34 the direct off-shoot of World War *=2. ^During 1939-45 the economy
1240E34 of shortages warranted a system of controls on prices, distribution,
1250E34 production, licence and imports not only in our country but elsewhere.
1260E34 ^Towards the end of 1952, acute shortages in most commodities were
1270E34 overcome; in fact there was a surplus in certain commodities and the
1280E34 regimen of international allocations and controls over prices was discontinued.
1290E34 ^But it was at that_ time (1950-52) that India had embarked
1300E34 on the course of planned economic development; and controls were
1310E34 deemed necessary for the effective implementation of the Plan. ^However,
1320E34 the system of controls on prices and distribution was transformed
1330E34 into a comprehensive system of controls, products, industrial capacity,
1340E34 distribution, imports, foreign exchange, issue of capital \0etc.
1350E34 $^Experience arising out of resort to a regimen of controls brought
1360E34 to the surface, the crippling effect of controls on the national economy
1370E34 as a whole and its deleterious effects on the standards of ethics
1380E34 and morality in commercial, business and individual deals. ^It was high
1390E34 time, therefore that a review of the system of controls as it has
1400E34 been operating, has become essential to_ eliminate such of those restrictions
1410E34 which are no longer necessary in the changed context of the
1420E34 economy and to_ retain those which have been effective and which have
1430E34 facilitated the realisation of the desired objective. ^The Government
1440E34 had done well in appointing the Vadilal Dagli Committee to_
1450E34 review the system of controls in vogue in the country with a view
1460E34 to streamlining the system. $^The Terms of Reference of the Committee
1470E34 are quite comprehensive. ^The Committee has been asked to_ find
1480E34 out: (1) whether the system of controls has been an effective instrument
1490E34 for national planning and guidance of the national economy; (2) the
1500E34 positive and negative results of the system (3) the areas where they
1510E34 have been successful; (4) areas where they were unsuccessful; (5) the
1520E34 need for or against the contribution of subsidies. $^The All India
1530E34 Manufacturers*' Organization has submitted its views on the Terms
1540E34 of Reference of the Dagli Committee underlining the basic necessity
1550E34 for dismantling the system of controls in many areas where they
1560E34 have become absolutely invalid or have been rendered irrelevant. $^A
1570E34 principal objective of imposing controls is to_ afford relief to the
1580E34 weaker sections of the community by making it possible for them to_
1590E34 obtain the necessities of life at reasonable prices. ^But the actual
1600E34 experience of price controls on consumer goods reveals that it has
1610E34 offered little relief to the weaker sections of the community. ^On
1620E34 the other hand it has only resulted in creating and perpetuating black
1630E34 market, corruption, malpractices; similar restrictions on inputs
1640E34 have proved a damper on fresh investment for increased production and
1650E34 output. ^Moreover, the quantity of foodgrains available in the ration
1660E34 shops(set up for the benefit of the poorer sections) has always been
1670E34 inadequate and the quality of the food-grains and other supplies
1680E34 has been appallingly poor, with the result even the poor people have
1690E34 been forced to_ meet their extra needs through purchases in the black
1700E34 market. $^It is therefore necessary to_ abolish (a) controls on
1710E34 prices and (b) the dual-pricing system which would then result in a
1720E34 single price of the commodity on which bulk transactions take place;
1730E34 such a move would also help Government to_ get the Income Tax and
1740E34 the Sales Tax hitherto escaping the revenue net. $^Allocation of steel
1750E34 or cement at lower prices for Government agencies makes the agencies
1760E34 concerned put up inflated demand for these inputs leading to the
1770E34 possibility of misuse of available stocks and other abuses; in such
1780E34 an atmosphere trade cannot help taking advantage of shortages as and
1790E34 when they occur in regard to specific commodities. ^Hence abolition
1800E34 of controls on prices should be on the basis of agreed measures such
1810E34 as (**=1) stimulation of the indigenous production to the maximum
1820E34 xtent possible; (**=2) importation of the additional quantities of the
1830E34 requisite commodities much in advance with a view to avoiding impending
1840E34 shortages of these commodities; (**=3) building up sizeable buffer
1850E34 stocks of commodities which are liable to fluctuation in production
1860E34 and supply due to extraneous reasons and finally (**=4) ensuring that
1870E34 the supply lines at distribution points are in harmony with adequate
1880E34 and abundant stock of such commodities. ^Fortunately, the substantial
1890E34 increase in the foreign exchange reserves of the country provide
1900E34 an excellent opportunity and the means to_ secure imports of such commodities
1910E34 with a view to holding the price line at a reasonable level.*#**[no.
        of words = 02011**]

        **[txt. e35**]
0010E35 **<*3The Lenin State Library of the \0USSR**> $*<*3Introduction*>
0020E35 $^To a newcomer in Soviet Union the most striking feature that_
0030E35 impresses him is the reading habit of the Moscovites. ^In fact,
0040E35 browsing newspaper or periodicals is an universal habit with commuters
0050E35 of Metro-- the underground railway trains. ^Many daily passengers
0060E35 carry solid "tomes" in their portfolio for serious reading while
0070E35 travelling by trams, trolley-buses or underground trains. ^Lift-operators
0080E35 performing their duties with books in hand is a common sight
0090E35 in big cities. ^Even in chilly weather one can see people standing on
0100E35 pavements glancing through news magazines or evening edition of newspaper
0110E35 while waiting for a transport. ^*Russians may be ranked as one
0120E35 of the most voracious readers in the world. $^This mass addiction to
0130E35 printed materials is a post-revolution phenomenon. ^The rise in literacy
0140E35 is the main reason behind it. ^This also explains partly the
0150E35 Russian*'s book addiction habit as well as the highest annual output
0160E35 of Soviet publishing houses. $^With the advent of new techniques
0170E35 the transmission of knowledge has become cheap. ^Books are now not
0180E35 the privilege of a limited few alone. ^To-day it has led to information
0190E35 explosion; over 250,000 to 300,000 new micro information are being
0200E35 published each year creating many problems for libraries. ^During
0210E35 the last 60 years of existence of Soviet Union, nearly 20 million
0220E35 titles have been published with a circulation of more than 20 million
0230E35 copies, as compared with the 600,000 titles in pre-revolutionary
0240E35 Russia. ^Thus it can be seen that from a humble beginning the production
0250E35 of books and other publications has reached an unprecedented
0260E35 level in Soviet Union. $^The national libraries in collaboration with
0270E35 a chain of public and specialized libraries are the nation*'s store-house
0280E35 of knowledge and centres of cultural heritage. ^To-day Soviet
0290E35 Union has more than 400,000 libraries; over 4,000 of them are
0300E35 in Moscow alone. $^During the post-revolution-era an extensive system
0310E35 of libraries has been built up throughout the country. ^The Ministry
0320E35 of Culture, which has a very wide range of functions, also provides
0330E35 library services for all section **[sic**] of citizens establishing
0340E35 an elaborate network of libraries and thus copes with all sorts
0350E35 of enquiries and requests. ^The libraries of these net-work are mostly
0360E35 general, ranging from *(0V. I.*) Lenin State Library, Moscow,
0370E35 to the district, urban, rural and children*'s libraries. ^These
0380E35 small and large libraries, together with the Lenin State Library
0390E35 of \0USSR, contain nearly 2 billions of books **[sic**] and journals
0400E35 and are engaged in the important work of supplying books and other
0410E35 reading materials to the research scholars, statesmen, students,
0420E35 workers, school going children \0i.e. to Soviet citizens from all walks
0430E35 of life. $*<*3*(0V. I*) Lenin State Library*> $^The *(0V.
0440E35 I.*) Lenin State Library the first public library in Moscow,
0450E35 was founded in 1862 as a section of the Moscow Rumyanteev Public
0460E35 Museum. ^*Lenin State Library of the \0USSR occupies an outstanding
0470E35 place as a cultural institution in Soviet Union. ^Within a
0480E35 short span of time this library earned fame far beyonds the borders
0490E35 of the Soviet Union and is now ranked as one of the foremost national
0500E35 libraries of the world, with a collection running into many million
0510E35 volumes. ^It is perhaps one of the youngest amongst the national
0520E35 libraries of the world. ^Historically, a little over one hundred years
0530E35 is, indeed not a long time for such a library; nevertheless, it
0540E35 firmly holds the first place, as claimed, so far as the number of readers
0550E35 is being served. $*<*3History*> $^Although the Library has
0560E35 rapidly changed beyond recognition in its size and influence during
0570E35 the post-revolution era, the Library owes its inception to Russian
0580E35 statesman Count *(0N. P.*) Rumyanteev, a renowned scholar of
0590E35 his time. ^After his death in 1862, his entire collection of books,
0600E35 manuscripts, and incunabula as well as ethnographic and arcaeological
0610E35 materials were handed over to the museum named after him for public
0620E35 use. ^In 1861, at the suggestion of a Russian writer *(0V. P.*)
0630E35 Odoyevsky, the collection was transferred to Moscow from \0St.
0640E35 Petersburg, the then capital of Russian Government. ^With the passage
0650E35 of time the original collection was enriched by donations from many
0660E35 contemporary Russian nobles including the Empress Alexandra Fyodrovna,
0670E35 wife of Nicholas *=2, *(0A.*) Norov, a former Minister of
0680E35 Education and the famous bibliophile, *(0S. D.*) Polotoratsky.
0690E35 Another 40,000 duplicate copies were also added from the Imperial
0700E35 Library. ^Finally the Moscow Rumyanteev Public Museum-- the first
0710E35 of its kind in Moscow-- housed in Pashkov Palace was thrown open
0720E35 to public on July 1, 1962. ^However the development of the library
0730E35 did not keep pace with the growing demands made on it and had continued
0740E35 its miserable existence due to inadequate funds and lack of
0750E35 proper attention. ^The library had to_ be satisfied with the irregular
0760E35 supply of a copy each of printed materials published in Russia.
0770E35 ^Despite Government*'s apathy, it became a great cultural centre and
0780E35 drew most of leading Russian intellectuals to it. $^After October
0790E35 Revolution, the library attracted the new Government*'s attention.
0800E35 ^Its rapid growth bears testimony to this. ^Within a short span
0810E35 of 5 years (1918-1923) its stock increased many folds. ^Many other libraries
0820E35 with entire collections were merged with it, \0e.g., Russian
0830E35 Medical Society, (50,000 volumes), Moscow Bookseller Chivanov
0840E35 (100,000 volumes), and Count Chememetiev (40,000 volumes). ^Further
0850E35 whenever any institution or department was liquidated, the entire
0860E35 library collection was transferred to State Library. ^*Lenin and
0870E35 other top Soviet Leaders evinced keen interest in its progress. ^In
0880E35 1925, the Rumanteev Museum was reorganised and named as Vladimir
0890E35 Illich Lenin State Library in memory of the great soviet leader.
0900E35 ^Besides continual addition of printed materials, the library received
0910E35 liberal financial grants from the new Socialist Government that_
0920E35 facilitated its all round development, which continued uninterrupted
0930E35 until the Second World War. ^During the war elaborate arrangement
0940E35 was made to_ save the invaluable wealth of the nation. ^All
0950E35 the manuscripts and one copy each of almost all publications were removed
0960E35 to safer places and preserved till the end of the war. $*<*3Library
0970E35 Building*> $^It has been mentioned earlier that the collections
0980E35 of Rumayanteev were brought to Moscow and accommodated in Pashkov
0990E35 House, one of the finest buildings in the moscow designed by
1000E35 the great Russian architect *(0V. I.*) Bazhenov in 1784. ^The rapid
1010E35 expansion of the library after revolution, created an acute shortage
1020E35 of space. ^A five-wing multi-storeyed building in the vicinity
1030E35 of Pashkov Palace was constructed to_ provide for the expanding
1040E35 library. $^At present the buildings of the Lenin State Library occupy
1050E35 an entire block in the central part of the city. ^The total floor
1060E35 space of the new premises is six times larger than that_ of Pashkov
1070E35 Palace. ^The old and new buildings are connected by underground
1080E35 tunnel. $*<*3Collection or Stock of Printed Materials*> $^Since
1090E35 1862 the library has enjoyed the privilege of legal deposit which
1100E35 was amended in 1945. ^The Library preserves a copy of almost each
1110E35 publication received by legal deposit in the "archive collection"
1120E35 as a permanent record which, with periodicals, maps, music records,
1130E35 and microfilms, form the basic collection. ^In the first fifty years
1140E35 of its existence the library acquired only 1,200,000 volumes. ^The
1150E35 library receives three copies of each printed material published in
1160E35 the \0USSR by legal deposit and further copies are also made available
1170E35 for international exchange programme; thus the library adds
1180E35 about a million copies of books and periodicals every year. ^Its stock
1190E35 represents all the 90 languages of Soviet Union as well as 84 foreign
1200E35 languages. ^The periodical division subscribes to 13,000 periodicals.
1210E35 ^Besides, the Central Reference Library has 250,000 volumes
1220E35 and another 300,000 volumes are made available to its users on
1230E35 open access. ^In addition, over 100,000 microfilms enriched its collection.
1240E35 ^The present collections of the Library number nearly 25 million
1250E35 items: books (9,000,000), serials (8,000,000), newspapers (300,000
1260E35 annual files), maps (150,000) special technical publications (1,500,000),
1270E35 \0etc. ^To_ shelve its yearly acquisition the library requires
1280E35 14 \0km. shelving space, the total length of book-shelves in
1290E35 the library today exceeds 350 \0kms. \0i.e., more than 200 miles. $^The
1300E35 library is functionally divided into many departments. ^A brief
1310E35 description of each of the important departments follows. $*<*3Rare
1320E35 Materials & Rare Books Department*> $^The collection of this
1330E35 department consists of incunabula, manuscripts, and rare editions of
1340E35 many famous printers, since the advent of printing technology. ^In
1350E35 the Manuscript Section over 33,000 written memorials and 5 hundred
1360E35 archives are preserved. ^These are mainly Russian and Slavonic
1370E35 handwritten books of 11th-16th centuries and there are also books in
1380E35 Chinese, Persian, Indian and from other countires of the East
1390E35 and West. ^The earliest Greek manuscript dates back to the 6th century;
1400E35 the oldest manuscript-- the "archangel Gospel" written in the
1410E35 old Russian is nearly nine hundred years old. $^A few of the worth
1420E35 mentioning \0MSS collection are: a Budhist religious work in Pali
1430E35 written on palm leaves; jurisprudence of Ivan *=4, a manuscript
1440E35 by Peter the Great on Military Science, collection of Religious
1450E35 songs-- a block-book of the 12th-13th century. ^Here one can see
1460E35 the autographs and proof-correction copies of many illustrious scientists,
1470E35 writers and artists like, Ciordano Bruno, Jean *(0J.*) Rousseau,
1480E35 Walter Scott, Romain Rolland, Lomonsov, Gogol, Dostoyevsky,
1490E35 Chekhov and others. ^The permanent exhibition on the library
1500E35 of book printing displays about 25,000 volumes of unique examples
1510E35 of Russian printing. ^This gives a visitor a vivid overall idea about
1520E35 the development of book production and book-trade in Russia during
1530E35 the last 400 years. $*<*3Catalogues*> $^The richness of the
1540E35 Library*'s books stocks entail **[sic**] a well-organized catalogues
1550E35 division which is mirrored by its system of catalogues and card indexes.
1560E35 ^Four hundred different catalogues are maintained in card-form
1570E35 including author, classified and alphabetico-subject indexes. ^Theses
1580E35 catalogues and indexes increase by two million cards annually.
1590E35 ^In addition, there are union catalogues of foreign literature which
1600E35 are available in other libraries of the Soviet Union. $^The classified
1610E35 catalogues are arranged according to a fairly conventional hierarchical
1620E35 classification, in which the first class is "Marxism-Leninism".
1630E35 ^Unquestionably the problem of re-classification is so enormous
1640E35 today that the Lenin Library along with some other old libraries
1650E35 are allowed to_ use its old classification scheme instead of using
1660E35 the \0U.D.G. schedule. ^In collaboration with the Moscow University
1670E35 Library and the Academy of Sciences Libraries in Moscow
1680E35 and Leningrad, its classification research group is engaged on a major
1690E35 revision of the scheme now in use to_ cope with the current situation.
1700E35 $*<*3Book-Exhibitions*> $^Display of books and other publications
1710E35 ensure a fuller use of the book stocks of any library. ^The
1720E35 Lenin Library, where a million items are added annually, lays
1730E35 especial stress on the need for adequate display of its recent acquisitions.
1740E35 ^In a permanent exhibition of new accessions nearly 1500 Soviet
1750E35 and foreign books are exhibited weekly; any one of these publications
1760E35 can be issued to a reader at once on demand. ^Every Monday
1770E35 the entire display is replaced by new arrivals and processed books are
1780E35 then sent to the main collections. ^Besides, Library organises over
1790E35 800 exhibitions in connection with important social and political
1800E35 events, latest scientific and socio-economic advancement, or to_
1810E35 arouse interest in works of scientists, literateurs, philosophers, humanitarians
1820E35 of the world every year. $*<*3International Book Exchange
1830E35 Division*> $^Four working groups comprising linguists and
1840E35 bibliographers of this division supervise an International Book Exchange
1850E35 Programme with nearly 3250 organizations of 93 countries.
1860E35 ^They received over 250,000 copies of books, magazines and other materials
1870E35 in return of 270,000 copies of different items sent by them in
1880E35 1966. ^In Soviet Union there is an All Union Council for planning
1890E35 and coordinating the book exchange activities of all such exchange
1900E35 centres; the Director of Lenin State Library is the President
1910E35 of it. ^This Council is entrusted with power for outlining the
1920E35 guide-posts in formulating a national book exchange policy and the
1930E35 areas to_ be covered by all these centres. $^This division is entrusted
1940E35 with the following tasks : $**=1) ^Coordination of international
1950E35 book exchange programme with other libraries of Soviet Union. ^They
1960E35 help to_ foster good exchange relation with foreign libraries and
1970E35 assist in signing new exchange agreements; selecting useful materials
1980E35 \0etc. ^They maintain a Union Card Index of Institutes abroad
1990E35 already engaged or interested in establishing exchange-relation
2000E35 for the acquisition of Soviet Literature. $**=2) ^Sending both current
2010E35 and retrospective literatures aborad.*#
        **[no. of words = 02031**]

        **[txt. e36**]
0010E36 **<*3The Story Of Wheat**> $^Wheat has been cultivated in our country
0020E36 for over 5,000 years. ^The carbonised samples of wheat grains
0030E36 recovered from Mohenjo-daro belong to a dwarf species with spherical
0040E36 grains. ^This species (*8Triticum Spaerococcum*9) is popularly
0050E36 known as the indian dwarf wheat. ^Thus, dwarf wheat, by itself, is
0060E36 not a recent innovation. ^The Mohenjo-daro wheat, though characterised
0070E36 by a considerable ability to_ withstand drought, has a low yield potential
0080E36 since the head which bears the grains is also small. ^However,
0090E36 because of its drought tolerance, it used to_ be cultivated in the
0100E36 western part of Punjab and in Baluchistan which are now parts of Pakistan.
0110E36 $^From the Mohenjo-daro period until 1950-51, when the
0120E36 First Five Year Plan of independent India was initiated, we developed
0130E36 a capacity to_ produce about 6-7 million tonnes of wheat in
0140E36 the country. ^In 1964-65, when the season was very favourable for
0150E36 wheat production, we harvested about 12 million tonnes. ^Following
0160E36 the introduction of the High Yielding Varieties Programme (\0HYVP)
0170E36 in wheat in 1966-67, this figure rose to over 28 million tonnes
0180E36 during 1975-76. ^Thus the increase in production achieved after the
0190E36 initiation of \0HYVP in wheat has been of a greater magnitude than
0200E36 that_ witnessed during the preceding 5,000 years. ^This is why the
0210E36 term "revolution" has often been used to_ indicate this transformation
0220E36 in the wheat production trend in our country. ^How did this happen?
0230E36 ^Where do we go from here? $^After World War *=2, an American
0240E36 biological scientist in Japan, \0Dr Solomon, was greatly impressed with
0250E36 the dwarf varieties of wheat with long heads grown at the Norin Experiment
0260E36 Station. ^He took seeds of this strain and distributed
0270E36 them among wheat breeders in the United States. ^Using this material
0280E36 as the source of dwarfing, \0Dr *(0O.*) Vogel of Washington
0290E36 State University released a semi-dwarf variety named "Gaines" in 1961.
0300E36 "^*Gaines" belongs to the category known as "winter wheats" which
0310E36 require long days with sunlight for over 15 hours in a day and
0320E36 mild temperatures. ^Such conditions prevail only in temperate latitudes
0330E36 or in high altitude areas. ^Although we cultivate wheat during the
0340E36 winter season, our wheats technically belong to the "spring wheat" group
0350E36 which can flower and set grains under short-day conditions. $*<*3Adaptable
0360E36 Dwarf*> $\0^*Dr Norman *(0E.*) Borlaug, working in
0370E36 Mexico under the joint Rockefeller Foundation-- Mexican Government
0380E36 Wheat Improvement Programme, incorporated the same dwarfing
0390E36 genes from Norin wheats into a spring wheat background. ^From
0400E36 this work, four semidwarf spring wheats were released in Mexico in 1963.
0410E36 \0^*Dr. Borlaug not only incorporated the dwarf character in his
0420E36 wheat varieties but also introduced the character of wide adaptation
0430E36 in them by removing the genetic factor which causes sensitivity to
0440E36 the length of the day. $^Organised wheat improvement work started in
0450E36 our country early in this century at the Indian Agricultural
0460E36 Research Institute (\0IARI) then located at Pusa (Bihar).
0470E36 ^Although our production was only 5 million tonnes, we could then
0480E36 still export some wheat to Europe, through Karachi and Calcutta.
0490E36 $^*Sir Albert Howard and his wife, Gabrielle, did pioneering work
0500E36 at Pusa in selecting wheat varieties of good quality. ^Thus, Pusa-4
0510E36 won a prize for its quality at the International Grain Exhibition
0520E36 held in Canada in 1919. ^The late Ram Dhan Singh at Lyallpur
0530E36 and \0Dr *(0B. P.*) Pal at the \0IARI provided outstanding
0540E36 leadership to the wheat improvement programme which led to the
0550E36 release of varieties which had good *(*4chapati-making*) quality
0560E36 and appearance and resistance to the major diseases of wheat. ^The
0570E36 Pusa wheats bred by \0Dr Pal and his associates also helped to_
0580E36 achieve some stability in production since they possessed resistance
0590E36 to rust and loose smut. $*<*3Missing ingredient*> $^Nevetheless,
0600E36 the production of wheat did not show striking improvement since the
0610E36 yield per hectare rose only to 940 \0kg in 1964-65 from 655 \0kg in
0620E36 1949-50. ^Consequently, even in the Intensive Agricultural District
0630E36 Programme (\0IADP) districts like Aligarh, wheat yields
0640E36 did not show any marked improvement following the introduction in 1961-62
0650E36 of a package of improved management practices based on the greater
0660E36 use of water and fertiliser. ^The earlier tall varieties of wheat
0670E36 tended to_ fall down (This is called "Lodging") when given fertiliser
0680E36 exceeding about 40 \0kg of nitrogen per hectare and also water during
0690E36 the month of March. ^Wheat requires approximately 25 \0kg of nitrogen
0700E36 to_ enable the plant to_ give one tonne of grain. ^Thus, the inability
0710E36 to_ make efficient use of larger applications of water and fertiliser
0720E36 imposed a ceiling on yield in all wheats around 4 tonnes per
0730E36 hectare. $^It became apparent that the improved practices introduced in
0740E36 (\0IADP) districts in the early sixties had an important missing
0750E36 ingredient-- a variety which can effectively respond to fertiliser and
0760E36 water. ^It is on the basis of such analysis that the Indian Agricultural
0770E36 Research Institute proposed in 1962 to_ invite \0Dr *(0N.
0780E36 E.*) Borlaug to India and to_ obtain from him dwarf and non-lodging
0790E36 wheats. \0^*Dr. Borlaug visited India in March 1963 and later supplied
0800E36 a wide range of material. ^This marked the beginning of an era
0810E36 of accelerated advance in wheat production in the country. $^In addition
0820E36 to a wide range of crosses and breeding material, \0Dr Borlaug
0830E36 also supplied in November 1963 one quintal each of seeds of the
0840E36 Mexican dwarf wheat varieties. ^The \0IARI, which received this
0850E36 material, distributed it to research workers in
0860E36 Ludhiana, Pantnagar, Kanpur, Indore and Pusa. ^At the All India
0870E36 Wheat Research Workers*' conference, held in 1964, the data
0880E36 from these trials were presented and it became obvious that a breakthrough
0890E36 in yield potential had been achieved. ^Therefore, \0IARI
0900E36 proposed in 1964 the organisation of a National Demonstration Programme
0910E36 in order to_ demonstrate to farmers the new vistas opened
0920E36 up by the non-lodging semi-dwarf and dwarf varieties of wheat
0930E36 under good conditions of management. ^The Government of India imported
0940E36 from Mexico 250 tonnes of seeds of Lerma Rojo 64-A and Sonora
0950E36 64 in 1965 for the demonstration and testing programmes. ^The demonstrations
0960E36 were so successful that to_ meet the needs of farmers the
0970E36 Government of India decided to_ import 18,000 tonnes of seeds
0980E36 from Mexico in 1966. $*<*3The Decade of The "Revolution"*>
0990E36 ^Agricultural production increases only when a package of economically
1000E36 viable technology is supported by appropriate packages of services
1010E36 and public policies. ^This kind of orchestration was achieved in wheat.
1020E36 ^Scientists developed and demonstrated an economically viable
1030E36 high-yield technology. ^Central and State Governments arranged
1040E36 for the production and distribution of seeds through the National
1050E36 Seeds Corporation and other agencies. ^Ground and surface water
1060E36 exploitation received a spurt in the Indo-Gangetic plains. ^A farmer
1070E36 in Bihar invented a low-cost bamboo tubewell. ^Diesel and electric
1080E36 pumps were sold in large numbers. ^Extension and input-supply
1090E36 agencies and mass media played their part in spreading the new technology.
1100E36 ^Above all, marketing was assured at a remunerative price
1110E36 through the Food Corporation of India. $^Why then should farmers lag
1120E36 behind? Both area and yield started rising. ^The area under wheat
1130E36 increased from about 13.4 million hectares in 1964-65 to over 20 million
1140E36 hectares in 1975-76. ^The average yield per hectare rose from 940
1150E36 \0kg in 1964-65 to 1409 \0kg in 1975-76. ^Even a non-traditional wheat
1160E36 State like West Bengal produced over 1.1 million tonnes of wheat
1170E36 during 1975-76. ^What is even more significant is the fact that
1180E36 the average yield of wheat in West Bengal during 1975-76 was 2,100
1190E36 \0kg per hectare, second only to Punjab*'s 2,375 \0kg per hectare.
1200E36 $^New wheat-based farming systems started to_ emerge as a result of
1210E36 the flexible sowing dates rendered possible by the relatively photo-insensitive
1220E36 dwarf wheats. ^Jute-rice-wheat rotation became possible in
1230E36 parts of West Bengal Moong-rice-wheat rotation started getting
1240E36 popular in the Punjab. ^Consequently, Punjab also became a major
1250E36 rice producing State. ^Sugarcane-wheat, potato wheat and several
1260E36 other unusual crop combinations became common. ^In 1963-64, using
1270E36 the dwarf and semidwarf wheat material received from Mexico, a
1280E36 4-pronged breeding strategy was initiated at our major wheat research
1290E36 centres. ^First the four commercial varieties received from Mexico
1300E36 were assessed for their yield potential and Lerma Rojo 64 A and Sonora
1310E36 64 were identified as being suitable for direct introduction.
1320E36 ^Secondly, the advanced breeding lines were carefully screened for resistance
1330E36 to rusts and other diseases and also for grain quality.
1340E36 ^The varieties Kalyansona, Sonalika, Choti Lerma and Safed
1350E36 Lerma were selected and released in this way. ^Thirdly, Lerma Rojo
1360E36 64-A and Sonora-64 with red grains were subjected to treatment with
1370E36 radiation in order to_ create variability of grain colour, without
1380E36 losing their yield potential. ^Pusa Lerma and Sharbati Sonora
1390E36 were developed through such mutation breeding techniques.
1400E36 ^Finally, the Mexican dwarf wheats were crossed with Indian wheat
1410E36 varieties and selections were made in segregating populations. ^A wide
1420E36 range of varieties were bred in this manner. $^Farmers from the
1430E36 Punjab and northwest India were so enthusiastic about the
1440E36 new varieties that they carefully multiplied even the small quantity
1450E36 (about 1 \0kg each) of seeds supplied to each farmer. ^As a result,
1460E36 the area under high-yielding varieties of wheat grew from four
1470E36 hectares in 1964-65 to about four million hectares in 1971-72. what began
1480E36 as a small Government programme became a mass wheat production
1490E36 movement, with the Punbaj farmer taking the driver*'s seat. ^At
1500E36 the back of the farmers stood the scientists of our Agricultural Universities
1510E36 and Research Institutes and extension workers of the State
1520E36 Departments of Agriculture. $^Can we produce "hybrid wheat"
1530E36 like hybrid maize, hybrid *4jowar and hybrid cotton? ^This
1540E36 question is also receiving attention. ^However, to_ make hybrid wheat
1550E36 economically viable, the hybrid will have to_ give about 30 per cent
1560E36 more yield than the best available dwarf variety since, in the case
1570E36 of hybrids, the farmer will have to_ purchase the seed every year
1580E36 and cannot keep his own seeds. $^There are various technical difficulties
1590E36 which are yet to_ be overcome before hybrid wheat becomes
1600E36 a commercial proposition. ^However, this is an area of research which
1610E36 merits intensive study particularly with reference to the value of
1620E36 hybrid vigour in elevating and stabilishing yields in unirrigated areas.
1630E36 ^For example, a great merit of hybrid jowar is its resilience to the
1640E36 vagaries of the weather and to moisture stress. $*<3Rusts Are The
1650E36 killers*> ^Wheat, fortunately is not susceptible to any serious pest
1660E36 attack, although the dwarf varieties whose leaves show slow ageing may
1670E36 get attacked by cut worms and army worms in March. ^Two weeds, wild
1680E36 oats and *8phalaris minor*9 have become very important in Punjab.
1690E36 ^Fortunately, mehtods of eliminating them have been standardised
1700E36 by scientists of the Punjab Agricultural University and elsewhere.
1710E36 ^What is now needed is sustained community action on the part of all
1720E36 farmers in the village so that these weeds are not allowed to_ shed
1730E36 seeds in the soil. $^The most important cause of instability in wheat
1740E36 production in the past has been disease epidemics. ^Among diseases,
1750E36 wheat rusts cause the maximum damage. ^There are three major groups
1760E36 of rusts known as black, brown and yellow rusts. ^Yellow rust is
1770E36 confined more to the foothills of the Himalayas and north-west India.
1780E36 ^Black rust, though prevalent all over the country, normally appears
1790E36 in an epidemic form only in southern, central and eastern India.
1800E36 ^Brown rust occurs throughout the country. $^Wheat pathologists and
1810E36 breeders have hence paid considerable attention to the control of rust
1820E36 epidemics. ^We now have a National Disease Survey and Surveillance
1830E36 system in wheat operated cooperatively by wheat pathologists
1840E36 at the \0IARI and Agricultural Universities. ^A national
1850E36 rust-control strategy has also been developed to_ understand fully the
1860E36 methods of dissemination of wheat-rust spores in different parts of
1870E36 the country. ^It should be possible to_ delay the spread of the disease
1880E36 by growing genetically different resistant strains in the different
1890E36 zones. $^This principle holds good for many of the airborne plant
1900E36 pathogens. ^This sort of gene deployment could then be practised, at
1910E36 regional and national level, against diseases whose epidemiology has
1920E36 been well understood. $^In 1953, \0Dr Borlaug suggested an interesting
1930E36 method of arresting pathogens from growing into epidemic
1940E36 proportions. ^This method consisted of growing a variety which will
1950E36 be homogenous from the point of growth and morphological characters,
1960E36 but will have differences in resistance to different races of rusts.*#
        **[no. of words = 02023**]

        **[txt. e37**]
0010E37 $*<*3How It Affects Nutrition*> $^Several studies have indicated that
0020E37 the expansion of wheat hectarage in the major wheat-growing States
0030E37 such as Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh
0040E37 and Rajasthan has primarily been at the expense of chickpea (gram),
0050E37 pigeonpea (*4arhar), other pulses and barley. ^As a result, there
0060E37 has been a decline in per capita availability of pulses in India. ^This
0070E37 raises the question whether the production revolution in wheat
0080E37 has, in fact, led to an adverse nutritional impact. $*(0^*J. G.*) Ryan
0090E37 and *(0M.*) Asokan of the International Crops Research Institute
0100E37 for the Semi-Arid Tropics, Hyderabad, have analysed the available
0110E37 data on this question. ^They have concluded that, if the high-yielding
0120E37 varieties of wheat had not been introduced, the annual trend production
0130E37 of calories in the six states mentioned earlier would have
0140E37 been 13.5 per cent less than it actually was during the year 1974-75.
0150E37 ^In fact, as compared to the situation in 1965-66, the actual production
0160E37 of nutrients in the six major wheat growing States was higher by
0170E37 the following percentages during 1975-76: total production 22, protein
0180E37 20, energy 22, lysine 7, methionine and systine 1, tryptophan 33,
0190E37 leucine 16 and isoleucine 12. $^Hence, from the nutritional angle,
0200E37 the increased production of wheat led not only to an increase in the
0210E37 production of energy per hectare but also of protein. ^*Ryan and
0220E37 Asokan have calculated that for a hectare of additional wheat a
0230E37 further 35 \0kg of protein and 2,527,000 kilo calories of energy were
0240E37 produced than would have happened if chickpea had been grown in that_
0250E37 area. ^Therefore, a primarily yield-oriented plant breeding strategy
0260E37 has had a favourable impact on the nutritional well being of
0270E37 the people in the case of wheat. ^A similar strategy is called for in
0280E37 other cereals as well as grain legumes. $^It should not be concluded
0290E37 that we should replace grain legumes with highyielding cereals. ^The
0300E37 legume-cereal combination of the diet makes good the deficiency
0310E37 of lysine in the cereal and promotes a balanced diet also, there is
0320E37 a limit to the quantity of cereal that_ growing children can consume.
0330E37 $^What however is clear is that, unless the yield potential of grain
0350E37 legumes can be improved, the farmer will replace a low yielding pulse
0360E37 crop with a high-yielding cereal, particularly if he has access to
0370E37 irrigation. ^The only way of avoiding such shifts in area will be
0380E37 the standardisation of a high-yield technology for pulses, without
0390E37 sacrificing quality. ^The alternative of providing price incentives in favour
0400E37 of the pulse crops will defeat the very purpose for which a higher
0410E37 production of pulses is needed. $*<*3Technology \0vs labour?*>
0420E37 $^The question whether yield and nutritional quality; particularly
0430E37 protein and lysine contents, can be simultaneously improved has been
0440E37 a topic of intensive research during the last 15 years following
0450E37 the discovery of the Opaque-2 gene in maize. ^Genes which can enhance
0460E37 protein and or lysine contents have also been identified in *7sorgum
0470E37 and barley. ^However, commercial varieties possessing such genes
0480E37 with a satisfactory yield level are yet to_ be released. ^Strains
0490E37 of Triticale-- wheat and rye hybrid-- also have a higher protein content.
0500E37 ^If care is taken to_ ensure that there are no anti-nutritional
0510E37 factors of sensitivity to ergot infection, the release of Triticale
0520E37 in suitable unirrigated areas may help to_ combine a good yield
0530E37 potential with good nutritive properties. ^Some Triticale strains
0540E37 are doing well in the Western Himalayan region. $^Is the high-yield
0550E37 technology labour displacing? ^It is obvious that, if a capital intensive
0560E37 and high-mechanised high-yield technology is introduced, there could
0570E37 be an adverse impact on the employment of agricultural labour.
0580E37 ^If however an appropriate technology is introduced, there could be
0590E37 greater opportunities for gainful employment on account of the following
0600E37 three factors; (a) the crop itself will need intensive care involving
0610E37 weeding, manuring, irrigation and pest control; (b) multiple cropping
0620E37 involving the cultivation of 2 to 3 crops in a year may be possible;
0630E37 and (c) increased production will necessitate greater attention
0640E37 to post-harvest technology. ^Packaging, storage, processing and
0650E37 transport operations will generate new and diversified employment. $\0^HYV
0660E37 programmes can help to_ generate more employment. ^However,
0670E37 the impact of new technology on employment should be continually
0680E37 monitored so that the technology released is in harmony with the socioeconomic
0690E37 compulsions of an area. $^The question now is where do we go
0700E37 next? have we to_ stagnate at 28-30 million tonnes annual production
0710E37 or can we go to higher levels? ^It is in this context that the International
0720E37 Wheat Genetics Symposium being held at New Delhi from February
0730E37 23 to 28, is so significant. $^The evolutionary history of the
0740E37 cultivated bread wheat has an important message for human society.
0750E37 ^The bread wheat botanically called *8Triticum aestivum*9 with 42
0760E37 chromosomes has three parents, each having 14 chromosomes. ^Each of
0770E37 these three parents, individually, is a very poor agricultural plant
0780E37 but in combination they have given rise to the "king of cereals".
0790E37 ^This is the power of cooperative interaction in the biological world.
0800E37 $*<*3Assist The Farmer*> $^Whatever progress we have made so
0810E37 far in wheat production is also due to such co-operative interaction
0820E37 among all concerned. ^However, we have still a considerable untapped
0830E37 production potential in wheat even at current levels of technology.
0840E37 ^For example, the average yield per hectare of irrigated wheat was
0850E37 only about 12 quintals in Uttar Pradesh in 1974-75, while it was
0860E37 about 25 quintals in the Punjab in the same year. ^The potential
0870E37 farm yield is about 2 to 4 times higher than the actual farm yield in
0880E37 many States. $^While wheat scientists continue their relentless struggle
0890E37 to_ further elevate and stabilise wheat yields, the immediate
0900E37 task of everyone concerned with wheat production is to_ assist farmers
0910E37 in reaping full benefit from the technology currently available.
0920E37 ^The National Commission on Agriculture has projected a yield
0930E37 level of 21 quintals per hectare by 1985, which should give, in an
0940E37 area of 20 million hectares, as much as 42 million tonnes of wheat.
0950E37 $**<*3LEARNING TO_ GROW MORE FOOD*0**> $^*India*'s population is nearing
0960E37 the 700 million mark and the present requirement of foodgrains
0970E37 is about 115 million tonnes per year. ^By the end of the present century,
0980E37 the population will be at least one billion and 150 million
0990E37 tonnes of foodgrains will be needed to_ feed it. ^During the last two
1000E37 or three years, the climate has been good and food production has
1010E37 been more than what is required. $^However, even with a 5 per cent
1020E37 deviation from normal production, there can be a shortage. ^The only way
1030E37 to_ ensure adequate production is by adopting technology in agriculture,
1040E37 by using fertiliser-responsive varieties, by sowing and harvesting
1050E37 at the proper time and by adopting suitable plant protection measures.
1060E37 ^The new trends in modernisation of agricultural research and education
1070E37 in the country are directed to that_ end. $*<*3New Impetus*0*>
1080E37 $^Agricultural education in India has taken great strides since
1090E37 the establishment, on the recommendations of the Famine Commission
1100E37 of 1901, of the first six regional colleges in India. ^These
1110E37 colleges were established at Poona, Coimbatore, Nagpur, Kanpur,
1120E37 Lyallpur (now in Pakistan) and Sabour. ^As the science of agriculture
1130E37 and allied subjects made progress, post-graduate education was also
1140E37 developed in these colleges as also in a number of other centres and
1150E37 research institutes-- the Indian Agricultural Research Institute,
1160E37 Delhi; the Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izzatnagar;
1170E37 and the Indian Dairy Research Institute, Karnal. ^A new impetus
1180E37 was given to agriculture during the Second World War under the
1190E37 Grow More Food campaigns. $^After Independence in 1947, a greater consciousness
1200E37 was created among national leaders and educationists and attention
1210E37 was focused on the modernisation of agriculture. ^On the recommendations
1220E37 of the Education Commissions, a number of private and Government
1230E37 colleges in the newer States were established. ^The system of
1240E37 education up to this time was essentially on the British pattern of annual
1250E37 examinations with the help of external examiners. ^Post-graduate
1260E37 education was also on British lines and great emphasis was laid on
1270E37 research methodology and scientific achievements as presented in the theses
1280E37 which, until recently, were examined by scientists abroad. $^In
1290E37 the mid fifties, another influence seemed to_ be in the offing. ^The
1300E37 first Indo American team of 1955 and the second Indo American
1310E37 team of 1959 entirely reviewed agricultural education, research and
1320E37 development programmes in the country. ^It was felt that such a large
1330E37 population could not afford to_ be dependent on imports of foodgrains.
1340E37 ^The wheat loans and the \0PL 480 funds were swelling by the *4crore.
1350E37 ^Then was it realised that at least some of the rupee funds available
1360E37 under the \0USAID programme could be used productively for establishing
1370E37 agricultural universities in India in the hope that, eventually,
1380E37 there would be at least one agricultural university in each State.
1390E37 $^Eventually, this concept was developed on the model of the Land Grant
1400E37 Colleges of the \0USA which were established under the Morrill
1410E37 Act of 1862. ^And, today there are more than 20 agricultural universities
1420E37 in India which, apart from the State finances, get grants from
1430E37 the Indian Council of Agricultural Research to the tune of \0Rs
1440E37 30 *4crores annually. $^The most important feature of this new concept
1450E37 was that teaching, research and extension should be integrated
1460E37 at the level of the major subject-matter areas. ^For instance, the
1470E37 new technology for crop production, the use of fertilisers and plant
1480E37 protection recommendations suiting the specific agro-climatic conditions
1490E37 of an area should have a strong research base and the extension
1500E37 education programme should be integrated with the research and teaching
1510E37 activities. $^Outwardly, it appeared to_ be quite a simple
1520E37 concept but, in actual practice, very thorough planning and concerted effort
1530E37 were needed to_ make it a success. ^Whereas a new institution
1540E37 can be established on any lines-- as was the case with the *(0G. B.*)
1550E37 Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, or
1560E37 with the Indian Institute of Technology-- an established college,
1570E37 which for years has been run on another pattern, needs the hard work of
1580E37 a whole generation. $*<*3On British Lines*> $^The College of
1590E37 Agriculture, Ludhiana, was a refugee institution in 1947-- after the partition
1600E37 of the Punjab. ^Starting from scratch at a time when ordinary
1610E37 glassware and even simple electric appliances, such as room heaters
1620E37 and electric fans, were not manufactured in the country, it was
1630E37 set up by an experienced faculty trained in the \0UK, even though
1640E37 on the same old British lines. $^Luckily, the vision of the late Sardar
1650E37 Partap Singh Kairon, who himself was educated in a Land
1660E37 Grant College in the \0USA, came to its rescue. ^In 1961, the
1670E37 Punjab Agricultural University Act was passed and it was decided
1680E37 to_ make this college a university. ^When the Act came into force
1690E37 in 1962, the entire educational system had to_ be overhauled and,
1700E37 practically overnight, new curricula based on the trimester system of education
1710E37 and on complete internal assessment was introduced. ^The teachers,
1720E37 who were always dependent upon external examiners for student
1730E37 evaluation, and the students, who expected the external examiners to_
1740E37 be impartial, were suddenly made to_ come face to face with complete
1750E37 internal assessment. $^Suspicions caused tempers and tensions to_ rise.
1760E37 ^The iron will of *(0P. N.*). ^Thapar, \0IAS, the first Vice
1770E37 Chancellor of the university, achieved what appeared to_ be formidable.
1780E37 ^The old faculty was made to_ change their thinking and the younger
1790E37 members of the faculty were trained abroad. $^At first, the trimester
1800E37 system of education was introduced at the post-graduate level.
1810E37 ^Gradually but surely, the students accepted the new system. ^As the
1820E37 new faculty joined, more and more areas of specialisation were developed
1830E37 for post-graduate education. ^Today, no fewer than 40 different
1840E37 departments of agriculture and allied subjects are offering degrees
1850E37 up to the \0PhD level, including Home Science, Agricultural
1860E37 Engineering and Veterinary Science. ^New fields of science, such as
1870E37 Agrometeorology, Agroeconomy, Farm Forestry, Commercial Floriculture
1880E37 & Landscaping, Population Education, Food Policy, have been
1890E37 developed. ^This effort in advanced education was seriously started
1900E37 only in 1962 and, within 16 years or so, the institute has become not
1910E37 only self-sufficient but is also catering for the needs of a number
1920E37 of States of India and even many countries of South Asia and
1930E37 Africa.*#
        **[no. of words = 02021**]

        **[txt. e38**]
0010E38 **<*3TWO LEAVES AND A BUD*0**> $^Nobody knows how exactly, or when, the
0020E38 first cup of tea was brewed. ^According to folklore, Emperor Shen
0030E38 Nung who reigned over China in 2737 \0BC, discovered the stimulant
0040E38 effect of tea accidentally when some wild tea leaves fell into
0050E38 his pot of boiling drinking water. ^People of China have probably
0060E38 been drinking tea in some form or other since the fourth century \0AD.
0070E38 ^And considering that wild tea grew in many parts of Assam, it
0080E38 is not unlikely that tea drinking in India, too, is as old as in
0090E38 China. ^The Dutch who took tea to Europe adopted the Chinese word
0100E38 *1*7t*'3e,*0 pronounced "tay". ^But in India, Japan, Persia and
0110E38 Russia, the word reached as "*1chah" the Cantones name for it. $^Up
0120E38 to the early thirties of the last century, the entire requirement
0130E38 of tea for Europe was met by China. ^When the British East India
0140E38 Company lost its monopoly of trade with Canton it started exploring
0150E38 the possibility of growing tea in India. ^But experiments with
0160E38 seeds imported from China failed to_ produce encouraging results.
0170E38 ^Then came the discovery of wild tea plants in Assam and several
0180E38 tea nurseries sprung up in Upper Assam. ^Initially, the East India
0190E38 Company held the monopoly of the plantations, but later charters
0200E38 were given to private firms to_ produce and market tea. ^Success
0210E38 in assam led to further experimentation, followed by establishment of
0220E38 plantations in the Dooabs and Terai of North Bengal and the Nilgiris
0230E38 of South India. ^Then on, there has been a steady growth of India*'s
0240E38 tea industry. $^Tea is now our single most important export.
0250E38 ^The following statistics (1976) gives an idea about our tea industry
0260E38 and its importance in our national economy. **[table**] $*<*3The
0270E38 tea plant*0*> $^Tea of commerce is derived from the tender shoots
0280E38 of the tea plant, *3*8camellia sinesis*9*0 \0(LO. *7kuntze. ^Three
0290E38 main varieties of this species are recognised, of which the China
0300E38 and the Assam varieties are the more important ones. ^They differ
0310E38 in appearance as well as in the rate of growth, hardiness and other
0320E38 characters. ^The China type, which has smaller leaves and a relatively
0330E38 slower growth rate, produces a lower yield of crop. ^However, it
0340E38 gives more flavoury teas, and being hardier, is more suitable for
0350E38 sub-tropical conditions and for high elevation areas in the tropics
0360E38 where the winter temperature is very low. ^Since the various types
0370E38 of tea plants intercross easily, commercial plantations raised from
0380E38 seeds represent heterogeneous groups of the main types and their hybrids.
0390E38 ^Tea planters in India use the term '*1*4Jat*0' to_ describe
0400E38 any such group. ^The '*4Jat' names, however, do not have much botanical
0410E38 significance; they are often derived from the names of the tea
0420E38 estates in which the seed of the variety had been originally grown.
0430E38 $^The tea plant can grow under diverse conditions of soil, climate
0440E38 and topography; its range extends from Georgia (\0USSR, \0lat.
0450E38 43*@ \0N) to argentina (South America, \0lat. 27*@ \0S). ^So long
0460E38 as the soil remains well drained, the plant does equally well on level
0470E38 land and the hill slopes. ^However, tea thrives best in deep, permeable
0480E38 soils which are acidic in character and well supplied with plant
0490E38 nutrients. ^It needs a well distributed rainfall of not less than
0500E38 1,500 \0mm per year. ^Tea grows well in areas where the summer is
0510E38 moist and warm and the winter is not too cold; the optimum range of
0520E38 temperature is from a mean maximum of 29.5*@ \0C to a mean minimum
0530E38 of not below 13*@ \0C. $^The plant can be propagated either from seeds
0540E38 or from leaf cuttings. ^The more popular of the two methods is vegetative
0550E38 propagation involving leaf cuttings from 'mother' tea bushes
0560E38 selected for high leaf yield, resistance to pests, diseases and drought
0570E38 damage as well as other qualities. ^In either case, the plants
0580E38 are first raised in the nurseries and then planted out in the field.
0590E38 $^In its natural, wild state a tea plant of the China variety can
0600E38 grow to a height of about 3 metres, and an Assam plant to about 18
0610E38 metres. ^In commercial plantations the objective is to_ keep the
0620E38 plants continuously in the leaf-producing stage, delaying the production
0630E38 of flower or seed in order to_ ensure the maximum crop. ^To_
0640E38 achieve this, spreading bush of about two metres height by subjecting
0650E38 it to periodic cycles of pruning of different severity. $^Pruning,
0660E38 plucking and the other practices of bush management, such as manuring,
0670E38 control of diseases and pests, use of shade trees and maintenance
0680E38 of proper drainage have to_ be followed meticulously to_ ensure high
0690E38 crop yield throughout the entire economic life span of the tea
0700E38 bush, which is normally around 50 years. ^The crop which constitutes
0710E38 the raw material for manufacture of tea normally consists of two
0720E38 young leaves and an unopened leaf bud-- the famous 'two leaves and a bud'
0730E38 formula-- but plucking of longer shoots containing three or even
0740E38 four leaves is not uncommon. ^The plucking round and the length of
0750E38 the harvesting season vary from region to region and depend mainly on
0760E38 the climatic factors like the rainfall pattern, temperature of atmosphere
0770E38 and soil and the number of hours of sunshine per day. ^In Assam,
0780E38 plucking is usually done at intervals of 7 to 10 days and the
0790E38 season lasts from March to November. $**<*3TEA
0800E38 INDUSTRY IN SOUTH *INDIA*0**> $^Tea cultivation in South India commenced
0810E38 only towards the middle of the last century and was initially
0820E38 on small scattered individual holdings. ^Until around 1880, investments
0830E38 on plantation crops in South India were mainly in coffee, but
0840E38 in the wake of the deadly coffee leaf rust disease which caused devastation
0850E38 to the coffee industry, there was a marked swing to tea investments,
0860E38 as reflected by the progressive increase in the planted acreage.
0870E38 ^Much of the initiative to this expensive phase of the tea industry
0880E38 in South India is attributed to large business houses in Great
0890E38 Britain, hence, historically, tea planting on commercial scale
0900E38 has a direct bearing on the corporate structure of the industry.
0910E38 ^Between 1927 and 1932 the area under tea in South India increased
0920E38 from 34,000 to 48,000 hectares and at present the figure is just over
0930E38 74,000 \0ha. ^The industry provides livelihood to almost 20 *4lakh
0940E38 persons, directly or indirectly, with direct employment on a ratio
0950E38 of 2.5 workers to one hectare. ^Productivity of tea in South India,
0960E38 roughly 1600 \0kg/ha at present, is the highest for any major tea
0970E38 growing region in the world. $^Tea is a sub-tropical plant with one
0980E38 essential requirement for cultivation on commercial scale, namely,
0990E38 acid soils. ^Soils where tea can be initially established successfully
1000E38 must be acidic, with a \0pH below 6.0 and such soils in South
1010E38 India occur only on the hilly slopes of the Western Ghats, the Nilgiris
1020E38 and on the high plateau north of the Nilgiri mountains. ^The
1030E38 second requirement for commercial tea cultivation is adequate rainfall;
1040E38 if well distributed throughout the year, between 100-120 \0cm
1050E38 of annual rainfall will support successful commercial tea culture, but
1060E38 if concentrated in certain periods, such as the south-west monsoon,
1070E38 the north-east monsoon, or both 150 cm of annual rainfall would be
1080E38 the minimum requirement. ^The soil type is not important because,
1090E38 whilst tea is grown on commercial scale in South India in lateritic
1100E38 soils, in north-east India, tea gardens predominantly occur in tracts
1110E38 of alluvial soils. $^Since tea can grow only in acidic soils,
1120E38 this has resulted in the tea industry in South India becoming concentrated
1130E38 in the hilly tracts of the wet and lush Western Ghats, and
1140E38 the Nilgiris. ^This has meant clearing of forest and opening of tea
1150E38 estates in uninhabited areas. ^Thus, from a socio-economic point
1160E38 of view, specific land utilisation for a commercial crop provided employment
1170E38 in many cases to tribal people and led to their social and economic
1180E38 development. ^In sharp contrast, tea in North India is cultivated
1190E38 mainly on the plains where paddy, sugarcane, or other commercial
1200E38 agricultural crops, could also be grown: the only exception would
1210E38 be Darjeeling where the agro-climatic conditions are similar to those
1220E38 in the hilly tracts of the Western Ghats and the Nilgiris in
1230E38 South India. $*<*3Sharp differences*0*> $^Apart from the marked
1240E38 differences in land terrain and soil types of the tea areas in North
1250E38 India and South India, there are other sharp differences, one
1260E38 of which pertains to the latitude and its concomitant day length periods.
1270E38 ^In South India the tea areas fall south of 12.5*@ \0N, whereas
1280E38 in north india tea is grown between 24*@ and 28*@ \0N latitude.
1290E38 ^The diurnal variation in South India in terms of day length is
1300E38 marginal as between seasons and at no time does the day length fall
1310E38 below 11 hours-- a day length of 10.5 hours is considered critical for
1320E38 active vegetative growth to_ occur on tea plants. ^In contradistinction,
1330E38 the day length in the tea areas in North India fluctuates
1340E38 widely from 10 hours to about 13 hours. ^Thus, whereas tea grows all
1350E38 round the year in South India, in North India the growth almost
1360E38 ceases between November end and early March. ^On accout of these
1370E38 differences, tea production in North India is restricted to the
1380E38 part of the year between March and November. ^However, the extra day
1390E38 length obtained in North India during July-September is a factor
1400E38 contributing to high productivity during this period, while paradoxically
1410E38 productivity is exteremely low during this period in South
1420E38 India because of excessive wet conditions and low sunshine. $^Another
1430E38 important difference in climatic conditions relates to temperature
1440E38 which in South India is relatively low because tea is cultivated
1450E38 on hilly tracts where the elevation is generally 1,000 \0m and above.
1460E38 ^In the North, the temperature is in the high nineties during
1470E38 the summer on the plains, a temperature which is unfavourable for high
1480E38 tea productivity. ^Hence, a good stand of shade trees to_ provide
1490E38 a over-hanging canopy is essential for reducing leaf temperature
1500E38 and for optimising productivity of tea in North India. ^In the South,
1510E38 shade trees are planted for other reasons, not essentially to_
1520E38 reduce the temperature on the bush surface, $^The third important difference
1530E38 between the tea areas of North and South India lies in
1540E38 variations in atmospheric humidity. ^While in the case of the former,
1550E38 the relative humidity of the atmosphere is high, above 60 per cent
1560E38 throughout the year, in South India it falls to as low as 15 per
1570E38 cent in February and March. ^This necessitates adoption of specific
1580E38 techiniques for protecting the tea plants against desiccation, for
1590E38 instance, by sealing of nuresery beds with polythene cloches (covers)
1600E38 when cuttings are raised. ^If vegetative cuttings of tea earmarked
1610E38 for propagation are not sealed under polythene tent, in the very
1620E38 dry period they will perish. ^From this angle it is much easier,and
1630E38 cheaper, to_ raise vegetatively propagated tea plants in North India
1640E38 compared to South India. $^While the tea plant is botanically
1650E38 classified as *3*8Camellia sinensis*9*0 *\0L. (O*) *7Kuntze.
1660E38 it is essentially a hybrid of three distinct species. ^Of these, the
1670E38 China and Assam types are two contrastingly different species, the
1680E38 former a small bush having very small leaves, while the Assam type
1690E38 has large leaves and grows as a tall plant. ^The commercially cultivated
1700E38 tea plant in South India is a Assam China hybrid with medium
1710E38 size dark leaf. ^On the other hand, in North India the tea plant
1720E38 is a large and light leaved Assam type of bush; the exception being
1730E38 Darjeeling where small-leaved China type of tea plants are cultivated
1740E38 commercially. $*<*3Differences in cup characters*0*> $^With
1750E38 the exception of the Darjeeling teas in North India, and teas grown
1760E38 in the Nilgiris and in restricted areas at high altitudes in South
1770E38 India, which are known for their aroma, all other teas are sold
1780E38 for other cup characters such as briskness, strength, body and brightness.
1790E38 ^An important sale criterion for South Indian teas is the
1800E38 appearance of the black tea; the blacker the colour, the higher it
1810E38 is valued. ^*North Indian teas, in contrast, are neither marked up
1820E38 or discounted for their colour.*#
        **[no. of words = 02008**]


        **[txt. f01**]
0010F01 **<*3UNDERGROUND *LITERATURE *DURING *INDIAN *EMERGENCY*0**> $^Does a
0020F01 seat in *5Lok Sabha*6 require jettisoning of certain basic human
0030F01 qualities too? ^*I wish you would take up this issue in your party
0040F01 and withdraw all your members from the *5Lok Sabha*6. $^For obvious
0050F01 reasons, it is not possible for my party to_ take formal decisions
0060F01 or even positions on any issue. ^Almost the entire National Committee
0070F01 of my party is in prison, as are most members of States and
0080F01 districts Committee all over the country. ^Hardly any active Socialist
0090F01 is out, though a few seniors like *(0N.G.*) Goray and *(0S.M.*)
0100F01 Joshi have not been arrested. ^But that_ is not because of anything
0110F01 they have said or not done. (^That_ is a party of diabolical
0120F01 style of the dictator.) ^*I would, however, like to_ assure you that
0130F01 my party stands fully committed to all our mutual agreements. $^With
0140F01 greetings, $^From the underground $somewhere in India, May-2-1976
0150F01 $^*Com Jyoty Basu $^*Communist Party of India(Marxist) ^Yours
0160F01 sincerely, $0Sd/- George Fernandes ^*Chairman, Socialist Party
0170F01 $\0N.B. ^This letter was printed and circulated by sympathisers.
0180F01 ^It is printed here in its original form. ^No correction has been
0190F01 made. $*<*3^AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL*0*> $*<*3^*International Secretariat*0N
0200F01 $53 Theobald*'s Road $^*London *(0WCIX 8SP*) $^Telephone
0210F01 :01-4045831 $^Telegrams: Amnesty London $28 May 1976 $\Mr
0220F01 Sukumar Ghosh $^Acting Secretary $^*Socialist Party $^86A Lower
0230F01 Circular Road $^*Calcutta 700014, India $^Dear \0Mr Ghosh,
0240F01 $^*Amnesty International, as you may know, is a worldwide human
0250F01 rights organization which is independent of any government, political
0260F01 faction, ideology or religious creed. ^It works for the release
0270F01 of men and women who are imprisoned anywhere for their beliefs, colour,
0280F01 language, ethnic origin or religion provided that they have neither
0290F01 used nor advocated violence; these persons are termed "prisoners
0300F01 of conscience". $^We would very much like to_ be in touch with you concerning
0310F01 members of the Socialist Party who are imprisoned in West
0320F01 Bengal. ^If you know personally any Socialists who are in prison,
0330F01 we should be most grateful if you could supply us with details concerning
0340F01 the date of their arrest, the legislation under which they were
0350F01 arrested, their present place of detention, and some personal details,
0360F01 such as the names and addresses of their family or relatives.
0370F01 $^*I look forward to hearing from you. $^Yours sincerely, $^*Janet
0380F01 Hunting $^*Asia research department. $^From: Sukumar Ghosh, Acting
0390F01 Secretary, $^*Socialist Party West Bengal, $^86A, Acharya
0400F01 Jagadish Bose Road, $^*Calcutta- 700014-- West Bengal (INDIA)
0410F01 $^15th June, 1976 $^Dear \0Mr. Hunting, $^Thanks for your letter
0420F01 of 28.5.76. ^After promulgation of Emergency many Socialist
0430F01 cadres were arrested or offered *4Satyagraha.
0440F01 ^The *4Satyagrahis have been released after 8 months. $some prominent
0450F01 leaders are still detained, their details are given as follows:--
0460F01 $1.\0Prof. Samar Guha (56), a Member of the Parliament detained
0470F01 in Rohtak Jail in Haryana. ^A well known politician and educationist
0480F01 he fell ill 4 times during imprisonment. ^A cardiac patient
0490F01 as he is, imprisonment since June, 1975 is telling upon his health.
0500F01 ^His wife is also a political worker and has got a daughter of 14 years.
0510F01 ^Address: \0Mrs. Basana Guha, Central Park, Calcutta-32.
0520F01 $2. ^*Biman Mitra (55), Chairman, Socialist Party, West Bengal,
0530F01 48, Sambhu Babu Lane, Calcutta-14. ^Detained since June, 1975
0540F01 in Hooghly Jail 30 miles away from Calcutta. ^A patient of diabetis
0550F01 and low blood pressure. ^Denied all facilities due to political
0560F01 prisoner, no sufficient medical facility is available. $3. ^*Swaraj
0570F01 Bandhu Bhattacharya (55), Secretary, Socialist Party West Bengal.
0580F01 ^Detained since June, 1975. ^Received special honour for his contribution
0600F01 in the freedom struggle. ^Now in Burdwan Jail 80 miles from
0610F01 Calcutta. ^He is now kept in a condemned cell of 8*'6 x 4*'6 size denied
0620F01 movement within Jail, not allowed to_ see co-prisoners. ^Every
0630F01 morning he is awakened by armed guards who would undress him for a
0640F01 thorough search. ^His old mother aging **[sic**] 95 appeal to the PrimeMinister
0650F01 of India and Chief Minister of the State for proper redress
0660F01 against inhuman torture goes unreplied. ^Address: *(0K. B.*) Bhattacharyya,
0670F01 371/8, Asoke Nagar, *(0P.O.*) asoke Nagar, \0Dist.
0680F01 24-Parganas. $4. \0Prof Sandip Das (40). An important leader
0690F01 of Socialist Party detained since January, 1976 in Presidency Jail.
0700F01 ^He is now on hunger strike with some 60 other political prisioners
0710F01 for the last few days against the inhuman treatment of the Jail
0720F01 authority. ^Their grievances have not been taken into account. $5.
0730F01 ^*Ashoke Dasgupta (50). ^Detained since June, 1975. ^Now in Suri
0740F01 Jail, some 130 miles away from Calcutta. ^An employee of New India
0750F01 Assurance, is suspended for his imprisonment. $^All these prisoners
0760F01 are detained under Maintenace of Internal Security Act (\0MISA)
0770F01 under which no trial is executed. ^Several amendments have
0780F01 been made after Emergency, as a result none can question or challenge
0790F01 the legality of Government action. ^*Government is not liable to_
0800F01 show reasons for detainment, detention may continue for indefinite
0810F01 period without any trial. $^With respectful thanks, Yours sincerely,
0820F01 \0Sd/- $To $\0Mr. Janet Hunting, $Asia Research Department
0830F01 $Amnesty International $London. $(Sukumar Ghosh) \0Actt.
0840F01 Secretary, Socialist $Party, West Bengal. $*(0N.G.*) Goray
0850F01 $Editor, Janata 1813 Sadashive Peth, Pune 411030 $date 3-7-76
0860F01 $^Dear friend, $^Once again they have hit Janata hard, this time
0870F01 on the head. ^Last time the Government had told Janata*'s printers
0880F01 in Bombay not to_ print anything that_ came to them from Janata
0890F01 Office. ^So we approached the Bombay High Court for redress.
0900F01 ^That_ case is still to_ be decided. $^In the meanwhile we thought
0910F01 of having Janata printed in Sadhana Press, Pune. ^The welcome that_
0920F01 was extended to Janata on its reappearance was really heart-warming.
0930F01 ^*Janata had never believed in abusing the Government or the party
0940F01 in power but it did not believe in flattery either. ^Its credo has
0950F01 been fearless advocacy of truth and defence of the underdog. $^Evidently
0960F01 Indira's government was not amused. ^They wanted to_ silence
0970F01 the voice of Janata, which they have tried to_ do now by peremptorily
0980F01 laying down under \0D.I.R. that \0*4Shri *(0N.G.*) Goray,
0990F01 the editor and \0*4Shri *(0G.B.S.*) Choudhary, the publisher
1000F01 be "prohibited from making or publishing the said English Weekly
1010F01 Janata and also from using any press for the purpose aforesaid". $^And
1020F01 still our great Prime Minister wants us and the world to_ believe
1030F01 that in India the press is free. ^Can there be greater travesty
1040F01 of truth? ^On this occasion also we propose to_ approach the Court
1050F01 for redress, but we are not sure whether the Court under the new
1060F01 dispensation has the power to_ give us relief. $^So good-bye dear
1070F01 friend till Janata comes again to_ meet you-- may be in a new *4avatar.
1080F01 $Yours sincerely $Editor, Janata $*<*3George Fernandes to
1090F01 *(0J.P.*) $My dear Jayaprakashji, $^There are certain aspects of
1100F01 the present situation that_ have disturbed me and alarmed me. ^First,
1110F01 there is this orchestration of statements by many sundry leaders
1120F01 and some leader writers urging you to_ call off the movement. ^Second,
1130F01 one sees constant efforts by some busy-bodies to_ somehow or the
1140F01 other secure an invitation to_ sit across the table with \0Mrs. Gandhi.
1150F01 ^Third, there is a stubborn refusal to_ realise that Vinobha*'s
1160F01 first loyalty is to the Court and that he will never lift a little
1170F01 finger to_ help the fighters for freedom and democracy in the
1180F01 country. ^Fourth, there is reluctance to_ make an honest evaluation
1190F01 of the changes that_ have taken place in our body politic since \0Mrs.
1200F01 Gandhi turned dictator on June 26, 1975. ^Concomitant with all
1210F01 this is the delusion that \0Mrs. Gandhi is still not a dictator.
1220F01 ^A recent refrain from those who seek to_ have a dialogue is that the
1230F01 first task before \0JP and others is to_ secure the release of
1240F01 those in prisons. $^*I had hoped that this growing cacophony of normalisers
1250F01 is but only a manifestation of the frustration and despondency
1260F01 of some of the leaders and not one of those diabolical moves of
1270F01 the dictator to_ drive a wedge in the ranks of those opposed to her
1280F01 dictatorship, sow confusion among the masses and demoralise those
1290F01 who are uncompromising in their fight. ^This move to_ negotiate has,
1300F01 I believe, been motivated by a desire to_ prevent or in any case
1310F01 postpone the creation of a one party through merger of various parties
1320F01 of the opposition by presenting a new set of priorities. $^The
1330F01 frantic efforts that_ are being made, and a series of meetings that_
1340F01 have been arranged of opposition party leaders have confirmed my
1350F01 fears of a "sell-out". ^*I could not believe that any reasonable leader
1360F01 from any party could formally put down the kind of terms that_
1370F01 are reported to_ have been suggested as the basis for talks that_ are
1380F01 scheduled for the next few days. ^Neither the demand to_ revoke the
1390F01 Emergency nor for release for all political prisoners surprisingly
1400F01 is set for negotiations. ^Whatever the result of these talks, it would
1410F01 affect the already low morals and sagging determination of political
1420F01 workers and others who have been opposing the dictatorship. $^*I
1430F01 must say the opposition parties in India have neither learnt nor
1440F01 unlearnt anything since June 26, 1975. ^When will they realise that
1450F01 they are facing a woman who will never surrender power? ^Can they
1460F01 not see that if Nehru went about grooming his daughter in a subtle
1470F01 and sophisticated way to_ succeed him, the mother lacks even a modicum
1480F01 of shame while indulging in a crude and vulgar exercise to_ anoint
1490F01 her son as the successor? ^This is not to_ say that Nehru*'s
1500F01 method was commendable or was less dishonourable, but only to_ point
1510F01 out that like then so now the opposition refuses to_ understand the
1520F01 designs of the ruling clique. ^Over the years, opposition politics
1530F01 in India has been of reacting to the initiatives of the ruling party
1540F01 and of never taking the initiative on its own and make the ruling
1550F01 coterie run for its chairs. ^In the mid-sixties, \0Dr. Lohia took
1560F01 the initiative, united the opposition by dragging them literally by
1570F01 the scuff of their necks and routed the Congress in 1967. ^But since
1580F01 then, except for the initiative which the youth took in Gujarat
1590F01 and later in Bihar, there has already been no effort to_ confront
1600F01 the Congress by the opposition parties. ^The developments since June
1610F01 26, 1975 indicate that the opposition leaders lack not only in perspective
1620F01 but also in nerve. ^Or else how can anyone say that the primary
1630F01 task today is to_ secure the release of those in prisons? ^This
1640F01 is not the stuff that_ can oppose and overthrow a dictatorship; if
1650F01 anything this is the stuff that_ breeds and nourishes dictators. $^*I
1660F01 am aware of your own frustrations with the opposition leaders, and
1670F01 also of the kind of pressures they are building on you. ^But I want
1680F01 you to_ know that there are people who are committed to_ carry the
1690F01 fight against the dictatorship to the bitter end and for as long
1700F01 as is necessary. ^*I believe that there can be no compromise with
1701F01 the dictatorship. ^*I believe that there are certain issues which are
1710F01 simply non-negotiable. ^These are: Revocation of the Emergency
1720F01 and scrapping of (\0MISA); Release of all political prisoners
1730F01 and others held without trial; Freedom of the Press; independence
1740F01 of the judiciary; Immediate dissolution of the illegitimate *5Lok
1750F01 Sabha*6 and the holding of election after fulfilling certain preconditions
1760F01 to_ ensure a fair poll; and repeal of all Constitutional amendments
1770F01 adopted since June 26, 1975. $^*I know that \0Mrs. Gandhi
1780F01 will accept none of these terms. ^If she can accept these conditions
1790F01 now, she need not have, in the first place, usurped power and become
1800F01 a dictator. ^And it is not merely that it is impossible for her
1810F01 to_ reverse what she has done. ^With an opposition that_ does not
1820F01 show much will to_ fight, what is there for her to_ be worried, about?
1830F01 ^So what precisely do the "negotiators" want to_ "negotiate" about,
1840F01 even if they realise at this last moment to_ add to their demands
1850F01 for discussion at the negotiating table? $^Instead of spending their
1860F01 time drafting statements seeking negotiations with \0Mrs. Gandhi
1870F01 and being over enthusiastic at the prospect of talks on whatever terms,
1880F01 I with the opposition parties applied their collective mind to_
1890F01 build an effective movement among all sections of our people to_
1900F01 resist the dictatorship.*#
        **[no. of words = 02025**]

        **[txt. f02**]
0010F02 **<*3Namibia: Challenge to the United Nations**> $*<*3Appeal to
0020F02 the Friends of South Africa*> $^The attitudes of the South
0030F02 African Government was unquestionably one of utter defiance of,
0040F02 and non-cooperation with, the United Nations in finding a just and peaceful
0050F02 solution to the problem of South West Africa. ^Almost the
0060F02 whole world was seemingly ranged against her. ^In fact, no state was
0070F02 supporting her apartheid policies in South Africa or in South
0080F02 West Africa, and also no state was justifying the continuation of
0090F02 her administration of South-West Africa. ^Yet that_ Government
0100F02 was not feeling any diffculty in defying scores of the United Nations*'
0110F02 resolutions adopted till then. ^Such a defiance of almost the
0120F02 entire world by any state, in modern times, is possible with, and
0130F02 impossible without, the tacit support of some big powers. ^If these
0140F02 powers could be persuaded to_ exercise their influence upon the
0150F02 South African Government, a reversal in the attitude of that_ government
0160F02 \0vis-a-vis the problem of South West Africa could be expected.
0170F02 ^It was on these lines that most Member States had started
0180F02 thinking, and their thinking is reflected in Resolution 1593 (*=15)
0190F02 of 16 March 1961 which, *8inter ailia*9, urged the close friends of
0200F02 South Africa Government to_ $bring as a matter of urgency all
0210F02 their influence to_ bear on that_ Government with a view to ensuring
0220F02 that it shall adjust its conduct to its obligations under the
0230F02 Charter of the United Nations and shall give effect to the resolution
0240F02 adopted by the General Assembly. $^The Western powers who
0250F02 are the "close friends" of South Africa did not seem to_ have taken
0260F02 any positive step in pursuance of the above Resolution, otherwise
0270F02 the stalemate in the problem of South-West Africa would have been
0280F02 broken long ago. $*<*3Efforts for a Limited Trade Embargo*>
0290F02 $^Having thus far failed to_ secure any solution to the problem
0300F02 of South West Africa through persuasion and negotiation, the General
0310F02 Assembly, in the year 1963, switched over to a policy of putting
0320F02 some stronger pressures upon the South African Government
0330F02 so that she might be compelled to_ yield at last. ^Realizing that
0340F02 South Africa was deficient in respect of certain indispensable
0350F02 commodities like petroleum and petroleum products which she was compelled
0360F02 to_ import from abroad at a considerable cost, Member States
0370F02 who had sponsored Resolution 1899 (*=18) in the General Assembly
0380F02 thought-- and rightly so-- that if the imports of those commodities
0390F02 could be stopped, South Africa might not be able to_ offer resistance
0400F02 for a long time. ^This was, indeed, a great 'if', for hardly
0410F02 any country at that_ time seemed to_ be prepared to_ incur financial
0420F02 loss as a result of the stoppage of exports by it to South Africa.
0430F02 $^Any way, Resolution 1899 (*=18) called upon Member States
0440F02 to_ refrain from supplying arms and other military equipment, petroleum
0450F02 and petroleum products to South Africa for which it depended
0460F02 almost entirely on imports. ^Obviously the intention of the General
0470F02 Assembly was to_ have a limited trade embargo imposed on South
0480F02 Africa in order to_ force it to_ change its policy and attitude
0490F02 in relation to the problem of South West Africa. ^In this connection
0500F02 it may be appropriately mentioned at this stage that just one
0510F02 year before, the General Assembly had already requested Member
0520F02 States to_ impose diplomatic and economic boycott of South Africa
0530F02 vide Resolution 1761 (*=17) adopted by it on the report of the
0540F02 Special Political Committee. ^Para 4 of this Resolution had asked
0550F02 Member States to_ take the following measures, separately or
0560F02 collectively, in conformity with the Charter to_ bring about the
0570F02 abandonment of apartheid policies of the South African Government:
0580F02 $(**=1) breaking off diplomatic relations with the Government
0590F02 of the Republic of South Africa or refraining from establishing
0600F02 such relations; $(**=2) closing their ports to all vessels flying South
0610F02 African flag; $(**=3) enacting legislation prohibiting their ships
0620F02 from entering South African ports; $(**=4) boycotting all South
0630F02 African goods and refraining from exporting goods, including all
0640F02 arms and ammunition, to South Africa; $(**=5) refusing landing
0650F02 and passage facilities to all aircrafts belonging to the Government
0660F02 of South Africa and companies registered under the laws of South
0670F02 Africa. $^This meant stopping of trade with South Africa in respect
0680F02 of all the commodities since no particular commodity was mentioned
0690F02 in the foregoing Resolution. ^Therefore, when one resolution
0700F02 had already called for the stoppage of all import and export trade with
0710F02 South Africa without any exception by all Member States, there
0720F02 seemed to_ be no need to_ issue a special appeal vide para 7 (a)
0730F02 and (b) of Resolution 1899 (*=18) to Member States to_ stop trade
0740F02 with South Africa in respect of a limited number of commodities
0750F02 such as petroleum, petroleum products, arms and ammunition only, while
0760F02 leaving out other commodities. ^Better course would have been for
0770F02 the General Assembly to_ reiterate the above quoted provisions of
0780F02 para 4 of Resolution 1761 (*=17) in toto in Resolution 1899 (*=18)
0790F02 dealing with the problem of South West Africa. ^The problem of
0800F02 South West Africa was not proving less formidable than the problem
0810F02 of apartheid in South Africa and the record of defiance of the
0820F02 United Nations by the South African Government was not less formidable
0830F02 in respect of one problem than it was in respect of the other.
0840F02 ^Therefore, it would have been more appropriate if the General
0850F02 Assembly had favoured a comprehensive trade boycott of South Africa
0860F02 by all States as already approved by the General Assembly
0870F02 vide Resolution 1761 (*=17) adopted in respect of the apartheid problem
0880F02 and not a limited one covering only four commodities-- petroleum,
0890F02 petroleum products, arms and ammunition-- as was done vide
0900F02 para 7 of Resolution 1899 (*=18) adopted in respect of the problem of
0910F02 South-West Africa. $^When Clause 7 (b) of Resolution 1899 (*=18)
0920F02 providing for sanctions in respect of four commodities only was
0930F02 voted upon in the Fourth Committee, there were fourteen states which
0940F02 had voted against it and there were 18 abstentions. ^The fourteen
0950F02 states included the parent-countries of all the world*'s major oil
0960F02 companies, the United States being one of them. ^The opposition
0970F02 of this clause by such a large number of States indicated that not
0980F02 only most of the big powers but also smaller ones were opposed to
0990F02 an oil and arms embargo at that_ stage. ^Besides South Africa*'s
1000F02 traditional friends, Iran which possesses enormous quantities of
1010F02 oil also voted against this clause though it voted for the resolution
1020F02 as a whole. ^The United States*' companies controlled about 58
1030F02 per cent of the world oil production with the result that even if
1040F02 all other sources of oil were denied to South Africa, about 58 per
1050F02 cent source of oil supply would still remain open to her. ^Similarly,
1060F02 the British and British-Dutch companies controlled 16.3 per
1070F02 cent of oil supplies of the world. ^Refusal of the United Kingdom
1080F02 to_ accept para 7 (b) of Resolution 1899 (*=18) implied that this
1090F02 source of oil would also remain open to South Africa. ^*Austria
1100F02 and Japan also controlled a small per cent of the source of oil supplies
1110F02 and they too did not approve of oil embargo envisaged in para
1120F02 7 (b) of Resolution 1899 (*=18), which is evident from their abstentions
1130F02 on this particular paragraph. $^The United States Govenment
1140F02 informed the Secretary-General that in her view the situation
1150F02 in South-West Africa did not at that_ time justify the use of such
1160F02 measures under the terms of the United Nations*' Charter.
1170F02 ^The Canadian Government also informed the Secretary-General that
1180F02 the imposition of sanctions of the kind envisaged in para 7 (b)
1190F02 of Resolution 1899 (*=18) was the primary responsibility of the Security
1200F02 Council. $^Although the Resolution as a whole including para
1210F02 7 (b) was finally adopted by the Fourth Committee and later by
1220F02 the General Assembly, its underlying purpose was defeated on the floor
1230F02 of the Fourth Committee itself since all the major oil-produccing
1240F02 countries had refused to_ lend their support. ^The Resolution
1250F02 was, thereafter, no more than of historical or academic interest.
1260F02 $*<*3Role of Foreign Companies Condemned*> $\0^*Rev. Michael Scott,
1270F02 appearing before the Fourth Committee, made a request that the
1280F02 United Nations should conduct a thorough investigation into the
1290F02 real and active forces which for 17 years had prevented a solution
1300F02 of the problem of South West Africa, despite all the warnings given
1310F02 and the conclusions reached by several United Nations*' organs. ^In
1320F02 particular, he wanted that an enquiry should be made into the way
1330F02 in which the foreign companies, specially the mining companies operated
1340F02 in South-West Africa and the influence that they exercised. $^Accordingly,
1350F02 the General Assembly requested the Special Committee
1360F02 on the situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration
1370F02 on the Granting of Independence to colonial countries and
1380F02 Peoples (also briefly called as Special Committee of 24), vide
1390F02 Resolution 1899 (*=18), to_ consider the implications of the activities
1400F02 of the mining industry and other international companies having
1410F01 interests in South-West Africa in order to_ assess their economic
1420F02 and political influence and their mode of operation. $^The Special
1430F02 Committee of 24, in its report to the General Assembly,
1440F02 stated that the foreign capital occupied a dominant position in the
1460F02 economy of South-West Africa, that the main sectors of production
1470F02 were controlled by foreign enterprises or by settlers of European
1480F02 descent who were mainly from the Republic of South Africa and that
1490F02 the mining and other industries of the Territory were entirely
1500F02 owned and managed by foreign companies or individuals of European
1510F02 origin. ^The Special Committee of 24 also pointed out that an extremely
1520F02 small proportion of the profits from those industries accrued
1530F02 to the Africans who comprised 86 per cent of the population, and
1540F02 an overwhelming proportion of the profits went to the United Kingdom,
1550F02 the United States and South Africa and also to some other countries
1560F02 which had invested their capital in South West Africa.
1570F02 ^The committee also pointed out that the exploitation of the resources
1580F02 of the country was taking place at such a rapid pace 'that the country
1590F02 runs the risk of finding itself, in no distant future, without the
1600F02 raw materials which now provide the main support for the money economy'.
1610F02 $^The conclusions of the Special Committee of 24 were that
1620F02 the desire of the South African Government to_ annex South West
1630F02 Africa was directly connected with the activities of international
1640F02 companies which were interested in keeping the Territory as a field
1650F02 for their capital and a source of raw material and cheap labour.
1660F02 ^Continuing, the Report said that foreign companies operating
1670F02 in South-West Africa, motivated by high profits rather than
1680F02 the development of the Territory and its people, shared South Africa*'s
1690F02 interest in perpetuating the existing system of administration
1700F02 as long as possible. ^In the view of the Committee it was precisely
1710F02 from those Member States whose nationals owned companies and
1720F02 had financial interests in the Territory that the Republic of South
1730F02 Africa derived its main support which encouraged its continued
1740F02 non-compliance with the Charter and the numerous resolutions of the
1750F02 United Nations concerning the question of South-West Africa.
1760F02 ^Finally, the special Committee of 24 concluded that the activities
1770F02 of the international companies in South West Africa constituted
1780F02 one of the main obstacles to the country*'s development towards
1790F02 independence. $^*Member States of the General Assembly, during
1800F02 the debate following the report of the Special Committee, were critical
1810F02 of the role of the big powers in the suppression of the legitimate
1820F02 rights and aspirations of the people of South-West Africa
1830F02 by the South African Government. ^The western states, as expected,
1840F02 put up a strong defence of their position. ^The attitude of the United
1850F02 States was symbolic of the attitude of western powers. ^Describing
1860F02 the conclusions of the Special Committee as 'a largely unfounded
1870F02 series of condemnations of gratuitous calls for action which
1880F02 at times became undisguised propaganda attacks on the United States
1890F02 and the United Kingdom', the United States delegate said that
1900F02 his Government had no power to_ dictate to American companies
1910F02 what investment policy they should pursue. ^This naturally implied
1920F02 that the United States was not prepared to_ impose necessary
1930F02 restrictions on the activites of its companies and firms operating
1940F02 in South-West Africa. ^The United Kingdom delegate also said that
1950F02 the interests concerned were privately owned and that his Government
1960F02 had no direct control over them.*#
        **[no. of words = 02043**]

        **[txt. f03**]
0010F03 **<*3Politics of Peace and \0UN General Assembly**> $^If the force
0020F03 is to_ come into being with all the speed indispensable to its
0030F03 success, a margin of confidence must be left to those who will carry
0040F03 the responsibility for putting the decisions of the General Assembly
0050F03 into effect. $^The idea of such a force was not wholly new to
0060F03 the United Nations. ^The first Secretary-General, Trygve Lie,
0070F03 had put forward a proposal for the establishment of a \0UN guard
0080F03 force in the early years of the Organization. ^The plan, however,
0090F03 fell through. ^The idea that the United Nations should act through
0100F03 an international force was originally mooted by Sir Anthony Eden
0110F03 in his speech before Parliament on 1 November 1956. ^But the developed
0120F03 form of the idea came largely from Lester Pearson of Canada
0130F03 and was formulated by Hammarskjold and formally approved by the
0140F03 Assembly. ^Only three days after the passage of the resolution authorizing
0150F03 the formation of the United Nations Emergency Force
0160F03 (\0UNEF), the first contingent of troops arrived at the staging
0170F03 airfield in Italy. ^They awaited only the consent of the Egyptian
0180F03 Government to_ enter Egypt. ^On 15 november the first \0UN troops
0190F03 landed in Egypt. ^A unit of these, which had formed part of
0200F03 the \0UNTSO, had been in Egypt earlier still. ^The Secretary-General
0210F03 was the chief architect of the force and was also the chief
0220F03 administrative and executive officer. ^It was under his supervision
0230F03 that the vague idea of a \0UN force became the reality of a force
0240F03 operating in the field. $^It was a unique organization in the history
0250F03 of peace-keeping activities. ^It was also certainly an improvement
0260F03 upon the \0UN force sent to Korea. ^The \0UN force in
0270F03 Korea was a force organized and controlled by the United States
0280F03 and its allies under the banner of the United Nations. $^The \0UN
0290F03 force in Egypt, however, was not without precedent. ^The predecessor
0300F03 of the United Nations, the League of Nations, had also sent an
0310F03 international police force to_ supervise a plebiscite in the Saar
0320F03 in 1935. ^It was an unprecedented and yet successful experiment, and the
0330F03 secret of its success was the character and impartiality of the
0340F03 force. ^It was a peace force, not a fighting force. ^The League Council
0350F03 "entrusted to it, simply, the function of performing police duties.
0360F03 ^The Saar experience solidly fixed the doctrine of the interdependence
0370F03 of impartiality, consent, and non-coercion". ^Hence the Saar
0380F03 Police Force can be regarded as the forerunner of the \0UNEF.
0390F03 $^The \0UNEF went to Egypt to_ put an end to aggression and
0400F03 to_ facilitate the withdrawal of the invading forces from Egyptian territory.
0410F03 ^It was not there either as an occupation force nor as a force
0420F03 charged with the task of clearing the canal of obstructions or of resolving
0430F03 any question or of solving any problem, whether in relation to the Suez
0440F03 Canal or Palestine or any other matter. ^It was there to_ police
0450F03 the border between Israel and Egypt, from the side of Egypt. ^It gave
0460F03 an opportunity to the parties concerned to_ solve the dispute through
0470F03 peaceful methods, and it succeeded considerably in its objective of maintaining
0480F03 quiet between the two hostile neighbours. ^The \0UNEF
0490F03 was thus an insurance against any resumption of trouble and a good
0500F03 deterrent against trouble. $*<*3Constitutionality of the \0UNEF*>
0510F03 $^The \0UNEF was hailed as a new and unique instrument
0520F03 in the peace-keeping devices of the United Nations. ^It was a paramilitary
0530F03 force, and as such it was something more than an observer
0540F03 group but less than a military force with military objectives and
0550F03 methods. ^It undertook responsibilities not explicitly stated in Chapter
0560F03 *=7 of the Charter. ^Thus the experience from Korea to the
0570F03 Congo and even Cyprus provides a reliable code of reference. ^The
0580F03 Soviet bloc, however, challenged the constitutionality of the
0590F03 \0UNEF and levelled a series of objections as enumerated below:
0600F03 $1. ^The resolutions under which the force was created or operated
0610F03 did not refer by way of justification to any specific Article of the
0620F03 Charter. $2. ^The introduction of this international force into
0630F03 Egyptian territory means taking the canal away from Egyptian control.
0640F03 ^This was indeed the main object of France and the United Kingdom.
0650F03 ^The force might well turn into an occupation force in course of
0660F03 time. ^That_ was why it was termed an "enforcement action" within
0670F03 the meaning of the Charter. $3. ^The intention of the framers of the Charter
0680F03 was that every kind of enforcement action should be undertaken
0690F03 only under the provisions of Articles 39 and 43 of the Charter
0700F03 and the special agreements made by the Security Council under the
0710F03 terms and conditions of the said Articles. $4. ^Articles 10 to 14
0720F03 and 22 could not provide a legal basis for the \0UNEF, and they
0730F03 should be read in conjunction with Chapter *=7, which made all
0740F03 military action the exclusive prerogative of the Security Council.
0750F03 $^The Soviet representative stated that it was only because Egypt
0760F03 had given its consent to the stationing of the \0UNEF on its
0770F03 soil that his country was abstaining from the vote. ^Or else it would
0780F03 have been voting against the creation of the \0UNEF, for the
0790F03 whole field was outside the competence of the General Assembly.
0800F03 ^The authority of the Assembly was limited to discussions, considerations,
0810F03 and recommendations. $^On the contrary, according to majority
0820F03 opinion the General Assembly was constitutionally within its rights
0830F03 in the creation of the \0UNEF. ^The arguments ran as follows:
0840F03 $^The \0UNEF was an organ established by the General Assembly,
0850F03 and its existence and operations depended upon the "consent" not
0860F03 only of the host state but also of those states which had sent contingents
0870F03 of troops to_ make up the force. ^To take enforcement
0880F03 action against a state might be the exclusive prerogative of the Security
0890F03 Council, but the \0UNEF was concerned only with "policing
0900F03 action" based on the "consent" of the host state and of the states
0910F03 contributing troops. $^In discussing the legal foundation of the
0920F03 \0UNEF, the Secretary-General, Hammarskjold, had referred
0930F03 most frequently to Article 22 of the Charter. ^For example, in an
0940F03 agreement concluded with Egypt in February 1957 on the status of
0950F03 the \0UNEF, the force had been referred to as an organ established
0960F03 in accordance with Article 22 of the Charter. ^The regulations
0970F03 of the force (\0ST/ \0SGB/ \0UNEF/ 1) affirm its character
0980F03 as a subsidiary organ of the General Assembly. ^The Assembly wanted
0990F03 the force to_ be only a temporary phenomenon. ^The force was
1000F03 to_ be wound up as soon as the emergency was over. ^The legal basis
1010F03 of the force and the tasks to_ be performed were matters to_ be
1020F03 defined only by the Assembly. ^Article 22 specifically permitted
1030F03 the General Assembly to_ establish such subsidiary organs as it
1040F03 deemed necessary for the performance of its functions. ^The General
1050F03 Assembly had already more than a hundred subsidiary organs of various
1060F03 kinds under this provision. ^Whether the \0UNEF was just an expanded
1070F03 observer group or a paramilitary force, it did not so differ
1080F03 from other subsidiary organs as to_ be beyond the pale of the authority
1090F03 of the General Assembly. ^On the other hand, there was no
1100F03 other Article in the Charter expressly permitting the General Assembly
1110F03 to_ create a "military" or even a "paramilitary" force for
1120F03 the purpose of maintaining international peace and security. $^The
1130F03 Secretary General often invoked the "Uniting for Peace" resolution
1140F03 also as a source of authority for the creation of the \0UNEF
1150F03 and emphatically referred to the fact that the force would function
1160F03 "on the basis of a decision reached under the terms of the resolution
1170F03 377 (*=5) Uniting for Peace... without elaborating their relationship".
1180F03 ^The "Uniting for Peace" resolution, in both sections "A"
1190F03 and "C", envisaged use of armed force against an aggressor. ^Although
1200F03 the \0UNEF was not established for the purpose of dealing
1210F03 militarily with an aggressor, its validity might be assumed on the
1220F03 premise that the "right to_ establish such a smaller force was implicit
1230F03 in the right to_ establish a more ambitious force". ^In a
1240F03 similar situation, the Council of the League of Nations, though
1250F03 bound primarily to_ use economic sanctions in dealing with aggression,
1260F03 did have the power, indeed the "duty", under Article 16, paragraph
1270F03 2, to_ recommend to the several Governments concerned the size
1280F03 and character of the forces they should severally contribute for
1290F03 any action it intended to_ take in protecting its covenants. $^*Articles
1300F03 10, 11, and 14 of the Charter gave the General Assembly
1310F03 broad powers of discussion, consideration, and recommendation with
1320F03 regard to any question within the scope of the Charter and relating
1330F03 to the maintenance of international peace and security. ^The General
1340F03 Assembly, therefore, might establish *8ad hoc*9 forces on the
1350F03 basis of the authority derived from Article 11, paragraph 1 of the
1360F03 Charter, which empowered the General Assembly: $...to_ consider
1370F03 the general principles of co-operation in the maintenance of international
1380F03 peace and security and to_ make recommendations with respect
1390F03 to such principles to the members or to the Security Council or
1400F03 both. $^Not all the powers of the United Nations were explicitly
1410F03 spelt out in the Charter. ^Some of the powers were only implicit
1420F03 in the Charter. ^That they existed was clear from the fact that without
1430F03 them the United Nations would not be able to_ perform its duties.
1440F03 $^The International Court of Justice examined the validity
1450F03 of \0GA Resolution 1000 (\0ES-1), which established the \0UNEF.
1460F03 ^The first paragraph of the said resolution stated that the object
1470F03 of the force was "to_ secure and supervise the cessation of hostilities"
1480F03 in accordance with the terms of \0GA Resolution 997 (\0ES-1).
1490F03 ^The word *1secure might imply "enforcement action", but such
1500F03 a construction would not be valid in the light of the reference,
1510F03 further on, to "consulting" the "nations concerned". ^The Court, therefore,
1520F03 decided that the "action" of Article 11(2) did not refer
1530F03 to "enforcement action" and that the action taken by the General
1540F03 Assembly constituted "measures" within the meaning of Article 14.
1550F03 ^The court thus endorsed the constitutional basis of the \0UNEF.
1560F03 ^Significantly it did not regard Article 11(2) as the constitutional
1570F03 basis of the force. ^Nor did it rest the constitutionality of
1580F03 the \0UNEF on the "Uniting for Peace" resolution of 3 November
1590F03 1950. $^In establishing the \0UNEF, the Charter laid down
1600F03 two distinct procedures: (1) conciliation procedure for pacific settlement
1610F03 of disputes, and (2) collective action under Chapter *=7,
1620F03 which was a function of the Security Council. ^If collective action
1630F03 should prove impossible because of a veto in the Security Council,
1640F03 then, under the "Uniting for Peace" resolution the matter would
1650F03 stand transferred to the General Assembly, where it would be
1660F03 subject to the counciliation procedure of Chapter *=6. ^The General
1670F03 Assembly could authorize the use of force only in cases of individual
1680F03 or collective self-defence. ^Apart from such authorizations for self-defence,
1690F03 the General Assembly could not take any decision involving
1700F03 the use of force or order any collective measures, because, under
1710F03 chapter *=7, to_ do so was a function of the Security Council.
1720F03 $^One may, thus, conclude that the \0UNEF represented a practical
1730F03 effort to_ achieve the aims and objects of the United Nations.
1740F03 ^The validity of its establishment was inherent in its functions,
1750F03 as well as in its mandate, which was unchallengeable. ^The responsibility
1760F03 of the Security Council in the matter of maintaining international
1770F03 peace and security was "primary", not "exclusive". ^Thus, in
1780F03 the creation of the \0UNEF the General Assembly utilized its
1790F03 broad powers under Articles 10, 11, and 14 to_ discharge a "residual
1800F03 responsibility" that_ had devolved upon it in consequence of the
1810F03 failure of the Security Council to_ act. $*<*3^*Withdrawal of the
1820F03 \0UNEF and the General Assembly*> $^From 1956 to 1967 both parties
1830F03 were continually preparing for war. ^In spite of efforts by the
1840F03 United Nations and diplomatic activities outside the United Nations
1850F03 tensions mounted day by day. ^On 18 May 1967, in view of the
1860F03 possibility of a war with Israel, President Nasser demanded the withdrawal
1870F03 of the \0UNEF from Egypt. ^He then sent his troops to_
1880F03 occupy the area that_ the \0UNEF would be vacating. ^When the
1890F03 Secretary-General was informed of the decision of the \0UAR Government,
1900F03 he consulted the permanent representatives of the seven states
1910F03 which had contributed contingents of troops for the formation of the
1920F03 \0UNEF.*#
        **[no. of wordds = 02044**]

        **[txt. f04**]
0010F04 **<*3The Nehru Epoch: From Democracy to Monocracy**>
0020F04 ^Of course, as Patel, who
0030F04 had already left Wardha, was not my informant, I am not in a position
0040F04 to_ say whether the editor of the *3Hindu or my informant had
0050F04 received the correct report. ^However, in view of Nehru*'s anti-axis
0060F04 attitude, his speeches after the failure of the Cripps mission, and
0070F04 in the absence of more reliable information, it would perhaps be
0080F04 better to_ hold that at the time Nehru was not in favour of the resignations
0090F04 of Congress ministries. $^Although Nehru*'s attitude towards
0100F04 Gandhi*'s stand in regard to our freedom struggle after the
0110F04 failure of the Crips mission made me strongly critical of him, still
0120F04 after resumption of ministerial offices by the Congress in 1946
0130F04 I continued to_ write to him on various administrative matters.
0140F04 ^*I have been a lifelong supporter of Hindi but have always held
0150F04 that a conciliatory attitude rather than fanaticism would pay us better
0160F04 in the long run. ^*I sent a copy of a speech I had delivered
0170F04 on this controversial subject to Nehru and on receipt of it, on 25
0180F04 March 1949, he wrote to me, "I am inclined to_ agree with you that
0190F04 the difference of opinion on this issue is not so great as some
0200F04 people imagine. ^There is, I believe, a certain difference in approach
0210F04 and perhaps in the ultimate ideal. ^But factually the difference
0220F04 is very little and should be easily capable of adjustment. $"^*I
0230F04 have been rather surprised and distressed at the usual attitude
0240F04 taken up by strong advocates of Hindi. ^In fact they have rather spoiled
0250F04 a very good case by overemphasis and aggressive language. ^Personally
0260F04 I am quite clear that if our language is to_ grow, we must
0270F04 not put it in a strait-jacket and allow it to_ develop according
0280F04 to its genius." $^Another controversial subject, on which I found
0290F04 myself in agreement with him, was prohibition. ^Since it still continues
0300F04 to_ be hotly debated I am giving here the correspondence that
0310F04 had passed between us. ^On 10 December 1950 I wrote to Nehru
0320F04 giving detailed information about the precarious financial position
0330F04 of my state and then said, "^Prohibition was introduced in the Central
0340F04 Provinces in 1938 and the area under it has been progressively
0350F04 increased, with the result that at present eight large districts
0360F04 involving an area of 39,643 square miles, are under prohibition. ^This
0370F04 means a little less than half the state. ^Whether prohibition has
0380F04 yielded any substantial results is very doubtful. ^It is true that
0390F04 open drinking in the dry areas has been almost eliminated; but the
0400F04 testimony of many a competent observer has it that there has been
0410F04 no real decrease in drinking and, on the contrary, it has assumed more
0420F04 dangerous and insidious forms. ^Despite every method to_ suppress
0430F04 illegal distillation and smuggling, there appears to_ be no fall
0440F04 in the number of such cases, and it can be safely premised that the
0450F04 cases detected constitute but a small fraction of the total number
0460F04 offences of this kind. ^Illicit liquor is more harmful to the human
0470F04 system and is commanding vary high prices with the result that the
0480F04 people are paying enormously more for more deleterious stuff. ^There
0490F04 have been also cases of the craving for liquor-drink finding an outlet
0500F04 in other injurious potions such as methylated spirits. ^The increase
0510F04 in crimes against prohibition is also responsible to a large
0520F04 extent for disregard of, and contempt for, law, increase in *4goondaism
0530F04 and other forms of crime. ^The effect of prohibition on inflation
0540F04 needs no emphasis. $"^It is diffcult to_ make an estimate of the
0550F04 real loss of revenue as a result of prohibition of liquor. ^The budget
0560F04 estimate from country spirit during 1950-51 is 156 *4lakhs ^The
0570F04 districts under prohibition include big towns and populous areas
0580F04 and it is not unreasonable to_ estimate that the loss of revenue due
0590F04 to prohibition is of the same range. $"^Thus, though the state
0600F04 is losing very substantial revenue, which it could use for objects
0610F04 of public utility and amelioration of the condition of the people,
0620F04 the consumer is paying through the nose for more unwholesome stuff,
0630F04 and it is only the illicit distiller and the bootlegger who benefit.
0640F04 $"^It appears, therefore, that in our desire to_ reform the people
0650F04 by legislation and purge the country of the evil of drink, we have
0660F04 been too precipitious and have followed the wrong path. ^*I am as
0670F04 firmly opposed as ever to the evil of drink; but it seems to me that
0680F04 we should be prepared to_ re-examine and reconsider the policy
0690F04 which has inflicted such serious injury to the consumer and the state,
0700F04 but has nevertheless proved unsuccessful. ^*I feel that honest
0710F04 and wise administration demands that if a wrong step has been taken
0720F04 one should have the courage to_ retrace it. ^It seems to me, therefore,
0730F04 that the only method of retrieving to some extent the economic
0740F04 situation at the present juncture is to_ scrap the policy of prohibition
0750F04 as followed so far and, if necessary, to_ substitute it with the
0760F04 more rational policy of rationing, wherever conditions are propitious
0770F04 for it. ^In pursuance of our policy of prohibition, we should, in
0780F04 addition to this, continue education and mobilization of public opinion
0790F04 and raising the standard of living and culture. ^It is only thus
0800F04 that the drink-evil can be successfully combated in due course.
0810F04 $"^*I have come to this conclusion after a most anxious and careful
0820F04 consideration, but before I make any move in the matter, and even
0830F04 consult my colleagues, I should like to_ know what your reactions
0840F04 and views are. ^*I know you are busy, but I should be most grateful
0850F04 for an early reply." $^On 30 December he replied,"^Your letter is
0860F04 a cogent argument for going back on the policy of prohibition. ^More
0870F04 than two years ago I advised strongly against extending prohibition
0880F04 in Bombay and Madras. ^My advice was ignored. ^*I am quite clear
0890F04 that introducing prohibition in the way it was done was an unwise
0900F04 step. ^Financially, of course, this was so. ^But we cannot make
0910F04 finance the final consideration in a matter of social morals. ^However,
0920F04 sometimes we have to_ balance even social morals. ^Thus, for
0930F04 instance, I think bad housing, or no housing at all, is a greater evil
0940F04 for the community than even drink. ^If the money from excise was
0950F04 used for two or three years for good housing, it would have improved
0960F04 social conditions much more than any attempt to_ stop the drink
0970F04 habit by law. $"^But, apart from this, I do not think that this
0980F04 kind of legislation stops the drink habit. ^You have yourself given
0990F04 reasons for this. ^We know, to our cost, that illicit distillation
1000F04 is going on all over the place. $"^*I am therefore,entirely at one
1010F04 with you that we should reconsider our policy of prohibition for a
1020F04 variety of reasons. ^Among these reasons is to_ deal more effectively
1030F04 with the drink habit. ^The only thing to_ be considered is the manner
1040F04 of proceeding in this matter. ^Any attempt to_ scrap prohibition
1050F04 completely would undoubtedly lead to a public outcry from many
1060F04 Congressmen and the like. ^Therefore, this change of policy should
1070F04 be a well thought out one with some kind of an alternative offered.
1080F04 $"^In England and in some other countries of Europe, even in wartime,
1090F04 drinking has become much less than it used to_ be. ^This is due
1100F04 to a number of causes, one of them being that alcoholic drinks are
1110F04 far more expensive. ^Also it is not considered good form to_ drink
1120F04 too much that_ is, public opinion does not approve of it. ^Nevertheless,
1130F04 the revenue from the drinks has gone up tremendously. ^Both alcoholic
1140F04 drinks and cigarettes, cigars and tobacco are taxed terribly
1150F04 heavily. ^Indeed, many people have had to_ give up smoking because they
1160F04 cannot afford it. ^You will be surprised to_ know the revenue from
1170F04 duties on alcoholic drinks and cigaretters, tobacco, \0etc., in England,
1180F04 this amounts to about *+900 million, \0i.e. about three or four
1190F04 times our total central revenue. ^Indeed, England would have collapsed
1200F04 but for this source of revenue. $"^*I am, therefore, quite
1210F04 agreeable to any step that_ you might take as indicated in your letter.
1220F04 ^*I might inform you that I am dealing with this question in a
1230F04 broad way in my fortnightly letter this week." $^In the same year,
1240F04 1951, in my reply to one of his letters I raised a couple of administrative
1250F04 points. ^My letter, which was this time written in Hindi,
1260F04 began with a complaint,"^Some of us in the states have come to_ hold
1270F04 the view that you always make us hear what you have to_ say but
1280F04 never give us an opportunity to_ have our say. ^Whenever you come
1290F04 to us we receive you at the aerodrome and after a couple of days bring
1300F04 you back to it. ^During the interval your whole time is spent in
1310F04 addressing meetings \0etc. ^You never ask us about our administrative
1320F04 problems and offer advice to us about their solution. ^We have,
1330F04 therefore, begun to_ call you *4Akashvani which we can listen to but
1340F04 which cannot listen to us. ^*Delhi has been, as the saying goes, far
1350F04 off, but you have become even more distant." $^In this very letter
1360F04 I drew his attention to increasing *4goondaism in our cities and
1370F04 towns and to the entry of these *4goondas in our political organizations,
1380F04 including the Congress, with the result that the dividing line
1390F04 between politics and crime was gradually getting obliterated. ^Later
1400F04 on, when I met him in Delhi and asked him whether he had received
1410F04 my letter he laughed and said, "*5^Ji Janab, wahi Akashwani
1411F04 walla khat na*6 (^Yes sir, you mean your *4Akashvani letter?)"
1420F04 $^In view of the concentration of huge areas of *4raiyatwari land in
1430F04 the hands of a few individuals in Berar, the \0MP government decided
1440F04 to_ limit the acreage under personal cultivation but our law
1450F04 secretary held the view that our proposal was repugnant to Article
1460F04 19(**=1)(F) of the Constitution. ^*I then wrote to the Prime Minister
1470F04 on 29 April 1951 requesting him to_ get Articles 19 and 31
1480F04 of the Constitution amended to_ enable us to_ get over the objections.
1490F04 ^*I personally went to Delhi to_ place our point of view before
1500F04 the central cabinet. ^*Nehru was sympathetic but *(0C.*) Rajagopalachari
1510F04 strongly opposed our proposal and we were forced to_ drop
1520F04 it for the time being. $^Even after I left the Congress, I continued
1530F04 to_ write to him. ^*I have already referred to my letter regarding
1540F04 the formation of the new Madhya Pradesh. ^On 4 January 1954,
1550F04 he was to_ come to Nagpur. ^Before his arrival I was approached
1560F04 by *(0S. N.*) Mehta, an \0ICS officer of the state already referred
1570F04 to earlier, who told me that Chief Minister Shukla had done
1580F04 his best to_ get the proposed steel plant in Bhilai but Orissa*'s
1590F04 pressure for its location at Rourkela was increasing. ^When he
1600F04 said that I should write to Nehru I replied that in view of our
1610F04 strained relations my letter to him would do no good to the state.
1620F04 ^But he disagreed and persisted in his request. ^Accordingly I addressed
1630F04 a letter to Nehru and within hours got the following reply,
1640F04 "^We have given a great deal of consideration to the problem of the
1650F04 new steel plant and its location. ^All the factors that_ you have mentioned
1660F04 as well as other factors have been before us. ^We have come
1670F04 to no decision yet, because we have to_ await the report of the German
1680F04 engineers. ^As soon as that_ is received we hope to_ come to a decision.
1690F04 ^*I have personally taken a great deal of interest in this
1700F04 matter. $"^*I might inform you that we are inclined to_ think that
1710F04 it will be necessary to_ have more than one new steel plant. ^Of course
1720F04 it will not be possible to_ start two simultaneously. ^But one
1730F04 may follow the other". $^*I sent for mehta and showed him Nehru*'s
1740F04 reply.*#
        **[no. of words = 02002**]

        **[txt. f05**]
0010F05 **<*3One-Way Free Flow**> $*<*3THE TRANSNATIONALS*' REACTION*0*>
0020F05 $*3^THE*0 Western Press as a whole, and particularly the news
0030F05 agencies concerned, have reacted somewhat violently to the Non-aligned
0040F05 countries*' move. ^They have seen a sinister motive behind it.
0041F05 ^They have charged even Unesco with grave misdemeanour
0050F05 in tending to_ view with sympathy the Third World*'s grievance
0060F05 against the Western news media. ^They have sought to_ dismiss
0070F05 the charges as "a lot of generalisations" and the news pool move
0080F05 itself as impracticable. ^They then alleged that the news put out
0090F05 by the Pool would be tainted because the participating national
0100F05 agencies are owned or subsidised or controlled by their respective
0110F05 governments, and that their news would not be free and objective. $^In
0120F05 the present communication-conscious era, the principle is univresally
0130F05 accepted that the news media is a vital limb of modern society
0140F05 and that it is duty of a modern state to_ help the media to_ function
0150F05 viably. ^This is an axiom acknowledged and practised by even the
0160F05 advanced states of Western Europe. ^The French government subsidises
0170F05 the *8Agence France Presse,*9 France*'s national-cum-transnational
0180F05 news agency. ^Many a government in Western Europe subsidised
0190F05 even its daily press by diverting to it excise duty collected from
0200F05 import of news-print or advertising revenue gathered from television.
0210F05 ^On that_ account, the European press or agencies are not considered
0220F05 more tainted or less free. ^In the perennial crisis that_ the
0230F05 British Press has been going through for the last several years,
0240F05 many leaders even in Britain have given serious thought to the
0250F05 possibility of offering governmental or some other kind of financial
0260F05 crutch to_ enable the press to_ survive. $^For the bitter choice
0270F05 is between aided press and no press. ^This is even truer in the case
0280F05 of the developing countries, in the circumstances, what is relevant,
0290F05 and all that_ one can ask for, is that the press, and news agency,
0300F05 should be professional in its functioning and operated by professionals.
0310F05 ^Indeed, the choice before the Third World is between news
0320F05 'tainted' from the Western sources and news 'tainted' from their own
0330F05 governmental sources. $^For there is of course the risk of many
0340F05 a government among them misusing the media for putting across their
0350F05 own propaganda. ^But that_ they would do in any event, whether the
0360F05 agency is owned by government or not. ^For no national agency dare
0370F05 ignore the behests of its government. ^But an enlightened government
0380F05 would not want to_ forfeit its credibility by such conduct; for
0390F05 in this case, its credibility with its neighbouring countries is involved,
0400F05 as it is the regional news pool that_ is expected to_ broadcast
0410F05 the news item. $^When Unesco convened the conference on Communication
0420F05 Policies in San Jose, Costa Rica, in July 1976, it encountered
0430F05 powerful opposition from vested interests, who alleged that
0440F05 it sought to_ impose curbs on press freedom in Latin America.
0450F05 ^The American-dominated Inter-American Press Association declared
0460F05 that it was opposed to drafting of communication policies that_
0470F05 might restrict news media operation in all nations of the region."
0480F05 $^Indeed, M*'3bow reported to the General Conference of Unesco
0490F05 at Nairobi in November, 1976: "^A number of difficulties were
0500F05 encountered in the organisation of the conference at San Jose. ^A
0510F05 late change was necessary in the venue and, prior to it, a press campaign
0520F05 was launched which tended to_ misrepresent the purposes of the
0530F05 conference and the concept of communication policies." $^On the eve
0540F05 of the San Jose conference, representatives of the Inter-American
0550F05 Press Association met top officials of Unesco, and after the
0560F05 meeting, the \0IAPA issued a statement which insisted that, despite
0570F05 its disclaimers, Unesco*'s "tendency to_ recommend official
0580F05 communications policy that_ could undermine freedom of the press remains
0590F05 unchanged." ^The statement went on to_ say: "^The highest authorities
0600F05 of Unesco have repeatedly stated that it is not their intention
0610F05 to_ limit or undermine freedom of expression. ^It is clear however
0620F05 that freedom of expression means one thing to Unesco and another
0630F05 to \0IAPS." $^*Leonard *(0R.*) Sussmann, ex-Director of the
0640F05 Freedom House of New York, dubbed the Unesco attitude to the
0650F05 question as "strictly a Marxist approach to journalism." $^The Director-General
0660F05 of Unesco retorted: "^The charge that_ the Unesco
0670F05 conference in San Jose is aiding groups trying to_ gag the free
0680F05 press is a case of seeking freedom of expression for themselves without
0690F05 allowing others to_ express themselves." $^The San Jose conference
0700F05 charged that international news agencies operating in the region
0710F05 (Latin America) "are not greatly concerned or interested in
0720F05 reflecting the real motivations, the whole truth or background of
0730F05 regional events." $^The declaration of San Jose stated: "^It should
0740F05 be joint responsibility of the state and the citizen to_ establish
0750F05 plans and programmes for the extensive and positive use of communication
0760F05 media within the framework of development policies." $"^National
0770F05 communication policies should be conceived in the context of
0780F05 nations realities, free expression of thought and respect for individual
0790F05 and social rights." $^The Third World countries have a legitimate
0800F05 right to_ organise their own regional news services. ^Whether
0810F05 it is practicable or not is entirely their business, though it happened
0820F05 that the international telecommunication facilities currently
0830F05 available to them make the proposition technologically feasible, thanks
0840F05 largely to the communication satellite and other electronic aids
0850F05 available in common to all. ^Then again, it is for the Third World
0860F05 countires, as customers, to_ decide whether the news services they
0870F05 pay for, satisfy their requirements. $^Nor is it the present intention
0880F05 of the promoters of the News Pool project to_ supplant the Western
0890F05 transnational news agencies and start a rival one in their place
0900F05 to_ supply them foreign news. ^The project, it has to_ be noted,
0910F05 is a very modest one. ^The New Delhi Declaration makes it clear
0920F05 that the "non-aligned Press agencies*' Pool is not a supranational
0930F05 news agency." ^The Western transnational agencies will continue
0940F05 to_ operate in the Non-aligned countries subscribing to the project
0960F05 and supply their foreign news services to the latter. ^The non aligned
0970F05 countries have found certain deficiency gaps in the foreign service
0980F05 they receive from the Western agencies, and they propose to_ fill
0990F05 those gaps through their own joint, pooled effort. $^Indeed, the
1000F05 non-aligned states*' decision in favour of organising a News Agencies*'
1010F05 Pool is entirely in conformity with Unesco*'s "^Suggestions
1020F05 to member states on measures to_ promote the free flow of information
1030F05 and international exchange", as approved by the 18th session of
1040F05 its General Conference. ^This document also encourages countries
1060F05 lacking a national news agency to_ set up organisations for the collection
1070F05 and distribution of domestic news and for carrying out international
1080F05 exchanges. $^The document states: "^Regional unions of news
1090F05 agencies are a means to_ assist the development of national agencies
1100F05 as well as to_ facilitate cooperation between them... ^Member states
1110F05 may wish to_ encourage their national news agencies to_ participate
1120F05 in regional unions designed to_ strengthen the national agencies
1130F05 and to_ increase the two-way flow of the news." $^The business maxim
1140F05 "the customer is always right" is as relevant in news business as
1150F05 elsewhere. ^It would appear to_ be the duty of a transnational news
1160F05 agency to_ study, understand and appreciate the political philosophy
1170F05 and news needs, and even idiosyncracies, of its customer. ^It has
1180F05 to_ accept that there is a clear difference in values and priorities
1190F05 between the Third World and the advanced and industrialised countries
1200F05 of the West. ^Here as elsewhere, what*'1s one man*'s meat may
1210F05 indeed be another*'s poison. $^To the developling countries, grappling
1220F05 with the complex and gigantic problem of improving the quality of
1230F05 life of their people assumes the supreme priority. ^To them the main
1240F05 aim of economic development is banishing poverty and assuring social justice
1250F05 for the entire population. ^In other words, what they are attempting
1260F05 is a veritable social revolution, which calls for drastic measures
1270F05 and ruthless methods. ^To them, the political system-- democracy
1280F05 or what-have-you-- is only a means to an end. ^And they would not
1290F05 hesitate to_ modify, change or altogether discard the political system
1300F05 if it fails to_ measure up to the imperatives of social progress.
1310F05 $^Whereas, to the advanced, highly evolved, affluent Western societies,
1320F05 democracy is an end in itself, satiated as they are in their
1340F05 basic needs such as food, clothing and shelter. ^And in their smugness,
1350F05 convinced that theirs is the only right way, the latter would seek
1360F05 to_ impose their concepts and values on the people of the developing
1370F05 countires, which are irrelevant and even detrimental to the latter*'s
1380F05 milieu and priorities. $^The Third World*'s charge against
1390F05 the Western news agencies is threefold: a) their inward (foreign news)
1400F05 file is inadequate and out of focus with the news needs of the developing
1410F05 countries; b) they do not get adequate and relevant information
1420F05 from their own region through the Western agencies; and (c) the
1430F05 Western news agencies project a wrong, biased and prejudical image
1440F05 of the developing countries to the world. $^In effect, the proposed
1450F05 news pool seeks to, and indeed can, remedy only a) and b). ^The Western
1460F05 transnational agencies themselves cannot honestly pretend that
1470F05 their regional news coverage of the Third World-- that_ is reportage
1480F05 of news between neighbouring countries in the same region-- is
1490F05 either adequate or of the right kind. ^Generally the reason for it
1500F05 is that news is primarily gathered, selected and edited for the needs
1510F05 of the Western agencies*' home markets, \0i.e., America or Western
1520F05 Europe-- notwithstanding the regional desks maintained by them
1530F05 to_ cater for such needs. ^The regional news is selected from such
1540F05 a scanty pool and filed to countires of the region. ^It obviously
1550F05 could not be a satisfactory arrangement. ^Firstly, because the norms,
1560F05 values and the very definition of news differ as between the affluent
1570F05 industrial society of the West and the backward, developing countries
1580F05 struggling to_ make the grade, with varying degrees of success
1590F05 or failure, in the face of heavy odds. $^*Richard Gott of *3Guardian*0
1600F05 illustrates this point by citing a hypothetical example of nationalistation
1610F05 or expropriation of a foreign firm a Third World country,
1620F05 which is "normally written about with barely veiled hostility by
1630F05 journalists from the international agencies catering for their 'home'
1640F05 market in the advanced capitalist world. ^Yet the world audience
1650F05 might be delighted to_ hear how some other country in a similar predicament
1660F05 had made mince-meat of a transnational company." $^*Gott draws
1670F05 upon his personal experience as foreign editor of a Tanzanian newspaper
1680F05 to_ cite an instance of what he calls ideological misrepresentation".
1690F05 ^That_ newspaper took Reuter*'s "Africa Service". "^This service
1700F05 assumed," Gott comments, "that its purchasers subscribed also
1710F05 to the general Western belief that \0US was fully justified in occupying
1720F05 Vietnam and invading Laos. ("incursion" was the word used)
1730F05 and what is more, was actually winning the war-- which was "indeed on
1740F05 ideological misrepresentation of the facts." $^Secondly, the developing
1750F05 countries are thirsting for not only a different kind of news
1760F05 but also more and more news about their immediate neighbours and of
1770F05 their mutual experience in the field of development, socio-economic
1780F05 reform and political experimentation. ^This is not the kind of news--
1790F05 not "hard" enough-- that the Western transnational agencies would
1800F05 consider commercially viable to_ transmit exclusively for the benefit
1810F05 of the region, when their own market at home is uninterested in
1820F05 it. ^The developing countires, who are vitally interested in that_
1830F05 kind of news, have therefore to_ fill the deficiency through other
1840F05 means. ^This is what the Non-aligned News Pool is all about. $^There
1850F05 is, then a lot of room for improvement in the quality of the inwards
1860F05 file of foregign news received by the developing countries from
1870F05 the international news media. ^This deficiency can be effectively filled
1880F05 up through the proposed News Pool*'s own special correspondents
1890F05 posted at strategic points abroad-- appointed by the national
1900F05 news agencies of the Third World. $^But alas, it is not within the
1910F05 power of the developing countries to_ get the deficiency, c) redressed,
1920F05 namely, rectify the biased and unbalanced image of the developing countries
1930F05 projected to the rest of the world by the Western transnational agencies--
1940F05 unless the News Pool is able to_ sell its news service to the
1950F05 West through an arrangement for reciprocal distribution of their
1960F05 respective news, which is practicable only when the News Pool*'s
1970F05 news service is able successfully to_ compete with the transnationals,
1980F05 in quality, content and speed.*#
        **[no. of words = 02038**]

        **[txt. f06**]
0010F06 **<*3The Kayyur *4Ryot*0**> $^In Malabar, when the Company established
0020F06 its authority in 1792, there still remained many native *4rajas
0030F06 and the conquest was based on a partnership with them. ^Therefore,
0040F06 lands in Malabar continued to_ be the 'private property' of native
0050F06 landholders and in Kasaragod it became the 'leasehold' property of
0060F06 the people. ^The landlords in Kasaragod belonged to ordinary *4ryotwari
0070F06 *4pattadars and the assessment they paid to the Government was
0080F06 land-rent at a high rate. ^In the land registers the land was classified
0090F06 as '*4Sarkar'. ^Naturally the landlord was only a tenant or
0100F06 *4wargdar (the holder of a *4warg-- a palm-leaf account of the lands
0110F06 allotted to a person). $^In Malabar all unoccupied land and forests
0120F06 belonged to the landlords. ^The reason usually given in support of
0130F06 this view was that Hindu polity which recognised private ownership
0140F06 in the soil survived longer in Malabar than in other parts of India.
0150F06 ^But in South Kanara including Kasaragod forest tracts \0etc.
0160F06 belonged exclusively to the Crown. ^*Sturrock, the author of the
0170F06 South Kanara District Manual, described the terrain of South Kanara
0180F06 as follows: $^South Kanara is essentially a forest district.
0190F06 ^The slopes of the western ghats from north to south clothed with dense
0200F06 forests of magnificent timber and the forest growths, stimulated
0210F06 by the heavy rainfall approach within a few miles of the coast. $^There
0220F06 was scarcity of suitable land for agriculture. ^The practice
0230F06 was that the *4wargdars or *4muliwargs, farmers and *4ryots, were in
0240F06 the habit of encroaching the forest lands, clearing a part of the
0250F06 jungle and raising a temporary crop on it. ^When the crop was reaped
0260F06 this patch was abandoned and some other part was taken up. ^For that_
0270F06 cultivation, they had been paying a small fee to the Government.
0280F06 ^Those patches are called *4Kumris and the lands so desultorily cultivated
0290F06 are designated as *4Kumri lands. ^When the exploitation of
0300F06 Indian forests became an integral part of a colonial economy, the
0310F06 Government noticed the "chief evils of this crude system" of cultivation
0320F06 which contributed to the "destruction of valuable timber at
0330F06 present urgently required for ship-building and railways and rendering
0340F06 of land Enfit for coffee cultivation." ^The government, therefore,
0350F06 restricted the *4Kumri cultivation in virgin forests, cardamom
0360F06 and pepper forests, forests which were not cultivated for 12 years
0370F06 and upwards and all forests outside of the *4wargs. ^A judgement of
0380F06 the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council held, in an appeal
0390F06 where the appellent claimed certain forest lands exclusively in favour
0400F06 of his *4Taraward, that the Government had an absolute title
0410F06 to all forest tracts. ^Such proceedings restricted the scope for further
0420F06 expansion of occupational means to an increasing population by
0430F06 the traditional cultivation of *4Kumri in Kasaragod. ^It actually
0440F06 intensified the pressure on the cultivating lands already available.
0450F06 ^In the circumstances, the *4wargdar demanded an exorbitant rent from
0460F06 his tenants. $^The land tenures prevailing in the southern portion
0470F06 of Kasaragod *4taluk were the same as those of North Malabar. ^A
0480F06 landlord was normally styled a *4janmi; *4Kanam was practically a
0490F06 mortgage and the *4verumpattam or *4chalageni was indistinguishable
0500F06 from the *4verumpattam of north Malabar. ^In South Kanara the *4mulgeni
0510F06 tenure (*4kanam) was controlled by the provisions of the Mulgeni
0520F06 Rent Enhancement Act, (Act *=8 of 1920). ^The Malabar Tenancy
0530F06 Act of 1929 had not been extended to Kasaragod *4taluk. ^Therefore,
0540F06 a revision of rent was possible at any time by the landlord
0550F06 and practically, there was no fixity of tenure. $*<*3LAND-REVENUE*0*>
0560F06 $^The faulty system of land-revenue under the British Government
0570F06 was responsible for placing the peasants in a miserable condition.
0580F06 ^As the Government realised rent and not 'revenue' from the landholders
0590F06 in this district, the rate was considerably higher than the
0600F06 rate that_ prevailed in Malabar. ^In principle a tax on land was really
0610F06 a tax on the actual yield of that land. ^The soundness of the
0620F06 principle is incontestable. ^The fluctuations in price had no effect
0630F06 on the incidence of tax as the payment was permissible in kind according
0640F06 to custom. ^Even now the wages for certain labourers connected
0650F06 with paddy cultivation, its harvest, plucking of coconuts, \0etc.
0660F06 are customarily paid in kind. ^But under British rule the revenue
0670F06 was realised in cash. ^For the fixing of land-revenue the land was
0680F06 classified wet, garden and dry. ^Paddy, coconut and *4ragi were adopted
0690F06 as the standard crops for wet, garden and dry respectively. ^The
0700F06 yield of an experimental acre was first converted into money value
0710F06 at a fixed commutation rate and deductions were allowed for vicissitudes
0720F06 of season and cultivation expense. ^The balance was treated as
0730F06 net profit derived by the *4ryot (*4wargdar) from his land and half
0740F06 of this was fixed as the dues to the Government. ^It was assumed
0750F06 that the land-holders were the direct cultivators of their holdings.^Including
0760F06 the expenses everything was based on commutation of the value
0770F06 of the commodity producted. ^In the last re-settlement of this *4taluk
0780F06 the average price of the last twenty years, *4faslis 1323-42, (1913-32)
0790F06 were calculated which resulted in an increase of 84 per cent of the
0800F06 commutation price in the previous settlement. ^However, the price
0810F06 of the commodity is not guaranteed by the Government. ^Naturally,
0820F06 a fall in the price of produce like paddy, pepper, coconuts, \0etc.
0830F06 below the commutation price adversely affected the *4wargdar and made
0840F06 his position critical. ^In such a situation the *4wargdar took all
0850F06 possible steps to_ get more rent from his property by leasing it
0860F06 to the highest bidder. ^There was nothing to_ prevent him from this
0870F06 action. ^A leading lawyer analysed the situation in the following words:
0880F06 $^In that_ event the rent is apt to_ cease to_ be fair. ^What
0890F06 is worse, when the market falls far below the commutation price adopted
0900F06 at the settlement, the share of the produce that_ must go towards
0910F06 the revenue rises as it must rise proportionately. ^Its repercussions
0920F06 must tell on the tenant. ^That_ is to_ say, when the land-revenue
0930F06 becomes oppressive the land rent becomes necessarily oppressive.
0940F06 ^It is a vicious circle. $^In fact, the impact of the colonial land-revenue
0941F06 system on
0950F06 landlords and peasants in South Kanara was disastrous as it was everywhere
0960F06 else. ^But historical process varied from region to region. $^The
0970F06 cultivable lands in Hosdrug *(sub-taluk*) had been possessed
0980F06 by a few land-lords among whom 18 landowners paid more than \0Rs.
0990F06 5000 per annum as land-reveue. ^Actually, these landlords and the
1000F06 intermediaries monopolised the land and collaborated with the British
1010F06 *4raj. ^They continued illegal exactions like *4Vasi, *4Nuri and
1020F06 *4Mukkal from their tenants. ^They also compelled their tenants
1030F06 to_ pay several feudal levies on festivals like Onam and Vishu.
1040F06 ^Some of such levies were even incorporated into lease-contracts and
1050F06 they were compulsory payments.13 ^The impact of this system of absentee
1060F06 landlordism was thus assessed: $^The lot of the vast majority
1070F06 of tenants is certainly not a happy one. ^He has no fixity of tenure;
1080F06 and he has no incentive to_ improve the land. ^He must quit the
1090F06 land at the whim or caprice of the landlord. ^It may be that if the
1100F06 landlord is wise he will not generally turn out a tenant who is regular
1110F06 in the payment of his dues. ^But the dependence on the landlord
1120F06 for the continuity of his daily bread tends to_ dwarf and stunt his
1130F06 soul and rob him of that_free outlook on life which is so necessary
1140F06 to the advancement of a nation. ^It does not conduce to the healthy
1150F06 development of any country that any of its members should live in an
1160F06 atmosphere of dependence. $^The coercive measures adopted by the
1170F06 revenue authorities for the realisation of land-revenue always became
1180F06 detrimental to the interests of peasants. ^By persuading a village
1190F06 headman who normally belonged to a landed family, a landlord can
1200F06 attach standing or harvested crops for revenue arrears and sell them
1210F06 in public auction. ^Even in free India, the small farmers were put
1220F06 to innumerable difficulties when the revenue recovery rules were enforced
1230F06 against them for realising the revenue payable by the landlords
1240F06 in this district. ^This can be explained by an example. ^A landlord
1250F06 has to_ remit a sum of \0Rs. 1,000 to the Government as revenue.
1260F06 ^His *4patta or holding is comprised of wastelands and wetlands.
1270F06 ^All usufructs and standing crops of that_ holding are liable for attachment
1280F06 towards the revenue arrears. ^The revenue officials could distrain
1290F06 the standing crops even in one or two survey numbers for the
1300F06 entire arrears. ^Although the tenants in possession of those plots
1310F06 had paid their rent to the landlord, or *4pattadar, their crops are
1320F06 not exempted from attachment. ^However, the amount realised from them
1330F06 by the officials could be adjusted towards future rent. ^Such rules
1340F06 placed the tenants always under the mercy of the local officials
1350F06 and the respective landlords. ^These evils were particularly found
1360F06 in the *4ryotwari system of South Kanara. ^There was no certainty
1370F06 that the tenant could harvest his crops. ^An attchment for realisation
1380F06 of arrears of revenue brought considerable loss to him. $^Such practices
1390F06 were justified by the courts. ^In a particular case, the lower
1400F06 court decided that Section *=2 of Madras Act *=2 of 1864 did not
1410F06 empower the revenue authorities to_ distrain gathered products in
1420F06 the possession of a tenant for arrears of revenue and referred the
1430F06 matter to the Madras High Court. ^They decided that "the products
1440F06 liable to distraint are products of
1450F06 the defaulter*'s land, though such products may belong to the tenant".
1460F06 ^However, the High Court recognised the right of the tenant to_
1470F06 deduct the value of the same from the rent then due or thereafter
1480F06 to_ become due to the landlord on account of the land on which the
1490F06 products were grown. $^In the light of the above judgement the responsibility
1500F06 of payment of land revenue virtually came upon the shoulders
1510F06 of the tenants. ^The system compelled them to_ borrow money at
1520F06 a high rate of interest from urban money-lenders to_ clear off the governmental
1530F06 dues on behalf of the landlords. ^But it was a thankless
1540F06 job and the landlords never gave any compensation to the tenant for
1550F06 his loss of money towards interest. $*<*3KASARGOD *4TALUK *4KARSHAKA
1560F06 *4ANGHAM*0*> $^The organisation of Karshaka Sangham in a region
1570F06 like Kasaragod was intended to_ safeguard the interests of the peasants
1580F06 and thereby create maximum political and national awareness
1590F06 among the weaker sections of society. ^The first village to_ witness
1600F06 a peasant organisation in this *4taluk was Kotakkat. ^The organisation
1610F06 of Abhinava Bharat Yuvak Sangham included the villages
1620F06 of Vellur, Peralam, Karivellur and Kotakkat. ^The leadership in
1630F06 organisational work was given by *(0A. V.*) Kunhambu and others.
1640F06 ^*Koyyan Kunhikannan, Elachi Kannan, *(0T. V.) Sankaran Master,
1650F06 Paringan Kunhiraman Nambiar, Puliruvittil Krishnan and
1660F06 others actively participated in promoting the *4sangham in Kotakkat
1670F06 and other villages in this *4taluk. $^In 1935, a special conference
1680F06 of the peasants was convened at Karivellur presided over by *(0A.
1690F06 K.*) Gopalan. ^This was the first conference attended by the peasants
1700F06 in Kasaragod *4taluk. ^Within a period of three years, the village
1710F06 units of the \0KPCC and Karshaka Sangham were organised
1720F06 in each village of the *4taluk. ^These units enlisted a good number
1730F06 of peasants in the Congress and *4Sangham and united them against
1740F06 imperialism and landlordism. ^This was the emergence of political
1750F06 consciousness at mass level in this region. ^The formation of the Kasaragod
1760F06 Taluk Karshaka Sangham was mainly due to the leadership
1770F06 given by *(0K. A.*) Keraleeyan, *(0A. V.*) Kunhambu, Vishnu
1780F06 Bharatiyan, *(0V. V.*) Kunyambu, *(0T. S.*) Tirumumbu, *(0N.
1790F06 S*) Namboodiri, and \0K. madhavan. ^They were, later joined
1800F06 by several local leaders like \0K. Kunhikannan \0P. Ambu Nair,
1810F06 \0N. Narayana Varier, *(0T. V.*) Kunhambu and others. ^The first
1820F06 conference of the Kasaragad Taluk Karshaka Sangham was convened
1830F06 in 1937, at Kanhangad and it was presided over by *(0K. P.
1840F06 R.*) Gopalan. ^By 1938, the local secretaries like \0M. Narayanan
1850F06 Nair (Kilaikkot), *(0A. V.*) Govindan (Kamballur), *(0K.
1860F06 V.*) Chandrasekharan (Pilicode), *(0M. C.*) Ambadi (Thuruthi),
1870F06 \0M. Ambadikunhi (Puliyannur), \0P. Kunhambu (Andole) and
1880F06 *(0E. C.*) Pokkan (Mayyicha) of different units of the Karshaka
1890F06 Sangham actively participated in promoting the Sangham in their
1900F06 respective villages.*#
        **[no. of words = 02010**]

        **[txt. f07**]
0010F07 **<*3Alimony and Maintenance in the changing Concept of Marriage and
0020F07 Divorce*0**> $^In the discharge of this duty by the court, solicitors
0030F07 are considered as officers of the court and have duties of helping
0040F07 the court in carrying out its judicial responsibility. ^Accordingly,
0050F07 where the parties to divorce proceedings have made an arrangement
0060F07 settling the question of support and maintenance, either themselves
0070F07 or with the help of the solicitors, the solicitors should place
0080F07 such results before the court "in a spirit of unreserved candour."
0090F07 ^By doing so, as Scarman, \0J., once remarked, "they will have
0100F07 lived up to the honourable tradition of their profession in a changing
0110F07 world, and will have discharged their duty to their client, the
0120F07 court and the public." $^Thus, the existence of the court*'s overriding
0130F07 power to_ consider the question of awarding maintenance quite
0140F07 independently of any contract the parties may have entered into may
0150F07 be termed one of the legal effects of divorce. ^Whether or not
0160F07 such a power should be exercised in a particular case is, however,
0170F07 a different matter. ^All depends upon the "equities" of the case.
0180F07 ^Normally, the presence of the "settlement" and its "terms" are most
0190F07 relevant factors in reaching a decision in this respect. ^Moreover,
0200F07 the power to_ override does not necessarily mean to_ ignore all
0210F07 the terms of the settlement. ^*Tyrwhitt-Drake, \0J., very aptly stated
0220F07 in Lee \0v. Lee. $"...^As no agreement can exclude the court*'s
0230F07 jurisdiction to_ deal with maintenance as a matter of public policy,
0240F07 similarly no provision in the agreement itself can prevent the
0250F07 court from considering the covenants therein as circumstances bearing
0260F07 upon the main question in issue." $^As a result, the fact that the
0270F07 maintenance agreement has been entered into by the parties, the fact
0280F07 that it was executed by the wife voluntarily and upon independent
0290F07 legal advice, the extent of finality attached to the agreement in
0300F07 the light of all relevant factors such as fulfilment of the terms of
0310F07 the contract by the parties-- all these elements may be considered
0320F07 by the court in determining what is "fit and just" to_ do in the particular
0330F07 case before it. ^In Wells \0v. Wells, for instance, the
0340F07 husband, in consideration of the wife*'s covenant not to_ seek maintenance,
0350F07 conveyed his equity in the matrimonial home to her. ^Subsequently,
0360F07 in divorce proceedings the wife claimed maintenance. ^The
0370F07 court refused to_ exercise its discretion in her favour because she
0380F07 failed to_ bring the proceeds from the sale of said house and, thus,
0390F07 restore in effect the parties to their respective position before
0400F07 the execution of the said agreement. \0^*Mr. Justice Gould stressing
0410F07 "the equities of the conduct of the parties" remarked that it would
0420F07 be unfair to_ permit the wife "to_ retain such fruit of her bargain
0430F07 as she finds sweet, but to_ be spared by the Court the taste of
0440F07 such fruit of the same bargain as she deems to_ be sour..." ^Similarly,
0450F07 in Moshenko \0v. Moshenko the main question for consideration
0460F07 of the court was whether the wife in view of the terms of the
0470F07 existing separation agreement providing maintenance was entitled to
0480F07 maintenance as corollary relief in divorce proceedings within section
0490F07 11 of the Divorce Act. ^In the light of all the facts of the case,
0500F07 including particularly the terms of the agreement providing maintenance,
0510F07 the court held that the mere fact that one party had assets
0511F07 and the other had none was not itself sufficient to_ grant relief in
0520F07 its discretion on grounds of public policy. $^On the other hand, if
0530F07 there is in existence an agreement providing maintenance which has
0540F07 not been brought before the court in divorce proceedings, nor has
0550F07 the court made any other order for maintenance as ancillary relief,
0560F07 then the agreement will remain "binding and enforceable" notwithstanding
0570F07 the decree *7nisi of divorce, and the court will determine the
0580F07 maintenance rights in accordance with the terms of the agreement.
0590F07 $^Under English law, maintenance agreements are often made in contemplation
0600F07 of divorce "subject to the approval of the court". ^This
0610F07 has been so ever since the enactment of the Matrimonial Causes Act,
0620F07 1963, which validates a bargain on its disclosure to the court
0630F07 provided it represents an honest negotiation between the parties.
0640F07 ^Since the divorce Reform Act, 1969 it is also common for agreements
0650F07 to_ be made "subject to the approval of the court" and to_
0660F07 seek the opinion of the court under section 7 as to the reasonableness
0670F07 of them. ^But here too, if the parties have reached agreement on
0680F07 all essential matters, the clause "subject to the approval of the
0690F07 court" does not mean that there is no agreement at all. ^There is an
0700F07 agreement, but the operation of it is suspended until the court approves
0710F07 it. ^It is the duty of one party or the other to_ bring the
0720F07 agreement before the court for approval. ^If the court approves, it
0730F07 is binding on the parties. ^If the court does not approve, it is not
0740F07 binding. ^But pending the application to the court, it remains a binding
0750F07 agreement which neither party can disavow. $^From the above
0760F07 discussion it may be inferred that where there is already in existence
0770F07 an agreement settling the question of support and maintenance, the
0780F07 court, whether in exercise of the overriding power as under the Canadian
0790F07 Divorce Act or owing to the "subject to the approval of the
0800F07 court" clause as under English law, will not supersede the agreement
0810F07 or settlement until or unless there is something palpably unjust
0820F07 or unreasonable about it. ^In the present context the important thing
0830F07 to_ observe about these voluntary agreements or settlements, however,
0840F07 is that the problem of support and maintenance is resolved in
0850F07 terms of adjustment which generally involve the transfer of property
0860F07 or capital assets from one spouse to the other. ^A very recent case
0870F07 exemplifying this trend is Lee \0v. Lee. ^On the matter of support
0880F07 and maintenance in this case, the husband agreed to the wife*'s
0890F07 buying out his interest in the matrimonial home for a specified sum
0900F07 in lieu of settlement of all future claims of alimony and maintenance.
0910F07 ^Upon granting the decree *7nisi of divorce, in view of the said
0920F07 settlement and all other attendant circumstances, no other order of
0930F07 maintenance, not even a nominal order, was made for the wife. $^On
0940F07 the other hand, when there is no such agreement by way of over-all
0950F07 property settlement already in existence, the modern trend is rather
0960F07 to_ *3encourage*0 the parties in divorce proceedings to_ resolve the
0970F07 maintenance issue preferably through an all-embracing property settlement.
0980F07 ^The reasons which appear to_ prompt the courts to_ adopt this
0990F07 course are mostly the resulting consequences of divorce that_ may
1000F07 seriously affect the issue of maintenance. ^On the dissolution of
1010F07 marriage by divorce, for instance, the homestead rights of the wife
1020F07 will cease; the matrimonial home, if it is in the name of the husband,
1030F07 will pass on to his estate on his death, and the former
1040F07 wife might even be dispossessed of such a home. ^She as a divorced
1050F07 wife is neither entitled to any maintenance relief under the Dependents*'
1060F07 Relief Act, nor does she have any right or interest under
1070F07 the Devolution of Estates Act. ^Such consequences, if not considered
1080F07 upon granting a decree *7nisi of divorce, would certainly affect
1090F07 the wife*'s right to maintenance. ^Thus, in order to_ do justice,
1100F07 the court, in the first instance, on granting decree *7nisi
1110F07 of divorce, even *8ex proprio motu*9 will induce the husband to_
1120F07 seek solution to the maintenance problem through an over-all property
1130F07 settlement. ^In \0J. \0v. \0J., for instance, Davis, \0J.,
1140F07 while dealing with the problem of support and maintenance as ancillary
1150F07 relief to_ divorce, stated: $"^The monetary difficulties could
1160F07 be solved, I belive, if the petitioner (husband) would transfer to
1170F07 the respondent (wife) the Kindersley property together with one of
1180F07 his quarter sections of land. ^With the home and the returns from
1190F07 the farm it may be that the respondent would be able to_ get by.
1200F07 ^With this in mind I made the suggestion during the trial but the
1210F07 petitioner refused to_ make any concessions...." $^But in the exercise
1230F07 of ancillary powers under the federal Divorce Act the court is
1240F07 said to_ have no power to_ "compel" a spouse to_ enter into a property
1250F07 settlement involving transference of property to another in lieu
1260F07 of alimony and maintenance. ^Substantial justice in a situation where
1270F07 an over-all property settlement is deemed appropriate is, therefore,
1280F07 being achieved through the award of lump sum payments-- an award
1290F07 which the court is now empowered to_ make "if it thinks fit and just
1300F07 to_ do so" within the provisions of section 11 of the Divorce
1310F07 Act. ^In the case of \0J. \0v. \0J., *3supra*0, on the husband*'s
1320F07 refusal to_ make any concession in favour of the wife by way of negotiating
1330F07 a property settlement, Davis, \0J., said that "the only
1340F07 way to_ enforce obligation to his family is direct payment of a lump
1350F07 sum and secure this against his reality". ^Accordingly, all the
1360F07 existing real property of the husband together with any other real
1370F07 property which the husband might own was charged with payment to the
1380F07 wife of a sum of *-25,000. ^His lordship, however, "hoped" that
1390F07 "the petitioner (husband) will reconsider the suggested settlement".
1400F07 ^In another case Hutchinson \0v. Hutchinson *(0et al.*)-- in addition
1410F07 to periodical payments, the husband was required either to_ transfer
1420F07 furniture and personal chattels to the value of *-5,000 coupled
1430F07 with a lump sum payment of *-10,000 to his wife or to_ pay a lump
1450F07 sum of *-15,000 if he did not transfer the said property. ^Similarly,
1460F07 in Morrison \0v. Morrison, upon being granted a decree *7nisi
1470F07 of divorce the wife was held entitled to maintenance. ^In his report,
1480F07 the Registrar, *8inter ailia*9, recommended that "two-thirds
1490F07 (2/3) of the interest in the matrimonial home... be registered in the
1500F07 name of the Respondent (wife), and the remaining one-third (1/3)
1510F07 interest in the home is to_ remain in the name of the Petitioner
1520F07 (husband)." ^*Seation, \0J., refused to_ confirm this report because
1530F07 in his opinion "the Court had no authority to_ deprive the husband
1540F07 of property and give it to the wife." ^His Lordship, however,
1550F07 suggestd that "there should be a lump-sum payment, secured against
1560F07 the petitioner*'s interest in the property." $^It is clear from
1570F07 the analysis of the above case law that the courts feel that in a divorce
1580F07 situation it is better to_ tackle the problem of support and maintenance
1590F07 as ancillary relief by reaching an all-embracing property
1600F07 settlement. ^Since it is believed that the court under the federal Divorce
1610F07 Act has no jurisdiction to_ "compel" a spouse to_ transfer his
1620F07 or her property to the other spouse in lieu of maintenance, the
1630F07 desired object is achieved through the award of a lump sum or sums
1640F07 if the spouse obliged to_ pay maintenance does not agree to the
1650F07 suggested settlement. ^But in our view it makes little difference whether
1660F07 the husband is asked to_ transfer his property as a part settlement
1670F07 of the maintenance obligation or to_ pay a lump sum by the
1680F07 sale or transfer of such property. ^Moreover, we have argued elsewhere
1690F07 that so long as the court is touching upon the subject of "property"
1700F07 in relation to maintenance as ancillary relief, there exists
1710F07 no constitutional impediment on that_ count. ^So far as voluntarily
1720F07 agreeing to over-all property settlements is concerned, we may surmise
1730F07 that if the trend of presenting a petition for divorce on the grounds
1740F07 of breakdown of marriage within section 4 of the Divorce Act
1750F07 continues, such settlements will be more frequently negotiated with
1760F07 candour and dignity. $*<*3(d) Fusion through Lump Sum Awards*0*>
1770F07 $^Traditionally, the court had no power to_ award payment once
1780F07 and for all of a sum in gross for alimony; nor would the court sanction
1790F07 an arrangement between the parties for the payment by the husband
1800F07 to the wife of a gross sum in lieu of periodical payments. ^An
1810F07 order for maintenance once made was considered as "inherently variable";
1820F07 that_ is, it must remain alive for all time to_ come, and no
1830F07 consent of the parties could ever put an end to that_, and any order
1840F07 of the court purporting to_ do that_ would be *8ultra vires*9.*#
        **[no. of words = 02038**]

        **[txt. f08**]
0010F08 **<*3How I Wrote the Time Capsule*0**>
0020F08 $*3^THE*0 Time Capsule controversy, which has been raging in our
0030F08 country since September 1973, is likely to_ reach its end shortly.
0040F08 ^At this closing stage of the controversy, I wish to_ share with
0050F08 my fellow citizens the moments of anxiety and concern I experienced
0060F08 from this episode, with which I had to_ relate myself unfortunately
0070F08 almost from its beginning. $^My involvement in this issue originated
0080F08 early in May 1973 when the Indian Council of Historical Research,
0090F08 an autonomous body founded by the Government of India
0100F08 to_ promote historical research in the country, assigned to me a project
0110F08 which involved the writing of a brief account of the major developments
0120F08 in India since Independence. ^As I was then in the middle
0130F08 of a serious academic research on the role of the Madras Legislature
0140F08 in our freedom movement, which had been assigned to me by the
0150F08 \0ICHR in October 1972, I hesitated at first in accepting this
0160F08 responsibility. ^However, when I was told that the project for the
0170F08 Time Capsule was only for a month and that the \0ICHR could
0180F08 not find a suitable person to_ write this account on such a short notice,
0190F08 I committed myself to the task and went to New Delhi for
0200F08 a month, leaving instructions with my research assistants in Madras
0210F08 to_ continue their work on the legislature project. $*<"*3India Since
0220F08 1947*0"*> $^On reaching the office of the \0ICHR at 35 Ferozshah
0230F08 Road, New Delhi, the Secretary of the organisation provided
0240F08 me with an office room, two research assistants and a typist to_ do
0250F08 the project. ^She told me that my account of INDIA SINCE 1947 should
0260F08 not exceed 10,000 words and that my draft should be ready
0270F08 by the end of the month. ^She also gave me a copy of the guideline
0280F08 for the project, prepared by the project committee, headed by
0290F08 *(0S.*) Gopal, Professor of History, Jawaharlal Nehru University,
0300F08 New Delhi. $^This guideline contained, in about half a page,
0310F08 a list of almost all the major events that_ had occurred in India
0320F08 from 1947 till 1972, such as the rehabilitation of refugees from
0330F08 Pakistan, integration of the princely states, formation of linguistic
0340F08 states, drafting of our Constitution, Five Year Plans and
0350F08 so on. ^A copy of this guideline should still be available in the
0360F08 project file of the \0ICHR and, if it is published by the Government,
0370F08 it would at once remove the suspicion that several pepole have
0380F08 expressed subsequently that this project was intended to_ eulogise
0390F08 and pay tribute to \0Mrs Gandhi and her family. $^It may sound
0400F08 strange to persons with strong political involvements and party
0410F08 affiliations but it is nevertheless true that it did not occur to
0420F08 me at all at that_ time that there could be any politics in the account
0430F08 that I was to_ write. ^This was because I was then, as now,
0440F08 a completely non-political person in the sense that I was not particularly
0450F08 attracted towards any political party; nor did I hate any,
0460F08 even though I have held for long a strong intellectual conviction
0470F08 that mankind is steadily and inevitably moving towards an egalitarian
0480F08 social order and that all the crises it has been experiencing
0490F08 all over the world would represent the birth pangs of this new world
0400F08 order. ^Some call me a socialist for this reason and, if this is
0510F08 where socialism will take humanity, I have no objection to being called
0520F08 so and I would appreciate all those who genuinely support this
0530F08 cause irrespective of their party labels and symbols. $^Lately, some
0540F08 journals have been circulating a rumour that I have joined the \0CPM.
0550F08 ^This is absolutely untrue. ^*I have never been a member of
0560F08 any political party; nor will I ever join one so long as I continue
0570F08 to_ teach. $^I feel that it is neither desirable nor legal for a
0580F08 teacher to_ do any party work. ^*I did not even exercise my franchise
0590F08 in any of the general elections till March 1977. ^Only in the last
0600F08 election I went to_ vote and it was a negative vote that_ I cast.
0640F08 ^It was a vote against the Emergency and not *3for anyone. ^This
0620F08 was the only active political role that_ I played since Independence.
0630F08 $^During my stay in Delhi when I wrote the Time Capsule
0640F08 account in May 1973 I did not meet any politician or Government
0650F08 official in any Ministry in the Government of India. ^Not even a
0660F08 *4chaprasi from any Government office came to_ see me either in the
0670F08 \0ICHR guest room where I was staying or anywhere else. ^Having
0680F08 spent most of my life in teaching and research, I generally feel
0690F08 extremely uncomfortable in any non-academic community, particularly
0700F08 in the company of politicians and Government officials. ^It is for
0710F08 this reason that I feel quite amused when anyone asks me whether
0720F08 \0Mrs Gandhi or any of her agents had asked me to_ write this
0730F08 Tine Capsule account. ^Such questions show how politically involved
0740F08 people are in our country. $*<*3Not Seeing is Believing!*>
0750F08 $^According to the persons who ask such questions, whatever \0Mrs
0760F08 Gandhi had done was wrong and crooked and whatever happened
0770F08 in her period was also wrong and crooked. ^And as this Time Capsule
0780F08 was done in her period, they presumed that she must have bribed
0790F08 me or threatened me to_ do a work in praise of herself, her party and
0800F08 her Government. ^They jump to such conclusions without even seeing
0810F08 the document. ^They do not even seem to_ want to_ see the document,
0820F08 for they find it convenient perhaps to_ believe, and to_ make others
0830F08 believe, that as this document was prepared in her period, it
0840F08 must be a eulogy of the Congress and of \0Mrs Gandhi particularly.
0850F08 $^One prominent newspaper went to the extent of misleading
0860F08 the public by writing in its editorial that the Time Capsule
0870F08 was buried during the Emergency (it was buried on August 15,
0880F08 1973) in the same editorial, the paper appealed to historians not
0890F08 to_ mislead the public! $^*I do not know how to_ react to such baseless
0900F08 charges and rumours. ^*I, as a social scientist, view this problem
0910F08 from a different angle altogether. ^*I do not think, for example,
0920F08 that whatever \0Mrs Gandhi did was wrong and crooked; nor
0930F08 do I think that whatever she did was right and creditable. ^Whatever
0940F08 the journalists and the politicians might say and write, academicians
0950F08 must wait for some more time to_ make an objective assessment
0960F08 of her role in India*'s modern history. ^The purpose of the
0970F08 Time Capsule document was not, in any case, to_ make an assessment
0980F08 of this kind. ^Its purpose, as I understood it, was to_ communicate
0990F08 to some distant generation in a remote age what we, as a nation,
1000F08 had achieved in the first twentyfive years of our free history. $^And
1010F08 now to the question which many persons have asked: ^Why did I agree
1020F08 to_ write the document for the Time Capsule? ^Whenever my friends
1030F08 asked me this question, I noticed in their faces a great sense
1040F08 of pity for me. ^Some of them and even some of my relatives were
1050F08 supsicious that I must have taken some bribe. ^It was circulated that
1060F08 I was paid a fabulous sum, \0Rs 30,000, for writing the account.
1070F08 ^Another rumor was that \0Mrs Gandhi had sent Yash Pal Kapoor
1080F08 with a huge sum of money for me to_ write this account.
1090F08 ^*I could only laugh at these people and their rumours, for
1100F08 I knew that they were all wrong. ^When I went to Delhi in May 1973,
1110F08 I neither asked, nor was I told by anyone in the \0ICHR, how
1120F08 much I was going to_ be paid for this work. $*<*3Got Only \0Rs
1130F08 200 Out of it!*> $^After I completed my work and before returning
1140F08 to Madras, the Secretary of the \0ICHR called me to her
1150F08 office and gave me a cheque for \0Rs 1,000 as my remuneration for
1160F08 the project. ^*I thought that it was a reasonable amount and accepted
1170F08 it. ^The \0ICHR did not charge me any rent for its guest house
1180F08 where I stayed for the month. ^My plane fare to and from Delhi was
1190F08 paid by the \0ICHR. ^My food and transport expenses for the
1200F08 month, which I paid, came to about \0Rs 800. $^*I thus earned from
1210F08 the project a net profit of \0Rs 200 and a lot of wild publicity.
1220F08 ^*I can produce a voucher for the \0Rs 1,000 I received. $^Whether
1230F08 people believe it or not, the only reason why I accepted the project
1240F08 was that I did not wish to_ shirk a responsibility that_ was entrusted
1250F08 to me by an eminent historian of the country, Professor *(0S.*)
1260F08 Gopal, whom I admire and respect. ^In the document that_ I wrote,
1270F08 I made no mention of his eminent father, \0Dr Radhakrishnan, one
1280F08 of our former Presidents, because I thought that there was no place
1290F08 for him in the kind of narration I made. ^*Professor *(0S.*) Gopal
1300F08 would not have even noticed this omission (which certainly
1310F08 was not deliberate). ^This is what I call greatness. ^*I am always
1320F08 reminded of this incident whenever people complain that my document
1330F08 omitted this leader or that_ leader. ^*I have already explained
1340F08 in my earlier writings how the names of several of our leaders
1350F08 came to_ be omitted in my document and I will clarify this issue
1360F08 further when the document that_ has been dug out is published. $*<*3Why
1370F08 Confidential?*> $^The primary reason for all the wild suspicion
1380F08 about the Time Capsule was the previous Government*'s decision
1390F08 to_ keep the document confidential. ^If it had been released
1400F08 prior to its burial or at least after the Opposition parties began
1410F08 to_ demand its release, the commotion on this subject would have ended
1420F08 then and there. ^*I do not know why the Government decided to_
1430F08 treat the document as confidential. ^In fact, it seems to me that
1440F08 this decision was taken only after the document was leaked out through
1450F08 \0Mr Badrinath Chaturvedi, to whom I had given a copy some
1460F08 time in September 1973. ^The Secretary of the \0ICHR did
1470F08 not tell me throughout the period of my stay in Delhi in May 1973, or
1480F08 even subsequently till the leakage had occurred, that I should treat
1490F08 the project as confidential. ^*I do not think that even the Secretary
1500F08 of the \0ICHF knew till then that the project was to_ be kept
1510F08 confidential. ^And I also do not think that Professor Nurul Hasan,
1520F08 the former Education Minister, himself had any idea that it
1530F08 should be a confidential work; otherwise he would have told his Ministry
1540F08 and instructions would have been sent to me. ^It was only
1550F08 after the leakage had occurred that the Secretary of the \0ICHR
1560F08 wrote to me a letter marked "Confidential", asking me to_ explain
1570F08 how the leakage had occurred. $^In my reply, I told her that I did
1580F08 not know that I was expected to_ keep the document confidential
1590F08 and that it was I who had given a copy to \0Mr Badrinath, because
1600F08 he had wanted to_ see it. ^*I also expressed in this letter my deep
1610F08 regret for having put her in a difficult position by my unitentional
1620F08 mistake. $^While this was the offical position, I still do not
1630F08 think that the previous Government had any moral right to_ keep the
1640F08 document confidential. ^It is true that, according to one of the old
1650F08 rules of the Government, no contemporary official document pertaining
1660F08 to the period within the previous twentyfive years could be given
1670F08 to the public for perusal without special permission from an authorised
1680F08 source; but I wonder how the rule could be applied to the Time
1690F08 Capsule document. ^It was prepared by an academic body and it
1700F08 was concerned with our national history in which many people are interested.
1710F08 ^But then the Government might have argued that the document
1720F08 was prepared by the \0ICHR only on its request and that it became
1730F08 its property after it was handed over by the \0ICHR. ^All this
1740F08 may be legally right, but the decision to_ keep the document confidential
1750F08 proved disastrous.*#
        **[no. of words = 02014**]

        **[txt. f09**]
0010F09 **<*3Who should be more powerful, Centre or State?**> $*3^OUR*0 founding
0020F09 fathers were greatly concerned about the unity and integrity of
0030F09 the nation. ^And for good reasons. ^We had a 2,000-year history of disunity.
0040F09 *4^*Bharatavarsha was only a poetic or religious concept and
0050F09 not a reality. ^Terms like *4Himavatsetuparyantam (from the Himalaya
0060F09 to Setu) determined the extent of a mythical India, for neither
0070F09 under Asoka, Samudragupta nor Akbar was the country one. ^It was
0080F09 the British, as admitted by President Sanjiva Reddy in his controversial
0090F09 Republic Day message, who unified India. ^Our founding fathers
0100F09 were anxious to_ preserve this unity. ^Also, we should remember,
0110F09 they wrote the Constitution after the traumatic break-up of the subcontinent
0120F09 in 1947 and they wanted to_ assure themselves that there would
0130F09 be no further fragmentation. $*<*3Unitary Bias*0*> $^The constitution
0140F09 that_ we thus got is guaranteed to_ nurture the integrity of the
0150F09 nation. ^Its makers opted for the word 'Union' rather than 'Federation'
0160F09 in describing the Republic of India. ^And, though our Constitution
0170F09 is often referred to as federal, its unitary bias is unmistakable.
0180F09 ^According to Professor Wheare India is a unitary state with
0190F09 subsidiary federal principles rather than a federal state with subsidiary
0200F09 unitary features. ^And Sir Ivor Jennings calls it a federation
0210F09 with a strong centralised tendency. $^Whatever the view of *4pandits,
0220F09 India remained a monolithic polity for the first few years after
0230F09 the Constitution came into force in 1950. ^This was because the same party
0240F09 ruled at the Centre and in the States. ^During this period the
0250F09 destiny of the entire nation lay in the hands of the Congress High
0260F09 Command and the Congress High Command meant Jawaharlal Nehru who
0270F09 was also Prime Minister. ^It was not as much the writ of the Centre
0280F09 that_ ran throughout India as the personal writ of Panditji. ^No
0290F09 Chief Minister, even of the stature of Govind Ballabh Pant or
0300F09 \0Dr *(0B.C*) Roy, dared to_ question him. ^*Centre-state relatiions
0310F09 remained ideal and it appeared the Constitution worked to perfection.
0320F09 $^Trouble arose with the formation of the first Communist State
0330F09 Government in Kerala in 1957. ^People awoke to the possibility
0340F09 of Centre State tension and began to_ wonder if the Constitution
0350F09 was flexible enough to_ prevent ugly situations. ^It emerged before
0360F09 long that the Constitution was flexible enough-- but unfortunately
0370F09 only for the Centre. ^This was demonstrated in the dismissal of the
0380F09 Namboodiripad Ministry of Kerala in 1959. $^It was, however, also
0390F09 during Nehru*'s time that we had to_ face the fury of regionalism.
0400F09 ^The fast unto death by Potti Sriramulu in 1952 forced him to_ create
0410F09 a separate Andhra and to_ appoint the States Reorganisation
0420F09 Commission. ^The map of India was drawn and redrawn to_ satisfy the
0430F09 aspirations of Maharashtrians, Sikhs, the hill people of north-eastern
0440F09 India, \0etc. ^Regionalism had been fostered by the Congress itself
0450F09 in pursuance of Gandhiji*'s idea of linguistic provinces and decentralisation.
0460F09 $^All this did not seriously endanger Centre-State
0470F09 relations until after the general election of 1967 which radically altered
0480F09 the party position in a number of States. ^The \0DMK*'s accession
0490F09 to power in Tamil Nadu (then Madras) horrified those passionately
0500F09 wedded to the idea of one India and a strong Centre. ^The party was
0510F09 professedly secessionist and the father of the Dravidian movement,
0520F09 Periyar Ramasami Naicker, launched a movement to_ burn the Consitution.
0530F09 ^*Chief Minister Annadurai, however, was statesmanlike enough
0540F09 to_ give up the secessionist stand, but his successor Karunanidhi
0550F09 pursued the demand for State autonomy with almost a vicious fervour.
0560F09 ^The Rajamannar Committee appointed by him recommended far-reaching
0570F09 changes in the Constitution. $^The most serious Centre-State
0580F09 confrontation so far has been after the formation of the United Front
0590F09 Government in West Bengal in 1969 with Jyoti Basu as Deputy Chief
0600F09 Minister. ^The Ministry was dismissed in 1970 and the Assembly dissolved.
0610F09 ^According to \0Mr Basu the Centre could not tolerate his Government
0620F09 because it "refused to_ follow the Congress line of carrying
0630F09 on the administration in the interest of a handful of people in
0640F09 land and industry". $^Today Jyoti Basu, whose party is an ally of
0650F09 the Janata, has asked for a wholesale review of the question of State
0660F09 autonomy. ^In this he has the support of Sheikh Abdullah, Chief
0670F09 Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, which State in any case has a special
0680F09 status granted by Article 370 of the Constitution. ^The Chief
0690F09 Minister of at least two Janata run States-- Gujarat and Bihar--
0700F09 have also asked for more powers for States. ^And President Sanjiva
0710F09 Reddy has, probably to the embarrassment of the Janata leaders
0720F09 at the Centre, lent his voice to this chorus of autonomy. $^Since
0730F09 the Union Government is Janata, Vasantdada Patil, Chief Minister
0740F09 in the Congress-Congress (\0I) Coalition of Maharashtra, and Chenna
0750F09 Reddy, his Congress (I) counterpart in Andhra Pradesh, have
0760F09 thought it fit to_ join this chorus. ^Does not \0Mr Reddy remember
0770F09 that a basic tenet of the political philosophy of his leader, Indira
0780F09 Gandhi, is a powerful Centre? ^Or is he preparing himself for
0790F09 a confrontation with New Delhi? ^It is otherwise hard to_ understand
0800F09 the new-found enthusiasm of Congress and Congress (\0I) leaders for
0810F09 State autonomy. $^Notwithstanding the apparent hypocrisy of Congress
0820F09 and Congress (\0I) Chief Ministers, one cannot deny there is a
0830F09 need to_ re-examine-Centre State relations in the light of our experience
0840F09 of the past 28 years. ^One may not accept all the radical changes
0850F09 suggested in the memorandum of the West Bengal Government. ^At
0860F09 the same time there is no need to_ take an alarmist view of it. '^Balkanisation'
0870F09 and 'fissiparous tendencies' are cliches that_ will not
0880F09 help. (^Why hasn*'4t the phrase 'oviparous tendencies' come into vogue
0890F09 among political commentators?) $^In regarding the question of State
0900F09 autonomy one must clear one*'s mind of the cobwebs of past thinking.
0910F09 ^We have been conditioned to_ look at the Centre with awe. ^The tendency
0920F09 to_ contemplate it mystically as if it were a *4Tantric *4bindu
0930F09 must be discountenanced. ^The Centre has no independent existence.
0940F09 ^It exists for the States and because of the States. ^It is an abstract
0950F09 entity and if it has any personality it is made up of components
0960F09 deriving from the States. ^Even if authority may seem to_ flow from
0970F09 the Centre to the States, such authority has accrued to it only
0980F09 from the States. ^If we take the analogy of geometry, there is no centre
0990F09 if the circumference describing the circle is erased. $^The Government
1000F09 of India has come to_ mean New Delhi-- not only metaphorically,
1010F09 but in a real sense. ^Worse, it is sometimes confined to South
1020F09 Block. ^And the vision of some of our Union Ministers does not extend
1030F09 beyond India Gate or the Yamuna Bridge. ^They hardly have a
1040F09 'feel' for the problems of Gauhati, Bhubaneswar or Trivandrum. $*<*3Like
1050F09 a Mother-in-Law*0*> $^Being, as said before an abstract entity
1060F09 and functioning in a vacuum the Centre is not as much directly inolved
1070F09 with the people as the States. ^It is logical therefore that
1080F09 the latter should be vested with adequate powers so as to_ give a
1090F09 better deal to the citizens. ^Unfortunately, the Centre, already constitutionally
1100F09 blessed with more than its legitimate share of power,
1110F09 is greedy for more. ^It is the view of some constitutional experts that
1120F09 over the years the Union Government has made inroads into sphers
1130F09 that_ clearly belong to the States. ^It has been playing the role
1140F09 of a jealous and niggardly mother-in-law, ever suspicious of her daughters-in-law
1150F09 and regarding them as outsiders wanting to_ snatch away
1160F09 the house hold keys. $^If the States have to_ implement welfare
1170F09 schemes they should be provided with the wherewithal or enabled to_
1180F09 raise resources. ^The States*' authority to_ impose taxes is limited
1190F09 and the allocations made to them by the Finance Commission are
1200F09 not always in consonance with the real needs of a State or in proportion
1210F09 to its own contribution to the national exchequer. ^The Study
1220F09 Team of the Administrative Reforms Commission (the \0ARC*'s
1230F09 first Chairman was Morarji Desai) has suggested that a "valid method
1240F09 of decreasing the dependence of the States on the Centre would
1250F09 be to_ see that the States get more through assured devolutions".
1260F09 (^By assured devolutions are meant divisible taxes and geants-in-aid.)
1270F09 ^The Study Team further says: "...we are of the view that the
1280F09 base of devolution should be widened by including more Central taxes
1290F09 in the list of sharable taxes." ^A case can also be made for including
1300F09 corporation tax among the items to_ be shared. $*<*3Planning Commission*0*>
1310F09 $^The Planning Commission is another Central body which
1320F09 has a crucial role with regard to the States. ^Unlike the Finance
1340F09 Commission, it is extra-constitutional, but it is regarded as a government
1350F09 within the Union Government. ^Its manner of functioning
1360F09 has come in for much criticism. ^It is a matter for debate if a few
1370F09 experts, however eminent they are, can make recommendations that_ are
1380F09 valid for so big and so varied a country like India. ^If economic
1390F09 planning has not been as much a success as it should have been it is
1400F09 because it has been too centralised without any sense of participation
1410F09 by the States. ^The Planning Commission must be enlarged with the
1420F09 inclusion of representatives from all the States and it should be
1430F09 made an independent body free from the pressures of the Union Cabinet
1440F09 which normally reflects only the opinion of the party ruling at the
1450F09 Centre. $^Both the Centre and the States have an *7alibi now. ^If
1460F09 no progress is made in carrying out economic programmes or welfare
1470F09 schemes, the Centre finds fault with the States. ^And the latter,
1480F09 for their part, plead that the Union Government did not provide them
1490F09 with sufficient funds or authority to_ mobilise resources. ^For too
1500F09 long has the progress of the nation been held up by this sort of mutual
1510F09 fault-finding. ^The only way to_ end the stalmate is to_ discover
1520F09 means by which the States will be empowered to_ raise greater resources
1530F09 and making it obligatory on their part for these to_ be more
1540F09 effciently used than now. $^A fresh look is needed into the Union,
1550F09 State and Concurrent Lists. ^While the Union, it may appear, has
1560F09 been overburdened, the Concurrent List contains items likely to_
1570F09 create confusion in the matter of legislation. ^The Centre could be
1580F09 divested of some subjects both from the Union and Concurrent Lists.
1590F09 ^One may not go as far as the \0CPI (\0M) in claiming that the
1600F09 Union should deal exclusively only with Defence, Finance, Foreign
1610F09 Affairs and Communications. ^There is a strong case, for example,
1620F09 to_ make Education an exclusively Central subject, at least for 20
1630F09 or 30 years, so as to_ resolve the present chaos. ^However, it should
1640F09 be managed by a national council with respresentatives from all regions.
1650F09 $^The only point to_ consider in deciding the Lists is how best
1660F09 the nation*'s interests are served. ^The Centre and the States
1670F09 are not to_ be treated as two parties opposed to each other. ^If State
1680F09 autonomy is to_ be enlarged it is only to_ translate national policies
1690F09 more effectively than now. ^It would be so much the better if,
1700F09 in the process, legitimate regional aspirations are also fulfilled.
1710F09 $^*National aspirations need not be at variance with regional aspirations--
1720F09 they can be, should be, the sum total of regional aspirations.
1730F09 ^Care, however, should be taken that *3Regionalism*0 does not become
1740F09 a disease and give rise to symptoms like the pernicious doctrine of
1750F09 "sons of the soil" which of course is the ludicrous doctrine of "sons
1760F09 of the regional soil". ^We should set our face against any change
1770F09 in the Constitution that_ will undermine the inviolable principle
1780F09 of one citizenship for the whole nation and the right of every citizen
1790F09 to_ work and live anywhere in the country. ^It should be the concern
1800F09 of every State to_ provide employment to all its inhabitants without
1810F09 detriment to this principle. $*<*3Emergency Powers*0*> $^There
1820F09 are certain provisions in the Constitution which are ostensibly
1830F09 in the interest of the nation and its unity but which are likely to_
1840F09 be misused by the ruling party at the Centre to_ promote itself.*#
        **[no. of words = 02008**]

        **[txt. f10**]
0010F10 **<*3Should The Congress Be One?*0**> $*3^THE*0 two Congress parties
0020F10 continue to_ be at loggerheads. ^After the recent State Assembly
0030F10 elections, many had expected that the wounds of the latest split
0040F10 would heal and that the two major opposition forces, each
0050F10 claiming the Nehruvian mantle of the Congress and swearing
0060F10 by its ideology, would unite, consolidate their strength and help
0070F10 to_ keep the Janata Government on its toes. ^But these hopes have
0080F10 been belied. $^Obviously, it is in no one*'s interest-- not even the
0090F10 Janata*'s-- that the Congress split should deepen and harden.
0100F10 ^When the split came last January, many top Janata leaders publicly
0110F10 regretted the fact that the Opposition was being splintered. $^They
0120F10 may have secretly wished, of course, to_ see \0Mrs Gandhi
0130F10 purged by a united Congress Party and altogether eliminated
0140F10 from the political arena. ^But despite her obvious handicaps of
0150F10 a makeshift organisation and an unfamiliar election symbol, the electorate
0160F10 in three of the four States that_ went to the polls last month
0170F10 has willed otherwise. ^The Janata*'s leaders can now hardly wish
0180F10 to_ belittle this verdict or indeed to_ see the Congress remain
0190F10 a house divided against itself. $^For the two Congress factions, the
0200F10 consequences of disunity are nothing less than disastrous. ^Right
0210F10 now, when no general election either to State Assemblies or to Parliament
0220F10 is in view, unity may not seem an urgent goal. ^And
0230F10 *8ad hoc*9 cooperation between the two groups-- in the form of joint
0240F10 functioning in opposition and as united fronts wherever they form
0250F10 the Government-- may seem to_ serve the present purpose. $*<*3Split
0260F10 Was Inevitable*0*> $^But this is an illusion. ^Elections
0270F10 will soon and increasingly be due at various other levels of the
0280F10 administration-- municipal, district or *5zilla parishad*6 and *4panchayat.
0290F10 ^And, with each Congress claiming to_ be a national party
0300F10 with a following in all States and regions, it is difficult to_ see
0310F10 how they will avoid mutually disadvantageous contests. $^The result
0320F10 for one or other of the Congresses, if not for both-- and most likely
0330F10 for the (Chavan) Congress-- will be political suicide, much
0340F10 to the dismay of the country because of the necessary result that
0350F10 the Janata will then have what ultimately ruined the Congress:
0360F10 a legislature without a united and strong Opposition to_ reckon with.
0370F10 $^In one sense, the Congress split in January was inevitable. ^After
0380F10 the 1977 *5Lok Sabha*6 election results, it was bound to_ come
0390F10 sooner rather than later. ^If it came late it was no doubt because
0400F10 the Congress had been dealt so mortal an electoral blow in the Northern
0410F10 States that it took the party a few months to_ recover from the
0420F10 shock. $^Actually, there were features about those results that_ were
0430F10 both pulling the party away from and pushing it towards a
0440F10 split. ^In March, 1977, it will be recalled, the Congress was completely
0450F10 and totally swept out of the Northern States. ^It won
0460F10 not a single seat from among 286 in a belt of eight contiguous States,
0470F10 all situated in what is often called the country*'s Hindi heartland.
0480F10 ^The Janata Party had truly massacred the Congress
0490F10 in the North, inflicting on it a defeat unparalleled in the annals
0500F10 of election history anywhere in the world. $^In the four contiguous
0510F10 and homogeneous Dravidian States, the Congress and its
0520F10 electoral allies had scored an equally overwhelming and almost
0530F10 total victory over the Janata. ^Together, they bagged some 95 per
0540F10 cent of the *5Lok Sabha*6 seats in the four States-- losing none
0550F10 in Kerala, one in Andhra Pradesh, two in Karnataka and
0560F10 three in Tamil Nadu, a mere six out of a total of 128. $^All this
0570F10 pointed to a simple conclusion that has since been confirmed by the
0580F10 recent Assembly poll in Andhra and Karnataka; that \0Mrs Gandhi
0590F10 is the only North Indian leader who enjoys a massive and
0600F10 enthusiastic following in the South. ^And the curious thing about
0610F10 it is that, despite her well-known tendency to_ concentrate power
0620F10 in the federal Centre and, indeed, in her own hands, the electorate
0630F10 in the South-- which is far more conscious of State rights and
0640F10 autonomy than that_ of the North-- continues to_ place faith in
0650F10 her. ^By contrast, the Janata, whose leaders never tire of stressing
0660F10 their commitment to a decentralised polity, have failed to_ carry
0670F10 conviction in the South. $*<*3North-South Divide*0*> $^This indeed,
0680F10 is \0Mrs Gandhi*'s principal asset for whichever party
0690F10 she ultimately leads. ^It assures her a position in the Indian political
0700F10 picture that_ can only be ignored at the peril of taking the
0710F10 South for granted, of which there is too ready a tendency in the North.
0720F10 \0^*Mrs Gandhi has, of course, yet to_ show that she has retrieved
0730F10 some of her lost status in the North before she can lay claim
0740F10 to the national party stakes. $^The North-South electoral schizophrenia
0750F10 revealed by last year*'s Parliamentary poll was a confusing
0760F10 development for a national party like the Congress to_ absorb,
0770F10 which may have been one reason why the split was a long time in
0780F10 coming. $^On the other hand, there was implicit in those same election
0790F10 results another factor which was pushing the party towards
0800F10 a break. ^Despite the ambiguities, senior Congress leaders realised
0810F10 that it was \0Mrs Gandhi who had been so decisively rejected by
0820F10 the electorate in the North and not the Congress Party. ^For anyone
0830F10 sporting the Congress badge had lost heavily, no matter
0840F10 how well he might have served his constituency. ^Correspondingly, anyone
0850F10 who wore the Janata label had won handsomely, no matter how
0860F10 insignificant his record of past service to the community. $\0^*Mr
0870F10 *(0D. K.*) Barooah, Congress President during the Emergency,
0880F10 had expressed himself neither well nor wisely when he proclaimed
0890F10 that "^*Indira is India and India is Indira". ^Had he, however,
0900F10 made even so small an amendment to his slogan and declared instead
0910F10 that "^*Indira was the Congress and the Congress was Indira", he
0920F10 might have been celebrated as a prophet! $^For even before the Emergency
0930F10 but certainly after it had been promulgated, \0Mrs Gandhi
0940F10 had sought to_ bring the party structure within her sole control.
0950F10 ^Since her Double personal triumph in 1971-- in the *5Lok Sabha*6
0960F10 election and the Bangladesh war-- she had steadily succeeded in
0970F10 acquiring a dominance over the party that_ even Nehru did not enjoy
0980F10 at the height of his popularity. ^By 1977, the Congress had become
0990F10 synonymous with \0Mrs Gandhi so that its successes were her successes,
1000F10 its failures her failures. $^*Senior Congress leaders (including
1010F10 such stalwarts as \0Mr Jagjivan Ram, \0Mr *(0Y. B.*) Chavan
1020F10 and \0Mr Brahmananda Reddi) watched her progressively tighten
1030F10 her grip on the party, but did nothing in protest. ^This may have
1040F10 been because, even as she did so, she notched up one spectacular
1050F10 national or international achievement after another in the middle
1060F10 good years of her Prime Ministership. ^Through these, she brought
1070F10 greater glory to the party and ensured for them what must have
1080F10 seemed like their eternal continuance in ministerial office. $*<*3"Strong"
1090F10 Leader*0*> $^*Congress leaders cheerfully accepted \0Mrs Gandhi*'s
1100F10 "strong leadership" and meekly submitted to it. ^In doing
1110F10 so, they no doubt showed a lack of gumption, especially before the
1120F10 Emergency. ^But they may also have acquiesced because at some stage
1130F10 they felt it was in the best interests of the party and the country.
1140F10 $\0^*Mrs Gandhi had, moreover, repeatedly shown that she had
1150F10 an uncanny, almost infallible, instinct for the right decision at
1160F10 the right time. ^She could now move left, now right; now act pro-,
1170F10 now anti-nationalisation now stand for bonus and the next moment against
1180F10 it. $^The presence of such a leader at the helm of a heterogeneous
1190F10 and pragmatic party-- one that_ has no strong ideology to_
1200F10 serve as a sort of compass in case of directional disputes-- may well
1210F10 have seemed to them an unpleasant necessity in the early stages
1220F10 of a country*'s development. ^This is what the 30-year-old history of
1230F10 many independent countries of the Third World showed. $^As in the
1240F10 other countries of the Third World, so in India, \0Mrs Gandhi
1250F10 was not the first strong leader to_ emerge. ^*Nehru himself was a
1260F10 charismatic personality who commanded the willing cooperation of his
1270F10 senior colleagues through a fully operative two-way channel
1280F10 of communication and back-slapping camaraderie with them. $\0^*Mrs
1290F10 Gandhi*'s real difficulty arises from the fact that, unlike Nehru,
1300F10 she is no good at communicating with or placing trust in her colleagues.
1310F10 ^She may listen carefully to them, but she keeps her own counsel.
1320F10 ^When she acts decisively, she does so with no notice and without
1330F10 taking her partymen into prior confidence. ^After the event,
1340F10 too, she is often unable to_ articulate her reasons for the decision
1350F10 or share its glory with them or involve them heartily in its follow-up.
1360F10 $^She is a loner in politics-- insecure and uncommunicative. ^This
1370F10 may have something to_ do with her being a woman in a world of men.
1380F10 ^But it seems more like a personality failing which will continue
1390F10 to_ dog her relations with those with whom she must work. ^She can
1400F10 claim by way of compensation that she communicates effectively with
1410F10 the masses and indeed is able to_ establish a close rapport with them.
1420F10 $*<*3Atmosphere of Centralism*0*> $^With unity of the two Congress
1430F10 factions now the most important concern of all interested in
1440F10 the future of that_ party, it would be helpful if the tallest among
1450F10 them were to_ begin by honestly conceding the truth underlying this.
1460F10 ^It is tempting but inaccurate to_ read today*'s values as having
1470F10 informed yesterday*'s decisions. ^There was both before and during
1480F10 the Emergency a ripe atmosphere of centralism and conformity and the
1490F10 reasons why senior Congressmen acted in the way they did had
1500F10 a certain powerful and, in its own context, patriotic logic. $^Even
1510F10 the Emergency was seen by many of them, after it had fully established
1520F10 itself, as something of a boon, a blessing in disguise. ^Some
1530F10 senior Congress leaders may in the early days have had lively
1540F10 misgivings about its wisdom. ^And they may have restrained themselves
1550F10 form expressing these because of the fear of landing in jail. $^But,
1560F10 as time went on and the emergency*'s visible "gains" piled
1570F10 up, they (like many others, including judges) began to_ see the
1580F10 whole situation in a different and far from fearful light. ^They actively
1590F10 endorsed the Emergency or coasted along on it in part
1600F10 at least because they deemed it "a necessary evil", "a dose of
1610F10 bitter medicine" which might help the country make breakthroughs
1620F10 in coping with some of its endemic and stubborn problems. $^*Congress
1630F10 leaders in particular can hardly make out today that they were totally
1640F10 unaware of the Emergency "excesses" or of the malevolent influence
1650F10 of "the caucus" on party and national affairs. ^They may
1660F10 not have known of all that_ was happening in those censorship-bound
1670F10 days. ^But, as public men, they had sufficient inkling through
1680F10 the usual grapevine of some of the more flagrant misdeeds. $^After
1690F10 the big mistakes \0Mrs Gandhi made during the memergency, totally
1700F10 destroying the party*'s position in the North, no responsible
1710F10 leader whether of the Congress or Congress (\0I) is likely to_ have
1720F10 the same old faith in her political judgement. ^That_ phase is over
1730F10 for partymen. \0^*Mrs Gandhi*'s mystic hold over the Congress
1740F10 has come to an end. ^Things can never again be the same. \0^*Mrs Gandhi
1750F10 would do well to_ recognise and understand this turn of the tide.
1760F10 $^The rhetoric of mutually hostile exchanges between the
1770F10 two factions of the Congress on the eve of and since the split would
1780F10 suggest that four issues underlie it: "the Emergency", "the influence
1790F10 of the caucus", "inner-party democracy" and "collective
1800F10 leadership". $^Of these, the first two are now non-issues, mere
1810F10 scoring points in an arid debate. ^They belong to the past and, as
1820F10 the expression goes, are as dead as the dodo. $^After all that_ has
1830F10 happened in the past year, none but a military ruler could reimpose
1840F10 an emergency in India and make sure that his writ runs throughout
1850F10 the country. ^And if \0Mrs Gandhi*'s defeat in 1977 has one lesson,
1860F10 it is that no one, not even a Prime Minister, can foist his or her
1870F10 son into national prominence or politics and make the decision democratically
1880F10 stick.*#
        **[no. of words = 02032**]

        **[txt. f11**]
0010F11 **<*3Marriage-- Indian style*0**> $*3^ALTHOUGH*0 education and social
0020F11 changes have improved women*'s status, their functions as wives and
0030F11 mothers and the man*'s continuing role as the bread-winner tend to_
0040F11 perpetrate discrimination against them. ^*India provides a classic
0050F11 example of the conflict between tradition as enshrined in marriage vows
0060F11 and ritual and the emergence of women as equal partners of men in
0070F11 the new society. $^The ideal of a Hindu marriage is summed up in the
0080F11 *4mantras recited at the nuptial ceremony. **[verses**] $^A Hindu
0090F11 marriage is a sacrament and not a contract. ^It envisages a permanent
0100F11 and enduring tie. ^The Christian concept of "holy matrimony" is similar--
0110F11 "to_ have and to_ hold... till death do us part" and "Whom
0120F11 God hath joined together, let no man put asunder". ^But this sacrament
0130F11 has been used to_ perpetuate an unequal relationship-- man*'s dominion
0140F11 over woman. $^The underlying concept is, has always been, that
0150F11 a woman needs protection and must therefore be subservient to her
0160F11 protector: father, brother, husband or son. ^The Hindu rite of *4kanyadana--
0170F11 the giving of one*'s daughter in marriage-- is praised in the
0180F11 *4Smritis as the best of all *4danas. ^The father of the girl gets
0190F11 the same merit as he would by giving away money equal in weight to his
0200F11 ownperson. ^The daughter is the property of her father who then hands
0210F11 it over to his son-in-law. ^Her wish is irrelevant to the transaction.
0220F11 $^The question of consent depends on the age of the bride and
0230F11 the groom. ^In *4Vedic times, marriage between consenting adults was common.
0240F11 ^By the time of the *4Smritis, however, it was considered shameful
0250F11 for the father not to_ get his daughter married before puberty.
0260F11 ^Boys were considered ready for marriage only after their education
0270F11 had been completed. ^*Manu regarded marriage between a man of 24 and
0280F11 a girl of 10 as normal and desirable. ^With the passing of centuries,
0290F11 child marriages became so prevalent that there was no question of
0300F11 seeking the consent of either bride or groom. $^In 1929, the Sarda
0310F11 Act fixed the minimum age for marriage at 14 for girls (amended in
0320F11 1949 to 15) and 18 for boys. ^According to the Hindu Marriage Act
0330F11 1955, 18 is the age of consent. ^To_ be married before 18, a girl required
0340F11 her guardian*'s consent. ^Under Muslim personal law, a girl who
0350F11 has attained puberty has the right to_ decide on marriage without reference
0360F11 to her guardian. ^For Parsis and Christians, the age of consent
0370F11 is 21. ^While the guardian*'s consent is required for girls under
0380F11 21 to_ marry, it would be diffcult, in either case, for a minor
0390F11 girl to_ be forced into marriage. ^The Christian ceremony requires
0400F11 the bride*'s participation-- she can always say "^*I don*'4t" to the
0410F11 question: "^*Dost thou take this man to_ be thy lawful wedded husband?"
0420F11 ^Among Parsis, the bride*'s consent has to_ be confirmed by
0430F11 the priest during the *4ashirvad before two witnesses. $^The Muslim
0440F11 bride also has this right of having her consent verified at the *4nikah
0450F11 ceremony. $^Under the Special Marriage Act 1954, however, any
0460F11 Indian, on attaining majority, can marry without the parents*' or the
0470F11 guardian*'s consent. ^This Act provides for a civil wedding ceremony.
0480F11 $^In May, the Child Marriage Restraint (Amendment) Act 1978
0490F11 was passed, raising the minimum age for marriage to 18 for women and
0500F11 21 for men. ^But why should men be denied the right to_ marry at 18
0510F11 when women are allowed to_ do so? ^Why should it be illegal for two 19-years-olds
0520F11 to_ marry? ^The assumption behind the law seems to_ be
0530F11 that a man must, necessarily, be at least three years older than his
0540F11 wife. $^Even after reaching the age of consent, the bride-- sometimes
0550F11 even the groom-- has little or no say in the choice of a partner. ^The
0560F11 most acceptable form of marriage in India is still the arranged
0570F11 one, fixed by parents and other elders on the basis of caste, custom
0580F11 status and, above all, economic considerations. $^The field is, of
0590F11 course, restricted to caste, subcaste and even regional groups. ^Custom
0600F11 prohibits *4sagotra and *4sapinda relationships but the Hindu Marriage
0610F11 Act 1955 has legalised the former. $^The law bows to custom by accepting
0620F11 the prescriptive and prohibitive rules of each community as
0630F11 being binding on those belonging to it. ^The Special Marriage Act
0640F11 forbids marriage within prohibited degrees of relationship unless it
0650F11 is the custom in the community of at least one partner. $^The rules
0660F11 vary widely. ^In the South, cross cousin marriages (between children
0670F11 of a brother and a sister) are common-- even desirable while they
0680F11 are avoided in the North. ^A man can also marry his elder sister*'s
0690F11 daughter in many castes in the South. ^In some matrilineal communities,
0700F11 marriages are allowed between descendants of brothers but not between
0710F11 those of sisters. $*<*3Caste Taboos*0*> $^*Muslims and Christians
0720F11 also observe the caste taboos of their Hindu forbears. ^A "*4Brahmin"
0730F11 Muslim or Christian will only marry into a family which was
0740F11 also *4Brahmin before conversion. ^A Syrian Protestant will not
0750F11 only not marry a Syrian Roman Catholic but will also not consider
0760F11 marriage with another Protestant who is not a Syrian Christian.
0770F11 ^*Muslim communities-- like the *4Moplahs are equally restrictive.
0780F11 $^The *4Moplahs of Kerala are divided into two communities-- patrilineal
0790F11 and matrilineal. ^Marriage customs among the latter are very
0800F11 similar to those of Kerala*'s *4Nayars. ^In both cases the basic social
0810F11 unit is the matrilineal joint family, *4tharavad. ^It includes
0820F11 a woman, her brothers and sisters, her and her sister*'s children and
0830F11 their descendants in the female line. ^Marriage between members of
0840F11 the same *4tharavad is forbidden: while the children of two sisters
0850F11 cannot marry, those of two brothers or of a brother and a sister can
0860F11 do so. ^Traditionally, *4Nayar and *4Moplah husbands do not set up
0870F11 house with their wives but only visit them at night while they themselves
0880F11 live in their mother*'s *4tharavad. ^This system is now breaking
0890F11 up but where it is followed it naturally requires that families connected
0900F11 by marriage live in the same place to_ enable husbands to_ visit
1000F11 their wives regularly. $^Before the Hindu Marriage Act 1955 forbade
1010F11 it, polygamy was acceptable but not commonly practised. ^Its rationale
1020F11 was the necessity to_ beget a son without which a man*'s soul cannot
1030F11 rest in peace. ^Strict monogamy is the Christian rule while Muslim
1040F11 law allows polygamy. ^*Polyandry is much less common. ^A few Kerala
1050F11 castes-- the *4Nayars among them-- practised it until recently.
1060F11 ^Tribes like the *4Todas and the *4Kotas of the Nilgiris, the *4Khasa
1070F11 of Jaunsar Bawar and a few other North Indian castes also practise
1080F11 polyandry. ^Among the *4Todas and certain Himalayan tribes,
1090F11 fraternal polyandry is common. ^In such cases, the eldest brother is
1100F11 the legal father of all the children. $^While the more uncommon marriage
1110F11 practices are being abandoned except in remote areas, tradition
1120F11 is still strong with regard to arranged marriages, dowry and the secondary
1130F11 role of woman in the family. $^In most Indian communities, the
1140F11 parents of the girl have to_ make the first move through professional
1150F11 matchmakers or friends. ^Nowadays, well-to-do urban familes sometimes
1160F11 resort to the matrimonial columns of newspapers. ^After the matching
1170F11 of horoscopes, the "girl-seeing" ceremony takes place. ^The prospective
1180F11 bride is dressed up and exhibited to the groom and his family,
1190F11 made to_ sing or play an instrument and her housewifely talents are
1200F11 enumerated. ^Through it all, she sits with eyes modestly downcast. ^Among
1210F11 Tamil *4Brahmins she has to_ prostrate herself before the guests.
1220F11 $^Once the girl is "approved", the fathers turn to the important
1230F11 question of dowry. ^The Dowry Prohibition Act of 1961 is one of
1240F11 our most ineffectual laws. ^Some of the communities in which the dowry
1250F11 has become a curse are the *4Namboodiris of Kerala, the *4Chettiars
1260F11 and the *4Brahmins of Tamil Nadu, the *4Patidars of Charotar
1270F11 in Gujarat, the Rajputs, the Jains, the Sikhs and the Syrian
1280F11 Christians. $*<*3Financial Security For The Bride*0*> $^Dowry
1290F11 derives from the Hindu custom of *5stri dhan*6 which was supposed to_
1300F11 ensure financial security for the bride but was appropriated by the
1310F11 groom*'s family. ^*Muslim law provides for the husbands to_ give
1320F11 a *4mehr in money or property-- to his wife, to_ be settled on her
1330F11 in absolute ownership before the marriage can be legally recognised
1340F11 or consummated. ^It is an example of the insidious influence of Hindu
1350F11 custom on the more equalitarian Muslim law that *4mehr nowadays is
1360F11 fixed and announced-- to_ make the marriage legal-- but seldom given.
1370F11 ^Instead, many Muslim communities have adopted the custom of dowry
1380F11 from the bride*'s parents to the groom*'s. $^Among some tribal people, the
1390F11 groom is required to_ pay a bride-price to his father-in-law. ^Says
1400F11 the *5Baudhayana Dharma Sutra*6 of this custom: "^The woman purchased
1410F11 by money is not a lawfully wedded wife. ^She is not to_ accompany
1420F11 her husband either in sacrifice to the gods or in the rites performed
1430F11 for the forefathers. ^Selling one*'s own daughter is a great sin
1440F11 and leads to terrible hell. ^It destroys seven families." $^Most of
1450F11 the expenses of the wedding are borne by the bride*'s family which
1460F11 acts as the host. ^Where dowry is common, it is also the custom for
1470F11 the groom*'s family to_ expect to_ be waited upon hand and foot during
1480F11 these days. ^They are entitied to_ make exorbitant demands and create
1490F11 a scene over the most insignificant details. ^The bride*'s family
1500F11 lives in tense apprehension of offending them so much that they may
1510F11 walk out and break up the wedding. ^If this should happen, it is the
1520F11 bride*'s family which stands disgraced and it will be next to impossible
1530F11 to_ find another match for her. ^So the groom and his parents must
1540F11 be appeased at all costs. ^The bride sees her father humiliated but,
1550F11 already, she is expected to_ value loyalty to her husband*'s family
1560F11 more than affection for her own. $^The essential rites of *4Vedic
1570F11 marriage are five: *4Panigrahana or *4Hastagrabha, the grasping of
1580F11 hands; *4Asmarohana, stepping on the stone; *4Agniparinayana, going
1590F11 round the fire; *4Lajahoma, offering of puffed rice; and *4Saptapadi;
1600F11 seven steps. ^The last is the binding rite. ^The *4mantra chanted at
1610F11 the time invokes various blessings for each step, ending with: "^The
1620F11 seven steps are for friendship. ^*I shall not leave thy friendship,
1630F11 Thou shalt not leave mine." $^<*3Extraneous Rites*0*> $^The Hindu
1640F11 marriage ceremony has been added to and elaborated so much that it
1650F11 extends for several days and is extremely expensive. ^There is now a
1660F11 tendency towards simplifying it but it still contains many extraneous
1670F11 rites which most Hindus would not care to_ abandon. $^Even the
1680F11 *4thali or the *4mangalsutra on which so much value is placed is not essential
1690F11 to the *4Vedic rite. ^While it is most inauspicious for a woman
1700F11 to_ remove her *4thali, the groom does not need to_ wear any sign
1710F11 of marriage. ^Among the higher castes, the strands of the holy thread
1720F11 are increased but this is not a very visible sign of marriage. ^The
1730F11 Hindu bride*'s role is passive. ^The groom repeats the *4mantras
1740F11 and takes all vows. ^There are frequent indications of the woman*'s
1750F11 submissive role in marriage, like the bride prostrating herself at the
1760F11 groom*'s feet. ^In some communities the bride washes the groom*'s
1770F11 feet. ^In others, her parents perform this task. $^In the Christian
1780F11 wedding, the bride promises to_ "love, honour and obey" her husband.
1790F11 ^Among sections of Muslims, the bride is not even present during the
1800F11 ceremony and is represented by a male relative. $^Unlike Hindu and
1810F11 Christian marriages, the Muslim wedding is a social contract rather
1820F11 than a sacrament. ^But many Hindu customs have now been incorporated
1830F11 into it. ^In some parts of the South, it is common for both Muslims
1840F11 and Christians to_ match horoscopes and consult a *4Brahmin to_
1850F11 fix an auspicious time for the wedding. ^Some of them even have a
1860F11 Hindu ceremony as well as a Christian or Muslim one. $^A unique form
1870F11 of marriage recognised among Muslims of the *4Shia sect is the *4muta
1880F11 or temporary marriage. ^Its duration is fixed by agreement.*#
        **[no. of words = 02004**]

        **[txt. f12**]
0010F12 **<*3Foreign policy is changing*0**> $^Governments often find it easier
0020F12 to_ do better in the realm of foreign affairs than in the hard soil
0030F12 of domestic realities. ^The Janata Government, in its first year
0040F12 has not been able to_ assemble a coherent and dynamic economic policy
0050F12 which is recognisably different from that_ of the Congress. ^On the
0060F12 other hand, it has constructed a foreign policy, both in conceptual
0070F12 frame and diplomatic operation, that_ is distinctively different from
0080F12 the foreign policy of the Nehru era. ^Remarkably, the change has
0090F12 not stirred any public controversy, although its principal author, \0Mr.
0100F12 Atal Behari Vajpayee, has drawn the wrath of a section in his
0110F12 own former Party, the Jana Sangh, and its "cultural" arm, the \0RSS.
0120F12 \0^*Mr. Vajpayee, and his principal aide, the scholarly and thoughtful
0130F12 Jagat Mehta, have so skilfully couched the content of change
0140F12 in a prose of continuity that not many have noticed the altered diction,
0150F12 the newly set nuances. $^The credit for this achievement goes, in
0160F12 part, to the Prime Minister who, as head of Government, inevitably
0170F12 plays a significant role in foreign affairs. ^The ancient image of
0180F12 Morarji Desai as a rigid, egoistic man with set ideas and therefore
0190F12 unfit for diplomacy has been shattered. ^He has conducted high-level
0200F12 negotiations with the leaders of the Soviet Union and the United States
0210F12 as well as the King of Nepal and the chief of the Bangladesh
0220F12 Government. \0^*Mr. Desai has shown himself firm with the strong, and
0230F12 mellow with the weak, and thereby has earned the trust and respect of
0240F12 both. $^During the entire Nehru era, India*'s world view remained
0250F12 fixed on the centrestage of world politics, on the two superpowers and
0260F12 the competing blocs headed by them. ^Nonalignment worked as a platform
0270F12 to_ mobilise the newly liberated nations to_ defuse, as far as
0280F12 possible, the global confrontation. ^The principal thrust of India*'s
0290F12 foreign policy was to_ etch for New Delhi a strategic niche in, or
0300F12 close to, the centrepiece of superpower relations. ^The political elite
0310F12 became obsessed with its perception of India as a *3power if not
0320F12 a world power, a major regional power meriting, on its own right, a
0330F12 strategic salient in global power equations. $^An inevitable consequence
0340F12 of the global intimations of India*'s foreign policy during the
0350F12 Nehru era was a relative neglect of, and indifference to, the immediate
0360F12 neighbourhood. ^*India*'s relations with the two superpowers gradually
0370F12 acquired a stable pattern: friendship with the \0USSR and
0380F12 an unstable relationship with the United States oscillating between friendship
0390F12 and unfriendliness. ^But our relations with neighbours remained
0400F12 in a state of disharmony, at times, of severe disarray. ^Except for the
0410F12 brief years of India-China *4bhai-bhaism we did not succeed in knitting
0420F12 a tapestry of regional relationships based on neighbourly trust,
0430F12 cooperation and commonality of outlook. $^To_ be sure the fault did not
0440F12 always lie at India*'s door. ^The realities were often recalcitrant.
0450F12 ^The pre-natal hostility with Pakistan gathered uncontrollable destructive
0460F12 dynamics. ^Nevertheless, realistic and dispassionate retrospection
0470F12 should advise us that our neighbours (apart from Pakistan)
0480F12 smelt in our power psyche a
0490F12 familiar scent of imperiousness, if not imperialism. ^They were afraid of
0500F12 India, and suspicious. ^A nation that_ pressed so passionately at
0510F12 world forums for the equality of the smaller powers, failed to_ reassure
0520F12 its much smaller neighbours-- Ceylon, Nepal, Burma and Bhutan--
0530F12 that within a regional scheme of relationship they would be treated
0540F12 as genuinely equal, sovereign partners. $^The only defence one can marshal
0550F12 of the neglect of the neighbourhood during the Nehru era is that
0560F12 the prose of international politics of the Fifties and Sixties was
0570F12 written by the superpowers; the small and the weak could only offer some
0580F12 footnotes. ^The international system was *3centralised; power became
0590F12 overly concentrated around the two blocs; the juniors of the world
0600F12 community were left with little options and initiatives of their own.
0610F12 ^No regional subsystems could grow without the direct involvement of
0620F12 either of the superpowers. $^This argument has some force, but it ignores
0630F12 the cardinal fact of world politics-- that a nation dervies much
0640F12 of its strength and weakness from the state of its relationship with
0650F12 its neighbours. ^This is particularly true of the developing nations,
0660F12 feeble in resources, their political and social muscles perilously
0670F12 soft. ^The Arabs, for instance, have remained weak and vulnerable because
0680F12 they have seldom been able to_ act in unison and cooperation;
0690F12 when they could, in 1973-74, they became a formidable force. ^Regional
0700F12 differences and conflicts provide the ambience for external intervention
0710F12 which the leaders of the nonaligned world, including India, have
0720F12 so vehemently condemned and opposed. $^The harvest of keeping the neighbourhood
0730F12 in disrepair has been the three wars India has had to_ fight
0740F12 with China or Pakistan. ^Defeat or victory in these wars has produced
0750F12 an equally traumatic impact on the Indian elite psyche. ^That_ psyche
0760F12 collapsed at the Himalayan foothills in 1962; rallied in the wheatfields
0770F12 of Punjab in 1965; and swelled with imperial pride in the paddy
0780F12 fields of Bangladesh in 1971. ^The Bangladesh victory, which led
0790F12 to the dismemberment of Pakistan, sowed, with a grim irony which we
0800F12 refused to_ notice, the seeds of the Emergency imposed by Indira
0810F12 Gandhi five years later. ^The elite, divided into either admirers or
0820F12 worshippers of \0Mrs. Gandhi, created and fed the cult of personality,
0830F12 which became a major input of India*'s foreign policy during the
0840F12 second half of Indira Gandhi*'s regime. $^*Indira Gandhi continued
0850F12 with the foreign policy of the Nehru era, introducing at the same time,
0860F12 certain changes which were in part reflections of her own personality,
0870F12 and, in the rest, of the significant changes that_ occurred in world
0880F12 politics in the Seventies. ^In the euphoria of the Bangladesh
0890F12 victory, few of us paused to_ subject \0Mrs. Gandhi*'s foreign policy
0900F12 to any rigorous scrutiny. \0^*Mrs. Gandhi did comprehend that the
0910F12 world was passing through a period of power dispersal, that the mighty
0920F12 were not all that_ strong, and that a lot of initiative had passed
0930F12 to the junior actors on the global stage. ^She took the initiative to_
0940F12 intervene in the Bangladesh war, liberate Bangladesh, and later,
0950F12 engage Pakistan in a bilateral enterprise to_ promote good neighbourliness.
0960F12 \0^*Mrs. Gandhi, during the last two or three years of her regime,
0970F12 also moved cautiously towards a better relationship with China.
0980F12 ^To some extent, then, she did realise that India*'s destiny lay primarily
0990F12 in the neighbourhood, and that whatever power stature India might
1000F12 claim in the world would emanate essentially from its standing in South
1010F12 Asia, more precisely, in the subcontinent. $^The main problems
1020F12 of \0Mrs. Gandhi*'s foreign policy mirrored the problems of her personality
1030F12 and behaviour. ^In India*'s transactions with nations, there
1040F12 was a lack of openness and candour, which marked \0Mrs. Gandhi*'s difference
1050F12 from her father. ^She probably showed more courage than Nehru
1060F12 in grappling with the Bangladesh crisis. ^She displayed guts in dealing
1070F12 with both the Soviet Union and the United States. ^However,
1080F12 her secretiveness, lack of communication, and want of candour made
1090F12 both Moscow and Washington look at her with suspicion. ^The Soviet
1100F12 leaders could not trust her as they could her father; that_ could be one
1110F12 reason why they sought to_ *3*4gherao her, as it were, with their
1120F12 ebullient support for the Emergency. $^Far less trusting were the
1130F12 United States and China for reasons not difficult to_ understand.
1140F12 ^But in the subcontinental neighbourhood, \0Mrs. Gandhi acted with a
1150F12 benign imperial flourish which at once fascinated and frightened her
1160F12 admirers and traducers. ^Her attitude towards Bangladesh was the traditional
1170F12 attitude of the liberator. ^The annexation of Sikkim frightened
1180F12 Bhutan and Nepal. ^She developed a low-level personal rapport with
1190F12 Zulfikar Ali Bhutto-- both have an insatiable lust for personal power.
1200F12 ^The ruler \0Mrs. Gandhi clicked with most is, however, the shah
1210F12 of Iran. ^Each fascinated the other. \0^*Mrs. Gandhi conceded to
1220F12 Iran a power role in South Asia, and virtually recognised Pakistan
1230F12 and Afghanistan as a zone of Iranian influence. $^During the three
1240F12 decades of the Nehru-Gandhi rule, India, then, failed to_ perform
1250F12 the main task that_ is expected of a major power, global or regional.
1260F12 ^That_ task is *3integrative, the ability to_ integrate the neighbourhood
1270F12 into a cooperative subsystem. ^The failure of almost all nations
1280F12 except the \0U.S. and the \0U.S.S.R. to_ play integrative roles
1290F12 during the post-war period is the reason why there has been no dominant
1300F12 regional power in the proper sense of the term during the post-war
1310F12 period. ^China has stood out in its forlorn glory in the East; the
1320F12 France of de Gaulle in the West. ^The world*'s two integrated forces
1330F12 are still led by the superpowers. (^The \0OPEC became an integrated
1340F12 international force wielding considerable power, but it is in the process
1350F12 of dispersal at the end of 1977. ^Another Arab-Israeli war might
1360F12 lead to its revival.) $^India has more integrative potentiality than
1370F12 most other regional giants. ^The subcontinent is already integrated
1380F12 by geography, history, culture, language and religion. ^*India is by
1390F12 far the strongest country in this region, eminently suitable for an
1400F12 integrative role. ^Integration, it must be made clear, does not mean anything
1410F12 more than strategic harmony and goodneighbourly intercourse on
1420F12 the basis of sovereign equality of each member of a cohesive group of
1430F12 nations. ^Geography, culture, language, history and shared aspirations
1440F12 by themselves do not necessarily argue integration; an essential
1450F12 factor is leadership. ^This leadership must command the trust and
1460F12 confidence of the entire community, or must be backed by overwhelmingpolitical,
1470F12 military and economic strength. $^The Janata Government
1480F12 has accorded the first priority to the repairment of India*'s relations
1490F12 with the neighbouring countries. ^The neighbourhood has, then, replaced
1500F12 the centrepiece of world politics as the first item on our foreign
1510F12 policy agenda. ^A peaceful and broadly cohesive neighbourhood and a
1520F12 balanced relationship with the two superpowers are, in Janata thinking,
1530F12 the best guarantee against tension and conflict. ^A balanced relation
1540F12 does not mean equal relationship, equi-closeness or equi-distance.
1550F12 ^A balance means the maintenance of the core of the *8status quo*9 with
1560F12 necessary adjustments to_ measure up to new realities. $^The goodneighbourly
1570F12 policy of the Janata Government has made a greater impact
1580F12 on the neighbours than the regional policy of \0Mrs Gandhi. ^The reason
1590F12 is a welcome change from the imperial attitude of \0Mrs. Gandhi
1600F12 to an attitude of equality. ^The Janata Government has assured Bangladesh
1610F12 that while people seeking political asylum in India will be given
1620F12 hospitality, no one would be allowed to_ carry on anti-Bangladesh
1630F12 activity on and from Indian soil. ^Quick implementation of this assurance
1640F12 has sanitated India-Bangladesh relations for the first time
1650F12 since the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. ^The Farakka agreement
1660F12 only cemented the newly hewn understanding; essentially the terms
1670F12 of the agreement did not depart from what \0Mrs. Gandhi had offered
1680F12 Bangladesh. ^The new policy has already reaped some rewards. ^There
1690F12 is a change in Bangladesh perception of India. ^Not that all attacks
1700F12 on India have ceased; but the edge has gone out of the attacks.
1710F12 *3^*Dainik Sangram, once a morbid India-baiter, sang the new tune on
1720F12 December 2: "India*'s goodneighbourly intentions have been evident
1730F12 since the present Desai Government came to power... it has given rise
1740F12 to hopes that India would shed its hegemonistic attitude towards
1750F12 Bangladesh." ^The united front of all reactionary, obscurantist, unsecular
1760F12 elements cemented by the image of a hostile India has been largely
1770F12 scattered. ^In the more relaxed atmosphere, public pressure for
1780F12 the restoration of representative democracy has gathered some momentum.
1790F12 ^The rulers of Bangladesh have been robbed of an effective instrument
1800F12 with which they had, on the one hand, whipped up the anti-India
1810F12 wave and, on the other, suppressed the people*'s urge for secular democracy.*#
        **[no. of words = 01932**]

        **[txt. f13**]
0010F13 **<*3Holy diseases and 'miracle cures'**> $^Sometime ago, Indian newspapers
0020F13 published a photograph of a pious lady from Kerala and highlighted
0030F13 the claim that she exhibited wounds in the form of a cross
0040F13 on a particular day of the week. ^It was also said that the wounds bled
0050F13 from time to time. ^A famous Bombay weekly even went to the extent
0060F13 of interviewing her. ^And then in an article, it proclaimed that
0070F13 the doctors had tested the wounds and found them genuine. ^The lady
0080F13 claimed that it was the will of Lord Christ. $^Following this, many
0090F13 more cases were reported in the Press to_ thrill the gullible public.
0100F13 ^But unfortunately, the Press and the public did not bother
0110F13 to_ follow these up. $^And strangely, the people who exhibited such
0120F13 'miracle' diseases never allowed themselves to_ be tested. ^No effort
0130F13 has been made by doctors to_ find out the causes for such diseases.
0140F13 ^It is sad indeed that so far no medical team or commission has
0150F13 been appointed to_ find out the scientific reason for such abnormal
0160F13 occurrences. ^A few doctors who verify these cases generally approach
0170F13 the phenomena with pre-set ideas. $^But in the West, these mystic
0180F13 diseases and cures have been analysed by eminent medical practitioners
0190F13 and categorised according to their nature. $^Let us examine some
0200F13 of the 'divine' diseases, their causes and effects. $\0^*St Paul
0210F13 was the first staunch believer in Christianity. ^In the beginning,
0220F13 he was an inquisitor. ^He was instrumental in the killing of men,
0230F13 women and children belonging to the Christian faith. ^On one such
0240F13 mission, when he was walking on the road to Damascus, he is supposed
0250F13 to_ have got the vision of Christ. ^In his own words: "I saw on
0260F13 the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining
0270F13 round about me and then which journeyed with me. ^And when we had
0280F13 all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speak unto me and saying
0290F13 in the Hebrew tongue Saul, Saul why persecutest thou me? and I
0300F13 said, 'Who art thou Lord?' ^And he said, 'I am +jesus whom thou persecutest.'
0310F13 (Acts *=26: 12-15)." ^During this time, he lost his eyesight
0320F13 and regained the same only after three days. ^From that_ moment
0330F13 he became a staunch soldier of Christ. $^According to \0Dr *(0W.
0340F13 A.*) Brend, religious assaults are frequent during times of great
0350F13 excitement. ^He attributes these symptoms of Paul to hysteria. $^*Mandsley,
0360F13 in his book *3Natural causes and supernatural seemings,
0370F13 has suggested that Paul was mad but he did not specify the nature
0380F13 of mental disorder. ^The orthodox medical view for a long time was that
0390F13 Paul suffered an epileptic fit. \0^*Dr Jung explains the disease
0400F13 in the following way: $'^Although the moment of a conversion seems
0410F13 sometimes quite sudden and unexpected, yet we know from repeated experience
0420F13 that such an occurrence always has a long period of unconscious
0430F13 incubation. ^It is only when the preparation is complete, that
0440F13 is to_ say, when the individual is ready to_ be converted that the
0450F13 new view breaks forth with great emotion. $'\0^*St Paul had already
0460F13 been a Christian for a long time, but unconsciously; hence his fanatical
0470F13 resistance to the Christians, because fanaticism exists chiefly
0480F13 in individuals who are compensating for secret doubts. ^The incident
0490F13 of his hearing the voice of Christ on his way to Damascus marks
0500F13 the moment when the unconscious complex of Christianity became
0510F13 conscious. ^That the auditory phenomenon should represent Christ
0520F13 is explained by the already existing unconscious Christian complex.
0530F13 $'^The complex, being unconscious, was projected by \0St Paul onto
0540F13 the external world as if it did not belong to him. ^Unable to_ conceive
0550F13 of himself as a Christian, and on account of his resistance
0560F13 to Christ, he became blind, and could regain his sight only through
0570F13 submission as a Christian; that_ is to_ say, through his complete
0580F13 submission to Christianity. ^Psychological blindness is, according
0590F13 to my experience, always due to our unwillingness to_ see, to_
0600F13 understand and to_ accept what is incompatible with the conscious attitude.
0610F13 ^This was obviously the case with \0St paul. ^His unwillingness
0620F13 to_ see, corresponds with his fanatical resistance to Christianity.'
0630F13 $^There was another case of Teresa Neumann, a poor peasant
0640F13 girl who lived in the remote Bavarian village of Konnersreuth. ^When
0650F13 she was an adolescent she met with an accident which paralysed
0660F13 her for years. ^On Sunday, 17 May 1925 after five years of immobility,
0670F13 Teresa reported a vision of Christ, got out of bed and walked.
0680F13 ^After that_ she began to_ exhibit wounds in her hands, feet and
0690F13 side with blood from the eyes. ^The bleeding occurred every Friday.
0700F13 ^She abstained from food and drink for more than five years. $*<*3Speaking
0710F13 unknown language*> $^It was also claimed that in certain States
0720F13 she spoke the Aramaic language, the tongue of Christ. ^At the
0730F13 time of these occurrences, two Catholic nurses were put by her side
0740F13 for 14 days as witness for her abstinence from food and water. ^During
0750F13 the 14 days, Teresa gained in weight. $^Medical experts analysed
0760F13 her case and their verdict ran as: "The phenomenon was neither
0770F13 spiritual nor miraculous. ^It is only a disease. ^The clinical picture
0780F13 of Teresa*'s state is that of a typical hysteria, a disease that_
0790F13 always affects the whole nervous system without discoverable cause
0800F13 in organic disease. $"^Its characteristics are exaggerated self-consciousness,
0810F13 a tumultuous emotional state and a passion for sympathy and
0820F13 notoriety. ^*Teresa fits in exactly the true pathological picture
0830F13 of the hysteric. ^Her fast-- the *8anorexia nervosa*9 (hatred of food)
0840F13 of the hysteric-- began with motor disturbance-- the *9globus hystericus.*9
0850F13 ^Hysterical symptoms manifest themselves always in the presence
0860F13 of others. $"^Now it has been scientifically demonstrated that the
0870F13 human body connot live for 14 days without food or liquid. ^Yet, Teresa
0880F13 is supposed to_ have lived like this for years. ^And in 14 days
0890F13 under observation, girl gained weight. ^The inference is overwhelming--
0900F13 namely that the watchers were (a) sympathetic and consciously
0910F13 or sub-consciously desirous of a result favourable to a verdict for
0920F13 supernaturalism, (b) that Teresa in some way obtained both food and
0930F13 liquid. $"^Next, the sudden recovery from paralysis. ^Here again there
0940F13 is a simple explanation without bringing in the superanatural hypothesis.
0950F13 ^The disease was functional, that is induced by abonormal
0960F13 mental disturbance in much the same way as the so-called *3Shell Shock.
0970F13 $"^In hysteria, accompanied by *8anorexia nervosa*9 the trophic
0980F13 or digestive derangement may lead to the dropsical condition known
0990F13 as *3blue aedema. ^If hands or feet be pressed, they puff up,
1000F13 the skin becomes stretched and glossy, and violet-red marks result.
1010F13 ^Skin in such a condition may easily be self-induced to_ bleed, and
1020F13 a wound thus self-inflicted may be easily kept open. ^The so-called
1030F13 miraculous bleeding is nothing but *3conversion hysteria, that_
1040F13 is a type of hysteria in which emotional conflict is resolved in the
1050F13 form of physical symptoms dissimulating organic disease." $*<*3No historical
1060F13 evidence*> $^The reported vision of Christ to teresa was only
1070F13 a hallucination. ^There is no historical evidence for the physical
1080F13 features of Christ. ^The universally received portrait of Christ
1090F13 is the product of art-- a subjective figure without objective reality.
1100F13 $^During the time of Constantine, the first Christian Roman emperor,
1110F13 the Roman gods were cleared and Christ got their place. ^The
1120F13 artist craftsmen went to the crude catacombs, drawings or models
1130F13 and formalised and improved upon these representations. ^Later, the
1140F13 same was linked with Michaelangelo*'s *3Perita which finally gave
1150F13 the shape of Christ. ^The same figure was reflected in Leonardo
1160F13 da Vinci*'s *3Last supper. $^So when Teresa said that she had
1170F13 seen the vision of Christ as depicted in the familiar drawing, it was
1180F13 nothing but the powerful influence of great art upon a psychological
1190F13 type of abnormal suggestibility. $^Lourdes is a town in south-west
1200F13 of France. ^In this town, in 1858, a young peasant girl reported
1210F13 that she had seen the vision of Virgin Mary. ^Later on, she was made
1220F13 Saint Bernadette by the Roman Catholic Church and the place
1230F13 was declared with all pomp and show as a place for pilgrimage.
1240F13 ^About a million people, sick and handicapped, visit this place every
1250F13 year for miracle cures. ^The Canonical Commission, a church affiliated
1260F13 body, claimed eleven genuine cases of such cures between 1937
1270F13 and 1952. ^But none of the cases was real and scientifically acceptable
1280F13 according to \0Dr west. $^In his book *3Eleven Lourdes Miracles,
1290F13 \0Dr West analyses all the eleven cases in detail and declares
1300F13 that there is no divine element in these cures. ^According to him,
1310F13 most of the cases lacked sufficient evidence and satisfactory diagnosis.
1320F13 ^In the end he raises the questions: 'If chronic diseases are
1330F13 cured by miracles why are there no cases of lost eyes or amputated
1340F13 legs sprouting anew? ^If the Church claims miracle cures, why is it
1350F13 silent about hundreds of deaths that_ occurred at the same place during
1360F13 the same period?' $^As usual these questions remain unanswered.
1370F13 $3Self-infliction $^Another famous disease is the self infliction
1380F13 of injuries on one*'s own body in the name of God. ^We often hear
1390F13 of religious fanatics who walk on fire, swallow iron objects like knives,
1400F13 swords, blades, \0etc and subject their bodies to untold tortures.
1410F13 $^*William Jones in his book *3Varieties of religious experience
1420F13 writes about one Suso, a Christian mystic. ^According to him,
1430F13 Suso wore 'for a long time a hair shirt and an iron chain until the
1440F13 blood ran from him. ^He secretly caused an undergarment to_ be made
1450F13 for him into which a hundred and fifty nails, pointed and filed
1460F13 sharp were driven and the points of the nails were always turned towards
1470F13 the flesh. ^He had this garment made very tight, and so arranged
1480F13 as to_ go round him, fasten in front in order that it might fit closer
1490F13 to his body, and the pointed nails were driven in his flesh.' $^We
1500F13 find innumerable cases of same nature in front of our temples, mosque
1510F13 and churches. ^What is the reason for all these outward masochist
1520F13 exhibitions? ^Does humanity get any benefit out of these acts? ^No.
1530F13 ^Then why should they venture into such painful activites? ^This
1540F13 is introversion, that_ is, fixation of interest on the self as against
1550F13 interest in the world. ^It is an attempt by the religious fanatics
1560F13 to_ bring themselves *8en rapport*9 with the world invisible. ^When
1570F13 rationalists ask proof for the existence of God, religionists
1580F13 say that 'He' is to_ be experienced. $^Religion, says Max Muller (*3Introduction
1590F13 to the science of religion), is a mental faculty or
1600F13 disposition which, independent of, nay, in spite of sense and reason,
1610F13 enables man to_ apprehend the infinite under varying disguises and
1620F13 names. ^*Frazer defines it as mainly an effort to_ propitiate the
1630F13 'Unknown God.' $^Religions have subtly exploited this basic 'socially
1640F13 created' desire by constructing a cult of holiness around the non-existing
1650F13 God. ^The result is that some of them struggle to_ adjust
1660F13 their personality with the external world. ^In this process, they
1670F13 exhibit all sorts of masochist tendencies. $^These diseases and cures
1680F13 have no spiritual or miraculous touch. ^A proper probe into these
1690F13 cases will reveal the scientific truth. $^In 1780, one Austrian doctor,
1700F13 Anton Mesmor, claimed that inanimate objects had the ability
1710F13 to_ be magnetised. ^He effected cures in a lot of cases by asking
1720F13 the patients to_ touch his magnetised objects. ^The then Government
1730F13 under King Louis *=16 appointed a special committee to_ find out the
1740F13 truth. ^The committee reported that many patients who had been cured
1750F13 after touching a magnetised object had in fact touched the wrong
1760F13 object. ^Thus, it was found out that the cures were due to the
1770F13 working of the patients*' imagination. $^Later, in 1875, a committee
1780F13 for the investigation of spiritualist and miraculous phenomena was set
1790F13 up by \0St Petersburg University. ^The committee began its work
1800F13 on May 6, 1875, and released its findings on March 21, 1876. ^Among
1810F13 the members of the committee were the Russian scientists Mandeleev,
1820F13 Bobylyov and Krayevich. $*<*3Judgement on holy diseases*> $^The
1830F13 committee concluded that spiritualist phenomena arise from unconscious
1840F13 movements or deliberate deception and that the spiritualist doctrine
1850F13 is superstition.*#
        **[no. of words = 02012**]

        **[txt. f14**]
0010F14 **<*3*4Dalit Panthers: They have reached nowhere**> $^More than twenty
0020F14 two years ago, \0Dr *(0B.R.*) Ambedkar left the Congress and
0030F14 launched an independant drive to_ make the scheduled castes reject
0040F14 Hinduism and accept Buddhism. $^About 75,000 members of these castes
0050F14 followed his advice and embraced Buddhism. ^They came to_ be known
0060F14 as the neo-Buddhists. $^Addressing them at Nagpur, \0Dr Ambedkar
0070F14 declared that he was discarding the Hindu religion as it discriminated
0080F14 against his people-- the so-called low castes-- and looked down upon
0090F14 them with contempt. $\0^*Dr Ambedkar also announced the formation
0100F14 of the Republican Party of India to_ fight for the betterment of
0110F14 the conditions of the people of the scheduled castes, \0RPI, in fact,
0120F14 came into being after his death. ^The party, under the leadership
0130F14 of the late Gaikund who had a peasant background, devoted more attention
0140F14 to the problems of landless labourers. ^The scheduled castes constituted
0150F14 a major part of the landless labour. $^The struggle began
0160F14 and nearly 50,000 workers were jailed in 1959. $*<*3The \0RPI*> $^During
0170F14 various struggles launched by it in Maharashtra, the \0RPI consolidated
0180F14 its position and became a force to_ reckon with. ^*Maharashtra
0190F14 Congress leaders, like *(0Y.B.*) Chavan, even worked out an
0191F14 alliance with the \0RPI at the time of the 1967 elections.
0200F14 $^Meanwhile, a growing number of cases of atrocities against the
0210F14 members of the scheduled castes were being published in the newspapers.
0220F14 $^Between 1967 and 1969, according to Government figures, the number
0230F14 of murders of *4Harijans was: in Chandigarh 2, Gujarat 34, Delhi
0240F14 4, Haryana 23, Punjab 76, Kerala 17, Andhra Pradesh 31, West
0250F14 Bengal 12, Himachal Pradesh 7, Tamil Nadu and Orissa 49 each, Mysore
0260F14 113, Maharashtra 63, Bihar 29, and \0U.P. 332. $^The reports
0270F14 spoke of discrimination against 'low-caste' students in schools, denial
0280F14 of drinking water to *4Harijans from common wells and refusal of
0290F14 some restaurants to_ serve food to them in plates. ^They were also being
0300F14 denied entry into temples and some barbers and washermen refused
0310F14 to_ serve them. $^Though the number of *4Harijans converted to Buddhism
0320F14 increased from 75,000 to 2.8 millions in 1971 and to an estimated
0330F14 3.7 millions today, the attitude of caste Hindus towards them has
0340F14 not changed even after their conversion. $^The humiliations inflicted
0350F14 upon them in free India naturally provoked the younger generation which
0360F14 felt that the \0RPI had failed. ^And the assessment was correct
0370F14 to a large extent. $^The anger of the young generation increased with
0380F14 two widely publicised outrages against *4Harijans in 1972 which occurred
0390F14 in Brahmangaon and Bavda in Maharashtra. $^The boycott of the
0400F14 Harijans by the caste Hindus at Bavda stunned politically-conscious
0410F14 youngmen among the scheduled castes. ^Among them were Raja Dhale,
0420F14 a Marathi writer, and Namdeo Dhasal, another Marathi writer and
0430F14 poet. $*<*3General upsurge*> $^*Raja Dhale wrote an article in a Marathi
0440F14 periodical *3Sadhana which proviked the caste Hindus so much that
0450F14 Shiv Sena and the Jana Sangh took out *4morchas and threatened
0460F14 to_ burn the copies of the paper. $^*Namdeo Dhasal, in an interview,
0470F14 said, "When peaceful movements to_ tackle the problems are being
0480F14 mercilessly suppressed, the scheduled caste people are bound to_ lose faith
0490F14 in the national emblem". $^However, the two writers felt that only
0500F14 writings would not help and there was need for an organisation to_
0510F14 fight for their cause. ^Many others too agreed with them. $^As a result
0520F14 Dalit Panthers came into existence on the lines of Black Panthers
0530F14 of Negroes in America. $^The Dalit Panthers started mobilising
0540F14 youth for the struggle against the existing social system. ^This was
0550F14 the first time that *4Shudras had adopted a militant attitude. $^Initially
0560F14 confined to literary movement, discussions and seminars, the group
0570F14 emerged as an action-oriented organisation in 1972-73. $^The Panthers
0580F14 feel that the constitutional gurantee of secularism is largely
0590F14 on paper only. ^An untouchable is still an untouchable. $^In a recentt
0600F14 interview, a Dalit poet, Ratan Kumar said, "from 2nd October, Mahatma
0610F14 Gandhi*'s birthday, we are going to_ declare that don*'4t call
0620F14 us *4Harijans. ^This name also has the same stigma. ^Call us untouchables,
0630F14 *4Shudras. ^That_ is being less hypocrite. ^If we are *4Harijans,
0640F14 that_ is the people of God, what are the other Hindus-- '*5Rakshas
0650F14 jan*6?" $*<*3Mass Movement group*> $^*Ratan Kumar, following Raja
0660F14 Dhale*'s leadership, along with many, has parted company with the Dalit
0670F14 Panthers. ^They have started another group called Mass Movement.
0680F14 ^This is another story-- the story of the Dalit Panthers gone
0690F14 to pieces because of groupism. ^Before coming to it, let us examine some
0700F14 other aspects of the movement. $^About five years ago, \0Mrs anda
0710F14 Patankar was found murdered in the first class compartment of one
0727F14 of the Bombay*'s suburban trains. ^It set off a loud protest all over
0730F14 Bombay. $\0^*Mr Powar, one of the founder members of Dalit Panthers
0740F14 (now with Mass Movement), said "The protest is only because
0750F14 she is from a high caste. ^Had she been a scheduled caste woman in the
0760F14 third class compartment, no one would have raised an eyebrow. ^This
0770F14 is rank communalism." $^This attitude of \0Mr powar shows the bitterness
0780F14 towards caste Hindus. $^The membership of \0RPI was confined
0790F14 not only to the members of the scheduled castes. $^*Dalit Panthers
0800F14 later confined themselves to the scheduled caste people. ^There were
0810F14 three main castes-- *4Chamars, *4Mahars and *4Mangs (*4Matangs).
0820F14 ^Strangely, *4Mahars are untouchables for *4Chamars and *4Mangs are untouchables
0830F14 for *4Mahars and *4Chamars. $^The reason why some leaders
0840F14 left Dalit Panthers and started Mass Movement was that they wanted
0850F14 to_ confine themselves to only Mahars. $^*Dhale was not agreeable
0860F14 to the idea of Namdeo Dhasal to_ broaden the base of Dalits to_
0870F14 cover all downtrodden people. ^The man who is supposed to_ fight the
0880F14 evil of untouchability and communalism is himself the victim of the
0890F14 same prejudice. $^*Namdeo Dhasal, on the other hand, took initiative
0900F14 and joined hands with Shiv Sena, the orthodox, conservative organisation
0910F14 of Bal Thackeray which had opposed Raja Dhale*'s articles
0920F14 and organised the *4Morcha. $^*Namdeo Dhasal not only joined Bal Thackeray
0930F14 but associated himself with the Congress(\0I). ^He and his
0940F14 group of Dalit Panthers canvassed for the candidates of Shiv Sena
0950F14 in the Assembly election of 1978. $^Besides these two groups, there
1960F14 is another group of Dalit Panthers led by \0Prof. Arun Kamble.
0970F14 $^According to \0*4Shri Daya Pawar, an eminent Dalit poet and one
0980F14 of the founders of Dalit Panthers, "The groups, there are seven
0990F14 now, are not based on any ideology. ^The reason of so many groups is
1000F14 individualism. ^Everyone wants fame. ^It is the clash of personalities.
1010F14 ^After all, the basis of Dalit Panther movement is the upliftment
1020F14 of the downtrodden. ^Why should anyone disagree to the conception of
1030F14 the downtrodden? $^He further added, "This way the Dalit Panther movement
1040F14 has no future. ^How can it achieve anything if it doesn*'4t have
1050F14 the first requirement of any organisation-- unity?" $^Though the movement,
1060F14 for the time being, looks ineffective, the Dalit literature has
1070F14 caused people to_ take it seriously and it is being called the literature
1080F14 of protest, of revolt. $^The Marathi literature did not reflect
1090F14 the miserable life of the downtrodden. ^And even when it wrote about
1100F14 them, the picture, Dalits felt, was distorted. ^It was mostly a romantic
1110F14 and unrealistic version of caste Hindus. $^*Dalit writers produced
1120F14 new literature of social awareness. ^This trend started with Annabhau
1130F14 Sathe and Shankarrao Kharat. ^In Sathe*'s writings, his leftist
1140F14 leanings are however, obvious. $^Among today*'s leading dalit writers
1150F14 are Baburao Bagul (*3*5Jenwha me jat chorli*6, a short story collection
1160F14 and *3*5maran swastha hot ahe*6, a novel) and Namdeo Dhasal
1170F14 (*3Golpitha-- a novel). ^Daya Pawar writes poetry and short stories.
1180F14 ^Namdeo Dhasal also writes poetry. ^Some more names are Pralhad
1190F14 Chandwarkar, *(0P.I.*) Sonkamble, *(0J.V.*) Pawar, Yashwant
1200F14 Manohar, Meena Gajbhive and Heera Bansode. $^During a recent interview,
1210F14 Namdeo Dhasal, the founder-leader of the group, gave his views
1220F14 as: $Question: ^With which ideology are you more influenced? $Answer:
1230F14 ^Initially I didn*'4t have any ideology. ^We Dalits were concerned
1240F14 about our problems which are well-known to everyone by now. \0^*RPI
1250F14 was no more active. ^Atrocities on the *4Harijans were our main problem.
1260F14 ^We felt that we should be organised. ^Even at that_ time we had
1270F14 no ideology. ^We were having factions like *4Chamar, *4Mahars and
1280F14 *4Mangs which were not united. ^We wanted everyone to_ come under
1290F14 one banner, be united and fight for our rights. $\0Q: ^*Dalit Panthers
1300F14 have off and on resorted to violence. ^What is your stand about it?
1310F14 ^The riots at Worli between Hindus and Dalits are very well-known.
1320F14 ^Many of the caste Hindus and Dalits were injured. $\0A: ^We
1330F14 don*'4t indulge in violence usually. ^Whenever Dalit Panthers have
1340F14 resorted to violence, it is in self-defence, which can*'4t be called violence.
1350F14 ^We didn*'4t even do like Shiv Sena which took offensive and
1360F14 destroyed and burnt the shops \0etc. of non Maharashtrians. ^In Worli
1370F14 riots, it was the caste Hindus who attacked our homes. ^We are well-aware
1380F14 of our responsibilities and rights. ^We had to_ fight back. $^Today,
1390F14 however, I feel that violence is the only way but we have not
1400F14 thought seriously over it yet. ^Ours is a democratic structure, you know.
1410F14 $\0Q: ^It has been noticed that almost all the members, leaders and
1420F14 writers of Dalit Panthers are young. ^Doesn*'4t the older generation
1430F14 support you? $\0A: ^Senior people are more compromising, but still
1440F14 they support us. ^As they are basically traditional they don*'4t actively
1450F14 lead us. ^Among the followers, there are many middle aged and
1460F14 old people in Dalit Panthers. $\0Q: ^Is the present set-up of the
1470F14 Government in any way different from the Congress-led Government?
1480F14 $\0A: ^*I believe that the Government led by Congress was better for
1490F14 us than the Janata Party Government. ^We don*'4t have much hope from
1500F14 the Janata Party. ^My group supported the Congress in Emergency
1510F14 period. ^I still support Indira Gandhi. $^Answering questions,
1520F14 Namdeo agreed that the Emergency had drawbacks, but said, "The main
1530F14 reason why I still support Emergency and Indira Gandhi is because
1540F14 she was anti-\0RSS. ^You know \0RSS is a Brahmin-dominated,
1550F14 conservative organisation which wants Hindu *4Raj. ^They believe in
1560F14 the caste system. ^They treat us as untouchables. ^It was good that during
1570F14 Emergency, \0RSS was banned. $\0Q: ^Why have Dalit Panthers
1580F14 broken into so many groups? $\0A: ^It is because some of our founders
1590F14 like Raja Dhale and *(0J.V.*) Pawar felt that Dalit Panthers
1600F14 should only be for *4Mahars, *4Chamars, *4Mangs and other downtrodden
1610F14 people should not be there in the organisation. ^We disagreed. ^We
1620F14 feel it is going to_ be on the line of class war. ^It wouldn*'4t be
1630F14 a caste war. $\0Q: ^Aren*'4t there rich and middle class people in
1640F14 Dalits? ^Do they forgo the facilities offered to them? \0A: ^Yes,
1650F14 I can name a number of people who have money and therefore, don*'4tmake
1660F14 use of facilities offered to them. ^In fact, the facilities offered
1670F14 to us are only on paper. ^We have studied and surveyed that in various
1680F14 offices, the scheduled classes have not got the representation which
1690F14 they deserve. ^In class I posts, only 2 per cent are the scheduled
1700F14 class people whereas in lower jobs and conservancy departments they
1710F14 are 80 per cent. ^Why it should be so? $^There are many cases when because
1720F14 the higher officers are the caste Hindus, they come in the way
1730F14 of the scheduled caste people getting jobs and promotions. $\0Q: ^What
1740F14 exactly do you demand from the Government? $\0A: ^Implement the
1750F14 policies. ^Now the policies are only on paper. ^Nothing really is being
1760F14 done for the upliftment of the scheduled castes. $\0Q: ^You have cooperated
1770F14 with the Shiv Sena which was your enemy at one time. ^Why
1780F14 this change? $\0A: ^It is our political strategy. ^You can*'4t have
1790F14 too many enemies. ^How will you fight them? ^*Shiv Sena is against the
1800F14 Janata Party. ^We are also against the Janata Party. ^*Shiv Sena
1810F14 and Dalit Panthers can be mutually useful. ^In fact, Bal Thackeray*'s
1820F14 father worked for the upliftment of the scheduled castes for 20
1830F14 years. ^*I told Bal Thackeray that when your father was for us, why
1840F14 should you go against us and we reached an agreement before the Assembly
1850F14 elections.*#
        **[no. of words = 02008**]

        **[txt. f15**]
0010F15 **<*3Land Problems of the *4Adivasis**> $*3^TRIBALS CONSTITUTE*0
0020F15 about seven per cent of the total population of India. ^They are distributed
0030F15 unevenly in different States and centrally administered areas.
0040F15 ^In some areas, the tribals constitute a majority though in most of
0050F15 them they are but a fraction of the total population of a State. ^However,
0060F15 even in the latter the tribal population is concentrated only
0070F15 in some districts. ^In Maharashtra, about 80 per cent of the tribal
0080F15 population is concentrated in the districts of Thane, Nasik and
0090F15 Dhule. $^The conditions of the tribals in the States where they are
0100F15 in a majority are relatively better than in the States where they
0110F15 form only a small part of the population. ^In the latter areas, the
0120F15 tribals suffer from extreme poverty and exploitation by non-tribal
0130F15 money-lenders, merchants and petty government officials. ^They have
0140F15 certain common characteristics like dependence on agriculture, low percentage
0150F15 of literacy and predominance of rural population. ^In these
0160F15 States, non-tribals are continually occupying the lands cultivated
0170F15 by the tribals. $^Alienation of lands held by the tribals takes away
0180F15 their main source of livelihood and they are compelled to_ join the
0190F15 ranks of agricultural labourers. ^This process of alienation has
0200F15 been going on since the establishment of British rule. ^A study of
0210F15 this process and the efforts to_ check it could indeed be extremely
0220F15 useful. ^It would bring out the limitations of law to_ correct socio-economic
0230F15 ills and also reveal certain characteristics of the tribals
0240F15 and non-tribals. ^However, such studies will have to_ be made separately
0250F15 for each State as there are wide variations among the States
0260F15 in the system of land tenure, maintenance of land records and soco-economic
0270F15 conditions in the rural areas. ^An all-India study of such
0280F15 a process cannot do justice to the complexity of the problem. $^The
0290F15 book under review **[foot note**] is, however, an attempt to_ study
0300F15 the problem in an all-India context. ^It comprises papers contributed
0310F15 to a seminar held at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences,
0320F15 Bombay in June 1976. ^All the contributors, except the two from the
0330F15 Institute, are Government officials. ^This has, to some extent, reduced
0340F15 the value of the book. $^More than 90 per cent of the tribals
0350F15 derive their livelihood from agriculture and the forest. ^About 58 per
0360F15 cent of them are cultivators, while about 33 per cent are agricultural
0370F15 labourers. ^The average size of farms owned and cultivated by
0380F15 the tribals is smaller than those cultivated by the non-tribals. ^The
0390F15 quality of land cultivated by the tribals is also generally inferior
0400F15 to that_ of the non-tribals. ^Tribal culture is inextricably linked
0410F15 with agriculture and it will take a long time for the tribals
0420F15 to_ take to other occupations, and they will therefore have to_
0430F15 be settled in agriculture. ^With proper extension work in agricultural
0440F15 techniques and timely and adequate supply of credit and other agricultural
0450F15 inputs, it may be possible to_ improve their agricultural
0460F15 methods and to_ raise their present subhuman standards of living.
0470F15 ^This is the basic purpose behind all the attempts made to_ prohibit
0480F15 alienation of the tribals*' land and to_ restore to them the land
0490F15 that_ is already alienated. $^There was a time when most of the lands
0500F15 in the areas in which the tribals live belonged to them. ^After the
0510F15 establishment of British rule in India and particularly after
0520F15 the spread of the railways, there was a gradual commercialization of
0530F15 agriculture, and the non-tribals began to_ encroach upon tribal lands
0540F15 through force and fraud. ^The Santhal riots of 1855 attracted
0550F15 Government*'s attention to the problem of land alienation and restrictions
0560F15 were imposed on the transfer of tribal lands to non-tribals in different
0570F15 provinces at different times. ^After Independence the State
0580F15 Governments spent huge amounts on the development of agriculture.
0590F15 ^Persistent shortage of food and other agricultural produce and the
0600F15 consequent rise in their prices made agriculture profitable. ^This
0610F15 created a demand for land and land-hungry non-tribals began to_ occupy
0620F15 tribal lands with renewed vigour. ^This led to unrest among the
0630F15 tribals and they initiated certain movements to_ regain their lost
0640F15 lands. ^Some State Governments passed various laws to_ check land
0650F15 alienation. ^However, many of these laws proved ineffective. ^By the 1970s
0660F15 several States had enacted strict laws to_ prohibit the transfer
0670F15 of lands from tribals to non-tribals and also to_ restore lands
0680F15 transferred in accordance with as also in contravention of the law. ^The
0690F15 papers in this volume mainly refer to these recent legal attempts
0700F15 to_ check land alienation and to_ restore the already alienated
0710F15 lares to the tribals. $*3^ONE DEFECT COMMON TO ALL*0 the papers is
0720F15 the absence of references. ^Most of these papers have been written
0730F15 in the style of official notes and no reference has been made to any
0740F15 book, article, or official report. ^Surprisingly enough, even the
0750F15 non-official contributors, who are the editors of this volume, have
0760F15 followed the same style. ^Their paper on the process of land alienation
0770F15 in Maharashtra has only one reference, an article published in the
0780F15 Economic and Political Weekly. $^Some of the recommendations made
0790F15 to_ plug the loopholes in the Acts that_ restrict alienation and
0800F15 also permit restoration of lands to the tribals are worth mentioning.
0820F15 ^One contributor from Andhra Pradesh has recommended restriction
0830F15 on the settlement of outsiders in the scheduled areas. ^This is
0840F15 a good suggestion. ^If Government cannot restrict the settlement of
0850F15 non-tribals in the scheduled areas, at least a ban should be put on
0860F15 their owning any land in the areas. ^Another contributor from Andhra
0870F15 Pradesh has rightly pointed out that in spite of the special provisions
0880F15 for safeguarding the tribals*' rights in force since 1830, land
0890F15 alienation has continued to a large extent; legislative solutions
0900F15 of problems which are basically social and economic rather than legal
0910F15 are not very effective. ^Several contributors were critical of
0920F15 the judicial system which hinders the restoration of lands to the tribals.
0930F15 ^Non-tribals are to_ take recourse to courts from the lowest
0940F15 to the highest to_ obstruct the restoration of alienated lands.
0950F15 ^Almost all the contributors suggest that these laws should be taken
0960F15 out of judicial purview. ^Some States have done this by getting
0970F15 these laws listed in the 9th Schedule of the Constitution. ^However,
0980F15 this only gives partial protection to the tribals. ^Non-tribals
0990F15 continue to_ challenge such Acts on different grounds and obstruct
1000F15 their implementation as long as possible. ^In some States like Bihar,
1010F15 documents transferring lands from tribals to non-tribals cannot
1020F15 be registered without the consent of the Deputy Commissioner.
1020F15 **[text mutilated**]
1030F15 $*3^THESE PAPERS ALSO CONTAIN*0 a great deal of useful data on the extent
1040F15 of alienation and the disposal of cases for restoration. ^Such data
1050F15 would not have been otherwise available to the students of this
1060F15 problem. ^Many officials have described the loopholes in the Restoration
1070F15 Acts in very clear terms. ^One of the papers dealing with the
1080F15 problem in Maharashtra is based on the study of empirical data specially
1090F15 collected for the purpose by Dubey and Murdia. ^They have
1100F15 tried to_ find out the reasons for land transfer, modes of transfer
1110F15 and the socio-economic conditions of tribal transferors and non-tribal
1120F15 transferees. ^64 cases of illegal transfers from some villages
1130F15 in the three districts of Maharashtra have been studied for this purpose.
1140F15 ^The number is too small to_ arrive at any useful conclusion.
1150F15 ^Besides, the paper contains several factual errors. ^The authors
1160F15 found that a majority of the *4Adivasi transferors (22 out of 35)
1170F15 in Thane and Nasik districts belonged to *5Malhari Kunbi*6 and
1180F15 *4Koli tribes (\0p. 44). ^In fact, there is no scheduled tribe called
1190F15 *5Malhari Kunbi*6 in Maharashtra. ^There is also no tribe by
1120F15 the name of *4Koli. ^The data probably refer to the *5Mahadeo Koli*6,
1210F15 *5Dongar Koli*6, or *5Malhar Koli*6 tribes. ^One wishes that
1220F15 the authors had taken care to_ look at the official list of scheduled
1230F15 tribes in Maharashtra before studying the problem. ^There is
1240F15 also some ambiguity in referring to certain castes of non-tribal transferees.
1250F15 ^One of the castes mentioned is *4Baniya. ^One does not know
1260F15 whether these are *4Marwaris from Rajasthan or *4Gujars from Gujarat.
1270F15 ^The authors have been equally careless in mentioning the titles
1280F15 of different Acts. ^There are references to the Bombay Tenancy
1290F15 and Agricultural Workers Act of 1948 and to the Bombay Tenancy
1300F15 and Agricultural Land Holdings Act of 1948 (\0p. 37). ^Both these
1310F15 references are misleading. ^The correct title of the Act is the
1320F15 Bombay Tenancy and Agricultural Lands Act of 1948 (Act 47 of
1330F15 1948). ^At one place the authors have remarked that provisions under
1340F15 clauses (2) and (3) of Section 36 of the \0MLR Code, 1966 was
1350F15 "the *3first ever*0 provision for the protection of landholders" (\0p. 39).
1360F15 ^This statement is not correct. ^The first provision to_ protect *4Adivasi
1370F15 landholders in the State was made by amending Section 73
1380F15 of the Bombay Land Revenue Code in 1901. ^Under this amendment
1390F15 Government was empowerd to_ make certain lands non-transferable without
1400F15 the previous sanction of the Collector. ^Later, a number of
1410F15 scheduled areas were brought under this provision. ^The provisions
1420F15 made under sub-sections (2) and (3) of Section 36 of the \0MLR
1430F15 code were nothing but the continuatuion of the provisions in the \0BLR
1440F15 code. $^It is mentioned that a Committee headed by \0Mr *(0S.
1450F15 M.*) Joshi "toured the *4Adivasi areas in Shahad Taluka of
1460F15 Dhulia district and came to the conclusion that about 10,000 acres
1470F15 of land had passed into the hands of *(non-*4Adivasis*) in Shahad
1480F15 *4Taluka alone" (\0p. 244). ^The statement contains two errors. ^The
1490F15 name of the *4taluka is Shahada and not Shahad. ^Secondly, the
1500F15 committee report mentions that according to the surveys conducted by Sarvodaya
1510F15 workers, about 10,000 acres of land have been alienated illegally
1520F15 in 57 villages of Shahada *4taluka. ^The statement by the authors
1530F15 creates an impression that 10,000 acres were alienated legally
1540F15 and/ or illegally in the whole of Shahada *4taluka. ^Obviously, the
1550F15 authors have not seen the original report. $*3^TWO PAPERS DEALING
1560F15 WITH*0 the problem of land alienation and restoration in the Nasik
1570F15 and Dhule districts of Maharashtra bring out very clearly the loopholes
1580F15 in the legislation. ^It is pointed out, for instance, that nearly
1590F15 50 per cent of the cases for restoration failed because the tribal
1600F15 transferors refused to_ take back the lands, most probably under
1610F15 pressure from the non-tribal transferees. ^It is gratifying to_
1620F15 learn that some of the recommendations presented in these papers have
1630F15 been accepted by the Government as can be seen from the later amendments
1640F15 made to the concerned Acts. $^In general, three suggestions
1650F15 can be offered to_ make tribal land alienation and restoration Acts
1660F15 more effective. ^A total ban can be put on the holding of agricultural
1670F15 lands by non-tribals in specified areas. ^The registration
1680F15 of documents transferring lands from tribals to non-tribals should not
1690F15 be effected without the previous sanction of authorised officials.
1700F15 ^Lastly, these Acts should provide for a fine and imprisonment
1710F15 for the illegal occupation of tribal lands. $^However, almost all
1720F15 the papers point out that the problem of tribal land alienation and
1730F15 restoration is not merely legal. ^These Acts cannot be properly implemented
1740F15 unless the tribals are organised to_ exercise their rights and
1750F15 are made aware of the nature of protection the law gives them. ^The
1760F15 land problem of the tribals is closely connected with their extreme
1770F15 poverty, low literacy and lack of political awareness. $^The officials
1780F15 who participated in the seminar did not question the main objective
1790F15 of the Acts, \0viz., prohibiting alienation and restoring already alienated
1800F15 lands to the tribals. ^However, the non-official participants
1810F15 in the seminar (editors of the volume under review) have raised certain
1820F15 objections! ^According to them, "the existing land enactments protecting
1830F15 the interest of tribals in the State raise an issue of unfair
1840F15 and inequitable treatment" (\0p. 52). ^They argue that the illegally
1850F15 transferred lands are restored to the tribal owners without compensation
1860F15 for any expenditure incurred by the non-tribal transferees on
1870F15 the development of such lands! ^The authors do not appear to_ have
1880F15 taken into account that the non-tribal transferees might have already
1890F15 enjoyed the fruits of their own investment in land development for some
1900F15 years and hence need not be given any compensation.*#
        **[no. of words = 02013**]

        **[txt. f16**]
0010F16 **<*3FAMILY STRUCTURE AND CLASSES IN FOUR VILLAGES*0**> $^Abastract:
0020F16 ^The study of family so far concentrated on investigating relationship
0030F16 between caste and family types. ^The present paper based on the study
0040F16 of four Bengal villages attempts to_ analyse the relationship of
0050F16 family structure with the classes and economic activity of the peasants
0060F16 and labourers. ^Since in the villages lower caste being lower economic
0070F16 class also, the study of family structure only on the basis of
0080F16 caste gives a partial view of the reality unless the economic status
0090F16 of the villagers is taken into account. ^The present paper shows that
0100F16 there exists a strong relationship between class status and family
0110F16 structure. $*3^IN*0 the study of family, in India, the caste and
0120F16 its relationship with the family, has been one of the recurring issues;
0130F16 and one of the principal focus of analysis has been the way caste
0140F16 is supposed to_ have affected the household structure. ^Though it
0150F16 has often been shown that untouchables are more likely to_ have nuclear
0160F16 families (Kolenda, 1968: 391; shah, 1974) but little attempt has been
0170F16 made to_ relate the family types with economic activity of untouchables
0180F16 or to that_ effect any caste whatsoever. ^For instance, Kolenda
0190F16 (1976:214) though found that families with least land are less likely
0200F16 to_ maintain joint households, but she pays little attention to
0210F16 this phenomenon and instead asks 'Is the joint family more characteristic
0220F16 of higher castes than lower castes?' 'Is the joint family more
0230F16 characteristic of landed castes than of landless castes?' (1968: 390)
0240F16 $^But another and closely related issue is the way family types are
0250F16 related to the economic structure of the society and the way it responds
0260F16 to economic changes. ^More specifically, the question may be posed as
0270F16 whether, for instance, untouchables, have nuclear families *3because*0
0280F16 they belong to a particular caste or *3because*0 they are related in a
0290F16 certain way to organization of production and consequently perform a specific
0300F16 type of economic activity. $^The association between nuclear family
0310F16 type and modern industrial society has been hypothesized by many
0320F16 sociologists (Weber, 1950; Linton, 1952) and according to Goode (1963)
0330F16 predominant family type in future will be nuclear family. ^The predominance
0340F16 of extended families in traditional agrarian societies has
0350F16 been noted by sociologists, but it has also been found that predominance
0360F16 of nuclear families is associated with societies where hunting
0370F16 and gathering are dominant occupations (Nimkoff and Middleton, 1960).
0380F16 ^In india also nuclear family existed in traditional peasant societies
0390F16 and as Singh (1973:175) points out, the lower caste families where
0400F16 the chief occupation was agricultural labour were mostly nuclear
0410F16 and this nuclearity was related to "absence of landed property, lack
0420F16 of suffcient and stable means of livelihood and shifting mode of occupation".
0430F16 ^*Dube (1969: 203) also points out that in rural India "contrary
0440F16 to common belief the basic unit of social organization... is *3not*0
0450F16 the large joint family but the nuclear family... ^Recent village studies
0460F16 have shown that large joint families are relatively few in number
0470F16 and they too are largely confined to upper, \0i.e. priestly, trading
0480F16 and agricultural castes". $^What is the explanation of the existence
0490F16 or predominance of nuclear families in villages which are isolated from
0500F16 the mainstream of urban-industrial life? ^In villages, what are variables
0510F16 that_ affect the family structure? ^The different studies indicate
0520F16 that the economic factors like landownership and occupation are
0530F16 quite important in this respect. ^*Sen (1965) in a study of four Bengal
0540F16 villages found that in those villages, nuclear families are more
0550F16 predominant than extended families, and there exists a significant
0560F16 relationship between family types and occupation, landownership. ^According
0570F16 to Sen (1965: 15) "non-cultivating owners, day labourers, and
0580F16 non-agriculturists have a very large proportion of nuclear families
0590F16 as compard to the owner-cultivators and sharecroppers. ^This indicates
0600F16 the fact that differences in occupation and subsistence pattern within
0610F16 the same society will also explain the distribution of the nuclear
0620F16 and extended families among the verious sections of the population".
0630F16 ^*Sarma (1963) in a similar study of Bengal villages arrived at the
0640F16 same conclusion as above. ^*Gough (1956) in her study of Kumbapettai
0650F16 village found the *4Brahmans, who are large landowner, do no manual
0660F16 work and are totally dependent on land have extended families while
0670F16 the landless labourers known as *5Adi Dravidas*6, live in nuclear
0680F16 families. ^*Cohn (1963) in Senapur village also found that among *4Chamars
0690F16 most of whom are landless labourers, there were only 42 joint
0700F16 families out of 122 *4Chamar households in the village, and principal
0710F16 reason for this according to Cohn is the poverty of the *4Chamar
0720F16 landless labourers. ^It is evident from the above studies that there
0730F16 is a relationship between social class and family types and the family
0740F16 structure is related to the economic activity of the members. $^*Kolenda
0750F16 (1967) in her study of thirteen regions of India based on thirty
0760F16 two publications, attempted an analysis of factors influencing the
0770F16 family types, but she concludes, that there is no universal association
0780F16 with any of the factors like landownership, caste identity, \0etc.
0790F16 and the prevalence of joint or nuclear families. ^She relates the
0900F16 pattern of family structure in different regions with the process of
0910F16 family break up. ^According to her (1967: 166-67) "where the nuclear family
0920F16 in India is most prevalent, it is not only the result of the natural
0930F16 death of the older generation, but is the result of break-up *3before*0
0940F16 the peasants*' death. ^Furthermore, where the joint families are
0950F16 *3most*0 prevalent the death of the progenitor does not result in either
0960F16 the immediate or somewhat delayed break-up of the joint family. ^Three
0970F16 different patterned timings for break-up emerge from the studies of
0980F16 Indian rural areas. ^First is the patterned break-up within a few
0990F16 months or years of marriage of the sons.... ^The second pattern is
1000F16 the break-up of married brothers upon or shortly after the father*'s
1010F16 death... ^A third pattern is the break-up of the joint family when it
1020F16 is headed by married brothers who have lived together with their families
1030F16 for some years or even when the family is headed by male first
1040F16 cousins". ^Though the studies summarized by Kolenda exhaust the possible
1050F16 correlates of the family structure and change, but she was unable
1060F16 to_ examine the individual cases in detail and made broad generalizations
1070F16 on the basis of existing studies. ^Hence, the possibilities
1080F16 of other variables affecting the family structure can not be totally
1090F16 ruled out, and in this context one can ask whether the causes family
1100F16 break-up are, as Kolenda suggests, high divorce and marriage rates,
1110F16 bride wealth and dowry payment and usorilaterality versus virilaterality
1120F16 or the causes lie much deeper in the infrastructural sphere of
1130F16 property relations, poverty and wealth, the partial replacement of traditional
1140F16 economic relationship, and the changing economic activity
1150F16 of the peasants? $^In the present paper we have attempted to_ analyse
1160F16 the family structure in four villages in terms of classes and tried
1170F16 to_ find out whether or not subsistence pattern, modes of livelihood,
1180F16 landownership or lack of it affect the family structure. $*3Villages:*0
1190F16 ^The three villages, **[foot note**] namely Azadpur, Kanchanpur
1200F16 and Birpur are in the district of Birbhum and the fourth village Tusugaon
1210F16 is in the district of Purulia. ^The villages Azadpur and Tusugaon
1220F16 are non-irrigated villages, whereas Kanchanpur and Birpur
1230F16 are fully irrigated and partially irrigated villages respectively. ^The
1240F16 distance of three villages in Birbhum from the nearest town Bolpur
1250F16 is six to eight kilometers and all the three villages are connected
1260F16 by buses. ^*Tusugaon is an interior village, not connected by *4pukka
1270F16 road or buses and its distance from the nearest town Jhalda is twenty-two
1280F16 kilometers. ^Inspite of irrigation facilities available in
1290F16 two of the villages, all the four villages yield one crop a year and
1300F16 the economy still remains at subsistence level, agricultural practice
1310F16 still being traditional with traditional implements and animal and
1320F16 human labour used as sources of power. ^But in terms of communication,
1330F16 schools, \0etc. the Birbhum villages are comparatively more modernized
1340F16 than the village Tusugaon. $*3Collection of Data:*0 ^The field
1350F16 work was conducted in these four villages from October 1974 to January,
1360F16 1976. ^All the heads of the households in the four villages were
1370F16 interviewed, a household being defined as those who live under one
1380F16 roof and take food cooked at common hearth. ^Total households in the
1390F16 four villages is 483. ^Besides, assertaining the family structure, information
1400F16 about the respondents*' economic position, landholding, occupation
1410F16 of the various members of the household, migration of the members
1420F16 of the household, \0etc. were gathered. ^On the basis of the data,
1430F16 the households were classified in twelve family types following Kolenda
1440F16 (1968) and five classes on the basis of economic position of the
1450F16 members of the households. $*3Social Classes:*0 ^The households in the
1460F16 four villages has been stratified into five classes, \0viz. (1) Landlord,
1470F16 (2) Rich Peasant, (3) Middle Peasant, (4) Poor Peasant and
1480F16 (5) Agricultural Labourers. ^The stratification is based on primarily
1490F16 three criteria. (1) ^Those who possess and those who do not possess
1500F16 means of production. (2) ^Those who work and those who do not work
1510F16 and (3) Those who hire labour and those who do not (Ossowski,1969).
1520F16 ^On the basis of the combination of all the criteria, the five classes
1530F16 are defined as follows: $(1) *3Landlords:*0 ^Who own land but do not
1540F16 engage in any kind of labour. ^They completely depend on hired labourers
1550F16 or tenants. $(2) *3The Rich Peasants:*0 ^They own land but themselves
1560F16 engage in labour, also depend on hired labourer to a large extent. $(3)
1570F16 *3The Middle Peasants:*0 ^They own land but not of sufficient quantity
1580F16 or just as much, they usually depend on family labour,
1600F16 and do not employ hired labourers unless extremely necessary.
1610F16 $(4) *3The Poor Peasants:*0 ^They own very little land or no land at
1620F16 all and/ or rent land for cultivation and in general they hire out themselves
1630F16 as wage labourers. $(5) *3The Agricultural Labourers:*0 ^They
1640F16 are landless and own very little or no farm implements. ^They depend
1650F16 wholly or mainly on selling out their labour power. $*3Family Types:*0
1660F16 ^To_ analyse the family structure in four villages and to_ find its
1670F16 relationship with classes we have adopted Kolenda*'s typology, which
1680F16 she prepared on the basis of family structures in thirteen regions
1690F16 of India (1968: 346-47) and can be put to comparative use. $(1) *3Single
1700F16 Person Houschold:*0 $(2) *3Subnuclear Family:*0 a fragment of former
1710F16 nuclear family such as widowed or divorced parent with unmarried childeren,
1720F16 or unmarried, widowed or divorced siblings living together or widowed
1730F16 mother and married son without his family. $(3) *3Supplemented Subnuclear
1740F16 Family:*0 a subnuclear family plus some other unmarried, widowed
1750F16 or divirced relative(s) who are not a part of the original nuclear
1760F16 family. ^For example a widow with her unmarried children plus her
1770F16 dead husband*'s brother*'s widow. $(4) *3Nuclear Family:*0 couple and
1780F16 their unmarried children. (5) *3Supplemented Nuclear Family:*0 a nuclear
1790F16 family plus some other widowed, divorced or unmarried relative(s)
1800F16 such as the husband*'s widowed mother or his unmarried brother
1810F16 or sister. $(6) *3Lineal Joint Family:*0 parents with unmarried children
1820F16 plus one married son and his wife and unrmarried children. $(7)
1830F16 *3Supplemented Lineal Joint Family:*0 a lineal joint family plus some
1840F16 other unmarried, divorced or widowed relative(s) such as the widowed sister
1850F16 of the older man or his unmarried brother. $(8) *3Collateral Joint
1860F16 Family:*0 two or more married brothers with their wives and unmarried
1870F16 children. $(9) *3Supplemented Collateral Joint Family:*0 a collateral
1880F16 joint family plus some other unmarried, widowed or divorced relative(s),
1890F16 such as the widowed mother, widower father or unmarried brother or
1900F16 sister of the married brothers. $(10) *3Lineal Collateral Joint Family:*0
1910F16 parents, their unmarried children plus two or more married sons
1920F16 with their wives and children. $(11) *3Supplemented Lineal Collateral
1930F16 Joint Family:*0 a lineal collateral joint family plus some other relative(s)
1940F16 who is (are) not (a) member(s) of any of the nuclear families
1950F16 involved. ^For example a wife*'s widowed brother or the eldest male*'s
1960F16 unmarried brother. $^Though nuclear family according to the definition
1970F16 consist of the couple and their unmarried children, but the concept
1980F16 of family as nuclear should not be confused with the use of the
1990F16 concept in the Western sense.*#
        **[no. of words = 02005**]

        **[txt. f17**]
0010F17 **<*3Bridging the Gap between Parents and Teenagers*0**> $^A time comes
0020F17 when the parent suddenly realizes that "his child is a child
0021F17 no longer". ^This
0030F17 is a unique moment of joy as well as fear. ^There is joy in seeing the
0040F17 child grown up, and fear in the realisation that from now on the youngster
0050F17 must face life on his own. ^And there is conflict. ^The parent*'s
0060F17 need is "to_ be needed", and the teenager*'s need is "not to_
0070F17 need the parent". ^On the parent*'s side, anxiety about the teenager
0080F17 may make him show concern, protectiveness, and control. ^This is not
0090F17 welcomed by the teenager who is trying to_ break loose from family
0100F17 holds and become an independent adult in his own right. $^Most of the
0110F17 conflicts and misunderstandings between the parent and teenager,
0120F17 are centred on the following: (1) physical appearance and dress; (2)
0130F17 social behaviour and activities; (3) friends and heterosexual behaviour;
0140F17 (4) decision-making and (5) pocket-allowance. ^A brief list of the
0150F17 nature of conflicts that_ seem to_ occur most frequently may help
0160F17 in analysing and understanding the basic causes that_ are at the
0170F17 root of the parent-teenager conflicts. ^Such an understanding would
0180F17 then readily suggest implications for parents in their role of guiding
0190F17 their youngster*'s growth and development. $^Parents often cannot
0200F17 understand the teenager*'s preoccupation with his physical appearance,
0210F17 his choice of clothes, his trying to_ keep up with the everchanging
0220F17 fashions. ^On the other hand, teenagers cannot understand why their
0230F17 parents look down upon their mode of dressing, why they ridicule
0240F17 the outfits that_ girls wear, or the long hair of the boys. ^They
0250F17 react with rebellious thoughts like "why should they bother-- I am
0260F17 wearing these clothes, not them", "can*'4t I decide for myself, what
0270F17 I want to_ wear?" $^The teenager always wants to_ be "having fun".
0280F17 ^Social activities often and take up more time than studying, helping
0290F17 at home, or just spending time at home. ^Parents often complain
0300F17 that they rarely see their children because they are always out. ^This
0310F17 is especially true of boys. ^Mothers often feel that girls do not
0320F17 take an adequate share of household responsibilities, showing more interest
0330F17 in clothes, dressing up, physical appearance and going out.
0340F17 ^On the other hand, teenagers cannot understand why the parents do not
0350F17 realize that peer activities hold more attraction for them than the
0360F17 home does. ^Hence conflicts result over the amount of time devoted
0370F17 to social activities and recreation, the nature of permissible social
0380F17 activities, and the timings to_ return home. $*<*3Choice of Company*0*>
0390F17 $^One of the constant worries for the parent is regarding
0400F17 the kind of company the teenager keeps. ^They feel they ought to_
0410F17 have a say in their teenager*'s selection of his friends. ^Whereas the
0420F17 teenager feels "they are my friends, how can you know whom I would
0430F17 like to_ have as a friend? ^How can you choose my friends for me?"
0440F17 $^Conflict over heterosexual friendships is also very common. ^Many
0450F17 parents do not like boys and girls getting together for social activities
0460F17 and recreation. ^Teenagers, for whom the desire and need for
0470F17 such friendship is normal, react by carrying
0480F17 on such relationships and mixed group social activities on the
0490F17 quiet, to_ avoid the parents coming to_ know about it and to_ avoid
0500F17 parental anger over it. $^Parents, in their concern for their children*'s
0510F17 welfare, often take on themselves the task of making all
0520F17 the decisions. ^They seem to_ hold the view that as parents they know
0530F17 what is best for the youngster whether it is regarding education,
0540F17 marriage, choice of career, and even selection of friends. ^The teenager
0550F17 may, hence, get the feeling that his life is being run by the
0560F17 parent, and this is resented by the teenager who at the threshould
0570F17 of adulthood wants to_ plan his own life. $*<*3Money a Sore Point*0*>
0580F17 $^Teenagers usually manage to_ spend a great deal of money and
0590F17 this is of great concern to the parents. ^No parent likes to_ refuse
0600F17 to_ give money to his teenager, but what does one do when demands
0610F17 become too much? ^Especially in the present days, with so much
0620F17 value placed on what all money can get, and with commercialised entertainment
0630F17 becoming the most common form of recreation, money becomes
0640F17 a must for the teenager. ^How much should he be given? ^How far is
0650F17 he to_ have control over spending his pocket allowance? ^Or should he
0660F17 account for all he spends? ^It is over such questions that_ most of
0670F17 the conflicts arise. $^What seems evident in all the areas of conflict
0680F17 is that on the one hand there is the parents*' concern for the
0690F17 teenager, and on the other hand there is the need of the teenager to_ be
0700F17 independent. ^No one can doubt the intentions of the parents. ^They
0710F17 want to_ see their children happy, healthy, and safe. ^They are concerned
0720F17 about and love their children. ^However, this often leads to
0730F17 "love" being confused with "possession" and "concern" being confused
0740F17 with "greater control and direction". ^The parents want to_ stand
0750F17 between the teenager and the world and shield him from life*'s dangers.
0760F17 ^But the teenager is just entering adulthood. ^It is now that
0770F17 he must learn to_ be independent and self-sufficient. ^He needs to_
0780F17 feel self-confident and capable of finding his own way, without parental
0790F17 direction. ^Parents try and give ready advice and direction, all
0800F17 in order to_ protect and guide the youngster, but the teenager strives
0810F17 towards autonomy. ^Autonomy is the self-direction of one*'s life
0820F17 and the ability to_ make one*'s own decision. ^It is this which
0830F17 will make the young teenager feel capable of independently running his
0840F17 own life. ^This is essential if he is to_ be helped to_ become
0850F17 a self-sufficient adult. $^Another factor that_ underlies the conflicts
0860F17 is that the teenager years (adolescence) is a period of change,
0870F17 a transition from childhood to adulthood. ^It is a period of learning
0880F17 and growth. ^But this learning and growth takes place amidst great
0890F17 personality disorganisation, which ultimately, however, leads to the
0900F17 organisation of a mature personality. ^During this period the teenager
0910F17 has to_ free himself from childhood ties with parents, establish
0920F17 new identifications with others and find his own identity. ^That_
0930F17 is why, at this time, there is so much preoccupation with physical
0940F17 appearance and friends. ^Because it is through identification with
0950F17 his friends, (with the clothes, appearances and things they value)
0960F17 that the teenager learns about himself, understands and finally accepts
0970F17 his individual identity. ^In answering the personal identity question
0980F17 "^Who am I?" the teenager identifies with his peer, and becomes
0990F17 disobedient and rebellious towards parents. ^Not so much to_ defy
1000F17 his parents but in order to_ experience his identity and autonomy.
1010F17 $*<*3Parent Teacher Conflicts*0*> $^The fast pace of social
1020F17 change that_ is taking place adds to the causes of parent-teenager
1030F17 conflicts. ^The parents were teenagers some two to three decades back
1040F17 and the societal norms and standards of their teenage years are no
1050F17 longer relevant today. ^Present conditions and values, and hence the needs
1060F17 and desires of today*'s teenagers are different. ^Behaviour and
1070F17 friendship patterns (particularly in urban settings), and therefore
1080F17 the needs and behaviour of the teenagers should be understood in the
1090F17 present social context. $^Parent-teenager conflicts, which will always
1100F17 be present can actually be a very constructive part and parcel
1110F17 of the teenager*'s growing up. ^The parents have a truly significant
1120F17 and powerful role to_ play in ensuring that the stressful teenager
1130F17 years, prove fruitful in helping their youngsters achieve independent
1140F17 mature adulthood. $^The foregoing discussion on the causes of conflicts
1150F17 has certain implications for parents, in the role they play
1160F17 during their youngsters, teenage years. ^While there are no ready made
1170F17 solutions to specific conflicts, certain guidelines readily follow
1180F17 from the above discussion. $^Adolescence or the teenage years are
1190F17 a time for uncertainty, self-doubt, and search for identity amidst confusion.
1200F17 ^First of all it is essential that the parents realize and
1210F17 accept this as a period of restlessness and stress for the teenager. ^They
1220F17 can help by tolerating and accepting (not condescendingly, but with
1230F17 sincere understanding) his restlessness, discontent, and confusion.
1240F17 ^The acceptance should never be obviously condescending or sympathetic.
1250F17 ^The teenager doesn*'4t want sympathy that_ will assure him
1260F17 in his mind that something is wrong with him. *3^He needs quiet understanding,
1270F17 and acceptance to_ help him realize that his confused
1280F17 feelings, his pre-occupation with his own physical appearance, his desire
1290F17 to_ win popularity and recognition in his peer group, are all normal
1300F17 and a part of growing up.*0 $^This, however, does not mean that the
1310F17 parent*'s role is only to_ accept the teenager*'s confusion, stand
1320F17 by, and watch him grow. ^The parent has a much more active role
1330F17 to_ play in helping the youngster grow out of the confusion of the teenage
1340F17 years. ^Even when he acknowledges the experience of the teenager,
1350F17 when he listens with attention to what he has to_ say and when he
1360F17 treats him like an adult, the parent is helping him to_ learn the confidence
1370F17 and maturity to_ truly behave like an adult. $*<*3Decision-making*0*>
1380F17 $^The parent can also play an active and constructive role
1390F17 in helping the youngster in his decision-making. ^Teenagers with
1400F17 their limited experience may not be able to_ consider all the pros and
1410F17 cons of a decision. ^Rather than showing approval or disapproval after
1420F17 the teenager takes a decision, the parent could help out by listing
1430F17 all possible consequences, advantages and drawbacks of a decision
1440F17 with a non-judgmental attitude (as much as is practically possible!).
1450F17 ^In this way the parent manages to_ deal with the difficult decision
1460F17 without attacking the person, because the focus is on the condition
1470F17 that_ is to_ be dealt with. ^Disapproving criticism or ridicule,
1490F17 on the other hand, by doubting the soundness of the decision-maker*'s
1500F17 judgment, brings out feelings of inferiority in the teenager and
1510F17 hence rebellion. ^This wise parent knows how much more effective it
1520F17 is to_ word advice in terms of "If-then-" statements rather than
1530F17 "you should do this". ^The latter is most often met with rebellion.
1540F17 ^The former, besides objectively placing all the pros and cons before
1550F17 the teenage decision-maker, further teaches the youngster to_ himself
1560F17 adopt "If-then-" considerations in future decision making. $^Teenagers
1570F17 often express the feeling that adults set limits of behavior
1580F17 and norms of acceptable conduct, values and attitudes, in a very arbitrary
1590F17 manner, expecting the teenager to_ conform to these because of the
1600F17 adult*'s superior status. ^How does the adult convince the youngster
1610F17 that this is not so? ^Probably, explaining the reasons or grounds
1620F17 for the parent*'s expectations from the teenager would be the best way.
1630F17 ^Explaining (a) the reasons that_ are relevant in terms of future
1640F17 consequences for the teenager and (b) the reasons that_ relate to considerations
1650F17 of other people*'s needs and points of view would help the youngster
1660F17 realize that adult expections are not based on mere whims and
1670F17 fancies but are justifiable. $^The latter, in fact, points out another
1680F17 important aspect of the parent*'s role in guiding the teenager*'s
1690F17 development. ^The teenager has to_ be helped to_ respond sensitively
1700F17 to the needs of other persons. ^The youngster needs to_ develop
1710F17 the ability to_ put himself in the other person*'s shoes and realise
1720F17 that other people too have the right to their needs and expectations.
1730F17 ^Unless the teenager develops such sensitivity to others, he will
1740F17 not be able to_ break out of his preoccupation with himself and acquire
1750F17 the interpersonal sensitivity that_ is characteristic of a mature
1760F17 person. ^Encouraging the youngster to_ talk, debate and express himself
1770F17 on topics of interest may also help him to_ see that in every
1780F17 issue there are many points of view possible and each may have valid
1790F17 reasons in support of it. ^This too will probably help the teenager
1800F17 to_ keep an open mind, consider other points of views, and develop
1810F17 a sensitive awareness of the needs of other people like the parents
1820F17 and adults he comes in contact with. $^A teenager learns what he
1830F17 lives with and becomes what he experiences. ^Parents can help a teenager
1840F17 by seeing that he lives within an atmosphere of love, understanding,
1850F17 sincerity and respect for each other.*#
        **[no. of words = 02016**]

        **[txt. f18**]
0010F18 **<*3THE FAMILY IN CRISIS*0**> $^*Naseem, aged 2 years, set clutching
0020F18 her mother*'s *4sari as her pale and haggard-looking mother requested
0030F18 the Committee in a desperate tone for residential shelter at Bapnu
0040F18 Ghar for her children. ^Her son Salim aged 4 years, a silent forlorn
0050F18 looking child, sat next to her. ^Amidst tears, the mother explained
0060F18 that hers was a poor, but happy family until tragedy overtook
0070F18 them a year back throwing their lives in a chaotic condition. ^Her husband,
0080F18 a son of a poor farmer had migrated to the city for better prospects,
0090F18 and worked in a textile mill. ^They married, had two children
0100F18 and were living on a modest income in a small hut in the heart
0110F18 of the city. ^It was not much of a house, and there were no sanitary
0120F18 facilities; she had to_ queue for hours for storing water as there
0130F18 was one water tap in her slum locality; they were happy. ^Suddenly
0140F18 her husband was killed in an accident in the mill. ^Not being educated,
0150F18 she had to_ take up a domestic job in order to_ make both ends
0160F18 meet. ^Her health had never been good, and just before her husband
0170F18 died she found out, to her utter dismay, that she was suffering from
0180F18 \0T.B. and needed hospitalization. ^She had no one to_ turn to,
0190F18 and she was worried about the fate of her two children in case anything
0200F18 happened to her. $^One can well imagine this mother*'s agony of
0210F18 parting with her children and her sheer helplessness in her predicament,
0220F18 as also the children*'s feeling of acute insecurity at being separated
0230F18 from their parents and left all alone. ^This is the plight
0240F18 of thousands of urban children who are rendered helpless due to break-up
0250F18 in the nuclear family life for some reason or the other. $^In the
0260F18 early days, the joint family system provided a sanctuary to all its
0270F18 members-- the young, the old, widows, orphans, deserted women and
0280F18 the unemployed. ^Here children were neither deserted nor destitute.
0290F18 ^The death of parents or even strained relations between parents did
0300F18 not lead to any kind of physical, social or emotional insecurity as
0310F18 love and a sense of belonging was always there from the other members
0320F18 of the family. $*<*3The Inevitable Effects of Industrialization*0*>
0330F18 $^However, as in other parts of the world, industrialization
0340F18 and urbanization are bringing about great changes in traditional indian
0350F18 society. ^It is disrupting the even tenor of rural life, by the
0360F18 slow migration of the rural population to cities and towns and transforming
0370F18 the economic basis of family living, modifying the relationships
0380F18 both within and outside the family circle. ^Family ties specially
0390F18 in the cities are beginning to_ weaken, and the joint family system
0400F18 which used to_ take care of all contingencies has begun to_ disintegrate.
0410F18 ^In the industrial urban areas, a newly married couple
0420F18 often has to_ live on their own, away from their family and among neighbours
0430F18 who might be complete strangers. ^They are often thrown entirely
0440F18 upon their own resources-- material, social and psychological.
0450F18 ^Such social changes bring in their wake the need for some readjustments.
0460F18 ^The pressures on the newly developing family-- economic, environmental,
0470F18 social and emotional are so many today, that at times there
0480F18 is a breakdown, sometimes temporary, sometimes permanent, leading
0490F18 to broken homes. ^Death and disease take their toll leaving the children
0500F18 destitute-- creating the need for finding substitute care for them--
0510F18 as in the case of Naseem and Salim. ^One type of substitute
0520F18 care is Institutional Care. $^However, it is now being increasingly
0530F18 recongnised in India also that institutional life is not the best
0540F18 that_ can be offered to the child, as it gives the child no life,
0550F18 or better, gives him only a physical life without granting him the possibility
0560F18 of becoming a person, or acquiring the capacity of loving
0570F18 and being loved which is needed for the children, in their formative
0580F18 years of life, through the experience of durable and tender relationship
0590F18 with their parents. $*<*3Home the Best Place for Child*0*>
0600F18 $^It is being increasingly realized that the ideal place for growth
0610F18 of a child is the home and family. ^The home as the natural environment
0620F18 provides a protective and stimulating medium for the child*'s
0630F18 physical, mental and spiritual growth. ^Therefore when the sanctity
0640F18 of the home is disturbed or threatened and family relations are adversely
0650F18 affected, the real need is to_ develop services which preserve
0660F18 and strengthen the family-life through Adoption, Sponsorship,
0670F18 Foster Care \0etc. $^Here it would be worthwhile sharing the experiment
0680F18 in Foster Care conducted by the Foster Care Group under
0690F18 the auspices of the Maharashtra State women*'s Council. ^This service
0700F18 was started as one of the pilot projects in Bombay with the help
0710F18 of a grant from the Central Social Welfare Board and is now in
0720F18 its sixth year of service to the child and his family. $^Foster Care
0730F18 is non-institutional service which aims at providing temporary shelter
0740F18 to a child in a substitute family during a period of crisis due
0750F18 to disease, sickness, desertion, discord or death of one or both
0760F18 parents until his own family is helped to_ receive him back. \0^*Dr.
0770F18 Bannerji has rightly pointed out that "Foster Care of a child as
0780F18 an organized social service is young, but old in experience". ^With
0790F18 this in mind every effort has been made to_ integrate the best of
0800F18 Indian traditional family life with the scientific skills developed
0810F18 in the West in the task of placement and follow-up of the foster
0820F18 child and rehabilitation of the natural family. $*<*3Familial Kinship
0830F18 Feeling is Strong*0*> $^Though the joint family system is weakening in
0840F18 the cities due to pressure both from within and outside the family circle,
0850F18 the familial or kinship feeling is still strong, and relatives
0860F18 may want to_ help one another in times of crisis, but due to congested
0870F18 and overcrowding of housing conditions, economic and social stringency,
0880F18 they do not have the means to_ feed an extra mouth. ^In India
0890F18 47 per cent of its population, that_ is 280 million, exist below
0900F18 the poverty line, that_ is below \0Rs. 40 \0p.m. per head. ^With
0910F18 the country*'s present economic condition, a social assistance
0920F18 programme is difficult. ^In fact in India, the Foster Care Project
0930F18 is the first cash assistance programme in the field of social welfare,
0940F18 recognising the financial strain in child rearing. ^The Project
0950F18 contributes \0Rs. 50 \0p.m. for full Foster Family Care and
0960F18 \0Rs. 30\0 p.m. for Foster Family Day Care. ^This monetary contribution
0970F18 is not a dole; it is merely an extension of help in the time of
0980F18 need for a specific purpose. $^As this service has been only recently
0990F18 developed and that_ too only as a pilot project, very limited publicity
1000F18 has been done. ^Selection of foster parents has not been an
1010F18 easy task. ^However our experience has shown, that relatives, neighbours,
1020F18 and friends have been the best suited persons to_ become foster
1030F18 parents. ^It has provided the basis for maximum matching between
1040F18 the two families. ^The foster parents in our society being related
1050F18 to the natural parents in some way or the other feel a moral and emotional
1060F18 binding towards the foster child. ^It has been noted that such
1070F18 families are less likely to_ exploit the child or misuse the money
1080F18 given for his care. ^Moreover, the child feels less insecure and is
1090F18 able to_ adjust much more easily with people he is already aquainted
1100F18 with. $^Back to the case of Naseem and Salim, it was found that
1110F18 their paternal aunt, a young widow with no children and no independent
1120F18 means of her own, was to_ look after the children with the help
1130F18 of the contribution from the Foster Care Agency for the care of
1140F18 the children. ^Salim and Naseem flourished under the care and emotional
1150F18 security provided by the foster mother. ^The Foster Care placement
1160F18 has provided the parent figure for the children and has enabled
1170F18 the mother to_ go for treatment with a lighter heart, knowing that
1180F18 her children are well cared for. $*<*3Community Provides Care*0*> $^Another
1190F18 feature of the Indian society is that not only is there an
1200F18 emotional bond between relatives, but such a bond also develops between
1210F18 people living together in a neighbourhood even though they may
1220F18 belong to different castes, creeds, religious groups \0etc. ^A very
1230F18 touching case was witnessed where neighbours of a cosmopolitan community,
1240F18 spontaneously pooled their resources to_ help a family in their
1250F18 midst, which was on the brink of disaster due to disease and death
1260F18 of parents. ^In the heart of Bombay City, in a red light area, five
1270F18 little girls, the Patil sisters, who were all minors, ranging between
1280F18 the ages of 5 years and 13 years, became orphans when both parents
1290F18 died of \0T.B. in quick succession. ^On the mother*'s death
1300F18 in hospital there was a family medical check up, as a result of which
1310F18 it was found that the eldest and the youngest sisters had also contracted
1320F18 \0T.B. ^Necessary treatment was started. ^The medical social
1330F18 worker of a large municipal hospital then referred the case for Foster
1340F18 Care placement. ^The father used to_ make picture-frames but
1350F18 was an alcoholic. ^He had saved nothing and left the children with
1360F18 nothing but a bare room and debts. ^As no relatives came forward to_
1370F18 look after the girls, institutionalzation was contemplated. ^However,
1380F18 the eldest girl Sunita who was only 13 years old earnestly stated
1390F18 that they did not wish to_ be separated or instiutionalized as
1400F18 they had a room to_ live together. ^The other four frightened faces
1410F18 watched Sunita as she eagerly told the neighbours that she would leave
1420F18 school and take up a job to_ support her little sisters. ^Inspired
1430F18 by her courage, three sympathetic neighbouring families helped them
1440F18 with whatever they could. ^One of the neighbouring families agreed
1450F18 to_ become foster parents and 3 of the sisters were placed in Day
1460F18 Care with this family until the two sisters afflicted with \0T.B.
1470F18 were completely cured and the girls become old enough to_ look after
1480F18 themselves. $*<*3Loss of Mother*0*> $^Maternal health is an important
1490F18 aspect of child health. ^Inspite of the increasing medical facilities,
1500F18 child births are still taking place at home without any expert
1510F18 antenatal and postnatal help. ^There are still many unhealthy practices
1520F18 prevailing particularly among the uneducated mothers regarding
1530F18 child care. ^This results in complications in expectant mothers before
1540F18 or after confinement which sometimes necessitates hospitalization.
1550F18 ^Under the circumstances sudden separtation from the mother is
1560F18 a very traumatic experience specially for the pre-school age children
1570F18 who are not prepared for this break-up in family life. ^An even more
1580F18 serious problem arises when due to malnutrition in the mother, and
1590F18 multiple deliveries, death claims the life of mothers during the child
1600F18 birth. ^In such situations words can not do justice to_ describe
1610F18 the plight of these motherless infants and widowed fathers. ^It has
1620F18 been noticed that children deprived of the mother figure specially
1630F18 during the first three years of life can get emotionally withdrawn
1640F18 and isolated in the absence of a substitute mother figure. *^Foster
1650F18 Care for such children in substitute home care gives them a chance
1660F18 of developing a durable and tender relationship with the parental
1670F18 figure and thereby acquiring the capacity of loving and being loved.
1680F18 $^One such motherless infant was placed under Foster Care and we
1690F18 have watched her blooming into a happy, healthy child. $^At birth Bindu
1700F18 was a weak, shrivelled up looking baby, the fourth daughter to
1710F18 her parents. ^Her other three sisters were also very young as there
1720F18 was only a year*'s difference between each of them. ^The mother had
1730F18 been so undernourished, that with each successive delivery she became
1740F18 weaker till at Bindu*'s birth she collapsed. ^The grief-stricken
1750F18 father was at his wit*'s end as to how to_ look after his daughters
1760F18 particularly the young children and go to_ work. ^His mother-in-law
1770F18 was finally persuaded to_ look after the baby and the youngest child
1780F18 so as to_ give some relief to the father. ^However, seeing that
1790F18 the mother-in-law*'s hesitation in looking after the baby was her
1800F18 poor economic condition Bindu was placed on Foster Full Care with
1810F18 her and financial help was given to her for the care of the baby.*#
        **[no. of words = 02029**]

        **[txt. f19**]
0010F19 **<*3THE MENTALLY RETARDED ARE PEOPLE*0**> $^A seven-year boy, who is
0020F19 mentally handicapped, is brought to a Brussels-based para-medical centre.
0030F19 ^The boy is unable to_ move. ^Twelve months after treatment, he
0040F19 starts walking. ^After two years he is in school as a normal boy. ^Another
0050F19 youth of about 20 years is seen lying on a street of Bangalore.
0060F19 ^He is taken to a mental hospital. ^He lives in the hospital for three
0070F19 years and then sent to Asha Niketan, a home for mentally retarded.
0080F19 ^With the affection and care he receives in the Home, he has begun
0090F19 taking interest in gardening. $^These are not two solitary instances
0100F19 of mentally retarded being made useful in Brussels and Bangalore.
0110F19 ^This can be true of almost any case anywhere. ^Tragically enough about
0120F19 two per cent of almost any nation*'s population is mentally retarded,
0130F19 yet given a proper care and treatment majority of them would be fully
0140F19 or partially self-supporting and useful members of the society.
0150F19 ^Even for those who are severely retarded a limited amelioration can
0160F19 be provided. $*<*3The Known and Unknown Factors*0*> $^Causes of mental
0170F19 retardation are various, some known, others yet unknown. ^The most
0180F19 important cause is that the brain is not fully developed. ^The brain
0190F19 of the child might have been damaged because of the expectant mother*'s
0200F19 illness or because of nutritional deficiencies. ^Certain disease like
0210F19 severe dehydration may lead to retardation. ^Mothers having the tendency
0220F19 of mongolism tend to_ give birth to mentally retarded children
0230F19 after the age of 35 years. $^Mental retardation can be prevented with
0240F19 proper antenatal and postnatal care. ^And despite such preventive care,
0250F19 if the child is mentally handicapped or shows signs of it, it is necessary
0260F19 to_ give him medical or para-medical treatment as early as possible.
0270F19 ^Some medicines have been found to_ be useful in the treatment
0280F19 of mental retardation. ^A study recently undertaken by doctors at the
0290F19 Voluntary Health Services Medical Centre in Madras has revealed
0300F19 that the herb *8Centella Asiatics*9 is effective in the treatment
0310F19 of retarded children. ^The herb has been found producing a significant
0320F19 intellectual improvement and behavioural change in the children.
0330F19 ^Children who were very shy, withdrawn, restless and fidgety became expressive,
0340F19 communicative and co-operative after administration for some
0350F19 time of the drug. ^Their power of concentration and attention also increased.
0360F19 $*<*3Centres of treatment*0*> $^It is obvious that a specially
0370F19 trained cadre of personnel and facilities are needed to_ rehabilitate
0380F19 the mentally retarded children. ^Yet a bit of social care like teaching
0390F19 the child to_ move his limbs, pick up an article in his hands
0400F19 and other methods of "self-help" can lead to quick response in the child.
0410F19 ^This consideration has led people in advanced countries to_ give
0420F19 adequate attention to the welfare of the mentally retarded children.
0430F19 ^The United Nations has adopted a charter of the rights of the mentally
0440F19 retarded. ^In India homes for mentally retarded in Bangalore,
0450F19 Madras and Calcutta are rendering yeoman*'s service. ^*Asha Niketan
0460F19 of Bangalore has been recognized by the Indian Telephones Industry,
0470F19 Bharat Electronics and some other factories as an ancillary centre.
0480F19 ^*Alakendu Bodh Niketan of Calcutta has worked out a unique scheme
0490F19 for mentally retarded persons to_ help other mentally retardeds. ^A
0500F19 Centre for the treatment, training and management of mentally retarded
0510F19 children has been very recently established in the Psychiatric
0520F19 Department of Lucknow*'s King George*'s Medical College. ^The
0530F19 centre will have 30 beds and will provide treatment facilities including
0540F19 psychotherapy, play therapy, group therapy, behaviour therapy and
0550F19 drug therapy. ^Arrangements have been made to_ tailor the treatment
0560F19 and training programme according to the individual needs of each child.
0570F19 $^The Indian Federation of the Welfare of the Mentally Retarded
0580F19 has been allotted a two-acre plot in Hauz Khas, New Delhi to_
0590F19 build a "Dream Project", which after completion, will house at least
0600F19 40 severe cases and act as a hostel for many more. ^The Delhi Society
0610F19 for the Welfare of Mentally Retarded Children has been running
0620F19 a day training centre in Okhla since 1970 for 110 retarded children.
0630F19 ^It is now opening a pre-vocational school there. ^Certain small
0640F19 industrial units in Okhla industrial area are prepared to_ provide
0650F19 the mentally retarded with jobs provided they are taught some skills.
0660F19 ^Ultimately the proposed pre-vocational unit may be expanded to_ include
0670F19 a vocational centre and a sheltered workshop. ^An agricultural and
0680F19 poultry farm, an intensive care and therapy unit and a residential wing
0690F19 for about 25 children are planned for future. ^The Balwantray Mehta
0700F19 School, Lajpat Nagar, New Delhi has mentally retarded children
0710F19 in its roll, besides normal children. ^The School takes in mentally
0720F19 retarded children whose \0IQ ranges between 60 and 90. ^After these
0730F19 children attain certain level of proficiency, they are shifted from
0740F19 special section to the class of normal students. ^Recently Lions
0750F19 Club, Delhi (midtown) has donated an audiometric room to the school.
0760F19 ^This sound-proof room will house sophisticated machinery to_ be used for
0770F19 teaching these children speak earlier. $*<*3Denying Human Rights*0*>
0780F19 $^But these cases in the vast desert should not make us complacent.
0790F19 ^As compared to services available in some other countries our services
0800F19 are far from satisfactory. ^No survey has been done in India so
0810F19 far in regard to the mentally retarded. ^No statistics exists on the
0820F19 probable percentage of retardation, its main causes, the number of such
0830F19 children in schools or even the number who has been rehabilitated (A
0840F19 recent study in Lucknow shows that 2.3 per cent children are mentally
0850F19 handicapped). ^No special wards exist for the mentally retarded in the
0860F19 few children hospitals in the country. ^Even after detecting a case
0870F19 there is no agency to_ take the child for proper care. ^As a result,
0880F19 he has to_ be left to the care of parents. ^Left in the family these
0890F19 children suffer either total rejection or too much of love. ^The few
0900F19 institutions that_ exist are not properly staffed. ^What is worse,
0910F19 the mentally retarded in India are still governed by an outdated piece
0920F19 of legislation \0viz., the Lunacy Act, 1912. ^Under the operation
0930F19 of the Act, they are deprived of even basic human rights as the
0940F19 right to_ own property, operate a bank account, buy life insurance and
0950F19 so on. $^The situation must be remedied sooner than later. ^Developing
0960F19 countries more often than not tend to_ ignore such tasks as the rehabilitation
0970F19 of their handicapped people either because of financial stringency
0980F19 or lack of data or procedure for dealing systematically with the
0990F19 problem. ^In the case of mentally retarded this problem is compounded
1000F19 by the fact that their disability, unlike that_ of physically handicapped,
1010F19 is not easily identifiable. ^A team of doctors and experts is
1020F19 needed to_ evaluate each child. ^Therefore the first task before us
1030F19 is the promotion of an awareness of the precise dimension of the problem
1040F19 and making some sort of extensive survey of its incidence. ^Observance
1050F19 of the "Day for the Mentally Retarded" marks a welcome initiative
1060F19 to_ focus public attention and create a national consciousness
1070F19 on a much neglected but very important problem. ^Arrangements for proper
1080F19 training of workers should be made. ^Special centres, hospital wards
1090F19 and sheltered workshops should be set up throughout the country
1100F19 for the care, treatment, training and ultimate rehabilitation of those
1110F19 unfortunate children, who can be, God forbid, mine or yours, born
1120F19 congenitally deficient in their abilities. ^This worthy task deserves
1130F19 full financial, material and moral support of the Government, other
1140F19 public agencies like corporations, schools, hospitals, voluntary
1150F19 organisations, teachers, doctors, psychiatrists, trained social workers
1160F19 and indeed, the public. $^To_ conclude, children, born with subnormal
1170F19 mental faculties are, no doubt, handicapped for leading a full life
1180F19 if left to themselves; but on this account they should not be considered
1190F19 as society*'s drag. ^Just because, their brain has been damaged,
1200F19 they do not cease to_ be people. ^They are different from those who
1210F19 are suffering from mental illness. ^The latter are like people who start
1220F19 with adequate capital and lose it on the way and the former who start
1230F19 with inadequate capital and given some help and guidance they will
1240F19 succeed in the business of life. ^Experience has proved that well-treated
1250F19 and educated mentally retarded are pleasant and useful people
1260F19 to_ have around. $**<*3Vocational Rehabilitation of the Retarded*0**>
1270F19 $^Care of the retarded people forms an integral part of the total health
1280F19 care services obtaining in a community. ^Exploration of interest
1290F19 is an important part of the assessment and guidance programme. ^Constant
1300F19 revaluation along with adequate growth stimulating and effective
1310F19 training programmes will positively help the mentally handicapped child.
1320F19 ^Training should start from the earliest moment of diagnosis of
1330F19 mental retardation. ^A thorough investigation at this earliest stage
1340F19 would help in outlining the "inputs" to_ be adopted for the parent-child
1350F19 relationship that_ is to_ follow. ^This would help in deciding the
1360F19 course of vocational training and placement requirements of the child
1370F19 at later stage. ^Efforts should not be made only to_ impart formal
1380F19 education to the mentally handicapped as this will not substantially
1390F19 help to_ equip them for the pre-vocational and vocational training.
1400F19 $*<*3In Open Employment*0*> $^The society for the Vocational Rehabilitation
1410F19 of Retarded has now provided a decade of service to the city of
1420F19 Bombay. ^Starting with a small experimental activity by training a
1430F19 handful of adult boys it made an attempt to_ provide them the necessary
1440F19 training and then experimented by putting them in open employment. ^This
1450F19 experiment proved successful initially and this gave confidence to
1460F19 some social workers who are behind this institution. ^This attempt was,
1470F19 therefore, given a greater momentum and the activity started with
1480F19 greater zeal with 10 trainees by placing them in hardly two or three crafts
1490F19 at the premises hired by the organisation near the Congress House
1500F19 at Bombay. $^Once tempo picked up the Bombay Municipal Corporation
1510F19 offered for the Institution premises where presently 50 boys are
1520F19 receiving training in five or six different crafts such as cane work,
1530F19 tailoring, carpentry, card board work and paper articles, weaving,
1540F19 plastic moulding and kitchen training. $^Though the ultimate objective
1550F19 of the organisation is to_ rehabilitate the mentally handicapped,
1560F19 this could be achieved only by moulding the activities of the organisation
1570F19 in the form of education and training. ^The first step is to_
1580F19 provide training in suitable crafts for a period of about two years.
1590F19 ^This is now done more or less on a regular basis by giving training
1600F19 to 50 adults in the crafts mentioned above. $^A growing awareness is
1610F19 developing amongst the public as well as the Government on the need to_
1620F19 rehabilitate this weaker section. ^The public as well as employers
1630F19 should be educated on the fact that there are degrees of retardation.
1640F19 ^Of an estimated 20 million of the mentally handicapped, hardly 10%
1650F19 are severely retarded and in need of custodial care. ^The rest have the
1660F19 potential to_ undertake routine and repetitive jobs and can be rehabilitated
1670F19 in either open employment or a sheltered workshop. ^They are
1680F19 capable of productive work if proper training is given. ^To_ keep them
1690F19 nonproductive is a waste of national manpower. $*<*3Need for Employers*'
1700F19 Co-operation*0*> $^At present we have hardly four or five workshops
1710F19 in India which provide vocational training to them, and almost all
1720F19 of them have developed within the last decade. ^There should be many
1730F19 more such workshops not only in large cities but all over India which could
1740F19 provide vocational training not only in various crafts but in trades
1750F19 and in simple routine type sub-contract work, which is available in local
1760F19 industries. ^This training need not be identical in all the workshops,
1770F19 but should function in co-ordination with the industries of that_
1780F19 area so that the handicapped trained there have a good opportunity
1790F19 to_ gain employment as well as sub-contract work in the sheltered workshops.
1800F19 ^However, such schemes can be implemented only if employers take a
1810F19 positive interest and consider the employment of the mentally handicapped
1820F19 as of prime importance, not merely as an act of charity, but to_
1830F19 develop the potential ability of the mentally handicapped for constructive
1840F19 and productive purposes and for providing them with equal opportunities
1850F19 for development, thus raising their self-esteem.*#
        **[no. of words = 02006**]

        **[txt. f20**]
0010F20 **<*3NUTRITION EDUCATION SOME EXPERIENCES*0**> $^The plight of infants
0020F20 and children has only been recently recognised and made a matter of
0030F20 serious enquiry. ^Problems of nutrition in young children. ^Numerically
0040F20 (2 to 3% of Indian pre-school children are estimated to_ suffer
0050F20 from severe clinical protein-energy malnutrition), economically and
0060F20 socially malnutrition not only causes sickness, misery and death but
0070F20 also results in population that_ may be irreversibly damaged physically,
0080F20 mentally and psychologically. ^All over the world mounting concern
0090F20 has been felt for need to_ develop effective economical and acceptable
0100F20 action programme to_ deal with the problem of malnutrition
0110F20 in early childhood. ^This is manifested on the international scene by
0120F20 the titles of recent conferences on nutrition: "Meeting Protein
0130F20 Requirements" in Washington 1960, "How to_ Reach Pre-School
0140F20 Child", in Italy 1963, "Major Deterrents to Progess" in Washington
0150F20 1964, and "Administrative Problems in Programmes to_ Protect
0160F20 Pre-School Children" in Hamburg 1966. ^The evidences collected
0170F20 during these deliberations point out towards permanent physical impairment
0180F20 due to early malnutrition. ^In addition findings obtained indicate
0190F20 that retardation of mental development of the young child leading
0200F20 to irreversible damage of brain tissues can also result. ^All these
0210F20 have serious implications for the future manpower planning and economic
0220F20 development. $^On the national scence, ours is a country characterised
0230F20 by contrasts. ^This is evident in almost all areas of life. ^On
0240F20 the one hand, we are achieving marvellous feats in nuclear science,
0250F20 building technology and acquiring wealth, on the other, bullock carts,
0260F20 dilapidated huts on the city pavments and stark poverty are not uncommon
0270F20 sights. ^The contrast assumes far reaching implications when
0280F20 it is found to_ exist in the pattern of health care of children amongst
0290F20 different sections of the population. ^The Government both at the
0300F20 National and state levels are doing all they can to_ provide minimum
0310F20 requirements to every section with particular emphasis on the economically
0320F20 deprived section. ^This is a most welcome step. ^Our problems
0330F20 get compounded by the fact that we are a poor country where
0340F20 over 50% of the population live below poverty line, 73% are illiterate
0350F20 and 80% do not have medical facilities. ^In order to_ provide services
0360F20 many programmes have been instituted for care of infants and children.
0370F20 ^Every attempt is being made to_ reach each child so that he/
0380F20 she does not become victim of malnutrition, cultural deprivation and
0390F20 neglect. ^An attempt is made here to_ describe some of the experiences
0400F20 of conducting a programme for nutrition education to partents (mainly
0410F20 mothers) which is an integral part of our infant care and pre-school
0420F20 programme. ^The programme is being conducted by the Indian Council
0430F20 of Social Welfare, Gujarat State Branch. ^This programme
0440F20 is mainly for the benefit of children from lower socio-economic group.
0450F20 ^Parents*' education on various areas of child care and development
0460F20 is an integral part of the total programme. ^An attempt is made here
0470F20 to_ describe the prevailing attitudes towards nutrition and how education
0480F20 has been imparted. ^It is an attempt at compilation of anecdotal
0490F20 experiences and does not claim to_ emanate from a controlled research
0500F20 study. ^In fact these experiences are shared in order to_ exchange
0510F20 notes with fellow workers from other places. ^This ultimately might
0520F20 result in a guideline for dissemination of information on such a
0530F20 vital matter as nutritional needs of infants and children. ^The following
0540F20 points have emerged as being significant in terms of prevailing attitudes
0550F20 and state of affairs. $*<*3Wide Gap of Knowledge*0*> $^One
0560F20 is astounded by the wide gap of knowledge on child care, child rearing,
0570F20 nutritional needs of children that_ exists between the educated
0580F20 middle class and the uneducated. ^Although there is nation-wide concern
0590F20 for the proper growth and development of children this is not
0600F20 observed in these families. ^This is understandable in view of the fact
0610F20 that still majority of the children, particualarly those born after
0620F20 the second child are not by choice. ^Here one is impressed by the ignorance
0630F20 of ladies about family planning measures which is hardly discussed
0640F20 between the husband and wife. ^In terms of priority for allocation
0650F20 of family budget, child care and his needs are subordinated to
0660F20 the needs of other earning members of the family. ^It is not a rare
0670F20 instance to_ see families spending thousands of rupees, incurring
0680F20 heavy debts, on death ceremonies. ^The same family hesitates to_ spend
0690F20 on vital medicines and other requirements for the child. $^There
0700F20 is lack of knowledge regarding the various ingredients \0e.g. Carbohydrates,
0710F20 protein, vitamins, minerals \0etc. of food and what is a balanced
0720F20 food ^The belief that "good food is costly food" widely prevails.
0730F20 ^No attempt is made to_ consult the available community resources
0740F20 to_ enrich the quality of health care. $*<*3Misconceptions Galore*0*>
0750F20 $^There are lots of misconceptions regarding breast feeding. ^It
0760F20 is hardly recognised that breast feeding has to_ be supplemented
0770F20 by additional food right from the 5-6 months of child*'s age and
0780F20 that this is the best avaiable food. ^Moreover its quantity and quality
0790F20 depend upon the mother*'s intake of nutritious food. $^Majority believe
0800F20 in superstition, are conservative, and have pessimistic and to a
0810F20 certain extent fatalistic attitude towards life events. ^They present
0820F20 a picture of helplessness and do not have anything to_ look forward
0830F20 to. ^The available knowledge is still to_ make an impact on
0840F20 their lives. ^All these result in their being very rigid and not easily
0850F20 amenable to change. ^One of the examples would illustrate this.
0860F20 ^One pediatrician \0Dr. (\0Mrs)
0870F20 Kokilaben Papadia, a very enthusiastic and devoted person always
0880F20 suggests that banana can be introduced as a supplementary food for children
0890F20 at a very early age. ^Mothers have time and again clarified this
0900F20 point with her and sought to_ know if it can cause cold, constipation
0910F20 and other minor ailments. ^After a few weeks when I talk to them
0920F20 on this point it is found that they have not introduced banana and
0930F20 that_ too not because of economic reasons but because they continued to_
0940F20 hold the same view that it might harm. $^There are many points other than
0950F20 those described above. ^It is not possible to_ list them all for paucity
0960F20 of space. ^The important question is where do we go from here?
0970F20 ^How these families can be reached? ^How they can be helped to_ changed
0980F20 their wrong attitudes? ^How the available information can be disseminated?
0990F20 ^And how knowledge made through painstaking researches be utilised?
1000F20 ^We are trying to_ work in this direction at our Centre over
1010F20 years and would like to_ share some of our experiences. $^It has been
1020F20 observed that to_ bring about change in food habits and increase
1030F20 nutritional value of food is a difficult and time-consuming task. ^Even
1040F20 if the mother is ready to_ change other members particularily the
1050F20 older generation do not cooperate. ^It becomes easier when the entire
1060F20 family is involved. $^Reachability of the family depends upon the
1070F20 age of the mother, number of children and educational standard of
1080F20 the family. ^The young and somewhat educated mothers have been found
1090F20 to_ be more amenable to_ use the information than the old. $^Mere
1100F20 listening to lectures does not help much. ^Its effectiveness can be
1110F20 increased if the information is disseminated using cues available in
1120F20 real life situation from these families. ^Mother*'s participation i
1130F20 in discussion and freedom to_ clarify doubts have been found to_ enhance
1140F20 the value of the lecture. $^Pictorial and graphic presentation
1150F20 helps them comprehend the information more concretely. ^Depiction
1160F20 of contrasts to_ illustrate the outcome of implementing suggestion
1170F20 helps. ^Booklets such as the one published on "Nutrition Education
1180F20 in Child Feeding Programme" by the Office of Nutrition, Technical
1190F20 Assistance Bureau Agency for International Development, \0USA
1200F20 can, with certain modifications, be used to_ conduct regular courses
1210F20 for mothers. $^There is need for preparing audio-visual materials
1220F20 so that education can be imparted. ^Community exhibitions right in
1230F20 the community have been found to_ be good media. ^This enables everybody
1240F20 in the community to_ take advantage of it and does not involve
1250F20 much time and money. $*<*3Building up Personal Relations*> $^
1260F20 building personal relationship is an important aspect through which
1270F20 the aim is easily achieved. ^Most of our mothers have need to_ share
1280F20 and relate. ^They come to their natural self once the phase of suspicion
1290F20 is over. ^Then only trust and confidence start. ^After this phase
1300F20 only any meaningful inroad can be made. ^One has to_ be patient and
1310F20 understanding to_ make the programme effective. ^In conclusion we
1320F20 can say that the available knowledge has been able to_ delineate the
1330F20 climical picture, the bio-chemistry, the causes, and treatment of malnutrition
1340F20 in early childhood. ^Magnitude of the problem and its gravity
1350F20 as a prime deterrent to progress have also been realised and emphasised.
1360F20 ^The challenge is how to_ make the benfits of modern scientific
1370F20 knowledge available simply, economically, effectively to families
1380F20 to_ enable them improve their standard of health care. ^We need
1390F20 to_ advise and motivate parents to_ improve the nutrition of their
1400F20 children. ^The task requires coordinated efforts, practical and tactful
1410F20 adaptation with the ultimate aim always being to_ secure the
1420F20 maximum return in human welfare from minimum expenditure in money and
1430F20 trained personnel. ^We have shared one such experience and hope it
1440F20 is of value. $**<RELIEF FOR DISASTER VICTIMS**> $^The functioning
1450F20 of society is from time to time disturbed by such occurrences as pestilence,
1460F20 floods, fires, famines, storms, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions,
1470F20 \0etc. ^All on a sudden a number of persons are plunged into helplessness
1480F20 and suffering needing food, clothing, shelter, medical care and
1490F20 other basic necessities of life. ^Disasters also lead to many social
1500F20 and psychological repercussions. $^Disasters, whatever their nature
1510F20 disturb the established social organisation abruptly. ^In the ancient
1520F20 and medieval India, the king was expected to_ protect his kingdom
1530F20 from any disaster that_ might affect his people. ^He could often
1540F20 seek the help of the friendly neighbouring kingdoms or even migrate
1550F20 temporarily with his subjects. ^Village heads and leaders were assigned
1560F20 duties regarding the prevention as well as relief of disasters
1570F20 like fire accidents and floods. ^The villagers were expected to_ store
1580F20 at least a minimum amount of water, ladder \0etc. ready for use
1590F20 in accidents like fire and they were to_ rescue victims of disasters.
1600F20 ^Negligence of such duties was punishable. ^*Kautilya*'s *3Arthasastra
1610F20 refers to eight kinds of disasters and according to the climate
1620F20 of the times, such remedies as offering to Gods, use of magic and
1630F20 chanting of *4Mantras. $^Flood havocs often cause more damage to property
1640F20 than to life as the water level can often be seen rising and life
1650F20 can be protected. ^Similarly cyclones result in a lot of crop damage
1660F20 and various types of property damage. ^But a sudden onslaught of
1670F20 flood caused by tidal wave from one side and the cyclonic disturbances
1680F20 from the other side, as it happened in the recent disaster on Divi
1690F20 Taluk, Krishna district, Andhra Pradesh in November 1977 results
1700F20 in heavy losses both to life and property. $^Disaster relief normally
1710F20 undertaken in India in such calamaties can be summarised as follows:
1720F20 $1. ^Making food grains available free or at concessional rates.
1730F20 $2. ^Distributing clothing, blankets \0etc. $3. ^Providing medical
1740F20 relief (both curative and preventive.) $4. ^Sanctioning of cash
1750F20 doles for various purposes. $5. ^Releasing of free seeds and fodder.
1760F20 $6. ^Sanctioning of distress loans and waiving the taxes. $7. ^Taking
1770F20 care of the children through all kinds of relief measures. $^In this particular
1780F20 Divi disaster, many people were sheltered in temporary camps
1790F20 organised by the Government. ^It is from here that they saw the impact
1800F20 of their losses and passed through the initial stages of crisis.
1810F20 $^The type of dwelling unit, the number of inhabitants, the degree
1820F20 of organisation in the camp life and the extent of personal damage have
1830F20 considerable influence on the atmosphere of a camp, however temporary
1840F20 it may be. ^But the moral and mental health of its inhabitants depends
1850F20 on two more factors: namely on whether the victim expects soon
1860F20 to_ find a way again to_ rehabilitate himself and on the atmosphere
1870F20 generated by the organisations. ^If a human atmosphere prevails
1880F20 in these camps, the occupants do not sink into bitterness and apathy.
1890F20 $^In every camp, as in every society, there are difficult and also
1900F20 antisocial elements.*#
        **[no. of words = 02017**]

        **[txt. f21**]
0010F21 **<*3THE CENTRAL SOCIAL WELFARE BOARD PROMISE AND PERFORMANCE*0**> $^Among
0020F21 the many innovative organisations created in India after Independence,
0030F21 the Central Social Welfare Board (\0CSWB) is outstanding
0040F21 for some good reasons. ^When I wrote a monograph on it in its early
0050F21 years (1961), I had described it as "A New Experiment in Welfare
0060F21 Administration". ^After 25 years of existence, the organisation is
0070F21 no longer new in age but the question can still be asked: 'What happened
0080F21 to its innovative features and/ or functions?' ^What happened to the
0090F21 that_ 'experiment' after a quarter of a century? ^If there were any assumptions
0100F21 at the start of the experiment, have they found to_ be valid?
0200F21 ^If there were any promises implicit in it, to what extent have they
0300F21 been fulfilled or belied? $*<*3Countrywide Network*> $^The following
0400F21 four points are taken to_ provide a basis to_ judge the performance
0500F21 of the \0C.S.W.B. $1.^One of the paramount objectives of the
0600F21 \0CSWB and its countrywide network was to_ foster voluntary (non-governmental)
0700F21 effort in social welfare in keeping with the Indian tradition
0800F21 and to_ supplement the State effort which were expected to_
0900F21 remain limited for quite some time to_ come. $2. ^This was intended to_
0110F21 be carried out not through a conventional or routine departmental
0120F21 structure but by a new innovative body with composite membership comprising
0130F21 largely non-official women social workers and a few ex-officio representatives
0140F21 of the concerned government departments. $3. ^Another equally
0150F21 important objective of \0CSWB was to_ identify the gaps in welfare
0160F21 services and programmes and to_ sponsor and support the development
0170F21 of suitable services. $4. ^The \0CSWB was also expected to_ improve
0180F21 and expand the delivery of social welfare services so as to_
0190F21 meet the chronic and the emerging welfare needs and problems on a planned
0200F21 and sustained basis as an integral part of the national development.
0210F21 $*3Founder-builder:^The one single person more than any other
0220F21 who had envisaged this very special composition and role of the \0CSWB
0230F21 was its founder-chairman, \0*4Smt. Durgabai Deshmukh. ^She placed
0240F21 social welfare on the developmental map of India and did so with
0250F21 a bang. ^Like Martin Luther King she had a dream and we are fortunate
0260F21 that unlike him we still have her in our midst long enough to_
0270F21 see her dream realized in good measure. ^She herself worked tirelessly
0280F21 to_ convert that_ dream into a living reality. ^She has been as much
0290F21 dynamic and creative outside of office as she was in it, perhaps
0300F21 more. $*<*3The 'Atlas' of Welfare*> $^The key question is whether
0310F21 \0CSWBs support has 'strengthened' voluntary effort. ^We could examine
0320F21 this aspect in several ways. ^If it is to_ be judged on the basis
0330F21 of the number of organisations which have come into existence directly
0340F21 or mainly as a result of \0CSWBs support and which continue
0350F21 to_ serve largely with \0CSWBs aid, the answer is positive. ^The
0360F21 rise in the number of one-year grants from 620 in the first year (1953-54)
0370F21 of its existence to nearly 4000 by the year 1976-77 is a great achievement.
0380F21 $^More than this numerical increase there is a wider perspective,
0390F21 a macro frame of reference, within which even small, local organisations
0400F21 have begun to_ see the significance of their role. ^Their feeling
0410F21 of being on the all-India social welfare map and being one of
0420F21 many similar agencies, all working towards a common cause, or trying
0430F21 collectively to_ cope with a total national need or problem is great.
0440F21 ^Such confidence and perspective have arisen from,
0450F21 and have found encouragement in the presence of \0CSWB
0460F21 as the big and strong 'Atlas', as it were, who carries the
0470F21 entire social welfare world on its shoulders. $*<*3Accountability*>
0480F21 $^There is another impact on the internal working of institutions.
0490F21 ^First, the voluntary agencies have become programme-minded insofar as
0500F21 they have diversified their activities in a planned manner. ^The conventional
0510F21 style of ad-hocism has gradually but perceptibly waned. ^This
0520F21 again is largely the result of the purposes for which Board*'s grants
0530F21 are available. ^Much is heard about the irksome procedures of \0CSWBs
0540F21 grants which have been reviewed more than once and decentralized
0550F21 with a view to making application easy, processing short and release
0560F21 speedy. ^Some difficulties and delays apparently still remain. ^This
0570F21 is partly due to the fact that formerly when voluntary agencies collected
0580F21 funds directly from the community, they did so on implicit trust
0590F21 in social workers and faith in their character and integrity. ^Hence
0600F21 no accounts were expected by private individual donors and few organisations
0610F21 kept and published their accounts. ^But when a public body
0620F21 like the \0CSWB grants funds which come 100% from the government
0630F21 exchequer, the accountability to public authority is complete and strict.
0640F21 ^It is not related to the quantum of aid. ^The degree of accountability
0650F21 and the strictness of the conditions enjoined upon the aided agencies
0660F21 are the same regardless of whether the amount is \0Rs. 5000 or \0Rs
0670F21 50,000. ^These and such other conditions have influenced non-official
0680F21 aided agencies from improving their financial and administrative working.
0690F21 $*<*3Self-reliance \0vs. Dependence*> $^But there are the larger
0700F21 questions about whether voluntary sector, collectively or individually (unit-wise),
0710F21 has become stronger, self-reliant, modern, efficient, united,
0720F21 independent and articulate. ^The answer cannot be wholly in the affirmative.
0730F21 ^There is an impression that voluntary welfare agencies have in recent
0740F21 years become more dependent on the government (\0i.e. mainly on
0750F21 \0CSWB) not only in respect of resources for development of their
0760F21 programmes but also for their maintenance. ^In fact, according to one
0770F21 view the seemingly huge sum of \0*4Rs. 45 *4cores pumped in as grants-in-aid
0780F21 by the \0CSWB into voluntary organisations is more likely
0790F21 to_ have been absorbed largely in mere maintenance for the simple
0800F21 reason that these *4crores were spread over 25 years and shared by
0810F21 more than 10,000 organisations. ^Thus, while there is indication of proliferation
0820F21 of voluntary agencies there is little substantial evidence
0830F21 of superior qualitative development among them. $*<*3Regional Imbalance*>
0840F21 $^There are two other aspects of voluntary welfare services
0850F21 on which \0CSWBs impact was expected but did not materialise either
0860F21 sufficiently or effectively. ^The first is the balanced regional development
0870F21 of voluntary services. ^The Board*'s grants-in-aid programme
0880F21 has been mostly aimed at the existing institutions or new institutions
0890F21 which came into existence on their own steam, as it were. ^This resulted
0900F21 in the already advanced and active States going further ahead in
0910F21 voluntary services. ^The rural areas in all States and such States
0920F21 as did not have strong and active voluntary agencies in sizeable numbers
0930F21 continued to_ lag behind. ^In other words, the existing disparties
0940F21 in the nature and extent of voluntary effort only widened under \0CSWBs
0950F21 influence-- at least they did not narrow down significantly.
0960F21 ^The programme which the \0CSWB sponsored and implemented through
0970F21 aided non-official committees, as in Welfare Extention Projects, did
0980F21 not appreciably remedy this regional imbalance in voluntary network
0990F21 because the non-official committees did not, as a rule, grow into authentic
1000F21 full-fledged voluntary organisations.le*<*3Affinity and Influence*>
1010F21 $^The regulatory and co-ordinating influence of \0CSWB
1020F21 on the voluntary sector did not go beyond the terms and conditions attached
1030F21 to the grants. ^This has partly to_ do with the status and image
1040F21 of the Board. ^It was conceived as *3of the government (with 100%
1050F21 funds drawn from the national exchequer) but not *3in it. ^The presence
1060F21 of a large number of non-official women social workers as members
1070F21 and chairpersons should have created for the Board greater affinity
1080F21 with voluntary agencies. ^Although this was so in the beginning gradually
1090F21 the non-officials in the Board*'s system were 'infected with
1100F21 the bug of officialdom' as it were. ^This decreased their affinity,
1120F21 if not their influence. $^It is not that a non-official social worker
1130F21 always remains a non-official social worker, no matter what position
1140F21 he or she occupies or regardless of the role modification and change
1150F21 of setting. ^A non-official functionary from the other side of a public
1160F21 counter becomes a part of the system and his or her behaviour is conditioned
1170F21 by it-- no matter what his or her own predilection might have
1180F21 been originally. ^This leads to the discussion of the next big innovative
1190F21 feature of the \0CSWB namely an autonomous body with mixed
1200F21 composition of membership $*<*3Innovative Structure*> $^Even as the
1210F21 mission assigned to \0CSWB was new, so was its composition. ^It took
1220F21 some vision and lot of courage to_ depart from the departmental structure
1230F21 to_ promote and foster a variety of old and new social welfare
1240F21 programme. ^The founder-chairman \0*4Smt. Durgabai Deshmukh is undoubtedly
1250F21 an uncoventional person and in almost every institution she has
1260F21 established, she has 'broken the mould'. ^But it must also be said that
1270F21 the innovative mechanism of \0CSWB and its counterpart in the States
1280F21 became acceptable to orthodox ministers and diehard bureaucrats
1290F21 because Prime Minister Nehru backed up the proposal strongly. ^He took
1300F21 it upon himself to_ write a letter to all Chief Ministers of States
1310F21 vigorously canvassing the idea. ^He even answered the criticism
1320F21 levelled against \0CSWB as an example of Union domination over the
1330F21 States. ^*Nehru*'s advocacy was so pithy and telling that it is worth
1340F21 reproducing his oft-quoted paragraph: $"^This attempt that_ we are
1350F21 making to_ encourage social welfare activities is, in a sense, rather
1360F21 unique. ^It is not some Central Authority that_ is doing it all by
1370F21 itself, nor does the burden of this fall on the local social welfare
1380F21 organisations. ^It is a certain combination of the two, where the Central
1390F21 Board comes in as a helper and adviser and at the same time the local
1400F21 welfare organisations, who are best suited for it, undertake the
1410F21 work. ^In this way, we can utilise the energy, enthusiasm and initiative
1420F21 of vast numbers of persons, all over the country." $^To_ begin
1430F21 with, the \0CSWB had all these innovative features. ^It was largely
1440F21 autonomous, it was free from the tangles of red tape. ^It had the will
1450F21 and the initiative to_ experiment. ^The countrywide expansion of its
1460F21 own network was speedy to a fault. ^It dotted the national map with
1470F21 welfare projects with the speed of a cinematic docuicntary. ^Its non-official
1480F21 members-- some of them with one foot in a voluntary agency of
1490F21 their own-- were still essentially social workers engaged in the task of
1500F21 mutual aid, that_ is channelling government grants towards them. $*<*3Novelty
1510F21 Dims*> $^As it appears not long thereafter things began to_
1520F21 change. ^First the Board*'s status was questioned. ^It was discovered
1530F21 that it lacked a juridical personality. ^In the process of rectifying
1540F21 a legal flaw, autonomy of \0CSWB was very considerably eroded.
1550F21 ^It came to_ be treated virtually as a subordinate office. ^The
1560F21 initial flexibility gradually gave place to heaps of elaborate rules
1570F21 and regulations. ^The State governments developed their own ideas of
1580F21 the State Board*'s relationship with the \0CSWB on the one hand
1590F21 and with themselves on the other. ^Questions arose as to the precise
1600F21 demarcation between the relative roles of the \0CSWB network and
1610F21 the Departments of Social Welfare in the Union and State governments.
1620F21 $*<*3Mismatched Status*> $^The \0CSWB was not comparable
1630F21 to national coordinating voluntary organisations and therefore could
1640F21 not be classified with bodies like the Indian Council of Social
1650F21 Welfare, Indian Council for Child Welfare or All India Women*'s
1660F21 Conference, \0etc. ^Nor could it be equated with the government departments
1670F21 of social welfare because it was not cast in that_ model or
1680F21 clothed with similar powers. ^It could not even be an ordinary registered
1690F21 society, for that_ would have put it on par with the manner of
1700F21 all agencies it aided and supported. ^It could have been a statutory
1710F21 autonomous body created by an Act of Parliament. ^But by that_ time
1720F21 social welfare having lost the boosting support of its founding leaders
1730F21 had come to_ be devalued in the context of national development
1740F21 and so some 'imaginative' mind hit upon the idea of converting the
1750F21 \0CSWB into a 'Company' under the Indian Companies Act 1956.
1760F21 ^One could not have thought of anything so utterly irrelevant and entirely
1770F21 unsuitable for a body that_ was established to_ create a new era
1780F21 in social welfare. ^It is difficult to_ find another example in the
1790F21 annals of public administration where the status and role of a body
1800F21 are so thoroughly mismatched.*#
        **[no. of words = 02019**]

        **[txt. f22**]
0010F22 **<\0*3NGOS*0 AGENTS OF SOCIAL CHANGE**> $**[leader comment begin**]
0020F22 $*3^To_ enact legislation is easier than to_ implement it. ^Implementation
0030F22 implies acceptance. ^Acceptance would mean a change in attitudes
0040F22 which is possible only through approach and persuasion. \0^*NGOs could
0050F22 do a lot in this respect. **[leader comment end**] $^Compared
0060F22 with the United States of America, and the European countries,
0070F22 India was too late in adopting social welfare measures. ^Foreign domination
0080F22 for a long period, backwardness of the economy and late industrialization
0090F22 of the country were the main causes for the late entry of
0100F22 our country to the field of social services. ^But independence of the
0110F22 country offered a challenge as it brought alongwith it manifold responsibilities
0120F22 in the matter of providing employment to the teeming
0130F22 millions of the country, assuring them of a living wage, decent standards
0140F22 of living, education, public health facilities and welfare.
0150F22 ^With all these challenges India has been wedded to social welfare
0160F22 programmes as a part of developing economy. ^In India, social welfare
0170F22 services signify programmes for those who are in need of special
0180F22 care, namely, the aged and the infirm, children, women in need of
0190F22 help and the physically and mentally handicapped persons. ^The term
0200F22 "social welfare-services" denotes, "services intended to_ cater for the
0210F22 special needs of persons and groups who, by reason of some handicap--
0220F22 social, economic, physical or mental, are unable to_ avail themselves
0230F22 of, or are traditionally denied, the amenities and services provided
0240F22 by the community. ^In this sense, welfare services are meant
0250F22 to_ benefit the weaker, dependent or underprivileged sections of the population,
0260F22 like children or handicapped, for example." $^Since independence,
0270F22 particularly after the adoption of the Republican Constitution,
0280F22 the Central and State Governments felt impelled to_ take
0290F22 interest in the field of social welfare on account of their obligation
0300F22 under the Directive Principles of State Policy and other provisions
0310F22 in the Concurrent and State Lists to_ promote general welfare
0320F22 as well as welfare of special categories of the population, such
0330F22 as, the old and the invalid, the children, the women and the weaker sections
0340F22 of the country. $^With social welfare programme coming increasingly
0350F22 within the purview of the State, the Central Government have
0360F22 facilitated their successful implementation by enacting appropriate
0370F22 legislation. ^The Suppression of Immoral Trateic in Women and
0380F22 Girl*'s Act of 1956, the Probation of Offenders Act of 1958,
0390F22 the Orphanages and other Charitable Institutions (Supervision and
0400F22 Control) Act of 1960 and the Children Act of 1960 are some of
0410F22 the measures thus passed into law. ^These Acts are designed to_ ensure
0420F22 uniformity in the various remedial measures. $*<*3To_ Supplement
0430F22 and not Supplant*> $^To_ enact a legislation is something easier
0440F22 than to_ implement it. ^Implementation implies acceptance. ^Acceptance
0450F22 needs ready response, which ultimately depends much on the
0460F22 attitude of the persons benefited. ^To_ change an institution is easier
0470F22 than to_ change a human being. ^To_ change the attitude of human being
0480F22 needs personal approach and persuasion. ^Here comes the role of
0490F22 non-governmental or voluntary organisations to_ work with an aim of
0500F22 changing the attitude of the people to the changed welfare concept. ^The
0510F22 Voluntary organisations do exist in all the countries throughout
0520F22 the world to_ supplement and not to_ supplant the work of governmental
0530F22 agency in bringing a welfare state. ^Realising the vital role of these
0540F22 organisations encouragement for their creation and sustenance is
0550F22 provided in all the welfare countries. $^Prior to independence many
0560F22 voluntary organisations existed and were pioneers in providing social
0570F22 services in India. ^Now it has become a policy of the Government
0580F22 of India to_ foster their growth and not to_ demoralize and extinguish
0590F22 them. ^Therefore, in August, 1953, the Central Government
0600F22 established Central Social Welfare Board to_ use it as an agency
0610F22 for the promotion of social welfare activities carried on by voluntary
0620F22 organisations. ^The Central Social Welfare Board is charged
0630F22 with the following functions: $(a) ^To_ cause a survey to_ be
0640F22 made of the needs and requirements of the social welfare organisations;
0650F22 $(b) ^To_ evaluate the programmes and projects of the aided agencies;
0660F22 $(c) ^To_ co-ordinate assistance extended to social welfare activities
0670F22 by the various ministries in the Central and State Governments
0680F22 and; $(d) ^To_ promote the setting up of social welfare organisations
0690F22 on a voluntary basis in places where no such organisations exist.
0700F22 $^The \0CSWB works as liaison between the government and the
0710F22 voluntary agencies. ^It is assisted in its activities by the State
0720F22 Social Welfare Advisory Boards created by a resolution of the respective
0730F22 State Governments. \0^CSWB is mainly responsible for the life
0740F22 and activities of the voluntary agencies. ^Voluntary agencies are
0750F22 sustained by regular finances from \0CSWB and State Governments.
0760F22 ^The applications for grants are received by \0CSWB through
0770F22 the State Social Welfare Advisory Boards. ^Annual grants to voluntary
0780F22 organisations are disbursed through the State Board and all
0790F22 other grants are paid direct to \0NGOs by the \0CSWB. ^Most
0800F22 of the important programmes are operated by voluntary institutions
0810F22 and organisations with grants from \0CSWB and State Governments.
0820F22 ^The Voluntary organisations give shelter to destitute women and children,
0830F22 encourage new industries for inmates, provide them vocational
0840F22 training maternity services and hold social and adult education classes
0850F22 for women. ^The voluntary organisations develop child-welfare
0860F22 activities by opening nursery schools, *4Balwadi classes, recreational
0870F22 centres and libraries for children and distributing free uniforms,
0880F22 medicines and milk to children. ^Cod liver oil is given to children
0890F22 below one year of age. $*<*3Grants to Institutions*> $^The \0NGOS
0900F22 are also financed with the grants given by the Department
0910F22 of Social Welfare which was renamed in 1966. ^The Department was
0920F22 created in 1964 as the Department of Social Security by collecting
0930F22 several subjects handled by different ministries, \0viz., the Ministries
0940F22 of Home Affairs, Health, Education, Labour and Employment
0950F22 and Industries. ^The Department gives grants to All-India voluntary
0960F22 organisations as well as voluntary organisations situated in States.
0970F22 ^The All-India Organisations include the Indian Council for
0980F22 Child Welfare, the Association for Moral and Social Hygiene
0990F22 in India, All India Women*'s Conference, the All-India Crime
1000F22 Prevention Society \0etc. ^The voluntary organisations are assisted if
1010F22 they are national in character, and if their function are of national
1020F22 character. $^Grants are also given to voluntary institutions not
1030F22 of an All-India character. ^The Department sanctions grants to voluntary
1040F22 organisations at the State level to_ encourage them to_ undertake
1050F22 social welfare activities. ^It also scrutinizes their schemes,
1060F22 budgets, accounts, annual reports, \0etc., to_ ensure that the
1070F22 grants are sanctioned according to genuine requirements and are effectively
1080F22 utilized. $^In regard to social welfare services the major
1090F22 responsibility of developing them still rests with voluntary organisations.
1100F22 ^The reason is that the categories of persons like the children,
1110F22 handicapped and the destitute women need much personal attention,
1120F22 and a variety of services which can solve their problems. ^They need
1130F22 attention and services at a closer level from patient and skilled
1140F22 social workers, a job for which the administrative personnel of the
1150F22 State and Central Governments are not equipped. ^Both the Government
1160F22 strengthen the voluntary organisations with adequate funds, supervision
1170F22 and coordination. ^The \0CSWB and the State Social Welfare
1180F22 Advisory Boards have endeavoured since 1953 to_ stimulate increasing
1190F22 interest of Central and State Governments in strengthening
1200F22 the voluntary organisations which play a great part in organising
1210F22 social welfare services. $*<*3Still in infancy*> $^Voluntary organisationsin
1220F22 India are still in their infancy. ^They need improvement
1230F22 in certain matters.^Here we may give certain relevant suggestions for
1240F22 their successful working in developing State. $(**=1) ^Conceptions
1250F22 of welfare are not static, but subject to change. ^Hence, social
1260F22 administration depends much for its success on education which imbue the
1270F22 individual with new ideas of welfare. ^There is constant hesitation
1280F22 to_ accept a new thing and to_ depart from old one. ^Because of
1290F22 this attitude, welfare programmes suffer severely. ^Here comes the
1300F22 role of education, which becomes of major importance in improving conditions
1310F22 not only in showing people how to_ do things, but also in changing
1320F22 their ideas on what should be done. \0^*NGOs must accept education
1330F22 as one of their fundamental tasks to_ impart knowledge among
1340F22 the community folk of the changing values of welfare programmes. $(**=2)
1350F22 ^Understanding of the community is a prerequisite to the success
1350F22 of \0NGOs in implementing welfare programmes. ^The \0NGOs must
1370F22 study and know something about the physical, social and political environment
1380F22 in which the people in communities live; and the needs to_
1390F22 be met. ^Social and political environments are not of one type all
1400F22 over the world. ^Success of welfare programmes depends on environment.
1410F22 ^The achievement of another country may provide guidance, but it
1420F22 may sometimes be a costly mistake to_ endeavour to_ duplicate the
1430F22 types of service and methods of organization and administration which
1440F22 have succeeded elsewhere. ^In an agricultural country which is not economically
1450F22 advanced special emphasis must be placed on social welfare in rural
1460F22 communities. ^The content and method of approach may have to_ be
1470F22 different in economically more developed countries. $(**=3) ^Another suggestion
1480F22 may be made that the \0NGOs for their efficient working
1490F22 must distinguish between ends and means, objectives and methods, or
1500F22 policies and programmes. ^The ends point up where we want to_ go,
1510F22 what we have to_ achieve, and the means state the method of achieving
1520F22 these. ^The \0NGOs must make proper analysis of the objectives
1530F22 and aproprpiate methods of achieving these. $(**=4) ^It may be suggested
1540F22 that the \0NGOs must be completely aware of the particular
1550F22 need and attitudes of the community before taking up the welfare programmes.
1560F22 ^It is very necessary to_ discover and take account of needs
1570F22 as felt by the people for whom it is intended to_ benefit, and to_
1580F22 understand their attitudes. ^This will give them a sense of participation
1590F22 in the planning and the implementation of programmes. ^It is true
1600F22 that the folk or community knowledge may not be as scientific as the
1610F22 knowledge of the experts responsible for the policy but, since their
1620F22 needs arise from personal experience and their attitudes develop out
1630F22 of the whole complicated environment in which they live, their judgement
1640F22 is better on some matters than that_ of the planner who observes
1650F22 their problems only from an exterior position. ^Personal contact with
1660F22 the people will give balanced judgements with regard to policy matters
1670F22 to the experts of voluntary organisations as well as a sense of social
1680F22 participation to those for whom the programmes are directed. ^Response
1690F22 from the beneficiaries is the key to success and this can be achieved
1700F22 only when they develop a sense of participation in making and working
1710F22 out the welfare programmes. ^The \0NGOs must become aware of
1720F22 this factor. $(**=5) ^It is also suggested that block grants be
1730F22 made by the Central Government through the \0CSWB should be given
1740F22 to the aided institutions or voluntary agencies without specifying
1750F22 the heads or items on which the expenditure has to_ be made. ^Such
1760F22 discretion may be left to the voluntary agencies to_ chalk out
1770F22 their own programmes on which expenditure is to_ be made. ^Voluntary
1780F22 agencies are on the spot to_ study the problems arising in a particular
1790F22 region and to_ determine to what priority is to_ be given. ^Illiteracy
1800F22 may be the problem of one region, while pre-natal and natal death
1810F22 may be more serious problem of another. ^In such cases while in
1820F22 the former region, much is to_ be spent on literacy programme, in the
1830F22 latter a lot is to_ be spent for pre-natal, natal and post-natal care.
1840F22 ^In such cases priorities are not to_ be determined by the \0CSWB
1850F22 but by the voluntary agencies. ^So financial sanctions must be
1860F22 made to the voluntary agencies not on categorical heads but in block,
1870F22 so that the voluntary agencies have a discretion to_ make best utilisation
1880F22 of resources. $(**=6) ^Finally, the Government should not
1890F22 take a stepmotherly and indifferent attitude towards the successful
1900F22 working of these non-governmental organisations. ^It is high time
1910F22 for the Government to_ enkindle, encourage and strongly support
1920F22 the social enthusiasm and the spirit of social service in the voluntary
1930F22 agencies by suitable grants-in-aid, technical expertise \0etc. $^With
1940F22 all these suggestions, we may conclude that if social service
1950F22 and administration has to_ make any headway, it must increasingly count
1960F22 upon the cooperation of voluntary agencies to the best extent possible.*#
        **[no. of words = 02004**]


        **[txt. f23**]
0010F23 **<*3Indigo*0**> $^On receiving the Act, the Secretary for India, Sir,
0020F23 Charles Wood, stated that it was "open to serious objection." ^However,
0030F23 since it was already in force and was meant to_ meet a temporary
0040F23 crisis he let the Act stand. ^Many members of the House of Commons
0060F23 viewed the law with disapproval. \0^*Mr Kinnaird strongly protested
0070F23 against it. ^He regretted that no official reports were available
0080F23 regarding an Act of such importance. ^The serious nature of the disturbances
0090F23 in the indigo districts, he said, could be best understood from
0100F23 the measures adopted to_ suppress them. ^Large numbers of the police were
0110F23 pouring into those districts and the Legislature had been hastily called
0120F23 upon to_ pass a Bill which would render the breach of a civil
0130F23 contract, a criminal offence. ^The House was probably not aware, \0Mr
0140F23 Kinnaird continued, of the oppressive system by which the *4ryots were
0160F23 compelled to_ cultivate indigo. ^They were forced to_ grow it, though
0170F23 it would pay them much better to_ grow rice. ^They had remonstrated
0180F23 a long period-- in vain. ^When at last they had tried to_ resist oppression,
0190F23 they were faced by the new Act. ^It was as if an English landlord
0200F23 was invested with the right to_ punish a tenant for default of
0210F23 rent as a criminal offender. ^If something similar was attempted by
0220F23 Napoleon in Algiers or by the Czar in Russia, they would be loudly
0230F23 denounced for tyranny. $\0^*Mr Vansittart argued on the same line.
0240F23 ^The tyranny of the planters had been proved, he said, by the evidence
0250F23 before the Colonisation Committee of which he had been a member.
0260F23 ^The planters inserted arbitrary clauses in the *4cabooleat (contract
0270F23 deed), by which they reserved to themselves the power of sending their
0280F23 own people to the fields to_ weed, reap and cart the indigo plant.
0290F23 ^In consequence, however favourable the season might be and however abundant
0300F23 the crop, the *4ryots could not fulfil their engagements, since
0310F23 the planter, by preparing a statement of the expenses incurred in seeding,
0320F23 reaping and carting, kept them in his books as defaulters. ^In
0330F23 India a Ryot had told him that, do what he would, he could never reduce
0340F23 the debt incurred by his father twenty years before. ^The more industrious
0350F23 the Ryot and the better he cultivated, the greater was the effort
0360F23 of the planter to_ keep him on his books as a defaulter. ^The new
0370F23 contract had roused a feeling of deep exasperation. ^The prisons would
0380F23 prove to_ be inadequate to_ hold them all. $^The prisons, indeed,
0390F23 filled up in no time, the number of cases under the new Act increased
0400F23 to such an extent that the regular work of the courts was choked
0410F23 and special magistrates had to_ be employed. ^In a single jail in Nuddea
0420F23 there were at one time no less than 889 prisoners convicted under
0430F23 this Act. ^The man went to prison undefended. ^The impoverished *4royts
0440F23 could not engage lawyers. ^Besides, lawyers found it dangerous to_
0450F23 defend them. ^Moved by the spectacle of suffering, a lawyer in
0460F23 Calcutta went to a village to_ defend the *4ryots. ^The district magistrate
0470F23 sent the lawyer himself to prison: there was a provision in the
0480F23 Act that anyone aiding or abetting the violation of indigo contracts
0490F23 could be sentenced to penal servitude for six months! ^After that_
0500F23 the *4ryots could expect no legal assistance whatsoever. $^While the
0510F23 *4royts went to prison, their houses, cattle and other property, including
0520F23 even their ploughs, were sold off. ^Their wives and children became
0530F23 homeless paupers. ^Then the Government made a dramatic gesture. ^It offered
0540F23 the convicts immediate release and restoration of property on
0550F23 condition that they would cultivate indigo according to their contracts.
0560F23 ^This offer the convicts scornfully turned down, declaring that "they
0570F23 would die a thousand deaths rather than cultivate indigo again."
0580F23 ^Nothing could reveal more glaringly the hatred of the *4royts for a
0590F23 system which had been holding them like an octopus. $^That_ hatred was
0600F23 also seen in the evidence they gave before the Indigo Commission. ^For
0610F23 instance, Manju Mulla was asked, "Would it not have been better
0620F23 for you to_ sow this year instead of going to prison?" ^He replied,
0630F23 "I would rather be killed by bullets or have my throat cut than sow
0640F23 indigo". $^The contract law was ruthlessly enforced. ^It could be urged
0650F23 that a contract was after all a contract and the *4ryots having made
0660F23 it, ought to_ have kept it; breach of contract was, of course,
0670F23 a civil offence, but in view of the exigencies of the time and the wave
0680F23 of passive resistance which was sweeping the villages, it had to_
0690F23 be made a criminal offence. ^Such a view is totally unfair, since the
0700F23 contracts had no moral validity and most of them could not stand any
0710F23 scrutiny. ^First, they were forcibly thrust on an unwilling party.
0720F23 ^If persuasion failed, imprisonment in a dark godown would be the next
0730F23 step. ^Other forms of coercion involving cruelty to the utmost limit
0740F23 would be applied. ^When a broken-down man yielded to the inevitable
0750F23 and put his signature on a contract, he became chained to the factory
0760F23 for the rest of his life. ^He would never be able to_ pay off the
0770F23 advance given to him. ^The debt would extend from father to son. ^An
0780F23 indigo contract was a deadly trap, never loosening its grip until its
0790F23 victim died, and then only to_ draw into its iron jaws his son or some
0800F23 other successor. $^Further, hundreds of contracts were forged documents.
0810F23 ^In one case, for example, which was cited in the British Parliament,
0820F23 a Ryot bound himself and his heirs never to_ pay back his advance
0830F23 in money or in any other way except by cultivating indigo. ^That_
0840F23 contract was proved to_ have been a forgery. ^Even so, the Royt was
0850F23 thrown into prison upon the strength of that_ document! ^Contracts
0860F23 were produced in the law courts and declared to_ have been entered
0870F23 into by men who, at the time alleged, were bedridden, blind or dead.
0880F23 ^In the district of Nuddea alone, out of some six hundred contracts
0890F23 produced in the magistrate*'s court in support of prosecution under
0900F23 the "Summary Act", fortythree were proved to_ be forgeries; all the
0910F23 same ten of the cases were decided against the *4ryots. \$0^*Mr James
0920F23 Long, a missionary, declared the Summary Act as a slave law made
0930F23 effective at bayonet point. ^But it failed to_ serve its purpose. ^Coercion
0940F23 could not avert the crisis. ^The *4ryots developed the techniques
0950F23 of passive resistance, even if it was broken once in a while by
0960F23 outbursts of violence. ^Only one solution was feasible: To_ offer a higher
0970F23 price for the indigo plant. ^This was done at the end of a bitter
0980F23 struggle in the course of which a great area of Lower Bengal was asweep
0990F23 with hatred. $^The Summary Act expired on October 4, 1860. ^A
1000F23 new Bill, similar to it, was introduced into the Legislative Council
1010F23 of India early in the following year. ^It was strongly opposed by
1020F23 \0Mr *(0J.P.*) Grant. ^But the Government ignored his warning, as
1030F23 also the advice of the Indigo Commission which had disapproved the
1040F23 measure. ^A prolonged debate took place in the House of Commons. \0^*Mr
1050F23 Kinnaird told the House that the Bill would prolong great injustice
1060F23 and imperil the peace of Bengal. ^He added that the apathy of Parliament
1070F23 had emboldened the planters to_ pressurise the Government
1080F23 of India, which did not have the moral courage to_ resist them.
1090F23 ^There were other members who expressed similar feelings. $^*Sir Charles
1100F23 Wood admitted that Bengal was suffering from forced labour and
1110F23 oppression. ^He had sanctioned the Summary Act, he said, because
1120F23 of the sudden outbreak of revolt. ^He had already sent a despatch ordering
1130F23 that the new Bill be withdrawn. $^In his despatch to the Governor-General,
1140F23 dated April 18, 1861, Sir Charles Wood wrote: "The
1150F23 deliberate judgement... of the Indian Law Commissioners, of the Legislative
1160F23 Council, of the Secretary of State in Council, of the majority
1170F23 of the Indigo Commissioners, of the Lieutenant- Governor of
1180F23 Bengal, and even, as it appears to me, of your own Government has been
1190F23 recorded against any such measure. ^*I am not prepared to_ give my sanction
1200F23 to the law which you propose." $^The withdrawal of the Breach of
1220F23 Contracts Bill did not put an end to the furious struggle. ^The planters
1230F23 found a new way of compulsion. ^Availing themselves of their position
1240F23 as lessees or owners of the land, they told their *4ryots that the
1250F23 rents of all those who refused to_ sow indigo would be raised. ^To what
1260F23 extent? ^Did the planters have the authority at all to_ raise rents?
1270F23 ^The decision lay with the Law Courts. ^In a case between Hills
1280F23 and Isvar Ghose, the district judge gave the order that rents could
1290F23 be raised only in proportion of the increase in the value of the produce.
1300F23 ^On appeal to the high court this decision was reversed by the chief
1310F23 justice and other judges. ^When a similar suit was field again, the
1320F23 case was tried by the full bench because of the important principle
1330F23 involved. ^All the judges with the sole exception of the chief justice
1340F23 pronounced against the power of the planter to_ raise rents without
1350F23 restraint. $^A sequel of the indigo revolt was the publication of a
1360F23 play called *3Nildarpan.*0 ^It was published in Dacca anonymously and
1370F23 staged in that_ town. ^Its author, \0Mr Dinabandhu Mitra, was one
1380F23 among the group of young, talented writers who had just started to_
1390F23 build up a new prose literature in Bengal. ^Educated in Hindu College,
1400F23 \0Mr Dinabandhu Mitra in his early youth came under the influence
1410F23 of the poet and journalist, \0Mr Isvar Chandra Gupta. ^In 1858
1420F23 he entered Government service in the postal department. ^In the course
1430F23 of his tours in the countryside as an inspecting postmaster, he
1440F23 came face to face with the indigo palnters*' oppression, and collected
1450F23 materials for his play. *3^*Nildarpan*0 is poor in dramatic technique.
1460F23 ^But its grim realism, the scenes of blood and torture, fed the flames
1470F23 of indignation against the oppressors. $^Its literary value apart,
1480F23 *3Nildarpan*0 is of historical interest as the centre of a storm which
1490F23 swept a well-known missionary into prison, and nearly brought censure
1500F23 upon a Secretary of the Bengal Government. ^Within a few months of
1510F23 the book*'s publication \0Mr James Long of the Church Missionary
1520F23 Society issued an English version of it, adding a preface which
1530F23 indicted the planters and charged two English newspapers of Calcutta
1540F23 with corruption. \0^*Mr James Long had been working in India since
1550F23 1848, especially in the field of social reform, and was very popular
1560F23 among Indians. ^When the indigo disturbances started, he wrote against
1570F23 the tyranny, answering a statement in the British Press that
1580F23 peace and order had been restored, he had said that it was peace procured
1590F23 by torture in dungeons. ^He had declared that the magistrates could
1600F23 not be so ungrateful for the good cheer they enjoyed in the houses
1610F23 of planters that they would do justice to the *4ryots. ^Besides, the
1620F23 magistrates feared to_ expose themselves to the thunder of the Calcutta
1630F23 Press. ^A reign of terror existed in the indigo districts, he had
1640F23 stated. ^The Indigo Commission could not possibly elicit the whole
1650F23 truth, since by giving evidence against an "indigo *4sahib" the *4Ryot
1660F23 would imperil his life and his daughter*'s honour. ^The systematic use of
1670F23 terror was driving the *4ryots into silence. $*3^*The Bengal Harkaru*0
1680F23 replied to these allegations with vituperation. ^Meanwhile,
1690F23 the English version of *3Nildarpan*0 had appeared and about three hundred
1700F23 copies of the book had been sent to editors in London, secretaries
1710F23 of religious, philanthropic and political societies in England,
1720F23 and influential members of Parliament. ^Among its recipients were
1730F23 \0Messrs John Bright, Disraeli, Gladstone, Kinnaird, Dickinson, Layard,
1740F23 Hodgson Pratt, Lord Shaftsbury, and Lord Ripon. ^A point
1750F23 of great significance was that the book had gone under the seal of
1760F23 the Bengal Government under the orders of a Secretary, \0Mr Seton-Kerr,
1770F23 who had acted on his own responsibility. ^When charged with the
1780F23 offence of circulating a libellous work, he stated to the Government and
1790F23 to the Press that he regarded *3Nildarpan*0 as an expression of the
1800F23 feeling of the Indian people on an important subject.*#
        **[no. of words = 02039**]

        **[txt. f24**]
0010F24 **<*3The Battle of Panipat*0**> $^The plains of Haryana have been famous
0020F24 right from the days of Mahabharat for the numerous battles fought
0030F24 there. $^*Panipat, 90 kilometres from Delhi, has had the unique
0040F24 distinction of being the battlefield for three major battles since
0050F24 1526 \0A.D. ^The first battle, fought in 1526, was the most renowned
0060F24 of the three, and even today military historians consider this
0070F24 particular war to_ be one of the finest examples of battlefield tactics
0080F24 and exemplification of the principles of war. ^It is an experiece
0090F24 to_ study this battle in retrospect. $^The two principal adversaries
0100F24 were Babar and Ibrahim Lodhi. $^*Babar advanced towards Delhi
0110F24 with the aim of destroying the central power there so that his hold
0120F24 on Punjab could be assured without any danger of interference from
0130F24 the Delhi Government. ^After a long march which involved the crossing
0140F24 of a number of rivers, including the Indus, Babar and his
0150F24 forces reached the banks of the Jamuna towards the end of March 1526.
0160F24 $^He had set out with a small army of 12,000 men but by the time
0170F24 he reached the Jamuna, his total force had risen to approximately
0180F24 20,000 as a number of units joined him *8en route*9. ^Though this force
0190F24 was far less than Lodhi*'s army estimated at 100,000, Babar*'s
0200F24 soldiers were war veterans who had been fighting continuously and who
0210F24 had gained considerable operational experience. ^Besides this, he
0220F24 had taken great pains to_ train them in minor tactics and had also
0230F24 brought with him both heavy and light artillery capable of firing ammunition
0240F24 up to a range of 6,000 yards. $^The leadership of his forces,
0250F24 particularly in the higher echelons, was very effective and his
0260F24 tactical doctrine was derived from Chengiz Khan and the Mongol army.
0270F24 $^After reaching Jamuna, Babar called a conference of his generals
0280F24 and discussed his plan of action at great length. ^Over a number
0290F24 of days, he carried out detailed reconnaissances to_ gather the correct
0300F24 information about the terrain of the battlefield and Lodhi*'s
0310F24 dispositions. ^*Babar finally decided to_ fight the battle at Panipat.
0320F24 $^He reached Panipat on April 12, 1526 and began deployment
0330F24 operations. $*<*3Cool and calculating Babar*0*> $^He appreciated
0340F24 that Lodhi had a much larger force and it would not be prudent on
0350F24 his part to_ attack Lodhi*'s camp. ^He felt that it would be more
0360F24 advantageous for him if Lodhi took the intiative. ^Such an attack
0370F24 could be held and absorbed from the front and then using superior tactics,
0380F24 Babar could destory the attacking troops by turning their flanks
0390F24 with a rapid pincers manoeuvre. $^*Babar*'s first action, during the
0400F24 deployment of his forces, was to_ collect more than 700 bullock carts.
0410F24 ^He had these carts joined together using ropes made of hide.
0420F24 ^Adequate space was left between carts to_ accommodate five to six
0430F24 shields. ^When the bullock cart line was ready, it presented a unique
0440F24 mobile defence work which afforded good protection against spears,
0450F24 arrows, and such missiles. ^The line also acted as a shock absorber
0460F24 against a cavalry or infantry charge. ^*Babar deployed his matchlock
0470F24 men behind this line of bullock carts. ^His overall dispositions,
0480F24 (as given in the sketch), essentially comprised the bullock cart
0490F24 line between the village of Panipat and a ditch which had been specially
0500F24 prepared, the matchlock party behind the bullock cart line,
0510F24 infantry interespersed to_ give adequate depth to the bullock cart line
0520F24 as also the matchlock party, artillery, and a strong reserve based
0530F24 on cavalry. ^Finally, a *7Tulghma or flank-turning party was based
0540F24 on cavalry into two groups, one each for the right and the left flanks.
0550F24 $^The essence of Babar*'s plan was to_ entice Lodhi to_ attack
0560F24 the line of bullock carts and, while the fighting was on at this
0570F24 line, to_ unleash the *7Tulghma party at an opportune moment to_
0580F24 strike through both flanks and destroy Lodhi*'s army. $*<*3Replacement
0590F24 of leaders*0*> $^It was a simple plan and Babar ensured that
0600F24 all his subordinate commanders understood the essence of his plan.
0610F24 ^A significant fact of Babar*'s plan was his insistence on leader
0620F24 casualties being immediately replaced by the next in line so that at
0630F24 no stage of the battle were the men left without a leader at all levels
0640F24 of field command. $^*Babar waited for a week but Lodhi was not
0650F24 showing any signs of attacking him. ^Something had to_ be done to_
0660F24 provoke Lodhi. ^*Babar organised a raid on Lodhi*'s camp on the
0670F24 night of April 19 and this raid precipitated a violent reaction
0680F24 from Lodhi. ^He decided to_ attack Babar on April 21. $^At about
0690F24 eight in the morning, Lodhi advanced with his army and the battle
0700F24 developed fully within two hours. ^*Lodhi*'s troops could not penetrate
0710F24 Babar*'s line of bullock carts despite repeated attempts to_ breach
0720F24 it. ^A hard slogging match ensued with neither side giving any quarter.
0730F24 ^However, due to the accurate fire by Babar*'s two principal
0740F24 artillery commanders, Ali Quli and Ustad Mustafa, Lodhi*'s troops
0750F24 could neither advance nor retreat, but got boxed in progressively
0760F24 towards the centre. ^A confusion arose within their ranks and capitalising
0770F24 on this confused state of affairs, Babar ordered his *7Tulghma
0780F24 groups to_ launch an attack. ^Both flanks of Lodhi*'s army simply
0790F24 caved in consequent to the fierce charge of the *7Tulghma groups
0800F24 and a mammoth massacre resulted. ^*Lodhi*'s troops suffered over
0810F24 15,000 casualties and Lodhi himself was killed. ^*Babar followed
0820F24 it up with a counter-offensive, pursuing the fleeing remnants of Lodhi*'s
0830F24 army. ^He captured a great deal of booty including prisoners,
0840F24 animals and guns. ^Finally, he sent two of his principal commanders,
0850F24 his son Humayun and his most capable general Mahdi Khwaja, to_
0860F24 secure the treasuries of Agra and Delhi respectively. ^Thus ended
0870F24 the first battle of Panipat. $^Certain germane facts can be gleaned
0880F24 from this battle and one can learn many lessons from it. $^*Babar
0890F24 was undoubtedly a military genius. ^He had a positive military mind--
0900F24 he could quickly grasp the essentials of a military problem, assess
0910F24 his options, decide on a course of action, give clear-cut orders
0920F24 to_ achieve his aim, and direct his subordinates thereafter for the
0930F24 fulfilment of the mission. ^He enjoyed the confidence of his generals
0940F24 and gave them enough latitude in carrying out their assigned operational
0950F24 tasks, keeping a firm grip on the overall situation as it
0960F24 developed at the same time. $*<*3Master strategist*0*> $^He knew and
0970F24 understood the characteristics of his weapons and was a master at improvisation.
0980F24 ^His employment of cavalry to_ achieve shock action
0990F24 in combination with artillery and infantry can be said to_ be the forerunner
1000F24 of similar actions by later commanders like Rommel and Patton.
1010F24 ^Most of all, Babar fully comprehended strategic and tactical
1020F24 realities of war. $^Some of the principles of war that_ he religiously
1030F24 followed are: $(a) *3Maintenance of aim:*0 ^*Babar*'s aim was
1040F24 to_ defeat Lodhi convincingly. ^To this end, he selected his battleground
1050F24 with deliberation, deployed his forces accordingly, and
1060F24 fought the battle of Panipat with only this single purpose in mind
1070F24 without any deviation. $(b) *3Offensive action:*0 ^*Babar*'s battlefield
1080F24 plan was based on offensive action. ^Having brought his enemy
1090F24 to battle, he used his main force in an offensive pattern till the enemy
1100F24 was defeated. $(c) *3Surprise:*0 ^By using artillery, by putting
1110F24 up a line of modified bullock carts as a defence line, and finally
1120F24 by employing his *7Tulghma groups from the flanks, Babar surprised
1130F24 his adversary. $(d) *3Morale:*0 ^*Babar had ensured high morale among his
1140F24 troops by winning every single battle as he advanced from Attock to
1150F24 Panipat. ^His own command as a general and constant exhortation resulted
1160F24 in his men being in high spirits all the time. $(e) *3Flexibility:0
1170F24 ^When Lodhi showed no sign of attacking Babar, the latter sent
1180F24 out a raiding party to_ start the military operations. ^Thus Babar
1190F24 modified his original plan to_ be flexible enough to_ commence the
1200F24 operations in an offensive manner. $(f) *3Cooperation:*0 ^*Babar
1210F24 ensured a high degree of cooperation not only between his three principal
1220F24 arms of cavalry, infantry and artillery, but also between his
1230F24 sector commanders. ^For example, the *7Tulghma commanders launched
1240F24 their groups at the correct moment in cooperation with the commander
1250F24 of the holding force at the bullock cartline. $(g) *3Security:*0
1260F24 ^*Babar sent out a number of reconnaissance parties prior to the
1270F24 actual battle to_ determine the type of ground obtaining as also the
1280F24 dispositions of the enemy. ^He ensured security by finding out relevant
1290F24 information and intelligence about two basic elements of military
1300F24 operations-- ground and enemy. $(h) *3Economy of effort:*0 ^*Babar*'s
1310F24 dispositions had minimum troops manning the bullock cart line
1320F24 and maximum troops in the *7Tulghma party. ^He, therefore, knew precisely
1330F24 where to_ give correct weightage, and thus achieved economy
1340F24 of effort. $*<*3Lodhi a poor contender*0*> $^By contrast, Ibrahim Lodhi
1350F24 seems to_ have had very little knowledge of warfare. ^He permitted
1360F24 Babar to_ cross the entire length of the Punjab plains and
1370F24 the five rivers before deciding to_ fight him virtually at his doorstep.
1380F24 ^He was undoubtedly a brave man himself, being one of the very
1390F24 few rulers of Delhi to_ have died in battle but his army was a conglomeration
1400F24 of multifarious groups without any central direction or command
1410F24 and control. ^He had no fundamental tactical approach and his
1420F24 army*'s organisation lacked cohesiveness. ^Leadership, in particular,
1430F24 was exteremely poor. ^Lack of military forethought resulted in the
1440F24 destruction and ultimate capitulation of his empire.
1450F24 $**<*3NAZI HORRORS AGAIN IN LIMELIGHT:*0 *3Eichmann Hunter*'s New
1460F24 Catch*0**> $^The place: a countryside hotel called 'Tyll' in Itatiaia,
1470F24 some 12 kilometers from Rio de Janeiro. ^The date: April
1480F24 21 this year. $^Preparations were on for an extraordinary weekend party.
1490F24 ^Slickly printed invitation cards with the emblem of the Third
1500F24 Reich and other Nazi insignia were sent to some very special Germans
1510F24 living in Brazil and Federal Germany. ^The organisation that_
1520F24 arranged the party called itself Germanic people*'s Community
1530F24 (\0DVG) and its chief, Alfredo Winkelmann was the owner of the
1540F24 hotel. ^For the participants the event was very auspicious; they were
1550F24 celebrating the birth anniversary of their Fuehrer, Adolf Hitler.
1560F24 ^Besides, the invitation card informed that 'not just the lasts
1570F24 of yesterday but also the firsts of tomorrow-- and perhaps even of today'--
1580F24 would join the discussion on 'A just and energetic future of the
1590F24 German people'. $^Hardly had the assembled guests started their deliberation
1600F24 on 'The energetic future of our people', when they were
1610F24 visited by the men of the Brazilian Secret Service (Dops) and
1620F24 temporarily taken into custody. $*<*3Secret meeting*0*> $^An anonymous
1630F24 caller had informed the police that a secret meeting of communists
1640F24 was to_ take place at the hotel. ^When the police searched the
1650F24 belongings of the guests, they found in the briefcase of one, a 62-year-old
1660F24 owner of a factory producing office material in Sao Paulo,
1670F24 a loaded pistol and plenty of munition. $^There was no communist
1680F24 propaganda material, but a heap of books relating to the Third Reich
1690F24 and their order coupons. ^Some of the titles were *3International
1700F24 jewry, \0DM 33, The secret weapons of the Third Reich, \0DM
1710F24 16, Did really six millions die? \0DM 22, Quotations from the
1720F24 Fuehrer, \0DM. 5.*0 ^There were also discs of Nazi songs. $^As no
1730F24 trace of any Communist secret plot was found, the passports and other
1740F24 papers collected from the guests were returned after two hours.
1750F24 ^The owner of the hotel, Winkelmann told the police that his was a legal
1760F24 assembly and that in the previous year also he had arranged such
1770F24 a party without any hitch. ^He asserted that as an anti-communist,
1780F24 he had even earned a name in Brazil receiving a letter from a high
1790F24 dignitary. "^We work here with the objective that Germany revives
1800F24 again and destroys the great lie of history," he asserted. $^On April
1810F24 24, the *3*8Journal do Brazil*9*0 published a report on the event
1820F24 with a photograph in which next to the Winkelmanns, husband and wife,
1830F24 was an unidentified person. ^The journal*'s woman photographer
1840F24 had no idea who he was. $^A copy of that_ issue of the journal reached
1850F24 its correspondent in Israel, Mario Chimanovitch, at a time when
1860F24 he was meeting \0Dr Simon Wiesenthal, Director of Vienna*'s
1870F24 Jewish Documentation Centre.*#
        **[no. of words = 02013**]

        **[txt. f25**]
0010F25 **<*3The Pool of Nectar*0**> $*3^THE*0 Hari Mandir, now called
0020F25 the Golden Temple, is a living symbol of the spiritual and historical
0030F25 traditions of the Sikhs. ^The tank and the temple have been a source
0040F25 of inspiration to the Sikh community ever since its foundation.
0050F25 ^It is evident from the Sikh chronicles that the *4Gurus exhorted
0060F25 their followers to_ accept all Sikh centres as places of pilgrimage.
0070F25 ^As Sri Hari Mandir Sahib was the first important holy shrine,
0080F25 it became, the centre of inspiration and action and the most significant
0090F25 achievement of the *4Gurus, the chief place of pilgrimage for the
0100F25 Sikhs. $^The origin of the place where the Sri Hari Mandir stands
0110F25 is shrouded in mystery. ^Some trace its origin to the pre-historic,
0120F25 *(Vedic-epic*) period as a place of considerable religious importance
0130F25 in the form of a *5Amrit Kund*6 (Spring of Nectar). ^But the site
0140F25 seems to_ have lost its eminence under the sway of the Buddhist movement,
0150F25 which swept away most of the important Hindu holy places. ^Before
0160F25 its association with the Sikh *4Gurus the site of the Hari Mandir
0170F25 was a low-lying area with a small pond (at the present site of the
0180F25 *5Dukh Bhanjani Beri*6-- Healer of Sorrows),
0210F25 set in jungle terrain,
0220F25 surrounded by tiny hamlets. ^But the place was on the route of caravans
0230F25 passing to the North-West frontier and other old trade centres.
0240F25 ^However, the site of the temple lay desolate before it began to_
0250F25 be visited by the Sikh *4Gurus. $^Many popular myths and legends are
0260F25 connected with the origin of the *5Amrit Sarowar*6 (Tank of Nectar).
0270F25 ^It is said that Guru Amar Das found on the banks of the pool
0280F25 the desired herb for the skin ailment of Guru Angad (the second *4Guru
0290F25 of the Sikhs). ^A persistent local tradition highlights the medicinal
0300F25 properties of the waters of the pond: Rajni, the daughter of Rai
0310F25 Dhuni Chand, a *4kardar (revenue collector) of Patti, brought her
0320F25 leper husband here and he was cured after having a dip in the pond.
0330F25 ^It is said that Ram Das (at that_ time, on a visit to a nearby area)
0340F25 came to the place to_ investigate the above episode and was so
0350F25 much impressed with the beauty of the surroundings that he decided to_
0360F25 make it a pilgrim centre. $*3^THE*0 actual idea of establishing
0370F25 various places of pilgrimage had been conceived by *4Guru Amar Das.
0380F25 ^The predominant factor which motivated the *4Guru was to_ initiate
0390F25 centres where the traditions of the faith could be preached. ^The second
0400F25 factor was the consideration for the peaceful settlement of his future
0410F25 successor, Ram Das. ^In order to_ avoid all possibilities of clashes
0420F25 between his own progeny and the appointed sucessor Ram Das,
0430F25 *4Guru Amar Das deemed it better that his children stay at Govindwal
0440F25 and Ram Das settle at some new place. $^The new pilgrim centre lay amidst
0450F25 the villages of Sultanwind, Tung, Gumtala and Gilwali at that_
0460F25 time in the *4pargana of Jhabbal. ^The acquisition of the site
0470F25 by the Sikh *4Gurus is told in different versions by different historians:
0480F25 ^That the land was granted by Emperor Akbar to Guru Amar Das
0490F25 as a token of thanksgiving for his conquest of the fort of Chittor,
0500F25 when he visited the *4Guru at Govindwal, en route to Lahore, that
0560F25 it was acquired by Guru Das before the grant was actually obtained or
0570F25 purchased by the *4Guru on payment of \0*4Rs. 700 from the *4Zamindars
0580F25 of Tung at the instance of Emperor Akbar, that it was presented
0590F25 by the people of Sultanwind to the *4Guru out of reverence. $^There
0600F25 are no comtemporary or near contemporary records and documents confirming
0610F25 the testimony to any of the above statements. $^Whatever the version
0620F25 about the acquisition of the land, it appears that, originally, the
0630F25 site on which the temple stands was under the ownership of the *4Zamindars
0640F25 of Tung village and later it was acquired by the Sikhs*'
0650F25 *4Gurus either on payment or free of cost. $^It is certain, however,
0660F25 that the land of the Hari Mandir was revenue-free land. ^The papers
0670F25 of the land settlement of Amritsar of the British period dated \0A.D.
0680F25 1865 record the land of Darbar Sahib Guru Ram Das as revenue-free
0690F25 grant. \*3^THE*0 programme of the new project was chalked out
0700F25 by Guru Amar Das and told to Ram Das. ^The latter was instructed
0710F25 to_ acquire funds for expenditure from Baba Buddha Ji. ^Some
0720F25 experienced, devout, elderly Sikhs were instructed to_ join Ram Das,
0730F25 in carrying out the new project. $^The plan was executed by Ram Das
0740F25 under the counsel of Baba Buddha Ji. ^The inauguration was in traditional
0750F25 Indian style, with distribution of sweets after prayers. ^The
0760F25 *4Guru made his abode by the site. ^Labourers were engaged. ^Many
0770F25 Sikh devotees came to_ work for the project. ^Before the regular excavation
0780F25 work of the tank began, a sort of village settlement had grown.
0790F25 ^First of all, a boundary line of the settlement was laid on 5 *5Har
0800F25 Vadi*6 13, *4Samvat 1627 \0BK, \0A.D. 1570 and it was named Chak/
0810F25 Chak Guru/ Guru Ka Chak/ Chak Guru Ram Das/ Ram Das Pura.
0820F25 $^These were the previous names of Amritsar. ^Kilns were laid and
0830F25 a number of hutments were built. ^Members of over 50 caste-groups from
0840F25 Patti, Kasur and Kalanur were called to_ settle here, to_ assure
0850F25 a regular supply of essential commodities. **[sic**] ^A market called
0860F25 *4Guru-ka-Bazaar was established. ^Wells were dug and a good many rich
0870F25 *4sarafs (bankers) and *4banjaras (traders) came to the growing town.
0880F25 $^The construction work of the tank and the town proceeded smoothly. ^But,
0890F25 while the work was in progress, Ram Das had to_ rush back to Govindwal
0900F25 at the call of the dying Guru Amar Das. $^The work was resumed
0910F25 on his return, after his pontification in \0A.D. 1577, and the construction
0920F25 of both the tank and the town was completed the same year. $^Then
0930F25 the *4Guru called *4khatris (business community) and told them to_
0940F25 take charge of the holy place. ^But they pleaded their inability to_
0950F25 perform religious duties and requested the *4Guru to_ engage some
0960F25 *4brahmins and *4fakirs (mendicants) to_ perform the ceremonies. ^But
0970F25 the *4khatris sought the blessings of the *4Guru for *4kirt and *4barkat
0980F25 to_ pursue their professions. $*3^THE*0 *4Guru and his disciples
0990F25 were overjoyed on the completion of the new pilgrimage centre. ^*Guru
1000F25 Ram Das composed beautiful verses in the glory of the *4sarowar,
1010F25 making an injunction upon his followers to_ take bath in this holy tank
1020F25 and meditate here on *5Hari Nam*6 (the name of God). $^Soon after
1030F25 its foundation, Amritsar became the centre of Guru Ram Das*'s
1040F25 missionary activities and the headquarters of the Sikh faith. $*5^*Amrit
1050F25 Sarowar*6 remained enclosed in *4kachcha construction till Guru Arjan
1060F25 Dev ascended the *4gaddi in \0A.D. 1581. ^Then the tank was
1070F25 made *4pucca and the side stairs were bricked, but the bottom of the
1080F25 tank was still to_ be attended. ^The Sikhs showed great enthusiasm
1090F25 and devotion for *4seva (voluntary service) to_ complete the job. ^Construction
1100F25 work on the tank was completed in a short time. ^The successful
1110F25 completion of the project was attributed to the grace of God.
1120F25 ^*Guru Arjan Dev expressed his thanksgiving in the words: **[verse**]
1130F25 $^The tank was named Amritsar. ^The town also came to_ be called
1140F25 by the same name. ^While the tank was under construction Guru Arjan
1150F25 Dev consulted Baba Buddha Ji and expressed his wish to_ raise
1160F25 a beautiful permanent structure in the pool of nectar. $*3^THE*0
1170F25 plan of the present Hari Mandir was then projected by Guru Arjan
1180F25 Dev. ^It was decided by the *4Guru to_ build the temple in the centre
1190F25 of the tank. ^The object of Guru Arjan Dev in planning the structure
1200F25 of the Hari Mandir in the middle of *5Amrit Sarowar*6 was
1210F25 to_ combine both spiritual and temporal aspects, to_ represent a new
1220F25 synthesis of Indian thought, the combination of *4Nirgun and *4Sargun.
1230F25 ^The leaders of the Sikh community and the devotees of the *4Guru
1240F25 welcomed the new plan. $^The plan was executed under the direct control
1250F25 and supervision of Guru Arjan Dev assisted by Baba Buddha Ji,
1260F25 Bhai Gurudas and other devoted Sikhs. ^The *4Guru appointed
1270F25 his trustworthy followers, such as Bhai Salo, Bhai Bhagtu, Bhai
1280F25 Paira, Bhai Bhalo and Bhai Kalyana, to_ supervise the construction
1290F25 and arrange for building materials. ^The assignment of brick-making
1300F25 was entrusted to Bhai Bhalo, an expert. $^According to early Sikh
1310F25 tradition, the foundation stone of the Hari Mandir was laid by Guru
1320F25 Arjan Dev himself. (^A related story tells us that a mason accidentally
1330F25 displaced a brick, on which the *4Guru expressed the fear that
1340F25 the foundation would have to_ be laid again in the future. ^This incident
1350F25 is mentioned in the Sikh sources written after the reconstruction
1360F25 of the Hari Mandir, in \0A.D. 1764 and is carried up to the late
1370F25 nineteenth century.) ^The recorded account is that Guru Arjan Dev laid
1380F25 the foundation of Hari Mandir on 1st *5Magh Samvat*6 1645 (\0A.D.
1390F25 1588). ^However, the later Sikh tradition holds that the foundation
1400F25 was laid at the request of Guru Arjan Dev by a Muslim divine,
1410F25 Pir Mian Mir of Lahore, in *4Samvat 1645 \0BK (\0A.D. 1588).
1420F25 ^This version is based on oral tradition and is not supported either
1430F25 by the early Sikh sources or any of the Persian accounts, including
1440F25 the biographies of Mian Mir. $*3^THE*0 construction work of
1450F25 the new temple was undertaken with great enthusiasm. ^A large number
1460F25 of Sikhs participated in the work. ^Some devotees became legends and
1470F25 adorn the pages of the annals of Sikh literature. ^The solid foundation
1480F25 was laid on a level higher than the bottom of the tank with lime and
1490F25 bricks. ^Broad walls were built. ^A bridge connecting the temple with
1500F25 *5Darshani Deorhi*6 (entrance gate) was constructed over the support
1510F25 of *5Surang Dwaries*6 (aqueducts) *4mehrabs and *4dats (arches).
1520F25 $^Instead of building the Hari Mandir on a higher level, as was the
1530F25 custom in traditional Hindu temple architecture, the *4Guru built
1540F25 the shrine on a level lower than the surrounding ground. ^The visitors
1550F25 have to_ go down the steps in order to_ pay homage to the holy shrine.
1560F25 ^The other distinguishing feature of the structure of the Hari
1570F25 Mandir is that, unlike the Hindu temples which usually have only one
1580F25 gate, the Hari Mandir was made open on all the four sides; representing
1590F25 open entry to all, a privilege which was denied in the Hindu temples.
1600F25 ^The construction of the temple was accomplished in a continuous
1610F25 process. $^Even while the work was proceeding apace, news about the ambitious
1620F25 project spread far and wide and pilgrims began to_ visit Amritsar
1630F25 in large numbers. ^All the devotees contributed a share of their
1640F25 earnings to the construction fund. ^Rich people offered huge donations.
1650F25 ^The *4masands (Guru*'s agents) collected funds for the project,
1660F25 from far and near. $^The tank and the temple rose in all the majesty
1670F25 of faith and beauty. ^*Guru Arjan Dev sang a hymn to the glory of
1680F25 the holy place: **[verse**] $*3^THE*0 Golden Temple radiates the
1690F25 selflessness of the voluntary services offered by the Sikhs. ^The
1700F25 honest and hard work of the disciples were duly acknowledged by the *4Guru.
1710F25 ^All the Sikhs who offered *4seva as worship were rewarded. $^Simultaneously
1720F25 with the construction of the temple, plans for the expansion
1730F25 of the town were taken up. ^The Sikhs were encouraged to_ settle
1740F25 in Amritsar. ^Consequently, the city became well populated. $^Some
1750F25 of the inhabitants and traders of Lahore did not appreciate the town
1760F25 plan of Amritsar. ^They scoffed at the idea of a city around a big
1770F25 tank in a low lying area and feared a great risk to the investment during
1780F25 the rainy season when the raised level of the water would penetrate
1790F25 into the localities and damage the habitations. ^The businessmen
1800F25 of Amritsar were alarmed. ^They approached the *4Guru and expressed
1810F25 their fears. ^The *4Guru assured them all protection and foretold
1820F25 the future prospects of the city. ^*Guru Arjan Dev composed the following
1830F25 hymn setting out the attributes of the holy town: **[verse**] $^With
1840F25 the construction of the Hari Mandir, Amritsar attained the status
1850F25 of *5Ath Sath Tirth*6*#
        **[no. of words = 02012**]

        **[txt. f26**]
0010F26 **<*3The Battle of Quebec*0**> $^In 1899, resentment grew stronger than
0020F26 ever. ^The British went to war against the Boers in South Africa--
0030F26 a move opposed by the French-Canadians. ^Meanwhile, the English
0040F26 speaking community considered any assistance to England as one of
0050F26 their obligatory responsibilities. ^During World War *=1, the French
0060F26 argued that Canada was interested in assisting England rather
0070F26 than working for the progress of Canadians. ^By 1917, the gap between
0080F26 the two groups had widened considerably. ^The English speaking
0090F26 Canadians accused Quebecers of sabotaging the war efforts. ^Yet,
0100F26 French-Canadian troops served with distinction during the war, particularly
0110F26 at the Battle of Vimy, France. ^Some died; and some never
0120F26 returned home. $*<*3Mounting separatist wave*0*> $^In 1918 the
0130F26 Quebec Legislative Assembly debated the issue of separation from
0140F26 Canada. ^A resolution introduced in the Assembly, in effect, said,
0150F26 "Quebec would be disposed to_ accept the breaking of the Confederation
0160F26 Pact of 1867 if it is believed that she is an obstacle to the
0170F26 union and progress of Canada." ^In the final year of World War
0180F26 *=1, French opposition to compulsory military training sent crowds
0190F26 into the streets of Quebec City-- the provincial capital. ^The demostrators
0200F26 shouted: *3*8Vive la revolution*9*0 (Long live the revolution).
0210F26 $^The separatist wave reached its peak in the *'330s but lost
0220F26 momentum when the Canadian economy improved. ^Later rising unemployment
0230F26 resulted in political unrest and adverse economic conditions.
0240F26 $*<*3No emotional integration*0*> $^Although Quebec did not sever
0250F26 ties with the rest of Canada, it did not feel itself to_ be a part
0260F26 of the Confederation. ^The French resented industrialzation, and
0270F26 argued that the big machines would ruin their way of life. ^Their
0280F26 strong resistance to innovations, both in industry and commerce, probably
0290F26 explains the present economic backwardness of the French Canadians.
0300F26 $^*Quebec proved invaluable to the Allies during World War
0310F26 *=2 due to a number of reasons. ^The province, for one thing, had
0320F26 a large labour force, abundant electric supply, vast resources of asbestos,
0330F26 copper and zinc. ^The net value of Quebec*'s industrial production
0340F26 between 1938 and 1945 soared from *-430,000,000 to *-1,150,000,000.
0350F26 ^But the French and English continued to_ drift apart during
0360F26 the war. ^The Federal Government began recruitiong men to_
0370F26 fight overseas. ^This, the French Canadians pointed out, was a flagrant
0380F26 violation of promise. ^The succession of political crises exposed
0390F26 fundamental and persistent maladjustments between Canada*'s French
0400F26 and English speaking communities. $^*World War *=2 also resulted
0410F26 in tension in Quebec in terms of the relationship with Canada.
0420F26 ^*Prime Minister Trudeau described French-Canadians from an historical
0430F26 perspective as: "A people vanquished, occupied, leaderless,
0440F26 kept aside from business life and away from the cities, gradually
0450F26 reduced to a minority role and deprived of influence in a country,
0460F26 which after all, it had discovered, explored and settled." \0^*Mr Trudeau
0470F26 argued that French-Canadians had evolved a system of self-defence
0480F26 against English, Protestants, materialistic environment and
0490F26 made a cult of the French language. $^In 1963, another factor-- a violent
0500F26 one added to the confrontation which had been plaguing Canada
0510F26 for years. *3*8^Front de Liberation du Quebec*9*0 (\0FLQ) unleashed
0520F26 terrorism in the affluent English speaking areas. ^The first
0530F26 wave of mail box bombings was the deed of a group of French Canadians
0540F26 who were still in their teens. $^At this time, terrorism was an integral
0550F26 part of political life. ^The terrorists robbed banks and stole
0560F26 military equipment from armouries. ^In 1967, the French President,
0570F26 Charles De Gaulle visited the International Fair (Expo *'367)
0580F26 held in Montreal and told a tumultous crowd at City Hall "*3*8Vive
0590F26 le quebec Oibre*9". $^The French leader was forced to_ leave
0600F26 Canada since Ottawa insisted that his public statement was an
0610F26 interference into Canada*'s internal political matters. ^*Premier Levesque
0620F26 described the terrorists as aliens who had nothing in common
0630F26 with his men. $*<*3Growing terrorist activities*> $^The most spectacular
0640F26 aspect of the terrorist wave was the well-known October Crisis
0650F26 of 1970. ^Two small groups of men kidnapped a British diplomat
0660F26 and killed a Quebec Cabinet Minister sending waves of shock throughout
0670F26 Canada. ^The development, unprecedented in the Canadian history,
0680F26 forced the Federal Government to_ invoke wartime emergency
0690F26 measures thus suspending civil liberties. ^For the terrorists, it
0700F26 clearly marked the culmination of all political activities. ^During
0710F26 the emergency, people were forced away from their homes and offices
0720F26 to_ be interrogated in police stations. $\0^*Mr Trudeau vowed that
0730F26 he would not hesitate to_ enforce War Measures Act if Quebec
0740F26 once again slipped into lawlessness. ^He also said that he did not want
0750F26 to_ create another Northern Ireland or Bangladesh in Canada. ^The
0760F26 October Crisis polarized public opinion, and Parti Quebecois
0770F26 could command support only from its core of committed separatists. ^The
0780F26 membership declined. ^In July 1971, the party had received *-200,000
0790F26 as membership dues while the total expense was estimated, at *-260,000.
0800F26 ^As the dust of political uncertainty began to_ settle down,
0810F26 Parti Quebecois focussed its attention on its objective of a separate
0820F26 Quebec and on the forthcoming elections. $^A highly significant,
0830F26 and emotional problem which no Government in Quebec has been
0840F26 able to_ put off is the language issue today. ^Language can be used
0850F26 as an expression of thought or as a means of political disruption.
0860F26 ^In the spring of 1974, the former provincial Government headed by
0870F26 the Liberal Party introduced a bill. ^Its chief objective was to_
0880F26 repeal the parental freedom to_ choose the language of education
0890F26 for their childern, a practice which had existed in Quebec for years.
0900F26 ^*English speaking Quebecers were astonished to_ find that they
0910F26 were robbed of the right to_ send children to schools of their choice.
0920F26 $^Meanwhile, French-Candians argued that unless firm steps were
0930F26 not adopted, **[sic**] their culture would fade away in America.
0940F26 ^Their reasoning had its roots in two significant developments-- that
0950F26 the immigrants to Quebec had always preferred English schools to
0960F26 institutions using French as the medium of instruction. ^Secondly
0970F26 there was an alarming drop in birth rate, including Quebec. ^These
0980F26 two factors, French Canadians pointed out, would eventually make it
0990F26 impossible to_ salvage their culture. $*<*3Shifting power*>
1000F26 $^Opposition to the Bill erupted in violence in some schools in Montreal.
1010F26 ^By the middle of 1976, it was clear that the Government was
1020F26 on its way to defeat. ^Power was shifting slowly to Parti Quebecois
1030F26 since the party offered a solution, satisfactory to all with regard
1040F26 to the language issue. ^There were other significant factors for
1050F26 the mounting popularity of Parti Quebecois at the expense of the
1060F26 previous Government. $^The list of charges against the previous Liberal
1070F26 Government included revelations of patronage and corruption including
1080F26 meat scandal which exposed the sale of poor quality meat with
1090F26 the connivance of the Government inspectors. ^Strikes by teachers,
1100F26 nurses, civil servants on the one hand and unemployment and spiralling
1110F26 inflation on the other, crippled the provincial economy. ^Pride
1120F26 in the 1976 Olympics, held in Montreal, was dampened as a result
1130F26 of sharp increase in taxes and the price of cigarettes to_ pay for
1140F26 the lavish sports facilities. ^The Government had lost confidence
1150F26 in its capability to_ handle the situation, and decided to_ go to
1160F26 the voters before it became completely incompetent. $*<*3Politics
1170F26 of language*> $^It was such an atmosphere which brought victory to
1180F26 Parti Quebecois on November 15, 1976. ^Despite strong indication
1190F26 of support for the party, political *4pundits predicted a minority
1200F26 Government for the province, perhaps the Liberals again. ^The degree
1210F26 of election sweep, 41.4 per cent of the votes and 71 out of 110 seats
1220F26 in the State Legislature, called the National Assembly, astonished
1230F26 Canada. ^*Parti Quebecois was able to_ garner more votes in
1240F26 French speaking rather than in the English speaking areas. $^Another
1250F26 measure, Bill 101, spelled out the Government*'s aim to_ build
1260F26 an 'essentially French' society where 'there would be no longer any
1270F26 question of bilingual Quebec'. ^A policy paper, which was a prelude
1280F26 to Bill 101 also stated explicitly: "It (Quebec) will also be a
1290F26 country in which the traditional balance of power will be altered...
1300F26 ^The use of French will not merely be universalized to hide the
1310F26 predominance of foreign powers from the French speaking population.
1320F26 ^This use will accompany and support the reconquest by the French
1330F26 speaking majority in Quebec of that_ control over the economy which
1340F26 it ought to_ have." $^The English speaking community responded
1350F26 to the challenge of French language. ^The Canadian Pacific Investment,
1360F26 a banking institution operated by the English, announced its
1370F26 decision to_ halt the construction of a head office at the cost of
1380F26 *-120,000,000. ^*Sun Life Assurance Company, the largest in Canada,
1390F26 decided to_ move its head office from Montreal to Toronto. ^*Finance
1400F26 Minister Jacques Parizeau said that Sun Life had siphoned off *-140
1410F26 million from Quebec to_ invest in other provinces in the past.
1420F26 ^Capital is also moving to the neighbouring United States. \0^*Dr
1430F26 Camille Laurin, a psychiatrist-turned-politician and the Minister
1440F26 of Cultural Affairs, feels that the exodus of men and business is
1450F26 only transitional. ^An English speaking housewife remarked: "I do
1460F26 not want any one to_ push French down my throat." ^Ever since Parti
1470F26 Qucbecois assumed power Ottawa and Quebec have had serious controversies
1480F26 over the language issue, allocation of taxes and the distribution
1490F26 of power between Ottawa and Quebec. $*<*3Immigrants influenced*>
1500F26 $^The overall effects of the language regulation on Indian
1510F26 residents deserve our attention. ^The new measures have influenced
1520F26 many immigrants, including those from India. ^It is compulsory to_
1530F26 learn French for them. ^Most of the Indians living in Quebec
1540F26 are doctors, nurses, university teachers and engineers who have arrived
1550F26 here long before the implementation of the language legislation.
1560F26 ^Although there are over 8,000 Indian people living in the province--
1570F26 almost all of them in and around Montreal-- only a small minority
1580F26 can speak French. ^However, Indian children are bilingual. ^The
1590F26 Government today provides various facilities to immigrant communities,
1600F26 including free books and lectures. ^By nature, it is quite easy
1610F26 to_ get along with the French-Canadians who are simple minded.
1620F26 ^In Quebec there have been no racial incidents which have poisoned
1630F26 the relationship between Indians and the residents of predominantly English
1640F26 speaking provinces, such as Ontario and British Columbia.
1650F26 $^Premier Levesque (also the greatest chain smoker in the history of
1660F26 French Canada) promised a plebiscite to_ determine the future of
1670F26 Quebec, and the Government is now making an attempt in order to_
1680F26 win the same. ^The federalists are also trying to_ combat separatism
1690F26 although they are engaged in pointless ideological disputes. ^Today,
1700F26 there is serious talk about Canadian unity, yet for many years
1710F26 no one seems to_ have made any serious effort to_ bridge the gap
1720F26 between the two communities. ^French and English speaking children
1730F26 attended separate schools without establishing any contact all these
1740F26 years-- their mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters went to different
1750F26 places of worship, social organizations and clubs. $*<*3Widespread
1760F26 impact*> $^That the main objective of the party to_ separate
1770F26 Quebec from the rest of Canada has influenced all strata of society
1780F26 is well-known here. ^A textile worker in Drummondville, a small
1790F26 town near Montreal, remarked: "Recently, I borrowed a book on Gandhi
1800F26 from the library; you know, we are like the people of India.
1810F26 ^We are only six million... but we are surrounded by 15 million English
1820F26 speaking Canadians and 210 million people in the United States.
1830F26 ^Yes, England had power in India... but Indians attained
1840F26 freedom even without firing a shot, something unique. ^*I am trying
1850F26 to_ find out how India won freedom. "*3*8^J*'3etais bien content le
1860F26 15, moi*9. $(November 15 made me happy)".
1861F26 $^*Quebec*'s nationalist *4guru Premier Levesque saidthat plebiscite
1870F26 would be the ultimate judge to_ decide the province*'s future.
1880F26 ^If the province resorts to illegal means to_ win the majority of
1890F26 votes, Prime Minister Trudeau warned that he would reconsider his
1900F26 political option and use force if necessary. ^Will Quebec become a
1910F26 new nation? ^Or will it remain as a province within the perephery of
1920F26 Canadian federalism?
1930F26 $**<*3TOWARDS SEPARATION*0**> $^Undoubtedly, Quebec*'s language problem
1940F26 and the imminent threat of separation from Canada have become an international
1950F26 issue. ^The present crisis will be of particularly overwhelming
1960F26 concern to nations belonging to the Commonwealth since Canada
1970F26 is one of its leading members.*#
        **[no. of words = 02004**]

        **[txt. f27**]
0010F27 **<*3DYNAMICS OF POLITICAL $MODERNIZATION IN $NEPAL*0 $*3(A Study of
0020F27 Conflict between $Tradition and Modernity)*0**> $*=1 $^The study of
0030F27 the concept of Modernisation as a viable "dogma" of process of change
0040F27 has begun to_ develop in the social sciences only in the later
0050F27 1940s and early 1950s. ^This can largely be attributed to industrialization
0060F27 and modern technology in the western societies and the great upsurge
0070F27 of the interest in the break-through of non-western societies into
0080F27 modernity, which have emerged since Second World War. ^Soon these
0090F27 old societies began to_ take the shape of new states, the attention
0100F27 of social scientists was drawn towards them. ^A number of scholars
0110F27 particularly from the West devoted themselves to the studies on modernization
0120F27 wherein they tried to_ examine confrontation between modern and
0130F27 non-modern, modern and pre-modern society; and considered modern society
0140F27 as a society oriented towards 'progress' or 'change'. ^This confrontation
0150F27 tended very often to_ have been defined in terms of modern
0160F27 versus traditional society. ^This confrontation of modern versus traditional
0170F27 society initially took the form of depicting both as more or less
0180F27 completely 'closed' dichotomous types. ^These types were described
0190F27 in various ways among the most famous of which were Weber*'s "traditional
0200F27 and "rational", Redfield*'s "folk" and "urban", Rostow*'s "traditional"
0210F27 and "mass consumption", Lerner*'s "traditional" and "modern"
0220F27 and Tonnies*' "*7Gemeisehaft" and "*7Gessellschaft". $^Deducing
0230F27 from the above typologies, the typical and dominant fetures of the two
0240F27 types "tradition" and "modernity" can be summarised in terms of their
0250F27 political organization, economy, social relations and values. ^A
0260F27 tradition oriented society is depicted as a society with a little
0270F27 differentiation, literacy and exposure to mass media. ^In the political
0280F27 realm traditional society has been depicted as based on a traditional
0290F27 elite ruling by virtue of some mandate of Heaven. ^Besides, there
0300F27 is virtually no mobilization of population for political tastes, no
0310F27 real penetration of the Central decision making apparatus into the
0320F27 lower levels of society and relatively little participation by the
0330F27 members of society in any institution of government. ^Modern society
0340F27 on the other hand is seen as a society with a very high level of differentiation,
0350F27 literacy and exposure to mass-media. ^The modern society
0360F27 is also based on wide participation of the masses who do not accept
0370F27 any traditional legitimation of the rulers and who hold these rulers
0380F27 accountable in terms of secular values and efficiency. ^Above
0390F27 all, traditional society has been conceived as bound by the cultural
0400F27 horizons set by its tradition while the modern society is culturally
0410F27 dynamic, oriented to change and innovation. $^There is one more point
0420F27 which needs to_ be analysed. ^It is the concept of 'change'. ^It
0430F27 should be noted that when society changes from its traditional moorings
0440F27 into a modern society there is a gradual but fundamental change
0450F27 in the style of life of the people and in their outlook on the world.
0460F27 ^It involves a new orientation in the attitude towards authority and
0470F27 the functions of government. ^But it is necessary, at the outset,
0480F27 to_ emphasize that this transformation does not involve any revolutionary
0490F27 break with the past which asserts itself in curious and unpredictable
0500F27 ways and is even strengthened in some direction. ^There is
0510F27 no straight, linear progress from the traditional to the modern; neither
0520F27 is the transition smooth. ^In fact, we cannot divide the societies
0530F27 or political systems of the world in the watertight compartments symbolising
0540F27 'traditional' and 'modern'. ^Each system has a mixture of
0550F27 tradition and modernity, and there is inevitable interaction between
0560F27 the two. ^However, the traditional and the modern are being modified
0570F27 and redefined to_ suit the particular interests of the ruling elite
0580F27 and perspective of different political systems. ^It is in this context
0590F27 that we propose to_ discuss the dynamics of political modernisation
0600F27 confronting with that_ of tradition and modernity issues and
0610F27 its interaction in the evolution of the political process in the tiny
0620F27 Himalayan Kingdom-- Nepal. $*=2 $^The evolution of political
0630F27 process in Nepal should be of great interest to the students of political
0640F27 development and modernisation because it presents a fascinating
0650F27 case study where modernisation is proceeding slowly and where a
0660F27 major effort is being made by its ruling elite to_ retain fundamental
0670F27 features of traditional society around traditional political models
0680F27 known as '*4panchayat system'. ^Thus, the political development
0690F27 of Nepal is the history of conflict between traditional forces-- representing
0700F27 monarchy on the one hand and modern forces-- represented by
0710F27 political parties and other interest groups on the other. ^It is
0720F27 also interesting to_ note that in the course of a little more than
0730F27 two centuries, Nepal has witnessend various forms of political transformation
0740F27 in a remarkable sequence, such as Rana family oligarchy,
0750F27 constitutional monarchy and now a new innovation of *4Panchayat system.
0760F27 $^An attempt is being made in this paper to_ examine the dynamics
0770F27 of political modernisation in Nepal confronting with the problems
0780F27 of tradition and modernity. ^An attempt would also be made to_ discuss
0790F27 the role of various institutions and agencies for carrying out
0800F27 the process of modernisation and lastly we will discuss the future course
0810F27 of modernisation and the types of different political orders
0820F27 likely to_ emerge in Nepal. $^After the emergence of Nepal as a nation
0830F27 state in the last quarter of the Eighteenth century, the primary
0840F27 objective of the Nepalese ruling elite was to_ maintain the traditional
0850F27 power structure in Nepal which meant the continuation of
0860F27 political power in the various elite families composing the court.
0870F27 ^The political power was largely concentrated ethnically into two groups--
0880F27 the Brahmans and the Kshatriyas. $^The traditional political
0890F27 system remained intact till the revolution of 1950. ^During the period
0900F27 between 1846 to 1950 there was Rana oligarchy in Nepal and the
0910F27 Shah family occupied a key position in the Nepalese political system.
0920F27 ^Indeed, the Shah King promoted the only enduring basis of continuity
0930F27 and stablity through all the complicated maneouvers and counter-maneouvers
0940F27 of the elite families. ^Since the Shah family was
0950F27 the supreme authority and the mainstream of the political power, the
0960F27 common people were not allowed to_ participate and influence the
0970F27 decision-making process of the ruling elite. ^So Nepal was in the strict
0980F27 sense the 'Traditional Oligarchy' in South Asia. $*<*3Jolt
0990F27 to Traditional Oligarchy*0*> $^In 1950-51, a Revolution took place
1000F27 in Nepal. ^The Revolution brought about radical changes in the
1010F27 traditional political system of Nepal. ^The political hold of the feudal
1020F27 class was broken and a new era of political modernisation was
1030F27 ushered in Nepal. ^The change was the result of three combined forces:
1040F27 (**=1) conflict within traditional forces (**=2) the pressures of modern
1050F27 forces (**=3) the external environmental forces. ^Conflict within
1060F27 traditional forces was mainly between King Tribhuwan and the
1070F27 Rana Prime Minister. ^Structurally, the King was embodied with all
1080F27 powers and authority but in actual practice, he was reduced to the
1090F27 status of a political non-entity. ^The Rana Prime Ministers were
1100F27 enjoying the real powers. ^*King Tribhuwan was in search of reviving
1110F27 his power which ran contrary to the whims and wishes of Rana Prime
1120F27 Minister. ^In the Revolution, the King joined hands with the
1130F27 modernising forces represented by the Nepalese Congress and the
1140F27 external forces that_ is with the Indian Government. ^Besides, the
1150F27 Ranas themselves were also divided. ^The Ranas were divided into
1160F27 'A', 'B' and 'C' classes on the basis of high as well as low castes.
1170F27 ^During the tenure of the Rana regime the 'C' class Ranas were
1180F27 deprived to_ enjoy **[sic**] power and position in the system. ^So
1190F27 this class of the Ranas supported the King and the Nepali Congress
1200F27 in waging struggle against the Ranas. **[sic**] $^The modern
1210F27 forces were represented by the Nepali Congress which was itself
1220F27 constituted of some traditional and modern elites. ^In 1948, two prominent
1230F27 members of the 'C' Class Ranas, Subarna and Mahavir Shumshere,
1240F27 formed a political party known as "Prajatantrik Congress"
1250F27 at Calcutta. ^Later the party was merged with the Nepali Congress
1260F27 under the leadership of *(0B.P.*) Koirala. ^The Nepali Congress
1270F27 actively participated in the Revolution of 1950 in order to_
1280F27 overthrow autocratic regime of the Ranas. $^The political change in
1290F27 Nepal could not take place without the active and moral support of
1300F27 the Indian Government. ^The Indian government was representing
1310F27 the viewpoints of both traditional forces representing the King and
1320F27 the modern forces supported by the Nepali Congress in the negotiations
1330F27 with the Rana government. $^The outcome of the revolution of
1340F27 1950 was a political system which combined both traditional and modern
1350F27 forces. ^Indeed the 'Delhi Settlement' did not bring about a complete
1360F27 change in the political system of Nepal but it did start the
1370F27 process of modernisation of the political system. ^From the outset
1380F27 it was clear that the 'Delhi Settlement' of February 1951 was doomed
1390F27 to failure owing to its inherent contradictions. ^The parties--
1400F27 the Ranas and the Nepali Congress had entered the coalition in their
1410F27 respective interests and did not genuinely accept the compromise
1420F27 solution imposed by the Indian Government. ^The Ranas were not
1430F27 reconciled to the loss of absolute power and were in the government only
1440F27 due to Nehru*'s pressure and his conviction that any sudden and
1450F27 radical change might result in political instability and consquent upheaval
1460F27 in Nepal. ^The Nepali Congress which had been advocating
1470F27 the establishment of complete democracy, in other words "Total change"
1480F27 accepted the Delhi compromise because it did not want the King
1490F27 and the Indian government and was eager to_ deliver another blow
1500F27 to the traditional order from within. $^The basic fact of the situation
1510F27 was that Nepal had been pushed into an experiment for which it
1520F27 was ill-prepared. ^The traditional system had been disrupted before
1530F27 any infra-structure for a modern democratic system could be evolved.
1540F27 ^*Nepalese political parties had no social base or ideology, there
1550F27 were personal following and indeed factional cleavages. ^The administrative
1560F27 pattern which Nepal inherited from the Rana regime was not
1570F27 organised on modern lines. ^Consequently, the existing bureaucracy
1580F27 neither had any experience nor the foresight to_ run the democratic
1590F27 system. ^The army too was ill-organised and ill-equipped. ^The economy
1600F27 of Nepal was feudal to the core. ^Under the circumstances, the
1610F27 setting of modern democratic institutions was a challenging task.
1620F27 $^The political change did not alter the basic pattern of traditional politics,
1630F27 but only pushed it back for the time being. ^After the revolution
1640F27 the King attempted to_ build representative institutions in the country
1650F27 with the apparent intention of establishing constitutional monarchy.
1660F27 ^The King tried to_ modernise Nepalese political system with
1670F27 the active assistance from New Delhi. ^However, the traditional
1680F27 character of the system remained intact throughout the period and
1690F27 the King taking the advantages of intra-party rivalry consolidated
1700F27 his position in the system. $^The accession of King Mahendra to the
1710F27 Nepalese throne in March 1955 opened a new chapter in Nepal*'s
1720F27 modern history. ^The new King had a disposition different from that_
1730F27 of his father and had acceded to the throne with a sense of Nepal
1740F27 having a date with destiny. ^The King was convinced of the most
1750F27 important role of monarchy in the political system of Nepal. ^Since
1760F27 he was an eye-witness to the political upheaval in Nepal, he had
1770F27 dislike against the Nepali Congress and for democratic institutions.
1780F27 ^He believed that in a country like Nepal democratic institutions
1790F27 would give rise to divisive tendencies and halt the economic development
1800F27 of the nation. $^Soon after coming to power the King gave expression
1810F27 to his ideas. ^He expressed his disenchantment with the democratic
1820F27 system and declared that it was not suited to the country*'s
1830F27 tradition and environment. ^Since the King wanted to_ assert his
1840F27 power, he found the Nepali Congress and Indian diplomacy which aimed
1850F27 at the establishment of democratic institutions to_ be obstacle
1860F27 in his way. ^*King Mahendra*'s task was therefore, to_ undermine
1870F27 the role of Nepali Congress in Nepalese politics so that it might
1880F27 not come to power. ^He also did not like New Delhi to_ guide Nepal*'s
1890F27 future political development. ^The King indeed wanted to_
1900F27 take a direct interest in politics and to_ create a dynamic image of
1910F27 the crown as an active agent of modernisation. ^To_ give a practical
1920F27 shape of his policy, the King first of all placed the country under
1930F27 his direct rule.*#
        **[no. of words = 02015**]

        **[txt. f28**]
0010F28 **<LALA LAJPAT RAI AND SURAT SPLIT $*3(1906-07) $^The Indian National
0020F28 Congress sessions of 1906 and 1907 held in Calcutta and Surat
0030F28 are, undoubtedly, significant landmarks in the history of this organization.
0040F28 ^Under its new leadership it began to_ adopt methods, more vigorous
0050F28 in nature for the attainment of its objects. ^It became more
0060F28 broad based. ^The "old leaders", who believed that the Congress ought
0070F28 to_ be run on old traditional lines, were alarmed by this development
0080F28 and they made an effort to_ stop such a trend ^Hence there ensued
0090F28 a struggle between the two wings of the organization popularly called
0100F28 the Moderates and the Extremists. $^The object of this paper is
0110F28 to_ analyse the role played by Lajpat Rai in this struggle. ^Was he
0120F28 with the Moderates? ^Or, as it is popularly believed, was he with the
0130F28 Extremists? ^Did he remain neutral? ^Or, did he work to_ bring about
0140F28 unity and harmony between the two groups? $^The Benares session (1905)
0150F28 of the Congress took place in the shadow of the partition of Bengal.
0160F28 ^There was a great controversy among the Congressmen on the resolutions
0170F28 of Boycott and *4Swadeshi. ^The Extremists were more vocal
0180F28 on these issues. ^But, ultimately, the Moderates emerged successful,
0190F28 and they passed the useful quota of 'moderate' resolutions. ^It was
0200F28 the great tact and influence of Gopal Krishna Gokhale which saved
0210F28 the situation. $^But the gulf between the leaders of the Indian National
0220F28 Congress continued to_ grow, especially since its last session
0230F28 held in 1905. ^As a leader representing the Punjab Congress, Lajpat
0240F28 Rai did not want his province to_ join this needless controversy.
0250F28 ^In an editorial in the *3Panjabee on 13 October 1906, he stated
0260F28 that, **[second margin begin**] $"^So far as we in the Punjab are
0270F28 concerned, we feel real and sincere respect both for \0Mr. Gokhale
0280F28 and \0Mr. Tilak. ^We admire the work of both Babu Surendra Nath
0290F28 Banerjea as well as that_ of Bipin Chandra Pal." **[end second margin**]
0300F28 $^He had an intense desire to_ maintain unity, and avert a
0310F28 split in the national organization. ^He described the controversy as
0320F28 "extremely silly", and held both the groups responsible for this development.
0330F28 ^He did not relish the extravagant attacks on the "old leaders",
0340F28 though he regretted that they had failed to_ change with the times.
0350F28 ^He did not spare even the old leaders for their suspicion about
0360F28 Tilak, whom the new leaders wanted to_ elect President of the next
0370F28 Congress. ^He advised Congressmen to_ accept the decision of the
0380F28 Reception Committee with good grace, and also abide by the decision
0390F28 of the majority. ^Thus, he was in favour of a united Congress.
0400F28 $^By December 1906, when the Indian National Congress met at Calcutta,
0410F28 the differences between the Extremists and the Moderates had
0420F28 greatly deepened and a split seemed imminent. ^The first issue was the
0430F28 election of the President. ^The Extremists believed that it was
0440F28 appropriate to_ elect Lajpat Rai to the presidential chair. ^*The
0450F28 reason they advanced was that no Congress leader from Punjab had
0460F28 so far been elected to the position of such distinction. ^But the Moderates
0470F28 were not prepared to_ accept his candidature, for he, in their
0480F28 opinion, held advanced views. ^He had been demanding a constitution
0490F28 for the Congress . ^This was greatly resented by the "old" leaders.
0500F28 ^They complained: "^Behind all is Tilak who, knowing the Congress Party,
0510F28 has been moving heaven and earth to_ get Lajpat Rai elected
0520F28 for the President! ^Today Lajpat Rai and tomorrow Tilak! ^Where
0530F28 will the Congress be?" ^Thus the presidential issue was the first principal
0540F28 point of difference between the two wings of the Congress.
0550F28 ^The other point of controversy was the demand of a constitution for
0560F28 the Congress. ^It was vehemently opposed by the Moderates. ^Finally,
0570F28 Boycott, '*4Swadeshism', National education and self government
0580F28 on colonial lines were the burning issues for the forthcoming Congress.
0590F28 ^The Extremists had returned from the Benares Congress in an unhappy
0600F28 mood. ^They came to Calcutta to_ carry these resolutions. ^Thus,
0610F28 the Congress was heading towards a split. $^*William Wedderburn was
0620F28 much upset at this unfortunate situation and made efforts to_ avert such
0630F28 an eventuality. ^In a letter to Lajpat Rai, he urged him to_ help
0640F28 the Congress in the hour of its crisis. ^He urgred him to_ use his influence
0650F28 in order to _ keep the Congress "on its present lines, at any
0660F28 rate until \0Mr. Morley has had time to_ get his feet on firm ground."
0670F28 ^*Lajpat Rai was keen to_ maintain "the unity and solidarity" of
0680F28 the Congress but was not confident of the ultimate results because,
0690F28 in his opinion, Bengal was in a "g-eat ferment" and "new" ideas
0700F28 were replacing "old" ones. ^He, however, assured
0710F28 Wedderburn that he would do his best to_ avert split. ^*Gokhale, who
0720F28 had much regard for Lajpat Rai, was confident that Lalaji would
0730F28 prove instrumental in preserving unity in the forthcoming session of
0740F28 the Congress. ^He said that as a public worker Lajpat Rai was more
0750F28 selfless than either Tilak or Pal and, though his name was freely
0760F28 used by Bipin Chandra Pal and his party, he was not with them in
0770F28 their views or methods and he perhaps would have been more actively
0780F28 "on our side today if greater tact had been displayed in the past in
0790F28 meeting the wishes of men like him." ^It was a very accurate assessment
0800F28 of Lajpat Rai*'s views and ideology. $^Stunned by the activities
0810F28 of the Extremists, the Moderates decided to_ have Dadabhai Naoroji
0820F28 as the President for the 1906 session. ^They knew fully well that
0830F28 the Extremists would not oppose openly the election of the "Grand
0840F28 Old Man" of India. ^*Naoroji accepted the offer. ^Welcoming his election,
0850F28 Lajpat Rai wrote to Gokhale: "\0^*Mr. Naoroji*'s formal election
0860F28 as President will stop all irritation and all quarrels about
0870F28 the President." ^Thus a great crisis in the Congress was averted.
0880F28 $^The address of the President was plea for moderation and constitutional
0890F28 agitation, and the aim of the Congress was stated in clear terms--
0900F28 "Self-Government or *4Swaraj like that_ of the United Kingdom
0910F28 or the colonies." ^He demanded it as the birth right of Indians as
0920F28 British citizens. $^The resolution on the partition of Bengal was
0930F28 discussed on 27 December 1906. ^In this resolution the Congress recorded
0940F28 its "emphatic protest against the partition of Bengal," and
0950F28 regretted that it was "wholly and decisively against the wishes of the
0960F28 majority of the people of Bengal." ^It also asked for an inquiry
0970F28 by the Government over the partition issue. ^The Extremists did not
0980F28 like the resolution put forward by the Moderates and they suggested
0990F28 some amendments in it. ^They argued that the time had come to_ give
1000F28 up the idea of petitioning the government for enquiries and they urged
1010F28 that the clause be struck out. ^*Dadabhai Naoroji thought that the
1020F28 the feeling of the House was not in favour of the amendment and
1030F28 he, therefore, tactfully refused to_ put it to vote. ^In the end, the
1040F28 Moderates decided to_ accept the amendment, and speaking in the session,
1050F28 Surendra Nath Banerjea said that "all reference to the commission
1060F28 of inquiry will be deleted" from the final wording of the resolution."
1070F28 ^*Lala Lajpat Rai supported the partition resolution. $^The
1080F28 real conflict between the two groups was magnified on the working of
1090F28 the Boycott and *4Swadeshi resolutions. ^At the 1905 Congress the
1100F28 Congress leaders had accepted that the boycott of foreign goods was
1110F28 a legitimate technique for use in Bengal. ^The Extremists now attempted
1120F28 to_ widen the concept by arguing that boycott be applied to every
1130F28 British thing and in every province. ^When the Moderates insisted
1140F28 on limiting the endorsement of boycott to only Bengal, Bipin Chandra
1150F28 Pal demanded Congress recommendation of universal economic and
1160F28 political boycott. ^*Pal*'s demand was rejected by the Moderates.
1170F28 ^Intervening in the controversy, Lajpat Rai forcefully supported
1180F28 the boycott resolution and described it as the 'religion of new India;
1190F28 the manifestation of self-reliant Indian Nation and the spearhead
1200F28 of India*'s national struggle against British rule.' ^*Lajpat Rai
1210F28 attempted to_ solve the controversy by introducing an amendment.
1220F28 "^To_ me", Lajpat Rai wrote, "it appeared that the difference in the
1230F28 attitude of the two groups was one of the word only. ^So I moved
1240F28 an amendment which though not accepted by the Extremist leaders was
1250F28 carried by majority. ^*Bipin Chandra Pal and his party walked out.
1260F28 ^The leader of the moderates, Gokhale, was pleased with me and said
1270F28 I had solved the situation." ^Thus the drafted resolution in the committee
1280F28 read: "^Having regard to the fact that the people of this country
1290F28 have little or no voice in its administration, and that their representations
1300F28 to the Government do not receive due consideration, that
1310F28 the Boycott movement inaugurated in Bengal by way of protest against
1320F28 the partition of that_ province, was and is legitimate".
1330F28 $^It seems Lajpat Rai had the spirit of an extremist but he was
1340F28 not a blind follower of any school of thought. ^He was more interested
1350F28 in preserving harmony in the national organization. $^The resolution
1360F28 on *4Swadeshi also evoked serious controversy. ^*Lajpat Rai
1370F28 again endeavoured to_ reconcile the two warring groups. ^He brought
1380F28 about a temporary compromise by inserting the words "even at some sacrifice".
1390F28 ^The resolution read thus: "^This Congress accord its most
1400F28 cordial support to the *4Swadeshi movement and calls upon the people
1410F28 of the country to_ labour for its success by making earnest and
1420F28 sustained efforts to_ promote the growth of indigenous industries
1430F28 and to_ stimulate the produlion of indigenous articles by giving them
1440F28 preference over imported commodities even at some sacrifice." ^Supporting
1450F28 this Lajpat Rai declared: **[second margin begin**] $^The first
1460F28 thing which *4Swadeshism reminds you of constantly is that in the
1470F28 use of articles, in the use of the necessaries of life you have a
1480F28 duty to_ perform towards your country and that_ duty can best be performed
1490F28 by the consumption of Indian make articles in preference to
1500F28 foreign commodities. ^One thing which this resolution calls upon
1510F28 you to_ do is to_ encourage the production of all home-made articles.
1520F28 **[end second margin **] $^*Lajpat Rai described *4Swadeshism as
1530F28 a right step towards self-reliance. ^He asked his countrymen to_
1540F28 invest their capital in setting up industries. ^This he said, would
1550F28 be a great service to the country. $^At Calcutta Lajpat Rai acted
1560F28 as peace-maker to_ maintain unity within the Congress. ^It was at
1570F28 least partly due to his eiiorts that the Congress was saved from an
1580F28 open rupture for another year. ^Here he exercised his skill and influence
1590F28 in brining about a workable compromise between the Moderates
1600F28 and the Extremists. $^After the Calcutta Congress, Punjab became
1610F28 the scence of hectic political activity. ^Various unjust administrative
1620F28 and legislative measures like the Colonization Bill, increase of
1630F28 irrigation rates and the abnormal increase of land revenue in Rawalpindi
1640F28 district created unrest among the people. ^In this tense situation
1650F28 the Punjab Government deported Lala Lajpat Rai to Mandalay
1660F28 although his methods had been strictly constitutional. ^But the Government
1670F28 was forced to_ release him after six months of his arrest. $^During
1680F28 the period Lajpat Rai was in Mandalay, the struggle between
1690F28 the two wings of the Congress had taken a new turn. ^Both the groups
1700F28 were endeavouring to_ seize the organization and run it on their own
1710F28 lines. ^They were making attempts to_ demonstrate their strength at
1720F28 the next Congress to_ be held at Nagpur. ^Later on the venue was
1730F28 shifted to Surat at the instance of the Moderates. ^*Gokhale, in a private
1740F28 letter, himself accepted that "This year*'s crisis is the gravest
1750F28 without doubt". ^He realised that "it will be impossible to_ avoid
1760F28 a split this year." $^By the time of release, Lajpat Rai had gained
1770F28 enormous popularity, both in public and in the Congress, and the Extremists
1780F28 wanted to_ put his name for the Presidentship of the Indian
1790F28 National Congress. ^According to the existing convention the
1800F28 Chairman of the Reception Committee of the previous session was usually
1810F28 voted to the Chair. ^But the extremists resented the nomination
1820F28 of \0Dr. Rash Behari Ghosh owing to his moderate sympathies. ^There
1830F28 was also a rumour that the four militant resolutions of the Calcutta
1840F28 Congress were not to_ be taken up for consideration.*#
        **[no. of words = 02013**]

        **[txt. f29**]
0010F29 **<AN ASSESSMENT OF GANDHIAN ATTIUDE TOWARDS MILITANT NATIONALISTS IN
0020F29 1920*'3S**> $^Non-violence, Truth and *4Satyagraha, the main planks
0030F29 of Gandhian ideology, have been explored, interpreted and highlighted
0040F29 in theoretical terms as well as in the context of the Indian National
0050F29 Movement and problems of the modern world. ^In 1920*'3s non-violent
0060F29 as well as militant methods were applied for securing national freedom.
0070F29 ^*Mahatma Gandhi and the revolutionaries both voiced the national
0080F29 demand for self-rule but they differed in their interpretation of
0090F29 *4Swaraj and Revolution. ^Their analysis of imperialism, capitalism,
0100F29 social and economic set up too indicated sharp differences in their
0110F29 outlook. ^This paper seeks to_ interpret and put in clear perspective
0120F29 the ideological differences between Gandhi and the militant Nationalists.
0130F29 $*<*3*=2*> $^It is important to_ analyse the Gandhian
0140F29 assessment of the English character which was a crucial factor
0150F29 in his decision to_ pitch non-violence against British imperialism
0160F29 and capitalism. ^It was based on the assumption that the British
0170F29 were not a heartless people and that he would be able to_ have a dialogue
0180F29 and an understanding with them. ^Ultimately, they would succumb
0190F29 to the pressure of non-violence. ^But his faith in British sense
0200F29 of justice and honesty was not absolute. ^An extract from his writing
0210F29 'Why did I assist in the last war' illustrates the point, "...^Experience
0220F29 has made me wiser. ^*I consider the existing system of Government
0230F29 to_ be wholly bad and requiring special national effort
0240F29 to_ end or mend it. ^It does not possess within itself any capacity
0250F29 for self-improvement. ^That I still believe many English administrators
0260F29 to_ be honest does not assist me, because I consider them
0270F29 to_ be blind and deluded as I was myself...." ^It is clear that the
0280F29 process of disillusionment, which had set in as early as 1921, did
0290F29 not dim Gandhi*'s hope for a change of heart among the British even
0300F29 at the time of moving the 'Quit India' resolution at Bombay on
0310F29 8th August 1942. ^An extract from his address on this occasion illustrates
0320F29 the point, "...^*I know the British Government will not be
0330F29 able to_ withhold freedom from us, when we have made enough self-sacrifice.
0340F29 ^We must, therefore, purge ourselves of hatred. ^Speaking for
0350F29 myself, I can say that I have never felt any hatred. ^As a matter
0360F29 of fact, I feel myself to_ be a greater friend of the British
0370F29 more than ever before...." $^Resentment against the enervating British
0380F29 rule was shared by Gandhi and the Militant Nationalists but
0390F29 not the hope of liberating India by the voluntary transfer of political
0400F29 power by the foreign imperialist. ^Indian revolutionaries regarded
0410F29 the British imperialists to_ be insensitive bureaucrats whose
0420F29 smugness had to_ be shattered. ^They were convinced that British
0430F29 imperialism and capitalism which rested on violence and exploitation
0440F29 had to_ be destroyed by an armed revolution. ^Keeping this in view,
0450F29 the nature and extent of involvement of a *4satyagrahi and a revolutionary
0460F29 can be seen in the proper perspective. ^The method of non-violent
0470F29 confrontation between man and man and man and state left a
0480F29 wide margin for readjustments and withdrawals since it was a comprehensive
0490F29 and long-term project. ^Transference of political power into
0500F29 Indian hands would not have satisfied Gandhi, though he regarded
0510F29 it as the vital necessity of Indian national life. "^For, the whole
0520F29 scheme for the liberation of India," wrote Mahatma Gandhi, "is
0530F29 based upon the development of internal strength. ^It is a plan of
0540F29 self-purification; the peoples of the West, therefore, can best help the
0550F29 Indian movement by setting apart specialists to_ study the inwardness
0560F29 of it...." ^It is clear that non-violence was not to_ operate
0570F29 in isolation, it was expected that even the British would co-operate
0580F29 in leading India to_ freedom. ^Revolutionary Nationalism is more
0590F29 exacting and it demands complete commitment to the method as well
0600F29 as to the cause. ^It is a total struggle and there is no half way
0610F29 house. ^An extract from the *3Philosophy of the Bomb indicates the
0620F29 extent of their identification with the revolutionary cause: "^There
0630F29 is no crime that Britain has not committed in India. ^Deliberate
0640F29 misrule has bled us white. ^As a race and people we stand dishonoured
0650F29 and outraged. ^Do people still expect us to_ forget and to_ forgive?
0660F29 ^We shall have our revenge-- a people*'s righteous revenge on
0670F29 the Tyrant. ^Let cowards fall back and cringe for compromise and peace,
0680F29 we ask not for mercy and we give no quarter. ^Ours is a war to
0690F29 the end-- to victory or death." $^It is clear that both of them felt
0700F29 the urgency of the need to_ secure political freedom for India.
0710F29 ^While the militant nationalists completely identified themselves with
0720F29 one single cause and plunged into the fight with the determination
0730F29 to_ stake their lives, Mahatma Gandhi undertook to_ combat various
0740F29 social and economic evils in course of his march on the road to
0750F29 *4Swaraj. ^Non-violence and Truth remained his constant guides in
0760F29 every situation and dealings with human beings. $*<*3*=3*> $^Anti-imperialism
0770F29 for Mahatma Gandhi was not merely political in character.
0780F29 ^He perceived that "British imperialism worked to_ divide the
0790F29 colonial people completely and created disputes on the pretext of
0800F29 differences in religion, sects and regions so that it may perpetuate
0810F29 itself." ^He also saw through the game of the British Imperialists
0820F29 whose sole purpose was to_ exploit the wealth of India as well
0830F29 as of other colonies. ^Revolutionary ideologues of India, for example,
0840F29 Jogesh Chandra Chatterjee, Sachindra Nath Sanyal, Bhagwati
0850F29 Charan, Bhagat Singh and Yash Pal, also endorsed Mahatma Gandhi*'s
0860F29 observations. ^Like him, they also regarded the establishment
0870F29 of *4Swaraj and socialism as the ultimate object of their efforts.
0880F29 ^*Mahatma Gandhi regarded nonviolence as the only method of achieving
0890F29 real freedom and economic equality by converting the adversary
0900F29 to his point of view. ^Conversion and not elimination or retaliation
0910F29 was the watchword of the Gandhian mode of struggle against anti-imperialism.
0920F29 $^*Mahatma Gandhi did point out the close relationship
0930F29 between British Imperialism and capitalism but chose to_ ignore
0940F29 its alliance and collaboration with the domestic exploiting classes.
0950F29 ^The revolutionaries perceived that the native capitalists were inclined
0960F29 to_ collaborate with the foreign capitalists in order to_ ensure
0970F29 their survival. ^*Bhagat Singh in a message from prison specifed that
0980F29 the peasants have to_ liberate themselves not only from foreign
0990F29 yoke but also from the yoke of the landlords and the capitalists. ^It
1000F29 is clear that class-struggle did not figure in the anti-imperialist
1010F29 struggle planned by Mahatma Gandhi. ^But for the revolutionaries
1020F29 it was to_ be a two-pronged attack, and onslaught on the native
1030F29 exploiters was another aspect of their fight against imperialism and
1040F29 capitalism. $*<*3*=4*> $^Another important aspect of anti-imperialist
1050F29 fight waged by Gandhi as well as by the Militant Nationalists
1060F29 was its mass-perspective. ^Both of them aimed at making the struggle
1070F29 mass-based at the levels of goals and strategy. ^The *3Manifesto
1080F29 of the Naujawan Bharat Sabha stated, "^The future programme of
1090F29 preparing the country will begin with the motto *3Revolution by
1100F29 the masses and for the masses." ^The Naujawan Bharat Sabha included
1110F29 among its aims and objectives to_ organise the labourers and
1120F29 peasants. ^In the *3The Philosophy of the Bomb. Bhagwati Charan
1130F29 made this appeal, "^We take this opportunity to_ appeal to our countrymen--
1140F29 to the youth, to the workers and peasants, to the revolutionary
1150F29 intelligentsia-- to_ come forward and join us in carrying aloft
1160F29 the banner of Freedom." $^*Mahatma Gandhi was also convinced that
1170F29 the people*'s united struggle alone could overthrow colonialism. ^Unity
1180F29 of the people on all fronts rather than organisation of peasants
1190F29 and workers on a class-basis was his object. ^For him unity was a comprehensive
1200F29 concept; he wanted to_ unite the rich and the poor, the Hindus
1210F29 and the Muslims, the peasants, workers and intelligentsia. ^It was
1220F29 not a coalition of smaller enemies to_ fight against the main enemy.
1230F29 ^For he had no enemy. ^*Gandhi wanted to_ prepare every Indian
1240F29 for fighting against imperialism in its various forms, by building
1250F29 up his inner strength and moral courage. ^Hence, he introduced a new
1260F29 system of education to_ inculcate this spirit. ^In Gandhian thought,
1270F29 there was the pre-condition before *4Swaraj came that "Real *4Swaraj
1280F29 must be felt by all-- man, woman and child." $^Now the question
1290F29 arises whether there was commitment to the people only at the level
1300F29 of the goal which all ideologies profess or also at the level of strategy?
1310F29 ^*Gandhi*'s strategy of fight against the anti-imperialist struggle
1320F29 could only work with the involvement of the masses. ^*Rowlatt *4Satyagraha,
1330F29 Non-cooperation movement, Dandi March and Quit India
1340F29 Movement depended for their success upon the extent of mass-participation.
1350F29 ^Apart from giving substance to his political action by
1360F29 using mass-support as a crucial source, he also harnessed it for launching
1370F29 a multi front attack on British imperialism. ^For Gandhi, imperialism
1380F29 was a many-sided institution which called for a multi-faced attack.
1390F29 ^Hence, Gandhi*'s strategy was to_ mount attack on the British
1400F29 imperialism from various points for its total replacement. ^He
1410F29 sought to_ give social basis to his fight for political and economic
1420F29 liberation through his campaigns for *4Harijan well-being, the uplift
1430F29 of women, religious harmony and revival of the village-economy.
1440F29 ^*Gandhi undertook to_ restore self-respect and dignity of the individual
1450F29 so that they could sustain the fight against British imperialism
1460F29 by exerting enormous moral pressure and public opinion. $^Another
1470F29 aspect of Gandhi*'s strategy of mass-participation was the creation
1480F29 of popular symbols. ^The spinning wheel was one of them. ^It served
1490F29 both as a political instrument for involving the masses in the freedom
1500F29 struggle and a symbol of protest against British imperialist
1510F29 exploitation of the Indian economy. ^Salt was another such symbol.
1520F29 ^*Gandhi called upon Indians to_ defy the ban on the unlicensed making
1530F29 of salt on sea beaches. ^In response to this call, thousands of
1540F29 people joined in salt-making in April, 1930. ^Another dimension of
1550F29 mass-orientation was the participation of women in the Indian Liberation
1560F29 Struggle. ^It_ was with the help of these two symbols-- Salt
1570F29 and the spinning wheel-- that Mahatma Gandhi could involve women
1580F29 in his fight against imperialism and capitalism. ^He exhorted them "to_
1590F29 boycott foreign goods both for themselves and for their children.
1600F29 ^Since economic and moral salvation of India rested with them, the
1610F29 patriotic would refuse to_ adorn herself for men, including her
1620F29 husband, if she will be an equal partner with men." ^*Gandhi*'s declaration
1630F29 that women were equal to men and superior in some ways drew forth
1640F29 their potentialities. $^What is the secret of Gandhi*'s hold on the
1650F29 people? ^In the first instance it was his pattern of living-- austere
1660F29 living, simple food and dress-- which brought him close to the people.
1670F29 ^He had left a promising career and security and comforts of home
1680F29 in order to_ share the problems, hopes, frustrations and miseries
1690F29 of the poor and the ordinary people. ^Secondly, he talked to them
1700F29 in their own idiom and translated his message in terms of their daily
1710F29 needs. ^*Mahatma Gandhi used to_ say, "to the hungry God is food,
1720F29 to the homeless God is shelter, to the naked God is clothing."
1730F29 ^His ability to_ live and feel like the poor people won him their affection.
1740F29 $*<*3*=5*> $^How far were the revolutionaries able to_ involve
1750F29 the peasants, workers and youth. ^As far as the peasants and workers,
1760F29 they hardly became a part and parcel of the Indian revolutionary
1770F29 movement, because Bhagat Singh and his band failed to_ put in the
1780F29 efforts required as they themselves confessed. ^Of course, the Naujawan
1790F29 Bharat Sabha tried to_ stir up agrarian agitation over the failure
1800F29 of wheat harvest. ^On another occasion, it supported the Congress
1810F29 campaign of agitation over the Bardoli reassessment. ^Its efforts
1820F29 in the direction of mass-mobilisation did not go beyond it. ^Besides,
1830F29 its only village branch at Morinda, and *4tehsil branches at
1840F29 Jaranwala only existed in name. ^The city branches in Lahore, Amritsar
1850F29 and Sargodha, their membership consisting of lower and middle
1860F29 class people, could make no solied contribution. ^This fact was brought
1870F29 to light by Kailashpati, the approver in the Delhi Conspiracy
1880F29 Case, earlier a member of the Central Council of the Hindustan
1890F29 Socialist Republican Army.*#
        **[no. of words = 02001**]

        **[txt. f30**]
0010F30 **<*3Glimpses of Goan History**> $^One of the ancient gateways of
0020F30 India, Goa has a long history. ^Through its open and hospitable
0030F30 portals have passed many a prince and a potentate, merchant and mendicant,
0040F30 saint and soldier. ^The interplay of cultures brought to Goa
0050F30 from across the Sahyadri Mountains in the east and from the Arabian
0060F30 Sea in the west has left an indelible impress on the various aspects
0070F30 of Goa through passage of time. $^The ancient Aryans who came
0080F30 down settled on the banks of the Gomati and the Aghanashini, the
0090F30 two main rivers of Goa, now known as the Mandovi and Zuari, respectetively.
0100F30 $^The term Goa appears to_ have been derived from Gomant,
0110F30 the name of the ancient settlers of Southern Konkan and also
0120F30 one of the seven divisions of Parashurama Khetra or the districts
0130F30 on the west coast of India. ^The name Gomant occurs in the Bhishmaparva
0140F30 of the *3Mahabharata, the *3Harivamsa and *3Skanda Puranas.
0150F30 ^A reference to the city of Kouba made in Ptolemy*'s geography is
0160F30 belived to_ pertain to Goa. $^Ancient history of Goa dates back to the
0170F30 period of the great Mauryan Emperors of India in the 3rd Century
0180F30 before Christian era. ^Enough evidence is available in respect
0190F30 of early Buddhist influence in this region. ^A big Buddhist image
0200F30 belonging to 3rd Century was discovered at Colvale in Bardez *4taluka.
0210F30 ^It is said that a Buddhist monk named Punna, a resident of
0220F30 Sunaparant \0i.e. modern Zambaulim in Goa was mainly responsible
0230F30 for the spread of Buddhism in this area. $^The territory was held
0240F30 by the Satvahanas of Kolhapur and later by the Western Khatrapas
0250F30 during early centuries of Christian era. $^Earliest detailed historical
0260F30 record about Goa is contained in the Shiroda copper plates
0270F30 of the 4th century \0A.D. ^It refers to a grant made to two Brahmins
0280F30 named Govindaswami and Indraswami from Chandrapur, the
0290F30 modern Chandor in Salcete, by the King Devaraj who belonged to
0300F30 Bhoja dynasty. $^*Chandrapur was the capital of Goa for centuries
0310F30 before the foundation of the Kadamba city of Goa Velha or Torlem
0320F30 Govem (Oldem Goem) on the bank of the river Zuari during the middle
0330F30 of the 11th century. $^Another record, in Brahmi script, relating
0340F30 to the 5th century \0A.D. speaks of a grant of land to a Buddhist
0350F30 Mahavihara, \0i.e. the monastery of Shivapur by the king Chandravarman.
0360F30 ^It seems that he belonged to the Konkan Maurya dynasty
0370F30 and used the lion as his royal symbol. ^The place Shivapur is identified
0380F30 with modern Shiroda in the Ponda *4taluka. ^Recently evidence
0390F30 of another grant of the king Anirjitvarman was found at Bandora.
0400F30 ^This king seems to_ have ruled over Gomant from Cumbarjua during
0410F30 the 6th century. ^The Chalukya Emperors of Badami ruled Goa
0420F30 through their Viceroys from Revatidvipa or modern Reddi in the
0430F30 Sawantwadi *4taluka (Maharashtra State) during 580 to 750 \0A.D.
0440F30 ^They revived the Vedic sacrifices, worships of Brahma, Vishnu and
0450F30 Goodess Mahishasurwardini. ^They styled themselves as "Parambhagavatas"
0460F30 or great devotees of god Vishnu Narayan. ^They encouraged
0470F30 Jainism; Buddhism also continued, though its popularity had declined.
0480F30 ^The modern Cudnem, near Sanquelim was probably an important cultural
0490F30 centre under the Badami Chalukyas and their Padmatanka coins were
0500F30 also found there. ^The image of Sun God discovered at Cudnem,
0510F30 might have been also the settlement of the Parasikas during ancient period.
0520F30 $*<*3Advent of Rashtrakutas*> $^The Rashtrakutas succeeded
0530F30 the Badami-Chalukyas and continued to_ rule over Konkan through
0540F30 their 'Mahamandeshvar' (feudatory) the Shilaharas from Valipattan,
0550F30 till the end of the 10th century \0A.D. ^*Shilaharas worshipped
0560F30 goddess Mahalakshmi of Kolhapur and one of the *4Birudas (title)
0570F30 was "Shriman Mahalakshmi-- *4labdcavaraprasada" \0i.e. "one who has
0580F30 obtained the favour of the boon from the glorious Mahalakshmi". ^They
0590F30 patronised both Brahmins and Jains alike, though they themselves
0600F30 were followers of Vedic and Pauranic religion. ^Ancient temple
0610F30 of Mahalakshmi at Netorli seems to_ have been constructed by them.
0620F30 ^Under their *4Chakravartin (overlord) the Rashtrakutas, the worship
0630F30 of Puranic Gods rose to much greater importance than before.
0640F30 ^The rock-cut temples of Shiva at Ellora bear testimony to their
0650F30 religious inclination and magnificence. $^The Western Chalukyas of
0660F30 Kalyani who succeeded the Rashtrakutas by 970 \0A.D., continued
0670F30 to_ rule the Konkan from Kalyani till the end of the 12th century.
0680F30 ^During this period one of the branches of the Kadambas of Palasige
0690F30 Modern Halsi (Belgaon) established in the Konkan as their
0700F30 feudatories. $^The original kingdom of the Kadambas was in the south
0710F30 of Goa, in Chandramandal, \0i.e. the modern Quepem. ^The first
0720F30 few kings ruled over south Konkan and Goa from Chandor. ^The city
0730F30 is referred to by Hemachandra in his *3Dvyasshraya Kavya. $^*Goa
0740F30 came into greater prominence while under the sway of the Kadamba
0750F30 King Shastadev *=2, who subdued the Shilahara power. ^The earliest
0760F30 record that_ speaks of him is dated 1007-08 \0A.D. ^He is here
0770F30 represented as the *4mahamandaleshvara under the Chalukya emperor
0780F30 Jayasinha. $^It was during the reign of his son King Viravarmadeva
0790F30 (1042-1052 \0A.D.) that the capital of Goa was shifted from
0800F30 Chandrapur to Gopakapattana or Govapuri, the erstwhile maritime
0810F30 centre of the Southern Shilaharas of Valipattana. ^His brother Jayakeshi
0820F30 *=1 who succeeded him in 1053 \0A.D. built up a powerful fleet
0830F30 and had to his credit a number of maritime exploits. ^The commercial
0840F30 prosperity of the city is attested by the fact that the city
0850F30 had trade relations with no less than fourteen countries. ^The countries
0860F30 that_ are enumerated in the Charter are Sinhala, Callah, Zungavar
0870F30 (Zanzibar), Pandya, Kerala, Lata, Gujara, Srytan, Prester,
0880F30 Malay, Dulukus. $^Buddhism had practically ceased to_ function
0890F30 during this period and we rarely come across instances of grants
0900F30 made to Buddhist shrines by the later Chalukyas of Kalyani or their
0910F30 feudatories, the Kadambas of Goa. ^*Jayakeshi *=1, had two Buddhist
0920F30 monks at his court. ^*Jainism received an effective check by the
0930F30 end of the 12th century \0A.D., with the rise of Lingayat Sect.
0940F30 ^This new creed spread widely amongst trading classes. $^The Vedic
0950F30 and Puranic religion continued to_ flourish as before. ^The learning
0960F30 of sacred scriptures (the Vedas), Customary Laws (Smritis),
0970F30 the Six Shastras-- the system of Philosophy (Vedanta, \0etc.); the
0980F30 traditional knowledge and history (Purana and *4Itihas) was encouraged
0990F30 by founding Brahmapuri and Agraharas. $^The Kadamba Ruler,
1000F30 Guhalladeva *=2, Vijayaditya or Tribhuvanamalla *=1, Shivachitta
1010F30 and his wife Kamaladevi took keen interest in the spread of
1020F30 learning and made grants of lands to learned Brahmins, whom they invited
1030F30 from diffenent sacred places and centres of learning. $^*Shivachitta
1040F30 and his wife Kamaladevi were ardent worshippers of god Saptakotishwar
1050F30 at Narve (Bicholim). ^The inscription on his coins refers
1060F30 to royal deity of the Kadambas of Goa. $*<^3Cultural and Literary
1070F30 Activities*> $^The cultural and literary activites reached
1080F30 the highest stage during the reign of Ramachandra. ^*Hemadri himself
1090F30 was a great *4Pandit and his "Chaturvarga Chintamani" is considered
1100F30 as very comprehensive and detailed treatise on Indian traditions
1110F30 regarding worship of God and mode of living. ^He is also remembered
1120F30 for his architectural form of constructions of temples. ^*Tambadi-Surla
1130F30 temple seems to_ have been completed during his reign. ^The
1140F30 most poetic and illuminating commentary in Marathi, on *3Gita the
1150F30 'Bhavarthadipika' or 'Dnyneshwari' was written by Dnyneshwar in
1160F30 1290 \0A.D. and laid the foundation of the popular worship of God
1170F30 Vithal of Pandharpur. $^The ancient territory of the Kadambas
1180F30 including South Konkan was annexed to Bahmani kingdom in 1571 \0A.D.
1190F30 and afterwards it formed part of the Adil Shahi kingdom of Bijapur,
1200F30 when Bahmani empire was split up into five potentates by the
1210F30 end of the 15th centuary \0A.D. ^Island of Goa was occupied by
1220F30 the Portuguese in 1510 A.D. ^The coastal districts between Bombay
1230F30 and Bulsar and Diu from Saurashtra were made over to them by Sultan
1240F30 of Gujarath in about 1534. ^The Portuguese commercial Empire
1250F30 of India reached its zenith by the middle of the 16th century and
1260F30 comprised Forts and trading posts from Mozambique in East Africa
1270F30 to Ternate in South East Asia. ^It was founded on military and
1280F30 ecclesiastical basis. $^During the first half of the 17th century,
1290F30 the Portuguese were deprived of their rich trade of the East by
1300F30 their rivals from Europe, the Dutch. $^*India got her independence
1310F30 in 1947. ^*Nagar Haveli was liberated in August 1954. ^The request
1320F30 of Portugal for passage for armed forces over Indian territory joining
1330F30 the enclave of Nagar Haveli with Daman was rejected by the
1340F30 International Court of Justice in April 1960 and with expulsion
1350F30 of the Portuguese from Goa in 1961 the Chapter of European domination
1360F30 over Asia came to an end. $*<*3Impact on Regional Music*>
1370F30 $^A noteworthy feature of the Portuguese occupation was that it
1380F30 failed to_ "lusitanise" the people, though concerted efforts were
1390F30 made by Church authorities in that_ direction from time to time. ^Even
1400F30 the most fervent Christians, however, barring a handful who were
1410F30 willing to_ regard themselves as *7assimilados (assimilated), retained
1420F30 their basic Indian cultural patterns and even the caste system,
1430F30 at least so far as marriage was concerned. $^The foreign domination
1440F30 has left its impact to some extent on the regional music which includes
1450F30 songs like *4Mandos, *4Dhulpod, *4Dakkini, *4Dhalos and
1460F30 *4Kunbi-Geetas. ^Of these types Mando deserves special mention, as
1470F30 these songs are appreciated as typical Konkani songs of Goans, even
1480F30 in foreign countiries. ^The Mandos are mainly love songs. ^Some
1490F30 Mandos also provide political and social themes and are used to_
1500F30 rouse the feeling of the masses. ^They are composed in Konkani words
1510F30 and set up with tunes of Westrn music. ^They are often sung on western
1520F30 insturments like the piano or the violin. ^However, their rhythm
1530F30 is mainly directed with the help of local percussion instrument
1540F30 *4Ghumat. ^Thus in Mandos there is an excellent blend of Western
1550F30 melody and Eastern rhythm. ^The word Mando appears to_ have originated
1560F30 from Rasmandal, dance songs, which are popular in other parts
1570F30 of India. ^At present the movement in Mandos is in parallel lines
1580F30 like waves, from and to, the circular movement of the original Rasmandal
1590F30 is still followed at the highest potch. ^The Dhulpodas are
1600F30 Drupads of Hindustani Music. ^*Mandos are followed by Dhulpods
1610F30 and also quick rhythm of a *4Dakkini (a female devil). ^The Dhalos
1620F30 are popular with the Hindu gentry and *4Kunbi-Geetas with the peasantry.
1630F30 ^The Hindus, despite many disabilities and even persecution
1640F30 for centuries, displayed a remarkable fortitude in the face of many
1650F30 misfortunes, and clung to their ancient traditions with a tenacity
1660F30 that_ has preserved all the essentials of their Vedic heritage.
1670F30 $**<THE FABRIC OF *GOAN CULTURE**> $^A mosaic blend of the East and
1680F30 the West, where two contrastingly disparate cultures met, mingled
1690F30 and blossomed into a singularly happy symbiosis, simultaneously retaining
1700F30 characteristics of both, in bold, uncompromising relief in some
1710F30 respects while emasculatingly weak in others, Goan culture has a
1720F30 distinctive image that_ shows eloquently in the make-up and behaviour
1730F30 patterns of the warm-hearted people of Goa, irrespective of the
1740F30 religion they profess, and tends to_ set them proudly apart from
1750F30 their confreres in other parts of India. ^It eludes, however, the confining
1760F30 straitjacket of a precise definition. $*<*3Individualistic
1770F30 Outlook*> $^So much of overwhelming praise has been showered by
1780F30 many a distinguished visitor on Goa*'s enthralling scenic beauty fed
1790F30 by pond and beach, hill and valley, river and waterfall, church and
1800F30 temple and mosque, forts and fortresses, that the signal achievements
1810F30 of its people, more as individuals than as a community, in art and
1820F30 literature, music and sports, trade and the learned professions,
1830F30 have more often than not been eclipsed or relegated to oblivion. ^*Goans
1840F30 are highly individualistic in outlook and find it diffcult to_
1850F30 work in groups, which is why, as a community, though so tiny, they
1860F30 have failed to_ work and progress successfully in a closely-knit
1870F30 communal manner unlike their counterparts in other regions. ^Probably
1880F30 the historical accidents that_ frequently dismembered their territory
1890F30 and decimated and inflicted suffering on its peace-loving people
1900F30 have contributed in no small measure to the fostering of this individualism
1910F30 which is, however, mellowed by an extraordinary catholicity
1920F30 and abundant fellow-feeling that_ exudes spontaneously from them.
1930F30 $*<*3Legend and ancient history*> $^*Goa*'s known existence of about
1940F30 five thousand years is steeped in the hoary past of ancient Indian
1950F30 history and legend.*#
        **[no. of words = 02011**]

        **[txt. f31**]
0030F31 **<*3Kundalini: THE SECRET OF YOGA**>
0040F31 $^It certainly could not be a passing fancy or a transient
0050F31 reaction, created in his yet insufficiently developed, ignorant mind,
0060F31 by its first impact with natural phenomena and the effort to_ find
0070F31 an explanation for them. ^It could also not be the outcome of fear
0080F31 of the elements in a state of fury, the thunder and lightning, the
0090F31 wind and tide, the rain and storm, since he was accustomed and reconciled
0100F31 to them from the very beginning of his career on earth millions
0110F31 of years before. ^It is amazing that such lame explanations have
0120F31 been put forward by eminent scholars to_ rationalize an impulse
0130F31 that_ has been one of the most powerful governing factors of man*'s
0140F31 existence from primeval times. $^From the unmistakable evidence before
0150F31 us it is obvious that at no time in his checkered career was man
0160F31 free from the mental fervor characteristic of the religious urge.
0170F31 ^On the contrary, with few exceptions he seems to_ have been much
0180F31 more in the grip of the supernatural than the high credulous and the
0190F31 most superstitious of today. ^There is no other single factor, apart
0200F31 from the primary urges, that_ has maintained such a hold on the
0210F31 mind of primitive man, diverting his activity into channels that_
0220F31 had absolutely no relationship with the satisfaction of his physical
0230F31 needs. ^He could have continued to_ survive without it, even after
0240F31 the advent of reason, as he had survived for millions of years before
0250F31 in the subhuman and animal stages. ^Viewed from a strictly rational
0260F31 perspective it can be said that the religious impulse, instead
0270F31 of aiding the development of reason, enveloped the mind with darkest
0280F31 clouds of supersition and fear, and continues to_ do so even now
0290F31 in the lower strata of underdeveloped societies. ^But at the same
0300F31 time there is no denying the fact that, side by side with his reason,
0310F31 this mysterious impulse of submission to unseen intelligent forces
0320F31 around him, and a dim sense of the distinction between this world
0330F31 and the other, between the propitious and unpropitious or the holy
0340F31 and the unholy, spontaneously took shape in his mind. ^This did not
0350F31 disappear with the advance of the intellect, as shadows disappear
0360F31 at the approach of light, but became more rational, keeping the same
0370F31 hold on the seasoned intellect as it had done thousands of years before
0380F31 when reason was still in its infancy. $^A few words are necessary
0390F31 to_ weigh the validity of some of the hypotheses put forward
0400F31 by modern scholars and men of science to_ account for the phenomenon
0410F31 of religion. ^One of these, the doctrine of the animistic origin
0420F31 of religion, was propounded by *(0E. B.*) Taylor, an anthropologist
0430F31 of the nineteenth century, and by Herbert Spencer, a well-known
0440F31 writer on philosophical subjects. ^According to this theory the investiture
0450F31 by the primitive mind of all the objects and forces of nature
0460F31 with life or animation in the form of soul, spirit, or other invisible
0470F31 beings provides the basis for the appearance of the organized
0480F31 religions of later epochs. ^The idea of aliveness or animation in nature,
0490F31 it is supposed, originated in the mind of primhive man from
0491F31 the observation of death scenes, when the living principle seems to_
0492F31 depart from the body, from dreams, hallucinations, trance conditions,
0493F31 or from what the savage could only interpret as the animated activity
0494F31 of natural forces. ^This idea, it is held, materialized first
0495F31 in ancestor worship and in funeral rites and ceremonies in the belief
0496F31 that the departed souls or spirits led an invisible existence of
0497F31 their own. $^Apart from the fact that the practice of worshiping the
0498F31 spirits of the departed has not been universal, the theory of the
0499F31 animistic origin of religion fails to_ explain the various amorphous
0500F31 forms of religious motivation exhibited in the still earlier ideas
0510F31 of primitive man, as for instance, in totemic practices or in the
0520F31 notions of mana and taboo. ^There might have been other variations,
0530F31 too, of which we have no knowledge. ^So far as the animistic idea
0540F31 is concerned it speaks more in favor of the hypothesis that religion
0550F31 is the expression of a basic impulse of the psyche and from the very
0560F31 beginning started in the human mind as a distinction between the
0570F31 body and the spirit, this world and the other, death and deathlessness,
0580F31 the permissible and unpermissible, the sacred and profane, as a
0590F31 spontaneous projection of an inner development that_ slowly and painfully,
0600F31 but at the same time inexorably, led evolving mankind to
0610F31 the lofty conceptions that_ now permeate the religious literature
0620F31 of the world. ^From a rational point of view, therefore, animism ought
0630F31 to_ be considered as an inevitable phase in the evolution of the
0640F31 religious impulse, and early mode of its expression, and not as the
0640F31 well-spring of religion itself. $^For the hypothesis of the psychoanalytical
0650F31 school, founded by Freud, it is enough to_ say that the Freudian
0660F31 concept is not now fully accepted by some other psychologists.
0670F31 ^Another eminent psychologist, McDougall, believes in the existence
0680F31 of an animating principle or soul in the human body. ^The idea
0690F31 of a Father in heaven, who looks benignly after the created multitudes
0700F31 of humanity and provides for their needs, might well appear to
0710F31 casual observation as the projection of a wish for a protective father,
0720F31 but a deeper study of even such an anthropomorphic concept of God
0730F31 makes this interpretation untenable for the simple reason that the
0740F31 very idea of a superearthly Being, having his abode in high heaven,
0750F31 with divine attributes and able to_ command all the forces of nature,
0760F31 not being a fact of experience, must depend for its existence
0770F31 on a tendency present in the human mind to_ draw a distinction between
0780F31 the earthly and the Divine or between this world and the one above
0790F31 or beyond it, and is evidence of the influence of the deep-rooted
0800F31 religious feeling in man. ^Apart from this, if we cast a glance at
0810F31 the unrefined religious ideas and practices of primitive man we find
0820F31 that this was more often of a compulsive or exacting, than of a pleasure
0830F31 yielding or wish-fulfilling nature, a driving pressure reaching up
0840F31 from the depths of the primitive mind. $^For further clarification
0850F31 it is necessary to_ point out that at present scholars are practically
0860F31 in the dark as to the nature of psychic energy, the source of all
0870F31 vital activity in the body, including that_ of thought and the rapid
0880F31 interplay of nerve impulses. ^No one would like to_ contend
0890F31 the blatantly obvious fact that thought and consciounsness do not fall
0900F31 into the category of material objects according to the current definitions
0910F31 of matter. ^Yet according to *4Samkhya-yoga and Saivite
0920F31 schools of philosophy, the three widely accepted cosmogonic doctrines
0930F31 of Indian thought, dealing with *4prakrati, or matter, as an objective
0940F31 reality (in contrast to *4Vedanta, which treats it as an illusory
0950F31 appearance), not only thought but even the intellect and ego are
0960F31 the manifestations of matter in its ultra-subtle formation. $^This
0970F31 classification is based on the introspective study of nervous impulses
0980F31 and analysis of thought in the highly penetrative supersensual
0990F31 states of consciousness or *4samadhi. ^The scientific value of an exploration
1000F31 carried out in this manner is far greater than that_ of
1010F31 the somewhat analogous investigation, carried out by men of science,
1020F31 on normal men through an analysis of their dreams, on neurotics and
1030F31 the insane or on hypnotized subjects for the diagnosis of mental and
1040F31 even physical ailments. ^The amazing knowledge of the nervous system
1050F31 and the flow of two kinds of nerve currents, about which science
1060F31 has no accurate information as yet, has also been obtained in the same
1070F31 manner. ^The founders of these philosophical schools had a very
1080F31 sound basis for their postulates, for in the superconscious state
1090F31 psychic energy, or *4prana, whether or not brought to a state of arrest,
1100F31 becomes clearly perceptible as an extremely subtle essence in
1110F31 the body, atomic or subatomic in nature, the connecting link between
1120F31 the material organism and immaterial life. $^The impossibility of
1130F31 interaction between matter and the incorporeal spirit, without an
1140F31 intermediary connecting link, is an old problem of philosophy. ^Attempts
1150F31 to_ meet this difficulty have found an outlet in the various
1160F31 forms of monism, pantheism, *4Vedanta, and the like. ^Setting aside
1170F31 the philosophical aspect of the subject, all we wish to_ emphasize
1180F31 is the fact that the existence of an extremely attenuated biological
1190F31 substance that_ acts as fuel to the activity of thought and the
1200F31 play of the nervous impulses is a *8sine qua non*9 of biology itself.
1210F31 ^The present lack of knowledge of this vital biological esence,
1220F31 which is as necessary for the manifestation of life and thought as
1230F31 the fine metal filament in a glass bulb is necessary for the manifestation
1240F31 of electric light, invalidates many of the present-day concepts
1250F31 of psychology based on direct interrelation between the psyche and
1260F31 the physical organism. ^The moment the existence of this medium is
1270F31 accepted, and, considering the highly sensitive devices that are now
1280F31 coming into use for the measurement of devices that_ are now coming
1290F31 into use for the measurement of psychic activity, it should not take
1300F31 long to_ locate it. ^The present tendency to_ ascribe almost evry
1310F31 obscure phenomenon of the mind, such as neurosis, lunacy, hysteria,
1320F31 ecstasy, dream and religious experiences exclusively to the subconscious
1330F31 must cease to_ obsess the intellect. ^In that_ event it would
1340F31 be saner to_ infer that the object affected is not the soul, an
1350F31 immaterial, universal substance, which cannot become diseased by material
1360F31 contamination. ^But it is the interconnecting medium, or *4prana
1370F31 which is the fuel of thought and which when even slightly disturbed
1380F31 or disorganized creates the disintegrations and distortions of
1390F31 personality peculiar to affections of the mind. $^The view of Freud that
1400F31 religions originated in some primitive situatuions in which the sons
1410F31 combined to_ kill their father that they might possess his wives
1420F31 and concubines, but felt so guilty after the murder that they refrained
1430F31 from such possession, repented for their deeds through religious
1440F31 rites. ^The inaccuracy of this view is apparent. ^How could a solitary
1450F31 or even a few incidents of this kind lead to the establishment
1460F31 of a practice and the development of a compulsive need, throughout
1470F31 the primitive world, of such an overwhelming character as to_ sway
1480F31 the conduct, thought, and history of mankind to this day. ^Also how
1490F31 could the thought of performing posthumous religious rites, as a measure
1500F31 of repentance, occur to the sons of the murdered father if religion
1510F31 in some form or, at least, the idea of survival of the spirit
1520F31 of the departed was not present in their minds? ^If the idea was already
1530F31 current at the time it means that religions had originated before
1540F31 the incident. $^Another hypothesis for the origin of religion, put
1550F31 forward by Wilhelm Schmidt, rests on the assumption that originally
1560F31 there was worship of one high or supreme God or a few high gods,
1570F31 which later proliferated into the worship of countless smaller gods,
1580F31 spirits, ghosts or demons among primitive people. ^The idea of
1590F31 a High God can only spring from the natural tendency in the human
1600F31 mind to_ seek out the author or cause of every object one confronts.
1610F31 ^The primitive mind had to_ follow this tendency in order to_ postulate
1620F31 a Creator or Father for the existence of the world around
1630F31 it, however crude that_ conception might have been, and however narrow
1640F31 and limited the cosmos might have appeared to its still imperfectly
1650F31 developed conceptual faculty. ^Thus there can be no dispute about
1660F31 any hypothesis presented for the existence of an Author or Progenitor
1670F31 of the world. ^But when it is accompanied by the idea of offering
1680F31 worship to this self-created Progenitor, combined with the concept
1690F31 of His unceasing control over the forces of nature, His incorporeality,
1700F31 omnipotence and immunity to death, the position becomes entirely
1710F31 different. ^It demands a deeper probing into the human mind,
1720F31 whether primitive or civilized, in order to_ discover the cause for
1730F31 all the emotional and intellectual ferment associated with religion
1740F31 from the very earliest times.*#
        **[no. of worrds = 02012**]

        **[txt. f32**]
0010F32 **<*3TEST-TUBE BABY*0**> $*3^Forget*0 the ballyhoo and the hullabaloo.
0020F32 ^Forget the superlatives and the wild talk of a medical-biological breakthrough.
0030F32 ^For a moment forget also the false hopes and tentative
0040F32 fears set alight in the hearts of thousands of married couples and hundreds
0050F32 of scientists. $^And what do we have? ^We have Louise Joy Brown,
0060F32 a baby girl, now 47 days old. ^Mother: Lesley Brown, 30; father:
0070F32 Gilbert Brown, 38; of Bristol, England. $^We have also these
0080F32 facts: Louise is *3not*0 a test-tube baby, but a laboratory dish fertilised
0090F32 or tube-bypassed baby. ^It is *3not*0 a case of genetic engineering
0100F32 or radical tinkering with life-forms. ^It is the first recorded
0110F32 instance of full maturation of a human fertilised outside the body
0120F32 of a woman. ^But its scientific significance nevertheless is virtually
0130F32 nil-- unless we consider the horrifying possibilities implicit in
0140F32 the achievement. $^*Louise was born in Oldham and District General
0150F32 Hospital in north-west England on July 25, 1978. ^Will this date
0160F32 go down in history? I don*'4t think so. ^In scientfic and technological
0170F32 terms it is in no fashion comparable to such epoch-making dates
0180F32 in recent years as December 2, 1942, August 6, 1945, April 2, 1953, October
0190F32 4, 1957, December 3, 1967, July 21, 1969, and August 22, 1976.
0200F32 $^These dates refer to the first self sustaining chain reaction and
0210F32 initiation of the controlled release of nuclear energy; Hiroshima;
0220F32 description of the double-helical structure of \0DNA (deoxyr, bonucleic
0230F32 acid); Sputnik 1; the first heart transplant; landing on the
0240F32 moon; and the first synthesis of a biologically active gene. $^These
0250F32 are real watersheds in human achievement; truly historic dates. $*<*3Tube
0260F32 Bypass Experiment*0*> $^What actually happened at Oldham?
0270F32 ^For nine years, in spite of several attempts and considerable help from
0280F32 specialists, Lesley Brown could not conceive a child. ^Her Fallopian
0290F32 tubes were blocked. ^The mature ovum released from one of her
0300F32 ovaries could not travel down the tube to_ be fertilised by her husband*'s
0310F32 sperm. ^The blockage was detected by \0Mr Patrick Steptoe,
0320F32 eminent gynaecologist, and \0Dr Robert Edwards, a Cambridge University
0330F32 physiologist. ^For twelve years these two men had been conducting
0340F32 experiments related to the process of human reproduction and gaining
0350F32 a vast fund of knowledge and expertise. $^With the permission of the
0360F32 medical council and the enthusiastic consent of Lesley and Gilbert
0370F32 the tube-bypass experiment began-- in total secrecy. ^Hormone treatment
0380F32 helped in the maturation of eggs in Lesley*'s ovaries. ^Using an
0390F32 instrument called laparoscope, \0Mr Steptoe removed a mature ovum
0400F32 from within her, placed it in a laboratory dish containing nutrients
0410F32 and added sperm obtained from Gilbert. $^The dish was kept in conditions
0420F32 ideal to fertilisation. ^It was under constant observation. ^Two and
0430F32 a half days later, when the fertilised ovum had divided in the dish
0440F32 into eight cells (all carefully monitored and screened for possible
0450F32 damage or genetic defect, the tiny embryo (that_ nine months later was
0460F32 to become Louise) was transferred to Lesley*'s womb, which had been
0470F32 prepared by administering more hormones to_ receive it. ^There it
0480F32 attached itself to the uterine wall and began to_ grow, as any normal
0490F32 oosperm would. ^*Lesley was moved to a special wing of the Oldham hospital
0500F32 and, a few days before her term was up, the baby was delivered
0510F32 by Caesarean section. $^The procedure was, of course, extremely
0520F32 delicate, hazardous, intricate. ^But \0Mr Steptoe and \0Dr Edwards
0530F32 had carried out such implants 60 times (some say 80 times) before,
0540F32 always unsuccessfully. ^Normal growth lasted for some time in only three
0550F32 cases: two weeks, nine weeks, two weeks. ^But they had learnt a
0560F32 vital lesson: in all the previous experiments the lab dish containing
0570F32 the fertilised ovum was allowed to_ remain in controlled conditions
0580F32 for about five days, when the number of cells had grown to about
0590F32 100. ^This time, they decided to_ carry out the implantation at the
0600F32 eight-cell stage. ^And it worked. $^The birth of Louise was hailed
0610F32 as scientific miracle. ^The press went wild with jubilation. "Baby of
0620F32 the Century" screamed the headlines. ^*British newspapers played up
0630F32 whatever little scrap of information they could manage to_ get, particularly
0640F32 because the Browns and the two doctors had struck a deal with
0650F32 the London tabloid, *3The Daily Mail*0, giving it exclusive rights
0660F32 to the story for an amount close to \0*4Rs. 45 *4lakhs. ^This commercial
0670F32 bargain and the professional rivalry among the popular newspapers
0680F32 sensationalised the entire experiment to an extent detracting from
0690F32 its meaningfulness. $*3^LET*'3S*0 go back to the basics of human
0700F32 conception and reproduction in order to_ assess the worth of the Steptoe-Edwards
0710F32 technique. ^Every human female is by nature gifted with
0720F32 about a million ova (eggs), located and matured in her two ovaries. ^Close
0730F32 to them, on either side, are mucus-lined tubes called Fallopian
0740F32 tubes (after the 16th century Italian anatomist Fallopius). ^These
0750F32 lead directly but curving downward in a graceful arc to the uterus (womb).
0760F32 $^When a mature ovum is released by one of the ovaries into the
0770F32 Fallopian tube (on either side; it*'1s a matter of chance which ovary
0780F32 releases the ovum), it slowly travels down the tube; if at the right
0790F32 moment the male spermatozoa, discharged in coitus, go through the uterus
0800F32 and into the Fallopian tubes, the strongest and fastest sperms
0810F32 which reach the ovum seek to_ penetrate its tissue, but, again controlled
0820F32 by hormones, one and only one, sperm is permitted to_ get in through
0830F32 the ovum*'s walls: then fertilisation is complete. ^The fertilised
0840F32 ovum or embryo continues to_ travel down the tube until it reaches
0850F32 the uterus; here it buries itself in the tissue walls and begins to_
0860F32 grow and multiply, fed by the now pregnant mother*'s serum and nutrients.
0870F32 ^In less than eight weeks it grows to_ assume the shape of a baby,
0880F32 limbs, body and head clearly distinguishable. ^This foetus grows
0890F32 until ready for delivery, once again controlled and determined by various
0900F32 hormones. $^*Lesley could not conceive because the ovum traveling
0910F32 down the tube was blocked half way through and could not come into
0920F32 contact with sperms. ^So the actual conception-- sperm meeting ovum
0930F32 took place in a lab dish. ^The rest of the foetal growth was exactly
0940F32 as in any normal full-term pregnancy. $^By its very nature, it is
0950F32 clear, the Steptoe*-edwards procedure cannot become routine or universal.
0960F32 ^One in thirty married women has blocked tubes; not many can be helped
0970F32 in this fashion. ^Already in Britain more than 5,000 childless women
0980F32 with defective tubes are clamouring for lab-dish conception. ^It is
0990F32 impossible to_ serve them all. $^There are several risks, dangers and
1000F32 problems involved in this madico-surgical intervention. ^Enormous care
1010F32 and immense expertise are necessary. ^The selection and removal of
1020F32 the ovum are tricky procedures. ^The laboratory must have the right
1030F32 environment; else a mishap may occur, dashing the hopes of the mother-to_-be.
1040F32 ^The culturing of the embryo may damage the germ cells
1050F32 or halt their division and subsequent differentiation. ^The embryo has
1060F32 to_ be carefully observed so as to_ avoid genetic damage which may
1070F32 lead to deformities. ^The growth of the foetus must also be monitorered
1080F32 with extreme care. ^The possibility of damaging the embryo or genetically
1090F32 altering it as a result of exposure to artificial conditions
1100F32 cannot be ignored. ^The risks at the moment are not outweighed by the
1110F32 advantages. $*<*3Manipulation of Life Processes*0*> $^Other dangers
1120F32 are more frightful. ^The Louise Brown case may well represent a
1130F32 step towards control and manipulation of life processes such as recombinant
1140F32 \0DNA (where new life-forms are lab-produced). ^Above all,
1150F32 not enough data have been gathered about reproduction, not enough animal
1160F32 experiments done. ^Possibly the Steptoe-Edwards team was lucky.
1170F32 ^But luck cannot be universalised. ^The two specialists took a great
1180F32 risk: was the risk a calculated one or scientifically justifiable?
1190F32 ^Many other experts do not think so. ^Here may be seen a trace of competition:
1200F32 the yearning to_ be first in any field of research (somewhat
1210F32 like \0Dr Christiaan Barnard*'s first heart transplant before he
1220F32 fully recognised the major hurdle of tissue rejection). $^Does lab-dish
1230F32 fertilisation increase the risk of genetic abnormalities? ^Nobody
1240F32 knows; certainly not the British team which has hit the headlines.
1250F32 ^In normal Fallopian tube fertilisation only the strongest (and hence
1260F32 fittest) sperm can swim against the tide, reach the ovum and be accepted
1270F32 by it inside. ^In external fertilisation genetically strong and
1280F32 weak sperms have an almost equal chance of acceptance. ^If a weak sperm
1290F32 gets in, the result could be a defective baby. ^This issue, which
1300F32 is of great meaning to a woman who desperately wants to_ bear a child
1310F32 has not been satisfactorily researched. $^There are even more grotesque
1320F32 problems. ^Externally fertilised ova and human embryos may be misused
1330F32 for various types of research, especially for synthesising and testing
1340F32 new drugs, using substances that_ cannot be cultured except in
1350F32 a growing foetus. ^Surrogate mothers who are prepared at a price to_
1360F32 receive an embryo implant and grow it to full terms, thus giving
1370F32 the term "midwife" a literally new twist. ^Career women (film stars,
1380F32 tennis champions) who cannot spare the time or stand the discomfort
1390F32 of pregnancy and yet crave to_ have a baby of their own. ^Oosperm banks;
1400F32 sperm banks; genetically altered, "made-to-order" babies artificially
1410F32 equipped with selected qualities and characteristics. ^The field
1420F32 is wide open in molecular genetics for nightmare piled on nightmare.
1430F32 $*3^These are some of the known risks and probable dangers... ^What
1440F32 are the plus points of this biological experiment? \0^*Dr Edwards says
1450F32 the technique may be applied even to some cases of infertility unconnected
1460F32 with Fallopian tube blockage. ^Sterilisation (for example,
1470F32 tubectomy) may be reversed, but the possibility of foetus malformation
1480F32 remains. ^This new laboratory tool may help in the prevention of
1490F32 a few genetic diseases. ^New methods of contraception can also be tested
1500F32 by using the new technique. $^Dish fertilisation will enable scientists
1510F32 to_ get as many experimental animals (rats, rabbits, chicks) as they
1520F32 need by using the knowledge now gained. ^For genetics research a new
1530F32 clearance in the thicket has been hacked out: where chick embryos are now
1550F32 used, not always with success, human embryos, externally fertilised,
1560F32 may become available, although the prospect is repulsive. $^Finally, the
1570F32 mysterios process of conception, maturation and parturition, in which genes,
1580F32 homones, time, gravity and a host of other factors are involved, may
1590F32 be studied more closely and thoroughly. ^Human reproduction is still
1600F32 a big puzzle, but it is unlikely that all the fine details will ever be
1610F32 disclosed to man. ^There are definite limitations to the gathering of knowledge
1620F32 by means of purely analytical and observational techniques.
1630F32 $^At any rate, it cannot be denied that Louise*'s birth has given an
1640F32 impetus to biotechnology in general. $^What of the future? ^It bristles
1650F32 with question marks. ^There are ethical and legal problems. ^Time
1660F32 will somehow solve them. ^Artificial insemination by donor and egg
1670F32 transfer from donor are deemed more unacceptable and less satisfactory than
1680F32 the new technique where no third party is involved. ^Gene manipulation
1690F32 experiments may increase in number, possibly to the detriment of
1700F32 the species*' genetic stock and causing a cultural shock which will
1710F32 painfully alter human attitudes. $*<*3The Trauma*> $^More specifically
1720F32 what of Louise*'s own future? ^Will she be able to_ lead a
1730F32 normal life? ^Will she grow into a physically and mentally normal human
1740F32 being? ^She is now world-famous, rich, unique, and as she grows up she
1750F32 may come to_ be looked upon as a freak, even if a few more babies
1760F32 like her are born in the next few years. ^This will injure her psychologically
1770F32 for no fault of hers. ^Nor will her parent*'s overnight afflience
1780F32 be able successfully to_ counteract the trauma. ^Baby Brown
1790F32 is a marked child. $^Why did the birth of this baby catch the imagination
1800F32 of many people, chiefly women? ^Why did the press go hysterical?
1810F32 ^For an answer we have to_ examine the involvement of personal emotions
1820F32 and the traditional glorification of motherhood. ^Female children
1830F32 are socially conditioned to_ believe that becoming a mother is
1840F32 their ultimate achievement. ^There is a historical reason for this.
1850F32 $^In ancient times "^Go forth and multiply" was the command.*#
        **[no. of words = 02004**]

        **[txt. f33**]
0010F33 $**<*3Urinary stones**> $*3^STONES CAN*0 be formed anywhere in the
0020F33 human body. ^But the two well-known and well-documented sites are the
0030F33 urinary tract, and the biliary tract, (pertaining to the liver and
0040F33 the gall bladder). ^The urinary stones have a slight edge over the
0050F33 gall stones in incidence and medical importance. $^The urinary system consists
0060F33 of the group of organs, which function with the formation of
0070F33 urine, and its excretion from the body. ^These comprise two kidneys,
0080F33 where the urine is actually formed and the ureters, which are the
0090F33 conducting tubes by which the urine is transmitted to the storing organ
0100F33 or receptacle known as the urinary bladder. $*<*3Normal urination*0*>
0110F33 $^When the urine fills the bladder up to a certain capacity, the
0120F33 individual feels an urge to_ urinate. ^However, this urge can be suppressed
0130F33 temporarily, and urination postponed under certain circumstances.
0140F33 $^Normally, an adult excretes on an average 1.5 to 2 litres of urine
0150F33 per day. ^The formation of urine is intended for the excretion of
0160F33 certain waste products formed in the body whose accumulation would
0170F33 have adverse effects. $^Urine has been subjected to extensive chemical
0180F33 analysis and found to_ contain water, urea, salts such as sodium chloride
0190F33 and potassium chloride, calcium, oxalates, phosphates, uric acid,
0200F33 as well as various other acids formed in the body. $*<*3Adjustment
0210F33 by the body*0*> $^Normally, all these substances remain dissolved in
0220F33 urine. ^According to the laws of chemistry, the solubility of any
0230F33 substance in a liquid depends on different factors such as its chemical
0240F33 character, concentration, reaction of the liquid, acidic or basic nature
0250F33 \0etc. ^In a normal individual, all these factors are so adjusted
0260F33 by the body that the various chemical substances remain dissolved.
0270F33 $^In addition to these chemical factors, there is a very important mechanical
0280F33 factor involved-- the periodic emptying of the urinary tract.
0290F33 ^The prolonged standing of any solution leads to crystallization and
0300F33 precipitation. ^The regular emptying of the urinary tract avoids stagnation
0310F33 of urine and thus prevents stone formation. $^When the normal course
0320F33 is disturbed, the precipitation of the urinary salts is likely to_
0330F33 result in stone formation. ^For instance, in certain individuals,
0340F33 the amount of calcium excreted in urine may be above normal. ^Such
0350F33 a state may be due to either hereditary defect in calcium excretion, or
0360F33 due to an abnormally excessive ingestion of a calcium rich diet like milk.
0370F33 ^Also, the diseases of the kidney itself as well as other organs
0380F33 like the bones or endocrine glands may lead to excessive urinary calcium
0390F33 excretion. ^In these cases, the amount of calcium might exceed the critical
0400F33 solubility level and lead to precipitation. $*<*3Stone formation*0*>
0410F33 $^Similarly, any obstruction in the passage of urine may result in
0420F33 stone formation. ^This is because obstruction leads to stagnation which,
0430F33 in turn, promotes crystallization of the dissolved substances.
0440F33 ^But that_ is not all. ^Despite these well-documented pre-disposing
0450F33 factors, there remain a vast majority of 'urinary stone-formers' in
0460F33 whom the exact defect responsible for the stone-formation remains
0470F33 unknown. $^Majority of the chemical ingredients likely to_ form stones
0480F33 are composed of calcium oxalates or phosphates, magnesium oxalates
0490F33 or phosphates, and uric acid. ^Sometimes, stones with a mixed composition
0500F33 are also formed. ^It is possible to_ recognize the exact type of
0510F33 stone in an individual by the symptoms it produces, as well as by the
0520F33 chemical analysis, and the microscopic examination of the urine.
0530F33 $^Of the symptoms, the most common one is pain. ^It can be a dull pain
0540F33 in the back in the region below the ribs. ^Such a pain is likely
0550F33 when the stone is situated either in the kidney itself, or in the adjacent
0560F33 roomy portion known as the renal pelvis. $^When the stone migrates
0570F33 to the conducting tubes-- the 'ureters' the pain changes its character.
0580F33 ^These muscular ureteric tubes undergo vigorous contraction
0590F33 to_ push the stone forward into the roomy urinary bladder, and this
0600F33 produces the agonizing pain referred to as renal colic. ^This pain
0610F33 starts over the back, and goes towards the external genital organs.
0620F33 $^Another common symptom is the passage of blood-stained urine, medically
0630F33 referred to as haematuria. ^This symptom is more likely in the
0640F33 patients with oxalate stones than in the those with phosphate stones.
0650F33 ^This is because oxalate stones have pointed crusts on the surface,
0660F33 and, hence are more likely to_ erode the blood vessels in the urinary
0670F33 passages, while phosphate stones are smooth, and hence, are rarely
0680F33 associated with haematuria. $^The symptoms of urinary infection like
0690F33 burning pain while passing urine, frequent desire to_ pass urine, and
0700F33 fever are likely to_ supervene at any stage, since the presence
0710F33 of the stones in the urinary tract makes it susceptible to the invasion
0720F33 of the germs. ^It is a clinical dictum that any patient with persistent
0730F33 symptoms of urinary infection should undergo investigations
0740F33 to_ rule out stone trouble in the urinary tract. $^Occasionally, these
0750F33 stones can cause sudden cessation of the urination. ^The patient may
0760F33 struggle and scream and yell with pain. ^He may make several attempts
0770F33 to_ pass urine, but all his efforts are futile. $^If the presence
0780F33 of the urinary stone is left undetected for a long time, or too
0790F33 many urinary stones are present, the kindly may show progressive deterioration
0800F33 in its functioning ultimately leading on to renal failure. ^In
0810F33 such a late stage, the symptoms like weakness, listlessness, and diminished
0820F33 mental activity are likely to_ predominate. $^The detection of
0830F33 urinary stones has become quite easy, provided the condition is suspected.
0840F33 ^Thanks to the X-rays. ^Majority of the urinary stones can
0850F33 be seen in the X-ray films. ^Besides as stated earlier, the chemical
0860F33 and microscopic examination of urine are also certain to_ be helpful
0870F33 in diagnosis. $^But, the most difficult aspect in the medical examination
0880F33 of these 'stone-formers' is the elucidation of the exact predisposing
0890F33 factor. ^For this, certain blood investigations as well as detailed
0900F33 studies to_ rule out anatomical defects in the urinary tract are
0910F33 essential. ^The latter can be done by direct examination of the interior
0920F33 of the urinary tract with specialized instruments as well as by radiographic
0930F33 techniques. ^But it must be admitted that in spite of all these
0940F33 studies, the exact predisposing factor in an individual may remain
0950F33 undetected. $*<*3Simple treatment*0*> $^Though this fact might
0960F33 discourage the doctor and disappoint the patient, one encouraging
0970F33 aspect in the treatment of urinary stones is that the majority of the
0980F33 patients can be cured by simple treatment, as most of the stones
0990F33 are passed out in the urine spontaneously. ^Such an outcome can be encouraged
1000F33 by simple drugs and certain dietary regulations. ^Besides, the
1010F33 recurrence of the symptoms can also be prevented by these measures. $^For
1020F33 instance, the ingestion of large quantities of water dilutes the
1030F33 concentration of the various chemical substances in the urine, and thus,
1040F33 minimises the stone formation. ^All potential 'stone-formers' should
1050F33 drink at least 3 to 3.5 litres of water and aim at a urinary output
1060F33 of 2 to 3 litres per day. ^This dictum should be scrupulously followed
1070F33 in the summer and while undertaking long journeys. $^Also, they
1080F33 should reduce the intake of such food which **[sic**] is likely to_
1090F33 increase the concentration of the stone-forming substances in the
1100F33 urine. ^For instance, people with calcium phosphate stones should
1110F33 take limited quantity of milk and milk products like cheese, butter,
1120F33 meat and meat products. ^The oxalate stone formers should avoid excessive
1130F33 ingestion of articles like tomato, spinach, and onion which contain
1140F33 large quantities of oxalates. ^The uric acid stone-formers should
1150F33 reduce the intake of meat and meat products. $^Whith these measures,
1160F33 majority of the urinary stones can be eradicated and their recurrences
1170F33 prevented. ^Only in rare instances, surgical intervention is necessary
1180F33 for the removal of the stones. ^However, where obstruction
1190F33 in the urinary passages predisposes to stone-formation, surgical correction
1200F33 of the obstruction is necessary. $*<*3Wrong notions*0*> $^Many
1210F33 notions and concepts disturb the minds of the people about these
1220F33 urinary stones. ^Some patients make interesting queries about the
1230F33 formation of these stones. ^One of the sufferers once thought that
1240F33 the adulteration of food articles like rice and pulses with pellets
1250F33 of mud and stones might be responsible for the formation of the urinary
1260F33 stones. $^His contention was that these stones in the diet are
1270F33 absorbed through intestines and get deposited in the urinary tract.
1280F33 ^But this contention is far from the truth since the urinary stone-formation
1290F33 is an *8in situ*9 process-- that_ is, the precipitation of
1300F33 the constituents occurs in the urinary tract itself. $^In conclusion,
1310F33 here are some points to_ remember: $(1) ^Stone formation in the
1320F33 urinary tract is a fairly common disorder with varied causes, some
1330F33 of which are still not clear. $(2) ^The symptoms vary from mild to severe,
1340F33 the onset, insidious to dramatic, and the effects on the system
1350F33 insignificant to serious. $(3) ^The patients with persistent urinary
1360F33 symptoms, whatever may be the nature, have to_ be investigated with
1370F33 a view to_ detect the presence of the urinary stones. $(4) ^The urinary
1380F33 stones can be easily detected by the simple tests of urine and blood
1390F33 as well as by the X-rays. $(5) ^Majority of the 'stone-formers'
1400F33 can be easily treated by certain dietary adjustments and simple drugs.
1410F33 ^Only a few require surgery.
1420F33 $**<*3Is homoeopathy scientific?*0**> $'*3*8^Similibia similibus curentus*9*0'
1430F33 or 'like cures like!' ^In a nutshell, this is what homoeopathy
1440F33 is based on. ^Sickness is caused by three factors called miasms!
1450F33 ^These three miasms, singly or in various combinations, are the cause
1460F33 of all diseases. ^They are psora, sycosis and syphilis. $^Psora refers
1470F33 to all functional disorders in the body like fever and pain, \0etc,
1480F33 with no reference to any structural abnormality. ^Sycosis refers
1490F33 to all the abnormal proliferation of tissues. ^Syphilis refers to
1500F33 all ulcerating disorders. $^For treatment, the drug chosen is one which
1510F33 when given to a symptomless individual produces the same symptom
1520F33 complex as it is supposed to_ cure. ^The more diluted the drug, the
1530F33 more is the potency. ^And in the initial stages of homoeopathic treatment,
1540F33 the symptoms are exaggerated and that_ indicates good response
1550F33 to the treatment. $^The homoeopaths and the protagonists of this
1560F33 system claim that homoeopathy aims at removing the cause of the disease
1570F33 by increasing the body*'s natural defence against the disease, and
1580F33 hence, is more natural and effective than any other system. ^Before
1590F33 we discuss the logic of the above postulate, it is necessary to_
1600F33 go into some historical aspects. $^*Samuel Hahnemann, a German, discovered
1610F33 homoeopathy in 1790 when he was 35. ^At that_ time, witchcraft
1620F33 and magic were synonymous. ^Malaria in particular was a very
1630F33 common disease. ^Only a few survived serious injuries or surgery. ^There
1640F33 were as many systems of medicine as there were communities, and
1650F33 the treatment of any disease was based on the speculative prowess of
1660F33 the doctor. $^The treatment was primitive. ^For example, the leeches
1670F33 were applied to the body surface to_ relieve oedema \0etc. ^The
1680F33 treatment was worse than the disease. ^In this context, Hahnemann
1690F33 searched for an alternative. ^He gave up allopathy in 1788. $^Malaria
1700F33 was recognised by most of the people because of the periodic fever
1710F33 it caused. ^Cinchona bark was empirically but successfully used as
1720F33 the treatment. ^It was mentioned in Cullen*'s *8Materia Medica*9
1730F33 which Hahnemann was translating in 1790. ^It is now a well known
1740F33 fact that if a normal person takes cinchona or its allied drug, an attack
1750F33 of malaria is prevented and if it occurs, it is in a mild form.
1760F33 $^*Hahnemann took a dose of cinchona and suffered a mild malaria attack
1770F33 subsequently. ^He attributed his sickness to the intake of cinchona,
1780F33 and advanced the hypothesis that a drug that_ caused a disease
1790F33 when taken by a normal person cured the same disease. ^Accidentally,
1800F33 this also happened in the case of several other volunteers. ^They were
1810F33 given cinchona and had a milder attack of malaria. ^This strengthened
1820F33 Hanemann*'s conviction. $^The real causative germs of malaria
1830F33 and other infectious diseases were discovered much later in rapid succession--
1840F33 malaria parasite in 1878, 35 years after Hahnemann*'s death,
1850F33 tubercle bacillus in 1882, diptheria bacillus in 1883, cholera vibrio
1860F33 in 1884 and typhoid bacillus in 1885.*#
        **[no. of words = 02003**]

        **[txt. f34**]
0010F34 **<*3THE MAHABHARATA*0**> $*<*3Wanderings*0*> $*3^THE PANDAVAS MARCHED
0020F34 ON*0 in silence with a group of devoted followers trailing along,
0030F34 until they reached the banks of the Ganga. ^There they spent
0040F34 the night under a spreading tree. ^A few among Yudhistira*'s followers
0050F34 lit a sacrificial fire and melodiously chanted the *4Vedas to
0060F34 while away the time. $^*Yudhistira appealed to them, "^Please go
0070F34 back. ^The forest is too full of risks-- reptiles and beasts of prey.
0080F34 ^We have brought upon ourseleves this fate, why should you share
0090F34 it? ^My brothers are too dispirited even to_ pluck fruits or hunt
0100F34 animals to_ provide you food. ^So please return to your homes." $^Some
0110F34 listened to his advice and left, but others refused to_ go, assuring
0120F34 him that they would look after themselves without proving burdensome
0130F34 in any manner. ^*Yudhistira was touched by their affection, and
0140F34 was unable to_ check the tears welling up. ^His sorrow affected everyone.
0150F34 $^At this moment, Saunaka, one of the learned men in the
0160F34 group, consoled him with the philosophy. "^Griefs and fears by the thousands
0170F34 afflict all men night and day, but affect only the ignorant.
0180F34 ^Wise men like you should never be overwhelmed by changes of circumstance,
0190F34 which cause poverty, loss of home, kingdom, or of one*'s
0200F34 kith and kin." ^He expounded a philosophy of acceptance and resignation,
0210F34 of getting beyond appearances to the core of reality, where one
0220F34 could understand the ephemeral nature of wealth, youth, beauty, and
0230F34 possessions. $^*Yudhistira explained, "^It is not for myself that
0240F34 I feel the loss of a home. ^*I feel for my brothers and Panchali,
0250F34 whom I have involved in this misery. ^*I am sorry for those who
0260F34 are following me. ^One should have a roof to_ afford rest and shade
0270F34 to those who seek one*'s hospitality, otherwise one ceases to_
0280F34 be human." $^Understanding his predicament, Dhaumya, his priest, said,
0290F34 "At the beginning creatures were born hungry. ^In order to_
0300F34 help, the Sun tilted himself half the year northward and the other
0310F34 half southward and absorbed the vapours. ^The moon converted the vapours
0320F34 into clouds and sent down the rain, and created the plant world,
0330F34 which nourishes life, at the same time providing for the six kinds
0340F34 of taste. ^It is the Sun*'s energy that_ supports life. ^Hence, Yudhistira,
0350F34 you must seek his grace. ^All ancient kings have supported
0360F34 their dependents by meditating on the Sun." $^*Yudhistira purified
0370F34 himself with ablutions, and centred his thoughts on the Sun God.
0380F34 ^Reciting a hymn in his praise, he uttered his one hundred and eight
0390F34 names, standing in knee-deep water and fasting. ^In answer to his
0400F34 prayers the Sun God appeared, luminous and blazing offered him
0410F34 a copper bowl, and said, "let Panchali hold this vessel from this
0420F34 day, and you will have from it an inexhaustible supply of food, as
0430F34 much as you want for twelve years to_ come, and in the fourteenth
0440F34 year, you will regain your kingdom." $^After crossing over to the other
0450F34 bank of the Ganga, they trudged along for many days and reached
0460F34 a forest known as Dwaitavana, where dwelt many hermits, living
0470F34 a life of contemplation amidst nature. ^The Pandavas could forget
0480F34 their trials momentarily in such enlightened company. ^With the copper
0490F34 bowl in Draupadi*'s hands, Yudhistira could provide the hermits
0500F34 as well as his followers with limitless food. $^One afternoon
0510F34 Vidura arrived at their retreat. ^The moment Yudhistira saw the
0520F34 coming chariot, he said to his brothers, "Does Vidura come again
0530F34 to_ summon us to_ play dice? ^Perhaps Sakuni feels that he should
0540F34 appropriate our weapons too, which he did not touch last time." ^With
0550F34 great apprehension they welcomed the visitor and enquired of his
0560F34 purpose. ^He replied, "I have been cast away by our King." ^And
0570F34 he explained the circumstances that_ led to it. $^After the banishment
0580F34 of the ^Pandavas, Dhritarashtra was filled with regret and
0590F34 summoned Vidura to_ prescribe for him a course for attaining peace
0600F34 of mind. ^He had spent many sleepless nights thinking of his brother*'s
0610F34 children now treading the hard path in the forests. ^He wanted
0620F34 a salve for his conscience, some agreeable statement from Vidura
0630F34 that the Pandavas wouldbe quite well, that Fate had, decreed
0640F34 their exile, and that Dhritarashtra was not personally responsible
0650F34 for anything. ^But Vidura was as outspoken as ever and repeated that
0660F34 Duryodhana should be cast away if their house was to_ be saved.
0670F34 ^This irritated the King, who said, "Vidura you believe in being
0680F34 disagreeable. ^You hate me and my children. ^You are partial to
0690F34 the Pandavas and always wish to_ do things that_ are agreeable to
0700F34 them." $"^As the sick man detests the medicine given to him, so
0710F34 did the king hate the words of advice I uttered. ^Just as a youthful
0720F34 damsel would spurn the advances of a man of seventy, so did Dhritarashtra
0730F34 spurn my advice. ^He said, 'go away for ever. ^*I shall not
0740F34 need your guidance or advice to_ rule the world. ^Go where they will
0750F34 heed your words-- anywhere you may choose except here. ^Now go
0760F34 away immediately.' ^And here I am." $^The Pandavas were happy in Vidura*'s
0770F34 company. ^But hardly had they settled down to this pleasant
0780F34 state when another messenger arrived post-haste from Hastinapura.
0790F34 ^It was Sanjaya. ^He was again received with every courtesy, but
0800F34 he would hardly be seated for a moment. "^*I am in a great hurry,"
0810F34 he explained. "^Our King commands Vidura to_ return immediately.
0820F34 yesterday the King fell down in a faint at the assembly hall. ^He
0830F34 had been grief stricken ever since he had expelled Vidura, and lamented,
0840F34 'I have lopped off my own limb. ^How can I live? ^Will he forgive
0850F34 me? Is he alive?' ^We revived him and then he ordered, 'go and
0860F34 seek Vidura wherever he may be and if he is alive, beg him to_ return.
0870F34 ^Tell him how I feel like branding my tongue with hot iron for
0880F34 my utterance. ^*Sanjaya, my life depends upon you, go this instant
0890F34 and find him.'" $^*Vidura had no choice but to_ return to Hastinapura.
0900F34 ^On seeing him, Dhritarashtra, who had lain prostrate, sat up
0910F34 and wept with joy. ^But this situation did not suit his sons. $^*Sakuni,
0920F34 Duryodhana, and Karna consulted among themselves. "^Our King
0930F34 is fickle-minded. ^Some day he is going to_ send his own chariot
0940F34 for his nephews and offer them the throne, and that_ is going to_
0950F34 be the end of us. ^We know where they are now. ^Let us go with a body
0960F34 of picked men and destroy them. ^We should not let them nurture
0970F34 their grievance and plan revenge for thirteen years...." ^And soon
0980F34 they made various preparations to_ go forth and attack the Pandavas
0990F34 in their forest retreat. $^At this moment Sage Vyasa, knowing
1000F34 by intuition what was afoot, arrived and advised them to_ drop their
1010F34 adventure. ^Turning to Dhritarashtra, he said, "listen to me; I
1020F34 will tell you what will help you. ^Don*'4t allow this hostility to_
1030F34 continue. ^Your brother*'s children are only five, yours are a hundred...
1040F34 ^You have no cause for envy. ^Command your sons to_ go out and
1050F34 make their peace with the Pandavas. ^Otherwise, as I read the
1060F34 future, at the end of thirteen years the Pandavas will wipe you out
1070F34 of human memory. ^Heed my warning." $^Frightened by this prophecy,
1080F34 Dhritarashtra said, "Please advise my evil-minded sons." $^At this
1090F34 moment another sage named Maitreyi arrived on a visit, and Vyasa
1100F34 said, "Let this sage speak to your sons." $^After he was seated
1110F34 and shown all the courtesies, Maitreyi said to Dhritarashtra, "I
1120F34 was on a pilgrimage to the holy places and happened to_ visit Dwaitavana,
1130F34 where I met Yudhistira, his brothers, and Panchali living
1140F34 out the life of forest nomads. ^*I was pained to_ see them thus,
1150F34 and though Yudhistira is resigned to it, it strikes me as an undeserved
1160F34 suffering." ^Then, turning to Duryodhana, the *4rishi said very
1170F34 softly, "O mighty warrior, listen to me. ^Put an end to all this
1180F34 strife and bitterness and you will be saving your family from annihilation."
1190F34 $^*Duryodhana received the advice with a cynical smile, slapping
1200F34 his thigh in response and kicking the ground at his feet to_ show
1210F34 his indifference, whereupon the sage laid a curse on him. "^When
1220F34 the time comes, you will reap the fruits of your insolence and Bhima
1230F34 will rip that_ thigh of yours, which you slap so heroically now."
1240F34 $^*Dhritarashtra was aghast and begged, "please take back your curse."
1250F34 $"^That_ I can*'4t, once uttered. ^However, if your son makes
1260F34 peace with the Pandavas, my curse will not take effect. ^Otherwise,
1270F34 it will turn out exactly as I have decreed." $^Having come to_ know
1280F34 that Yudhistira had been condemned to a forest life, several friendly
1290F34 kings visited him to_ ask if they could help him in any way, Yudhistira
1300F34 just said, "Wait for thirteen years. ^In the fourteenth
1310F34 year, I will need all your help." $^*Krishna had also arrived from
1320F34 Dwaraka, and he said to Yudhistira: "^*I had to_ be away on
1330F34 another mission. ^Otherwise I would have come to Hastinapura and
1340F34 stopped the game which has brought you to this pass. ^*I would have
1350F34 persuaded the Kauravas to_ give up their sinful ways-- or I would
1360F34 have destroyed them all on the spot." $^*Draupadi was moved by Krishna*'s
1370F34 sympathy. "^My five husbands, gifted warriors of this world,
1380F34 looked on helplessly while I was dragged about, insulted, and disrobed...
1390F34 ^*Dussasana grabbed me by the hair, and if I put up my hands
1400F34 to_ protect my head, he tugged away the single wrap around my body.
1410F34 ^He ignored my plea that this was not the time to_ touch me.. ^Nowhere
1420F34 in the universe has any woman been so vilely handled, and Karna
1430F34 and Dussasana and the others leered and joked and asked me to_
1440F34 take a new husband, as if I were a harlot." ^She broke down and
1450F34 wept at the memory of the incident. "^Five warriors-- five warriors
1460F34 were my husbands who could not lift a finger to_ help me, except
1470F34 Bhima who was held back. ^You alone came to my rescue... you heard
1480F34 my call... you are my saviour. ^*Arjuna*'s Gandiva and someone else*'s
1490F34 mace or sword-- of what avail were they when I was dragged before
1500F34 an assembly of monsters?" $^*Krishna appeased her. "^*I promise you--
1510F34 Duryodhana, his brothers, Karna, and the evil genius behind them
1520F34 all, Sakuni-- all of them will be punished. ^Their blood will stain
1530F34 the dust. ^You will see Yudhistira installed on the throne." $^After
1540F34 Krishna left, an argument began between Yudhistira and Draupadi.
1550F34 ^She had faithfully obeyed Yudhistira*'s commands, but never
1560F34 accepted his philosophy. "^To_ see you-- particularly you, whom
1570F34 I have seen in a silken bed and on a golden throne, waited upon by
1580F34 the rulers of the earth-- now in this state, mud-spattered, clad
1590F34 in deerskin, sleeping on hard ground -- oh, it wrings my heart.
1600F34 ^To_ see Bhima, who achieves single-handed every victory, now in
1610F34 this distressing state, does it not stir your anger? ^*Arjuna of a
1620F34 thousand arms-- as it seems when he sends the arrows, worshipped
1630F34 by celestial and human beings alike-- bound hand and foot, does it
1640F34 not make you indignant? ^Why does not your anger blaze up and consume
1650F34 your enemies? ^And me, the doughter of Drupada and sister of Dhrishtadyumna,
1660F34 disgraced and forced to_ live like this! ^How is it you
1670F34 are so mild? ^There is no *4kshatriya who is incapable of anger, so
1680F34 they say, but your attitude does not prove it. ^You should never forgive
1690F34 a devil, but destroy him without leaving a trace. ^On this subject,
1700F34 have you not heard the story of Prahlada and his grandson Bali of
1710F34 ancient times? ^The grandson enquired, 'Tell me, is blind forgiveness
1720F34 superior to judicious anger?' ^*Prahlada, who knew all the subtleties
1730F34 of conduct, answered, 'Child, aggressiveness is not always good,
1740F34 nor is forgiveness. ^One who is known to_ be forgiving always suffers
1750F34 and causes his dependents also to_ suffer. ^Servants, strangers,
1760F34 and enemies ill-treat him, steal his goods under his very nose, and
1770F34 even try to_ take his wife away.*#
        **[no. of words = 02008**]

        [txt. f35**]
0010F35 **<*3The Bengalis: the perfect prigs*0**> $"^WE, HINDUS, are the most
0020F35 perfect prigs that_ have ever trodden on this earth," says Nirad *(0C.*)
0030F35 Chaudhary, I wish to_ amend his statement by saying that it
0040F35 is we, Bengalis, who are the most perfect prigs. $^Once I asked my
0050F35 Bengali neighbour, "Have you seen *3Garam Hawa?" $^My neighbour,
0060F35 twisting his lips, gave me a highbrow answer, "When I can afford
0070F35 to_ see a Bengali movie of Satyajit Ray and can understand it, I do
0080F35 not care for the Hindi films." $*<*3No knowledge of mother tongue*>
0090F35 $^Mind you, he answered me in English and he was a Bengali who,
0100F35 being educated in a public school, did not know how to_ read and write
0110F35 Bengali. $^This is a common phenomenon. ^Every Bengali is proud of
0120F35 his culture, language and literature. ^In fact, this chauvinism has reached
0130F35 such an extent that anything other than Bengali culture and literature
0140F35 is looked down upon with contempt and is considered inferior.
0150F35 $^Ask him about the culture of Punjab. ^The answer would be in the
0160F35 form of a counter-question with a sarcastic smile: "^Do they have any
0170F35 culture?" ^This intrinsic sense of cultural superiority leading to a
0180F35 contempt for others is a disease every Bengali suffers from. $*<*3Why
0190F35 superiority complex?*> $^But the question is: why does an average Bengali
0200F35 wear a look of superiority and consider himself an elite, as far
0210F35 as culture and literature go? $^Granted Bengal has a rich cultural
0220F35 heritage. ^Beginning from Ram Mohun Roy, Bankim Chandra and Modhusudan
0230F35 to Tagore and Saratchandra, it has a host of good writers. ^*Jamini
0240F35 Roy, Nanda Lal Bose, Abanidranath Tagore-- all from Bengal--
0250F35 are renowned for their paintings. ^It is also true that in Satyajit
0260F35 Ray, the Bengalis have an internationally reputed film director.
0270F35 $^But the snag is that a Bengali is mainly proud of his cultural
0280F35 past. ^Except Satyajit Ray, there is no other Bengali who has been
0290F35 able to_ attain international fame in the post-War era. ^It clearly
0300F35 indicates how frail the structure of this chauvinism is. $^Despite this,
0310F35 the Bengalis are fully intoxicated with the pride of a rich cultural
0320F35 past. ^As a result, they quite forget that the present standard of
0330F35 their literature is poor, and the future of their culture is bleak.
0340F35 ^*Tagore is still their key figure. ^*Tagore is their world, Tagore is
0350F35 their literature and everything. ^*Tagore*'s Viswabharati is the best
0360F35 university to them. $^True, Rabindranath was the most talented literateur
0370F35 modern India has produced. ^But does this mean that anything which
0380F35 is not Tagore is inferior? ^This is a sign of jingoism. ^You say,
0390F35 "Well, Tagore died more than 35 years ago, and there is no point in
0400F35 citing Tagore as a current example of the richness of your literature,
0410F35 for that_ will be mere living in the past." ^The Bengali will promptly
0420F35 retort back with his stock answer, "Satyajit ray". $^But then that_
0430F35 is all he can trot out. ^*Ray is perhaps the only Bengali after
0440F35 the Second World War who has been able to_ make the grade on the
0450F35 international scene. ^In short, Tagore is the past of a Bengali, his
0460F35 present is Ray. ^But his future is all balnk. $*<*3Pride in past*>
0470F35 $^Surprisingly enough, this glaring fact that their pride lies in
0480F35 their past achievements and the future is very much dark, does not deter
0490F35 Bengalis from looking down upon other cultures and literatures. $^This
0500F35 kind of blind chauvinism was blatantly exposed when some Bengali prigs
0510F35 said that film director Shyam Benegal hailed from Bengal-- obviously,
0520F35 an inference derived from his surname which by mistake, or by
0530F35 intention was spelt in Bengali as 'Bengal' till recently. ^Along
0540F35 with this young director, there are a number of other young promising
0550F35 film directors who have been claimed as from Bengal. ^In the film line,
0560F35 Satyajit Ray, Mrinal Sen, \0etc, are the only film directors
0570F35 who have so far made the grade. ^On the other hand, a number of promising
0580F35 film directors (one of them being Shyam Benegal) are coming
0590F35 up from the North and the South. ^But even then, a Bengali still thinks
0600F35 that he is culturally more advanced. $*<*3Present literature stagnant*>
0610F35 $^In the field of literature, Bengal remains stagnant. ^It
0620F35 is where it was 30 years ago. ^*Tagore was their last key man. ^Since
0630F35 then, just one or two good writers have appeared. ^But look at Hindi,
0640F35 look at Punjabi, look at the literatures of the South. ^There is
0650F35 a tremendous progress in comparison to the literature of Bengal. ^Only
0660F35 two writers from Bengal have been able to_ get the Bharatiya Gyan
0670F35 Peeth Award for literature till today. ^In other words, the two
0680F35 Gyan Peeth Awards in the post-War era are the achievements in literature
0690F35 a Bengali is proud of! ^Therefore, it is time the priggish personality
0700F35 of a Bengali was exposed and seen in its reality. $^The Bengalis
0710F35 are mostly unadventurous. ^Exceptions are, of course, there, one of
0720F35 them being Mihir Sen. ^The validity of what has been said may be
0730F35 questioned by pointing at the Naxalite movement. ^The simple answer
0740F35 to that_ is: though the plan of the movement was devised by a small
0750F35 group of persons from Bengal (they, mind you, fall in the category
0760F35 of exceptions), the whole plan was put into action by the young boys.
0770F35 $^And here a qualification is essential that I do not consider a young
0780F35 boy of 15 or 20 a Bengali or a non Bengali because a boy of Bengal
0790F35 has the same essential qualities as a boy of Punjab, Uttar Pradesh
0800F35 or Maharashtra. ^Therefore, any boy of any region could have put the
0810F35 Naxalite movement into action, provided he had been guided by those
0820F35 men of Bengal, who as I have already said, were exceptions. $^A boy
0830F35 develops into a typical Bengali when he reaches the age of 25, and
0840F35 this process of initiation is complete by the time he becomes 30. ^It
0850F35 is in this context that I claim that an average Bengali is unadventurous
0860F35 by nature. $^He is all the time governed by a middle class philosophy,
0870F35 'The best safety lies in fear.' ^He is a man who sincerely believes
0880F35 that life should go on placidly. ^He does not do anything for the
0890F35 betterment of his society or his family, though he may talk off his head
0900F35 in the morning queue for the bus, in his office, in the evening club
0910F35 where he goes to_ spend his time by playing cards, or at his group*'s
0920F35 *4Puja Committee planning ways of excelling the rival group*'s
0930F35 *3*4puja decorations next year. ^He is wise enough to_ realise the amount
0940F35 of risk involved in an active step towards improvement and, therefore,
0950F35 is prompt to_ withdraw from it. $^Due to their unadventurous
0960F35 nature, the Bengalis are found to_ be the best clerks all over India
0970F35 in fact, they are content with a fixed amount salary after the end of
0980F35 each month, and are the least interested in shouldering any responsibilities.
0990F35 ^As such, clerkship happens to_ be the most suitable job for
1000F35 them. $^But the big joke here is that even as clerks, these Bengalis
1010F35 are not sincere and honest. ^Most of the time in the office, they prefer
1020F35 to_ chat about domestic problems, rising prices, politics and football
1030F35 matches. $^Again, it is due to their unadventurous nature that the
1040F35 Bengalis do not take to business which seems to them very bothersome.
1050F35 $^A bengali does not like to_ start a business as he is endowed with
1060F35 an acute sense of prestige. ^Business is a word that_ has no place
1070F35 in his dictionary, for he considers it a humiliating proposition. ^As
1080F35 a result, the business market of Bengal is still dominated by people
1090F35 from bihar and other States. $*<*3False sense of prestige*>
1100F35 $^It was because of this sense of prestige that after independence and
1110F35 the subsequent partition, the displaced Bengalis preferred beggary
1120F35 to earning by hard work and business. ^On the other hand, the Punjabis
1130F35 did not have this false sense of prestige and were more enterprising
1140F35 in their approach to life. ^So they took to small business and gradually,
1150F35 stood on their own. $^The Bengali was a middle class clerk
1160F35 25 years ago. ^And even today, he is still there with the same old pretensions
1170F35 of intellectual and cultural superiority. $^A Bengali is a born
1180F35 critic. ^Criticism seems to_ be the most lively intellectual exercise
1190F35 for him. ^To_ be more precise, he specializes in what may be termed
1200F35 as 'armchair criticism.' ^He is well-informed about the happenings
1210F35 around him and is prone to_ express his critical views with all vehemence
1220F35 on the burning issues of the day as if he is an expert commentator.
1230F35 $^If the previous evening his favourite football team has lost the
1240F35 match against a Punjab team, he beats up his children for no reason
1250F35 and does not take his dinner. ^And the first thing he does the next
1260F35 morning after entering the office is to_ start a discussion on the
1270F35 match with his Bengali colleague. ^He condemns the players of Bengal,
1280F35 and then, lists the reasons for the debacle of his team. ^He hints
1290F35 that the referee must have accepted a bribe from the Punjab team.
1300F35 ^He sends a long letter to the editor of *3The Statesman (the favourite
1310F35 newspaper of the Bengalis), highlighting the poor display of
1320F35 football by the Bengal team and the partiality of the referee in a severely
1330F35 harsh style. $^Strangely enough, when you talk of constructive criticism
1340F35 or of solving a problem by a collective effort, every Bengali
1350F35 starts minding his own business. ^He feels injured when a Bengal
1360F35 team is defeated by a punjab team. $*<*3No incentive to players*> $^But
1370F35 do they ever think in terms of giving incentives to the Bengal players
1380F35 who had won trophies after trophies earlier with effortless ease?
1390F35 ^If a Punjab team wins a match, the incentives flow in from various
1400F35 quarters. ^A few months ago, when a Punjab team won, one local fan announced
1410F35 a donation of 50 pairs of football shoes to the winners. $^A Bengali
1420F35 can soon overcome his injured feelings at the defeat by remembering
1430F35 the good old days when the Bengal teams dominated the football
1440F35 scene. ^That_ is why his 'armchair criticism' ends with a whimper.
1450F35 $^Though he is living in the 20th century, the Bengali*'s mental make-up
1460F35 is typically Victorian. ^He is like a Victorian Englishman minus
1470F35 all positive qualities. ^Despite the awareness of the aggravating
1480F35 conditions around him, he slips into a self-satisfied mood, which is
1490F35 possible mainly because of his dreamy nature. $^His peculiar smugness
1500F35 apart, a Bengali in no way lags behind a Victorian Englishman in sharing
1510F35 with him the art of hypocrisy. ^One can never know his real views
1520F35 and feelings. ^He is what may be called a man with a mask. ^His emotions
1530F35 are always simulated. $^Your bengali friend may invite you with
1540F35 all his sweetness for lunch but the moment you depart, he may start cracking
1550F35 dirty jokes at your expense and your family. ^Though hypocrisy is
1560F35 a trait common in the Indians, it characterises a Bengali to a greater
1570F35 extent, for he thinks that he is more intelligent than the others.
1580F35 ^And to_ prove it, he must outwit others by concealing his real emotions
1590F35 and thoughts. $*<*3Pseudo-intellectuals*> $^It is notable in this
1600F35 connection that among the so-called Bengali intellectuals, 90 per
1610F35 cent are pseudo-intellectuals. ^They are the most artful pretenders.
1620F35 ^A Bengali is apt to_ give you an intellectual look, even though his
1630F35 knowledge may be quite shallow. ^But that_ does not deter him from
1640F35 his false intellectual stance. $^Most of the Bengalis are unfriendly
1650F35 and unaccommodating. ^A Bengali is in no way inclined to_ allow a non-Bengali
1660F35 to_ enter his own circle of friends. ^He considers the non-Bengalis
1670F35 Philistines. $^In the 'Letters to the Editor' columns
1680F35 in various journals, I have noted the Bengalis*' cynical attitude and
1690F35 displeasure over the efforts of the non-Bengalis to_ learn Bengali.
1700F35 ^The non-Bengalis are considered dullards and unrefined by these Bengali
1710F35 prigs. $^A strange habit indicating the unfriendly nature of the
1720F35 Bengalis can be noticed, especially in the non-Bengali speaking regions.*#
        **[no. of words = 02016**]

        **[txt. f36**]
0010F36 **<*3Rationalist Movement in India**> $^In a country which has so many
0020F36 religions, it is but natural that there should be diverse rationalist
0030F36 movements. ^Questioning the religious dogmas, criticising the caste
0040F36 barriers, challenging the self-proclaimed godmen and exposing the miracle
0050F36 men have been the main tasks of the rationalists. $^Some rationalists,
0060F36 like \0Dr *(0M.N.*) Roy, decided to_ go along with the leftist
0070F36 political parties. *(0^*E.V.*) Ramasamy Naicker founded his own political
0080F36 outfit. ^Many stayed out of politics totally. ^Most of these rationalists
0090F36 started their own movements when they found that the Hindu reformist
0100F36 movements like the Arya Samaj and Brahmo Samaj did not go
0110F36 far enough to_ question the necessity of worshipping the gods and
0120F36 goddesses. $^What have been the achievements of the rationalist leaders?
0130F36 ^Isn*'4t 'religion' still a living force? these questions call for an assessment.
0140F36 ^At the very outset, it may be stated that the rationalist movement
0150F36 in India has made little progress. ^But then, despite the writings
0160F36 of the intellectuals like Bertrand Russell and Emile Zola, the
0170F36 Western world, too, is still receptive to religious dogmas. $^If today
0180F36 there is very little attendance in churches in the \0USA and Europe,
0190F36 it is not so because of the crusading zeal of persons like Bertrand
0200F36 Russell, but due to the fact that the people have become too busy, too
0220F36 prosperous, too complacent, too lethargic to_ bother about the religious
0230F36 aspects of life. ^Some of the rationalist leaders embraced rationalism
0240F36 after reading the books written by eminent thinkers like Zola, Bertrand
0250F36 Russell, Albert Camus and Jean Paul Sartre. ^Others took
0260F36 to rationalism because of their anger against communal and religious
0270F36 intolerance. $^Many rationalists like \0Dr Abraham Kovoor believed
0280F36 in keeping away from politics. ^All that_ they wanted was to_ demonstrate
0290F36 the truth of their conviction to the people. ^But men like Gora were
0300F36 very much involved in politics. ^*Gora was an associate of Mahatma
0310F36 Gandhi. ^Though he disliked Gandhi*'s views on religion, he tolerated
0320F36 the latter for his humanism. $^In Tamil Nadu, the comrades and
0330F36 followers of *(0E.V.*) Ramasamy Naicker, popularly known as *(0EVR*)
0340F36 or Periyar, agitated not only against the evils of caste system
0350F36 but also, sought separation from the Union of India. ^Unlike the movements
0360F36 of \0Dr Kovoor and Gora, his movement was of intense intolerance.
0370F36 ^It was perhaps the most successful, popular, mass oriented rationalist
0380F36 movement in the country. $^His thoughts influenced Annadurai,
0390F36 Karunanidhi and other \0DMK leaders. ^But once it was voted to power,
0400F36 the \0DMK was compelled by circumstances, to_ shed many of
0410F36 its anti-Brahmin and anti-god notions. $^*Gora was born in an orthodox
0420F36 Hindu family in 1902 in Andhra Pradesh. ^All through his student
0430F36 days, he was a believer in religion. ^But the financial problems at
0440F36 home made him realise that only genuine hard work could bring financial
0450F36 security. ^He became a convinced atheist during his tenure as a lecturer
0460F36 in Science at a missionary college in Madurai. $^After searching
0470F36 for a quiet, inexpensive house for days together without much success,
0480F36 he came across a sprawling house which looked as if it had not been
0490F36 used for considerable time. ^He was told that the house had dubious
0500F36 reputation-- it was an 'haunted house.' $^Right from his childhood,
0510F36 he somehow could not bring himself to_ believe in ghosts. ^So he disregarded
0520F36 the reputation, and asked the landlord to_ let out two rooms
0530F36 of the palatial house at a nominal rate. ^Needless to_ say, the landlord
0540F36 was delighted to_ do so. $^*Gora lived all alone in that_ mansion
0550F36 which had 13 rooms. ^His friends and neighbours sought to_ convince
0560F36 him that his life was in danger. ^But when they saw him in a sound
0570F36 state of mind and body, in spite of living in the 'haunted' house
0580F36 for more than three months, they too started changing their mind. ^Though
0590F36 they did not become rationalists, they started believing that they
0600F36 were mistaken, at least, in the case of that_ particular house. ^And then,
0610F36 the entire house was rented out. $^During his stay in Madurai,
0620F36 Gora read avidly. ^He read a lot on Hinduism and Christianity. ^He
0630F36 read books which extolled these religions. ^He also read a few books
0640F36 which were highly critical of religion. $^He then took up a teaching
0650F36 assignment in Colombo (Sri Lanka). ^This gave him a chance to_ study
0660F36 Buddhism. ^He was surprised to_ find many differences between Buddha*'s
0670F36 concepts and the Buddhism preached by the monks. $*<*3Wife*'s
0680F36 contribution*> $^He got married in 1922. ^*Saraswati, his wife, was
0690F36 only ten at the time of their marriage and belonged to an orthodox family.
0700F36 ^But she took to atheism as a duck takes to water! it was not just
0710F36 due to her love for her husband which made her so. ^Nor was it demanded
0720F36 by her husband. ^*Saraswati had a natural inclination towards atheistic
0730F36 thoughts. ^*Gora*'s atheism was tempered with humanism. ^He wanted
0740F36 rationalism not for the sake of rationalism, but for building a society
0750F36 without religious and communal oppression. $^*Gora notes thus:
0760F36 "At Colombo, she (Saraswati) was pregnant with the first child. ^When
0770F36 she was carrying the fourth month, there was a solar eclipse in the
0780F36 afternoon. ^The Hindu orthodoxy imposes the discipline of silence, and
0790F36 of shutting up in a dark room for the pregnant woman at the time of any
0800F36 eclipse. ^Noncompliance is threatened with mutilations of the child
0810F36 to_ be born. but Saraswati saw Buddhist, Moor and Burgher women
0820F36 freely moving about in the streets of Colombo, regardless of the time
0830F36 of the eclipse. $"^Surely, some of these women must be pregnant too...
0840F36 ^If the evils of the infringement were real, all pregnant women should
0850F36 be equally affected, and their children should be maimed, irrespective
0860F36 of their faith. ^But that_ doesn*'4t happen. ^Therefore, the disciplines
0870F36 relating to the eclipse are a superstition of the Hindu faith.
0880F36 ^Thinking along these lines, Saraswati transgressed the taboos at the
0890F36 time of the eclipse. ^After the full period, the delivery was normal,
0900F36 and the child was also normal..." $*<*3Moral support*> $^She stood
0910F36 by him throughout his long struggle against superstitions and discrimination
0920F36 based on religious grounds. ^*Gora was dismissed twice from
0930F36 educational institutions because of his atheistic views. ^Surely,
0940F36 this must have been quite a financial strain. ^But Saraswati put up
0950F36 a spirited fight against the obscurantist and communal forces. $^As
0960F36 it often happens, Gora was ostracised by his family but Saraswati often
0970F36 reminded him that their family consisted of their children and their
0980F36 rationalist comrades. ^Together, they worked on several pamphlets,
0990F36 small books and even managed to_ have a Telugu weekly published.
1000F36 ^During the freedom struggle, she courted arrest several times. ^*Saraswati
1010F36 gave birth to nine children. $^*Gora died while speaking at
1020F36 a public meeting in Vijayawada at the age of 73. ^He was an atheist
1030F36 and an activist during most of his life time. $^*Gora*'s movement
1040F36 made excellent impression on many young minds because he practised what
1050F36 he preached. ^Whenever he participated in a public meeting, he insisted
1060F36 on sitting with 'untouchables.' ^Often, he demonstrated the fire-walking
1080F36 technique just to show the villagers that there was nothing divine
1090F36 about such 'miracles.' ^Most of Gora*'s work took place in a tiny
1100F36 village called Mudunur. ^He writes: "The sympathy for atheism spread
1110F36 so wide and deep into the minds of the people that in the census of
1120F36 1941, from Mudunur village, 142 persons classified themselves as atheists,
1130F36 disowning labels of caste and religion." $^The village also witnessed
1140F36 a large number of inter-caste marriages. ^But Gora was not able
1150F36 to_ convince all the villagers. ^Many continued to_ be theists.
1160F36 ^And today, you will find a small temple there. $*<*3Not a political activist*>
1170F36 $\0^*Dr Abraham Kovoor once told me: "Human nature is so weak,
1180F36 so vulnerable. ^Many people turn to religion in spite of their self-proclaimed
1190F36 rationalism in moments of acute mental, physical and financial
1200F36 crisis." \0^*Dr kovoor, too, came from an affluent, well-educated
1210F36 family. ^His father was a Christian priest. $^A scientist by profession,
1220F36 he became an atheist even before he took up the teaching profession.
1230F36 ^But his atheism hardly attracted any attention before he started
1240F36 teaching in Sri Lanka. ^Most of his activities were carried on from
1250F36 Colombo, but \0Dr Kovoor found enough energy and enthusiasm to_
1260F36 make annual visits to India and preach rationalism. $^*Gora was a son
1270F36 of the soil. ^But \0Dr kovoor is quite the aristocrat in his bearing.
1280F36 ^He speaks with an excellent accent and exudes plenty of wit and
1290F36 sharpness. ^But unlike Gora (and also *(0EVR*)) he is not a political
1300F36 activist. ^In fact, he once told me: "I feel that *(0EVR*'S*)
1310F36 methods were too crude. ^We need to_ preach in a gentle manner. ^Rabid
1320F36 rhetoric may not get the desired results." $^He is well informed
1330F36 on hypnotism. ^He claims that he has cured many people who were labelled
1340F36 incurables by the doctors through hypnotism. ^He has also held magic
1350F36 shows in which he has 'materialised holy ash from nowhere'. $^If
1360F36 gora was more interested in breaking the caste barriers, he is keen
1370F36 on exposing the godmen who try to_ impress people through so-called miracles.
1380F36 ^He has been challenging many of these miracle men, particularly
1390F36 the Satya Sai Baba. ^But Sai Baba*'s followers continue to_
1400F36 have blind faith in him. $^Interestingly, \0Dr Kovoor*'s work attracted
1410F36 the attention of a theist, \0Dr Narasimhiah, the ex-Vice-Chancellor
1420F36 of Bangalore University. \0^*Dr Narasimhiah is a Gandhian and
1430F36 believes in god. ^But he wants to_ eliminate the 'holy' frauds and
1440F36 hoaxes. ^There are many persons like \0Dr Narasimhian who are theists,
1450F36 but do not like the exploitation of the masses by the so-called godmen.
1460F36 ^In reality, the atheists like \0Dr Kovoor and the theists like
1470F36 \0Dr Narasimhiah have found some common ground in exposing the fraudulent
1480F36 elements among the religious leaders particularly those who command
1490F36 great respect and following just because of their so-called miracles.
1500F36 $^There are hundreds of self-proclaimed rationalists throughout India.
1510F36 ^Many of them have small circles of friends and produce and distribute
1520F36 rationalist literature. ^Of course, my experience has shown that
1530F36 most people lose faith in religion because of laziness or just because
1540F36 there has been a major tragedy in the family. ^But no one can doubt
1550F36 the conscience-pricking work done by the rationalist movements throughout
1560F36 India. $^In Kerala, men like Narayana Guru stressed the need
1570F36 for getting enlightened with education. ^But Narayana Guru*'s motto
1580F36 was: "One caste, one religion, one god for man." ^But his disciple,
1590F36 Sahodaran Ayyappan modified the message of Guru Narayan thus:
1600F36 "No caste, no religion, no god..." he founded a journal, *3Sahodaran
1610F36 which had a limited circulation. ^But the magazine run by another
1620F36 rationalist, *(0M.C.*) Joseph known as *3Yukthivadi ('Rationalist')
1630F36 has been coming out for the last 46 years. ^It, too, has a limited
1640F36 readership. $^The rationalists in Kerala kept themselves away from extremist
1650F36 politics. ^For the communists and the Marxists, too, swear by
1660F36 anti-religion, anti-god thoughts. ^But most of the rationalists, whether
1670F36 in Kerala or elsewhere, decided to_ go alone without the Marxist
1680F36 umbrella. ^Of course, Gora leaned towards Marxism a bit especially,
1690F36 when he was disillusioned with Nehru*'s policies, but he resisted
1700F36 the temptation to_ join them. $^He mentions in his autobiography: "...I
1710F36 found the members of the Communist Party no better. ^Their members
1720F36 in the legislatures draw the same salaries and allowances as those
1730F36 whom they call bourgeois. ^They say that circumstances should change
1740F36 for persons to_ change. ^How do circumstances change? ^Certainly,
1750F36 by the efforts of some individuals. ^*Lenin did not wait, for the whole
1760F36 bourgeoisie to_ lose the class character before he lived in the servant*'s
1770F36 quarter in Gorki Hill." $^A rationalist association was founded
1780F36 in Bombay in 1972, with the aim of exposing godmen. ^But it has done
1790F36 nothing spectacular. ^The Dalit Panther Movement, most of whose members
1800F36 represent the neo-Buddhists and other backward castes, did manage
1810F36 to_ awaken the dormant social conscience of the upper and middle classes.
1820F36 ^Some of the poems and prose pieces written by the young Dalit Panthers
1830F36 were widely read, thanks to its publication by some of the leading
1840F36 magazines in this country. $^The Dalit Panthers, however, could
1850F36 not command good public support because many suspected them to_ be
1860F36 communists.*#
        **[no. of words = 02013**]

        **[txt. f37**]
0010F37 **<*3THE 'SPLENDOUR' THAT_ IS *INDIA*0**> $^Pseudo-moralists attribute
0020F37 moral degradation and degeneration in society to_ decline in both
0030F37 religious beliefs and god-fearing tendency of the people. ^Very often,
0040F37 the latter are taken in by their argument and get convinced that religious-minded
0050F37 persons would never venture into immoral activities. ^But experience
0060F37 shows that it is not correct. $^In fact, good behaviour has
0070F37 nothing to do with religion. ^*God, prophets and religions do not have
0080F37 much effect on the conduct of man. ^Experience shows that religious-minded
0090F37 people, too, are involved in criminal and civic offences.
0100F37 ^After all, the number of convinced atheists in India is negligible.
0110F37 $*<*3Social reformers*0*> $^It is a pity that India had few social
0120F37 reformers who fought against meaningless religious rituals and unwanted
0130F37 customs with a revolutionary atheistic spirit. ^*Periyar *(0E.V.*)
0140F37 Ramaswamy in the South did attack religion for its superstitions
0150F37 and stupid formalities, but he, too, never preached social responsibilities
0160F37 and duties to the people. $^The existence of numerous temples,
0170F37 mosques and churches bear ample testimony to our strong faith in
0180F37 religion. ^The festivals we celebrate, the *4yatras we undertake, the
0190F37 formalities we observe, the *4kumbabishegams we perform the *4pujas
0200F37 and *4yagnas we conduct, the five times a day *4namaz and Sunday
0210F37 visits to church-- all show that Indians are very religious-minded.
0220F37 $^In fact, in every field of life, Indians start their day*'s activities
0230F37 after uttering the name of Ram or Krishna or Christ or Allah,
0240F37 but unfortunately, after that_ they forget all about morality and
0250F37 ethics. $^In almost every business centre, we find pictures of Ram,
0260F37 Krishna, Christ or Lord Muruga, but behind those holy
0270F37 pictures, immoral, illegal and nefarious activities go on. ^These
0280F37 include tax evasion, fraudulent accounts, smuggling, embezzlement....
0290F37 $^In public life, our politicians and top leaders never fail to_
0300F37 get the blessings of Sankaracharyas and Sai Baba. ^Our ministers choose
0310F37 auspicious moments for presenting budgets. ^Our \0MPs and \0MLAs
0320F37 consult *4sadhus and *4sanyasis. ^But what is their standard
0330F37 in public life? ^The innumerable commissions of inquiry speak volumes
0340F37 of our stinking public life. $^Since independence, the inquiry commissions
0350F37 have been following our public personalities. ^It is said
0360F37 that in the past two decades, about 165 commissions have been set up.
0370F37 $^In 1963, \0Mr *(0S. R.*) Das, former Chief Justice of India,
0380F37 held an inquiry into allegations against the then Chief Minister
0390F37 of Punjab, \0Mr Partap Singh Kairon. ^The Das Report found
0400F37 Kairon guilty of abusing his power and helping his sons and relatives
0410F37 to_ acquire property and secure undue favours. $\0^*Mr *(0N. R.*)
0420F37 Ayyangar, a former judge of the Supreme Court, found Bakshi Ghulam
0430F37 Mohammed, former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir guilty of
0440F37 gross misconduct. ^It was revealed that Bakshi and members of his
0450F37 family had acquired wealth to the tune of \0*4Rs 54 *4lakhs. $*<*3Commission
0460F37 of inquiry*0*> $^In 1967, Justice *(0H. R.*) Khanna
0470F37 headed an inquiry commission and found \0Mr Biju Patnaik guilty of
0480F37 improprieties and abuse of power. ^Then there is the muster roll scandal
0490F37 that_ rocked the Madras Corporation and the Maruti small
0500F37 car project which produced only 30 cars. $^It is a known fact that
0510F37 most of the employees of the Central and State Governments never
0520F37 fail to_ make money through unfair and illegal means whenever they
0530F37 get an opportunity. $^Recently, the \0CBI had raided the house
0540F37 of a lower division clerk in Delhi and recovered \0*4Rs 1,81,000
0550F37 in cash, foreign curency, liquor and half a kilo of gold ornaments.
0560F37 ^The clerk was attached to the Ministry of Supply and Rehabilitation.
0570F37 $^Tax evasion is one of the many immoral activities taking place on
0580F37 a big scale. $^According to a statement tabled by the Finance Minister
0590F37 in the *5Rajya Sabha, a large number of private firms have been
0600F37 concealing their true income. ^Many big business houses are facing
0610F37 judicial proceedings for tax evasion. ^Tax evasion by these companies is
0620F37 to the tune of several *4crores of rupees. $*<*3Ways of tax evasion*>
0630F37 $^Their *8modus operandi*9 is to_ show taxable income as non-taxable.
0640F37 ^For instance, some time ago, several personal expenses of the
0650F37 Managing Director of a construction company in Delhi were debited
0660F37 to the accounts of the different heads of the company. ^Payment of
0670F37 fees to a local club was shown under the head 'business promotion
0680F37 expenses'. $^We talk a lot about simplicity and economy. ^But do we
0690F37 ourselves adhere to it? ^Certainly not. ^We cannot forget so easily the
0700F37 ten-course dinner given to \0Mrs Indira Gandhi and 174 other invitees
0710F37 in the Karnataka House in Delhi. $*<*3Wastage of public
0720F37 funds*> $^Anyone will be astonished to_ see the amount of public
0730F37 money wasted on building the image of certain individuals and political
0740F37 parties. ^It is said that the Gauhati session of the \0AICC
0750F37 in November 1976, holds a world record in spending public funds
0760F37 for a party meeting. ^It was alleged that the Assam Government had
0770F37 spent more than \0*4Rs 57 *4crores on this session. ^It may be an exaggeration,
0780F37 but still the Government has admitted that \0*4Rs 5.33 *4crores
0790F37 were spent. ^An expenditure of \0*4Rs 9.78 *4lakhs was incurred
0800F37 on temporary administrative arrangements and \0*4Rs 31.72 *4lakh
0810F37 were spent by different Government departments and agencies on publicity
0820F37 and exhibitions. ^A guest house built for the then Prime Minister
0830F37 cost \0*4Rs 25.61 *4lakhs, the more modest one was for \0Mr Barooah,
0840F37 the then Congress Priesident, at a cost of \0*4Rs 10 *4lakhs.
0850F37 in addition, furniture, curtains and linen for both cost over \0*4Rs
0860F37 5.47 *4lakhs. $^An interesting example of our hypocrisy was provided
0870F37 some time ago during the visit of \0Mr Jayaprakash Narayan
0880F37 to Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh. ^Thousands of students from
0890F37 different parts of the State cheered as he landed there. ^They shouted
0900F37 slogans like 'Long Live *(0JP*)', 'Long Live Revolution'.
0910F37 $^Later, \0Mr Narayan advised them to_ fight the system of dowry and
0920F37 suddenly all their enthusiasm melted away. ^An angry *(0JP*) retorated:
0930F37 "What do you mean by shouting 'Long Live Revolution?' ^Unfortunately,
0940F37 revolution for us lies only in the slogans. $*<*3Hypocrisy*>
0950F37 $^Another incident was published in a leading newspaper recently.
0960F37 it said: "Of the nearly 974 marriages celebrated in Sonepat and
0970F37 Rohta districts (Haryana) during the last 40 days, fabulous dowries
0980F37 were given and taken in about 80 per cent cases according to a
0990F37 survey conducted by a group of social workers. ^Almost all the 761 educated
1000F37 boys and girls whose marriages were solemnised during the last
1010F37 40 days had taken mass anti-dowry pledges in their schools and colleges.
1020F37 ^These pledges, according to the Headmaster of a Gohana Secondary
1030F37 School are still on the records." $^We proclaim that our Constitution
1040F37 provides equality to all and that ours is a secular State. ^We
1050F37 cry from the house-tops of racial discrimination in South Africa
1060F37 but close our eyes to similar discrimination in the name of caste
1070F37 in our own motherland. ^The massacre of *4Harijans at Belchi village
1080F37 near Patna shook the entire world, but not our conscience. ^Brutality
1090F37 against these unfortunate people is frequently reported. ^They
1100F37 have been facing oppression, repression, exploitation, social contempt
1110F37 and injustice since the days of Manu, the ancient law giver.
1120F37 ^Incidents of this sort have been debated in the Parliament and assurances
1130F37 given that atrocities on *4Harijans will not be tolerated.^But
1140F37 do we sincerely repent? $*<*3Wealthy temples*> $^In our land,
1150F37 more than 200 million people live in semi-starvation. ^But instead
1160F37 of looking after them, we shower thousands of kilograms of gold, diamonds,
1170F37 rubies, emeralds and pearls on deities, saints, *4sadhus and
1180F37 places of worship. ^It is estimated that the cash wealth in Hindu
1190F37 temple trusts is around \0*4Rs 200 *4crores. \0^*Prof Humayun Kabir
1200F37 estimated in 1965 that there were 1,00,000 *7auqafs valued at \0*4Rs
1210F37 100 *4crores whilst the Sikhs have more than 700 *4gurudwaras
1220F37 with assets valued at about \0*4Rs 25 *4crores. ^It is strange that
1230F37 we spend staggering amounts on places of worship in spite of our poor
1240F37 economic conditions and eternal misery. ^A casual look at the expenditure
1250F37 on buildings of temples, mosques and churches will prove this
1260F37 contention. $^The cost of the Grand Mausoleum to the late chief
1270F37 of the Dawoodi Bohra community, Syedna Taher Saifuddin, in Bombay
1280F37 is \0*4Rs 1 *4crore. ^The *7auqaf properties of this community
1290F37 are estimated at around \0*4Rs 10 *4crores. ^The income of the Golden
1300F37 Temple in Amritsar is \0*4Rs 3 *4crores per year. ^According
1310F37 to a 1974 survey, Tirupati had 10,500 \0kg of gold valued at \0*4Rs
1320F37 6 *4crores lying idle in the temple. ^*Tirupati has an average annual
1330F37 income of \0*4Rs 10 *4crores. ^The Badrinath temple gets \0*4Rs
1340F37 5 *4lakhs every year from devotees. ^The Jagannath temple at Puri has
1350F37 an estimated income of \0*4Rs 8,00,000 per annum. $^When we have
1360F37 sufficient temples and mosques, why do people still go on pouring money
1370F37 and jewels into these shrines? ^And strangely enough, this wealth
1380F37 has not been utilised for building hospitals, institutions and other
1390F37 social welfare schemes. $^On the countrary, it is said that every
1400F37 year as much as \0*4Rs 10 *4crores of temple funds are misappropriated.
1410F37 ^In 1971, a commission of inquiry, appointed to_ probe into the
1420F37 management of Delhi *4gurdwaras, reported large-scale misuse of Gurudwara
1430F37 money for private use. ^In one form or the other, such malpractices
1440F37 exist in every major religious institution. ^To_ cap it all, some
1450F37 State Governments are paying an annuity to temples for renovation.
1460F37 $^As per statistics available, the Kerala Government is paying
1470F37 \0*4Rs 1.5 *4crore to the temples in the Malabar region. ^But the
1480F37 Travancore Devaswom wanted \0*4Rs 15 *4crore more to_ renovate 80 more
1490F37 temples. ^Some time in 1971, they even organised an agitation for
1500F37 this purpose. ^*Indian devotees know the enormous wealth and income of
1510F37 temples. ^But one is at a loss to_ understand why they support such
1520F37 meaningless waste in the name of religion? $^Today we find that there
1530F37 is a rapid growth of *4babas, *4swamis, saints and *5tantric yogis*6.
1540F37 ^The Press is flooded with stories of their 'miraculous' feats
1550F37 and powers. *4^Crores of *4rupees are being squandered in running
1560F37 after them and seeking their blessings. ^Most of us still believe in
1570F37 ridiculous rituals and beliefs like just a dip in holy water would
1580F37 wash off our sins. $*<*3Unholy acts*> $^What is going on in these
1590F37 holy places? ^And what are the acts of these holy men? ^A few examples
1600F37 are quoted below from newspaper reports. $^The *3Indian Express
1610F37 dated 15 June 1976, under the title, *3Undesirable acts of Guruvayoor,
1620F37 said: "Several undesirable happenings, including rape,
1630F37 had taken place at Guruvayoor Temple according to the Devaprasnam,
1640F37 the enquiry now in progress at Guruvayoor. ^The Bhagavathy shrine
1650F37 at the northern corner of the main temple had mostly been the venue
1660F37 of such acts. ^Some employees had been attending duty under the infuence
1670F37 of liquor. ^Though a large amount is being collected as offerings
1680F37 through the *4hundis specifically for the protection of the cows,
1690F37 not even one is taken care of by the temple authorities. ^There had
1700F37 been instances of such cows reaching the slaughter house". $^And then
1710F37 sometime ago, a *4yogi was nabbed while landing from dollar-land
1720F37 with his entourage for conducting a meditation camp. $*<*3Bonded labour*>
1730F37 $^Following this, the Deputy Labour Commissioner, \0Mr *(0A.N.*)
1740F37 Misra, of Hazaribagh in Bihar revealed the existence of
1750F37 bonded labour on the farm of the *4yogi. ^He interviewed some of the
1760F37 inmates of the farm. ^He found them to_ be bonded labourers living
1770F37 in huts and on sub-standard meals. ^Semi-clad and half-fed, they work
1780F37 as *4mazdoors. ^They have been actually brain-washed to_ consider
1790F37 themselves as servants of god, and not to_ ask for anything. ^They
1800F37 also have been made to_ believe that if they work with devotion
1810F37 and zeal, the Yogi, who is 'god incarnate', some day would be pleased
1820F37 to_ bring salvation to them. $^Recently, an official press release
1830F37 listed the name of a Catholic priest held for illegal exchange
1840F37 dealing. $^The incidents of the nefarious activities of these god men
1850F37 are many. ^Yet, we refuse to_ mend our ways. $^There are few foods
1860F37 or beverages in the market today that_ are unadulterated and tragically
1870F37 often, even drugs and medicines are spurious. $^Vanaspati is adulterated
1880F37 with inedible mineral oils.*#
        **[no. of words = 02008**]

        **[txt. f38**]
0010F38 **<*3Second India Studies: Communications**> $^This would enable
0020F38 the Division to_ act independently and perhaps improve the variety
0030F38 and quality of films produced. ^Freed from the fetters of bureaucratic
0040F38 norms and supervision an independent organisation would also
0050F38 be in a better position to_ expend its exhibition outlets and carry
0060F38 out effectively the scientific evaluation of its own work. ^Of course,
0070F38 the improvement in the work effciency of an organisation depends
0080F38 essentially on the quality of the people who man it, and their skills
0090F38 and attitudes. ^But autonomy gives them the necessary freedom
0100F38 to_ introduce innovations and pursue their goals with utmost
0110F38 zeal and efficiency. $^To_ improve the variety and quality of films,
0120F38 perhaps Second India will also need not one but many autonomous,
0130F38 National Films Divisions. ^This is not all. ^Apart from such
0140F38 National Films Divisions Second India will need even autonomous
0150F38 Regional Films Divisions. ^In addition, to_ encourage competition
0160F38 in the production of first rate developmental films, Second
0170F38 India should also create appropriate conditions for production and
0180F38 effective distribution of such films by independent private producers.
0190F38 ^For that_ purpose, if necessary, another independent organisation
0200F38 on the lines of the present Film Finance Corporation may
0210F38 be set up, for it is futile to_ believe that an official film making
0220F38 agency like the Films Division can encourage private film producers
0230F38 to_ make independent documentaries in competition with itself.
0240F38 ^Only such a diverse and multiple organisational set-up can augment
0250F38 films production, improve their quality and expand the distribution
0260F38 network to_ meet appropriately the developmental needs of all regions
0270F38 and all classes of the population in Second India. $^Finally,
0280F38 a word on technollogy. ^*First India has already moved steadily
0290F38 towards 16 \0m.m. film technology from 35 \0m.m. film technology. ^Over
0300F38 the years, this trend will be accelerated and in Second India,
0310F38 we may produce documentaries and educational films mostly on super
0320F38 8 \0m.m. film or even 4 \0m.m. film technology. '^Outdoor locational'
0330F38 shootings will replace shooting on costly studio sets. ^All this
0340F38 will help to_ reduce the cost of film production. ^Film technology
0350F38 and techniques are changing fast in the West. ^It goes without saying
0360F38 that with scarce capital resources, Second India should keep pace
0370F38 with such technological changes as would help reduce costs and promote
0380F38 effective use of the film as a vital communication medium. $*<*3Conclusion*>
0390F38 $^In conclusion, we can do little better than quote extensively
0400F38 what James Beveridge has to_ say about "The Future of films
0410F38 in India. ^It looks as if there were sufficient problems to_ occupy
0420F38 the best creative minds and talents of film producers and film
0430F38 technicians and film technologists, for another century at least.
0440F38 ^The question of Super 8 \0m.m. for schools and training programmes.
0450F38 ^The question of film-making for television, the film component in
0460F38 television production and programming, the rural audience and how
0470F38 to_ reach it functionally and realistically; the many specialized
0480F38 audiences who Don*'t as yet exist because there are no distribution
0490F38 patterns or equipments (16 \0m.m.) to_ reach them. ^The Films Division*'s
0500F38 record to date is one of substance and achievement. ^A
0510F38 habit of film-communication has been established in India for the
0520F38 teaching (informally) of civics in this immense democracy. ^Public-information
0530F38 films in cinemas for over 20 years have played a major role
0540F38 (who can quantify it or assess it?) in the education and shaping
0550F38 of public attitudes and understanding. ^Now, more complex challenges
0560F38 arise. ^Specialization. ^New technology in 16 \0mm and 8 \0mm fields,
0570F38 with magnetic tape and synchronous recording. ^Above all Television,
0580F38 and what it will require. ^The many friends of the Films Division
0590F38 in many countries,salute it, respect it, and wish it well for
0600F38 the exciting and difficult decades that_ lie ahead". $^If, howeverver,
0610F38 First India fails to_ resolve these problems, films in 2000 will
0620F38 have a far more corrupting and deleterious effect on Second India
0630F38 than at present. ^For whether one likes it or not, the number of
0640F38 cinemas in Second India will increase almost four-fold from their
0650F38 present level. \0^*TV sets will multiply manifold. ^Both cinema-goers
0660F38 and \0TV viewers will swarm in number. ^And more films of
0670F38 course will be produced for both cinemas and \0TVs. ^But if simultaneously,
0680F38 films do not improve in quality and diversity, fail to_
0690F38 meet the educational and developmental needs of the country and
0700F38 do not serve the rural and underdeveloped areas, the resulting cancerous
0710F38 growth of vulgar commercial films may eventually prove fatal
0720F38 to the developmental goals of Second India. $^On the other hand,
0730F38 if in the decades ahead, we use the film medium wisely for social
0740F38 educational, cultural and developmental communications, we can have
0750F38 an altogether pleasant film scenario in Second India. ^Vulgar commercial
0760F38 films may not perhaps still disappear altogether, but more
0770F38 healthy entertaining and thought-provoking films may also regale audiences
0780F38 to packed houses. ^Art films may stir the intellectuals. ^And
0790F38 the children may learn and yet enjoy, the healthy humour and thrills
0800F38 in the special 'educative' films made for them and shown either
0810F38 on television or in cinemas. $^This is not all. ^With a wide variety
0820F38 of many educational \0TV films and video tapes, classroom instruction
0830F38 in 2000 will be simplified and spread of education facilitated.
0840F38 ^Industrial workers will be trained in their job techniques and
0850F38 safety measures through films. ^Managers, doctors, nurses, lawyers, engineers
0860F38 and all kinds of professionals will also keep themselves abreast
0870F38 of the latest developments in their professional fields through
0880F38 Indian and foreign films in special auditoriums and on \0TV sets.
0890F38 $^Farmers will learn about new seeds, new types of agricultural equipment
0900F38 and new farming techniques through films projected frequently
0910F38 by mobile vans and shown repeatedly on village community television
0920F38 sets. ^Films will also teach them more about hygiene and family planning,
0930F38 civic duties and social responsibilities, and community development
0940F38 and rural uplift. ^Intelligently produced and easily understandable
0950F38 films for rural audiences in Second India will then pave
0960F38 the way for bridging the economic and cultural gap between the rural
0970F38 and urban masses. $*<**3Communications in Second India**>
0980F38 $^Change is the key to development. ^The First India which virtually
0990F38 stood still for centuries, if not millenniums, can no longer sit
1000F38 with folded hands to_ hail the birth of the Second India which is
1010F38 expected within less than three decades from now. ^Communication services,
1020F38 along with transport, will have to_ play a pivotal role in ushering
1030F38 in a swift "change" in the First India, so that the Second India is
1040F38 "delivered" safely. ^At the same time, to_ avoid "future shock",
1050F38 the communication system will have to_ undergo a wave of change well
1060F38 before the end of the present millennium, to_ meet the anticipated
1070F38 manifold increases in communication "needs" and "demands". $^Even
1080F38 for the none-too-bright economic Scenario *=11 in the year 2000,
1090F38 which will unfold with 5 per cent annual growth in \0GDP, the requirements
1100F38 of communication services, both interpersonal as well as
1110F38 mass media, will rise by leaps and bounds. ^Among the interpersonal
1120F38 communication sarvices, the volume of telegraphic messages will be
1130F38 three times their present level, postal traffic will swell five-fold
1140F38 and the demand for telephones may jump to over thirteen times its
1150F38 existing level. ^The mass communication media will be subjected to
1160F38 even greater pressures. ^Newspaper circulation will have to_ rise
1170F38 four-fold, licensed radio sets will have to_ increase ten times,
1180F38 cinema houses will have to_ multiply almost four-fold, \0TV sets
1190F38 in use will have to_ grow more than 400 times in number, and films
1200F38 will have to_ swell manifold in both number and variety. $^For
1210F38 the other alternative scenarios based on lower or higher growth rates
1220F38 in \0GDP, the pattern of demand for communication services will
1230F38 undoubtedly be different. ^But one thing is certain. ^The demand
1240F38 for almost all communication services, with the possible exception
1250F38 of a few like telegraph, will necessarily rise faster than the growth
1260F38 in \0GDP. ^The income elasticity of demand for most of these
1270F38 services being greater than unity, the per capita demand for them
1280F38 also will rise faster than the rise in the per capita income. $^The
1290F38 demand for communication services really represents the demand for knowledge
1300F38 and information. ^When in the present techno-societies, knowledge
1310F38 and information multiply exponentially the communication services
1320F38 which provide the media of transmission and dispersal of such knowledge
1330F38 and information, obviously cannot lag behind in their growth
1340F38 pattern. ^More so because such knowledge and information will also
1350F38 have to_ be transmitted swiftly to a rapidly expanding section of
1360F38 the population with the spread of literacy and education. ^It follows
1370F38 that communication services will have to_ grow exponentially even
1380F38 if incomes grow linearly. $^At the same time, even at the cost of
1390F38 repetition, it should be emphasised, if any emphasis is necessary,
1400F38 that the needs of communication services do not always arise from the
1410F38 pace of economic development. ^In fact, more often than not, the communication
1420F38 services help accelerate such pace. ^The communication system
1430F38 provides a vital infrastructure for rapid economic development. ^Hence,
1440F38 the statistical relationship between the flow of incomes and
1450F38 the volume of communication services is "co-linear" rather than "causal".
1460F38 ^The former does not always precede the latter. ^The truth is
1470F38 perhaps the other way round. ^Not infrequently, the supply of communication
1480F38 services in fact precedes the growth in incomes. ^The conclusion
1490F38 is obvious. ^The nature and pattern of the likely economic scenario
1500F38 of Second India would depend on the nature and pattern of
1510F38 communication services we now provide for the First India. $^To_
1520F38 put it tersely, the development of communication services involves
1530F38 "policy imperatives" which are determined by the "growth objectives"
1540F38 set by the planners. ^Higher and faster growth objectives call for
1550F38 speedier and more sophisticated (effective) communication media--
1560F38 both mass and interpersonal. ^Conversely, slow and less effective
1570F38 communication services (particularly, mass media) slacken the entire
1580F38 process of "change" in human capital and attitudes necessary to_
1590F38 accelerate development. ^Likewise, old and obsolete interpersonal
1600F38 communication services inevitably delay decision-making and execution
1610F38 involved in all economic activities, retarding in the process the
1620F38 pace of economic development. $^In non-technical terms, what we wish
1630F38 to_ emphasise is that the choice is really not between telephones
1640F38 and telegrams or \0TVs and radios. ^It is in fact between alternative
1650F38 economic scenarios, based on varying growth rates. ^Once a 'higher'
1660F38 economic scenario is accepted in preference to a 'lower' one it
1670F38 is almost imperative that we should also prefer more telephones to
1680F38 telegrams, and more television sets to radios. ^Without such choices,
1690F38 higher growth rates would remain outside our reach. $^It is surprising
1700F38 that although in the field of transport, our planners have
1710F38 accepted to a large extent the need for "speed" and "services",
1720F38 they have failed to_ appreciate the merits of these virtues in the communication
1730F38 arena. ^Prejudices still loom large against telephones
1740F38 and television sets in some of the higher echelons of government circles.
1750F38 ^Paradoxically, these very prejudices even among the higher
1760F38 echelons underline the need for 'modern' communication and information
1770F38 services. ^Only the powerful searchlight of such services could
1780F38 help to_ dispel traditional prejudices and beliefs not only among
1790F38 the masses but also among some of those persons who belong to the elite.
1800F38 $^Clearly, communication priorities must change. ^It is no longer
1810F38 appropriate to_ regard telephones and television sets as "luxuries"
1820F38 for developing economies. ^These are in fact "necessities" for
1830F38 economies aiming at high growth rates. ^Hence, telephones should
1840F38 have a high priority in interpersonal communication services, and
1850F38 television should occupy the pride of place among the mass communication
1860F38 media. ^Of course, to_ realise the objectives of development
1870F38 effectively and speedily, 'business' and 'public' telephones should
1880F38 be accorded priority over purely private 'residential' phones, while
1890F38 community \0TV sets should have a decided preference over privately-owned
1900F38 \0TV sets. ^In any case, the need for rapid development
1910F38 of telephone and \0TV services is imperative, and needs to_ be
1920F38 recognised. ^The First India can afford to_ neglect these services,
1930F38 only at the cost of the Second India. $^Although there are
1940F38 thus few policy choices for the development of the communication system,
1950F38 our projections of communication requirements for the Second
1960F38 India, like most other economic projections, should not be considered
1970F38 to_ have any sanctity.*#
        **[no. of words = 02003**]

        **[txt. f39**]
0010F39 **<*3Adventure Across The Atlantic**> $^The dot of quicksilver in
0020F39 the orange skies grew bigger and bigger as it floated downward to Miserey,
0030F39 a village 50 miles west of Paris. ^It was an enormous silver-topped
0040F39 black balloon-- eleven storeys high-- with a red gondola that carried
0050F39 three men who waved to the cheering crowds clustered on the ground.
0060F39 $^Swaying and lurching like a tipsy jellyfish, the helium-filled
0070F39 balloon, DOUBLE EAGLE *=2, finally came to rest in a wheatfield in
0080F39 Miserey. $^Thousands of jubilant spectators ran up to the aviators--
0090F39 Ben Abruzzo (48), Maxie Anderson (44), Larry Newmen (31)-- who
0100F39 were happily sloshing champagne on one another and on their hysterical
0110F39 fans. ^With good reason-- they had just become the first men to_ cross
0120F39 the Atlantic in a balloon. $^The three American adventurers completed
0130F39 their historic 3,100-mile trip in exactly 5 days, 17 hours and 6
0140F39 minutes. ^And the gruelling voyage had exhausted them; their eyes were
0150F39 red-rimmed and their hands were trembling. ^But their spirits were
0160F39 high. "we did it! ^We did it!" crowed Larry Newman over the heads
0170F39 of the souvenir-hungry mobs that_ were frantically biting and tearing pieces
0180F39 off the tough neoprene-nylon skin of DOUBLE EAGLE *=2. $^So excited
0190F39 were the collectors that_ at one stage it looked as though all
0200F39 of that 160,000 \0cft balloon would end up on souvenir shelves. ^The
0210F39 aviators, their clothes drenched in champagne, seemed too exhilarated
0220F39 to_ care. "^We were so delighted to_ be back on earth that_ the
0230F39 crowds looked good," said one of them. $^Exciting as this adventure
0240F39 was, one man claimed to_ have done it all much earlier. ^A headline
0250F39 in the *3New York Sun of April 13, 1844, said: ASTOUNDING NEWS!
0260F39 ATLANTIC CROSSING IN THREE DAYS! SIGNAL TRIUMPH FOR
0270F39 \0MR MONCK MASON*'S FLYING MACHING! $^Beneath the headline was
0280F39 this report signed by Edgar Allen Poe, the famed writer: $*3^The
0290F39 great problem is accomplished! ^We have crossed the Atlantic! ^Fairly
0300F39 and easily crossed it in a balloon! ^*God be praised! ^Who shall
0310F39 say that anything is impossible hereafter? $^It was, of course, a
0320F39 hoax. ^The first attempt to_ cross the Atlantic came only in 1873,
0330F39 some thirty years after Poe*'s report. ^It started ambitiously from
0340F39 New York and ended abruptly in the Catskills, barely 100 miles away.
0350F39 $^The "great problem" kept defeating expedition after expedition--
0360F39 there were 17 of them and seven lives were lost. $^Two of the heroes,
0370F39 Abruzz0 and Anderson, had met with disastrous failure in their earlier
0380F39 attempt in September at crossing the Atlantic in DOUBLE EAGLE
0390F39 *=1. ^They were forced to_ abort their mission in the chill waters
0400F39 off Iceland. ^*Abruzzo almost lost his foot due to frost-bite and,
0410F39 after staying aloft for 64 hours (and 2,950 miles), the duo became so
0420F39 exhausted that they could not think clearly. $*<*3They "also Flew"*>
0430F39 $^Ironically, the attempt that_ came closest to success was made
0440F39 hardly a fortnight before DOUBLE EAGLE *=2*'s epic flight. ^Two
0450F39 Britons, Major Christopher Davey and Donald Cameron, riding their
0460F39 balloon ZANUSSI from Newfoundland, fell into the sea, 110
0470F39 miles off the coast of France. ^The reason for their failure: a leak
0480F39 in the balloon and "they simply couldn*'4t pick up enough altitude
0490F39 to_ make it". $^Small wonder then that crossing the Atlantic was called
0500F39 the Everest of ballooning and, in the words of Abruzzo, "it bordered
0510F39 on the impossible". $^How did DOUBLE EAGLE *=2 and her crew
0520F39 achieve the "mission impossible"? $"^A well-designed helium balloon
0530F39 piloted by men of considerable experience skill and daring, sided and
0540F39 abetted by luck," said an expert in New York. $^That the men were
0550F39 all wealthy helped in no small measure. ^From its earliest days, long-distance
0560F39 ballooning has always been an expensive pastime. ^*Abruzzo
0570F39 is a resort developer and President of Sandia Peak Ski \0Co. ^*Anderson
0580F39 heads a uranium and copper mining company and Newman is President
0590F39 of one of America*'s largest hang-glider manufacturing companies.
0600F39 ^Together they spent an estimated *-125,000 on the expedition.
0610F39 $^The crew also flew hundreds of practice sorties over their native
0620F39 Albuquerque in New Mexico. ^Mild weather and an altitude of 5,300
0630F39 \0ft have made that_ place a balloonist*'s haven-- some 10 per cent of
0640F39 the balloons in the \0US are to_ be found traipsing through the
0650F39 air here. $^*Abruzzo and Anderson had learnt some "hard lessons" on
0660F39 their earlier unsuccessful mission aboard the DOUBLE EAGLE *=1.
0670F39 "^In our last flight we just couldn*'4t get enough sleep every night,"
0680F39 says Anderson. ^That_ problem was solved by enlisting Larry Newman.
0690F39 ^Although a newcomer to ballooning, Newman with his extensive
0700F39 aircraft experience-- he is qualified to_ fly commercial airliners--
0710F39 handled navigation and communications. $^With one more member on the
0720F39 team the crew of DOUBLE EAGLE *=2 could now use four-hour shifts
0730F39 in which two men kept awake while the third slept. $"^But you had
0740F39 to_ force yourself to_ sleep," says Anderson. "^It*'1s perfectly
0750F39 silent. ^You make no noise, you move with the clouds as a particle in
0760F39 the atmosphere. ^You are standing on a balcony and the world is going
0770F39 by beneath you. ^As we passed over New-foundland, Ireland, England
0780F39 and France-- it was so magnificent that you didn*'4t want to_ sleep".
0790F39 $^Then there was the extreme discomfort of being confined to the
0800F39 3 x 6 feet of the gondola. "^For six days it was like living in a
0810F39 closet; there is plenty of room above and below but you can*'4t use
0820F39 it. ^You could tell how bad it was from the psychologocal state we were
0830F39 in," says Anderson. $^However, Abruzzo and Anderson found the
0840F39 trip "better than last time". "^Although we still became exhausted,
0850F39 we managed to_ keep our minds clear." ^The two veterans kept drilling
0860F39 that_ into the neophyte whenever he had bouts of depression. "^Compared
0870F39 to last time this is like summer-- a summer boat ride," said Abruzzo
0880F39 at one stage. (^The temperature then was 8*@ \0F.) $^Nor did the
0890F39 veterans escape unscathed from the stresses and strains of the flight.
0900F39 ^*Abruzzo and Anderson admit having had an argument but are not
0910F39 able to_ recall what it was about. ^Towards the end of their journey
0920F39 the strain of piloting the craft proved too much to_ manage alone
0930F39 and, sometimes in calm stretches, Newman took over from them. $^More
0940F39 pressing than all these physical hardships were the vagaries of the
0950F39 craft and its flight. ^Just after take-off on Friday, August 11, from
0960F39 Presque Isle, Maine, the DOUBLE EAGLE *=2 ran into a path of
0970F39 rarefied air and lurched dangerously close to a gravel pit. $"^Another
0980F39 night, over the Atlantic, we wondered if we had a leak in the balloon,"
1000F39 said Abruzzo, "The EAGLE was collecting too much ice on
1010F39 top and we began to_ dump our ballast at a critical rate. ^Within a few
1020F39 hours we had ejected 240 \0lb of sandbags, Maine potatoes and lead.
1030F39 ^It was like throwing fuel out of a gas tank. ^We had a hell of a
1040F39 time staying out of water then. ^We fell from 16,000 \0ft to 13,500
1050F39 \0ft then stabilised. ^We realised later we*'d been so high that we
1060F39 were icing up." $*<*3Terror In The Skies*> $^The DOUBLE EAGLE*'S
1070F39 worst ordeal was probably about a day and a half off the Irish
1080F39 coast. "^Our hearts really came into our mouths when we hit a cold
1090F39 trough and suddenly sank from about 27,000 \0ft to 4,000 \0ft," says Anderson.
1100F39 "$^We didn*'4t want to_ use up our essential ballast to_ regain
1110F39 height because of the experience of our last attempt to_ cross the
1120F39 Atlantic when we ended up in the water off Iceland. ^We hung on
1130F39 desperately for a couple of hours, then the afternoon sun warmed the
1140F39 balloon and we regained altitude," he says. $^As the expedition neared
1150F39 the British Isles, the westerly winds suddenly dropped off. ^*American
1160F39 rescue planes were sent up in alarm. ^But the winds gathered strength
1170F39 again and buoyed up the balloon. $^Hardly had that_ ordeal ended
1180F39 when a fresh snag developed: ^Was there enough helium to_ stay aloft?
1190F39 ^The adventurers now began to_ pitch overboard their gear, including
1200F39 expensive radios, navigation computers and cables. ^They were also
1210F39 forced to_ cast off a hang-glider that_ Larry Newman had hoped to_
1220F39 ride to the ground at the end of the adventure. $^When they finally
1230F39 ran out of ballast, Abruzzo even tried to_ hack off part of the plastic
1240F39 and fibreglass gondola. ^But it was too sturdy. ^The crew now
1250F39 ripped the floorboards open and threw them over along with their heavy
1260F39 clothes. "^All things except food and the television cameras (which
1270F39 they saved up for more critical contingencies) went," says Abruzzo.
1280F39 $^If only they could nurse their craft to Paris, for their target was
1290F39 the Eiffel Tower. (^And the crew of the DOUBLE EAGLE *=2 was
1300F39 "trying darn hard".) ^Otherwise they were "feeling on top of the world".
1310F39 ^A radio message from Anderson cracked over Ireland*'s Louisburgh
1320F39 port: "^All three of us are jubilant. ^We almost jumped out of our
1330F39 skins when we reached the Irish coast... ^We*'3ve just brought a
1340F39 big one home." $^The DOUBLE EAGLE was now two miles above the English
1350F39 Channel, cruising lazily at 31.4 miles an hour. ^But the winds shifted
1360F39 over Le Havre and the giant craft began to_ drift helplessly
1370F39 to the west of Paris. $^By now the news of the epic crossing had spread
1380F39 all over France like wildfire. ^Radio stations alerted their listners
1390F39 to_ telephone whenever they spotted the balloon. ^At the Deauville
1400F39 racecourse, all punters at France*'s best-known summer meet for
1410F39 once scorned their horses and turned their field-glasses to the skies.
1420F39 ^Radio programmes were repeatedly interrupted with messages from
1430F39 the craft which by now was being tailed by a large flock of buzzing
1440F39 planes and clattering helicopters. ^In one planes at the wives of the
1450F39 adventurers, waving excitedly and blowing kisses to their tired but
1460F39 jubilant husbands. $^As they drifted towards ground, at 15,000 \0ft
1470F39 the balloonists made yet one more attempt to_ reach Le Bourget airfield
1480F39 where Charles Lindbergh had ended his pioneering solo flight.
1490F39 ^But the DOUBLE EAGLE *=2 had no ballast to_ rise across the last
1500F39 crucial 50 miles; it had to_ settle for the hamlet of Miserey. ("^We
1510F39 didn*'4t quite make it although we tried really hard.") $^But their landing
1520F39 was no less triumphant. ^The three aeronauts got the same kind of
1530F39 rousing, tumultuous welcome that_ Lindbergh got when he landed his
1540F39 plucky little monoplane, SPIRIT OF* \0*2ST LOUISE, in Paris.
1550F39 $*<*3Grab If You Can*> $^So keen was the interest aroused by
1560F39 the balloon flight that hundreds of people motored down to Miserey
1570F39 from nearby towns and suburbs-- to_ be on hand to_ welcome the DOUBLE
1580F39 EAGLE *=2 and to_ grab, if possible a bit of its prized skin.
1590F39 $"^We cannot believe this welcome. ^This is unimaginable to us," Abruzzo
1600F39 was heard saying as he and his friends were dragged away from their
1610F39 admirers into the waiting helicopters. $^After their arrival in
1620F39 Paris, Abruzzo and Anderson "just collapsed" while Newman and his
1630F39 wife were whisked away to the renowned Maxim*'s restaurant as guests
1640F39 of the Citroen family. $^*Larry Newman had one more delightful surprise
1650F39 waiting for him at the \0US Embassy where the three adventurers
1670F39 were staying as guests of Ambassador Hartman. ^*Larry won the
1680F39 toss and got to_ sleep in the same bed on which Lindbergh had spent
1690F39 his first night after historic solo flight. $^Next day Newman and
1700F39 his pretty, long-haired blonde wife Sandra arrived half an hour late
1710F39 for the press conference. ^When pressmen asked him if his late arrival
1720F39 was connected with the softness of the bed, Larry looked at his wife,
1730F39 smiled bashfully and said: "^It was an honour to_ be allowed to_
1740F39 sleep in that_ bed. ^*I didn*'4t want to_ get out of it." $^What
1750F39 did the adventurers riding the DOUBLE EAGLE *=2 achieve? ^*Abruzzo
1760F39 said at the press conference: "^Unless frontiers are challenged
1770F39 and difficult or impossoble things attempted-- and flying the Altantic
1780F39 borders on the impossible-- it appears to me we don*'4t move forward
1790F39 as a society. $"^Whether it was a case of flying in a balloon, breaking
1800F39 altitude records, speed records or writing a fine piece of literature
1810F39 it did not matter.*#
        **[no. of words = 02022**]

        **[txt. f40**]
0010F40 **<*THE CONQUEST OF KANCHENJUNGA**> $^*I was only twelve when I
0020F40 attended a Boy Scouts*' Camp at Tara Devi in the hill state
0030F40 of Himachal Pradesh. ^*I was immensely moved by the beauty around
0040F40 me: the pine trees, the heady scent, the cool breeze coursing
0050F40 through the glistening brown needles: it was a wonderful world.
0060F40 ^At night we slept pressed close to the earth inside a tent,
0070F40 while outside the rain played its soft symphony all about us. ^A new
0080F40 awareness was taking seed in me. ^*I was being introduced to the mystique
0090F40 of the mountains. $^Years passed. ^*I was commissioned into the Kumaon
0100F40 Regiment of the Indian Army. ^Posted at the hill station
0110F40 of Ranikhet, I had my first glimpse of the Himalayas. ^The sight left
0120F40 me awestruck and filled me with an unknown yearning. $^In 1958, I
0130F40 was sent to_ learn basic mountaineering at the Himalayan Mountaineering
0140F40 Institute, Darjeeling, and first set my eyes on Kanchenjunga.
0150F40 ^Early in the training programme, we were taken to Tiger Hill,
0160F40 which also offers a view of \0Mt Everest. ^*Everest, I must confess,
0170F40 was rather disappointing. ^It was completely dwarfed by the
0180F40 majestic Kanchenjunga. ^*I saw green hills rising from the river Rangit,
0190F40 then a layer of blue haze and, jutting through the mists, the Kanchenjunga
0200F40 Massif clad in pure white snow. ^The fascinating view
0210F40 hypnotised me and was indelibly stamped on my mind. $^A lot happened
0220F40 between then and 1966, when I was posted as the Principal of
0230F40 the same Institute at Darjeeling. ^We had scaled Nanda Devi and Everest;
0240F40 I had lost my toes on Nilakantha and had almost to_ relearn
0250F40 walking. ^However, the desire to_ attempt Kanchenjunga
0260F40 remained unfulfilled. ^*I had just to_ look through my bedroom window
0270F40 to_ see it shining like molten gold in the rising sun. ^Pink and
0280F40 crimson clouds with a golden lining adorned its proud bosom like a garland
0290F40 of wild flowers. ^My fascination grew so great that I changed my
0300F40 room for another, which offered a better view of the massif. $^In 1976,
0310F40 I had led a Trisul Ski Expedition. ^On the successful completion
0320F40 of this adventure, I had the opportunity to_ meet General *(0T.N.*)
0330F40 Raina, \0MVC, Chief of the Army Staff. ^*I was pleasantly
0340F40 surprised by the General*'s interest in our expedition: he
0350F40 had obviously been following it very keenly. ^During the course
0360F40 of our conversation he remarked: "^Half of our army is deployed
0370F40 at high altitudes. ^Why can*'4t we organise some big mountaineering
0380F40 expedition?" ^There was indeed a case for a major army expedition,
0390F40 perhaps one without precedent in its projected goals. $"^We should
0400F40 try Kanchenjunga from the east", I said "it*'1s perhaps the biggest
0410F40 prize left for mountaineers in the world". $^To my great joy the
0420F40 General was very enthusiastic about the proposal. ^My heart beat
0430F40 wildly; I was finally on the trail of the elusive Kanchenjunga. $*<*3The
0440F40 Top Three*> $^With a confirmed height of 28,208 feet (8,598)
0450F40 metres) above sea level, Kanchenjunga is the third highest mountain
0460F40 in the world. ^The difference in height between Kanchenjunga
0470F40 and the second highest mountain of the world, \0K-2, which
0480F40 rises to 28,253 feet (8,611 metres), is so little that Lord John
0490F40 Hunt had observed: "^It*'1s height alone makes it the third, and perhaps
0500F40 even the second, highest mountain in the world." $^The panoramic view
0510F40 of Kanchenjunga from Darjeeling is one of the grandest in the
0520F40 world. ^Immediately beyond the town, the ground falls away steeply
0530F40 to the bed of river Rangit, barely 1,500 feet above sea level. ^North
0540F40 of Rangit, Sikkim stretches for the next 40 miles, "a crumpled
0550F40 world of forested ridges and deep tropical canyons". ^Further on,
0560F40 stately tall brown alps and glistening icewalls culminate in
0570F40 the five-mile-high Kanchenjunga Massif, its steep, fluted white
0580F40 walls harbouring ice, snow and avalanches. ^To a mountaineer*'s eye,
0590F40 Kanchenjunga looks an impregnable giant even from this distance. ^Situated
0600F40 in such a spectacular setting, it has long worked its lure on
0610F40 mountaineers from all parts of the world. $^Between 1883 and 1955,
0620F40 eight attempts were made to_ climb this Himalayan giant and it
0630F40 finally fell to a British team led by Charles Evans. ^Four Britishers
0640F40 reached the summit on May 25 and May 26, 1955, from Kanchenjunga*'s
0650F40 North-West Face. ^But the North-East Spur route we planned
0660F40 to_ take defied two magnificent attempts in 1929 and 1931 by
0670F40 a band of remarkable German climbers led by Paul Bauer. ^Though
0680F40 they returned from 25,200 feet, the *3British Alpine Journal had
0690F40 described their attempt as a "feat without parallel in all annals
0700F40 of mountaineering history" and the expedition was awarded a gold medal
0710F40 at the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics. ^*Kanchenjunga from the North-East
0720F40 Spur route was thus the greatest Himalayan challenge I could
0730F40 think of. $^Our team of 19 climbers from the Indian Army
0740F40 set off from Delhi on March 7, 1977. ^The Base Camp was established
0750F40 on March 17 in the Green Lake area after a very
0760F40 difficult approach march through the narrow Zemu Valley which
0770F40 lay largely snowbound. ^The Green Lake turnewd out to_ be only
0780F40 a dirty brown pond, nevertheless a fairly big camp with mess-tents,
0790F40 tarpaulins, wireless aerials, a small meteorological observatory
0800F40 and a herd of grazing *4bharal sprang up at this site. ^Advance Base
0810F40 Camp was set up on March 25 at an altitude of 16,750 feet at the junction
0820F40 of the Twins Glacier and the Zemu Glacier. ^The route to Covance
0830F40 Base lay over the Zemu Glacier which flows down the Kanchenjunga
0840F40 Massif and is fittingly the biggest glacier in the Eastern
0850F40 Himalayas. $^In its upper reaches, the Zemu Glacier topples over
0860F40 a steep rock-face for some 700 feet and into a labyrinth of ice, forming
0870F40 a monstrous icefall as it squeezes through a narrow gap between the
0880F40 East Ridge and the North-East Spur. ^Imagine to yourself
0890F40 the Niagara Falls in a frozen state and you have a picture
0900F40 of the Zemu Icefall. ^The route through the icefall was forced
0910F40 by Major Prem Chand and Naik *(0N. D.*) Sherpa on March 31.
0920F40 ^*Prem reported: "^Very unstable icefall, the most dangerous in the Himalayas".
0930F40 ^We set up Camp *=1 about 500 yards beyond the top of the
0940F40 icefall at an altitude of 18,750 feet (5,720 metres). $<*3Impossible
0950F40 Route*> $^From Camp *=1, the upper basin of the Zamu Glacier
0960F40 ran almost level to the South face of the North-East Spur. ^We aimed
0970F40 to_ climb to the crest of the Spur and then
0980F40 climb along this ridge till we hit the North Ridge. ^We were now
0990F40 thus face to face with the "impossible" route we had adopted. ^The battle
1000F40 was joined. $^From Base Camp, I watched Major Pushkar
1010F40 Chand and Company Havaldar Major Gurcharan Singh master
1020F40 the face for Prem and Kiran to_ establish Camp *=2 next day. ^We
1030F40 had now been grappling with Kanchenjunga for over a month and seemed
1040F40 to_ be making good progress. $^Then, on April 10, Kanchenjunga
1050F40 struck back. ^Descending from Camp *=2, Havaldar Sukhvinder
1060F40 Singh slipped on a rope, fell and his rucksack jammed up
1070F40 against his head, breaking his neck. ^Numb with grief, we brought
1080F40 our dead comrade*'s body down to the Base Camp and, on April 18, creamated
1090F40 him near a small lake. ^Someone chanted from the *4Gutka in
1100F40 Punjabi: $"^Thus far we go with you, our friend, and no further. ^You
1110F40 have a heavenly path ahead of you and we have to_ suffer a little more."
1120F40 $^A white plume of smoke rose from the jumper pyre, swirling upwards
1130F40 along the barren flanks of our mountain towards the summit of
1140F40 Kanchenjunga. $^Dejected, demoralised but then with renewed determination,
1150F40 we snaked up the mountain again from April 19. ^After
1160F40 a week of great climbing, Kiran*'s party established Camp *=3 at
1170F40 20,670 feet (6,300 metres) on the afternoon of April 26. ^*Kiran described
1180F40 the camp-site as an "oasis in the vertical hell of ice". $^Till
1190F40 april 8 our progress had been very fast, almost too good to_ be true.
1200F40 ^We had overcome the icefall. ^We had broken the defence of treacherous
1210F40 South Face leading to the crest of the North-East Spur,
1220F40 not at one, but at two places. ^At that_ stage, I had had no doubt
1230F40 that we could establish Camp *=3 by April 10. ^The tragedy
1240F40 had, however, put us back by 16 days. $^*Kanchenjunga does not give
1250F40 you much time. ^Even under normal conditions, it is a race against
1260F40 the monsoons. ^And so far we were virtual non-starters, to_ say the
1270F40 least. ^Though we had had a taste of the North-East Spur*'s terrifying
1280F40 defences, some people are incorrigible optimists: I am one
1290F40 of those and sent a signal to Delhi: "^It may be possible to_ force
1300F40 open a route over the dangerous and difficult portion of the ridge in
1310F40 two or three days*' time". ^A rude shock awaited me. ^Had I known
1320F40 then that it would take us another 16 days to Camp *=4, I am not sure
1330F40 if we could have kept up the effort, since I wanted the team to_
1340F40 be off the Spur much before the onset of the monsoons. $^Ahead lay
1350F40 the crux of the entire climb, the taming of the North-East Spur.
1360F40 ^*James Ramsay Ullman, the famous American mountain chronicler, had described
1370F40 the Spur thus: $CAMP *=6 (altitude 25,030 \0ft) $"^There
1380F40 were no rocks anywhere, no bare straightway slope of ice and snow.
1390F40 ^Instead, the North-East Spur climbed skyward for thousands of feet
1400F40 in one unending spine of broken, twisted ice. ^There were towers piled
1410F40 upon towers, cliff upon cliff, huge vertical columns which tapered like
1420F40 churh spires and shining curtains, festooned with icicles, hanging down
1430F40 the precipices from cornices above. ^There were great bulges and chasms.
1440F40 ^Wrenched by wind, and cold into fantastic mushroom shapes and grotesque
1450F40 likeness of monsters from a nightmare. ^And as if all this were
1460F40 not enough, the whole broken tortured expanse was swept incessantly
1470F40 by avalanches. ^Gigantic blocks and bergs of solid ice breaking off
1480F40 high above swept down the chutes and spirals of the Spur in two-mile
1490F40 drops of thundering destruction". $*<*3Almost A Fairy-Tale*> $^The
1500F40 Spur tested us to the utmost over the next 16 days. ^This is what
1510F40 climbing fairy-tales are made of, the toughest climbing I have ever
1520F40 encountered in the mountains. ^*Prem, *(0N. D.*) Sherpa, Norbu and
1530F40 Kiran performed with skills undreamt of earlier and, when the Spur
1540F40 was finally overcome and Camp *=4 established on May 12, it was a
1550F40 day of glorious rejoicing. ^Easier slopes lay beyond. ^We had finally
1560F40 clawed a chance on the mountain. $^It would now be a race against the
1570F40 approaching monsoons. ^After 10.00 \0a.m., clouds would form and envelop
1580F40 the higher reaches of the mountain in white-out conditions.
1590F40 ^High winds would obliterate all tracks. $^The members floundered upward
1600F40 for another week before Camp *=5 could be established on May
1610F40 19 at 23,720 feet (7,230 metres). ^Beyond Camp *=5, the strong westerly
1620F40 winds blasted us with unobstructed fury. ^We were aiming to_ set
1630F40 up Camp *=6 in the Col where the Spur joined the North Ridge,
1640F40 but a kilometre-long knife-edge arete stopped us just before the Col
1650F40 at an altitude of 25,030 feet (7,630 metres). $^The date was May 24
1660F40 and, by my reckoning, the monsoon now was only a week away. ^Time was
1670F40 running out but, on the other hand, our pace had certainly quickened.
1680F40 ^It had taken us 17 days after establishing Camp *=2 to_ open up
1690F40 Camp *=3 and another 16 agonising days before we could set up Camp
1700F40 *=4. ^Once having overcome the extreme severity of the North-East
1710F40 Spur, we had set up Camp *=5 and *=6 in another fortnight, climbing
1720F40 a further 3,280 feet in the process. ^Our morale was high and everyone
1730F40 was doing his bit cheerfully and confidently. ^We seemed to_
1740F40 have got over the shock of Sukhvinder*'s death and the early depletion
1750F40 of our team. ^We were now full of confidence in our ability
1760F40 to_ get to the top. $^Could we accelerate our progress some more or
1770F40 did Kanchenjunga hold yet some obstacles on its higher slopes that_
1780F40 would require more time to_ overcome than we had?*#
        **[no. of words = 02015**]

        **[txt. f41**]
0010F41 **<*3TOBACCO HABITS AND ORAL CANCER*0**> $*3^TOBACCO*0 was first introduced
0020F41 into India by the Portuguese in the 17th century. ^It was
0030F41 credited with qualities of calming and relaxing an individual, and
0040F41 also considered to_ be a sort of stimulant. $^Various societies and
0050F41 cultures gradually discovered their own ways of using tobacco. ^As
0060F41 time passed, tobacco habits became not only socially acceptable, but
0070F41 a tradition. ^They acquired a social status symbol and even formed
0080F41 part of cultural rituals. ^The younger generation began to_ equate
0090F41 acquistition of tobacco habits with adult behaviour. ^And the habits
0100F41 spread, until epidemiological investigations on the effects of tobacco
0110F41 smoking on health had very clearly established a relationship between
0120F41 tobacco habits and cancer and certain heart and lung diseases.
0130F41 ^Among different types of cancer, oral cancer is most common in India.
0140F41 ^In the Ernakulam district of Kerala, it is found to_ be 20 times
0150F41 higher than in England. ^In the country as a whole, of course,
0160F41 its incidence varies widely over different states. $^Oral cancer is
0170F41 one of the most mutilating diseases. ^But it lends itself to early
0180F41 diagnosis without complicated instruments because of its easy accessibility;
0190F41 the only requirement is that the clinician must be alert.
0200F41 ^Early diagnosis greatly improves the chances of therapy being successful.
0210F41 ^The chances of successful treatment, and maybe prevention,
0220F41 are further improved if the diagnosis is made before the lesion develops
0230F41 to a malignant or cancerous stage. $^The best solution, undoubtedly,
0240F41 would be the prevention of the disease. ^But for this, we must
0250F41 have knowledge about the epidemiology of the disease, that_ is, the
0260F41 incidence and the prevalence figures, the natural history of the
0270F41 disease and the causative factors. ^Over the years, some hypotheses
0280F41 had been put forward, but mostly on the basis of hospital-based studies.
0290F41 $^In 1966, the Basic Dental Research Unit at the Tata Institute
0300F41 of Fundamental Research, Bombay, undertook a largescale
0310F41 epidemiological investigation of oral cancer and precancerous conditions
0320F41 amongst the rural population in five districts of India-- Ernakulam
0330F41 district in Kerala, Bhavnagar district in Gujarat, Srikakulam
0340F41 district in Andhra Pradesh, and Singbhum and Darbhanga districts
0350F41 in Bihar. ^The survey dealt with the micro-environment associated
0360F41 with the development of oral cancer and precancerous lesions, the
0370F41 environmental factor in this case being tobacco chewing and smoking.
0380F41 $^There were several questions which required to_ be answered: what
0390F41 is the incidence of precancerous lesions occurring in a population?
0400F41 ^What is the exact location of these lesions within the oral cavity?
0410F41 ^What is the association between the lesions and the different
0420F41 kinds of tobacco habits? ^At what frequency and after how much time
0430F41 do these lesions turn into cancer? ^At what rate do new lesions appear
0440F41 among those who practise tobacco habits and among those who do not
0450F41 or have discontinued? $^And, from the start, it was decided to_ maintain
0460F41 a register of individuals with precancerous lesions and a control
0470F41 register of individuals who did not have any lesions. $^A specific
0480F41 and planned methodology was followed. ^The five districts mentioned
0490F41 earlier were selected on the basis of the distinctive tobacco
0500F41 habits prevalent in these five areas. ^From each of these regions, some
0510F41 reports linking these tobacco habits to oral cancer were already
0520F41 available. ^Geographically, these districts are diverse and presented
0530F41 different racial, cultural, dietary and oral habits. ^The population
0540F41 covered was rural and, hence, our results cannot demonstrate differences
0550F41 between a rural and an urban population, if any. $^In each
0560F41 district, a number of villages were selected by random sampling. ^In
0570F41 a house-to-house survey, the entire adult population (above the age
0580F41 of 15 years) in each selected village was questioned for its tobacco
0590F41 habits as well as examined for the presence of oral precancerous
0600F41 lesions by a team of specially trained dentists. $^Over 10,000 individuals
0610F41 were examined in each district. ^Every lesion was photographed
0620F41 in colour for documentation. ^Biopsies from almost all the lesions
0630F41 were obtained for microscopic examination. ^All the information regarding
0640F41 tobacco habits and clinical examination was recorded on specially
0650F41 prepared charts. ^The information was fed to the computer and
0660F41 analysed. ^Some interesting results are discussed here. $*3Smoking
0670F41 habits*0. ^Smoking was predominant among males rather than females,
0680F41 except in Srikakulam and Darbhanga. *4^Bidi smoking was prevalent
0690F41 in all the districts but it was practised only by males. *4^Hooka smoking
0700F41 was practised by females in Darbhanga. $*4^Chutta smoking was
0710F41 popular among males in Srikakulam, where reverse *4chutta smoking
0720F41 (the habit of keeping the lighted end within the mouth) was practised
0730F41 almost exclusively by females. ^In Singbhum, smoking was almost
0740F41 an exclusive privilege of men. ^The male-female ratio amongst smokers
0750F41 was 9:1. ^In Bhavnagar, we discovered a hitherto unreported habit,
0760F41 clay pipe or *4hookli smoking, practised exclusively by the males.
0770F41 $*3chewing habits*0. *4^Pan chewing was more popular in Kerala than
0780F41 in the North, and in Kerala, it was practised more by females
0790F41 than by males. *4^Khaini was a common habit in Darbhanga and Singbhum
0800F41 districts, practised mostly by males. (^See box on 'Tobacco Habits
0810F41 in India'.) $*3^THE*0 analysis of the survey data showed that
0820F41 precancerous lesions were quite frequent in the study sample. ^Leukoplakia,
0830F41 a precancerous lesion, prevailed among 1.7 per cent of the
0840F41 smaple population in Bhavnagar and Ernakulam; 4.9 per cent in Srikakulam
0850F41 and 0.2 per cent in Singbhum and Darbhanga. ^Reverse *4chutta
0860F41 smoking in Srikakulam was associated with the highest number of leukoplakias;
0870F41 leukoplakia was diagnosed amongst 8.8 per cent of Srikakulam*'s
0880F41 "reverse smokers" and amongst 7 per cent of *4hookli smokers
0890F41 in Bhavnagar. ^Leukoplakia was found among 6.1 per cent of those
0900F41 who both smoked and chewed tobacco in Ernakulan, whereas it was 2.1
0910F41 per cent among those who only smoked, and 1.7 per cent among those
0920F41 who had only chewing habits. ^Leukoplakia among those without tobacco
0930F41 habits of any kind ranged between 0 and 0.2 per cent. $^In Ernakulam
0940F41 district, 12 cases and in Srikakulam*'s "reverse smokers", 10
0950F41 cases of oral cancer were found. $^These figures clearly show that
0960F41 those who have both the chewing and smoking habits run the highest
0970F41 risk of getting a precancerous lesion and those who do not have any
0980F41 habits show no signs of a precancerous lesion. $*<*3Prospective study*0*>
0990F41 $*3^CAUSAL*0 association between tobacco habits and oral precancerous
1000F41 lesions has been indicated. ^A doubt, however, may be raised
1010F41 as to which one came first, tobacco habits or precancerous lesions.
1020F41 ^Couldn*'4t something else have caused the precancerous lesions
1030F41 which, in turn, induced the affected person to_ take to tobacco habits?
1040F41 $^One way to_ counteract these arguments would be a prospective
1050F41 survey where indivduals without the disease are followed up periodically.
1060F41 ^After a suitable length of time, the rate of occurrence
1070F41 of new lesions among those with smoking or chewing habits can be compared
1080F41 with the rate among those without the habits. ^The ratio of these
1090F41 two would indicate the factor by which the risk of the lesion is
1100F41 increased among the addicts. ^This study would also give an idea of
1110F41 the risk of a leukoplakia developing into a cancer as well as the risk
1120F41 of developing a leukoplakia for persons with a specific tobacco
1130F41 habit. $^Such a follow-up survey constituted the second phase of this
1140F41 project. ^All individuals examined in the first survey were re-examined
1150F41 annually and questioned about their tobacco habits. ^In order
1160F41 to_ obtain reliable results, the follow-up survey was conducted for
1170F41 10 years. $^The results obtained were quite conclusive. ^Over the 10-years
1180F41 follow-up period, not a single case of oral cancer or leukoplakia
1190F41 developed among those who did not practise any kind of tobacco
1200F41 habit. $^Those who practised tobacco habits did develop precancerous
1210F41 lesions, though the rates of occurrence varied for different habit
1220F41 groups. ^For example, in Ernakulam district, *4bidi smokers developed
1230F41 leukoplakia at the rate of 0.7 per 1,000 per year and *4pan
1240F41 chewers at the rate of 3.6 per 1,000 per year. ^Those who practised
1250F41 both developed leukoplakia at the rate of 6 per 1,000 per year. ^In
1260F41 Srikakulam district, reverse *4chutta smokers developed precancerous
1270F41 lesions on the palate at the rate of 96 per 1,000 per year. $^Along
1280F41 with the individuals without any lesions, individuals with precancerous
1290F41 lesions were also followed up over the same period. ^In Ernakulam
1300F41 district and in Srikakulam district, 11 oral cancer cases developed
1310F41 during the follow-up period among individuals with precancerous
1320F41 lesions within 1 to 8 years of the first examination. $^The results
1330F41 provide definite proof *3that the surest way to_ prevent oral cancer
1340F41 would be to_ avoid tobacco in any form.*0 ^Thus, persuading people
1350F41 to_ refrain from using tobacco would be worth-while in the interest
1360F41 of the nation at large. $*<*3The 'X-factor'*0*> $^It can be argued
1370F41 that the relationship between tobacco habits and oral precancerous
1380F41 lesions is not quite as direct as has been implied. ^There may exist
1390F41 an unknown factor (x-factor) which is responsible for the cancer
1400F41 and precancerous lesions as well as the tobacco habits. ^It may be solely
1410F41 due to this "X-factor" that the tobacco habits and oral precancerous
1420F41 lesions appear to_ be related to each other. $^To_ counter this
1430F41 argument, an intervention study is necessary. ^In an intervention
1440F41 study, a part of the sudy sample is persuaded to_ give up the suspected
1450F41 disease-causing factor, in this case, tobacco habits. ^Re-examining
1460F41 the sample over a period of time, one can determine the incidence
1470F41 of the disease, that_ is, the comparative risk of contracting the
1480F41 disease among the individuals who gave up the habit and among the
1490F41 individuals who continued the tobacco habit. ^If there is a significant
1800F41 decrease in the disease rate among the individuals who gave up
1510F41 the habits, then it would prove that a direct link exists between the
1520F41 habit and the disease, and it would effectively disprove the "X-factor"
1530F41 hypothesis. ^Obviously, an intervention study will also provide
1540F41 the estimate of decrease in the risk of disease affecting the group
1550F41 who have dis-continued the habit. ^Such an intervention study is
1560F41 proposed as the third phase of the project. $^To_ persuade the population
1570F41 to_ give up their tobacco habits, a film has been made depicting
1580F41 the various types of tobacco habits practised in India and their
1590F41 relationship to oral cancer and precancerous lesions. ^The message
1600F41 of the film which has a different version for each State will be
1610F41 reinforced through personal communication, group discussion and printed
1620F41 matter. ^The population will be interviewed and re-examined every
1630F41 year. $^It is also hoped that this intervention study will finally
1640F41 remove all doubts in the way of undertaking large-scale primary prevention
1650F41 programmes for oral cancer by the government as well as voluntary
1660F41 organisations.
1670F41 $*<*3Tobacco habits in India*0*> $^Within a short time of tobacco being
1680F41 brought to India its usage became common. ^Several saints of the
1690F41 seventeenth century had condemned its usage in their writings. ^Over
1700F41 the years, tobacco usage in India has evolved in two distinct forms,
1710F41 chewing and smoking. ^Snuffing is also practised, but is not as common.
1720F41 $*<*3Chewing habits*0*> $^Actuailly, tobacco chewing is not a
1730F41 correct description of the habit because, in most cases, tobacco is kept
1740F41 in the mouth and not chewed. ^Below is a description of some of
1750F41 the most common forms of tobacco chewing and smoking in India, some
1760F41 of which were studied by us. $*4Pan chewing: ^The practice is at
1770F41 least 2,000 years old and has the sanction of ancicnt Indian scriptures.
1780F41 ^Basically, *4pan is a combination of betel leaf, catechu, slaked
1790F41 lime (calcium hydroxide) and piece of areca nut. ^Several condiments
1800F41 and sweetening and flavouring agents are also added. ^With such ingredients,
1810F41 normally no spitting is necessary and the bolus formed by
1820F41 chewing is swallowed. ^Today, however, almost all the habitual chewers
1830F41 of *4pan chew it along with tobacco. ^The addition of tobacco
1840F41 has made condiments and sweetening and flavouring agents superfluous.
1850F41 ^When chewing *4pan with tobacco, the "chew" formed in the mouth has
1860F41 to_ be spat out. $*4khaini: ^It can be described as the habit of chewing
1870F41 tobacco without the betel leaf. *4^Khaini addicts usually keep
1880F41 two small metal boxes containing slaked lime and tobacco. ^A small
1890F41 quantity of tobacco is taken out on the left palm and vigorously mixed
1900F41 with slaked lime by the thumb or forefinger.*#
        **[no. of words = 02003**]

        **[txt. f42**]
0010F42 **<*3WHO OWNS BOMBAY?*0**> $*3^BOMBAY OCCUPIES*0 a unique place in India.
0020F42 ^*New Delhi may be the political capital, and Calcutta, the
0030F42 cultural capital, but nobody can deny that Bombay is the financial
0040F42 nerve-centre of this subcontinent. $^During the last one hundred years,
0050F42 Bombay has witnessed many communities gaining and losing economic
0060F42 power, depending on their weaknesses and strong points and the
0070F42 backing of the political power at the centre. ^A study of the ever-changing
0080F42 pattern will be very interesting and throw light on the various
0090F42 socio-economic and political forces in the country. $^*Shivaji*'s
0100F42 *4loot of Surat had frightened the British and made them change
0110F42 the idea of having their headquarters in Bombay. ^It then was a fishermen*'s
0120F42 village. ^Communication was difficult. ^But it was an excellent
0130F42 natural port. ^The *5Pathare Prabhu*6 community became prominent
0140F42 then, and held vast landed properties in Bombay. ^Thus, the entire
0150F42 Malabar Hill was owned by *5Pathare Prabhus*6. ^They acted
0160F42 as the counterpart of *5Kayastha Munshis*6 in the Moghul Court
0170F42 and during the early British period and became politically and financially
0180F42 dominant. ^In fact, they became the only landed aristocrats
0190F42 in the relatively backward, unknown and poor island. ^Even today the
0200F42 community has some beautiful and commercially very paying land in
0210F42 its possession. *4^*Prabhus were addicts of wine and women. ^They were
0220F42 very extravagant, vain, and always in the pursuit of anything soft,
0230F42 beautiful, and pleasuresome. $*<*3Rise of Parsis*0*> $^The Parsi
0240F42 community followed the *5Pathare Prabhus*6 in the socio-economic
0250F42 dominance of Bombay. ^The Parsis were soft-spoken and looked very
0260F42 fair and generous. ^To_ begin with, they were very backward and
0270F42 poor. ^They acted as interpreters to the British and won their confidence.
0280F42 ^The British patronage and education completely transformed
0290F42 them. ^They were superior to the *4Prabhus in one respect-- they were
0300F42 first class businessmen. ^They took to trade, commerce and industry,
0310F42 once they had gained sufficient trust of the British rulers. $^Their
0320F42 vast profits in business and industry was neutralised by their
0330F42 lavish extravagance. ^They were philanthropists. ^An ordinary Parsi
0340F42 during the British period considered himself superior to the 'natives',
0350F42 but the leaders at the top were different. $^The Parsis opened
0360F42 arts colleges, hospitals, theatres and what not. ^They gradually became
0370F42 the leaders in all fields. ^As employers, they were kind and generous.
0380F42 ^In politics, they always sided with the British and preserved
0390F42 interest of their community. ^This resulted in more concessions,
0400F42 contracts and licenses for the new industries for the Parsi entrepreneurs.
0410F42 ^Unlike the Hindus, the Parsis had no inhibition in regard
0420F42 to dining, wining and travelling with the foreigners. $^The Maharashtrian
0430F42 *4Brahmins, though brilliant and talented, aggressively opposed
0440F42 the British rule in India, and the British could never trust
0450F42 them. ^Naturally, the non-Maharashtrians, particularly the Parsis
0460F42 and Gujarati *4Baniyas, profited the most. $^The Parsis thrived
0470F42 for quite some time because of three reasons. ^They were fair and
0480F42 racially looked nearer to the Europeans than the Hindus or the Muslims.
0490F42 ^Secondly, they showed that they were non-aligned in politics,
0500F42 and were nonentities in power politics. ^As a rule, they played the
0510F42 role of conservatives and opposed the radicals like Tilak. ^Thirdly,
0520F42 because of their gentle and witty nature and generous employment
0530F42 potential, they were quite popular in the politically-conscious Bombay.
0540F42 $^The Parsis had a peculiar system of trusts which increased
0550F42 their popularity and gave them a very good image in the country. ^If
0560F42 a Parsi has no issue, the community laws forbid him to_ adopt a
0570F42 son. ^Thus, after the death of a rich Parsi, all his property goes
0580F42 to the community in the form of the trust made in the name of the departed.
0590F42 ^Thus, the familiar name, Godrej, is a trust, and is no individual
0600F42 or a group of members of a family. $*<*3Goodness of trustees*0*>
0610F42 $^If the trustees are good, they would work hard to_ invest and
0620F42 reinvest the money of the trust and enlarge its operations. ^It is
0630F42 a wellknown fact that the finances to_ run the Tata Cancer Hospital
0640F42 come from the Tata Trust. ^The trustees can certainly function
0650F42 far better, because the element of selfishness or family interestis
0660F42 automatically curtailed. $^The Gujarati *4Baniyas entered the
0670F42 field simultaneously with the Parsis. ^The *5Vaishnav Baniyas*6 from
0680F42 Saurashtra and Surat earned a lot of respect because of their
0690F42 truthfulness and religiousness. ^Relatively, the *5Jain Baniyas*6,
0700F42 the late comers on the scene, were more shrewd, soft-spoken and introverted.
0710F42 ^It was very difficult to_ have full trust in a *5Jain Baniya*'s*6
0720F42 words. ^Wittily, it was said about him, "^He does not kill
0730F42 flies and insects; he kills men and digests them." ^There were many
0740F42 differences between the Parsis and the Gujarati *4Baniyas. $^A
0750F42 Parsi would be really generous. ^A *4Baniya would not even show that
0760F42 he was one. ^The Parsi businessmen liked all the pleasures of life and
0770F42 enjoyed them to their heart*'s content. ^A *4Baniya would hardly think
0780F42 of these things. ^He enjoyed *4satta, but speculation frightened
0790F42 a Parsi businessman. ^A Parsi had set principles in dealing with
0800F42 his customers and would generally stick to them. ^A *4Baniya was ever
0810F42 obliging and accommodating. $*<*3Gujarati *4Baniya*0*> $^The advent
0820F42 of Gandhiji*'s political movement helped the Gujarati *4Baniya to_
0830F42 earn the much coveted entry into certain sectors of the industry
0840F42 which till then had been monopolised by the Parsis. ^*Gandhiji*'s
0850F42 politics confused the British administrators, but convinced them that,
0860F42 unlike the aggressive Bengali and Maharashtrian rebels, Gandhiji
0870F42 could never fight them violently. $^Actually, Gandhiji*'s movement
0880F42 introduced a new element and it was fully exploited by the Gujarati
0890F42 *4Baniya owners of the textile mills in Bombay and Ahmedabad.
0900F42 ^They did not mind diverting a part of their profit to_ finance Gandhiji*'s
0910F42 movement. ^It is well-known that Gandhiji started full-time
0920F42 political worker system in India. ^It was this community that_
0930F42 popularised Gandhiji*'s politics all over the country. $*(0^*S. K.*)
0940F42 Patil, the then uncrowned king of Bombay, gave a good lift to
0950F42 the Gujarati *4Baniyas. ^The Parsis gradually withdrew and made
0960F42 room for the Gujarati *4Baniyas who later on were joined with Patels
0970F42 and Lohanas from the mainland of Gujarat. ^The Hindu *4Vohras and
0980F42 Muslim *4Bohras did have good time for some time, but could not
0990F42 flourish like *4Baniyas or Parsis. ^Their community was too small.
1000F42 $^The Gujarati *4Baniyas had already made their mark as successful
1010F42 businessmen outside India, particularly in East Africa. ^The
1020F42 Patels and Shahs from Gujarat had also been prosperous there. ^Importing
1030F42 foreign goods on a commission basis had already been started
1040F42 long ago by the Parsis and the Gujarati *4Baniyas, but the Patels
1050F42 added a new dimension by exporting the Indian finished goods to
1060F42 the underdeveloped countries. $*<3Marwaris in competition*0*> $^*Gandhiji*'s
1070F42 movement helped another community indirectly. ^It was the
1080F42 community of the Marwaris. ^*Bajaj and Birla were the custodians of
1090F42 Gandhiji*'s funds. ^No wonder, these two Marwaris encouraged their
1100F42 own kith and kin who appeared late on Bombay*'s stage of trade,
1110F42 commerce and industry. $^The competition
1120F42 between the Gujarati *4Baniyas and Marwaris reminds one of
1130F42 the story of the hare and the tortoise. ^It is very interesting to_
1140F42 study how the Marwaris slowly progressed and replaced the Gujarati
1150F42 *4Baniyas in the Bombay market and achieved supreme position
1160F42 there, despite the cut-throat competition by the newcomers, the Sindhi
1170F42 and Punjabi businessmen from the North. ^In 1960, after the formation
1180F42 of the separate Maharashtra State, its first Chief Minister,
1190F42 *(0Y. B.*) Chavan wanted to_ cut *(0S. K.*) Patil to size.
1200F42 ^He took financial assistance from both the rival groups for his
1210F42 party politics and gradually deflated *(0S. K.*) Patil in his own
1220F42 kingdom. $^The Marwaris in pre-Independence era were petty traders
1250F42 dealing in waste paper and waste metals and secondhand utensils and
1240F42 ornaments, usually stolen. ^They went from the dry desert of Marwar
1250F42 to distant places and devoted their full attention to business.
1260F42 ^They had no educational background and would live anywhere. ^They
1270F42 were known as the misers of the highest order, probably because in the
1280F42 beginning, they had nothing to_ spend. $^They were highly religiious
1290F42 and orthodox. ^Though they prospered in their business in the course
1300F42 of time, they preserved their only possession-- the metal pot,
1301F42 a rope and the loin cloth. ^This was
1310F42 done deliberately to_ remind the members of the family of their
1320F42 early days. ^They did not allow their womenfolk to_ take part in any
1330F42 social event. ^Sharing responsibilities in trade or business was out
1340F42 of question for their women, although the males talked about business
1350F42 all the day. $^The Marwaris started building their prosperity in
1360F42 Berar where Gandhiji chose to_ have his main *4Ashram. ^During the
1370F42 Gandhian movement, the idealistic Maharashtrian professionals (mainly
1380F42 *4Brahmin teachers, doctors and pleaders) and *4Ijardars left
1390F42 their profession, and started getting impoverished and selling their
1400F42 properties. ^The shrewd Marwaris, however, gradually started purchasing
1410F42 these estates at throw-away prices. $*<*3Rise of Marwaris*0*>
1420F42 $^Earlier, the Maharashtrian *4Brahimins had settled in Berar and
1430F42 Marathwada and had become landlords and also leaders in political
1440F42 field. ^The decline and rise of Marwaris is very interesting to_
1450F42 study. ^Gradually, the Marwaris became landlords, leaders in the
1460F42 chambers of commerce and newspaper owners, and captured educational
1470F42 institutes. $^Enthusiastic Maharashtrian *4Brahmin youths who were
1480F42 idealists helped the Marwari capitalists by working all the 24 hours
1490F42 of the day and seven days of the week, sticking to the ideals of
1500F42 patriotic mission, life of sacrifice, *4Swadeshi and *4Swadharma.
1510F42 ^No wonder, the Marwaris prospered and the Maharashtrians declined.
1520F42 $^The same process was repeated in and around Bombay. ^In most of
1530F42 the fields, the Marwaris have proved their superiority and have displaced
1540F42 the Gujarati *4Baniyas partly or in certain sectors fully.
1550F42 $^Gradually, the Marwaris realised the value of education. ^Once
1560F42 the Marwaris became educated, there was a transformation in their
1570F42 investment policies. ^The trader and the businessman now became ambitious
1580F42 to_ own the industires which gave better and richer returns. $^The
1581F42 *4Marwaris are no entrepreneurs. ^They are best at cooking the account
1600F42 books. ^They are excellent organisers and successful managers,
1610F42 of course, from their own profit point of view. ^*Laxmi is their only
1620F42 goddess and each Marwari is cruelly business-like in his dealings.
1630F42 ^Even the son would not spare his father in getting his legitimate
1640F42 commission, and surprisingly, the father does not mind it because he,
1650F42 too, has treated his father likewise. ^It is on this score that_
1660F42 the Marwaris have outsmarted the Gujarati *4Baniyas. $^The chief
1670F42 characteristic of the Marwari businessman is that he carefully avoids
1680F42 his identity in all his dealings. ^And yet, he is very much there.
1690F42 ^To the person in need, he will speak very sweetly and appear reasonable.
1700F42 ^He will surely help the man in need. ^But he will have complete
1710F42 information about him through his own intelligence network. $^The
1720F42 Marwari has already fixed an expiry date in his mind and will wait
1730F42 patiently till then. ^After that_ the person would feel and see
1740F42 his real character. ^The Marwari would be cruel enough to_ get every
1750F42 *4paisa of the interest and the capital, if necessary, through the
1760F42 court decree. ^Once he gets his money back, he would be courteous and
1770F42 would say, "^What to_ do? ^This business compels me to_ take
1780F42 such a drastic step. ^You are my good friend. ^Please remember whenever
1790F42 you are in any need, please do not hesitate to_ approach me." $^A
1800F42 Marwari would only show that he is not interested in politics. ^Yet
1810F42 he is fully aware of the politics going around him and tries to_
1820F42 have a full, though invisible control over the same. ^If one brother
1830F42 shows inclination to the Congress, another would show his affiliation
1840F42 to the *5Jana Sangha*6, the third to the *4Swatantra, while
1850F42 the fourth would show sympathy even to the communists. $*<*3Money
1860F42 making \0vs king-making*0*> $^At home, they would sit together and
1870F42 jointly think of their business interests and exchange notes to_ exploit
1880F42 the situation for their personal interest. ^It is a pity that
1890F42 the different parties hardly know about this strategy and always boast
1900F42 of 'capturing' this Marwari *4Seth or that_ .^Few realise that
1910F42 a Marwari is essentially interested in minting money, and would prefer
1920F42 to_ become a king-maker than be a king himself.*#
        **[no. of words = 02003**]

        **[txt. f43**]
0010F43 **<*3Is *(0M. O.*) Mathai a *5Namak Haram?*6*0**> $\0*3^The*0 yearning
0020F43 to_ write is one I understand. ^And reminiscences of an important
0030F43 and eventful era are something of value. ^But there has been too
0040F43 much glib and hasty writing about important events of late, and Mathai*'s
0050F43 is a dishonest addition to the scrappy jobs that_ pass as book-writing
0060F43 among us. ^His book rests on the simple and unscrupulous expedient
0070F43 of insinuation. ^Several insinuations are presented as facts, leading
0080F43 to the conclusion Mathai wishes us to_ draw. ^This is how the
0090F43 method works: ^We are told Nehru has visits from a "comely" woman on
0100F43 several nights, arranged by his secretary, Upadhyaya. ^Next, a woman
0110F43 produces an illegitimate child in an unknown, untraceable convent in
0120F43 Bangalore. ^The authorities of this mysterious place find letters addressed
0130F43 to her from the Prime Minister and return them to him. ^The
0140F43 convent remains anonymous and heavy hangs the implication that these "letters"
0150F43 are of a certain kind. ^This trail of "information" is wound
0160F43 up with a story about Napoleon*'s bastard. ^What each of these statements
0170F43 has to_ do with the others is not at all clear. ^But what Mathai
0180F43 clearly intends us to_ believe is that Nehru fathered a bastard.
0190F43 $^We must not ask why in Heaven*'s name this convent has vanished
0200F43 off the map-- or else how could a convent in Bangalore, as distinct
0210F43 from one on Mars, fail to_ be located? ^We must remember, too that
0220F43 this convent must be the only place in India where everyone*'s lips
0230F43 are sealed forever. ^In a country where everyone babbles so, and where
0240F43 a flourishing yellow Press waits-- and certainly waited in Nehru*'s
0250F43 time-- to_ pounce on scandal, not a whisper of this was ever heard.
0260F43 ^It was left to Mathai, all these years later, to_ "reveal" these
0270F43 "facts". $^Here is what Nehru*'s secretary, Upadhyaya, whom Mathai
0280F43 calls Nature*'s fool" has to_ say about this episode. ^During the Hindi
0290F43 agitation (spearheaded by Seth Govind Das in the early 1950s)
0300F43 the woman known as Shraddha Mata came from Lucknow to Delhi and
0310F43 interviewed a number of \0MPs in support of the Hindi Bill that_ was
0320F43 then under consideration in Parliament. ^She was probably in her late
0330F43 Thirties, dressed in an orange *4sari and wore her hair loose over
0340F43 her shoulders. ^*Upadhyaya was then in charge of the *4am-janata gatherings
0350F43 on the front lawn of Teen Murti House where people came every
0360F43 morning for *4darshan. ^This woman met Nehru a couple of times through
0370F43 him on these occasions. ^One night about midnight Upadhyaya and his
0380F43 family were asleep when she arrived at his house. ^One of his daughters,
0390F43 who answered the door refused to_ wake her father as he had been
0400F43 unwell, but the woman pushed past her and demanded agitatedly that
0410F43 he be roused as it was a matter of life and death, and that Upadhyaya
0420F43 must take her to_ see the Prime Minister at once. ^*Upadhyaya,
0430F43 though terribly nervous about intruding on the Prime Minister who,
0440F43 he knew, would be working or dictating in his study at that_ hour, and
0450F43 would be irritable if he were interrupted, could not withstand the woman*'s
0460F43 urgent pleas. ^He accompanied her in her car to Teen Murti House.
0470F43 ^As he had anticipated, Nehru was dictating to a \0PA. ^He was greatly
0480F43 annoyed at the interruption, and furious when Upadhyaya said
0490F43 that Shraddha Mata wished to_ see him on a matter of life and death.
0500F43 "^That_ wretched woman again-- why do you go around with her? ^She is
0510F43 highly dangerous." ^However, he went down to the portico where she was
0520F43 waiting in her car and she told him of tragic consequences for the country
0530F43 if the Hindi Bill were not passed. ^*Upadhyaya recalls that Nehru
0540F43 was very sharp in his reply and ordered her away in no uncertain
0550F43 terms. ^The incident took about ten minutes. ^The Prime Minister returned
0560F43 to his study. ^The woman had no further interview with him. $^*Upadhyaya
0570F43 further adds that the woman*'s clothes were a cover for her activities.
0580F43 ^She had "men friends" in Ferozeshah Road Delhi, whom she
0590F43 visited regularly. ^It was rumoured she had had an illegitimate child.
0600F43 ^*Upadhyaya declared he certainly did not regard her as "holy" and nor did
0610F43 anyone else who knew her. $^Since Mathai has commented on Upadhyaya,
0620F43 let us have Upadhyaya*'s comments on Mathai. ^He vividly recalls
0630F43 Mathai*'s arrival in Allahabad "in a *4tonga loaded with junk" which
0640F43 included for some reason a crate of empty Coca Cola bottles-- perhaps
0650F43 a legacy of the American Red Cross he had been employed by. ^He
0660F43 was accommodated in a room in a little outhouse of Anand Bhawan which
0670F43 my great-aunt had, in her life time, used as a *4puja-ghar. ^The
0680F43 outhouse was where she herself had lived the Spartan ascetic life
0690F43 of her choice during the long windowhood. ^From that_ modest habitation
0700F43 to the suite and impressive study at Teen Murti House a few years
0710F43 later-- where he sat for a portrait by Elizabeth Brunner and looked
0720F43 down on Ministers ambassadors and the like-- was a very short road.
0730F43 ^*Upadhyaya says that Mathai was formidably efficient. ^His typing and
0740F43 shorthand were of a high order. ^He had also been trained in book-keeping
0750F43 and accounting. ^He was an enormous asset to Nehru, released from
0760F43 jail and faced with a mountain of personal and political correspondence.
0770F43 ^*Upadhyaya, regarded as a member of the Nehru family and long devoted
0780F43 to it could not compete with this competence. ^Within a year Mathai
0790F43 saw to it that all papers and correspondences passed through him.
0800F43 ^All "outside" business, for example, the morning "*4darshan" on the
0810F43 lawn once Nehru moved to Teen Murti House, were passed on to Upadhyaya.
0820F43 ^*Mathai also wanted Upadhyaya to_ be sent back to Anand
0830F43 Bhawan to_ look after the house. ^This was tried but Upadhyaya returned
0840F43 to_ tell Nehru, "I have served you and your father before you.
0850F43 ^*Anand Bhawan has always been my home. ^But if you don*'4t need my
0860F43 services any more I would rather go and live in Almora." ^*Nehru
0870F43 kept him in Delhi and later he entered Parliament, not at the suggestion
0880F43 of Mathai but that_ of two \0MPs, Captain, Avdesh Pratap
0890F43 Narain Singh and Shambhu Nath Shukla. $^*Mathai*'s efficiency rapidly
0900F43 enabled him to_ set up an absolute command. ^*Vice-President Radhakrishnan
0910F43 could be kept waiting on the telephone, or not be put through
0920F43 to Nehru at all, unless Mathai sanctioned it. ^On one such occasion
0930F43 Upadhyaya intervened to_ inform Nehru that the \0VP had been trying
0940F43 to_ get through to him and Nehru, angry at the discourtesy shown
0950F43 to Radhakrishnan had reprimanded Mathai. $^Now let us apply Mathai*'s
0960F43 methodology to Mathai, using a series of statements to_ 'arrive
0970F43 at a conclusion'. ^*Mathai liked his booze and indulged in it. ^In retirement
0980F43 this was carried to an extent that was detrimental to his health.
0990F43 ^He was taken to the Willingdon Hospital several times. ^*I
1000F43 suppose this could mean he was hospitalised for alcoholism. ^More methodology.
1010F43 "^A certain relation of Shamsher Singh*'s" (Mathai was living
1020F43 with Shamsher Singh at the time) has declared that Mathai was a victim
1030F43 of delirium tremens, the result of alcoholic excess. "^A certain
1040F43 relation of Shamsher Singh*'s" has also declared that Mathai was
1050F43 caught forging a cheque in Shamsher Singh*'s name. ^The old man, this
1060F43 relation said, was not aware of half that_ went on in the house with
1070F43 Mathai in sole charge. ^Personally I do not believe that statements
1080F43 such as these constitute the stuff of evidence, nor should cases
1090F43 or books be built on them, but apparently Mathai does, for this is
1100F43 the system he uses in his book. ^Used on him it certainly shows him up
1110F43 in a far less rosy light than he would like to_ be seen. $^*Mathai
1120F43 has used the same technique on Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit by a display
1130F43 of photostat receipts without any connected story as to their origin,
1140F43 significance or final disposal, yet leaving the unmistakable impression
1150F43 with the reader that these are monies illegitimately collected.
1160F43 ^He also makes a surprising misjudgement about a woman whom he had many
1170F43 opportunities to_ observe. ^Revenge is no part of her nature. ^Her
1180F43 friends and enemies all know she suffers, if anything from an excess
1190F43 of generosity in things material and spiritual. ^Her loyalty to her family
1200F43 is old-fashioned and carried to the last ditch. ^The idea of revenge
1210F43 toward any member of it is wholly ridiculous. $^In the first week
1220F43 of November, 1977, Mathai called on my mother, Vijaya Lakshmi
1230F43 Pandit, in New Delhi to_ say goodbye. ^He was leaving that_ day, he
1240F43 said, for Madras to_ settle down. ^He had continued to_ live in
1250F43 Delhi after his exit from Prime Minister Nehru*'s staff in a house
1260F43 on the President*'s Estate given by the Government to Rajkumari
1270F43 Amrit Kaur and her brother, Shamsher Singh, for their lifetime,
1280F43 in exchange for their property in the Punjab. ^*Mathai had made this
1290F43 arrangement with his benefactress, the Rajkumari. ^It was not altogether
1300F43 to her brother*'s liking, but it continued till Shamsher Singh*'s
1310F43 death in his 90*'3s a few years ago. ^The house and garden were ample,
1320F43 gracious and well-staffed. ^If Mathai contributed anything besides
1330F43 his presence to the establishment, any contribution he made must have
1340F43 been illusory in proportion to the style and standard of living he
1350F43 enjoyed. ^After Shamsher Singh*'s death he moved to the Northern
1360F43 Extension area and a much reduced standard of living. ^He stayed on
1370F43 in Delhi presumably to_ get his book ready for his publisher. ^This
1380F43 done he left for Madras, a perfectly timed departure that_ spared
1390F43 him the necessity of explanations when his book was released in Delhi
1400F43 immediately afterward. $^Not that the book was a secret. ^He had sent
1410F43 selected chapters (not including the one about her) to my mother.
1420F43 ^*I had read these and thought they were in poor taste. ^His references
1430F43 to Kamraj*'s mother as an "inkpot", to "Lal Bahadur*'s puny figure"
1440F43 and so on seemed ill-humoured and petty. ^*I found his remarks
1450F43 about Padmaja Naidu particularly odious for she had shown him-- something
1460F43 of a waif and stray when he first arrived in Delhi-- much kindness
1470F43 and consideration. ^Apart from this she was a woman of considerable
1480F43 human quality and a delightful companion whom Mathai*'s account shrivels
1490F43 and distorts into a person who had "tantrums". ^All his character
1500F43 sketches are caricatures, without the saving grace of caricature which
1510F43 is to_ make people laugh or think, or both. $^*Mathai*'s caricatures
1520F43 turn the spotlight on Mathai, and I wondered at the bitterness contained
1530F43 in these pages. ^*I concluded that he was in financial straits
1540F43 and needed money and that this sort of book would provide him with it.
1550F43 ^What occurred to me when I read his extracts and later the book
1560F43 itself, was this: ^Who is *(0M. O.*) Mathai and what are his qualifications
1570F43 and credentials to_ pass flippant judgement on these and other
1580F43 characters? ^Anyone can, of course, pass judgement on whomsoever he
1590F43 wishes. ^But it is interesting to_ know who is doing so. ^If a five-year-old
1600F43 tells me he prefers a blotch of paint to a Rembrandt, I am not
1610F43 likely to_ take his word for it that the blotch is greater art. ^And
1620F43 if the monkey at the zoo would rather eat a peanut than a "*5shahi
1630F43 tukra*6", he is welcome to it, but that_ does not make him a gourmet. $^So
1640F43 I hoped Mathai*'s book would say something about Mathai, a promise
1650F43 grandly held out in his Preface. ^Had the Preface ended with the
1660F43 first sentence-- "this book is... chatty stuff containing my reminiscences"--
1670F43 no further comment was needed on anything he had to_ say. ^But
1680F43 he goes on to_ add that this "chatty stuff" is "guided by the philosophy
1690F43 contained in the Introduction to Volume *=5 (1902) of the monumental
1700F43 13-volume work *3Napoleon et sa Famille*0, by Frederic Masson."
1710F43 ^He continues that he has been further guided by "the exceptionally
1720F43 frank 3-volume atuobiography of Bertrand Russell". ^These two venerable
1730F43 guides, along with thick helpings of diverse quotations through
1740F43 the book are there, I suppose, to_ let us know-- for we are quite
1750F43 likely to_ miss the point otherwise-- that *(0M. O.*) Mathai is literate.*#
        **[no. of words = 02031**]

        **[txt. f44**]
0010F44 **<*3GETTING MARRIED THE *4MAITHIL WAY*0**> $*3^THE*0 *4Maithils are
0020F44 a small, distinct community, inhabiting that_ part of North Bihar
0030F44 called Mithila, the land of Sita. ^Although the district of Darbhanga
0040F44 is their citadel, they have spread into the neighbouring districts
0050F44 of Purnea, Suharsa and Bhagalpur, parts of Muzaffarpur and Champaran
0060F44 and the *4terai regions of Southern Nepal as well. ^Mostly impoverished
0070F44 *4Brahmins, they have, however, a rich cultural heritage which
0080F44 is manifest in all social events, particularly the wedding. ^A
0090F44 *4Maithil wedding typifies the culture, folklore and religion of Mithila.
0100F44 $^Like weddings all over, the *4Maithil wedding begins with
0110F44 the betrothal. ^In their zeal to_ improve the *4Maithil stock, they
0120F44 proscribe '*4intra-gotra' marriages and marriages between people
0130F44 within seven generations on the father*'s side and five on the mother*'s.
0140F44 ^Being so small and closely-knit a community presents genuine
0150F44 difficulties in finding a suitable partner. ^There are professional
0160F44 men, '*4panjiars', who maintain genealogical records of established
0170F44 families. ^For a small fee, the *4panjiar furnishes a list of eligible
0180F44 bachelors beyond the prohibited degree-- the '*5adhikar mala*6'--
0190F44 to anxious fathers of daughters. $^The betrothal ceremony is really
0200F44 the *4panjiar*'s show. ^The couple is represented by male relatives
0210F44 who gather opposite one another in a mango grove or educational institution
0220F44 in the presence of the *4panjiar. ^In the manner of that_ African
0230F44 'griot' in *3Roots*0, the *4panjiar reels off the name of the couple*'s
0240F44 forebears. ^He certifies to the match on a dried palmyra leaf
0250F44 in red *4Maithili script. ^The leaf is given to the boy*'s representatives
0260F44 who hand it to the girl*'s party, confirming the acceptance
0270F44 of the proposal. ^The '*4siddhanta' is celebrated with an exchange
0280F44 of '*4thalis' of '*4paan', reflecting *4Mithila*'s abounding poverty.
0290F44 $^The '*4Tamrapatra' is venerated for the sealed pact that_ it is,
0300F44 and is seldom revoked. ^On being brought to the fiancee*'s house it
0310F44 is placed before the family shrine, while women collect to_ sing praises
0320F44 to Bhagawati. ^These hymns are followed by songs called '*4kumar'
0330F44 which emphasise the bride*'s chastity. $'*4^Ubtan', a turmeric-sandal
0340F44 paste, is applied on the bride*'s face and limbs; her hair is oiled
0350F44 and let loose, while evil glances are driven away with the '*4kajal'
0360F44 lining her eyes. ^She is dressed in yellow and stripped of every
0370F44 ornament. ^On her wedding eve, five married women give her a ceremonial
0380F44 bath or '*4kumram' beside a pond, pouring water over her head.
0390F44 ^Thus purified, she sits with an older married sister who roasts
0400F44 the '*4lava' for the *4vedic ceremony. $^*Maithil women love music and
0410F44 art and a wedding gives them ample opportunities for both. ^Beginning
0420F44 with invocations to Bhagawati, they end up with ribald songs aimed
0430F44 at one another. ^Wherever a ritual takes place, the women decorate
0440F44 the floor with '*4aripana'. $"*5^Matrika puja*6" or oblations to ancestors
0450F44 is a necessary prelude to every *4Vedic ceremony in Mithila.
0460F44 ^When the wedding day dawns, the bride sits with the person giving
0470F44 her away, to_ remember the ancestors. ^Thereafter both she and her
0480F44 bridegroom begin a '*5brahmacharya vrat*6', to_ be given up only after
0490F44 the '*4chaturthi', the fourth day of marriage. ^The couple subsists,
0500F44 among other things, on an ascetic diet of fruits, sweets and milk,
0510F44 without salt and cereals. $*3^THE*0 bridegroom is traditionally
0520F44 dressed in a yellow *4dhoti, *4kurta, a '*4dopta' draped over his
0530F44 shoulders and a peaked cap peculiar to Maithils called the '*4paag'.
0540F44 ^He sits on an '*5aripaned pirhi*6' before a large bamboo tray or
0550F44 '*4dala' on the *4aripaned floor. ^His elders shower their blessings
0560F44 in a sprinkle of fine rice and '*4doob', after which the women, led
0570F44 by his mother, lift the large *4dala containing all the symbols of
0580F44 fruition and good luck such as unhusked rice, well-set curd, bananas,
0590F44 coconuts, *4paan leaf and *4supari. ^They tip the *4dala onto his
0600F44 head and the mother lines his eyes with *4kajal to_ drive away the evil
0610F44 eye and smears sandal-paste on his forehead. ^Then rather poignantly
0620F44 she takes him under her '*4anchal' against her breast for the last
0630F44 time, surrendering her sole prerogative over him. $^He leaves, accompanied
0640F44 by male relatives, preceded only by the '*4saankhar' carried by
0650F44 four men. ^The *4saankhar is a large bamboo basket symbolic of the
0660F44 co-operation between the parties. ^It contains all that*'1s needed
0670F44 for the *4vedic ceremony, including the bride*'s nuptial clothes (a
0680F44 '*4lahenga' set) and a *4saree along with which the bridegroom will
0690F44 give her the first veil. ^Besides, there are spices, nuts and a large
0700F44 mound of powdered sugar in a '*4thali' sent as contribution to the
0710F44 wedding feast. $^The '*4baraat' is welcomed with utmost respect and humility
0720F44 with the eldest surviving male in the bride*'s family going forward
0730F44 to_ wash their feet. ^While they are served light refreshments,
0740F44 the bride performs a fertility rite, marrying a mangotree to a *4mahua
0750F44 by winding a yellow thread around them. ^She returns to_ sit on an
0760F44 oar to_ have a lock of her hair bathed with milk by a washer woman
0770F44 and to_ obtain her blessing. ^The legend of the washer woman wrecking
0780F44 Sita*'s conjugal life is still rife in the hearts of all Maithils.
0790F44 ^Only after the '*5dhoban*'s suhag*6' does the bride wear her red
0800F44 bridal attire. *4^Lac bangles adorn her wrists and a *4lac locker called
0810F44 the '*4gua-mala' is tied around her neck. ^Her hair is loosely
0820F44 plaited with red tassel and she wears all the gold and silver jewellery
0830F44 that_ her parents give her. ^She sits on a mat in the '*4kobar-khar'
0840F44 (nuptial room) facing north, performing the '*4gauri-puja', in
0850F44 the tradition of Sita. ^The '*4gauri' is a tiny *4supari placed in
0860F44 an earthen lid on a clay elephant*'s back. ^The floor is decorated
0870F44 with '*4aripan'. ^Colourful earthen pots one holding a lighted lamp,
0880F44 the other a twig of mango leaves, flank the elephant. ^Before the
0890F44 bride*'s eyes is a *4kobar, drawn on the wall, now popularly known as a
0900F44 *4Madhubani painting. ^It depicts the sun, the moon and '*4navagraha',
0910F44 symbolising the stars that_ govern one*'s life; the fertility symbols
0920F44 (a fish, a turtle, a flowering bamboo, rivers), a mat to_ denote
0930F44 the bridal bed and, of course, a couple. ^The four corners picture
0940F44 shrews who will cast their spell on the new bridegroom, making him
0950F44 appropriately henpecked. $^The bridegroom is led to the courtyard where
0960F44 the women welcome him with '*5parichhani dala*6'. ^It contains
0970F44 among other things, a lighted lamp. ^The bride*'s maternal grandmother
0980F44 performs the '*4arti', lining his eyes once again with *4kajal and
0990F44 applying sandal-paste to his forehead. ^Some voodoo is done to_ drive
1000F44 away spirits by throwing things over his head. ^Reminiscent of the
1010F44 days when the bridegroom was first seen at the wedding, she ensures
1020F44 that he is not deaf or dumb by asking him to_ name common objects on
1030F44 her *4dala and measures him with a string. ^Then literally leading
1040F44 him by the nose with the aid of a betel leaf, she brings him to the
1050F44 '*4mandap'. ^Here he must display his prowess in pounding a pestle,
1060F44 albeit with eight other men. ^Only then is he entitled to_ fetch his
1070F44 bride from her *4gauri-puja. $*4^TANTRIC occultism and superstitions
1080F44 govern the minds of Maithils so completely that no stone
1090F44 is left unturned in taming the new bridegroom. ^A married woman takes
1100F44 him around the four corners before the shrews, chanting "*4nainajogin"
1110F44 chants, in the belief that he will remain submissive to his wife.
1120F44 ^So he comes to_ pick up his bride, beside whom a younger brother
1130F44 also sits, both covered by a sheet. ^A clever man will know that his
1140F44 bride must be on the left as ordained in the mythologies. ^Taking
1150F44 her by her little finger he brings her to the *4mandap. ^She sits at
1160F44 first beside the person who will give her away. ^Everyting that_ she
1170F44 receives as part of her '*4stridhana' (dowry) is gifted along with
1180F44 her and once she receives the '*4gotra' of her husband she goes to_
1190F44 sit beside him. ^He leads her out into the open for the actual *4vedic
1200F44 rites, to the '*4vedi'. ^A bamboo split into four and dug into the
1210F44 ground marks the four corners of the *4vedi. ^The rest of the bamboo
1220F44 sticks up in the air. ^In the *4vedi, the bridegroom lights the
1230F44 '*4havan' and in the presence of the elements and before the great testifier
1240F44 fire, and a terrestrial witness the '*4brahma', he takes his
1250F44 marital vows. ^The '*4sindoordaan' is performed after the '*4saptapadi'
1260F44 or walking around the fire seven times, sprinkling *4lava each time.
1270F44 ^Standing behind the bride, the bridegroom applies *4sindoor. ^This
1280F44 earns him the responsibility of protecting her modesty and so he
1290F44 covers her head for the first time with a *4saree brought for the purpose.
1300F44 $^The *4baraat is now invited to_ see the bride. ^Members of the
1310F44 *4baraat bless the new couple showering rice and '*4doob' on them.
1320F44 ^The bride*'s veil is lifted and the *4baraat has its first glimpse
1330F44 of her. ^Token gifts are given. ^In the best traditions of Mithila,
1340F44 it never exceeded \0*4Rs. 2 to_ avoid embarrassment to poorer relations.
1350F44 ^But now each gives according to his own ability and such considerations
1360F44 are dying fast. ^The *4baraat is then taken into dinner.
1370F44 ^They cannot accept true hospitality as yet until the consummation of
1380F44 the wedding on the *4chaturthi. ^That_ is why they are served no rice,
1390F44 only '*4puries' and vegetables, but without salt. ^Many pickles
1400F44 are served to_ make up for this, topped with curds, innumerable sweets
1410F44 and, at the end, with a delicious '*4sakrauri' best described as a
1420F44 '*4boodi-kheer'. $^The women entertain them with at least three bawdy
1430F44 songs. ^To everybody*'s relief the *4baraat leaves soon after dinner
1440F44 with only a few returning for the *4chaturthi feast. $^The bridegroom,
1450F44 however, continues to_ stay in the bride*'s home. ^They are brought
1460F44 to the *4kobar but are expected to_ maintain their *5brahmacharya
1470F44 vrat*6 refraining even from speaking to each other. ^In the days of
1480F44 child-brides a matron kept guard on the couple. ^But nowadays it is
1490F44 presumed that the *4vrat is observed.
1500F44 $**<*3In God*'s Image**> $^Some miles from Bombay, at Pen village
1510F44 near Panvel, activity among the villagers becomes feverish. ^Most
1520F44 of them specialise in creating clay idols the year round. ^But August-September
1530F44 is the time for making idols of Lord Ganesh. ^Trucks
1540F44 roar out to far-flung corners of the country from this little
1550F44 village, carrying idols of all sizes. ^The idols are priced from \0*4Rs.
1560F44 20 or less to ten times the amount or more. ^Thus, even a poor
1570F44 villager or urban dweller can afford to_ buy them. $^In Pen, the
1580F44 making of idols of the elephant-headed god is the main industry. ^The
1590F44 craftsmen of Pen have been making these idols for several decades
1600F44 now. ^The art is handed down from father to son and several generations
1610F44 have dedicated themselves to this task. ^Very few other centres
1620F44 have been able to_ match the artistry of the craftsmen in Pen. ^For
1630F44 them, making a Ganesh idol is not merely a commercial proposition,
1640F44 but an act of piety. ^The sand that_ is available in and around
1650F44 Pen is ideal for the purpose. $^However, like communities of craftsmen
1660F44 everywhere, this community is also facing the winds of change. ^The
1670F44 cost of raw materials has steadily gone up. ^Many of the second
1680F44 generation craftsmen are more interested in taking up jobs in Bombay
1690F44 as clerks than pursuing the family trade. ^Fewer and fewer families
1700F44 are involved in the business every successive year. ^If nothing is
1710F44 done about the situation, soon will come a day when this exquisite
1720F44 art will die out. ^Let us seek the benedictions of the elephant-headed
1730F44 god to_ avert such a calamity. $^The birth of Ganesh, the elephant-headed
1740F44 god who is also known as Ganapathi, is celebrated all over
1750F44 the nation on the fourth day of the Hindu month of *4Bhadrapad (August-September).
1760F44 ^This year, Ganesh *4Chaturthi falls on September
1770F44 6. $^The festival is of particular importance in Maharashtra.
1780F44 ^Community celebrations of Ganesh *4Chaturthi began in pre-Independence
1790F44 days. ^*Bal Gangadhar Tilak, the freedom fighter from Maharashtra,
1800F44 saw an opportunity to_ spread the message of freedom among
1810F44 the people by means of the festival since the British would not dare
1820F44 break up a religious gathering.*#
        **[no. of words = 02018**]


        **[txt. g01**]
0010G01 **<*3THE WHITE LOTUS AT THE FEET OF THE MOTHER*0**>
0020G01 $^The first of these dreams was a revolutionary movement which would
0030G01 create a free and united India. ^*India today is free but she has
0040G01 not achieved unity. ^At one moment it almost seemed as if in the
0050G01 very act of liberation she would fall back into the chaos of separate
0060G01 States which preceded the British conquest. ^But fortunately it now
0070G01 seems probable that this danger will be averted and a large and powerful,
0080G01 though not yet a complete union will be established. ^Also, the
0090G01 wisely drastic policy of the Constituent Assembly has made it probable
0100G01 that the problem of the depressed classes will be solved without
0110G01 schism or fissure. ^But the old communal division into Hindus and
0120G01 Muslims seems now to_ have hardened into a permanent political
0130G01 division of the country. ^It is to_ be hoped that this settled fact
0140G01 will not be accepted as settled for ever or as anything more than a
0150G01 temporary expedient. ^For if it lasts, India may be seriously weakened,
0160G01 even crippled: civil strife may remain always possible, possible
0170G01 even a new invasion and foreign conquest. **[sic**] ^*India*'s internal
0180G01 development and prosperity may be impeded, her position among the
0190G01 nations weakened, her destiny impaired or even frustrated. ^This
0200G01 must not be; the partition must go. ^Let us hope that that_ may
0210G01 come about naturally, by an increasing recognition of the necessity
0220G01 not only of peace and concord but of common action,
0230G01 by the practice of common action
0240G01 and the creation of means for that_ purpose. ^In this way unity
0250G01 may finally come about under whatever form-- the exact form may have a
0260G01 pragmatic but not a fundamental importance. ^But by whatever means,
0270G01 in whatever way, the division must go; unity must and will be achieved,
0280G01 for it is necessary for the greatness of India*'s future.
0290G01 $^Another dream was for the resurgence and liberation of the peoples
0300G01 of Asia and her return to her great role in the progress of human civilisation.
0310G01 ^*Asia has arisen; large parts are now quite free or are at
0320G01 this moment being liberated: its other still subject or partly subject
0330G01 parts are moving through whatever struggles towards freedom. ^Only
0340G01 a little has to_ be done and that_ will be done today or tomorrow.
0350G01 ^There India has her part to_ play and has begun to_ play it with
0360G01 an energy and ability which already indicate the measure of her possibilities
0370G01 and the place she can take in the council of the nations.
0380G01 $^The third dream was a world-union forming the outer basis of a fairer,
0390G01 brighter and nobler life for all mankind. ^That_ unification of the human
0400G01 world is under way; there is an imperfect initiation organised but
0410G01 struggling against tremendous difficulties. ^But the momentum is
0420G01 there and it must inevitably increase and conquer. ^Here
0430G01 too India has begun to_ play a prominent part and, if she can develop
0440G01 that_ larger statesmanship which is not limited by the present facts
0450G01 and immediate possibilities but looks into the future and brings it nearer,
0460G01 her presence may make all the difference between a slow and timid
0470G01 and a bold and swift development. ^A catastrophe may intervene and
0480G01 interrupt or destroy what is being done, but even then the final
0490G01 resutl is sure. ^For unification is a necessity of Nature, an
0500G01 inevitable movement. ^Its necessity for the nations is also clear,
0510G01 for without it the freedom of the small nations may be at any moment
0520G01 in peril and the life even of the large and powerful nations insecure.
0521G01 ^The unification is therefore to the interests
0530G01 of all, and only human imbecility and stupid selfishness can
0540G01 prevent it; but these cannot stand for ever against the necessity of
0550G01 Nature and the Divine Will. ^But an outward basis is not enough;
0560G01 there must grow up an international spirit and outlook, international
0570G01 forms and institutions must appear, perhaps such developments as
0580G01 dual or multilateral citizenship, willed interchange or voluntary fusion
0590G01 of cultures. ^Nationalism will have fulfilled itself and lost its
0600G01 militancy and would no longer find these things incompatible with self-preservation
0610G01 and the integrality of its outlook. ^A new spirit of oneness
0620G01 will take hold of the human race. $^Another dream, the spiritual
0630G01 gift of India to the world has already begun. ^*India*'s
0640G01 spirituality is entering Europe and America in an ever increasing
0650G01 measure. ^That_ movement will grow; amid the disasters of the time
0660G01 more and more eyes are turning towards her with hope and there is even
0670G01 an increasing resort not only to her teachings, but to her psychic and
0680G01 spiritual practice. $^The final dream was a step in evolution
0690G01 which would raise man to a higher and larger consciousness and begin
0700G01 the solution of the problems which have perplexed and vexed him since
0710G01 he first began to_ think and to_ dream of individual perfection and
0720G01 a perfect society. ^This is still a personal hope and an idea, an ideal
0730G01 which has begun to_ take hold both in India and in the West on
0740G01 forward-looking minds. ^The difficulties in the way are more formidable
0750G01 than in any other field of endeavour, but difficulties were made to_
0760G01 be overcome and if the Supreme Will is there, they will be overcome.
0770G01 ^Here too, if this evolution is to_ take place, since it must
0780G01 proceed through a growth of the spirit and the inner consciousness, the
0790G01 initiative can come from India and, although the scope must be universal,
0800G01 the central movement may be hers. $^Such is the content which
0810G01 I put into this date of India*'s liberation; whether or how
0820G01 far this hope will be justified depends upon the new and free India.
0825G01 **[foot note**] $^And Mother invoked India with these words:
0830G01 $^*O our Mother, O Soul of India, Mother who hast never forsaken
0840G01 thy children even in the days
0850G01 of darkest depression, even when they turned away from thy
0860G01 voice, served other masters and denied thee, now when they have arisen
0870G01 and the light is on thy face in this dawn of thy liberation, in
0880G01 this great hour we salute thee. ~guide us so that the horizon of freedom
0890G01 opening before us may be also a horizon of true greatness and of
0900G01 thy true life in the community of the nations. ^Guide us so that we
0910G01 may be always on the side of great ideals and show to men thy true
0920G01 visage, as a leader in the ways of the spirit and a friend and helper
0930G01 of all the peoples. **[foot note**] $^To_ remind one and all
0940G01 that India is one and "the partition must and will go", a map of undivided
0950G01 India was engraved on a wall of the *4Ashram Playground.
0960G01 ^*Mother used to_ stand in front of it at the time of meditation and the
0970G01 march past. $^Not to_ speak of other lands, even in India there
0980G01 are people who cannot believe that in the modern world spirituality
0990G01 can have a chance anywhere. ^But India has been the cradle
1000G01 of humanity at its highest. ^*She has a special responsibility
1010G01 for the future. ^*Mother says: $^*India is the country
1020G01 in which the psychic law can and must reign and the time has come for that_
1030G01 here. ^Besides, this is the only salvation possible for the
1040G01 country whose consciousness has unfortunately been falsified by the
1050G01 influence and domination of a foreign country, but which in spite of
1060G01 everything
1070G01 is in possession of a unique spiritual heritage. **[foot note**]
1080G01 $^When the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi visited the *4Ashram
1090G01 in 1969, Mother gave her the following message: $^Let India
1100G01 work for the future and take the lead. ^Thus she will recover her
1110G01 true place in the world. $^Since long it was the habit to_ govern
1120G01 through division and opposition. ^The time has come to_ govern
1130G01 through union, mutual understanding and collaboration.
1140G01 $^To_ choose a collaborator, the value of the man is more important
1150G01 than the party to which he belongs. $^The greatness of a country
1160G01 does not depend on the victory of a party but on the union of all the parties.
1170G01 **[foot note**] $^*India has a special role in the evolution
1180G01 of the world. $^Mother says: $^In the whole creation the
1190G01 earth has a place of distinction, because unlike any other planet it
1200G01 is evolutionary with a psychic entity at its centre. ^In it, India,
1210G01 in particular, is a divinely chosen country. **[foot note**]
1220G01 $^Speaking on liberty she does not stop with the political sense of the
1230G01 word, but takes it to its ultimate significance: $^True liberty
1240G01 is an ascending movement, not yielding to the lower instincts.
1241G01 ^True liberty is a Divine manifestation. $^We want the true liberty
1242G01 for India so that_ she may be the right example for the world as
1250G01 the demonstration of what humanity must become. $^In spite of all
1260G01 the differences, quarrels and division India is one. ^*Mother says:
1270G01 $^It is only India*'s soul who can unify the country. $^Externally
1280G01 the provinces of India are very different in character, tendencies,
1290G01 culture, as well as in language, and any attempt to_
1300G01 unify them artificially could only have disastrous results. $^But
1310G01 her soul is one, intense in her aspiration towards the spiritual
1320G01 truth, the essential unity of the creation and the divine
1330G01 origin of life, and by uniting with this aspiration the whole country
1340G01 can recover a unity that_ has never ceased to_ exist for the
1350G01 superior mentality. **[foot note**] $^Mother envisaged the future
1360G01 of India not politically but spiritually. ^Her occult vision
1370G01 must have given her a true picture of India*'s future: $^The
1380G01 future of India is very clear. ^*India is the *4Guru of the
1390G01 world. ^The future structure of the world depends on India. ^*India
1400G01 is the living soul. ^*India is incarnating the spiritual knowledge
1410G01 in the world. ^The Governement of India ought to_
1420G01 recognise the significance of India in this sphere and plan their
1430G01 action accordingly. **[foot note**] $^*All India
1440G01 Radio wanted a message to_ be broadcast from Pondicherry station
1450G01 on its opening day. ^*Mother*'s message was: $^*O India,
1460G01 land of light and spiritual knowledge! ^Wake up to your true mission
1470G01 in the world, show the way to union and harmony. **[foot
1480G01 note**] $^A patriotic Indian asked her about the attitude he
1490G01 should develop towards his country, and Mother said: $^Overgrow
1500G01 your small egoistic personality, and become a worthy child
1510G01 of our Mother India, fulfil your duties with honesty and
1520G01 rectitutde, and always keep cheerful and confident, with a steady
1530G01 trust in the Divine*'s Grace. **[foot note**] $^Giving
1540G01 her views on Education and Integral Eucation in particular,
1550G01 she writes: $^India has or rather had the knowledge of the
1560G01 Spirit, but she neglected matter and suffered for it. $^The West
1570G01 has the knowledge of matter but rejected the Spirit and sufferes
1580G01 badly for it. ^An integral education which could, with some
1590G01 variations, be adapted to all the nations of the world, must bring
1600G01 back the legitimate authority of the Spirit over a matter
1610G01 fully developed and utilised. **[foot note**] $^In 1964 the
1620G01 *3Illustrated Weekly*0 sent a questionnaire to Mother. ^Here are
1630G01 the questions with Mother*'s replies: $(1) ^If you were
1640G01 asked to_ sum up, just in one sentence, your vision of India, what
1650G01 would be your answer? $^*India*'s true destiny is to_ be the
1651G01 *4Guru of the World. $(2) ^Similarly, if you were asked to_ comment
1652G01 on the reality as you see it, how would you do so in one sentence?
1653G01 $^The present reality is a big falsehood--
1660G01 hiding an eternal truth. $(3) ^What, according to you, are
1670G01 the three main barriers that_ stand between the vision and the
1680G01 reality? $(a) ^Ignorance; (b) fear; (c) falsehood. $(4) ^Are
1690G01 you satisfied with the over-all progress India has made since
1700G01 Independence? $^No. $(5) ^What is our most outstanding
1710G01 achievement in recent times? ^Why do you consider it so
1720G01 important? $^Waking up of the yearning for Truth. ^Becuase
1730G01 without Truth there is no reality. $(6) ^Likewise,
1740G01 can you name our saddest failure? ^On what grounds do you
1750G01 regard it so tragic? $^Insincerity. ^Because insincerity
1760G01 leads to_ ruin. **[foot note**] $^Thus we see that India*'s
1770G01 chief mission is to_ bring down the Truth even in our most
1780G01 exterior life and so-called insignificant parts of life.*#
        **[no. of words = 02002**]

        **[txt. g02**]
0010G02 **<*3*(oK. L.*) Saigal: The pilgrim of *4Swara*0**>
0020G02 $*<*3*4Gandhara*0*> $*3^IN DESCRIBING SAIGAL*0 as a singer we tend
0030G02 to_ become lyrical about his voice. ^When he was described as
0040G02 "golden voiced" it was a manner of expressing a difficult and ineffable
0050G02 experience. ^But yet people who have heard him many times and personally,
0060G02 and whose experience of him was not exclusively through the
0070G02 films, and records do not give his voice the emphasis we would expect.
0080G02 $^For instance, in Kanan Devi*'s moving autobiography *3Shobarey
0090G02 Ami NomeyO she says that Saigal*'s voice was not what is
0100G02 generally meant to_ be understood by the good voice. ^*Pankaj
0110G02 Mullick, the doyen among Bengali musicians, and whose association
0120G02 with Saigal was both long and close, describes in a
0130G02 recent interview that Saigals*'s voice was a tenor with a true
0140G02 pitch and a three octave span. ^Again, he does not expatiate
0150G02 on the subject of the beauty of his voice. ^A true pitch
0160G02 and a three octave span are not exactly rarities in Indian music
0170G02 although Saigal*'s voice is contended to_ be one, if that_ in
0180G02 a million. ^There are others who also think of his voice in other
0190G02 terms. $^Take Imtiaz Ahmed, for instance. ^He used to_
0200G02 live in Moradabad when Saigal left home to_ seek his fortune and
0210G02 arrived in Moradabad, a mere lad in his late teens. ~Imtiaz
0220G02 Ahmed recalls his memory of their first meeting. ^He is
0230G02 now in his late 70s and lives with his son who is a motor mechanic
0240G02 in the Jama Masjid area of Delhi. $^But at that_
0250G02 time Imtiaz used to_ be a *4sarangi player. ^Nothing special.
0260G02 ^Except for an occasional solo he was mostly accompanying
0270G02 various local celebrities during miscellaneous musical events in the
0280G02 town, had some tuitions, was also a *4Hakim on the side and sold *4Unani
0290G02 medicines in the *4Katra. $^He recalls accompanying Abdul
0300G02 Karim Khan on one occasion. ^This was an accident and a good
0310G02 fortune. ^The Khan *4Saheb*'s own *4sarangi player had missed
0320G02 his train connection and the performance had been scheduled for the same
0330G02 night. ^The local college, perhaps it was the school, Imtiaz
0340G02 does not clearly remember, under whose auspices the Khan *4Saheb
0350G02 was singing, needed a willing and quick substitute. $^*Imtiaz
0360G02 remembers the occasion well not only because he was playing for
0370G02 the first time for a celebrity of the Khan *4Saheb*'s dimensions
0380G02 but the Station Master of Moradabad who was an Englishman and
0390G02 his wife had attended the occasion. ^It was much later that
0400G02 he has found that the Station Master*'s wife had taught the young
0410G02 Saigal to_ read, write, and speak English. $^It was
0420G02 a memorable occasion for the *4sarangi player for what was he but a small
0430G02 man dodging along from hand to mouth, and this was Abdul
0440G02 Karim Khan at the apex of his fame still as slim and delicately
0450G02 fashioned as a boy, luxuriously turbaned and faintly smelling
0460G02 of the *4attar of roses and with those intense soulful eyes which
0470G02 he was never to_ forget as long as he lived. ^He had watched the
0480G02 Khan *4Saheb through the corner of his eyes
0481G02 throughout the recital while he tried to_ match
0490G02 tone and *4gamak of the Khan *4Saheb*'s grieving *4kalyan. $^Out
0500G02 in front beyond the rim of the makeshift stage sat this lad whom he
0510G02 had several times seen about on the railway platform. ^His main
0520G02 impression at the time was the boy*'s obvious youth and lankiness.
0530G02 ^His legs, he remembers, were not just long but as he sat on
0540G02 the ground with one of them folded under him and the other raising
0550G02 a knee to his chin they seemed like those of a grass-hopper full
0560G02 of joints and difficult to_ put away. $^In those days, just in
0570G02 front of the stage, Imtiaz explained, where the performers sat, the
0580G02 floor was covered with white sheets on which sat the undistinguished
0590G02 admirers of the performer, the passionate music lovers who
0600G02 were also poor, the students from the local shchools and an odd sprinkling
0610G02 of office-bearers of the function. ^Behind them were rows
0620G02 of upholstered chairs and wooden slatted ones, where sat the
0630G02 wealthy, the aristocrats, the civil servants and the railway officials
0640G02 $^*Imtiaz remembered the young man in white *4pyjamas and
0650G02 the simple home-spun *4kurta gazing enraptured, his face set in a look
0660G02 of bemused wonder. ^There was something different about him.
0670G02 ^*Imtiaz found it difficult to_ describe it. ^His physique
0680G02 seemed delicate, his fingers long and his hands exceptionally
0690G02 moulded. ^His hair was still thick and wavy, parted probably
0700G02 in the middle and often a lock got displaced, giving him the look
0710G02 of a poet. ^*Imtiaz did not know that Saigal had turned
0720G02 bald very early in his life and the *3Street-Singer*0 of the
0730G02 thirties was already almost bald. $^It was on an afternoon not
0740G02 long after the Abdul Karim concert that Imtiaz went to the railway
0750G02 station to_ post a letter and found that same boy sitting
0760G02 on a pile of mail bags, lying on the platform. ^The place was
0770G02 deserted, the next train was not due for hours. ^Probably
0780G02 the month was March, still cool in the shade. ^Perhaps
0790G02 the *4patjhad (autumn) had already begun for there were piles of
0800G02 leaves on the platform and leaves everywhere on the ground.
0810G02 $^As he passed the seated boy, he discovered he was singing.
0820G02 ^This attracted his attention and as he walked past him to the pillar
0830G02 box his ears were glued behind him to_ catch every phrase that_
0840G02 came to him. $^He was singing *4jhinjoti, a *4thumri which
0850G02 Abdul Karim was yet to_ make famous a few years later.
0860G02 ^At that_ time the song had not attracted the attention it did
0870G02 in the thirties. ^What struck Imtiaz most was not that the
0880G02 boy should be found to_ be singing the very song for which he
0890G02 had accompanied the Khan *4Saheb on the *4sarangi but the way it
0900G02 seemed the lad was trying to_ reproduce the unforgettable cadences
0910G02 of the song. $^*Imtaz stood behind a steel girder and
0920G02 shamelessly eavesdropped. ^The platform lay hushed in the
0930G02 noon-day silence and every phrase came to him complete without the least
0940G02 blemish. ^The boy seemed unaware of everything around him
0950G02 and seemed to_ be trying out the song for himself. $^*Imtiaz
0960G02 was struck by two things at once. ^The first was the simple
0970G02 authority with which he seemed to_ sing the song, then a certain
0980G02 something which he found difficult to_ define, a quality that_
0990G02 seemed to_ make the song his own, and not something he had heard
1000G02 and was trying to_ sing. ^He does not recall being impressed
1010G02 by the voice at the time except that it seemed a very capable voice
1020G02 with deep reserves. ^Although the notes followed the Abdul
1030G02 Karim Khan version of the *4thumri, the same on the *4gandhar,
1040G02 all the *4meends in their proper places, yet it did not seem as
1050G02 though he had been taught that_ song by someone else. ^It
1060G02 did not seem as though he was trying to_ imitate the Khan *4Saheb.
1070G02 ^The song seemed to_ be pitched somewhat higher than
1080G02 he had expected, for he sang in the style of those who
1090G02 sing in open places using the wind to his advantage and bending his
1100G02 head a little to_ sing into the hollow of the air around him.
1110G02 ^The voice seemed to_ be very knowing and canny. ^*Imtiaz
1111G02 waited till the song seemed to_ be over. ^Apparently the boy did not
1120G02 know the *4Antara or did not care to_ sing it. ^When he
1130G02 realised that he was not alone he trailed off. ^*Imtiaz walked
1140G02 up to him, smiling. ~seeing him approach the lad stood up
1150G02 and stopped short of joining his hands in greeting and did the *4aadaab
1160G02 gesture of the Muslim. ^In a little while they walked
1170G02 together in the cool and dappled sunlight, the future *3devdasO and
1180G02 *3TansenO of the Indian cinema and the humble *4sarangi player
1190G02 of Moradabad. $^*Imtiaz took the boy home to his house in
1200G02 the lane where even now *4jalebis are made in the first light
1210G02 of the morning and cows wander about all day in search of pickings.
1220G02 ^His room was high up on top of a rickety building where
1230G02 you noticed the only article of luxury when you sat on the floor.
1240G02 ^This was a magnificent view of an endless expanse of
1250G02 blue sky. $"^Whom did you learn with?" ~Imtiaz asked.
1260G02 $"^No one," the boy replied. "^*I do not know any music."
1270G02 $"^But you seemed so sure." ^*Imtiaz countered. $"^Just
1280G02 imitating," he replied. $^*Imtiaz says he disbelieved this completely.
1290G02 ^It was not possible to_ imitate and yet give such
1300G02 a sure and distinct flavour, such a personal quality to the line of
1310G02 song he had just heard. ^Those *4meends sounded as though a
1320G02 *4been was playing, strong, vigorous, precise, carrying, without being
1330G02 loud. ^He knew only too well how both in the *4sarangi and the
1340G02 *4been the many years of unbroken concentration and practice that_ were
1350G02 necessary before the *4been or the *4sarangi learned to_ speak
1360G02 for themselves. ^That_ was the reason also why, he said, so few
1370G02 could really play these instruments as they should be played.
1380G02 ^He knew that he himself had not done the work, that_ was
1390G02 necessary so that the instrument may begin to_ live on its own.
1400G02 $^He had begun with *4raga and performance rather too
1410G02 early. ^All he could now do was not to_ go *4besur.
1420G02 ^Not to_ go *4besur, with his instrument after all these years.
1430G02 ^Only the first step in the art of the instrument-- that_ was where
1440G02 he had reached and that_ was where he had remained-- only
1450G02 *4surel. ^And as for the voice it was so much harder. ^It
1460G02 was a living thing-- the voice, changing with every breath you
1470G02 took and with every year you lived. ^So that as you grew
1480G02 older it might be possible in spite of age and weakness to_ be
1490G02 more musical, if less tuneful. $^He himself had aspired to_ sing.
1500G02 ^His father Altaf used to_ play at Rampur and Allahabad
1510G02 and was quite wellknown in Agra. ^Yet he had not dared
1520G02 to_ enter the world of
1521G02 the singer largely because he used to_ hear his father*'s
1530G02 loud lamenting about the years he had wasted. ^And yet there
1540G02 was this young Punjabi with such a sure aim, whose fast
1550G02 passage of notes was not the desperate blur his own was on
1560G02 the *4sarangi, but cadences which even though in double time
1570G02 seemed so incredibly liesurely and almost in slow motion. $^He
1572G02 determined to_ investigate. ^His wife made some tea, and Imtiaztook
1573G02 out his *4sarangi and very carefully tuned it. ^The boy sat
1574G02 on the floor unmoving, looking at him raptly. $^Then Imtiaz
1580G02 asked, "do you know any other song?" $"^Only some *4bhajans
1590G02 and *4ghazals", he replied. $^*Imtiaz doodled on the *4sarangi,
1600G02 played a few phrases of *4bhim, slid into *4tilang and he could
1610G02 see that the lad was dying to_ sing. ^So he said, "Sing something
1620G02 , anything." $^Then he sang almost whispering, it seemed, his lips
1630G02 hardly moving, tailoring the volume of his voice to the small room in
1640G02 which they sat, a Ghalib *4ghazal, that_ seemed to him in *3abhogi
1650G02 kanada: dayam pada hun tere dar par nahi ho.*0 $^He sang simply,
1660G02 each phrase carefully pronounced, the pauses delicately holding up
1670G02 the tension of the note in which he had paused, carefully turning
1680G02 around on the *4pancham, his voice hissing as though red hot from recent
1690G02 practice. ^He seemed unconcerned about the need to_ press his
1700G02 music to its utmost. ^He sang as though the words will look after
1710G02 the music, sometimes almost speaking the lines booming with the
1720G02 resonance of the note in which he had almost, but not quite, spoken
1730G02 the words one after another. $^It was then that Imtaz had an opportunity
1740G02 to_ examine at close quarters, the rapt and distant eyes, lost
1750G02 in the *4swara veiled in song, the raised hand as though in supplication
1760G02 and description. ^The notes holding the words aloft, the words
1770G02 that_ Ghalib*'s sorrow had fashioned in exquisite quatrains and
1780G02 issued from him in portentous statement of self-evident truths.*#
        **[no. of words = 02022**]

        **[text. g03**]
0010G03 **<*3HELEN KELLER*0**> $"*3^*I love to_ tell you about
0020G03 God. ^But He will tell you Himself by the love which He will
0030G03 put into your heart if you ask Him. ^And Jesus, who is His
0040G03 son, but is nearer to Him than all of us His other children,
0050G03 came into the world on purpose to_ tell us all about Father*'s
0060G03 Love. ^*Jesus was the greatest sufferer that_ ever lived and
0070G03 yet He was the best Being, the happiest Being that_ the world
0080G03 has ever seen. ^All the love that_ is in our hearts come
0090G03 from God, as all the light which is in the flowers comes from
0100G03 the sun. ^And the more we love the more near we are to God and His
0110G03 Love. ^*God does not only want us to_ be happy: He
0120G03 wants us to_ be good. ^*He wants that_ most of all. ^We can
0130G03 be really happy only when we are good." $^This is no pulpit
0140G03 lecture or sermon, uttered by any church dignitary. ^It came from the
0150G03 mouth of an ordinary woman in course of her lecture before an assembly
0160G03 of post-graduate students in the University of Tokyo. ^This
0170G03 women is Helen Adams Keller (\0b. 1880; \0d. 1968) whose birth centenary
0180G03 will be held throughout the world two years hence. $^The celebrated
0190G03 American humorist, Mark Twain, once said: "^The two
0200G03 most interesting characters of the nineteenth century are Napoleon
0210G03 and Helen Keller." ^It is true that Helen Keller was
0220G03 handicapped, but the extent to which she overcame it, and even
0230G03 profited by it has distinguished her from other great women of her times.
0240G03 ^Here was a courageous woman who battled against overwhelming
0250G03 disabilities. ^The great struggle which liberated her from the dark
0260G03 and soundless world in which she lived was ultimately won mainly
0270G03 with the help of her teacher Anne Sullivan through whose guidance
0280G03 and companionship Miss Keller emerged from darkness, silence,
0290G03 and isolation into the great world full of light and sound.
0300G03 $^The story of her life is interesting. "^*I was born on June 27,
0310G03 1880, in Tuscumbia, a little town of northern Albama." ~thus
0320G03 writes Helen Keller in her autobiography, *3The Story of My Life,*0
0330G03 in which she has faithfully recorded the account of her life up to 1903.
0340G03 ^She has dedicated the book "^To alexander Graham Bell who
0350G03 has taught the deaf to_ speak and enabled the listening ear to_
0360G03 hear speech from the Atlantic to the Rockies." $^Besides her
0370G03 own Story, Helen Keller*'s Letters are important, not only as
0380G03 a supplementary story of her life, but as a demonstration of her
0390G03 growth in thought and expression-- the growth which in itself has made
0400G03 her distinguished. ^These letters are, however, not merely
0410G03 remarkable as the productions of a deaf and blind girl, to_ be read
0420G03 with wonder and curiousity; they are good and revealing letters
0430G03 almost from the first. ^The best passages are those in which she
0440G03 talks about herself, and gives her world in terms of her experience
0450G03 of it. ^These letters, several hundred in number, reveal to
0460G03 us the fact that Helen Keller was the only well-educated deaf and
0470G03 blind person in the world. $"^The beginning of my life,"
0480G03 writes Miss Keller, "was simple and much like every other simple
0490G03 life; I came, I saw, I conquered as the first baby in the
0500G03 family always does." ^The child was not deprived of sight and hearing
0510G03 until her nineteenth month, and what faint memory traces were left
0520G03 of her infantile experience, it is impossible to_ say. ^How the
0530G03 tragedy happened has been described by herself thus: $"^They
0540G03 tell me I walked the day I was a year old. ^My mother had just
0550G03 taken me out of the bathtub and was holding me in her lap, when I
0560G03 was suddenly attracted by the flickering shadows of leaves that_
0570G03 danced in the sunlight on the smooth floor, I slipped from my mother*'s
0580G03 lap and almost ran towards them. ^The impulse gone, I fell down
0590G03 and cried for her to_ take me up in her arms. ^These happy days didnot
0600G03 last long... ^Then in the dreary month of February, came the
0610G03 illness which closed my eyes and ears and plunged me into the unconsciousness
0620G03 of new-born baby. ^They called it acute congestion of the
0630G03 stomach and brain. ^The doctor thought I could not live.
0640G03 ^Early one morning however, the fever left me as suddenly and mysteriously
0650G03 as it had come. ^There was great rejoicing in the family that_
0660G03 morning, but no one, not even the doctor, knew that I should
0670G03 never see or hear again." $^Gradually the child got used to
0680G03 the silence and darkness that_ surrounded her, with faint memories
0690G03 of "one brief spring, musical with the song of robin, one summer, rich
0700G03 in fruit and roses, and one autumn of gold and crimson"-- all
0710G03 delighting her. ^She forgot that her surroundings had ever been different
0720G03 until the arrival of Anne Sullivan, Helen*'s teacher
0730G03 who was to_ set her spirit free. ^But during the first 19 months of
0740G03 her life she had caught glimpses of broad, green fields, a luminous sky,
0750G03 trees and flowers which the darkness that_ followed could not wholly
0760G03 blot out. ^How during her illness she was looked after by her
0770G03 mother with tenderness, has been very touchingly described by Helen:
0780G03 "^Mother tried to_ soothe me in my waking hours of fret and pain, and
0790G03 the agony and bewilderment with which I awoke after a tossing half
0800G03 sleep, and turned my eyes to the wall, away from the one loved light
0810G03 which came to me dim and yet more dim each day." $^When she was
0820G03 five years old, Helen realised for the first time that she was different
0830G03 from other poeple. ~as the years rolled on the sense of silent, aimless,
0840G03 dayless life became all the more intense, and at the same time the
0850G03 desire to_ express herself grew. ^The deeply grieved and perplexed
0860G03 parents were all the time anxious about the future of their child.
0870G03 ^They took her to an eminent Occultist in Baltimore, but he could
0880G03 do nothing, "^Educate the child," this was the advice he gave
0890G03 to Helen*'s father. ^The same advice was given to him by \0Dr.
0900G03 Alexander Grahman Bell of Washington. ^*It was from \0Dr.
0910G03 bell that the worried father got the information about the Perkins
0920G03 Institution in Boston. ^This Institution was the scene of the
0930G03 noted experimental scientist, \0Dr. Howe*'s great labours for the
0940G03 blind. ^It was from this Institution that Captain Keller got a qualified
0950G03 teacher for proper education of his afflicted daughter.
0960G03 $^*Miss Anne Mansfield Sullivan (\0b. 1866; \0d. 1936) was the
0970G03 teacher who came to the far-off town in Albama, in 1887, three months
0980G03 before Helen was seven years old. "^The most important day," writes
0990G03 Miss Keller, "I remember in all my life is the one on which my
1000G03 teacher came to me. ^It was the third of March, 1887... I felt
1010G03 approaching footsteps. ^*I stretched out my hands as I supposed
1020G03 to my mother. ^Some one took, and I was caught up and held
1030G03 close in the arms of her who had come to_ reveal all things to me, and,
1040G03 more than all things else, to_ love me." $^When Miss Sullivan
1050G03 came to Albama, she found her pupil not yet seven, beloved by her parents,
1060G03 but helpless and dependent. ^The rest is history. ^Her
1070G03 development from this condition to that_ of a self confident and resourceful
1080G03 individual to whom the doors of exploration, learning and human
1090G03 intercourse were opened was telescoped into a short period of time.
1100G03 ^To_ read of this progress is like seeing a slow motion-picture of
1110G03 the unfolding of a tender plant. $^*Anne Sullivan was not only
1120G03 a teacher to Helen, in fact she was everything to_ the dumb, blind and
1130G03 deaf child-- her hope, her light, her love. ^Her very
1140G03 existence, as it were, assumed a new meaning, a new colour when she became
1150G03 her pupil. ^*Miss Keller herself has described this phenomenon
1160G03 as her "soul*'s sudden awakening", and since then she did nothing
1170G03 but explore with her hands and learn the name of every object that_
1180G03 she touched; and the more she handled things and learned their names
1190G03 and uses, the more joyous and confident grew her sense of kinship with
1200G03 the rest of the world. $^At 16 Helen entered the Cambridge School
1210G03 for Young Ladies, to_ be prepared for Radcliffe. ^At the
1211G03 Cambridge School the plan was to_ have miss Sullivan attend the
1220G03 classes with her and interpret to her the instruction given. ^The
1230G03 tedium of that_ work is hard to_ conceive; it required infinite patience
1240G03 on the part of the teacher to_ accompany her pupil to the classes
1250G03 and spell into her hand all that_ the teachers said. ^At the Cambridge
1260G03 School, for the first time in her life, Helen enjoyed the
1270G03 companionship of seeing and hearing girls of her age. ^In 1899
1280G03 she took her final examination of Radcliffe College from which Helen
1290G03 graduated with distinction in 1903. $^Here it should be noted
1300G03 that all her school and college education was conducted under English
1310G03 braille system. ^By the time she became a graduate, she was well
1311G03 conversant with about half a
1320G03 dozen languages, \0viz, English, Latin, Greek, French and German.
1330G03 ^She loved to_ read literature more than anything else.
1340G03 ^She was familiar with works of Victor Hugo, Goethe, Schiller,
1350G03 Moliere, Shakespeare and Racine. ^To her all great poets of
1360G03 all great nations were interpreters of eternal things. "^My spirit
1370G03 reverentially follows them into the regions where Beauty and Truth
1380G03 and Goodness are one." ^Surely this is an expression of a lofty
1390G03 mind and a sublime spirit. $^But Helen liked Bible more
1400G03 than any other books she read. "^*I regard Bible as the book of
1410G03 books. ^For years I have read it with an ever-broadening sense of
1420G03 joy and inspiration; and I love it as I love no other book. ^The
1430G03 Bible gives me a deep, comforting sense that things seen are temporal,
1440G03 and things unseen are eternal." ^This simple, scintillating expression
1450G03 is indicative of a mind at its highest level. $*3^A few
1460G03 words about the method of Helen*'s early education could be stated
1470G03 here. ^Let her teacher herself speak about it. "^At first I
1480G03 did not attempt," writes Miss Sullivan, "to_ confine my pupil
1490G03 to any system. ^*I always tried to_ find out what interested her most,
1500G03 and made that_ the starting point for the new leesson I had planned
1510G03 to_ teach or not. ^During the first two years of her intellectual life,
1520G03 I required Helen to_ write very little. ^In order to_ write one
1530G03 must have something to_ write about, and having something to_ write
1540G03 about requires some mental preparation. ^The memory must be stored
1550G03 with ideas and the mind must be enriched with knowledge before writing
1560G03 becomes a natural and pleasurable effort. ^Too often, I think,
1570G03 children are required to_ write before they have anything to_ say.
1580G03 ^Teach them to_ think and read and talk without self-repression
1590G03 and they will write because they cannot help it. ^*Helen acquired
1600G03 language by practice and habit rather than by study of rules and classifications...
1610G03 ^No doubt I talked much more with my fingers, and
1620G03 more constantly than I should have done with my mouth."*0
1630G03 $^Indeed, Miss Sullivan was a great teacher who taught her pupil language
1640G03 not by any mechanical means but by the natural method. ^This
1650G03 was Miss Sullivan*'s great discovery and this method worked splendidly.
1660G03 ^As a teacher she always regarded her pupil as a free
1670G03 and active being whose own spontaneous impulses must have been her
1680G03 surest guide. ^In selecting books for Helen to_ read, Miss Sullivan
1690G03 never chose them with reference to Helen*'s deafness and
1700G03 blindness. ^The teacher*'s infinite pain and patience and her excellent
1710G03 methods created a new Helen Keller out of the handicapped child.
1720G03 $^Tall and strongly built and always possessing good health
1730G03 Helen Keller*'s life had been a series of attempts to_ do
1740G03 whatever other people do. ^When she appeared, in later years of
1750G03 her life, on the world platform as a philanthropist, social worker and
1760G03 lecturer, she was hailed everywhere as a great woman.*#
        **[no. of words = 02015**]

        **[txt. g04**]
0010G04 **<*3Jayaprakash Narayan-- *5Abhinandan Granth*6*0**> $^At
0020G04 that_ time, the leadership of the \0PSP was superior to that_ of
0030G04 Jawaharlal*'s cabinet. ^Our Executive consisted of
0040G04 Prakasam, Kelappan, Narendra Deva, Jayaprakash, Asoka Mehta, Lohia,
0050G04 Prafulla Ghosh, Sucheta, Sadiq Ali, Madhu Limaye, myself and
0060G04 some others. ^If the party had remained united, it would have been the
0070G04 most formidable opposition party and could have aspired
0080G04 to office. ^Unfortunately, the party soon began to_ disintegrate.
0090G04 ^There were differences among the socialist leaders, particularly
0100G04 among \0J.P., Ashoka, and Lohia. ^*I, therefore, resigned as
0110G04 chairman of the party. ^*Lohia was ultimately expelled from the Party
0120G04 for indiscipline. ^He then formed the *4Samyukta Socialist Party.
0130G04 $\0^*J.P. left the Party and gave his *4Jivan-dan to the Bhoodan
0140G04 movement under Vinoba. ^This happened at the Gaya conference
0150G04 of the *4Bhoodan and *4Sarvodaya workers in 1954. ^Following \0J.P.,
0160G04 Asha Devi and many others took the vow of *4Jivan-dan. ^*Vinoba
0170G04 himself gave '*4Punah' (again) *4Jivan-dan. ^There was plenty
0180G04 of weeping in the meeting! ^*I was surprised, and I gave expression
0190G04 to my feelings at the public meeting held later that_ evening.
0200G04 ^*I said that, as \0J.P. and many other leaders had given *4Jivan-dan,
0210G04 I was also tempted to_ do so; but, since I suffered from many
0220G04 defects, I refrained from doing so. ^*I felt that a half-rotten
0230G04 fruit is not offered to the gods! $^In taking such a momentous step,
0240G04 Jayaprakash does not seem to_ have felt it necessary to_ consult
0250G04 any of his colleagues in the Party. ^Those of us who were there
0260G04 were naturally taken aback by his sudden announcement, specially
0270G04 because he had been discussing Party affairs with us earlier.
0280G04 ^But unfortunately, it has become a habit with him to_ take important
0290G04 decisions on his own, without taking his colleagues into
0300G04 confidence. ^It was this that_ often confused and irritated his
0310G04 colleagues, particularly Lohia. $\0^*J.P. soon came
0320G04 to_ be recognised as the leader of the *4Bhoodan and *4Sarvodaya organisations.
0330G04 ^But, both \0*.j.P. and myself felt that the affairs
0340G04 of the country were not being properly managed. ^Several times
0350G04 I asked him to_ join me in forming a new party, wedded to Gandhiji*'s
0360G04 ideas; but he always declined. ^Later, he propagated the
0370G04 idea of a partyless democracy. ^*I do not know if this was his brain-wave
0380G04 or that_ of Vinoba. ^*I knew that there were many defects
0390G04 in the party system, as it was being worked in India; but I could
0400G04 not understand how the work of the Parliament, and the formation of
0410G04 a new Government after a general election, would be possible if
0420G04 there were no parties in opposition already functioning in the legislatures!
0430G04 $^Ultimately, in 1975 \0J.P. saw that there was no escape
0440G04 from the party system. ^He headed the movement that_ had been
0450G04 started in Bihar by the students, to_ oust the corrupt Congress
0460G04 Government there. ^The different democratic opposition parties,
0470G04 the congress (\0O), the socialist parties, the \0BLD., all
0480G04 came together under his leadership. ^The movement received its fillip
0490G04 when \0Mrs. Gandhi refused to_ resign as prime minister, after the
0500G04 Allahabad High Court had invalidated her election to the *5Lok
0510G04 Sabha*6 in 1971. ^Instead, she imposed an 'Emergency' on the country
0520G04 and ordered the arrest and detention of all the top leaders of the
0530G04 democratic opposition parties under the
0531G04 \0MISA and the \0DIR. ^Then began her dictatorship and
0540G04 a reign of terror. $\0^*J.P. was kept in solitary confinement
0550G04 in a room in the Chandigarh Medical Institute. ^It was said
0560G04 that he was not keeping good health. ^The condition of his health was
0570G04 deteriorating. ^When it became serious, the Government was obliged
0580G04 to_ release him; but, even then only on a month*'s parole! \0^*J.P.
0590G04 was brought to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences
0600G04 in Delhi for treatment. ^Those who saw his condition then thought
0610G04 that he would not last long. ^Fortunately, his brother
0620G04 insisted on taking him to Bombay for treatment. ^He was admitted
0630G04 to the Jaslok Hospital there. ^He rallied, but his kidney
0640G04 trouble was incurable. ^He has to_ undergo dialysis every two
0650G04 days. $^In spite of all this, during the last general elections to
0660G04 the *5Lok Sabha*6, he was busy helping the opposition parties in their
0670G04 campaign. ^They saw no chance of success unless they fought the
0680G04 elections together. ^They had learnt their lesson through common
0690G04 agitation and suffering. ^There was very little time given
0700G04 to them to_ organise the election campaign. ^But, without wasting
0710G04 any time, they combined and fought the election against \0Mrs.
0720G04 Gandhi*'s congress. ^They carried on a concerted campaign
0730G04 and did not set up candidates against each other. ^Their
0740G04 success was phenomenal. ^The electorate not only rejected the
0750G04 dictatorial rule of \0Mrs. Gandhi, but she and her son, whom
0760G04 she was grooming to_ succeed her, were defeated. $^The latest plan
0770G04 of \0J.P. is that he wants to_ work for what he calls 'total
0780G04 revolution'. ^Many young men are going about the country to_ propagate
0790G04 this idea. $*<3The Call of the Spirit*> $^Most of
0800G04 the people in India, who were struggling for independence from the
0810G04 British rule, thought that the 15th of August 1947, was the end of
0820G04 their strenous journey. ^There were a few ardent souls who
0830G04 believed that it was but the beginning of the journey for a free and
0840G04 rejuvenated India after about a thousand years of various kinds
0850G04 of servitude. ^Among them Gandhi was the first. $^*Gandhi
0860G04 called Congressmen to_ leave the political field of free India
0870G04 to others and put their shoulders to the arduous task of rebuilding
0880G04 the India of their dreams from the grass-roots. ^That_ was the
0890G04 meaning of his adivce to_ convert the Congress into a *5Lok
0900G04 Sevak Sangh*6. ^When I asked him, "What if policial power
0910G04 went into the hands of people who would not care for the good of the
0920G04 people?" he said, "The *5Lok Sevak*6 is not worth his salt if a candidate
0930G04 for election to any of the representative bodies is not one
0940G04 of his choice!" ^That_ was the significance he attached to the
0950G04 *5Lok Sevak*6 of his conception. ^It is obvious that his ideal could
0960G04 not take shape. ^He survived the coming of Independence
0970G04 and saw the unfortunate seeds of weakness and internal quarrels
0980G04 in the congress with agony. ^He once is reported to_ have said
0990G04 that, it would be like the fate of the Yadavas! $^Another great
1000G04 soul, who saw through the fact that political power alone could
1010G04 not make India what she ought to_ be, was Jayaprakash Narayan.
1020G04 ^*Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru was at heart a socialist; he had all the
1030G04 regard and affection for Jayaprakash. ^He headed the Government
1040G04 of free India in 1947 and onwards till 1964. ^He invited
1041G04 \0J.P. to_ join his cabinet.
1050G04 ^But the latter saw no good in it, as his aim was not political
1060G04 power; nor was he subject to the myth and mirage that India
1070G04 would rise to her inherent heights by political action alone. $^Then
1080G04 there was Vinobaji, who loved, admired and followed Gandhi to
1090G04 such an extent, that he was called the true successor of Gandhiji.
1100G04 ^He was wholly dedicated to the elevation and illumination of
1110G04 the human soul. ^He had strayed into the political struggle for
1120G04 independence, on account perhaps of the feeling that ture spirituality
1130G04 is inconsistent with slavery of any kind, be it of one*'s own sensate
1140G04 pleasure-seeking desires or of a foreign ruler. ^*4Swaraj--
1150G04 to_ be master of oneself-- is the ideal of a spiritual seeker.
1160G04 ^Later, like Gandhiji, he adopted service of the lowliest and
1170G04 the least itself as the pathway to God. ^He was disappointed with
1180G04 the approach of the Planning Commission and the new Government
1190G04 at Delhi. ^He began his unforgettable trek, *4pad-yatra, through
1200G04 Telangana for halting Communist violence. ^It was raising its
1210G04 ugly head as a means for the redemption of the weak and the exploited.
1220G04 ^That_ led him to the discovery of *4Bhoodan-- land-gift by
1230G04 those who had, to those who had not. ^It was one of the noblest
1240G04 missions ever undertaken by a saint or seer in India or elsewhere.
1250G04 ^It was an appeal to the deep sense of humanness and brotherhood
1260G04 lurking in the heart of every man. ^This attracted Jayaprakash
1270G04 like a magnet and he made that_ cause his own. $\0^*4Sri
1280G04 Vinobaji developed quite a new philosophy as a follow-up of *4Bhoodan,
1290G04 based on Truth, Love and compassion-- *4Satya, *4Prem and
1300G04 *4Karuna. ^In its totality it came to_ be called *4Sarvodaya.
1310G04 ^From *4Bhoodan to *4Gramdan to *4Gramaraj (village republic)
1320G04 was the course of evolution of this doctrine of *4Sarvodaya.
1330G04 ^It claims to_ be an alternative to current Democracy, Socialism,
1340G04 Communism, Marxism and so on. ^The essence of *4Sarvodaya is
1350G04 the establishment of a non-exploitative, egalitarian socio-economic
1360G04 structure, by non-violent means and through the organisation of what
1370G04 is called people*'s Power-- *5Lok Shakti*6. *4^*Bhoodan led to *4Sampattidan--
1380G04 gift of wealth, and that_ in its turn to, *4Jeevan-dan
1390G04 (gift of one*'s life). ^*Jayaprakash dedicated himself to
1400G04 the *4Sarvodaya cause as a *4Jeevana-dani. ^This principle of '*4Dan'--
1410G04 giving, which, Vinobaji interprets as 'sharing' became
1420G04 so popular that thousands pledged themselves as *4Jeevan-danis.
1430G04 ^On account of this popularity of the principle of '*4Dan',
1440G04 I have sometimes called Vinobaji, a *4Danacharya. ^As the foremost
1450G04 exponent of *4Sarvodaya and all that_ it meant, Jayaprakash began
1460G04 to_ be designated as the *4Sarvodaya leader. $*<*3Some
1470G04 Thoughts for the Occasion*> $^It is a pleasure and a
1480G04 privilege for any one to_ be asked to_ write about the great work
1490G04 and sacrifices of a great leader of eminence, *4Lokanayak Jayprakash
1500G04 Narayan, on his 75th Birthday. $^*I had the pleasure of knowing
1510G04 him from 1932 and his life has been one of sacrifice and suffering
1520G04 in the interests of the country. ^The same may be said of his partner
1530G04 in his life who made every sacrifice to_ make his life
1540G04 bearable in all that_ he did. $^We had common interests in
1550G04 many matters and believed in the formation of a Socialist State
1560G04 at the earliest opportunity. ^We took pleasure in organising the
1570G04 Railway Labour in India and today it is a great force in the Labour
1571G04 World. ^He believed in sacrificing everything for the underdog in
1580G04 India as *4Mahatma Gandhi believed. $^He was distinctly of the
1590G04 idea that mere attainment of political *4Swaraj had no meaning,
1600G04 if it was not automatically followed by economic *4Swaraj wherein
1610G04 the common man, woman and child are guaranteed by the state, enough
1620G04 food to_ eat, enough clothes to_ wear and a decent hut to_
1630G04 live in, and reasonable social benefits from the womb to the grave.
1640G04 $^Inspite of the earnest desire of our leaders for the attainment
1650G04 of economic emancipation of the masses, the well-meaning Five-Year
1660G04 Plans, spread over the last 25 years, have failed to_ achieve
1670G04 the desired objective. ^55% of the population in India are still
1680G04 living below the poverty line. $^On the other hand, the cost of
1690G04 living is steadily rising, making meagre living impossible.
1700G04 ^The evils of poverty and unemployment are recording a steep rise,
1710G04 raising the quantum of discontent among the masses, which might
1720G04 soon reach a peak of no return, ending perhaps in a serious revolution.
1730G04 $^Mere sympathy, or plans on paper, cannot solve the
1740G04 problem, but by a serious review of the concept of planning. ^Planning
1750G04 in a vast sub-continent like ours should have started from
1760G04 the grass-root level meaning villages of India, as this would
1770G04 have brought about the involvement of the masses which might have
1780G04 given them a sense of participation in national reconstruction,
1790G04 and thus mistaken acts of omission and commission in planning could
1800G04 have been avoided and perhaps there might have been some significant
1810G04 progress on the economic front. $^Once, when I advocated
1820G04 that planning should start from the bottom and not from the top,
1830G04 I was severely criticised by the bureaucrats. ^However, this ideology
1840G04 is slowly changing and Gandhi*'s concept of deploying plans
1850G04 to_ start from the village base is fast gaining ground.
1860G04 ^This will bring about the desired effect.*#
        **[no. of words = 01980**]

        **[txt. g05**]
0010G05 **<*3Sir Jagdish Chandra Bose**>
0020G05 $*<*3Colossus in the World of Science*>
0030G05 $'*3^NOTHING*0 can be more vulgar or more untrue than the
0031G05 ignorant assertion that the world
0040G05 owes its progress of knowledge to any particular race. ^The whole
0050G05 world is interdependent, and a constant stream of thought has throughout
0060G05 the ages enriched the common heritage of mankind. ^It is the
0070G05 realisation of this mutual dependence that has kept the mighty human
0080G05 fabric bound together and ensured the continuity and permanence of civilization.
0090G05 ^Although science is neither of the East nor the
0100G05 West, but international in its universality, yet India, by her
0110G05 habit of mind and inherited gifts handed down from generation to
0120G05 generation, is specially fitted to_ make great contributions in
0130G05 furtherance of knowledge.
0140G05 $^Thus said Sir Jagdish Chandra Bose (1858-1937) whom Tagore, his
0150G05 lifelong friend, had rightly characterised as the 'young image of the
0160G05 old *4Rishi of Ind.' ^The life history of this man is the
0170G05 story of a voyager who had sensed his destination and whom no storm,
0180G05 no breakers nor bar could turn back. ^Like a true *4Kshatriya,
0190G05 he fought his way through with courage and chivalry that_ derived
0200G05 inspiration from the immemorial traditions of India; and when he reached
0210G05 the cherished goal, only after waging a relentless war, he
0220G05 gave all that_ he had, again, as a worthy descedent of his
0230G05 ancestors. ^He dedicated 'not merely a laboratory but a temple' to
0240G05 his coutnry, whose name he had, once more, after centuries of
0250G05 silence, made to_ reverberate through the long corridors of world
0260G05 achievements. $^The ancestral home of Jagdish Chandra was in a
0270G05 village in Vikrampur (Dacca)-- an ancient seat of Hindu and Buddhist
0280G05 learning and culture-- the home of Atisa Srijnamo, who
0290G05 carried, centuries back, the message of the Buddha to China.
0300G05 ^*Vikrampur has given to India many worthy children who have helped
0310G05 to_ contribute to the heritage of the land and make her richer and
0320G05 greater at home and abroad. ^Of them the names of *4Deshbandu
0330G05 Chittaranjan Das and Sarojini Naidu stand out. ^*Jagdish
0340G05 Chandra Bose was however, born in Mymonsingh where his
0350G05 father was a Deputy Magistrate. ^He was a remarkable man and
0360G05 his character and example was a great impulse and inspiration throughout
0370G05 the son*'s life. ^When the boy was hardly 11, he was admitted
0380G05 in Hare School in Calcutta. ^Soon afterwards Jagdish
0390G05 Chandra went to \0St. Xavier*'s School, meant exclusively for
0400G05 European and Anglo-Indian boys. ^Here, on the very first day after
0410G05 the school hours, he was
0420G05 challenged to_ fight with the champion boxer of the class.
0430G05 ^To_ quote Bose*'s own words: '^*I then knew nothing about boxing;
0440G05 nevertheless, I accepted the challenge and got the severest
0450G05 punishment. ^Still I persisted and ultimately won victory through
0460G05 determination never to_ yield against odds however great.'
0470G05 ^This attitude, it should be noted here, helped Jagdish Chandra
0480G05 in his later intellectual contests. $^At 16 he passed the entrance
0490G05 examination of Calcutta University with a scholarship and
0500G05 entered \0St. Xavier*'s College. ^Here he took the science course
0510G05 and thus came under the influence of a teacher who greatly
0520G05 moulded his career as a scientist. ^This was Father Lafont, a
0530G05 name that_ Jagdish Chandra always remembered with reverence and
0540G05 gratitude. ^It attracted young Bose more to Physics than
0550G05 to natural History for which he had shown a taste earlier. ^He passed
0560G05 the first Arts and \0B.A. examinations in 1877 and 1879.
0570G05 ^In the certificate signed by the Rector of the College it is
0580G05 stated that he had taken up Latin as second language and
0590G05 was also proficient in Sanskrit. $^Young Jagdish then
0600G05 proceeded to england for higher studies. ^*He entered Christ*'s
0610G05 College, Cambridge University in 1881. ^Initially he was
0620G05 at a loss to_ determine the precise line of his course of studies.
0630G05 ^It is on record that by the middle of the second year he
0640G05 could settle down to_ regular work in Physics, Chemistry and
0650G05 Botany. ^Most decisive for his future career as a physicist
0660G05 was the teaching of Lord Rayleigh, whose patient and careful
0670G05 experimentation and explanation of things made an
0671G05 abiding impression on young Bose*'s mind.
0680G05 ^After Father Lafont at \0St. Xavier*'s College, Calcutta,
0690G05 it was Lord Rayleigh at Christ*'s College, Cambridge,
0700G05 who contributed most towards making a scientist of him. ^*Jagdish
0710G05 Chandra passed the Natural Science Tripos of Cambridge
0720G05 University as well as the \0B.Sc. examination of London
0730G05 University at about the same time. $^Armed thus with two British
0740G05 degrees, Jagdish Chandra returned home in 1885 and joined
0750G05 the Presidency College, Culcutta as Professor of Physics.
0760G05 ^The prejudice that an Indian was not competent to_
0770G05 teach science was then widespread, and it operated against \0Prof.
0780G05 Bose. ^He also suffered from the invidious distinction between
0790G05 an English and Indian teacher in respect of salaries. ^His
0800G05 pay was fixed at two thirds of the permanent British incumbents.
0810G05 ^Added to this was also the provison that because the appointment
0820G05 was for a temporary period, \0Prof. Bose was to_ receive
0830G05 one third of the pay normally attached to the post. ^He took to heart
0840G05 both these anomalies and decided on a new form of protest.
0850G05 ^He resolved not to_ accept the cheque for his monthly salary and
0860G05 continued doing so for three long years. ^And this he did at a period
0870G05 when the fortune of the Bose family was at its lowest ebb.
0880G05 $^During the first nine years of his service as professor of Physics,
0890G05 Jagdish Chandra was engaged in organising his laboratory and
0900G05 a course of lecture demonstrations for which he later became justly
0910G05 famous. ^Scientific hobbies like photography and recording of
0920G05 voices with one of the earliest models of Edisons*'s phonographs
0930G05 were amongst them. ^The great turn of his life was yet to_
0940G05 come, but it was not in the line of his professional activities.
0950G05 ^On his 35th birthday on the 30th november, 1884 Jagdish Chandra
0960G05 resolved that his best efforts henceforth would be dedicated
0970G05 to the furtherance of new knowledge by unravelling the mysteries
0980G05 of nature. ^But there were hurdles in his way. ^Firstly, he
0990G05 had to_ snatch odd hours from his duties as a professor for this
1000G05 purpose, and, secondly, he had to_ build his laboratory out of
1010G05 nothing for the work. $^Recalling the early days of his research
1020G05 work at the Presidency College, \0Prof. Bose once observed,
1030G05 "^There was no laboratory and no instrument-maker. ^Everyone said that
1040G05 original scientific work was impossible in India. ^But it came
1050G05 to me as a flash that it was not for man to_ quarrel with circumstances
1060G05 but bravely to_ accept, to_ confront and dominate over
1070G05 them, and we belonged to a race which had accomplished great things
1080G05 with simple means." ^As the lecture hours were long, the only time
1090G05 Jagdish Chandra could find for his investigations was after the
1100G05 day*'s grind. ^He had to_ carry his investigations far into the
1110G05 night. ^There was no grant for research and he had to_ spend quite
1120G05 a fair amount out of his own slender income on equipment and assistance.
1130G05 $*<*=2*> $^His early research in Physics was
1140G05 conducted on electric waves. ^The work which at once drew the
1150G05 attention of scientists was his research in 'Hertzian waves', which
1160G05 then most prominently held the field of scientific investigation
1170G05 abroad. \0^*Prof. Bose effected considerable improvement upon
1180G05 Hertz*'s detector of electric waves. ^He then communicated his results
1190G05 in a paper "On the Polarisation of the Electric Ray" to the
1200G05 Physical Section of the Asiatic Society of Bengal in May 1895.
1210G05 ^The paper claimed to_ prove that the electric beam when
1220G05 transmitted through crystal are parallelised. ^In that_ pioneer
1230G05 paper, it may be pointed out here, accompanied by demonstration,
1240G05 one could see the dawn of modern Physical Science in India.
1250G05 ^*Jagdish Chandra sent his second paper to his former
1260G05 professor Lord Rayleigh and the English journal *3Electrician*0
1270G05 published it in december 1895. ^The third paper was sent to
1280G05 the Royal Society and it was published in its journal. ^The
1290G05 Society also offered financial help to Bose for continuation of
1300G05 research. ^It is not possible in this short sketch to_ narrate
1310G05 the full story of \0Prof. Bose*'s early researches in Physics.
1320G05 ^*Jagdish Chandra finally submitted another paper on the Electric
1330G05 Wavelength Measurements to London University, which was duly
1340G05 accepted; and the degree of \0D.Sc. was conferred on him in 1896.
1350G05 $^It was in 1896 that he went to Europe on his first scientific
1360G05 mission. ^One good result of his visit to England was that Englishmen,
1370G05 hitherto fed on prejudices against capacity of Indians
1380G05 for scientific research work, were enlightened. ^*Jagdish Chandra
1390G05 had succeeded in breaking through what had so long seemed a
1400G05 closed door, thus opening the highway to_ active and productive
1410G05 science for his countrymen. ^For the first time it came to_
1420G05 be recognised by the West that the Eastern mind was equally capable
1430G05 of making great scientific discoveries and producing experimentalists
1440G05 as eminent as it had. $^On return home he resumed his work
1450G05 vigorously and succeeded in completing paper after paper on his subject
1460G05 and submitting them to the Royal Society. ^But the most
1470G05 interesting turn of his career as a scientist was not long in coming.
1480G05 ^From Physics Jagdish Chandra turned to Physiology.
1490G05 ^A new era, as it were, dawned in the world of science when
1500G05 at the Royal Institution, London, he gave practical demonstration
1510G05 with the help of delicate apparatus designed and built by him on
1520G05 the response of the living and the non-living. ^His findings were
1530G05 challenged, but he continued to_ assert that there is no absolute
1540G05 barrier existing between Physics and Physiology. $^Henceforward,
1550G05 \0Prof. Bose*'s researches were to_ be carried on entirely
1560G05 in a new domain-- the world of responding plants. ^He wanted
1570G05 to_ demonstrate that all the characteristics of the response exhibited
1580G05 by animal tissues were also found in those of the plant.
1590G05 ^Detailed descriptions of his experimental methods and the results
1600G05 of his researches in the new realm were for the first time embodied
1610G05 in his *3Plant Response*0 (1906) and *3Comparative Electro-Physiology*0
1620G05 (1907). ^His next book, *3Researches on Irritability
1630G05 of Plants,*0 published in 1913 roused so much interest that
1640G05 \0Dr. Bose was invited by several important scientific societies
1650G05 of Europe to_ lecture before them. ^The rest is history.
1660G05 $*<*=3*> $^*Jagdish Chandra retired from the Indian
1670G05 Educational Service in 1915. ^He was knighted in 1917. ^The
1680G05 peak point of his wakeful dream life was attained on his fifty-ninth
1690G05 birthday, November 30, 1917, when he inaugurated his Research
1700G05 Institute by the side of his Calcutta residence. '^*I dedicate
1710G05 today', said Sir Jagdish in his inaugural address, 'this not
1720G05 merely a Laboratory but a Temple'. ^And a temple it certainly
1730G05 is, even as a pure piece of architecture from floor to ceiling.
1740G05 ^*Aldous Huxley who once visited the Bose Institute during the
1750G05 lifetime of the scientist remarked: "^*I have seen nowhere in the
1760G05 world such a place of scientific research. ^The founder is more than
1770G05 a man of science-- indeed he seemed to me like an ancient Indian sage.
1780G05 ^He has given us new eyes to_ look at the world of living things."
1790G05 $^In 1923, he made his sixth visit to Europe and it was
1800G05 about this time that his sixth book, *3The Nervous Mechanism
1810G05 in Plants,*0 was published. ^Two years later Jagdish Chandra
1820G05 invented the Magnetic Sphygmograph, which revealed the unseen
1830G05 waxings and wanings of the plant*'s life, confirming his earlier
1840G05 view that the life mechanism is the same in plants as in animals.
1850G05 ^He was now universally acclaimed as the 'Revealer of a New
1860G05 World.' ^Honours were now showered on him from the four
1870G05 corners of the world. ^When he was accorded the Fellowship of
1880G05 the Royal Society he was the first Indian to_ be thus honoured.
1890G05 ^He was also nominated to the League of Nations Committee
1900G05 on Intellectual Cooperation. $*4^*Acharaya Jagdish Chandra
1910G05 Bose*'s active scientific researches extended from 1894 till his
1920G05 seventieth year. ^This long period of 33 years of researches has
1930G05 really ushered in a new era in the world of science. ^He was
1940G05 by choice a man of science. ^But he was more. ^The scientist
1950G05 in him is not difficult of assessment, but his poetic temperament,
1960G05 philosophical outlook, keen sense of beauty and outstanding literary
1970G05 abilities are not so well knwon.*#
        **[no. of words = 02024**]

        **[txt. g06**]
0010G06 **<*3*(0H. N.*) Apte*0**>
0020G06 $^As the number of those who had received education at these institutions
0030G06 grew, there gradually emerged a class of readers which demanded reading
0040G06 material for improvement instruction and entertainment. ^This
0050G06 demand was met by writers who themselves were inspired by the
0060G06 desire to_ meet these needs. ^With the establishment of the
0070G06 University of Bombay in 1856, graduates began to_ come out and this
0080G06 gave an impetus to writing in different fields with different motives.
0090G06 ^A more or less educated and more or less leisured class of readers
0100G06 began to_ come up. ^Among these could be counted the ruling
0110G06 princes who were taught by tutors, well-to-do landlords, government
0120G06 servants and married young women who had attended schools or were
0130G06 taught to_ read and write by their husbands or by tutors engaged
0140G06 for the purpose. $^As peopole began to_ receive education and
0150G06 to_ get acquainted with the political and cultural history of the
0160G06 European and other countries, and of India as well, they began
0170G06 to_ be aware of the causes of the political subordination of India
0180G06 and of the backwardness and stagnation of the Indian society.
0190G06 ^This gave rise to an urge for religious and social reform. ^At the
0200G06 same time some of the educated men were prompted to_ look for
0210G06 revitalizing forces in ancient Indian culture and traditions.
0220G06 ^Thus two conflicting schools of thought emerged in course
0230G06 of time. ^There was an all around intellectual ferment.
0240G06 ^Daily papers, weeklies and monthlies were founded by those who were
0250G06 alive to the changing conditions and needs of the time. ^Novels,
0260G06 plays and articles were written, reflecting these different
0270G06 trends of thought, and a variety of literature was produced to_ meet
0280G06 the emerging demands of the reading public. ^This is reflected
0290G06 also in the novels which were published during the period with
0300G06 which this chapter is concerned \0viz. the period from 1830 to
0310G06 1885, when Haribhau Apte*'s first novel was published.
0320G06 $^Between 1857 and 1879 novel in Marathi had established itself
0330G06 as an important form of literature and had become very popular
0340G06 with the readers. ^But these popular novels were extravagant
0350G06 romances influenced, on the one hand, by Sanskrit works like
0360G06 *3Kadambari*0 and *3Dashakumaracharita*0 and, on the other, by
0370G06 Arabian and Persian romances, including the *3Arabian Nights
0380G06 Entertainments*0 through their English translations which had
0390G06 been published between 1861 and 1873. ^The heroes and heroines
0400G06 of these novels belonged to princely families and their friends and
0410G06 associates to the aristocracy. ^The hero invariably was a replica
0420G06 of the god of love, Madana, and bravery incarnate.
0430G06 ^The heroine was like Rati. ^The main characters, settings,
0440G06 situations, descriptions of nature and seasons, the disasters and
0450G06 calamities that_ befell the characters were all stereotyped and their
0460G06 escapes miraculous or contrived. ^The language was artificial
0470G06 and florid. ^As the object of these novels was to_ provide
0480G06 exciting entertainment to the readers, (who comprised mainly the
0490G06 leisured class and literate women) and at the same time to_ impress
0500G06 upon them the evil effects of immoral behaviour and the good
0510G06 that_ resulted from leading a virtuous life they ended on a happy
0520G06 note, the good being rewarded and the wicked punished.
0530G06 $^As typical of these we shall give here, in brief outline the plot
0540G06 of one novel \0viz. *3Muktamamla*0 (1861) by Lakshmanshastri Halbe.
0550G06 ^It has all the characteristics of the romantic novel described
0560G06 above and is considered to_ be a landmark. ^*Muktamala, after
0570G06 whom the novel is named, is the daughter of Shantavarma, a
0580G06 *4Jagirdar of Irwati. ^She is married to Dhanashankara, who is
0590G06 the deputy minister of king Bhayanaka. ^This king is a wicked
0600G06 and unscrupulous ruler and is surrounded by equally wicked and
0610G06 unscrupulous counsels and aides. ^Among them is one Shuklaksha
0620G06 who is the nephew of Shantavarma and had been admitted to the
0630G06 entourage of Bhayanaka on the recommendation of Dhanashankara.
0640G06 $^Shuklaksha*'s ambition was to_ have Dhanashankara and Muktambala
0650G06 killed so that he could inherit the *4jagir of Shantavarma to
0660G06 which he would be entitled, as the latter*'s nephew, in the absence
0670G06 of other heirs. ^All the incidents of the novel follow from
0680G06 this ambition. ^He puts Dhananshankara into prison. ^Later
0690G06 on, he has him sewn in a sack and thrown into the river.
0700G06 ^Luckily he is rescued by some fishermen who recognize him and
0710G06 nurse back to health. **[sic**] ^Then he disguises himself as a *4bairagi
0720G06 and sets out on a pilgrimage. $^Unaware of all this Muktamala,
0730G06 who is desirous of meeting her husband in the prison, engages
0740G06 the services of a sorcerer for this purpose. ^This man has been
0750G06 secretly commissioned by Shuklaksha to_ behead Muktamala and
0760G06 fetch her head to him as proof of her death. ^But the sorcerer
0770G06 is bewitched by Muktamala*'s beauty. ^So instead of beheading
0780G06 her he shuts her up in a cave, hacks her maid-servant to death
0790G06 and produces her legs and arms before Shuklaksha. ^The latter
0800G06 knows that the limbs do not belong to Muktamala. ^So he punishes
0810G06 the sorcerer and sets out in pursuit of Muktamala.
0820G06 $^In the meantime, she had escaped from the cave by way of
0830G06 a tunnel which she had discovered accidentally, and proceeded to
0840G06 Ujjain with the help of her faithful servant Gulalsingh. ^But
0850G06 she is pursued by Shuklaksha, is locked up in a deserted house on
0860G06 an island in the river near Ujjain, and is rescued from there accidentally
0870G06 by her childhood companion Somadatta who had left home
0880G06 in despair. ^He, too had been imprisoned in Ujjain but had effected
0890G06 his escape by bribing the jailor. $^Thinking that both
0900G06 Dhanashankara and Muktamala were dead Shantavarma had proceeded on
0910G06 a long journey of pilgrimage with his wife and a large retinue.
0920G06 $^In the end accidents bring all these wanderers together again and
0930G06 there is happiness. ^When they all return to Jaipur they discover
0940G06 that the people had risen in revolt against Bhayankara and his
0950G06 counsellors, punished them and put his good-natured brother
0960G06 Vishalaksha on the throne. ^The old and faithful minister had
0970G06 also been reinstated in his old position. ^Now Dhanashankara, too,
0971G06 was given his old position. ^Thus there is double
0980G06 happiness for all. $^This plot will give an idea of the kind
0990G06 of romantic novels which were being published at the time. *3^*Manjughosha*0
1000G06 (1867) by *(0N. S.*) Risbud surpasses *3Muktamala*0 in
1010G06 the invention of unbelievable calamitous situations and lucky escapes.
1020G06 ^The hero of the novel uses an aeroplane which has been paid for
1030G06 in currency and can be folded and packed in a box and carried by one
1040G06 person. ^It can pass through the window of the heroine*'s
1050G06 mansion and yet it can accommodate four persons comfortably.
1060G06 ^It flies four thousand miles to the north-east of India
1070G06 but the country is not mentioned. $^As a novel *3Manjughosha*0
1080G06 is much inferior to *3Muktamala.*0 ^But such novels
1090G06 were very popular with the reading public of the time. ^So
1100G06 much so that between 1861 and 1876 fourteen such novels were published.
1110G06 $^Some of the new ideas that_ were taking root in the
1120G06 minds of the educated persons in those days, such as the
1130G06 necessity of giving education to girls, allowing the remarriage of young
1140G06 widows, abolishing the custom of shaving the heads of young
1150G06 widows and so on, found place in some of these romantic novels
1160G06 also. ^For instance, in *3Muktamala,*0 there arises
1170G06 the occasion of having Muktamala*'s head shaved because her
1180G06 husband was believed to_ be dead. (^That the husband was
1190G06 later discovered to_ be alive and the ritual did not take place
1200G06 is a different matter). ^This question had acquired such
1210G06 serious aspects in those days that bitter controversies were ranged
1220G06 round it. ^In Haribhau*'s *8magnum opus*9 *3Pan Lakshyant
1230G06 Kon Gheto?*0 it proves to_ be the decisive event in the story.
1240G06 ^The question of remarriage of widows comes up in
1250G06 *3Ratnaprabha*0 (1866), anothwer novel by Lakshamanshastri Halbe.
1260G06 ^And the importance of educating girls is stressed in
1270G06 *3Vichitrapuri*0 (1870) which, otherwise, is a curious jumble of
1280G06 incongruous elements in which hideous superstitions, gross misrule
1290G06 and modern ideas rub shoulders. **[sic**] $^Some of these novels are still
1300G06 popular and are reissued from time to time, but they are
1310G06 not in the mainstream of the Marathi novel. $^The first
1320G06 realistic novel to_ appear in Marathi was *3Yamunaparyatan*0
1330G06 (1857) by Baba Padmanji who had embraced Christianity in 1854.
1340G06 ^The sub-title of the novel is "A Description of the
1350G06 Condition of Hindu Widows". ^The object of the novel
1360G06 was to_ describe the condition of Hindu widows in general
1370G06 and of the Brahman widows of Maharashtra in particular
1380G06 and to_ help in the work that_ was being done to_ improve
1390G06 their lot. ^The author makes this very clear in the introduction
1400G06 to the second edition of the novel published in 1882.
1410G06 $^It is the story of a young educated middle class Hindu
1420G06 couple, Vinayak and Yamuna. ^The husband and wife go on
1430G06 a long journey and, in the course, meet with
1440G06 Hindu widows who have been
1450G06 cheated, driven to beggary, or to an immoral life. ^They are
1460G06 distressed at their miserable condition. ^On their way back
1470G06 home Vinayak is badly injured in an accident. ^His condition
1480G06 takes a serious turn and he dies. ^Both he and his wife
1490G06 had accepted Christ secretly. ^When he felt that the
1500G06 end was near he advised Yamuna to_ baptize him, which she
1510G06 did. ^After Vinayak*'s death Yamuna, too, embraced
1520G06 Christianity and remarried as she was advised to_ do by Vinayak.
1530G06 $^The description of the condition of Hindu widows in
1540G06 the several episodes included in the novel is vivid and excites
1550G06 sympathy and it is safe to_ conjecture that when the novel was published
1560G06 it must have drawn the reader*'s attention to the seriousness
1570G06 of the problem. ^But the episodes merely come serially and do not
1580G06 get built up into a plot. ^There are conflicts and clashes
1590G06 of views between individuals but they do not constitute a fabric
1600G06 of tensions. ^Moreover, the Christian element is extraneous
1610G06 to the novel though it is close to the hearts of the two main
1620G06 characters. ^The story was capable of being developed into a full-bodied
1630G06 novel, but Baba Padmanji did not have the making of
1640G06 a novelist in him. ^Consequently the novel reads more like a tract.
1650G06 $^It must be said, however, that this novel is a
1660G06 precursor of the realistic novel which was to_ follow later.
1670G06 ^The character of Yamuna is delicately delineated.
1680G06 ^She is sensitive, sensible, kind-hearted, deeply religious
1690G06 and has a sense of social responsibility. ^*Vinayak, is
1700G06 a loving husband, generous and kind-hearted and has progressive
1710G06 views. ^Both the characters come alive. ^But Baba Padamanji
1720G06 is primarily a writer of tracts and not a novelist. ^That_
1730G06 is why the book marks a starting point in the development of
1740G06 the Marathi novel but does not itself develop into one.
1750G06 $^The second realistic novel, which is rather neglected, is
1760G06 *3Shirastedar*0 by Vinayak Konddeo Oka. ^Although it was
1770G06 published in 1881 it had actually been written in 1872. ^Like
1780G06 *3Yamunaparyatan,*0 *3Shirastedar,*0 too, is written with a specific
1790G06 social purpose. ^This purpose, as stated by the author himself,
1800G06 is to_ lay bare the corruption and dishonesty of some of the
1810G06 *4Shirastedars, *4Karkuns, \0etc., employed in *4Kutcheries,
1820G06 under European gentlemen; to_ show how they abuse
1830G06 what little power they have to the oppression and ruin of the poor
1840G06 people, and also to_ suggest to Government some means by
1850G06 which this wholesale system of oppression may be considerably
1860G06 prevented, if not altogether stopped. $^The story is narrated
1870G06 in the form of the confession of a *4Shirastedar, a senior clerk,
1880G06 attached to a Revenue Court. ^The narrator starts on
1890G06 a low salary of \0*4Rs. 10/- per month. ^On joining service he soon
1900G06 learns how money was made on the sly and, in course of time,
1910G06 starts accepting bribes. ^In the end, through the jealousy of a
1911G06 subordinate clerk, evidence of bribery is planted on him,
1920G06 he is tried and sentenced to_ suffer rigorous imprisonment.
1930G06 $^While counting his days in the prison the *(ex-Shirastedar*)
1940G06 recalls his past life, confesses his evil and immoral deeds,
1950G06 repents and prays to God to_ forgive him. ^This confession
1960G06 is the story of *3Shirastedar.*0*#
        **[no. of words = 02005**]

        **[txt. g07**]
0010G07 **<*3AUTUMN LEAVES*0**> $^Further, as I have briefly mentioned
0020G07 earlier, I had missed two chances of going to Delhi in
0030G07 different capacities and I thought Secretaryship of the Ministry
0040G07 of Defence, if nothing else, would be a suitable climax to my
0050G07 career as a civil servant. ^Moreover, the position had been
0060G07 held earlier by three distinguished civilians, *(0C. M.*) Trivedi,
0070G07 *(0H. M.*) Patel, \0I.C.S. and *(cM. K*) Vellodi, \0I.C.S.,
0080G07 and the temptation to_ walk in their footsteps was almost
0090G07 irresistible. ^But, I little realised then the type of person
0100G07 under whom I was to_ work, as I had very little or no knowledge
0110G07 of *(0V. K.*) Krishna Menon who had only a little earlier
0120G07 taken over as Minister for Defence. $^*Krishna Menon
0130G07 was an institution by himself. ^He suffered from too sharp
0140G07 an intellect, so much so, his intellectual arrogance became a by-word.
0150G07 ^His style of functioning was highly abrasive and
0160G07 methods of work almost eccentric by ordinary standards. ^He
0170G07 would insist on summoning all the Chiefs of staff and most of
0180G07 the Senior Officers of the Defence Ministry at very short notice
0190G07 for a meeting on Sundays or public holidays, and oftentimes
0200G07 work done at such meetings was almost inconsequential, while
0210G07 for the officers concerned the ruin of their holiday was frustrating
0220G07 and even heart-rending. ^There was yet another side to
0230G07 his character; he could be very affectionate and often went out
0240G07 of his way to_ help officers who needed his help. ^The
0250G07 Chiefs of Staff while admiring him for his razor-like intellect inwardly
0260G07 loathed him. ^Whether by design or unwittingly, on many
0270G07 occasions he asked the opinion of senior officials of Chiefs
0280G07 of Staff on a particular subject and then asked for the comments
0290G07 on the same subject of some very junior officers who accompanied
0300G07 and attended on the senior officers at the meetings. ^The junior
0310G07 officers understandably could not speak out and the senior
0320G07 officers naturally resened this style of functioning. ^In my
0330G07 own case, for the first three years, he was very considerate; but
0340G07 the latter half of my tenure with him as Defence Secretary was
0350G07 frustrating and often irritating. ^Some intrigue prevailed
0360G07 which with my meagre knowledge of Delhi, I could never
0370G07 fathom and some subordinates while pretending to_ be very loyal
0380G07 were most of the time intriguing against me or against one another,
0390G07 as I understand it always happens in seats of power all over
0400G07 the world, particularly in Delhi where the traditions of innumerable
0410G07 broken empires still linger. $^The Prime Minister,
0420G07 Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru was an extremely well-meaning
0430G07 man, humane, sensitive and scholarly, but I thought he
0440G07 somewhat lacked realism. ^For several reasons, he had developed
0450G07 an attachment for Krishna Menon and relied a great deal
0460G07 on his judgment on important international issues, which subsequent
0470G07 events proved was a great blunder. ^In the beginning,
0480G07 Panditji had a very high opinion of General Thimmayya as a
0490G07 first-class soldier, but some people seemed to_ have slowly poisoned
0500G07 his mind against him alleging that General Thimmayya*'s aim
0510G07 was to_ become dictator. ^Colour was lent to this suspicion
0520G07 by a book published at that_ time called 'General Thimmayya of India'.
0530G07 ^At that_ time, Air Marshal Subrato Mukherjee
0540G07 was chief of the Air Staff and except for a short while
0550G07 after our Independence, Admiral Katari was Chief of the Naval
0560G07 Staff. ^The four of us got on exceedingly well. ^Little
0570G07 did we realise at that_ time that Air Marshal Mukherjee*'s
0580G07 wife, *4Shrimati Sharda Mukherjee would be a governor of a
0590G07 state in 1977. ^*Air Marshal Subrato Mukherjee was a fine
0600G07 gentleman; and with great competence laid the foundations for
0610G07 an effective Indian Air Force. ^As Chairman of the
0620G07 Board of Directors of Hindustan Aeronautics \0Ltd., Bangalore,
0630G07 I relied a great deal on his guidance; and his guidance was
0640G07 always sober. $^Due to several minor misunderstandings, the
0650G07 relations between Krishna Menon and General Thimmayya became
0660G07 so strained that General Thimmayya submitted his resignation
0670G07 as Chief of the Army Staff. ^The news leaked out and
0680G07 there was a rumpus in Parliament. ^The Prime Minister
0690G07 sent for me and asked me to_ tell him what it was all about.
0700G07 ^I said there was really no serious cause of friction and it was
0710G07 all incompatibility of temperament. ^The Prime Minister
0720G07 sent for General Thimmayya, spoke to him, asked him to_
0730G07 withdraw his resignation and explained in Parliament next day
0740G07 that it was all mere incompatibility of temperament and that
0750G07 he had spoken suitably to both of them; and thus the storm in
0760G07 the tea-cup was allowed to_ blow over. ^With Krishna Menon
0770G07 as Defence Minister, we senior officers, both civil
0780G07 and military, barring a few with axes to_ grind, were
0790G07 very uncomfortable in our respective positions, as we could never anticipate
0791G07 his thinking or his solutions to problems. ^It is
0800G07 sad that after he retired as the Chief of the Army Staff,
0810G07 so competent a soldier as General Thimmayya was not given a
0820G07 suitable position. ^His services to ^India in 1947 at
0830G07 Kashmir and particularly at the Battle of the Zoijila Pass
0840G07 can never be forgotten. $^*Nehru set much store by the Panch
0850G07 Sheel agreement and policies of non-alignment and co-existence.
0860G07 ^He strongly believed in resolving disputes all over
0870G07 the world by peaceful methods and certainly disliked war as a method
0880G07 of settlement of anything, particularly after the horrors
0890G07 of the Second World War. ^While Nehru was thus thinking
0900G07 of promoting peaceful methods of settlement of disputes all
0910G07 over the world and took the Chinese at their word, '*5Hindi-Chini Bhai-Bhai*6',
0920G07 the Chinese were quietly building a link road from
0930G07 Tibet through Ladakh to Sinkiang thereby annexing the Aksai
0940G07 Chin plateau. ^In a sense, it is true that the frontiers
0950G07 of India and its immediate neighbours, like China and Burma,
0960G07 are not clearly defined at all points. ^The British
0970G07 believed in creating buffer states or Protectoratrs between
0980G07 their empire in India, and Russia and China and in the process
0990G07 brought areas and countries like Baluchistan, Nepal, Bhutan,
1000G07 Burma and Gilgit into their spheres
1010G07 of influence. ^With Nehru, co-existence and non-alignment
1020G07 became almost articles of faith, while I personally thought there
1030G07 was a good deal of truth in the dictum of Salisbury, one
1040G07 time Prime Minister of England, "England has no permanent friends
1050G07 or permanent enemies; England has only permanent interests."
1060G07 ^*I also personally believed in following the dictum of
1070G07 Cromwell, "Trust in God, but keep your powder dry", which
1080G07 translated into present day language would be, "Trust in
1090G07 God, but keep your defence forces absolutely trim." ^Oftentimes,
1100G07 the Prime Minister was pilloried in Parliament on the
1110G07 Chinese occupation of the Aksai Chin plateau and portions
1120G07 of Ladakh in Kashmir. ^The Prime Minister was not inclined
1130G07 to_ attach much importance to the issue on the ground that
1140G07 "not a blade of grass grows in this area and no one knows to whom
1150G07 what area belongs." ^*I must confess in this connection that we
1160G07 were not well served by either our military or civil intelligence
1170G07 departments. ^In fact, it is said that at that_ time our
1180G07 military intelligence was very poorly organized. $^In
1190G07 May, 1960, I was sent to America where I had discussions with
1200G07 all the high officers at the Pentagon, \0i.e. the Defence Ministery
1210G07 of America and the State Department, spent some time
1220G07 with \0Mr. and \0Mrs. Arthur Godfrey of television fame in
1230G07 their farm, visited various defence units and even the Niagara
1240G07 Falls and after some tortuous negotiations succeeded in
1250G07 convincing the policy makers and high officials of the Defence and
1260G07 State Departments that for the protection of democracy in our
1270G07 country and therefore indirectly in the world, we required logistic
1280G07 air support for our troops based in high altitudes in the
1290G07 northern regions. ^The officers who accompanied me and I
1300G07 were happy when finally the American Government agreed to_
1310G07 deliver some thirty C-119s, otherwise called Packets, for transporting
1320G07 foodstuffs to high altitudes, for parachuting to troops
1330G07 stationed in the inaccessible, high altitudes of the Himalayas.
1340G07 ^*I was happy when a few months later the Americans themselves
1350G07 delivered these aircraft from their Okinawa base in the
1360G07 Pacific to our Agra airport. $^Soon, we discovered that
1370G07 this method of parachuting food to our troops stationed at high
1380G07 altitudes was difficult, expensive and even precarious. ^So,
1390G07 a Border Roads Organisation was created. ^The objective was
1400G07 to_ construct roads in the Himalayas from Himachal Pradesh
1410G07 to \0N.E.F.A., parellel to the hills or through convenient
1420G07 passes, with the result that the Himalayas which were till recently
1430G07 almost inaccessible are today traversed by a network of roads
1440G07 which may prove advantageous or disadvantageous to us depending on
1450G07 the cirumstances. ^For ages, the Himalayas have been our
1460G07 guardians in the north and Hinduism is almost interwoven with these
1470G07 mountains, but with changing times and military techniques it is
1480G07 anybody*'s guess whether unforeseen changes are not imminent.
1490G07 $^The most unforgettable event during the period I worked in
1500G07 the Defence Ministry was the Indo Chinese clash in the
1510G07 \0N.E.F.A. area. ^About ^August 1962 some confabulations
1520G07 were going on headed largely by \0Lt.-Gen. *(oB. M.*)
1530G07 Kaul who has since given his version of the Indo-Chines conflict
1540G07 in his book, 'The Untold Story.' ^As the Prime Minister
1550G07 and the Defence Minister were being constantly harassed
1560G07 in Parliament about the Chinese occupation of our territory
1570G07 in the Ladakh region and the \0N.E.F.A., the Prime Minister
1580G07 and the Defence Minister seemed to_ have thought that
1590G07 it was time to_ take some positive action and apparently they
1600G07 were encouraged in this move by \0Lt.-Gen. Kaul. ^Events
1610G07 moved quickly in September and October 1962. ^We were utterly
1620G07 unprepared for a big offensive or defensive action at that_
1630G07 stage while the Chinese had over the years evolved a new technique
1640G07 of warfare. ^It would have been very difficult for us to_
1650G07 take any serious agressive action in the Ladakh area because,
1660G07 it was utterly inaccessible to us for any large-scale action.
1670G07 ^*I will not here go into the question of who took the offensive,
1680G07 but in October 1962 when hostilities broke out between us and
1690G07 the Chinese, beginning with the Thagla Ridge in the \0N.E.F.A.
1700G07 region, we met with reverse after reverse. \0^*Lt-Gen.
1710G07 Kaul*'s appointement as Corps Commander was not recommended
1720G07 by either the Army Chief, General Pran Thapar, or the
1730G07 Defence Ministry. ^His stock at that_ time was very high,
1740G07 so high that Water Hangen in his book 'After Nehru Who',
1750G07 picked out \0Lt.-Gen. Kaul as one of the probables. ^His
1760G07 successful completion of one or two Housing Projects at Ambala,
1770G07 \0etc. gave him the illusory reputation of being a man of action and
1780G07 a very successful military commander. ^It was a decision taken
1790G07 at the highest level, no doubt with the highest of hopes.
1800G07 ^After the initial reverses, General Kaul took ill and came
1810G07 back to Delhi to_ take rest. ^Thereafter, place after place
1820G07 fell to the Chinese, including Tawang and they were approaching
1830G07 the plains of Assam like a horde of locusts. ^Public opinion
1840G07 in India was extremely worked up and there was great pressure
1850G07 on the Prime Minister to_ relieve Krishna Menon of the
1860G07 Defence portfolio. ^At the end of October 1962, bowing to
1870G07 public opinion, Krishna Menon was eased out of the Defence
1880G07 Ministry. $^From the ^Chief of the ^Army Staff and the
1890G07 officials of the Defence Ministry down to the *4Jawans, we were extremely
1900G07 unhappy that a first class fighting machine like the Indian
1910G07 army was routed and overwhelmed by the Chinese who had by no means
1920G07 any great reputation as a superior fighting force. ^When we
1930G07 were thinking that with a change in strategy it would be easier to_
1940G07 overwhelm the Chinese in the plains of Assam with the help of our
1950G07 tank corps, it was whispered that both Kennedy and Khruschev
1960G07 had interfered in their own way to put pressure on the Chinese
1970G07 to_ withdraw. ^Some of us felt that the real intention of the
1980G07 Chinese was to_ capture our oilfields around Dibrugarh in Assam.
1990G07 ^In any case, they seemed to_ have realised that they
2000G07 could not continue their run of successes when they came to the
2010G07 plains of Assam and much to the surprise of many of us withdrew to
2020G07 the Tibet area.*#
        **[no. of words = 02032**]

        **[txt. g08**]
0010G08 **<*3One more over*0**> $^He asked me what I intended
0020G08 to_ do about it. ^*I had also been thinking all the while
0030G08 about what I should do. "^Quit" I told myself. "^They
0040G08 won*'4t give you another look-in." ^That_ seemed to_ be the
0050G08 easiest solution to my predicament. ^But, then, all the
0060G08 years of hard work I had put in would go to waste.
0070G08 ^All the hopes I had nourished, and the success which had been
0080G08 mine, would have been in vain. ^*Tiger seemed to_ sense
0090G08 the conflict in my mind. ^He said: "^You know, Pras, the
0100G08 simplest thing is to_ admit that you are beat. ^But, how the
0110G08 hell can you do so? ^You are still the best bowler when it comes
0120G08 to_ spin. ^They need you, man. ^They do. ^You will be
0130G08 making it easy for them by quitting." $^Then it dawned on me that
0140G08 I was talking to a cricketer who had so recently been crucified
0150G08 at the altar of expediency. ^What of his career?
0160G08 ^*I thought. ^*I asked him: "Have you quit or are you thinking
0170G08 of making a come-back?" ^His answer, spoken in that_
0180G08 impeccable English without a trace of affectation, was:
0190G08 "I am coming back." $^Tiger*'s visit did a world of good
0200G08 to me. ^Here was I relegated to a "reserve" in Indian
0210G08 cricket, ignored by my team-mates, who once looked forward
0220G08 to my company. ^Shall I say ostracised? ^But here, too,
0230G08 was a genuine friend who had come in my hour of need to_
0240G08 console me and to_ help me regain confidence in myself and in
0250G08 my cricketing ability. ^*I was thankful to Tiger for helping
0260G08 me to_ make up my mind. ^In Bangalore, the grind to_
0270G08 regain the pedestal I had been on began. ^*I even looked
0280G08 forward to staging another "come-back". $^In the winter
0290G08 of 1972-73, Tony Lewis, a surprise choice as England*'s captain,
0300G08 led the \0M.C.C. team to India. ^*I felt that
0310G08 this was my best chance to_ stake my claim for re-recognition.
0320G08 ^When the team to_ play for the board President*'s *=11 against
0330G08 \0M.C.C. was announced, I was happy to_ be in it. ^*Tiger was
0340G08 the skipper. ^He, too, had ideas of fighting back. ^My
0350G08 mind went back to 1962, when I played against Ted Dexter*'s
0360G08 \0M.C.C. team for the Board President*'s *=11, under
0370G08 Tiger, at Hyderabad. ^That_ was my first international
0380G08 fixture. ^*I was going to_ start all over again.
0390G08 $^*Tiger didn*'4t make any runs. ^*I got three wickets.
0400G08 ^But I was satisfied with my performance, because I had bowled
0410G08 well. ^The \0M.C.C. players seemed keen to_ hit me
0420G08 out of the attack, and that_ was a good sign. ^My performance
0430G08 seemed to_ please the people who know the game, and
0440G08 there was talk that all that_ had happened in England in
0450G08 1971 had been a plot against me. ^*I remember Manjrekar
0460G08 telling somebody: "Pras couldn*'4t have bowled that_ badly.
0470G08 ^You know he can*'4t. ^But, then, Manjrekar
0480G08 was nobody in the cricket hierarchy. $^In Hyderabad,
0490G08 the squad for the first Test in New Delhi was announced,
0500G08 and I was in it, though I had my own doubts whether
0510G08 I would find a place in the final eleven. ^*I was, of
0520G08 course, left out for the New Delhi Test. ^*India*'s
0530G08 spin attack was composed of Bedi, Chandra and Venkat,
0540G08 with the optimistic support of Solkar. ^It was in New Delhi
0550G08 that I heard about the fears the England team had about
0560G08 my good friend Saliam Durrani. ^He had thrashed the England
0570G08 bowlers in Indore in the match between Central Zone and
0580G08 \0M.C.C. and, by all accounts, was in excellent touch.
0590G08 ^*I thought to myself that it would be nice if Tiger and Salim
0600G08 also got back into the side. ^Little did I know that, by
0610G08 the time the third Test at Madras was on, this would
0620G08 come to_ pass, and all three of us would be together again to_ win
0630G08 a Test for India. $^The first Test ended in our defeat.
0640G08 ^*Geoff Arnold, with some controlled swing and seam
0650G08 bowling, wrecked our first innings, taking six wickets.
0660G08 ^*Chandra bowled magnificently to_ take eight England wickets when
0670G08 they batted. ^But, we batted poorly again in the second
0680G08 innings. ^However, with Chandra in such devastating form
0690G08 we reckoned that we could get England struggling; but Tony
0700G08 Lewis, batting exquisitely for an unbeaten 70, ensured that his
0710G08 team got a 1-0 lead in the series. $^*Salim Durrani
0720G08 came into the squad for the next Test. ^The defeat had
0730G08 shaken everybody concerned with Indian cricket. ^We had
0740G08 returned with two overseas victories and had gone kaput in the
0750G08 first home Test in conditions which should have favoured us.
0760G08 ^*Lewis and his deputy, Mike Denness, the man who would
0770G08 lead England to_ thrash us 3-0 in 1974, had their strategy
0780G08 well planned. ^But we knew all the time that we could beat
0790G08 this England side. $^*I knew I would be in, replacing
0800G08 pal Venkat, for the second Test at Calcutta. ^The Eden Gardens,
0810G08 which is the Test venue there, puts the skids on the
0820G08 most talented of players. ^The crowd, a near 80,000, is pro-India,
0830G08 which is expected, and, what is more, it is impetuous and excitable.
0840G08 ^*I had a personal stake in the match. ^My wife is a
0850G08 Bengali and she has a host of relatives in Calcutta. ^She is
0860G08 a Calcuttan, too. ^They would descend on to the ground
0870G08 to_ watch the "son-in-law" in action. ^What is more, the crowd
0880G08 was alive to the fact that my marriage had brought me close to
0890G08 Calcutta. ^In fact, I very nearly played for West Bengal
0900G08 in the Ranji Trophy. $^The second Test was a thriller
0910G08 and we won by the narrowest of margins-- 28 runs. ^*Ajit
0920G0R Wadekar batted fluently and Farokh in his usual bustling
0930G08 manner. ^But we didn*'4t make a big score. ^It was always
0940G08 touch and go. ^*Bishen, Chandra and myself got on top.
0950G08 ^*Ajit was injured by a rising ball from Chris Old,
0960G08 and there were doubts whether he would be able to_ take the
0970G08 field. ^On the morning of the second day, Colonel Adhikari,
0980G08 the Manager for the series, came to me and said: "^You are
0990G08 leading. ^Inform the umpires the type of roller you want."
1000G08 ^When I returned to the pavilion, however, I was told that
1010G08 Farokh was to_ lead. ^That_ was nearest I came to captaining
1020G08 the national side up to then! ^*I must admit that Farokh
1030G08 handled the side well and, what is more, took the
1040G08 senior players like me in full confidence. ^He asked for our
1050G08 suggestions and there were enough in-field conferences on strategy
1060G08 for somebody with a sense of humour to_ remark that "collective
1070G08 captaincy" was on. ^This paid off handsomely.
1080G08 ^*Wadekar subsequently returned to_ lead the side, but, by then
1090G08 Farokh had already put India on the road to victory.
1100G08 $^In the second innings Salim Durrani played a remarkable,
1110G08 in reality a match-winning, innings of 53 runs. ^At the crowd*'s
1120G08 request, he obliged by hitting Underwood for six.
1130G08 ^*Solkar*'s catching was incredible. ^The catch which dismissed
1140G08 Lewis, who made a full-blooded sweep off Bedi, was out
1150G08 of this world. ^How Ekki, standing perilously close at forward
1160G08 short-leg, ever saw the ball I wouldn*'4t know. ^But I
1170G08 can*4t think of anybody else taking that_ catch. ^Our victory
1180G08 restored our humour and our confidence, and we went to Madras
1190G08 all square in the Test series. $^The stage was nowset
1200G08 for the return of Tiger. ^So far he had watched the two
1210G08 Tests as a journalist. ^He was chosen for the South Zone
1220G08 team to_ play against the \0M.CC. at Bangalore. ^*I
1230G08 think, at that_ point, Tiger was a trifle unsure whether he
1240G08 should give up the pen for the willow. ^But he came along
1250G08 to Bangalore and played for South Zone. ^He survived a
1260G08 first ball \0lbw appeal and went on to_ make an effortless,
1270G08 unbeaten century. ^He received support from young Brijesh
1280G08 Patel who made a polished 93. ^The 'ton' meant that Tiger was back
1290G08 in the Indian side. $^*I think we were lucky that
1300G08 Underwood had to_ miss the Madras Test. ^Subsequent events
1310G08 confirmed this. ^*England played Gifford, who can never be
1320G08 such a danger as the Kent bowler. ^The Test was as close as the
1330G08 Calcutta one, and we managed to_ scrape through by just four
1340G08 wickets. ^*England batted first and, if Keith Fletcher
1350G08 had not stood firm, they would have collapsed for next to nothing
1360G08 . ^His unbeaten 97 was a superb display against the
1370G08 turning ball. ^Apparently, he had got the measure of Chandra,
1380G08 the bogey of the England batsmen, who again bowled beautifully.
1390G08 ^So did Bedi. ^For India, Tiger dominated
1400G08 the scence. ^He made a superlative 73 in his inimitable style
1410G08 and he received valuable support from Salim and Vishy.
1420G08 ^But, even with all this, there was a stage when an Indian lead
1430G08 looked doubtful. ^When I walked in to_ bat there was the
1440G08 reassuring figure of Farokh at the other end. ^*I knew I
1450G08 had to_ chip in with some useful runs. ^Lunch followed and
1460G08 I
1470G08 reminded myself that I wasn*'4t exactly a "rabbit" as far as
1480G08 batting went. $^*I take my batting more seriously than
1490G08 most people imagine. ^*I have a nice square-cut, I like to_
1500G08 sweep, and I don*'4t mind the drive. ^It was a difficult
1510G08 situation, which somehow brings out the best in me.
1520G08 ^*I get belligerent. ^*I was, if you dear reader don*'4t know
1530G08 , associated in a 122-run stand with Sardesai for the ninth
1540G08 wicket in the first Test against the West Indies at Kingston
1550G08 (Jamaica) in 1971. ^Incidentally, this was and still is a
1560G08 wicket record in Tests against the West Indies. ^And,
1570G08 in Australia, I remember Lindsay Hassett remarked that I was
1580G08 about the most sticky night-watchman in the business. ^Here,
1590G08 at Madras, it was not a stalling role, even though Farokh was
1600G08 here. ^*I knrw ^I had to_ get runs. ^It was my day. ^*I
1610G08 went on to_ score 37, and was proud of my effort. ^*I
1620G08 honestly thought I played some fine storkes. ^Well, we had
1630G08 a lead, at last! $^The ball was turning appreciably
1640G08 when England batted a second time. ^*Chandra and Bedi made
1650G08 some dents in the England batting. ^But, Mike
1660G08 Denness got stuck and played with admirable poise and judgment.
1670G08 ^He is a wristy player who flicks the one that_ comes into
1680G08 him quite beautifully, wide off mid-on. ^At this stage
1690G08 I was injured trying to_ stop a hard drive and went off for
1700G08 repairs. ^When I returned Ajit asked me to_ come on
1710G08 from the end opposite to the pavilion, which I don*'4t favour.
1720G08 ^*Durrani came on from that_ end and got rid of Tony Greig.
1730G08 $^Many thought I had refused to_ bowl, but the fact
1740G08 is that I, wanted to_ bowl from the end from which I have
1750G08 had most of my successes in Madras. ^Finally I did and it
1760G08 is now history that the England innings ended in a trice.
1770G08 ^*I was naturally a bit peeved that I had been kept away from
1780G08 the attack so long. ^But, I suppose, Ajit had his
1780G08 reasons. ^Moreover, Chandra and Bishen were bowling
1800G08 well. $^We needed 86 runs to_ win the match and we soon
1810G08 got into trouble. ^*I dread to_ think what would have happened
1820G08 if Underwood was available to England. ^Off-spinner Pocock got
1830G08 among the wickets and he bowled Vishy for a "duck", with a
1840G08 beauty. ^The previous evening there was the Wadekar incident.
1850G08 ^He was caught low down by Greig, off Chris Old, in the slips,
1860G08 but he waited for the decision as he was unsighted.
1870G08 ^Umpire Mamsa went to his square-leg colleague to_ consult him about
1880G08 the genuineness of the catch. ^The England players reacted
1890G08 sharply to this. ^*I don*'4t blame Ajit; he had good reasons
1900G08 to_ wait if he was in doubt. ^*Durrani had a charmed life,
1910G08 but it was he who restored sanity to the proceedings.
1920G08 ^The next morning there was plenty of excitement as Indian wickets
1930G08 tumbled. ^Finally Pataudi and an injured Gavaskar saw us through.*#
        **[no. of words = 02005**]

        **[txt. g09**]
0010G09 **<*3Madan Lal Dhingra and the Revolutionary Movement*0**>
0020G09 $^After Bapat gave up his studies in Edinburgh, Krishnavarma
0030G09 welcomed him in India House where he began to_ work actively
0040G09 for the Abhinav Bharat, in 1906-08. ^Like Bapat,
0050G09 Chattopadhyaya known as Chatto among Indians in Europe too
0060G09 abandoned his studies. ^Born in a rich *4Brahmin
0080G09 family, Chatterjee was called to the Bar, in 1906-07, was
0090G09 twice unsuccessful in the \0ICS, and joined Savarkar in
0100G09 revolutionary activities for which he was expelled from the Inns
0110G09 of Court in 1906-07. ^A fiery poet and journalist, his
0120G09 revolutionary zeal was strongly criticized even by his younger
0130G09 sister, Sarojini Chatterjee (\0Mrs Naidu). ^Another trusted
0140G09 follower of Savarkar was Harnam Singh, son of a District
0150G09 judge of Amritsar, Aya Singh, whom Savarkar had met on
0160G09 board the ship when he was coming to England for law; and
0170G09 there were others such as *(V.V.S.*) Aiyer, a young and
0180G09 brilliant lawyer from Rangoon, a zealous extremist, Gyan
0190G09 Chand Varma, Secreary of Abhinav Bharat Sabha, and
0200G09 *(0W.V.*) Phadke who was preparing for the \0ICS. $^Any
0210G09 one visiting India House between 1906-09 would have been greatly
0220G09 struck by the intensity of revolutionary activities which was
0230G09 gaining momentum. ^While the political activity in India
0240G09 had reached its nadir due to internal dissensions, the India
0250G09 House presented altogether a different scene of hectic
0260G09 revolutionary activity and propaganda. ^It seemed as though
0270G09 the Indian political leaders had lost their initiative, and
0280G09 knew not whither they were going, but in England leadership
0290G09 was in the hands of a band of enthusiastic young men. ^Their
0300G09 ideology and programme were clear-cut. ^These young men raw
0310G09 , somewhat impulsive, easily excitable, passionate in their
0320G09 convictions, and indignant about the style of British administration
0330G09 kept themselves informed about the political development in
0340G09 India. ^They began to_ develop their interest in the
0350G09 comparative study of world politics; for example, they were
0360G09 inspired by the finatical spirit of Irish nationalism, by
0370G09 the example of Mazzini*'s sacrifices, and by the ceaseless struggle
0380G09 going on in the world for the preservation of Human Rights
0390G09 and Liberty. ^It was not often that one could see them
0400G09 use with their usual vehemence cliches and maxims culled from
0410G09 a cursory glance of books on political and constitutional history.
0420G09 $^It would be wrong to_ imagine that these young men
0430G09 confined themselves only to the study of Western political ideas
0440G09 and revolutionary movements, and paid scant attention to the political
0450G09 developments in India. ^On the contrary, they took a
0460G09 lively interest in larger political issues in India such as
0470G09 Curzon*'s repressive policy, the Partition of Bengal, the
0480G09 *4Swadeshi movement, the deportation of Lajpat Rai and Ajit
0490G09 Singh, Tilak*'s sentence to six years imprisonment for produccing
0500G09 seditionary literature and Khudi Ram*'s bomb-throwing and
0510G09 execution in 1908-- issues which generated considerable heat
0520G09 and agitation. $^It is natural that when Indians go abroad
0530G09 and live in England, their view of Indian politics is
0540G09 different; they look at India differently; and they tend to_
0550G09 measure Indian politics with the yardstick of Western values.
0560G09 ^The free political institutions which they see the English
0570G09 enjoy round them bring to their mind the striking contrast
0580G09 between liberty on one side, and despotism on the other.
0590G09 ^In view of the different type of political climate which these
0600G09 Indian youth breathed in England, the British rule in India
0610G09 appeared to them all the more reprehensible and inhuman.
0620G09 ^In the initial stages, Krishnavarma, Savarkar, and Bapat
0630G09 organized the whole programme of the revolutionary activity in
0640G09 India House, and created the climate when young men began to_
0650G09 talk freely of revolution and the liberation of India.
0660G09 $^Savarkar*'s main aim was to_ infuse the young men whom he had
0670G09 gathered round with revolutionary ideas, and to_ involve
0680G09 them in revolutionary activities. ^He strongly believed that
0690G09 it was unthinkable that anything could come about by peaceful
0700G09 argument; and the ruling power would surrender nothing except
0710G09 in response to_ force. ^For building up a selfless and
0720G09 fearless cadre of revolutionaries, he evoked admiration for
0730G09 India*'s heritage, and antipathy for British rule which had
0740G09 subjected millions of people in India to untold suffering and
0750G09 indignities. ^The theme which he selected for rousing national
0760G09 consciousness was the struggle of 1857 which he called the
0770G09 First War of Indian Independence. ^10 May 1907 was the
0780G09 fiftieth aniversary of the Revolt of 1857; and Savarkar had
0790G09 completed his book *3The Indian War of Independence, 1857*0 on
0800G09 this occasion. ^Originally written in Marathi, this work
0810G09 was translated into English under the supervision of *(V.V.S.*)
0820G09 Aiyar, but no one was willing to_ print it in English
0830G09 because of its hostile indictment of British rule, and it was
0840G09 in Holland that a printing press was persuaded to_ print it,
0850G09 and the work finally appeared on 10 May 1909.
0860G09 $^It is not intended here to_ discuss Savarkar as a historian
0870G09 but to_ understand his motive in writing this book, and the
0880G09 nature of the impact it produced on the mind of revolutionaries.
0890G09 ^What was Savarkar*'s object in writing this work? ^For
0900G09 one thing, the theme of the Indian War of Independence
0910G09 (1857) greatly fascinated him. ^He believed that the history
0920G09 of the 1857 struggle had not been written in a truly scientific
0930G09 manner-- the British had given their version in a "wicked and
0940G09 partial spirit". ^*Savarkar wanted to_ fill this gap in
0950G09 histrorical studies, but this scholastic urge does not explain
0960G09 his purpose. ^He regarded the episode of 1857 as a
0970G09 unique event of great magnitude. ^He wrote: "It is difficult
0980G09 to_ find in Indian history another Revolution so exciting, so exacting,
0990G09 so quick, so terrible, and so universal." ^Basing his work
1000G09 largely on English sources readily available at the British
1010G09 Museum, he showed that in their war against the British, the
1020G09 Indian leaders of 1857 were inspired by the great principles
1030G09 of *4Swadharma and *4Swaraj; and it was the nobility of
1040G09 such lofty ideals which really ought to_ determine the character
1050G09 of the entire national war. ^He wanted to_ use on a
1060G09 grand scale this great and meaningful episode for political
1070G09 reasons. ^The primary need of the time, according to
1080G09 Savarkar, was to_ educate his countrymen in the theory and
1090G09 practice of revolution, and to_ inspire them with the spirit
1100G09 of patriotism and self-sacrifice, and there was no
1110G09 theme other than the War of 1857 which could help him
1120G09 illuminate and expound so graphically and so effectively amongst
1130G09 his countrymen, the admirable qualities of fighting, and
1140G09 dying for one*'s country, and which could exercise also such a
1150G09 tremendous appeal to his countrymen. ^In his Introduction,
1160G09 he wrote: $^The nation that_ has no consciousness of
1170G09 its past has no future. ^Equally true it is that a nation
1180G09 must develop its capacity not only of claiming a past but also
1190G09 of knowing how to_ use it for the furtherance of its future.
1200G09 $^*Savarkar believed in that_ type of history which
1210G09 studied the past with reference to the present. ^History
1220G09 was not a story full of sound and fury, signifying nothing, but
1230G09 philosophy teaching by example, and possessing the moral purpose
1240G09 of giving lessons to people in their adversity. ^His history is
1260G09 essentially an ideological polemic which is underpinned by
1270G09 copious documentation and coherent and lucid exposition.
1280G09 ^At times in the text passages overlap, thus the continuity
1290G09 and easy flow of the story is interrupted. $^*Savarkar
1300G09 presented a vivid and glowing portrait-gallery of heroic men who
1310G09 died for the love of their country; and this noble example of
1320G09 self-sacrifice, he wanted his followers to_ emulate in their
1330G09 fight for the liberation of their country. ^By using his imaginative
1340G09 gifts, he produced the living biographies of Indian heroes
1350G09 like Nana Sahib, Tatia Tope, and Lakshmi Bai, and evoked
1360G09 in the reader*'s mind immense veneration for their patriotism,
1370G09 courage, and selflessness. ^He also showed how treachery,
1380G09 impulsiveness, petty-mindedness, and lack of coorination among
1390G09 leaders had destroyed their mission of liberation. ^The
1400G09 leaders, according to Savarkar, were not mutineers but freedom
1410G09 fighters, and the entire struggle was neither a mutiny, nor a
1420G09 revolt but a War of Independence in which people of all types,
1430G09 and from different areas, irrespective of caste and religion,
1440G09 plunged themselves. ^But the most striking feature of
1450G09 the whole work is Savarkar*'s stirring appeal to his followers
1460G09 and to his readers to_ follow their heroes, and continue their
1470G09 struggle; and there are many such passages of Savarkar*'s fierce appeal
1480G09 made in Carlyle*'s rhetorical style, a transcript of his
1490G09 thoughts. ^It might be useful to_ reproduce some of these
1500G09 passages in order to_ emphasize how he was deeply concerned with
1510G09 the past to_ draw lessons from it for his countrymen, particularly
1520G09 his followers. $^Explaining how one "native state"
1530G09 after another was swallowed up by Lord Dalhousie*'s policy of
1540G09 comprehensive annexations, Savarkar, when he came to Satara,
1550G09 paused and then with a rhetorical flourish recalled the past glory
1560G09 of Satara in the following terms: $^The *4Gadi of
1570G09 satara! ^The same *4Gadi on which Shivaji was crowned by the hand
1580G09 of Gaga Bhatt! ^The same *4Gadi to which Baji Rao *=1 dedicated
1590G09 all his triumph, before which he bowed low! ^O Maharashtra!
1600G09 ^Behold that_ same *4Gadi on which Shivaji sat, and to which
1610G09 homage was paid by Santaji, Bhanaji, Niraji and Baji, has
1620G09 been broken to pieces by Dalhousie...... $^Savarkar compared
1630G09 the heroes of 1857, Nana Sahib and Lakshmi Bai, with
1640G09 the fiery and intrepid *4Akalis of his day who were determined to_
1650G09 "avenge their country*'s unjust wrongs with the last drop of
1660G09 their blood." ^*Savarkar made this reference to *4Akalis
1670G09 deliberately with the intention of enlisting the support of the Sikh
1680G09 community in the national struggle. ^Describing how the British
1690G09 policy of systematic though subtle interference in the religious
1700G09 practices of Hindus and Muslims caused widespread rebellion
1710G09 among sepoys, Savarkar wrote: $^Rise, then O Hindustan,
1720G09 rise! ^Even as *4Shri Ramadas exhorted "Die for *4Dharma,
1730G09 while killing all your enemies and win back *4Swarajya, while killing,
1740G09 kill well"; Murmuring such sentiments to himself, every sepoy
1750G09 in India began to_ sharpen his sword for the fight for *4Swadharma
1760G09 and *4Swarajya. $^Chapter *=6 of his history entitled
1770G09 "^Lit up the Sacrificial Fire" which is replete with the shining
1780G09 examples of Indian valour, and with his passionate appeals
1790G09 to Indians to_ gird up their loins, and fight the British,
1800G09 opens on the following moving note: $^It is then inevitable
1810G09 that we must resist sword in hand and wage a relentless
1820G09 struggle to_ win back our political independence and to_
1830G09 safeguard the honour of the ashes of our fathers and the temples of
1840G09 our gods. ^We must hence hasten fast to_ propitiate the God
1850G09 of War, the Lord of Hosts, even as Indrajit
1860G09 did before he marched on to the battlefield... ^But
1870G09 our cause is just, is righteous! ^We need not fear frustration.
1880G09 ^Even though we know how to_ fight for what we call Right does
1890G09 not unfailingly win through its inherent justificability **[sic**] or
1900G09 righteousness unless and until it is upheld by proportionate
1910G09 Might, even then to_ fight for our Right to the best of our might
1920G09 is in itself a heroic joy which fills the warrior with a
1930G09 divine intoxication. $^As in the above passage, Savarkar
1940G09 expressed in his work at quite a number of places his
1950G09 immense faith in the use of violence for political ends; for example,
1960G09 he warned that "all attempts to_ win back the country and
1970G09 its independence by conciliation and money, and by appeal had
1980G09 so far failed; hence be ready for war. "^Reminding his countrymen
1990G09 that they ought to_ follow the noble example of their heroes,
2000G09 he declared eloquently: "Mangal Pandey is gone but his
2010G09 spirit has spread all over Hindustan. ^The principle for which
2020G09 he fought has become immortal. ^Let every mother teach
2030G09 her son the story of this hero with pride." ^*Savarkar
2040G09 reiterated that India was vital, sensitive, and ready to_
2050G09 face any challenge; for example, he warned, "The days
2060G09 are gone when India would don other people*'s caps. ^Throw
2070G09 away their slavish caps." ^He greatly admired the lofty
2080G09 glories of the 1857 leaders, but lamented the boisterous imbecility
2090G09 of the populace to_ meet the challenge.*#
        **[no. of words = 02006**]

        **[txt. g10**]
0010G10 **<*3General *(0J. N.*) Choudhari*0**> $^A correct appreciation
0020G10 of logistics, or the science of administration, is a
0030G10 prerequisite for any effective plan. ^Strategy and administration
0040G10 are completely complementary. ^This is where the professional
0050G10 always scores over the arm chair strategist but unfortunately
0060G10 this is also a source of misunderstanding between the civilian
0070G10 and the solider. ^Demonstrating strategy by moving coloured
0080G10 pins across a small scale map is, alas, so much easier than
0090G10 moving large bodies of troops to the ideal place at the correct
0100G10 time and then maintaining them there. $^With the long
0110G10 range of modern warfare and its dependence on all the resources
0120G10 of civilian production, the principle of national effort
0130G10 seems to_ fall into place. ^War has come a long way from
0140G10 the days when an Empire was won with the man in the street
0150G10 neither knowing nor caring about it. $^The phases of
0160G10 Korea, with the North Korean successes, were not a non-mechanised
0170G10 army pushing back a modern mechanised army. ^It was, in fact,
0180G10 the reverse, a mechanised army spearheaded by a good tank,
0190G10 beating back a force hastily got together and short of weapons
0200G10 and transport. ^Once these deficiencies had been rectified
0210G10 the more modern forece started to_ advance again with comparative
0220G10 ease. ^The next setback suffered by the United Nations
0230G10 Force was the sudden throwing in against them of a tremendous
0240G10 weight of man-power. ^Though a reserve, the amount of actual
0250G10 ground lost was small compared to what had been won while
0260G10 the casualties were also comparatively small. $^To
0270G10 answer the cynic who asks what part luck plays in winning a battle,
0280G10 one can only fall back on that_ great stand by of all military
0290G10 writers, Napoleon, who said, "Military science consists of
0300G10 carefully weighing up all possible eventualities and then
0310G10 eliminating almost mathematically, chance." ^It is not Dame
0320G10 Fortune who hampers the consistently unlucky commander; he is almost
0330G10 certainly getting his principles confused. $^Some time
0340G10 in July 1963 \0Gen. Srinagesh called me to his office and said
0350G10 he had been invited to the \0U.S.A. and had selected \0Maj. \0Gen.
0360G10 *(0S. D.*) Varma and myself to_ accompany him. ^*Shiva Verma
0370G10 and I had known each other since Sandhurst days. ^It was
0380G10 decided that \0Gen. Srinagesh himself would fly by civil airlines
0390G10 and Varma and myself would go by the Military Air Transport
0400G10 Service (\0MATS) which the americans ran between Delhi
0410G10 and Washington. ^We had a comfortable journey stopping *8en
0420G10 route*9 at Saudi Arabia and England at one of the \0U.S. air
0430G10 force aerodromes. ^From there we flew across the Atlantic
0440G10 and stopped for refuelling at Azores which as is known is
0450G10 owned by the Portuguese and was on loan to the \0U.S.A. ^After
0460G10 my goa exploit of 1961, I thought the portuguese might try some
0470G10 tricks with me in the Azores but my American friends assured
0480G10 me that this won*'4t happen. ^In fact our stay for the night
0490G10 at Azores was extremely comfortable. $^Every possible
0500G10 care was taken of us at Washington and we did the usual
0510G10 round of training institutions like the Infantry School at Fort
0520G10 Benning, Georgia, and then we went on to Fort Leavenworth.
0530G10 ^Our hosts were kind enough to_ take us to the theatre which
0540G10 was very enjoyable. ^Another place we visisted was the
0550G10 Army Aviation School at Fort Raccan in Alabama. ^We
0560G10 saw a good deal of \0Gen. Westmoreland who was scheduled
0570G10 to_ go to Vietnam. ^*I was surprised to_ find that the
0580G10 General had a Masters degree in Business Administration. ^The
0590G10 Army Chief was \0Gen. Wheeler who was very friendly.
0600G10 ^The interview which was most difficult for me personally was with
0610G10 Robert MacNamara, the Secretary for Defence. ^Seldom
0620G10 have I seen a keener and a more acute brain. ^He asked
0630G10 me a number of questions on the cost of maintaining defence
0640G10 forces which I found difficult to_ answer accurately.
0650G10 ^*I passed on some questions to the ambassador hoping that he would
0660G10 get the information from India and duly let \0Mr MacNamara
0670G10 have it. $^Another person who became very friendly with
0680G10 us was \0Mr William Bundy who played an important part in the
0690G10 formulation of political and military strategy in the United States.
0700G10 ^*Bill Bundy and I got on very well together. ^*I was
0710G10 also taken to West Point, a magnificent institution with tough
0720G10 rules of its own. ^It was totally different from the
0730G10 Royal Military College of Sandhurst in the way it functioned.
0740G10 ^*I think here they are much harder on the cadets than at the
0750G10 \0R.M.C. ^After this we went to the National War College
0760G10 where \0Gen. Srinagesh was asked to_ give a talk on India*'s
0770G10 military policy. ^He refused and passed on the duty to
0780G10 me which I must say I quite enjoyed. ^A lot of questions came
0790G10 from the audience but surprisingly enough nothing about Pakistan
0800G10 and I got the impression that the audience had been warned not
0810G10 to_ put embarrassing questions about Pakistan versus India.
0820G10 ^After that_ we went back to New York where we stayed at the
0830G10 Waldorf Astoria. ^What impressed me greatly about the States
0840G10 was its high standad of living and I may add to this the high
0850G10 cost of living. $^During this visit there was none of
0860G10 that_ exchange of gifts that had taken place in China.
0870G10 \0^*Gen. Wheeler was kind enough to_ give me a transistorised radio
0880G10 with a clock attached to it. ^*I am afraid it broke on
0890G10 the way to India and I have not been able to_ have it repaired
0900G10 as yet. ^Altogether I think it was a very successful
0910G10 tour and we were very impressed by the hospitality of
0920G10 everyone concerned. ^*I thought the American troops very sturdy
0930G10 and well equipped at that_ time. ^*I would never have
0940G10 guessed that my friend \0Gen. Giapp in Vietnam would defeat them
0950G10 in battle which just goes to_ show that in war equipment is
0960G10 not everything. ^Determination, good planning, and good brains
0970G10 are probably the battel-winning factors. $^*I also had
0980G10 an opportunity to_ visit the Soviet Union. \0^*Mr Chavan
0990G10 received an invitation to_ visit the Soviet Union and he decided
1000G10 to_ take me and we flew to Moscow. ^It was a most
1010G10 interesting trip. ^We landed at the Moscow airport and
1020G10 were put up in a *7dachow belonging to the Government of the
1030G10 Soviet Union. ^The main purpose of our visit was to_ see
1040G10 whether we could purchase any arms. ^Along with me was \0Lt.
1050G10 \0Col. Gurcharan Singh Sandhu, my Military Assistant.
1060G10 ^We worked all morning. ^After lunch I suggested that we continue
1070G10 with our work, and our Soviet hosts were very surprised,
1080G10 for they said we were the only people who wanted to_ work in the
1090G10 afternoon. ^We decided at that_ time to_ purchase light Amphibian
1100G10 tanks and when we returned to India everybody said that I was
1110G10 a bit crazy in going in for that_ equipment with a lightish gun.
1120G10 ^*I thought in case we had any trouble with East Pakistan
1130G10 it would come useful. **[sic**] ^*I was trying to_ think ahead.
1140G10 ^During the Bangla Desh operations the \0TI6 tanks as they were called
1150G10 did very useful work indeed. ^The Soviets were splendid
1160G10 hosts but we never got the opportunity to_ go to a ballet or a
1170G10 theatre because that_ was not the season. ^*I was very fond
1180G10 of ballet and used to_ see as many as possible in London.
1190G10 $^Among the Indian personalities I worked with I had
1200G10 a lot to_ do with *(0Y. B.*) Chavan while he was the Defence
1210G10 Minister. ^He took pains to_ read through files to_ understand
1220G10 the problem, and gave decisions without much fuss.
1230G10 \0^*Mr Morarji Desai was the Finance Minister at that_ time,
1240G10 an austere and straightforward man of wide administrative and
1250G10 political experience. ^He sent for me soon after I
1260G10 took over as Chief of Army Staff and assured me that I would
1270G10 not be short of funds for whatever I needed for the armed forces.
1280G10 ^He greatly impressed me. ^Being austere myself when
1290G10 I see the quality in someone else I respect it. ^At that_
1300G10 time both Chavan and \0Mr Desai got on very well together.
1310G10 ^This made it easy for the armed forces to_ get funds. ^One
1320G10 useful thing which \0Mr Chavan instituted was a meeting every
1330G10 morning of the three Chiefs of Staff, the Defence Secretary
1340G10 and one of the Joint Secretaries so that any problem between the
1350G10 Defence Ministry and the Services Headquarters could be
1360G10 thrashed out. ^It speeded up work immensely. ^It was a
1370G10 very good idea and I am told it has been kept on. **[sic**] $^*I
1380G10 had a chance to_ visit Egypt in early 1964. ^Last time when
1390G10 I met \0Maj. \0Gen. Negrib, he appeared to_ be very unsure of
1400G10 his position, and made no comments politically, militarily, or
1410G10 otherwise and like a sensible solider kept his mouth shut.
1420G10 ^As against this President Nasser*'s main theme in all his talks
1430G10 was the greatness of Egypt and the need for building up Egypt into
1440G10 a great country where people were not hungry and eveybody had a
1441G10 job. ^He was a real patriot.
1450G10 $^*Nasser struck me as a man in a great hurry wanting to_
1460G10 do something for his country. ^*I met Nasser a number of times.
1470G10 ^*I met Filed Marshal Hakim Amer only once.
1480G10 ^He was austere and aloof, and a close confidante of President
1490G10 Nasser. ^Militarily he did not seem very knowledgeable and
1500G10 I am sorry that he came to a sad end. ^Another person of whom we
1510G10 saw a lot in Cairo was Air Chief Marshal Sidiqi Mahmood,
1520G10 the commander of the Egyptian Air Force. ^Unfortunately
1530G10 in the end his plans did not work and the Israelis very
1540G10 nearly destroyed his air force. $^What was interesting
1550G10 during those days was the indoctrination taking place to_ make every
1560G10 Egyptian officer and soldier feel that Israel was his real enemy
1570G10 but at that_ stage Egyptian officers did not impress us unduly.
1580G10 ^Their subsequent performance in 1973 however, showed
1590G10 how a determined leadership can produce miracles and what a
1600G10 great contrast it was to_ watch the Egyptian armed forces function
1610G10 in the October 1973 war under president Sadat*'s leadership.
1620G10 ^We were surprised to_ find that a number of Egyptian
1630G10 officers spoke reasonable English whereas their wives spoke
1640G10 better French. ^This was the result of Anglo-French rule
1650G10 in Egypt when boys went to English schools and girls to French
1660G10 convents. $^We also had an opportunity of having a long
1670G10 talk with \0Gen. Ali Amer of the Joint Arb Command.
1680G10 ^He seemed very confident that in any future war the Arab armies
1690G10 would acquit themselves very creditably and the Egyptians
1700G10 would defeat the enemy as he said. ^He was a simple man with
1710G10 no particular expertise that_ I could discover. ^He appeared
1720G10 to_ be someone who would keep all elements under his command together.
1730G10 $^While passing through Beirut I did have an opportunity
1740G10 of meeting the famous socialist leader Kamal Jumblatt who
1750G10 impressed me by his sincerity, and his genuine friendship for India,
1760G10 his interest in Indian philosophy and *4yoga earned him a good
1770G10 name in India. ^*I was sorry to_ hear that he was assassinated
1780G10 during the current Lebanese civil war. $^May 1964 brought
1790G10 another tragedy for India. ^*I had gone to the Staff College
1800G10 Wellington to_ deliver a lecture when I was told of
1810G10 \0Mr Nehru*'s death. ^*I had seen him and discussed with him
1820G10 various things only two days ago. ^The air force were kind enough
1830G10 to_ send Delhi. **[sic**] ^There I asked for an aircraft to_ take
1840G10 me Coimbatore **[sic**] and I flew from Coimbatore to_ see if arrangements
1850G10 had been made for the funeral. \0^*Maj. \0Gen. Bhagwati
1860G10 Singh was the Area Commander. ^*I was not satisfied with
1870G10 the arrangements because I did not think there were sufficient
1880G10 troops available to_ man the roads and prevent people from breaking
1890G10 into the funeral cortege. $^*I went to_ see the President,
1900G10 \0Dr Radhakrishnan, and told him that I wanted to_ send for
1910G10 some more troops so that nothing went wrong and he said, "Do
1920G10 what you think is best." ^*I mentioned it to the Cabinet
1930G10 Secretary and I got some troops from Meerut which immediately
1940G10 set up an alarm that I was thinking of a military coup at that_
1950G10 time!*#
        **[no. of words = 02026**]

        **[txt. g11**]
0010G11 **<*3JAISHANKAR *PRASAD*0**> $^It was an orthodox *4Saivite
0020G11 house with a long-established tradition of worshipping as well
0030G11 as philosophising. ^*Kashmiri *4Saivagam or Monism was the
0040G11 accepted philosophy behind this family creed. ^They had their own
0050G11 temple which had become conspicuous for its elaborate rituals.
0060G11 ^Music concerts and dances formed a regular feature of this
0070G11 extremely sensuous and ritualistic religion. ^Since they lived
0080G11 in Benaras, and entertained *4pundits, they were naturally not averse
0090G11 to the subtleties of Brahminical learning: ^Both Pasad*'s
0100G11 grandfather and father knew enough Sanskrit and enough logic to_
0110G11 enjoy the philosophical games and to_ hold their own in theological
0120G11 debates. ^But with their ingrained pragmatism, they devoted
0130G11 more care to the building of their bodies rather than to the sophistication
0140G11 of their minds. ^The gymnasium in their value-system
0150G11 had an importance almost equal to that_ of the temple. ^All
0160G11 his uncles were wrestlers and body-builders. ^The father alone,
0170G11 being the eldest, had to_ shoulder all the burden of the growing
0180G11 business, although he too was a man of fine physique. ^The extravagant
0190G11 generosity and the luxurious style of living on the one hand
0200G11 and the idleness of the brothers on the other, gave a setback to
0210G11 the business. ^But so long as the father was alive, nobody seemed
0220G11 to_ bother. $^Then, all of a sudden, the father died.
0230G11 ^*Prasad was only eleven. ^The management of the house fell
0240G11 on the shoulders of his elder brother Shambhu Ratna. ^This
0250G11 elder brother was a great-hearted man, but lacked his father*'s
0260G11 business acumen and the business suffered further setbacks.
0270G11 ^Debts began to_ accumulate, but the good old tradition
0280G11 of generous giving and entertaining continued as before. ^Within
0290G11 a few years, the brother also passed away and the sixteen
0300G11 year old boy was brought face to_ face with the clumsiness of a
0310G11 reputed house in total disarray and with all the sordid particulars of
0320G11 life on top of it-- the hostility of mean and scheming relatives,
0330G11 endless litigation, heavy indebtedness, the mocking sympathy
0340G11 of so-called friends and well-wishers. ^His education was
0350G11 discontinued. ^Under the loving protection of the elder brother,
0360G11 and in the congenial company of rhyme-addicts of Urdu, Hindi and
0370G11 Brajbhasa, the boy had anxiously looked forward to dedicating
0380G11 his whole life to the service of the Muses. ^Now crass necessity
0390G11 demanded that he should become a successful man of the world at
0400G11 the age of sixteen and redeem the prestige of a house in shambles.
0410G11 ^Thus the songs of innocence were nipped in the bud and the
0420G11 future poet had to_ concentrate all his young energies on the conducting
0430G11 of his family business. ^Any other man in his place would
0440G11 have been crushed under this unberable burden. ^But Prasad
0450G11 was made of sterner stuff. ^He took an original revenge upon
0460G11 his circumstances and within a few years retrieved not only his family
0470G11 fortunes but his own intellectual and emotional assets also.
0480G11 ^Having set his house in order, he took up his own inner life in his hands
0490G11 and with a somewhat belated, but steady and unimpaired growth,
0500G11 astonished the literary world with the fruits of his genius.
0510G11 ^Quietly and unobtrusively his writings permeated the literary atmosphere
0520G11 and wrought a revolution in taste. ^No malicious tongue,
0530G11 no hostile criticism, no conspiracy of silence could stand in his way.
0540G11 ^For the spirit, the new essence that_ breathed in his
0550G11 writings was as irresistible as the man behind them.
0560G11 $^*Prasad was irresistible. ^All contemporary records testify
0570G11 to the graceful amicability of the man-- his unfailing common sense,
0580G11 his quiet demeanour, his wit and humour. ^His shop in the
0590G11 *4chowk was the daily evening haunt of writers and scholars--
0600G11 old and young alike. ^He was accessible to all and had none of
0610G11 the exclusive and hierarchical habits of the great about him and
0620G11 yet he seemed to_ command an authority with which it was impossible to_
0630G11 take undue liberties. ^If someone did and transgressed the
0640G11 limits of decorum and a certain standard of behaviour, he was sure
0650G11 to_ feel uncomfortable and ridiculous. ^An invisible and unwritten
0660G11 code of manners was part of his bonhomie and generous giving of
0670G11 self. ^Respect of others was deeply ingrained in his idea of
0680G11 self-respect. ^Vulgarity, meanness and scadnal were impossible
0690G11 in his presence. ^And yet he could afford to_ be extremely
0700G11 lively and engaging. ^His shop was situated in the very heart
0710G11 of the city and it was the area of the famous courtesans also.
0720G11 ^One of them lived just in front of the shop. $^The number
0730G11 of his friends was, to all appearance large indeed. ^They included
0740G11 poets, fiction writers, art-connoisseurs and university wits.
0750G11 ^But he himself says somewhere that a real friend is the rarest
0760G11 gift of life and that he had none. ^The fact is that behind his amiable
0770G11 and very sociable exterior, there lay an inner sanctum, where
0780G11 the lonely mind communed with itself. ^He was a man of tremendous
0790G11 reserve and detachment. ^As the concluding song of his play
0800G11 *3Vishakh*0 would have it: **[verse**] $\0^*Dr *(0R.N.*) Sharma, one
0810G11 of his disciple-friends, has left us an interesting record of a
0820G11 conversation between him and the poet. ^The convrrsation took
0830G11 place three years before his death. ^According to him Prasad
0840G11 said, "^*I have no friend that_ could come up to my definition of friendship".
0850G11 "^And what is your definition of friendhsip?"-- \0^*Dr
0860G11 Sharma asked. "^Well, my definition of friendship is best
0870G11 summed up in the relationship that_ existed between Arjuna and
0880G11 Krishna" was Prasad*'s answer. $^What was his attitude
0890G11 to his friends then? ^The answer to this question is best summed up
0900G11 in his own poetic testament *3Ansu.*0 ^The relevant couplet is:
0910G11 **[verses**]
0930G11 $^A research scholar once asked \0Dr. *(0R. N.*) Sharma whether
0940G11 there were any exemplary characters in Indian history or mythology
0950G11 that_ could have inspired the poet in his life. ^To this question,
0960G11 \0Dr. Sharma gave an answer that_ seems to me very suggestive and revealing.
0970G11 \0^*Dr. Sharma said that Prasad*'s inner or subjective
0980G11 personality was supported by the ideal of Krishna and that the
0990G11 outward social or objective personality was moulded by the character of
1000G11 Rama. $^The man behind the poet seems to_ have possessed tremendous
1010G11 reserves of patience and detachment. ^This trait of unruffled
1020G11 serenity had become a part of his habitual self. ^The philosophy
1030G11 that_ has come to_ be associated with his name-- the philosophy
1040G11 of '*4Anandavad', or the principle of joy in existence-- had not
1050G11 merely been an inheritance; it was earned by him against the heaviest
1060G11 odds and through great spiritual turmoil. ^His life had been
1070G11 dotted by tragic events. ^It began and ended in tragedy. ^While
1080G11 he was at the peak of his creative powers, a fatal disease overtook him
1090G11 and he submitted to it in a resigned spirit-- declining to_ leave
1100G11 his beloved 'Kashi' in search of a cure in a sanatorium. ^As we contemplate
1110G11 the tragic career of this poet, a line of 'Yeats' about the poet
1130G11 Keats begins
1140G11 to_ reverberate in our mind: "^His art is happy but who knows his
1150G11 mind?" ^But we do seem to_ gain intimate glimpses of this mind
1160G11 also if we dig below the surface not only of this happy art of his
1170G11 poetry, but also of the not so happy art of his prose fiction.
1180G11 $^Of all the reminiscences of *Prasad that_ I have had an opportunity
1190G11 to_ explore in the course of this study, that of Jainendra Kumar--
1200G11 the distinguished Hindi novelist seems to me to_ get closest to
1210G11 the real essence of the man. ^Somebody asked Jainendra to_ highlight
1220G11 that_ aspect of Prasad*'s personality which appealed to him most.
1230G11 ^The answer of Jainendra was: $^The aspect that_ appealed to
1240G11 me most was the aspect of the born doubter and unbeliever. ^To me,
1250G11 he is the first great freethinker of our literature. ^*Premchand
1260G11 was not an atheist in the fundamentals of his being. ^All his
1270G11 so-called atheism was exhausted around God. ^Otherwise he was a man of
1280G11 unshakable convictions. ^Only towards the end of his life, he shows
1290G11 some signs of shakenness. ^*Prasad never bowed his head before anything.
1300G11 ^He met every assumption-- moral, religious, philosophical or
1310G11 political-- with a big question mark. ^He didn*'4t rest anywhere:
1320G11 nothing was axiomatic with him. ^Read his novel *3Kankal*0 and look at
1330G11 the sheer surgery of it-- reducing everything to the clarity of a skeleton--
1340G11 bringing out the ugliest and the most unpalatable truths about man
1350G11 in a society that_ stinks with corruption. ^This, to my mind is the real
1360G11 essence of the man. ^In outward appearance, of course, he was the
1370G11 very model of the refined citizen. ^His dress, decorum, carriage, behaviour,
1380G11 everything about him was orderly and graceful. ^No trace of
1390G11 disorder or clumsiness could be detected there. ^Well that_ was the aspect
1400G11 he chose to_ present to the world around him. ^One felt as if his
1410G11 whole life was a big drawing room. ^It is said that he did most
1420G11 of his writing at night. ^It must be so; because his day belonged to
1430G11 the world. ^Only the dark, solitary midnight hours brought him to
1440G11 himself. $"^Well, I could not fall for the refined and rather
1450G11 aristocratic exterior. ^Precisely because it was so spotlessly perfect.
1460G11 ^It bore the mark of culture, and I associate this 'culture'
1470G11 more with money than with spirit. $^Even those few pages of
1480G11 his last unfinished novel *3Iravati*0 will bear out my point. ^All his
1490G11 life, Prasad waged a continuous and unremitting war with world-negating
1500G11 philosophies. ^Everywhere he seems to_ invite you to a complete
1510G11 acceptance of life in all its aspects. ^That_ is how he looked at
1520G11 *4Hinduism. ^This to my mind is the main emphasis, the real hard
1530G11 core of his creation. $"^It was precisely because he was so tormented
1540G11 with questons, so inescapably intellectual, that he could reach
1550G11 a point where a person can no longer subsist on intellect itself.
1560G11 ^Intellect in its ultimate maturity begins to_ lay bare its own inadequacy.
1570G11 ^It is then and then only that real assent, real belief comes to_
1580G11 salvage the intellect itself from its self-contradictions. ^That_, to
1590G11 my mind explains the role of *4Shradha in *3Kamayani.*0 ^He accepted
1600G11 *4Shradha only at the end of a long journey through the wayward complexities
1610G11 of intellect . ^Only the intensity of conflict can lead to the
1620G11 desire for reaching something beyond the conflict. ^All intellectuality
1630G11 is fulfilled there; though the intellect goes on waging a continuous
1640G11 strife with that_ eventuality. ^*Prasad*'s hero Manu in *3Kamayani*0
1650G11 may well have been the man who suffered behind that_ public face."
1660G11 $*<*3Early Poems and the 'Magic Fountain'*0*>
1670G11 $^The writings of Prasad can be divided into three groups, marking
1680G11 the three stages of his evolution as a writer. ^The collections of poetry
1690G11 called *3Chitradhar, Kanan Kusum, Maharana Ka Mahatva*0 and *3Prem-Pathik*0
1700G11 belong to the first period. ^The plays *3Rajyashree*0 and
1710G11 *3Vaishakh*0 also in their first forms can be assigned to this period
1720G11 as aslo most of the short stories that_ were later collected in *3Chhaya.*0
1730G11 ^Then in the first half of the twenties, he made his mark as a poet
1740G11 with the collection of poems called *3Jharana;*0 and his reputation as
1750G11 a story writer with two collections of short stories *3Chhaya*0 and *3Pratidhwani.*0
1760G11 ^He also achieved his fame as a playwright with the publication
1770G11 during this period of two historical plays, *3Vishakh*0 and *3Ajatasatru*0
1780G11 as well as *3Kamana,*0 an allegorical play. ^But creatively
1790G11 the richest period coincides with the last decade of his life from 1927
1800G11 to 1937, during which he not only produced the famous poem *3Aansu*0
1810G11 and and the epic *3Kamayani,*0 but also the three novels *3Kankal,*0
1820G11 *3Titali*0 and *3Iravati*0 on the one hand and the best of his plays
1830G11 *3Chandragupta,*0 *3Skandagupta,*0 *3Druvaswamini*0 and *3Ek Ghoont*0
1831G11 on the other. ^Besides this, two collections of short stories
1840G11 *3Akashdeep*0 and *3Aandhi*0 and a book of
1850G11 his important essays also appeared during this period. $^We thus
1860G11 see, that at every stage of his literary career, Prasad had been working
1870G11 simultaneously in more than one genre. ^His plays, inspite of the
1880G11 fact that they are prose-plays interspersed with lyrics, seem to_ be more
1890G11 intimately related to his poetic workshop than the works of prose-fiction,
1900G11 although there also we can feel the presence of the poet through
1910G11 some mechanism of remote control.*#
        **[no. of words = 02033**]

        **[txt. g12**]
0010G12 **<*3Sasthi Brata*'s London Notebook*0**>
0020G12 $^Merchants trading in the race industry are having a field day once
0030G12 again. ^Hardly a day goes by without some brown or black face *(punditifying*)
0040G12 on the box or in print, in sonorous language, excruciatingly
0050G12 studded with cliches and the most banal of platitudes. ^*Margaret
0060G12 Thatcher*'s declaration on Monday night produced the predictable
0070G12 holier-than-thou effusions from the Labour Party, with no one
0080G12 to_ pipe up and say that it was they who had first introduced all those
0090G12 incipient legal barriers against coloured contamination in their 1967
0100G12 Immigration Act. $^The culpable dishonesty, in talking
0110G12 about "the highest population density in Europe" and the imminent threat
0120G12 of "a culture which had done so much for the world being swamped",
0130G12 was left peaceably uncastigated, while a futile fuss was raised over
0140G12 figures and the probable effect of extrapolating present trends
0150G12 to the year 2000 \0A.D. $^*I should not wish to_ dispute \0Mrs
0160G12 Thatcher*'s claim that Britain had done a lot for the world but should
0170G12 also humbly point out that, while this great nation was
0180G12 busily doling out "good" to certain, shall we say, less than
0190G12 fair-skinned peoples in the world over the past couple of centuries, she
0200G12 did not do too badly out of them either, thank you very much.
0210G12 $^The central point has been missed in this so-called "great debate".
0220G12 ^As a direct legacy of Imperial hegemony the Anglo-Saxon
0230G12 nations of Europe inculcated in their indigenous proletariat
0240G12 the heinous notion that coloured men are inferior. ^Since we,
0250G12 the white men, said the rulers, went out and managed to_ subdue
0260G12 and conquer the *4kafirs in those far off lands, it *3follows*0 that
0270G12 every one of you is superior to every one of them. ^And since
0280G12 conditions for working men and women, especially in nineteenth and
0290G12 early twentieth century industrial Britain, were literally hideous,
0300G1: there was solace in the thought that there were people worse
0310G12 off and lower down than they were. $^So now, when that_ same
0320G12 working man sees a lot of those "low down" coloured blokes around, he
0330G12 finds pleasure in kicking the fellow below him just as his masters
0340G12 found delight in kicking his father. ^It is the old game of "who
0350G12 is higher up in the pecking order", and, the more inarticulate and
0360G12 moronic you are, the more likely you will be to_ resort to fisticuffs,
0370G12 to_ prove your superiority, your virility even. $^With a cynicism
0380G12 which makes me howl in despair, these subtle, subconscious
0390G12 turmoils are being exploited by politicians on both sides of the
0400G12 fence. ^And not a few of our Asian brethren have also
0410G12 learned to_ play the game of jumping on the bandwagon, with an eye
0420G12 to a quick spot of publicity or a place on some committee or another.
0430G12 $^*I shouldn*'4t think there was anything more sad than members
0440G12 of the same human race being deliberately set at each other*'s
0450G12 throats for the sake of private gain. $^THE Daily
0460G12 Mirror began serialising "The Pencourt Files" (authors: Barry
0470G12 Penrose and Roger Courtier) on Monday by claiming to_ blow
0480G12 the gaff on what went on behind closed doors in Whitehall.
0490G12 ^In an obvious bid to_ catch the whiff of Watergate and increased
0500G12 sales of course, the reporters are characterized as intrepid
0510G12 investigative journalists, on a par with those other two men who
0520G12 dislodged Nixon. $^But the disappointing fact is that London
0530G12 is both less venal and more petty than Washington can ever be.
0540G12 ^We have had sex scandals here, though only on the peripheries
0550G12 of real power, while the ambitious and totally amoral courtiers
0560G12 of Tricky Dicky were spotless in their personal lives.
0570G12 ^The prizes were much bigger on the other side of the Atlantic,
0580G12 and correspondingly the devious and sometimes wicked means adopted
0590G12 to_ attain them involved far greater risks. $^Here the
0600G12 story fritters away with a hint or two of possible bugging of Downing
0610G12 Street by the Secret Service, some dubious South African meddling
0620G12 in the Jeremy Thorpe affair and perhaps a degree of collusion
0630G12 between Harold Wilson and the Palace over the timing of his
0640G12 resignation announcement, to_ deflect attention from Princess
0650G12 Margaret*'s separation from her husband. $^Small beer, compared
0660G12 to what Martha Mitchell had to_ say about the Nixon Administration.
0670G12 ^And the grisly details that_ "Deep Throat" supplied
0680G12 to Woodward and Bernstein. ^One or two things do emerge
0690G12 however. ^*Lady Falklander*'s obsession with Wilsons*'s
0700G12 "historic" role seems now certain to_ occupy a footnote or two in
0710G12 the history books. ^And so is Sir Harold*'s brazen distribution
0720G12 of public patronage to chums and cronies. $^The point
0730G12 that_ amused me most was the thorough going manner in which the ex-Prime
0740G12 Minister felt obliged to_ deny the allegations in an extensive
0750G12 interview to The Times. $^Having requoted the story
0760G12 that there was talk of an impending military takeover of the government
0770G12 in Britain Harold Wilson said: "^*I had heard all this before...
0780G12 and was not impressed; although they added that they had been
0790G12 assured that I would be confined in an appropriately comfortable
0800G12 place, a later suggestion was that it would be the Tower". ^*I
0810G12 can just imagine the scenario. ^Grown men sitting around a table,
0820G12 seriously discussing the prospect of a Prime Minister of Great
0830G12 Britain, in the late 1970s, being bundled off to a cosy little
0840G12 room in the Tower... $^Someone somewhere must have taken
0850G12 an overdose of Daphne Du Maurier with a shot of Sexton
0860G12 Blake thrown in. ^*I can*'4t think of any other explanation. ^Can you?
0870G12 $^THERE is a mood here to_ revive the late Victorian and
0880G12 early Edwardian writers mostly in dramatized form on the telly.
0890G12 ^First in line was Galsworthy with "The Forsyte Saga",
0900G12 for which the \0BBC has literally earned hundreds of thousands
0910G12 of pounds. ^Then there was Trollope, who also scored rather well.
0920G12 $^On Tuesday night there was Frederick Lonsdale*'s
0930G12 "^Arent*'4t We All?" ^*I had quite forgotten how superbly
0940G12 crafted those plays were and what was meant by "entertainment"
0950G12 only half a century ago. ^Of course Somerset Maugham
0960G12 was also writing plays in those days (the stage is where he made most
0970G12 of his money), as was the young Jack Priestley. ^*Shaw was
0980G12 in and out the whole time, and occasionally you could even see a Wilde
0990G12 in the West End. $^Perhaps it would be somewhat superior
1000G12 to_ say that the principle ingredient of a good popular adaption
1010G12 of a turn of the century play must be the second rate quality of the
1020G12 author*'s mind. ^*Galsworthy and Trollope certainly fall
1030G12 into this category, as do Lonsdale and Maugham. ^With
1040G12 Shaw and Wilde we come into totally different territory, which is
1050G12 perhaps why neither of these two do so well on the box.
1060G12 $^Anyway, to_ get back to Lonsdale, the play was a lovely reconstruction
1070G12 of a period when there was grace and charm and servants and chandeliers;
1080G12 when being "wicked" was something exotic. ^The ease with
1090G12 which dramatists could use normal, everyday situations with
1100G12 telling effect came from the obvious conflict between human impulse
1110G12 and the rigidly laid down laws by which you were supposed to_
1120G12 live. $^So when a man kissed a woman who was not his wife there was
1130G12 cause for drama. ^Today, there aren*'4t such specific social
1140G12 dictates any more, on either side of which the armies can be ranged.
1150G12 ^*I don*'4t say this is a bad thing. ^But it does make it
1160G12 tougher for the poor dramatist, who has to_ ferret around for more
1170G12 complex issues to_ set up his dialectical scaffold.
1180G12 $^*Lonsdale started the play with an illicit kiss by husband to flighty
1190G12 socialite, and ended with the revelation that the wife, who had
1191G12 pretended outrage at chancing upon the above scene, was doing exactly
1200G12 the same thing way out in Egypt only some two weeks
1210G12 previously. $^Conclusion: Human beings are frail, it*'1s
1220G12 best to_ kiss and make up. $^The final curtain comes down as
1230G12 a vicar complains to an elderly rake about what he (the vicar)
1240G12 had been called the previous night by none other than the host
1250G12 himself. $"^You said I was a bloody fool", whimpers the man
1260G12 of God. $"^My dear fellow", replies the rake, "aren*'4t we all?"
1270G12 $^The language was so charming and quaint that it reminded me
1280G12 of a chaste Indian girl of 32 who was recently talking to me
1290G12 of "free love". $^Innocently, I queried: When was it of any
1300G12 other kind?" $^THE autobiography of Abba Eban, the former Israeli
1310G12 Foreign Minister, came out here this week amid quite a deal of fanfare
1320G12 from his long-standing friends. ^A South African Jew
1330G12 by birth, Eban was educated at Cambridge and served in the \0RAF
1340G12 during the war. $^*I*'3ve always found him an engaging and
1350G12 articulate personality, and he came over very well in an extended
1360G12 \0BBC interview to_ mark the publication of his book. ^He
1370G12 spoke of Israel as a country which had been choked and hermetically
1380G12 sealed off from its neighbours ever since its birth. ^Paying
1390G12 tribute to Sadat*'s sensational visit to Jerusalem in November
1400G12 last year, he said that, once fresh air is let into a confined
1410G12 space, the prospect of hope insures that things can never be quite
1420G12 the same again. $^Listening to him, I was reminded again
1430G12 about the rancour, bitterness and bloodshed that_ could and should
1440G12 have been avoided between India and Pakistan during all those years,
1450G12 when both countries seemed to_ have been locked in obdurate positions
1460G12 for no better reason than a kind of adolescent pride.
1470G12 $^Now that Pakistan is dismembered, it is easier for the gaint neighbour
1480G12 to_ be magnanimous. ^But is it possible to_ compute the
1490G12 waste in resources and national psychic energy which should have
1500G12 been channelled to_ ameliorate hunger, destitution and disease
1510G12 within each other*'s frontiers. $^It is an Issue that_
1520G12 puzzles and saddens me, the more I reflect upon it. ^Remember
1530G12 Korea and all those years of MacArthur? ^What is happening
1540G12 to South Korea now? ^Where is Synghman Ree?
1550G12 $^Then, long ago, you will recall the famous "peace with honour"
1560G12 slogan that_ Nixon used to_ hurl at audiences in connexion with
1570G12 Vietnam. ^*I wonder what he would now say about the state of South
1580G12 Vietnam. ^Did all those thousands of young men *3have
1590G12 to_ die, did those villages *3have to_ be burnt down, before
1600G12 some head strong imbecile sitting in the hot seat realized that
1610G12 you cannot fight inevitability? $^This week an eighteen-month-old
1620G12 baby suffered three bullet wounds in a terrorist attack in Northern
1630G12 Ireland. ^At the time I write this, they say the infant
1640G12 might live. ^But what screaming infernal savagery? ^Of course
1650G12 the British will get out of Eire, as they got out of
1660G12 India, as the Israelis will get out of Gaza and Sinai and the
1670G12 West Bank. $^Yet I bet no one has a computer ticking off the
1680G12 number of innocent and precious human lives that_ will have to_ be lost
1690G12 before the obvious and the just is accomplished. $^DINING
1700G12 at High Table as a guest at one of the older Xford colleges
1710G12 is a socially grand and intellectually thrilling experience for
1720G12 an outsider like myself who missed his opportunity of going up to
1730G12 Oxbridge. ^It combined a sense of privilege and pleasure. ^Privilege
1740G12 in that_ I was invited by none other than Freddie (Sir
1750G12 Alfred) Ayer and pleasure in that_ I was instantly and unpompoulsy
1760G12 made privy to_ a world I could never have *3imagined
1770G12 even from all my reading of it in autobiographies and period pieces.
1780G12 ^It was as if the curtains over Alladin*'s cave had been suddenly
1790G12 ripped aside and what I witnessed exceeded the wildest fantasies
1800G12 of my imagination. ^*I exaggerate not. $^Let me explain
1810G12 that "guests at High Table" is a time-honoured institution
1820G12 at the two English universities. ^And just as the "guest" is meant
1830G12 to_ be suitably bedazzled by what he sees, hears and ingests,
1840G12 so are the inmates meant to_ offer up inaudible incantations
1850G12 of thanksgiving for being provided with objective evidence from the
1860G12 external world that they (\0i.e. the Dons and Fellows) actually
1870G12 exist. $^By this you will infer that there is an air of unreality
1880G12 about these places and such occasions.*#
        **[no. of words = 02014**]

        **[txt. g13**]
0010G13 **<BACKGROUND AND THE PRE-EMERGENCY DAYS**>
0020G13 $^To_ meet the challenge of rapid urbanization and to_ prevent haphazard
0030G13 development, Jawaharlal Nehru conceived the idea of setting up
0040G13 a single planning authority for the entire metropolitan region.
0050G13 ^Accordingly, the Delhi Development Act was formulated and passed
0060G13 by Parliament in 1957, and the Delhi Development Authority
0070G13 undertook the task of formulation of a Master Plan under the statutory
0080G13 provisions of the Act. ^After publication of the draft Master
0090G13 Plan and inviting public objections, the Delhi Development
0100G13 Authority prepared the final Master Plan and it was enforced with
0110G13 effect from 1 September 1962. ^It had the approval of the Union
0120G13 Cabinet and Parliament. ^The Master Plan (1962-1981)
0130G13 assessed the existing deficiencies in various directions-- housing,
0140G13 community facilities, water, power, transport, \0etc.-- and estimated
0150G13 future requirements. ^To_ hold the projected population of 46 *4lakhs,
0160G13 the Plan envisaged urbanization of about 1,10,000 acres of land
0170G13 up to 1981 as against 42,600 acres in 1960.
0180G13 ^It stipulated that 42 per cent of the
0190G13 area should be earmarked for residential use, 23.7 per cent for recreational
0200G13 and green use, 8 per cent for public utilities, 7.4 per cent
0210G13 for government offices, 5.4 per cent for industrial use, 2.3 per cent
0220G13 for commercial use and the remaining land for circulation, institutional
0230G13 use, and other community facilities. ^In other words, a rational
0240G13 synthesis of various needs of the community was attempted to_ bring
0250G13 about balanced development of the city. ^Obviously, the areas
0260G13 needed for public utilities, community facilities, such as roads, bridges,
0270G13 schools, hospitals and the like, could not be allowed to_ be squatted
0280G13 upon. $*<*3THE SCHEME AND ITS BRIEF HISTORY*0*>
0290G13 $^In 1960, when preparation of the Delhi Master Plan was in
0300G13 hand, a scheme, known as Sqatter Resettlement Scheme, was formulated
0310G13 to_ deal with the problem of slums and squatting on public lands.
0320G13 ^It was sanctioned by the Union Cabinet in 1960.
0330G13 ^The scheme envisaged removal of squatters from public lands and
0340G13 allotment of alternative plots to them in colonies to_ be developed for
0350G13 the purpose. ^A special census of squatters was conducted in June-July
0360G13 1960, and only those squatters who were enumerated in this census
0370G13 were declared eligible for alternative accommodation. ^Persons
0380G13 occupying public lands after the census (July 1960) were to_
0390G13 be treated as "ineligible" and they were to_ be evicted without
0400G13 provision of any alternative accommodation. ^The scheme, I must
0410G13 make it clear, did not take into consideration the factors brought out
0420G13 by me in the preceding chapter. ^At the time of its formulation,
0430G13 there was hardly any recognition of the fact that new forces of
0440G13 unprecedented magnitude and complexity were sweeping the city.
0450G13 ^Nevertheless, the scheme was somewhat of an innovation. ^It recognized
0460G13 the need for alternative accommodation and also for the planned
0470G13 development and environmental upgradation of the city. $^The
0480G13 salient features of the scheme, as originally envisaged, were allotment
0490G13 of 80 *(0sq. yds.*) of plots to each eligible squatter family on
0500G13 a 99-year lease basis. ^The plot was to_ be provided with a latrine,
0510G13 a water tap, and a plinth on which the allottee could build a hut
0520G13 or a house according to his need. ^The scheme was entrusted to the
0530G13 Delhi Municipal Corporation for implementation. $^During
0540G13 the course of implementation, a number of practical difficulties arose.
0550G13 ^It was noticed that the provisions of the scheme were misued
0560G13 with impunity. ^The allottees soon sold their plots on monetary
0570G13 considerations to comparatively well-to-do persons and again squatted
0580G13 elsewhere on public land. ^It was also noticed that, majority
0590G13 of the squatters were unable to_ pay the monthly instalment of
0600G13 \0Rs 12.79. ^Accordingly, the scheme was revised with the approval
0610G13 of the Union Cabinet. ^The revised scheme eliminated the
0620G13 element of ownership and provided for allotment of open developed
0630G13 plots or small tenements on rents. ^It was thought that, out of
0640G13 the 50,000 eligible squatters, not more than 5,000 would be in a position
0650G13 to_ take a tenement on rent and not more than 20,000 would be able
0660G13 to_ afford the rent of open developed plots of 80 *(0sq.
0670G13 yds.*) ^Accordingly, provision was made for construction of 5,000
0680G13 tenements and development of 20,000 plots.
0690G13 ^For the remaining 25,000 families who could afford only low rent, it
0700G13 was decided to_ allot 25 *(0sq. yds.*) plots on a monthly rent of \0Rs
0710G13 3-50 plus water and conservancy charges of \0Re 1 per month.
0720G13 ^Those plots were to_ be provided common facilities for water and
0730G13 sanitation as well as street lighting. $^During the course of
0740G13 implementation of the revised scheme, it was found that "eligible"
0750G13 and "ineligible" squatters were intermixed. ^As it was difficult
0760G13 to_ clear areas without removing both "eligible" and "ineligible"
0770G13 squatters, it was decided by the government in May 1964 to_ allot
0780G13 camping sites of 25 *(0sq. yds.*) each even to "ineligible" squatters
0790G13 in far off colonies on payment of full rent as compared to subsidized
0800G13 rent charged from "eligible" squatters.
0810G13 $*<*3THE SCHEME AND POLITICAL PARTIES*0*> $^As the
0820G13 problem proved much more complex than was originally thought, a comprehensive
0830G13 review of the scheme was undertaken in 1967. ^A high
0840G13 level Study Group was appointed by the Home Minister under the
0850G13 chairmanship of the Minister for Works and Housing, Jagan Nath
0860G13 Rao. ^Besides the Chairman, the members of the Study
0870G13 Group were \0Dr *(0A.N.*) Jha, Lieutenant Governor, Vijay
0880G13 Kumar Malhotra, Chief Executive Councillor, Hans Raj, Mayor,
0890G13 Kidar Nath Sahani, Chairman of the standing Committee of
0900G13 Delhi Municipal Corporation, Shiv Charan Gupta, leader of
0910G13 the opposition in the Metropolitan Council, Des Raj Choudhry,
0920G13 leader of the opposition in the Delhi Municipal Corporation, Kanwar
0930G13 Lal Gupta, \0MP, Brahm Prakash, \0MP, santokh Singh,
0940G13 \0MP, and \0Miss Surinder Saini, Senior Vic-president of New
0950G13 Delhi municipal committee. $^During the deliberations of the
0960G13 Study Group, one of the basic points that_ clearly emerged was
0970G13 that the problem of squatting would be incapable of solution if politics
0980G13 got injected in it. ^At the very outset, therefore, the Study
0990G13 Group unanimously agreed that the squatter problem in Delhi
1000G13 would be treated entirely as "non-political both inside the Group
1010G13 as well as outside." $^The Study Group estimated that in
1020G13 August 1967, there were about 66,000 "post-July 1960" squatters
1030G13 and 34,000 "pre-July 1960" squatters. ^The former category
1040G13 was termed as "ineligible" and the latter as "eligible." ^Keeping
1050G13 in view the financial constraints and the paucity of land and the desirability
1060G13 of liquidatng the problem expeditiously, the Study Group
1070G13 recommended that further construction of tenements and development
1080G13 of plots of 80 *(0sq. yds.*) should be abandoned and in lieu thereof
1090G13 larger number of plots of 25 *(0sq. yds.*) should be developed for
1100G13 resettlement of squatters. ^It also recommended that 66,000 "ineligible"
1110G13 squatter families should be removed to the periphery of
1120G13 the city where minimum facilities like drinking water and community
1130G13 latrines should be provided. $^The above unanimous recommendations
1140G13 of the Study Group were accepted by the central government and
1150G13 modifications made in the scheme accordingly. ^Incensed by the
1160G13 problem of squatting the Study Group had also recommended that squatting
1170G13 on public land should be made a cognizable offence punishable
1180G13 for imprisonment up to three years. ^This recommendation, too,
1190G13 was accepted by the government in principle, and further action was
1200G13 to_ be taken to_ give it a legal shape. $^What do the above stipulations
1210G13 of the scheme and thinking of the government and the Study
1220G13 Group comprising representatives of leading political parties on
1230G13 the subject show? ^These stipulations clearly indicate that all
1240G13 of them were keen to_ deal with the problem firmly and shift the
1250G13 squatters to the periphery of the city where they wanted minimum facilities
1260G13 of drinking water and community latrines to_ be provided.
1270G13 ^Further, they wanted to_ make squatting on public land a cognizable
1280G13 offence. ^Therefore, the Delhi Development Authority
1290G13 had to_ act broadly within the framework of the above scheme which,
1300G13 incidentally, is even operativre today. ^In view of the above
1310G13 facts, is it fair to_ blame the Delhi Development Authority?
1320G13 $^In fact, what was done by the Delhi Development Authority
1330G13 during the emergency is more liberal, more just and humane than
1340G13 what was envisaged in the scheme sanctioned by the Government of India
1350G13 on the basis of the recommendations of the Study Group. ^For
1360G13 instance, although the government orders envisaged resettlement of
1370G13 squatters in the periphery of the city, yet majority of the 27 resettlement
1380G13 colonies were developed within the urbanizable limits on some of
1390G13 the most costly lands available at that_ time. ^Take, for instance,
1400G13 the resettlement colony of Shakurpur. ^Here, about 10,000
1410G13 families, comprising a population of about 50,000, have been resettled.
1420G13 ^The colony is located right on the Ring Road, opposite
1430G13 one of the most thriving industrial colony of Lwarnece Road.
1440G13 ^In Delhi Development Authority*'s residential colony of Paschimpuri,
1450G13 which is about two to three miles away from the city than the
1460G13 resettlement colony of Shakurpur, residential plots have been
1470G13 selling at the rate of about \0Rs 300 per *(0sq. yd.*). ^Likewise,
1480G13 the Mangolpuri resettlement site is opposite the Paschimpuri
1490G13 residential colony. ^It has a population of about one *4Lakh,
1500G13 and covers valuable lands. ^If market value of these lands are
1510G13 calculated, the extent of the benefit given to the resettlers, who have
1520G13 an option to_ keep the plot on nominal rent or purchase it on nominal
1530G13 price of hire-purchase basis, would become self-evident.
1540G13 $^Again, for most of the squatters the government scheme envisaged
1550G13 "provision of absolutely minimum facilities like drinking water and community
1560G13 latrines, particularly for women." ^Against this stipulation,
1570G13 the Delhi Development Authority provided even for the ineligible
1580G13 squatters, which constituted majority of the squatter population,
1590G13 fully developed plots, metalled roads, brick paved pathways, tubewells,
1600G13 public hydrants, storm water drain, culverts, street lighting,
1610G13 parks and playgrounds, water borne community latrines, schools, dispensaries,
1620G13 post offices, milk booth, television-cum-community centres,
1630G13 \0etc. ^Moreover, it is not only the scale of amenities but the speed
1640G13 with which these were made available that_ was significant.
1650G13 ^Previously, it took a long time to_ provide such facilities.
1660G13 $^Before we go into the details of what was done with regard
1670G13 to removal and resettlement of squatters during the emergency, it
1680G13 is necessary to_ refer to what happened in the period before the emergency
1690G13 and what was the thinking of the government and public men on the
1700G13 subject. ^It will be better to_ deal with this period in two
1710G13 parts: (**=1) the period from 1967-68 to January 1972 and (**=2) January
1720G13 1972 to June 1975.
1730G13 $*<\0*3Dr *(0A. N.*) Jha*'s Time*0*> $^The squatter
1740G13 Resettlement Scheme was sanctioned by the government of India
1750G13 in 1960 and its implementation was entrusted to the Delhi Municipal
1760G13 Corporation. ^The central government was, however, not
1770G13 satisfied with the performance of the Delhi Municipal Corporation.
1780G13 ^It, therefore, decided in 1967-68 to_ entrust the implementation
1790G13 of the scheme to the Dehli Development Authority.
1800G13 $^A vigorous clearance-cum-resettlement-cum-redevelopment drive was
1810G13 launched by the \0DDA in 1967-68. ^The first major operation was
1820G13 undertaken in the Yamuna *4bazar area near Nigam Bodh Ghat,
1830G13 between the Yamuna and the city wall. ^The Ghat is a sacred
1840G13 and historical site. ^Its antiquity dates back to Pandava*'s
1850G13 time. ^*Yudisthra is believed to_ have performed *5asvamadha
1860G13 Yagya*6 here around 1500 \0B.C., when Indraprastha, the present
1870G13 site of Purana Quilla, was the capital of Pandava Kingdom.
1880G13 $^Notwithstanding the historical antiquity, sacred character of
1890G13 the Nigam Bodh Ghat, the natural beauty of the River Front and
1900G13 its green land use, the site had been allowed to_ become a vast stinking
1910G13 slum with about 6,000 squatters, scores of cattle dairies, and
1920G13 about 700 non-conforming industries and godowns. ^The land was
1930G13 slushy, uneven, and floodable with hardly any drainage, latrines
1940G13 and clean water supply. ^It was the foulest nauseating slum, incapable
1950G13 of being developed or serviced at reasonable cost. ~yet
1960G13 vested interests, political as well as financial, prevented the clearance
1970G13 of this slum and relocation of about 30,000 people in healthier environment
1980G13 with proper layouts and basic civic amenities. ^All this
1990G13 was done in the name of human considerations. ^Politics could
2000G13 not trade in human misery in worse form. $^The damage done to
2010G13 the general environment and the cityscape was equally distressing.*#
        **[no. of words = 02002**]

        **[txt. g14**]
0010G14 **<*3REMINISCENCES OF THE NEHRU AGE*0**>
0020G14 $*<*3Nehru and I*0*> $*3^SOON AFTER NEHRU*0 was released
0030G14 from prison in 1945 I wrote to him from Assam, where I was then,
0040G14 saying that I would like to_ join him in the service of the nation.
0050G14 ^His reply did not reach me because it was intercepted by the \0CID.
0060G14 ^*I wrote him another letter. ^He replied promptly,
0070G14 and this time it reached me. ^He in reply said that he was soon coming
0080G14 to Assam and that I might meet him then. ^He had specified the
0090G14 place, date and approximate time. ^*I met him. ^We talked in
0100G14 generalities. ^He said life with him would be hard and uncertain.
0110G14 ^*I told him about my only experience in politics which was in college.
0120G14 ^There were no Congress movements in Travancore. ^But during
0130G14 Sir *(0C. P.*) Ramaswami Aiyar*'s oppressive regime I organized
0140G14 a public demonstration by students, defying prohibitory orders.
0150G14 ^The police chief of the area came to the college with instructions to_
0160G14 arrest the principal organizer of the demonstration. ^He interrogated
0170G14 many students but no one betrayed me. ^*I also told Nehru that
0180G14 after taking my degree from Madras University I had to_ work
0190G14 because I did not like to_ run away from my obligations to my parents,
0200G14 brothers and sisters. ^*I added that I was a bachelor and had no
0210G14 intention of marrying, and further that what I was looking for was a purpose
0220G14 in life and that I was prepared to_ live dangerously. ^Before
0221G14 I took leave of him, I said that within a month
0230G14 I would be leaving Assam for Travancore for a short visit to my
0240G14 parents. ^He asked me to_ visit him in Allahabad for a few days
0250G14 and stay in his house and have some leisurely talks with him. ^At
0260G14 our meeting, neither he nor I had any thought of a change of government
0270G14 in India, even though later it so happened that the change occurred
0280G14 in less than one year. $^In December 1945, at Anand Bhawan,
0290G14 Nehru again talked in generalities. ^He talked about the bananas
0300G14 and coconuts and spices and lakes and lagoons of Kerala. ^*I
0310G14 quoted to him a couplet from Kalidasa in support of the theory that
0320G14 Kalidasa was a Malayali: **[verses quoted**] ^He laughed.
0330G14 ^He said that barring the grandeur of the Himalayas, Kerala was the
0340G14 most beautiful place in India. ^*I reminded him that the Vindhyas
0350G14 and the Western Ghats were older than the Himalayas and that there
0360G14 were one or two towns in Travancore at an altitude of over 5,000 feet.
0370G14 ^*I also told him that *4Agasthyakoodam (abode of the sage
0380G14 Agasthya) was in Kerala, and so was *5Maruthua Mala (Medicine
0390G14 Hill) which Hanuman brought from the Kumaon in the Himalayas
0400G14 and deposited in the Westen Ghats. ^He did not know about these.
0410G14 $^Before I was scheduled to_ leave Allahabad, Nehru
0420G14 told me, with a measure of sadness, about his inability to_ pay me anything
0430G14 and that he hated to_ spoil my future. ^*I said I was in no
0440G14 need of money and, in order to_ satisfy him on this point, I disclosed
0450G14 to him the extent of my finances. ^He conceded that it was more
0460G14 than adequate. ^*I told him that my future should be my own conncern
0470G14 and gave him an inkling of my independence by saying "in any event
0480G14 I am not available to_ work for a cause on payment." ^He scrutinized
0490G14 me and said that soon he was going to Malaya and would have liked
0500G14 me to_ accompany him on the trip as his secretary, but that I must
0510G14 go to my parents first. ^He adivsed me to_ be in Allahabad early
0520G14 in February 1946, just before his return from Malaya. ^On his
0521G14 Malaya trip he took with him
0530G14 as his secretary his brother-in-law, Gunotham Purushotham Hutheesing.
0540G14 $^*I left most of my things at Anand Bhawan and returned
0550G14 to Allahabad after seeing my parents as arranged. ^At home I discovered
0560G14 that my father had already divided the family properties and
0570G14 set apart the lions*'s share for me. ^By a registered deed I wrote
0580G14 away my claims to the family properties in favour of my brothers before
0590G14 I left the place. ^My father and mother were opposed to my joining
0600G14 Nehru because they thought I would be in jail soon. ^And so did
0610G14 I. $^Soon after my arrival in Allahabad early in February 1946,
0620G14 Nehru returned from Malaya. ^*I had already told him during my
0630G14 previous visit to Allahabad that only after a week of my being with
0640G14 him would I be in a position to_ say in what way I could be of
0650G14 any use. ^*I took less than a week. ^*I discovered that Nehru so
0660G14 far had not had any adequate secretarial assistance. ^He even had
0670G14 to_ file his own papers. ^Those connected with his books, royalties
0680G14 and general finances were in a hopeless mess. ^*I told him that
0690G14 even a superficial assessment of the situation had convinced me that
0700G14 the best way I could be of help to him was to_ render him secretarial
0710G14 assistance and added that I had decided to_ do this disagreeable work
0720G14 for a year. ^He was immensely pleased. ^Although I did not
0730G14 tell him so, it was my intention to_ employ one person at my expense before
0740G14 the end of the year and train him to_ relieve me of the routine work.
0750G14 ^Soon Nehru was relieved of all this needless burden. $^One
0760G14 day, in 1946, some Americans who knew me turned up at Anand Bhawan
0770G14 to_ have *4darshan (a meeting, an audience) of Nehru. ^On
0780G14 seeing me there, they yelled, "Hi Mac" in Nehru*'s presence.
0790G14 ^From then on, to Nehru and the members of his wider family I was
0800G14 Mac. ^The Mountabattens also picked it up later. $^Soon we
0810G14 were caught up with the British Cabinet Mission in Delhi and Simla,
0820G14 then the \0AICC in Bombay, where Nehru took over as Congress
0830G14 President from Maulana Azad, and then negotiations with Viceroy
0840G14 Lord Wavell on the formation of the interim government. ^In
0850G14 between there took place an impulsive visit to Kashmir where we were
0860G14 arrested at the border. ^So I had the honour of sharing Nehru*'s
0870G14 last imprisonment; but it was for a brief period of about a week.
0880G14 $^On 2 September 1946, the day the interim government was formed,
0890G14 Nehru took me with him to the External Affairs Department.
0900G14 ^In the evening I told him that I had no desire to_ work in government.
0910G14 ^*I refused to_ go to office the next day; and stayed away
0920G14 from government till 15 August 1947. ^*Nehru was annoyed with me.
0930G14 ^But there was plenty to_ do at his residence where I organized a compact
0940G14 staff chosen by me as part of his official secretariat. ^Thus
0950G14 I got rid of all my routine work. ^Most of Nehru*'s important
0960G14 work was done at the residence until the formation of the dominion government
0970G14 on 15 August 1947. $^The two years, from September
0980G14 1946, proved to_ be an extremely difficult and dark period. ^It was all
0990G14 work and very little sleep. ^There were innumerable nights when
1000G14 I had to_ keep awake without a wink. ^There were telephone calls
1010G14 throughout the night, mostly from Muslims under attack by savage
1020G14 mobs of refugees. ^Once, after midnight, I received news on the
1030G14 telephone that *(0B. F. H. B.*) Tyabji*'s residence was under
1040G14 attack. $^I ordered a police jeep and a small police party from
1050G14 the security squad near our house at 17 York Road. ^*Nehru,
1060G14 who was still working upstairs, heard the noise of the jeep and the
1070G14 policemen and came racing down. ^He asked me where I was going.
1080G14 ^*I replied that there was no time to_ lose. ^He jumped into the
1090G14 jeep and I almost got crushed between him and the driver. ^In
1100G14 the jeep I explained the position to him. ^When we arrived at Badruddin
1110G14 Tyabji*'s place-- Badr as he was known to me-- we found
1120G14 Dewan Chaman Lall, who was staying in the next house, making a valiant
1130G14 effort to_ ward off the mob. ^Whatever were Chaman Lall*'s
1140G14 faults, he was a thoroughly non-communal person. ^On our arrival on
1150G14 the scene, the crowd bolted. ^We left after posting a small squad
1160G14 of security staff there. ^*Badr, coming from an illustrious family
1170G14 which produced a Congress President, was shaken but not disheartened.
1180G14 ^He and Azim Hussain, who came from a distinguished family in
1190G14 West Punjab, had opted to_ serve in India. ^They are
1200G14 \0ICS men, now retired. ^They are as true patriots as Zakir Husain,
1210G14 who narrowly escaped murder. ^They and persons like Brigadier
1220G14 Usman, who lost his life defending Kashmir against Pakistani aggression,
1230G14 and Abdul Hamid, the lowly but brave soldier from \0UP,
1240G14 who earned the Param Vir Chakra posthumously in the 1965 war
1250G14 with Pakistan, are heroes who kept the faith. ^Only an ungrateful
1260G14 nation will fail to_ honour them. $^In the summer of 1947 I
1270G14 received an anonymous telephone call at Nehru*'s residence to_ say
1280G14 that a Muslim girl was in danger in a small hostel in New Delhi.
1290G14 ^*I took a pistol from the nearby police tent and got into a car which
1300G14 was driven by an old Muslim driver Khaliq who, as a young man,
1310G14 was in the service of Pandit Motilal Nehru. ^*Khaliq, with
1320G14 his goatee, was not the man to_ be taken out: but no one else was available.
1330G14 ^In front of the girls*'s room sat a relatively young Sikh
1340G14 with a long sword and a menacing look. ^He looked at Khaliq
1350G14 with hatred in his eyes. ^He knew English fairly well. ^*I
1360G14 asked him to_ get out of the place. ^He became aggressive and waved
1370G14 his sword at me. ^*I took out my pistol and told him firmly,
1380G14 "If you don*'4t get out, I will shoot the hell out of you."
1390G14 ^He fled. ^When he was safely away from Khaliq, I entered the
1400G14 hostel room and found a young girl sitting on her cot and shaking like
1410G14 a leaf. ^She was so petrified that she could not talk for a while.
1420G14 ^She was a Muslim girl from Nagpur and was working in the
1430G14 government. ^All her belongings were looted. ^She had one spare
1440G14 *4saree in a small box. ^*I called Khaliq in so that she could
1450G14 see his goatee and feel reassured. ^*I told her, "Don*'4t
1460G14 be afraid, come with me." ^*I took her in the car to Nehru*'s
1470G14 residence and put her in Indira*'s room; Indira was out of town.
1480G14 ^After a few days, when she was normal, we sent her under escort
1490G14 by air to Nagpur. ^Later I learnt that she returned to
1491G14 Delhi when the situation became normal and resumed
1500G14 her work in the government. $^During those difficult days it was
1510G14 not always easy to_ get foodstuffs. ^*Dewan Chaman Lall occasionally
1520G14 managed to_ send some eggs and mutton. ^Once our
1530G14 Goan steward, Cordiero, told me he could get a lamb and put the meat
1540G14 in the deep freeze. ^*I asked him to_ do so. ^*I was then doing
1550G14 the housekeeping as Indira was out of Delhi. ^*Nehru heard
1560G14 about the lamb and got annoyed with me. ^He told me if I did
1570G14 it again he would refuse to_ eat the stuff. ^There was no need because
1580G14 I had already made standing arrangements with the controller
1590G14 of Governor-General*'s household. $^The saddest experience
1600G14 of my life was visits with Nehru to the undivided Punjab. ^We
1610G14 had to_ wade through the debris of destroyed houses and dead bodies
1620G14 of innocent people in Multan, Lahore and Amritsar. ^We
1630G14 witnessed the largest migration in history involving eighteen million
1640G14 people both ways. ^Some years later a friend asked
1650G14 me who were more cruel, Muslims or Sikhs? ^*I replied,
1660G14 "Half a dozen of the one were equal to six of the other."
1670G14 ^Perhaps the Sikhs were one up; and the Hindus did not
1680G14 lag very much behind. $^Early in August 1947 Nehru said that
1690G14 he would like me to_ help him in his secretariat also. ^*I told
1700G14 him I hated files and that I did not know what other work I
1710G14 could do in the secretariat.*#
        **[no. of words = 02017**]

        **[txt. g15**]
0010G15 **<*3THE YESTERDAY OF MY LIFE*0**> $*<*3LOVE IN THE KITCHEN*0*>
0020G15 $^My initiation into the sizzling world of romance came when
0030G15 I was ten. ^*I was ordained in the kitchen. ^Until then
0040G15 the only noteworthy fact about the kitchen was the amount and variety
0050G15 of food it produced. ^Our cook was a healthy young man with the
0060G15 far-reaching name of Balthazar. ^He was an ambitious youth,
0070G15 hoping to_ move upwards and dreading to_ fall downwards, a fact
0080G15 on which he did a lot of intellectual speculation. ^Then
0090G15 entered Magdalen, another romantic with a far-reaching name.
0100G15 ^She was the new *4ayah and actively beautiful. ^She was
0110G15 intensely refreshing to Balthazar who had suffered severe moral
0120G15 lecturing from Magdalen*'s austere predecessor. ^Poor
0130G15 Balthazar fell head over heels in love. ^*Magdalen of
0140G15 course had unique complexity of the beautiful and though she encouraged
0150G15 him well enough, her sights were far beyond anyone called
0160G15 Balthazar. ^Within two months Balthazar was practically
0170G15 sparring with air. ^In his blind devotion he feared no betrayal
0180G15 and his love kept growing like a malignancy. $^At this stage a
0190G15 new postman took over our beat. ^We did not learn nor ever learnt
0200G15 his name. ^It is funny how one never associates a name with
0210G15 a postman, though he is the most looked-out-for man. ^Our postman
0220G15 was a modern version of the original Mephistopheles. ^He
0230G15 was handsome enough, smiled a lot and soon grew into a mounting
0240G15 challenge to Balthazar. ^On the very first day he stood at our
0250G15 door in his colourful costume, smiling with his teeth spread out, while
0260G15 his eyes outlined the luscious figure of Magdalen. ^It took
0270G15 him ten minutes to_ deliver one letter and Magdalen appeared to_
0280G15 be a few gasps away from swooning. ^And that_ was only
0290G15 the first day. ^Days and weeks of this informal liaison followed,
0300G15 for a postman is a daily feature and our gallant visited us whether
0310G15 there was a letter or not. ^*Magdalen underwent a moral and mental
0320G15 liquidation. ^She sleepwalked all day and kept awake all night.
0330G15 ^There was also a steady erosion in her relationship with Balthazar
0340G15 who appeared to her in a new light now-- the all-time loser.
0350G15 ^*Balthazar first felt the creeping tide of evil when Magdalen
0360G15 refused to_ have her meals with him. ^He couldn*'4t visualise
0370G15 a change of heart. ^But when he was convinced of Magdalen*'s
0380G15 treason he went through stages, of being stunned to orgiastice rages
0390G15 and lastly to a great isolationism of feeling. ^*Mother had to_
0400G15 do all the cooking in a kitchen boiling over with love, jealousy
0410G15 and quarrels uttered in gritty tones. $^The day of agony arrived
0420G15 all too soon, alas for the participants. ^Came the day when
0430G15 Magdalen left for the week-end with her postman. ^*Balthazar,
0440G15 after a fussilade of interesting but unprintable words shook off his
0450G15 love and went back to cooking and thoughts of marriage with the girls
0460G15 his mother had chosen for him. ^No more groping into the perplexing
0470G15 forest of romance. ^He was hurt at the treachery and humiliated
0480G15 at the rejection. $^Came Monday, but no Magdalen.
0490G15 ^Came tuesday and three people-- the postman, Magdalen and the postman*'s
0500G15 wife. ^*Magdalen tried to_ fall back on the bureaucratic
0510G15 safety of Balthazar but he would have none of her. ^A great commotion
0520G15 followed in which concepts of social justice linked to marital
0530G15 loyalties flew back and forth. ^When everyone had his or her
0540G15 say the postman*'s wife trotted her erring spouse home, flinging
0550G15 a parting piece of advice to Magdalen that she could earn more standing
0560G15 at a street corner. ^*Balthazar drank it all in happily
0570G15 as magdalen stood by him pleading for forgiveness. ^He told
0580G15 her in no mean terms where she could go. ^She left, wailing like
0590G15 a lost animal. $^*Balthazar graduated from cook to peon
0600G15 in a Bank and then to a clerk. ^He married the homely girl of his mother*'s
0610G15 choice and had a nice home and three children. ^He used to_
0620G15 visit us each time he had a new baby. ^When the third child
0630G15 was born the family came over, this time followed by an *4ayah, a
0640G15 haggard elderly woman carrying their latest baby. ^It was only
0650G15 when the lady of the house, Balthazar*'s wife said, "Bring the baby forward,
0660G15 Magdalen," did we realise who it was. ^She had been out
0670G15 of job and starving and Balthazar had found her begging on the street.
0680G15 ^He had taken her home and given her the job of a general servant
0690G15 in his home. ^He thought it was out of pity he had done it, and
0700G15 in that_ pity his revenge was complete.
0710G15 $*<*3GLORY BE TO THE JET AGE!*0*> $^Be that_ as it
0720G15 may. ^It saves time in this sick hurrying world; it has its uses, but--?
0730G15 ^*I was on my way home last year and disembarked at Bombay at
0740G15 3 \0A.M. ^The Air-India Jumbo I had flown in was very comfortable
0750G15 and the air-hostesses were beautiful and kind. ^And thoughtful
0760G15 too. ^When I left the plane I had forgotten to_ collect
0770G15 my glasses and the book I was reading both of which I had thrust
0780G15 in the pocket of the seat in front of mine. ^One of the air-hostesses
0790G15 brought them to me as I was waiting in the first of the many formality
0800G15 queues. ^The loss of my reading glasses would have rendered
0810G15 me helpless. ^How would I have filled in and signed the numerous
0820G15 forms thrust at me at the air-port. ^*I was ever so grateful
0830G15 to the girl and that_ was my last kind sentiment for the next
0840G15 five hours. $^It had been cold in October in London and the
0850G15 temperature at the Bombay air-port did not help any. ^Some
0860G15 passengers still had their coats on and others had them slung on
0870G15 their arms which were already overburdened with packages. ^Our
0880G15 Jumbo had ejected some three hundred passengers and we were quite
0890G15 unprepared for the tidal wave of humanity that_ overflowed the
0900G15 confines where we were to_ be cooped up for what I felt was an eternity.
0910G15 ^There were at least another six hundred odd people already
0920G15 there-- passengers, air-port officials, porters, all packed
0930G15 in like air in a balloon. ^Curiously I asked one of the officials
0940G15 if anything was wrong. ^Cheerfully he answered that three
0950G15 Jumbos had landed from various places overseas within the space of
0960G15 half an hour and not to_ worry as this happened daily. ^His assurance
0970G15 seemed like a charade. ^The heat generated from about
0980G15 a thousand people was stifling and everyone converged to the small oasis
0990G15 which had seats and fans overhead, awaiting the movement of the three
1000G15 belts which would bring in the luggage. ^We waited, we waited, we
1010G15 waited. ^After a while a number of passengers left the oasis
1020G15 to_ stand on the sides of the belts as if glaring at them from a closer
1030G15 distance would galvanize them into action. ^Ultimately
1040G15 they did move, groaning, and clanging as if in protest against being
1050G15 forced into duty. ^At long last bags began to_ trickle through.
1060G15 ^At these welcome sight and sounds everyone rushed towards
1070G15 the belts, jostling for place and no one cared whose foot was
1080G15 stamped or whose rib was dug into. ^*Hitchcock should have been there and
1090G15 his next film would have been called 'Trapped' or 'Trampled', something
1100G15 to that_ effect. ^The belts kept belching forth and it was ludicrous
1110G15 to_ see people run back and forth between belts as nobdoy knew
1120G15 which belt would have the baggage of which Jumbo. $^*I waited for
1130G15 half an hour in the rush and then gave up. ^In fact I was ready
1140G15 to_ give up the ghost. ^Reckless with misery I returned
1150G15 to my seat under the fan. ^An hour later the crowd thinned and
1160G15 I returned to the belts. ^My bags had been tossed to one
1170G15 side, perhaps by a porter who must have wearied of seeing them return
1180G15 again and again. ^By now the place was filled with the wailing of
1190G15 children and loud altercations at the customs counters. ^*I
1200G15 dragged my bags and stood at the end of a queue at one of the counters,
1210G15 waiting my turn with the patience of the dead. ^At last
1220G15 I was before the man behind the counter. ^*I don*'4t know how
1230G15 I must have appeared to him but I know he stared and shied a bit.
1240G15 ^He asked me if I had anything to_ declare and I said "No"
1250G15 in a loud voice and offered the keys to my two bags. ^He
1260G15 did not take them. ^Instead he crossed the bags with a chalk
1270G15 and pointed to the gate to freedom. ^*I could not believe it,
1280G15 but then it was 8 \0A.M. and time for my guardian angel to_ wake
1290G15 up. ^*I stumbled out into the wide open, staring wildly like
1300G15 an escaped lunatic. ^And I wasn*'4t the only one.
1310G15 $*<*3A PEDESTRIAN PARADOX*0*> $^Come October and
1320G15 my husband would shake off the cloak of bureaucratic safety and search
1330G15 for adventure. ^He loved travel-- not by rail, not by
1340G15 air, but by road. ^For a number of years our sights were
1350G15 trained towards Gwalior where our son was studying medicine
1360G15 and each October found us on the Grand Trunk Road racing
1370G15 from Jamshedpur, through Bihar and over the Sone Bridge,
1380G15 past Mogalsarai and into Varanasi for the night. ^We should
1390G15 be, by human rights, travel-sore and ready for bed. ^*I, yes,
1400G15 my husband, no. ^We would be cruising around the crowded city,
1410G15 eating at way-side stalls and chewing the famous Benarasi *4paan
1420G15 until late, late at night. ^All through the road to Gwalior,
1430G15 via Allahabad, Kanapur, Agra we would repeat the nocturnal
1440G15 execursions. ^And then would come Dholpur, the crossing of
1450G15 the Chambal Bridge and riding through the Chambal valley.
1470G15 ^There was a time when the Bridge had not
1480G15 been constructed and we had to_ cross the river in an open ferry.
1490G15 ^What a rag-tag lot we seemed-- we in the car surrounded by cattle
1500G15 and cattlemen with huge white turbans wrapped carelessly round
1510G15 their heads and frizzy, unkept moustache. ^The end of the line
1520G15 was the way to the Chambal valley and the ill-famed ravines. ^The
1530G15 story had currency that the dacoits living there accosted and kidnapped
1540G15 people for large ransoms. ^But we had also heard that
1550G15 they were crusading dacoits and helped the poor villagers around
1560G15 Gwalior with generous gifts. $^Of course the tales were so
1570G15 blown out of proportion that we took them as fanciful advantures of
1580G15 people*'s imagination, and one could realise when on one of our
1590G15 trips how startled we were when we saw the man. ^As we
1600G15 were nearing the ravines he suddenly jumped down from the ledge
1610G15 of a small high-rise crag on the side of the road and stepping right
1620G15 in the centre, waved to us to_ stop. ^The man was tall, well-built,
1630G15 fierce-looking and of course the moustache-- all the perquisites
1640G15 of a dacoit. "^This is it," muttered my husband and stopped
1650G15 the car. ^The man wanted a lift and it was not our place--
1660G15 literally-- to_ refuse. ^A hurried and whispered calculation and
1670G15 I got into the back seat while my husband motioned the man
1680G15 to the seat beside him. ^He got in and we started the horrendous
1690G15 journey without a word exchanged. ^The silence screamed at
1700G15 me and I felt a slow *8rigor mortis*9 gripping at my throat. ^Would
1710G15 we be taken into the ravines? ^Who would rescue us?
1720G15 ^One lone young medical student! My eyes were glued to
1730G15 our dacoit*'s head for suspicious moves, but he made no moves
1731G15 whatever. ^All he
1740G15 did was to_ stare into the maze of the ravines as we raced on.
1750G15 ^As the ravines were about to_ end he signalled to my husband to_
1760G15 stop the car. ^*I uttered a muffled scream and subsided into
1770G15 a cold shiver as the car slowed to a halt. ^The man stepped
1780G15 out of the car and with a momentous change of attitude smiled
1790G15 at us and leaning over the seat he told my husband, "Thank
        you for the ride.*#
        **[no. of words = 02006**]

        **[txt. g16**]
0010G16 **<*3*(0MN*) Roy-- Political Biography*0**>
0020G16 $^The campaign against Roy began at the sixth congress held in Moscow
0030G16 from July 17 to September 1928. ^The congress has gone
0040G16 down in the history of the \0CI as the congress which took an abrupt
0050G16 and sharp turn to the left. ^It abandoned the united front
0060G16 policy that_ was followed until then in the trade union and the
0070G16 political fields. ^It abandoned the policy of collaboration with
0080G16 nationalist bourgeoisie that_ was being followed until then in
0090G16 colonial and semi-colonial countries. ^It proclaimed the policy of
0100G16 "class against class" with the proletariat assuming the leadership
0110G16 of the struggle for socialism and for the establishment of its dictatorship.
0120G16 ^The theoretical basis for the new strategy was
0130G16 the supposition that world capitalism had reached the final stage
0140G16 of disintegration and collapse. ^This was described as the
0150G16 third period, following the end of the second period of temporary
0160G16 post-war stabilisation. ^The economic analysis was, however,
0170G16 a rationalisation of a policy determined by the compulsions of the
0180G16 factional struggle in the Russian party. ^*Stalin had assumed the
0190G16 leadership of the party, but his position was still being challenged
0200G16 by Trotsky, Zinoviev and Kamanev on the left and by
0210G16 Bukharin, Tomsky and others on the right. ^In the course
0220G16 of the next couple of years he vanquished both groups and became
0230G16 the undisputed leader of the Russian Party and, therefore, of
0240G16 the \0CI. ^The foundation for that_ triumph was laid in the
0250G16 15th congress of the Russian Party and in the sixth
0260G16 congress of the \0CI. ^The turn to the left initiated by the
0270G16 sixth congress synchronised with the turn to the left in Russia
0280G16 symbolised by the launching of the first Five Year Plan, collectivisation
0290G16 of agriculture and war against peasants and liquidation
0300G16 of dissident elements. ^In the international field it took the
0310G16 form of a war against social democrats, splits in established
0320G16 trade unions, adventurist actions and purge of all those who would not
0330G16 toe the line. ^The disastrous line continued in full force
0340G16 for about six years, until Hitler*'s rise to power in Germany
0350G16 knocked some sense into the heads of the leaders of the
0360G16 \0CI. ^*Roy was one of the victims of that_ suicidal policy.
0370G16 $^The attack against Roy at the sixth congress was based upon
0380G16 the so called "decolonisation theory" propounded by him. ^It
0390G16 was begun by Otto Vilhelm Kuusinen who was assigned the responsibility
0400G16 of presenting the report on the revolutionary movement in
0410G16 the colonies. "^*Kuusinen apparently had specialised knowledge
0420G16 neither of the subject in general, nor of India in particular.
0430G16 ^But the report which he read to the Congress, was focussed
0440G16 primarily on India." ^Explaining the reasons why he dealt
0450G16 specially with India, he stated that India was enormously important
0450G16 among colonies and that he held the view that "a seriously revoluationary
0460G16 crisis will develop in India in the not far distant future."
0470G16 ^He attacked the theory of industrialisation and consequent
0480G16 decolonisation of India. ^The arguments that_ he advanced were
0490G16 based upon an article by Eugene Varga which had appeared in
0500G16 *3Inprecor in March. ^*Varga had stated in the article that
0510G16 Roy and his supporters had exaggerated the industrialisation
0520G16 that_ had taken place in India and that "British policy in recent
0530G16 years had been to_ arrest the trend toward industrialisation
0540G16 which it had permitted as an expedient during the war." ^There was
0550G16 on the other hand, he contended, "more of ruralisation and that
0560G16 Great Britain had resumed its general policy of treating India
0570G16 as an agrarian appendage-- as a source of raw materials and
0580G16 as a market for British export industries." ^This reassessment
0590G16 of British colonial policy had taken place as a result
0600G16 of discussions at the ninth plenum of the \0ECCI held in February,
0610G16 1928. ^The Indian Commission of the \0ECCI had
0620G16 also considered the matter. ^Apart from Roy, Indian members
0630G16 of the Commission and leaders of the \0CPGB had dissentend
0640G16 from this new interpretation of the British colonial policy.
0650G16 $^Owing to illness, Roy could not attend the sixth congress
0660G16 and was not present to_ repel the attacks made against him
0670G16 by Kuusinen and others. ^Along with Roy, Kuusinen also attacked
0680G16 some members of the \0CPGB. "^He mentioned specifically
0690G16 Palme Dutt and Hugh Rathbone-- on the question of
0700G16 British economic policy. ^They had held out the prospect of a
0710G16 "decolonisation of India by British imperialism." "^This",
0720G16 he said, "was a dangerous term". ^As examples of this point of
0730G16 view, he quoted passages from Palme Dutt*'s book, *3Modern
0740G16 India and from the draft resolution on the Indian question
0750G16 prepared by Roy the previous October." ^The majority of British
0760G16 delegates present at the congress opposed the Varga thesis
0770G16 presented by Kuusinen. ^One of them *(0D.*) Petrovsky alias
0780G16 *(0A. J.*) Bennet said that the thesis "flies in the face
0790G16 of the widespread industrial unrest in India involving thousands of
0800G16 workers. ^If India is an agrarian appendage, there would be no
0810G16 prospect for the development of class struggle. ^Instead of increased
0820G16 numbers of workers, there would be only hoards of pauperised
0830G16 peasants." ^Two other members of the \0CPGB who
0840G16 expressed strong dissent were Andrew Rothstein and Clemens
0850G16 Dutta. ^The former later read a statement on behalf of the British
0860G16 delegation. "^In it he protested against all the accusations,
0870G16 which unfortunately are becoming almost a mechanical
0871G16 reaction, against those who dare to_ criticise
0880G16 a thesis put forward in the name of \0ECCI." ^He
0890G16 rejected "with contempt" the insinuation that_ certain members
0900G16 of the British delegation had suggested that Great Britain was
0910G16 playing a progressive role in her colonies. ^As a result of the
0920G16 criticism voiced by British delegates, Kuusinen made some
0930G16 changes in his thesis. ^He continued, however, his attack against
0940G16 Roy denouncing him as a "lackey of imperialism" for propounding
0950G16 the view that "British imperialism will lead the Indian people
0960G16 by hand to freedom." ^As will be seen below, Roy had
0970G16 never propounded any such view. ^But by the time of the sixth
0980G16 congress, polemics in the \0CI had degenerated into wilful distortions
0990G16 and malicious accusations. ^It is against that_ type
1000G16 of polemics employed by Kuusinen and others that British delegates
1010G16 had registered their emphatic protest and uttered their warning
1020G16 that "the method of hurrying to_ tie labels on comrades who
1030G16 hold different opinions would destroy independent thought and make
1040G16 a sham of the Comintern." ^The protest and the warning fell on
1050G16 deaf ears; and what was worse was that the persons who voiced them
1060G16 adopted the views that_ they had condemned and joined the campaign
1070G16 to_ hound out independent thought, which made the \0CI an
1080G16 assembly of worshipful believers and followers. ^One must regretfully
1090G16 note the fact that even an eminent intellectual like Palme Dutt
1100G16 fell a prey to that_ trend. ^*Roy refused to_ tread that_
1110G16 easy path and had therefore to_ face life-long persecution
1120G16 at the hands of \0CI and its agents. $^One may now turn
1130G16 around and try to_ find out what "decolonisation" was all about,
1140G16 "decolonisation" which brought about the expulsion from \0CI ranks
1150G16 of one of its able and talented representatives. ^*Roy has
1160G16 given the genesis of the term in an open letter to members of
1170G16 \0CI that_ he wrote a few weeks after he was "placed outside
1180G16 the pale of the \0CI" in 1929. ^The letter was published under
1190G16 the title "My Crime" in his book *3Our Differences. ^He writes:
1200G16 "to_ revert to the theory of "de-colonisation", the fatherhood
1210G16 of which is the ostensible cause of my victimisation. ^The
1220G16 unfortunate term has a little history. ^While I was away in
1230G16 China (1927) a new Comrade from India came to Moscow. ^In
1240G16 his report he emphasised on the rapid development of modern industry
1250G16 in India. ^Such a development, which all along I had pointed
1260G16 out as a basic feature of the situation in post-war India, inevitably
1270G16 produces two tendencies which must be carefully observed by us for
1280G16 the purpose of adjusting our tactics to the realities of the situation.
1290G16 ^These tendencies are the sharpening of the class antagonism
1300G16 inside the nationalist movement, on the one side, and compromise
1310G16 between the nationalist bourgeoisie and foreign imperialism on
1320G16 the other. ^Industrialisation of the country, even if it were done
1330G16 mainly by imperialist capital (which is not the case in India),
1340G16 is advantageous to the native bourgeoisie. ^These fight
1350G16 against imperialism because it obstructs the free development
1360G16 of their class. ^Consequently when imperialism, forced by its inner
1370G16 contradictions, permits, even encourages (as lately in the case
1380G16 of India) partial industrialisation of a colonial country, the basis
1390G16 of antagonism between the native bourgeoisie and foreign imperialism
1400G16 narrows down. ^The nationalist united front tends to_
1410G16 break up, and a new united front of the native bourgeoisie with
1420G16 foreign imperialism is formed as against the working class. ^In
1430G16 such a situation, the native bourgeoisie outgrow the previous state
1440G16 of absolute colonial oppression. ^In summarizing the debate
1450G16 on the report of the Indian delegate, Bukharin suggested that
1460G16 the commission set up for examining the question should report on the process
1470G16 of such "de-colonization". (^He used the term for the first time,
1480G16 evidently in a tentative and relative sense.) $"^On my
1490G16 return I was charged to_ draft a resolution on the basis of the preparatory
1500G16 work, accomplished by the Commission. ^The resolution drafted
1510G16 by me, which was never formally accepted (not because there
1520G16 was any serious objection to it, but because of the waning of interest
1530G16 in the subject,) subsequently became the main weapon against me."
1540G16 $^This statement of Roy is corroborated by what *(0G.A.K.*)
1550G16 Luhani, one of his co-workers who attended as one of the
1560G16 Indian delegates, said at the sixth congress. ^In a spirited
1570G16 speech he said: "I consider it necessary to_ declare that I
1580G16 have nothing whatever to_ do with the so-called "decolonization
1590G16 of India" theory which Comrade Kuusinen described in his
1600G16 speech introducing the draft thesis on the Revolutionary movement
1610G16 in the colonies and semi-colonies. ^What he, and some other
1620G16 comrades taking part in the discussion, said in this connection is a
1630G16 complete travesty and misrepresentation of what some of us wanted to_
1640G16 convey in the provisional use of the term "decolonization". ^*I
1641G16 emphasize that our use of the term was provisional; we always
1650G16 put the term in quotation marks. ^*I repudiate entirely the
1660G16 interpretation which Comrade Kuusinen has given to our use of
1670G16 the term. $"^In order to_ dissipate the confusion which has been
1680G16 created with regard to the genesis of this point of view, I
1690G16 think a certain *8mise en point*9 is called for. ^About a year ago
1700G16 at a meeting of the Political Secretariat of the \0ECCI,
1710G16 an Indian comrade made a report on the situation in India. ^In the
1720G16 report no mention was made either of the colonization or de-colonization
1730G16 of India. ^As a result of the discussion of the report, a special
1740G16 commission was, however, appointed to_ study, among other aspects
1750G16 of the Indian situation, the question of decolonization. ^The
1760G16 term "decolonization" was included in what I may call the terms
1770G16 of reference of the commission. ^So far as I am aware, it was
1780G16 the first occasion of the use of the term "decolonization" with reference
1790G16 to India. ^The special commission occupied itself with the
1800G16 questions as formulated. ^Materials were submitted to the commission
1810G16 embodying a certain point of view. ^There were several discussions
1820G16 held and I remember no serious divergence of opinion
1830G16 inside the commision, and if I am not mistaken, the point of
1840G16 view was accepted as general groundwork. ^The materials of the commission,
1850G16 either in a manuscript or printed form, have been available
1860G16 for the last nine months. ^They contain the subject matter
1870G16 of the greater part of the present discussion on India--
1880G16 I have not the possibility here of raising the question whether the point
1890G16 of view is right or wrong, or whether it is Right or Left,
1900G16 and of formulating my response to the somewhat one sided discussion.
1910G16 ^However, I want you to_ take note of the fact that the point
1920G16 of view has been presented to you, not in its original, but in its
        travestised form.*#
        **[no. of words = 02001**]

        **[txt. g17**]
0010G17 **<*3ROSES IN DECEMBER: EPILOGUE*0**> $^*I remember the correspondent
0020G17 of the *3Sunday Times*0 of London telepphoning to me and
0030G17 asking me what the Prime Minister would do in view of the judgement.
0040G17 ^*I answered him by a counter question: "^What would the
0050G17 British Prime Minister do under similar circumstances?"
0060G17 ^He said: "Of course, he would resign." ^*I said: "Why do you
0070G17 think our Prime Minister would not follow
0080G17 his example?" $^But unfortunately I was wrong.
0090G17 ^She clung to her office, contrary to all political and democratic
0100G17 propriety. ^She toyed with the idea for a moment of resigning
0110G17 temporarily till the pliant Supreme Court cleared her
0120G17 of the charges of corruption. ^But a dictator knows the risk
0130G17 involved in giving up the *4gadi even temporarily. ^She therefore
0140G17 took the decision, the most disgraceful and dishonest in
0150G17 India*'s history, of declaring an internal Emergency on 26th June.
0160G17 ^Leaders of the Opposition were arrested at midnight and
0170G17 thousand others were marched off to prison. ^Press censorship
0180G17 was enforced-- again the most drastic in India*'s history-- and
0190G17 Presidential orders were issued suspending Articles 14, 21
0200G17 and 22. ^The country did not know what had happended, the
0210G17 names of detenus were not published, their whereabouts were not
0220G17 known and the reasons for their detention were not disclosed,
0230G17 and access to courts for writ of habeas corpus was barred.
0240G17 ^Darkness swept over the country and the long and terrible night
0250G17 of 20 months commenced without a flicker of light or hope.
0260G17 $^What was the justification for the Emergency? ^There was
0270G17 complete peace in the country and no internal disturbance, which
0280G17 alone could justify the Emergency. ^Her Cabinet colleagues
0290G17 were not consulted and she got the President to_ sign the
0300G17 declaration on the dotted line without so much as enquiring as to
0310G17 whether the Constitutional formalities have been complied with.
0320G17 $^Her public justification was that there was a conspiracy
0330G17 against her-- not the country-- and if she was thrown out, the
0340G17 country would be plunged into chaos. ^She was the deity
0350G17 incarnate, the indispensable leader, who should be worshipped and
0360G17 any criticism against her was sacrilege and treason. ^The
0370G17 only conspiracy was the demand of the Opposition leaders for her
0380G17 resignation in view of the judgement of the Allahabad High Court.
0390G17 ^Is it not a democratic right of every Opposition to_ demand
0400G17 the resignation of the Head of Government? ^But she was
0410G17 not thinking of democratic rights, she was thinking of her own
0420G17 position as Prime Minister. ^She was in power and was determined
0430G17 to_ continue so, democracy or no democracy, and every obstacle
0440G17 to her power was to_ be ruthlessly suppressed, and supressed
0450G17 it was. ^What we were witnessing was not the rule of law but
0460G17 the rule of terror. ^The inhumanities practised, the suffering
0470G17 of innocent people, the barbarities indulged in by the police,
0480G17 the gross abuse of power by ministers and officials, often
0490G17 for personal gain, are gradually coming to light, but I do not
0500G17 think the full story has still been told in all its sordidness and
0510G17 brutality. ^An Oxford Professor David Selbourne (An Eye
0520G17 to India, the Unmasking of a Tyranny) has rightly described
0530G17 these 20 months as a brutal and ignominious period in the history
0540G17 of the nation. $^The atmosphere was a suffocating and
0550G17 stifling one. ^Untouchability had been abolished by the Constitution
0560G17 but a new class of untouchables was created by the ex-Prime
0570G17 Minister. ^*I was one of the untouchables. ^*I was
0580G17 not allowed to_ speak and when I did, it was not reported.
0590G17 ^The mass media were closed to me. ^During this period I
0600G17 continued to_ get underground literature and several people who
0610G17 had gone underground came to_ see me. ^They never took an
0620G17 appointment as they said that my telephone was tapped and both they
0630G17 and I would get into trouble if they telephoned to me.
0640G17 ^Therefore all these brave and unfortunate people had free access
0650G17 to me. ^*I was constantly visited by correspondents of the foreign
0660G17 Press and they would usually ask me this question: why had
0670G17 the Emergency been received with complete silence which showed
0680G17 that the people had acquiesced in it? ^My answer was
0690G17 that acquiescnce meant consent-- and the people had never consented
0700G17 to it. ^People were either terrorised or they did not
0710G17 know what was happening as there was complete press censorship.
0720G17 ^This was the most powerful weapon in the hands of \0Mrs. Gandhi.
0730G17 ^When Gandhiji used to_ launch mass *4satyagraha the
0740G17 British permitted publication of the news of the happenings in the
0750G17 different parts of the country. ^This helped the movement
0760G17 gather momentum. ^Throughout the Emergency, batches of people
0770G17 used to_ offer *4satyagraha in Bombay, Delhi and elsewhere but
0780G17 no one knew about it. $^With certain notable exceptions
0790G17 the ones who accepted the Emergency-- the most contemptiable-- were
0800G17 the intelligentsia and the industrialists. ^The failure of the
0810G17 intelligentsia to_ stand up to the Government was the biggest
0820G17 blot in the history of the 20 months. ^Artists, writers and actors
0830G17 climbed on the band-waggon of \0Mrs. Gandhi and lustily
0840G17 cheered the slogan that "India was Indira and Indira was India."
0850G17 ^Even academecians, professors, Vice-chancellors
0860G17 welcomed the Emergency as a quick and effective solution to student
0870G17 trouble. ^The Vice-chancellor of Bombay University actually
0880G17 introduced Indira*'s 20-point programme as a subject in the
0890G17 curriculum of the Law College. ^The industrialists, of
0900G17 course, thought of their profits and were grateful to Government
0910G17 for permitting them to_ make a quick buck with no questions
0920G17 asked, provided they subscribed to the Party funds which they
0930G17 did with lavish generosity. ^They had no money to_ pay their
0940G17 poor workers but they could not or would not resist the demands
0950G17 of the Congress leaders. ^The one class I am proud
0960G17 to_ say, that_ showed courage and fearlessness, was the legal profession.
0970G17 ^Barring a few black legs, they either observed a sullen
0980G17 silence or tried to_ hold meetings and support the
0990G17 underground movement and the underground press. ^The legitimate
1000G17 Press with one or two notable exceptions, was supine and forgetting
1010G17 the part the American Press had played during the Nixon
1020G17 era, meekly submitted to the orders and directives of the censor.
1030G17 ^*I must also make honourable mention of some of the judges
1040G17 of the High Courts, who proved themselves to_ be greater
1050G17 custodians of the citizen*'s rights than the effete and subservient
1060G17 Supreme Court. ^*I must not overlook the great work
1070G17 by voluntary organisations like Sarvodaya Sangh and Gandhi
1080G17 Peace Foundation. ^They helped to_ keep the spirit of the
1090G17 people up and in the encircling gloom were a flicker of light.
1100G17 $^*I used to_ tell the representatives of the foreign Press
1110G17 that their countries should combine to_ wage a ceaseless struggle
1120G17 against the destruction of democracy in India. ^*I pointed
1130G17 out that freedom was indivisible and loss of freedom in one part
1140G17 of the world was a loss of freedom in the whole world. ^My
1150G17 views were published in foreign papers under my own name in
1160G17 the despatches of these correspondents if they succeeded in getting
1170G17 them to_ reach their countries. $^*I must say a word
1180G17 about the meetings that_ were held or tried to_ be held over
1190G17 which I presided or spoke. ^A meeting was called by Bombay
1200G17 lawyers to_ be held on 18th October 1975 to_ discuss Civil
1210G17 Liberties and the Rule of Law and was restricted only
1220G17 to lawyers. ^At the meeting both Chief Justice *(0J.
1230G17 C.*) Shah and myself were scheduled to_ speak. ^The Commissioner
1240G17 of Police refused to_ give permission to_ hold the meeting.
1250G17 ^A writ petition was taken out before the Bombay
1260G17 High Court and that_ Court held that the order of the Commissioner
1270G17 of police was clearly unjustified. ^The Government
1280G17 rushed to the Supreme Court and, as expected, that_ court
1290G17 stayed the order of the Bombay High Court. ^That_ meeting
1300G17 was never held and the appeal from the judgement of the Bombay
1310G17 High Court is still pending before that_ Court. ^We
1320G17 know what the fate of that_ appeal would have been if the
1330G17 Fates had not taken a hand and overturned Indira*'s Government
1340G17 in the General Election of 1977. $^Before it was decided
1350G17 to_ call this meeting an all-India Civil Liberties*'
1360G17 Conference was held in Ahmedabad on 12th October 1975.
1370G17 ^*Babubhai Patel was then the Chief Minister of a coalition
1380G17 Government and in Ahmedabad the writ of the Police
1390G17 Commissioner or the censor did not run, and if it was allowed to_
1400G17 run at all, it was in a very attenuated form. ^At that_
1410G17 conference I delivered a speech which, though I should
1420G17 not be saying so, created considerable impression. ^In that_
1430G17 speech I pointed out that the conspiracy Indira was talking
1440G17 about was not a conspiracy by the Opposition, but a conspiracy
1450G17 by her to_ overthrow democracy and establish an authoritarian
1460G17 regime. ^*I ended up by saying that "when the night is
1470G17 darkest, the dawn is not far," and that for thousands of years we
1480G17 had survived invasions and all sorts of troubles and we would survive
1490G17 both Indira and her dictatorship. ^The speech was ppublished
1500G17 in a Gujarati periodical *3Bhoomi Putra*0, edited by
1510G17 Narayan Desai, son of Mahadev Desai, who was secretary of
1520G17 Gandhiji. ^The Central Government instituted proceedings
1530G17 for the forfiture of the Press under the Emergency laws.
1540G17 $^A petition was filed challenging the action of Government and
1550G17 the Gujarat High Court allowed the petition. ^As usual
1560G17 there was an appeal to the Supreme Court which, I think,
1570G17 is still pending. ^The speech received the widest publicity through
1580G17 the underground press. ^It was translated in several languages
1590G17 and I received several letters telling me how the spirit of
1600G17 the people had been uplifted by reading what I had said. ^This
1610G17 is the one speech of which I am really proud and extracts from
1620G17 it appear as an annexure to the book I have referred to,
1630G17 "An Eye to India." $^As we were flying back to Bombay
1640G17 from Ahmedabad most of my friends thought that a detention
1650G17 order would be waiting for me at the Bombay airport.
1660G17 ^*I thought the same and and I told my son
1670G17 that I was packing up my bag because there might be a knock on the
1680G17 door and I would not be given much time to_ take with me the
1690G17 few things I would need in gaol. ^The knock did not come
1700G17 but next day there were numerous telephone calls locally and
1710G17 from Ahmedabad and Delhi to_ enquire whether I was
1720G17 still at home. ^It took some time to_ assure the callers that
1730G17 I was-- they thought my son was concealing the fact of my
1740G17 detention. $^*I remember talking to Jayaprakash about this
1750G17 and he told me that \0Mrs. Gandhi would never detain me.
1760G17 ^*I asked him why. ^He said the international repercussions would
1770G17 be very bad. ^*I said she did not care what the world thought
1780G17 about the Emergency. ^He said in my case I was not a party
1790G17 man. ^*I had not been an agitator. ^*I had held high
1800G17 office in the judiciary and in the diplomatic and political fields
1810G17 and the arrest of a man like me would be more prejudicial to her than
1820G17 otherwise. ^If a man like me
1840G17 violently opposed her policies there must be something wrong
1850G17 with those policies. $^*I also remember a correspondent
1860G17 of the *3New York Times*0 coming to_ see me and talking to me
1870G17 about the political situation. ^At the end of the talk he asked
1880G17 me whether he could quote me. ^*I said, "cetainly."
1890G17 ^Then he said: "Sir, execuse my impertinence, but I
1900G17 want to_ ask a final question: "^Why are you not in gaol?"
1910G17 ^My reply was: "Ask Her Imperial Majesty." $^In the meanwhile,
1920G17 a Bill was introduced in Parliament to_ amend the Constitution
1930G17 (the 42nd Amendment). ^As Kamath said, it was
1940G17 not to_ amend the Constitution but to_ end the Constitution.
1950G17 ^It was of a most drastic character, distorting and debasing the
1960G17 Constitution, driving a coach and four through it. ^The
1970G17 Prime Minister graciously stated that there must be a national
1980G17 debate before it was passed by Parliament and every day
1980G17 speakers appeared on television and broadcast on \0A.I.R.
1990G17 lavishing fulsome praise on the proposed amendment.*#
        **[no. of words = 02021**]

        **[txt. g18**]
0010G18 **<*3THE SANJAY STORY*0**> $^Actually he was very much in
0020G18 circulation. ^He had shifted from Allahabad to Lucknow where
0030G18 he was managing a daily called *3National Herald*0. ^The
0040G18 Herald was a paper which Jawaharlal had started in 1938 to_
0050G18 expound the nationalistic viewpoint, a rival to the *3Pioneer*0 which
0060G18 unashamedly supported the British. ^It had a brilliant
0070G18 young editor in Chalapathi Rau who like all brilliant young
0080G18 editors knew everything about journalism but nothing about management
0090G18 and finance. ^The paper was in the red and
0100G18 it was Feroze*'s job to_ make it financially viable.
0110G18 ^He hit it off well with Chalapathi who remembers that they
0120G18 cooperated "closely to_ produce some magnificent supplements...
0130G18 ^*I had discovered and valued qualitiies in him which were to_
0140G18 make him famous and known to the world later." $^If Feroze
0150G18 was professionally active, and if he and his wife were still
0160G18 "very much in love" why, then, does he drop out? ^One
0161G18 must remember that most of the literature
0170G18 on \0Mrs. Gandhi was written during her term of premiership.
0180G18 ^Writers knew, and if they didn*'4t know they were
0190G18 promptly told, that the one area of her life which was taboo was
0200G18 her marital life. ^In this respect she herself set a fine
0210G18 example. ^In a book titled "The Speeches and Reminiscences
0220G18 of Indira Gandhi" (the copyright by the way is held
0230G18 by one Indira Nehru Gandhi) which covers her activities from
0240G18 childhood to 1972, the name Feroze Gandhi appears twice.
0250G18 (^A biographer of \0Mrs. Gandhi told me some years ago how unhappy
0260G18 the Prime Minister was with the attention the writer had
0270G18 paid to the colour of her *4saree, and *4tika on her forehead, her
0280G18 honeymoon.) \0^*Mrs. Gandhi obviously preferred reading about her
0290G18 political triumphs and vicisitudes rather than household gossip.
0300G18 $^One can*'4t blame her. ^By the end of 1947 the marriage
0310G18 showed signs of cracking up, and by 1952 it had cracked
0320G18 up. ^The reasons of the crack-up are, as one would expect, under-discussed.
0330G18 ^There are vague murmurings that "Indira did not
0340G18 relish (Feroze*'s) extrovert, very informal and gay bohemian
0350G18 informality." ^However, the reason most readily advanced encompasses
0360G18 the age-old Indian myth of sacrifice. ^*Indira
0370G18 was required by her father, her father was required by the nation--
0380G18 so the brave and altruistic Indira sacrificed her dearest
0390G18 possession, her marriage, at the altar of national good.
0400G18 ^Indeed, it is suggested that Feroze very sportingly allowed the
0410G18 dissolution of his marriage, for he too was devoted to national
0420G18 good. $^While these reasons sound plausible and patriotic
0430G18 they are just the tip of the iceberg. $^Incompatibility, of
0440G18 course, was what Jawaharlal feared even before he gave his
0450G18 daughter away. ^Certainly Feroze and Indira were not,
0460G18 in marriage counsellor terms, "alike". ^He was a robust, *(paan-chewing*)
0470G18 gossip-spreading, fun-loving loquacious man, who despite
0480G18 his easy affability had serious views and convictions.
0490G18 ^His idea of a convival evening was a gathering of half-a-dozen soft
0500G18 Marxists capable of producing witty and stimulating conversation,
0510G18 which he himself would frequently lead. ^Soft Marixist
0520G18 conversations being lengthy they would go late into the night at
0530G18 which time a sumptuous non--marxist meal was provided.
0540G18 ^Eating was one of Feroze*'s passions-- Perhaps the only Parsee
0550G18 characteristic remaining, otherwise for all practical purposes he
0560G18 was a naturalised *4Lucknowi-- and whenever he was invited to dinner
0570G18 he would enquire after the menu and the qualifications of the
0580G18 chef. $^*Indira was demonstrably different. ^A private
0590G18 person, not given to public manifestations of emotion, she
0600G18 was reserved, careful, frail-- not uninterested or timid or
0610G18 unhospitable, just shy. ^*Indira couldn*'4t-- indeed had no
0620G18 wish to_-- compete with her husband when it came to verbal
0630G18 repartee. ^What she enjoyed was entertaining his friends and acting
0640G18 the gracious hostess, a role she played superbly later on.
0650G18 $^This then is the sum total of the Indira-Feroze dispute.
0660G18 ^And as a cause for serious marital strife it sounds improbable.
0670G18 ^Successful marriages are not dependent on a complete identity
0690G18 of personality traits. ^Very often individuals with dissimilar
0700G18 interests and habits make enduring couples. ^Therefore a back-slapping
0710G18 and laughing Feroze could have been the ideal foil for
0720G18 a sensitive and sober Indira. $\0^*Mrs. Gandhi has not
0730G18 said much about her marriage and she has said even less about the
0740G18 alleged incompatibility which wrecked her home. ^To one gusty
0750G18 biographer, however, she did open up briefly and the explanation
0760G18 she offered was so incoherent and unintelligible that I can do
0770G18 no better than reproduce both question and answer in full:
0771G18 $"^In what way would you say you and Feroze were incompatible?"
0780G18 $"^Oh, I don*'4t know-- you have to_ pay for everything
0790G18 I suppose. ^You can*'4t have everything. ^He (Feroze)
0800G18 couldn*'4t have become what he did if he hadn*'4t married
0810G18 me. ^If I had been a sweet little wife like anybody else
0820G18 he wouldn*'4t have wanted to_ prove himself somehow. ^Perphas
0830G18 I too would have been content to_ live a very domestic life
0840G18 and not even turn to politics." $^Along with temperamental
0850G18 incompatibility there appears to_ be sexual incompatibility.
0860G18 ^Becuase they had dissimilar temperaments their attitutdes to sex
0870G18 were correspondingly dissimilar. ^*Indira*'s attitude was based
0880G18 more on procreation; Feroze*'s was based more on the pleasure
0890G18 principle. ^Thus there was a kind of sexual conflict, but
0900G18 it must be pointed out that it was not unique. ^Most couples
0910G18 confront and solve problems of this nature. $^Alas, Feroze
0920G18 also had "an eye for a pretty face", an eye for beauty and
0930G18 its concomitant diversions" (\0Mrs. Gandhi*'s biographers*'
0940G18 better euphemisms) which didn*'4t, one can be sure, please Indira
0950G18 very much. ^The first of a series of infidelities occurred
0960G18 in Lucknow when Feroze was managing the *3National Herald*0.
0970G18 ^In India, where biographers are exceedingly circumspect and
0980G18 respectful, one has to_ tread carefully or face charges of
0990G18 sexual sensationalism. ^Nonetheless, Feroze*'s interest in
1000G18 women (which, incidentally, Sanjay inherits) wasn*'4t and isn*'4t
1010G18 exactly a secret. $^Although Feroze tried desperately hard
1020G18 to_ conduct his amorous adventures discreetly, he was constantly
1030G18 being caught out, not least by his wife. ^*Jaffar, an old
1040G18 Feroze friend, says: "^The more he would try to_ hide his affairs
1041G18 the more they would come out. ^He was hopeless in managing this
1042G18 area of his life. "^He used to_ know a certain lady and
1050G18 I warned him he should not see her because she was obviously
1060G18 exploiting his name and friendship. ^He didn*'4t listen to me.
1070G18 ^Then one day he came running. '^*Jaffar, you were right
1080G18 that_ girl has got me into trouble. ^She was arrested
1090G18 in Paris. ^They say she is a Russian spy. ^In her
1100G18 testimony she has given my name. ^Now there is an enquiry
1110G18 against me!' ^Nothing I think finally happened, but this kind
1120G18 of mismanagement was very much a part of Feroze."
1130G18 $^On another occasion Jaffar found a bag of mangoes at Feroze*'s
1140G18 house. "^Don*'4t touch those-- they are for Pantjee,"
1150G18 said Feroze. ^That_ evening Jaffar went to the house
1160G18 of a lady. ^*Feroze was also present. ^She brought
1170G18 out a bag of mangoes an8 Jaffar immediately said: "^Funny,
1180G18 I saw a similar bag of mangoes at Feroze*'s house. ^But
1190G18 of course they were for Pantjee." ^There was an embarrassing
1200G18 silence. ^When the lady was out of earshot, Feroze
1210G18 said: "^*Jaffar you always say the wrong thing at the wrong time."
1220G18 $^Altogether sexual incompatibility probably played
1230G18 a larger part in the Indira-Feroze unofficial divorce than temperamental
1240G18 incompatibility. $^Another cause for incompatibility,
1250G18 though a minor one, was Nehru. $^By 1947, he was a
1260G18 lonely man in a lonely job (remember Kennedy*'s remark about the
1270G18 American Presidency being the loneliest job in the world).
1280G18 ^After the turmoil of a 16 hour day he wanted the solace of a close
1290G18 relative. ^This was a perfectly normal expectation, but not
1300G18 a mandatory one. ^There are countless examples of political
1310G18 leaders who have led and are leading solitary lives. \0^*Mr.
1320G18 Nehru would have survived his loneliness and made no worse
1330G18 or better a Prime Minister without his daughter*'s proximity.
1340G18 ^Meanwhile, the assertion that Nehru required Indira
1350G18 for social reasons, for entertaining the vast array of glittering
1360G18 guests who came regularly to_ visit him, is so ludicrous that
1370G18 it defies comment. ^One would think that secretaries, sisters,
1380G18 valets, servants did not exist. $^Whatever \0Mr.
1390G18 Nehru*'s private and social requirements, Indira*'s responsibility
1400G18 was to her husband and children. ^*Indian wives, wives
1410G18 the world over, know that once they get married their first
1420G18 allegiance is to their new family. $^But what do you do when
1430G18 you know your marriage is beyond repair, when you know that
1440G18 time will not heal, it will exacerbate? ^If you are the suffering
1450G18 Sita type you will endure a wretched life hoping for rewards
1460G18 in the next world. ^If, like Indira, you like your reward
1470G18 in this world, you break. $^When she decided to_ more or less
1480G18 permanently move in with Jawaharlal in 1947, Indira had written
1490G18 off her marriage. ^And like all estranged wives she
1500G18 went running to her father*'s house-- and stayed there. ^Perhaps
1510G18 this explanation is altogether too simplistic and prosaic, but
1520G18 it is more plausible and certainly, more human than the one attributing
1530G18 "sacrifice" and "national good" for the break-up of the
1540G18 marriage. $*<*3Mummy*'s Boy*0*>
1550G18 $^WHEN LADY and Sir Stafford Cripps came to India in 1946
1560G18 they came with separate ambitions. $^*Sir Stafford
1570G18 Cripps was part of a three-man Cabinet Mission exploring ways
1580G18 and means of handing over power. ^*Clement Atlee, now
1590G18 leading a Labour Government in Britain, had instructed the
1600G18 Mission to_ establish a machinery of decision "that_ would enable
1610G18 Indian leaders to_ receive political power in no way
1620G18 incompatible with the sovereign dignity of India". $^*Lady
1630G18 Cripps, meanwhile, had come in search of a kashmiri *4shawl;
1640G18 but she knew nothing about Kashmiri *4shawls. ^Therefore as a
1650G18 shopping guide she approached Indira, now living in Delhi
1660G18 with her father in a small bungalow on 17 York Road.
1670G18 ^*Indira could easily have refused the invitation. ^*Lady Cripps
1680G18 and her husband were not exactly friends of India-- rather
1690G18 they represented a colonial power dragging its feet. ^The
1700G18 Nehrus, however, had a reputation for civility and friendship
1710G18 to white aliens. ^*Lady Cripps further diluted any residual
1720G18 hostility by paying compliments to Indira*'s superior *4shawl sense.
1730G18 $^The only problem in going was physical. ^*Indira was over
1740G18 eight months pregnant and her English doctor was most disturbed
1750G18 with the way the pregnancy was progressing. ^Because of her
1760G18 marital woes, Indira appeared depressed, tired and tense.
1770G18 ^Nevertheless, on \0Dec. 13 she did go *4shawl shopping with Lady
1780G18 Cripps and that_ evening there was a rare family re-union.
1790G18 ^*Feroze had come from Lucknow, \0Mr. Nehru for
1800G18 once was at home, Krishna, her husband and two sons had arrived
1810G18 from Bombay. "^We had a pleasant evening", remembers Krishna,
1820G18 "Jawahar*'s witticisms brought a great deal of laughter
1830G18 and Indira was in fine form." ^A good dinner was had by all.
1840G18 $^Some time after midnight Indira*'s maid knocked on
1850G18 Krishna*'s door and woke up Feroze: *4Memsahib was having labour
1860G18 pains. $^At 3 \0a.m. on a cold Delhi night, Feroze,
1870G18 Krishna, Indira and the maid drove to Willingdon Hospital.
1880G18 ^It was agreed that Jawarharlal should not be disturbed as
1890G18 he did not like waking up early. ^The English doctor, who
1900G18 had been informed by phone, went straight to the hospital and there he
1910G18 spent over six hours with his patient in the labour room. ^He
1920G18 was not helped in his task by Krishna and Feroze who had their own
1930G18 ideas on how the baby should be delivered. $^Just before ten
1940G18 the next morning the doctor came out and announced the news.
1950G18 ^*Indira had had a very difficult delivery; she had lost a great
1960G18 deal of blood. ^She had also at 9.27 \0a.m. given birth to
1970G18 a son, who was as well as could be expected in the circumstances.
1980G18 $^Only the good news was communicated to Jawaharlal.
1990G18 ^He came immediately to the hospital and was alarmed to_ see how
2000G18 weak and pale his daughter had become. ^Indeed, as the doctor
2010G18 confirmed, in the process of producing her second child,
2020G18 Indira Gandhi had nearly lost her life. $^The child, according
2030G18 to occidental astrology, was born under the sign of Sagittarius.*#
        **[no. of words = 02009**]

        **[txt. g19**]
0010G19 **<*3LOHIA-- A STUDY*0**> $^*Lohia*'s views on caste, woman,
0020G19 language, education, Hindu-Muslim relations are given separately
0030G19 along with the remedy suggested by him. $*<*3(A) Caste
0040G19 System*0*> $^The caste system, the most overwhelming
0050G19 factor in Indian life, has divided the Indian society into a multitude
0060G19 of almost hermetically sealed groups, hierarchically graded
0070G19 and based on birth. ^It has threatened social harmony
0080G19 and political peace. ^It is a terrifying force of stability
0090G19 and against change, a force that_ stabilises all current
0100G19 meanness, dishonour and lie. $^Hierarchic gradation, endogamy,
0110G19 social and other inequalities, restrictions on dining, lack
0120G19 of freedom regarding the choice of vocation are some of the features
0130G19 of the caste-system. $^*Lohia who held the caste-system responsible
0140G19 for stability-cum-stagnation was right in ascertaining
0150G19 that without the destruction of castes, democracy and socialism
0160G19 could not function properly in India. ^He waged
0170G19 war against the caste system on both social and political fronts
0180G19 in order to_ revolutionise the people for mass action.
0181G19 ^*Lohia pointed out:
0190G19 "To_ stop talking of caste is to_ shut one*'s eyes to the most
0200G19 important single reality of the Indian institution. ^One
0210G19 does not end caste merely by wishing it away." $^Caste system
0220G19 has become so dominating that even those who deny it in principles
0230G19 **[sic**] also accept it in practice. '^Life moves within the
0240G19 frontiers of caste and cultured men speak in soft tones against
0250G19 system of caste, while its rejection in action must not occur to
0260G19 them.' $^The progress of the country demands the emancipation
0270G19 of the individual from the shackles of caste, hence Lohia
0280G19 wanted to_ hasten its destruction. ^He did not share the
0290G19 belief, common among some thinkers, that with the achievement
0300G19 of economic equality, caste inequality would vanish
0310G19 automatically. ^*Lohia emphatically declared: "Many socialists
0320G19 honestly but wrongly think it is sufficient to_ strive for
0330G19 economic equality and caste inequality will vanish of itself
0340G19 as a consequence. ^They fail to_ comprehend economic
0350G19 inequality and caste inequality as twin demons, which have both
0360G19 to_ be killed." $^*Lohia points out the damages caste
0370G19 system is doing to the Indian society both in political and economic
0380G19 field. ^Due to predominance of the caste system, democracy
0390G19 cannot filter properly to all the people in India. ^In India
0400G19 where groups cohere through birth and long traditions, the
0410G19 most numerical groups tend to_ acquire political and economic
0420G19 privileges.' ^Political parties run after them to_ select
0430G19 candidates from among them for elections to the Parliament
0440G19 and the Assemblies. ^Citing the statistical structure of
0450G19 the Indian population, Lohia said: $"^On no account do
0460G19 the high-castes comprise more than one-fifth of India*'s population.
0470G19 ^But they keep to themselves almost four-fifths of the nation*'s
0480G19 leadership. ^In respect of the top leadership of the
0490G19 four main departments of national activity, business, army, high
0500G19 civil services and political parties, the high-castes easily
0510G19 comprise four-fifths." $^*Lohia did not agree with
0520G19 the historians that internal quarrels and intrigues were the cuases
0530G19 of foreign conquests in India. ^To him 'not disunity,
0540G19 but caste has been the prime factor behind India*'s susceptibility
0550G19 to invasions and her frequent submission to them'.
0560G19 ^It rendered nine-tenths of the population into merely onlookers,
0570G19 in fact, 'listless and nearly completely disinterested spectators
0580G19 of grim national tragedies'. $^Caste is antithesis of equality.
0590G19 ^Caste more than anything else causes debility to the
0600G19 nation. ^It is, therefore, 'meaningless to_ talk of equality
0610G19 while maintaining separate caste system.' ^Caste system
0620G19 has found such deep roots in the Indian social life, as birth,
0630G19 death, marriage and feasts and other rituals move within the
0640G19 frame of castes. ^It has got such a coercive power to_ control
0650G19 its groups that the individual has almost been completely shorn of
0660G19 personal liberty. ^The individual in India is so subordinated
0670G19 to his caste that he chiefly functions, especially in matters
0680G19 of social and political, more as a member of his caste, than directly
0690G19 as an independent individual. ^When social life moves within
0700G19 the frame of caste, the political aspects are also influenced by
0710G19 it. ^*Lohia said: $"^When a continual get-together takes
0720G19 place on all major and personal events of life, it would be
0730G19 some-what bizarre if political events take place outside the framework.
0740G19 ^When men are puzzled at a caste voting more or less alike,
0750G19 they behave as though they had come from another planet.
0760G19 ^What would one expect a group to_ do that_ lives, child-bears,
0770G19 weds, dies and fasts together?" $^To Lohia, classlessness
0780G19 is impossible without castelessness. ^In India classlessness
0790G19 is nothing if it is not identical with castelessness. ^In India,
0800G19 capitalism in order to_ stand on its ground has allied
0810G19 itself with the caste system. ^The one protects the other.
0820G19 ^For achieving socialism this casteless collaboration must be
0830G19 ended. $^To Lohia, 'Karl Marx tried to_ destroy class,
0840G19 without being aware of its amazing capacity to_ change itself into
0850G19 caste, not necessarily the iron bound caste of India but
0860G19 immobile class anyway'. ~Lohia said: $"^Caste is immobile
0870G19 class. ^Loosening caste is a class. ^This slow swing
0880G19 between class and caste has so far been a law of human history.
0890G19 ^In India alone congealment into caste has taken place,
0900G19 elsewhere it is various degrees of freezing and unfreezing."
0910G19 $^*Lohia condemned the *4Bania-Brahmin monopoly over
0920G19 the belly and the mind and pleaded for its destruction. ^To him
0930G19 'this *4Bania-Brahmin alliance is one of the prime movers of
0940G19 Indian history. ^The *4Bania lords the nation*'s belly, the
0950G19 *4Brahmin lords the nation*'s mind'. ^He regarded their
0960G19 dominance as 'unnatural'; and attributed it to a 'mass of chicanery'
0970G19 hidden under a smooth and cultured surface. ^But
0980G19 he was not against all the *4Brahmins or all the *4Banias, but
0990G19 against those who belonged to the tradition of *4Vashishtha.
1000G19 ^He was so critical of having given superiority to any
1010G19 particular caste that he called 'a vulgar display' of the action of
1020G19 the President of India (\0Dr. Rajendra Prasad) for having
1030G19 publicly bathed the feet of the two hundred *4Brahmins in the holy
1040G19 city of Banaras. ^It must be condemned as 'for the hands
1050G19 that_ publicly wash *4Brahmins*' feet belong to legs that_
1060G19 publicly kick the *4Sudras and the *4Harijans'. ^He
1070G19 criticised that the *4Harijans were refused entry in the
1080G19 Vishwanath temple at Banaras. $^It does not mean that
1090G19 the caste-system is without any virtue. ^It gives to the Indian
1100G19 character certain extra-ordinary virtues. ^In times of prosperity
1110G19 and strength, 'such a character strives for an odd kind
1120G19 of justice and, at all times, it strives for stability and
1130G19 maintenance of identity'. ~caste prevails, because it is
1140G19 the only reliable insurance of the individuals against calamity or
1150G19 routine ill beings. ^But the vices are much numerous and deep-going.
1160G19 ^*Lohia observed: $"^Due to caste system Indian
1170G19 character has become the most split in all the world.
1180G19 ^The total loss of identification between higher and lower castes
1190G19 has produced a situation of great unreality of lying and double-dealing,
1200G19 of tensions that_ have become a normal part of the mind,
1210G19 of readiness to_ whine and wheedle and cajole in the moment
1220G19 immediately before or after threatening, bullying or assaulting,
1230G19 of great bravery without tenacity and cowardice without total submission,
1240G19 of a ruling class unparalleled in all the world for its
1250G19 duration or its ability to_ adjust alongside of its stubbornness
1260G19 to_ maintain its identity." $^*Lohia outlines the sociological
1270G19 law that_ the system of caste has brought. ^It has caused
1280G19 shrinkage of abilities and opportunities. ^Due to it ninety
1290G19 per cent of the population has become mentally paralysed
1300G19 and atrophied. ^The process of shrinking of ability and opportunity
1310G19 once started went on indefinitely with the result that certain
1320G19 privileged sub-castes among the *4Brahmins or the *4Kayasthas
1330G19 acquired more privileges while the vast majority was
1340G19 continually deprived and became less able. $^In the Preface
1350G19 to *3Marx, Gandhi and socialism,*0 Lohia said:
1360G19 $"^Caste restricts opportunity. ^Restricted opportunity constricts
1370G19 ability. ^Constricted ability further restricts opportunity.
1380G19 ^Where caste prevails, opportunity and ability are restricted
1390G19 to ever-narrowing circles of the people."
1400G19 $^On the caste system, Lohia even differed with Gandhiji who did
1410G19 not seem to_ be fully aware of the full implications of the caste-system
1420G19 right upto a few years before his assassination. ^To
1430G19 Lohia, Gandhiji started with some kind of 'romantic idealization'
1440G19 of it. '^He tried to_ shear it of its evils as though
1450G19 the thing was not evil in itself.' ^For a long time Gandhiji
1460G19 wanted to_ maintain the caste system, but to_ reform it
1470G19 of its dross, Gandhiji changed his position on the caste system
1480G19 only a few years before his death, but, then it was too late,
1490G19 as the weakness of his earlier position had already caused a
1500G19 basic anaemia in the national movement. $^*Lohia went to
1510G19 the extreme in calling India*'s partition as some kind of 'legal
1520G19 registration of a state of unrelatedness among her castes'. ^*Lohia
1530G19 argued that if from the beginning the freedom struggle had
1540G19 been based 'on the abolition of the caste-system, the *4Hindus,
1550G19 *4Sudras and *4Harijans would have mingled with the *4Muslim,
1560G19 *4Anwar and *4Momin or they would at least have combined
1570G19 politically to_ secure freedom for a united country'. $^Until
1580G19 the caste system is totally destroyed, the reconstruction of the Indian
1590G19 society, according to Lohia, should be based on the principle
1600G19 of preferential opportunity for the groups whom caste has more
1610G19 or less disabled than on the principle of equal opportunity.
1620G19 ^The principle of equal opporutnity according to ability shall not finish
1630G19 the existing inequalities but only further widen it. ^Under
1640G19 equal opportunity only the 'genius or the exceptionally able would
1650G19 win in the battle'. $^*Lohia was not satisfied with
1660G19 the system of reservation conceded to the lower castes and that_
1670G19 too on the basis of ability. ^How could people with the tradition
1680G19 of generations of lowly existence ever compete with high
1690G19 born? ^Hence, to_ make this battle a somewhat equal encounter,
1700G19 unequal opportunity would have to_ be extended to the Women,
1710G19 *4Harijans, *4Sudras, depressed Muslims and Christians, and
1720G19 *4Adivasis. ^Hence to Lohia 'this depressed 90% must be
1730G19 assured 60% of all opportunities in the country except in such specialized
1740G19 skills as surgery, until they are able to_ run the race
1750G19 equally'. ^This change should be effected through legal protection,
1760G19 where necessary, but generally through changing the mental attitude.
1770G19 ^But in the field of education all should get equal
1780G19 opporutnity. $^The attack on caste should not be 'single-barrelled'.
1790G19 it must be both political and social. ^The
1800G19 social attack on caste should consist in mass interdining particularly
1810G19 in the villages at one end and inter-caste marriage at the other.
1820G19 ^While inter-caste marriage cannot be made obligatory, the \0Govt.
1830G19 'would be perfectly within its rights to_ enlist its servants from
1840G19 among those who have inter-married'. ^*Lohia did not think
1850G19 that such a restriction would be an infringement of civil rights,
1860G19 as this evil custom of restricting a human choice to hereditary groups
1870G19 is in itself an infringement of civil rights. ^To Lohia*'s
1880G19 concept inter-caste marriage should not mean marriage between two
1890G19 high castes, \0viz., *4Bania-Brahmin or two lower castes \0viz.,
1900G19 *4Harijan-Chamar. ^It should be a marriage between *4Dwija-Adwija
1910G19 (high and low caste). $^In the economic sphere
1920G19 special facilities of scholarship and hostels \0etc. for the backwards
1930G19 should be increased. $^*Lohia condemned those political
1940G19 parties which were hostile to the award of preferential treatment.
1950G19 ^He said: $"^They denounce it as a caste-motivated
1960G19 measure while they are themselves viciously caste-ridden, perhaps
1970G19 unknowingly. ^They denounce caste by birth, but in enthroning
1980G19 the principles of merit, they keep secured their privileged position."
1990G19 $^While pleading for preferential treatment,
2000G19 Lohia did not spare the members of the lower-castes and warned them
2010G19 of their own short-comings. ^He pointed out: $"^A
2020G19 great burden rests on the youth of the lower castes. ^Not the aping
2030G19 of the high-caste in all its traditions and manners, not dislike
2040G19 of manual labour, not individual self-advancement, not bitter jealousy,
2050G19 but the staffing of the nation*'s leadersship, as though it
2060G19 were some sacred work, should now be the supreme concern of Women
2070G19 *4Sudras, *4Harijans, Muslims and *4Adivasis."
2080G19 $*<*3(B) Women*0*> $^The oft-repeated words of Lohia
2090G19 that "I am half-man and half-woman" showed his attitude towards women.
2100G19 ^*Lohia realised that woman was 'undoubtedly among the most
2110G19 exploited section of humanity, together with the poorest and lowliest
2120G19 of man', and hence the problem of women should be tackled at its root
2130G19 as they have an important role to_ play in shaping the destiny
2140G19 of this land.*#
        **[no. of words = 02040**]

        **[txt. g20**]
0010G20 **<*3*(0C.*) Rajgopalachari-- His life and Mind*0**> $*<*3The Summing
0020G20 Up*0*> $*3^RAJAJI*0 was one of the most controversial
0030G20 figures in Indian politics during the first half of the 20th
0040G20 century. ^Like his Master in the larger sphere of world affairs,
0050G20 *7vis-a-vis India*'s position in respect of her relations with
0060G20 Great Britain, he was often much misunderstood and even maligned
0070G20 by interested people in the Congress Party and outside it.
0080G20 ^But nothing swerved him from the straight path, he went on undaunted
0090G20 pursuing the light of *4dharma dedicating his energies and
0100G20 efforts to the realisation of the ideals that_ inspired him, an example
0110G20 of supreme loyalty and devotion to the leader he had chosen,
0120G20 his life all given to the country*'s service in unstinting measure.
0130G20 ^He was considered good enough to_ occupy the distinguished
0140G20 office of the Governor General of India but he was never
0150G20 chosen President of the Indian National Congress! ^That_
0160G20 reveals the inner working of the minds of some top leaders of the Congress,
0170G20 whose parochial considerations and prejudical opinions overwhelmed
0180G20 their sense of patriotism and prevented the conferment of
0190G20 the highest honour in the hands of the people on a colleague and co-worker
0200G20 of the calibre of Rajaji. ^His opposition to some of
0210G20 their views, even including those of Mahatma Gandhi, led to his
0220G20 going into the political wilderness for some time and being greeted
0230G20 with black flag demonstrations by Congressmen. ^But a few
0240G20 clouds cannot hide the splendour of the sun. ^*Rajaji*'s rare
0250G20 brilliance was seen at his best, not when he was in the Congress
0260G20 but when he left the party to_ found another in opposition to its
0270G20 policies and programmes that_ worked against the welfare and
0280G20 real interests of the masses of India. $"^*Rajaji is man
0290G20 of deep convictions", said *(0J. B.*) Kripalani in his tribute on
0300G20 the occasion of Rajaji*'s 93rd Birthday. "^In his advocacy
0310G20 of what he considers at the time to_ be the right course, he is
0320G20 even ready to_ face unpopularity. ^He sometimes differed from
0330G20 Gandhiji but Gandhiji had a very high opinion of his intellect
0340G20 and judgment... ^*Rajaji always considered the freedom of the
0350G20 individual as the basis of democracy and even of real progress.
0360G20 ^It is only individuals believing in themselves and in their mission
0370G20 in life who have been instrumental in the progress of man. ^This
0380G20 is true even when they have, to all appearances, failed.
0390G20 ^Sometimes they have succeeded by dying for a cause. ^This is the
0400G20 way that_ the Economy of Nature works. ^Who can say that
0410G20 Chirst on the Cross was a failure or Socrates drinking the hemlock
0420G20 cup or Gandhiji shot dead by a fanatic?" $^No less
0430G20 a person than Rajendra Prasad, who was the First President of
0440G20 the Indian Republic for ten years, appreciated the ideals of
0450G20 the Swatantra Party which Rajaji was compelled to_ found in order
0460G20 to_ expose the erratic follies and egregious blunders of the
0470G20 Congress rulers, proudly conscious of their unbridled power and intent
0480G20 on preserving it for as long as possible at the cost of the people*'s
0490G20 happiness. ^The freedom fighter for India against
0500G20 British rule became transformed in course of time into an inveterate
0510G20 fighter for the freedom of the people, whose rights guaranteed
0520G20 to them under the Constitution were being whittled down one by one
0530G20 in the name of socialism. ^*Rajaji declared that the socialist
0540G20 policies of the Congress Party were not far from the totalitarianism
0550G20 of Lenin and Stalin and that its brand of socialism was
0560G20 the harbinger of the hapless advent of Communism into the country.
0570G20 "^*I am Enemy Number One of communism and Communists!"
0580G20 he had boldly asserted long ago. ^He saw in its insidious
0590G20 inroads into the working of the government a danger that_ threatened
0600G20 not only the individuality of man but the very independence of India
0610G20 itself and would soon result in converting India into a satellite
0620G20 of the Communist empire, a hanger-on of the hegemony of the
0630G20 hammer and the sickle! $"^Secrecy is a sin" declared Mahatma
0640G20 Gandhi a dictum in which Rajaji had profound faith.
0650G20 ^Hence his life was an open book, his thoughts always finding
0660G20 the true expression in frank and fearless utterance, even when he
0670G20 differed from Gandhiji on important questions affecting the
0680G20 future of India. ^He was never afraid of hostile criticism
0690G20 of his views but aired them openly in opposition to the most potent
0700G20 in the land. ^He could walk with Kings and Presidents
0710G20 but never lost the common touch, in Kipling*'s consummate
0720G20 language. ^A halo of moral grandeur surrounded him in spite
0730G20 of his life of simplicity that_ bordered on austerity and betokened
0740G20 the sublimity of his soul. ^Gifted with the mind of
0750G20 a scholar and the matchless versatility of a thinker, he came down
0760G20 to the level of ordinary human beings and loved to_ champion
0770G20 the causes of the lowly ones of earth, whether it was the untouchable
0780G20 or the slum-dweller at home or the Negro victims of white
0790G20 arrogance and superiority in America. $^We have seen how
0800G20 the impact of Mahatma Gandhi on Rajaji in his middle age had
0810G20 made him a devoted lieutenant of Gandhiji and a doughty fighter
0820G20 for India*'s freedom. ^Most of the other distinguished men who
0830G20 had responded to the call of the country admired the ideals of
0840G20 Gandhiji but could not adopt them in their actual life. ^But
0850G20 there was one man who was converted by the consummate philosophy
0860G20 of life and action so consistely preached and practised by the
0870G20 Father of the Nation and made it part of his own; there was one
0880G20 man who trod the Gandhian path of truth and non-violence. ^Whether
0890G20 he was in jail for the cause of the country*'s emancipation or
0900G20 occupying Viceroy*'s House; there was one man who made it
0910G20 the mission of his life, even as his Master had done, to_ impress
0920G20 on his people the urgent need for following *4dharma with faith
0930G20 in God, there was one man who was like Hanuman to Mahatma Gandhi--
0940G20 that_ was Rajaji! $^What was the secret of Rajaji*'s
0950G20 greatness? ^What were the qualities in him that_ won
0960G20 unstinted praise from the leaders of the world in thought and action
0970G20 in his passing away? ^What was the charisma of his personality
0980G20 that_ made Gandhiji feel drawn to him from their earliest
0990G20 contact and consider him as his conscience keeper? ^*Jawaharlal
1000G20 Nehru declared on the retirement of Rajaji as Governor
1010G20 General of India that thereafter he would feel a certain
1020G20 emptiness in his life becuase of Rajaji*'s bidding farewell
1030G20 to Viceroy*'s House at New Delhi. ^Why were those
1040G20 in authority at India*'s capital afraid of his true and
1050G20 trenchent criticism of their administration? ^The assassination
1060G20 of Mahatma Gandhi was not so crucial to the country*'s
1070G20 future as he had led it to the threshold of freedom. ^The
1080G20 death of Jawaharlal Nehru was not so fraught with danger to
1090G20 India*'s destiny as he had raised it high in the international sphere
1100G20 by his ideals. ^The passing away of Rajaji, however,
1110G20 leaves a void in the minds of millions of his countrymen for there
1120G20 is no one to_ take his place and send forth a clarion call for
1130G20 the purity of the administration, for urgent resurgence of *4dharma,
1140G20 for the establishment of the Kingdom of God on earth!
1150G20 $^The little *4Brahman lad, hailing from an unknown village
1160G20 near Salem, had in him the making of the great lawyer. ^When
1170G20 prosperity smiled on him, he lost the beloved partner of his
1180G20 life whom he loved deeply and whom he nursed during her last illness
1190G20 with unsurpassed devotion. ^When he was at the peak of his
1200G20 profession, he heard Gandhiji*'s call and forthwith bade
1210G20 goodbye to his law books. ^With joy in his heart and a spirit
1220G20 of sacrifice he responded for the cause of the country.
1230G20 ^When many years later he was made Governor General, he
1240G20 accepted the honour in all humility. ^When the time came
1250G20 for him to_ step down from that_ position of dignity and
1260G20 splendour, he went back to his village to the simple life that_
1270G20 had marked his career all through. ^When he again heard
1280G20 the distant rumblings of the thunder of discontent in the people*'s
1290G20 minds, he took over the command of the opposition to the rulers
1300G20 and even as Cromwell said to King Charles *=1 he delivered
1310G20 an ultimatum to those in authority, "For God*'s sake,
1320G20 go!" ^But his voice was unheeded, his words were unheard,
1330G20 his wisdom was unappreciated! $^He never felt disheartened
1340G20 or dismayed at what he saw for he always had high hope that
1350G20 the grace of God would not forsake the descendants of the
1360G20 *4rishis who had given the world the *4Vedas and the *4Upanishads.
1370G20 ^The great optimist that_ he was he always believed
1380G20 in the truth of the beautiful words of the poet, "The darkest
1390G20 night cannot hold back the dawn!" ^He felt that the moral
1400G20 crisis through which the country is passing is but a transient
1410G20 phase. ^It must give place to a great and glorious renaissance
1420G20 of the spirit and India shall once again win back her
1430G20 premier position among world nations as in Gandhiji*'s days.
1440G20 ^For that_ there must be instilled in the minds of one and all a devotion
1450G20 to *4dharma a feeling of godliness must inspire the lives
1460G20 of the rich and the poor, God must be enthroned again in men*'s
1470G20 hearts. ^If India is to_ become the "*5Rama Rajya*6"
1480G20 of Gandhiji*'s dreams, its people must shun the materialists
1490G20 philosophy of the West, declared Rajaji often, they must
1500G20 not worship power as the *3alpha*0 and *3Omega*0 of political
1510G20 life. ^Then alone will the fruits of freedom reach the poor
1520G20 man in hamlet and city, instead of being enjoyed only by the elite
1530G20 and the powerful as it is today! $^*Rajaji was a man
1540G20 of rare humility. ^At the end of his distinguished career marked
1550G20 with great achievements in many fields of human activity that_
1560G20 had brought him world renown, he confesses with ineffable
1570G20 frankness: "^*I am not a saint nor a sage. ^*I am a humble believer
1580G20 and that_ is all, and I wish to_ speak the truth.
1580G20 ^*I speak about my personal experience. ^Whenever I
1590G20 have keenly felt the distress of others and I pray for their relief,
1600G20 I have found God has answered. ^*I say this to others
1610G20 confidently, pray for *3others*0 and God will surely relieve
1620G20 their distress and take care of you without your asking for it.
1630G20 ^If our concern is truly about other people and not about
1640G20 anything for oneself, God will help." ^He always worked
1650G20 for raising the level of life of the poorer classes by providing
1660G20 them better homes than the slums of cities in which they
1670G20 spend their lives by giving them the light of knowledge so that
1680G20 they might have apportunities to_ scale the heights attained by
1690G20 their brethren with more wealth; he admired their faith in God
1700G20 which he considered to_ be deeper than what existed in the
1710G20 elite of the society. ^He championed the cause of the untouchables,
1720G20 working shoulder to shoulder with Mahatma Gandhi.
1730G20 ^In his boundless sympathy for the misery of a drunkard*'s
1740G20 family he gave practical evidence of his evangelical spirit by placing
1750G20 on the Statute Book the first Prohibition Act in
1760G20 India when he was Chief Minister of Madras Province during
1770G20 1937-1939. ^His simplicity of life and sublimity of thought,
1780G20 whether he was the occupant of "Viceroy*'s House" in
1790G20 New Delhi or resident in his own village in retirement, was the
1800G20 key to his humility and the corner-stone of his philosophy of life.
1810G20 ^This is borne out by his entry in his "Jail Dairy" on
1820G20 January 15, 1922: "^*I never enjoyed more light and fresh air
1830G20 and a simple stroll in the open as I did this morning after my
1840G20 cell door was opened. ^*I never understood the beauty or the taste
1850G20 of simple foodstuff as I do in prison. ^The exaggerated
1860G20 horror with which imprisonment is looked upon is as foolish as it
1870G20 would be to_ consider occasional fasts and retreat from busy
1880G20 life as great misfortunes."*#
        **[no. of words = 02011**]

        **[txt. g21**]
0010G21 **<*3Builders of Modern Economy: a Biography*0**> $^If the English
0020G21 novelist, Charles Dickens, were to_ write a novel on "A
0030G21 Tale of One City", that_ is Ahmedabad, its first sentence might
0040G21 very well be, "It had the best of institutions; it had the worst
0050G21 of institutions." ^The cotton city of Ahmedabad known for its
0060G21 commercial enterprise has a cluster of institutions that_ have won
0070G21 international acclaim-- Indian Institute of Management, Physical
0080G21 Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad Textile Industries Research Association,
0090G21 Vikram Sarabhai Community Science Centre, School of
0100G21 Architecture and National Inistitute of Designs and *(0L.
0110G21 D*) School of Indology. $^Institution-building in Ahmedabad
0120G21 began soon after the country became free and the pioneers in this
0130G21 field were Kasturbhai and the late Vikram Sarabhai. ^It was
0140G21 an unusual combination, the elderly industrialist who had won the respect
0150G21 of the people and the Government and the young scientist fired
0160G21 by visionary projects and who also came from a family of millowners.
0170G21 ^*Kasturbhai and Sheth Ambalal Sarabhai had worked together
0180G21 on many issues in the past and had been closely associated with
0190G21 Gandhiji. ^*Kasturbhai even then had found a kindred spirit in Vikram,
0200G21 who shared his enthusiasm for institution-building and who
0210G21 was both practical and pragmatic. $^*Kasturbhai and Vikram
0220G21 thought alike on many issues of advancement of science and techonology
0230G21 and the application of these in industry, tapping and encouraging
0240G21 youthful talent at the national level, promoting a pattern
0250G21 of education that_ would transcend all barriers and put India
0260G21 firmly in the scientific and technological map of the world.
0270G21 ^Despite these common ideals, Kasturbhai and Vikram had their differences
0280G21 too, which were resolved in a spirit of give and take. ^As
0290G21 the young industrialist-cum-scientist zestfully went ahead with
0300G21 the planning of a number of outstanding institutions, he was aware
0310G21 of the solid support and understanding of Ahmedabad*'s premier
0320G21 industrialist. ^*Kasturbhai had a high regard for Vikram*'s integrity
0330G21 and independent thinking and the young scientist admired the
0340G21 veteran Industrialist*'s practical wisdom and quick decision-making.
0350G21 ^As \0Dr. Kamla Chowdhry explains in her book, "Change-in-Organisations",
0360G21 Kasturbhai and Vikram represented a combination
0370G21 of science and practice, the aspirations of two generations,
0380G21 of leadership styles significant to their respective groups-- a combination
0390G21 of age, skills and experience, which strengthened and
0400G21 enhanced the leadership of institutions like the \0ATIRA.
0410G21 $^In 1944, the Indian Government set up a committee headed by
0420G21 Shanmukham Chetty to_ encourage industrial research. ^The
0430G21 Ahmedabad Millowners*' Association informed the committee
0440G21 that it would undertake the starting of a co-operative research
0450G21 association provided adequate financial assistance was forthcoming
0460G21 from the Government. ^*The Ahmedabad Textile Industries
0470G21 Researach Association (\0ATIRA) was registered in December,
0480G21 1947, with 71 textile units which were members of the Ahmedabad
0490G21 Millioners*'s Association (\0AMOA). ^They contributed
0491G21 \0Rs. 52 *4lakhs for the establishment of \0ATIRA and the Government,
0500G21 besides granting \0Rs. 19 *4lakhs, promised to_ bear half
0510G21 the recurring expenditure for the first five years upto a maximum
0520G21 of \0Rs. 1.5 *4lakhs, for any particular year. $^*Kasturbhai
0530G21 had asked Vikram even while he was at Cambridge to_ study
0540G21 the constitution and organisation of research institutions in the
0550G21 United Kingdom and Europe so as to_ provide a basis for the structure
0560G21 of \0ATIRA. ^*Kasturbhai, and Vikram were members
0570G21 of a committee appointed by the \0AMOA to_ draft the constitution
0580G21 for the proposed institution, which was to_ be modified on the
0590G21 pattern of the British research centres with a co-operative structure,
0600G21 the co-option of scientists in the administrative council
0610G21 and the majority control not resting with the millowners. ^*Kasturbhai
0620G21 was elected the first Chairman of the council of administration
0630G21 in 1947 and held the post till 1963. ^*Vikram functioned
0640G21 as the honorary and part-time director for nine years till 1956.
0650G21 ^In its search for "new blood", \0ATIRA recruited mostly talented
0660G21 young scientists and research scholars rather than those with
0670G21 "adequate experience." ^A sense of participation in decision-making
0680G21 was created from the beginning. ^The institution which
0690G21 attracted talent from all over India was truly national in its
0700G21 character from the start. ^Starting with make-shift arrangements
0710G21 at the local *(0M.G.*) Science Institute, \0ATIRA shifted
0720G21 to its present three-storeyed building with a total floor area
0730G21 of one *4lakh square feet in April, 1954, after an inaugural
0740G21 ceremony presided over by Jawaharlal Nehru. ^The project reports
0750G21 for the main building and the laboratories were prepared by \0M/S.
0760G21 Lockwood & Green, \0USA, and the building designed by Kanvinde
0770G21 & Rai, well-known architects. $\0^*ATIRA, which celebrrated
0780G21 its silver jubilee on November 8, 1974, has an impressive record
0790G21 in textile research, quality control in textile mechanical and wet
0800G21 processing, spinning, increased productivity, methods to_ reduce
0810G21 watsage of cotton, introduction of wet drafting principle, evaluation
0820G21 of fibre properties and spinning performances of the newer
0830G21 varieties of cotton. ^In weaving, \0ATIRA scientists studied
0840G21 different types of yarn faults to weaving performance and fabric
0860G21 apperances. ^They devised instruments to_ evaluate reed quality
0870G21 as well as automatic warp tension regulator
0880G21 for plain looms. ^Some of the notable achievements in processing
0890G21 were the water softening system, resin finishing and the highly-successful
0900G21 permanent press technique. ^The \0ATIRA experts
0910G21 improved boiler efficiency, stream distribution and humidification
0920G21 techniques. ^The scientists of the organisation suggested
0921G21 methods to_ cut down water consumption in the mills as a ten per cent
0930G21 saving per mill would supply nearly 2,000 homes their daily needs
0940G21 of water. ^Import substitution is another feather in \0ATIRA*'s
0950G21 cap. ^Starting from scratch, the engineers perfected more
0960G21 than 450 instruments many of which were commercial successes also.
0970G21 $\0^*Dr. Kamla Chowdhry lucidly explains the outstanding success
0980G21 of \0ATIRA over the years and the significant roles played
0990G21 by three clusters of decision-makers, the industrialists, the scientists
1000G21 and the Government nominees. $"^The first chairman of the council
1010G21 was Kasturbhai Lalbhai, a leading millowner of Ahmedabad.
1020G21 ^His name was proposed by Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar, a scientist
1030G21 nominee of the Government. ^Even in this initial act, there
1040G21 was a ritualistic significance of 'coming together' of the millowners,
1050G21 government and scientific interests. ^The first director was
1060G21 Vikram Sarabhai, an elected member and a scientist. ^Here
1070G21 again, there was a fusion of the different segments of the council."
1080G21 $\0^*Dr. Chowdhry goes on to_ add, "There were other aspects
1090G21 that_ seemed to_ strengthen the 'links' between the members of
1100G21 the cluster. ^Each member of this cluster was involved in a major
1110G21 institution-building activity and all were members on each others*'
1120G21 boards. ^Thus Kasturbhai and \0Dr. Krishnan were on the board
1130G21 of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Sarabhai on
1140G21 its scientific committee and Bhatnagar its director-general. ^*Bhatnagar
1150G21 and Krisnan were on the board of the Physical Research Laboratory
1160G21 of which Kasturbhai was the chairman and Sarabhai, founder-member.
1170G21 ^Thus they were all involved in building scientific
1180G21 institutions in the country and expressed a commitment to each other*'s
1190G21 innovative tasks. ^This experience of working together,
1200G21 of sharing each others*' professional interest, had over the years
1210G21 developed a great deal of mutual respect and trust. ^The continuity
1220G21 of the cluster in the council-- Kasturbhai was the chairman for about
1230G21 15 years, Sarabhai an elected member and director for nine years,
1240G21 and Bhatnagar and Krishnan as members for seven and 13 years respectively--
1250G21 established the basic style of discussions and decision-making.
1260G21 ^The policy-making group of \0ATIRA therefore contained
1270G21 a core cluster which assured it of Government and industry support
1280G21 through people who understood the scientific point of view;
1290G21 it consisted of a core who shared common values and who had trust and
1300G21 confidence in each other. ^The continuity of the core helped to_
1310G21 establish traditions and norms that_ provided conditions of freedom
1320G21 and autonomy for future directors of \0ATIRA". $"^Undoubtedly,
1330G21 one of the most important links between the clusters was Vikram
1340G21 Sarabhai and his very special position and role in Ahmedabad. ^Through
1350G21 Kasturbhai and his own family he had the millowners*'
1360G21 support; by virtue of his scientific background he shared a membership
1370G21 with the research workers and because of his age and upbringing
1380G21 he shared a membership with the younger managing agents. ^There
1390G21 were family, social and work relationships which reinforced the
1400G21 flow of confidence and communications from one group to another.
1410G21 ^*Kasturbhai, the leader of the textile industry and of the Ahmedabad
1420G21 industry gave absolute trust to Vikram Sarabhai, who, in turn gave
1430G21 absolute trust and freedom to the research workers. ^Mistakes
1440G21 were no doubt made at \0ATIRA but these were handled with tact
1450G21 and frankness, without a sense of doubt and shame among the research
1460G21 workers". $^*Kasturbhai and Vikram Sarabhai were again associated
1470G21 with the starting of the Physical Research Laboratory (\0PRL),
1480G21 one of the country*'s premier research centres which celebrated
1490G21 its silver jubilee in 1973. $^Even while a student, Vikram
1500G21 Sarabhai had been intersted in starting a physical research laboratory
1510G21 in Ahmedabad. ^In 1945, the Sarabhai family created the
1520G21 "Karmakashetra Educational Foundation" (0KEF) for starting
1530G21 and helping to_ carry on advanced scientific research and educational
1540G21 activities of all types. ^As soon as Vikram returned to Ahmedabad
1550G21 after obtaining his \0Ph.D. at Cambridge in 1947 he set about
1560G21 establishing the \0PRL in Ahmedabad. $^*Vikram discussed
1570G21 with Kasturbhai and Dadasaheb Malavankar the possibility of co-operation
1580G21 between the Ahmedabad Education Society and the \0KEF
1590G21 in founding a research laboratory in Ahmedabad devoted to the
1600G21 study of cosmic rays and atmospheric physics. ^In November 1947,
1610G21 an agreement was reached between the \0AES and the \0KEF to_
1620G21 start such an institution. ^The assistance of the \0CSIR (with
1630G21 Bhatnagar at the top) and of the Department of Atomic Energy
1640G21 was also informally sought and obtained. $^*Kasturbhai who was
1650G21 aware of Vikram*'s interest in the application of science for social
1660G21 and economic development was an enthusiastic supporter of the
1670G21 \0PRL. ^The laboratory began to_ function in the rooms of the
1680G21 *(0M. G.*) Science Institute and among the earliest staffers were
1690G21 a glass blower, an all-round mechanic and a scientific assistant
1700G21 who knew some electronics. ^*Kasturbhai and Vikram Sarabhai
1710G21 succeeded in persuading \0Dr. *(0K. R.*) Ramanathan, who had
1720G21 just retired from the metereological Department of the Government
1730G21 of India to_ join the \0PRL as its director. ^*Kasturbhai first
1740G21 met \0Dr. Ramanathan at Lala Shriram*'s home in Delhi and they
1750G21 hit it off very well from the beginning. ^In 1950, a council
1760G21 of management of the \0PRL was formed with representatives
1770G21 from the \0AES, the *\0KEF, the Ministry of Natural Resources
1780G21 and Scientific Research, the Atomic Energy Commission
1790G21 of the Government of India and the Bombay Government. ^*Kasturbhai
1800G21 became the first chairman of the council and held the position
1810G21 till March 1976 before relinquishing it to \0Dr. Ramanathan.
1820G21 ^He continues to_ be the representative of the \0AES in the
1830G21 present council. $^The society provided the land for the buildings
1840G21 and structures for field experiments. ^The foundation stone of
1850G21 the laboratory was laid by the late \0Dr. *(0C. V.*). Raman on
1860G21 February 15, 1952, and the first building on the campus was declared
1870G21 open by Jawaharlal Nehru on April 10, 1954. ^The buildings
1880G21 on the campus grew in stages. ^Two floors of the first building
1890G21 were completed in 1952-53 and a second floor was added to it
1900G21 five years later. ^A second building was constructed to_ house
1910G21 a 1620 computer, a large library and two floors of research
1920G21 laboratories. ^The construction of a multi-storeyed building is
1930G21 progressing and the total cost of the buildings in the \0PRL
1940G21 campus till March, 1973, was to the tune of \0Rs. 36 \*4lakhs
1950G21 which included space for the \0IBM 360/44 computer, a large library
1960G21 and canteen. ^An additional 23,000 \0sq. \0yds. were acquired
1970G21 in 1962 for staff accommodation, a guest house and a hostel for
1980G21 post-graduate students. $^The expansion of the \0PRL has been
1990G21 quite remarkable. ^It now offers research facilities in cosmic rays,
2000G21 interplanetary space and astronomy, agronomy and geomagnetism,
2010G21 nuclear theory, plasma physics, cosmogeophysics, archaelogy and
2020G21 hydrology, remote sensing and earth resources. ^The council first
2030G21 headed by Kasturbhai had given full freedom to the scientists and
2040G21 the research scholars. ^The \0PRL deals with both fundamental
2050G21 and applied research and is a boon to the students of physics
2060G21 in the different universities of Gujarat. ^About 80 students had
2070G21 taken their \0Ph.D.s and \0M.Sc.s so far and another 40 are working
2080G21 for their theses.*#
        **[no. of words = 02004**]

        **[txt. g22**]
0010G22 **<*3Suniti Kumar Chatterji**> $*3^ONE*0 way of judging human
0020G22 character is to_ inspect one*'s wedding gifts. ^Perhaps that_ is
0030G22 too sweeping a method, but it is a pretty good index when one comes
0040G22 across presents that_ have survived two decades of connubial wear
0050G22 and tear and still continue to_ be eminently useful. ^*I have
0060G22 two such possessions, gifted on the 31st of January, 1955, when
0070G22 I and Shyamasree were married in Culcutta. $^The first is a vacuum
0080G22 bottle, Eagle Brand, made in Japan. ^Not a "thermos flask",
0090G22 not one of those shoddy so-called vacuum receptacles that_ burst, crack
0100G22 or explode after a year or less of use and hold no more than two
0110G22 tumblers of hot or cold liquefaction. ^My Eagle "vacuum bottle"
0120G22 is a most monstrous contraption, 8 inches in diameter and a foot and a
0130G22 half tall, designed to_ slake the thirst of a dozen adult humans.
0140G22 ^How continuously grateful we have been to the Englishman in the
0150G22 British Council who, though a mere acquaintance, thoughtfully anticipated
0160G22 our growing domestic needs and desires! $^The second precious
0170G22 and useful gift was made by Suniti Kumar Chatterji. ^*I was
0180G22 then a young versifier ("Indo-Anglian") in my twenties. ^My poems
0190G22 appeared occasionally in the pages of *3Thought*0 and *3The Illustrated
0200G22 Weekly.*0 ^*I had recently taken up an appointment as
0210G22 Lecturer in English at \0St Xavier*'s College and was slowly building
0220G22 up a personal library, my finances not permitting any exrtavagance
0230G22 beyond Penguin paperbacks. ^A Modern Library Giant was a great
0240G22 luxury. ^And the Clarendon Press anthologies of English poetry
0250G22 remained consummations only devoutly to_ be wished. $^*Suniti Kumar
0260G22 Chatterji*'s present to us was the expensive *3The Oxford Book of
0270G22 English Verse*0 1250-1918, chosen and edited by Sir Arthur Quiller-Couch,
0280G22 a 1,200-page feast which, despite the nitpickery of the
0290G22 New Critics is a sumptuous introduction to the riches of English
0300G22 poetry. (^In the inscription, which is in both Bengali and English,
0310G22 he transformed my wife*'s name into "Syamalasri", giving it
0320G22 a charming half South Indian flavour, and he apparently found it more
0330G22 satisafactory than her real name, for he never addressed her otherwise
0340G22 when we used to_ meet.) $*<*3Why A New Gita?*0*>
0350G22 $^It is typical of \0Dr Suniti Kumar Chatterji*'s intellectual youthfulness
0360G22 that he should keep track of the new developments that_ were then
0370G22 going on in the field of Indian poetry in English. ^Who cared for
0380G22 Matthew Arnold in a Murshidabad *4sari anyway? ^It was reassuring
0390G22 to_ know that a person of \0Dr Chatterji*'s social and literary
0400G22 eminence did. ^The gesture was as valuable and inspiring as the gift--
0410G22 and it was not entirely a symbolic gesture either, as prestigious
0420G22 condescension often is. ^*I found that out later-- ten years
0430G22 later in fact-- when I published my transcreation of the Bhagavad-Gita
0440G22 in 1965. $^Another version of the Gita? ^Oh no! ^For those
0450G22 who wanted a scholarly version, Hume and Radhakrishnan were conveniently
0460G22 available, for those who sought something "in modern idiom"
0470G22 there was the translation by Swami Prabhavananda and Christopher
0480G22 Isherwood; and there were any number of pious line-by-line exactitudes
0490G22 and offbeat interpretations to_ be found in the market. ^Who
0500G22 was this young upstart who preferred to_ see the Gita as a primarily *3literary*0
0510G22 document fitted into the "grand design" of the Mahabharata?
0520G22 ^And what business had he to_ imply that the answers given by Krishna to
0530G22 confused Arjuna were often evasive and, in the ultimate analysis,
0540G22 far from satisfactory. ^How audacious to_ put as epigraph to
0550G22 the transcreaion the second *4sloka from Canto *=3 where Arjuna says:
0560G22 **[Sanskrit verse**] $^You bewilder me with confusing speech,
0561G22 $Tell me that_ one truth by which I may find you.
0562G22 $^Not unnaturally, my version was conspicuously
0570G22 ignored. ^The few notices that_ appeared said the usual sweet nothings.
0580G22 ^*I don*'4t think anyone got the point of suggestion that to_
0590G22 stun, with a glorious magical revelation of psychedelic intensity, a
0600G22 bewildered warrior on the field of battle could only produce further bewilderment
0610G22 in him. ^Magic was hardly the way to_ persuade a man
0620G22 who asked for logic. ^Surely there could be no real justification for
0630G22 killing; Arjun*'s dilemma had posed a truly unanswerable *-64,000
0640G22 question. ^*Arjuna had transcended caste and community and stood for
0650G22 the voice of invincible conscience. ^*I also implied that in the modern
0660G22 world, calamitously threatened by the proliferation of nuclear mushrooms,
0670G22 the plight of Arjuna on the field of Kurukshetra was not an abstract
0680G22 intellectual perplexity that_ could be juggled away by the confidence
0690G22 trick of a *4vishwrupa *4darshan; it was a painful and honest
0700G22 problem that_ had to_ be faced on its own terms, painfully and
0710G22 honestly. $*<*32,500-Word Review*0*> $^This simple point, apparently
0720G22 lost on others, was not only immediately grasped but also endorsed
0730G22 by \0Dr Suniti Kumar Chatterji. ^He came out with the longest
0740G22 review of the transcreation that_ I have so far had-- 2,500 words.
0750G22 ^He noted the stress I had laid on the poetic beauty of the Gita;
0760G22 "a translation must have literary qualities," he wrote, "having direct
0770G22 and immediate appeal to the person who understands the language of
0780G22 the translation." ^He thought the "rendering of the great hymn in the
0790G22 11th book" was "superb". ^How ego-boosting it was to_ find a learned
0800G22 savant again and again commending exactly those parts where I had
0810G22 put my maximum creative energies in action! ^That_ review made
0820G22 me his life-long admirer. ^*I knew his criticism came from careful
0830G22 reading of the text, so that, when he twitted me for failling to_
0840G22 bring out the significance of the words, *5Yogeshvaro Harih*0 and *5Partho
0850G22 dhanurdharah,*0 in the last verse of the last canto, it gave me
0860G22 pleasure to_ mumble "*4Meaculpa" and to_ hope for more similarly pleaserable
0870G22 ear-tweakings from him. ^What a man! ^He not only cared-- he
0880G22 understood! $^By which I mean that he was the only person who
0890G22 noticed that, despite my cheekly placing of the epigraph and my less
0900G22 than worshipful attitude to the Blessed Lord Krishna, I was neither
0910G22 an iconoclast nor an atheist nor, indeed, flippant. "^One thing I
0920G22 am happy to_ find," he wrote. "^The translator has approached
0930G22 the Bhagavat Gita in that_ spirit of reverence which is due to one
0940G22 of the greatest religious classics of the world, a work that_ both provokes
0950G22 thought in a serious-minded man and sustains his spirit". ^Here
0960G22 I was, thinking no end of my cleverness and originality, when all
0970G22 I was doing was showing a form of "reverence"! ^Reverence, not faith.
0980G22 ^*I think \0Dr Chatterji is wisely implying that reverence is
0990G22 open, faith is blind; reverevence permits freedom, faith demands
1000G22 obedience. ^That_ kind of wisdom appealed to me hugely in my youth.
1010G22 $^*I was eager to_ learn more, so I cultivated his acquaintance.
1020G22 ^It was absurdly easy to_ meet him; one just went to his residence,
1030G22 16 Hindusthan Park, and rang the bell. ^His family had long since
1040G22 given up the ideas of "protecting" him from unwanted visitors because,
1050G22 for one thing, he did not consider anybody "unwanted". ^The trouble
1060G22 was not in getting to_ meet him; the trouble was escaping. ^He
1070G22 suffered from torrential logorrhoea. ^Such copious word-discharge appears
1080G22 to_ be a common failing among the truly learned Bengali elite.
1090G22 ^It is foolish to_ try to_ avoid the downpour; it is, in fact, advisable
1100G22 to_ get wet and refreshed. ^One should go with the express aim
1110G22 of listening, not of conversing. ^This I did. ^And got wet in
1120G22 the process. $^*I must explain the curious nature of my wettification.
1130G22 ^*I went to_ learn about ancient Indian philological esoterica
1140G22 and instead I picked up a few useful insights into Indian poetry in
1150G22 English of the 19th century. ^*I was bowled over, or bowled out,
1160G22 you might say, on my safest wicket, my home wicket. $^In january 1969
1170G22 I edited and published a mammoth weapon, an "Anthology and a Credo"
1180G22 called *3Modern Indian Poetry in English.*0 ^It had 700 pages
1190G22 and weighed a kilo. ^A blow from it, skilfully aimed and delivered,
1200G22 was guaranteed to_ knock sense into any disbeliever who still clung to
1210G22 the notion that Indians could not write creatively in English. (^The
1220G22 second edition is heavier and meant for hardened sceptics.) ^In a
1230G22 50-page introduction I argued the case for English as a creative medium
1240G22 by Indians. ^While discussing the merits of Hindi as the "language
1250G22 of majority choice", I made use of some published statements of
1260G22 \0Dr Chatterji. ^*I wrote: $"^It would seem to_ follow that,
1270G22 in a country where democratic institutions prevail and are sought to_
1280G22 be strengthened, the language of the majority should be the language
1290G22 of the nation. ^But there are two serious flaws in this argument.
1300G22 ^First of all, as \0Dr Suniti Kumar Chatterji, National
1310G22 professor of India and one of the world*'s most distinguished linguists,
1320G22 has pointed out, Hindi is still not a homogeneous language;
1330G22 it arrogates forty per cent of the population to itself only if some extremely
1340G22 peculiar dialects are included in it; by an analogous argument,
1350G22 Bengali could claim Oriya and Assamese, both sister lauguages
1360G22 , as its own-- obviously a tall claim. ^Secondly, Hindi is a
1370G22 specifically North Indian language, a "regional" language; in the
1380G22 eastern and western parts of India, it is a fringe lauguage, in the south
1390G22 it is a foreign language. $*<*3A Little Bit Of A Narada*0*>
1400G22 $^The mistake I made was to_ present a copy of the massive
1410G22 tome to \0Dr Chatterji. ^How was I to_ know that he would go
1420G22 through the anthology carefully and embark on a strategy to_ improve my
1430G22 appreciation of Indo-Anglian poetry? ^*I am now convinced he was
1440G22 a little bit of a Narada: he took a puckish delight in exposing frailties
1450G22 and inadequacies-- but always with that_ charming *4Naradic smile
1460G22 that_ effectively disarmed his victim. $^*I had two blind spots then:
1470G22 \0*4Sri Aurobindo and Manmohan Ghose. ^In somewhat high-pitched
1480G22 language, I had charged \0*4Sri Aurobindo with writing "greasy,
1490G22 weak-spined and purple-adjectived poetry" and added that "this kind
1500G22 of slushy verse is the most dangerous thing that_
1510G22 infects our poetry today" because it is caught up in "the clutches
1520G22 of soul stuff". ^But \0*4Sri Aurobindo was represented in the anthology
1530G22 by two "non-greasy" sonnets from his *3Last Poems.*0
1540G22 $^His brother Manmohan Ghose was not represented. ^His *3Songs
1550G22 of Love and Death*0 was a compulsory text for detailed study in the
1560G22 English (Honours) syllabus of Calcutta University when I was a student
1570G22 in 1948 in \0St Xavier*'s College. ^Overreacting to the
1580G22 cuckoos, daffodils, buttercups, bulrushes and narcissi in a poem of his
1590G22 called "April" (Ghose*'s April had nothing to_ do with the hot, dry,
1600G22 suffocating April of Calcutta), I had developed a giant antipathy
1610G22 to the pseudo-romanticism of his verse. ^Among the English (Honours)
1620G22 students, in fact, he was known as the "Barmy Poet " on the strength--
1630G22 or should I say weakness-- of the opening lines of "April":
1640G22 **[verses**] ^*Ghose also had Oreads, Dryads, Pegasuses and Psyches
1650G22 in profusion everywhere in his verse, including an unpronounceable charmer
1660G22 called Myvanwy, "fairest of maidens", whose love "burnt" Ghose*'s
1670G22 "bosom". ^It was all so absurd; even we backward Indian students
1680G22 knew that "bosoms" were out and "breasts" were in (for girls,
1690G22 that_ is); for a male to_ have a bosom sounded, in 1948, positively alarming--
1700G22 a chest, however, was in order. $^So Manmohan Ghose stayed
1710G22 out of the anthology and I gave reasons for his exclusion in my introduction.
1720G22 ^How was I to_ know when I presented a copy to \0Dr
1730G22 Chatterji that_ my *8bete noire*9 was one of \0Dr Chatterji*'s *4gurus?
1740G22 ^No one told me that the young Suniti Kumar spent "long
1750G22 afternoons and evenings" at the feet of Professor Ghose in his
1760G22 house at 55 Elliott Road; "sometimes I was so very engrossed by what
1770G22 I was listening from him that I missed my last tramcar for home and
1780G22 would tramp all the way back if I did not get a *4ticca-gharry (the
1790G22 ramshackle horse carriages which were the only source of locomotion in
1800G22 Calcutta half a century ago when the trams ceased to_ run)."
1810G22 $*<*3A Meeting of Scholarly Minds*0*> $^It was not just hero-worship,
1820G22 but a meeting of scholarly minds passionately in love with classical
1830G22 literature.*#
        **[no. of words = 02013**]

        **[txt. g23**]
0010G23 **<*3Maulana Azad*0**> $^In three decades of Independence India
0020G23 has lost many great men who had waged a non-violent war against
0030G23 foreign domination. ^*Gandhiji, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Maulana
0040G23 Abul Kalam Azad, Rajendrra Prasad, Jawaharlal Nehru and Rajaji,
0050G23 who presided over the destinies of free India through a most
0060G23 difficult period of its history, are no more. $^One of
0070G23 these men-- Abul Kalam Azad appeared on the Indian political scene
0080G23 even before Gandhiji. ^His forefathers had come to India from
0090G23 Herat in the time of the Emperor Babar and settled in Agra before
0100G23 moving to Delhi. ^His father Maulana Khairuddin*'s maternal
0110G23 grandfather was Maulana Munawaruddin, one of the last Ruknul
0120G23 *4Madarassin (a post comparable to that_ of Director of Educatiion)
0130G23 of the Mughal period. ^*Maulana Khairuddin went to Mecca when
0140G23 he was 25 years old and married the daughter of a famous scholar
0150G23 of Medina, Sheikh Mohammed Zaher Watri. ^*Abul Kalam
0160G23 was born in Mecca in 1888. $*<*3A Prodigy*0*> $^Somehting
0170G23 of a prodigy, Abul Kalam had completed a course of higher studies
0180G23 in Islamic theology, traditional Muslim history and philosophy
0190G23 as well as in Arabic and Persian literature at a very early
0200G23 age and started on a journalistic career when only about 12 years old.
0210G23 ^At the age of 15, he won recognition as the editor of a journal,
0220G23 *3Lisan-as-Sidq*0 (The Tongue of Truth). ^Of these early days,
0230G23 one of his oldest friends, the late \0Dr Syed Mahmud (for some
0240G23 time Minister of State for External Affairs in the Government of India
0250G23 in the fifties) has narrated an interesting incident: $"^It was
0260G23 as one learned in the Islamic lore and as an originator of a new style
0270G23 of expression in Urdu that Maulana Azad first attracted my attention.
0280G23 ^That_ was in 1906. ^*I had read some of the essays which
0290G23 he had contributed to his own journal, *3Lisan-as-Sidq*0 and to the *3Vakil*0
0300G23 of Amritsar. ^*I was then just seventeen years old.
0310G23 ^So high was the estimation formed of him in my mind that I dared not venture
0320G23 to_ go to him direct.... ^Prior to my introduction, I had
0330G23 expected to_ meet in Maulana Azad a venerable personality. ^But
0340G23 I was taken aback when I had to_ face a mere youth, more or less of
0350G23 my age (he was actually eighteen), of thin physique, rosy cheeks and
0360G23 starlit eyes, tastefully dressed, impressively cool and collected in behaviour,
0370G23 and gifted with engaging conversational talents. ^He appeared
0380G23 to me a prince come from a fairyland and not exactly a Maulana.
0390G23 ^*I was not alone in receiving such an amazing impression of him at
0400G23 this time of his life. ^Even elderly men like the late Maulana
0410G23 Hali, Sir Mohammed Iqbal and Sir Abdul Qader had expressed an equal
0420G23 surprise when they first beheld him at an annual meeting of the Anjuman-e-Islamia,
0430G23 Lahore, to which he had been invited. ^He had been
0440G23 schedualed to_ address the Anjuman on no less a subject than
0450G23 'Rationalism in Islam'. ^The elderly organisers of the meeting who
0460G23 received him were at first under the impression that Maulana Azad,
0470G23 the Editor of *3Lisan-as-sidq*0 had sent his son to_ read out his paper
0480G23 on the subject assigned to him. ^Their amazement knew no bounds
0490G23 when they were told that it was he who was Abul Kalam." $^An important
0500G23 infulence in the shaping of Abul Kalam*'s intellectual personality
0510G23 in the early years was that_ of Shibli Nomani, an associate of Sir
0520G23 Syed Ahmed, with whom he came in close touch in 1905 at the age
0530G23 of 17. ^*Shibli had emerged in revolt against the loyalism and radical
0540G23 modernism of the Aligarh Movement. ^In 1906-07, Abul Kalam
0550G23 travelled through Egypt, Iraq, Syria and Turkey and imbibed the tradition
0560G23 of the religious and political ideas of that_ staunch anti-imperialist,
0570G23 Syed Jamal-ud-din Afghani, and Shaikh Mohammed Abdul.
0580G23 ^He found that the interests of the Indian Muslims could be served
0590G23 only if they took part in the national struggle for Independence and
0600G23 realised that the freedom of India was necessary for the progress and
0610G23 prosperity of the entire Muslim world. ^He, therefore, challenged
0620G23 the basic tenets of what had come to_ be known as the Aligarh Party
0630G23 and repudiated the policy of cooperation with the British. ^But
0640G23 while Abul Kalam was, ih this way, a rebel against the political lead
0650G23 of Sir Syed, it was Sir Syed*'s social and religious writings that_
0660G23 inspired him to_ think in terms of reform and change and brought to him
0670G23 the conviction that no community can flourish in the modern age unless
0680G23 it develops the capacity to_ respond to new challenges.
0690G23 $*<*3His Own Journal*0*>
0700G23 $^In 1912, Abul Kalam started the publication of his weekly journal,
0710G23 *3Al-Hilal*0 (The Crescent), from Culcutta through which he sought
0720G23 to_ infuse a new spirit in the intellectual and literary life of the Muslims
0730G23 and create a desire for political freedom. ^Professor Humayun
0740G23 Kabir has written that "the publication of this paper literally took
0750G23 Muslim India by storm... ^Rarely has there been such a combination
0760G23 of rhetoric and eloquence, of wit and poetry, of biting sarcasm and lofty
0770G23 idealism..." ^From the very beginning, Al-Hilal criticised
0780G23 British rule. ^The Government of Bengal was naturally not happy
0790G23 and under the Press Act made the management deposit a security of
0800G23 \0Rs 2,000 which was soon forfeited. ^A fresh deposit of \0Rs 10,000
0810G23 met the same fate. ^Meanwhile, World War *=1 broke out and
0820G23 *3Al-Hilal*0 was confiscated in 1915. ^In the eyes of the Government,
0830G23 *3Al-Hilal*0 appears to_ have been far more dangerous than Mohammad
0840G23 Maulana Ali*'s *3Comrade*0
0841G23 which also was forced to_ close down through the repressive machinery
0850G23 of the Press Act. ^The popular appeal of *3Al-Hilal*0 reached
0860G23 even the Frontier-- Abdul Ghaffar Khan not only subscribed to it but
0870G23 read it out to others-- and it created a great interest in the people.
0880G23 $^After a few months, Abul Kalam-- he had earlier decided about the time
0890G23 when Lord Curzon was the Viceroy of India to_ adopt the pen name
0900G23 "Azad" to_ indicate that he was no longer tied to his inherited beliefs--
0910G23 started a new press called "Al-Balagh" and brought out a journal
0920G23 under the same name. ^In 1916, the publication of *3Al-Balagh*0 was also
0930G23 stopped by the Bengal authotities and Abul Kalam was exiled from
0940G23 Calcutta under the Defence of India Regulations. ^The Government
0950G23 of the Punjab, Delhi, \0UP and Bombay had already prohibited
0960G23 his entry into these provinces under the same Regulations. ^He went
0970G23 to Ranchi in Bihar where he was later detained. ^He was released
0980G23 on New Year*'s Day, 1920. $^From the time he started "Al-Hilal",
0990G23 the one supreme idea which functioned in Azad*'s mind was
1000G23 the freedom of his country through Hindu-Muslim unity. ^His emphasis
1010G23 was more on unity than on freedom for he believed that freedoom was
1020G23 bound to_ come one day. ^*Azad*'s approach brought him very close
1030G23 to Gandhiji*'s line of thinking. ^He had come to_ understand the
1040G23 usefulness of the non-cooperation programme and says: "I had
1050G23 myself sugested a similar programme in some articles in *3Al-Hilal.*0"
1060G23 ^Of all the prominent Muslim leaders of the time such as Hakim Ajmal
1070G23 Khan, the Ali Brothers and Maulana Abdul Bari (of Firangi Mahal,
1080G23 Lucknow), Azad was the first to_ come out in support of non-cooperation;
1090G23 even before the Congress had done so, the Khilafat Conference
1100G23 adopted Gandhiji*'s programme in the formulation of which Azad was,
1110G23 perhaps, no less responsible than Gandhiji himself.
1120G23 $^The first big success of Maulana Azad*'s political life was in December
1130G23 1920 when, at the Nagpur session of the Indian National Congress,
1140G23 the restoration of the Turkish Khilafat was included in the national
1150G23 demands, along with self-government and the redress of the Punjab
1160G23 wrongs. ^In september 1923, the special session of the Congress at Delhi,
1170G23 in which the two groups for and against taking part in the impending
1180G23 election came to a compromise, was held under his presidentship when
1190G23 he was only 35 years of age. ^In 1927, during the country-wide
1200G23 movement boycotting the Simon Commission, the Khilafat Conference
1210G23 and the All-India Muslim League moved towards the Congress but in
1220G23 1928 there were serious differences over the "Nehru Report". ^*Azad
1230G23 practically broke his association with these two bodies and confined his
1240G23 real field of activity to the Congress organisation. ^In 1929,
1250G23 in cooperation with some other nationalist Muslim leaders, he convened
1260G23 the Nationalist Muslim Conference which was opposed to the separatist
1270G23 trends of Muslim nationalism and which, while it did not establish
1280G23 any permanent organisation, did serve as a common platform for such
1290G23 other nationalist Muslim associations as the Jamiat-ul-ulema, the
1300G23 Shia Political Conference and the Khudai Khidmatgars of Khan Abdul
1310G23 Ghaffar Khan.
1320G23 $^The veteran leader, Pandit Dwarka Prasad Mishra, remembers the
1330G23 Azad of the mid-twenties as a man of deep convictons whom a much older
1340G23 person-- Pandit Motilal Nehru-- treated "with all the respect
1350G23 due to a rising statesman. ^*Pandit Motilal was anxious to_
1360G23 enlist Azad*'s full support in mobilizing the electorate in favour of the
1370G23 Congress. ^The Ali Brothers had, since 1924, drifted farther
1380G23 and farther away from the Congress and though they attended the Lahore
1390G23 session during the Christmas week, 1929, they did so to_ warn Gandhiji
1400G23 that the Muslims would not cooperate with the Congress in its campaign
1410G23 of civil disobedience. ^However, Azad and
1411G23 Abdul Ghaffar Khan threw their whole weight on the side of the Congress
1420G23 with the confidence that the Muslim masses in general would respond
1430G23 to freedom*'s call. ^At that_ time, as later, azad believed
1440G23 that nationalism was capable of being a progressive force if it was liberated
1450G23 from religious orthodoxy and narrow-mindness. ^He also believed
1460G23 that the interplay of the Hindu and Muslim cultures had produced a composite
1470G23 and common culture. "^Eleven hundred years of common history,"
1480G23 said Azad, "have enriched India with our common achievements.
1490G23 ^Our languages, our poetry, our literature, our culture, our art, our
1500G23 dress, manners and customs..... ererything bears the stamp of our
1501G23 joint endeavour... this joint wealth is
1510G23 the heritage of our common nationality and we do not want to_ leave it
1520G23 and go back to the time when this joint life had not begun...."
1530G23 $*<*3Twice Congress President*0*> $^*Azad was elected President
1540G23 of the Congress for a second time at the Ramgarh session
1550G23 in March 1940 and in this capacity was its principal spokesman during
1560G23 the crucial negotations with Sir Stafford Cripps in
1570G23 1942 and with the British Cabinet Mission in 1946 preceding the
1580G23 Transfer of Power. ^In between the All-India Congress
1590G23 Committee adopted the Quit India Resolution in August 1942
1600G23 which led to a nationalist upsurge of unprecedented dimensions
1610G23 throughout the country. ^Congress was declared an illegal
1620G23 organisation and Gandhiji and most of the leaders of the Congress
1630G23 were arrested. ^Along with Azad, among the other members
1640G23 of the Working Committee who were brought to the Ahmednagar
1650G23 Fort, were Sardar Patel, Pandit Nahru, Asaf Ali, Pandit
1660G23 Pant \0Dr Pattabhi Sitaramayya and Acharya Kripalani.
1670G23 ^It was only in 1945 at the initative of the Viceroy, Lord
1680G23 Wavell, that they were released, immediately before the Political
1690G23 Conference convened in Simla. $^*Nehru succeeded Azad as
1700G23 President of the Congress in April 1946. ^The two men were
1710G23 intellectually and emotionally very close to each other. ^Their
1720G23 friendship was based on two factors. ^First, they found themselves
1730G23 in agreement on most of the issues that_ came up before the
1740G23 Working Committee. ^Secondly, Azad regarded Nehru as an idealist
1750G23 with intellectual integrity, a progressive outlook and, above
1760G23 all, free from religious prejudice. ^In the Preface to the *3Discovery
1770G23 of India*0 Nehru wrote: $^My eleven companions in the
1780G23 Ahmednagar Fort were an interesting cross-section of India and
1790G23 represented in their several ways not only politics but Indian
1800G23 scholarship, old and new, and various aspects of present-day
1810G23 India... ^Though I am grateful to all my companions I should
1820G23 like to_ mention especially Maulana Abul Kalam Azad whose
1830G23 vast erudition invariably delighted me but sometimes also rather
1840G23 overwhelmed me..." $^If Azad had not been one of the
1850G23 great stalwarts in the fight for freedom, his name would still
1860G23 have been remembered by posterity as a fighter in the cause
1870G23 of man*'s intellectual emancipation and against religious obscurantism.*#
        **[no. od words = 02009**]

        **[txt. g24**]
0010G24 **<*3A Warrior From The South*0**>
0020G24 $^The war had ended in November 1918. ^At the December Congress in
0030G24 Delhi, the King was congratulated. ^Loyalty to him was reaffirmed.
0050G24 $^*Congress*'s unhappiness with the proposed Montford Reforms had grown
0060G24 since August, but the severest critics were as yet unwilling, or
0070G24 unable, to_ go beyond constitutional protest. ^As 1919 opened, India
0080G24 seemed a reliable, even if dissatisfied, member of the Empire.
0100G24 $^True, since July the previous year the proposed Rowlatt legislation
0110G24 had been a sword threatening to_ fall. ^*Sir Sydney Rowlatt, an English
0120G24 judge, had headed a committee charged with finding ways of controlling
0130G24 sedition. ^It recommended, for suspected seditionists,
0140G24 arrests without trial and trials with out appeal, and suggested that offences
0150G24 like carrying a seditious leaflet in one*'s pocket be made punishable
0160G24 with two years*' imprisonment. $^Who would determine sedition?
0170G24 ^Government officials, advised Rowlatt, not the courts.
0180G24 $^Yet many Congressmen chose not to_ see the Rowlatt hazard;
0190G24 their eyes were fixed on the Reforms. \0^*C.R. belonged to the small
0200G24 minority that_ was alive to the danger. ^On Janury 27 he proposed
0210G24 nine practical steps to_ stall it, including a mandate by Congress
0220G24 to Tilak (who was in the \0U.K., having finally secured a pasport)
0230G24 to_ petition the Secretary of State to_ hold back the legislation.
0240G24 $^A fortnight earlier, in Trichy, \0C.R. had complained
0250G24 that "the Rowlatt Committee recommendations have not received a tithe
0260G24 of the attention which the Reform Scheme has been honoured with".
0270G24 ^Adding that they would lead "to the permanent disablement of national
0280G24 life", \0C.R. regretted that "even our Bar Associations have
0290G24 not thought it fit to_ examine the proposals which threatened to_ set aside
0300G24 all legal traditions... not temporarily but for all time".
0310G24 $^The Trichy speech, made by \0C.R. as President of the Home Rule
0320G24 League Conference, was a significant utterance. ^He anticipated,
0330G24 in the short address, many of the key goals, short-term and permanent,
0340G24 of the coming struggle. ^Said \0C.R.: The matter is serious
0350G24 enough for an anxious examination of the principles and propriety of
0360G24 *3opposing it with the entire soul-force of the nation*0" (author*'s
0380G24 italics).$^He ended on an intriguing note of expectancy: "^Greater things
0390G24 will come to_ pass than we have hitherto heard. ^Shall we be unprepared
0400G24 for the glorious gift to_ come, shall we not hasten to_ make ready
0410G24 our homes for returning freedom?"
0420G24 $^The sword fell on February 6. ^Two Rowlatt bills were introduced
0430G24 in the Imperial Legislative Council in Delhi. ^The non-offcial
0440G24 members of the Council opposed the measure with eloquence and
0450G24 logic, but the decision of the nominated majority was a foregone conclusion.
0460G24 $^Political India could lament. ^It could warn.
0470G24 ^Could it do more? ^One man had the grit to_ turn dismay into definance.
0480G24 ^Ill with a damaged heart, Gandhi decided to_ pit *4satyagraha,
0490G24 or soul force, against the bills: he would refuse, he declared,
0500G24 to_ obey the bills if they became law. ^This was in the second week
0510G24 of February. ^A month after he had given expresson to it in Trichy,
0520G24 \0C.R*'s yearning had received an answer. $<*3From Salem to Madras*0*>
0540G24 $^It was in the second half of January 1919 that \0C.R. finally
0550G24 made up his mind to_ migrate to Madras city.
0560G24 $^He had enjoyed his years in Salem. ^His life with Manga
0570G24 \0C.R.*'s wife) had been lived there. ^The town had appreciated
0580G24 his worth. ^A section, true, had been critical. ^Some were
0590G24 jealous. ^And his role as municipal chairman inevitably involved
0600G24 "occasions for friction with private individuals". ^The thorns
0610G24 pricked but were forgotten in the warmth offered by the rest of Salem.
0620G24 $^Though it was obvious that he could earn more in the bigger city,
0630G24 it is unlikely that money was tempting him. ^His children studying
0640G24 in the more advanced schools of Madras was an appealing prospect,
0650G24 but the chief reason for moving was not domestic or economic.
0660G24 $^The truth was that Salem limited his growing public role.
0670G24 ^Many had reminded him of this fact, including Kasturiranga Iyengar,
0680G24 editor and owner of *3The Hindu*0 and men such as Venkataraman who
0690G24 looked up to him. ^Now he was ready to_ follow their advice.
0700G24 "^You have won after all," he told Venkataraman towards the end of
0710G24 January. $^He resigned as municipal chairman. ^In the first
0720G24 week of february his resignation was accepted. ^Thanking him for
0730G24 his nineteen months*' stint, the council referred to "the valuable services
0740G24 he rendered to the town in the matter of solving the drink problem".
0750G24 $^The Rowlatt bills had been launched in the meantime.
0760G24 ^Convalescing in Ahmedabad, Gandhi asked for men who would sign a
0770G24 pledge of resistance. ^On February 24, six men and women present
0780G24 in Ahmedabad, including Vallabhbhai and Sarojini Naidu, joined
0790G24 Gandhi in signing it.
0800G24 $^A *4Satyagraha Sabha began functioning in Bombay. ^Then Gandhi
0810G24 journeyed to Delhi. ^Calling on Lord Chelmsford, the Viceroy,
0820G24 he urged the withdrawal of the bills from the Imperial Legislative
0840G24 Council. $^Others had similarly endeavoured. ^It was, in essence,
0850G24 a vain exercise. ^Though consideration of one of the bills was postponed
0860G24 the other was hastening through the Council. ^It was a suffcient
0870G24 fetter. ^There were many to_ revile the bill but Gandhiji wanted
0880G24 "covenanters" ready to_ "undergo every form of suffering" to oppose
0890G24 it. ^Still in Salem at the end of February, \0C.R. was
0900G24 stirred by Gandhi*'s declarations regarding Rowlatt. ^They possessed
0910G24 the tone for which he had openly longed. $^He felt that Gandhi
0920G24 should be invited to Madras; soon he would be there himself.
0930G24 ^The idea was put by him to Kasturiranga Iyengar who sent a letter
0940G24 inviting Gandhi. ^The latter was glad to_ get the word. ^On
0950G24 the whole, top-ranking Congressmen had avoided him. ^They were not
0960G24 not sure about *4satyagraha. ^*Madras offered an opening. ^Though still
0970G24 shaky in health he decided to_ take it. $^Undertaken in the middle of
0990G24 March, the train journey from Delhi to Madras was "eased by his love
1000G24 for Southern India". "^The Tamil and Telugu labourers in South Africa
1010G24 had been among his staunchest fighters." ^His secretary, Mahadev
1020G24 Desai was travelling with him. ^He told Gandhi on the train that the man
1030G24 behind the request from the South was \0C.R.
1040G24 $^Meanwhile, \0C.R*'s last week at Sooramangalam
1050G24 had been busier than ever. ^He would return home late and study. ^One
1060G24 night, wanting to_ draw his attention, Papa, aged twelve, asked him, "Are
1070G24 you reading for a law case?" ^Her father smiled, and said, "I
1080G24 am reading about breaking laws". ^Then he added, seriously "Sometimes
1090G24 a bad law has to_ be broken". $"^We are going to Madras," he
1100G24 announced one day. ^Then, in the first half of March, accompanied
1110G24 by Papa, Narasimhan, aged nine, Lakshmi who was six and Manga*'s
1120G24 mother, who had continued to_ look after Lakshmi, \0C.R. took the
1130G24 train for the capital. $^*Kasturiranga Iyengar had informed
1140G24 \0C.R. that a house he owned on Cathedral Road was available.
1150G24 ^Built on two floors, the houses was surrounded by a broad ground on
1160G24 part of which coconut and mango trees grew. ^Houses in Salem did not
1170G24 have a drawing room; even the ground-floor of the Lodge had been no
1180G24 exception. ^The Madras house, for which \0C.R. paid a monthly rent
1190G24 of \0Rs 230 had two of them, one above the other, a kitchen and a
1200G24 dining-room. ^There was plenty of space for sleeping. $<*3Making
1210G24 Ready For Gandhi*0*> $^Two cooks were found. ^The valuable law
1220G24 books, bundles of them, were moved. ^Deciding to_ make the upper
1230G24 drawing-room his study, \0C.R. furnished it with a desk and chairs
1240G24 made in the School of Arts; a sculptured chest of drawers with
1250G24 brass handles went against a wall. $^In a few days Gandhi would
1260G24 be his guest. ^The fact is noteworthy, considering that the lawyer
1270G24 from Salem preceded Gandhi into Madras by less than a fortnight,
1280G24 "^Shall we not hasten to_ make ready our homes for returning freedom?"
1290G24 \0^*C.R. had rhetorically asked two months earlier in Trichy. ^Now
1300G24 within a week of occupying his house, he was hastening to make it
1310G24 ready for the visiting Gandhi. $^Dressed in a *4kurta of thick
1320G24 rough white cotton and a *4dhoti of similar texture, and donning the white
1330G24 cap that_ he had recently designed a weary gandhi, aged 49,
1340G24 arrived in Madras on the morning of March 18. ^*Desai was with him.
1350G24 \0^*C.R. stood inconspicuously in the welcoming group at the station.
1360G24 $^In the evening word came that the Legislative Council in Delhi
1370G24 had passed the Rowlatt Bill. ^Only the Viceroy*'s assent remained.
1380G24 ^The previous day \0C.R. had signed the *4satyagraha pledge against
1390G24 it. ^Yet there was a question: how precisely would one disobey the
1400G24 Rowlatt law? $^*Gandhi wrestled with the question. ^An unjust order
1410G24 not to_ attend a meeting or enter a town presented no problem to a
1420G24 *4satyagrahi; he simply went to the meeting or the town, inviting the
1430G24 consequences. ^The Rowlatt law, however, was a threat, not an order.
1440G24 ^How did one fight a threat? $^There were meetings in the city and visitors
1450G24 in the house, including distinguished ones like Sarojini
1460G24 Naidu and Salem*'s \0C. Vijayaraghavachariar. ^*Bharati turned up in
1470G24 frayed clothes. "^He is the national bard of Tamil Nadu," \0C.R.
1480G24 told his guest. ^Teaching Hindi in Madras, Gandhi*'s young son Devdas
1490G24 was often in. $^One day, 250 striking tramway-workers appeared.
1500G24 ^*Gandhi spoke to them, \0C.R. translating. ^But the main question
1510G24 on Gandhi*'s mind was Rowlatt. ^He was talking about it with \0C.R.
1520G24 ^For the first two days of his stay, Gandhi had not known that the
1530G24 bespectacled lawyer was his host. ^Aware that the bungalow was owned
1540G24 by Kasturiranga Iyengar, Gandhi thought that he was the editor*'s
1550G24 guest. $^*Desai corrected him, also advising Gandhi to_ cultivate
1560G24 \0C.R., "who from his innate shyness kept himself constantly in the
1570G24 background". ^*Gandhi acted on the advice. ^For three successive days
1580G24 he and \0C.R. discussed Rowlatt. $^*Papa was introduced to the
1590G24 guest, who asked her, in English, if she had read *3Alice in wonderland.*0
1600G24 ^She was pleased to_ be able to_ say that she had recently
1610G24 done so. ^*Gandhi next asked her if she knew what a spinning wheel
1620G24 was. "^*I have read about it in some English stories," she answered.
1630G24 "^They have it in England." $"^*India also had it," said Gandhi,
1640G24 "but under foreign rule we have forgotten it." ^Then he told her about
1650G24 *4khadi, the cloth he was wearing, made of yarn spun on the wheel.
1660G24 $^On March 20 he had publicly urged the Viceroy to_ withhold his assent
1670G24 to Rowlatt. ^Two days later word came that Lord Chelmsford had
1680G24 signed the bill. $^That_ night Gandhi slept over the question in
1690G24 his room on the first floor. ^Early next morning, while he was still
1700G24 in the "twilight condition between sleep and consciousness", an idea
1710G24 broke upon him, as if in a dream. ^An hour or so later he told \0C.R.
1720G24 about it: "^We should call upon the country to_ observe a general
1730G24 *4hartal. *4^Satyagraha... is a sacred fight... ^Let all the people of
1740G24 India, therefore, suspend their business on that_ day and observe the
1750G24 day as one of fasting and prayer... ^It is very difficult to_ say
1760G24 whether all the provinces would respond to this appeal of ours or not
1770G24 but I feel fairly sure of Bombay, Madras, Bihar and Sind."
1780G24 $\0^*C.R. "was at once taken up" with the suggestion of his guest who
1790G24 drafted a call to the nation to_ fast and shut business on April
1800G24 6. $^*Gandhi had found the next step and was at peace. ^One step always
1810G24 seemed enough for him. ^The same day, March 23, after five nights
1820G24 under \0C.R.*'s roof, he left for different towns in the South to_
1830G24 explain the *4hartal. $^His host was fully involved in the step proposed.
1840G24 ^He had contributed to the thinking that_ led to it. ^Two days after
1850G24 Gandhi left the city, the Commissioner of Police informed the
1860G24 Madras Government of the opening of a branch of Gandhi*'s movement
1870G24 "in the home of \0Mr *(0C.*) Rajagopalachari, late of Salem".
1880G24 $^He had learnt, the official added, that a few who were asked to_
1890G24 be secretaries of the Madras branch were "reluctant to_ accept the
1900G24 nomination on some ground or other ".*#
        **[no. of words = 02010**]

        **[txt. g25**]
0010G25 **<*3The Controversial Saint*0**>
0020G25 $*3^It*0 is ironic that, even after the itinerant saint of Paunar
0030G25 had opted for *5kshetra sanyas,*6 controversy persists to_ hound him
0040G25 inexorably. ^As the glacial Acharya sits in brooding introspection
0050G25 or leads a pre-dawn incantation of the *4Vishnusahasranamam at his
0060G25 austere Paramdham *4Ashram, the discordant pitch is created by
0070G25 the visit of politicians like Indira Gandhi or, for that_ matter,
0080G25 Vasant Sathe. ^Resolutely, he goes on year-long *5maun vrats*6
0090G25 or undertakes *5sukshma pravesh*6 (functioning on the "supramental
0100G25 level"), but continues to_ make unsavoury newspaper headlines or figure
0110G25 in polemical documents (\0JP*'s *3Prison Diary*0). ^But,
0120G25 despite the benighted disorder the frail, bird-like, Acharya
0130G25 creates, despite the shrill stridency of his mocking critics who
0140G25 question the efficacy of the *4Bhoodan-Gramdan movements. ^*Vinoba
0150G25 Bhave could justifiably look back with pride on his life*'s work.
0160G25 $^*Hallam Tennyson, grandson of the poet who walked
0170G25 with Vinoba in the *5Bhoodan Yatra,*6 made this significant observation:
0180G25 "^The twentieth century may be rich in jet aeroplanes but
0190G25 it is pretty poor in saints. ^We need to_ remember that what we call
0200G25 'progress' is nothing if it leads to no corresponding inner change and
0210G25 Vinoba gives us this reminder in the one way which has power to_
0220G25 move and impress." $^What is the philosophy of this "*4rishi
0230G25 of sublime eminence" (as he was once described by a gushing admirer)?
0240G25 ^One of the 108 aphorisms which he composed in Sanskrit
0250G25 nearly two decades ago effectively epitomises this. ^It
0260G25 runs: *5Kriy parame veeryavattaram.*6 ^Consistent with his spiritual
0270G25 outlook on life, he maintains that it is not "gross action" but the
0280G25 subtle power of pure thoughts of the *4Vedas "which would deliver
0290G25 the goods". $^Today, as the *4Bhoodan-Gramdan movements slip
0300G25 into comparative oblivion as the country strides forward in the socio-economic
0310G25 sphere, one could take a searching look at Vinoba Bhave*'s
0320G25 dedicated commitment to his ideals with admiration. $^It was
0330G25 at Banaras University that a wide-eyed Vinoba heard Gandhiji
0340G25 speak, converting him into an instant devoteee of the Mahatma.
0350G25 ^But it was in 1940 that he became known throughout the country
0360G25 when Bapu chose him as the first to_ offer individual *4satyagraha
0370G25 preceding Jawaharlal Nehru. ^All the close associates of the
0380G25 Mahatma, Mashruwala, Kaka Kalelkar, Acharya Kripalani and
0390G25 others, had by this time recognised Vinoba*'s authority, not merely
0400G25 as a great exponent of Gandhian philosophy, but as a disciple to
0410G25 whom Gandhiji bequeathed his spiritual mantle. ^The novice at
0420G25 Sabarmati became the chief priest at Wardha. $^The
0430G25 historic *4Bhoodan movement had its birth on April 18, 1951, in the
0440G25 tiny village of Pochampalli, Telengana, when the landowner, Ramachandra
0450G25 Reddy, offered 100 acres to the Acharya to_ meet the needs
0460G25 of the landless *4Harijans in the neighbourhood. $^Acharya Bhave
0470G25 had stated that gift of land was only the first phase in the revolution
0480G25 to_ remodel society. ^He demanded that each landholder give one-sixth
0490G25 of his land which would become the property of the village community.
0500G25 ^The community would then convert itself into a family unit.
0510G25 ^Once all the land gifts were completed, they would be distributed
0520G25 to the families according to the number of members in each.
0530G25 the land that_ was left over would be farmed on a cooperative
0540G25 basis by the whole community. ^After 10 or 15 years, there would
0550G25 be scope for redistribution. $^*Vinobaji explained during his
0560G25 walking tours that the compaign was not meant to_ distribute poverty
0570G25 but to_ ensure a richer corporate life for the whole village with
0580G25 the entire land forming a joint pool. ^He felt that all land was
0590G25 a "free gift of God and God was its owner". $^Thus was born
0600G25 the *4Bhoodan movement which, more than anything else in independent
0610G25 India, came to_ be identified with *4Sarvodaya-Gandhian thought in
0620G25 action. ^Subsequently the Five-Year Plans, the massive investment
0630G25 in heavy industry and Nehru*'s "temples of modern India" made
0640G25 Gandhian thoughts like *5Grama Swaraj*0, decentralisation of power and
0650G25 dislike of industrialisation look incongruous, if not outrageously odd
0660G25 (althogh today it has become fashionable once again) in the new setting.
0670G25 *4^*Bhoodan came to_ be regarded as the last-ditch stand of Gandhians,
0680G25 "old Bolsheviks" in the emergent India, to_ reaffirm their
0690G25 relevance to the lives of the mute millions and their capaicty for
0700G25 action. $^Today, 27 years after the inception of *4Bhoodan, what
0710G25 measure of success can the movement claim? ~so far, 4,195,000 acres of
0720G25 land have been received towards *4Bhoodan. ^Of this, 13 lakhs have
0730G25 been distributed among 500,000 landless farm labourers. ^The number
0740G25 of the landless in the country is of the order of 50 million. ^In
0750G25 other words, after all those years of travail, after incessant appeals
0760G25 to the rich farmers to_ come to the rescue of their landless
0770G25 brethren only the fringe of the problem has been touched. ^Not even
0780G25 one per cent of the landless have benefited by the movement! $^The Acharya*'s
0790G25 detractors state that nothing has brought out the futility of
0800G25 his movement as eloquently as the massive response of the rural poor
0810G25 to the land occupation movement. ^Yet perhaps Bhave cannot
0820G25 be judged too harshly for having imbibed only part of the philosoply
0830G25 of the Mahatma. ^While holding fast to the "change-of-heart" theory,
0840G25 he has not found it in himself to_ organise non-violent mass
0850G25 resistance to injustice in rural India. ^Today the thought is
0860G25 inescapable that the steely commitment the Acharya has given it could
0870G25 have been better utilised by his disciples over this long period.
0880G25 ^But they are unflinching in their support. ^As \0Dr Rajedndra Prasad
0890G25 once said, "People say that the days of miracles are over,
0900G25 but what the Acharya has believed in his mission of *4Bhoodan is nothing
0910G25 short of a miracle." $^*Vinoba Bhave*'s life is replete with
0920G25 the crusades he has led; in the process he has had his fingers burnt.
0930G25 ^In 1953 he was assaulted for entering the Baidyanath temple in
0940G25 Deogarh, Bihar, with non-Hindus-- an incident which provoked wide-spread
0950G25 resentement. ^He refused to_ visit the Guruvayur temple in
0960G25 Kerala in June 1957, since non-Hindus were not permitted.
0970G25 $^The Acharya undertook a novel peace mission to the dacoit-infested
0980G25 Chambal ravine to_ bring about a "change of heart" among
0990G25 the bandits. ^Some of them surrendered to him and he observed
1000G25 that "hearts have melted and the whole atmoshpere is surcharged
1010G25 with the presence of God". ^The peace mission created
1020G25 some controversy in Madhya Pradesh where the Inspector General
1030G25 of Police said it had "delivered a blow to the morale
1040G25 of the police force because it had insulted the courage and devotion
1050G25 to duty of the men who fought the dacoits". ^The \0CM, \0Dr Kailas
1060G25 Nath Katju, supported the \0IG*'s statement. $^Today
1070G25 Acharya Vinoba is known for his anchorite*'s lifestyle.
1080G25 he shuns the press, rarely makes a statement and spends most of his
1090G25 time in meditation. ^He concentrates on four subjects: the Brahma
1100G25 Vidya Mandir (that_ advocates celibacy among women); propagation
1110G25 of the Devanagari script; setting up a fraternity of teachers
1120G25 or *5Acharya kul*6; and his favourite theory of a non-violent
1130G25 revolution or the development of the *4Bhoodan and *4Gramdan movements.
1140G25 ^But politicians continue to_ be his *8bete noire*9 and this
1150G25 has given him an unfavourable press, earning him considerable opprobium.
1160G25 $^It was Indira Gandhi*'s frequent forays to sequestered
1170G25 Paunar during the Emergency that_ resulted in unpalatable headlines
1180G25 proclaiming the Acharya*'s support for the Congress Party*'s
1190G25 programmes. ^His description of the Emergency as *5Anushasan
1200G25 parva*6 sounded straight out of the 20-point programme. ^When
1210G25 questioned about his allegedly "two-faced" correspondence with Indira
1220G25 Gandhi, Vinoba stated that he had burnt the letters.
1230G25 ^Later his private secretary contradicted him to_ say that
1240G25 there was never any correspondence in the first place and the Acharya
1250G25 had not written to anyone, especially politicians, since 1966.
1260G25 ^After all, he was practising *5karma mukti*6-- which meant he discussed
1270G25 only two topics: spirituality and health. $^The unrelenting
1280G25 press subjected him to brutal criticism which caught the Acharya
1290G25 in a fix. ^Was the enigmatic recluse attempting to_ mislead?
1300G25 ^In reality, Vinoba Bhave had been deeply distressed at the "goings-on"
1310G25 during the Emergency and was himself a victim of its malevolent
1320G25 tactics. ^His *4Ashram was subjected to a swift raid conducted
1330G25 by a junior sub-inspector. ^It was ostensibly to_ "cut the
1340G25 Acharaya down to size". ^Four thousand copies of his journal,
1350G25 *3Maitri*0, which carrried an announcement about his decision to_
1360G25 undertake a "fast unto death", were confiscated and destroyed. ^Intelligence
1370G25 men had, at long last, descended on his "hermit*'s kingdom".
1380G25 $^The other major controversy was one that_ arraigned him of
1390G25 causing strife within the Sarvodaya ranks. ^His disciples noted
1400G25 derisively that, of all people, the Acharya should be accused of
1410G25 of preventing the efflorescence of the *3Sarva Seva Sangh*0! ^He opposed
1420G25 Sangh workers*' participation in the Gujarat and Bihar agitations
1430G25 of 1974. ^In his *3Prison Diary*0, Jayprakash Narayan
1440G25 wrote to_ say that Vinoba advised him to_ give up the struggle
1450G25 against the Government on the ground that there was the "danger of war"
1460G25 in such a situation. ^His advice was in the context of Pakistan*'s
1470G25 attitude, \0US supply of arms to Rawalpindi and China*'s
1480G25 show of friendship towards it. ^The Acharya felt that the
1490G25 struggle against the Government might weaken the country.
1500G25 $*<*3Party Conclaves In *4Ashram*0?*> $^These dismal events have
1510G25 now been left behind. ^But the ascetic continues to_ be tenaciously
1520G25 pursued. ^After her defeat, one of \0Mrs Gandhi*'s first acts
1530G25 on her return to public life was to_ call on the once-peripatetic
1540G25 *4sadhu. ^Her visit was not exactly for attaining "spiritual guidance".
1550G25 ^The gathering at cloistered Paunar had every appearance
1560G25 of a small party conclave-- alongisde the former \0PM were Devaraj
1570G25 Urs, \0Dr Chenna Reddy and *(0N. K.*) Tirpude. ^Here he
1580G25 was reported to_ have blessed the "constructive and progressive policies
1590G25 of the Congress (\0I)". ^Predictably, the contradiction came a
1600G25 few days later, this time from the *3Sarva Seva Sangh*0 President Acharya
1610G25 Ramamurthy who said Vinoba had advised \0Mrs gandhi to_ renounce
1620G25 politics! ^And, a few weeks later, President Sanjiva Reddy himself
1630G25 called on the *4Bhoodan leader to_ seek his advice and courage to_
1640G25 speak the truth and guide the nation. ^The Acharya advised him
1650G25 to_ follow *5Sanatan Dharma*6. ^And so it goes on, this quest for instant
1660G25 deliverance. $^The Acharya cannot be faulted for blessing politicians
1670G25 who "seek his guidance" and he has steadfastly attempted to_ keep
1680G25 his movement isolated from politics. ^But it is the height of
1690G25 naivete to_ believe that such unremitting support to varying factions
1700G25 can remain apolitical judging from the past record of all the fracas and
1710G25 tangles he has got into. $^The tasks Vinoba has achieved
1720G25 are substantial and his percipience is extraordinary. ^The sweep of
1730G25 his vision covers a wide spectrum, ranging from the nation*'s ancient
1740G25 cultural heritage to the shape of things to_ come in the distant
1750G25 future. ^To him "science is a great force which is neither moral
1760G25 nor immoral. ^It is for spirituality to_ guide science in the
1770G25 right direction". ^In his view, if "a little knowledge of science
1780G25 has led to centralisaion of industry, a fuller knowledge should make
1790G25 for decentralisation in the countryside". ^As science progresses,
1800G25 man*'s life should become simpler and more natural.
1810G25 $^*Vinoba believes that the age of politics and religion is fast dying
1820G25 out, **[foot note**] the age of science and spirituality is fast
1830G25 dawning on the world. "^There is much common good in all the religions
1831G25 of the world", he says, "but there is plenty of dross as
1840G25 well-- formalism, dogma and ritualism. ^This dross
1850G25 is now dying out and spirituality which is the common essence of all
1860G25 faiths would prevail." $^How successful has been the Acharya in
1870G25 his life*'s mission? ^This quote from Hallam Tennyson vividly
1880G25 sums up Vinobaji*'s intellectual attitude to success and failure:
1890G25 "^With all his asceticism Vinoba has resisted the pride of poverty--
1900G25 the subtlest temptation of the saints. ^He has never urged
1910G25 any one else to_ follow his way of life. ^And he goes his own way
1920G25 with a striking serenity. ^To someone who asked him if his work
1930G25 would succeed, he replied: '^Fire merely burns. ^It does not care
1940G25 whether anyone puts a pot on it, fills it with water and puts rice
1950G25 in it to_ make a meal. ^To_ burn is the limit of its duty.'"*#
        **[no. of words = 02021**]


        **[txt. g26**]
0010G26 **<*3a fragment of a memoir*0**> $"*3^WHAT*0 will it do to
0020G26 the status of your Green Card if you went for an extended stay in India?"
0030G26 ^*Ambassador Nani Palkhivala asked me in his
0040G26 thoughtful way when I informed him that I was returning home. $^But
0050G26 I had no Green Card. ^Nor a blue or yellow one. ^*I had cards
0060G26 enough. ^A White House press card; a State Department press card;
0070G26 a Senate and House press card; a United Nations press card. ^Cards
0080G26 identifying me as member in good standing of the Foreign Press
0090G26 Association and the State Department Correspondents Association.
0100G26 ^All very respectable and all entitling me to certain rights and
0110G26 privileges. ^But a Green Card? ^No. $^My American wife
0120G26 wrote to_ say she wished I could stay in the United States.
0130G26 ^In her charming way she said that as long as I remained in Washington
0140G26 there was at least one familiar telephone number she could
0150G26 call in need. ^What was it that_ was so enticing about India
0160G26 that I should leave a comfortable job in the American capital for
0170G26 the challenge of editing an illustrated weekly? $^*Elinor
0180G26 and I had returned from seven years in Europe to a rapidly deteriorating
0190G26 Bombay in 1966. ^The climate did not suit her.
0200G26 ^Her arthritis flared up. ^The cultural shock of beggars and filth
0210G26 was too much to_ bear. ^She gave up the struggle. ^On
0220G26 New Year*'s Day, 1967, she set sail for Genoa by the same
0230G26 boat by which she had made her journey to India. ^*I
0240G26 stood on Ballard Pier, a lump in my throat and with
0250G26 unshed tears in my eyes. ^The band struck a cheerful note
0260G26 that_ sounded to my ears like funeral dirge. ^A piece of
0270G26 confetti came floating toward me. ^As the ship moved away, I
0280G26 clutched at that_ piece of green ribbon, my sudden security in
0290G26 a beckoningly insecure world, my tenuous link to a seven-year marriage
0300G26 and to America which had become my second home.
0310G26 $^*Elinor had gone to Switzerland and found herself a job in the
0320G26 World Health Organisation. ^There she was to_ spend
0330G26 her next seven years. ^She moved back to San Francisco just
0340G26 a few months before my own planned departure to India. ^In
0350G26 those years we did see each other. $^Then Fate struck.
0360G26 ^*Prime Minister Moraji Desai, who was originally scheduled
0370G26 to_ visit Chicago, planned to_ visit San Francisco.
0380G26 ^*I wrote to Elinor that I would be covering him and
0390G26 could we see each other, strangers now after a long separation, for
0400G26 a quiet talk? $^We arranged to_ meet in Elinor*'s mother*'s
0410G26 home. ^*I had landed in San Francisco late Saturday evening
0420G26 and the flower shops were closed. ^*I cursed myself at not
0430G26 wiring some flowers beforehand, but it was too late. ^*I would
0440G26 greet Elinor only with my eyes. $*3^ELINOR*0 opened the door
0450G26 as if-- she later wrote to me-- it was only the morning of our
0460G26 marriage, that we had never parted. ^*Fran, her 83-year-old
0470G26 mother, was overjoyed. ^We sat in her kitchen, family style, drinking
0480G26 Wente*'s Pinet and discussing California wines of which
0490G26 I am very fond. ^And we reminisced. ^Toward midnight
0500G26 Elinor said that she had to_ return to her home in Palo Alto,
0510G26 35 miles away, and, since she had bad eyesight and could not drive and
0520G26 had to_ take the late train, would I drop her at Union Station?
0530G26 ^We had talked steadily for three hours and now it was
0540G26 time to_ depart. ^*I took leave of my mother-in-law and we
0550G26 stepped outside to the dimly lit street. ^*I hailed a taxi.
0560G26 $^It was a short drive to Union Station; we hardly spoke a word
0570G26 to each other. ^*Elinor tried to_ apologise for the long separation
0580G26 and she kept struggling for words. ^There seemed so much
0590G26 to_ say and so little time. ^The taxi came to a halt.
0600G26 $^We alighted. ^There was no one at the station at that_ late
0610G26 hour. ^The platform was desolately empty. ^The lights were
0620G26 dim. ^A solitary train stood grimly waiting on the tracks.
0630G26 $^*I put my hands in my pocket to_ fetch that_ yellowing bit of
0640G26 green ribbon that_ for twelve long years, I had preserved as a
0650G26 talisman, my personal abracadabra to a never-never land. ^*I had
0660G26 snatched it from the air as it were, as Elinor was leaving me
0670G26 for distant shores. ^*I had it wherever I went and long
0671G26 it had lain in may chests of drawers, a link
0680G26 with my past, a key to my dreams. ^Now it seemed, as I was
0690G26 finally taking leave of Elinor from the Bellard Pier of her home,
0700G26 that that_ piece of paper belonged rightfully inalienably,
0710G26 to her. $^My hands trembled as I put that_ yellowing bit of dream
0720G26 in her questioning palm. ^The air was thin and chilly and was
0730G26 that_ why I shivered? ^*I tried to_ explain. ^*I stuttered.
0740G26 ^There was a warning whistle. ^*I hugged Elinor,
0750G26 not remembering what I wanted to_ say, and stumbled out to the street
0760G26 and into the taxi. $*3^IT*0 was many days after that
0770G26 I heard from Elinor who wrote that she never knew what a real
0780G26 *8crise de nerfs*9 was until she boarded the almost empty standing
0790G26 coach clutching the confetti, unable to_ breathe, unable to_
0800G26 sit, until she reached home and flung herself to bed. "^It is
0810G26 hard to_ explain why it seemed so natural to_ open the door to you
0820G26 Friday night. ^*I suppose because despite everything we are inextricably
0830G26 linked in so many ways... ^*I had such a happy feeling
0840G26 seeing you again," wrote Elinor. $^There weren*'4t enough
0850G26 words for her to_ explain her emotions. ^For twelve long
0860G26 years we had been separated and, in our own ways, we had grown old
0870G26 and were going downhill. ^*Elinor enclosed two poems by Sara Teasdale
0880G26 we both loved, that_ Elinor said summed up her own thoughts.
0890G26 ^*I copy them down here, the words mixed with my own
0900G26 tears. **[song**] $^*MORARJI DESAI came and went and suddenly
0910G26 I felt empty. ^*I had informed the office that I would stop
0911G26 working the day the Prime Minister left Washington
0920G26 to_ wind up my affairs. ^There were things to_ do
0930G26 that_ I had postponed. ^Little notes
0940G26 to_ write to kind friends that I was leaving America.
0950G26 ^Official notes to firms with which I had dealings.
0960G26 ^The *3New York Times was informed to_ take back its
0970G26 ticker. ^*Western Union International and \0RCA had to_ be asked
0980G26 to_ take away their telex machines, for nine long years my long arm
0990G26 to bombay, to *3The Times of India and to its vast reading
1000G26 public. ^*I felt unarmed, helpless, lost as the machines were
1010G26 wheeled away. $^Then the packers came-- books, documents,
1020G26 clippings were put in boxes. ^The hangings and the pictures came
1030G26 down from the walls. ^The linen and the bedsheets were packed and
1040G26 the kitchen utensils and the furniture; the Negro packers
1050G26 had come late and now they were idling; Jean Wallace, the
1060G26 property manager whose offer of help I had earlier refused, came,
1070G26 unwilling any more to_ see me helpless. ^*I watched all my
1080G26 effects being taken out and an overwhelming sadness threatened to_ engulf
1090G26 me. ^*I literally pushed Jean out of the by now trackless apartment,
1100G26 to_ savour a moment of lost years. ^*I stood motionless before
1101G26 one of the large windows, staring into the
1110G26 beyond, over the treetops of Rock Creek Park. ^Birds came
1120G26 homing to their nests and there ws a twitter in the solemn
1130G26 air. ^Presently lights began to_ come out in the apartments below, a
1140G26 reminder of working people coming home for supper. ^My mind was in a
1150G26 swirl. ^*I remembered inappropriately, Robert Louis
1160G26 Sevenson*'s lines from *3Tusitalo: **[verses**] $^And then, in
1161G26 strange juxtaposition, the refrain from an old Kannada hymn:
1162G26 **[verses**] $^Then my loneliness
1170G26 hit him. ^Unexpectedly, with the seething force of a wrecking
1180G26 torando, it hit me until tears, long withheld, came saltily into
1190G26 my eyes. ^*I was glad I had pushed Jean and closed the doors
1200G26 behind her. $*^I do not now remember how long I stood
1210G26 there in the empty darkness of my depleted apartment, repeating over and
1220G26 over again Purandaradas*'s famous song. ^*I am not religious by conviction
1230G26 but, by and by a strange peace descended on me. ^*I knew
1240G26 now that I was leaving my apartment, leaving Washington,
1250G26 home to me for nine years, and leaving the United States, once and
1260G26 for all. ^*I turned away from the window, watched mutely by a heap
1270G26 of packing material left in the middle of the room by the blacks,
1280G26 and made for the door. ^There was nothing left behind, except
1290G26 a pile of memories. ^*I closed the doors softly behind me, not
1300G26 daring to_ look in again, and walked out into the cold air
1310G26 for the home of a friend and a warm dinner....
1320G26 $*3^*I LANDED*0 in Bombay on a cold blistering day, the wind
1330G26 blowing into my face a spatter of rain. ^My nephew, Suresh,
1340G26 was there at the airport to_ greet me. ^Only two months
1350G26 earlier he had come to_ see me *3off*0 to Washington and now
1360G26 he was there to_ see me *3in*0. ^We talked of the wheel of chance
1370G26 and fate. $^*I was now seeing Bombay with new eyes. ^The
1380G26 eyes of one who was going to_ live in the city-- for ever, it seemed.
1390G26 ^In past years-- twenty-three of them in fact-- I had come and gone,
1400G26 always knowing that my stay in the city would be temporary.
1410G26 ^Now Bombay was going to_ be mine and I of bombay. ^*I was a
1420G26 willing prisoner of ugliness. $^We passed through the slums
1430G26 of Dharavi. ^*I was not stranger to the place. ^Here, 37
1440G26 years ago, as joint secretary along with Kalpalata Munshi (daughter
1450G26 of the late \0Dr *(0K.M.*) Munshi) of the \0St Xavier*'s
1460G26 College Social Service League, I had taken literacy classes.
1470G26 ^My tenure as a teacher, I remembered, was not long but the
1480G26 good people to whom I had vainly sought to_ teach the Kannada
1490G26 alphabet had, towards the end of term, presented
1500G26 me with a well-wrought leather suitcase. ^*I remembered
1510G26 it. $^*I went to Suresh*'s home; his two-year-old
1530G26 daughter, Gauri, a great favourite, was sleeping. ^*I showered,
1540G26 dressed, had a quick lunch and took a taxi to Bori Bunder and
1550G26 to *3The Times of India*0, mother institution that_ had provided
1560G26 me with a job when I was jobless, nourished me and encouraged me
1580G26 and given me a place under the sun. $^In the evening
1590G26 I returned to Matunga. ^*Gauri was now up; I walked into the
1600G26 lively flat; Gauri was now up; I walked into the lively flat;
1610G26 Gauri watched me for a while, recognition coming slowly
1620G26 into her childlike eyes. ^Then she came towards me, shyly at
1630G26 first, then faster, as fast as her little legs would allow, and ran
1640G26 into my arms and bestowed on me a long kiss. $^At that_ golden moment,
1650G26 I knew that I had come home.
1660G26 $**<*3The controversial saint*0**> $^It is way out of the disorderly
1680G26 world crazed for power, personal glorification or pontification.
1690G26 ^It is a world devoted to prayer, constructive
1700G26 work and quiet resignation. $^That_ is the life of Vinoba
1710G26 Bhave. ^He leads the life of *5Kshetra Sanyas*6 at
1720G26 his Paunar *4Ashram on the banks of the river Dham, six miles from
1730G26 Wardha (on the highway to Nagpur). $^Rather surprisingly,
1740G26 the sprawling *4Ashram complex of simple living huts amid vast
1750G26 farmland and vegetable yards has no gate at all. ^Seeing Vinoba
1760G26 too involves no protocol. ^In a corner room at the end of a long corridor
1770G26 he sits on a 6 \0ft-by-4 \0ft wooden plank, in a bath-attached
1780G26 room with windows all around and a side room for his secretary, Bal Vijay,
1790G26 a round-the-clock "Vinoba watcher". $*<*3Green Dominates*0*>
1800G26 $^Dark-green colour dominates the Acharya*'s room. ^The windows
1810G26 and walls are painted green; the curtains are of green *4khadi
1820G26 cloth. ^Vinoba, frail and emaciated in form, wears a green-coloured
1830G26 cape made specially (by himself, of course) to_ protect his
1840G26 eyes from glare, his ears and throat from exposure. ^Years of rigorous,
1850G26 austere life with only one meal a day *7sans salt and spice
1860G26 has affected Vinoba with serious vertigo. ^The result: he is
1870G26 now totally deaf and wears-- 9 power spectacles.*#
        **[no. of words = 02000**]

        **[txt. g27**]
0010G27 **<*3Savarkar in the Andamans*0**>
0020G27 $^The idea of sending political prisoners to the Andamans was first mooted
0030G27 by Sir *(0J. P.*) Hewett, Governor of the United Provinces.
0040G27 ^*Hoti Lal and Babu Ram Hari (both editors of *3Swarajya*0, a newspaper
0050G27 published in Allahabad), who had been sentenced to various terms
0060G27 of imprisonment, were incarcerated in Port Blair*'s cellular Jail.
0070G27 $*3^*Swarajya*0 enjoys a unique place in the history of Indian
0080G27 journalism, because it is the only newspaper-- not only of India
0090G27 but perhaps of the entire world-- whose eight successive editors
0100G27 were convicted for sedition. ^The Sedition Committee summed up the
0110G27 case of the *3Swarajya*0 in these words:
0120G27 $^The first determined and persistent impulse towards a revolutionary movement
0130G27 in these now peaceful Provinces came from the establishment of *3Swarajya*0
0140G27 (Self-Government) newspaper in Allahabad in November
0150G27 1907 by a certain Shanti Narain, a native of \0U.P. who had formerly
0160G27 been sub-editor of a Punjab newspaper..... ^Eight successive editors.....
0170G27 were prosecuted and sentenced to long terms of imprisonment
0180G27 for objectionable publication. ^Seven of these editors came from
0190G27 the Punjab. $^On what frivolous excuses the British Government was
0200G27 willing, in those days, to_ impose savage punishment where so-called
0210G27 sedition was concerned is apparent from the fact that one of the
0220G27 two editors-- Babu Ram Hari of Qadian (Gurdaspur)-- was sentenced
0230G27 to an aggregate term of 21 years for writing and publishing the following
0240G27 poem:
0250G27 **[quotation**]
0260G27 $^The sentence of transportation for ten years was pronounced on another
0270G27 editor, Ladha Ram Kapur, because he had commented on a case in
0280G27 which an Englishman had raped an Indian woman. ^He had written:
0290G27 $^Normally speaking, she was a sister to all of us. ^This Englishman,
0300G27 in a most cowardly manner, destroyed the chastity of a respectable
0310G27 woman!
0320G27 $^In the year 1910, a dozen young men were tried in what came to_ be
0330G27 known as the Khulna Conspiracy Case. ^The charge against them was
0340G27 that they were members of a group which had conspired "to_ wage war against
0350G27 the King". ^Eleven of them were convicted and sentenced to transportation
0360G27 varying from 2 to 7 years.
0370G27 $^The \0Lt-Governor of Bengal considered it essential that "the Government
0380G27 of India may be moved to_ consider their deportation to Port Blair".
0390G27 ^The Government of India agreed. ^This became a precedent
0400G27 for other Provinces and a regular stream of political prisoners poured
0410G27 into the Cellular Jail at Port Blair.
0420G27 $*<*3Alipore Conspiracy*0*> $^The
0430G27 next to_ arrive were those convicted in the Alipore Conspiracy Case
0440G27 and included Barindra Kumar Ghosh (whose brother had achieved fame
0450G27 as Sri Aurobindo; also involved in anti-British activities, Sri
0460G27 Aurobindo left British Indian territory and moved over to Pondicherry
0470G27 in French India where he founded an *4ashram). ^What came to_ be known
0480G27 as the Alipore Conspiracy Case was the culmination of a long watch
0490G27 kept by the Bengal Police on several premises in Calcutta.
0500G27 $^In simultaneous searches conducted on May 2, 1908, the police had
0510G27 discovered a mass of seditious literature, loads of explosives, arms
0520G27 and ammunition, along with detailed written instructions on the techniques
0530G27 of manufacturing high explosives. ^The searches were followed
0540G27 by arrests of as many as 41 persons, out of whom 38 were tried.
0550G27 $^By far the most well-known prisoner transported to the Andamans was
0560G27 Vinayak Damodar Savarkar. ^Several decades later he was to_ gain
0570G27 notoriety for his alleged complicity in the murder of Mahatma Gandhi;
0580G27 he was acquitted of that_ charge for lack of evidence. ^He had also the
0590G27 unique distinction, if one may describe it as such, of having an
0600G27 elder brother, Ganesh Vinayak Savarkar, in the Andamans under
0610G27 sentence of transportation for life during the time he himself was there.
0620G27 $^The savarkar Brothers were both convicted in what is known
0630G27 as the Nasik Conspiracy
0640G27 Case. ^There were two Nasik conspiracies, preceded by what was
0650G27 described as the Gwalior conspiracy. ^All three were interlinked.
0660G27 $^In addition, the accused in these conspiracies had also
0670G27 been implicated in one way or another in two incidents-- in the bombing
0680G27 of the car carrying Lord Minto, the Viceroy, in November 1909, and
0690G27 the murder in December of the same year of the British District Magistrate
0700G27 at Nasik. ^Among the documents produced during the trial,
0710G27 there was one which contained the exhortation:
0720G27 $^Terrorise the officials, English and Indian, and the collapse of the
0730G27 whole machinery of oppression is not very far... the campaign of separate
0740G27 assassination is the best conceivable method of paralysing the bureaucracy
0750G27 and of arousing the people.
0760G27 $^In the judgement pronounced in the First Nasik Conspiracy Case, on
0770G27 December 24, 1910, Vinayak Damodar Savarkar was sentenced to transportation
0780G27 for life-- and, once again, to another term of transportation,
0790G27 also for life, for his complicity in the Second Nasik Conspiracy
0800G27 Case, the judgement of which was delivered on January 30, 1911.
0810G27 ^Strangely enough, unlike what happens normally (the sentences
0820G27 run concurrently), in his case it was specifically stated that the
0830G27 sentences were to_ run consecutively, which meant transportation
0840G27 to a term of fifty years!
0850G27 $^Savarkar, who had been living in England while he was being tried
0860G27 in India, had temporarily fled to Paris. ^But he obviously hated
0870G27 being a fugitive. ^So he returned to England and was immediatelly
0880G27 placed under arrest and sent on board a ship to India. ^At Marseilles,
0890G27 he jumped ship and tried to_ swim his way to freedom. ^The
0900G27 British Police gave chase with the help of the French Police and
0910G27 succeeded in capturing him. ^As this had hapened in French waters,
0920G27 Savarkar contended that the action was illegal and he challenged it
0930G27 in the International Court of Justice at The Hague. ^His plea was
0940G27 turned down. $^About the same time, the Government of India also gave
0950G27 their final decision on his plea in regard to the legality of the
0960G27 two sentences running consecutively. ^*Savarkar was informed, according
0970G27 to *3The Story of Transporation for Life*0, the book he wrote
0980G27 after his return from the Andamans; "you are sentenced to fifty
0990G27 years*' transportation. ^The International Tribunal at The Hague
1000G27 has given judgement that England cannot be constrained to hand you
1010G27 over to France". $*<*3In The Company of Thieves*0*> $^In
1020G27 a way, the vicissitudes in the fortunes of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar
1030G27 affected and reflected the fortunes of other political prisoners.
1040G27 ^*Savarkar described conditions on the ship which carried him to
1050G27 the Andamans: $^The party of 50, who were my immediate neighbours on
1060G27 the ship, came from the dirtiest class of Indian population. ^*Hindus,
1070G27 Muslims, thieves, dacoits-- they were all inured to filth, cruelty
1080G27 and crime. ^Some of them were stricken with foul diseases, some
1090G27 knew not what it was to_ brush their teeth and all had piled their
1100G27 beddings one upon the other and lay by each other without an inch
1110G27 of space between them... ^My feet touched their heads and their
1120G27 feet came near my mouth... ^Right in front of me, I saw a big cask
1130G27 almost half cut and open... and I discovered they used it all during
1140G27 the night as a chamber pot and commode. $^For some time, the
1150G27 political prisoners were treated like the others; they were all even
1160G27 allowed to_ live under one roof, under the supervision of a Pathan
1170G27 warder. ^They were given the task of what was known as "picking
1180G27 oakum". ^It consisted of picking threads from the hard surface of
1190G27 a coconut shell, which was first broken into pieces. ^Apart from
1200G27 the fact that the work was very tedious, it was also very on hard on
1240G27 the hands. ^A high official on a visit from
1250G27 Calcutta, on seeing the political prisoners working together
1260G27 decided that they should not be allowed either to_ live together
1270G27 or work together. ^So they were divided and put up not only
1280G27 in different "*4chawls" but also in separate cells. ^The
1290G27 moment they were seen talking to one another and the wardens
1300G27 thought their discussions were of a suspicious nature, they were handcuffed
1310G27 and, according to Savarkkar, subjected to all kinds of punishment.
1320G27 ^He writes: $^The sentence of picking oakum was substituted by work
1330G27 round the grinding oil mill... ^We were to_ be yoked like animals
1340G27 to the handle that_ turned the wheel. ^Twenty turns of the wheel
1350G27 were enough to_ drain away the strength of the strongest coolie and the
1360G27 worst brawny *4badmash. ^No dacoit past twenty was put on that_ work.
1370G27 ^But the poor political prisoner was fit to_ do it at any age.
1380G27 $*<*3What They Found Most Galling*0*> $^What he and his
1390G27 other fellow political prisoners found most galling was that "there was
1400G27 no water for washing hands". ^Drinking water was even more scarce
1410G27 and water for a bath practically unobtainable. ^And, as regards
1420G27 sanitary arrangements, the less said the better; they were non-existent.
1430G27 ^The prisoners were allowed out for the purpose only three times
1440G27 a day-- morning, noon and evening-- and at no other time, not under
1450G27 any circumstances. ^Another form of punishment was to_ harness convicts,
1460G27 instead of horses or bullocks, to the carriages carrying Government
1470G27 officials. $^The first time people on the mainland got an inkling
1480G27 of conditions obtaining in the Andamans was when the *3Bengalee*0 of
1490G27 Calcutta published an article on the plight of the political prisoners
1500G27 there. ^This, according to Savarkar, was based on a letter which
1510G27 Hoti Lal, one of the political prisoners, had managed to_ smuggle
1520G27 out of jail. ^He had not only managed to_ send it out, but had somehow
1530G27 seen to it that it reached Surendranath Banerji, then proprietor
1540G27 of the *3Bengalee*0 who was later to_ be elected, twice over, as President
1550G27 of the Indian National Congress. $^The *3Tribune*0 of
1560G27 Lahore, in its issue dated May 3, 1912, mentioned what the *3Bengalee*0
1570G27 had stated about hardships which political prisoners had to_ undergo.
1580G27 ^Confirming what Savarkar states in his book, it added: "^Four
1590G27 men are tied to the mill (\0i.e. the oil-mill) and they have to_
1600G27 go round a centre-post just as bullocks do. ^They have to_ press
1610G27 out 30 pounds of oil during the day. $"^The regulation about punishment
1620G27 for short work is that they will be handcuffed for a week. ^This
1630G27 is the punishment for the first offence. ^For the second offence
1640G27 a week*'s handcuff and four days*' starvation diet. ^For the next
1650G27 offence the punishment is fetters for a month or two, then cross-bars
1660G27 for ten days-- a punishment which compels the victim to_ keep his legs
1670G27 apart-- and, for further repetition of the offence, fetters for six
1680G27 months or so and solitary confinement." $^The fat was really in the
1690G27 fire. ^The Home Department was now worried because, as one of the
1700G27 scribes there noted on a file: "it is very likely to_ attract attention
1710G27 in the House of Commons." ^Therefore, it was felt that they "had
1720G27 better have a report". $^The Home Department, however, was
1730G27 of the opinion that "anarchists whose object is murder can scarcely be
1740G27 said to_ be suffering for their opinions, any more than any other criminals."
1750G27 ^Nonetheless, a letter on the subject was addressed to the
1760G27 Chief Commissioner, Lieutenant-Colonel *(0H. A.*) Browning of
1770G27 the Indian Army), who was soon up in arms. $^Couched in somewhat
1780G27 acerbic terms, his reply was that the Government of India had laid
1790G27 down that these prisoners should not be styled "political" prisoners,
1800G27 a nomenclature which gave them spurious importance. ^They were
1810G27 "ordinary transportees" convicted under the Indian Penal Code and were
1820G27 to_ be styled and treated as such. ^They had not been "employed
1830G27 as writers or clerks nor had there been any intention of so employing them."
1840G27 $*(0^*M. S. D.*) Butler, Deputy Secretary
1850G27 (Home), to whom Browning had sent the above reply, commented somewhat
1860G27 wryly: "Colonel Browning has obviously taken offence at being called
1870G27 upon to_ report. ^It is probably very hot at Port Blair just now."
1880R27 $*<*3Atrocities On Prisoners*0*> $^In an article dated
1890G27 September 4, 1912, the *3Bengalee*0 again returned to the charge of harsh
1900G27 and inhuman treatment being meted out to political prisoners in the
1910G27 Andamans. ^It stated that "all of them without exception come from
1920G27 respectable families" and that "most of them know English... (some) having
1930G27 a thorough education in English, Sanskrit, Mathematics, Science,
1940G27 Philosophy, History and their vernaculars" and were men brought up
1950G27 "admidst ease and plenty, susceptible to all the best sentiments that_
1960G27 culture can evoke".*#
        **[no. of words = 02027**]

        **[txt g28**]
0010G28 *<*3Being Pro-British: The Right Way And The Wrong*0*> $**<*3My
0020G28 Way Of Being Pro-BritishO**> $*3^TO_*0 call me pro-British
0030G28 has become such a stale jibe that I have ceased even to_ be
0040G28 amused by it. ^In actual fact, instead of harming me the bad reputation
0050G28 has helped me in my profession of writer. ^White-skinned scribblers
0060G28 have two methods to_ make Anglicised Indians read their books:
0070G28 first, by praising India and next by criticising it. ^Both
0080G28 work, because the one feeds their megalomania and the other their persecution
0090G28 mania. ^In contrast, mere Natives like me have only
0100G28 one way if they want to_ secure a wide readership among these people.
0110G28 ^These Indians do not value praise of Indian life and civilisation
0120G28 from their fellow countrymen, for that_ is only a shared feeling,
0130G28 devoid of extra authority. ^So the Native must criticise, and acquire
0140G28 the reputation of being anti-Indian. $^My friend Khushwant
0150G28 knows that very well. ^So, when some years ago I sent him a
0160G28 series of articles entitled, "Why I Love and Hate
0170G28 Indians", his professional flair made him drop
0180G28 the love. ^That_ served his purpose marvellously. ^Now, however,
0190G28 I have largely outgrown the need for that_ adventitious aid
0200G28 to my vocation, although there still are in India feather-brained
0210G28 little birds who are fascinated by the serpent that_ they take
0220G28 me for. $*<*3"A Better Indian Than Most
0230G28 of Us"O*> $^On the whole, I should be reconciled
0240G28 to my ill-fame. ^But a recent comment on me in this paper by my
0250G28 young friend Kunwar Natwar Singhji has given me the idea of delivering
0260G28 a sermon on the subject. ^He wrote: "^His reputation as
0270G28 an Anglophile is his doing, but he is a better Indian than
0280G28 most of us". ^He also observed that I should continue to_
0290G28 stir the Indian air so that he and others could breathe freely.
0300G28 ^This was very handsome of the Kunwar *4Sahib, and I
0310G28 in my turn would say to him: $^To_ support me is more patriotic than
0320G28 becoming a champion of *(0E.M.*) Forster." ^Anyway, I am
0330G28 obeying his admonition, in order to_ turn on a jet of compressed air
0340G28 over the greasily dirty surface of our cultural life today.
0350G28 $^But I am not doing this for my sake. ^My real object is to_ put
0360G28 this question of being pro-British and anti-Indian, or anti-British
0370G28 and pro-Indian, in the very much larger context of Indo-British cultural
0380G28 and moral relations, which were of one kind in the past and
0390G28 of another now. ^In both phases they have been one of love.
0400G28 ^That_ is not clearly perceived. ^In writing about the relationship
0410G28 British Indophiles, as a class both feeble-minded and spineless,
0420G28 have adopted the catch-phrase "love-hate relations", and their
0430G28 Anglicised Indian *4chelas are also spouting it.
0440G28 ^They are not well-educated enough to_ know its descent from a maxim of
0450G28 La Rochefoucauld: **[French quotation**]
0460G28 $^It has no relevance whatever to the Indo-British
0470G28 relationship because what Indians loved and what they hated were wholly
0480G28 unconnected. ^The love was for English life, civilisation and
0490G28 values, and the hatred for British rule in India. ^So it remains.
0500G28 ^At present the hatred is retrospective, and the love very
0510G28 much of the moment. ^The strange mixture, as presented by the
0520G28 Anglicised Indian class, is a grave threat to the social and cultural
0530G28 integrity of India-- the love far more injurious than
0540G28 the obsolete hatred. ^*I personally stand apart from this noxious
0550G28 compound, and I have to_ describe my position first to_ make
0560G28 this diagnosis of mine intelligible. $^*I am pro-British in my
0570G28 way and for my reasons, which do not need any apology. ^At the beginning
0580G28 of 1976 I heard that an Indian writer of some standing
0590G28 had said at a public meeting that Nirad Chaudhuri would bring
0600G28 back Queen Victoria to_ rule India if he could. ^At
0610G28 that_ time I could not publish anything in India. ^I took up
0620G28 the challenge in America. ^On September 27, 1976, I was
0630G28 delivering the Taraknath and Mary Keatings Das Memorial
0640G28 Lecture before the University of Michigan at Ann
0650G28 Arbor. ^Its subject was the significance of the British Empire
0660G28 in India, and in the course of the lecture I referred to
0670G28 the remark about bringing back Queen Victoria and said:
0680G28 $^Why not? ^It was during the reign of Queen Victoria that
0690G28 such Indians as Bankim Chandra Chatterji, Keshub Chander
0700G28 Sen, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Rabindranath Tagore,
0710G28 Jagadis Chandra Bose, Mohandas Karamchand
0720G28 Gandhi, *(0C.V.*) Raman, Jawaharlal Nehru or
0730G28 Subhas Chandra Bose were born. ^The year of the Diamond
0740G28 Jubilee of Queeen Victoria, \0i.e., 1897, was the
0750G28 year of birth even of Nirad Chaudhuri. ^When that_ record has
0760G28 been matched by those born later I shall be glad to_ die and be reborn
0770G28 in the reign of Queen Indira. $^These words were not uttered
0780G28 in mere bravado. ^They summed up in its personal aspect a great
0790G28 phenomenon of cultural history hardly parallelled anywhere else in the
0800G28 world, namely, the result of the interaction of Indian and european
0810G28 life in the nineteenth century. ^As I observed: "The incidence
0820G28 of great men in the nineteenth century was not a genetic miracle,
0830G28 but the result of a cultural situation created by the British in
0840G28 India, out of which arose the cultural revolution known as the Indian
0850G28 Renaissance." $^Being a product of that_ revolution and probably
0860G28 its last fighting representative, I cannot disavow one side of
0870G28 my mental ancestry. ^Of course, mules do not like to_ recall their
0880G28 donkey fathers. ^But I am not a mule. ^I do not also like
0890G28 to_ be a child in a one parent family, although to_ be that_ is both
0900G28 fashionable and profitable in present-day Britain. ^An Indian always wants
0910G28 to_ be regarded as his *5Bapka Beta*6, and I do not think that in
0920G28 spite of their boasted anti-British attitude (of which much more later),
0930G28 the Anglicised Indians are different. ^Their anti-British
0940G28 feeling, so far as it is real, springs from a different source.
0950G28 $^That_ is a family quarrel. ^Their anti-British attitude is like the
0960G28 grievance of an illegitimate son whose only claim to social status rests
0970G28 on the father but who, he feels, has not acknowledged and provided
0980G28 for him. ^It is also like the resentment of a legitimate son who
0990G28 has quarrelled with his father over property. ^*I know of cases in which
1000G28 sons have broken with their fathers for this reason. ^To_ give one
1010G28 example, in my young days I heard of a high Bengali official in New
1020G28 Delhi who nursed a grouse against his father on the score of partiality
1030G28 to his younger brother. ^So, when the old man died and he was
1040G28 informed by this brother, he wrote back: "^Your father was a very mean
1050G28 fellow-- *5^Tomar bap ati chhoto lok chhilo*6." ^When I hear the
1060G28 anti-British tirades of the Anglicised Indians I recall that_
1070G28 story: $^The simple truth is that the whole class was the creation of
1080G28 British rule, but were being excluded from the highest monetary opportunities
1090G28 created by it. ^The most dissatisfied were the Government
1100G28 servants of those days. ^The professionals, especially the lawyers,
1110G28 had no grievance on the score of money. ^Even in disrict courts
1120G28 many leading pleaders earned as much and at times more than the District
1130G28 Magistrate, and in the big cities the High Court Barristers
1140G28 and *4vakils often earned as much as a member of the Viceroy*'s Council.
1150G28 ^Actually, when *(0S.P.*) Sinha (later Lord Sinha)
1160G28 became the first Indian member of the Viceroy*'s council in
1170G28 1909 his income was equal to that_ of the Viceroy Lord Minto,
1180G28 and he accepted the office at a considerble sacrifice. $^But Indians
1190G28 in government service, except a few, never rose to the higher
1200G28 ranks, although they acknowledged no superiority in education or ability
1210G28 in their official British superiors. ^Their descendants have now
1220G28 become Secretaries, but they have inherited the grievance of their
1230G28 fathers, grandfathers and great-grandfathers. ^They are too much like
1240G28 freed men to_ be capable of shaking off their rancour in the manner of
1250G28 free men. $^*I do not belong to this class. ^*I come from a
1260G28 centuries-old landed family, and I was the first in my line to_ take up
1261G28 a salaried post. ^That_ never agreed with me,
1270G28 and I can say that I became fully myself only when I
1280G28 retired from the service of the Government of India in 1952 at the
1290G28 age of fifty-five. ^So, at eighty I say I am only twenty-five years
1300G28 old. ^Although I had to_ work in salaried posts till then and
1310G28 was for two periods of five (1921-25) and ten (1942-52) in the service
1320G28 of the Government of India, out of a perverse sort of pride derived
1330G28 from my family antecedents I never applied for a job, and
1340G28 all the posts I held were either offered by my employers or
1350G28 procured for me by friends. ^Thus the size of the salary was never a
1360G28 grievance with me. ^In fact, were I capable of that_ I should
1370G28 have had a greater grievance against my countrymen than against the
1380G28 British. $^Any hatred that_ I could feel against the British
1390G28 was on the score of our political subjection and the behaviour of the local
1400G28 British. ^It had nothing personal. ^Thus it disappeared with
1410G28 the passing away of British rule, and I was then able to_ give
1420G28 expression to my historical view of it. ^And I was made to_ suffer
1430G28 for it. ^As it happened, I was a political suspect during the last
1440G28 decades of British rule. ^Even as late as 1944 the political police
1450G28 tried to_ get me dismissed from my post in \0AIR, and it was
1460G28 only an English Secretary to the Information Department who kept
1470G28 me in it. ^Thus, instead of making the best of both worlds as those
1480G28 who call me pro-British have done, I made the worst of both.
1490G28 $^What is denounced as my pro-British treachery to India is really my
1500G28 loyalty to English life and civilisation by which I was formed. ^It
1510G28 had as its penumbra my adherence to the values created by European
1520G28 civilisation. ^*European cultural influences began to_ beat upon me
1530G28 from my childhood, when I was living in a small town of East Bengal
1540G28 in a house with mud floors, mat walls, and tin rooms. ^*I cannot
1550G28 remember, even though the material setting of my life was such, any
1560G28 time in which I did not know the names of Shakespeare or
1570G28 Raphael, not to_ speak of others. ^A colour print (German oleograph
1580G28 of course) of Raphael*'s Madonna della Sedia hung between
1590G28 the tines of an antler over our front door, and I recited Shakespeare
1600G28 on the school stage in 1908 at the age of ten.
1610G28 $*<*3Source of His KnowledgeO*> $^The other day at Oxford
1620G28 I came upon the strange source of my knowledge of Homer as a child.
1630G28 ^My mother did not know English, but it was she who told
1640G28 me the story of the Iliad. ^She knew it from a Bengali adaptation
1650G28 which was called *3Helena Kavya.*0 ^The book was given to her by her
1660G28 brother, but I never saw it because it was not returned by a borower.
1670G28 ^However, I came upon a copy in the Bengali collection
1680G28 of Bodleian Library, and I was amazed to_ see that the first volume
1690G28 of the book was printed in 1876 at Mymensingh, my district town.
1700G28 ^This absorption of European civilisation has continued throughout my
1710G28 life. $^With all that_ mental history it would have been an abominable
1720G28 absence of *7pietas in me not to_ be Anglophile, for
1730G28 what I imbibed of the values of European culture came to me through
1740G28 the English language and English literature. ^This was perceived
1750G28 by a Minister of the British Government after the publication
1760G28 of my autobiography. ^He said in the House of Commons on
1770G28 February 27, 1953: $^Some Members may have read the *3Autobiography
1780G28 of an Unknown Indian*0 by Chaudhuri. ^The author gives the
1790G28 whole story of his intellectual formation, his intellectual and emotional
1800G28 relation to English literature and how, through English literature,
1810G28 he came to other literatures and to_ read Dante and so on.
1820G28 ^The whole story is very moving and leaves me very dubious whether
1830G28 he could have acquainted himself with some of these literatures if the spelling
1840G28 in which he read Macaulay and Shakespeare had not
1850G28 been the spelling which akes one half-way to every other European Language,
1860G28 except Basque and Hungarian. (*3House of Commons
1870G28 Debates, February 27, 1953, \0p 2478O).*#
        **[no. of words = 02056**]

        **[txt. g29**]
0010G29 **<*3IN JAIL*0**> $*3^BHARTI*0 woke me up. "^Two policemen
0020G29 have come," she said. ^Though she showed some concern, she
0030G29 said it in such a matter of fact way that it took some time for it to_
0040G29 sink in. ^As the daughter of a Congress leader taken several times
0050G29 to prison in the days of the *4Raj, for my wife visitations by policemen
0060G29 at untimely hours were nothing new. ^But for me it was a new experience.
0070G29 ^*I got up quickly. ^Only a day earlier, Ram Nath
0080G29 Goenka, proprietor of *3Indian Express,*0 where I worked,
0090G29 had warned me that, if the Government was unanimous in taking action
0100G29 against any one journalist, it was me. "^The lady", as he put it,
0110G29 "was very angry and Dev Kant Borooah, the Congress Party President,
0120G29 had openly said that they would fix you up." $^But it was
0130G29 unlikely that they had come to_ arrest me, I thought. ^Probably they
0140G29 meant to_ search my house for, even if I was not important, my news
0150G29 sources certainly were. ^A couple of days before, Nikhil
0160G29 Chakravarty, the *3MainstreamO Editor, had asked me to_
0170G29 "clean up the house". ^We were together on a selection panel of the
0180G29 Union Public Service Commission and he said that he had heard
0190G29 that there would be a raid on my residence. ^But I had nothing
0200G29 to_ fear. ^*I had been careful not to_ keep secret documents "lent"
0210G29 to me in the house. ^And Raju, my younger son, had
0220G29 already removed to his friend*'s house two sacks of files I had meticulously
0230G29 maintained during my decade of Government service as Press
0240G29 Officer, first with Govind Ballabh Pant, then with
0250G29 Lal Bahadur Shastri, when they were Home Ministers.
0260G29 $*<"*3In The Public Interest"*0*> $^*I looked at the wall
0270G29 clock-- it was barely 5. ^*I got up, switched off the air-conditioner,
0280G29 told Bharti not to_ worry and went to the sitting room where
0290G29 the policemen were. ^They stood up when I entered. ^They
0300G29 were both in uniform and, from the shoulder tabs, I could make out
0310G29 that the stockier one was an Inspector of Police. "^*I am very
0320G29 sorry; we have come to_ arrest you," said the senior man, who introduced
0330G29 himself as the Station House Officer (\0SHO) from the
0340G29 Chanakyapuri Police Station. ^The word "arrest", pronounced
0350G29 in a dragging manner, fell into the silence. $^The silence
0360G29 lengthened till I broke it: "^Could I see the warrant?" $^He
0370G29 produced a cyclostyled document with my name and that_ of my father under
0380G29 "son of" typed on the portions left blank. ^*I saw words, "Maintenance
0390G29 of Internal Security Act (\0MISA)", and "in
0400G29 the public interest". ^There was no mistaking it-- I was under arrest.
0410G29 $*<*3Feeling of PrideO*> $^*I felt helpless and
0420G29 there was fear-- fear of the unknown and of the known. ^Reports of police
0430G29 brutality we had received but could not publish because of censorship
0440G29 came unbidden to mind. ^But there was also a feeling of pride; what
0450G29 thousands of men might have felt when arrested during the freedom struggle,
0460G29 what Bharti*'s father, Bhimsen Sachar, must have felt.
0470G29 ^*I was being made to_ suffer for a noble cause; in a way I was
0480G29 atoning for the crime of many of my fellow journalists who had chosen
0490G29 to_ grovel at the feet of dictatorial authority or to_ keep silent about
0500G29 the enslavement of a nation. $"^Do I have time?" I asked the police
0510G29 officer. $"^A couple of hours," the \0SHO said. $"^You can
0520G29 bathe, collect your clothes and eat something if you like." $^*I suddenly
0530G29 thought of mangoes, which I liked immensely and which I knew
0540G29 I would not be getting inside jail. $^Could I telephone my relations
0550G29 and friends? ^The policemen nodded assent. $^*I called
0560G29 Raj, my sister. ^My parents and Bharti*'s were staying with her.
0570G29 ^It was my father who picked up the phone; the mere mention of
0580G29 the word "arrest" made him break into sobs. ^*I could hear my mother
0590G29 in the background, chanting *4wahguru (God*'s name). ^My sister
0600G29 said in a broken voice that all of them would be with me soon.
0610G29 $^Tears welled into my eyes. ^*I did not know how long I would
0620G29 be in jail and whether my parents would be alive on my return. ^Both
0630G29 were very old and my mother had Parkinson*'s disease. ^Secondly,
0640G29 I felt like a small child wanting to_ bury himself in the security
0650G29 of his parent*'s lap. $*<"*3I Headed The List"*0*>
0660G29 $^*I rang up Rajinder Puri, my talented cartoonist friend.
0670G29 ^He had warned me three weeks earlier that I might be arrested--
0680G29 I headed the list of journalists to_ be detained. ^However,
0690G29 later I heard that my name was deleted, but then he had checked
0700G29 again and found my name very much there. ^The code word for arrest
0710G29 was: "You will go to chandigarh"-- he had told me so on the phone.
0720G29 $^*I called \0*4Shri Mulgaokar, the *3Indian Express*0
0730G29 Editor-in-Chief, but, though his phone rang, no one picked it
0740G29 up. ^*Ram Kant Mishra, our General Manager, was awake
0750G29 when I rang him up. ^*I requested him to_ see that Bharti
0760G29 was given my salary when I was in detention I feared the
0770G29 Government would create difficulties in my absence. ^*Mishra assured
0780G29 me in the confident voice of the military officer that he once
0790G29 was, not to_ worry and to_ leave all relevant papers with my wife so
0800G29 that they could challenge my detention in a court of law. **[foot note**]
0810G29 $^*I agreed, but I had no illusions about what they could
0820G29 do. ^The Government was so intractable and so ruthless that it
0830G29 would go to any length to_ keep its critics inside. ^*The Maintenance
0840G29 of Internal Security Act (\0MISA) had
0850G29 already been amended through an Ordinance to_ make it more stringent.
0860G29 ^It was not now necessary to_ communicate the grounds of detention
0870G29 to the person detained. ^*I had heard that no detenu had been allowed
0880G29 even to_ meet his relations when in jail. $*<*3letter to \0PM*>
0890G29 $^When Puri had warned me that I was marked for prison
0900G29 I had packed a few clothes and books in a bag, one of those that_
0910G29 the airlines give to passengers. ^But, some days earlier, I
0920G29 had put back the clothes into the wardrobe and the books on the shelves.
0930G29 ^*Bharti began replenishing the bag while I got busy having
0940G29 a bath before embarking on my jail *4yatra. ^An old servant,
0950G29 Murli, quickly prepared *4halva, a ritual with the family
0960G29 before a long journey. $^*I wondered if my arrest had something
0970G29 to_ do with the letter I had written to the Prime Minister a
0980G29 few days earlier. ^It was almost within 24 hours of receiving her
0990G29 reply that the police had knocked at my door. $^My letter was really
1000G29 in reply to a statement she had made that the press had instigated
1010G29 the opposition in the country. ^This was my letter: $*3^Dear
1020G29 Madam Prime Minister, I do not think that you are correct
1030G29 in saying that no pressmen ever criticised \0JP or his call to
1040G29 the armed forces. ^Leading newspapers have taken him to task for his
1050G29 observations. ^*I am sure some of those comments must have been
1060G29 put up to you. ^Similarly the allegation against the Press Council
1070G29 for not protesting against scurrilous writings is wrong. ^As a member,
1080G29 I can say that the *3Organiser has been reprimanded for
1090G29 the irresponsible article it wrote against you and your family.
1100G29 ^The announcement of the judgement got unfortunately delayed because of
1110G29 long, cumbersome procedures. $^You will probably concede that the
1120G29 leading papers have given their unstinted support to the Government in
1130G29 its drive against communalism. ^Their complaint is that the Administration
1140G29 is soft towards communal elements. ^The Press Council has
1150G29 also warned many papers for carrying "communal" and "parochial"
1160G29 writings. $^If newspapers have criticised the Government, it is largely
1170G29 because of its sluggish administration, slow progress in the economic
1180G29 field and the gap between promise and performance. ^If I may
1190G29 say so, even when the Government has a case, it does not know how
1200G29 to_ put it across. ^For example, your letters on administration were
1210G29 never released; odds and bits had to_ be picked up from here and there
1220G29 for publication. $^*Madam, it is always difficult for a newspaperman
1230G29 to_ decide whether he should tell. ^In the process of doing so
1240G29 he knows he runs the risk of annoying somebody somewhere. ^In the case
1250G29 of the Government, the tendency to_ hide and feel horrified once the
1260G29 truth is uncovered is greater than in any individual. ^Somehow those
1270G29 who occupy high positions in administration labour under the belief that
1280G29 they-- and they alone-- know what the nation should be told how and when.
1290G29 ^And they get annoyed if any news which they do not like appears in
1300G29 print. $^But what is not realised is that such methods decrease the
1310G29 credibility of official assertions. ^Even honest claims of the Government
1320G29 begin to_ be questioned. ^In a democracy where faith stirs people*'s
1330G29 response, the Government cannot afford to_ have even an
1340G29 iota of doubt raised about what it says or does. $^In a free society--
1350G29 and you have repeatedly said after the Emergency that you have faith
1360G29 in such a concept-- the press has a duty to_ inform the public. ^At
1370G29 times it is an unpleasant job, but it has to_ be performed because a free
1380G29 society is founded on free information. ^If the press were to_ publish
1390G29 only Government handouts or official statements,
1391G29 to which it has been reduced today, who will
1400G29 pinpoint lapses, deficiencies or mistakes? $^*I often read
1410G29 what Nehru told the All India Newspaper Editors*' Conference
1420G29 on December 3, 1950: "^*I have no doubt that even if
1430G29 the Government dislikes the liberties taken by the press and considers
1440G29 them dangerous, it is wrong to_ interfere with the freedom of the press.
1450G29 ^By imposing restrictions you do not change anything. ^You
1460G29 merely suppress the manifestation of certain things, thereby causing
1470G29 the idea and the thought underlying them to_ spread further. ^Therefore,
1480G29 I would have a completely free press with all the dangers
1490G29 involved in the wrong use of that_ freedom than a suppressed or regulated
1500G29 press." $^The type of censorship which has been imposed today will
1510G29 kill initiative, free inquiry and ultimately free thinking. ^*I am
1520G29 sure you do not want that_ to_ happen. $^With regards,
1530G29 $^Yours sincerely, $Kuldip Nayar
1540G29 $*<"*3Extraordinary Tolerance"*> $^Her reply, sent through
1550G29 her Director of Publicity, said: $^Dear Shri Nayar,
1560G29 $^The Prime Minister has received your letter of July 16.
1570G29 ^The very fact that all these nine-and-a-half year she did not
1580G29 react even to the most false and vicious personal attacks on her shows the
1590G29 Prime Minister*'s own extraordinary tolerance of criticism.
1600G29 ^If censorship was introduced in the last few weeks it is not because
1610G29 of any personal or governmental hypersensitiveness but because certain
1620G29 newspapers had become part and parcel of the Opposition front. ^When
1621G29 these parties had to_ be prevented from carrying out their plans to_ disrupt
1630G29 national life, their principal organs of propaganda had also naturally
1640G29 to_ be restrained from stirring up trouble. ^Restrictions on the press
1650G29 have indeed contributed to the situation being under control in the
1660G29 last few days. ^Freedom of the Press is part of the personal freedoms
1670G29 which in any country are temporarily abridged in times of national
1680G29 emergency. $^That_ apart, the press as a whole has been remarkably
1690G29 ineffective in preventing abuse of press freedom, whether it is scurrilous
1700G29 writing or spreading downright falsehoods. ^You have cited a
1710G29 few random instances of how the Press Council and a few newspapers
1720G29 have tried. ^Would you say their action has had impact? $^As regards
1730G29 how much a newspaperman should tell, which you have said is a difficult
1740G29 decision, the Prime Minister would only say that not all
1750G29 of them have taken their decisions with responsibility or even respect
1760G29 for the facts. $^Yours sincerely, $*(0H. Y.*) Sharada
1770G29 Prasad $^Probably, my letter provided the spark; the haystack
1780G29 had been there for some time. ^*I had had a brush with Vidya
1790G29 Charan Shukla, Information Minister, within a few
1800G29 days of the Emergency onslaught.*#
        **[no. of words = 02005**]

        **[txt. g30**]
0010G30 **<*3*(0C. V.*) *RAMAN: *3A Life Sketch**>
0020G30 $*3^*CHANDRASEKHARA VENKATA RAMAN*0 was born on 7 November 1888
0030G30 in a small village, Thiruvanaikkaval, near Tiruchirapalli in
0040G30 Tamil Nadu. ^His mother was Parvathi Ammal. ^His father,
0050G30 Chandrasekhara Iyer, was a teacher in a local school.
0060G30 ^Raman was the second among eight children, five sons and three daughters.
0070G30 $^*Raman matriculated at 11, passed his \0FA (nowadays
0080G30 called \0PUC or intermediate) at 13, won a scholarship and joined
0090G30 Presidency College, Madras. ^Very soon, his professors
0100G30 found him so remarkably intelligent that they exempted him from attending
0110G30 all the science classes as they felt he had nothing to_ learn from them.
0120G30 ^*Raman passed his \0BA at 15 in the first class, and
0130G30 \0MA at 18 in 1907. $^At the age of 16, while measuring the
0140G30 angle of a prism using a college spectrometer-- as thousands of
0150G30 us have done-- Raman observed some diffraction bands. ^He investigated
0160G30 these and they formed the subject of his first publication in *3The
0170G30 Philosophical Magazine*0 (London) in 1906. ^This
0180G30 was followed by a note in the same journal on a new experimental method
0190G30 of measuring surface tension. ^The Presidency College was
0200G30 at that_ time a teaching institution with no tradition whatsoever of
0210G30 research. $^When he passed his \0BA, Raman*'s teachers
0220G30 had suggested that he should go to England for further studies.
0230G30 ^But the Civil Surgeon of Madras disqualified him medically,
0240G30 saying that the rigours of the English climate would kill him. ^*Raman
0250G30 is known to_ have said later, "I shall ever be grateful to
0260G30 this man". $^After his \0MA, Raman, on the advice of his
0270G30 teachers, appeared for the competitive examinations for civil servants
0280G30 for the Finance Department, and came out topping the list.
0290G30 ^Soon he was posted to Calcutta as Assistant Accountant General
0300G30 when he was 18 1/2 years old. ^Meanwhile, he also married Lokasundari
0310G30 (against all conventions of the time, Raman arranged his
0320G30 own marriage). ^And in 1907, the young couple went to Calcutta.
0330G30 $^Within a week, while on his way to_ work by tram, Raman
0340G30 saw a sign which read "The Indian Association for the Cultivation
0350G30 of Science" on Bowbazaar Street. ^On his way back, Raman
0360G30 knocked on the door. ^He met Amrita Lal Sircar, the
0370G30 Secretary of the Association, who promptly handed over
0380G30 the keys of the Association to Raman when he heard of his plans
0390G30 to_ do research there. $^The Association had been established in
0400G30 1876 by Amrita Lal*'s father, Mahendra Lal Sircar,
0410G30 a man of vision, who wanted to_ have an institution which was a combination
0420G30 of the Royal Institution of London and the British
0430G30 Association. ^It had started off well. ^At every annual meeting,
0440G30 Mahendra Lal advocated the importance of the cultivation
0450G30 of science by original research. ^There were many popular and scientific
0460G30 lectures in the early days but there was no research of any type.
0470G30 ^Subsequently the institution had decayed, and, in 1902, a
0480G30 despondent Mahendra Lal had declared, "I do not know how
0490G30 to_ account for the apathy of our people towards the cultivation of science".
0500G30 ^Three years later, Raman was to_ turn the Association
0510G30 into one of the important centres of original research in the world.
0520G30 $^Young Lokasundari tells us of the routine-- 5.30 \0am,
0530G30 Raman goes to the Association, returns at 9.45 \0am, bathes,
0540G30 gulps his food in haste, leaves for office, invariably by taxi so
0550G30 that he may not be late. ^At 5 \0pm, Raman goes straight to the
0560G30 Association on his way back from work, and reaches home at 9.30
0570G30 or 10 \0pm. ^*Sundays, whole day at the Association. ^Truly,
0580G30 not an exciting life for a young bride. $^Soon there was a
0590G30 short interruption to Raman*'s work at the Association but not to
0600G30 his scientific activity. ^He was transferred to Rangoon in 1909
0610G30 and to Nagpur next year. ^At both places, he converted
0620G30 his home into a laboratory and continued his work. in 1911, he was
0630G30 back in Calcutta. $^*Raman and Ashutosh Dey were the only
0640G30 workers at the Association. ^Even so, publications poured
0650G30 out. ^*Raman also started the *3Bulletin of the Indian Association*0
0660G30 where he published massive monographs. ^In 1917,
0670G30 the *3Bulletin*0 became the *3Proceedings*0 and much later
0680G30 the *3Indian Journal of Physics*0 ^The two together published
0690G30 several papers. ^*Raman was proud when a paper, in which
0700G30 Ashutosh was the sole author, was published in the *3Proceedings
0710G30 of the Royal Society*0. ^*Ashu Babu had never entered the portals
0720G30 of a university! $^What were the problems Raman tackled?
0730G30 ^Every one of them was connected with his direct experience, thus
0740G30 arousing his curiosity. ^He had heard his father play the violin.
0750G30 ^He had worked with the sonometer and done Melde*'s experiment
0760G30 in college. ^*So followed his papers on the bowed string, the
0770G30 struck string, the maintenance of vibrations, resonance, aerial
0780G30 waves generated by impact, the singing flames, music from heated
0790G30 metals and many others. $^He investigated whether his feeling
0791G30 that the *4veena producted the most exquistie
0800G30 musical sound was a subjective reaction or has a sound physical
0810G30 basis. ^He found that the bridge of the *4veena is so cunningly
0820G30 constructed that the Helmholtz Law, that the position at which the
0830G30 string is plucked cannot be a node, is violated. ^Thus, this
0840G30 instrument produced innumerable harmonics, making its sound closest
0850G30 in harmonic content to the human voice. $^He knew that the normal
0860G30 stretched circular membrane, as found in the Western drum, was
0870G30 "unmusical and just a noise producer". ^His sharp ear detected musical
0880G30 overtones in the sound of the *4mridangam and the *4tabla. ^He
0890G30 discovered that the heterogeneous loading of their membranes could produce
0900G30 harmonics-- so that in the hands of the masters, the Indian
0910G30 drum is similar to a stringed instrument. ^He had become an authority
0920G30 on sound and musical instruments. $*<*3Palit ProfessorO*>
0930G30 $*3^MEANWHILE,*0 Ashutosh Mukherjee, Vice-Chancellor
0940G30 of Calcutta University, offered him the Palit Chair
0950G30 of Physics. ^*Raman decided to_ accept the offer for a salary
0960G30 less than what he was getting. ^The decision caused consternation
0970G30 in the establishment. "^There may soon be Indianisation of the Department",
0980G30 they told Raman. ^And as one of the best officers, he
0990G30 may even end up as Member (Finance) in the Viceroy*'s Council--
1000G30 who knows? ^But Raman*'s mind was made up. $^There was a
1010G30 problem, however. ^One of the requirements for appointment to the
1020G30 Palit Chair was training abroad. ^*Raman refused to_ go to England
1030G30 to_ be "trained". ^Finally, Sir Ashutosh changed the provisions
1040G30 of the endowment. ^What an administrator! $^In 1919 Amrita
1050G30 Lal Sircar died and Raman became the Honorary Secretary
1060G30 of the Association, thus having two laboratories to_ work in. ^For
1070G30 the first time, he took research students. $^Under pressure
1080G30 from Sir Ashutosh, Raman went to Europe in 1921, as a delegate
1090G30 to the Universities*' Congress in Oxford. ^There he met the
1100G30 most famous physicists of England, *(0J. J.*) Thomson, Rutherford,
1110G30 William Bragg and others. ^Later, Raman
1120G30 told a story about how moved he was when Rutherford recognised him sitting
1130G30 in a back bench at a lecture and asked him to_ come and sit next to
1140G30 him. $^Characteristically, even in London he reacted to what he saw.
1150G30 ^He marvelled at the whispering gallery of \0St. Paul*'s Cathedral,
1160G30 did a few experiments, and published two papers one in *3Nature*0
1170G30 and the other in the *3Proceedings of the Royal Society.*0
1180G30 $^It was on this voyage that Raman saw the grandeur of the Mediterranean,
1190G30 its moods and, in particular, its blueness. ^The more
1200G30 he saw it, the more did his wonder grow. ^*Lord Rayleigh, who had
1210G30 explained the blue of the sky as due to scattering by the molecules in
1220G30 the atmosphere, had dismissed the blue of the sea with the statement:
1230G30 "The much admired dark blue of the deep sea... is simply, the blue
1240G30 of the sky seen by reflection." ^*Raman demolished this idea by an
1250G30 extremely simple experiment during the return voyage. ^He quenched
1260G30 the reflection of the sky in the sea by observing at the Brewsterian angle
1270G30 through a polarising nicol prism. ^Even with the sky reflection
1280G30 so extinguished, he saw the surface of the sea glowing with a vivid blue
1290G30 which appeared to_ emerge from inside the water, indicating that the
1300G30 blueness of the sea was due to scattering by the water. $^Even
1310G30 aboard the ship he felt that the Einstein-Smoluchowski concept of thermodynamic
1320G30 fluctuations-- which was developed to_ explain special optical
1330G30 phenomena near the critical point-- could be extended to_ explain
1340G30 molecular diffraction in liquids. ^On his return to India, he started
1350G30 three most fruitful lines of investigation: (**=1) the scattering of
1360G30 light by liquids, (**=2) the scattering of X-rays by liquids,
1370G30 (**=3) the viscosity of liquids. $^Many may not know that the earliest
1380G30 work on the scattering of X-rays by liquids was done in India.
1390G30 ^*Raman and his group developed an effective theory and confirmed
1400G30 the shapes of many molecules and deduced the nature of their aggregation
1410G30 in the liquid state. ^*Raman once said wistfully, "We were so preoccupied
1420G30 with light scattering that we did not apply the idea of Fourier
1430G30 transforms to X-ray scattering in liquids although we were so
1440G30 close to it". ^This was done later by Zernicke and Prins in 1927. ^The
1450G30 famous Raman-Ramanathan paper was published in 1923. ^In 1923,
1460G30 he advanced a theory of viscosity which was used by Staudinger, the famous
1470G30 polymer chemist, to_ explain the viscosity of polymers. $^Within
1480G30 a few weeks of his return from England, Raman (and Seshagiri Rao)
1490G30 had measured the intensity of the molecular scattering of light from
1500G30 water. ^They established that the Einstein-Smoluchowski concept
1510G30 of thermodynamic fluctuations could be extended to_ explain molecular
1520G30 scattering almost quantitatively. $^Earlier, in 1922, he had written
1530G30 and published his monograph "The Molecular Diffraction of Light",
1540G30 where he raised such questions as to what would happen in a black
1550G30 body enclosure if the exchange of energy took place by molecular scattering.
1560G30 ^He considered in detail how energy could be transferred between the
1570G30 quantum of light and the molecule. ^He seems to_ have been convinced
1580G30 that the quantum nature of light should reveal itself in molecular scattering.
1590G30 ^All this was a year before the discovery of the Compton effect.
1600G30 $^In April 1923, *(0K. R.*) Ramanathan, the oldest
1610G30 and among the most distinguished of Raman*'s students, made a serious
1620G30 study of the scattering of light in water at Raman*'s suggestion.
1630G30 ^Sunlight was focused on the liquid and the scattered light was seen as
1640G30 a track in the transverse direction. ^A system of complementary filters
1650G30 was devised, each filter completely cutting off the light transmitted
1660G30 by the other. ^When the incident light was passed through one, and the
1670G30 scattered light viewed through the other, no track should have been visible,
1680G30 if there had been no change of colour in the process. ^But the
1690G30 track could, in fact, be observed. ^This was attributed to a "week
1700G30 fluorescence" due to impurities which were belived to_ be present.
1710G30 ^This "weak fluorescence" was not completely depolarised (as true
1720G30 fluorescence should have been) and the amount of depolarisation changed
1730G30 with wavelength. $^*Ramanathan wrote much later: "Raman
1740G30 was not satisfied with the explanation that it was due to fluorescence.
1750G30 ^He felt that it was characteristic of the substance and wondered whether
1760G30 it might not be akin to the Compton effect in X-ray scattering"
1770G30 (where a change in wavelength of X-rays scattered by atoms had just been
1780G30 discovered that_ year). ^Even after repeated slow distillation of the
1790G30 liquids in vacuum, the "weak fluorescence" persisted undiminished.
1800G30 ^The same effect was also observed later in many organic liquids by
1810G30 *(0K. S.*) Krishnan, who had just joined him and was later to_ become
1820G30 one of Raman*'s distingushed students. $^The Compton effect
1830G30 was on Raman*'s mind. ^He had calculated that true Compton scattering
1840G30 could not be observed at optical wavelengths. ^He considered the
1850G30 interaction of X-rays with the electrons of the atom and using the
1860G30 concept of fluctuations, which was so succesful in explaining the molecular
1870G30 scattering, he derived the relationship now famous as the Compton-Raman
1880G30 formula. ^The derivation was classical, wherein Raman
1890G30 showed that the coherent scattering (corresponding to Thomson scattering
1900G30 in X-rays and to Rayleigh scattering in light) is proportional
1910G30 to the square of the number of electrons in the atom whereas the incoherent
1920G30 scatering (Compton scattering) is proportional to the number of electrons.*#
        **[no. of words = 02029**]

        **[txt. g31**]
0010G31 **<*3Azad Hind *4Fouz and the Azad Hind Government*0**>
0020G31 $^*Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose arrived in Berlin in the spring of
0030G31 1941 after crossing the Russo-Afghan border with Italian passport
0040G31 styled as \0Mr. Ortando Mazzota. ^His only motive force was how
0050G31 to_ liberate India while Britain was in peril. ^*Germany at that_
0060G31 time was at the zenith of her power and glory, having control from Norway
0070G31 to Libya, German war machine moving like a steam roller almost all
0080G31 over Europe. ^*Netaji met Hitler in May 1941 with the intention
0090G31 of obtaining sanction for organising an Indian Legion and facilities
0100G31 for Radio broadcasting. ^He also conceived the founding of a
0110G31 free Indian centre to_ supervise and control the activities of the two
0120G31 branches. ^After overcoming immense difficulties in convincing the
0130G31 German authorities-- both civil and military-- he secured all that_ he
0140G31 asked and particularly freedom of action in two spheres-- the Radio programme
0150G31 and the formation of an Indian Legion. ^The free India centre
0160G31 was given the status of a diplomatic mission and recognised as such all
0170G31 through. ^The premises of the centre of the *5Azad Hind Sangh*6
0180G31 (Indian Independence League) was situated in the Tigarten area where
0190G31 most of the foreign embassies were located. ^It began to_ fucntion
0200G31 regularly from October 1941. ^All Indians collected from all
0210G31 parts of Europe coming forward voluntarily, attended an inaugural
0220G31 meeting in November 1941. ^The name of the Indian Legion was given
0230G31 '*5Azad Hind Fouz*6'. ^The national anthem '*5Jana Gana Mana*6
0240G31 'and the national greeting '*5Jai Hind*6' were adopted. ^Here in
0250G31 this historic occasion the designation '*4Netaji' to the leader Subhash
0260G31 Chandra Bose was given by the members as a symbolic expression of their
0270G31 respectful homage to the towering personality of the man of India*'s
0280G31 destiny. $^With all available Indian talents the *(Azad Hind Radio*)
0290G31 unit was formed with broadcasting preparations everyday in English,
0300G31 Hindi, Persian, Pustu, Tamil, Telegu and alternately in Gujarati
0310G31 and Marathi. ^The Azad Hind Radio was inaugurated by Netaji during
0320G31 October-November, 1941. $^The formation of the Indian Legion or
0330G31 *5Azad Hind Fouz*6 was a positive and a historic revolutionary step.
0340G31 ^In Septmber-October, 1941, recruitment for the *4Fouz started
0350G31 when Netaji proposed to_ visit the Annaberg camp where Indian prisoners
0360G31 of war were camped. ^His appeals found spontaneous response from
0370G31 the prisoners. ^Thousands of prisoners joined the *4Fouz voluntarily
0380G31 and the camp echoed and re-echoed with the slogan 'We must
0390G31 die, so that India be Free.' ^*Frankberg was made the first Headquarters
0400G31 of the *5Azad Hind Fouz*6 with several battalions consisting
0410G31 of 3,500 men in the first instance. $^All volunteers joined as soldiers
0420G31 without any distinction of ranks, castes or religion. ^The soldiers
0430G31 were sworn to the Flag-- national tri-colour-- embossed with a Leaping
0440G31 Tiger. ^Next to Netaji \0*4Shri *(0A.C.N.*) Nambiar was second
0450G31 in command. ^*Major Abid Hassan and Major *(0N.G.*) Swami
0460G31 will go down in history as the pioneers in constituting the framework
0470G31 of the Indian Legion. \0^*Dr. *(oG.K.*) Mukherjee, *(0N.G.*)
0480G31 Ganpuley, *(0M.R.*) Vyas, \0Dr. *(0J.K.*) Bannerjee,
0490G31 Promode Sengupta, \0Dr. Majumdar, Suresh Chandra, \0Dr. Kalyan
0500G31 Bose \0Prof Bhatia, Behan Jowrey, Mama, Sultan, Lal, Naidu, Sharma,
0510G31 were some of the active members who dedicated their all to_ run
0520G31 the Radio Station. ^In the wake of 'Quit India' Movement, an
0520G31 additional programme 'National Congress Radio' was introduced. ^To_
0540G31 voice against the formation of a separate Muslim State in India a programme
0550G31 '*(Azad Muslim Radio,*)' came into being. $^The Free India
0560G31 centre (\0IIL) offered cultural and educational training courses for
0570G31 its staff and maintained a Planning Committee to_ study the social and
0580G31 economic problems of free India. $^The World War spread to the Pacific
0590G31 in December, 1941, and Japan was ranged against Britain. ^In February,
0600G31 1942, Singapore fell to the Japanese Forces. ^The British abandoned
0610G31 a huge number of Indian forces. ^This fact raised hopes in
0620G31 the mind of Netaji to_ raise a Free India Army from among the large
0630G31 Indian communities in Malaya, Singapore Burma and other regions and
0640G31 to_ launch a direct assault on the British in India, on Indian soil,
0650G31 by Indian soldiers. ^This was closer to the dream of Netaji and
0660G31 he set about drawing up plans to_ reach East Asia. ^In June 1942,
0670G31 Rash Behari Bose presided over a historic meeting from all over
0680G31 East Asia, assembled in Bangkok, which invited Netaji Subhash
0690G31 Bose to_ come over from Germany to East Asia and assume the leadership
0700G31 of the Indian Independence movement. ^In the mean time an
0710G31 Indian National Army was formed under the command of General Mohan
0720G31 Singh. $^Prior to his departure from Europe he gave detailed
0730G31 instructions to Nambiar-- who acted as Netaji*'s representative
0740G31 throughout the period. ^Accompanied by Abid Hassan, Netaji
0750G31 boarded the Submarine 129 from Kiel on 7-8 February, 43 embarking
0760G31 on a perilous journey. ^They were transferred to a Japanese submarine
0770G31 on April 28, 1943, at a place 400 miles away from Madagascar.
0780G31 ^*Netaji reached Singapore on July 2, 1943, via Sumatra and Penang.
0790G31 $^On the 4th of july, 1943, Rash Behari Bose handed over the
0800G31 charge of the India Independence League to Netaji before a congregation
0810G31 of delegates from all over East-Asia. ^In the historic conference
0820G31 the president Rash Behari Bose remarked:-- $"^Friends and Comrades-in-arms!
0830G31 ^In your presence to-day I resign my office and
0840G31 appoint *4Deshsevak Subhash Chandra Bose as president of the India
0850G31 Independence League... ^*I am old. ^This is the work of the
0860G31 younger man. ^*Inida*'s best is represented by him. ^You know I
0870G31 have dedicated my life in my own humble way to the cause of sacred
0880G31 Motherland. ^This is my life*'s mission... $"^The greatest moment
0890G31 in our lives has come. ^Have faith in God, have faith in yourselves,
0900G31 have faith in your friends and allies, have faith in their victory
0910G31 which is India*'s victory as well; and be ready to_ plunge yourselves
0920G31 into the battle-- the battle that_ will lead our sacred Motherland
0930G31 to freedom, victory and glory." $^On 25th August, 1943, Netaji
0940G31 assumed office as the supreme Commander of the Indian National Army,
0950G31 reviewed the serried ranks drawn up in formation on the spacious *4maidan
0960G31 opposite the Singapore Town Hall. ^For the first time he gave
0970G31 this army of liberation the war cry of '*4Chalo Delhi' and he gave
0980G31 the assembled civilians the slogan "Total Mobilisation". $^*Netaji
0990G31 reorganised the \0INA (*5Azad Hind Fouz*6) for the coming confrontation
1000G31 with the British forces. ^*Major General *(0J.K.*) Bhonsle
1010G31 was appointed Chief of Staff. ^The Army composed of three Divisions.
1020G31 ^*Major General *(0M.Z.*) Kiani commanded the First division;
1021G31 2nd and 3rd Divisions were commanded by \0Col. Shah Nawaj Khan
1030G31 and \0Col. *(0N.S.*) Bhagat. ^The divisions were divided into Brigades.
1040G31 ^*Subhash Brigade, Gandhi Brigade, Azad Brigade,
1050G31 Nehru Brigade and \0No. 1,2,6,7,8 Brigades. ^Besides these there were
1060G31 the command troops (composed of Bahadur Group and Intelligence Group),
1070G31 *5Azad Hind Dal*6 (Commanded by \0Maj. \0Gen. *(0A.C.*)
1080G31 Chatterjee), \0OTS (Officers*' Trainning School-- Commandant
1090G31 was \0Col. Habibur Rahaman) and \0S.S. Institute. $^When
1100G31 all the prerequisites were complete Netaji decided to_ procalim the
1110G31 formation of the provisional *(Azad Hind Government*). $^This was
1120G31 done on the historic day of 21st October, 1943, at the Calais Theatre,
1130G31 Singapore, before five thousand delegates of the Indian Independence
1140G31 League and representatives of the *5Azad Hind Fouz*). ^In the morning
1150G31 session Netaji addressed the gathering in a spirited speech, portions
1160G31 of which are reproduced below: $"^*I am glad to_ tell you to-day the
1170G31 slogan that_ is on the lips of every member of the *5Azad Hind Fouz*6
1180G31 is "0ONWARD TO *DELHI" (Delhi *4chalo). ^In fact it would be no
1190G31 exaggeration to_ say that the Army is earnestly longing for the day when
1200G31 it will be transported to the frontier of India... ^But before we
1210G31 can do that_ we have to_ form the provisional Government of *5Azad Hind*6
1220G31 and commence our struggle under that_ Government. ^The formation
1230G31 of such a government at this juncture will have a profound effect on Indians
1240G31 throughout the world. ^By virtue of the powers vested in me
1250G31 under the constition of the \0IIL, it will be my task to_ form the
1260G31 provisional government. ^Friends, what we are doing at present is
1270G31 but a preparation for the final struggle. ^That_ struggle will begin
1280G31 only when we cross the Indian fronter. ^Then will commence
1290G31 the historic march to Delhi-- the march that_ will end only when the
1300G31 last Englishman is expelled from India or thrown into prison--
1310G31 when India*'s National flag flies over the Viceroy*'s House
1320G31 and when the *5Azad Hind Fouz*6 holds its victory
1330G31 parade inside the Red Fort of India*'s Metropolis."
1340G31 $^In the afternoon session on October 21, 1943, before proclaiming
1350G31 the inauguration of the Provisional Government of Azad Hind,
1360G31 Netaji made a statement (in Hindusthani) on the significance
1370G31 of the said government, extracts from which are reproduced below:
1380G31 $"^In setting the Provisional Government we are on the
1390G31 one hand meeting the exigencies of the Indian situation and on the other,
1400G31 following the foot-steps of History... ^In our case the
1410G31 Government will not be like a normal peace time Government.
1420G31 ^It will be a fighting organisation, the main objects will be to_ launch
1430G31 and to_ conduct the last war against the British and their allies in
1440G31 India... ^When the Provisional Government is transferred
1450G31 to Indian soil it will assume the functions of normal Government
1460G31 operating in its own territory... ^This will begin when the *(0INa*)
1470G31 crosses the frontier of India and commences its historic
1480G31 march to Delhi." $^Then Netaji read the historic proclamation
1490G31 which began as follows: $"^After the first defeat at the
1500G31 hands of the British in 1757 in Bengal, the Indian people
1510G31 fought an uninterrupted series of hard and bitter battles over a stretch
1520G31 of one hundred years... ^In the pages of that_ history, the names
1530G31 of Siraj-ud-Doula and Mohanlal of Bengal, Haider Ali
1540G31 and Tipu Sultan and Vellu Thampi of South India,
1550G31 Appa Sahib Bhonsle and Peshwa Baji Rao of Maharashtra,
1560G31 the Begums of Audh, Sardar Shyam Singh
1570G31 Atariwala of Punjab and last but not the least Rani Lakshmibai
1580G31 of Jhansi, Tantia Tope, Maharaj Kanwar Singh
1590G31 of Dumraon, Nana Sahib-- are for ever engraved in letters
1600G31 of gold... $^Such heroes as the Rani of Jhansi, Tantia
1610G31 Tope, Kanwar Singh and Nana Sahib live like eternal
1620G31 stars in the Nation*'s memory to_ inspire us to greater
1630G31 deeds of sacrifice and valour". $^*Netaji concluded the long
1640G31 proclamation thus-- "^In the name of God, in the name of bygone generations
1650G31 who have welded the Indian people into one nation and in the
1660G31 name of the dead heroes who have bequeathed to us a tradition of heroism
1670G31 and self sacrifice-- we call upon the Indian people to_ rally round
1680G31 our banner and to_ strike for India*'s freedom. ^We call upon
1690G31 them to_ launch the final struggle against the British and their
1700G31 allies in India and to_ prosecute that_ struggle with valour and
1710G31 perseverance and with full faith in final victory until the enemy
1720G31 is expelled from Indian soil and the Indian people are once again
1730G31 a free Nation." $^The proclamation was signed by Subash Chandra
1740G31 Bose (Head of the State, Prime Minister and Minister
1750G31 of War and Foreign Affairs) Captain \0Mrs Lakshmi
1760G31 (Women*'s organisation Rani Jhansi Regiment-- of which
1770G31 of which she was made the Head, **[sic**] was inaugurated on October,
1780G31 22, 1943), *(oS.A.*) Aiyer (Publicity and Propaganda),
1790G31 \0Lt. \0Col *(0A.C.*) Chatterjee (Finance)
1800G31 and other representatives of Armed Forces. ^*Rash
1810G31 Behari Bose also signed the document as the Supreme Adviser.
1820G31 $^*Netaji took the oath as follows with tears rolling down
1830G31 his face... "^In the name of God, I take this oath that to_ liberate
1840G31 India and thirty-eight *4crores of my countrymen, I
1850G31 Subhash Chandra Bose, will continue the sacred war of freedom
1860G31 till the last breath of my life." $^The *5Azad Hind Fouz*6
1870G31 started towards Manipur, culminating in their historic
1880G31 batttle of Imphal on July, *'344. ^On the eve of the historic
1890G31 march Netaji addressed Gandhiji over *(Azad Hind Radio*):
1900G31 "^Ever since you sponsored the Independence Resolution at the
1910G31 Lahore Congress in December 1929, all members of Indian
1920G31 National Congress have had one goal before them. ^For Indians
1930G31 outside India, you are the creator of the present awakening
1940G31 on your country."*#
        **[no. of words = 02008**]

        **[txt. g32**]
0010G32 **<*3Sanjiva Reddy President, India**> $*3^SPEAKING*0
0020G32 of the rise to power by Nehru, Professor *(0W. H.*) Morris-Jones
0030G32 says that "it is not the cunning of the person that_ accounts
0040G32 for his emergence at the top. ^Rather, it is what Hegel called
0050G32 the cunning in history, the conspiracy of events in conjunction."
0060G32 $^If there ever were events conspiring to_ land politicians long
0070G32 given up by many as also-rans, the year 1977 provided them. \0^*Mr
0080G32 Morarji Desai emerged Prime Minister and \0Mr Neelam Sanjiva
0090G32 Reddy entered the Rashtrapathi Bhavan. ^Both had been victims earlier
0100G32 of \0Mrs Indira Gandhi*'s manipulative politics and her superbly
0110G32 timed deceptions or the quality which Morris-Jones says her father
0120G32 lacked. ^It is sheer luck that_ brought \0Mr Sanjiva Reddy
0130G32 to the top; for, if Nehru had been instrumental in building him up
0140G32 to becoming Congress president back in 1960, Nehru*'s daughter was
0150G32 the main personality to_ banish him to his village Illuru in Andhra
0160G32 Pradesh for a seven-year political "externment". ^But men
0170G32 who believe in destiny, as most politicans do, will not agree with the
0180G32 theory of luck. ^Men who seek power have this in them, that they
0190G32 are destined to_ serve, rule or change the society they live in.
0200G32 ^Psycho-analysts call this infantile omnipotence: A firm
0210G32 belief in what they prescribe for their people is right. ^Analysts
0220G32 also say that this quality is what attracts these men to common
0230G32 people. $^President Sanjiva Reddy too believes in destiny
0240G32 but there is this difference: He is certain that Lord Venkateswara
0250G32 of Tirupathi and Lord Mallikarjuna of Srisailam
0260G32 have a purpose for him in this world. ^It is characteristic of
0270G32 the man who never stayed in any office for more than three years runing,
0280G32 that he now feels Presidentship is not his destiny. ^And
0290G32 if you ask him for an answer he himself would not know or would not
0300G32 like to_ tell you. ^Add to this belief in destiny the qualities
0310G32 of courage, vigour, independence and his attempt to_ project a larger
0320G32 than life image of himself. ^You have a man of emotion, a man
0330G32 of impulse but without a clear plan or set policies. \0^*Mr
0340G32 Sanjiva Reddy is no demagogue, nor has he got that_ charismatic
0350G32 personality which could have put him among the front-runners
0360G32 for the premiership in the post-Nehru era. ^And yet the key to
0370G32 his political success lay in the fact that he was there at the right
0380G32 time and with right connections. $^The Reddys of Rayalaseema
0390G32 (land of the *4rayas of Vijayanagar) are not particularly
0400G32 popular among the politicians in Andhra Pradesh. ^They have
0410G32 this habit of applying village-level power politics at the State
0420G32 and even national level which is disconcerting to their more
0430G32 sophisticated colleagues. ^But no one denies them their love
0440G32 for freedom and the courage to_ take risks. ^After all they had
0450G32 been the chieftains and commanders right from the 11th century successively
0460G32 under the *4Kakatiyas of Warrangal, the *4Rayas of
0470G32 Vijayanagar, the Nizam and the *4Nawabs preceding the British.
0480G32 ^The British introduced the *4ryotwari system of land
0490G32 revenue and they found the Reddys natural headmen for the basic unit,
0500G32 the village. With this culture-mix as background, \0Mr
0510G32 Sanjiva Reddy was born (May 19, 1913) with, so to_ say, a political
0520G32 spoon in his mouth. ^Not much is known of his early childhood
0530G32 but his old mother who lives in the vllage he was born, **[sic**]
0540G32 Illuru, says that astrologers had predicted that he would one
0550G32 day become a great man. ^It is perhaps his schooling which exposed
0560G32 him to the national struggle that_ was going on. ^What
0570G32 better place to_ nurture free thoughts than the theosophical school
0580G32 in Adyar, Madras? \0^*Mr. Krishna Menon was one of his
0590G32 teachers and \0Miss Annie Besant, the founder of the school was
0600G32 in the thick of Home Rule movement. \0^*Mr. Reddy recalls that
0610G32 \0Mrs Rukminidevi Arundale, the famous Bharat Natyam dancer,
0620G32 was a few years senior to him in the same school.
0630G32 ^A graceful and beautiful lady, she married \0Mr Arundale who was
0640G32 several years older to her and obviously all the boys in the
0650G32 school must have felt cheated. ^Little did he realise then
0660G32 that at the moment of his achieving his ambition she would be
0670G32 a contender! $*3^THE*0 schooling over, \0Mr. sanjiva Reddy
0680G32 was back in Anantapur, the district heaquarters to_ pursue
0690G32 his studies in the college. ^He had already made up his mind.
0700G32 ^He was not going through with his studies and plunged into the
0710G32 *4Satyagraha movement. ^He does not regret his decision to_
0720G32 discontinue academic studies. "^*I am not a college graduate
0730G32 but I am a graduate in life, that_ is what my colleagues in the movement
0740G32 used to_ say," he remarks. $\0^*Mr Reddy was first
0750G32 arrested on October 9, 1938. "^Yes, it is from this very place
0760G32 that_ I was arrested exactly 40 years ago for participating
0770G32 in a *4Satyagraha", he told a large cheering crowd in his
0780G32 village Illuru when he went there for the first time after becoming
0790G32 the President in October. ^Their own Chinnappa Reddy*'s
0800G32 son had become the head of the Nation and the whole village was
0810G32 there to_ applaud him. ^He also spent an hour with his
0820G32 mother, perhaps telling her that what he did 40 years ago was
0830G32 the right thing to_ do. ^For, which mother would have
0840G32 liked to_ see her son in jail? \0^*Mr reddy had been to jail several
0850G32 times and it was during one of these incarcerations that he came across
0860G32 such well-known freedom fighters of the region as Satyamurthy,
0870G32 Kala Venkata Rao, Pappuri Ramacharlu and Kalluri
0880G32 Subba Rao. ^He regards Kalluri as his political *4guru
0890G32 and through him and other *4Brahmin Congress leaders of
0900G32 those days he was inducted into more responsible positions in the
0910G32 organisation. ^The then socio-political situation too helped
0920G32 him along. ^The British were encouraging the *(anti-*4Brahmin*)
0930G32 Justice Party to_ break the Congress which was mostly
0940G32 dominated by *4Brahmins. ^The Justice Party with its
0950G32 moorings in the Tamil-speaking areas of Madras Presidency was
0960G32 demanding more jobs for *(non-*4Brahmins*) and it was slowly spreading
0970G32 its tentacles among the politically volatile *(non-*4Brahmin*)
0980G32 Reddys in the Andhra region. ^Wise *4Brahmin leaders
0990G32 like Kalluri started building up young *(non-*4Brahmins*) and \0Mr
1000G32 Reddy rose in the hierarchy rapidly. ^He had the drive and
1010G32 camaraderie which attracted a lot of following. ^It is his constant
1020G32 touch with the ranks and the affable back-slapping bonhomie
1030G32 of his which endeared him to Congressmen in those days.
1040G32 ^One of his admirers sadly recalls that this quality of keeping
1050G32 in touch with the rank and file which brought him unquestioned
1060G32 authority in the Andhra Congress left him after he became the
1070G32 Chief Minister in 1956. $^The rare quality of seeing two
1080G32 sides to a question, which is sometimes fatal in a politician, appeared
1090G32 in \0Mr Reddy rather late in his career and blossomed when
1100G32 he became Speaker of the *5Lok Sabha*6. ^This was not evident
1110G32 in his earlier days as he rose from one position of authority
1120G32 to another even if it meant sacrificing friends*' and colleagues*'
1130G32 legitimate political interests. ^The first major step he took
1140G32 which came as a turning point in his political career was in 1950.
1150G32 ^As president of the Andhra Provincial Congress he sided
1160G32 with Nehru in the latter*'s tussle with \0AICC President
1170G32 Purushottam Das Tandon. ^*Kala Venkata Rao, \0Mr
1180G32 Reddy*'s colleague, who was then general secretary of the \0AICC,
1190G32 was supporting Tandon and the results are too familiar.
1200G32 ^*Kala Venkata Rao*'s fortunes declined thereafter.
1210G32 $\0^*Mr Reddy was also not in the mainstream of the struggle that_
1220G32 was going on at that_ time for a separate Andhra State.
1230G32 ^He totally dissociated the Party from the fast undertaken by Potti
1240G32 Sriramula and as President of the Rayalaseema Mahasabha expressed
1250G32 his misgivings about a fair deal being given to the Rayalaseema
1260G32 region in the new State. ^But the moment Sriramulu died
1270G32 and the violent agitation that_ followed forced Nehru to_ announce
1280G32 that Andhra would be created before October 1, 1953, the tussle
1290G32 for power was on with \0Mr Reddy at the centre of it.
1300G32 ^In the new State Assembly, the Congress was in a minority.
1310G32 \0^*Mr Reddy was then a member of the *5Rajya Sabha*6 after
1320G32 having been defeated in the 1952 Assembly eletions. ^*Tanguturi
1330G32 Prakasam, the Lion of Andhra, had broken away from the Congress
1340G32 and was heading the Kisan Mazdur Praja Party. ^*Professor
1350G32 *(0N. G.*) Ranga had left Prakasam and started his
1360G32 own Krisihkar Lok Party and the Communists were a force to_
1370G32 reckon with. \0^*Mr Sanjiva Reddy entered the fray, got
1380G32 one of his supporters, \0Mr *(\0A.*) Balarami Reddy vacate the Kalahasthi
1390G32 Assembly seat in Chittoor District and successfully contested
1400G32 the by-election to_ become leader of the Congress Legislature
1410G32 Party. ^He was shrewd enough to_ offer Chief
1420G32 Ministership to Prakasam and accept Deputy Chief Ministership
1430G32 under him in a coalition Ministry just so he would consolidate
1440G32 his position and aim for the first position when the enlarged
1450G32 State was formed. ^His skills as an able tactician were
1460G32 evident as he persuaded Prakasam to_ rejoin the Congress.
1470G32 $^With Prakasam out, the Kisan Mazdur Praja Party merged
1480G32 with the All-India Socialist Party and the new Praja
1490G32 Socialist Party (\0PSP) was born. ^There were quick
1500G32 developments. ^The \0PSP was against its State units
1510G32 joining in any coalition and Tenneti Viswanathan came out of
1520G32 \0PSP to_ form his own regional Praty to_ co-operate and participate
1530G32 in the Prakasam Ministry. \0^*Prof. *(0N. G.*) Ranga*'s
1540G32 Party had Gautu Latchanna as its representative in
1550G32 the Ministry. ^But the Ministry did not last long-- just 13
1560G32 months. ^*Latchanna had earlier come out of the Ministry
1570G32 when his Party joined the Opposition and the Government was defeated
1580G32 on the floor of the House by a narrow margin. ^Witnesses
1590G32 of those confused times recall how the moment the Government
1600G32 was defeated, \0Mr Sanjiva Reddy went into a conclave with his
1610G32 close friends and decided that the Chief Minister should
1620G32 recommend dissolution of the House and go in for mid-term elections.
1630G32 ^After \0Mr Reddy had obtained Prakasam*'s signature
1640G32 on the letter to the Governor, Latchanna and others went
1650G32 to Prakasam suggesting that he remain in power with an Opposition
1660G32 turned Government. \0^*Mr Sanjiva Reddy*'s decision
1670G32 to_ go in for mid-term elections was the right one in retrospect.
1680G32 ^The 1955 elections gave absolute majority to the Congress-dominated
1690G32 United Democratic Front and the Communists were routed.
1700G32 $^Now Bezawada Gopala Reddi, who was president of the
1710G32 \0APCC staked his claims to leadership. ^The Congress
1720G32 High Command sent \0Messrs *(0U. N.*) Dhebar, Lal Bahadur
1730G32 Shastri and Dev Kanta Borooah to_ mediate and their
1740G32 choice fell on Gopala Reddy. \0^*Mr Sanjiva Reddy
1750G32 again accepted Deputy Chief Ministership biding his time and
1760G32 waiting for the larger State to_ be formed. ^And when the Centre
1770G32 accepted the State*'s Reorganisation Commission*'s
1780G32 report with some modifications and announced the new enlarged State
1790G32 would be formed before November 1, 1956, the battle was on.
1800G32 \0^*Mr Sanjiva Reddy*'s counsels were good. ^While Gopala
1810G32 Reddy refused to_ serve under Telengana*'s Burgula Ramakrishna
1820G32 Rao in the event of Rao becoming Chief Minister, \0Mr
1830G32 Sanjiva Reddy had cleverly let it be known he was not averse
1840G32 to working as Deputy Chief Minister under Rao. ^The
1850G32 Rao men later found that their victory was not certain with so
1860G32 many aspirants in the field and innumerable groups emerging in
1870G32 support of either
1880G32 \0Mr Sanjiva Reddy or Gopala Reddy. ^They finally voted for
1890G32 \0Mr Sanjiva Reddy who had shown respect to their leader.
1900G32 $*3^THE*0 General Elections for Parliament and the Assembly
1910G32 election in the Telengana region in 1957 gave the Congress
1920G32 further strength and \0Mr Sanjiva Reddy was re-elected leader
1930G32 of the Congress Legislature Party. ^He got his close
1940G32 supporter, Alluri Satyanarayana Raju elected president of the
1950G32 \0APCC. ^The fact that \0Mr Sanjiva Reddy did
1960G32 not honour one most important point in the gentlemen*'s agreement between
1970G32 the Andhra and Telengana regions before the new State
1980G32 was created that of having a Deputy Chief Minister from the
1990G32 Telengana region rankled in the minds of the Telengana leaders
2000G32 and people. ^Misgivings about the benefits from the new
2010G32 State increased as the civil servants from the Andhra region
2020G32 dominated the corridors of power in Hyderabad.*#
        **[no. of words = 02021**]

        **[txt. g33**]
0010G33 **<*3Does anyone remember the Emergency?*0**> $*<*3^*Thursday,
0020G33 June 26, 1975: Bangalore*0*> $*3^IT*0 is around 7.30 in the
0030G33 morning. ^The telephone starts ringing. ^*Shyam Nandan Mishra
0040G33 (Shyambabu) with whom I am sharing a first floor room at the
0050G33 \0MLAs*' Hostel here, picks up the receiver, but the next moment
0060G33 hands it over to me saying: "^It*'1s for you." ^We came
0070G33 here yesterday to_ attend a meeting of a joint select committee of
0080G33 Parliament considering legislation against defections. $^The
0090G33 phone call is from the local *5Jana Sangha*6 office. ^There is
0100G33 an urgent message for me from Delhi. ^*Ramabhau Godbole, one of
0110G33 the secretaries of the *5Jana Sangha*6, has telephoned saying that
0120G33 early that_ morning around 3.30 Jayaprakash Narayan was arrested.
0130G33 ^So also Morarji Desai, Raj Narain, Nana Deshmukh
0140G33 (this part of the message later turned out to_ be incorrect because
0150G33 Nanaji remained underground for some months), Chandra Shekhar,
0160G33 Mohan Dharia (this also proved incorrect) and Ram Dhan, the last
0170G33 three prominent Congress \0MPs. ^The arrests are continuing.
0180G33 ^*Sunder Singh Bhandari, *5Jana Sangha*6 Secretary,
0190G33 Godbole himself and several other functionaries of the Party are
0200G33 still out. ^The police, the message concludes, may shortly be
0210G33 calling for Atal Bihari Vajpayee and myself. ^*Atalji, who
0220G33 is also a member of the same select committee, had arrived in
0230G33 Bangalore two days earlier than we. ^*I shared the information
0240G33 with Shyambabu and then hastened to Atalji*'s room to_
0250G33 convey the news to him. ^We conferred briefly and decided that
0260G33 neither of us should evade arrest. ^Let them come and
0270G33 pick up whenever they want. $^*I returned to my room and rang up
0280G33 *(0N.*) Balu of the Press Trust of India. ^*I had known him
0290G33 when he was posted in New Delhi, where he was involved in a
0300G33 motor accident and lost one of his legs. ^*I had met him only
0310G33 the previous day at a press conference addressed by me at the Woodlands
0320G33 Hotel. ^After the press conference we chatted and reminisced
0330G33 about common friends. $^*Balu confirmed the message from
0340G33 Delhi and read out to me the details of a report on the ticker.
0350G33 ^It gave the names of several other arrested leaders. ^*Chaudhari
0360G33 Charan Singh, Piloo Mody, Biju Patnaik, Baldev
0370G33 Prakash and Balramji Das Tandon (the last two at Amritsar).
0380G33 ^Even as he was reading out from the ticker, he halted, and remarked,
0390G33 "Here is an interesting report", and chuckled, "The
0400G33 list of those arrested also includes Lal Krishan Advani, President,
0410G33 *5Bharatiya Jana Sagh*6". ^Thus I got the news of
0420G33 my arrest in Delhi even before I was actually taken into custody.
0430G33 ^*Balu volunteered to_ keep me posted with news, as it came.
0440G33 ^True to his word, during the next couple of hours, he
0450G33 kept ringing me up after every half-an-hour or so. $^At 8 o*'3clock,
0460G33 I tuned in to All India Radio*'s main morning news bulletin
0470G33 to_ see whether it had anything more
0471G33 to_ say. ^Instead of the familiar voices of Devakinandan Pandey,
0480G33 Vinod Kashyap or Krishna Kumar Bharagav or any
0490G33 other news reader, I found myself listening to Indira Gandhi*'s
0500G33 voice. ^The President had proclaimed a state of emergency
0510G33 under Article 352 of the Constitution to_ meet the threat
0520G33 of internal disturbances, Indira Gandhi declared and went on to_
0530G33 explain how the heavens would have fallen on June 29, if
0540G33 the decision had not been taken. ^The *5Lok Sanghash Samiti*6
0550G33 had announced at a meeting in Dehli on the previous day its
0560G33 intention to_ launch *4satyagraha from June 29, to_ demand Indira
0570G33 Gandhi*'s resignation in the interests of what Justice Krishna
0580G33 Iyer has described as "political conventions and democratic *4dharma".
0590G33 $^Soon Atalji arrived and suggested that we have our
0600G33 breakfast and be ready for the police. ^*I had already had
0610G33 my bath. ^But Shyambabu had still to_ complete his chores.
0620G33 ^So Atalji and I went to the hostel canteen on the ground
0630G33 floor for our breakfast. ^While we were at the table, a Party
0640G33 worker came in to_ tell us that the police had arrived and were
0650G33 waiting outside. $^By then word had gone round the hostel about
0660G33 the impending arrests. ^*Henry Austin, a senior Congress
0670G33 \0MP and a fellow-member on the select committee, came into
0680G33 the canteen to_ speak to us. "^*I feel sad that this thing
0690G33 should happen", he said to us. ^*I mentioned to him that
0700G33 Chandra Shekhar and Ram Dhan had also been arrested and
0700G33 suggested that he must condemn the arrests. ^But
0710G33 with a shrug of his shoulder, Austin expressed his inability
0720G33 to_ do so. $^On emerging from the canteen we were met by
0730G33 a police official who told us that they had come to_ arrest us.
0740G33 ^Accompanied by the officials, we went upstairs to our respective
0750G33 rooms to_ pack our things. $^Meanwhile, some half-a-dozen
0760G33 journalists, besides a host of Party workers, had assembled
0770G33 in the room. ^The police said that Shyam Nandan Mishra was
0780G33 also to_ be taken into custody. ^*Mishra had still to_
0790G33 complete his morning *4asanas. ^That_ gave us some time to_ be
0800G33 with the journalists. ^*Atalji and I prepared a joint statement
0810G33 condemning the arrest of *(0J. P.*) and other leaders,
0820G33 denouncing the Emergency and affirming that June 26, 1975 would
0830G33 have the same historic significance in the annals of independent India
0840G33 as August 9, 1942 had in pre-independence days. $^But
0850G33 before going out with the police we asked the officials to_ show
0860G33 us the warrants for our arrest or orders of detention as the
0870G33 case may be. ^After some humming and hawing, the officers
0880G33 said that they would be producing them in due course. ^*Mishra
0890G33 said he would not go until a warrant of arrest or a regular written
0900G33 order was produced. ^After some consultations among themselves,
0910G33 the officers came to us and said that they were arresting
0920G33 us under \0Sec. 151 (\0i.e. for apprehended breach of the peace)
0930G33 and that no warrant was necessary for it. $^It was thus about
0940G33 10 \0a.m. when we finally left the \0MLAs* hostel under police
0950G33 escort. ^Just before our departure, Darbara Singh chairman
0960G33 of the joint select committee, met us and expressed his personal
0970G33 distress that we should have been arrested like that_.
0980G33 $^From the \0MLAs* hostel we were taken to the High Grounds
0990G33 Police Station. ^*Gopinath, a young *5Jana Sangha*6
1000G33 worker of Bangalore, brought us a small transistor radio for our
1010G33 use in jail. ^Until our release nineteen months later, Gopinath
1020G33 looked after our needs from outside the jail, reaching us
1030G33 inside whatever was permitted by the authorities. ^He assumed the
1040G33 responsibility from the time he met us at the hostel before
1050G33 we were taken into custody. $^We kept listening to the hourly
1060G33 radio bulletins for news of *(0J. P.*)*'s arrest and the countrywide
1070G33 clampdown but in vain. ^For *4Akashvani in those days,
1080G33 the arrest of *(0J. P.*), Morarjibhai, scores of \0MPs
1090G33 and \0MLAs and thousands of political activists amounted merely
1100G33 to some thing like this: "^Following the proclamation of the Emergency,
1110G33 some persons have had to_ be taken into prventive custody under
1120G33 \0MISA (Maintenance of Internal Security Act)".
1130G33 $^In the afternoon, we came to_ know that stringent pre-censorship
1140G33 had been clamped on the Press. $^We were kept waiting for
1150G33 the entire day at the police station presumably because the State
1160G33 authorities did not know what kind of detention order to_ serve
1170G33 on us. ^They had simply been sent a long list of names from
1180G33 New Delhi (we gathered this from a senior police official) and
1190G33 told that if anyone in the list was at Bangalore he or she
1200G33 should be detained under \0MISA. $^The orders of detension
1210G33 were finally served on us at about 7 \0p.m. ^The orders
1220G33 were signed by the Comissioner of Police, Bangalore, so
1230G33 that in the eyes of the law, the Commissioner of Police, Bangalore,
1240G33 was the detaining authority. ^As such, it was he
1250G33 who under Section 3 of \0MISA was personally required to_
1260G33 satisfy himself that the detention of the persons held was necessary
1270G33 in the interest of the security of the State and public order.
1280G33 (^This, indeed was a fatal and obvious flaw in the order, which
1290G33 later led to its revocation and the release, though formal, of all
1300G33 of us on July 17. ^Of course we were rearrested immediately.)
1310G33 $^When we were at the High Grounds police Station,
1320G33 we were told that Madhu Dandavate of the Socialist Party had
1330G33 also been arrested ^*Dandavate, too, was a member of the same
1340G33 joint select committee. but his visit to Bangalore was in connection
1350G33 with the tour programme of the Estimates Committee of which
1360G33 he was a member. ^He was arrested at the Ashoka Hotel where
1370G33 the members of the Estimates Committee were put up and brought to
1380G33 the High Grounds Police Staion. ~all four of us were taken to
1390G33 the jail at about 8 \0pm. ^The jail superintendent, *(0H.
1400G33 L.*) Chablani, conducted us to our quarters which, he said, had
1410G33 been hurriedly got ready at short notice but assured us that bed linen,
1420G33 utensils and other requirements would be provided on the following
1430G33 day. s^*I wrote in my dairy: June 26, 1975 may well
1440G33 prove the last day in the history of Indian democracy as we
1450G33 have understood it. ^Hope this fear will be proved unfounded.
1460G33 $*<*3Saturday, December 6, 1975*0*> $*3^RAGHUPATI,*0
1470G33 an \0M.A. student, is brought to jail after being kept incommunicado
1480G33 for seven days and subjected to savage torture by the Bangalore
1490G33 police. ^The police authorities are at their wits*' end tracking
1500G33 down the source of the *5Lok Sangharsh Samiti*6 literature.
1510G33 ^So, any worker found distributing pamphlets is picked up
1520G33 and tortured. ^*Raghupati was apprehended by the police on Sunday,
1530G33 November 30. ^The law required that the young man be
1540G33 produced before a magistrate on December 1. ^But the police did
1550G33 nothing of the kind, Raghupati*'s worried father called on Rama
1560G33 Jois and on his advice, filed a habeas corpus petition in the
1570G33 High Court. ^Even after six days, that_ is, on Friday,
1580G33 December 5, when the High Court took up the matter for consideration,
1590G33 the Government counsel stoutly denied that Raghupati
1600G33 had been arrested. ^When, on behalf of Raghupati*'s father, Jois
1610G33 challenged the veracity of Government*'s stand, counsel said
1620G33 that the police inspector concerned would be available only at 4.45
1630G33 \0p.m. that_ is after Court hours. ^The Court decided to_ sit
1640G33 till 5 \0p.m. ^The inspector arrived and with a straight
1650G33 face denied that Raghupati had been arrested. ^As an upshot
1660G33 of all that_ Raghupati was brought to the jail today with scars
1670G33 and bruises on his body. ^The chargesheet against him later
1680G33 said that he was arrested on the night of December 5 at 10 \0p.m.
1690G33 when shouting slogans and distributing pamphlets! $^*Jois comes
1700G33 to the jail in the evening, records a full statement by Raghupati
1710G33 and proposes to_ initiate contempt of court proceedings against
1720G33 the police officials who had told the Court brazen-faced lies.
1730G33 $*<*3Sunday, December 7, 1975*0*> $*3^A MEETING*0
1740G33 is held in the jail where prayers are offered for the health of Jayaprakash
1750G33 Narayan. ^There are recitations from the *4Upanishads and
1760G33 the *4Quran. ^Devotional songs are sung in chorus. ^*Shyam Nandan
1770G33 Mishra addresses the gathering and pays rich tributes to the
1780G33 *4sarvodaya leader. ^He refers to the fact that it was also
1790G33 the 61st birth anniversary of Balasaheb Deoras and prays that
1800G33 God bless the \0RSS leader with long life for the service
1810G33 of the nation. ^Earlier, Mishra, Dandavate and myself send
1820G33 a joint greetings telegram to Deoras at Yerawada. ^*Narsimhachar,
1830G33 Bangalore *5Sangh Chalak*6 sends another telegram on
1840G33 behalf of all the *5swayam sewaks*6 in jail and on his own behalf.
1850G33 $*<*3Thursday, December 25, 1975*> $*3^IT*0 is Christmas
1860G33 Day today. ^We complete exactly six months of detention today.
1870G33 ^*I remark to Madhu: "When we think or speak about
1880G33 our incarceration we think in terms of months. ^We had better
1890G33 attune ourselves mentally to thinking in terms of years. ^We shall
1900G33 feel more settled". $^Today is Atalji*'s birthday. ^We
1910G33 send him a greetings telegram. $^*Vinoba Bhave is to_ break
1920G33 his *4maun-vrat (vow of silence) at 11 \0a.m. today. ^To all persons
1930G33 approaching him now and seeking his intervention in the political
1940G33 situation, his reply has been: "Wait till December
1950G33 25".*#
        **[no. of words = 02013**]

        **[txt. g34**]
0010G34 **<*3THE CREATOR OF HOLMES*0**> **[versees**] $^It is unusual to_ start
0020G34 a life-story with an epitaph. ^But if that_ epitaph happens to_ be the
0030G34 best summary of the man, what choice is left? $^The above
0040G34 lines were written fifteen years before his death, by Sir Arthur
0050G34 Conan Doyle, the greatest writer of detective fiction that_
0060G34 ever was. $^*Doyle was Irish by descent, Scottish
0070G34 by birth and English by adoption. ^These gave his character
0080G34 a blend of Irish chivalry, Scottish perseverance and
0090G34 English humour. ^He came from a family of talented people.
0100G34 ^His grandfather, John Doyle, had made a name as a caricaturist.
0110G34 ^His uncles were talented illustrators and art
0120G34 critics. ^*Arthur*'s father Charles Doyle, was a civil
0130G34 servant with painting as his hobby. $^*Arthur was born
0140G34 in Edinburgh on may 22, 1859 and as was expected, started writing
0150G34 at the age of six. ^It was an adventure story in which the
0160G34 hero fights a lion. ^The narrative was accompanied by crayon
0170G34 sketches in the margin by the young Doyle. ^At the age
0180G34 of seven he went to school and started reading Macaulay and
0190G34 Thackeray. $^At nine he went to Hodder, a preparatory
0200G34 school. ^There he had an experience similar to that_ which
0210G34 Churchill describes in his *3Early Life*0-- that_ of wasting
0220G34 valuable time on the study of Latin and Greek through its grammar.
0230G34 ^He hated Geometry and Algebra, and also the Jesuit
0240G34 teachers who believed in imparting dry knowledge. $^But
0250G34 most of all, he abhorred the instrument of correction, which he
0260G34 describes as "a piece of India-rubber the size and shape
0270G34 of a thick bootsole". ^As this instrument of correction, had
0280G34 been applied often to Doyele*'s back, it caused him to_ hate
0290G34 cruelty, torture, and the psychotic behaviour of ruthless authority
0300G34 (traits which his writings abundantly show). $^At school he
0310G34 became famous as a yarn spinner. ^He would narrate a story,
0320G34 saying, "with his left hand in her glossy locks, he was waving
0330G34 the blood-stained knife above her head when...," or "slowly, slowly
0340G34 the door turned upon its hinges and with eyes, which were
0350G34 dilated with horror...," and as the tension grew in the knot of
0360G34 boys listening to his story, he would stop, only to_ proceed
0370G34 further when tarts and cakes were produced as a stimulant!
0380G34 $^Even while his popularity was growing in his school, he continued
0390G34 to_ read extensively and spent many hours reading Meredith,
0400G34 Thackeray, Washington Irving, Pope, Addison, Clarendon,
0410G34 Swift, Poe, Dumas and Charles Reade. $^He entered the
0420G34 University of Edinburgh in 1876, taking Botany, Chemistry
0430G34 and Anatomy with the aim to_ qualify for medicine. ^It
0440G34 was here that his views were formed. ^He became	an agnostic.
0450G34 ^As a sportsman, he revelled in boxing, rugby and cricket.
0460G34 ^Here also he keenly observed his professors and their
0470G34 method of work. ^That_ helped him later in developing his characters
0480G34 in fiction. ^He grew tall, standing over six feet and
0490G34 weighing over sixteen stones. **[sic**] $^His first publication was *3The
0500G34 Mystery of the Sassassa Valley*0, which brought him a little
0510G34 over three pounds. ^While thus writing, he passed his final
0520G34 examination in 1881 for the Bachelor*'s Degree. ^He obtained
0530G34 his Doctor*'s Degree in 1885. ^When he started his medical
0540G34 practice, a colleague of his, \0Dr Budd, advised him thus:
0550G34 $"^There are one or two elementary rules to_ be observed in
0560G34 the way of handling patients. ^The most obvious is that you
0570G34 must never let them see that you want them. ^It should be
0580G34 pure condescension on your part seeing them at all. ^And the
0590G34 more difficulties you throw in the way of it, the more they think
0600G34 of it. ^Break your patients in early, and keep them
0610G34 well to_ heel. ^Never make the fatal mistake of being polite
0620G34 to them. ^Many foolish young men fall into this habit, and are
0630G34 ruined in consequence." $^A caller turned up at his lodging
0640G34 and asked, "\0Dr Conan Dolye?" $"^Pray step in,"
0650G34 Conan Doyle replied. ^To_ hide his nervousness, he
0660G34 affected an extravagant geniality. ^Entering the consulting
0670G34 room, the man took a seat, and coughed huskily. $"^Ah!" said
0680G34 Doyle, "Bronchial, I preceive. ^These summer colds
0690G34 are a little trying." $"^Yes, I*'3ve had it some time."
0700G34 $"^With a little care and treatment..." $"^It*'1s not about
0710G34 that_ that I*'3ve come." $"^No?" Doyle said in dismay.
0720G34 $"^No, doctor. ^It*'1s about a small sum that_*'1s due on the meter."
0730G34 $^His practice jogged along. ^One hundred and fifty
0740G34 pounds came in the first year, 250 in the next, till it stabilized
0750G34 at about 300 a year. $^It was during his professional services, that
0760G34 he met his future wife. ^It so happened that a boy named Hawkins
0770G34 was brought to him for treatment. ^Out of kindness he accommodated
0780G34 the patient, his sister and their mother in his lodgings.
0790G34 ^The patient unfortunately died soon after. ^But his sister, Lousie
0800G34 Hawkins, became Doyle*'s wife. $^While he was thus plodding
0810G34 along, his first sizeable literary income came from *3Habakuk
0820G34 Jephson*'s Statements*0 which appeared in the *3Cornhill*0 and
0830G34 brought him 29 guineas. ^His next novel, *3The Film
0840G34 of Girdlestone*0 became a 'victim' of the editors*' conspiracy
0850G34 and was rejected by publisher after publisher.
0860G34 $*<*3Birth of Holmes*0*> $^However in 1886 came a major
0870G34 success in which Sherlock Holmes appeared for the first time in
0880G34 *3A Study in Scarlet*0. ^The publishers refused to_ pay more
0890G34 than *+25 for this work although Doyle pleaded with them
0900G34 for more. ^The amount was small, but the book attracted the attention
0910G34 of a major American publisher, and he sent a senior representative
0920G34 to Britain to_ commission a new book. $^A dinner
0930G34 was arranged to_ talk the matter over. ^There was another
0940G34 guest-- Oscar Wilde. ^This dinner gave birth to two great
0950G34 books *3The Picture of Dorian Gray*0 by Wilde, and *3The Sign
0960G34 of Four*0 by Doyle. $^All this time, while he was writing
0970G34 a new genre of detective fiction, he was also seriously concentrating
0980G34 on historical romances. *3^*The White Company*0 was
0990G34 the result. ^He kept before him Charles Reades*' book
1000G34 *3Cloister and The Hearth,*0 as a model, which he considered the
1010G34 greatest novel in the English language becuase of the author*'s
1020G34 capacity to_ almost take you to the Middle Ages and conduct
1030G34 you around. $^From 1885 to 1890, he wrote a number of short stories,
1040G34 which appeared in the *3Captain of the Polestar.*0 $^But
1050G34 it was 1891 which can be said to_ be the truly remarkable year
1060G34 in Doyle*'s life. ^For on April 3 of that_ year, he sent
1070G34 for publication *3A scandal in Bohemia*0, the first of the short
1080G34 stories featuring Sherlock Holmes. $^All these stories
1090G34 appeared in magazines and revolutionised contemporary readership,
1100G34 so that in a few years, Holmes became a household name, along
1110G34 with Romeo, Shylock, and Robinson Crusoe. ^And Doyle
1120G34 became the most well-paid writer in Britain. $^*Doyle
1130G34 depicts Sherlock Holmes as a modern day Sir Galahad righting
1140G34 wrongs and punishing the guilty. ^The cult grew
1150G34 so much that Holmes is the only fictional character who has been
1160G34 honoured by a biography. ^One researcher has gone even further
1170G34 and identified the present \0No. 109 as the address 221 B
1180G34 in Baker Street, where Holmes lived. ^Besides this,
1190G34 Holmes is the hero of at least 15 stage plays, 110 films,
1200G34 over a thousand radio dramatizations and a television series.
1210G34 $*<*3Model for Holmes*0*> $^Was Sherlock Holmes a purely
1220G34 fictional character? ^How did the name evolve?
1230G34 ^It is quite certain that the inspiration and model for Homles was
1240G34 Doctor Joseph Bell, Surgeon at Edinburgh where Doyle studied.
1250G34 $^His influence on Doyle can best be understood by
1260G34 a typical dialogue he used to_ have with his students.
1270G34 "^*Gentlemen, I am not quite sure whether this man is a cork-cutter
1280G34 or a slater. ^*I observe a slight callous or hardening,
1290G34 on one side of his forefinger, and a little thickening on the
1300G34 outside of his thumb, and that_ is a sure sign he is either one
1310G34 or the other." $^The influence of \0Dr Bell constantly shaped
1320G34 Dolyle*'s mind and, while writing, he used logic, reason
1330G34 and minute observation as the principal features of the working
1340G34 of Sherlock Holmes*' mind. ^In fact, he drew upon
1350G34 Dupin, the detective created by Poe, for certain characteristics
1360G34 of Holmes, like his pipe-smoking moody silences.
1370G34 $^The influence of logical deduction from the observed facts was
1380G34 also borrowed from Voltaire*'s *3Story Zadig*0 wherein the philosopher,
1390G34 on the basis of the observed facts, derives a logical conclusion
1400G34 regarding the path taken by a camel who had deserted its
1410G34 master. ^In many ways Sherlock Holmes resembles his creator,
1420G34 Doyle. $^For example, in physical strength, in gallantry,
1430G34 in taking the cause of the downtrodden and the underdog,
1440G34 in his descent from a line of country squires and French
1450G34 extraction, Holmes resembles Doyle the man. $^How
1460G34 was the name Sherlock Holmes chosen? ^Fortunately, we have
1470G34 some clues. ^First, Doyle toyed with Sherring Ford
1480G34 Holmes, then with Sherpington Holmes, and
1481G34 then, finally, Sherlock Holmes. $^While writing
1490G34 the short stories, Doyle worked hard on the plot for two
1500G34 to three days. ^And if he found the plot unworkable or impracticable,
1510G34 he did not proceed further. ^Many such undeveloped
1520G34 plots were left behind by him in his personal papers which give
1530G34 an insight into the working of the mind. $^When he 'killed'
1540G34 Sherlock Holmes in 1893, it gave rise to howling protests.
1550G34 ^The readers, editors and publishers harassed him to_ rejuvenate Holmes.
1560G34 ^The rejuvenated detective appeared in October 1903
1570G34 in the *3Valley of Fear,*0 and once again, calm was restored
1580G34 in the hearts of his millions of admirers. ^The 60th
1590G34 and final Sherlock Holmes adventure was *3Shoscombe Old Place*0
1600G34 which appeared in *3The Strand*0 in April 1927, establihing
1610G34 Doyle as the greatest writer of detective fiction of all
1620G34 times. $^But it is quite strange that Doyle himself did not
1630G34 take his short stories or other detective fiction seriously.
1640G34 ^He staked his claim for fame on the basis of his historical romances
1650G34 like *3The White Company*0 and *3Sir Nigel.*0
1651G34 ^In this line, he also wrote
1660G34 *3Refugees,*0 a tale of the days of Louis *=14 written
1670G34 in the style of Dumas, *3The Stark Munro Letters,*0 an autobiographical
1680G34 sketch, and *3The great Shadow,*0 a study of Napoleon.
1690G34 $^Some time after this appeared a brilliant new serial in
1700G34 *3The Strand*0-- *3The Exploits of Brigadier Gerard*0.
1710G34 ^This was the account of a French Brigadier who took an active
1720G34 part in the Napoleonic wars. ^The study was based
1730G34 on *3The Memoirs of Baron de Marbot*0, published in 1892.
1740G34 ^The exploits are thrilling, witty and brilliant.
1750G34 ^Listen to how Brigadier Gerard describes a love affair:
1760G34 $"^You will wonder why it should be, if this maiden was so
1770G34 beautiful, that I should be left without a rival. ^There
1780G34 was a very good reason, my friends, for I so arranged it
1790G34 that my rivals were in the hospital." ^The companion book,
1800G34 *3Adventures of Gerard*0 came in 1902. $^About this
1810G34 time, He was asked to_ contest for parliament. ^He did so
1820G34 in 1900 and 1905, but lost both the times, more due to rival machinations
1830G34 and the impact of the political harangues of his opponents
1840G34 than due to any basic unsuitablity. ^Even though he lost the two
1850G34 electons and failed to_ graduate to a forum where he could more
1860G34 effectively combat social wrongs, he was always in the
1870G34 forefront of worthy causes. **[text mutilated**]
1890G34 ^The senior Edalji was a vicar in Wyrley in Staffordshire.
1900G34 ^There was a lot of local hostility against him,
1910G34 as the people did not think highly of a Parsi gentleman teaching
1920G34 them about Christianity in England. ^He received a
1930G34 number of anonymous letters asking him to_ leave Wyrley.
1940G34 $*<*3Fight for justice*0*> $^Unfortunately, at the same time,
1950G34 a horse maiming epidemic broke out. ^Some mysterious man
1960G34 or a group of men, used to_ maim horses at night and then
1970G34 disappear before a cry could be raised. ^As the number
1980G34 of protests accusing the police of inefficiency grew, they
1990G34 swung into action and arrested George Edalji, the son of Vicar
2000G34 Edalji. $^He was tried and sentenced, on the basis of
2010G34 charges submitted by the police in 1903. ^But there
2020G34 was a lot of resentment, as many thought that the charges
2030G34 were false and George was the victim of a local conspiracy.*#
        **[no. of words = 02014**]

        **[txt. g35**]
0001G35 **<*3The man of the trees: \0Dr Richard Baker*0**>
0010G35 $*3^PLACING A*0 slice of meat before a boy of five, the father said,
0020G35 "You are getting a big boy now, have it." $"daddy, I don*'4t
0030G35 need it," protested the son. $"^This will make you strong,"
0040G35 argued the father. ^So saying, he went out. ^The boy
0050G35 promptly gave it to his kitten. $^Reappearing after a while, the
0060G35 old man said, "My boy, has that_ meat gone?" $"^Y-y-ye-es,
0070G35 daddy," came the trembling reply. $^And thereafter, he
0080G35 always passed on the slice. ^Later, the father came to_ know it and
0090G35 ceased to_ insist. $^He was in the highlands of Kenya. ^He was
0100G35 pained to_ find that tree felling was going on feverishly, and that
0110G35 the land was being speedily eroded. $"^Is there any hope for us?"
0120G35 asked the native people. $"^Restore the forests," replied the
0130G35 young forester fresh from England. "^Stop felling trees."
0140G35 $"^Trees! ^They are God*'s business." $"^True. ^But
0150G35 if all parent trees are felled no young ones will follow." $^He succeeded
0160G35 in persuading them. ^He raised a corps of 3,000 volunteers
0170G35 from among the local youth. ^Known as Men of the Trees (*8watu
0180G35 wa miti*9), they planted thousands of trees. ^Thus, he was
0190G35 instrumental in beginning the historic movement of tree planting in Africa.
0200G35 ^They affectionately called him *8Baba wa miti*9
0210G35 (the Father of the trees). $*<*3^Hazardous expeditions*0*>
0220G35 $^A hot day in 1952. ^Along with a team of gallant people,
0230G35 he went to Paris. ^His mission was to_ have a close look at
0240G35 the Sahara with a view to reclaiming the great desert. ^He met
0250G35 the Agent-General for Algeria. "^We would be grateful
0260G35 if you would permit us to_ travel across your country." $"^Do
0270G35 you need permission?" $^The hint was enough. ^He set forth
0280G35 on his journey. ^He undertook two hazardous expeditions, covered
0290G35 25,000 miles and faced all sorts of difficulties. ^Sleeping
0300G35 in the open he often had narrow escape from death. ^Later, he prevailed
0310G35 upon the governments of various countries of the Sahara to_
0320G35 undertake tree planting and recover the old greenery of the vast desert.
0330G35 $"^Welcome to India! "^*I have read your book, *3Sahara
0340G35 Challenge*0 three times," remarked Prime Minister
0350G35 Jawaharlal Nehru when he received him in his office one
0360G35 fine afternoon in 1957. $"^Thank you so much." $"^Now what
0370G35 are we going to_ do about the Indian deserts?" $"^The answer
0380G35 is the same: trees against the deserts." $"^But the desert
0390G35 is only a hundred miles away, and whenever the wind is blowing in this
0400G35 direction, the visibility becomes poor and windows have to_ be
0410G35 closed to_ keep out the dust." $"^The fields must be surrounded by trees
0420G35 and reduced in size. ^Trees are needed to_ fix the soil and lift
0430G35 spring water level and keep the land cool."
0440G35 $^After a few minutes, the Prime Minister called his Minister
0450G35 for Agriculture. ^Introducing him to the visitor, he said,
0460G35 "^*I want you two to_ get together." $^This meeting led
0470G35 to the tree plantation drive launched by the Ministry of Agriculture
0480G35 throughout the country. $*<*3^Horse the best friend*0*>
0490G35 $^A pleasant day in New Zealand. ^He was being married,
0500G35 this being his second marriage. ^Knowing that her husband was fond
0510G35 of riding horses, the new bride presented him a horse, saying,
0520G35 "^*Richard, this is my wedding present to you." $"^Darling,"
0530G35 he happily replied, "you couldn*'4t have thought of anything
0540G35 better." $"^What*'1s your impression of the Himalayas?"
0550G35 asked a friend in November last. $"^Very sad. ^They are
0560G35 being skinned mercilessly." $"^That_ is the official policy."
0570G35 $"^If the felling goes on unabated, there will be accelerated erosion
0580G35 of soil and terrible consequences will follow." $"^What should
0590G35 be done?" $"^There should be a ten-year moratorium on felling
0600G35 of trees at altitudes above 4,000 feet. ^*I have told your
0610G35 Prime Minister about it-- and others too." $^These incidents
0620G35 give some glimpses of the wonderful personality of \0Dr Richard
0630G35 \0St Barbe Baker, known all over the world as the Man
0640G35 of the Trees. ^Son of a Christian missionary, he was born in
0650G35 1889 in a country house in southern England. ^At the age of two,
0660G35 he had a little garden of his own where he played. ^When four years
0670G35 old, he used tiny tools and eficiently carried on grafing and other operations.
0680G35 ^He also fixed a pole at which he hoisted the Union Jack
0690G35 every morning and took it down in the evening. ^On weekends, he didn*4t
0700G35 play cricket; instead helped his father in sowing the seeds of
0710G35 trees. $^Close to his house was a pine forest. ^Those pine trees
0720G35 attracted him at the age of five. ^They spoke to him of 'distant
0730G35 lands and aroused his first desire to_ travel and see the trees of other
0740G35 countries'. $^At the turn of the century, he was sent to Dean
0750G35 Close School, Cheltenham. ^When he heard that they wore soft
0760G35 collars or no collars at all in Canada, he made up his mind to_ go
0770G35 there. ^His dream was realised in 1910. ^In Canada, he
0780G35 spent three and a half years in the 'hard school of the open spaces'.
0790G35 ^Returning to England, he joined the Ridley Hall at
0800G35 Cambridge. $*<*3Back from dream*0*> $^His studies were interrupted
0810G35 due to the War. ^He drifted to Ireland, and then later
0820G35 on to France. ^His services were recognised by the authorities,
0830G35 and he was awarded the Military Cross. ^Subsequently, he was given
0840G35 the very responsible job of building a military post. ^On came
0850G35 the German shells, and no less than 27 men were buried under bricks
0860G35 and mortar. ^*Baker lay unconscious in the lot. ^His identity
0870G35 disc being chained to his wrist, a Corporal tried to_ break the steel
0880G35 chain, but in vain. ^The wrist began to_ bleed whereupon the
0890G35 Corporal informed the sergeant, "This corpse is bleeding."
0900G35 ^He was put in a van with the burial tools. ^After about 80 hours,
0910G35 the corpse woke up. "^*I wanted to_ die," he says in his autobiography,
0920G35 "but with great skill, I was dragged back to life,
0930G35 and eventually I returned to the Front only to_ be smashed up
0940G35 again." $^At his new job, he used to_ receive horses from the
0950G35 conditioning depots for transportation to France. ^He made 58 crossings
0960G35 of the English Channel and conducted 18,000 horses across it,
0970G35 mostly at night. ^In one of these crossings, he was badly hurt,
0980G35 due to a dive-bomber. ^During his convalescence, he realised,
0990G35 that they were losing more lives through negligence of health in great
1000G35 cities than of any other reason. $^When the War was over, he
1010G35 went back to Cambridge to_ complete his forestry training. ^From
1020G35 1920 onwards, Baker*'s life has been devoted to the cause of growing
1030G35 trees, afforestation, and reclamation of deserts. ^In Kenya,
1040G35 he made the people dance while planting the trees. ^One evening, they
1050G35 came to his camp and said, "We have to_ do one good thing everyday
1060G35 before the sun goes down. ^Today, we haven*'4t so far been able to_
1070G35 think of a good deed to_ do". $*<*3Good deed*0*> $^Sharp
1080G35 came his reply, "^Come along. ^Every man who plants 50 young trees may
1090G35 allow that_ as his good deed". $^The words had a magical effect.
1100G35 ^They willingly planted trees after trees. ^The tree planter
1101G35 rose high in their esteem. ^In Tanganyika
1110G35 (now Tanzania), Nigeria and other countries, he raised the crops
1120G35 known as *8Watu wa miti*9 (Men of Trees). $^His mission took
1130G35 him to the redwoods in California (\0USA). ^*Lowell Thomas,
1140G35 the celebrated author of *3Lawrence of Arabia*0, introduced him on the
1150G35 radio, "^Hello everybody! ^Who do you think is with me on the
1160G35 air tonight? ^He is the Man of the Trees. ^He*'2s been planting
1170G35 trees in Palestine, he has visited the groves of the oldest
1180G35 living trees in California, he*'2s seen the Kauris in New
1190G35 Zealand, the giant eucalyptus trees in Australia, he*'2s met the
1200G35 tree worshippers in Ceylon, and no doubt, worshipped with them
1220G35 and now here he is back again, just as much in
1230G35 love with trees as ever". $^In the course of his address,
1240G35 Baker observed, "I am going to the redwoods-- the wonder
1250G35 trees of the world. ^Tree lovers in England have given their
1260G35 money to_ help save these groves, and now I*'3m on my way to
1270G35 the redwoods to_ form a Grove of Understanding, a Mecca for
1280G35 tree lovers all over the world. ^These trees are your
1290G35 heritage from the past. ^What are you doing for the future?"
1310G35 $^His speech evoked wide response. ^A multimillionnaire gave half
1320G35 a million dollars for the cause. ^Other donations followed including
1330G35 a handsome one of three and a half million dollars from
1350G35 Rockefeller. ^For nine years he visited California every
1360G35 autumn. ^Twelve thousand acres were preserved as a
1370G35 natural reserve. $^*Baker*'s work in the Sahara has
1380G35 already become a legend. ^From August 29, 1977 to September
1390G35 9, 1977, the first United Nations Conference on Desertification
1400G35 **[sic**] was held in Nairobi. ^There were 1,500
1410G35 delegates from 110 countries. ^There they agreed that
1420G35 the deserts of the world could be contained by the turn
1430G35 of the century. $^Earlier, the developed nations
1440G35 met in Ottawa and voted 300 million dollars to_ save
1450G35 the deserts of the world. ^The amount is to_ be spent by
1460G35 1983 and further amount would be offered, if necessary.
1470G35 ^The project is to reclaim two million square miles
1480G35 of the Sahara. ^This comes to about 128 *4crores of
1490G35 acres of land. ^As an average farm is of four acres
1500G35 which can support 15 people this gives us a figure of 480
1510G35 *4crores of people (more than the population of the world
1520G35 today). $^*Richard Baker married his secretary,
1530G35 Doreen Long on January 23, 1946. ^She gave him two
1540G35 children, Angela and Paul. ^Due to his frequent
1550G35 travels abroad, Doreen was very much dissatisfied and
1560G35 sought a divorce. ^In 1963, at the age of 74, he
1570G35 married Catriona, the daughter of a New Zealand farmer.
1580G35 ^He has settled down in New Zealand. $^*Baker
1590G35 has been to India several times. ^His latest visit was
1600G35 in November 1977 as a delegate to the 24th World Vegetarian
1610G35 Congress held in New Delhi. $*<*3Basic consideration*0*> $^He was
1620G35 kind enough to_ grant me an interview. ^*I asked him, "What measures
1630G35 should the Forest Department
1640G35 of the Government adopt in order to_ become
1650G35 a true custodian of the welfare of the Forests?"
1660G35 ^He replied, "I think the whole concept of forest
1670G35 or Forest Department should change... ^It is
1680G35 not just setting aside land to_ be afforested as a hunting
1690G35 ground for the kings and the rich. ^*I would
1700G35 urge that the people of India must be taken
1710G35 into confidence and told what it*'1s all about. ^The
1720G35 forest service must become a Service of Protection
1730G35 and Reclamation of the Soil. ^The Mother Earth
1740G35 is the basic consideration. ^Tree cover is of primary
1750G35 significance." $^After a pause, he added, "Unless
1760G35 we play fair to the Earth, we cannot exist physically on this planet.
1770G35 ^Unless we play fair to our neighbour, we cannot exist socially or internationally.
1780G35 ^Unless we play fair to our better selves, there is no individuality
1790G35 or leadership. ^And so I pray that I may be just to the
1800G35 Earth beneath my feet, to the neighbour by my side, and to the Light
1810G35 that_ comes from above or within." $**<*3Ameeta-- a hard hitter*0**>
1820G35 $*3SHE*0 is a tall, dark, 15-year-old girl who has
1830G35 entered the badminton arena in the country with immense potential.
1840G35 ^Hitting the shuttle hard, moving smoothly over the court with clean,
1850G35 swift footwork, and plotting her moves from point to point, school-girl
1860G35 Ameeta Kulkarni has knocked the wind from the sails of the current India
1870G35 \0Nos 3 and 4 Latha Kailash and Sujata Jain. ^Unbeaten this
1880G35 season until she suffered an unexpected reverse at the hands of Hufrish
1890G35 Nariman last week, it only remains for her
1890G35 to_ match her wits and badminton skills against Ami Ghia and Kanwal
1900G35 Thakur Singh, the two girls who combined to_ bring India her first-ever
1910G35 bronze medal in the doubles at the Commonwealth Games at Edmonation,
1920G35 Canada. $^Very rarely does a junior player win the senior
1930G35 title at the same Championships, especially at the State level.*#**[no.
1940G35 of words = 02007**]

        **[txt. g36**]
0010G36 **<*3ANANDA KENTISH COOMARASWAMY*0**> $"*3^EACH RACE*0 contributes
0020G36 something essential to the world*'s civilisation in the
0030G36 course of its own selfexpression... ^The essential contribution
0040G36 of India, is simply her Indianness; her great humiliation
0050G36 would be to_ substitute or to_ have substituted for this
0060G36 own character (4Svabhava) a cosmopolitan veneer, for then indeed
0070G36 she must come before the world empty handed"-- wrote a
0080G36 man who was born of a Ceylonese father and an English mother
0090G36 educated in the best social and academic tradition of Britain and had
0100G36 spent the most active and creative phase of his distinguished
0110G36 career in America. ^This man was Ananda Kentish Coomaraswamy
0120G36 whose birth centenary was celebrated last year. $^To
0130G36 the younger generation of today Coomaraswamy is not a very
0140G36 well-known name. ^We have most conveniently forgotten this savant
0150G36 who spent his whole life defending and interpreting the traditional
0160G36 art-- painting, sculpture, music and dance-- of India.
0170G36 ^Rightly described as the high priest of our cultural nationalism,
0180G36 Coomaraswamy took up his cause with such courage and
0190G36 conviction, patience and commitment that even today, thirty years
0200G36 after his death, he remains the most authoritative source of
0210G36 understanding of Indian art and culture. $^One can quite
0220G36 conveniently compare Coomaraswamy with Swami Vivekananda since
0230G36 what Coomaraswamy did in putting the traditional art and
0240G36 culture of India on the map of world art and culture is no less
0250G36 phenomenal than what Vivekananda did for Indian philosophy
0260G36 and religion. ^But unlike Vivekananda who was a religious
0270G36 philosopher himself, Coomaraswamy was not a creative
0280G36 artist in the truest sense of the term. ^What Coomaraswamy
0290G36 achieved, he did purely as a "sharply perceptive and deeply
0300G36 introspective intellectual", as one of "modern Asia*'s rarest
0310G36 of creative intellectuals" with a cultivated ideological commitment.
0320G36 ^And besides being the foremost interpreter of Indian Art
0330G36 and Aesthetics, Coomaraswamy also remains as a social philosopher
0340G36 of significance. ^What was this man like who had
0350G36 a distinguished academic career in Geological sciences and dedicated
0360G36 the last thirty years of his life studying and interpreting
0370G36 art and aesthetics in the hermitage of the Museum of Fine
0380G36 Arts in Boston? $^Very little of typical Indianness could
0390G36 be discerned in Coomaraswamy. ^Six feet in height, lean
0400G36 in build, Coomaraswamy with his sharp chin and penetrating
0410G36 eyes, had the "lanky grace of a cowboy". ^Born on August
0420G36 22, 1877 and son of Sir Muthu Kumaraswamy Mudaliar and
0430G36 Elizabeth Clay, young Ananda was trained early in his life
0440G36 in Gloucestershire and London. ^Having taken his doctorate
0450G36 in geology, he came back to Ceylon and toured quite
0460G36 extensively various parts of India, Ceylon and other countries
0470G36 of South East Asia. ^His interest and fascination
0480G36 for the traditional art of this region led to the giving up of his
0490G36 vocation. ^Indeed he left Science for his first love,
0500G36 the Arts. ^But still it cannot be denied that his training in
0510G36 Science had deeply influenced his course of thinking. ^In
0520G36 personal life, Coomaraswamy was by no means a dull man.
0530G36 ^He had four wives, not a signle one of whom was Indian. "^All
0540G36 his wives had to_ do something", said \0Mrs Margaret Marcus,
0550G36 an art-expert, to Chidananda Dasgupta, the noted film-maker
0560G36 and critic. "^*Ethel translated Ceylonese classics.
0570G36 ^*Alice, whom he named Ratan Devi, sang Indian Classical Music--
0580G36 to the satisfaction of Rabindranath Tagore. ^*Stella
0590G36 danced Indonesian dances; Zlada, who called herself Donna
0600G36 Luisa or something, was a professional photographer."
0610G36 ^*Coomaraswamy made nude drawings of his wife and was himself a
0620G36 good photographer and made short films on Spanish bullfights,
0630G36 on the *7geishas of Japan and the *4devdasis of South
0640G36 India demonstrating *4mudras of *3Bharat Natyam*0. ^Thus Coomaraswamy
0650G36 was not the bearded Oriental savant as his image, reflected
0660G36 through his works, might lead us to_ believe.
0670G36 $^*India was indeed his spiritual home. ^In the words of
0680G36 \0Dr. Niharranjan Ray, our greatest art-historian: "His
0690G36 whole life seems to_ have been a nostalgic throwback indeed
0700G36 to the land of his forefathers, a conscious and laborious attempt
0710G36 to_ affiliate himself to the roots of the people and the culture
0720G36 to which, he thought, he rightly belonged. ^He, therefore,
0730G36 lived and died to_ rediscover the India of the past; but
0740G36 by reason of the very circumstances of his life he was obliged to_
0750G36 effect his rediscovery through the texts of a bygone age,
0760G36 texts both sacerdotal and secular, but produced, in the main, within
0770G36 the confines of hieratic religious orders, and hence doctrinal
0780G36 and perspective in nature and idealistic in character.
0790G36 ^Indeed, Coomaraswamy*'s India emerged, by and large, from
0800G36 such texts". ^And thus Coomaraswamy gradually emerged as a
0810G36 cloistered scholar living in the past of India and the present
0820G36 of America. ^Having been broght up in the high tide of nationalism
0830G36 which was then sweeping over this whole continent Coomaraswamy
0840G36 had indeed sufficient reasons to_ be proud of our cultural
0850G36 heritage , but the spatial separation of \0U.S.A. from his
0860G36 spiritual homeland sometimes led him to the point of chauvinism.
0870G36 ^He went on glorifying the past of India excessively, sometimes
0880G36 betraying historical facts. ^Far removed from the reality
0890G36 of India, physically and mentally, Coomaraswamy gradually
0900G36 took refuge in an India of his own dream-vision. $^While
0910G36 formulating the basic principles feeding and sustaining Indian Art
0920G36 down through the centuries his basic assumption "was that
0930G36 Indian aesthetics was based on the doctrines, prescriptions and
0940G36 conventions of religions that_ were transcendental and intellectual
0950G36 in character and idealistic in aim and purpose... **[sic**] ^This
0960G36 basic assumption led him" writes \0Dr. Ray, "invitably to an undue
0970G36 and sometimes irrelevant emphasis on the literary, religious, symbolical
0980G36 and metaphysical content of Indian Art at the expense
0990G36 of important imaginative and aesthetic considerations-- problems
1000G36 of artistic forms and its evolution, and the human and social
1010G36 context of Art. ^*Indian art, it seems, was to him, ilustrative
1020G36 of Indian religions, their conscepts and speculations, doctrines
1030G36 and conventions, symbols and imageries". ^Despite all these,
1040G36 it was Coomaraswamy who laid down the path for the basic
1050G36 understanding of Indian art and aesthetics which is, by and
1060G36 large, followed by art-scholars all over the world till today.
1070G36 ^And he was eminently successful not only in restoring the lost
1080G36 pride of our artistic and cultural tradition but in providing
1090G36 the theory and intellectual inspiration for the revival of our
1100G36 art-activities in the first half of this century also.
1110G36 ^Those were the days. ^*Tagores*'s literature reflected the best of
1120G36 the Indian way of life and opened up to the world the vast treasure
1130G36 house of Indian culture. ^Artists like Abanindranath
1140G36 Tagore, Nandalal Bose, Jamini Ray brought forth the revival
1150G36 and renaissance of Indian painting. ^*Uday Shankar made the world
1160G36 aware of the richness of Indian dancing. (^It is rather coincidental
1170G36 that Uday Shankar died in the year Coomaraswamy*'s birth
1180G36 centenary was being celebrated). ^While all were creative
1190G36 artists expressing the best of Indian art and culture,
1200G36 Coomaraswamy provided the intellectual base for the understanding
1210G36 of most of these creative pursuits and became a spokesman of our
1220G36 artistic and cultural resurgence. $^And it was not an
1230G36 easy task. ^It required the encyclopaedic erudition on diverse
1240G36 subjects like literature, archaeology, ethnology, science and
1250G36 technology, history, religion, ethics and metaphysics in so
1260G36 many languages-- Sanskrit, Pali, Parkrit, Greek, Latin,
1270G36 German, French and English-- which Coomaraswamy utilised
1280G36 to the best advantage of his mission
1290G36 with the help of his piercing intellect. ^Thus Coomaraswamy
1300G36 emerged as a unique intellectual phenomenon trying incessantly
1310G36 till the very end of his life to_ make his cause equal to his titanic
1320G36 stature. ^Despite maintaining an extremely high standard in
1330G36 his writings all through, the total output of Coomaraswamy was prodigious.
1340G36 ^His publications, all being the results of his intensive
1350G36 and painstaking research, exceeded five hundred in number.
1360G36 $*3^IN HIS*0 'The Dance of Shiva' Coomaraswamy wrote: "^We
1370G36 must demand of a coming race that man should act with European
1380G36 energy and think with Asiatic calm". ^He himself was the embodiment of
1390G36 this statement. ^Besides 'The Dance of Shiva' which is probably of
1400G36 biblical importance for the understanding of Indian art his other monumental
1410G36 works include 'History of Indian and Indonesian Art', 'Christian
1420G36 and Oriental Philosophy of Art', Essays on National Idealism'
1430G36 \0etc. ^Through these authoritative treatises Coomaraswamy could so
1440G36 well convince
1441G36 the outside world about the ancient beauty, glory and grandeur of
1450G36 Indian art that Romain Rolland once wrote: "Ananda Coomaraswamy is
1460G36 one of those great Hindus who, nourished like Tagore on the cultures of
1470G36 Europe and Asia, and justifiably proud of their splendid civilisation,
1480G36 have conceived the task of working for the union of Eastern and Western
1490G36 thought for the good of humanity". ^Because of his vast knowledge
1500G36 of the West and having had a scientific training Coomaraswamy was
1510G36 eminently equipped to_ make, as reflected through his works, the
1520G36 "fusion of an Oriential intuition with the scientific discipline
1530G36 of the West". ^Indeed he could use one tradition
1540G36 to_ illuminate another. $^But as he grew older he started
1550G36 clinging to the wisdom and the traditional spiritutal values of
1560G36 the ancient Orient and medieaval Christendom and as a result,
1570G36 became quite skeptical of the modern way of life ushered in
1580G36 by scientific and technological development. ^He became critical
1590G36 of today*'s "exaggerated standard of living and depreciated
1600G36 standard of life". ^He did not care much for the changes
1610G36 and challenges of modern life. "^Much of these changes and
1620G36 challenges" opines \0Dr. Ray, "he chose to_ ignore; these were
1630G36 aberrations, according to him, born of ignorance of what he considered
1640G36 to_ be the traditional but perennial values of life.
1650G36 ^In fact he became the messiah of a new way of life, a new
1660G36 mode of thought, of a simpler but wiser pattern of living.
1670G36 ^Indeed, he came to_ plead for a life of absolute abstraction".
1680G36 ^As a result, Coomaraswamy while condemning vehemently
1690G36 the industrial society and urging India to_ cling to her
1700G36 traditional artistic and cultural heritage, failed to_ show the
1710G36 practical way to_ be followed by India and other countries of
1720G36 South Asia then smouldering in discontent under foreign rule.
1730G36 ^Way back in 1909, in his book 'The Message of the East'
1740G36 Coomaraswamy wrote: "^Go into a *4Swadeshi shop, you will not
1750G36 find the evidences of Indian invention, the wealth of beauty
1760G36 which the Indian craftsman used to_ lavish on the simplest articles
1770G36 of daily use... you will not find these things, but you will
1780G36 find every kind of imitation of the productions of European Commerce,
1790G36 differing only from their unlovely prototypes in their slightly
1800G36 higher price and slightly inferior quality". ^And unhesitatingly
1810G36 he went on, "This loss of beauty in our lives is
1820G36 a proof that we do not love India, for India, above all nations,
1830G36 was beautiful not long ago. ^It is the weakness of our national
1840G36 movement that we do not love India, we love suburban England,
1850G36 we love the comfortable bourgeouis prosperity that_ is to_ be
1860G36 some day established when we have learned enough science and forgotten
1870G36 enough art to_ successfully compete with Europe in a commercial
1880G36 war conducted on its present lines. ^It is not thus that_
1890G36 nations are made". ^Despite the truth-content of the
1900G36 statement one finds Coomaraswamy here as a purely idealistic visionary
1910G36 unaware of or failing to_ understand the practical problems
1920G36 and challenges of these shackled nations. $^Yet, to_
1930G36 measure Coomaraswamy by this fact alone would be less than unjust.
1940G36 ^He remains the colossus by virtue of what he did and not by
1950G36 what he failed to_ do. ^By differentiating Indian art from
1960G36 that_ of the West, considering Indian art as symbolising a
1970G36 great civilisation and associating our art with the totality of
1980G36 our culture, Coomaraswamy, indeed, almost by his singular effort,
1990G36 added a new dimension to the study of Indian art and culture.
2000G36 ^This he could do becuase of his firm national pride and
2010G36 since to him art was the very way of life. "^*I do not believe",
2020G36 he wrote, "in any regeneration of the Indian people which
2030G36 cannot find expression in art; any reawakening worth the name must
2040G36 so express itself". ^But this cultural chauvinism Coomaraswamy
2050G36 could get rid of with age. ^Speaking on the occasion of the
2060G36 celebration of India*'s Independence in Boston he said, "Indian
2070G36 culture is of value to us not so much because it is Indian
2080G36 as because it is culture".*#
        **[no. of words = 02022**]

        **[txt. g37**]
0010G37 **<*3Politics and the Novel in India*0**>
0020G37 $^We must also note here the difficulty in distinguishing between
0030G37 political and historical novels. ^Even if the novel is written about
0040G37 contemporary political events or about current political personalities,
0050G37 it may be subject to being labeled historical, because political events
0060G37 and personalities become part of history. ^How then does one differentiate
0070G37 between a historical and a political novel? ^Such a question is
0080G37 important because many novels in Marathi, for example, depict political
0090G37 events during the pre-independence period, which has to_ be considered
0100G37 part of the political history of South Asia. ~one solution to the problem
0110G37 is the author*'s own position. ^Within the context of Marathi
0120G37 novels, most writers who write about political events during their lifetime
0130G37 seem to_ consider their novels more political than historical.
0140G37 ^Another difference lies in the interpretation. ^A political novelist*'s
0150G37 interpretation of political events during his lifetime can be considered
0160G37 predictive, though particular projections may or may not come true.
0170G37 ^On the other hand, the historical novelist*'s interpretation is
0180G37 more likely a retrospection or justification of events that_ have taken
0190G37 place. ^Similar questions have in fact been raised by other Marathi
0200G37 critics in their reviews of Marathi novels. $^For Marathi,
0210G37 the twenty year period between 1930 and 1950 is the most significant
0220G37 and productive for both political novels and novels containing politics.
0230G37 ^There is a simple explanation for this fact. ^During this period, political
0240G37 activism reached its peak in India. ^The independence movement
0250G37 gained a considerable momentum; Gandhi started his various non-cooperative
0260G37 movements. ^The younger generation began to_ be acquainted
0270G37 with the new poltical ideologies as developed in the West, especially communism
0280G37 and socialism. ^The growing schism between the Hindus and
0290G37 the Muslims led to a revival of Hindu orthodoxy, resulting in the emergence
0300G37 of communal political parties and organizations like the \0R.S.S.
0310G37 (a militant Hindu paramilitary organization). ^There also began a
0311G37 growing
0320G37 suspicion among the more radical youths that Gandhi*'s methods and
0330G37 philosophy of non-violence would not achieve independence and that armed
0340G37 revolution was the only alternative. ^As if all these internal
0350G37 factors were not sufficient, the late 1930*'3s and early 1940*'3s witnessed
0360G37 the most sinister development on the international scene, culminating
0370G37 in World War *=2. ^The war itself presented an opportunity
0380G37 for the Congress party to_ wage a final effort in 1942 for independence,
0390G37 resulting in the "Quit India" movement. ^Although the movement
0400G37 did not achieve its goal immediately, the end of the war was followed
0410G37 by independence for India in 1947. ^It is not surprising, then,
0420G37 that this period proved to_ be the most inspiring for Indian
0420G37 novelists in general, but particularly for Marathi novelists. $^Despite
0440G37 my earlier distinction between a political novel and a novel containing
0450G37 politics, it is necessary to_ review and evaluate both types, not
0460G37 only to_ judge the literary strengths and weaknesses of Marathi novels
0470G37 with political contents but also to_ justify my distinction between
0480G37 these two forms, thereby demonstrating that writing a novel of literary
0490G37 merit in which politics had been successfully incorporated was not a
0500G37 common occurrence. ^Despite the existence of many Marathi novels
0510G37 containing politics, few succeeded as truly political novels with
0520G37 literary merit. ^After all, a political novel, first and foremost,
0530G37 has to_ be accepted as a novel, and, secondarily, as a political commentary.
0540G37 ^Mere enthusiasm about political events, knowledge of political
0550G37 ideologies, and an urge to_ write novels, do not produce works
0560G37 of outstanding quality. $^It should be obvious to anyone reviewing
0570G37 the novels written during this period, that, although the prominent
0580G37 novelists were inspired by the political events and attempted to_
0590G37 depict them in fictional form, few of these efforts were successful.
0600G37 ^In some cases, the motives of the novelists appear to_ be so
0610G37 transparent as to_ create a genuine doubt about their literary goals and
0620G37 abilities. ^For example, one goal during this period appears to_ have
0630G37 been to_ acquaint the reader with various political ideologies through
0640G37 fiction. ^Therefore, series of novels were written which included
0650G37 detailed discussions about communism, socialsm, radicalism, communalism
0660G37 and so on. ^In these endeavours literary standards were only
0670G37 minimally important. ^Although the novelists succeeded in educating
0680G37 their readers in political ideology, this was achieved only by compromising
0690G37 liteary standards. $^Among the novelists of this period
0700G37 there are some who wrote few works, but are known for their political
0710G37 novels. ^Take *(0S. B.*) Shastri*'s political novel, *3Amavasya*0
0720G37 (*3Night of the New Moon*0) for instance. ^Vishram
0730G37 Bedekar wrote *3Ranangan*0 (Battlefield), his only novel during this
0740G37 period; yet it is one of the landmarks of Marathi novels, and, in my
0750G37 opinion, uniquely politial. ^Then there are others like *(0N. C.*) Phadke
0760G37 and *(0G. T.*) Madkholkar who were most productive and used political
0770G37 materials for their novels extensively. ^Although few of their
0771G37 works achieve
0780G37 literary excellence as political novels during this period, most
0790G37 of them have some political content. ^For example, Phadke wrote
0800G37 eighteen novels during this period with some political content in them.
0810G37 ^Yet only two among them can be labeled as genuine political novels:
0820G37 *3Pravasi*0 (Traveller) and *3Jehalam.*0 ^The same can be said of
0830G37 of Madkholkar. ^During this period he wrote eleven novels, the majority
0840G37 with some political material. ^But his only truly political
0850G37 novel is *3Mukhavte*0 (Masks). ^Let us now examine all the novels
0860G37 just mentioned, starting with Phadke. $^In
0870G37 *3Pravasi*0 written in 1933, Phadke is successful in integrating politics
0880G37 with the plot. ^The theme of this novel is the life of a young
0890G37 man who fights against unfavourable conditions. ^Primarily dominated
0900G37 by impulse and emotion, he is affected by the growing poltical activism
0910G37 in the country. ^The novel ends with his death, the result of
0920G37 injuries received during a clash between the police and the political
0930G37 demonstrators. ^Despite the fact that political events directly
0940G37 affect the hero*'s life, rarely do they take precedence over the
0950G37 hero*'s personal problems. ^The author has not only been successful
0960G37 in portraying the hero*'s personality convincingly, but also that_
0970G37 of the other characters. ^The vicissitudes of the hero*'s life
0980G37 have been well integrated with the political setting. ^*Phadke was
0990G37 able to_ bring alive the vibrant political atmosphere in India at
1000G37 that_ time. *3^*Pravasi*0 is not merely Phadke*'s best political
1010G37 novel, but perhaps one of his best novels. $*3^*Jehalam*0 is
1020G37 quite different from *3Pravasi.*0 ^It appears to_ be primarily a
1030G37 political history of Kashmir portrayed in a fictional form. ^The
1040G37 plot revolves around two muslim families who are described in the total
1050G37 context of the twenty-five years of the history of Kashmir, including
1060G37 the time of partition and the resultant problems.
1070G37 ^*Phadke*'s descriptions of the natural beauty of Kshamir,
1080G37 the cultural tradition of the people, their religious beliefs and
1090G37 political views, and their ambivalence about joining either India
1100G37 or Pakistan are persuasive and realistic. ^At the same time,
1110G37 the contrast between the serene beauty of nature and the cruelty of the
1120G37 man-made partition of the region is frequently felt. ^Thus, the emphasis
1130G37 seems to_ be on the contrast between man and nature, not to_
1140G37 mention the suffering of individuals as a result of political events.
1150G37 $*(0^*G. T.*) Madkholkar*'s *3Mukhavte*0 is an interesting novel
1160G37 in many respects. ^Perhaps his best political novel, it is
1170G37 also the only Marathi novel in which the plot is totally political.
1180G37 ^It describes the problesm of the first Congress ministry in the
1190G37 province of Madhya Pradesh in the late thirties. ^The hero
1200G37 is the chief minister of the region, and the theme is developed through
1210G37 various political events which raise serious doubts for the hero
1220G37 about the political ideology and personal integrity of Gandhi and
1230G37 his political followers. ^Although the hero succeeds in overcoming
1240G37 the opposition to his policies and actions within the party, he finds
1250G37 that he cannot function effectively because of the loss of his colleagues*'
1260G37 and followers*' trust in him, and thus resigns.
1270G37 $^The base of *3Mukhavte*0 is politics. ^The major events are political,
1280G37 and the discussions have appropriate political contexts.
1290G37 ^Not only does the hero appear authentic, but the minor characters
1300G37 and their actions seem well integrated into the main theme. ^The
1310G37 only major shortcoming of the novel is a love-episode, which does not
1320G37 merge well with the rest of the theme. $^Besides the novels
1330G37 of Phadke and Madkholkar, *3Amavasya*0 and *3Ranangan*0 are the
1340G37 only other political novels of this period. *3^*Amavasya*0 is a
1350G37 true political novel, and revolves around two college students who get actively
1360G37 involved in the 1942 "Quit India" movement. ^One of their friends
1370G37 who believes in communism tries to_ dissuade them from participating
1380G37 in the movement, but fails. ^When the momentum of the movement
1390G37 dies down, they go underground. ^Finally, they are caught when the
1400G37 hero visits his mother. *3^*Amavasya*0 is a well-writen novel. ^The
1410G37 characters of the three young men emerge quite vividly through their
1420G37 actions and thoughts. ^The tempo of the novel is rapid. ^The various
1430G37 descriptions of mob activities in Nagpur city, the efficient but
1440G37 ruthless behaviour of British officers, the somewhat confused response
1450G37 of the hero*'s uncle on knowing of the nephew*'s participation
1460G37 in the movement, and the final climax when the hero is arrested, all have
1470G37 considerable verisimilitude. $^*Marathi critics are unanimous
1480G37 in praising *3Ranangan*0 as one of the best novels in Marathi
1490G37 literature. ^Its remarkable achievement is that out of all the novels
1500G37 written during the 1930*'3s and the 1940*'3s it is unique. ^It is
1510G37 distinct in the subject matter, setting, development of the plot, characterization,
1520G37 and style. $^The central theme of *3Ranangan*0
1530G37 is the romance which develops aboard a ship between Chakradhar, a
1540G37 Maharashtrian young man, and Harta, a Jewish refugee. ^The background
1550G37 is World War *=2. ^*Chakradhar, having lived in England for
1560G37 some years, is on his way to India because of the war. ^*Harta is
1570G37 a refugee from Germany and is going to Hongkong. ^Although Chakradhar
1580G37 at first does not respond to Harta-- he has been hurt in
1590G37 the past and is therefore cynical-- he ultimately falls in love with her.
1600G37 ^But when the ship reaches Bombay, she is not allowed to_ immigrate
1610G37 to India and has to_ continue her journey. ^Her separation
1620G37 from Chakradhar is the last straw in the succession of tragic events
1630G37 in her life, and she commits suicide when the ship reaches Hongkong.
1640G37 $^*Harta*'s tragedy emphasizes the terrible conseuqences
1650G37 of the war. ^In a way Harta*'s tragedy is that_ of the whole
1660G37 human race, and the irony of it is that it is the consequence of human
1670G37 prejudices and hatred. ^The human instinct of love has no place
1680G37 in the battlefield of human vices. $^Although the main theme
1690G37 of *3Ranangan*0 has little to_ do with politics, the whole context in
1700G37 which the story unravels is definitely political in nature.
1710G37 ^Various instances on the ship are suggestive of the tensions, not merely
1720G37 among the nations of Europe, but even among the Hindus and Muslims.
1730G37 ^There are references and occasional discussions of communism, as
1740G37 well as descriptions of the suffering of the Jewish community in
1750G37 Germany. $^*Marathi critics are divided in their evaluation of
1760G37 *3Ranangan*0 as a political novel. ^It is not the same kind of political
1770G37 novel that_ *3Mukhavte*0 and *3Amavasya*0 are. ^Yet it is one of
1780G37 the very few novels in which the tense political atmosphere is effectively
1790G37 used to_ portray innate human feelings. ^It is also noteworthy
1800G37 that political events and their effects are responsible for the human
1810G37 tragedy of the novel. ^For these reasons, I am inclined to_
1820G37 consider it a political novel. $^It was mentioned earlier
1830G37 that both Phadke and Madkholkar wrote a number of novels containing
1840G37 politics during this period. ^Yet only two novels of Phadake
1850G37 and one of Madkholkar stand out as truly political novels.
1860G37 ^The reasons for the failure of the rest are many. $^A closer
1870G37 look at Phadke*'s novels creates the impression that he was determined
1880G37 to_ demonstrate his ability to_ write what he considered "political
1890G37 novels", perhaps to_ compensate for the criticism that his earlier
1900G37 novels were merely "love episodes". ^Nevertheless, with the exceptiion
1910G37 of *3Pravasi*0 he failed to_ successfully blend political elements
1920G37 with his central themes and his characterization. ^In his novels
1930G37 of this period political events and discussions seem, on the one hand,
1940G37 to_ be isolated from the main plots.*#
        **[no. of words = 02017**]

        **[txt g38**]
0010G38 **<*3INDIA IN ENGLISH FICTION*0**> $^*Lionel Trilling is,
0020G38 however, not satisfied with Kipling*'s portrait of India. ^He
0030G38 observes that "even here where his devotion to the Indian life
0040G38 is most fully expressed, he falsely represents the Indians".
0050G38 **[foot note**] ^This view, however, does not seem tenable.
0060G38 ^Moreover, *(0D. J.*) Enright*'s comment that "very
0070G38 few Indians regard *3A Passage to India*0 as conveying an accurate
0080G38 picture of Indian life and character, yet no one seems
0090G38 able to_ produce a picture of India which is either superior
0100G38 in its cogency or even notably different in essentials from Forster*'s"
0110G38 is equally applicable to the novel *3Kim*0. $*3~Kim*0
0120G38 is a product of Kipling*'s remembrance of India from his
0130G38 own childhood-- a reminiscence lovingly described in the form of
0140G38 a book-- which is in the author*'s own words, not a novel but"nakedly
0150G38 picaresque and plotless." ^*Carrington suggests that
0160G38 no other Englishman has written of India with such loving
0170G38 interest as Kipling and *3A Passage to India*0 is the only
0180G38 work which can be laid beside it and in this instance Forster,
0190G38 not Kipling, is the political writer. $^We all know that Kim
0200G38 ultimately graduates as a chainman in the Government survey.
0210G38 ^This ending of the novel has been felt by many as an unsatisfactory
0220G38 conclusion to this great novel. ^*Edmund Wilson*'s
0230G38 expectation was that Kim would return to his mother*'s people.
0240G38 ^A disappointment on this score does not in any way diminish
0250G38 the beauty and appeal of this novel. ^Nor is it perhaps very
0260G38 fair to_ regard it as an unbecoming end to this
0270G38 remarkable novel. ^In fact, one feels that *(0J. M. S.*)
0280G38 Tomkins is right in observing that "Kim remains a chainman
0290G38 in another sense, a bridge suspended for the passage to understanding
0300G38 between two territories of Kipling*'s heart." **[foot
0310G38 note**] $^It is a fact that Kim understands the Great Game
0320G38 better than the Lama*'s spiritualism for the simple reason
0330G38 that he is only a seventeen year old boy; nevertheless it would
0340G38 not be wise to_ conclude that the gentle and selfless wisdom
0350G38 of the Lama has played a lesser influence on him or has proved
0360G38 less compulsive to his growing personality. ^On more than
0370G38 one occasion Kim expresses his indebtedness to the Lama. ^At
0380G38 one point in the novel, while meditating on the Great Game,
0390G38 Kim introspects: "^Truly, it runs like a shuttle through out
0400G38 all Hind. ^And my share and my joy"-- he smiled to the darkness--
0410G38 "I owe to the Lama here. ^Also to Mehabub Ali... also
0420G38 to Geighton *4Sahib, but chiefly to the holy one." **[foot
0430G38 note**] $^On another occasion, in a later part of the novel,
0440G38 when the Lama lovingly tells him: "Now I look upon thee
0450G38 often and every time I remember that thou art a *4Sahib."
0460G38 ^Kim replies: "Thou hast said there is neither black nor
0470G38 white. ^Why plague me with this talk, Holy one? ^Let
0480G38 me rub the other foot. ^It vexes me. ^*I am not a *4Sahib,
0490G38 I am thy *4Chela." **[foot note**] $^To Kim, "the
0500G38 Great Game" is a means to_ satisfy his curiosity and his
0510G38 love of adventure as well as the satisfaction of his ego in being able
0520G38 to_ contribute his mite in the great thing of whose significance
0530G38 he has most probably very little idea. ^Even after the successful
0540G38 adventure with the Russian, when Hurge *4Babu gleefully
0550G38 explains their great gain, Kim*'s response is akin to
0560G38 indifference. $^As for his creator, we all know that British
0570G38 Empire to him is established and unchallengable and, therefore,
0580G38 most characteristically he directs Kim*'s aptitudes "to
0590G38 the welfare of India, as he conceived it and Kim, steadied
0600G38 at moments by his knowledge that he is a *4Sahib, and a
0610G38 a boy of \St. Xavier*'s, but aware of no boundaries of caste,
0620G38 colour or status, is, as it were, an offering of the imagination
0630G38 to this welfare." **[foot note**] $^One need not be
0640G38 disappointed at the fact that the Lama*'s *4Chela does not adopt the
0650G38 spiritual path of his *4guru, especially on consideration of the fact
0660G38 that it was not what his master desired; and one can definitely take
0670G38 comfort from the feeling that perhaps the Lama*'s wish would
0680G38 be fulfilled and Kim would after all be "such a *4Sahib as was he
0690G38 who kept the images in the wonderhouse". $^The publication
0700G38 of *3Kim*0 was surely Kipling*'s valediction to his old life
0710G38 and the book might be regarded as his last word on India-- which is
0720G38 a symbol of the unchanging East-- a land as he remembered from
0730G38 his childhood and lovingly recorded in this masterpiece.
0740G38 ^It is indeed a "strange and beautiful book". as
0750G38 Roger Lancelya Green describes it. **[foot note**]
0760G38 $*<*=2*> $^A doubt might creep in the minds of many regarding
0770G38 the validity of judging Kipling*'s philosophic vision, as
0780G38 the popular view undoubtedly is that this great chronicler of imperialism
0790G38 could hardly have any philosophic vision of life. ^This
0800G38 doubt might also deepen on consideration of the fact that Kipling*'s
0810G38 critics have rarely tried to_ throw light on this point and
0820G38 even in the case of *3Kim*0 where one feels that the philosophic
0830G38 vision and mysticism of the East have an important role to_
0840G38 play, some critics have held these aspects in suspicion.
0850G38 ^*John Bavley, for instance, suggests that it is beside the point
0860G38 to_ claim an overt humanity and philosophic intention for Kipling
0870G38 on the strength of the Lama and Buddhism. **[foot note**]
0880G38 $^*Bonamy Dobree, however, as a notable exception to this general
0890G38 statement about the critics of Kipling, traces this vision of
0900G38 Kipling in a systematic manner and his view might make useful starting
0910G38 point for discussion of the philosophy of Kipling. ^*Dobree
0920G38 notes Kipling*'s preoccupation with the importance of
0930G38 action-- not the fuss and hurry or humdrum activities of the ordinary
0940G38 life but "action which can make real for man that_ reality as we
0950G38 say, which is, perhaps, no more than a dream in the mind of
0960G38 *4Brahma, so small a matter as **[verses**] $^For man is playing
0970G38 a great Game of "To_ be or not to_ be " in the face of an indifferent
0980G38 world as Hardy*'s. ^So man must work, since
0990G38 for the pain of the soul, there is outside Gods*'s grace, but one drug:
1000G38 and that_ is a man*'s craft, learning, or other helpful notion
1010G38 of his own mind; and by the last, \0Mr. Kipling means action,
1020G38 since thought by itself is incomplete and is only made whole through
1030G38 doing". **[foot note**] $^*Bonamy Dobree perceives philosophical
1040G38 significance in Kipling*'s deep preoccupation with action
1050G38 and this view becomes confirmed on reading a later part of the
1060G38 article where he quotes some parts of the *5Bhagvad Gita*6
1070G38 wherein Krishna praises action in glowing terms. $^This
1080G38 might remind one of Eliot*'s *3The Dry Salvages*0. ^In the
1090G38 third movement of the quartet Eliot examines the nature of future
1100G38 time, just as in the second he examined the nature of the past.
1110G38 ^Here the image of the train journey recurs and the spiritual
1120G38 authority to which Eliot refers is the *5Bhagvad Gita*6.
1130G38 ^*Lord Krishna*'s words are a call to action and to the cultivation
1140G38 of faith: "^Work alone art thou entitled to and not to its
1150G38 fruit. ^So never work for fruit, never yet desist from work."
1160G38 $^Another significant note is struck in the novel when the
1170G38 Lama meditates on the blow the stranger has struck him. ^It
1180G38 appears that the blow has fallen on the scar of an old wound
1190G38 of his youth. ^For three years all Hind has done him honour
1200G38 and the world has prepared his way. ^And now he is beaten back
1210G38 by some alien people in the great hills of his home. ^And the
1220G38 Lama ruefully confesses: "^*I delighted in life and the lust
1230G38 of life. ^*I desired strong slopes to_ climb. ^*I measured the
1240G38 strength of my body, which is evil, against the high hills. ^*I
1250G38 made a mock of thee when thy breath came short under Jamnotri.
1260G38 ^*I jested when thou wouldst not face the snow of the pass."
1270G38 $^And the Lama says that the result of this aberration follows
1280G38 soon: "^Ignorance and Lust met Ignorance and Lust upon
1290G38 the road, and they begat Anger. ^The blow was sign to me,
1300G38 who am no better than a strayed Yak, that_ my place is not here.
1310G38 ^Who can read the cause of an act is half-way to Freedom.
1320G38 '^Back to the path,' says the blow." $^Earlier, when the
1330G38 hillmen wanted to_ wreak vengeance on the alien people, the
1340G38 Lama had stopped them with the following forceful words: "^Anger
1350G38 on anger, evil on evil. ^There will be no killing. ^Let the
1360G38 priest-beaters go in bondage to their own acts. ^Just and sure
1370G38 is the wheel, swerving not a hair." $^This dramatic incident narrated
1380G38 in the book and the Lama*'s reaction to it is strongly reminiscent
1390G38 of the first teaching of *3The *4Dhammapada*0: "^All that_ we
1400G38 are is the result of what we have thought: it is founded on our
1410G38 thoughts, it is made up of our thoughts. ^If a man speaks or
1420G38 acts with an evil thought, pain follows him, as the wheel
1430G38 follows the foot of the ox that_ draws the carriage." **[foot note**]
1440G38 $^The philosophic vision of Kipling has been chiefly
1441G38 introduced through the character of the Lama. ^The Lama*'s way
1450G38 of life is the life of contemplation and this way of life has
1460G38 been set directly against the Great Game, the symbol of action.
1470G38 ^In the character of the Lama, at least for once, Kipling,
1480G38 the prophet of action acknowledged and for that_ matter
1490G38 reverentially acknowledged
1500G38 the importance of the life of contemplation also. ^The Lama
1510G38 observes an English regiment pitching camp. ^He shrinks
1520G38 back from it as from sorcery. ^He says, "Soldiers follow
1530G38 desire and come to emptiness." ^This simple statement of the
1540G38 Lama does not lose its importance even when set against the thrills
1550G38 of the Great Game described in this novel. $^A recent critic
1560G38 has also drawn our attention to the part played by the Himalayas
1570G38 in the novel. ^To him it appears that the Himalayas as
1580G38 described in this novel express a mystic vision: "^*Kipling makes
1590G38 the Himalayas serve the same function Forster wanted from his
1600G38 Marabar caves, they make manifest a vision of the world as inhuman,
1610G38 incredible, unintelligible, utterly daunting man." **[foot note**]
1620G38 $^Yet the Lama teaches Kim that the mountains are ultimately
1630G38 illusion. ^He appraises Kim of his vision of deeper
1640G38 reality. ^No wonder, therefore, that seeing the drawing of the
1650G38 Lama, the Frenchman exclaims: "it is a picture of the birth
1660G38 of a religion-- the first teacher and the first disciple."
1670G38 $^This teaching of the Lama is also central to an important doctrine
1680G38 of Buddhism. ^According to the tenets of Buddism, the
1690G38 self and the material world are each a flux and the notion of fixity
1700G38 which we have of them is wholly fictitious: "^This world,
1710G38 O Kaccana, generally proceeds on a duality of the 'it is' and the 'it
1720G38 is not.' ^But O Kaccana, whoever perceives in truth and wisdom
1730G38 how things originate in the world, in his eyes there
1740G38 is no 'it is not' in this world. ^Whoever, Kaccana,
1750G38 perceives in truth and wisdom how things pass away in the world,
1760G38 in his eyes there is no 'it is' in this world." **[foot notes**]
1770G38 $^It appears that Kipling goes deep into the spring of man*'s
1771G38 attachment to actions and not being satisfied only with it,
1780G38 he also tries to_ find an answer to the "why" of the process of existence.
1790G38 ^In this process, a sort of stoic mysticism comes
1800G38 to the fore. ^A philosopher may find in his vision a strange mixture
1810G38 of predestination and will; in fact, the sense of predestination
1820G38 colours Kilipling*'s intuition of life. ^His statement in
1830G38 the beginning of *3Something of Myself*0 describes this sense of
1840G38 predestination, religous tolerance and faith in another religion:
1850G38 "^Looking back in my seventieth year, it seems to me that every
1860G38 card in my working life has been dealt me in such a manner that
1870G38 I had but to_ play it as it came. ^Therefore, ascribing all
1880G38 good fortune to *4Allah, the Dispenser of Events,
1890G38 I begin." **[foot note**] $^It has been suggested that
1900G38 the story "The Children of Zodiac" in Many Inventions describes
1910G38 the metaphysic of Kipling.*#
        **[no. of words = 02017**]

        **[txt g39**]
0010G39 $^The contribution of Jawaharlal Nehru as a historian can thus
0020G39 be compared, not to those scribes addicted to scriptomania, who
0030G39 write many tomes and find themselves confused at the end, or to the
0040G39 partisans of various nation-states, who write mainly as information
0050G39 officers for selling consumer*'s goods to aboriginals, or to those
0060G39 tendentious chauvinists who compensate themselves for their present
0070G39 weaknesses by the adumbrations of past glories. ^He can really
0080G39 be compared to the protagonists of those who want to_ make
0090G39 history, like Vico Michelet and Marx, who inaugurated
0100G39 the perennial seminar, where fundamental questions began
0110G39 to_ be asked, on the assumption that the centuries of the few
0120G39 can become the centuries of the many through living thoughts in action.
0130G39 $^The fundamental implication of Jawaharlal Nehru*'s
0140G39 view of history, therefore, is *3insight*0 into the possible *3change*0
0150G39 in human life, a projection towards future. ^And he asked
0160G39 his own people to_ *3Transform*0 their lives, from supine witnesses
0170G39 of their own tragic lives to_ build themselves at the higher
0180G39 levels of empiricism. $^In this sense, his outlook is different
0190G39 from *(0H. G.*) Wells **[sic**] in the *3Outline of
0200G39 History*0. ^For, while Wells, in spite of his encyclopedic knowledge
0210G39 about human affiars, resorted to the spell-binding approach
0220G39 to history, treating each great individual figure as a sensation
0230G39 for the newspapers, Nehru was more dyamic. ^He seems to_ have
0240G39 accepted, beyond his early Fabianism, the quintessence of Marx*'s
0250G39 view of history, that when the people become seized of the
0260G39 truth of their slave situation, they will get together and change
0270G39 history. $^*I do not think that Jawaharlal Nehru subscribes
0280G39 to all the tenets of Karl Marx. ^But, like most Socialist
0290G39 intellectuals of his age, he appears to_ accept, by and large,
0300G39 the theory that 'means of production determine consciousness,'
0310G39 as a fair yard-stick for judging the major movements of history and
0320G39 the ultimate destiny of the individual as a part of the social group.
0330G39 ^In this way, he is able to_ enrich the tentative, though uncanny,
0340G39 utterances of Marx in the letters about India written to the *3New
0350G39 York Herald Tribune*0 in 1853, which had prophesied, from the impact
0360G39 of the Imperialist introduction of social change in the Asian
0370G39 landscape, the inevitability of the struggle against colonial
0380G39 domination and the overthrow of foreign rule. $^In these articles,
0390G39 Marx had applied the thesis of the *3Communist Manifesto*0
0400G39 to Imperialism in India. ^As he had considered, the bourgeois
0410G39 in his book *3Das Kapital*0 to_ be a revolutionary force, who
0420G39 upset feudalism to_ bring about a more organised order of production
0430G39 relations, so he had considered British rule in India, as the expression
0440G39 of bourgeois power to_ be an advance on the various monarchical
0450G39 feudalist governments of the sub-continent. ^And he had
0460G39 demonstrated how the John Company, and, later, the British Crown,
0470G39 had introduced the basic methods of capitalist enterprise, the
0480G39 machine industry. ^Also, he had said that as the British had
0490G39 brought about a unified structure of government, the bureaucracy,
0500G39 the railway and the post and telegraph system, they had altered
0510G39 the peculiar land system of primitive communism in India, where
0520G39 no one owned the land, but everyone had rights in it, and introduced
0530G39 the English system of land tenure, according to which private property
0540G39 in land
0550G39 was vested in each peasant. ^As the small peasants could now sell
0560G39 out their portion of land in times of distress to the bigger landholders,
0570G39 the movement of the expropriated peasantry from the village to
0580G39 the nearby town had become inevitable. ^The landless villagers
0590G39 had tended to_ form the lumpen proletariat, from whom the working
0600G39 class in the factories emerged. ^The introduction of an
0610G39 education system on the British model was to_ create an Indian intelligentsia,
0620G39 who would soon become conscious of the rights of citizenship
0630G39 and self-government. ^Once you introduce modern Industry and
0640G39 new means of locomotion, Marx had argued, breaking the ossified
0650G39 village economy, you create the conditions for a social revolution.
0660G39 ^If this change in social relations once begins, no one
0670G39 can stop the working people and their allies from taking the social revolution
0680G39 to its logical end in socialism. $^In his book *3Glimpses
0690G39 of World History*0 Jawaharlal Nehru seems to_ have accepted this
0700G39 analysis and recognised the role of the Indian people to_
0710G39 emerge from feudal oligarchies to socialist upsurges. ^He realised
0720G39 that wherever there is economic inquality between people, where
0730G39 one man depends upon another materially, the relaitons between people
0740G39 are seldom human. ^Contrariwise, he who does not work, neither
0750G39 shall he eat. ^This means that no one can make a profit out
0760G39 of someone else*'s labour. ^Man does not work for enriching a
0770G39 few individuals but works for the whole society of which he is
0780G39 a part. ^*Jawaharlal Nehru, therefore, brought a new attitude
0790G39 to_ labour, to the people and to the state. ^He felt that when
0800G39 all individuals are working people, humaneness becomes universal.
0810G39 ^And working men have the right to_ strike, and to_ compel those who
0820G39 own the means of production to_ give them their due share,
0830G39 and make way for the ownership of the means of production by the working
0840G39 people themselves, in the transition toward a classless society.
0850G39 $^*Nehru was aware that the sources of humaneness do not lie
0860G39 entirely in material conditions but also in the passion for life.
0870G39 ^And, more than most socialist intellectuals, he could see the
0880G39 emergence of a new bureaucrative class in the communist countries,
0890G39 arrogating to itself the role of the ruling class by the false
0900G39 pretension of being the organ of the working class. ^To this he
0910G39 wanted a corrective. ^The fundamental community of material
0920G39 conditions must become interests, in the sense that they create community
0930G39 of ideals, giving rise to solidarity, spiritual intimacy and kinship,
0940G39 beyond the family, in a new brotherhood. ^And Nehru wanted to_ retain
0950G39 the old Indian sentiment of the family, and the devotion
0960G39 of the religious orders of the past, as well as the grace and refinement
0970G39 of the relevant past culture, whenever these could be absorbed.
0980G39 $^This kind of predilection made, in the first instance for
0990G39 his acceptance in the order of the Indian freedom movement, all
1000G39 those, from whatever class they may have come, who had become victims
1010G39 of Imperialism, whose wounds of humiliation were still raw and
1020G39 tender. ^This catholicity was to_ obstruct him later, because
1030G39 he accepted many feudal and bourgeois elements who were opposed
1040G39 to his essentially socialist outlook. ^The compromise was to_
1050G39 cost India dear. ^But it is quite clear that, as a prisoner in
1060G39 the British jails, he had evolved an outlook, which was affirmative
1070G39 in the sense in which he wished to_ serve the people, achieve all
1080G39 round development and struggle, along with others, to_ realise
1090G39 national freedom as a prelude to actions which may bring an egalitarian
1100G39 society, in which every sovereign individual might hope to_
1110G39 attain his material and rhythmic fulfilment. $^The integration
1120G39 which Gandhi had achieved between the man of ideals and the man of
1130G39 action, was worked out by Jawaharlal Nehru in a more intricate
1140G39 manner, because, as an alienated Indian, internally, he had to_
1150G39 recognise, first, his alienation, and then his sense of identity
1160G39 with the weakest and most oppressed sections of Indian society.
1170G39 $^During another period in jail, he was to_ seek even more
1180G39 intense integration of his personal life with the ideas he proposed.
1190G39 ^Ostensibly, the more impersonal narrative of *3Glimpses of
1200G39 World History*0 had left room for a much more intimate acquaintance
1210G39 with the historical process. ^So, he seems to_ have adapted
1220G39 his own life as an experiment in history making, as is clear from his
1230G39 autobiography. ^Actually, the publisher*'s commission was
1240G39 for a history of the Indian National Movement, but Jawaharlal
1250G39 produced the confirmation of his own individual testimony for the
1260G39 important events of India*'s struggle for emancipation. ^As in
1270G39 the previous impersonal history, so, in this personal one, the cue
1280G39 for passion, seems to_ have come from the contemplation of the fiery,
1290G39 bitter, arduous and difficult actions in which the hero had taken
1300G39 part. ^And like some other books written in jail *3An
1310G39 Autobiography*0 seems to_ be charged with a tenderness peculiar to
1320G39 prison books. ^In fact, some of the pages, inspite of awkwardnesses,
1330G39 frequent lapses and confusions, reads like Dostovesky*'s
1340G39 *3House of the Dead*0. ^There is even an element of chastity,
1350G39 as in Banyan*'s *3Pilgrim*'s Progress*0. ^The sense of
1360G39 humanity, which pervades the book, the naivete of the emergent
1370G39 Indian English style of writing, translating often from Hindustani
1380G39 while trying to_ think in English, the awareness of the
1390G39 poetry of human life, already show the future visionary to whom action
1400G39 is not merely political opportunism, but compulsion from the innermost
1410G39 depths. ^*I think one can safely say, that if Jawaharlal
1420G39 Nehru had not written the autobiography, he would certainly
1430G39 never have achieved the dignity of an outstanding human being, reaching
1440G39 after wholeness throughout his later life, in touch with men
1450G39 and women at different levels, convinced that he could help to_
1460G39 release men, liberate them, even make them, while making himself.
1470G39 $^The third book, *3The Discovery of india*0, written
1480G39 during his confinement in Ahmedabad Fort in the war years, takes the
1490G39 process of self-analysis somewhat further. ^There is here an
1500G39 attempt to_ understand the whole of India*'s past in order to_
1510G39 integrate himself into the awareness of patterns which, as a socialist
1520G39 he had not sympathised with earlier. ^Again, alienation
1530G39 compels in him, almost a naive joy in finding, as though for the first
1540G39 time, the wonder that_ was India. ^The attempt is not
1550G39 altogether successful. ^Because, while the historian in Nehru
1560G39 is able to_ marshall an enormous amount of data, his powers of
1570G39 generalisation, specially in dealing with philosophical principles of
1580G39 the more introvert *4Vedantist kind are less acute. ^He is
1590G39 fascinated by salvationism, even though he displays his usual lack
1600G39 of sympathy with the god-intoxicated mind. ^The scientist in
1610G39 him seens not to_ give assent to mysticism, though he feels the pressure
1620G39 of the past heritage in which so many sages have acquiesced.
1630G39 ^He does not, for lack of exact data, apply the Marxist yardstick
1640G39 of his early *3Glimpses*0 consistently any more, to_ analyse the
1650G39 decay of the various phases of the Indian life through the
1660G39 caste order, as the determining cause of the supremacy of the orthodox
1670G39 Hindu *4Dharmashastras. ^Nor does he seem to_
1680G39 know the other Indian philosophies of the people besides the main
1690G39 *4Vedanta, such as the *4Samkhya, or the teachings of mediaeval
1700G39 saints. ^And yet he surmises that there is something in the
1710G39 intuitional inward experience, which may be explored by science
1720G39 to_ deepen the human personality. ^In fact, he begins to_
1730G39 grope around the inner space and sees the Indian heritage mainly
1740G39 as the long story of search into the man within, foreshadowing
1750G39 further scientific researches into intuition itself, though he does
1760G39 not seem quite sure about how this may be done. *3^*The Discovery
1770G39 of India*0 was thus to_ remain the essay of an eclectic, trying
1780G39 to_ understand the 'spiritual' basis of India*'s past.
1790G39 ^The residuum was inevitably not a coherent study of a system,
1800G39 but a vague belief in 'spiritual feelings', a kind of balance sheet
1810G39 in favour of the moral values as against his earlier emphasis on
1820G39 objective science. ^And it was a kind of manifesto, in preparation
1830G39 for accepting the responsibility of both the past and the present
1840G39 of India, in the new role which was to_ come to him as the head
1850G39 of the Indian State. ^The emphasis is shifted from matter to
1860G39 mind. ^He seems to_ feel that, ultimately, the psyche should
1870G39 dominate. ^The confrontation of the new individual with tradition
1880G39 is enacted. ^The need to_ face himself every day in utter Rousseauist
1890G39 'sincerity', as the basis of action, comes to_ be accepted.
1900G39 ^Actually, the message which comes through clearly
1910G39 from this book is not conditioned by the highest spiritual experiences,
1920G39 but only makes out the authour to_ be a person capable of self-criticism
1930G39 and introspection, a man who can unmake himself to_ make
1940G39 himself. ^*Jawaharlal Nehru ends up by emphasising the need for
1950G39 social, religious and political reform.*#
        **[no. of words = 02011**]

        **[txt. g40**]
0010G40 **<*3The Political Philosophy of Iqbal*0**>
0020G40 $^*I propose to_ examine in this article some of the basic ideas
0030G40 underlying the political philosophy of Iqbal. ^*Iqbal demands
0040G40 serious attention because his philosophic-poetic genius represents, on
0050G40 the one hand, a continuity of tradition and, on the other, an attempt
0060G40 to_ integrate it with contemporary thought with a view to setting the
0070G40 tradition in motion in an upward direction. ^*Iqbal is unique among
0080G40 the contemporaries of his culture in that he combines tradition with
0090G40 modernity with an eye on the future. ^The concept of the immanence
0100G40 of the future, as a directing energy or a trend which operates
0110G40 in the manner of *7Amr ('Command'), is one of the leading ideas
0120G40 of Iqbal in his religio-philosophical reflections. ^In other words,
0130G40 Destiny operates as an immanent factor in the world of man.
0140G40 $^To_ make the discussion precise, it is proposed to_ describe the
0150G40 philosophical presuppositions which also operate as Iqbal*'s primary
0160G40 vision of Reality. ^These presuppositions are, of course, related
0170G40 to the spiritual culture to which he belonged, but it would be wrong
0180G40 to_ believe that the entire culture consciously participates in
0190G40 them. ^It will be more to the point to_ say that Iqbal interpreted
0200G40 his culture and its future possibilities in the light of these
0210G40 presuppositions. $^The important presuppositions of Iqbal*'s
0220G40 poetic philosophy, which in a direct and sometimes in an indirect manner
0230G40 govern his political thinking, are: (**=1) that Reality is spiritual
0240G40 and its life consists in its temporal activity, on account
0250G40 of which all that_ is secular is sacred in the roots of its being;
0260G40 (**=2) that the world of nature, \0i.e. the spatio-temporal order, and
0270G40 the world of man are continuous, the middle term being self or ego; (**=3)
0280G40 that the finite human ego is so far the highest instance of cosmic
0290G40 evolution, and that it is free; and (**=4) that the direction of human
0300G40 history is the transformation of man into a more perfect being, the
0310G40 vice-regent of God, being the actualisation of the "Original Trust".
0320G40 ^The last item transforms anthropology into theosophy, the ultimate
0330G40 aim or 'intention' of history being identified with the emergence
0340G40 of 'gnostic beings'. ^It also gives to history an eschatological
0350G40 dimension. $^*I call them presuppositions because
0360G40 Iqbal never worked them out in a rigorous philosophical manner, nor
0370G40 did he give reasons if reason is to be_ distinguished from analogy, why
0380G40 they should be regarded as true. ^They can more appropriately be
0390G40 regarded as mystico-poetic visions, or as elements of his utopic consciousness
0400G40 immanent in his poetic creations and philosophic reflections.
0410G40 ^*I have used the word 'utopic' deliberately to_
0420G40 distinguish it from utopia, an ideal construct or an ideal type.
0430G40 **[foot note**] ^It is the presence of these elements which gives
0440G40 a mystic dimension even to Iqbal*'s political philosophy and eventually
0450G40 fails to_ relate it to the concrete problems of the contemporary
0460G40 age. $^In the light of these presuppositions it is proposed to_
0470G40 discuss Iqbal*'s idea of the transformation of the human world,
0480G40 the agents of this transformation or the problem of leadership, and
0490G40 the meaning of freedom in the world of man. ^The first had always
0500G40 been one of the dominant concerns of Eastern spirituality,
0510G40 to which the problem of human conduct had been related and which gives
0520G40 meaning and significance to political action. ^To an 'outsider' it
0530G40 might seem preposterous that they are termed as
0531G40 problems of political philosophy, but they acquire significance
0540G40 in the Eastern tradition which gives primary importance to
0550G40 spiritual salvation. ^Since Iqbal belongs more to the
0560G40 mystical than to the politico-legal tradition of Islam, this observation
0570G40 acquires significance. $^The Islamic mystic tradition, like
0580G40 all such traditions, gives priority to the vertical dimension of the
0590G40 human personality at the expense of his horizontal dimension comprising
0600G40 the social and political conditions of his existence and leaving them
0610G40 to historical contingency. $^*Iqbal*'s significance as a thinker
0620G40 lies in the fact that he realised the importance of the social and
0630G40 political conditions of existence in the scheme of spiritual perfection.
0640G40 ^He recognised the existential tension and made a sincere, though
0650G40 unsuccessful, attempt to_ reconcile the two as complementary poles of
0660G40 human existence. ^The Islamic religious tradition, which after
0670G40 the convergence of *7Asharite theology and mystic illumination in
0680G40 the personality of Al-Ghazali had become predominantly theocentric,
0690G40 was given an anthropocentric shift by Iqbal; who declared that
0700G40 Man was a co-worker with God. ^Since religious consciousness
0710G40 repels complete anthropocentrism, and it leads to a tension between
0720G40 the two in Iqbal*'s religio-political consciousness, a tension which
0730G40 also becomes a source of tragic feeling in the last phase of Iqbal*'s
0740G40 poetry. $^*Iqbal*'s
0750G40 attitude to this problem has to be viewed from two levels, which
0760G40 also involves a certain tension between them. ^One is the fact
0770G40 of change and becoming which for Iqbal, in the tradition of contemporary
0780G40 biological thought, has the status of a natural law governing the
0790G40 entire universe. ^It is the fundamental concept which makes the idea
0800G40 of transformation possible. ^*Iqbal, like Kierkegaard, accepts
0810G40 change as a fact of the human world, and has a religious and moral
0820G40 perspective before him. ^It was not the problem of change as it
0830G40 occurs, or becoming as such, with which he was concerned, but rather
0840G40 the problem of change as it occurs to one who is involved in becoming
0850G40 oneself; and this process of becoming oneself, in turn, involves
0860G40 a distinction between what one is and what one ought to_ be.
0870G40 ^In other words, transformation involves the idea of 'not-yet',
0880G40 which is one of the recurring themes in Iqbal*'s poetry.
0890G40 ^The entire universe along with the world of man awaits at every moment
0900G40 of its life-process a stage which it has not yet arrived at.
0910G40 ^*Iqbal sees even in twentieth century science, and particularly in the
0920G40 Einsteinian theory of the 'expanding universe', a powerful argument
0930G40 to_ support his view of perpetual growth, an instance which goes
0940G40 to_ show that he was not arguing in a rigorous philosophical manner
0950G40 but seeking analogies to_ make his point of view tenable. ^The
0960G40 idea of growth and expansion when combined with his presupposition
0970G40 that the universe is spiritual leads him to_ believe that it is
0980G40 becoming more and more spiritual or acquiring
0990G40 greater spiritual dimensions. ^It makes the transition to
1000G40 the ideal of human transformation not only possible but in a certain
1010G40 sense obligatory for man. ^Man must develop his personality or
1020G40 his ego by transcending the finite material conditions and the spatio-temporal
1030G40 relations, the essential components of his existence.
1040G40 ^He believes like Bergson that matter is a necessary hindrance to_ be
1050G40 overcome in the process of evolution and that it does not have an independent
1060G40 ontological status. ^Matter itself being a lower type
1070G40 of ego-activity, it offers resistance to the conscious activity of the
1080G40 higher ego which aspires for progressive expansion of consciousness leading
1090G40 to personal immortality. ^In one of his significant notes
1100G40 in *3Stray Reflections*0 he declared that personality being the
1110G40 dearest possession of the man must be looked upon as the ultimate good
1120G40 which must work as a standard to_ test the worth of our actions.
1130G40 ^Needless to_ say he was influenced by Nietzsche but he had
1140G40 motives different from those of his 'Master'. ^The existence
1150G40 of the vital impulse makes spiritual transformation not only possible
1160G40 but serves as a necessary condition for this activity. ^It solves
1170G40 the riddle why Iqbal believes in the primacy of will over
1180G40 intellect. ^Intellect or reason gives meaning to and seeks
1190G40 meaning in the past, it is will which does so to the future.
1200G40 ^Whereas the non-existing past acquires meaning through reason, the
1210G40 non-existing 'not-yet' gets its meaning through will. ^The flux
1220G40 of time, an important notion of Iqbal, does nothing by itself.
1230G40 ^It is only through the mediating agency of will that transformation
1240G40 becomes possible. ^Reality of time serves as an essential
1250G40 precondition to_ make spiritual growth possible. ^In other words,
1260G40 the universe must be constituted in such a manner that time,
1270G40 however alogical, is its necessary component. ^Like Kierkegaard,
1280G40 Iqbal believes that existence, \0i.e. the mode of the finite existence,
1290G40 is future oriented, and that the hallmark of existence is the
1300G40 forward movement. ^If the Socratic maxim was 'Know thyself' from
1310G40 within, the Iqbalian maxim is 'Change thyself from within'.
1320G40 ^It is only in the process of changing oneself that one gets to_ know
1330G40 oneself: cognition follows the act of will. $^The 19th
1340G40 century offers two perspectives of human transformation: one is the
1350G40 Marxian perspective, shared by later sociologists, that man changes
1360G40 himself in the process of changing the world and also gets to_ know
1370G40 himself in the process of change. ^As Marx says, existence
1380G40 precedes consciousness. ^The other perspective, that of the existentialists
1390G40 and the vitalist religous thinkers, and shared by Iqbal,
1400G40 is the precedence of inner change over external institutional changes.
1410G40 ^*Iqbal calls the former, borrowing terms from Spengler, the
1420G40 intellectual way of making the world our own which consists in understanding
1430G40 the world in a causal manner, and the latter as the vital way
1440G40 of appropriating the universe, which according to him, is what the
1450G40 Quran calls *7Iman ('Faith'). ^This vital act too implies
1460G40 a necessity, but different from the physical one. ^It is what
1470G40 Iqbal calls 'higher fatalism', without making it clear what is meant
1480G40 by it. $^The idea of *7Iman leads to the important notion
1490G40 that 'transformation' is an acquisition of *7Iman. ^This vital
1500G40 act results in the complete appropriation of the cosmos in the
1510G40 personality of the agent (*7Mumin), the reverse of which is the
1520G40 absorption of the human personality in the material universe, in other
1530G40 words, the personality loses itself in the spatio-temporal order, called
1540G40 serial time: **[begin 2nd marigin**] ^Who is an
1550G40 infidel? ^One who loses himself in the World. ^And who is a man
1560G40 of faith? ^In whom the world is lost. **[end 2nd
1570G40 margin**] $^The phraseology reminds one of the 'authentic' and
1580G40 'inauthentic' of Heidegger, the corresponding states being existentiality
1590G40 and facticity or fallenness. $^It is important to_
1600G40 note here that in our desire to_
1601G40 make Iqbal 'contemporary' we may ignore the danger of giving these
1610G40 phrases a scientific orientation. ^This vital act is also called
1620G40 'rebirth' in *3*8Javid Nama*9*0. $^This symbolish has close
1630G40 relation to the Prophetic symbolism of the 'splitting of the
1640G40 chest', an event which preceded the Ascension of the Prophet.
1650G40 ^Corresponding to this transformation on the level of the individual
1660G40 personality is the ideal of the transformation of the human collectivity.
1670G40 ^This process of transformation of humanity has to_ be
1680G40 preceded by what Iqbal calls 'Resurrection': **[begin 2nd margin**]
1690G40 ^He from whose body the pure spirit has departed cannot
1700G40 rise from the dust without a Resurrection! **[foot note**]
1710G40 **[end 2nd margin**] $^The word 'revolution' which often occurs
1720G40 in Iqbal*'s poetry has a certain resemblance to the Marxian terminology,
1730G40 but it should also be noted that Marx had secularised the
1740G40 Semitic archetypal symbolism of Resurrection in his revolutionary
1750G40 vision. ^This resemblance, although a deeper one, is not to_ be
1760G40 stretched too far. ^In the political philosophy of Marx, the process
1770G40 of 'transformation' follows revolution, the destruction of the
1780G40 old forces of production and relations, whereas for Iqbal
1790G40 transformation alone guarantees a new social order, as it had once
1800G40 happened during the Prophetic mission. $^This notion of transformation
1810G40 leads to another significant symbol of the 'new man', a passion
1820G40 common to the vitalistic philosophies of Nietzsche, Kierkegaard
1830G40 and also of Marx. ^*Iqal blends his vision of the 'new man'
1840G40 with the theosophic symbol of *3*8al-Insan al-Kamil*9*0, with
1850G40 one important difference that for the Islamic theosophists, the
1860G40 perfect man represents the essence of creation, logically preceding
1870G40 the creaturely order, whereas to Iqbal it seems to_ lie in the
1880G40 future, so far as its collective manifestation is concerned, although
1890G40 its individual prototype lies in the personality of Muhammad.
1900G40 $^Is it mere coincidence that while this notion looks exhilirating
1910G40 on the plane of the individual personality, it leads to depressing
1920G40 consequences on the social-collective level, since it promotes a rather
1930G40 backward-looking revivalistic attitude? ^It is neither accidental
1940G40 nor a mere wrong interpretation of Iqbal by his revivalist following.
1950G40 ^On the contrary, this trend was implied in his vision
1960G40 of the future, becuase the 'utopic' elements of his vision have
1970G40 a direct reference to the 'Golden Past' wherein lies the lost
1980G40 utopia, and it is this reference which makes his symbol of 'resurrection'
1990G40 dangerously meaningful.*#
        **[no. of words = 02034**]

        **[txt. g41**]
0010G41 **<*3THE LOGIC OF AWARENESS*0 *3In *(0T.S.*) Eliot*'s "The Hollowmen"*0**>
0020G41 $^For the 'meeting', if it comes about, will be 'final'
0030G41 and there the principle is 'he who loses his life shall save it and he
0040G41 who saves his life shall lose it.' ^He who is prepared to_ lose it
0050G41 shall go to the 'tree swinging,' \0i.e., with life and rich foliage which
0060G41 contrasts with the other "the dead land, the cactus land". ^Our world
0070G41 is 'death*'s dream kingdom' and here we live 'under the twinkle of a
0080G41 fading star.' ^The world of those who saved their souls by dying to
0090G41 their former hollow existence is a bright, sunny world; their eyes are
0100G41 like 'sunlight'. ^The Christ has assured us that when 'Thine eye
0110G41 is made single, the whole being shall be filled with light', \0i.e., of
0120G41 spiritual illumination. ^The zone where we meet these when they appear
0130G41 is the 'twilight kingdom' where the question of accomplishing 'the final
0140G41 meeting' or otherwise will have to_ be decided. ^And we, the common
0150G41 run of mortals, dare not meet them. ^They are a hope only which
0160G41 none dares to_ reach for in practice: **[verses**]
0170G41 $^From our understanding of our present state of being and from what has
0180G41 happened in mankind*'s past we can say: $"^This is the way the
0181G41 world ends." $^The extent of our hollowness
0190G41 makes us sing the Lord*'s prayer like an anthem or a merry nursery
0200G41 rhyme, without the devout feeling. ^We are too hollow even to_ feel
0210G41 the horror of it all. ^*Mistah Kurtz at least acknowledged the
0220G41 horror and thus crossed over to 'death*'s other kingdom' with
0230G41 'direct eyes' and thus we can say: **[verses**] $^Those who have
0240G41 eyes that_ can see, do not stay with us. ^The eyes of such are thus
0250G41 'dying stars' and our world is thus 'the valley of dying stars' while we,
0260G41 the hollowmen are 'gathered on this beach of the tumid river.' ^We continue
0270G41 our existence in this world even as the effigy of the old guy Fawks
0280G41 continues to_ be paraded long after he is dead. ^Those who cross
0290G41 over to 'death*'s other kingdom', leaving our 'hollow valley'-- **[verses**]
0300G41 $^Let us now consider whether the arrangement of the stanzas in
0310G41 the particular order bears out any such meaning as we have got from it.
0320G41 ^Firstly, it fits in with Eliot*'s views on tradition and the relation
0330G41 of the present to the past in literature as expressed in his "Tradition
0340G41 and Individual Talent." ^We have noted above that the failure
0350G41 of the hollowmen to_ see, contact, conceive and articulate with one another
0360G41 regarding the reality is not the besetting horror of the present generation
0370G41 only. ^Mankind was such in the past and will be so till the end
0380G41 of the world; and if there appears to_ be a hope in the appearance of
0390G41 the 'multifoliate rose' it is 'hope only' from which the hollowmen are
0400G41 sure to_ seek escape into deliberate disguises. ^Now I quote at length
0410G41 the corresponding passages in the said essay of Eliot: $"^Tradition...
0420G41 involves, in the first place, the historical sense, which we may
0430G41 call nearly indispensable to anyone, who would continue to_ be a poet
0440G41 beyond his twenty-fifth year; and the historical sense involves a perception,
0450G41 not only of the pastness of the past, but of its presence; the historical
0460G41 sense compels a man to_ write not merely with his own generation
0470G41 in his bones, but with a feeling that the whole of the literature of
0480G41 Europe from Homer and within it the whole literature of his own country
0490G41 has a simultaneous existence and composes a simultaneous order.
0500G41 ^This historical sense, which is a sense of the timeless as well as of the
0510G41 temporal and of the timeless and of the temporal together, is what makes
0520G41 one traditional. ^And it is at the same time what makes a writer
0530G41 acutely conscious of his place in time, of his contemporaneity." ^He
0540G41 further says, "the past should be altered by the present as much as the
0550G41 present is directed by the past." $^The meaning we have got from the
0560G41 poem has illustrated the latter statement in that the awareness of the
0570G41 present state of spiritual hollowness of mankind has altered the pastness
0580G41 of the past and discovered its contemporaneity with the present and
0590G41 the contemporaneity of these two-- past and present-- with the future,
0600G41 till the time of end of the world. ^It brings before us not only 'the
0610G41 pastness of the past, but of its presence', 'a sense of the timeless as
0620G41 of the temporal together.' $^My exposition of the meaning of the
0630G41 poem has, I feel, indicated the sense of the timeless and we need to_ underline
0640G41 the other, \0i.e., the sense of 'the temporal' by referring to
0650G41 another statement of Eliot: "^The difference between the present and the
0660G41 past is that the conscious present is an awareness of the past in a way
0670G41 and to an extent which the past*'s awareness of itself cannot show."
0680G41 ^We are aware, in a way, that the European civilization of the past was
0690G41 not aware of the extent of its hollowness which was no less than that_
0700G41 of the hollowmen of the poem, the present generation. $^After noting
0710G41 such a close correspondence, between Eliot*'s ideas on 'the historical
0720G41 sense' and his poetic work, it would be a gross misunderstanding of the
0730G41 poem to_ say that it is a satirical testament of the sordidness of twentieth
0740G41 century European civilization and culture. ^And it would amount
0750G41 to denying to Eliot what he strove for and achieved, \0i.e., 'tradition'
0760G41 which, he said, "cannot be inherited, and if you want it you must
0770G41 obtain it by great labour." ^As Leonard Unger has noted, Eliot himself
0780G41 testified to 'the ultimate relationship between his prose, and his
0790G41 own poetry'. ^He said that his prose was an attempt "to_ formulate the
0800G41 kind (of poetry) he wants to_ write." $^Such an exposition of the
0810G41 meaning of the poem as we have attempted is quite in accordance with
0820G41 Eliot*'s statements in his essay "Tradition and Individual Talent."
0830G41 ^Into the mind of the poet, "the elements which enter are of two kinds:
0840G41 emotions and feelings." ^He proceeds to_ say, "The effect of a work
0850G41 of art upon a person who enjoys it is an experience. ^It may be formed
0860G41 out of one emotion, and various feelings, inhering for the writer in
0870G41 particular words or phrases or images, may be added to_ compose the final
0880G41 result." $^In "The Hollowmen" the one 'emotion' is repeatedly
0890G41 stressed in each fragment the awarness that we are hollow, stuffed men,
0900G41 'shape without form,' \0etc., that therefore we dare not meet the eyes of
0910G41 those who have crossed to 'death*'s other kingdom' which are like sunlight,
0920G41 that we cannot face up to that_ final meeting in the 'twilight kingdom'.
0930G41 ^Thus we persist in supplicating to images of 'broken stone' 'under
0940G41 the twinkle of a fading star' which is in contrast to the 'sunlight on
0950G41 a broken column mentioned in section *=2. ^Section *=4 expresses our
0960G41 awareness that mankind was not spiritually better in the past and that the
0970G41 appearance of a 'multifoliate rose' has been 'the hope only of empty
0980G41 men.' ^The last section states and illustrates how the shadow falls
0990G41 between idea and reality, motion and act, conception and creation, emotion
1000G41 and response, \0etc. ^And the broken tags from the Lord*'s
1010G41 prayer illustrate it. ^The concluding lines assure us cynically, that mankind
1020G41 will remain such till the end of the world. ^This is the string
1030G41 of the dominant emotion which, if we are not willing to_ accept it to_
1040G41 be a single emotion, can be divided into a few emotions like disillusionment
1050G41 with human condition in sections *=1 and *=3, fear of the eyes, \0i.e.,
1060G41 of redemption, in
1061G41 section *=2, reflection on the helplessness of main in the past and
1070G41 the present in section *=3, and helplessness at the present moment in
1080G41 the last section. ^The feelings are suggested by the individual sections,
1090G41 their words and phrases, images, the nursery rhyme and the broken tags
1100G41 of the word*'s prayer. ^Then how does Eliot manage to_ achieve
1110G41 unity of artistic effect? $^Another statement of Eliot lends strong
1120G41 support to the exposition we have given above. ^It speaks of the great
1130G41 achievement of Dante: "Canto *=15 the 'Inferno' (*3Brunetto Latini*0)
1140G41 is a working up of the emotion evident in the situation; but the
1150G41 effect, though single as that_ of any work of art, is obtained by, considerable
1160G41 complexity of detail. ^The last quatrain gives an image, a feeling
1170G41 attaching to an image, which 'came', which did not develop simply
1180G41 out of what precedes, but which was probably in suspension in the poet*'s
1190G41 mind until the proper combination arrived for it to_ add itself to.
1200G41 ^The poet*'s mind is in fact a receptacle for seizing and storing up
1210G41 numberless feelings, phrases, images, which remain there until all the particles
1220G41 which can unite to_ form a new compound are present together."
1230G41 $^What Eliot said in his remark on Canto *=15 of the 'Inferno' quoted
1240G41 above and, especially, of the last quatrain applies equally
1250G41 to the last section of "The Hollowmen." ^It does not develop simply
1260G41 out of what precedes, but... "was in suspension in the poet*'s mind until
1270G41 the proper combination arrived for it to_ add itself to." ^The first
1280G41 three sections are the receptacles for "storing up numberless feelings,"
1290G41 \0etc., which "remain there until all the particles which can unite
1300G41 to_ form a new compound are present together" as in the last section.
1310G41 ^This, I believe, is ample indication that we have to_ get at the
1320G41 dominant argument of the poet, the seed, in the last section of the poem.
1330G41 ^We can thus apply to 'The Hollowmen' the statement of Leonard Unger
1340G41 regarding 'The Wasteland'. "^The series of fragments at the end
1350G41 compresses and intensifies the technique, the mode of expression, which
1360G41 has operated throughout the poem. ^In this respect, the very technique
1370G41 of the poem, especially as symbolized by the conclusion, is significant
1380G41 of the poet*'s meaning." $^Our contention that the last section of
1390G41 the poem is the well spring of the earlier sections is borne out by another
1400G41 testimony furnished by Leonard Unger. ^To the question whether
1410G41 'Ash Wednesday' had begun as separate poems, he answered: "Yes, like
1420G41 'The Hollowmen', it originated out of separate poems. ^Then gradually
1430G41 I came to_ see a sequence. ^That_*'1s one way in which my mind
1440G41 does seem to_ have worked throughout the years poetically-- doing things
1450G41 separately and then seeing the possibility of fusing them together, altering
1460G41 them, and making a kind of whole of them." $^Thus viewed, the
1470G41 opening section of 'The Hollowmen' is logically the conclusion, a sort
1480G41 of summing up. ^What, then, could be the logic of opening a poem with
1490G41 the conclusion and closing it with the logical beginning or the fountain-head
1500G41 of the main argument? ^It is easy to_ see it. ^After long,
1510G41 observant, reflection on life, we intuit the truth about life. ^When we
1520G41 begin to_ verbalize it to ourselves at last, we begin our 'interior monologue'
1530G41 with the conclusion. ^Then we elaborate it with instances from
1540G41 life and end up by logically tracing the underlying, factual, basis of
1550G41 the conclusion. ^Thus, structurally, the poem is an exact representation
1560G41 of the natural sequence of the workings of a reflective, intuitive,
1570G41 perceptive mind. ^It has long been recognized by Eliot*'s critics that
1580G41 he deliberately chose the rhythms of everyday speech. ^Now we see it
1590G41 is not mere everyday speech. ^It is more than that_. ^It is a speech
1600G41 which one makes to oneself internally or to another, even in the sequence
1610G41 of verbal representation of the perceptions. ^This fact adds a further
1620G41 dimension to the perception, by most critics, in the poem of the technique
1630G41 of 'interior monologue.' $^The logical sequence of statements
1640G41 in the various sections of the poem can be briefly put thus: Section
1650G41 *=1 is the statement of general condition of the hollowmen as revealed
1660G41 in common human communication and association;
1661G41 Sections *=2 and *=3 illustrate
1670G41 it in specific fields of human activity-- in religious life, for instance;
1680G41 Section *=4 provides a view of man*'s history in retrospect, as a record
1690G41 of man*'s continual spiritual failure.*#
        **[no. of words = 02030**]

        **[txt. g42**]
0010G42 ^The music which has been craddled in such a divine tradition is bound
0020G42 to_ bestow upon man the four-fold virtues of life which is even
0030G42 impossible through the study of scriptures and religious discourses.
0040G42 ^*Rabindranath Tagore has high praises for the role of
0050G42 music in the spiritual upliftment of man. $^Music has three
0060G42 components *4Geeta, *4Vadya and *4Nrutya.
0060G42 ^Only *4Geeta, and *4Vadya may also form
0070G42 music. ^But these components of music should have the captivating
0080G42 force and ability to_ release the mental plane to a higher
0090G42 ecstatic pleasure. ^Though the components differ outwardly
0100G42 the basic strata which forms the essence of music is one.
0110G42 **[sic**] ^Even though *4Geeta, *4Vadya and *4Nrutya
0120G42 individually contributes for a higher ecstatic pleasure through
0130G42 their captivating force *4Geeta has been unanimously given
0140G42 more importance. ^Because in actual performance of music, *4Geeta
0150G42 leads *4vadya with *4Nrutya following. ^Though this
0160G42 seems quite separate in actual functioning, all these three components
0170G42 are supplementary to_ each other. *4^*Geeta or vocal
0180G42 music can singularly impress the listeners. *4^*Vadya or the
0190G42 instrumental music can also upto certain extent exercise the influence
0200G42 but *4Nrutya or dance devoid of *4Geeta and *4Vadya
0210G42 will fail to_ throw an impact. ^But by this we do not belittle
0220G42 the role of dance in music. $*4^*Geeta or vocal music
0230G42 has been given attributes or *4Provrutis basing on the regional differences.
0240G42 ^This is mainly because vocal music is being fed
0250G42 upon by language and mood of expression. ^The four attributes
0260G42 are *4Avanti, *4Dakhini, *4Panchali and *4Odramagadhi. ^The
0270G42 Odisi music is a later elaboration of the *4Odramagadhi style.
0280G42 $^The music which clings faithfully to the codes and principles
0290G42 of Bharata remained very much confined to a scriptural
0300G42 pattern as was termed as 'Margi'. ^Although Bharata mentions
0310G42 about Margi form of music yet he is neither particular in
0320G42 applying it nor in elaborating it in his *4Natyasatra. ^As such
0330G42 this form remained ambiguous for its non-commital pattern.
0340G42 ^Naturally need arose to_ give a more acceptable and common form to
0350G42 the vocal music which expressed itself taking into account the
0360G42 different social manners and customs. ^This was '*4Deshi'.
0370G42 $^*4Deshi music anticipated different notations or *4Ragas
0380G42 in course of its manifestations. ^As time passed by the number
0390G42 of *4Ragas and *4Raginis rose to a sizeable sum-- making the
0400G42 music class-based. ^It was termed as classical music. ^Classical
0410G42 music has ten symptoms such as *4Graha, *4Amsa, 4Nyasa,
0420G42 *4Tara, *4Mandara \0etc., though there were mention of even nine symptoms
0430G42 in certain earlier scriptures as *4Bhava, *4Bibhava, *4Antarbhava
0440G42 \0etc. $^Vocal music has four characteristic ways of
0450G42 singing such as *4Sthayi, *4Arohi, *4Avarohi and *4Sanchari.
0460G42 ^The four attributes of music of the earlier times gave way to
0470G42 the three prevailing forms of Karnataki, Hindusthani and Odisi.
0480G42 ^In course of its evolution Odisi occupies a distinguished
0490G42 position in this hierarchy due to the world famous Oriya poet
0500G42 Jaya Deva. ^*Jaya Deva was an unchallengable champion in
0510G42 all the three aspects of music which was indeed a rare combination
0520G42 during his time (mid 12th century). ^The metres *4Sragdhara,
0530G42 *4Mandakranta, *4Sardulavikridita, *4Pruthivi, *4Arya
0540G42 \0etc. prevalent prior to Jaya Deva in composition of Sanskrit verses
0550G42 were being not adored in the music world. ^*Jaya Deva was
0560G42 the pioneering poet to_ use musical notation in his Geeta-govinda
0570G42 *4Mahakavya and was successful too. ^In order to_ free the
0580G42 Sanskrit Rhetorics from the rigidity of scriptural bindings Jaya
0590G42 Deva ably introduced *4Raga and *4Tala taking into account
0600G42 the prevalent regional peculiarities. ^Hence it is not out
0610G42 of bounds to_ name this style as Odisi which is earlier than the
0620G42 other prevailing forms of music. ^Since Odisi music has elemental
0630G42 regional characteristics it can be otherwise termed as '*4Deshi'
0640G42 which is now widely practised as classical music. $^Following
0650G42 in the footprints of the celebrated poet Jayadeva the Orissan
0660G42 poets and skilled musicians have composed a number of works in
0670G42 Sanskrit. ^To_ name a few: those are *3Abhinava Geeta
0680G42 Govinda Mahakavya*0 by Gajapati Purusottama Deva (15th century),
0690G42 *3Rukmini Parinaya Mahakavya*0 by Narayna Bhanja (16th century),
0700G42 the king of Bauda, *3Jagannath Ballabha Nataka*0 by
0710G42 Raya Ramananda Pattnaik (16th century), a famous poet
0720G42 saint of Vaishnava philosophy, *3Mukundavilasa Mahakavya*0 by
0730G42 Jateendra Raghuttama, Tirtha, *3Sivalilamruta*0 and *3Krishnalilamruta
0740G42 Mahakavya*0 by Agnichit Pandita Nityananda, *3Geeta Seetaballabha*0
0750G42 by Sitikantha and *3Geetamukunda*0 by Kamala Lochan
0760G42 Khadgarya (18th century) \0etc. $^Similarly in the field
0770G42 of Oriya music the contribution of Dinakrushna, Upendra
0780G42 Bhanja, Vanamali, Kavisurya, Gopal Krushna is noteworthy.
0790G42 ^These poets not only remained confined to composition of songs
0800G42 but also extended their hands to the technicalities of Odisi dance.
0810G42 $^*Oriya poets have also strived to_ establish the Odisi
0820G42 music at the all India level by codifying them into scriptures.
0830G42 *3^*Geetaprakash*0 of Krushna Das Badajena Mohapatra (16th
0840G42 century), *3Natyamanorama*0 of Raghunatha Ratha (18th century),
0850G42 *3Sangeet Kalpalata*0 0f Haladhar Mishra (17th century),
0860G42 *3Sangeetanaraya*0 of Gajapati Jagannath Narayana Deva (18th
0870G42 century), *3Sangeeta Sarani*0 of Narayana Mishra and *3Snangeeta
0880G42 Parijata*0 of Bhanja (18th century) are the works of mention.
0890G42 $^In Orissa the tradition of Odisi music in its genuine style
0900G42 has been handed over from generation to generation from the times of
0910G42 Jaya Deva. ^In short, a brief discussion can be made on the
0920G42 speciality of Odisi music. ^In this music the applicaiton of
0930G42 tonal (*4Svara) sound is made in a peculiar way. ^In certain
0940G42 cases recital of classical or *4Sastriya music *4Ragalapa and
0950G42 *4Rupakalpa are made in a two fold manner. ^In its recital
0960G42 *5Svara vistara*6 is not done according to *5Khandita Gamaka*6
0970G42 or *5Kampita Gamaka*6 but sung in a peculiar way \0i.e.
0980G42 in *5Lalitya purna Gamaka*6. ^During the singing of a song
0990G42 the first *4Svara or diction and the last dicion of the stanza are
1000G42 used more than once in a circular manner. ^This alone records
1010G42 the specialities of the glorious tradition of the Odisi music.
1020G42 ^There is textual evidence to Odisi musical formulae which
1030G42 speaks of introducing *4Ragas in *5Sudha Gati*6 that_ plays
1040G42 *4Bilambita at the first instance followed in a quicker succession
1050G42 by one or more *4talas. ^*Odisi *4talas are different from
1060G42 the *4talas mentioned in the texts of the Classical or *4Sastriya
1070G42 music. ^Its name and the art of playing along with its
1080G42 *4Bani or *4Bal is distinguishingly peculiar. ^These *4talas
1090G42 and *4Jati, a *5Datali pahapata Jhula*6 \10etc. ^Some say that
1100G42 *4Jhula and *4Pahapata are not special *4talas but conjuctive art
1110G42 of practising instrumental music. $^A few peculiar
1120G42 examples of *4Bani in Odisi music are *3Jhen Take Tajhenam*0,
1130G42 *4Tharikhita, *4Dhirdunidheri, *4Thinitak, *4Takathalang, *4Khukundari,
1140G42 *4Tho, *4Drini, *4Takadrini \0etc.
1150G42 ^These *4Banis or *4Bols are different from other methods
1160G42 of singing and playing with musical instruments is a resultant action.
1170G42 **[sic**] ^This is difficult to_ be understood if made to black
1180G42 and white. ^It is so subtle that it cannot be understood rather felt
1190G42 only by the elite. ^However, it is established by textual
1200G42 arguments that Odisi Music is a special kind of classical music.
1210G42 $^*Odisi dance has been acclaimed world wide as the best form
1220G42 of classical dance. ^It anticipates both *4Geeta and *4Vadya.
1230G42 ^When the dance-form receives recognition from the
1240G42 Central Sangeet Natak Academy, there is no reason why the other
1250G42 two allied forms of Odisi Music will remain unaccepted. ^It
1260G42 is high time for the Academy to_ give a thought on this.
1270G42 **[sic**] ^*Odisi music has not yet been codified and its
1280G42 codification accepted by all scholars of music in Orissa as it
1290G42 still retains its regional variations inside Orissa and the
1300G42 *4Gurus of Odisi music trod their own way and from a different
1310G42 fold inside the Odisi music itself. ^Now the time
1320G42 has come to_ formulate an uniform code of music of Odisi to_
1330G42 give a world-wide recognition. $**<*3Contemporary Trend
1340G42 in Indian Art*0**> $^Art is the evolution of time.
1350G42 ^It contains the anguish, pain, pleasure of time in its creations.
1360G42 ^It reflects the beliefs, customs, manners of society and people.
1370G42 ^It is a manifestation of the dreams and aesthetic responses
1380G42 of time. ^The art creations of a particular time-span
1390G42 establishes a norm which is otherwise known as schooling.
1400G42 ^The standard of quality may be eternal but the schooling with
1410G42 its composites of imagery, form, structure, rhythm, colour reactions
1420G42 and sensitiveness is inscessantly changing. ^The schooling in order
1430G42 to_ grow anticipates change. ^Of all the arts, painting is
1440G42 perhaps the most elemental and permanent. ^Language stands
1450G42 a bar for the free understanding of thought between different peoples.
1451G42 ^Music is elemental but it is hardly permanent. ^The
1460G42 feelings it evokes are so fleeting and formless that its appeal seldom
1470G42 goes beyond a vague stirring of the soul. ^Its lack of definiteness
1480G42 disqualifies it for the full expression of the peculiar
1490G42 racial genius of a people. ^Painting reaches back to the fundamentals
1500G42 and yet expresses a particular racial or temporal physiognomy.
1510G42 $^Art mostly served religion from the advent of
1520G42 its creations. ^When there was no religion in the sense it is understood
1530G42 now it fed upon such similar beliefs of mankind. ^Art
1540G42 of the Prehistoric period was also based on magic. ^The murals
1550G42 of Ajanta, though reveals secular themes, the main purpose did
1560G42 it serve, was that_ of religion. **[sic**] ^All the temples, rock-cut
1570G42 caves and other monuments that_ adorn this country speak of an
1580G42 anthropomorphic trend in its creations and utility. ^But after
1590G42 the European impact, specially in the nineteenth and twentieth
1600G42 centuries though temples and shrines still continued to_ patronise
1610G42 the craftsmen, many talented men and women outside the
1620G42 craft brotherhood began to_ practice the arts for secular ends.
1630G42 ^To-day we aspire to_ live under a socialistic democracy.
1640G42 '^Man' is the central theme of our culture and art is likely
1650G42 to_ be used more and more not for salvation of individual soul, the
1660G42 cherished goal of mankind but to_ express man*'s aspirations towards
1670G42 his own needs and interests. ^The new creative art is
1680G42 not born out of social or individual sentiments but from a higher thought
1690G42 process. ^It is no more a work of heart but of a higher consciousness
1700G42 and a subtler intellectual assortment of forms. ^It
1710G42 is the expression of a deeper experience of a universe in which
1720G42 the mechanical mass of the 19th century has been broken up into atoms
1730G42 and molecules. ^The art of to-day is saturated with the
1740G42 stresses and strains of a highly vibrant atmosphere around.
1750G42 $^Therefore the need arises to_ reorient our outlook towards the
1760G42 creative art by replacing our old theories of aesthetic. ^The art
1770G42 is no more the exquisite craftmanship either of a stone sculpture
1780G42 or of a miniature wherein the details of execution have one
1790G42 time received laudable commendations, but it is in the discovery
1800G42 of a new imagination and able synthesis of the modern
1810G42 media in pictorial and plastic situations.
1820G42 ^Thus we may have to_
1830G42 redefine and reintegrate traditional concepts and provide fresh
1840G42 hypothesis for the present day art. ^Art or for that_ matter
1850G42 culture, of any country does not know any frontiers.
1860G42 ^It is an organic process and it sustains by subjecting itself to
1870G42 foreign invasions, migrations and transplantations. ^Inheritance
1880G42 are **[sic**] a stir in the still waters as a result of temporary
1890G42 stimuli. ^They are shocks that_ must be absorbed into the
1900G42 main stream. ^If arts*' vitalities come from the cross breeding
1910G42 of styles, its stability comes from roots that_ grow deep
1920G42 into a native soil. $*<*3A Flash Back*0*> ^Art can
1930G42 be properly viewed under a cultural scene. ^From time immemorial,
1940G42 India has been the meeting place of conflicting races
1950G42 and civilisations. ^From time immemorial, she has tried to_
1960G42 achieve a unity for the heterogeneous elements which make up the
1970G42 totality of her life. ^Different races have met and fought
1980G42 and fraternised on her soil. ^Conflicting cultures have struggled
1990G42 for supremacy here. ^She has modelled them into her own
1991G42 likenes. ^Foreign races and foreign truths
2000G42 have alike been grist to her mill. ^Their struggles have
2010G42 made new synthesis that_ marked the levels of achievement
2020G42 for the human spirit. ^Here is perhaps the oldest civilisaion
2030G42 with an uniterrupted history. ^*Indian culture is a story of unity
2040G42 and synthesis of reconciliation and development of a perfect
2050G42 fusion of old traditions and new values at different stages of time.
2060G42 ^The invaders who had poured into India after the Aryan
2070G42 till the Arabs appeared on the scene were without any developed
2080G42 culture of their own and were swallowed up in the Indian stream.*#
        **[no. of words = 02026**]

        **[txt. g43**]
0010G43 **<*3The gesture link between man and God*0**> $^THE rituals
0020G43 and chanting of divine verses (*4manthras) in a Kerala temple are accompanied
0030G43 by gestures, generally of the palms and the fingers, by the priests.
0040G43 ^These gestures, technically called *4mudras traditionally convey
0050G43 definite meanings. $^The selection of a suitable site for the erection
0060G43 of a temple, the rituals to_ be done there before the earth-work starts,
0070G43 the process of construction of the temple, its different parts, the style,
0080G43 the proportions, whether one storeyed or multi-storeyed, the making
0090G43 of the icon, the consecration, daily rituals, festivals, the rituals during
0100G43 the festivals \0etc. have been the subject of detailed study in Kerala
0110G43 through centuries by scholars devoted to the subject and professional
0120G43 ritualists. ^This branch of study is traditionally named *4thanthras,
0130G43 and the ritualists have been called *4thanthris. $^It is anybody*'s
0140G43 guess when exactly scholars in Kerala started pursuit of this branch
0150G43 of knowledge. ^There are no historical records until we come to the
0160G43 medieval times. ^Legends go to_ say that after Sage Parasurama reclaimed
0170G43 the land of Kerala from underneath the sea, built one hundred and
0180G43 eighty temples and appointed 13 *4thanthris, the foremost among whom was
0190G43 *4Tharananellor, a family which still survives as traditional ritualists
0200G43 at a place named Irinjalakuda in central Kerala. $^According to
0210G43 tradition, *4Tharananellor *4Thanthri was brought from Kancheepuram.
0220G43 ^We are told that he crossed the river, Cauvery, which was flooded to
0230G43 the brim, by the power of his *4thanthras and his name itself (*4tharana-to
0240G43 cross difficult terrain) was derived from this miraculous act. ^*I
0250G43 wonder whether there are any historical records to_ prove this, but it
0260G43 is interesting to_ note that the *4thanthris at least many of them, touch
0270G43 the head of the icon at the back with the gestures (*4mudra) signifying
0280G43 tuft of hair, during rituals, though the *5Nambudri Brahmins*6 of Kerala,
0290G43 the community to which the *4thanthris belong, grow a tuft of hair
0300G43 in front of their heads, unlike the east-coast *4Brahmins who grow it
0310G43 at the back with the exception of a few sects like *4Dikshitars and *4Sozhiyas.
0320G43 $^Important *4thanthris who still survive and carry on their
0330G43 hereditary profession are Thazhaman Potti of the famous Sabari Mala,
0340G43 Puliyannur Nambudiri, Mattappilli Nambudri, Andaladi Nambudripad.
0350G43 (^The list is not complete). $^The *4nambudris claim that
0360G43 their school of *4thanthra is more *4Vedic (*4Dakshinamarga) than those
0370G43 in other parts of India, like Bengal and Kashmir where it is supposed
0380G43 to_ be *(non-Vedic*) (*4Vamamarga). ^According to tradition, *4thanthra
0390G43 in Kerala also was *4vamamarga until fifteen centuries ago when the
0400G43 greatest of the Nambudris, Mezhathol Agnihotri, performed the gigantic
0410G43 feat of conducting 99 *4yagas (sacrifices). $^We know that between
0420G43 the ninth and thirteenth centuries some Sanskrit works on *4thanthras were
0430G43 composed in Kerala like "Prayoga Manjari" and according to some scholars,
0440G43 "*3Isana Siva Gurudeva Padhdhathi." ^But the literature
0450G43 was still scanty. ^However, the fifteenth century opened a gate through
0460G43 which the whole field was flooded with a mass of literature on the
0470G43 subject, the first among them being popularly called "Thanthrasamuchchaya",
0480G43 popularly called "Samuchchaya", almost an exhaustive text book,
0490G43 supposed to_ have been compiled by a scholar named Chennas Nambudripad.
0500G43 $^The exact date of the composition of this work is not certain.
0510G43 ^No records are available which can throw light on the subject. ^But
0520G43 a chronogram in the twelfth part of this work is supposed to_ indicate
0530G43 the date of birth of the author. ^According to this chronogram, Chennas
0540G43 was born 1428 \0A.D. ^His father*'s name was Ravi and his own name
0550G43 Narayana. ^He belonged to the *4gothra of Bhrigu and belonged to a family
0560G43 named Chennas. ^The twelfth part of his text book contains detailed
0570G43 descriptions of the gestures and their meanings. $^It is certain
0580G43 that the rituals, practices and other formulae in the "Samuchchaya" were
0590G43 not a set of new inventions of its author. ^Internal and external
0600G43 evidence go to_ show that Chennas merely compiled what had been traditionally
0610G43 in existence, perhaps for centuries in Kerala. ^But, as I said,
0620G43 it is not easy to_ arrive at any conclusion about how old these practices
0630G43 were. $^It stands to the great credit of Chennas to_ have codified
0640G43 and classified a big treasure of materials. ^A legend which describes
0650G43 how he came to_ be devoted to the compilation of this work is interesting
0660G43 and rather funny. ^There was an assembly of poets and scholars
0670G43 in the royal court of King Manavikrama in the dynasty of the Zamorins
0680G43 of Calicut, and Chennas was a member of this assembly. ^It appears
0690G43 that Chennas along with one of his companions, composed some poems satirising
0700G43 the king and when the latter came to_ know about it, he gave punishement
0710G43 to both of them. ^*Manavikrama ordered that Chennas be condemned
0720G43 to the hard labour of compiling an exhaustive text-book on *4thanthras,
0730G43 while his companion was asked to_ be more clever in the Assembly.
0740G43 $^The punishment to Chennas was a blessing in disguise to the world
0750G43 of traditional scientific studies which received a precious technical
0760G43 contribution. ^Verses 183 to 212 in the twelfth part of "Samuchchaya"
0770G43 describe the various modes of holding the palms and hands in showing
0780G43 the *4mudras. ^Apart from what has been defined in this work, the priests
0790G43 in Kerala are seen practising many more gestures, which are probably
0800G43 unrecorded, but handed down from generation to generation. $^The "Samuchchaya"
0810G43 describes each *4mudra in detail indicating the mode of using
0820G43 the fingers and the palm to_ show each one of them, and gives them under
0830G43 classified heads. ^One class is the different parts of the body of the
0840G43 God. ^They are said to_ be eight namely heart, head, tuft of hair,
0850G43 shield, eyes, arrow, belly and buttocks. ^There are gestures for the
0860G43 first six, but the "Samuchchaya" has no gesture for the last two. ^For
0870G43 the eyes the author prescribes two gestures, both being valid. $^During
0880G43 the ritual the relevant *4manthra is chanted and the ritualist touches
0890G43 each part of the body with the palm folded into the respective gesture.
0900G43 ^When coming to the belly and buttocks he just touches the portions
0910G43 of the icon, that_ is all. ^All together is called *4Ashtanga. $^Another
0920G43 class is the weapons or symbols held in the hands of the Gods and
0930G43 the ornaments worn by them. ^Let us take Vishnu. ^He carries the
0940G43 conch, the divine wheel, the club and the lotus in his four hands. *4^Mudras
0950G43 symbolise all these objects. $^In Kerala the usual type of icon
0960G43 of Vishnu is Sthaanakamurthi (standing) with the wheel in the right upper
0970G43 arm, the conch in the left upper arm, the club in the lower left arm
0980G43 and the lotus in the lower right arm. (^This is called Vasudeva in
0990G43 Indian iconography. ^Each type is determined according to the position
1000G43 of the four objects in the arms). "^*Samuchchaya" describes the gestures
1010G43 to_ symbolise these objects in the clock-wise direction to_ suit this
1020G43 type of icon. ^There are exceptions in Kerala like for instance the icon
1030G43 of Vishnu in Irinjalakuda wherein these four objects are in different
1040G43 positions. $^The gestures for the weapons and symbols are shown
1050G43 along with the ritual named self-purification of the priest, accompanied
1060G43 of course by *4manthras. ^The Nambudris claim that the priest here
1070G43 conjures up the God or thinks that he is the seat of the God or that
1080G43 he himself personifies God. $^In the Mahadeva temples of Kerala, we
1090G43 generally do not find anthropomorphic icons but only Sivalingas. ^An
1100G43 exception is the recent find in Kadappattur near Palai which is claimed
1110G43 to_ be that_ of Mahadeva. ^Though a Linga has no component parts
1120G43 and some named Swayambhu are even rough and undressed, the *4thanthri
1130G43 conjures up an anthropomorphic
1131G43 form by showing the *4mudras of the deer and battle-axe in
1140G43 the two upper arms of Mahadeva and *4abhaya (protection) and Varada (blessing)
1150G43 in the two lower arms. ^Other parts of the body described above
1160G43 (head, heart \0etc.) are the same for all the deities. $^Other *4mudras
1170G43 defined by "Samuchchaya" are for the vehicles of *4Devas like Garuda.
1180G43 ^There are also gestures for Yoni, Sivalinga and Ganapathi.
1190G43 ^A category of *4mudras is for ritualistic exercises or modes of meditation
1200G43 or invocation. ^These are abstract ideas. "^*Samuchchaya" prescribes
1210G43 rituals for seven Gods-- Vishnu, Siva, Sankaranarayana, Ganapathi,
1220G43 Subramanya, Sastha and Durga. ^The *4mudras to_ symbolise the
1230G43 weapons and features of these Gods and Goddess have been described in
1240G43 the work. ^Apart from what is given in this classic text book, *4Thanthris
1250G43 are practising other gestures, probably given in other minor texts
1260G43 or those which have been handed down from generation to generation.
1270G43 $^In this category there are more number of gestures signifying the ornaments
1280G43 of Vishnu. ^*Kirita (head-gear), Srivatsa and Kausthubha
1290G43 which are ornaments, Vanamaala (garland of wild flowers), and Makarakundala
1300G43 (ear-ornament) are represented by gestures. ^*Thanthris have mudras
1310G43 also for Sri and Bhumi Devi, the consorts of Vishnu. ^Icons of
1320G43 Sri Krishna are not seen in Kerala temples or are extremely rare.
1330G43 ^But some of the icons of Vishnu are worshipped as Krishna. ^For these,
1340G43 gestures exist to_ represent Krishna*'s crown decorated with peacock
1350G43 feather and His flute. $^For Mahadeva also there are more *4mudras
1360G43 to_ symbolise the crescent which he wears, another for his plaited
1370G43 hair and probably Sarpakundala which he wears in his ears as an ornament.
1380G43 ^Gestures exist to_ represent the lion which is shown as the vehicle
1390G43 of Kali and the *4Veena the musical instrument of the Goddess of learning,
1400G43 Saraswathi. $^The gesture for the spear may be for Subramanya and
1410G43 that_ for the trident may be for Kali. ^*Durga is represented by the
1420G43 show of the gestures for the divine wheel and the conch in the upper hands
1430G43 (same as Vishnu) and Abhaya and Varada in the lower hands. $^*I
1440G43 have mentioned about gestures for exercises for meditation and invocation.
1450G43 ^There are several of these. ^An illustration is Anjali which is
1460G43 the most common, shown with both palms held one against the other to_
1470G43 give the shape of a flower-bud. ^This symbolises devotion and dedication
1480G43 and is done by uninitiated devotees also. ^But for ritualists there
1490G43 are several kinds of Anjal. ^To_ keep the palms as Anjali upon one*'s
1500G43 head is Brahmanjali and to_ keep it on the right side of the heart
1510G43 is Vandan. $^*I have already mentioned about the *4mudra for the arrow.
1520G43 ^The use of this in one ritual is very interesting. ^It is called
1530G43 Dasadigbandhana meaning to_ imprison or chain up the ten corners of
1540G43 the universe. ^This is done by the throw of the arrows towards the eight
1550G43 conrners of the universe and up and down \0i.e. the sky and the earth,
1560G43 accompanied by the chanting of divine verses. ^The concept now prevalent
1570G43 is that a barricade is here created against all kinds of evil influences.
1580G43 $^Flowers are placed on the head of the icon with the palm
1590G43 held in the posture of the gesture named *3Avahana. ^The palm in the same
1600G43 posture is then turned upside down and passed along the entire body of
1610G43 the God as if caressing, which is an exercise, in which the gesture is
1620G43 called *3Avakundhani. $^From the moment a piece of land is acquired
1630G43 for the construction of a temple to the great and auspicious occasion of
1640G43 the consecration of God, the routine daily rituals, festivals, purification
1650G43 or renovation if and when necessay, all these involve a most complicated
1660G43 and deep system of *4thanthric practices. ^*I have given here
1670G43 only a bare skeletal indication of the gesture language in this vast cult.
1680G43 $^An interesting aspect of these *4mudras is their possible affinity
1690G43 with the gesture language of the traditional theatrical arts. ^It is
1700G43 well known that chapter nine of Bharatha*'s *3Natya sastra deals with
1710G43 a gesture language for dance and drama. ^In Kerala, the actors in Kudiyattam
1720G43 which is the traditional Sanskrit drama practised by hereditary
1730G43 dancers belonging to a caste named Chakyars and the actors in the dance
1740G43 drama named Kathakali use a gesture language for which they depend
1750G43 upon a text called "Hasthalakshana Deepika." ^According to tradition,
1760G43 this was compiled by a Zamorin of Calicut, but the date of composition
1770G43 is unknown.*#
        **[no. of words = 02011**]

        **[txt. g44**]
0010G44 **<*3THE MARATHI THEATRE*0**> $*3^AMONG THE*0 language theatres
0020G44 in India, the Marathi theatre is easily the best organised and promoted.
0030G44 ^The secret of its continuing success and popularity is a strong
0040G44 tradition created by brilliant dramatists, enterprising producers, dedicated
0050G44 artistes and, above all, the indulgent audience. $^Well-known
0060G44 actress, director and producer Vijaya Mehta (*3Jaswandi,*0 *3Sandya
0070G44 Chaya \0etc) drew a graph for me showing the comparative
0080G44 popularity of the Marathi theatre and cinema during the last
0090G44 fifty years. $^The 1920-30 decade was the golden age of the Marathi
0100G44 theatre when giants like Balgandharva, Khadilkar and Gadkari strode
0110G44 across the stage. ^There was a stagnation during the period 1934-54.
0120G44 ^Though there were big names, including Ganpat Rao Bodas, Chintaman
0130G44 Kolhatkar and Dinanath Mangeshkar, the audience were attracted
0140G44 to the cinema which enjoyed a period of prosperity.
0150G44 $^A salient feature that_ emerges from a comparison of the Marathi stage
0160G44 and cinema is that during the years of boom of one, there is depression
0170G44 in the other. ^Even now it is widely believed that the theatre is
0180G44 gaining popularity and the cinema is going the other way. $^A renaissance
0190G44 in the theatre movement was spearheaded in 1950 by \0Dr Bhale
0200G44 Rao, a busy medical practitioner who infused a new life into it.
0210G44 ^The Bombay Marathi Sahitya Sangh was established at about this time
0220G44 and many a playwrights,**[sic**] directors and artistes, who had
0230G44 fallen on lean days, resumed creative work. ^As a result quite a few
0240G44 talented playwrights came into limelight. *(0^*P.L.*) Deshpande,
0250G44 *(0V. V.*) Shirwadkar, Acharya Atre, Bal Kolhatkar, Madhusudan
0260G44 Kalelkar, Vasant Kanetkar and *(0P.b.*) Bhave are some of
0270G44 them. $*<*3Leading figures*0*> $^Several promient producers,
0280G44 directors and artistes also showed their talents. $^*Bal Mohan
0290G44 Natak \0Co., Natya Niketan, Rangayan, Goa Hindu Association,
0300G44 Progressive Dramatic Association, Pune, and Ranjan Kala Mandir,
0310G44 Nagpur, were some of important production companies during this period.
0320G44 $^Among the talented artistes who emerged were \0Dr
0330G44 Shree Ram Lagoo, Vijaya Mehta, Arvind Deshpande, \0Dr kashinath
0340G44 Ghanekar, Prabhakar Panshikar, Ashalata Wabgaonkar, Sudha
0350G44 Karmarkar and Shanta Jog. $*(0^*S.K.*) Patil, manager
0360G44 of the Shivaji Mandir which regularly stages Marathi plays in Bombay,
0370G44 recalled the popularity of dramas which have completed several hundred
0380G44 shows. ^These include Kusumkar Shirwadhkar*'s *3Nat
0390G44 samrat,*0 Bal Kolhatkar*'s *3Wah to hi durvanchi zudi,*0 *3Himalaya
0400G44 chi savli*0 based on the life of Maharishi Karve, musical *3Machya
0410G44 gandha*0 with vocalist Vasant Rao Deshpande and Kalelkar*'s
0420G44 *3Diva zalu de sari raat.*0 $*<*3Charm of classics*0*>
0430G44 $^In fact some of the dramas which were popular over thirty years
0440G44 ago, still draw large crowds. ^Among them are Khadilkar*'s
0450G44 *3Man apman,*0 Gadkari*'s *3Ekkach pyala*0 and Acharya Atre*'s
0450G44 *3Lagnachi bedi*0. ^The script and the music in
0460G44 these plays remain, by and large, unaltered. $\0^*Mr Patil
0470G44 revealed that women consitute, on an average about 30 per cent
0480G44 of the audience at Shivaji Mandir shows, but in the afternoon
0490G44 shows, their number is over 50 per cent. $^An interesting feature
0500G44 of the Marathi dramas of the thirties and forties was that female
0510G44 roles were played by men. ^*Bal Gandharva, who has left a
0520G44 legacy of *5Natya Sangeet*6 was so successful as a *3leading lady*0
0530G44 that he became a trend-setter in female fashions and graces.
0540G44 ^It is said that he would quietly slip into *5Haldi kumkum*6
0550G44 and similar ladies meetings and hobnob with women guests without their
0560G44 knowledge that he was a male. $^Enterprising producer and
0570G44 brilliant actor Prabhakar Panshikar (*5Natya Sampada*6) was
0580G44 among the first to_ introduce the revolving and sliding stage.
0590G44 ^According to \0Mr panshikar, the total investment in Marathi
0600G44 theatre is over \0*4Rs one *4crore. $^The investment,
0610G44 of course, depends on the nature of the play and the cast. ^For instance,
0620G44 an investment of \0*4Rs 70,000 was made in the historical play
0630G44 *3Padmini*0 while the musical *3Katyar Kaljaat Ghusli*0
0631G44 cost about \0*4Rs 50,000.
0640G44 ^The production of *3Be Imman,*0 written by \0Prof. Vasant Kanetkar
0650G44 and featuring Satish Dubhashi, Panshikar, Sudha Karmarkar and Asha
0660G44 Kale, cost \0*4Rs 45,000 . ^The bulk of this amount (\0*4Rs
0670G44 25,000) was spent on the furniture and fixtures while costumes
0680G44 cost \0*4Rs 10,000. ^Another \0*4Rs 5,000 was spent on advance
0690G44 publicity. ^The recurring per show expenses include author*'s royalty (\0*4Rs
0700G44 150), artistes fee (\0*4Rs 1200) and auditorium rent and incidentals
0710G44 (\0*4Rs 700). $^Though some amount of original writing
0720G44 is done for the theatre, the bulk of productions are based on adaptations
0730G44 from the English and other languages. ^Noted playwright
0740G44 Shirwadkar adapted *3Becket*0 and *3Othello,*0 while humorist *(0P.L.*)
0750G44 Deshpande wrote *3Tee Phulrani*0 based on Bernard Shaw*'s
0760G44 *3Pygmalion*0 and *3Teen paishacha tamasha*0 inspired by Brecht*'s
0770G44 *3Three penny opera*0. ^Another successful adaptation was based
0780G44 on Shakespeare*'s *3Taming of the shrew*0 and titled *3Me
0790G44 sunder honar*0 (I am going to_ be beatuiful)! ^*Vijay Tendulkar
0800G44 is an original and brilliant writer dealing with socio-economic conflicts.
0810G44 $^More than half the shows performed by the commercial theatre
0820G44 companies are in rural areas and mofussil towns in Maharashtra.
0830G44 ^They travel to distant places where contractors make basic arrangements
0840G44 for them. the plays are staged in none-too-sophisticated conditions.
0850G44 ^Some of the companies have their own luxury buses and,except
0860G44 for the monsoon months, have a busy time. ^The main
0870G44 financial beneficiaries are the company owner and contractors who share
0880G44 the bulk of profits. $^Theatre is a dynamic movement in maharashtra
0890G44 and is popular both in rural and urban areas. ^While the
0900G44 commercial theatre has earned the support of middle class family
0910G44 audience, the experimental or intimate theatre has made its presence felt
0920G44 among the younger generation. a small group of dedicated writers,
0930G44 producers, and artistes, is involved in the experimental theatre
0940G44 despite heavy odds. $*<*3Space problem*0*> $^It is surprising that neither
0950G44 the government nor the Sangeet Natak Akademi nor even the big
0960G44 business houses in Bombay have so far provided a convenient place
0970G44 to_ rehearse and stage the works of the experimental theatre. ^The biggest
0980G44 handicap, and a very expensive one at that_ is that those involved
0990G44 in these activities are professionally roofless. ^The theatres
1000G44 in Bombay are booked months in advance and the rent is between
1010G44 \0*4Rs 300 and 500 for a single show which the low-budget productions
1020G44 can hardly afford. $\0^*Dr lagoo (Padmashri, Sangeet Natak Akademi
1030G44 Award winner, versatile stage and screen artiste) and Arvind
1040G44 Deshpande (noted producer, director and actor) have given separate
1050G44 plans for theatre complexes with space for rehearsals and green
1060G44 rooms, storage and mini-theatres with an investment of \0*4Rs 25
1070G44 *4lakhs each. ^This is certainly not a large sum of money to_ raise
1080G44 for a worthy cause and one expects that the comercial theatre,
1090G44 business houses, akademies and Government would initiate action.
1100G44 $*<*3Experimental stages*0*> $^Right now some of enterprising producers
1110G44 have taken their work to the audience. ^The '*5Wangmaya Mandals*6'
1120G44 of various institutions, colleges, and even groups in the
1130G44 suburbs have warmly received the intimate theatre. ^A hall in the
1140G44 Chabildas Boys School, Bombay, Dadar, has been transformed into
1150G44 an attractive mini theatre where young and old see play-setting
1160G44 on the floor. $^An interesting feature of the experimental thatre
1170G44 is that it has provided talents in all departements to the commercial
1180G44 theatre. ^Some of the top most names in the fields like, \0Dr
1190G44 shree Ram Lagoo, Vijaya Mehta, \0Dr Kashinath Ghanekar,
1200G44 Satish Dubhashi, Datta Bhatt, Atmaram Bhende and Shrikant
1210G44 Moghe, were involved in the experimental theatre at one time.
1220G44 ^Some of them still continue to_ take interest in it. $^The
1230G44 intimate theatre has portrayed serious and purposeful themes,
1240G44 including the work of outstanding playwright like Vijay Tendulkar (*3Manus
1250G44 navache bet*0, *3Ghidade*0, *3Sakharam binder,*0 and *3Ghasiramkotwal*0)
1260G44 $^The leading lights of the Marathi stage feel very
1270G44 strongly against censorship. \0^*Dr Lagoo is eloquent on this subject
1280G44 and says "when people are given the right to_ choose their form
1290G44 of government, they certainly could be trusted to_ decide the
1300G44 plays they would like to_ view". $^Ironically, the
1310G44 censors have been unintentionally responsible for some experimental
1320G44 theatre productions becoming box-office attractions on
1330G44 the commercial stage. ^The ban on *3Shantata*0 and *3Binder*0
1340G44 and the long court proceedings aroused wide public interest and they
1350G44 became instant success when released. ^These plays were enthusiastically
1360G44 received by the younger generation but the older generation
1370G44 had had reservations about them. $^It is a laudable
1380G44 fact that intimate theatre productions have usually attained
1390G44 high standards. ^Continuous experimentation has yielded commendable
1400G44 results. ^The young players of the experimental
1410G44 theatre have dedicated themselves completely to the creative pursuits.
1420G44 ^While some of them have jobs or are involved in some
1430G44 paying activity, there are a few who have a tough time making both
1440G44 ends meet. $^*Amol and Anuya Palekar, Arvind and Sulabha
1450G44 Deshpande, and Shree Ram and Deepa Lagoo are some of the
1460G44 husband-wife teams that have made the theatre their life*'s mission.
1470G44 ^All of them strongly believe that a high degree of professionalism
1480G44 must be injected into the theatre movement and
1490G44 the extreme and biased views that the commercial and intimate
1500G44 theatre people have about each other must be given up. ^With
1510G44 more committed and trained people entering the theatre,
1520G44 a code of conduct and discipline must be evolved to_ obtain a
1530G44 healthy and vigorous development. $\0^*Dr Kumud Mehta,
1540G44 member of the 'State Scrutiny Board for Plays', was in
1550G44 the minority insisting that Tendulkar*'s *3Sakharam binder*0
1560G44 Was not obscene. ^But nine other members ruled that it
1570G44 was so. $\0^*Mrs Mehta welcomes the new trends which
1580G44 extend the dimensions of the Marathi drama. *3^*Sakharam
1590G44 binder*0 had a mixed reception. ^The family groups were
1600G44 shocked by the language of the slums and some of them left the
1610G44 show in a huff! $*3^*Ghasiram kotwal*0, also written
1620G44 by Vijay Tendulkar is directed imaginatively by Jabbar Patel
1630G44 and is set to the haunting music of Bhaskar Chandavarkar. ^The
1640G44 blending of music, movement and words create a lingering aesthetic
1650G44 experience. $^Another production to_ receive acclaim
1660G44 is Mahesh Elkunchwar*'s *3Garbo*0 which deals with the loss of creative
1670G44 power in three different circumstances and the agony in trying
1680G44 to_ recover it. *3^*Garbo*0 reveals Elkunchwar as a playwright
1690G44 of promise. $^*Ratnakar Matkari*'s *3Premkahani*0 and
1700G44 *3Aranya*0, Badal Sarkar and Palekar*'s *3Juloos,*0 Rekha Sabnis*'
1710G44 *3Point Blank*0 Achyut Vaze*'s *3Chal re bhoplya tunuk
1720G44 tunuk*0, Sadanand Rege*'s *3Gochee,*0
1721G44 Vrindavan Dandawate*'s *3Boot polish,*0 Satish
1730G44 Alekar*'s *3Mikey*0 and *3Mem Saheb*0 have acclaimed much
1740G44 appreciation. **[sic**] $^The latest trend in Marathi
1750G44 drama is dominated by boldness and innovation. ^Traditional
1760G44 tear-jerking themes are giving place to serious human
1770G44 conflict. ^The intimate theatre appreciates the frustrations
1780G44 and follies built in human affairs and records it.
1790G44 $^A new development in Marathi plays is the combination
1800G44 of the commercial and the experimental. ^Symbolising this
1810G44 healthy and welcome development is *3Teen paisecha tamasha*0
1820G44 brilliantly presented by the well-known Theatre Academy of Pune.
1830G44 ^Based on the *3Three penny opera*0 by Brecht and writtenby
1840G44 humorist *(0P.L.*) Deshpande, the play sets a new trend
1850G44 in the use of the powerful rock-music, set to Marathi lyrics.
1860G44 $\0^*Dr Jabbar Patel, who has carved a niche for himself both in
1870G44 cinema and theatre with innovative productions including *3Ghasiram
1880G44 kotwal*0 and *3Jait re jait,*0 scores again and has been instrumental
1890G44 in directing a well-knit and gripping presentation. $^The
1900G44 music by Bhaskar Chandavarkar, Nandu Bhende and Anand
1910G44 Modak may sound a trifle squeamish. ^It has lots of rock.
1920G44 some Hindustani classical, *4gazal, *4lavni and a sprinkling
1930G44 of folk tunes. $^Woven amidst the musical frame is a touching
1940G44 story of a young rough who falls in love but has to_ pay the
1950G44 ultimate price for his misdeeds. ^There are charming diversions
1960G44 to_ keep one amused, particularly the beggar*'s academy and
1970G44 the prostitute*'s moving story and *4gazals. $^The climax
1980G44 of God appearing on the stage, making a phone call to *4gandhara
1990G44 (assistant) to_ put off the lights so that he may disappear is
2000G44 indeed hilarious. $^A unique feature of this play is that
2010G44 many people who do not even understand the Marathi language have
2020G44 enjoyed it. ^Perhaps, this may prove to_ be a bridge between
2030G44 experimental and commercial theatre and take the Marathi theatre
2040G44 closer to other language groups. $^Training facilities
2050G44 for theatre aspirants are limited, though a beginning has been
2060G44 made by 'Aavishkar' a theatre unit, Mumbai Marathi Grantha
2070G44 Sangrahalaya and the Maharashtra State Government. ^However,
2080G44 only prize-winners in State competitions are eligible to_
2090G44 participate in the Government-sponsored programmes, which
2100G44 severely restricts admissions.*#
        **[no. of words = 02007**]

        **[txt. g45**]
0010G45 **<*3THE MAKE-UP MEN*0**> $*3^SANJEEV KUMAR*0 played the
0020G45 roles of father, father-in-law, husband and lover of the same actress,
0030G45 Jaya Bachchan, in four different movies, *3Parichay,*0 *3Sholay*0,
0040G45 *3Koshish*0 and *3Anamika*0 respectiverly. ^And he looked as old or
0050G45 as young as the role demanded. $^*Nargis acted as Sunil
0060G45 Dutt*'s mother in *3Mother India*0, and she looked
0070G45 old enough to_ be his mother. ^*Pran, who used to_ play the role of
0080G45 the villain in films in which Dev Anand and his contemporaries were
0090G45 cast as heroes, played the part of Dev*'s father in
0100G45 *3Warrant*0. ^*Dev Anand, who is as old as Pran, looked
0110G45 like his son. ^*Amitabh Bachchan played his own father in a double
0120G45 role in *3Adalalt.*0 ^*Suchitra Sen played the roles of
0130G45 mother and daughter in *3Mamta.*0 ^While in the mother*'s role, she
0140G45 looked old and graceful, in the role of the daughter, she looked
0150G45 young and beautiful. $^The actors and actresses take almost all
0160G45 the credit for these performances. ^A little credit goes to
0170G45 the director of the film, and sometimes to the cameraman.
0180G45 ^But the important role of the make-up men is always forgotten.
0190G45 $^Nobody is to_ be blamed for this state of affairs, as
0200G45 the system is such that stars, hardly five in number, practically
0210G45 rule the film industry. ^When even the directors, barring
0220G45 exceptions like Basu Bhattacharya and Shyam Benegal, do not
0230G45 get much credit, who cares for the make-up man? $^To_
0240G45 understand the importance of the make-up man, imagine Sanjeev
0250G45 Kumar playing the role of Jaya*'s father without make-up.
0260G45 ^Despite his impressive talent, best direction, and effective
0270G45 photography, he could have never looked like her father.
0280G45 ^Imagine Hema Malini without make-up. ^The fans would
0290G45 not go near her. $*<*3An indispensable part*0*>
0300G45 $^The glamour surrounding Zeenat Aman would disappear. ^And
0310G45 the wrinkles on Dharmendra*'s face would not be conducive to
0320G45 his he-man image. ^No doubt, the make-up man is an indispensable
0330G45 part of the team producing films. $^Now let us have a
0340G45 look at the people associated with the making of films. ^The
0350G45 writer prepares the story the director gets the work done by the artistes,
0360G45 and the music director composes the tunes. ^The fight
0370G45 composers and the stuntmen add to the he-man image, the dance
0380G45 director looks after the cabaret and the scenes of the hero-heroine
0390G45 romping in gardens and hills. ^Above all, there is the
0400G45 make-up man who transforms the very personality of the stars, beautifies
0410G45 them, changes their age and appearance, and adds to the
0420G45 glamour. $^Around 400 make-up men are busy painting the film
0430G45 stars and presenting them to the audience. ^This figure
0440G45 includes the 300 or so junior make-up men and assistants who work
0450G45 under the guidance and direction of their senior colleagues.
0460G45 $^A make-up man is supposed to_ reach the sets at least an hour
0470G45 before the shooting is to_ begin. ^He is required to_ stay
0480G45 an hour or so after the shooting is over, for packing up.
0490G45 $^Before the shooting starts, the make-up of the junior artistes and
0500G45 character artistes is completed. ^And then everyone waits
0510G45 for the most important person in the film-- the star! ^And
0520G45 the star*'s make-up starts as soon as he or she arrives.
0530G45 $^After the shooting is over, the make-up man helps the artistes
0540G45 remove the paint \0etc. ^Despite all this, the make-up man
0550G45 does not get the recognition he deserves. $^To_ find out
0560G45 how they feel about their profession, I met some make-up men.
0570G45 ^*Ram Tipnis is in the film industry for the last 37 years.
0571G45 ^He has been associated with Filmistan,
0580G45 and was the make-up man for 69 out of 77 movies produced
0590G45 by that_ studio. $^He has been associated with 150
0600G45 movies so far, including the old hits like *3Nagin,*0 *3Anarkali,*0
0610G45 *3Nastik,*0 *3Shaheed,*0 *3Samadhi,*0 and the new hits like *3Seeta
0620G45 aur Geeta*0, *3Lal Patthar*0 and *3Bandie.*0 $Question:
0630G45 ^How did you enter the make-up line? ^Did you struggle in
0640G45 the beginning? ^Who trained you? $Answer: ^My father was an
0650G45 actor of the Marathi stage. ^Due to him, I knew a little about
0660G45 the stage and films. ^When I failed in the
0670G45 Matric exam. ^*I didn*'4t feel like studying. ^So I decided
0680G45 to_ enter the films. ^In those days, it wasn*'4t difficult
0690G45 to_ enter this line. ^*I learnt make-up by being an assistant
0700G45 to Dada Pranjee for about six months. ^But my learning
0710G45 didn*'4t end there. ^*I*'3m still learning. $\0Q:
0720G45 ^For how many producers are you working at the moment? $\0A: ^*I
0730G45 am working for three producers-- *(0F.C.*) Mehra, Nadiadwalla
0740G45 and Shanti Sagar. ^Their films on the sets are *3Hamare-tumhare,*0
0750G45 *3Gul sanobar*0 and *3Akhri daku*0 respectively.
0760G45 ^*I am also working for another movie of Nadiadwalla. \0^*Q:
0770G45 ^How much money is paid to you for make-up work? ^And on
0780G45 what basis? $\0A: ^*I am getting \0*4Rs 500 from each
0790G45 producer every month. ^This, in fact, is the instalment. ^We are
0800G45 paid on a contract basis. $\0Q: ^How do you conceive
0810G45 the appearance of the character? ^Are you told the story or
0820G45 given the script? $\0A: the question of script doesn*'4t arise.
0830G45 ^In 95 per cent of the movies, the script is not ready when the
0840G45 shooting begins. ^The dialogues are written on the sets.
0850G45 ^At the most, a rough sketchy story is available. ^In a majority
0860G45 of cases, we are not given any base to_ work on. ^Very rarely
0870G45 does anyone care to_ speak about the period even. $^*I
0880G45 remember that in a movie, six persons were brought to me with the
0890G45 suggestion, 'Make them ministers'. ^Which period? ^Ministers
0900G45 to whom? ^Nothing was clear. ^*I had to_ find that
0910G45 out for myself. $\0Q: ^How many hours a day do you have to_ work?
0920G45 $\0A: ^It all depends on the shooting schedule. ^For example,
0930G45 last month, I had to_ work on all the days except the second Sunday.
0940G45 ^*I did 40 shifts. $\0Q: ^How long does it take to_ complete
0950G45 the make-up of one person? $\0A: ^In the case of women
0960G45 the make-up takes about one hour. ^In the case of men, about 10 minutes.
0970G45 ^If the whole appearance and get-up are to_ be changed,
0980G45 it may take more time. $\0^*Q: ^Which section of the actors
0990G45 bothers much about make-up? ^Which section doesn*'4t care?
1000G45 $\0A: ^The character artistes usually pay more attention to their
1001G45 make-up. ^The new generation stars don*'4t bother much,
1002G45 specially in outdoor shooting. ^This is because they don*'4t
1010G45 understand the importance of make-up. ^You can see what happens
1020G45 because of this. $*<*3The same face*0*> $Today, six
1030G45 movies starring Amitabha Bachchan are running in Bombay. ^Look
1040G45 at the posters. ^Except for the titles, you won*'4t be able
1050G45 to_ recognize the difference. ^All the posters bear the same face
1060G45 the face of Amitabh! $\0Q: ^How much freedom is allowed
1070G45 to you in the make-up? $\0A: ^We work under lots of pressure.
1080G45 ^The film stars are bothered about their image. ^Even when playing
1090G45 the role of a village girl, a heroine wants complete make-up--
1100G45 eye shadow, lipstick, rouge, \0etc. ^Would she look
1110G45 convincing? ^But she does not want to_ look convincing.
1111G45 ^She wants to_ look what
1120G45 she is, with a little touch of the villager. ^We can change
1130G45 the actors completely with our skill, and they would look authentic, provided
1140G45 we are given a free hand. $*(0^*S.B.*) Savant, now in
1150G45 his late fifties, has been in the film line for the last 33 years.
1160G45 ^He is associated with Sagar Arts. $\0Q: ^How did you
1170G45 enter this line? ^Did you undergo any training? $\0A: ^I didn*'4t
1180G45 have any formal training. ^Even now, no arrangement for
1190G45 training exists anywhere. ^One has to_ be an assistant to
1200G45 an established make-up man. ^*I had some stage experience,
1210G45 and hence could enter this line easily. $\0Q: ^What are you
1220G45 doing at the moment? ^How much do you earn in the line? $\0A: ^*I
1230G45 am doing the make-up for *3Prem bandhan,*0 *3Pyar ki amar kahani*0
1240G45 and *3Prem pujari.*0 ^*I am paid \0*4Rs 1,000 every month, work or no
1250G45 work. $\0Q: ^How exactly do you do make-up? ^What materials
1260G45 do you use? $\0A: ^There are about 150 different items necessary
1270G45 for doing make-up. ^For doing the get-up, that_ is changing
1280G45 the appearance and age, we use tissue paper or cotton. ^We
1290G45 paste it on the face and paint wrinkles \0etc on that_. ^Then there
1300G45 are wigs which help in altering the appearance of the artistes.
1310G45 ^Some stars, like Sanjeev Kumar and Pran, use different
1320G45 wigs in different roles. ^This helps in creating the particular
1330G45 character. $\0Q: ^Which is more difficult-- converting an
1340G45 old man into a young or *8vice versa*9? $\0A: ^To_ convert a young
1350G45 man into an old man is comparatively easier.
1351G45 ^But while converting old into the young, you cannot
1360G45 do much. ^He can look younger say, the maximum by 10 years,
1370G45 I think. $\0Q: ^It has been noticed that while the hero or some
1380G45 other character is able to_ fool the other characters in the
1390G45 movie, he can*'4t fool the audience. ^In spite of the disguise,
1400G45 the audience can recognize the actor. ^Isn*'4t it your
1410G45 failure? $\0A: ^It is because the stars don*'4t give enough
1420G45 time to us. ^They come to_ give shots for two hours, and
1430G45 we get only a few minutes to_ do the make-up. ^If we get
1440G45 enough time, nobody in the audience will be able to_ see
1450G45 through the disguises. $*(0^*B.*) Pereira entered the film
1460G45 line in 1937. ^He worked as an extra for a few days,
1470G45 but realised that there was not much scope. ^He noticed
1480G45 the make-up men and their work. ^And he decided to_ enter this
1490G45 line. $\0Q: ^With which movies have you been associated?
1500G45 $\0A: ^*I have worked in about 250 movies, including
1510G45 *3Chal chal re naujavan*0, *3Shikhari,*0 *3Mazdoor,*0 *3Nauka dubi*0
1520G45 3*Biraj Bahu,*0 *3Khaandaan*0 and the recently released *3Don*0. ^My
1530G45 fourthcoming films are *3Atmaram*0 and *3Khel tamasha*0. ^To_
1540G45 be frank, I don*'4t have much work. ^*I am getting
1550G45 800 *4rupees every month for these two movies. ^*I am living
1560G45 at the mercy of the producers. $\0Q: ^How do you find life
1570G45 as a make-up man? $\0A: ^The whims of the film stars restrict
1580G45 us. ^A number of times, they would come and say, 'Just
1590G45 a little make-up, nothing else.' ^All the prepared things,
1600G45 wigs \0etc are wasted in such cases. $\0Q: ^How
1610G45 did the stars behave in the old days? $\0A: ^*I will give
1620G45 you the example of *3Biraj Bahu*0. ^*Kamini Kaushal was presented
1630G45 with short hair due to an accident. ^She never refused. ^Those
1640G45 were the days of the directors. ^No one cared for the
1650G45 star image in those days. $^*Periera is the Vice-president
1660G45 of the Costume and Make-up Artistes Association. ^He has
1670G45 been associated with it since its every inception. ^He
1680G45 was the Secretary of the Association for ten years, and has
1690G45 suffered at the hands of the producers because of the Association*'s
1700G45 activities. ^Even today, he is very active fighting for the
1710G45 rights of the make-up men. $*<*3Trade union activities*0*>
1720G45 $^Uncertainty regarding the payments, insecurity due to the stiff
1730G45 competition, and unhelpful attitude of the producers who are ready to_
1740G45 pay liberally to the film stars but are reluctant to_ pay adequately
1750G45 to the technicians, compelled the artistes to_ take up
1760G45 trade union activities. $^The first union formed was the
1770G45 Indian Motion Pictures Employees Union which was set up
1780G45 in 1945 at Prakash Studio. ^*Jayprakash Narayan, the most
1790G45 popular national leader of today, was the President of this union.
1800G45 ^This union*'s efforts encouraged the film extras to_
1810G45 assert themselves. ^The film extras formed the Junior
1820G45 Artistes*' Association in 1950. ^The third union is that_
1830G45 of the cameramen-- it is called the Western India Cinematographers
1840G45 Association and was formed in 1952. ^In 1955, the
1850G45 make-up men formed an association. ^Today there are 17 unions
1860G45 in the film industry. $*<*3Harassment*0*> $^The
1870G45 President of the Cine Costume and Make-up Artistes*'s Association,
1880G45 Jagat Kumar is in the film line since 1940,
1890G45 and has worked for more than 300 movies. ^He was one of the very
1900G45 active pioneers of the Association, and faced a lot of harassment
1910G45 due to his union activities. ^He has been the President
1920G45 of the Association for the last 15 years.*#
        **[no. of words = 02009**]

        **[txt. g46**]
0020G46 $*3^WHEN ONE GOES TO A CONCERT*0 of *4Hindustani classical
0030G46 music one often wonders what it is in it that_ absorbs many
0040G46 listeners so much that they can patiently sit and sometimes
0050G46 listen to it all night. ^Although Ravi Shankar and Ali
0060G46 Akbar Khan tailor-cut their performances in the West according
0070G46 to the habits and interests of the audience there, they
0080G46 go on for hours in their own country, giving full vent to their
0090G46 ideas and feelings. ^The audience never seems to_ be
0100G46 tired of listening to them. ^What is so gripping and moving
0110G46 in the kind of music they perform? ^Does it appeal only
0120G46 to the highly initiated ones, or are even others moved by
0130G46 it? ^*I wish to_ answer these questions here, and analyse
0140G46 the factors that_ make *4Hindustani classical music appealing
0150G46 at various levels and to different sorts of people.
0160G46 ^These factors are specific not only to *4Hindustani classical
0170G46 music, but may be responsible for the multi-level appeal of
0180G46 other kinds of music also. $^The first and, indeed, the
0190G46 most obvious factor that_ appeals in music of any kind is
0200G46 a constant flow of pleasing sounds, patterned differently in
0210G46 various musical phrases. ^They resound in the surrounding
0220G46 atmosphere, and directly flow into the ears of the listener
0230G46 producing a pleasant sensation in them. ^This depends as
0240G46 much on the purity of notes, woven in different phrases, as
0250G46 on the variety of their association and dynamic control. ^Even
0260G46 the quality of voice or timbre of an instrument matters a great
0270G46 deal in this respect. ^With their expressive gestures these
0280G46 varied sequences of notes seem to_ assume a bodily shape
0290G46 and march in a sort of multi-coloured pageant. ^In *4Hindustani
0300G46 classical music it is usually a slow march at the beginning,
0310G46 but as the tempo rises it gets faster and faster, causing
0320G46 greater and greater excitement in the listener*'s mind.
0330G46 ^This happens when rhythm, another important component of music,
0340G46 joins to_ add to its appeal. ^Being coupled with
0350G46 multi-shaped musical phrases and sequences in a complex design
0360G46 rhythm infuses in a performance of music a great dynamism
0370G46 and suspense; with the result that many a time even those,
0380G46 having little understanding of classical music, feel extremely excited,
0390G46 and start clapping when an instrumentalist goes fast
0400G46 with his *4jhala, accompanied by an equally fast *5teen taal*6 on
0410G46 the *4tabla. ^This is a stage where an artist tries to_
0420G46 achieve the greatest intensity by means of a fusion of
0430G46 the sonorous and the rhythmic qualities of music. ^Every kind
0440G46 of music has in fact a close-knit and varied texture which
0450G46 is bound to_ appeal on the sensuous plane. ^The delicacy
0460G46 and intensity of musical sounds in *4Hindustani classical
0470G46 music, manipulated to_ produce a variety of tonal sequences,
0480G46 and contrasts of feeling cannot but delight a listener*'s ears.
0490G46 ^Any sympathetic listener with some liking for classical music and
0500G46 enough patience to_ listen to a long performance of it can experience
0510G46 this pleasure. ^There is evidently no difference in this respect
0520G46 between instrumental and vocal music, but beginners more often prefer instrumental
0530G46 music, probably for its richer tone colour, sharp and exciting
0540G46 notes and vivid contrasts of feeling. ^A lot of experimentation is
0550G46 being made today in Western music to_ intensify the auditory and emotive
0560G46 appeal of a composition by improving its tonal quality, and by introducing
0570G46 greater variety of timbre in it. ^Each instrument, or each human
0580G46 voice, has a distinct timbre and therefore a distinct appeal.
0590G46 ^Besides, dynamic variation, that_ is variation in terms of the amplitude
0600G46 of tone, for different expressive purposes, also plays a vital
0610G46 role in intensifying the auditory appeal of *4Hindustani music.
0620G46 ^*Western music draws heavily on it, but in *4Hindustani classical music
0630G46 also dynamic variation along with pitch variation, suiting the
0640G46 subtle nuances that_ an artist tries to_ evoke creates a rich
0650G46 variety of texture. ^All these things-- tonal contrasts,
0660G46 rhythmic movement and tension, richness of timbre, and dynamic
0670G46 variation-- underlie much of the purely auditory appeal of
0680G46 *4Hundustani classical music which even an ordinary lover
0690G46 of music cannot miss. ^One can listen to great masters like
0700G46 Ustad Abdul Karim Khan, Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan,
0710G46 Ustad Amir Khan,
0720G46 Dagar Bandhu, Pandit Ravi Sankar, Nikhil Banerji, Ustad
0730G46 Ali Akbar Khan, Pannalal Ghosh, and verify it for oneself.
0740G46 $^The next plane on which music appeals is the emotional
0750G46 plane. ^Like any other fine art it evokes emotions
0760G46 of different kinds. ^This is done not so much by any literary
0770G46 theme as by musical ideas themselves. ^These ideas,
0780G46 embodied in melodic phrases, have a great suggestive power in
0790G46 them. ^Unlike a vocalist, an instrumentalist has no
0791G46 literary theme to_ treat. ^All that_ he has is a
0800G46 certain *4raga or *4ragini which he elaborates on his instrument
0810G46 and makes as much expressive as possible. ^He manipulates
0820G46 musical phrases as images and associates them with different
0830G46 situations and states of being. ^Those who have heard *5*Miya
0840G46 ki Malhar*6 sung or played on a *4Sitar or *4Sarod
0850G46 can easily recollect how a subtle interplay of both flat and pure *4ni
0860G46 coupled with *4pa of the same lower octave and *4re of the middle
0870G46 octave suggests some kind of smooth rolling of clouds and
0880G46 mistiness of showers. ^And when the melody suddenly
0890G46 rushes to *4pa of the middle octave, and falls down to the *4Andolit
0900G46 flat *4ga, moving down to *4Sa via
0901G46 *4ma *4re, it seems to_ suggest a state of being
0910G46 that_ is pensive and somewhat unfulfilled. ^Like the *4raga
0911G46 *5Miya ki Malhar*6 every other *4raga or *4ragini also possesses
0912G46 immense suggestive power for the artist to_ realize, but for
0913G46 that_ the artist has to_ be well conversant with the emotional
0920G46 character of the *4raga, \0i.e. with the range of ideas
0930G46 and feelings it can cover. ^Although the emotional character
0940G46 of the *4ragas and *4raginis of *4Hindustani classical music
0950G46 has not precisely been described, yet one*'s repeated response
0960G46 to them and situation can help one build some image of
0970G46 their individual character, for instance, a *4raga like
0980G46 *5Darabari Kanada*6 seems to_ be a *4raga of a deep meditatative
0990G46 or plaintive nature. $^Again, the question may be
1000G46 asked, what is responsible for this character? ^Obviously the melodic
1010G46 patterns that_ constitute the *4raga, and provide it a certain
1020G46 expressive range are responsible for it. ^Look at the way the
1030G46 *4raga slowly starts from *4sa, mildly touches *4re, and
1040G46 then takes a deep plunge into the lower octave to *4dha and then,
1050G46 *4ni, *4pa and so on. ^After a lot of interplay of the
1060G46 most sensitive notes like flat *4dha and *4Andolit flat *4ga
1070G46 with others, it gradually rises to the middle octave to *4re,
1080G46 *4ga and others. ^In this progression *4Andolit *4ga always
1090G46 plays the key role of making the melody pensive and when
1100G46 it gets reinforced by *4dha in combination with other notes it
1110G46 displays its deep meditative character. *5^*Darbari Kanada*6
1120G46 can never, like *4Bhairavi, express a romantic feeling. ^If
1130G46 we listen to a *4raga like *4Marawa, we experience an altogether
1140G46 different state of feeling. ^It always suggests to me a sense
1150G46 of isolation, and futility. ^Its rare combination
1160G46 of *4dha with *4re has a great suggestive power. ^Although
1170G46 emotional responses such as these are always vague and indefinable,
1180G46 a sympathetic listener can, nevertheless, experience these
1190G46 different states of feeling in a musical recital. ^Sometimes
1200G46 the listeners start imagining all sorts of situation which
1210G46 could embody the sentiments evoked by a *4raga. $^It is
1220G46 probably such responses that_ are given concrete shape in the
1230G46 paintings of different *4ragas and *4raginis available today
1240G46 . ^For example, the painting depicting *4raga *4Todi shows
1250G46 a lady singing in a forest, and a deer standing close by and
1260G46 listening to her. ^It is perhaps believed that *4Todi
1270G46 has strong associations with the natural beauty of wilderness, and
1280G46 has an enchanting power that_ can easily attract deer.
1290G46 ^It is not clear to me what is so specific in *4Todi that_ associates
1300G46 it with the above situation. ^Even compositions sung in
1310G46 it are not all connected with it. ^Very often the nature of
1320G46 compositions also establishes particular associations as has happened
1330G46 in the case of *4Malhar. ^Every painting of *4Malhar
1340G46 therefore naturally has in it dark clouds and rain. ^It is difficult
1350G46 to_ say whether all painters would paint any *4Raga
1360G46 or *4ragini alike without such concrete associations.
1370G46 $*3*4^HINDUSTANI CLASSICAL MUSIC*0 has also some association
1380G46 with the theory of *4rasa in which Bharat and his followers have
1390G46 attempted to_ classify the aesthetic emotion generated by a
1400G46 work of art into nine kinds. ^These nine *4rasas or sentiments
1410G46 are *4Sringara *4Karuna, *4Hasya, *4Veera, *4Raudra, *4Bibhatsa,
1420G46 *4Adbhut, *4Bhayanak and *4Shanta, each having a permanent
1430G46 feeling associated with it. ^This feeling or *5Sthayi Bhava*6,
1440G46 aroused by *4Vibhava, a dramatic situation, is suggested
1450G46 by appropriate gestures or *4Anubhavas, and intensified by subsidiary
1460G46 feelings or *5Vyabhichari Bhavas*6. ^We need not
1470G46 go into the minute classification of the above theory but the fact
1480G46 remains that theorists like Bharat believe that the real
1490G46 taste of art is experienced through the evocation of sentiments.
1500G46 ^Different *4ragas evoke different sentiments,
1510G46 but sometimes one *4Raga itself evokes two different sentiments.
1520G46 ^This will be clear if we consider mixed *4ragas like
1530G46 *4Vasant-Bahar, *4Bhairava-Bahar *4Jog-Kauns, *4Lalita-Gauri,
1540G46 \0etc. ^It sometimes happens that_ the dominant sentiments
1550G46 of two *4ragas that_ are fused into one are close to each other
1560G46 as in the case of *4Jog and *4Malkauns. ^Both are serious
1570G46 *4ragas, having a touch of sobriety and sadness in them.
1580G46 ^So we never feel disparate sentiments clashing with
1590G46 each other, as we feel in *4Bhairava-Bahar, which tries to_
1600G46 fuse the heavy moroseness of *4Bhairava with the gay freshness of *4Bahar.
1610G46 ^In *4Vasant-Bahar, again, there is no clash, but
1620G46 the sentiments seem to_ run parallel to each other rather than
1630G46 to_ fuse into a unity. ^There are many instances of *4ragas
1640G46 where it is nearly impossible to_ locate just one dominant sentiment.
1650G46 ^According to Bharat*'s theory, each *4raga must
1660G46 have one dominant sentiment to_ give it a certain amount of
1670G46 tonal and emotive unity. ^It is just on this ground that in
1680G46 vocal music a concord is sought to_ be established between
1690G46 the feelings of the song and the *4raga in which it is to_ be sung.
1700G46 ^The words of the song are musically interpreted by the
1710G46 artist and they thus try to_ evoke the appropriate sentiments;
1720G46 for instance, songs in praise of gods evoke devotional sentiments,
1730G46 while those having love as their theme, evoke romantic
1740G46 sentiments. ~as I have already said the ideational content of
1750G46 songs plays a significant role in this respect. $*3^THERE
1760G46 IS ANOTHER SIDE*0 to it also. ^Let us look at the problem now
1770G46 with particular reference to Western music. ^No Western listener
1780G46 perhaps ever becomes conscious of any such large variety
1790G46 of sentiments in a musical composition as indicated above. ^Most
1800G46 listeners experience only two states of feeling: the feeling
1810G46 of tention and that_ of relaxation. ^Tension is generated
1820G46 when sharp contrasts of musical ideas are built up and the
1830G46 whole tonal movement takes off from the central theme or the key.
1840G46 ^Having presented a variety of musical structures, both melodic
1850G46 and harmonic, in ever changing frames and sequences the composer
1860G46 brings the tonal movement back to the basic theme, the point of
1870G46 rest, thereby producing a feeling of relaxation. ^This procedure
1880G46 is repeated several times in new movements and designs.
1890G46 ^Repetition and contrast are, in fact, the two chief organising
1900G46 principles of Western music. ^In *4Hindustani classical music
1910G46 also these states of feeling can be experienced. ^The *4asthayi
1920G46 or the burden of the song in vocal music, or the leading phrase
1930G46 of a *4gat on the *4sitar constitutes the starting point, the point
1940G46 of rest. ^Variation of *4tans, *4meends and other such
1950G46 devices, as are used in the elaboration of a *4raga, generate some
1960G46 kind of tension which is released only at the repetition of the leading
1970G46 phrase or the *4ashthayi. ^Tension goes on mounting until
1980G46 at the stage of *4jhala it becomes quite intense. ^The
1990G46 listener gets terribly excited at this point. ^Relaxation comes
2000G46 only when the *4jhala is over.*#
        **[no. of words = 02002**]

        **[txt. g47**]
0010G47 **<*3The Magic of Puppetry*0**> $^Throughout the world
0020G47 puppets have always been a popular entertainment-- once an ancient
0030G47 heritiage, now a medium for the contemporary artiste*'s
0040G47 experiments with shape, colour and movement. ^Puppetry
0050G47 itself is essentially a folk art which, from time to time, becomes an
0060G47 urban craze. ^Its origins are generally thought to_ have been in the East.
0070G47 $^The puppet was taken to America by European emigrants and their
0080G47 various traditions became the foundation of the great variety of styles
0090G47 to_ be found in the United States today. $^In contrast to the
0100G47 changes and developments which took place in Europe and America,
0110G47 the Far Eastern countries clung to their traditional forms. ^In Burma,
0120G47 a dancer*'s skill was measured by his or her ability to_ imitate
0130G47 the movements of the marionettes. ^In Japan, the *7Bunraku
0140G47 puppets, which once overshadowed the *7Kabuki in popularity, survive
0150G47 unchanged till today. $^In India, references to puppetry
0160G47 are found in some of the earliest texts. ^In *4Vedanta
0170G47 philosophy the metaphor of *4Sutradhar, the puller of strings, is
0180G47 given a divine form as *4Brahma, the Omnipotent and Omnipresent
0190G47 Creator of all living beings, is the first manipulator
0200G47 and actor of the world drama. ^He is the first and greatest
0210G47 *4Sutradhar. $^In Tamil literature, around 200
0220G47 \0BC, Thiruvalluvar wrote: "The movements of the
0230G47 man who has not a sensitive conscience are like the simulation
0240G47 of life of the marionettes moved by strings." ^Around the
0250G47 13th century \0AD, another poet from the south, \0*4Shri
0260G47 Avulnandhi Shivachariar, in his treatise, *3*5Sivaznawa
0270G47 Sidhiya*6*0, wrote: "The inner face in man kindles him to_
0280G47 do many things, just as dancing leather puppets or wooden marionettes
0290G47 are controlled by the man who holds the strings."
0300G47 $^Puppets are of five types: string, glove, rod, shadow
0310G47 and marionettes. $^String puppets, popularly called
0320G47 *4kathputlis are naturally manipulated by strings. ^They are
0330G47 about 2 \0ft high with stylised, good-sized wooden heads with
0340G47 large eyes and the body made of rags. ^Most of the figures
0350G47 have no legs but long trailing skirts, the strings are looped into
0360G47 the manipulator*'s hands. ^There is only one string attached
0370G47 to the puppet*'s head and it is long enough to_ go over
0380G47 the hand of the manipulator and join the back of the puppet
0390G47 below the waist. ^There are two strings for the hands of
0400G47 the puppet. ^The stage is made of two *4charpoys and
0410G47 a couple of bamboos. $^This type of puppet is native
0420G47 to the north-west of India (in the dry deserts of Rajasthan)
0430G47 and to South Orissa. ^The people who make these puppets
0440G47 and operate them belong to nomad tribes who travel with their
0450G47 performances most of the year round. $*<*3Heroic
0460G47 Exploits*0*> $^The traditional themes presented by *4Kathputlis
0470G47 in Rajasthan are based on the heroic deeds of Prithviraj
0480G47 Chauhan of Ajmer, King Vikramaditya of Ujjain,
0490G47 Amarsingh Rathore, the great Rajput warrior king.
0500G47 ^The court dancer, the horse rider, the drummer and the
0510G47 snake-charmer are essential characters in all Rajasthani puppet
0520G47 plays. ^In Orissa, stories from Lord Krishna*'s life
0530G47 are usually portrayed. $^The glove or hand puppets, as
0540G47 the name implies, is worn like a glove on the operator*'s hands.
0550G47 ^The puppet*'s head and hands are usually carved of wood,
0560G47 while the body is of material sewn to_ make a glove.
0570G47 ^The thumb moves one arm and the rest of the fingers move the
0580G47 other arm and the first finger moves the head. ^The most
0590G47 famous, and the only surviving, English traditional puppets,
0600G47 "Punch and Judy", are glove puppets. ^In India, glove
0610G47 puppets are found in Madras, Kerala, Orissa and among
0620G47 the aboriginal tribes of Malabar. $^The rod puppet is,
0630G47 in a sense, an extension of the glove puppet. ^Here, too,
0640G47 the puppet is held up above a screen by the puppeteer but,
0650G47 instead of its being on his hand, it is on the end of a rod
0660G47 held up from below. ^Sometimes, a combination of hand and rod
0670G47 is used for the control of one puppet. $^The Javanese,
0680G47 who have a particularly rich tradition of puppetry, have very
0690G47 refined rod puppets called the *8Wayang Golek*9. ^Rod
0700G47 puppets are also found in China, Thailand and Africa.
0710G47 ^In India, Bengal is the only place that_ has them and
0720G47 they are called *5natch putul*6 or dancing dolls. $^*The
0730G47 Little Puppet Theatre of Calcutta has tried a bold experiment
0740G47 in producing the puppet play, *4birpurush, based on Rabinndranath
0750G47 Tagore*'s poem. ^This has generated an all-India
0760G47 interest in rod puppetry. $^Shadow puppets are flat cut-out
0770G47 figures held by a rod or wire against a transparent illuminated
0780G47 screen. ^Shadow puppets have flourished in China,
0790G47 Indonesia, India, Egypt and Turkey. ^In India, they
0800G47 are found all along the Southern and Eastern shores from Kerala
0810G47 and Karnataka, through Andhra Pradesh, right up to
0820G47 Orissa. $^The marionette is a puppet on strings suspended
0830G47 from a controlling rod held by the puppeteer. ^It can
0840G47 be a figure with any number of moving parts controlled by a
0850G47 multitude of strings or just a simple figure with only a few
0860G47 strings. ^*China, Burma, India, Sri Lanka and many
0870G47 European countries are the home of the marionette.
0880G47 $*<*3Dying Art*0*> $^Glove and rod puppets are usually
0890G47 presented from witihin a booth. ^The traditional covered
0900G47 booth is still used for Punch and Judy shows but the open
0910G47 booth is becoming more and more popular, because it provides
0920G47 greater scope for performance and a wider viewing angle for the
0930G47 audience. ^Marionettes are also now increasingly being presented
0940G47 on an open stage with the puppeteer in full view of the
0950G47 audience. $^Puppetry, which had flourished as an intimate
0960G47 part of social life all over the world, began to_ lose its popularity
0970G47 with the disintegration of the village, the advent of industrial
0980G47 society, the mass entertainment of radio, cinema and television.
0990G47 ^The puppeteer, too, is to_ be blamed, for he has
1000G47 not adapted his art to the times. ^Instead of portraying shifting
1010G47 social *3Mores*0, he stuck to traditional folklore. ^Puppetry,
1020G47 to_ be a developed form of dramatic art, requires imaginative
1030G47 and specially written plays. ^Special music and choreography,
1040G47 light-and-shadow effect, better dresses and, above all, creative
1050G47 inventiveness are all lacking. ^Puppetry has also suffered
1060G47 because it has always been an art informally handed down
1070G47 from father to son and seldom an organised institution.
1080G47 $*<*3Revival*0*> s^Fortunately, puppetry is now undergoing
1090G47 a tremendous revival as entertainment for adults and children
1100G47 and is being widely used in educational therapy. ^The puppet
1110G47 stage is a medium for the expression of the creative urge.
1120G47 ^It portrays the quest for magic, mystery, wonder-- now as
1130G47 it did in primitive societies. $^Largely responsible for the
1140G47 revival of puppetry in India and giving it a place in the theatre
1150G47 world is Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay who, as Chairman of
1160G47 the Handicrafts Board, has done much research and rescued puppets
1170G47 from the remotest villages. ^*The Bharatiya Natya Sangh,
1180G47 Delhi, the Darpana Academy, Ahmedabad (under Mrinalini
1190G47 Sarabhai), the Bharatiya Lok Kala Mandal, Udaipur, the Literary
1200G47 Centre and artists like Prasanna Rao, Chittoo Prasad,
1210G47 Madhulal Master, the Shukla Brothers, Suresh Dutta,
1220G47 Raghunath Goswami, Achariyalu and Padmanabha Kamath have
1230G47 done much encouraging and outstanding work in the revival of pupperty.
1240G47 $^*Bikash Mukherjee of Bikash Enterprises has intiated
1250G47 an experiment through artists such as Sanjit Ghosh of
1260G47 the little Puppet Theatre of Calcutta. ^Their puppet
1270G47 play *4birpurush, has been highly praised for its bold use
1280G47 of light and shadow and its choreographic effects. ^They
1290G47 have used latest techniques of rod puppetry from *(0S) Obsatroy
1300G47 of Russia. $^In the \0US, the *-8 million
1310G47 *3Puppet Movies*0 describes a puppet gang*'s perilous trek
1320G47 from the Deep South to Hollywood. ^Thus this traditional
1330G47 form has now been launched into an advanced film technique.
1340G47 $*<*3contemporary Art Form*0*> $^Today, imaginative
1350G47 experimentation is the only hope for the survival of puppetry.
1360G47 $^As \0Dr Mulk Raj Anand puts it: "The puppet
1370G47 theatre is as much a part of the theatre of the imagination
1380G47 as the *4Kathakali dance-drama, Bharata Natyan, Kathak
1390G47 or Manipuri. ^The thing is to_ make it the medium of contemporary imagination
1400G47 and not the borrowed subterfuge of past orthodoxy.
1410G47 ^The new puppet will be the expression of new Poetry."
1420G47 $**<*3THE VENTRILOQUIST*'S ART*0**> $*3^A VENTRILOQUIST*0
1430G47 has been defined by the Chambers dictionary as one who can speak
1440G47 without showing that he is doing it; his voice seems to_ come from
1450G47 some other person or place. ^The Art combines the warmth
1460G47 and magnetism of puppets, the mystery and wonder of magic and
1470G47 the fun and excitement of show business. $^Ventriloquism
1480G47 has an ancient origin and its evidence is available in Hebrew
1490G47 and Egyptian archaeology. ^*Eurycles of Athens was
1500G47 the most celebrated of Greek Ventriloquists. ^It is
1510G47 felt that priests of ancient times were masters of this art and
1520G47 miracles such as the speaking statues of Egypt and the Greek
1530G47 Oracles could be ascribed to it. ^It was also known that
1540G47 some of the aborigine races including the Zulus and Maoris
1550G47 were adept in Ventriloquism. ^*China and India
1560G47 were also traditional centres of Ventriloquism. ^Even birds
1570G47 and animals, including the chickadees, doves and Canadian rabbits
1580G47 are known to_ practise it. $^Ventriloquism is gaining
1590G47 in popularity particularly as a visual aid in educational projects.
1600G47 ^It has been observed that listeners pay much more attention
1610G47 to a doll speaking, as they do not wish to_ miss even
1620G47 a single word from it. ^Experimental studies conducted on
1630G47 school children in the \0USA. have proved that the percentage
1640G47 of dialogue retained by the young viewers is very high, compared
1650G47 to the impact of a speech or classroom lesson, unaided by a
1660G47 doll or other visual aids. $\0^*Mr Fred Russel is known
1670G47 as the father of Modern Ventriloquism as he was the first to_
1680G47 create a real character for his doll "*3Coster Joe*0" and
1690G47 was also among the earliest to_ use dolls. ^A pioneer in
1700G47 the field is Fred Neimen who used a dummy doll in 1892 in
1710G47 the show "Wizard of the North". $^The Encyclopaedia
1720G47 Britannica, discussing Ventriloquism states: "A figure or
1730G47 dummy is sometimes used by the Ventriloquist to_ assist in the
1740G47 deception. ^The Ventriloquist animates the dummy by moving
1750G47 its mouth, while his own lips appear still, creating the illusion
1760G47 that the voice is coming from the dummy.
1770G47 ^When not using a dummy, the Ventriloquist
1780G47 employs Pantomime to_ direct the attention of his viewers to
1790G47 the location or object from which the sound presumably emanates.
1800G47 $*3^VENTRILOQUISM*0 is a little-known form of entertainment
1810G47 in India and Ramadas Padhye is among the very few exponents
1820G47 of this art form. ^Though his dolls have neither a will nor
1830G47 a voice is coming from the dummy. ^When not impact and deliver
1840G47 their lines with telling effect.**[sic**] ^They sing
1850G47 and dance, love and fight, and do almost everything that_ human
1860G47 beings are capable of. ^*Ramadas has created some lively characters
1870G47 like Adhawat Rao, Avada Bai and Gadbad Singh and
1880G47 some animals and a parrot. ^All these play roles along with
1890G47 actors and actresses on the stage and hold their own in every
1900G47 respect. ^Recently Ramadas and his troupe of dolls presented
1910G47 a full length play in Marathi "*3Ya Chimanano Ya*0". ^Being
1920G47 the first attempt of its kind it had certain limitations though
1930G47 the experiment was promising and laudable. ^A powerful
1940G47 and tightly-knit script is the foremost requirement of any good
1950G47 play, particularly when the caste includes inanimate dolls who are
1960G47 severely handicapped in the delivery of dialogue and portrayal
1970G47 of actions and emotions. ^In "*3Ya Chimanano Ya*0" one got
1980G47 the impression that the script was a little rambling and the sequence
1990G47 of events was not well organised or patterned.
2000G47 $^Another limitation of the Ventriloquist is that he cannot
2010G47 open his mouth fully while speaking for the dolls. ^This muffles
2020G47 the sound, and in a large hall, can be exasperating to a
2030G47 part of the audience. ^A super sound system with very sensitive
2040G47 and well placed microphones is required to_ make the ventriloquist
2050G47 Play come home. ^Probably more musical support and a
2060G47 shift of dialogue to_ live characters may reduce the burden on
2070G47 the dolls and make such plays more entertaining. $^As an
2080G47 artist Ramdas Padhye has a wide range of talent and promises
2090G47 to_ provide a bright future for Ventriloquism#
        **[no. of words = 02010**]

        **[txt. g48**]
0010G48 **<*3Twentyfive Years Of Music and Dance*0**>
0020G48 $*5^*Sur-singar Samsad*6 is an institution that_ has been
0030G48 promoting classical dance and music in Bombay for the last
0040G48 twenty-five years. ^It celebrated its silver jubilee at
0050G48 the open-air Rang Bhavan theatre recently. ^*I have
0060G48 been closely associated with the organisation and its indefatigable
0070G48 Director, Brijnarain. ^*I still remember the memorable
0080G48 18-day festival held at Bombay*'s Cross Maidan
0090G48 in 1956 which had to_ be called off on the eleventh day
0100G48 on account of linguistic riots. $^It was a mammoth
0110G48 *4sammelan the like of which has never been organised in recent
0120G48 memory. ^A number of luminaries of classical music
0130G48 and dance were featured on one platform from all over India.
0140G48 ^For the organisers it was a gamble: the audience
0150G48 was an unknown factor; the financial risk involved
0160G48 was staggering. ^But the gamble paid off. ^And how!
0170G48 ^The era of great *4sammelans was born. ^Even his
0180G48 worst critics will concede that Brijnarain became synonymous
0190G48 with *5Sur-Singar Samsad*6. $*3^Thirty*0 years ago,
0200G48 a law graduate from \0UP came to Bombay. ^He got
0210G48 involved in the promotion of classical dance and music.
0220G48 ^It was soon to_ become an obsession with him. ^*Brijnarain,
0230G48 with the support of an industrial house with which
0240G48 he is associated as a director, launched the annual *4sammelans
0250G48 billing the leading lights of the world of dance and music.
0260G48 ^He does not claim any intimate or technical knwoledge
0270G48 of these arts, yet his passion for promoting them is incredible.
0280G48 ^Till recently, one could see him "holding court"
0290G48 in his office with visitors, musicians, dancers and people
0300G48 interested in these arts. ^No sooner was one
0310G48 *4sammelan over than he would plan the next one. ^People
0320G48 from various walks of life would be drawn in. ^Committees
0330G48 would be appointed and every one working for his organisation
0340G48 would be involved. ^The only reward one would get
0350G48 for lending one*'s services *7gratis would be the feeling
0360G48 of satisfaction of helping artistes in general. ^One
0370G48 would often end up meeting the expenses from one*'s own pocket.
0380G48 $*<*3Brickbats, Bouquets*0*> $^No one
0390G48 will deny the important role played by Brijnarain and his
0400G48 *5Sur-Singar Samsad*6. ^He has been variously reviled
0410G48 as a sycophant, egoist, loud mouth, dictator and what-have-you.
0420G48 ^But none denies him his dedication and the services
0430G48 he has rendered all these years. ^He would be on
0440G48 his feet throughout the night-long sessions. ^He maintains
0450G48 an air of informality. ^He loves his audiences and is happy
0470G48 whenever there is a large turnout. ^He is often seen
0480G48 chatting with musicians and workers and his raucous laughter
0490G48 could be heard from any corner of the auditorium.
0500G48 $^It was in the wake of independence three decades ago that the
0510G48 *4sammelans came into vogue. ^The keen anticipation
0520G48 with which Bombay*'s music lovers once looked forward to
0530G48 these *4sammelans was fully reflected in the tremendous audience
0550G48 participation that_ marked the daily sessions. ^Equally
0560G48 striking was the total involvement of the sponsors in the planning
0570G48 and the organisation of the festivals. $^Most of our
0580G48 legendary musicians and dancers have, at one time or another, performed
0590G48 for the *5Sur-Singar Samsad*6. ^With the passage of time the
0600G48 institution branched out into the Alankar Music Circle and
0610G48 the annual *5Kal Ke Kalakar*6, the festival that_ has nurtured
0620G48 a generation of dancers and musicians who are well-known names today;
0630G48 a long list of *4sammelans followed: the *4Ras-Ganga *4Sammelan
0640G48 that_ comprises *5Lok Sangeet*6, the *6Bhajan Sammelan*6,
0650G48 *4Shab-e-Ghazal*6, *4Mushaira, *5Kavi Sammelan*6, *4Qah-kaha
0660G48 and the Film *6Sangeet Sammelan*6. ^The *5Sur-Singar
0670G48 Samsad*6 also instituted awards: *5Svar Vilas*6 for classical
0680G48 vocal, *5Tantri Vilas*6 for instrumental music, *5Tal Vilas*6
0690G48 for percussion, *5Nritya Vilas*6 for dance and Fellowships
0700G48 for meritorious services; *5Sur Mani*6, *5Tal Mani*6 and
0710G48 *5Singar Mani*6 for young artistes for music and dance;
0720G48 *4Sur-Singar Film Music Awards for encouraging compositions
0730G48 of music in films that_ are nearest to classical music. ^With all
0740G48 such activities, these *4sammelans have indeed become important landmarks
0750G48 in the cultural life of Bombay. $^However, during
0760G48 the last fifteen years, one can see that the stimulus behind
0770G48 the various *4sammelans that_ followed the lead given by *5Sur-Singar
0780G48 Samsad*6 became diminished. *^Mohan Nadkarni, a
0790G48 veteran music critic from Bombay and a connoisseur deeply involved
0800G48 in the musical activity in the city for almost the same span
0810G48 of time as the *4Samsad, assesses the situation thus: "The
0811G48 stimulus was plainly artificial. ^New
0820G48 organisations, big and small, have sprung up one after another,
0830G48 ostensibly to_ promote mass appreciation of the classical traditions
0840G48 and to_ discover and project latent talent. ^In
0850G48 reality, their motives are frankly commercial. ^Already, about
0860G48 half a dozen organisations like these sponsor annual festivals, each
0870G48 at an interval of two months on an average. ^But, alas, this increase
0880G48 in the number is no indication of their popularity. ^For
0890G48 audience participation is waning. ^These *4sammelans
0900G48 have reduced themselves to the level of a ritual thanks, to
0910G48 the vicious circle which the organisers, the audience as also
0920G48 the performing artistes to a certain degree have willy-nilly created
0930G48 around themselves." $*<*3Promise Not Fulfilled*0*>
0940G48 $^The great promise and hope held out by the *4sammelans
0950G48 has petered out. ^Are these organisations doing anything
0960G48 worth while in discovering and encouraging promising talent
0970G48 in the field? ^Is the interest in the *5Sangeet Sammelans*6
0980G48 on the wane? ^The same questions apply to the appreciation
0990G48 of the art of the classical dancing. ^But let
1000G48 us first see what factors have hampered the genuine popularity
1010G48 of the performing arts. $^The organisers continue to_
1020G48 ignore the fact that a large number of their audiences are
1030G48 connoisseurs from the suburbs. ^Since the *4sammelans are
1040G48 almost always held in South Bombay, attending daily
1050G48 programmes (which often extend to a week or more) without
1060G48 any respite becomes expensive and tiring for these dedicated
1070G48 commuters. $^There is no rigid performing schedule.
1080G48 ^The daily sessions seldom start on time, too many items
1090G48 are crowded into a single sitting and proceedings drag on
1100G48 till dawn. ^Formerly, some organisers made arrangements with
1110G48 the \0BEST and the railway authorities for transport.
1120G48 ^Today, the suburban commuter has no choice except to_ leave
1130G48 before he misses the last train or bus. $^And the
1140G48 senior artiste whom one looks forward to listening is invariably
1150G48 billed at the end! ^With the result that the genuine
1160G48 music lover has to_ forgo the pleasure of listening to
1170G48 his music and there is that_ disconcerting spectacle of an
1180G48 almost empty auditorium towards the end. $^In 1956 and
1190G48 1957, the dance and music festivals sponsored by
1200G48 Maharashtra State which followed *5Sur-Singar Samsad*'s*6
1210G48 illustrious example attained conspicuous success. ^They
1220G48 brought the average listener within the fold by offering the
1230G48 musical fare of the stalwarts at a nominal price of fifty *4paise and
1260G48 a *4rupee. ^*I still recall the mammoth audiences that_ overflowed the
1270G48 Azad Maidan to_ listen to the late Omkarnath Thakur and the now
1280G48 internationally famous Ravi Shankar! $^The high rates
1290G48 of admission prevalent nowadays naturally alienate the average
1300G48 listener. ^The number of daily tickets available for sale
1310G48 is far fewer than the season tickets. ^Also there are too
1320G48 many *4sammelans too close to one another and one does not wish
1330G48 to_ spend for the same artistes during the same "season".
1340G48 $^The stereotyped character of these *4sammelans is another factor
1350G48 which has resulted in poor attendance. ^Although there
1360G48 are several masters in our midst, the sponsors seldom caste their
1370G48 net wide enough to_ cover them-- and thereby fail to_ make their
1380G48 programme schedule truly representative of contemporary traditions,
1390G48 styles and personalities. $^Another distracting factor
1400G48 that_ has raised its ugly head is paying the topnotch
1410G48 dancers and musicians exorbitant fees. ^Some orgnisers raise
1420G48 money through souvenirs and manage to_ muster the high fees.
1430G48 ^These very artistes then refuse to_ perform for organisations
1440G48 of long standing whose services in even promoting these very
1450G48 artistes are defeated. ^Meaningless competition and silly
1460G48 rivalry have unfortunately harmed the cause of these performing
1470G48 arts. $^It is a known fact that to_ organise these
1480G48 annual festivals is a difficult proposition. ^The gate collections
1490G48 are very poor. ^As a matter of fact, *5Sur-Singar
1500G48 Samsad*6 hardly charges admission fees. ^The admission cards
1510G48 are distributed generously. ^The artistes are paid a
1520G48 minimum fee to_ cover their expenses. ^If
1530G48 the present plight of the dancers and the musicians is to_ be
1540G48 improved, everyone concerned will have to_ act in concert.
1550G48 $^Under such circumstances, the up-and-coming artistes have no hope.
1560G48 ^With the exception of the *5Kal Ke Kalakar*6 festival
1570G48 of the *5Sur-Singar Samsad*6, there are no other organisaions
1580G48 which lend a platform to these unknown young artistes in a
1590G48 weeklong festival. ^The organisers should reserve a quarter
1600G48 of their normal schedule of programmes exclusively for featuring
1610G48 less-known but deserving artistes. ^Billing a celebrated
1620G48 artiste with a young artiste is bound to_ yield results; for those
1630G48 who come to_ listen to the senior artistes will naturally
1640G48 listen to the youngsters. $^In respect of dance,
1650G48 since a decade, I have been organising dance
1660G48 demonstrations twice a year during the *5Kal Ke Kalakar Sammelan*6
1670G48 and the *5Swami Haridas Sammelan*6 in consultation with
1680G48 Brijnarain. ^They have proved immensely popular. ^Often,
1690G48 I am accused of cutting into the time of the musicians.
1700G48 ^In a majority of the *4sammelans, the billing of dancers is still
1710G48 erratic. ^Either the dance is scheduled late in the night or
1720G48 the beginning. ^*I found out that, if the sponsors keep two separate
1730G48 sessions, both the musicians and dancers stand to_ benefit.
1740G48 ^Audences do turn out **[sic**] in large numbers for dance demonstrations
1750G48 where the intricacies are explained and the audiences are
1760G48 gently educated into the appreciation of the classical dance forms.
1770G48 $^Fortunately the situation is not so bad for dance itself.
1780G48 ^Of course, one notices emphasis on dazzling *4nritta (pure dance)
1790G48 and absence of depth in *4Abhinaya. ^But, dancers have
1800G48 learnt a sense of programming and they value the art of presentation.
1810G48 ^They explain the items well and have definitely created
1820G48 more response. ^Dance is no more an appendage or an additional
1830G48 attraction. ^It is finding a rightful place in the conferences.
1840G48 ^It is becoming popular in its own right. $^In the final
1850G48 analysis, patronage must come from the audiences and just not
1860G48 from the advertisers who contribute so generously to fatten the commemorative
1870G48 souvenirs. ^It is a mistaken notion that these *4sammelans
1880G48 are doing rather well as financial propositions. ^With the
1890G48 disappearance of the royal patronage and minimal support from
1900G48 Government agencies, the new patronage the middle class can offer
1910G48 our performing arts in a changed society is most welcome.
1920G48 $*<*3*5KAL KE KALAKAR*6*0*> $^In November 1969, I
1930G48 had returned to India after roaming all over Europe and attending
1940G48 various international dance and music festivals. ^When I
1950G48 attended at Bombay*'s *(oC.J.*) Hall the *5Kal Ke Kalakar*6
1960G48 festival, it struck me that, although we did not have the
1970G48 resources, this particular festival had the potential of an
1980G48 *8Avignam Nervi*9 or *7Spoletto. The range and the concept
1990G48 were amazing and this was done without any fanfare.
2000G48 $^*I know of no other festival in India which is organised on
2010G48 this scale and where admission is free. ^Members of the public
2020G48 can enter *(0C.J.*) Hall for nine evenings and have a choice
2030G48 fare in the performing arts. ^This festival was rendering
2040G48 another great service in promoting talented young dancers and
2050G48 musicians waiting in the wings. *5^*Kal Ke Kalakar*6 has
2060G48 proved over many years that it has been a launching-pad for their
2070G48 flourishing career. $^For instance, from among young dancers,
2080G48 one can easily count the names of those who have made
2090G48 the grade from this platform. *5^*Kal Ke Kalakar*6 provided
2100G48 them much-needed all-India-level publicity, another appearance
2110G48 in the prestigious *5Svami Haridas Sammelan*6 along with established
2120G48 and renowned artistes. ^The layman and the connoisseur
2130G48 alike looked forward to seeing their art again. ^And
2140G48 the word-of-mouth publicity won them their following. $^*Sanjukta
2150G48 Panigrahi, Sonal Mansingh, Shobha Naidu, Swapnasundari,
2160G48 Raja and Radha Reddy, Chitra Visweswaran, Mallika Sarabhai,
2170G48 Kamadev and a host of dancers who are now topnotchers
2180G48 and also internationally renowned appeared on the platform of
2190G48 *5Kal Ke Kalakar*6 and enthralled audiences with their excellent
2200G48 performances. $^The dance demonstration series served
2210G48 two purposes. ^It helped audiences understand subtle intricacies
2220G48 of the various dance forms: it depended on the *4gurus
2230G48 to_ give of their best and bring their best disciples.*#
        **[no. of words = 02015**]

        **[txt. g49**]
0010G49 **<*3FLUTES AND TRUMPETS*0**> $^IT HAPPENED long long
0020G49 ago, that a wicked *4shaman or medicine man bewitched the
0030G49 headman*'s wife. ^She could neither sing nor dance under
0040G49 the moon with her tribe, and no one could waken her. ^The
0050G49 headman was very sad, for then, as today, the dance was the
0060G49 chief expression of tribal aesthetic sensibility. ^He lost
0070G49 interest in everything. $^One morning, just as the sun was
0080G49 rising, a bird flew down beside the disconsolate headman, and
0090G49 whispered this message in the headman*'s ear: $"^Your wife will
0100G49 never sing nor dance until she hears the sound of a trumpet
0110G49 in the woods." $"^But where shall we find the trumpet?"
0120G49 asked the headman. $"^In the Land of the Departed,"
0130G49 answered the bird and flew away. $^So that_ night, a great feast
0140G49 was held for the souls of the departed. ^In the morning,
0150G49 a strange new sound was heard from deep within the woods, drawing
0160G49 nearer. ^And the headman*'s wife dreamt that it was
0170G49 harvest time with the sun shining on the corn and that her tribe
0180G49 was calling out to her to_ go and dance with them. $^Then
0190G49 the sound from the woods became so loud that all the neighbouring
0200G49 tribes came hurrying helter skelter. ^The headman*'s wife
0210G49 woke up, and rising, led them to a clearning in the woods where
0220G49 they found a trumpet. ^There was great rejoicing, and after sundown,
0230G49 the tribes sang and danced and blew the trumpet under
0240G49 the light of the moon. ^This, acording to legend, was the world*'s
0250G49 first trumpet. ^In fact, many romantic myths and
0260G49 legends are associated with the origin of trumpets. $^There
0270G49 was once a ghost who was invited to a feast by the people of
0280G49 the earth. ^Travelling to the feast, the ghost become tired.
0290G49 ^Later in the day, he met a bull elephant who lived in the forest.
0300G49 ^The elephant offered a ride to the ghost. ^The ghost
0310G49 was grateful. "^Choose", said the ghost, "what you would
0320G49 like". ^And the elpehant said. "^Leave something of me
0330G49 amongst mankind." ^The ghost pondered over this and promised
0340G49 to_ remember the elephant*'s wish. ^And when the ghost
0350G49 had partaken of the feast, he left behind for the poeple of earth
0360G49 something that_ was shaped like an elephant*'s trunk-- a trumpet.
0370G49 $\0^*DR. VERRIER *ELWIN records that in
0380G49 Kond tradition, the Gods became angry with mankind. ^There
0390G49 was too much sun and too much rain. ^Consequently, the crops
0400G49 did not prosper. ^Those who fell sick did not recover. ^Finally,
0410G49 Paramugatti-- a semi-divine tribal hero-- thought of
0420G49 a method of pleasing the Gods. ^He cut a bamboo and made
0430G49 a flute. ^Next time a festival came around, the Konds beat
0440G49 their drums and played the flute and the Gods were pleased.
0450G49 ^And men were happy with their first flute. ^Over
0460G49 the years, the flute gave them the idea of trumpets.
0470G49 $^So, from the Kond*'s viewpoint, trumpets and flutes possess
0480G49 a supernatural significance. ^The sound of trumpets and
0490G49 flutes, they believe, brings the hungry gods nearer and ensures
0500G49 their support, so essential for the success of the crops.
0510G49 ^At harvest time and at other festivals, they dance, beat
0520G49 their drums and blow their trumpets in the desperate hope that
0530G49 "the unseen beings, in whose hands are the powers of life
0540G49 and death, may be appeased. $^In fact, however, long ago
0550G49 several tribal festivals were celebrated by drowning a live pig.
0560G49 ^It was usual to_ tie up the pig before lowering it into
0570G49 the water and to_ prevent its perfectly natural expostulations
0580G49 from striking a discordant note, the animal was surrounded by
0590G49 people blowing shell trumpets, whose blares entirely drowned all
0600G49 squeals. ^These were the first trumpets. ^Shells or conches
0610G49 are still used in Polynesia during sacrificial rituals.
0620G49 $^In many religions, trumpets are devoted to the worship of Gods
0630G49 and their origin is often credited to a special God. ^In
0640G49 Hindu mythology, the conch, as a trumpet or sacrificial vessel,
0650G49 is an attribute of Vishnu, Lord of the Waters, who wrested
0660G49 it from *4Panchajana the underwater demon. ^Its name, *4Sankha,
0670G49 meaning conch shell, is the second name of his wife Lakshmi.
0680G49 ^*Vishnu is pictured as holding the conch shell, which
0690G49 commands the mystical syllable "*1OM", as does the *4tambura
0700G49 (lute) of Shiva. ^In Bengal, conch shells are blown during
0710G49 the recitation of *4Puranas. $^The conch was also the attribute
0720G49 of the ancient Mexican rain God Tlaloc. ^A metal
0730G49 trumpet was used in the worship of Osiris, Egypt*'s God
0740G49 of Fertility, who is credited with inventing the trumpet.
0750G49 ^In the Bible, it is recorded that the Lord told Moses to_
0760G49 make a pair of silver trumpets for signalling the opening of a
0770G49 new month and to_ blow over burnt offerings. $^In Greek
0780G49 mythology, Triton, son of Neptune and Amphritite, is the trumpeter
0790G49 of the deep. ^He controls the movement of the waves and
0800G49 conquers giants by the blasts of his conch shells. ^The Tritons,
0810G49 his children also blew conch shells and were present at the
0820G49 rape of Europa, blowing on their conches as the great Bull
0830G49 bore her across the waters. $^*Funk and Wagnall*'s Standard
0840G49 Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology and Legends tells us
0850G49 that trumpets have been significant since Neolithic times
0860G49 for "religious and magical observances, burial rites, initiation
0870G49 ceremonies, curing, expulsion of evil spirits, communication with
0880G49 the dead and with the Gods, for fertility and weather charms
0890G49 , for sunset rites, for military signals, for announcement of
0900G49 assemblies, arrivals and festivites". $^The sound of
0910G49 primitive trumpets is loud and frightening, and as such suitable
0920G49 for attracting the attention of the Gods and spirits. ^Of course,
0930G49 the trumpet served a useful purpose for the *4shaman, for to those
0940G49 who do not see the instrument, it can readily be accepted
0950G49 as the voice of God or demon. $^In time, the sound of a
0960G49 trumpet became established in tribal tradition as the bridge between
0970G49 the world of the Living and that_ of the Departed; between
0980G49 this and the realm of the gods and demons. ^The Devil Dances
0990G49 of Tibet always begin with the blowing of large copper trumpets
1000G49 to the accompaniment of cymbals, clarinets and drums.
1010G49 ^In *4Bali, demons are summoned by trumpets to a feast.
1020G49 ^The trumpet came to_ be regarded primarily as a preserver, summoning
1030G49 and dispelling the forces of nature, assuring luck in the chase,
1040G49 victory in battle. $^Generally, the shape of a trumpet
1050G49 is in the form of a straight tube, with or without a bell at
1060G49 the end. ^This form, in primitive concept, is essentially associated
1070G49 with the phallus, procreation, fertilization and rebirth.
1080G49 ^Accordingly, trumpets form an essential and important part
1090G49 of the ritual at most tribal weddings. ^At Maria weddings,
1100G49 for instance, particularly at the ceremonial consummation of the
1110G49 marriage at which bride and bridegroom are forcibly shut up in
1120G49 a room together, trumpets are blown. $^Interestingly, trumpets
1130G49 feature prominently in prophecies concerning the End of the
1140G49 Earth. ^When the last day of the Earth comes, the trumpet
1150G49 will sound. "^It may be the conch shell blown by Shiva
1160G49 among the licking flames, or it may be the ram*'s horn of Israel
1170G49 sounding the resurrection, which carries over into the Christian
1180G49 concept of the trumpet blown by the angel Gabriel on Judgement
1190G49 Day. $^*INDIA ITSELF presents an interesting
1200G49 variety of trumpets in different parts of the country. ^The
1210G49 *4Pungi is a horn made of two long gourds connected with a hollow
1220G49 bamboo. ^It is often used by the Bhils of Western India.
1230G49 $^The *4Tutari is a variation of another simple
1240G49 and primitive wind instrument-- the *4Kombu or buffalo horn,
1250G49 played in South India by the working classes. ^It produces
1260G49 two or three shrill notes. ^The *4Tutari is a long metal
1270G49 horn with a curved shape, very popular in Maharashtra. ^Four
1280G49 to five notes are played on it. $^The *4Taarai is a heavy
1290G49 brass trumpet which needs much lung power to_ blow. ^It is carried
1300G49 around and heard in South Indian temple processions.
1310G49 $^The *4Shehnai of the North and the Deccan, and the allied
1320G49 *4Nadaswaram of South India belong to the most highly developed
1330G49 wind instruments. ^The *4Shehnai has seven holes while
1340G49 the *4Nadaswaram has twelve; seven for playing and five for regulating
1350G49 the pitch. ^It is played in temples and during weddings
1360G49 and other auspicious occasions. $^The *4Nadaswaram
1370G49 is played in a high pitch, often making a shrill piercing sound,
1380G49 while the *4Shehnai is played in a medium pitch and is therefore,
1390G49 in some ways, more melodious. ^A good *4Shehnai player is always
1400G49 in great demand and people flock to_ hear him. $^The *4Bansari
1410G49 or flute is dear to the heart of most Hindus because
1420G49 of its intimate association with Krishna. ^The *4Bansari
1430G49 is made of a hollow bamboo and has six or seven holes.
1440G49 ^It is usually played by holding it horizontally across the mouth.
1450G49 ^But it can also be played in a vertical position when it has
1460G49 been so constructed. ^Its range is limited-- one note less than
1470G49 two octaves, but an expert player can wring out exquisite
1480G49 melody from the *4Bansari.
1490G49 $**<AN INTRPID ICONOCLAST**> $*<*3^SEVENTY*0-six-year-old \0Dr.
1500G49 Shivaram Karanth, outstanding as a writer and populariser of the
1510G49 *4Yakshagana, a folk dance-drama form from Karnataka, is also
1520G49 a pioneer film maker in Kannada. $^He made two silent
1530G49 movies *4Domingo*0 and *3Bhoot Rajya*0 in the early *'3thirties. *3Chomana
1540G49 Dudi*0 (Choma*'s Drum), based on his novel, won the national
1550G49 award and an award for the best story. ^He was the
1560G49 chairman of the jury at the National film awards last year and has
1570G49 just completed a film *3Maleya Makkalu*0 (Children of the Forest)
1580G49 on the life of the *3Malekudis*0, an *4adivasi tribe of South Kanara,
1590G49 based on a novel, *3Kudiyara Koosu*0 (Child of Kudiya), written
1600G49 by him. ^Known for his blunt and outspoken views,
1610G49 he talks about his films. $^What were your experiences in
1620G49 film making in the *'3thirties? $^One of my earliest efforts,
1630G49 was a silent propaganda film, *3Domingo*0, on the *4harijan problem
1640G49 in 1930. ^Again in 1931, I tried my hand at a thriller,
1650G49 *3Boota Rajya*0 (Devil*'s Land)-- a full length feature film. ^The
1660G49 first one got burnt. ^The eight thousand feet of the second
1670G49 cost me \0Rs 4,000, for the first print. ^*I acted in it myself
1680G49 and shot it with my Kinamo hand camera. ^Got it developed in my
1690G49 village Puttur, but it had a mottled effect. ^Then, at Bombay,
1700G49 I studied developing. ^The processing and printing work
1710G49 was done by Devre Films and Wadia Combines. ^The film
1720G49 was exhibited in Ceylon also. ^By then, I had burnt my
1730G49 fingers! $^Then why did you make *3Maleya Akkalu?*0
1740G49 $^It was just out of curiousity. $^How did you adapt your
1750G49 novel to the film? $^The novel was set against the sociological
1760G49 and anthropological background of a particular tribe. ^*I
1770G49 can*'4t handle all these aspects in a two-hour film. ^*I took
1780G49 their social problems, especially those relating to marriage and
1790G49 sex norms. ^There was a dearth of women among them and
1791G49 restrictions were imposed by the landlords
1800G49 against marrying outsiders. ^When I went there one Karadi
1810G49 Subha had three wives-- this created a general feeling of jealousy.
1820G49 ^Added to this, a *4mestri (supervisor) from the plains, was
1830G49 in love with a local girl. ^All this complicated the issue.
1840G49 ^These aspects are analysed in my film. ^Here, nature symbolised
1850G49 a sense of freedom, with wild animals, like the bison used
1860G49 to_ depict a revengeful hostile woman, for instance. $^Did
1870G49 you change the film title because you anticipated problems from the
1880G49 censor? $^No. ^Whenever I write a social novel I mention
1890G49 a caste or community to_ give it local colour. ^Each community
1900G49 thinks I am being derogatory and create a lot of fuss. ^They
1910G49 are not keen on solving problems. ^*I dropped the original name
1920G49 to_ avoid complaints. $^What is the position of the *4Malekudi
1930G49 tribe today? $^Years ago, they used to_ work on the cardamom
1940G49 estates in the lower regions for two months and then do what
1950G49 is known as flash-and-burn cultivation for the rest of the time.
1960G49 ^Now the lower estates have become rubber plantations and the
1970G49 *4malekudis are permanent coolies.*#
        **[no. of words = 02006**]

        **[txt. g50**]
0010G50 **<*3CONTEMPORARY COMMERCIAL THEATRE*0**> $*3^IN*0 the post-partition
0020G50 period displaced persons from East Pakistan came in periodic
0030G50 waves and preferred to_ settle, if that_ is the word, in or as
0040G50 near Culcutta as possible. ^The normal influx of people from the surrounding
0050G50 rural areas also increased in volume. ^For various reasons
0060G50 the city was unable and ill equipped to_ grow and change sufficiently
0070G50 to_ absorb the pressure. ^The result was that Culcutta became one of
0080G50 the most crowded cities in the world. $^The increase in resident population
0090G50 pushed up sales of agencies providing inexpensive entertainment.
0100G50 ^The cinema was the principal beneficiary of this trend. ^The theatre
0110G50 did not at first make any comparable or concurrent gain. ^It was
0120G50 partly because of the higher prices of tickets, and partly because
0130G50 of the shoddy productions in the derelict playhouses. ^It was also due
0140G50 to the shift in allegiance of the habitual audience to the "other theatre".
0150G50 ^It took a little time for commercial theatre owners to_ wake
0160G50 up and set about recovering the patronage they had lost. ^*Star Theatre
0170G50 was the first to_ hit upon the idea of cashing in on the popularity
0180G50 of the emerging breed of cinema stars. ^It engaged, among others,
0190G50 Uttam Kumar, the matinee idol of Bengali cinema and Savitri Chatterjee,
0200G50 a very fine actress. ^It put up *3Shyamali*0, a sentimental
0210G50 play about a deaf and dumb girl. ^People flocked to_ see their
0220G50 favourite screen idols in the flesh and the commercial theatre had begun
0230G50 the trek back. *3^*Shyamali*0 gave Star enough money to_ carry out
0240G50 renovations and bolster its conservative instincts. ^*Rangmahal followed
0250G50 suit, somewhat less successfully. ^Cinema stars were not plentiful
0260G50 and the few who had taken up engagements in the theatre soon left.
0270G50 ^In the thick of proprietary disputes Minerva was in no position
0280G50 to_ try and surrendered control to Utpal Dutt*'s \0L.T.G. ^The
0290G50 theatre which exploited the changes in the composition and preference
0300G50 of the audience most was Biswaroopa, the name given by the new proprietors
0310G50 to Sisir Bhaduri*'s Srirangam. ^After one or two conventional
0320G50 plays, the new owners chose a play by Bidhayak Bhattacharya,
0330G50 called *3Kshudha*0. ^It had some pretensions to social realism
0340G50 and ran for 570 nights, vindicating the shrewdness of the proprietors
0350G50 in catching at the flood the tide of new theatrical ideas. ^To_
0360G50 exploit the possibilities better, Biswaroopa secured, for its next
0370G50 production *3Setu*0, the services of Tripti Mitra and Tapas
0380G50 Sen. ^The play opened in october 1959 and was withdrawn after an uninterrupted
0390G50 run of more than a thousand nights in april, 1964. ^If
0400G50 Biswaroopa managed to_ grab the major share of popular patronage,
0410G50 other commercial theatres did not lag much behind. ^Most of the plays
0420G50 put up at Star and Rangmahal ran for two hundred or more nights and
0430G50 made money. ^This was doubtless facilitated by the revival of interest
0440G50 in the theatre generated by the work of the non-professional groups.
0450G50 ^But the popularity which the commercial theatres enjoyed from the
0460G50 late fifties was no less due to the enlarged civic population and
0470G50 the utterly inadequate number of regular theatres to_ cater to it. ^For
0480G50 about eighty out of the hundred odd years of Bengali professional theatre*'s
0490G50 life, there have been only four or five playhouses, although
0500G50 during those eight decades both the population and the theatre audience
0510G50 had increased many times. ^In the excellent monograph on Bengali
0520G50 theatre published a few years ago by Jadavpur University, there is
0530G50 a list of fifty playhouses in the city. ^The list, however, is one of
0540G50 auditoria where plays have been put up sometime or other during the last
0550G50 one hundred and fifty years. ^It shows that till recently regular
0560G50 play houses in Culcutta have never been more than seven or eight.
0570G50 $^A theatre catering to a large and varied audience has necessarily to_
0580G50 be entertaining. ^Almost inescapably the "enetertainment" element
0590G50 gravitates towards the lowest common denominator of audience preference
0600G50 which, given the social conditions of the times, was bound to_ be for
0610G50 escapism. ^Responding to such preference the commercial theatre
0620G50 lost no time in shedding its earlier pretence of social purposiveness and
0630G50 made the unoriginal choice of sex, titillation and vulgarity as the
0640G50 recipe for escapist enetertainment. ^Once again Biswaroopa was one
0650G50 jump ahead of others and put up *3Chowringhee*0, a dreadful play
0660G50 exploiting the voyeuristic prurience of the public. ^It became a money
0670G50 spinner. ^Others followed suit but happily the oldest pillar of
0680G50 commercial theatre, Star, resisted the temptation to_ exploit
0690G50 sex. ^It remained old fashioned and put its trust in the conventional
0700G50 plays written by the old style actor Mahendra Gupta and old style
0710G50 playwright Debnarain Gupta. ^If their plays and the productions at
0720G50 Star appear to_ come straight out of traditonal Bengali theatre of bygone
0730G50 years, they have at least the virtue of decency. ^It was others--
0740G50 some of them associated earlier with progressive theatre-- which tried
0750G50 to_ cash in on the new Bengali-style permissiveness. ^It is dismaying
0760G50 to_ reflect that the group which has done so most successfully had
0770G50 once made a name for itself by staging a Bengali version of Arthur Miller*'s
0780G50 *3Death of a Salesman*0. ^It leased a new playhouse and
0790G50 put up *3Baarbadhu*0, a dramatised version of a story by a well-known
0800G50 novelist. ^A profligate hires a prostitute to_ pose as his wife and
0810G50 accompany him on a holiday. ^The play-acting prostitute falls in love
0820G50 with him only to_ be deserted when the holiday is over. ^The production
0830G50 is neat and the two main characters act well. ^But the phenomenal
0840G50 popularity of the play, one suspects, has principally been due
0850G50 to the titillating glimpses of the bed-room scene. ^With *3Baarbadhu*0,
0860G50 the group has made history of sorts. ^It has been the longest
0870G50 running play in the history of Bengali theatre with an uninterrupted
0880G50 run of more than 1700 performances. $^A few theatres were built during
0890G50 the sixties and several more in the last three or four years. ^But
0900G50 the acute shortage still remains. ^The audience, actual and potential,
0910G50 has grown enormously and so has the number of small groups struggling
0920G50 to_ put up experimental, *8Avant garde*9 plays. they have
0930G50 to_ make do with makeshift arrangements and remain content with infrequnt
0940G50 productions. ^Rising costs have added to their difficulties and many
0950G50 of them frequently break up or become inactive. ^It is unfortunate
0960G50 that those who by their talent and devotion won for the drama movement a
0970G50 position of leadership and wide acceptance did not have the foresight to_
0980G50 divert a part of their energies for building a number of small modest
0990G50 theatres where off-beat plays could be tried out. ^Nor did they have the
1000G50 willingness or ability to_ work together for remedying a situation that_
1010G50 threatened their existence. ^That they were in a position to_ do so
1020G50 by the late fifties is shown by the commendable ventures of two groups
1030G50 which run two small theatres in south Culcutta. ^One of them, Theatre
1040G50 Centre, mostly produces playwright-actor Tarun Roy*'s plays.
1050G50 ^The author of a large number of competent, well written plays,
1060G50 Tarun Roy has rendered valuable service by a sustained demonstration
1070G50 of the lesson many groups of the minority theatre are apt to_ forget,
1080G50 namely, that intimate theatre was not synonymous with amateurish,
1090G50 wild-eyed or modish experiments. ^The other, Mukta Angan, has
1100G50 served till recently as virtually the only place where less known groups
1110G50 had a chance of testing the worth of their productions before, by and
1120G50 large, an informed audience. $^The lead given by Theatre Centre
1130G50 and Mukta Angan was not followed up and the opportunity was let slip.
1140G50 ^Building and other costs being what they are, shortage of theatres
1150G50 is unlikely to_ be relieved in the near future. ^For small,
1160G50 earnest groups the situation is fairly serious. ^The hire charges of the
1170G50 few available stages have of late become prohibitively high. ^This
1180G50 should be a cause for concern since on them is pinned any hope of
1190G50 Bengali theatre breaking fresh ground and exploring new ways. ^The
1200G50 present situation for the "other theatre" is critical enough for Badal
1210G50 Sircar to_ suggest the drastic measure of getting out of auditoriums and
1220G50 dropping the entire paraphernalia of staged productions. ^Accordig to
1230G50 him the crisis is not so much a matter of economics as of aesthetics.
1240G50 ^The theatre, he feels, has nearly exhausted the uses of the traditional
1250G50 means at its disposal and has to_ look for new ways of expression
1260G50 that_ go beyond what has so far been regarded as legitimate in drama and
1270G50 theatre. ^As advocate of the arena theatre or theatre in-the-round,
1280G50 he has put some of his ideas into practice. ^His own group, Satabdi,
1290G50 often performs in an open plot of land. ^The motivation of
1300G50 Badal Sircar*'s and of a similar venture by Bir Sen*'s silhouette is
1310G50 different from Uptal Dutt*'s street-corner plays. ^They are experiments
1320G50 with new theatrical modes and concepts which reject a whole lot of
1330G50 conventions including those that_ grew out of the innovations of the
1340G50 New Drama movement of the earlier generation. $^In pleading for an
1350G50 arena theatre without props Badal Sircar is careful to_ point out
1360G50 that he is not arguing for reforging links with or going back to traditions
1370G50 of *4jatra. ^The *4jatra itself has retained precious little
1380G50 of those traditions. ^Indeed, the metamorphosis it has undergone is
1390G50 as striking as the phenomenon of its enormous popularity during the last
1400G50 twenty-five years or so. ^Compared to the theatre, the *4jatra
1410G50 troupes-- they call themselves, interestingly, "Companies" and
1420G50 "Operas"-- operate almost on the scale of big business. ^They pay their
1430G50 leading actors sums which the commercial theatre in Calcutta cannot
1440G50 even dream of. ^With well organised offices in Calcutta, the *4jatra
1450G50 troupes tour around the townships in the industrial and plantation
1460G50 areas of West Bengal, Bihar and Assam for seven or eight months
1470G50 in the year before huge assemblages of people. ^In Calcutta and its
1480G50 environs *4jatra performances are no less a draw. ^Responding to
1490G50 social changes, answering to the demands of its mammoth clientele and
1500G50 subject to a multitude of influences, *4jatra in its present form--
1510G50 and content-- is a far cry from the operatic-religious folk theatre it used
1520G50 to_ be. ^It has dropped on the way many hallowed conventions while
1530G50 picking up others, quite a few from the theatre. ^In its turn it has
1540G50 influenced the theatre in various overt and covert ways. ^In fact, its
1550G50 influence has been operative all along and the theatre has, consciously
1560G50 or unconsciously, taken over elements of the *4jatra, making them,
1570G50 in course of time, part of its own evolving form. $^Operatic music
1580G50 is one such element. ^Without songs and dances, Girish Ghosh
1590G50 had once remarked, people do not come to_ see a play. ^The majority
1600G50 of his plays are strewn with them. ^So are the plays, in greater or
1610G50 less measure, of playwrights of his and succeeding generations. ^Songs
1620G50 are, of course, an integral part of Tagore*'s plays. ^No producer
1630G50 of those times would normally put up a play without a handful of songs
1640G50 and dances. ^Even Sisir Bhaduri had to_ make room for them
1650G50 in his productions. ^For the most part these were intrusions but the
1660G50 public did not consider them so. ^On the contrary, they were considered
1670G50 as essential to theatre as to *4jatra, though in the former they ceased
1680G50 to_ be "functional". ^The New Drama movement brought about
1690G50 a change in attitude. ^Songs and dances were used when necessary but
1700G50 not otherwise. ^The possibility of having background music and sounds
1710G50 through public speaker systems assisted the process of removal of the interruptions
1720G50 of songs. ^The revival of *4jatra in the post-war decades
1730G50 and its popularity, however, show that operatic music had lost none
1740G50 of its appeal. $^The appeal has, in recent times, been exploited
1750G50 in a variety of ways. ^Straight musicals have not been one of
1760G50 them. ^But plays written on legendary folk singers where songs have
1770G50 to_ be there have been profitably put up by one of the commercial theatres.
1780G50 ^For groups professing to_ belong to the "other theatre" but
1790G50 anxious to_ extract mileage from the appeal of operatic music, Brecht
1800G50 has come in as a handy ally.*#
        **[no. of words = 02009**]


        **[txt. g51**]
0010G51 **<*3Sea Power and the Indian Ocean*0*> $^Some analysts point out
0020G51 that during the fifties and until the Chinese aggression, India*'s
0030G51 national strategy lacked adequate military content; that after 1962,
0040G51 the Army*'s strength was doubled, the Air Force development
0050G51 speeded up, and the military aspect of national strategy acquiried
0060G51 continental moorings; that, for the seventies and beyond a stronger
0070G51 emphasis must be placed on maritime strategy and a more
0080G51 balanced military development. ^In fact, there is at all times ample
0090G51 need for a maritime strategy to_ be prosecuted, and it is therefore
0100G51 pertinent to_ examine it in some detail. $^The use
0110G51 of sea power in situations short of war has been frequent in this
0120G51 century, including the post-World War *=2 period. ^On several
0130G51 occasions, fleets of naval task forces have been used to_ influence
0140G51 events by rapidly projecting a strong presence in an area of
0150G51 potential or actual tension. ^This deterrence is carefully graduated
0160G51 to_ achieve the aim of containing or controlling the situation
0170G51 without resorting to shooting as far as possible. ^In short,
0180G51 "gunboat diplomacy" is still active. $^As far as India
0190G51 is concerned her peace-time strategy would, in the main be a continuation
0200G51 of her earlier policy, with certain modifications to_
0210G51 suit the changing times. $^*Naval cooperation with friendly
0220G51 Afro-Asian countries, a welcome feature in the last two
0230G51 decades, should be encouraged by mutual assistance training programmes,
0240G51 visits to each others ports, and the many ways in which such
0250G51 contacts generate and keep alive lasting associations. ^The value of
0260G51 goodwill visits to other foreign countries should also be given due
0270G51 attention, with the accent on the use of modern vessels for
0280G51 the purpose. $^The Navy must be developed and trained in peace-time
0290G51 to_ present the necessary deterrence to any potential aggressor
0300G51 in the area. ^It may be used in surport of coastguard
0310G51 operations, when the occasion demands, and for situations where a naval
0320G51 presence is necessary to_ ensure that our sovereignty is respected
0330G51 and incursions and illegal exploitation of our ocean resources
0340G51 do not take place. $^On the political plane, every effort has
0350G51 to_ be made to_ erase the territorial and jurisdictional causes
0360G51 that_ lead to tension and confronation at sea between neighbouring
0370G51 countries. ^Our maritime boundaries should be demarcated by
0380G51 mutual agreement with our neighbours; the notable advances in this
0390G51 respect in our negotiations with Indonesia and Sri Lanka must
0400G51 be continued. $^It is necessary to_ support all attempts to_
0410G51 secure international agreeement on the Laws of the Sea. ^This
0420G51 is the only way to_ avoid maritime chaos, and to_ secure the freedom
0430G51 of navigation and a just distribution of the wealth of the seas.
0440G51 ^The strategy for our shipping development has already been
0450G51 outlined. ^It must pursue the twin goals of self-reliance and international
0470G51 equity. $^Planning for naval development
0480G51 must take into account what is to_ be safeguarded and how best
0490G51 to_ defend our maritime interests. ^That we should build up
0500G51 a balanced naval force comprising, in appropriate proportions,
0510G51 the various elements of maritime defence is a foregone conclusion.
0520G51 ^The spectrum this defence must cover would include:
0530G51 $ocean-going forces, three-dimensional in character, constituting the
0540G51 main stike forces, with a provision for various escort commitments;
0550G51 $coastal defence force, required to_ sanitise an area roughly
0560G51 extending to the limits of our exclusive economic zone;
0570G51 $harbour defence forces, to_ protect vital ports and harbours;
0580G51 $logistic support forces, to_ replenish the front line forces at sea;$amphibious
0590G51 forces, for the defence of our outlying territories and
0600G51 other amphibious tasks; and $the air elements that_ should be
0610G51 intergratedd with the above forces, as required. $^Ocean-going
0620G51 forces must include sea control vessels with the tactical air element,
0630G51 command and control vessels, and ships of frigate/ destroyer type.
0640G51 ^Their grouping, in task forces, has to_ be flexible and
0650G51 tailored to_ suit each mission. ^They must work closely with shore-based
0660G51 reconnaissance and anti-submarine aircraft and be equipped
0670G51 with modern communications, sensors, and weapons such as missiles
0680G51 of various types. ^Escort vessels are often necessary for the
0690G51 logistic support forces as well as for vital trade protection.
0700G51 ^General-purpose ships, such as frigates, lend themselves to this task
0710G51 as well. ^The endurance level of ocean-going forces has to_ be
0720G51 high and this affects their size. ^Submarines are classified under
0730G51 ocean-going forces, but their missions are normally independent
0740G51 of strike and escort forces. $^Coastal forces, required
0750G51 to_ protect our offshore installations and coastal trade
0760G51 as well as provide defence in depth to our coastline, consists of
0770G51 vessels smaller than frigates or destroyers, with less endurance
0780G51 power (since they operate relatively close to the shore) but with all-round
0790G51 fighting capability. ^Corvettes are normally used for this purpose
0800G51 and they work in close liaison with the shore-based air search
0810G51 and strike forces. $^Harbour defence forces include minesweepers
0820G51 and minehuanters to_ keep the approaches to the ports and
0830G51 harbours free of mines, seaward defence boats to_ counter infiltration
0840G51 and clandestine attacks by small boats and midget submarines,
0850G51 and missile boats for defence against surface attack.
0860G51 ^Air defence of the port is separately catered for, but the vessels used
0870G51 in harbour defence would work in cooperation with aircraft dedicated
0880G51 to sea tasks, such as helicopters used for anti-submarine ventures
0890G51 or minesweeping. ^The missile boats may be vessels with conventional
0900G51 hulls or, if future development makes it possible, hydrofoil
0910G51 or hovercraft. $^To_ keep the fleets at sea and obviate
0920G51 their constant return to harbour to_ take on fresh supplies of fuel,
0930G51 ammunition, stores, and victuals, all modern navies have logistic
0940G51 support ships, such as tankers and shore ships, which use underway
0950G51 replenishment techniques. ^These vessels have considerable
0960G51 endurance, but do not carry the sensors or weaponry for effective self-defence.
0970G51 ^They have therefore to_ be escorted. $^Amphibious
0980G51 forces are required for the defence of our hundreds of outlying
0990G51 islands. ^Most of these islands do not have well-developed harbours
1000G51 with wharves and jetties; therefore, embarkation and disembarkation
1010G51 have to_ take place across the beaches. ^It is not possible
1020G51 to_ permanently garrison all these islands; mobile patrols and
1030G51 amphibious forces with beaching capacity are, therefore, necessary
1040G51 to_ ensure their proper protection. these amphibious forces,
1050G51 consisting of landing ships and craft, with the capacity to_ carry
1060G51 army tanks, vehicles, guns, and personnel and other supporting forces,
1070G51 need to_ be based, as far possible, in these island territories
1080G51 because of their distance from the mainland. ^The use of hovercraft
1090G51 for amphibious landings has been mooted and may soon become an integral
1100G51 part of amphibious forces. $^Today, amphibious operations
1110G51 include the use of troop-carrying helicopters for "vertical envelopment".
1120G51 ^These helicopters are carried in ships of the amphibious
1130G51 force. ^This is a capacity needing development and which is well
1140G51 within our reach. $^The air element in naval operations ranges
1150G51 from tactical air in vessels such as the carrier, through
1160G51 shore-based aircraft, both fixed and rotary wing, to shipborne helicopters
1170G51 for anti-submarine, communications, logistic, and hydrographic
1180G51 work. ^The aerial surveillance of the ocean is a critical
1190G51 aspect of maritime strategy. ^Aircraft, suitably equipped and
1200G51 in adequate numbers, have to_ be provided on both our coasts and,
1210G51 where possible, in our outlying territories. ^We already have anti-submarine
1220G51 helicopters which can be used, not only aboard ships
1230G51 but from the shore as well, in the defence of harbours. ^Minesweeping
1240G51 helicopters may also operate from shore bases. $^As explained
1250G51 earlier, tactical air has to_ be provided in the form of \0VSTOL
1260G51 intercepter/ strike aircraft, opearting from sea control ships
1270G51 as well as by rotary wing shipborne helicopters. ^The need to_
1280G51 use aircraft for electronic warfare tasks should also be taken into account.
1290G51 $^The determination of the right proportions of all
1300G51 the various forces is a matter of careful analysis and military management.
1310G51 ^Obviously, there will be many constraints, not the least
1320G51 being the availability of resources, which will
1330G51 inhibit and severely discipline any effort to_ provide
1340G51 the Navy with its basic needs. ^But the acceptance of the
1350G51 principle of balanced forces is the cardinal issue. $^During
1360G51 war, effective sea control is of paramount importance. ^We must
1370G51 command those areas of the sea that_ are vital to us and deny to the enemy
1380G51 those areas vital to him. ^This implies a bold strategy of wresting
1390G51 any initiative the aggressor may have gained and turning the tables
1400G51 on him. ^One type of firm retaliation is carrying the war
1410G51 into enemy territory by "attack at source". ^This, was achieved,
1420G51 for example, in 1971 when India attacked Pakistan*'s major naval
1430G51 base and port, Karachi, from the sea and the air. ^This put
1440G51 the adversary on the defensive and secured the initiative for our
1450G51 side. but "attack at source", though effective, can be fraught with
1460G51 much hazard, and the risks and gains have to_ be carefully calculaated.
1470G51 ^One of its attractive possibilities is that it may catch
1480G51 enemy units before they can sally out and take protection in the
1490G51 vast ocean, where they become a problem to_ locate and a menace till
1500G51 they are found and neutralised. ^The mining of approaches to the
1510G51 enemy*'s harbours is one way of bottling up its naval units and
1520G51 strangling trade. ^*Pakistan attemped this unsuccessfully in 1971,
1530G51 but it is a potent method of attack and we should not only be prepared
1540G51 against it but also be ready to_ adopt it overselves.
1550G51 $^But wars at sea are not won by attacks at source alone. ^The
1560G51 decisive battle is normally fought on the high seas where naval
1570G51 operations embody the search and attack on the opponent*'s surface
1580G51 warships and submarines as well as the seizure of his merchant ships.
1590G51 ^With the application of contraband control or blockade, merchant
1600G51 vessels of other countries, carrying cargoes which can assist the
1610G51 enemy in his war effort, can also be prevented from doing so.
1620G51 ^Some nations, such as Germany in the two World Wars, have prowled
1630G51 the oceans, in lone warships, to_ raid cargo ships outside the areas
1640G51 of blockade. ^This is not a war-winning strategy but a facet
1650G51 of trade warfare. ^Whatever the choice of method, it is certain that
1660G51 victory will elude a purely defensive strategy. $^Offensive action,
1670G51 to_ be prosecuted vigorously and relentlessly, requires the
1680G51 use of firm and secure bases as springboards for action. ^Thus, our
1690G51 base facilities, and the coastal and local defence forces protecting
1700G51 them, are an intergal and valuable part of the maritime operations
1710G51 scenario. $^We have two major bases on the east and west coasts.
1720G51 ^The nature of maritime development in the Indian Ocean indicates
1730G51 the need for a naval base in the south of our peninsula.
1740G51 ^It may not, to_ start with, have elaborate repair and logistic organisations,
1750G51 but berthing, fuelling, and other operating facilities
1760G51 should be provided. $^As regards the actual waging of war, there
1770G51 are well-established principles which are taught in all important
1780G51 military institutions and have stood the test of time. ^Whilst
1790G51 these are universally applicable to war on land, sea, and in the air,
1800G51 some of them need special emphasis in the maritime setting, with
1810G51 its peculiar spatial characteristics and the mobility of the forces
1820G51 involved. ^One is the concentration of force at the right time
1830G51 and place. ^It involves the best use of mobility, fire power,
1840G51 endurance, and a sense of timing. ^It does not necessarily mean
1850G51 the gigantic massing of forces, but rather the judicious use of such
1860G51 strength as will, by the clever exploitation of various factors,
1870G51 to_ achieve success. ^It does entail the prompt seizure of
1880G51 opportunities or the creation of situations that_ bring about
1890G51 the desired results. $^Surprise is another guiding principle of war. ^It
1900G51 catches the adversary off guard, often unnerving and demoralising
1910G51 him. ^It can be achieved by deception and diversion and several
1920G51 other ways. ^*Mao had said: "Create a furore in the West
1930G51 and strike in the East." $^The careful selection and maintenance
1940G51 of one*'s primary mission is of absolute consequence in war.
1950G51 ^The destruction of enemy main naval units, **[sic**] which pose the
1960G51 greatest threat, is the natural aim of both sides in war. ^In
1970G51 pursuing it, the temptation to_ be diverted by secondary objectives,
1980G51 whose fate would in any case depend on the principal objective,
1990G51 must be suppressed.*#
        **[no. of words = 02001**]

        **[txt. g52**]
0010G52 **<*3THE WASTE AND THE WANT*0**> $^Our miserable failuure to_
0020G52 research and understand these historical processes, and to_ inform the
0030G52 poeple about them, has persuaded us by and large to_ view the problem
0040G52 of the access to culture as a problem of presentation, coverage, marketing.
0050G52 ^This is far from the truth. $^Just as man lost
0060G52 command over the articles he produced, became an almost mechanical
0070G52 contributor to a tiny element in the total product, divorced from
0080G52 the trauma, the joy and the fulfilment of imagining and of conceiving
0090G52 things of utility and beauty, so he has been separated from
0100G52 the feel of his culture. ^The transformation or transition was
0110G52 gradual for many centuries. ^There was time to_ adjust and to_
0120G52 change, even to_ compensate for what was lost. ^The Industrial
0130G52 Revolution was a slow suffocator of a centuries-old
0140G52 past. ^However, the changes of the past fifty years wrought
0150G52 by the very sharp advances of science and technology were cataclysmic.
0160G52 ^What*'1s more, we did not have the time or the understanding
0170G52 to_ prepare for them. ^We were carried in the current of
0180G52 the new miracles. $^Miracles usually become mirages.
0190G52 ^The modern miracles of science and technology are different and
0200G52 subtantial. ^They cannot be wished away. ^They will have
0210G52 to_ be lived with, altered, moulded, bent to_ serve the changing perspectives
0220G52 of man in whatever society he survives. ^This task demands
0230G52 not only the passion for cultural creativity, but systems
0240G52 which will restore participation in that_ creativity. ^This
0250G52 becomes immensely difficult for there are deeply entrenched vested
0260G52 interests in the modern and current concept of the "entertainer",
0270G52 and in the commercial and bureaucratic jungle built around it.
0280G52 ^Before there can be a real access to culture there must be a cutting
0290G52 down of this jungle. $^The more developed a society,
0300G52 the more difficult it is to_ conduct a sustained struggle against
0310G52 the entertainment industry and to_ shake the structure which
0320G52 holds us captive as viewers. ^Every now and then a non-conformist
0330G52 wave of angry creators attempts shock tactics, but the impact
0340G52 is limited, marginal, peripheral. ^This is inevitable, for the
0350G52 framework of centuries is accepted. ^Reform movements of this
0360G52 kind are soon enveloped and absorbed by the entertainment industry.
0370G52 ^It is not without significance that the participative revolution
0380G52 in the field of culture has hardly found mention.
0390G52 $^Participation, we must be clear, has come to_ be equated with lack
0400G52 of sophistication, with primitiveness, with the attempt to_ disturb
0410G52 the present structures of class and caste. ^When reading the literature
0420G52 pertaining to access to culture, there is an undercurrent of this consciousness.
0430G52 ^Yet, at the same time, we must be clear that science and
0440G52 technology have created a complex, expensive structure of cultural
0450G52 influence which is beyond participative culture. ^We are,
0460G52 therefore, compelled to_ live with a mix of two cultures-- of influence
0470G52 and of participation. ^One will react on the other.
0480G52 ^It should be our commitment to_ stress the disappearing culture
0490G52 of participation and to_ discover the new systems to_ project
0500G52 this culture. ^Indeed, any other attitude would be tantamount
0510G52 to surrendering the spirit of man to the manufacturers of culture and
0520G52 the merchants of culture who are in command of the instruments of
0530G52 communication which influence the mass of the people whether in developed
0540G52 nations or developing. **[sic**] $^Alienation proceeds step
0550G52 by step. ^Leaving the village community in search of jobs, migrating
0560G52 to the small town with its amalgam of isolated cultures, entering
0570G52 the large metropolis bewildered and alone, does away with
0580G52 the possibility of any participation. ^Superimposed on this is
0590G52 a thick layer of inferiority when confronted with the aloof, non-participating,
0600G52 degree-acquired elite. ^This cultural shock throws
0610G52 people off balance. ^They are ashamed of their own genuine
0620G52 culture capacities. ^Indeed, the culture of the industrial
0630G52 society results in making art and life mutually exclusive rather
0640G52 than inter-dependent and complementary. ^Alienation is complete.
0650G52 ^Yet, certainly in our developing countries, there is no possibility
0660G52 whatsoever of the mass of our people attaining the goals
0670G52 of the elite as they exist today. ^Apart from these goals
0680G52 being worthless, they are not economically feasible, just as on the
0690G52 material side it is not possible for our peoples to_ attain the
0700G52 standards of living of the affluent pockets of the world. ^This
0710G52 deepens the sense of deprivation and makes frustration a cultural
0720G52 reality. ^In our societies, where alienation is not
0730G52 universal or so widespread, efforts have to_ be made to_ dissolve
0740G52 this feeling of deprivation and give confidence to people so that
0750G52 they can assert their culture actively, perhaps adapting it to the
0760G52 new environment but not losing it. $^The spread of alienation
0770G52 despite the mechanical spread of so called culture, which is a feature
0780G52 of our times, remains unresearched and unanalysed. ^This is strange,
0790G52 to_ say the least. ^But it is understandable. ^The frame
0800G52 of reference is so totally divorced from the deep urges of an
0810G52 atomised society that no theories make any impact on our crisis-bound
0820G52 situation. ^And, yet, if we study even superficially the
0830G52 rash of protest action in cultural areas we can discern a common striving
0840G52 for participation. ^It is here that we must begin the search
0850G52 for access-- that_ is, if we are serious about the future and not
0860G52 concerned with the bad habit of piling up supposedly impressive statistics.
0870G52 $^At the unsophisticated base of everyday cultural
0880G52 expression in the most advanced and most managed societies of our
0890G52 world we are witnessing a significant effervescence. ^It
0900G52 contains the beginnings of the return to what might be termed a participative
0910G52 access. ^The folk singers, the balladeers, the composers
0920G52 of so much of what is described as "pop music", have had a
0930G52 huge non-conformist impact on the mores of these rather regimented and
0940G52 programmed societies. ^We have as yet to_ understand the full
0950G52 implications of this almost mass phenomenon which cuts across national
0960G52 boundaries and cultures in the developed world. ^Indeed,
0970G52 the repercussions are to_ be seen even among the affluent, isolated
0980G52 elites of the developing world-- although, admittedly, they
0990G52 use only the external "form" and not the spirit of the original.
1000G52 $^In other words, the sweep of the revolution of science
1010G52 and technology must be matched by the assertion that access to culture
1020G52 is not just the wider delivery, distribution, marketing and programming
1030G52 of the many facets of a cultural life but is dependent for health
1040G52 and integrity on increasing physical participation in its expression.
1050G52 ^Naturally, this assertion will manifest itelf variously
1060G52 in the many areas of culture. ^As workers in culture, it is
1070G52 our paramount task to_ strengthen the attitudes, techniques and systems
1080G52 which open the access to participation. ^This structural
1090G52 change in our thinking on culture is necessary whether we belong
1100G52 to developed or developing societies, although the change is naturally
1110G52 easier to_ initiate where development is in its early stages.
1120G52 $^Let us begin with the authentic folk singers, the balladeers,
1130G52 the story tellers, the comics and clowns, the puppeteers, the wandering
1140G52 drama troupes and the many-sided cultural activity of the community
1150G52 around rituals, ceremonies and festivals. ^Here is a
1160G52 wealth of continuity, spontaneity and integrated participative culture.
1170G52 ^The entire aesthetics of the community, its value systems
1180G52 and its spiritual dignity are nurtured by these traditional forms.
1190G52 ^This is particularly true of those communities which were enveloped
1200G52 either by foreign invasion or by the assault of the industrial revolution
1210G52 which followed close upon these invasions. $^The
1220G52 cynical acceptance of the destruction of these popular cultural forms
1230G52 or gimmicks based on them, on the plea that they could not survive
1240G52 in an increasingly urbanised setting, was a lazy betrayal of the
1250G52 popular participative culture to the growing entertainment industry.
1260G52 ^As the movement from the rural communities to the industrialising
1270G52 towns gathered momentum, it was necessary to_ inject into
1280G52 the new pattern of living, almost through new institutional forms,
1290G52 something of the cultural traditions and forms being abandoned.
1300G52 ^Of course, at such times of transition, the betrayal of a
1310G52 past is not so apparant. ^Only a tiny minority of perceptive,
1320G52 sensitive observers see the shape of the future crisis. ^Their
1330G52 voices are not heard. ^They are treated as cranks, unable to_
1340G52 comprehend the surge of progress. $^Much of the pain
1350G52 of this transition has been unconsciously recorded in the literature of
1360G52 the nations in Europe who were the first to_ take the path of
1370G52 industrialisation. ^Today, the same story is being witnessed in
1380G52 the developing world. ^No lessons have been drawn, at least no
1390G52 lessons of major consequence. ^The makers and purveyors of
1400G52 culture are only too visible. ^The crime now being perpetrated
1410G52 is doubly serious, for we now possess the sensitivities and expertise
1420G52 to_ halt the almost deliberate alienation of whole peoples.
1430G52 ^Sensitivity and expertise have to_ be fused to_ spark
1440G52 new forms of participative culture in the urban habitats-- that_
1450G52 is if in the future stereotyped urban habitats survive as the living
1460G52 places of man. ^Yes, let us begin in the urban habitat
1470G52 as it is. $^Is it impossible to_ make folk singing an essential
1480G52 part of the school curriculum, creative folk singing which
1490G52 links with the hopes, despairs, pains and passions of today?
1500G52 ^Are folk singing and pop music so far removed? would the texture
1510G52 of urban life deteriorate with the spontaneous contributions of
1520G52 balladeers, clowns and comics at places where the working people
1530G52 relax? ^Why do cultural and music societies fail to_ sponsor
1540G52 these talented elements? ^Must we always be classical to_ assert
1550G52 our cultural "arrival"? ^And why can*'4t we support the puppeteers,
1560G52 the wandering drama troupes? ^Is it impossible to_ involve
1570G52 the street or area in these activities? ^Would regular festivals
1580G52 with mass participation help the participative or creative process,
1590G52 or support "culture" without the sole objective of marketing?
1600G52 $^It is surprising that so very few of these questions are ever
1610G52 raised by persons or organisations concerned with the cultural crisis
1620G52 of our times. ^Even the commercially viable marketing of
1630G52 audio-materials to_ re-link communities with their sundered past is
1640G52 faltering, patchy and occasional. ^Cultural organisation, whatever
1650G52 its sponsorship, cannot be relevant today unless it expends
1660G52 a significant part of its effort to_ answer these questions with more
1670G52 than ordinary creativity. ^Access to culture in all its manifold
1680G52 expressions is cleared only at this point. ^Failure here
1690G52 clogs future communication, starts an atrophy which very soon delivers
1700G52 the people to the entertainment industry and all that_ it implies.
1710G52 $^When we come to visual and simple reading materials,
1720G52 we find that these too are fast disappearing from the rural
1730G52 community which is no longer a flourishing centre of cultural communion.
1740G52 ^This also applies to semi-rural areas and to small
1750G52 towns. ^They are being overwhelmed by the modern media even
1760G52 as the old forms of expression and participation are disrupted.
1770G52 ^How is it possible to_ salvage this situation without becoming quixotic?
1780G52 ^Obiously skills of the highest order are required
1790G52 if culture is not to_ be overwhelmed by commericalised entertainment.
1800G52 ^Basically, the task is to_ keep the access lines open.
1810G52 ^This can only be done by a careful study of the traditional visual
1820G52 and reading materials, to_ locate where the modern impact can be
1830G52 introduced, an impact which will help insulate the community from
1840G52 the pollution coming through the mass media. $^A variety
1850G52 of visual material, whether for the home or public places, will
1860G52 have to_ be planned. ^They will represent a continuity with
1870G52 the past and a bold entry into the consciousness of the future.
1880G52 ^From posters to geometric images in public places, the range
1890G52 is wide. ^Wherever these aids have been used, they have
1900G52 renewed sensitivities and highlighted the vulgarisations.
1910G52 ^The experience covers backward, developing, semi-developed and supposedly
1920G52 developed societies. ^Now that environmental needs
1930G52 have found a permanent place in public consciousness, it should
1940G52 be easier to_ point to the role of visual materials and call for concerted
1950G52 action. ^It is here that the plastic arts play a catalyst
1960G52 role in the upliftment of the spirit of ordinary men and women.
1970G52 $^Similarly in the area of the simplest reading materials.
1980G52 ^Wherever there is a felt need, "new ideas" and "projects"
1990G52 are brought into play, but the obvious stratagem of utilising
2000G52 the traditional package is usually forgotten even though it circulates
2010G52 more widely than any other more modern material.*#
        **[no. of words = 02028**]

        **[txt. g53**]
0010G53 **<*3*(0*G. *L.*) *MEHTA MEMORIAL LECTURES*0**>
0020G53 $^The loanable capacity of the Fund today is thus less rigid than it
0030G53 originally was. ^But, with all this, the Fund has lost its
0040G53 earlier role as an instrument for the maintenance of stable rates of
0050G53 exchange between currencies. ^We have now floating currencies
0060G53 in the major trading countries of the world, and domestic price inflations
0070G53 in these countries have assumed an order which was unthinkable
0080G53 even a decade ago. ^The mighty pound has given way; so
0090G53 has the dollar, a currency which in the immediate post-war period appeared
0100G53 to_ be unshakable. $^In the field of trade, disintegration
0110G53 had already started in the inter-war period. ^The world-wide
0120G53 depression of the thirties showed up the vulnerability of international
0130G53 trade relations. ^The severity of the problem of unemployment
0140G53 drove Western nations into restrictionist policies, each vying
0150G53 with the other in its endeavour to_ "export" unemployment.
0160G53 ^Post-war attempts at repairing the damage had only partial success;
0170G53 the \0GATT and the Fund did in their early stages serve
0180G53 as a check on excess of controls and restrictions on the part of the
0190G53 member countries. ^But, as later events have shown, these institutions
0200G53 are unequal to the task of bringing even a modicum of order
0210G53 into the world system. ^This is understandable, considering
0220G53 the *3milieu*0 in which they are operating. ^Economic order,
0230G53 whether in the domestic field or in the international field, means
0240G53 in its negative aspect an absence of conflict. ^Trade rules, or
0250G53 rules of monetary management, touch only the surface of the problem.
0260G53 ^So long as the structural conditions in economic relations contain
0270G53 elements of conflict, surface prescriptions cannot be of much
0280G53 avail. $^There are romantics who still lament the passing away
0290G53 of the system that_ prevailed in the nineteenth century and in
0300G53 the early years of the present century. ^The disintegration of
0310G53 the international economy is often thought to_ be the creation of two
0320G53 wars. ^Now, this is a misconception. ^The calm in economic
0330G53 relations that_ the world witnessed till 1913 was an artificial
0340G53 calm. ^*London was the world*'s monetary centre in those days,
0350G53 capable, with its ample reserves, of absorbing momentary shocks
0360G53 arising from possible trade disturbances anywhere. ^The British
0370G53 Empire, which comprised the major part of Asia and Africa,
0380G53 was a unit which the metropolis controlled. ^The United
0390G53 States of America had not yet come up as a rival; whatever outlet
0400G53 its economy needed was provided by Latin America. ^The
0410G53 European continent had its troubles, but these were more or less
0420G53 localized. ^The comparative peace that_ prevailed in
0430G53 the world economy was thus apparent and not real; it was an artificial
0440G53 peace, due largely to Britain*'s predominant position in international
0450G53 trade and finance. ^The world of 1913, as Gunnar Myrdal
0460G53 once put it, "was, like Athens in the days of Pericles,
0470G53 in many respects a model civilization-- if one forgets the fact that
0480G53 it excluded from its benefits the larger part of mankind".
0490G53 ^The larger part of mankind lived in the periphery and had to_
0500G53 allow itself to_ be governed by the centre. ^Well, monopoly has
0510G53 one virtue: if effective, it provides stability to a system.
0520G53 ^However, as one should know, the stability that_ it provides is a precarious
0530G53 stability. $^Conflict has ever been inherent in the situation.
0540G53 ^Only it could not come out in the open. ^The disorders that_ we
0550G53 see around us today are expressions of a structural disharmony in econoic
0560G53 relations which is historical. ^They were subdued earlier, but are
0570G53 showing themselves up, with the emergence of conscious, competing autonomous
0580G53 states. $^*I find myself unable to_ accept the philosophy
0590G53 of monetarism. ^*I do not believe that the disintegration
0600G53 of the internationl economy has much to_ do wth monetary management
0610G53 or mismanagement. ^The older economists, I believe,
0620G53 were in some essential respects right when they argued that money
0630G53 is merely a veil which hides the working of "real" factors underneath.
0640G53 the history of the dollar or of the pound over the last two
0650G53 decades or so cannot be read properly without reference
0660G53 to what had happened years earlier in the "real" factors governing
0670G53 the economies of the world. ^One cannot hold different parts
0680G53 of a system in balance if the weights that_ they carry are too
0690G53 much at variance. ^The international economic imbalance, as
0700G53 manifest today, is, whatever its outward form, the result of long
0710G53 years of unequal economic progress in different parts of the world
0720G53 and unequal exchange between them. $*<*=2*> $^International economic
0730G53 relations are not so simple and so straightforward as is contemplated in
0740G53 the economist*'s model of comparative cost. ^If they were, not only
0750G53 would disturbances created by changes in relative productivity in different
0760G53 countries have an automatic check through the operations of the market,
0770G53 but any improvement in productivity in any part of the world
0780G53 would have a tendency to_ spill its benefits over to other parts. ^International
0790G53 division of labour, on this supposition, would be mutually
0800G53 beneficial to all partners in trade, irrespective of their technologies
0810G53 and levels of income. ^An improvement in the United States or in
0820G53 Japan would benefit England, and by the same token an improvement in
0830G53 England would help development in the erstwhile colonial countries.
0840G53 ^It has been the contention of liberal economists since the days of
0850G53 the Industrial Revolution in England that the comparative disadvantage
0860G53 of countries which are relatively deficient in capital or enterprise
0870G53 and where, therefore, labour is less productive, tends to_ be corrected
0880G53 by trade. ^It is true, these economists contend, that resources
0890G53 are not internationally mobile. ^Yet they argue that in so far as
0900G53 commodities are free to_ move, the less progressive countries get relief,
0910G53 through trade, from an undue pressure on scarce resources. ^The benefit
0920G53 is supposed to_ come to less progressive countries through improvements
0930G53 in the terms of trade. $^This, however, is a delusion, as
0940G53 history has shown. ^Even among equal partners, trade can be mutually
0950G53 beneficial only when the relation between them is one of complementarity,
0960G53 when improvements take place in industries in which a country has already
0970G53 a comparative advantage and which it thus exports. ^Development
0980G53 of an export industry benefits not only the country which exports, by
0990G53 way of a possible rise in wages, it also benefits the country which imports,
1000G53 by way of improvement of its terms of trade. ^But the trouble
1010G53 is that improvements and innovations are not necessarily unidirectional.
1020G53 ^Not only can they be just erratic, comprising sometimes export industries
1030G53 and sometimes improt industries, but there is also a certain
1040G53 historical possibility that the latter kind of improvement should have a
1050G53 tendency to_ follow the former. ^And when this happens, the benefit
1060G53 fails to_ flow out. ^Import-biased industries injure the trading partners
1070G53 by reducing their market for exports. ^Much of what happened
1080G53 to the dollar *7vis-a-vis other currencies in the post-war period has indeed
1090G53 to_ be explained in terms of such biased improvements. ^When,
1100G53 as throughout the nineteenth century, the United States excelled in its
1110G53 export industries, namely farm produce, all was well. ^But when, as in
1120G53 the early years of the post-war period, the bias of the \0US economy
1130G53 was shifted to its import industries-- and this of course was helped very
1140G53 much by a lag in development elsewhere-- the world witnessed a persistent
1150G53 dollar shortage. ^On the other hand, with the passage of time, not
1160G53 only was there a recovery elsewhere, but there was also a tremendous upsurge
1170G53 in just those industries in countries like West Germany and Japan.
1180G53 ^The situation was reversed, and the world witnessed a period of
1190G53 dollar abundance, culminating in the collapse of the international monetary
1200G53 system. ^The problem, as *(0D. H.*) Robertson once put it
1210G53 in a different context, is not one of "a passing rash on the fair face
1220G53 of static equilibrium but one of a deep-seated functional disorder of the
1230G53 endocrine glands which control the rate of organic growth". $^A
1240G53 similar, though not the same, consideration applies to the economic relations
1250G53 between the metropolitan country and its colonies and dependencies.
1260G53 ^Extension of international trade ruptured the economic pattern of
1270G53 the latter. ^Such manufactures as they had were destroyed, and resources
1280G53 were made to_ shift over to primary industries-- agriculture, plantations,
1290G53 and mining. ^Terms of trade fluctuated, but the trend remained
1300G53 in favour of the metropolis. ^What is worse, thanks to the control
1310G53 that_ the metropolis could exercise over these countries, the surplus
1320G53 that_ the primary industries, especially plantations and mining, yielded
1330G53 had an easy knack of being transferred to the former; there was little
1340G53 left for the internal development of the periphery. ^We have thus the
1350G53 spectacle of a world divided into two blocs-- the rich and the poor.
1360G53 $^The disequilibrium in international economic relations that_ these
1370G53 generate is much more fundamental than the "fundamental disequilibrium"
1380G53 which the authors of the Articles of Agreement of the \0IMF had
1390G53 contemplated. ^So long as the leaders of industrial countries could
1400G53 take care of any possible unfavourable disequilibria by throwing the burden
1410G53 on labour either through reduction of wages or through creation of
1420G53 unemployment, and so long as the poorer countries could be held in subjugation,
1430G53 all seemed well. ^The rates of exchange between currencies
1440G53 could remain stable, reserve currencies could function without a murmur
1450G53 from the depositors, capital could be ivested in lines chosen by the
1460G53 former, and surpluses could be repatriated without let or hindrance.
1470G53 ^These auspicious conditions have ceased to_ obtain: labour is tending
1480G53 to_ have its own way in industrial societies; class relations in these
1481G53 societies are tending to_ be
1490G53 reversed. ^Much of what is happening in the domestic economies of these
1500G53 countries has to_ be explained in terms of this phenomenon. ^The outward
1510G53 manifestation is monetary-- inflation and currency dislocation.
1520G53 ^But deep underneath lies a class struggle-- a persistent attempt on the
1530G53 part of capitalists to_ maintain profits in the face of mounting demands
1540G53 of labour. ^On the other hand, the underdeveloped countries, which
1550G53 comprise more than two-thirds of the population of the world, have
1560G53 shaken off their enforced slumber and are no longer prepared to_ accept
1570G53 the dominance of their erstwhile masters. ^A crash was inevitable, and
1580G53 it came in the shape of the Organization of Petroleum-Exporting Countries
1590G53 (\0OPEC) and the Group of 77.
1600G53 $*<*=3*> $^The story of the \0OPEC is somewhat of a romance.
1610G53 ^Oil is an export commodity for the producing countries. ^But
1620G53 its price has been traditionally controlled chiefly by organizations belonging
1630G53 to the importing countries. ^The market, therefore, has traditionally
1640G53 been what the economists categorize as monopsonistic. ^The
1650G53 history of oil prices is a history of monopsonistic exploitation.
1660G53 ^Prices were controlled in the interest of the buyers, and these prices
1670G53 took little account of the fact that_ the commodity is one whose supply
1680G53 is exhaustible. ^The procedure was exploitative, both from the point
1690G53 of view of the producing countries and-- what is no less important-- from
1700G53 the point of view of the utilization of the commodity. ^Low prices
1710G53 led to the creation of a level of demand for the commodity far in excess
1720G53 of the warranted supply. ^The economies of the Western countries
1730G53 and of Japan gradually became geared to oil to an extent which was frightfully
1740G53 precarious, while the process left the exporting countries poor
1750G53 currently and poorer still potentially. ^It is against this process
1760G53 that_ reaction came. ^Born in 1960, the \0OPEC gradually acquired
1770G53 strength and succeeded, by the early seventies, in reversing the pricing
1780G53 mechanism; the price of oil has shot up nearly five times in the
1790G53 course of 4-5 years since 1971. ^The effect was no less than revolutionary.
1800G53 ^Nothing indeed disturbed the tranquility of the West in recent
1810G53 years more than the \0OPEC action on oil prices. ^And yet,
1820G53 what it aimed at was by and large to_ put oil on a par with other commodities
1830G53 in the international market, to_ make it a seller*'s market rather
1840G53 than the buyer*'s market that_ it had been previously. ^The Group of
1850G53 77, with its insistence on a restructuring of terms of trade and with its
1860G53 plans for creating buffer stocks of raw materials to_ prevent erratic
1870G53 movements in their prices, has added a new dimension to the problem
1880G53 of international economic order.*#
        **[no. of words = 02020**]

        **[txt. g54**]
0010G54 **<*3SCIENCE AND OUR AGE*0**> $^But the height of Indian astronomy
0020G54 and mathematics was reached during the eleventh and the twelfth
0030G54 centuries \0A.D. ^To_ begin with, Sridhara developed a method
0040G54 of solving quadratic equations. ^But the real watershed was
0050G54 marked by Bhaskara *=2 and his remarkable *3Siddhantasiromani,*0
0060G54 which dealt with astronomy and mathematics in four parts. ^In
0070G54 the first part, the *4carkavala method for rational integral solutions
0080G54 of the indeterminate equation of the second order was described.
0090G54 ^The second part gave geometric proof of the Pythagorean theorem.
0100G54 ^The third part elaborated the root idea of differential calculus
0110G54 and epicyclic-eccentric theories of planetary motions.
0120G54 ^The fourth and the last part analysed the motion of the sun by considering
0130G54 the longitudinal changes. ^Certain other highlights of the age are
0140G54 the encyclopaedic work of Samadeva on *4Manasollasa, alchemical ideas,
0150G54 iron casting, perfumery, knowledge of paper making (possibly derived
0160G54 from Nepal and Arabia), and *5Unani Tibb*6 incorporating
0170G54 the Persian, Arabic, and *4Ayurvedic knowledge.
0180G54 $^The thirteenth, fourteenth, and fifteenth centuries \0A.D. are
0190G54 characterised by the completion of several treatises on medicine.
0200G54 ^Chief among them are *5Sarangdhara Samhita*6 and *4Rasasatra
0210G54 texts including *4Rasarnava, *4Rasaratnakara, *4Rasaratnasamuccaya,
0220G54 \0etc. ^These texts mainly dealt with urine and pulse
0230G54 examination for diagnostic purpose and classification of alchemical
0240G54 and patrochemical substances giving details of experimental techniques.
0250G54 ^In mathematics, Narayana Pandit further refined the arithmetic
0260G54 and algebraic operations. ^*Paramesvara, belonging
0270G54 to a Kerala family of astronomers, made prolific commentaries on
0280G54 earlier astronomical and mathematical works. ^It was also during
0290G54 this period that Nilakantha Somasutvan of the Aryabhatiya school
0300G54 elucidated certain astronomical ideas of far reaching importance.
0310G54 $^During the sixteenth centry \0A.D. Bhavaprakasa was compiled
0320G54 giving an extensive materia medica including the treatment
0330G54 of syphilis. ^The use of gunpowder and guns also came into existence.
0340G54 ^The *3Ain-in-Akbari*0 gave astronomical ideas, crafts,
0350G54 agriculture, animal husbandry, perfumery, and pyrotechnics.
0360G54 ^The next century was highlighted by *3Tazuk-i-jahangiri*0 describing
0370G54 the study of animals and plants. ^The eighteenth century
0380G54 \0A.D. was a flourishing period in which the Arabic astronomical
0390G54 and mathematical knowledge was synchronised with that_ of India.
0400G54 ^The construction of *5Jantar Mantars*6 at Delhi, Ujjain,
0410G54 Mathura, Benares, and Jaipur, with huge masonry astronomical
0420G54 instruments, was done by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh *=2
0430G54 during 1723-1727. $^The development of the Indian science and
0440G54 technology beyond eighteenth century is too well known. ^Our ancestors
0450G54 had not only developed philosophies, but their dextrous fingers
0460G54 and adroit minds could put poetry and emotion in wood stone
0470G54 and metal surpassing by far the finest precision of the mid-eighteenth
0480G54 century Europe. ^The Indian art, culture, and the many
0490G54 splendours of its varied achievements always remained the envy
0500G54 of the rest of the mankind. ^*Renaissance Venice was proud
0510G54 to_ call itself the "Window of the East" and the bravest sailors
0520G54 of Europe were vying with each
0530G54 other to_ find the shortest route to the Indian shores.
0540G54 $*<*3Characteristic of Indian Science*0*> $^Thus we find
0550G54 that most of the scientific and technological achievements of British
0560G54 India were in conformity with the needs of the life in Indian
0570G54 villages. ^We can also infer that unlike the science in Babylonia
0580G54 and Greece, the Indian science was not *8per se*9 military
0590G54 oriented. ^No doubt, certain achievements such as forging and
0600G54 casting of iron and steel, metal-working and mining also found their
0610G54 way in warfare. ^For instance, while writing on this aspect
0620G54 Buchanan remarks that "... in India, steel was used for weapons,
0630G54 for decorative purposes and for tools, and remarkably high grade articles
0640G54 were produced. ^The old weapons are second to none, and
0650G54 it is said that the famous damascus blades were forged from steel
0660G54 imported from Hyderabad in India. ^The famous iron column,
0670G54 the Kutub pillar at Delhi, weighs over six tons and carried
0680G54 an epitaph composed about 415 \0A.D. ^No one yet understands
0690G54 how so large a forging could have been produced at that_ time.
0700G54 ^Remains of old smelting found throughout India are essentially
0710G54 like those in Europe..." ^Further, the art of making gun and
0720G54 gun-powder was also known. ^But, by and large the scientific and
0730G54 technological developments were conditioned by the religion and
0740G54 the needs of the ruling class. ^For instance, astronomy advanced
0750G54 both for the purpose of settling dates and times for the periodical
0760G54 sacrifices and to_ determine the harvesting time. ^Mathematics,
0770G54 more so trigonometry as the very name implies made significant
0780G54 contributions towards the measurement of lands. ^Empirical surgery
0790G54 developed essentially for repairing "noses, ears and lips, lost
0800G54 or injured in battle or by judicial mutilation".
0810G54 $*<*3*Cause of Decay*0*> $^The question which naturally
0820G54 arises is as to what was (were) the reason(s) which proved to_
0830G54 be detrimental for the growth of science and technology in India?
0840G54 ^The answer is to_ be found in the then prevalent basic socio-economic
0841G54 structure. ^To_ begin with, all the traditional craftsmen--
0850G54 weavers, potters, blacksmiths, carpenters, tanners, cobblers, masons,
0860G54 oilmen, barbers, washermen, \0etc.-- grew into distinct castes
0870G54 to_ serve the village community from generation to generation.
0880G54 ^The existence of such hereditary occupation deprived the mechanical
0890G54 labour force, which is the most vital segment of the social
0900G54 productive force, of intellectual support because of religious injunctions.
0910G54 ^This exceeded by far the usual social obstacles of a class-divided
0920G54 society. ^Under such a system, the physical skill of
0930G54 craftsmen developed to an astounding height of expertness, but simultaneously,
0940G54 due to the in-built traditions, came to a grinding halt as
0950G54 far as innovations of tools and mechanical techniques were concerned.
0960G54 ^The ancient and medieval India produced brilliant astronoumers
0970G54 and mathematicians and made tremendous strides in anatomy,
0980G54 physiology, medicine, and surgery. ^And, all these are developments
0990G54 for which "inferior manual labour" is not required. ^In
1000G54 contrast, Rome and other Mediterranean cities had developed
1010G54 machanics as a science. ^Thanks to their mechanical ingenuities,
1020G54 the Romans had developed innumerable mechanical devices and gadgets,
1030G54 in which we lagged far behind. ^Coming to the medieval
1040G54 Europe, it produced clocks, watches, water pumps, printing press, mariner*'s
1050G54 compass, \0etc., which were unheard of in India. ^Why?
1060G54 $^Physics and mechanics are the basic natural sciences,
1070G54 and form the basis for the development of the means of production.
1080G54 ^But their development needs a social-economic environment in
1090G54 which mechanical inventiveness is encouraged. ^This could have
1100G54 been only achieved through a proper and productive synthesis between
1110G54 manual (technological) and intellectual (scientific) works. ^But
1120G54 in ancient and medieval India this was not only not encouraged but
1130G54 absolutely barred. ^The great inventors of Europe were not only
1140G54 practitioners of science but also theoreticians. ^To_ cite
1150G54 a few instances, Archimedes (287-212 \0B.C.) was one of the
1160G54 greatest figures in Greek mathematics and mechanics. ^Side
1170G54 by side he was really an original scientist. "^Though he was
1180G54 very much in the tradition of *3pure*0 Greek science, we know from the
1190G54 chance discovery of his work on *3method*0 that he actually used mecanical
1200G54 models *3to_ arrive*0 at mathematical results, though afterwards
1210G54 he discarded them *3in the proof*0." ^*Lenonardo da Vinci was a great
1220G54 master of both *3mechanics*0 and *3hydraulics*0. ^*Gieordano Bruno
1230G54 (1548-1600) the famous Italian astronomer, could implicate the
1240G54 Copernican revolution by improving the astronomical tables.
1250G54 ^*Sir Isaac Newton (1642-1727) was a great mathematical and optical
1260G54 researcher. ^*India always lacked such scientists, and this to
1270G54 our mind is the most vital factor retarding the growth of science.
1280G54 $*<*3Impact of British Rule*0*> $^This process of alienation
1290G54 was further accentuated during the British rule, which not only
1300G54 throttled the spirit of scientific pursuit but uprooted the entire
1310G54 socio-economic milieu of the country. ^As a matter of fact, the
1320G54 British rule in India could only be sustained by a systematic strangling
1330G54 of the indigenous talent and manufacturing skill. ^A market
1340G54 for British goods was created by ruthlessly enforcing the import
1350G54 of these items upon India. ^For instance, the import of British
1360G54 iron took away all indigenous trade and uprooted the entire iron
1370G54 smelting profession. ^Such unnatural process wrecked the very
1380G54 basis of old village economy and the union of agriculture and domestic
1390G54 industry was completely destroyed. ^It is useful to_ remember
1400G54 in this context that the mid-eighteenth century Industrial Revolution
1410G54 in Britain took place not entirely due to an outburst of inventive
1420G54 genius, but because of the accumulation of wealth which came from the
1430G54 loot, plunder, and exploitation of India after the battle of Plassey
1440G54 (1757). $^But still it was essntial for the British to_
1450G54 develop a few industrial and administrative infra-structures for commercial
1460G54 penetration. "^This required the building of a network of railroads,
1470G54 the development of roads; the beginning of attention to irrigation;...
1480G54 the introduction of the electric telegraph, and the establisment
1481G54 of a uniform postal system; the limited beginnings of an
1490G54 Anglicised education to_ secure a supply of clerks and subordinate
1500G54 agents; and the introduction of the European banking system."
1510G54 ^Not to_ be forgotten is the relatively impressive strides made
1520G54 by tropical medicines-- a discipline urgently needed by the British
1530G54 themselves to_ protect their officers and soldiers from the
1540G54 tropical diseases. $*<*3Science in the Nineteenth Century*0*>
1550G54 $^All this loot and plunder were extremely unconducive
1560G54 for the growth of science. ^But still science made some progress,
1570G54 thanks to the individual efforts of a few scientists.
1580G54 ^To_ begin with, the first conscious attempt by the British to_
1590G54 promote the knowledge of science was made in 1813, when the East
1600G54 India Company*'s charter was renewed to_ introduce a clause for the
1610G54 expenditure of one *4lakh *4rupees per year for the purpose. ^This
1620G54 interest on the part of the British was governed by the desire to_
1630G54 convince the educated elite of the superiority of the Empire.
1640G54 ^This also showed certain social reformers the role which science
1650G54 could play in rationalising the society. ^*Raja Rammohan Roy
1660G54 made a pioneering effort in this direction by establshing the *4Mahavidyalaya
1670G54 (Hindu College) at Calcutta with the aim to_ study Western
1680G54 sciences. ^In 1830, *3The Journal of the Asiatic Society of
1690G54 Bengal*0 was founded, whose forerunners were *3Asiatick Researches*0
1700G54 and *3Gleanings in Science*0. ^The 30s and 40s of the nineteenth
1710G54 century also witnessed the foundation of a series of medical colleges
1720G54 in India. ^The Calcutta Medical College was founded
1730G54 in 1835, the Medical school at Madras in 1843 and the
1740G54 Grant Medical School at Bombay in 1845. ^The most remarkable
1750G54 event was the foundation of the *3Indian Association for the Cultivation
1760G54 of Science*0 in 1876 by Mahendra Lal Sircar through public
1770G54 endowment. ^This helped the flourishing of such reputed scientists
1780G54 as Asutosh Mukherji, *(0J. C*.) Bose and *(0P. C.*) Ray.
1790G54 ^In 1881, Asutosh Mukherji published his first mathematical
1800G54 paper in the *3Messenger of mathematics*0. ^In 1895 *(0J.
1810G54 C.*) Bhose published his first scientific paper on the polarisation
1820G54 of electric wave by double refraction in \0*3JASB*0. ^Together
1830G54 with Oliver Lodge of England and Popov of Russia *(0J. C.*)
1840G54 Bose made remarkable contributions to the field of electronics, especially
1850G54 wireless and the ionosphere. ^In 1897, he demonstrated
1860G54 his lecture at the Royal Institute, London, with his own apparatus
1870G54 and in 1900 read the paper "On the Generality of the Molecular
1880G54 Phenomena Produced by Electricity on Living and Non-living
1890G54 Substances" at the International Congress of Physics, Paris.
1900G54 ^The other great scientist of this era, *(0P. C.*)
1910G54 Ray, worked on mercurous compounds and analysed a number of rare Indian
1920G54 minerals to_ discover in them some of the missing elements in
1930G54 Mendeleef*'s Periodic Table. $^But, an effective
1940G54 beginning of science in India commenced only in the twentieth centry.
1950G54 ^Not only Bose, but the mathematics of Ramanujam and physics
1960G54 of Raman have clearly demonstrated the heights which the scientists
1970G54 of India are capable of reaching. ^Writing on the pre-independence
1980G54 state of science in India, Bernal states: "^*Indian science,
1990G54 like everything in India except the English Civil Service and
2000G54 the Army, is starved of funds. ^The total annual sum available
2010G54 for scientific research in India is probably not more than *+250,000,
2020G54 which would be equivalent to 1/50 of a penny per head of pupulation,
2030G54 or 0.015 per cent of the miserable national income of *+1,700,000,000.
2040G54 ^Yet there is hardly any country in the world that_ needs
2050G54 the application of science more than India. ^In order to_ release
2060G54 the enormous potentialities for scientific development in the Indian
2070G54 people, it would be necessary to_ transform them into a self-reliant
2080G54 and free community.*#
        **[nno. of words = 02009**]

        **[txt. g55**]
0010G55 **<*3SANSKRIT BEYOND *INDIA*0**>
0020G55 $^The jester in the *3Faust*0 reminds one of the *4Vidusaka
0030G55 in Sanskrit drama. ^The final Chorus in the second part of
0040G55 the work may have been partly inspired by Indian monism.
0050G55 $^*Modern German Indologists are avidly carrying on researches
0060G55 in various problems relating to Sanskrit language and literature.
0070G55 ^*Chairs of Sanskrit exist in the Universities of
0080G55 Bonn, Tubingen, Munich, Gottingen, Marburg and Hamburg.
0090G55 $*<*3FRANCE*0*> $^The French scholars
0100G55 became keenly interested in indian learning in the beginning of
0110G55 the eighteenth century. ^From 1718 onwards the French of various
0120G55 walks of life began to_ collect manuscripts of Sanskrit
0130G55 texts which included the *5Vedic Samhitas*6 and the *3Tattvacintamani*0
0140G55 of Gangesa. ^A scholar, named ^Pons, wrote a Sanskrit
0150G55 grammar in Latin on the lines of the well-known grammatical
0160G55 treatise, *3Samlesiptasara.*0 ^He also translated the
0170G55 lexicon, *3Amarakosa*0 into Latin. ^Among the French scholars,
0180G55 the name Fauche stands out as a translator of well-known
0190G55 Sanskrit works. ^Other French indologists of eminence
0200G55 not mentioned in the appendix to this book, are Paul Regnaud whose
0210G55 main work was on Sanskrit rhetoric and Bharata*'s *3Natyasastra,*0
0220G55 Hauvette, Besnault, *(0A*) Barth, and *(0E.*)
0230G55 Senart. ^Of them, Barth is well known for his study
0240G55 of Indian religions in historical perspective. ^There
0250G55 were other less known French Indologists too. ^*Feer
0260G55 translated many Sanskrit texts into French. ^*Alber
0270G55 Foucher edited *(0M.*) Pillai*'s French translation of the
0280G55 *3Bhagavata Purana.*0 $^*Victor Hugo (1802-1885) imitated
0290G55 an *4Upanisad in his poem, entitled *3Suprematic*0 (1870).
0300G55 ^*Alphonse de Lamartine (1790-1869) in his *8Course familiar
0310G55 de Litterature*9 (1861), wrote on Sanskrit epics, drama and poetry.
0320G55 ^*Joseph Mery (1798-1865), a well-known writer, appears
0330G55 to_ have deeply studied classical Sanskrit literature.
0340G55 *(0^*P.*) Verlaine (1844-1896), who wrote the poem '*3Savitri*0'
0350G55 evidently drew upon a well-known episode of the *3Mahabharata*0.
0360G55 $^In recent times, Louis Renou (\0d. 1966) did monumental
0370G55 work on Indology. ^He was particularly interested in *4Vedic
0380G55 studies. ^Some of his important works are a *4Vedic
0390G55 Bibliography, a *4Veda index, a study of Indian mythology,
0400G55 a Sanskrit French dictionary, a study of Panini, a history
0410G55 of ancient Indian civilisation based on Sanskrit sources. *(0^*J.*)
0420G55 Filliozat is another French Indologist of eminence. ^His
0430G55 most outstanding work is the *3Classicial Doctrine of Indian
0440G55 Medicine*0 which is a learned study of the *4Ayurveda.
0450G55 $*<*3HOLLAND*0*> $^The contact between Holland and
0460G55 India was at first commercial. ^Gradually the Dutch began
0470G55 to_ take interest in Indian learning. $^The Dutch
0480G55 preacher, Abraham Roger, published his *3Open Door to Hidden
0490G55 Healthendom*0 **[foot note**] in 1651 \0A.D. ^*Sanskrit
0500G55 studies in Holland were practically founded by *(0H.*) Kern.
0510G55 ^Thereafter, Sanskrit was studied vigorously by eminent
0520G55 Dutch scholars. ^The first Chair of Saskrit was established
0530G55 at the University of Leyden in 1865. ^At present Chairs
0540G55 of Sanskrit exist also at Utrecht, Amsterdam and
0550G55 Groningen. ^Eminent Dutch Indologists are Speyer,
0560G55 Gonda and Faddegon. $*<*3HUNGARY*0*>
0570G55 $^The first Hungarian Orientalist to_ visit India in 1830
0580G55 was Alexander Csoma de Koros. ^A noteworthy Indologist
0590G55 of this country was *(0P.*) Fiolk who translated some
0600G55 Sanskrit classical works. ^*Aurel Stein (1862-1943), a British
0610G55 citizen of Hungarian descent led archaeological expeditions,
0620G55 and published accounts of the same. ^His contributions gave
0630G55 an impetus to Indological studies in the West.
0640G55 $*<*3CZECHOSLOVAKIA*0*> $^It was through *(0K.*) Prikryl
0650G55 (1718-1795), a Jesuit missionary, that this country became
0660G55 interested in Indology. ^Eminent Czech Indologists were
0670G55 *(0J.*) Debrovski, *(0J.*) Jungmann, *(0A.*) Ludwig.
0680G55 ^The first of them drew attention of scholars to similarities between
0690G55 many Indian and Slav words. ^The second wrote on Indian
0700G55 prosody and metre. ^The third one wrote the first Sanskrit
0710G55 grammar in Czech. $*<*3RUMANIA*0*>
0720G55 $^The Rumanian scholar, *(0G.*) Coshbuc, translated *3Sakuntala*0
0730G55 from a German version in 1897, and compiled a Sanskrit
0740G55 anthology. ^*Hashdeu studied various problems of Sanskrit
0750G55 literature. *(0^*C.*) Georgian was the first Rumanian
0760G55 scholar to_ make vigorous attempts to_ introduce the studies of
0770G55 Sanskrit there. ^Prominent among other Rumanian Indologists
0780G55 are Pogor, Burla, Anotonescu. ^The last-mentioned
0790G55 scholar worked on the philosophy of the *4Upanisads;
0800G55 it was a pioneer attempt in this direction in Rumania. ^*Eminescu
0810G55 (1850-1889) the most eminent Rumanian poet, reveals intimate
0820G55 familiarity with Sanskrit. ^Besides translating Bopp*'s *3Glossarium
0830G55 Sanskriticum*0 and a part of his Dictionary, he wrote
0840G55 several poems which are nothing but Rumanian versions of Sanskrit
0850G55 works. ^For example, in *3Letter Number One*0 he speaks
0860G55 of his vision of the origin of the world when there was neither
0870G55 the existent nor the non-existent. ^It reminds one
0880G55 of the *4Rigvedic Hymn of Creation. ^Both the
0890G55 title and content of his poem; *3Tattavamasi*0, reveal his familiarity
0900G55 with *4Upanisadic thought. ^It lays down the unity
0910G55 of *4Atman and *4Brahman. ^Among the erotic themes in his poetry,
0920G55 figures the Indian *4Kamadeva, the god of love.
0930G55 $*<*3RUSSIA*0*> $^We do not know precisely when Russian scholars
0940G55 began to_ take interest in Sanskrit. ^Several Russian
0950G55 stories appear to_ be adoptations of Indian ones. ^For
0960G55 example, the story of *3Schastie*0 and *3Neschastie*0 (Good Luck
0970G55 and Bad Luck) has been found to_ be a modification of the story of
0980G55 Viravara in the *3Hitopadesa*0. ^The first Russian translation
0990G55 of Sanskrit text (*3Bhagavadgita*0) in its translation by
1000G55 Wilkins) was published in 1787 *(0A. D.*) ^The *3Sakuntala*0
1010G55 of Kalidasa is included by some scholars among the possible
1020G55 sources of inspiration to *(0A. S.*) Pushkin (1799-1837), the
1030G55 famous Russian writer in his unfinished play, *3The mermaid*0.
1040G55 ^*Pave Yakovlevich Petrov translated into Russian the *3Sitaharana*0
1050G55 epiode of the *3Ramayana*0 with a glossary and a grammatical
1060G55 analysis. ^To Russian school of Indology we owe the
1070G55 monumental \0St. Petersburg lexicon of Sanskirt (1852-75).
1080G55 ^*Stcherbatsky (1886-1941) edited several Sanskrit texts for
1090G55 the *3Bibliotheca Buddhica*0 Series. ^Other noted Russian
1100G55 Indologists are *(0V. P.*) Vasolev (1818-1900)
1110G55 and *(0V. P.*) Minayev (1840-1890), Korsch, Fortunator and
1120G55 Miller. $^*Tolstoy (1828-1910) in his *3Letter to a
1130G55 Hindu*0 addressed to Gandhi (1900) quoted from the *3Upanisads*0
1140G55 and *3Bhagavadgita*0; thus his familiarity with Sanskrit literature
1150G55 is obvious. $^Apart from remarkable kinship between
1160G55 Sanskrit and the Latvian laguage, the *3Sakuntala*0 has been staged
1170G55 in Latvia-- these are evidences of Latvia*'s interest in
1180G55 Sanskrit. $^It has recently been announced that *(0P.*)
1190G55 Grintser*'s work, *3Ancient Indian Epics*0, will be published
1200G55 in the series *3Studies of oriential Mythology and Folklore*0
1210G55 published in Russia. $^In a recent book, entitled *3Fasting
1220G55 for Health*0, the author Yuri Nikolayev, a famous Soviet psychologist,
1230G55 acknowledges his indebtedness to *4Ayurveda. *(0^*V.*) Kalyanov
1240G55 translated the *3Mahabharata*0 into Russian. $^We may conclude
1250G55 this chapter by mentioning the following eminent Indologists
1260G55 belonging to different nationalities of Europe: Sten Konow and
1270G55 Mergenstierne of Norway; *(0J.*) Carpentier and *(0H.*)
1280G55 Smith of Sweden; *(0M.*) Dillon of Ireland; Majewski, Lelwal,
1290G55 Boskowsk, Sehayer of Poland Baunnhofer, Leumann and Wackernagel
1300G55 of Switzerland; *(0A.*) Scharpe of Belgium.
1310G55 $^In connexion with Indian influence on the west, we must mention
1320G55 the Theosophical Society. ^*Theosophists of the West look
1330G55 upon India as the fountain-head of spiritual inspiration.
1340G55 ^Theosophy draws many ideas from the *4Upanisads and the
1350G55 philosophical systems of India. ^*Typically Indian
1360G55 are the ideas about the one transcendental, eternal, omnipresent,
1370G55 all-sustaining, self existent life reincarnation and liberation of the
1380G55 soul. $**<*3*=8*0**> $*<*3AMERICA*0*>
1390G55 $*<*3ASIOMERICA*0*> $^The Maya civilisation of South America
1400G55 dates back to the seventh century *(0B. C.*) or perhaps earlier.
1410G55 ^Besides the Indians, the Mayas were the first ancient
1420G55 people who had numerals including Zero. ^The common origin
1430G55 of the numerals in India and the land of Mayas has been suggested
1440G55 by some scholars; we are, however, not yet in a position
1450G55 to_ ascertain which country was the borrower. ^There is a
1460G55 theory, put forward by *(0R.*) Heine-Gelden and *(0G. F.*)
1470G55 Ekholm, that the Asians migrated to America; the cause
1480G55 of migration appears to_ have been the quest of gold. ^According
1490G55 to them, Asia exerted cultural influence on ancient America
1500G55 through the migrants who crossed the Pacific. ^In
1510G55 Maya art and architecture, there is marked Indian or Sanskrit
1520G55 influence. ^The lotus motif, the *(makra-motif*), the *4Kalpavrksa--
1530G55 all testify to Indian influence. ^The *4Brahmanical
1540G55 deity, Visnu, is represented with his *4gada (mace) and the
1550G55 *4cakra (disuss). ^Prototypes of the Indian Nagini of Kubera,
1560G55 Gaja and Naga, found among the Mayas, reveal their familiarity
1570G55 with Sanskrit mythology. ^A kind of the Indian cast-system
1580G55 was in vogue among the Incas of Peru. ^*Peruvians
1590G55 used to_ worship an omnipotent and invisible Supreme Being.
1600G55 ^*Peruvian poetical literature bears the impress of the two great
1610G55 Indian epics. ^The hymns of the Inca rulers
1620G55 of Peru show similarities with *4Vedic hymns. ^The American
1630G55 story of Yappan has marked similarities with the *3Mahabharata*0
1640G55 story of India. ^The similarily between the *4Brahmanical
1650G55 Trinity (Brahma-Visnu-Siva) and the Mexican Trinity (Ho-Huizi
1660G55 lopochtli-Tlaloc) has been pointed out by several scholars.
1670G55 ^A number of words of the Quichua languages have analogous
1680G55 Sanskrit forms. $^In view of a number of parallelisms
1690G55 between India and the Maya land in fundamental concepts, mythology,
1700G55 iconography, architecture, religious beliefs and practices
1710G55 \0etc., it is difficult to_ believe that the Maya civilisation
1720G55 developed independently of extraneous influence. ^Evidences of
1730G55 Asian migration tend to_ prove that the Maya civilisation was
1740G55 developed as a result of contact with Asian peoples including
1750G55 the Indians. $*<\0U. S. A.*> $^*America came into
1760G55 direct contact with India through commerce at the close of
1770G55 the eighteenth century. ^Subsequently, missionary activities brought
1780G55 vast lands closer. ^*Indian thought reverberated across
1790G55 the Pacific and Aerican intelligentsia began to_ take interest
1800G55 in Indian learning. ^Later on, the impact of Indian culture
1810G55 and thought was felt in America through the visits of Vivekananda,
1820G55 Ravindranath and other eminent Indians. ^The first
1830G55 American University to_ teach Indian subjects was at Yale
1840G55 where the study of Sanskrit commenced in 1814 *(0A. D.*)
1850G55 ^Subsequently, Sanskrit came to_ be taught at several other
1860G55 Universities of which the most noteworthy are John Hopkins,
1870G55 Harvard and Pennsylvania. ^*America produced a series of
1880G55 brilliant Indologists including Salisbury, Whitney, Lanman,
1890G55 Hopkins, Bloomfield, Edgerton, Ryder, Norman Brown and
1900G55 Ingalls. $^The influence of sanskrit made itself felt on
1910G55 many American writers and philosophers. ^*Emerson (1803-1822),
1920G55 ^Thoreau (1817-1862) and some other New England writers zealously
1930G55 studied many of the religious works in Sanskrit through
1940G55 translation. ^They exercised profound influence on their contemporaries
1950G55 and later writers, the most noteworthy among whom is
1960G55 Walt Whitman (1819 1892). ^Monistic and idealistic philosophies
1970G55 of America in the nineteenth century appear to_ be indebted,
1980G55 to some extent, to Sanskrit philosophical works. $^Many of Emerson*'s
1990G55 ideas seem to_ be echoes of Indian philosophical thought.
2000G55 ^Some of these ideas are as follows: all existing things
2010G55 are the manifestations of a universal spirit, transmigration of soul
2020G55 and transcendentalism. ^In his essay on Plato, he frankly admits
2030G55 his indebtedness to India; he mentions particularly the
2040G55 *4Vedas, the *4Bhagavadgita and the *4Visnupurana. ^He wrote
2050G55 a poem under the caption 'Brahma' which, according to some is a
2060G55 translation from Kalidas through a Latin rendering. $^*Thoreau
2070G55 came to_ be acquainted with Sanskrit books in the library of
2080G55 Emerson. ^His *3Journal*0 of May 31, 1841, reveals the tremendous
2090G55 impact of the Laws of Manu, with Kulluka*'s gloss, on his
2100G55 mind. ^In one entry he speaks of the *4Vedas. ^In a
2110G55 letter to *(0D.*) Ricketson, dated \0Dec. 25, 1855, he refers
2120G55 enthusiastically to the gift of books, relating to ancient Hindu
2130G55 literature, received from his friend, Cholmondeley. ^An
2140G55 entry in the *3Journal*0 of \0Nov. 30, 1855, also refers to it.
2150G55 ^Of the various Indian books, the *3Manusmrti*0 appears, from references
2160G55 in his *3Journal,*0 to_ have exerted the most profound influence
2170G55 on him. ^The *3Bhagavadgita*0 is to_ be mentioned next.
2180G55 ^*Canby goes so far as to_ assert that it can be said to_
2190G55 be one of the source-books of Thoreau. ^In his book, entitled
2200G55 *3Week*0, Thoreau devotes some passages to this work, and
2210G55 quotes a good number of its verses. ^His *3Walden*0 also contains eulogistic
2220G55 passages about the *3Gita*0. ^Through Wilsons*'s
2230G55 translation, Thoreau became familiar with the *3Visnu-puran*0.
2240G55 ^He quotes some passages from the *3Purana*0 in an unpublished
2250G55 *3Journal*0 and in his *3Writings*0. ^In the same work,
2260G55 he quotes some passges from the *3Harivamsa*0. ^In this book again,
2270G55 he writes about the *3Hitopadesa*0. ^A scholar has pointed
2280G55 out that some sentences of the *3Hitopadesa*0 resemble in style
2290G55 that_ of Thoreau. ^In his *3Writings*0 he refers to an
2300G55 incident of the *3Sakuntala*0 with which he became acquainted through
2310G55 Jones*' translation.*#
        **[no. of words = 01994**]

        **[txt. g56**]
0010G56 ^But this view regarding the distinction between a "moral" and a "non-moral"
0020G56 attitude does not appear to_ be plausible. ^It is true that
0030G56 a favourable or unfavourable feeling is associated with moral
0040G56 approval or disapproval; but the mere intensity of this feeling does not
0050G56 make it "moral", since a "non-moral" emotion (that_ is, personal like
0060G56 or dislike) may be highly intense. $^As a matter of fact, "approval"
0070G56 or "disapproval", in its "ethical" sense, is quite different from
0080G56 individual like or dislike; and I think Stevenson would not deny this
0090G56 important fact. ^What, then distinguishes a man*'s "moral" approval
0100G56 or disapproval of an act from his mere like or dislike of it? ^The
0110G56 answer to this question probably lies in an impersonal or objective element
0120G56 which is necessarily involved in "moral" approval and disapproval
0130G56 but is absent in personal like and dislike. ^When I morally approve
0140G56 or disapprove of an act, I mean to_ suggest that the act, by its factual
0150G56 nature, is such that it ought to_ be approved or disapproved in
0160G56 similar circumstances, irrespective of the fact whether I myself like
0170G56 it or not. ^In other words, I advance reasons (which are the factual
0180G56 qualities of the act itself) for approving or disapproving of this act,
0190G56 and I also assume that, on the basis of these reasons, others too
0200G56 should approve or disapprove of it in similar circumstances. ^This means
0210G56 that I have some rational grounds for the approval or disapproval
0211G56 of this act, therefore
0220G56 my own like or dislike of it does not determine its moral worth.
0230G56 ^Thus, personal like and dislike generally refer to private feelings,
0240G56 while moral approval and disapproval can be supported by reasons and are
0250G56 subject to what Hare calls "The Principle of Universalizability".
0260G56 ^It is this element of objectivity and universalizability which makes
0270G56 "approval" or "disapproval" a "moral" emotion and distinguishes it from
0280G56 personal like or dislike which is wholly subjective. ^Now, Stevenson,
0290G56 if we understand his view correctly, does not clearly draw this distinction
0300G56 between "moral" approval or disapproval and mere individual like
0310G56 or dislike; and this ambiguity is too serious to_ be ignored or treated
0320G56 lightly. ^We now turn to_ consider another important objection
0330G56 which is concerned with Stevenson*'s "first pattern analysis" of the
0340G56 meaning and function of moral judgments. ^It has already been pointed
0350G56 out that, on his view, "X is good (or right)" has, roughly speaking,
0360G56 the same meaning as "I approve of X; do so as well". ^Similarly,
0370G56 "X is bad (or wrong)" means the same as "^*I disapprove of X; do
0380G56 so as well". ~now, as we have seen, Stevenson regards the first component
0390G56 of these moral judgments (^*I approve or disapprove of X") as
0400G56 descriptive and the second component ("do so as well") as emotive.
0410G56 ^He maintains that the first part of these judgments is a declarative
0420G56 statement describing a favourable or unfavourable attitude of the speaker,
0430G56 and the second part is an imperative or command, the main purpose of
0440G56 which is to_ alter or redirect the attitude of the hearer and which is
0450G56 wholly emotive. ^This is how Stevenson analyses a moral judgment in
0460G56 his "first pattern of analysis". $^But this analysis of the meaning and
0470G56 function of ethical judgments appear to_ be questionable. ^ let us
0480G56 first consider what Stevenson calls "the declarative statement", namely,
0490G56 "I approve or disapprove of X". ^Now, this component, as Stevenson
0500G56 himself admits, describes the speaker*'s own attitude rather than
0510G56 the object judged. ^When, for instance, I say "X is good", the
0520G56 first part of my judgment ("I approve of X") describes my own favourable
0530G56 attitude towards X. ^This, for Stevenson, is the descreptive
0540G56 meaning of my judgment. ^But such a contention with regard to the
0550G56 descriptive meaning does not seem to_ be satisfactory and plausible, because
0560G56 if this contention is correct, then it would mean that a moral judgment
0570G56 simply describes the speaker*'s pro or con attitude without asserting
0580G56 anything about the object or action judged as good or bad, right
0590G56 or wrong. ^When we say that an ethical judgment has a descriptive meaning,
0600G56 we mean that it refers to certain characteristics or qualities
0610G56 of the object concerned and not that it describes the speaker*'s attitude.
0620G56 ^In his "second pattern of analysis" Stevenson himself recognizes
0630G56 this fact about the nature of descriptive meaning. ^He clearly says
0640G56 that "this is good" has the meaning of "this has qualities of relations
0650G56 X, Y, Z". **[foot note**] ^This, as we shall see in Chapter
0660G56 7, is what the post-emotivists, like Urmron and Hare, understand
0670G56 by "descriptive meaning"; and I think they are right, since their
0680G56 contention about this meaning preserves the objectivity of moral judgments.
0690G56 $^*I think Stevenson*'s analysis of the meaning and function
0700G56 of ethical judgments deprives them of their claim to objective
0710G56 validity. ^It is true that when I call X good or bad, I express
0720G56 a pro or con attitude toward X; and this attitude may be characterized
0730G56 as "approval" or "disapproval", for I am willing to_
0740G56 justiy my judgment by presenting some factual considerations as my reasons
0750G56 in support of it. ^*Stevenson is right in holding that
0760G56 a moral judgment expresses the speaker*'s favourable or unfavourable
0770G56 attitude, but he overlooks the most important fact that such
0780G56 a judgment "appraises" or "evaluates" something on the basis of
0790G56 its factual characteristics. ^He nowhere says that a moral judgment
0800G56 refers to certain features or qualities of an object or action in
0810G56 order to_ appraise it. ^As a matter of fact, he insists on maintaining
0820G56 that ethical judgments must have imparative force. ^They are made primarily
0830G56 to_ alter or redirect the hearer*'s attitude. "^Moral judgments",
0840G56 says Stevenson, "are concerned with 'recommending' something for approval
0850G56 or disapproval". ** [foot note**]. $^But we think this is not what
0860G56 we, in fact, always mean when we make a moral judgment. ^We admit
0870G56 that judgments of obligation containing the words "ought", "right",
0880G56 and "duty" may have an imperative or prescriptive force. ^But this
0890G56 does not necessarily apply to judgments of value. ^When, for instance,
0900G56 I say "X is good", I appraise X on the basis of its
0910G56 facutal nature; I need not recommend anybody to_ adopt a favourable
0920G56 attitude towards X. ^In fact, to_ judge something
0930G56 to_ be good or bad is not the same as "to_ recommend it for someone*'s
0940G56 approval or disapproval"; nor does it mean the same as
0950G56 "to_ encourage, alter, or redirect people*'s aims and conduct".
0960G56 ^When we call an object good or bad, we appraise or evaluate it, that_
0970G56 is to_ say, we judge its worth or value; we do not necessarily ask
0980G56 anyone to_ approve or disapprove of it. ^The point we wish to_
0990G56 make here is that the primary aim of ethical judgments (specially)
1000G56 judgements of value) is to_ "evaluate" something rather than to_
1010G56 alter or redirect the attitudes of others; but Stevenson neglects
1020G56 this most important fact regarding the nature of these judgments.
1030G56 ^Thus, his theory fails to_ explain satisfactorily the meaning
1040G56 and function of moral judgments. $^We now turn to Stevenson*'s
1050G56 view concerning personal moral decisions. ^*Stevenson,
1060G56 as we have seen, maintains that we employ "self-exhortation"
1070G56 or "self-persuasion" in order to_ arrive at personal moral decisions.
1080G56 ^In other words, he holds that in personal moral deliberations
1090G56 we use ehical terms for persuading ourselves to_ adopt a specific
1100G56 attitude or to_ follow a particular course of conduct. ^But we think
1110G56 that this is not what we do when we make personal moral decisions.
1120G56 ^Instead of influencing ourselves to_ do or not to_
1130G56 do an act, we, in fact, judge it to_ be right or wrong; and we do it
1140G56 or refrain from doing it after we have made this judgment. ^This means
1150G56 that when we are required to_ decide what we ought or ought
1151G56 not to_ do in certain circumstances, the
1160G56 only question we are immediately faced with is: what is really good
1170G56 or bad, right or wrong? ^We do not in that_ case express
1180G56 our feelings or endeavour to_ influence ourselves by our moral judgemnts.
1190G56 ^We decide which of the alternative courses of conduct
1200G56 is, in fact, worthy of being followed, and we make this decision on the
1210G56 basis of its factual characteristics and probable consequences.
1220G56 ^We can, it is true, persuade ourselves to_ follow a particular
1230G56 course of conduct after we have judged it to_ be good, but this
1240G56 self-persuasion is a secondary and only a means to_ implement our moral
1250G56 decision which is concerned with the worth or value of the act
1260G56 itself. ^Thus, Stevenson*'s theory does not explain satisfactorily
1270G56 what happens in our personal moral deliberations. $^We now
1280G56 propose to_ examine critically Stevenson*'s contention about the
1290G56 issue of resolving disagreement on ethical questions and justification
1300G56 of moral judgments. ^His position regarding this problem is
1310G56 very clear, although it does not seem to_ be wholly plausible.
1320G56 ^We have seen that, on his view, an ethical dispute can be settled by
1330G56 rational methods in so far as it involves a disagreement in belief.
1340G56 ^It is because he thinks that beliefs can be proved to_ be
1350G56 true or false by evidence. ^But, as we have already noted, he holds
1360G56 that all ethical controversies connot be resolved in this way, since
1370G56 disagreement in attitude plays a predominant role in most moral
1380G56 disputes. ^Such disputes, he contends, cannot be settled by
1390G56 rational methods, for we cannot rationally argue about feelings or
1400G56 attitudes. ^He is of the view that disagreement in attitude must be
1410G56 resovled in order to_ settle these disputes. "^The resolution of
1420G56 an ethical argument", he writes, "requires the resolution of
1430G56 disagreement in attitude, and so requires that the attitudes of one party
1440G56 or the other (or both) be changed or redirected." **[foot note**]
1450G56 ^We have already pointed out that, according to Stevenson,
1460G56 such a change or redirection of attitudes can be brought about
1470G56 by "persuasive methods" like exhortation, re-education, indirect suggestion
1480G56 \0etc. ^These, as we know, are "non-rational methods"
1490G56 which, in Stevenson*'s own words, "go beyond the use of reasons
1500G56 altogether, always provided, of course, that the term 'reason' is
1510G56 to_ designate statements that_ express belief." **[foot note**]
1520G56 ^All this means that, for Stevenson, moral judgments involving disagreement
1530G56 in attitude admit of persuasive methods alone.
1540G56 $^But this view concerning the resolution of disagreement in attitude
1550G56 does not provide us with rational grounds for the justification of moral
1560G56 judgments. ^Persuasive methods are, in fact, "psychologically
1570G56 efficacious reasons" which may effectively evoke certain feelings in
1580G56 people and thus bring about harmony in their attitudes. ^It is
1590G56 these "psychologically efficacious reasons" which Francis Hutcheson
1600G56 calls "exciting reasons", for the only function of these reasons
1610G56 is to_ "excite" or "induce" a feeling or attitude in the hearer.
1620G56 ^It clearly follows that these "exciting reasons" (or "persuasive
1630G56 methods") cannot "justify" ethical judgments. ^It is one thing
1640G56 to_ "evoke" an emotion in someone regarding an object, and quite
1650G56 another to_ "justify" a moral judgment about it; but Stevenson ignores
1660G56 this important distinction between these two activities.
1670G56 ^When we are required to_ justify an ethical judgment like "\0St.
1680G56 Francis was a good man", we state certain qualities (which he really
1690G56 possessed) as our reasons in support of this judgment. ^Thus,
1700G56 it is certain factual characteristics or qualitites in a person or object
1710G56 which serve as what Hutcheson calls "justifying reasons" for
1720G56 moral judgments. ^It is clear that the function of these "justifying
1730G56 reasons", unlike that_ of "exciting reasons", is to_ prove
1740G56 an ethical judgment to_ be valid or invalid and not to_ evoke
1750G56 feelings or emotions in others. ^It is these "justifying reasons"
1760G56 (rather than "exciting reasons" or "persuasive mothods") which,
1770G56 in fact, support or justify ethical judgments. ^But, as we have
1780G56 already noted, Stevenson overlooks this most important fact about
1790G56 moral reasoning. $^This difficulty regarding the justification
1800G56 of ethical judgments arises mainly because, for Stevenson, the primary
1810G56 fucntion of these judgments is to_ alter or direct attitudes
1820G56 of people. ^We have seen that, on his view, the only difference
1830G56 between moral judgments and imperatives lies in the fact that the
1840G56 former are much more subtle and effective in directing people*'s
1850G56 attitudes than the latter. "^If a person", he writes, "is explicitly
1860G56 commanded to_ have a certain attitude, he becomes so self-conscious
1870G56 that he cannot obey...*#
        **[no. of words = 02017**]

        **[txt. g57**]
0010G57 **<*3All the Janata Men*0**> $^But there couldn*'4t
0020G57 be a leader more adept at changing courses, and going with the wind
0030G57 than Jagjivan Ram. ^He had as little concern for principles and ideologies
0040G57 as Indira Gandhi. ^After Lal Bahadur Shastri*'s
0050G57 death, Ram was himself a candidate at one time, but when he found
0060G57 he stood no chance, he went over to Desai*'s camp, only to_ realize
0070G57 that he had committed an error of judgement. ^He could see
0080G57 that the wind was in favour of Indira Gandhi, and once he was certain
0090G57 that she would win, he jumped to her side. $^After the
0100G57 general elections of 1967, the word got around that Jagjivan Ram
0110G57 might cross the floor with 50 of his supporters, and that the Opposition
0120G57 parties had offered him the Prime Ministership. ^But
0130G57 Ram could see that it would be a dangerous move which could even
0140G57 cost him the Ministerhip, otherwise assured to him if he remained
0150G57 with Indira Gandhi. ^He quickly backed out of the pow-wow
0160G57 with the Opposition. $^When he was confronted by a correspondent
0170G57 with the straight question whether he was going to_ cross
0180G57 the floor, Ram said, "^Why should I? ^*I foresee a better future
0190G57 for myself in the Congress itself." $^In 1969, Ram became
0200G57 Indira*'s staunchest supporter, and functioned almost like her
0210G57 battering-ram against the Syndicate bosses. ^*Jagjivan Ram and
0220G57 Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed became the two charioteers of Indira
0230G57 when she set out on her journey to_ become the Empress of India.
0240G57 "^Ours is the true Congress, and we are the true Congressmen",
0250G57 was the battle cry of the Ram-Ahmed team in those traumatic days
0260G57 of 1969. ^Midnight after midnight, they carried on their epistolary
0270G57 attacks against the then Congress President, *(0S.*) Nijalingappa,
0280G57 and were hailed as "Indira*'s towers of strength."
0290G57 $^It was Jagjivan Ram who first evolved the famous concept of the
0300G57 right to_ vote "according to conscience," which eventually, led to
0310G57 the break-up of the party. $^Even at that_ point of time, when
0320G57 Ram was fighting her battle, indira Gandhi was not free of her lurking
0330G57 suspicions against the ultimate intentions of her newly acquired
0340G57 champion. ^To_ put him out of her way, and yet, have the support
0350G57 of his *4Harijan base, she proposed his name for the Presidentship.
0360G57 ^But her proposal was defeated by the Congress Parliamentary
0370G57 Party, by a majority of four to two. ^*Morarji Desai
0380G57 was one of those who had voted against Ram. ^He had told
0390G57 Indira Gandhi that if a *4Harijan was to_ be selected for the high
0400G57 office, only two names could be considered Jagjivan Ram
0410G57 and *(0D.*) Sanjivayya. ^But Desai made it plain that he could
0420G57 not support Ram on account of his default in matters of income-tax
0430G57 and wealth-tax. ^How would it look to_ have as President of the country
0440G57 a person who had not paid his income-tax for ten years? "^*I
0450G57 was clearly of the opinion," wrote Desai, "that he (Jagjivan Ram)
0460G57 should not continue even in the ministry, and I had given
0470G57 an indication of this view in the discussion with the Prime Minister
0480G57 at the time of my talks with her." **[foot note**]
0490G57 $^When Indira Gandhi*'s move failed, she told her party colleagues
0500G57 irascibly, "^You will have to_ face the consequences." $^*Jagjivan
0510G57 Ram became the President of the new Congress after the split,
0520G57 and made a thundering speech at the Bombay session in December
0530G57 1969, in support of the Prime Minister, "*3^*I have no doubt
0540G57 that when the dust of controversy has settled, the Prime Minister
0550G57 will be remembered by the present generation, as by posterity,
0560G57 as the initiator of democratically healthier traditions..."*0 (Italics
0570G57 mine). $^He was soon to_ know better. ^She had no
0580G57 intentions of allowing any centre of power except her own, and Jagivan
0590G57 Ram had no real intentions to_ be a servile President of the
0600G57 Congress. ^Gradually, the lady was growing taller against the prop
0610G57 provided by her powerful Secretary, *(oP. N.*) Haksar, and
0620G57 the radical slogans provided by her new-found allies, the Communists,
0630G57 and fellow-travellers. ^The radicals around her were trying hard for
0640G57 a closer identification of the Congress with the so-called socialist
0650G57 forces in the country. ^But Ram, who was consolidating his power
0660G57 in the organization, was proving a stumbling-block to any programme-based
0670G57 understanding or electoral alliance with the leftist groups. ^Indira
0680G57 Gandhi was under pressure from the leftists to_ assume the party Presidentship
0690G57 herself. ^She herself was anxious to_ cut him down to
0700G57 size, and had started using her lieutenant, Lalit Narayan Mishra, to_
0710G57 undermine Ram*'s position in his home state. $^She also used Mohan
0720G57 Dharia, one of the so-called Young Turks, to_ spearhead an attack
0730G57 against Ram. ^*Mohan Dharia demanded that Ram should quit the cabinet,
0740G57 while he was the Congress President. ^He sent off a letter
0750G57 to Ram and the members of the Working Committee urging that "a President
0760G57 and his team wholly devoted to the job is a historical need."
0770G57 ^He put forth a number of "basic considerations" to_ prove why that
0771G57 **[sic**] the
0780G57 same persons ought not to_ be the President as well as a Minister. "^A
0790G57 President working in a subordinate position in the Central Cabinet shall
0800G57 never be able to_ play this role effectively," he argued. ^At a
0810G57 requisitioned meeting of the Congress Parliamentary Party, Dharia
0820G57 continued his attack on Jagjivan Ram for keeping two posts. ^Several
0830G57 members disapproved of Dharia*'s conduct, but Indira Gandhi did not
0840G57 express any opinion. ^It seemed clear to all that Dharia had her
0850G57 approval. $^*Ram, however, was not willing to_ budge from either
0860G57 position. ^He was gradually assuming an aggressive posture, though not
0870G57 directly against Indira Gandhi. ^He came out with a statement that
0880G57 the Congress must stick to the "middle-of-the-road" course, which
0890G57 was taken as a disapproval of Indira Gandhi*'s leanings towards the
0900G57 radicals. $^The tensions came into the open on the eve of the *5Lok
0910G57 Sabha*6 elections of 1971, when the Bihar unit of the \0CPI
0920G57 accused Ram of having committed breach of electoral agreement in the
0930G57 state, and the latter hit back by saying that it was the Prime Minister
0940G57 who had negotiated with the \0CPI "through somebody," and he himslef
0950G57 had, at no stage, negotiated with them. "^The Congress without its
0960G57 President has no authority to_ agree to any such arrangement," he told
0970G57 a Press Conference, and went on to_ assert, "I am not a sleeping President."
0980G57 $^When Ram*'s attention was drawn to a newspaper report
0990G57 that there would be no formal election of the Congress Parliamentary Party
1000G57 leader after the elections, he gave a cryptic reply, "Newspapers
1010G57 may say anything." $^This was widely interpreted as a clear suggestion
1020G57 that the question of leadership was still open. ^His statements had
1030G57 not come as a surprise to those who had followed his utterances during
1040G57 the election campaign. $^In a speech at Bhopal, Ram had deplored
1050G57 the fact that_ the Congress had to_ depend on the \0CPI-vote to_ survive
1060G57 the no-confidence motion in the dissolved *5Lok Sabha*6. ^He
1070G57 made it clear that he did not want the \0CPI co-operation. $^This
1080G57 was in sharp contrast to what Indira Gandhi had gone about saying during
1090G57 her election speeches. $^*Ram*'s anti-\0CPI utterances had
1100G57 suddenly brought him closer to his erstwhile colleagues in the other
1110G57 Congress. "^*I agree with him about Communism," said Nijalingappa,
1120G57 the Congress (\0O) President. "^*I also agree that he is not
1130G57 a sleeping President". ^In Lucknow, the then \0BKD President,
1140G57 Chaudhuri Charan Singh, also congratulated Ram. $^Political observers
1150G57 had no doubt about the real purpose of Ram*'s pronouncements.
1160G57 ^He wanted to_ make it clear to Indira Gandhi that he had no intention
1170G57 of stepping down from the party Presidentship, and that he would offer
1180G57 a challenge to her leadership. $^Before the *5Lok Sabha*6 elections
1190G57 of 1971, very few had expected that Indira Gandhi would win the
1200G57 sort of landslide victory that_ she did. ^Even some of the senior
1210G57 Congress leaders had calculated that the Congress would fall short of
1220G57 a majority, and had begun discussing their post-election strategy. $^Some
1230G57 time before the polls, a secret meeting was held at the residence
1240G57 of Jagjivan Ram. ^It was attended by *(0D. P.*) Mishra, *(0H.
1250G57 N.*) Bahuguna, who was then the Congress General Secretary, and Uma
1260G57 Shankar Dixit. ^They considered the "danger" of Indira Gandhi
1270G57 taking the \0CPI help to_ form a government, and decided that in that_
1280G57 eventuality, they ought to_ be prepared for an alliance with the Congress
1290G57 (\0O) to_ form a government minus Indira Gandhi. ^And so the
1300G57 strategy should be to_ give tickets, as far as possible, to people loyal
1310G57 to the congress Party and not to Indira Gandhi. $^All their
1320G57 calculations went haywire. ^Soon after her massive victory, Indira Gandhi,
1330G57 who had already talked about another "grand alliance" being formed
1340G57 against her, fixed her targets. $^*Jagjivan Ram was stripped
1350G57 of the party Presidentship. ^She did not even consider it necessary
1360G57 to_ get the approval of the Working Committee. ^He had already been
1370G57 fined for evasion in a tax case. ^Mercifullly, she had included him
1380G57 in her cabinet. ^Knowing him as she did, Indira Gandhi was sure
1390G57 he would take the Ministership, in spite of all the humiliation. $^If
1400G57 there was anything that_ hurt Jagjivan Ram*'s pride, it was the widespread
1410G57 feeling that he had become a fixture in the central cabinet primarily
1420G57 because he was a *4Harijan leader. ^It touched a sensitive
1430G57 chord somewhere deep in him. $^Very early in life, Jagjivan Ram had
1440G57 himself suffered the humiliations which the mere accident of birth brought
1450G57 to a man. ^At school, two water pitchers were kept in separate
1460G57 corners, one for the Hindus, the other for the Muslims. ^When some
1470G57 of the Hindu boys saw Jagjivan Ram taking water from their pitcher,
1480G57 they protested, and reported the matter to the Headmaster. ^From
1490G57 that_ day, a separate pitcher was kept for the Untouchables. ^Enraged
1500G57 by this invidious distinction, Jagjivan Ram broke the pitcher kept
1510G57 from him, and reported to the Headmaster that the Hindu boys had done
1520G57 it out of malice. ^A new pitcher was brought, but again Jagjivan Ram
1530G57 did the same. ^Disgusted with what he thought was the mischief of the Hindu
1540G57 boys, the Headmaster ordered that Jagjivan Ram would, henceforth
1550G57 drink water from the Hindu pitcher. ^Those who had any objection
1560G57 could make their own arrangement. ^*Ram had won his point, but he was
1570G57 not happy. ^He felt that he was no more acceptable to the Hindu
1580G57 boys than he was before. $^At the Banaras Hindu University, he could
1590G57 feel the undercurrent of antipathy towards him even more intensely.
1600G57 ^It often seemed to him that the Hindu boys looked at him as an object
1610G57 of commiseration. ^Nobody avoided him as such, and yet, he felt he
1620G57 was no accepted. ^The hostel atmosphere got so stifling for him that
1630G57 he decided to_ live outside the campus. ^And then one day, a barber
1640G57 who had been serving him for long, suddenly refused to shave him.
1650G57 ^He had come to_ know that Jagjivan Ram was an "*4achhut." $^In
1660G57 his own village, surprisingly, the Untouchables had been treated differently.
1670G57 ^The village school where he learnt his alphabets was held in
1680G57 the verandah of a *5Brahmin Guru*6 Kapil Muni Tewari, who treated
1690G57 all the boys alike, whether they were *4Brahmins or Untouchables. ^*Tewari
1700G57 had taken a special liking for Jagjivan Ram. ^When a heavy flood
1710G57 swept the village in 1923, and Ram*'s ancestral home collapsed, the
1720G57 whole family shifted to the house of Kapil Muni Tewari, and lived
1730G57 there till their home was rebuilt. $^*Jagjivan Ram*'s father, Shobhi
1740G57 Ram, had begun life as an errand-boy in the military hospitals of
1750G57 Peshawar and Rawalpindi, where he had gone with a relative. ^*Shobhi
1760G57 Ram learnt Hindi and a smattering of "Tommy" English. ^This
1770G57 helped him get a job in the British Army Hospital when he was just a
1780G57 boy of 12. ^At Multan, he came in contact with the followers of the
1790G57 "*5Shiv Narayani Sant*6" sect. ^He became a "*4Sant". $^*Jagjivan
1800G57 Ram was barely 6 years old when his father died, but he still
1810G57 has faint recollections of his "sage-like father."*#
        **[no. of words = 02001**]

        **[txt. g58**]
0010G58 **<*3Our Prime Minister*'s Speech in the Special Session of the United
0020G58 Nations on Disarmament*0**> $^The following is the text of his
0030G58 speech:- $^We have met here at a crucial period of the world*'s history.
0040G58 ^Nuclear armament, despite its dangers and threat of extinction
0050G58 to the whole world, has been escalated to a stage when even a small
0060G58 part of its weaponry can destroy the whole planet. ^Conventional arms and
0070G58 the armed forces of the world have attained astronomical proportions and
0080G58 numbers. ^Even without nuclear armament we have seen during the last
0090G58 war what amount of destruction the clash of these arms and forces can
0100G58 bring about. ^We in India believe that this special session of the
0110G58 \0UN General Assembly on disarmament has not met a day too soon
0120G58 and I bring to this august assembly the greetings and good wishes of the
0130G58 peace loving people of India. $^Even though the central theme of
0140G58 this session is disarmament, it is also concerned with setting mankind
0150G58 firmly on the path of peace which is also the path of sanity. $^*I have
0160G58 no doubt, \0Mr. President, that you will impart to its deliberations
0170G58 the patience, strength of purpose and the clarity of vision that_
0180G58 this momentous task demands. ^*I offer my felicitations to you \0Mr.
0190G58 President, on being called upon to_ preside over the session. $^Our
0200G58 sages long ago envisaged an ideal which is in the *4Vedic benediction.
0210G58 $^May all people be happy. $^May all people be without jealousies.
0220G58 $^May all people perceive the good. $^May no one get sorrow
0230G58 and misery. $^It is this ennobling vision of the world of happiness
0240G58 and contentment which I have always borne within me ever since I
0250G58 came in contact with the philosophy and personality of Mahatma
0260G58 Gandhi. ^It is a vision which we all should cherish and should
0270G58 strive to_ turn into a reality, not in the distant future but in our own
0280G58 time. $^This presupposes an atmosphere in which, to_ quote the Biblical
0290G58 saying, "They shall beat their swords into plough shares and their
0300G58 spears into pruning hooks. ^Nation shall not lift up sword against
0310G58 nation, neither shall they learn war anymore." $^The destructive
0320G58 potential of modern weapons used during the Second World War made the
0330G58 world fearful of war and crave for peace. $^At such a moment of realization
0340G58 was the United Nations founded. ^Almost simultaneously India
0350G58 achieved freedom through non-violent means under the unique leadership
0360G58 of Mahatma Gandhi which paved the way for peaceful liberation of
0370G58 most of the nations from the colonial domination during the last three
0380G58 decades, viewed against this background and in the context of the near
0390G58 unanimity of world opinion. $^*I believe that the times are propitious,
0400G58 and the prospects of banishing war at present are brighter than at any
0410G58 time before. $^It is a sad thought that since times immemorial,
0420G58 the history of societies has always been interspersed with the history
0430G58 of wars. $^It is even sadder to_ reflect that, far from being condemned,
0440G58 the warlike attributes of conquering heroes have been exalted and glorified.
0450G58 ^The literature of every language, and children*'s books,
0460G58 even now, are replete with accounts of the human slaughter in battles
0470G58 and wars. ^Some latter-day conquerors have even tried to_ seek comfort
0480G58 in the theory of evolution through natural selection and survival of
0490G58 the fittest to_ provide plausible scientific support to the cult of genocide.
0500G58 ^Remnements of such arguments-- racial, material and cultural--
0510G58 are still presented to us with varying degrees of sophistry. ^War
0520G58 was an accepted instrument of furthering national interests in the past.
0530G58 ^But it no longer commands the same legitimacy. $^The current
0540G58 quest for peace, however, seems to_ stem from fear of total annihilation.
0550G58 ^It is my firm conviction that fear is the worst, everlasting and
0560G58 demoralizing influence on man. ^It should not be the fear of war
0570G58 but love of peace which should rule our actions. ^International power politics,
0580G58 however, appears to_ be merely the pursuit of selfish group interests--
0590G58 bringing to surface much that_ is not noble in man-- his pettiness,
0600G58 his suspicion of fellowmen, his jealousies, his greed to_ acquire
0610G58 and dominate. ^The result is general feeling of insecurity and
0620G58 fear leading to culmination in war. $^Peace is not merely cessation
0630G58 of war, but a positive sense of identification with and concern for others.
0640G58 ^Instead of war, peace must abide in the minds of men. ^Little
0650G58 good can come of working for peace without a deep conviction that in
0660G58 peace alone there is human fulfilment and happiness. ^But even if the
0670G58 goal appears distant, it is well worth striving for because movement
0680G58 in this direction itself reduces the causes of conflict. ^If we all
0690G58 seek peace, the world will one day become a real human family as embodied
0700G58 in our ancient saying: "The whole world is one family". $^In more
0710G58 than 50 years of public life, in office as well as in prison, may I
0720G58 say in all humility that I have been sustained by the conviction, imparted
0730G58 to me by Mahatma Gandhi, that the noblest of ends cannot but be
0740G58 debased by resort to evil means to_ achieve them. ^The pursuit of truth
0750G58 with courage and sacrifice-- *4satyagraha was for Gandhiji not
0760G58 only an article of faith but a guide for practical action. ^His whole
0770G58 life was a testimony to the truth that the only real and indeed the ultimate
0780G58 freedom is freedom from fear. ^This fact has received homage from
0790G58 many, but has also been scoffed at as utopian or unrealistic in the
0800G58 grim world of real-politik. ^*I believe that Gandhiji*'s message of
0810G58 non-violence and the innovative instrument of *4satyagraha that_ he gave
0820G58 us have great relevance in our predicament as we grope for a way out
0830G58 of the present impasse. $^If we comprehend the unique and explosive
0840G58 crisis we collectively encounter, we must move towards disarmament
0850G58 through a solemn resolve to_ outlaw war and settle disputes through the
0860G58 beneficent process of negotiations. ^Only by doing so would we be true
0870G58 to our charter. ^So long as war is regarded as legitimate, disarmament
0880G58 will be a chimerical illusion. $^Many wars have been fought in
0890G58 the past because nations were ruled by the desire to_ acquire power and
0900G58 domination or material goods from others. ^But after every major human
0910G58 holocaust-- whether the European wars of the French revolutionary
0920G58 period or the two world wars in this centuary-- either because of temporary
0930G58 repentance or exhaustion, there have been attempts to_ build a structure
0940G58 of peace such as the Congress of Vienna, the League of Nations
0950G58 or our own United Nations. $^Nevertheless, in the working of these
0960G58 institutions, some countries have become involved and have involved
0970G58 others in power politics, in canvassing for blocs, competition for spheres
0980G58 of influence, promotion of sales of armaments and piling up of arsenals
0990G58 of terror, conventional and nuclear. $^The much vaunted nuclear
1000G58 deterrent has failed to_ put an end to the arms race. ^In fact, it
1010G58 has stimulated further competition, involving vastly destructive weaponry.
1020G58 ^The delays and difficulties which the Super-Powers have experienced,
1030G58 in coming to an agreement on the test ban-- partial or total--
1040G58 on limitation of nuclear armaments and reduction of the armed strength of
1050G58 \0NATO and Warsaw Pact countries, over the last 30 years, indicate
1060G58 the utter futility of trying to_ secure even partial disarmament through
1070G58 a policy of balancing of forces rooted in mutual suspicion and fear.
1080G58 $^The commitment to disarmament must therefore, be total, and without
1090G58 any reservations, although in actual implementation, having regard
1100G58 to the hard realities of the situation, we may accept the principle of
1110G58 gradualness in a time-bound programme, we must keep in view the final objective
1120G58 and, in a spirit of dedication to that_ objective, work out a
1130G58 non-discriminatory programme based on universal application shorn of any
1140G58 monopolistic feature or preferential treatment. $^In this context
1150G58 I should like to_ refer to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty of which
1160G58 much has been said in this hall and outside. ^*India is among those
1170G58 who have not signed this treaty. ^There has been considerable misunderstanding
1180G58 of our motives. ^To_ remove these, I should like to_
1190G58 declare that we yield to none in our commitment to comprehensive disarmament.
1200G58 $^We are the only country pledged not to_ manufacture or acquire
1210G58 nuclear weapons even if the rest of the world did so, and I solemnly
1220G58 reiterate that pledge before this august Assembly. ^In fact we
1230G58 have gone further and abjured nuclear explosion even for peaceful purposes.
1240G58 ^We ask from others no more than the self-restraint we impose
1250G58 upon ourselves. ^But our objection to the treaty is because it is so
1260G58 patently discriminatory. ^It makes an invidious distinction between
1270G58 countries having nuclear weaponry and those devoted to the pursuit of
1280G58 nuclear research and technology entirely for peaceful purposes. ^Paradoxically,
1290G58 the treaty gives the former a monopoly of power and confers
1300G58 on them freedom for commercial exploitation of nuclear know-how, while
1310G58 on the latter it places restrictions which may impede peaceful development
1320G58 of nuclear science. ^Along with the partial test ban treaty, the
1330G58 \0NPT has placed the nuclear military Powers in a position which
1340G58 enables them to_ continue with the utilization of nuclear energy for
1350G58 military purposes while telling others "thus far and no further". $^Despite
1360G58 protestations of peace and despite realization of the dangers of
1370G58 nuclear warfare, the Super Powers between them have conducted 254 nuclear
1380G58 tests during the last eight years. ^The \0NPT has thus failed
1390G58 to_ arrest the growth of nuclear armaments either qualitatively or
1400G58 quantitatively as anticipated. ^The weapons now with the Super Powers
1410G58 are deadlier and larger in numbers. $^The history of the deliberations
1420G58 of this assembly and of the various committees particularly the
1430G58 conference of the committee on disarmament, shows that even though the
1440G58 two co-chairmen, the \0USSR and \0USA have been active between
1450G58 themselves and with others and in the various committees, they
1451G58 have yet
1460G58 to_ provide a basis on which general agreements on the several aspects of
1470G58 disarmament could be reached. $^*I am sure they recognize this and
1480G58 it is the general view that the onus for finding the solution of the problems
1490G58 connected with nuclear disarmament lies heavily on them. ^In
1500G58 the discharge of that_ responsibility, suspicion and fear can have no
1510G58 place. ^This is not a matter of ideology or of narrow national interests,
1520G58 but of an assurance against the tragedy that_ the erosion of such a
1530G58 trust may entail and which may engulf the whole world. ^It is in this
1540G58 sense that we regard nuclear armament as a threat to the very survival
1550G58 of humanity. $^*I am glad that the distinguished Presidents of the
1560G58 \0USA and the \0USSR recognize the urgency of finding a solution.
1570G58 ^The distinguished Presidents of the \0USA and the \0USSR
1580G58 have expressed their determination to_ finalize expeditiously the negotiations
1590G58 for the elimination of the testing of all nuclear devices, whether
1600G58 for development or military purposes, and for the \0Salt-*=2
1610G58 agreement. $^Certain other agreements, as for instance the banning of
1620G58 radiological weapons are in the offing. ^From here, President Carter
1630G58 has solemnly declared last year that the United States will not
1640G58 use nuclear weapons except in self defence. ^*I am also happy that President
1650G58 Brezhnev has spoken of the replacement of balance of terror by
1660G58 the balance of trust. ^While these are welcome signs, holding out
1670G58 some hope for the future, we have yet to_ see these benevolent intentions
1680G58 translated into action. ^*I share the concern of the distinguished
1690G58 President of France over the delays in these negotiations and
1700G58 the limited nature of the deliberations on disarmament which have preceded
1710G58 the convening of this conference. $^My own earnest submission to
1720G58 this Assembly is that the problem of disarmament, particularly in the
1730G58 nuclear field, cannot be solved by a system of checks and balances devised
1740G58 as a result of bargaining. ^It can only be solved in a total manner,
1750G58 keeping in view the whole of the globe and not the regions into
1760G58 which, presumably as a matter of political convenience or strategy,
1770G58 some countries seek to_ compartmentalize the world. ^It is idle
1780G58 to_ talk of regional nuclear free zones when there would still be zones
1790G58 which could continue to_ be endangered by nuclear weapons.*#
        **[no. of words = 02000**]

        **[txt. g59**]
0010G59 **<*3Slaughter for Science**>
0020G59 I distinctly remember the first and only vivisection (as experiments
0030G59 on animals are known) at which I assisted. ^*I was a schoolgirl,
0040G59 our class was quite exited at the prospect of seeing the dissection of frogs
0050G59 in the biology lab. ^The teacher poured liquid chloroform into
0060G59 the small glass tank which housed about a dozen frogs crammed one on top
0070G59 of another. ^The chloroform did not knock them out at once-- they shivered
0080G59 and tried frantically to_ escape through the glass while blood gushed
0090G59 out of their nostrils. ^The frogs finally went into a coma punctuated
0100G59 by occasional twitches. $^They were nailed on to the tables and our
0110G59 dissections began. ^But the chloroform given was insufficient: one
0120G59 of the frogs became conscious and began to_ croak and shiver in pain.
0130G59 ^Some more chloroform was hastily pressed against its nostrils and the
0140G59 experiment went on. $^*I made it a point to_ find out what happened
0150G59 *3after we had finished with the frogs. ^The dismembered parts
0160G59 were thrown into a wastepaper bin. ^When the effects of the chloroform
0170G59 wore off, some of these twitched and danced macabrely. $^*I do not
0180G59 remember what the inside of a frog looks like now but, even if I did,
0190G59 it would have been of no use to me. ^With the exception of half-a-dozen
0200G59 girls, the rest of us went on to study the humanities. ^That_
0210G59 day*'s exercise can just be termed a colossal waste of life. $^Those
0220G59 who oppose such vivisections are branded eccentrics-- old women,
0230G59 cranks and non-scientific laymen talking on a subject they do not know.
0240G59 ^Doctors and scientists involved in research have managed to_ convince
0250G59 a gullible public that the sacrifice of so many animals is absolutely
0260G59 necessary for the well-being of the human race and for the march of science.
0270G59 ^But how necessary was the experiment mentioned above? ^Or
0280G59 countless others which are repeated every day in schools, colleges, hospitals
0290G59 and other scientific research institutions? $*<*3Mistaken
0300G59 belief*> $\0^*Prof Lawson Tait, one of the ablest surgeons Britain
0310G59 has ever produced, says: "Like every member of my profession, I
0320G59 was brought up in the belief that by vivisection had been obtained almost
0330G59 every important fact in physiology and that many of our most valued means
0340G59 of saving life and diminishing suffering had resulted from experiments
0350G59 on the lower animals. ^*I now know that nothing of the sort is true
0360G59 concerning the art of surgery; and not only do I not believe that
0361G59 vivisction
0370G59 has helped the surgeon one bit, but I know that it has often led
0380G59 him astray." $^Vivisection was sanctified by a Bill passed in 1876
0390G59 in Britain. ^Known as "the Act to_ Amend the Law relating to
0400G59 Cruelty to Animals", it laid down four general restrictions on experiments
0410G59 "calculated to_ give pain". ^The restrictions were removed by
0420G59 a number of statutory certificates. ^This Act favours the vivisectors
0430G59 more than the animals and it has yet to_ be repealed or modified.
0440G59 ^However, before we hasten to_ dump the blame for the cruelty to animals
0450G59 on our old whipping-boy, Britain, it must be mentioned that cruelty
0460G59 to animals was first recognised in the \0UK, which was also the
0470G59 first nation to_ have organised groups fighting against experiments on
0480G59 animals. $^*India was happy enough to_ continue in the British
0490G59 tradition. ^There was no provision to_ deal with the problem in the
0500G59 Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act of 1890. ^It was only in
0510G59 1953, when Rukmini Devi Arundale introduced in the *5Rajya Sabha*6
0520G59 a bill for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, that this subject
0530G59 was raised. ^A committee consisting of the heads of scientific and
0540G59 medical research institutions for the purpose of controlling and supervising
0550G59 experiments on animals was constituted in 1964 under Chapter *=4 of
0560G59 the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960. ^This committee
0570G59 has done nothing to_ prevent or control experiments on animals, except
0580G59 to_ bring out pamphlets. ^In the preface to one pamphlet the Vice
0590G59 Chairman says: "During its first term of existence, the Committee has
0600G59 been able to_ allay the apprehensions of those concerned with animal
0610G59 experimentation, regarding interference with pursuit of knowledge and
0620G59 scientific advancement in the country." ^Thus the Committee, besides
0630G59 being totally inoperative, negated its very existence. ^It has sensibly
0640G59 been dismantled recently. $^The majority of experiments, particularly
0650G59 those done in India, are repetitious and serve no purpose.
0660G59 ^A typical experiment, quoted in the Indian Journal of Surgery (\0Vol
0670G59 39, \0No 3), was an investigation of changes in serum proteins in
0680G59 normal and splenectomized dogs following acute haemorrhage. ^Splenectomy
0690G59 (removal of spleens) was done in fifteen dogs which were "kept fasting"
0700G59 for twelve hours before the experiment. ^The femoral artery was
0710G59 cut off and rapid bleeding effected. ^The experimenters reached an
0720G59 unoriginal conclusion that haemorrhage leads to a "reduction" in the cell
0730G59 mass and plasma depending upon the rate and severity of the blood loss".
0740G59 (^The article also mentions that this result had been discovered
0750G59 earlier by a \0Mr. Morawitz. ^In which case, this repetition was
0760G59 unnecessary). ^The effects of haemorrhage can be easily studied by
0770G59 a visit to the casualty ward of any hospital without bleeding any more
0780G59 dogs to death. $^Similarly, six healthy male buffalo calves were allowed
0790G59 to_ bleed exposing the carotid artery, and the caudal sympathetic
0800G59 trunk was severed to_ confirm a fact established earlier (Journal of
0810G59 the Anatomical Society of India, \0Vol 25, \0No 3). $^In an experiment
0820G59 to_ determine the serological evidence of virus in birds and
0830G59 small mammals from the Bankura district in West Bengal afflicted with
0840G59 Japanese encephalitis, 105 birds and 121 rodents were caught and bled--
0850G59 the birds through the jugular vein or directly from the heart and the
0860G59 rodents through cardiac puncture (Indian Journal of Medical Research,
0870G59 \0Vol 64, \0No 12). ^The conclusion: The study does not indicate
0880G59 the involvement of birds and small mammals in Bankura in the dissemination
0890G59 of Japanese encephalitis virus".
0900G59 ^Was such mass slaughter necessary
0910G59 to_ find that_ out? $^To_ study the effect of methanol
0920G59 poisoning, 31 male rabbits and 8 male monkeys were sacrificed.
0930G59 ^Some died within 48 hours, the others lived from 7 to
0940G59 72 days (Indian Journal of Medical Research. \0Vol 65, \0No
0950G59 2). ^Methanol, an alcohol distilled from wood, is a component
0960G59 of paints and varnishes. ^Its effects have been clearly
0970G59 established by the "killer-brew" victims of our bootleggers.
0980G59 ^In the "experiments" carried out by illicit distillers from time
0990G59 to time in our major cities, all the symptoms have been amply studied
1000G59 and analysed and a sufficient number of humans have been
1010G59 sacrificed. $^In an experiment involving an incision in
1020G59 the scrotum of ten adult male dogs, the blood vessels were doubly
1030G59 tied, the testes replaced in the scrotum and the incisions were closed
1040G59 to_ study "histological and biochemical changes produced in the
1050G59 dogs*' testes after vascular occlusion" (Indian Journal of
1060G59 Medical Research, \0vol 65, \0No 1). ^The technical jargon
1070G59 merely denotes a study of the changes taking place after the
1080G59 blood supply is blocked. ^Any child could tell you what would
1090G59 happen if the blood supply to any part of the body was cut off.
1100G59 ^Why submit the animals to such indignity and pain? ^Is it
1110G59 merely to_ satisfy someone*'s curiosity? ^Or is it to_
1120G59 justify the receipt of the large grants for research in science
1130G59 and medicine? $\0^*Dr George Wilson, \0LLD an
1140G59 eminent British Medical Officer, writing at the turn of the century,
1150G59 says: "The real advance in modern medicine has depended
1160G59 almost entirely on clinical diagnosis, therapeutics, and pathology,
1170G59 guided by a careful study of natural causes, but not upon experiments
1180G59 on animals, which are inherently misleading in their application
1190G59 to man, and, therefore, always more or less unreliable."
1200G59 $^The animal brain has been recently subjected to some of the most
1210G59 frightening experiments. ^In an experiment, multilead electrodes
1220G59 were implanted in the limbic system of the brain in twenty-nine cats
1230G59 and thirteen monkeys. ^The brain was then electrically
1240G59 stimulated in unanaesthetised conscious animals. ^The results
1250G59 of the study showed that the animals can be made agitated, frightened,
1260G59 vicious, violent as well as quiet and passive by stimulating
1270G59 specific areas. this study focuses attention on the "importance
1280G59 of proper understaning of the physiology of the limbic system"
1290G59 (Indian Journal of Medical Research, \0Vol 44, \0No 1).
1300G59 ^What a ghastly way of going about it! $^These are just
1310G59 a few examples. ^The number of experiments carried out in schools,
1320G59 colleges, hospitals and medical and scientific establishments
1330G59 is unending. ^Rats, mice and rabbits are easily available
1340G59 and most commonly used. ^Dogs are supplied by the dog pound,
1350G59 cats are stolen and sold and cattle are willingly disposed
1360G59 of by the owners. ^However, rhesus monkeys are the greatest
1370G59 sufferers: because of their similarity to man, they are subjected
1380G59 to the worst form of experiments-- from amputation to decapitation.
1390G59 ^*India, the land of *4Ahimsa Mahatma Gandhi and morality-touting
1400G59 politicians has made its own special contribution to animal
1410G59 experimentation. ^Every year countless numbers of rhesus
1420G59 monkeys are exported, chiefly to the \0UK and the \0USA. ^They
1430G59 are crowded together in tiny cages without adequate food or
1440G59 water. ^Many die of starvation, malnutrition, suffocation, tuberculosis
1450G59 and other diseases in transit. ^The survivors, in
1460G59 terrible condition, land at foreign animal farms which supply the
1470G59 research institutions. ^*I have only described experiments
1480G59 conducted in India. ^Countless more are performed in the \0USA
1490G59 Europe, \0etc. ^However, to_ repeat a cliche, two wrongs
1500G59 do not make a right. ^Cruelty elsewhere does not justify its
1510G59 existence here. ^Although the results of many experiments
1520G59 may be completely useless or already known, vested interests; insist
1530G59 that they continue. ^The common belief is that these experiments
1540G59 are necessary for the well-being of mankind. ^However,
1550G59 each species is biologically different from the other, and reacts
1560G59 differently. $\0^*Dr *(0M.*) Beddow Bayly, an eminent British
1570G59 doctor, writes: "As now admitted by leading scientists,
1580G59 no disease can be accurately reproduced in an animal by experimental
1590G59 means for the purpose of study. ^It follows that remedies
1600G59 for the artificial morbid conditions produced in vivisection can
1610G59 never 'fit' the spontaneous disease in man, and may even prove dangerous
1620G59 when such application is attempted." $^Because of
1630G59 such obvious differences in food and living habits, how can we presume
1640G59 that rats and humans will react similarly? ^To_ quote an instance,
1650G59 fungus-affected *4bajra and its alkaloids were fed to monkeys,
1660G59 which resulted in "hyper-excitation" redness of the face,
1670G59 loss of response to thermal and tactile stimuli in the hind-limbs
1680G59 and tail. ^But the symptom after an outbreak of ergot *4bajra
1690G59 toxicity in human beings were different. ^The amount of alkaloid needed
1700G59 to_ produce symptoms in monkeys is much higher than that_
1710G59 in man, and hence tolerable limits for ergot in pearl millet for
1720G59 human consumption could not be computed on the basis of data obtained
1730G59 from experiments on monkeys (Indian Journal of Medical Research,
1740G59 \0Vol 64, \0No 11). ^In this experiment, monkeys, chosen
1750G59 for their similarity to man, proved to_ be so very different.
1760G59 $*<*3Shattering Eeffect On Humans!*> $^The most famous
1770G59 and tragic example of the uselessness of experiments on animals
1780G59 was demonstrated by the drug Thalidomide, used as a tranquilliser
1790G59 and a sleeping tablet. ^For six years before being marketed,
1800G59 the drug was thoroughly tested on every possible species of
1810G59 laboratory animals cats, rats, mice, rabbits, guinea-pigs and monkeys.
1820G59 ^After these extensive tests, it was decided that
1830G59 it was harmless to humans. ^It was given to pregnant women and
1840G59 the results were shattering-- nearly ten thousand deformed babies
1850G59 were born with every kind of physical and mental deformity. ^Over
1860G59 three thousand died. ^The rest were maimed for life.
1870G59 $^To_ quote \0Prof. Lawson Tait again, "Vivisection as a
1880G59 method of research has constantly led those who have employed it
1890G59 into altogether erroneous conclusions, and the records teem with instances
1900G59 in which not only have animals been fruitlessly sacrificed,
1910G59 but human lives have been added to the list of victims by reason
1920G59 of its false light." $^The shocking torture of laboratory animals
1930G59 is sometimes disguised behind euphemisms. ^In the experiment
1940G59 with ergot *4bajara described earlier, the innocuous description
1950G59 mentions "loss of response to theremal and tactile stimuli in the
1960G59 hind-limbs and tail".*#
        **[no. of words = 02016**]

        **[txt g60**]
0010G60 **<*3Potentials of space technology**>
0020G60 $^As the result of an agreement signed between India and the United
0030G60 States during President Carter*'s visit to New Delhi,
0040G60 India will receive data direct from the Landsat satellite.
0050G60 ^A remote sensing ground station for retrieving information from
0060G60 this versatile spacecraft for keeping an uninterrupted surveillance
0070G60 on our planet is soon to_ be established in the country. $^Besides
0080G60 providing a potential tool for quickening the tempo of the
0090G60 developmental activities in the country, the Landsat data will provide
0100G60 valuable inputs for building our future earth resources satellites,
0110G60 and strengthen our efforts and endeavours in the area
0120G60 of satellite remote sensing-- an effective and powerful tool for
0130G60 exploring the natural resources. $*<*3Immense value*>
0140G60 $^The National Remote Sensing Agency (\0NRSA), set up in
0150G60 1975 for effectively co-ordinating the remote sensing activites
0160G60 of the various scientific organisations in the country will install and
0170G60 operate the Landsat ground station and analyse the retrieved data
0180G60 for a wide variety of practical applications. ^The data obtained
0190G60 from the satellite will be of immense value in "estimating
0200G60 the crop yields, range land management, forest and water resources survey,
0210G60 mineral and oil exploration, geologic mapping and resources
0220G60 exploitation, monitoring of marine wealth, land use planning,
0230G60 environmental planning, disaster warning and combating desert proliferation."
0240G60 $^Hailed as a new window on the world, the
0250G60 Landsat represents the finest example of advantageous platform in space
0260G60 for remote sensing the global resources-- renewable as well as non-renewable.
0270G60 ^Remote sensing, a versatile technique of great
0280G60 application potentital, involves the collection of information about an
0290G60 object without being in direct contact with it. $^Normally, the
0300G60 spectral sensors carried aloft the aircraft and satellites are
0310G60 used for remote sensing operations. ^The aircraft and statellites
0320G60 that_ carry the remote sensing equipment are called 'platforms.'
0330G60 ^The remote sensing technique makes use of the fact that different
0340G60 objects have different radiation patterns.
0350G60 ^For example, the reflectance of radiation
0360G60 from a plant will show a different pattern from that_ of a water
0370G60 body. $*<*3Diverse uses*> $^Thus, remote sensing
0380G60 is very useful in detecting the different forms of vegetation by determining
0390G60 the characteristic reflectance of each plant in the visible
0400G60 and infra-red regions of electro-magnetic spectrum. ^Its potentiality
0410G60 is not confined merely to the crop evaluation. ^It is
0420G60 vigorously harnessed for a wide variety of other applications such
0430G60 as geologic exploration, forest fire detection, flood control, resources
0440G60 prospecting, hydrologic management, monitoring of ocean wealth
0450G60 and pollution control. $^For a developing country like India
0460G60 with a vast population and immense unexplored natural wealth, it can
0470G60 prove to_ be an enormously beneficial technology. ^Towards
0480G60 realising the beneifts from it, the engineers and scientists at the
0490G60 Indian Space Research Organisation (\0ISRO) are building
0500G60 an earth observation spacecraft designated \0SEO (Satellite
0510G60 for Earth Observation). ^Scheduled to_ be launched towards
0520G60 the end of this year or early next year, the \0SEO will survey
0530G60 the natural resources of the country. ^From the Aryabhata to
0540G60 the \0Seo, it is a big step forward in harnessing the space
0550G60 techonology for the tangible socio-economic benefits of the country.
0560G60 $^The direct transmission of Landsat data to the ground station
0570G60 in India will provide our scientists, planners and economists
0580G60 with a significant body of new knowledge for evolving an
0590G60 integrated developmental strategy for the country. ^It would
0600G60 be the main burden of the \0NRSA to_ transform the remote sensing
0610G60 from an esoteric technology into common knowledge, and in the
0620G60 process harness the technology for the welfare of the common man.
0630G60 $^During the last five years, various research and scientific
0640G60 bodies in the country like the \0ISRO, the \02imd (Indian
0650G60 Metereologicall Department), the \0NPL (National Physical
0660G60 Laboratory), and the \0PRL (Physical Research Laboratory)
0670G60 have been acquiring Landsat imageries to_ meet their specific
0680G60 research needs. ^It may be pointed out that the Landsat imageries
0690G60 are available to anybody on payment from the Goddard Space
0700G60 Flight Centre in the \0USA. ^But the setting up of a
0710G60 ground station enabling the countinuous and uninterrupted acquisition
0720G60 of data direct from the Landsat, besides providing unique data
0730G60 base for the proper resources management, will boost the research
0740G60 activities of the various scientific organisations in the country.
0750G60 $*<*3Nimbus satellite*> $^The Landsat Space
0760G60 Project which forms a part of the \0US Earth Resources
0770G60 Observation System (\0EROS) had its genesis in the remarkable
0780G60 success that_ met the Nimbus weather satellite launched by the
0790G60 \0NASA in the mid-sixties. ^The expertise which the \0NASA
0800G60 gained in the operation of the Nimbus satellite provided
0810G60 a spring board for developing the effective space-based remote sensing
0820G60 system. $^Towards developing an operational satellite observation
0830G60 system, the \0NASA launched Landsai-*=1 satellite in
0840G60 1972. ^Despite a few malfunctions developed by the satellite,
0850G60 it provided a volume of data pertaining to land use, river
0860G60 basins, forest fires, oceanographic wealth, urban patterns and atmospheric
0870G60 variations. ^This paved the way for the emergence of
0880G60 more sophisticated sister-craft, Landsat-*=2 which went into
0890G60 orbit in early 1975. ^It convincingly demonstrated the potentialities
0900G60 of the space exploration by sending in a wealth of useful data
0910G60 on terrestrial, atmospheric and oceanographic features.
0920G60 $^Designed as a research and development tool to_ prove the feasibility
0930G60 of systematic remote sensing from earth orbits for resources
0940G60 and environmental monitoring, the Landsat system has shown
0950G60 that the application of satellite acquired data for various applications
0960G60 on earth is a practical reality. ^It has immensely improved
0970G60 man*'s ability to_ survey and make an inventory of the earth*'s
0980G60 resources by viewing the potentialities of our planet from a vantage
0990G60 point in space. $^Weighing more than one ton, with two
1000G60 conspicuous peddle-like solar arrays, the Landsat launched into
1010G60 a sun-synchronous orbit (the sun being at constant angle with
1020G60 respect to the satellite and earth), has provided a peiodic,
1030G60 repetitive coverage of the globe as never before. ^It makes
1040G60 one revolution of the earth every 103 minutes, thus completing
1050G60 about 14 orbits in 24 hours. ^As the earth complete one revolution
1060G60 around it, the ground path swept by its sensors is different
1070G60 from the previous ones. ^And, in this way, it covers
1080G60 some of the areas missed during the previous 24 hours. $^For
1090G60 observing and photographing the earth and sending back data
1100G60 to the earth, the Landsat carries two remote sensing systems-- a
1110G60 multispectral scanner and three unit television camaras. ^Two
1120G60 remote sensing systems sense the same area, but have a complementary
1130G60 role. the multi-spectral scanners by sensing a feature
1140G60 in four different wavelengths provide four different
1141G60 images of the same scene, each depicting the scene
1150G60 in a slightly different pattern. $*<*3Crop estimation*>
1160G60 $^Of the various potential practical applications of the
1170G60 Landsat data, the most significant one pertains to the crop estimation.
1180G60 ^The \0US scientists have used the Landsat imageries
1190G60 for predicting the crop yield with more than 90 per cent accuracy.
1200G60 $^The \0NASA in collaboration with the \0US Department
1210G60 of Agriculture and the \0NOAA (National Oceanic and
1220G60 Atmospheric Administration), tried out during 1975-76 a demonstration
1230G60 project to_ determine the capability of the Landsat data
1240G60 in making an inventory of the major food crops. $^Named \0LACIE
1250G60 (Large Area Crop Inventory Experiment), the experiment
1260G60 involved the survey of the wheat crop in the \0USA and Canada.
1270G60 ^The crop-sensing package aboard the Landsat measured
1280G60 the light reflected from the crop under observation in four
1290G60 different wavelengths and thus, determined their health for predicting
1300G60 the total crop yield. $^The Landsat has also been
1310G60 pressed into service for monitoring the outbreak of plant diseases
1320G60 and pest attacks. ^The diseased plants in the satellite imagery
1330G60 always appear grey and bluish, whereas the healthy plants
1340G60 appear bright red. ^Similarly, the Landsat has proved effective
1350G60 in recognising and locating the unexplored and inaccessible
1360G60 forest vegetation in various parts of the world. $^The geologists
1370G60 have exploited the Landsat for a variety of practical applications.
1380G60 ^Based on the Landsat data, the Pakistani
1390G60 geologists located with pin-point accuracy, the potential sites of
1400G60 copper and iron ore in Sind and Baluchistan. ^In the
1410G60 Central African Republic, the Landsat indicated the existence
1420G60 of an enormous body of iron ore over a vast area. ^It has helped
1430G60 in the detection of oil-bearing rocks as well as in the location
1440G60 of the sites of the possible gold deposits in the hitherto unexpected
1450G60 dry river valley in Arizona. $^Many Japanese
1460G60 industrial consortia associated with the mineral and oil exploration
1470G60 have been depending on the Landsat data for most of their operations.
1480G60 ^In our country, the Oil and Natural Gas Commission
1490G60 (\0ONGC) can beneficially exploit the Landsat for speeding
1500G60 up its exploration activities. ^In geologic prospecting,
1510G60 the Landsat has proved extremely valuable, cutting down time
1520G60 and expenditure required for the cumbersome ground based exploration.
1530G60 $^Another area of the Landsat data application is in the
1540G60 proper management of the water resources. ^In many areas of
1550G60 the world , the regulation of reservoir fed by the melting snow
1560G60 plays a vital role in the management of the water resources.
1570G60 ^By studying the successive Landsat imageries and related
1580G60 ground-based data, better water supply forecasts can be made.
1590G60 ^Further, the Landsat has provided significant clues to the
1600G60 hydrologists in maintaining a running inventory of water held in the
1610G60 form of snow. $*<*3Identifying the glaciers*>
1620G60 $^The landsat imageries have also proved effective in identifying
1630G60 the surging glaciers and monitoring the aerial extent of their change.
1640G60 ^In the chronically drought hit areas, potential sites
1650G60 for tube wells were determined. ^In the alluvial plains the
1660G60 quality and depth of water were demarcated by the Landsat.
1670G60 ^The infra-red imageries transmitted by the Landsat have been
1680G60 helpful in mapping the areas under flood. $^In india, using the
1690G60 Landsat imageries, the \0NRSA carried out an extensive survey
1700G60 of the Upper Barak river watereshed in the Surma Valley of
1710G60 Assam. ^It was for the first time that such a survey was undertaken
1720G60 in the country for the integrated development of the hilly,
1730G60 backward region with the aid of the space age technology. ^The survey
1740G60 covered the water resources, land use, soil mapping, geology,
1750G60 and geomorphography in the Barak catchment area sprawling over 14,560
1760G60 \0sq miles. ^It will go a long way in hastening the pace
1770G60 of the developmental activities in eastern India. ^With the
1780G60 help of the Landsat, India can obtain the imageries of the
1790G60 Ganges and other major river systems in the coutnry.
1800G60 ^This can be of immense use to the civil engineers in planning the
1810G60 multi-purpose river valley projects. $*<*3Landsat data*>
1820G60 $^Ecology and pollution control have also been benefited
1830G60 to a great extent by the Landsat data. ^The thermal infra-red
1840G60 and microwave radiometer sensors aboard the Landsat have provided
1850G60 the data base for effectively monitoring the extent and distribution
1860G60 of the pollutants. ^The oil slick luminiscences discharged
1870G60 into the water bodies by the industrial consortia in and around
1880G60 New York were tracked down by the Landsat. $^One of the
1890G60 photographs taken by the Landsat showed pollution plume
1900G60 high in sodium and phosphate content in the
1910G60 water body near a mill in New York. ^The
1920G60 field observations which included chemical testing, vindicated the
1930G60 Landsat finding. ^The adjoining State of Vermont launched
1940G60 a legal prosecution, alleging that the discharge was deteriorating
1950G60 the quality of drinking water in the State. ^The landsat
1960G60 imagery was produced as the evidence. $^While observing
1970G60 the perpetually drought-stricken Niger basin area, the landsat
1980G60 discovered a distinct area of vegetation in the region.
1990G60 ^Immediate field investigations were carried out to_ ascertain
2000G60 as to why the vegetation had not been eroded in the spot.
2010G60 ^It ultimately turned out that the tribals in the area were
2020G60 practising cattle grazing in their own way without upsetting the
2030G60 ecological balance. $^The Bolivan scientists have used the
2040G60 Landsat data to_ chart their natural resources, forest, mineral
2050G60 deposits and water bodies. ^*Canada identified 12
2060G60 regions of burnt forest from the Landsat data. ^The Landsat
2070G60 information guided the Tanzanian specialists to_ discover
2080G60 promising areas for range, agricultural and ground-water development.
2090G60 ^*Brazil used the Landsat data to_ monitor the controlled
2100G60 development of the large tracts of the Amazon forests suitable
2110G60 for cattle grazing. ^In the area of oceanography, the
2120G60 use of the Landsat data for identifying the fish school movement in
2130G60 the deep sea has been demonstrated. $^The data from the Landsat
2140G60 is regularly received by a score of ground stations in the \0USA,
2150G60 Canada, Italy and Brazil.*#
        **[no. of words = 02015**]

        **[txt. g61**]
0010G61 **<*3POLITICIANS \0VS CIVIL SERVANTS*0**> $*<*3A civil servant*'s
0020G61 viewpoint*0*> $^Sometime ago, a weekly published some
0030G61 articles on the subject *3Politicians \0vs civil servants.*0
0040G61 ^Writers of some of these articles have been eminent civil servants
0050G61 in their own time but the impression that_ I formed was
0060G61 that they are out of touch with the present-day state of affairs and
0070G61 the extent to which rot has seeped in, particularly in the States.
0080G61 $^Our administrative set-up is based on the British
0081G61 system. ^The essence of this system is that
0090G61 the services remain aloof from political parties and political
0100G61 ideologies. ^The political executive lays down the policy and
0110G61 the services are duty bound to_ carry it out faithfully and without
0120G61 mental reservations. $^The relationship in Britain between
0130G61 the political set-up and the services may be explained by an illustration.
0140G61 ^A summit meeting, attended by Stalin, Roosevelt
0150G61 and Churchill, was held towards the close of the Second World
0160G61 War. $^It was followed by another but by that_ time
0170G61 the war was over and in Britain, Atlee had replaced Churchill
0180G61 as the Prime Minister. ^It was noted by Stalin and Roosevelt
0190G61 with some astonishment that at both meetings, the same
0200G61 staff, including the personal staff, had accompanied the British
0210G61 Prime Minister. ^The change of Government meant no change
0220G61 in the Foreign Office personnel and the surprising part
0230G61 was that the new Prime Minister had even retained the personal
0240G61 staff of his predecessor. $*<*3British institutions*0*>
0250G61 $^We have deviated far from the British ideal.
0260G61 ^As has happened with other British institutions we have introduced
0270G61 in our country, our administrative system has lost the spirit
0280G61 of its model. ^Only the outer form remains. ^When a
0290G61 new Government takes over in a State, it has become quite common
0300G61 to_ change important functionaries. $^In fact, a similar
0310G61 trend was discernible at the Centre also, when the Janata
0320G61 Party Government took over from the Congress. $^Neither
0330G61 the politician nor the civil servant in India has functioned within
0340G61 his own sphere. ^The civil servant is entitled to_ advise the
0350G61 political executive on policy matters. ^He can, with the advantage
0360G61 of his training and experience, bring out the practical,
0370G61 legal and financial aspects of any matter under consideration. ^The
0380G61 politician is in a better position to_ assess its political and social
0390G61 repercussions. $^Thus the two have complementary roles. ^The
0400G61 final decision, of course, rests with the political executive.
0410G61 ^The implementation again lies with the services and they should
0420G61 not place hurdles in its way. $^But, unfortunately, things
0430G61 have not worked out like this. ^The politicians have
0440G61 been interfering in the day-to-day administration and members of the
0450G61 services have been indulging in covert and overt politics.
0460G61 $^*I recall in this context what a friend of mine who was working
0470G61 as the head of a department in a State once told me. ^There
0480G61 was a change of Government and a well-known public leader
0490G61 became his minister. ^He was not highly educated in the formal
0500G61 sense. ^But he was shrewd. $^He said to my friend:
0510G61 'This is my first experience as minister. ^Please advise me as
0520G61 to how I should conduct myself'. $'^Well, sir,' my friend
0530G61 replied, 'you should, as a minister, restrict yourself to policy
0540G61 matters and leave administrative matters, particularly personnel matters,
0550G61 to the secretary and myself. $^The minister smiled with
0560G61 a mischievous twinkle in his eyes and remarked: 'I would like to_
0570G61 reverse the roles. ^You take care of policy matters. ^*I
0580G61 shall deal with appointments, promotions, punishments and transfers
0590G61 of the staff. $^This has become the order of the day in the State.
0600G61 $^Now, I would give an instance from my personal experience.
0610G61 $^When I was the head of a department, its portfolio was
0620G61 assigned to a new minister. ^He sent me a long list of non-gazetted
0630G61 staff of inspectors, sub-inspectors, \0etc, whom he wanted
0640G61 to_ be transferred. ^This was a matter entirely within my
0650G61 purview and he was well aware of it. ^*I wanted to_ avoid a
0660G61 confrontation and so I pointed out in writing the objections as regards
0670G61 effecting transfers of some of them. $^He came on tour to the
0680G61 place where my headquarters were located. $^I went to_ see him.
0690G61 ^*I found that he was visibly annoyed. ^He told me,
0700G61 with ill-grace, that I could do as I pleased. ^*I partially
0710G61 complied with his wishes. ^But what stumped me completely was
0720G61 that after some time he asked me to_ return the list. ^Obviously
0730G61 he wished to_ obliterate the evidence of his having interfered
0740G61 in a matter that_ was outside his jurisdiction. ^He did
0750G61 not know that in my note on the file, I had recorded, in every
0760G61 case, that the minister had desired me to_ make this transfer.
0770G61 $*<*3Relationship*0*> $^This brings me to another aspect
0780G61 of the relationship between a minister and a civl servant. ^Under the
0790G61 British system, the minister is constitutionally responsible for all acts
0800G61 of his department. ^In other words, he will assume responsibility
0810G61 even for acts in respect of which he himself has passed no orders.
0820G61 $^But in our country, ministers, even after signifying their
0830G61 approval on file, trot out an alibi when the crunch comes, that
0840G61 they merely agreed to the advice of their departmental officers.
0850G61 $^That_ is not all, however. ^They go even further. ^They
0860G61 ensure that department officers record notes in conformity with
0870G61 their wishes so that they are spared the responsibility of overruling
0880G61 the departmental suggestion. $^A Chief Minister had made it
0890G61 a pratice to_ convey, through his personal staff, his wishes to the
0900G61 officers dealing with the case he was interested in. ^If he
0910G61 would come to_ know that the officer had recorded on file the message
0920G61 he had received from him, he would have him transferred to an
0930G61 unimportant post. ^The officer might also have an adverse remark
0940G61 entered in his confidential report. ^How such conduct
0950G61 affects the morale of the services can be easily imagined.
0960G61 $^*I have already mentioned about the minister who had sent me a
0970G61 list of officials whose transfers he desired. ^That_ list
0980G61 was sent to me direct. that_ is, without its being routed
0990G61 through the secretary. ^This is another aspect of the working
1000G61 of our ministes that_ deserves to_ be highlighted.
1010G61 $*<*3Official dealings*0*> $^They not only overlook
1020G61 the secretary in official dealings but also the head of the department
1030G61 and go lower down and call upon the officers at the district level
1040G61 to_ do certain acts for them. ^This gives such officers direct
1050G61 access to the ministers and they begin to_ feel that they can get away
1060G61 with wrong and irregular acts with impunity. $^An Inspector-general
1070G61 of Police once told me that a Home Minister was directly
1080G61 passing order of transfer of inspectors, sub-inspectors, head-constables
1090G61 and even constables. ^The \0I.G. was considerably perturbed
1100G61 over this. ^He and 90s Home Secretary approached the
1110G61 minister and pleaded: 'How can discipline be maintained in the force,
1120G61 sir, if subordinate police officers bypass me and are directly
1130G61 entertained by you?' $^The Home Minister replied: 'I appreciate
1140G61 what you say but we have our compulsions. ^Anyway, I
1150G61 shall abstain in future.' $^For some time, there was an improvement
1160G61 but things became chaotic again as elections drew near.
1170G61 ^The minister, according to the \0I.G., was using *4thanedars to_
1180G61 influence voters. $^And we talk of free and fair elections!
1180G61 ^A Congress Chief Minister was
1190G61 once told by a public man that the party organisaion had become very
1200G61 weak and that there were hardly any active workers at the grass-roots
1210G61 level. ^This would affect the party at the time of elections.
1220G61 $^But, observed the Cheif Minister, 'we do not need any workers
1230G61 in the field. ^What are \0D.Cs and \0S.Ps for?' $^*I would
1240G61 like to_ narrate another episode. ^*I was working as Divisional
1250G61 commissioner then. ^At about mid-night, I received a telephone
1260G61 call. $'~I am sorry, sir, to_ disturb you at this unearthly
1270G61 hour,' spoke an agitated feminine voice. ^She identified hereself
1280G61 as Deputy Commissioner of a particular district. $'^What
1290G61 is the trouble?' I asked. $'^Sir, I have just received a telephone
1300G61 call from the Chief Minister. ^He has asked me to_ ensure
1310G61 that \0Mr so and so is elected.' ^Elections to the State
1320G61 Assembly were on at that_ time. $'^But, is not the polling already
1330G61 over?' $^That is so, sir. ^The ballot boxes are lying sealed
1340G61 under safe custody with the police keeping guard over them.
1350G61 ~what can I do?' $'^You should have told him all this,' said
1360G61 I. $'^*I did, sir, but he said, *3I want him elected*0 and
1370G61 I do not know how to_ do it.' $^*I told the Deputy Commissioner
1380G61 to_ forget this and go to_ sleep. $^*I may add that the
1390G61 next day counting took place and the gentleman in question if he can
1400G61 be called a gentleman lost heavily. ^Fortunately for that_ \0D.C.,
1410G61 the State had a new Chief Minister after the elections.
1420G61 $^This was the state of affairs during the Congress rule.
1430G61 $^When the Janata Party came to power great hopes were
1440G61 pinned on its leaders. ^They had sworn by Gandhiji and it
1450G61 was thought that they would live up to his principles. ^The
1460G61 people expected them to_ set a high standard of rectitude and enforce
1470G61 honesty and integrity in the services. ^But, by and large,
1480G61 the old order is continuing. ^The people are still waiting for a
1490G61 clean efficient and just administration. $*<*3Beyond redemption*0*>
1500G61 $^Sometimes, I despair and feel that things have gone
1510G61 beyond redemption in our administration. ^People, it is said
1520G61 , get the Government they deserve. ^Corruption is rooted in our
1530G61 tradition and in our religious practices and our prevalent values do
1540G61 not look down upon it. ^Our election system is the fountain head of
1550G61 corruption. ^Corruption flourishes in all backward economies and
1560G61 we cannot be an exception. $^But then I see a ray of hope also.
1570G61 ^Our present Prime Minister is known for his incorruptibility
1580G61 and scrupulous regard for high principles. ^Our Home Minister
1590G61 has taken a pledge to_ root out corruption. ^Let us wish him success
1600G61 in his mission. ^But, in the meantime, we must keep our fingers
1610G61 crossed. $**<*3POLITICIANS*' VERSION*0**>
1620G61 $^It is essential for the successful administration of a country like          ^
1630G61 ours that politicians in power and the administrators play a complementary
1640G61 role. ^The politician is expected to_ lay down the policy after
1650G61 assessing its social and political implications and this policy
1660G61 has to_ be implemented by the administrator. ^But, a clean, efficient
1670G61 and just administration seems to_ be as remote as ever, despite
1680G61 Jayaprakash Narayan*'s vigorous agitation against corruption.
1690G61 ^And one wonders at whose door the blame should be laid.
1700G61 $^More often than not, the politician tends to_ give importance to
1710G61 personal and party not people*'s interests while designing policies.
1720G61 ^Misuse of the adinistration and bureaucracy is a natural consequence
1730G61 of this. ^Ministers influence tranfers and postings of officials
1740G61 to_ help their favourites, and use official machinery for the
1750G61 furtherance of their party*'s prospects during elections. ^Giving
1760G61 verbal orders and by-passing normal channels was not something
1770G61 new during the Emergency. ^This has been happening ever since the
1780G61 country gained independence. $^The bureaucracy, too, instead of
1790G61 functioning as it ought to_ indulges in covert politics. ^An additional
1800G61 secretary is interested in projecting a good image of his
1810G61 political boss to_ enhance his own career prospects, rather than being
1820G61 genuinely concerned about the working at hand. ^And a joint secretary
1830G61 feels no qualms while recommending a junior of his cadre
1840G61 for a vacant post, ignoring experience, ability and merit. $^As
1850G61 the administrator, on his part, feels that the interfering politician
1860G61 is the fountain head of all corruption and irregularities, *3CARAVAN*0
1870G61 interviwed a few prominent politicians, both in and out of power.
1880G61 $^They were asked to_ comment broadly on whether there is a healthy
1890G61 equation between the political boss and the administrator; on the politicians*'s
1900G61 interference with the administrative machinery, as evidenced
1910G61 by transfers during elections; and on the overruling of sound advice
1920G61 given by the administration with regard to policy. ^They were
1930G61 also asked to_ comment on corruption in the country and whether the
1940G61 political system was at fault. ^And, finaly, how much depends on
1950G61 the calibre of the minister himself.*#
        **[no. of words = 02009**]

        **[txt. g62**]
0010G62 **<*3HONEY-BEE*0 The most amazing insect*0**>
0020G62 $^Immediately on reaching the selected site, they start constructing
0030G62 a new hive. ^At first, some bees cling to the roof with the claws
0040G62 on their front legs. ^Some others hang on to them, and the process
0050G62 continues till an inverted cone, consisting of living bees, has been
0060G62 formed. ^For many hours, sometimes upto twenty-four hours, they wait
0070G62 like this. ^And then a kind of wax comes out of little pockets
0080G62 that_ these bees possess under their abdomen. ^The architects and
0090G62 masons collect them and start building individual cells that_
0100G62 will constitute the hive. $^The quarters for the labour class
0110G62 are small, but those for the drones, are a little bigger. ^The
0120G62 royal cell, where the queen will reside, is the biggest. ^Then there
0130G62 are godown cells for storing the provisions. ^Each of the
0140G62 cells, however, is a perfect hexagonal tube, excepting the royal
0150G62 cell, which is of an entirely different shape, like an acorn.
0160G62 ^So perfect are these hexagons (the capacity of the individual cell
0170G62 depending on its depth) that at one time it was suggested that the
0180G62 diameter of these hexagons be taken as an international standard of
0190G62 linear measurement! ^When the dwellings start coming up, the
0200G62 queen becomes restive. ^She inspects the cells, accompanied by her
0210G62 counsellors. ^The workers hold the queen in utmost respect. ^They
0220G62 always avoid turning their back on the queen. ^As she approaches a
0230G62 group, the bees invariably arrange themselves so as to_ face her. ^This
0240G62 respect is partly due to the queen substance. ^They love their
0250G62 queen because she tastes so good! ^Even so, such mannerisms remind
0260G62 us of a Mughal court.
0261G62 $^Having inspected the new city, she goes out of the city-- all
0270G62 alone. ^At first she goes a little distance and returns twice or thrice
0280G62 to_ fix in her mind the exact location of her home. ^These are
0290G62 orientation flights. ^Then, at a time when the weather is at its finest
0300G62 and the day at its brightest, she flies away again, rising higher
0310G62 and higher. ^This is what has been called the 'nuptial flight'.
0320G62 $^Immediately, the males of not only that_ city but of all the neighbouring
0330G62 cities, idle and forever drunk on honey, become alert. ^It is
0340G62 strange that the males of the city, though endowed with 13,000 eyes on
0350G62 each side of their head as compared to the 6,000 of the worker, and with
0360G62 about 38,000 olfactory cavities in each of their antennae as compared
0370G62 to the 5,000 of the worker, cannot recognise the Queen*'s needs when
0380G62 she is inside the city, living side by side with her. ^But now
0390G62 they also join the great adventure outside in the open sky, trying to_
0400G62 win her favour. $^There may be, at times, as many as 10,000 suitors!
0410G62 ^Observers have seen a comet-like formation in the sky with the
0420G62 queen at the head and a 'tail' of pursuing drones. ^She continues to_
0430G62 zoom higher and higher. ^One by one the suitors fall out; the infirm,
0440G62 the feeble and the aged. ^Only one, yes, only one out of these ten
0450G62 thousand suitors reaches her and is able to_ unite with her. ^Only
0460G62 the strongest can climb as high into the blue as the queen, thus making
0470G62 sure that when mating takes place it is with the strongest male-- this
0480G62 ensures that the health and vigour of the race are kept up. $^But
0490G62 now look carefully. ^No sooner has the union been accomplished than
0500G62 the male dies. ^His genital organs become so firmly fixed in the queen*'s
0510G62 body that they are torn out, dragging with them his entrails.
0520G62 ^It is his first and last copulation and he dies most humiliatingly.
0530G62 ^The shell, which was once his body, sinks to the earth below, slowly
0540G62 turning on itself. ^Is so much pain justified for one moment of
0550G62 bliss? $^Many of the other suitors, heart broken and dejected, fail
0560G62 to_ reach their homes-- either they lose their way or are eaten by the
0570G62 birds. ^The rest that_ reach are no longer welcome. ^They are no
0580G62 longer required. $^The males are admitted into the hive reluctantly.
0590G62 ^For some time, they continue to_ enjoy their idle life, without
0600G62 realising the terrible fate that_ awaits them. ^While the female
0610G62 workers go on labouring, the males continue to_ gorge themselves on the
0620G62 honey so laboriously being collected. ^They do not take the trouble
0630G62 of even going into a tank of honey or pollen for food. ^They ask,
0640G62 not too politely either, the female workers to_ pass some to them.
0650G62 $^Slowly, the hatred reaches the boiling point, and all of a sudden,
0660G62 one morning, a vast army of angry virgins attacks the sleeping drones,
0670G62 without any warning. ^Each one is attacked by three or four females.
0680G62 ^In no time, most of these fat, lazy but good-natured males, who
0690G62 possess no sting to_ defend themselves, are killed and carried away to
0700G62 distant cemeteries and dumped there. $*<*3Firm decisions*0*> ^A
0710G62 few manage to_ escape. ^But toward evening, impelled by hunger and
0720G62 cold, they return to the gates of the city and beg forgiveness.
0730G62 ^But a decision is a decision, and none are allowed inside. $^Next
0740G62 morning before going out on their daily chores, the workers clear the threshold
0750G62 outside the city strewn with the corpses of the wretched males.
0760G62 $^Meanwhile, the queen, full of the semen of her lover, though widowed,
0770G62 begins to_ create her race. ^She preserves the semen,
0780G62 containing 25 million sperms, in a special sac. ^When she bends to_
0790G62 lay an egg into a small cell, pressure is exerted on this sac, so that
0800G62 a single sperm comes out and fertilises the outgoing egg. ^This happens
0810G62 in the case of all small cells wherefrom ultimately females will
0820G62 come out. ^This pressure is not exerted when she is laying an egg in
0830G62 a bigger cell and hence the egg remains unfertilised. ^Now, the strangest
0840G62 thing is that the unfertilised eggs give rise to males! $^But
0850G62 what is happening in the old city? $*<Old city*0*> $^We find
0860G62 that only a few thousand citizens have remained, and it looks deserted.
0870G62 ^The citizens slowly resume their life, trying to_ forget the great
0880G62 exodus and the departure of the reigning queen. ^All is, however,not
0890G62 lost. some extra-large cells had been constructed much before the
0900G62 exodus, where new queens are developing! $^There is no difference
0910G62 between the eggs from which ordinary female workers come out and the eggs
0920G62 in these extra-large cells. ^The difference is in the scope of expansion
0930G62 for the larvae coming out of these eggs. ^Those in large cells
0940G62 get greater quantities of food-- the same food as others get-- a kind
0950G62 of milk, very rich in protein, that_ a special gland in the nurses head
0960G62 secretes. ^It is called 'royal jelly'. $^While the worker larvae
0970G62 are weaned after a few days and put on a coarser diet of honey and pollen,
0980G62 the larvae of the bigger cells continue to_ be fed on the royal
0990G62 jelly. $^The physiological differences between a queen and a worker
1000G62 are many. ^The queen has a life span of about five years as compared
1010G62 to the five weeks of the worker. ^The
1020G62 queen possesses enormous ovaries and a special sac where she can store
1030G62 semen and as a result her abdomen is twice as long as that_ of the worker.
1040G62 ^Her sting is curved and smooth as compared to the barbed stings
1050G62 of the worker. ^Because of these barbs, the end of a worker*'s body
1060G62 also gets torn when, having once thrust the sting in, she tries to_
1070G62 pull it off. ^As a result she dies. $^The queen can use her sting
1080G62 again and again. ^Also, the queen has no pockets wherefrom to_
1090G62 secrete wax. ^She also has no baskets like the worker possesses on her
1100G62 hind legs, to_ gather the pollen. $^There are differences even on
1110G62 the mental scale. ^The queen does not possess the inherent craving
1120G62 of the worker for sunshine and flowers and the wide open spaces but dwells
1130G62 throughout her life in the stuffy maternity wards of the city. $*<*3Tragedy
1140G62 in store*0*> $^In the old city, we find a set-up in whcih
1150G62 more than one queen is developing. ^Tragedy is imminent, for a
1160G62 hive cannot have more than one queen, or rather, a reigning queen will
1170G62 not tolerate any other queen unless, of course, the queen coming out first
1180G62 decides to_ go out in another 'swarm' as her predecessor had done
1190G62 and then the third queen decides to_ follow suit, and so on. $^Sometimes,
1200G62 such 'swarming fever' will completely exhaust the mother city.
1210G62 ^More often, however, we find that the queen emerging first immediately
1220G62 feels that something is wrong, that her kingdom has to_ be conquered
1230G62 and consolidated. $^This queen who is technically a baby, being just
1240G62 born, takes complete charge of the situation. ^She starts emitting
1250G62 a shrill piping note, a call of challenge, to which other queens,
1260G62 even though they may not yet be out of their cells, respond. $^Without
1270G62 hesitation she goes straight in the other queen cells and stabs frantically
1280G62 and repeatedly at the young innocent yet-to-be born queens with
1290G62 her sting. ^Generally she herself kills all her sisters. ^But if
1300G62 even the baby queen gets tired and pauses to_ rest, the crowd, as if
1310G62 a strange madness has seized it, completes the massacre of the remaining
1320G62 queens and raze to dust the royal dwellings! $^It may sometimes happen
1330G62 that two queens are hatched together. ^Then a great drama takes
1340G62 place. ^The two claimants to the throne come and stand face to face.
1350G62 ^The workers stop all their work and gather round to_ see the outcome
1360G62 of this grim and tragic duel, for one must die. $^If the fight
1370G62 exhausts them and they stop to_ take a little rest, they are not allowed
1380G62 to_ do so. ^The workers push them again to each other. ^The
1390G62 workers themselves do not, however, take any direct part in the combat.
1400G62 ^They calmly and patiently watch the fight and when one of them
1410G62 is killed, the crowd disperses. $*<*3A new life*0*> $^The new
1420G62 queen undertakes her nuptial flight. ^And life begins in the city with
1430G62 renewed vigour. ^As we have seen, this life is subject to cruel
1440G62 and rigid laws, laws demanding sacrifice from all for the greater good
1450G62 of society-- the society
1451G62 of bees. ^Indeed, a colony of bees can almost be considered
1460G62 a single living creature, with the individual bees simply parts of
1470G62 it. $^The worker sacrifices her right to_ rest. ^She may have been
1480G62 fanning 12 hours at a stretch in the hive, on top of 12 hours spent
1490G62 gathering nectar outside. ^It is not correct to_ say that bees gather
1500G62 honey from flowers; they bring in nectar. ^Nectar and honey are
1510G62 chemically distinct. ^The latter is manufactured by the bees from
1520G62 nectar and is much more concentrated. $*<*3Zest for work*0*> $^The
1521G62 worker literally works herself to death. ^One teaspoonful
1522G62 of honey means a visit by the bee to about 1000 flowers and a
1523G62 half-kilo jar of honey represents 80,000 kilometres as the bee
1524G62 flies-- or a girdling of our globe twice. $^The
1530G62 queen sacrifices her freedom except when she is swarming or when she
1540G62 undertakes her nuptial flight. ^She never goes out or sees the light
1550G62 of the day. ^She spends most of her time crawling across the face of
1560G62 the comb-laying up to 2000 eggs in a single day-- an amount far heavier
1570G62 than the weight of her own body! ^She is, in fact no more than a
1580G62 highly specialised egg-laying machine. $^The drones, no doubt, are
1590G62 idle, but then they pay for this with their lives! $^One of the most
1600G62 exiciting biological discoveries of this century is the ability of bees
1610G62 to_ communicate with one another. $^Suppose a bee has discovered
1620G62 a rich source of food. ^Immediately, she comes back to the hive and
1630G62 informs her colleagues about it. $^The degree of her excitement shows
1640G62 the quantity of food. ^If she is very excited, then she means that
1650G62 the food is plentiful. ^If she is not excited, then she means that
1660G62 few may go, but rest should wait for other scouts to_ come and report.*#
        **[no. of words = 02022**]

        **[txt. g63**]
0010G63 **<*3The World of Satyajit Ray*0**>
0020G63 $^*Philip French, while reviewing Satyajit Ray*'s *3Our Films,
0030G63 Their Films*0 for the *3New Statesmen,*0 observed: "Satyajit
0040G63 Ray is one of the few film-makers of whom that_ vexed epithet '*7auteur'
0050G63 can be used without exciting controversy. ^But more
0060G63 than that_, he belongs to an even smaller group to whom that_ other
0070G63 French label '*7cineaste' can be applied in its fullest sense, denoting
0080G63 someone not only actively engaged in creating films but also conversant
0090G63 with the history of cinema, disinterestedly aware of what his
0100G63 contemporaries are doing, and deeply concerned for (and unafraid to_
0110G63 use the term) 'film culture', meaning the whole social, aesthetic
0120G63 and moral ambience of the movies." ^No serious reader,
0130G63 after having gone through this collection of twenty-six delightful
0140G63 pieces written over a period of three decades would disagree with Philip
0150G63 French. $"^The reason why I keep writing about films", says
0160G63 Ray, "is that perhaps at the back of my mind there are still remnants
0170G63 of the zeal to_ spread film culture that_ brought our film
0180G63 club into being. ^And there are provocations too. ^While
0190G63 it is true that inadequate technical resources, erratic financing,
0200G63 slackness in writing and direction and acting have all contributed to
0210G63 the general poor quality of the films that_ surround us, I have
0220G63 no doubt that equal harm has been done by critics-- which, in films,
0230G63 means anybody with access to print who keep peddling muddled notions
0240G63 about the art form." ^While Ray could not ignore these
0250G63 critics, the critics could easily ignore what Ray said. $^While
0260G63 analysing the causes of the poor standard of Indian films Ray
0270G63 found, way back in 1948, the two root causes to_ be a general misunderstanding
0280G63 of "the fundamental concept of a coherent dramatic
0290G63 pattern existing in time" and an influence of the American cinema
0300G63 whereby the superficial aspects of the American style were imitated
0310G63 with reverence. ^By and large, this is true even today.
0320G63 ^While Udayshankar*'s *3Kalpana*0 and \0IPTA*'s *3Dharti
0330G63 ke Lal*0 stood out of this general pattern (at that_ time) according
0340G63 to Ray, he makes it clear that the hope for the Indian cinema
0350G63 lies in the drastic simplification of style and content. "^What
0360G63 the Indian cinema needs today is not more gloss", adds Ray,
0370G63 "but more imagination, more integrity and a more intelligent appreciation
0380G63 of the limitations of the medium." ^*Ray prescribes that
0390G63 the ideal of Indian film-makers should be De Sica and not De
0400G63 Mille since "for a popular medium the best kind of inspiration should
0410G63 derive from the life and have roots in it. ^No amount of
0420G63 technical polish can make up for artificiality of theme and dishonesty
0430G63 of treatment". ^*Ray admits that Vittorio De Sica*'s *3Bicycle
0440G63 Thief*0 provided him with the immediate model and inspiration
0450G63 for making *3Pather Panchali*0 and that he does not deny having
0460G63 learnt a great deal from the past masters of film like Flaherty,
0470G63 Renoir and Donskoi. ^But he makes it clear that "what
0480G63 one really absorbs from the other film-makers are the externals of technique".
0490G63 ^The serious film-maker must keep his eyes, ears
0500G63 and minds open. ^*Ray himself was deeply influenced by the
0510G63 great composers of the West, the artists of Tagore*'s Santiniketan
0520G63 and even by the classical Sanskrit dramatists. ^All
0530G63 these go in the making of the personality of the artist and "ultimately
0540G63 it is the personality of the artist that_ colours and shapes
0550G63 the work of art". ^Thus the true artist will have to_ evolve his
0560G63 own style. ^Long back in 1949, Renoir was quoted by Ray
0570G63 as saying, "if you could only shake Hollywood out of your system
0580G63 and evolve your own style, you would be making great films here".
0590G63 ^One realises now what a prophetic truth Renoir
0600G63 had uttered. $^Discussing "the Odds against Us" which,
0610G63 besides financial, include the level of taste of our audience,
0620G63 censorship codes, lack of actors with a high degree of professional
0630G63 talent \0etc. Ray makes the suggestion "to_ explore new themes,
0640G63 new aspects of society, new facets of human relationship".
0650G63 ^This can best be exemplified by tracing the development of Ray
0660G63 himself from *3Pather Panchali*0 to *3Jana-Aranya.*0 ^Since
0670G63 this too could satisfy the taste of a minority public only and would
0680G63 force the director to_ have tight reign on his budget, he will
0690G63 have to_ be severely economical. ^And fortunately, "it
0700G63 is the bareness of means that_ forces us to_ be economical
0710G63 and inventive, and prevents us from turning craftsmanship into an
0720G63 end in itself". ^*Ray and Godard are examples showing
0730G63 how the cost factor could influence the very style of one*'s film-making.
0740G63 $^The need to_ have fewer rehearsals and fewer takes
0750G63 may compel one to_ go in for a professional artist. ^Whether
0760G63 one agrees with Ray*'s statement that "*3Pather Panchali*0 could
0770G63 never be made now because Chunibala is no longer there",
0780G63 whether "*3Jalsaghar*0, *3Devi*0, *3Kanchenjungha*0 were all
0790G63 written with Chhabi Biswas in mind" or not
0791G63 is a different matter but one can easily understand why Ray said
0800G63 so. ^*I have my own doubts because after all, Chunibala was
0810G63 also 'discovered' by Ray. ^The level of appreciation of
0820G63 a serious film by our film-going public is also a limitation.
0830G63 ^While Ray wanted to_ show the couple in *3Devi*0 kissing, he
0840G63 could not venture to_ show it in close-ups becuase he feared that
0850G63 cat-calls from the lower stalls would ruin his "delicate mood-setting
0860G63 sound track of shrilling crickets and distant howling jackals".
0870G63 ^Criticising the dead weight of the ultra-Victorian moral conventions,
0880G63 Ray asserts that he "would discard a story, however good,
0890G63 that_ called for an open treatment of the love aspect than ruin
0900G63 it by dilution". ^This severely limits the choice of stories
0910G63 which could have otherwise made good films. ^But though
0920G63 Ray feared in 1966 that one could not go far with political themes
0930G63 because of the strict codes of censorship, after the release
0940G63 of his own *3Jana Aranya*0 and Mrinal Sen*'s political movies
0950G63 (with *3Chorus*0 winning the President*'s Gold Medal),
0960G63 one hopes that he would be less skeptical now. $^*Ray
0970G63 is extremely practical and believes that it is possible in the cinema
0980G63 "to_ strike a satisfactory balance between art and commerce".
0990G63 ^Well, as is commonly misunderstood, this does not mean sacrifice
1000G63 of art for commerce. ^The film-maker will have to_ be extremely
1010G63 economical, which in effect will influence his style and approach
1020G63 and the choice of the story. ^One way left to him (as Ray
1030G63 expressed in a recent interview) to_ reach a wider audience
1040G63 without compromise is "to_ perform at several levels".
1050G63 ^This is adopted not only by Ray but by most of the acknowledged
1060G63 masters of world cinema. ^For the truly serious and socially
1070G63 conscious film-makers in a country like India, particularly in
1080G63 the minority-language provinces, Ray admits that "the problems
1090G63 of reaching the mass cannot be solved yet and will remain with
1100G63 us as long as illiteracy on a large scale exists". ^But
1110G63 still with incorrigible optimism he suggests that "if the simple-but-serious
1120G63 approach can develop into a movement instead of being
1130G63 confined to a handful of individual directors, there is the possibility
1140G63 that the taste of the public can be moulded to_ accept
1150G63 the new and reject the old". ^The validity of this statement,
1160G63 made in 1958, remains still unquestioned. $^What about
1170G63 the so-called 'new wave' film movement that_ one constantly hears
1180G63 of in India? ^Is there really anything new in it or is
1190G63 it just "getting into some sort of credo"? ^These and
1200G63 similar questions have been discussed in detail in probably the most
1210G63 brilliant and thought provoking article, "An Indian New Wave?"
1220G63 ^*Ray goes to the heart of the question, tracing the
1230G63 development of film language through the various stages of experimentation
1240G63 by the masters of cinema, and judges the ideas motivating
1250G63 the new movement in India in that_ context. ^Though he
1260G63 expresses his sympathy for this new trend and praises the \0FFC
1270G63 in particular for showing "admirable courage and enterprise
1280G63 in providing loans to young, untested applicants aspiring to_
1290G63 make 'off-beat' films", he also strikes a note of caution so that
1300G63 all this enthusiasm does not go waste by being aimed the wrong
1310G63 way. $^Failure to_ establish a rapport with an audience
1320G63 may have many reasons behind it. ^In itself it does
1330G63 not prove that the film maker is a great one or a true experimenter
1340G63 (as is commonly believed by some of our film-makers and film critics).
1350G63 ^True, masters like Eric von Streheim also failed
1360G63 in making contact with the audience. "^The true artist",
1370G63 Ray says, "is recognisable in his style and his attitude,
1380G63 not in his idiosyncracies". ^Analysing in detail the style
1390G63 and content of the films made by Chaplin, Renoir, Welles,
1400G63 De Sica, Kurosawa, Truffaut and Godard, Ray concludes
1410G63 that even among the New Wave directors of France, the "one
1420G63 thorough-going iconoclast is Jean-Luc Godard". ^While rating
1430G63 him as an innovator not far below Griffith, Ray asserts that
1440G63 "any analysis of the new wave unorthodoxy must in the end boil
1450G63 down to an analysis of the methods of Jean Luc Godard".
1460G63 $^*Ray deals with Godard quite intensively and shows how
1470G63 Godard has devised a new genre of cinema by totally dispensing
1480G63 with the plot line. ^While Godard decided to_ make films cheaply
1490G63 and quickly without destroying the essential purity of the art
1500G63 form, he had to_ evolve a new syntax, a new pace and rhythm and
1510G63 new conception of narrative. ^True, "Godard form grew
1520G63 out of Godard content", but Godard succeeded in creating only
1530G63 "a cinema of the head and not of the heart, and, therefore, cinema
1540G63 of the minority." $^But what Ray writes next is
1550G63 of importance to our film-makers: "With Godard the reversal
1560G63 of convention is not a gimmick or an affectation, but a positive and meaningful
1570G63 extension of the film language." $^Over-enthusiasm
1580G63 often leads us to_ forget that Godard is "a bad model for young
1590G63 directors simply because his kind of cinema demands craftsmanship of
1600G63 the hightest order, let alone various other equipments on an
1610G63 intellectual plane. ^In order to_ turn convention upside down
1620G63 one needs a particularly firm grip on convention itself."
1630G63 $^*Ray thinks most of the young directors of the West as having
1640G63 exploited "permissiveness" in their so-called off-beat films:
1650G63 "^The breaking of conventions goes merrily along, while the
1660G63 box-office is taken care of by permissive sex." ^But
1670G63 in India, one will have to_ work within certain limitations
1680G63 and will have to_ bear in mind certain unavoidable conventions.
1690G63 ^Most of our film-makers seem to_ have confused ideas about what
1700G63 they are going to_ do, what line of experimentation they
1710G63 are going to_ follow. ^Low budget, low shooting
1720G63 schedule, avoidance of stars, improvisation or doing away with
1730G63 the story-- are not some of these mutually annihilating concepts?
1740G63 ^Here Ray thoroughly examines the points in question
1750G63 one by one and makes some suggestions which are of immense
1760G63 value to our New Wave film-makers. ^He is convinced that
1770G63 in spite of the changed idiom (ushered in by Godard), "the
1780G63 convention of narrative in whatever shape or form has remained".
1790G63 ^He advises the new venturers not to_ discard the story
1800G63 altogether, but to_ take extreme care in casting actors, to_ make
1810G63 the most effective use of the means at one*'s disposal and to_
1820G63 rise above personal idiosyncracies. "^The modern idiom, unless
1830G63 backed by a genuinely modern attitude to life and society",
1840G63 Ray fears, "is apt to_ degenerate into gimmickry and empty flamboyance".
1850G63 ^In short, the matter must justify the manner.
1860G63 $^Citing *3Bhuvan Shome as an example, he remarks that
1870G63 it succeeded mainly because of "a delectable heroine, an ear-filling
1880G63 background score, and a simple, wholesome wish-fulfilling screen
1890G63 story (summary in seven words-- Big Bad Bureaucrat Reformed
1900G63 by Rustic Belle)", and that it "looks a bit like its
1910G63 French counterpart, but is essentially old-fashioned and Indian
1920G63 beneath its trendy habit". ^About four new Hindi film-makers
1930G63 also, he makes his remarks in another article.
1940G63 ^While he is of the view that "story apart, *3Ankur has enough
1950G63 qualities to_ make one look forward to Benegal*'s future
1960G63 with keen anticipation", and that the handling of Agra locations
1970G63 in *3Garm Hawa "suggests that Sathyu not only
1980G63 has a feel for them but knows how to_ use them to the best advantage
1990G63 of the story", he is quite critical about Mani Kaul and
2000G63 Kumar Sahani.*#
        **[no. of words = 02037**]

        **[txt. g64**]
0010G64 **<*3Culture and Prose**>
0020G64 $^Among the most conspicuous differences between the literary cultures
0030G64 of India and the West is the latter*'s rich and varied tradition
0040G64 of prose. ^It now seems the most critical difference between a
0050G64 culture that_ has experienced a renaissance and one that_ has
0060G64 been denied such an experience. ^A momentous and sudden rise in the level
0070G64 of human curiousity lies behind the proliferation of prose. ^A
0080G64 *4dharmic and *4karmic society such as ours necessarily inhibits curiosity
0090G64 and represses critical inquiry. ^It is inclined
0100G64 to_ accept closed and rigid intellectual, moral and aesthetic systems
0110G64 and the ultimate result is a predominance of verse and of a chronic
0120G64 baroque tendency. ^Prose flourishes whenever the need to_ describe,
0130G64 analyse, narrate, and debate is widely felt. ^Where the need
0140G64 to_ accommodate new facts, new concepts and new experiences is constantly
0150G64 felt, prose and its many genres develop vigorously.
0160G64 $^During the last one thousand years-- precisely the period in which
0170G64 the contemporary languages of India emerged and developed this unique
0180G64 gap between Indian and Western literary cultures had continued
0190G64 to_ widen. ^*Indian literatures discovered prose only
0200G64 in the nineteenth century and it was a direct result of our cultural
0210G64 confrontation with the West. ^Although the Indian essayist,
0220G64 journalist, scholarly writer, novelist, short story writer, critic
0230G64 and polemicist were quick to_ understand and exploit the possibilities
0240G64 of prose, they had no native models and norms, no
0250G64 traditional critieria or perspective to_ fall back upon. ^In
0260G64 contrast, our poetic tradition has a depth and diversity of its
0270G64 own. ^And yet, even our poetry has been denied a vigorous
0280G64 conflict with prose such as has shaped modern European poety.
0290G64 ^*Indian prose still resorts to poetic and rhetorical devices
0300G64 at the expense of simplicity, lucidity, and functionality which are
0310G64 qualities that_ belong to deeper intellectual traditions. ^On
0320G64 the other hand, unable to_ define itself against the rational culture
0330G64 of prose, our poetry often shows intellectual turgidity, verbosity,
0340G64 and prosaic garrulousness as if poetry is only an oblique form
0350G64 of prose. ^Thus it fails to_ concentrate upon what constitutes
0360G64 its natural strength: the power to_ create images, the power
0370G64 to_ evoke and to_ orchestrate suggestions, the ability to_ make
0380G64 startling syntactical moves and the facility to_ form non-rational
0390G64 associations. $^*Indian writers do have access to a rich literary
0400G64 tradition and a wealth of folk resources. ^But in genres such
0410G64 as the novel their models cannot but be Western unless, by
0420G64 sheer miracle, someone actually produces an Indian novel in an Indian
0430G64 laguage, incorporating in it the peculiar Indian perspective
0440G64 of time and space, that_ strange concept of cyclic infinity and mythological
0450G64 dream-space which characterizes our traditional literary
0460G64 works. ^For that_ matter, Indian novels so far have failed
0470G64 to_ create a structural analogue, in fictional terms, of a stratified
0480G64 and hierarchical society. ^*Japanese and Latin American
0490G64 fiction, or the fiction of Eastern Europe, have been able to_
0500G64 create and project a sense of time, space and society which is
0510G64 quite different from the post-Renaissance Western European tradition.
0520G64 ^The Russian novel of the nineteenth century and the Latin
0530G64 American novel of our own day have developed in literary cultures which,
0540G64 like our own, are not part of a highly active and diversified
0550G64 intellectual culture. ^Yet they are the greatest compensation
0560G64 for the lack of such a culture: the novel used as a tool of knowledge
0570G64 to_ define the darker aspects of the social process and the moral
0580G64 condition of man is not only imminent in India but also already
0590G64 making its appearance. ^It is worth waiting for creative Indian
0600G64 fiction turning both its European and Indian heritage into
0610G64 an advantage for the first time. $^Meanwhile, looking at
0620G64 the much larger landscape of Indian prose, one is struck by the lack
0630G64 of discipline, coherence, and definition of levels one finds in a
0640G64 settled prose tradition. ^*Indian textbooks, newspapers, periodicals
0650G64 and works of supposed educational value contain the worst examples
0660G64 of prose. ^They lack a minimum intellectual discipline
0670G64 on the one hand and have a disastrous disregard for the resources of
0680G64 demotic speech on the other. ^Much of the new Indian prose is
0690G64 a strange and artifical language. ^Its structure and syntax
0700G64 are modelled on English, from which most thought seems to_
0710G64 have been awkwardly translated. ^Its vocabulary is heavily
0720G64 *4Sanskritized and contains too many obscure neologisms. ^It
0730G64 has a peculiar caste and class character. ^Such a language
0740G64 reaching masses of neo-literates, whose real speech is different, has
0741G64 already alienated a potential readership. ^It has
0750G64 made literacy non-functional and is, in a sense, a big moral and educational
0760G64 hoax. $^The survival of our democratic institutions
0770G64 will depend on the quality of our prose. ^Again, our prose
0780G64 will tell whether our ethos is really changing into an egalitarian
0790G64 one. ^Prose used in the press, the radio, television, and
0800G64 the film-- whether we like it or not-- is going to_ determine the
0810G64 quality of our awareness even more than our textbooks. ^In a country
0820G64 where the educated are so few and intellectually so unscrupulous,
0830G64 where the elites are morally insensitive and socially myopic, it
0840G64 would be extremely difficult to_ establish such standards and norms.
0850G64 ^There are no short cuts to a vibrant intellectual and literary
0860G64 culture. ^Perhaps we are now really in a situation closer to the
0870G64 one that_ prevailed in fifteenth century Europe. ^Those who
0880G64 are ahead of their time or are authentically contemporary in a global
0890G64 sense are sadly outnumbered. ^They do not wield the mass media
0900G64 nor do they determine educationl policy. ^All they can do
0910G64 is to_
0920G64 continue being subversive in a creative sense, and strike at those
0930G64 who spread bad standards.
0940G64 $**<*3Art and Social Relevance**>
0950G64 $^Does art affect social life? ^The question has deceptive
0960G64 simplicity about it, as perhaps all profound questions have. ^It has
0970G64 also a faint smell of dust and age about it, reminding us of all the
0980G64 old controversies and battles, of Belinsky and Gogol, of the times
0990G64 when art was really an awe-inspiring activity, a sacred duty and
1000G64 a noble act. ^It seems unimaginable in modern times for a dying
1010G64 writer to_ beseach a contemporary not to_ abandon writing novels,
1020G64 which is exactly what Turgenev did on his deathbed in a long letter
1030G64 to ^Tolstoy. ^The way we speak of art in our times in terms of
1040G64 galleries and prizes and best sellers-- would have seemed almost a
1050G64 sacrilege to them, an obscene act of desecration. ^As an American
1060G64 critic once jocularly said, "In my country, people who talk of art
1070G64 are generally the businessmen, and if we hear anybody talking of business,
1080G64 they would certainly be the artists". $^Perhaps this
1090G64 is one reason why the question of social relevance of art,
1100G64 which we thought we had buried and done away with, has acquired
1110G64 a new breath of life. ^If art has been reduced to a profession
1120G64 like others the question would have no importance,
1130G64 for then its validity would be determined by its function.
1140G64 ^But then what exactly is the function of art? maybe it
1150G64 has something to_ do with our soul, as the old Russian Masters
1160G64 would say-- and that_ would leave us slightly embarrassed;
1170G64 have we not relegated the business of 'soul' to priests
1180G64 and theologians? ^But the question would not be so safely
1190G64 set aside, I mean the question of soul, for we vividly remember
1200G64 a few lines of a poem or a piece of music-- or those strange
1210G64 haunting trees in a Rajput miniature or in a painting
1220G64 of Leonardo-- which once so deeply moved us. ^Is there still
1230G64 some area of our soul, we wonder, which has not yet been
1240G64 appropriated by religion, nor colonized by business, a forlorn
1250G64 area of deep experience to which only art has access? ^If
1260G64 so, how do we carve out this strange terrain from the rest
1270G64 of our being, and if we visit it so often what name does it have?
1280G64 $^There is thus something very vague and vulnerable
1290G64 about art, and all answers which seek to_ define its funcction
1300G64 or relevance seem slightly crude and unsatisfactory.
1310G64 ^We are, therefore, left with nothting else but the most reasobable
1320G64 and clear fact, a fact from which we were tyring to_ shrink
1330G64 back till this moment-- that art in reality has no social relevance,
1340G64 for it is a 'reality' in itself, autonomous and self-contained,
1350G64 whose significance can be measured in terms of
1360G64 its own existence. ^And these terms acquire validity not from
1370G64 some criteria external to itself, social or otherwise, but
1380G64 from life itself, which is embodied in the work or art.
1390G64 $^A neat and precise answer-- perhaps too neat and precise, but
1400G64 for the same reason it can serve as the firm ground on which
1410G64 we can let our mind safely brood over this strange
1420G64 phenomenon we call art. $^But before we proceed any further,
1430G64 let us glance a little at the 'ground' itself. ^We know
1440G64 that the life which a poem breathes within itself is very different
1450G64 from any other arrangement or combination of words. ^The
1460G64 meaning of a poem is not exhausted in the ideas which the
1470G64 words convey to us, it lives on even after it is finished.
1480G64 ^In this respect it is very different from a newspaper report
1490G64 or a philosophical proposition, whose utility is finished once
1500G64 we appropriate its meaning. ^Since we can never entirely
1510G64 appropriate the 'meaning' of a work of art, we can never entirely
1520G64 exhaust its relevance. $^In the presence of a work
1530G64 of art, we are faced with a world, which is both real and
1540G64 unreal. ^While it bears a strange resemblance with the everyday
1550G64 world that_ surrounds us, it is not exactly identical
1560G64 with it; it is like a dream, which though it contains the
1570G64 ingredients of our daily life is not the same as our waking existence.
1580G64 ^It hovers somewhere between the strange and the
1590G64 familiar, and for that_ reason somewhat more disturbing than
1600G64 if art were totally pure and "self-contained", shutting off
1610G64 its doors from the rest of the world. $^Take a simple
1620G64 sentence in a story. "^It was a September evening. ^*I was
1630G64 crossing the road". ^Nothing strange about it. ^We have lived
1640G64 through many Septembers in our lives and crossed hundreds
1650G64 of roads. ^And yet as we read the sentence on a page, we are
1660G64 immediately taken aback as if the conglomeration of all past impressions,
1670G64 inchoate and confused and slightly messy, converge
1680G64 to a sharp point, a single memory. ^What we experience
1690G64 is familiar, and yet isolated in a sentence it acquires a timeless
1700G64 quality, an experience which digs up from words and through
1710G64 layers of time its own spring of survival. ^Thus there is something
1720G64 peculiar about a work of art born of human consciousness,
1730G64 it wants to_ shed away its traces of humanness, obliterate
1740G64 the footprints of time, acquire a rhythm of its own. ^A plant
1750G64 dies and is reborn. ^A work of art is born again and again
1760G64 in front of its spectator. ^It freezes time within itself
1770G64 and as you pick up the story, or look at a picture, it starts
1780G64 flowing again. ^*September evening in the story will never
1790G64 come to an end, and the man crossing the road will go
1800G64 on crossing the road till eternity. $^Art, therefore, tries
1810G64 to_ salvage what history in its 'march towards the future'throws
1820G64 away into its dustbin-- the scraps of memory which help
1830G64 us to_ 're-collect' our past, the fragments of nature without
1840G64 which we remain strangers to ourselves. $^It is this
1850G64 dual character of all art, its weird resemblance to reality,
1860G64 on the one hand, and its separate life of its own,
1870G64 on the other, which makes it perhaps the most enigmatic of all human
1880G64 activities. ^This lends a strange sort of ambivalance to
1890G64 art: if it were a mere reflection of reality, it would be redundant;
1900G64 if it were completely autonomous, a sovereign entity
1910G64 in its own rights, it would not be so vulnerable to social and
1920G64 political pressures to which it is constantly exposed. ^Indeed,
1930G64 the delicate balance which art so desperately and despairingly
1940G64 tries to_ maintain between its dream-like reality, is
1950G64 a perpetual source of bafflement to the ideologist commissar
1960G64 and the patronising art-dealer in both parts of the
1970G64 world.*#
        **[no. of words = 02027**]

        **[txt. g65**]
0010G65 **<*3The Decline of Academia: The Saran Affair**> $^Exactly
0020G65 three years after these sentiments were voiced,
0021G65 Saran*'s personal poser became an
0030G65 issue of social concern on Jodhpur campus. ^At first
0040G65 sight, the issue seemed unexcitingly trivial. ^*Saran
0050G65 was asked to_ serve on some committee of enquiry to_ do which he refused,
0060G65 and this brought forth a formal condemnation of his
0070G65 conduct by the Syndicate. ^*Saran resigned in protest
0080G65 and his resignation was promptly accepted. ^Nothing
0090G65 more than livelier coffee sessions seemed to_ have been
0100G65 produced by this act which looked to many a bit of
0110G65 'overreaction' on Saran*'s part. ^But slowly the news spread.
0120G65 ^The Jodhpur University Teachers*' Association strongly protested
0130G65 against the resolution of the Syndicate and deplored it
0140G65 as "an infringement of the right of a teacher to_ express his
0150G65 free and frank opinion". ^More than 300 academicians from
0160G65 various universities of Delhi signed a memorandum expressing their
0170G65 solidarity with Saran. ^The Chancellor*'s office in
0180G65 Jaipur began to_ receive scores of petitions calling for an
0190G65 enquiry into the circumstances that_ led to Saran*'s
0200G65 resignation. ^The media also woke up to the 'event' and
0210G65 special reports were published in various periodicals. ^The
0220G65 editor of *3Dinman lashed at Jodhpur*'s "dwarf-making machine",
0230G65 mistakenly called the university which expected from its
0240G65 professors blind allegiance to its misrule. ^The weekly
0250G65 *3Sunday exposed the "suppression of academic dissent"
0260G65 on Jodhpur campus. ^The *3Hindustan Times opened
0270G65 up its columns for a series of letters on the Saran affair.
0280G65 $^Some background information is perhaps necessary to_
0290G65 understand the complexities of the Saran affair. ^*Jodhpur
0300G65 campus has seen through three Vice-chancellors in less
0310G65 than a year. ^There are writ petitions galore and the best
0320G65 intellectual minds rarely succeed in crossing the barrier of
0330G65 petty economism. ^Like most universities in India, the campus
0340G65 has little academic culture; small local groups, often aligned
0350G65 on caste lines, freely compete to_ enlarge their small feudal kingdoms.
0360G65 ^This has resulted in an uninhibited tendency on the part
0370G65 of students and teachers to_ utilise each other in purely factional
0380G65 fights, and the Vice-Chancellor has often to_ manoeuvre through
0390G65 all this merely to_ maintain some semblance of order and discipline
0400G65 on the campus. ^One of his pet instruments is an enquity
0410G65 committee through which he exacerbates contradictions
0420G65 in the faculty, harasses his colleagues on partisan grounds,
0430G65 and sometimes inflicts punishment on his chosen opponents.
0440G65 $^It was one such enquiry committee that_ produced the Saran
0450G65 affair. ^The thing that_ distinguished this committee from
0460G65 the earlier committees of this kind was the mistake which the
0470G65 university committed in asking Saran to_ serve on it. ^Two
0480G65 others were also asked to_ serve on this committee and they also refused
0490G65 but theirs was an act of quiet dissociation. ^*Saran, in his
0500G65 note of refusal, appended his reasons and this completely upset
0510G65 the university authorities. ^For the first time, the game was not
0520G65 playd on their terms and somebody had dared to_ question the constitutionality
0530G65 of their procedures. ^The bureaucrat-academicians
0540G65 of the Syndicate lost no time in trying to_ chasten the uncompromising
0550G65 offender: Saran*'s conduct was censured by a formal
0560G65 resolution. ^But instead of submitting to such humiliation, Saran
0570G65 resigned in protest. ^The Vice-Chancellor, unable to_ face
0580G65 the issue on its merits, committed another blunder by hastily
0590G65 accepting the resignation. $^It is indeed a matter of
0600G65 tragic irony that Saran*'s protest on procedures had to_ come on
0610G65 an issue which was indefensible in substance. ^The university
0620G65 had decided to_ set up an enquiry committee to_ investigate
0630G65 into allegations against one \0Prof. *(0R.*) Bhadada, Head
0640G65 of the Department of Mining Engineering. ^It was alleged that
0650G65 \0Prof. Bhadada had got some posts created for his chosen people
0660G65 on inflated salaries, that he used to_ be away from his job without
0670G65 appropriate leave, and that he was manipulating students of his department
0680G65 to_ harass the University authoritis. ^Some of these
0690G65 charges were serious and of long standing and Bhadada had in fact
0700G65 once earlier apologised to the university authorities. ^This
0710G65 apology, "an act of absolute cowardice" in Saran*'s view,
0720G65 had already considerably lowered his reputation in the campus,
0730G65 and the fresh enquiry committee would have been ordinarily greeted
0740G65 with a sense of relief by the teaching community. ^But
0750G65 a number of crucial steps that_ preceded the formation of this committee
0760G65 were "wrong, unfair and extra-constitutional" and it was this,
0770G65 not the question of the merits of the case itself, that_ provoked
0780G65 Saran*'s harsh indictment of the university procedures. ^In
0790G65 his letter of refusal, Saran wrote to the Registrar: $^*I know
0800G65 the circumstances and the manner in which action was taken against
0810G65 \0Prof. *(0R.*) Bhadada who was suspended by the Vice-Chancellor
0820G65 under clause 12(5) of the Jodhpur University Act. ^*I
0830G65 was also present at a meeting of citizens of Jodhpur and teachers of
0840G65 Jodhpur University called by the Vice-Chancellor apparently to_
0850G65 discuss the situation created by continued strike at the university.
0860G65 ^It was at this meeting that students were allowed by the Vice-Chancellor
0870G65 to_ read before it their charges against \0Prof. *(0R.*) Bhadada
0880G65 who was out of Jodhpur at that_ time. ^*I think this
0890G65 in itself constituted a fairly severe punishment for any self-respecting
0900G65 person; but this precisely was meted out to \0Prof.
0910G65 Bhadada before a proper charge sheet had been framed against
0920G65 him, to_ say nothing of any charges having been investigated or
0930G65 established. ^*I need not go into further details: how negotiations
0940G65 were started with students who were *4gheraoing this meeting
0950G65 what assurances were given to them and how a citizens*' committee
0960G65 was formed to_ look into the demands of students who were agitating
0970G65 against \0Prof. Bhadada and what the Committee did and how it set
0980G65 about its task. $^In my opinion the whole thing has
0990G65 been wrong and unfair and some of the curcial steps taken in this
1000G65 connection have been extra-constitutional. ^*I am, therefore, sorry
1010G65 to_ inform you that I cannot agree to_ be a member of the Committee
1020G65 appointed by the Syndicate 'to_ investigate into the allegation'
1030G65 against \0Prof. *(0R.*) Bhadada, Head, Department of
1040G65 Mining Engineering. $^This letter of refusal could have been
1050G65 treated in a routine manner, that_ is, it could have been filed
1060G65 and forgotten. ^But it raised issues that_ disturbed the guilty
1070G65 conscience of the Syndicate bosses. ^*Saran*'s refusal
1080G65 to_ associate himself with an unjust enquiry committee threatened
1090G65 to_ set up precedents which would have disrupted the carefully
1100G65 controlled climate of the campus, nurturing a one-sided moral
1110G65 imperative to_ serve the rulers. ^*Saran posed a threat which
1120G65 was clearly much larger than his personal act of non-cooperation.
1125G65 ^His attack on constitutional procedures adopted by the constitution-makers
1130G65 themselves eroded the very sanctity of the
1140G65 university government. ^This could not have been left unchallenged
1150G65 and unpunished. ^In a hurriedly called meeting of the Syndicate,
1160G65 on 28 January 1978, the following resolution was voted to_ pass
1170G65 stricutres on Saran*'s conduct as a professor. $^The Syndicate
1180G65 observed that Professor Saran would have been well advised
1190G65 to_ serve on the Committee and then make constructive contribution
1200G65 after having taken part in conducting the enquiry rather than
1210G65 giving his own comments on the merit of the case itself in advance
1220G65 which was not expected of a Professor of his standing and RESOLVED
1230G65 that the Vice-Chancellor may convey the feelings of
1240G65 the Syndicate to Professor Saran. $^This innocuous-sounding
1250G65 resolution, the Syndicate must have reasoned, would contain
1260G65 Saran*'s unbridled love of principle and tame him too into
1270G65 the docile fold of fellow academics. ^But the unexpected happened.
1280G65 ^*Saran*'s defiance grew sharper and he resigned in retaliation.
1290G65 ^In its unseemly haste, the Syndicate had not realized that
1300G65 it was leaving gaping holes in its act of formal denunciation,
1310G65 and that it was confronting Saran who did not believe in his "functionary-employee"
1320G65 status. $^It was only of minor importance
1330G65 to Saran that the resolution of the Syndicate was *3Illegal
1340G65 because it violated Ordinance 320 (appendix B, sohedule *=2,
1350G65 clause *=1) of Jadhpur University itself under which a resolution
1360G65 of this kind could be passed "only after reasonable opportunity
1370G65 has been given to the teacher to_ represent his/ her case and after
1380G65 due consideration of such a representation, if made". ^Since
1390G65 no opportunity was ever given to Saran to_ present his case, the Syndicate
1400G65 could not have sustained the indictment in a court of
1410G65 law. ^But courts are for the petitioners who, in the university
1420G65 context, nurse grievances against their employers. ^To_ Saran,
1430G65 the university was his employer only in an insignificant technical
1440G65 sense. ^He would rather not win the battle if he had to_
1450G65 demean and narrow down the issue to its purely legalistic dimension.
1460G65 ^More was at stake than just the legal lapse on the part of the
1470G65 highest body of the university. $^The most crucial issue which
1480G65 emerged from the resolution of the Syndicate hinged on a teacher*'s
1490G65 right to_ protest against the misdeeds of the authorities of his
1500G65 own university. ^What did Saran do that_ brought forth the strictures?
1510G65 ^Was it not his right to_ refuse to_ serve on any committee
1520G65 which, in his view, would not meet the ends of justice? ^Was
1530G65 it not proper for him to_ explain in detail why he would not like
1540G65 to_ associate himself with what had been preceeded by a series
1550G65 of wrong and extra-constitutional acts? ^The Syndicate not only evaded
1560G65 these questions but in terms of specific charges levelled
1570G65 against Saran it violated all norms of academic propriety.
1575G65 ^In its carelessly worded resolution, it even found fault with
1580G65 Saran*'s presumed judgment on the "merits of the case in advance".
1590G65 ^Nothing could have been farther from the truth because
1600G65 Saran had never spoken about Bhadada*'s guilt or innocence.
1610G65 ^In fact, Saran had already condemned Bhadada*'s cowardly
1620G65 apology and he would have probably supported the charges levelled
1630G65 by the university. ^But the issue in his letter of refusal
1640G65 was not Bhadada but the uuniversity*'s immoral subservience to
1641G65 the pressure tactics of a section of students.
1650G65 ^No Vice-Chancellor who is responsible for university
1660G65 government can allow the students to_ read unsubstantiated charges
1670G65 against one of his colleagues in a public meeting which was
1680G65 not even called for his purpose. ^And surely, this cannot
1690G65 be allowed under coercion and only subsequently legitimized in the
1691G65 form of a simulated enquiry committee. $^The Syndicate resolution
1692G65 also erred in presuming that a person of Saran*'s character
1700G65 could have made a "contribution" from within which could have been
1710G65 "positive" or "constructive" from the point of view of the university
1720G65 authorities. ^Knowing the circumstances in which the
1730G65 enquiry committee was consituted, Saran*'s acceptance would have
1740G65 been, in fact, tantamount to an opportunistic compromise on
1750G65 his part, and quite rightly he dissociated himself from
1760G65 that_ farce. ^But if the Syndicate wished to_ pursue its
1770G65 own line of reasoning, it could have challenged Saran*'s version
1780G65 of the antecedent circumstances and it could have forced
1790G65 a showdown on the question of procedural propriety. ^That_ would
1800G65 have been a confrontation fought on principles but there the
1810G65 Syndicate had no real case except the fact, not to_ be mentioned
1820G65 in sophisticated circles, that *3all Vice-Chancellors
1830G65 today must perhaps demean themselves merely to_ keep the show
1840G65 going. ^This little fact tells us volumes about our universities,
1850G65 but that_ is an altogether different story. $^In the given case,
1860G65 the Syndicate chose neither to_ confess its impotence before unruly
1870G65 students nor to_ indicate the 'impracticability' of Saran*'s
1880G65 higher standards of academic behaviour. ^No situation of
1890G65 'power' can possibly be completely free from all compulsions
1900G65 of mainpulation; it is not the fact of possessing power but the
1910G65 idea itself that_ sullies the mind. ^On occasion, one must
1920G65 sympathise with the lot of our Vice-Chancellors. ^But
1930G65 this should not justify the university authorities*' arrogating
1940G65 to themselves the powers of a dictator. ^Their own
1950G65 safety lies in fact in their constituents*' right to_ disagree
1960G65 with them. ^*Saran*'s action has become an affair only because
1970G65 the Syndicate in Jodhpur exceeded the limits of its permissible
1980G65 misconduct. ^To_ condemn a professor merely because he
1990G65 chooses to_ spell out his reasons for refusing to_ serve
2000G65 on a committee is to_ deny all dignified dissent on the campus. ^There
2010G65 is no doubt that Saran*'s act contained a seed of subversion.*#
        **[no. of words = 02011**]

        **[txt. g66**]
0010G66 **<*3Science as Culture**> $^*I PROPOSE TO_ EXAMINE
0011G66 in this note some of the cultural implications of science,
0020G66 though I am afraid I cannot lay claim
0030G66 to being either a scientist or a philosopher or cultural
0040G66 anthropologist. ^But perhaps that_ should be an advantage,
0050G66 for I can speak from the viewpoint of a teacher who has taught
0060G66 science and who has tried to_ understand culture, but who
0070G66 has not been able to_ contribute anything of significance to
0080G66 either field. $^What I shall try to_ do will not be to_ present
0090G66 an exhaustive analysis of the cultural aspects of science.
0100G66 ^*I would rather attempt to_ present certain aspects
0110G66 of science which have significant implications for culture in
0120G66 the widest possible sense. ^*I shall therefore try to_ define
0130G66 culture as I would use the term here. ^And for this purpose
0140G66 I shall fall back on one of the most significant thinkers
0150G66 of the twentieth century, Jose Ortega yGasset. ^He
0160G66 was a philosopher of the true liberal vintage, and had a versatile
0170G66 mind which was concerned with the basic problem of man in
0180G66 the twentieth century. ^He was exiled under the Franco regime,
0190G66 but before and after his exile he was closely associated
0200G66 with the University of Madrid. ^And one of the most significant
0210G66 books on universities to_ be published in the
0220G66 first half of the century happens to_ be his *3Mission of the
0230G66 University. ^In the introduction to that_ book Ortega
0250G66 defines culture as the set of vital ideas by which man lives.
0260G66 ^Culture thus is not just the frills which decorate man*'s
0270G66 exterior being, his habitation and so on but is vital to his living
0280G66 as a human being. '^Ideas' here does not mean thought
0290G66 alone, but systems of values and aesthetic considerations also.
0300G66 ^In other words, the whole being of man is encompassed
0310G66 in this idea of culture. $^Culture defined in this sense
0320G66 has a three-fold role. ^One of these is the intellectual role.
0330G66 ^Life is a plethora of experience; at every moment of our
0340G66 existence, even when we are in sleep, we receive stimuli
0350G66 from outside and generate them from inside. ^These different
0360G66 stimuli, if left to themselves, would create a confusion
0370G66 of experience. ^If man is to_ live as a sane human being,
0380G66 it is indispensable for him to_ order these different experiences
0390G66 into a meaningful pattern. ^He has to_ have
0400G66 for this purpose a frame of reference. ^It is in this frame of
0410G66 reference that experience is organised into a meaningful
0420G66 whole or a number of meaningful autonomous wholes. ^This
0430G66 is the intellectual function of culture. ^By its very nature
0440G66 this function cannot be performed adequately unless the set
0450G66 ideas that_ man accepts as valid are rooted in reality as it
0460G66 progresses from generation to generation. ^Science has a most
0470G66 important contribution to_ make in providing such a frame of reference
0480G66 . ^*I would not say that science alone has to_ make
0490G66 this contribution, but it has to_ be recognised that science
0500G66 makes a most significant contribution to the definition of
0510G66 our culture. $^The second role of culture is ethical
0520G66 in the sense that it provides us with standards of good, with
0530G66 the criteria of good and evil, not in the religious sense but
0540G66 from the point of view of human growth, of harmony, of refinement,
0550G66 of exploration, of creativity. ^Not only that_; it also
0560G66 helps us in deciding what sort of mechanisms society should
0570G66 develop in order to_ realize the values referred to above,
0580G66 how existing institutions should be modified in order that man
0590G66 may be able to_ approximate his ideal of the good life, and of
0600G66 the good society, in his individual life and in the life of the
0610G66 community of which he is a member. $^The third aspect
0620G66 of culture is that, explicitly or implicitly, any culture defines
0630G66 what is a valid procedure for testing assertions of truth.
0640G66 ^It has to_ have certain methodological assumptions which
0650G66 may be understood without being spelled out; or, as the
0660G66 culture becomes increasingly self-conscious, these assumptions
0670G66 may be explicitly formulated and criteria may be deduced from them
0680G66 with the help of which we judge which procedure is valid and
0690G66 which is invalid, which kind of assertion may be looked upon
0700G66 as a scientific assertion and which should be regarded as what
0710G66 is well expressed by the Hindi word '*4Shayari' ('poetry').
0720G66 ^Poetry has a place in life but poetry does not deal with the
0730G66 kind of truth with which science deals, and it would be wrong
0740G66 to_ claim for the insights of poetry the
0741G66 validity and status of scientific truth. ^It is for science
0750G66 in its cultural aspect to_ provide criteria and procedures
0760G66 for judging between truth and-- let me be non-commital-- non-truth
0770G66 in the entire field of discursive thought. $^NOW IF
0780G66 WE LOOK at these three functions of culture, and try to_
0790G66 see what science has to_ contribute to the definition of
0800G66 culture, we have first of all to_ take into account the scientific
0810G66 conception of truth. ^The first characteristic of this
0820G66 conception is that truth is objective. ^It is objective
0830G66 in the sense that even if a particular assertion of truth is
0840G66 not directly verifiable by empirical observation, it must enable
0850G66 us to_ deduce certain implications which are observable
0860G66 and which are independent of the particular observing subject.
0870G66 ^An elementary example of this kind of observation, where the state
0880G66 of mind of the observer does not figure in the picture, is
0890G66 providedd by the Geiger counter. ^Whether one observes anything
0900G66 or not, it records certain phenomena. ^And no matter whether
0910G66 one is sober or drunk, a mystic or a hard-headed cynic, the observations
0920G66 have to_ be the same. ^This objectivity is expressed
0930G66 in the kind of equations we have in physics, the 'ideal'
0940G66 scince. ^As we know, physical equations are not the usual kind
0950G66 of algebraic equations where the variables occur in the first or higher
0960G66 degree; they are invariably differential equations. ^Some of the
0970G66 most important equations in physics-- Laplace*'s equation,
0980G66 for example-- is a second-order equation. ^The equation of potential
0990G66 flow, Maxwell*'s equations for the electro-magnetic field,
1000G66 \0etc. are also differential equations of the second order because
1010G66 they eliminate the 'boundary conditions', the incidental features
1020G66 which distinguish one particular set of phenomena from another of
1030G66 the same kind. ^They are eliminated so that we have differential
1040G66 equations which have an invariant form as we go from one frame
1050G66 of reference to another. ^The most beautiful example of this
1060G66 kind of invariance is provided by the tensor equations of the
1070G66 general theory of relativity; these equations are independent of *3all
1080G66 frames of reference. $^The objectivity of scientific truth implies
1090G66 inter-subjectivity: any assertion of scientific truth must have the
1100G66 same content for different subjects. ^This is an important feature
1110G66 of scientific truth. ^When we consider the statements
1120G66 made in the human sciences, not to_ speak of literature and other
1130G66 arts, it is difficult to determine the validity of their
1140G66 claims to_ convey truth as it is understood in the natural sciences.
1150G66 ^The problem is how to_ attain to inter-subjectivity. ^Even
1151G66 if we cannot attain to objectivity in the social
1160G66 sciences, can we at least hope to_ attain to a certain degree
1170G66 of inter-subjectivity? ^If we cannot, well, that_ should be
1180G66 recognized
1190G66 as part of reality. ^But we should then be aware of it and
1200G66 be more modest in the claims that_ we make as literary critics
1210G66 or even as social scientists. ^Unfortunately, neither of these
1220G66 two tribes of men are as modest as natural scientists who
1230G66 deal in hard, objectively verifiable truths. $^The third
1240G66 characteristic of scientific truth is that it is logically
1250G66 structured: it is not just a bundle of assertions nor
1251G66 does it consist of a number of effusions of
1260G66 the spirit. ^The spirit is there in the assertions of science,
1270G66 but it is a spirit that_ has received a form because of
1280G66 the need to_ provide a logical structure as demanded by
1290G66 human reason. ^In science, the aim has always been to_ go
1300G66 from a given level to a higher level of generalization.
1310G66 ^And if you want to_ do that_ it is necessary to_ fomulate the theory
1320G66 in such a manner that once the most general formulation
1330G66 has been achieved for the time being, all particular assertions
1340G66 should be capable of being logically deduced from the basic
1350G66 postulates or general principles. ^Hence scientific truth
1360G66 is formulated with a certain logical structure and
1370G66 even though the postulates-- like, for instance those
1380G66 of the theory of relativity or nuclear physics-- cannot
1390G66 be tested by direct observation, their logical consequences
1400G66 have to_ be capable of being verified, or refuted, by
1410G66 direct observation. ^This is a most vital difference between
1420G66 the logical structure of a scientific theory and that_
1430G66 of a philosophy like that_ of Plato or Hegel or Kant.
1440G66 ^Their theories also have certain logical structures, and
1450G66 Kant*'s
1460G66 is, indeed, one of the greatest in human history. ^And yet neither
1470G66 Kant*'s nor Hegel*'s nor Plato*'s philosophy
1480G66 can be shown to_ meet this additional condition, namely,
1490G66 that_ of yielding implications logically deduced from the theory
1491G66 and capable of making contact with empirical reality at some
1500G66 stage. $^There are a few other features of a scientific theory.
1510G66 ^Because of its logical structure and the need to_ make
1520G66 contact with empirical reality at some stage, all scientific
1530G66 theories have what is known as the hypothetico-deductive
1540G66 form. ^The scientific method itself is sometimes known
1550G66 by that_ name. ^The basic idea is to_ project a certain hypothesis,
1570G66 which is really the creation of the scientist*'s own mind.
1580G66 ^It is wrong to_ imagine, as Bacon did, that by merely observing
1590G66 the facts one can abstract a theory from them. ^The
1600G66 word 'abstraction' has a literal meaning here: according
1610G66 to the view which has become popular since Bacon, the theory
1620G66 is supposed to_ be hidden in the facts and one *3abstracts
1630G66 it, one *3draws it out*0 from the facts. ^This is not how scientific
1640G66 discovery takes place; as any scientist who has made
1650G66 a discovery will confirm, it comes as a flash of lightning.
1660G66 ^But before the flash takes place, one*'s mind is
1670G66 all heated up and excited, processes are going on in
1680G66 it, and one has to_ have a certain intellectual discipline before
1690G66 this flash can take place. ^It is a curious, and
1700G66 as yet not properly understood, relationship between the
1710G66 creative imagination of man and his intellectual equipment. ^But
1720G66 the point is that one projects the hypothesis which is an act of
1730G66 the creative imagination, then one deduces its logical consequences,
1740G66 and finally one tests those deductions against
1750G66 observation. $^An additional requirement is introduced when
1760G66 we have two equally competent conflicting hypotheses. ^We are
1770G66 familiar with such phenomena in the history of physics,
1780G66 one of the best known being the controversy over the rival theories
1790G66 of Newton and Huygens about the nature of light. ^Whether
1800G66 light is corpuscular or of a wave nature was for many years
1810G66 a matter of debate. ^Scientists could jolly well go on working
1820G66 with either of these hypotheses because at that_ stage of knowledge
1830G66 the deductions which could be made from them were
1840G66 the same. ^This is not unknown in mathematics; one can
1850G66 deduce the same set of theorems from two distinct sets
1860G66 of postulates. ^But if the two sets of postulates are really
1870G66 distinct, at some stage in the process of deduction there
1880G66 must appear, in two different systems, two different
1890G66 theorems. ^Something similar has to_ happen in science also. ^When
1900G66 that_ happens, the distinction is tested by empirical observation
1901G66 and a decision is made at least for
1910G66 the time being, in favour of one against the other contesting
1920G66 hypothesis. ^But if such a distinction cannot be made at
1930G66 the empirical level, it would have a further implication: the
1940G66 two hypotheses are really isomorphic, equivalent in all
1950G66 respects, and it is merely a question of changing over from one
1960G66 idiom to another. ^This is how, as a matter of fact, many
1970G66 of the theories of abstract algebra are applied to physics.
1980G66 $^*I come now to the criterion of testability.*#
        **[no. of words = 02002**]

        **[txt. g67**]
0010G67 **<*3Education and Society**>
0020G67 $^EDUCATION HAS MEANING and significance at two different levels.
0030G67 ^On the one hand, it is a preparation for participating in
0040G67 an adventure of ideas and it is that_ adventure itself. ^On
0050G67 the other hand, it is an aid to the fulfilment of certain practical
0060G67 needs of life and society. ^Of these practical needs,
0070G67 I will speak more a little later. ^But before I do that_,
0080G67 it is good to_ remind ourselves for a moment that the ultimate
0090G67 value of education does not lie in and cannot be measured by its
0100G67 immediate and practical utility. ^The material needs of
0110G67 life are, indeed, pressing; but let us honestly face the fact that
0120G67 the teacher can, at any given moment, make only a marginal
0130G67 contribution to satisfying those needs. ^He can yet contribute
0140G67 something valuable to the life around him. ^He can keep
0150G67 alive in himself and communicate to others a love of knowledge,
0160G67 a certain capacity to_ take delight in a deeper and more systematic
0170G67 understanding of the world including and around himself. ^It
0180G67 would be a sad day for us if we did not have in our society some
0190G67 people who had this capacity and valued it. ^A university
0200G67 is that_ unique institution among all other institutions in society,
0210G67 where the enthusiasm of the young and the experience of the old
0220G67 can blend together in a common adventure of ideas and a common
0230G67 pursuit of knowledge. ^Other institutions in society have
0240G67 other purposes; but a university must have some reverence for that_
0250G67 one purpose from which it derives its special value. ^A
0260G67 teacher who overlooks this truth rapidly loses devotion to his vocation
0270G67 and he stays only to_ spread a kind of moral and intellectual
0280G67 gloom all around. $^Having stated this, I have to_
0290G67 be cautious. ^Although the adventure of ideas is distinct from
0300G67 the pursuit of the merely material and practial ends of life, yet
0310G67 the two are not unrelated. ^It is as much of an error to_
0320G67 ignore that_ relatedness as it is to_ overlook the distinction.
0330G67 ^In the growth and development of a branch of knowledge, there
0340G67 are two factors which are simultaneously at work. ^On the
0350G67 one hand, there is a continuous striving for building up a coherent
0360G67 and internally consistent body of ideas, capable of
0360G67 encompassing new facts as well as those already known in that_
0370G67 branch of knowledge; and logical challenges arise at every step pointing
0380G67 up inconsistencies and these have to_ be faced and overcome.
0390G67 ^On the other hand, there is also a pressure that_
0400G67 arises from man*'s struggle for existence and his practical endeavour
0410G67 to_ develop his potentialities in and through society.
0420G67 ^This too has a vital influence on the direction of mans*'s
0430G67 pursuit of knowledge. ^When, for vocational stream at the
0440G67 end of class *=10, they proposed to_ allow this at three different
0450G67 points in course of the school years, \0viz., at the end of
0460G67 class *=3, and of class *=8 and termination of class *=10.
0470G67 ^This shows a surer grasp of our social reality. ^Even now
0480G67 a fairly large number of students, particularly from the poorer families
0490G67 in our towns, drop out around class *=8, and, in the villages,
0500G67 around class *=3. ^*I think that there is a strong case
0510G67 for giving our students an option to_ join a course of vocational
0520G67 training at the end of class *=8. $^Indeed, it may serve a
0530G67 useful purpose if we set up gradually over the next few years, a
0540G67 new type of institution, with a status intermediate between a secondary
0550G67 school and an undergraduate college of today. ^It should
0560G67 provide four years of general education corresponding to classes *=9
0570G67 to *=12 and also courses of vocational training of varying length
0580G67 for students who might join it either after class *=8 or at the
0590G67 end of class *=10, which should be the two entry points in the new
0600G67 institution. ^Secondary schools of the conventional kind should
0610G67 continue to_ teach up to class *=10 as at present and coexist
0620G67 with the new type of multi-purpose higher secondary institution
0630G67 proposed above. ^There are some practical advantages to_ be
0640G67 derived from this arrangement, which may be briefly explained.
0650G67 $^The case for the proposal outlined above may be presented in
0660G67 three parts. ^*I have to_ begin with a few words on a controversial
0670G67 question. ^Many universities in India, including
0680G67 Delhi, Bombay and Madras, have adopted a three-year Honours
0690G67 course and some have even a three-year pass course. ^*I
0700G67 think that it will be wise on the part of West Bengal universities
0710G67 to_ have an Honours course of the same length. ^With a
0720G67 two-year course, as proposed by some educationists here, our Honours
0730G67 degree would not be considered as equivalent to the corresponding
0740G67 degree of other leading universities in India. ^Similarly
0750G67 a Master*'s degree coming in the wake of two-year Bachelor*'s
0760G67 course would not be regarded as the equivalent of a Master*'s
0770G67 obtained after a longer preparation. ^The services of our
0780G67 pass students have mostly a local market. ^But it is important
0790G67 that our students with an Honours or a Master*'s degree should
0800G67 not be placed at a disadvantage in the highly competitive market
0810G67 for their services at the national level. ^A three year course
0820G67 is also desirable if we want to_ raise the level of our university
0830G67 education, particularly for Honours students, and make
0840G67 it comparable with standards in leading universities abroad.
0850G67 ^Our scholars should not be imitative; but a university cannot justify
0860G67 its existence in society if it is scornful of schoarly standards.
0870G67 ^*India has to_ keep abreast of world knowledge. ^One
0880G67 of the aims of higher education is to_ make this possible.
0890G67 ^The Honours course is a preparation for that_ high standard of scholarly
0900G67 equipment without which we cannot maintain our teaching and research
0910G67 activities at the appropriate level, that_ is the level of
0920G67 world knowledge. ^Much has changed over the last quarter
0930G67 of a century. ^The fact that the Honours course was of two
0940G67 years duration once upon a time is no longer a sufficient basis for
0950G67 the conclusion that the same should be good enough today. ^*I
0960G67 believe that, on purely academic grounds, there is a strong case
0970G67 for a three-year Honours course after ten plus two years of
0980G67 higher secondary education. $^But this at once leads to
0990G67 a problem to which we have not been able to_ find a simple answer.
1000G67 ^The last two years of higher secondary education are
1010G67 being taught currently in the colleges and in some schools too.
1020G67 ^Most schools do not have an adequate complement of competent teachers
1030G67 for the higher secondary course and cannot in fact expect to_
1040G67 attract such teachers with anything like the present payscales for
1050G67 school teachers. ^But if, on those grounds, we decide to_ make
1060G67 the higher secondary course effectively a part of college
1070G67 education, we are again bound to_ come up against a very serious
1080G67 difficulty: a college which intends to_ provide facilities for the
1090G67 "plus two" course, including the general as well as the vocational
1100G67 stream, and in addition teach a three-year Honours course,
1110G67 will need not only more physical facilities but also a substantially
1120G67 larger total of teachers than most colleges have today.
1130G67 ^Since we cannot have two categories of teachers in the same institution
1140G67 without creating very difficult psychological and administrative
1150G67 problems, all these teachers in the undergraduate colleges
1160G67 will have to_ be appointed on the same footing as other lecturers.
1170G67 ^The pay-scale and minimum qualifications for lecturers have
1180G67 been determined by the University Grants Commission and these
1190G67 are practically the same for colleges and the universities.
1200G67 ^Now, this is where lies the crux of the problem. ^It is just not
1210G67 possible to_ attract to the majority of our colleges outside
1220G67 the big cities the requisite number of teacher-scholars fulfilling
1230G67 the minimum qualifications laid down by the \0U.G.C. ^One
1240G67 step leads to another, and after we have decided to_ rely upon
1250G67 our colleges to_ impart five years of teaching including the "plus
1260G67 two" course, we will be forced to_ allow these colleges to_ appoint
1270G67 teachers with substantially lower qualifications. ^And then
1280G67 the rot will spread. ^We cannot permit notably lower qualifications
1290G67 for college teachers and keep this permissiveness confined
1300G67 there, while the pay-sale for lecturers remains uniform everywhere.
1310G67 $^WHAT THEN IS THE SOLUTION to the problem? ^The
1320G67 question remains whether or not one accepts my answer to it.
1330G67 ^Others are welcome to_ suggest alternative answers. ^*I
1340G67 see no other way out of the impasse than the one I have indicated
1350G67 above \0viz., to_ set up a kind of multi-purpose higher secondary schools
1360G67 or intermediate colleges or call them by whatever name
1370G67 you please, which will stand somewhere between the existing
1380G67 secondary schools and colleges, in respect of both pay-scales and
1390G67 required qualifications for teachers. ^Such teachers need
1400G67 not have, for instance, a Doctor*'s degree or published work of high
1410G67 merit to their credit. ^In order to_ make these institutions
1420G67 at all viable, they should be allowed to_ provide a four-year
1430G67 course, including the last two years of secondary education.
1440G67 ^In this way it should be possible to_ combine a full work
1450G67 load for a whole-time teacher in these institutions with the possibillity
1460G67 of a minimum of specialization in the major branches of a subject.
1470G67 ^The last two years of secondary education should continue to_
1480G67 be taught in the existing schools, but those students who wish should
1490G67 have the possibility of entering these intermediate institutions
1500G67 at the end of class *=7. ^These new institutions would, thus,
1510G67 form a very useful link between schools, on the one hand, and colleges,
1520G67 on the other. $^No work of destruction will be
1530G67 necessary and no hasty steps will have to_ be taken before we start
1540G67 gradually to_ build these link institutions. ^All that_
1550G67 will be needed is a clear decision and some purposeful planning.
1560G67 ^The main trouble with our educational policy and performance
1570G67 has been the absence of a healthy and constructive blend of academic
1580G67 and administrative considerations. ^Educationists and
1590G67 administrators have lived in unwholesome and uncomprehending contempt
1600G67 of one another, and each has been content to_ lay on the other
1610G67 the blame for every major failure. ^There is, to_ be sure,
1620G67 too much administration and too little education in this country; but
1630G67 surely the remedy for this state of affairs is not to_ be found
1640G67 in a hidden hostility between the two professons. $^The National
1650G67 council proposed to_ introduce some kind of techincal education,
1660G67 or what we prefer to_ call work education, already at the end
1670G67 of class *=3. ^This, I think, will be a good idea, provided
1680G67 we interpret it correctly. ^Work education is useful particularly
1690G67 at an early stage, although some students with a bent for abstract
1700G67 thinking may withdraw themselves subsequently for intensive work
1710G67 of a theoretical nature. ^Work education, it should be clear is
1720G67 not synonymous with vocational training. ^It is education for
1730G67 a particular attitude of the mind. ^There is a certian sympathy
1740G67 between the mind and the body, and certain faculties of the mind are
1750G67 properly developed when there is opportunity for finely coordinated
1760G67 use of the limbs and the senses and the intellect. ^Moreover,
1770G67 the integration of intellectual work with the physical represents,
1780G67 even for the beginner, an essential link between theory and practice.
1790G67 ^It also conveys to the learner an idea of the worth and dignity
1800G67 of physical labour. ^If these essentials of education are
1810G67 not introduced at an early stage, they cannot be made part of education
1820G67 at a later stage except very artificially. $^The system
1830G67 of education which we have developed in India has had certain
1840G67 consequences worth noting at this point. ^It has created a
1850G67 middle class which is overwhelmingly dependent on salaried jobs in
1860G67 a bureaucrcy centred in the city and on a limited range of supporting professions.
1870G67 ^The middle class is passively dependent upon but not
1880G67 actively and productively engaged in agriculture. ^This, together
1890G67 with caste, has produced a concept of social respectability based
1900G67 on a separation between intellectual and manual labour carried to excessive
1910G67 lengths. ^It has also created a rift between the town and
1920G67 the village.*#
        **[no. of words = 02010**]

        **[txt. g68**]
0010G68 **<*SEX AND YOUR HEART**>
0020G68 $^Love which emanates from the heart and arouses sexual desire has
0030G68 been the pivot of life since the time of Adam and Eve. $^Love has
0040G68 always been associated with the heart. "^*I love you with all my heart"
0050G68 or "I love you from the bottom of my heart" are phrases which are
0060G68 used every day by hundreds of lovers all over the world. ^A flirt
0070G68 is often referred to as a heart-breaker and a person hopelessly distressed
0080G68 over a love-affair as broken-hearted. ^This shows that the
0090G68 concepts of love and sex have been linked with the most delicate organ
0100G68 of the body-- the heart. $^Love may not be necessarily associated with
0110G68 sex. ^Love can be the tender love of a mother for her children
0120G68 or love for music, a hobby or pet. ^But, for most married couples,
0130G68 sex and love are inseparable. ^They are dissatisfied and frustrated
0140G68 without sex because, for them, it is the tangible, physical expression
0150G68 of their love for each other. ^Love and sex also figure in
0160G68 a religious context in India-- for instance, the treatise, *3Kamasutra
0170G68 and the sculptures and paintings in some of our temples. ^Repression
0180G68 of sex came much later, in the Victorian era, and has been
0190G68 revived again in India. $^That frustration in love and sex can
0200G68 lead to a broken heart is no longer considered mere poetic imagination.
0210G68 ^There is now enough evidence to_ show that anxiety and stress
0220G68 caused by sexual frustration can definitely lead to a damaged heart.
0230G68 ^Stress is one of the important risk factors in the causation of
0240G68 coronary heart disease leading to heart attacks. $^Attitudes to
0250G68 sex have changed radically in recent times. ^Even in India, love
0260G68 and sex are no longer considered sacred, meant only for the purpose of
0270G68 procreation. ^They are accepted as a means of satisfying the lust
0280G68 and passion of human beings. ^Love is no longer considered necessary
0290G68 for sex. $^With these changes in sexual behaviour, men and women
0300G68 worry whether their performance in sexual life can come up to their partner*'s
0310G68 expectations. ^This leads to tremendous tensions and is partly
0320G68 responsible for the increased incidence of heart attacks. ^It
0330G68 has been reported from Israel that the incidence of heart attacks in
0340G68 sexually unhappy females is higher than those with a happy sexual
0350G68 life. $^Owing to the increased incidence of heart attacks in
0360G68 the last 50 years, intensive studies have been carried out on various
0370G68 aspects of heart disease, but the subject of sex has been largely
0380G68 ignored. ^In this age of specialisation, where a person is considered
0390G68 just a bundle of different organs rather than a human being,
0400G68 the subjects of sex and heart have also been separated. ^The two
0410G68 subjects have been studied in detail and dealt with by separate experts--
0420G68 heart by the cardiologist and sex by the sexologist. ^Unfortunately,
0430G68 there is hardly any communication between the two and, therefore, the
0440G68 patient*'s sexual problems which affect the heart are not given adequate
0450G68 importance. $*<*3Sexual responses*> $^Since
0460G68 sex history is not taken down as a part of routine medical history,
0470G68 the sexual problems of a patient seldom come to light. ^Patients
0480G68 are generally shy of discussing such probelms with their doctors unless
0490G68 they are specifically asked about them. ^Most doctors also
0500G68 avoid this subject. ^This is partly due to the fact that the subject
0510G68 of sexual behaviour is generally not taught in medical colleges
0520G68 and most doctors do not consider it necessary to_ discuss it with
0530G68 the patient. $^Another reason is that doctors these days are
0540G68 too busy to_ enter into a discussion on this topic. ^Hence patients
0550G68 with heart disease often leave the hospital or clinic with
0560G68 advice regarding home and occupational activity, smoking drinking,
0570G68 diet, exercise, \0etc, but not a word about the conduct of sexual activity.
0580G68 $^In a study done on patients with a history of heart
0590G68 attack, in the absence of any advice, most patients had set their
0600G68 own patterns of sexual activity and therefore represented a considerable
0610G68 deviation from their old pattern. ^The change in the pattern
0620G68 was based, in many cases, on misinformation and fear. $^In order
0630G68 to_ know how much burden sexual activity imposes on the healthy
0640G68 and ailing heart, it is important to_ know the normal sexual response.
0650G68 $^Normal sexual respose varies in different people. ^Though
0660G68 the physiological changes during sexual activity appear to_ be
0670G68 basically similar, they differ considerably in intensity, continuity,
0680G68 duration and sympathetic activity. ^Sexual responses can be broadly
0690G68 divided into four phases. $^These are: $1. Excitement or
0700G68 erotic arousal during foreplay; $2. intromission (plateau);
0710G68 $3. orgasm; $4. resolution. $^Heart rate, blood pressure and
0720G68 skin temperature increase progressively during arousal and intromission,
0730G68 reach the maximum at orgasm and then decline rapidly during resolution.
0740G68 ^Physiological changes may be substantial in some people.
0750G68 $^In young healthy individuals between the ages of 20 and 30,
0760G68 the heart rate may increase in one or two minutes from a control level
0770G68 of 88/ \0min to 110-160/ \0min during orgasm. ^It returns
0780G68 to control level in less than one minute during resolution. ^The
0790G68 maximum rate is at the time of orgasm. ^Systolic blood pressure may
0800G68 increase from a normal of 120 to 150-180/ \0mm and diastolic pressure
0810G68 from a normal of 80 to 100-130/ \0mm. ^Both systolic and diastolic
0820G68 pressures come to_ control levels in about two minutes after
0830G68 orgasm. ^Respiratory rate during sexual activity is generally
0840G68 brtween 30-60/ \0min. ^In some cases it may exceed even 60/ \0min.
0841G68 ^After orgasm, there is a marked fall in
0850G68 respiratory rate. $*<*3Marriage Slows It Down*> $^These
0860G68 figures indicating marked changes in heart rate, blood pressure and respiration
0870G68 during sexual activity were obtained from young healthy individuals.
0880G68 ^Howeever, in patients with cardiac problems, these vary
0890G68 considerably. $^As age advances, the cardiovascular responses also
0900G68 become less marked. ^The intensity of changes is less in people
0910G68 who have been married for a long time and have sexual activity with
0920G68 their wives in the privacy of their bedrooms. ^Since most heart
0930G68 patients belong to this group the changes in heart rate, blood pressure
0940G68 and respiration are not so marked. $^Hardly any data are available
0950G68 on the frequency of sexual activity at different ages in normals and
0960G68 or heart patients. ^In a study conducted by us on (1) normals,
0970G68 (2) patients of angina (those who get chest pain due to heart disease)
0980G68 and (3) patients who had recovered from a heart attack, it was found that
0990G68 the average frequency of sexual activity (coitus) was 6.5 times/week
1000G68 in the first year of marriage (age 20-25 years), 10 years later it was
1010G68 4.1/week and 20 years later, it was about 2.1/week. ^The frequency
1020G68 of sexual activity was roughly the same in all the three groups before
1030G68 the symptoms of heart disease appeared. $^After a heart attack,
1040G68 freequency of sexual activity had diminished in most patients.
1050G68 $^One year after the heart attack, frequency of sexual activity was 1.1/\0wk
1060G68 as compared to 2.1/\0wk a year prior to the heart attack. ^About
1070G68 25 per cent patients discontinued sexual activity altogether. $^The
1080G68 main reason for not resuming sexual activity was fear of another heart
1090G68 attack. ^About 30 per cent patients in this group complained of chest
1100G68 pain, breathlessness, palpitation, excessive fatigue, \0etc,
1110G68 during sexual activity. ^Symptoms were generally noted during
1120G68 the orgasm or resolution phase. ^In our study, none of the patients complained
1130G68 of impotence. $^Most patients with symptoms continued sexual
1140G68 activity, though with less frequency. ^Some patients took a tablet
1150G68 of nitroglycerine before the sex act which prevented or minimised their
1160G68 discomfort during the sex act. $^Some patients who had
1170G68 symptoms during sexual activity were studied in more detail. ^An instrument
1180G68 (Holter Monitor) was used to_ have a continuous record of
1190G68 the electrocardiogram for 24 hours. ^The patient wore a portable
1200G68 recorder which was attached with wires to his chest. the electrocardiogram
1210G68 was recorded on the tape, while the patient carried on his
1220G68 daily routine including sexual activity. $^The patient was
1230G68 asked to_ maintain a detailed diary of different activities during the
1240G68 day and night. ^24 hours*' recording was obtained and these tapes
1250G68 were scanned on the scanner. ^Interrelationship between electrocardiographic
1260G68 (\0ECG) changes and activites was noted. ^Many patients
1270G68 who had symptoms during sexual activity had an abnormal electrocardiogram
1280G68 at that_ time. ^The changes in electrocardiogram were
1290G68 suggestive of ischaemia of the heart (less blood supply compared to
1300G68 the demand of the heart). ^The heart rate was also increased and,
1310G68 in some cases, marked irregularities of rhythm were noted.
1320G68 $*<*3Exercise In Sexual activity*> $^Later on, these patients
1330G68 were given an exercise test to_ reproduce the same symptoms
1340G68 which they had during sexual activity. ^Thus it was possible to_
1350G68 determine roughly the amount of exercise required by these patients during
1360G68 sexual activity. ^Though cardiovascular responses in sexual activity
1370G68 and isotonic exercise are similar they are not identical. ^It is
1380G68 well known that the increase in heart rate, systolic blood pressure
1390G68 and respiratory rate are higher during sexual activity due to increased
1400G68 sympathetic activity. $^The amount of physiological work involved
1410G68 in sexual activity is maximum for about 30 seconds, which is just
1420G68 before and during orgasm, and the workload is roughly equivalent to
1430G68 running upstairs. ^For two to three minutes before and after orgasm,
1440G68 the amount of exercise can be compared to walking at the speed
1450G68 of 3-4 miles per hour. it must be stressed that these figures are for most
1460G68 middle-aged patients married for 25 years or more who have sexual activity
1470G68 in the privacy of their home with their wives of similar ages.
1480G68 *<*3Adultery Increases stress*> $^The physiolgical
1490G68 work involved varies a great deal in different people and even in the
1500G68 same person from time to time. ^Cardiovascular demands in sexual activity
1510G68 increase considerably in cases of extramarital relations. ^This
1520G68 is because of increased emotional stress due to feeling of guilt and
1530G68 worry. for obvious reasons, not many reports are available on
1540G68 the incidence of deaths during coitus but a report from Japan revealed
1550G68 that the incidence of coital deaths was reported as 0.6 per
1560G68 cent (34 out of 5,559) of sudden deaths. ^Half of these died
1570G68 of cardiovascular causes and 30 per cent of deaths occurred
1580G68 during or after extramarital intercourse. $^According to this report,
1590G68 the males were 20 years older than their partners and 30 per cent
1600G68 were drunk. ^This emphasises that the other factor which increase
1610G68 stress is too much disparity in the ages of the partners. ^Sexual
1620G68 activity after a heavy meal or heavy drinking or in unfamiliar
1630G68 surroundings also imposes extra burden on the heart. ^Hence one
1640G68 cannot always lighten the burdens of the heart on a mistress*'s shoulder.
1650G68 $^How soon after a heart attack can sexual activity be
1660G68 resumed? ^No hard-and-fast rules can be laid down here. ^It would
1670G68 depend on the patients*'s condition and his sexual drive. ^Before
1680G68 advising the patient about the resumption of sexual activity, the effects
1690G68 of coitus on the heart should be explained to the patient and wherever
1700G68 possible, to the spouse also. ^Generally, in the absence of
1710G68 complications, it is safe to_ permit sexual activity about 6 to 8 weeks
1720G68 after a heart attack. $^It is advisable for the doctor to_
1730G68 give the patient exercise of roughly the same energy cost as required
1740G68 for sexual activity 6 to 8 weeks after a heart attack. ^If the patient
1750G68 can do this exercise without getting any symptoms and without any
1760G68 abnormal rise of pulse rate or blood pressure or abnormal electrocardiogram,
1770G68 then he can safely resume sexual activity. ^In case the
1780G68 exercise test is abnormal, the symptoms and signs can be controlled
1790G68 with appropriate drugs. ^Many patients feel better and do not get symptoms
1800G68 if they take a tablet of nitroglycerine before sexual activity.
1810G68 $*<*3Abstinence More Harmful*> $^A degree of caution
1820G68 is, however, desirable in drawing definite conclusions from such
1830G68 exercise tests where the emotional influence of sexual intercourse is absent.
1840G68 ^Total abstinence, which is a Victorian idea but has been
1850G68 revived in the days of family planning, may cause more harm to the
1860G68 patient. ^Repressed sexual activity may manifest itself as anger,
1870G68 fear or a psychosomatic equivalent.*#
        **[no. of words = 02002**]

        **[txt. g69**]
0010G69 **<*3Religion and the Critical Consciousness**>
0020G69 $^There are many these days who seriously deny the relevance or
0030G69 even the meaningfulness of any thought that_ accepts the fact of self-consciousness
0040G69 and attempts to_ build upon it. ^Their biographies
0050G69 would reveal, perhaps, a different truth; but as no one is
0060G69 supposed to_ live by the truths he professes, this is a minor
0070G69 matter little to_ be worried about. ^In fact, even to_ hint
0080G69 at such matters in academic company is to_ violate the unwritten
0090G69 code which forbids any reference to the personal life of the
0100G69 participants, however much it may violate the truth of what is being
0110G69 asserted. ^*Moore had once shocked the philosophical sophisticates of
0120G69 the Aristotalean Society by raising his two hands to_ prove the
0130G69 existence of material objects, and later by his "Defence of Common
0140G69 Sense", where he solemnly pointed to, as examples of things he definitely
0150G69 knew, such facts as "he was born at a certain time" \0etc.
0160G69 ^However, it did not take long for philosophers to_ recover from the
0170G69 shock and revert to their pre-Moorean slumbers. $^Whatever
0180G69 may be one*'s view about the cognitive significance of the fact
0190G69 of consciousness, and whatever difficulties one may feel about
0200G69 the explicit statement of criteria by which one would judge whether
0210G69 something is conscious or not, there can be little doubt about the
0220G69 fact that both the sceptic and the person he is arguing with
0230G69 behave as if they were conscious and that this fact of consciousness
0240G69 was *3central to the life as it was being *3lived through
0250G69 by them. ^All the central issues of human concern and behaviour
0260G69 revolve around the distinction between beings who are conscious
0270G69 and those which are not. ^The only further distinction
0280G69 which is of even greater concern and significance is the one between
0290G69 beings who are "self-conscious" and those who are merely "conscious"
0300G69 ^The moral, the aesthetic, the religious, all such types
0310G69 of concern along with the normal ones of interpersonal living
0320G69 and disourse presuppose for their significance and meaningfulness
0330G69 the fact of "self-consciousness". $^We may, then, accept
0340G69 the fact of "self-consciousness" as the central nodal point around
0350G69 which the *3lived life of man revolves and out of which
0360G69 all his essentially human concerns flow and grow. ^Critics
0370G69 of Descartes may be right in pointing out the insufficiency of the
0380G69 "cogito" to_ bear the immense *3cognitive load which he wanted
0390G69 it to_ bear, but there can be little dispute about its providing
0400G69 the only base for those diverse types of value-awareness which
0410G69 make human beings distinctively human. $^Yet the fact of "self-consciousness"
0420G69 itself raises problems for man which seem to him almost
0430G69 insoluble in principle. ^One result of this, for example,
0440G69 is that one is aware of oneself as the "other" with whom one
0450G69 is in some sort of a perpetual ambivalent relationship. ^Each
0460G69 one is, to a great extent, a Narcissus most of the time. ^Yet,
0470G69 at a deeper level, one is also continously aware of the unsatisfactoriness
0480G69 of all that_ one is. ^And there is no escape from
0490G69 this, for one is not only at the mercy of all that_ is outside oneself,
0500G69 but also the victim of one*'s own habits and impulses with which
0510G69 one can neither completely identify nor de-identify oneself.
0520G69 ^The phenomenon of moral repentance, as *(0K. C.*) Bhattacharya
0530G69 has argued, shows this in a pre-eminent manner. ^But in
0540G69 a sense, it is a continuous experience of man which, so to_ say,
0550G69 defines his situation. $^Besides this, however, there is
0560G69 another consequence which has not been much noticed in any discussion
0570G69 of the subject. ^The fact of "self-consciousness" does not
0580G69 merely alienate one from one*'s own self, but alienates one
0590G69 from others also. ^In a deeper sense still, it makes
0600G69 one *3question all that_ appears as object, including the self
0610G69 when it appears as such. ^To_ put it in other words, "self-consciousness"
0620G69 is essentially critical and questioning in nature.
0630G69 ^It cannot *3accept anything that_ is given to it or which appears
0640G69 to it. ^This continuous questioning leads to that_
0650G69 dynamic growth in knowledge of which science provides the paradigmatic
0660G69 example today. ^But the same attitude lies behind the
0670G69 growth of development in other spheres also. ^Whether it be
0680G69 the field of morals or of politics or personal relations, the
0690G69 situation happens to_ be the same. ^There may be, and
0700G69 perhaps are, deep differences in these domains with respect to the
0710G69 application of the concepts of "growth" and "development".
0720G69 ^But whatever the term we may choose to_ describe the transformational
0730G69 process relevant to these domains, its roots cannot
0740G69 but lie in the dialectics of dissatisfaction generated by the self-
0750G69 and other-alienating structure of human self-consciousness.
0760G69 $^Religion is supposed to_ be an exception to this. ^It is
0770G69 usually regarded as the realm of faith *8par excellence,*9 a realm
0780G69 to which critical and questioning consciousness is alien, if not
0790G69 hostile. ^The conflict between religion and science in the
0800G69 West is taken to_ provide a clinching example of this, and the
0810G69 usual story of the Age of Enlightenment succeeding the Age
0820G69 of Faith confirms this in everybody*'s mind. ^But basically,
0830G69 this is an illusion generated by ignoring the history of religion
0840G69 even in these limited regions and traditions, and taking too
0850G69 seriously the claim of finality made by the founders of these religions.
0860G69 ^The fact that heresy has to_ be continually fought and
0870G69 orthodoxy defined and redefined proves conclusively the presence
0880G69 not of unquestioning and unquestionable faith, but rather of a consciousness
0890G69 that_ criticises and questions. ^As for the claims
0900G69 of finality in a sense all truth-claims formally imply it. ^It
0910G69 is only the awareness of history and of the falsification of claims to
0920G69 finality of which it is so full, which makes one hesitate in according
0930G69 the claim of finality to anything. ^Perhaps the difference
0940G69 is supposed to_ be in the fact that while in all other domains
0950G69 the loss of the sense of finality does not destroy the foundations of
0960G69 the quest, in religion it is supposed to_ do so. ^It may
0970G69 even be urged that as religion is concerned with the eternal or the
0980G69 timeless any apotheosis or absolutization of time will destroy
0990G69 it at its very foundations. $^The problems raised by the apprehension
1000G69 of the timeless on the part of those involved in time are,
1010G69 however, not confined to the realm of religion alone. ^They
1020G69 belong to almost evey enterprise of man. ^Whether it be
1030G69 the realm of truth or beauty or good, the problem remains the same.
1040G69 ^We appear to_ deal with the timeless in mathematics, but the
1050G69 knowledge of the timeless continues to_ grow and gets continously
1060G69 modified in this process of growth. ^So also, every great
1070G69 work of art tends to_ carry with it a sense of final achievement,
1080G69 and that_ is why all who come after a great master imitate him.
1090G69 ^But there always appear the non-imitators who break
1100G69 the mould and create afresh, to_ be succeeded again by the epigoni
1110G69 and the epigoni of the eipgoni. $^The realm of the good
1120G69 seems no exception for what could seem more final than what the
1130G69 Buddha and Christ lived and taught? ^Yet there appeared
1140G69 Gandhi who lived and brought the realm of the political
1150G69 under that_ of the moral in a way that_ none before him had done.
1160G69 ^A Plato might have *3thought, but to_ think is one
1170G69 thing and to_ act another. ^And Plato*'s actions in the
1180G69 field of politics met only with disaster. ^The Buddha and
1190G69 Christ, on the other hand, left the realm of politics apart as if
1200G69 goodness could not belong to it. ^Even at less dramatic levels,
1210G69 the almost universally accepted obligations of the "welfare
1220G69 state", "equality of opportunity", and the "duty of the conqueror
1230G69 to_ help the conquered to_ regain their sovereign status" are
1240G69 significant breakthroughs in man*'s sense of the good in the socio-political
1250G69 realm. $^At still another level, the claim for finality
1260G69 has been made for "basic propositions" or "protocol sentences",
1270G69 on the one hand, and for sentences reporting subjective states of
1280G69 feeling, on the other. ^The distinction between "analytic"
1290G69 and "synthetic" tries to_ do the same thing from another angle
1300G69 and so also does the notion of the synthetic *8a priori*9.
1310G69 ^The claims have, of course, been disputed. ^But the basic
1320G69 point is that neither the claims to finality nor the rebuttal of such
1330G69 claims pertains to the realm of religion alone. ^Rather, it
1340G69 belongs to all realms of human seeking and may be taken as its distinctive
1350G69 feature. ^In fact, even in the field of religion,
1360G69 *3successive prophets have made the claim and found followers in
1370G69 sufficient numbers to_ give up their belief in the finality of the
1380G69 old and believe in the finality of the new. $^It may, however,
1390G69 still be urged that disputes about finality are radically different
1400G69 in the realm of religion than in all other realms.
1410G69 ^First, man is more totally involved here than in other domains.
1420G69 ^Secondly, he cannot live with the fact of temporality in this
1430G69 realm as he does in others, for this concerns his being in the most
1440G69 essential manner. ^To_ accept temporality is to_ accept
1450G69 one*'s own non-being for, in time, evey thing passeth away.
1460G69 ^But Buddhism does just that_ and it will be difficult for anyone
1470G69 to_ deny it the name of religion. ^The illusion of permanence occurs
1480G69 just because of our forgetting the temporal nature of everything,
1490G69 including ourselves. ^In fact, Buddhism takes the temporal
1500G69 nature of reality so seriously that nothing lasts for it beyond
1510G69 the moment of its birth. ^This is the well-known doctrine
1520G69 of *4Ksanabhangavada or the momentariness of all reality.
1530G69 $^The problem, then, is not confined to the realm of religion
1540G69 alone. ^And it is a mistake to_ regard religion as the realm of
1550G69 faith in contradistinction to that_ where reason rules or sense
1560G69 experience dominates. ^Even religions within the Hebraic tradition
1570G69 which seem to_ have been tied too much to the finality claims of
1580G69 their historic founders had to_ come to terms with the fact of
1590G69 the wise men born before the birth of their founders and the incredibly
1600G69 impossible fact of *3new founders arising even after
1610G69 the final revelation had been made and *3successfully challenging
1620G69 the old finality. ^The discovery of great religions outside
1630G69 the Hebraic tradition which flourished long before Christ was
1640G69 born and which were unknown to the founder of the Hebraic religions
1650G69 poses the same problems in a different perspective.
1660G69 ^So also does the perspective of time which appears to_ stretch
1670G69 immeasurably before man. ^The moment the idea of an imminent destruction
1680G69 of the world lost its credibility, men who believed in it
1690G69 had to_ come to terms with the alleged finality of a revelation after
1700G69 which *3nothing had to_ be revealed. ^No wonder
1710G69 that the idea of a millennium in the future gripped the Western
1720G69 mind. $^The solution to the problem in all religions plagued with
1730G69 the claims to finality by a historic founder has been the same as
1740G69 that_ of Justin Martyr, the Greek Apologist, in the Christian
1750G69 tradition. ^Worried by the problem of the wise men before
1760G69 Christ, he writes: "^We have been taught that Christ
1770G69 is the first-born of God, and we have declared above that he is
1780G69 the Word of whom every race of man were partakers; and those
1790G69 who live reasonaly (\0i.e. according to *3logos) are Christians,
1800G69 even though they have been thought atheists as, among the
1810G69 Greeks, Socrates and Heraclitus and men like them."
1820G69 ^*Gilson adds: "From this point of view, Greek philosophy and
1830G69 Christian revelation appear as two moments of one and the same
1840G69 revelation of the same divine Word, who, after speaking to such
1850G69 Greeks as Socrates, or to such Barbarians as Abraham, finally
1860G69 took shape, and became man, and was called Jesus Christ."
1870G69 ^There remains, of course, a basic difference between Christians
1880G69 and pre-Christians in this respect. ^As Gilson points
1890G69 out in the *3Notes, "Philosophers partially share in the Logos;
1900G69 the Christians partake of the whole Logos." ^But what
1910G69 about the non-christian wise men *3after Christ and still
1920G69 more what about those who *3knew about Christ and yet did not
1930G69 accept him?*#
        **[no. of words = 02015**]

        **[txt. g70**]
0010G70 **<*DRAUPADI: A FEMALE HERO**>
0020G70 $^*Draupadi is the heroine of the Indian epic *3Mahabharata
0030G70 which resembles in many ways the Western epic of about the same time,
0040G70 Homer*'s *3Illiad. ^However, whereas Helen and Andromache,
0050G70 the heroines in the *3Illiad, have not attracted more than moderate
0060G70 attention of the Wetern reader, Draupadi has never failed to_ provoke
0070G70 agitated thinking in the oriental reader about her place in the epic.
0080G70 ^Time and again, she has been compared, often to her disadvantage,
0090G70 with the galaxy of women characters in the *3Mahabharata
0100G70 and the *3Ramayana, the other Indian epic. ^But even by those
0110G70 whom she irks persistently she has not been relegated into oblivion.
0120G70 ^Of the problems posed by Draupadi one good example can be seen
0130G70 in the comment of Chakravarti *(0V.*) narsimhan, the translator
0140G70 of the *3Mahabharata for the Columbia University Translations
0150G70 of the oriental classics. "^In the *3Mahabharata", says Narshimhan,
0160G70 "there are many heroes: they may have their failings but they
0170G70 also rise to great heights. ^It is, however, very difficult to_ find
0180G70 a true heroine in these pages" (\0p. **=23). ^It is obvious that narsimhan
0190G70 does not consider Draupadi to_ be the true heroine of the epic.
0200G70 ^Considering several important *3Mahabharata women for the status
0210G70 of the heroine, he continues: "^*Satyavati is just a scheming mother....
0220G70 Kunti is a weak character.... Gandhari emerges strong...
0230G70 but she cannot forgive Krishna... ^In a sense the heroine of the epic
0240G70 is Draupadi, but from the beginning she is subjected to misfortunes...
0250G70 (and) continuous(ly) cries for vengeance." (\0pp. **=23-24)
0260G70 $^An analysis of the statement reveals that to_ be considered
0270G70 heroine, Draupadi must fulfil two conditions: she must possess human
0280G70 and moral qualities which can set her a shade higher than others;
0290G70 and she must occupy a place in the structure of the story which gives
0300G70 it, and her, a unity. ^Seen from the reader*'s point of view the two conditions
0310G70 may be worded little differently: that among women characters
0320G70 the heroine should leave the maximum desirable psychological impact
0330G70 upon the reader and that she should play the most important part in
0340G70 advancing the hero, if there is a hero in the story. ^*Draupadi must
0350G70 be examined in terms of both the conditions to_ determine whether
0360G70 or not and to what extent she is the heroine of the epic. ^First
0370G70 let us look at her in terms of her structural position in the story and
0380G70 in her role of advancing the hero. ^As the wife of Yudhisthira,
0390G70 the oldest son of the Kuru race fighting in the civil war, and
0400G70 as the chief queen of the Pandavas, the virtuous, wronged, and surviving
0410G70 party in the civil war, Draupadi naturally acquired an enviable
0420G70 position and a role unavailable to any other woman in the epic.
0430G70 ^Although she is not physically very much seen in the epic-- because
0440G70 it is mainly a war story-- and she is also not the cause of the
0450G70 war as Helen and Sita are for the *3Illiad and the *3Ramayana
0460G70 respectively, yet unseen she moves the story all the time. ^She
0470G70 is the companion of the Pandavas from their coming of age to their
0480G70 death, and she is the backbone of their power and glory. $^Till
0490G70 the day of her marriage with the Pandavas, the five brothers,
0500G70 along with their mother, are seen moving incognito from town to town.
0510G70 ^They have escaped a horrible death planned for them by the
0520G70 Kauravas, and are afraid of letting their existence be disclosed to
0530G70 their enemies. ^They attend Draupadi*'s *4swayamvara under assumed
0540G70 identities as poor *4Brahmins ^With Arjuna*'s success in the
0550G70 contest they win not only the beautiful Draupadi but also protection
0560G70 from powerful relatives. ^Now, empowered with the help of their
0570G70 new allies, they ask Duryodhana for their share of the kingdom.
0580G70 ^Thus, through her marriage to the Pandavas, Draupadi rescues
0590G70 them from their plight, and brings them power, status, and a kingdom.
0600G70 $^Soon after her marriage, through a uniquely heroic deed
0610G70 of hers, Draupadi saves her husbands from utter ruin. ^In a
0620G70 game of dice played with the Kauravas Yudhisthira loses his entire
0630G70 kingdom, his brothers, and even his wife Draupadi. ^She is
0640G70 dragged by the hair into the Kaurava assembly and under the very eyes
0650G70 of her husbands and the best preceptors of the Kauravas is shamefully
0660G70 dishonoured. ^Fearing that the insolence committed upon Draupadi
0670G70 by his own sons will bring calamity, Dhritarashtra, the
0680G70 grandsire, grants his daughter-in-law three favours. ^With
0690G70 the first she asks for the freedom of Yuddhisthira as a crowned king.
0700G70 ^With the second she sets the other four husbands free. ^The
0710G70 third favour she forgoes, asking nothing for herself but the freedom
0720G70 of her husbands. ^Marvelling at her devotion, tact and restraint
0730G70 which once again made glory possible for the Pandavas, Karna
0740G70 exclaims: "^We have heard of many beautiful women in the world.
0750G70 ^But no woman has done anything equal to what Draupadi has done
0760G70 here today." ^*Karna, of course, says it out of spite for the Pandavs,
0770G70 but nothing can be more true. $^The best example of her
0780G70 duty, devotion, and companionship to the Pandavas is seen when in
0790G70 the game of dice Yudhisthira loses his kingdom again, and is forced
0800G70 to_ go into exile for thirteen years. ^The other wives of the
0810G70 Pandavas go with their children to their parents*' homes; Draupadi
0820G70 sends her children to her parents, but she herself accompanies
0830G70 the Pandavas to_ share their sufferings and disgrace as she has
0840G70 so far shared their glory and splendour. ^In the forest she cannot
0850G70 escape the responsibilities of being the daughter, daughter-in-law,
0860G70 and wife of great kings. ^She toils from dawn to dusk to_ meet the
0870G70 requirements of numerous hospitalities, rites and ceremonies conducted
0880G70 by Yudhisthira. ^During the one year of living incognito
0890G70 she assumes the identity of a lowly-born maid servant to_ work in
0900G70 the inner chambers of a king, and though facing assaults on account of
0910G70 her beauty she yet waits upon Yudhisthira patiently, divining and
0920G70 silently fulfilling all his wishes (\0p. 86). $^Having lived through
0930G70 the momentous battle where she has to_ witness the treacherous
0940G70 murder of her five grown-up sons, and having ruled with the Pandavas
0950G70 over the desolate kingdom for fifteen more years, she remains
0960G70 their faithful companion in their final journey to the other world.
0970G70 $^Thus Draupadi is a living chain which connects for the
0980G70 reader multi-fold activities of the Pandavas. ^She is also the
0990G70 backbone of the power, glory, and solidarity of the Pandavas. ^And,
1000G70 additionally, she is the touchstone through whom can be analyzed
1010G70 the psychological and moral make-up of many of the *3Mahabharata heroes.
1020G70 ^Seen in terms of the first condition Draupadi is every
1030G70 inch the heroine of the epic. $^Why, then, should she not be accepted
1040G70 as the indisputable heroine? ^Why should she cause negation
1050G70 in most readers? ^The answer must be sought in her psychological
1060G70 impact upon the reader. $^It is a well-known fact that heroes,
1070G70 and heroines as their counterparts, are created by a culture to_
1080G70 represent the life-blood of the culture. ^History is lifeless without
1090G70 heroes. ^A culture acquires meaning, identity, and visibility
1100G70 only when it has distilled its values and aspirations and has
1110G70 crystallized them in symbolic forms known as heroes. ^Heroes not only
1120G70 reflect a culture*'s innermost hopes and beliefs at a given time, they
1130G70 also act as its guardians, moral preceptors, and guides in preserving
1140G70 and promoting its cherished values. ^They shape the character
1150G70 of individuals and through them of the culture. ^Therefore,a
1160G70 culture zealously guards the formation of its heroes. $^According
1170G70 to some sources the *3Mahabharata records conditions and values
1180G70 of a transitional period in Indian society at a time when new
1190G70 values had gained force. ^The transition was from a matriarchal
1200G70 order to a patriarchal one. ^Thus, heroes and heroines in the *3Mahabharata
1210G70 represent a set of values of a bygone society and an
1220G70 overlay of values from the then society the deep structure of which has
1230G70 not changed even today. ^*I have argued the point about the continuity
1240G70 of the deep structure elsewhere. ^It suffices here to_
1250G70 say that Draupadi, representing the double matrix of values, exemplifies
1260G70 a way of life and a mode of thought which contradict each other.
1270G70 ^Due to this inner contradiction, despite all her force she lacks
1280G70 unity in her character. ^On the other hand, she displays elements
1290G70 which were no longer considered desirable for the culture, and, therefore,
1300G70 had to_ be discouraged, even subtly punished, under the banner
1310G70 of morality and ethics. ^Because of these two reasons she acts
1320G70 as an abrasive agent on the sensibilities of a patriarchal society as
1330G70 well as on those of a neutral reader (if there exists a reader without
1340G70 values). $^Let us consider some examples of these undesirable
1350G70 elements in Draupadi and how she is both deliberately and
1360G70 unconsciously punished by the culture and the reader. $^First
1370G70 of all, the fact of her having five husbands is itself a 'sin'
1380G70 enough to_ discredit all her virtues in a patriarchal society.
1390G70 ^It should be remembered that she chooses only Arjuna to_ be
1400G70 her husband but is forced to_ marry all the five brothers because
1410G70 Kunti, her mother-in-law, calculating the home politics, commands
1420G70 the Pandavas to do so. (^*Kunti must have suspected that the
1430G70 marriage of the third brother during the under-cover period of the
1440G70 Pandavas was bound to_ bring dissension among the brothers
1450G70 which in turn would only help Duryodhana*'s plan to_ kill them
1460G70 all. ^She, therefore, shrewdly tied the brothers together
1470G70 with the bond of a beautiful common wife.) ^The marriage
1480G70 of draupadi to five brothers is seen by her own father as "a sinful
1490G70 act that_ is against both the scriptures and usage" (\0p.
1500G70 38). ^While a heated discussion is going on about the propriety
1510G70 of a plural marriage, the sage Vyas appears "by chance"
1520G70 and sanctions the marriage by inventing the story of Draupadi*'s
1530G70 previous birth in which she had asked Siva five times to_ be married,
1540G70 and therefore was now destined to_ have five husbands.
1550G70 ^The sanction, undoubtedly, buttresses Kunti*'s effort to-
1560G70 keep the brothers together. ^But it depicts Draupadi not
1570G70 as a brave woman who cheerfully and responsibly faces the consequences
1580G70 of her words uttered in the previous birth, nor as a remarkably
1590G70 adaptable woman who heroically accepts a most uncomfortable
1600G70 situation forced upon her, but as an eccentric (who asked the same
1610G70 boon five times) in her previous brith and a pitiable thing now.
1620G70 ^Her father reluctantly gives in to the daughter*'s destiny
1630G70 though he is convinced that the marriage is against the scriptures
1640G70 and usage. ^His views were, and still are, shared by
1650G70 the culture. ^How can, then, an eccentric and sinful woman
1660G70 be seen to_ be the heroine of the epic? $^Apart
1670G70 from being eccentric and sinful in marrying five husbands,
1680G70 Draupadi is also seen as a 'sinner' for demanding justice.
1690G70 ^When Yudhisthira gambles her away in his inexcusable
1700G70 addiction, Duhshasana drags her into the court and
1710G70 tries to_ disrobe her. ^Seeing her illustrious husbands,
1720G70 all the heroes, proceptors, and elders sitting dumb,
1730G70 Draupadi burns with shame and fury, and though quivering
1740G70 with fear she yet demands from the full assembly: "O Kauravas,
1750G70 say whether the wife of Yudhisthira, born like him of a
1760G70 royal family, is a slave or not, I shall accept your verdict"
1770G70 (\0p. 54). ^In speaking these words she has unwittingly
1780G70 flouted her husband*'s right to_ use her as an inanimate
1790G70 object or a slave to_ be put at stake. ^That she is only asking
1800G70 for the final verdict on her life and that in the very next
1810G70 moment with the three favours she asks for nothing for herself
1820G70 save the freedom of her husbands does not matter
1830G70 at all. ^What upsets her audience and the reader most is
1840G70 that she dares to_ question her husband*'s authority. ^As
1850G70 Iravati Karve has pointed out, "in a patriarchal, polygynous
1860G70 society a woman*'s status depended entirely on the position
1870G70 of the man who was either her father or husband or son".
1880G70 ^A woman*'s freedom was a thing of bygone days.*#
        **[no. of words = 02001**]


        **[txt. h01**]
0010H01 *<*3*5. Policies and Procedures*0*> $^Policies and procedures were
0020H01 constantly reviewed and modified to_ increase the flow of agricultural
0030H01 credit, particularly to small/ marginal/ economically weak farmers and
0040H01 to_ increase the self-reliance in co-operative credit institutions.
0050H01 ^Important changes in the policy and procedures during the period under
0060H01 review are given below:
0070H01 $(a) ^Under the scheme of linking of deposit mobilization with the rate
0080H01 of interest charged by the Reserve Bank on refinance to central co-operative
0090H01 banks for short-term agricultural loans, which has been in force
0091H01 since 1 July 1973, the lending rate on credit limits sanctioned by the
0100H01 Bank for seasonal agricultural operations was fixed initially at 1/2
0110H01 per
0120H01 cent below the Bank Rate and a rebate of 1 1/2 per cent was allowed to
0130H01 concerned banks upto aggregate limits of their borrowings. ^Under the Interest
0140H01 Tax Act 1974, scheduled state co-operative banks are liable
0150H01 to_ pay tax at the rate of 7 per cent in respect of their chargeable
0160H01 interest. ^The state co-operative banks were thus subjected to double
0180H01 disadvantage, first by granting rebate to district central co-operative
0190H01 banks at 1 1/2 per cent on bulk of the borrowings of central co-operative
0200H01 banks and secondly, paying interest tax on the amount of interest collected
0210H01 without taking into account the rebate.
0220H01 ^This problem was considered by the Standing Committee on Linking
0230H01 Borrowings with Deposit Mobilization and it was decided to_ modify
0240H01 the scheme with effect from 1 July 1975. ^The revised scheme which was
0250H01 proposed by the Committee envisaged that the Bank*'s rate of interest
0260H01 on loans and advances to state co-operative banks on behalf of all central
0270H01 co-operative banks for seasonal agricultural operations would be fixed
0280H01 at 2 per cent below the Bank Rate with effect from 1 July 1975 on
0290H01 (a) that_ part of borrowings of the state co-operative banks which represents
0300H01 the base level borrowings and (b) the borrowings over and above
0310H01 the base level upto twice the increase in the involvement of central
0320H01 co-operative banks out of their own resources in agricultural loans or
0330H01 to the full extent of increase in loans granted by it to the small and
0340H01 marginal farmers, whichever is higher. ^During the period under review,
0350H01 the involvement of the central co-operative banks in medium-term conversion
0360H01 loans, over and above 15 per cent of the conversion loans
0370H01 outstanding was also taken into account for the purpose of
0380H01 determining the aggregate level. ^The borrowings of a central co-operative
0390H01 bank in excess of the above amount, if any, was charged at 1/2 per cent
0400H01 below the Bank Rate. ^The interest charged by the state co-operative
0410H01 banks to central co-operative banks followed the same pattern.
0420H01 $(b) ^Under the seasonality discipline,
0430H01 first introduced in 1973, the banks were to some extent required to_ recover
0440H01 a major part of their advances made in the conventional marketing
0450H01 period. ^With a view to making the discipline more effective, all the state
0460H01 co-operative banks have been advised that none of the central co-operative
0470H01 banks should be permitted after 1 April 1976 to_ draw on the credit
0480H01 limits sanctioned to them, unless the concerned central co-operative
0490H01 banks had recovered from the societies and passed on to the state co-operative
0500H01 banks, at least a stipulated percentage, generally 40 per cent of
0510H01 the demand as on 31 March 1976. ^For this purpose all the recoveries
0530H01 from 1 July 1975 till 31 March 1976 as well as conversions of short-term
0540H01 into medium-term loans granted, if any, were reckoned as recoveries.
0560H01 ^Wherever supplementary credit limits were sanctioned, drawals on the short-term
0570H01 limits after 1 July 1976 were also regulated by a similar discipline
0580H01 on a minimum recovery performance.
0590H01 $(c) ^The efforts of the Bank to_ deliberately re-orient
0600H01 lending policies of co-operative banks in favour of small farmers
0610H01 continued during the period under review. ^With a view to ensuring that
0620H01 adequate finances were available to small/ marginal/ economically weak
0630H01 farmers by co-operatives, the Reserve Bank had been stipulating till
0640H01 the year 1974-5, that a prescribed portion of the borrowings by the central
0650H01 bank should be covered by loans outstanding against societies for
0660H01 such farmers. ^In order to_ ensure compliance with this condition, the state
0670H01 co-operative bank was not allowed to_ draw in excess of 70 per cent
0690H01 of the limit sanctioned to a central bank unless the requisite proportion
0700H01 of advances to small farmers in the total was maintained. ^From 1975-6,
0710H01 for satisfying the above stipulations, the banks were required to_ take
0720H01 into account loans issued during the concerned year by a central co-operative
0730H01 bank to primary credit societies for financing such farmers, and
0740H01 not the outstandings at the end of the year.
0750H01 $(d) ^With a view to discouraging unwarranted drawals on the Bank*'s
0760H01 credit limits by the state co-operative banks and investing the surplus
0770H01 resources as call deposits with commercial banks at lucrative rates of interest,
0780H01 since 1 July 1974, suitable ceilings for call deposits with commercial
0790H01 banks have been fixed for each state co-operative bank. ^These
0800H01 ceilings are fixed normally at about 3 per cent of the total demand and
0810H01 time liabilities of the concerned state co-operative bank subject to an
0820H01 overall liquidity of 35 per cent of the total liabilities with due regard
0830H01 to the pattern of the bank*'s deposits, requirements of funds and
0840H01 resources
0850H01 potential. ^Investments in call deposits in excess of the prescribed
0860H01 limits render the bank liable for penal rates of interest on its borrowings
0870H01 from the Reserve Bank. ^If the prescribed limit is exceeded for
0880H01 a period not exceeding 30 days
0890H01 during a calendar year, the bank is called upon
0900H01 to_ pay a penal interest at 12 per cent per annum for the amount in
0910H01 excess, for the actual number of days for which such excess was maintained.
0920H01 ^A penal rate of 15 per cent is charged if such deposits exceeded 30
0930H01 days in a year.
0940H01 $(e) ^As regards credit for stocking and distribution of fertilizers, it
0950H01 has been the basic policy of the Bank that co-operative institutions should
0960H01 find finance, as far as possible, through consortium arrangements
0970H01 with commercial banks. ^However, in cases where commercial banks are unable
0980H01 to_ find the resources, the Reserve Bank sanctions short-term
0990H01 credit limits to state co-operative banks for the purpose of meeting the
1000H01 credit gaps. ^The rate of interest on the short-term credit limits,
1010H01 which was charged at the Bank Rate, was raised to 3 per cent above the
1020H01 Bank Rate with effect from 23 July 1974.
1030H01 $(f) ^A reference was made in the last Review (page 17) to the embargo
1040H01 imposed in February 1971, on co-operative banks financing the procurement
1050H01 and buffer stock operations. ^On representations from co-operative banks
1060H01 that they may be allowed to_ participate in these operations, the position
1070H01 was reviewed. ^It was decided that co-operative banks might invest
1080H01 their funds in procurement operations but not buffer stocking, subject
1090H01 to certain conditions, the more important of which were: (**=1) such financing
1100H01 should not exceed 5 per cent of the bank*'s time and demand liabilities
1120H01 or \0Rs. 1 *4crore in the case of a state co-operative bank or
1130H01 \0Rs. 50 *4lakhs in the case of a central co-operative bank whichever
1150H01 was less; (**=2) the period of each such drawal should not exceed 6 weeks
1160H01 and (**=3) a margin of 25 per
1170H01 cent and 40 per cent should be stipulated against
1180H01 pledge and hypothecation respectively of such stocks, unless the
1190H01 purchases of foodgrains were made or procured at prices fixed by the Food
1200H01 Corporation of India Government and the incidental costs, such as
1210H01 handling, storage and transportation had been settled, when the accommodation
1220H01 could be made at 10 per cent margin.
1230H01 $(g) ^With a view to removing the regional imbalances, the Government
1240H01 of India introduced a new central sector plan scheme for providing assistance
1250H01 to central co-operative banks in group C **[foot note**] states
1260H01 for meeting the expected deficits in their resources required for maintaining
1270H01 non-overdue cover in respect of their borrowings from the Reserve
1280H01 Bank. ^The assistance is in the form of a term loan to_
1290H01 be shared equally by the central and state governments to state co-operative
1300H01 banks which would use the amount to_ augment
1310H01 the internal resources of specified central co-operative banks. ^The Planning
1320H01 Commission agreed to an outlay of \0Rs 14 *4crores during the
1340H01 Fifth Plan period with a matching amount to_ be provided by the concerned
1350H01 state governments. ^The loans under the scheme are for a period of
1360H01 9 years with a moratorium for the first 3 years. ^The rate of interest,
1380H01 prescribed by the Ministry of Finance from time to time for loans to
1390H01 state governments, will be applicable on these loans and the funds are
1400H01 to_ be passed on to the central co-operative banks at the same rate. ^By
1410H01 the end of 30 June 1976, the Central Government had sanctioned a sum
1420H01 of \0Rs. 2.48 *4crores to_ provide assistance to 42 banks in 7
1430H01 states. $*<*36. Medium-term credit*0*>
1440H01 $^During the period under review, the Bank agreed to_ treat medium-term
1450H01 loans granted by co-operative banks to agriculturists for setting up
1460H01 *4gobar gas plants and for purchase of camels in the arid and semi-arid
1470H01 zones of Rajasthan, where camels were being used as a substitute
1480H01 for bullocks for agricultural operations, as approved purposes eligible
1490H01 for refinance from the \0R.B.I. ^It was also decided that medium-term
1510H01 loans for animal husbandry to non-agriculturist members of co-operative
1520H01 societies would be eligible for refinance from the Reserve Bank of
1530H01 India. ^Hitherto, this facility was available only in respect of loans
1540H01 to agriculturist members. ^Further, the conditions relating to security
1550H01 for medium-term loans for sheep rearing, milch cattle and poultry farming
1560H01 were liberalized. ^It was also decided to_ treat loans to identified
1570H01 small farmers for the purchase of bullock carts as an easily identifiable
1580H01 productive purpose. $*<*37. Long-term credit*0*>
1600H01 $^The Bank continued to_ lay emphasis on the production-oriented system
1610H01 of long-term lending and insisted that at least 90 per cent of the
1620H01 loans issued by the banks during 1975-6 (including those issued under the
1630H01 \0ARDC refinanced schemes/ \0IDA projects wherever operating)
1640H01 will have to_ be for productive purposes, of which not less than 70 per
1650H01 cent should be for identifiable productive purposes. $^The
1660H01 lending programme of the primary land development bank/ branch of central
1680H01 land development bank for the year continued to_ be determined
1690H01 with reference to the recovery performance of the previous year. ^With
1700H01 a view to bringing about uniformity in the norms prescribed regarding
1710H01 regulation of advances to primary banks/ branches, both under normal loaning
1720H01 programme and Agricultural Refinance and Development Corporation
1730H01 refinanced schemes, a revised formula has been introduced effective from
1740H01 1 July 1975. ^According to the new formula, primary banks/ branches
1760H01 with a recovery performance of 75 per cent and above are allowed an unrestricted
1770H01 lending programme. ^The programme is progressively reduced as
1780H01 the percentage of recovery to demand deteriorates, so that primary banks/
1790H01 branches where the overdues exceed 60 per cent of demand are not entitled
1800H01 to any lending programme. ^In order to_ improve the eligibility of
1810H01 the primary banks/ branches, the state government may contribute to the
1820H01 share capital of a primary bank or central land development bank in respect
1830H01 of any of the specified branches. ^However, such contribution would
1840H01 be reckoned towards reducing the overdues notionally only to the
1850H01 extent of
1860H01 10 per cent of the demand for the year, even if the amount actually
1870H01 contributed is larger. ^Branches/ primaries in which the percentage of
1880H01 overdues to demand exceeds 60 and where there is no contribution to share
1890H01 capital from the government to_ enable a notional reduction, may be reimbursed
1900H01 by the central land development bank from its own resources, provided
1910H01 the loans so advanced by that_ bank are taken out of the mortgages
1920H01 providing cover for ordinary/ special debentures to_ be issued by it
1930H01 in the next 10 years. ^However, if the overdues of such bank/ branch remain
1940H01 at the same level but do not improve in the following year, even this
1950H01 facility, \0i.e., the reimbursement by central land development bank
1960H01 from its own resources, will not be allowed.
1970H01 ^The terms and conditions for floatation of ordinary debentures by the
1980H01 \0CLDBs have been revised with effect from 1974-5.*#
        **[no. of words = 02012**]

        **[txt. h02**]
0010H02 *<*3Wrong Doers*> $^It may not be that the number of senior officials
0011H02 at important places doing the wrong things has increased. ^But what
0012H02 certainly can be sensed to the point of certainty is that there is a general
0013H02 and wider acceptance of the officials who indulge in short-circuiting
0014H02 of administrative procedures, level jumpings in chains of command,
0015H02 and non-conformity to standard administrative norms and values. ^It is
0016H02 the absence of service sanctions and the non-critical and an almost supine
0017H02 acceptance of the wrong doings of the members of the services by
0018H02 the general run of officials which spurs others to_ swell the ranks of
0020H02 the wrong-doers. $*<Brilliant
0030H02 Exceptions*> $^If there are honourable and brilliant exceptions
0040H02 like \0*4Shri *(0R. L.*) Misra, Joint Secretary in the Ministry
0050H02 of Home Affairs, who never gave in to the wrongs indulged in by
0060H02 the Delhi Administration even when his own Secretary had thrown up
0070H02 the sponge, it only means that doing the right thing is an art of the possible.
0080H02 ^Instead of this type of officers being the honourable exceptions,
0090H02 they should constitute the general run. ^Imaginary
0100H02 fear of possible and probable consequences for doing the right things have
0110H02 done more havoc than the known consequences that_ actually may have
0120H02 followed the performance of duties on the right lines by the Government
0130H02 servants. ^One must realise that even during the emergency there were
0140H02 several functionaries in the Government
0150H02 who stood up for what was right though the examples under this
0160H02 category were more in evidence among the lower functionaries than among
0170H02 the higher echelons.
0180H02 $*<*3Indiscriminate Demolitions*> $^Apart from the legal facade fraudulently
0190H02 created under the cover of which large-scale and indiscriminate
0200H02 demolitions were carried out in Delhi, there is the poignant story
0210H02 of a vast majority of the demolitions carried out by the authorities which
0220H02 were attended by a complete disregard for the human suffering of persons
0230H02 in very humble walks of life to whom the demolition of their houses
0240H02 meant complete ruination and in some cases the loss of a life-time*'s
0250H02 savings. ^The Commission hopes that the Government will take immediate
0260H02 steps to_ remedy the wrongs and also to_ ensure that the conditions in
0270H02 the resettlement colonies are rendered safe, clean and convenient. ^Considering
0280H02 the colossal nature of the job involved, unless the Government
0290H02 gives the job top priority and sets up an agency equipped with the necessary
0300H02 staff, resources and the decision-making powers, there may be little
0310H02 hope of a satisfactory solution, assuaging the misery caused to several
0320H02 *4lakhs of affected individuals in the immediate future. ^The job
0330H02 needs to_ be taken up on priority footing and the usual 'red-tape' dispensed
0340H02 with if the Government is to_ carry conviction with the affected
0350H02 people about its purposeful intentions.
0360H02 $^It was disconcerting for the Commission to_ note that some of the demolitions
0370H02 were carried out at the instance of and to_ pander to the whims
0380H02 of \0*4Shri Sanjay Gandhi who was not answerable to anybody and who
0390H02 held no position whatever in the administrative scheme. ^Tragic stories
0400H02 regarding the doings of \0*4Shri Sanjay Gandhi in the matter of demolitions,
0410H02 pressurising the District Magistrate of Delhi and the other
0420H02 magistrates to_ own up a firing order in the Turkman Gate
0421H02 area in the
0430H02 face of the pleadings of the concerned magistrate about his not having
0440H02 issued the said firing order have been unfolded in the course of evidence
0450H02 before the Commission. ^Even arrests of respectable citizens were
0460H02 carried out at the instance of \0*4Shri Sanjay Gandhi. ^The Commission
0470H02 had probed the case of the Boeing deal and seen how the financial projections
0480H02 of the Boeing deal were shown to people who were not at all
0490H02 concerned with the matter. ^The Government has a special responsibility
0500H02 to_ ensure that extra-constitutional centres of power are not allowed
0510H02 to_ grow, and if and when located, to_ snuff them out ruthlessly. ^As the
0520H02 Commission had occasion to_ observe, in the final analysis this country
0530H02 will be governed well or ill by the competence and character of the
0540H02 Government officers. ^If they are content to_ be mere tools and willing
0550H02 to_ lend themselves to questionable objectives, there will never be a
0560H02 dearth of unscrupulous operators. ^There is no substitute for a vigilant,
0570H02 enquiring and enlightened public opinion which keeps a close watch on
0580H02 the doings of the public servants.
0590H02 $*<*3Conditions in Jails*> $^The conditions in the jails of our country,
0600H02 as disclosed in the course of the evidence of some of the witnesses
0700H02 who had personal experience, make a very painful reading. ^The Commission
0710H02 expects to_ put out a separate Chapter on the conditions in the
0720H02 jails in the country as a whole after a visit to some of the important
0721H02 jails by some of the senior officers attached to the Commission and
0730H02 on the basis of the replies of the State Governments to the questionnaire
0740H02 issued by the Commission. ^In the meantime, however, the Commission
0750H02 suggests to the Government to_ make a review of the conditions in
0760H02 the jails insofar as these concern the inmates.
0770H02 $*<*3Treatment of Detenus*> $^With regard to the political detenus
0780H02 the Commission finds it necessary to_ emphasise that preventive detention
0790H02 is not intended to_ be a punitive detention. ^Preventive detention is
0800H02 only intended to_ impose the minimum restraint on the individuals detained
0810H02 consistent with the objective effectively to_ prevent the persons detained
0830H02 from acting in a manner prejudicial to the security of the State
0840H02 or to the maintenance of law and order. ^It would be misuse of power
0850H02 for the authorities to_ heap on such detenus needless disabilities.
0860H02 ^In this connection the Commission must point out specifically the manner
0870H02 in which a number of student detenus were denied permission to_ take
0880H02 their annual examinations-- a step which, apart from the illegality involved,
0890H02 exposed the authorities concerned to the charge of being completely
0900H02 oblivious to the objectives of preventive detention. ^The Commission
0910H02 trusts that specific instructions will be issued emphasising that detenus
0920H02 must be treated with dignity and respect due to them, the restraints
0930H02 imposed upon them will be minimal and consistent only with ensuring the
0940H02 safety of the State or interests of law and order and that student
0950H02 detenus will be permitted to_ take their periodical examinations and the
0960H02 authorities will extend the requisite facilities. ^Similarly, for female
0970H02 detenus, special provisions should be made for housing them and for extending
0980H02 to them appropriate conveniences.
0990H02 $*<*3Independent Working of Departments*>
1000H02 $^Certain departments and organisations of the Government have understandably
1010H02 and necessarily to_ work under cover of a degree of secrecy. ^Functioning
1020H02 of some of the departments/ organisations which have come to
1030H02 the notice of the Commission during its hearings are the Income Tax
1040H02 Department, Intelligence Bureau, Central Bureau of Investigation
1050H02 and the Enforcement Directorate. ^Because of the special nature
1060H02 of their functions and operations there is a greater necessity to_ ensure
1070H02 that their activities do not ever go wrong so as to_ affect the life,
1080H02 liberty and reputation of the individual citizen. ^The fairness and objectivity
1090H02 with which these organisations function would, in the ultimate
1100H02 analysis, depend upon the extent to which the higher executives of these
1110H02 organisations are allowed to_ function freely, fearlessly and independently
1120H02 and at the same time ensuring their accountability to statutorily
1121H02 constituted bodies. ^These executives should normally have fixed tenures,
1122H02 if necessary, to_ keep them above pressures and temptations. ^The Commission
1123H02 feels that the practice of continuing in service as heads of the
1124H02 organisations retired officers on short-term renewable basis is a pernicious
1125H02 practice and often a source of serious abuse of authority.
1126H02 ^It is the responsibility of the Government to_ ensure that such
1127H02 organisations are led by strong, competent and self-respecting individuals
1128H02 who are known for their appreciation of values and their concern for
1129H02 the interests of the country and its citizens. ^Lesser men as heads of
1130H02 such organisations which play a vital role in the life of the nation,
1140H02 would only be a disaster.
1150H02 $^The Commission has viewed with concern some of the secret operations
1160H02 of the Intelligence Bureau and the complete absence of in-built constraints
1170H02 subject to which they function. ^The commission had the opportunity
1180H02 to_ go through the records of the "Hearings before the Select Committee
1190H02 to_ Study Governmental Operations with respect to Intelligence
1200H02 Activities of the United States Senate, 1975". ^Senator Tower, Vice-Chairman
1210H02 of the Committee, making his opening statement in this Committee,
1220H02 observed: $"^It is my view that there comes a point when the
1230H02 people*'s right to_ know must of necessity be subordinated to the people*'s
1240H02 right to_ be secure, to the extent that a sophisticated and effective
1250H02 intelligence-gathering capability makes them secure." $^Senator Frank
1260H02 Church, Chairman of this Committee, observed: $"^The decision to_
1270H02 make this matter public should, in my view, be tested not only against its
1280H02 particular facts but also in the light of several general principles.
1290H02 ^First, in a democratic society, there should be a strong preference
1300H02 in favour of letting the people know what their Government has been doing.
1310H02 ^Democracy depends upon an informed electorate. ^As one of our Founding
1320H02 Fathers, Edward Livingston, stated: $'^No nation has ever found
1330H02 any inconvenience from too close an inspection into the conduct of its
1340H02 officers, but many have been brought to ruin and reduced to slavery by
1350H02 suffering gradual impositions and abuses which are imperceptible, only
1360H02 because the means of publicity had not been secured.'" $^Second, the
1361H02 general
1370H02 principle for disclosure is particularly apt in the context in which
1380H02 this committee finds itself. ^For 30 years this country has had a huge
1390H02 and highly secret intelligence apparatus whose actions have not been the
1400H02 subject of an informed public debate. ^Laws governing their activity
1410H02 have all too often been lacking, as with the \0NSA, or overly vague,
1420H02 as with the \0CIA. ^The agencies have sometimes acted in ways that_
1430H02 appear to_ be unconstitutional and illegal. ^The Congress and the
1431H02 public
1440H02 should now be given a chance to_ decide whether changes in the laws and
1450H02 procedures governing the intelligence agencies are necessary. ^That_ has
1460H02 not happened for 30 years, and surely we can afford a debate at least once
1470H02 in a generation. $^Third, it does not follow, of course, that everything
1480H02 we learn in the work of this committee should be disclosed. ^And
1490H02 from what I have previously said, much of what we have learned about the
1500H02 \0NSA, which, in the judgment of the committee, falls clearly within
1510H02 its province, will not be disclosed. ^This country should have strong
1520H02 and effective intelligent services, but must act legally. ^Keeping unlawful
1530H02 programmes secret can only serve in the long run to_ weaken our
1540H02 intelligence efforts. ^Unless the people are convinced that the intelligence
1550H02 agencies are acting within the law and in the best interest of
1551H02 the United
1560H02 States, a domocratic people will not support these agencies for long.
1570H02 '^Eternal vigilance', as Thomas Jafferson said, 'is the price of
1580H02 liberty.' ^And as James Madison concluded, 'the right of freely examining
1590H02 public characters and measures and the free communication thereon is
1600H02 the only effective guardian of every other right'. $^The Attorney General,
1610H02 \0Mr. Levi, said: $"But the legality of the activity does not
1620H02 remove from the Executive or from Congress the responsibility to_ take
1630H02 steps, within their power, to_ seek an accommodation between the vital
1640H02 public and private interests involved... at present there is not warrantless
1650H02 electronic surveillance directed against any American citizen,
1660H02 and although it is conceivable that circumstances justifying such surveillance
1670H02 may arise in the future, I will not authorise the surveillance
1680H02 unless it is clear that the American citizen is an active, conscious agent
1690H02 or collaborator of a foreign power, in no event, of course, would
1700H02 I authorise any warrantless surveillance against domestic persons or
1710H02 organizations such as those involved in the *3KEITH*0 case. ^Surveillance
1720H02 without a warrant will not be conducted for purposes of security against
1730H02 domestic or internal threats... $^The standards and procedures that_
1740H02 the Department has established within the United States seek to_
1750H02 insure that every request for surveillance receives thorough and impartial
1760H02 consideration before a decision is made whether to_ institute it. ^The
1770H02 process is elaborate and time-consuming, but it is necessary if the public
1780H02 interest is to_ be served and individual rights safeguarded."*#
        **[no. of words = 02019**]

        **[txt. h03**]
0050H03 ^The Ministry again came up with the request for further extension of
0060H03 time upto the 31st October, 1977 for notifying the rules and upto the
0070H03 31st December, 1977 for notifying the regulations under the Act. ^While
0080H03 seeking further extension of time the Ministry stated: $"...^The draft
0090H03 rules as revised by the Legislative Department of Ministry of
0100H03 Law, Justice and Company Affairs, have been received in this Department
0110H03 on 7th September, 1977. ^These have been sent to the State Governments
0120H03 of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh for their approval and
0130H03 will also be considered in the first meeting of the Betwa River Board
0140H03 to_ be held under the chairmanship of the Union Minister of Agriculture
0150H03 and Irrigation on 17th September, 1977. ^The rules as finalised
0160H03 now in consultation with the Ministry of Law could be notified only after
0170H03 the approval of the State Governments has been received and also approved
0180H03 by the Betwa River Board. ^It is, therefore, suggested that the
0190H03 approval of the Committee on Subordinate Legislation may kindly be
0200H03 obtained for extension of the time limit upto 31st October, 1977, for
0210H03 notifying the rules. $^As
0220H03 regards the regulations to_ be notified by the Board under section
0230H03 23 of the Betwa River Board Act, 1976, action in this regard would
0240H03 be taken after the Board*'s Office is set up. ^One of the agenda items
0250H03 for the first meeting of the Betwa River Board to_ be held on 17th
0260H03 September, 1977 is to_ create the posts of Chief Engineer, Rajghat Dam
0270H03 Project, Financial Adviser and Secretary to the Board. ^After these
0280H03 posts are created and the officers are in position, action to_ draft
0290H03 the regulations would be initiated. ^It is, therefore, suggested that
0300H03 the approval of the Committee on Subordinate Legislation may also be
0310H03 obtained for extension of the time limit for notifying the regulations
0320H03 upto 31st December, 1977."
0330H03 $*3^The Committee notes the request of the Ministry for further extension
0340H03 of time upto the 31st October, 1977 for notifying the Rules and
0350H03 upto the 31st December, 1977 for notifying the Regulations under the
0360H03 Act. ^The Committee, however, hopes that the Ministry will not ask for
0370H03 further extension and desires that the process of framing the Rules
0380H03 and Regulations should be expedited.*0 $*<(**=2)
0390H03 *3Rules under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.*0*>
0410H03 $29. ^The Committee had in paragraphs 145-148 of its Nineteenth Report
0420H03 observed that the Rules in respect of the following matters had not been
0430H03 framed and notified under section 38 of the Prevention of Cruelty
0440H03 to Animals Act, 1960:-- $38(2)(g)-- Capture of Animals Rules.
0460H03 $38(2)(i)-- Animal Houses Licensing Rules.
0470H03 $38(2)(h)-- transport of Animals Rules.
0480H03 $^The Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation (Department of Agriculture)
0490H03 had stated that draft notification relating to Transport of Animals
0500H03 Rules would be issued shortly. ^In regard to the remaining Rules the
0510H03 Ministry had explained that the Animal Welfare Board established
0520H03 under section 4 of the Act was considering the proposals and would suggest
0530H03 Rules. ^The Ministry had, therefore, sought the approval of the Committee
0540H03 to_ frame the Rules by the 31st March, 1976.
0550H03 $^Subsequently, the Ministry had requested the Committee to_ grant extension
0560H03 of time upto the 31st March, 1977 for framing the Rules.
0570H03 $^The Committee felt unhappy about the inordinate delay which had taken
0580H03 place in the matter of framing rules under a statute passed by Parliament
0590H03 as early as in 1960. ^The Committee expressed the hope that it would
0600H03 be possible for the Ministry to_ adhere to the time asked for, for framing
0610H03 the Rules [para 60 of the Twenty-fourth Report].
0620H03 $^The Ministry in their communication dated the 7th October, 1977 again
0630H03 requested for the grant of further extension of time upto the 31st December,
0640H03 1977, for framing the Rules. ^In support of their request they
0650H03 stated as follows:--
0660H03 $"...that some suggestions have been received from the Government of West
0670H03 Bengal in connection with the draft Transport of Animals Rules.
0680H03 ^The matter is being finalised in consultation with the Government of West
0690H03 Bengal. ^The rules are likely to_ be finalised and issued shortly.
0700H03 ^The draft Application of Fines Rules, 1977, alongwith Hindi version
0710H03 which has since been received from the Offical Languages Commission,
0720H03 is also under issue. ^The draft rules pertaining to (**=1) Capture of
0730H03 Animals Rules and (**=2) Registration of Cattle Premises are also
0740H03 under active processing and both are likely to_ be notified soon.
0750H03 $^In view of the position explained above, it is requested that the timelimit
0760H03 for framing the rules may kindly be extended upto the 31st December,
0770H03 1977."
0780H03 $^The Committee noted the request of the Ministry for further extension
0790H03 of time upto the 31st December, 1977 for framing the Rules. ^The Committee,
0800H03 however, hoped that the Ministry would not ask for any further
0810H03 extension. ^The Committee, therefore, desired that the process of framing
0820H03 the Rules should be expedited. $^The
0830H03 Ministry in their Office Memorandum dated the 31st December, 1977,
0840H03 while intimating that the draft Transport of Animals Rules and the
0850H03 draft Application of Fines Rules, 1977 had been notified in the Gazette,
0860H03 requested for another extension of time for notifying the draft of
0870H03 the Capture of Animals Rules and the Registration of Cattle Premises
0880H03 Rules till the 31st March, 1978 and in support thereof stated as
0890H03 under:--
0900H03 $"^The draft rules pertaining to (**=1) Capture of Animals Rules are
0910H03 being referred to Ministry of Law for vetting before these are notified.
0920H03 ^The draft rules for Registration of Cattle Premises have been sent
0930H03 to Official Languages Commission for Hindi translation of these rules
0940H03 so that these are notified.
0950H03 $*3^The Committee notes the request of the Ministry for further extension
0960H03 of time for framing (**=1) Capture of Animals Rules, and
0970H03 (**=2) Registration of Cattle Premises Rules and grants extension
0980H03 of time upto the 31st March, 1978 for this purpose. ^The Committee, however,
0990H03 hopes that the process of framing the Rules will be expedited and
1000H03 that no further extension of time will be asked for.*0
1010H03 $*<(**=3) *3The Urban Land (Ceiling and Regulation) Sixth
1020H03 Amendment Rules, 1976 (\0G.S.R. 1262 of 1976)*0*> $30.
1030H03 ^The Urban Land (Ceiling and Regulation) Rules, 1976 were framed
1040H03 in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) read with sectiion
1050H03 (2) of section 46 of the Urban Land (Ceiling and Regulation)
1060H03 Act, 1976 and these rules were notified on tne 17th February 1976.
1070H03 $^The Central Government are required (**=1) to_ frame a rule providing
1080H03 for the cultivation or growing of plant which will not be agriculture
1090H03 under clause (A) of the Explanation to clause (O) of section 2; and
1100H03 (**=2) to_ prescribe the terms and conditions subject to which a person
1110H03 permitted under sub-section (1) of section 21 may hold land in excess of
1120H03 the ceiling limit.
1130H03 $^In regard to the framing of the rules mentioned at (**=1) above, the
1140H03 Ministry of Works and Housing have stated as follows:-
1150H03 $"...^This Ministry has requested the State Governments to_ submit
1160H03 their proposals in this regard. ^As the Act is being implemented by the
1170H03 State Governments, it is not possible to_ have a uniform rule applicable
1180H03 to all the States unless the State Governments come forward with
1190H03 definite proposals. ^As soon as the proposals are received and if it is
1200H03 considered necessary to_ frame a rule, necessary action will be taken."
1220H03 $^As regards the finalisation of the terms and conditions referred to at
1230H03 (**=2) above the Ministry have intimated that they require more time
1240H03 for consultation with the State Governments. ^The Ministry have,
1250H03 accordingly, requested that:--
1260H03 $(a) ^The position in regard to framing a rule under section 2(O)(A)
1270H03 be submitted before the Committee on Subordinate Legislation; and
1280H03 $(b) ^Extension of time beyond six months and upto the 31st December, 1977
1290H03 for framing rules under section 21 of the Act may be obtained from
1300H03 the Committee on Subordinate Legislation.
1310H03 $^The Committee notes the position explained by the Ministry in regard
1320H03 to the framing of the rule under section 2(O)(A) and their request for
1330H03 extension of time beyond six months and upto the 31st December, 1977
1340H03 for framing Rules under Section 21 of the Urban Land (Ceiling and
1350H03 Regulation) Act, 1976. $*<*(**=4) *3Sick Textile Undertakings
1360H03 (nationalisation) Rules, 1977. (\0G.S.R. 122(E) of 1977)*0*> $31.
1380H03 ^The rules mentioned above have been made in pursuance of the powers conferred
1390H03 by Section 37 of the Sick Textile Undertakings (Nationalisation)
1400H03 Act, 1974. ^The said Act replacing the Sick Textile Undertakings
1410H03 (Nationalisation) Ordinance, 1974 was enacted in December, 1974.
1420H03 ^The rules under reference were made and given effect from the 22nd March,
1430H03 1977 \0i.e. after more than two years of the enactment of the law.
1440H03 ^It was felt that there has been inordinate delay in publication of the
1450H03 rules and the matter was accordingly, taken up with the Ministry of Commerce
1460H03 and Civil Supplies and Cooperation, whose reply on the point
1470H03 is reproduced below:--
1480H03 $"...^In order to_ safeguard the interest of 103 nationalised 'sick textile
1490H03 undertakings', scattered all over the country, the National Textile
1500H03 Corporation (the Apex Body) was, in the first instance, asked to_ submit
1510H03 a draft rule along with their comments thereon. ^Other Ministries/
1520H03 Departments who had earlier framed similar rules, were also consulted
1530H03 in the matter. ^Further, sub-section (1) of section 17 of the Act provides
1540H03 for the appointment by the Central Government of the Commissioner
1550H03 of payments for the purpose of disbursing the amounts payable to each
1560H03 owner of sick textile undertaking. ^However, due to unavoidable administrative
1570H03 difficulties, the appointment of Commissioner of payments was considerably
1580H03 delayed. ^The Commissioner was appointed with effect
1581H03 from 9th
1590H03 July, 1976. ^As the Commissioner is vitally concerned with the actual
1600H03 implementation of these rules, regarding discharge of the claims preferred
1610H03 before him, it was essential that his views on the proposed rules were
1620H03 also obtained in advance. ^After all these formalities were completed,
1630H03 the draft rules were sent to the Ministry of Law, Legislative Department
1640H03 for their concurrence and vetting. ^However, in order to_ make the
1650H03 rules as comprehensive and legally sound as possible, several references
1660H03 to that_ Ministry could not be avoided. ^The Rules, as finally vetted
1670H03 by the Legislative Department, Ministry of Law, were published in
1680H03 the Gazette of India as \0S.R.O. 122(E) dated the 22nd March,
1690H03 1977."
1700H03 $*3^The Committee expresses its unhappiness over the inordinate delay in
1710H03 framing the Rules and observes that such delays should be avoided in
1720H03 future.*0 $**<*3**=16 $Defective orders*0**> $*<(**=1)
1760H03 *3The Department of Tourism (Group 'C' Statistical Posts)
1770H03 Recruitment Rules, 1977 (\0G.S.R. 528 of 1977)*0*> $32.
1780H03 ^The method of recruitment for the post of Machine Operator in the
1790H03 Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation (Department of Tourism), stands
1800H03 prescribed as "by transfer failing which by direct recruitment and
1810H03 failing both by deputation." ^There is, however, no mention of any period
1820H03 of deputation in the Rules. ^The Committee felt that the period upto
1830H03 which an incumbent of the post was to_ be brought on deputation from another
1840H03 department should be specified.
1850H03 $*3^The Committee notes that the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation
1860H03 (Department of Tourism), have agreed to_ specify the period of
1870H03 deputation in the appropriate column of the Schedule appended to the
1880H03 Rules.*0 $*<**=2)
1890H03 *3The India Security Press (Class *=1 and Class *=2 Posts)
1900H03 Recruitment (Amendment) Rules, 1976 (\0G.S.R. 1161 of 1976)*0*> $33.
1910H03 ^Column 12 of the Schedule appended to the India Security Press
1920H03 (Class *=1 and Class *=2 Posts) Recruitment Rules, 1968, as amended
1930H03 by the Amending Rules of 1976 (\0G.S.R. 1161 of 1976) does not indicate
1940H03 the composition of Group 'A' Departmental Promotion Committee.
1950H03 $*3^The Committee notes that the Ministry of Finance (Department of
1960H03 Economic Affairs) have agreed to_ specify the composition of the Departmental
1970H03 Promotion Committee in the appropriate column of the Schedule
1980H03 appended to the Rules.*0 $*<(**=3)
1990H03 *3The Forest Research Institute and Colleges (class *=1 and
2000H03 class *=2 Non-Tenure Posts) Recruitment (Amendment) Rules,
2010H03 1976 (\0G.S.R. 1229 of 1976)*0*>
2020H03 $34. ^Column 14 of the Schedule appended to the above-mentioned Rules,
2030H03 which relates to the circumstances under which the \0U.P.S.C. has to_
2040H03 be consulted, contained the entry "As required under the Rules."*#
        **[no. of words = 01980**]

        **[txt. h04**]
0010H04 *<*3Assistance to state governments for contribution to the share
0020H04 capital of primary handloom weavers societies*0*>
0030H04 $5.5. ^We have to_ decide on the appropriate agency that_ should meet
0040H04 the supplemental share capital requirements of the weavers societies.
0050H04 ^A demand has been made that Reserve Bank should provide assistance to
0060H04 the state governments from out of the National Agricultural Credit
0070H04 (Long-term Operations) Fund for contributing to the share capital of
0080H04 the weavers societies. ^This demand is not new. ^The High Powered Study
0090H04 Team on the problems of Handloom Industry (1974) had made the following
0100H04 observations in para 6.11 of the Report: **[begin 2nd margin**]
0110H04 "^The Team would rather recommend that the Reserve Bank of India should
0120H04 fully follow the policy of making the credit to the co-operative
0130H04 effective and to this purpose bring in the various methods, which have been
0140H04 inducted in the field of agricultural credit, into the field of handloom
0150H04 credit also to_ make the impact much more effective. ^Particularly
0160H04 the provision of share capital to the co-operatives through the State
0170H04 Government is an important contribution and the Reserve Bank of India
0180H04 must find some means for doing this for the co-operatives sector in the
0190H04 handlooms. ^Till this is done the National Co-operative Development
0200H04 Corporation should provide this facility." **[end 2nd margin**]
0210H04 $5.6 ^The Reserve Bank sanctions long-term loans to the state governments
0220H04 from the National Agricultural Credit (Long-term Operations) Fund
0230H04 for contribution to the share capital of co-operative institutions
0240H04 under Section 46A(2)(a) of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934.
0250H04 ^The Section reads: **[begin 2nd margin**] $^The amount in the said fund
0260H04 shall be applied by the Bank only to the following objects, namely:
0280H04 $(a) the making of loans and advances to state governments for subscribing
0290H04 directly or indirectly to the share capital of a co-operative credit
0300H04 society and repayable on expiry of fixed periods not exceeding 20 years
0310H04 from the date of making such loan or advance. **[end 2nd margin**] $^It
0320H04 is clear from the above that the assistance from the said Fund is available
0330H04 only in respect of co-operative *3credit*0 societies and not for
0340H04 non-credit societies. ^The co-operative credit societies eligible for assistance
0350H04 from the Fund are the state/ central and primary (urban) co-operative
0360H04 banks, state and primary land development banks and primary agricultural
0370H04 credit societies. ^Further, the Fund is used not only for granting
0380H04 loans to state governments for share capital contribution but also
0390H04 for granting medium-term loans to state co-operative banks and long-term
0400H04 loans to the Agricultural Refinance and Development Corporation.
0410H04 $5.7 ^In this context, the observations of the All India Rural Credit
0420H04 Survey Committee (1954) in Chapter 35 of the General Report,
0430H04 are relevant. **[begin 2nd margin**]
0440H04 $^It will be recalled that two of the main lines of development we have
0450H04 in view as basic to the integrated scheme itself are the extension of cooperative
0460H04 credit and the extension of cooperative economic activity, and
0470H04 as earlier explained, these two should in our opinion be broadly divided,
0480H04 in point of responsibility at the all India level of planning, coordination
0490H04 and finance, between the Reserve Bank on one hand, and on the
0500H04 other the Government of India in its Ministry of Food and
0501H04 Agriculture.
0510H04 ^It seems to us obvious that the Reserve Bank should take upon itself
0520H04 the task of further extension of cooperative credit on the lines on which
0530H04 it has already been proceeding in the last few years, and that the central
0540H04 government should assume responsibility for the coordinated progress
0550H04 of the important items of warehousing and distribution (including but
0560H04 going beyond the cooperative sector in regard to these two) and of other
0570H04 economic activities in the rural area, such as processing and marketing
0580H04 (in the cooperative sector alone so far as these are concerned). ^In this
0590H04 manner, the state through two of its most powerful instruments will
0600H04 have set in motion those forces of real significance for the rural economy
0610H04 which alone, we believe, can effectively summon the enthusiasm of the
0620H04 cultivator and marshal his awakened effort for the economic development
0630H04 of rural India. ^Due attention must of course be paid to the need for
0640H04 coordination between these two main lines of development \0viz., credit
0650H04 and economic activity, for one is organically dependent on the other.
0651H04 **[end 2nd margin**]
0660H04 $^In pursuance of the recommendations of the Committee under its integrated
0670H04 Rural Credit Scheme, the Reserve Bank created the National Agricultural
0680H04 Credit (Long Term Operations) Fund and the National Agricultural
0690H04 Credit (Stabilization) Fund in the Bank and the Governent
0700H04 of India set up the National Co-operative Development and Warehousing
0710H04 Board for planning, coordinating and financing the co-operative
0720H04 economic activity in the rural sector. ^In 1962 the Board was converted
0730H04 into the National Cooperative Development Corporation. ^It was, thus,
0740H04 expected that while the Reserve Bank would broadly look after the
0750H04 needs of the cooperative credit sturcture, the National Cooperative Development
0760H04 Corporation would meet the needs of cooperative non-credit
0770H04 structure, particularly in the rural sector. $5.8 ^Section 9 of the
0780H04 National Cooperative Development Corporation Act, 1962 defines the
0790H04 functions of the Corporation. ^The Section reads: **[begin 2nd margin**]
0800H04 $9(1) ^Subject to the provisions of this Act the functions of the Corporation
0810H04 shall be to_ plan and promote programmes, through cooperative
0820H04 societies, for: $(a) the production, processing, marketing, storage,
0830H04 export and import of agricultural produce, food stuffs, poultry feed
0840H04 and notified commodities. $(b) the collection, processing, storage and
0850H04 export of minor forest produce. $(2) in particular and without prejudice
0860H04 to the generality of the foregoing provision, the corporation may:
0900H04 $(a) advance loans or grant subsidies to State Governments for financing
0910H04 cooperative societies and for employment of staff for implementing
0920H04 programmes of cooperative development. $(b)
0930H04 provide funds to State Governments for financing cooperative societies
0940H04 for the purchase of agricultural produce, food stuffs and notified
0950H04 commodities on behalf of the Central Government:
0960H04 $(c) plan and promote programmes through cooperative societies for the supply
0970H04 of seeds, manure, fertilisers, agricultural implements and other articles
0980H04 for the development of agricultural produce:
0990H04 $(d) provide loans and grants directly to the national level cooperative
1000H04 societies and other cooperative societies having objects extending beyond
1010H04 one state:
1020H04 $(e) provide loans to cooperative societies on guarantee of State Governments
1030H04 or in the case of cooperative societies in the Union Territories,
1040H04 on the guarantee of the Central Government:
1050H04 $(f) participate in the share capital of national level cooperative societies
1060H04 and other cooperative societies having objects extending beyond one
1070H04 State. **[end 2nd margin**] $^The
1080H04 National Cooperative Development Corporation had contributed \0Rs
1090H04 35.45 *4lakhs during 1976-7 to the share capital of state handloom weavers
1100H04 cooperative societies in Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and
1110H04 Madhya Pradesh. ^Under section 13(2)(a) of the Act, the moneys in the
1120H04 National Cooperative Development Fund shall be applied **[begin 2nd
1130H04 margin**] $"for advancing loans and granting subsidies to State Governments
1140H04 on such terms and conditions as the Corporation may deem fit for
1150H04 the purpose of enabling State Governments to_ subscribe to the share
1160H04 capital of cooperative societies or for otherwise financing cooperative
1180H04 societies". $^Under Section 2(c) of the Act
1190H04 $"cooperative society" means a society registered or deemed to_ be registered
1200H04 under the Cooperative Societies Act, 1912 or under any other
1210H04 law with respect to cooperative societies for the time being in force in
1220H04 any state, which is engaged in any of the activities specified in sub-section
1230H04 (1) of Section 9 and includes a cooperative land mortgage bank.
1231H04 **[end 2nd margin**]
1240H04 $^Notified commodities include items like soap, textiles, paper and pulp,
1270H04 timber products, tea \0etc. ^Primary weavers societies can therefore
1271H04 be assisted by National Co-operative Development Corporation without
1280H04 any amendment of the National Co-operative Development Corporation
1290H04 Act. $5.9
1300H04 ^It appears to us that the National Cooperative Development Corporation
1310H04 is the appropriate agency to_ assist the State Governments for
1320H04 contributing to the share capital of primary weavers societies. ^This will
1330H04 be in accordance with the broad demarcation of the responsibilities
1340H04 between the Reserve Bank of India and the erstwhile National Cooperative
1350H04 Development and Warehousing Board envisaged by the Rural Credit
1360H04 Survey Committee in their Integrated Rural Credit Scheme. ^This
1370H04 will also be in accordance with the recommendations of the High Powered
1380H04 Study Team. ^In para 2.9(b) of the Report on rehabilitation of handloom
1390H04 cooperatives, the Study Team has said **[begin 2nd margin**]
1400H04 $^A scheme of rehabilitation will have to_ be drawn up for those cooperatives
1410H04 which can be made viable with supervised credit and with amalgamation
1420H04 of potentially viable
1430H04 weavers societies. ^The main ingredient in this programme
1440H04 will be the share capital participation of the state Government.
1450H04 ^To_ enable the State Government to_ participate in the share capital,
1460H04 the National Cooperative Development Corporation may be made the
1470H04 body for giving loan to the State Government for share capital participation.
1480H04 ^The National Cooperative Development Corporation will have
1490H04 to_ put in funds for the purpose to_ fully support the programme.
1491H04 **[end 2nd margin**] $^This
1500H04 recommendation of the Study Team has also been accepted by the Government
1510H04 of India. ^However, the Government of India accepted it subject
1520H04 to National Co-operative Development Corporation being provided
1530H04 with additional funds on continual and effective basis to_ take up this
1540H04 responsibility. ^The Government of India also decided that the involvement
1550H04 of the Corporation will not be on adhoc basis. ^Since the National
1560H04 Co-operative Development Corporation has not been provided with
1570H04 funds for the purpose, the Corporation is presently extending assistance
1580H04 to only Apex/ Regional weavers*' societies out of its funds and no assistance
1590H04 is being given for primary weavers*' societies. ^We, therefore,
1600H04 recommend that the \0NCDC may be provided with adequate funds by Government
1610H04 of India to_ enable it to_ provide assistance for participation
1620H04 in the share capital of primary weavers*' societies. $*<*3Provision
1630H04 of medium-term and long-term loans to apex weavers*' societies*0*> $5.10
1650H04 ^The weavers*' societies cannot expect to_ be in a sheltered position
1660H04 indefinitely. ^They have to_ compete with the organised sector and this
1670H04 necessitates a competent marketing mechanism. ^For this purpose the
1680H04 societies, particularly the apex societies will require proper godowns,
1690H04 show rooms \0etc. ^Acquisition of these facilities involves large investments
1700H04 for which they will require term loans from financial institutions.
1710H04 ^There has been a demand from some apex societies like the Tamil Nadu
1720H04 State Handloom Weavers Cooperative Society that the Reserve Bank
1730H04 should open a new line of credit for the above purposes as there are
1740H04 now no financial organisations catering to the medium-term and long-term
1750H04 requirements of handloom cooperatives. ^They also want the accommodation
1760H04 at concessional rates of interest. **[begin 2nd margin**]
1761H04 $5.11 ^The Reserve Bank offers refinancing facilities through co-operative
1762H04 channel for the financing of weavers and industrial co-operatives
1763H04 under sections 17(2)(a) and 17(2)(bb) of Reserve Bank of India
1764H04 Act, 1934. ^The section reads
1770H04 $^The Bank shall be authorised to_ carry on and transact the several
1780H04 kinds of business hereinafter specified, namely:--
1790H04 $(2)(a) the purchase, sale and rediscount of bills of exchange and promissory
1800H04 notes, drawn on and payable in India and arising out of bonafide
1810H04 commercial or trade transactions bearing two or more good signatures, one
1820H04 of which shall be that_ of a scheduled bank or a state co-operative
1830H04 bank and maturing $(**=1) in the case of bills of exchange and promissory
1840H04 notes arising out of any such transaction relating to the export
1850H04 of goods from India, within one hundred and eighty days and
1870H04 $(**=2) in any other case, within ninety days from the date of such purchase
1890H04 or rediscount exclusive of days of grace
2000H04 $(bb) the purchase, sale and rediscount of bills of exchange and promissory
2010H04 notes drawn and payable in India and bearing two or more good signatures,
2020H04 one of which shall be that_ of a state co-operative bank or a
2030H04 State Financial Corporation and drawn or issued for the purpose
2040H04 of financing the production or marketing activities of cottage and small
2050H04 scale industries approved by the Bank and maturing within twelve months
2060H04 from the date of such purchase or rediscount, exclusive of days of grace
2070H04 provided that the payment of principal and interest of such bills of
2080H04 exchange or promissory notes is fully guaranteed by the State Government.
2090H04 **[end 2nd margin**] $5.12 ^Medium-term and long-term advances
2100H04 are made by the Bank from the National Agricultural Credit
2110H04 (Long-term Operations) Fund under section 46A(2)(b), (c) and (d)
2120H04 of the Act which reads:-- **[begin 2nd margin**]
2130H04 $(b) the making to State cooperative banks of loans and advances repayable
2140H04 on the expiry of fixed periods not being less than fifteen months
2150H04 and not exceeding five years from the date of making such loan or
2160H04 advance, against such securities as may be specified in this behalf by
2170H04 the Bank and such loans and advances may be made for agricultural purposes
2180H04 or for such other purposes connected with the agricultural activities
2190H04 as the Central Board may, from time to time, by regulation or
2200H04 otherwise, determine.*#
        **[no. of words = 02068**]

        **[txt. h05**]
0010H05 *<INTRODUCTION*>
0020H05 $^This Report gives an account of the development of educational facilities
0030H05 for children belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes
0040H05 in India during 1972-73. ^This report is based mainly on the statistical
0050H05 data supplied by the State Governments and Administrations of Union
0060H05 Territories in a prescribed form. ^It depicts, *8inter-alia*9 a
0070H05 comparative picture with the previous year in addition to the developments
0080H05 that_ have taken place during the year under report.
0090H05 $2. ^This publication covers mainly the enrolment of children belonging
0100H05 to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes at different levels of education
0110H05 beginning from pre-primary education upto the highest stage of education
0120H05 with all the possible bifurcation into different standards of education.
0130H05 ^Sex-wise and State-wise comparisons of progress of education among
0140H05 the children belonging to these communities have also been made. ^The
0150H05 coefficient of equality at different levels of education in respect of
0160H05 these communities has also been worked out.
0170H05 $3. ^The population statistics included in this Report are estimated on
0180H05 the basis of 1971 Census figures. ^No attempt has been made to_ draw
0190H05 any inference or insinuation based upon the factual data depicted in the
0200H05 report, although some analysis of the data has been given wherever desirable
0210H05 in order to_ highlight the progress of education among the children
0220H05 of various age-groups belonging to these communities.
0230H05 $4. ^The State-wise details of progress made in providing educational facilities
0240H05 to the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Communities are
0250H05 presented in Appendices 'A' and 'B' respectively.
0260H05 $5. ^The Ministry of Education & Social Welfare highly appreciates
0270H05 the assistance of all the State Governments and Administrations of
0280H05 Union Territories who supplied the basic statistics for the preparation
0290H05 of this report. ^Suggestions for making the report more useful in future
0300H05 may please be addressed to the Deputy Secretary (Planning) in this
0310H05 Ministry $*<*SUMMARY*> $^There has been a tremendous expansion in
0320H05 the provision of educational facilities in India. ^Remarkable increase
0330H05 has been noticed in the number of institutions of different types, enrolment
0340H05 therein, number of teachers employed and the educational expenditure
0350H05 incurred thereon. ^Table *=1 below, which gives the percentage
0360H05 of coverage of the population of all communities of different school-going
0370H05 age-groups, indicates at a glance the significant developments that_
0380H05 have taken place in the field of education since 1960-61:--
0390H05 $^Table *=1-- Enrolment as percentage of the population of relevant age-groups
0400H05 by stages of General School Education. **[table**]
0410H05 $2. ^Although all-round expansion of education has been witnessed yet it
0420H05 has not spread over uniformly in the country. ^There still remain certain
0430H05 areas and social communities as well as some groups of population
0440H05 which lag far behind others in the development of education. ^Special efforts
0450H05 are, therefore, required to_ be made to_ accelerate the pace of educational
0460H05 development in such backward areas, special groups of population
0470H05 like girls, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, backward classes
0480H05 and other communities living in hill areas.
0490H05 $3. ^The percentage of enrolment of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes
0500H05 to the enrolment of all communities increased from 10.7 and 4.2 in
0510H05 1971-72 to 10.8 and 4.5 in 1972-73 respectively. ^In terms of Coefficient
0520H05 of equality, the overall position improved slightly from 73.3% to
0530H05 74.0%, in the case of Scheduled Castes and improved significantly though
0540H05 still lagging behind the position achieved by Scheduled Castes from
0550H05 60.9% to 65.2% in the case of Scheduled Tribes during this period.
0560H05 $^State-wise details of enrolment of children belonging to the Scheduled
0570H05 Castes and Scheduled Tribes studying in various types of educational
0580H05 institutions are given in the statements included in Appendices (A)
0590H05 and (B) respectively of the report.
0600H05 $4. ^If a fair deal had been given to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled
0610H05 Tribes, the Coefficient of equality should have been 100, or in other
0620H05 words the proportion of the enrolment of Scheduled Castes/ Scheduled
0630H05 Tribes to total enrolment should have been equal to the proportion of
0640H05 population of Scheduled Castes/ Scheduled Tribes to total population
0650H05 and its percentage equal to 100. ^An index of greater than 100 implies
0660H05 that the educational advance of Scheduled Castes/ Tribes is more
0670H05 than that_ of the total population and thereby shows that there are
0680H05 some other social groups in the general population whose condition is even
0690H05 worse than that_ of the Scheduled Castes/ Scheduled Tribes. ^If
0700H05 this index is less than 100 it may be concluded that the Scheduled Castes/
0710H05 Tribes have still some lee-way to_ make. ^In such cases, special
0720H05 efforts are needed to_ be made to_ improve their enrolment. ^The smaller
0730H05 the coefficient of equality, the greater the need for making such efforts.
0740H05 ^The Coefficient of equality of 74.0% in case of Scheduled Castes
0750H05 and only 65.2% in case of Scheduled Tribes indicates the extent to
0760H05 which educational facilities were availed by these communities in 1972-73.
0770H05 ^This index also highlights the effort that_ is required to_ improve
0771H05 conditions which may attract children of these communities
0780H05 to educational institutions.
0790H05 $5. ^For analysis of this subject in details separately for Scheduled
0800H05 Castes and Scheduled Tribes this report has been divided into two parts.
0810H05 ^Part *=1 relates to the educational development of Scheduled
0820H05 Castes and Part *=2 deals with the educational development of Scheduled
0830H05 Tribes. $*<*3PART-- *=1*0*> $*<*3EDUCATIONAL
0840H05 FACILITIES FOR SCHEDULED CASTES: *=1*0*> $*<A. Population*>
0850H05 $6. ^The population of Scheduled Castes as per the 1971 Census was
0860H05 about 80 million which formed 14.6% of the total population of India.
0870H05 ^State-wise break-up of the population of this community as well as
0880H05 its percentage to total population are given in Table 3 on the next page.
0890H05 $^The co-efficient of equality of Scheduled Castes in 1971-72 was
0900H05 more than 100 in case of Assam, Gujarat, Kerala, Maharashtra, Manipur,
0910H05 Meghalaya, Tripura and Dadra & Nagar Haveli. ^In 1972-73 also
0920H05 this co-efficient in these States and Union Territories remained more
0930H05 than 100. \0^I.e. Co-efficient of equality was less than the national
0940H05 average of 74.0 in case of Bihar, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu
0950H05 & Kashmir, Karnataka, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal,
0960H05 Chandigarh and Delhi.
0970H05 $*<E. Progress of Enrolment by types of institutions.*> $12.
0980H05 ^A general review of the progress of enrolment of Scheduled Castes
0990H05 during the years 1971-72 and 1972-73 indicates an overall improvement.
1000H05 ^However, the position varied from State to State and also over various
1010H05 types of institutions. ^Statements *=2 to *=14 in Appendix 'A' indicate
1020H05 State-wise progress of enrolment of Scheduled Castes in various
1030H05 types of educational institutions.
1040H05 $13. ^A brief comparative review of the progress of enrolment of Scheduled
1050H05 Castes as percentage to the total enrolment and the co-efficient
1060H05 of equality for the years 1971-72 and 1972-73 in various types of educational
1070H05 institutions is given in the following paragraphs:--
1080H05 $*<(**=1) Pre-Primary Schools.*>
1090H05 $^The total enrolment in Pre-Primary Schools in the country increased
1100H05 from 2.98 *4lakhs in 1971-72 to 3.47 *4lakhs in 1972-73 thus registering
1110H05 an increase of 16.4% during this period. ^The corresponding enrolment
1120H05 of Scheduled Castes increased from 21,123 (7.1% of the total) in 1971-72
1130H05 to 23,666 (6.8%) of the total in 1972-73. ^As seen from Statement
1140H05 *=2 in Appendix 'A' the maximum increase in the enrolment of Scheduled
1150H05 Castes in pre-primary schools was reported by Karnataka, where it increased
1170H05 from 4,351 in 1971-72 to 6,172 in 1972-73. ^The State-wise percentage
1180H05 of enrolment and co-efficient of equality are indicated in Table
1190H05 8 below. ^Enrolment figures are given in statement *=2 of Appendix
1200H05 'A'. $Table-8: Percentage enrolment and Co-efficient of Equality
1210H05 of Scheduled Castes in Pre-Primary Schools. **[table**]
1220H05 $*<(**=2) Primary Schools*> $^The
1230H05 total enrolment in Primary Schools in the country increased from 423.72
1240H05 *4lakhs in 1971-72 to 452.78 *4lakhs in 1972-73 showing an increase
1250H05 of 6.9% during the year 1972-73. ^The corresponding enrolment of Scheduled
1260H05 Castes increased from 54.97 *4lakhs in 1971-72 to 58.50 *4lakhs in
1270H05 1972-73, thus, registering an increase of 6.4% during the year 1971-72.
1280H05 ^Percentage enrolment of Scheduled Castes to the total enrolment in
1290H05 primary Schools was 13.0 in 1971-72 which decreased slightly to 12.9 in
1300H05 1972-73. ^Figures for the co-efficient of equality were 89.0% and 88.4%
1310H05 in the years 1971-72 and 1972-73 respectively. ^*State-wise position of
1320H05 these percentage is shown in Table 9 below. ^However, details of enrolment
1330H05 of Scheduled Castes in Primary Schools by States and Union Territories
1340H05 for the years 1971-72 and 1972-73 are given in Statement *=3
1350H05 of Appendix 'A'. $Table- 9: Percentage enrolment and Co-efficient
1360H05 of Equality of Scheduled Castes in Primary/ Junior Basic
1370H05 Schools. **[table**] $*<(**=3) Middle Schools*>
1390H05 $^The total enrolment in Middle/ Senior Basic Schools in the country
1400H05 increased from 208.45 *4lakhs in 1971-72 to 216.83 *4lakhs in 1972-73 registering
1410H05 an increase of 4.0%. ^Corresponding enrolment of Scheduled
1420H05 Caste students increased from 18.99 *4lakhs in 1971-72 to 20.35 *4lakhs
1430H05 in 1972-73. ^Percentage enrolment of Scheduled Castes to total enrolment
1440H05 showed an increase from 9.1 in 1971-72 to 9.4 in 1972-73 and consequently
1450H05 the co-efficient of equality also increased from 62.3 in 1971-72
1460H05 to 64.4 in 1972-73. ^*State-wise figures of percentage and co-efficient
1470H05 of equality are shown in Table 10 given below. ^Enrolment figures have
1480H05 been given in Statement *=4 of Appendix 'A'.
1490H05 $Table 10- Percentage enrolment and Co-efficient of Equality of Scheduled
1500H05 Castes in Middle/ Senior Basic Schools. **[table**]
1510H05 $*<(**=4) High/ Higher Secondary Schools.*>
1520H05 $^Total enrolment in High/ Higher Secondary Schools for the country
1530H05 as a whole increased from 164.15 *4lakhs in 1971-72 to 170.19 *4lakhs in
1540H05 1972-73 registering an increase of 3.7%. ^Enrolment of Scheduled Caste
1550H05 students was 13.11 *4lakhs in 1971-72 which increased to 14.11 *4lakhs
1560H05 in 1972-73, showing an increase of 7.6% during 1972-73. ^Percentage
1570H05 enrolment of Scheduled Caste students to the total enrolment showed an
1580H05 increase from 8.0 in 1971-72 to 8.3 in 1972-73 and consequently the co-efficient
1590H05 of equality also increased from 54.8% in 1971-72 to 56.8% in
1600H05 1972-73. ^Percentage enrolment and co-efficient of equality by States are
1610H05 shown in Table 11 below. ^Enrolment figures are given in statement *=5
1620H05 of Appendix 'A'.
1630H05 $Table 11: Percentage enrolment and Co-efficient of Equality of
1640H05 Scheduled Castes in High/ Higher Secondary Schools. **[table**]
1650H05 $*<(**=5) Schools for Vocational and Technical Education.*>
1660H05 $^Total enrolment in Vocational and Technical schools in the country
1670H05 was 1,70,157 in 1971-72. ^Of this, the number of Scheduled Caste
1680H05 students was 15,347 and formed 9.0 per cent of the total enrolment.
1690H05 ^In 1972-73, the total enrolment of all communities in these schools increased
1710H05 to 1,72,450 and the enrolment of Scheduled Castes students increased
1720H05 to 16,500 forming 9.6 percent of the total enrolment. ^Corresponding
1730H05 co-efficient of equality increased from 61.6% in 1971-72 to 65.8%
1740H05 in 1972-73. ^*State-wise enrolment percentage and the co-efficient of
1750H05 equality have been indicated in Table 12 below. ^The enrolment
1760H05 figures may be seen from Statement *=6 of Appendix 'A'. $Table 12:
1770H05 Percentage Enrolment and Co-efficient of Equality of Scheduled
1780H05 Castes in Vocational/ Technical schools. **[table**]
1790H05 $*<(**=6) Schools for Special Education.*>
1800H05 $^Schools for physically and mentally handicapped children and the reformatories
1810H05 are generally taken under schools for Special Education. ^In
1820H05 the year 1971-72, 27,637 students from all communities were enrolled in
1830H05 these institutions of which 2,147 were scheduled caste students. ^These
1840H05 students formed 7.8 percent of the total enrolment in the year 1972-73.
1860H05 ^Total enrolment increased to 28,549 of which 2,795 were scheduled caste
1870H05 students. ^*Scheduled Caste students formed 9.8 per cent of the total
1880H05 enrolment. ^The corresponding coefficient of equality for Schduled Caste
1890H05 enrolment increased from 53.4% in 1971-72 to 67.1% in 1972-73. ^The
1900H05 State-wise figures of percentage enrolment and coefficient of equality
1910H05 are delineated in Table 13 as below. ^Enrolment figures may be seen
1920H05 from Statement *=7 of the Appendix 'A'.
1930H05 $Table 13: Percentage Enrolment and Co-efficient of Equality of Scheduled
1940H05 Castes in Special education schools. **[table**]*#
        **[no. of words = 01902**]

        **[txt. h06**]
0010H06 **<*3GENERAL SURVEY*0**> $^In
0020H06 pursuance of the National Policy on Education, the educational programmes
0030H06 included in the Fourth Plan continued to_ maintain their progress
0040H06 during 1971-72; but the programmes could not be executed fully due to
0050H06 financial constraints as a result of border conflicts with the Pakistan.
0070H06 $^Out of the Plan allocation of \0Rs. 822 *4crores for education, a
0080H06 Plan provision of \0Rs. 157.74 *4crores was approved by the Planning
0090H06 Commission for the year 1971-72. ^Out of this \0Rs 105.35 *4crores was
0100H06 in the State sector and \0Rs. 52.39 *4crores in the Central sector.
0110H06 ^The total budget of the Ministry of Education and Social Welfare was
0120H06 \0Rs. 85.17 *4crores (Plan and Non-plan) and constituted 2.9 per ceent
0130H06 of the total budget on revenue account.
0140H06 $^A brief account of the main activities in the field of education during
0150H06 the year under report is given below:--
0160H06 $*<(**=1) *3Elementary Education*0*>
0170H06 $^In order to_ give a fillip to the realisation of elementary education,
0180H06 a Central scheme of appointment of 3,000 additional primary teachers and
0190H06 240 Assistant Inspectors of Schools were evolved during the year.
0200H06 ^Besides, \0Rs. 27 *4lakhs were provided for giving free textbooks and
0210H06 stationery to about 9 *4lakhs beneficiaries, and \0Rs. 25.8 *4lakhs were
0220H06 provided for the expansion of midday meal facilities in schools, all over
0230H06 the country. ^Financial sanction was also given for the introduction
0240H06 of work-experience in 1,000 selected middle schools in the country in
0250H06 order to_ give a practical bias to the curriculum of elementary stage.
0260H06 $*<(**=2) *3Secondary Education*0*>
0270H06 $^The qualitative improvement of science and medical education at the various
0280H06 levels of school education continued to_ receive priority; and under
0290H06 the \0Unesco/ \0Unicef assisted pilot project for improvement of science
0300H06 education, instructional materials were provided to schools and training
0310H06 given to key personnel.
0320H06 $*<(**=3) *3Education of Girls & Women*0*> $^The
0330H06 recommendations of the National Council for Women*'s Education made
0340H06 at its twelfth meeting for the promotion of the girls education *8*3vis-a-vis*0*9
0350H06 the recruitment of women teachers, literacy programmes for
0360H06 women, construction of hostels for girls, \0etc., were accepted and implemented
0370H06 by ten States and five Union Territories.
0380H06 $*<(**=4) *3University and Higher Education*0*>
0390H06 $^Two new universities, \0viz., Cochin University and Kerala Agricultural
0400H06 University (Trichur) were established during the year. ^Besides,
0410H06 the University Grants Commission gave its concurrence for the establishment
0420H06 of a university at Pondicherry. ^The recommendations made by the
0430H06 Gajendragadkar Committee relating to size of university, university
0440H06 autonomy and block grants, the role of Central universities, students*'
0450H06 participation in university administration, \0etc., were accepted in principle
0460H06 by the University Grants Commission and the Government of India.
0480H06 $^The University Grants Commission initiated a scheme relating to the
0490H06 award of National Scholarships intended to_ relieve teachers of outstanding
0500H06 eminence from their normal duties for a year or two to_ enable them
0510H06 to_ give their time and attention to research. ^The scheme envisages
0520H06 the award of emoluments payable to the teachers equivalent to their salaries
0530H06 and other allowances and a grant of \0Rs. 3000 each year for secretarial
0540H06 assistance, travel and other expenses on contingencies. ^Besides,
0550H06 there was a provision of making available an additional contingent grant
0560H06 upto \0Rs. 2000 per annum, wherever considered essential. ^Under this
0570H06 scheme, one national scholarship was provided in social sciences in the
0580H06 year 1971-72.
0590H06 $^The University Grants Commission decided to_ make available grants
0600H06 for computers to the Universities in addition to the Fourth Plan allocations
0610H06 for their development programmes. ^The proposal of the Indian Institute
0620H06 of Science for the development of computers facilities was
0630H06 accepted.
0640H06 $^The Government of India accepted the recommendations of the University
0650H06 Grants Commission for the revision of pay scales of the univeristy
0660H06 and college teachers and agreed to_ give special assistance to the State
0670H06 Government covering 80 per cent of the cost of implementing the recommendations
0680H06 \0w.e.f. 1st April, 1966 for a period of five years endingMarch
0690H06 31st, 1971.
0700H06 $(**=5* *<*3Technical Education*0*> $^There
0710H06 was no further expansion in the facilities for technical education
0720H06 at the degree and diploma levels and the actual admission was maintained
0730H06 at the reduced level. ^In 1971-72, 18,197 students were admitted to the
0740H06 first degree courses in engineering and technical education and 33,154
0750H06 students admitted to various diploma courses.
0760H06 $^The number of places for the training of serving teachers at master*'s
0770H06 and doctoral level was increased to 200 to_ meet the increasing demand
0780H06 for training facilities for various institutions.
0790H06 $^The programme of practical training for teachers in industry was initiated
0800H06 in 1971-72 and a little over 250 teachers were deputed for practical
0810H06 training in various public and private sector industrial establishments.
0820H06 ^For the training of polytechnic teachers, four Regional Training institutions
0830H06 have been established which offer a wide range of facilities,
0840H06 particularly in-service training of polytechnic techers. ^In addition,
0850H06 special provision has been made at the Institute of Technology to_ train
0860H06 teachers of engineering colleges for the Master*'s and \0Ph.D. degree,
0871H06 $^The programme of sandwich courses for improving the practical content
0872H06 of degree and diploma courses, introduced in 1970-71, was further extended,
0873H06 thus covering a total number of 40 institutions in 1971-72. ^The
0874H06 programme envisages co-operation with industry to_ integrate theoretical
0875H06 engineering education with actual practical experience.
0880H06 $^At the National Institute for Training in Industrial Engineering
0890H06 Bombay, a full-time post-graduate course in Industrial Engineering was
0900H06 started in July, 1971 with an admission of 19. ^The Institutes of
0910H06 Management at Hyderabad and Calcutta introduced \0Ph.D. course in Management.
0920H06 ^In the Ahmedabad Institute, a computer and a one-year programme
0930H06 in Management for Agricultural **[sic**] was started with an
0940H06 admission of 40 students.
0950H06 $^A high power committee was set up to_ review the set-up of the 14 Regional
0960H06 Engineering colleges in the country and to_ recommend measures for
0970H06 their further development and financial arrangements necessary for the
0980H06 maintenance of these colleges in the future.
0990H06 $*<(**=6) *3Social Education*0*>
1000H06 $^There has been a greater involvment of the universities who took up adult
1010H06 education as an important component of their programmes of National
1020H06 Service Scheme.
1030H06 $^Further, in pursuance of the recommendations of the National Board of
1040H06 Adult Education, it was decided to_ initiate pilot projects towards
1050H06 the speeding up of adult literacy in selected districts, intended to_ cover
1060H06 about 6 million illiterate adults in the first phase of the Fourth
1070H06 Plan period. ^The programme of functional literacy taken up in 100 high
1080H06 yielding varieties and in operation in 60 districts in 1970-71 was extended
1090H06 to_ cover 80 districts in 1971-72.
1100H06 $*<(**=7) *3Physical Education*0*>
1110H06 $^The organisation of the National Physical Effciency Drive, has been
1120H06 entrusted to the Lakshmibai College of Physical Education, Gwalior
1130H06 \0w.e.f. the year 1971-72. ^The participation target was increased from
1140H06 10.6 *4lakhs to 18.5 *4lakhs during the year under report.
1150H06 $*<(**=8) *3Scholarships*0*> $^During
1160H06 the year, 400 scholarships and fellowships were offered by various
1170H06 foreign Governments and organisations to Indian nationals for study,
1180H06 research and training abroad. ^Of these, 301 scholarships were utilised.
1190H06 ^99 scholars from foreign countries came to India for research work
1200H06 or studies in the various fields of edcuation under the Government of
1210H06 India*'s scholarship schemes. ^Besides, schemes of Overseas Scholarships
1220H06 for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, National Scholarships
1230H06 Scheme for the Children of School Teachers, Junior National Scholarships
1240H06 Scheme and various other scholarships schemes for studies in
1250H06 India were continued.
1260H06 $^A new scheme, \0viz., National Scholarships Scheme for Study Abroad,
1270H06 was initiated in 1971-72 to_ provide financial assistance to
1280H06 meritorious students who do not have the means to_ go abroad for post-graduate
1290H06 studies. ^58 student scholars were selected. $^Another
1300H06 new scheme, "National Scholarships at the Secondary Stage for
1310H06 Talented Students of Rural Areas", was instituted \0w.e.f. 1971-72
1320H06 with the object of achieving greater equalization of education of rural
1330H06 talent for the purposes of promoting National Integration. ^The
1340H06 scheme is being administered as a Central Scheme through the State Govenments
1350H06 who make the selections. $*<(**=9) *3Book Promotion*0*> $^The
1370H06 various programmes for the book promotion \0viz., providing support
1380H06 for the writing of quality books at University level, republication of
1390H06 low-priced editions of standard works originally published in \0U.S.A.,
1400H06 \0U.K. and \0USSR, production of books in core subjects, reduction
1410H06 of prices of university books by means of subsidies, \0etc., were continued
1420H06 during the year.
1430H06 $^In pursuance of recommendation of the second meeting of the National
1450H06 Board of School Textbooks held in May, 1976, the problem of modern management
1460H06 techniques in textbook production was taken up for study by Department
1480H06 of Textbooks of the \0N.C.E.R.T.
1490H06 $^As part of the International Book Year Celebrations in India, the
1500H06 National Book Trust organised in cooperation with the Federation of
1510H06 Publishers and Booksellers Associations in India, a World Book
1520H06 Fair at Windsor Place, New Delhi, from 18th March to 4th April,
1530H06 1972. ^Outstanding books published in India since independence were exhibited
1540H06 at this Fair. $^A
1550H06 National Writers*' Camp was held during the World Book Fair from
1560H06 March 26 to 31, 1972 in which about 100 eminent writers in various Indian
1570H06 Languages and English participated and presented papers on various
1590H06 topics. $*<(**=10) 3Development of Languages*0*> $^A
1600H06 Conference of eminent Linguists and sociologists was held in the Central
1610H06 Institute of Indian Languages, Mysore from October 11-13, 1971
1620H06 to_ draw a blue-print for the proposed Socio-linguistic Survery of
1630H06 India. ^The Conference resolved that survey projects be undertaken by
1640H06 the Central Institute of Indian Languages, Mysore, University Departments
1650H06 of Linguistic and Social Sciences and other adequately manned
1660H06 institutions. $^A conference
1670H06 on Language Instruction through Mass Media was held in
1680H06 December, 1971, at Mysore and was attended by the linguists, phychologists
1690H06 and mass media experts. ^The Conference discussed the nature and type
1700H06 of instructional material to_ be prepared, steps to_ be taken to_ prepare
1710H06 such material, and to_ frame general guidelines for the implementation
1720H06 of these programmes. $*<(**=11) *3National Integration*0*>
1740H06 $^On the suggestion of Committee of Educationists and Students*' leaders
1750H06 for evolving a suitable National emblem for the National Integration
1760H06 *4Samitis, an All India Competition was held inviting entries from
1770H06 the students of universities, colleges and art colleges for selecting
1780H06 the best entries and for awarding the cash prize of \0Rs. 3000 for the same.
1800H06 $^First meeting of the Review Committee on National Integration Programmes
1810H06 in the Ministry of Education and Social Welfare was held on
1820H06 10th February, 1972 to_ review the various programmes being implemented
1830H06 and having a direct and indirect bearing on the promotion of National
1840H06 Integration. ^The Committee gave its suggestion for modifying, strengthening
1850H06 and expanding existing programmes for achieving National Integration.
1860H06 $*<*3STATISTICS*0*> $*<*3Institutions*0*>
1890H06 $^The total number of educational institutions in the country decreased
1900H06 from 6,53,493 in 1970-71 to 5,97,117 in 1971-72. this shows a decrease of
1910H06 8.6 per cent over the previous year. ^It will be seen from Table 1.01
1920H06 that even though there was a decrease in the number of institutions of
1930H06 certain types which was very nominal, and abnormal decrease to the extent
1940H06 of 69.8 per cent was observed in the case of schools for social (adult)
1950H06 education which decreased mainly in Maharashtra State. ^Excluding social
1960H06 (adult) education schools, the total number of educational institutions
1970H06 in the country increased from 5,52,374 in 1970-71 to 5,66,616, showing
1980H06 an increase of 2.6 per cent as against 1.9 per cent in the pervious
1990H06 year. ^Barring a few types of institutions which recorded a decrease, and
2000H06 a few others whose number remained stationary, increase was observed in
2010H06 all other types of institutions. ^The break-up of total number of institutions
2020H06 by type of education with comparative figures for the previous
2030H06 year is given in Table 1.01. $*<*3Enrolment*0*> $^The total
2050H06 number of pupils receiving instruction in all types of recognised institutions
2060H06 increased by 21,65,872 from 8,24,03,400 (5,39,77,399 boys and
2070H06 2,84,26,001 girls) in 1970-71 to 8,45,69,272 (5,53,63,683 boys and
2080H06 2,92,05,589 girls) in 1971-72, which gives an increase of 2.6 per cent.
2090H06 ^The corresponding increase in the previous year was 1.7 per cent. ^Girl
2100H06 students constituted 34.5 per cent of the total enrolment as compared
2110H06 to 34.7 per cent during 1970-71. ^Barring a few, all types of institutions
2120H06 showed an increase in enrolment. ^As was expected, the maximum increase
2130H06 in enrolment was in primary schools (12,19,218), followed by middle
2170H06 schools (6,99,727) and high/ higher secondary schools (3,96,557). ^Substantial
2180H06 decrease was reported by social (adult) education schools (6,19,464)
2190H06 due to discontinuation of social (adult) education centres in Maharashtra
2200H06 State, as already mentioned.*#
        **[no. of words = o2014**]

        **[txt. h07**]
0010H07 ^The ergot occurs in parts of India and is known to_ cause substantial
0020H07 losses. ^High-yielding hybrids have been found specially susceptible.
0030H07 $^The symptoms are seen on the ears. ^The first symptom is the appearance
0040H07 of sticky substance over the spikelets. ^This is called the honey-dew
0050H07 stage. ^The honey-dew attracts insects which in turn pick up the conidia
0060H07 of the fungus from the honey-dew and take them to other spikelets. ^This
0070H07 is how the disease spreads. ^Later the honey-dew disappears and instead
0080H07 of normal grains, purplish-brown, irregular structures are formed and
0090H07 these are two or three times longer than the healthy grains.
0100H07 $^At the time of threshing the sclerotia get mixed with the normal
0110H07 grains. ^When such seed is sown, the sclerotia find entry into the soil.
0120H07 ^Sclerotia are also known to_ survive in the soil. ^Sclerotia possibly
0130H07 serve as source of primary infection at the time of ear emergence.
0140H07 $^The sclerotia contain water-soluble alkaloids which are poisonous to
0150H07 human beings and cattle. ^The freshly formed sclerotia contain 1.0 per
0160H07 cent alkaloid and while 6-month-old ones contain 0.4 per cent
0170H07 (Sundaram, 1969). $*<*3CONTROL*0*> $1. Use of certified seed.
0200H07 $2. ^Soaking of seed in 10 per cent solution of common salt
0210H07 makes the sclerotia float on the surface. ^These sclerotia then
0220H07 can be removed mechanically (Nene and Singh, 1976). ^Seeds are removed
0230H07 from the solution washed in water, sun-dried, and then treated with
0240H07 Thiram or Agrosan \0GN (0.25 per cent). $3. ^A crop rotation giving
0250H07 a three-year break between two *4bajra crops reduces soil-borne inoculum.
0270H07 $4. ^A periodic ploughing of the field which had infected crop has
0280H07 been claimed to_ be effective in reducing infection in the succeeding
0290H07 crop (Kulkarni, 1967). $*<*3Green ear disease or downy mildew*0*>
0300H07 (*8Sclerospora granunicola (\0sacc.) Schroet*9*0>)$^This
0320H07 disease is quite common all over India. ^*Mitter and Tandon (1930)
0330H07 estimated the loss due to the disease at about 45 per cent while
0350H07 Chaudhari (1932) reported complete loss in case of severe infection. ^*Mathur
0370H07 and Dalela (1971) reported the loss in *4bajra yield in Rajasthan
0380H07 only to the tune of \0Rs. 23.37 millions in 1964.
0390H07 $^Two distinct symptoms are observed. ^The green ear symptoms involve
0400H07 malformation of the ear. ^The spikelets get transformed into leafy
0410H07 structures which are twisted in appearance. ^Usually the whole ear shows
0420H07 malformation, although partial deformity can also be seen. ^The downy
0430H07 mildew symptoms are seen on the leaves. ^The affected plants become
0440H07 pale-yellow and stunted. ^Leaves show chlorotic, parallel streaks. ^On the
0450H07 under surface of such leaves, the downy growth of the fungus can be
0460H07 seen. ^Later, the chlorotic streaks turn brown and there may be shredding
0470H07 of leaves.
0480H07 $^Seeds produced on the partially proliferated ears have been claimed
0490H07 to_ be an important source of perpetuation and annual recurrence of the
0500H07 disease (Arya and Sharma, 1962). ^It seems to_ be generally accepted
0510H07 that seeds carry oospores on their surfaces and these serve as source of
0520H07 primary infection in addition to oospores present in the soil from previous
0530H07 crop seasons (Nene and Singh, 1976). ^There is yet no acceptable
0540H07 evidence in favour of internal seed transmission. $*<CONTROL*> $1.
0550H07 Use of certified seed. $2. Crop rotation. $**<SUGARCANE**>
0590H07 $*<*3Whip smut (*3*8Ustilago scitaminea*9 \0*3Syd.)*>
0600H07 $^The whip smut is a well-known disease of sugarcane. ^The disease was
0610H07 first reported from India by Sydow and Butler in 1906.
0620H07 $^The characteristic symptoms of the smut are the production of a
0630H07 whip-like, sooty black shoot produced from the top of the affected plant.
0640H07 ^This whip-like shoot is several feet long and curved. ^In the
0650H07 beginning the shoot is covered by a white silvery membrane which later
0660H07 ruptures and releases the spores (Ajrekar, 1916). ^Affected plants normally
0670H07 produce thin canes. $^The fungus survives in the form of mycelium
0680H07 in the setts, ratooned stumps, and as spores on buds of the setts
0690H07 (Ajrekar, 1916; Chona, 1943). $*<*3CONTROL*0*> $1. ^Removing the whips
0710H07 carefully and burning them. $2. ^Selecting the setts from disease-free
0720H07 area.
0730H07 $3. Treatment of setts: ^Use of mercuric chloride solution (\01kg/1000
0740H07 litres) or a 6 per cent organo-mercurial (\0e.g. *7Aretan. \0etc.) at
0750H07 5 \0kg/1000 litres of water for dipping the setts for about 5 minutes
0760H07 gives excellent control of seed-borne infection. $4. ^Ratooning should
0780H07 not be done if incidence is fairly high in the main crop.
0800H07 $*<*3Red rot*0 (*3*8Colletotrichum falcatum*9*0 *3went*0)*>
0810H07 $^The red rot is one of the most serious problems in sugarcane cultivation.
0820H07 ^In 1939-40, it caused heavy losses (Chona and Padwick, 1942).
0830H07 $^The whole plant shows the symptoms. ^The leaves lose their colour and
0840H07 drop down. ^The entire tip of the plant may wither. ^Later on the canes
0850H07 are affected, which become shrivelled with narrow rind. ^Such canes if
0860H07 cut open, exhibit reddened pith with white bands of fibres. ^In severe
0870H07 infections the reddened pith turns to brown in colour. ^Juice of the affected
0880H07 canes gives a bad smell. ^On the rinds of affected canes, a few minute
0890H07 dots of fungus also appear (Singh and Singh, 1961; Chona and Sharma,
0900H07 1961) (fig. 7). $^The
0910H07 fungus survives in or on setts as well as in the soil. ^The setts obtained
0920H07 from the diseased plants carry the mycelium. ^The acervuli enable
0930H07 the fungus to_ survive on the surface of the setts. ^The fungus survives
0940H07 on the dead plant refuse in the soil (Chona, 1950; Padwick, 1940).
0950H07 $*<*3CONTROL*0*> $1. Growing recommended varieties and changing them
0960H07 every five years. $2. Selecting well-drained soil. $3. Selecting
0980H07 the setts from disease-free plants. $4. Avoid ratooning. $5. Following
1000H07 a three-year rotation with some other crop. $6. Destroying diseased
1020H07 plants. $7. Burning the trash of the crop after harvest. $*<*3Wilt*0
1030H07 (*3*8cephalosporium sacchari*9*0 *3Butler*0)*> $^The disease was first
1040H07 reported from India by Butler and Khan (1913). ^Occasionally the
1060H07 disease has caused heavy losses in several sugarcane-growing areas.
1070H07 $^Wilt is generally found associated with red rot and symptoms of wilt
1080H07 and red rot are more or less similar. ^Symptoms are generally visible
1090H07 when plants are about half-grown. ^Plants in groups become stunted and look
1110H07 pale. ^This is followed by a gradual withering of the cane. ^The canes
1120H07 become dry and thin. ^On splitting the canes, the reddening of the
1130H07 tissues of the pith is observed without any white bands which is the characteristic
1140H07 of the red rot. ^Affected canes give bad smell.
1150H07 $^The fungus survives as mycelium in the setts or in the plant refuse.
1160H07 ^The duration of survival has been shown to_ be between 27-31 months
1170H07 (Ganguly and Ramanujam, 1959). $*<*3CONTROL*0*>
1190H07 $^The control measures are similar to those given under red rot.
1200H07 $*<*3Grassy shoot and mosaic*0*> $^The
1210H07 disease was first reported from Bombay in 1949 (Vasudeva, 1955). ^It
1220H07 was described under different names, like 'chlorosis', 'new chlorotic disease',
1230H07 'albino', and 'yellowing disease'. ^*Singh and Singh (1963) reported
1240H07 that these maladies were identical with grassy shoot disease. ^This
1250H07 disease has been observed in a large number of sugarcane varieties.
1260H07 ^It has been seen to_ cause substantial reduction in the yield of sugarcane
1270H07 and sugar per acre as affected stools produce few millable canes (Singh
1280H07 and Shukla, 1967). ^It is feared that some of the varieties now under
1290H07 cultivation may have to_ be given up because of their susceptibility
1300H07 (Singh, 1968).
1310H07 $^The characteristic symptom of the disease is the production of a number
1320H07 of thin tillers from the base of the affected stools. ^These bunches produce
1330H07 pale-yellow or chlorotic, narrow, thin small leaves. ^There is
1340H07 also production of thin tillers from the bud sprouts. ^The disease is more
1350H07 severe on ratoon crop, and the slender tillers appear as perennial
1360H07 grass and gives a grassy shoot appearance. ^Seed material from diseased
1370H07 clumps when planted, generally gives rise to diseased plants. ^The harvesting
1380H07 knife could obviously be an important means of spreading the disease
1390H07 in the field (Chona \0*8et al*9., 1960).
1400H07 $^The disease is primarily transmitted through setts and is caused by a
1410H07 virus, (Evidence indicates that the cause might be mycoplasma, personal
1420H07 communication from \0Dr. Kishan Singh). ^Insect vectors and harvesting
1430H07 implements also cause secondary infection (Chona \0*8et al*9., 1960).
1450H07 ^There are three aphids known to_ spread the virus, \0viz. *8Aphis
1460H07 maidis, A idiosacchari*9 and *8A. sacchari*9. $^Another viral disease
1480H07 of sugarcane is mosaic. ^The disease is not considered to_ cause
1490H07 serious loss. ^Symptoms differ with the variety
1500H07 but generally the affected plants look pale with yellowish chlorotic
1510H07 areas (Dastur, 1923). ^The virus perpetuates through infected canes.
1520H07 ^The spread during the season is by the insect vector, *3Aphis maidis*0
1530H07 (Chona and Seth, 1958). $*<*3CONTROL*0*>
1550H07 $1. ^Use of reliable, disease-free seed.
1560H07 $2. ^Ratooning should be avoided if the incidence in main crop is high.
1570H07 $3. ^Control of aphid through fortnightly insecticide Endrin or Malathion
1580H07 (0.1 per cent) sprays (Singh, 1968).
1590H07 $4. Hot-air treatment: ^Canes are kept in hot air at 54*@ \0C.
1600H07 for 8 hours in an airtight chamber. ^This inactivates the virus. ^The
1610H07 treated material is then cut into setts with a sterilized knife and soaked
1620H07 in an aqueous solution of ethoxyethyl mercury chloride (0.003 per cent
1630H07 mercury) for 30 minutes. ^The treated material is planted immediately
1640H07 (Singh, 1968). $**<*3POTATO*0**>
1660H07 $*<*3Late blight*0 (*8Phytophthora infestans*9 (\0Mont.) deBary)*>
1670H07 $^The late blight is a very destructive disease in the hills as well as
1680H07 in the North-Indian plains. ^Since the damage is done to the tubers also,
1690H07 the losses may be complete. ^The famous Irish famine of 1845 was primarily
1700H07 because of the failure of the potato crop due to late blight. ^*Majid
1710H07 (1950) recorded a loss of potatoes in between 10-65 per cent which
1720H07 was more pronounced in the hilly regions of Assam. ^During 1965 to 1968,
1730H07 complete destruction of the crop in many fields was observed throughout
1740H07 the Brahmaputra Valley (Roy and Das, 1968).
1750H07 $^Symptoms first appear on leaves in the form of purplish black lesions
1760H07 which under cool and moist conditions spread rapidly on the plants as well
1770H07 as to the other plants. ^In the early morning whitish growth of the fungus
1780H07 can be observed on the lesions. ^The disease spreads to haulms and
1790H07 then to the tubers. ^If the affected tubers are cut, brownish lesions can
1800H07 be noticed. ^The rot continues in the storage
1801H07 and increases during the storage (Walker, 1957).
1810H07 $^The fungus mainly survives as mycelium in the infected tubers and the
1820H07 plant refuse (Melhus, 1915, Schultz, 1953). $*<*3CONTROL*0*>
1840H07 $1. Use of disease-free tubers.
1850H07 $2. ^Watching the crop carefully for the disease particularly if there are
1860H07 heavy rains followed by cloudy weather with slight indication of the
1870H07 disease. ^Spraying should be started with Zineb or Mancozeb
1871H07 (Maneb+zinc ion)
1880H07 at 0.2 per cent. ^The spray interval should be adjusted between
1890H07 7-14 days, the interval being shorter in case of wet weather. ^In all 4-6
1900H07 sprays are required. ^The under surface of the leaf must be covered well
1910H07 (Roy and Das, 1968; Choudhuri, 1954). ^In the hills Bordeaux mixture
1920H07 (5:5:50) is more effective than Zineb (Dutt, 1962).
1930H07 $^Destruction of the plant refuse helps in reducing the inoculum.
1940H07 *<*3black scurf*0 (*8Rhizoctonia solani*9 Kuhn)*> $^The
1950H07 black scurf is an important disease of potato and reduces the market
1960H07 value of the tubers considerably. ^It is observed extensively both in the
1970H07 hills as well as plains of India (Thirumalachar, 1953). ^The disease
1980H07 incidence is more when the soil is wet and the temperature is low during
1990H07 the first few weeks of planting (Sharma and Sohi, 1965). $^The
2000H07 symptoms may appear just after the planting of infected tubers. ^This
2010H07 may be pre-emergence wilt or appearance of the lesions on the aerial
2020H07 stem. ^These lesions are elongated, sunken and brown in colour, and may
2030H07 cause premature death of the plants. ^The fungus spreads through the soil
2040H07 to other tubers and the symptoms appear in the form of black sclerotia,
2050H07 irregular in shape, sticking to the surface. ^The sclerotia may coalesce
2060H07 to_ form bigger crust on the tuber surface. ^Affected plants may be
2070H07 stunted and pale in colour (Singh, 1964) (\0fig. 8).
2080H07 $^The fungus survives as sclerotia on the tuber surface. ^The sclerotia
2090H07 remain superficial without penetrating the tuber tissue (Thirumalachar,
2100H07 1953). $*<*3CONTROL*0*> $1. Planting of healthy tubers.
2130H07 $2. Tuber dipping for 5 minutes in a 3 per cent organo-mercurial suspension
2140H07 (0.25 per cent) before planting. $3. ^Soil
2150H07 treatment with \0PCNB (33.6 \0kg/\0ha) combined with tuber treatment
2160H07 with Aretan has been found effective (Sharma and Sohi, 1965).*#
        **[no. of words = 02016**]

        **[txt. h08**]
0010H08 *<2. INSTRUCTIONAL PROCESSES*> $^One
0020H08 of the most important aspects of quality improvement of education is improving
0030H08 the instructional processes in all its aspects. ^This involves
0040H08 various features such as recruitment, development and evaluation of the
0050H08 faculty; selection of students, identifying their needs, evaluating their
0060H08 performance and giving them adequate support services. ^The continuous
0070H08 revision and updating of the curriculum to_ meet the requirements of the
0080H08 ever expanding store of knowledge is yet another important aspect of
0090H08 the instructional process. $2.*<1 *3Faculty*> $^In
0110H08 discussing educational processes it is sometimes said that the student
0120H08 is more important than the teacher, and the teacher is more important
0130H08 than the curriculum. ^This may be true generally, but in the context of
0140H08 quality improvement it is the teacher who is at the focal point. ^Improvement
0150H08 and development of the faculty therefore, will have to_ receive top
0160H08 priority if a real and meaningful improvement in quality is to_ be achieved.
0170H08 $2.1.1. *3Recruitment
0180H08 (**=1) *3Qualification: ^Faculty recruitment should be
0190H08 based on precise job descriptions. ^The minimum qualifications necessary
0200H08 for recruitment of the various categories of teaching staff should be
0210H08 carefully drawn up. ^In doing this it should be borne in mind that both
0230H08 teaching and research abilities are required of a teacher;
0240H08 and for senior teaching positions, particularly in colleges, it must
0250H08 be ensured that the persons recruited possess both these abilities. $^It
0260H08 was noted that the minimum qualifications for recruitment have been
0280H08 laid down by \0UGC/\0AICTE. ^These are considered to_ be generally
0290H08 adequate. ^The only lacuna in these is the inadequate emphasis placed
0300H08 on industrial experience. ^The commitee recommends that in addition to
0310H08 the minimum academic qualifications already laid down, for all fresh recruitment
0320H08 at least one year*'s industrial experience should be considered
0321H08 essential
0330H08 for junior categories of teaching staff (\0i.e. Lecturers and below)
0340H08 and at least two years for all senior categories (\0i.e. \0Asstt. Professors
0350H08 and above). ^All educational institutions should be urged to_
0360H08 accept these additions to the list of essential qualifications. $(**=2)
0370H08 *3Selection Procedures: ^Regarding selection procedures, it was
0380H08 realised that several procedures are possible, each with its own advantages
0390H08 and disadvantages. ^While other methods of selection could be tried
0400H08 out in selected places, it was felt that the present method of screening,
0410H08 short-listing followed by a personal interview appears to_ be satisfactory
0420H08 and may be continued. ^However, whatever be the method of selection
0430H08 employed, the Committee recommends that all recruitment should be strictly
0440H08 on merit, by open competition, on an all India basis.
0441H08 $(**=3) *3Contract Employment
0450H08 ^One of the incentives for good performance and hard work at the
0460H08 Lecturer*'s and Assistant Professor*'s level is the fact that these
0470H08 categories of staff can aspire for promotions to the next higher category.
0480H08 ^However at the level of the Professor or the Head of an Institution
0490H08 such incentives no longer exist. ^Persons at this level have to_ be
0500H08 self-motivated; but unfortunately, not all persons at this level fall into
0510H08 this category. ^In order to_ ensure that the quality of work
0511H08 done by persons
0520H08 at higher levels continues to_ be good, the Committee recommends
0530H08 that all appointments to the post of Professors and Heads of Institutions
0540H08 should be on the basis of renewable contracts, for five years at a
0550H08 time. ^This would provide check points in the careers of such persons and
0560H08 ensure sustained high quality of output. $2.1.2 *3Faculty Development:
0570H08 ^Once a teacher is recruited, his planned development is
0580H08 the key-note to the building up of a dynamic faculty. ^This
0590H08 cannot be done on an *8ad-hoc*9 basis. ^The Committee recommends that
0600H08 planned, carefully organised faculty development programmes be considered
0610H08 as being absolutely essential to the improvement of quality and should
0620H08 be started in all educational institutions. ^Although this is primarily
0630H08 a managerial responsibility of the administration (\0i.e. of the Heads
0640H08 of Departments and Heads of Institutions), this important aspect is
0650H08 discussed here because considerable responsibility devolves on the faculty
0660H08 itself to_ respond to these programmes.
0661H08 $(**=1) *3Programmes for Higher Degrees:
0670H08 ^The need for teachers to_ acquire higher qualifications is justified
0680H08 from the point of view of both the beneficial impact this has on
0690H08 the teaching process and also the fulfilment of personal aspirations of
0700H08 the teachers. $(a) *3College Teachers: ^In the case of college
0710H08 teachers a master*'s degree has now been prescribed as minimum qualification
0720H08 required for
0730H08 initial recruitment at the Lecturer*'s level. ^Besides, it was noted that
0740H08 most existing faculty members at the College level already have the
0750H08 Master*'s degrees. ^The Committee, therefore, recommends that the provision
0760H08 for Master*'s degree training in the \0QIP should be rapidly
0770H08 phased out and in its place provision should be made for training an additional
0780H08 number of \0Ph.Ds.
0781H08 $^It is estimated that there are nearly 12,000 teachers at the college
0782H08 level. ^A large number of these teachers have yet to_ acquire the Doctor*'s
0783H08 degree. ^In view of this the Committee recommends that provision
0784H08 should be made under \0QIP to_ train at least 250 teachers per
0785H08 year for the \0Ph.D. degree. $(b) *3Polytechnic Teachers: ^For
0790H08 Polytechnic teachers, a Bachelor*'s degree has
0800H08 now been prescribed as the minimum qualification required for initial
0810H08 recruitment. ^It would be desirable, therefore, to_ ensure that the existing
0820H08 faculty also satisfy this norm. ^But it was noted that out of the
0830H08 10,000 or so Polytechnic teachers in the country a very large number are
0840H08 only Diploma holders. ^The Committee, therefore, recommends that selected
0850H08 Engineering Colleges should be requested to_ organise three-year
0860H08 courses to_ enable Diploma holders to_ get Bachelor*'s degrees. ^Institutions
0870H08 which agree to_ do so should be given full financial support.
0880H08 $^The acquiring of higher degrees by Polytechnic teachers would also have
0890H08 an important feed-back on the quality of the whole system of Polytechnic
0900H08 education. ^Since the existing Master*'s degree courses available
0910H08 in the country are not considered appropriate for Polytechnic teachers,
0920H08 the Committee recommends that one year Post-graduate Diploma Courses
0930H08 for Polytechnic teachers should be started in selected institutions.
0940H08 ^These should be primarily industry oriented courses; a few could also be
0950H08 in the fields of technical education and its management. ^They could be
0960H08 organised under the present \0QIP for Polytechnic teachers by providing
0970H08 an adequate number of fellowships for this purpose. $(**=2)
0980H08 *3Short-term Courses: ^In view of the rapid changes in technology
0990H08 the risks of teacher obsolescence are very high. ^It is essential, therefore,
1000H08 that every serving teacher should be provided with opportunities
1010H08 to_ renew and update his knowledge periodically. ^This may be achieved
1020H08 by deputing teachers to short-term courses organised in all parts of the
1030H08 country on a regular basis. ^At present such courses are being organised
1040H08 through agencies like \0ISTE and the various \0QIP Centres. ^There
1050H08 is a need for better coordination of the efforts of the various agencies
1060H08 conducting these short-term courses. ^It would be better if a single
1070H08 agency were made responsible for the organisation of these courses and
1080H08 their continuous monitoring to_ ensure that the resource utilization
1090H08 is optimum. ^The Committee recommends that a National Advisory Committee,
1100H08 consisting of representatives of Central and State Governments,
1220H08 \0QIP Coordinators and \0ISTE nominees should be set up for this
1130H08 purpose. $(**=3) *3Training in Education Technology: ^It is
1150H08 not enough for a teacher to_ know what he is required to_ teach; he
1151H08 should also be able to_ teach it well. ^A teacher must be well trained
1160H08 in all aspects of education technology; his pedagogical skills must be
1170H08 well developed. ^This is important for both College and Polytechnic teachers.
1180H08 ^The four \0TTTIs are already conducting courses on many aspects
1190H08 of education technology. ^The Committee recommends that these efforts
1200H08 of the \0TTTIs be strengthened and expanded. ^Provision should also
1210H08 be made to_ organise short-term courses for the pedagogical development
1220H08 of teachers. ^While all teachers should be encouraged to_ attend at
1230H08 least one such course during their careers, fresh entrants to the profession
1240H08 should be required to_ undergo some form of formal training in education
1250H08 technology soon after joining. $(**=4) *3Industrial Training:
1260H08 ^There is a wide-spread feeling in academic circles that the present
1270H08 industrial training programmes are not satisfactory. ^This is primarily
1280H08 because teachers who go for such training are not permitted to_ do any
1290H08 meaningful work in the industy; they are treated more as remote observers
1300H08 to what goes on in the organisation than as participants. ^For the industrial
1310H08 training to_ be more beneficial, the teacher trainees must be more
1320H08 actively engaged in the work of the industry so that they can have a
1330H08 first hand impression of the problems and procedures that_ persons in industry
1340H08 have to_ tackle. ^Such training programmes must, therefore, be carefully
1350H08 planned on an individual basis so that the best advantage accrues
1360H08 to both the teacher and the industry. $^The
1370H08 present provisions of the industrial training programmes permit a teacher
1380H08 to_ go to industry only for short periods. ^This is not adequate.
1390H08 ^The Committee recommends that industrial residencies of 12 months duration
1400H08 should be created with a provision for adequate additional payment
1410H08 to the teacher during the whole period of residency.
1420H08 $2.1.3 *3Staff Appraisal: ^Teacher evaluation is a very sensitive
1430H08 issue. ^The main reason for this is the fear that the results of the
1440H08 evaluation will be used to the disadvantage of the teachers by the administration.
1450H08 ^This fear can only be removed by proper motivation. $(**=1)
1460H08 *3Staff Appraisal Schemes: ^At present staff appraisal is done primarily
1470H08 for administrative purposes. ^The confidential reports prepared hardly
1480H08 represent profiles of the strengths and weaknesses of teachers. ^A
1490H08 scientific staff appraisal scheme should be established which is based
1500H08 on a methodology acceptable to the faculty. ^The results of such an appraisal
1510H08 are necessary for identifying the needs of staff development.
1520H08 $^The Committee feels that the successful implementation of scientific
1530H08 staff appraisal schemes is necessary for quality improvement. ^This work
1540H08 of appraisal should preferably not be done by a single individual; it
1550H08 is best done by a committee consisting of internal and/ or external experts
1560H08 as may be considered necessary by the institution concerned.
1570H08 $(**=2) *3Personal Promotion Schemes: there is a lot of discontentment
1580H08 among the existing bright young faculty members who have had to_ stay
1590H08 in the same category for long periods of time because there are no
1600H08 opportunities for promotion due to lack of vacancies at the higher levels.
1610H08 ^This problem is likely to_ become more acute in the future as more young
1620H08 teachers get employed at the highest levels. ^The Committee recommends
1630H08 that for such bright young faculty members personal promotion scheme
1640H08 should be initiated by which they could be promoted, even though no vacancies
1650H08 exist at the higher levels. ^Such promotions would be on a personal
1660H08 basis. ^Financial provision should be made such that approximately
1670H08 20% of the faculty members of each lower cadre could be considered for promotion
1680H08 to the next higher cadre. ^This would provide motivation for sustained
1690H08 good work. $*<2.2 *3Curriculum*>
1710H08 $^The curriculum should be one of the most important concerns of academic
1720H08 administration. ^In the context of improvement in the quality of education
1730H08 the importance of curriculum growth and development can hardly be
1740H08 over-emphasized. ^It is a continuous process and in many countries it
1750H08 is standard practice for educational institutions to_ have standing Curriculum
1760H08 Committees who look after this work. $2.2.1
1770H08 *3Curriculum Development: ^Curriculum development work is being
1780H08 done in our country in selected educational institutions: the \0QIP
1790H08 Centres for degree-level curricula and the \0TTTIs for diploma-level
1800H08 curricula. ^It was noted that although considerable work has been done
1810H08 with respect to diploma-level curriculum development, the progress made
1820H08 in the case of degree-level work is not the same. ^The main reason for
1830H08 this appears to_ be the fact that curriculum development is being interpreted
1840H08 differently by the different \0QIP centres working on it. ^The
1850H08 Committee recommends that continued support be given to the Curriculum
1860H08 Development Centres operating at the various institutions. ^Steps should
1870H08 also be taken for the coordination of the work being done at the various
1880H08 centres and for the dissemination of the information generated at
1890H08 these Centres to all the institutions of the country. $2.2.2. *3Laboratory
1900H08 work: ^Although laboratory work has a crucial and specific role
1910H08 to_ play in both degree-level and diploma-level engineering education,
1920H08 so far not much work has been done for the improvement of laboratory
1930H08 instruction.*#
        **[no. of words = 02015**]

        **[txt. h09**]
0010H09 **<RECONNOITORY HYDROGEOLOGICAL SURVEY IN AND AROUND 41 VILLAGES $IN
0020H09 FOREST AREA OF NIGHASAN TEHSIL, LAKHIMPUR KHERI DISTRICT $UTTAR PRADESH
0030H09 $(Field Season 11976-77)**> $*<ABSTRACT*> $^Reconnoitory hydrogeological
0040H09 survey was carried out around 41 villages dispersed
0050H09 in the forest area of North Kheri division, Nighasan tehsil,
0051H09 Lakhimpur Kheri district, Uttar Pradesh. ^The area of investigation
0052H09 is underlain by Gangetic alluvium of Quaternary age. ^It consists of clay,
0053H09 *4Kankar, sands of various grades, pebbles and boulders. ^Fortyone
0060H09 dug wells were inventoried. ^The depth to water ranged between 1.35 and
0070H09 9.77 metres below land surface and temperature of formation water varied
0080H09 from 19.0 to 24.5*@ \0C. ^The data of hand pumps were also collected.
0090H09 ^There are a few shallow tubewells (cavity type) and their depth varies
0100H09 from 10.67 to 24.38 metres below ground level. ^These tubewells tap
0110H09 water table aquifer and their yield ranges between 300 and 600 litres per
0120H09 minute. ^At places, boring has been done down to a depth of 45.72 metres
0130H09 and only hard clay was encountered. ^The nature of clay did not permit
0140H09 local people **[sic**] further boring. ^It is likely to_ encounter artesian
0150H09 conditions at depths in such areas after piercing through this impermeable
0160H09 stratum. ^However, systematic hydrogeological survey is required
0170H09 to_ select suitable sites and exploratory drilling may be carried out
0180H09 to_ ascertain potentiality of deeper aquifers.
0181H09 $^There is no problem of drinking water in the area. ^The ground water
0182H09 is slightly alkaline and moderately hard. ^The chloride contents are
0183H09 within the limits of drinking water supply standards. ^The irrigation
0190H09 largely depends upon monsoon. $*<*=1. INTRODUCTION*>
0200H09 $1. ^As per item no. A/*=3 under Part-*=1 of the Field Season Programme
0210H09 of Northern Region, Central Ground Water Board for 1976-77 reconnoitory
0220H09 hydrogeological survey was carried out around 41 villages despersed
0230H09 in the forest area of North Kheri Division, Nighasan tehsil,
0240H09 Lakhimpur Kheri district. ^Out of the 41 villages 37 are forest villages
0250H09 and the rest are revenue villages. ^Out of the 37 forest villages 14
0260H09 each are located in Sonaripur and Dudwa ranges and the remaining are
0270H09 in Bankati range. $^These
0280H09 villages have been included in Integral Tribal Area Development
0290H09 Project of Uttar Pradesh Government to_ improve the socio-economic
0300H09 conditions of the inhabitants of the area. ^The project has been formulated
0310H09 by Government of Uttar Pradesh in compliance of instructions issued
0320H09 by the Planning Commission of Government of India, \0DO. letter
0330H09 \0No. *(0PC/SW/11(85)(*=4)/72*) dated the 28th November, 1974.
0331H09 ^These villages
0340H09 are mainly populated by 'Tharus' and at places surrounded by
0350H09 forest (Appendix-*=1). '^*Tharu' caste is known as one of the Scheduled
0360H09 Tribes of the State. ^Being victims of past circumstances they have
0370H09 been leading a secluded life for ages. ^They were deprived of getting
0380H09 any opportunity of associating themselves with the civilized society. ^This
0390H09 resulted in a socio-cultural gulf between the tribals and non-tribals.
0400H09 ^They are still in a primitive stage of civilization. ^The objective
0410H09 of the project is to_ remove illiteracy, poverty and backwardness from
0420H09 the area. ^This may be achieved by opening educational institutions,
0421H09 projecting
0430H09 irrigation schemes, installing small-scale industries and markets
0440H09 and other infra-structural facilities. ^This would not only raise economic
0450H09 status of 'Tharus' but would also improve their quality of life by making
0460H09 available to them the benefits bestowed on humanity by the modern
0470H09 science. $2.
0480H09 ^As ground water availability in the area is one of the most important
0490H09 components in starting the above mentioned schemes, carrying out reconnoitory
0500H09 hydrogeological survey is imperative. ^The investigation was taken
0510H09 up between 21.12.1976 and 29.12.1976 with a view to_ study ground water
0520H09 resources of the area, its present exploitation and future scope for
0530H09 ground water development. ^A total of 41 dug wells were inventoried in detail
0540H09 Hydrogeological Data of hand pumps used for drinking purposes and
0550H09 a few shallow tubewells (cavity type) were collected. ^The water samples
0560H09 from dug wells, hand pumps, tubewells and streams draining the area
0570H09 were collected for partial chemical analysis.
0580H09 $3. ^The investigation was taken up under the supervision of \0Dr. *(0B.D*)
0590H09 Pathak, Director, Central Ground Water Board, Northern Region,
0600H09 Lucknow and the author gratefully acknowledges the guidance rendered
0610H09 by him. ^The author is also thankful to \0*4S/Shri *(0N.S.*) Chopra,
0620H09 District Magistrate, Lakhimpur Kheri, *(0R.L.*) Singh, Divisional
0630H09 Forest Officer of North Kheri Division and *(0N.N.*) Sharma,
0641H09 Project Officer, Harijan and Social Welfare, Palia Kalan, Lakhimpur
0650H09 Kheri district. $*<*=2. PHYSIOGRAPHY AND DRAINAGE*>
0670H09 $4. ^The major part of area of investigation (about 375 \0Sq. \0Kms) lies
0680H09 mainly in the forest area of North Kheri division, Nighasan tehsil
0690H09 Lakhimpur Kheri district. ^It lies between longitudes 80*@30*'5-81*@00*'5
0700H09 \0E and latitudes 28*@25*'5-28*@45*'5 \0N
0701H09 and falls in survey of India Toposheet \0Nos. 62D/10.
0710H09 14 and 15. ^The area is bounded in the north and north-east by Kingdom
0720H09 of Nepal separated by the river Mohan, in the south and south-east
0730H09 by Palia and Nighasan blocks of Lakhimpur Kheri district and in the
0740H09 west by Reserved Forest (Part of Dudwa National Park) and the Suheli
0750H09 river. ^The general slope of the area is towards south-east. ^There
0760H09 are no prominent eminences and the topographical features are governed
0770H09 by low river beds and the high banks which flank them on either side.
0780H09 the result is a series of fairly elevated plateaus, separated by streams
0790H09 flowing from north-west to south-east and each bordered by beds of
0800H09 varying width. ^The general ground elevation varies from 182.90
0810H09 \0m. in the extreme north along the river Mohan to 152.40 \0m. in the south-eastern
0820H09 corner along the river Suheli; a fall of 30 metres in about
0830H09 43 \0kms. ^The elevation of ground is 156.10 \0m. at \0Mohd. Allahuddin
0840H09 Ghauri Fort, 163.70 \0m. at Dudwa, 183.5 \0m at Gauri Ghat
0850H09 154.795 \0m. at Chandan Chauki and 144.145 \0m. at Ludaria well. $5.
0860H09 ^The major part of the area is drained by the river Mohan and the western
0870H09 and southern parts of the area are drained by the river Suheli. ^There
0880H09 are number of *4nalas, the main being Juraha and Bajahi. ^*Mohan
0890H09 river emerges from Nepal and enters into the area of investigation
0900H09 near Gauri Phanta village. ^It flows along northern, north-eastern and
0910H09 south-eastern borders of the area and joins Ghagra river. ^Initially
0920H09 it emerges as a small stream but after receiving number of tributaries namely
0930H09 Andhra, Khutia, Ghurra and Kandara, it flattens and possesses
0940H09 wider course. ^In Tehri block it is seen as a matured river with steep
0950H09 banks and a well-defined bed. ^It has a broad meandering course in the entire
0960H09 area of investigation. ^Sandy soil is deposited on either side of
0970H09 banks and fine to coarse sands are found in its bed. $6.
0980H09 ^The Suheli (or Sarju) river also emerges from Nepal and enters into
0990H09 the area in north-west. ^It flows with a very irregular course more or
1000H09 less along south-west of North Kheri division and has its confluence with
1010H09 Ghagra. ^It has an average width of about 12 metres but the depth
1020H09 is very little. ^The current is found sluggish in this river. ^It is fed
1030H09 by several tributaries most of which flow down from higher land on the
1040H09 north draining the central depression of the forest tract. ^On both sides
1050H09 of the river there are numerous channels and water courses which formerly
1060H09 contained its bulk of water. ^This river is believed to_ have, at one
1070H09 time, been joining the Sarda, but its present confluence with Ghagra
1080H09 has assumed a permanent character.
1090H09 $7. ^Besides the above rivers, the area is also drained by number of *4nalas,
1100H09 which are ephemeral. ^In the extreme north is Chhawa *4nala which
1110H09 has got wider course in the south and known as Bajahi *4nala. ^*Bajahi
1111H09 *4nala joins Jauraha *4nala at about 3.5 \0kms.
1120H09 south-south-west of Masan Khanb village. ^*Jauraha
1130H09 *4nala emerges at 1.5 \0kms. south of Chhedia village and is fed by number
1140H09 of *4nalas, in south-east. ^It is the widest *4nala and at places current
1150H09 in its water was observed during the course of investigation. ^Its
1160H09 major course falls in thick forest of the area. ^It gets flow in water
1170H09 when Bhola and other minor *4nalas, join it in the south-east. ^Ultimately
1180H09 it joins Suheli river in the further south-east. $8.
1190H09 ^There are a few perennial tanks ('*4tals'), the main being Media Tal,
1200H09 Mankanha Tal, Ranwas Tal, Mahadeva Tal and Sonai Tal. ^These taanks
1210H09 are located in the Doab between the rivers Mohan and Suheli. ^At
1220H09 one time all the country between the rivers Suheli and Mohan was a level
1230H09 high land but it was lowered by the action of central drainage channels.
1240H09 ^In the extreme north near Kajaria there is a large stretch of
1250H09 high ground which extends into Nepal. $9. *3Communications:
1260H09 ^The area is approachable through Dudwa range (10 \0km east of
1270H09 Palia Kalan) and through Bellraien range. ^There are only two
1280H09 tarred roads. ^One of these roads, starting from Palia Kalan, goes to
1290H09 Gauri Phanta via Dudwa and the other connects Dudwa with Chandan Chauki.
1300H09 ^*Gauri Phanta village is located near the boundary between India
1310H09 and Kingdom of Nepal. ^There is another long road (Bardia road) but
1320H09 it is all through *4Kuchcha and is maintained by Forest Department.
1330H09 ^It runs from Gauri Phanta to Chandan Chauki and connects Bellraien
1340H09 after touching Bela Persua. ^The major part of the area is covered
1350H09 by a network of forest roads and some of them are not jeepable. ^The
1360H09 area remains inaccessible during monsoon and the area can be approached
1370H09 by motorable road during fair weather (November to middle June). ^There
1380H09 is also a railway line which runs from Gauri Phanta and connects Bellraien
1390H09 via Dudwa and Sonaripur forest ranges.
1400H09 *<*=3. *3CLIMATE AND RAINFALL*0*> $10.
1410H09 ^The climate of the area is very unhealthy. ^Malaria is endemic and from
1420H09 time to time outbreaks of cholera occur. ^The most unhealthy months
1430H09 are August, September and October. ^In the summer months water is often
1440H09 tainted and liable to_ cause illness. ^The inhabitants ascribe the prevalence
1450H09 of fever and the resultant bowel complaints and **[sic**]
1451H09 in a large measure
1460H09 to the liquid bitumin which floats on the surface water on being kept
1470H09 for few minutes at places. ^The summer begins from 15th March and ends
1480H09 by 15th June, rainy season from 15th June to 15th October and cold
1490H09 weather from 15th October to 15th March. ^Frost frequently occurs in Phantas
1500H09 and is often severe. ^Inside the forests frosts are uncommon. ^The
1510H09 prevailing winds are westerly and they begin to_ increase in March
1520H09 and usually blow strongly in April and May, becoming excessively hot till
1530H09 monsoon outbursts. ^During the rains the low-lying areas and particularly
1540H09 south-eastern part of the area remain in state of flood and the
1550H09 area becomes accessible only in the end of November. $11. ^The rainfall
1560H09 of the area is high. ^The average rainfall in Bankati
1570H09 (7 years), Dudwa (5 years), Sonaripur (7 years) and Bellraien
1580H09 (16 years) Forest Ranges is 190.22 \0cms., 159.87 \0cms., 159.84 \0cms.
1590H09 and 136.98 \0cms. respectively. ^The daily and monthly figures of rainfall
1600H09 were not available. ^Most of the precipitation occurs between June
1610H09 and September and accounts for about 90% of the total rainfall.
1620H09 *<*=4. SURFACE WATER*> $12. ^*Mohan river, which is perennial
1630H09 in nature, forms the northern boundary
1640H09 of the area surveyed and also constitutes the International Boundary
1650H09 with Nepal. ^*Suheli river, Jauraha, Bajahi and Chhawa *4nalas, are
1660H09 the other principal drainage features in the area. $13.
1670H09 ^The discharge of Mohan river was measured at three places, \0viz.,
1680H09 at Gauri Phanta (near the road bridge) in the upstream section, near
1690H09 Najhota village downstream of above and near Gol Bojhi village further
1700H09 downstream. ^The discharge figures are given below:
1710H09 $**=1) At Gauri Phanta (near road bridge): 7110 \0M*;3**;/\0hr
1720H09 $**=2) At Najhota: 15458 \0M*;3**;/\0hr
1730H09 $**=3) At Gol Bojhi: 19246 \0M*;3**;/\0hr
1740H09 $14. ^It will be seen from the above that the discharge of Mohan river
1750H09 increases as one proceeds downstream. ^This may be due to one or both of
1760H09 the following factors:
1770H09 $**=1) ^Flow from tributaries emerges from territory of Nepal
1780H09 $**=2) ^Sub-surface flow from ground water body (base flow components)
1790H09 $15. ^In order to_ ascertain the effluent nature of this river it will
1800H09 be essential to_ draw water table contours. ^As the scope of survey was
1810H09 only of a reconnoitory nature reduced levels of wells inventoried could
1820H09 not be determined.*#
        **[no. of words = 02016**]

        **[txt. h10**]
0010H10 *<*3*=2. PHYSIOGRAPHY AND CLIMATE*>
0020H10 ^The area is characterised by typical desert topography comprising various
0030H10 types of sand dunes and insignificant development of drainage. ^The
0040H10 maximum height of sand dunes in the area is about 20 \0m. above general
0050H10 land surface. ^Most of these are of stable type and trend *(0NE-SW.*)
0060H10 ^A majority of the villages are located in the inter-dunal depressions
0070H10 which form the level plains of the area.
0080H10 $^The area experiences semi-arid type of climate with severe summers and
0090H10 winters and low rainfall. ^The lowest and highest temperatures in the
0091H10 area range from zero degree centigrade to 46*@\0C. ^The normal
0100H10 annual rainfall of the area as recorded at Taranagar and Rajgarh respectively
0110H10 for the past 25 years (1949 to 1973) is 30.2. and 34.2 \0cm.
0120H10 ^Data of 25 years indicate that Rajgarh is not as frequently confronted
0130H10 with water scarcity problem as Taranagar is.
0140H10 *<*=3. *3GEOLOGY*0*>
0150H10 $^The area is occupied by Quaternary aeolian deposits comprising straw
0160H10 yellow to brown coloured, very fine to medium grained sand and clay and
0170H10 *4kankar. ^These are underlain by the older formations like granite gneisses
0171H10 and consolidated sedimentary rocks. ^The granite-gneisses
0180H10 possibly belongs to Erinpura or Jalore suite of igneous rocks of
0190H10 the post Delhi period. ^The age of the consolidated sedimentary rocks
0200H10 comprising medium to fine grained sandstones of purple to reddish brown
0210H10 shades, might belong to Vindhyan or later period.
0220H10 $^The thickness of the Quaternary formations in the area ranges from
0230H10 66.39 \0m. at Dhiruwas to 116.05 \0m. at Rajgarh. ^From the available
0240H10 lithologs of the various boreholes drilled in the area by the erstwhile
0250H10 *(0E.T.O., CG*/B*) and the Rajasthan Ground Water \0Deptt. it
0260H10 is observed that the granite-gneisses basement has been touched at 90.52
0270H10 \0m. depth at Changoti at 76 \0m. at Dudwa khera and at about 116. \0m.
0280H10 depth at Rajgarh. ^From the strata logs of various boreholes in the
0290H10 area a geological section was prepared. $*<*=4. *3GROUND WATER*0*>
0310H10 $*<*3Occurrence.*0*> $^Ground
0320H10 water in the area occurs mostly under water table conditions in the
0330H10 alluvium. ^However, in the south-eastern part of the area evidence of
0340H10 feeble confined conditions have been noted. ^The Quaternary sediments
0350H10 comprising sand, sandy clay and gravel composed of *4kankar and quartz
0360H10 pebbles as well as pieces of granite gneiss and sometimes pegmatites constitute
0370H10 a single and almost homogeneous aquifer in the area. ^This aquifer
0380H10 is interbedded with thin and impersistent beds of plastic to semi-plastic
0390H10 yellowish clay at many places. ^In the area around Changoti the
0400H10 clay beds have given rise to feeble confined condition to the groundwater
0410H10 in the underlying granular zones. ^Occurrence of ground water under perched
0420H10 conditions has also been observed in this area.
0430H10 $^During the course of the present study 107 wells were inventoried. ^Their
0440H10 data is given in Appendix-*=1. ^These wells include open wells, tubewells
0450H10 and dug-cum-bored wells. ^The depth to water in this area ranges
0460H10 from 6 \0m. at Bhanin to 51 \0m.b.g.l. at Tirpali Bari. ^The following
0470H10 table shows the number and percentage of wells in different depth to
0480H10 water ranges in the area surveyed. **[table**] $^From the table it is
0490H10 seen that in 68% of the wells examined the depth to water
0500H10 ranges between 20 and 40 meters. ^Plate-*=1 shows the depth to water
0510H10 table in the area. ^It is observed that in general the various
0520H10 depth to water zones are roughly aligned in a *(0NE-SW*) direction.
0530H10 ^With the deepest zone in the extreme \0SE corner the depth to water gradually
0540H10 gets shallower towards north-west upto Bhamin where the water
0550H10 table is being less than 10 \0m.b.g.l. ^Further westwards the depth to water
0560H10 becomes deeper and ranges between 10 and 40 meters \0b.g.l. ^Isolated
0570H10 patches of deep or shallow zones are not uncommon within different depth
0580H10 to water ranges. $^The
0590H10 thickness of the alluvial aquifer material as recorded in the boreholes
0600H10 varies between 24 \0m. at Taranagar to 150 \0m. at Sahwa. ^In general
0610H10 the thickness appears to_ increase in the north-western part.
0620H10 $*<*3Yield of Wells:*0*>
0630H10 $^Yields of a majority of the wells in the area was found to_ be meagre.
0640H10 ^In the following paragraphs the yields of different types of wells are
0650H10 described: $a) Shallow dug wells: ^As a rule the shallow dug wells tap
0660H10 the perched water bodies only. ^Their daily yield does not exceed 1000
0670H10 litres. ^They mostly dry up in summer. ^They are always unlined.
0690H10 $b) Open wells tapping main groundwater body:
0700H10 ^These are lined. ^Their yields vary from 30,000 to 50,000 litres per
0710H10 day. ^Exceptional yields of upto 1.5 *4lakh litres per day have also been
0720H10 observed. ^Very few open wells are fitted with pumping sets. ^The yields
0730H10 in a few such wells were observed and reported to_ vary from 90 to 350
0740H10 litres per minute for mostly intermittent pumping from 1 to 12 hours.
0750H10 $c) Dug-cum-bored wells: ^Only three dug-cum-bored wells were observed
0760H10 at Taranagar. ^They are about 45 metres deep. ^As per \0P.H.E.D. which
0770H10 owns these wells their tested yield is about 205 litres/ minute for
0780H10 drawdowns of three to ten metres. ^Their cumulative yield is 4.5 *4lakh
0790H10 litres per day.
0810H10 $d) Tubewells: ^Tubewells are observed only at Rajgarh and Changoti.
0820H10 ^Erstwhile \0E.T.O. had constructed five tubewells at Rajgarh in the
0830H10 depth range of 65 to 100 metres. ^Their tested yields were 240 to 430
0840H10 \0l.p.m. for 5 to 6 metres of drawdown. ^Recently at Changoti, 25 \0km.
0850H10 south of Rajgarh eight tubewells have been constructed in the depth range
0860H10 of 110 to 118 metres. ^Their yields vary from 1,500 to 36,500 litres/
0870H10 hour for drawdowns of 3.5 to 12 metres.
0880H10 $<*3Chemical quality of groundwater:*0*> $^To_
0890H10 determine the chemical quality of groundwater, water samples from open
0900H10 wells, dug-cum-bored wells and tubewells, 87 wells were analysed at
0920H10 the Regional Chemical Laboratory of the Western Region of \0C.G.W.B.
0930H10 at Jaipur. ^The results are given in Appendix-*=2.
0940H10 $^A perusal of the analytical data indicates that the p*:h**: of the groundwater
0950H10 in the area ranges from 7.1 to 8.4 indicating that it is
0960H10 alkaline in reaction.
0970H10 $^The specific conductance could not be determined in all the samples.
0980H10 ^However, in 51 samples it was observed to_ range from 840 to 19,444 micromhos/\0cm
0990H10 at 250*@\0C. ^Excepting two samples where its value
1000H10 was 840 and 1966, all the samples have \0E.C. values higher than
1010H10 2000. ^This is indicative in general of higher mineralisation in the
1020H10 ground water in the area.
1030H10 $^Sodium concentration in the groundwater of the area is pronounced. ^In
1031H10 a majority of the samples it is more than 500 \0ppm with a general range
1040H10 of 42 to 2870 \0ppm. ^Magnesium and Calcium content in the ground
1050H10 water ranges from 12 to 409 \0ppm. and 9 to 820 \0ppm. respectively. $^The
1060H10 chloride content in the ground water varies from 21 to 9992 \0ppm.
1070H10 ^The isochlor map (plate-*=2) shows areas with different chloride content
1080H10 in the ground water. ^Sulphate content ranges from 17 to 643 \0ppm. ^In
1090H10 a majority of the samples it is over 200 \0ppm. giving rise to bitter
1091H10 taste to the
1100H10 groundwater. ^Carbonates are present only in five samples and range from
1110H10 24 to 132 \0ppm. ^The bicarbonates vary from 141 to 2203 \0ppm. ^Total
1120H10 hardness expressed as \0CaCo*;3**; ranges from 100 to 4400 \0ppm.
1121H10 ^In the majority of samples it is more than 500 \0ppm indicating
1130H10 that the ground water in this area is hard to extremely hard.
1140H10 $^It is inferred from table-3 that the resources of normal, fresh and
1150H10 potable water is very little in the area. ^It constitutes only about 25
1160H10 percent of the total groundwater reserves. ^The rest 75 percent of the
1170H10 groundwater is brackish to very saline. ^Since there is great dearth of
1180H10 potable water the brackish water having 500 to 1000 \0ppm. of chlorides
1190H10 can be used. ^Such waters are found in about 10 percent of the wells the
1200H10 water of which was analysed. ^For the same reason,
1250H10 highly brackish waters containing about 1000 to 1500 \0ppm. of chlorides
1260H10 and found in about 10 percent of the wells analysed may also be
1270H10 used only locally if alternative source is not provided.
1280H10 $^The fresh groundwater, containing chlorides only upto 250 \0ppm. occurs
1290H10 in and around (**=1) Galar and Tambakheri in the extreme north-eastern
1291H10 parts; (**=2) Mothwa and Phalau in the north-western parts (**=3)
1300H10 Sathon in the south-western parts and (**=4) Rampura Ka Bas in
1310H10 the south-eastern parts of the area. ^As regards the waters having chlorides
1320H10 between 250 and 500 \0ppm. it mainly occurs in the south-eastern parts
1330H10 at Naorangpura, Janao Mithi, Changoti, Tirpali Bari, Besli, Sangarwan
1340H10 Balan, Bairasar Chhota and Sankhu villages. ^Minor pockets
1350H10 have been observed also at Cothan Khurd 20 \0km. north-east of Rajgarh
1360H10 at Jhothra and Deogarhia about 20 and 25 \0km. north and \0NNE
1370H10 of Taranagar respectively; at Rajpura about 20 \0km. south-east of Taranagar
1371H10 in the south-western parts and at Hanpura in the
1380H10 Central parts of the area.
1390H10 $^Salinity of the groundwater at some places was reported by the local
1400H10 populace to_ increase at depths. ^This report seems corroborated by the
1410H10 following:-- (**=1) a shallow groundwater sample from the open well \0No.
1420H10 44P-2B13 at Rajgarh was analysed and found to_ contain only 71 \0ppm.
1430H10 of chloride while the chloride content was found to_ be as much as
1440H10 2584 in the deeper groundwater occurring in an agricultural, dug-cum-bored
1450H10 well \0No. 44P-2B14 situated hardly 300 metres to the north-west.
1460H10 (**=2) ^The shallow groundwater in the dug well \0No. 44P-2B1, 13 and
1461H10 18 at
1470H10 Rajgarh was found to_ be fresh, but the water samples collected from two
1480H10 tubewells (44P-2B15, 16) situated about 1 \0km. north of these open
1490H10 wells were found to_ contain 1577 and 1129 \0ppm of chloride respectively.
1500H10 (**=3) ^The dug well water sample \0No 44P-3C4 collected from Changoti
1501H10 contained 415 \0ppm of chloride which have been found ranging from
1510H10 440 to 730 \0ppm in the water of the tubewells existing close to the open
1520H10 well. $^A quality hazard seems to_ be due to the presence of undesirable
1540H10 higher concentrations of fluorides (over 1.5 \0ppm.) in the water. ^The
1550H10 local \0P.H.E.D. officials collected in 1973 water samples from
1560H10 150 open wells located in different villages of Rajgarh and Taranagar
1570H10 *4Tehsils. ^Out of this, 50 water samples were found to_ contain fluorides
1580H10 between 1.5 and 23.5 \0ppm. ^The maximum value of 23.5 \0ppm was found
1590H10 at Dhani Chhoti which is about 6 \0km. \0NW of Rajgarh. ^Out of
1600H10 the 50 open wells at least 22 wells are located within investigated area.
1601H10 ^In the remaining 100 samples the fluorides ranged from traces to 1.5
1610H10 \0ppm. ^Drinking of water having more than 15 \0ppm of fluorides is
1620H10 said to_ cause dental as well as skeleton forms of fluorosis. ^The latter
1630H10 kind of fluorosis makes a person disabled on a permanent basis. $^In
1640H10 a majority \0i.e. 24 of the total 31 villages the concentrations of
1650H10 fluorides and chlorides in the groundwater are very high, being between
1660H10 1.6 & 11 \0ppm. and 1890 & 14740 respectively. ^Enquiries made in the field
1670H10 during the course of the present investigation, revealed that the
1680H10 waters from the 24 wells are never drunk because of their saline nature.
1681H10 **[table**] *<*=5. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS*>
1690H10 $^The ground water in the greater part of the area investigated occurs
1700H10 generally under water table conditions and locally under very feebly confined
1710H10 conditions in sand and soft sandstones. ^There are a few perched
1720H10 water bodies in the western parts. ^The granite gneiss, intruded by pegmatites
1730H10 forms aquifer locally and basement for the sediments. ^Although the
1740H10 thickness of sediments penetrated in the boreholes varies from 42 \0m
1750H10 (Taranagar) to 197 \0m (Dhiruwas), the thickness of saturated sediments
1760H10 varies between 2.4 \0m (Taranagar) to 150 \0m at Sahawa.
1770H10 ^Thickness of the aquifer increases from \0SE to \0NW.
1780H10 $^The depth to water table varies from 6.15 \0m in the northwest to
1790H10 5.05 \0m in the south-eastern parts; but in a majority (68 percent)
1800H10 of the 107 canvassed wells the water table was found resting at depths
1810H10 of 20 to 40 metres below the land surface.
1820H10 $^The perched water bodies are shallow and yield at the rate of 500 to
1830H10 1000 litres of fresh water per day per well.*#
        **[no. of words = 02002**]

        **[txt. h11**]
0010H11 ^There is virtually no difference between a Ho house of traditional villlage
0020H11 and that_ of industrial village. ^The house of an industrial worker
0030H11 does not differ also from that_ of an agriculturist. ^An industrial worker
0050H11 of the industrial village lives in his house in which he lived before
0060H11 joining the industry. ^Even if he constructs a new house it does not
0070H11 differ in type or style from the traditional one. ^The size varies according
0071H11 to economic
0080H11 status irrespective of occupation. ^Only, it appears that a house belonging
0090H11 to an industrial worker is well maintained; its mud walls are
0100H11 properly plastered and roof leaks are repaired in appropriate time. ^Another
0110H11 conspicuous point concerning the house of an industrial worker is
0120H11 the colour of the outer walls. ^Most of the houses which have white paint
0130H11 on outside walls, belong to the industrial workers. ^It is perhaps
0140H11 due to some association with the factory colony where buildings and quarters
0150H11 have white paints of lime. ^Even in the traditional village, a person
0160H11 who is more acculturated uses whitewash for the walls.
0170H11 $^Domestic articles or equipments like agricultural implements, a few earthen
0180H11 vessels for preparation and storing of rice-beer, cooking utensils,
0190H11 bamboo baskets, brooms made of a type of grass called *4Jono, one
0200H11 or two cots made of wood and rope of *4Sawai grass used as beds as well
0210H11 as for sitting, wooden measures like *4Poila *4Topa mats, or *4Jati
0220H11 made of a type of grass called *4Kita \0etc., are found both in the
0230H11 houses of agriculturists as well as the industrial workers.
0240H11 $^As the industrial workers who live in the village are also farm workers
0250H11 and their material life style is not much different from the agriculturists,
0260H11 their household commodities also reflect the same picture. ^However,
0270H11 a few special articles have entered the house of an industrial worker
0280H11 and these are to some extent conspicuous. ^One or two wooden chairs, a
0290H11 wooden table, a bicycle and a transistor radio are commonly met within
0300H11 a house of an industrial worker. ^A worker who has put up 25 years service
0310H11 in the factory, receives in kind \0Rs. 150 and his one month*'s basic
0320H11 pay in cash as a token of compliment. ^The management asks for the choice
0330H11 of the worker before purchasing the present worth \0Rs. 150 and
0340H11 in most cases the choice is for a bicycle or a transistor radio. ^In a few
0350H11 cases the workers purchase bullocks for agriculture by adding some money
0360H11 from their own account with the prescribed sum. ^To_ have a transistor
0370H11 is a status and prestige issue particularly among the young men. ^A
0380H11 Ho Employee of the *(0C.C.W.*) who completed 25 years of service was
0390H11 implored by his sons to_ get a transistor radio with the compliment money.
0400H11 ^Instead he gave his choice for a bicycle. ^The Ho Father remarked,
0410H11 'I had told them (sons) to_ purchase radio by themselves when they
0420H11 earned. ^Cycle was a necessity for me and so it was my choice.'
0430H11 $^The Ho industrial workers who live in the township possess
0440H11 similar luxury and domestic articles as are owned by other non-tribal workers
0450H11 of the same level. $*<*3FOOD HABIT*0*>
0470H11 $^In a traditional village like Kokcho, the intake of food by the Ho
0480H11 starts with the breakfast or *5*3Setarea Basium*0*6 it consists of *4*3Diang*0
0481H11 or home-made rice-beer or *4*3Basium*0 (soaked rice kept overnight).
0490H11 ^When the breakfast is composed of rice-beer, some boiled pulses
0500H11 kept overnight are also taken along with it. ^Some left over green
0510H11 leaves or vegetables which were prepared in the previous night are taken
0520H11 with soaked rice. ^These items form the breakfast both in the summer and
0530H11 the winter. ^During the summer when the vegetables cannot be kept overnight
0540H11 for fear of decomposition, a little of the same is prepared in the
0550H11 early morning to_ be taken with the soaked rice. ^Those who go out in the
0560H11 field early in the morning for ploughing, take breakfast in the field
0580H11 which is carried over there by his wife. ^During sowing and harvesting,
0581H11 they go to the fields after taking the breakfast at about 5-30 \0A.M.
0590H11 ^The lunch, *5Muli Singi*6 or *5Tikine Mandi*6 also consists
0600H11 of the same soaked rice and vegetables kept overnight. ^During winter,
0610H11 fresh lunch is cooked in a few families, particularly in the well-to-do
0620H11 families. ^Those who go out for ploughing, return home at about 12 noon
0630H11 and lunch between 12 noon to 1 \0PM. ^During sowing and harvesting, lunch
0640H11 is taken in the field usually. ^In the afternoon nothing is taken generally;
0650H11 if there is rice-beer in the house, one or two *4Matlas (earthen
0660H11 measure for rice-beer) are consumed. ^The dinner, called *5Nide Mandi*6
0670H11 or *4Aiyuppang is taken around 8 o*'3clock at night. ^It consists
0680H11 of fresh cooked rice, pulses, green leaves or vegetables. ^Fish and
0690H11 meat come in the menu casually and usually on the market-days. ^Egg is
0700H11 also a rare item, as it is usually sold in the market for cash. ^There
0710H11 is little variation in the food items and if there is any, it is seasonal.
0720H11 ^Most of the items are grown in the fields or kitchen garden. ^Food is
0730H11 usually cooked only once in the evening by the housewife. ^Cooking medium
0750H11 is mustard oil.
0760H11 $^During ceremonial occasions like marriage, name giving ceremony or *4Ekiosla,
0770H11 hot rice, pulses, vegetables and meat of sheep, goat or fowl
0780H11 compose the menu. ^Rice-beer is a common item. ^During funeral feast
0790H11 or *4Sabsih, the same food is served. ^On festive occasions like *5Henro
0800H11 Porar,*6 *5Makar Sankranti,*6 \0etc. *4^*Lad is prepared of rice
0810H11 powder. ^Rice powder is mixed with water and molasses and then kneaded
0820H11 into a dough. ^Round pieces are made out that_ dough and then boiled
0830H11 wrapped in leaves, or simply fried in oil. ^During *4Jamnama, chapped
0840H11 rice or *4Taben is prepared and taken. ^Meat of fowl or goat is an
0850H11 essential item of food on festive occasions. ^There is no special food
0860H11 during pregnancy or after childbirth. ^But rice-beer and soaked rice are
0870H11 not given to the mother for about two weeks after childbirth.
0880H11 $^After preparation of the meal, the housewife puts a little of each
0890H11 food item on a leaf kept at one corner of the *4Ading or kitchen. ^This
0900H11 is an offering to the ancestors and the deity *3Dessauli. ^This offering
0910H11 is called *5Ham Ho*6. ^In some houses, there are raised earthen
0920H11 surface of about a foot high in the kitchen where people sit to_ take
0930H11 meal. ^This raised surface is called *4Dipai. ^A wooden seat called
0940H11 *4Ganduh is used for sitting during
0950H11 taking meal. ^The housewife does not have any special cloth which
0960H11 she wears during cooking, nor does she take bath. ^She simply washes her
0970H11 hands and feet and enters the *4Ading. *4^*Ading is considered as a
1050H11 sacred place and intrusion into the same by an outsider is not allowed
1060H11 $^In an industrial village like Jorapokhar, the food habits of the Ho
1070H11 are virtually same as has been described above. ^There is not much difference
1080H11 in food habits between the agriculturists and the industrial workers.
1090H11 ^But a worker who has average land holding in the village is economically
1100H11 well off than an average agriculturist and his proportionate expenditure
1110H11 on food is more than that_ of the latter. ^He takes meat and fish
1120H11 more frequently than an agriculturist. ^His lunch is cooked fresh in the
1130H11 morning during winter. ^Stock of some rice-beer for home consumption can
1140H11 almost always be met within his house. '^Economic position of a Ho
1150H11 can be determined by the stock of rice-beer in the house'-- this is a common
1160H11 saying among the Ho. ^Habit of drinking tea is more among the industrial
1170H11 workers than that_ among the agriculturists. ^In the industrial
1180H11 village, a number of Hos, whether an agriculturist or an industrial worker,
1190H11 have started taking *4*3Roti*0 made of wheat flour at night and at
1200H11 breakfast.
1210H11 $^The women workers take *4Basium in the morning and also carry the same
1220H11 in aluminium carriers for lunch. ^During winter, she cooks rice and
1230H11 vegetables early in the morning and carries with her. ^For a worker who
1240H11 goes out for duty in the morning, the housewife prepares the meal early
1250H11 in the morning which he carries in carrier for lunch.
1260H11 *<*3CLOTHING*0*> $^In an
1270H11 industrial village like Jorapokhar where both the farmers and the
1280H11 industrial workers live side by side, it is difficult to_ distinguish
1290H11 industrial and farm individuals by dress or costume. ^But during factory
1300H11 hours when a man or a woman worker goes out for duty, he or she is easily
1310H11 distinguishable by the factory costume. ^Male workers get two pairs
1320H11 of *4khaki trousers and shirts a year which form their working costume.
1330H11 ^Women workers also get a pair of blue linen per year which they wear while
1340H11 going to factory site. ^These costumes are given to the workers by the
1360H11 *(0C.C.W.*) free of cost. ^Those who operate heavy engines like the
1370H11 Euclid or shovel, have to_ wear steel helmets supplied by the *(0C.C.W.*)
1380H11 ^In a number of local markets, the Ho workers were found moving
1390H11 about fully donned with their factory costumes and steel helmets to_ make
1400H11 them distinguished. ^Factory women wear sandals more frequently than
1410H11 do farmers*' wives; and similarly male industrial workers use trousers and
1420H11 shoes or foot-gear more often than their farm counterpart. ^But there
1430H11 is considerable overlap between the dress of the agriculturists and industrial
1440H11 workers and the latter do not stand out in this respect.
1450H11 $^*Women*'s lower garment consists of a white cloth with a border of
1460H11 about 10 cubits in length which is known as *5Peai Sari*6 and is made
1470H11 by local weavers. ^Under the *4Sari a small piece of chequered or
1480H11 white cloth of 3.5 cubits in length is worn. ^This is known as *5Peai
1490H11 Gamcha*6 or *4Langa which is wrapped round the waist. ^Now-a-days sewn
1500H11 *4Saya is a common lower undergarment for the women, particularly for
1510H11 the young girls. ^The upper garment is a blouse called *4Jaket or *4Bodi
1520H11 usually halfsleeved but sometimes sleeveless. ^Old women do not wear
1530H11 any upper garment when in the village. ^Women working in the fields wear
1540H11 sometimes a small chequered or coloured cloth (blue is very common) known
1550H11 as *4Gamcha. ^This is worn over the *4Saya or undergarment and it
1560H11 hangs a little above the ankle. ^Another piece of the same term is
1570H11 wrapped round the waist and then passed over the shoulder covering the
1580H11 breast. ^The *5Peai Sari*6 and *4Gamcha are supplied by the local
1590H11 weavers who visit the village. ^Mill made coloured *4Saris are liked
1600H11 by the Ho women and form the ceremonial dress usually.
1610H11 $^*Men*'s lower apparel is a white *4Dhuti of about 8 cubits. ^Under
1620H11 this a *4Jangia or undergarment is worn. ^The upper garment consists
1630H11 of a shirt. ^A *4Genji or an undergarment is worn usually under a
1640H11 shirt. ^The *4Lungi a piece of coloured or chequered unsewn cloth,
1650H11 which is wrapped round the waist as a lower garment is a popular casual
1660H11 dress for all sections of the people. ^While going out to a town or an
1670H11 urban centre, use of trousers is more frequent among the industrial workers
1680H11 and people who have outside contact. ^The young boys, particularly
1690H11 the students are quite modern with their dress. ^While visiting a town,
1700H11 an industrial centre or the market, they dress themselves with narrow
1710H11 drain pipe trousers, shirts or bush shirts with loud colours, pointed
1720H11 shoes, socks and goggles. ^Half pants and *4Pyjamas have also their intrusion
1730H11 in the dress habits, mainly among the young boys and educated.
1750H11 $^This change in the style of dress among the younger people along the
1760H11 line of the style prevalent among the urban and industrial population
1770H11 of the region, is not a special phenomenon for the Jhinkpani but it is
1780H11 a general trend in the region. ^The dress of women has not departed much
1790H11 from traditional form or content. ^Even now the village priest or *4Deori
1800H11 wears during worship a small strip of cloth called *4Botoi
1810H11 which is passed between his thighs. ^This piece is woven by the village
1820H11 weaver observing fast.*#
        **[no. of words = 02002**]

        **[txt. h12**]
0010H12 **<*3BIOCHEMISTRY*0**>
0020H12 $^In biochemistry, researches covered the areas pertaining to structure-function
0030H12 of enzymes and proteins, energy metabolism, functions of vitamins
0040H12 and hormones, biosynthesis of proteins and nucleic acids during cell
0050H12 growth and differentiation. $^The presence
0060H12 of heavy water (\0D*;2**;O) considerably modified the allosteric functions
0070H12 but not the catalytic activity of rat liver \0UDPG-dehydrogenase.
0080H12 ^Among other studies on structure-functions of enzymes
0090H12 were characterization of \0**3L. casie-lactic dehydrogenase, elucidation
0100H12 of the regulatory role of protein phosphatase in tumour cells, and
0110H12 identification in potato buds of an enzyme protein which exhibited dual
0120H12 activities of asparagine synthetase and amidating enzyme. ^Yeast cells
0140H12 to which fungal glucose oxidase was artificially attached \0*3via *(0Con
0150H12 A.*) could be entrapped on a polyacrylamide gel to_ serve as an efficient
0160H12 immobilized catalase-invertase-glucose oxidase multi-enzyme system
0170H12 for the production of fructose and gluconic acid from sucrose.
0180H12 $^Studies were carried out on the distribution of various enzymes and proteins
0190H12 in different tissues, cell types and sub-cellular components. ^An
0200H12 extensive study has been made on the levels of high and low molecular
0210H12 weight polypeptides in the brain of various vertebrate animals such as
0220H12 lizard, pigeon, rat and mouse. \0*8^*E. coli*9 ribonucleotide reductase
0230H12 has been solubilized from a \0DNA*-membrane preparation. ^There
0240H12 are subtle differences between the membrane-bound and the soluble enzme
0250H12 in their \0ATP and \0Mg*:2+**: requirements and the effects of
0260H12 \0EDTA.
0270H12 $^Various aspects of intermediary metabolism, biosynthesis of macromolecules
0280H12 and regulation of intracellular functions have been studied in animals
0290H12 and other organisms under conditions such as nutritional deficiencies,
0300H12 hormone and drug administrations exposures to environmental chemicals
0310H12 malignant transformation and aging. ^The radiation-induced changes
0320H12 in \0RNA synthesis in the liver have been found to_ be solely due to
0330H12 abscopal (neuroendocrine) mechanisms, those in the spleen largely due
0340H12 to the direct radiation injury on the spleen itself and those in the thymus
0350H12 partly from the direct effect on the thymus and partly from the abscopal
0360H12 mechanisms. ^Mitochondrial biogenesis occurring during the shift in
0370H12 the growth of (*8*\0S. cerevisiae*9) from anaerobic to aerobic conditions
0380H12 was extremely sensitive to ultra-violet radiation; the impaired
0390H12 process however could be completely restituted by exposure of ultraviolet
0400H12 irradiated cells to visible light.
0410H12 $^Biochemical and electron microscopic studies on the development of endoplasmic
0420H12 reticulum membranes in rat placenta reveal a close correlation
0430H12 between membrane characteristics and the appearance of microsomal mixed
0440H12 function oxidases at 15 days of gestation. ^The component of the microsomal
0450H12 mixed-function oxidase system could be successfully induced in rat
0460H12 and mouse liver by a single injection (*(0i. p.*)) of nicotinamide a
0470H12 normal metabolite. ^The induction of this enzyme system was successfully
0480H12 applied to_ enhance the decreased activity of drug-metabolizing enzymes
0490H12 in the livers of animals bearing transplanted tumours.
0500H12 $^Benzo(a) pyrene a carcinogen present as a pollutant in city air, undergoes
0510H12 metabolism by the liver mixed-function oxidase to_ produce several
0520H12 metabolites. ^Studies on the mammalian metabolism of lindane a chlorinated
0530H12 hydrocarbon pesticide, have revealed some hitherto unknown pathways;
0540H12 these include aromatisation, dechlorination and hydroxylation, as also
0550H12 ring fission. ^The body retention of the pesticide is significantly influenced
0560H12 by the nutritional status of the animal, diet restriction resulting
0570H12 in faster excretion.
0580H12 $^Under a variety of experimental conditions which are reported to_ influence
0590H12 aging in mice, several biochemical parameters such as lipoperoxidation,
0600H12 accumulation of lipofuscin pigment, superoxide dismutese activity
0610H12 and membrane damage have been examined. ^The findings provide experimental
0620H12 evidence in support of the free radical theory of aging.
0630H12 $^The programme on the radiation injury and repair mechanisms at physiological,
0640H12 cellular and molecular levels was continued.
0650H12 $^A method has been developed for the production of very high specific
0660H12 activity molybdenum-99 which finds extensive applications in nuclear
0670H12 medicine as a source of technetium-99. ^In collaboration with various
0680H12 leading hospitals and medical research institutions in the country, development
0690H12 work is under way to_ introduce new and improved radio-pharmaceuticals
0700H12 and radioimmunoassay reagents and kits for studies of various
0710H12 tropical diseases. ^Other areas where active development work is under way
0720H12 include radiation sterilisation of pharmaceuticals and synthesis of
0730H12 isotopically labelled insecticides. $**<*3METALLURGY*0**>
0750H12 $^The major applied research programmes in metallurgy have been concerned
0760H12 with: (**=1) development of processes for the extraction and refining
0770H12 of strategic metals and special materials of interest to nuclear engineering,
0780H12 electronics, aero-space, and chemical industries, (**=2) studies
0790H12 on the physical, mechanical and corrosion properties of these materials,
0800H12 (**=3) development of high temperature ceramic materials for advanced applications
0810H12 as in the \0MHD programme and (**=4) development of
0820H12 special fabrication techniques involving powder metallurgy and electroforming.
0830H12 ^Basic research programmes are in the areas of metallurgical thermochemistry,
0840H12 diffusion, structural metallurgy, radiation damage, corrosion
0850H12 kinetics and sintering. ^Assistance was extended to several organisations,
0860H12 meeting their specific material requirements, and participating
0870H12 in investigations on materials performance and failure analysis.
0880H12 $^The setting-up of a Beryllium Pilot Plant (Initial annual capacity
0890H12 of 10 tonnes of \0Cu-2% \0Be and 250 \0Kg vacuum hot-pressed beryllium
0900H12 metal) in collaboration with the Department of Space and Department
0910H12 of Electronics, has been approved. ^There has been good progress on
0920H12 the development of graphite-coating of zircaloy tubes, to_ minimise pellet-clad
0930H12 interaction in power reactor fuel. ^Ring-shaped boron carbide-aluminium
0940H12 composites have been successfully fabricated for use as control
0950H12 rod material. ^Attractive pyro- and hydro-processing schemes have been
0960H12 evolved to_ recover nickel and molybdenum values from the sulphide concentrates
0970H12 in the by-product recovery plant at Jaduguda. ^Process flowsheets
0980H12 for the recovery of vanadium in diverse industrially important usable
0990H12 forms, such as pure vanadium ferro-vanadium and vanadium oxycarbide
1000H12 have been developed starting from by-products of the aluminium industry
1010H12 and also from vanadiferrous slag. ^A plasma furnace facility is being
1020H12 set up for investigating new extractive processes at high temperatures.
1030H12 ^Molten salt electro-winning and electro-refining processes were continued
1040H12 to_ produce ductile titanium and hafnium, and for the reclamation
1050H12 of zircaloy scrap.
1060H12 $^Extensive work has been carried out on phase transformations, structure
1070H12 property correlations, solid state diffusion and radiation damage.
1080H12 ^These studies include: the martensitic transformation and the precipitation
1090H12 of meta-stable and stable intermetallic phases in the binary systems
1110H12 of zirconium as well as titanium; rationalisation of the observations
1120H12 in terms of computer-generated free energy versus composition data;
1130H12 the influence of the second phase on the strength properties of these alloys;
1140H12 the effects of a variety of heat treatments on the micro-structure
1150H12 and the mechanical properties of important structural alloys like
1160H12 zircaloy-2, \0etc; establishment of a detailed structure-property correlation
1170H12 in the reactor pressure vessel steel \0HY-130; the mechanisms of
1180H12 solid solution hardening in a number of zirconium alloys; micro-structural
1190H12 characterisation of some important super-conducting alloys
1200H12 and compounds; the effect of neutron irradiation on the mechanical properties
1210H12 of some titanium alloys ion-irradiation induced blister formation
1220H12 on several nuclear structural materials; and setting up of a versatile
1230H12 gas pressure bonding assembly for studying the diffusion bonding behaviour
1240H12 of zircaloy-2. ^Apart from these research programmes, service facilities
1250H12 were provided to external users, for transmission and scanning electron
1260H12 microscopy, electron probe micro-analysis, and instron testing.
1270H12 $^Studies on the high temperature corrosion of zircaloy-2, containing
1280H12 aluminium as impurity have shown that aluminium contents up to 140
1290H12 \0ppm can be tolerated from the view-point of acceptable corrosion rates.
1300H12 ^In the high temperature corrosion of carbon steel in lithiated water
1310H12 at an oxygen level less than 0.05 \0ppm, the corrosion product release rates
1320H12 have been observed to_ be extremely low. ^High temperature autoclave
1330H12 collapse tests for ridging on \0RAPP fuel pins have indicated that
1340H12 low yield strength fuel-clad may be accepted provided the pellet-clad gap
1350H12 is less than 0.003 inch. ^Studies on stress corrosion cracking of zircaloy-2
1360H12 in iodine have shown that annealed tubes are susceptible to stress
1370H12 corrosion cracking by iodine during internal pressurization. ^As
1380H12 regards the effects of alloying elements on the stress corrosion cracking
1390H12 of zirconium, it has been observed that iron and copper are not as efective
1400H12 as chromium in imparting resistance. ^Nickel, both in the wrought
1410H12 and electro-deposited form has been found to_ be resistant to corrosion
1420H12 in highly alkaline solution, but this resistance is affected by impurities
1430H12 in the alkaline solution, particularly \0H*;2**;S. ^Studies
1440H12 on sea water corrosion in \0CIRUS jetty have shown that a copper-base
1450H12 alloy, *(0Cu-9%Sn-4%Al*) is resistant to sea water. ^Electroplating
1460H12 of antimony, *(0Ni-Mn*) alloys, *(0Ni-Ti-o*;3**;*) composites, electrophoretic
1470H12 deposition of \0NiO, electroforming of porous nickel tubes,
1480H12 and particle-bed electrolysis of dilute copper solutions have been successfully
1490H12 carried out in the electrometallurgy programmes. $^In
1500H12 the field of nuclear ceramics, *(0R & D*) studies are being carried
1510H12 out on *(0Uo;**;, *UO*;2**;-*ZR*0*;2**;*) and \0BeO. ^A programme
1520H12 on the development of high-density thin sintered platelets of \0Uo*;2**;
1530H12 and \0Uo*;2**;-ZrO*;2**; was taken up. ^For the platetype fuel development,
1540H12 the powder preparation and fabricational parameters have been
1550H12 successfully optimised. ^In the field of high temperature materials, for
1560H12 the development of high temperature oxide ceramics for the \0MHD channels,
1570H12 *(0R & D*) studies are being carried out on \0Al*;2**;O*;3**;,
1580H12 \0MgO and \0ZrO*;2**;.
1590H12 $*<*3Heat Transfer and Fluid Mechanics:*> ^A computer code *3COBRA-3*C*0
1600H12 for sub-channel analysis of nuclear fuels was commissioned
1610H12 and a computer code *3DECOND*0 for the process design of surface condensers
1620H12 was developed.
1630H12 $^Computer code *3THABNA*0 was modified to_ analyse quarter core of *3TAPS.*0
1640H12 ^As a part of the fuel management service for *3TAPS,*0
1650H12 thermal hydraulics analysis of core was carried out.
1660H12 $^An analysis of the temperature differential across the walls of the solid
1670H12 storage vault to_ be set up at *3TAPS*0 was carried out.
1680H12 $^Work on setting up the 1.2/3 \0MW Boiling Water Loop was continued.
1690H12 ^A facility for emergency core cooling studies and another for the study
1700H12 of blow-down from a high pressure system are being set up. ^A few trial
1710H12 runs on a tubular test section in 100 \0KW Boiling Water Loop
1720H12 were made to_ measure heat transfer coefficient and critical heat flux.
1740H12 $*<*3Nuclear Economics and Fuel Cycle Studies;*0*> ^An investigation
1750H12 on utilising thorium in heavy water reactors with special emphasis on
1760H12 arriving at a fuel cycle which is self-sustaining was started. ^A few
1770H12 lattice experiments with thorium fuel were analysed using the available
1780H12 computer codes. $^A comparative evaluation of the capital investment
1790H12 required in a coal-fired power programme and a nuclear power programme
1810H12 has been made. $**<*3REACTOR ANALYSIS*0**>
1820H12 $*<*3Plant Dynamics and Simulator Project:*0*> ^Dynamic modelling
1830H12 of the entire reactor systems, steam generators, boilers, turbines, feed-heating
1840H12 systems, with corresponding controls was completed. ^The coupled
1850H12 performance of such complex reactor systems with electrical power
1860H12 systems is also being investigated. ^Detailed dynamic modelling for transients
1870H12 such as start-up of pump-motors, turbines, generators \0etc. was
1880H12 also done. ^Performance of systems under various modes of operations as
1890H12 well as fault conditions is now being investigated.
1900H12 $*<*3Safety:*0*> ^Mathematical modelling of primary coolant
1910H12 system for different types of reactor systems was completed and more details
1920H12 are being incorporated for the understanding of core heat transfer.
1930H12 ^Safety work regarding modified *3ZERLINA*0 for handling special types
1940H12 of fuels was completed.
1950H12 $*<*3Thermo-Hydraulics:*0*> ^Several of the thermo-hydraulic codes were
1960H12 modified and extended to_ handle different types of reactor systems to_
1970H12 study their behaviour under unbalanced pump operations, decay heat removal
1980H12 conditions \0etc. ^Steady state and dynamic analysis of the vertical
1990H12 U-tube type of steam generators is being carried out. ^Certain insight
2000H12 has been developed into the performance of steam generator internals
2010H12 and designs are being prepared for testing and evaluating their performance.
2020H12 $**<*3REACTOR CONTROL*0**>
2040H12 $^During the year, development work on control systems, components and
2050H12 reactor system analysis was carried out. $*<*3Projects*0*>
2070H12 $*<*3Sodium Pump Speed Control System for \0FBTR:*0*> ^This system
2080H12 is being developed for flow control of liquid sodium coolant in two
2090H12 primary and secondary loops of \0FBTR. ^Flow control is achieved by
2100H12 controlling the speed of the pump motor. ^Design of field amplifiers for
2110H12 varying the field of Ward-Leonard generator was completed. ^Fabrication
2120H12 drawings of the central panel were prepared.
2130H12 $*<*3Computerised Fuelling Machine Control System:*>
2140H12 ^A computer-controlled system for operating two fuelling machine heads,
2150H12 carriages and fuel transfer system is being developed. ^The control
2160H12 system comprises two micro-processors which control the fuel handling
2170H12 system and a mini-computer for controlling overall system operation.
2180H12 ^The system configuration including manual back-up was finalised.
2190H12 $*<*3Power Reactor Fuel Reprocessing System:*> ^A data acquisition
2200H12 system for \0PREFRE was designed. ^The system will be used for alarm
2210H12 monitoring data acquisition, material balance and performance calculations.
2220H12 ^It will also control a mass spectrometer used for the separation
2230H12 of radioisotopes. ^Design of real-time sub-systems was completed.*#
        **[no. of words = 02016**]

        **[txt. h13**]
0010H13 **<*3CHAPTER *=2*0**> $**<*3Establishment of the Press Council*0**>
0020H13 $*<Incorporation of the Council*>
0030H13 $*34.*0 (1) ^With effect from such date as the Central Government may,
0040H13 by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint, there shall be established
0050H13 a Council by the name of the Press Council of India.
0060H13 $(2) ^The said Council shall be a body corporate having perpetual succession
0070H13 and a common seal and shall by the said name sue and be sued.
0080H13 $*<Composition of the Council*> $*35.*0 (1) ^The Council shall consist
0090H13 of a Chairman and twenty-eight other members.
0110H13 $(2) ^The Chairman shall be a person nominated by a Committee consisting
0120H13 of the Chairman of the Council of States (*5Rajya Sabha*6), the
0130H13 Speaker of the House of the People (*5Lok Sabha*6) and a person
0140H13 elected by the members of the Council under sub-section (6) and the
0150H13 nomination so made shall take effect from the date on which it is notified
0160H13 by the Central Government in the Official Gazette.
0170H13 $(3) ^Of the other members--
0180H13 $(a) thirteen shall be nominated in accordance with such procedure as may
0190H13 be prescribed from among the working journalists, of whom six shall be
0200H13 editors of newspapers and the remaining seven shall be working journalists
0210H13 other than editors; so, however, that the number of such editors and
0220H13 working journalists other than editors in relation to newspapers published
0230H13 in Indian languages shall be not less than three and four respectively;
0250H13 $(b) six shall be nominated in accordance with such procedure as may be
0260H13 prescribed from among persons who own or carry on the business of management
0270H13 of newspapers, so, however, that there shall be two representatives
0280H13 from each of the categories of big newspapers, medium newspapers and small
0290H13 newspapers; $(c) one shall be nominated in accordance with such procedure
0300H13 as may be prescribed from among persons who manage news agencies;
0320H13 $(d) three shall be persons having special knowledge or practical experience
0330H13 in respect of education and science, law, and literature and culture
0340H13 of whom respectively one shall be nominated by the University Grants
0350H13 Commission, one by the Bar Council of India and one by the *4Sahitya
0360H13 Academy;
0370H13 $(e) five shall be members of Parliament of whom three shall be nominated
0380H13 by the Speaker from among the members of the House of the People
0390H13 (*5Lok Sabha*6) and two shall be nominated by the Chairman of the Council
0400H13 of States (*5Rajya Sabha*6) from among its members:
0410H13 $^Provided that no working journalist who owns, or carries on the business
0420H13 of management of, any newspapers shall be eligible for nomination under
0430H13 clause (a):
0440H13 $^Provided further that the nominations under clause (a) and clause (b)
0450H13 shall be so made that among the persons nominated there is not more than
0460H13 one person interested in any newspaper or group of newspapers under the
0470H13 same control or management.
0480H13 $*3Explanation.*0-- ^For the purposes of clause (b), a "newspaper" shall
0490H13 be deemed to_ be--
0500H13 (**=1) "big newspaper" if the total circulation of all its editions exceeds
0510H13 fifty thousand copies for each issue;
0520H13 (**=2) "medium newspaper" if the total circulation of all its editions
0530H13 exceeds fifteen thousand copies but does not exceed fifty thousand copies
0540H13 for each issue;
0550H13 (**=3) "small newspaper" if the total circulation of all its editions does
0560H13 not exceed fifteen thousand copies for each issue.
0570H13 $(4) ^Before making any nomination under clause (a), clause (b) or clause
0580H13 (c) of sub-section (3), the Central Government in the case of the
0590H13 first Council and the retiring Chairman of the previous Council in the
0600H13 case of any subsequent Council shall, in the prescribed manner, invite
0610H13 panels of names comprising twice the number of members to_ be nominated
0620H13 from such associations of persons of the categories referred to in the
0630H13 said clause (a), clause (b) or clause (c) as may be notified in this
0640H13 behalf by the Central Government in the case of the first Council and by
0650H13 the Council itself in the case of subsequent Councils:
0660H13 $^Provided that where there is no association of persons of the category
0670H13 referred to in the said clause (c), the panels of names shall be invited
0680H13 from such news agencies as may be notified as aforesaid.
0690H13 $(5) ^The Central Government shall notify the names of persons nominated
0700H13 as members under sub-section (3) in the Official Gazette and every
0710H13 such nomination shall take effect from the date on which it is notified.
0720H13 $(6) ^The members of the Council notified under sub-section (5) shall
0730H13 elect from among themselves in accordance with such procedure as may be
0740H13 prescribed, a person to_ be a member of the Committee referred to in sub-section
0750H13 (2) and a meeting of the members of the Council for the purpose
0770H13 of such election shall be presided over by a person chosen from among
0790H13 themselves. $*<Term of office and retirement of members.*>
0800H13 $*36.*0 (1) ^Save as otherwise provided in this section, the Chairman and
0810H13 other members shall hold office for a period of three years:
0820H13 $^Provided that the Chairman shall continue to_ hold such office until
0830H13 the Council is reconstituted in accordance with the provisions of section
0840H13 5 or for a period of six months whichever is earlier.
0850H13 $(2) ^Where a person nominated as a member under clause (a), clause (b)
0860H13 or clause (c) of sub-section (3) of section 5 is censured under the provisions
0870H13 of sub-section (1) of section 14, he shall cease to_ be a member
0880H13 of the Council.
0890H13 $(3) ^The term of office of a member nominated under clause (e) of sub-section
0900H13 (3) of section 5 shall come to an end as soon as he ceases to_ bea
0910H13 member of the House from which he was nominated.
0920H13 $(4) ^A member shall be deemed to_ have vacated his seat if he is absent
0930H13 without excuse, sufficient in the opinion of the Council, from three
0940H13 consecutive meetings of the Council. $(5) ^The chairman may resign his
0950H13 office by giving notice in writing to the Central Government, and any
0960H13 other member may resign his office by giving notice in writing to
0961H13 the Chairman, and upon such resignation being accepted by the Central
0970H13 Government, or as the case may be, the Chairman, the Chairman or the
0980H13 member shall be deemed to_ have vacated his office.
0990H13 $(6) ^Any vacancy arising under sub-section (2), sub-section, (3), sub-section
1000H13 (4) or sub-section (5) or otherwise shall be filled, as soon as may
1010H13 be, by nomination in the same manner in which the member vacating office
1020H13 was nominated and the member so nominated shall hold office for the
1030H13 remaining period in which the member in whose place he is nominated would
1040H13 have held office. $(7) a retiring member shall be eligible for re-nomination
1050H13 for not more than one term. $*<Conditions of service of members.*>
1090H13 $*37.*0 (1) ^The Chairman shall be a whole-time officer and shall be
1100H13 paid such salary as the Central Government may think fit; and the other
1110H13 members shall receive such allowances or fees for attending the meetings
1120H13 of the Council, as may be prescribed.
1130H13 $(2) ^Subject to the provisions of sub-section (1), the conditions of service
1140H13 of members shall be such as may be prescribed.
1150H13 $(3) ^It is hereby declared that the office of a member of the Council
1160H13 shall not disqualify its holder for being chosen as, or for being, a member
1170H13 of either House of Parliament.
1190H13 $*38.*0 (1) ^For the purpose of performing its functions under this Act,
1200H13 the Council may constitute from among its members such committees for
1210H13 general or special purposes as it may deem necessary and every committee
1220H13 so constituted shall perform such functions as are assigned to it by the
1230H13 Council.
1240H13 $(2) ^The Council shall have the power to_ co-opt as members of any committee
1250H13 constituted under sub-section (1) such other number of persons, not
1260H13 being members of the Council, as it thinks fit.
1270H13 $(3) ^Any such member shall have the right to_ attend any meeting of the
1280H13 Committee on which he is so co-opted and to_ take part in the discussions
1290H13 thereat, but shall not have the right to vote and shall not be a member
1300H13 for any other purpose.
1310H13 $*<Meetings of the Council and Committees.*>
1320H13 $*39.*0 ^The Council or any committee thereof shall meet at such times
1330H13 and places and shall observe such rules of procedure in regard to the transaction
1340H13 of business at its meetings as may be provided by regulations
1350H13 made under this Act.
1360H13 $*<Vacancies among members or defect in the constitution not to_ invalidate
1370H13 acts and proceedings of the Council.*> $*310.*0
1380H13 ^No act or proceeding of the Council shall be deemed to_ be invalid
1390H13 by reason merely of the existence of any vacancy in, or any defect
1400H13 in the constitution of, the Council. $*<Staff of the Council.*> $*311.*0
1430H13 (1) ^Subject to such rules as may be made by the Central Government
1440H13 in this behalf, the Council may appoint a Secretary and such other
1450H13 employees as it may think necessary for the efficient performance of
1460H13 its functions under this Act. $(2) ^The terms and conditions of service
1470H13 of the employees shall be such as may be determined by regulations.
1490H13 $*<Authentication of orders and other instruments of the Council.*>
1500H13 $*312.*0 ^All orders and decisions of the Council shall be authenticated
1510H13 by the signature of the Chairman or any other member authorised by the
1520H13 Council in this behalf and other instruments issued by the Council
1530H13 shall be authenticated by the signature of the Secretary or any other officer
1540H13 of the Council authorised in like manner in this behalf.
1550H13 $**<*3CHAPTER*0 *=3 $POWERS AND FUNCTIONS OF THE COUNCIL**>
1560H13 $*<Objects and functions of the Council*> $*313. (1) ^The objects
1570H13 of the Council shall be to_ preserve the freedom of the press and to_
1580H13 maintain and improve the standards of newspapers and news agencies in India.
1600H13 $(2) ^The Council may, in furtherance of its objects, perform the following
1610H13 functions, namely:-- $(a) to_ help newspapers and news agencies
1620H13 to_ maintain their independence;
1640H13 $(b) to_ build up a code of conduct for newspapers, news agencies and journalists
1650H13 in accordance with high professional standards;
1660H13 $(c) to_ ensure on the part of newspapers, news agencies and journalists,
1670H13 the maintenance of high standards of public taste and foster a due sense
1680H13 of both the rights and responsibilities of citizenship;
1690H13 $(d) to_ encourage the growth of a sense of responsibility and public service
1700H13 among all those engaged in the profession of journalism;
1710H13 $(e) to_ keep under review any development likely to_ restrict the supply
1720H13 and dissemination of news of public interest and importance;
1730H13 $(f) to_ keep under review cases of assistance received by any newspaper
1740H13 or news agency in India from any foreign source including such cases
1750H13 as are referred to it by the Central Government or are brought to its
1760H13 notice by any individual, association of persons or any other organisatin:
1780H13 $^Provided that nothing in this clause shall preclude the Central Government
1790H13 from dealing with any case of assistance received by a newspaper
1800H13 or news agency in India from any foreign source in any other manner
1810H13 it thinks fit;
1820H13 $(g) to_ undertake studies of foreign newspapers, including those brought
1830H13 out by any embassy or other representative in India of a foreign State,
1830H13 their circulation and impact. $*3EXPLANATION*0-- ^For the purposes
1870H13 of this clause, the expression "Foreign State" has the meaning assigned
1880H13 to it in section 87A of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908;
1900H13 $(h) to_ promote a proper functional relationship among all classes of
1910H13 persons engaged in the production or publication of newspapers or in news
1920H13 agencies:
1930H13 $^Provided that nothing in this clause shall be deemed to_ confer on the
1940H13 Council any functions in regard to_ disputes to which the Industrial
1950H13 Disputes Act, 1947, applies;
1960H13 $(*3i*0) to_ concern itself with developments such as concentration of or
1970H13 other aspects of ownership of newspapers and news agencies which may affect
1980H13 the independence of the Press; $(*3j*0) to_ undertake such studies
1990H13 as may be entrusted to the Council and to_ express its opinion in
2020H13 regard to any matter referred to it by the Central Government;
2040H13 $(*3k*0) to_ do such other acts as may be incidental or conducive to the
2050H13 discharge of the above functions. $*<Power to_ censure.*>
2070H13 $*314.*0 (1) ^Where, on receipt of a complaint made to it or otherwise,
2080H13 the Council has reason to_ believe that a newspaper or news agency has
2090H13 offended against the standards of journalistic ethics or public taste or
2100H13 that an editor or a working journalist has committed any professional misconduct,
2110H13 the Council may, after giving the newspaper, or news agency,
2120H13 the editor or journalist concerned an opportunity of being heard, hold
2130H13 an inquiry in such manner as may be provided by regulations made under this
2140H13 Act.*#
        **[no. of words = 02080**]

        **[txt. h14**]
0010H14 *<18. *3Special grounds for divorce available to wife*0*>
0020H14 $^The grounds on which either a husband or wife may ask for divorce are
0030H14 set out above. ^In addition, a wife married before the Act is also
0040H14 given a right to_ obtain divorce on the ground that the husband had married
0050H14 again before the commencement of the Act or that any other wife of
0060H14 the husband married before the commencement of the Act was alive at
0070H14 the time of the solemnization of her marriage. ^This right would enable
0080H14 a wife to_ obtain relief whenever needed, notwithstanding that, at the
0090H14 time of her marriage, it was a valid marriage, the law having permitted
0100H14 polygamy. ^To_ sustain a petition under this provision the wife must,
0110H14 however, show that the other wife is alive at the time of the presentation
0120H14 of the petition. ^A wife can also apply for divorce if the husband
0130H14 has, after the solemnization of the marriage, been found guilty of
0140H14 rape, sodomy or bestiality.
0150H14 $^Besides, after the Marriage Laws (Amendment) Act, 1976, a wife can
0160H14 present a petition for divorce where a decree has been passed against
0170H14 the husband awarding maintenance to the wife (whether it be in a suit under
0180H14 section 18 of the Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act, 1956,
0190H14 or in a proceeding under section 125 of the Code of Criminal Procedure,
0200H14 1973, or under the corresponding section 488 of the Code of Criminal
0210H14 Procedure, 1898) notwithstanding that she was living apart and that
0220H14 since the passing of such decree or order, cohabitation between the parties
0230H14 has not been resumed for a period of one year or more.
0240H14 $^There is a further right conferred upon the wife to_ seek divorce where
0250H14 her marriage (whether consummated or not) was solemnized before she
0260H14 attained the age of fifteen years and she has repudiated the marriage after
0270H14 attaining that_ age but before attaining the age of eighteen years.
0280H14 ^This right is available whether the marriage was solemnized before or
0290H14 after the commencement of the Marriage Laws (Amendment) Act, 1976.
0300H14 $*<19. *3Judicial Separation*0*>
0310H14 $^A salient feature of the present law is that the grounds for judicial
0320H14 separation have been brought on par with the grounds for divorce. ^On
0330H14 any one of the grounds for divorce specified in paragraph 16, either of
0340H14 the parties to marriage may present a petition for judicial separation.
0350H14 ^Similarly on any of the grounds for divorce available to the wife and
0360H14 referred to in paragraph 17, she may present a petition for judicial separation.
0370H14 ^However, where a decree for judicial separation has been passed,
0380H14 the court may, on the application by petition of either party and on
0390H14 being satisfied of the truth of the statements made in such petition
0400H14 rescind the decree if it considers it just and reasonable so to_ do.
0410H14 ^Hence if there are still hopes of adjustment of the conflict between the
0420H14 parties to a marriage, either of them need not necessarily seek a divorce
0430H14 straightaway. ^Instead they can seek judicial separation. ^The parties
0440H14 concerned will get a period of one year to_ come to terms as between
0450H14 themselves. ^Besides, the court has been given a discretion, after
0460H14 the amendment in 1976, to_ pass a decree of judicial separation even
0470H14 though the petition is for divorce, where the ground alleged for the divorce
0480H14 is any of the grounds referred to in paragraph 16 not being a case
0490H14 against a person who has not been heard of for over seven years, or who
0500H14 got converted to another religion or who renounced the world.
0510H14 $*<20. *3Divorce by mutual consent*0*>
0520H14 $^One of the important changes in the law brought about by the Marriage
0530H14 Laws (Amendment) Act, 1976, is the introduction of the concept of divorce
0540H14 by mutual consent. ^A similar provision is already there in the
0550H14 Special Marriage Act, 1954. ^The new provision (section 13B) applies
0560H14 to marriages solemnized before the date of commencement of the Marriage
0570H14 Laws (amendment) Act, 1976, as well as to marriages solemnized after
0580H14 that_ date. ^A petition for divorce by mutual consent can be presented
0590H14 to the district court by both the parties to a marriage together, on the
0600H14 ground that they have been living separately for a period of one year
0610H14 or more, that they have not been able to_ live together, and that they
0620H14 have mutually agreed that the marriage should be dissolved. ^After the
0630H14 expiry of six months from the date of the presentation of the petition
0640H14 and before the expiry of eighteen months from such date, both the parties
0650H14 may move for the dissolution of the marriage if the petition is not
0660H14 withdrawn in the meantime. ^The court, on being satisfied, that a marriage
0670H14 has been solemnized and that the averments in the petition are true,
0680H14 may pass a decree for divorce declaring the marriage to_ be dissolved with
0690H14 effect from the date of the decree. ^The petition would lapse unless
0700H14 a motion is made by both the parties before the expiry of eighteen months
0710H14 from the date of the presentation of the petition.
0720H14 $*<21. *3Time limit for petitions for divorce*0*>
0730H14 $^Ordinarily a petition for divorce cannot be entertained by any court
0740H14 unless one year (it was three years before the amendment in 1976) has elapsed
0750H14 since the date of the marriage. ^But where the case is one of exceptional
0760H14 hardship to the petitioner or of exceptional depravity on the
0770H14 part of the opposite party, the court may allow a petition to_ be presented
0780H14 earlier. ^In such a case, the special leave of the court has to_ be
0790H14 obtained and if the leave is obtained by any misrepresentation or concealment
0800H14 of nature of the case, the court may dismiss the petition or order
0810H14 that the decree shall not have effect until the expiry of one year
0820H14 from the date of the marriage. ^In granting leave under this provision
0830H14 to_ present a petition for divorce before the expiration of one year from
0840H14 the date of the marriage, the court is required to_ have due regard
0850H14 to the interests of any children of the marriage and also to the question
0860H14 whether there is reasonable probability of a reconciliation between
0870H14 the parties before the expiration of the said period.
0880H14 $*<22. *3Divorced persons when may marry again*0*>
0890H14 $^When a marriage has been dissolved by a decree of divorce, the parties
0900H14 are free to_ marry again. ^But the law places certain restrictions on
0910H14 this right in order to_ ensure that divorce proceedings are completely
0920H14 above board. ^Before the parties can remarry, the period of limitation
0930H14 prescribed for any appeal against the decree should have expired or if an
0940H14 appeal has been presented it should have been dismissed. ^If there is
0950H14 no right of appeal against the decree either party is at liberty to_ marry
0960H14 again.
0970H14 $^Before the amendment in 1976, the parties to a marriage could not marry
0980H14 again before the expiry of one year since the date of the decree for
0990H14 divorce in the court of first instance. ^As it was felt that this period
1000H14 of waiting of one year may well be dispensed with, the proviso to section
1010H14 15 was omitted. $*<PART *=5*> $*<JURISDICTION AND PROCEDURE*>
1020H14 $*<23. *3Court to which petition should be made*>
1050H14 $^After the amendment in 1976, every petition under the Hindu Marriage
1060H14 Act, whether it be for judicial separation or for restitution of conjugal
1070H14 rights or for a decree of nullity or of divorce, has to_ be presented
1080H14 to the district court within the local limits of whose ordinary civil
1090H14 jurisdiction-- $(a) the marriage was solemnized, or
1100H14 $(b) the respondent resides at the time of the presentation of the petition
1110H14 (if such respondent is not residing outside the territories to which
1120H14 this Act extends), or
1130H14 $(c) the parties to the marriage last resided together, or $(d)
1140H14 the petitioner is residing at the time of the presentation of the petition,
1150H14 in a case where the respondent is at that_ time residing outside
1160H14 the territory to which the Act extends, or has not been heard of as
1170H14 being alive for a period of seven years or more by those persons who would
1180H14 naturally have heard of him if he were alive.
1190H14 $"^District court" means, in places where there is a city civil court,
1200H14 the city civil court, and in other places the principal civil court of original
1210H14 jurisdiction. ^Power is also given to_ the State Government to_
1220H14 notify any other civil court as a court having jurisdiction in respect
1230H14 of matters dealt with in the Act so that even courts subordinate to the
1240H14 district court would be vested with powers under the Act and relief brought
1250H14 nearer home to persons aggrieved.
1260H14 $^Every petition for relief under the Act should state the facts of the
1270H14 case as distinctly as the nature of the case permits and should also state
1280H14 (except in the case of a petition for a decree of nullity in the case
1290H14 of a void marriage) that there is no collusion between the parties.
1291H14 ^Complete good faith is necessary in all proceedings under the Act.
1300H14 ^The statements in the petition have to_ be verified in the manner required
1310H14 by law for the verification of plaints. ^One will also have to_ consult
1320H14 the rules of the High Court concerned to_ see whether any other formalities
1330H14 have to_ be complied with. ^Where two petitions are filed, one
1340H14 by the husband and the other by the wife, for judicial separation or for
1350H14 divorce, both the petitions are to_ be tried together. $^The
1360H14 Marriage Laws (Amendment) Act, 1976, incorporated certain new provisions
1370H14 for the expeditious disposal of petitions under the Act. ^It
1380H14 has been provided that the trial of the petition has to_ be continued, as
1390H14 far as possible, from day to day till its conclusion. ^The time normally
1400H14 taken for disposal of a petition shall not be more than six months from
1410H14 the date of service of notice of the petition on the respondent.
1420H14 ^Similarly, more than three months should not normally be taken to_ conclude
1430H14 the hearing of an appeal. ^The three months period is to_ be calculated
1440H14 from the date of service of notice of appeal on the respondent.
1450H14 $^Provision has also been newly made that when a proceeding is initiated
1460H14 by a party on the ground of adultery, cruelty or desertion, the respondent
1470H14 may not only oppose the relief sought but may also make a counter claim
1480H14 for any relief under the Act on that_ ground. $^It has also been provided
1490H14 that a document cannot be excluded from evidence in any proceeding
1500H14 at the trial of a petition under the Act on the ground that it is not
1510H14 duly stamped or registered. $*<24. *3Proceedings in camera*>
1530H14 $^One of the important changes brought about in the Hindu Marriage Act
1540H14 by the amendment in 1976 is that the provision for holding the trial
1550H14 *3in camera has been made obligatory. ^Before the amendment, the proceedings
1560H14 under the Act were to_ be conducted in *3camera only if either
1570H14 party so desired or if the court so ordered, and the reports of the proceedings
1580H14 before the court could be published with the permission of the
1590H14 court. ^This often resulted in all sorts of controversies affecting the
1600H14 private life of couples being discussed in public. ^It was considered that
1610H14 this is not a healthy trend and that unhappy married life should not
1620H14 be allowed to_ become an object of amusement or interest for others who
1630H14 are not in any way concerned with the matter. ^It has therefore been provided
1640H14 that it is obligatory for the court to_ hold the proceeding under
1650H14 the Act *3in camera without waiting for a request therefor by any of
1660H14 the parties to the proceeding. ^Any matter in relation to the proceedings
1670H14 before the court is prohibited from being printed or published. ^The
1680H14 only exclusion from this prohibition is the judgment of a High Court
1690H14 or of the Supreme Court printed or published with the previous permission
1700H14 of the Court. ^Contravention of this provision is made punishable
1710H14 with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees.
1720H14 $*<25. *3Special duty of the court in regard to certain matters*>*#
        **[no. of words = 02005**]

        **[txt. h15**]
0010H15 ^Provided that for the purposes of determining the amount of income-tax
0020H15 in accordance with this sub-clause, the provisions of clause (**=2) of
0030H15 the proviso below Sub-Paragraph *=1 or, as the case may be, Sub-Paragraph
0040H15 *=2 of the said Paragraph A and the provisions relating to surcharge
0050H15 on income-tax in the said Sub-Paragraphs shall not apply;
0060H15 $(**=2) the net agricultural income shall be increased by a sum of eight
0070H15 thousand rupees and the amount of income-tax shall be determined in respect
0080H15 of the net agricultural income as so increased at the rates specified
0090H15 in Sub-Paragraph *=1 or, as the case may be, Sub-Paragraph *=2
0100H15 of the said Paragraph A, as if the net agricultural income as so increased
0110H15 were the total income:
0120H15 $^Provided that for the purposes of determining the amount of income-tax
0130H15 in accordance with this sub-clause, the provisions of clause (**=1) and
0140H15 clause (**=2) of the proviso below Sub-Paragraph *=1 or, as the case
0150H15 may be, Sub-Paragraph *=2 of the said Paragraph A and the provisions
0160H15 relating to surcharge on income-tax in the said Sub-Paragraphs shall
0170H15 not apply; $(**=3) the amount of income-tax determined in accordance
0180H15 with sub-clause (**=1) shall be reduced by the amount of income tax
0190H15 determined in accordance with sub-clause (**=2):
0210H15 $^Provided that where the sum so arrived at exceeds seventy per \0cent.
0220H15 of the amount by which the total income exceeds ten thousand rupees, the
0230H15 excess shall be disregarded;
0240H15 $(**=4) the amount of income-tax determined in accordance with sub-clause
0250H15 (**=3) shall be increased by a surcharge for purposes of the Union calculated
0260H15 at the rate of fifteen per cent of such income-tax and the sum
0270H15 so arrived at shall be the income-tax in respect of the total income.
0280H15 $(3) ^In cases to which the provisions of Chapter *=12 or section 164
0290H15 of the Income-tax Act, 1961 (hereinafter referred to as the Income-tax
0300H15 Act) apply, the tax chargeable shall be determined as provided in that_
0310H15 Chapter or that_ section, and with reference to the rates imposed
0320H15 by sub-section (1) or the rates as specified in that_ Chapter or section
0330H15 as the case may be.
0340H15 $(4) ^In cases in which tax has to_ be deducted under sections 193, 194,
0350H15 194A, 194B, 194BB, 194D and 195 of the Income tax Act at the rates
0360H15 in force, the deduction shall be made at the rates specified in Part
0370H15 *=2 of the Schedule.
0380H15 $(5) ^Subject to the provisions of sub-section (6), in cases in which income-tax
0390H15 has to_ be calculated under the first proviso to sub-section
0400H15 (5) of section 132 of the Income-tax Act or charged under sub section
0410H15 (4) of section 172 or sub-section (2) of section 174 or section 175 or
0420H15 sub-section (2) of section 176 of the said Act or deducted under section
0430H15 192 of the said Act from income chargeable under the head "Salaries"
0440H15 or deducted under sub-section (9) of section 80E of the said Act from
0450H15 any payment referred to in the said sub-section (9) or in which the "advance
0460H15 tax" payable under Chapter *=17-C of the said Act has to_ be computed,
0470H15 at the rate or rates in force, such income-tax or, as the case
0480H15 may be, "advance tax" shall be so calculated, charged, deducted or computed
0490H15 at the rate or rates specified in Part *=3 of the Schedule:
0500H15 $^Provided that in cases to which the provisions of Chapter *=12 or section
0510H15 164 of the Income-tax Act apply, "advance tax" shall be computed
0520H15 with reference to the rates imposed by this sub-section or the rates as
0530H15 specified in that_ Chapter or section, as the case may be, and shall pay
0540H15 such amount of advance tax as accords with the statement or, as the case
0550H15 may be, estimate in equal instalments on the dates applicable in his
0560H15 case under section 211.
0570H15 $(2) ^Where an assessee who is required to_ send a statement under clause
0580H15 (a) of sub-section (1) estimates at any time before the date on which
0590H15 the first instalment of advance tax is due in his case under sub-section
0600H15 (1) of section 211 that, by reason of his current income being likely
0610H15 to_ be less than the income on which advance tax is payable by him under
0620H15 sub-section (1) or for any other reason, the amount of advance tax computed
0630H15 in the manner laid down in section 209 on the current income would
0640H15 be less than the amount of advance tax payable by him under sub-section
0650H15 (1), he may send to the income-tax Officer, in lieu of such statement,
0660H15 an estimate of-- $(**=1) the current income, and $(**=2) the advance
0680H15 payable by him on the current income calculated in the manner laid down
0700H15 in section 209, $and shall pay such amount of advance tax as accords with
0710H15 his estimate in equal instalments on the dates applicable in his case
0720H15 under section 211.
0730H15 $(3) ^Where an assessee who has sent a statement under clause (a) of sub-section
0740H15 (1) estimates at any time before the last instalment of advance
0750H15 tax is due in his case that, by reason of his current income being likely
0760H15 to_ be less than the income on which advance tax is payable by him under
0770H15 sub-section (1) or for any other reason, the amount of advance tax
0780H15 computed in the manner laid down in section 209 on the current income would
0790H15 be less than the amount of advance tax payable by him under sub-section
0800H15 (1) he may, at his option, send to the Income-tax Officer an estimate
0810H15 of-- $(**=1) the current income, and
0830H15 $(**=2) the advance tax payable by him on the current income calculated
0840H15 in the manner laid down in section 209,
0850H15 $and shall pay such amount of advance tax as accords with his estimate in
0860H15 equal instalments on such of the dates applicable in his case under section
0870H15 211 as have not expired, or in one sum if only the last of such dates
0880H15 has not expired.
0890H15 $(4) ^In the case of any assessee who is liable to_ pay advance tax under
0900H15 sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) or, as the case may be, sub-section
0910H15 (3), if, by reason of the current income being likely to_ be greater than
0920H15 the income on which the advance tax so payable by him has been computed
0930H15 or for any other reason, the amount of advance tax computed in the manner
0940H15 laid down in section 209 on the current income (which shall be estimated
0950H15 by the assessee) exceeds the amount of advance tax so payable by
0960H15 him by more than 33-1/3 per cent of the latter amount, he shall, at any
0970H15 time before the date on which the last instalment of advance tax is payable
0980H15 by him, send to the Income-tax Officer an estimate of-- $(**=1)
0990H15 the current income, and $(**=2) the advance tax payable by him on the
1000H15 current income calculated in the manner laid down in section 209, $and
1020H15 shall pay such amount of advance tax as accords with his estimate on such
1030H15 of the dates applicable in his case under section 211 as have not expired,
1040H15 by instalments which may be revised according to sub-section (5):
1060H15 $^Provided that in a case where the Commissioner is satisfied that, having
1070H15 regard to the nature of the business carried on by the assessee and
1080H15 the date of expiry of the previous year in respect of such business, it will
1090H15 be difficult for the assessee to_ furnish the estimate required to_
1100H15 be furnished by him in accordance with the provisions of sub-section before
1110H15 the date on which the last instalment of advance tax is due in his
1120H15 case, he may, if the assessee pays the advance tax which he is liable to_
1130H15 pay under sub-section (3) or sub-section (2) or, as the case may be,
1140H15 sub-section (3) before such date, extend the date for furnishing such estimate
1150H15 up to a period of thirty days immediately following the last date
1160H15 of the previous year in respect of that_ business and, where the date
1170H15 is so extended, the assessee shall pay, on or before the date as so extended,
1180H15 the amount by which the advance tax already paid by him falls short
1190H15 of the advance tax payable in accordance with his estimate.
1200H15 $(5) ^The assessee may send a revised estimate of the advance tax payable
1210H15 by him before any one of the dates specified in section 211 and adjust
1220H15 any excess or deficiency in respect of any instalment already paid in
1230H15 a subsequent instalment or in subsequent instalments.
1240H15 $(6) ^Every statement or estimate under this section shall be sent in the
1250H15 prescribed form and verified in the prescribed manner.
1260H15 $*3Explanation:- ^For the purposes of this section and section 212
1270H15 "current income", in relation to the advance tax payable by an assessee
1280H15 during any financial year, means the total income of the assessee [exclusive
1290H15 of capital gains and income referred to in sub-clause (**=9) of clause
1300H15 (24) of section 2, if any] of the period which would be the previous
1310H15 year for the assessment year immediately following that_ financial year.
1330H15 *<Amendment of section 211.*> $25. ^In section 211 of the Income-tax
1340H15 Act, in sub-section (1), with effect from the 1st day of June, 1978,--
1350H15 $(a) in the opening portion, for the words and figures "Subject to the
1360H15 provisions of this section and of section 212," the words, figures and
1370H15 letter "Subject to the provisions of this section and of sections 209A
1380H15 and 212" shall be substituted; $(b) for the *3Explanation, the
1390H15 following *3Explanation shall be substituted, namely:--
1410H15 $'*3Explanation:- ^In this sub-section, "total income" means,--
1420H15 $(a) in a case where the advance tax is paid by the assessee in accordance
1430H15 with the statement sent by him under sub-section (1) of section 209A
1440H15 or in accordance with an order of the Income-tax Officer under section
1450H15 210, the total income with reference to which the advance tax payable
1460H15 has been calculated in such statement or order;
1470H15 $(b) in a case where the advance tax is paid in accordance with an estimate
1480H15 (including a revised estimate) made by the assessee under section 209A
1490H15 or section 212, the total income with reference to which the advance
1500H15 tax is so estimated,
1510H15 $as reduced, in either case, by the amount of capital gain and income referred
1520H15 to in sub-clause (**=9) of clause (24) of section 2, if any, included
1540H15 therein.' *<Amendment to section 212.*> $26. ^In section 212
1550H15 of the income-tax Act, with effect from the 1st day of June, 1978,--
1560H15 $(a) in sub-section (1), for the words, brackets and figures "by reason
1570H15 of his total income [exclusive of capital gains and income referred to
1580H15 in sub-clause (**=9) of clause (24) of section 2, if any] of the period
1590H15 which would be the previous year for the immediately following assessment
1600H15 year (such total income being, hereafter in this section, referred to
1610H15 as the current income), the words "by reason of his current income" shall
1620H15 be substituted; $(b) sub-section (3) shall be omitted.
1630H15 *<Amendment to section 215.*>
1640H15 $27. ^In section 215 of the Income-tax Act, in sub-section (1), for the
1650H15 words and figures "advance tax under section 212 on the basis of his
1660H15 own estimate", the words, figures, letter and brackets "advance tax under
1670H15 section 209A or section 212 on the basis of his own estimate (including
1680H15 revised estimate)" shall be substituted with effect from the 1st day
1690H15 of June, 1978. *<Amendment to section 216.*>
1700H15 $28. ^In section 216 of the Income-tax Act, in clause (a), for the words,
1710H15 brackets, figures and letter "under sub-section (1) or sub-section
1720H15 (2) or sub-section (3) or sub-section (3A) of section 212", the words,
1730H15 figures and letter "under section 209A or section 212" shall be substituted
1740H15 with effect from the 1st day of June, 1978.
1800H15 $^Clause 2, read with the Schedule to the Bill, seeks to_ prescribe the
1810H15 rates at which income-tax (including surcharge thereon) is to_ be levied
1820H15 on income chargeable to tax for the assessment year 1978-79. ^Further,
1830H15 it lays down the rates at which tax is to_ be deducted at source during
1840H15 the financial year 1978-79 from incomes subject to such deduction under
1850H15 the Income-tax Act; and the rates at which "advance tax" is to_ be
1860H15 paid and tax is to_ be calculated and charged in special cases for the
1870H15 financial year 1978-79.*#
        **[no. of words = 02025**]

        **[txt. h16**]
0010H16 ^The security guards, he said, had been brought "from outside" by the management
0020H16 of the factory, Auto Pins (India) Ltd. ^All the guards belonged
0030H16 to one particular community.
0040H16 $^The \0DSP and the Police authorities said that they are ready to_
0050H16 get the cooperation of the different industries to_ save their factories,
0060H16 but they said that 'they regarded the police as their personal servants;
0070H16 they feel we should arrest anyone they name as a trouble-maker.'
0080H16 $^In another allied industry, the paper reports, the workers had been agitating
0090H16 against arbitrary dismissal of some of their colleagues. ^A
0100H16 notice was stuck on the gate by the management declaring the strike as illegal
0110H16 and gave the names of 114 workers involved. ^Another notice dated
0120H16 February 16 asked the striking workers to_ sign a statement to the effect
0130H16 that they had been forced to_ go on strike; that they regret their
0140H16 involvement in it; and that they would not participate in trade union activities
0150H16 or in a tool-down strike before being allowed to_ resume work.
0160H16 ^About ten men of the Central Reserve Police guarded the premises.
0170H16 $^*Sir, in another factory, that is, Hein Lehmann in Sector *=6 of Faridabad,
0180H16 the workers were agitating. ^The workers said that the main cause
0190H16 of complaint was a management directive on February 9, asking each
0200H16 worker to_ operate two machines at a time. ^Previously one person was
0210H16 working on one machine only. ^Three workers were suspended by the management,
0220H16 they alleged, when the workers refused to_ accept the management*'s
0230H16 proposal. ^They also alleged that two members of the management, on
0240H16 separate occasions, had assaulted workers and warned them against participation
0250H16 in union activities.
0260H16 $^In another factory, that_ is Top Style Ltd., where the workers submitted
0270H16 a Charter of Demands to the management, \0Mr. Bijay Walia, a
0280H16 Member of the working committee of the Union, was assaulted.
0290H16 $^In this way you will find, Sir, a reign of terror is going on in the
0300H16 Faridabad Industrial Complex, in and around Delhi, which is the Capital
0310H16 City of India. ^It has got serious repercussions. ^It has created
0320H16 a feeling of insecurity in the minds of thousands and thousands of
0330H16 workers who are agitating and it has created a serious industrial relations
0340H16 problem.
0350H16 $^So, I request the Minister concerned to_ make a statement on the floor
0360H16 of the House assuring us that he will take proper steps so that the
0370H16 workers may feel that they are safe and industrial peace is restored. ^It
0380H16 is a very urgent matter and it will affect Delhi, Faridabad and Ghaziabad.
0390H16 ^It will affect the Capital City of this country, and so it
0400H16 is a very serious matter. ^So I want to_ know about this. $*<(**=4) *3Reported
0410H16 burning of a *4harijan in Reputha near Sasaram*> $\0*4^*Shri
0430H16 JYOTIRMOY BOSU (Diamond Harbour): ^A news report which has
0440H16 come has really shocked us. ^The report is about the assaulting, shooting
0450H16 and then burning of a *4Harijan named Vasist Dusadh in Raputha near
0460H16 Sasaram on the 15th of February, 1978 by some upper-class people to_
0470H16 discredit the present Government. ^This report has shocked everybody
0480H16 in the country. $^*Sir,
0490H16 the atrocities and the repression on *4Harijans by upper castes
0500H16 and the Police which used to_ be an almost everyday practice during the
0510H16 erstwhile regime of \0Mrs. Indira Gandhi, should be checked at once.
0520H16 $^The House is seriously concerned about this incident and demands of
0530H16 the Government to_ make a statement instantly, and, at the same time,
0540H16 ensure vigorous steps against the culprits under advice to the House.
0550H16 $**<*3CHILD MARRIAGE RESTRAINT $(AMENDMENT) BILL*0**>
0560H16 $*3THE MINISTER OF LAW, JUSTICE AND COMPANY AFFAIRS (\0*4*SHRI SHANTI
0570H16 BHUSHAN):*0 \0^*Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I beg to_ move:
0580H16 $"^That the Bill further to_ amend the Child Marriage Restraint Act,
0590H16 1929, and to_ make certain consequential amendments in the Indian Christian
0600H16 Marriage Act, 1872, and the Hindu Marraige Act. 1955 be taken
0610H16 into consideration."
0620H16 $^*Sir, the Bill seeks to_ increase the minimum age for the purpose of
0630H16 marriage both for males and females. ^It further provides that the offences
0640H16 under this Act, the Child Marriage Restraint Act, may be capable
0650H16 of investigation by the police officers under the Code of Criminal
0660H16 Procedure as if they were cognizable offences. but, at the same time, the
0670H16 police officers may not have the power to_ effect arrests without a warrant
0680H16 or without an order of a magistrate.
0690H16 $^*Sir, the question of raising the minimum age for marriage in the case
0700H16 of both males and females has been under the consideration of the Government
0710H16 for quite some time. ^In fact this Act of 1920 was enacted in order
0720H16 to_ prevent child marriages. ^Originally, the Act provided that a male
0730H16 who was under 18 years of age and a female under fourteen years of
0740H16 age were not entitled to_ marry. ^Subsequently, the age-limit for females
0750H16 was raised to 15 years as a result of an Amending Bill of 1948 which
0760H16 had been brought forward by Pandit Thakurdas Bhargava in the Constituent
0770H16 Assembly. ^Earlier in fact, that_ Bill was enacted to_ raise the
0780H16 minimum age for marriage of a male from 18 to 20 years and of the female
0790H16 from 14 to 15 years. ^But, the bill was referred to a Select Committee
0800H16 which had agreed with the proposal. ^However, when the Bill was ultimately
0810H16 passed, it provided for raising of the minimum age for females only
0820H16 from 14 to 15 and the position with regard to males was maintained as
0830H16 it was before.
0840H16 $^As the \0Hon. Members of the House are aware, this question of minimum
0850H16 age for marriage has a direct bearing on the growth of population in
0860H16 the country. ^When this growth of population is such an important problem
0870H16 which the country is facing, it is necessary that the minimum age both
0880H16 for males and females should be increased. ^Earlier also a Bill had
0890H16 been introduced in this House in August, 1976 but it had lapsed with
0900H16 the dissolution of the *5Lok Sabha*6 on the 18th of January, 1977.
0910H16 $^Now, Sir, having regard to the importance of this matter, it is proposed
0920H16 by this Bill to_ raise the minimum age of marriage for males to 21
0930H16 and for females to 18. ^Although in the Bill, as introduced, the age was
0940H16 proposed to_ be raised from 15 to 16 only, but, Sir, having regard to
0950H16 this very important matter of growth in population, it is proposed, I
0960H16 have already given notice of an official amendment, to_ fix the minimum
0970H16 age for females as 18.
0980H16 $^There has often been a plea that, these offences until they are made cognisable,
0990H16 the enforcement of the act is not really fully made. ^Government
1000H16 gave anxious consideration to this matter and it cannot be disputed
1010H16 that the provisions in such an Act should be rigorously enforced. ^But,
1020H16 at the same time, it is necessary that the people may not unnecessarily
1030H16 be harassed. ^Therefore, this *3via-media*0 has been found, namely,
1040H16 that the offences may be made cognisable so that it may be open to the
1050H16 police to_ investigate the offences and bring the offenders to book. ^At
1060H16 the same time the power has not been given to the police officers to_
1070H16 effect arrests without a warrant or without an order from a magistrate.
1080H16 $^*I might add that so far as any measures for such social reforms are
1090H16 concerned, they do not merely depend upon law because the attitude of the
1100H16 public is also very important. ^Our aim should also be that the public
1110H16 should be educated to_ fall in line with such reforms. ^There is, of
1120H16 course, an amendment proposed to the Enacting Formula and the clause of
1130H16 the Bill because the Bill was introduced in 1977 and, by the process
1140H16 of history, we have come to 1978 now.
1150H16 $^With these remarks, I commend this Bill for the consideration of the
1170H16 House $\0MR. DEPUTY SPEAKER; ^Motion moved:
1180H16 $"^That the Bill further to_ amend the Child Marriage Restraint Act,
1190H16 1929 and to_ make Certain consequential amendments in the Indian Christian
1200H16 Marriage Act, 1872, and the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, be taken
1210H16 into consideration." $\0*4SHRI
1220H16 VAYALAR RAVI (Chirayinkil): \0^*Mr Deputy-speaker, Sir,
1230H16 there is not much to_ argue on this and the hon*'3ble Minister himself
1240H16 has accepted an amendment. ^There is an official amendment raising
1250H16 the age of female upto eighteen.
1260H16 $^*Sir, one of the main reasons for bringing forward this Bill, that is
1270H16 raising the marriage age is to_ check the growth of population. ^It is
1280H16 true the population problem is one of the major problems facing this country
1290H16 but different methods are being adopted to_ tackle this problem. ^Government
1300H16 itself is proposing many things. ^*I do not want to_ get myself
1310H16 involved in that_ problem just now. ^Government is realising the gravity
1320H16 and seriousness of the rate of growth in population.
1330H16 $^*Sir, I would like to_ draw your attention to the Statement of Objects
1340H16 and Reasons wherein it is stated:
1350H16 $"^The question of increasing the minimum age of marriage for males and
1360H16 females has been considered in the present context when there is an urgent
1370H16 need to_ check the growth of population in the country. ^Such increase
1380H16 of the minimum age of marriage will result in lowering the total fertility
1390H16 rate on account of lesser span of married life."
1400H16 $^In this respect, I would like to_ point out that there is a heavy demand
1410H16 from the young men for lowering the voting age. ^The young men feel
1420H16 that they are mature at the age of eighteen. ^Actually the Janata governments
1430H16 of Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat have accepted this demand for
1440H16 lowering the voting age to eighteen. ^So, Sir, when a citizen of this
1450H16 country is capable of exercising his right of franchise at the age of eighteen,
1460H16 how can you prevent him by law from marrying at the age of
1470H16 eighteen? ^Further, marriage does not mean just producing children. ^There
1480H16 is something else to it. ^Here you are restricting the right of
1490H16 the citizens of this country-- especially menfolk-- upto the age of twenty-one.
1500H16 ^*Sir, there seems to_ be no logic of criteria behind fixing the
1510H16 age for male at twenty-one. ^There is no logical explanation as to why
1520H16 in the case of male it is twenty-one whereas for female it is eithteen.
1530H16 ^My demand is that in the case of male also it should be eighteen. ^The
1540H16 age should be equal for both men and women. ^Today women are clamouring
1550H16 for equal rights and this morning the Railway Minister also said
1560H16 that he was going to_ appoint more women on the ticket booking counters.
1570H16 ^So, my suggestion is that the age of male and female should be equal.
2680H16 ^It is now accepted by the governments of Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat
1590H16 that a young man is capable of thinking about the future of the nation
1600H16 at the age of eighteen. ^So, you must give the same right to the citizens
1610H16 in their individual freedom. ^Today a student becomes a graduate at
1620H16 the age of twenty-one. ^He will have to_ wait for another one year to_
1630H16 get married. $^So, my simple request is... (interruptions). ^Mine is a
1650H16 late marriage. $*3THE MINISTER OF LAW, JUSTICE
1660H16 AND COMPANY AFFAIRS*0 (\0*4SHRI SHANTI BHUSHAN): ^The
1670H16 \0Hon. member is already above 21. ^Why is he worried? $\0*4SHRI
1680H16 VAYALAR RAVI: ^*I am worried about the future generation.
1700H16 $AN \0HON. MEMBER: ^He is worried about his son, Sir. $\0*4SHRI
1701H16 *(0A.*) BALA PAJANOR (Pondicherry): ^He is highly deceptive in
1720H16 age. $\0*4^SHRI VAYALAR RAVI: ^*Sir, there should be equal rights.
1730H16 ^It should be 18 years for both boys and girls. ^So far as population growth
1740H16 is concerned, the mere criterion should not be raising of marriageable
1750H16 age. ^But it may be one of the criteria which I fully appreciate. ^In
1760H16 so far as raising of marriageable age of girls is concerned, it is all
1770H16 right because if they are married at the early age, they may have two
1780H16 or three children before they attain the age of 20 or so and the entire
1790H16 family is affected. ^Now, when a child is born, we should think in terms
1800H16 of what should be the attitude of the child towards the society.*#
        **[no. of words = 02018**]

        **[txt. h17**]
0010H17 \0*4^SHRI. *(0B. C*) KAMBLE (Bombay South-Central): \0^*Mr
0020H17 Chairman, Sir, the question of law and order has become so much confused
0030H17 that one wonders as to whose responsibility it is and how to_ enforce
0040H17 this responsibility so far as the maintenance of law and order is concerned.
0050H17 ^In this House a debate has taken place and the straight question
0060H17 that I would like to_ ask the Government is "Are you going to_
0061H17 assume
0070H17 the responsibility with regard to the maintenance of law and order or say
0080H17 that it is the responsibility of the States and that you have no responsibility
0090H17 at all."
0100H17 $^So far as this position is concerned, it seems that for the last thirty
0110H17 years, the administration is being carried as if there is no responsibility
0120H17 and there is no method of enforcing the responsibility. ^This is
0130H17 not a new problem. ^Even when the Constituent Assembly sat, even at that_
0140H17 time, the Constituent Assembly had to_ face this situation and during
0150H17 the last thirty years there had been more than two *4lakhs of atrocities
0160H17 on the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. ^In the Constituent
0170H17 Assembly, late \0Dr. Ambedkar had given a warning before 29 years.
0180H17 ^He said, while concluding his speech in the Constituent Assembly:
0200H17 $"There is a danger of democracy giving place to Dictatorship".
0210H17 $and that_ has happened.
0220H17 $^Now there is another prophecy in the speech of late \0Dr Ambedkar.
0230H17 ^He said: $"If we wish to_ maintain democracy not merely in form, but
0240H17 also in fact, what must we do? ^The first thing, in my judgment, we must
0250H17 do is to_ hold fast to the Constitutional methods of achieving our social
0260H17 and economic objectives. ^It means we must abandon the bloody methods
0270H17 of revolution. ^It means we must abandon the bloody methods of civil
0280H17 disobedience, non-co-operation and *4Satyagraha."
0290H17 $^This is the warning which late \0Dr. Ambedkar gave 29 years ago.
0300H17 $^If this warning is not heeded, I am quite sure that there is going to_
0310H17 be anarchy in this country and nothing can control it.
0320H17 $^Now therefore, what is the method by which we can enforce this responsibility
0330H17 with regard to the maintenance of law and order? ^The Home Minister
0340H17 either in the States or in this \0Hon. House cannot go on saying
0350H17 that these are the disturbances and this is the statistics. ^Who is responsible?
0360H17 ^Who has to_ enforce this responsibility? ^The surer way is--
0370H17 it may be the responsibility of the Centre or the States-- there must
0380H17 be certain norms established and if the situation goes beyond that norm,
0390H17 every Home Minister must forthwith resign, if he is not able to_ enforce
0400H17 the law and order. ^That_ is my suggestion.
0410H17 $^So far as these incidents are concerned these are not isolated incidents.
0420H17 ^They are inter-mixed. ^This problem is a very complicated problem
0430H17 because these are religious incidents, some are social incidents and some
0440H17 are political incidents and all of them are woven together. ^Therefore,
0450H17 it is good that the \0Hon. Prime Minister has been good enough to_
0460H17 call a Conference and my suggestion is, the Conference must not only
0470H17 deal with the law and order problem, but also two main subjects.
0490H17 $^One is social order. ^What kind of social order do we have? ^It must
0500H17 also consider whether it is a social order which breeds violence and whether
0510H17 it creates disturbances and whether there can be any remedy and whether
0520H17 we can improve upon the social order. $^Similarly
0530H17 about the system of Government, that_ question must also be
0540H17 considered and discussed in that_ Conference. ^Otherwise, if we take in
0550H17 an isolated manner the question of law and order alone, probably that_
0560H17 Conference may not be successful and we will not be able to_ get any solution
0570H17 whatsoever. ^There are certain remedies as suggested by late \0Dr
0580H17 Ambedkar and one remedy is that if any Cabinet or any Government either
0590H17 in the State or at the Centre is failing to_ protect the lives of
0600H17 the Scheduled Castes and Tribes, then, certain special powers must be
0610H17 given to the Governor and it should be the special responsibility of
0620H17 the Governor to_ protect them.
0630H17 ^*I understand that if such special powers are given to the Governor, there
0640H17 will be diminution of the powers of the cabinet. ^But when the cabinet
0650H17 is not using the necessary powers for the protection of these people
0660H17 there is no other way than investing the Governor or the President as
0670H17 the case may be with special powers.
0680H17 $^There has been violence in Bihar. ^40 years ago, \0Dr Ambedkar gave
0690H17 a warning saying that this monster of caste should be destroyed. ^He
0700H17 had analysed thoroughly that if this monster is not destroyed, it shall
0710H17 raise its head and there will be a sort of civil war. ^Such of those who
0720H17 want caste, either high or low, will have to_ face the situation. ^Otherwise,
0730H17 we should destroy caste and see that our social order is reformed.
0750H17 $^There should be established certain committees of legislatures comprising
0760H17 scheduled castes and scheduled tribes and special powers should be
0770H17 given to these committees, if they are to_ be protected.
0780H17 $^*I want to_ give certain statistics. ^All these reserved seats are captured
0790H17 by different political parties and therefore, there is no unity of
0800H17 purpose so far as the welfare of the scheduled castes and scheduled tribes
0810H17 is concerned. ^In the Legislative Assemblies, the Janata Party
0820H17 has captured 240 seats, the Congress Party 51 seats, \0CPI 12 seats
0830H17 and \0CPM 48 seats. ^In the *5Lok Sabha*6 also there are certain
0840H17 seats captured by various political parties. **[sic**] ^If these are reserved
0850H17 seats, leave it to them. ^Let them be organised. ^There real representatives
0860H17 should be elected and they should be able to_ influence the
0870H17 policy of the Government. ^In that_ conference, this question of representation
0880H17 must be discussed properly and the real representatives should
0890H17 be called for that_ conference. $^With
0900H17 these words, I conclude. $\0*4SHRI. SOMNATH CHATTERJEE (Jadavpur):
0910H17 ^*Sir, this is a very important Ministry. ^It has a very important
0920H17 task to_ perform, namely, dismantling the citadels of reaction and dictatorship
0930H17 that_ had been set up during those dark days of the emergency.
0940H17 ^*I know that various commissions have been set up and that so far as
0950H17 persons at the higher levels are concerned, they are awaiting the reports
0960H17 of the Shah and other commissions. ^But in the executive set up, there
0970H17 are various people who have indulged in the grossest misuse of the laws
0980H17 that_ were prevalent in those days. ^*I would like to_ know what steps
0990H17 government have so far taken to_ ascertain who have been responsible
1000H17 for the grossest misuse of laws like \0MISA and \0DIR and how the
1010H17 laws of this country had been manipulated for the purpose of taking away
1020H17 whatever minimal rights the citizens of this country were enjoying.
1030H17 ^This explanation is owed by this government to the people of this country.
1040H17 ^Therefore, it is not enough to_ merely leave it to the commissions
1050H17 to_ find out what happened. ^The commissions*' findings will not be operative
1060H17 as such. ^There will have to_ be follow-up action. ^When will you
1070H17 take any concrete steps to_ undo the mischief of the dictatorship, and
1080H17 the emergency that had been taken recourse to? ^How soon will you do
1090H17 it and how do you propose to_ do it? ^We would like to_ know what is the
1100H17 thinking of the Home Ministry on this point. ^*Sir, we have seen how
1110H17 things have been done **[sic**] some time back, how a simple prosecution
1120H17 could not be conducted in a proper manner. ^So, it seems there are
1121H17 still forces
1130H17 which are operating in the corridors of the Home Ministry or in the
1140H17 Home Ministry itself who are more sympathetic to the continuation of
1150H17 the old system of Government that_ was there. ^They are interested in covering
1160H17 up the misdeeds than interested in uncovering those misdeeds and
1170H17 taking real steps to_ stop these things in future. ^This is important
1180H17 because there is an impression in the minds of the people that there are
1190H17 still forces operating which are preventing real disclosure of the true
1200H17 state of affairs and from taking any action against the persons who are
1210H17 guilty of those wrong doings.
1220H17 $^Secondly, with regard to the All India Services, the Indian Administrative
1230H17 Service, the Indian Police Service and other All-India Services,
1240H17 an anomaly has been created because of the control which is left
1250H17 with the Central Government in regard to their disciplinary proceedings
1260H17 or in regard to taking action
1270H17 against them. ^Various persons are deputed from here and assigned to the
1280H17 States. ^The State Governments have really no control over these All-India
1290H17 Service officers. ^We are told that the Central Government
1300H17 takes away officers from some States. ^Those whom the State Governments
1310H17 want to_ retain for the services of the States are not allowed to_
1320H17 remain there. ^Those decisions are not taken in consultation with the States.
1330H17 ^It is the Central Government which ultimately decides. **[sic**]
1340H17 ^The Constitution has imposed so many responsibilities on the State
1341H17 Governments.
1350H17 ^Now, we cannot do away with bureaucratic set up as such. ^Whether
1360H17 \0IAS officers or \0IPS officers of State Governments are
1370H17 really to_ be kept in the States for carrying out the States*' policies
1380H17 or not, this is a matter which has to_ be decided by the Centre only.
1390H17 ^This is a very important aspect because after all, you want that the
1400H17 State Governments should function properly. ^There are various responsibilities
1410H17 under the Constitution and with the bureaucratic set up that_
1420H17 we have, we cannot do away with the \0IAS and \0IPS because that_
1430H17 is all controlled by the Centre. ^But the State Governments are becoming
1440H17 more and more powerless in selecting officers for being deputed to
1450H17 the States and in taking action against them, if they do not perform their
1460H17 functions well. ^One has to_ come to the Centre for clearance for
1470H17 anything that_ is to_ be done by the States. ^This is creating difficulty.
1490H17 $^The other point is the question of Centre State relations. ^We have
1500H17 been saying that this is not a matter of confrontation between any State
1510H17 and the Centre. ^This is a stark reality of this country that thirty
1520H17 years of the operation of the Constitution of India as it has been
1530H17 framed or even amended many times, has not been able to_ bring about any
1540H17 real change in the economic condition of the people of this country. ^It
1550H17 has not resulted in equal development of the different parts of the country,
1560H17 namely, the different States. ^There are discriminations whether
1570H17 knowingly or unknowingly which have been perpetrated. ^There are uneven
1580H17 developments. ^In some parts of the country there is concentration
1590H17 of resources while large areas of the country are still as in the pre-Independence
1600H17 days. ^Has the Constitution of the country so far as the
1610H17 distribution of powers under a federal set up is concerned, and distribution
1620H17 of legislative power and distribution of executive power between the
1630H17 Centre and the States is concerned, served the people of this country?
1640H17 ^That is the touch-stone of its utility. ^Has it helped in the uniform
1650H17 development of all the states of the country? ^It does not require any
1660H17 statistical data to_ prove that the eastern part of this country has
1670H17 been deprived of various inputs and various investments which the other
1680H17 parts of the country have got. ^*I am not saying that the other parts
1690H17 of the country should not develop. ^*I am not crying over that_; but what
1700H17 I am saying is that the Constitution has imposed very serious and important
1710H17 responsibilities on the State governments. ^Has the Constitution,
1720H17 in the matter of distribution of economic and political powers, made
1730H17 such provisions which will help in the proper development of the States,
1740H17 and which will help the different State governments to_ arrange for
1750H17 their own affairs satisfactorily, for the improvement of the conditions
1760H17 of the weaker sections of the people? ^It is undeniable that after 30
1770H17 years of Independence, 70 per cent of the people of this country are below
1780H17 the poverty line.*#
        **[no. of words = 02006**]

        **[txt. h18**]
0010H18 ^Therefore, I would like and would request the \0Hon. Minister to_ come
0020H18 forward before this House once again with a complete Blue paper on
0030H18 coal production, supply and demand situation in this country. ^The \0CIL
0040H18 has itself given notice to the industries in the Southern States that
0050H18 they better switch over to other sources of energy. ^This shows that
0060H18 the situation is not as simple as has been explained in the statement.
0070H18 ^There is a crisis. ^About 300 to 400 foundries are closed in the States
0080H18 of Madhya Pradesh Rajasthan Gujarat and Maharashtra and the four
0090H18 southern States. ^The situation is going to_ be very acute in the
0091H18 coming
0100H18 few months. $^The second point I want to_ raise is that there are conflicting
0110H18 statements from the \0CIL and the Ministry of energy. ^We learn
0120H18 from one statement that coal is going to_ be exported, but now we read
0130H18 another statement that coal is going to_ be imported and steel is going
0140H18 to_ be imported because the steel plants are facing acute shortage while
0150H18 the \0CIL makes the charge that the steel plants have no storage capacity.
0160H18 $^It is also said that there is wagon shortage, but according to
0170H18 my knowledge, at the loading stations there is a 20 per cent fall in loading.
0180H18 ^Loading orders
0190H18 are not sufficient and wagons are less because, in some cases they are being
0200H18 retained. ^All these issues arise out of the basic shortage of coal
0210H18 for industry, for energy and for other uses, and even for Railways. ^In
0220H18 Maharashtra a few railway-lines had to_ be closed because there was no
0230H18 coal. ^Therefore, I would like to_ tell the Minister that this statement
0240H18 does not satisfy us. ^It is a pious statement, but it does not state
0250H18 the facts. ^Therefore, would he accept our request and come before the
0260H18 House with a complete statement-- a Blue Paper on the coal production,
0270H18 coal distribution, coal targets and the methods by which complete coordination,
0280H18 not only between the Ministry of Energy and the Railways,
0290H18 but also with Industry and Commerce will be ensured? ^If they are going
0300H18 to_ import now, a Coordination Committee of a high-powered nature would
0310H18 have to_ be set up to_ solve the problem of coal. $\0*4^SHRI. *(0P.*)
0320H18 RAMACHANDRAN: ^The \0Hon. Member raised a few points with regard
0330H18 to coal production. ^The production programme is based on the valuation
0340H18 of the demand in the country. ^It is only based on that_, that the
0350H18 target is fixed. ^That_ target is 130 million tons for the current year.
0360H18 ^Even last year the target was fixed at 110 million tons, and it was achieved;
0370H18 and we have despatched coal to the various consumers. $^But with
0380H18 regard to the production of explosives and other factors which were constraints
0390H18 in the production of coal, I have explained in my statement
0400H18 that, because of the strike in the explosives factory there were constraints
0410H18 about the availability of explosives. ^The import of explosives
0420H18 also cannot be done quickly for the simple reason that a number of formalities
0430H18 and also certain regulations also have to_ be followed in regard
0440H18 to their import in particular. ^That_ is why it is only after serious consideration
0450H18 and consultation with the Minister of Industries, my colleague,
0460H18 that we have decided to_ import a few thousand tons of explosives
0470H18 into the country. $^With regard to the availability of coal in various
0480H18 sectors, I would like to_ explain a few points. ^In this country, out
0490H18 of the production nearly 80 per cent is a linked quantity, and it is only
0500H18 about 20 per cent of the production that_ will be distributed to low
0510H18 priority consumers in this country. ^For instance, steel, power stations,
0520H18 railways, cement industries are the priority industries and the consumers
0530H18 are also there. ^First, we just distribute coal available to these
0540H18 sectors. ^The \0hon. Member was telling about the steel plants. ^Today,
0550H18 the stock position at the steel plants is 3.34 *4lakh tonnes and at no
0560H18 time the stock in the steel plants went down below 2.87 *4lakh tonnes. ^In
0570H18 the discussions that we had a few days ago, I enquired from the Chairman
0580H18 of the Steel Authority if there had been any occasion for the steel
0590H18 plants to_ close down for want of coal. ^There may be other reasons.
0600H18 ^He assured me that the steel plants were never closed down for want of
0610H18 coal and as I told you, the lowest stock at the steel plants at a particular
0620H18 point of time was 2.87 *4lakh tonnes. ^That_ means, it is a few
0630H18 days*' consumption. ^It may be that certain varieties of coal may not be
0640H18 available at that_ particular time; that_ also, we are looking into and
0650H18 we are trying to_ supply whatever coal they want. $^With regard to the
0660H18 power stations I can assure the \0Hon. members that we
0680H18 have tried to_ supply to all the power stations, the coal that_ was necessary.
0690H18 ^At times, what happens at the pit-head stations for example Talcher,
0700H18 Kordi \0etc. is this. ^There are ropeways and conveyor belts by
0710H18 which coal is supplied to them. ^At times there may be some failure in
0720H18 the ropeway and conveyor belt; that_ also affects the coal supply to the
0730H18 power stations. ^*I can tell you categorically that at times, because of
0740H18 the low stock position of coal at the power stations, the power generation
0750H18 could have been reduced, but no power station was closed for want
0760H18 of coal. $\0DR. VASANT KUMAR PANDIT. ^Power shedding is there.
0761H18 $\0*4SHRI. *(0P*) RAMACHANDRAN: ^That_ is different do not mix
0770H18 up that_. $^The \0Hon. Member has also raised certain other points about
0780H18 the coal companies and the coordination or lack of coordination between
0790H18 Coal India \0Ltd. and the subsidiary companies. ^That_ is a matter
0800H18 of administration. ^*I can tell the \0Hon. Member that all these probems,
0810H18 when they are raised, are being looked into and efficiency is being
0820H18 achieved in the functioning of the coal companies also. ^There may be many
0830H18 reports appearing in the press; that_ does not mean that they are authentic.
0840H18 ^Whatever statement is made by us periodically, I think, the \0Hon.
0850H18 Member should go by them. ^*I think, it would satisfy the \0Hon.
0860H18 Member. $\0DR. VASANT KUMAR PANDIT. ^What about the railways? $\0*4SHRI.
0870H18 *(0P.*) RAMACHANDRAN: ^About the railways, it is true that
0880H18 during the peak period, a few short-distance trains were cancelled.
0890H18 ^Even here, it may be due to some bottleneck in the movement of coal or
0900H18 coal being diverted to some needy industries. ^As I said, some of the
0910H18 short-distance trains were cancelled but at the same time, a number of
0920H18 special trains were run with the help of diesel locos or the power locos.
0930H18 ^A few trains were cancelled, but that_ is not because of non-availability
0940H18 of coal only. $\0*4SHRI. KANWAR LAL GUPTA: (Delhi Sardar):
0950H18 ^*Sir, I have read the detailed statement made by my friend the \0Hon.
0960H18 Minister. ^He has painted a very good picture of his performance. ^*I
0970H18 appreciate his difficulties and I would not outright condemn his performance.
0980H18 ^*I agree with the difficulties he has mentioned, but the picture
0990H18 which he has painted is not like that_. ^It is not a fact that we are
1000H18 losing about eighty *4crores of rupees per year in this
1010H18 coal business, whereas when it was in the private sector they were minting
1020H18 money? ^*I do not suggest that we have committed a mistake by nationalising
1030H18 the industry, but I think, there is something wrong somewhere
1040H18 which needs improvement. ^We lack efficiency. ^And there is a lot of pilferage.
1050H18 $*316 \0hrs. $^Secondly, is it not a fact that there are certain
1060H18 targets fixed for the whole year and you fix the target for every quarter
1070H18 also and for this quarter, the production was less by 3 million tonnes?
1080H18 ^So, the production is less as against the target fixed by you. $^Thirdly,
1090H18 last year there were reports in the Press that stocks had piled
1100H18 up at the mines and that there was no demand and they were lying. ^But
1110H18 this year there is no coal. ^Is this your planning? ^The only planning is
1120H18 that there is no planning. ^That_ is the only planning. ^So, I seriously
1130H18 object that you do not have proper planning. ^Last year you had
1131H18 sufficient
1140H18 coal but there was no demand and the coal piled up. ^But now you are
1150H18 not able to_ supply coal. $^Then you say that the picture is very good
1160H18 and the \0Hon. Minister has rightly said, 'Don*'4t go by the news that_
1170H18 appears in the Press.' ^In the Press if we read the comment of the
1180H18 Railway Ministry officials, they say that there is a shortage of coal
1190H18 and you are responsible for it. ^And if we read the statement of your
1200H18 officers, they say, 'No, we have got. ^The railways do not have the wagons.
1210H18 ^They are responsible for it.' ^Sometimes the *(energywalas*) say,
1220H18 'No, we are not responsible. ^We have sufficient electricity to_ give them.
1230H18 ^They are responsible for the shortfall.' ^The Industry Ministry
1240H18 officials say that the problem is there. ^Now you have started to_ import
1250H18 it. ^You rightly said, 'You do not listen to the papers.' ^But before
1251H18 your
1260H18 officials issue their statements, you must control your officers. ^In the
1270H18 same way, the Railway Minister should control their officials as also
1280H18 the Industry Ministry. ^You tell us, 'You believe me.' ^So I am going
1290H18 to_ believe you or your State Minister. ^Let me quote what the Minister
1300H18 of State has to_ say. ^He has made a statement at Calcutta.
1310H18 $\0*4SHRI. *(0P.*) RAMACHANDRAN: ^*I inquired about it. ^He tells
1320H18 me that it is all distorted. ^He did not say like that_. $\0*4SHRI.
1330H18 KANWAR LAL GUPTA: ^It is the prerogative of the politicians to_
1340H18 deny everything which does not suit them. $^The Minister of State said:
1350H18 $"If the coal industry was not immediately re-organized, it would be
1360H18 suicidal for the coal industry in future." $^Then he says: $"Since nationalisation
1370H18 the department of coal due to lack of vision and imagination
1380H18 could
1390H18 not plan for raising coal in sufficient quantities. ^Only old mines were
1400H18 being worked up and no new mines opened." $^The Minister said: $"The
1410H18 crisis of coal has come all of a sudden because of the sharp demand
1420H18 and power failure aggravated the situation...." $^So, he also says that
1430H18 it is on account of lack of planning. ^It cannot be misquoted. ^*I do
1440H18 not want to_ waste the time of the House. ^It cannot be wrong.... $\0*4SHRI.
1450H18 VASANT SATHE (Akola): ^Loss of \0Rs. 200 *4crores has
1460H18 taken place in Coal India \0Ltd. $\0*4SHRI. KANWAR LAL GUPTA:
1470H18 ^My question is that you need re-organization of the whole set up. ^Are
1480H18 you going to_ re-organize the set up of the Coal Department or not?
1490H18 ^This is my question. ^Another question is there was a news item in the
1500H18 press that you are losing the money heavily-- about \0Rs. 80 *4crores
1510H18 or \0Rs. 100 *4crores per year and you intend to_ raise the price of
1520H18 coal. ^Is it a fact that you proposed to_ increase the price of coal?
1530H18 ^It will be again disasterous. ^This is on account of your inefficiency
1540H18 and to_ hide your inefficiency you want to_ put burden on the people. ^That_
1550H18 is not proper. ^Kindly do not do it. $^There is no co-ordination among
1560H18 three or four Ministeries. ^*I want co-ordination at the Ministers*'
1570H18 level. ^The Railways Minister, the Energy Minister, the Minister
1580H18 of Coal and the Minister of Industry must have full co-ordination so
1590H18 that your officials may not accuse each other. ^Is it not a fact that
1600H18 the production of steam coal is much less? ^The demand is much more. $^Is
1610H18 it not a fact that about 150 trains have been cancelled even now. ^*I
1620H18 give you exact figures. ^It is not one or two but hundred and fifty trains
1630H18 which have been cancelled and he says there is no power station which
1640H18 was closed on account of shortage of coal. ^Well these may not have
1650H18 been closed continuously for a fortnight, or a year or six months.*#
        **[no. of words = 02012**]

        **[txt. h19**]
0010H19 \0*4^*Shri Raj Narain wants that in Tamil Nadu the people should learn
0020H19 Tamil, in Kerala the people should learn Malayalam \0etc. ^We have
0030H19 also no objection in the people of Bihar speaking and learning only Hindi.
0040H19 ^But the problem arises when the people of Bihar want to_ communicate
0050H19 with the people of Tamil Nadu. ^In what language they should do
0060H19 this? ^We have got this House, a representative body of 22 States in
0070H19 the country. ^What should be the language in which this House, if it desires
0080H19 should communicate with 22 States having different languages? ^That_
0090H19 is the problem we are facing today. ^*Hindi or any other language--
0100H19 which should be the language of such a communication? ^Here I have without
0110H19 any doubt to_ say that English puts equal burden on all the people.
0120H19 ^*English is not an alien language at all. ^*Nagaland, a constituent unit
0130H19 of our country, has adopted English as the State language. ^Do you
0140H19 want to_ throw out Nagaland by saying that English is an alien language?
0150H19 ^If that_ happens, naturally other States will follow and if this is
0160H19 allowed to_ happen, then disintegration of the country sets in. $^*I do
0170H19 not deny that the \0D.M.K. was committed to secession. ^What was the
0180H19 reason? ^We were afraid of becoming the slaves of Hindi imperialism.
0190H19 ^Later on we realised that we could pursue our struggle within the constitutional
0200H19 framework and we surrendered our demand for secession. ^But
0210H19 I hasten to add that the reasons which provoked us to_ demand secession
0220H19 persist. ^We have forfeited our demand for secession but we are not yet
0230H19 alienated from the causes that culminated in such a demand. ^Even after
0240H19 31 years of our Independence, we have not been able to_ find a solution
0250H19 to the language problem. ^Why should it be allowed to_ plague our country
0260H19 further? $\0*4SHRI *(0A. C.*) GEORGE: \0^*Mr. Deputy
0261H19 Speaker,
0270H19 the Prime Minister may be answering the Debate. ^The \0Hon. Member is
0280H19 making good points. ^May I suggest that the Prime Minister puts the
0290H19 earphones so that he hears the translation. \0MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER:
0300H19 ^He is getting it translated. ^Leave it to him. ^Please don*'4t disturb
0310H19 the speaker. $\0*4SHRI *(0A. V. P.*) ASAITHAMBI: ^As I stated
0320H19 at the beginning, I wish to_ repeat that I have no hatred towards Hindi.
0330H19 ^But I hate its imposition. ^It is claimed that Hindi is spoken
0340H19 by majority of the people in the country. ^*I would like to_ counter this
0350H19 argument by quoting from the 1972 Census Report of the Government
0360H19 of India. ^According to this Report out of the population of 54.81 *4crores,
0370H19 16 *4crores of people speak Hindi. ^But, you will be surprised
0380H19 to_ know that 47 dialects have been grouped under the heading Hindi and
0390H19 thus the number of Hindi-speaking people has been swelled to 16 *4crores.
0400H19 ^The number of real Hindi-- that_ is the Khadi Bholi-- speaking
0410H19 people is just 2 *4crores. ^Where is your majority? ^In a democracy the
0420H19 minorities must be given protection from the oppression of majority, even
0430H19 if I concede that Hindi is spoken by majority of people. ^Here have
0440H19 you chosen peacock as the national bird on the strength of its numbers?
0450H19 ^Have you chosen tiger as the national animal merely on the strength
0460H19 of its numbers? ^If you go by the numbers, then the sparrow and rat alone
0470H19 can become the national bird and national animal respectively. ^You have
0480H19 chosen peacock for its beauty and rarity. ^Similarly you have chosen
0490H19 tiger for its valour and strength. ^A national language must merit its choice
0500H19 on its own culture, traditions and literary value, and not merely
0510H19 by the number of people speaking it. ^We got freedom from the Britishers,
0520H19 not to_ become slaves of another section. $^*I am afraid that the era
0530H19 of an all India party coming to power at the Centre is coming to an
0540H19 end. ^The Congress Party which ruled the country for three decades has
0550H19 been decimated with the defeat of \0Mrs. Indira Gandhi. ^Four parties
0560H19 came together to_ form the Government at the Centre and now within
0570H19 19 months of Janata Government these groups are vying with one another
0580H19 in becoming supreme and that_ has created unseemly squabbles in the Janata
0590H19 Party. ^If this is the case with a political party ruling at the
0600H19 Centre, you can imagine what will happen in a country, which is a sub-continent
0610H19 by itself because of its diverse cultures and different languages,
0620H19 if one linguistic group tries to_ establish its supremacy over the others.
0630H19 $\0*4^*Shri. *(0C. S.*) referred to the fall of Congress Party
0640H19 in 1967 in Tamil Nadu and he analysed the cause for this in a beautiful
0650H19 manner. ^No accusing finger could be raised against \0*4Shri Kamaraj
0660H19 the leader of the Congress Party in Tamil Nadu. ^Yet he could not
0670H19 save the Party from its rout. ^The reason was the grievous error committed
0680H19 by the Congress Party at the national level in the matter of language
0690H19 in 1965. ^The Congress Party has not yet been able to_ raise its
0700H19 head in Tamil Nadu. ^Similarly, the Janata Party has also no *3*4janata
0710H19 in Tamil Nadu. ^*Indira Congress has also drawn blank in Tamil
0720H19 Nadu. ^Only Bala Pajanor and myself-- in other words *4Thiru Karunanidhi
0721H19 and *4Thiru *(0M. G. R.*) have the opportunity. ^If these two
0730H19 come together in Tamil Nadu, there can never be anybody else in Tamil
0740H19 Nadu, on the political arena. $*319.15 \0hrs. $[\0MR
0750H19 SPEAKER *3in the Chair] $^The people of four Southern States
0760H19 have woken up. ^The four Chief Ministers of Southern States have
0770H19 come together in this conference for the first time, since they have realised
0780H19 that the Central Government is getting debilitated. ^If Indira
0790H19 Congress Government had been there at the Centre, \0Dr. Chenna Reddy
0800H19 and \0*4Shri Devraj Urs would not have attended this meeting. ^Similarly,
0810H19 if Janata Government had been there in these two States, then
0820H19 also the Chief Ministers of these two States would not have come to_
0830H19 attend this conference. ^If in the coming Elections, no all-india party
0840H19 comes to power, and only regional parties get elected, what will happen
0850H19 in the country? ^There will be inevitable and unavoidable separation.
0860H19 ^Passion will be let loose. ^In spite of anti-secession law, there will
0870H19 be demand for secession. ^As is commonly known in legal circle, law cannot
0880H19 be based on full justice and fairplay. ^We on our part do not want
0890H19 such a thing to_ happen. ^We want to_ protect our country*'s unity and integrity.
0900H19 ^But we must bear in mind that there were 633 princely States
0910H19 before the advent of British here. ^The Britishers unified the nation
0920H19 and after independence, Sardar Patel strengthened the bonds of unity.
0930H19 ^In 1956 language was the basis for reorganising the States. ^*I want
0940H19 that during Morarji Desai*'s regime the country should not sunder apart.
0950H19 ^*English is the world language and it can safely be the link
0951H19 language
0960H19 of the country also. ^It is no longer an alien language. ^Even now, as
0970H19 mentioned by $\0*4shri *(0C. S.*) non-Hindi speaking people are second
0980H19 class citizens. ^If tomorrow Hindi supplants English, what will be
0990H19 the position? ^The fear of slavery makes us oppose this move. $^*Mahatma
1000H19 Gandhi got us freedom. ^But within a short time after that_ one of his
1010H19 moves was misinterpreted and he was murdered. ^Now we should not break
1020H19 the country. ^We want to_ protect the nation. ^*Hindi is the enemy of
1030H19 India and we should thwart its efforts to_ subjugate India. ^Now four
1040H19 non-Hindi States have come together. ^*I would like to_ warn the Government
1050H19 that at not a very distant future 15 non-Hindi speaking States
1060H19 in the country may come together to_ oppose the imposition of Hindi.
1070H19 $^With these words I conclude my speech, thanking you for giving me an
1080H19 opportunity to_ participate in this debate. $\0MR SPEAKER: ^The
1090H19 Prime Minister. $THE PRIME MINISTER (0*4SHRI MORARJI DESAI): \0^*Mr.
1100H19 Speaker, Sir... $*3AN \0HON. MEMBER:*0 ^Is he replying or intervening?
1110H19 $\0*4*4SHRI MORARJI DESAI: ^*I am replying... $\0MR. SPEAKER:
1120H19 ^We shall resume the debate after this. $\0*4Shri MORARJI DESAI:
1130H19 ^You may call it intervention if you like. $\0MR. SPEAKER
1140H19 ^The Prime Minister is speaking. $\0*4Shri MORARJI DESAI: ^*I
1150H19 have listened very carefully and attentively to all that_ has been said
1160H19 here. ^Even when I was absent from the House for about 45 minutes in
1170H19 two shifts, I was listening because I attach great importance to the
1180H19 question which has been debated here today. ^*I should have been very happy
1190H19 if no passions had been involved. ^But it only shows the sensitivity
1200H19 of the question. ^*I do not want, therefore, to_ tread on any sensitive
1210H19 ground. ^*I would not yield to the temptation of replying to some points
1220H19 which are not really necessary for the consideration of this question
1230H19 but which might create even an unintentional misunderstanding. ^*I
1240H19 do not want, therefore, to_ take that_ risk. ^This is a question which is
1250H19 very vital for the unity and strength of this country. ^But how politics
1260H19 comes in to this can be illustrated by the fact that, when my \0hon.
1270H19 friend, the Mover, \0Mr. Sathe, said that ultimately Hindi alone can
1280H19 be the common language, he was not considered a Hindi fanatic, but I
1290H19 am depicted as a Hindi fanatic. ^*I never said that Hindi should be imposed
1300H19 on anybody. ^*I do not believe in imposition of Hindi because such
1310H19 things cannot be done by imposition and governmental imposition does
1320H19 not lead to desired results. $^Sentiments and emotions ought not to_ be
1330H19 brought in here and they ought not to_ be exacerbated. ^*I have no doubt
1340H19 about it in my mind. ^That_ does not help the process. ^*I have, therefore,
1350H19 said that it is not the compulsion of the government but it is the
1360H19 compulsion of patriotism which will bring Hindi. ^That_ is all that I
1370H19 have always said and, patriotism is not a thing which I have to_ inculcate
1380H19 $(*3Interruptions) $\0*4Shri *(0P*) VENKATASUBBIAH:
1390H19 ^Why are you trying to_ equate the two? $\0*4Shri VAYALAR RAVI: ^We
1400H19 are also patriots. ^It is not the monopoloy of anybody. $\0MR. SPEAKER
1410H19 ^He never said that we are not. $\0*4Shri MORARJI DESAI:
1420H19 ^*I have not said that I am a better patriot than the \0hon. Member. ^*I
1430H19 have never said it. ^But why is sensitivity brought into it? ^*I do not
1440H19 want to_ hurt anybody. ^It is not what I am saying but it is a fact
1450H19 that in this country all of us are suffering from shortcomings in this
1460H19 matter because of the past history of the country. ^That_ is why the language
1470H19 problem is there. ^For thousands of years in its previous history
1480H19 we never had one common language because there never was one common government.
1481H19 ^There were hundreds of governments.
1490H19 ^At no time of history was there one government in this country
1500H19 before 1948. ^In 1948 all the princely States were merged and it was
1510H19 by the end of 1948 that the country had one government. ^Otherwise,
1520H19 the Britishers had left us with 551 governments in this country, but
1530H19 the country achieved one government because we realised that that_ was
1540H19 what was required to_ be done if India was to_ progress, develop and take
1550H19 its own place in the comity of nations. $(*3Interruptions) ^If my
1560H19 \0hon. friend, \0Mr. Venkatasubbiah, does not become impatient and allows
1570H19 me to_ speak, I shall be grateful. $^This is a matter which arose when
1580H19 the movement for national freedom was going on and the Indian National
1590H19 Congress for freedom. ^*I will not say that it was only the Indian
1600H19 National Congress which was working for freedom, there were others too,
1610H19 but Indian National Congress was the main body which was working,
1620H19 and if I say so, it will be no exaggeration. ^At that_ time people from
1630H19 the south, from Bengal, from Maharashtra and from Gujarat proposed
1640H19 that Hindi be the common-- national language; that_ is what they called
1650H19 it at that_ time. ^That_ was accepted and nobody contested it until we
1660H19 won our freedom. ^After freedom when the Constitution was drafted, Hindi
1670H19 was recognised as the common language, not as a national language and
1680H19 all the other languages of the country which are recognised in the Constitution
1690H19 are considered national languages so that there may be no quarrels
1700H19 on that_ account.*#
        **[no. of words = 02044**]

        **[txt. h20**]
0010H20 ^*I am not asking them as a Privilege Committee but as a Committee of
0020H20 the House. $(*3Interruptions) $^Unless I study the papers I cannot
0030H20 give a ruling. (*3Interruptions) $\0*4SHRI *(0B*) SHANKARANAND
0040H20 (Chikkodi): ^*I rise on a point of order. $^Only a Committee specified
0050H20 under the Rules have the authority to_ summon any person or call
0060H20 for any document. ^Now you are saying that a Committee without any authority...
0070H20 $\0MR. SPEAKER: ^No, no... $\0*4SHRI *(0B.*) SHANKARANAND:
0080H20 ^Please listen to me. ^You are referring this matter to the
0090H20 Privileges Committee, not as a Privileges Committee... $\0MR. SPEAKER:
0100H20 ^As a Committee of the House. $\0*4SHRI *(0B.*) SHANKARANAND:
0110H20 ^Please listen to me. ^That_ Committee is not according to the
0120H20 procedure. ^This Committee will have no authority to_ summon anybody...
0130H20 $\0MR. SPEAKER: ^*I can always appoint a Committee to_ go into
0140H20 the matter: the House can always go into the matter. $\0*4SHRI *(0B.*)
0150H20 SHANKARANAND: ^No, no: ^You have to_ say whether this Committee
0160H20 will have authority to_ summon anybody. $\0MR. SPEAKER: ^We will
0170H20 give you all the authority. ^The House will now take up further consideration...
0180H20 $(*3Interruptions) $\0MR. SPEAKER: ^Please do not
0190H20 record. $(*3Interruptions) $*315.00 \0hrs. $*<*3MOTION \0RE. THIRD
0200H20 REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OF PRIVILEGES--*0*> $\0Contd. $\0MR. SPEAKER:
0210H20 ^The House will now take up further consideration of the Motions
0220H20 regarding the Third Report of the Committee of Privileges and
0230H20 the Substitute Motions and Amendments moved thereto. $^Some more Substitute
0240H20 Motions and Amendments have since been tabled by Members to
0250H20 the Motion moved by \0*4Shri Morarji Desai on 8th December, 1978. $^*I
0260H20 will allow the Members concerned to_ move them also. ^They may, if
0270H20 they desire to_ move their Substitute Motions Amendments, send slips
0280H20 to the Table within 15 minutes indicating the serial numbers of the Substitute
0290H20 Motions Amendments they would like to_ move.
0291H20 $^Now, before I
0300H20 start the procedings may I make a request to the \0Hon. Members, since
0310H20 there are a large number of Members desiring to_ speak, to_ be brief
0320H20 in their submissions. $\0*4SHRI *(0C.*) SUBRAMANIAM (Palani):
0330H20 ^As far as Amendment \0No. 39 is concerned-- which is standing in the
0340H20 name of the Prime Minister-- before he moves that_ I have to_ rise on
0350H20 a point of order. ^Please hear me before that_. $\0MR. 2Speaker: ^Now...
0360H20 $\0*4SHRI *(0C. M.*) STEPHEN (Idukki): ^On a point of
0370H20 order. ^We must know where we stand with respect to whatever motions are
0380H20 there, whatever amendments are there. ^The point is this. ^*I have got
0390H20 before me the proceedings of the 8th. ^It is not clear what are the amendments
0400H20 before the House,
0410H20 what are the substitute motions before the House. ^These things are not
0420H20 clear. ^*I would just read out. ^You were pleased to_ say this when
0430H20 I rose on a point of order after \0Mr. Morarji Desai moved his motion:
0440H20 $"\0Mr. Speaker: ^*I do not think I should decide this now. ^There
0450H20 are a number of motions. ^This is not the only motion before us. ^There
0460H20 are a number of motions. ^*I will give the decision after all the
0461H20 motions
0470H20 are moved. ^If any one of them contravenes the rule, that_ will be
0480H20 over-ruled. ^This is not the only motion before the House. ^*I would
0490H20 have given my decision here and now on this, but that_ does not serve the
0500H20 purpose. ^There are a large number of motions." $^This was your ruling
0510H20 on that_ day. ^Subsequently you made this observation when the matter
0520H20 was pursued further; ^You said:
0530H20 $"\0Mr. Speaker: ^*I propose first to_ have all the amendments to the
0540H20 motion moved and thereafter consider which ones of them are valid or not.
0550H20 ^If all of them are invalid, they are invalid. ^If they are valid, they
0560H20 are valid. ^At that_ stage, I will hear you." $^Then it went on and
0570H20 I said: $"\0*4shri *(0C. M.*) Stephen: ^*I am not making a speech. ^*I
0580H20 am saying which motion the House must take into consideration." $^It
0590H20 went on. ^Then you said: $"\0Mr. Speaker: ^*I am going to_ take up the
0600H20 motions." $^Then I said: $"\0*4shri *(0C. M.*) Stephen: ^Then the
0610H20 point of order is in which order the motions will be taken up." $^Then you
0620H20 said: $"\0Mr. Speaker: ^*I will consider it." $^In that_ way, the proceedings
0630H20 of the 8th were over. ^The next day-- please see the proceedings
0640H20 of the next day-- you made these observations. ^The next day it happened
0650H20 like this. ^What I am saying is that the next day you said, 'Proceedings
0660H20 will be like this..' and you said 'Whoever wants to_ move his
0670H20 motion, may send in the chit.' ^Nothing further was said about it. ^We do
0680H20 not know what all amendments have been moved. ^We do not know what all
0690H20 substitute motions have been moved... $\0MR. SPEAKER: ^They have
0700H20 been circulated to you. $\0*4SHRI *(0C.M.*) STEPHEN:
0710H20 ^No. ^The point is that all the amendments that_ came were circulated.
0720H20 ^You did not say the way you have said to-day in the House, that is
0730H20 to_ say, 'Anybody who sends in the slip, his motion will be treated
0740H20 as having been moved.' ^You did not make that_ announcement. $\0MR. SPEAKER:
0750H20 ^*I have made that_ announcement. ^*I have read it. $\0*4SHRI
0760H20 *(0*C.*M.*) *2STEPHEN ^This is page 11322. ^This is what you have said:
0770H20 $"^The procedure will be that those who have given notices of substantive
0780H20 motions and those who have given amendments and who want to_ move
0790H20 them may send their slips to the Table within 15 minutes." $^You did
0800H20 not say as you said now that whoever sends in the slips, those amendments
0810H20 will be treated as moved. ^You did not say that_. ^This is all you said.
0820H20 ^*I am reading again: $"^The procedure will be that those who have given
0830H20 notices of substantive motions and those who have given amendments
0840H20 and who want to_ move them, may send their slips to the Table within 15
0841H20 minutes." $^You did not say as you said now that whoever sends in the
0842H20 slips, those amendments will be treated as moved. ^You did not say that_.
0843H20 ^This is all you said. ^*I am reading again: $"^The procedure
0844H20 will be that those who have given notices of substantive motions and those
0845H20 who have given amendments and who want to_ move them, may send their
0846H20 slips to the Table within 15 minutes."
0850H20 $[\0*4Shri *(0C. M.*) Stephen] ^Now, 'Those who send in the
0860H20 slips within 15 minutes will be treated as having moved their amendments'--
0870H20 you did not say that_. ^Therefore, the point is this... (*3Interruptions)
0880H20 ^No, no. ^Let me say. $\0^*Mr. Kamath was called and he moved
0890H20 his amendment. \0^*Mr. Kamath was one of the persons who sent in
0900H20 the chit. ^He moved his amendment. ^*I take it that his amendment alone
0910H20 has been moved. ^How do I know which are the amendments which are moved?
0920H20 ^Mere inclusion of it in the record of proceedings will not do. ^*I
0930H20 have looked up at the Budget proceedings. ^You will see the cut motions are
0940H20 treated there in the same way. ^But the Speaker will invariably
0941H20 make
0950H20 an announcement that now the cut motions are open for debate. ^*I have
0960H20 looked through all the Budget papers. ^Every time the Speaker makes an
0970H20 announcement, 'Now the cut motions are before the House for debate.'
0980H20 ^This announcement did not come at all. ^*I am submitting that a ruling
0990H20 by you remains to_ be done, that_ is to_ say, about the validity of the
1000H20 motions and the validity of the amendments because that_ was what you said,
1010H20 'After everything comes to me, I will decide which is valid and which
1020H20 is invalid.' ^This point will have to_ be clarified. ^There are points
1030H20 of order in regard to validity with respect to many amendments and
1040H20 many motions. ^This will have to_ be considered. ^You have promised on the
1050H20 8th that we will get an opportunity. ^There is no objection. ^Anybody
1060H20 can move amendments and even now. ^Then we must have an opportunity to_
1070H20 object with respect to any amendment on the basis that it is not permissible
1080H20 under the rule. ^You can now announce that whoever has sent in the
1090H20 slip at that_ time will be treated as having moved. ^Then we must be allowed
1100H20 to_ raise our objection with respect to the amendments pursuant to
1110H20 the ruling you gave on the 8th saying that after everything comes, I
1120H20 will consider what is invalid and what is valid. ^*I must get an opportunity
1130H20 to_ raise objections with respect to amendments given. $\0*4SHRI
1140H20 *(0C.*) SUBRAMANIAM: ^When a motion is moved by the Leader of
1141H20 the house,
1150H20 as you have already said, that_ stands on a special footing. ^There
1160H20 are amendments 38 and 39 with regard to that_. ^Have they been moved
1170H20 or not? ^If it has been moved, then I would like to_ take objection to
1180H20 this very motion because I have got valid points against that_. ^You must
1190H20 hear me before allowing amendment no. 39 to_ go on record and putting
1200H20 it for discussion. ^At what stage you will allow me to_ say it is for
1210H20 you to_ decide. ^But I want to_ be understood that I have raised objection
1220H20 to amendment \0No. 39. ^It cannot be allowed, it should not be allowed
1230H20 to_ be moved and you should hear me before you come to a decision on
1240H20 that_. $\0MR. SPEAKER: ^*I will hear you at the stage when he formally
1250H20 moves and opens the debate. $\0*4SHRI *(0C.*) SUBRAMANIAM:
1260H20 ^*I am objecting to the very moving of the motion. $\0*4SHRI VASANT
1270H20 SATHE (Akola): ^His objection is to the very admissibility of the
1280H20 amendment. ^You must hear him before that_ (*3Interruptions) $\0MR.
1290H20 SPEAKER: ^The procedure will be that those who have given notice
1300H20 of substantive motions-- of course, \0Mr. Jyotirmoy Bosu has already
1310H20 given notice-- those who give amendment and who want to_ move them
1320H20 may send slips to the Table within fifteen minutes. ^Now, the procedure
1330H20 normally adopted is: ^First we take up the substitute motion. ^If somebody
1340H20 takes objection to the validity of the motion at that_ stage the decision
1350H20 is given. ^Then we take up amendment. ^If anybody takes objection
1360H20 to the validity of the amendment then that_ will be taken into consideration
1370H20 and will be decided whether it is valid or not. ^This will be the
1380H20 proper course and this has been the course earlier adopted. ^Earlier adopted
1390H20 procedure is: ^We first take up substitute motions. ^In respect of
1400H20 substitute motions when anybody raises objection some of them I have
1410H20 found invalid *8*3prima facie*9 and I have myself over-ruled. ^But
1420H20 there may be that still others may take objection and say some motion
1430H20 is invalid then I will hear it and decide whether it is valid or invalid.
1440H20 ^Similarly, when amendments are coming up I will decide the
1450H20 question whether amendment is valid or not. $\0*4SHRI *(0C.*)
1451H20 SUBRAMANIAM:
1460H20 ^*Sir, I am not fond of hearing my own voice but I have a point to_
1470H20 make and that_ is why I rise. ^Now, as far as 39 is concerned is it for
1480H20 discussion before the House? $\0MR. SPEAKER: ^No. ^No. ^He has
1490H20 given notice of moving but he will formally move. ^The Prime Minister
1500H20 has sent the slip: ^*I propose to_ move my amendments \0Nos. 38 and 39.
1510H20 $\0*4SHRI *(0C.*) SUBRAMANIAM: ^Then you should hear my objection.
1520H20 $\0MR. SPEAKER: ^At that_ stage I will hear it. $\0*4SHRI*
1530H20 *(0*C.*) *2SUBRAMANIAM: ^Not at that_ stage. ^Now, he has moved it...
1531H20 $\0MR. SPEAKER:
1540H20 ^He has said: ^*I propose to move.. (*3Interruptions) \0*4SHRI
1550H20 *(0C. M.*) STEPHEN: ^Now, I am saying the slip is there.
1560H20 ^You have taken up the position that it is not treated as moved and he
1570H20 will move. ^The same standard will apply with regard to other amendments.
1580H20 ^Therefore, let us know which are the amendments before the House.
1590H20 ^There is a large bundle of amendments.
1600H20 ^Which exactly are the amendments that_ the respective members have
1610H20 chosen to_ move? $\0MR. SPEAKER: ^*I have explained the position.
1620H20 ^The validity of the amendments will be taken into consideration whenever
1630H20 an objection is taken to an amendment at the stage when we are putting
1640H20 it before the House.*#
        **[no. of words = 02012**]


        **[txt. h21**]
0010H21 **<*3RAILWAYS*' DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME*0**> *<*3New Lines, conversions
0020H21 and surveys*0*> $20. ^Railways are an integral part of the infra-structure
0030H21 for the economic growth of the country and therefore they cannot
0040H21 remain static in relation to a growing economy. ^With the increase in
0050H21 population and increase in industrial and agricultural output, Railways
0060H21 have to_ keep pace with the developments through provision of transport
0070H21 facilities in areas where these have been lacking and increased facilities
0080H21 where these are inadequate to_ meet the demands of the travelling
0090H21 public, as well as the industrial and agricultural sectors. $21.
0100H21 ^Twenty-eight new railway lines and restoration schemes, which still
0110H21 require about \0Rs. 180 *4crores for their completion, are in hand in
0120H21 the current financial year. ^On account of severe limitations on resources,
0130H21 it has been my endeavour to_ concentrate on some of the schemes with
0140H21 a view to completing them instead of spreading the outlay thinly on
0150H21 a large number of projects. ^As a result of this policy, it has been
0160H21 possible to_ complete 7 projects, in all respects, during the current financial
0170H21 year and these will not find place in the Budget for the next
0180H21 year. ^It has also been possible to_ commission three more lines partially.
0190H21 ^The same policy will be continued in the next financial year also and
0200H21 it will be possible to_ complete another four projects next year. ^Even
0210H21 in cases where funds cannot be provided for completing the entire project,
0220H21 we are planning to_ take up the work in suitable phases so that sections
0230H21 of projects can be commissioned and become productive progressively
0240H21 as more funds become available. $22.
0250H21 ^It will be possible to_ complete, during the next financial year, the
0260H21 remaining sections from Sakleshpur to Subrahmanya Road of the Hassan-Mangalore
0270H21 line in Karnataka, the Trivandrum-Nagercoil Section
0280H21 of the Trivandrum-Tirunelveli-Kanyakumari line in Kerala and Tamil
0290H21 Nadu, the Bagpat Road-Shamli Section of the Shahdara-Saharanpur
0300H21 line in Uttar Pradesh and about half the length of the Rohtak-bhiwani
0310H21 line in Haryana. ^The work on Nadikude-Bibinagar and Bhadrachalam-Manguru
0320H21 lines in Andhra Pradesh, Kerala Road-Jayant line in Uttar
0330H21 Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, Jakhapura-Banspani line in Orissa and
0340H21 Howrah-Amta line in West Bengal will also be speeded up. ^It is also
0350H21 proposed to_ provide siding facilities, on the request of the ministry
0360H21 of Steel and Mines, at Joruri in Orissa for exploitation of the rich
0370H21 iron ore resources in that_ area. $23.
0380H21 ^During every debate on the Railways in Parliament, Honourable Members
0390H21 have been voicing concern over the lack of railway facilities in
0400H21 several backward areas. ^*I share this concern equally with them and the
0410H21 Government is keen to_ take up construction of more and more new railway
0420H21 lines, especially in the backward areas. ^*I am exploring all avenues
0430H21 of mobilising more resources for this purpose in consultation with the
0440H21 Planning Commission and the Ministry of Finance so that construction
0450H21 of more new railway lines may be taken up. ^The Government is trying
0460H21 to_ evolve a long term policy in this regard.
0470H21 $24. ^Pending finalisation of the overall policy regarding the construction
0480H21 of new railway lines, the Ministry of Railways propose to_ take up,
0490H21 in the next financial year, construction of:
0500H21 $(1) ^A new railway line from Apta to Roha as the first phase of the
0510H21 proposed West Coast Konkan Railway from Apta to Mangalore, connecting
0520H21 Maharashtra, Goa and Karnataka and providing direct link with kerala
0530H21 and Tamil Nadu; $(2)
0540H21 ^The link from Kalyani to Kalyani Township in West Bengal; and
0550H21 $(3) ^Nadiad-Modasa broad gauge line via Kapadvanj in Gujarat. $25.
0560H21 ^The policy of converting the saturated metre gauge and narrow gauge lines
0570H21 to broad gauge with a view to progressively achieving one uniform gauge
0580H21 in the country was continued during this year. ^Thirteen gauge conversion
0590H21 projects are at present in progress. ^In this case also, we are concentrating
0600H21 on some of the projects to_ complete them fully instead of tinkering
0610H21 with all of them simultaneously. ^As a result of this policy,
0620H21 it has been possible to_ complete the Ernakulam-Trivandrum gauge conversion
0630H21 project in Kerala. ^The Suratgarh-Bhatinda Project in Rajasthan
0640H21 and Punjab is also nearing completion. ^High priority is being given
0650H21 to the conversion of Barabanki-Samastipur Section in Uttar Pradesh
0660H21 and Bihar and the Viramgam-Okha Section in Gujarat on which substantial
0670H21 progress has been made. ^Work is in good progress on the Bongaigaon-Gauhati
0680H21 Project in Assam and Guntakal-Bangalore Project in Andhra
0690H21 Pradesh and Karnataka. ^Work will also be started on Manmad-Aurangabad
0700H21 Section of Manmad-Parli Vaijnath conversion project in the Marathwada
0710H21 region of Maharashtra also during the year. ^In the budget for
0720H21 1978-79, gauge conversion of Barauni-Katihar line in Bihar has been
0730H21 included. ^This line is an operational necessity and, when completed, would
0740H21 give fillip to the development of north Bihar.
0750H21 $26. ^It is also proposed to_ take up, during the next financial year, final
0760H21 location survey for Budge Budge-Namkhana line in West Bengal;
0761H21 traffic survey for Domohani Changrabandha restoration work in West
0770H21 Bengal; and preliminary engineering-cum-traffic surveys for Barwadih-Karonji
0780H21 line in Bihar and Madhya Pradesh, Khalilabad-Balrampur and
0790H21 Konch-Jalaun lines in Uttar Pradesh, and Lalitpur to Singrauli via
0800H21 Khajuraho, Satna and Rewa in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.
0810H21 $27. ^The North Eastern Council has proposed construction of a few short
0820H21 railway lines to_ serve the member-States. ^These proposals are being
0830H21 examined by a Committee set up by the Planning Commission and decision
0840H21 about them will be taken shortly. $*<*3METROPOLITAN RAIL
0850H21 TRANSPORT PROJECTS*0*> $28. ^The allotment for the
0860H21 Metropolitan Rail Transport Projects in the 5-year period upto 1978-79
0870H21 was \0Rs. 50 *4crores out of which \0Rs. 41 *4crores are being utilised
0880H21 for the 16.5 kilometre underground line in Calcutta, now estimated
0890H21 to_ cost \0Rs. 250 *4crores. ^The technology required for civil engineering
0900H21 construction, rolling stock, signalling, ventilation \0etc. has been
0910H21 under development and testing, and civil engineering construction is
0911H21 being progressed **[sic**]
0920H21 in a phased manner. ^The line is expected to_ be completed
0930H21 in 1986, subject to adequate resources being made available. ^Orders
0940H21 for manufacture of the prototypes of rolling stock for the proposed underground
0950H21 railway have been placed on Integral Coach Factory, Madras.
0960H21 ^In Bombay, to_ facilitate the movement of commuters between the residential
0970H21 area north of Bandra and the central business district near Victoria
0980H21 Terminus, the construction of a rail fly-over to_ connect the slow
0990H21 lines of the Western Railway with the harbour branch lines of the Central
1000H21 Railway has been sanctioned. ^In Delhi and Madras, investigations
1010H21 are on hand for developing integrated projects to_ make optimum use
1020H21 of rail and road transport systems. $*<*3PASSENGER AMENITIES AND NEW
1030H21 TRAIN SERVICES*0*> $29. ^While presenting the railway Budget in June
1040H21 1977, I had informed the House that a
1050H21 new concept would be introduced in providing additional long-distance classless
1060H21 trains with only second class accommodation. ^A few services of
1070H21 this type have since been introduced such as Tatanagar-Muzaffarpur tri-weekly
1080H21 Express, Kacheguda-Ajmer bi-weekly Express, Tirupati-Hyderabad
1090H21 Rayalaseema Express and Madras Madurai Vaigai Express. $30.
1100H21 ^This has been further improved upon by a new type of Janata train
1110H21 with upholstered seats and berths. ^The first train of this type, the
1120H21 Geetanjali Express, was introduced between Bombay and Howrah in November
1130H21 1977. ^About 80 more cushioned second class sleeper coaches are being
1140H21 manufactured this year and will be provided in five additional train
1150H21 services. ^About 400 such coaches will be manufactured next year to_ be
1160H21 put on several fast express trains. ^Besides cushioned berths and backrests,
1170H21 additional amenities are being provided in these coaches some of which
1180H21 are: provision of tinted window glass to_ prevent glare, additional
1190H21 racks for keeping meal-trays in hygienic condition, space for keeping
1200H21 potable drinking water containers and provision for supply of linen
1210H21 and bedding to passengers on demand.
1220H21 $31. ^During the next financial year, I would like to_ go a step further
1230H21 in improving the travel conditions of second class passengers. ^In addition
1240H21 to second class sleeper coaches with cushioned berths, we have now
1250H21 decided that all second class general coaches on fast inter-city services
1260H21 will be provided with cushioned seats. $32.
1270H21 ^Besides these, a prototype second class 3-tier sleeper coach, slightly
1280H21 longer than the present one, with 6 toilets instead of 4, more fans
1290H21 and better water supply arrangements, is being manufactured at the Integral
1300H21 Coach Factory at Madras. $33.
1310H21 ^In furtherance of this concept of Janata trains and in order to_ provide
1320H21 additional accommodation to_ meet the requirements of the masses,
1330H21 in preference to the claims of the affluent classes, I have decided that
1340H21 first class air-conditioned accommodation will not be increased hereafter
1350H21 and will be progressively phased out. ^No new first class air-conditioned
1360H21 coaches on additional account will be built in future. ^This will
1370H21 also be in keeping with the recommendations of the Public Accounts Committee
1380H21 of Parliament. $34.
1390H21 ^While presenting the budget in June 1977, I had stated that after
1400H21 prototype trials, the progressive extension of use of double-decker second
1410H21 class coaches will be considered. ^One prototype *(0B.G.*) double-decker
1420H21 second class coach was put on trial on the Madras-Jolarpettai
1430H21 and Bombay-Pune sections. ^Twelve *(0B.G.*) double-decker coaches are
1440H21 expected to_ be turned out by the Integral Coach Factory this year
1450H21 and will be pressed into service on specified routes starting from April
1460H21 1978.
1470H21 $35. ^In spite of introduction of 108 new trains and extension of the runs
1480H21 of 74 trains since April 1977, heavy overcrowding continues to_ be
1490H21 the major problem requiring immediate solution. ^With limited terminal
1500H21 and line capacities, it has not been possible to_ meet all the demands
1510H21 for additional trains on our trunk routes without affecting freight movement.
1520H21 ^For giving the maximum relief to the travelling public, it has now
1530H21 been decided to_ increase the passenger-carrying capacity of the existing
1540H21 trains by rationalising coaches to_ be used and by increasing the
1550H21 number of coaches hauled by each train. ^As against 14 different types
1560H21 of coaches that_ are now being manufactured, orders will be placed, for
1570H21 some time to_ come, for manufacture of only three main types of passenger
1580H21 coaches, \0i.e., second class 3-tier sleeper coaches with padded cushions,
1590H21 second class general coaches with cushioned seats and second class
1600H21 air-conditioned sleeper coaches with 46 berths, the last named replacing
1610H21 two ordinary first class coaches each. ^In this process, additional
1620H21 accommodation will be provided on existing long-distance trains for 200
1630H21 to 300 extra passengers per train.
1640H21 $36. ^As per the Railways*' perspective, all the long-distance mail/ express
1650H21 trains in the country will be having, in the next two to three years,
1660H21 second class 3-tier coaches, with padded cushions and improved amenities,
1670H21 which will greatly wean away most of the passengers from the first
1680H21 class to the second class, thereby achieving our ultimate objective of
1690H21 having predominantly one type of accommodation in long-distance trains.
1700H21 ^This will mean gradual doing away with the different classes on the Railways.
1710H21 $37.
1720H21 ^As a part of our regular passenger amenities programme, selected stations
1730H21 are provided with better facilities of lighting, toilets, refreshment
1740H21 rooms, \0etc. ^This programme continues. ^*I am also considering the
1750H21 question of increasing the annual allotment for passenger amenities from
1760H21 \0Rs. 4 *4crores to \0Rs. 5 *4crores.
1770H21 $*<*3STREAMLINING OF RESERVATION SYSTEM-- COMPUTERISATION EXPERIMENT*0*>
1780H21 $38. ^Steps have also been taken to_ curb corruption in reservation and
1790H21 streamline the procedures. ^As a part of the drive to_ root out malpractices
1800H21 in booking and reservation offices, I have decided that, as a matter
1810H21 of general policy, only women should be employed as reservation/ booking
1820H21 clerks and supervisors in the major booking offices, starting with
1830H21 the metropolitan cities. ^We may be accused of being partial to the fair
1840H21 sex, but our experience has shown that malpractices in reservations are
1850H21 comparatively less where women are employed at the counters. $39.
1860H21 ^To_ streamline the mammoth and complex operation involved in the matter
1870H21 of reservation of rail accommodation in trains and to_ eliminate malpractices,
1880H21 I am also considering computerisation of passenger reservations
1890H21 in the four metropolitan cities. ^To_ start with, the feasibility of
1900H21 introducing this system in Delhi area is being explored in collaboration
1910H21 with the electronics Corporation of India Limited, Hyderabad. ^*I
1920H21 only hope that human deficiencies would not be replaced by mechanical errors
1930H21 of the machine.*#
        **[no. of words = 02001**]

        **[txt. h22**]
0001H22 **<*3CHAPTER *=1 $INTRODUCTION*0**>
0010H22 ^When we wish to_ talk about a portrait of Delhi*'s population, we should
0020H22 first know something about the settlement history of the place. ^*Delhi
0030H22 is a city with a fascinating past, a stimulating present and a future
0040H22 full of hope. ^*Parcival Spear claims that "Delhi can point to a history
0050H22 as chequered and more ancient than the eternal city of Rome. ^It
0060H22 was a famous capital before the days of Alexander. ^Today, it is many
0070H22 times bigger than it has ever been and many more times important a capital
0080H22 city which foreign diplomats regard as one of the most important political
0090H22 sounding boards in the world". ^It is a city from where a new India
0100H22 is being designed and directed.
0110H22 $^Situated between the Himalayas and the Aravalis range in the heart
0111H22 of the sub-continent, Delhi is a natural fortress in the shape
0120H22 of a triangle. ^It has been of strategic importance as it was the gateway
0130H22 to the plains of Punjab to the west and of the Ganga to the east.
0140H22 ^It has been the melting pot where all cultures which came into India
0150H22 fused together in the past. ^And since Delhi has been the capital city
0160H22 of India, people have migrated here from different parts of this vast
0170H22 country seeking work and better employment avenues. ^Besides, it has a
0180H22 substantial number of diplomatic representatives from different countries
0190H22 of the world. $^Historians
0200H22 say that Delhi*'s origin can be traced back to 1000 \0B.C.
0210H22 ^Within this small triangular piece of the Indo-Gangetic plain at least
0220H22 eight different cities emerged at different times of Indian history.
0230H22 ^Excepting Old and New Delhi all others lie in ruins or have perished.
0240H22 ^Each conqueror destoryed the citadel of his predecessor to_ build
0250H22 a new one and gave it a new name. ^Yet Delhi lives, fusing its chequered
0260H22 history into one glorious whole.
0270H22 $^The first mention of the population of Delhi is available for the reign
0280H22 of Shahjahan when the population of Delhi is quoted around
0290H22 1,50,000. ^After Mughal rule, the British conquered Delhi in 1803. ^At
0300H22 that_ time, except for parts of Shahjahanabad, Delhi was nothing but a
0310H22 large graveyard. ^In 1829, the British constituted the district of Delhi
0320H22 which included two *4parganas in the south and the north of Shahjahanabad
0330H22 as the centre. ^The old settlement near Indraprastha was a small
0340H22 suburb and the city near Qutab Minar was a country town. ^The main government
0350H22 administration centred in the present Civil Lines around the Kashmere
0360H22 Gate area. ^After 1857, Delhi started growing faster. ^In the
0370H22 later half of the 19th century it saw the coming of the railways and
0380H22 postal services and metalled roads were constructed throughout the city.
0390H22 ^*Delhi once again became one of the largest commercial and cultural centres
0400H22 of north and north eastern India.
0410H22 $^In 1911, King George *=5 announced the shifting of the capital of British
0420H22 India from Calcutta to Delhi. ^The Old Secretariat came up
0430H22 in Civil Lines and the Viceregal Lodge was built on the western slopes
0440H22 of the ridge. ^*King George *=5 also announced that an entirely new
0450H22 city would be built as the capital of British India. ^This new city
0460H22 was located at Raisina, south of Shahjahanabad and east of the ancient
0470H22 city of Indraprastha. ^This led to the development of New Delhi
0480H22 on a garden city pattern with wide avenues having double rows of trees
0490H22 with a huge central vista starting from the National Stadium in the east
0500H22 through the Memorial Arch (India Gate), the Central Secretariat
0510H22 and ending in the west at Rashtrapati Bhavan against the slopes of the
0520H22 Aravallis. ^With the decision to_ build a new capital city, it was also
0530H22 decided to_ shift the Cantonment then located near the west to the
0540H22 Viceregal Lodge in the Civil Lines, to the south-west of the new capital.
0550H22 ^This now forms the Delhi cantonment area.
0560H22 $^Population grew rapidly from 636,246 in 1931 to 917,939 in 1941 due to
0570H22 substantial migration into Delhi during the war years. ^With the transfer
0580H22 of power in 1947, came the gruesome partition of the sub-continent
0590H22 into India and Pakistan. ^Communal riots broke out, resulting in a mass
0600H22 movement of population across the borders and Delhi had its share of
0610H22 five *4lakh of refugees to_ absorb. ^The government rose to the occasion.
0620H22 ^The displaced were first accommodated in camps. ^Then a large-scale
0630H22 building programme began all around the city except in the north where
0640H22 land was subject to floods almost every year. ^The urban agglomeration comprising
0650H22 Delhi municipal corporation (urban), the huge complex around
0660H22 old Delhi, the New Delhi municipal committee and the Delhi Cantonment
0670H22 together had a population of 3,647,000 in 1971. ^This forms the core
0680H22 of Delhi Union Territory. ^It stands third amongst the urban agglomerations
0690H22 of India coming after Calcutta and Bombay. ^On the peripheries
0700H22 of this urban agglomeration lies the rural area of Delhi \0UT which
0710H22 is predominantly concentrated towards the western side touching Haryana.
0720H22 ^To the east across the Yamuna, it is bounded by Uttar Pradesh.
0730H22 $^How do we keep track of population? ^Population goes up with births
0740H22 and in-migration and gets depleted through deaths and out-migration. ^This
0750H22 continuous process is affected by many other factors-- social and economic,
0760H22 planned and unplanned. ^The counting of current population with
0770H22 its multifarious distribution is done after every ten years through Census.
0790H22 $^The word 'census' is derived from the Latin word '*7censere' meaning
0800H22 'to_ assess' or 'to_ rate'. ^In the literal sense, the term "population
0810H22 census" is primarily an official counting of human heads physically present
0820H22 at a given point of time within a defined boundary. ^Census tells
0830H22 us how many we are, how many are men and women, how many can read and write,
0840H22 how many are children and what are the occupations of our people.
0850H22 ^Without such counts it is difficult to_ assess the requirements of food,
0860H22 housing, medical and education facilities and employment needs. ^The
0870H22 number of representatives to_ be elected to local bodies, state legislatures
0880H22 and parliament and delimitation of electoral constituencies is also
0890H22 fixed on the basis of census data. ^Census is thus a national stock
0900H22 taking. ^The Census Act of 1948 empowers the central government to_
0910H22 take a census whenever necessary and to_ call upon persons to_ give assistance
0920H22 towards the taking of a census and also make rules and other laws
0930H22 for this purpose. ^Census taking now involves a set programme including           nt
0940H22 (1) territorial organisation (2) houselisting (3) publicity (4) main
0950H22 enumeration and (5) post enumeration check. ^Territorial organisation is
0960H22 the most important phase of the census. ^Prior to enumeration, the demarcation
0970H22 of the entire country into small units is done. ^It is essential
0980H22 to_ avoid over-lapping and exclusion of any part of the territory.
0990H22 ^The entire country is mapped showing the details of smallest unit of
1000H22 enumeration, \0i.e., an enumerator*'s block. ^In each block map, all the
1010H22 houses, streets and by-lanes are shown clearly. ^A block covered about
1020H22 150 households in rural areas and 120 households in urban areas. ^An enumerator
1030H22 was appointed for census-taking in each block. ^For every five
1040H22 contiguous blocks, there was a supervisor. ^Above them was a charge officer.
1050H22 ^The whole of Delhi was divided into 100 charges. ^There were 7,519
1060H22 enumerators*'s blocks and 1,279 supervisors*' circles.
1070H22 $^The census count was conducted in two stages. ^The first stage was houselisting.
1080H22 ^During houselisting an enumerator prepared a detailed sketch
1090H22 of his block, plotted all the houses and collected details about the houses.
1100H22 ^The second stage was enumeration. ^The enumerator visited each
1101H22 house and collected information regarding every person in the
1110H22 household by filling up a questionnaire called the individual slip (see
1120H22 Appendix *=1).
1130H22 $^Census is taken once in ten years. ^In the census, every person, man or
1140H22 woman, young or old, is counted. ^In our country, the census was conducted
1150H22 simultaneously on one night upto 1931. ^Now, however, it is spread
1160H22 over a short period of time and data are collected with reference to a fixed
1170H22 date called the 'reference date'. ^At the 1971 census, the enumeration
1180H22 took place from 10 March to 31 March 1971. ^With a revisional round
1190H22 from 1 to 3 April 1971. ^During 10 to 31 March the enumerator visited
1200H22 every house in the area assigned to him and collected details for persons
1210H22 in each of the house. **[sic**] ^Between 1 April and 3 April, he
1220H22 brought his record upto date by enquiring about births and deaths that_
1230H22 might have occurred after his visit and before sunrise of April 1971.
1231H22 ^All persons were enumerated at the place of their residence. ^The houseless
1240H22 were counted on the night of 31 March 1971. $^This
1250H22 report gives a broad picture of the basic characteristics of the
1260H22 population of Delhi \0UT. $**<*3CHAPTER *=2 $HOW MANY ARE WE?*0**>
1280H22 $^Very many, of course. ^The 1971 census yielded a figure of 548 million
1290H22 persons in the country as against 439 million recorded in 1961. ^Thus
1300H22 in a single decade our population has gone up by 109 million or by 24.80
1310H22 per cent. ^This addition alone is more than the present-day total population
1320H22 of Japan. ^It can be called a decade of unprecedented population
1330H22 increase.
1350H22 $^Our population of 548 million is greater than that_ of whole Europe,
1360H22 the two Americas or Africa. ^It is nearly equal to the population of
1370H22 the \0USA, the \0USSR and Japan taken together. ^*India constitutes
1380H22 16 per cent of the world*'s population. ^Broadly speaking, every seventh
1390H22 person in the world is an Indian. ^But India covers only 2.4 per
1391H22 cent of the World*'s area. ^These facts reveal how thickly populated
1392H22 our country is.
1400H22 $^Around 1800, it is estimated that our population was 100 million. ^A century
1410H22 later in 1901, it was 233 million. ^By 1921 it had gone upto 251
1420H22 million. ^During the last 50 years, it doubled to 548 million. ^In the last
1430H22 decade (1961-71) alone India added to its population more than five
1440H22 times the entire population of Canada (Canada had 21 million population
1450H22 in 1969). $*<*3Where do we live?*0*> $^We are spread in 3,126 towns
1470H22 and cities and 5.8 *4lakh villages of our country. ^About 20% of our
1480H22 population lives in urban areas and 80% in rural areas.
1500H22 $^Some of our states are more populous than many countries of the world.
1510H22 ^*Uttar Pradesh (88 million) alone has more than four times the population
1520H22 of Canada (21 million) and seven times the population of Australia
1530H22 (12.5 million). ^*Uttar Pradesh is our most populous state. ^Next
1540H22 in order are Bihar (56 million) and Maharashtra (50 million). ^*Delhi
1550H22 \0UT ranks 17th with a population of 4.07 million. ^Its population now
1560H22 is ten times more than what it was in 1901. ^As a result of a huge influx
1570H22 of in-migrants from West Punjab in Pakistan, Delhi \0UT registered
1580H22 an unprecedented growth rate of 90% in 1941-51. ^In the succeding
1590H22 two decades, it was 52.4 per cent and 52.9 per cent respectively. ^Even
1600H22 this growth rate is abnormally high as compared to the country*'s growth
1610H22 rate of 24.80 per cent. $**[table**]
1620H22 $^The population of Delhi \0UT on 1 April 1971 was 4065.698 consisting
1630H22 of 2,257,515 males and 1,808,183 females. ^Since Delhi has remained
1640H22 a capital of the country for centuries and a hub of all social and economic
1650H22 activities, it has always been attracting in-migrants.
1660H22 $**<*3CHAPTER *=3 $VILLAGE DWELLERS AND TOWN DWELLERS*0**>
1670H22 $^The bulk of India*'s population (80%) lives in villages, the remaining
1680H22 20% live in cities and towns. ^However, in Delhi \0UT, the position
1690H22 is reversed. ^The bulk of its population (90%) resides in urban areas
1700H22 and only 10% in rural areas.
1710H22 $^A visibly sharp difference exists between the life of villagers and that_
1720H22 of town dwellers in their dresses, the way they speak, their food,
1730H22 habits, the job they do and the like. $^Towns
1740H22 and cities possess certain characteristics like established street
1750H22 patterns, contiguously aligned buildings and public services such as sewerage,
1760H22 piped water supply, electric lighting, hospitals and market facilities,
1770H22 educational institutions, courts of law and local means of transport.
1780H22 ^A village is a cluster of houses, in one or more groups with
1790H22 surrounding agricultural fields.*#
        **[no. of words = 02001**]

        **[txt. h23**]
0010H23 ^The following definitions were adopted at the 1971 census to_ distinguish
0020H23 a 'worker' from a 'non-worker'. $*<*3Main activity*0*> $^Every person
0030H23 will be asked what his main activity is, that_ is, how he engaged
0031H23 himself
0040H23 mostly. ^For the purpose of this question, all persons will get themselves
0050H23 divided into two broad streams of main activity, namely, (1) as workers
0060H23 and (2) as non-workers according to the type of main activity that_
0070H23 the person returns himself as engaged in mostly. (1) $*3Worker difined:*0
0080H23 ^A 'worker' is a person whose main activity is participation in any
0090H23 economically productive work by his physical or mental activity. ^Work involves
0100H23 not only actual work but effective supervsion and direction of
0110H23 work. $*3Reference period:*0 ^The reference period is one week prior to
0120H23 the date of enumeration in the case of regular work in trade, profession,
0130H23 service or business. ^If a person had participated in any such regular
0140H23 work on any one of the days during this reference period and this
0150H23 has been returned as his main activity, the person will be categorised accordingly.
0160H23 ^A person who normally works but had been absent from work during
0170H23 this reference period on account of illness, travel, holiday, temporary
0180H23 breakdown, strike \0etc. should be treated as engaged in regular
0190H23 work in which he would have otherwise been employed but for his temporary
0200H23 absence. ^Persons under training such as apprentices with or without stipends
0210H23 or wages should be considered as economically active and recorded
0220H23 as working. ^A person who has been merely offered work but has not actually
0230H23 joined it is not to_ be treated as engaged in work. $^There are certain
0240H23 types of work which are not carried on throughout the year such as
0250H23 cultivation, livestock-keeping, plantation work, some types of household
0260H23 industry, \0etc. ^A person*'s main activity should be ascertained with
0270H23 reference to such work in the last one year even if he was economically
0280H23 active in the week prior to enumeration. ^It is likely that even when
0290H23 a person is engaged in some other work during the period of one week
0300H23 prior to the date of enumeration, the main activity of the person may
0310H23 be cultivation, agricultural labour or some other work attended to normally
0320H23 by him in the course of the year. ^Care must be taken to_ see that the
0330H23 main activity is properly ascertained in such cases. ^For example, a
0340H23 person*'s main activity may be agricultural labour and in the week priod
0350H23 to enumeration he may be engaged as a sugarcane factory labourer or as
0360H23 a road coolie. ^He should be categorised for his main activity as agricultural
0370H23 labour as returned by him as he engages himself mostly in that_ work
0380H23 and the other work should be treated as his subsidiary work. $^A man
0390H23 or woman who is engaged primarily in household duties such as cooking for
0400H23 one*'s own household or performing one*'s own household duties or a boy
0410H23 or a girl who is primarily a student attending institution, even if such
0420H23 a person helps in the family economic activity but not as a full-time
0430H23 worker should not be treated as a worker for the main activity. ^On the
0440H23 other hand, if a person is primarily engaged in some economic activity
0450H23 but at the same time does also attend to some household chores or attends
0460H23 a night school \0etc., he or she should be treated basically as a worker
0470H23 for the main activity and categorised accordingly. $^A person who merely
0480H23 receives as income such as a rent receiver or a pensioner who does
0490H23 not have to_ work for receiving the income, will not be treated as economically
0500H23 active unless the person is also engaged in some economic activity
0510H23 and if that_ activity is returned as the main activity of the individual.
0520H23 $^Question 17 of the individual slip provided the data to_ get a measure
0530H23 of the secondary work. ^The following instructions given to the
0540H23 census enumerator in filling this question explain its scope. $*<*3Secondary
0550H23 Work*0*> $^This question should be asked of every person whether
0560H23 he has returned some work as his main activity against 16 (a) (**=1) or
0570H23 had returned himself under any of the basically non-working categories
0580H23 against question 16(a) (**=2). ^As was noted earlier 16(a) (**=2) will
0590H23 cover cases like persons performing household duties or students who may
0600H23 not be engaged in any other economically productive work at all as also
0610H23 those who, though basically are performing household duties or students,
0620H23 \0etc., for the purpose of their main activity, still participated in
0630H23 some other economic activity such as helping the household in several
0640H23 items of work as in cultivation or in household industry or in looking after
0650H23 the cattle, in attending to family business \0etc., but not to the
0660H23 extent of a full time worker. ^Such participation will be considered as
0670H23 secondary work of these persons. $^Ask of each person if, besides what
0680H23 he had already returned as his/ her main activity against questions to
0690H23 (a) (**=1) or 16 (a) (**=2). he/ she participated in any secondary work.
0691H23 ^A number of unpaid family workers participating in household enterprises,
0692H23 who might have returned themselves mainly as 'H' or '\0ST' or 'R'
0693H23 under question 16(a) (**=2) for their main activity, will be netted
0694H23 here
0700H23 for their economic activity which is subsidiary. ^Mere rendering of service
0710H23 for one*'s own home or production of goods for purely domestic consumption
0720H23 are not to_ be treated as economic activity. ^For example, a
0730H23 servant who works as a cook in his or her employer*'s home for wages will
0740H23 be considered economically active but a housewife, even if she may work
0750H23 much more than a paid servant, in having to_ cook for the family or looking
0760H23 after the household will not be treated as economically active for
0770H23 the purpose of this classification. ^Similarly, women who may produce
0780H23 cloth on a loin loom at home for domestic consumption will not be treated
0790H23 as economically active unless the products are sold and the household
0800H23 derives an income. ^Participation in work that_ goes to_ augment the income
0810H23 of the household will only be treated as economic activity. ^A boy
0820H23 whose main activity is shown as a student under 16(a) (**=2) can have the
0830H23 secondary work of say, cultivation if he helped the head of household
0840H23 in the family cultivation during some parts of
0850H23 the season. ^But a girl student whose main activity is shown as '\0ST'
0860H23 under 16 (a) (**=2) also helped in weaving cloth purely for domestic consumption
0870H23 on a loin loom at home or helped in attending to household chores
0880H23 she will not be treated as having any secondary work. ^Secondary
0890H23 work will be reckoned only if the person is engaged in some economic activity,
0900H23 even if marginal, in addition to whatever is the main activity under
0910H23 question 16. ^A person whose main activity is shown as, say, a clerk
0920H23 in a government office or a teacher under question 16, also attends to
0930H23 some cultivation by his direct supervision or undertakes some tuition.
0940H23 ^This will be shown as secondary work under question 17. ^A person*'s main
0950H23 activity may be cultivation in question 16 and his subsidiary activity
0960H23 money-lending in question 17. ^Again main activity may be agricultural
0970H23 labourer and subsidiary work sugar factory labourer and so on and so forth.
0980H23 $^Persons classified as non-workers according to main activity were
0990H23 categorised under the following heads. \0viz. (1) those attending to household
1010H23 duties, (2) students, (3) retired persons or rentiers, (4) dependents,
1020H23 (5) beggars, (6) inmates of penal, mental or charitable institutions
1030H23 and (7) other non-workers. ^The types of non-workers coming under
1040H23 each of these categories can be understood from the following extracts
1050H23 of instructions to census enumerators. $*<*3H: Household duties*0*>
1060H23 $^This covers all those persons basically engaged in unpaid home duties
1070H23 doing no other work, or, even if such a person may also be participating
1080H23 in some other work, it is not to the same extent as a whole-time worker
1090H23 and if the person has returned his or her main activity as attending to
1100H23 household duties. ^The main activity of such a person should be entered
1110H23 as 'H'. ^If a person whose main activity is attending to household duties,
1120H23 also engaged oneself in some other economic activity such as helping
1130H23 in family cultivation or preparing cowdung cake at said times for sale,
1140H23 \0etc., that_ economic activity will be covered as secondary work under
1150H23 question 17. ^On the other hand, a woman who works primarily as a factory
1160H23 worker or a plantation labourer or an agricultural labourer or in
1170H23 some office or shop \0etc., and also attends to household duties obviously
1180H23 her main activity will be the economic activity in which she is mostly
1190H23 engaged in and should not be categorised as 'H' for her main activity
1200H23 in this question. ^She should have been treated basically as a worker
1210H23 and her main economic activity should have been recorded against 16 (a)
1220H23 (**=1). $*<*3ST: Student*3*) $^This refers to those whose main activity
1230H23 is returned as a student. ^This will cover all full-time students or
1240H23 children attending school. ^Even if such persons participated in some work
1250H23 but not to the same extent as a full-time worker, by merely helping
1260H23 casually as an unpaid family worker in family cultivation, household industry,
1270H23 trade or business, they should be treated primarily as students,
1280H23 if that_ is their main activity. '\0^*ST' should be entered in the box.
1290H23 ^The other economic activity, if any, that_ such persons attend to will
1300H23 be reflected under question 17 as secondary work. $*<*3R: Retired person
1310H23 or rentier*0*> $^A person who has retired from service and is doing
1320H23 no other work, \0i.e., not employed again in some full-time work or does
1321H23 not engage
1330H23 himself in some other work as cultivation, in business, trade, \0etc.,
1340H23 or a person who is a rentier or living on agricultural or non-agricultural
1350H23 royalty rent or dividend or any other person of independent means
1360H23 for securing which he does not have to_ work, will come under this category.
1370H23 '^*R' should be noted in the box for a person coming under this
1380H23 category. $*<*3D: Dependent*0*> $^This category will include all dependents
1390H23 such as infants or children not attending school or a person permanently
1400H23 disabled from work because of illness or old age. ^If a girl or
1410H23 an old woman attends to house-hold duties, she should be categorised under
1420H23 'H' for her main activity rather than 'D'. $^Dependents will include
1430H23 all non-workers even if able-bodied who have not other activity coming
1440H23 under any of the categories of non-workers and who are not seeking any
1450H23 work either but are purely dependent. $*<*3B: Beggars, \0etc.*0*> $^This
1460H23 will cover beggars, vagrants or such cases as independent women without
1470H23 indication of source of income and those of unspecified sources of
1480H23 subsistence and who are not engaged in any economically productive work.
1490H23 $*<*3I: Inmates of institutions*0*> $^This will cover convicts in jails
1500H or inmates of a penal, mental or charitable institution even if such
1510H23 persons are compelled to_ do some work such as carpentry, carpet-weaving,
1520H23 vegetable growing, \0etc., in such institution. ^An under-trial prisoner
1530H23 in a jail should not, however, be brought under this category but has
1540H23 to_ be indicated according to the main activity he was engaged in before
1550H23 he was apprehended. ^Inmates of such institutions will be noted as 'I'.
1560H23 $*<*3O: Other non-workers*0*> $^This will include all non-workers
1570H23 who may not come under any of the six categories and also those who are
1580H23 seeking work. ^They should be noted as 'O' in the box. ^A boy or girl
1590H23 who has completed education or has stopped studying and is seeking work,
1600H23 will come under this category. ^If a person is merely spending his time
1610H23 at home as a dependent and is not doing any work and is not seeking any
1611H23 work will come under 'D' rather than 'O'. ^A person irrespective of
1620H23 age and whether educated or not, if he reports that he is not engaged
1630H23 in any other activity but is seeking work will come under this category.**<*3AGRICULTURE,
1640H23 HUNTING, FORESTRY & FISHING*0**> $(^Do not merely say
1650H23 plantation or fishing \0etc. but indicate the appropriate details as
1660H23 given here.)*#
        **[no. of words = 02010**]

        **[txt. h24**]
0001H24 ^A comprehensive and systematic effort will be initiated to_ alleviate
0002H24 the conditions of the tribals in the hinterland of existing complexes. $^The
0010H24 present education pattern is not producing the desired results in the
0020H24 tribal areas. ^There is a large wastage at different levels and many
0030H24 areas do not have basic infra-structure. ^The location of the schools in
0040H24 relation to the settlement patterns, devising new institutional structures
0050H24 appropriate for the area, the school timings, suitability of the present
0060H24 vacation period, the need for lowering educational qualifications
0070H24 for teachers to_ attract local people will have to_ be examined and re-oriented
0080H24 so as to_ enable the tribals to_ participate in the development
0090H24 efforts more effectively. ^The curriculum and reading material are to_
0100H24 be so prepared as to_ have relevance to the local community requirements.
0110H24 ^Low literacy pockets of primitive communities will be given the highest
0120H24 priority and a package of services will be provided for them. ^In those
0130H24 areas where intensive economic activity has started, like the hinterlands
0140H24 of industrial and mining complexes, growing urban centres, investments
0150H24 will be made in education to_ improve employability of tribal people.
0160H24 ^Efforts will be made in the educationally backward regions to_ increase
0170H24 the output at the matric level, provide technical content and to_
0180H24 bring down the number of dropouts. ^In health a special plan will be
0190H24 formulated for even geographical distribution of health services and for
0200H24 eradication of the problem diseases like yaws, leprosy, malaria, \0VD,
0210H24 \0etc. and preventive methods devised.
0220H24 $9.208. ^In the new Plan the Central Ministries will play an important
0230H24 role in the development of tribal areas. ^Besides supplementing the
0240H24 efforts of the State Government in their respective sectors, each Ministry
0250H24 will be required to_ give priority to and earmark outlays for the
0260H24 tribal areas from within its plan. ^The Ministries will provide necessary
0270H24 guidance and supplement the States*' efforts in selected priority
0280H24 areas. ^Each Ministry will designate senior officers who will be incharge
0290H24 of the programmes of the concerned sector in the tribal sub-plan areas
0300H24 at Central as well as State levels.
0310H24 $*<*3(3) Hill Area Development*0*>
0320H24 $9.209. ^The hill areas have considerable variations in the physio-geographic
0330H24 and agro-climatic conditions and the resource endowment. ^The hilly
0340H24 areas are generally economically backward and the resource base of
0350H24 the different hill areas will call for specialised strategies for development.
0360H24 ^The problem of raising socio-economic development of these areas
0370H24 is not merely one of financial allocations, but also of developing a
0380H24 proper strategy and appropriate programme of development.
0390H24 $9.210. ^Though the development of the hill areas is primarily the responsibility
0400H24 of the concerned State Governments and Union Territories,
0410H24 the Central Government is also anxious to_ do as much as it can for
0420H24 setting the norms for the development of these areas by taking up pilot
0430H24 programmes.
0440H24 $**<*3Health and Family Welfare*0**> $*<*3A Policy Frame*0*> $15.1
0450H24 ^The directions and guidance provided by the Health Survey and Development
0460H24 Committee (Bhore Committee: 1946) and the Health Survey and
0470H24 Planning Committee: 1946) and the Health Survey and Planning Commitee
0480H24 (Mudaliar Committee: 1961) have provided the chief basis of health
0490H24 planning in India. ^The objectives of health programmes during the first
0500H24 four Five Year Plans were (**=1) control/ eradication of major communicable
0510H24 diseases, (**=2) provision of curative, preventive and promotional
0520H24 health services, (**=3) augmentation of training programmes of
0530H24 medical and para-medical personnel; and (**=4) strengthening the primaray
0540H24 health centre complex for undertaking preventive and curative health services
0550H24 in rural areas. ^The Fifth Plan tried to_ provide minimum public
0560H24 health facilities integrated with family welfare and nutrition for vulnerable
0570H24 groups-- children, pregnant women and nursing mothers. ^The accent
0580H24 of the schemes during the period has been on (**=1) increasing the
0590H24 accessibility of health services to rural areas, (**=2) intensification
0600H24 of the control and eradication of communicable diseases, especially
0610H24 small-pox, malaria, leprosy, (**=3) qualitative improvement in education
0620H24 and training of health personnel, and (**=4) attempts to_ develop referral
0630H24 services by providing specialists*' attention to common diseases in
0640H24 rural areas. ^Unfortunately, the achievements during the plan period fell
0650H24 short of the targets, especially in the minimum needs programme whose
0660H24 objective was to_ create adequate infrastructure and health care services
0670H24 in rural areas. ^The details of the targets set and likely achievements
0680H24 by 1977-78 are given in annexure *=1.
0710H24 $15.2 ^In recent years, there has been considerable re-thinking on the
0720H24 social, technological and philosophical basis of the development of health
0730H24 services in the country. ^There is serious dissatisfaction with the
0740H24 existing model of medical and health care services with its emphasis on
0750H24 hospitals, specialities and super specialities and highly trained doctors
0760H24 which gets limited in practice mostly to urban areas and which is availed
0770H24 of mainly by the well-to-do classes. ^It is also realized that it
0780H24 is this model which is depriving the rural areas and the poor people of
0790H24 the benefits of good health and medical services. ^Serious doubts have,
0800H24 therefore, been raised as to whether we did right in adopting this western
0810H24 model of medical services and health care whose costs go far beyond
0820H24 our resources, which emphasizes curative rather than preventive and promotional
0830H24 aspects and which creates immense problems because of overemphasis
0840H24 on inappropriately high level professionalisation, institutionalization
0850H24 and centralization. ^A search for alternative models has, therefore,
0860H24 been on for some time and excellent results have been obtained in some
0870H24 refreshing experiments conducted by dedicated individuals and agencies.
0880H24 ^The Srivastava Committee was the first official committee to_ take this
0890H24 into account and to_ suggest a new approach to health care services which
0900H24 begins with the community and trained health workers from within the
0910H24 community itself and then links up these basic services within the community
0920H24 with an infrastructure of dispensaries and hospitals through a sound
0930H24 and well organised referral system. ^This basic recommendation of the
0940H24 committee was immediately acted upon by the Government in October, 1977
0950H24 and steps were initiated to_ augment the health care facilities in the
0960H24 rural areas through (**=1) scheme of transferring skills to workers selected
0970H24 by the community under the new Community Health Workers*' scheme,
0980H24 (**=2) drawing up a scheme of involvement of medical colleges in
0990H24 the total health care of selected primary health centres with the objective
1000H24 of re-orienting medical education and making specialist services available
1010H24 to the rural public and (**=3) accelerating reorientation training
1020H24 of unipurpose workers engaged in control of various communicable diseases
1030H24 programmes into multi-purpose workers so as to_ integrate the present
1040H24 vertical structure for control/ eradication of communicable diseases.
1060H24 $15.3 ^It is proposed to_ give considerable attention to the development
1070H24 of an alternative model of health care services which will emphasize
1080H24 the preventive and promotive aspects, which will be fully geared to_ serve
1090H24 the rural areas and the poor people, which will visualize the development
1100H24 of a large band of health workers from among the community itself
1110H24 to_ take care of the common day-to-day ailments, which will make even
1120H24 the best medical aid available to every individual through a well-organised
1130H24 referral system and a chain of *4taluka, district and State hospitals,
1140H24 and whose costs will remain within the reach of our resources. ^It
1150H24 is hoped that a well-formulated and generally accepted programme of
1160H24 health and medical services will soon emerge out of these efforts, much
1170H24 before the end of the 1978-83 Plan itself.
1180H24 $15.4 ^Meanwhile it is proposed that the policies and programmes to_ be
1190H24 developed in the immediate future should be based on the following principles:
1210H24 $(**=1) ^The main objective in the Plan will be to_ provide better
1220H24 health care and medical care services to the rural areas and the poor
1240H24 people. $(**=2) ^Vigorous steps will be taken to_ launch a community
1250H24 based programme of health care and medical services in rural areas, this
1260H24 being the most neglected sector needs priority.
1270H24 $*<*3Services and Supplies*0*>
1280H24 $15.46 *3Rural Main Centres and Sub-Centres:*0 ^Family Welfare and
1290H24 \0MCH Services in the rural areas will continue to_ be provided through
1300H24 the Rural Family Welfare Centres and Sub-Centres. ^Additional
1310H24 180 Rural Family Welfare Centres will be opened and attached with the
1320H24 Primary Health Centres (\0PHCs). ^The backlog of 2500 functional
1330H24 buildings for these centres will be completed; in respect of about 700
1340H24 primary Health Centres and Rural Family Welfare Centres for which
1350H24 no buildings have been constructed, an integrated building design will
1360H24 be followed. ^Fifty per cent of the backlog of non-functional buildings
1370H24 will be completed. ^The expansion programme of sub-centres will be
1380H24 covered under the Health Sector Programme. $15.47
1390H24 *3Urban Family Welfare Centres and Post-Partum Programme:*0
1410H24 ^Eighteen hundred and twenty urban family welfare centres existing at present
1420H24 will be attached with the hospitals \0MCH centres. ^Fifteen hundred
1430H24 new urban centres will be opened during the Plan to_ cover the remaining
1440H24 urban population. ^Besides the urban centres, additional beds and
1450H24 operation theatre facilities have been sanctioned in medical colleges,
1460H24 major hospitals and district hospitals under the post-partum programme to_
1470H24 promote institutional deliveries and acceptance of contraception thereafter.
1480H24 ^This programme is already sanctioned in 449 institutions; it will
1490H24 be started in 75 new institutions during 1978-79. ^To the extent feasible
1500H24 the existing urban centres will be attached to the new post-partum
1510H24 centres to_ achieve integration of the services. ^The post-partum programme
1520H24 will be extended to 400 *4taluka/ sub-division level hospitals and
1530H24 100 hospitals in the organised sector.
1540H24 $15.49 *3Contraceptive Supplies:*0 ^The supplies are arranged in terms
1550H24 of the anticipated needs arising from acceptance of different methods
1560H24 of contraceptions. ^Oral pills have been introduced during the Fifth Plan.
1570H24 ^In view of the fact that all methods of contraceptions will be promoted
1580H24 equally and the 'cafetaria approach' will continue to_ be adopted,
1590H24 the requirements will have to_ be worked out on the basis of popular
1600H24 acceptance of the various devices. ^Natural methods of family welfare
1610H24 are also to_ be promoted. ^Provision has been made in the Plan on the basis
1620H24 of trends of acceptance of the various devices. ^In view of the anticipated
1630H24 increase in the demand for *4nirodh, provision has been made
1640H24 for augmenting the production capacity for the manufacture of *4Nirodh.
1650H24 $<*3Training*0*>
1660H24 $15.50 ^The quality of training imparted to the workers plays a crucial
1670H24 role in the propagation of the programme. ^The training facilities will
1680H24 be geared to the needs of the schemes pertaining to multi-purpose health
1690H24 workers and the community health workers. ^The training of local birth
1700H24 attendants (*4Dais) is an important component of the community health
1710H24 workers scheme. ^It is intended to complete the training of '*4dais' at
1711H24 the rate of one '*4dai' for 1,000 population during the Plan 1978-83.
1712H24 $*<*3Research & Evaluation*0*>
1720H24 $15.51 ^Reasearch in the field of bio-medicine, demography, population
1730H24 studies and communication aspects is being increasingly supported by the
1740H24 government. ^Six additional small demographic/ communication action research
1750H24 centres have been sanctioned in the Fifth Plan so that all the major
1760H24 States would have the benefit of such centres. ^To_ balance their
1770H24 activities, these centres as well as some of the existing centres will
1780H24 be strengthened. ^Two new centres will be established in the coming five
1790H24 years.
1800H24 $15.52 ^Research on fertility control will be a priority item in the area
1810H24 of bio-medical research. ^In this regard indigenous system will receive
1820H24 greater attention. ^To_ avoid overlapping areas of research in reproductive
1830H24 biology, collaborative projects by various scientific institutions
1840H24 will be taken up for their mutual benefit.
1850H24 $*<*3Mass Media and Extension Education*0*>
1860H24 $15.54 ^The approach so far has been oriented more towards mass education
1870H24 and adequate attention has not been paid to the extension techniques which
1880H24 have been successfully demonstrated in the agricultural sector. ^As
1890H24 the Programme of Family Welfare has to_ be implemented with the voluntary
1900H24 participation of the people and with the cooperation of public opinion
1910H24 leaders, intensive efforts for the strengthening of extension machinery
1920H24 will be made. ^In this task community health workers and multi-purpose
1930H24 workers will be fully integrated with the extension education structure
1940H24 which will provide family life and health education. ^A review of
1950H24 the existing machinery at the Centre, State and District level will be
1960H24 undertaken. ^This will include a second look at the training and utilisation
1970H24 of multi-purpose workers and community health workers for promotion
1980H24 of small family norm. ^Extension activities undertaken for the promotion
1990H24 of acceptance of small family norm will further be coordinated with
2000H24 the activities of other extension agencies working in the field.*#
        **[no. of words = 02026**]

        **[txt. h25**]
0010H25 *<*3Future Scope*0*>
0020H25 $2.1. ^The final Fifth Plan targets for output of yarn and cloth to_
0030H25 meet requirements for domestic consumption and exports, are 1150 million
0040H25 \0kgs and 9500 million metres respectively by 1978-79. ^Of the cloth
0050H25 target, 4800 million meteres are to_ be produced in the mill-sector.
0060H25 ^Based on the export performance of the past few years and the buoyancy
0070H25 in international markets, it is projected that by 1978-79, cotton textile
0080H25 exports will increase substantially. ^There is good export potential
0090H25 for fabrics such as wide width sheeting, terry towels, denims, drills,
0100H25 canvas, \0etc. ^A promising market is emerging in fully processed
0110H25 dress fabrics as well. $2.2. ^The principal guidelines for the future
0120H25 expansion of the industry may be enumerated as follows:
0140H25 $(1) ^Expansion of spinning capacity, with special emphasis on meeting the
0150H25 requirements of the decentralised sector and interests of cotton growers
0160H25 and with particular reference to a multi-fibre approach. ^No licence
0170H25 is required by cotton spinning units upto a capacity of 50,000 spindles
0180H25 subject to the following conditions:
0190H25 $(a) ^The packings of yarn in hank form and the countwise production
0200H25 should be in accordance with the policy in force and the directions
0210H25 issued by the Textile Commissioner in this regard from time to time;
0220H25 $(b) new unit should have a capacity of 25,000; and
0230H25 $(c) the unit should be located in an area other than in towns with a
0240H25 population of more than 5 *4lakhs.
0250H25 $(2) ^As per the new Industrial Policy, announced by the Minister of
0260H25 Industry in the Parliament, no expansion in the weaving capacity will
0270H25 be allowed in the organised sector or powerloom sector. ^Whatever additional
0280H25 production of cloth is required, it will be met out of the handloom
0290H25 sector, which is being given all facilities and priorities.
0300H25 $(3) ^Emphasis on production of coarse and lower medium varieties of cloth
0310H25 to_ meet the basic minimum needs of the people.
0320H25 $(4) ^Expansion of exports in quantity and increase in unit added value
0330H25 to_ conform to the Plan targets.
0340H25 $(5) ^Modernisation of the industry, including greater economies of scale,
0350H25 balanced utilisation of equipment, lowering of unit costs, \0etc.
0360H25 ^Special consideration will be given to improved preparatory, and processing
0370H25 capacities. $*<*3Facilities*0*> $3.1. ^The following facilities
0380H25 are already and/ or will be available: $*<*3(A) Working Capital*0*>
0410H25 $^While sanctioning working capital loans by Commercial Banks, the
0420H25 following will be kept in view; $(**=1) ^If the applicant mill has any
0430H25 unencumbered block assets, their value will be taken into account;
0450H25 $(**=2) ^The mills are being asked to_ use non-cotton fibre such as viscose
0460H25 staple fibre and polyester fibre. ^Unlike cotton, the prices of such
0470H25 fibres do not significantly fluctuate. ^This may be taken into account
0480H25 while determining the margin; and
0490H25 $(**=3) ^The unit prices of polyester fibre is much higher than that_ of
0500H25 cotton. ^This may be taken into account while sanctioning quantum of
0510H25 credit limit. $*<*3(B) Raw Material*0*> $^Following are the important
0520H25 aspects: $(**=1) ^The import of viscose/ polynosic staple fibre is
0530H25 being permitted on a free licensing basis; $(**=2) ^The import of polyster
0570H25 fibre has been decanalised and is being freely licensed; $(**=3)
0590H25 ^The import of acrylic fibre has been placed on free licensing system;
0610H25 $(**=4) ^It has been made compulsory on the cotton textile industry to_
0620H25 use at least 10% non-cotton fibre. ^This compulsion is applicable to
0621H25 all cotton textile mills except in relation to their production which is
0630H25 meant for exports of production in low coarse counts.
0650H25 $*<*3(C) Modernisation*0*>
0660H25 $^Financial assistance on concessional terms will be provided by the
0670H25 Industrial Development Bank of India under its Soft Loan Scheme
0680H25 to cotton textile mills for modernisation, replacement and renovation of
0690H25 their plant and machinery. ^The following are some of the important
0700H25 terms and conditions of small assistances:
0710H25 $(**=1) ^The basic criteria for assistance under the scheme will be weakness
0720H25 or non-viability of the industrial concerns arising out of mechanical
0730H25 obsolescence. ^The need for modernisation will have to_ be established
0740H25 beyond doubt as also the fact that viability would be achieved within
0750H25 a reasonably short period. ^Industrial concerns which are not in a position
0760H25 to_ bear the normal lending rate of interest of the financial institutions
0770H25 will be provided concessional asssistance to the full extent of
0780H25 the loan. ^In other cases, assistance on concessional terms would be provided
0790H25 upto the maximum extent of 66% of the loan (75% in the case of jute
0800H25 industry). ^In cases where the industrial concerns can conveniently meet
0810H25 the requirements for modernisation under the Bills Rediscounting Scheme
0820H25 of \0IDBI, they are expected as at present, to_ avail themselves
0830H25 of the facilities under that_ Scheme; for this purpose, the maximum
0840H25 period of deferred payment has been extended to 7 years for all the
0850H25 five eligible industries and in the case of jute industry, the effective
0860H25 rate of interest has been reduced to 11%.
0870H25 $(**=2) ^Industrial concerns to_ be eligible for assistance under the
0880H25 scheme, should have been registered as public or private limited companies
0890H25 or cooperatives. ^Partnership or proprietary concerns *3are not eligible*0.
0910H25 $(**=3) ^Specific project reports of modernisation, indicating both physical
0920H25 and financial requirements will have to_ be prepared and presented.
0930H25 ^Emphasis should be laid on changing out specific technological improvements
0940H25 in crucial processes or activities which would make a definite impact
0950H25 on production process in a short period.
0960H25 $(**=4) ^Assistance under the scheme will be need based; as such, no minimum
0970H25 or maximum limit for individual loans has been prescribed.
0980H25 $(**=5) ^Interest on the loan under the scheme will be charged at the rate
0990H25 of 7.5% \0p.a. ^In the event of default in payment of interest and/ or
1000H25 principal, additional interest @ 2% \0p.a. for the period of default on
1010H25 the amount of interest/ principal in default shall be charged.
1011H25 $(**=6) ^A commitment charge of 0.5% on the loan amount will be payable
1020H25 half-yearly after expiry of 6 months from the date of letter of intent
1030H25 or from the date of execution of the loan agreement, whichever is earlier.
1050H25 $(**=7) ^The period of repayment of loan to_ be sanctioned under the
1060H25 scheme would be upto 15 years including moratorium of 3 to 5 years.
1070H25 $(**=8) ^The loan to_ be sanctioned under the scheme will require to_ be
1080H25 secured by a first charge by way of mortgage/ hypothecation on the fixed
1090H25 assets/ movables to_ be acquired under the scheme along with a first charge
1120H25 or a second charge (where a first charge is not available) on the
1130H25 existing fixed assets of the industrial concerns. ^The financial institutions,
1140H25 \0viz. \0IDBI, \0IFCI and \0ICICI may also insist
1150H25 at their discretion, on suitable personal and/ or other guarantees.
1160H25 $^The margin on security will be decided on a case to case basis.
1170H25 $(**=9) ^A reasonable contribution from the concerns towards the cost of
1180H25 the modernisation is expected. $**<*3223. WOOLLEN TEXTILES**>
1200H25 $*<*3Present Status*>
1210H25 $1.1. ^Woollen textile industry in the country consists of the organised
1220H25 sector and the decentralised sector. ^The organised sector consists of
1230H25 woollen spinning units/ composite units/ woollen combing units/ machine
1250H25 made carpets. ^The decentralised sector covers hosiery/ powerloom/ handloom/
1260H25 hand knitted carpet units.
1261H25 $8. ^The performance of the units licensed/ approved to_ make mini-computer/
1262H25 micro processor based systems would be reviewed periodically (annually
1263H25 to_ begin with) and expansion of capacity approved on the basis of
1264H25 these reviews.
1265H25 $**<*365. PERIPHERALS FOR COMPUTERS**> $*<*3Present Status*> $1.1
1266H25 ^Letters of Intent have been given for computer peripherals such as
1267H25 low speed magnetic tape units, alphanumeric displays, data entry systems
1268H25 based on cassette tape drives, floppy discs, non impact printers and
1269H25 dot matrix printers. *<*3Future Scope*>
1330H25 $2.1. ^Scope for manufacturing programmes to_ cover the demand profile indicated
1340H25 at Annexure *=4 exists. ^As \0CRT terminals are becoming cheaper
1350H25 and are more reliable, it is likely that they may replace celetypes
1360H25 in certain applications areas. ^Direct entry devices like key to cassette,
1370H25 key to magnetic tape, key to floppy disc and discpacks are becoming
1380H25 more economical and easy to_ use and these devices will have significant
1390H25 impact on data preparation activities. ^Foreign collaboration can be
1400H25 considered on merit for more sophisticated items like high speed line printers,
1410H25 high speed magnetic tape units, and disc drives, but would be limited
1420H25 to_ purchase of designs and drawings, except in very special cases.
1440H25 $**<*366. TELEMETRY TELECONTROL AND DATA LOGGING INTERFACE SYSTEMS**>
1450H25 $1.1 ^Telemetry and telecontrol and data logging equipment find a wide
1460H25 variety of applications as in power generation, transmission and distribution,
1470H25 oil pipelines, long distance communication links, railways electrification,
1480H25 aerospace application, remote weather data collection, scientific
1490H25 exploration and most of the process industries. ^In many of the applications,
1500H25 these equipment form a part of the total instrumentation
1510H25 and control system and have been imported as part of package imports. ^Application
1520H25 of indigenous systems has been only in the railway electrification
1530H25 projects. ^So far only one manufacturer has manufactured indigenous
1540H25 systems. ^It is expected that at least three more companies will be
1550H25 bringing out equipment shortly two of them with foreign collaboration.$^This
1560H25 is an area where close liaison with the users, and promotional
1570H25 efforts by manufacturers will play a significant role in creating demand.
1580H25 ^A conservative estimate of demand for these systems during the next five
1590H25 years would be about \0Rs. 25 *4crores. ^The present licensed
1600H25 capacity appears adequate for the time being provided the progress of the
1610H25 licensed manufacturers is speeded up.
1620H25 $**<*367. ELECTRONIC PROCESS CONTROL INSTRUMENTATION**>
1630H25 *<*3Present Status*>
1640H25 $1.1. ^Although the process control insturments have nucleated recently
1650H25 in the country, the production activity shown by the units, both in terms
1660H25 of the production pattern as well as the volume of production is substantial.
1670H25 ^Over 100 manufacturing units are producing a wide range of pneumatic
1680H25 and electronic instruments (See \0EIP, May 1974). ^The present
1690H25 status of each category of instruments is given subsequently.
1700H25 $*<*3Future Scope*>
1710H25 $2.1. ^The next five year demand of process control instruments has been
1720H25 estimated as \0Rs. 140 *4crores. ^There is a definite trend towards
1730H25 increased use of electronic systems over pneumatic system. ^Electronics
1740H25 share of the demand has grown from 10 per cent in 1965 to 20 to 25 per
1750H25 cent in 1975, and is projected to_ reach 30 to 35 per cent by the end of
1760H25 the next five years. ^In post 1985 period electronic systems will predominate
1770H25 and their share will saturate at 65% in the post 1990 period.
1780H25 ^The next five years demand of electronic process control instrumentation
1790H25 is estimated at \0Rs. 40 *4crores. ^The estimates of groupwise demand
1800H25 during this period are given in Annexure *=5.
1810H25 $**<*368. TRANSDUCERS AND TRANSMETERS**>
1820H25 $^At present, transducers are the major bottlenecks in the development of
1830H25 control technology in the country. ^The demand of these in the next
1840H25 five years is expected to_ be about \0Rs. 400 million, the share of electronics
1850H25 would be about 25 per cent. ^There is a yawning gap between supply
1860H25 and demand in this area, and transducers for specific applications continue
1870H25 to_ be imported in the country. ^In general, investments in this
1880H25 area are welcome. ^Also proposals for manufacturing signal converters
1890H25 and conditioners in standard modular forms will be considered. ^Foreign
1900H25 collaboration will be considered on case to case basis. ^Specific
1910H25 guidelines are as follows:
1920H25 $*<*3(a) Temperature Transducers*>
1930H25 $^Temperature transducer technology is still in its infancy in the country.
1940H25 ^Available transducers do not cover the entire range of industrial
1950H25 \0temp. measurement. ^There are quite some difficulties at the upper end
1960H25 of the scale, particularly in the steel industry. ^Also, there are no
1970H25 reliable and accurate thermocouples which can satisfactorily operate for
1980H25 long duration in reducing atmospheres at high pressures and temperature
1990H25 ranging from 690*@ \0C to 1600*@ \0C. ^No effort has gone into establishment
2000H25 of methods to_ measure normal operating \0temp. of 160*@ \0C.
2010H25 inside a low pressure coal gasifier. ^Radiation and optical pyrometers are
2020H25 widely required in the steel industry. ^Radiation pyrometer sensitivity
2030H25 has to_ be increased by incorporating new detector materials. ^Proposals
2040H25 for the manufacture of the above indicated temperature transducers
2050H25 will be encouraged. $*<*3(b) Pressure Transducers*>
2070H25 $^Electronic pressure and force transducers include various strain gauges,
2080H25 load cells and \0LVDTs. ^Both strain gauges and load cells are presently
2090H25 made in the country, but the operating pressure range is limited.*#
        **[no. of words = 02004**]

        **[txt. h26**]
0010H26 ^The police-men co-dwell with them surrounded by the dirt and debris
0020H26 of the times. ^Of the 147 police station buildings in Haryana I have
0030H26 visited 98. ^*I visited their police posts also. ^As many as 51 police
0040H26 stations were found to_ be dilapidated. ^Thirteen were located in old forts.
0050H26 ^Many more had been accommodated in Old *4Rajas*' or *4Nawabs*'
0060H26 residences, *4Sarais, discarded veterinary hospitals, Industrial Training
0070H26 Institutes, temporary structures hired houses, \0etc. ^*I found the
0080H26 police lock ups in a deplorable condition. ^A part of many of the police
0090H26 stations had already collapsed making the rest of the building unsafe.
0100H26 ^Several police stations would get inundated in the rainy season so as
0110H26 to_ be under a few feet of water for many weeks. ^They had to_ be vacated
0120H26 and \0P.Ss had to_ be set up temporarily elsewhere. ^The Police Stations
0130H26 in the rented or improvised buildings did not have proper lock-ups
0140H26 nor *4Malkhanas. ^As it is not intended to_ describe them in all the
0150H26 details here, suffice it to_ say that most of the police stations in
0160H26 Haryana are hardly fit for occupation and the condition of the Police
0170H26 Posts is even worse. ^Apart from the hardships which the police personnel
0180H26 bore personally they experienced great difficulties functionally too.
0190H26 ^Certainly the condition of police stations and Police Posts in Haryana
0200H26 is in no way exceptional. ^We have them in other States also though
0210H26 not so extensively and closely. ^The point I like to_ make is that there
0220H26 is an imperative need for formulating a phased programme for construction
0230H26 of new Police Stations as well as Police Post buildings. ^Simultaneously
0240H26 a programme should also be drawn up for extensive special repairs
0250H26 to the existing buildings so that they can last without jeopardising
0260H26 the lines of the police-men, till the new buildings become available.
0280H26 $*<*3Misery of police-men posted at vulnerable guards, \0etc.*>
0290H26 $7. ^The conditions under which the police-men live are however, the worst
0300H26 at the Sales-Tax and food checking barriers the vulnerable point guards,
0310H26 particularly at the railway and road bridges, \0etc. ^*I have visited
0320H26 many a police personnel posted there. ^They do not have even a roof
0330H26 to_ protect them. ^They live in tents which are almost always tattered
0340H26 and torn because they cannot last as long as their prescribed period of
0350H26 service due to constant exposure to sun and rain and high velocity winds,
0360H26 and the poor quality of the materials out of which the tents are made.
0370H26 ^These tents can neither keep the rain nor wind out. ^They cannot protect
0380H26 the police-men from the glare of the lights of traffic nor from its
0390H26 noise. ^They have no place to_ cook and eat; except the open sky. ^The dust
0400H26 and smoke raised and emitted by the motor vehicles and railway trains
0410H26 mixes freely with what they eat and drink. ^They have no sanitary conveniences.
0420H26 ^They have no medical facility nearby if they fall sick. ^They
0430H26 have no family life. ^Neither the Excise and Taxation Commissioner
0440H26 nor the Railway authorities would bother about their lot. ^The \0P.W.D.
0450H26 authorities would consider it an encroachment upon their land if
0460H26 even a *4kacha thatched room(s) were proposed to_ be constructed for the
0470H26 wretched men of the police force. ^The authorities of even the biggest
0480H26 establishments guarded by the police rarely make provision for barracks,
0490H26 sentry posts, \0etc. for the police. ^The police suffer thus and continue
0500H26 to_ serve in such conditions. ^Should it not be made incumbent upon
0510H26 the Railways, State Electricity Boards, the Excise and Taxation
0520H26 Department, Thermal Plants and other Managements to_ provide at least
0530H26 barracks, sentry posts, kitchens and sanitary conveniences for the police
0540H26 guards? ^Most of them are commercial projects, or revenue earning
0550H26 departments, after all.
0560H26 $*<*3Police is undermanned and overburdened.*>
0570H26 $8. ^The lot of the policeman has not improved. ^The police stations are
0580H26 understaffed and the policemen generally are overworked. ^They are on
0590H26 duty when the people celebrate festivals and enjoy holidays. ^All the
0600H26 duties of the police are not performed at the police station itself; and
0610H26 for their performance in the '*4ilaqa' they hardly have any facilities--
0620H26 no transport, no arrangement for rations and nowhere welcome to_ stay.
0630H26 ^They have to_ fend for themselves and fall an easy prey to accepting the
0640H26 hospitality of those whose public image is as black as their own. ^Once
0650H26 they fall there is no limit to which they may not sink. ^If each police
0660H26 station were given a suitable motor vehicle many malpractices to which
0670H26 the police take willy nilly should decrease. ^Their impartiality will
0680H26 not become a casualty and they will have less need to_ stay with the undesirable.
0690H26 ^They would reach a scene of occurrence without delay and their
0700H26 response to a complainant even at odd hours, would be less reluctant.
0710H26 ^It will save their time too, for much-needed rest or for more work.
0720H26 $*<*3Unsanctioned duties deplete the police stations.*>
0730H26 $9. ^No police strength or very little of it has been provided for:
0740H26 (a) escort of prisoners, (b) collection of intelligence, (c) regulation
0750H26 of traffic in the towns and on the highways, (d) protection of \0V.I.Ps,
0760H26 (e) maintenance of order in situations which are of very recent development.
0770H26 ^To_ meet these requirements which have grown stupendously in
0780H26 recent times the district armed reserves as well as the policemen called
0790H26 from the police stations ostensibly for annual refresher training are
0800H26 diverted and deployed thus continuously. ^As a result their training suffers
0810H26 and efficiency of the police deteriorates. ^For keeping order at
0820H26 the public meetings, processions, demonstrations, film-nite shows, matches,
0830H26 cinemas, exhibitions, elections, \0etc., the police has to_ be picked
0840H26 out from the police stations which get depleted and for that_ period the
0850H26 police patrolling investigation of cases and all that_ has to_ be done
0851H26 at the Police Stations comes to a stop. ^Such cessations and set-backs
0860H26 to police station work are too frequent, so that the police station staffs
0870H26 could function smoothly and uninterrupted. **[sic**] ^It is essential
0880H26 that adequate staff is provided for each of the other duties also which
0890H26 the District Police has to_ perform. ^Some of them have been mentioned
0900H26 above and others are explained below. $*<*3Leakages of manpower*>
0920H26 $10. ^The creation of new districts and sub-divisions causes a new
0930H26 problem for the police who are supposed to_ keep the case
0940H26 property in safe custody in the police station *4Malkhana as long as
0950H26 a case is under investigation. ^As these one-room *4Malkhanas have always
0960H26 had a limited capacity and the case property has been multifarious
0970H26 and too large, it could never be contained in it. ^Consequently case property
0980H26 particularly in Excise Act cases would be kept in other rooms which
0990H26 may be lying vacant in the \0P.S. ^These are generally made out
1000H26 of the kitchens or the stables for ponies, which are no longer needed.
1010H26 ^Even these additional, improvised *4Malkhanas would get packed to the
1020H26 full. ^But formerly the situation used to_ remain controllable because
1030H26 with the *(4challaning*) of a case its property would be transferred to
1040H26 the Judicial *4Malkhana.
1050H26 $*<*3Absence or inadequacy of Judicial *4Malkhanas;*>
1060H26 $^This movement has now become impossible because there are hardly any
1070H26 Judicial *4malkhanas at the new district or sub-divisional headquarters,
1080H26 as few have been built, acquired or hired. ^The Judiciary having been
1090H26 separated is no longer under the control of the District Magistrate
1100H26 nor their proper functioning is his responsibility. ^The prosecution
1110H26 branch having been relieved of the control of the District Superintendents
1120H26 of Police, see no objection for taking over the case property when
1130H26 the case is *4challaned. ^So the police station has to_ keep generally
1140H26 all the case property till a long time after the cases have finally been
1150H26 disposed of by the Courts impinging upon limited accommodation they have
1160H26 at their disposal at the Police Station. ^The case property has found
1170H26 its way into the defunct and deserted cattle pounds also which are
1180H26 in ruins and even in the barracks of the Constables, who suffer the reek
1190H26 and smell which these emit. ^Once I found it lying in a religious place
1200H26 adjoining a Police Station and situated in its premises. ^On another
1210H26 occasion I saw it kept on the roof of the police station. ^Still
1220H26 another problem arises for the Police as a corollary of this situation.
1230H26 ^The cases get adjourned if the case property is not produced in the court
1240H26 at the right time, which means further delay in the disposal of cases.
1250H26 ^The vulnerability of the police is exploited by the magistracy and the
1260H26 prosecution agency in as much as the Police staff has to_ facilitate
1270H26 the production of the case property. ^It is an extra burden upon the Police.
1280H26 ^In the process the property loses its sanctity. ^Nobody cares
1290H26 for it much; though nobody acknowledges the position. ^There is an imperative
1300H26 need for the construction of the Judicial *4Malkhanas at each
1310H26 District and Sub-divisional Headquaters.
1320H26 $*<*3Inadequate *4Naib Courts*>
1330H26 $11. ^The establishment of new courts was not accompanied by the sanction
1340H26 of corresponding number of *4Naib Courts. ^All the same, they continue
1350H26 to_ be provided by the police either out of their helplessness or their
1360H26 desire to_ keep the magistracy and the prosecution agency in good humour.
1370H26 ^This is another drain on the already limited man-power resources
1380H26 of the Police. *(^*Naib-courts*) should be sanctioned for all the courts
1390H26 who need them. $*<*3Copies of Statements of witnesses.*>
1410H26 $12. ^The revised Criminal Procedure Code requires that the copies
1420H26 of the statements of witnesses and other relevant documents shall be provided
1430H26 by the Court to the accused promptly. ^It is clearly the duty and
1440H26 the responsibility of the Court. ^They cannot however discharge it because
1450H26 no clerks have been sanctioned to_ make the copies. ^Who should do
1460H26 this task? ^The Police Station has to_ do it because all the law enforcement
1461H26 agencies possibly think that it is the Police whose cases they
1462H26 are disposing of. ^This work of preparing copies is another
1470H26 undue burden on the Police. ^Neither the High Courts nor the
1480H26 State Governments are concerned because the burden is somehow, being carried
1490H26 by the Police-man.
1500H26 $*<*3No sanction for welfare institutions*>
1510H26 $13. ^The Canteens the Welfare Centres and the Messes in the Police
1520H26 generally have no sanctioned strength to_ run them. ^If it is sanctioned
1530H26 it is nominal and inadequate. ^So the staff for them has to_ be found
1540H26 entirely or partly by drawing Policemen from the already insufficient
1550H26 sanctioned strength. ^The welfare which these institutions are supposed
1560H26 to_ render to the Police force is negated by the extra burden
1570H26 which the latter have to_ bear in managing them. ^Furthermore the sanctioned
1580H26 strength of the School Master and the instructors in the District
1590H26 Police lines and the clerks in the District Police lines and the
1600H26 clerks in the District Police Offices and Sub-divisional Police offices
1610H26 is always inadequate. ^They have to_ be supplemented by drawing men
1620H26 from the Police Stations whose effectiveness to_ prevent and detect
1630H26 crime suffers. ^The unsanctioned and unauthorised guards at the residences
1640H26 of the \0D.Is.G. District Magistrates, \0etc. as well as the
1641H26 additional Orderlies too are provided out of the strength of the
1650H26 Police Station. ^When so much strength is withdrawn from the urban and
1660H26 rural Police Stations one wonders how they manage to_ cope up with
1670H26 their work. $*<*3Evil Consequences.*>
1690H26 $^As they cannot cope up with it, they try to_ reduce their work-load. ^They
1700H26 avoid registering the crime reported and attending to the complaints
1710H26 made to them. ^Visits to scenes of crime, patrolling, checking of \0B.Cs.
1720H26 verification of inquest reports and '*4pairvi' of cases becomes
1730H26 fictitious. ^Crime records are neglected. ^In despair they tend to_ become
1740H26 impatient and prone to_ lose temper. ^They begin to_ behave rudely
1750H26 with who-so-ever adds in what-so-ever way to their burden. ^They have
1760H26 little time or patience for thorough inspection of a scene of occurrence,
1770H26 proper interrogation of a suspect and examination of a complainant
1780H26 or a witness. ^They use short cuts and resort to third degree methods.
1790H26 ^Many other malpractices follow which tarnish their reputation and dim
        their public image.*#
        **[no. of words = 01993**]

        **[txt. h27**]
0001H27 **<*3REPORT*0**> $*<*31. Introductory*0*>
0010H27 ^Notwithstanding the enactment in the State of West Bengal in 1976 under
0020H27 the title of "The West Bengal Scheduled Castes and Scheduled
0030H27 Tribes (Reservation of Vacancies in Services and Posts) Act, 1976",
0040H27 in order to_ protect the interest of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled
0050H27 Tribes in the matter of services in any office of the State Government,
0060H27 a local or statutory authority constituted under the State Act
0070H27 for the time being in force, or a Corporation in which not less than fifty-one
0080H27 per \0cent. of the paid-up share capital is held by the State
0090H27 Government and Universities, and colleges affiliated to the Universities,
0100H27 Primary and Secondary Schools and also other educational institutions
0110H27 which are owned or aided by the State Government, \0etc., the representation
0120H27 of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in those services
0130H27 is melancholy. ^Causes of this sorry state of affairs are more than
0140H27 one. ^Some of these in the opinion of the Committee, are ambiguities
0141J27 and flaws in the said Act and rules made thereunder. ^Consequently,
0142J27 the Committee thinks it expedient to_ make a report recommending some
0143J27 amendments
0150H27 in the Act and the Rules. ^Few of the reasons which led the committee
0160H27 for preparing the Report may be summarised in the following way:
0170H27 $(**=1) ^Any employment which in the opinion of the State Government is
0180H27 of "scientific or technical narure "has been kept outside the purview
0190H27 of the Act and the Committee thinks that ample scope has been created
0200H27 here to_ frustrate the letter and spirit of the Act and this can be done
0210H27 by an executive order of the Government mischievously interpreting the
0220H27 terms "scientific or technical nature". $(**=2) ^Fifteen
0230H27 per \0cent. of the vacancies for the candidates belonging
0240H27 to Scheduled Castes and five per \0cent. for the candidates belonging
0250H27 to Scheduled Tribes have been made reserved in the Act, provided suitable
0260H27 candidates are available from the respective castes, but the percentage
0270H27 of reservation in West Bengal Civil Service (Judicial) for Scheduled
0280H27 Castes has been reduced in the Act to ten per \0cent. which
0290H27 the Committee thinks to_ be improper and unjustifiable.
0300H27 $(**=3) ^The reservation facilities for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled
0310H27 Tribes have been withheld in the Act for any post, the maximum scale
0320H27 of which is \0Rs. 2,000 or more, but as the facilities of reservation
0330H27 are made available subject to the minimum qualifications and required suitability
0340H27 of the candidates, this restriction will tantamount to further
0350H27 curtailment of reservation facilities
0360H27 and the Committee thinks it unjust.
0370H27 $(**=4) ^Power has been conferred by the Act upon the State Government
0380H27 to_ exempt from the application of the Act any service or post in view
0390H27 of specialised qualifications or experience, but in the opinion of the
0400H27 Committee this power may be used as a weapon by any State Government
0410H27 to_ negate the very intention of the Legislature **[sic**]
0411H27 in this respect and so
0420H27 the Committee suggests for the omission of this provision from the Act.
0440H27 $(**=5) ^Provision is there in the Act to_ penalise with a fine which
0450H27 may extend to two hundred and fifty rupees on appointing authority who
0460H27 makes an appointment in contravention of the provisions of this Act
0470H27 but the Committee thinks that the degree of punishment is quite inadequate
0480H27 to_ check the recalcitrant appointing authority, so the punishment with
0490H27 a larger fine together with imprisonment has been recommended.
0500H27 $^Further recommendations have been made to_ clarify the ambiguity and vagueness
0510H27 in mode of prosecution in this regard. $(**=6)
0520H27 ^It has been provided in the Act that penal measure cannot be taken
0530H27 in relation to any appointment to any service or posts of which the
0540H27 appointing authority is the Governor, but in view of Article 361 of the
0550H27 Constitution of India the Committee thinks that this provision of the
0560H27 Act is unnecessary and superfluous.
0570H27 $(**=7) ^The Committee thinks it a dire necessity for setting up a high
0580H27 power independent commission for the State to_ watch as to how the measures
0590H27 for the well-being of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes
0600H27 are being implemented and to_ suggest ways and means for the purpose and
0610H27 to_ make annual report on relevant points to the State Legislature.$**<*3*=2
0620H27 Proposed Amendments to the Act and the Rules*0**>
0630H27 $A. ^The Committee recommends that the West Bengal Scheduled Castes
0640H27 and Scheduled Tribes (Reservation of Vacancies in Services and Posts)
0650H27 Act. 1976 (West Bengal Act *=27 of 1976) (Annexure *=1) be amended
0660H27 for the purpose and in the manner hereinafter appearing. $*<*3(*=1)
0670H27 Amendment of Section 2*0*> $^In section 2 of the West Bengal
0680H27 Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (reservation of Vacancies
0690H27 in Services and Posts) Act, 1976 (hereinafter referred to as the said
0700H27 Act), clause (e) should be replaced by the following words '"Scredule"
0710H27 means the Schedules *=1 and *=2 appended to this Act,' and the following
0720H27 clauses be added after clause (e):
0730H27 $'(f) "^Scheduled Castes" has the same meaning assigned to it in clause
0740H27 (24) of Article 366 of the Constitution as listed in Schedule *=1 $(g)
0750H27 ^*Scheduled Tribes" has the same meaning assigned to it in clause
0760H27 (25) of Article 366 of the Constitution as listed in Schedule *=1
0770H27 $(h) "^*Commission" means Commission as set out in Section 13.'
0780H27 $*<*3(*=2) Amendment of Section 3*0*> $~in section 3 of the said Act
0790H27 clause (c) should be omitted and clauses (d) and (e) should be renumbered
0800H27 as (c) and (d) $*<*3(*=3) Amendment of Section 4*0*>
0820H27 $^The words "as set out in Schedule *=2" shall be inserted after the word
0830H27 "manner" in line 4 of section (4) of the said Act.
0840H27 $^In section 4(a) of the said Act the second proviso should be substituted
0850H27 by the following proviso: $"^Provided
0860H27 further also that the candidates belonging to the Scheduled
0870H27 Castes or Scheduled Tribes coming out in the general competion shall
0880H27 be excluded from their respective reservation quota." $^A new clause after
0890H27 clause (c) of this section (4) should be added in the following manner:
0910H27 $"(d) ^A Scheduled castes and Scheduled Tribes candidate called for
0920H27 an interview by Public Service Commission or Government officer on
0930H27 the basis of a competitive examination shall be entitled to re-imbursement
0940H27 of a single second class Railway fare from the normal place of his
0950H27 residence to the place of his interview: $^Provided that his facility
0960H27 facility shall not be available to any candidate belonging to Scheduled
0970H27 Castes or Scheduled Tribes whose family income is more than \0Rs.
0980H27 1,000.00 per month." $*<*3(*=4) Amendment of Section 5*0*> $^In section
1000H27 (5) of the said Act the words "in the manner as set out in the schedule
1010H27 *=2" should be inserted after the words "Scheduled Tribes" in clause
1020H27 (a). $^In section 5 of the said Act clause (b) should be omitted and
1030H27 clause (c) renumbered as clause (b) $*<*3(*=5) Omission of Section
1060H27 6*0*> $^Section (6) of the said Act should be omitted. $*<*3(*=6) Insertion
1070H27 of a New Section (6)*0*> $^After section 5 of the said Act the
1080H27 the following section should be inserted: $"6 *3Abetment of offence and
1090H27 presumption:*0 (1) ^Any act or omission violating any of the provisions
1100H27 of this Act shall be treated as a penal offence
1120H27 punishable under this Act. $(2)
1130H27 ^Whosoever abets the commission of any offence under this Act shall
1140H27 be punishable with the same punishment provided for the offence. $*3Explanation*0--
1150H27 ^A public servant who wilfully neglects any of the provisions
1160H27 of this Act in handling any reservation matter in his capacity
1170H27 as such public servant, shall be deemed to_ have abetted the commission
1180H27 of the offence attributable to the appointing authority and punishable
1190H27 under this Act. $(3)
1200H27 ^Where an offence under this Act is committed the court shall presume
1210H27 unless the contrary is provided, that the act or omission relating to
1220H27 the offence was committed deliberately and with malafide intentions."
1230H27 $*<*3(*=7) Amendment of Section (7)*0*>
1240H27 $(a) ^In the first sentence of section 7 of the said Act the words "fine
1250H27 which... rupees" occurring after "punishable
1260H27 with" should be omitted and the following be inserted therefor. $"imprisonment
1270H27 for a term no less than six months and not more than one
1280H27 year, and also with a fine which may extend up to one thousand rupees."
1290H27 $^And this paragraph should be marked as clause (1). $(b) ^The proviso under
1300H27 the section shall be omitted and the following shall be inserted: $"(2)
1320H27 ^If an appointing authority violates any other provisions of this Act
1330H27 or the rules framed thereunder, he shall be punishable with fine which
1340H27 may extend up to five hundred rupees." $*<*3*(*=8)
1350H27 Insertion of New Section 8 instead of existing Section 8.*0*>
1360H27 $^After section 7 of the said Act (as amended) the following section
1361H27 shall be inserted: $"8.
1370H27 (1) *3Cognizance and trial of offences*0: ^Notwithstanding anything contained
1380H27 in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (Act *=2 of 1973),
1390H27 every offence punishable under this Act shall be cognizable and triable
1400H27 as a warrant case, provided that an offence under section 7(2) of this
1410H27 Act may be tried summarily by a Judicial Magistrate of the first class
1420H27 or, in the metropolitan area by a Metropolitan Magistrate, in accordance
1430H27 with the procedure laid down in the said Code. $(2)
1440H27 ^When a public servant is alleged to_ have committed an offence, or
1450H27 of abetment of any offence, punishable under this Act, while acting or
1460H27 purporting to_ act in the discharge of his official duty, no court shall
1470H27 take cognizance of such offence or abetment thereof except with the sanction
1480H27 of the Commission set up under section 13. $(3)
1490H27 ^Where the appointing authority committing an offence under this Act
1500H27 is a body of persons whether incorporated or not, every person who at
1510H27 the time the offence was committed, was in charge of and responsible to
1520H27 the establishment for the conduct of its business, shall be deemed to_
1530H27 have committed the offence and shall be liable to_ be prosecuted and punishable
1540H27 accordingly." $*<*3(*=9)
1550H27 Replacement of Section 9 of the said Act by the following:*0*>
1560H27 $"9. ^No suit, prosecution or other legal proceedings shall lie against
1570H27 the State Government, the Commission or any member thereof of any
1580H27 person acting under the direction, either of the State Government or of
15Z?H27 the Commission in respect of anything which is in good faith done or
1600H27 intended to_ be done in pursuance of the Act or any rules or orders made
1610H27 thereunder or in respect of the publication, by or under the authority
1620H27 of State Government or the Commission, of any report, paper or proceeding."
1640H27 $*<*3(*=10) Amendment of Section 12(4).*0*> $^In section 12(4)
1650H27 of the said Act the words "State Government" should be replaced by "Commission."
1670H27 $*<*3(*=11) Insertion of New Sections after Section 12
1680H27 (Appointment of commission)*0*> $^The existing section 13 should be renumbered
1690H27 as section 15 and the sections 13 and 14 should be inserted as
1710H27 follows: $"13. (1) ^The State Government shall appoint a Commission
1720H27 for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes by notification in Official
1730H27 Gazette to_ perform the following functions, namely:
1740H27 $(**=2) to_ aid and advise the State Government on the measures to_ be
1750H27 taken for the due enforcement of this Act and the rules thereunder;
1760H27 $(**=3) to_ examine any complaint lodged with the Commission and to_ take
1770H27 appropriate action thereon; $(**=4) to_ sanction prosecution in case
1780H27 of offences committed by public servants;
1800H27 $(**=5) to_ call for reports and returns from any appointing authority or
1810H27 establishment to_ secure due compliance with the provisions of the Act
1820H27 and the prescribed rules: $(**=6) to_ inspect and check the records
1830H27 maintained under the prescribed rules; $(**=7) to_ issue directions
1850H27 in connection with the due enforcement of this Act and the prescribed
1870H27 rules; $(**=8) to_ make annual reports to the State Government to_
1880H27 be laid before the State Legislature in respect of the working of this
1890H27 Act and the prescribed rules;
1900H27 $(**=9) to_ perform such other functions in regard to the Scheduled Castes
1910H27 and Scheduled Tribes as may be entrusted to it by notification in
1920H27 the Official Gazette by the State Government. $(2)
1930H27 ^The Commission may consist of one or more members appointed by the
1940H27 State Government and where the Commission consists of more than one
1950H27 member, one of them may be appointed the Chairman thereof.*#
        **[no. of words = 02003**]

        **[txt. h28**]
0010H28 ^This appeal is directed against the determination given by the Commissioner
0020H28 in proceedings under Section 52 of the Bombay Sales Tax Act,
0030H28 1959 (hereinafter referred to as the Act). ^The appellant herein sought
0040H28 for determination from the Commissioner by its application dated 14th
0050H28 october, 1971. ^It was contended that the appellant, a registered dealer,
0060H28 holding the necessary registration certificate, is a Government of
0061H28 India
0070H28 undertaking, carrying on business in oil, petrol, diesel \0etc. ^It
0080H28 was submitted that it procures Methanol, which is the same as the product
0090H28 known as "Methyl alcohol" from the Fertiliser Corporation of India.
0100H28 ^The Methanol, or the Methyl alcohol so procured, it was submitted,
0110H28 was mixed with distilled water. ^The fluid then was being supplied, according
0120H28 to the appellant, to the Indian Airlines Corporation and other
0130H28 air-lines. ^The fluids that_ were so supplied have been described as:
0140H28 $(a) Methanol Water Mixture 45/\0ST for \0RR Dort Engines (without
0150H28 anti-corrosion additions), and
0160H28 $(b) ^Methanol Water Mixtures for Reciprocating Engines (with anti-corrosion
0170H28 agents 50/5011 for defence).
0180H28 $2. ^According to the appellant, these fluids supplied are power augmentation
0190H28 fluids used for increased power development by aviation engines. ^The
0200H28 appellant supplied a sample sale bill in regard to its sale of Methanol
0210H28 Water Mixture (45/5510) termed as Methi Mix to \0Messrs. Indian
0220H28 Airlines Corporation, New Delhi. ^The delivery of the mixture of
0230H28 fluid was given at the Santacruz Airport, Bombay.
0240H28 $3. ^It posed in regard to this transaction three questions for determination
0250H28 by the Commissioner. ^The first question was whether the mixing
0260H28 of distilled water with Methanol, as was being done by the appellant,
0270H28 amounts to manufacture of goods within the meaning of section 2(17) of the
0280H28 Act. ^The second question was whether in the circumstances which showed
0290H28 that the Methanol, which the appellant was purchasing from registered
0300H28 dealers, it would be correct to_ presume that no tax would be leviable
0310H28 on the resale of these goods. ^The third question which was submitted
0320H28 to_ be answered by the Commissioner was in regard to the rate of tax payable
0330H28 in the event of the Commissioner came to_ hold that any process
0340H28 of manufacture was involved, the manufactured item would fall under the
0350H28 residuary entry 22 of Schedule E and, consequently, if tax had to_ be
0360H28 recovered, the same would be at the rate meant for the goods in this entry.
0380H28 $4. ^The learned Commissioner, on hearing the appellant and on examining
0390H28 all the legal and factual aspects that_ were produced before him, answered
0400H28 the first question against the appellant and held that the mixing
0410H28 of distilled water with Methanol in the circumstances pointed out by the
0420H28 appellant would amount to a process of manufacture. ^The second question
0430H28 as to whether the appellant would be required to_ pay tax in the positions
0440H28 canvassed was not specifically answered by the learned Commissioner,
0450H28 though his whole order shows that Sales Tax would be payable on the
0460H28 transaction. ^On the third question, he concluded that the rate of tax
0470H28 payable would be the rate specified in entry 67 of Schedule C for sale
0480H28 of "methyl alcohol".
0490H28 $5. ^The appellant having been dissatisfied with the order of determination
0500H28 given by the Commissioner on the lines above has approached the Tribunal
0510H28 for relief. ^It is being strenously contended that the learned Commissioner
0520H28 grievously erred in holding that the appellant*'s activity
0530H28 of mixing water with Methanol was manufacture within the meaning of Section
0540H28 2(17) of the Act. \0^*Mr. Sheth argued that if this finding given
0550H28 by the Commissioner is not accepted by the Tribunal, the finding on
0560H28 the second question must necessarily be that the sale made by the appellant
0570H28 of the fluid would be a resale, inasmuch as it related to Methanol
0580H28 or Methyl alcohol, purchased by the appellant from the registered dealers.
0590H28 \0^*Mr Sheth argued that the first two questions being answered.
0591H28 in the way canvassed by him the third question need not be answered. $6.
0600H28 ^Both sides agree that the matter regarding the activity conducted by
0610H28 the appellant would be governed by the definition of manufacture in Section
0620H28 2(17) of the Act. ^The definition, for ready reference, is reproduced
0640H28 below: $2(17). "manufacture" with all its grammatical variations
0650H28 and cognate expressions means producing, making, extracting, altering,
0660H28 ornamenting, finishing or otherwise processing, treating or adapting any
0670H28 goods; but does not include such manufactures or manufacturing processes
0680H28 as may be prescribed.
0690H28 $^The various processes prescribed and not included in the definition of
0700H28 manufacture as aforesaid are detailed in Rule 3 of the Bombay Sales
0710H28 Tax Rules, 1959 (hereinafter referred to as the Rules). $7. ^On the
0720H28 positions accepted herein all what **[sic**] the appellant did was that
0730H28 after purchasing the Methanol or methyl Alcohol it mixed the same methyl
0740H28 alcohol with distilled water in the proportion of 45 per cent and 55
0750H28 per cent. ^The facts demonstrated that these proportions were required
0760H28 to_ be accurately maintained so that the mixture, or the solution, ultimately
0770H28 produced could give the proper required results. ^The mixture was
0780H28 required to_ be tested in a laboratory, and the proportion of Methanol
0790H28 and distilled water properly regulated. ^The whole question is whether
0800H28 this activity of the appellant of mixing Methanol with distilled water
0810H28 could be an activity of "manufacture" within the meaning of Section 2(17)
0820H28 of the Act. ^We will come to the case law a little later. ^Suffice
0530H28 it to_ say at the moment that so-far-as the plain implications of the definitions
0840H28 stand, it does not include a mere activity of mixing two commodities
0850H28 together. ^The word "mix" nowhere appears in Section 2(17) of
0860H28 the Act. ^The processes of mixing, which have been excluded by Rule
0870H28 3 of the Rules (\0ibid), also do not suggest that such mixing of water
0880H28 in another liquid, or diluting a certain liquid by water, would amount
0890H28 to a process of manufacture within the meaning of Section 2 (17) of the
0900H28 Act. ^In our view, this should suffice to_ over-rule the contention
0910H28 of the revenue that the appellant by the mere activity of mixing the fluid
0920H28 purchased by it with water so as to_ dilute the fluid to a certain
0930H28 extent, engaged in an acitvity of "manufacutre".
0940H28 $8. ^The Supreme Court in *3Commissioner of Sales Tax, \0U.P., Lucknow,
0950H28 \0v. Harbilas Rai And Sons **[foot note**] has
0960H28 laid down that the word "manufacutre" has various shades of meaning,
0970H28 and in the context of sales tax legislation, if the goods to which some
0980H28 labour is applied remain essentially the same commercial article, it cannot
0990H28 be said that the final procuct is the result of manufacture. ^In the
1000H28 case before Their Lordships, the assessees, dealers in pig bristles,
1010H28 bought bristles plucked by Kanjars from pigs, boiled them, washed them
1020H28 with soap and other chemicals sorted them out according to their sizes
1030H28 and colours, tied them in separate bundles of different sizes and despached
1040H28 them to foreign countries for sale. ^The Supreme Court concluded
1050H28 that the sales made in foreign countries were not taxable as the bristles
1060H28 were not manufactured goods within Explanation *=2 (**=2) to Section
1070H28 2 (h) of the \0U.P. Sales Tax Act 1948. ^In the case in hand, even
1080H28 as the Commissioner*'s determination order stands, the final product
1090H28 produced by this mixture or dilution was none else but the methanol,
1100H28 or methyl alcohol. ^His conclusion that the product produced shall be liable
1110H28 to_ pay sales tax, according to Entry 67 in Schedule C must show
1120H28 that in his view, the ultimate product produced remained the same despite
1130H28 the mixing, or dilution. ^In our view, the Supreme Court judgment
1140H28 aforesaid would be a clear authority to_ hold that in the peculiar circumstances
1150H28 in which the activity was conducted by the appellant, no process
1160H28 of manufacture could be held as involved.
1170H28 $9. ^We might also usefully refer, in this connection, to the judgment of
1180H28 the Bombay High Court in *3Nilgiri Ceylon Tea Supplying Company
1190H28 \0v. The State of Bombay.*0 **[foot note**] ^In the case before Their
1200H28 Lordships, the assessees registered as dealers in tea under the Bombay
1210H28 Sales tax Act, 1953, purchased in bulk diverse brands of tea and
1220H28 without the application of any mechanical or chemical process mixed up
1230H28 the brands of tea so purchased and sold the tea as tea mixture. ^The
1240H28 mixing, as Their Lordships found, was not haphazard but according to
1250H28 a formula evolved by them. ^Despite all this position available on the
1260H28 record, the conclusion was that there was neither any process nor alteration
1270H28 so as to_ lead to a conclusion that a process of manufacture was involved.
1280H28 ^The facts in this case, as we have already said, are far too weaker,
1290H28 and no question of manufacture on the ratio of the judgment given
1300H28 by Their Lordships can be held as having been involved.
1310H28 $10. ^Some Tribunal judgments in this regard are also quite instructive.
1320H28 ^In *3Messrs Bombay Mercantile Corporation*0 \0v. *3The State of
1330H28 Maharastra.*0 (*(0S. A.*) \0No. 559 of 1964) decided on 23rd
1340H28 December, 1965, the then President had before him an appellant, a dealer
1350H28 in lubricating oils, who purchased six drums of oils and sold them
1360H28 after hand-blending the oils. ^The lower authorities had subjected these
1370H28 sales to tax because in their view they were not resales within the meaning
1380H28 of Section 2(26) of the Act as a process of manufacture was involved.
1390H28 ^The President concluded, over-ruling the contentions of the State,
1400H28 that the hand-blending of oils did not amount to alteration in the
1410H28 nature or character of the goods, and that the sales, in question were resales
1420H28 within the meaning of Section 2(26) of the Act. ^We have then
1430H28 the judgment of the Tribunal in *3Messrs Duken Coffee Manufacturing
1440H28 Company*0 \0v. *3The State of Maharashtra*0 (Appeal Petition \0No.
1441H28 8 of 1967) decided on 14th October 1968. ^The other judgments are:
1442H28 *3Messrs Bombay Traders*0 \0v
1450H28 *3The State of Maharashtra*0 (Appeal Petition \0No. 131 of
1460H28 1968) decided on 30th September, 1969 and the then President*'s judgment
1470H28 in *3Messrs *(0N.*) Girdharlal and Company*0 \0v. *3The State
1480H28 of Maharashtra*0 (Appeal \0No. 6 of 1970) decided on 4th December,
1490H28 1970. ^All these cases are clear authorities for supporting the submission
1500H28 of \0^*Mr. Sheth that the activity, which the appellant has been engaging,
1510H28 could by no argument amount to an activity of "manufacture" within
1520H28 the meaning of Section 2(17) of the Act. $11.
1530H28 ^In *3Messrs Bombay Traders*0 \0v. *3State*0 (cited above) a similar
1540H28 contention was urged on behalf of the State, and which is the basis
1550H28 of the Commissioner*'s determination, namely that in-so-far-as the
1560H28 appellant*'s activity amounts to an activity of "treating or adapting"
1570H28 the original fluid, the activity amounts to a manufacture. ^That_ contention
1580H28 was exhaustively examined and repelled. ^It was pointed out that the
1590H28 expression "treating or adapting" would necessarily postulate that there
1600H28 is some material change caused in some particular characteristics in
1610H28 the original commodity. ^The expression "processing" amounting to_ "manufacture"
1620H28 was also exhausitvely examined. ^It was pointed out that the
1630H28 expression has a very wide meaning and according to the dictionary, it would
1640H28 postulate an action of moving forward progressively from one point
1650H28 to another on the way to completion. ^The activity involved in that_ case
1660H28 was of frying the cashew nuts and spraying spices to_ make them tasty.
1670H28 ^It was concluded that the whole activity could not amount to a process
1680H28 of manufacture.
1690H28 $12. ^On behalf of the State, \0Mr. Damle, the learned Additional Government
1700H28 Agent, placed a considerable reliance on the judgment given by
1710H28 a Bench of this Tribunal in the case of *3Messrs Sunil and Company*0
1720H28 \0v. *3The State of Maharashtra*0 (Appeal Petition \0No. 48 of
1730H28 1968) decided on 3rd January, 1969. ^In that_ judgment, the late \0Mr.
1740H28 Hussain spoke for the Bench, constituted by himself and the then Member
1750H28 \0*4Shri. *(0K. V.*) Kalghatgi. ^The point involved was whether
1760H28 the appellant before the Tribunal who purchased sulphuric acid from registered
1770H28 dealers and diluted the same with distilled water and sold the
1780H28 same after bottling under his label "SACO" as battery charging solution
1790H28 was engaged in the activity of manufacture. ^The Bench concluded
1800H28 that the activity amounted to such manufacture.*#
        **[no. of words = 01991**]

        **[txt. h29**]
0001H29 **<*3Role of Orissa State Archives**>
0010H29 $^*Orissa State Archives is the central repository meant for housing
0020H29 the non-current records of enduring value for administrative use as well
0030H29 as for historical research. ^The origin of the State Archives as an
0040H29 independent institution goes back to the year 1960. ^A separate building
0060H29 was constructed and made available to the State Archives in the year
0070H29 1971. ^This building has a large stack area in five floors each measuring
0080H29 100*'6 x 50*'6 and is insulated from the administrative block.
0090H29 ^It consists of spacious halls used as library and research room, committee
0100H29 room, and for housing Photo Duplication unit, and Repair and Rehabilitation
0110H29 Unit. ^Besides there is a room for reception of records.
0120H29 ^The head of the State Archives is designated as the Superintendent
0130H29 of Archives and entrusted with the following duties and responsibilities:--
0150H29 $(a) ^He is the Inspecting Officer of all public records and records
0160H29 of semi public institutions like the municipalities and *5Zila Parishads*6
0170H29 \0etc. "vide Government Resolution \0No 156-CA., dated 6-3-1978"
0180H29 (see Appendix A).
0190H29 $(b) ^He is responsible for the custody, proper care and management of all
0200H29 records received in the State Archives of Orissa.
0210H29 $(c) ^He is required to_ co-ordinate and guide all operations connected
0220H29 with the public records in respect of the administration, preservation
0230H29 and elimination with a view to ensuring that records of permanent value
0240H29 are not destroyed and are transferred to the State Archives at the appropriate
0250H29 time.
0260H29 $(d) ^He is required to_ render such advice and assistance as may be possible
0270H29 to the officers and institutions in respect of technical problems
0280H29 bearing on record management. $(e)
0290H29 ^He is responsible for attending to ancillary matters, such as archival
0300H29 commissions and committees, archival publications, organising exhibitions
0310H29 and for development of general archival consciousness in the State.
0330H29 $(f) ^He is required to_ submit a report to Government every year on the
0340H29 management of public records with particular reference to actual working
0350H29 of the records management system.
0360H29 $^Archival policy of the State Government has recently been well defined
0370H29 and a Resolution to that_ effect has been issued with the approval
0380H29 of the cabinet. (see Appendix B). $^The main functions of the State
0390H29 Archives are the collection the preservation and the management of records.
0410H29 ^These functions are performed to_ serve the creators of records as
0420H29 well as to_ serve the *8*3bona fide*9 users of records.
0440H29 $^Archives contain the original and basic information in many important
0450H29 fields of study in humanities and social sciences. ^Though Archives are
0460H29 nothing more than mere instruments of administration and they are preserved
0470H29 primarily to_ enable the administrative bodies which created them
0480H29 to_ function efficiently as time passes, archives come to_ acquire values
0490H29 other than purely administrative values-- values for historians, economists,
0500H29 sociologists and geneologists; in short, for any enquirer into his
0510H29 country*'s past. ^The special value of archives to research has been
0520H29 realised from the gray dawn of written history \0i.e. from the very moment
0530H29 when archives keeping was started. ^But it is from the latter half of
0540H29 the 19th century, that the archives have been used as source materials
0560H29 for history. $*<*3Collection & Preservation*>
0570H29 $^As we have stated earlier, collection and preservation are the two
0580H29 main functions to_ serve the creators of records as well as the users of
0590H29 records. ^The Archivists not only collect the original materials by making
0600H29 intensive survey but preserve them scientifically and later on prepare
0610H29 various types of finding aids to_ help the administrative bodies which
0620H29 created them and to_ help the historians to_ write true history of the
0630H29 State. ^Most of the records are ill-kept and ill-cared for by the creating
0640H29 agencies. ^Sometimes they are tied in bundles and wrapped in cloths.
0650H29 ^It is often found that many important series of records are either
0660H29 missing or misplaced at different public offices. ^Records are found
0670H29 in a damaged condition due to the havoc wrought by white ants and other
0680H29 insects. ^In some cases the records are so hopelessly stored that much
0690H29 injury is inflicted on them by direct effect of sun rays. ^Sometimes
0700H29 humidity promotes the growth of mildew and various types of fungus. ^The
0710H29 alternate absorption of moisture during the monsoon and its drying out
0720H29 during the cold weather causes brittleness and deterioration of papers.
0730H29 ^The role of Orissa State Archives is to_ rescue the records from such
0740H29 deplorable condition of preservation and treat them in a scientific manner
0750H29 for the benefit of the genuine users. ^With limited resources at
0760H29 our disposal, we are trying our best to_ preserve the records in our custody
0780H29 in a scientific manner. $*<*3Preparation of Finding Aids*>
0790H29 $^The object of preparation of finding aids is to_ make records in the custody
0800H29 of archival institutions accessible for use. ^So for making the
0820H29 records known to the potential users we have taken up a project of printing
0830H29 a series of guides to records in the Orissa State Archives. ^So
0840H29 far five such volumes have been printed and \0Vol. *=6 of the series is
0860H29 now in the press. $*<*3Survey of Records in Private Possession*>
0870H29 $^When we talk of private records as distinguished from public records many
0880H29 of us hardly realise the wide variety of materials the expression covers.
0890H29 ^They include the records of business concerns, banking houses,
0900H29 industrial organisations, religious institutions, philanthopic societies
0910H29 \0etc. ^Besides these, there are the personal papers of eminent men in
0920H29 all walks of life, not merely politicians. ^Apart from correspondence and
0930H29 other business papers, they include travelogues, diaries, correspondence
0940H29 of personal nature with friends and relatives, and notes and memorandas
0950H29 kept for personal use. ^In respect of their location and surveys, appraisal
0960H29 and acquisition, each class of these records presents problems
0970H29 of its own and the role of an Archives Office is very important in this
0980H29 connection.
0990H29 $^In order to_ compile data about these records and with the limited funds
1000H29 made available the National Register Scheme was launched in 1957.
1010H29 ^It has made some progress and a few cyclostyled Registers have been issued
1020H29 but so far the fringe of the problem only has been tackled.
1030H29 $^In Orissa some important private records of Ex-*4Rajas of Parikud,
1040H29 Talcher and Athmallik have been listed and collected. ^Besides, some
1050H29 important papers from Muslim and Hindu religious institutions have also
1060H29 been listed and collected. ^What is more required is a systematic survey
1070H29 within a schedule period of all private papers, specially pre-1800.
1080H29 ^It is happy to_ note that on our request the Government of India have
1090H29 decided to_ open a Special State Cell in Orissa for this purpose.
1100H29 ^The proposed cell is expected to_ function very soon and with close collaboration
1110H29 with eminent historians of our State we hope to_ complete this
1120H29 responsible task within a schedule period. $*<*3Oral Archives*>
1140H29 $^The importance of preserving the recollections of the men and women who
1150H29 have played important part in recent history as well as the reaction
1160H29 of those who have seen history made has been recently felt. ^We have now
1170H29 reached a stage in the history of our country where two-third
1180H29 of the Indians are those who were too young to_ remember any thing of the
1190H29 freedom struggle. ^It is our duty to_ act at once to_ locate and obtain
1200H29 personal accounts of the freedom struggle from people lest they disappear
1210H29 for ever from out midst. ^Besides, the personal accounts of eminent
1220H29 educationists, administrators, social and religious thinkers as well
1230H29 as reaction of those who have played some important part in the Socio-cultural
1240H29 history of the region, should also be collected on tape and later
1250H29 on be transcribed for historical research. ^We have just made a beginning
1260H29 in this direction but we need the co-operation of the Intellectual
1270H29 mass in locating and identifying such persons.
1280H29 $^Now throughout India the general trend is to_ give more emphasis on local
1290H29 or regional research rather than on research on an all India level.
1300H29 ^The trend seems to_ be a healthy sign for such research brings forward
1310H29 new facts and new events, not known before and provides materials for
1320H29 the national history. ^So all our efforts are concentrated in centralising
1330H29 the Archival source materials relating to the region only. ^But
1340H29 in a democratic set up like ours any new programme of collection and preservation
1350H29 without a sense of awareness among the people is not possible.
1360H29 ^The historians have a valuable role to_ play in creating archival consciousness
1370H29 and a consciousness of our true cultural heritage among the masses.
1380H29 ^The best way of making the people aware of facts of our National
1390H29 heritage preserved in the archives is to_ undertake research and studies
1400H29 based on Archival materials and to_ bring the results of research to
1410H29 the notice of the common people so that they can very well appreciate the
1420H29 value of Archives and be aware of our national heritage. ^The historians
1430H29 should play their rightful role in this direction. ^It is happy to_
1440H29 note that Archival cells in the Universities of Orissa are going to_
1450H29 be set up soon. ^Though the primary function of these proposed cells
1460H29 will be to_ preserve their own records of permanent value, still for locating
1470H29 and listing the records in private possessions and creating archival
1480H29 consciousness these cells will have to_ play still more important function
1490H29 in close collaboration with the State Archives of Orissa. $**<3Main
1500H29 series of Records preserved in the Orissa State Archives**>
1520H29 $^The Orissa State Archives being the central repository meant for housing
1530H29 the non-current records of the State Government is required to_
1540H29 centralise all records which are over 30 years old. ^The earliest record
1550H29 of the Orissa State Archives is one important *4Sanad issued by the
1560H29 Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. ^The *4Sanad was transferred from the
1570H29 Cuttack Collectorate to the State Archives. ^After the British conquest
1580H29 of Orissa all holders of rent-free lands were required to_ produce
1590H29 original *4Sanads in support of their claims for rent-free land. ^By
1600H29 the year 1808 more than one *4lakh of such documents affecting at least
1610H29 one-eighteenth of the land in the province had been filed in Collector*'s
1620H29 Office under Regulation *=12 of 1805. ^Of this huge mass only a very
1630H29 few documents have survived destruction at the hands of the authorities.
1640H29 ^The document under reference is one of the few surviving Mughal documents
1650H29 and it records the grant of two *3*4Batis of *3*4Banjar
1660H29 land in *3*4pargana Hariharpur. $^There are three other early documents
1670H29 out of which two are known as *3*5Punjah Sanads.*6
1690H29 $^The purpose for which the documents were issued cannot be ascertained
1700H29 in the present state of our knowledge. ^They were in all probability issued
1710H29 by Murshid Quli Khan as Diwan or Subadar along with the imperial
1720H29 orders of appointment as token of his assurance and support to the
1730H29 Sadar Kanungoe. ^The third document is a *4Sanad of the time of Padmanava
1740H29 Deva recording the grant of a piece of land to Lord Jagannath.
1750H29 ^The grant is recorded in two sheets of paper out of which the first sheet
1760H29 containing the details of the grant \0viz, names of donor, donee, land
1770H29 granted, date of the grant \0etc. is in old Persian script. ^The other
1780H29 sheet is written half in Persian script and half in Oriya Script.
1790H29 ^Many of the alphabets used in the Oriya portion belong to what is commonly
1800H29 known as *3*4Karani script or Oriya court script, which is still
1820H29 used in writing out official documents. ^The historical importance of
1830H29 the documents under reference lies in the fact that it dispels all doubts
1840H29 about Padmanava Deva*'s reign. ^The grant was made in the 5th *4Anka
1850H29 of the reign of Padmanava Deva. ^According to *4Anka system of calculation
1860H29 1, 6 and all numbers with 6 & 0 at the end excepting 10 are to_
1870H29 be excluded. ^So the 5th *4Anka of the *4Raja*'s reign means the 4th
1880H29 regnal year.
1890H29 $^Thus it proves that Padmanava Deva ruled as the *4Raja of Khurda for
1900H29 at least 4 years. ^If the date of accession of Padmanava Deva be
1910H29 1735-36 the grant was made in 1738-39 \0A.D. ^There are many such important
1920H29 stray documents belonging to the Mughal and the Maratha periods
1930H29 in the collection of the Orissa State Archives.*#
        **[no. of words = 02006**]

        **[txt. h30**]
0010H30 **<SUBSIDIARY RULES**> $*<*3Payment at a Sub-Treasury*> $\0S.R.
0020H30 421. ^When an officer in charge of a sub-treasury has occasion
0030H30 to_ place in deposit an item which under any rule or order may be
0040H30 so dealt with, he may, subject to the provisions of this section,
0060H30 repay it without formal orders from the district treasury. $^If any
0070H30 class of deposits is payable at a sub-treasury, it must not, except
0080H30 with the special permission of the Collector, be payable at the district
0090H30 treasury also. $*<*3Lapsed Deposits.*> $\0S.R. 422. ^Deposits
0100H30 not exceeding one *4rupee unclaimed for one whole account year,
0110H30 balances not exceeding one *4rupee of deposits partly repaid during the
0120H30 year then closing and all balances unclaimed for more than three
0130H30 complete account years shall, at the close of March in each year,
0140H30 be credited to the Government. ^Of deposits and balances thus lapsing,
0150H30 the Treasury Officer will submit to the Accountant-General
0160H30 immediately after 31st March a list prepared in accordance with
0170H30 the directions contained in the Account Code, \0vol. *=2. $NOTE:--
0180H30 ^For the purpose of this rule, the age of a repayable item or
0190H30 of a balance of it is to_ be reckoned as dating from the time when
0200H30 the item or the balance, as the case may be, becomes first repayable. $\0S.R.
0210H30 423. ^The Government may, in relation to any particular class
0220H30 of deposits, issue orders varying or relaxing any of the conditions or
0230H30 limitations specified in the last preceding rule. $NOTE:--
0240H30 ^The following conditions govern the lapsing of *3Revenue Deposits:--
0250H30 $^Deposits or balances of deposits not exceeding five *4rupees
0260H30 unclaimed or partly repaid during two years including the year of
0270H30 deposit, deposits or balances thereof, transferred to Clearance Register
0290H30 which are reduced to five *4rupees or less by part payments during
0300H30 the third year from the year of deposit and all deposits or balances
0310H30 thereof unclaimed for more than three complete account years,
0320H30 will, at the close of March in each year, be credited to Government
0330H30 by means of transfer entries in the Accountant-Generals*'s office.
0340H30 **[foot note**] $\0S.R. 424. (1) ^Deposits, the detailed accounts
0350H30 of which are not kept at the treasury and which are credited to the
0360H30 Government under \0S.R.s 422 and 423 cannot be repaid without the
0370H30 sanction of the Accountant-General, who will authorise payment
0380H30 on ascertaining that the item was really received and was carried
0390H30 to the credit of the Government as lapsed, and that the claimant*'s
0400H30 identity and title to the money are certified by the Officer signing
0410H30 the application for refund. $(2) ^Deposits, the detailed accounts
0420H30 of which are kept at the treasuries and which are credited to the
0430H30 Government under \0S.R.s 422 and 423, may be refunded without the
0440H30 sanction of the Accountant-General. ^The Treasury Officer shall,
0450H30 before authorising the refund in such cases, ascertain that the
0460H30 item was really received and is traceable in his records, was carried
0470H30 to the credit of the Government as lapsed and was not paid previously,
0480H30 and that the claimant*'s identity and title to the money are certified
0490H30 by the Officer signing the application for refund. $NOTE:--
0500H30 ^The sanction/ payment authority issued by the Accountant-General
0510H30 in cases covered by the provisions of sub-rule (1) above shall be
0520H30 valid for three months from the date on which it was issued, after
0530H30 which no payment can be made on its authority unless it is revalidated.
0540H30 $\0S.R. 425. ^The application for sanction shall be made in \0T.R.
0550H30 Form \0No. 56. ^There must be a separate application for
0560H30 deposits repayable to each person, and it shall be used as the bill
0570H30 on which the payment is to_ be made at the treasury. $\0S.R.
0580H30 426. ^The repayment of a lapsed deposit shall be recorded in the appropriate
0590H30 deposit register of receipts so as to_ guard against a second
0591H30 payment. $^If the payment is made after the register of receipts
0600H30 has been destroyed, the responsibility for verifying the claimant*'s
0610H30 title to refund, shall devolve on the authority who signs the
0620H30 application in \0T.R. Form \0No. 56. $*<*3SECTION*0 *=4.-- CIVIL
0630H30 AND CRIMINAL COURTS*' DEPOSITS.*> *<*3Receipts and Repayments*>
0640H30 $\0S.R. 427. ^Subject as hereinafter provided in this section,
0650H30 the provisons of Section *=3. of this Chapter relating to receipt
0660H30 and repayment of Revenue Deposits, shall apply in relation to Civil
0670H30 and Criminal Courts*' Deposits, with such adaptation and modification
0680H30 as may be authorised by the Chief Judicial authority,
0690H30 after consultation with the Accountant-General. $\0S.R. 428. ^Subject
0700H30 to such general or special orders as may be issued by Government,
0710H30 Civil Courts and Magistrates may either-- $(1) keep a banking
0730H30 account with the treasury, remitting without detail their gross
0740H30 deposit receipts for credit in Personal Deposit Accounts and
0750H30 making payments by cheques on the treasury against such Personal Deposit
0751H30 Accounts, or $(2) arrange that each deposit is separately
0760H30 paid into or drawn from the treasury, upon documents passed by an authorised
0770H30 Officer of the Court and setting forth the particulars necessary
0780H30 for the entries in the deposit registers kept at the treasury.
0790H30 $NOTE 1.-- ^The object and effect of the arrangement set out
0800H30 at (**=1) above is simply to_ relieve the Treasury Officer of the responsibility
0810H30 for the details of deposit transactions, not to_ abolish
0820H30 the detailed records, but to_ confine it to the departmental office
0830H30 in which registers of receipts and payments and other initial
0840H30 records must be kept in accordance with the directions contained
0850H30 in the Account Code, \0Vol. *=2. $^The Civil Court or Magistrate
0860H30 in this case should be responsible for the submission of such
0870H30 monthly and periodical accounts and returns as may be required by the
0880H30 Accountant-General, although the vouchers are to_ be sent by the
0890H30 Treasury Officer. $NOTE 2.-- ^In cases in which the first
0900H30 method referred to in this rule is followed, each Civil or Criminal Court
0910H30 should incorporate in its own accounts, the deposit items of its
0920H30 subordinate Courts as a treasury does those of sub-treasuries, unless
0930H30 any subordinate Court is authorised to_ keep independent accounts and
0940H30 submit the returns directly to the Accountant-General. ~separate
0950H30 accounts should be kept for, and separate returns submitted by, the
0960H30 several Small Cause Courts. $NOTE 3.-- ^In actual practice
0970H30 the procedure indicated in sub-para (**=1) of this rule is generally
0980H30 followed by all Civil and Criminal Courts in West Bengal. $\0S.R.
0990H30 429. ^Each transaction of receipt or payment of a Civil or a
1000H30 Criminal Court deposit must be initialled by the Judge or Magistrate,
1010H30 or by some duly authorised gazetted officer of the Court. $^On
1020H30 receipt of advice of cancellation of any draft, or on its lapse,
1030H30 the fact shall be noted in the advice originally received. $\0S.R.
1040H30 546. ^At the close of each day, separate schedules for drawings and
1050H30 encashments during the day will be prepared in special forms prescribed
1060H30 by the Reserve Bank for submission to the Accountant-General
1070H30 in accordance with the directions contained in the Account Code
1080H30 \0Vol. *=2. ^The application forms for remittances drawn and also
1090H30 the receipted drafts and the payees*' receipts in respect of telegraphic
1100H30 transfers encashed, shall accompany, the schedules mentioned above.
1110H30 $\0S.R. 547. ^The following are the cross checks which the Treasury
1120H30 Officer shall each evening apply to the several documents connnected
1130H30 with remittances drawn and encashed. ^The registers of remittances
1140H30 drawn and encashed and the connected schedules check one
1150H30 another directly, the total of each schedule must agree with total
1170H30 receipts or total payments for the day as booked under the head "Reserve
1180H30 Bank of India Remittances" in the cash book, after allowing
1190H30 for receipts and payments, if any, at sub-treasuries, which will be entered
1200H30 under a separate sub-head. ^The total of the several advices for
1210H30 the day must also agree with the total of the column "Amount"
1220H30 in the schedule of drawings, and the agreement shall be at times
1230H30 checked by the Treasury Officer himself. $*<*3*=5.-- OTHER
1240H30 RULES*> $*<*3Issue of Duplicates*> $\0S.R. 548. ^In the case of
1250H30 an application received for the issue of a duplicate draft, the original
1260H30 of which is reported either lost or destroyed, it is not necessary
1270H30 for the issuing office to_ obtain a fresh application on the Bank*'s
1290H30 standard form from the purchaser. ^A letter intimating the loss
1300H30 of the original draft and requesting the issue of a duplicate one in
1310H30 lieu thereof will be sufficient for the purpose. $^The duplicate
1320H30 draft should not be issued unless the issuing officer has satisfied
1330H30 himself by reference to the office drawn upon that the original has
1340H30 not been paid. ^A duplicate draft issued in lieu of a lost one should
1350H30 be revalidated by the drawing officer if the period of currency of
1370H30 the lost draft has expired. $*<(**=1) *3Reserve Bank "Government
1380H30 Draft".*> $^When satisfactory evidence has been given that
1390H30 a Government draft has been either lost or destroyed, and an application
1400H30 is made within a reasonable period after issue but before it
1410H30 has lapsed (\0S.R. 555), a duplicate may, without reference to the
1420H30 Currency Officer, be issued to the applicant or
1430H30 to the payee, or to the legal representative of either, but to
1450H30 no other person. ^If a lost Government draft has been endorsed to
1460H30 the payee*'s banker, the endorsee must apply for a duplicte through
1470H30 the original payee. $^If the draft should not have been presented
1480H30 for payment within three months, it will be necessary for the applicant
1490H30 to_ produce a certificate of non-payment from the drawee; but the
1500H30 issue of this certificate will be no bar to the payment of the lost
1520H30 draft, if presented before the duplicate is paid. ^In the event
1530H30 of the loss of both original and duplicate, a triplicate may be issued
1550H30 on the same terms as the duplicate, the non-payment of others being certified.
1560H30 ^Neither duplicate nor triplicate can be issued without reference
1570H30 to the Currency Officer if the draft has lapsed. ^Issues of
1580H30 duplicate or triplicate must be promptly advised to the drawee, in order
1590H30 that proper note may be made on the advice originally received. $*<(**=2)
1600H30 *3Reserve Bank "Bank Drafts"*> $^The duplicate of a Reserve
1610H30 Bank "Bank" draft will not be issued to anyone other than the
1620H30 person who applied for the original draft. ^A letter of indemnity
1630H30 in the prescribed form (*3vide specimen form given in \0T.R. Form
1640H30 \0No. 61.) should be taken from the purchaser of the original
1650H30 draft irrespective of whether the draft reported lost is current or has
1660H30 lapsed. ^The letter of indemnity should be signed by the purchaser
1670H30 and, ordinarily, by two sureties each good for the amount of the draft.
1680H30 ^If the applicant is of undoubted standing and the amount of the draft
1700H30 is small, the production of sureties may be waived; but where the
1720H30 amount involved is large, sureties must be taken. ^If the issuing
1740H30 officer has any doubt as to the advisability of dispensing with the
1750H30 sureties or as to the acceptability of the names of the purchaser
1760H30 and/ or the sureties on the agreement for indemnity, he should refer
1770H30 to the Currency Officer, at the same time forwarding his confidential
1780H30 report on the means and standing of the parties. $^The letter
1782H30 of indemnity should be stamped as an agreement in accordance with
1790H30 the Stamp Act of the State in which it is executed and should
1800H30 *3not be attested. ^The completed letters of indemnity will be
1810H30 retained for record at the issuing office, of which the officer-in-charge
1820H30 will be personally responsible for their custody. $\0S.R.
1830H30 549. ^The duplicate and triplicate must be drawn in exactly the same
1840H30 terms as the original instrument, with the same date, the same number,
1850H30 the same amount and the name of the same payee; so that, if a lost
1860H30 draft has been endorsed, the endorsee must apply for a duplicate
1870H30 through the original payee. ^It will be issued under the signature
1880H30 of the officer-in-charge of the treasury at the time, although he
1890H30 be not the person who signed the original draft. $NOTE.-- ^Whenever
1900H30 a duplicate draft is issued, the words "duplicate issued in lieu of
1910H30 Draft \0No. , dated ," should be prominently superscribed
1920H30 thereon in red ink under the initials of the Drawing Officer.
1930H30 ^A fresh advice in respect of the duplicate draft in the prescribed
1940H30 form prominently marked "duplicate" in red ink should also be issued
1950H30 to the office drawn upon.*#
        **[no. of words = 02022**]

        **[txt. h31**]
0001H31 **<ASSEMBLY PROCEEDINGS, 8TH SEPTEMBER, 1976**> $^In respect of Section
0010H31 68, there is also an amendment. $^The proposed amendment reads:--
0020H31 $"^If this approval is not intimated within one month from the date of the
0030H31 receipt of the Budget by the State Government or the receipt of such
0040H31 other information as is called for by the State Government from the
0050H31 Board, it shall be taken that the Budget is passed".
0060H31 $^In this proposed amendment, the words "the receipt of the Budget by the
0070H31 State Government or the receipt of such other information as is called
0080H31 for by the State Government from the Board" is not required. ^The
0090H31 Budget is to_ be passed by the State Government as submitted by the
0091H31 Municipal Board under due consideration. ^As such the municipal
0100H31 Board will have nothing to_ offer to the State Government.
0110H31 ^In other words, such amendment of the Principle Act is not mentioned.
0120H31 ^There is only one Municipal Board for which the Budget is to_
0130H31 be passed. ^The provision of the Budget is also inadequate. ^There is
0140H31 also likelihood of submitting a supplementary demand. ^Since we are following
0150H31 the principle of Democracy we are supposed to_ be democratic.
0160H31 ^The Principle as defined in the books is "Democracy is the Government
0170H31 of the people, by the people and for the people". ^*I hope the honourable
0180H31 members of the House will also agree to_ refer the Bill to the Select
0190H31 Committee. ^Thank you, sir. $\0Mr. Speaker:-- ^Next, honourable
0200H31 member \0*4Shri \0Kh. Jugeshwar Singh will please speak.
0220H31 $\0*4Shri \0Kh. Jugeshwar Singh:-- \0^Mr. Speaker, Sir, the Manipur
0230H31 Land Revenue and Land Reforms (Second Amendment) Bill, 1976 is
0240H31 under consideration now. ^*I am to_ speak something in connection with
0250H31 this Bill. ^This amendment Bill has been introduced in the House with
0260H31 a view to_ bring prosperity and welfare of the people. ^As a matter
0270H31 of fact, at least 70% of the population is cultivators. ^The Bill is also
0280H31 very important and timely for the implementation of the 20-Point Economic
0290H31 Programme. ^We should always keep in view "work more, talk less".
0300H31 ^If we do not adhere to this theory it would be difficult to_ solve
0310H31 the problems which are arising in our society. ^The insertion of a proviso
0320H31 under Section 147 of the Manipur Land Revenue and Land Reforms
0330H31 Act is for the benefit of the people. ^It is my strong belief that the
0340H31 honourable Minister in-charge of the Agriculture will also take up
0350H31 effective action for providing facilities to the cultivators in respect
0360H31 of irrigation \0etc. ^Under the implementation of the 20-Point Economic
0370H31 Programme allotment of lands to the landless people has been started
0380H31 and is in the full swing. ^However, some cases of distribution of lands
0390H31 are pending. ^This Bill is very timely. ^*I hope, the cultivators
0400H31 will be benefitted after passing this Bill to a greater extent. ^Other
0410H31 Bills like the Manipur Town and Country Planning Bill had also been
0420H31 passed for raising the standard of living of the people in the State.
0430H31 $^*I hope, the Bills which are under consideration in the House to-day
0440H31 will be passed for the benefit of the people.
0450H31 $^Secondly, I would like to_ mention regarding the expansion of the Town
0460H31 and Country Planning. ^This is the main hope of the people and is
0470H31 known to all . ^The Town and Country Planning Bill can help and
0480H31 bring up something in the functions of the Board. ^We are unhappy as
0490H31 regards the Manipur Town and Country Planning Bill and Land Revenue
0500H31 and Land Reforms Bill, 1976. ^We have clearly seen that most of the
0510H31 members of this Board are Contractors and they are not working properly.
0520H31 ^Some State Governments have already paid out the additional \0D.A.
0530H31 to the employees but our employees are not getting their \0D.A.
0540H31 ^This is the look out of our Government. ^We actually can*'4t know what
0550H31 they are doing. ^It will be better to_ give out \0D.A. to the employees.
0560H31 ^With these words, I conclude my speech.
0570H31 $\0*4^*Shri \0Md. Alimuddin:-- \0^*Mr. Deputy Speaker Sir, in this
0580H31 august House, most of the Bills are placed before us by the honourable
0590H31 Finance Minister. ^These Bills are to_ be passed by the House.
0600H31 ^Most of the Bills have already been passed by the Assembly.
0610H31 ^But now it has newly introduced for amendment. **[sic**]
0620H31 ^Some of the Bills are converted into Act in order to_
0630H31 enforce in Manipur and now some Bills are brought for amendment. ^T0_
0640H31 amend the Bills again and again is not a good procedure. ^*I think that
0650H31 this is the weakness of the members at the time of passing the Bill.
0660H31 ^Now, there are so many experts. ^Therefore, I would like to_ appeal
0670H31 to the honourable Minister and members of the House kindly to_ constitute
0680H31 a Commission to_ examine the Bills before passing. ^It is not necessary
0690H31 to_ amend the Bill several times. ^From this we may get some
0700H31 conveniences. ^Now some of the Bills are vague. ^As this Government
0710H31 is a Democratic form of Government we have to_ discuss the Bill minutely
0720H31 for the future. ^We are to_ consider many Bills today. ^The Bills
0730H31 are (1) The Manipur Town and Country Planning Bill, 1976, (2) The
0740H31 Manipur Land Laws Bill, 1976, (3) The Manipur Land Revenue and
0750H31 Land Reforms Bill, 1976 (4) The Manipur Taxation Laws Bill, 1976
0760H31 \0etc. ^Financial statements are given for these Bills. ^Our main idea
0770H31 is to_ implement these Bills. ^The Land Revenue and Land Reforms
0780H31 Bill is an important one. ^Here, I want to_ know how lands are to_ be
0790H31 given to a family. ^There are some formalities to_ pass the Bills.
0800H31 ^The Land Revenue and Land Reforms Bill was passed during the \0U.L.P.
0810H31 Government and assented to_ by the Governor. ^We may get benefit
0820H31 from this. ^But we want to_ ask why the girls are not entitled to_ get
0830H31 the lands?
0840H31 $^Now third amendment Bill is introduced and as such we want to_ make a
0850H31 provision for the girls also. ^We have to_ consider for the girls who
0860H31 are not married at present. ^If not, what will be the position for the girls?
0870H31 ^Nobody knows how much time will be required in the implementation
0880H31 and how much benefit we can get from it. ^In order to_ discuss the Bill
0890H31 thoroughly, we want to_ refer it to the Select Committee. ^This is
0900H31 the public view which we want to_ initiate. ^The honourable Finance
0910H31 Minister will please hear our voice which is only for the welfare of the
0920H31 people. ^Today*'s Bills are numerous and the allotted time is very short.
0930H31 ^As the red Light is lit in the House, I have to_ shorten my speech.
0940H31 ^So, in order to_ discuss the Bill thoroughly it is better to_ refer
0950H31 to the Select Committee. ^*I would like to_ speak something about
0960H31 the Manipur Taxation (Amendment) Bill. ^*I request our Deputy Speaker
0970H31 kindly to_ allot a few minutes more. $Hon*'3ble Deputy Speaker:--
0980H31 ^Yes, 5 minutes are allotted to you to_ speak further.
1000H31 $\0Mr. Allimuddin:-- ^Regarding Taxation, I would like to_ say that
1010H31 we shall be active in the collection of financial resources as far as practicable.
1020H31 ^We don*'4t know about this tax even if these Bills were introduced
1030H31 yesterday. ^We know it only after getting clarification from
1040H31 the honourable Minister. ^As regards Town and Country Planning Bill,
1050H31 our desire is that we have to_ seek the advantages from this Bill.
1060H31 ^This Bill may be passed by the House to-day. ^Our idea is to_ enforce
1070H31 the Act uniformly and strictly not only in the jurisdiction of Municipal
1080H31 area but also throughout Manipur. ^In 1972-73 we have already moved
1090H31 for a city and to_ become a development country **[sic**] for which
1100H31 we had incurred much expenditure for the development works of the
1110H31 Country at a stage. ^So, the Town and Country Planning is necessary
1120H31 in Manipur. ^Honourable Finance Minister is a politician since a long
1130H31 time and he is holding the Government.
1140H31 ^He may know it. ^As we are not in the ruling
1150H31 party we cannot say much to_ bring up for the development of this Country.
1150H31 ^*I cannot express all the points as the allotted time is very
1160H31 short. ^We would like to_ say that if discussion is allowed sufficient
1170H31 time may be allotted to the honourable members at the time of discussion.
1180H31 ^It would be very convenient to_ pass the Bill by the House after
1190H31 the Bill is referred to the Select Committee first. ^Thank you, Sir.
1210H31 $\0Mr. Deputy Speaker:-- ^*I hope, all the honourable members might
1220H31 have known the allocation of time. ^10 minutes are allotted to each member
1230H31 of the Ruling Party and 15 minutes are allotted to each member of the
1240H31 Opposition Party. $\0*4Shri
1250H31 *(0Y.*) Yaima Singh:-- \0^*Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, first
1260H31 of all, I would like to_ raise a point of order. ^My point of order is
1270H31 about the allocation of time. ^How can we discuss such important Bills
1280H31 within the limited time? ^*Sir, I draw the ruling of the honourable Deputy
1290H31 Speaker in this matter.
1300H31 $Hon*'3ble Finance Minister:-- \0^*Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, the time
1310H31 allocation is made by the Business Advisory Committee. ^The same was
1320H31 announced on the last Monday. ^Why the honourable member did not complain
1330H31 on that_ very day? ^So, his point of order is baseless. $\0*4Shri
1340H31 *(0Y.*) Yaima Singh:-- ^*Sir, please give ruling to my point
1350H31 of order. ^If a ruling is not given, I will take that justice is denied
1360H31 in the House. ^So, please give a ruling, Sir.
1370H31 $\0Mr. Deputy Speaker:-- ^*I cannot give more time to the honourable
1380H31 memebr beyond the time allotted by the Business Advisory Committee.
1390H31 ^So, please proceed on. $\0*4Shri
1400H31 *(0Y.*) Yaima Singh:-- ^*Sir, I feel that justice is not here.
1410H31 ^The Bills are very important. ^We are required to_ discuss the Bills
1420H31 in detail.
1430H31 $^Sir, the Bill recalls the past \0U.L.P. Government. ^The Land
1440H31 Revenue and Land Reforms (Amendment) Bill was initiated by the last
1450H31 \0U.L.P. Government. ^Now, the present Government introduced
1460H31 the Bill for consideration. ^The public may think that this Government
1470H31 is going to_ pass the Land Revenue and Land Reforms (Amendment)
1471H31 Bill. ^*Sir, such thinking is wrong. ^The initial steps have been takenup
1480H31 during the regime of \0U.L.P. Government formed by Manipur People's
1490H31 Party.
1500H31 $^*Sir, at present, the \0A.I.R. Imphal has frequently announced
1510H31 regarding the distribution of land. ^It really bluffs to the interest of
1520H31 the people. ^First, let us examine the members of the Land Distribution
1530H31 Committee. ^Who are they? ^They are from the unfortunate group.
1540H31 ^Those who are the members of Land Distribution Committee are defeated
1550H31 candidates in the election. ^Such persons are nominated as the members
1560H31 of the so-called Land Distribution Committee.
1570H31 $^Now, we come to the present Government. ^The present Government is
1580H31 formed by the defectors from our party. ^The defectors are materially benefitted
1590H31 while some are bargaining. $^The honourable Ministers are
1600H31 very pleasing to_ look because of their sincerities and integrities.
1610H31 **[sic**] ^But their interest is very limited. ^They
1620H31 try to_ implement only the small schemes by leaving behind the major schemes.
1630H31 ^They are fully corrupted. ^They are having vindictive motives.
1640H31 ^For example, they give land to those who give vote to them.
1650H31 $^*Sir, I would like to_ speak something about the lands which are distributed
1660H31 by the present Government. ^Their interest is to_ get their shares.
1670H31 ^If land is distributed in this way, the future of Manipur will be
1680H31 in the dark. ^The lands which are cultivated by the poor cultivators
1690H31 are distributed to their agents. ^These are the grievances of the poor
1700H31 helpless cultivators. ^If they want to_ distribute the lands, they should
1710H31 distribute according to the existing rules.
1720H31 $^*Sir, in respect of Government services also some officers who do not
1730H31 go under the whims of the Ministers are given compulsory retirement.
1740H31 ^We want to_ suggest them to_ be brave in any case. ^If so, the public of
1750H31 Manipur will give rewards. ^They should cantact the public in many woorks.
1770H31 $^In respect of the Bills, I would like to_ say that we did not
1780H31 see the Bills before. ^If the Bills are passed without having proper
1790H31 consideration, it will be funny.*#
        **[no. of words = 02008**]

        **[txt. h32**]
0010H32 (2) ^Deductions from the wages of a person employed in a scheduled employment
0020H32 shall be of one or more of the following kinds, namely,-- $(**=1)
0030H32 fines in respect of such acts and omissions on the part of an employed
0040H32 person as may be specified by the State Government by general or special
0050H32 order in this behalf; $(**=2) deductions for absence from duty; $(**=3)
0060H32 deductions for damage to or loss of goods expressly entrusted to
0070H32 the employed person for custody or for loss of money for which he is required
0080H32 to_ account, where such damage or loss is directly attributable
0100H32 to his neglect or default; $(**=4) deductions for house accommodation supplied
0110H32 by the employer or the State Government or the Maharashtra Housing
0120H32 Board constituted under the Bombay Housing Board Act, 1948,
0130H32 or the Vidarbha Housing Board constituted under the Madhya Pradesh
0140H32 Housing Board Act, 1950 or such other agency as the State Government
0150H32 may, by notification in the *3Official Gazette, direct; $(**=5)
0160H32 deductions for such amenities and services supplied by the employer
0170H32 as the State Government may, by general or special order, authorise; $*3Explanation.--
0190H32 ^The words "amenities and services" in this clause do
0200H32 not include the supply of tools and protectives required for the purposes
0220H32 of employment; $(**=6) deductions for recovery of advances or for
0230H32 adjustment of overpayments of wages:
0240H32 $Provided that such advances do not exceed an amount equal to wages for
0250H32 two calendar months of the employee and, in no case, shall the monthly
0260H32 instalment of deduction exceed one fourth of the wages earned in that_
0280H32 month; $(**=7) deduction of income-tax payable by the employee;
0290H32 $(**=8) deductions required to_ be made by order of a Court or other competent
0300H32 authority;
0310H32 $(**=9) deductions for subscriptions to, and for repayment of advances from
0320H32 any provident fund to which the Provident Funds Act, 1925, applies
0330H32 or any recognised provident fund as defined in section 2 (38) of the
0340H32 Income-tax Act, 1961 or any provident fund approved in this behalf by
0350H32 the State Government during the continuance of such approval; $(**=10)
0360H32 deductions for payment to co-operative societies or deductions
0370H32 made with the written authorisation of the person employed, for payment
0038H32 of any premium on his life insurance policy to the Life Insurance Corporation
0390H32 of India established under the Life Insurance Act, 1956
0400H32 (31 of 1956); $(**=11)
0410H32 deductions not exceeding half the wages for a period not exceeding
0420H32 four months during which an employee is suspended from work in accordance
0430H32 with any rule of service or standing order framed under any law, or
0440H32 under a settlement or award which is legally binding on him, governing
0450H32 such suspension:
0460H32 $Provided that whereunder the conditions of service of an employee under
0470H32 a local authority provisions in respect of subsistence allowance during
0480H32 suspension are made and such provisons are similar to those contained
0490H32 in the Bombay Civil Services Rules, deductions from the wages of
0500H32 an employee shall not exceed an amount equal to the difference between the
0510H32 full wages payable to such employee and the subsistence allowance payable
0520H32 to him under the conditions of service aforesaid:
0530H32 $Provided further that if an employee is suspended from work as a punishment
0540H32 in accordance with any rule of service or standing order framed under
0550H32 any law, or under a settlement or award, governing such suspension,
0560H32 deduction during a settlement or award, governing such suspension, deduction
0570H32 during the period for which he is suspended may be equal to the amount
0580H32 of the full wages payable to such employee;
0590H32 $(**=12) deductions or recovery or an adjustment of amounts other than wages,
0600H32 paid by the employer to the employed person in error or in excess
0610H32 of what is due to him:
0620H32 $Provided that the prior approval of the Inspector or any other officer
0630H32 authorised by the State Government in this behalf is obtained in writing
0640H32 before making the deductions, unless the employee gives his consent
0650H32 in writing to such deductions;
0660H32 $(**=13) deduction made with the written authorisation of the employed person
0670H32 such authorisation being given once generally, and not necessarily
0680H32 every time a deduction is made for the purchase of the securities of
0690H32 the Government of India or any State Government or for being deposited
0700H32 in any Post Office Savings Bank, in furtherance of any savings
0710H32 scheme of any such Government;
0720H32 $(**=14) deductions made with the written authorisation of the employee
0730H32 himself or of the President or Secretary of the registered trade union
0740H32 of which the employee is a member, for contribution to the National
0750H32 Defence Fund or to any other Fund approved by the Government of India
0760H32 for the purpose of national defence or for any purpose as the State
0770H32 Government may, by notification in the *3Official Gazette, specify.
0790H32 $(**=15) deductions made under section 6BB of the Bombay Labour
0800H32 Welfare Fund Act, 1953.
0810H32 $(3) ^Any person desiring to_ impose a fine on an employed person or to_
0820H32 make a deduction for damage or loss caused by him shall intimate him also
0830H32 in writing the act or omission or the damage or loss, in respect of
0840H32 which the fine or deduction is proposed to_ be imposed or made; and give
0850H32 him an opportunity to_ offer any explanation in the presence of another
0860H32 person. ^The amount of the said fine or deduction shall also be intimated
0880H32 to him. $(4) ^The amount of fine or deduction mentioned in sub-rule
0890H32 (3) or deduction for absence from duty shall be such as may be specified
0910H32 by the State Government. $(5) ^The amount of fine imposed under sub-rule
0920H32 (3) shall be utilised only for such purposes beneficial to the
0930H32 employees as are approved by the State Government.
0940H32 $(6) ^Nothing in this rule shall be deemed to_ affect the provisions of the
0950H32 Payment of Wages Act, 1936.
0960H32 $22. *3Publicity to Minimum Wage fixed under the Act-- ^Notices
0970H32 containing the minimum rates of wages fixed together with obstracts from
0980H32 the Act the Rules framed thereunder the name and address of the
0991J32 establishment, place of work, name and address of the employer,
0990H32 and normal working hours of employees including rest interval
1000H32 shall be displayed in English and in language understood by the majority
1010H32 of the employees in the establishment. ^The notices shall be kept at
1020H32 the main entrance to the establishment and its office and at any other
1030H32 place as may be selected by the Inspector and shall be maintained in clear
1040H32 and legible condition. ^The abstracts of the Act and Rules made thereunder
1050H32 shall be in Form *=1.
1060H32 $23. *3Weekly day of rest-- (1) ^Subject to the provisions of this
1070H32 rule, an employee in a scheduled employment in respect of which minimum
1080H32 rates of wages have been fixed under the Act shall be allowed a day
1090H32 of rest every week (hereinafter referred to as "the rest day") which
1100H32 shall ordinarily be Sunday, but the employer may fix any other day of
1110H32 the week as the rest day for any employee or class of employees in that_
1120H32 scheduled employment:
1130H32 $Provided that employee has worked in the scheduled employment under the
1140H32 same employer for a continuous period of not less than six days:
1150H32 $Provided further that the employee shall be informed of the day fixed
1160H32 as the rest day and of any subsequent change in the rest day before the
1170H32 change is effected, by display of a notice to that_ effect in the place
1180H32 of employment at the place specified by the Inspector in this behalf.
1200H32 $*3Explanation.-- ^For the purpose of computation of the continuous
1210H32 period of not less than six days specified in the first proviso to
1220H32 this sub-rule-- $(a)
1230H32 any day on which an employee is required to_ attend for work but is given
1240H32 only an allowance for attendance and is not provided with work; or $(b)
1250H32 any day on which an employee is laid off on payment of compensation under
1260H32 the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947; shall be deemed to_ be days
1270H32 on which the employee has worked. $(2)
1280H32 ^Unless otherwise permitted by the State Government, any employee shall
1290H32 not be required or allowed to_ work in a scheduled employment on the
1300H32 rest day, unless he has or will have a substituted rest day for a whole
1310H32 day on one of the five days immediately before or after the rest day:
1330H32 $Provided that no substitution shall be made which will result in the employee
1340H32 working for more than ten days consecutively without a rest day
1350H32 for a whole day.
1360H32 $(3) ^Where in accordance with the foregoing provisions of the rules any
1370H32 employee works on a rest day and has been given a substituted rest day
1380H32 on any one of the five days before or after the rest day, the rest day
1390H32 shall, for the purpose of calculating the weekly hours of work, be included
1400H32 in the week in which the substituted rest day occurs.
1410H32 $(4) ^An employee shall be granted for the rest day wages calculated at
1420H32 the rate applicable to the next preceding day and in case he works on the
1430H32 rest day and has been given a substituted rest day, he shall be paid wages
1440H32 for the rest day on which he worked, at the overtime rate and wages
1450H32 for the substituted rest day at the rate applicable to the next preceding
1460H32 day:
1470H32 $Provided that where the minimum daily rate of wages of the employee
1480H32 as notified under the Act has been worked out by dividing the minimum monthly
1490H32 rate of wages by twenty-six or where the actual daily rate of wages
1500H32 of the employee has been worked out by dividing the monthly rate of
1510H32 wages by twenty-six and such actual daily rate of wages is not less than
1520H32 the notified minimum daily rate of wages of the employees, no wages for
1530H32 the rest day shall be payable and in case the employee works on the rest
1540H32 day and has been given a substituted rest day, he shall be paid, only
1550H32 for the rest day on which he worked an amount equal to the wages payable
1560H32 to him at the overtime rate:
1570H32 $^Provided further that in case of an employee governed by a piece-rate
1580H32 scheme, the employee shall be granted for the rest day wages, equivalent
1590H32 to the daily average earnings of the employee for the preceding six days;
1600H32 and in case he works on the rest day and has been given a substituted
1610H32 rest day he shall be paid wages for the rest day on which he worked at
1620H32 double the average rate as calculated above and for the substituted rest
1630H32 day at the said average rate. $*3Explanation.--
1640H32 ^In this sub-rule, "next preceding day" means the last
1650H32 day on which the employee has worked, which precedes the rest day or
1660H32 the substituted rest day, as the case may be; and where the substituted
1670H32 rest day falls on a day immediately after the rest day, the next preceding
1680H32 day means the last day on which the employee has worked, which precedes
1690H32 the rest day.
1700H32 $(5) ^The provisions of this rule shall apply to the employees in scheduled
1710H32 employments other than agricultural employment.
1720H32 $(6) ^The provisions of this rule shall not operate to the prejudice of
1730H32 more favourable terms, if any, to which an employee may be entitled under
1740H32 any other law or under the terms of any award, agreement or contract
1750H32 of service, and in such a case, the employee shall be entitled only to
1760H32 the more favourable terms aforesaid.
1770H32 $(7) ^Notwithstanding anything contained in this rule, an employee may be
1780H32 allowed to_ work on any weekly day of rest if he gives his consent in
1790H32 writing to_ do so, with a view to contributing the wages earned by him on
1800H32 that_ day, to the National Defence Fund or to any other Fund approved
1810H32 by the Government of India for the purpose of national defence or
1820H32 to any other purpose specified by the State Government under clause (**=14)
1830H32 of sub-rule (2) of the rule 21.
1840H32 $*3Explanation.-- ^For the purpose of this rule, 'week' shall mean a
1850H32 period of seven days beginning at midnight on Saturday night.
1860H32 $24. $*3Number of hours of work which shall constitute a normal working
1870H32 day.-- (1) ^The number of hours which shall constitute a normal
1880H32 working day shall be-- $(a) in the case of an adult 9 hours;*#
        **[no. of words = 02022**]

        **[txt. h33**]
0010H33 **<*33. MASTER OF ARTS DEGREE PROGRAMMES**>
0020H33 $*<*33.1 Eligibility requirements:*>
0030H33 $^The minimum qualification for admission to these programmes is the Bachelor*'s
0040H33 degree in Arts, Science, Commerce, Law or any other faculty
0050H33 of a recognised university. ^Applicants should be at least 20 years of
0060H33 age on july 1 of the year of admission. ^This condition is relaxable in
0070H33 exceptional cases. ^Candidates who have appeared for the qualifying examination
0080H33 and whose results are expected to_ be available by june 30 may
0090H33 apply in anticipation of their results.
0100H33 $^The medium of instruction is English and it is assumed that candidates
0110H33 seeking admission have an adequate knowledge of the language. ^The Institute
0120H33 offers a special course in English for the benefit of students
0130H33 who are weak in that_ language. ^A course in Marathi is also offered
0140H33 to students desirous of learning that_ language.
0150H33 $*<*33.2. Admission preliminaries:*>
0160H33 $3.2.1. ^The application for admission to (**=1) \0M.A. Social Work
0170H33 (any specialisation), (**=2) \0M.A. in Personnel Management and Industrial
0180H33 Relations should be made in the prescribed forms.
0190H33 $3.2.2 ^Separate application forms should be sent along with the separate
0200H33 application fee, by a candidate applying for both the Master of Arts
0220H33 Degree programmes. $3.2.3 ^A candidate seeking admission to the \0M.A.
0230H33 Social work should mention his second choice of specialisation ONLY
0240H33 if he wishes to_ be considered for that_ field. $3.2.4.
0250H33 ^The application will not be considered unless the form is complete
0260H33 and all relevant papers are received in time. ^Candidates should send only
0270H33 attested copies of their certificates along with their applications.
0290H33 $3.2.5 ^A fee of \0Rs 10/- must be remitted along with the application
0300H33 for admission. ^The fee may be remitted in cash or by money order or crossed
0310H33 postal order payable to the Registrar, Tata Institute of Social
0320H33 Sciences, Deonar, Bombay-400088. ^The application fee is not refundable.
0340H33 $*<*33.3 Selection procedure:*>
0350H33 ^From among the applicants satisfying the eligibility conditions, the Admissions
0360H33 Committee selects a certain number for an essay test a group
0370H33 discussion, an aptitude test and an interview. ^Candidates are given
0380H33 marks in each of the above tests as well as on their academic background
0390H33 for the purpose of final selection. ^The selection tests will be held
0400H33 during the third and fourth weeks of June. ^A communication whether the
0410H33 applicant has been selected for the tests or not should reach each applicant
0420H33 by June 20. ^If no such communication is received by the date,
0430H33 the applicant should communicate with the Registrar of the Institute
0450H33 immediately. $3.3.1 Academic background: ^Marks are awarded to each applicant
0460H33 on the basis of aggregate marks secured in degree and other examinations.
0470H33 ^However, high academic achievement is not the only criterion
0480H33 on which the candidate will be selected.
0490H33 $3.3.2 Essay test: ^Usually the topic for the essay is a contemporary problem.
0500H33 ^The time allotted is 45 minutes. ^In the essay test, candidates
0510H33 are judged in terms of their ability to_ understand the problems, to_
0520H33 think clearly, to_ express themselves in simple language and to_ present
0530H33 ideas systematically.
0540H33 $3.3.3 Group discussion: ^Every candidate is expected to_ participate in
0550H33 a discussion in a group of about 10 candidates. ^The time allotted will
0560H33 be about 45 minutes. ^An assessment of the candidate is made on the
0570H33 basis of how he expresses himself, how he relates himself to the group
0580H33 and how far he makes a contribution to the discussion. $*<*33.3.4 Interview:*>
0581H33 $(**=1) *3ELIGIBILITY*0: ^To_ be eligible for the interview,
0582H33 a candidate should have secured at lesat a total of 10 marks in the group
0583H33 discussion and the written essay for Social Work and 20 marks for
0584H33 Personnel Management and Industrial Relations programmes.
0585H33 $(**=2) *3CONTENT*0: ^In this interview questions are asked about the
0586H33 subjects studied at the university. ^The candidate is also expected to_
0587H33 know something about the field of specialisation for which he has applied.
0588H33 ^In addition, he may be asked questions in the area of general knowledge.
0589H33 $*<*33.4 other rules:*0*> $3.4.1
0590H33 ^An applicant called for interview may reside in the Institute*'s hostel
0591H33 on payment of boarding and lodging charges at \0Rs. 10/- per day.
0592H33 $3.4.1 ^An applicant selected for admission will have to_ undergo a medical
0593H33 examination by the Institute*'s Medical Officer on payment of a fee
0594H33 of \0Rs. 10/-. ^He will be finally admitted to the institute if certfied
0595H33 fit by the medical officer.
0596H33 $3.4.3 ^No student is permitted normally to_ seek employment or participation
0597H33 in any course of study outside the Institute during the period he
0598H33 is enrolled at the Institute except with the prior permission of the Director.
0599H33 $**<*34. SPECIAL STUDENTS**>
0600H33 $^Graduates who do not wish to_ enrol for the full \0M.A. degree programmes
0601H33 may be permitted to_ enrol as special students for one or more lecture
0602H33 courses on payment of special fees. ^Such students will not be eligible
0603H33 for any certificate. ^Further information will be available on request.
0604H33 $4.1 ^Students may enrol themselves on a part-time basis for one
0605H33 or more courses (excluding field work).
0606H33 $4.2 ^If such students are admitted (within a period of three years) as
0610H33 full-time students, they will be allowed credit for courses they have successfully
0620H33 completed earlier. $**<*35. REQUIREMENTS FOR PASSING THE
0630H33 MASTER OF ARTS DEGREE EXAMINATION**> $*<*35.1 Attendance:*>
0650H33 $5.1.1 ^Regular attendance in the class as well as field work and the fulfilment
0660H33 of required assignments are expected of all students. ^Any irregularity
0670H33 in this regard or absence without prior permission will affect
0680H33 the evaluation of the student concerned and may entail disciplinary action.
0690H33 ^Students shall apply for leave in the prescribed form in advance
0700H33 and in case of sickness immediately after rejoining.
0710H33 $5.1.2 Leave: ^The total leave available to a student is 14 days including
0720H33 absence of a maximum of four field work days each year.
0730H33 $5.1.3 Absence from classes: ^Any unauthorised absence from classes shall
0740H33 be automatically debited to their leave account at the rate of one-fourth
0750H33 day for every period of absence.
0760H33 $5.1.4 Absence from Field Work: ^A student who is absent for five days
0770H33 or more will have to_ compensate for his absence in toto in accordance
0780H33 with the instruction of the supervisor concerned.
0790H33 $5.1.5 Leave Sanctioning Authorities: ^The registrar is authorised to_
0800H33 sanction leave of absence upto three days at a time on the recommendation
0810H33 of the concerned member of the faculty. ^The Director may sanction
0820H33 leave for longer periods of leave normally not exceeding the leave period
0830H33 mentioned in rule 5.1.2 above. $*<*35.2 Field Work*>
0850H33 $5.2.1 "^Knowing" does not automatically result in the ability of "doing"
0860H33 so necessary for professional development. ^Therefore, a distinctive
0870H33 feature of the instructional programmes at the Institute is the emphasis
0880H33 laid on field work as an integral part of the total curriculum. ^Field
0890H33 work enables the student to_ integrate and reinforce the knowledge acquired
0900H33 in the classroom with actual practice under competent supervision
0910H33 provided by field instructors who may be members of the staff of the Institute
0920H33 or of an agency. ^In carefully selected field work settings, the
0930H33 student is helped to_ learn the application of classroom learning and
0940H33 to_ conceptualise the realities of practice itself in a living situation.
0950H33 ^The content of field work is planned to_ provide an orderly sequence
0960H33 of learning. ^Supervised field work, at least 15 hours per week, is
0970H33 required of all students.
0980H33 $5.2.2 ^Field work is organised as concurrent field work and block field
0990H33 work. ^During the first year concurrent assignments are given in case
1000H33 work and group work for students enrolled for \0M.A. degree programme
1010H33 in Social Work. ^In the second year, students are placed for concurrent
1020H33 field work in their specialisation according to the specific requirements
1030H33 of each field.
1040H33 $^For students enrolled for the Personnel Management and Industrial Relations
1050H33 programme placements are made in industrial organisations.
1060H33 $5.2.3 ^In addition, every student is required to_ complete a full-time
1070H33 block field work placement of four weeks in the month of April after the
1080H33 Fourth Semester examination. ^Any absence from block field work will
1090H33 have to_ be made good at the discretion of the department concerned.$5.2.4
1110H33 ^Where observation visits are arranged as a part of field work, student
1110H33 participation in such visits is compulsory. $*<*35.3 Project Reort:*>
1130H33 $5.3.1 ^During the beginning of the second semester, students
1140H33 who opt for research project select their topics in consultation with the
1150H33 members of the Faculty in the field of their specialisation.
1160H33 $5.3.2 ^A major consideration in the project requirement is its educational
1170H33 value. ^It offers students an opportunity to_ collect data in the filed
1180H33 under the guidance of the Faculty and to_ familiarise themselves with
1190H33 methods of research.
1200H33 $5.3.3 ^A student failing to_ submit corrected typewritten copies of the
1210H33 project report bearing the signarure of the guide on or before the last
1220H33 working day of February will not be permitted to_ appear for the Fourth
1240H33 Semester examination. $5.3.4 ^For detailed rules the booklet on 'Rules
1250H33 for Students' may be referred to. $*<*35.4 Examination:*>
1270H33 $5.4.1 ^Students must be in regular attendance and pass periodical tests
1280H33 as well as comprehensive examinations. ^In the final evaluation of a student
1290H33 for each course, due consideration will be given to the student*'s
1300H33 contributions to classroom discussions, written reports, readings and
1310H33 other assignments. ^There may be no written examination in some courses
1320H33 and the student may be evaluated on the basis of assignments.
1330H33 $5.4.2 ^A student weak in the English language should attend REGULARLY
1340H33 the Special English Classes arranged for his benefit and appear
1350H33 for an examination to_ be held at the end of the First Semester.
1360H33 $*<*35.5 Requirements for Passing:*>
1370H33 $5.5.1 ^Students*' work will be evaluated in Grades. ^The Grades and
1380H33 their point equivalents are as follows:
1390H33 $O (Outstanding) =6 Points
1400H33 $A (Very Good) =5 Points
1410H33 $B (Good) =4 Points
1420H33 $C (Average) =3 Points
1430H33 $D (Below Average) =2 Points
1440H33 $E (Poor) =1 Point
1450H33 $F (Very Poor) =0 Point
1460H33 $^Each lecutre course will carry one credit per hour per week. ^The Field
1470H33 work for an year will carry twelve credit hours, the Research Project
1480H33 for credit hours and *7Viva-Voce will carry two credit hours.
1490H33 $^The Grade point average for a semester/ year programme will be calculated
1500H33 by **[formula**] where G is the point equivalent of the Grade obtained
1510H33 by a student in a course and C is the number of Credit hours of
1520H33 the course.
1530H33 $5.5.2 ^To_ pass an examination a student should get at least a D grade
1540H33 in individual courses including Field Work, Research Project (where
1550H33 applicable) and *7Viva-Voce and should maintain a minimum grade point
1560H33 average of 2.5 in each semester. ^In addition, the student should complete
1570H33 his block field work satisfactorily. ^A student will be eligible for
1580H33 block field work only on successful completion of concurrent field work.
1600H33 $5.5.3 ^A student who is awarded an E or F grade in an individual
1610H33 course will be considered to_ have failed in the course.
1620H33 $5.5.4 ^Only a student who has failed in not more than two courses in one
1630H33 semester will be eligible to_ appear for a supplementary examination
1640H33 in those courses. $5.5.5 ^A student failing in a course will be allowed
1650H33 to_ appear only for one supplementary examination. $5.5.6
1670H33 ^A student failing to_ get a minimum grade point average of 2.5
1680H33 in the first/ third semester will be allowed to_ continue his study for
1690H33 the second/ fourth semester, but will be expected to_ make up for his deficiency
1700H33 and achieve the required grade point average by the end of the
1710H33 second/ fourth semester by obtaining better grades in other courses.
1720H33 $5.5.7 ^A student if he so desires may also take an additional examination
1730H33 in courses (excluding field work) in which he has obtained a D grade
1740H33 to_ improve his grade point average. ^However, such an additional examination
1750H33 will be given only during the period of arranging supplementary
1760H33 examination by the Institute of that_ semester.
1770H33 $5.5.8 ^A student who fails to_ attain a minimum grade point average of
1780H33 2.5 even after taking the additional or supplementary examination will
1790H33 be considered to_ have failed in the whole examination.
1800H33 $5.5.9 ^A student enrolling for the \0M.A. degree programme shall complete
1810H33 it within a period of five years from the date of his enrolment. ^A
1820H33 student who discontinues his studies before the end of the first semester
1830H33 of the first year will not be deemed to_ have spent a year at the Institute.*#
        **[no. of words = 02023**]

        **[txt. h34**]
0010H34 **<*3Chairman*'s Statement**> $TO $THE MEMBERS $^Presenting
0020H34 our annual accounts, is an appropriate occasion for a brief review
0030H34 of the industrial and economic environment under which your Company
0040H34 is operating. ^Last year, I had an occasion to_ refer to the political
0050H34 changes at the national level and their likely impact on the future
0060H34 of industries in general and electric generating utilities in the
0070H34 private sector. ^In doing so, I had struck a cautious but optimistic
0080H34 note, confident in my belief that with so many elder administrators
0090H34 at the helm of affairs, the new Government would no doubt do justice
0100H34 to the tasks confronting it. ^*I was right. ^Subsequent events
0110H34 have proved beyond doubt that \0Mr. George Fernandes, on assuming
0120H34 charge of the industries portfolio, wasted no time in appreciating
0130H34 the implications of power famine and took a quick decision on our
0150H34 500 \0MW project, languishing under indecision for the last 5 years.
0160H34 $2. ^Since then, at the State level, there have been further changes
0170H34 in the colour and constitution of the ruling party. ^Despite interruptions
0180H34 in the normal stability of the State Government, through
0190H34 polarisations of political parties, we are gratified to_ learn that
0200H34 the newly established Progressive Democratic Front, under the
0210H34 dynamic leadership of \0Mr. Sharad Pawar, is endeavouring to_ bring
0220H34 political stability to Maharashtra, which for the first time in its
0230H34 long history, became vulnerable to operations of political splinter
0240H34 groups. ^In offering our unstinted co-operation to \0Mr. Pawar,
0250H34 we trust that the State under his leadership and the active co-operation
0260H34 of \0*4Shri Shankarrao Chavan, the new Minister for Finance,
0270H34 Planning and Energy will achieve self-sufficiency in power generation
0280H34 expeditiously. $3. ^We can assure the powers-that-be, both at the
0290H34 Central and State levels, that we will continue to_ operate with
0300H34 dedication in the sphere of our activity, to_ maintain our traditional
0310H34 efficiency and even endeavour to_ improve upon it with the impending
0320H34 expansion of our generating capacity. ^However, it must be appreciated
0330H34 that such achievement can only be possible, through resort to higher
0340H34 technology on our part and the Government*'s unstinted support
0350H34 and encouragement to the Company in acquiring the latest available
0360H34 technology in the field and the appropriate infrastructure necessary
0370H34 to_ implement and operate such technology. ^Unless these two pre-requisites
0380H34 are fulfilled, India will never be able to_ maintain its
0390H34 place among the industrially advanced nations in the power field. ^Failing
0400H34 that_, let us be reconciled forever to_ be recipients of intermediate
0410H34 technology, haltingly handed down to the Third World at a
0420H34 disproportionately high price. $*<*3THE INDIAN POWER SCENE*0*> $4.
0430H34 ^It is a common practice in industrially advanced countries that forecasts
0440H34 concerning energy and capacity requirements are closely linked
0450H34 to those of a country*'s economic development as represented by the
0460H34 Gross National Product. ^*I presume that our planners are keeping
0470H34 such nexus between \0GNP and capacity requirements in mind in
0480H34 planning for power generation needs of the country. ^If it is so, then
0490H34 the gap between demand and supply should not widen as it does,
0500H34 resulting in continued shortages in almost all the States. ^Unfortunately,
0510H34 there happens to_ be a daily deficit in energy, averaging 25
0520H34 \0GWH all over the country. ^Somehow, it appears as if we have come
0530H34 to_ live with it, and take such deficit for granted every year.
0540H34 ^In fact, it has become a characteristic feature of all our 5-year
0550H34 Plans, with the result that there have been consistent shortfalls over
0560H34 the years between planned targets and actual achievement. ^Such
0570H34 shortfalls spell serious setbacks to industrial production, agriculture
0580H34 and a great blow to our dreams for rapid rural development. ^This
0590H34 brings into focus the stark fact that our energy projections need
0600H34 to_ be drastically revised. ^This unhappy situation does call for more
0610H34 realistic power planning and greater expertise in our approach. ^That_
0620H34 apart, in the context of existing generating units, it calls for better
0630H34 maintenance management, intensive training for plant operators and a
0640H34 sustained professional base for effective operational and administrative
0650H34 management. $5. ^One factor of recent origin affecting power supply
0660H34 reliability, is the prevailing climate of industrial unrest in
0670H34 the country. ^The impact of such unrest is felt well beyond the generating
0680H34 units and almost creates a chain reaction, the magnitude of which
0690H34 is not sufficiently realised. ^In the ultimate analysis, it seriously
0700H34 affects investment and the economic growth of the nation. ^Hence,
0710H34 it raises the crucial issue of the category of essential services,
0720H34 which calls for a special dispensation in our labour laws, restraining
0730H34 them from direct action in the forms of strikes, go-slows, \0etc.,
0740H34 which can be tolerated to some extent in non-essential sectors
0750H34 but not in such key sectors representing the nerve centre of our entire
0760H34 productive apparatus. $6. ^The Government of India today is committed
0770H34 to a faster economic growth, particularly in the rural areas, and
0780H34 in the Draft Sixth Plan, 43% of the total outlay has been set apart
0790H34 for Rural Development. ^Emphasis has also been placed on the
0800H34 small-scale industrial sector which is employment-oriented. ^The Draft
0810H34 Sixth Plan has fixed the target of additional generating capacity
0820H34 at 18,500 \0MW, calling for a doubling within 5 years of that_ installed
0830H34 capacity which actually has taken about 15 years to_ achieve.
0850H34 ^Tardy implementation of power programmes and inefficient functioning of
0860H34 some utilities in both the public and private sectors have seriously
0870H34 affected the current power situation. ^Consequently, to_ prevent
0880H34 an unprecedented crisis in the economy, a crash programme would have
0890H34 to_ be undertaken, not only to_ commission those power projects which
0900H34 have spilled over from the previous plan, but also to_ take suitable
0910H34 timely corrective action, at an expeditious pace, with regard to those
0920H34 projects which have been included in the Sixth Plan. ^Perhaps,
0930H34 it is not sufficiently realised that, while it is easier to_ discipline
0940H34 a more literate urban industrial worker, to_ make him conscious
0950H34 of power shortages, it is difficult to_ make the rural communities realise
0960H34 the needs and contingencies of power cuts which would affect agricultural
0970H34 output. $7. ^It is heartening to_ note that the Planning Commission
0980H34 is alive and conscious of encouraging professionalism in management
0990H34 economics and has stressed the need to_ streamline the management
1000H34 of electricity utilities to_ make them operate more efficiently by
1010H34 inducting a greater measure of professional expertise. ^Such a fresh
1020H34 approach has undoubtedly gained ground, through progressive realisation
1030H34 that the traditional operation of our power systems, whilst tolerably
1040H34 good for routine operation, left much to_ be desired for attaining
1050H34 planned power targets through improved construction, efficiency and
1060H34 management techniques. $8. ^It is here that modern well maintained
1070H34 and efficiently operated units, can provide useful models, through
1080H34 organising seminars and encouraging exchange visits to_ broaden the
1090H34 horizon of the operating staff and prepare them for impending changes
1100H34 involved in attaining higher planned power targets. ^*I am happy to_
1110H34 report that the Tata Electric Companies are in the forefront of
1120H34 such an exercise and have consistently encouraged such visits and seminars
1130H34 and I am sure, that other units as well-placed, are encouraging
1140H34 similar efforts. $*<*3POWER POSITION IN MAHARASHTRA*0*>
1150H34 $9. ^In Maharashtra State, the overall industrial scene appears to_
1160H34 be comparatively better and the State continued to_ maintain its
1170H34 lead in industrial and agricultural output. ^No doubt, statutory restrictions
1180H34 in varying degrees continue to_ be in force, but the magnitude
1190H34 of power cuts imposed are less severe and more selectively operated,
1200H34 bearing in mind the implications of such cuts in varying degrees
1210H34 according to the nature of industries. ^Hence, the total availability
1220H34 is utilised through judicious distribution, and monitoring and control
1230H34 after constant consultations with the industries concerned. ^Moreover
1240H34 it is a happy augury, that the disquieting note of unrest among
1250H34 electricity workers in other parts of the country, did not adversely
1260H34 affect the working of generating units in Maharashtra. ^It is undoubtedly
1270H34 a tribute to the discipline, solidarity and sense of responsibility
1280H34 of those employed in electricity undertakings within Maharashtra,
1290H34 both blue- and white-collared employees alike. $10. ^Despite
1300H34 such judicious utilisation of the available generating resources, there
1310H34 was acute shortage in a number of areas resulting in stagnating
1320H34 production, price increases through shortages of consumer goods, and
1330H34 non-utilisation of substantial productive capacity, so effectively
1340H34 pointed out by \0Mr. Moolgaokar in the \0TELCO annual report.
1350H34 ^All these factors point significantly to the phenomenal load growth
1360H34 in the State, and the cascading imbalance between available supply
1370H34 and demand, resulting in power cuts, which severely interfere with our
1380H34 national rate of growth. ^It is indeed an irony of fate that even
1390H34 under such compelling circumstances, our proposal for a 500 \0MW unit
1400H34 was held up for five years resulting in a cost escalation requiring
1410H34 nearly \0Rs. 70 *4crores of additional finance. ^We have a lesson
1420H34 to_ learn as a nation. ^How often ideological, regional and non-technical
1430H34 considerations are applied to economic problems which can cost
1440H34 the nation dearly. $11. ^In the challenges facing the country in terms
1450H34 of its power needs, your Company can say with pardonable pride, that
1460H34 it has played its part in alerting the appropriate authorities of
1470H34 the impending power shortages as early as 1952 when it approached the
1480H34 State Government for the first 50 \0MW thermal unit. ^From then
1490H34 onwards, your Company has persistently asked for expansion of its generating
1500H34 capacity and extension of its Licences. ^Unfortunately, in
1510H34 an area where there is unlimited scope for co-existence between private
1520H34 and public sectors, there has been more time devoted to the ideological
1530H34 considerations for confining the electricity industry to the
1540H34 public sector only, rather than for expeditiously expanding the generating
1550H34 capacity. ^In the bargain, power shortages have persisted in
1560H34 stagnating our industrial growth. $*<*3MANAGEMENT OF HIGH TECHNOLOGY*0*>
1570H34 $12. ^With the limitation of hydel power, the introduction
1580H34 of high level thermal technology in India will narrow the gap between
1590H34 this country and the Western world in terms of unit size and its
1600H34 allied infrastructure. ^It is in our national interest to_ apply our
1610H34 minds to this new technology lest we should be left out as a nation,
1620H34 from potential application of the latest trend in electricity generation.
1630H34 ^Larger units with higher pressure and temperature conditions
1640H34 are now recognised as standard in the industrially developed countries.
1650H34 ^Can we afford to_ be out of the race for production of these
1660H34 high precision units? ^In fact, they will be needed for our own needs
1670H34 if we have to_ bridge the gap of power deficiency rapidly. ^This
1680H34 will involve meticulous equipment procurement planning, design engineering,
1690H34 construction and installation, testing and commissioning, operation
1700H34 and maintenance, and practical simulator training to_ run these
1710H34 large-sized units with a high degree of reliability. ^All these call
1720H34 for first hand experience in handling and operating sophisticated
1730H34 high pressure and high temperature units of sizes two and a half times
1740H34 larger than the largest so far installed, which India would have
1750H34 missed but for the decision to_ install its first 500 \0MW unit.
1760H34 $13. ^The transport of electrical energy from these super-thermal
1770H34 stations to the load centres, in turn, will necessitate \0EHV and
1780H34 \0UHV transmission lines, and with the current state of the art
1790H34 in \0DC technology, \0HV \0DC transmission would also seem a very
1800H34 attractive economic alternative for bulk power transportation. ^We
1810H34 are well aware of these challenging problems and we are confident
1820H34 that inspired by our Government*'s epoch making decision to_ opt for
1830H34 super-thermal units, we will be able to_ study and be conversant with
1840H34 such high technology in power generation, needed not only for our
1850H34 domestic requirements but also for securing valuable consultancy jobs
1860H34 abroad. $*<*3LEGISLATION REVIEW*0*> $14. ^With regard to legislation
1870H34 governing electricity utilities, need I reiterate what I have
1880H34 been advocating over the years in the context of the present economic
1890H34 situation? ^The financial provisions and norms in The Indian
1900H34 Electricity Act, 1910, and The Electricity (Supply) Act, 1948,
1910H34 need to_ be revised, to_ make them growth-oriented. ^The power famine that_
1920H34 we are suffering, originates from the restrictive provisions of these
1930H34 outdated legislations. ^With the urgent need for augmenting generating
1940H34 capacity to_ bridge the gap between power supply and demand, high
1950H34 priority needs to_ be given to electric utilities to_ establish and
1960H34 augment transmission and distribution facilities, simultaneously with
1970H34 each expansion of power generation.*#
        **[no. of words = 02016**]

        **[txt. h35**]
0010H35 *<PROFITS*> $4. ^The Directors regret to_ report that after an unbroken
0020H35 period of fifteen years, during which the Company produced record
0030H35 profits every year, 1977-78 was a year of decline in the Company*'s
0040H35 progress and profitability. $5. ^The profit of \0*4Rs. 407 *4lacs
0050H35 was \0*4Rs. 250 *4lacs less than last year. ^As, however, that_
0060H35 included a non-recurring profit of \0*4Rs. 45 *4lacs earned on the
0070H35 sale of investments, and benefited also from a reduction in depreciation
0080H35 of \0*4Rs. 57 *4lacs due to a change in method of charging depreciation,
0090H35 the operating profit for the year to_ be compared with that_
0100H35 of the previous year would be \0*4Rs. 305 *4lacs, reflecting a
0110H35 reduction of \0*4Rs. 352 *4lacs. ^Of this \0*4Rs. 68 *4lacs was represented
0120H35 by a loss in the Shipping Division, referred to separately
0130H35 later in this Report, and \0*4Rs. 284 *4lacs by a reduction in
0140H35 profit in the Chemical Division largely accounted for by three major
0150H35 factors-- (**=1) a sharp increase in the wage cost due to adverse
0160H35 Supreme Court Judgement; (**=2) an additional burden in respect
0170H35 of electricity duty; and (**=3) an increase in fuel and raw material
0180H35 costs beyond Management*'s control. $6. ^It is fortunate that as
0190H35 a result of the lagre investment and depreciation allowances earned
0200H35 on new plant and machinery worth \0*4Rs. 961 *4lacs commissioned during
0210H35 the year, no provision for taxation was required to_ be made
0220H35 and the year*'s net disposable profit of \0*4Rs. 407 *4lacs was \0*4Rs.
0230H35 50 *4lacs higher than in the previous year and the second highest
0240H35 earned so far. ^A tax saving of such magnitude cannot be expected in
0250H35 respect of the current year, during which capital expenditure on new
0260H35 plant and machinery will be materially lower than in 1977-78. ^Furthermore,
0270H35 some of the factors or problems responsible for the setback that_
0280H35 the company has suffered, still persist and will continue to_ affect
0290H35 operations and costs, and therefore profitability. $*<FINANCE*>
0300H35 $7. ^Despite heavy capital expenditure and the need to_ extend credit
0310H35 to customers during the major part of the year, the interest burden
0320H35 of your Company rose only marginally, from \0*4Rs. 204 *4lacs
0330H35 as a result of the strict controls exercised over inventories and raw
0340H35 materials, fuels and finished products. $8. ^Foreign currency loans
0350H35 aggregating to \0*4Rs. 55.54 *4lacs were drawn during the year from
0360H35 the Industrial Credit and Investment Corporation of India Limited,
0370H35 for meeting the cost of the second high-pressure boiler and
0380H35 the Company*'s expansion and modernisation programmes. $9. ^The Company
0390H35 has repaid \0*4Rs. 48.91 *4lacs in respect of loans availed
0400H35 of from the Industrial Finance Corporation of India and the Industrial
0410H35 Credit and Investment Corportation of India \0Ltd. ^The
0420H35 deferred payment liability has also been reduced by \0*4Rs. 91.51
0430H35 *4lacs. $10. ^Deposits from the public, employees, and their dependants
0440H35 and shareholders increased by \0*4rs. 113.14 *4lacs during the
0450H35 year and amounted to \0*4Rs. 879.52 *4lacs as on 30 june 1978. ^The
0460H35 Company had discontinued accepting fresh deposits with effect from
0470H35 12 june 1978, and is only accepting renewals for periods upto two
0500H35 years. $*<DEVELOPMENT REBATE AND INVESTMENT ALLOWANCE*> $11. ^Upon
0510H35 fulfilling the requirements laid down in the Income Tax Act, 1961,
0520H35 an amount of \0*4Rs. 20.16 *4lacs was transferred from the Development
0530H35 rebate Reserve to the Profit and Loss Account this year. $12.
0540H35 ^In terms of the Finance Act, 1976, your Company is entitled to_ claim
0550H35 \0*4Rs. 231 *4lacs by way of investment allowance on plant and machinery
0560H35 installed and commissioned during the year and has created the
0570H35 Statutory Investment Allowance Reserve or \0*4Rs. 174 *4lacs.
0580H35 $*<DEPRECIATION*> $13. ^Whereas in the previous years depreciation
0590H35 on new fixed assets was charged for the full year irrespective of
0600H35 the dates on which they were commissioned during the year, it has
0610H35 now been decided to_ provide depreciation on identifiable units of
0620H35 fixed assets of substantial value only from the actual date of commissioning.
0630H35 ^This change in the method of charging depreciation in the
0640H35 accounts of the Company has resulted in a decrease of \0*4Rs. 57
0650H35 *4lacs in the amount provided for depreciation for the year. $<INVESTMENTS*>
0660H35 $14. in order to_ facilitate investments by the Company,
0670H35 a wholly-owned investment subsidiary company was formed during the
0690H35 year under the name of Roshan Investments Limited with an authorised
0700H35 capital of \0*4Rs. 50 *4lacs. ^Your Company subscribed \0*4Rs.
0710H35 24.64 *4lacs towards its share capital and also advanced to it
0720H35 loans aggregating to \0*4Rs. 80 *4lacs. ^The Annual Report and Accounts
0730H35 of Roshan Investments Limited are appended. $15. ^Your Company
0740H35 sold its holdings of 31,721 shares of Rallis India Limited
0750H35 and 1,50,411 shares of Excel Industries Limited to its subsidiary,
0760H35 Roshan Investments Limited, and earned a tax-free profit of \0*4Rs.
0770H35 45 *4lacs which has been shown in the Accounts of the year
0780H35 and set apart as a Capital Reserve. $*<OPERATIONS*> $16. ^During
0790H35 the year under report production of Caustic Soda increased by
0800H35 12%, of \0BHC by 36%, and of Liquid Bromine by 8%, but, for the
0810H35 first time in eight years, the production of Soda Ash declined
0820H35 and was about 5% less than in 1976-77. ^Refined Sodium Bicarbonate
0830H35 was also less by 5% as compared to previous year. ^This unhappy result
0840H35 was brought about by prolonged outages on the boiler and the topping
0850H35 turbo-generator in the initial part of the year, a severe setback
0860H35 in lime burning capacity due to the poor quality of coke, a shortage
0870H35 of make-up water for the boilers and the premature failure of linings
0880H35 in the lime kilns during the latter part of the year. $*<SALES*>
0890H35 $17. ^The value of sales of chemical products at \0*4Rs. 41.25
0900H35 *4crores was higher by about 13% compared to that_ of the preceding
0910H35 year. ^*Soda Ash, Sodium Bicarbonate, Caustic Soda, Bromine
0920H35 and Vacuum Salt contribute to this result. $18. ^The sale of Soda
0930H35 Ash was sluggish during the major part of the year and consumers*'
0931H35 requirements could be met in full
0940H35 until the end of March 1978. ^However, a sudden and unexpected shortage
0950H35 of Soda Ash emerged during the subsequent months and the Company
0960H35 was compelled to_ limit from 1 May 1978, the supply of Soda
0970H35 Ash to its regular industrial customers to the level of their actual
0980H35 take-off during the nine month period ending 31 march 1978, when
0990H35 the supplies of Soda Ash were still freely available. ^As shortage
1000H35 conditions continued to_ worsen, while production at Mithapur remained
1010H35 depressed, the Company pleaded with Government to_ import
1020H35 Soda Ash. ^This did not bear fruit in time, and the Company was
1030H35 compelled, reluctantly, to_ restrict supplies only to actual industial
1040H35 users. $19. ^All the Company*'s products, for which the Indian
1050H35 Standards Specifications have been laid down, continue to_ be sold
1060H35 under the \0I.S. Certification Mark and are highly regarded by
1070H35 the customers all over India. $<SHIPPING DIVISION*> $20. ^As
1080H35 shareholders were informed in last year*'s report, the Company had
1090H35 applied for \0MRTP clearance of their project although advised
1100H35 that it was not strictly necessary. ^The clearance was duly obtained
1110H35 in October 1977. ^In the meantime the arrangements made with the
1120H35 Great Eastern Shipping Company Limited for the lease-cum-purchase
1130H35 of the second ship, \0m.v. Jag Darshan, lapsed and your Directors
1140H35 did not revive them as the freight markets had, in the meantime,
1150H35 further declined. $21. ^The Shipping Division incurred an operating
1160H35 cash loss of \0*4Rs. 69 *4lacs, besides depreciation for which
1170H35 a provision of \0*4Rs. 44 *4lacs has been made in the Profit and
1180H35 Loss Account. $22. ^Your Directors are naturally deeply concerned
1190H35 about the results of the Shipping Division which have turned out
1200H35 to_ be worse than were anticipated at the time of entry into Shipping
1210H35 and have under constant consideration possible measures to_
1220H35 meet this situation. $*<DEVELOPMENT*> $23. ^New plant and machinery
1230H35 worth \0*4Rs. 961 *4lacs were installed and commissioned during
1240H35 the year. ^This importantly, included the second high-pressure
1250H35 boiler at a capital cost of \0*4Rs. 716 *4lacs. ^The full benefit from
1260H35 this boiler will, however, only be realised when the coal supply
1270H35 position improves, production goes up and the second topping turbo-generator
1280H35 is installed. $24. ^The phased development of saltworks in
1290H35 Kalyanpur Mahal continues to_ make satisfactory progress. ^During
1300H35 the year, the extension of the condensors and the installation of
1310H35 a major sea-water pumping station were taken in hand. $25. ^With a
1320H35 view to eliminating the need for the transport of solid salt over long
1330H35 distances, the crystallisers at Mithapur have been further extended
1340H35 and new crystallisers are being built at Samlasar where, eventually,
1350H35 salt will be dissolved and the resulting brine transported by
1360H35 the pipeline to Mithapur. $*<INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS*> $26. ^As
1370H35 reported to the shareholders last year, your Company appealed to
1380H35 the Supreme Court against the award of the Industrial Tribunal
1390H35 which, in response to claims put forward by a non-recognised minority
1400H35 union, by linking the dearness allowance payable to the Company*'s
1410H35 employees at Mithapur with the dearness allowance rates payable
1420H35 to the textile industry of Ahmedabad, had upset the concept
1430H35 that wage and dearness allowance rates be determined on industry-cum-regionwise
1440H35 basis and had also upset the basic principle of bi-partite
1450H35 collective bargaining laid down in the Code of Discipline evolved
1460H35 at the Indian Labour Conference in 1958. $27. ^The Supreme
1470H35 Court has upheld the Industrial Tribunal*'s Award, as a result
1480H35 of which, with effect from 1 Februrary 1975, the Company will have
1490H35 to_ pay dearness allowance to its employees at a very much higher
1500H35 rate. $28. ^As a result of the Supreme Court Judgement, the 3-year
1510H35 settlement arrived at with the recognised Union on the expiry of
1520H35 the 1973 agreement has had to_ be filed with the Industrial Tribunal
1530H35 for an award in the face of counter-claims by the minority union.
1540H35 ^The Management*'s sincere attempt to_ bring the two unions together
1550H35 in order to_ avoid multiple litigation and long delay in arriving
1560H35 at a settlement unfortunately has failed. $29. ^In regard to the
1570H35 demands of the Staff Union, as distinct from the Workers*' Union,
1580H35 it was reported last year that pending a final Settlement or Award
1590H35 the Industrial Tribunal had granted an interim relief of \0*4Rs.
1600H35 80/- per month to employees who were admittedly falling within the
1610H35 category of 'workmen.' ^Efforts were made several times thereafter
1620H35 to_ negotiate a settlement. ^As these failed and as the dispute had
1630H35 been pending for a long time, the Management voluntarily increased
1640H35 the emoluments of the staff so as to_ maintain *7inter-se parity
1650H35 between the various sections of the employees. ^This was without prejudice
1660H35 to the Company*'s contention that barring those admitted as
1670H35 'workmen', no other member of the supervisory staff was covered by
1680H35 the Industrial Disputes Act. ^The adjudication proceedings before
1690H35 the Industrial Tribunal are pending. $30. ^Despite the protracted
1700H35 proceedings mentioned above, the day-to-day relations between the
1710H35 Management and its employees continue to_ be harmonious. $*<DONATIONS*>
1720H35 $31. ^During the year, donations amounting to \0*4Rs. 3.75
1730H35 *4lacs, were sanctioned for various educational, social and charitable
1740H35 causes and for promotion of research. $*<DIRECTORATE*> $32.
1750H35 ^In accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act, 1956,
1760H35 and the Company*'s Articles of Association, three of your Directors,
1770H35 \0Mr. *(0C. H.*) bhabha, \0Mr. *(0D. M.*) Ghia and \0Mr.
1780H35 Harshavadan Mangaldas retire by rotation and are eligible for
1790H35 re-appointment. $33. \0^*Mr. *(0S. J.*) Coelho, who had been the
1800H35 Gujarat Government nominee on the Board of this Company since
1810H35 4 August 1976 resigned on 15 February 1978. ^The Board placed on
1820H35 record their warm appreciation of the interest that_ \0Mr. Coelho
1830H35 took in the Company*'s affairs and the support he extended to the
1840H35 Company as a nominee of the Government of Gujarat. $34. ^In the
1850H35 vacancy caused by the resignation of \0Mr. *(0S. J.*) Coelho,
1860H35 the Government of Gujarat nominated, and the Directors pursuant
1870H35 to Article 129 of the Articles of Association, appointed \0Mr.
1880H35 *(0S. M.*) Ghosh, Secretary to the Government of Gujarat, Industries,
1890H35 Mines and Power Department, as a Director of the Company with
1900H35 effect from 7 March 1978. \0Mr. Ghosh also resigned with effect
1910H35 from 14 July 1978 on his being appointed as the Secretary (Energy
1920H35 and Research), Government of Gujarat. $35. ^In place of \0Mr.
1930H35 Ghosh, the Government of Gujarat have nominated and the Directors
1940H35 have appointed \0Mr. *(0M. G.*) Shah, Secretary, Government
1950H35 of Gujarat, Industries, Mines and Power Department, as a Director
1960H35 of the Company with effect from 21 July 1978.*#
        **[no. of words = o2034**]

        **[txt. h36**]
0010H36 **<UNEMPOLYMENT IN THIRD WORLD: \0*I*L*'s 'basic goods' approach holds
0020H36 promise**> $(\0^*Mr. Naval *(0H.*) Tata, President of the Employers*'
0030H36 Federation of India, who has been representing Indian employers
0040H36 on the international Labour Organisation for more than a quarter
0050H36 of a century now, was re-elected in 1978 to the Governing Body
0060H36 of the \0ILO for another three-year term. \0^*Mr. Tata first
0070H36 went to the \0ILO as the Delegate of Indian employers in 1951.
0080H36 ^His deep knowledge of the problems of industry and labour and his
0090H36 long service to the ideal of industrial harmony have made him an outstanding
0100H36 spokesman both at home and abroad on industrial and labour
0110H36 matters. ^In his address to_ the International Labour Conference
0120H36 concluded at Geneva, \0Mr. Tata commended to the Third World
0130H36 the \0ILO*'s "basic goods" approach for solving their colossal unemployment
0140H36 problem-- Editor). $*3^Unemployement was highlighted by
0150H36 \0Mr. Naval *(0H.*) Tata as the most challenging problem facing the
0160H36 developing world, at the 64th Session of the International Labour
0170H36 Conference held at Geneva recently. $^In his address to the Conference,
0180H36 \0Mr. Tata also referred to the question of the right
0190H36 of employees in Government and essential services to_ join trade
0200H36 unions, to collective bargaining and to strike. $^Describing the withdrawal
0210H36 of the United States of America from the \0ILO as "tragic",
0220H36 the President of the Employers*' Federation of India appealed
0230H36 to the \0US to_ reconsider its decision. $^Referring to the problem
0240H36 of unemployment, \0Mr. Tata said the projections made by the
0250H36 \0ILO revealed a staggering situation where the developing countries
0260H36 would need to_ create 922 million new jobs from the beginning of
0270H36 the current decade to the turn of the century which would mean nearly
0280H36 doubling the number of jobs that_ existed at present. $*<*363 Million
0290H36 Jobs*> $^The labour force of India alone, on that_ basis,
0300H36 was expected to_ increase by 63 million during the current decade.
0310H36 "^Would we have the capacity for job creation at this colossal rate,
0320H36 when, as it is, we are suffering from widespread unemployment through
0330H36 nearly one hundred thousand new entrants knocking at the door
0340H36 of employment every week?" \0Mr. Tata asked. $^Over the decades,
0350H36 with progressive industrialisation in many countries of the world,
0360H36 there had been a concentrated movement of people from farms to cities
0370H36 and the trend appeared to_ be gathering momentum. ^Hence, the question
0390H36 of employment had to_ be tackled both for the rural and the
0400H36 urban sectors, he added. $^Stating that as many as 224 million people
0410H36 in India alone were languishing below the poverty line, \0Mr. Tata
0420H36 said that the problem could only be tackled through massive investment
0430H36 in the rural areas and by creating appropriate infrastructure
0440H36 for extensive agro-economic industries which should be more labour-intensive
0450H36 and require less capital. ^In addition, efforts would have
0460H36 to_ be made for establishing small-scale industries with active promotion
0470H36 of self-employment. $*<*3"Basic Goods"*> $^He referred
0480H36 in this context to the call given by the \0ILO at the World Employment
0490H36 Conference in 1976 for adopting the "basic goods" approach
0500H36 to economic development in an endeavour to_ ameliorate mass poverty.
0510H36 ^It had laid down guidelines for practical action both by the developing
0520H36 and the developed countries in order to_ achieve the goal of
0530H36 growth with social justice. $^Such an approach held the promise for
0540H36 generating an enormous volume of employment both in the rural and urban
0550H36 sectors. \0^*Mr. Tata said that for three decades since the end
0560H36 of World War *=2, the developing nations had resorted to_ diverse
0570H36 strategies for relieving mass poverty, ranging from industrialisation,
0580H36 import substitution, export expansion, population control, trade
0590H36 with rather than aid from, developed countries and a shift from rapid
0600H36 industrialisation to rapid agricultural growth. $^It was, however,
0610H36 surprising that throughout these diversified approaches they never
0620H36 lost their faith in the "gross national product" to_ minimise, if
0630H36 not eliminate, proverty. \0^*Mr. Tata pointed out that \0Mr. Robert
0640H36 McNamara of the World Bank had attacked "this act of faith
0650H36 by pointing out that even where high \0GNP growth rates have been
0660H36 achieved, the benefits have bypassed the poorest of the poor." $\0^*Mr.
0670H36 Tata asserted that it was no wonder that the world at large
0680H36 in this mood had now turned to the \0ILO philosophy of basic needs.
0690H36 ^The \0ILO estimated that there were 300 million people in
0700H36 the Third World now out of work. ^It had been said in some quarters
0710H36 that "If only we could have put them to work, we may have found
0720H36 a solution to this highly difficult global problem. ^Unless we do so,
0730H36 we will be once again groping in the dark for yet another solution."
0740H36 ^The \0ILO would assess and evaluate the success of its world
0750H36 employment programme at its next conference. $*<*3New Awareness*>
0760H36 $\0^*Mr. tata was happy that the \0ILO had at least created
0770H36 a new awareness amongst the developed and developing countries about
0780H36 the social objectives to_ be achieved while pursuing economic growth
0790H36 and had set many governments thinking and planning. ^The \0ILO*'s
0800H36 call for the integration of efforts by the rich and the poor countries
0810H36 in this common cause deserved response and he expressed the
0820H36 hope that the inordinately long North South dialogue would at last
0830H36 produce worthwhile results. $\0^*Mr. Tata told the session that
0840H36 there had been considerable shift in public opinion all over the world
0850H36 on the question of the rights of employees in Government and in
0860H36 essential services to_ join unions and to_ bargain collectively, and
0870H36 whether they should be allowed to_ strike. ^If these workers were
0880H36 to_ be denied such rights, it was legitimate to_ ask as to what alternatives
0890H36 were there to_ guarantee them equitable wages and working
0900H36 conditions in the absence of free and unrestrained collective bargaining.
0910H36 ^It was true, he said, that some countries had either prohibited
0920H36 strikes or imposed heavy penalties. ^Admittedly, merely denying
0930H36 the right to strike or imposing heavy penalties for such strikes without
0940H36 providing for acceptable procedures to_ resolve them was too
0950H36 one-sided an approach. $"^Let us, therefore, look for a clue in the
0960H36 Conventions of the \0ILO that_ deal with the Freedom of Association.
0970H36 ^In these Conventions there is no specific mention of the
0980H36 word 'strike'; but the decisions of the Committee on Freedom of
1010H36 Association have establiished reciprocity between strike and lockout
1020H36 by implication. ^The former was intended to_ be the ultimate action
1030H36 of the employees and the latter as the ultimate remedy of the
1040H36 employers. ^The Freedom of Association Conventions (87 & 98) were
1050H36 admittedly basic to the enjoyment of trade union rights. ^The 'Right
1060H36 to_ form Associations or Unions' was also a Fundamental Right in
1070H36 the Constitution of India. ^Even so, the Founding Fathers had
1080H36 considered it necessary to_ provide that reasonable restrictions might
1090H36 be imposed by law on the exercise of such right in the public interest.
1100H36 ^Such a provision was absolutely necessary if the rights were
1110H36 to_ be exercised without detriment to equal and similar rights
1120H36 of other citizens and such a limitation was eminently justified under
1130H36 the jurisprudence of democratic countries. ^However, Conventions
1140H36 87 and 98 were broadly worded and extensive in their scope. ^Consequently,
1150H36 many countries, including mine, had not found it possible to_
1160H36 ratify them, more for technical reasons than for non compliance
1170H36 in spirit." $\0^*Mr. Tata suggested that the new instrument now proposed
1180H36 should take due note of the reluctance or inability of a large
1190H36 number of countries to_ ratify these conventions. "^We should also
1200H36 analyse the reasons for such reluctance." ^It must be recognised that
1210H36 employment under Government involed a different kind of relationship
1220H36 between the employer and the employee from what existed in a private
1230H36 sector enterprise or in an industrial undertaking within the public
1240H36 sector. ^The nature of duties and the privileges and rights which
1250H36 an employee enjoyed in a public sector industry, both by constitution
1260H36 and tradition, were vastly different from those of his counterpart
1270H36 in the service sector of the government. ^The public servant had
1280H36 to_ perform functions which the State, as a Sovereign, could not
1290H36 abandon and he could not be absolved of his responsibility under any
1300H36 circumstances. ^Therefore, while the right to_ organise could not
1310H36 be denied to a public servant, a different procedure had to_ be
1320H36 found for the settlement of disputes. $\0^*Mr. Tata said that he had
1330H36 often pleaded that there was no parity between an industrial employer
1340H36 and the Government as an employer. "^Can the Government close
1350H36 down its services such as post and telegraphs, hospitals, communications
1360H36 and numerous other administrative functions performed by public
1370H56 servants, including maintenance of law and order and preserving
1380H36 and protecting the judiciary? ^If the answer was no, then the employees
1390H36 in such services should, in fairness, voluntarily forego their
1400H36 right to_ strike. after all, as I have said before, strike and lock-out
1410H36 were reciprocal weapons and one cannot be resorted to in the
1420H36 absence of the other. ^In fact, the absence of such reciprocity would
1430H36 render the process of collective bargaining meaningless. $"^In view
1440H36 of the basic difference in the nature of employment, I would, with
1450H36 great respect, submit that a Government employee should only be
1460H36 recruited on a clear contractual understanding, that he voluntarily
1470H36 surrenders his right to_ strike since the Government cannot lock
1480H36 him out. ^Any new instrument to_ be adopted should re-affirm that
1490H36 the recognition of the principle of freedom of association, whilst
1500H36 giving him the right to_ organise and bargain collectively does not
1510H36 necessarily imply the right to_ strike. ^Any limitations on such
1520H36 right for direct action in essential services, strictly defined, are
1530H36 not in conflict with this principle, since the employer likewise has
1540H36 no scope for direct action. ^As an alternative, foolproof machinery
1550H36 should be provided to_ settle a dispute, subject to the overriding
1560H36 right of the Government, to_ offer conciliation, mediation or voluntary
1570H36 arbitration, and failing that_, the dispute must be subjected
1580H36 to compulsory adjudication. ^Unless we accept such restraint in the
1590H36 matter of public servants, I am afraid the spirit of Conventions
1600H36 87 and 98 may be grossly misinterpreted. $"^Any disregard of such implied
1610H36 spirit behind these conventions can, through paralysing strikes
1620H36 in sensitive areas, stop the pulse of a nation. ^Since establishing
1630H36 trade union rights through an \0ILO Convention was never intended
1640H36 to_ bring about such a catastrophe, I sincerely feel that in
1650H36 the absence of a clear interpretation we would be doing a great disservice
1660H36 to the \0ILO by failing to_ clarify such perplexity." $*<\0*3US
1670H36 *3Withdrawal*> $^Referring to the "unfortunate withdrawal"
1680H36 of the United States from the \0ILO \0Mr. Tata said it was
1690H36 indeed painful that it should happen to the \0ILO, which took pride
1700H36 in the doctrine of universality in terms of its constituents. ^It
1710H36 was all the more tragic since it was an eminent \0U.S. Trade Union
1720H36 leader, Samuel Gompers who originated the concept of tripartism,
1730H36 a feature so unique amongst international organisations. ^Hence
1740H36 it called for serious introspection by each one of them over what must
1750H36 have been responsible for this breach in the bonds that_
1760H36 kept them together as members of the \0ILO in pursuit of social justice.
1770H36 $\0^*Mr. Tata said that another feature which caused misunderstanding
1780H36 among the constituents was the over enthusiastic support
1790H36 they gave, whilst framing numerous Conventions expecting every member
1800H36 to_ honour them. ^However, at the time of implementation, on the
1810H36 plea of sovereign rights, some States resented any form of investigation,
1820H36 particularly in the matter of "Freedom of Association." $^He
1830H36 said that often members who were critical of the violations of these
1840H36 Conventions in other countries were reluctant to_ tolerate questions
1850H36 regarding their own States. ^Such an attitude gave rise to allegations
1860H36 of double standards in applying these Conventions. ^Another
1870H36 unfortunate feature of discord was that regardless of any relevance
1880H36 to the agenda, discussions and debates were permitted on resolutions
1890H36 beyond the \0ILO*'s scope and competence. $^Having expressed
1900H36 his disappointment at the \0US decision to_ withdraw, \0Mr. Tata
1910H36 appealed to them to_ reconsider their decision. ^He said that by
1920H36 isolating themselves from any international dialogue on social justice,
1930H36 the \0US had unfortunately deprived the world of the impact of
1940H36 their great prestige and stature on socio-economic problems of the
1950H36 world.*#
        **[no. of words = 02004**]

        **[txt. h37**]
0010H37 **<*3WORKSHOP IN CHEMISTRY AT HOMI BHABHA LIBRARY*0**> $^The construction
0020H37 of simple molecules and the different shapes of molecules were
0030H37 demonstrated with the use of inexpensive balloons at a Workshop
0040H37 in Chemistry held recently in the Homi Bhabha Memorial Science
0050H37 Teachers*' Library in Bombay. $^With the 2-member faculty consisting
0060H37 of \0Prof. *(0C. S.*) Warke of the Tata Institute of Fundamental
0070H37 Research and \0Prof. *(0B. M.*) Deb of the Indian Institute
0080H37 of Technology, Powai, the Workshop was attended by 28 teachers
0090H37 from 25 schools and junior colleges. \0^*Prof. Warke dealt with
0100H37 the hydrogen atom and the structure of matter and light, while \0Prof.
0110H37 Deb lectured on the different types of bonds and shapes of molecules.
0120H37 $^The participants were given 3 assignment sheets in the course
0130H37 of the Workshop and had to_ solve the problems during the appropriate
0140H37 session. ^Some of the difficult problems were then discussed
0150H37 with assistance from \0Prof. Warke. $^After seeing the construction
0160H37 of simple molecules with the use of balloons, the participants were
0170H37 made to_ construct two models of compounds using the same material,
0180H37 which they did with great enthusiasm. $^The Workshop included the
0190H37 screening of the films "The Hydrogen Atom", "The Rutherford
0200H37 Atom" and "Chemical Bonds", followed by a visit to the Tata Institute
0210H37 of Fundamental Research where the teachers were able to_ examine
0220H37 the molecular structure of compounds on sophisticated instruments
0230H37 like Nuclear Magnetic Resonance used by research scientists.
0240H37 $^It was evident to all concerned that such activity-oriented Workshops
0250H37 help the teachers to_ comprehend difficult concepts of science
0260H37 and there was a unanimous feeling among teachers for more such Workshops
0270H37 in future. $*<*3INTERACTION BETWEEN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS*0*>
0280H37 $^Public sector industries engaged in the production of goods and
0290H37 services should have norms, controls and procedures totally different
0300H37 from those applied for controlling revenue expenditure in the rest
0310H37 of the Government sector, said \0Mr. *(0M. J.*) Shaikhali,
0320H37 Deputy General Manager (Human Resource) \0Telco, Jamshedpur,
0330H37 recently. $^He was presenting a paper on "Interaction between
0340H37 public sector and private sector" at a convention of public sector
0350H37 enterprises in Bihar held at Patna under the auspices of the Bureau
0360H37 of Public Enterprises. $^When the Government spent money on activites
0370H37 relating to the production of material like steel or products
0380H37 like pharmaceuticals, it did not merely incur an expenditure. ^The
0390H37 expenditure was an investment because the money was not just an outflow
0400H37 of cash but an input for production which would increase the national
0410H37 income. ^And the norms, controls and procedures for governing
0420H37 this type of expenditure should be such as would stimulate and not
0430H37 stifle productive activities in the core sector so essential for
0440H37 the growth of the Indian economy, he said. $\0^*Mr. Shaikhali said
0450H37 that at present such a distinction had not been made and a few individuals
0460H37 who had attempted to_ make this distinction and showed managerial,
0470H37 risk-taking and decision-making abilities had not always been
0480H37 encouraged or rewarded. $^He suggested the application of the system
0490H37 of target-setting for organisations and individuals. ^The appraisal
0500H37 of performance should be based on achievement against targets.
0510H37 ^The rewards and promotions should be linked to merit. ^The gap between
0520H37 the need of an individual and the need of an organisation could
0530H37 be minimised by following a result-oriented approach wherein jobs would
0540H37 be defined and the authority and accountability specified. $^The
0550H37 need of the hour was not to_ worry about any distinction between
0560H37 the public and private sectors. ^According to him, the problems facing
0570H37 the country were of a magnitude which required the optimum efforts
0580H37 of each and every individual. $\0^*Mr. Shaikhali emphasised that
0590H37 "all of us" belonged to the national sector and it was our task to_
0600H37 strive to_ maximise production before the events projected by the
0610H37 futurologists engulfed us. $^He felt that "interaction" between the
0620H37 larger units in the private sector and the public sector should be
0630H37 in the form of "experience-sharing and problem-solving". ^This could
0640H37 be arranged through a common platform where managers from both the
0650H37 sectors could come as professionals, pose their problems and seek solutions.
0670H37 $**<\0*3TRC *3LAUNCHES RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME IN CYCLONE-AFFECTED
0680H37 AREAS IN ANDHRA PRADESH*0**> $^Community Centres which will serve
0690H37 as protective shelters during times of emergency, will form an
0700H37 innovative feature of a relief and rural development programme, costing
0710H37 about \0*4Rs. 55 *4lakhs, launched recently by the Tata Relief
0720H37 Committee in the cyclone-affected areas of Andhra Pradesh. $^On
0730H37 the basis of detailed project reports submitted by the study teams
0740H37 deputed at the instance of \0Mr. *(0J. R. D.*) Tata immediately
0750H37 after the disaster, the Committee worked out a comprehensive scheme,
0760H37 in consultation with Andhra Government authorities, for some of
0770H37 the worst affected areas of the State, which are in the Divi Taluka
0780H37 in Krishna District and the Repalle Taluka in Guntur District.
0790H37 $^Construction of 350 houses in Nali and Francispuram in
0800H37 Divi Taluka and 200 houses in Nakshatranagar in Repalle Taluka is
0810H37 an important part of the development programme. ^Nine Community Centres
0820H37 which are to_ be constructed in Divi and one large and four
0830H37 medium-size Community Centres in Repalle will be utilised for various
0840H37 welfare activities of the people in normal times and serve as
0850H37 protective shelters during an emergency of the kind that_ occurred
0860H37 in November 1977. $^The cost of the whole \0*4Rs. 55-*4lakh programme
0870H37 is being met to the extent of \0*4rs. 41 *4lakhs by the Tata
0880H37 Companies, the balance coming from the employees of the Tata Companies.
0890H37 $^Some Tata Companies have also placed the services of their
0900H37 civil engineers and architects at the disposal of the Committee.
0910H37 $^The Committee adopted two designs for the new houses, one of which
0920H37 is round in shape and the other octagonal. ^Every housing unit will
0930H37 cost about \0*4Rs. 7,500. ^Provision is also being made for providing
0940H37 drinking water where it is not available. $^A senior deputy civil
0950H37 engineer of one of the Companies has been specially sent to Repalle
0960H37 to_ undertake the re-building of the salt works that_ had been
0970H37 washed away by the tidal wave. ^These works are being cleared of
0980H37 the sand, rebuilt and rendered fit for salt production once again. $^Fishermen
0900H37 in the Kothapalem village will be given help to_ purchase
1000H37 or build boats and nets, together with an ice plant and cold storage
1010H37 facilities. ^The fishing community is being organised into a registered
1020H37 society which will be a subsidiary of "CHETNA", which is
1030H37 already functioning with the Governor of Andhra Pradesh as Chairman
1040H37 and the Chief Minster as President.
1050H37 $**<*3A WICKET TO THE FIRST BALL, A SIXER TO THE LAST AND THE*0
1060H37 *(0K. M.*) *3CHINNAPPA TROPHY TO*0 \0*3TOMCO*0**> $^The fourth
1070H37 Tata Inter-Companies Cricket Tournament conducted in Bombay
1080H37 recently offered a ten-day feast of cricket to the lovers of the game
1090H37 who, besides seeing some top Test and Ranji Trophy cricketers
1100H37 in action, witnessed quite a few keen contests, some razor-sharp finishes
1110H37 and a thrilling tie between \0Telco and \0Tomco. $^Such was
1120H37 the uncertainty of the outcome of the tournament that though the matches
1130H37 in the 'A' Division were contested on a league basis for ten
1140H37 days, the issue of Championship was settled only on the last day with
1150H37 the last batting pair at the wicket and with only ten balls to_
1160H37 go. ^There was a see-saw battle in the tension-charged final which
1170H37 saw \0Tomco emerge as the Tata Cricket Champions for 1978-79 and
1180H37 take the *(0K. M.*) Chinnappa Trophy but with the margin of only
1190H37 half a point over Tata Chemicals. $^This is \0Tomco*'s first ever
1200H37 Championship victory in the tournament. ^The Chemicals team, unbeaten
1210H37 till then, gave a splendid performance in the competition. $^The
1220H37 tournament this year was conducted through two Divisions, 'A' and
1230H37 'B', to_ make it more competitive. ^The five strong teams which
1240H37 participated in the 'A' Division were \0Tisco, \0Telco, \0Tomco,
1250H37 Electric and Chemicals. $^The 'B' Division matches were played
1260H37 on a knock-out basis by eight teams, namely, Indian Hotels, Tata
1270H37 Press, Tata Sons, \0TIFR Tata Textiles, Voltas, Indian
1280H37 Tube and Tata-robins-fraser. ^However, the encounters in this division
1290H37 were not as closely fought as the senior division ones. ^The
1300H37 \0ITC team proved too good for their opponents and won the newly
1310H37 introduced *(0A. B.*) Kerkar Trophy defeating Voltas with ease
1320H37 in the final. $^The sweltering heat of one of the severest summers
1330H37 in Bombay did not dampen the spirit of either the Tata cricketers
1340H37 or the cricket-loving public. ^The matches, which were played on the
1350H37 Parsee Gymkhana grounds and the Cross *4Maidan, were watched by
1360H37 crowds that_ swelled with every succeeding contest and found day-to-day
1370H37 coverage in the national press. $^Over 150 cricketers, including
1371H37 some 50 who had come from Jamshedpur, Mithapur, Pune and Calcucutta
1372H37 played in the competition. ^As many as
1380H37 six Test stars and 30 first class cricketers
1390H37 did duty for the teams of their respective Companies. $^*Tata Electric,
1400H37 with the ranking of the Times of India 'A' Division team,
1410H37 and with the services of Test Cricketer Dilip Vengsarkar, were
1420H37 considered the hot favourites to_ retain the Trophy. $\0^*Tomco, led
1430H37 by former Test opener Sudhir Naik, were served well by Sandeep
1440H37 Patil, Ajit Naik, Suresh Deobhakta, Prashant Karekar and Raja
1450H37 Manohar while \0Tisco captained by Ramesh Saxena had Milind
1460H37 Rege, Ranjan Baindoor, Anil Bharadwaj, *(0M.*) Bhalla, Naren
1470H37 Tamhane and *(0B. R.*) Irani. $^*Chemicals were handicapped by the
1480H37 absence of their veteran spinner Padmakar Shivalkar but their diminutive
1490H37 Test star Ramnath Parkar rose to the occasion to_ mould
1500H37 the young team into a fighting combination. $^The match between \0Telco
1510H37 and \0Tomco produced the tie with the teams scoring 83 runs each
1520H37 all out-- something unprecedented in the history of cricket in the
1530H37 Tata Organisation. \0^*Tomco were also involved in three close finishes,
1540H37 two of which they won with only the last wicket in hand. $^True
1550H37 to the reputation of the glorious game of uncertainties, fortunes
1560H37 fluctuated in the final match from hour to hour and from session to
1570H37 session. \0^*Tomco, having shot out Chemicals for a moderate score
1580H37 of 131, seemed to_ be well on their way to victory with their stalwarts
1590H37 Sudhir Naik and Ajit Naik in the middle and the scoreboard
1600H37 showing a safe 101 for the loss of only three wickets. $^At this stage
1610H37 of the match, Jadeja and Parmar, the spinning duo of Chemicals
1620H37 struck a deadly form to_ reduce \0Tomco from 101 for three to 128
1630H37 for 9 wickets. $^With Nitin Churi and Yadav Pujari, \0Tomco*'s
1640H37 last two batsmen at the wicket, a maiden over was bowled followed
1650H37 by a run in the next over. $^Yet another maiden was bowled with tension
1660H37 gripping the Parsee Gymknana grounds. $\0^*Tomco needed four
1670H37 runs to_ win with 12 balls to_ go and without any batsmen in the pavilion.
1680H37 ^*Chemicals men once again readied themselves looking for the
1690H37 blood of the batsman at the striker*'s end as the first ball of the
1700H37 last but one over was bowled by Jadeja. ^Neither did they succeed
1710H37 nor did the batsman score off that_ ball. $^The time to_ do-or-die
1720H37 and to_ relieve the tension seemed to_ have arrived. ^*Nitin Churi,
1730H37 who had coolly faced six gruelling overs till then, took his stance
1740H37 and chose the very next delivery of Jadeja for severe punishment.
1750H37 ^He executed a clean and clear sixer which soared over the roof of
1760H37 the Parsee Gymkhana building and gave \0Tomco the *(0K. M.*)
1770H37 Chinnappa Trophy for the first time. $^What a tournament indeed which
1780H37 began by yielding a wicket to the very first ball bowled and ended
1790H37 with a sixer resulting from the last scoring stroke. $^*Ramnath
1800H37 Parkar was the consistent scorer for his side. ^His 126 not out against
1810H37 the Electric team was the best batting performance of the tournament.
1820H37 ^*Jodhsingh of \0Telco also registered a breezy ten against
1830H37 \0Tisco. ^*Milind Rege*'s knock of 96 against Electric and Visho
1840H37 Lele*'s 78 against Tata Sons were the other notable individual
1850H37 scores. $^Left-arm spinner Jagat Jadeja of Tata Chemicals turned
1860H37 out to_ be the 'discovery' of the tournament. ^He captured 20 wickets
1870H37 in four matches with 7 for 50 against the Electric as his prize
1880H37 winning effort. *(0^*S. D.*) Chaudhari of *itc bowled best against
1890H37 Voltas to_ bag 5 wickets for 15 runs in the 'B' Division.
1900H37 $^Cricket has been receiving Tata patronage for several years.*#
        **[no. of words = 02013**]


        **[txt. j01**]
0010J01 **<*3Geomorphology of India*0**>
0020J01 $^The eastern and the western periphery of the Ranchi plateau are parallel
0030J01 to this grain (\0NS) and the (?) Tertiary uplift of the Ranchi
0040J01 plateau may perhaps be inter-related with the sinking of the Bengal
0050J01 basin in the Cretaceous-Eocene period. ^The basement ridges
0060J01 of the Bengal basin, it may be noted, have *3northerly*0 trends
0070J01 comparable with the \0N-S trend of the sub-surface Monghyr-Saharsa
0080J01 and the Fyzabad ridge of the Ganga valley, beneath the Ganga alluvium
0090J01 (Sastri *(0et al.*) 1971, \0Fig. 8). ^In Manbhum the structural
0100J01 trends of ridges and the strike of folitation are broadly \0E-W,
0110J01 parallel to the Gondwana trend. ^It is suggested these ridge
0120J01 trend variations may perhaps be interpreted in terms of the \0Fig.
0130J01 10: they may be explained as due to an interference of the meridional
0140J01 and latitudinal controlling forces. $*<*3The planar topographies:*0*>
0150J01 $^In this connection some comments are made on the frequent
0160J01 occurrences of planar topographies, such as the 'pat' regions
0170J01 just referred to, the Ranchi plateau and the peneplains to the east
0180J01 of the plateau in Manbhum and Purulia. ^The series of water-falls
0190J01 and the peneplained topography on the scarp separating the two landscapes,
0200J01 the Ranchi and the Purulia, have been the most evident expressions
0210J01 of a relative uplift and perhaps also the breaking across of Subarnarekha
0220J01 and its tributaries through the Dalma Range. ^The raised
0230J01 part of the dismembered peneplain would be expected to_ be subjected
0240J01 to renewed erosion and be dissected in the new fluvial cycle.
0250J01 ^Two-storied valleys, slip-off and under-cut slopes, misfit
0260J01 rivers and such other features would prove the rejuvenation; these
0270J01 details are yet to_ be described. $^The extra-ordinary elevation
0280J01 of the Netarhat plateau, as pointed out above, may be due to a local
0290J01 extrusion of the Deccan Trap lavas that_ added to the height.
0300J01 ^The large number of water-falls on the plateau itself may be due to differential
0310J01 erosion of the basalt traps and the under-lying steep-dipping
0320J01 Precambrian gneisses and schists: the strong \0N-S trend even on
0330J01 the plateau as noted in the hair-pin bend of the Sankh, cannot be due
0340J01 primarily to the traps and must be ascribed to the fold trend of the
0350J01 schists. ^This structural control on the course of the Sankh River
0360J01 in particular, the large number of water-falls on the Netarhat plateau
0370J01 and the high average relief of the plateau of 100-129 \0m compared to
0380J01 a relief of only 60 \0m on the Ranchi Plateau, suggest a new fluvial
0390J01 activity (\0Fig. 14). $^The above picture is presented as a
0400J01 problem that_ requires to_ be checked up at many points for confirmation
0410J01 or rejection. ^The *3three-storied*0 structure
0420J01 in this region (\0fig. 8) leading around Netarhat to a 'roof' of
0430J01 topography in the border region of Bihar and Madhya Pradesh must
0440J01 have provided a steep slope.
0450J01 ^This combined with the high annual rainfall, which is in fact the highest
0460J01 in this part of India, both as regards the annual precipitation as
0470J01 well as that_ for July and January months; this has resulted in the
0480J01 formation of numerous large rivers all around to the north, south, east
0490J01 and south-east. ^The age of the evolution of this system of drainage
0500J01 was presumably dependent on (**=1) the Indian land-mass having
0510J01 reached the present latitudinal position and having acquired the present
0520J01 monsoonic climatic conditions; this was probably by the early tertiary
0530J01 (Radhakrishnamurthy *(0et al.*) 1967), and (**=2) the attainment of
0540J01 the present 'roof' position: this may be due presumably to a differential
0550J01 uplift, as discussed above. ^This area about a 100 x 100 \0sq. \0km
0560J01 portion of the 35-40 \0km thick crust might have been moved up by a vertical
0570J01 mantle disturbance, a magniatic or a thermal impact or to rotational
0580J01 uplift. ^The physiographic evolution of the 'roof' must have been
0590J01 helped by the geological structure already described and the corresponding
0600J01 lithological variations; details of these are, however, yet to_
0610J01 be found out. ^It seems probable (see above) that the strong \0N-S
0620J01 trend on the plateau is due to presence of steeply dipping schists of
0630J01 alternating soft and resistant lithologies, and the sharp westerly descent
0640J01 of the Sankh river to the west due to the windward slope to the west.
0650J01 ^Northerly trends have been equally preferred by the \0N.
0660J01 Koel, the Auranga \0etc. and the main south-flowing course of the
0670J01 Sankh. ^Major streams rising on the 'roof' do not flow to the
0680J01 east. ^The Subarnarekha and the \0S. Koel rivers rise on the
0690J01 Ranchi plateau; the \0S. Koel turns south at the Ranchi-Netarhat
0700J01 scarp the former flowing \0SE. $^Planar surfaces of significant
0710J01 extent may arise in several different ways \0e.g. (**=1) as a
0720J01 peneplain out of one fluvial cycle, (**=2) as extensive terraces around
0730J01 a river valley, (**=3) through erosion at different levels of a horizontally
0740J01 bedded geological formation as the Deccan Traps, (**=4)
0750J01 through differential erosion of a sub-horizontal formation as the limestone-sandstone
0760J01 lithology of the Vindhyans and (**=5) as a pediplain.
0770J01 $^A peneplain is a planar surface in equilibrium with the drainage on
0780J01 it: unless this equilibrium is established it is hazardous to_ stamp
0790J01 a country as a *3peneplain*0. ^Terraces are natural products of a
0800J01 stream in the early stages of its evolution with strong degrading power.
0810J01 ^They may be due to a rejuvenated stream activity, rejuvenated through
0820J01 uplift in the head-water region of the stream. ^Strong abnormal
0830J01 discordance with the geologic structures may imply terraces formed
0840J01 through uplift. ^The structures become guides to the river courses only
0850J01 when the long profile has come to_ acquire a comparatively gentle slope.
0860J01 $^The geology of a place varies primarily with the geological age;this
0870J01 controls to a large measure the lithology, the fold trend, the
0880J01 fold form, the trend of foliation, and the dips from point to point.
0890J01 ^A planar surface of erosion may level across different lithologies
0900J01 also (Biswas 1974). ^An illustration is provided on a small scale by
0910J01 the sandstone-shale-limestone association of the Kolhan series of rocks
0920J01 around Jagannathpur in Singhbhum. ^A succession of rolling wavy
0930J01 topography on the sandstones and the shales, an irregular rough topography
0940J01 on harder shales and lastly a low table-land of shale (calcareous)--
0950J01 limestone alternations can be directly correlated with a succession
0960J01 of (**=1) a *3dome-in-dome*0 structure in the sandstone and the shales,
0970J01 (**=2) *3homoclinal dips*0 in shales and (**=3) *3a terrce structure*0 (horizontal
0980J01 dips alterating with low dips) of the \0calc. shale-limestone
0990J01 country (fig.16). ^The rocks are of age about 1500 \0m.y. $^A
1000J01 tectonic control in producing two planar surfaces of two different levels
1010J01 is found in \0NW Karnataka (Mysore). ^The river Sharavati jumps
1020J01 down to the coastal plains forming the Jog water-falls (over 1600 \0ft)
1030J01 from a gneissic peneplain (?) to a lower laterite-capped surface.
1040J01 ^The primary lithology of the lower plain before the lateritisation
1050J01 is unknown although the top surface has been regarded (Radhakrishna,
1060J01 1964) as a Cretaceous peneplain and the lower as recently emerged from
1070J01 the sea. ^The age of the peneplain is acceptable as post-faulting
1080J01 and that_ of the faulting (downthrow to the west) as prelaterisation.
1090J01 ^The difference in level is conjecturable as due to a faulting: the west
1100J01 coast of India is proved to_ be under tension (Lee and Raleigh,
1110J01 1969). **[figure**] $^An example of interpretation of three successive planar
1120J01 surfaces in the Keonjhar region is of considerable interest (Rao
1130J01 and Vaidyanthan, 1974). ^Starting with an old surface in remnants
1140J01 three cycles of erosion have been invoked to_ explain development of the
1150J01 surfaces at 3000-2750 \0ft 2200-1950 \0ft. and 1750-1400 \0ft.
1151J01 ^The geological age
1160J01 of the rocks of the region as a whole is the same, namely, 2000-1600
1170J01 \0m.y. or the end of the Early Proterozoic. ^No geochronometric
1180J01 age data of the three planes being available the dating of the three erosion
1190J01 cycles could only be conjectured on the basis of indirect evidences.
1200J01 ^But the geologic and the climatic unity of the total area makes
1210J01 it rather difficult to_ accept different ages of evolution of the three
1220J01 planes. ^Further, it may be noted that the regional dips in the Bengal
1230J01 Basin, which lies to the \0ENE of the area and the dips quoted
1240J01 as evidence in support of the postulated ages, are to the \0SE, the
1250J01 palaeoslope of the basement in the said Bengal basin is also to the
1260J01 \0SE (Sen Gupta, 1966), the closeness of the "trap-wash" and the
1270J01 "granite-wash" described from the Keonjhar region to those recorded
1280J01 in the Bengal basin by Sen Gupta should point to the Rajmahal Hills
1290J01 and the surrounding gneisses as the source and on the Keonjhar region,
1300J01 the fault zones recorded on the basement ridges of the Bengal basin
1310J01 are strong contrasts with the absence of faults in the Keonjhar region
1320J01 as stated by Rao and Vaidyanadhan, and the trend of the present drainage
1330J01 in Keonjhar is to the \0SE and not towards the Bengal basin.
1340J01 ^It seems hence that the postulated ages of the three planar surfaces
1350J01 require more convincing evidences. ^Variation in geologic structure
1360J01 namely the fold details and in lithology, namely shaly, sandy,
1370J01 \0Fe-rich, \0Mn-rich or others is competent perhaps to_ account for
1380J01 the differences in level of the three surfaces. ^In this context the
1390J01 occurrence of two planar surfaces in the Kolhan basin already referred
1400J01 to provides an illustration. $^An interesting occurrence of three planar
1410J01 surfaces, each made up of laterite (dark brown with ferruginous to concretius
1420J01 yellow-brown ochreous porous mass having 43-45% \0Fe occur in
1430J01 Cuba at height levels of 600-500 \0m, 500-100 \0m and 100-60 \0m covering
1440J01 respectively 120, 130 and 200 \0km \0sq. areas. ^They have
1450J01 been proved to_ be due to weathering of a single peneplain within
1460J01 the same Upper Tertiary to Recent time made up of a single rock type
1470J01 namely, serpentinous peridotite (Linchent and Shirokova 1964).
1480J01 ^The upper level laterite grew insitu; the lower two grew also partly
1490J01 insitu but were aided partly by the addition of transported laterite derived
1500J01 from the top level. ^The growth process in each level followed
1510J01 identical chemical changes; each level of laterite has its own chemical,
1520J01 physical and mineralogical individuality. $^A well documented morphotectonic
1530J01 analysis of planar surfaces has been very instructive. ^It
1540J01 brings out the correlation between concordance in height of table-top hills
1550J01 at successive heights agreeing with surfaces of unconformities visible
1560J01 on outcrop. ^Such features as duricrusts overlain by sedimentary
1570J01 strata of younger age (as coral limestones overyling lateritised
1580J01 beds in Taiwan) are definite proofs of cycles of sedimentation (so
1590J01 of subsidence) followed by uplift and weathering and erosion. ^The
1600J01 following surfaces have been traced: $(a) ^Relicts of \0U. Cretaceous
1610J01 erosion surface, (1200-1500 \0ft) correlated with Cretaceous-
1620J01 Deccan Trap unconformity. $(b) ^Early Tertiary land surface-- extensive
1630J01 *3lateritised pediplain,*0 agrees with Palaeocene laterites on
1640J01 the peninsular India; $(c) ^Mid-tertiary surface-- affected by later
1650J01 erosional features. $(d) ^Late Tertiary surface-- areas of low relief.
1660J01 $(e) ^Wide pediplain covering a large part of Kutch landscape-- early
1670J01 Quaternary surface. $(f) ^Late Quaternary surface. $(g) ^Gulleys
1680J01 cut into Recent depositional plains, imply the latest uplift.
1690J01 $^The oldest planes occur surrounded progressively by the younger ones
1700J01 (Biswas, 1974); it has been demonstrated that these different surfaces
1710J01 "can be traced into wider areas not only of the peninsular India,
1720J01 but of all the southern continents" as claimed by King; he claims that
1730J01 "all the southern continents have experienced similar types of tectonic
1740J01 displacements occurring at closely synchronous epochs" (1962). ^The
1750J01 differential uplifts thus proved are believed to_ have taken place simultaneously
1760J01 with regional uplift of the Runn and other areas of Kutch
1770J01 from their negative reliefs into positive land-masses. $^This brings
1780J01 us to the question of the mechanics of these *3proved uplifts.*0
1790J01 ^The correspondence between India*'s evolution of landscape with that_
1800J01 of other southern continents, particularly in \0u. Cretaceous and later
1810J01 geologic times implies an world-wide mechanism (India was in *3northern
1820J01 latitudes*0 and not southern during this period); the local uplifts
1830J01 imply incidental subsidiary effect. ^It seems that *3rotational uplift,*0
1840J01 as advocated by Ma (1964) is the only competent mechanism to_
1850J01 explain the above facts. ^A recent study in India (Guha and Gosavi,
1860J01 1974) reports \0E-W tension on the coastal regions and compressional
1870J01 stress active on the continental part of India; it is *3conjectured*0
1880J01 that these are due to geothermal instability in the mantle.*#**[no.
        of words = 02016**]

        **[txt. j02**]
0010J02 **<FUNDAMENTALS OF PHOTOCHEMISTRY**> $^The initial act of absorption
0020J02 may promote a molecule to higher energy states *Mn, *Mn \0etc.,
0030J02 or to higher vibrational levels of the *Mn state in a time
0040J02 period *Me obeying Franck Condon principle. ^The electronic
0050J02 energy of *Mn, *Mn states or excess vibrational energy of *Mn
0060J02 state is quickly lost to the surroundings by a mechanism known
0070J02 as *3internal conversion (\0IC). ^The rate constant of internal
0080J02 conversion is *Me the same as vibrational frequencies. ^Once
0090J02 in the zero vibrational level of the first excited singlet
0100J02 state, the molecule may return to the ground state, in the absence
0110J02 of a photochemical reaction, by radiative *3flourescence emission
0120J02 *Me nonradiative *3internal conversion, *Me or partly radiative
0130J02 and partly nonradiative pathways as represented in the Jablonski
0140J02 diagram. ^Internal conversions from *Me have smaller rate
0150J02 constants *Mf or less as compared to the same processes in higher
0160J02 energy states because of large energy gap between the two. *3^*Intersystem
0170J02 crossing (\0ISC) involves nonradiative transition
0180J02 from singlet to triplet state, *Me generating *:3**:A which can then
0190J02 decay by radiative *3phosphorescence emission, *Me or by nonradiative
0200J02 reverse intersystem crossing, *Me processes. ^Rate
0210J02 constant for intersystem crossing should also be *Me but due to
0220J02 spin restriction factor, it varies from *Mff to *Mf.
0230J02 ^Both the above radiationless processes can effectively compete
0240J02 with fluorescence emission which can have a rate constant as high
0250J02 as *Mf. ^Again due to spin restrictions, phosphorescence
0260J02 emission from the triplet state to the singlet state is
0270J02 a slower process. ^Hence it appears as delayed emission when
0280J02 the exciting light is shut off. $^In the *Mn state,
0290J02 under special experimental conditions (high intensity flash excitation)
0300J02 the molecule may be promoted to upper triplet state *Mf
0310J02 by absorption of suitable radiation, *3triplet-triplet absorption
0320J02 *Me. ^Radiationless return to *Me rather than radiative
0330J02 return is predicted. ^Higher triplets can also be populated
0340J02 by intersystem crossing (\0ISC) from higher singlet states
0350J02 if rate constants are competitive for internal conversion and
0360J02 intersystem crosssing in the upper states. ^Thus, although direct
0370J02 absorption from ground singlet to triplet is forbidden by
0380J02 selection rules, it can be populated indirectly. $^Bimolecular
0390J02 reactions such as quenching, either by molecules of the
0400J02 same kind, *3self quenching, or by added substances, *3impurity
0410J02 quenching, inhibit emission because frequency of bimolecular
0420J02 collisions in gases as well as in solution, *Me can compete
0430J02 with fluorescence emission. ^Solvent quenching may involve other
0440J02 physical parameters as well, such as solute-solvent interactions.
0450J02 ^Since the solvent acts as the medium in which the solute
0460J02 molecules are bathed, solvent quenching may be classified under
0470J02 unimolecular processes and a clear distinction between it and
0480J02 internal conversion *Me is difficult. $^A very important
0490J02 bimolectular deactivation process is the *3electronic energy
0500J02 tranfer (\0ET). ^In this process, a molecule initially excited
0510J02 by absorption of radiation, transfers its excitation energy by
0520J02 nonradiative mechanism to another molecule which is transparent
0530J02 to this particular wavelength. ^The second molecule, thus
0540J02 excited can undergo various photophysical and photochemical processes
0550J02 according to its own characteristics. $^Under certain
0560J02 conditions, a few other processes may be initiated, such as **[table**]
0570J02 $^The processes *=3 and *=4 termed as *3E-type and *3P-type
0580J02 delayed emissions have emission spectra identical with that_
0590J02 of the normal fluorescence but with longer radiative lifetime.
0600J02 ^The long life is due to the involvement of the triplet state as
0610J02 an intermediate. ^Hence the short-lived direct fluorescence
0620J02 emission from the *Mn state is referred to as *3prompt fluorence.
0630J02 ^*E-type delayed fluorescence was called *Ya phosphorescence
0640J02 by Lewis in his early works. $^These photophysical
0650J02 processes often decide the photochemical behaviour of a
0660J02 molecule and reduce the quantum yield of a photochemical reaction
0670J02 to much less than unity. ^A molecule in the singlet state
0680J02 is a different chemical species from that_ in the triplet state
0690J02 and may initiate different chemistry. ^Therefore, for a complete
0700J02 understanding of a photochemical reaction, a clear knowledge of
0710J02 various photophysical processes, that_ is, how the absorbed quantum
0720J02 is partitioned into different pathways is essential. ^This account
0730J02 keeping of the absorbed quanta, so to_ say, may help modify a
0740J02 given chemical reaction if it is so desired. ^We shall discuss each
0750J02 of these processes one by one.
0760J02 $**<*35.2 RADIATIONLESS TRANSITIONS-- INERNAL CONVERSION AND INTERSYSTEM
0770J02 CROSSING**> $^A polyatomic molecule in condensed system
0780J02 when excited to a higher vibrational level of the first excited state,
0790J02 loses its excess vibrational energy to the surroundings in
0800J02 a time period *Me the time for a molecular vibration. ^This radiationless
0810J02 cascade of energy is known as *3internal conversion.
0820J02 ^Even if the excitation is to an energy state higher than
0830J02 *Mn, the molecule tumbles down quickly to the zero vibrational level
0831J02 of the first excited state *Mn, losing all its excess electronic and vibrational
0840J02 energy within *Mn. ^Due to large energy gaps, transition from
0850J02 *Mn to *Mn is not always probable by radiationless mechanism. ^Under
0860J02 these circumstances the molecule has two alternatives: (**=1) to_
0870J02 return to the ground state by fluorescence emission, or (**=2) to_
0880J02 cross over to the lowest triplet state nonradiatively. ^This
0890J02 nonradiative transfer from singlet excited to triplet state is
0900J02 known as *3intersystem crossing. ^In these radiationless processes,
0910J02 the environment acts as a heat sink for dissipation of extra
0920J02 energy as thermal energy. ^In a polyatomic molecule with
0930J02 \03N-6 modes of vibrations such loss in energy is observed even
0940J02 in the vapour phase at very low pressures where collision frequencies
0950J02 are likely to_ be less than the rates for radiationless
0960J02 conversion. ^It follows that nonradiative conversion is an *3intrinsic
0970J02 property of polyatomic molecules. $^Thus, there
0980J02 are two major types of radiationless or nonradiative transitions:
0990J02 (**=1) internal conversion, and (**=2) intersystem crossing. ^The
1000J02 *3internal conversion is so called because the nonradiative
1010J02 loss of energy occurs between electronic energy manifold of the
1020J02 same spin type: singlet-singlet or triplet-triplet, *Me or *Me.
1030J02 ^The *3intersystem crossing involves nonradiative energy loss
1040J02 between energy states of two different spin manifolds *Me or
1050J02 *Me. $^From kinetic considerations each can be further subdivided
1070J02 according to observed values of rate constants: *Mn, the rate
1080J02 constant for internal conversion and *Mn the rate constant for
1090J02 intersystem crossing. $*<*35.2.1 Theory of Radiationless
1100J02 Transitions*> $^Radiationless transition between two
1110J02 electronic states may be represented as occurring at the point of
1120J02 intersection of potential energy surfaces. ^The phenomenon is
1130J02 similar to the one encountered in predissociation sepctra of diatomic
1140J02 molecles. ^In an \0N-atomic molecule with \03N-6
1150J02 modes of vibration there will be \03N-6 polydimensional hypersurfaces
1160J02 describing the potential energy functions for each mode.
1170J02 ^There will be many points of crossing, or points of near-crossing
1180J02 amongst them. ^A crossing point is the point of equal
1190J02 energy for both the curves. ^The transfer occurs irreversibly
1200J02 at this *3isoenergetic point to the high vibrational
1210J02 level of the lower energy state and the excess vibrational energy
1220J02 rapidly cascades down the vibrational manifold. ^Thus, the radiationless
1230J02 conversion of energy involves *3two steps: (**=1) the vertical
1240J02 transfer of energy at the isoenergetic point from the zero-point
1250J02 level of higher electronic energy state to the high vibrational
1260J02 level of the lower electronic state, and (**=2) the rapid loss
1270J02 of excess vibrational energy after transfer. ^The first step
1280J02 is the rate determining step and is of main interest. ^The second
1290J02 is merely *3vibrational relaxation. $^Various theories have
1300J02 been proposed for *3horizontal transfer at the isoenergetic
1310J02 point. ^*Gouterman considered a condensed system and tried to_explain
1320J02 it in the same way as the radiative mechanism. ^In the
1330J02 radiative transfer, the two energy states are coupled by the photon
1340J02 or the radiation field. ^In the nonradiative transfer, the
1350J02 the coupling is brought about by the
1360J02 phonon field of the crystalline matrix. ^But this theory is
1370J02 inconsistent with the observation that internal conversion occurs
1380J02 also in individual polyatomic molecules such as benzene.
1390J02 ^In such cases the medium does not actively participate except as
1400J02 a heat sink. ^This was taken into consideration in theories proposed
1410J02 by Robinson and Frosch, and Siebrand and has been further
1420J02 imporoved by Bixon and Jortner for isolated molecules, but the
1430J02 subject is still imperfectly understood. $^In the theory of
1440J02 radiative transition, *3the dipole moment operator *Ym couples the
1450J02 two electronic energy states and the Franck-Condon overlap
1460J02 integral determines the *3vertical transfer probability *Mn between
1470J02 the vibronic wave functions of the two states. ^In the theory of
1480J02 nonradiative transition, the two states are coupled by an operator
1490J02 called the *3nuclear kinetic energy operator *Mn and the
1500J02 Franck-Condon overlap integral determines the probability of *3horizontal
1510J02 transfer between the potential functions of the two
1520J02 electronic states. ^The operator *Mn is effective on Born-Oppenheimer
1530J02 states only in which nuclear and electronic motions
1540J02 can be separated. ^Hence, if *Mn are wave functions of two
1550J02 combining states, the initial and the final, then under the perturbation
1560J02 *Mf the probability of energy transfer between these
1570J02 two states is: $^Probability **[formula**] where *Mn, *Mn
1580J02 and *Mn are the configuration spaces for electronic, vibrational
1590J02 and spin motions respectively. ^The perturbation acts on
1600J02 the electronic wave function only, which is the first term in the
1610J02 above expression. ^The last term is the spin integral. ^It is unity
1620J02 when the spin functions of the two states are the same. ^Otherwise it
1630J02 is zero but may have nonzero value under spin-orbit coupling interactions.
1640J02 ^The middle term defines the overlap criterion for vibrational
1650J02 wave functions of the two combining states and is the familiar
1660J02 *3Franck-Condon integral. ^A large overlap integral indicates
1670J02 a high transfer efficiency. ^A qualitative understanding of
1680J02 the concept can be obtained from the potential energy surfaces for
1690J02 a ground state *Mn and two upper electronic states *Mn and *Mnof
1700J02 a simple diatomic molecule (Figure 5.2). $^Energy difference
1710J02 between *Mn and *Mn is generally much larger than that_ between
1720J02 higher energy states *Mn, *Mn, *Mn, \0etc. ^Therefore zero-vibrational
1730J02 level of *Me state can overlap only with a high vibrational
1740J02 level of the ground energy state *Mn. ^In this diagram, *Mn
1750J02 and the Franck-Condon integral is **[foumula & figure**] $^The
1760J02 two curves are nearly parallel and they overlap near the equilibrium
1770J02 nuclear geometry where kinetic energy is large. ^On the other
1790J02 hand, the dispositions of \0PE sufraces of *Mn and *Mn states
1800J02 are such that the two curves intersect at a point *Me, *Me.
1810J02 ^At the point of intersection the lower curve is at the extreme position
1820J02 of vibrational oscillation where energy is all potential and
1830J02 the probability function is large. ^The overlap integral
1840J02 is **[formula**] $^Pictorially, the overlap integrals for the two
1850J02 cases can be represented as shown in the inset of Figure 5.2.
1860J02 ^Since only the overlap regions need be considered, by simple superposition
1870J02 principle, we find that *Mn has very poor overlap integral
1880J02 (Figure 5.2a) because the higher vibrational energy states
1890J02 of *Mn have low probability distribution function in the centre.
1900J02 ^Such a situation is likely to_ be obtained when the (o-o) energy
1910J02 gap between the two combining states is large. ^For *Me the
1920J02 two potential functions intersect (Figure 5.2b). ^The overlap
1930J02 is good mainly because the wave functions have large values at the
1940J02 extrema as expected from a classical description of harmonic oscillation.
1950J02 ^It follows that the larger the energy gap between *Mn
1960J02 and *Mn states, the smaller will be the overlap intergal and the
1970J02 smaller will be the transfer efficiency. ^Equation (5.20) thus
1980J02 predicts low probability of internal conversion between *Mn and *Mn
1990J02 states. $^Since the higher energy states are closer in
2000J02 energy, there is always a possibility of potential energy surfaces
2010J02 crossing at some point. ^Transfer occurs at the crossing points which
2020J02 are isoenergetic for the two combining states. ^The transfer
2030J02 is further facilitated by momentary freezing of the nuclear coordinates
2040J02 at the vibrational turning points. ^This is the rate
2050J02 determining step and must occur before the molecule starts oscillating,
2060J02 \0I.e. within *Me. ^The large Franck-Condon integral is not
2070J02 always the sole criterion for efficient cross-over from one energy
2080J02 state to the other. ^Symmetry restrictions and spin multiplicity
2090J02 rules impose their own inefficiency factors. $^The transfer
2100J02 is in general irreversible and is immediately followed by very
2110J02 fast vibrational relaxation phenomenon. ^The irreversibility
2120J02 of transfer is not due to any difference in the probabilities
2130J02 of forward *Me and the reverse *Me, nonradiative transfer
2140J02 but due to the difference in the densities of energy states in the
2150J02 initial and the final states.*#
        **[no. of words = 02010**]

        **[txt. j03**]
0010J03 **<*3What Starlight Tells Us About Stars**> $^The atom
0020J03 doesn*'4t remain in its excited state for long. ^It makes
0030J03 a transition to a lower energy level either spontaneously or
0040J03 upon being de-excited by some external disturbance. ^The
0050J03 energy difference is not lost, of course. ^It is emitted in
0060J03 the form of a photon whose frequency (colour) is proportional
0070J03 to its energy. ^Photons from the stars, therefore, can come in
0080J03 a whole range of frequencies, depending on the physical processes
0090J03 that_ produced them, or modified them, *8en route*9 to us.
0100J03 $^To the naked eye, one star looks much like another--
0110J03 some brighter than others. ^Colour differences, though
0120J03 noticeable, are almost imperceptible. ^But when the light from
0130J03 each star is passed through a prism (as Newton did with the Sun*'s
0140J03 light), its individuality becomes obvious. ^The light
0150J03 is dispersed into a band of various component frequencies known
0160J03 as the *3stellar spectrums. ^Further measurements on
0170J03 this spectrum tell us in what amounts the photons are received
0180J03 (the 'intensity') and in what colours. ^And each type of star
0190J03 has its own signature of photons. ^The instrument used for
0200J03 this is known as a spectrograph-- which is but a sophisticated
0210J03 descendant of Newton*'s primitive prism and screen.
0220J03 $*<*3More about spectra*> $^The spectrum of a typical
0230J03 star appears as a continuous band of colours, known as the
0240J03 *3continuous spectrum, on which are superimposed dark lines
0250J03 (see \0Fig. 6). ^The systems of dark lines were first studied by
0260J03 the German physicist Fraunhofer in 1814-15, and are known
0270J03 as the *3absorption spectrum of the star. ^Let us see how
0280J03 these two components of the spectrum occur. $^The
0290J03 continuous spectrum is produced when an ion 'de-ionises'. ^In
0300J03 the hot interior of the star, atoms are excited to such a degree
0310J03 that many lose one or more electrons to form ions. ^Now,
0320J03 when an excited atom de-excites, its electrons jump into configurations
0330J03 of lower energy and a photon is emitted. ^Similarly,
0340J03 the capture of a passing electron by an ion is also accompanied
0350J03 by the emission of a photon. $^These photons come in a whole
0360J03 range of frequencies which are so closely spaced that they cannot
0370J03 be resolved into lines by the spectrograph and hence appear
0380J03 as a continuous spectrum. $^As this stream of photons from the
0390J03 interior passes through the photosphere, certain photons are removed
0400J03 from the mainstream. ^These are just those that_ are absorbed
0410J03 by the atoms present in the photosphere. ^Their frequencies
0420J03 correspond precisely to the differences in the energy levels
0430J03 of these atoms. ^Of course, they are re-emitted when the atoms
0440J03 de-excite, but generally in a different direction (\0Fig. 4).
0450J03 ^The mainstream is thus depleted of photons of these frequencies.
0460J03 ^In a spectrograph this depletion shows up as relatively
0470J03 dark lines and superimposed on the brighter continuous spectrum.
0480J03 ^Hence the name 'absorption spectrum'. $^In the spectrum
0490J03 of some stars, galaxies, quasars and emission nebulae, there
0500J03 also appear a series of bright lines. ^These form the *3emission
0510J03 spectrum. ^These lines are a little more complicated
0520J03 to_ explain. ^In gaseous nebulae for example, it is believed that
0530J03 the lines are due to emissions from atoms which have been excited
0540J03 by the energy released in gravitational contraction. $^It
0550J03 has become known comparatively recently that stars emit in all regions
0560J03 of the electromagnetic spectrum. ^Much information about
0570J03 their structure can be had by studying the gamma rays, X-rays,
0580J03 ultraviolet and infrared radiation and radio waves coming from
0590J03 them. ^We will, however, not go into these topics and study
0600J03 only the message contained in the *3visual radiation from
0610J03 the stars. $^What would we like to_ know about stars? ^There
0620J03 is no limit to the greed of the curious: what are they made of
0630J03 (their composition)? ^How far are they from us (their distance)?
0640J03 ^How did they come to_ be (their origin and history)? ^What*'1s
0650J03 happening inside them? ^Are they moving? rotating? ^How big are
0660J03 they (size and mass)? ^Do they have planets? ^Is there a biochemistry
0670J03 taking place on the stars? Biology? any question that_
0680J03 we ask about the solar system and its planets is a valid scientific
0690J03 question about stars. $^Our present knowledge, however,
0700J03 is in a primitive stage, and we can only answer the first few
0710J03 of these queries, that_ too only tentatively, approximately.
0720J03 $*<3What are stars made of?*> $^We have seen that
0730J03 the atoms of a given element, when in gaseous form, produce a characteristic
0740J03 pattern of absorption and emission lines. ^The presence
0750J03 of lines characteristic of a certain element in the spectrum
0760J03 of a beam of light means that atoms of the element are
0770J03 present somewhere along the path taken by the light. ^The study
0780J03 of the absorption and emission spectra of a star can, therefore,
0790J03 lead to the identification of the elements present in
0800J03 its outer layer. $^The detailed nature of the spectrum also
0810J03 depends upon physical conditions like the temperature and pressure
0820J03 prevailing in the photosphere. ^For example, hydrogen,
0830J03 which is by far the most abundant element in all the stars,
0840J03 can produce absorption lines only in the atmosphere of the
0850J03 cooler stars, where it is present in the atomic state. ^In the
0860J03 atmospheres of very hot stars, however, it is completely ionised
0870J03 and can produce only a continuous spectrum. $^Atoms
0880J03 emit photons: more atoms will emit more photons. ^Therefore,
0890J03 by measuring the *3relative strength of absorption lines
0900J03 in the spectrum of a star, after making due allowance for the
0910J03 conditions prevailing in the photosphere, we can infer the
0920J03 relative *3abundances of the various chemical
0930J03 elements whose lines appear. $^It is found that in a typical
0940J03 star, hydrogen comprises between 50 to 80 per cent of its mass.
0950J03 ^Hydrogen and helium together constitute 96 to 99 per cent
0960J03 of the mass. (^The element helium was first discovered in the
0970J03 Sun, even before it was known on the Earth, by the presence of
0980J03 absorption lines in the solar spectrum which did not match
0990J03 those due to any known element on Earth.) ^Among the 4
1000J03 per cent or less of heavy elements, neon, oxygen, nitrogen, carbon,
1010J03 magnesium, argon, silicon, sulphur, iron and chlorine
1020J03 are amongst the most abundant in the photosphere. $^Does
1030J03 life exist around stars? ^Note that the existence of elements like
1040J03 carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen in stars means that
1050J03 some of the basic components of organic chemistry are present there.
1060J03 ^Complex organic molecules have recently been identified
1070J03 in the interstellar dust. ^However, the probability of
1080J03 life existing outside the solar system is still an open question.
1090J03 to_ answer it, it would be necessary to_ establish that
1100J03 sufficient conditions for life are present elsewhere in the
1110J03 universe. ^Research here on earth is well along the way of
1120J03 identifying just what these 'sufficient conditions' are.
1130J03 ^It will probably be much more difficult to_ confirm that a full
1140J03 set of such conditions is present around some star. $*<*3How
1150J03 hot are the stars?*> $^All hot bodies emit a certain kind
1160J03 of radiation known as 'black body' radiation. ^Readers should
1170J03 not be misled by the name, since this radiation is the cause
1180J03 of the 'red-hot' colour of a heated metal rod, and the 'white-hot'
1190J03 colour of an electric bulb when it is turned on.
1200J03 ^Black body radiation is really a combination of frequencies (colours),
1210J03 with each frequency carrying a characteristic amount of
1220J03 energy. ^The distribution of energy over each frequency depends
1230J03 only on the overall temperature of the emitter. ^In
1240J03 fact, the temperature of the emitter can be measured
1250J03 by finding out what frequency carries the maximum energy. ^This
1260J03 'peak frequency' is just proportional to the temperature--
1270J03 a fact which was discovered by Wien. $^Now, it is known
1280J03 that light in the continuous spectrum of stars approximately
1290J03 resembles the radiation coming from a black body. ^The
1300J03 resemblance is not complete, however, for, different layers of
1310J03 the stars are at different temperatures whereas a black
1320J03 body is supposed to_ be at the same temperature throughout its
1330J03 valume. ^Moreover, as the stellar radiation passes through
1340J03 the outer layers of the star, different wavelengths are absorbed
1350J03 in different amounts and the spectrum is distorted. ^In spite
1360J03 of these limitations, it is usually a satisfactory approximation
1370J03 to_ assume that the radiation emitted by a typical
1380J03 star is equivalent to radiation from a black body with temperature
1390J03 equal to that_ of the star*'s photospheric layers.
1400J03 $^When starlight is analysed through a spectrograph, and
1410J03 the peak frequency is measured, the temperature of the star
1420J03 can immediately be obtained from Wien*'s law. ^For the Sun,
1430J03 the maximum emission occurs in the blue to blue-green region
1440J03 which corresponds to about 6000*@ \0K. ^This value is, of course,
1450J03 indicative of the temperature of the surface layers of the Sun.
1460J03 ^The temperature at the centre of the Sun, which has to_
1470J03 be established using other methods, is expected to_ be about
1480J03 13 million degrees Kelvin. $*<*3How do stars move?*>
1490J03 $^The reader is no doubt familiar with the change in the pitch of a
1500J03 car horn as it speeds past him. ^While it is approaching him,
1510J03 the horn blast sounds higher. ^As the car recedes, the sound is
1520J03 lower. ^A stationary car will present a pitch somewhere in between.
1530J03 $^This change in frequency due to the movement of the source is common
1540J03 to all wave phenomena and is known as the 'Doppler shift' (after
1550J03 Christian Doppler, 1803-1853). ^Since light is a wave phenomenon,
1560J03 Doppler shifting is also to_ be expected when the light source
1570J03 is moving. ^When the velocity \0V of the source relative to
1580J03 the observer is small compared to the speed \0C of light, the change
1590J03 in frequency compared is proportional to \0V/\0C. $^As
1600J03 in the case of sound, the frequency of light is decreased ('redshifted,
1601J03 that_ is, shifted towards the red end of the spectrum) when
1610J03 the source recedes. ^If the source is approaching, the light
1620J03 is 'blueshifted' (see \0Fig. 5). $^Once the elements present
1630J03 in a star have been identified by studying the relative positions
1640J03 of the lines in the steller spectrum, and the structure
1650J03 of these lines, the redshift (blueshift) can then be measured and
1660J03 the velocity relative to us (the obsever) of the star can be directly
1670J03 obtained. ^In this way, the radial velocities of
1680J03 many stars with respect to us have been obtained.
1690J03 ^The star Sirius, which is the brightest star in the night sky
1700J03 for example, is found to_ be moving towards us at
1710J03 the rate of 8 \0km/\0sec. ^The transverse motion of a star,
1720J03 that_ is, its motion perpendicular to the line of sight,
1730J03 cannot be obtained using the Doppler effect. ^A so-called
1740J03 "transverse Doppler effect" does exist but it is small
1750J03 unless \0*3V is an appreciable franction of *3\0C. ^For
1760J03 stars, this is not the case. $*<*3Do stars
1770J03 rotate?*> $^It was discovered by Galileo by observing
1780J03 the apparent motion of sun-spots, that the Sun rotates on
1790J03 its axis from west to east. ^The Sun goes round once every
1800J03 24 days and 16 hours at its equator. ^It is not possible
1810J03 to_ determine the rate of rotation of distant stars by
1820J03 observing some fiducial marks on them because they present
1830J03 point images even in the biggest telescopes. ^It is once
1840J03 again necessary to_ invoke the Doppler effect in order
1850J03 to_ detect any rotation. ^If a star is rotating, and
1860J03 the axis of rotation is not directed exactly towards us,
1870J03 one part of its surface will be moving away from us and
1880J03 the diametrically opposite part will be moving towards us.
1890J03 ^Because of the Dopper effect, the light coming from the
1900J03 former will be redshifted and that_ coming from the
1910J03 latter will be blueshifted. ^In a point-like image, it
1920J03 is not possible to_
1930J03 distinguish between light coming from different portions
1940J03 of the stellar surface, but the effect of rotation
1950J03 is to_ broaden every spectral line. ^The amount of
1960J03 line broadening can be measured and the rate of rotation
1970J03 of the star can be estimated. $*<*3How far to a star?*>.
1980J03 $^Much information about the properties of a star
1990J03 can be had by measuring the amount of light received from it on
2000J03 the Earth, and studying its variation with time. ^The
2010J03 apparent brightness of a star cannot, of course, tell
2020J03 us anything directly.*#
        **[no. of words = 02007**]

        **[txt. j04**]
0010J04 **<*3Change in chromosome concept**> $*<*3Introduction*>
0020J04 $^The chromosome in the prokaryotic system is usually referred
0030J04 to as the genophore (Ris, 1971) where the structure is merely
0040J04 a \0DNA molecule. ^The absence of a nuclear membrane,
0050J04 chromosomal histone and a mitotic mechanism for separation,
0060J04 the presence of a single replicon and the mode of genetic
0070J04 regulation, differentiate prokaryotes from eukaryotes,
0080J04 in addition to mitochondria, chloroplasts and other such cell
0090J04 organelles which are essential for cell differentiation in
0100J04 eukaryota. ^The mode through which the eukaryotic cells,
0110J04 with their chromosomes, have evolved, is much debated since
0120J04 fossil evidences of the intermediate steps are rare. ^Despite
0130J04 the lack of such evidences, the unquestionable relationship
0140J04 between these two major forms of life is indicated by
0150J04 the universal applicability of the genetic code. ^The present
0160J04 day prokaryotes have a long antecedent period of evolution--
0170J04 nearly three billions of years-- throghout which they
0180J04 have maintained the primitive cell type even after the
0190J04 evolution of eukaryotic system. $^The evolution of the
0200J04 complexity of chromosome mechanism in eukaryotes has been
0210J04 associated, as the evidences reveal, with the emergence of a
0220J04 dynamic property of the chromosomes exerting control on vital
0230J04 activities of all organelles responsible for body differentiation
0240J04 and metabolism. ^An integration of the activities
0250J04 for the functioning of the cells, *8vis-a-vis*9 the
0260J04 organ as a whole, has evidently been achieved. ^In order to_
0270J04 visualize the origin of such a dynamic chromosomal control,
0280J04 it would be preferable initially to_ deal with the genesis
0290J04 and nature of semi-autonomy of these important organelles, followed
0300J04 by the structural and behavioural complexity of the chromosomes.
0310J04 $*<*32. Dynamic control of cell organelles and
0320J04 their origin*> $^The presence of self-replicating \0DNA in the
0330J04 chloroplastids and mitochondria (Swift 1965a), the two essential
0331J04 organelles, is well established. ^The possibility of origin of this \0DNA
0340J04 from a single prokaryotic species (Klein and Cronquist
0350J04 1967; Stanier 1970; Raff and Mahler 1972; vide Taylor 1976)
0360J04 or from prokaryotic endosymbionts has been suggested (Sagan 1967;
0370J04 Margulis 1970, 1976). ^A similar endosymbiotic origin of
0380J04 microtubules, centriole and flagella has been visualized (vide
0390J04 Reinert and Ursprung 1971). ^Overwhelming evidences are
0400J04 available in favour of origin from prokaryotic symbionts (Mereschkowsky
0410J04 1905; Ris and Plaut 1962; Echlin 1966; Schnepf 1966;
0420J04 vide De Duve and Baudihin 1966; Edelman *(0et al*) 1967; Roodyn
0430J04 and Wilkie 1968; \0cf. Stubbe 1971; Wilkie 1973; Evstigneev
0440J04 1975; Buclow 1976, Hanson 1976) as indicated in the nature
0450J04 of the genetic material, reproduction, and some of the proteins
0460J04 and protein synthesizing systems (Kuntzel 1969; Schnepf
0470J04 and Brown 1971). ^The \0DNAs of both the organelles are double
0480J04 stranded, circular and their replicating systems are
0490J04 similar to those of bacteria or blue-green algae (Remsen *(0et
0500J04 al*) 1968; Schnepf and Brown 1971; Bennett and Radcliffe
0510J04 1975). ^Lately, it has been claimed (Lopez Perez and Turner
0520J04 1975), on the basis of sedimentation velocity expriments in
0530J04 *3Aspergillus nidulans, that a small amount of mitochondrial
0540J04 \0DNA is in the covalently closed circular form, the rest
0550J04 being open circular or linear. ^For chloroplastid \0DNA, in
0560J04 addition to the significant data of its cyanophycean origin,
0570J04 analogy has been drawn between the grana and stacking of photosynthetic
0580J04 lamellae of some bacteria like *3Ectothiorhodophora
0590J04 mobilis (Remsen 1968). ^The difference in structure of chloroplastid
0600J04 ribosomes from those of Enterobacteriaceae has
0610J04 been clearly indicated (Odintsova and Yurina 1975). ^Similarly
0620J04 it is observed between the \070s ribosomes and their subunits
0630J04 of prokaryotes, chloroplastids and mitochondria which
0640J04 are different from the \080s ribosomes of eukaryotic cytoplasm
0650J04 (Stutz and Noll 1976; Hoober and Blobel 1969; Schnepf and
0660J04 brown 1971). ^The former have nearly identical
0670J04 sedimentation rates. ^Excellent reviews of their similarity
0680J04 with the prokaryotes and evidences of their origin
0690J04 have been published (Margulis 1968, 1976; Reinert and
0700J04 Ursprung 1971). ^It is not unlikely that the genetic
0710J04 systems of mitochondria and chloroplastids have originated
0720J04 from free-living prokaryotes and a process of endosymbiosis might
0730J04 have been involved. ^During endosymbiosis, the
0740J04 larger amoeboid or flagellated forms of cells were possibly
0750J04 involved initially in parasitism, evolving towards this
0760J04 specialized relationship (Smith (Et al*) 1969; Clawes
0770J04 1971) and blue-green algae and anaerobic bacteria
0780J04 might have been injected into amoeboid protoplasts.
0790J04 ^This relationship permitted the cells to_ utilize solar energy
0800J04 and to_ carry on photosynthesis along with other mechanisms
0810J04 of nutrition. ^Though this mode of origin appears
0820J04 to_ be plausible, the organisms involved are not yet precisely
0830J04 known. $*<*32.1. Symbiotic origin and semi-autonomy*>
0840J04 $^There has been a considerable loss of autonomy
0850J04 in the evolution of these organelles in course of their origin
0860J04 from prokaryotic symbionts. ^The dynamic control of
0870J04 chromosomes affecting their independence has been demonstrated
0880J04 (Bogorad 1975), which has reduced them to a semi-autonomous state.
0890J04 ^Significant amount of the genetic information is
0900J04 supplied by the chromosome. ^The exact interaction between
0910J04 the nuclear and their own \0DNA products is however
0920J04 yet to_ be worked out. ^In this respect, mitochondria have
0930J04 a lesser autonomy than the chloroplastids (Wilkie 1973).
0940J04 ^Biochemically, a mitochondrion is deeply integrated in the cell
0950J04 structure (Carter 1975). ^Its own fabric, outer envelope
0960J04 as well as several enzymatically soluble active proteins are
0970J04 synthesized at extra mitochondrial sites under genetic
0980J04 control of chromosome (Baxter 1971). ^*Saccone and Quagliariello
0990J04 (1975) have reviewed the evidences of co-ordination
1000J04 between cytoplasm and mitochondria in protein synthesis. ^Mitochondrial
1010J04 genome can undergo recombination but the nucleus
1020J04 exerts a profound influence on transmission, as noted in
1030J04 *3Xenopus, *3Neurospora, yeast, human and even man-mouse
1040J04 hybrid systems (Wilkie 1973). ^Genetic autonomy of
1050J04 mitochondria is extremely restricted, and in the animal system
1060J04 it is roughly confined to a \0DNA molecule of 30 genes as
1070J04 calculated on the basis of their protein synthesizing capacity
1080J04 (Kislev and Eisenstadt 1972). ^Reciprocal transfer
1090J04 experiments in *3Paramecium aurelia have also indicated a
1100J04 minor control of mitochondrial genome (Beale and Knowles 1976).
1110J04 ^In *3Saccharomyces cerevisieae, \0ATPase respiratory
1120J04 enzymes and several phenotypic expressions have been shown
1130J04 to_ be under nuclear control (Trembath *(0et al*) 1975; Tzagoloff
1140J04 *(0et al*) 1975). $^On the other hand, plastids
1150J04 enjoy a considerable degree of freedom from nuclear control.
1160J04 ^The genetic information in the circular chloroplast \0DNA
1170J04 *3Euglena has a coding capacity of nearly 300 genes
1180J04 specifying polypeptides of average 20,000 \0mol. \0wt. (Wilkie
1190J04 1973). ^Plastid ribosomes are possibly coded by their
1200J04 own \0DNA, but the chromosomal genes affect significantly
1210J04 the biosynthetic pathways of chlorophyll and carotenoids.
1220J04 ^In *3Chlamydomonas, deficiencies of different photosynthetic
1230J04 enzymes are due to nuclear gene mutations and it
1240J04 is likely that \0m-RNA for pigment synthesis may migrate
1250J04 from nucleus to cytoplasm (Walles 1971). ^*Bogorad *(0et
1260J04 al*) (1975) have demonstrated a dual control of three genes for
1270J04 chloroplastids, two being located in the nucleus and one in the
1280J04 chloroplastid itself. ^Such a control is not unexpected
1290J04 in view of their synchronous behaviour, including their
1300J04 separation during cell and nuclear divisions. $*<*32.2.
1310J04 Prokaryotic origin*> $^*Mahler and Raff (1975) have suggested
1320J04 a nonsymbiotic plasmid origin of mitochondria.
1330J04 ^*Cavalier Smith (1975) has reviewed the concept of origin
1340J04 from a single prokaryotic species. ^He has suggested the
1350J04 evolution of the entire eukaryotic system, including the
1360J04 nuclei, from a single-celled facultative, phototropic, non-nitrogen
1370J04 fixing blue-green alga through the mechanism of endocytosis.
1380J04 ^The origin of mitochondria, chloroplastids and nuclei
1390J04 and even chromosomes has been assumed through cell
1400J04 compartmentation and fusion of \0DNA associated thylakoids
1401J04 wherever necessary. ^The very large size of some blue-green
1410J04 algae (Fogg *(0et al*) 1973) has been cited as an evidence
1420J04 of this possibility. ^In this theory, the origin of
1430J04 pole to pole spindle microtubules (Oakley and Dodge 1974; Picket-Heaps
1440J04 1969, 1974), the only universal component of the
1450J04 modern spindles, has been explained. Robertson*'s
1460J04 (1964) suggestion of the origin of the genetic components
1470J04 of plastids and mitochondria from a portion of the cell
1480J04 with satellite \0DNA is relevant in this regard. ^This
1490J04 theory of Cavalier-Smith (1975), despite its rationality
1500J04 in providing a suitable model for the origin of the nucleus,
1510J04 is yet to_ be substantiated from concrete evidences.
1520J04 $^In any case, whatever the exact mechanism
1530J04 through which chromosomes have evolved from prokaryotic
1540J04 system or systems, the overall chromosomal control conferring
1550J04 different degrees of semi-autonomy to cell organelles
1560J04 is unquestionable. ^It may even be posssible in
1570J04 the near future to_ obtain mitochondria and chloroplastids
1580J04 in culture, with vital informational genes being
1590J04 supplied by the chromosomes, and others by the organelles
1600J04 themselvess. $*<*32.3. Nuclear membrane in chromosomal control*>
1610J04 $^The origin of the nucleus having a nuclear membrane
1620J04 with clear demarcation between areas separating the master
1630J04 templates of chromosomal \0DNA from the cytoplasm,
1640J04 susceptible to direct stress and strain of intra and extracellular
1650J04 environment, was achieved in different stages. ^Such
1660J04 an inermediate form may possibly have a structure analogous
1670J04 to that_ of the 'central body' of Cyanophyceae where the differentiated
1680J04 central area with the genetic material is distinct
1690J04 from the area with protractile granules though
1700J04 without a typical nuclear membracne. ^The formation of nuclear
1710J04 envelope is then a short step in evolution. ^Several
1720J04 lower forms of eukaryota, though having a nuclear membrane,
1730J04 yet do not show typical mitosis as reflected
1740J04 in the absence of centrioles, equatorial plate and spindle
1750J04 and in the distribution of chromatin throughout the cell
1760J04 (\0e.g. certain fungi, \0cf. Heath 1974). ^They do not
1770J04 necessarily represent degeneracies but rather an offshoot
1780J04 from the main life where sexuality in the true sense
1790J04 did not develop (Dowben 1971). $^The nuclear membrane
1800J04 has an important role in the dynamic and integrating control
1810J04 of chromosomes on cell organelles and metabolism. ^It
1820J04 serves the function of delimitation and also is an active
1830J04 intermediary in the transfer of gene products, the gene-controlled
1840J04 reactions, in the perpetuation and formation of mitochondria,
1850J04 chloroplastids, endoplasmic reticulum and other organelles
1860J04 as seen in several organisms (Kaufman and Gay 1958; Bell
1870J04 and Muhlethaler 1964; Frank and Sheer 1974; vide Kasper 1974; Agutter
1880J04 *(0et al*) 1976). ^On the basis of investigations
1890J04 on the banding patterns of chromosomes, Chiarelli (1974)claimed
1891J04 that in eukaryotic system, chromosome filaments remain
1900J04 attached to the annuli of the nuclear envelope. ^The importance
1910J04 of the membrane in chromosome movement (Kubai
1920J04 1975) and in transport of metabolites in animal cells
1930J04 has also been elucidated (Berlin and Oliver 1975; vide
1940J04 Mason 1972). ^Further, a relationship has been claimed
1950J04 between chromosome breakage and association with nuclear
1960J04 membrane (Vig 1975). ^In comparison, the prokaryotic
1970J04 membrane system is less understood though the
1980J04 association of genophore with termination and initiation
1990J04 points of attachment on the cell membrane has been shown
2000J04 (vide Knempel 1970). $^<*32.4. Origin of chromosomal
2010J04 control*> $^The chromosomal control of cell organelles
2020J04 being established, the next step is to_ explore the mechanism
2030J04 through which such a dynamic control has evolved.
2040J04 ^Information as presented above shows that the organelles
2050J04 originated as independent units, but they had to_
2060J04 sacrifice a considerable degree of independence, including
2070J04 even their genetic units of control, to the host
2080J04 chromosome during the course of evolution. ^Evidences
2090J04 of such transfer of genetic material from precursors
2100J04 of mitochondria and plastids to the chromosome are difficult
2110J04 to_ obtain. ^But the possibility of such a tranfer
2120J04 can be visualized from the analogy of the established
2130J04 evidence of prokaryotic gene transfer to eukaryotic chromosome
2140J04 during malignant transformation. ^The incorporation
2150J04 of vital genome in the chromosomes of
2160J04 the mammalian transforming cell
2170J04 lines is well known (vide Blangy *(0et al*) 1974; Gross
2180J04 1974; vide Grundmann 1974; Zhdanov 1975). ^On the basis
2190J04 of these data, Sharma (1976) had suggested that, in the
2200J04 course of evolution from prokaryotic to eukaryotic system,
2210J04 certain parts of the genome of mitochondrial or plastid
2220J04 precursors were transferred to the chromosome. ^Such
2230J04 a transfer involved likely some of the vital controlling
2240J04 genes of the cell organelles. ^This shifting of the controlling
2250J04 genes to the chromosomes proved to_ be of advantage
2260J04 to the organism as it ensured harmony and synchrony
2270J04 of nuclear and extra nuclear systems. ^This advantage,
2280J04 leading to a congenial nucleocytoplasmic interaction,
2290J04 aided such an adaptive system to_ be favoured in nature
2300J04 and to_ be established with the progress of
2310J04 evolution. ^Occasional molecular hybridization between
2320J04 nuclear and mitochondrial \0DNA, as initially reported
2330J04 by DuBuy and Riley (1967), may be due to the
2340J04 presence of some similar molecules or \0DNA
2350J04 repeats, though unusual, originating in mitochondrial precursors
2360J04 prior to their partial transfer to chromosomes.
2370J04 $<*33. Structural differentiation of chromosome--
2380J04 its evolution*> $^The chromosome structure of eukaryotes,
2390J04 with its vast complexity, has evolved possibly
2400J04 through different steps from a simple genophore (Sharma
2410J04 1969).*#
        **[no. of words = 02021**]

        **[txt. j05**]
0010J05 **<*3ADAPTATIONS TO OSMOTIC STRESS IN THE MARINE TELEOST,
0020J05 PERIOPHTHALMUS DIPUS BLEEKER *=2. CHANGES IN GLYCOGEN AND FAT
0030J05 LEVELS OF TISSUES*0**> $*<*3INTRODUCTION*0*> $^In
0040J05 most aquatic media salinity fluctuations are of considerable
0050J05 importance as they pose several osmotic problems
0060J05 to the inhabitants, which solve them in different ways.
0070J05 ^Fishes, especially the teleostei, provide an excellent experimental
0080J05 material for osmotic studies as their checquered
0090J05 phylogeny, involving a series of transmigrations between
0100J05 fresh and salt waters, have exposed them to varying
0110J05 osmotic situations, to which they could adapt themselves
0120J05 successfully (Parvatheswararao, 1970). ^Immediate response
0130J05 to sudden change in salinity may lead to over
0140J05 or undershoots in performance. ^They may involve changes
0150J05 in metabolic rate, activity, body volume, or osmoconcentrations
0160J05 of body fluids. ^Moreover, acclimation to
0170J05 different salinities not only affects the rate of metabolism
0180J05 but its efficiency (Kinne, 1962). $^Going through
0190J05 literature it seems that metabolic aspects (especially
0200J05 the energy cost) of osmo and ionoregulation have received
0210J05 a little attention (Bashmohideen & Parvatheswararao, 1972,
0220J05 Venkatachari, 1974). ^The only studies in this direction are
0230J05 those on *3Fundulus heteroclitus*0* (Pettengill & Copeland,
0240J05 1948); the starry flounder *3Platichthys stellatus*0 (Hickman,
0250J05 1959), the pearlspot, *3Etroplus maculatus*0 (Sarojinidevi
0260J05 1960; Parvatheswararao, 1965, 1967, 1970) and
0270J05 the cichlid fish, *3Tilapia mossambica*0* (Bashmohideen &
0280J05 Parvatheswararao, 1972; Venkatachari, 1974). ^These studies
0290J05 are in agreement about metabolic involvement in osmoregulation
0300J05 and suggest different purposes of utilization
0310J05 of metabolic energy, such as increased locomotor activity
0320J05 arising out of the animals tendency to_ escape from
0330J05 the transport in more saline media, and the increased
0340J05 demands for osmotic work in the stress media.
0350J05 $^With a view to_ understand the metabolic involvement in
0360J05 osmotic stress, the present investigation was undertaken,
0370J05 using the mudskipper, *3Periophthalmus dipus.*0 ^The present
0380J05 paper reports the variations in the tissue glycogen
0390J05 and fat levels on salinity adapatation.
0400J05 $*<*3MATERIALS AND METHODS*0*> $^Specimens of *3Periophthalmus
0410J05 dipus*0 were collected from the muddy shores of
0420J05 Sikka, about 28 \0km from Jamnagar of Saurashtra during
0430J05 ebb tides, and maintained in the laboratory aquaria containing
0440J05 sea water for a couple of days. ^They were
0450J05 fed with frog muscles and dried prawn powder on
0460J05 alternate days. ^After thus adapting to laboratory conditions,
0470J05 the fishes were separately acclimated to
0480J05 full sea water (\0SW), 90%, 70%, 50%, 30%, and 10% sea
0490J05 water and 100% fresh water (\0FW). ^The batch of fish
0500J05 maintained in full sea water under otherwise similar
0510J05 conditions served as control. ^The temperature was
0520J05 maintained between 27-28*@ \0C. ^The water in aquaria
0530J05 was constantly aerated and changed every 3 days with a fresh
0540J05 medium of approximate **[sic**] same salinity. ^Specimens
0550J05 12-16 \0cm in total length and weighing from 20-24
0560J05 \0g were used for experiments and analyses. ^After
0570J05 acclimating to the respective concentrations of sea
0580J05 water for 15 days, they were sacrificed for the tests.
0590J05 ^They were not fed one day prior to sacrifice.
0600J05 ^Tissues such as gill, heart, liver, kidney, red muscle
0610J05 and white muscle were isolated and analysed.
0620J05 $^The estimation of glycogen was carried out by the
0630J05 method of Seifter *(0et al.*) (1949) using anthron as a colour
0640J05 reagent, on spectronic-20 colorimeter. ^The fresh
0650J05 tissues, weighing about 0.5-1.0 \0g were used for fat
0660J05 extration. ^The fat extraction was carried out in Soxhlet
0670J05 apparatus, using petroleum ether-alcohol (3:1) solution
0680J05 for about 8 \0h. $*<*3RESULTS*0*> $(a) *3Glycogen:*0
0690J05 ^The results of the quantitative estimation of
0700J05 glycogen content of different tissues, on acclimation
0710J05 to different salinities, are given in Table 1. ^A
0720J05 scrutiny of the values reveals that white muscle shows
0730J05 an increasing trend in glycogen values when exposed to
0740J05 90%, 70% and 50% (\0SW), whereas in the same concentrations
0750J05 of sea water, the glycogen content decreases in
0760J05 the case of the red muscle. ^Further, the red muscle
0770J05 shows an increase in glycogen content on exposure
0780J05 to lower salinity (from 30% \0SW to \0FW. ^There was
0790J05 considerable variation in glycogen content of the gill
0800J05 and the liver. ^Both these tissues show an increase
0810J05 in glycogen content, on exposure to all the salinities
0820J05 tested, compared with the control. ^In case of
0830J05 gill, the glycogen content is very high in 30% and 10%
0840J05 \0SW, whereas in the liver it is very high on exposure to 50%, 30% and
0841J05 10% \0SW. ^The heart shows decrease in glycogen level
0850J05 in all the grades of \0SW. ^On the other hand,
0860J05 kidney shows decrease in its glycogen content in
0870J05 90% and 30% \0SW. ^But there is an increase in glycogen
0880J05 level of the kidney on exposure to 70%, 50%, 10%
0890J05 \0SW and \0FW. $(b) *3Fat:*0 ^The fat content of
0900J05 different tissues (Table 2) indicated higher fat level in the liver
0910J05 (524.102 \0mg/g), heart (102.192 \0mg/g), and white muscle (96.432 \0mg/g),
0920J05 than in the control. ^The level of fat shows an increase in most
0921J05 of the tissues on acclimatation
0930J05 to 90% \0SW except heart which shows decrease in its fat
0940J05 content. ^In 70% and 50% \0SW the white muscle, red muscle
0950J05 and heart indicate a decline in fat level whereas in
0960J05 the gill it increases. ^The liver and the kidney record
0970J05 an increase in this constituent in 70% \0SW but on exposure
0980J05 to 50% \0SW, a decline is discernible. ^In still lower
0990J05 salinities (from 30% \0SW to \0FW,) the fat content
1000J05 of the white muscle, red muscle (except in 30% \0SW), the heart and
1010J05 the kidney decreases whereas in the gill and liver its level increases.
1020J05 $*<*3DISCUSSION*0*> $^Salinity is an important
1030J05 ecological variable in the marine and esturine habitats.
1040J05 ^Our information is still incomplete regarding the nature
1050J05 of adaptations to osmotic stress in the case of the marine
1060J05 teleosts. ^A majority of the euryhaline fishes can
1061J05 tolerate salinity fluctuations upto a range of 10 to 15%,
1070J05 but only a few can withstand salinity changes ranging
1080J05 from fresh water to sea water (Parvatheswararao, 1970).
1090J05 ^In the present investigation, \0*3P. dipus,*0 revealed
1100J05 that it can withstand a very wide range of salinity ranging
1110J05 from sea water to fresh water. ^It survives more
1120J05 than six months in fresh water. $^The change in the
1130J05 salinity of the medium normally affects the total
1140J05 osmoconcentration and ionic composition of the body fluids
1150J05 and ultimately to composition of organs too.
1160J05 ^From overall observations on glycogen and fat contents of
1170J05 different tissues in \0*3P. dipus*0 on adaptation to various
1180J05 salinities, revealed that in 90% \0SW to 50% \0SW
1190J05 the red muscle showed depletion in its glycogen content
1200J05 whereas the glycogen increased in white muscle and
1210J05 liver. ^On the other hand, in low salinity media (from
1220J05 30% \0SW to \0FW) the glycogen content decreased in
1230J05 white and increased in red muscles. ^This indicates that
1240J05 red and white muscles alternately supplied glycogen
1250J05 for energy contribution towards osmotic adaptations.
1260J05 ^Significant level of energy contribution by muscle and
1270J05 liver fat was seen in 50% \0SW which is indicative of
1280J05 high osmotic gradient in that_ salinity media. ^Similarly
1290J05 significant energy contribution by muscle glycogen
1300J05 was observed in 100% \0FW. ^This shows that 50%
1310J05 \0SW and \0FW media apparently behaved as 'stress media'
1320J05 requiring more energy for osmotic work. $^It
1330J05 is interesting to_ note that gill showed increase in
1340J05 its glycogen and fat contents in mostly all the salinity
1350J05 media. ^The kidney showed depletion in its fat content
1360J05 on adaptation to 50% \0SW to absolute \0FW media.
1370J05 ^This indicates that kidney is deeply involved
1380J05 in osmoregulatory function in these salinity media. ^The
1390J05 response of the heart to salinty variations was interesting;
1400J05 the glycogen as well as fat decreased in all
1410J05 the concentrations of sea water and in fresh water. ^This
1420J05 suggests that functional aspects of the heart may
1430J05 be modified upon salinity acclimation and that respiratory
1440J05 and circultory adjustment may occur. $^It
1450J05 is seen from Tables 1 & 2 that there was low glycogen and fat
1460J05 or glycogen/ fat utilization by fish in 90% and 30% \0SW.
1470J05 ^This explains that these media functioned as
1480J05 'facilitating media' for \0*3P. dipus*0 towards adaptation to
1490J05 the next lower salinity media. ^Thus, acclimation to
1500J05 90% and 30% \0SW facilitated subsequent acclimation to lower
1510J05 salinities with less energy cost. $**<*3DIURNAL
1520J05 VARIATIONS IN PHYSICO-CHEMICAL FACTORS AND PHYTOPLANKTON
1530J05 PIGMENTS AT MALAD CREEK, BOMBAY*0**> $^*Malad creek
1540J05 (72*@ 46*'5-72*@ 50*'5 \0N and 19*@ 6*'5-19*@ 11*'5 \0E) is
1550J05 a shallow and sheltered water body with its opening lying between
1560J05 south-eastern extremity of the high Madh island and the
1570J05 Shoal ground extending south-westward from Versova island.
1580J05 ^*Versova is an important fishing village, situated at a distance
1590J05 of 24 \0km in the north of Bombay. ^The creek extends
1600J05 about 1.5 \0m from the open sea. ^The depth of creek from
1610J05 in **[sic**] entrance to north of Versova village varies from 1.8-11.5
1620J05 \0m, and receives sewage from its surrounding area.
1630J05 $^Several authors have studied the diurnal changes
1640J05 in the hydrobiological characteristics of various water
1650J05 bodies in the country. ^The notable contributions are of
1660J05 Verma (1964), Sumitra (1971), Bhargava (1973), Vijayalakshmi
1670J05 & Venugopalan (1973), Bhargava & Dwivedi (1974, 77) & Misra
1680J05 *(0et al.*) (1975, 1976), but reports on such studies in waters
1690J05 around Bombay are scanty. ^The present study
1700J05 is first of its kind and aimed to_ provide a
1710J05 base line data, prerequisite for the pollution monitoring
1720J05 programme intended to_ be carried out in the coastal waters
1730J05 of Versova. $^The present investigation was carried
1740J05 out during the month of May, 1975 at a fixed station, the
1750J05 deeper channel in the creek, over a complete tidal
1760J05 cycle. ^Sampling was done at three hourly intervals for
1770J05 physicochemical parameters. ^Surface and bottom water samples
1780J05 were collected for the analysis of \0pH, salinity,
1790J05 dissolved oxygen, phosphate and nitrate. ^But only surface
1800J05 water samples at six hourly intervals were taken for
1810J05 the chlorophyll pigment analysis. ^The bottom samples
1820J05 were procured with the help of Van Dorn bottle.
1830J05 ^Air temperature recorded by an ordinary centigrade thermometer,
1840J05 water temperature was recorded by reversing thermometer.
1850J05 \0^PH was measured with battery operated Systronics
1860J05 \0pH meter. ^Transparency was measured by secchi-disc.
1870J05 $^The salinity was determined after
1880J05 Mohr*'s mehtod and dissolved oxygen by modified Winkler*'s
1890J05 method (Strickland and Parsons, 1972). ^The phytoplankton
1900J05 pigments and nutrients were estimated as per methods outlined
1910J05 by Strickland & Parsons (1972), using \0VSU-2P
1920J05 Spectrophotometer. ^For phytoplankton pigment analysis
1930J05 500 \0ml of water sample was filtered through Whatman \0GF/C
1940J05 filters and few drops of 1% magnesium carbonate was added
1950J05 during filtration to_ prevent the change of chlorophyll into
1960J05 pheophytin. ^The paper was then dissolved in 10 \0ml of
1970J05 90% acetone and placed in dark for 24 \0h for better pigment extraction.
1980J05 ^After that_ the volume was made upto 12 \0ml by
1990J05 adding 2 \0ml 90% acetone and centrifuged for 20 \0min at 5000 \0rpm.
2000J05 ^The optical density was measured at 750, 665,
2010J05 645, 630, 510 and 480 \0m*Ym on \0VSU-2P spectrophotometer.
2020J05 ^Data are summarized in Table 1 and \0Figs. 1 to 11. $(a)
2030J05 *3Tidal Range*0: ^The water level varied between 9.5 and
2040J05 11.5 \0m during the tidal cycle (\0Fig.5). ^The tides were
2050J05 of semi-diurnal type. ^A linear relationship was observed between
2060J05 tide and salinity and an inverse relationship between
2061J05 tide and nitrate. ^This phenomenon can be explained
2070J05 by the fact that during the high tide sea water enters
2080J05 in the creek and increases the salinity and decreases
2090J05 the nitrate content and during low tide sewage water of
2100J05 surrounding area enters in the creek and decreases the salinity
2110J05 and increases the nitrate content of the water.
2120J05 $(b) *3Transparency*0: ^The Secchi disc readings ranged from
2130J05 41-60 \0cm being minimum at 1230 \0h just after the low tide
2140J05 and maximum at 0600 \0h just after the high tide (\0Fig.6).
2150J05 ^The high transparency values during high tide and low
2160J05 during low tide clearly indicates that sewage water which
2170J05 enters in the creek during low tide, was responsible for
2180J05 decrease in the transparency values, thus indicating the
2190J05 first phase of pollution. $(c) *3Temperature:*0 ^Maximum
2200J05 air temperature (36.5*@ \0C) was recorded at 1230 \0h and
2210J05 minimum (27.8*@ \0C) at 0600 \0h (\0Fig.4). ^The surface and
2220J05 bottom water temperature ranged from 31.2 to 33*@ \0C and 30.5 to
2230J05 32.9*@ \0C, respectively (\0Fig. 3). ^The difference between
2240J05 surface and bottom water temperature was always less than
2250J05 0.5*@ \0C. ^The water temperature showed a linear
2260J05 relationship with air temperature as reported earlier by Sumitra
2270J05 (1971) Bohra (1976) and Misra *(oet al.*) (1975, 76). $(d)
2280J05 \0*3pH:*0 ^The water was alkaline, and \0pH varied from
2290J05 7.4 to 8.7 at the surface and 6.8. to 8.7
2301J05 at the bottom (\0Fig.2).*#
        **[no. of words = 02020**]

        **[txt. j06**]
0010J06 **<*3A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF CHEMICAL AND PHYSICAL MUTAGENS
0020J06 IN BREAD WHEAT*0**> $*<*3Indtroduction*0*> $^It
0030J06 is well known that physical mutagens like X-rays are more
0040J06 effective in producing gene mutations through chromosomal alterations
0050J06 in the form of deletions. ^Some of the chemical mutagens,
0060J06 on the other hand, bring about well defined molecular
0070J06 alterations. ^The question has been asked whether chemicals
0080J06 of this type can be used effectively to_ produce mutations
0090J06 in higher organisms and whether the rates and types of mutations
0100J06 obtained with their use are similar to or different from those
0110J06 induced by inonising radiations. ^We have been studying the mutagenic
0120J06 effect of hydroxylamine and hydrazine in tomato (Jain *(0et
0130J06 al.*) 1966, 1968, 1969). ^The observations on tomato have
0140J06 clearly indicated that chemical mutagens like hydrazine show
0150J06 the property of mutagenic specificity and give extremely high mutation
0160J06 rates at a number of gene loci. ^These rates are much
0170J06 higher than those obtained with gamma rays. ^For at least
0180J06 some of the loci, hydrazine and hydroxylamine show non-overlapping
0190J06 mutations. ^Similar observations have been made in the
0200J06 case of *3Drosophila*0 (Jain and Shukla, 1972). ^The present
0210J06 study was extended to wheat to_ test the wider significance of
0220J06 the earlier results obtained in tomato and *3Drosophila.*0
0230J06 $*<*3Material and Methods*0*> $^Two varieties of wheat
0240J06 (*3Triticum aestivum*0) were treated with several mutagens including
0250J06 hydroxylamine (\0HA), hydrazine (\0HZ) ethylemethanesulfouate
0260J06 (\0EMS) and gamma rays. ^Various concentrations
0270J06 of doses of each mutagen were tried
0280J06 and only a single concentration or dose giving a comparable germination
0290J06 at 25*@ \0C was selected. ^The details of treatment
0300J06 are given in Table-1. $\0^*HA and \0EMS solutions were
0310J06 prepared by dissolving these mutagens in appropriate quantity of
0320J06 Sorensen*'s buffer and the final \0pH adjusted to 7.0 \0HZ
0330J06 was dissolved in a borate buffer and \0pH adjusted to 8.5.
0340J06 $^Samples of 1000 seeds were treated in each case.
0350J06 ^For each mutagenic treatment 1000 seeds served as control.
0360J06 ^The treatments were carried out at 25*@ \0C *Ms 1*@ \0C.
0370J06 ^In the case of gamma rays, dry seeds were irradiated with
0380J06 35 kilorads (\0*:60**:Co) with an intensity of 2400 \0r/minute
0390J06 ^After termination of chemical treatments, seeds were washed
0400J06 in running water and were sown immediately in the field along
0410J06 with the respective control. ^The treated seeds were sown
0420J06 very close to each other in order to_ discourage side tillering,
0430J06 as only the first 4-5 tillers are important from the
0440J06 point of recovery of maximum mutations as suggested by Gaul
0450J06 (1964). ^Individual \0M*;1**; plant progenies were sown in
0460J06 a single row of 2.7 meters spaced 30 centimetres apart and
0470J06 seeds were dibbled at 10 centimetres. ^In all the mutagenic
0480J06 treatment series (except gamma ray treatment of variety \0HD-1553,
0490J06 where only 100 plant progenies could be grown), as
0500J06 well as in the corresponding control series 200 plant progenises
0510J06 were grown. ^Each \0M*;1**; Plant progeny was screened
0520J06 for macro mutations. ^Chlorophyl mutations were scored according
0530J06 to the classification of Gustafsson (1940). ^The frequency
0540J06 of chlorophyll as well as visible mutations in each
0550J06 treatment was calculated on the basis of (1) per cent \0M*;1**;
0560J06 plant progenies segregating and (**=2) per cent M*;2**;
0570J06 mutated plants. $*<*3Results*0*> $*<*3Seed
0580J06 germination and plant Survival*0*> $^Observations
0590J06 on germination and plant survival, in \0M*;1**;, were recorded
0600J06 and are shown in Table-2. ^It is seen that
0610J06 all the mutagenic treatments bring about reduction in
0620J06 seed germination as compared to controls. ^Both varieties
0630J06 showed a similar response to different mutagens with regard
0640J06 to their effect on germination. ^While the
0650J06 three chemical mutagens gave a very similar frequency
0660J06 of plant survival, the gamma ray treatment leads to
0670J06 a greater loss of plants in the case of variety
0680J06 \0HD-1553. ^Thus it is obvious that while the four
0690J06 mutagens are comparable in terms of their effect on seed
0700J06 germination, as seen under laboratory conditions, the
0710J06 chemical mutagens are less drastic in their effect
0720J06 on plant growth and survival. $*<*3Macromutations:*0*>
0730J06 $^*Table 3 summarises the types and frequency of
0740J06 \0M*;2**; progenies segregating for different types of macromutations.
0750J06 ^The different series of controls showed
0760J06 no difference with regard to the frequency of the mutants
0770J06 and for this reason only one of the control series
0780J06 has been included in this Table. $*<*3(**1) Wide range*0*>
0790J06 $^An examination of the data presented in Table
0800J06 3 leads to some interesting observations. ^The two
0810J06 varieties have responded in a similar manner so far as mutation
0820J06 frequency and spectrum are concerned. ^For this reason,
0821J06 the observations on the two varieties have been pooled
0830J06 and are represented graphically in Figure 1. $^An important
0840J06 finding is that the different mutagens have induced
0850J06 a wide range of variability affecting plant height, chlorophyll
0860J06 characteristics and earhead types. ^The more interesting
0870J06 of the induced variation is in respect of size and
0880J06 shape of the earhead. ^This type of variation include
0890J06 lax spike, squarehead, compactoids, subcompactoids, tapering
0900J06 earhead and speltoids. ^This variation of ear
0910J06 form is well recognised in bread wheat and has been reported
0920J06 earlier by a number of authors (Mackey, 1962b;
0930J06 Swaminathan, 1963, and Konzak *(0et al.,*) 1965). $*<*3(**=2)
0940J06 Gamma rays \0vs chemical mutagens*0*> $^The second
0950J06 interesting finding is that the different mutagens
0960J06 differ greatly with regard to their effectiveness
0970J06 in inducing visible mutations described above. ^A
0980J06 graphic representation in \0Fig. 1 shows that almost without
0990J06 exception gamma irradiation has been more effective in inducing variability
1000J06 at all the gene loci. ^The highest frequencies of mutations
1010J06 for the various morphological characters have been obtained
1020J06 with this mutagen and the difference between frequencies and those
1030J06 given by the chemical mutagen is very large. ^Gamma rays
1040J06 gave, significantly higher overall mutation rate in respect of
1050J06 visible mutations compared to chemical mutagens. ^Although
1060J06 the overall mutation rate is highest with gamma rays, the spectrum
1070J06 of induced mutations is wider with \0EMS.. $*<*3(**=3)
1080J06 Different chemical mutagens*> $^A comparison
1090J06 of the three chemical mutagens is also quite instructive. ^In
1100J06 general, \0EMS has proved to_ be more effective than \0HA and \0HZ.
1110J06 ^Thus, for fifteen out of the nineteen loci or groups of
1120J06 loci determining the above characters, \0EMS has been more
1130J06 effective. \0^2ems has been found to_ be particularly effective
1140J06 in inducing mutations for the squarehead and speltoid genes.
1150J06 ^For other loci or groups of loci, \0EMS appears to_ be
1160J06 as effective as the two other chemical mutagens. ^Indeed, it is observed
1170J06 that some of the gene loci not affected at all by the other two
1180J06 chemical mutagens. **[sic**] ^For example, in respect of chlorophyll characters,
1190J06 minlear, subcompactoid, tapering earhead, Waxless, blunt leaf,
1200J06 reduced awn and brittle condition, variation has not been found
1210J06 to_ be induced by \0HZ or \0HA. ^It is further observed that
1220J06 \0HA fails to_ induce any sterility, subcompactoid and grass
1230J06 clump mutants, whereas hydrazine fails to_ give any lax spike,
1240J06 compactoid, sub-compactoid and speltoid earhead mutants. $^The
1250J06 analysis as a whole, thus, suggests that the four mutagens used
1260J06 in the course of present study are not equally effective. ^They
1270J06 show intergroup variation, as between physical and chemical mutagens
1280J06 and they also show intragroup variation as between \0EMS,
1290J06 on one hand and \0HA and \0HZ on the other.
1300J06 $*<*3Discussion*> $^One of the major objectives of the present
1310J06 study is to_ test the wider significance of the results
1320J06 obtained in tomato (Jain *(0et al.,*) 1966, 1968, 1969) in respect
1330J06 of relative effectiveness of chemical and physical mutagens.
1340J06 ^The observations on tomato have indicated that chemical mutagens
1350J06 like \0HZ show the property of mutagenic specificity and give
1360J06 extremely high mutation rates at some of the loci. ^In this context,
1370J06 the observations on bread wheat are of considerable interest.
1380J06 ^The most important observation which has been made in the case of
1390J06 bread wheat is that no mutagen is as effective as gamma rays in giving
1400J06 a high frequency of visible mutations at a large number of loci.
1410J06 ^This can be seen from Figure-1 where the high mutation rates
1420J06 associated with gamma rays can be clearly seen. ^It should, however,
1430J06 be emphasised that the mutation analysis in tomato has been more precise
1440J06 as the mutations could be traced to loci. ^No such genetic analysis
1450J06 has been possible in the case of wheat. ^Nevertheless, it seems
1460J06 clear that none of the genes whose mutations could be recorded in wheat
1470J06 are as sensitive to \0HZ and \0HA as some of the genes of
1480J06 tomato are. $^Another important finding is that the largest spectrum
1490J06 of induced mutations is given by \0EMS. ^To_ take one
1500J06 example, induced variability of the blunt leaf, reduced awn, brittle
1510J06 and maculata kind has been observed in the case of \0EMS treatment.
1520J06 ^None of the other mutagens induced variability of this kind. ^It
1530J06 should also be added that for certain kinds of mutants involving chlorophyl
1540J06 defects. \0e.g., *3chlorina and *3viridis, \0EMS has
1550J06 given the highest rates of mutations than gamma radiation. **[sic**]
1560J06 ^*Chopra and Swaminathan (1966) suggested that the gene controlling chlorophyll
1570J06 development may be located near the centromere and that the
1580J06 localised action of \0EMS on the centromere and proximal regions
1590J06 induces high fequency of chlorophyll mutations. ^The high chlorophyll
1600J06 frequency may also be due to the preferential action of
1610J06 ethyl group of \0EMS with \0DNA possibly the guanine component
1620J06 (Egrenberg, 1960b, Froese-Gertzen, 1962). $^Several
1630J06 viable mutations have been reported in bread wheat (Mackey, 1954a,
1640J06 Swaminathan, 1961, 1963 and Goud, 1968). ^Several of the mutations observed
1650J06 in the present study resemble those in the earlier reports.
1660J06 ^Similar to the earlier finding in wheat, earhead type mutants constitute
1670J06 the bulk of total mutations obtained. ^In terms of the total
1680J06 yield of visible mutations, taking into consideration all the different
1690J06 types of mutants, gamma rays were superior to \0EMS. ^The
1700J06 third in order of effectiveness is \0HA, \0HZ being the least
1710J06 effective. ^*Mackey (1962b, 1967 1968), Swaminathan *(0et al.,*)
1720J06 (1962), Liwerant and Pereira da Silva, (1975) found that alkylating
1730J06 compounds were inferior to ionising radiations in inducing visible
1740J06 mutations. ^*Khvostova *(0et al.,*) (1965) found ethyleaeimine more
1750J06 efficient than gamma rays and neutrons in 42 chromosome Triticum
1760J06 Agropyron hybrid. ^*D*'3 Amato *(0et al.,*) (1965) found ionising
1770J06 radiation quite efficient in inducing mutations in two *3durum
1780J06 varieties, with \0EMS superior in one case and inferior in another.
1790J06 ^The same experience has been reported by Gaul and Aastveit
1800J06 (1966) and Mamalyga and Shkvarniko (1976) for two *3aestivum wheat.
1810J06 $^Although \0HZ is generally less effective than \0HA some of
1820J06 the genes responded more readily to \0HZ than \0HA 1 treatment. ^For
1830J06 example the grass-clump type of mutants have been obtained only with \0EMS
1840J06 and \0HZ. ^In contrast to this, \0HA has been more
1850J06 effective for other loci such as the speltoid mutations, which are
1860J06 not produced by \0HZ. ^In this respect the wheat findings
1870J06 are not very much different from those of tomato. ^However, wheat results
1880J06 cannot be interpreted in terms of specific loci. $*<*3Summary*>
1890J06 $^Compared to physical mutagens, the chemical mutagens were found
1900J06 to_ be less drastic in their effect on plant growth and survival.
1910J06 ^The two bread wheat varieties responded in a similar manner with
1920J06 regard to mutation rate and spectrum. ^The four mutagens however,
1930J06 showed differential effectiveness. ^Gamma rays gave significantly
1940J06 high overall mutation rate in respect of visible mutations
1950J06 as compared to chemical mutagens. ^However, the spectrum of induced
1960J06 mutations was wider with \0EMS. ^Among chemical mutagen, \0HEMS
1970J06 has been found to_ be the most effective followed by \0HA, \0HZ
1980J06 being the least effective. ^These observations are of considerable
1990J06 interest for they have shown that a particular mutagen may be
2000J06 very effective in one plant but not so effective in another. ^To
2010J06 what extent this difference is a function of the level of ploidy
2020J06 remains to_ be seen. $**<*3Influence of Seed Size on the Growth
2030J06 and Yield of Triticale**> $*<INTRODUCTION*> $^The
2040J06 literature dealing with a large number of crops supports the fact that
2050J06 larger or heavier seeds give rise to more vigorous plants and
2060J06 better yields, particularly when equal number of seeds per unit area
2070J06 are planted (Bremner *(0et al.,*) 1963; Clark and Peck, 1968; Kaufmen
2080J06 and McFaddan, 1963; Kiesselbatch, 1924; Schmidt, 1923).
2090J06 ^But, with the increasing age of plants, the superiority of plants
2100J06 from larger seeds decrease and is gradually lost in the long duration
2110J06 crops and perennial plants (Kidd and West, 1918; Randhawa,
2120J06 1970).*#
        **[no. of words = 02002**]

        **[txt. j07**]
0010J07 **<*3Seed quality in Relation to Seed Size and Seed Coat Colour Variation
0020J07 in Black Gram (*8Vigna mungo*9 (\0L) Hepper)**>
0030J07 $*3Abstract: ^Seeds of black gram \0CV. \0Co 2 sized with \0BSS 6,
0040J07 7, 8 and 12 wiremesh sieves were further separated manually into two
0050J07 colour categories, the normal-coloured (black) seeds and the dirty brown,
0060J07 off-coloured seeds. ^These seeds were evaluated for seed quality
0070J07 employing standard germination test, field emergence test and a number
0080J07 of vigour tests, such as, germination energy, brick-grit test,
0090J07 rate of seed swelling, membrane permeability tests and seedling growth
0100J07 characteristics. ^The results revealed the poor quality of off-coloured
0110J07 seeds irrespective of seed size classes. ^The normal coloured
0120J07 seeds were superior in quality and exhibited vigour differences due
0130J07 to seed size. ^Larger seed retained by 6 and 7 wire-mesh sieves were better
0140J07 in quality than the smaller ones. ^The pathological test revealed
0150J07 100 per cent parasitisation of off-coloured seeds by Rhizoctonia
0160J07 solani. ^The study had clearly brought out the importance of grading
0170J07 black gram seeds and in that_ process the need for the removal of off-coloured
0180J07 seeds to_ obtain seeds of superior quality. $*<*3INTRODUCTION*0*>
0190J07 $^Importance of seed size influencing field stand and
0200J07 uniform crop growth came to_ be understood well only under diverse situations
0210J07 of commercial seed production. ^Studies on this aspect were carried
0220J07 out by many workers to_ evaluate the relationship of seedling vigour
0230J07 to population density. ^The studies of Brenchley (1923), of Harper
0240J07 and Obeid (1967) and of Gelmond (1972) showed that size differences
0250J07 in seeds influence germination, seedling vigour, plant growth
0260J07 and yield characteristics. ^But the influence of seed size on one
0270J07 or several of these growth attributes and yield performance was never in
0280J07 conformity in different crops investigated. ^The effect of seed coat
0290J07 colour variation on germination and growth characteristics, however,
0300J07 had received very little attention. ^*Kozlowski (1972) reported
0310J07 less vigorous nature of off-coloured seeds in alfalfa, which developed
0320J07 due to physiological or pathological disorders. ^In order to_ obtain
0330J07 precise information on the aspect of seed size and seed coat colour affecting
0340J07 viability and vigour in blackgram, this present study was initiated.
0350J07 $*<*3MATERIALS AND METHODS*0*> $^Seeds of blackgram
0360J07 \0CV. \0Co2 were sized with \0BSS 6 x 6, 7 x 7, 8 x 8 and 12 x
0370J07 12 wiremesh sieves. ^The off-coloured seeds present in the four size
0380J07 grades were manually separated into two colour categories based on seed
0390J07 coat colour \0viz., **=1) normal black-coloured seeds (\0NCS)
0400J07 and **=2) off-coloured (dirty brown-coloured) seeds (\0OCS).
0410J07 ^Observations were recorded on percentage of seed recovery and percentage
0420J07 of occurrence of off-coloured seeds in each of the size fractions
0430J07 and on 1000-seed weight in different size grades and colour categories.
0440J07 ng ^The seeds from different sizes and colour categories were subjected
0450J07 to standard germination test (\0ISTA, 1976), field emergence
0460J07 and a number of vigour tests. ^The seed vigour tests such as germination
0470J07 energy (Maguire, 1962) as calculated by dividing the number of seeds
0480J07 germinated each day by the number of days to that_ count and adding
0490J07 these values for the first 8 days of the test period, brick grit test using
0500J07 2-3 \0mm particles of brick gravel, rate of seed swelling evaluated
0510J07 after 8 hours of water soaking (Anderson, 1970) and membrane permeability
0520J07 test (Matthews and Bradnock, 1968) as measured by the electrical
0530J07 conductivity (\0EC) in an Elico conductivity bridge, and sugar-content
0540J07 of leachates (Somogyi, 1952), as determined by soaking 100
0550J07 seeds in 100 \0ml of water for 8 hours were carried out. $^The
0560J07 seedling vigour of 18-day-old seedlings was studied using the growth parameters
0570J07 such as, number of leaves, leaf area of the first pair of leaves,
0580J07 root and shoot length and their ratio, dry matter production, root
0590J07 nodulation and branching intensity of the root system. $*<*3RESULTS
0600J07 AND DISCUSSIONS*0*> $^The results of percentage of seed
0610J07 recovery in different size grades, off-coloured seeds and 1000-seed weight
0620J07 are furnished in Table 1. ^The maximum recovery of 76.5 per
0630J07 cent was obtained from 7 x 7 wiremesh sieve followed by 13.5 per cent
0640J07 from 8 x 8 sieve. ^The largest and smallest seeds retained by 6
0650J07 x 6 and 12 x 12 wiremesh sieves constituted 6 and 4 per cent, respectively.
0660J07 ^The 1000-seed weight showed large differences in respect to
0670J07 seed size and colour categories. ^The percentage of off-coloured
0680J07 seeds showed an inverse proportion registering high percentage in the smaller
0690J07 grade and it decreased with increase in seed size. ^Increase
0700J07 in seed weight as influenced by its size was reported in oats (Rothman
0710J07 and Bowman, 1967) in sorghum (Hyoung *(0et al.,*) 1974 ) and
0720J07 in groundnut (Sivasubramaniam and Ramakrishnan, 1974). ^Drastic
0730J07 reduction in seed weight registered with off-coloured seeds of the
0740J07 same size would possibly explain for the altered physiological and pathological
0750J07 conditions. $^The germination and field emergence percentages
0760J07 obtained for ungraded seeds were much lower than those recorded
0770J07 for 6 x 6 retained normal-coloured seeds followed by 7 x 7 retained seeds
0780J07 (Table 2). ^The lower values of germination and field emergence
0790J07 was recorded, respectively by 8 x 8 and 12 x 12 retained normal colour
0800J07 seeds. ^Such wide variations in the germination and field emergence
0810J07 potentials observed due to seed size had amply revealed the need
0820J07 for grading the blackgram seeds to_ secure high and uniform germination
0830J07 and field stand. ^High percentage of abnormal seedlings produced
0840J07 by ungraded seeds was found considerably reduced in graded seeds.
0850J07 ^The superiority of larger seeds separated based on volume and weight,
0860J07 could be related to the 'initial capital' (Ashby, 1936) which
0870J07 exhibited an initial advantage over smaller ones (Hewston, 1964).
0880J07 ^The lower values obtained for smaller seeds could partly be due to the
0890J07 inclusion of the higher proportion of shrivelled and immature seeds
0900J07 resulting from incomplete seed development (Crocker and Barton, 1953)
0910J07 and in part to the lack of initial capital (Brenchley, 1923).
0920J07 ^The germination and field emergence potentials of off-coloured seeds were
0930J07 interesting. ^Irrespective of seed size, germination and field
0940J07 emergence potentials were reduced by 20 to 30 per cent. $^The vigour
0950J07 tests employed to_ judge the relative performance of the seeds of different
0960J07 sizes as well as of the colour categories showed positive results
0970J07 (Table 2). ^The germination energy, a function of seed vigour,
0980J07 showed differences due to seed sizes and seed coat colour categories.
0990J07 ^The decline was concomitant with the decrease in seed size both
1000J07 in normal and off-coloured seeds, and it was more pronounced in the
1010J07 last two grades. ^*Clark (1973) in peanut and Egli and Tekrony,
1020J07 (1973) in soybean, suggested that both germination and seedling emergence
1030J07 should be considered together for measuring seed vigour. ^Higher
1040J07 germination energy values obtained for 6 x 6 and 7 x 7 normal-coloured
1050J07 seeds had clearly brought out the superior quality of the seeds of
1060J07 these grades. ^The percentage of seedlings capable of emerging through
1070J07 a uniform layer of brickgrit showed corroborative results. ^The
1080J07 relatively high germination percentages recorded by 6 x 6 and 7 x 7 retained
1090J07 seeds in this test bring out the relative differences in the
1100J07 'physiological stamina' extent in seeds due to seed size (Isley, 1957;
1110J07 Lindenbein and Bulat, 1955). ^Relatively lower values obtained
1120J07 for off-coloured seeds had clearly revealed their 'weakness' and inability
1130J07 to_ withstand the physical stress condition. $^Seed vigour
1140J07 criterion assessed by the rate of seed swelling in seed size grades and
1150J07 colour categories projected an almost identical picture. ^The
1160J07 results were, however, more pronounced in off-coloured seeds rather than
1170J07 in normal-coloured ones. ^On an average, 47 per cent of the off-coloured
1180J07 seeds irrespective of size grades imbibed and swelled up during
1190J07 8 hours of soaking in water, while only 8 per cent of their normal-coloured
1200J07 counterparts could do so during that_ period of soaking.
1210J07 ^The seeds that_ swell at faster rate are reported to_ be less vigorous.
1220J07 ^Although the results 0f this test is quite in agreement with those of
1230J07 other vigour tests, the manifestations of subtle differences in seed vigour
1240J07 cannot be clearly brought out by this physical phenomenon.
1250J07 $^The physicochemical tests employed namely, electrical conductivity
1260J07 of the seed leachate and sugar exudation test showed positive results,
1270J07 registering relatively lower conductivity (34 and 42 \0*Ymmhos/\0cm
1280J07 and sugar (0.04 and 0.06 \0mg/100 seeds) values for the 6 x 6 and 7 x 7
1290J07 retained normal-coloured seeds. ^The values increased with decrease in
1300J07 seed size. ^The relatively higher values observed for electrical
1310J07 conductivity of the seed leachate (268 to 554 \0*Ymmhos/\0cm and sugar
1320J07 exuded (0.38 to 0.45 \0mg/100 seeds) indirectly indicate the severity
1330J07 of the damage the seed membrane system had suffered in the off-coloured
1340J07 seeds. ^The comparatively higher \0EC values recorded
1350J07 by the leachate of off-coloured seeds from top two grades could be attributed
1360J07 to their relatively large amounts of reserves stored in them,
1370J07 which had leached out into the seed steep water. ^The relatively
1380J07 low amount of sugar exuded from the seeds of size 12 x 12 had
1390J07 only revealed the ill-filled or poorly developed nature of these seeds.
1400J07 ^Increased electrical conductivity of the seed leachate was
1410J07 shown to_ be positively correlated with loss of viability and
1420J07 vigour (Matthews and Bradnock 1968; Perry, 1969 and Bradnock and
1430J07 Matthews, 1970). ^Similar relationship of sugar exudation with
1440J07 decline in viability and vigour was reported by Takayanagi and Murakani
1450J07 (1968) and Bradnock (1968). ^*Dharmalingam *(0et al.*) (1976)
1460J07 had also obtained strong negative correlation between electrical
1470J07 conductivity of the seed leachate and viability in blackgram, suggesting
1480J07 the use of this test for assessing viability and vigour potentials
1490J07 in seed lots of this crop. $^The seedling chracteristics
1500J07 also showed distinct differences due to sizes and seed-coat colour
1510J07 categories (Table 3). ^The number of leaves recorded were relatively
1520J07 more in plants from 6 x 6 retained seeds followed by those from 7 x 7
1530J07 retained seeds, irrespective of colour categories. ^The plants
1540J07 raised from smaller grades of both the colour categories had less
1550J07 number of leaves. ^The leaf-area of the first pair of leaves of
1560J07 plants from seeds of top two grades, irrespective of colour categories
1570J07 showed two- to three-fold increase. ^Distinctly lower
1580J07 leaf-area values registered in plants raised from small seeds
1590J07 had revealed its linear relationship to seed size, which was
1600J07 in conformity with findings of Black (1958) in sub-terranean clover,
1610J07 of Harper and Obeid (1967) in flax and of Senthilkumar (1976)
1620J07 in sorghum. ^The root length and shoot length of seedlings
1630J07 increased with increase in seed size and the increase wastwo-fold
1640J07 in those from seeds of two top grades. ^The relative
1650J07 increase in root length and/ or shoot length of seedlings
1660J07 during early stages of growth had been observed to_ be correlates of
1670J07 vigour (Woodstock and Feeley, 1965); Woodstock (1969) and Baskin (1969).
1680J07 ^The differences in shoot root ratio was less distinct for seeds of
1690J07 sizes other than 6 x 6 retained. ^The dry matter content of seedlings
1700J07 obtained from seeds of different sizes and colour categories
1710J07 had clearly established the superiority of normal-coloured
1720J07 larger seeds in the production of vigorous seedlings. ^The dry
1730J07 matter content depended upon the rapidity with which the seedlings
1740J07 were able to_ grow and reach the autotrophic stage. ^*McDaniel
1750J07 (1969) in barley, Gelmond (1972) in cotton, Singh *(0et al.*) (1972)
1760J07 in soybean and Senthilkumar (1976) in sorghum reported greater
1770J07 increase in dry weight due to seed size. $^The root nodulation
1780J07 and lateral root growth intensity in plants raised from
1790J07 the seeds of different sizes and colour categories revealed interesting
1800J07 resulsts (Table 4). ^Root nodules increased progressively with
1810J07 increase in seed size and it was six-fold in plants from 6 x 6
1820J07 retained normal-coloured seeds. ^The intensity of lateral root
1830J07 production, a phenomenon associated with seedlings vigour had revealed
1840J07 the seedling vigour differences extent among seeds of different
1850J07 sizes and colour categories. ^The percentage of seedlings without
1860J07 lateral roots ranged from 50 to 90 for seeds of smaller grades compared
1870J07 with 0 to 10 for those of larger grades. ^By and large,
1880J07 the off-coloured seeds and the smaller grades, besides their low germination
1890J07 and vigour potentials, had also resulted in the production
1900J07 of weak seedlings with very poor root system. ^Plants
1910J07 having extensive and efficient **[table**] root system usually
1920J07 withstand adverse weather conditions, particularly indryl and
1930J07 agriculture and these attributes are invariably associated with
1940J07 large and normal-coloured seeds in black gram.*#
1950J07 **[no. of words = 02014**]

        **[txt. j08**]
0010J08 **<*3Distribution of Phosphate in sediments of the Northern Half
0020J08 of the Western Continental Shelf of India*0**>
0030J08 $*3^DEPOSITS*0 of several types of minerals, including phosphorite,
0040J08 on the continental shelves of the world are characteristic of the environment
0050J08 in which they are found. ^The occurrence of phosphorite
0060J08 deposits has been reported off the coasts of several countries.
0070J08 ^These deposits have long been an object of great interest from the point
0080J08 of view of their economic exploitation and the opportunity they offer
0090J08 to_ establish the environment and mode of formation of fossil phosphorites.
0100J08 ^Although some of the phosphate deposits are undoubtedly detrital,
0110J08 most of them are considered to_ be hydrogenous in nature and have
0120J08 been related to pronounced upwelling observed in the areas where they are
0130J08 found. ^Since the western continental shelf of India is also
0140J08 subjected to seasonal upwelling a detailed study of the distribution pattern
0150J08 of phosphate has been taken up with a view to delineating areas of
0160J08 enrichment, if any, for detailed exploration. ^As a part of this
0170J08 programme, distribution pattern of phosphate has been studied in the
0180J08 sediments of the northern half of the western continental shelf of India
0190J08 and the results obtained are presented in this paper. ^Although
0200J08 there are a few earlier accounts on this subject it may be mentioned that
0210J08 they did not throw much light as they are based on the study of samples
0220J08 which are few and far between.
0230J08 $*<*3Matarials and Methods*0*>
0240J08 $^The study area from which the sea floor sediment samples were collected
0250J08 covers the northwestern continental shelf of India extending from Indus
0260J08 Canyon in the north to Ratnagiri in the south. ^In all about
0270J08 90 stations were occupied for sampling and they were distributed along 14
0280J08 sections normal to the coast. ^All samples were collected using
0290J08 a La-Fond-Dietz snapper. ^Along most of the sections, samples
0300J08 were collected between 20 and 100 \0m water depth on the coastal and
0310J08 seaward sides respectively while along a few sections sampling on the
0320J08 seaward side was extended up to 150 to 250 \0m depth. ^Dissolved oxygen
0330J08 and water column phosphate analyses were performed aboard the ship.
0340J08 ^Biological investigations such as primary productivity and zooplankton
0350J08 were also made wherever possible.
0360J08 $^Representative samples were obtained from the collections made at each
0370J08 station and a suitable amount of each sample was digested with hydrofluoric
0380J08 and perchloric acids following the method of Chester and Hughes
0390J08 for the determination of phosphate in the bulk samples. ^Further,
0400J08 in order to_ understand the extent to which the phosphate is associated
0410J08 with the acid soluble fractions of the sediments, they were leached with
0420J08 \03*3n*0 \0HCl and the phosphate concentrations in the bulk samples
0430J08 as well as in acid soluble leaches were determined colorimetrically following
0440J08 the method of Riley. ^In addition, a few of the limestones
0450J08 dredged from the outershelf region during
0460J08 the cruises of *(0*3RV*0*) *3Gaveshani*0 and oolites and shells separated
0470J08 from a few samples collected from the outershelf region were also
0480J08 utilized in the present study.
0490J08 $*<*3Results and Discussion*0*>
0500J08 $^In the region under study, the continental shelf is characterized by
0510J08 certain well defined features in regard to the distribution pattern of
0520J08 sediments and their chemistry. ^In general, texturally, fine-grained
0530J08 sediments of terrigenous origin occupy a greater part of the continental
0540J08 shelf between Indus Canyon and Gulf of Cambay while further southward
0550J08 their deposition is confined up to 60-65 \0m, beyond which, the
0560J08 shelf is characterized by the presence of coarse grained sediments (sands,
0570J08 silty or clayey sands, \0etc.). ^These coarse grained sediments
0580J08 are relict in nature and are marked by a high calcium carbonate
0590J08 content. ^The distribution patterns of calcium carbonate and the percentages
0600J08 of acid insolubles indicate that the outershelf region between
0610J08 Gulf of Cambay and Port Dabol is relatively free from accumulation
0620J08 of terrigenous material. ^Organic carbon ranges from about 0.25
0630J08 to 2.5% in these sediments. ^With a few exceptions, while >1%
0640J08 of organic carbon is usually associated with the fine grained sediments
0650J08 of the innershelf region, <1% is associated with the coarse grained
0660J08 sediments of the outershelf region.
0670J08 $^The distribution patterns of phosphate in the bulk samples as well
0680J08 as in the acid soluble fractions of the sediments are shown in \0Figs.
0690J08 1 and 2. ^A careful examination of these figures along with the texture
0700J08 and distribution patterns of the sediments and the analyses of the
0710J08 dredged limestones, oolites and shells have enabled the following inferences
0720J08 to_ be drawn in regard to the distribution patterns of phospate:
0730J08 $(1) ^In the unconsolidated sediments, on the bulk sample basis
0740J08 the phosphate content ranges from 0.17 to 1.2%.
0750J08 $(2) ^With the exception of the high values of 0.8 to 1% of phosphate associated
0760J08 with the finegrained sediments of the innershelf region between
0770J08 River Savitri and Port Dabol, lower ranges of phosphate (<0.2% and
0780J08 0.2 to 0.3%) are generally associated with the finegrained sediments of
0790J08 terrigenous origin in the rest of the shelf region.
0800J08 $(3) ^In the shelf region between Gulf of Cambay and Bombay, the phosphate
0810J08 content in the sediments exhibits an increasing trend away from
0820J08 the coast with higher ranges of phosphate (0.3 to 0.4%; 0.4 to 0.5% and
0830J08 >1%) associated with the relict carbonate sediments of the outershelf
0840J08 region.
0850J08 $(4) ^The black coloured oolites and shells and portions of the dredged
0860J08 limestones have phosphate content ranging from 0.8 to 1.2% while the grey
0870J08 coloured oolites and shells and limestones have only 0.1 to 0.2% of phosphate.
0890J08 $(5) ^The phosphate content in the acid soluble leaches of the unconsolidated
0900J08 sediments ranges from 0.12 to 0.99%. ^Distribution pattern of
0910J08 phosphate in this fraction is broadly similar to that_
0920J08 obtained in the bulk samples.
0930J08 ^Further, calculations made on the per cent contributions made by the
0940J08 acid soluble fraction to the concentrations in the bulk samples have revealed
0950J08 that they are far less in the finegrained sediments of the inner shelf
0960J08 region as compared to those in the relict sediments of the outershelf
0970J08 region which is indicative of the authigenic nature of phosphate associated
0980J08 with relict sediments to a great extent.
0990J08 $^Deposits of phosphatic nodules, pellets and phosphate rock are confined
1000J08 mainly to nearshore areas in depths of water not exceeding 1000 \0m.
1010J08 ^Modern phosphatic assemblages can occur in at least 2 kinds of association:
1020J08 (**=1) in areas of high organic productivity associated with reducing
1030J08 conditions during their formation and (**=2) in areas which do not
1040J08 have a high organic productivity and associated with oxidizing conditions
1050J08 in the environment.
1060J08 $^Although as indicated earlier, some of the phosphate deposits are undoubtedly
1070J08 detrital, others are hydrogenous and several theories have
1080J08 been put forward to_ explain the existence of the latter deposits. ^The
1090J08 2 most probable ones are: (**=1) that they are primary chemical precipitates
1100J08 and (**=2) that they are an incomplete replacement product formed
1110J08 from preexisting carbonate material. ^According to the chemical precipitation
1120J08 theory advanced by Kazakov and accepted subsequently by several
1130J08 others, phosphorus in the uppermost 100 \0m of ocean waters is
1140J08 taken up by phytoplankton and is returned to solution as orthophosphate
1150J08 ions on death of the organisms, when they sink down the water column.
1160J08 ^Since sea water is undersaturated with respect to apatite, any
1170J08 phosphorus which is brought down by the organisms does not precipitate
1180J08 from solution on hydrolysis of the organic matter and in areas of upwelling
1190J08 it is returned to the upper water layers. ^This upwelling of phosphate-rich
1200J08 deep water is accompanied by a decrease in the partial pressure
1210J08 of \0CO*;2**; and increase on \0*3p*0H in the surface layers where
1220J08 the phosphate promotes a high productivity. ^As a result, phosphate
1230J08 saturation can be reached in some shallow latitude areas where increased
1240J08 \0*3p*0H of the water can result in the precipitation of phosphate minerals.
1250J08 ^In addition to the upwelling of phosphate rich deeper water
1260J08 masses, Kramer has suggested that river run-off of continental water
1270J08 which has flowed over carbonate rocks and so has a high \0*3p*0H,
1280J08 may cause the precipitation of marine phosphates. ^The second theory
1290J08 that marine phosphates originate from the inorganic replacement of existing
1300J08 carbonate material is based on the fact that phosphate-rich solutions
1310J08 can convert calcite to carbonate-apatite within a sediment. ^This
1320J08 process occurs by the partial replacement of \0CO*:2**:*;3**; groups
1330J08 by \0PO*:3**:*;4**; groups and may take place at the sediment-water
1340J08 interface, or at depth within a sediment when phosphate is concentrated
1350J08 in interstitial waters. ^This replacement mode has been documented
1360J08 by Ames in laboratory experiments. $^*Pytkowitz
1370J08 and Kester have concluded that the presence of phosphorites
1380J08 in sediments is due to the geochemical or biochemical factors which controlled
1390J08 \0*3p*0H of the waters rather than to high concentration of inorganic
1400J08 phosphorus. ^According to Baturin and Shishkina the interstitial
1410J08 environment in the anoxic sediments may offer a much more favourable
1420J08 site for phosphatization. ^*Manheim *(0et al*). who worked
1430J08 on the marine phosphorite formation off Peru have concluded that 4 main
1440J08 requirements appear to_ control phosphorite enrichment: (**=1) there
1450J08 must be an exceptionally strong and persistent upwelling system capable
1460J08 of providing both a continuing and large supply of organic detritus,
1470J08 (**=2) an oxygen minimum zone impinging on the seafloor that_ permits maintenance
1480J08 of an organic-rich substrate and high concentration of dissolved
1490J08 phosphate in the interstitial water; phosphate rich water above the
1500J08 sediment-water interface is required to_ support surface productivity,
1510J08 (**=3) supply of detrital mineral matter must be low such that phosphorite
1520J08 is not diluted excessively and (**=4) there must be a limited supply
1530J08 of carbonate detritus. ^Rather than being supplied continuously,
1540J08 benthic foraminifera may proliferate intermittently due to variations in
1550J08 the upwelling and the intensity and death of oxygen minimum, so that
1560J08 the small carbonate tests would be phosphatized on resumption of normal
1570J08 organic accumulations and anoxic conditions.
1580J08 $^The presence of strong seasonal upwelling along the western continental
1590J08 shelf of India between Bombay and Quilon is well documented. ^These
1600J08 studies have revealed that there is a time lag in the occurrence of
1610J08 this phenomenon from south to north followed by a decrease in its intensity
1620J08 also from south to north. ^Although information on the upwelling
1630J08 process in the shelf region north of Bombay up to Indus region is not
1640J08 available, considering the various meteorological and oceanographic
1650J08 parameters, the presence of upwelling along this part of the shelf cannot
1660J08 be precluded. $^Distribution
1670J08 patterns of dissolved oxygen and inorganic phosphate (\0PO*;4**;-\0P)
1680J08 measured in the bottom waters at the time of the collection
1690J08 of the sediment samples (\0Dec. 73-May 74) are shown in \0Figs.
1700J08 3 and 4. ^Except for a small portion in the outershelf region between
1710J08 Gulf of Cambay and a little south of Bombay, the shelf region is covered
1720J08 by oxygenated waters only.
1721J08 \0^*PO*;4**;-\0P. distribution (\0Fig. 4) shows that the waters
1730J08 north of Gulf of Cambay are characterized by comparatively higher concentrations
1740J08 of \0PO*;4**;-\0P than the waters to the south of the Gulf
1750J08 of Cambay and concentrations exceeding 2 \0mg at/litre are encountered
1760J08 only in 2 regions, \0viz. off Gulf of Kutch and in the outershelf region
1770J08 of Gulf of Cambay and Bombay. ^In the continental slope region,
1780J08 there exists an oxygen minimum layer with increasing concentrations
1790J08 of \0PO*;4**;-\0P. ^Underlying this oxygen minimum layer
1800J08 are the grey and olive green muds rich in organic carbon. ^Computations
1810J08 made on the trivalent phosphate ion concentrations in the waters (in
1820J08 which form phosphate is incorporated in the sediments) along a few sections
1830J08 have revealed that (**=1) its concentration varies from 1.16 x 10*:-
1840J08 7**: to 6.67 x 10*:- 7**: \0g \0mols/litre, (**=2) its concentrations
1850J08 show a decreasing trend away from the coast along any given section
1860J08 and (**=3) relatively the concentrations associated with the waters north
1870J08 of Bombay are slightly higher than those associated with the waters
1880J08 south of Bombay. ^According to Naik, the shelf
1890J08 waters are by and large saturated with tricalcium phosphate and no precipitation
1900J08 in the water column may be due to the several inhibiting factors
1910J08 as mentioned by McConnel. ^Estimations of \0PO*;4**;-\0Pin
1920J08 the interstitial waters of the core samples collected along one section
1930J08 between Bombay Harbour and Bombay High Region have revealed that
1940J08 their concentrations range from 2.28 to 73.31 \0mg at/litre in the surficial
1950J08 sediments while in the bottom portions of the core samples they range
1960J08 from 4.56 to 59.84 \0mg at/litre.*#
        **[no. of words = 02011**]

        **[txt. j09**]
0010J09 **<*3Marine Fouling & Timber Deterioration in Sub-Oceanic Islands
0020J09 of Andamans*0**> $*3^THE*0 fauna and flora of Indian navigational waters
0030J09 and ports are inadequately investigated. ^Earlier reports pertain
0040J09 to biofouling in harbours at Bombay, Vishakhapatnam, Madras and
0050J09 Cochin. ^This laboratory has undertaken a marine biofouling sampling
0060J09 programme at 5 different sites in Port Blair waters (\0lat.,
0070J09 11*@ 41*'5 \0N, \0long., 92*@ 43*'5 \0E) by exposing test
0080J09 boards at various depths in nearshore and offshore waters for
0090J09 30 months. ^This report presents results of analysis of the test panels.
0100J09 $^The objectives of this study are (**=1) to_ identify major
0110J09 fouling and wood boring organisms in this harbour (wherever possible
0120J09 to species level), (**=2) to_ ascertain as to what extent
0130J09 these organisms cause damage to the waterfront structures and the
0140J09 installations including the seawater inlets for industrial cooling,
0150J09 and (**=3) to_ determine growth rates, seasonal variations,
0160J09 and the patterns of distribution of these organisms in coastal
0170J09 waters of Port Blair. ^It is hoped that the data obtained
0180J09 under this programme would add to the existing knowledge
0190J09 on the biofouling organisms and eventually become a part of '*3ATLAS
0200J09 OF BIO-FOULING*0' that_ needs to_ be prepared for the Indian
0210J09 harbours. $*<*3Materials and Methods*0*> $^Five exposure sites
0220J09 were selected in Port Blair harbour to_ obtain biological data.
0230J09 ^Brief description of each of these exposure sites is as follows:
0240J09 $Site *=1, Marine Workshop Jetty: An intertidal area with some oil
0250J09 pollution and turbidity. Site *=2, Marine Haddo Jetty: Inshore
0260J09 waters with gentle wave action and little fresh water influence during
0270J09 the rains. Site*=3, Long Ferry Jetty: Inshore waters with
0280J09 gentle wave action, turbidity and silt. Site *=4, Indian
0290J09 Oil Jetty: Open sea, subjected to considerable wave action.
0300J09 'Middle Ground' for the berthing of ships. Site *=5, Saw Mill, Chatham:
0310J09 Commercial jetty, inshore water, very close to timber seasoning
0320J09 ponds of the saw mills and other timber based industry. $^Mild-steel
0330J09 test frames holding timber, bakelite, perspex and cement-asbestos
0340J09 panels measuring 25 x 10 \0cm were immersed at each exposure
0350J09 site. ^The experimental panels were withdrawn/ examined/ replaced at
0360J09 the end of every 4 weeks. ^The samples of sea water were also simultaneously
0370J09 collected and brought to the laboratory for the chemical
0380J09 analyses. $*<*3Results*0*> $*3Hydrographical data*0-- ^The
0390J09 climate of Andamans may be described as normal for tropical islands
0400J09 of similar latitude. ^The rainfall occurs mostly during the south-west
0410J09 monsoon (June-August). ^The lowest water temperature recorded
0420J09 is 27*@ \0C. ^It increases steadily and attains 31.8*@ \0C. in May.
0430J09 ^For most part of the year, the temperature varies between 27.5*@
0440J09 and 30*@ \0C. ^*March to May and October are warmer months whereas
0450J09 November and December is comparatively a colder period.
0460J09 ^Salinity varies between 29 and 33.5*%. ^Temperature and salinity
0470J09 values are given in Table 1.
0480J09 $*3Marine fouling and its composition*0-- ^Nature and composition
0490J09 of fouling in Port Blair waters are as follows:
0500J09 $Polyzoans: ^Amongst the most common fouling organisms of Andaman waters
0510J09 are the polyzoans. ^Both erect and encrusting colonies are present
0520J09 on various underwater structures and on the test panels almost round
0530J09 the year. ^In shallow waters, the most common erect bryozoan
0540J09 is *3Bugula*0 \0sp. ^This grows into thick, bushy tufts,
0550J09 3-4 \0in. long and may give shelter to small crustacean and molluscan
0560J09 organisms. *3^*Bugula*0 \0sp. and other forms together with
0570J09 hydrozoans bring about choking of filters and of conduits of the water-front
0580J09 installations.
0590J09 $^Several polyzoan species have been recorded from Indian waters. ^*Karande
0600J09 has recorded more than 15 species from Bombay waters. ^*Menon,
0610J09 Menon and Nair have recorded 50 species from the environs
0620J09 of Cochin. ^Many species are also collected from Port Blair
0630J09 waters. ^These are *3Bugula*0 \0sp., *3Flustra*0 \0sp.,
0640J09 *3Acanthodesia*0 \0sp., *3Scrupocellaria*0 \0sp., *3Vesicularia*0
0650J09 \0sp., *3Electra*0 \0sp., *3Conopeum*0 \0sp.,
0660J09 *3Membraniporella*0 \0sp., *3Stomatopora*0 \0sp., *3Crisia*0
0670J09 \0sp., *3Bowerbankia*0 \0sp., and *3Amathia*0 \0sp.
0680J09 $^Many more species are yet to_ be identified. ^Most of these species
0690J09 are present almost throughout the year. ^Some of the bryozoans
0700J09 like *3Watersipora cuculate*0 have been reported to_ be copper resistant
0710J09 species. ^In Bombay waters *3Electra*0 \0spp. and *3Membrenipora*0
0720J09 \0sp. have been found to_ be early settlers on newly painted
0730J09 ship hulls. ^By virtue of their ability to_ grow on toxic coatings,
0740J09 these organisms provide favourable surfaces for the subsequent
0750J09 attachment and growth of barnacles, tubeworms and oysters.
0760J09 $Cirripedia (Barnacles): ^*Barnacles generally constitute a major fouling
0770J09 component in any marine harbour. ^Along the coasts of the mainland
0780J09 barnacles pose a major fouling problem. ^In Andaman waters also
0790J09 barnacle growth though equally rich is subjected to intense competition
0800J09 from such sedentary organisms as bryozoans, hydroids, ascidians
0810J09 and bivalves. ^Some of the barnacle species identified from Port Blair
0820J09 waters are *3Balanus tintinnabulam tintinnabulam, Balanus amaryllis,
0830J09 euamaryllis, Balanus \0a. amphitrite, Balanus kondakovi, Balanus
0840J09 variegatus,*0 *3tetraclita*0 \0sp., *3Chthamalus malayensis, Chthamalus
0850J09 withersi*0 and *3Lepadid*0 \0sp. ^Of these, \0*3B.*0 *3variegatus*0
0860J09 is the most dominant species. ^This together with *(0*3B. a.*0*) *3amphitrite*0
0870J09 settles and grows almost throughout the year. ^Settlement
0880J09 of spat has been particularly heavy during January to May.
0890J09 *(0*3^*B. a.*0*) *3euamaryllis*0 which is a dominant species
0900J09 in the mainland harbours is also common in Port Blair waters.
0910J09 ^It generally attains a size of 2.5 \0cm (basal \0diam.) and a height
0920J09 of 3.8 \0cm *(0*3B. a.*0*) *3amphitrite*0 together with chthanmalid and
0930J09 tetraclitid barnacles occurs in large numbers in nearshore waters
0940J09 by virtue of its ability to_ grow in enclosed areas. ^This is likely
0950J09 to_ cause choking problems of the conduits in coastal installations.
0960J09 $Serpulids (Tubeworms): ^Both calcareous and mud tube-dwelling
0970J09 serpulids like *3Hydroides norvegica, spirorbis*0 \0sp.,
0980J09 *3Pomatoceros*0 \0sp. and *3Sabellid*0 species are encounterd almost
0990J09 throughout the year. ^Of these the Sabellids are found generally
1000J09 in inshore waters, whereas the others are common in both inshore and
1010J09 offshore waters. ^These organisms show greater settlement and better
1020J09 growth at or near the surface of the water than at other levels.
1030J09 ^Some of the calcareous species appear to_ be quite tolerant to varying
1040J09 salinities, varying \0O*;2**; concentrations, temperature fluctuations,
1050J09 exposure to air and pollutants like oil and other industrial effluents.
1060J09 ^In Bombay waters for example, a species having tolerance to
1070J09 wide range of salinity (2 to 40*%) and to crude oil has been noted.
1080J09 *3^*Hydroides*0 \0sp. is highly tolerant to chlorine used as a biocide.
1090J09 ^The presence of these organisms in abundance would cause blockage
1100J09 of water-front installtions. $Bivalvia (Oysters and Clams):
1110J09 ^Several species of fast growing bivalves are observed in Andaman
1120J09 waters. ^In certain areas they outnumber all other sedentary
1130J09 forms and cause serious problems to the underwater installations in these
1140J09 areas. ^For instance, oysters, *3Pteria*0 and *3Spondylus*0
1150J09 all having heavy calcareous shells, form a substantial part of the material
1160J09 scrapped from a huge buoy immersed in these waters for 20 months.
1170J09 *3^*Ostrea*0 \0sp. is common in both inshore and offshore waters.
1180J09 ^Some of the oysters may attain large size in Port Blair waters.
1190J09 ^For instance, individuals having shell length of 18 and 15 \0cm wide
1200J09 are very frequently noted. ^Growth of these shelled organisms in clusters,
1210J09 particularly on the hulls of coastal ships, is likely to_ cause many
1220J09 operational difficulties. ^Occurrence of *3Mytilus edulis*0 in Port
1230J09 Blair waters is noted with much concern since these organisms besides
1240J09 being surface foulants, are also known to_ create choking problems.
1250J09 $Tunicates (Ascidians): ^The compound ascidians (*3Botryllus*0
1260J09 and *3Botrylloides*0) represent characteristic fouling elements
1270J09 of Andaman biofouling communities. ^In no other harbour (Bombay,
1280J09 Goa and Cochin) investigated by this laboratory such a varied
1290J09 and dense ascidian growth has been noticed. ^These organisms,
1300J09 like many others, occur almost throughout the year in great abundance,
1310J09 particularly in offshore waters. ^A species of solitary ascidian
1320J09 grows to 6 \0cm high and 1.8 \0cm \0diam. ^The settlement of these organisms
1330J09 on hulls of ships would create problems so far as critical speed
1340J09 maintenance of ship is concerned. ^This species exhibits gregarious
1350J09 tendency and, therefore, settles in thousands during the breeding
1360J09 period. $^Periodical examination of the test panels exposed
1370J09 at various sites in Port Blair has revealed that the settlement of the
1380J09 fouling organisms in these waters is apparently a continuous process,
1390J09 there being little variation in quality and quantity of bioassemblage.
1400J09 $*3Problem of marine wood-borers*0-- ^Destruction of wood
1410J09 in sea water, is caused mainly by 2 groups of organisms, molluscs and
1420J09 crustaceans. ^The moluscan borers consists chiefly of *3Teredo,
1430J09 Bankia*0 and *3Martesia*0. ^The crustacean borer is the isopod
1440J09 *3Limnoria*0.
1450J09 $^The important wood boring organisms encountered in Port Blair waters
1460J09 are *3Bankia bipalmulata, Bankia companulata, Teredo furcifera,
1470J09 Nototeredo*0 \0sp., *3Martesia fragilis, Martesia striata*0
1480J09 and *3Limnoria indica*0.
1490J09 $^Timber test panels were immersed at Chatham Island where presently berthing
1500J09 facilities for the commercial ships are available. ^Table 2 presents
1510J09 the incidence of *3Teredo, Martesia*0 and *3Limnoria*0 during
1520J09 various seasons of the year. ^All these 3 wood-borers occur in abundance
1530J09 in these waters almost throughout the year.
1540J09 $^Destruction of timber by teredid borers, \0viz. *3Teredo*0 *3Bankia*0
1550J09 is severe. *3^*Teredo*0 excavates tunnels of 4.2, 6.2 and 12.5
1560J09 \0cm in 45, 55 and 90 days respectively. ^During 90 days, *3Bankia*0
1570J09 drills a tunnel 16 to 18 \0cm in length (\0av. growth of 1.8
1580J09 \0mm per day). *3^Martesia*0 resembles teredids in its habit of boring
1590J09 into timber. ^In Port Blair waters this pholad is present throughout
1600J09 the year and inflicts considerable damage to timber structures.
1610J09 ^None of the 45 denser timbers exposed in Port Blair waters for assessing
1620J09 natural durability are completely free from *3Martesia*0 attack.
1630J09 $^For assessing the severity of *3Martesia*0 attack during different months,
1640J09 test boards holding several timber panels of 2.5 x 10 x 3.8 \0cm
1650J09 were immersed at Chatham jetty. ^Five
1660J09 panels were withdrawn every month and borers attacking them were
1670J09 individually counted. ^Maximum number of individuals counted from a
1680J09 single panel during various months are: \0Jan.-Feb., 1140; \0feb.-march,
1690J09 1000; April-May, 0940; May-June, 1050; July-\0Aug.,
1700J09 1200; \0Aug.-Sept., 0968; \0Oct.-Nov., 3132; \0Nov.-Dec., 0880;
1710J09 and \0Dec.-Jan., 1526.
1720J09 $^These field data bring out the severity of *3Martesia*0 activity in Port
1730J09 Blair waters. ^Growth rate studies based on the examination of these
1740J09 panels reveal that *3Martesia*0 attains dimensions of 8, 17 and
1750J09 36 \0mm in 45, 55 and 90 days respectively in Port Blair waters.
1760J09 $^Structural timbers affected by *3Limnoria*0 in Andaman waters are (trade
1770J09 name in parenthesis): *3Tectona grandis*0 (Teak) *3Lagerstroemia
1780J09 hypoleuca*0 (pyinma), *3Dipterocarpus lurbinatus*0 (Gurjan),
1790J09 *3Artocarpus chaplasha*0 (Chaplash), *3Calophylum*0 \0spp. (Poon),
1800J09 *3Mimusops littoralis*0 (Bullet wood) *3Shorea robusta*0 (Sal), *3Acacia
1810J09 hilotica*0 \0ssp. *3indica*0 (Babul) *3Acrocarpus fraxinifolius*0
1820J09 (Mundani), *3Canarium strictum*0, (Dhup) *3Dysoxylum
1821J09 binectariferum*0 (White cedar), *3Endospermum
1830J09 malaccense*0 (Bakota), *3Eugenia Syzygium cunnisill*0 \0sp.
1840J09 (Jaman), *3Lannea coromandelica*0 (Modal), and *3Terminalia paniculata*0
1850J09 (Kindal). ^Considering the structural quality of these
1860J09 timbers (density) and the rapidity with which they are destroyed, it would
1870J09 appear that *3Limnoria*0 is one of the major wood-destroying species
1880J09 in Port Blair waters.
1890J09 $*3performance of polymer sheathings*0-- ^Timber blocks (30 x 15
1900J09 \0cm) laminated with fibreglass/ polyester materials were immersed at 2
1910J09 borer infested sites in Port Blair harbour. ^These blocks with suitable
1920J09 controls were kept immersed for 18 months. ^Periodical examination
1930J09 of these blocks showed that they were completely free from borer attack.
1940J09 ^The presence of 200 *Ymm size scars revealed that borer larvae
1950J09 did attempt to_ attack these blocks but failed to_ penetrate into them.
1970J09 $^During this project underwater performance of 28 \0ft fast-motor boat
1980J09 sheathed with fibreglass/ polyester material was also watched. ^The material
1990J09 offered complete protection to this boat both from teredid and
2000J09 pholadid borers.
2010J09 $*3Deterioration of structural timbers*0-- ^A summary of the results
2020J09 obtained from test panels on the performance of structural timbers in Port
2030J09 Blair waters is given in Table 3. ^Several of these timbers are
2040J09 completely destroyed in about 12 months. ^Of the 6 timber species
2050J09 (4 indigenous and 2 imported) which have performed well in Bombay and Cochin
2060J09 waters, only *3Gniacum officinale*0 (Lignum vitae) and *3Tectona
2070J09 grandis*0 (Teak) in that_ order, have shown resistance to borer
2080J09 attack in Port Blair waters. ^This situation indicates the severity
2090J09 of wood-borer activity in Andamans. $*<*3Discussion*0*>
2110J09 $^The settlement of fouling organisms on the underwater structures in inshore
2120J09 and offshore waters of Andamans is both rich and varied. ^The
2130J09 test panels exposed here to_ asses the seasonal fluctuations in fouling
2140J09 indicate that the settlement is heavy and more or less continuous throughout
2150J09 the year. ^*Port Blair is thus a '12-month' fouling port.*#
        **[no. of words = 02003**]

        **[txt. j10**]
0010J10 **<*3RECENT ADVANCES IN INLAND AQUACULTURE IN INDIA*0**>
0020J10 $^The inland aquaculture resources of India are estimated as 1.6 million
0030J10 \0ha of freshwater ponds and tanks, 2.0 million \0ha of brackish water
0040J10 lagoons and impoundments, 0.72 million \0ha of natural lakes and
0050J10 2.0 million \0ha of man-made reservoirs. ^*India is perhaps one of
0060J10 the few countries in the world which have vast inland aquaculture resources.
0070J10 ^Unfortunately, a significant part of this potential resource
0080J10 is unutilized and even the part that_ is in use
0081J10 is under-utilized. ^The contribution of inland fish production
0090J10 in India is about 40% of the total fish production of the country, of
0100J10 which at least 50% is contributed by aquaculture resources alone. ^It
0110J10 is unfortunately not realised that the potentials of aquaculture resources
0120J10 are so great that, if properly developed and exploited, these
0130J10 could contribute 15 to 16 times more than their present yield.
0140J10 ^In the following pages I outline some of the important achievements in
0150J10 inland aquaculture in India in the last few years.
0160J10 $*<*31. Fry/ fingerling production*0*>
0170J10 $^The first research programme undertaken after independence was increasing
0180J10 the survival rate of spawn and fry of cultivable carps (*3Catla catla,
0190J10 Labeo rohita*0 and *3Cirrhinus mrigala*0) during their nursing.^The
0200J10 mortality rate of spawn in nursery ponds was as high as 97% which
0210J10 was almost reversed as a result of detailed researches conducted at the
0220J10 Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute and a survival of about
0230J10 50% made easily possible under field conditions with the application
0240J10 of the newly developed techniques. ^Further improvements have been
0250J10 effected in the technology in recent years. ^The rate of stocking
0260J10 in nursery ponds initially was 1 million spawn/ \0ha which has now been
0270J10 increased to ten times, \0i.e. 10 million/ \0ha. ^The concept of
0280J10 well-manured, predator-- and weed-free, nurseries, with abundance
0290J10 of natural fish food (zooplankters) which is simultaneously supplemented
0300J10 by protein rich organic feed of vegetable origin, has been developed.
0310J10 ^Great emphasis is now laid on the water quality (\0pH,
0320J10 \0DO, ammonia, alkalinity, phosphates and nitrates).
0330J10 ^Despite such a high rate of stocking, a survival of over 66% is possible
0340J10 with the addition of cobalt (0.01 \0mg/ fish/ day) in the feed.
0350J10 ^This technological development enables production of a very large number
0360J10 of fry/ unit area which is especially advantageous in view of the
0370J10 paucity of nursery space in the country. $^Similarly, the development
0380J10 of a three-tier system of culture, \0i.e. growing the fry
0390J10 obtained from nursery into another set of ponds called rearing ponds,
0400J10 before finally stocking them in larger water sheets for production of
0410J10 table-sized fish has proved itself to_ be greatly advantageous in
0420J10 handling the young ones and increasing survival rates. ^Fingerling rearing
0430J10 techniques have been developed and a survival of over 80% is
0440J10 now obtained in such operations when the stocking density is as
0450J10 high as 350,000 fry/ \0ha. ^A 3-month rearing gives a crop of fingerlings
0460J10 which in terms of weight is of the order of 3,000 \0kg/ \0ha, each
0470J10 individual fish growing to 100-150 \0mm which is a suitable size for
0480J10 stocking larger sheets of water. ^A survival of over 90% from well-prepared
0490J10 stock ponds can be expected in all cases where large sized fingerlings
0500J10 are stocked.
0510J10 $*<*32. Pond preparation*0*>
0520J10 $^Considerable work had to_ be done during the course of rearing experiments
0530J10 on developing the techniques of pond preparation and fertilization.
0540J10 ^As the import of derris-root powder, which was used as a fish
0550J10 toxicant for eradication of predatory and weed fishes at the research
0560J10 farms, was stopped, the need to_ find a suitable indigenously
0570J10 available substitute was felt. ^A large number of plant toxins were
0580J10 screened and the root and bark of *3Barringtonia acutangula*0,
0590J10 seed of *3Milletia pachycarpa*0 and \0*3M.*0 *3piscida*0, and *3Croton
0600J10 tiglium*0 found quite effective. ^However, non-availability
0610J10 of these products on a commercial scale resulted in the popularisation
0620J10 of the use of *4mahua oilcake (*3Bassia latifolia*0), despite its
0630J10 requirement in large quantities as an efficient piscicide at 2,500
0640J10 \0kg/ \0ha-meter and a longer detoxifying period. ^The fish killed by the
0650J10 application of *4mahua oilcake is fit for human consumption unlike certain
0660J10 chemical piscicides. ^Ammonia (15 \0ppm \0N) too is an effective
0670J10 piscicide, weedicide and a nitrogenous fertiliser. $^Studies
0680J10 on the effect of various types of organic and inorganic fertilzers and
0690J10 their dosages indicated that an application of universally available
0700J10 cowdung at 10,000-20,000 \0kg/ \0ha results in an abundant growth of fish
0710J10 food organisms in nursery, rearing and stock ponds. ^In acid soils,
0720J10 this application is preceded by treatment with lime at 300 \0kg/ \0ha.
0730J10 ^Use of poultry manure has been found to_ be very effective
0740J10 and much smaller quantities than cowdung constitute an effective dose.
0750J10 in recent years, utilization of inorganic fertilisers has also found a place
0760J10 in pond preparation. ^Urea for slightly acidic to neutral and
0770J10 ammonium sulphate for alkaline soils are suggested for pond preparation.
0780J10 ^Calcium-ammonium nitrate is another suitable fertiliser for acid
0790J10 soils which provides both calcium and nitrogen at the same time.
0800J10 ^For stock ponds, liming followed by an initial high dose of cowdung (5,000-10,000
0810J10 \0kg/ \0ha) or *4mahua oilcake (2,500 \0kg/ \0ha-m) followed
0820J10 subsequently by alternate application of inorganic and organic fertilisers
0830J10 every month is generally recommended in systematic fresh water carp
0840J10 culture.
0850J10 $*<*33. Fish breeding*0*> $^The
0860J10 cultivable carps of India namely Catla (*3Catla catla*0), *4rohu (*3Labco
0870J10 rohita*0) and mrigal (*3Cirrhinus mrigala*0) breed annually in
0880J10 flooded rivers and contiguous fields during the monsoon months. ^Naturally,
0890J10 these resources therefore constitute the collection grounds for the
0900J10 young ones of these species. ^Natural collections from the
0910J10 rivers and flooded fields are but a mixture of both desirable and undesirable
0920J10 species of fish as most of the predatory and weed fishes also
0930J10 breed during the same season. ^This results not only in wastage
0940J10 during collection but also during subsequent handling, rearing and
0950J10 transport where the undesirable fish seed is either responsible
0960J10 for large-scale predation or competition for food, space and oxygen.
0970J10 ^It was, therefore, necessary to_ develop a technique whereby
0980J10 the cultivable carps could be bred exclusively for their seed
0990J10 and at will. ^The practice of breeding these fishes at will by
1000J10 creating semi-natural conditions is already known for a long time in certain
1010J10 districts of Bengal and Bihar. ^This technique, known as
1020J10 *4bundh breeding, has now been considerably improved and extended to
1030J10 various parts of the country. $^However, of the two types of *4bundhs,
1040J10 wet and dry depending upon the availability of water either throughout or
1050J10 a part of the year, the dry type yield better quality seed and are
1060J10 more dependable than the wet ones. ^The general unsuitability of
1070J10 the site and construction, maintenance and operation costs have been
1080J10 the main impediments in the multiplication of *3dry*0 *4bundhs in seed
1090J10 production. ^The technique, wherever possible, is certainly advantageous
1100J10 for mass production of fish seed and has also been successfully
1110J10 used for experimental spawning of the Chinese major carps (grass carp
1120J10 and silver carp) which are now in great demand in India.
1130J10 $^An important landmark in the history of freshwater aquaculture research
1140J10 and development has been the spawning of cultivable fishes by administration
1150J10 of fish pituitary gonadotropins known as induced breeding or hypophysation.
1160J10 ^The technique of induced breeding was first developed
1170J10 in India in 1955 and not only the indigenous carps but also
1180J10 the exotic carps as well as several species of catfishes, air-breathing
1190J10 fishes and mullets can now be spawned within a 2 x 1 x 1 \0m
1200J10 box-like cloth chamber, *3hapa*0, fixed half or three-fourths submerged
1210J10 in water. ^Mature males and females when injected with the
1220J10 pituitary gland extract, ovulate and spermiate either naturally or by
1230J10 application of gentle pressure on the abdomen of the brood fish after
1240J10 a lapse of a few hours of injection. ^The dosages for the different
1250J10 species have been standardised and the technique is increasingly being
1260J10 used for the production of fish seed for aquaculture in the country.
1270J10 $^The techniques for hatching the eggs were also very poor and generally
1280J10 resulted in heavy mortality. ^However, the use of double-walled cloth
1290J10 *3hapas*0 (the outer one of muslin cloth and the inner one of round-meshed
1300J10 mosquito netting) which is a sort of an open box within a box, has
1310J10 helped in increasing the hatching and the survival rate of the young
1320J10 hatchlings. ^Yet another development during the last five years
1330J10 has largely done away with the vagaries of nature as the *3hapas*0 have
1340J10 to_ be fixed in ponds where high temperatures, heavy winds or fluctuating
1350J10 water levels, algal blooms, crabs and trash fish, generally
1360J10 create havoc resulting in mass mortalities or poor survival.
1370J10 ^The new technique makes use of continuously running water through a
1380J10 series of glass jars, where the eggs are kept, virtually buoyant, and
1390J10 provided with sufficient aeration. ^The hatchlings, drifting out through
1400J10 the jar spout on to an open conduit, are collected in a separate
1410J10 receptacle where again a continuous shower provides adequate
1420J10 aeration. ^Since the glass jar hatchery is put on land under
1430J10 a shed, the field hazards to which *3hapas*0 are exposed are largely
1440J10 done away with as also the recurring expenditure on cloth *3hapas*0
1450J10 which hardly last a season.
1460J10 *<*34. Composite fish culture*0*>
1470J10 $^Considerable attention has been paid in recent years to_ increase the
1480J10 per hectare production of table fish from stock ponds. ^Experiments
1490J10 in this direction conducted from the early sixties initially gave
1500J10 productions of 3,000-4,000 \0kg/ \0ha/ \0yr. ^However, in course of
1510J10 time further experimentation resulted in higher and higher rates of
1520J10 fish production so much so that production as high as over 9,000 \0kg/
1530J10 \0ha/ \0yr was obtained in experimental ponds. ^This technology involving
1540J10 the use of indigenous (\0*3C.*0 *3catla*0, \0*3L.*0 *3rohita*0 and
1550J10 \0*3C.*0 *3mrigala*0) and exotic (*3Ctenopharyngodon idella, Hypophthaimichthys
1560J10 molitrix*0 and *3Cyprinus carpio*0) major carps coupled
1570J10 with a set of management practice is termed as composite fish culture.
1580J10 ^Stocking densities from 3,000 to 10,000 fingerlings/ \0ha have
1590J10 been used and densities around 5,000 to 7,500 fingerlings/ \0ha found
1600J10 easily manageable. ^As in the case of nursery and rearing ponds,
1610J10 the concept of well-manured, predator-free ponds with a natural
1620J10 abundance of fish food organisms is also the rule in composite fish culture.
1630J10 ^In order to_ achieve high productions, periodic fertilisation
1640J10 of the ponds and daily feeding of fish with supplementary food items
1650J10 like groundnut oilcake and rice bran (1:1) at 2-3% of the body weight
1660J10 of the fish stock is necessary. ^The various species stocked in the
1670J10 pond are so proportioned that the natural food is utilised without
1680J10 much competition between the defferent species. ^These proportions
1690J10 have been carefully worked out in the course of a decade of experimentation.
1700J10 ^Surface feeders (Catla and silver carp) constitute about 35%
1710J10 followed by mid-feeders (*4rohu and grass carp) which account for
1720J10 about 30%. ^The bottom feeders (Mrigal and common carp) constitute
1730J10 another 35%. ^Since silver carp feeds on the primary producers
1740J10 (phytoplankton) which are always in a greater abundance than the secondary
1750J10 producers (zooplankton), a higher percentage of silver carp (25%) than
1760J10 Catla (10%) is stocked in a pond. ^Of the mid-feeders, *4rohu
1770J10 browses on a wide variety of planktonic algae and organic debris and
1780J10 constitutes 20% of the stock as against grass carp which forms 10% of
1790J10 the total density. ^As grass carp can be raised on aquatic or land weeds
1800J10 resulting in economy of supplementary feed, a variety of aquatic or land
1801J10 vegetation, cattle fodder and various vegetable wastes, are provided
1810J10 in a floating enclosure in the pond for its consumption. ^Supplementary
1820J10 feed in the form of a dough is provided on feeding trays hung
1830J10 1/2 to 1 \0m below the water surface, only after the grass
1831J10 carp are satiated. ^The bottom feeders,
1840J10 Mrigal (15%) and common carp (20%), obtain their natural feed
1850J10 from the bottom detritus, decaying organic matter and semi-digested
1860J10 faecal matter passed out by the voraciously feeding grass carp. ^The
1861J10 unutilised faecal matter of grass carp acts as a feriliser. ^This
1870J10 synergistic equation is the crux of composite fish culture. $*<*35.
1880J10 Domestic sewage/ livestock wastes as fish pond fertilisers*0*>
1890J10 $^The practice of utilising domestic sewage for fertilising fish ponds
1900J10 is in vogue in several parts of the world and also in India around
1910J10 Culcutta for a very long time.*#
        **[no. of words = 02008**]

        **[txt. j11**]
0020J11 **<*3SIZE CORRELATIONS AMONG THE CAMBIUM AND ITS DERIVATIVES IN DALBERGIA
0030J11 SISSOO*0**> $*<INTRODUCTION*>
0040J11 $^Size correlations among the cambial initials and their derivatives have
0050J11 attracted the attention of several investigators during the past few
0060J11 decades. ^These studies concern different aspects of the phloem
0070J11 and xylem with respect to their position in the tree, either radially
0080J11 within the growth ring or with respect to the distance from the stem
0090J11 centre or height in the tree. ^Reviews on this subject include those
0100J11 of Spurr and Hyvarinen (1954), Dinwoodie (1961), and Philipson *(0et
0110J11 al.*) (1971). ^Most of the plants studied, however, have non-storied
0120J11 cambia, there being few works on those possessing storied cambia.
0130J11 ^Obsevations on plants with storied cambia include those of Chalk *(0et
0140J11 al.*) (1955) who studied size variation of the fibers within a growth
0150J11 ring and reported that their length increases from the early wood to
0160J11 somewhere in the middle of the ring, then decreases suddenly at the
0170J11 ring boundary. ^This decrease, however, does not coincide with the length
0180J11 of fibers in the early wood of the next ring. ^*Hejnowicz and
0190J11 Hejnowicz (1959) made measurements of the length of the fibers and vessel
0200J11 members of *3Robinia pseudoacacia, another plant with storied cambium
0210J11 and recorded an increase in fiber length from early to late wood with
0220J11 an abrupt decrease in length at the ring boundary. ^The amplitude of
0230J11 the fiber length also showed a tendency to_ increase from the pith outwords.
0240J11 ^*Chalk *(0et al.*) (1955), however, found that neither the fibers
0250J11 nor parenchyma cells show such an increase in length from pith to the
0260J11 cambium. $^Little information has been published relating the size of
0270J11 cambial derivatives to the size of the cambial intials. ^One of
0280J11 the pioneering contributions in this field is that_ of Bailey (1920),
0290J11 who studied this relationship in *3Ginkgo, several members of the coniferae,
0300J11 and the dicotyledons. ^He concluded that in most of the conifers,
0310J11 the length of the tracheids closely resembled (or they become slightly
0320J11 longer) the length of the fusiform initials from which they are derived.
0330J11 ^In dicotyledonous trees, however, he observed that the fibers
0340J11 were longer than the fusiform initials while the vessel members were approximately
0350J11 of the same length as the fusiform initials. ^*Chattaway (1936)
0360J11 found that the fibers in a dicotyledonous wood can assume dimensions
0370J11 1.1-9.5 times the length of the fusiform initials, especially when
0380J11 the latter are very short. ^*Butterfield (1973) reported that the vessel
0390J11 elements are of the same length as the fusiform initials in *3Hoheria
0400J11 angustifolia, another plant with storeyed cambium. $^The present
0410J11 investigation is aimed at providing the information on the relationship
0420J11 in size between the cambium initials and their derivatives in *3Dalbergia
0430J11 sissoo, a tropical tree with storied cambium. ^This plant
0440J11 was chosen because the seasonal variations in its cambial activity have
0450J11 already been investigated at this laboratory by Paliwal and Prasad
0460J11 (1970). ^Further, Ghouse *(0et al.*) (1974) have recently calculated
0470J11 the ratio of the fusiform initials in this plant along with some other
0480J11 species. $*<MATERIAL AND METHODS*> $^The material was
0490J11 collected from a tree growing at the departmental Botanical Garden.
0500J11 ^Small portions of the bark and wood measuring 6.5 x 9.5 \0cms were cut
0510J11 from the tree trunk at the breast height. ^These were fixed in Craf
0520J11 *=3 mixture. ^Later, by using an electric saw and single-edged blades,
0530J11 2.5 x 2.0 \0cms pieces, containing portions of the wood and bark were
0540J11 obtained. ^Transverse and tangential longitudinal sections at 20-24
0550J11 \0*Ymm were cut on a wood microtome. ^These were later placed serially
0560J11 in a mixture of 70 per cent alcohol and glycerine (1 : 1) over a
0570J11 slide and tied to it with a fine sewing thread. ^They were then stained
0580J11 with tannic acid, ferric chloride and lacmoid mixture as outlined by
0590J11 Cheadle *(0et al.*) (1953). ^Sections were left in the stain for
0600J11 12-18 \0hrs, passed through dehydration series and the thread was removed
0610J11 after these had been cleared through xylene. ^Mounting was done
0620J11 in neutral canada balsam. ^Measurements of the fusiform initials and
0630J11 their derivatives, except the fibers, were carried out in the tangential,
0640J11 and radial longitudinal sections and that_ of the vascular rays and
0650J11 ray initials in the radial longitudinal sections of the stem. ^The
0660J11 size of the fibers was measured after macerating the bark and wood with
0670J11 nitric acid and potassium chlorate for half an hour and then staining
0680J11 with safranin, after washing the macerated tissue. ^An average of
0690J11 40 measurements was obtained and the length and breadth of the same elements
0700J11 was measured. $*<OBSERVATIONS*> $\0*3^*D. *3sissoo
0710J11 has a storied cambium and this arrangement is retained by its vascular
0720J11 derivatives at maturity (\0Figs. *=1C; 2A). ^The xylem consists
0730J11 of vessels, wood fibers, and parenchyma cells; the latter alternating the
0740J11 former two and organized into regular longitudinal strands. $*3Cambium--
0750J11 ^This tissue has two cell types-- the fusiform and ray initials.
0760J11 ^The fusiform initials are hexagonal with almost pointed ends.
0770J11 ^They contain a large number of plastids with other cytoplasmic contents,
0780J11 and a conspicuous nucleus (Plate *=1D). ^These undergo radial longitudinal
0790J11 divisions which are not always from tip to tip of the initials
0800J11 and result into two unequal daughter cells (Plate *=1D). ^The cambial
0810J11 derivatives which differentiate into parenchyma cells, undergo further
0820J11 transverse divisions (\0Fig. 2B). ^This process has been observed
0830J11 more commonly at that_ stage of the cells where the plastids have
0840J11 yet not accumulated too much starch. ^Usually, once the latter stage
0850J11 has been arrived (except in those cells which differentiate into crystalliferous
0860J11 parenchyma cells), cell division ceases and further differentiation
0870J11 occurs. ^The ray initials are isodiametric and divide in
0880J11 various planes. $*3PhloemO.-- ^The phloem has four types of cells--
0890J11 sieve elements, companion cells, phloem parenchyma cells,
0891J11 and the phloem fibers. ^At maturity
0900J11 the sieve elements have an empty lumen apart from a \0p-protein plug
0910J11 close to the sieve plate (\0Fig. *=1A). ^A few plastids have
0920J11 also been observed in them. ^The end walls of the sieve plates are
0930J11 transverse to slightly oblique with a callose deposition all over
0940J11 their surface (\0fig. *=1A). ^The sieve plates are simple with
0950J11 numerous pores evenly distributed. ^The sieve areas are also located
0960J11 on the radial walls (lateral walls) each having numerous pores
0970J11 on it similar to those on the end wall. ^Each sieve element has
0980J11 associated with it one or two or rarely three companion cells (Plate
0990J11 *=1A). ^The latter have a narrow lumen with dense cytoplasmic
1000J11 contents. ^The phloem parenchyma cells are of three types-- crystalliferous,
1010J11 non-crystalliferous, and intermediate type. ^Crystalliferous
1020J11 cells are formed after 6-8 transverse divisions in each
1030J11 phloem mother cell and the compartments thus formed each contains
1040J11 a hexagonal crystal (Plate *=1B). ^Later these cells
1050J11 undergo lignification. ^*Holdheide (1951) called such cells
1060J11 as crystal-fibers (Kristallfasern) and stated that they
1070J11 could later deposit secondary wall thickening to become crystal-containing
1080J11 fibrous compartments (Kristallkammerfasern). ^The non-crystalliferous
1090J11 cells are produced after a single transverse division
1100J11 in the phloem mother cell and each contains a number of plastids,
1110J11 at various stages of differentiation (Plate *=1A, B). ^These
1120J11 two cell types form separate strands in the phloem. ^The intermediate
1130J11 type of parenchyma cells also originate in the same manner. ^One
1140J11 of the derivatives produced after a transverse division of the
1150J11 fusiform initial forms the crystalliferous cells after undergoing
1160J11 further septation and the other half remains devoid of crystals
1170J11 like the ordinary non-crystalliferous parenchyma cell (\0Fig. *=1B.).
1180J11 ^The phloem fibers are non-septate, highly thickened
1190J11 cells with pointed ends and posses a comparatively broad
1200J11 lumen, especially in the middle region. $^The sieve elements undergo
1210J11 a slight increase in their width but decrease in their length,
1220J11 the crystalliferous parenchyma
1230J11 cells gain in their size at maturity, whereas the non-crystalliferous
1240J11 parenchyama cells are approximately half the length of the
1250J11 fusiform initials. ^All the parenchyma cells are more or less
1260J11 of the same width. ^Completely differentiated phloem fibers
1270J11 become 6.2 times longer and almost two times wider than
1280J11 the fusiform initials (Table 1). $*3XylemO.--
1290J11 ^The vessel elements are of two types (a) broad and long,
1300J11 (b) narrow and short. ^These are distributed randomly
1310J11 and exhibit pitted thickenings (bordered pits) on their
1320J11 walls with a transverse to slightly oblique, simple plate (\0fig. 2B).
1330J11 ^Occasionally, the vasicentric parenchyma initials
1340J11 were seen to_ undergo divisions in various planes
1350J11 even within a single precursor. ^These cells contain numerous
1360J11 starch grains at maturity and surround the vessel elements
1370J11 which occur either singly or in groups of two (rarely
1380J11 three). ^Stages of nuclear degeneration were also observed
1390J11 in the differentiating elements (\0Fig. 2C). $^The wood
1400J11 fibers are uniformly non-septate and possess a narrow lumen and form
1410J11 longitudinally running strands (\0Fig. 2B).
1420J11 ^They have pointed ends showing intrusive growth. ^Their walls
1430J11 are highly lignified. ^The crystalliferous parenchyma
1440J11 cells do not form longitudinally running strands but are scattered
1450J11 in contrast to those in the phloem. ^ the starch-storing parenchyma
1460J11 cells form regular groups and each cell acquires 10-15
1470J11 starch grains in it. ^The latter are concentric and possess a central
1480J11 hilum as shown in Figure 2A, D. ^The intermediate type
1490J11 of parenchyma cells are formed in the same manner as has been
1500J11 described for phloem. ^Dimensions of both types of vessel element
1510J11 grew up considerably at maturity. ^Whereas the narrower ones
1520J11 (measuring 151.1 x 62.4 \0*Ymm) gained approximately 4-5 times
1530J11 in their width, those falling in the broad category (measuring
1540J11 195.5 x 232.4 \0*Ymm) become almost 16 times wider. ^The wood
1550J11 fibers are almost 8-9 times longer and only slightly wider than
1560J11 the fusiform initials (Table 1). $*<*3DiscussionO*> ^It is
1570J11 evident from our investigation that except for the fibers and the
1580J11 parenchyma cells, there is only a slight difference in the size
1590J11 of the cambial derivatives as compared to the cambial initials.
1600J11 ^As has been pointed out by Bailey (1920), in contrast
1610J11 to the non-storied cambium, the increase in the circumference
1620J11 of the plants with storied cambia cannot involve the elongation
1630J11 of the daughter cells to any great extent since the
1640J11 tier arrangement of the cambium will be lost. ^In the storied
1650J11 cambium, the fusiform initials divide by anticlinal divisions
1660J11 only in the radial longitudinal plane which produce cells
1670J11 in tiers and these need no further elongation. ^This permits
1680J11 the storied arrangement to_ be maintained as such, even in the
1690J11 adult stems having larger diameters. ^This has also been
1700J11 borne out by our present study since the storied arrangement
1710J11 is not only retained by the cambium but also in its derivatives
1720J11 even till maturity. ^This, thus indicates that there
1730J11 are no transverse/ anticlinal divisions in the fusiform initials
1740J11 except for those in the parenchyma cell initials and
1750J11 in the formation of the companion cells. ^In contrast to the
1760J11 fusiform initials in the non-storied cambium, the cells
1770J11 in the storied cambium do not show intrusive growth.
1780J11 $^It must be pointed out, however, that the slight decrease
1790J11 in the length of the sieve elements in this plant cannot be attributed
1800J11 to any sort of transverse divisions in the fusiform initials
1810J11 of which they are the derivatives, since they undergo,
1820J11 only radial longitudinal divisions. ^Further, no division
1830J11 could be recorded in the sieve element initials except while
1840J11 forming the companion cells in contrast to those reported
1850J11 by Esau and Cheadle (1955) for *3AsiminiaO and *3WigellaO,
1860J11 and by Zahur (1959) for some other dicotyledons. ^Besides,
1870J11 the factors which influence the size variations of these derivatives
1880J11 in non-storied combia \0i.e., frequency of pseudo-transverse
1890J11 divisions elongation of the new initials, and the size of
1900J11 the growth ring (Philipson *(0et al.,*) 1971) can be ruled out
1910J11 to_ be operating in this taxon since no such features were recorded here.
1920J11 ^The plausible explanation for this at least in part is the occurrence
1930J11 of some oblique anticlinal divisions (radial longitudinal) as reported
1940J11 by Bailey (1920). ^This may also be due to the transfer of the pointed
1950J11 hexagonal tips of the fusiform initials to transverse position
1960J11 in the sieve elements. ^Further, we did not notice any decrease
1970J11 in the width of the sieve elements due to the cutting off of the
1980J11 companion cells as has been recorded by Esau and Cheadle
1990J11 (1955), instead, these experienced a slight increase in this
2000J11 direction. $^Of the three types of parenchyma cells
2010J11 in the phloem which form strands alternating to the sieve
2020J11 elements only the crystalliferous type undergo slight intrusive
2030J11 growth.*#
        **[no. of words = 02020**]

        **[txt. j12**]
0010J12 **<*3An apparatus for liqui-sol quenching**>
0020J12 $^An apparatus to_ produce foils of quenched metals and alloys from the
0030J12 melt suitable for the study of lattice defects by X-ray diffractometric
0040J12 technique has been described. \0^*Al-Cu system has been selected for
0050J12 rapid solidification and it has been shown that, with the help of the present
0060J12 apparatus, the limit of the primary solubility is extended and the
0070J12 large supersaturation is relieved on annealing at elevated temperatures.
0080J12 ^The single phase foils thus produced can be used for the study
0090J12 of lattice defects. $*<*31. INTRODUCTION*> $^It is well
0100J12 known that when metals and alloys are rapidly quenched to solid state
0110J12 from melts, high temperature phases can be retained with the same crystal
0120J12 structure in a supersaturated condition. ^This high rate of cooling
0130J12 not only helps in retaining high temperature phases but also introduces
0140J12 a sufficient amount of lattice defects in them (Kirin & Bonefacic
0150J12 1974). ^Additionally new phases and sometimes even amorphous
0160J12 phases have been observed in these cases (Klement *(0et al*) 1960).
0170J12 ^These lattice defects, namely, size of the coherently diffracting
0180J12 domains, microstrain in them and faults, can be effectively studied by X-ray
0190J12 line profile analysis with the help of an X-ray diffractometer (Kirin
0200J12 & Bonefacic, 1974). ^During the last decade a considerable
0210J12 number of devices have been developed to_ quench metals and alloys from
0220J12 the melt (Ananthraman & Suryanarayana 1971) and the techniques vary widely
0230J12 depending upon the requirements for rapid solidification and sample
0240J12 sizes. ^The present method describes a technique where it is simple
0250J12 to_ produce foils of quenched metals and alloys suitable for X-ray
0260J12 diffractometer study, which is our ultimate aim of the present series of
0270J12 study. ^*Kumar & sinha (1969) describe an apparatus to_ solidify a
0280J12 melt rapidly into foils. ^The average thickness of such foils is 0.15
0290J12 to o0.20 \0mm and they did not mention the size of the foils. ^In the
0300J12 present method we have been able to_ produce foils of the size 1 \0cmx
0310J12 1 \0cm suitably selected from larger ones. ^We have selected \0Al-\0Cu
0320J12 system for rapid solidification and it has been shown that, with the
0330J12 help of the present apparatus, the limit of the primary solid solubility
0340J12 is extended and the large supersaturation is relieved on annealing at
0350J12 elevated temperatures. $*<*32. EXPERIMENTAL*> $^When a
0360J12 drop of molten metal or alloy falls on a cool metallic disc rotating on
0370J12 a horizontal plane with high frequency, the side of the molten drop in
0380J12 touch with the metallic disc gets solidified immediately and moves relatively
0390J12 faster than the upper portion and thus thin film is produced within
0400J12 a fraction of a second. ^These foils thus produced have average thickness
0410J12 of the order of 8 x 10*: - 3**: \0cm and the size is quite suitable
0420J12 for diffractometric study where 1.2 \0cm x 0.5 \0cm is the normal size
0430J12 of the sample. ^Figure 1 is the side view of the apparatus. *3^*HO
0440J12 is the heater where temperature can be raised up to 1400*@ \0C and the
0450J12 temperature is measured with a suitable thermocouple-- and a millivoltmeter.
0460J12 *3^R is the copper disc which can be rotated by a motor *3M with
0470J12 regulated speed. *3^*L is the cylindrical
0480J12 part below and in touch with the disc *3R, where iced, brine
0490J12 water or liquid air \0etc. can be kept to_ lower the temperature of the
0500J12 disc. *3^*C0 is the graphite crucible with a hole at the top and
0510J12 *3CH is the crucible holder with which the molten drop can be poured
0520J12 on the disc *3R. ^The whole portion above the base *3B is covered
0530J12 and the whole operation can be done in inert gas atmosphere to_ avoid
0540J12 oxidation of the foils. $^Four aluminium-copper alloys containing
0550J12 0.66, 1.30, 1.66 and 2.17 at % of copper were prepared from aluminium
0560J12 and copper of 99% purity and the final composition was determined by chemical
0570J12 analysis. ^The molten alloys of requisite amount were kept at
0580J12 900*@ \0C for one hour in the furnace and then dropped on the disc rotating
0590J12 at 1400 \0rpm at room temperature (30*@ \0C). ^The films thus
0600J12 obtained were examined metallographically immediately in the etched and
0610J12 unetched condition. ^*X-ray and microhardness techniques were used
0620J12 to_ study the nature of the alloys as in the as-solidified condition and
0630J12 after annealing in vacuum for 30 minutes at 150*@ \0C, 250*@ \0C, 350*@
0640J12 \0C. and 400*@ \0C. ^*Debye-Scherrer photographs of all the quenched
0650J12 and annealed samples were taken in a camera of 11.4 \0cm diameter using
0660J12 filtered \0CuK*;*Ya**; radiation. ^These cylindrical samples
0670J12 were chosen from the selected portion of the quenched and annealed materials.
0680J12 ^Lattice parameter was determined using Straumanis technique
0690J12 and Nelson-Riley*'s extrapolation function. ^The microhardnesses
0700J12 of all specimens were measured and for each one an average of readings
0710J12 were taken. $*<*33. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION*>
0720J12 $^Figure 2 shows a metallograph of as-quenched alloy containing 2.17 at
0730J12 % \0Cu. ^The metallograph clearly shows the dendritic type of growth
0740J12 with a nucleation centre. ^Electron microprobe analysis was done
0750J12 to_ identify the central portion. ^The analysis shows a copper deplated
0760J12 region at the central portion of a grain. ^The concentration of \0Cu
0770J12 increases gradually after the central portion and remains constant
0780J12 throughout the other portion of the grain. ^Figure 3 shows the variation
0790J12 of lattice parameter and microhardness as a function of copper content
0800J12 of the alloys. ^The lattice parameter continuously decreases and the
0810J12 microhardness increases with increase in copper content. ^*Debye-Scherrer
0820J12 photographs of all the four alloys when quenched show that only
0830J12 *Ya-phase has been formed. ^The limit of solid solubility increases
0840J12 upto 2.17 at % of \0Cu and the present instrument can be used for
0850J12 preparing such type of supersaturated solid solution. $^The decomposition
0860J12 of the super saturated solid solutions was studied in the temperature
0870J12 range 150*@ \0C and 400*@ \0C by the study of lattice parameter and
0880J12 microhardness. ^Figure 4(a) shows a continuous increase of lattice parameter
0890J12 for each alloy annealed for 30 minutes in the temperature range 150*@
0900J12 \0C to 400*@ \0C as a result of relief of supersaturation through
0910J12 precipitation of copper. ^Figure 4(b) shows the corresponding changes
0920J12 in the microhardness values which decrease gradually with increase of annealing
0930J12 temperature. $^The variation in lattice parameter and microhardness
0940J12 of the as-quenched foils can be explained on the basis of the composition
0950J12 of the supersaturated solid solutions. ^The bulk specimen of
0960J12 the four alloys described here are mixtures *Ya and *Yb phases at room
0970J12 temperature. ^The lattice parameter of *Ya-phase in them will depend
0980J12 on the proportions of \0Al and \0Cu present in that_ phase. ^The
0990J12 liquisol quenched foils of these alloys, on the other hand, are supersaturated
1000J12 solid solutions with *Ya-phase only. ^Therefore, more and more
1010J12 copper atoms enter into aluminium lattice and the proportion of copper
1020J12 becomes larger than that_ in the *Ya-phase of the bulk specimen. ^Thus
1030J12 cell dimensions contract in the quenched foils and density of the materials
1040J12 increases. ^With the increase in the density of the foils,
1050J12 their microhardness increases. ^The lattice parameters of *Ya-phases
1060J12 in the bulk-specimen will be larger than those observed for samples annealed
1070J12 at 400*@ \0C for 30 minutes, while microhardness in bulk will
1080J12 be smaller. ^Besides, lattice defects introduced due to quenching will
1090J12 increase the microhardness of the foils. ^The observed variations in
1100J12 lattice parameter and microhardness in as-quenched foils are due to supersaturation
1110J12 of *Ya-phase and lattice imperfections. ^Further study
1120J12 of lattice defects by X-ray diffraction is under progress. $*<ACKNOWLEDGEMENT*>
1130J12 $^The authors are thankful to \0Prof. *(0M.R.*)
1140J12 Das for his interest and helpful discussions. **<*3Current
1150J12 trends in atomic collision experiments**> $*<*3INTRODUCTION*0*>
1160J12 $^Experimental studies on atomic collision processes are as old as
1170J12 the discovery of the electrical discharges in gases. ^However,
1180J12 in the first stage of the systematic study, experimental data on
1190J12 outershell excitation and ionisation were accumulated with
1200J12 the projectile ion beam not usually mass analysed. ^In a later
1210J12 period of this stage mass analysed ion beam was used. ^The use
1220J12 of an electromagnetic isotope separator as a low energy accelerator
1230J12 producing 10-100 \0keV mass analysed ion beam was initiated
1240J12 by Kistemaker and his group for outer shell ionisation and
1250J12 excitation experiments Karmohapatro 1976, Van Eck *(0et al*) 1962;
1260J12 Van Eck and Kistemaker 1960; Sluyters 1959, de Heer 1956).
1270J12 $^In recent years, more sophisticated experimental methods (Massey
1280J12 and Gilbody, 1974) like velocity selection using rotating slotted
1290J12 discs, merging beam and crossed beam techniques have been introduced
1300J12 for increasing sensitivity of detection, eliminating background
1310J12 effects, attaining high angular resolution and for obtaining
1320J12 results for ions of energy as low as in the electron volt region.
1330J12 ^The experiments have been extended to heavy ion induced inner shell
1340J12 ionisation with X-ray emission and to_ study the channeling
1350J12 phenomena due to impact of heavy ions in solids. ^Beam
1360J12 foil spectroscopy, ion scattering spectrometry and secondary ion
1370J12 mass spectrometry are modern techniques for studying the gaseous
1380J12 and solid atoms or molecules. ^The methods reveal unending
1390J12 fundamental phenomenon in atomic physics. $^Machines like a small
1400J12 accelerator, a laboratory isotope separator or a conventional
1410J12 mass spectrometer are the sources for monoenergetic ions handled
1420J12 by the experimentalists. $^In the present paper we shall describe
1430J12 a few experiments on atomic collisions which reveal the
1440J12 interference effects and channeling phenomena. ^The former is a
1450J12 quantum mechanical effect depicting the wave nature of atoms and
1460J12 molecules and the latter is based on a classical concept with an extensive
1470J12 application in solid state physics. ^Both the phenomena help us
1480J12 to_ obtain new findings in the fundamental behaviour of atomic
1490J12 collisions in gases and solids. $*<*32. INTERFERENCE EFFECTS*>
1500J12 $*<(**=1) *3Rainbow scattering.*> $^In elastic collisions
1510J12 between atoms or molecules, rainbow scattering is a phenomenon
1520J12 compared to the optical rainbows. ^In figure 1, the geometry of
1530J12 light rays in a raindrop forming rainbows are shown. ^With the
1540J12 increase of the miss distance *3r, the angle of the emergent light
1550J12 rays decrease to a minimum *Yj*;*3r**; and then increases as *3r
1560J12 is further increased. ^The formation of a primary rainbow is explained
1570J12 without even the wave concept of light as done by Descartes with
1580J12 the geometry shown in figure 1. ^Light rays undergoing two or
1590J12 more internal reflections produce secondary or higher order
1600J12 rainbows in the same way. ^However, for details of the primary or
1610J12 secondary rainbows, a wave description is necessary, since rainbow
1620J12 angle is dependent upon the refractive index of water for light and
1630J12 the outer edges are less intense then what Descartes theory predicts.
1640J12 ^In optical rainbows, the interference effects produce supernumery
1650J12 rainbows inside the primary or secondary rainbow. ^The situation
1660J12 arises when two light rays emerging at the same angle enter
1670J12 two different points corresponding *3r*;1**; and *3r*;2**; in figure
1680J12 1, they traverse slightly different amounts of water resulting in
1690J12 a phase difference. ^Depending on whether they are out of step
1700J12 by half a wave length or a full wave length, there will be fringes
1710J12 in the light intensity. ^The spacing between the two maxima of such
1720J12 rainbows depends on the wavelength of light and the diameter of the water
1730J12 drop. ^The spacing is greater for a smaller drop with a distinct
1740J12 maxima of a supernumery rainbow different from the primary one.
1750J12 $^In figure 2, trajectories in the atomic scattering shown can be
1760J12 compared with \0fig. 1. ^The repulsive core is the dark circle surrounded
1770J12 by a sphere of attraction. ^Between these two spheres *Yj*;*3r**;
1780J12 is the minimum deflection angle called rainbow angle. ^The
1790J12 scatterd particles appear in more quantities near *Yj*;*3r**;
1800J12 than nearby angles. ^So the intensity as a function of *Yj shows a
1810J12 maxima at *Yj*;*3r**; producing the rainbow structure similar to
1820J12 optical phenomena. *Y^J*;*3r**; gives a direct measure of *3E
1830J12 the well depth of the interaction potential shown in figure 3.
1840J12 $^In view of the classical theory, there will be a sharp spike
1850J12 of intensity at *Yj*;*3r**; superposed on a background of small angle
1860J12 attractive scatterings by the outer edge of the interatomic potential.
1870J12 ^The large angle scatterings due to repulsive core are weak
1880J12 and in an experiment both the repulsive and attractive scatterings in
1890J12 negative and positive angles cannot be distinguished. ^Thus
1900J12 both types of the scattered particles will be superposed. $^But the
1910J12 wave nature of the atoms predicts the interference effect between the
1920J12 particles scattered due to the attractive and repulsive potentials resulting
1930J12 in a supernumery rainbow in the primary one, as in the optical
1940J12 phenomena.*#
        **[no. of words = 02035**]

        **[txt. j13**]
0010J13 **<*3auto urine therapy: treatment and diet**> $^*I was telling him
0020J13 that \0AUT could cure almost any known disease including cancer and heart
0030J13 disease. ^His reaction was not in the form of a rational argument
0040J13 but as a negative statement based on preconceived religious notion.
0050J13 ^This was clear from what he said: "^But for the strict taboo Islamic
0060J13 religion has put on urine, I would have appreciated your views". $^My
0070J13 conversation with Janab Mehdi Hasan has been published in
0080J13 a lighter vein in my column "Over A Glass Of *4Shivambu". $^On my
0090J13 return to Bombay, I was going through the exclusive interview my editorial
0100J13 staff had obtained from *4Ayurvedacharya *(0V.V.*) Vyas, when
0110J13 a sentence uttered by the learned *5Vaidya Pandit*6 struck me dumb.
0111J13 ^This sentence is "*4Ayurveda prescribes treatment for physical, mental
0112J13 and spiritual diseases. ^Therefore, it cannot antagonise
0120J13 religious scriptures. ^According to these scriptures, consumption
0130J13 of urine would be considered a sin". ^What a sacrilege! $^Many
0140J13 Catholic families live in abject penury, and suffer untold hardships because
0150J13 there is a religious taboo against birth control. ^If a Catholic
0160J13 man happens to_ be a manual labourer and has already eight or nine
0170J13 children, he cannot stop there because of the edict of the Church.
0180J13 ^Sex being a powerful force, this labourer adds one or two more children
0190J13 to his unenviable tally and is immersed deeper into poverty and suffering,
0200J13 all because of religious fads and injunctions. $^The tragic but enthralling
0210J13 story of a *4Muslim lady who, untrammelled by religious belief,
0220J13 got a second lease of life through pure and simple \0AUT although many
0230J13 renowned doctors of Jaslok, Massina, \0J.J. and Jain Group of
0240J13 Hospitals, where she was alternately admitted, had discharged her because,
0250J13 according to them, she was a terminal case and incurable, should serve
0260J13 as a lesson to all. ^Could the *4mullas, who think urine is abominably
0270J13 filthy have saved her? ^Kudos to the lady who, flinging aside religious
0280J13 edict, courageously agreed to Auto-Urine Therapy. $^Likewise, hundreds
0290J13 of Hindu patients suffering from cancer, heart, diabetes and asthma
0300J13 have been saved by \0AUT. ^All the *4shastris and Shankaracharyas
0310J13 could not have saved them. ^Would the Pope or his Cardinals, who
0320J13 live in great comfort if not luxury, share the torments of the Catholic
0330J13 labourer with umpteen children? $^Why then mix up religion with a mission
0340J13 of mercy, which is \0AUT, and hence I say: To hell with religious
0350J13 dogmas and edicts. ^To hell with fads and fulminations. ^Put
0360J13 yourself on \0AUT when you are ill or if you want to_ be hale and hearty
0370J13 throughout your life like that_ young man of 84-- our *5Sada Jiwatlal*6
0380J13 Prime Minister, \0*4Shri Morarji Desai. $*=2 $*<*3HEALTHY
0390J13 DISEASE-FREE LIFE WITHOUT DOCTORS*0*> $^If auto-urine therapy is relevant
0400J13 to any country in the world, it is to India. ^Here are the reasons:
0410J13 $^During the decades which followed the thirties, more importantly since
0420J13 World War *=2 (1939-45), the medical world has undergone an almost
0430J13 unrecognizable metamorphosis changing the entire complexion of medical
0440J13 care of the masses and classes alike. $^The net result of this radical
0450J13 and revolutionary change is that good medicare has become frightfully
0460J13 expensive and hence the exclusive privilege of the monied class-- the old
0470J13 aristocracy, the neo-rich hoarders, adulterators, black-marketeers, smugglers
0480J13 and other species of social and anti-social elements, who have plenty
0490J13 of money to_ throw about. $^As for the 80 per cent of the population,
0500J13 who produce 73 per cent of our grand national product, three-fourth
0510J13 of whom are below the poverty line the other one-fourth being just able
0520J13 to_ make both ends meet, any sort of medical care means going through a
0530J13 series of torments. $^For these people there are no consulting physicians
0540J13 and surgeons, nor even third class doctors let alone specialists.
0550J13 ^There is a plethora of private hospitals, family hospitals, nursing homes,
0560J13 specialised and unspecialised clinics and high-priced special rooms
0570J13 in public hospitals. ^But even in their wildest dreams they can never conjure
0580J13 up enough money to_ go to any of these posh medicare centres.
0590J13 $^For them it is the good old story of interminable waiting in the queues
0600J13 with the patience of Job, humiliating treatment from examining doctors
0610J13 in the \*0.P.D., nurses and even ward boys and finally disappointment
0620J13 because they had not first seen the almighty doctor *4saheb with foot-long
0630J13 degrees in his private consulting room and paid the blood money. ^Only
0640J13 those who had the money and the wisdom to_ do it now got admission
0650J13 because the same almighty doctors, who now sit in the hospitals as honorary
0660J13 physicians and surgeons, are in charge of examination of patients and
0670J13 admissions. ^This is the vicious circle! $^At the end of the thirties,
0680J13 the scene in the medical world and medical care of citizens was totally
0690J13 different. ^Conventional doctors holding \0M.B.B.S., \0L.M.S.
0700J13 and such other modest degrees with their small dispensaries ruled the
0710J13 roost in cities and towns, quite a sprinkling of them serving even the townships
0720J13 of the nation. ^The poor people in towns, townships
0721J13 and adjoining villages could easily get themselves diagnosed together
0730J13 with the 'mixtures' the 'powders' and the 'pills' for all manner
0740J13 of ailments affecting them. ^And for any major complaints or surgery there
0750J13 were always the Government or Municipal hospitals, uncrowded, and for
0760J13 treatment unpaid. $^The old generation of doctors had not polluted
0770J13 their souls at the altar of greed, lust for money and luxurious living.
0780J13 $^They took but small fees never exceeding two or three *4rupees in cities
0790J13 and never more than a rupee from patients in townships and villages.
0800J13 $^The scene today is diametrically different. ^A new and powerful
0810J13 medical community of consulting physicians and surgeons and specialists
0820J13 with degrees denoting 'learned length and thundering sound' and who
0821J13 are in charge of the medical world. $^In our April issue no less an
0822J13 authority on renal medicines than \0Dr. *(0K. C.*) Kuruvila, Chief
0823J13 Nephrologist of Jaslok Hospital, had dwelt at length on the golden
0824J13 virtues of many of the properties in human urine. ^There is also a
0825J13 wealth of concrete evidence about the wonder cures of which \0AUT
0830J13 is capable of. $^In these circumstances is not auto-urine
0840J13 therapy, which does not cost the poor people even a Pakistan *4paisa,
0850J13 the most relevant medicare for our country*'s teeming millions immersed
0860J13 in poverty? ^If it is good enough for our Prime Minister who, after
0870J13 drinking self urine for decades, still goes about his onerous and arduous
0880J13 work with the zest and vigour of men in their twenties although he is
0890J13 now an octogenarian, is it not good for the people whose welfare he is
0900J13 looking after with such dedicated concern? ^If it is good for me who, after
0910J13 beginning auto-urine treatment on myself works like a war horse knowing
0920J13 neither fatigue nor exhaustion, is it not good for our people at large?
0930J13 $^And so, I say: Friends, Indians, countrymen, take to auto-urine
0940J13 therapy today without hesitation, compunction, revulsion or vacillation
0950J13 and report to me your wonderful feelings after a month. ^Good luck and
0960J13 all the best. $*=3 $*<*3PERFECT HEALTH WITHOUT DRUGS*0*> $^It is
0970J13 time that enlightened Indians started stressing the importance of sex
0980J13 education to growing children and adolescents. ^It is also time parents
0990J13 started rethinking on the subject. ^If sexologists, social reformers
1000J13 and parents co-operate to_ give proper sex instructions and knowledge
1010J13 to the growing children, it would curb the sociological causes leading to
1020J13 our degeneracies, abnormalities, perversions and consequent increase in
1030J13 venereal diseases, sex crimes, social and family life including the scarlet
1040J13 phenomenon called incest. $^In this connection it would be interesting
1050J13 to_ make a comparative study between what we had inherited from our
1060J13 ancestors and discarded thoughtlessly, and what is prevailing in Modern
1070J13 Society. ^*From the *4Vedic age of our history, our ancient lore
1080J13 was pregnant with sex knowledge. ^The supreme importance of this subject
1090J13 found expression in the ageless rock carvings, sacred temples and classic
1100J13 sculptures and paintings that_ are today the pride of our cultural
1110J13 heritage. $^In order to_ understand in its proper perspective the imperative
1120J13 need for imparting sex education to our children and adolescents,
1130J13 it is necessary to_ state the following facts to_ broaden the minds of
1140J13 our budding thinkers: $^It was Havelock Ellis, indisputably the
1150J13 greatest authority on the arts and sciences of sex the Western world
1151J13 had produced who said: "Sex lies at the root of life, and we can never
1160J13 learn to_ reverence life until we know how to_
1170J13 understand sex." ^*I would add that sex is not only the mainspring of life,
1180J13 but also the very art and science of living. $^Nature has divided
1190J13 the higher forms of life into two sexes. $^*Nature has divided the
1191J13 higher forms of life into two sexes. ^Nature has also created sexual
1200J13 desire and the need to_ love and mate, to_ reproduce the species.
1210J13 ^On this rough material the human mind has imposed its own variations and
1220J13 techniques. ^On this simple natural instinct, man has erected an exceptionally
1230J13 complex emotional structure. ^But this structure has differed
1240J13 with the ages and the peoples erecting it. $^Love has been brutalised
1250J13 and love has been made sublime. ^Some have paid greater attention
1260J13 to the physical aspects rather than the aesthetic. ^We must take
1270J13 these differences as they exist. ^No dogmatic standards could be built
1280J13 by which to_ measure the degree of a people*'s civilization and cultural
1290J13 level reached by them. ^Sex means and has meant different things to
1300J13 different races in different ages. ^And customs, beliefs and ideals have
1310J13 changed with the changing times. $^To_ take our own example, the technique
1320J13 of love and sex today is no longer the art and science it was when
1330J13 Vatsyayana and Kalyanamalla wrote their epics. ^As
1340J13 Paolo Mantegazza had said: India from the immemorial past has handed
1350J13 down invaluable instructions in the art of love. ^This their wise men
1360J13 have taught as the most important branch of education. ^But where
1370J13 is this knowledge today? ^It has definitely been buried in the hurry
1380J13 and scurry of modern life. $^Speaking for India alone, I must confess
1390J13 that we have built up a dogmatised system of ethics within the framework
1400J13 of legal prohibitions, deification of man and subjugation of woman,
1410J13 and an armoured code of family discipline. ^But until proper sex education
1420J13 is given to our growing generation, the volcanic power of sex instincts
1430J13 and impulses would continue to_ break through all prohibitions, taboos
1440J13 and moral disciplines and manifest themselves through undesirable channels.
1450J13 $^My thoughts now lead me to the question of aphrodisiacs. ^Throughout
1460J13 the history of mankind, man has tried to_ increase the pleasures
1470J13 of sexual life through amulets, potions, magic, *4mantras and aphrodisiacs.
1480J13 ^In our modern society aphrodisiacs claiming fantastic potential
1490J13 reign supreme. ^All I have to_ tell the people who pay high prices
1500J13 for these concoctions is that they are all useless but for their psychological
1510J13 impact and wherever they are really useful, they would create serious
1520J13 dangerous side effects gradually. ^It is better to_ abstain from
1530J13 them. $^Hence I say: Eschew aphrodisiacs. ^Start on \0AUT for
1540J13 sexual power and vigour and a healthy and normal life. $*=4 $*<*3NATIONALISE
1550J13 ALL HEALTH SERVICES*0*> $^They say medical science has
1560J13 taken gigantic strides resulting in man becoming much less susceptible
1570J13 to diseases and premature death. ^But facts do not justify such claims.
1580J13 $^The people in both our rural and urban areas have a much lower health
1590J13 standard now than what it used to_ be a few decades ago. ^The incidence
1600J13 of diseases in our cities and villages has not only increased in
1610J13 proportion but also multiplied in number. $^Without any laborious thinking
1620J13 or delving into medical literature I can list, off hand a variety
1630J13 of causes that_ contribute to disease and death.*#
        **[no. of words = 01933**]

        **[txt. j14**]
0010J14 **<*3Oral rehydration in infantile diarrhoea*0**>
0020J14 $*<*3Controlled trial of a low sodium glucose electrolyte solution*0*>
0030J14 $SUMMARY ^The paper describes the first controlled trial
0040J14 of an oral glucose electrolyte solution designed on the basis of the
0050J14 optimum pathophysiological needs for rehydration in infantile diarrhoea.
0060J14 ^The solution, having a sodium concentration of 50 \0mmol/l, was
0070J14 tried in a group of 20 infants with moderate to severe dehydration due
0080J14 to acute diarrhoea and was compared with a matched group of 19 infants
0090J14 predominantly under 2 years of age taking a 'standard' oral solution
0100J14 with a sodium concentration of 90 \0mmol/l. ^They could be hydrated
0110J14 as well with a low sodium oral solution alone as with the standard
0120J14 solution. ^Intravenous fluid was not required in either group.
0130J14 ^The group treated with the high sodium 'standard' solution appeared
0140J14 to_ develop hypernatraemia and/ or periorbital oedema more frequently
0150J14 than the other group. ^Also, the low sodium solution eliminated
0160J14 the need for additional free water orally. $^Development of oral
0170J14 hydration for acute diarrhoeal diseases has emerged as a major therapeutic
0180J14 advance (Pierce *(0et al*)., 1968; Hirschhorn *(0et al*)., 1968,
0190J14 1972, 1973; Sack *(0et al*)., 1970; Nalin *(0et al*)., 1970; Mahalanabis
0200J14 (0et al*)., 1973, 1974; Lancet, 1975). ^A single universal
0210J14 oral hydration solution having a sodium concentration of 90 \0mmol/l has
0220J14 been recommended by \0WHO/ \0UNICEF (Treatment and Prevention
0230J14 of Dehydration in Diarrhoeal Diseases, 1976) for rehydration, in
0240J14 all age groups with acute diarrhoea of all causes. ^This universal
0250J14 oral hydration solution emerged largely from the studies in adult patients
0260J14 with acute cholera and has subsequently been used in children.
0270J14 ^It has been shown that the average faecal sodium concentration in infantile
0280J14 diarrhoea is about 56 \0mmol/l as against 101 and 140 \0mmol/l in
0290J14 children and adults with cholera respectively (Mahalanabis *(0et al*).,
0300J14 1970). ^Furthermore, the possible risk of hypernatraemia after
0310J14 the use of such a solution in infants has prevented its wider acceptance
0320J14 by paediatricians. $^This study was designed (a) to_ evaluate the
0330J14 efficacy and safety of an oral solution with a lower sodium concentration
0340J14 (50 \0mmol/l) similar to the mean faecal sodium concentration in infantile
0350J14 diarrhoea, (b) to_ attempt complete hydration of infants with moderate
0360J14 and severe dehydration with oral solution alone, and (c) to_ investigate
0370J14 the possible risk of salt overload in infantile diarrhoea with the
0380J14 oral solution advocated by \0WHO/ \0UNICEF. $*<*3Material and
0390J14 methods*> $^Infants and children aged 4 months to 4 years, admitted
0400J14 with a history of acute watery diarrhoea with or without vomiting,
0410J14 and with moderate to severe dehydration as judged by clinical examination
0420J14 (\0i.e. moderate to marked loss of skin turgor, sunken eyes, dry mucous
0430J14 membrane, tachycardia with or without a feeble pulse), were included
0440J14 in the study. ^They were randomly assigned to either of two treatment
0450J14 groups, A and B. $^Children in group A were hydrated by an
0460J14 oral solution (solution A) similar to the one advocated by \0WHO/
0470J14 \0UNICEF (Treatment and Prevention, 1976) having the following
0480J14 composition: \0Na*:+**:90, \0K*:+**:15, \0Cl*:-**:75,
0490J14 \0HCO*;3**; 30 \0mmol/l (90, 15, 75, 30 \0mEq/l), and glucose 90
0500J14 \0mmol/l (1621 \0mg/100 \0ml). ^Children in group B were treated
0510J14 by an oral solution (solution B) containing \0Na*:+**:50, \0K*:+**:15,
0520J14 \0Cl*:-**:50, \0HCO*:-**:*;3**; 15 \0mmol/l,
0530J14 glucose 170 \0mmol/l (3063 \0mg/100 \0ml). ^Both solutions had a
0540J14 calculated osmolarity of 300 \0mOsm/l. $^Before treatment the child
0550J14 was weighed nude on a balance with a sensitivity of 1 \0g. ^A nasogastric
0560J14 tube was introduced, the stomach aspirated, and intragastric
0570J14 drip of either solution was started. ^Solutions A and B were given
0580J14 at approximately 10 \0ml and 12.5 \0ml/kg per hour, respectively,
0590J14 until complete clinical hydration was achieved. ^Those children who
0600J14 had further diarrhoea were given the same solutions orally as drinks
0610J14 to_ replace stool losses. ^Patients in group A were actively encouraged
0620J14 to_ drink additional water after 4 hours of hydration. ^Allowance
0630J14 of free water in these children was dictated by ethical considerations
0640J14 and our desire to_ conform to the recommendations of \0WHO/ \0UNICEF
0650J14 (Treatment and Prevention, 1976). $^Initial hydration was
0660J14 usually achieved within 12 to 24 hours, after which patients were allowed
0670J14 dilute milk and/ or breast milk; low lactose milk formula not being available.
0680J14 ^Whole cows*' milk was restored usually within 3 days of
0690J14 admission. ^Older children were allowed components of adults diet
0700J14 within 24 to 48 hours. ^All patients received tetracycline hydrochloride
0710J14 50 \0mg/kg body weight per day for 4 days, in accordance with
0720J14 the prevailing practice in the paediatric unit where the study was conducted.
0730J14 $^Clinical features, plasma specific gravity, and haematocrit
0740J14 were recorded on admission, at 6 hours, after initial hydration,
0750J14 48 hours after admission, and on recovery. ^Recovery was defined as
0760J14 a time when a stable body weight was attained after diarrhoea had stopped.
0770J14 ^This usually took 5 to 6 days. ^Plasma electrolytes were
0780J14 estimated in triplicate from frozen samples on admission, after initial
0790J14 hydration, and at recovery in a flame photometer, plasma \0CO*;2**;
0800J14 combining power by a Van Slyke volumetric apparatus, and plasma specific
0810J14 gravity by a temperature compensated refractometer (*(oT. S.*) Meter*:-R**:,
0820J14 American Optical \0Co.).
0830J14 $^Stool samples were examined routinely for the presence of reducing substance
0840J14 using Benedict*'s qualitative reagent. ^Methods for isolation
0850J14 of enteropathogens have already been described (Sack *(0et al*).,
0860J14 1970). $*<*3Results*> $^Of the 39 infants, 19 received
0870J14 solution A (group A) and 20 solution B (group B). $*3Nutritional
0880J14 status. ^Table 1 shows that except for 2 children in group
0890J14 A and 1 in group B, all had varying degrees of malnutrition. ^Clinical
0900J14 kwashiorkor was present in 3 in group A and 2 in group B.
0910J14 $*3Enteropathogens. ^Known enteropathogens were shown only in
0920J14 4 cases of group A; three were enteropathogenic \0*3E *3coli (\0EPEC)
0930J14 type 0.128:K67 (B12) and the fourth *3Vibrio cholerae
0940J14 *3El tor (Inaba ). ^In 5 patients in group B enteropathogens were
0950J14 isolated: three were \0EPEC type 0.128:K67 (B12), and two
0960J14 were \0*3V. cholerae *3El tor (one Inaba, and one Ogawa).
0970J14 ^Lack of facilities prevented the search for reovirus as an aetiological
0980J14 agent. $*3Clinical features. ^Table 2 shows that the clinical
0990J14 features were comparable in the two group of patients. ^93%
1000J14 of the children had altered sensorium (\0i.e. drowsy, or drowsy with
1010J14 irritability to touch, or comatose) of whom 10% had frank convulsions on
1020J14 admission. ^Hypernatraemia (\0Na>150 \0mmol/l) on admission
1030J14 was noted in 2 in group A and 1 in group B (\0Fig.). ^Neurological
1040J14 manifestations were absent in all of the children with hypernatraemia
1050J14 on admission; however, one had a history of seizures before admission.
1060J14 ^Per cent weight gain, and biochemical values recorded on admission
1070J14 and at various points during recovery (Table 3, \0Fig.) showed
1080J14 no significant differences between the two groups. $*3Results
1090J14 of treatment. ^All the children in both groups were successfully
1100J14 hydrated orally and none required intravenous therapy. ^Table 4
1110J14 shows the rate and amount of oral fluids given to each group of patients.
1120J14 ^In group A 2 patients were hypernatraemic on admission (\0Fig.),
1130J14 of whom one became normonatraemic after treatment, while the other
1140J14 remained hypernatraemic until recovery; and 2 normonatraemic children
1150J14 on admission developed hypernatraemia after treatment. ^However,
1160J14 none of these patients showed neurological manifestations. ^Detailed
1170J14 clinical and biochemical information on the patients with persistent
1180J14 hypernatraemia is given in Table 5. ^In group A periorbital
1190J14 oedema was noted in 7 patients after initial hydration, which regressed
1200J14 over a period of 1 to 5 days. ^In group B hypernatraemia on admission
1210J14 was noted in one case, which persisted up to the end of initial
1220J14 hydration but returned to near normal at the time of recovery (\0Fig.).
1230J14 ^This child also showed no neurological manifestation. ^In
1240J14 3 cases mild periorbital oedema unrelated to hypernatraemia was noted
1250J14 but regressed over a period of 1 to 2 days. $^There were 2 late
1260J14 deaths (1 pneumonia, 1 septicaemia) in group B. ^Both were kwashiorkor
1270J14 babies, with wasting, pitting oedema, typical hair and skin
1280J14 changes. ^2 patients in group B and 1 in group A had abdominal distension
1290J14 with hypoperistalsis on admission but all 3 responded to oral
1300J14 hydration. ^A significant amount of glucose in the stool was found
1310J14 only in 2 children hydrated with the low sodium oral solution containing
1320J14 a relatively higher amount of glucose, but it did not interfere with
1330J14 oral rehydration. ^Vomiting, which is not uncommon during the
1340J14 initial phase, also did not prevent successful hydration. $*<*3Discussion*>
1350J14 $^This is the first controlled study using an oral glucose
1360J14 electrolyte solution containing an optimum concentration of sodium
1370J14 designed in accordance with the pathophysiological needs (Darrow, 1946;
1380J14 Darrow *(0et al*)., 1949) of hydration therapy in infantile diarrhoea.
1390J14 $^We have shown that comparable groups of infants predominantly
1400J14 under 2 years of age, with moderate to severe degree of dehydration,
1410J14 can be adquately hydrated with either solution alone. ^A steady intragastric
1420J14 drip and prior aspiration of stomach contents contributed to
1430J14 these satisfactory results from oral therapy even in those with severe dehydration.
1440J14 ^Although stool volumes could not be measured during therapy,
1450J14 careful clinical evaluation, repeated weighing of the infant,
1460J14 and sequential measurement of plasma specific gravity and haematocrit were
1470J14 deemed adequate indices of favourable response to oral therapy.
1480J14 $^Previous studies have shown a significant rise in serum sodium in eight
1490J14 paired observations (Hirschhorn *(0et al*)., 1972), and periorbital
1500J14 oedema in 3 out of 17 infants (Hirschhorn *(0et al*)., 1973) treated
1510J14 with an oral solution similar to solution A, but no frank hypernatraemia
1520J14 was reported. ^Although no significant difference
1530J14 was found in this study for the development of hypernatranemia and/
1540J14 or periorbital oedema between the two groups, nevertheless children
1550J14 treated with a higher salt solution showed a trend towards developing
1560J14 these complications more frequently in spite of persistent efforts
1570J14 to_ administer water freely by mouth. $^Several factors
1580J14 may have contributed to the persistence of hypenatraemia in these
1590J14 children. ^They were all young (Table 5) and were febrile on admission.
1600J14 ^The only hypernatraemic child who became normonatraemic
1610J14 after therapy was relatively older (3.74 years). ^No
1620J14 significant relationship between the nutritional status and persistence
1630J14 of hypernatraemia was observed (Table 1). ^In an effort to_
1640J14 combat undernutrition, we introduced full strength cows*' milk
1650J14 formula early, leading to varying degrees of osmotic diarrhoea in
1660J14 these children presumably due to temporary lactase deficiency
1670J14 (Chatterjee *(0et al*), 1977) which further contributed to hypernatraemia
1680J14 (Fordtran, 1973). ^Another important factor was that
1690J14 the majority of the children, including those who remained hypernatraemic
1700J14 had low levels of serum potassium even in the presence of
1701J14 acidosis on admission, reflecting low total body potassium.
1710J14 ^This is known to_ cause sodium retention from the administered
1720J14 fluid particularly if it is deficient in potassium (Cheek,
1730J14 1956; Katcher *(0et al*)., 1953). ^It is notable that the group
1740J14 having high sodium oral solution received comparatively less potassium
1750J14 with respect to sodium than the other group. ^Although it
1760J14 would have been useful to_ investigate the response of the kidneys
1770J14 to salt overload in these children, ethical considerations prevented
1780J14 us from submitting them to any salt loading test when they had just
1790J14 recovered from severe acute diarrhoea. $^Solution B with a lower
1800J14 sodium concentration is not only as effective as the recommended A universal
1810J14 solution but also eliminates the need to_ ensure additional free
1820J14 water intake, thus rendering treatment much simpler, and its use
1830J14 reduces the risk of salt overload particularly under less stringent
1840J14 clinical supervision. ^Although none of the patients with persistent
1850J14 hypernatraemia manifested any central nervous
1860J14 system signs, this finding and also the frequent occurrence of periorbital
1870J14 oedema suggest caution in using high sodium oral hydration
1880J14 solutions in infants under 2 years of age. $**<*3Short reports**>
1890J14 $*<*3Immunodeficiency associated with laevocardia,
1900J14 bronchiectasis, and paranasal sinus anomalies*> $^Several individuals
1910J14 with the triad of laevocardia (situs inversus with left-sided heart),
1920J14 bilateral bronchiectasis and abnormalities of paranasal sinuses
1930J14 have been described (Chandra and Khetarpal, 1963; Sharpe, 1963;
1940J14 Lee, 1965; Datta, 1968; Magalini 1971). ^In such patients, the
1950J14 frequency of infecttions, particularly of the respiratory tract, is
1960J14 increased. ^We report the presence of immunodeficiency in the
1970J14 first patient to_ be described with this syndrome (Chandra and Khetarpal,
1980J14 1963). $*<*3Case report*> $*3Patient. ^A 7-year-old girl
1990J14 was brought to hospital with a history of repeated respiratory
2000J14 infections since early infancy. ^She had developed normally, and
2010J14 her weight and height were on the 25th and 10th centiles respectively.*#
        **[no. of words = 02007**]

        **[txt. j15**]
0010J15 **<*3ACUTE PULMONARY EMBOLISM*0**> $*<*3The prevention of acute pulmonary
0020J15 embolism*0*> $*3^VENOUS*0 thromboembolism is a frequent
0030J15 complication in hospital patients. ^It is often asked whether acute
0040J15 pulmonary embolism can be prevented and, furthermore, whether it
0050J15 is worth preventing since the mortality due to this complication is extremely
0060J15 low and all prophylactic measures require supervision, extra work,
0070J15 organization, and vigilance. ^The data presented in this
0080J15 paper support the argument that acute pulmonary embolism should be prevented,
0090J15 especially since several prophylactic measures are now availabale
0100J15 that_ make prevention a practical proposition. $*<THE NEED FOR PROPHYLAXIS*0*>
0110J15 $^This need can best be illustrated by the consideration
0120J15 of various facts. ^Despite advances in the management of pulmonary
0130J15 embolism the mortality due to this condition is increasing; the deaths
0140J15 recorded in the registrar General*'s report for England and Wales
0150J15 indicate that there has been nearly a sixfold increase in such mortality
0160J15 during the last 30 years. ^It has been estimated that in the \0UK
0170J15 approximately 21000 patients die each year from this cause (\0DHSS,
0180J15 1970) while the figures reported for the \0USA vary
0190J15 between 47000-140,000 (Hume *(0et al*), 1970). $^Several autopsy
0200J15 studies have shown that most cases of major pulmonary embolism are not diagnosed
0210J15 during life and are therefore not treated (Freiman *(0et al*),
0220J15 1965, Sevitt, 1968). ^Two thirds of the deaths from acute
0230J15 pulmonary embolism occur within 30 minutes of the embolic event (Donaldson
0240J15 *(0et al*), 1963). ^This is too brief a period for pulmonary
0250J15 embolectomy to_ be performed or for any benefit to_ be derived from
0260J15 thrombolytic therapy, which has been shown to_ be highly effective in
0270J15 producing rapid lysis of emboli (Hirsh *(0et al*), 1968); National
0280J15 Heart and Lung Institute Cooperative Study, 1970; Miller
0290J15 *(0et al*), 1971). ^Furthermore, approximately 80 per cent of pulmonary
0300J15 emboli arise without premonitory signs of peripheral venous thrombosis
0310J15 and consequently treatment with heparin and oral anticoagulants to_
0320J15 prevent embolism is often not given. ^Thus, to_ say that one*'s policy
0330J15 is to_ treat massive pulmonary embolism or its precursor, peripheral
0340J15 venous thrombosis, is to_ expose patients to an unacceptable risk of
0350J15 fatal complications. $^The most rational approach would therefore seem
0360J15 to_ be that_ of developing an effective method of prophylaxis if the mortality
0370J15 due to pulmonary embolism and the misery due to the postphlebitic
0380J15 syndrome are to_ be significantly reduced. ^If such a method is to_
0390J15 be adopted on a wide scale it has to_ fulfil the following criteria: it
0400J15 must be simple, safe, and effective; it must be applicable to all types
0410J15 of patients at risk of developing deep venous thrombosis; and it must cover
0420J15 the period of risk, which in surgical patients has been shown to_
0430J15 extend from the time of operation until 7-10 days afterwards. $*<AVAILABLE
0440J15 METHODS*> $^The main attempts to_ prevent deep venous thrombosis
0450J15 can be conveniently divided into two groups: those directed towards
0460J15 the elimination of stasis in the deep veins of the legs and those employed
0470J15 to_ counteract changes in blood coagulability. $*<*3Elimination
0480J15 of stasisO*> $^Despite general agreement that stasis plays a
0490J15 significant role in the pathogenesis of venous thrombosis and despite increasing
0500J15 awareness of the hazards of bed rest, there is conflicting evidence
0510J15 as to the efficacy of early ambulation and leg exercises in reduciing
0520J15 the incidence of deep venous thrombosis: some workers say they are of
0530J15 value (Murley, 1950) while others deny this (Blodgett and Beattie,
0540J15 1946). ^Unfortunately, these conclusions are based on physical signs
0550J15 alone, which are often quite inadequate for the diagnosis of venous
0560J15 thrombosis. ^Although elastic stockings have been shown to_ increase
0570J15 the rate of venous return, recent studies using the *:125**:i-labelled
0580J15 fibrinogen test (an accurate and objective method of detecting deep
0590J15 venous thrombosis) have failed to_ confirm the beneficial effects in
0600J15 surgical patients who wear elastic stockings throughout their hospital
0610J15 stay (Rosengarten *(0et al*), 1970) ^Elevation of the lower extremities
0620J15 has also been shown to_ increase the rate of venous return, but
0630J15 again controlled studies have found this to_ be ineffective in preventing
0640J15 venous thrombosis (Rosengarten and Laird, 1971). $^The limitations
0650J15 of intensive physical prophylaxis in general surgical cases were
0660J15 clearly demonstrated by Flane *(0et al*) (1969) using the
0670J15 *:125**:i-labelled fibrinogen test to_ detect leg vein thrombi. ^In
0680J15 this study patients wore elastic stockings from the time of admission
0690J15 until discharge, had frequent vigorous leg exercises before and after
0700J15 operation, had the foot of the bed elevated, and were provided with a
0710J15 foot board to_ aid plantar flexion against resistance; pressure on the
0720J15 calves during operaion was avoided by the use of a Sorbo rubber stand
0730J15 and after operation the legs were kept elevated until consciousness permitted
0740J15 exercise and movement. ^Ambulation began between the first
0750J15 and third postoperative days, depending on the type of operation.
0760J15 ^Despite all efforts, the overall results of these physical measures
0770J15 were disappointing; thrombosis was detected in 25 per cent of 67 patients
0780J15 having intensive physiotherapy and in 35 per cent of 65 concurrent
0790J15 controls. ^However, a significant reduction was seen in elderly patients
0800J15 undergoing major operations, in whom the incidence of thrombosis
0810J15 was 24 per cent compared with 61 per cent in the controls. ^Different
0820J15 results have been reported by Tsapogas *(0et al*) (1971) who
0830J15 found these methods to_ be highly effective in preventing thrombosis.
0840J15 $^More specific attempts have now been made to_ prevent stasis during
0850J15 operation and several methods for increasing venous return from the lower
0860J15 limbs have recently been investigated. ^One of these is electrical
0870J15 stimulation of the calf muscles during operation: two electrodes
0880J15 are applied to the calf and a low voltage current is used to_ contract
0890J15 the muscles every 2-4 seconds. ^The beneficial results of this method
0900J15 of preventing stasis and consequently of reducing thrombosis, first
0910J15 reported by Doran *(0et al*) in 1964, have now been investigated by
0920J15 several other workers using the radioactive fibrinogen test for assessment.
0930J15 $^Another method is pneumatic compression of the calves, which
0940J15 involes encasing each leg in an envelope of plastic material and rhythmically
0950J15 altering the pressure to_ squeeze the calf muscels and increase
0960J15 venous return. ^Two different types of devices are available for
0970J15 clinical use. ^One is the Roberts Venous Flow Stimulator manufactured
0980J15 by \0BOC which comprises two plastic boots inflated by
0990J15 a cylinder of air or oxygen; the controlling mechanism is preset to_
1000J15 inflate the boots to 45 \0mmHg in 8 seconds every 2 minutes (Cotton
1010J15 and Roberts, 1973). ^This gap of 2 minutes is allowed between
1020J15 compressions because it was found that in older patients the arterial
1030J15 flow may be slower and the leg may take a much longer time to_ fill up
1040J15 with venous blood. ^The other device, the Flowtron Intermittent
1050J15 Compression System manufactured by Flowtron Aire (Hills
1060J15 *(0et al*), 1972), is an electric pump which inflates each legging
1070J15 alternately so that compression at 40-45 \0mmHg for one minute is
1080J15 followed by relaxation for one minute. ^It is claimed that the Roberts
1090J15 Venous Flow Stimulator is more effective than the Flowtron
1100J15 Intermittent Compression System because, although it has
1110J15 very little effect on the mean venous flow, by squeezing empty the
1120J15 sinuses in the solcal veins and valve pockets it disturbs the venous
1130J15 return as maximally as possile (Cotton and Roberts, 1975).
1140J15 ^The advantage of this method is that it can be used not only during
1150J15 operation but also in the postoperative period. ^A third method that_
1160J15 has been investigated consists of passive plantar flexion and dorsiflexion
1170J15 of the foot during operation by means of motor-driven pedals which
1180J15 again increases blood flow (Sabri *(0et al*), 1971).
1190J15 $^In the studies using these different methods the radioactive fibrinogen
1200J15 test was employed to_ detect the presence of deep venous thrombosis.
1210J15 ^There is little doubt that all these methods lessen stasis and lower
1220J15 the incidence of venous thrombosis. ^One of the conclusions drawn
1230J15 by Hills *(0et al*) (1972) is that their method of intermittent compression
1240J15 is ineffective in high risk patients undergoing operations for malignant
1250J15 disease. ^However, Cotton and Roberts (1975) have shown
1260J15 that their method of compression is equally successful in patients with
1270J15 and without malignant disease. ^Although many of these trials have
1280J15 found that the methods employed are effective in reducing the incidence
1290J15 of deep venous thrombosis, they provide no information on acute
1300J15 pulmonary embolism. ^Furthermore, although the reported incidence
1310J15 of fatal pulmonary embolism in surgical patients is approximately 0.5-1.0
1320J15 per cent, there is no certainty that the patients who die
1330J15 do not belong to the resistant group (approximately 25 per cent) who
1340J15 are not protected by these physical measures.
1350J15 $*<*3Counteracting blood coagulability*>
1360J15 $^Many attempts have been made to_ prevent thrombosis by simpler means such
1370J15 as the use of chemical agents. ^These can be classified into three
1380J15 main groups. $^First, it has been suggested that adhesion of
1390J15 platelets to subendothelial connective tissue at the site of the venousendothelium
1400J15 that_ is presumed to_ be damaged and the subsequent events
1410J15 leading to platelet aggregation may account for thrombus formation.
1420J15 ^If this platelet aggregation can be prevented it is conceivable that the
1430J15 thrombus will not form. ^It is with this background that various
1440J15 drugs that_ interfere with the different aspects of platelet function
1450J15 have been investigated; these include dextran (usually dextran 70) dipyridamole,
1460J15 aspirin, and chloroquine.
1470J15 $^The second chemical approch involves the use of drugs that_ interfere
1480J15 with the coagulation mechanism. ^A vital step in the sequence of
1490J15 coagulation is the conversion of prothrombin to thrombin under the influence
1500J15 of activated factor X. ^The thrombin so formed acts on the
1510J15 fibrinogen to_ convert it to fibrin, which in turn forms the essential
1520J15 network of a venous thrombus. ^Two different types of drugs have
1530J15 been used to_ block the coagulation sequence: oral anticoagulants which
1540J15 act by reducing the synthesis in the liver of various clotting factors
1550J15 (such as prothrombin and factor X), and heparin which acts primarily
1560J15 by increasing factor X inhibitor activity. ^Therefore small doses
1570J15 of heparin given before factor X is activated are effective in preventing
1580J15 thrombosis but do not affect the clotting time.
1590J15 $^The third group of drugs is thought to_ act on the venous endothelium
1600J15 to_ increase the naturally occurring fibrinolytic activity in the body.
1610J15 $^*Astrup (1956) has suggested that thrombosis may be partly due to a local
1620J15 or generalized imbalance between coagulation and fibrinolysis.
1630J15 ^A shift in the balance towards fibrinolysis could prevent thrombosis or
1640J15 rapidly lyse recent thrombi, while impairment of fibrinolysis would encourage
1650J15 the growth of the thrombus. ^Various investigators (Pandolfi
1660J15 *(0et al*), 1969; Nilsson *(0et al*), 1970) have shown that fibrinolytic
1670J15 activity in the blood and the vein walls is abnormally low in the
1680J15 majority of patients with recent deep venous thrombosis or superficial
1700J15 thrombophlebitis. $*<*3Drugs affecting platelet function*>
1710J15 $^The evidence that drugs such as aspirin and dipyridamole (known to_ interfere
1720J15 with platelet function) effectively reduce the incidence of deep
1730J15 venous thrombosis is unconvincing and these agents should probably not
1740J15 be used for the prophylaxis of venous thrombosis. ^In a recent double-blind
1750J15 randomized trial the efficacy of aspirin in preventing postoperative
1760J15 venous thromboembolism was assessed (Report of the Steering Committee
1770J15 of a Trial Sponsored by the Medical Research Council, 1972).
1780J15 ^In this study, 303 patients over the age of 28 years admitted for
1790J15 elective operation were included; they were randomly allocated to a
1800J15 treated or a control group and received either aspirin 600 \0mg or a placebo
1810J15 consisting of plain white tablets. ^Deep venous thrombosis was
1820J15 diagnosed by the *:125**:i-labelled fibrinogen test. ^Twenty two per
1830J15 cent of the patients who received the placebo developed thrombi, compared
1840J15 with 27.5 per cent of those receiving aspirin.
1850J15 $^Similarly disappointing results were reported by O*'3Brien (1971).
1860J15 ^However, Salzman *(0et al*) (1971) compared the protective effects
1870J15 of warfarin, dipyridamole, dextran 40, and aspirin in 69 patients
1880J15 who were admitted for hip arthroplasty and claimed that the results with
1890J15 aspirin were better than those in an untreated group reported previously.
1900J15 ^One interesting point in this study was that while the incidence
1910J15 of deep venous thrombosis (as detected by clinical criteria) was lower
1920J15 in the aspirin-treated patients compared with the control group, the
1930J15 incidence of pulmonary embolism was not reduced. ^This paradoxical
1940J15 result raises the question of whether the administration of aspirin
1950J15 (1-2 \0g/ day) may have masked some of the clinical features such as pain,
1960J15 tenderness, and increased temperature.*#
        **[no. of words = 02013**]

        **[txt. j16**]
0010J16 **<*3Thin needle aspiration biopsy as a diagnostic aid for breast
0020J16 tumours**> $^Since thin needle aspiration biopsy as a diagnostic
0030J16 aid for breast tumour has not been widely used in our country,
0040J16 the authors intended to_ give this technique a fair trial. ^Acceptance
0041J16 by the patients has been very good and the initial hesitation by the clinicians
0050J16 has been replaced by an encouraging response. ^Advantages
0060J16 of this method are manifold: it is practically a painless procedure,
0070J16 hospitalisation is not required and the result can be obtained in
0080J16 an hour. ^In the present series, 31 cases have been studied and an
0090J16 accuracy rate of more than 90% attained. ^Though not a large series,
0100J16 the results compare favourably with those obtained by workers
0110J16 in more advanced countries. ^This proves the simplicity and usefulness
0120J16 of this technique. $*3^IT*0 is more than forty years
0130J16 since Martin introduced aspiration biopsy in 1930 as a substitute
0140J16 for excisional biopsy, and it took more than three decades before
0150J16 it was recognised and accepted as a valuable diagnostic aid. ^The
0160J16 main reasons for this delay was its non-acceptance by clinicians
0170J16 for the fear of dissemination of malignant cells, and the inability
0180J16 of the pathologists to_ interpret the results correctly.
0190J16 ^Due to rapid strides in the field of cytology and cancer research
0200J16 during the last decade and a half, it is now possible to_ differentiate
0210J16 the various cell types and their nature-- malignant or otherwise,
0220J16 so that the trained pathologist, more precisely the cytologist
0230J16 can now give a more accurate pre-operative diagnosis of the needle
0240J16 aspirate. $^Thin-needle aspiration is preferable to the conventional
0250J16 thick-needle aspirations, since the thick-needle causes
0260J16 more trauma and resultant aspiration of blood may distort the result.
0270J16 ^In Europe, particularly Scandinavian countries, thin needle
0280J16 aspiration biopsy has gained wide acceptance in recent years
0290J16 (Zajicek, 1974). ^A high degree of accuracy in interpreting such
0300J16 biopsies has been achieved. ^Advances in the technique itself,
0310J16 using a thin-needle and plastic syringes capable of producing high
0320J16 negative pressure and a metal syringe holder, have been shown to_
0330J16 give fairly adequate material with little or no blood contamination.
0340J16 ^Since the technique lends itself to outpatient diagnosis,
0350J16 the cost of hospitalisation has also been considerably reduced
0360J16 (Webb, 1975, Frable, 1976) $*<*3MATERIAL*0*> $^31 cases of Lumps
0370J16 in the breasts were studied. ^All cases were clinically
0380J16 examined and only definite palpable lumps were subjected to this study.
0390J16 ^Cases of fibroadenosis and similar conditions were not aspirated.
0400J16 ^All cases presented here were confirmed by operation and
0410J16 subsequent histological examination. ^Table *=1 shows the number
0420J16 and type of cases studied. ^Though not a large series, this fairly
0430J16 represents the types of cases encountered in this part of the
0440J16 country. $*<*3METHOD*0*> $(**=1) *3Diagnostic equipment*0: ^22 gauge
0450J16 1 1/2 inch needle, a disposable 20 \0cc plastic syringe capable of producing
0460J16 high vacuum, and a 'Cameco' (Sweden) pistol grip syringe holder
0470J16 are used for the aspiration (\0Fig. 1, a & b).
0480J16 $(**=2) *3Technique of aspiration:*0 ^The technique advocated by
0490J16 Zajicek (1974) is used. ^The skin overlying the lump is cleaned
0500J16 with antiseptics, the tumour is fixed between the thumb and fingers
0510J16 of the left hand and the needle fitted to the syringe and holder
0520J16 held in the right hand (\0Fig. 1b) is thrust into the breast.
0530J16 ^When the tumour is reached, the plunger of the syringe is drawn out
0540J16 with the help of the pistol grip of the holder, thus creating
0550J16 a vacuum, and the needle is pushed into the tumour mass. ^By making
0560J16 back and forth movements in different directions within the substance
0570J16 of the tumour mass more and more cells are aspirated into
0580J16 the needle, observing constantly the nozzle of the syringe.
0590J16 ^As soon as some material is visible in the nozzle, or when it is
0600J16 felt that enough cells have been aspirated into the needle, the
0610J16 manoeuvre is stopped. ^The plunger is slowly released so as
0620J16 to_ equalise the pressure in the syringe and the needle is withdrawn.
0630J16 ^Local pressure with dry gauze prevents any oozing
0640J16 of blood from the puncture point. ^If blood is aspirated,
0650J16 the same procedure may be repeated using a thinner needle till
0660J16 a clear aspirate is obtained. $(**=3) *3Preparation of
0670J16 smear:*0 ^Two clean glass slides are used. ^The needle is taken
0680J16 off the syringe, the plunger of the syringe is drawn back again,
0690J16 the needle is re-fitted and a drop or two of the aspirate is allowed
0700J16 to_ settle on the slide by pushing the plunger down. ^If
0710J16 the material is liquid, smears can be prepared like a blood slide;
0720J16 if it is a thick cellular aspirate, the two slides are pressed
0730J16 to each other and slided down so as to_ make smears on both
0740J16 slides. $(**=4) *3Fixation & staining:*0 ^The smears are
0750J16 fixed with 95% alcohol for a period of 30 \0mins. before drying.
0760J16 ^Staining is carried out on the fixed slides by
0770J16 Giemsa stain diluted 1:10 in phosphate buffer, or with acid
0780J16 carbol fuchsin 1%. ^After staining the slides are washed in
0790J16 water and can be dehydrated and mounted in a neutral mounting
0800J16 medium like Euparol or Permount. ^Routine Haematoxylin-Eosin
0810J16 or Papanicolaou stain may also be used. $(**=5) *3Examination
0820J16 of slides:*0 ^The cells are studied under a good quality
0830J16 conventional microscope using low and high power, and
0840J16 oil-immersion lenses. ^The nuclear details, relationship of
0850J16 cells and cytoplasmic metachromasia, all help in the diagnosis.
0860J16 ^The metachromasia is best seen with the Giemsa stain
0870J16 and is useful in picking out areas of stroma and seeing the relationship
0880J16 of epithelial cells to stroma in cases of fibroadenoma
0890J16 of the breast (\0Fig. 2 a, b, c). ^The nuclear characteristics
0900J16 of malignancy are well known and pleomorphic bizarre cellular
0910J16 patterns are often observed (\0Fig. 3 a, b, c). $^It is
0920J16 interesting to_ note that with some experience it is possible to_
0930J16 predict the expected diagnosis during aspiration by the
0940J16 'feel' of the needle and the tissue resistance encountered as
0950J16 the needle traverses the tumour mass. ^In malignancy the aspirate
0960J16 is obtained easily, in firm tumours as in fibroadenoma
0970J16 relatively scanty material is obtained, while in sclerosing
0980J16 (fibrosing) adenomatosis great resistance is encountered and only
0990J16 as a little thin interstitial fluid with scanty cellular material
1000J16 is aspirated. $*<*3RESULTS & LIMITATIONS*0*> $^The
1010J16 overall results of aspiration biopsy were good. ^There was
1020J16 one 'false negative' and two 'negative' results. ^The false
1030J16 negative result was in a case of carcinoma associated with
1040J16 infection. ^Aspiration showed inflammatory cells. ^Antibiotics
1050J16 reduced the lump but it did not resolve completely whereupon
1060J16 it was excised. ^Tissue biospy showed carcinoma.
1070J16 ^One of the cases of negative result was of duct carcinoma
1080J16 situated in the deeper breast tissue. ^The needle did not reach
1090J16 the tumour mass so that only normal breast tissue was aspirated.
1100J16 ^Excision biopsy proved it to_ be a case of duct carcinoma.
1110J16 ^The other case was that_ of sclerosing adenomatosis,
1120J16 where only interstitial fluid without any definite cell structure
1130J16 was aspirated. ^Postoperative histological examination
1140J16 confirmed the diagnosis. ^Emphasis must be put on clinical
1150J16 judgement which can never be replaced by any other means. ^Whenever
1160J16 in doubt, excisional biopsy should be done. ^*Table
1170J16 *=2 shows the correlation between the clinico-pathological and
1180J16 aspiration biopsy results. ^Though a small series, these
1190J16 results compare favourably with those obtained by Zajicek (1974),
1200J16 Webb (1975) and Frable (1976) (Talbe *=3). $*<*3DISCUSSION*0*>
1210J16 $^It is a great help for the clinician if preoperative
1220J16 diagnosis can be made with certain accuracy, with minimum
1230J16 risk and trauma to the patient. ^In this respect thin-needle
1240J16 aspiration biopsy is ideal. ^Patient acceptance has
1250J16 been very satisfactory, and over 90% accuracy has been achieved
1260J16 in this series, and more than 95% by others (Table *=3). ^The
1270J16 only problem has been the reluctance of the clinicians, their main
1280J16 objection being dissemination of malignant cells and seeding
1290J16 of the needle track by cancer cells. ^This apprehension has
1300J16 been refuted by Berg and Robbins (1962). ^In their extensive
1301J16 studies of aspirated breast cancer patients for a period of over twenty
1302J16 years, no difference in their overall survival rate was seen compared
1303J16 to the controls.
1310J16 $*<*3CONCLUSIONS*0*> $^Thin needle aspiration biopsy is a fairly safe
1320J16 procedure in trained hands, and it gives reasonably accurate
1330J16 results, thereby helping the clinician to_ plan the best line
1340J16 of treatment. ^It should however be emphasised that aspiration
1350J16 biopsy is only one of the diagnostic methods and negative
1360J16 result does not always exclude the pathology. ^The result should
1370J16 always be correlated with the clinical findings and if required
1380J16 a repeat aspiration may be done or other means of confirmation
1390J16 adopted. $*<*3ACKNOWLEDGEMENT*0*> $^We are grateful to \0Dr.
1400J16 *(0I.*) Granberg, Cytology and Cancer Research Unit, \0Dept.
1410J16 of Pathology, Karolinska Institute and Huddinge Hospital,
1420J16 Stockholm, Sweden, who first got us interested in this
1430J16 field demonstrated the technique, and provided some of the equipment
1440J16 for this study. $**<*3Synovial sarcoma*0**> $*<*3AN
1450J16 ANALYSIS OF 31 CASES IN 26 YEARS.*0*> $^31 cases of synovial
1460J16 sarcoma were studied from the morbid anatomical point of view.
1470J16 ^Synovial saracoma histologically is Biophasic in Character.
1480J16 ^Due to a spectrum of histological patterns which may
1490J16 be encountered in these tumours, they have to_ be differentiated
1500J16 from a variety of other tumours. ^A clear cell variant has
1510J16 recently been added to the other morphological varieties.
1520J16 ^The presence of mast cells and their significance has been discussed.
1530J16 $*<*3INTRODUCTION*0*> $*3^SYNOVIAL*0 sarcoma, despite
1540J16 its name, is a tumour not restricted to joints and may arise
1550J16 from tendon sheaths, bursae, fascia, intermuscular septae,
1560J16 and it is also known that any connective tissue cell may be transformed
1570J16 into a synovial cell following appropriate stimulation.
1580J16 ^This could explain the presence of tumour at sites in which
1590J16 no synovial membrane is to_ be found like synovial sarcoma reporeted
1600J16 at the bifurcation of the carotid artery (Golomb *(0et al*),
1610J16 1975 and also in the abdominal wall (Berkheisser, 1952).
1620J16 ^Histologically, these tumours are diagnostic problems because
1630J16 a spectrum of morphological patterns may be encountered in these
1640J16 tumours and unless one is familiar with these patterns, an
1650J16 error in diagnosis is possible. ^40 cases of synovial sarcoma
1660J16 were collected from the records of which 9 cases were deleted
1670J16 on review as they did not conform to the classical histological
1680J16 picture of synovial sarcoma. $*<*3CLINICAL FEATURES*0*>
1690J16 $*<*3Incidence*0*> $^Synovial sarcoma is a rather uncommon
1700J16 malignant tumour of soft tissues. ^*Stout (1961) reviewed
1710J16 2,075 cases of malignant tumours of soft tissues and peripheral
1720J16 nerves of which 3.5% were synovial sarcomas. ^*Hampole and Jackson
1730J16 (1968) have reported a higher incidence of 9.6%. ^Amongst
1740J16 the malignant tumours of bones and joints also, it is a tumour
1750J16 of relatively infrequent occurrence. ^In oun series of 514 malignancies
1760J16 of bones and joints within a 20 year period, the incidence
1770J16 of synovial sarcomas was 6%. ^*Mayo Clinic has
1780J16 reported an incidence of 10% of the total malignancies of bones
1790J16 and joints (Cadman & Kelly, 1965). $*<*3Age & Sex incidence*0*>
1800J16 $^These tumours primarily affect the younger age group,
1810J16 the maximum number occurring in the 2nd and 3rd decades. ^The
1820J16 youngest patient in this series was 12 years and the oldest
1830J16 was 42 years of age. (Table-*=1) ^*Sirsat and Doctor (1968) also
1840J16 observed a higher incidence of this tumour in a younger age group,
1850J16 64% occurring under 40 years of age. ^*Van Andel (1972) found
1860J16 this tumour to_ be commonest between the ages of 20 to 40 **[sic**]
1870J16 years. ^In Cadman *(0et al*)'S series (1965), 67% cases were
1880J16 below 40 years of age. $^With regard to sex incidence, the
1890J16 tumours in this series were more common in males as compared
1900J16 to females, the ratio being 3:1 (Table *=1). ^*Cadman *(0et al*) (1965)
1910J16 found a sex ratio of 3:2 in males and females. ^However,
1920J16 in another report on 25 cases of synovial sarcomas by Hampole and
1930J16 Jackson (1968), the incidence was reported higher in women.
1940J16 $*<*3Location*0*> $^These tumours were commonly seen in the lowerextremity,
1950J16 27 tumours occurring in the lower limbs (Table *=2).
1960J16 ^The knee region was the commonest site and other sites to_
1970J16 follow were foot, hip, ankle and thigh. ^In the upper extremity
1980J16 only 4 tumours were seen of which 2 were in the elbow region and one
1990J16 each in the shoulder region and dorsum of hand.*#
        **[no. of words = 02000**]

        **[txt. j17**]
0010J17 **<*3Immunoblastic lymphadenopathy-- report of a caseO**> $*<*3SummaryO*>
0020J17 $^A case of immunoblastic lymphadenopathy has been
0030J17 presented which had the characteristic clinical and histological
0050J17 features. ^The patient did pot respond to chemotherapy and
0060J17 succumbed to the disease. ^Instead of the usual polyclonal
0070J17 gammopathy associated with this condition, he showed a fall in
0080J17 \0IgM levels, \0IgG and \0IgA being within normal limits. ^The
0090J17 significance of the latter finding is not known. $*<*3Introduction*0*>
0100J17 $^Generalized lymphadenopathy with or without
0110J17 fever and hepatosplenomegaly is seen in a variety of diseases.
0120J17 ^Lymph node biopsy for establishing the diagnosis may sometimes
0130J17 be essential but the distinction between malignant and
0140J17 reactive proliferation of the lymphoreticular tissue is at
0150J17 times difficult. ^The entity described as angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy
0160J17 with dysproteinaemia by Frizzera, Moran and Rappaport
0170J17 (1974) and as immunoblastic lymphadenopathy by Lukes and
0180J17 Tindle (1975) is situated on the borderline between benign and malignant
0190J17 immunoblastic proliferation and exercises the skill of
0200J17 a pathologist. ^It is imperative that the condition should be distingusihed
0210J17 from Hodgkin*'s disease as the available evidence indicates
0220J17 that chemotherapy may be harmful to the patient in the former
0230J17 condition. $<*3Case reportO*> $^A 35-year-old man presented
0240J17 with a history of fever and painful enlargement of inguinal lymph
0250J17 nodes of a month*'s duration. ^He had taken a course of tetracycline
0260J17 and chloromycetin without any benefit. ^A week before admission
0270J17 to hosptial he had noticed a painful swelling in the neck.
0280J17 ^He also had a marked loss of weight and appetite. ^There
0290J17 was no skin rash or itching. $^Exmination revealed a generalized
0300J17 lymphadenopathy with involvement of cervical, axillary and
0310J17 inguinal lymph nodes. ^The liver was not enlarged and the spleen
0320J17 was just palpable. ^In addition, the patient was febrile and had
0330J17 mild pallor. $*<*3Laboratory investigationsO*> $^Haemoglobin was 11.6
0340J17 \0g/dl, \0WBC 6.8 x 10*:8**:/\0l (32% neutrophils, 48% mature lymphocytes
0341J17 15% monocytes, 3% cosinophils and 2% basophils) and \0ESR
0350J17 was 40 \0mm/first hour (Westergren). ^The peripheral smear
0360J17 showed a normocytic, normochromic picture. ^Serum globulins
0370J17 were 3.4 \0g/dl. ^The immunoglobulins as measured by Mancine*'s
0380J17 radial gelimmunodiffusion technique were as follows (normal
0390J17 values in parentheses): \0IgG, 163 \0i.u. (120-246);
0400J17 \0IgA, 63 \0i.u. (55-268); \0IgM, 56 \0i.u. (108-204). ^Bone
0410J17 marrow smear showed an increase in the raticulum cells
0420J17 and well differentiated plasma cells. ^Chest X-ray was normal.
0430J17 ^An abdominal lymphangiography showed enlargement of the
0440J17 internal iliac and preaortic group of lymph nodes with marked
0450J17 lymphangiectasis. ^Two lymph node biopsies were taken. ^Both
0460J17 showed the characteristic histological picture of immunoblastic lymphadenopathy.
0470J17 ^The patient was given antibiotics for one week
0480J17 and was discharged. $^A month later he was re-admitted. ^The predominant
0490J17 complaint was lymphoedema of the left lower limb. ^However,
0500J17 fever was continuing. ^Weight-loss was marked and the lymph nodes
0510J17 had further enlarged. ^Therapy with cyclophosphamide (200 \0mg/day)
0520J17 was started. ^The patient*'s general condition rapidly
0530J17 deteriorated and he died 12 days after starting chemotherapy.
0540J17 ^Permission for a postmortem was refused. $*<*3Pathologigal featuresO*>
0550J17 $^Sections from two lymph node biopsies measuring 1 x 0.8
0560J17 0.6 \0cm and 2 x 1 x 1 \0cm were stained with haematoxylin eosin,
0570J17 periodic acid Schiff, methyl green pyronin and reticulin.
0580J17 $^Both biopsies showed similar histological features. ^The lymph
0590J17 node architecture was completely effaced. ^There was a marked
0600J17 proliferation of small branching capillaries lined with plump
0610J17 endothelial cells (\0Fig. 1) ^The lymph node was infiltrated by a
0620J17 polymorphous population of cells and it showed a marked depletion
0630J17 of lymphocytes. ^The cellular infiltrate was composed of plasma
0640J17 cells, immunoblasts, and a few lymphocytes (\0Fig. 2). ^The immunoblasts
0650J17 were large polygonal cells having a moderate amount
0660J17 of amphophillic cytoplasm, an oval large nucleus with finely reticulated
0670J17 chromatin and prominent nucleoli. ^An occasional binucleate
0680J17 Sternberg Reed-like cell and a few mitotic figures were
0690J17 also seen (\0Fig. 3). ^In a few areas there was an amorphous
0700J17 eosinophilic material separating the cellular infiltrate. ^Similar
0710J17 material was also seen deposited in the walls of the vessels.
0720J17 $*<*3DiscussionO*> $^The clinical manifestations of this
0730J17 case diagnosed histologically as immunoblastic lymphadenopathy
0740J17 were similar to those described by Lukes and Tindle (1975)
0750J17 and Frizzera *(0et al.*) (1974). ^The disease developed
0760J17 rapidly, presenting with fever, lymphadenopathy and loss of weight,
0770J17 and was clinically diagnosed as HodgkinS disease.
0780J17 $^The histology of lymph node biopsy showed the characteristic
0790J17 features of immunoblastic lymphadenopathy, fulfilling the four
0800J17 essential criteria laid down by Lukes and Tindle (1975). ^These
0810J17 are: $(a) diffuse involvement of the lymph node; $(b) proliferation
0820J17 of immunoblasts, plasma cytoid immunoblasts and plasma
0830J17 cells with lymphocyte depletion; $(c) proliferation of arborizing
0840J17 small capillaries; $(d) deposit of an amorphous eosinophilic
0850J17 interstitial material. $^Most of the patients with this
0860J17 disease show polyclonal gammopathy in the serum. ^However, this
0870J17 patient showed normal values of \0IgG and \0IgA and a
0880J17 subnormal \0IgM level. ^The significance
0890J17 of this finding is not known. ^Definite hyperglobulinaemia
0900J17 was found in thirteen out of fourteen cases analysed by Lukes
0910J17 and Tindle (1975), whereas one patient showed no abnormality
0920J17 in the serum globulins. ^Deficiency of any of the immunoglobulins
0930J17 has not been reported so far. $^The cytotoxic therapy was
0940J17 of no avail in this case and the condition of the patient deteriorated
0950J17 rapidly after starting the treatment. ^This was also the
0960J17 experience of Kalus (1976).
0970J17 $^The aetiology of this condition is as yet unknown. ^*Lukes and Tindle
0980J17 (1975) consider it as a hyperimmune proliferation of the B-cell system
0990J17 which may be triggered off as a result of hypersensitivity reaction to
1000J17 therapeutic agents. ^*Schultz and Yunis (1975) reported a case of
1010J17 immunoblastic lymphadenopathy associated with a prolonged administration
1020J17 of liver extract, suggesting that the syndrome may be caused by chronic
1030J17 antigenic stimulation. ^Occurrence of malignant lymphoma is well known
1040J17 in association with disorders of the immune system such as systemic lupus
1050J17 erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis. ^*Sjogren*'s syndrome and alpha
1060J17 chain disease (as cited by Rappaport and Moran, 1975). ^*Immunoblastic
1070J17 lymphadenopathy, although not considered essentially malignant, has a
1080J17 potential for developing into a malignant tumour of lymphoreticular tissue.
1090J17 ^In the absence of a post-mortem in this case, the possibility of a
1100J17 malignant transformation of the lesion could not be excluded. ^In the
1110J17 series of Lukes and Tindle (1975), three cases of immunoblastic lymphadenopathy
1120J17 showed a transformation of immunoblastic sarcoma.
1130J17 $**<*3Tuberculous abscess of the brain*0**> $*<*3Summary*0*>
1140J17 $^A bacteriologically confirmed case of tuberculous abscess of the brain
1150J17 is reported. ^Tuberculous brain abscess unlike tuberculoma does not
1160J17 exhibit the typical granulomatous changes and the diagnosis is confirmed
1170J17 by demonstration of tubercle bacilli either by staining or culture.
1180J17 ^An antituberculous regime should be started immediately the diagnosis
1190J17 has been established. $*<*3Introduction*0*>
1200J17 $^Although involvement of the brain by tuberculosis is not uncommon
1210J17 on the Indian subcontinent, tuberculous brain abscess, an encapsulated
1220J17 collection of pus containing viable tubercle bacilli is quite rare.
1230J17 ^*Bannister (1970) described one case and mentioned five others (Evans
1240J17 and Smith, 1931; Rand 1935; Singh, Pandya and Dastur, 1968).
1250J17 ^*Devadiga *(0et al.*) (1969) reported one case of bacteriologically
1260J17 confirmed tuberculous brain abscess. ^Recently, Rab *(0et al.*) (1975)
1270J17 described one case of tuberculous brain abscess proved by demonstration
1280J17 of tubercle bacilli in the pus and by histology. $^In several series of
1290J17 tuberculomas of the brain it was mentioned that pus or pus-like material
1300J17 was found. ^*Obrador amd Urquiza (1948) recorded one case in which the
1310J17 pus did not show any organisms and the culture was also negative. ^*Arseni
1320J17 (1958) had only one case containing pus in his series of 201
1330J17 tuberculomas of the brain treated surgically. ^*Higazi (1963) mentioned
1340J17 one tuberculoma containing pus but did not give operative or post-mortem
1350J17 details. ^*Dastur and Desai (1965) in a series of 107 tuberculomas, described
1360J17 eight containing pus-like material but it was not mentioned whether
1370J17 the pus contained tubercle bacilli or whether the material was caseated
1380J17 tubercular debris. ^One case of cystic tuberculoma was reported by
1390J17 Dastur, Desai and Dastur (1962) and another by Rao, Subrahmanyam and
1400J17 Sathe (1963). $^The authors now describe a case of tuberculous brain
1410J17 abscess which was confirmed bacteriologically. ^The histological
1420J17 sections of capsule showed chronic non-specific infection.
1420J17 $*<*3case report*0*> $^A 20-year-old female was first admitted in the
1430J17 psychiatry unit in July, 1974 with a 10-year history of progressive
1440J17 impairment of memory, and insomnia. ^For one year she had had intermittent
1450J17 headaches, vomiting, right-sided focal convulsions and had experienced
1460J17 several attacks of brief unconsciousness. ^On examination,
1470J17 she was anaemic and ill nourished. ^Fundi showed papilloedema. ^Motor
1480J17 and sensory systems were normal. ^There was no neck stiffness. ^She
1490J17 was transferred to the authors*' unit for investigations. ^Her haemoglobin
1500J17 was 8 \0g/dl: total leucocyte count 8 x 10*:9**:/\0l, differential
1510J17 count polymorphs 64% lymphocytes 32% eosinophils 2% monocytes 2% and
1520J17 \0ESR 17 \0mm in the first hour. ^Tuberculin test was negative.
1530J17 ^Chest X-ray films showed no abnormality. ^*X-ray skull revealed
1540J17 erosion of dorsum sellae and posterior clinoid processes. ^Echo-encephalography
1550J17 showed shift of midline echo by 6 \0mm to the right.
1560J17 ^Left carotid angiography revealed proximal rounded shift of anterior
1570J17 cerebral artery to the right on \0A-P view and posterior and downward
1580J17 displacement of pericallosal artery on lateral view. ^Operation was
1590J17 refused by the husband and the patient was taken home. $^The
1600J17 patient was re-admitted 2 years later with a 2-months*' history of continuous
1610J17 headache; frequent vomiting; right-sided weakness, incontinence of
1620J17 urine and faeces; altered sensorium and right-sided focal fits. ^She
1630J17 was drowsy and disorientated. ^She had optic atrophy, left ptosis,
1640J17 upper motorneurone ritht facial palsy, right hemiparesis and dysphasia.
1650J17 ^Tendon reflexes were brisk on the right side with extensor plantar.
1660J17 ^Investigations showed her haemoglobin was 9 \0g/dl, total leucocyte
1670J17 count 12.5 x 10*:9**:/\0l, differential count polymorphs 68% lymphocytes
1680J17 27% eosinophils 5% and \0ESR 22 \0mm in the first hour . ^Tuberculin
1690J17 test was negative. ^Chest X-ray was normal. ^Skull X-ray showed
1700J17 signs of increased intracranial pressure. ^Echo-encephalography
1710J17 showed shift of midline echo by 8 \0mm towards the right. $^Left
1720J17 frontal craniotomy revealed a deep, medially placed frontal lobe abscess
1730J17 with a thick capsule containing 60 \0cm*;3**; of thick pus. ^Only
1740J17 partial excision of the capsule was possible. ^The post-operative period
1750J17 was uneventful. ^A direct smear from the pus prepared with Ziehl
1760J17 Neelsen stain revealed no acid-fast bacilli. ^Histological studies
1770J17 of the abscess and its wall showed chronic non-specific inflammatory
1780J17 changes. ^Culture of the pus for pyogenic opganisms was sterile.
1790J17 ^The patient was discharged on anticonvulsants. $^One month later
1800J17 the patient was admitted with meningitis. ^On examination she was responding
1810J17 only to deep painful stimuli and was toxic. ^There was marked
1820J17 neck stiffness and Kernig*'s sign was positive. ^There was no
1830J17 improvement on treatment with gentamicin. ^Six weeks after operation
1840J17 *3Mycobacterium tuberculosis*0 was cultured from some pus. ^She
1850J17 was put on antituberculous chemotherapy and steroids and showed remarkable
1860J17 improvement. $*<*3Discussion*0*> $^*Ramamurthi and
1870J17 Varadarajan (1961) and Dastur and Desai (1965) have reported that about
1880J17 20% of all intracranial space-occupying lesions in India are tuberculomas.
1890J17 ^In Africa, where tuberculomas and tuberculous encephalopathy
1900J17 are common occurrences, 30% of intracranial tumours are tuberculomas
1910J17 (Scrinshaw, Garden and Taylor, 1968). ^In 1933 Garland and Armitage
1920J17 found eighty-nine tuberculomas in 13000 post-mortems performed in Leeds,
1930J17 England. ^*Evans and Courville (1938) found forty-three cases
1940J17 of tuberculomas in 15000 post-mortems. ^However, these reports do not
1950J17 mention tuberculous brain abscess. ^Thus, tuberculous brain abscess
1960J17 is rare compared to tuberculoma. $^According to Rand (1935),
1970J17 tuberculous brain abscess, unlike tuberculoma, does not show the typical
1980J17 granulomatous changes such as collection of epitheloid cells and giant
1990J17 cells around central area of caseation. ^Instead, tuberculous abscess
2000J17 shows only chronic non-specific inflammatory changes as seen in
2010J17 the present case. ^Diagnosis is established only with the demonstration
2020J17 of tubercle bacilli. ^In the present case a tuberculous aetiology of
2030J17 the abscess was confirmed by positive culture. $^If the tuberculous aetiology
2040J17 is not confirmed and anti-tuberculous treatment is not enforced
2050J17 at the earliest date, there is every likelihood that the infection will
2060J17 spread, leading to death of the patient. ^It is the authors*'
2070J17 opinion that all chronic brain abscesses should be treated as being tuberculous
2080J17 unless proved otherwise. ^Anti-tuberculous chemotherapy should
2090J17 be discontinued only after excluding a tuberculous aetiology.*#
        **[no. of words = 01962**]

        **[txt. j18**]
0010J18 **<*3OPTIMIZATION: THEORY & APPLICATIONS*0**> $*3Initial solution*0.
0020J18 ^An initial solution for the problem stated in \0Eqs.
0030J18 (10.29) can be taken as $*Me $and $*Me (10.30)
0030J18 $^If b *Ms 0, this solution will be feasible and optimal since
0040J18 c *Ms 0 in \0Eqs. (10.29). ^In this case there is nothing more
0050J18 to_ be done as the starting solution itself happens to_ be optimal.
0060J18 ^On the other hand, if some of the components *Mn are
0070J18 negative, the solution given by \0Eqs. (10.30) will be optimal
0080J18 (since c *Ms 0) but infeasible. ^Thus the method starts with
0090J18 an optimal (actually better than optimal) and infeasible solution.
0100J18 ^The algorithm forces this solution towards feasibility
0110J18 while keeping it optimal all the time. ^This is the reason
0120J18 why Balas called his mehtod as *3pseudo dual simplex method*0.
0130J18 ^The word *3pseudo*0 has been used since the method is
0140J18 similar to the dual simplex method only as far as the starting
0150J18 solution is concerned and the subsequent procedure has no
0160J18 similarity at all with the dual simplex method.
0170J18 $*<SOME DEFINITIONS AND NOTATIONS*> $^Before presenting the
0180J18 various steps of the algorithm, we shall introduce some
0190J18 definitions and notations. $(**=1) *3Partial Solution:
0200J18 ^If some (but not all) of the *3n variables *Mn are assigned
0210J18 the values of 0 or 1 each, then the solution is called
0220J18 a partial solution (*Mn). $^Thus if *Me the solution
0230J18 $*Me (10.31) can be called a partial solution. ^For convenience of
0240J18 notation we shall use the symbols *3i and *3- i to_ represent
0250J18 *Me and *Me respectively. ^According to this notation, the
0260J18 above partial solution can be written as $*Me. $^This notation
0270J18 has the advantage of identifying the variables along with their
0280J18 binary values. $(**=2) *3Free Variables: ^The variables
0290J18 which are not included in a partial solution (*Mn) are called
0300J18 free variables. ^For example, for the partial solution
0310J18 shown in \0Eq. (10.31), the variables *Mn and *Mn will be the
0320J18 free variables. ^These are called free variables since we have
0330J18 a choice of assigning a value of 0 or 1 to each of them. ^Hereafter,
0340J18 we will assume that all the free variables are equal
0350J18 to zero unless stated otherwise. $(**=3) *3Completion of a *3Partial
0360J18 Solution: ^If each of the free variables of a partial
0370J18 solution (*Mn) are assigned values 0 or 1, then the complete
0380J18 set of variables (including the partial solution) is called completion
0390J18 of the partial solution. ^Thus for the partial solution
0400J18 stated in \0Eq (10.31), there are four possible completions as
0410J18 shown below: **[table**] $^Notice that in all the four completions,
0420J18 the values of *Mn, *Mn and *Mn have been kept as 1, 1
0430J18 and 0 respectively as specified by the partial solution *3J in
0440J18 \0Eq. (10.31). $(**=4) *3Intial Partial Solution: ^To_ solve
0450J18 the problem stated in \0Eqs. (10.29) we start with an initial
0460J18 partial solution that_ has no variables assigned, that_ is,
0470J18 all the variables are free variables each with a value of zero.
0480J18 ^This initial partial solution is denoted as *Mn. $(**=
0490J18 5) *3Explicit and Implicit Enumeration of Solutions: ^If a problem
0500J18 involved only 2 or 3 binary variables, all the possible solutions
0510J18 can be enumerated explicitly as follows: **[table
0520J18 **] ^On the other hand, if a problem involves *3n
0530J18 binary variables with *3n *Ms 4, the explicit enumeration of
0540J18 all the possible 2*:*3n**: solutions will become more and
0550J18 more tedious as the value of *3n increases. ^One of the systematic
0560J18 procedures for enumerating the solutions for any values of *3n
0570J18 is to_ draw a network as illustrated in \0fig. 10.4 for *3n = 4. $^In
0580J18 the network shown in \0Fig 10.4 each node represents one possible solution.
0590J18 ^The numbers marked at each node denote the subscripts
0600J18 of the variables that_ have a value of 1 in the solution
0610J18 represented by that_ node. ^Thus node 0 represents a solution
0620J18 (0, 0, 0, 0) in which none of the variables has a value of 1, node
0630J18 3 represents the solution (0, 0, 1, 0), node (1, 3, 4,) represents
0640J18 the solution (1, 0, 1, 1), \0etc. ^To_ construct the
0650J18 network, we draw from any particular node *3A, one line for
0660J18 each variable that_ was not having a value of 1 in the solution represented
0670J18 by the node *3A. ^As an example, consider the node
0680J18 marked (2, 3) in \0Fig 10.4. ^Since the variables *Mn and
0690J18 *Mn do not have a value of 1 in the solution corresponding to
0700J18 this node, two lines are drawn from this node, one to_ include *Me
0710J18 (node (1, 2, 3,)), and the other to_ include *Me (node 2, 3, 4,) in
0720J18 the new solutions. $^Thus the networks, similar to the one
0730J18 shown in \0Fig. 10.4, will serve to_ enumerate all the solutions
0740J18 explicitly. ^Suppose that in a problem having 4 binary vaariables
0750J18 *Me, for example, has been found to_ be infeasible. ^Then,
0760J18 if we are solving the problem by enumeration, we need not
0770J18 consider all those solutions in which *Me. ^This means that
0780J18 we have *3implicitly enumerated all the solutions associated
0790J18 with the open nodes in \0Fig 10.5 (\0.i.e., the solutions in which
0800J18 *Me). $^Similarly assume that the solution in which *Me
0810J18 and *Me (all other variables equal to zero) has been found to_ be
0820J18 feasible (not necessarily an optimum). ^Once this information
0830J18 is known, all the solutions in which the other variables (other
0840J18 than *Mn and *Mn take a value 1 need not be considered. ^This
0850J18 is because of the fact that all the cost coefficients *Mn in \0Eqs.
0860J18 (10.29) are nonnegative and any solution with variables having
0870J18 a value of 1, besides *Mn and *Mn, will be worse than the solution
0880J18 (1, 0, 0, 1). ^This means that as soon as we find that (1, 0,
0890J18 0, 1) is feasible, we have implicitly enumerated all those solutions
0900J18 having *Me and/ or *Me. $this
0910J18 concept of implicit enumeration plays an important role in the
0920J18 Balas algorithm. ^This concept permits us to_ investigate explicitly
0930J18 only a small number of the 2*:*3n**: possible solutions and automatically
0940J18 account for (implicitly enumerate) all the remaining solutions.
0950J18 $(**=6) *3Fathomed Partial Solution: ^In Balas
0960J18 method, we start with the initial partial solution *Mn as defined
0970J18 in (**=4) and try to_ assign a value of 0 or 1 to one free variable
0980J18 at a time and generate a series of new partial solutions *Mn, *Mn,...
0990J18 (the rules for introducing a free variable to the current partial
1000J18 solution to_ generate a new partial solution will be given later.)
1010J18 ^These partial solutions are generated such that they are forced
1011J18 towards the feasible region gradually (notice that the initial
1020J18 solution given by \0Eqs. (10.30) is infeasible). ^While generating
1030J18 the series of partial solutions *Mn, *Mn, ... it is possible
1040J18 that one of the completions of a particular partial solution, say,
1050J18 *Mn becomes feasible. ^When this feasibility is encountered
1060J18 for the first time, the corresponding value of the objective function
1070J18 is stored as *Mn and will be considered as the best feasible
1080J18 value obtained so far. ^As a convention, the best value
1090J18 of the objective function *Mn will be taken as +*Ms before the first
1100J18 feasible solution is encountered. $^During the iterative process,
1110J18 any feasible partial solution that_ does not yield a smaller
1120J18 value than the available *Mn will be discarded. ^However, if a
1121J18 new feasible partial solution gives an objective function value smaller
1122J18 than *Mn, the new value of *Mn will be taken as *Mn. ^Thus *Mn
1123J18 can be considered as an
1130J18 upper bound on the optimal value of the objective function at any
1140J18 stage and its value might be changing as the iterative process
1150J18 continues. $^When a completion of the partial solution *Mn
1160J18 gives a feasible solution with an objective function value smaller
1170J18 than *Mn or when a completion of *Mn which will improve the infeasibility
1180J18 in the current solution could not be found then the
1190J18 partial solution *Mn is said to_ have been fathomed. ^It can
1200J18 be noticed that once a partial solution *Mn is fathomed, it means
1210J18 that all the completions of *Mn have been implicitly enumerated
1220J18 and hence they need not be considered in the future iterations.
1230J18 ^The details as to how fathoming can be achieved will be given later.
1240J18 $(**=7) *3Backtracking. ^If a partial solution is fathomed,
1250J18 we know that there will not be any use in investigating its
1260J18 remaining completions. ^Hence we have to_ somehow ensure
1270J18 that such completions will be excluded from consideration in our future
1280J18 enumerations (either explicit or implicit). ^A procedure,
1290J18 known as backtracking, can be used for this purpose.
1300J18 ^In backtracking,
1310J18 we simply replace one of the variables in the current partial
1320J18 solution (which is fathomed) with its complement to_ generate a new
1330J18 partial solution. $^For example, let us consider a problem
1340J18 with four binary variables and let the solution *Mes is
1350J18 found **[sic**] feasible with an improved value of the objective function.
1360J18 ^Thus the completion (1, 0, 0, 1) of the partial solution
1370J18 (*Me, *Me) has been found to_ be feasible and give an improved
1380J18 value of the objective function. ^This means that the
1390J18 partial solution (*Me, *Me) is fathomed. ^In this case
1400J18 to_ avoid redundancy (repetetion of the implicitly enumerated solutions)
1410J18 in the enumeration process, we might next examine the partial
1420J18 solution (*Me, *Me). ^We can see clearly that whatever
1430J18 completions we consider for this partial solution, the completions
1440J18 of the fathomed partial solution (*Mes) will not be repeated
1450J18 and hence the redundancy will be avoided. $^As soon
1460J18 as a new partial solution is generated, we will try to_ make it
1470J18 fathomed as outlined in difinition (**=6). ^When this is done, we
1480J18 proceed to_ generate a new partial solution by using the backtracking
1490J18 procedure. ^Thus, we will be able to_ enumerate (implicitly
1500J18 or explicitly) all the 2*:*3n**: possible solutions by applying this
1510J18 backtracking procedure only a few number of times. ^After the
1520J18 backtracking is completed, the solution corresponding to the current
1530J18 value of *Mn will represent the optimum solution of the
1540J18 problem. ^If the value of *Mn remains at *Ms it means that
1550J18 none of the *Mn solutions is feasible for the given problem.
1560J18 $*<NOTATIONS*> $^We shall use the following notations in the
1570J18 presentation of Balas*' method. ^*Mn = set of variables that_ have been
1580J18 assigned a value of 0 or 1 in *3KTh iteration. ^It indicates
1590J18 the variables involved in a partial solution in *3KTh iteration.
1600J18 ^*Mn = set of variables involved in the initial partial
1610J18 solution \0.i.e. 0th iteration) ^It is taken as a null set.
1620J18 ^*Mn = set of all the *3n variables of the problem. $^*Mn = set
1630J18 of free variables that_ were not included in the partial solution
1640J18 during the *3KTh iteration. ^As stated in definiton (**=2)
1650J18 all the free variables are assumed to_ be zero, unless stated
1660J18 otherwise. ^*Mn = the particular set (not necessarily all) of free
1670J18 variables which are likely to_ improve the current solution.
1680J18 ^This set is called the improving set of variables. ^*Mn = a measure
1690J18 of the total infeasibility of the problem when the variable
1700J18 *Mn is assigned a value 1 in the *3KTh iteration. ^*Mn
1710J18 = value of the objective function at the beginning of *3K0th iteration.
1720J18 $*Mn = the least value of the objective function achieved
1730J18 so far. ^We want to_ improve the solution further, if possible.
1740J18 *<*3Algorithm*> $^We start with *Mes set, *Me with at least
1750J18 one component of *Mes and *Me. $STEP 1. ^Determine an entering
1760J18 variable from the set of free variables, *Mn as follows: $STEP
1770J18 1 (a) ^First find the set of promising variables *Mn which
1780J18 are likely to_ improve the current solution (*Mn) by eliminating
1781J18 all the nonpromising variables. ^This will be done in two stages.
1790J18 $^In the first stage, we eliminate all those free variables which
1800J18 do not result in forcing at least one negative slack variable
1810J18 *Mn towards the feasible region. ^For this, consider any slack
1820J18 variable *Mn that_ is negative in the current partial solution.
1830J18 ^The only way to_ improve the value of *Mn is to_ assign a value 1
1840J18 to some free variable *Mn in which case we obtain *Me \0i.e.
1850J18 *Me. (10.32) $^It can be seen that *Mn will be forced towards the feasible
1860J18 region (towards a positive value) only if *Me. ^Thus we can eliminate
1870J18 all those free variables *Mn (*Mn belongs to the set *Mn)for
1880J18 which *Me as nonpromising variables.*#
        **[no. of words = 02027**]

        **[txt. j19**]
0010J19 **<ANALYTICAL \0*V*S. IMPLICIT NUMERICAL SOLUTIONS OF CERTAIN TIME-DEPENDENT
0020J19 FLUID FLOW PROBLEMS**> $*3Summary: ^It has been found
0030J19 by several researchers that implicit numerical solutions of time-dependent,
0040J19 viscous fluid flows exhibit better stability and convergence
0050J19 properties than those obtained by virtue of explicit methods. ^Since
0060J19 for most of these problems analytical solutions are not yet known
0070J19 the validity of numerical solutions was established by comparing
0080J19 them with the experimental results. ^In this work, certain partial
0090J19 differential equations of fluid dynamics, whose analytical solutions
0100J19 are well-known, were solved by implicit numerical methods.
0110J19 ^A comparison between the two types of solutions, analytical and numerical
0120J19 shows that the implicit method gives very effective results
0130J19 independent of mesh sizes, time steps and Reynold*'s numbers.
0140J19 $*3Introduction: ^Numerical solution of nonlinear
0150J19 partial differential equations has a special significance in
0160J19 fluid dynamics. ^The necessity to_ solve equations of motion
0170J19 of transient viscous fluid flow is felt in environment and energy
0180J19 related problems, in weather prediction and in hemodynamics of
0190J19 prosthetic heart valve transplant. ^Since analytical solutions
0200J19 in these cases are not generally known, efforts were made to_ solve
0210J19 them numerically. ^At present, there are several numerical
0220J19 techniques available to_ solve these equations (Roache 1976). ^The
0230J19 one used most often is an explicit scheme where the time derivative is
0240J19 approximated by a two-point forward difference formula.
0250J19 ^The primary advantages of such a scheme are: (**=1) it has a simple
0260J19 computational algorithm and (**=2) it generally requires less
0270J19 computer memory storage. ^However, stability and convergence
0280J19 criteria of such a method are rather stringent [Dey 1977, Roache
0290J19 1976] in the sense that larger time steps and/ or Reynold*'s nubmber
0300J19 could destroy the stability of the numerical solution.
0310J19 ^In fact, Scala and Gordon (1968) restricted their works on Navier-Stokes
0320J19 equations to very small time steps and Fromm (1964) noticed
0330J19 instabilities for large Reynold*'s number. ^*Mueller (1976)
0340J19 applied upwind differencing explicit methods in his studies on
0350J19 blood flow through prosthetic heart valves. ^He had a stringent
0360J19 restriction on time steps and in the conclusion he mentioned
0370J19 that beyond Reynold*'s number of 500 "differencing technique gives
0380J19 results within the scatter of experimental data," although in
0390J19 reality he mentioned, the Reynold*'s number is as high as 5 x
0400J19 10*:4**: $^It was uniformly recorded by Thompson (1968), who
0410J19 solved Navier-Stokes*' equations by an implicit method approximating
0420J19 the time-derivative by backward differences, that the numerical
0430J19 solutions are unconditionally stable for all time steps and
0440J19 free stream Reynold*'s number. ^*Dey (1970, 1975, 1976) verified
0450J19 the same results as Thompson found, while studying transient
0460J19 viscous fluid flow past a circular cylinder. ^The effectiveness and
0470J19 strength of implicit schemes were also studied by Briley and McDonald
0480J19 (1974) and by McDowell and Prandle (1972). ^But,
0490J19 since analytical solutions of these equations were not known,
0500J19 some comparison was made primarily against available experimental data
0510J19 which often are not as rigorous and precise as we expect them
0520J19 to_ be. ^Thus in this project, the usefulness of an implicit
0530J19 scheme was subjected to further investigation and analysis. ^Here,
0540J19 four distinct problems, which have well-known analytical solutions,
0550J19 were considered for implicit numerical solution. ^These are
0560J19 (**=1) Three dimensional heat conduction equation, (**=2) Motion
0570J19 of a suddenly accelerated flat plate in a viscous fluid which is
0580J19 otherwise at rest, (**=3) One dimensional gas dynamics equation
0590J19 and (**=4) Burger*'s equation on turbulence model. $^The
0600J19 implicit finite difference analogs were formed in each case by
0610J19 approximating time derivative by a two-point backward difference
0620J19 formula and the space derivatives by central differences. ^Excepting
0630J19 for the heat conduction equation, the numerical solution was
0640J19 obtained mostly by applying iterative matrix factorization.
0650J19 ^*Reiss*' (1972) analysis shows that such an algorithm is quite
0660J19 powerful especially when we have equations involving tri-diagonal
0670J19 matrices. ^Previously Thompson (1968) and Dey (1970)
0680J19 applied Gauss Seidel iterations with optimised relaxation
0690J19 parameter to_ solve the finite difference matrix equations which
0700J19 form the analogs of Navier-Stokes*' equation. ^*Dey (1977)
0710J19 also applied a perturbed nonlinear functional iteration to_ solve
0720J19 nonlinear partial differential equations. ^All these methods
0730J19 were implicit and were unconditionally stable for all time steps
0740J19 and free stream Reynold*'s number. ^Since in this work the
0750J19 implicit solutions were checked against exact solutions as
0760J19 presented by tables and graphs, the strength of implicit methods
0770J19 have been firmly established. $*32. Three
0780J19 dimensional Heat Conduction Equation: ^*Let us consider the three
0790J19 dimensional heat conduction equation: $*Me (2.1) $where *Mn
0800J19 is the Laplacian, and the equation is subjected to the following
0810J19 initial boundary conditions: $^At *Mes (2.2) $for *Mes (2.3) $^The
0820J19 analytical solution of (2.1) subject to the above initial-boundary
0830J19 conditions is given by: *Mes (2.4) $*36. Discussion:
0840J19 ^The primary objective of this work was to_ study a comparison
0850J19 between analytical and numerical solutions by implicit techniques
0860J19 of certain fluid flow problems. ^The study conducted so far
0870J19 gives encouraging results. ^We now intend to_ make a critical
0880J19 assessment of this work, analyzing its limitations and overall
0890J19 effectiveness. $*<(**=1) *3Computational time and computer
0900J19 memory storage requirements:*> $^Along with the excellent stability
0910J19 and convergence properties which implicit finite difference
0920J19 analogs usually provide, they generally require high speed
0930J19 computers with large memory storage since in most of these cases
0940J19 large matrices are used. ^Computations in this work were done mostly
0950J19 by an \0IBM 360/50 computer system. ^For Burger*'s equation,
0960J19 computational time was quite large, especially when *Mn
0970J19 was small. ^The criterion for convergence was max *Mn where
0980J19 *Me. ^We required a memory storage about 120 \0K and about 90 minutes
0990J19 of execution time for *Me. ^The average number of iterations for
1000J19 convergence was 8. ^The matrix factorization scheme virtually
1010J19 failed for *Me because oscillations were found at points on
1020J19 computed velocity profiles where oscillations were not expected.
1040J19 ^These could be created by
1050J19 the severity of the shocks which developed close to these points
1060J19 showing instabilities. ^Furthermore, since convergence
1070J19 criterion in the code is just necessary and convergence process
1080J19 should be mathematically very slow for *Me a smaller value
1090J19 of *Mn could have caused better results. ^But this idea was dropped
1100J19 since computational time already exceeded three hours.
1110J19 ^At this stage, the matrix factorization method was abandoned, and a
1120J19 different implicit scheme, \0PIS (Dey 1977), was employed.
1130J19 ^The results agree closely with the existing solution by Ames
1140J19 (1971). ^Since this agreement is discussed quite extensively
1150J19 in (Dey 1977 \0Fig. 8), to_ avoid duplication, we did not give the
1160J19 same graph here. ^However, it must be noted that the iterative
1170J19 matrix factorization applied in this work was not combined with
1180J19 any successive over/ under relaxation scheme. ^A study
1190J19 has been undertaken to_ develop a relaxation method having multiple
1200J19 relaxation parameters to_ generate a significantly faster rate
1210J19 of convergence. ^A very limited amount of progress has been
1220J19 achieved so far. $*<(**=2) *3Effect of Time Steps:*>
1230J19 $^Throughout our studies in *3this work we found that the
1240J19 effects of time steps on the implicit numerical solution are virtually
1250J19 nil. ^These have been systematically represented in Table
1260J19 1 and Figures 1 to 12. ^With respect to the solution of Burger*'s
1270J19 equation for *Me. ^*Table 2 has been constructed to_ show
1280J19 the *3actual differences between numerical solutions for time
1290J19 steps 0.005 and 0.01. ^Although, for *3this work we may claim
1300J19 that such effects are negligible, it is well known that to_ detect
1310J19 some subtle flow properties of highly time dependent flows for
1320J19 example, wakes behind fluff bodies, large-time-step solution will
1330J19 not be as effective as those by smaller time steps (Dey 1970, Thompson
1340J19 1968). $*<(**=3) *3Computational Wellposedness:*>
1350J19 $^All results presented in this work were thoroughly checked
1360J19 for computational wellposedness. ^In order to_ do this, the
1370J19 input parameters *Mns together with the initial/ boundary conditions
1380J19 were given small changes. ^The computational results were
1390J19 infinitesimally affected by them. ^The tabular and graphical
1400J19 results given in this paper regarding effects of time steps certainly
1410J19 established computational wellposedness of numerical solution
1420J19 with respect to time. $*(**=4) *<*3Explicit \0vs. Implicit
1430J19 Numerical Solutions:*> $^Instabilities of numerical solutions
1440J19 of Burger*'s equation by explicit numerical methods were
1450J19 recorded by Ames (1971) (\0Fig. 2.9) for *Me and Ziebarth (1975)
1460J19 showed the oscillatory solutions of one dimensional gas dynamics
1470J19 equation by both leap-frog as well as upwind differencing explicit methods
1480J19 when he used *Me. ^The instabilities recorded by Fromm (1964)
1490J19 with regard to the explicit numerical solution of Navier-Stokes*'
1500J19 equations for incompressible fluid flows, might have been
1510J19 caused by the numerical method. ^Among some very commendable applications
1520J19 of explicit numerical methods to_ solve fluid flow problems,
1530J19 the works of Thoman and Szewczyk (1969) and Chatterjee and
1540J19 Debnath (1976) are worth mentioning. ^In (Thoman and Szewczyk 1969)
1550J19 by using directional differences for nonlinear advection
1560J19 terms in the vorticity transport equation, the authors
1570J19 were able to_ enhance "calculational stability at high Reynold*'s
1580J19 numbers." ^However, the restrictions on time steps were
1590J19 stringent (Equation 10). ^In (Chatterjee and Debnath 1976)
1600J19 mathematical models of tidal flow problems, the comparison
1610J19 between the experimental data and the explicit finite-difference
1620J19 solutions is indeed very interesting. ^But again, the severe
1630J19 restriction on the time step is present (equation 4.1).
1640J19 ^The authors were critical about the implicit solution of
1650J19 similar equations by McDowell and Prandle (1972) but those
1660J19 comments are hardly convincing. ^Implicit techniques
1670J19 do not necessarily smooth out the results having sharp changes.
1680J19 ^As an example, we may refer to Figure 8 of this article.
1690J19 ^The iterative matrix solution *3did show sharp disturbances
1700J19 in velocity profiles between *Me and *Me as expected
1710J19 theoretically. ^We may also refer to Figure 7 in (Dey 1977)
1720J19 where sharp changes of velocity profiles were not smoothed out by the
1730J19 iterative scheme. $^For the sake of comparison Berger*'s
1740J19 equation was solved by an explicit numerical method where
1750J19 the time derivative was approximated by a two point forward
1760J19 time difference formula and the space derivatives were approximated
1770J19 by central differences. ^The explicit analog was:
1780J19 $*Me. ^With *Me, the sufficient conditions for computational
1790J19 stability for *Me (Dey 1977) were satisfied. ^The
1800J19 results found (see Table 1) have excellent agreement with analytical
1810J19 solutions. ^However, because of such a small time step, the
1820J19 \0CDC CYBER 7214 computer system took about 382 octal \0secs. for
1830J19 the execution of the code; whereas the same computer system took
1840J19 only 118 octal \0secs. for the implicit numereical solution
1850J19 by iterative matrix factorization and produced almost the same
1860J19 results using a time step *Me (Table 1). ^For smaller values
1870J19 of *Mn explicit solutions generated oscillatory results as experienced
1880J19 by Ames (1971) $*<(**=5) *3Matrix inversion \0vs, Matrix
1890J19 Factorization:*> $^It may be noticed that
1900J19 theoretical stability and convergence analysis in this paper,
1910J19 was done with regard to matrix inversion. ^However, we did not apply
1920J19 matrix inversion for actual numerical solution. ^Since our matrices
1930J19 are large (and smaller *Mn makes them larger), inversion involves
1940J19 computational complications (Chapter 2, isaacson and Kelller
1950J19 1966) whereas matrix factorization method is computationally
1960J19 quite simple and above all very economical (Page 57
1970J19 chapter 2, Isaacson and Keller 1966). $*37. *3Conclusion:
1980J19 ^Numerical solutions of partial differential equations in
1990J19 fluid dynamics were mostly validated by experiments (Dey 1970, Fromm
2000J19 1964, Roache 1976, Schlichting 1958, Thoman and Szewezyk 1969,
2010J19 Takamatsu, Randall and Dey 1969). ^Hence a necessity
2020J19 was felt to_ check the effectiveness of numerical methods against
2030J19 analytical solution by direct comparisons. ^This was done
2040J19 in this paper with some success.
2050J19 $^Implicit numerical solutions were already found to_
2060J19 demonstrate better stability and convergence properties. ^From
2070J19 that_ viewpoint we have *3not established here any new information.
2080J19 $^Some properties of the implicit analogs discussed
2090J19 in this work may be directly extended to Navier-Stokes*'
2100J19 equations. ^For example, matrix representations of
2110J19 three dimensional heat conduction equation may be generalized
2120J19 to three dimensional Navier-Stokes*' equation. ^Thompson
2130J19 (1969) and Dey (1970, 1975, 1977) did it for some two dimensional
2140J19 cases. ^*Berger*'s equation retained several characteristics
2150J19 of Nevier-Stokes*' equation and the theorem 4
2160J19 giving certain characteristics of the implicit analog of Burger*'s
2170J19 equation may be extended to Navier-Stokes*' equations
2180J19 as could be found in (Dey 1977, Theorem: 2). $^The
2190J19 agreement between analytical and implicit numerical solutions
2200J19 given here would possibly lead towards more applications
2210J19 of such numerical techniques. ^However, it is strongly
2220J19 recommended that such an analog should be combined with some
2230J19 relaxaton parameter to_ accelerate the rate of convergence cutting
2240J19 down thereby computational costs. $*38. *3Acknowledgement:
2250J19 ^The author wishes to_ thank his undergraduate students \0Mr.
2260J19 Timothy Biessel and \0Mr. James *(0M.*) Hartrich for conducting
2270J19 computer works in this project.*#
        **[no. of words = 02024**]

        **[txt. j20**]
0010J20 **<STUDY OF SECOND ORDER EFFECT IN CURVATURE OF THE EXTERNAL STREAM IN
0020J20 THE THEORY OF GLANCING INTERACTION BETWEEN SHOCK WAVE AND LAMINAR BOUNDARY
0030J20 LAYER WITHOUT SEPARATION**> $*3Summary*:0 ^In the Theory of Glancing
0040J20 Interaction between Shock Wave and Boundary Layer Laminar and
0050J20 Turbulent without and with separation (RAY), it was revealed in
0060J20 the earlier investigations (publications) that during Laminar interactions
0070J20 without separation, there would be strong curvature effect of the
0080J20 external stream on the said problem which reflected in the first order analysis
0090J20 (1973). ^In the present analysis, the second order effect on the
0100J20 same problem of the first order analysis has been investigated by the
0110J20 perturbation method involving the technique of STEEPEST DESCENT and
0120J20 evaluated in terms of incomplete functions after Eulerizations of the
0130J20 series which exhibit insignificant second order effect on heat transfer
0140J20 results whereas significant effect on Skin friction results (on first
0150J20 approximation of weak variations of the coefficients on the stretched co-ordinate
0160J20 during Eulerization). $^However, an alternative method of
0170J20 calculations for the skin friction results in the second order analysis
0180J20 is suggested in workable form following (0L.*) Niron for further improvement.
0190J20 $*3Introduction: ^The 'Critical Viscous Sub-layer' Theory
0200J20 (Ray 1960a, 1962a) is a serious attempt over a decade*'s research
0210J20 works to_ establish the fact in viscous interaction problems \0i.e., when
0220J20 a disturbance to the Boundary Layer (compressible), either self induced
0230J20 or externally induced, has been considered, disturbances to the
0240J20 Inertial forces as well as to the viscous forces are of the same order
0250J20 of magnitude within a thin layer well inside the usual Boundary Layer
0260J20 due to Ludwig Prandtl and called as 'Critical Viscous Sub-layer' where
0270J20 the velocity of flow is so slow (because of the proximity of the boundary
0280J20 wall) that the compressibility effect therein can be neglected. ^Thus
0290J20 viscous effect is purely constrained within the 'Critical Viscous
0300J20 Sub-layer' in the compressible Boundary Layer interaction phenomenon.
0310J20 $^This is rather a two-layer Theory in the viscous interaction problems,
0320J20 where the effects of viscosity are retained in the inner layer of
0330J20 Prandtl*'s Boundary Layer (where an inviscid irrotational field is co-existing
0340J20 with a rotational field) thereby completely defining the structure
0350J20 of the entire flow field in the specified problems of Prandtl*'s
0360J20 Boundary Layer Theory. $^In the Boundary Layer Stability Theory,
0370J20 ample evidence of this 'Critical Viscous Sub-Layer' is exemplified in
0380J20 the Raleigh*'s Theorem, dealing with the non-viscous part of the complete
0390J20 Orr-Sommerfield*'s equation. ^This theorem states that when *Me,
0400J20 *Me, \0i.e., the wave velocity *Mn is equal to the mean velocity
0410J20 *Mn at a point *Mn, where *Mn defines the critical point in the solution
0420J20 of the Orr-Sommerfield*'s equation. ^Within this layer defined
0430J20 by *Mn, there is an intense deformation of vorticity which destabilizes
0440J20 the flow. ^This idea is confirmed by the fact the effect of viscosity is
0450J20 well known to_ be one of diffusion, which is related to the 'Critical
0460J20 viscous sub-layer' region in the 'Origin of Turbulence', 'Conical Flow
0470J20 Theory', 'Heat Transfer' problems, 'Flame propagation' problems,
0480J20 'Shock Boundary Layer' problems and several other disturbed Boundary
0490J20 Layer flow problems (Ray 1968a, 1968b, 1959, 1960, 1962, 1966, 1961).
0500J20 $^In the study of Three Dimensional Shock Boundary Layer Interaction
0510J20 problems with the help of 'Critical Viscous Sub-layer' Theory,
0520J20 a particular aspect of the problem was chosen where a mathematical model
0530J20 could be formulated for the physical problem of Glancing Interaction
0540J20 of Shock wave with Boundary Layer, laminar and turbulent without and
0550J20 with separation (Ray and Rangachari 1971a, 1973a, 1973b, Ray 1973,
0560J20 1974). ^However, the real stimulus for the theoretical works in this particular
0570J20 problem came from two existing experimental works (Stalker, 1960;
0580J20 Punov 1966) in the turbulent Boundary Layers with separation (the
0590J20 mechanism of generating the shocks being different in the two cases); it
0600J20 is revealed that due to this particular type of shock interaction, the
0610J20 flow parameters (external to the Boundary Layer) exhibit invariance in
0620J20 one of the principal directions of flow. ^This corresponds to the well
0630J20 known 'Independence principle', which does not impair the cross flow
0640J20 behaviour characterizing the Three Dimensional aspects of this particular
0650J20 flow phenomenon. $^In this Glancing Interaction (or in this Sweep
0660J20 Back Effects due to Shock Interaction with the Boundary Layers),
0670J20 only normal component of the main flow contributes to the above mentioned
0680J20 phenomenon which corroborates the 'Independence Principle' and as
0690J20 such, it is a special case of three dimensional shock boundary layer interaction
0700J20 phenomenon. $^Since the present problem obeys the Independence
0710J20 Principle, the mathematical works start based on the knowledge in
0720J20 the corresponding two dimensional shock interaction problems. $^Now in the
0730J20 two dimensional shock interaction problems, it has been established over
0740J20 years*' research works (Ray, 1960a, 1962a, 1959, 1962b, 1960b, 1966,
0750J20 1961) (published and reviewed) that only a fraction of Prandtl*'s Boundary
0760J20 Layer becomes important for the consideration of viscous effects
0770J20 in such problems, namely in any interaction problems where disturbances
0780J20 are superimposed on the Boundary Layers. $^In the two dimensional
0790J20 shock boundary layer interaction problems, the disturbance to the Boundary
0800J20 Layer (compressible), specifically, pressure disturbance travels up
0810J20 and down stream from the theoretical point of impingment of the shock on
0820J20 the Boundary Layer defining in practice a finite zone of interaction
0830J20 across which pressure jump occurs continuously. ^However, mathematically,
0840J20 the pressure jump \0i.e., the error in the pressure *Mn decays asymptotically
0850J20 (rather exponentially) upstream of the point of impingement
0860J20 of the shock during interaction with the boundary layer. $^Now, considering
0870J20 the present problem of Glancing Interaction, the net effect in the
0880J20 Laminar as well as in the Turbulent Boundary Layer interactions is
0890J20 the turning round of the external flow in the principal plane of flow
0900J20 \0i.e., in *Mn plane (Ray and Rangachari 1971, 1973a, b, Ray 1973, 1974).
0910J20 ^Hence, the natural choice of solving the problem is to_ search for
0920J20 an appropriate similarity solution of the external flow to the Boundary
0930J20 layer with due weightages for considerations of the specific physical
0940J20 problem. $^Because of the considerations stated in the corresponding
0950J20 two dimensional shock interaction problems, consideration of exponential
0960J20 pressure due to Glancing Interaction is quite logical to_ start with
0970J20 the problem. ^Furthermore, the interaction zone is small so that the exponential
0980J20 function can be approximated to_ behave linearly. $^Now the question
0990J20 is: given the exponential pressure distribution in the main-stream
1000J20 direction, what should be the appropriate similarity solution in the
1010J20 present problem? ^It is rather difficult to_ start with the compressible
1020J20 case (\0i.e., to_ consider the physical plane where the Glancing Interaction
1030J20 is taking place) for the investigation of the appropriate similarity
1040J20 solution in the present case. ^Hence the incompressible case is considered
1050J20 which has simulated some of the considerations of the Glancing Interaction
1060J20 phenomenon, to_ derive the appropriate similarity solution,
1070J20 namely *Mn, the free stream velocity component in the main stream direction
1080J20 (*3x-direction) (independent of *3z because of the independence
1090J20 principle) which is *Mn, D being a constant and *Mn, the free stream
1100J20 velocity component in the *3z-direction being constant (Ray 1962c, Ray
1110J20 and Rangachari 1971b). ^However, during derivation of this particular
1120J20 similarity solution (Ray 1962c, Ray and Rangachari 1971b), *Mn has
1130J20 been neglected. ^On the contrary *Mn is associated with the term *Mn
1140J20 and the other term considered and retained is *Mn which is of the same
1150J20 order of magnitude as the term *Mn namely *Mn with *Mn thus, it justifies
1160J20 that the constant associated with the term *Mn must be negligibly
1170J20 small compared with that of *Mn (Ray 1973, 1962c, Ray and Rangachari
1180J20 1971b). ^Furthermore, *Mn very small means that *Mn behaves linearly
1190J20 at some distance onwards. ^This is however necessary because when the
1200J20 energy equation in the external potential flow (\0i.e., the equations
1210J20 in Bernoulli*'s the corresponding incompressible flow) is written in the
1220J20 form *Mn = constant and with *Mn *Mn =*Mn the energy equation reduces
1230J20 to: *Mn = constant, in which the pressure term is decreasing and the
1240J20 velocity term is increasing with increasing *Mn(*Mn being constant
1250J20 pressure, say reservoir pressure in such a flow situation): and this form
1260J20 of energy equation cannot be exactly satisfied for all values of *Mn.
1270J20 ^Treating it rather a transcendental equation which will have theoretically
1280J20 infinite number of values of *Mn of which the relevant ones are to_
1290J20 be considered, it should be defined for some ranges of values of *Mn
1300J20 and this exactly justifies the linear behaviour of *Mn at some distance
1310J20 away from the origin (of the reference co-ordinate system) to_ satisfy
1320J20 the energy equation and for which the exponential function also behaves
1330J20 linearly. $^On the other hand to_ calculate higher order approximations
1340J20 in the present Boundary Layer analysis of the Glancing Interaction phenomenon,
1350J20 because of the neglection of the term *Mn which is a measure
1360J20 of the curvature of the external stream, it is referred in the present
1370J20 problem as the effect of curvature of the external stream *Mn (while proceeding
1380J20 towards the origin of the reference co-ordinate system) and it
1390J20 has been investigated in the present problem by perturbation analysis as
1400J20 the first order effect (Ray, Rangachari 1973a) and a second order analysis
1410J20 has been presented here in the present paper. $^The essence of
1420J20 such derivation of the similarity solution in the Boundary layer analysis
1430J20 in the incompressible case is that Boundary Layer Thickness grows
1440J20 as *Mn and this is exactly the reason to_ know in advance to_ identify
1441J20 *Mn =
1450J20 the critical viscous sub-layer (in connection with the compressible
1460J20 Boundary Layer in shock interaction phenomenon) because Prandtl*'s Boundary
1470J20 Layer thickness *Mn grows as *Mn (without pressure gradient and
1480J20 it grows thicker with increasing adverse pressure gradient). ^The physical
1490J20 situation as governed by the above mentioned Bernoulli*'s equation
1500J20 in the incompressible case may be conceived of as a flow from a reservoir
1510J20 through an orifice. ^The Boundary Layer growth (as well as Temperature
1520J20 Boundary Layer growth) as *Mn actually occurs in the physical problem
1530J20 of natural flow phenomenon (such as in atmospheric, geophysical situations
1540J20 (Schlichting 1968). ^Thus, the whole idea of the mathematical
1550J20 treatment of the corresponding compressible flow related to Glancing
1560J20 interaction has been conceived in the corresponding incompressible flow.
1570J20 $^Furthermore, in the incompressible flow (at this stage, without any
1580J20 particular reference to Glancing Interaction) with the external velocity
1590J20 distribution *Mn and *Mn = constant, the Meksyn*'s method (Meksyn,
1600J20 1961) was employed which evolved a way to_ satisfy the boundary condition(s)
1610J20 at *Mn (a real difficulty in the Boundary Layer Theory). ^In
1620J20 mathematical physics, it is called the Debye*'s method or Saddle point
1630J20 method in which only few terms of the infinite series employed contribute
1640J20 predominantly towards the solution of the problem. $^Although Meksyn*'s
1650J20 method is said to_ be not very exact, it gives sufficiently good
1660J20 approximation (within 3%) in Hayday and Bowles work (Hayday, Bowles
1670J20 1967). ^In the incompressible case of the present problem, results were
1680J20 compared with existing works of Hartree and Cook (Hartree 1937, Cook
1690J20 1950) which are the so-called exact solutions by multiplying the present
1700J20 results (Ray and Rangachari 1971b) by a numerical factor 1.16 and they
1710J20 showed very close agreement. $^In the compressible case, there needs
1720J20 a modification of the considerations employed in the corresponding incompressible
1730J20 case. ^Here it may be remarked that the flow in the physical     he
1740J20 plane (namely in the plane where the shock interaction is taking place)
1750J20 has been solved in the transformed plane (or co-related compressible
1760J20 plane) by means of Stewartson*'s transformations (Stewartson 1949). ^The
1770J20 reason is that the transformed Boundary Layer equations (along with
1780J20 the Energy equation) in the co-related compressible plane become simpler
1790J20 and similar to those in the incompressible case (Ray and Rangachari
1800J20 1971b). ^In the co-related compressible plane, the velocity distribution
1810J20 in the main-stream direction is given by *Me (*Mn being a constant)
1820J20 and *Mn = constant (Ray and Rangachari 1973a, b) correspond to *Mn
1830J20 free stream velocity in the main stream direction in the physical compressible
1840J20 plane (where the shock interaction is taking place) and = *Mn
1841J20 being the corresponding
1850J20 free stream velocity in the incompressible case (\0i.e., *Mn
1860J20 and *Mn the correlated function between compressible and corresponding
1870J20 incompressible flows and determined as an alternating infinite series
1880J20 which by regrouping will indicate *Mn as a convergent decreasing function
1890J20 of *Mn, \0i.e., the velocity *Mn is decreasing corresponding to the
1900J20 pressure rise (\0i.e., *Mn) due to shock.*#
        **[no. of words = 02014**]

        **[txt. j21**]
0010J21 **<*3Mathematics in social sciences**> $*<*3Introduction*>
0020J21 $^Sociology, Economics, Political Science, History, Geography, Social
0030J21 Psychology, Archeology, Anthropology are some subjects which can
0040J21 be put under the head social sciences. ^The social sciences agree as to
0050J21 their general logic as sciences. ^In widest sense the term science denotes
0060J21 all ordered and reliable knowledge. ^So a philologist, critical historian
0070J21 can truly be called Scientific. $^It is a common-place remark among
0080J21 many social scientists that mathematics, however useful it may have
0090J21 proved in the Physical Sciences, can play no essential role in the Social
0100J21 Sciences, because "human beings are not amenable to mathematical
0110J21 laws". ^They further say that mathematical analysis is quantitative while
0120J21 their field cares for qualitative analysis. $^To the mathematician
0130J21 trained in the spirit of modern mathematics, the views just presented seem
0140J21 to_ be based on nothing more profound than a misunderstanding. ^According
0150J21 to American physicist Gibbs Mathematics is a language. ^Any meaningful
0160J21 proposition can be expressed in a suitable mathematical form and
0170J21 any generalisations about social behaviour can be formulated mathematically.
0180J21 ^It is simply not true that mathematics is useful only in qualitative
0190J21 analysis. ^Doubtless many branches of mathematics such as Algebra,
0200J21 calculus are qualitative in nature. ^But the whole field of mathematical
0210J21 logic is purely qualitative. ^For more than 2000 years mathematicians
0220J21 have been making correct inferences of the most intricate sort. ^*Boole
0230J21 is considered to_ be the father of modern logic. ^*Frege, Peano, Russell,
0240J21 Kurt Godel, Hilbert, Tarski also helped the development of logic.
0250J21 ^Logic is the youth of mathematics. ^Mathematics, is the manhood of
0260J21 logic. ^Theory of logic inference has relevance to every human deliberation.
0270J21 ^Logic has been successfully applied to Psychology, Economics,
0280J21 \0etc. ^Logical analysis or deduction assure true conclusions only if
0290J21 we start with true premises. ^A person wishing to_ be indepth in the
0300J21 art and science of correct reasoning must study argument form which is a
0310J21 part of logic. ^The Mendelian theory of inheritance is the prototype of
0320J21 the transformation of qualitative into quantitative analysis via probability
0330J21 and calculus. $*<*3Economics*> $^It is precisely in the
0340J21 field of Economics, where the individuals studied, are engaged in relatively
0350J21 highly conscious calculating operation, that mathematical methods
0360J21 have been most successful. $^We can represent income and consumption as
0370J21 the absissa and ordinate respectively, if in a graph, we represent the
0380J21 postulated relation by a straight line with a positive slope of less
0381J21 than tan 45*@
0390J21 \0ie. 1 cutting the ordinate above the origin. ^Thus a problem in economics
0400J21 can be interpreted in terms of mathematics. ^Consider the following
0410J21 problems in economics: $(a) ^If the prices are high, people will
0420J21 tend to_ buy less, when people buy less, manufacturers produce less; therefore
0430J21 *3high prices are associated with high production. $(b) ^If prices
0440J21 are high manufacturers will produce more, since it is more profitable
0450J21 for them to do so; therefore *3high prices are associed with high production.
0460J21 $^At a verbal level both arguments are convincing yet obviously
0470J21 they cannot both be valid. $^Let *Mn = amount which people use
0471J21 $*Mn =
0480J21 amount the manufacturers produce. $(a) ^Says that *Mn is a decreasing function
0490J21 of *Mn (*Me say) and *Mn ^The second argument says that
0500J21 *Mn is an increasing function of *Mn (*Me say). $^These relations express
0510J21 the behaviour of consumers, the market and producers respectively.
0520J21 ^So long as there is no change in any one*'s behaviour the values of *Mns
0530J21 will remain constant. ^There will be no question whether supply varies
0540J21 directly or inversely with price, since neither moves at all. ^Suppose,
0550J21 however, that there were a shift in the tastes of consumers so that
0560J21 *Mn changes into *Mn. ^We have now *Me, *Me, *Me. $^This can
0570J21 be interpreted mathematically as 'prices and production will move together.'
0580J21 $^If consumers*' tastes are constant but production conditions are
0590J21 variable, high prices will be associated with low production. ^Thus mathematical
0600J21 symbolism resolves the apparent contradiction between the two
0610J21 arguments and explains when each is valid. $^Consider computing machines
0620J21 that_ have been programmed to_ represent a particular theory. ^In a
0630J21 so called analogue computer there is generally a one-one correspondence,
0640J21 between the circuits of the computer and equations of a mathematical theory
0650J21 of the phenomena. ^In the special case of a simulator there is a direct
0660J21 correspondence between the anologue and the phenomena. ^In addition
0670J21 to the moinac mentioned above, which can be considered hydraulic simulator,
0680J21 Stretz and others have used electrical analogue to_ represent the
0690J21 theory of *3macro economics. $^Economics is the genus of which macro
0700J21 economics and microeconomics are species. $^Economists want to_ be able
0710J21 to_ advise alternative policies for business, government, and personal
0720J21 uses. ^For this they have to_ know what outcome to_ expect from various
0730J21 actions. ^This is dealt with in Applied Economatrics. ^There we deal
0740J21 with observed samples, of statistical data. ^This requires the use of calculus,
0750J21 advanced analysis, matrix algebra, Statistics and other mathematical
0760J21 methods. $^The chief use of pure mathematics in economic questions
0770J21 seems to_ be in helping a person to_ write down quickly, shortly and
0780J21 exactly some of his thoughts for own use, and to_ make sure that he has
0790J21 enough, and only enough, premisses for his conclusions. $^Consider the following
0800J21 problem in economics about *3Equilibrium of the consumer: $^Let
0810J21 *Mn = money available for expenditure. (Income) *Mn, *Mn, ...,
0820J21 *Mn be prices of *3n commodities *Mn, *Mn, ..., *Mn be amounts of
0830J21 respective commodities the consumer buys. $^*Me, Provided he spends all
0840J21 his income. ^Wants of the individual be expressed by utility function
0850J21 *Me. $*3^The amounts bought will be determined by the condition that
0860J21 *Mn is maximum. $^Thus a problem in economics is first translated
0870J21 into mathematics. ^Now by using Lagranges*' method of undetermined multiplier
0880J21 for finding extremum values of a function the problem can be solved
0890J21 and the solution can be interpreted. $^Here I have quoted very few
0900J21 examples from economics where mathematics is used. ^But it should be noted
0910J21 that economics is nothing but study of mathematics. $*<*3Political
0920J21 Science*> $^In political science we are interested in the problems
0930J21 of the following type. $^A particular political party P is interested
0940J21 in knowing the number of people in her favour. ^For this survey is conducted,
0950J21 but because person (voter) is influenced by so many factors like
0960J21 his religion, economic condition, \0etc the problem that_ me tackle me
0970J21 **[sic**] more remains to_ be only political but it becomes social, economic,
0980J21 psychological also. $^This being the case use of mathematics in
0990J21 a particular Social Science is not the only significant factor. $*<*3Use
1000J21 of statistics*> $^Statistics is a branch of mathematics which is
1010J21 very widely used in all Social Sciences. ^In social sciences one is
1020J21 often required to_ compare different individuals, castes, religions, groups
1030J21 \0etc. ^It is also useful to_ know the magnitude of inter-individual
1040J21 differences \0eg. X is more popular than Y, Y is more populor than
1050J21 Z. ^Here we have compared X & Y and Y & Z. ^But a more precise understanding
1060J21 demands that we should know whether difference in popularity
1070J21 of X and Z is greater, equal or less than that_ between XY and XZ.
1080J21 ^Here the method of assesment to_ be used is called as 'method of paired
1090J21 comparison'. ^The calculations involve use of permutation & combinations
1100J21 and statistics in particular. ^The above method can be used for scaling
1110J21 utility of various commodities, popularity of politicians, eminence
1120J21 of scientists, morale of different groups, aesthetic appeals of advertisement,
1130J21 workers*' acceptability of various management policies and number
1131J21 of other
1140J21 attributes. $^Ranking method has two modifications (1) Average rankings
1150J21 (2) method of paired comparison. ^Here the different individuals are ranked
1160J21 with regard to the degree of the trait they possess. ^This method is
1170J21 also used in social sciences. ^Factor analysis is also a useful method
1180J21 in social sciences. ^The details of its application has been described
1190J21 in statistical tests Correlation is extremely useful in preliminary investigation
1200J21 of causal relationships. **[sic**] ^Correlation is basically
1210J21 a measure of relationship between two variables. ^In the field of economics
1220J21 there is a correlation between the price at which products are sold
1230J21 and the amount available for sale. ^There are many types of correlations
1240J21 \0eg. Pearson product moment, tetrichonic correlation, Phi *Yf coefficient,
1250J21 Contingency coefficient \0etc. ^In all aspects of life we find
1260J21 that there are relationships of one sort or the other. ^It should be
1270J21 noted that these relationships do not necessarily imply that one is the
1280J21 cause of the other. ^In some cases we find that two variables are related
1290J21 because they are both related as caused by the third variable. ^Thus
1300J21 different types of correlations told above are to_ be used at proper places.
1310J21 $^For studying so many problems in social science we have to_ collect
1320J21 data. ^For this, sampling techniques are very necessary. ^Little attention
1330J21 is given to the problem of drawing a good sample. ^Laboratory dignoses
1340J21 about the state of an health is based on the fact that the circulating
1350J21 blood is well mixed and that one drop tells the same story as another.
1360J21 ^But when material is far from Uniform as is often the case, the method
1370J21 by which the sample is obtained is critical and the study of techniques
1380J21 that_ ensures a trustworthy sample becomes important. $*<*3History*>
1390J21 $^*Sir John Sedey defines History as 'past everything'. ^Thus
1400J21 history is past economics, past mathematics, \0etc. ^Social history deals
1410J21 with life of inhabitants of the past, *(0G. M.*) Trevelyan has defined
1420J21 social history as history of people with politics left out. ^Study
1430J21 of population requires knowledge of statistics and economics. ^Historian
1440J21 is also required to_ have acquaintance with the development of science.
1450J21 ^Because with passage of time knowledge which was once specialised becomes
1460J21 common place. ^Economics interpretation of history came into public
1470J21 focus with Marx, in particular with his materialist interpretation of
1480J21 history. ^Economic aspects are among the principal interpretations of history.
1490J21 $^Economic history requires knowledge of economics (and so of mathematics)
1500J21 for its full understanding. ^For a proper understanding of man*'s
1510J21 history in the past one must have sufficient knowledge of economics
1520J21 in the hunting, pastoral and agriculture stages. $^Slave trade, emancipation
1530J21 of Catholics are topics common to History, Politics, Sociology
1540J21 and Economics. $*<*3Archeology*> $^Archeology is regarded as
1550J21 a discipline which is valuable in building up the cultural history of
1560J21 humanity as a whole. ^Archeology now means science dealing with and interpreting
1570J21 all the things made by man in relation to his circumstances and
1580J21 needs. ^Therefore archeology work means work involving the active participation
1590J21 of the historian, the Sociologist, economist, the environmental
1600J21 geologist \0etc. $^With the help of stratigraphic digging and new methods
1610J21 of dating, classification, counting, histographs \0etc it has become
1620J21 possible to_ arrive at precise chronology. ^Archeology aspires to_ bridge
1630J21 the gaps in the cultural and social history of mankind irrespective
1640J21 of the barriers of country, religion and race. $*<*3Psychology*>
1650J21 $^Psychology deals with finding a measure of the way in which we behave.
1660J21 to_ measure the way in which we behave psychologists give some questions
1670J21 and we have to_ number those questions. ^This process is called as coding.
1680J21 ^The process is for classification of the data. ^Coding makes cross
1690J21 tabulation easy. ^This data then can be analysed by statistical methods.
1700J21 $^In social sciences we follow different tests. (0^*K-R*) reliability
1710J21 test (Kuder Richardson reliability test) is one of them. ^The formula
1720J21 is as follows. **[formula**] where M = mean, K = number of items,
1721J21 S = standard
1730J21 deviation. ^Thus there is wide use of mathematics in Social Sciences
1740J21 including Social Psychology. $^Number systems are used in social sciences.
1750J21 ^Thereby we are introducing mathematics in social sciences. ^In playing
1760J21 games we frame one set of rules for one game and another set for other
1770J21 game. ^Mathematics is nothing but setting up rules and playing up
1780J21 with them. ^Consistently, with a view to ordering the data for some purpose.
1790J21 ^In using number system for a specific purpose of measurement in social
1800J21 sciences, we must know fully what different numbers imply. ^In tests
1810J21 of personality or achievements, the number cannot only rank order, equal
1820J21 differences in terms of dimensions. ^In some cases numbers may be used
1830J21 without having any implication of rank order, such as giving numbers
1840J21 to rooms, chairs or tables.*#
        **[no. of words = 02008**]

        **[txt. j22**]
0010J22 **<PSYCHOLOGY-- AN EASTERN PERSPECTIVE**> $*<*3*4Yoga and Vendanta*>
0020J22 $^All Indian religions have a common spiritual source: even
0030J22 Christianity and *4Islam as lived by the Indian people are profoundly
0040J22 influenced by the state of mind which is peculiar to India.
0050J22 ^One school of thought which incorporates most of the ingenious
0060J22 psychological insights of all other orthodox as well as heterodox
0070J22 systems is *4Vedanta. *4^*Vedanta is the last of a series of six
0080J22 systems of Indian philosophy. ^Another school of this series,
0090J22 which is equally popular, is *4Yoga. ^The original expounder
0100J22 of *4Yoga was an ancient seer known as Patanjali. ^His
0110J22 *4Yoga aphorisms were revalued in the commentary of Vyasa
0120J22 who is well known as the expounder of the *4Vedanta system.
0130J22 ^The writings of Vyasa and his commentators present an Indian
0140J22 approach to psychology which today is generally accepted by
0150J22 all scholars in India. $*<*3A Clean Slate to_ Begin with*>
0160J22 $^It is not my intention to_ advocate any creed or give exclusive
0170J22 importance to any one school of thought or system of philosophy
0180J22 or phychology either of the East or of the West. ^We can
0190J22 begin with a clean slate. ^Some of us are familiar with western
0200J22 schools, some with eastern schools and some with both. ^As I
0210J22 commence this inquiry I want to_ keep my mind free of the many
0220J22 theories that_ are put forward either by one school or the other
0230J22 of the East or the West. $^When I use the term I,
0240J22 "I request you also to_ think of your own personal self so that you
0250J22 can follow the trend of my thoughts from your personal point of
0260J22 view. ^For instance, I am sitting here. ^*I close my eyes to_
0270J22 be just with myself. ^*I turn inward and ask: "What am I most
0280J22 certain of at this moment?" $^What I feel so sure of now is that
0290J22 I am sitting here. ^In other words I exist. ^To me this existence
0300J22 is vary real. ^Here I am relating my existence to reality.
0310J22 ^To_ be logically correct, I am predicating reality
0320J22 to existence. ^From this I draw the conclusions: "^What is real
0330J22 is that_ which exists", and conversely, "only the real exists".
0340J22 ^The corollary I draw of this is that I am real. $"^What
0350J22 is this 'I' I am referring to? ^Where do I experience it?"
0360J22 $^The first thing I did was, close my eyes to_ gather my thoughts
0370J22 and to_ be with myself. ^That_ means my center is
0380J22 experienced within this body and not outside it. ^To_ be more
0390J22 precise, there is an experience of an awareness. ^Within that_
0400J22 awareness is a core as it were, to which every detail of that_
0410J22 awareness is related. ^This core is what I call "I". ^This
0420J22 experience must be the same for all. ^Our awareness is not
0430J22 static. ^Like the moving pictures of light and shade on a cinema screen
0440J22 or on television, awareness is always flowing and changing.
0450J22 ^*I cannot figure out from what source this awareness originates,
0460J22 and also I do not see how the awareness of the present moment
0470J22 vanishes into oblivion to_ make room for a fresh awareness.
0480J22 ^In fact, my experience of life is none other than these flowing
0490J22 and changing vicissitudes of awareness. ^Of course, I can
0500J22 also add to it all the in-between lapses of consciousness that_
0510J22 occur during deep sleep. $^The "I" referred to_ here should
0520J22 not be mixed up with the highly scandalized "ego" of psychopathology
0530J22 or the "ego" unsympathetically derided by the puritanical
0540J22 religious teacher or evangelist. ^In the present case
0550J22 it is to_ be understood as a simple point of reference in consciousness,
0560J22 which is experienced as a togetherness, a center of intense vividness,
0570J22 a personal identity, and a point into which all external impressions
0580J22 and sensations flow in and also from which all decisions
0590J22 and directed consciousness flow out. $^We do not
0600J22 begin life with an immediate recognition of this center as an "I"
0610J22 factor. ^When small babies are beginning to_ talk, they refer
0620J22 to themselves by whatever name they are called such as, "Mary
0630J22 wants candy" or "Mary hurt," and not "I want candy" or "I am
0640J22 hurt". ^A baby looks at herself (himself or herself) as one piece.
0650J22 ^In fact some great seers also speak like babies. ^*Ramana
0660J22 Maharshi referred to himself as "this". ^When he said,
0670J22 "This thinks," he did not really mean his body was thinking. ^He
0680J22 was referring to the same center, as we are when we say "I think"
0690J22 or "I feel". ^Whether it is a point of convergence or a point
0700J22 of divergence of consciousness, each of us knows and experiences
0710J22 it as our center. $^Through my inquiry, I have been locating
0720J22 myself. ^The question in my mind at this moment is not "Who
0730J22 am I?" but "Where am I?" $^Well, I am in the body.
0740J22 $^What am I? $^*I am this awareness. $^Is this awareness real? $^*I
0750J22 cannot think of anything more real than this awareness. $^If this
0760J22 body is the field of my awareness, can I say the body is also
0770J22 my 'self' or should I say "I am not this body"? $^I think I should
0780J22 not push this question any further. ^If I do so I*'3ll bring
0790J22 myself to a wall of ignorance where the psychologist, the physiologist
0800J22 and the biologist stand helplessly bewildered, unable to_
0810J22 resolve the fundamentals such as: "What is life?", "Who structures
0820J22 an organism and regulates its function?" and "How does consciousness
0830J22 originate?" ^These questions can wait. $^Even
0840J22 though the physiologist likes to_ think of stimulus and response
0850J22 as two separate functions happening at two extremities of a
0860J22 nerve channel, the Indian seer, for example Narayana guru wants
0870J22 to_ treat it as a binary function of the same consciousness.
0880J22 $^Instead of asking what causes awareness, let us make our
0890J22 selves more familiar with awareness. ^One way of understanding
0900J22 a thing is by looking at its structure. ^Another
0910J22 way is to_ understand its function. $^Has awareness any structure?
0920J22 $^It has. $^Do we know it all at once? $^No. $^What is
0930J22 the immediate knowledge of the structure of my consciousness? $^One
0940J22 thing I notice is how it pervades my entire body. ^If a fly sits
0950J22 on my nose, I become aware of it. ^If you stare into my eyes, I
0951J22 become aware of you. ^If a thorn pricks my toe,
0960J22 I become aware of its pain. ^If I lick a drop of honey, I become
0970J22 aware of its sweetness. $^The awareness of the external
0980J22 world comes to me as an act of perception or sensation. ^The
0990J22 external world is first sensed at the fringes of the field of
1000J22 awareness as an impression, a sensation, a rapture, \0etc.
1010J22 ^It can be pleasurable, soothing, painful, provocative, irritating
1020J22 or, in any case strong enough to_ register the presence of an
1030J22 object of interest. $^The environment, the field of awareness
1040J22 and the perceiver-- this is how I see the situation. ^The
1050J22 perceiver has to_ play the double role of interpreting the environment
1060J22 in terms of a value system such as favorable, threatening
1070J22 \0etc, and directing a response to the situation such as participation,
1080J22 indifference or withdrawal. ^In either case the factors
1090J22 that_ interact are "I" the perceiver, and "this", the
1100J22 perceived. $*<*3Presentiment and Selective Response*>
1110J22 $^The next phase of our inquiry spotlights the criteria involved
1120J22 in judgments made by the perceiver. ^When one person experiences
1130J22 a certain temperature as pleasant, another shuns it
1140J22 as severe. ^What decides each one*'s norm or pleasure or
1150J22 pain? ^Is it the quantitative impact of the temperature, or
1160J22 a preconditioned quality of the receiving organism? $^The very possibility
1170J22 of such a doubt presupposes that the environmental
1180J22 factor (objective quanta of the stimulus) can determine the value
1190J22 of an experience and that_ the inner preconditioning (subjective
1200J22 presentiment) is decisive in evaluating an experience.
1210J22 ^We have already seen how the same quanta of temperature
1220J22 can be felt differently by two people even when the thermometer
1230J22 measures it to_ be the same. ^That_ means the major
1240J22 factor is the subjective consciousness which includes a perceiver
1250J22 and its accompanying instrument, the physical organism
1260J22 equipped with a sensory motor system conditioned by prior
1270J22 experience. $^The intelligent system we speak of here
1280J22 as the person has an evolutionary history. ^It can be as
1290J22 simple as a Pavlovian pain-pleasure reflex conditioning
1300J22 that_ has been structuring the value index from the day of the
1310J22 organism*'s exposure to the environment, or it can be the complex
1320J22 history of the evolution of an entire race, or it can even be such
1330J22 an obscure thing as the individuation of a psyche through its
1340J22 exposure to several life series. ^You can cut the evolutionary
1350J22 history of the individuated psyche to_ suit the capacity
1360J22 of your imagination. ^In simple terms the responding mind
1370J22 is conditioned by its previous experience. ^While western
1380J22 psychologists prefer to_ think of the selective function
1390J22 as an indirect influence of genetic factors and a direct
1400J22 consequence of preconditioning, the eastern seers like to_
1410J22 interpret it as a habitual choice based on presentiment acquired
1420J22 through several previous incarnations. ^When it comes to
1430J22 a matter of speculation the acceptance of a theory depends partly
1440J22 on its logical plausibility and partly on the person*'s capacity
1450J22 to_ take a bold stand. $^One may not easily recognize
1460J22 a selective response when the response comes as a reaction
1470J22 to a physical stimulus like heat or cold. ^Let us move
1480J22 on to a more subjective environment, such as encountering a
1490J22 state of mind. ^In presenting my thoughts, I need your
1500J22 co-operation. ^Are you sympathetic or critical? ^Do you
1510J22 want to_ give me a patient hearing, or are you so impatient as
1520J22 to_ turn away from me? ^These considerations are very important
1530J22 to me. $^When I worry about these factors, I
1540J22 am not exposed to physical stimuli such as heat or cold, but to social
1550J22 attitudes. ^My understanding of your attitude can
1560J22 influence my response to you. ^What I term here as influence
1570J22 implies my selective response. ^*I can respond only in
1580J22 a way that_ suits my value judgment. ^My value judgment is
1590J22 bound to_ be colored by my presentiment. ^For this reason the
1600J22 Indian seer substitutes the ego with a system of consciousness called
1610J22 the *4antahkarana, the inner organ. ^This is a system
1620J22 that_ can cognize, interrogate, remember, relate, connate judde
1630J22 and affectively respond with a sense of agency **[sic**] and a personal
1640J22 identity. $*<*3Several Worlds of the Individual*> $^Suppose
1650J22 we read in a newspaper the following report: ^In the city of
1660J22 Ethica Anderson was living with Beatrice. ^Last week
1670J22 a son was born to Beatrice of Anderson". $^This
1680J22 news would not look very unusual to us. ^Old fashioned people
1690J22 among us might wonder if they were properly married in a church.
1700J22 ^Suppose the report continues like this: $"^*Anderson was only
1710J22 18 Beatrice was really his mother who is 36. ^The neighbourhood
1720J22 stormed over this and Anderson stung with the feeling
1730J22 of guilt, committed suicide. ^*Beatrice was admitted
1740J22 to a psychiatric center. ^Despite the protest of the neighborhood,
1750J22 'Uncle Joe', a recluse who lives by the riverside
1760J22 is taking care of the infant. ^He says, 'Every baby born is
1770J22 sacred and has the sanction of god to_ live and be cared for.'"
1780J22 $^Here we have a whole bunch of problems: $^Is it possible
1790J22 for a son to_ mate with his mother? $^Is it natural? $^If it is unnatural,
1800J22 why does nature favor such an emotional affinity? ^Why
1810J22 does it allow the fertilization of an ovum in such an unusual circumstance
1820J22 and why doesn*'4t nature inhibit the growth and delivery
1830J22 of the baby? $^If biological laws favor such a possibility
1840J22 why should people be shocked? $^Why should a person fear public
1850J22 opinion? $^What is guilt? $^Is the sense of guilt innate or acquired?
1860J22 $^Why did the young man kill himself? $^Was he afraid that the neighborhood
1870J22 would kill him? $^If he was afraid to_ die, how could he
1880J22 kill himself? $^Is this a case of incest? $^Why did his mother give herself
1890J22 up to his fantacy? $^Was she insane? $^What is insanity?
1900J22 $^Has insanity any physical cause?*#
        **[no. of words = 02000**]

        **[txt. j23**]
0010J23 **<*3CHILD PSYCHOLOGY AND CHILD GUIDANCE*0**> $^Maybe the interest children
0020J23 are observed to_ evince in the "civilized" societies is mere a matter
0030J23 **[sic**] of whetting curiosity aroused by concealment and taboo than
0040J23 of any truly sexual arousal. ^Play that_ involves the sex organs is common
0050J23 in the primates and the human young. ^Again, to what extent it is part
0060J23 of general play activity and how much of it is truly sexually motivated
0070J23 is difficult to_ assess. ^It would certainly be misleading to_ call
0080J23 it sex play in the sense of deeply erotic pre-coital activity that_ is a
0090J23 feature of adult sexuality. ^Another aspect of sex drive in children as
0100J23 held by the psychoanalysts is the relationship of the child with the opposite
0110J23 sex parent, and classical psychoanalysis is replete with expositions
0120J23 of its dynamics. ^Oedipus and electra complexes have long become a
0130J23 part of popular literature, but it is extremely doubtful whether these 'explanations'
0140J23 serve any purpose. ^It would possibly be much more scientifically
0150J23 appropriate to_ account for such relationships in terms of socio-cultural
0160J23 variables operating in the parent-child relationships. ^To_ sum
0170J23 up, we really know very little about childhood sexuality as a specific
0180J23 source of motivation. ^The only thing that_ can be said definitively in
0190J23 this regard is that the child*'s responses are qualitatively different
0200J23 from those of the adult, and that sex as a motivating factor is less sustained
0210J23 and as an energizer is small until it is boosted by endocrine secretions
0220J23 at puberty. $*<*3Secondary Drives and Child Development*0*>
0230J23 $^Children of all ages strive to_, as men and women of all ages do,
0240J23 attain favourable notice, social approval, or distinction. ^Such motives
0250J23 are developed early in life, and are maintained with more or less equal
0260J23 vigour all through life. ^These drives are variously called ego needs
0270J23 or acquired drives, depending upon one*'s theoretical frame of reference.
0280J23 ^The first usage came from a deep-psychology approach which is essentially
0290J23 Freudian, and the second from Hullian behaviourism. ^In fact,
0300J23 the concept of acquired or secondary drive as it is popularized in the
0310J23 literature, has directly emanated from Hull and his followers*' works.
0320J23 $^Acquired drive means the capability of certain stimuli to_ move an
0330J23 individual to certain kinds of behaviour by virtue of their consistent association
0340J23 with a primary reinforcing situation. ^That_ is, stimuli consistently
0350J23 associated with a primary reinforcing situation acquire reinforcing
0360J23 properties themselves. ^Such associations could induce motivation
0370J23 as well as lead to reinforcement. ^For instance, rats will continue to_
0380J23 press a bar whose only effect is a clicking sound long after the bar pressing
0390J23 ceases to_ provide food; apparently, the clicks have come to_ be rewarding
0400J23 through having been connected with food. ^Similarly, when a rat
0410J23 is subjected to electric shocks repeatedly in the presence of, say, a
0420J23 red light, the rat would, in its presence, jump or emit whatever original
0430J23 response that_ avoided the shock, that_ is, the rat develops a fear.
0440J23 *3^Fear can motivate behaviour while fear reduction reinforces it*0.
0450J23 $^Ramifications of this phenomenon to child development are all-pervading.
0460J23 ^A whole lot of secondary drives would be developed from the small set
0470J23 of primary or basic drives. $^The situations associated with nutrition
0480J23 elimination, sleep, temperature control \0etc. would acquire drive properties
0490J23 in due course and tend to_ control behaviour in the sense of arousing
0500J23 and reinforcing them. ^For instance, in the nursing situation, the
0510J23 mother becomes the most significant stimulus, and gradually, the very sight
0520J23 and sound of the mother comes to_ acquire reinforcing properties from
0530J23 various sources, she being associated with the satisfaction of all the
0540J23 primary needs of the young child. ^Slowly, the acquired reinforcing properties
0550J23 of the mother becomes autonomous, that_ is, she tends to_ become
0560J23 reinforcing, in and for herself independent of what she does. ^Similarly,
0570J23 the father also acquires reinforcing properties. ^And the child tends
0580J23 to_ do things his parents like or approve. $^At this point, it would
0590J23 be pertinent to_ recognize that basically two classes of stimuli, namely
0600J23 (a) people, and (b) inanimate objects, can acquire reinforcing properties.
0610J23 ^The drive properties people
0611J23 come to_ acquire can be called 'social drives', roughly equivalent to
0620J23 what the psychoanalysts call ego needs. ^Since the associations with
0630J23 inanimate objects usually does not remain **[sic**] consistent for long,
0640J23 they do not acquire strong and persistent reinforcing properties. ^On the
0650J23 other hand, the child lives in a social world, and most of his satisfactions
0660J23 come through and with people. ^Therefore, the acquired drives tend
0670J23 to_ centre largely around people. ^In short, the saliency of the secondary
0680J23 drives are largely social. ^That_ explains our commencing this
0690J23 section with social approval, recognition, distinction, \0etc., as the examples
0700J23 of secondary drives. $^It is obvious that it is virtually impossible
0710J23 to_ detect all the acquired drives operating in the life of a child.
0720J23 ^Even listing the acquired drives in a given culture is extremely difficult.
0730J23 ^Of course, there have been attempts to_ develop a comprehensive
0740J23 taxonomy of motives. ^*Maslow, for instance, offers a hierarchically arranged
0750J23 list of human needs. ^Starting with the physiological needs, it
0760J23 moves up to self-actualization as the highest, through the intermediary
0770J23 needs of safety, affection, and esteem. **[figure**] $^One of the
0780J23 implications of the concept of acquired drives as motives for child development
0790J23 is that the array of motivations that_ arouses and controls their
0800J23 growth is extremely large and varies not only due to variations in ontogenic
0810J23 development, but also due to socio-cultural variables. ^That_ is,
0820J23 the cultural values, social customs, child-rearing practices, \0etc.,
0830J23 all have differential effect on child growth. ^It has been shown, for example,
0840J23 that child-rearing practices lead to different kinds of responses,
0850J23 as reflected through cultural practices, to anxiety-provoking
0860J23 situations. ^Similarly, severity of early training was found to_ be correlated
0870J23 to crime. ^Even within a given society, there are differences
0880J23 of values and practices between classes, and they differentially contribute
0890J23 to the acquisition of acquired drives. ^For example, it was shown that
0900J23 middle-class children are more fearful of getting dirty while engaged
0910J23 in a finger-painting test. ^It is explained that this occurs as a result
0920J23 of consistent home influences which cause the child to_ be orderly,
0930J23 conscientious, responsible, tame, and over-anxious. ^Many other investigators
0940J23 have come to similar conclusions about the effects of cultural and
0950J23 social differences on child behaviour. $*<*3Emotion and Emotional Development*0*>
0960J23 $^Before we proceed further with the understanding of the
0970J23 dynamics of child behaviour, we have to_ consider one aspect of motivational
0980J23 phenomena we have so far neglected. ^In the beginning of our discussion,
0990J23 we have delineated the domain of inquiry into arousal and directional
1000J23 functions. ^Arousal is a characteristic function of emotions. ^Therefore,
1010J23 we shall consider the emotional development of the child before going
1020J23 further with our inquiry of the motivational phenomena. $^When we talk
1030J23 of joy, anger, fear, or sympathy, we all seem to_ understand what
1040J23 we mean by emotions. ^The psychologists, however, are not unanimous on
1050J23 what they mean by emotions. ^Some psychologists make a distinction between
1060J23 emotion and emotional behaviour. ^They hold the view that emotion is
1070J23 a construct for the underlying neural process of emotional behaviour.
1080J23 ^Emotional behaviour is the activity that_ is correlated with emotions and
1090J23 includes both organized emotional responses and emotional disturbances.
1100J23 ^Notwithstanding such differences, emotion may be defined as a heightened
1110J23 state of subjective experience accompanied by skeletal-motor and autonomic-humoral
1120J23 responses. $^All emotions can be conceptually analyzed
1130J23 as constituting of three parts: (**=1) arousing-- a stimulus or a group
1140J23 of stimuli arousing an emotion; (**=2) reactive-- an autonomic-humoral
1150J23 or motor response, and (**=3) feeling-- a heightened subjective experience.
1151J23 $^It
1160J23 is generally agreed that all human beings are genetically endowed with
1170J23 the potentiality for developing patterned emotions, though at birth affective
1180J23 reactivity is limited to undifferentiated generalized state of excitement.
1190J23 $^Such findings as similar facial expressions by normal and
1200J23 blind-deaf children in experiencing various emotions, and greater similarity
1210J23 in smiling or fear responses to strangers between identical twins than
1220J23 between *3fraternal*0 twins, support the conclusion that genetically
1230J23 determined patterning predispositions exist. $^Variations in emotional
1240J23 behaviour between and within cultures, however, exist. ^These differences
1250J23 are explained by the cultural variations in the conditions evoking particular
1260J23 emotions and the customary modes of affective expression developed
1270J23 by communities over long periods of time. ^Idiosyncratic differences
1280J23 are explained by the history of ontogenic development of the individuals.
1290J23 ^Children demonstrate a consistency in the idiosyncratic patterns of
1300J23 emotional expression. ^Some children respond most vigorously in the motor
1310J23 sphere, others in the autonomic sphere, still others with equal vigour
1320J23 in both spheres. ^Another fact about emotions is that it is multiply determined,
1330J23 that_ is, the same emotion may be aroused by different stimuli
1340J23 or contexts. ^That_ is why it is impossible, even in a specified cultural
1350J23 context, to_ predict the emotional reaction accurately from the eliciting
1360J23 stimulus alone. ^Factors such as the individual*'s peculiar life
1370J23 experiences and particular associations of that_ stimulus, situational
1380J23 factors as current goals and the particular behavioural context have to_
1390J23 be taken into account. ^Also emotion responses are determined by cognitive
1400J23 and other developments attained by children at different age levels.
1410J23 $^Pressures for curbing certain emotions exerted by a culture tends to_
1420J23 affect the publicly noticeable part of the emotional behaviour. ^The
1430J23 subjective experience and the physiological responses, being away from public
1440J23 scrutiny, survive cultural repressions. ^That_ is why visceral response
1450J23 to emotional stimuli as measured by galvanic skin response (\0GSR)
1460J23 is much greater in older children than in the younger ones. $*<*3General
1470J23 Trends in Emotional Development*0*> $^The first step in
1480J23 emotional development is the differentiation of specific emotions out of
1490J23 the undifferentiated generalized state of excitement prevailing in the
1500J23 neonatal. ^This development occurs approximately between the age of six
1510J23 months and three years. ^The development of perceptual discrimination of
1520J23 stimuli and the emergence of new motor capabilites and differential autonomic
1530J23 responses are pre-requisites for emotional differentiation. $^With
1540J23 age the properties of stimuli-evoking emotions undergo changes. ^These
1550J23 changes can be due to various reasons. ^Cultural and specific family influences
1560J23 are two widely prevalent determiners. ^Another important reason
1570J23 is increasing cognitive skills. ^The subtlety and complexity of stimuli
1580J23 widen as the child gains in perceptivity and anticipation of implications.
1590J23 ^For example, when the infant becomes capable of perceiving the threatening
1600J23 implications of strangers, his susceptibility to fear increases.
1610J23 ^In the same way, brighter school children have been found to_ become
1620J23 afraid of certain situations at an earlier age than their duller peers,
1630J23 'and older children more responsive than younger ones to more symbolic
1640J23 emotional stimuli'. $^The reverse process also works at the same age
1650J23 period. ^As the child gains in cognitive complexity, he also gets desensitized
1660J23 to a host of previously emotion-evoking stimuli. ^The stimuli which
1670J23 could arouse him previously may now become innocuous as he becomes more
1680J23 critical and less suggestible. $^With age, not only stimulus-complexity
1690J23 increases, but the modes of emotional expression also undergo changes.
1700J23 ^Generally speaking, emotional behaviour becomes specific, directed, and
1710J23 functional with increasing age. '^Response intensity' of the older child
1720J23 acquires a selective gradation. ^Newly acquired motor skills change
1730J23 the topography of the emotional response pattern prevalent at birth. ^The
1740J23 infant can only cry, but the child can run, hide, dodge or argue. ^Further,
1750J23 socialization prescribes the acceptable forms of emotional expression
1760J23 appropriate to the context of time, space, and social set-up. ^For
1770J23 example, it is found that lower class children tend to_ express emotions
1780J23 more by motor activity, whereas the middle class children resort to more
1790J23 abstract and ideational forms. ^As noted earlier, with the suppression of
1800J23 overt emotional behaviour the increase in the autonomic component occurs
1810J23 with a corresponding decrease in motor responses. $*<*3FEAR*0*>
1820J23 $^Fear is one of the primary emotions, and possibly the most pervading
1830J23 one in its implications to the development of the individual. $^Fear
1840J23 is not specific in the first half-year of life. ^With the acquisition
1850J23 of perceptual differentiation, the fear response begins to_ take shape.
1860J23 ^During early infancy, fear is most commonly elicited by unexpected loud
1870J23 noises, rapid or abrupt displacement in space, pain, strange events, and
1880J23 sudden movements. ^As the child grows older, these stimuli become inadequate
1890J23 to_ elicit the same responses, and such new stimuli as darkness,
1900J23 solitude, wild animals, storms, supernatural and mysterious phenomena and
1910J23 unusual and grotesque forms tend to_ elicit fear responses.*#
        **[no. of words = 02018**]

        **[txt. j24**]
0010J24 **<*3MAGNITUDE OF SIZE DIFFERENCE AND RELATIVE SIZE JUDGMENT*0**> $^The
0020J24 size judgment task is assumed to_ involve a sequence of mental processes
0030J24 between the presentation of stimulus and subject*'s discriminatory response.
0040J24 ^These mental processes, according to Helmholtzian "size-distance"
0050J24 theory (see Hochberg, 1971), takes **[sic**] perceived distance into
0060J24 account in arriving at the judgment of size. ^That_ is, the starting
0070J24 point is the retinal image (s) which is interpreted with respect to perceived
0080J24 distance (D*'3) to_ give an output perceived size (D*'3). ^The
0090J24 image "s" is available to the subject in the retinal projection and the
0100J24 perceived distance is determined by the various cues available in the normal
0110J24 viewing conditions. ^Accordingly, it can be expected that the processing
0120J24 time for targets of two different sizes presented simultaneoulsy
0130J24 and manipulated to_ differ with respect to visual angle and distance,
0140J24 will vary as a function of the variables that_ enter into the size
0150J24 judgment task. ^These processes take a finite amount of time and would depend
0160J24 on the stimulus structure and the nature of processing involved (see
0170J24 Egeth, 1966). $^Consider a simplified procedure where two non-representational
0180J24 objects (upright rectangles) of same or different sizes are
0190J24 presented simultaneously, in which the distance and visual angles are manipulated,
0200J24 subject*'s task being to_ decide as quickly as possible whether
0210J24 the two rectangles are "same" or "different" with respect to size.
0220J24 ^For two targets with different sizes, in such situations, it is expected
0230J24 that: (1) "different" response times (\0RTs) should increase
0240J24 with the decrease in the magnitude of the physical size difference (*Zd)
0250J24 between the two targets; (2) "different" response times for a condition
0260J24 where the visual angles subtended by the two targets (of different
0270J24 sizes) are different should be faster in comparison to a condition
0280J24 where the visual angle subtended by the targets (of different sizes) are
0290J24 the same. ^The present experiment is designed to_ test these predictions,
0300J24 in a relative size judgment task. $*<*3METHOD*0*> $*3Subjects:*0
0310J24 ^The subjects were nine volunteer undergraduates at the University
0320J24 of Wisconsin, \0U.S.A., with normal or corrected vision. $*3Apparatus:*0
0330J24 ^The apparatus consisted of three units: a display unit, an electronic
0340J24 counter/ timer (Psionix 1248B), and a response unit. ^The floor
0350J24 of the display unit was of wood, 12 feet long and 3 feet wide, having
0360J24 wooden texture. ^An upright flat black wooden panel at the far end served
0361J24 as the backdrop for the display. ^Another upright panel at the
0362J24 near end was
0370J24 equipped with an extended padded viewer. ^Normal fluorescent room illumination
0380J24 prevailed. ^A fall type shutter was used to_ occlude subject*'s
0390J24 view of the stimuli. ^When the shutter was released, the viewing window
0400J24 was instantly cleared, allowing an unrestricted view of the floor
0410J24 and background as well as the targets. ^The response unit consisted of
0420J24 two light-touch pushbuttons mounted 6 inches apart below the viewing
0430J24 window. ^The timer was started by the fall of the shutter and stopped
0440J24 by the pushbutton response. \0^*RT was measured in milliseconds. ^Two
0450J24 lights on the timer panel indicated to Experimenter what response was
0460J24 made ("same" or "different"). $*3Stimuli:*0 ^The stimuli were four pairs
0470J24 of white cardboard rectangles, 2, 3, 4, and 5 inches in height and
0480J24 one inch in width. ^Each rectangle was mounted separately on a metal
0490J24 rod (1/8 \0in. in diameter) with long dimension upright. ^The center of
0500J24 each rectangle was at a constant height, aligned with subject*'s line
0510J24 of sight. ^The supporting rod was inserted into a 2 x 2 \0in. metal base.
0520J24 ^The stimuli were presented 4, 6, 8, or 10 feet from the subject. ^Accordingly,
0530J24 the 2 \0in. rectangle at 4 feet, the 3 \0in rectangle at 6 feet,
0540J24 the 4 \0in. rectangle at 8 feet, and the 5 \0in. rectangle at 10 feet
0550J24 subtended a constant visual angle of 2*@ 25*'5 of an arc. ^The lateral
0560J24 separation between the centers of the two stimuli at the viewing distance
0570J24 of 4 feet was 2 inches. ^For greater viewing distance, the lateral
0580J24 separation was increased proportionally to_ maintain a constant angle for
0590J24 lateral separation. $*3Procedure and Design:*0 ^Two same-size or diffferent-size
0600J24 rectangles were presented simultaneously at the same
0610J24 distance or at different distances
0610J24 from the subject. ^The instructions required the subject to_ report
0620J24 "sameness" or "difference" with respect to height by pressing the "same"
0630J24 button or "different" button when they were judged to_ differ in size.
0640J24 ^Thus, it was Donders*' \0b-type task, which required both a discrimination
0650J24 with respect to the stimulus and a choice with respect to the
0660J24 response (Woodworth, 1954; \0p. 32.) ^The stimuli were viewed binocularly
0670J24 and head movements were unrestricted. $^All the subjects were tested
0680J24 on successive days, at the same time, each for five sessions,
0690J24 each lasting one hour. ^The first day was devoted to
0700J24 practice involving sample trials from all four experimental conditions.
0710J24 ^Four experimental conditions were formed by manipulating the relationship
0720J24 between the two paired stimuli with respect to objective size, objective
0730J24 distance, and visual angle. ^The four conditions thus formed are
0740J24 presented in Table 1. $^To_ make possible a binary response, the
0750J24 stimulus pairs in condition *=1 were combined with those in condition *=3
0760J24 in one experimental session. ^Similarly, conditions *=1 & *=4, conditions
0770J24 *=2 & *=3, and conditions *=2 & *=4, were combined for the remaining
0780J24 three experimental sessions. ^Thus, the probability that the stimulus
0790J24 pair would be same or different was .5 for each session. ^However, only
0800J24 the "different" responses (conditions *=1 & *=2) were relevant to_ test
0810J24 the hypotheses. $^In each experimental session there were 24 stimulus
0820J24 pairs (12 from each condition). ^Each of these 24 stimulus pairs was repeated
0830J24 four times (twice in one lateral arrangement and twice in reversed
0840J24 arrangement), making a total of 96 trials in each experimental session.
0850J24 ^The order of presentation of these stimulus pairs in each experimental
0860J24 session (for each of the four sets) was randomized independently
0870J24 for each subject. ^Also, the order in which the four sets were assigned
0880J24 to the nine subjects was randomized. ^A rest pause of 5 minutes was
0890J24 provided midway in each session. $^At the beginning of each session,
0900J24 the instructions were read out and subject was acquainted with the four
0910J24 rectangles and viewing box. ^The instructions encouraged subjects to_ respond
0920J24 as rapidly as possible without making errors. ^An objective size-matching
0930J24 set (see Epstein, 1963) was induced; subject was explicitly
0940J24 instructed to_ respond to objective size. ^He was also told that the
0950J24 width of all targets was the same and that_ he should disregard width.
0960J24 ^Before releasing the shutter, a ready signal was given and subject was
0970J24 required to_ place his forehead on the padded extension of the viewing
0980J24 window and position his index fingers on the pushbuttons. ^The shutter
0990J24 was reset mannually after each response and the stimulus pair replaced
1000J24 by the next pair in the random series. ^The stimuli were always removed
1010J24 and replaced whether a change was called for by the random sequence
1020J24 or not. ^After every response, oral feedback was given about the accuracy
1030J24 of the response. ^If a response was wrong, the trial was repeated
1040J24 later during the same session and the error was recorded. ^Since we wished
1050J24 to_ confine our analysis to correct responses, this procedure ensured
1060J24 that the full complement of \0RTs would be considered under every condition.
1070J24 ^As it turned out, wrong responses were very infrequent.
1080J24 $*<*3RESULTS*0*> $^In condition *=1, the two targets of different
1090J24 sizes were presented at the same distance and subtending different visual
1100J24 angles. ^In condition *=2 two targets of different sizes were presented
1110J24 at different distances in such a way that the two targets, in this
1120J24 condition, always subtended the same visual angle (\0e.g., 2 \0in. size
1130J24 at 4 feet and 5 \0in. size at 10 feet). ^In both the conditions the time
1140J24 taken to_ respond "different" was recorded in milliseconds. ^The mean
1141J24 "different" \0RT
1150J24 for condition *=1 & *=2 are presented in Figure 1 & 2, respectively,
1160J24 as a function of average egocentric distance. ^In each of the figures
1170J24 there are three curves representing three *Zd values. ^The following
1180J24 observations may be made from Figures 1 & 2: $1. ^Mean "different"
1190J24 \0RTs tended to_ vary inversely with *Zd, the magnitude of size difference.
1200J24 ^That_ is, smaller the *Zd longer the \0RT. ^This relationship
1210J24 is consistently observed over the three *Zd values in both the
1220J24 experimental conditions. $2. ^Mean "different" \0RT in condition
1230J24 *=2 is higher than the mean "different" \0RT in condition *=1.
1240J24 ^The mean \0RT in condition *=1 is found to_ be 547 *(0m. secs.*) and
1250J24 600 *(0m. secs.*) in condition *=2. ^This shows that it takes longer
1260J24 to_ process "different" response when the two targets (of different sizes)
1270J24 subtend the same visual angle and are presented at different distances
1280J24 in comparison to a situation when the two targets (of different sizes
1290J24 ) are subtending different visual angles and are at the same distance.
1300J24 $3. ^Mean "different" \0RT increases as a function of average egocentric
1310J24 distance (Broota & Epstein, 1973). $^In order to_ establish the
1320J24 significance of the results, the data were subjected
1330J24 to analysis of variance, the design being a two factor
1340J24 experiment (2 x 3) with repeated measures (within subject design) on both
1350J24 the factors (Winer, 1971; \0p. 593). ^Factor A had two levels representing
1360J24 condition *=1 and *=2. ^Factor B had three levels representing
1370J24 magnitude of size difference (*Zd = 1*", 2*", 3*"). ^The results
1380J24 of analysis of variance are presented in Table 2. $^It is observed that
1390J24 the F values for both the main effects (A & B) are significant [\0F
1400J24 (1, 8) = 6.75; \0p < .05 and \0F (2, 16) = 13.59; \0p < .01 respectively.]
1410J24 ^This shows that the processing time differs significantly in the
1420J24 two experimental conditions.
1430J24 ^Further, significant B factor indicates that the magnitude
1440J24 of size difference (*Zd) affects the \0RTs. ^The interaction of
1450J24 *Zd x conditions is found to_ be non-significant. $*<*3DISCUSSION*0*>
1460J24 $^The results of condition *=1 & *=2 explicitly show that "different"
1470J24 \0RTs vary inversely with *Zd. ^These results are in conformity with
1480J24 the findings reported by Nickerson (1971), with tones differing on
1490J24 a single dimension. ^Similar results have been obtained by Gupta & Broota
1500J24 (1975) in a study on the judgment of apparent vertical. ^The increase
1510J24 in the \0RT with diminishing magnitude of difference (*Zd) between
1520J24 the two stimuli is indicative of the gradually increasing complexity
1530J24 of the discrimination task. ^There is, thus, greater tendency to_ decide
1540J24 "same" erroneously when the difference between the stimuli is very
1550J24 small. ^It follows that, in such situations, the errors of commission
1560J24 (pressing "same" key when "different" is correct) should be negatively correlated
1570J24 with the magnitude of size difference (*Zd). ^That_ is, errors
1580J24 become more numerous as the magnitude of size difference decreases.
1590J24 ^Further, because the complexity of the task increases with diminshing
1600J24 *Zd, under the accuracy instructions, the subject needs to_ analyse greater
1610J24 number of stimulus dimensions before a "different" (correct) response
1620J24 is initiated. $^The first conjecture is supported by Table 3 in
1630J24 which the errors, in both the conditions, have been found to_ be more numerous
1640J24 for *Zd = 1*", than for the other two *Zd values. ^Comparison
1650J24 of \0R*T related functions reveal that the processing time in condition
1660J24 *=2 (Figure 2) increases much faster in comparison to condition *=1,
1670J24 especially for *Zd = 1*", with increasing egocentric distance. ^This
1680J24 shows that the subject has to_ analyse greater number of stimulus dimensions
1690J24 to_ arrive at the "different" response. ^This complexity emanates
1700J24 from the fact that the visual angle of the two targets in this condition
1710J24 being the same, the relative visual angle itself carries no information
1720J24 about the stimulus difference. ^The relative difficulty of condition
1730J24 *=2 over condition *=1 has been corroborated by the ratings of the subjects
1740J24 in the experiment. ^Further, the mean \0RT in condition *=2 has
1750J24 been found to_ be 600 *(0m. secs.*) and 547 *(0m. secs.*) in condition
1760J24 *=1 and the errors are also related in that_ order. $^It may be concluded
1770J24 that the diminishing magnitude of size difference and equal retinal subtense
1780J24 of the two simultaneously presented targets increase the complexity
1790J24 of the perceptual task and requires the subject to_ process greater
1800J24 number of stimulus dimensions, to_ arrive at the correct judgment of size.*#
        **[no. of words = 02013**]

        **[txt. j25**]
0010J25 **<3MEN WITH VASECTOMIES: A QUASI-EXPERIMENTAL EVALUATION*0**> $*<*3INTRODUCTION*0*>
0020J25 $^*Mass Vasectomy Camps have been organised in India
0030J25 by several States. ^Such a *3massive-camp approach*0 started from
0040J25 Kerala during 1970 and 1971. ^It was expected that several thousands
0050J25 of persons would be operated in each camp. ^In the first such large camp
0060J25 organised in Ernakulam during July 1971, a total of 62,913 vasectomy
0070J25 operations were performed. ^Such a sudden upsurge in volunteering for vasectomy
0080J25 has put the operation on an altogether new footing. ^Today it
0090J25 is not so much a medical as a social innovation, and it is in this context
0100J25 that it should be rightly scrutinised from many sides, including the
0110J25 psychological side. $^In the past, the studies which have been done in
0120J25 this area aimed at investigating the socio-psychological effects of vasectomy.
0130J25 ^However, no conclusive results have yet been known. ^Most of
0140J25 the work that_ has been done concerned with the individual*'s attitudes
0150J25 towards vasectomy-- whether he is satisfied with his operation, \0etc.
0160J25 ^Such studies have mostly been of retrospective nature where the respondent,
0170J25 who underwent vasectomy, was either interviewed or given a questionnaire
0180J25 to_ fill-in and then the various demographic characteristics as
0181J25 related to sterilization were analysed and
0190J25 delineated. ^In these studies, the attempts were made more to_ *3evaluate
0200J25 the vasectomy*0 rather than the individual as *3effected **[sic**]
0210J25 by it*0. ^Many of these studies, however, claimed to_ have found
0220J25 favourable reactions to vasectomy, while some of them reported that operation
0230J25 had damaging psychological and other behavioural effects. ^Long
0240J25 back, Dandekar (1963) pointed out the limitations of such studies including
0250J25 the lack of careful psychological and clinical measurements made
0260J25 *3before*0 vasectomy and the lack of a "control group" which is essential
0270J25 in order to_ conduct an enquiry on a scientific basis. ^Others (Kapoor,
0280J25 1968, 1972a, 1972b, 1973a, 1973c; Poffenberger & Wells, 1965) also
0290J25 emphasized the same more rigorously at several occasions, which was conspicuously
0300J25 absent in the recent study of Wig *(0et al*) (1970, 1972).
0301J25 ^When Dandekar
0310J25 (1963) published some results of her study of vasectomised males
0320J25 she had tacitly classified the possible after-effects of vasectomy
0330J25 which could be studied as: (a) Psychological, (b) Physical, (c) Reactions
0340J25 of vasectomised person to his own sterilisation, and (d) Reaction
0350J25 of society toward vasectomised persons. ^The first three of these interrelated
0360J25 phenomena concern only the individual. ^The fourth is concerned with
0370J25 the reactions of others to the individual and this in turn is related
0380J25 to the individual. ^In retrospective studies done so far, it is only possible
0390J25 to_ get some information of limited value on (c) and (d) above.
0400J25 ^At any rate, the actual effect of the male sterilization cannot be gauged
0410J25 until more carefully controlled studies are designed and carried out
0420J25 with the help of some sensitive measuring instruments and tools. $^As the
0430J25 camps, that_ were proposed to_ be organized in several States, provided
0440J25 an opportunity to_ test samples of persons, as small experimental projects
0450J25 "before the operation and after the operation" on psychological aspects,
0460J25 it was decided to_ make an objective psychological evaluation of
0470J25 the vasectomized persons. $*<*3METHOD*0 $*3Study Design & Sample:*0*>
0480J25 ^As has been discussed above, it is clear that when a study is restricted
0490J25 to "before" and "after" characteristics of vasectomised cases only,
0500J25 there is no objective basis for determining the effect of vasectomy because
0510J25 there is no *3comparison*0 or *3control*0 group. ^This suggested a
0520J25 study design to_ capture the advantages of each which may be called a
0530J25 "*3before-after*0" *3study design using both an Experimental
0540J25 and a Control group*0. ^For this purpose, a random sample of 343 persons
0550J25 was drawn from the universe of volunteers who came to Ernakulam
0560J25 Camp in July 1971.
0570J25 ^The data was collected during the peak period of operations for 10 days
0580J25 ^This sample constituted an *3Experimental Group*0 (\0EG) consisting
0590J25 of persons who volunteered themselves for undergoing vasectomy operation
0600J25 in the camp where they were also offered more than usual incentives,
0610J25 in *3cash*0 as well as in *3kind*0 after the operation. ^Obviously,
0620J25 they were deemed to_ be in a highly motivated state. ^Another sample
0630J25 of 329 non-volunteers, or persons not willing to_ have the vasectomy but
0640J25 motivated to_ practise family planning as far as possible, was also constituted
0650J25 as a *3Control Group*0 (\0CG) for comparison purposes.
0660J25 ^Both the groups were as far as possible equated on a number of variables,
0670J25 \0viz., age, sex, education, place of residence and size of the family
0680J25 \0etc. ^There was no randomized assignment of respondents to groups;
0690J25 nor the experimental treatments were assigned at random. ^However,
0700J25 every effort was made to_ use the samples from the same population and
0710J25 to_ use samples as alike as possible. ^The similarity of the two groups
0720J25 was also checked using information available as mentioned above, \0i.e.
0730J25 age, education, residence, size of family, \0etc. ^The equivalence
0740J25 of the two groups was also checked, later on, using the *3means*0 and
0750J25 *3standard deviations*0 of the pretests on dependent variables, \0viz.,
0760J25 *3Neuroticism*0 and *3Anxiety*0 (Table 1, and \0Fig.1). ^These precautions
0770J25 were taken to_ increase the possibilities of attaining internal validity.
0780J25 ^Since the groups (Experimental or Volunteers and Control or
0790J25 Non-volunteers) were "equal" on the dependent variables, one can assume,
0800J25 (if the differences (D Scores) between the *3pre-test*0 and the
0810J25 *3post-test*0 of the \0EG are significantly greater than the differences
0820J25 of the \0CG), that the discrepancy is explained not by other variables
0830J25 but by the experimental variable or *3vasectomy*0. ^This design enables
0840J25 one to_ eliminate to some extent the distorting effects introduced
0850J25 by the measurement process and by uncontrolled events. ^Since the \0CG
0860J25 as well as the \0EG are usually subjected to these influences,
0870J25 the difference between *3d*0 (the change in the \0EG) and *3d*'3*0 (the
0880J25 change in the \0CG) should constitute a measure of the
0890J25 effectiveness of experimental variable (\0i.e., *3vasectomy*0). $^The
0900J25 degree of motivation, of course, at the time of 'before-measurement',
0910J25 between the Experimental and the Control Groups could not be equated
0920J25 as may be fairly assumed that the former group had an added advantage of
0930J25 availing the high incentives both in *3cash*0 and in *3kind*0 (amounting
0940J25 to \0Rs. 114.00 per acceptor) after the operation and for which the
0950J25 latter group did not volunteer. ^A better approach therefore would have
0960J25 been to_ conduct the before-measurement (a base-line study) prior to
0970J25 organising the Massive Vasectomy Camp efforts, followed by the *3pre*0-test
0980J25 just before the operation. ^This could have identified the
0990J25 effects of incentives also by comparing the two groups on the dependent
1000J25 variables prior to introduction of experimental variable. ^Such ideal
1010J25 conditions and controls are typical of a *3true*0 experimental design
1020J25 and are normally not feasible in field experiments where it is difficult
1030J25 to_ control the exact time and the specific persons to whom an experimental
1040J25 variable is applied. ^As such, the *3quasi-experimental design*0,
1050J25 such as the present one, is the next preferred one which can reduce
1060J25 the plausibility of rival hypotheses to a sufficient extent to_ permit
1070J25 at least an acceptable level of causal inference if the study has been done
1080J25 carefully. ^The main limitation of this design is its sensitivity
1090J25 to interaction among the main effects and to differences between the groups,
1100J25 if any, in characteristics related to the dependent variables under
1110J25 observation. ^In view of these general weaknesses, which are not
1120J25 uncommon to other basic experimental designs, our generalisation of the
1130J25 findings should also be restricted to which we shall turn in later sections.
1140J25 $*3Tools*0: ^It is sometimes much easier to_ categorise the
1150J25 types of human phenomena one wishes to_ study than it is to_ devise objective
1160J25 methods of study. ^The most difficult problem in social and
1170J25 psychological research is the development of satisfactory measurement techniques.
1180J25 ^In order to_ make a valid evaluation, the study involved an
1190J25 objective *3pre*0 as well as *3post*0 (before and after) questionnaire-measurements
1200J25 of both the groups and for which two standardized psychological
1210J25 tests, as indicators of behavioural change, were used. ^These two
1220J25 objective psychological tests were: (1) *3Neuroticism Scale Questionnaire*0
1230J25 (\0NSQ) by Scheier and Cattell (1961), and (2) *3Anxiety
1240J25 Scale Questionnaire*0 (\0ASQ) by Cattell and Scheier (1963).
1250J25 ^Both of them were already standardised in Indian conditions (Kapoor,
1260J25 1966; Kapoor, 1970) and later adapted in Malayalam language also. $^The
1270J25 \0NSQ had 4 components, besides a *3total Neuroticism score,*0
1280J25 as described below: $1. *3^Factor I*0: is a measure of over-protection,
1290J25 tender mindedness, protected emotional sensitivity, *3versus*0 tough-mindedness.
1300J25 $2. *3^Factor F*0: is a measure of Depressiveness,
1301J25 inhibited, sober,
1310J25 seriousness *3versus*0 Happy-go-lucky. $3. *3^Factor E*0: is a messure
1320J25 of Submissiveness, suggestibility, dependence *3versus*0 Dominance.
1330J25 $4. *3^Factor Anxiety*0: is a measure of worry, guilt-proneness,
1340J25 tension and emotional immaturity and instability *3versus*0 self-confidence,
1350J25 calmness and ego-strength. $^The above four factors constitute
1360J25 the *3total neuroticism.*0 ^The entire Scale has 40 items or statements
1370J25 and the maximum possible range of scores being 0 to 80. ^A high score
1380J25 on the scale indicates *3neuroticism*0 a low score "*3an emotional stability*0"
1390J25 indicative of mental health. $^Similarly, the \0ASQ had
1400J25 the following five components, besides a *3total Anxiety score,*0 as discribed
1410J25 below: $1. *3^Factor Q*;3**;*0: is a measure of Defective
1420J25 integration or lack of self-sentiment. $2. *3^Factor C*0: is a measure
1430J25 of Ego-weakness or lack of ego-strength. $3. *3^Factor L*0: is a
1440J25 measure of Suspiciousness or paranoid insecurity. $4. *3^Factor O*0:
1450J25 is a measure of Guilt-proneness. $5. *3^Factor Q*;4**;*0: is a measure
1460J25 of Frustrative tension. $^All the above five factors constitute
1470J25 the *3total Anxiety Scale*0 which also contains 40 items with a maximum
1480J25 obtainable score of 80. ^A high score on the scale indicates that the
1490J25 person whose anxiety level could be getting serious, while low score
1500J25 is indicative of his stability, feeling of security and mental health generally.
1510J25 $^The above two scales were first adapted into Malayalam language
1520J25 and after purging out certain items and then revising, modifying
1530J25 and adding some new items, following the item-analyses, the scales were
1540J25 finalized for administering to the groups. ^The *3reliabilities*0 of the
1550J25 \0NSQ and \0ASQ, in terms of *3stability coefficients*0 after
1560J25 a gap of 15 months, worked out to_ be .70 and .68, respectively. ^The
1570J25 *3validity coefficients*0 of both the scales, in terms of the average correlation
1580J25 between *3individual items*0 and total test score ranged between
1590J25 +.38 and +.42, with no cases of inconsistent direction of relation, and
1600J25 the *3multiple correlation*0 between all items of the total score exceeded
1610J25 +.91 on both |0NSQ and \0ASQ. $*3Procedure:*0 ^The two tests
1620J25 were administered to Experimental as well as Control Groups during
1630J25 a period of 20 days (10 days for each group) in the Camp with the help
1640J25 of a team of interviewers who were borrowed from the Department of Psychology,
1650J25 Kerala University, for a limited period and were trained in
1660J25 psychological testing. ^The "before" (*3pre*0) test was done just preceding
1670J25 the vasectomy operation for the \0EG. "^After" (*3post*0) test
1680J25 was completed in October 1972 on the same group with the same two tests.
1690J25 ^The same was done with \0CG. ^Thus, the total time gap between
1700J25 "before and the after" measurements (*3pre*0 and *3post*0 testing) was of
1710J25 15 months for the \0EG and the same gap was maintained in the \0CG
1720J25 also. ^However, the size of the samples, during the *3after*0 measurement
1730J25 phase was reduced to 240 for the \0EG and 260 for the \0CG, because
1740J25 some of the cases had migrated from their place of residence, had not
1750J25 turned up for interview despite repeated reminders, had already undergone
1760J25 vasectomy during the period, and/ or could not be traced due to wrong
1770J25 addresses. ^The analyses and their results are therefore based on the
1780J25 data which enabled us to *3pair*0 the individuals on whom both "before"
1790J25 and "after" measurements were completed. $*<*3RESULTS AND DISCUSSION*0*>
1800J25 $^It was interesting to_ note in analysing the data for the *3before*0-measurement
1810J25 of both the E & C groups that the levels of *3neuroticism*0
1820J25 and also of *3anxiety*0 between them were almost *3equal*0. ^For example,
1830J25 the total mean score on \0NSQ was 45.85 for the \0EG and 44.95
1840J25 for the \0CG which revealed no significant statistical difference
1850J25 (Table 1, Columns 3 & 7). ^Similarly, the total mean score on \0ASQ
1860J25 for the \0EG was 35.18 and for the \0CG it was 34.87 which again
1870J25 revealed no difference of statistical significance (same Table).*#
        **[no. of words = 02008**]

        **[txt. j26**]
0010J26 **<*3Perspectives on Adult Crime and Correction (A Comparative
0020J26 Study of Adult Prisoners and Probationers)*0**>
0030J26 $^At the district level, in the first instance, the probation services
0040J26 were started at Ajmer and Bikaner in 1960. ^Eight more
0050J26 districts, namely, Alwar, Jodhpur, Kota, Pali, Sriganganagar,
0060J26 Sikar and Udaipur were introduced to these services in
0070J26 1962. ^The whole State was covered under the Act in 1964 dividing
0080J26 it into eighteen probation districts, each with the staff of a District
0090J26 Probation Officer, a lower division clerk and a peon.
0100J26 ^One of these was a lady Probation Officer for looking after the female
0110J26 probationers. ^But this position was altered in 1967 when on account
0120J26 of economic measures the posts of District Probation Officers
0130J26 and District Social Welfare Officers were merged and each of the
0140J26 26 districts was allotted to one District Probation and Social
0150J26 Welfare Officer. ^Later on again forced by the economy cut, number
0160J26 of such officers was reduced to twenty, thereby allotting two districts
0170J26 to some of the Probation Officers. ^With this sort of amalgamation,
0180J26 the District Officers were charged with responsibilities
0190J26 under the three different areas, \0viz., probation, welfare of backward
0200J26 classes and general social welfare. ^Thus at present there is no
0210J26 separate staff as such for probation work. ^The pattern of the Probation
0220J26 Officers in whole of the State now is as follows: Chief
0230J26 Probation Officer-- one; Probation Officer (Headquarters)--
0240J26 one; District Probation and Social Welfare Officers-- twenty;
0250J26 Probation and Prison Welfare Officers-- six (at Jaipur,
0260J26 Jodhpur, Ajmer, Kota, Bikaner and Udaipur); Probation
0270J26 Officers-- two (at Jaipur and Kota); and Honorary Probation
0280J26 Officer-- one (at Jodhpur).
0290J26 $*<*3The Probationers*0*> $^In the whole State of Rajasthan the
0300J26 total number of probationers released on probation under supervision from
0310J26 1962 to 1971 was 2,626. ^In the beginning in 1962, only 31 probationers
0320J26 were released. ^But the number increased to 488 by 1965. ^After
0330J26 this there was a gradual decrease in the number of offenders, so that
0340J26 in 1971 the number stood at a mere 135. ^From these figures it is obvious
0350J26 that in the initial years of these services, probation work showed
0360J26 a clear progressive trend and if the same trend had continued it would
0370J26 have been considerably consolidated. $^Thus, when the probation work
0380J26 might have been consolidated and expanded, it showed sharp decline
0390J26 even with the increase in the number of probation officers. ^This could
0400J26 be attributed to the fact that up to June, 1967, there were two diffierent
0410J26 sets of officers independently looking after the probation and social
0420J26 welfare work. ^But, as has been said earlier also, owing to economic
0430J26 measures taken in 1967, the posts of District Probation Officer
0440J26 and Social Welfare Officer were merged into one and thus making the
0450J26 official to_ shoulder heavy quota of work. $*<*3Probationers Surveyed*0*>
0460J26 $^The total number of probationers under the supervision of
0470J26 the District Probation Officer, Jaipur at the time of the beginning
0480J26 of our study was 63. ^All these were male probationers. ^Of these
0490J26 63 probationers, 3 were those who had been convicted twice before being
0500J26 released under the supervision of the probation officer, 2 were released
0510J26 as their term of probation had expired and 2 were less than 16 years
0520J26 of age. ^Excluding these probationers from our study, we studied
0530J26 56 probationers only. $^The term of probation and nature of crime
0540J26 indicate that in large number of cases, crimes committed by the probationers
0550J26 were misdemeanours (92.87 per cent), only in 7.13 per cent cases
0560J26 were they felonies, punishable either by death or life imprisonment.
0570J26 ^Of the 56 probationers, about half (51.8 per cent) were released
0580J26 under supervision for the offence of theft. ^In non-victim criminality,
0590J26 the highest rate of crime (80 per cent) pertained to adulteration of food,
0600J26 whereas the remaining cases related to smuggling. ^As in prisoners
0610J26 so also among probationers, the victim-involved criminality is predominated
0620J26 by non-victim criminality. ^All the probationers were first
0630J26 offenders. ^The mean term of probation was found to_ be 1.3 years.
0640J26 $^Of the total probationers, only 23.20 per cent belonged to the rural areas,
0650J26 while 76.80 per cent were residents of the urban areas. ^More than
0660J26 four-fifths of the probationers were from young age-group (82.24 per
0670J26 cent), the highest percentage (53.67 per cent) being from the age-group
0680J26 of 16-20 years. ^The youngest probationer was 16 years of age and the
0690J26 oldest was 52 years old. ^16.9 per cent probationers were unemployed
0700J26 while the remaining were engaged in one or the other earning pursuits.
0710J26 ^Of the 47 earning probationers, 25.66 per cent were engaged
0720J26 in cultivation, 27.75 per cent in services, 34.04 per cent in business
0730J26 and the remaining were engaged in miscellaneous occupations.
0740J26 ^About half (53.2 per cent) of the probationers belonged to low income group
0750J26 (income up to 300 \0p.m.), whereas 42.55 per cent belonged to the
0760J26 middle (income from \0*4Rs. 300 to 1,000 \0p.m.) and 4.25 per cent to the
0770J26 upper income (income of more than \0*4Rs. 1,000 \0p.m) groups. ^Further,
0780J26 78.58 per cent probationers were literate and the rest (21.42 per
0790J26 cent) were illiterate. ^Of the literate probationers, 1.78
0800J26 per cent were graduates, 48.58 per cent were matriculates, 10.71
0810J26 per cent were educated up to the primary level, while 17.51 per cent
0820J26 were able to_ read and write although they did not have any formal education.
0840J26 $*<*3Supervision Practices*0*>
0850J26 $^Failure or success of probation in reforming the offenders largely depends
0860J26 on the handling of the probationers during the period of supervisoion.
0870J26 ^During this period, the probation officer actively tries
0880J26 to_ modify the ideas, beliefs, values of individual personality and its
0890J26 power of growth by keeping the probationer in his own social setting.
0900J26 ^This strengthens his relationship with his fimily and the
0910J26 community. ^Furthermore, the probation officer warns the probationer
0920J26 from time to time against indulging in deviant activities. ^To_
0930J26 achieve this end, the probation officer dissociates the probationer
0940J26 from bad associations and offers him guidance in the various
0950J26 aspects of life, such as studies, employment, health, recreation \0etc.
0960J26 ^Thus, during the supervision, the probation officer
0970J26 enforces certain minimum conduct requirement on the probationer by
0980J26 which he encourages the development of his insight and acceptance of
0990J26 responsibilities. ^Frequent visits by the probationer to the
1000J26 probation officer and by the probation officer to the probationer*'s
1010J26 home, place of work and neighbourhood, are of great importance
1020J26 in achieving these goals. $*<*3Visits*0*> $^Our survey
1030J26 revealed that the theoretical ideologies of probation services are different
1040J26 from the practical operations. ^As per rules, the probationer
1050J26 is supposed to_ contact the \0P.O. at least 4 times during
1060J26 the first month of the supervision. ^During the first half of
1070J26 the remaining period, the probationer has to_ visit the \0p.O.
1080J26 fortnightly and in the second half of the period once in a month. ^Thus,
1090J26 the minimum prescribed visits of a probationer to the \0p.O. are
1100J26 approximately 22 per year, when awarded one year*'s probation term; 38
1110J26 visits (27 during first year and 11 during second year) when awarded
1120J26 2 year*'s probation term; and 57 visits (26 during first year, 19
1130J26 visits during second year and 12 visits during third year) when awarded
1140J26 three year*'s probation term. ^It was found from our study that during
1150J26 the first month all the probationers regularly (4 times) visited
1160J26 the probation officer. ^Out of 56 probationers, 21 were regular
1170J26 throughout their probation term, whereas the remaining 35 probationers
1180J26 were found to_ be irregular in their visits to probation
1190J26 officers. $^Most of such probationers missed between 5
1200J26 and 6 visits. ^Further analysis of the data reveals that the offenders
1210J26 were more irregular during the second half of their supervision
1220J26 period (13 out of 16 missed more than 4 visits) in relation to the
1230J26 first half of their supervision period (5 out of total 19 probationers
1240J26 who were in first half of their supervision period missed
1250J26 more than 4 times of minimum prescribed visits.) ^Along with this,
1260J26 it can also be said that the offenders who were awarded probations
1270J26 for two or three years were found to_ be more irregular (except
1280J26 2 all had missed more than 4 times) in comparison to those who were
1290J26 awarded probation for less than one year (15 out of 23 missed between
1300J26 one and four visits). ^This shows how the visits of the probationers
1310J26 to the probation officers*'s office were much below the minimum
1320J26 visits prescribed by the rules. ^The condition was more
1330J26 severe in the case of probation officers*' visits. $^In 48.29
1340J26 per cent cases the probation officer never visited the probationers*'
1350J26 home, place of work, friends*' circle, teachers \0etc. ^Obviously,
1360J26 in all these cases the probation officer did not think it necessary to_
1370J26 visit the probationers*' surroundings. ^Such an attitude shows the indifference
1380J26 of the probation officer to his duty. ^Thus in
1390J26 these cases, it would hardly be profitable to_ asses the real behaviour
1400J26 of the offenders on the basis of momentary behaviour
1410J26 exhibited during the visits at office. ^Their act may be the
1420J26 direct result of familial maladjustment. ^Therefore, the members
1430J26 of family and sometimes immediate relatives must be interviewed,
1440J26 separately in each and every case so that true assessment
1450J26 of the improvement of the probationers can be judged and the
1460J26 various problems resulting from their behaviour be solved.
1470J26 ^In 48.29 per cent cases, the supervision of the probationers was directed
1480J26 only on the basis of performance during the office visits.
1490J26 ^Quite likely, this attitude on the part of the \0P.O.s, (that only
1500J26 the major cases were investigated well) was the result of the double
1510J26 work-load (probation as also social welfare work) assigned to
1520J26 them in the State. ^Consequently, the probation officers applied
1530J26 their energies only to those cases which would have been really
1540J26 harmful if they were not supervised diligently. ^The
1550J26 analysis of the figures, concerning the meetings the probation officers
1560J26 had with the offenders*' family members, employers, neighbours,
1561J26 friends, and teachers, revealed that the probation officers
1570J26 met the offenders*' family members (19) and neighbours (12) in a
1580J26 large number of cases as compared to a very few cases in which they visited
1590J26 the offenders*' employers (4) and friends (1). ^In none
1600J26 of the cases they tried to_ contact the offenders*' teachers.
1610J26 $^It was found that though the probation officer studied the social
1620J26 surroundings of the probationers such as a home or neighbourhood,
1630J26 yet in none of the cases he tried to_ get information from
1640J26 the parents or the family members about their habits, attitudes
1650J26 \0etc. ^Had they collected this information, it would have proved
1660J26 useful in the reformation of the probationers. ^So also it
1670J26 was found that only in two cases, the probation officer had guided
1680J26 the probationers on the basis of diagnosis made during the pre-sentence
1690J26 investigations. ^Even in these cases the probationers
1700J26 as well as their family members were informed of the conditions
1710J26 imposed on them by the court. $^It would be seen
1720J26 that the probation officers generally avoid visiting the
1730J26 offenders either at their place of work or in the school, \0etc.,
1740J26 owing to the problems of antagonistic views and adjustment for
1750J26 the probationers. ^But the probation officer whom we interviewed
1760J26 did not accept this view. ^He informed us that he visited
1770J26 all the places such as the probationer*'s home, school, place of
1780J26 work. ^And if after knowing his true identity, any employer terminated
1790J26 his services or neighbours and friends began to_ hate
1800J26 him, the probation officer did not interfere. ^This attitude
1810J26 he defended on the grounds that he wanted the probationers to_
1820J26 face the reality and thereby to_ adjust himself to the normative
1820J26 pattern of society. ^This probation officer, we were informed,
1830J26 found it hard to_ decide whether or not he ought to_ notify the
1840J26 probationer of his impending visit. ^On the one hand, he was
1850J26 confronted by the ethic of respect for the individual and on the
1860J26 other, by his obligation to_ protect society and supervise the
1870J26 probationers. ^At the initial stage of probataion, almost in
1880J26 all cases (where the probation officer had visited the homes) visits
1890J26 were without prior notification. ^At later stages also the
1900J26 number of unannounced visits was higher (23) than the number (4) of
1910J26 announced visits. ^The unexpected visits reveal the true atmosphere
1920J26 of the home, attitudes of the neighbours and other persons
1930J26 who are related in any way to the probationers. ^The probation
1940J26 officer revealed that the cases where the visits were announced
1950J26 previously were those where the offender was not in the need of surveillance.*#
        **[no. of rords = 02020**]

        **[txt. j27**]
0010J27 **<*3North East India: A Sociological Study*0**> $^Lack of knowledge
0020J27 about the statutory functions of the \0NEC might have also given
0030J27 credence to the lurking suspicion. $^In the present paper an attempt is
0040J27 made to_ discuss the statutory functions of the \0NEC (forming part
0050J27 *=1 of the paper), to_ analyse its role as a regional economic development
0060J27 agency
0060J27 (Part *=2) and lastly, to_ review its performance in the direction
0070J27 of stimulating balanced growth of the region (Part *=3). $^When for promoting
0080J27 inter-state cooperation and coordination Zonal Councils were already
0090J27 set up under the States Reorganization Act, 1956, what was the
0100J27 need, some ask, for constituting the \0NEC under a separate Act of Parliament,
0110J27 instead of forming simply a North Eastern Zonal Council?
0120J27 ^One critic (Prabhakar, 1973) has even expressed the view that the \0NEC
0130J27 has been set up "to_ make sure that the 'border' regions would not
0140J27 be loosely drifting into postures of defiance, or nursing ambitions of
0150J27 autonomy... the \0NEC seeks, not merely to_ usurp the limited powers
0160J27 of the states, but to_ totally replace, as it were, the authority of
0170J27 states by the Centre, *3especially by the most actively repressive organs
0180J27 of the Centre*0". $^It may be recalled that when the Zonal Councils
0190J27 were first formed, several criticisms were also levelled against them.
0200J27 ^But on review of the functioning of the Central Zonal Council, *(0S.*)
0210J27 Maheshwari (Maheshwari, 1965, \0p. 1138) concluded: "The fear
0220J27 that these Councils constitute the proverbial fifth wheel in the administrative
0230J27 coach impeding speed and efficiency has proved to_ be entirely
0240J27 unfounded... ^The Council... does not constitute another level in the
0250J27 traditional hierarchy. ^It is also not entirely true that the Zonal Council
0260J27 is the handmaid of the Centre... the Council has a purely advisory
0270J27 status which obviously inhibits the exercise of anything like dictatorial
0280J27 powers over either the Centre or the participating States." $^In
0290J27 the same way it may be argued that in the case of the \0NEC also there
0300J27 need not be any apprehension about any sinister role to_ be played by
0310J27 it as Act does not arm it with any executive powers. ^Functions of the
0320J27 \0NEC are laid down in Clause 4 of the North-Eastern Council Act
0330J27 which reads: $*<*3Functions of the Council*0*> $(1) ^The Council
0340J27 shall be an advisory body and may discuss any matter in which some or
0350J27 all of the States represented in that_ Council or the Union and one or
0360J27 more of the States represented in that_ Council, have a common interest
0370J27 and advise the Central Government and the Government of each State
0380J27 concerned as to the action to_ be taken on any such matter and in particular,
0390J27 may discuss and make recommendations with regard to: $(**=1)
0400J27 any matter of common interest in the field of economic and social planning;
0410J27 $(**=2) any matter concerning inter-State transport and communications:
0420J27 $(**=3) any matter relating to power or flood control projects
0430J27 of common interest. $(2) ^For securing the balanced development of the
0440J27 north-eastern area, the Council shall forward proposals. $(a) formulating
0450J27 the States represented in the Council a unified and coordinated regional
0460J27 plan (which will be in addition to the State Plan) in regard to
0470J27 matters of common importance to that_ area; $(b) regarding the priorities
0480J27 of the projects and schemes included in the regional plan and the stages
0490J27 in which the regional plan may be implemented; and $(c) regarding the
0500J27 location of the projects and schemes included in the regional plan, to
0510J27 the Central Government for its consideration. $(3) ^The Council shall:
0520J27 $(a) review, from time to time, the implementation of the projects
0530J27 and schemes included in the regional plan and recommend measures for effecting
0540J27 coordination among the Governments of the States concerned in the
0550J27 matter of implementation of such projects and schemes; $(b) where a
0560J27 project or scheme is intended to_ benefit two or more States, recommend
0570J27 the manner in which: $(**=1) such project or scheme may be executed or
0580J27 implemented and managed or maintained; or $(**=2) the benefits therefrom
0590J27 may be shared; or $(**=3) the expenditure thereon may be incurred;
0600J27 $(c) on a review of progress of the expenditure, recommend to the Central
0610J27 Government the quantum of financial assistance to_ be given, from time
0620J27 to time, to the State or States entrusted with the execution or implementation
0630J27 of any project or scheme included in the regional plan; $(d)
0640J27 recommend to the Government of the State concerned or to the
0641J27 Central Government the undertaking of necessary surveys and investigation
0650J27 of projects in any State represented in the Council to_ facilitate
0660J27 consideration of the feasibility of including new projects in
0670J27 the regional plan. $(4) ^The Council shall review from time to time the
0680J27 measures taken by the States represented in the Council for the maintenance
0690J27 of security and public order therein and recommend to the Government
0700J27 of the States concerned further measures necessary in this regard.
0710J27 $^The Clause is quoted verbatim to_ make it clear that the \0NEC*'s
0720J27 most important function would be to_ bring about coordinated development
0730J27 of the region with funds provided by the Centre and without interfering
0740J27 with the respective plans of the member States (The different projects
0750J27 under the regional plan also will be executed by the State Government
0760J27 or Union Territory Administration concerned). ^And this feature distinguishes
0770J27 the \0NEC from the Zonal Councils. ^The Prime Minister
0780J27 also drove this point home while inaugurating the \0NEC when she characterized
0790J27 it as "a promising innovation in regional planning". $^The
0800J27 Act gives \0NEC powers also to_ review the law and order situation in
0810J27 different member States (sub clause 4), it is true, but the Council
0820J27 can only recommend measures to the States concerned in this respect. ^Therefore
0830J27 this does not purport the dilution of the autonomy of the States
0840J27 as given in the Constitution. ^This being a border region has some extraordinary
0850J27 security problems which must be admitted and as the best security
0860J27 is economic prosperity so also economic prosperity is perilled by
0870J27 lack of public order and security. $^Besides the common Governor of Assam,
0880J27 Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland and Tripura, other members of the
0890J27 Council are the Administrators of Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram, Chief
0900J27 Ministers of the member States and of Mizoram and one Counsellor
0910J27 to the Administrator of Arunachal Pradesh. ^The President of India,
0920J27 of course, may nominate a Union Minister as a member of the Council.
0930J27 ^Though the Chairman of the Council shall be nominated by the President
0940J27 of India, it can be safely assumed that the Governor would be
0950J27 the obvious choice as at present. ^And with the Governor as the Chairman
0960J27 the Council becomes a really regional agency. $^The \0NEC comprises
0970J27 five States, namely, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya Nagaland and Tripura
0980J27 and two Union Territories which are Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram.
0990J27 ^*Nagaland has, however, opted to_ remain out of the Council. ^But
1000J27 it is expected that Nagaland will also join the Council ultimately.
1010J27 ^The region (including Nagaland) has a total area of 2,55,037 \0sq. \0kms.
1020J27 with a population of 195.79 *4lakhs. (^For greater details see Ganguly,
1030J27 1974). $^The question that_ naturally arises is: do these units
1040J27 ideally form one planning region? ^A planning region may be delineated
1050J27 on the basis of any one of the following three considerations (Meyor,
1060J27 1969, \0p. 243; Richardson, 1969, \0p. 17): $(1) ^Homogeneity with
1070J27 respect to topography or climate, natural resources, level of special, economic
1080J27 and political development, \0etc. $(2) ^Nodality or polarization
1090J27 centring some urban metropolitan area. $(3) ^Administrative coherence or
1100J27 identity. $^The North-Eastern Region clearly falls in the first category.
1110J27 ^Its homogeneous features in the field of topography, rainfall, level
1120J27 of socio-economic development are well-marked (for elaborate discussion
1130J27 see, Ganguly, 1974, \0p. 282-283). ^Some geographers and regional
1140J27 planning experts have therefore, included these States and Union Territories
1150J27 into one macro planning region *(0P.*) Sen Gupta, 1968, \0p.
1160J27 191. Chandrasekhara, 1971, \0p. 59-73 Misra, Sundaram and Rao, 1974,
1161J27 Appendix
1170J27 A to \0Ch. *=3). ^By constituting the \0NEC the government
1180J27 has recognized the need for transferring more resources from the centre
1190J27 through a regional plan for accelerated development of this area which
1200J27 has immense resource potential though "the technical know-how is yet deficient,
1210J27 and socio-economic obstacles to technological transformation of
1220J27 the resources do still persist." *(0^*P.*) Sen Gupta, 1968, \0p. 90).
1230J27 $^This matter has a relevance in the wider context of achieving balanced
1240J27 regional growth of the country. ^Economists have noted with concern
1250J27 the fact that "Economic progress in the 1950*'3s and early 1960*'3s was
1260J27 more rapid in the developed States than in the less developed ones."
1270J27 (Nath, 1970, \0p. 247). ^This is, of course, not a uniquely Indian problem.
1280J27 ^Even the developed countries like \0U.S.A., \0U.K., France,
1290J27 \0U.S.S.R., Italy, \0etc. have sharp disparities in the rates of
1300J27 growth of different regions. (^See Meyor, 1969, \0p. 247.). ^Regional planning
1310J27 bodies have, therefore been functioning in some countries to_ tackle
1320J27 this problem. ^In \0UK each planning region (there are ten planning
1330J27 regions) has a Regional Economic Council consisting of representatives
1340J27 from business, trades unions and the professions and a Planning Board
1350J27 comprised of civil servants representing different government departments.
1360J27 "^Together these bodies were to_ provide machinery for regional economic
1370J27 planning, the councils to_ provide broad strategy and the boards
1380J27 to_ coordinate the activities of governmental departments". (Lee, 1971,
1390J27 \0p. 163). $^*France is divided into 21 planning regions and each
1400J27 region*'s plan is integrated with the national plan. ^Similarly, in the
1410J27 Soviet Union there are regional economic councils ('Sovnarkhozy') for
1420J27 formulations of regional plans for development of industries and infrastructure
1430J27 (Nath, 1970). $^Whenever any backward region of a country requires
1440J27 inflow of investment resources from the central or federal government,
1450J27 it is the general practice to_ effect such flow of funds in a planned
1460J27 manner through some regional development agency. ^In the \0USA, "the
1470J27 central powers of the federal government were so restricted that its
1480J27 point of entry into regional planning was the field of water resources
1490J27 where it had primary jurisdiction. ^Through development of water resources
1500J27 for a multiplicity of uses it was hoped that social and economic advance
1510J27 in the watershed would be furthered. ^The watershed, therefore, became
1520J27 rapidly identified as the 'proper' region for planning, and recognition
1530J27 that land resources are ultimately re-related to the use of water only
1540J27 strengthened this view... ^The best known and certainly the most advanced
1550J27 regional planning agency in the United States is the Tennessee
1560J27 valley Authority," (Friedman, 1956, \0p. 503-04). $^In Italy there is
1570J27 a regional planning body named the Southern Development Agency (*3the
1580J27 Cassa per il Mezzogiorne*0) through which the Italian Government
1590J27 has been making massive investments in public works programme for development
1600J27 of Southern Italy which is relatively less developed than Northern
1610J27 Italy (Chenery, 1962, \0p. 668). $^The North-Eastern region
1620J27 of our country is also an area with rich natural resources, such as, coal,
1630J27 mineral oil and gas, silimanite, hydro-power potential, forests, \0etc.,
1640J27 but the level of their exploitation being very low the average per capita
1650J27 income of the region is lower than the country*'s average. ^This
1660J27 is evident from the fact that while the average per capita income of all
1670J27 States is \0*4Rs. 551 that_ of Assam including Meghalaya is \0*4Rs.
1680J27 543, Tripura \0*4Rs. 503, Manipur \0*4Rs. 492 and Nagaland \0*4Rs.
1690J27 371 (Report of the Sixth Finance Commission, 1973, \0p. 163). $^To_
1700J27 provide employment to the population of the working age of the region
1710J27 as also to_ improve the living standard of the people, the available resources
1720J27 have to_ be properly developed. ^Resources like hydro-potential,
1730J27 minerals, cropsoil-rainfall zones, \0etc., are not in all cases distributed
1740J27 along lines of political divisions at the level of States. ^Therefore
1750J27 proper development of these resources would call for coordinated
1760J27 efforts of different States under a commonly formulated plan of action.
1770J27 ^Secondly, the progress of exploitation of power, minerals, forests, soil
1780J27 and water resources is directly related to the development of transport
1790J27 (by road, rail, water and air) and communication facilities. ^And both
1800J27 the development of the infrastructure and the natural resources depend
1810J27 on two vital inputs, namely, capital and organization. ^On all these
1820J27 counts the prospects for the rapid development of the different political
1830J27 units separately and the region as a whole are essentially dependent
1840J27 on the coordinated and comprehensive plan of development of available resources
1850J27 with increased mobilization of capital, expertise and enterprise.*#
        **[no. of words = 02029**]


        **[txt. j28**]
0010J28 **<*3Million cities of India*0**> *<*3Bombay: An Exploding
0010J28 Metropolis*0*> $^These are the areas changing fast:
0020J28 the villas set in the midst of trees are being replaced by skyscrapers
0030J28 and luxury flats. ^Along the Back Bay, this upper class residential
0040J28 zone descends to a promenade of monotonously uniform multi-storeyed
0050J28 apartment structures-- the Marine Drive, which houses upper and middle
0060J28 class people. ^The south end of the Marine Drive, close to the administrative
0070J28 area, has the Diplomatic enclave of Cuffe Parade, and further
0080J28 beyond along the Foreshore road adjoining the newer reclamations of Backbay
0090J28 is another zone of skyscrapers, just emerging and fast changing
0100J28 the skyline. ^This again is mainly upper class, residential area. ^The
0110J28 upper class residential zone of Cumbala Hill descends in the north to
0120J28 the Hornby Vellard and extends beyond along the Worli seaface in a residential
0130J28 zone, very similar to the Marine Drive. ^The eastern water
0140J28 front extending from the fort northwards right up to Sewri-Wadala hums
0150J28 with port functions. ^Docks and wharves, warehouses and godowns and associated
0160J28 auxiliary functions characterize the area. ^Here, life runs on
0170J28 a clock work and bulk-handling basis. ^The roads are congested with heavy
0180J28 traffic. $^To the north of the old residential core is a low lying
0190J28 ground reclaimed in the early phases of development of Bombay. ^The lowest
0200J28 levels of this depression adjoining the Hornby Vellard has been converted
0210J28 into Race-course. ^Elsewhere, this area, extending as far north
0220J28 as the other old nucleus of north Bombay (Dadar, Naigaum) is the zone
0230J28 of the textile industry. ^The skyline is dotted with the chimneys which
0240J28 emit smoke and pollute the environment. ^This zone records fairly high
0250J28 population densities, because of the presence of a large number of *4chawls
0260J28 (industrial workers*' tenements) many of which are housed in dingy,
0270J28 old dilapidated structures with almost no civic amenities. ^This is
0280J28 the labour area of Bombay *3par excellence*0. $^The northern sections of
0290J28 the city island extending from Prabhadevi in the west to Wadala in the
0300J28 east, Dadar in the south to Mahim-Sion in the north is a middle class
0310J28 residential area, developed during the forties, and later, submerging
0320J28 the old village cores. ^The roads are better aligned and wider, and the
0330J28 houses are generally three-storeyed. ^Unlike the older residential zones
0340J28 of south Bombay, north Bombay can boast of more open space, parks and
0350J28 greens. $^Beyond the Mahim Creek and along the Western railway and
0360J28 \0S.V. Road lie a succession of residential suburbs which house the
0370J28 middle income service personnel. ^Full use has been made of the landscape
0380J28 while setting up these suburbs. ^*Bandra, Pali Hill and Khar are located
0390J28 on higher grounds and house the upper class people. ^Middle and lower
0400J28 income housing colonies are strung along the railways and on newly
0410J28 reclaimed grounds. ^The low lying areas and creeksides house the hutment
0420J28 dwellers. ^Along the Central railway and between Kurla and Mulund,
0430J28 several industrial units have developed during the last 30 years. ^*Kurla,
0440J28 however, is an old textile industrial core, an outlier to the main cotton
0450J28 mill zone of the city. ^North Kurla-Ghatkopar-Vikroli is an automobile
0460J28 and light engineering zone. ^Further beyond up to the municipal
0470J28 limits along the Shastri Marg is a zone of chemical and drug industries.
0480J28 ^Between the two railways, along the link roads between the western
0490J28 and eastern suburbs, an industrial zone has developed during the fifties
0500J28 and sixties. ^Unlike the old industrial core, the industries here are
0510J28 mostly small and medium in size and are housed in industrial estates like
0520J28 those of Pawai, Marol, Saki and others. ^It is mainly a light engineering
0530J28 area, though film and chemical industries are also present. ^To
0540J28 the east of Kurla is a fast-growing residential suburb of Chembur-Govandi-Devnar.
0550J28 ^The building of the new bridge across Thana creek to the
0560J28 mainland along this section is leading to a ribbon-like residental development,
0570J28 extending eastwards upto Mankhurd. $^*Trombay is a "restricted"
0580J28 industrial area with a cluster of two oil refineries, a petrochemical
0590J28 complex, a fertilizer plant, a thermal power unit, and the \0BARC
0600J28 (Bhabha Atomic Research Centre). ^A green belt is prominent in the
0610J28 north centre, the substantial part of it devoted to the National Park.
0620J28 ^To the south of it is a large reserve developed by the government owned
0630J28 Aarey Milk colony. ^The hill-sides are being eaten away by quarries
0640J28 industry. $^From the foregoing review, it is apparent that the suburban
0650J28 (electrified) railway service, the new highways, alternate arteries
0660J28 and trunk roads act as powerful factors contributing to the new urban expansion.
0670J28 ^The post-war explosion of the metropolis is well reflected in
0680J28 the changing skylines of the city*'s landscape. ^A strong residential renewal
0690J28 is evident in the newer reclamations of the Foreshore zone, as well
0700J28 as in old core areas of urban decay. $^The civic amenities to the population
0710J28 are provided by its own local self government, namely the Corporation,
0720J28 whose jurisdiction extends over the city and its suburbs. ^The
0730J28 corporation area for purposes of administrative control is divided into
0740J28 15 wards (7 in the city and 8 in the suburbs) and 88 sections. ^It derives
0750J28 a total annual revenue of about \0*4Rs 4.5 *4lakhs-- from octroi
0760J28 (\0*4Rs 1.51 *4lakhs), land and house taxes (\0*4Rs 1.5 *4lakhs) and
0770J28 others, and incurs an expenditure of \0*4Rs 5.7 *4lakhs annually on
0780J28 civic amenities. ^Besides, the Corporation runs the city*'s bus transport
0790J28 and electricity distribution. $*<*3SOCIAL AMENITIES IN GREATER
0800J28 BOMBAY*0*> $*<*3The Intra-city Transport*0*> $^The backbone of public
0810J28 transport in Greater Bombay is the suburban rail system, catering
0820J28 mainly to the long distance commuters from the suburbs to the city, and
0830J28 the \0BEST buses that_ provide feeder services from the interior residential
0840J28 and industrial localities to the nearest rail heads (Table 6).
0850J28 ^The two services are well-coordinated to_ offer an efficient urban transportation
0860J28 for the city. **[table**] $^The elongated, insular nature
0870J28 of the city island its limited links with the suburban Salsette, the
0880J28 relief of Salsette with a central hill and lateral lowlands, and equally
0890J28 limited links of Salsette with the mainland across the Ulhas estuary,
0900J28 have all profoundly influenced the transport network of Bombay and its
0910J28 region. ^The central and the western railways linking the city with
0920J28 its region have their terminals close to the city centre. ^Over 2000 suburban
0930J28 locals carry commuters living in suburban Bombay to work places
0940J28 in the city and back. ^Following the build of the land, the railways run
0950J28 south to north, with cross links between the two and a feeder link from
0960J28 Kurla to Mankhurd. ^The peak hour traffic between 8 and 11 \0a.m.
0970J28 and between 6 and 9 \0p.m. can carry 1.5 *4lakh passengers per hour. ^About
0980J28 60 per cent of commuters make use of the suburban railways. $^With
0990J28 certain changes in working hours in many sectors and the change in the
1000J28 timings of shifts in factories, the suburban locals now run to full capacity
1010J28 even during the non-peak hour times. ^The increasing trend in the
1020J28 development of industrial suburbs has now generated two-way traffic at all
1030J28 the times of the day even though the eccentric location of the city centre
1040J28 in the south where shopping and other facilities are concentrated
1050J28 generate downtown peak rush in the mornings and a reverse flow in the evenings.
1060J28 ^Nearly 40 per cent of employment is concentrated within a radius
1070J28 of 3 \0km from the city centre and about 60 per cent within a 10 \0km
1080J28 redius (Table 7). **[table**] $^About 30 per cent of the commuter traffic
1090J28 is handled by the \0BEST reputed to_ be the best city bus service
1100J28 in the country. ^The arterial roads follow the railways on either side
1110J28 and are interlinked by vital east to west feeder roads, both in the city
1120J28 and in the suburbs. ^About 1300 intra-city buses, 1600o taxis and about
1130J28 one *4lakh cars besides trucks ply on them. ^About 27 *4lakh people
1140J28 commute in buses daily. ^With half of the road space occupied by buses,
1150J28 the road traffic in the city centre crawls at a speed of 6 \0km per
1160J28 hour. $*<*3Power and Water Supply*0*> $^The city consumes a lion*'s
1170J28 share (more than 60 per cent) of the power generated in Maharashtra.
1180J28 ^Two thermal plants located at Thakurli (136 \0mw), and Trombay (336
1190J28 \0mw), one nuclear plant located at Tarapur (190 \mw), and three hydel
1200J28 units located in the *4ghats at Bhivpuri, Khopoli and Bhira (together
1210J28 276 \0mw) supply electric power to the city and its region. ^The Koyna
1220J28 hydel power unit and the Nasik thermal station divert a large part of
1230J28 their output to Bombay. ^The total power consumption in the city exceeds
1240J28 1200 \0mw. $^The present need of domestic and industrial water is
1250J28 met from the reservoirs-- Tulsi, Vehar and Powai-- one below the other
1260J28 in the central Horseshoe valley and Tansa and Vaitarna. ^Together
1270J28 they supply 218 million gallons per day. ^About 55 million gallons are
1280J28 used up by industries and the rest is available for domestic use giving
1290J28 about 20 gallon per day per head. ^Plans are afoot to_ further augment
1300J28 the water-supply by tapping the Ulhas and its tributaries in the immediate
1310J28 hinterland. $*<*3Health and Educational Facilities*0*> $^*Bombay
1320J28 has 125 general hospitals, 74 dispensaries, 10 \0TB hospitals
1330J28 and 13000 hospital beds, apart from a large number of medical practitioners.
1340J28 ^This facility accounts for about a quarter of the total in the state;
1350J28 yet, it is inadequate, and what is worse, its anomalous spatial distribution,
1360J28 with a concentration in central and south Bombay makes the suburbs
1370J28 starve and suffer. ^The same is the case with the educational facilites
1380J28 even though Bombay is the leading educational centre of the State,
1390J28 catering to 4.35 *4lakh children at the secondary school level (as
1400J28 against the State total of 19.4 *4lakhs, \0i.e., about 22 per cent), and
1410J28 88000 students at the higher education level (including technical and
1420J28 professional courses), against a state total of 3.1 *4lakhs (27 per cent).
1430J28 ^It is a seat of two universities, apart from a number of specialized
1440J28 research institutions like the \0TIFR, \0BARC, Institute of
1450J28 Demography, Tata Institute of Social Sciences and others. ^The higher
1460J28 educational facility shows a concentration in the city centre, though
1470J28 during the last few decades, a welcome dispersal it taking place in north
1480J28 Bombay and the inner suburbs. $*<*3Recreation Facilities*0*>
1490J28 $^Parks and open grounds are quite inadequate in the city, as an insignificantly
1500J28 small proportion of land is under this type of use. ^The old residential
1510J28 areas are the worst hit. ^The city centre has some open space
1520J28 in its *4maidans on the reclaimed lands. ^The newly developed residential
1530J28 areas in north Bombay and in suburbs like Khar are also better served.
1540J28 ^The National Park area in Borivli, the Aarey Colony, and the
1550J28 Vehar-Powai lake reserves form a green belt along the northern fringe
1560J28 and provide a welcome open space for the weekend holiday seekers. ^Recreation
1570J28 centres as well as points of entertainment such as cinema houses
1580J28 crowd in south Bombay; some of them have however gone to the residential
1590J28 areas of central Bombay also. $*<*3HOUSING*0*> $*<*3Housing
1600J28 Shortage*0*> $^About 13 *4lakh housing units, apart from a large number
1610J28 of slums, house the population of Bombay and its suburbs. ^Over 20,000
1620J28 tenements are being added every year by various bodies such as the
1630J28 Maharashtra Housing Board, the Corporation, Cooperative bodies of
1640J28 private builders and others. ^Yet, the estimated deficiency in housing
1650J28 in the city at present is about 2 *4lakh tenements. $^According to some
1660J28 estimates, the density of population per \0sq mile in Bombay city (inner
1670J28 city) may approach 100,000, as against 15,287 in the suburbs. ^To_
1680J28 provide minimum housing to residents of Bombay, the city needs about a
1690J28 million dwelling units. ^It, however, had only 4.6 *4lakh units-- a deficit
1700J28 of 5.6 lakh units. ^Further, 38 per cent buildings of Bombay are
1710J28 as old as 60 years and above. ^In 1971, there were over 2 *4lakh single-room
1720J28 tenements where more than 15 *4lakh persons were living under subhuman
1730J28 conditions. $^Building activity in the city proper is in the
1740J28 nature of in-filling and urban renewal, while in the suburbs it is in the
1750J28 nature of extension and urban sprawl, submerging the old village cores
1760J28 and developing along the railways and feeder roads.*#
        **[no. of words = 02010**]

        **[txt. j29**]
0010J29 **<*3SELF, ROLE AND STATUS: STRATIFICATION THEORY OF WORK MOTIVATION*0**>
0020J29 $*<*3WORK MOTIVATION IN THE HOSPITAL*0*> $^He divided his
0030J29 subjects into an equitable payment group, an unqualified and an overpayment
0040J29 by circumstance group. ^In contrast to the predictions of equity
0050J29 theory there was a general tendency for the overpaid subjects to_ do lower
0060J29 quality work, particularly during the last 2 of the 3 sessions they
0070J29 worked. ^An additional group of overpaid subjects was included in the study,
0080J29 and in contrast to the subjects used in Adam*'s work, they were
0090J29 made to_ feel overpaid by virtue of circumstance rather than by their
0100J29 own qualifications. ^Data from this group suggested that just feeling
0110J29 overpaid was not enough to_ cause subjects to_ produce large quantities
0120J29 of work. ^The fact that the experimental manipulatons induced both inequity
0130J29 relative to self and inequity relative to others; the job performance
0140J29 of underpay and overpay employees was not significantly different from
0150J29 that_ of control group employees. ^Thus, results suggest that when the
0160J29 confounding effects of inequity responses are eliminated, perceived pay
0170J29 inequity has little effect upon job performance. ^*Goodman and Friedman
0180J29 (1968) have supported Adam theory in their findings. $^Another study
0190J29 by Goodman and Friedman (1969) 52 undergraduate overpaid subjects
0200J29 perceiving either quantity or quality as instrumental for equity resolution
0210J29 exhibited greater differences in production than comparable equitably
0220J29 paid control group. ^*Fritchard *(0et al*). (1972) have also supported
0230J29 equity theory. $^*Saran (1969) in his study concluded that after
0240J29 the introduction of the incentive plan workers not only met the standard
0250J29 but in fact secured substantial increases in productivity. ^After
0260J29 the workers had understood the importance of plan, the output increased
0270J29 to above 52%. ^Cost of production decreased. ^There was, in general,
0280J29 progressive fall in wastage in products. ^Management did not see any correlation
0290J29 between incentive plan and absenteeism. ^However, the workers
0300J29 were less inclined to_ use their leave for minor ailments, \0etc.
0310J29 $^In a study of locomotive drivers Pestonjee (1971) found that money was
0320J29 still an important incentive. ^*Sinha and Nair (1961) study was mainly
0330J29 concerned with the relationship of certain background factors in the
0340J29 job satifaction as well as the association of the job satisfaction with
0350J29 different facets of worker behaviour. ^A comparison of job satisfaction
0360J29 scores of these groups revealed the low absentee workers as significantly
0370J29 more satisfied ones. ^This was confirmed by Sinha (1965).
0380J29 $^*Rothe*'s (1970) study was based on the Welders. ^Immediately following
0390J29 the removal of the incentive system, the production dropped 25% points
0400J29 below the incentive output, and began to_ rise almost immediately. ^As
0410J29 the productivity increased from below standard to above standard, the
0420J29 consistency of week-to-week productivity also increased. ^Productivity
0430J29 at the end of 48 weeks was as high as it had been before the incentive was
0440J29 eliminated, and it was believed that incentives had changed from financial
0450J29 to social ones. $^A number of studies have been recently reported
0460J29 on work motivation according to which the employees have rated their
0470J29 preferences for the factors affecting their work. ^*Bose (1961, 1961a),
0480J29 for example, asked his subjects to_ rank the factors affecting job satisfaction
0490J29 and he found that occupational differences played an important
0500J29 role in their ranks. ^*Desai (1969) asked his subjects who were factory
0510J29 workers about their expectations from the supervisors and the management.
0520J29 ^The workers expected from the management better salary, better working
0530J29 and service conditions, and from supervisors they expected that they should
0540J29 treat them as human beings. ^*Lahiri (1965) found differences between
0550J29 the government and non-government employees in attaching importance
0560J29 to job factors. ^*Dutta (1959) in his study obtained ranks for job-satisfying
0570J29 factors, while Pryer (1962) studied dissatisfaction in industrial
0580J29 situation. $^*Ganguli (1954, 1954a, 1954b, 1957, 1957a, 1961, 1964)
0590J29 invariably found pay and monetary incentives as an important variable for
0600J29 job satisfaction among workers and supervisory staff in industry. ^These
0610J29 studies are repetitive in nature and do not contribute to the understanding
0620J29 of work incentive system as such. ^In Desai*'s (1968) study there
0630J29 is a substantial agreement among the two groups, \0i.e. blue and white
0640J29 collar workers regarding the importance of adequate earnings; job security;
0650J29 good boss. ^Similarly, there was substantial agreement about the
0660J29 relative unimportance of fair treatment of grievances and good company
0670J29 among both the groups. ^Opportunities for advancement were regarded as
0680J29 more important by the white collar workers while the blue collar workers
0690J29 considered the type of work performed as important. ^*Smith and Kendell
0700J29 (1965) found a correlation of .78 between job satisfaction and annual
0710J29 earnings. $*<*3Psychological Incentives*0*> $^*Locke and Brayan
0720J29 (1969) found that the hard goal subjects worked significantly faster
0730J29 than the easy goal subjects but the \0KR (knowledge of results),
0740J29 and no-\0KR groups did not differ in performance. $^The motivations
0750J29 of the navy enlisted men were less related to their specific jobs in the
0760J29 Antarctica than in the case of civilian scientists. ^Results confirm
0770J29 that occupational group is a moderator of the job satisfaction-job
0780J29 performance relationship, and that the relationship is higher for the scientific
0790J29 group than for navy enlisted group (Doll and Gunderson, 1969).
0800J29 $^*Friedlander and Greenberg (1969) explored the job climate in which
0810J29 24 hard core unemployed workers were placed with a view toward determining
0820J29 climate variables which might increase performance and retention.
0830J29 ^The subjects perceived their climate as far less supportive than did
0840J29 their respective supervisors. ^Those who perceived their climate as supportive
0850J29 tended to_ be rated by their supervisors as having higher competence
0860J29 congeniality and effort. ^In contrast reliability was unrelated to
0870J29 job climate and negatively related to job tension. ^Increasing the supportiveness
0880J29 of the job climate seem **[sic**] to_ be a major venue for
0881J29 increasing
0890J29 performance; and the implementation of these changes lied less in increasing
0900J29 the hard-core unemployed*'s competence than in exploring the low reliability
0910J29 (lateness and absence) he demonstrated in response to his climate.
0920J29 $^*Friedlander and Margulies (1969) felt that organisational climate
0930J29 had a greater impact upon satisfaction with interpersonal relationships
0940J29 than upon either of the other two types of satisfaction. ^Among the
0950J29 eight dimensions or organisational climate measures, *7espirit was
0951J29 most highly
0960J29 related to job satisfaction although this relationship differed significantly
0970J29 among those types of satisfaction climate characterised by intimacy
0980J29 and considerations; satisfaction with opportunities for recognisable
0990J29 signs of advancement was highest as compared to other types of satisfaction.
1000J29 ^There was lack of significant correlations between the two climate
1010J29 dimensions, aloofness and production emphasis, and any of the types
1020J29 of satisfaction. $^*Rao (1970) while trying to_ identify socio-personaal
1030J29 correlates of job satisfaction, and also the perceived need satisfaction
1040J29 of supervisory and clerical personnel, found that the occupational level
1050J29 was a variable in determining employee satisfaction. $^*Carroll and
1060J29 Tosi (1969) correlated different characteristics of goals established
1070J29 in a 'management by objectives' programme to criteria hypothesised to_
1080J29 represent success in this programme. ^Results indicated that establishing
1090J29 clear and important goals produced virtually all favourable results,
1100J29 specially for certain personality types; difficulty of goals resulted in
1110J29 positive in one personality group and in negative in another. ^Establishing
1120J29 goal priorities was also beneficial, especially for certain types
1130J29 of managers. $^*Harigopal and Chattopadhyay (1969) found significant
1140J29 differences in job satisfaction scores of managers and workers, the former
1150J29 getting a higher score. ^There were considerable differences in the
1160J29 scores of workers in perceived supervisory behaviour. ^According to
1170J29 Harigopal *(0et al*). (1969) while managers had higher job satisfaction
1180J29 as compared with workers, supervisors did not have significantly higher
1190J29 job satisfaction. $^*Hundal (1969) assessed the purely motivational
1200J29 effects of knowledge of performance in a repetitive industrial task.
1210J29 ^Subjects were low paid workers with 1-5 years experience on the job. ^Experimental
1220J29 conditions were imposed one week before starting the experiment.
1230J29 ^They adjusted readily since the experimental conditions did not
1240J29 interfere with the work. ^The subjects (workers) were randomly divided into
1250J29 3 groups; in Group A subjects received no information about their
1260J29 output; in Group B subjects were allowed a rough estimate of their out-put;
1270J29 in Group C subjects were given accurate information about their
1280J29 output and could check it further by referring to a figure displayed before
1290J29 them. ^Results showed increased output with increases in degree of knowledge
1300J29 of performance. $^*Miller (1969) found that increments in the
1310J29 ability to_ reward others had a greater effect on their behaviour than did
1320J29 comparable increments in the ability to_ punish them. $^In a study
1330J29 Davies and Binks (1969) determined the criterion of managerial success
1340J29 by rank ordering the subjects on each of the 5 sources of company information
1350J29 and summing the rank ordering for each individual. ^The subjects
1360J29 were then administered the Motivation Analysis Test, providing 10 factor
1370J29 analytically derived motives, 10 concomitant conflict scores and 5
1380J29 ancillary measures. ^Rank order indicated the positive relationships between
1390J29 the criterion and super ego strength, making motivation asceticism-optimism
1400J29 and parental home conflicts. ^Negative relationships were found
1410J29 between the criterion and narcissism, pugnacity and affectionist spouse
1420J29 attachment. $^Results of Sorcher (1969) study suggested better job
1430J29 understanding followed by a commitment to a self established goal did appear
1440J29 to_ motivate individual to_ improve his performance. ^In a study
1450J29 by Carlson (1969) significant positive correlations were observed for individuals
1460J29 with high ability correspondence (individual abilities consistent
1470J29 with those required by his job) and non-significant correlatins
1480J29 were obtained for individuals with low levels of ability correspondence.
1490J29 ^Statistically significant correlations were observed between job satisfaction
1500J29 and job performance for blue collar sample in cognitive and high
1510J29 motor ability correspondence.
1550J29 ^Statistically significant correlations (.05
1560J29 level) were observed between job satisfaction and job performance for
1570J29 the white collar sample. $^In the study by Rizzo *(0et al*). (1970)
1580J29 the derived measures of role conflict and ambiguity tended to_ correlate
1590J29 in the two samples (office and plant) in expected directions with measures
1600J29 of organisational and managerial practices and leader behaviour, and
1610J29 with member satisfaction, anxiety and propensity to_ leave the organisation.
1620J29 ^In a study by Maher and Piersol (1970) job objectives were negatively
1630J29 related to job satisfaction and overall satisfaction. ^Location
1640J29 of mission was negatively related to job satisfaction, overall satisfaction
1650J29 and perception of organisational cohesiveness. $^*Bergosform (1970)
1660J29 studied operator tracking performance in three simulated guided missiles
1670J29 systems under short term psychological stress induced by threatening
1680J29 with, and, also delivering, unpleasant electric shocks. ^Subjects were
1690J29 29 male military conscripts. ^The initial part of the stress period was
1700J29 characterised by a moderate decrement of performance and a heightened
1710J29 arousal level. $^*Latham and Ronam (1970) investigated the effect
1720J29 of goal setting and supervision on the performance criteria and found that
1730J29 supervision was correlated with high productivity and low injury rates
1740J29 only when it was accompanied by goal setting. ^*Rao and Ganguli (1971)
1750J29 found that supervisors had lesser need deficiencies and hence greater
1760J29 satisfaction than clerks. ^Clerks perceived personal life, promotion
1770J29 and ability utilisation as more important, and perceived independence,
1780J29 achievement and working conditions and independence, and technical supervision,
1790J29 as less important. ^*Ghiselli and Johnson study (1970) suggested
1800J29 that for managers in a tall organisation, there is little relationship
1810J29 between the degree of need satisfaction and success for all the five
1820J29 needs: security, social esteem, autonomy and self-actualisation. ^For managers
1830J29 in flat organisation the relationship between satisfaction and success
1840J29 is negligible for lower order needs. ^As a consequence, there is
1850J29 no difference between managers in flat and tall organisation in terms
1860J29 of the degree of relationship between satisfaction and success for lower
1870J29 order needs, and the difference continues to_ increase with higher and
1880J29 higher order needs. $^*Neff (1968) has indicated that the various determinants
1890J29 of work motivation are material needs, self esteemed activity,
1900J29 respect by others, and need for creativity. ^*Ghosh and Shukla (1967)
1910J29 believe that job satisfaction was more a function of job conditions
1920J29 than of personal factors; it has three correlates namely, attitude to supervision,
1930J29 discrimination, social situation and unreasonable work load.
1940J29 ^Personal factor did not seem to_ contribute towards work motivation. ^*Prasad
1950J29 (1965) found that for clerks length of service had positive correlation
1960J29 with the work motivation. ^*Porter*'s (1961) study was related
1970J29 with need satisfaction as perceived in bottom and middle management jobs
1980J29 in industrial undertakings.*#
        **[no. of words = 1973**]

        **[txt. j30**]
0010J30 **<*3THE CHANGING POSITION OF INDIAN WOMEN*0**> $^Apart from social
0020J30 scientists, feminists have written copiously, and even passionately,
0030J30 on the subject, and of late there seems to_
0040J30 be a welcome shift of interest among them from attacking the theory of
0050J30 the biological determinism of women to_ try and understand the processes
0060J30 which have resulted in their widespread subjection. ^*Ester Boserup*'s
0070J30 *3Women*'s Role in Economic development*0 Is a good example of this
0080J30 kind of effort and the book is a valuable contribution to both social
0090J30 anthropology and economics. ^But while I find Boserup*'s book stimulating
0100J30 I must confess to a certain sense of discomfort at her tendency
0110J30 to sweeping generalization as, for instance, in her linking dowry in
0120J30 south Asia to the loss of women*'s agricultural role. ^At the micro-level,
0130J30 facts are far more complicated in their inter-relationships than
0140J30 Boserup*'s work would lead one to_ imagine. $^Anthropologists
0150J30 ought to_ welcome the new upsurge of interest in women; the knowledge
0160J30 and insights produced by the other disciplines might stimulate their
0170J30 work in new directions, and in turn, the information they have gathered
0180J30 over the decades, their concepts, and in particular, their techniques
0190J30 of fieldwork, might not only promote fruitful co-operation in the field
0200J30 of women*'s studies but lead to increased co-operation between the social
0210J30 sciences in other areas as well. ^An additional gain may be a sharpened
0220J30 awareness of the existence of an androcentric bias in social science
0230J30 research generally. ^But I think that it is naive to_ expect ethnocentrism
0240J30 (in studying other societies), class- or caste-centredness
0250J30 (in studying one*'s own and other societies) to_ disappear as a result
0260J30 of such awareness. ^What is at best likely to_ happen is a keener
0270J30 appreciation of the fact that the observer has his prejudices and preferences,
0280J30 not to_ mention values, and this may not only improve the quality
0290J30 of the data collected but make him less dogmatic about his conclusions.
0300J30 ^It may also lead to a realization of the need to_ have the same social
0310J30 phenomena studied by men and women from different cultures, and from
0320J30 different class and ethnic backgrounds. ^A clash of multiple views
0330J30 and perspectives is not only healthy for the social sciences but for policy-making.
0340J30 $*<*=2*> $^The subject of my lecture, 'The changing position
0350J30 of Indian women,' is vast and of bewildering complexity. ^It has
0360J30 many facets, and generalization is pretty nearly impossible because of
0370J30 the existence of considerable variation between regions, between rural
0380J30 and urban areas, between classes, and finally, between different religious,
0390J30 ethnic and caste groups. ^While in certain contexts the
0400J30 Indian sub-continent is a single cultural region, in many others it is
0410J30 heuristically more rewarding to_ look upon it as a congeries of micro-regions,
0420J30 differences between which are crucial. ^For instance, the
0430J30 huge, sprawling Hindi region in the north is backward, if indices such
0440J30 as female literacy and education, male female ratio, age of marriage
0450J30 of girls, and female participation in economic activity, are taken into
0460J30 consideration. ^If female literacy alone is taken as an index, it is
0470J30 53.90 per cent in Kerala in the south-west, while it does not exceed 11
0480J30 per cent in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Bihar.
0490J30 ^In the country as a whole, only 18.66 per cent of women are literate
0500J30 as against 39.5 per cent for men, while in the rural areas female literacy
0510J30 in only 12.92 per cent. $^Apart from differences in female
0520J30 literacy rates between regions, and between rural and urban areas, some
0530J30 institutions which affect intimately the lives of women are confined
0540J30 to certain groups inhabiting particular areas: for instance, polyandry
0550J30 continues to_ be practised by the Khasas of Jaunsar Bawar, and hypergamy
0560J30 by the Rajputs north of the Vindhyas, by the Khatris and Jats
0570J30 of the Punjab, and finally, by the Patidars and Anavil Brahmins of Gujarat.
0580J30 ^Matriliny obtains not only among the high caste Nayars and
0590J30 a few other groups in Kerala but also among the tribal Khasis, Garos
0600J30 and Panars in the north-eastern hill areas.
0610J30 $^However, inter-regional and inter-group differences are not the only
0620J30 hazard. ^In a country such as India with a long and recorded history,
0630J30 the existence of a body of literature, sacred and secular, proves
0640J30 obtrusive especially as sanction for present conduct may be derived,
0650J30 directly or indirectly, by reference to ideals and rules which are believed
0660J30 to_ be expressed in it. ^This matter becomes all the more puzzling
0670J30 as most Western-educated people actually derive such ideals, norms
0680J30 and rules from their parents or grandparents, or from a priest who himself
0690J30 may be far from well-informed on what the scriptures say on any given
0700J30 matter. (^However, when a matter is regarded as critical, a very learned
0710J30 *4Pandit or the head of a famed monastery may be approached for
0720J30 his opinion.) ^The important point to_ note, however, is that ideas and
0730J30 beliefs, derived at best second or third hand from ancient literature,
0740J30 influence ideals of conduct and behaviour. ^Since it is largely members
0750J30 of the *(Sankritized*) high castes who are more influenced by this
0760J30 literature than the others, and since they are both visible and influential
0761J30 in modern India, their perceptions and ideas about how Indians
0770J30 behave and ought to_ behave, have obtained wide currency.
0780J30 ^The high castes suffer from a bibliocentric view of society even though
0790J30 very few of them have first-hand knowledge of the sacred literature.
0800J30 $^The corpus of literature is, however, a heterogeneous one, and
0810J30 it abounds in inconsistent if not contrary ideas, rules, beliefs and
0820J30 practices. ^To_ cite an example: in the 1920*'3s there was a debate between
0830J30 orthodox and reformist sections of Brahmins living in Mysore
0840J30 City. ^The former were of the view that it was sinful to_ keep a girl
0850J30 unmarried after she had reached puberty, but the liberals did not frown
0860J30 on post-puberty marriages. (^A distinction must be made here between
0870J30 marriage and consummation, the latter being marked by a separate
0880J30 ceremony, and arranged on an auspicious day after puberty.) ^Strange as
0890J30 it may seem to educated Indians today, it was an emotionally-charged
0900J30 debate: the liberals cited the authority of the Vedas in favour of their
0910J30 view, as against the orthodox faction*'s reliance on the law-books
0920J30 (*4dharmashastras) which were much later than the Vedas, and inferior
0930J30 to them in religious authority. $^It is not only that the sacred literature
0940J30 provided sanction for contrary norms and usages, but very rarely
0950J30 an inconsistency was perceivable even in the conceptualization of so
0960J30 basic a relationship as that_ between husband and wife, and surprisingly,
0970J30 there was little awareness of the existence of such an inconsistency.
0971J30 $^*Lowie stresses the need to_ distinguish between law and fact,
0972J30 between theory and practice, and finally, between formal and informal
0973J30 relations. ^This set of distinctions is basic
0980J30 to my approach to the understanding of the position of women in different
0990J30 sections of Indian society. ^Until very recently, too much attention
1000J30 has been paid to the legal, theoretical and formal dimensions of
1010J30 women*'s position, and too little to actual relations between men and women,
1020J30 and their dynamics over a period of time. ^But concentration on
1030J30 the formal aspects was inevitable in the absence of intimate, first-hand
1040J30 studies of the part played by men and women in local communities, rural
1050J30 and urban. ^The need for micro-studies is also reinforced from another
1060J30 direction: the data obtained from different macro-surveys such as
1070J30 the census and the various rounds of the National Sample Survey conflict
1080J30 with each other, and further, they do not provide clue to the complex,
1090J30 cultural and social processes which are operative at the village level,
1100J30 and to the linkages which exist between them. ^For instance, how do
1110J30 urbanization and economic and social mobility affect those processes?
1120J30 ^How have the various programmes of rural change introduced by the government
1130J30 and by voluntary agencies affected the position of women at different
1140J30 economic and social levels? ^*I propose to_ try and lay bare in
1150J30 this lecture a few of these processes and their linkages. ^*I am aware
1160J30 that no accounts based on field-study exist of these processes, and
1170J30 if such studies had existed my task would have been much simpler and less
1180J30 hazardous but perhaps also less challenging.
1190J30 $^In my discussion I shall be restricting myself to Hindus and shall
1200J30 mostly ignore the members of the other religions. ^*Hindus are both large
1210J30 enough-- 453 million at the 1971 Census, and constituting 82.72
1220J30 per cent of the total pupulation-- and complex enough to_ be the subject
1230J30 of a single lecture. $*<*=3*> $^Eighty per cent of India*'s
1240J30 population is rural and an equal percentage of the female working force
1250J30 is engaged in agriculture. ^According to the 1971 Census, there
1260J30 were 31 million women workers of whom 25 million were in agriculture,
1270J30 2 million in the organized sector, and the remaining 4 million in non-agricultural
1280J30 occuptions in the unorganized sector (Srinivas 1974: 170).
1290J30 ^These satistics are for the country as a whole and therefore conceal
1300J30 sharp regional disparities. $^The above figures have been cited
1310J30 only to_ stress the essentially rural character of India; a character
1320J30 which, incidentally, is expected to_ survive into \0A.D. 2000.
1330J30 ^Since it was not practical to_ discuss rural women in India as a whole,
1340J30 I decided, after much cogitation and with some reluctance, to_ construct
1350J30 a model of rural society and then consider the role of women in
1360J30 each stratum of it. ^My model is necessarily an over-simplified one, and
1370J30 I have ignored not only the artisan, trading and servicing castes,
1380J30 but variations due to the operation of regional and other factors. ^*I
1390J30 shall first treat the model as synchronic and then as diachronic.
1400J30 $^From the point of agricultural activity, I shall distinguish four
1410J30 classes: 1) big landowners who supervise the work of cultivation carried
1420J30 out by servants and labourers but who do not engage themselves in manual
1430J30 work; 2) small landowners who personally cultivate their land but who
1440J30 need the services of labourers during transplantation, weeding and harvesting.
1450J30 ^They may also be working as tenants on small patches of land leased
1460J30 out from big landowners; 3) tenants who also hire themselves out
1470J30 to landowners for wages during the busy seasons; 4) and finally, landless
1480J30 labourers who subsist entirely on hiring themselves out as labourers on
1490J30 a daily or seasonal basis. ^1 and 4 are distinct categories while
1500J30 there may be varying degrees of mix between 2 and 3 in different villages.
1510J30 $^There is a clear and self-understood division of labour
1520J30 between the sexes among agriculturists and this includes both activities
1530J30 inside and outside the household. ^Each set of activities is seen
1540J30 as supportive of the other, and more significantly, agriculture is a
1550J30 familial activity: in other words, the cultivator must be either married
1560J30 himself, or work as part of his natal family. ^And where a family
1570J30 owns land, a son is needed to_ keep the farm cultivated and in the family*'s
1580J30 possession. ^The relation between a family and land is a vital
1590J30 one, for economic, political and status considerations, and it is projected
1600J30 into ritual and mystical dimensions. ^The point which I wish
1610J30 to_ emphasize here, however, is that since agriculture is a familial
1620J30 activity, it underscores the interdependence of the sexes and the means
1630J30 to such interdependence is marriage. ^In other words, agriculture implies
1640J30 marriage and a bachelor (or spinster) does not make sense in rural
1650J30 India except when he dons the ochre robes and becomes a *4sanyasi.
1660J30 ^A widower (or widow) remarries unless he is too old. ^*I have
1670J30 heard a middle-aged widower tell me that he had to_ marry as he could
1680J30 not work on his farm without someone cooking for him. $^Among
1690J30 all the classes described above, the wife cooks and serves food at least
1700J30 twice a day to all members of the household, and cooking in rural India
1710J30 often involves the processing of the grain grown or bought. ^This work
1720J30 the woman must do and extra-mural chores are always an addition. ^The
1730J30 feeding, disciplining and socialization of young children are also her
1740J30 tasks unless she has a grown daughter who then plays the role of mother
1750J30 to her young brothers and sisters. ^Among landless labourers, during
1760J30 the transplantation season, which, incidentally, occurs during the heavy
1770J30 monsoon rains, women get up as early as 4 \0a.m., and cook the food
1780J30 before leaving the house.*#
        **[no. of words = 01019**]

        **[txt. j31**]
0010J31 **<*3Principles of Population Studies*0**>
0020J31 $^The classification of checks on population growth into the two categories
0030J31 of preventive and positive also came in for criticism and was
0040J31 cited as an example of "poor classification", for the two do not form
0050J31 "independent categories." ^Moreover, it was pointed out that Malthus
0060J31 had not succeeded in connecting his positive and preventive checks--
0070J31 vice, misery and prudence-- with his theory. $^In general, Malthus
0080J31 was criticised on the following points: $(1) ^He placed undue
0090J31 emphasis on the limitation of the supply of land. ^The agricultural
0100J31 revolution of the nineteenth century, which brought in its wake the
0110J31 system of rotation of crops, chemical fertilisers, plant and animal
0120J31 breeding and improvements in the quality of livestock brought about
0130J31 a tremendous increase in agricultural production. ^The gloomy predictions
0140J31 of Malthus, therefore, did not come true. $(2) ^*Malthus
0150J31 under-estimated the importance of industrial development and did not
0160J31 take into consideration the faster and more reliable modes of transport
0170J31 which helped colonial empires to_ provide additional raw materials,
0180J31 an exploitable land supply and new markets for manufactured products.
0190J31 $(3) ^His religious beliefs prevented him from grasping the
0200J31 possibility of the widespread use of contraceptives. $^*Eversley has
0210J31 also criticised Malthus for not using the results of the 1831 census
0220J31 of England and does not think that Malthus has made any significant
0230J31 contribution to social thought. $^*Kingsley Davis on the other
0240J31 hand, while admitting that the doctrines of Malthus were not emperically
0250J31 valid, emphasised that they are nevertheless theoretically significant.
0260J31 $*3Malthus and Birth Control*0: ^As a "preventive check"
0270J31 on population growth, Malthus favoured the postponement of marriage
0280J31 and even permanent abstinence from sex. ^He, however, unequivocally
0290J31 disapproved of birth control. "^Indeed," he said, "I should always
0300J31 particularly reprobate any artificial and unnatural modes of checking
0310J31 population on account of immorality and their tendency to_ remove
0320J31 a necessary stimulus to industry." ^He was of the opinion that
0330J31 if it became possible for couples to_ limit the number of children
0340J31 according to their wishes, they would become too lazy to_ undertake
0350J31 any activity. ^An echo of the same idea is heard in the thinking
0360J31 of Mahatma Gandhi, who told Colin Clark: "^If Indians made the
0370J31 necessary efforts, they could grow all the food they need, but without
0380J31 the stimulus of population pressure and economic need, they
0390J31 will not make the effort." $(^It is indeed ironical that the Malthusian
0400J31 League, later known as the Neo-Malthusian League, took several
0410J31 years to_ discover that the person after whom they had named
0420J31 their organisation had been totally against birth control, which the
0430J31 League advocated.") $^*Malthus presents a contradiction in his role
0440J31 as a scientist and as a moralist. ^He was fully entitled to
0450J31 his opinions against birth control. ^His role as a scientist, however,
0460J31 is vitiated by the fact that he attempts to_ justify his opposition
0470J31 to birth control on empirical grounds. ^He, of course, could not
0480J31 produce any evidence to_ prove that people would become indolent if
0490J31 they only had the number of children desired by them. $*3Summing
0500J31 Up*0. ^The Malthusian theory of Population has been severely criticised
0510J31 on several grounds. ^One point, however, has to_ be conceded.
0520J31 ^Despite its several inherent weaknesses, it has been revived time
0530J31 and again. ^Though by 1900 his main thesis was almost completely rejected,
0540J31 the Malthusian thought once again came into prominence in
0550J31 the second decade of the twentieth century. ^But this wave, too, subsided
0560J31 by 1934. ^After the Second World War, however, there was a
0570J31 revival of interest in Malthus. ^The reasons are, of course, obvious;
0580J31 some of which are: the increased rate of population growth, greater
0590J31 awareness of the consequences of rapid population growth, and the
0600J31 realisation that certain natural resources are on the verge of exhaustion.
0610J31 $^The name of Malthus can never be scored off from the history
0620J31 of population thought. ^To him goes the credit for being the
0630J31 first thinker who thoroughly and systematically applied the inductive
0640J31 method to social science. ^His contribution to the development of population
0650J31 theory took several different forms. ^It was his theory that_ made
0660J31 both his supporters as well as critics realise the importance of, and
0670J31 the need for, the collection of information for the study of population
0680J31 trends and for any investigation into the relationship between
0690J31 the size and growth of population and social and economic conditions.
0700J31 ^The discussion on Malthus may be aptly concluded with a quotation
0710J31 from Charles Emil Stangeland, who remarked: "^*Malthus*'s work
0720J31 was a great one written in an opportune time, and though it cannot
0730J31 lay claim to any considerable originality as far as the theories presented
0740J31 are concerned, it was successful in that it showed more fully,
0750J31 perhaps more clearly, and certainly more effectively than had any
0760J31 previous attempt, that population depends on subsistence and its increase
0770J31 is checked by want, vice and disease as well as by moral restraint
0780J31 or prudence. $*<*3THE CLASSICAL AND THE NEO-CLASSICAL SCHOOLS OF
0790J31 THOUGHT*0*> $^From the early years of the nineteenth century to the end
0800J31 of the First World War in 1918, the classical and neo-classical
0810J31 schools of thought contributed greatly to the development of population
0820J31 theory. $^The classical school of thought was founded by Adam Smith.
0830J31 ^Such illustrious personalities as David Ricardo, Thomas Malthus,
0840J31 Nassau Senior, John Stuart Mill and *(0J. B.*) Say were
0850J31 associated with it. ^These political economists believed that economies
0860J31 functioned better under a free and private initiative and in an atmosphere
0870J31 of vigorous competition rather than under government control. ^The
0880J31 classical theory was based on the notion that the production, consumption
0890J31 and distribution of wealth are determined by economic laws. $^At
0900J31 this point, it is necessary to_ distinguish between the classical
0910J31 and neo-classical schools of thought. ^The latter was founded by William
0920J31 Jerons, Carl Menger and Leon Walrus and had as its leaders
0930J31 Alfred Marshall, John Bates, Clerk, Irving Fisher and Vilfredo
0940J31 Pareto. ^The neo-classical school of thought placed a greater emphasis
0950J31 on mathematical economics and the analysis of the psychological background
0960J31 and /or consumer demands, decisions and actions. $^The contribution
0970J31 of both the classical and the neo-classical schools of political
0980J31 economists to population theory concerned an examination of the controversial
0990J31 issue of the inter-relationship between population and production.
1000J31 ^As pointed out earlier, two opposing streams of thought were
1010J31 propogated in the nineteenth century. ^According to the first, increasing
1020J31 population was an asset to production, resulting in improved
1030J31 standards of living. ^The other maintained that population increase
1040J31 led to a lowering of production. ^The controversy arose mainly because
1050J31 the increase in population was considered by the former in terms
1060J31 of the number of hands that_ produce, leading to economic well being,
1070J31 whereas the latter viewed population growth exclusively in terms
1080J31 of the number of mouths to_ be fed. ^Neither of these opposing views
1090J31 was conclusively proved because of the lack of both empirical and theoretical
1100J31 evidence. ^It was difficult to_ evaluate the net influence of
1110J31 population on production, as people have to_ be viewed both as producers
1120J31 and consumers, contributing to both aspects of production, that_
1130J31 is, supply and demand. ^The point therefore is whether population growth,
1140J31 while adding to the number of producers and consumers, simultaneously
1150J31 leads to a proportionate increase in supply and demand. ^The crucial
1160J31 question, therefore, was "How is the per capita productivity affected
1170J31 by population size?" $^This issue appeared to_ be resolved when
1180J31 the principle of diminishing returns was formulated in the second
1190J31 decade of the nineteenth century. ^According to this natural law based
1200J31 on agricultural production, successive additions of capital to a
1210J31 fixed quantity of labour would result in an increase in output, but subsequently
1220J31 the marginal output and later the average production associated
1230J31 with the variable factor would begin to_ drop. ^This law of diminishing
1240J31 returns also supported the Malthusian doctrine, for it stated
1250J31 that population growth tends to_ depress per capita production by
1260J31 adding to_ demand, thereby meaning that, after the ratio of workers
1270J31 to resources reaches a certain point, any further increase in population
1280J31 would cause a fall in the average production per worker. $^Though
1290J31 the classical economists accepted the principle of diminishing returns
1300J31 as one of the basic economic laws and gave it the status of a natural
1310J31 law, the controversy over the relationship between population
1320J31 and production continued to_ rage at two levels-- the empirical and the
1330J31 theoretical. ^As the nineteenth century advanced, it became increasingly
1340J31 clear, that empirically speaking, the general well-being of
1350J31 the people and population growth went hand in hand. ^This observation
1360J31 was, of course, used to_ discredit both the Malthusian theory and
1370J31 the principle of diminishing returns. ^At the same time, some writers
1380J31 Say, for example did sound and a note of caution that the current
1390J31 advancement in production was because of several inventions, greater
1400J31 use of power and machinery and other efficient devices, and that the
1410J31 same rate of advancement could not be guaranteed if population continued
1420J31 to_ grow rapidly. ^*John Stuart Mill and Henry Sidgwick were of the
1430J31 opinion that population had already reached the point of diminishing returns
1440J31 and that many countries would be better off with smaller numbers.
1450J31 $^The question was also extensively discussed on the theoretical level.
1460J31 ^Though the majority accepted the principle of diminishing returns,
1470J31 some economists-- Gray, Chalmers, Burn and Wirth-- asserted that
1480J31 an increasing number of people would stimulate production. ^As the
1490J31 nineteenth century advanced, the production theory itself underwent
1500J31 several changes. ^Such economists as Godwin, Ravenstone, Sedler,
1510J31 Edmonds, Scrope and Ricardo struck at the very base of the current
1520J31 production theory by attempting to_ disprove the very principle
1530J31 of diminishing returns. ^A neo-classical economist like Marshall pointed
1540J31 out that this law was applicable mainly to agricultural and not
1550J31 to industrial production. ^It was clarified that as industries offered
1560J31 greater opportunities for division of labour and as there was continuing
1570J31 technological advancement, the law of constant or increasing
1580J31 returns rather than that_ of diminishing returns, was widely applicable
1590J31 to the manufacturing industries. $^This new development in the
1600J31 theory of production again raised questions regarding the relationship
1610J31 between population and production. ^It was soon realised that the
1620J31 total and per capita production depend not only on population but
1630J31 on several other factors in the economic system, such as resources,
1640J31 labour, capital and technology. ^The role of the population variable,
1650J31 therefore, had to_ be studied within the framework of the total
1660J31 economic system. ^It was asserted that the per capita production was
1670J31 a direct function of land and other resources referred to above, and
1680J31 was inversely related to the number of people. ^The population variable
1690J31 was thus seen to_ play a dual role-- one as a factor of labour supply
1700J31 and the other as a divisor of the total product. ^It is, however,
1710J31 worth noting that not much attention was paid either to the ratio
1720J31 of workers to the total population, or to the producer-consumer ratio,
1730J31 though some consideration was given to the quality of workers in
1740J31 terms of skills. ^The possibility of population interacting with the
1750J31 factors of technology and capital was, however, not explored. ^One
1760J31 interesting point made by these classical economists was that it was
1770J31 the factor of capital which influenced the size and growth of population
1780J31 and not the latter influencing the former, indicating that the
1790J31 problem of capital formation did not receive much attention from them.
1800J31 $^By the end of the nineteenth century, the population variable was
1810J31 given a place of less importance even in the theory of distribution, for
1820J31 it was realised that this theory could not be based only on one or a few
1830J31 simple forces. Marshall, in his work on the production and distribution
1840J31 phenomena, paid little attention to the population factor. ^Some writers
1850J31 even completely ignored it. ^It is thus possible to_ observe the change
1860J31 in the thinking of intellectuals from Malthus at the beginning of
1870J31 the nineteenth century to Marshall at the end of the century-- a change
1880J31 from a position of considering population as an important factor
1890J31 influencing economic growth to that of thinking of it as being of doubtful
1900J31 significance. ^This change in thinking may be understood against
1910J31 the background of actual facts.*#
        **[no. of words = 02001**]

        **[txt. j32**]
0010J32 **<*3On the Functions of Code-Mixing in Kannada*0**> $*31. INTRODUCTON*0
0020J32 $^In many bi- and multilingual communities, one often comes
0030J32 across a type of language interaction in which two or more languages
0040J32 in the speakers*' repertoire interact to_ produce a new, 'mixed code'
0050J32 characterized by distinctive formal properties and fulfilling specific
0060J32 functional roles. ^This type of language interaction has been
0070J32 termed 'code mixing' by Kachru, who defines it as 'the use of one
0080J32 or more languages for consistent transfer of linguistic units from
0090J32 one language into another, and, by such a language mixture, developing
0100J32 a new restricted-- or not so restricted-- code of linguistic interaction'
0110J32 (Kachru 1975). ^Although the phenomenon of code-mixing is
0120J32 probably as old as bilingualism itself, it is only recently that scholars
0130J32 have begun to_ pay more than cursory attention to its linguistic
0140J32 and sociolinguistic significance. ^In this regard, three studies
0150J32 stand out: Annamalai (1971), Ure (1974), and Kachru (1975), each
0160J32 of which was developed independently of the others. ^*Annamalai shows
0170J32 that subjecting mixed languages to the same kind of close analysis
0180J32 as is accorded to natural languages in a transformational generative
0190J32 grammar can provide significant insights into such basic theoretical
0200J32 questions as the nature of lexical insertion in transformational
0210J32 grammar. ^*Ure surveys several instances of mixed languages and points
0220J32 out that they have 'a central function in developing societies'.
0230J32 ^According to her, mixed languages are 'a feature of social, not
0240J32 individual behavior-- a register in the community*'s register range, learned
0250J32 as part of linguistic socialization (\0p. 227). ^*Kachru discusses
0260J32 code-mixing as a manifestation of language dependency in bi- and
0270J32 multilingual communities such as South Asia. ^Pointing out that code-mixing
0280J32 is a role-dependent and function-dependent mode of linguistic
0290J32 interaction, he suggests an integrated theory of code-mixing which
0300J32 incorporates a version of the Firthian concept of 'context of situation'.
0310J32 $^The present paper is a modest attempt to_ extend the empirical
0320J32 scope of studies on mixed languages. ^In particular, the focus
0330J32 is on the functional roles of code-mixing, on questions such as:
0340J32 ^Why do bilinguals resort to code-mixing? ^What attitudinal implications,
0350J32 if any, do mixed languages carry? ^Are there any functions that_
0360J32 mixed languages perform that_ are not preformed by the constituent
0370J32 languages in their 'pure' form?, \0etc. ^For this purpose, I
0380J32 have examined two mixed varieties of Kannada, a Dravidian language
0390J32 of South India. ^In one variety, elements of Perso-Arabic origin
0400J32 are mixed with Kannada: in the other variety, the mixture is of
0410J32 English and Kannada. ^*I shall attempt to_ show that, while the
0420J32 overall functions of code-mixing are identical for both varieties,
0430J32 the two kinds of mixture differ significantly in the content of these
0440J32 functions and in the domains in which they perform these functions.
0450J32 $*32. CODE-MIXING IN KANNADA AN EXAMPLE*0: $^Before analyzing
0460J32 the functions of the two code-mixed varieties of Kannada in question,
0470J32 it may be useful to_ examine briefly the nature of the mixture. ^Consider
0480J32 the following text, excerpted from a contemporary 'social'
0490J32 play in Kannada. ^The passage is spoken by an irate father, who is
0500J32 outraged by his prospective son-in-law*'s demand of 'dowry' in relation
0510J32 to his daughter*'s wedding. **[quotation in code-mixed English**]
0520J32 $(...^Forgive me, dear boy. ^*I tried so much to_ control the strong
0530J32 language that_ I used. ^But, on this sacred occasion of arranging
0540J32 the holy alliance of marriage, forgetting that I am educated,
0550J32 a man of culture, broadminded, and taking me for a village-born, commercial
0560J32 minded rustic, you ask me how much 'dowry' I would give!
0570J32 ^Wouldn*'4t my blood come to a boiling point?) $^Several features of
0580J32 this text merit careful attention. ^First of all, notice that the mixed
0590J32 elements are not single, isolated lexical items: the mixture takes
0600J32 place on every level of grammatical organization. ^There are single
0610J32 nouns (*3dowry*0), verbs (*3arrange, control, use*0) attributive
0620J32 and predicative adjectives (*3commercial minded, educated*0), and entire
0630J32 noun phrases with complex internal structure (*3the sacred occasion
0640J32 of arranging the holy alliance of marriage*0). ^Secondly, notice
0650J32 that the mixed elements are not particularly culture bound, they
0660J32 are for the most part ordinary, day to day items for which perfectly
0670J32 acceptable equivalents exist in coloquial Kannada (and are used
0680J32 in non-mixed varieties). ^Thirdly, observe that the mixed elements
0690J32 obey the rules of their original language (in this case English) with
0700J32 respect to their *3internal*0 grammatical organization, while they
0710J32 obey the rules of the absorbing language (in this case Kannada)
0720J32 with respect to their *3external*0 grammatical organization. ^For example,
0730J32 the ordering of elements within the noun phrase 'the holy alliance
0740J32 of marriage' conforms to the rules of English grammar, but
0750J32 the positioning of the relative clause (the complex which translates
0760J32 as 'the sacred occasion of arranging the holy alliance of marriage'
0770J32 has a relative clause structure in the above text) with respect to
0780J32 the head noun phrase is in accordance with the structure of Kannada,
0790J32 with the relative clause *3preceding*0 the head noun. ^These three
0800J32 features of the text, namely the extensive range of levels on which mixing
0810J32 takes place, the non-culture-bound nature of the items, and their
0820J32 participation in a dual grammatical system, may be said to_ distinguish
0830J32 code-mixing from the related but not identical process of heavy
0840J32 'borrowing'. ^An important feature of code-mixing is that the mixed
0850J32 elements do not necessarily fill a 'lexical gap' in the absorbing
0860J32 language: they exist side by side with perfectly acceptable equivalents
0870J32 in the absorbing language, forming an additional lexical stratum. ^It
0880J32 is conceivable that there might be a subtle *3pragmatic*0 difference
0890J32 in the minds of the users of the mixed language between the mixed
0900J32 elements and their absorbing language counterparts, but such differences--
0910J32 if they exist-- are extremely hard to_ characterize. ^*I shall
0920J32 return to this question later. $^Code-mixing is also different from
0930J32 'code switching' in a number of important respects. ^In current sociolinguistic
0940J32 literature, the term code switching is employed to_
0950J32 refer to the *3alternate*0 use of two or more languages or varieties
0960J32 in distinct social or functional domains (see, for example Blom and
0970J32 Gumperz 1971). ^The single most important characteristic of code
0980J32 switching seems to_ be that the switch from one code to the other
0990J32 signals a corresponding switch in the social situation. ^This is precisely
1000J32 *3not*0 the case with code-mixing. ^As the above text illustrates,
1010J32 the switching (or mixing) takes place rapidly, frequently, and
1020J32 almost unconsciously, within a single social event, within a single
1030J32 text, and, in fact, several times within a single sentence. ^It is
1040J32 a hopeless task to_ try to_ find distinct, isolatable sociolinguistic
1050J32 correlates for every instance of the shift. ^Such being the nature
1060J32 of code-mixing, it seems best to_ attempt a sociolinguistic explanation
1070J32 of code-mixing in terms of the alternation between the mixed
1080J32 and the non-mixed (or 'pure') varieties. $*33. CODE-MIXING IN KANNADA:
1090J32 WHY AND WHEN*0 $^I shall now turn to the questions of the motivations
1100J32 for code-mixing and the (sociolinguistic) circumstances under
1110J32 which code-mixing is resorted to. ^These questions can only be approached
1120J32 indirectly by examining representative samples of mixed speech
1130J32 (and writing) in relation to their context of situation. ^To this
1140J32 end, I have analyzed data from 'social' plays and short stories
1150J32 in Kannada. ^*I shall first discuss the mixing of Perso-Arabic
1160J32 and Kannada and then turn to English-Kannada code-mixing. $^The
1170J32 specific functions of the mixing of Perso-Arabic and Kannada can
1180J32 not be adequately explained without reference to the history of language
1190J32 contact between Persian, Arabic and Kannada. ^The earliest
1200J32 record of contact between Karnataka (the Kannada country) and Persia
1210J32 goes back to 627 \0A.D. ^In that_ year, there was an exchange
1220J32 of ambassadors between the Kannada king Pulikesi and his Persion
1230J32 counterpart, Khusru *=2. ^There is also evidence of trade contact
1240J32 with the Arabs from around this period onwards. ^Between the fourteenth
1250J32 and the sixteenth centuries, the Kannada territory came under
1260J32 frequent attack by the Muslim rulers of the north, culminating in
1270J32 the fall of the great Vijayanagar empire in the sixteenth century.
1280J32 ^For three hundred years thereafter, the northern portions of Karnataka
1290J32 were continuously under Muslim rule. ^In the eighteenth century,
1300J32 southern Karnataka also came under Muslim rule, with two popular
1310J32 and highly respected rulers, Hyder Ali and Tippu Sultan, reigning
1320J32 from the capital. ^It was during this period that Perso-Arabic
1330J32 had the greatest impact on Kannada, especially in the realms of
1340J32 administrative bureaucracy, land management and revenue, and the judiciary.
1350J32 ^The official state records of this period are in Persian
1360J32 transcribed in the Arabic script. ^*Hindustani, a style of Hindi
1370J32 marked by heavy Perso-Arabic influence, was used in the smaller divisional
1380J32 offices for record-keeping purposes. ^In addition, the Muslims
1390J32 popularized 'hardy' outdoor sports such as hunting, wrestling
1400J32 and horseback riding. ^As we shall presently see, all of these aspects
1410J32 of language and cultural contact have a direct bearing on the attitudinal
1420J32 connotations of Perso-Arabic mixing with Kannada, as well as
1430J32 the contexts of its use. $^The data for the following analysis of
1440J32 the functions of Perso-arabic code-mixing in Kannada come in part
1450J32 from a 'social' play by a highly successful dramatist, *(0T. P.*)
1460J32 Kailasam, whose use of mixed varieties of Kannada has earned him
1470J32 both commendation and criticism. ^In the play under discussion, entitled
1480J32 *3*5Poli Kitti*6*0 (Vagabond Kitti), we find a mixture of
1490J32 both Perso-Arabic elements as well as English with Kannada, but--
1500J32 and this is important-- not by the same characters. ^The characters
1510J32 in the play are drawn from an unusually wide range of social classes,
1520J32 from illiterate day-laborers all the way to the Heir Apparent to
1530J32 the throne of Mysore. ^It is interesting to_ note that the more educated
1540J32 a person the more he tends to_ mix elements from English in
1550J32 his Kannada, and the more earthy and 'physical' a person the greater
1560J32 the mixture of Perso-Arabic elements in his Kannada. ^The hero
1570J32 of the play is Kitti, who is pictured as a vagabond and a bully, strong,
1580J32 hefty and crude, but beneath the rough exterior, a loyal, generous
1590J32 and tender fellow. ^*Kitti*'s speech is an example *8per excellence*9
1600J32 of Perso-Arabic code-mixing in Kannada. ^Here are some examples:
1610J32 **[quotation in code-mixed English**] $(^This is the practice
1620J32 in our wrestling school, Sir. ^When starting the wrestling bout,
1630J32 if you smear your chest with the red earth, take the coach*'s name
1640J32 and remember the Khalif, you get real strength, Sir, real strength!
1650J32 ^This is the practice, Sir, in the school!) $(^*I was teaching him
1660J32 a trick, Sir. ^He*'1s my *4shagird Sir... ^*I mean, my friend.)
1670J32 $(^It gets late in the hassle to_ translate.) $^*Kitti*'s language
1680J32 sets him apart from all other characters in the play as a man of a
1690J32 different upbringing and character, a man of muscles, of rough ways
1700J32 and crude behavior. ^That the playwright was aware of this potential
1710J32 of code-mixing to_ evoke a certain type of attitudinal association
1720J32 is clear from the fact that he uses code-mixing as a dramatic device
1730J32 and Kitti*'s mixed speech itself becomes the subject of explicit
1740J32 comment on various occasions in the course of the play. ^At one point,
1750J32 for example, flabbergasted by the 'strangeness' of Kitti*'s speech,
1760J32 his Scout Master exclaims. $'^Who brought you up? ^Where did
1770J32 you grow up? ^Good Heavens! ^A bunch of rowdies seems to_ have joined
1780J32 our brigade. ^What language do you speak, I say? ^One quarter
1790J32 Kannada...' $*3And Kitti obligingly completes the sentence,*0
1800J32 $'...and three quarters Mussalmani, Sir. ^There are a lot of Muslims
1810J32 in my gang, Sir!' $^Notice that code-mixing in Perso-Arabic is
1820J32 regarded as an indicator of 'rowdy' behavior and a strange, non-normal
1830J32 upbringing. ^Further, Kitti*'s ready explanation reveals that
1840J32 religion is a relevant contextual variable in the mixing of Perso-Arabic
1850J32 and Kannada. ^At a later point in the play, Kitti visits a
1851J32 friend*'s home and finds himself in a situation where he has to_ carry
1860J32 on a conversation with his friend*'s mother. ^Now, his friend*'s mother
1870J32 is an orthodox Brahmin lady who has never been exposed to the sort of
1880J32 mixed speech Kitti employs. ^*Kitti is aware that his language,
1890J32 which served him so well on the playground in inspiring awe in his
1900J32 buddies, is entirely inappropriate in this context and struggles to_
1910J32 produce the 'pure' variety. ^But old habits die hard; so we find
1920J32 Kitti going back, after each mixed expression, and attempting a paraphrase
1930J32 in 'pure' Kannada.*#
        **[no. of words = 02012**]

        **[txt. j33**]
0010J33 **<*3THE ORIGIN OF LANGUAGE*0**> $*<*3Introduction*0*> $^Language is
0020J33 a wonderful instrument ever created by man. ^Its origin is shrouded
0030J33 in irrecoverable past. ^Should we then remain silent and bewail for
0040J33 the inscrutable? $^The quest for knowledge is deeply ingrained in
0050J33 human nature. ^Man is ever restless. ^He meditated on the cosmos
0060J33 and the relation it bears to him. ^He realised the divine nature of
0070J33 the world and referred to all creations as divine dispensations.
0080J33 $^A number of theories were mooted to_ unravel the veil. ^A theory
0090J33 of creation of language by man or of the origin of language as a result
0100J33 of an accident at one time or other gained the ground. ^The theory
0110J33 of evolution sought to_ trace the earlier beginnings of language
0120J33 with the help gained from the habit of the child and the lessons
0130J33 borrowed from animal psychology. ^The controversy on the origin of
0140J33 language is still raging. ^Our task here is to_ provide a few theories
0150J33 and of the criticisms made thereof. $*<*3History of the Inquiry
0160J33 into the Origin of Language*0*> $^The history of the inquiry
0170J33 into the origin of human speech dates back to long past, to times
0180J33 when man first began to_ speculate on language. ^All nations of antiquity,
0190J33 more or less, tried to_ delve into the mystery of the origin
0200J33 of language. ^Early attempts were mostly theological in nature. ^Philosophers
0210J33 later intruded upon the field and brightened the topic with
0220J33 metaphysical jargons. ^With the publication of a treatise by *(0J.
0230J33 J.*) Rousseau under the title-- *3Essai sur l*'3 origine des
0240J33 langues*0 (Paris, 1750), a change came about in language investigation.
0250J33 *(0^*J. G. V.*) Herder-- *3Der Ursprung der Sprache*0 (Berlin,
0260J33 1772) first laid the foundation of a scientific inquiry into it.
0270J33 $^We would not attempt to_ provide a systematic exposition of
0280J33 the various endeavours made at different times to_ unlock the key to
0290J33 the origin of language. ^This topic has been debated so much that
0300J33 the Societe de Linguistique de Paris issued a dictum that they would
0310J33 not entertain in their transactions and debates any discussions
0320J33 regarding the origin of language. ^This statement is corroborated
0330J33 in the writings of the American linguist *(0W. H.*) Whitney--
0340J33 "^No theme in linguistic science is more often and more voluminously
0350J33 treated than this and by scholars of every grade and tendency; nor
0360J33 any it may be added with less profitable result in proportion to the
0370J33 labour expended; the greater part of what is said and written on
0380J33 it is mere windy talk." $*<*3DIFFERENT THEORIES*0*> $*<*3Bow-Wow
0390J33 or Onomatopoetics Theory*0*> $^This theory holds that language
0400J33 originated in man*'s imitation of natural sounds (\0c.f. the rustling
0410J33 of the wind among the leaves, the murmur of a river, the booming
0420J33 of the thunder, the gong of a bell, \0etc.) and more specifically the
0430J33 sounds uttered by animals (\0c.f. the barking of the dog, the roar
0440J33 of a lion, hiss of a snake, \0etc.) and birds (\0c.f. the sounds of
0450J33 a cuckoo, upupu, hupoe, peewit, curlew, \0etc.). ^It thus speaks that
0460J33 there is a natural connection between the production of a sound in
0470J33 nature and the sensory impressions in man, \0i.e., language is a tonal
0480J33 stimuli and a matter of chance. ^This theory is specifically concerned
0490J33 with the language of the children (\0c.f. a child calling a
0500J33 lamb 'ba-ba' or a locomotive 'chou-chou' or cow 'mou'.) $^The origin
0510J33 of this theory is traced to the German philosopher *(0J. G.*)
0520J33 Herder. ^*Max Mueller, the Anglo-German scholar, irreverantly
0530J33 called it 'Bow-Wow Theory'. ^*Boas, the American anthropologist
0540J33 and linguist, points out that in Chinook Jargon of British Columbia
0550J33 and in the language of the South African Bantu, formation of
0560J33 new words by imitation of natural sounds is a live process. ^The American
0570J33 Indian languages-- Aztek and Mohawk-- and Zulu of Africa
0580J33 delight in onomatopoetic words. $^It may be pointed out that creation
0590J33 of new words due to onomatopoeia is a very insignificant part of
0600J33 the vocabulary of any language. ^It leaves out of account the symbolic
0610J33 and abstract quality type of words which are the core of any language.
0620J33 ^In the language of the Alaskan tribe of the Mackenzie river
0630J33 in America, words of onomatopoetic origin seem to_ be almost nil.
0640J33 ^Onomatopoetic words differ from language to language (\0c.f. \0Eng.
0650J33 Wow-Wow, \0Fr. *7oua-oua, \0It. *7bu-bu, also *7cock-a-doodle-doo,
0660J33 \0etc.). ^So far we know that language did not originate with
0670J33 a process of naming the animals. ^Sound-groups indicating meanings
0680J33 are not always helpful. ^Besides, most of the echo words (a term coined
0690J33 by *(0O.*) Jespersen) are not old but of recent origin. ^The
0700J33 words used by the children turn out on examination to_ be words
0710J33 taught to them by adults. ^Echo words played a significant role when
0720J33 non-linguistic means of communications had something to_ do in the
0730J33 society. ^With the formation of symbolic speech, echo words receded
0740J33 into the background. $*<*3Pooh-pooh (or Interjectional Theory)*0*>
0750J33 $^According to this theory language originates in spontaneous
0760J33 exclamations or instinctive ejaculations of human beings (\0c.f. the
0770J33 cries of fear, surprise, pain, anger, despair, joy, disgust, \0etc.).
0780J33 ^It thus stands that interjections are involuntary expressions of affective
0790J33 states (\0c.f. facial or limb movements and the like). ^It
0800J33 is a direct movement of a physical or mental state and lacks communicative
0810J33 value. ^It is inarticulate and differs from language to language.
0820J33 ^It plays a very important part in the life of a savage. ^The conversations
0830J33 of Greenlandish woman in interjectional utterances are illuminating.
0840J33 $^This theory had its adherents in the ancient Greek philosopher
0850J33 Epicurean, followed by Rousseau. ^*Max Mueller, *(0W.*)
0860J33 Wundt, *(0L.*) Geiger, Noire, Bechterew, \0etc. ^This theory
0870J33 merely suggests the materials language uses but never explains the
0880J33 processes through which language evolved. ^Before the emergence of speech,
0890J33 cries and not vocal sounds existed. ^Language began when interjections
0900J33 ended but that man still utters cries and uses interjections
0910J33 and that their significance is merely affective, \0i.e., expressing
0920J33 fear, surprise, \0etc. $*<*3Ding-Dong (or Pathogenic Theory)*0*>
0930J33 $^This theory speaks of a mysterious or prior coincidence between
0940J33 a sound and its sense, \0i.e., for every expression within, there
0950J33 is a manifestation outside. "^Everything which is struck rings. ^Each
0960J33 substance has its peculiar ring" (*(0M.*) Mueller). ^This theory
0970J33 is reiterated in the ideas of Pythagoras (\0C. 500 \0B.C.) and
0980J33 later supported by Heracleitus and Plato. $^This theory is merely
0990J33 a conventionalised representation of the sound of a bell and is not
1000J33 self-evident to anyone but the speaker who has learnt to_ connect
1010J33 the sound 'ding-dong' with the ringing of the bell. ^This association
1020J33 does not tell us how man came to_ attribute his conventionalised
1030J33 speech sounds with facts of experience. $*<*3Ye-he-ho Theory*0*>
1040J33 $^This theory enunciates that language originates in reflex vocal
1050J33 utterances-- (\0c.f. the gasps, the grunts and other sounds) accompanied
1060J33 by strong muscular efforts, such as drawing a heavy log through
1070J33 the underbush or making up a carcas. ^The nineteenth century scholar--
1080J33 Noire was a strong supporter of this theory. ^He saw that language
1090J33 originated in joint or common work requiring physical efforts
1100J33 during which course natural sounds emit. ^This theory errs that language
1110J33 never originated in joint work of a speechless anthropoid. $*<*3Ta-Ta
1120J33 or Mouth Gesture Theory*0*> $^Speech arose as a vocal accompaniment
1130J33 of gesture. ^*Sir Richard Paget was an exponent of this
1140J33 theory and Charles Darwin and \0Prof. Alexander Johannesson supported
1150J33 it. ^*Paget thought that language originated in gestures followed
1160J33 by the movement of the tongue, lips and jaws. ^Due to pressure
1170J33 from some quarters the hand retires and the tongue, lips and jaws accompanied
1180J33 by pantomime art ultimately became prominent and vocal expressions
1190J33 came out. $*<*3Sing-Song Theory*0*> $^This theory was
1200J33 put forward by the distinguished Danish linguist Otto Jespersen
1210J33 who held that language originated in song. ^He thought that early language
1220J33 was of tooth-breaking sounds. ^It had tones and pitches and
1230J33 a wider range of musical intervals and passionate expressions. ^It
1240J33 was merely expressive and not communicative. ^It was not practical
1250J33 but poetic and emotional. ^Love played a great part in eliciting jets
1260J33 of music and song. "^Love" he says "was born in the courting days
1270J33 of mankind; the first utterances of speech I fancy to myself like
1280J33 something between the mighty love-lyrics of puss upon the tiles and
1290J33 the melodious love-song of the nightingales." ^The earliest utterances
1300J33 were whole sentences rather than words. ^They emphasise rhythm as
1310J33 the all-pervading activity. $^*Darwin traced the origin of language
1320J33 in the musical utterances of man. ^He drew a parallel from the instinctive
1330J33 sounds of birds which as a species utter the same instinctive
1340J33 sounds to_ express the same emotions. ^This theory finds its
1350J33 echo in Herbert Spencer*'s theory of music. $*<*3Language of Early
1360J33 Man*0*> $^A question is sometimes asked whether modern man
1370J33 alone possessed language or is it attributable to his supposed ancestors--
1380J33 the Homo Neanderthalensis or to the early forms of Homo Sapiens--
1390J33 the cro-Magnon Man or the Aurignatian Man. $^The answer
1400J33 to this question was once sought through methods of comparative anatomy.
1410J33 ^Cubic capacity of the skull is sometimes taken as a guide for
1420J33 higher intelligence and Neanderthal Man was pointed out as a
1430J33 species of higher intelligence. ^Our knowledge regarding the anatomical
1440J33 and morphological formation of the brain of a fossil is too scanty
1450J33 to_ admit of a scientific conclusion. ^Moreover, it is diffcult
1460J33 to_ determine the level of intelligence from such insufficient data.
1470J33 ^Under these circumstances how can we ascribe the same intelligence
1480J33 to early and modern man? $*<*3Language of the savages*0*> $^The
1490J33 language of the uncivilised peoples has sometimes been assigned
1500J33 as the oldest linguistic evidence in the world. ^Nothing can be more
1510J33 unconvincing than this. ^Savages are not the oldest peoples nor
1520J33 their languages. ^Some savage languages are thought to_ be very complex
1530J33 while others are simple. ^Both types are the result of changes.
1540J33 ^The point of departure between the civilised and the non-civilised
1550J33 languages lies not in the ideas they express but in the method of
1560J33 expression itself. ^The language of the primitive people may provide
1570J33 us with a body of information, \0i.e., on the relation between language
1580J33 and thought but not on the origin of language. $*<*3Child Language
1590J33 Theory*0*> $^The language of the child is sometimes taken
1600J33 as the prototype of the original language. ^The child in the process
1610J33 of learning a new language does not invent anything. ^The language
1620J33 is already there and existed also for thousands of years before. ^The
1630J33 child therefore does not help us at all. ^It can only inform us about
1640J33 an original language. ^The child merely imitates what he learns
1650J33 from his environment. ^He is not a creator but an imitator and lacks
1660J33 spontaneity and novelty. ^It bears therefore no meaning that a child
1670J33 left to itself would invent a language. ^A Bengali child would not
1680J33 speak Bengali if transported to London. $*<*3Theory of animal
1690J33 sounds*0*> $^It has been urged that animal cries are the antecedents
1700J33 of language and that man has borrowed his phonetic utterances from
1710J33 the sounds of the animals of his environments. ^The study of the animal
1720J33 psychology avers that animals of any sort do not possess any language.
1730J33 ^The language of an animal has no definite sequences of sounds
1740J33 nor does it possess a definite meaning nor any variations properly
1750J33 so called in the cries they utter. ^It is strange that a body of
1760J33 zoologists and some animal psychologists still cling to the idea of
1770J33 an animal language. ^*Descartes denied the possibility of an animal
1780J33 language. $*<*3Theory of the Priority of Gesture Language*0*>
1790J33 $^This theory states that phonetic language developed from gesture
1800J33 language. ^It asserts that inner urge and external stimuli were indicated
1810J33 by a system of motor sign which was later replaced by a phonetic
1820J33 sign, \0i.e., a transposition for natural and conventional gesture
1830J33 to phonetic symbols, \0i.e., a system of natural gesture. $^This
1840J33 expression is challenged on the ground that emotional expression
1850J33 is indicated as much by audible sounds as by bodily movements. ^This
1860J33 does not prove that gesture language preceded phonetic language.
1870J33 ^The advocates of theory refer to the language of the deaf-mutes. ^But
1880J33 it forgets that a deaf-mute does not hear his own sound not to_
1890J33 speak of others.*#
        **[no. of words = 02004**]

        **[txt. j34**]
0010J34 **<*3DISTRIBUTION OF VERBAL INFLECTIONAL SUFFIXES IN SANSKRIT*0**> $*<*31.10
0020J34 Syntactic constructions and selections of suffixes*0*> $^Verbal
0030J34 stems, primary or derived, participate in all sorts of syntactic
0040J34 constructions. ^Constructions relevant for selection of inflectional
0050J34 suffixes are: *4kartr-vacya, active voice; *4karma-vacya, passive
0060J34 voice; *4bhava-vacya, middle voice and *4karma-kartr-vacya, reflexive.
0070J34 ^These are structurally related. ^We need not discuss here their
0080J34 underlying structure. ^Passive and middle select *4atmanepada invariably
0090J34 while there are a few exceptions in case of reflexive. ^But
0100J34 any way in respect of selection of inflectional suffixes these three
0110J34 constructions seem to_ belong to a separate group as opposed to active.
0120J34 ^This is structurally significant in so far as the *4atmanepada
0130J34 suffixes are simply markers of constructions and carry no semantic
0140J34 nuances which they do in case of a class of primary stems when used
0150J34 in the active as we shall discuss below. ^A few illustrative examples
0160J34 of these constructions are given below. ^The corresponding active
0170J34 sentences are given on the right. $(a) 1. *5sisuna dugdham piyate*6
0180J34 *5sisuh dugdham pibati*6 '^The child takes milk.' $2. *5sraddhavata
0190J34 labhyate jnanam.*6 *5sraddhavan labhate jnanam*6 '^The faithful
0200J34 acquires wisdom.' $(b) 3. *5acaryena asyate*6 *5acaryah aste*6
0210J34 '^The teacher sits down.' $ 4. *5bhutaih nasyate*6 *5bhutani nasyanti*6
0220J34 '^The creatures perish.' $(c) 5. *5granthayah bhidyante*6 '^The
0230J34 bondages get snapped.' *5sah granthin bhinatti*6 '^He snaps the
0240J34 bondages.' $6. *5gauh dugdhe payah*6 '^The cow oozes milk.' *5gam
0250J34 dogdhi payah*6 '^He milks the cow.' $1.1. ^Sentences in (c) on the right,
0260J34 illustrate reflexive constructions. ^It may be pointed out that reflexives
0270J34 are made from causals also and here also the verbal stem selects
0280J34 *4atmanepada suffixes. ^*Panini describes it as follows: ^The causal
0290J34 of a root, the object (*4karma) of which becomes agent (*4karta)
0300J34 in the causal, takes *4atmanepada except in case of the roots that_
0310J34 have the meaning 'to_ remember with regret' (1.3.67). ^Let us take
0320J34 the sentence *5arohanti hastipakah hastinam*6, an active construction
0330J34 meaning 'the elephant-keepers mount the elephant.' ^A causal from
0340J34 this could be where someone else, say, the *4mahamatra (driver),
0350J34 causes the elephant-keepers to_ ride the elephant. ^We have thus '*5mahamatrah
0360J34 hastipakan hastinam arohayati*6 'the elephant-driver makes
0370J34 the elephant-keepers ride the elephant.' ^But if the elephant itself
0380J34 allows the elephant-keepers ride itself, the elephant becomes
0390J34 the causer. ^In that_ case we dispense with *4mahamatra, the elephant-driver;
0400J34 as causer. ^The *4nyasa describes the situation very aptly
0410J34 as follows: *5hasti hastipakan prayunkte*6: *5mamarohata iti*6
0420J34 'the elephant urges the elephant-keepers: 'you ride me.'' *4hasti is
0430J34 to_ act here both as subject and object of the verb *4arohayati. ^Thus
0440J34 we can say *5hasti hastipakan hastinam arohayati*6 where *4hasti and *4hastinam
0450J34 refer to the same object. ^Such an utterance is not attested in
0460J34 the language. ^Before it acquires acceptability the sentence structure
0470J34 undergoes certain structural changes, namely, those of dropping the
0480J34 object and selecting *4atmanepada suffixes by the stem. ^The emerging
0490J34 structure is *5arohayate hasti hastipakan*6 'the elephant causes
0500J34 the elephant-keepers ride itself.' ^The use of *4atmanepada suffixes
0510J34 in the final output is the characteristic feature of the reflexive
0520J34 construction from a causal stem. ^*Panini however, does not posit intermediate
0530J34 derivative stage, namely *5hasti hastipakan hastinam arohayati*6
0540J34 for the simple reasons, perhaps, that this is not found used
0550J34 in the language. ^He takes cognizance of the structures at two ends.
0560J34 ^He thus derives causal directly from the non-causal. ^And his
0570J34 formulation of the grammatical process naturally has to_ be in terms
0580J34 of the constituents of these structures. $1.2. ^Let us have a look
0590J34 at active constructions. ^Here also *4atmanepada suffixes are found
0600J34 to_ occur obligatorily with all or a group of primary stem to_ denote
0610J34 specific meanings. ^The two sets of inflectional suffixes thus
0620J34 show contrast in meaning here. $1.2.1 ^All verbal roots take *4atmanepada
0630J34 when the meanings of *4karma-vyatihara \0i.e. reciprocity of
0640J34 action among agents or performance of an action by an agent which is
0650J34 considered beneath his social status are intended to_ be expressed (1.3.14).
0660J34 ^The verbal stems that_ mean 'to_ move' or to_ injure form
0680J34 exception to the above(1.3.15). $^In the sentence *5vyatilunate krsanah
0690J34 krsim*6, the finite form *4vyatilunate ending in *4atmanepada
0700J34 expresses the meaning of *4karma-vyatihara. ^It implies that the farmers
0710J34 help reap one another*'s harvest. ^Similarly in the sentences
0720J34 *5brahmanah vyatilunite krsim*6 the use of *4atmanepada implies that
0730J34 the Brahmin is engaged in the activity of reaping the harvest which
0740J34 is beneath his social status. ^The work should have been done by
0750J34 a member of some low caste. ^If this meaning is expressed overtly by
0760J34 use of such phrases as *4itaretara, *4anyonya or *4paraspara, all indicating
0770J34 *3reciprocity*0, after the verbal form then the use of *4atmanepada
0780J34 is not sanctioned. ^Thus *4vyatilunanti *4itaretarasya/*4anyonyasya/*4parasparasya
0790J34 *5krsim krsanah*6 conveys the same meaning
0800J34 and here *4parasmaipada suffixes are employed. $1.2.2. ^Another instance
0810J34 is provided by a group of verbal roots which take *4atmanepada
0820J34 if the fruit of action denoted by it accrues to the agent, if not,
0830J34 then *4parasmaipada will be used (1.3.72-78). ^Such roots are identified
0840J34 by Panini in his root-lexicon by reading them with indicatory
0850J34 *4svarita pitch or *3n*0 (1.3.72). ^For instance, the root for to_
0860J34 do is read as *4dukrn in the lexicon. ^It can take either of the
0870J34 sets. *^5devadattah katam kurute*6 will, thus, imply that Devadatta
0880J34 makes a mat for his own use: while *5devadattah katam karoti*6 means
0890J34 that 'Devadatta makes a mat for someone else.' ^However, if the
0900J34 fact of the fruit of action accruing to the agent is stated explicitly
0910J34 by a word syntactically related to the verbal form, the use of *4atmanepada
0920J34 is optional (1.3.77). ^Thus *5devadattah svam odanam pacate/
0930J34 pacati*6 would mean the same \0i.e. ^*Devadatta cooks rice for himself'
0940J34 since *4svam indicates that the action takes place for the benefit
0950J34 of the agent. $^It may be noted that the semantic contrast of agent
0960J34 and non-agent orientation of fruit of action denoted by the group
0970J34 of roots as pointed out above holds good for causal derivative stems
0980J34 also (1.3.74). ^There are, however, some exceptions and counter
0990J34 exceptions which have been taken note of by Panini. ^We need not reproduce
1000J34 these here. ^However, if fact of orientation of fruit of action
1010J34 is overtly marked, the use of *4atmanepada is optional as in the
1020J34 case of non-causals pointed out earlier. $^It may be pointed out
1030J34 that the semantic distinction shown by inflectional suffixes in case
1040J34 of the group of verbal roots is neutralized in passive and reflexive
1050J34 constructions, *5devadatta odanam pacate*6 'Devadatta cooks rice
1060J34 for himself' contrasts, with *5devadatta odanam pacati*6 'Devadatta
1070J34 cooks rice for someone else.' ^But these distinctions cannot be retrieved
1080J34 from *5devadattena odanah pacyate*6, a passive construction.
1090J34 ^Nor can we specify anything about the agent (with regard to its person
1100J34 and number) from the reflexive *5odanah pacyate*6 'rice is cooked.'
1110J34 $ 2.0 ^We have stated above that in active voice also *3all*0
1120J34 primary stems in the meaning *4karma-vyatihara and a group of primary
1130J34 stems and causals for denoting agent orientation of fruit of action,
1140J34 take *4atmanepada suffixes. ^But elsewhere in active voice no generalization
1150J34 can be made with regard to selection of inflectional suffixes
1160J34 by verbal stems, primary or derivative. ^The distribution is
1170J34 unique and has to_ be stated for each stem individually in the lexicon.
1180J34 ^And this is precisely what Panini does in his root-lexicon.
1190J34 ^He specifies therein the roots that take *4atmanepada by reading them
1200J34 with indicatory *4anudatta pitch or *3n*0 (1.3.12). ^Rest of
1210J34 roots that_ are left unmarked take *4parasmaipada (1.3.78). ^Thus there
1220J34 are roots that_ take exclusively one or other set of suffixes.
1230J34 $^But this is not the whole story. ^Information given in the lexicon
1240J34 does not exhaust all the facts of linguistic usage. ^Some of the roots
1250J34 in collocation with various features: formal, semantic or otherwise
1260J34 change over from one class to another. ^A root recorded in the
1270J34 lexicon, for instance, as selecting *4atmanepada may change over to
1280J34 *4parasmaipada in specific environments or vice-versa or a root recorded
1290J34 as taking either set may be restricted to only one of these. ^In
1300J34 such a case then the semantic distinction implied by the use of the
1310J34 either sets **[sic**] is lost. ^Further the lexicon provides no information
1320J34 about the derivative stems made from verbal roots as well as nominals.
1330J34 ^Nor does it talk about selection of suffixes by phrasal stem. ^This
1340J34 information has been provided in the grammar. ^We shall like to_
1350J34 discuss these facts below. ^First we shall deal with the environments
1360J34 under which selection at preferences change. ^Later we take up
1370J34 the question of selection of suffixes by derivative and phrasal stem. $*<*33.0.
1380J34 Environments conditioning selection:*0*> $*<*3.1. *4Upasargas:*0*>
1390J34 $^There are twenty-two *4upasargas which are syntactically associated
1400J34 with the verbal forms (1.4. 58-59). ^Morphologically these contitute
1410J34 a separate category and may precede or follow a verbal form
1420J34 or may be interrupted by other elements (1.4.80-82). ^These may modify
1430J34 the meaning of a verbal stem to any extent. ^These constitute legitimate
1440J34 grammatical environments under which selectional preferences
1450J34 may undergo a change. ^A few illustrative examples are given here.
1460J34 *4^Vis to_ enter, though recorded in the lexicon as belonging to *4parasmaipada
1470J34 group, changes over to *4atmanepada when used with *4ni
1480J34 (1.3.17); \0e.g. *5grham nivisate*6 he enters the house, otherwise,
1490J34 *5grham visati*6. *4^Ji 'to_ conquer' may take either set but with
1500J34 the *4upasarga *4para and *4vi it is restricted to *4atmanepada only
1510J34 (1.3.19). ^In case of *4para there is a change of meaning also. ^Thus
1520J34 we have *5raja satrun jayati/jayate*6, but only *5raja satrun vijayate*6
1530J34 'the king conquers the enemies.' ^So also we have *5raja satrun
1550J34 parajayate*6 'the king defeats the enemies.' $*<*33.2. *(Karaka-relations:*0*>
1560J34 $^The *4karaka relations of a root assume significance
1570J34 in the choice of suffixes in case of certain roots. ^For instance,
1580J34 in the sentence *5sah dasya dhanam samprayacchate*6, the verbal
1590J34 root takes *4atmanepada which otherwise usually takes *4parasmaipada.
1600J34 ^The explanation is that *4da 'to_ give' preceded with the upasarga
1610J34 *4sam (even when some other *4upasarga is used alongwith *4sam)
1620J34 takes *4atmanepada when governing the third *4vibhakti which has the
1630J34 sense of fourth \0i.e. dative case (1.3.55). ^The peculiar meaning
1640J34 that_ attaches to such a usage is that 'he offers money to the maid-servant
1650J34 with a view to *3seducing*0 her.' ^This is made explicit
1660J34 by *4katyayana in the *4varttika on the above *4sutra. ^He says 'to_
1670J34 denote indecent behaviour the third *4vibhakti is used in place
1680J34 of the fourth (*5asistavyavahare danah prayoge caturthy-arthe trtiya*6).
1690J34 ^If instead of the third, the fourth *4vibhakti is used, the peculiar
1700J34 shade of meaning will be lost. $^Here is a more interesting
1710J34 case. *4^Ni 'to_ carry' takes *4atmanepada when an abstract entity
1720J34 inherent in the *4karta (agent) occurs as its *4karma (object) (1.3.37).
1730J34 ^In the sentence-- *5sa krodham vinayate*6 -- 'he controls his anger',
1740J34 the verbal form occurs in the *4atmanepada because its object
1750J34 *4krodha 'anger' is an entity of abstract nature and inheres in the
1760J34 agent. ^Otherwise we have *4parasmaipada as in *5sa devasya krodham
1770J34 vinayati*6, 'he controls Deva*'s anger' or *5sa asvam vinayati*6
1780J34 'he controls the horse.' $*<*33.3. Tense-mood*0*> $^There are ten
1790J34 tense-mood distinctions in Sanskrit. ^A verbal root takes a particular
1800J34 set of suffixes in all tenses or moods based on it. ^But there
1810J34 are exceptions to this general practice. *4^Mr 'to_ die' is to take
1820J34 *4atmanepada always. ^But it is actually restricted to *4lun, aorist;
1830J34 *4lin, benedictive and those tenses which take a suffix with an
1840J34 indicatory *3*4s*0 (1.3.61). ^Elsewhere it takes *4parasmaipada.
1850J34 \0^E.g. *4amrta 'he died'; *4mrsista 'may he die'; *4mriyate
1860J34 'he dies', \0etc. ^But *4marisyati 'he will die,' \0etc. $^The
1870J34 verbal roots *4dyut 'shine' and a few others take *4atmanepada as
1880J34 marked in the lexicon. ^But these optionally take *4parasmaipada in
1890J34 *4lun, aorist (1.3.91). \0^E.g. *4dyotate 'it shines' but *4adyutat
1900J34 or *4adyotista 'he shone'. $*<*33.4. Categories of transitive-intransitive.*0*>
1910J34 $^On syntactic basis a root may be transitive, intransitive
1920J34 or both. ^In case of some stems these categories of transitive
1930J34 and intransitive become significant with regard to selection of inflectional
1940J34 suffixes. ^For instance, *4car 'to_ move' with *4ut is
1950J34 both transitive and intransitive. ^It takes *4atmanepada when it is
1960J34 used transitively and *4parasmaipada intransitively (1.3.53). ^In
1970J34 *5sa guru-vacanam uccarate*6-- 'he transgresses the words of his teacher'
1980J34 it is *4atmanepada, while in *5baspam uccarati*6 -- 'vapour
1990J34 rises up' it is *4parasmaipada.*#
        **[no. of words = 02007**]

        **[txt. j35**]
0010J35 **<*3TOWARDS A NON-NATIVE STANDARD IN INDIAN ENGLISH*0**> $*3ABSTRACT:*0
0020J35 ^The notion of a non-native standard in relation to the use of English
0030J35 in India is discussed with emphasis on a distinction between
0040J35 'language standard' and 'pedagogic standard'. $*<*3The Argument*0*>
0050J35 $^This paper is a discussion of the idea of a non-native standard
0060J35 in relation to the use of English in India. ^Certain well-recognized
0070J35 properties of a 'language standard' have been suggested in the research
0080J35 available on the subject; these pre-requisites have been examined
0090J35 in the context of a claim for an Indian English standard (hereafter
0100J35 called 'Educated Indian English' or \0EIE). ^After defining
0110J35 the term 'standard', the distinction between 'native' and 'non-native'
0120J35 varieties of English has been presented in terms of the areas
0130J35 of similarities and differences. ^It has been suggested that differences
0140J35 manifest largely at the phonetic level; there are also some differences
0150J35 (non-shared in nature) at the lexical level. $^A further distinction
0160J35 has been suggested between a 'language standard' and a 'pedagogic
0170J35 standard'; previous studies have tended to_ ignore this distinction.
0180J35 ^Guided by pedagogical requirements, researchers have drawn varying
0190J35 conclusions depending on the bias of their argument. ^Those who advocate
0200J35 the inadequacy of a non-native variety as a pedagogic standard have
0210J35 sought to_ rely on a description of the language system and a comparison
0220J35 with the system of the native variety/ varieties of English. ^They
0230J35 contend that Indian English cannot be viewed as a standard in
0240J35 the context of its deviances (in phonology, lexicon, and syntax); these
0250J35 deviances are further held to_ be unsystematic. ^Others find two
0260J35 drawbacks in such studies: the choice of an appropriate sample which
0270J35 should constitute the non-native standard, and, a lack of sensitivity
0280J35 to the existence of a language in a socio-cultural context. ^This
0290J35 view claims that there is a non-native standard of Indian English;
0300J35 it is called Educated Indian English (\0EIE). $^The concept of
0310J35 a non-native standard (\0EIE) can be supported by an analysis of
0320J35 the following considerations; $(a) the speech community, the linguistic
0330J35 system, and, the matrix of functions that_ the language seeks
0340J35 to_ serve; and $(b) the communication efficiency of the language in
0350J35 its socio-cultural context. $*<*31.0 What is meant by "standard"?*0*>
0360J35 $^The dictionary meaning of the term 'standard' refers to "something
0370J35 established by authority, custom, or general consent as a model or
0380J35 example", or, "substantially uniform and well-established by usage in
0390J35 the speech and writing of the educated and widely recognized as acceptable".
0400J35 ^The emphasis in these definitions is on a "model" or an "example"
0410J35 which is "substantially uniform" and is widely "acceptable". ^The dictionary
0420J35 meaning of "standard English" is given as under: $the English
0430J35 that_ with respect to spelling, grammar, pronunciation, and vocabulary
0440J35 is substantially uniform though not devoid of regional differences,
0450J35 that_ is well-established by usage in the formal and informal speech
0460J35 and writing of the educated, and that_ is widely recognized as acceptable
0470J35 wherever English is spoken and understood. $(Webster*'s Seventh
0480J35 New Collegiate Dictionary, 1966) $^This definition clarifies
0490J35 the phrase "substantially uniform" with a view to admitting the possibility
0500J35 of "regional differences" including societies wherever "English
0510J35 is spoken and understood". ^The standard speech is thus specific
0520J35 to a speech community which has substantial uniformity in its linguistic
0530J35 forms and, further, which has the widest acceptance in a given community.
0540J35 ^ the codification of these linguistic forms has to_ be done
0550J35 by an appropriate choice of the speech of the educated, and preferably,
0560J35 on the basis of the formal language, if it has to_ demonstrate substantial
0570J35 uniformity. ^Language used in informal situations is likely to_
0580J35 be characterised by idiolectal differences, which in turn are markers
0590J35 of differences in personal styles. $^The choice of the educated
0600J35 users using the language in a formal manner can only be made from among
0610J35 speakers and situations endowed with varying characteristic features.
0620J35 ^It is in this context that the idea of a "cline of bilingualism"
0630J35 (Kachru, 1965), has been suggested. ^It is an arbitrary scale and the
0640J35 bilinguals are ranked on it in terms of their proficiency in English.
0650J35 $^The search for a standard form of speech is thus more of an abstraction
0660J35 made from a variety of available alternatives. ^These alternatives
0670J35 are available in the form of varying proficiency in English, varying
0680J35 range of situations wherein English is used, and varying functions
0690J35 that_ the language performs in a sociocultural context. $*<*31.1
0700J35 Native and Non-native*0*> $^The native user of a language is characterized
0710J35 by the following features: $(a) that he has acquired, not
0720J35 learnt, the language from his childhood in normal social surroundings;
0730J35 $(b) that he uses the language in formal, informal, intimate and
0740J35 non-intimate situations (Bhatia, 1972); $(c) that he has the facility
0750J35 to_ use the various registers of the language in correlation with the
0760J35 situations wherein the language is used; and $(d) that his language shows
0770J35 minor yet well-recognized phonetic variations; all other components
0780J35 of the language system are almost the same; $^Whereas the non-native
0790J35 user of a language $(a) has learnt, not acquired, the language
0800J35 from the school stage of education; $(b) uses language in formal, non-intimate
0810J35 and informal situations, rarely or never in intimate situations;
0820J35 $(c) has limited facility to_ use the various registers of the
0830J35 language in correlation with the situations wherein the language is
0840J35 used; and $(d) shows phonetic deviations in a significant way (often
0850J35 approximated to his first language phonetic forms); there are also marked
0860J35 differences in lexical manifestations under the influence of the
0870J35 first language. $^The non-native language user differs in his use
0880J35 of linguistic forms; his use of the language is intended to_ serve
0890J35 limited (functional) purposes . ^The influence of the speaker*'s first
0900J35 language on the phonetic habits learnt in the second language gives
0910J35 rise to the phenomenon called 'foreign accent'. ^Other phonetic deviations
0920J35 noted in research are: the use of retroflex consonants (made with
0930J35 the tip of the tongue curled back) for /t/, /d/, /n/, and /l/
0940J35 (Halliday, *(0et al*), 1964); a tendency toward equalizing the four or
0950J35 more degrees of phonetic stress notable in mother tongue varieties
0960J35 (Prator, 1968); and, deviations in rhythm and intonation (Kachru,
0970J35 1969). ^There are also some differences in lexis (should these be called
0980J35 'addition' to or 'expansion' of the lexical stock of the language?)
0990J35 in terms of phenomena and concepts not shared with native varieties
1000J35 of English, and, those transferred from the mother tongue to English.
1010J35 $^The crucial question, however, is whether these deviations have
1020J35 the effect of rendering Educated Indian English dissimilar to the
1030J35 native varieties of English. ^Will there be a sharp and marked loss
1040J35 in intelligibility between speakers belonging to native and non-native
1050J35 varieties? $*<*31.2 Pre-requisites for a Standard*0*> $^Most
1060J35 scholars agree to the nature of characteristic features that_ constitute
1070J35 a standard speech. ^It is, however, in their understanding of these
1080J35 features that_ prejudices creep in and provide varying conclusions
1090J35 about the feasibility of a non-native variety as a standard form. ^In
1100J35 some cases, the confusion can be traced back to a possible mix up
1110J35 between a 'language standard' and a 'pedagogic standard'. $^*Halliday *(0et
1120J35 al*) (1964) suggest the following conditions for the acceptable **[sic**]
1130J35 of a variety as a standard form: $(a) ^It should be used by a large
1140J35 body of population; and $(b) The speech form should be mutually intelligible
1150J35 with other varieties of English used by similar professional
1160J35 and educated groups in other countries. $^It follows from (b) that
1170J35 the extent of deviation in the areas of lexis and grammar must be small.
1180J35 ^It also admits the possibility of phonetic variation though the number
1190J35 of contrasts, the number of phonological units, must remain fairly
1200J35 close to those of the other educated accents. $^These pre-conditions
1210J35 have been suggested for the recognition of a pedagogic standard
1220J35 in second-language teaching situations. ^A non-native standard for
1230J35 instructional purposes is also essential in the absence of live interaction
1240J35 with the native speakers (Bhatia, 1975). ^*Halliday *(0et al*)
1250J35 (1964) state that "social and educational markers of the professional
1260J35 and governmental Englishmen they were accustomed to meeting are no
1270J35 longer there in the Indian situation." ^*English in India has acquired
1280J35 distinct local markers in the form of constant live interaction.
1290J35 ^However, the acceptance of such a standard is valid only in the limited
1300J35 context of a functional role; not as an expression of one*'s innermost
1310J35 feelings or as an expression of national culture. ^The validity of
1320J35 the concept of a non-native standard has to_ be limited, by its very
1330J35 nature, in terms of the functional role that_ it acquires as a second
1340J35 language. $^*Kachru (1965, 1966, 1969) relates the idea of a non-native
1251J35 standard to a cline of bilingualism wherein the standard speaker
1360J35 is placed somewhere above the central point (the highest point is the
1370J35 ambilingual point); the advantage in this kind of an explanation is
1380J35 the recognition that the non-native speaker does not necessarily equal
1390J35 the native speaker in his command of the language. ^The non-native
1400J35 speaker*'s speech is invested with intelligibility in the sense that
1410J35 he is able to_ use English "effectively for social control". $^*Bhatia
1420J35 (1972, 1975) has described the \0EIE speech in terms of six
1430J35 parameters. ^In attempting to_ provide a sociolinguistic perspective
1440J35 to the question of a non-native standard of English in India, he
1450J35 has suggested the following six parameters: $1. Speaker or user; $2.
1460J35 Communication situations wherein English is used in India; $3. \0EIE
1470J35 as distinct from uneducated Indian English; $4. Formal features
1480J35 of English spoken in India; $5. \0EIE vis-a-vis other dialects
1490J35 of native and non-native English; and $6. Comprehensibility of \0EIE
1500J35 to native and non-native speakers. $^He argues that a detailed
1510J35 analysis of the above parameters and their proper integration should
1520J35 ensure the choice of the non-native standard. $^As was suggested earlier,
1530J35 research work has not indicated any sharp differences in the recognition
1540J35 of pre-requisites of a standard; varying perspectives have only
1550J35 sought to_ present the parameters in the context of the dominant orientation
1560J35 of a given study. ^It is, however, in the application or interpretation
1570J35 of the parameters that_ sharp differences have arisen. ^In one
1580J35 of the sharpest attacks on the acceptance of non-native standards
1590J35 in second-language teaching situations, Prator (1968) repudiates the
1600J35 very idea on the same ground that Halliday *(0et al*) (1964), Kachru
1610J35 (1965, 1966, 1969) and Bhatia (1972) enunciate. ^*Prator*'s attack
1620J35 is directed against the 'British heresy', as he chooses to_ call
1630J35 it, in the field of \0TESL. $^The tone in which Prator responds
1640J35 to the essay included in Halliday *(0et al*) needs to_ be understood
1650J35 with some moderation, for the Pratorian argument is largely
1660J35 'polemic' and irked by the claim to 'precedence' in the British acceptance
1670J35 of the non-native models as standards for teaching. ^*Prator*'s
1680J35 prejudice is apparent when he chooses to_ label the non-native model
1690J35 in the pedagogic situation as the "ultimate model" for all Indian
1700J35 learners learning English, while Halliday *(0et al*) limited its
1710J35 acceptability strictly to the Indian educational scene. ^In case the
1720J35 learner found himself in a native setting, he should automatically
1730J35 begin to_ respond to the native speech. ^It is quite true that hardened
1740J35 muscular activity may hamper reform in certain phonetic habits; however,
1750J35 he is likely to_ change in his use of suprasegmental phonemes,
1760J35 lexis and syntax. ^*Prator*'s essay seems to_ suffer from a sense
1770J35 of national rivalry with the British; it thus colours the discussion
1780J35 of the subject very strongly. ^Such statements as the one given
1790J35 below are quite revealing in this context: $^It would be *3manifestly
1800J35 untrue*0 to_ suggest that the British *3originated*0 the idea
1810J35 that there is a special Indian variety of English that_ should be
1820J35 taught in the schools of India... $(\0pp. 459-60, my italics).
1830J35 $^He also raises the question of pride in the use of a particular standard
1840J35 or model; an Afghan, according to Prator, takes great pride
1850J35 in being told that he speaks English like a native speaker, while
1860J35 an Indian takes pride in the local model. ^The crucial question is
1870J35 the situation of language use: an Indian speaking to another Indian
1880J35 uses the local model more as a marker
1890J35 of identity and group-membership; the same Indian may take great pride
1900J35 in using a native model while speaking to a native speaker.*#
        **[no. of words = 02009**]

        **[txt. j36**]
0010J36 **<*3The Great Classroom Hoax and other Reflections on Indian Education*0**>
0050J36 $^If we developed
0060J36 alternatives to the existing network of schools, colleges and
0070J36 universities, the reaction of professional educators would predictably
0080J36 be to_ commend such enterprise, until it came to the point of certifying
0090J36 or recognizing the credentials obtained outside the traditional
0100J36 system. ^For years now, the Government in Delhi have been considering
0110J36 the idea of scrapping degree requirements for positions in the
0120J36 public service that_ do not need university training, or could be filled
0130J36 on the basis of competitive tests. ^Does not everyone in Delhi
0140J36 know that, without a decision on this point, people are not likely
0150J36 to_ accept non-traditional forms of learning as alternatives to the
0160J36 formal system? $^In this context, it is amusing to_ watch the virtuous
0170J36 wrath of educators over the phenomenon of private coaching establishments
0180J36 that_ take trustful candidates*' money on false guarantees
0190J36 of success. ^These establishments (one of whom published a comically
0200J36 illiterate advertisement in a national newspaper the other day)
0210J36 promise short-cuts to learning, which in actual fact they fail to_ provide.
0220J36 ^But the traditional institutions within the educational system,
0230J36 that_ oblige the young to_ take the longer route, also fail to_
0240J36 get their clientele to the promised destination. ^Since this latter
0250J36 pursuit costs more than the private coaching classes, and the money
0260J36 comes from public funds, there is a case for working up a higher
0270J36 degree of wrath over this larger swindle. $^The traditional system is
0280J36 so well-entrenched that it does not take kindly to variations even
0290J36 when they are officially sponsored. ^A notable example is what happened
0300J36 to the Rural Institutes that_ had come into being on the recommendation
0310J36 of the Radhakrishnan Commission, and whose programmes
0320J36 were designed and co-ordinated by a national council on rural higher
0330J36 education appointed by the Government of India. ^Despite the relevance
0340J36 of these programmes to the rural economy, and academic standards
0350J36 comparable to those of most degree colleges, the Institutes*' diplomas
0360J36 were not recognized by most of the traditional universities.
0370J36 ^While lesser establishments rose to the status of what the Government
0380J36 ungrammatically calls 'deemed universities' the Rural Institutes
0390J36 have been obliged to_ stay outside the mainstream of our higher
0400J36 education. ^Does the same kind of embarrassment await the non-formal
0410J36 alternatives that_ are now being talked of? $^It is not as if the
0420J36 academic community is unaware of the compelling reasons that_ oblige
0430J36 us to_ turn to non-traditional ways of learning. ^One reason is that
0440J36 the resources for expanding the traditional system along traditional
0450J36 lines have been exhausted. ^Another is that, even if we had the
0460J36 resources, there would still be need for alternatives, for the formal
0470J36 system does not exhaust the possibilities of learning. ^There is
0480J36 even the danger that, if the formal ways of learning were all we have,
0490J36 even the efficient work of school, college and university would
0500J36 be undone by the influences that_ operate outside these establishments.
0510J36 ^The 20 hours a week even in a good college may not prevail against
0520J36 what happens in the other 80 odd waking hours spent in the world
0530J36 outside. ^Seats of learning have, for sheer survival, to_ strive
0540J36 to_ create a learning society around them. $^Teaching is today the
0550J36 largest profession in the country, and yet we need more teachers.
0560J36 ^Invaluable as the services of professional teachers are, we also
0570J36 need a new kind of teacher for certain new kinds of learning. ^These
0580J36 new teachers have to_ come from outside the academic world. ^This
0590J36 amounts to no more than recognizing and developing the genuine learning
0600J36 that_ is already taking place in practically every business, trade
0610J36 and profession. ^And this non-formal sector need not be confined
0620J36 to 'learning-how' subjects such as linguistic or mechanical skills,
0630J36 but could include theoretical subjects like philosophy, mathematics
0640J36 and aesthetics. $^The exclusiveness of the academic profession has
0650J36 lately not been leading the learners to any heights of excellence.
0660J36 ^Its attitude, meanwhile, is akin to what was guyed in the famous
0670J36 undergraduate rhyme about Benjamin Jowett: $^*I am the master of
0680J36 this college; $What I don*'4t know isn*'4t knowledge. $^To_ ensure
0690J36 acceptance of this stance, scholars today employ a device that_ Ivan
0700J36 Illich refers to in one of his vigorous indictments of academic
0710J36 practices: "Information is locked into special languages, and specialized
0720J36 teachers live off its re-translation." ^What we need is an open
0730J36 system, in which universities do not function like secret societies,
0740J36 and the disciplines are not turned into arcane pursuits. $^Perhaps
0750J36 the most expedient way to_ let in fresh air, and develop alternatives
0760J36 in post-secondary education, is for colleges to_ design a non-formal
0770J36 and non-traditional sector outside the prescribed routine of
0780J36 studies, and with the assistance, if necessary, of non-faculty personnel,
0790J36 to_ offer short courses both to their regular, full-time
0800J36 students on a voluntary basis, and to others who might be interested.
0810J36 ^These additional courses could range all the way from those involving
0820J36 manual and mechanical skills to_ reading Plato and Sankara
0830J36 and Karl Marx. ^It should be possible to_ find competent professionals,
0840J36 experts and enthusiasts, outside the academic system, who are
0850J36 interested enough in educational change to_ be willing to_ donate
0860J36 some of their time and energy to_ discuss such subjects with young
0870J36 learners. ^Within the regular faculty itself, there should be many
0880J36 who would welcome the relief and the freedom that_ such programmes
0890J36 offer. $^Colleges could also do some self-examination and find
0900J36 answers to the following questions: ^Does the student have to_
0910J36 come to college to_ learn what he now does? ^Does the college need
0920J36 the personnel and the plant that_ it now has, to_ do what it now does?
0930J36 ^Could they be used for reaching a higher level of achievement? ^And
0940J36 what does the college fail to_ give the student at present, which
0950J36 he needs? ^The answers could lead to many hitherto untrodden paths
0960J36 of learning. $*<*3Great Books and Text Books*0*> $^The Ministry
0970J36 of Education announced recently, with modest pride, that "no less
0980J36 than 4000 titles have been published under the scheme for the production
0990J36 of university level books in Indian languages." ^This works
1000J36 out to two or three hundred titles in each of the principal languages
1010J36 used as media of learning in some sectors of our higher education.
1020J36 ^Not a large number, but, considering the next to nothing with
1030J36 which the regional *4Granth Academies started, the output is not to_
1040J36 be scoffed at. ^There was however no call for the smugness of the
1050J36 official spokesman*'s claim that "by the end of the current plan period,
1060J36 there will be enough books in the Indian languages in almost
1070J36 all disciplines." ^How many or how much would be enough? $^That_
1080J36 phrase about "enough books" represents a view of the use of textbooks
1090J36 that_ has done much harm to the quality of our education. ^The primacy
1100J36 of the textbook in school and college is a recent phenomenon.
1110J36 ^As a pupil in primary school, I did not have any textbook other than
1120J36 the single language reader that_ was prescribed. ^Today, children
1130J36 need a sizeable bag to_ lug their textbooks to class. ^In secondary
1140J36 school, we did not have textbooks to_ do subjects like physics
1150J36 and chemistry, but students seem to_ need them today. ^In college
1160J36 too, while textbooks were listed, no student felt obliged to_ buy
1170J36 any textbook except in the language courses. ^The importance now attached
1180J36 to textbooks indicates a narrowing of our educational vision.
1190J36 $^Fortunately, most students have a healthy dislike of textbooks. ^Most
1200J36 textbooks are badly written, and are ephemeral products. ^That
1210J36 they should be abhorred is legitimate. ^But unfortunately, when a good
1220J36 book gets into this dismal company, it too falls into disfavour with
1230J36 the young. ^The curriculum includes no effort to_ develop such
1240J36 critical faculty as would distinguish a good book from a bad one.
1250J36 ^And unimaginative pedagogy helps to_ turn even a delightful book
1260J36 into an instrument of torture. ^A friend once told me that, reading
1270J36 *3The Rape of the Lock*0 years after leaving college and enjoying
1280J36 every line of it, he could hardly believe that it was the same poem
1290J36 on which he had spent many agonized hours in class as an undergraduate.
1300J36 ^*I was luckier in the teachers who introduced me to the great
1310J36 books heritage. $^A good textbook should be a seductive invitation
1320J36 to learning, and not a cage to_ imprison the minds of unsuspecting
1330J36 youth. ^A way to_ deal with the average textbook is to_ use it for
1340J36 academic target practice; students could sharpen their critical wits
1350J36 through discovering the omissions, repetitions, inaccuracies and obsolescences
1360J36 in the book. ^This may seem to_ presume in the student
1370J36 higher capabilities than the author*'s. ^Not necessarily. ^A student
1380J36 of average ability once told me that three-fourths of the voluminous
1390J36 textbook in economics he was doing, seemed to_ be shameless padding.
1400J36 ^His class could have learnt its economics in the liveliest way
1410J36 by exposing the trickeries of the author. $^There are modest levels
1420J36 on which such exercises could be done. ^*I remember doing a book
1430J36 of English prose selections with an Intermediate class many years
1440J36 ago. ^While the selections in the book came from standard writers of
1450J36 the language, the editing and the printing had been done by near-illiterates,
1460J36 and the text was full of printing mistakes, an average of two
1470J36 or three to a page. ^*I pointed some out in the beginning, but after
1480J36 a while, it became an interesting game in the class, students vying
1490J36 with one another in spotting the errors. ^At one stage, a student
1500J36 ventured to_ ask why such a badly printed book should have been prescribed
1510J36 by the Board. ^As a member of the Board myself, I weakly explained
1520J36 that perhaps the first edition had been free from error, and
1530J36 what we were doing was a reprint. ^*I did not mention that the publisher
1540J36 probably had friends in the Board. ^It involved some trouble
1550J36 and a lot of correspondence before the book was replaced the next
1560J36 year. ^Meanwhile, I was happy with what my class had accomplished.
1570J36 ^It had denounced a textbook, a valuable educational exercise. $^*I
1580J36 could tell many shameful tales of the textbook racket. ^But I would
1590J36 urge that neither teachers nor students should overdo any righteous
1600J36 indignation in the matter. ^An inferior textbook need not limit
1610J36 the range of one*'s reading or learning. ^We could match the dictum
1620J36 of the old wag who said, "Whenever my attention is drawn to a new
1630J36 book, I read an old one." ^He was obviously a curmudgeon, and missed
1640J36 some good things. ^Our dictum could be: "Read the textbooks you have
1650J36 to_, but get back to the great books as soon as you can." $^Paradoxically,
1660J36 the average student*'s attitude to both the categories of
1670J36 books, I have paired in the title of this article is unenthusiastic.
1680J36 ^He dislikes textbooks, by healthy instinct. ^He goes in fear of the
1690J36 great books, owing to ignorance. ^Maybe, the first time anyone recommended
1700J36 a classic to him, it happened to_ be the wrong choice. ^Even
1710J36 in the presence of the mighty, a reader has a right to his own
1720J36 likes and dislikes. $^There could be serious divergence of views even
1730J36 on the most widely acclaimed of classics. ^For *(0F.R.*) Leavis,
1740J36 the 'great tradition' of the English novel began with Jane Austen.
1750J36 ^Speaking of the same author, Mark Twain deplored that they
1760J36 had allowed her to_ die a natural death. *3^*The Confessions*0 of
1770J36 \0St. Augustine ranks high among the world*'s autobiographies, but
1780J36 Hilaire Belloc, a stout defender of all things Catholic, found
1790J36 the Catholic saint*'s autobiography unbearably tedious. ^There are
1800J36 people who, like Matthew Arnold, rave about the *3Meditations*0
1810J36 of Marcus Aurelius, but at least one notable critic once dismissed
1820J36 him as 'a bore among emperors, and the emperor of bores.' ^*Alan Forrest,
1830J36 writing recently in *3Books and Bookmen*0, described the
1840J36 works of Nobel laureates in literature as 'a list of Great Unreadables.'
1850J36 ^A journalistic exaggeration this, but even confronted by eminence,
1860J36 we should be proud enough to_ call our souls our own. $^That there
1870J36 could be no consensus on such ventures as a list of the Hundred
1880J36 Great Books of the world, may be seen in the trenchant comments
1890J36 that Dwight Macdonald made on the publication of the impressive 52-volume
1900J36 set of the *3Great Books of the Western World*0.*#
        **[no. of words = 02034**]

        **[txt. j37**]
0010J37 **<*3Educational Supervision*0**> $^The democratic philosophy has certain
0020J37 basic tenets. ^Briefly these are: $*31. ^Democracy stands for the
0030J37 worth, dignity and freedom of the individual*0-- ^This means that the
0040J37 individual soul is of supreme value because it comes from God. ^This
0050J37 also means that the individual man is of supreme value because he
0060J37 contributes to the good of society. ^It is true that all men do not possess
0070J37 the same abilities nor in the same measure. ^It is also true that
0080J37 they do not contribute to social life to the same extent. ^But the
0090J37 fact that each man does contribute in his own original way gives
0100J37 equal right of regard and respect. ^So the individual*'s personality
0110J37 and abilities are important and valuable. $*32. ^Democracy believes
0120J37 in the equality of all individuals*0-- ^Equality involves both rights
0130J37 and responsibilities. ^Rights, such as political equality before
0140J37 the law, are easily recognised and demanded because they are legally
0150J37 guaranteed. ^The corresponding responsibilities are seldom understood because
0160J37 they are not prescribed by law. ^This upsets the balance between
0170J37 rights and responsibilities. ^Equality also means equality of opportunity
0180J37 for self-development according to the individual*'s capacities
0190J37 in order to_ become a socially efficient individual. $*33. ^Democracy
0200J37 aims at the common good of all*0-- ^All individuals must develop
0210J37 a social outlook. ^This means that individuality is not a private possession
0220J37 but has to_ devote itself to the welfare of others. ^Democracy
0230J37 is a functional group organisation. ^There is freedom for all to_
0240J37 contribute to common good but not to_ hamper others*' progress.
0250J37 ^Briefly stated its faith is "the good of all is the good of each". $*34.
0260J37 ^Democracy believes that authority is not absolute but related to the
0270J37 situation*0-- ^Power is not derived from law but by superior skill and
0280J37 better contribution. ^So democracy substitutes leadership for authority.
0290J37 ^This means that a democratic society utilises the services of the
0300J37 experts without their domination. ^The leadership process consists of
0310J37 experimentation, group discussion and group decision. ^For bringing about
0320J37 change it uses persuasion instead of coercion and force. $^The implications
0330J37 of the democratic philosophy to educational supervision are
0340J37 clear. *3^Firstly*0, the old type of leader-follower relationship
0350J37 will no longer hold good, and has to_ yield place to new leadership.
0360J37 ^Imposition and direction, orders and commands, have to_ be replaced
0370J37 by cooperation and guidance. *3^Secondly*0, leadership and creativity
0380J37 are not exclusive but they, are found in all persons, though varying
0390J37 in kind and degree. ^Every person is capable of contributing something
0400J37 to the common purpose and pursuit. ^Contributions from all persons
0410J37 should therefore be invited and welcomed. *3^Thirdly*0, in democratic
0420J37 supervision there is no room for centralisation of decision-making
0430J37 power. ^All policies, plans and procedures have to_ be determined
0440J37 cooperatively by the group and decisions arrived at by the group
0450J37 are to_ be accepted and implemented by all without any reservations.
0460J37 *3^Finally*0, power and authority are not absolute; these are derived
0470J37 from the needs of the situation. $^The present day life is deeply influenced
0480J37 by science and scientific thought. ^Problems arise and are
0490J37 solved by the scientific method. ^So another source of the principles
0500J37 of supervision is science. ^Science stands for observation and discovery
0510J37 of facts and establishment of general laws from specific facts.
0520J37 ^The essential features of the scientific method are the following:
0530J37 $*311. ^The scientific method is based upon objectivity, reliability
0540J37 and validity*0-- ^It observes facts as they are, identifies the laws
0550J37 governing them by systematic analysis and expert organisation, and
0560J37 establishes the reliability and validity of the laws. $*32. ^The
0570J37 scientific method uses the techniques of survey experimentation and
0580J37 analysis \0etc*0.-- ^It controls subjectivity by impartiality, verification,
0590J37 repetition of experiments, statistical analysis and use of
0600J37 precision instruments. $*33. ^The application of the scientific method
0610J37 is limited in some aspects*0-- ^Education, as a social science,
0620J37 is a dynamic process. ^Its materials cannot be strictly controlled;
0630J37 they are not so simple as those of the physical sciences. ^Measurement
0640J37 in education cannot be as exact and accurate as in physical sciences.
0650J37 ^The process of analysis cannot be very rigid and objective. $^When
0660J37 applied to educational supervision the scientific method leads
0670J37 us to some important conclusions. *3^Firstly*0, in setting up aims and
0680J37 objectives, planning principles and procedures, assessing resources
0690J37 and evaluating results the scientific approach and method should
0700J37 be applied. *3^Secondly*0, everyday and practical problems should be
0710J37 tackled and solved scientifically. *3^Thirdly*0, the situation should
0720J37 be diagnosed properly and in decision-making the background material should
0730J37 be utilised. *3^Finally*0, objectively determined facts must lead
0740J37 to more and more effort at refinement of methods and techniques. $^Briefly
0750J37 speaking, the principles of educational supervision are drawn
0760J37 from both philosophy and science. ^Philosophy leads to formulation
0770J37 of policies, plans, purposes and values in determining which aspirations
0780J37 and ideals of the good life must be carefully considered in relation
0790J37 to life as a whole. ^The scientific method should lead to the
0800J37 solution of problems and experimental and valid conclusions instead
0810J37 of blind operation of set formulas. $^Philosophy and science, both together
0820J37 should lead to a dynamic and integrated theory and practice
0830J37 of supervision. ^This theory may be briefly summarised as under: $(1)
0840J37 ^The supervisor must secure a complete and accurate picture of current
0850J37 school practices. $(2) ^The supervisor must utilise all scientific
0860J37 knowledge about materials and methods to_ improve the condition of the
0870J37 teaching-learning situation. $(3) ^The supervisor must know research
0880J37 findings and think critically, analytically and objectively. $(4) ^The
0890J37 supervisor must enlist the cooperation of teachers, administrators
0900J37 and other persons and utilise t  ir abilities with confidence for the
0910J37 improvement of the teaching-learning situation. $(5) ^The supervisor
0920J37 must evaluate teaching-learning on the basis of not only the knowledge
0930J37 but also the understand **[sic**] skills and attitudes acquired
0940J37 by the pupils. $*<*33. Principles of Good Supervision*0.*> $^From
0950J37 the above discussion we are in a position to_ formulate the following
0960J37 principles of educational supervision: $*31. ^Supervision should
0970J37 be functionally related to administration*0: ^Besides other things,
0980J37 administration provides the physical and material conditions for education,
0990J37 such as building, equipment and the like. ^These are part of the
1000J37 educational setting or the teaching-learning situation. ^Supervision
1010J37 is concerned with *3improving*0 this situation. "^Even though supervision
1020J37 is assigned quite specific tasks within the area of administration,
1030J37 it is considered an integral part of it. ^Supervision must be primarily
1040J37 a nonmanagerial service within the total responsibilities of administration."
1050J37 ^It is clear the two are closely and functionally related.
1060J37 ^They coordinate and supplement each other. ^Good administration and
1070J37 good supervision both have the same function-- the creation of favourable
1080J37 conditions for the educational process and their maintenance at
1090J37 an effective level. ^One cannot go on without the other. ^Administration
1100J37 provides the educational setting or the teaching-learning situation,
1110J37 and supervision studies it, evaluates its strength and weakness,
1120J37 and continuously improves it. "^Administration and supervision considered
1130J37 *3functionally*0 cannot be separated or set off from each other.
1140J37 ^The two are coordinate, correlative, complementary, mutually shared
1150J37 functions in the operation of educational systems." $*32. ^Supervision
1160J37 should be based on philosophy*0. ^This means that the policies,
1170J37 plans, purposes, values and meaning of supervision should be determined
1180J37 by the philosophy or the way of life of the society whose education
1190J37 is to_ be undertaken. ^The aims, objectives, policies and plans
1200J37 are to_ be examined by the philosophic method, specially for their relevance
1210J37 to the community*'s life as whole. ^For this the quantitative
1220J37 data are to_ be critically examined for their qualitative implications
1230J37 or significance and adequacy. ^Aims and purposes are to_ be assessed
1240J37 in the light of the needs, ideals and aspirations of the community.
1250J37 ^These have also to_ be related to the evolutionary process of the
1260J37 world and the constantly going on economic and social change. ^While
1270J37 applying the philosophic method care must be taken to_ employ the
1280J37 logical process of critical thought. ^This is a difficult task and
1290J37 can be carried out only by trained thinkers, so that the conclusions
1300J37 are accurate, complete and rational. $^Thus the contribution of philosophy
1310J37 to educational supervision lies in the field of the values and
1320J37 culture of society, the resources and aspirations of the community, its
1330J37 problems and climate and the procedures of evaluating the educational
1340J37 outcomes. ^All these will guide the organisation and operation
1340J37 of the educational process. ^Emphasis is to_ be placed on the close relation
1350J37 of life with education, its subject-matter and methodology as these
1360J37 affect the individuals constituting society and the community as a whole.
1370J37 $*33. ^Supervision should be scientific*0-- ^All activities, plans,
1380J37 procedures and techniques should be based on the scientific attitude
1390J37 and method. ^Supervision should emphasise experimentation, observation
1400J37 and inference, objectivity and reliability. ^It should utilise
1410J37 the findings of research, standardised tests and statistical analysis.
1420J37 ^It should check upon the validity of facts. ^The scientific method
1430J37 should lead to more and more accuracy and precision. ^Scientific supervision
1440J37 re-interprets the aims, policies, materials and methods in the
1450J37 light of realities and the democratic social processes of life and
1460J37 education. ^It starts with securing a complete and correct picture
1470J37 of school practices, learning materials and teaching technology. ^It
1480J37 obtains knowledge about specific situations, the learner*'s motives
1490J37 and personality, and the nature of the learning process. ^It should
1500J37 take positive steps by critical thinking and objective analysis to_
1510J37 improve the situation, the pupils and the teachers. "^The supervisor,
1520J37 rather, would need to_ study carefully the personality needs
1530J37 of his individual staff members as they go about the tasks of meeting
1540J37 the requirements of the teaching duties in the particular situation."
1550J37 "^Even the effectiveness of pupils*' report forms should be constantly
1560J37 evaluated." $^Whenever rigid scientific methods cannot be applied
1570J37 good educational supervision still employs rational thinking to_ draw
1580J37 precise, impartial, objective and expert conclusions and systematically
1590J37 organise them into a workable theory. $*34. ^Supervision should be
1600J37 democratic*0-- ^Supervision should be a cooperative enterprise in which
1610J37 every one has the right to_ contribute. "^The right to_ cooperate
1620J37 in the selection of materials and methods is the right of every teacher.
1630J37 ^The right to_ help determine instructional destinations is the right
1640J37 of every teacher." ^Modern supervision respects the individuality
1650J37 and personality of pupils, teachers and other educational workers and
1660J37 gives recognition to their individual differences. "^The supervisory
1670J37 leader needs to_ guard against his impatience when the group is not
1680J37 at his level of understanding." ^He should do everything possible
1690J37 to encourage them. "^Feeling like doing a good job is a pre-requisite
1700J37 for a good instructional program, and it cannot be made up for by
1710J37 a knowledge of proper procedures, as valuable as such knowledge is.
1720J37 ^Enthusiasm, initiative, and ingenuity are now prominent as essentials
1730J37 to teaching." ^Democratic supervision provides full opportunity to discussion,
1740J37 free expression of views and opinions, enlists participation
1750J37 of all persons and welcomes and utilises their contribution for the
1760J37 improvement of the teaching-learning situation and process. ^It believes
1770J37 that everybody is endowed with rationality, creativity and energy
1780J37 and is capable of growth and improvement. ^It, therefore, stimulates
1790J37 initiative, self-confidence, and sense of responsibility among all
1800J37 workers in the discharge of their duties. "^The group should understand
1810J37 clearly the thing that has brought them together. ^The good
1820J37 leader first works toward common classification of the goals, and then
1830J37 tackles the problem of joint agreement on procedures to_ be followed
1840J37 in tackling the job." $^Good supervision has confidence in the workers*'
1850J37 worth and dignity, and is ever prepared to_ exchange ideas and
1860J37 opinions with them. ^The supervisor in "leading a group does everything
1870J37 possible to_ build up in the members the feeling that their ideas are
1880J37 the important thing." ^It provides plenty of opportunity for growth
1890J37 and improvement, and above all, ensures fair dealing with, and among,
1900J37 all persons. ^Moreover, the supervisory programme "in all aspects,
1910J37 must reflect deep concern for human relationships." ^It evaluates
1920J37 the final educational product not only on the basis of knowledge but
1930J37 also of skills, understandings and attitudes acquired by the pupils.
1940J37 ^It should remember **[sic**] that "Democratic relationships between
1941J37 supervisors, teachers, and administrators breed democratic
1942J37 relationships between pupils and teachers."
1950J37 ^Good supervision substitutes authority by leadership,
1960J37 and if authority is needed it is derived from the needs of the situation
1970J37 and superior knowledge and skills and not from the position occupied
1980J37 by the supervisor.*#
        **[no. of words = 02006**]

        **[txt. j38**]
0010J38 **<*3Educational Planning and Poverty of India*0**> $^Perhaps related
0020J38 to this problem, if not mixed up with it, is the problem of 'University
0030J38 autonomy and academic freedom,' both of which are obviously
0040J38 exercised by Universities with a few exceptions. ^Universities make
0050J38 their own appointments and are free to_ choose their syllabus. ^Despite
0060J38 this enjoyment of prerogatives it is a matter of concern that Universities
0070J38 have not been able to_ produce an intellectual and academic
0080J38 elite strong enough to_ crystallise as a social force. $^Historically,
0090J38 a strong elite had been produced in-- Moghal times called
0100J38 the '*4Mansabdars'. ^These constituted a cross section of landed aristocracy.
0110J38 ^The Moghal authority depended for exercise of authority
0120J38 on the-- '*4Mansabdars' who, in turn, derived their existence from
0130J38 Moghal grants and in this way the two became interdependent. ^Because
0140J38 of this mutually dependent existence, the '*4Mansabdar' elite collapsed
0150J38 under the impact of the British rule, which did not admit the
0160J38 aristocratic base of an elite whose loyalties were suspect. $^Compared
0170J38 to this, the example of a partyless civil service as administrative
0180J38 elite, created under the British Government, survived even after
0190J38 the withdrawal of British rule from India. ^This administrative elite,
0200J38 because of its resilence, persists with a greater force in India
0210J38 today, because the political framework within which it operates
0220J38 is weak owing to the 'rulers' being new to the task. $^The University,
0230J38 which is the reservoir of intellectual powers, has not been able to_
0240J38 leave any imprint on the decision making powers of the Governmental
0250J38 elite, much less produce its own brand of elite to_ give a direction
0260J38 to the intellectual, social and economic affairs of the country.
0270J38 ^Its right to a real economic freedom and true autonomy will inevitably
0280J38 come within its grasp when its strength increases, in proportion
0290J38 to the decision making power shared by it, in terms of its own elite;
0300J38 and not only that_, when it is able to_ serve as the forum for
0310J38 various elite groups to_ meet and gain from mutual contact. $^The Elite,
0320J38 in a liberal democracy, need not bring in an element of contradiction.
0340J38 ^Mutual contacts and consultations, the shared deliberation and
0350J38 the spirit of 'inquiry' form a democratic society. ^In India, where
0360J38 a democratic way of life is being experimented with, and where,
0370J38 because of successive doses of industrialisation, a mass society seems
0380J38 to_ be emerging it is imperative that elite sections are created
0390J38 in fields which are vital sectors of Society. $^The examples
0400J38 of American Professors drafted as ambassadors with wide, decision
0410J38 making powers to_ influence the external affairs and economic institutions
0420J38 of their country, are refreshing; it is more refreshing to_
0430J38 know that they are always in some hurry to_ be back to their teaching
0440J38 assignments and research jobs in their own Universities. $*<*3The
0450J38 teaching elite in the 19th & early 20th Century in India*0*> $^In
0460J38 the Maharashtra reform movements in the nineteenth century, college
0470J38 teachers played a great role. ^*Balashastri Jambhekar and Krishna
0480J38 Shastri Chiplunkar were both college teachers. ^*Mahadev Govind Ranade,
0490J38 was Professor of English at Elphinstone College (1868-71)
0500J38 and Dadabhai Naoroji was also a professor there. ^*Ramakrishna Gopal
0510J38 Bhandarkar an active teacher and leader of Prarthana Samaj,
0520J38 later became the famous Indologist. $^The celebrated statesmen Tilak
0530J38 and Gokhale were, both College professors. ^*Tilak started his famous
0540J38 Ganesh-Festival. ^In 1895 he raised funds to_ repair Shivajee*'s
0550J38 historic fort at Raigarh. $^In Bengal, it was the school master
0560J38 who played a significant role in nationalist movements and not the
0570J38 College teacher. ^The Middle class traditionally called the 'Bhadralok'
0580J38 in Bengal, by their first efforts, started The Indian Association
0590J38 representing the intelligentsia. ^Its managing committee, composed
0600J38 of 48 members, did not seem to_ have any College teacher while
0610J38 68% of the membership belonged to the lawyers. \0^*Dr. Gorden Johnson
0620J38 refers to the Council, first framed after the 1892 Council reforms,
0630J38 in 1893-95; 1895-97; 1897-99. ^Of the fourteen members, eleven
0640J38 were lawyers, two were *4Zemindars, and one, Surendra Nath Banerjee
0650J38 was a journalist. ^It is, of course, on record that Schoolmasters
0660J38 offered themselves for election to municipalities and district
0670J38 boards, but not the College Teachers. $^In the rest of India, where
0680J38 the national movement started later than in Bengal and Maharashtra,
0690J38 the teachers, by and large, kept aloof from active civic life.
0700J38 ^When Gandhiji started a chain of parallel national institutions,
0710J38 as a sequel to the boycott of the Government educational institutions,
0720J38 some selfless intellectuals did come forward to_ run such institutions.
0730J38 ^They later formed a coterie of educationists and statesmen including
0740J38 Acharya Narendra Deo and Lal Bahadur Shastri. $^But, in the background
0750J38 of the growth of College Education, a number of private
0760J38 institutions were founded from endowments although they looked up to
0770J38 Government for maintenance grants. ^The Government Colleges and
0780J38 Universities, of course, stood out as isolated elements in the wider
0790J38 sweep of national movement. $*<\0*3IAS*0 or \0*3INS*0*> $^Without
0800J38 going into the merits of the case for the generalist administrator,
0820J38 one must admit that the Indian scene today is invaded by a sweeping
0830J38 discontent against this administrative elite which has pre-empted
0840J38 to itself the authority in the spheres in which, in terms of departmental
0850J38 knowledge, it has no moorings. ^Such an intrusion, which is inherent
0860J38 in the very essence of things, sometimes results in the creation
0870J38 of a tendency to mental reservations, because the administrator has
0880J38 to_ have the air of one who knows well how every ground lies. $^Nevertheless,
0890J38 the burden of the day-to-day running of the Government must
0900J38 rest on broad shoulders of an administrative elite. ^The teaching
0910J38 elite should also be allowed to_ be formed by combining the administrative,
0920J38 teaching and technological cadres into one single cadre-- the
0930J38 Indian National Service, (\0INS) (inclusive of the \0IAS,)
0940J38 to which civil servants should be recruited on the same terms of
0950J38 competition and emoluments as the \0IAS today. ^The Teacher or
0960J38 the Engineer or the Doctor, who enters the \0INS as a civil servant
0970J38 along with the generalist administrator, must receive a different
0980J38 sort of training in certain respects. ^So that the Teacher, recruited
0990J38 in the \0INS, eventually becomes Education Secretary, the Doctor
1000J38 Health Secretary, and the Engineer the \0PWD Secretary
1010J38 to Government. $^Unless these different cadres are combined into
1020J38 one cadre-- the \0INS there will continue, in the sphere of the
1030J38 governmental elite, a good deal of bickering and complaints of favoured
1040J38 treatment meted out to only one set of generalist civil servants. $^This
1050J38 does not, however, apply to those who wish to_ keep out of Government
1060J38 departments and to_ devote themselves to independent teaching
1070J38 or research. ^Their avocation is a higher one because it entails
1080J38 acceptance of a life of dedicated service to the pursuit of truth.
1090J38 $^The real dignity and stature of the University or College Teacher will
1100J38 be ensured, when he is able to_ become that_ point of confluence
1110J38 of cultures where the foreign impact on indiginous culture is not
1120J38 able to_ uproot it, but to_ bring to it the fruition of a Catalytic
1130J38 reaction. $*<*3The Founding of a School of Indian Civilisation
1140J38 & Culture*> $^It is one of the major weaknesses of the Indian
1150J38 University curricula that it does not allow for the study of the various
1160J38 streams that_ flow into the vast tradition of Indian civilisation
1170J38 and culture. ^This is, indeed, the real poverty of cultural knowledge,
1180J38 today. ^No doubt, there are a number of Oriental schools, institutes,
1190J38 and departments of research, but they only delve into the past,
1200J38 and make you think of the nation of yesterday. $^The present day languages
1220J38 of India, having their origin in one or the other great classical
1230J38 languages represent that_ constellation of regional cultures
1240J38 which, in fact, is the national culture of India. ^Whether in the
1250J38 medieval times or today, these languages had common frontiers of experience,
1260J38 thought and sensibility. ^To_ continue to_ be out off from **[sic**]
1270J38 this great nourishment of the mind is to_ invite the invasion of
1280J38 ideas which reflect alien traditions. ^In the absence of it if foreign
1290J38 institutions are transplanted we cannot stand up to the invasion
1300J38 because we have no scale of values of our own. $*<*3The University,
1310J38 the elite, and the rural masses*> $^In the modern age, it is
1320J38 one of the distinguishing features of the University to_ let different
1330J38 groups of elites crystallise in a developing mass society; but
1340J38 its real power lies in seeing to their proper flowering in an integrated
1350J38 pattern. ^If the inherent strength of an elite subsists merely
1360J38 in its supposed higher \0IQ to the exclusion of acquired or transmitted
1370J38 culture, and if exigencies of a political system place such an
1380J38 elite on a higher pedestal and closest to pulsations of political power,
1390J38 that_ elite preempts to itself a place which it must, in fairness,
1400J38 yield to another elite which does not concern itself with the contingent
1410J38 and the fleeting. $^A University cannot be indifferent to the
1420J38 health of the culture of a society, nor to the stamina of its intellectual
1430J38 groups however, isolated. ^Indeed, it is the central idea of
1440J38 a University to_ fortify intellectual powers and to_ help sustain
1450J38 those layers of culture that_ have thought and research as its other
1460J38 ingredients. ^However, it may be an expectation never to_ be realised,
1470J38 if we think of the University as a vital liaison between one
1480J38 elite and another. ^And it is here that we are forced to the conclusion
1490J38 that education in the modern age is not total, nor perhaps can it
1500J38 be so. $^When the craft was the hub of productive activity it created
1510J38 those mores of feeling and behaviour which fused into a 'culture'--
1520J38 a way of life. ^The producer, the craftsman and his associates got
1530J38 steeped in that_ way of life which, in fact, became their education.
1540J38 ^It came to them in an indirect way, through the craft. ^A spinner
1550J38 was found fully educated and so was the weaver when it came to testing
1560J38 their knowledge-- their feeling for design, their sense of the
1570J38 buyer being a personal factor in the constricted personal market. $^The
1580J38 religious elite in those remote times, on the other hand, showed
1590J38 a contempt for productive labour, but derived its education from inherited
1600J38 wisdom which was the wisdom of the race. ^Although magic entered
1610J38 such an acquired education in a limited way, the elite was able to_
1620J38 break the monotony, the boredom of life whose shuffled footsteps one
1630J38 heard in a rotund hall. ^The education that_ it betrayed was neither
1640J38 craft centered nor institutional; it was a whole world of beliefs,
1650J38 finally supported by chanted words. ^The elite did not function like
1660J38 a committee of specialists which meets for limited purpose. ^It wielded
1670J38 an unquestioned power on the mind and spirit. $^Education,
1680J38 down the centuries, has grown institutional and departmentalised.
1690J38 ^One of the terms of abuse in social intercourse today is "half-educated",
1700J38 perhaps such an abuse was unthinkable in times indicated above. ^Everyone
1710J38 who belonged to one group or the other of individuals, gifted
1720J38 to_ perform a certain task and to_ fulfil a certain purpose, was
1730J38 'educated' to that_ end. $^Today gifted individuals, forming into
1740J38 groups are rarely from 'uneducated' or 'half-educated' sectors of
1750J38 society. ^They are products of a training, a school of instruction,
1760J38 and wear a school tie or a university crest. ^These groups of specially
1770J38 talented individuals have not, all of them, become elite. ^Their
1780J38 distinctly urban background, the privileges of birth and upbringing and
1790J38 their easy sailing into University education are the common bond amongst
1800J38 them. ^It is rare that a talented rural youngman, with a high
1810J38 \0IQ has been able to_ cross beyond the fences of higher secondary education.
1820J38 ^If at all he is able to_ join such institutions of higher
1830J38 education as give him professional knowledge, his rural upbringing,
1840J38 totally laughable in sophisticated circles, will render him unacceptable.
1850J38 $^The Education Commission Report, 1966, (\0P. 119) gives
1860J38 the following table of students from rural areas studying in different
1870J38 technical and professional institutions. **[table**] $^But in terms
1880J38 of occupation of parents, the following break up of students, in those
1890J38 institutions, is a useful key to an understanding of the sociological
1900J38 pattern of education.*#
        **[no. of worrds = 02004**]

        **[txt. j39**]
0010J39 **<*3A TENTATIVE PLAN FOR EDUCATION OF LEADERS*0**> $*3^WE*0 have seen
0020J39 in the previous pages of this book that from the earliest times
0030J39 of human history, enlightened thinkers have advocated the desirability
0040J39 of an education for a ruler. ^We are certainly not constrained to_
0050J39 accept their views. ^But the way in which modern governments are behaving
0060J39 over the world, and the danger of devastation and annihilation
0070J39 that_ has been posed by the \0H-bombs, Atom-bombs and such other
0080J39 weapons of modern warfare, makes us think over the problem afresh
0090J39 and compels us to_ devise some system of education for rulers in the
0100J39 interests of humanity. ^Most modern states today have accepted the
0110J39 democratic form of goverment. ^In a democratic set-up the people elect
0120J39 representatives to the Houses of Parliament. ^These parliaments
0130J39 can act as the best checks to the wilfulness or corruption of the
0140J39 rulers. ^But in reality these parliaments fail to_ provide any effective
0150J39 checks. ^The government is first of all run on a party basis.
0160J39 ^The people belonging to a certain party always support the action
0170J39 of their party leaders rather blindly or prompted by certain motives.
0180J39 ^The party which forms the opposition, on the other hand, is biased
0190J39 and is pledged to_ oppose the ruling party in every circumstance
0200J39 without caring at all for justice and fairness. ^Secondly, a powerful
0210J39 leader finds it easy to_ grab absolute power. ^Human weakness in
0220J39 the form of selfishness, cowardice and unwillingness on the part of
0230J39 the public fail to_ check effectively any unjust act of the ruler.
0240J39 ^Thirdly, the modern technique of propaganda has been so perfected
0250J39 that it has become very easy to_ convince the common man about the
0260J39 desirability of certain actions. ^The ruler who has absolute command
0270J39 over the state can utilize the radio, the film, the newspaper, the
0280J39 loudspeaker, the stage, and such other media to_ proclaim the desirability
0290J39 and justness of the steps he takes. $^The fact that_ emerges
0300J39 from these considerations is that a democratic constitution is no
0310J39 guarantee for a fair and just ruler or rulers. ^It is always possible
0320J39 to_ bypass, to_ distort or to_ hoodwink the constitution and
0330J39 the people. ^Let us not forget that Napoleon was born out of the revolution
0340J39 of the French people, Ayub was born out of Pakistani democracy,
0350J39 Sukarno was born out of the Indonesian democratic set-up. ^Even
0360J39 in nations which do not profess any allegiance to democracy and declare
0370J39 their adherence to Communism, things are not better. ^The rise
0380J39 of Stalin and Mao proves this fact. ^Let us not forget that it
0390J39 is not the labels of Democracy or Communism that_ give any solace or
0400J39 satisfaction to the people. ^What counts is the actual, efficient,
0410J39 and honest administration; "for otherwise what difference does it make
0420J39 to a poor man whether he is devoured by a lion or by a hundred rats?"
0430J39 ^To_ quote the words of Voltaire. ^Catchwords and slogans, programmes
0440J39 and pamphlets, constitutions and manifestos, have no intrinsic
0450J39 and practical value unless the mind of the ruler is untainted by
0460J39 selfishness. ^And then who does not know the corruptibility of human
0470J39 nature? ^They say that power corrupts man, and absolute power corrupts
0480J39 absolutely. ^This statement is full of wisdom and truth. ^Let
0490J39 us not forget that even the devil can quote Scripture. ^Lofty statement
0500J39 and fine speeches may yet hide a vicious and unworthy heart.
0510J39 ^What can be done to_ reduce to the minimum the chances of this corruption
0520J39 of human nature which play havoc with the peace and prosperity,
0530J39 life and happiness of the society? ^The only answer to this is
0540J39 education. ^Education is the only medium through which the possibility
0550J39 of corruption can be dispelled to a very great extent. ^Education
0560J39 can serve in two ways. ^First, it would equip a prospective ruler
0570J39 with the necessary information that_ is so necessary for administering
0580J39 a human society. ^A ruler needs to_ have a knowledge of human
0590J39 history, society and the thoughts of wise people to_ help him in his
0600J39 task. ^He must be aware of the tradition and culture that_ mark that_
0610J39 particular society with a specific colour. ^And secondly, it would make
0620J39 a person cultured. ^It would transform his life. ^It would teach him
0630J39 to_ subjugate his sensual selfish urges that_ limit his mental horizon.
0640J39 ^It would socialize his personality. ^The word education has come
0650J39 from the root 'educare' which means 'to_ produce'. ^Etymologically,
0660J39 education is a process of producing a social outlook in man. ^Therefore
0670J39 it is not knowledge that_ is so important in education. ^It
0680J39 is the growth of mental horizons which help a man to_ transcend his
0690J39 personal selfish considerations and identify himself with something
0700J39 much bigger-- society and humanity. ^*Whitehead has clearly stated:
0710J39 "A merely well-informed man is the most useless bore on God*'s earth.
0720J39 ^What we should aim at producing is men who possess both culture
0730J39 and expert knowledge in some special direction." (*3The Aims of
0740J39 Education and Other Essays*0, \0p. 1) $^*Gandhiji says the same thing.
0750J39 "^By education I mean an allround drawing out of the best in child
0760J39 and man-- body, mind and spirit. ^Literacy is not the end of education
0770J39 nor even the beginning. ^It is only one of the means whereby man
0780J39 and woman can be educated. ^Literacy in itself is no education."
0790J39 (*3Harijan*0 31.7.1937). $^Any education that_ aims at merely giving
0791J39 book knowledge is a wasteful labour that_ profits neither the
0800J39 one educated nor the society. ^We must therefore try to_ transform
0810J39 the life of an individual. ^Though a person is born with certain
0820J39 peculiar traits or talents, yet it is always possible to_ mould him
0830J39 in a desirable manner. ^Strength that_ is not directed by education
0840J39 can go to_ make a dacoit but when transformed through education can arm
0850J39 a man to_ defy the might of an evil empire like **[sic**] Gandhiji,
0860J39 for example. ^None of the human tendencies and potentialities are evil
0870J39 or bad. ^What is wrong is only the use thereof. ^Even poison can
0880J39 prove a boon to life if used wisely. ^But if used foolishly it can
0890J39 put an end to life. ^Education gives this wisdom whereby everything
0900J39 is put to its proper use, whereby a person is prompted to_ adopt the
0910J39 path of human reconstruction, and not destruction as pursued by Hitler
0920J39 and Mussolini. $^It has been stated in the Indian Smriti Literature
0930J39 that man is born a *4Shudra by birth, but becomes changed
0940J39 because of the *4Sanskaras. ^These *4Sanskaras are in fact the
0950J39 processes of perfection or refinement and constitute the essence of
0960J39 education. ^Education brings into being what is popularly called character,
0970J39 and character is the core of human conduct. ^Conduct, as everybody
0980J39 knows, makes and unmakes an individual as well as a society.
0990J39 ^Mere talk cannot make any nation great, nor can it bring any loftiness
1000J39 to any individual life. ^It is the real conduct and concrete actions
1010J39 that_ weave the destiny of an individual as well as a community.
1020J39 ^And this conduct is the result of a good character. ^Our human
1030J39 society is at present facing a real crisis in character. ^Individual
1040J39 life has become so debased and demoralized that humanity is slowly
1050J39 but steadily being led to the brink of destruction and annihilation.
1060J39 $^Let us look at the daily life of individuals to_ test the veracity
1070J39 of this statement. ^Everyday we hear of adulteration of foodstuffs,
1080J39 oil, ghee, medicines, cement, \0etc. ^In business it has become
1090J39 a common practice to_ adopt unfair means of earning money. ^In political
1100J39 life deceit, cheating, falsehood, \0etc., have become so deep-rooted
1110J39 that we accept the fact with complacency by coining a popular
1120J39 adage that politics is the last resort of a scoundrel. ^In our social
1130J39 life we find that this very corruption is eating away at social health.
1140J39 ^Leaders are prepared to_ go to any extent to_ serve their own
1150J39 selfish ends. ^But the worst effect of this corruption is felt in
1160J39 the political domain. ^In fact our political life should be the cleanest,
1170J39 because its impact is felt in every nook and corner of the society
1180J39 and every aspect of individual life. ^They say that the people
1190J39 imitate their rulers (*3*5yatha raja, tatha praja*6*0). ^We have forgotten
1200J39 the basic principle of political life, \0i.e., honesty and
1210J39 integrity of the individuals who make and unmake a government. ^To_
1220J39 rule a community is not the objective of political life. ^To_ rule
1230J39 honestly and wisely, sincerely and efficiently is the end all and
1240J39 be all of human politics. ^The *3Mahabharata*0 has wisely reminded
1250J39 humanity about the ultimate goal of government. ^It states that a good
1260J39 government is not constituted by the number of people ruled by it;
1270J39 nor is it constituted by force or a law-giver. ^It is constituted
1280J39 really speaking, by the extent to which dutifulness pervades the government
1290J39 and the rulers, and the spirit of mutual cooperation found in
1300J39 them. **[quotation in sanskrit**] $^If we peruse the history of the
1310J39 world, we shall find that its pages are red with human blood that_
1320J39 has been shed due to the intransigence, selfishness and foolhardiness
1330J39 of rulers. ^Because of those foolish wars not only many wise and
1340J39 promising human lives have been lost to humanity but even much loss
1350J39 in terms of the mundane and the spiritual was caused. ^We have destroyed
1360J39 countless books of wisdom; we have burnt many creations of human
1370J39 wisdom in the process of that_ conflict and wanton destruction.
1380J39 ^It is said that the Mohammedan rulers destroyed in the rashness of
1390J39 their impulsive acts many books that_ could have otherwise given
1400J39 new breadth of vision to humanity. $^A still worse loss to humanity
1410J39 has been the fact that whatever human society learnt by the inspiration
1420J39 of the *4Vedas and *4Upanishads, Buddha and Mahavira,
1430J39 Muhammad and Christ, the countless saints, and noble sages,
1440J39 was lost due to the fury of foolish destruction. ^The lessons of peace
1450J39 were lost and the situation became so pitiable that the majority of
1460J39 the people has come to_ be believed **[sic**] that to_ destroy and grab,
1470J39 to_ loot and plunder is the object of a government. ^Things have
1480J39 come to such a pass that if anybody reminds human society about its
1490J39 ultimate objective, \0i.e., the establishment of peace and human prosperity,
1500J39 he is branded as a utopian. ^They do not want to_ rectify
1510J39 their mistakes but continue to_ indulge in a very crude, unreflective
1520J39 and unproductive rationalization that_ makes the work of human
1530J39 reconstruction all the more difficult. ^Let us imagine the case of a
1540J39 patient suffering from a chronic disease. ^When he is advised by a
1550J39 sensible doctor to_ mend his habits which have been responsible for
1560J39 that_ disease, the patient instead of accepting the advice of the
1570J39 doctor, tells him: 'You are totally unpractical. ^You do not know
1580J39 human life.' ^We all know that despite this foolish talk of the patient,
1590J39 the doctor does not stop giving him the right advice. ^It is his
1600J39 duty, which he feels obliged to_ discharge with the hope that the
1610J39 patient will ultimately hear the voice of reason and rationality,
1620J39 and try to_ regain his health and well being. ^*I would like to_ invite
1630J39 the attention of my readers to the following statement of Gandhiji:
1640J39 $"^*I may be taunted with the retort that this is all Utopian
1650J39 and, therefore, not worth a single thought. ^If Euclid*'s point, though
1660J39 incapable of being drawn by human agency, has an imperishable value,
1670J39 my picture has its own for mankind to_ live" (*3Harijan*0, 28-7-1946).
1680J39 $^It should be remembered that ultimately the objective of
1690J39 education is to_ inculcate social values in an individual. ^Love,
1700J39 understanding, emotional integrity, \0etc., are to_ be imparted to
1710J39 a child with a view to enlarging his personality and making him socially
1720J39 acceptable. ^Society is essential for the growth of a child. ^Food,
1730J39 medicines, clothing and affection are provided by society alone.
1740J39 ^Without such social help a child may find it difficult even to_
1750J39 survive. ^And since the existence of society is so necessary for human
1760J39 welfare, the individual must strengthen this social health, this
1770J39 structure of society. ^Education alone can make a person society-oriented.*#
        **[no. of words = 02006**]

        **[*Txt. j40**]
0010J40 **<*3Neutralism: Theory and Practice*0**> $^Thus, the new trend that_
0020J40 developed in this period in Indo American relations were mostly connected
0030J40 with the internal developments of the United States. ^It helped
0040J40 Nehru to_ overcome his economic crisis no doubt, yet, beside extending
0050J40 economic co-operations with the United States and her associates,
0060J40 he did nothing substantially to_ insert pro-Western attitude into
0070J40 Indian neutralism. ^Because, in the field of external relations Nehru
0080J40 had expressed his distaste for belligerent methods and since 1957 he
0090J40 had been emphasizing always on the adoption of peaceful means for the
0100J40 settlement of the disputes and economic freedom for the Afro-Asian
0110J40 countries. ^In adition to that_ the American Government did not
0120J40 change its former attitude to the international problems on which
0130J40 the Indian government had so long differed. ^Therefore, the contention
0140J40 that Nehru did not adopt active attitude during the Cuban crisis
0150J40 was definitely an attempt to_ disregard this truth. ^Furthermore, it
0160J40 was a complicated issue of the cold war, and hence, Nehru had to_
0170J40 determine the policy cautiously. ^*Indian neutralism, thus, carried
0180J40 some qualities of negative approach to a crisis that_ precipitated
0190J40 out of the complicated issues of the cold war in the areas outside Asia.
0200J40 $^With the addition of few African nations in the United Nations,
0210J40 as sovereign states in 1960, the number of the Afro-Asian group
0220J40 swelled to fortysix. ^But, it could not act as a unifying force. ^Some
0230J40 states could not discard altogether the former tie with the colonial
0240J40 powers only because it had some relative importance in the context
0250J40 of their security and national interests. ^So, Nehru did not see any
0260J40 valid reason for a neutral summit. ^Early in 1959, Tito had suggested
0270J40 such a conference and the idea was subsequently appreciated when
0280J40 the Casablanca Powers met in January, 1961. ^In March 1961, President
0290J40 Soekarno took some interest and convinced some nations about the
0300J40 importance of a Bandung type Conference. ^His idea was welcomed by
0310J40 Marshall Chen Yi when he had been in Indonesia in April 1961. ^Even
0320J40 then, Nehru was less enthusiastic because, in his opinion, such a
0330J40 conference would simply manifest disunity rather than unity. ^Later on,
0340J40 Nehru*'s idea was thought to_ be unreasonable when President Nasser
0350J40 and Tito reconsidered the proposal and ultimatly a decision was
0360J40 taken for convening a conference by the nations who basically followed
0370J40 neutralism in foreign relations. $^The Cairo Preparatory meeting
0380J40 under Indian persuasion adopted a flexible approach towards defining
0390J40 neutralism. ^The arguments behind the flexible definition were the
0400J40 following: (1) a broadbased definition would help materially its growth;
0410J40 (2) the vacillating countries would be easily accommodated in the conference;
0420J40 (3) it would accommodate some hard-pressed aligned countries
0430J40 who were the potential force of neutralism; (4) it would give an opportunity
0440J40 to some countries who could not sever their ties with colonial
0450J40 powers, but essentially followed neutralism in foreign relations; (5)
0460J40 it would not stand in the way if some countries would participate
0470J40 in the conference who had to_ keep foreign bases under compulsion;
0480J40 (6) it would accommodate the peculiar conditions which prevailed in
0490J40 some Latin American countries and in some European countries. ^This
0500J40 flexible approach to neutralism was adopted simply to_ accommodate
0510J40 large number of countries> ^*Indian neutralism favoured this flexible
0520J40 approach to_ arrest the forces of alliance. $^Nevertheless, in the context
0530J40 of the Goa liberation issue, criticisms were levelled against
0540J40 Nehruvian concept of neutralism. ^*Nehru*'s previous categorical and
0550J40 unreserved statements against the application of force for the settlement
0560J40 of international disputes invited critics. ^His belated statements
0570J40 cleared up the circumstances in which some amount of force could
0580J40 be justifiably applied; but this did not succeed very well in removing
0590J40 the punch of the criticism that there was a marked disparity between
0600J40 his ideas and actions. $*<*3The Fourth Phase (1962-65)*0*> $^As
0610J40 regards the territorial security, it has primarily four co-efficients
0620J40 \0i.e. diplomatic abilities, geographical position, internal defence-capabilities
0630J40 and external defence-capabilities. ^Among the four coefficients,
0640J40 only the external defence capabilities are mainly connected
0650J40 with the concept of neutralism. ^The external defence-capabilities
0660J40 also have three coefficients \0viz., the participation in the \0UN,
0670J40 the acceptance of arms from the foreign countries without any obligations,
0680J40 and the participation in the military alliance. ^Leaving aside
0690J40 the question of participation in the \0UN among other two coefficients,
0700J40 the former is optional and ensures flexibility and independence:
0710J40 and the latter is obligatory and rigid in nature and limits the periphery
0720J40 of action in the external fields. ^*Nehru had so long emphasized
0730J40 the type of security which had only three coefficients \0viz., diplomatic
0740J40 abilities, geographical position and internal detence-capabilities.
0750J40 ^Prior to the occurrence of the Sino-Indian border dispute, beside
0760J40 participation in the \0UN he put absolutely no importance on the
0770J40 other two coefficients of the external defence-capabilities. ^Obviously,
0780J40 while giving up the idea of participation in the military alliance
0790J40 he also dismissed altogether the policy of accepting arms from
0800J40 the two giants. ^Before the dispute with China, his concept of neutralism
0810J40 had been kept completely aloof from the factors which might
0820J40 ensure attachment towards the two coefficients of the external defence-capabilities.
0830J40 ^With the Chinese massive attack on India, an attachment
0840J40 was made towards one of the two coefficients \0i.e. acceptance
0850J40 of arms from the foreign powers. ^At the altar of reality he had
0860J40 to_ accept this, although it created much apprehension and doubt about
0870J40 the future of neutralism in general. $^The possible opportunities
0880J40 of negotiations failed ultimately and the long-standing tension between
0890J40 India and China over the issue of the Himalayan frontiers ultimately
0900J40 crystalized into conflict on October 20, 1962. ^With the Chinese
0910J40 massive offensive, both in Ladhak and \0NEFA, the Sino-Indian
0920J40 relations passed out of the sphere of negotiated settlement. ^In Ladhak
0930J40 the Chinese advance was limited to the area which China claimed
0940J40 as a part of her territory; but at the eastern end of the Himalayan
0950J40 border the Chinese forces made a 100-mile advance into the \0NEFA
0960J40 which covered the plain lands of Assam. ^Heavy casualties were suffered
0970J40 by both sides during the fighting. $^Under such circumstances, Nehru
0980J40 saw that mere exchanging of notes would not bring any effective
0990J40 result unless some positive measures were adopted to_ counter the
1000J40 attack. ^So long the Chinese troops did not enter into the Indian
1010J40 territory he believed that China might desist from a major attack in
1020J40 anticipation of its repercussion on world public opinion. ^So, he
1030J40 intended to_ avoid any "adventurist action." ^He thought that it would
1040J40 be unwise if extraordinary measures were taken which might discard
1050J40 the character of neutralism. ^But when all the facts of the Chinese
1060J40 menace became crystal clear Nehru told the *5Lok Sabha*6: "For
1070J40 five years we have been victims of Chinese aggression... Occasionally,
1080J40 there were some incidents and conflicts. ^These conflicts might
1090J40 well be termed frontier incidents. ^To-day, we have seen a regular
1100J40 and massive invasion of our territory by very large forces." ^Therefore,
1110J40 he sent appeals to all the nations of the world to_ send arms
1120J40 for meeting the Chinese attack. ^Nearly a dozen nations (the \0US,
1130J40 the \0UK, the \0USSR, Australia, Canada, France, Italy, New
1140J40 Zealand, Rhodesia, West Germany and Yugoslavia) came forward
1150J40 with military assitance, but substantial assistance came from the West.
1160J40 ^He identified the Chinese action with the policies of the imperialist
1170J40 powers of Europe, and this explains the reasons of his less
1180J40 sensitiveness towards military assistance. ^Prior to the Sino-Indian
1190J40 dispute, Nehru had altogether dismissed the idea of having military
1200J40 aid from the United States on the ground of maintaining India*'s
1210J40 sovereignty. ^But this time, he could not but send appeals for
1220J40 military aid to sovereign powers for defending his country*'s independence.
1230J40 ^In order to_ avoid unpleasant implications that_ might arise
1240J40 from receiving arms from some states he sent appeals to all the
1250J40 states of the world without any reservations. ^On the 27th October
1260J40 he intimated this decision of his Government at a party meeting.
1270J40 ^Acceptance of arms once meant loss of independence. ^But now, it meant
1280J40 one of the safeguards for India. ^Furthermore, despite his universal
1290J40 appeal substantial assistance came only from the \0USA, the
1300J40 \0U.K., and Canada. ^To the Soviet Government, the Moscow-Peking
1310J40 relations were of greater importance, and, as such, New Delhi*'s
1320J40 appeal was taken in a formal way. ^Obviously, Nehru had to_ meet
1330J40 the Chinese challenge with the western arms. ^This necessitated
1340J40 increasing collaboration with the western countries which some critics were
1350J40 quick to_ characterize as a pro-Western attitude. ^This demanded
1360J40 some clarification. ^On 5th November 1962, *(0J. K.*) Galbraith,
1370J40 the \0U.S. Ambassador to India, clarifying India*'s position,
1380J40 made a public statement in New Delhi. ^He categorically said that
1390J40 the \0U.S. military aid to India was simply an assistance. ^He
1400J40 clearly endorsed India*'s neutralism and said that the Government
1410J40 of the United States did not want to_ change its former stand. $^However,
1420J40 the Sino-Indian dispute made Nehru a realist. ^The sudden
1430J40 enlargement of India*'s armed forces, and mushrooming of expenditure
1440J40 on weapons soon gave Indian neutralism a pragmatic colour. ^The
1450J40 belated initiative of the few "non-aligned" nations for arresting
1460J40 the conflict and their mere passing of resolutions to that_ effect,
1470J40 created much indignation and doubt about the future of neutralism.
1480J40 ^Really, its impact was so grave and Nehru*'s attitude was so perplexed
1490J40 that Indian neutralism seemed to_ have come to the stage of self-liquidation.
1500J40 ^The inadequacy of Nehru*'s idea became very prominent.
1510J40 $^After Nehru*'s death in May, 1964, Lal Bahadur Sastri could
1520J40 not initiate any attempt for bringing a radical change to Indian
1530J40 neutralism. ^He honestly followed Nehru*'s policy. ^During the Sastri-era,
1540J40 besides East-West *3detente, polycentricism had made considerable
1550J40 progress within each of the two blocs, and it further complicated
1560J40 the nature of international politics. ^Under such circumstances,
1570J40 the Heads of States gathered in Cairo University*'s auditorium
1580J40 could do little progress concerning Sino-Indian dispute and the
1590J40 problems connected with Chinese recent atomic blast. ^Therefore,
1600J40 Sastri emphatically told President Nasser that the Colombo proposals
1610J40 had been the things of the past and could produce no effective
1620J40 result. ^He also argued that despite President Nasser*'s assurance
1630J40 for the consideration of the Sino-Indian problem at the Conference,
1640J40 the matter was somehow avoided by the sponsors. ^However, Prime
1650J40 Minister Sastri declared forcefully that India was in a position
1660J40 to_ make atom bombs within a year or so. ^At the same time, he hastened
1670J40 to_ add that India "did not intend to_ go down this trail." ^This
1680J40 policy of moderation and restraint was something new in India*'s
1690J40 neutralism which was gladly appreciated by all the Heads of the
1700J40 States. $^During the tenth anniversary celebration of the Bandung Conference
1710J40 Soekarno again proposed Afro-Asian solidarity to_ resolve
1720J40 the causes of conflicts and, in his opinion, these were mostly due
1730J40 to national interests rather than benevolent neocolonialism. ^Naturally,
1740J40 the Afro-Asian solidarity was an idea of the past. ^But, it
1750J40 was considered that a bitterly divided meeting would substantiate
1760J40 the forecasts and perhaps frustrate Communist China*'s effort to_
1770J40 build up a wide base in world politics with Afro-Asian support. ^Therefore,
1780J40 India participated in the conference with a view to_ foil
1790J40 all attempts of China and her associates. ^So long she had no design
1800J40 for counteracting any action of communist China which was not directly
1810J40 connected with India*'s interest. ^But during the Sastri-era,
1820J40 much emphasis was given on the "realities" of international politics.
1830J40 ^In short, Indian neutralism was realistically oriented, having
1840J40 lesser emphasis on idealism and morals than before and this brought
1850J40 a distinct change in style. ^*Sastri*'s visit to the \0UK particularly
1860J40 when the Cairo summit Conference failed to_ soften the strenuous
1870J40 Sino-Indian relations, his strong protest about the signing
1880J40 of the China-Pakistani boundary protocol, his visits to Moscow,
1890J40 Canada and Yugoslavia, his prompt response to the soviet Government*'s
1900J40 offer of good wishes towards the ending of the Indo-Pakistani
1910J40 war, his strenuous efforts at Tashkent, were the attempts which made
1920J40 Indian neutralism a realistic and coherent approach to world politics.
1930J40 $*<*3Fifth Phase (1966-70)*> $^In the Cairo Summit of
1940J40 the non-aligned nations, india rather vaguely emphasized the point that
1950J40 a common economic tie should be developed amongst the nations for
1960J40 augmenting their economic programmes. ^While justifying its necessity
1970J40 she could not place any effective plan through which the idea would
1980J40 be put into practice.*#
        **[no. of words = 02015**]

        **[txt. j41**]
0010J41 **<*3NATURE OF CLASS CONFLICT IN THE INDIAN SOCIETY*0**> $^*I have been
0020J41 asked to_ speak on a difficult subject. ^*I accepted the invitation
0030J41 not because I feel equal to the task but because I believe that
0040J41 for a proper appreciation of the several problems that_ the Indian
0050J41 society is presently facing, we must understand the nature of
0060J41 the underlying class confict. ^This sounds very Marxian. ^*I do not
0070J41 at all mind. ^Indeed, I shall feel proud if I am ever recognized
0080J41 as one belonging to that_ great school of social analysis. ^As I see
0090J41 it, is not a single, inviolable, unchanging doctrine but a method
0100J41 of analysing social change, founded on unsparing examination of social
0110J41 facts and merciless pursuit of logical anaylsis. ^As late \0Prof.
0120J41 *(0D. D.*) Kosambi said Marxism is a method of thinking and not
0130J41 a substitute for thought. $^Unfortunately, Marxism has been altogether
0140J41 too often taken as a substitute for thinking. ^*Baran and Sweezy,
0150J41 the renowned American Marxists, rightly complain that "Marxists
0160J41 have too often been content to_ repeat familiar formulations, as
0170J41 though nothing really new had happened since the days of Marx and
0180J41 Engels-- or of Lenin at the latest. ^As a result, Marxists have
0190J41 failed to_ explain important developments, or sometimes even to_
0200J41 recognize their existence." ^This has led to stagnation of Marxian
0210J41 social science with lagging vitality and fruitfulness. $^*I shall
0220J41 approach my subject with the Marxian method because it emphasises
0230J41 the importance of studying the society as a whole, how it works and
0240J41 where it is going. ^But I shall take into account new facts and developments
0250J41 that_ have occurred since Marx wrote and also the particular
0260J41 circumstances of the Indian society and, in the light of these,
0270J41 I shall be willing to_ modify Marx*'s conclusions wherever necessary.
0280J41 $^It will be useful to_ begin by examining Marx*'s concept of
0290J41 Social Class and of Class Struggle. ^In his historical writings,
0300J41 Marx referred to several social classes. ^For instance, in his work
0310J41 *3The Class Struggles in France*0, 1848-1850, Marx distinguished
0320J41 six classes: financial bourgeoisie, industrial bourgeoisie, petty
0330J41 bourgeoisie, peasants, proletariat and Lumpenproletariat. ^In this,
0340J41 Marx was merely adopting the concept of social class which was
0350J41 widely used by historians and social theorists of that_ time. $^But
0360J41 social classes meant much more to Marx. ^As Lenin said, anything
0370J41 which Marx wrote was in some way concerned with the question of class.
0380J41 ^Nevertheless, Marx never defined the basic concept of Social class.
0381J41 ^*Lenin gave the following definition: "^Social classes are large
0390J41 groups of people differing from each other by the place they occupy
0400J41 in a historically determined system of social production, by their
0410J41 relation (in most cases fixed and formulated in law) to the means
0420J41 of production, by their role in the social organization of labour,
0430J41 and, consequently, by the dimensions of the share of social wealth
0440J41 of which they dispose and the mode of acquiring it." ^This definition
0450J41 is commonly accepted as an adequate and faithful summary of Marx*'s
0460J41 views in the matter. ^But, it must be mentioned, it is nowhere found
0470J41 in Marx*'s writings. $^It was only towards the end of his prodigious
0480J41 scholarship that, it seems, Marx decided to_ put down a systematic
0490J41 exposition of his concept of social class and his theory of
0500J41 social struggle. ^The evidence is in the last chapter of the Third
0510J41 Volume of *3Capital*0. ^Unfortunately, it remained unfinished and
0520J41 incomplete. ^He wrote barely a page in which he set out mainly the
0530J41 difficulties which he saw confronting his own concept of social class.
0540J41 ^*Marx wrote: $"^We have seen that this continual tendency and law
0550J41 of development of the capitalist mode of production is more and more
0560J41 to_ divorce the means of production
0570J41 from labour, and more and more to_ concentrate
0580J41 the scattered means of production into large groups, thereby transforming
0590J41 labour into wage-labour and the means of production into capital.
0600J41 ^And to this tendency, on the other hand, corresponds the independent
0610J41 separation of landed property from capital and labour, or
0620J41 the transformation of all landed property into the form of landed property
0630J41 corresponding to the capitalist mode of production. ^The owners
0640J41 merely of labour-power, owners of capital, and land-owners, whose
0650J41 respective sources of income are wages, profits, and ground-rent,
0660J41 in other words, wage-labourers, capitalists, and land-owners, constitute
0670J41 then three big classes of modern society based upon the capitalist
0680J41 mode or production." $^Because of this, it is commonly supposed
0690J41 that, for Marx, the social classes are distinguished by the source
0700J41 of their income. ^But, this is precisely what, it seems, Marx wanted
0710J41 to_ refute. ^In the above, Marx continues: $"^The first question
0720J41 to_ be answered is this: '^What' constitutes a class?-- and the
0730J41 reply to this follows naturally from the reply to another question,
0740J41 namely: What makes wage-labourers, capitalists and landlords constitute
0750J41 the three great social classes? $"^At first glance-- the identity
0760J41 of revenues and sources of revenue. ^There are three great social
0770J41 groups whose members, the individuals forming them, live on wages,
0780J41 profit and ground-rent respectively, on the realization of their
0790J41 labour-power, their capital, and their landed property. $^However,
0800J41 from this standpoint, physicians and officials, for instance, would
0810J41 also constitute two classes, for they belong to two distinct social
0820J41 groups, the members of each of these groups receiving their revenue
0830J41 from one and the same source. ^The same would also be true of the infinite
0840J41 fragmentation of interest and rank into which the division of
0850J41 social labour splits labourers as well as capitalists and landlords--
0860J41 the latter, for instance, into owners of vineyards, farm owners,
0870J41 owners of forests, mine owners and owners of fisheries." $^There Marx
0880J41 laid his pen aside for the last time and even the preliminary question
0890J41 he raised: "What constitutes a social class" remained unanswered.
0900J41 $^We must therefore make do with what we can lay our hands on.
0910J41 ^*I suggest that we should turn to the *3Manifesto*0 of the *3Communist
0920J41 Party*0. ^It was published in 1848 and thus is one of the early
0930J41 writings of Marx. ^It is jointly authored by Marx and Angels. ^But,
0940J41 in the Preface to the English edition, Engels makes it clear that
0950J41 the fundamental proposition which forms its nucleus belongs to Marx.
0960J41 ^The *3Manifesto*0 is a little booklet of less than 50 pages and
0970J41 offers a concise and cogent statement, not so much of a theory but,
0980J41 of Marx*'s vision of the development and future of the capitalist
0990J41 society which remained the basis for all his later theoretical work.
1000J41 ^Whatever your personal conviction or persuasion in the matter, you
1010J41 will not fail to_ be impressed by the grandeur and prophetic quality
1020J41 of his vision, particularly when you note that it was written in
1030J41 1848 which is more than 125 years ago. ^To_ make my points, I may
1040J41 have to_ quote from it rather extensively. ^It will also give you
1050J41 a sample of the flavour, flair and power of Marx*'s writings. $^The
1060J41 Manifesto opens with that_ historic statement: "^The history of
1070J41 all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles" and
1080J41 proceeds thus: "^In the earlier epochs of history, we find almost
1090J41 everywhere a complicated arrangement of society into various orders,
1100J41 a manifold gradation of social rank... ^The modern bourgeois society
1110J41 that_ has sprouted from the ruins of feudal society, has not done
1120J41 away with class antagonisms. ^It has but established new classes,
1130J41 new conditions of oppression, new forms of struggle in place of the
1140J41 old ones... ^Our epoch, the epoch of the bourgeoisie, possesses, however,
1150J41 this distinctive feature: it has simplified the class antagonisms.
1160J41 ^Society as a whole is more and more splitting up into two great
1170J41 hostile camps, into two great classes directly facing each other--
1180J41 bourgeoisie and proletariat." $^*Marx did not define these two
1190J41 social classes. ^But, Engels in a footnote in the English edition,
1200J41 gives the following definitions: $"^By bourgeoisie is meant the class
1210J41 of modern capitalists, owners of the means of production and employers
1220J41 of wage-labour. ^By proletariat, the class of modern wage-labourers
1230J41 who, having no means of production of their own, are reduced
1240J41 to selling their labour power in order to_ live." $^Let me first take
1250J41 the bourgeoisie. ^What distinguishes this class? ^Of course, the
1260J41 fact that they are owners of the means of production and employers
1270J41 of wage-labour. ^How did the class emerge? ^*Marx explains: "...the
1280J41 modern bourgeoisie is itself the product of a long course of development,
1290J41 or a series of revolutions in the modes of production and of
1300J41 exchange... the means of production and of exchange, on whose foundation
1310J41 the bourgeoisie built itself up, were generated in feudal society.
1320J41 ^At a certain stage of development of these means of production
1330J41 and of exchange, the conditions under which the feudal society produced
1340J41 and exchanged, the feudal organization of agriculture and manufacturing
1350J41 industry, in one word, the feudal relations of property
1360J41 became no longer compatible with the already developed productive
1370J41 forces; they became so many fetters... ^Into their place stepped
1380J41 free competition, accompanied by a social and political constitution
1390J41 adapted to it, and by the economical and political sway of the bourgeoisie
1400J41 class." $^Thus what distinguishes bourgeoisie epoch from feudal
1410J41 epoch is *3free competition*0 in place of feudal relations. ^Again
1420J41 it is worth quoting Marx: "^The bourgeoisie, wherever it has got
1430J41 the upper hand, has put an end to all feudal, patriarchal, idyllic
1440J41 relations. ^It has pitilessly torn asunder the motley feudal ties that_
1450J41 bound man to his 'natural superiors', and has left no other nexus
1460J41 between man and man than naked self-interest, than callous 'cash
1470J41 payment'. ^It has drowned the most heavenly ecstasies of religious
1480J41 fervour, of chivalrous enthusiasm, of philistine sentimentalism, in
1490J41 the icy water of egotistical calculation. ^It has resolved personal
1500J41 worth into exchange value, and in place of the numberless indefeasible
1510J41 chartered freedoms, has set up that_ single, unconscionable freedom--
1520J41 Free Trade. ^In one word, for exploitation veiled by religious
1530J41 and political illusions, it has substituted naked, shameless, direct,
1540J41 brutal exploitation." $^But mistake not. ^In two pages, Marx pays
1550J41 the most glowing tribute to what the bourgeoisie, by means of free
1560J41 competition and free trade, has achieved. ^*I shall quote only a brief
1570J41 passage. ^*Marx says: $"^The bourgeoisie, historically, has playeed
1580J41 a most revolutionary part... ^It has been the first to_ show what
1590J41 man*'s activity can bring about... ^The bourgeoisie, during its
1600J41 rule of scarce one hundred years, has created more massive and more
1610J41 colossal productive forces than have all preceding generations together.
1620J41 ^Subjection of nature*'s forces to man, machinery, application
1630J41 of chemistry to industry and agriculture, steam-navigation, railways,
1640J41 electric telegraphs, clearing of whole continents for cultivation,
1650J41 canalisation of rivers, whole populations conjured out of the ground--
1660J41 what earlier century had even a presentiment that such productive
1670J41 forces slumbered in the lap of social labour?" $^What was then wrong?
1680J41 ^Nothing except that_ Marx believed that this could not go on for
1690J41 long. ^The reasons? ^*Marx says: "Modern bourgeois, society with
1700J41 its relations of production, of exchange and of property, a society
1710J41 that_ has conjured up such gigantic means of production and of exchange,
1720J41 is like the sorcerer who is no longer able to_ control the powers
1730J41 of the nether world whom he has called up by his spells. ^For
1740J41 many a decade past, the history of industry and commerce is but the
1750J41 history of the revolt of modern productive forces against modern conditions
1760J41 of production, against the property relations that_ are the
1770J41 conditions for the existence of the bourgeoisie and of its rule. ^It
1780J41 is enough to_ mention the commercial crises that_ by their periodical
1790J41 return put the existence of the entire bourgeois society on its
1800J41 trial, each time more threateningly. ^In these crises, a great part
1810J41 not only of the existing products, but also of the previously created
1820J41 productive forces, are periodically destroyed... ^The conditions
1830J41 of bourgeois society are too narrow to_ comprise the wealth created
1840J41 by them... ^The weapons with which the bourgeoisie felled feudalism
1850J41 to the ground are now turned against the bourgeoisie itself."
1860J41 *3^*Marx meant the weapons of free competition and free trade*0.
1870J41 $^In point of fact, the bourgeois capitalist society has survived many
1880J41 a crisis since Marx wrote.*#
        **[no. of words = 02003**]

        **[txt. j42**]
0010J42 **<*=2**> $**<"*3HEADS I WIN TAILS YOU LOSE"*0"**> $^The first contract
0020J42 for the construction of railway line by the East Indian Railway
0030J42 Company was made in 1849. ^This line was to_ be only experimental
0040J42 and connect Calcutta with Rajamahal which was 100 miles away on
0050J42 the way to Mirzapur at an estimated cost of *+ 1,000,000. ^A similar
0060J42 contract was entered into with the Great Indian Peninsula Railway
0070J42 Company for a line from Bombay to Kalyan at an estimated cost
0080J42 of *+ 500,000. ^But an explicit railway policy as such did not emerge
0090J42 till Dalhousie prepared his celebrated Minute dated 20th April
0100J42 1853. ^*Dalhousie was convinced that state construction of railways
0110J42 would bring the desired results but he was in principle against it.
0120J42 ^The officially declared reasons against State enterprise were many.
0130J42 ^If the stated causes were to_ be really believed, Dalhousie viewed
0140J42 the dependence of Indians on Government as one of the great drawbacks
0150J42 to the advance of the country. ^*India would benefit by the introduction
0160J42 of English energy and English capital for railway purposes.
0170J42 ^Besides, the withdrawal of a large number of officers from other duties
0180J42 would be detrimental to the public interest. ^Above all, the conduct
0190J42 of commercial undertakings did not fall within the framework
0200J42 of governmental functions. ^Hence, he preferred to_ entrust the work
0210J42 to the private companies. ^We shall comment upon these objections later.
0220J42 $*<*3The terms of contract*0*> $^*Dalhousie*'s proposals were
0230J42 accepted and contracts were drawn accordingly between the railway companies,
0240J42 the East India Company and the Secretary of State of India.
0250J42 ^Under these contracts the state agreed to_ provide land free
0260J42 of cost and a guaranteed interest on the capital *3right from the
0270J42 day of deposit*0 of money and not from the date of opening of lines!
0280J42 ^The guaranteed rate varied from 4 1/2 per cent to 5 per cent. ^The
0290J42 rate of exchange for remittance of interest charges was reckoned at
0300J42 22 \0d: to the rupee. ^Half of any surplus earned was to_ be used
0310J42 towards repaying to the government the guaranteed interest received.
0320J42 ^The contracts were tenable for 99 years, at the end of which, a fair
0330J42 value of the rolling stock, machinery and plant should be paid to
0340J42 them. ^Government however, retained the option to_ purchase the lines
0350J42 after 25 or 50 years. ^Further, it had the final say on routes,
0360J42 gauge, construction and gradients. $*<'*3Semi-public' or 'Semi-private'
0370J42 enterprises*0*> $^Much has already been stated by scholars about
0380J42 the evils of the Guarantee System. ^That the Railway Companies
0390J42 could not earn 5 per cent return on the capital invested and hence
0400J42 the Government of India had to_ pay considerable amounts of money
0410J42 from its revenues and thus the losses of the so-called private enterprise
0420J42 were borne by the State to the tune of *+ 56.71 millions (see
0430J42 Appendix 1), that the fixed rate of exchange made a considerable
0440J42 drain on Indian exchequer, that capital expenditure was artificially
0450J42 inflated, that a guaranteed interest resulted in poor management and
0460J42 reckless expenditure, \0etc., are all familiar allegations made on
0470J42 the system which hardly need to_ be elaborated. ^Stated briefly, the
0480J42 terms of the first contracts totally altered the functioning of the
0490J42 largest private enterprise of modern India. ^They were so framed to_ favour
0500J42 the English investors that a hundred years later \0Prof. Daniel
0510J42 Thorner was provoked to_ call them '*3semi-public*0' or '*3semi-private*0'
0520J42 enterprises. ^With a single stroke of pen 'risk and uncertainty'
0530J42 the basic traits of private enterprise were removed. ^Irrespective
0540J42 of the performance of the lines, the investors were assured of 5
0550J42 per cent rate of interest on their capital. ^In other words, the Indian
0560J42 subjects through taxation were compelled to_ pay this guaranteed
0570J42 interest to the British companies, whose operations would primarily
0580J42 result in providing raw materials to the British industries and enable
0590J42 them to_ tap the market for their manufactures in India. $*<*3The
0600J42 questions*0*> $^Why did the East India Company agree to
0610J42 such contracts? ^Did they fail to_ properly visualise their implications?
0620J42 ^Or, did they find it unavoidable in the given circumstances?
0630J42 ^Was the East India Company aware of an alternative policy by adopting
0640J42 which it could have avoided the evils of the Guarantee System?
0650J42 ^These are some of the pertinent questions that_ bother any student
0660J42 of Indian economic history. $*<*3British capital and enterprise
0670J42 to_ be welcomed*0*> $^The East India Company was not unaware of the
0680J42 implications of these Railway contracts. ^Conscientious servants
0690J42 of the Company had themselves protested against the provisions of
0700J42 these contracts. ^For instance \0Col. Pears of the Madras Engineers
0710J42 deplored them as early as in 1851. ^He warned: $"^The risk of ultimate
0720J42 failure falls on the country; while on the other hand should it prove
0730J42 successful, a tax amounting to 5 to 6 per cent on the capital invested
0740J42 will be levied in favour of shareholders in the shape of tolls,
0750J42 beyond that_ which is required to_ meet the ordinary interest of capital."
0760J42 $\0^*Col. Pears also feared that the exercise of government supervision
0770J42 and control would become almost inoperative. ^After carrying
0780J42 out a thorough investigation into the different projects of Madras
0790J42 Presidency, he advocated a system of railways with purely government
0800J42 ownership and construction. ^The Madras government had endorsed
0810J42 \0Col. Pears*' proposals in toto. ^But the Board of Control in England,
0820J42 thoroughly disapproved the scheme. ^The grounds of their objection
0830J42 might throw some light on the factors influencing the decision-making
0840J42 process in a colonial framework. ^The Board observed: $"^It must
0850J42 be an object of very high importance *3to_ attract investment of
0860J42 British capital, skill and enterprise to undertakings for the improvement
0870J42 of our empire*0." (emphasis added) $^Thus what was more important
0880J42 to the Board of Control was not the safeguard of Indian interests,
0890J42 but a convenient provision for the application of British capital
0900J42 and skill in the Indian sub-continent. ^When the interests of the Indian
0910J42 economy and those of the British investors did not coincide, the
0920J42 Board of Control went out of their way to_ subjugate the former to
0930J42 the latter. $\0^*Mr. Juland Danvers testifying before the Select
0940J42 Committee on East India (Railways) observed: $"...(^I)t became
0950J42 a question whether the government itself should not construct the railroad
0960J42 without the intervention of private Companies; *3so strong, however,
0970J42 was the desire to_ introduce British capital and enterprise
0980J42 into India that it was decided to_ employ the agencies*0" (emphasis
0990J42 added). $*<*3Were the 'incentives' warranted?*0*> $\0^*Prof. *(0M. D.*)
1000J42 Morris sidetracks the whole issue when he searches for alternative
1010J42 possibilities of *3entirely indigenous financing*0 of railways in India.
1020J42 ^The real issue is whether the so-called "incentives" provided to the
1030J42 British Companies under the terms of the Railway Contracts were
1040J42 really warranted by the situation. ^In other words, would the railway
1050J42 ventures have failed to_ attract British capital without a guaranteed
1060J42 interest? '^The Admirers' school would have us believe so. ^But
1070J42 evidence from the contemporary people connected with the railroad construction
1080J42 leads to a different conclusion. ^For instance David Innes
1090J42 Noad, Secretary of the East Indian Railway Company was asked
1100J42 by the Select Committee (1858) to_ say if there was any particular
1110J42 pressure exerted upon the Board of Control to_ expedite the railway
1120J42 contracts. \0^*Mr. Noad conceded, $"A very important deputation
1130J42 from Manchester waited upon the Board of Control and pressed the
1140J42 subject very closely upon his attention; and *3I have no doubt that
1150J42 the terms which were accorded were the result, in a great measure
1160J42 of that_ deputation*0" (emphasis added). $*<*3Unguaranteed capital
1170J42 would have flowed in*0*> $^Thus the unfavourable terms of the railway
1180J42 contracts-- unfavourable to India-- were agreed upon more as a result
1190J42 of pressure from the Manchester interests than the compulsions of
1200J42 the times. ^Does it mean that unguaranteed capital would have flowed
1210J42 into India for the railway ventures? ^Again, evidence from contemporary
1220J42 people suggests so. $^*Thornton an important witness before a Parliamentary
1230J42 Committee of 1871 observed: $"I do believe that unguaranteed
1240J42 capital would have gone into India for the construction of railways
1250J42 had it not been for the guarantee. ^Considering how this country
1260J42 is always growing in wealth, and that an immense amount of capital in
1270J42 seeking investment which it cannot find in England and goes to South
1280J42 America and other countries, I cannot conceive that it would persistently
1290J42 have neglected India." $^Another related question is whether
1300J42 East India Company themselves could have borrowed money on more
1310J42 advantageous terms. ^Even John Strachey who was not a Critic of the
1320J42 British *4Raj had to_ admit that the East India Company had an
1330J42 alternative before them. ^He stated: $"There is no evidence that
1340J42 they could not (have borrowed)... *3they thought it was better they
1350J42 should not*0... ^The probability is, in fact, it is almost a certainty,
1360J42 that *3they could have borrowed the money on better terms than the
1370J42 (railway) company*0" (emphasis added). $*<*3Two alternatives before
1380J42 the East India Company*0*> $^Thus the East India Company had
1390J42 two alternatives before them. ^First, they could have stood their ground
1400J42 for some more time in the bargain, which would have impressed upon
1410J42 the railway-promoters about the Company*'s strong stand protecting
1420J42 the interests of the Indian economy. ^Obviously, the Company dare
1430J42 not take this stand for the Cotton or Railway lobby was very powerful
1440J42 and vociferous in the British Parliament. ^Second, at least
1450J42 the Company could have ushered in State railways in places where
1460J42 leases were not given to the railway companies. ^This would have at
1470J42 least minimised the outflow of dividends from India. ^Did the East
1480J42 India Company lack the organizational experience for such a course?
1490J42 ^*Lord Dalhousie would have us believe so. ^But by the middle
1500J42 of the 19th century Britain herself gained a rich experience in railway
1510J42 construction at home, for over a quarter century. ^Hence managerial
1520J42 skills and technology could have been borrowed from Britain,
1530J42 at least by the post-1857 Government under the Crown. ^As a matter
1540J42 of fact, the East India Company themselves were not strangers to
1550J42 public works programme in their territories. ^For instance, the construction
1560J42 of huge *4anicuts (dams) across the rivers Godavari and Krishna
1570J42 in the Northern part of the Madras Presidency (present-day Coastal
1580J42 Andhra) between 1846 and 1855 involved considerable skills in organizing
1590J42 men and materials. ^*North India witnessed major irrigational
1600J42 works prior to 1859. ^Upper Bari Doab Canal in the Punjab, the magnificent
1610J42 Ganges Canal, the two Jamuna Canals-- Eastern and Western--
1620J42 were all constructed by the East India Company. ^Was it then financial
1630J42 prudency that_ deterred the Company and the latter government
1640J42 under the Crown from assuming direct responsibility of railways and putting
1650J42 an end to the scandalous railway contracts that_ made even the
1660J42 ardent champions of British imperialism ashamed of? ^Finance was no problem
1670J42 for the governments in raising huge armies especially after the
1680J42 1857-Upheaval. ^The supposed '*4Ma-Bap' government went all out
1690J42 to_ strengthen its military apparatus to_ ensure the security of the
1700J42 Empire and consequently advance the 'welfare' of Indians. $^As Jenks
1710J42 pointed out vividly, $"In the early sixties a military establishment
1720J42 was developed (in India) which cost more than the entire army of
1730J42 the British empire outside of India. ^And this despite the fact that
1740J42 the introduction of railways was expected to_ enable one regiment
1750J42 to the work of ten." $^Thus, faced with a situation of excess British
1760J42 capital seeking outlets abroad, unable to_ resist the political pressures
1770J42 from Cotton-lobby in the Parliament for the speedy construction
1780J42 of railways in India and hesitant to_ shoulder the job of state
1790J42 construction, the East India Company developed cold feet and surrendered
1800J42 the Indian situation at the altar of British interests.
1810J42 ^The latter government under the Crown remained a mute spectator for
1820J42 a decade from 1858 onwards before being compelled by its troubled conscience
1830J42 to_ interfere and check the blatantly unjust method of fattening
1840J42 the British investors at the expense of the voiceless Sub-continent.
1850J42 $**<*=3**> $**<*3LOP-SIDED INVESTMENT PATTERN*0**> $*<*3Railways
1860J42 expand under three systems of managements*0*> $^Railway expansion
1870J42 was carried out solely under the old Guaranteed Railway system till
1880J42 the year 1868. ^The defects of the Guranteed System soon manifested
1890J42 themselves. ^The East India Company and later the Crown had thoroughly
1900J42 failed to_ check the tendency of the railway companies to_
1910J42 indulge in extravagance.*#
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        **[txt. j43**]
0010J43 **<*3ORGANISATION AND ORGANIZING ABILITY: THE ACHELES **[SIC**] HEEL OF
0020J43 INDIAN DEVELOPMENT AND PLANNING*0**> $^The *3Economic Survey*0,
0030J43 1976-77, of the Janata Government observed that an orientation towards
0040J43 employment generation "of investment, however, needs a tremendous
0050J43 amount of organization... ^It is to_ be emphasised, however, that
0060J43 organizing ability is an extremely scarce commodity in a developing
0070J43 economy. ^Nevertheless, if sympathetic approaches are made to the problem
0080J43 it should not be difficult to_ combine productivity, employment
0090J43 and efficiency." ^The recognition of this serious lacuna in India*'s
0100J43 ability to_ progress was not new nor was the immediately following
0110J43 inane dismissal of it by pronouncing it as curable by a mere "sympathetic
0120J43 approach". ^The problem has constantly made itself felt in the
0130J43 past because it is too all pervading to_ be completely ignored but
0140J43 there has been a continuous refusal to_ face it squarely or to_ understand
0150J43 it thoroughly in order to_ handle it successfully. ^The way
0160J43 the Janata Government*'s official document handles it, as noted
0180J43 above, makes it obvious that it is not likely to_ get out of the groove
0190J43 that_ has been worn by its predecessors. ^However one may give
0200J43 them the benefit of doubt and entertain the hope that they may be still
0210J43 educable in this regard. ^Basing myself on such a hope I intend to_
0220J43 discuss here why India suffers from the lack of organization and
0230J43 organizing ability and whether this lack is remediable? ^It is necessary
0240J43 to_ do this because it is generally not appreciated that the causes
0250J43 of this malaise are socially and culturally deeprooted in the Indian
0260J43 society and that it is not remediable by superficial measure or measures
0270J43 that_ are usually thought of in that_ regard. ^The need is first
0280J43 to_ understand the problem and then, in the light of that_ understanding,
0290J43 to_ think of the remedies. $^We must begin by discussing
0300J43 organization and organizing ability, theoretically and empirically,
0310J43 to_ be able to_ give structure to our thoughts so that we may be able
0320J43 to_ examine the problem in relation to the Indian society. ^Theoretically
0330J43 organization is an inherent character of the universe and all
0340J43 its constituents and as such is a universal characteristic. **[sic**] ^We
0350J43 are, however, concerned here with organization as a human category, a
0360J43 human structure. ^As a human structure an organization is the co-ordinated
0370J43 activities or forces of two or more persons which have an objective,
0380J43 a way of achieving it and the arrangement by which the activities
0390J43 of persons in them are co-ordinated to that_ end by authority, delegation,
0400J43 \0etc. ^Formally, an organization is a structure divided into
0410J43 parts and sub-parts which are related to one another. ^These structures
0420J43 can be of different kinds such as agglutinative, adjunctive, participative
0430J43 \0etc. according to the degree of integrality of the parts
0440J43 and the whole. ^From the dynamic point of view, "every actual organization
0450J43 is in constant change or motion of two sorts. ^The environment
0460J43 changes the organization and the organization changes the environment.
0470J43 ^There is an action and a reaction effective in every instance
0480J43 of change. ^The kinds of this interaction can be analysed in terms of
0490J43 the dynamic sequence of stimulus-response-effect as it operates in
0500J43 the relations between organization and environment". ^While the stimulus
0510J43 from the environment are **[sic**] negligible, effective or destructive,
0520J43 "the nature of the response of organization is dependent
0530J43 upon the character of organization itself". ^The response of the organization
0540J43 from an effective stimulus in the environment is either tenacious,
0550J43 elastic or self-determinative. ^A tenacious response is one which
0560J43 is marked in the organization by a tendency to_ preserve its original
0570J43 available environment, and thus by fending off external intrusions
0580J43 and resists any change whatsoever.... ^An elastic response is one
0590J43 which is marked in the organization by a tendency to_ give and take
0600J43 with its original available environment, and thus by working with external
0610J43 instrusions, it resists change..... ^A self-determinative response
0620J43 is one which is marked in the organization by a tendency to_
0630J43 change with its available environment and yet to_ remain itself by
0640J43 taking elements from the available environment and transforming them
0650J43 to_ suit itself". ^The effect on environment of the response of the
0660J43 organization is either conservative or extensive. ^A tenacious response
0670J43 produces a conservative effect on the environment; that_ is to_
0680J43 say it affects it as little as possible and makes no alteration in
0690J43 its conditions. ^An elastic response produces an adjustive effect.
0700J43 ^It affects it somewhat and makes some alteration in its conditions.
0710J43 ^A self-determinative response produces an extensive effect. ^It affects
0720J43 it considerably and makes large alterations in its conditions.
0730J43 $^The formal framework of organization as that_ of a goal-seeking
0740J43 human structure is the structural expression of rational action. ^In
075OJ43 a way it reflects the feedom of ideal or technical choice. ^The performance
0760J43 of an organization, however, is almost never completely in consonance
0770J43 with that_ expected from the formal structure for the human
0780J43 factor that_ is its other side as a human structure does not perform
0790J43 as effectively as the formal rational structure envisages. ^The formal
0800J43 aspect of organizations expect or define for the persons constituting
0810J43 it their formal roles within that_ organizational system. ^For
0820J43 example, a bureaucracy formally requires its members to_ perform their
0830J43 allotted tasks purely as public servants, forgetting their own personal
0840J43 likes and dislikes, friends and foes, advantages and disadvantages.
0850J43 ^But human beings as individuals act as *3wholes*0 and not as split
0860J43 personalities, not as civil servants for a number of hours during
0870J43 the day and as ordinary human beings during the remaining hours. ^Naturally
0880J43 the performance of an organization formally envisaged becomes
0890J43 qualified by the limitation of the human beings manning it. $^Secondly,
0900J43 even the formal structures are never totally rational and there
0910J43 are loopholes and gaps in the formal structure. ^The requirement
0920J43 of human beings running the organizations for acting as *3wholes*0
0930J43 rather than purely as "organization men", and the imperfectly rational
0940J43 formal structures of organizations increase the non-rational elements
0950J43 in their working. ^This is often represented by the informal structures
0960J43 that_ develop within the formal structures. ^Organizations, as
0970J43 they develop and function, are never able to_ succeed in conquering the
0980J43 non-rational dimensions of its organizational behaviour. ^This is the
0990J43 gap between promise and performance and it arises from formal organizations
1000J43 as co-operative systems on the one hand and individual personalities
1010J43 manning them on the other. ^This leads to the creation of deviations
1020J43 from the formal system leading to the setting up of informal systems,
1030J43 unwritten laws, \0etc. ^In large organizations such deviations tend
1040J43 to_ be institutionalized removing it from the realm of personality
1050J43 differences and becoming permanent structural aspects of formal organizations.
1060J43 ^The cycle of deviation and transformation then can begin
1070J43 again at the new level. ^In the process there is a modification of formal
1080J43 goals of the organization. (Selznick.) $^Before we go on to_ analyse
1090J43 society as an organization we must note the difference between
1100J43 institutions and organizations and the relation between the two because
1110J43 they play such an important role in social dynamics. ^Both institutions
1120J43 and organizations are very similar entities which are characterised
1130J43 by goal seeking co-ordinated activities, a way of achieving
1140J43 the goals and an arrangement of the co-ordination. ^Both of them represent
1150J43 stable and recurring patterns of behaviour. ^But institutions
1160J43 have one more dimension than organizations. ^That_ dimension is that
1170J43 the pattern of behaviour of an institution is valued, that_ of an organization
1180J43 is not. ^This is a fact of crucial importance in social transformation.
1190J43 ^Institution-building is a process of establishing and transforming
1200J43 an organization into an integrated and organic part of the community
1210J43 in a way that_ will help the organization to_ play an active role
1220J43 in projecting new values and becoming an agent of change in the
1230J43 community. ^Changing value systems play a critical role in the continuous
1240J43 interaction between an organization and society. $^A society is
1250J43 an organization for its functioning and continuation and is made up
1260J43 of several innumerable sub-organizations that_ are interrelated. ^Such
1270J43 sub-organizations may be broadly classified, for convenience as
1280J43 social, economic, political, educational, \0etc. and each of these again
1290J43 are a set of sub-sub-organizations that_ are interrelated. ^This
1300J43 interrelated totality of interrelated sub and sub-sub-organizations
1310J43 functions severally and totally as a social organization or society.
1320J43 ^The performance of the whole human structure depends upon the successful
1330J43 functioning of each of the sub-organizations. ^Not only is their
1340J43 individual performance important but the place of each of them in
1350J43 the interrelated structure is also of crucial importance. ^The performance
1360J43 of the whole is something more than the summation of the performances
1370J43 of each of the sub-organizations, a point emphasized by the new
1380J43 discipline of systems analysis. $^The performance of a society as an
1390J43 organization depends upon the relationship between its cultural ethos and
1400J43 the organizations and institutions that_ constitute it. ^It is articulated
1410J43 through the general ethos of the culture and the modal personality
1420J43 type that_ is produced and nurtured by the culture to_ perpetuate
1430J43 and transmit it from generation to generation. ^The distinction between
1440J43 the culture and the personality type is notional because they are inextricably
1450J43 bound together. ^In separating them for analytical convenience
1460J43 we are really considering personality in culture and culture in personality.
1470J43 ^But more of this at a later stage of the argument. $^This
1480J43 relationship between the cultural ethos of a society and the functioning
1490J43 of its institutions and organizations is intimately related to
1500J43 the social dynamics of that_ society and is the very heart of change
1510J43 in *3it*0. ^There also lies the core of what is described usually
1520J43 as modernization. ^This is well illustrated by the history of the development
1530J43 of Western societies from the Protestant Reformation to
1540J43 modern times. ^The enunciation of the Weberian thesis regarding
1550J43 Protestant ethic and the rise of capitalism in West Europe and its
1560J43 subsequent criticism and modification are very enlightening in this
1570J43 connexion. ^The social transformation in West European countries
1580J43 was not due to any direct causal links between Protestantism and capitalism
1590J43 but was brought about by the transformative capacities of the
1600J43 Protestant Reformation in regard to the values and work ethics of
1610J43 that_ society and their crystallization by institution-building. ^The
1620J43 most important transformation in regard to values and work ethics was
1630J43 the orientation to "this worldliness" or secularism. ^In regard
1640J43 to institutions not only did it change the central institutions
1650J43 and symbols of society but also developed new types of roles, role
1660J43 structures and role sets and the motivations to_ undertake and perform
1670J43 these roles. ^This latter was in three directions "first, in theuous
1680J43 working; and last, in the development of new types of new types
1690J43 definition of specific new roles with new type of goals, defined in
1700J43 autonomous terms and not tied to existing frameworks; second, in the development
1710J43 of broader institutional, organizational and legal normative settings
1720J43 which could both legitimize such new roles and provide them with
1730J43 the necessary resources and frameworks to_ facilitate their continuous
1731J43 working; and last in the development of new types
1740J43 of motivation, of motivations for the understanding of such roles and
1750J43 for identifying them." ^These did not develop only in the economic
1760J43 sphere but in a much greater variety of institutional spheres. "^They
1770J43 could indeed develop in the political sphere proper, giving rise
1780J43 to new types of active political participation and organizations in
1790J43 the form of parties, community organizations and public service. ^They
1800J43 could also develop in the cultural and especially in the scientific
1810J43 and educational sphere. ^In the economic sphere proper they could
1820J43 develop in other ways distinct from capitalist mercantile or industrial
1830J43 entrepreneurship proper as for instance, in the transformation
1840J43 of the economic activities of the gentry". $^In the light of considerations
1850J43 set down upto now we can now proceed to_ analyse Indian society,
1860J43 its performance as an organization and the dynamics of social
1870J43 change in it. ^In examining the operational performance of the Indian
1880J43 society we must undertake a two-pronged inquiry; one going into
1890J43 the organizations and their interrelations constituting the Indian
1900J43 social organization as a whole and the other into the cultural ethos
1910J43 and the personality structure common to Indian people. ^We shall
1920J43 do it in that_ order.*#
        **[no. of words = 02001**]

        **[txt. j44**]
0010J44 **<*3ECONOMICS OF DEVELOPMENT*0**> $*<*3Social Over-Heads and Econ0mic
0020J44 Development*0*> $^Attempts to_ economically develop our country,
0030J44 in the planning so far, were based on two fundamental theorems.
0040J44 ^Firstly, take-off in the economy caused by availability of economic
0050J44 infrastructure, will bring accelerated growth rate and, secondly,
0060J44 consequent increased production, will automatically trickle down to
0070J44 the poor and poverty will be removed. ^A number of basic heavy capital
0080J44 intensive industries, of too long gestation periods, related with
0090J44 the economic infrastructure, were started in the past. ^They forced
0100J44 us to_ bear the burden of persistent inflation and we had to_ wait
0110J44 for long to_ fully utilise their capacities. ^In the recent past though,
0120J44 it may be said that, we have completed the economic infrastructure
0130J44 up to a reasonable extent, we are yet to_ bring a considerable
0140J44 reduction in poverty. ^The present paper proposes to_ establish,
0150J44 that the reason for such a state of affair is the non-availability of
0160J44 social overheads in our economy, and discuss the ways in which social
0170J44 overheads can help accelerate economic development. $^By economic overheads
0180J44 or economic infrastructure, we mean such facilities, like transport
0190J44 and power \0etc., which any entrepreneur can utilise for his
0200J44 production interests at minimal costs. ^Similarly by social overheads
0210J44 we mean such facilities, like **[sic**] education, medical care
0220J44 \0etc., which a common man can purchase at minimal prices for his economic
0230J44 and social betterment. ^Social overheads, like economic overheads,
0240J44 possess long durability. ^More clearly, any particular item of social
0250J44 overheads can serve a number of individuals. ^For example, the same
0260J44 hospital bed will be used by a number of individuals over a long period.
0270J44 ^In case of social overheads gestation periods are not too long,
0280J44 investments, though have a lumpy nature, **[sic**] are not too heavy
0290J44 and chances of direct returns are fairer and hence, unlike economic
0300J44 overheads, social overheads can be made available by private sector
0310J44 also. $^In our case, a clear bias towards growth aspect of economic
0320J44 development is noticeable during planning period so far. ^The fundamental
0330J44 thinking can best be expressed in the words of \0*4Pt Nehru "^Production
0340J44 comes first and I am prepared to_ say that everything we should
0350J44 do be judged from the point of view of production". ^Table-2 shows
0360J44 the percentage distribution of public sector outlays. ^The first four
0370J44 heads of development are directly related with economic growth and
0380J44 economic overheads and, except first plan, they have consumed more
0390J44 than 80 per cent of the total outlays of plans. ^The share of social
0400J44 services and miscellaneous, which may be said to_ be related with social
0410J44 overheads, was below 20 per cent in general. ^In three annual plans
0420J44 it was as low as 14.73 per cent and it was nearly 17 per cent in third
0430J44 and fifth plan (revised). ^Second and fourth heads of development,
0440J44 which are related with economic overheads, have got too large share
0450J44 during different plans. ^As a result of this bias for growth aspect,
0460J44 we could achieve not too poor results, so far as quantitative growth
0470J44 of economy is concerned. ^Except the poor performance of agriculture in
0480J44 third plan, due mainly to acute droughts in that_ period, rest all
0490J44 figures show a satisfactory performance. ^Particularly in the industrial
0500J44 sector our performance was note-worthy. ^Agriculture too showed considerable
0510J44 improvement during annual plans which balanced its poor performance
0520J44 in third plan upto extent. ^We have continuous progress in industrial
0530J44 sector due to which we are among top ten industrialised countries
0540J44 of world. ^However uncertainty prevails on agriculture sector and
0550J44 we have failed to_ maintain our remarkable performances of certain
0560J44 years like 73-74, 75-76 and 77-78. ^So far as \0GNP and \0NNP
0570J44 are concerned, advancement is quite satisfactory, considering violent
0580J44 movements in the agriculture sector. ^On the average India made nearly
0590J44 4% increase in \0N.N.P. which compares favourably with 4.3% in
0600J44 *(0U S A*) (1878-1909), 3.8% in Canada (1870-1910), 4.6% in Japan
0610J44 (1878-1907), 3.8% in Germany (1860-1899) and 2.6% in \0U.K. (1860-1899).
0620J44 ^No doubt that increase in percapita income shows a flattening
0630J44 curve giving an average of about 1.5% increase, but then in India
0640J44 the average growth rate of population was 2.5% as compared to
0650J44 1 per cent in advanced countries in those years. ^But even after such achievements
0660J44 regarding growth of the economy, we are still facing acute problem
0670J44 of poverty. ^A number of studies, with difference in the concept
0680J44 of poverty, were conducted for quantitative assessment of the
0690J44 number of people living below poverty line. ^Estimated numbers are
0700J44 given as 52 millions Urban and 86 millions rural (67-68) Dandekar
0710J44 and Rath, 289 millions (67-68) \0R.B.I., 190 millions (67-68) *(0P.D.*)
0720J44 Ojha, 366 millions (73-74) *(0B S*) Minhas, 220 millions (73-74)
0730J44 Fifth Plan approach. ^By any measurement these figures draw
0740J44 our attention to the existing problem. $^A vicious circle of poverty
0750J44 may be given as-- poverty is due to cultural and environmental obstacles
0760J44 which lead to poor health and inadequate education and low mobility--
0770J44 which in turn cause limited earning opportunities and limited
0780J44 income is main cause of poverty. **[sic**] ^Key points of this circle are
0790J44 poor health, inadequate education facilities \0etc., which are related
0800J44 with non-availability of social overheads. ^If this vicious circle is
0810J44 to_ be broken and result of the growth in any economy is to_ reach
0820J44 to its lower classes, social overheads should be built up. ^The benefits
0830J44 of economic development must accrue more and more to the relatively
0840J44 less privileged classes of society, and there should be a progressive
0850J44 reduction of the concentration of incomes, wealth and economic power.
0860J44 ^The problem is to_ create a milieu in which the small man, who has
0870J44 so far had little opportunity of perceiving and participating in the
0880J44 immense possibilities of growth organised effort, is enabled to_ put
0890J44 in his best in the interests of a higher standard of life for himself
0900J44 and increased prosperity for the country. ^In this context building
0910J44 up of social overheads assumes immense importance. $^The \0W.H.O.
0920J44 has defined health as not merely absence of disease or prevention of
0930J44 it, but a positive state of physical, emotional and social well-being.
0940J44 ^According to this definition, health is fundamental to the productive
0950J44 capacity and it has been argued by a number of scholars that investment
0960J44 in health sector has a direct relationship with process of economic
0970J44 development. ^The broad objectives of public health programme
0980J44 in the past have been to_ control and eradicate communicable diseases,
0990J44 to_ provide curative and preventive health services in rural areas,
1000J44 through the establishment of an infrastructure of primary health
1010J44 centres supported by a chain of sub-centres at the base and linked
1020J44 with an articulate plan of referral hospitals and to_ augment the
1030J44 training programmes of medical and para-medical personnel. ^However,
1040J44 when we see the low percentages of total outlays allocated to health,
1050J44 it becomes clear that serious efforts to_ fulfil the objectives
1060J44 were lacking. ^Table 2 shows that health could draw only 1.2, 3.2,
1070J44 0.6, 0.9 and 6.1 per cents of total centre*'s outlays during First,
1080J44 Second, Third, Annuals and Fourth Plan respectively. ^The share
1090J44 was 2.79 and 3.02 per cents in Fifth and Sixth (78-83) plans respectively.
1100J44 ^These figures clearly show the paucity of funds for this vital
1110J44 sector. ^However, in states*' outlays health acquired a bit prestigious
1120J44 position and its share stood above 6 per cent, generally, of total
1130J44 states*' outlays. ^One can easily see, the lack of State*'s coordination
1140J44 between Centre*'s and efforts as states*' share went as low
1150J44 as 2.8 per cent when centres*' share reached a peak of 6.1 per cent
1160J44 during Fourth plan. ^While increases in number of nurses registered
1170J44 were impressive the same is not true for doctors practising. ^Increases
1180J44 in number of hospitals and hospital beds were not too impressive.
1190J44 ^Increase in number of primary health centres, too, slowed down after
1200J44 Third plan. $^Medical research and medical attention in India
1210J44 has been concentrated more on diseases, like cancer, heart conditions,
1220J44 which are prevalent in the West, as compared to those ailments and
1230J44 diseases which are generally afflicting the Indian population. ^According
1240J44 to the estimates presented by the \0CSO, 17.2 per cent of
1250J44 morbidity and 20.8 per cent of mortality in 1970 in India, were caused
1260J44 by environmentally caused or promoted diseases like tuberculosis,
1270J44 malaria, gastro-intestinal diseases \0etc. ^Even then the great decline
1280J44 in the rate of mortality since independence, control and eradication
1290J44 of diseases like small pox, are matters of great satisfaction. ^The
1300J44 Indian rural people have shown a remarkable preference for purchase
1310J44 of health facilities to education facilities. ^However, the existing
1320J44 public health system does not respond to the marked preferences
1330J44 of rural people. ^This is partly due to meagre expenditure on health
1340J44 and misallocation of existing funds. ^Secondly, medical professionals
1350J44 whose training was highly costly were not prepared to_ move to
1360J44 rural areas. ^Schemes of rural health, are difficult to_ come by, are
1370J44 not pressed for when funds are available and are sometimes opposed when
1380J44 formulated. ^Thus, the felt need of health facilities in rural areas
1390J44 has not been given the priority and the emphasis that_ it deserves.
1400J44 ^For this, not only additional resources are required but the priority
1410J44 in the allocation of available resources to the sectors both in
1420J44 financial and physical terms becomes important. $^The environmental
1430J44 obstacles related with health are mainly caused by polluted water and
1440J44 poor sanitation in slum areas of cities and rural areas. ^As bulk
1450J44 of labour force comes from areas, improved water supply and sanitation
1460J44 could lead to increased productivity besides improvement in the health
1470J44 and hygiene situation. ^In 1954, a central public health & Environmental
1480J44 Engineering Organisation (\0CPHEEO), was set up to_ provide
1490J44 help to state \0Govt. for executing their scheme of water supply
1500J44 and sanitation. ^Later in 1973, the organisation was transferred
1510J44 to Union Ministry of Works and Housing. ^By March 1975, 1685 towns
1520J44 having 9.25 *4crores population were benefited by the supply of
1530J44 drinking water. ^About 195 towns with a population of four *4crores
1540J44 (36% of the total urban population) had been covered by partial sewerage
1550J44 system of the 5.76 *4lakhs villages about 49,000 with a total
1560J44 population of 2.60 *4crores had been provided with pipe water supply
1570J44 and hand pump tube wells upto March 75. ^Of the remaining villages
1580J44 about 4.24 *4lakhs have some kind of water supply like conserved
1590J44 wells and springs, but in about 1.03 *4lakhs villages water is not
1600J44 available within a depth of 15 metres or a distance of 1.6 \0Kms. ^Thus
1610J44 we see that on this vital point, too, situation in rural sector
1620J44 is worse. ^The Fifth plan had proposed an allocation of \0*4Rs. 564.23
1630J44 *4crores for this sector under minimum needs programme in addition
1640J44 to \0*4Rs. 440 *4crores earmarked for urban water supply and sewarage.
1650J44 $^A closely related problem with health is family planning
1660J44 which has been renamed as family welfare in our country. ^As already
1670J44 established in this paper we have made apparently slow growth due to decrease
1680J44 in mortality and consequent rapid increase in population. ^In
1690J44 this context, a control over rising population through family planning
1700J44 becomes essential. ^However, it must be added that, the decision
1710J44 to_ plan a family ultimately comes from individuals in their private
1720J44 capacity and a force in this regard from Government*'s side may cause
1730J44 disastrous results as we have witnessed in the recent past. ^Such forced
1740J44 actions may give short-lived success. ^*Family Planning programme,
1750J44 if it is to_ be successful in the long run, needs availability of
1760J44 social overheads, as it has been established that educated couples
1770J44 or couples enjoying higher standard of living are more likely to_ take
1780J44 decisions in favour of small family size. $^Education brings broader
1790J44 outlook into masses, so that they may base their decisions on a
1800J44 realistic and economic approach, which is very vital from the viewpoint
1810J44 of removal of poverty and economic development. ^For this not only literacy
1820J44 (by which we mean power of reading and writing) will be sufficient,
1830J44 but we will have to_ provide our masses with the facility of a
1840J44 minimum standard of education which will bring in them the decision
1850J44 making power. ^For cooperation of our masses in the developmental efforts
1860J44 of government, we don*'4t need highly educated university persons,
1870J44 instead the stress should be on secondary and technical education.*#
        **[no. of words = 02018**]

        **[txt. j45**]
0010J45 **<*3Affluents still block the way**> $^THIS year*'s annual Fund-Bank
0020J45 meetings once more took place in an atmosphere of uncertainty
0030J45 regarding prospects of growth in international trade. ^The prospects
0040J45 for nearly 600 million people in the developing countries who, according
0050J45 to the World Development Report, are likely to_ remain
0060J45 trapped in absolute poverty at the end of the century, continue to_
0070J45 be as bleak as ever. ^As \0Mr Robert McNamara, President of the
0080J45 World Bank, has pointed out, even this most shocking situation,
0090J45 intolerable as it is, has been forecast on the basis of optimistic projections
0100J45 of economic growth rates in the developing countries and on the
0110J45 assumption of an expansion in international trade and availability
0120J45 of commercial and concessional finance. ^Recent developments in the
0130J45 international field make one despondent regarding the realisation of these
0140J45 hopes, and one can well imagine the world in 2000 \0A.D. if the
0150J45 richer countries went on pursuing their narrow nationalistic objectives
0160J45 in the dream of living in isolated patches of prosperity in the midst
0170J45 of ever expanding oceans of poverty. ^While pious sentiments were expressed
0180J45 during deliberations in Washington, any concrete results flowing
0190J45 from them have yet to_ materialise. ^It seems every nation knows
0200J45 what is necessary and accepts the desirability of taking radical
0210J45 steps to_ get out of the impossible situation, but there is no will
0220J45 to_ move in the right direction. ^The international institutions largely
0230J45 reflecting the dominance of the affluent world seem to_ be equally
0240J45 paralysed and confined to routine business. ^They too express
0250J45 pious hopes and intentions; they underline what needs to_ be done;
0260J45 but there they stop. $^As India*'s Finance Minister, \0Mr *(0H.
0270J45 M.*) Patel, pointed out at the joint meeting of the \0IMF and
0280J45 World Bank, during the year there did appear prospects for some corrective
0290J45 action out of generalised stagnation. ^But these hopes have
0300J45 not materialised. "^The continued sluggishness in economic activity
0310J45 in the developing world, the low rates of expansion in world trade
0320J45 and the instability in exchange markets observed since the last annual
0330J45 meeting have had, and will have, a number of adverse restrictions
0340J45 on the developing world." ^One would resign oneself to such a situation
0350J45 if there was no way out; but this is not so. ^The affluent nations
0360J45 in their own interest could show a greater sense of realism and
0370J45 through greater co-operation and co-ordination could help at least in arresting
0380J45 further deterioration. ^But as \0Mr Patel pointed out, though
0390J45 some efforts were no doubt made in this direction, they have failed
0400J45 to_ yield the desired results because of inadequate and halting implementation
0410J45 which again was the result of excessive caution and conservatism.
0420J45 ^The result is continuing instability of exchange rates, periodic
0430J45 slumps in the \0US dollar, continued inflation in the industrial
0440J45 world and above all growing restrictive tendencies on the trade front.
0450J45 $^As \0Mr McNamara said at the meeting, "excessive protectionism
0460J45 is not only unfair, it is self-defeating. ^If the developing countries
0470J45 are to_ import even more from the developed nations-- and they
0480J45 want to_-- they must be allowed to_ export more so that they can earn
0490J45 the foreign exchange necessary to_ pay for them." ^Figures show
0500J45 that the developing countries today supply less than 2 per cent of the
0510J45 manufactured goods consumed in developed countries. ^Any protection against
0520J45 these goods could at most save jobs for only a fraction of those
0530J45 displaced by shifts in technology and demand in the industrialised
0540J45 countries themselves. ^And even this loss of jobs would be temporary
0550J45 because had the developing countries increased their purchases in
0560J45 the affluent markets there would be more jobs created by that_ demand,
0570J45 thus outweighing the loss. ^If the industrialised countries failed
0580J45 to_ respond rationally to these facts it is only because they are
0590J45 not ready to_ restructure their economies in the interests of their
0600J45 own growth. $^The hold of the affluent nations on the international
0610J45 organisations makes it difficult for them to_ discharge their responsibilities
0620J45 towards the developing countries. ^Under the Articles of
0630J45 the International Monetary Fund general reviews have to_ be undertaken
0640J45 to_ determine members*' quotas in the Fund. ^As of September
0650J45 13 sixth review quotas are in effect for 131 members of the \0IMF.
0660J45 ^These now total up to \0SDR 39 billion and the seventh general
0670J45 review of quotas is in progress. ^While these deliberations are welcome
0680J45 and reflect the anxiety of all the members for providing funds
0690J45 to_ meet the members*' needs arising from growth in international transactions
0700J45 and the disequilibria emanating therefrom, India rightly
0710J45 drew the attention of the meeting to the disappointment of the developing
0720J45 countries at the size of the allocations. ^The Interim Committee
0730J45 has reached an agreement regarding allocation of \0SDRs in
0740J45 each of the years 1979 to 1981 which falls short of the genuine needs
0750J45 of the international monetary system. $^The other point of complaint
0760J45 is the stiffness of conditionality attaching to the Fund*'s drawings
0770J45 and discrimination against developing countries in this respect.
0780J45 ^Under the present circumstances member countries expect from the
0790J45 \0IMF a more encouraging approach in helping them in their difficult
0800J45 problem of reconciling the various pressures under which they have
0810J45 to_ operate. ^As \0Mr Patel pointed out, "the conditionality of
0820J45 Fund drawings must take adequate account of economic, social and political
0830J45 constraints. ^Our objective should be to_ ensure that the Fund*'s
0840J45 assistance is not in the nature of 'last resort'. ^On the contrary,
0850J45 members really should be encouraged to_ knock at the doors of the
0860J45 Fund first." $^As regards the World Bank, no less an authority
0870J45 than its President himself has pointedly drawn attention to the responsibility
0880J45 of the affluent nations to_ understand the internal dynamics
0890J45 of poverty more clearly and to_ design practical anti-poverty strategies
0900J45 that_ will work. ^He specifically mentioned the need to_ assist
0910J45 the poor to_ become more productive. ^The time has now come to_
0920J45 spell out the measures necessary for this purpose in greater detail.
0930J45 ^For instance, the World Bank should seriously consider the question
0940J45 of opening a third window for middle term loans that_ could
0950J45 meet the needs of those countries which are now in a position to_
0960J45 consolidate the gains of industrial expansion and diversification levels
0970J45 they have already reached. ^In the modern world no country can
0980J45 be completely self-sufficient and there is a constant need for transfer
0990J45 of technology and even resources. ^Unfortunately, this function
1000J45 has been monopolised by the multinational corporations today with the
1010J45 result that there is always a conflict between the internal policies
1020J45 of the developing nations and the interests of the multinationals.
1030J45 ^It is clear that the World Bank could play a more effective role.
1040J45 ^It should cease to_ be just a sales organisation for the multinationals.
1050J45 ^It should appoint a committee of experts to_ consider the
1060J45 complex problems of technology transfer and to_ suggest ways and
1070J45 means that_ could help the developing nations to_ raise their productivity
1080J45 without increasing the dependence on developed economies. ^It
1090J45 is only through breaking such new grounds in the functioning of both
1100J45 the \0IMF and the World Bank that the objectives for which these
1101J45 organisations were established would be achieved and a genuine
1110J45 international trade among equals would develop serving the interests
1120J45 of the affluent as much as the poor countries in the world today. $**<*3Towards
1130J45 unacceptable trade deficit**> $^GOING by the provisional
1140J45 figure of exports during the first four months of 1978-79 it might
1150J45 seem that India*'s export performance is sliding further downhill.
1160J45 ^At about \0*4Rs 1,634 *4crores they were 1.5 per cent lower than
1170J45 the exports in the corresponding period of the last financial year.
1180J45 ^But experience has shown that provisional trade figures err often
1190J45 too much on the side of the minimum and therefore, any comparison
1200J45 on the basis of these figures can be misleading. ^Take, for instance,
1210J45 the first provisional figure of exports in 1977-78. ^It was around
1220J45 \0*4Rs 5,253 *4crores, which meant a growth rate of only 2.1 per cent
1230J45 over the previous year. ^Subsequently, the figure was revised upwards
1240J45 to \0*4Rs 5,375 *4crores, which works out to an increase of 4.7
1250J45 per cent. ^But even this is not final and by the time the process of
1260J45 finalisation is completed-- it is indeed a sad commentary on the existing
1270J45 machinery for data collection that this is not yet over although
1280J45 six months have passed since the last financial year was over-- the
1290J45 export growth rate might go up to 5 per cent. $^This, however, is
1300J45 poor consolation, not so much because India*'s exports during the
1310J45 four-year period 1973-74 to 1976-77 registered an average annual growth
1320J45 of 27 per cent, but because they were nowhere near even the lowest
1330J45 two digit growth rate in 1977-78. ^In the preceding four years fortuitous
1340J45 factors no doubt had helped to_ boost exports, as, for instance,
1350J45 the windfall gains from the skyrocketing of sugar prices in the international
1360J45 market. ^The Government*'s ill-considered policy of exporting
1370J45 at any cost also contributed to the dizzy heights the growth rate
1380J45 reached. ^Happily, last year this policy, by and large, was given the
1390J45 go by; the ban on or regulation of exports of essential items like
1400J45 oilseeds, vegetable oils, fresh vegetables, onions, potatoes, pulses
1410J45 and cement resulted in a conspicuous drop in the value of exports,
1420J45 from about \0*4Rs 600 *4crores in 1976-77 to \0*4Rs 160 *4crores in
1430J45 1977-78. ^This, however, helped to_ bring down the prices of most
1440J45 of these products and afforded some measure of relief to the vast mass
1450J45 of people who consumed them. $^Apart from these, certain factors
1460J45 beyond the control of the Government have no doubt been responsible
1470J45 for the deceleration in the growth of exports. ^The most important
1480J45 of these is the prevalence of rather acute recessionary conditions in
1490J45 some industrialised countries. ^This led to revival of the tendency
1500J45 towards protectionism and created a situation in which our exports
1510J45 suffered substantial losses in terms of volume as well as value. ^Cotton
1520J45 textiles, ready-made garments, leather and leather manufactures
1530J45 were particularly affected. ^Besides, the depreciation in the external
1540J45 value of the American dollar told on the export earnings. ^Compared
1550J45 with the exchange rate in 1976-77, the *4rupee appreciated *7vis-a-vis
1560J45 the dollar by more than 10 per cent in 1977-78, which meant
1570J45 that exports expressed in terms of *4rupees were less. ^According to
1580J45 official sources, the growth rate might have been reduced by 1.5 to 2
1590J45 per cent because of the appreciation of *4rupee in relation to dollar.
1600J45 $^Even allowing for all this, a growth rate of 5 per cent is a matter
1610J45 for concern and indicates that things have also gone wrong with
1620J45 regard to factors which are well within the Government*'s control.
1630J45 ^It seems the export effort has suffered because of the uncertainties
1640J45 created by the Government*'s policies. ^For instance, the moment
1650J45 it found that cement and steel were in excess of domestic requirements,
1660J45 it decided to_ export them in a big way, hardly realising that
1670J45 these surpluses were ephemeral. ^And, indeed, when domestic demand
1680J45 started picking up, the Government was constrained to_ impose restrictions
1690J45 on their export. ^In the case of sugar, however, there was no fear
1700J45 of domestic shortage, for there was such an abundance of production,
1710J45 but the Government was reluctant to_ export the commodity because
1720J45 of the steep fall in its price in the world market. ^All this has
1730J45 earned for the country the unenviable reputation of being an inconsistent
1740J45 exporter, which seems to_ have contributed to the decline
1750J45 in the growth rate. $^It follows from this that the Government should
1760J45 adopt a selective approach to exports, the objective being that the
1770J45 export effort is concentrated on certain areas so that exports are made
1780J45 in the most dependable and efficient manner possible. ^In other words,
1790J45 adequate and the most modern production facilities should be established
1800J45 for manufacturing such items as have considerable export potential
1810J45 and are capable of achieving high growth rates, as for example,
1820J45 engineering goods, gems and jewellery, handcrafts, apparel, electronic
1830J45 goods and marine products. ^Besides, the Government which is
1840J45 playing an important role in the promotion of exports should help build
1850J45 a sound organisational framework for providing various services
1860J45 to the export sector in a co-ordinated manner.*#
        **[no. of words = 02014**]

        **[txt. j46**]
0010J46 **<*3Planning export strategy**> $^THE Government, industry
0020J46 and trade are equally concerned with the recent disturbing trends in
0030J46 exports and the need for stepping up the rate of growth in exports.
0040J46 ^*India*'s overall exports during 1977-78 showed an increase of 4.5
0050J46 per cent only as against 27.4 per cent in 1976-77. ^In the first half
0060J46 of the current year, exports are reported to_ have actually declined
0070J46 from the level of the corresponding period last year. ^This shortfall
0080J46 in export performance calls for immediate remedial action. ^At
0090J46 the same time, we need not get panicky over the deceleration of the
0100J46 export growth rate for one or two years, for we may either face dull
0110J46 or protectionist markets abroad or deliberately trim exports of essential
0120J46 items as was done during the current year. ^However, the present
0130J46 situation presents us with an opportunity to_ review the strategy
0140J46 for a qualitative improvement without which no export strategy
0150J46 will ever succeed. $^Exports acted as an engine of growth in small countries
0160J46 like Korea, Hongkong, Singapore and Taiwan. ^In the case
0170J46 of a vastly populated country like India, however, where the bulk of
0180J46 the requirements of domestic demand for consumption and growth have to_
0190J46 be taken care of from within the country*'s production, it is not
0200J46 suitable to_ adopt export-led growth model as a strategy of development.
0210J46 ^Factors like recession and uncertainty of demand abroad, adverse
0220J46 terms of trade and protectionist policies pursued by the developed
0230J46 countries also render export-led growth model unsuitable for our
0240J46 country. ^Nevertheless, there may be sectors, for example, engineering
0250J46 whose growth may considerably depend upon the export factor. ^These
0260J46 sectors must be carefully identified and their problems and planning
0270J46 should be considered separately. ^Given our overall strategy of growth,
0280J46 we have to_ aim at the expansion of exports to the maximum extent
0290J46 possible as growth in exports is an essential precondition for the
0300J46 achievement of the object of self-reliance. ^In other words, if we
0310J46 do not want to_ have our growth strategy to_ be constrained by exports,
0320J46 and instead aim at having an autonomous model of growth, we cannot
0330J46 but also aim at the maximisation of exports for reason of achieving
0340J46 a cushion for self-reliance, without which there can be no autonomous
0350J46 model of growth. ^This rather paradoxical approach would require
0360J46 a much more extensive and rigorous planning of exports and very
0370J46 close co-ordination between the Government, the producers and the exporters.
0380J46 $^We have practically completed the phase of import-substitution
0390J46 industrialisation strategy. ^Now we have to_ go in for independent
0400J46 industrialisation for which we would have to_ evolve largely
0410J46 those technologies that_ are relevant to our resource endowments.
0420J46 ^Even where import of technologies is necessary, foreign collaboration
0430J46 should be avoided as far as possible; in its place outright purchase
0440J46 of technology should be resorted to. ^There can be no genuine export
0450J46 planning for the long term through foreign collaboration unless
0460J46 you are thinking of opening the country to multinationals which in
0470J46 my opinion will be totally disastrous. $*<*3*8Ad hocism*9 in exports*>
0480J46 $^Increase in exports also leads to increase in imports in a variety
0490J46 of ways. ^Part of this increase in imports is the result of deliberate
0500J46 policy of import entitlements to_ encourage exports. ^But besides
0510J46 this unplanned imports take place because of other factors. ^We
0520J46 have yet to_ prepare a systematic planning mechanism by which production,
0530J46 imports and exports are linked. ^Import content of economic development
0540J46 and development content of export cannot be left to_ follow
0550J46 their own respective paths. ^Nor can we ignore the fact that in our
0560J46 attempts to_ improve the export intensity of our production we invariably
0570J46 allow ourselves to_ be trapped in producing those luxury consumer
0580J46 goods which turn out to_ have a large import-intensity. ^Licences given
0590J46 for setting up of production units with the clear stipulation that
0600J46 their products will largely be exported ultimately end up in inducing
0610J46 domestic consumption. ^This is clearly an unacceptable position
0620J46 and has arisen because of faulty export planning and licensing. $^Unfortunately,
0630J46 there is a large element of *8ad hocism*9 in our export
0640J46 strategy. ^For example, in the years when our exports increased by
0650J46 extremely high proportions it was not realised that that_ phenomenon was
0660J46 more a result of the cluster of *8ad hoc*9 developments than of any
0670J46 significant improvement in export and production planning. ^There
0680J46 is no need to_ count these developments or commodities involved. ^But
0690J46 let me take one typical example, namely, sugar. ^The sugar boom
0700J46 gave us large earnings once but that_ windfall was not followed by
0710J46 a serious planning of sugar export and production. ^The point I want
0720J46 to_ stress is that *8ad hocism*9 in our exports is dangerous not
0730J46 only for export promotion but also for planning domestic production.
0740J46 $^Exports are primarily a function of production and its efficiency which
0750J46 in turn depend upon the strength and vigour of the domestic economy.
0760J46 ^In the long run, the growth of exports is contingent upon the rate
0770J46 of growth in agriculture and industry, and upon the adequacy of supporting
0780J46 infrastructure. ^The increase in production, therefore, through
0790J46 fuller utilisation of capacities and creation of additional capacities
0800J46 wherever possible and necessary has to_ be accorded the priority
0810J46 it deserves. ^With a drive for increased production, it should be
0820J46 possible to_ generate exportable surpluses for items for which there
0830J46 is demand potential abroad and increase their exports without creating
0840J46 any adverse impact on domestic availability and domestic prices.
0850J46 ^It is also to_ be remembered that in the ultimate analysis marketing
0860J46 of exports depends upon our ability to_ supply goods of requisite
0870J46 quality and specifications at competitive prices and in accordance
0880J46 with delivery schedules. ^From the point of view of bringing down
0890J46 costs and prices of exportable commodities, studies in cost reduction,
0900J46 increase in productivity and modern management methods are useful
0910J46 and necessary devices. ^The price stability that_ we have witnessed
0920J46 during the recent past will have to_ be maintained to_ give our exports
0930J46 a competitive edge of lasting nature. $^In view of the importance
0940J46 of export sector in our economy and the need for its sustained
0950J46 growth, we have accepted export planning the main elements of which
0960J46 are as follows: $(**=1) ^To_ dovetail requirements of exports with
0970J46 the parameters of the process of growth, generation of employment and
0980J46 increasing supply of wage-goods, and to_ formulate long-term export
0990J46 policies on the basis of suitable supporting investment policy. $(**=2)
1000J46 ^To_ generate and sustain exportable surpluses after meeting the
1010J46 internal needs. $(**=3) ^To_ increase productivity and diversify the
1020J46 commodity mix in case of traditional exports like jute manufactures,
1030J46 cotton piece-goods, tea, coffee, \0etc., so that the domestic value
1040J46 added is maximised. $(**=4) ^To_ develop exports of labour intensive
1050J46 products and items with higher value added element, such as precious
1060J46 stones, jewellery, various items of handicrafts, garments, electronics,
1070J46 \0etc. \(**=5) ^To_ diversify the commodity composition by raising
1080J46 production and exports of dynamic sectors in which India has
1090J46 long-term comparative advantage, for instance, certain engineering
1100J46 goods, chemical products, garments, leather manufactures, handicrafts,
1110J46 marine products, \0etc. $(**=6) ^To_ move increasingly towards exports
1120J46 of services and technology. $(**=7) ^To_ minimise social costs
1130J46 of our exports by regulating exports of essential mass consumption
1140J46 items. $(**=8) ^To_ strengthen the bargaining power of exporters
1150J46 through the support of State trading organisations and other infrastructural
1160J46 support in terms of uptodate international marketing and information
1170J46 system. $^Our export projections-- aggregate and commoditywise-- represent
1180J46 feasible limits of foreign exchange earnings which may be achieved
1190J46 from exports in the light of the perspective of overall growth
1200J46 projected for the Plan period and production planning according to
1210J46 major sector/ commodities during the Plan period. ^These projections
1220J46 take into account the demand and supply elasticity and the country*'s
1230J46 dynamic comparative advantage. ^It may be mentioned that these projections
1240J46 are different from forecasts. ^The target element is, however,
1250J46 considered in certain products with export potential. $^For the Plan
1260J46 1978-83, the export projections were made after taking into account
1270J46 the overall growth of the economy at 4.7 per cent (compound) per
1280J46 annum and the sectoral growth rates as indicated in the draft Plan.
1290J46 ^There were certain immediate considerations which constrained the
1300J46 export targets during the Plan period. ^One such constraint was the
1310J46 protectionist policies of the industrialised countries in the lower limits
1320J46 of the available quotas of certain products. ^The second constraint
1330J46 was Government*'s policy of restraining the export of essential
1340J46 items of domestic demand, particularly agricultural and food products.
1350J46 ^There were other constraints but I need not go into them. $^The
1360J46 export projections for 1978-83 have been made at 1976-77 prices. ^Therefore,
1370J46 any realisation of unit value higher than what was realised
1380J46 in 1976-77 in case of certain products, as a result of higher processing
1390J46 and diversification, may result in export earnings higher than
1400J46 now projected. ^Commoditywise export projections so arrived are at
1410J46 a given rate of growth of 7 per cent (compound) annually for the Plan
1420J46 period. ^This gives growth elasticity of exports with regard to
1430J46 national product at around 1.5 which is lower than the elasticity of
1440J46 over 2 per cent during the period 1970-71. ^The reasons for the lower
1450J46 elasticity, apart from those already mentioned, are the expected
1460J46 arrivals of demand for various industrial goods in the country as the Plan
1470J46 implementation gains momentum. $*<*3Vacatable areas*> $^Various
1480J46 input studies have gone into the exercise of export projection. ^These
1490J46 include review of long term and short term performance and prospects
1500J46 of exports, analysis of growth of India*'s exports in comparison
1510J46 with various other countries and the world, and India*'s export
1520J46 profile by 2000 \0AD. ^The studies also include sectorwise net foreign
1530J46 exchange earnings, inventory of elasticity of world demand and \0ERP/DRC
1540J46 studies. ^Analysis of export incentives has also been
1550J46 done. ^The results available in regard to the complementarity of India*'s
1560J46 trade pattern with that_ of the developing countries have been
1570J46 taken into account. ^Various recommendations of the recent committees
1580J46 appointed by the Government and the reports of the Working Groups
1590J46 have been looked into. $^It is a part of export planning and strategy
1600J46 to_ face the imponderables, remove the bottlenecks and review past
1610J46 policies. ^We need more and not less planning if the exogenous
1620J46 factors keep pressing against our exports. ^If protectionism is raising
1630J46 its head we must do two things: (1) build an international effort
1640J46 against it and (2) resort to more rigorous and intensified planning
1650J46 of exports. ^In this respect I may mention here that the developed
1660J46 capitalist countries are now caught in a serious crisis of prolonged
1670J46 inflation and unemployment. ^Some of them are looking for short-term
1680J46 solutions in raising tariff barriers against products from the developing
1690J46 countries. ^But this is not going to_ help them, for their problems
1700J46 are structural. ^They cannot afford to_ continue with industries
1710J46 of intermediate technology. ^They will have to_ vacate these areas.
1720J46 ^Our export planning must aim at capturing these potentially vacatable
1730J46 areas. ^This would require a very detailed study and analysis of
1740J46 the economic transformation going on in those countries and correspondingly
1750J46 of our building up technologies which will help in the improvement
1760J46 of domestic production and long-term export prospects. $^There
1770J46 are countries which do not have planning for internal economy but
1780J46 have developed the most sophisticated and most aggressive export planning
1790J46 mechanism. ^*Japan is one such country. ^This has been made possible
1800J46 because of very close co-ordination between the government,
1810J46 the industry, the export houses and the financial institutions. ^They
1820J46 jointly formulate their fiscal policies, subsidies, investment
1830J46 concessions, price fixation, credit, all as part of one plan. ^Exports
1840J46 are backed by schemes of short and long term planning. ^We know to our
1850J46 cost how the developed countries are able to_ destroy our export
1860J46 potential by offering credit to third world countries from whom we can
1870J46 get contracts on global tenders. ^We may not be able to_ match them
1880J46 in this game but we must substitute a new system of export planning
1890J46 for the prevailing system of export assistance and link the latter
1900J46 with cost reduction and improvement in productivity. ^If we succeed
1910J46 in this substitution we would have added a powerful dimension to our
1920J46 export planning.*#
        **[no. of words = 02001**]

        **[txt. j47**]
0010J47 **<*3PARLIAMENT IN THE INDIAN POLITY*0**> $^The Preamble to the Constitution
0020J47 lays down the guidelines under which the legislature, the administration
0030J47 and our society should function. ^The Surpreme Court*'s interpretation
0040J47 of the Constitution is based not merely on the language of
0050J47 the provisions of the Constitution but also on the scheme underlying
0060J47 the objectives of the Constitution. $*3Social Justice*0: ^The
0070J47 Preamble promises to_ secure Justice-- social, economic and political--
0080J47 to all citizens of this country. ^In Indian society, unfortunately,
0090J47 social barriers exist. ^There still exist differences between religion
0100J47 and religion, caste and caste and above all there are what are known
0110J47 as *4Harijans and the backward classes. ^These were also in existence
0120J47 when the founding fathers prepared the Constitution. ^They,
0130J47 therefore, made social justice one of the important objectives of
0140J47 the Constitution, as without social justice no other type of justice
0150J47 can be rendered to the people. ^There are now numerous laws intended
0160J47 to_ render social justice to the various sections of the people,
0170J47 particularly the backward classes and the *4Harijans. ^Today these classes
0180J47 are conscious of their rights. ^They are asserting their rights--
0190J47 and rightly too. ^They have been treated badly for centuries but
0200J47 that_ condition will be tolerated no more. ^That_ being so, it has
0210J47 to_ be ensured that the laws enacted for rendering social justice
0220J47 to these classes are faithfully implemented. ^Good laws may be enacted
0230J47 but their purpose can be perverted during implementation. ^It is,
0240J47 therefore, necessary that the laws enacted for bringing about an integration
0250J47 of the society, for bridging the gulf between the rich and the
0260J47 poor and also for reducing the gap between the different sections of
0270J47 the people are implemented properly and that social justice is extended
0280J47 to all classes. $*3Economic Justice*0: ^No social justice is
0290J47 possible without economic justice. ^Social differences or gradations
0300J47 mainly flow out of economic differences. ^There is always a difference
0310J47 between a rich man and a poor man. ^A rich man to whichever class of
0320J47 society he may belong still commands respect which may not be available
0330J47 to a poor man. $^The goal of the Constitution is to_ build up
0340J47 an egalitarian society. ^Since absolute equality is not possible of
0350J47 achievement, we want to_ build a society where everyone is nearly
0360J47 equal. ^This is expressed in article 38 of the Constitution which
0370J47 lays down that the machinery of the Government should be so utilised
0380J47 as to_ bring about the distribution of the national wealth in an
0390J47 equitable manner and to_ see that there is no concentration of wealth.
0400J47 ^For fulfilling this task, the responsibility of the administrative
0410J47 machinery of the Government is very great. ^Several laws like those
0420J47 relating to land reforms, debt relief \0etc. have already been
0430J47 enacted and will continue to_ be enacted in future as well, in order
0440J47 to_ build up an egalitarian society and a social order where democracy
0450J47 can really prevail. ^But the complaint is that these laws have
0460J47 not been given full effect to without which they would be only a dead
0470J47 letter. ^In a truly democratic society there can be no great economic
0480J47 gulf between one individual and another. ^A democratic society
0490J47 presupposes economic equality amongst the people to the extent possible.
0500J47 ^It is possible to_ build up a really good society where the difference
0510J47 between the rich and the poor is minimal. $*3Political equality*0:
0520J47 ^Last but by no means the least is political equality. ^In a democratic
0530J47 society, every individual has certain rights. ^An individual is
0540J47 not a mere brick or stone on which the society is built. ^Besides
0550J47 the social rights and social obligations, the individual rights and
0560J47 individual obligations are also of utmost importance. ^This egalitarian
0570J47 doctrine has been enshrined in our Constitution, which incorporates
0580J47 in Part *=3 the various human or individual rights. ^This part as
0590J47 well as Part *=4 which lays down the Directive Principles of State
0600J47 Policy should be borne in mind while discussing the individual rights.
0610J47 $*3Untouchability*0: ^Article 17 of the Constitution has abolished
0620J47 untouchability. ^This is one of the facets of the doctrine of
0630J47 equality. ^Untouchability and political equality cannot subsist together.
0640J47 ^It is, therefore, the duty of the administrators to_ see that
0650J47 untouchability is not practised. ^There are laws which lay down
0660J47 stringently that untouchability is an offence, but these laws do not
0670J47 seem to_ be observed in letter and spirit. $*3Equality of opportunity*0:
0680J47 ^After the Second World War, under the aegis of the United Nations,
0690J47 an *3impromptu*0 conference was held in Paris under the Chairmanship
0700J47 of \0Mrs. Roosevelt. ^That_ conference decided to_ guarantee
0710J47 certain rights to every individual in any part of the world. ^*India
0720J47 was an original party to that_ convention under which it was agreed
0730J47 that every citizen in a country should be equal before the law and
0740J47 should have equal protection of the law. ^No individual, however rich
0750J47 he may be, or to whichever community he may belong, will have superior
0760J47 rights over other individuals. $^In a feudalist society, certain
0770J47 classes and certain communities have only obligations and no privileges.
0780J47 ^In our society, we know what is the position of *4Harijans
0790J47 or the other weaker sections of the people. ^To_ ameliorate their
0800J47 condition and afford them equal opportunity, article 14 of our Constitution
0810J47 provides that all Indians shall be equal before the law and have
0820J47 equal protection of the laws. $^In the olden days the administrative
0830J47 personnel had a privilege of their own. ^They could not be touched
0840J47 even if they transgressed the law. ^That_ is not the condition
0850J47 today. ^Now the position of the administrator and the ordinary citizen
0860J47 is more or less equal. ^The administrators have greater duties and
0870J47 corresponding to those duties they may have a little more right in
0880J47 certain spheres, but in all other matters their position is equal to
0890J47 that_ of any other person. ^This doctrine appears to_ have been completely
0900J47 forgotten during the Emergency. ^It will be a matter for
0910J47 research how some of the administrators behaved during that_ period.
0920J47 ^They completely forgot their responsibility. ^Their only aim was to_
0930J47 curry favour with some high placed individuals and they were prepared
0940J47 to_ commit any crime for the sake of avoiding a transfer or getting
0950J47 a promotion. ^We know from history that such benefits are momentary
0960J47 and will not last long. ^The people of this country are mature and they
0970J47 know what their rights are. ^They threw out a powerful, tyrannical
0980J47 administration. ^Many of the administrators who did not play their role
0990J47 properly have to_ pay the penalty for that_ today. $^This country
1000J47 is not ruled by an individual-- man or woman. ^It is under the rule
1010J47 of law and each one of us is subject to law; nobody is above law.
1020J47 ^Under all circumstances we must obey the law; we should not obey an
1030J47 individual. ^If anybody transgresses the law, he will be guilty and punishment
1040J47 is likely to_ come. ^There are no doubt occasions when temptations
1050J47 may be offered to the administrators by the people in power to_
1060J47 transgress the limits of law. ^The acceptance of such invitations
1070J47 may, however, prove to_ be dangerous in the long run. $*3Right to
1080J47 freedom*0: ^Besides guaranteeing certain rights to every individual,
1090J47 the Constitution also guarantees some rights to religious groups.
1100J47 ^Rights such as freedom of the individual, freedom of movement, of
1110J47 trade, of forming associations \0etc. are incorporated in article 19.
1120J47 ^Even Parliament cannot enact a law to_ abridge those rights except
1130J47 under conditions provided in the Constitution itself. ^Of course,
1140J47 at one stage Parliament did transgress its limits; today those
1150J47 mistakes are being rectified. ^It is now everybody*'s duty to_ see
1160J47 that such transgressions do not take place again. $^There are many turns
1170J47 in the life of an individual and in the history of a nation. ^There
1180J47 may be dark days. ^Occasions may arise when some people may be
1190J47 tempted to_ transgress the limits of law, as they did in the recent
1200J47 past. ^But such occasions should not be allowed to_ recur. $*3Forms
1210J47 of Government*0: ^When we framed our Constitution there was a great
1220J47 deal of debate as to whether we should have a presidential or a parliamentary
1230J47 form of Government. ^There are advantages and disadvantages
1240J47 in both these systems. ^In our democratic form of Government, there
1250J47 is a certain amount of separation of powers between the Judiciary,
1260J47 the Executive and the Legislature, and each has got its own separate
1270J47 sphere. ^But in the presidential type, the separation is more
1280J47 or less delineated and the spheres are rigid. ^The Legislature cannot
1290J47 encroach upon the field reserved for the Executive, and the Executive
1300J47 and the Legislature cannot encroach upon the field reserved for
1310J47 the Judiciary. ^But in the parliamentary system of Government, although
1320J47 broadly speaking, there is a certain amount of separation of
1330J47 powers they are nevertheless interlinked and the separation is not absolute.
1340J47 ^After a great deal of debate and consideration and particularly
1350J47 taking into consideration our experience of the Westminster model
1360J47 of Government from about the year 1918 onwards, our founding fathers
1370J47 came to the conclusion that we should have the parliamentary form
1380J47 of Government. ^In this form, under a written constitution, legal
1390J47 supremacy lies with the Constitution while popular sovereignty lies
1400J47 with the people. $^So far as the Legislature is concerned, it has a
1410J47 bigger say than the other two organs under the Constitution. ^The Executive
1420J47 under our system of Government must always command the confidence
1430J47 of the elected people. ^If there are two Houses, it should
1440J47 have the confidence of the Lower House. ^The moment the Executive
1450J47 loses this confidence it must resign. ^It cannot continue in power.
1460J47 ^But in the presidential form of Government, the Executive is independent
1470J47 of the Legislature. ^The President of the United States is
1480J47 elected for a four-year term. ^He will continue to_ be the Executive
1490J47 authority for the full term of four years, even if he has no support in
1500J47 the two Houses of the Congress. ^In the parliamentary system, the
1510J47 Ministers generally-- not invariably-- are members of either the Lower
1520J47 House or the Upper House. ^But in the presidential form, they are
1530J47 generally not members of the Legislature. ^In the United States
1540J47 no Minister or Secretary, as they call him, can be a member of either
1550J47 House and if he is, he must resign immediately. ^But under our
1560J47 Constitution, if a person is appointed a Minister and if he is not
1570J47 a member of either House, he must become one within six months from
1580J47 the date of assuming office as Minister. ^If he does not acquire
1590J47 that_ qualification within that_ period, he automatically ceases to_
1600J47 be Minister. ^Thus there is an interlinking of the Legislature
1610J47 and the Executive in our system. $^The importance of a form of government
1620J47 like ours lies in the fact that it is always expected to_ be
1630J47 responsive to public opinion, whereas the impact of public opinion
1640J47 in a presidential system is not so direct. ^There is, however, a disadvantage
1650J47 also. ^In the presidential form, the President is in a position
1660J47 to_ get the services of the ablest men available in the country.
1670J47 ^In the United States the President looks to eminent professors,
1680J47 economists, scientists and such other people to_ fill the important
1690J47 ministerial posts. ^But that_ is not possible under our Constitution.
1700J47 $*3Parliament under the Constitution*0: ^Our constitution has
1710J47 provided that there shall be two Houses of Parliament-- *5Lok Sabha*6
1720J47 or the House of the People and *5Rajya Sabha*6 or the Council
1730J47 of States. ^The members of the Council of States are elected by
1740J47 the State Legislatures for a period of six years. ^One-third of
1750J47 the members of that_ House retire once in two years. ^When the *5Rajya
1760J47 Sabha*6 was first constituted in 1952, I happened to_ be a
1770J47 member. ^At that_ time, the problem arose as to how to_ make people
1780J47 retire. ^Therefore, lots had to_ be taken and some got two years, some
1790J47 four years and some the full term of six years. ^*I had the misfortune
1800J47 of getting only two years, but that_ was not a big misfortune
1810J47 because I was re-elected for a full term of six years, though before
1820J47 I could complete the full term, I was drafted into the Judiciary.*#
        **[no. of words = 02020**]

        **[txt. j48**]
0010J48 **<*3Abolition of Capital Punishment in India*0**> $^Whatever view one
0020J48 holds about the criminal law, no one will question its importance
0030J48 in society. ^This is the law on which men place their ultimate reliance
0040J48 for protection against the deepest injuries that_ human conduct
0050J48 can inflict on individuals and society. ^By the same token criminal
0060J48 law governs the greatest force that_ permits officials to_ bear
0070J48 on individuals. ^If criminal law is weak and ineffective, basic
0080J48 human interests are in jeopardy. ^If it is harsh and arbitrary in its
0090J48 impact, it works gross injustice on those caught within its toils.
0100J48 ^The law that_ carries such heavy responsibilities should surely be
0110J48 as rational as law can be. $^Criminal law has, quite rightly been
0120J48 called by Mannheim as "One of the most faithful mirrors of a given
0130J48 civilisation, reflecting the fundamental values on which the latter
0140J48 rests." ^Far reaching changes have occurred as regards political ideology,
0150J48 social values, economic policy in general and criminology, penology
0160J48 and social sciences in particular. ^Since these values have changed
0170J48 criminal law must also be changed. ^But it is distressing to_
0180J48 find that criminal laws of most countries are irrational, unscientific,
0190J48 unjust, inhuman and outmoded. ^The Indian Penal Code, which was
0200J48 enacted more than a century ago (1860) also falls into this category
0210J48 of laws. ^No other field of the Code has become more out of date
0220J48 than its treatment content \0i.e. the scheme of punishment. ^It is
0230J48 a standing complaint against the Code that it is Draconian in its
0240J48 severity as regards punishment. ^The Code still retains one of the most
0250J48 inhuman form **[sic**] of punishment-- the sentence of death or what
0260J48 is aptly described as capital punishment. $^Capital punishment is the practice
0270J48 of deliberately putting to death an offender, as a measure of social
0280J48 policy imposed by the Governing Authority. ^Death penalty has
0290J48 existed from the most ancient times and, in all parts of the world.
0300J48 ^It is not safe to_ generalise about the pre-historic laws and customs
0310J48 from which this practice originated, for like all laws, and customs,
0320J48 they are wrapped in obscurity and must have varied most widely in
0330J48 different ages and in different types of communities. ^In the more advanced
0340J48 civilisation represented by the City States or Empires from Babylon
0350J48 of Hummurabi in the twenty first century \0B.C. to the Isselitish
0360J48 Kingdom in the sixth century, we find death the invariable penalty
0370J48 for wilful homicide as well as for a variety of sexual and other
0380J48 religious and quasi-religious offences, with the rule of exact retribution
0390J48 such as "an eye for an eye" governing other types of offences.
0400J48 ^Early Roman Law as contained in Twelve Tables, and the customary
0410J48 laws of the German tribes, regard all offences against the individual
0420J48 including homicide, as the private concern of the injured. ^The
0430J48 relations of the injured were satisfied with nothing short of death.
0440J48 ^In the primitive societies the only offences punishable by the State
0450J48 were those against the State as treason or the violation of certain
0460J48 religious sanctions and the State had but one punishment \0i.e.
0470J48 death. ^Thus when the theory of retribution was in vogue, death
0480J48 penalty was the commonest form of punishment. ^In India the penalty
0490J48 of death was inflicted for serious offences. ^As Vishnu ordained "great
0500J48 criminal-- should be punished to death." ^In the Pre-Buddhist
0501J48 and Post-Buddhist period
0510J48 the death sentence was carried **[sic**] in the most terrible manner.
0520J48 ^In Greece, as Plato has observed, "When a man is never innocent
0530J48 but in sleep it is better that he should die than live." $^Capital
0540J48 punishment for murder and other secular offences may be said to_ have
0550J48 come into existence with the modern state and its growing recognition
0560J48 of the obligation to_ maintain peace and order at any cost. ^The
0570J48 practice was most unrestrained in the medieval period, when it was thought
0580J48 that the most effective way of suppressing crime was to_ make punishment
0590J48 more severe and thus to_ deter criminals. ^In this way, when
0600J48 the deterrent theory entered into the scheme of punishment, mere death
0610J48 was often found insufficient, it being so common. ^Hence peculiar
0620J48 forms of death attended with torture of infamy, were improvised.
0630J48 ^The practice of imposing death penalty was extensively resorted to
0640J48 in Europe and England as an effort to_ suppress crimes of every description.
0650J48 ^This state of affairs lasted upto the end of the 17th century.
0660J48 $^An abuse of this form of punishment led to a reaction against
0670J48 it. ^Since the intellectual renaissance of the eighteenth century,
0680J48 there has been a trend towards limiting the use of capital punishment
0690J48 and the adopting of human methods of execution. ^The intellectual
0700J48 renaissance inspired a new humanitarian sentiment, which on the side of
0710J48 penology found its effective expression in the writings of Beccaria.
0720J48 ^He condemned this brutality and urged the abolition of this punishment.
0730J48 ^His work did much to_ stimulate the growing sentiment against
0740J48 the death penalty. ^He was supported in his endeavour by all the
0750J48 enlightened thinkers of his time. ^While this amelioration of this policy
0760J48 was due primarily to the increase of humanitarian sentiment, it was
0770J48 also in part an outgrowth of the contemporaneous secularisation of thought,
0780J48 with the elimination of the idea of sin and retribution and the
0790J48 increasing acceptance of the utilitarian principle laid down by Beccaria
0800J48 and embodied in the French Declaration of the Rights of Man
0810J48 that "the right to_ punish is limited by the law of necessity."
0820J48 ^As a result of this movement treason and wilful murder were, as a
0830J48 general rule, the only offences punishable with death. $^The Penal
0840J48 Code enacted as it was in 1860, was based upon Neo-classical theory
0850J48 of Crimes. ^The whole scheme of the Code is essentially built upon
0860J48 the theory of 'free will.' ^It postulates a free agent confronted
0870J48 with a choice between doing right and wrong and choosing freely to_
0880J48 do wrong. ^To_ counteract that_ free will it objectively lays down
0890J48 precise doses of punishment to_ strike terror in the minds of prospective
0900J48 offenders and to_ deter them by show of force. ^The fact that offences
0910J48 are classified and divided with respect to gradations in gravity
0920J48 and the fact that the severity of punishment in proportionate to the
0930J48 gravity of the offence, shows that it belongs to an era when punishment
0940J48 based upon the degree of 'vicious will' was thought to_ be the
0950J48 only or the best means of coping with anti-social behaviour. ^The
0960J48 First Law Commission of which \0Mr. (afterward Lord) Macaulay
0970J48 was the President who drafted the Indian Penal Code, were giving
0980J48 expression to the contemporary conceptions and practices when they
0990J48 recommended death penalty as a mode of punishment. ^And the \0I.P.C.
1000J48 in keeping with the same practice, prescribes capital punishment
1010J48 only for offences arising out of treason or murder. ^The authors of
1020J48 the Code observed "We are convinced that it ought to_ be very sparingly
1030J48 inflicted, and we propose to_ employ it only in cases where
1040J48 either murder or the highest offence against the State has been committed..."
1050J48 $^The \0I.P.C. provides it as a punishment for the following
1060J48 offences-- Death penalty is the punishment which must be awarded
1070J48 for the offence of murder or its attempt by a person who is undergoing
1080J48 a sentence of imprisonment for life (Sections 303 and 307
1090J48 \0I.P.C.). ^Sentence of death may also be awarded in the following
1100J48 offences as an alternative with imprisonment for life: $(**=1) ^Waging
1110J48 or attempting to_ wage war against the Government of India (\0Sec.
1120J48 121 \0I.P.C.). $(**=2) ^Abetting mutiny by an officer, soldier,
1130J48 sailor or airman in the Army, Navy or Air Force of the Union of
1140J48 India if the mutiny is actually committed in consequence thereof
1150J48 (\0Sec. 132 \0I.P.C.). $(**=3) ^Giving or fabricating false evidence
1160J48 upon which an innocent person suffers death (\0Sec. 194 \0I.P.C.).
1170J48 $(**=4) ^Abetment of suicide of a minor, insane or intoxicated person
1180J48 (\0Sec. 305 \0I.P.C.). $(**=5) ^Murder (\0Sec. 302 \0I.P.C.).
1190J48 $(**=6) ^Attempt to_ murder by a person under sentence of imprisonment
1200J48 for life, if hurt is caused to any person by such act (\0Sec.
1210J48 307 second \0para). $(**=7) ^Dacoity accompanied with murder
1220J48 (\0sec. 396 \0I.P.C.). $^Credit is no doubt due to the framers of
1230J48 the \0I.P.C. for their successful attempt to_ restrict the scope
1240J48 of capital punishment in accordance with contemporary penological
1250J48 thought and practice. ^But almost contemporaneously with the passing
1260J48 of the \0I.P.C. a vigorous movement for the total abolition of death
1270J48 penalty gained ground throughout the world. $^Though the retention
1280J48 as well as the abolition of capital punishment has been advocated
1290J48 from the earliest times; it was only since the last century that
1300J48 the wisdom has been hotly debated. ^Yet it has continued and opinion
1310J48 is still divided on its expediency or justifiability. ^The question
1320J48 whether the State has the right to_ take away a man*'s life has
1330J48 often been agitated, but it is a question upon which the moralist and
1340J48 the jurists are never likely to_ agree. ^All the same the tendency
1350J48 of modern times has been to_ abolish capital punishment. ^The gradual
1360J48 enlightenment of succeeding generations, the crusading by various
1370J48 groups against it and its abolition in various countries, have all assisted
1380J48 in the gradual loss of support for this vestige of a crude and
1390J48 more retributive past. $^It is proposed that capital punishment should
1400J48 be abolished. ^For substantiating this contention, the theories by
1410J48 which this form of punishment is justified have to_ be examined,
1420J48 its consistency with modern humanitarian movement has to_ be appraised
1430J48 and the undesirable consequences of this punishment explained. $^Capital
1440J48 punishment has been justified from the earliest times with
1450J48 reference to the Retributive and the Deterrent theories of punishment.
1460J48 ^It has been argued that the end of criminal law should be retribution;
1470J48 \0i.e. infliction of pain upon criminals as retaliation for their
1480J48 crimes, the punishment being proportionate to their offences. ^Since
1490J48 the formulation of Hammurabi*'s Code (1875 \0B.C.) "an eye for
1500J48 an eye and a tooth for a tooth" was accepted by the general public
1510J48 as the ultimate end of criminal law. ^Conception of retributive justice
1520J48 still retains a prominent place in popular thought. ^It flourishes
1530J48 also in the writings of theologians and even among the philosophers
1540J48 it does not lack advocates. ^Its first systematic development is
1550J48 to_ be found in the ethical writings of Kant, Hegel and their followers,
1560J48 such as Stammler and Kohber. ^*Kant, for example, expresses
1570J48 the opinion that punishment cannot rightly be inflicted for the sake
1580J48 of any benefit to_ be derived from it either by the criminal himself
1590J48 or by the society and that the sole and sufficient reason and justification
1600J48 of it lies in the fact that evil has been done by him who
1610J48 suffers it. ^*Stephen observes "The Criminal Law stands to the passion
1620J48 of revenge in much the same relation as marriage to the sexual appetite."
1630J48 ^The retributive theory is an ancient one cannot be denied, **[sic**]
1640J48 and it may be that, as Broadly has said, it represents the unstudied
1650J48 belief of most men. ^We may also agree with Bentham that "there can
1660J48 be no doubt that revenge is sweet even to modern man... ^The pleasure
1670J48 of vengeance calls to my mind sermon*'s riddle... it is sweet coming
1680J48 out of the terrible, it is the honey dropping from the lion*'s mouth.
1690J48 $^The adherents of this theory are few in number, and it has been
1700J48 severely criticised as being inhuman and out of date. ^It has been
1710J48 criticised by Sheldon Glueck who maintains that we naturally hate
1720J48 criminals but to_ base a policy of social protection upon the hatred of
1730J48 those who commit such act is both uneconomical and unjust. \0^*Dr.
1740J48 White is also of the same view. $^The critics of the retributive theory
1750J48 deny that it is self-evident that retribution is just. ^It is said
1760J48 what necessity there is, apart from a concern of social consequences,
1770J48 that evil be repaid with punishment rather than ignored. ^The criminal
1780J48 law, like any other body of law, having a political sanction, is
1790J48 an instrument of the State. ^Throughout the history of human thought,
1800J48 it has been argued that the ultimate end of the State should be the
1810J48 welfare of its members, and that both law and punishment should serve
1820J48 the same end, and they are just if they serve this end.*#
        **[no. of words = 02030**]

        **[txt. j49**]
0010J49 **<*3ANTIQUATED MARRIAGE LAWS*0**> $"*3*4^TALAQ*0, *4Talaq, *4Talaq",
0020J49 Ghiyassudin Ahmed, piqued for some reason with his beautiful young
0030J49 wife Anisa Khatun, decided to_ divorce her during the course
0040J49 a conversation with two friends. ^The fact that she was absent at the
0050J49 time of the triple repudiation made little difference to its validity--
0060J49 he didn*'4t owe her an explanation under the law. ^Four days
0070J49 later he executed a deed of divorce verifying the oral pronouncement.
0080J49 ^Time passed but neither spouse remarried-- their mutual attachment
0090J49 for each other had survived the bad marital spat. ^*Anisa moved
0100J49 back into her husband*'s house and five children were born out of the
0110J49 union. ^Trouble began however, when Ghiyassudin*'s relatives decided
0120J49 they had a stake in his property by casting aspersions on the legitimacy
0130J49 of his children. ^*Ghiyassudin decided to_ settle the escalating
0140J49 feud by taking the matter to court-- where it was held that since
0150J49 the words of the divorce were "clear and effectual", an irrevocable
0160J49 divorce had, in fact, taken place. ^In order to_ have legalised her
0170J49 subsequent cohabitation with her husband, Anisa should have conformed
0180J49 with the basic tenets of the Muslim law: married a second man and
0190J49 after the consummation of that_ marriage sought a divorce or alternatively,
0200J49 waited for his death, before remarrying her first husband.
0210J49 ^Since such an intermediate marriage had not taken place the court
0220J49 held that the five children were illegitimate despite an acknowledgement
0230J49 of paternity by their father. $^Fantastic as it may sound, that
0240J49 law had originally been designed to_ protect women against temporary
0250J49 repudiation by an irate husband. ^But like several anachronistic
0260J49 marriage laws tolerated in this country, its preservation long after
0270J49 its historical justification had ceased to_ exist, made it a potent
0280J49 deterrent to a happy marriage. ^This law, for example, had its antecedents
0290J49 in the infamous Pre-Isalamic Arab practice of keeping wives in
0300J49 perpetual bondage by pretending to_ take them back after repeated divorces
0310J49 merely to_ prevent them from remarrying and seeking the much-needed
0320J49 protection of a husband. ^In modern times however, the same law
0330J49 can inflict unnecessary suffering, as illustrated by the case of
0340J49 Rashid Ahmed \0vs. Anisa Khatun. $^Although 30 years have elapsed
0350J49 since Independence, little effort has been made to_ bring the personal
0360J49 laws of different communities-- woefully at variance with one
0370J49 another-- on par. ^Thus, a Muslim man alone can take four wives and
0380J49 a Muslim woman is the only one who can get a divorce if her husband
0390J49 has been sentenced to imprisonment for seven years. ^A Christian
0400J49 woman on the other hand, is the only one who cannot obtain a divorce
0410J49 on the grounds of adultry alone, she has to_ prove a second offense
0420J49 such as bigamy incest or abnormal cruelty. ^Again, the Parsis are
0430J49 the only community where insanity of one spouse after marriage does
0440J49 not entitle the other to a divorce. ^Although a number of eminent
0450J49 lawyers have demanded a uniformity in the laws that_ govern different
0460J49 communities in this country, little effort has been made by the legislature
0470J49 to_ treat all Indians as equal. ^One excuse is the political
0480J49 exploitation of religious sentiment. ^Having declared India a secular
0490J49 state where freedom of worship is a fundamental right most community
0500J49 leaders hesitate to_ introduce legislation which will antagonise
0510J49 the more arthodox-- and cost them votes in the next election. ^The
0520J49 result: a number of Indian women continue to_ be held in subjugation
0530J49 by laws which, anywhere else in the world, would be considered
0540J49 outmoded. ^Take, for instance, the Muslim law. $^*Iran, Turkey,
0550J49 Syria, Tunisia, Indonesia, Iraq, Pakistan and Bangladesh-- all
0560J49 these Muslim states have introduced legislation of varying degrees
0570J49 to_ correct the abuse of polygamy. ^In India however, partisan politics
0580J49 make any such legislative effort impossible. ^Yet a social system
0590J49 which allows a man to_ take four wives (but sues a woman with bigamy
0600J49 if she takes a second husband), is hardly conducive to equality
0610J49 between the sexes. ^Not surprisingly, we find the Muslim woman has
0620J49 fewer rights than any other in this country. $^Take for instance, divorce.
0630J49 ^A Muslim man, says the law, still continues to_ enjoy a complete,
0640J49 unilateral right to_ divorce-- he may exercise this right "whenever
0650J49 he desires without assigning any cause"-- whereas a woman can only
0660J49 do so on certain grounds. ^Thus a delicate situation arises with the
0670J49 taking of a second wife. ^One woman who filed a divorce suit against
0680J49 her husband on the ground that his second marriage amounted to cruelty,
0690J49 was summarily told by the court that so long as he treated both
0700J49 wives "equally" she had no cause for complaint-- bringing us to another
0710J49 archaic custom. $^A dower (*4mahr) is the sum of money fixed upon a
0720J49 woman by her husband or his family, at the time of her betrothal, for
0730J49 a Muslim marriage is considered a "purely civil contract and not
0740J49 a sacrament." ^A woman*'s dower therefore is usually commensurate with
0750J49 her "age, beauty, fortune and virtue." ^Whether it is as low as \0*4Rs.
0760J49 40 (the Bohras consider it a point of honour not to_ demand more)
0770J49 or as high as a *4lakh (certain families in \0U.P., Hyderabad and
0780J49 the Deccan measure a husband*'s ability to_ earn by his *4mahr) it
0790J49 is a woman*'s only economic security in the event of a divorce. (^There
0800J49 is no recognition of alimony in Muslim law.) ^Even this right is
0810J49 lost to a woman who refuses to_ "obey the reasonable commands of her
0820J49 husband." $^Further, a woman whose marriage has not been consummated for
0830J49 some reason (including impotency of the husband), is only entitled
0840J49 to half her dower. ^In case the terms of the dower have not been
0850J49 specified earlier, the husband can actually get away by making his wife
0860J49 a "gift of three articles of clothing". ^It is astonishing, to_ say
0870J49 the least, that such is the law in this day and age. ^Yet it was as late
0880J49 as 1973 before a woman was able to_ win maintenance rights for herself
0890J49 and her minor children under another law, namely section 125 of
0900J49 the Criminal Procedure Code. $^With a divorce comes further discriminatory
0910J49 legislation. ^To_ begin with, a woman is prohibited from
0920J49 remarrying within three months of the dissolution of her previous
0930J49 marriage. ^This term is called the *4iddat and is a period of continence
0940J49 imposed on a woman to_ ascertain the interests of paternity.
0950J49 ^A marriage with a woman before the completion of her *4iddat is "irregular"--
0960J49 in that her marriage is invalid but her children are legitimate.
0970J49 $^Should a woman wish to_ remarry, she can only do so within the
0980J49 community. ^For the law declares any marriage between a Muslim woman
0990J49 and an infidel to_ be *4batii or void. ^A Muslim man, on the oher
1000J49 hand, may marry a Jewess or a Christian but not an idolatress or a
1010J49 fire worshipper unless he does so under the Special Marriage Act
1020J49 of 1954. ^This law, which has its antecedents in political safety (Moghul
1030J49 emperors of India married Hindu Rajput ladies) is no longer
1040J49 relevant in a secular India where all religions are tolerated. $^What
1050J49 happens in the case of a married Muslim who goes abroad and there
1060J49 decides to_ marry an English Christian woman according to the law?
1070J49 ^Is such a union valid? ^The question is specially relevant in view
1080J49 of the large number of Asians migrating to England, America and
1090J49 Canada. ^In an old case, the Nawab Nizam of Bengal, who had two
1100J49 living wives, went to England and married an English woman in Muslim
1110J49 fashion. ^Later, he acknowledged the marriage and the children
1120J49 born of it. ^Still later, he married a second English wife. ^The first
1130J49 one refused to_ live with him. ^When the matter came to court, the
1140J49 magistrate decided that since the Muslim form of marriage was not
1150J49 recognised in England it was not binding on any spouse of English
1160J49 domicile. ^But since the father had recognised the children as legitimate
1170J49 (and they were legitimate under Muslim law) they could not
1180J49 be considered otherwise. ^The curious result was that the marriage itself
1190J49 was held to_ be invalid but the children legitimate. ^Later legislations
1200J49 have removed the anomaly by stating that any marriage between
1210J49 an Englishwoman and a previously married Hindu or Muslim male would
1220J49 be declared a nullity. $^The law however, has not been so enlightened
1230J49 about other injustices. ^Take, for instance, the position of a mother
1240J49 *8vis a vis*9 her children. ^The right to_ contract a minor child
1250J49 in marriage belongs successively to the father, paternal grandfather,
1260J49 brothers and other relatives on the father*'s side. ^A marriage
1270J49 brought about by any other person is wholly ineffective unless it is
1280J49 ratified by the minor on attaining puberty. ^Only when there are no
1290J49 paternal relations answering to the above description does a mother
1300J49 have the right to_ give her child in marriage. ^Such discrimination
1310J49 between parents on the grounds of their sex, can lead to an unhappy
1320J49 situation in the case of say, a window who may be forced by her husband*'s
1330J49 relatives to_ contract her daughter in a marriage she may not
1340J49 approve of. ^In the case of divorced or separated parents, the woman*'s
1350J49 position is even more tenuous: she is entitled to the custody
1360J49 of a male child up to the age of seven years and a female child until
1370J49 she attains puberty. ^But a woman who has been divorced and has married
1380J49 a second time, "is not a better person suited to_ have the
1390J49 custody of a minor," than the father, "however unsuitable the father
1400J49 may be." $*<*3THE PARSIS*0*> $^The Parsi Law of Marriage and Divorce
1410J49 of 1936 is one of the earliest of all marriage laws in India. ^It
1420J49 came into existence at a time when there was no Hindu law for divorce
1430J49 and Muslims were governed by their personal law (which did not
1440J49 recognise a woman*'s right to_ divorce). ^For the first time in 1947,
1450J49 the state of Bombay, as it was then called, recognised Hindu divorce
1460J49 and made bigamy a crime. ^In 1955 came the All India Act for Dissolution
1470J49 of Marriage which, by a subsequent amendment in 1976, made divorce
1480J49 still easier: a single act of extra-marital sex or desertion
1490J49 for two years was recognised as a ground for divorce. ^The Special
1500J49 Marriage Act, 1954, even made divorce by mutual consent legal. ^Although
1510J49 the laws of divorce applicable to Hindus and under the Special
1520J49 Marriage Act have undergone tremendous change, says eminent lawyer
1530J49 Feroze Vakil, the Parsi matrimonial laws, which were one of the
1540J49 earliest, remain unchanged. $^As things stand, spouses bent on dissolving
1550J49 a marriage can only do so by collusion-- a hypocritical state
1560J49 of affairs that_ is confirmed by a survey of the last five years
1570J49 which proves that few divorce cases were ever contested and even fewer
1580J49 fought to the bitter end. ^The most popular ground for divorce today,
1590J49 is "constructive desertion" which means that a couple claims to
1600J49 live under the same roof but have had no marital relationship for the
1610J49 last three years. ^Although it is widely suspected that a large number
1620J49 of desertion charges are false, helplessness forces many couples
1630J49 to put up a false case since cruelty and incompatibility are not
1640J49 recognised by Parsi law as a sufficient ground for divorce. (^A similar
1650J49 parallel can be seen in the case of the Hindus who resorted to
1660J49 impotency charges as a ground for dissolving unhappy marriages prior to
1670J49 the amendments of 1976.) $^Perhaps the most glaring example of inequality
1680J49 in Parsi personal laws can be seen in the case of insanity.
1690J49 ^If a spouse becomes insane after marriage, or the other spouse knew
1700J49 of the insanity at the time of marriage and waited three years before
1710J49 filing a suit, the aggrieved party is not entitled to a divorce.
1720J49 ^Thus, if one spouse goes insane after marriage, the other has no choice
1730J49 but to_ bear it. ^Since bigamy is punishable under the law, the
1740J49 only other option open to a spouse is an illicit relationship. ^Yet
1750J49 all other communities allow divorce in cases where the husband or
1760J49 wife has been insane for three years before filing the suit and it
1770J49 is unfair for an aggrieved party, who is blameless, to_ be tied to
1780J49 a miserable marriage.*#
        **[no. of words = 02031**]

        **[txt. j50**]
0010J50 **<*3Limitations on Constitutional Amendment*0**> $*<*3Basic Structure
0020J50 Principle Re-examined*0*> $*3^THE SUPREME COURT*'S DECISION*0
0030J50 in *3Kesavananda Bharati*0 \0v. *3State of Kerala*0 has shown
0040J50 us new horizons of judicial review. ^In *3Kesavananda Bharati*0
0050J50 the majority justices held that Parliament did not have the power to_
0060J50 tamper with the basic structure of the Constitution. ^This decision
0070J50 circumscribed the power of Parliament to_ amend the Constitution
0080J50 and since what the basic structure is has not been defined, the
0090J50 basic structure is that_ which the Court will define from time to time.
0091J50 ^In India, for quite some time,
0100J50 we debated whether the Court should have the power to_ review a
0110J50 constitutional amendment. ^Theoretically, there cannot be any doubt that
0120J50 Parliament being the representative of the people, must be in a position
0130J50 to_ have the Constitution changed to_ suit the needs of the
0140J50 community. ^Between the Court and Parliament the latter must be the
0150J50 final determiner of what the Constitution must contain. ^When therefore
0160J50 the Supreme Court held in *3Golak Nath*0 \0v. *3State of
0170J50 Punjab*0 that Parliament did not have the power to_ take away or
0180J50 abridge the fundamental rights through constitutional amendment, juristic
0190J50 opinion was almost unanimously against the decision. ^It is significant
0200J50 that ten out of thirteen Judges who heard *3Kesavananda*0
0210J50 also opined that *3Golak Nath*0 had been wrongly decided. ^The fundamental
0220J50 difference between *3Golak Nath*0 and *3Kesavananda*0 was
0230J50 that in the former, only fundamental rights were excluded from the reach
0240J50 of constitutional amendment, whereas in the latter a more nebulous
0250J50 restriction in the nature of unspecific "basic structure" was imposed
0260J50 on Parliament*'s power of constitutional amendment. *3^*Kesavananda*0
0270J50 gave to the Court even wider powers than it had claimed in *3Golak
0280J50 Nath*0. ^In terms of Parliament-Court relationship, one cannot
0290J50 defend *3Kesavananda*0 if one did not defend *3Golak Nath*0.
0300J50 ^Both have to_ be criticised from the same standpoint, and yet one finds
0310J50 that *3Kesavananda*0 has been accepted by juristic opinion which
0320J50 had rejected *3Golak Nath*0. ^The most notable example is *(0H.
0330J50 M.*) Seervai who in the first edition of his monumental work, *3Constitutional
0340J50 Law of India*0 had severely criticised *3Golak Nath*0 and
0350J50 had observed: "For reasons already given, it is submitted that the
0360J50 majority judgment is clearly wrong, is productive of the greatest
0370J50 public mischief and should be overruled at the earliest opportunity."
0380J50 ^*Seervai does not react in the same way to *3Kesavananda*0. ^Actually
0390J50 his writings immediately after *3Kesavananda*0 were consistent
0400J50 with his previous stand. ^He himself had argued in *3Kesavananda*0
0410J50 that Parliament*'s power to_ amend the Constitution extended to
0420J50 every provision of the Constitution and short of total abrogation or
0430J50 repeal, was unlimited. ^In the second edition of *3Constitutional
0440J50 Law*0 he observes that the decision of the Supreme Court in *3Indira
0450J50 Gandhi*0 \0v. *3Raj Narain*0 (which we shall call the Election
0460J50 Case) had thrown new light on *3Kesavananda*0. ^He says that "a critical
0470J50 discussion of *3Kesavananda*'s*0 Case, taken by itself, would be
0480J50 inaccurate and misleading without a discussion of the deeper analysis
0490J50 of the amending power in the Election Case." ^He further warns
0500J50 that "no one can now write on the amending power without taking into
0510J50 account the effect of the Election Case." ^He observes that when
0520J50 in the past (*3Golak Nath*0), Parliament*'s unlimited power of constitutional
0530J50 amendment was questioned, it was done on the fear that such
0540J50 power might be abused. ^Even in *3Kesavananda*0, this was the basis
0550J50 of the attack. ^But in the *3Election Case*0, the abuse of power
0560J50 was no longer a hypothetical possibility. ^It was no longer possible
0570J50 to_ speak of the air of unreality, "for Article 329(4) supplied
0580J50 the reality". ^*Seervai therefore rightly focusses our attention on
0590J50 the main problem. $*3^*Golak Nath*0 tended to_ make one part of
0600J50 the Constitution absolutely unamendable. ^In countering the argument
0610J50 of the majority, it had to_ be contended that Parliament had the power
0620J50 to_ amend each and every provision of the Constitution. ^It is
0630J50 true that a Constitution should not be unamendable, but the opposite
0640J50 of unamendability is not total and absolute amendability, ^*Seervai
0650J50 has given many examples of how various constitutions have imposed
0660J50 limitations on the power of constitutional amendment. ^This has been
0670J50 done to_ show that a Constitution does not become static and lifeless
0680J50 if some of its provisions are entrenched. ^The *3Kesavananda*0
0690J50 decision entrenches the basic structure of the Constitution. ^But
0700J50 the main objection against *3Kesavananda*0 is that the text of the
0710J50 Constitution nowhere mentions any such limitation. ^In the absence
0720J50 of a specific limitation in the Constitution, can the Court find it?
0730J50 ^And if the Court could find it in *3Kesavananda*0 what was wrong
0740J50 if it found a similar limitation in *3Golak Nath?*0 ^It will be
0750J50 pointed out in this paper that it is wrong to_ say that the Constitution
0760J50 does not mention any limitation regarding its basic structure.
0770J50 ^The constitutional interpretation adopted in *3Kesavananda*0 does
0780J50 not suffer from the infirmities which were inherent in Chief Justice
0790J50 Subba Rao*'s interpretation regarding articles 13(2) and 368
0800J50 in *3Golak Nath*0. ^Further, and more importantly, it will be shown
0810J50 that the *3Kesavananda*0 decision acquired legitimacy because of
0820J50 the subsequent developments. $^*I suggest that in spite of various
0830J50 cogent and sound arguments put forward by Seervai in support of the
0840J50 basic structure doctrine, he and many others came to_ favour that_
0850J50 doctrine mainly because of the experience during the Emergency. ^At
0860J50 least this writer is not shy of saying so, because he firmly believes
0870J50 that "the life of the law has not been logic, it has been experience".
0880J50 ^The way the Constitution was changed during this period showed
0890J50 us the dangers of vesting unlimited power of constitutional amendment
0900J50 in Parliament. ^If Parliament had not enacted measures such as
0910J50 the thirty-ninth and the forty-second amendments, one wonders whether
0920J50 the *3Kesavananda*0 decision would have received such support. ^We
0930J50 pointed out earlier that the premise in *3Kesavananda*0 is almost
0940J50 identical with that_ in *3Golak Nath*0. ^Both decisions sought to_ restrain
0950J50 Parliament from amending the Constitution; only, whereas *3Golak
0960J50 Nath*0 entrenched only the fundamental rights *3Kesavananda*0
0970J50 entrenched "the Basic Structure". ^In *3Golak Nath*0, Chief Justice
0980J50 Subba Rao had promised that in spite of their unamendability,
0990J50 the fundamental rights would expand or contract according to the needs
1000J50 of society and that this would be achieved through judicial interpretation.
1010J50 ^*Chief Justice Subba Rao did not say that fundamental rights
1020J50 could not be amended. ^He only said that they could not be "taken away"
1030J50 or "abridged". ^*Parliament*'s amendment would be subject to the
1040J50 Court*'s scrutiny, and would stand cancelled only if in the opinion of
1050J50 the Court it took away or abridged the fundamental rights. $*3^*Golak
1060J50 Nath*0 came under attack mainly because (**=1) it was interpreted
1070J50 as an attempt to_ save the right to property from further contraction
1080J50 through constitutional amendment; and (**=2) nobody seriously entertained
1090J50 the argument of fear that if Parliament possessed such power,
1100J50 it would abuse it. ^This writer had argued that Nath Pai*'s
1110J50 bill, which sought to_ undo *3Golak Nath*0, should be stayed until
1120J50 all the implications of that_ decision became obvious. ^It was hoped
1130J50 that if the Court really fulfilled its promise, the unamendability
1140J50 of fundamental rights canvassed by *3Golak Nath*0 might not come
1150J50 in the way of distributive justice. ^But later experience belied this
1160J50 hope and the decisions in *3*(0R. C.*) Cooper*0 \0v. *3Union
1170J50 of India*0 (The Bank Nationalisation Case) and *3Madhavrao Scindia*0
1180J50 \0v. *3Union of India*0 (the Privy Purse Case) showed that
1190J50 *3Golak Nath*0 could really be dangerous. ^One may or may not agree
1200J50 with the measures involved in these two cases but democracy demands
1210J50 that Parliament must have the freedom to_ make a choice between alternatives
1220J50 which are available. ^The range of such alternatives should
1230J50 be the widest possible and any judicial decision which tends to_ restrict
1240J50 it ultimately does harm not only to the political but also to the
1250J50 judicial process. $^It is against such judicial adventurism that the
1260J50 former Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi sought the mandate of the
1270J50 people in the general election held in 1971 to_ make "basic changes in
1280J50 the Constitution". ^The excessive judicial interference had made her
1290J50 case strong. ^She could convince the people that the Supreme Court
1300J50 and decisions like *3Golak Nath*0 were holding up the country*'s
1310J50 progress. ^It was no wonder that she won a landslide victory. ^The Constitution
1320J50 (Twenty-fourth Amendment) Act, which was enacted immediately
1330J50 after the election by the fifth *5Lok Sabha*6, sought to_ restore
1340J50 to Parliament the unlimited power of constitutional amendment.
1350J50 ^The validity of the twenty-fourth amendment was examined by the Supreme
1360J50 Court in *3Kesavananda*0 and although it upheld the amendment,
1370J50 it held that the basic structure of the Constitution could not be destroyed.
1380J50 ^In 1973, the decision appeared to_ be a sophisticated version
1390J50 of *3Golak Nath*0. ^From the policy standpoint, it was as questionable
1400J50 as *3Golak Nath*0. ^It meant that the Court would sit in judgement
1410J50 over the wisdom of Parliament and decide whether a constitutional
1420J50 amendment was valid. $*3^KESAVANANDA DID NOT ENJOY*0 legitimacy
1430J50 in 1973 because it was seen as an extension of Golak Nath. ^The
1440J50 very reasons which had impelled juristic opinion to_ oppose *3Golak
1450J50 Nath*0 also impelled it to_ oppose *3Kesavananda*0. ^It was rightly
1460J50 felt that Parliament must have the last word regarding the content
1470J50 of the Constitution. ^It was the Election Case that earned legitimacy
1480J50 for *3Kesavananda*0. ^While her appeal was pending, Parliament
1490J50 passed the thirty-ninth amendment, whose purpose was to_ withdraw election
1500J50 disputes involving the Prime Minister, the President, the
1510J50 Vice-President and the Speaker from the purview of the courts and to_
1520J50 provide separate machinery for their adjudication. ^The Attorney-General
1530J50 argued that the Court could not entertain the appeal in view
1540J50 of the thirty-ninth amendment, since it had declared that the election
1550J50 of the Prime Minister would continue to_ be valid and any decision
1560J50 of any court to the contrary would be void. \0^*Mr Shanti Bhushan,
1570J50 Counsel for Raj Narain, argued that the thirty-ninth amendment
1580J50 was void, as it destroyed the basic structure. $^The Attorney-General
1590J50 had the following options: (**=1) he could have argued that the
1600J50 Court should reconsider *4Kesavananda; (**=2) he could have argued that
1610J50 in fact the ratio of *3Kesavananda*0 was not that the basic structure
1620J50 could not be altered and that there was no ratio regarding Parliament*'s
1630J50 power of constitutional amendment in that_ case; or (**=3)
1640J50 he could have accepted *3Kesavananda*0 as binding and argued that
1650J50 the impugned amendment did not hit the basic structure. ^The Attorney-General
1660J50 adopted the third option. ^This was the first opportunity
1670J50 since *3Kesavananda*0 to_ raise objection against that_ decision.
1680J50 ^Why did the Attorney-General not raise it? ^Why did he accept the
1690J50 decision as binding? ^We surmise that had the issue been of an impersonal
1700J50 nature like the right to property, the Attorney-General would
1710J50 have seized this opportunity to_ get *3Kesavananda*0 overruled
1720J50 but the impugned amendment being morally indefensible, the Attorney-General
1730J50 thought it wise not to_ re-open the question of amendability
1740J50 and confined his argument to the validity of the thirty-ninth
1750J50 amendment. ^Without overruling *3Kesavananda*0 also the Court could
1760J50 uphold the amendment. ^The Attorney-General decided to_ take a chance
1770J50 but I am of the view that this amounted to acquiescence in the
1780J50 validity of *3Kesavananda*0. $*3^THE SUPREME COURT DECISION*0 in the
1790J50 Election Case achieved two things. (**=1) it gave legitimacy to Indira
1800J50 Gandhi*'s continuance as Prime Minister, and (**=2) it gave legitimacy
1810J50 to the *3Kesavananda*0 decision. ^True, since the decisions of
1820J50 the four judges (Ray *(0C.J.*), Khanna, Mathew and Chandrachud
1830J50 *(0JJ*).) were based on the retroactive amendment of the Election
1840J50 law, it may be argued that the decision did not make Indira Gandhi*'s
1850J50 continuance legitimate. ^This is debatable, because if we accept
1860J50 the assumption that the Allahabad judgement deprived her of legitimacy,
1870J50 then we have to_ agree that the Supreme Court decision restored
1880J50 her legitimacy. ^Ordinary people do not understand the intricacies
1890J50 of the law; they only know that whereas the Allahabad High Court
1900J50 held against her, the Supreme Court decided in her favour. ^Further,
1910J50 it may be argued that as one judge of the Allahabad High Court
1920J50 held her election void, one judge of the Supreme Court, Beg *(0J.*)
1930J50 (as he then was) upheld her election even independently of the retroactive
1940J50 amendments.*#
        **[no. of words = 02005**]

        **[txt. j51**]
0010J51 **<*3*4Tamas Rajas-Satva*0**> $^The Professor was musing on a problem.
0020J51 ^There was a knock at the door. ^His old student was standing
0030J51 outside. ^The Professor immediately recognised him, and was happy to_
0040J51 meet him. ^And so was the student. $^The student told the Professor,
0050J51 that after leaving the college, he had to_ wander a lot.
0051J51 ^He tried to_ have a good job which
0060J51 satisfied his views, but he found himself driven from place to place.
0070J51 ^He wasted quite a bit of his precious time, often becoming dejected
0080J51 to a maddening point. ^Then one day he decided to_ accept the
0090J51 next available job, and work for it with his maximum ability and without
0100J51 remorse. ^The job he had now was not bad. ^It was in a colliery.
0110J51 ^At first he did not like it, but resolved to_ work properly and
0120J51 diligently and make a success of his assignment whatever it be. ^The
0130J51 result was marvellous. ^He had found some success and he liked the
0140J51 job very much. $^He further told the Professor that this was not
0150J51 enough, and that his interest in life did not end with his job. ^The
0160J51 student told him that he had joined an underground organisation which
0170J51 gave him an opportunity to_ muse on the distribution of forces,
0180J51 their changing attributes, the behaviour of an ordinary man as against
0190J51 a highly intelligent and courageous man, and also the relation between
0200J51 body and mind of an individual. ^The student told him, though
0210J51 he had come to_ meet him as many years had gone by, he would now utilise
0220J51 the time to_ ask him many questions pertaining to body and mind,
0230J51 their relation with each other and also with *4Tamasi, *4Rajsi
0240J51 and *4Satvi forces or states. $^The Professor was glad to_ find
0250J51 his old pupil so much interested in philosophical and analytical ways
0260J51 of life. ^He asked the student whether he had any chance of discussing
0270J51 these questions with any one else before. $^The student replied,
0280J51 "I had met some *4Swamis, who had been instrumental in telling me
0290J51 a little about the 3 words-- *4Tamas *4Rajas *4Satva-- but that their
0300J51 interpretation was vague, and when asked for further explanation,
0310J51 they would cleverly twist their reply and pose that they knew but
0320J51 failed to_ satisfy me. ^They excelled in quoting any number of lines
0330J51 or even full pages from old scriptures. ^For any question I would ask
0340J51 them, they would quickly recite parrot-like, many quotations from
0350J51 'Geeta', just to_ impress me though these references would have no
0360J51 connection with my question. ^They seemed to_ have very little knowledge
0370J51 about what they were saying." $^The Professor was not surprised.
0380J51 ^He knew the limitations of the common *4Pandit and *4Swami.
0390J51 ^He also knew that this type of *4Pandit or *4Swami, looked upon religion
0400J51 as a profession and as a source of livelihood, and accordingly
0410J51 could not think deeply-- his basic function being how to_ console
0420J51 his disciples and win over more people to_ become his disciples. $^The
0430J51 Professor then said, "I am glad that you are here today. ^*I will tell
0440J51 you what you want. ^The word "*4Tamasi" is the adjective of the word
0450J51 "*4Tamas" which means gross energy or mass or body. ^Likewise, the
0460J51 word "*4Rajsi" is the adjective of the word "*4Raja" or "King". ^In
0470J51 any country the King rules over his people or his subjects, in other
0480J51 words *4Raja rules or controls his *4Praja. ^The relationship
0490J51 between the two is called *4Praja-Raja relationship, or *4Raja-Praja
0500J51 Effect. ^This relationship is found throughout the nature everywhere.
0510J51 *4^*Tamas is another word to_ represent *4Praja or the Body of a
0520J51 nation *4^*Raja is the controlling part of the nation and *4Praja
0530J51 the controlled part. ^In other words, *4Rajsi part of the nation \0i.e.
0540J51 *4Raja controls the *4Tamasi part of the nation which is *4Praja.
0550J51 ^In order that you understand this basic principle properly, think
0560J51 as many examples as possible. $"^Think of a word, in any language.
0570J51 ^You will find a consonant and a vowel making up every word even the
0580J51 smallest word. ^Without a vowel no consonant can be pronounced or written.
0590J51 ^Likewise, without a consonant no vowel can be pronounced or
0600J51 written. ^Do you have any doubt in what I say? ^The consonant is the
0610J51 body or *4Praja part or *4Tamasi part of the word and the vowel
0620J51 is the controlling part or *4Rajsi part. ^The *4Tamasi part is sometimes
0630J51 called the gross part and the *4Rajsi part is then called the
0640J51 subtle part. ^Now think of your own self. ^Your body is the *4Tamasi
0650J51 or gross part and your mind is the *4Rajsi or subtle part which
0660J51 controls the body. $"^Now suppose you go to a barber to_ have your
0670J51 hair cut or dressed. ^The hair which have been cut have their body,
0680J51 which get a separate name after being cut. ^Your body remains to_
0690J51 be called body but now has less hair. ^That_ means your body has been
0700J51 changed. ^The hair which have been cut have their own *4Tamasi part
0710J51 which is the body or the gross part of the hair, while the mind of
0720J51 the hair or subtle part of the hair keeps on controlling the hair. ^Your
0730J51 body goes on changing every instant and so does your mind. ^Under
0740J51 all changed conditions, the changing *4Rajsi part or the mind, keeps
0750J51 on controlling, the changing body or the *4Tamasi part or the
0760J51 gross part. ^Likewise there are thousands and millions of examples where
0770J51 the gross body or the gross energy or the *4Tamasi part of the
0780J51 energy can be easily seen being controlled and guided by the subtle
0790J51 mind or *4Rajsi part of the energy. $"^You must be wondering why
0800J51 I have not told you, anything about the *4Satvi part. ^The reason
0810J51 is simple. *4^*Satvi part is the *4Atma or the Spirit of every material
0820J51 or every person. ^It is a constant unfathomable energy, or a universal
0830J51 energy, which forms the basis of all creation or all matter.
0840J51 ^It is not divisible. ^So, while analysing, whether you keep this
0850J51 word "*4Satvi" before you or not, your analysis does not change. $"^This
0860J51 analysis can be applied to every one. ^Most people are ordinary
0870J51 gullible and easy going. ^They have many desires and they wish that
0880J51 their desires be fulfilled quickly and without much effort on their
0890J51 part. ^They are easily influenced and swayed by any crafty person.
0900J51 ^They become an easy prey to ceremonies and rituals, specially when
0910J51 told to_ do so, by their *4Pandits or *4Swamis, or *4Gurus. ^These
0920J51 people can be controlled by others, and are classified under the
0930J51 category of disciples or *4Praja or *4Bhaktas who would always need
0940J51 protection and shelter of their *4Guru or Master. ^However, when
0950J51 they get shelter it is but certain that they will also get the shadow
0960J51 of their protector. ^In other words, they are dependent on others
0970J51 but not on self. ^Accordingly, they are *4Tamasi persons, and the
0980J51 degree of their being *4Tamasi is according to the degree of their
0990J51 dependence on others and according to the degree of their being controlled
1000J51 by others. ^Simultaneously those few who extend their control
1010J51 on the above *4Tamasi persons are *4Rajsi to the extent of their
1020J51 control exercised on *4Tamasi Persons. $"^Every one in his childhood
1030J51 is a *4Tamasi person. ^If while growing up, he amasses strength,
1040J51 intelligence, education and experience, he begins to_ know his mind
1050J51 and then if he is able to_ understand his fear and is able to_
1060J51 control it, he will be able to_ control his body also. ^He will have
1070J51 to_ face danger to_ know fear, he will have to_ appear for a test
1080J51 to_ know the fear attached to_ failure, and likewise if he tests
1090J51 his ability to_ control fear, he will be called a *4Rajsi person.
1100J51 ^He will then have the capability to_ control others, who will follow
1110J51 his dictates or his advice and work under him. ^These fellows will
1120J51 be *4Tamasi persons under control of the *4Rajsi leader. $"^You
1130J51 must know that a *4Rajsi person must necessarily guide his followers
1140J51 towards a path which he himself follows. ^You may wish to_ be a leader
1150J51 to_ lead others, but over your wish, you must put your wisdom
1160J51 and find out whether you are a leader to_ lead yourself first. ^There
1170J51 are innumerable deceivers who often show a wrong path to their guillible
1180J51 followers and still call themselves leaders or *4Rajsi persons.
1190J51 ^You must be careful and remain away from these deceivers. $"^You must
1200J51 also know here that no person is a *4Satvi person. ^Perfect fearlessness
1210J51 or "*4Abhayam" is the proof of *4Satvi state. ^But as long
1220J51 as you or anyone else has this body and mind, there will be some
1230J51 fear. ^You can reach a *4Satvi State, if you can become perfectly
1240J51 fearless even for a fraction of a second in front of danger. ^Then in
1250J51 that_ case you are a *4Satvi person for that_ fraction of a second
1260J51 only. ^If there is no danger or if you are not tested, the question
1270J51 of your being *4Satvi does not arise. ^Accordingly, if anyone tells
1280J51 you that he is a *4Satvi person because he is a *4Swami or *4Guru
1290J51 or a *4Brahmin, then take him for granted to_ be a cheat." $^The
1300J51 Professor continued after a little pause, "^No one is 100% *4Tamasi
1310J51 and no one 100% *4Rajsi. *4^*Tamasi state to *4Rajsi state, is a
1320J51 process, through which all persons have to_ pass. ^At any stage, every
1330J51 person, is therefore, partly *4Tamasi and partly *4Rajsi. ^But
1340J51 in general most people, most of the time have *4Tamasi qualities.
1350J51 ^Take one example of a chair, having 4 legs or 3 legs or 2 legs or
1360J51 only 1 leg. ^A chair with 4 legs gives complete protection from falling.
1370J51 ^A chair with 3 legs is also safe with very slight chance of tilting
1380J51 and falling. ^But a chair with 2 legs will topple and the person
1390J51 on it will fall, unless he has the art of balancing accurately. ^Lastly,
1400J51 a chair with one leg, is sure to_ topple, unless the person
1410J51 sitting on it is highly intellectual, highly alert, and highly expert
1420J51 to_ balance it and save it from falling. ^Now analyse this example
1430J51 and tell me the correct significance of every chair and then which
1440J51 of these 4 chairs would you like to occupy?" $"^Sir, the example of
1450J51 4 chairs is a very good example. ^It clarifies to a great extent, the
1460J51 relative position of a *4Tamasi and a *4Rajsi person. ^The chair
1470J51 with 4 legs is extremely stable and no effort is required to_ keep
1480J51 it safe from falling. ^Anyone who sits on this chair is a 100% *4Tamasi
1490J51 person as long as he occupies it. ^This chair is good for a lazy
1500J51 person who does not have any responsibility. ^It is to_ be understood
1510J51 that this chair is a visionary chair just for explaining the *4Tamasi
1520J51 state of a person having no responsibility. ^This person is a
1530J51 lazy person, doing only such jobs which do not require any effort or
1540J51 which he does for the sake of whiling away his time. ^This person is
1550J51 a timid and dull person, afraid at every step and is devoid of any
1560J51 intellect. ^He is an easy prey to ceremonies, specially superstitious ceremonies.
1570J51 ^This person depends fully upon the advice of others. ^The
1580J51 chair with 3 legs is not so stable. ^The person who occupies this
1590J51 visionary chair is a *4Tamasi person to a great extent, but is not
1600J51 a 100% *4Tamasi person. ^He has a tendency to_ while away most of
1610J51 his time and is ease loving but takes up small responsible jobs which
1620J51 require some intelligence. ^He is however, classified lazy and easily
1630J51 takes to superstitious ceremonies. $"^The chair with 2 legs is quite
1640J51 unstable, and will topple unless held under control. ^The person
1650J51 who sits on this visionary chair is a good *4Rajsi person as long
1660J51 as he sits on it and prevents it from toppling. ^He is not 100% *4Rajsi.
1670J51 ^He is sufficiently intelligent and brave to_ control this quite
1680J51 unstable chair or quite unstable situation.*#
        **[no. of words = 02009**]

        **[txt. j52**]
0010J52 **<*3Nature, Man, and God in the *4Vedas*0**> $*<*31. THE PROBLEM
0020J52 OF CAUSATION*> $*3^MAN IS*0 most concerned with his environment;
0030J52 the world in space and time. ^Hence, it is natural that when he becomes
0040J52 reflective, he wants to_ understand the nature of this world. ^The
0050J52 physical world seems to him the part and parcel of his life. ^When
0060J52 he tries to_ understand the nature of the physical world, the questions
0070J52 that_ come up are-- who has created this world; what are the
0080J52 constituent elements out of which it is created and how it is created?
0090J52 ^In other words, we want to_ know its efficient cause, the material
0100J52 cause, and the process of creation. $^Thus the problem of causation
0110J52 is the primary question in the understanding of the physical world--
0120J52 or what we call Nature. ^The *4Vedas, as is known, are more
0130J52 poetic in their content than logical. ^Still one can trace certain important
0140J52 ideas regarding causation behind the poetic imaginations. $^The
0150J52 principle of causation in the *4Vedas, the earliest literature
0160J52 of the Hindus, seems to_ appear in the concept of *4Rta. *4^*Rta represents
0170J52 the law, unity or rightness, underlying the orderliness we observe
0180J52 in the world. *4^*Rta, literally means the 'course of things'.
0190J52 ^This conception seems to_ have been originally derived from the
0200J52 regularity of the movements of the heavenly bodies like the sun, the
0210J52 moon, and the stars, the alternations of day and night and of the
0220J52 seasons. $^In the *4Vedas, there are no hymns addressed specifically
0230J52 to *4Rta, but brief references to the important concepts are found
0240J52 repeatedly in the hymns to *4Varuna (who maintains the physical order),
0250J52 *4Agni, *4Visvedevas \0etc. ^The following hymn will illustrate
0260J52 the point: **[verse**] $^Gradually the concept of *4Rta takes
0270J52 a new meaning-- from external physical order or uniformity of nature--
0280J52 it acquires the significance of a moral order. ^The whole world was
0290J52 thought to_ be governed by some universal principles and these were
0300J52 included under *4Rta. ^Thus the whole universe is controlled by
0310J52 *4Varuna who is not only the upholder of the physical order but also
0320J52 the custodian of moral order-- '*4Rtasyagopa' and who punishes the
0330J52 sinner. ^The following hymn is an example: **[verses**] $^In *4Rta,
0340J52 two fundamental concepts of equal importance, that_ of causality
0350J52 and that_ of morality, are rooted. ^As the principle of moral order
0360J52 of the world, it is the anticipation of the doctrine of *4Karma,
0370J52 one of the distinguishing features of Indian thought. ^Sacrifice
0380J52 was regarded as almost the only kind of duty, or *4karma. ^The creation
0390J52 of the world itself was even regarded as the fruit of sacrifice
0400J52 performed by the Supreme Being. ^So *4Rta furnishes us with the
0410J52 original idea of causality which is not only a physical principle
0420J52 but also a moral principle. ^It has been said: "The principle of
0430J52 *4Karman is the counterpart in the moral realm of the physical law
0440J52 of causality". $*<*32. THE CREATION OF THE WORLD*> $^It was
0450J52 but natural that in the beginning the human mind liked to_ divide
0460J52 the universe into two regions-- the Heaven and the Earth. ^The Heaven
0470J52 is above and the Earth is below. ^The Heaven and the Earth
0480J52 have been mentioned as the Father and the Mother of the world. ^They
0490J52 have also been mentioned as the twin sisters. **[verses**] $^The
0500J52 world is not merely what is encompassed by the two regions of the Heaven
0510J52 and the Earth, forming an inseparable pair like Father and
0520J52 Mother. ^The *4Vedic poets also sing about the third world; the
0530J52 atmospheric region between the Heaven and the Earth. ^It is mentioned
0540J52 as the middle sky or *4Antariksa. **[verses**] $^We also find further
0550J52 subdivision of each of them into three. ^The *4vedic poets speak
0560J52 of the three Earths, three Heavens and three *4Antariksas. **[verses**]
0570J52 $^It is difficult to_ work out the theory of the five elements,
0580J52 which seems to_ be a later development of philosophy in India,
0590J52 on the basis of the three divisions of the world into Earth, Air
0600J52 and Heaven. ^But \0Prof. *(0C.*) Kunhan Raja suggests this
0610J52 division to_ be equated with the Five Elements of a later stage.
0620J52 ^He observes: $^*I am inclined to_ equate this division of the world
0630J52 with 'Five Elements' of a later stage in the development of philosophy
0640J52 in India, the Elements being the Earth, the Water, the
0650J52 Fire, the Air, and the Ether (*4Akasa). ^The close relation of the
0660J52 first three of the Five Elements with the three worlds of the *4Veda,
0670J52 cannot escape the attention of even the most casual reader of the
0680J52 *4Vedas. ^The references to the sound, to language and to songs and
0690J52 the mysteries related to them, may be equated with the fifth Element,
0700J52 *4Akasa (Ether) which, according to later philosophy, is connected
0710J52 with sound, ^There are prayers to *4Vayu and *4Vata, both
0720J52 meaming Air. ^One may be tempted to connect this *4Vayu or *4Vata
0730J52 with the fourth Element. $^The question as to how this universe
0740J52 came into being seems to_ have been raised in the following statements:
0750J52 $^What was the place on which he gained a footing? $^Where found
0760J52 he anything, or how to_ hold by, $What time, the earth creating,
0770J52 *4Visvakarman $All seeing, with his might disclosed the heavens?
0780J52 $^What was the tree, what wood in sooth produced it, $from which they
0790J52 fashioned out the earth and heaven? $^Ye thoughtful men inquire
0800J52 within your spirit where on $he stood when he established all things.
0810J52 $^In the earlier stage, every god was looked upon as the creator
0820J52 of the universe. ^Every god that_ was considered as the supreme at
0830J52 one time or other must necessarily have made heaven and earth. ^Sometimes,
0840J52 the world is presented as a great architectural art. ^In the
0850J52 *4Rgveda, God Visnu is shown as having measured out the three worlds
0860J52 with his three steps: **[verses**] $^There are places where gods
0870J52 like Visvedevas, Indra, Agni, Maruts, and Trastar are spoken
0880J52 of as having made firm the earthly and the heavenly regions. **[verse**]
0890J52 $^But behind the plurality of the *4Vedic gods, there was something
0900J52 Real of which Agni, Indra, Varuna, \0etc. were only the forms.
0910J52 ^*Max Muller observes: $^So, it was with these names of the *4Vedic
0920J52 gods. ^They were all meant to_ express the Beyond, the Invisible
0930J52 behind the Visible, the Infinite within the Finite, the Supernatural
0940J52 above the Natural, the Divine, Omniprsent and Omnipotent.
0950J52 $^The oft-quoted lines in this connection are as follows: **[verse**]
0960J52 $^Among the *3architects of the universe *4Visvakarman, *4Hiranyagarbha
0970J52 and the Person are important. ^The *4Visvakarman is the
0980J52 maker of all. ^There are two hymns about him in the available text
0990J52 of the *4Rgveda. ^These hymns describe the process of the formation of
1000J52 the world with *4Visvakarman as the active agent in giving the form
1010J52 to the world. $^The question is raised as to which abode could he have
1020J52 been in when he created the world. ^He has eyes all round, he has
1030J52 his face turned in all directions. ^He, the one god, created the Heaven
1040J52 and the Earth, and in so doing he blew out with both his arms,
1050J52 with wings. ^What could have been the wood and the timber when he
1060J52 constructed the Heaven and the Earth? ^Wise man can ask this question
1070J52 as to what abode he had been in when he created the world. ^What
1080J52 were his highest abodes, intermediate abodes and the lowest ones? *4^*Visvakarman
1090J52 is asked to_ give instruction about oblations and
1091J52 also to_ perform the sacrifice with his own body.
1100J52 ^Through oblations, *4Visvakarman expands. ^He is asked to_ perform
1110J52 a sacrifice with the Heaven and the Earth. $^In the second poem,
1120J52 the different qualities of *4Visvakarman have been mentioned. ^He
1130J52 is the creator and the author of the diversifications in the world.
1140J52 ^He sees all, knows all the worlds, bearing the one name of the gods.
1150J52 ^The waters are spoken of as bearing the first 'Law' where all
1160J52 the gods had the vision. $^We find some clear information regarding
1170J52 the formation of the world in the hymn attributed to *4Hiranyagarbha.
1180J52 ^The hymn starts with a glorification of *4Hiranyagarbha, as
1190J52 the one who existed in the beginning at the head of all, the one lord
1200J52 of all that_ have come into existence. ^The hymn contains ten verses,
1210J52 and in the first nine of them there is refrain at the end, 'To
1220J52 which god may we make offerings?' ^He is described as supporting the
1230J52 Heaven and the Earth, as the giver of soul and strength, as one whose
1240J52 commands the gods adore, whose shadow both immortality and death
1250J52 are, as the king of all that_ breathe and that_ keep their eyes
1260J52 open, as the overlord of the bipeds and the quadrupeds, as the one
1270J52 to whom belong the snow-clad mountain and the oceans and the cardinal
1280J52 points. ^He made the Heaven and the Earth firm, he established the
1290J52 heaven, he measured out the space in the atmospheric regions. ^The
1300J52 Heaven and the Earth look upon him. ^The whole of immense waters
1310J52 went to him, bearing pregnancy creating the Fire. ^The life of gods
1320J52 was produced from him. ^He viewed the waters in his greatness, when
1330J52 the waters bore dexterity, when they produced the Sacrifice. ^He was
1340J52 the one God above all the gods. $^When we come to the '*4Sukta',
1350J52 attributed to '*4Purusa' as the source of the universe, we find a
1360J52 significant change. ^In the case of the *4Visvakarman and the *4Hiranyagarbha,
1370J52 they are only the active agents and the material cause
1380J52 is external. ^In the 'Supreme Person' we see, for the first time
1390J52 a monistic principle in which the efficient and material cause got united.
1400J52 ^The description appears in a Sukta of sixteen verses. ^Here
1410J52 we find the self-transformation of the Infinite one into the finite
1420J52 many. $^First there is a glorification of the '*4Purusa' as having
1430J52 a thousand heads, a thousand eyes and a thousand feet. ^He encompasses
1440J52 the whole world and stands out ten fingers beyond that. ^It is
1450J52 to_ be noted that *4Purusa is not wholly one with the world but beyond
1460J52 it. ^The idea of transcendence is suggested by the statement that
1470J52 he is ten fingers beyond the cosmos. ^This all is the *4Purusa, whatever
1480J52 had been and whatever will be. ^He lords over immortality. ^Such is his
1490J:2 greatness, and the '*4Purusa' is greater than what the whole world is
1500J52 just one quarter of His and the three quarters of His, the immortal,
1510J52 is in the Heaven. $^It is here that what is termed as *4Virat is
1520J52 said to_ have come out from the 'Supreme Person'. ^And another
1530J52 person, was produced out of it. ^This person, being born, surpassed
1540J52 the world both before and behind. ^When this person sacrificed (*4yajna),
1550J52 all the beings in the air, in the woods and in the villages were
1560J52 born. ^The *4Vedas arose out of this sacrifice. ^The various animals
1570J52 like the horses and the cows and the goats and sheep were also
1580J52 produced in this sacrifice. ^Here the entire process of creation is
1590J52 spoken of as a sacrifice (*4yajna). ^Here a question is raised about
1600J52 this *4Purusa that_ was transformed into material at the sacrifice
1610J52 by the gods as to what became of his face, arms, thighs, and feet.
1620J52 ^The reply that_ is given is that the wise people were his face, the
1630J52 warriors were his arms, the thighs became the traders and out of
1640J52 his feet were produced the manual labourers. ^The moon was born out
1650J52 of his mind and the sun from his two eyes. ^*Indra and the Fire were
1660J52 born from his face and the air came out of his breath. ^The atmosphere
1670J52 was produced out of his navel, and the heaven from his head.
1680J52 ^The earth was born from his two feet and the cardinal points came out
1690J52 of his ears. ^In this sacrifice, The Spring Season became the
1700J52 *4ghee, the Summer Season became the fuel and the Autumn became
1710J52 the oblation. ^The whole world was produced in this way. ^This is
1720J52 what happened when the gods performed the sacrifice with the *4Purusa.
1730J52 $^The Sukta concludes with a verse in which it is mentioned that
1740J52 this sacrifice performed by the gods became the first process of
1750J52 law. ^It is also said that in this sacrifice, the demi-gods (*4Sadhyas)
1760J52 and the poet-sages (*4Rsis) also participated.*#
        **[no. of words = 02027**]

        **[txt. j53**]
0010J53 **<*3TURN..? WHITHER...? TO....?*0**> $^Mysticism implies-- "The immediate
0020J53 experience of oneness with the Ultimate Reality." ^This is to_
0030J53 say that the mystic gets so acquainted with that_ Reality as to_
0040J53 be fully one with it, forgetting the distinction between 'I' and 'Thou'
0050J53 for ever. ^And this too without any media. ^Ultimate Reality means
0060J53 beyond which nothing remains to_ be known **[sic**] and from which there
0070J53 is no return. ^Another definition: "Mysticism denotes that_ attitude
0080J53 of mind which involves a direct, immediate, first-hand, intuitive apprehension
0090J53 of God." ^A Third one: "Mysticism is the science of *3ultimates*0...
0100J53 the science of self-evident Reality, which cannot be 'reasoned
0110J53 about', because it is the object of pure reason or perception.
0120J53 ^This means it is a science based on direct recognition of the
0130J53 Reality." ^Further, "Mysticism is the passionate longing of the soul
0140J53 for God, the Unseen Reality, loved, sought and adored in Himself
0150J53 for Himself alone." ^It is "the science of the love of God." "^*Bhagavad
0160J53 Gita specially refers to the vision of the Self by the
0170J53 Self" in *=6, 20 and so do the other scriptures. ^This vision actualized
0180J53 in the case of Arjuna (*=11-45.)" $*<*3Mysticism, a Science:*0*>
0190J53 $^The conception of Reality is a faked imagination, it may be
0200J53 argued. ^The reply of the mystics is: "Ours is an experimental science....
0210J53 ^We come to you not as thinkers, but as doers." ^They say, as in
0230J53 natural sciences you take something as hypothesis, work on it and
0240J53 prove its credibility, similarly, in this science of the Reality, take
0250J53 Its essence, the Being, who pervades the whole Universe including
0260J53 yourself in the form of a 'spark', as hypothesis: go by the way the
0270J53 saints have gone and realise yourself as Reality. ^The way may
0280J53 be arduous but the reward is priceless. ^There is a parable in the Chhandogya
0290J53 Upanishad (*=6-4). ^A man is robbed and taken away to a
0300J53 lonely place. ^His eyes are blindfolded and he is left in the wilderness.
0310J53 ^He cries piteously for help. ^After some time, someone removes
0320J53 the fold and points out the way to his village. ^Lone he walks in the
0330J53 dark inquiring the whereabouts on the way, but ultimately reaches
0340J53 home. ^So, to_ apprehend Reality is a journey homewards. ^This 'homing'
0350J53 instinct is born with man. "^There is something in man which longs
0360J53 for the perfect and the unchanging, and he is sure, in spite of the
0370J53 confusions, the evils, the rough and tumble of life, that the perfect
0380J53 and the unchanging is the Real." ^He is not satisfied with his lot,
0390J53 neither with that_ of others. ^Pain and death, uncertainty of life
0400J53 and fortune, stand stark naked before him. ^Even if he is well-off,
0410J53 he feels something is wanting. ^If he turns towards the path that_
0420J53 the saints have trodden, he gradually gets satisfaction, peace of mind
0430J53 and ultimately, bliss in the highest sense, when he is united with
0440J53 the only One. ^As Kant says: "I, as man, am myself this Being."
0450J53 $*<*3Historical Aspect:*0*> $^Mysticism has unfolded itself from
0460J53 ages past. "^More perhaps than any other religious system Hinduism
0470J53 is naturally predisposed to mystical interpretation." ^*Buddha has
0480J53 emphasized *4Nirvana-- enlightenment. ^In Christianity again, there is
0490J53 a chain of mystics. *7^*Sufi-- a sect of Islam-- can claim many a mystic.
0500J53 ^Even to this day mysticism continues in spite of scientific
0510J53 development and naturalism. "^Thus mysticism has demonstrated both its
0520J53 durability and adaptability as it has survived both the end of paganism
0530J53 and the rise of secularism." $*<*3Mysticism Distinguished from
0540J53 Secularism, Magic, Philosophy:*0*> $^Secularism is a doctrine
0550J53 that morality should be based solely on regard for the well-being of
0560J53 mankind in the present life, to the exclusion of all considerations
0570J53 drawn from belief in God or in a future state. ^Traditions, dogmas,
0580J53 and superstitions apart, whether mere morality without acknowledging
0590J53 Almighty can preserve social fabric, need not be discussed further.
0600J53 ^That the scientists have felt the necessity of faith in the super
0610J53 Power for restoring social balance has been pointed out in the
0620J53 last chapter. ^Moreover, Spinoza (1612-77) may be cited as the one
0630J53 who by-passed religious traditions but upheld mysticism in cosmos.
0640J53 $^Mysticism and magic, otherwise known as occultism or *4Tantrism, are
0650J53 poles apart. ^As Underhill puts it, "The fundamental difference between
0660J53 the two is this: Magic wants to_ get, mysticism wants to_ give--
0670J53 immortal and antagonistic attitudes, which turn up under one disguise
0690J53 or another in every age of thought." ^The sacrifice of self,-- body,
0700J53 mind and ego--, loving and utter surrender to Him are the steps
0710J53 to_ achieve the ultimate goal of mysticism. ^As distinguished from
0720J53 magic, all the great religions owe their origin to a supreme authority
0730J53 as we have already seen. ^The mystics accept the formal creed but
0740J53 go beyond it. ^They infuse new blood into it from their own spiritual
0750J53 experiences and thus revitalise the current religious beliefs and usages.
0760J53 ^Did not Sankaracharya (788-820) give new vigour to '*4Brahminism',
0770J53 after its near-uprooting by Buddhism? ^Did not Jnanesvara (1275-1296)
0780J53 render the philosophy of the Bhagavad Gita from Sanskrit
0790J53 into local tongue, which was forbidden in those days, thus making the
0800J53 mystical philosophy of Gita available to everyone? ^Did not \0St.
0810J53 Francis of Assisi (1182-1226) or Martin Luther (1483-1546) revitalize
0820J53 Christianity? ^Neither mysticism has any quarrel with philosophy.
0830J53 ^Philosophy speculates about the Reality, while mysticism is an
0840J53 actual flight,-- an adventure to_ reach it. $*<*3Illustrations:*0*>
0850J53 $^Far from this theoretical explanation, brief sketches of a few mystics
0860J53 will throw clearer light on the present topic. ^The six mystics
0870J53 chosen over here belong to different times and nations, leaving aside
0880J53 the founders of the religions and also those by whom and on whom lot
0890J53 of material is available in the form of appreciation, \0etc. ^They
0900J53 are selected with an eye on the number of members as per world population.
0910J53 ^*Christianity preponderates among the living religions with Roman
0920J53 Catholics forming 63 per cent of the total Christians. ^The choice
0930J53 of selected mystics is arbitrary no doubt, but the selection is
0940J53 arranged chronologically and with special emphasis on the social impact
0950J53 they had on the people in general. ^This choice may reflect that some
0960J53 prominent personalities are missing. ^But it is next to an impossibility
0970J53 even to_ list all the mystics in a small coverage like this. ^Besides,
0980J53 there are temperamental differences even amongst the mystics...
0990J53 "The greatest men in the world have passed away unknown... Silently
1000J53 they live, and silently they pass away,"-- as Swami Vivekananda
1010J53 has put it. ^Those picked up here are as follows:-- $(**=1) ^*Yajnavalkya--
1020J53 about 1200 \0B.C. $(**=2) \0^*St. Paul-- \0B.C. 3 to \0A.D.
1030J   64 or 67. $(**=3) ^*Jalal-uddin Rumi-- 1207 to 1273. $(**=4) ^*Guru
1040J53 Nanak-- 1469 to 1539. $(**=5) \0^*St. Teresa of Avila-- 1515
1050J53 to 1582. $(**=6) ^*Gurudev Ranade-- 1886 to 1957. $^These mystics have
1060J53 climbed the toughest ladder and gained the highest award of which
1070J53 the humans are capable. ^Not that the award tempted them but their
1080J53 inward yearning drove them irresistibly towards the goal. ^Some of
1090J53 them are intellectual giants too. ^To_ do full justice to them in this
1100J53 brief composition is out of question. ^If the readers are convinced
1110J53 about the genuineness of their message and if a few feel inclined
1120J53 towards their path, the writer will feel more than rewarded. ^Mysticism
1130J53 is not a panacea for all ills, least for wordly gains, neither is
1140J53 it an utopia. **[sic**] ^It is a state of pure Self-consciousness, which
1150J53 is full of bliss-- '*5Anandam Brahma*6'. $*<*3The Path:*0*> $^It,
1160J53 therefore, follows that it would be advisable to_ trace the path
1170J53 that_ led the mystics to_ attain this highest award. ^All the selected
1180J53 mystics and many more start their life as ordinary common beings with
1190J53 one or two favourable factors, perhaps. ^Some incidents or certain
1200J53 circumstances arise in their day-to-day lives which force them to_ turn
1210J53 towards spiritual pathway. ^It may be frustration as in the case of
1220J53 Yajnavalkya or human suffering and perishable nature of the universe
1230J53 as in the case of Buddha or even an irresistible urge to_ know
1240J53 the *3ultimate truth*0 in nature as in the case of Sanatkumara asking
1250J53 Narada about the Life-Force or sub-stratum of the cosmos. ^Some
1260J53 shades of this last type of awakening we have noted in the responding
1270J53 scientists too. ^These incentives lead to the conversion of self.
1280J53 ^This is the first stage. $^The second stage is one of preparation
1290J53 or self-purification. ^This may perhaps last throughout life in the
1300J53 case of common aspirants or it may lead to a 'new birth'. ^At the
1310J53 beginning of this state the aspirant may search for a guide-cum-teacher
1320J53 who has realised his oneness with the Supreme Reality. ^If he
1330J53 succeeds in finding such a teacher and not pseudo '*4Gurus' and '*4Bhagwans',
1340J53 his progress is assured to that_ extent. ^*Rumi and Ranade
1350J53 were fortunate enough in getting acquainted with such teachers. ^Then
1360J53 begins the preparation in the form of disciplines-- *4Yogic exercises
1370J53 may be included-- meditation/ contemplation and self-purification.
1380J53 ^All these go hand-in-hand. ^While struggling his utmost to_ proceed
1390J53 on this arduous and perhaps for the time-being, unrewarding task
1400J53 he may, by the grace of God, get some transcendental experiences...
1410J53 such as visualizing 'the Center of the Universe everywhere with circumference
1420J53 nowhere', within himself and without. ^Another experience may
1430J53 be in the form of audition. ^As the pilgrim proceeds with selfless
1440J53 love and detachment, remaking one*'s character, his experiences grow
1450J53 more and more like an organism. ^A word of precaution, however,
1460J53 is necessary over here. ^These mystical experiences must be clearly
1470J53 distinguished and must not be confounded with imaginary, occult or hysterical
1480J53 illusions, as \0St. Teresa warns. ^The main criterion of the
1490J53 genuineness of the former is that they enhance life. $^The mind tends more
1500J53 from flux to rest, and to greater equanimity in the face of odds
1510J53 and gains, sharpened intellect and memory, more energy in daily routine,
1520J53 \0etc. ^This is bound to_ be the case because the aspirant after
1530J53 all touches at times the very source, the nucleus of all energy. $^Wordly
1540J53 life is beset with set-backs, greater or briefer. ^So is the spiritual
1550J53 life. ^Mortal life ultimately comes to an end-- death. ^Mystical
1560J53 path leads to eternal, abundant life, "lose to_ gain and die to_
1570J53 live". ^The set-backs on the way to perfection are usually termed, "Dark
1580J53 night of the soul". ^The aspirant misses the track and feels lost.
1590J53 ^Whatever experiences he used to_ have, come to a standstill.
1600J53 ^He may at the same time have to_ face deprivations like the loss of
1610J53 kith and kin as in the case of Tukaram, in addition to loss of all
1620J53 his worldly possessions. ^He may be put to_ shame even like Suso--
1630J53 a German ascetic of 14th century. ^This is a very trying period
1640J53 indeed and every mystic has to_ go through it for shorter or longer
1650J53 time. ^Utter surrender like Arjuna, "*5shishyasteham, shadhi mam
1660J53 twam prapannam*6-- I am your devotee, guide me, who has **[sic**] surrendered
1670J53 himself unto Thee." ^*I, me and mine, are Thine." ^Such heart-rending
1680J53 appeal brings forth the grace of God. ^The aspirant and the
1690J53 Almighty are united for ever! $*<*3Results:*0*> $^This fruition results
1700J53 in Divine fecundity. ^The mystic lives hereafter, not for himself
1710J53 but to_ carry on God*'s work. ^*Samarth Ramadas in 17th century,
1720J53 established centers in Maharashtra in order to_ revive the spirit
1730J53 and morale of the masses. ^In 15th century, Mahatma Kabir (1455-1515)
1740J53 established a sect and tried to_ bring together the Hindus
1750J53 and the Muslims. ^Even to this day there are about one *4lakh disciples
1760J53 of Kabir Panth in India. ^His works are purely spiritual and
1770J53 they were composed after he had realized himself (1182-1226). ^So too
1780J53 Francis of Assissi-- an Italian spiritual genius-- "left his mark upon
1790J53 the history, art and literature of Western Europe, and the influence
1800J53 of his spirit, still lives." ^So the all-embracing effects of
1810J53 God-realisation are not only to_ be seen on the individual himself,
1820J53 but on society at large. ^He himself finds fulfilment in this life,
1830J53 'here and now' and his fragrance spreads like musk which attracts
1840J53 people to him. ^He accepts them and turns them towards the pathway to
1850J53 God. "^The mystic who is not of supreme service to the society, is
1860J53 not a mystic at all." ^Thus tracing the mystic way briefly, let us
1870J53 ponder over the lives and the messages of the selected mystics.*#
        **[no. of words = 02001**]

        **[txt. j54**]
0010J54 **<*3Naturalistic Ethical Theory*0**> $^We, however, give reasons for
0020J54 it only because these reasons are the conditions of the performance of
0030J54 the action; and it is only by way of these conditions that the agent*'s
0040J54 action, his future action, can be controlled and directed by persuasion.
0050J54 ^*Perry says: $^It is absurd to_ suppose that when challenged
0060J54 to_ explain one*'s action one is supposed to _ give an historical
0070J54 account of its condition. ^The point of the question ['What reasons
0080J54 can you now find for doing the action *3A*0?'] is to_ render
0090J54 the actions susceptible to the influence of opinion and discussion.
0100J54 ^The agent is called upon to_ give reasons for his action, because
0110J54 these are the conditions of performance by which it is subject
0120J54 to_ control by persuasion. $^*Perry*'s usage of 'reasoning' in this
0130J54 case also clearly shows that to_ give reasons for an action is to_ describe
0140J54 its causes. ^The relation between reasons and action, here again,
0150J54 must be causal. ^In no case can it be said to_ be logical. ^In
0160J54 fact, nowhere does logic enter in Perry*'s account of ethical reasoning.
0170J54 ^To my mind he is talking psychology and not logic. $*<*3Perry*'s
0180J54 Theory of 'Proof' of Moral Knowledge:--*0*> $^Above I have
0190J54 discussed what Perry*'s theory of reasoning in moral matters is.
0200J54 ^There I tried to_ show that his theory of 'reasoning' is no more
0210J54 than an empirical exercise in the field of cause-effect relations,
0220J54 Juxtaposed to this theory, he offers another theory of ethical reasoning
0230J54 which essentially is the same as the one given by *(0J. S.*)
0240J54 Mill in his *3Utilitarianism*0, or the one given by Jeremy Bentham
0250J54 in his *3Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation*0.
0260J54 ^*I propose to_ discuss this second theory now.
0270J54 $^*Perry begins by accepting as the first principle of his ethical
0280J54 theory the statement that the moral good is the harmonious happiness.
0290J54 ^This principle works as the criterion or standard for judging
0300J54 objects and actions as good or bad. ^Furthermore, it is this necessary
0310J54 premiss from which in conjunction with certain other premisses,
0320J54 the judgements of right, duty, and virtue are derived. ^The question is
0330J54 'How are we going to_ justify this first principle?' ^To_ answer
0340J54 this, Perry reasserts his basic position that moral knowledge differs
0350J54 from other kinds of knowledge not *3*7qua*0 knowledge but in its
0360J54 subject-matter, such that an ethical judgement can be said to_ be true
0370J54 or false on the basis of empirical evidence. ^However, he distinguishes
0380J54 two kinds of moral knowledge: derivative from basic. (a)^The
0390J54 *3derivative*0 moral knowledge is one in which a moral judgement
0400J54 is logically derived or deduced from one statement or a set of statements
0410J54 in conjunction with the first principle of morality, \0viz.,
0420J54 the principle of harmonious happiness. ^Take, for example, the act
0430J54 of homicide." ^When an act of homicide is judged to_ be wrong it
0440J54 is ordinarily sufficient to_ call it 'murder'. ^That_ is deemed sufficient
0450J54 since it is assumed that murder is wrong [wrong by the standard
0460J54 of harmonious happiness]". ^Reasoning in this case and the other
0470J54 cases of derivative moral knowledge follows the usual pattern of
0480J54 syllogistic argument or the application of a general rule or principle
0490J54 to a certain specific case. ^Again, the logical relation between
0500J54 the reasons cited and the conclusion deduced will be the relation of
0510J54 analyticity. ^Finally, this sort of reasoning goes from ethical premisses
0520J54 to ethical conclusion, not from factual premisses to ethical
0530J54 conclusion, such that the argument is homogeneous and not hetrogeneous
0540J54 ethically. $^Two remarks are in order. ^In the *3first*0 place, the
0550J54 concept of *3reason*0 here is not identified but is sharply distinguished
0560J54 from the concept of *3cause*0. ^The justification of an ethical
0570J54 judgement thus is logical which shows truth of the judgement, and
0580J54 not psychological the aim of which is to_ persuade the disagreeing
0590J54 party by altering his attitudes to_ accept it. ^In the *3second*0
0600J54 place, this theory of reasoning works only within the framework of
0610J54 some accepted ethical principles. ^It works only where the disagreeing
0620J54 parties share the same ethical principles and also the order of
0630J54 precedence in them, such that if there arises any dispute with regard
0640J54 to the morality of any specific case they can refer it to the highest
0650J54 court of their commonly shared ethical principles. ^This theory
0660J54 fails to_ work where there is disagreement on the ethical principles
0670J54 themselves. $(b) ^The derivative moral knowledge presupposes basic
0680J54 moral knowledge. ^The *3basic*0 moral knowledge is the knowledge
0690J54 of the moral principles or the first principles of ethical theory.
0700J54 ^In Perry*'s case, it is knowledge of the principle of harmonious
0710J54 happiness. ^In defence of individual ethical judgements (including
0720J54 the ethical rules of lesser generality) we cite the principle of harmonious
0730J54 happiness; for, on his view, "things are morally right and
0740J54 wrong, good and bad, obligatory and forbidden, judged by the standard
0750J54 of harmonious happiness". ^But how do we know the principle of harmonious
0760J54 happiness itself? ^This is a question of basic moral knowledge.
0770J54 ^To_ answer it, Perry makes a distinction between *3adopting*0
0780J54 the standard of harmonious happiness, and *3applying*0 this standard.
0790J54 ^The whole of derivative moral knowledge is no more than an application
0800J54 of the standard of harmonious happiness to certain specific
0810J54 cases or classes of cases, while it is the knowledge of the conditions
0820J54 of adopting the principle of harmonious happiness that constitutes
0830J54 the basic knowledge of morality. ^He says: $^There are two judgements,
0840J54 the judgement which adopts the standard, and the judgement which
0850J54 applies it. ^The fundamental question of moral knowledge is the question
0860J54 of the proof of the first or basic judgement. ^It is a judgement
0870J54 about a standard, and to the effect that a specific standard, such
0880J54 as harmonious happiness, occupies a peculiar place among standards,
0890J54 and is entitled to_ be designated as "the moral standard". ^Thiis
0900J54 is not a moral judgement in the sense of assigning such predicates
0910J54 as "good", "right", and "ought". ^*Moral theory, whether it asserts
0920J54 that the ultimate moral standard is happiness, or that the moral right
0930J54 or good is indefinable, or that duty is obedience to God, or that
0940J54 the right is the reasonable, stands outside the whole circle of such
0950J54 judgement, and makes non-moral statements about them. $^The point
0960J54 that_ he is making is that basic moral knowledge *3is*0 possible, that
0970J54 it is possible for us to_ *3know*0 the first principle of his ethical
0980J54 theory, \0viz., the principle of harmonious happiness, and that
0990J54 this knowledge consists in giving non-moral reasons for *3adopting*0
1000J54 the principle. ^We cannot give moral reasons for the truth of the
1010J54 principle; for, all moral reasons whatever must derive from the principle
1020J54 of harmonious happiness itself which alone is the ultimate moral
1030J54 good. ^And the reasons that_ we give for the principle of harmonious
1040J54 happiness cannot be the reasons derived from the principle itself.
1050J54 ^Therefore, no moral reasons can be given in justification of it.
1060J54 ^Whatever reasons can be given in justification of it must be non-moral
1070J54 reasons. ^Such non-moral reasons go only to_ show why we adopt
1080J54 the principle: in no way do they prove the truth of the principle
1090J54 itself. $^It is apparent that Perry*'s argument for adopting the principle
1100J54 of harmonious happiness or his 'proof' of the standard of harmonious
1110J54 happiness is similar in structure to the one given by *(0J. S.*)
1120J54 Mill in the *3Utilitarianism*0. ^He divides his argument into
1130J54 two parts: (**=1) ^First, he shows that the harmonious happiness should
1140J54 in fact be a standard or qualified to_ be a standard; (**=2) secondly
1150J54 he shows that the harmonious happiness is *3the*0 moral standard
1160J54 excluding all others for which a similar claim is made. ^He emphasizes
1170J54 upon **[sic**] the fact that both these conditions (**=1) and (**=2)
1180J54 are required in order to_ show why we should adopt the principle of harmonious
1190J54 happiness. ^For, if the first condition is not satisfied,
1200J54 then we have no reason to_ say that the principle of harmonious happiness
1210J54 is in fact the standard. ^And, if the second condition is not
1220J54 satisfied, then "there should be no ground of persuasion by which the
1230J54 adherent of another standard could be converted to this standard
1240J54 of harmonious happiness". $^Although Perry calls his argument to_
1250J54 be a 'proof' of moral knowledge, he does not mean to_ give a rigorous,
1260J54 deductive proof. ^What he means to_ do so **[sic**] is to_ advance arguments
1270J54 (reasons or considerations) in support of the principle of harmonious
1280J54 happiness, "arguments which, though they may not satisfy everybody,
1290J54 at least have the merit of being appropriate to the thesis
1300J54 which is to_ be proved". ^To_ satisfy the first condition he offers
1310J54 two considerations: *3one*0, theoretical, and *3two*0, practical.
1320J54 ^Both the considerations go to_ show that "the standard of harmonious
1330J54 happiness is capable of being agreed on-- both theoretically and
1340J54 practicaliy". *3^Theoretically*0, because it "satisfies the requirement
1350J54 of cognitive universality and objectivity; that_ is, it is the same
1360J54 for all knowers who address themselves to the subject". *3^Practically*0,
1370J54 because "the good of harmonious happiness, since it embraces
1380J54 all interests, is to some extent to everybody*'s interest, and thereby
1390J54 obtains a breadth of support exceeding that_ of any other good.
1400J54 ^Every person, including the person to whom the argument is addressed,
1410J54 has some stake in it". ^Concluding the first part of his argument
1420J54 for moral knowledge, he says: $^Hence, the norm of harmonious happiness
1430J54 is doubly universal. ^It is universal in the theoretical sense:
1440J54 its nature and its implications are objective, and the judgements
1450J54 in which it is employed are equally true for all judges; and being
1460J54 abstracted from particular interests, it is applicable to all human
1470J54 situations. ^It is also universal in the social sense; its promised
1480J54 benefits accrue to all men, and to all men collectively. ^It is a norm
1490J54 on which all men can unite and agree-- both theoretically and practically.
1500J54 $^Thus, the first condition is satisfied.
1510J54 ^The second condition also is satisfied. ^For,
1520J54 the standard of harmonious happiness is *3presupposed*0 by all our
1530J54 value judgements and estimates. ^For instance, it is embodied in the
1540J54 Golden Rule. ^Furthermore, disagreements as to the specific applications
1550J54 of moral opinion are settled by a reference to the principle
1560J54 of harmonious happiness. ^He says: $^Equally significant is the
1570J54 fact that when men differ as to the specific applications of moral opinion
1580J54 it is to the standard of harmonious happiness that they look for
1590J54 common good. ^And it is by this standard that men criticise and justify
1600J54 their major social institutions-conscience itself, polity, law, economy--
1610J54 by which they define the places in human society that_ are to_ be allotted
1620J54 to art, science, education, and religion. $^*Perry claims that
1630J54 his 'proof' of the principle of harmonious happiness is 'empirical'
1640J54 in the full sense of the term; for it is based on "a system of concepts
1650J54 verified by the data of human life". $^Two comments are in order
1660J54 here: *3One:*0 ^As I have said earlier, Perry*'s 'proof' of moral
1670J54 knowledge is not a deductive proof. ^Nor do the set of reasons and
1680J54 arguments which he has put forth go in any way to_ prove the truth
1690J54 of the principle of harmonious happiness. ^These reasons aim only at
1700J54 showing why the principle of harmonious happiness should be adopted
1710J54 or accepted to_ be true: they only show why, after all Perry *3holds*0
1720J54 the principle to_ be true: but in no way do they tend to_ show
1730J54 that the principle istelf is true. ^The sort of reasons which he
1740J54 has offered in support of the principle constitute a pragmatic justification
1750J54 of the principle of harmonious happiness: they do not constitute
1760J54 its logical or cognitive justification. $*3Two:*0 ^The seccond
1770J54 comment that_ I wish to_ make is concerning the following \0para:
1780J54 $^If harmonious happiness can be truly affirmed to_ be the moral
1790J54 standard it must so agree with human nature and the circumstances of
1800J54 human life that men can adopt it by education, persuasion, and choice;
1810J54 and, having adopted it, can govern their conduct in accordance
1820J54 with its requirements. ^It must be qualified to_ serve as a criterion
1830J54 by which human interests, acts, characters, and organisations can be
1840J54 classified and ranked. ^The evidence that it satisfies these requirements
1850J54 will be found in the fact that it is so adopted and employed.*#
        **[no. of words = 02018**]


        **[txt. j55**]
0010J55 **<*3Philosophy of Death*0**> $^Life by itself can have no meaning. ^According
0020J55 to the first teaching we should understand that we are overwhelmingly
0030J55 in debt to others, to those who lived before us, to those
0040J55 who are now living with us and to those who will live and to those who
0050J55 will be source of all things. ^*Jesus by his life proved the necessity
0060J55 of cultivation of moral virtues for preparation of life to_
0070J55 come. ^*God will occupy the throne of justice and everyone will be sent
0080J55 either to salvation \0i.e. Heaven or Hell. ^In the gospels written
0090J55 after Jesus Christ, we find the concepts about the last day \0i.e.
0100J55 the Day of Judgement. ^The kingdom of God will be in the form of
0110J55 good and it establishes the reign of justice, liberty of soul which
0120J55 is analogous to the Buddhist '*4Nirwan'. $^Repentence is a catchword
0130J55 of Christianity. ^*Jesus faced death willingly. ^He conquered
0140J55 'death'. ^This shows that death is just a passing phase on the way of
0150J55 the kingdom of God. ^In Christianity celibacy was prescribed for
0160J55 those who wanted to_ follow it. ^The world brotherhood was the aim
0170J55 of Christianity. ^Let us not mention the faults committed by the followers
0180J55 of Christianity in subsequent centuries. ^What we need is
0190J55 to_ know the optimistic message given by Jesus so far as the salvation
0200J55 of man is concerned. $*<*36.Mystical Concept of Liberation.*0*>
0210J55 $^Mysticism is an attempt to_ penetrate behind the appearances of the
0220J55 nature of reality with a direct vision. ^Mystics are seekers of truth
0230J55 hankering for the knowledge of reality, God and immortality. ^In short
0240J55 mystics may be said to_ be the ardent seekers of solutions to the
0250J55 riddles before mankind. ^The word 'mysticism' has been wrongly associated
0260J55 with or sometimes identified with spiritualism, of the evocations
0270J55 of the 'seances' or with the various brands of occultism or with
0280J55 the variegated forms of psychism such as clairvoyance clairaudience,
0290J55 psychometry and the like. ^The essential characteristics of mysticism
0300J55 centre round the main thread \0i.e. immediate realisation of the
0310J55 deity, God or reality. ^There are the following main characteristics
0320J55 of mysticism the understanding of which will help us in knowing
0330J55 the mystical concept of liberation. ^The mystical experiences have
0340J55 (1) immediacy (2) ineffability (3) passivity (4) self surrendering attitude
0350J55 (5) absence of reason. ^Mysticism is not the privilege of any particular
0360J55 religion. ^In fact mystics are found in all the religions without
0380J55 any differentiation of caste, creed, colour or sex. ^Mystics cross
0390J55 all the barriers and all the limitations. ^They claim that they
0400J55 alone understand the significance of human life, the universe around
0410J55 us and the reality with their inter-relations. $^The aim of mysticism
0420J55 is liberation and nothing short of it. ^There is no doubt that this
0430J55 is a subjective realisation of the reality by a mystic. ^But most
0440J55 of the mystics have admitted that they cannot convey their experiences
0450J55 through the poor means of reason. ^They say that they have to_
0460J55 transcend reason in order to_ achieve that_, which is beyond reason.
0470J55 ^Therefore, intuition, plays a very prominent role in mysticism. ^Mystics
0480J55 know the truth intuitively. ^Most of the mystics have realised
0490J55 the nature of human conditions on this earth and they are dissatisfied
0500J55 with the worldly appearances, they want to_ probe into the unknown
0510J55 to_ find out the truth, God or reality. ^The mystics have to_
0520J55 prepare themselves to_ realise the acute and most agonising pain
0530J55 before they reach the ultimate *5summum bonum*6. ^Their path is most difficult.
0540J55 ^They have to_ fight with themselves every moment in order
0550J55 to_ understand the riddles. ^It is said that almost every mystic, has
0560J55 to_ pass through a dark night of the soul but once the mystics achieve
0570J55 their goal they become peaceful, calm, quiet and serene. ^To_ begin
0580J55 with, mystics are as common as we are but their intense desire for
0590J55 freedom or liberation makes a lot of difference between the common
0600J55 man and the mystic. ^This difference is widened more and more when
0610J55 mystical experiences are uttered in a somewhat mysterious language due to
0620J55 the ineffability of the experiences. ^Mystics follow various types
0630J55 of penances (**[word in devnagari**]) and during the course of the
0640J55 *4Sadhana they get illumination. $^After getting the final experience,
0650J55 a mystic looks upon the body as a mere vehicle of the soul which
0660J55 is one with God, truth or reality. ^Sometimes some mystics claim,
0670J55 that there remains an individuality of the soul, a sort of co-existence
0680J55 with God with the only difference the God has the power to procreate
0690J55 which the liberated soul does not have. ^After the realisation
0700J55 the mystic does not remain a man of worldly affairs but becomes a man
0710J55 who has transcended worldly barriers. ^His vision broadens. ^His heart
0720J55 becomes kinder, his emotions and passions are pacified. ^He experiences
0730J55 liberation here and now. ^This is the most original contribution
0740J55 of the mystics to mankind, in which they have shown that mystical
0750J55 experiences result in the feeling of immediate liberation from the
0760J55 bondage, here and now in this world. ^In various religions different
0770J55 types of liberation have been explained but we are not concerned
0780J55 here with differences among the mystics about the nature of liberation.
0790J55 ^What we want to_ know is the common mystical concept of liberation
0800J55 in general. ^Most of the people do not consider the nature of human
0810J55 conditions and this very fact creates barriers and a source of misunderstanding
0820J55 about the mystics. ^The common people either believe in the
0830J55 mystics blindly or doubt the validity of the mystical experience.
0840J55 ^Even to this day, Materialists are trying to_ describe 'ecstasy'
0850J55 as due to pathological perturbations of normal mental processes. ^They
0860J55 insist in making no distinction between religious experience and
0870J55 hallucinations. ^Mystical ecstasies usually result in an increase of
0880J55 the wisdom of the mystic and often of his executive ability as is
0890J55 proved by the many mystics who founded religious orders. ^*Freudian
0900J55 attempts at representing ecstasies as erotomania substitutes for repressed
0910J55 sexual urges, is the limit to which doubt about mystical experiences
0920J55 can go. ^Though it is very difficult to_ prove the claims of
0930J55 mysticism on the base of reason, to_ discard them lightly as the
0940J55 Freudians do is equally unreasonable. ^No doubt there is a sort of symbolism
0950J55 in the language of the mystics. ^Mystical experiences are of two
0960J55 types one dealing with objective perception and the other of a purely
0970J55 subjective nature. ^The highest flights of mystical experiences
0980J55 prove clearly that these two processes are not mutually exclusive but
0990J55 complementary. $^*Greeks, Hebrews and Christians describe seven
1000J55 storeys of successively denser and more concrete realms from the divine
1010J55 unity to our earthly world. ^*Hinduism also believes in *4saptaloka.
1020J55 ^Some schools of mystics have compressed these seven realms into
1030J55 five, and even three generic cosmic planes. ^In our days we see Whitehead
1040J55 taking into account, three transcendent active realities \0i.e.
1050J55 God, the process and the eternal forms of possibilities of existence.
1060J55 $\0^*Prof. Royce in his book "The world and the Individual" begins
1070J55 by paying mystics the pragmatic compliment of declaring that they
1080J55 are the only thorough going empiricists in the history of philosophy.
1090J55 ^He adds "mysticism has been the ferment and the faith of the liberty,
1100J55 the inaccessible refuge of the noble, the inspirer through poetry
1110J55 of countless youths, who know no metaphysics, the comforter of
1120J55 those who are weary of finitude, the mystic asserts that the 'real'
1130J55 cannot be wholly independent from knowledge". $^It is not known whether
1140J55 the mystics could give objective certainty to their experiences.
1150J55 ^At the same time, it is true that there can hardly be any objective
1160J55 proof of a subjective certainty in one*'s mind. ^Therefore even though
1170J55 we cannot accept the claims of mysticism in a rational way, at
1180J55 the same time we have to_ remember that it is very difficult to_ discard
1190J55 completely the claims of mysticism. ^The claims of mysticism are
1200J55 in a way the claims of liberation. ^Such liberation is not a thing
1210J55 of the future, but an experience of the present. ^It is not an ordinary
1220J55 experience, wherein we are moved in a duality but it is an experience
1230J55 of oneness. ^Once this knowledge is attained nothing remains
1240J55 to_ be known. ^The mystic is fully satiated, nothing can disturb him.
1250J55 ^He experiences a calmness of the mind forever. $*(0^*J. D.*) Marquette
1260J55 has observed: "Mysticism also brings its contribution to
1270J55 the problem of the universality of grace and of the call to divine union.
1280J55 ^All mystics describe at the highest peak of the soul, *4Paramatma
1290J55 of the Hindus, *4Atta of Buddhists, the *4Sirr of Islam,
1300J55 the highest mention and a spark of the Christians, the presence of
1310J55 an emergence of the divine essence. ^The first immediate result of mysticism
1320J55 is, to_ free the mind from the fetters of an existence restricted
1330J55 by the illusory nature of the ordinary perceptions." $*<*37.The
1340J55 Existentialist Concept of Freedom*0*> $^Out of the systems of
1350J55 philosophy, no other system except existentialism has thought profoundly
1360J55 over the phenomenon of death, an analysis of human conditions
1370J55 reveals, the meaninglessness of human life which in turn produces nothingness,
1380J55 and death is the only phenomenon, which makes human beings realise
1390J55 the contingent and absurd nature of human life. ^Existentialist
1400J55 thinkers are theists as well as atheists. ^According to most of the
1410J55 existentialist writers man*'s life is divided into authentic and
1420J55 inauthentic existence. ^According to \0Dr. *(0G.*) Srinivasan "Freedom
1430J55 constitutes man*'s basic nature; but he has lost it, he must regain
1440J55 it. ^This is existentialism in its essence. ^Freedom is the
1450J55 central concept around which existential enquiry revolves. ^It can be
1460J55 said that the existentialist concept of freedom is not a transcendental
1470J55 ideal or a mere abstract concept but it is the basic and inherent
1480J55 condition of human existence and it is to_ be lived through responsible
1490J55 decisions and actions or otherwise it becomes obscured in the
1500J55 inauthentic mode of fallenness. ^Man becomes aware of his freedom
1510J55 only when he becomes aware of his inherent nothingness and refuses to_
1520J55 indentify himself with any of his achievements or realisations. ^To_
1530J55 be free is to_ act according to existentialism and in the absence
1540J55 of activity there can be no freedom. ^Therefore existentialism can
1550J55 be said to_ develop an essentially activistic concept of freedom.
1560J55 ^Freedom is present not only in the authentic mode of existence but
1570J55 also in the inauthentic mode of existence. ^In the inauthentic mode
1580J55 of existence it is concealed or obscured. ^The search for freedom is
1590J55 thus central or basic and common to all systems of existentialism.
1600J55 \0^*Dr. *(0G.*) Srinivasan has brilliantly compared the existentialist
1610J55 concept of freedom with the Hindu philosophical systems. ^He observes,
1620J55 "The Hindu existential choice, is also closely connected with the
1630J55 phenomenon of death, the inevitablity of death will have to_ be accepted
1640J55 and the fear of death should not be permitted to_ prevent one from
1650J55 making right choice at the time of crisis. ^The practice of freedom
1660J55 is man*'s authentic existence, in which he seeks to_ liberate himself
1670J55 from the state of his fallenness and directs it towards the realisation
1680J55 of his highest potentialities-of-being which is the truth
1690J55 of his existence and freedom towards the authentic existence. ^The
1700J55 distinction between authentic and inauthentic existence is common to
1710J55 both existentialism and the systems of Hindu philosophy." ^Inauthentic
1720J55 existence is essentially the life of pleasure seeking, and bondage.
1730J55 ^The existentialist concept of freedom is also closely related
1740J55 to the concepts of dread and death. ^Dread reveals man*'s inherent nothingness,
1750J55 which is of the nature of freedom and failure to_ face dread,
1760J55 results in the fallenness of human existence. ^Dread can be faced
1770J55 only by accepting the inherent nothingness of man. ^The individual*'s
1780J55 attitude to death has also an important bearing on his life of freedom.
1790J55 "^He can lead the life of freedom only when he accepts death in its
1800J55 proper perspective either as the inherent capital possibility of
1810J55 his human existence in the Heideggerian sense or as the external inevitable
1820J55 end of human existence in the Sartrian sense. ^In either case
1830J55 death reduces his human existence to nothingness, and it must be accepted
1840J55 as such, if the individual is to_ attain freedom within his human
1850J55 conditions the anticipatory concept of death frees the individual from
1860J55 his delusion of the false permanence of the world, from his total
1870J55 absorption in his everyday preoccupations and from the subordination
1880J55 of his decisions and actions to public opinion and frees him towards
1890J55 the realisation of his potentiality of being."*#
        **[no. of words = 02060**]

        **[txt. j56**]
0010J56 **<*3READING THE MIND OF THE HARAPPANS*0**> $*3^WITH*0 the discovery
0020J56 55 years ago of Harappa and Mohenjodaro, India came to_ be regarded
0030J56 as one of the earliest centres of civilisation, like Crete, Egypt
0040J56 and Mesopotamia. ^Like these, not only had India achieved a
0050J56 high degree of perfection in arts and crafts, but it could boast of
0060J56 a high quality of life for *3all*0 its citizens. ^Probably, there were
0070J56 no slums or hovels. $^More important, Harappa and Mohenjodaro
0080J56 were literate centres, like the other three. ^And this literacy was
0090J56 shared by a larger number of people, as the distribution of so-called
0100J56 seals at Mohenjodaro and Harappa shows; the seals also occur in
0110J56 almost all the sites so far found in the unbelievably vast area of
0120J56 nearly 260,000 \0sq \0km (see map on \0p. 32). ^In spite of all this,
0130J56 the authors of this civilisation remain unknown. ^We do not know
0140J56 their mind. $^Naturally, attempts have been made to_ decipher the
0150J56 so-called seals. ^Such attempts could be divided into early speculative
0160J56 and late speculative. ^The earliest was *(0L. A.*) Waddel. ^Thinking
0170J56 that the Indus script was akin to the Sumerian, and the authors
0180J56 Aryans, he claimed that he had found names of *4Vedic gods and
0190J56 Epic heroes of India in the seals. \0^*Prof. *(0S.*) Langdon of Oxford
0200J56 and *(0C. J*) Gadd of the British Museum thought that the
0210J56 pictographic writings on the seals were *(proto-Brahmi*) (or that
0220J56 the early Indian alphabet known as the *4Brahmi, named after *4Brahma,
0230J56 the Creator, was derived from the ancient Indus script) and that
0240J56 the Indus signs were full words (see box on \0p. 29). ^*Sir Flinders
0250J56 Petrie, with his vast experience of Egypt and knowledge of the
0260J56 picture-writing known as hieroglyphs, interpreted the Indus pictographs
0270J56 and postulated that the seals were used by officials. \0^*Dr.
0280J56 Pran Nath of Banaras Hindu University developed Waddel*'s idea
0290J56 further and said that what had been regarded as pictographs or ideographs
0300J56 were letters or characters (*4aksaras) closely connected with
0310J56 the *4Brahmi script; he even published a short sign-list of the alphabetic
0320J56 values of these pictographs. $^*Swami Sankarananda of the
0330J56 Ramakrishna Mission, a student of *4Tantra, a magico-religious cult
0340J56 which became prominent in India after the 7th century \0AD, on
0350J56 the other hand, sought to_ connect the *4Tantric symbols and monosyllables
0360J56 with the signs of the Indus script. ^This was an intuitive
0370J56 approach, but it did create a stir when he published his views in
0380J56 *3The Rigvedic Culture of the Prehistoric Indus*0 in 1943. ^And
0390J56 even a scholar like \0Prof. *(0B. M.*) Barua, of Calcutta University,
0400J56 thought that the key to the Indus Valley inscriptions
0410J56 lay in the *4Tantric texts. ^However, this approach was quite unsystematic,
0420J56 marked by anachronism, for *4Tantrism came centuries later than
0430J56 the Indus civilisation. $^Among these wild speculations, *(0G. R.*)
0440J56 Hunter, of Oxford, came forward with the first systematic study--
0450J56 a sign-list of pictographs. ^After copying 750 inscribed objects,
0460J56 he compared signs with signs, combinations with combinations, inscriptions
0470J56 with inscriptions and script with script. ^He opined that
0480J56 the script was mainly phonetic and not alphabetic, and was related
0490J56 to the *4Brahmi. ^Like the latter, the Indus script was syllabary.
0500J56 $^This probably was his failing. ^For, a period of over 2000 years
0510J56 separated the two scripts, and while *4Brahmi was syllabary, its pictographic
0520J56 ancestor need not be. ^And much would depend upon the original
0530J56 nature of the Indus script and its authors. ^Were they Aryan
0540J56 or Dravidian? $^Since neither the language nor the script was known,
0550J56 nothing further could be done. ^The late \0Rev. Father Heras,
0560J56 of \0St. Xavier*'s College, Bombay, embarked on a major study,
0570J56 acting upon the suggestion of Sir John Marshall that the Indus
0580J56 people were probably Dravidian or proto-Dravidian, because amongst
0590J56 the loose finds from Harappa and Mohenjodaro, there were a few which
0600J56 definitely looked like *4lingas or phallus, while a few others seemed
0610J56 to_ be copies of *4yoni or pudenda. ^If these were worshipped,
0620J56 certainly the HarappaJ5 were not Aryans. ^The Aryans looked down
0630J56 upon the worshippers of *4Sisnadevatas (phallic gods). $^*Heras*'s
0640J56 work lasted for more than 20 years. ^His *8magnum opus*9, *3Studies
0650J56 in Proto-Indo-Mediterranean Culture*0, was based upon an exhaustive
0660J56 study of Indian, Mesopotamian, Hittite, Egyptian, Minoan
0670J56 and other less known prehistoric-- or proto-historic, as he preferred
0680J56 to_ call them-- religions of Western Asia. $^*Heras*'s interpretation
0690J56 stressed primarily the cultural or the religious aspect of
0700J56 the Indus and Sumerian civilisations. ^For instance, he identified
0710J56 a figure seated cross-legged, and surrounded by various animals as
0720J56 *3*4An*0, the Supreme God of the people of the Indus Valley. ^He
0730J56 read the inscription that runs above the figure as: *3*5an, nand
0740J56 valkei kuda min adu An*6*0. ^Which means: "The Lord of the Water-Jar
0750J56 and of the Fish is weakening and strengthening of the Lord". ^*Heras
0760J56 said that this was a healthy interpretation of the effects of the
0770J56 seasons, which are attributed to the Lord. ^He further concluded
0780J56 that this god *4An was originally Dravidian and his myth had spred
0790J56 to Sumer and the Mediterranean countires. ^Hence he called his work
0800J56 *3Studies in Proto-Indo-Mediterranean Culture*0. $^No doubt,
0810J56 the results of the study were simply stupendous. ^But these could
0820J56 be accepted in part only, for many of his views and theories ran counter
0830J56 to the accepted views, particularly regarding the priority of
0840J56 the Mesopotamian and other cultures. $*<*3New approach necessary*0*>
0850J56 $^*Father Heras*'s work thus needed a radically new approach. ^Some
0860J56 assumption had to_ be made. *(0^*S. R.*) Rao has taken the help
0870J56 of the Semitic and tried to_ arrive at the *(proto-Brahmi*). ^His
0880J56 view seems to_ be that the Indus Culture is not non-Aryan. $^During
0890J56 the last 100 years, and particularly after the excavations of Sir
0900J56 Leonard Woolley at Ur, the German excavations at Warka, and
0910J56 \0Prof. Seton Lloyd*'s excavations at Hassuna, all in Iran or
0920J56 Mesopotamia, it has now been conclusively shown that the beginnings
0930J56 of civilisation may be traced back step by step to about 5000 \0BC.
0940J56 ^However, according to Heras, these cultures were derived from
0950J56 South India because he believed that Dravidians had gone there.
0960J56 ^But 25 years after the book was published, nothing has so far been
0970J56 found in India to_ substantiate his theory. ^On the other hand, the
0980J56 beginnings of civilisation in Western Asia continues to_ march
0990J56 backwards in time, with the astounding discoveries of the city of Catal
1000J56 Huyak in Turkey dated by the carbon-14 technique to 6000 \0BC.
1010J56 $^While Heras*'s assumption that the authors of the Indus civilisation
1020J56 were Dravidians or their ancestors might be correct, it was
1030J56 not possible to_ accept that these proto Dravidians were South
1040J56 Indian in origin. ^The possibility was, as held by several scholars,
1050J56 that these proto-Dravidians were not Indian in origin, but possibly
1060J56 earlier residents of South Iran and parts of Europe. ^So the
1070J56 assumption that the Indus civilisation was proto-Dravidian might
1080J56 stand, but the way how this culture reached South India needed to_
1090J56 be explained. $*<*3Computers*0*> $^If human efforts had so far
1100J56 failed to_ probe the mind of the Indus citizen, could the computer--
1110J56 the mechanical-electronic brain help? ^This unique machine can be
1120J56 used, provided the data on which it is to_ be fed is processed in a
1130J56 particular way. ^First the Russians and then the Finns, therefore,
1140J56 sought the help of the computer. ^A series of publications followed
1150J56 during 1970-72. ^All these will be useful once we know what the pictographs
1160J56 stand for. $^For instance, does the sign **[pictograph**]
1170J56 which appears at the end of the line if we read the seal from left
1180J56 to right mean "possession"? ^Or does it stand for something else? ^Thus,
1190J56 the question to_ be decided is, "Is the Indus script syllabic
1200J56 or is it ideographic? ^That is, is each pictograph (picture-sign),
1210J56 as in our modern languages, a unit of pronunciation forming a word,
1220J56 containing one vowel sound and often a consonant either before or after
1230J56 it?" $^These questions cannot be answered by the computer. ^At
1240J56 the most it might help in telling us, as has been done by *(0I.*) Mahadevan,
1250J56 whether the script should be read from left to right or vice
1260J56 versa, or both. $^He had also prepared a concordance by consulting
1270J56 all the available seals in India and abroad. ^Thus, his is the latest
1280J56 computerised catalogue of the Indus seal pictographs. ^Yet, this
1290J56 excellent catalogue does not venture to_ read the mind of the Indus
1300J56 seal engraver or his patrons. $^In this attempt, as \0Dr. Walter
1310J56 Fairservis (\0Jr.) of the American Museum of Natural History,
1320J56 New York, says, a computer is more a hindrance than an aid. ^Why?
1330J56 ^Says he, " a computer rather than placing a potential decipherer
1340J56 in direct contact with his material, moves him often steps away from
1350J56 it". $*<*3Graffiti*0*> $*3^*What*0 should one do then? ^One alternative
1360J56 would be to_ "try to_ decipher the script in the context of the
1370J56 Harappan civilisation itself". ^For instance, on the Indus pottery,
1380J56 as well as on the pottery of the later Chalcolithic Cultures
1390J56 (about 2500 to 1000 \0BC when stone and copper were used and the
1400J56 existence of iron was not known) unearthed during the last 30 years,
1410J56 there are at times marks of various sorts-- lines, as well as figures--
1420J56 incised or scratched after the pot is completed and even fired.
1430J56 ^Hence, these are called "graffiti". $^The first such culture was discovered
1440J56 at Brahmagiri in Karnataka in 1945. ^Soon after, it was
1450J56 also found at Jorwe, Nasik, Nevasa and other sites in Maharashtra,
1460J56 Maheshwar, Navdatoli and several others in Madhya Pradesh, and
1470J56 Somnath or Prabhas in Gujarat. ^Their period is well dated stratigraphically
1480J56 and by several \0C*:14**: determinations (Sankalia, *3Prehistory
1490J56 and Proto History of India and Pakistan*0, 1974). $^Some
1500J56 of these graffiti seem to_ have been derived, as *(0B. B.*) Lal
1510J56 had shown by an exhaustive study, from the Indus script. ^Can one
1520J56 then work back from these graffiti to the reading or understanding
1530J56 of the Indus script? $^*Fairservis perhaps thinks that one can, though
1540J56 he very modestly says "this is not a claim that the author has
1550J56 deciphered the Harappan script". ^And once again, he has had recourse
1560J56 to the Dravidian to_ unravel the mystery, both of the graffiti
1570J56 and the Indus pictographs. $^When there is a renewed or a fresh attempt
1580J56 to_ go back to the suggestion that the Indus civilisation was
1590J56 Dravidian or "Proto-Drayidian", one must take into account Heras*'s
1600J56 contribution. ^*Heras did not have the benefit of the *3Dictionary
1610J56 of Etymological Dravidian (\0OED)*0 which \0profs. *(0C.*) burrow
1620J56 and *(0M. B.*) Emaneau published in 1961, several years after his
1630J56 death. $^However, Heras was fully conscious of the fundamental weakness
1640J56 of his attempt, but not the assumption. ^For, a gap of 2,000
1650J56 years separated the earliest Dravidian-- the Tamil inscriptions and
1660J56 the Sangam-Tamil-- from the pictographs on the Indus seals. ^No
1670J56 language is expected to_ remain static for this long a period. ^So it
1680J56 was indeed risky, even foolish, as some scholars thought, to_ use
1690J56 the existing Dravidian languages. $^His assumptions about the Indus
1700J56 script, which were valid then, would be valid even now. "^The people
1710J56 of Mohenjodaro, being probably Dravidians, spoke a Dravidian
1720J56 language. ^Language and race are two things totally different." ^Further,
1730J56 "the language spoken by the Mohenjodarians was not any of the
1740J56 modern Dravidian languages, but an older language, which may be styled
1750J56 Proto-Dravidian". "^The morphology (make-up) of the Proto-Dravidian
1760J56 language will be determined by the roots of the words, in
1770J56 their original meaning or by those words immediately formed by determining
1780J56 the root, in derivative meanings. ^*Dravidian languages are
1790J56 agglutinative, that is, generally forming words by the addition of
1800J56 suffixes or by the prefixing of initial intensive consonants." ^*Heras
1810J56 wrote this on the authority of \0Rev. Gnana Prakasar*'s *3Etymological
1820J56 and Comparative Lexicon of the Tamil Language*0. ^He
1830J56 added, "if those suffixes or consonants are properly removed, we shall
1840J56 easily arrive at the root of the word, which has always remained
1850J56 unchanged". $*<The meaning of pictographs*> $*3^*Heras*0 went on
1851J56 to_ study systematically all the words
1860J56 used in *3all*0 the modern Dravidian languages, not excluding
1870J56 Tulu, Brahui, Kudagu, Uraon and Kui (all Dravidian dialects--
1880J56 Brahui is spoken by a few people known as Brahuis in Baluchistan,
1890J56 Kudagu, Kui and Tulu in parts of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, and
1900J56 Uraon in parts of eastern Madhya Pradesh and Orissa).*#
        **[no. of words = 02026**]

        **[txt. j57**]
0010J57 **<*3A CONTEMPORARY ACCOUNT OF THE BATTLE OF JAJAU*0**> $^The absence
0020J57 of a definite and accepted law of succession being a feature of
0030J57 monarchy in medieval India, the struggle for succession became an
0040J57 inevitable bane of contemporary polity. ^During the Mughal period,
0050J57 with the rise of well aligned parties of supporters of different princes,
0060J57 these contests became all the more grim. ^*Aurangzeb, who came
0070J57 to the throne wading through the blood of his brothers, endeavoured
0080J57 to_ abate such a war by providing for the partition of his empire among
0090J57 his three surviving sons by his will. ^However, his death at Ahmadnagar,
0100J57 on March 3, 1707, gave the signal to his sons to_ march
0110J57 to_ capture the capital, Agra, with the accumulated treasure of generations
0120J57 and assume sovereignty; for, as one of them contended, two
0130J57 kings could not have ruled in one kingdom. ^The issue was decided at
0140J57 Jajau on June 18, 1707. ^Of this battle, besides the Persian accounts,
0150J57 there exists a contemporary account in Hindi verse, which the present
0160J57 paper intends to_ study. $^The work in question is the *3Satya
0170J57 Sarup Rupak*0, composed by the poet Vrindra. ^It comprises 362
0180J57 verses and deals with the participation in this battle of Raja Raj
0190J57 Singh Rathore of Kishangarh on the side of Prince Muazzam, a
0200J57 fact which has not been recounted by the Persian historians. ^The most
0210J57 probable reason for this may be discerned from the fact that Raj
0220J57 Singh was assigned the duty of standing in the reserve assisting
0230J57 any of the hard pressed sections of Muazzam*'s army. ^Yet this may
0240J57 well raise the question of the authenticity and veracity of the work,
0250J57 which shall be examined presently. $^*Vrinda was a tutor of Raj Singh.
0260J57 ^But before joining the court of Kishangarh, he had been with
0270J57 Raja Jaswant Singh, the Mughal governor of Ajmer, and in the
0280J57 courts of Aurangzeb and Prince Azimushshan. ^These positions had
0290J57 come to him in recognition of his efficiency as a teacher, his ready
0300J57 wit and poetic qualities. ^So far as the battle of Jajau is concerned,
0310J57 he was an eye-witness, being present in the camp with his patron
0320J57 Prince Azimushshan. ^Moreover, his account is in conformity with
0330J57 contemporary Persian accounts. ^All this should account for the authenticity
0340J57 of the work and the poet*'s concern for truth and reality
0350J57 should establish its veracity. ^He may not be giving a connected account
0360J57 of the battle, yet he supplies some additional information about
0370J57 it. $^The poem opens as usual, with invocatory verses for Saraswati
0380J57 and Ganesh and proceeds to_ emphasise the virtue of devotion to
0390J57 God and loyalty to the master, thus forming a fitting introduction
0400J57 to Raj Singh*'s exertions in the battle for the success of Muazzam
0410J57 and Azimushshan. ^*Valour, courage and generosity of Raj Singh
0420J57 are then praised. ^The story begins with the delineation of Aurangzeb*'s
0430J57 anxiety, towards his end, to_ do something for abating the conflict
0440J57 among his sons, while he was in the Deccan, having conquered Bijapur,
0450J57 Golkonda and Sambhaji. ^For this he asked Azam to_ rule
0460J57 in the Deccan. ^*Azam, however, did not like it and out of pride gave
0470J57 no response. ^*Kambokhsh was made the chief of Bijapur and Bhagnagar,
0480J57 and he reached there soon. ^The emperor, then, ordered Azam
0490J57 to_ go to Ujjain. ^After Azam had marched to Ujjain, Aurangzeb
0500J57 died, in the fifty-first year of his reign, on *4Amavsya of *4Falgun,
0510J57 *4Samvat 1763 (March 3, 1707). ^*Asad Khan kept the news secret
0520J57 and recalled Azam Muazzam, on learning about the death of Aurangzeb,
0530J57 started from the north for capturing Delhi. $^At Ahmadnagar,
0540J57 Azam ascended the throne, captured the treasure of the emperor, issued
0550J57 commemorative coins, proclaimed his sovereignty in the Deccan and
0560J57 started for the north. ^The great noble and *4Wazir of Alamgir,
0570J57 Asad Khan, who was famous for his skill in fighting, and was very cautious
0580J57 and had carried out successfully many assignments from the emperor,
0590J57 joined him. ^His son, Nasrat Jang Zulfiqar Khan, *4mansabdar
0600J57 of 6000 who had many conquests, including that_ of Jinji, to his
0610J57 credit, and had never turned away from the field, came with him. ^Others
0620J57 who accompanied Azam included Dalpat Bundela. ^*Ram Singh
0630J57 Hada, Amanulla Khan, Sulaiman Khan, Sagaile Khan and his brother
0640J57 Munawwar Khan. ^Numerous Mughal Pathan and *4Deccani youth were
0650J57 recruited by Azam for the fierce battle. ^*Azam marched fearlessly
0660J57 boasting that he did not need the sword for Muazzam for he would
0670J57 be prostrated with a stroke of a staff, forgetting that God strikes
0680J57 down pride. $^Sons of the two princes started for Akbarabad. ^*Azimushshan
0690J57 from the east first reached Agra and occupied it, subduing
0700J57 its governor Mukhtiar Khan. ^He proclaimed the authority of Bahadur
0710J57 Shah and began preparations for war. ^Son of Azam started from
0720J57 Gujarat for occupying Agra, but on learning about Azim*'s authority
0730J57 there stayed at Ujjain. ^*Azim, when informed of the crossing
0740J57 of the Narmada by Azam, advanced and camped at Samugarh, and apprised
0750J57 Raj Singh of the difficult time of war. ^*Raj Singh submitted
0760J57 that he would attain empire defeating Azam, whose powerful army
0770J57 from the Deccan would be of no consequence. ^At this Azimushshan made
0780J57 a reference to the services rendered to the emperors by the predecessors
0790J57 of Raj Singh and told him that victory in the impending "*5Saltani
0800J57 Jang*6"-- the war of succession, was in his hands. ^In the
0810J57 meanwhile, Muazzam from the north and Azam from the south reached near
0820J57 Agra with their varied armies, composed of the Mughals, Pathans,
0830J57 Qipchaqs, Abyssinians, Rajputs, Bundelas and the *4Deccanis,
0840J57 with their "*4rahkalas" and guns, aspiring to_ attain the throne of Delhi
0850J57 and empire. $^*Muazzam sent a message to Azam proposing to_
0860J57 let him take Malwa in addition to the Deccan provinces and to_ give
0870J57 up war, victory in which was uncertain. ^*Azam conveyed his determination
0880J57 either to_ attain sovereignty through victory or to_ lie
0890J57 down in the coffin. ^Thus both prepared for the battle. $^The day the
0900J57 battle took place, Muazzam went out hunting, while Azimushshan advanced
0910J57 his forces. ^*Raj Singh mounted his horse and went to_ see
0920J57 the emperor. ^Seeing Shah Alam, he left his horse and bowed to him
0930J57 in the customary manner. ^*Shah Alam inquired from him about the
0940J57 attitude of the Alamgiri nobles accompanying Azam. ^*Raj Singh informed
0950J57 him that they wished to_ join Shah Alam. ^At this Shah Alam
0960J57 gave him a *4farman and asked him to_ approach Zulfiqar and Ram
0970J57 Singh so that they might be assured. ^After salutations, Raj Singh
0980J57 rode back to his army, where he received the message of Azimushshan.
0990J57 ^In the meanwhile, Azam*'s advancing forces engaged the advance
1000J57 force of Azimushshan, who entered into the battle, sending messages
1010J57 for reinforcements to Bahadur Shah. ^He summoned Raj Singh
1020J57 and ordered him to_ march for helping Azimushshan. ^*Raj Singh marched
1030J57 quickly and saluted Azimushshan within a short period of time.
1040J57 ^*Azimushshan greatly appreciated Raj Singh*'s exertion and asked him
1050J57 to_ stand in the reserve to_ give ready help to that_ section which
1060J57 being hard pressed needed reinforcement. ^*Raj Singh accepted the order
1070J57 and stood in readiness at the place where instructed. ^He helped
1080J57 Baz Khan against Zulfiqar Khan, who had to_ turn back owing to
1090J57 Raj Singh*'s attack. ^Then he fought against Ram Singh Hada and
1100J57 Dalpat Bundela, both of whom were killed in the battle. ^Then he fought
1110J57 fiercely with Amanulla Khan, who inflicted wounds on him, but
1120J57 was ultimately killed by the arrows shot by Raj Singh. ^Then he killed
1130J57 Hamiruddin Khan and then again engaged Zulfiqar Khan who,
1140J57 being beaten, took the road to Gwalior. ^*Shamsher Khan and Nizamuddin
1150J57 Khan surrendered and were allowed to_ go by Raj Singh. ^The
1160J57 other Umra of Azam, who fought Raj Singh, were either killed or
1170J57 followed the way of Zulfiqar. $^In the meantime, the day took a turn
1180J57 against Azam and the wind became contrary to him so that the arrows
1190J57 shot by his soldiers began to_ hit them back. ^However, a fierce
1200J57 engagement took place between Azimushshan and Munawwar Khan, who
1210J57 was, in the end, killed by Azim with the help of Raj Singh. ^In
1220J57 the end, Azam was killed with his son Bedar Bakht. ^*Bahadur Shah
1230J57 appreciated the valour of Raj Singh on the battle-field. ^On returning
1240J57 to the camp, he, again, commended the king, conferred on him
1250J57 the sword, *4naubat, elephant, ornaments, and status of king and the
1260J57 title of "Raja Bahadur". ^*Bahadur Shah gave the credit for victory
1270J57 to Azimushshan, who, in turn, gave it to Raj Singh. $^Thus
1280J57 Vrinda*'s account of the battle is neither complete nor connected and
1290J57 much of his account regarding actual fighting is traditional. ^But,
1300J57 in the main, it tallies with that_ of contemporary Persian histories.
1310J57 ^It, at the same time, supplements them with regard to the participation
1320J57 of Raj Singh Rathore of Kishangarh in the battle of Jajau,
1330J57 and gives a few further details like Bahadur Shah*'s attempt
1340J57 to_ win over some of the Amirs on Azam*'s side. $**<*3A NOTE ON
1350J57 THE DESCENDANTS OF RAJA BIRBAL*0**> $^*Raja Birbal was really one
1360J57 of the most intimate personal friends of Emperor Akbar, his closest
1370J57 courtier and constant companion. ^Born in 1528 in a village, Tikawapur
1380J57 in the Kalpi Sarkar, he lost his life in the Yusufzai campaign
1390J57 in 1586. $^While working on the biographical details of Birbal*'s
1400J57 life, I have come across important and interesting details about his
1410J57 descendants, which have now become almost obscure in history. $^We
1420J57 find mention of two of the sons of Raja Birbal Lala and Har Har
1430J57 Rai. ^*Abul Fazal, writing about the retirement into private life
1440J57 by the eldest (Lala), says, "He was the eldest son of Raja Birbal.
1450J57 ^From violent passions and self-will, he was extravagant and formed
1460J57 wile desires. ^Failure led him further astray." $^But we read in
1470J57 the *3Iqbal Nama*0 that he ostensibly left in order to_ retire
1480J57 from the world, but in reality, he went to Allahabad and entered the
1490J57 service of Prince Salim. ^He was a Commander of 200. ^He had been
1500J57 employed as a *4mansabdar in the forty-eight years of Akbar*'s reign.
1510J57 $^We find the name of another son of Birbal, mentioned in the Forty-Eighth
1520J57 year of Akbar*'s reign. ^*Abul Fazal writes "Har Har
1530J57 Rai, the son of Raja Birbal, brought the petition of prince Danial."
1540J57 $^Besides Lala and Har Har Rai, we find mention of two more
1550J57 of Birbal*'s sons, Kalyanmal and Dhirabal in contemporary literary
1560J57 sources. ^*Shesh Krishna, who flourished in the reign of Akbar,
1570J57 wrote a learned commentary on the famous Sanskrit, Grammar, *3Prakriya
1580J57 Kaumudi*0 of Ram Chandra. ^*Shesh Krishna*'s commentary
1590J57 contains 46 introductry Verses and in these he gives an account of
1600J57 how he undertook to_ write his commentary on Prakriya Kaumudi "it
1610J57 was", he wrote "undertaken to_ teach Kalyanmal, son of Birbal, son
1620J57 of Ganga Das, son of Rupadher \0etc." $^Another contemporary Hindi
1630J57 poet, Keshava Das, gives the name of another son of Birbal as
1640J57 Dhirabal in his famous historical epic work, *3Jahangir Yasha Chandrika*0.
1650J57 $^Thus Birbal can be said to_ have had four sons, \0viz,
1660J57 Lala, Har Har Rai, Kalyanmal and Dhirabal. ^It is true, that none
1670J57 of them could attain very high rank and position like their famous
1680J57 father. ^But the first two find mention in contemporary historical
1690J57 works and the remaining two were distinguished enough to_ attract
1700J57 the attention of poets and scholars. $^Besides the four sons, we get
1710J57 the mention of a distinguished daughter of Birbal in the contemporary
1720J57 Vaishnava literature, popularly knowns as *5Varta Sahitya*6.
1730J57 ^Both in the '*3Chaurasi Vaishnavan ki Varta Do Sau Bawan Vaishnavan
1740J57 ki Varta*0', we read about Birbal*'s daughter, who was closely
1750J57 attached to Gosain Vithalnathjee and frequented his place
1760J57 to_ hear his religious discourses. ^She is said to_ have been very
1770J57 wise and intensely devoted to the Vaishnava teacher. ^She used to_
1780J57 discuss religious problems with her father too, and once, it was on
1790J57 her advice, that Birbal arranged a meeting between the emperor and
1800J57 the Vaishnava saint. ^It was not only Birbal*'s daughter but Birbal
1810J57 himself, who was closely attached to this Vaishnava sect, and through
1820J57 his influence the Emperor also visited Swami Vaithalnath at
1830J57 Gokul.*#
        **[no. of words = 02006**]

        **[txt. j58**]
0010J58 **<*3INDIA AND THE 1954 GENEVA CONFERENCE*0**> $^The Geneva Conference
0020J58 marked the victory of nationalism over colonialism and imperialism.
0030J58 ^The agreement at Geneva demonstrated that lasting peace could be
0040J58 achieved only through negotiations and not through war. ^*India decided
0050J58 to_ play an active role in the wake of Chinese military assistance
0060J58 to the Vietminh and American determination to_ step up military
0070J58 aid to the French, threatening the escalation of a conflict in
0080J58 Asia. ^The Indo-China negotiations gave an opportunity to Nehru
0090J58 to_ experiment with the newly enunciated principles of peaceful co-existence.
0100J58 ^Though uninvited and sought to_ be excluded by the \0USA,
0110J58 India managed to_ influence the negotiations "from outside"
0120J58 and was eventually chosen as the Chairman of the International Supervisory
0130J58 Commission. ^Thus India*'s diplomacy at Geneva was a master
0140J58 stroke and forms a watershed in the evolution of India*'s foreign
0150J58 policy. $^The basic promises of India*'s foreign policy were--
0160J58 support to the anti-colonialist struggles, vehement opposition to racialism
0170J58 and the pursuit of peace by reducing international tensions.
0180J58 ^In a world divided into two aggressive power blocs, India decided
0190J58 to_ pursue the policy of non-alignment. ^As Nehru said: $^It has
0200J58 been our desire, both for ourselves as well as for the sake of the
0210J58 world because of the wider aspect of the problem to_ keep apart from
0220J58 this conflict. $^Realising that peace is the prerequisite for the progress
0230J58 and prosperity of the country and that peace is indivisible in
0240J58 this world, India made the pursuit of peace the corner stone of her
0250J58 foreign policy. ^To_ quote Nehru again "peace to us is not just a fervent
0260J58 hope; it is an emergent necessity." $^*India*'s interest in the
0270J58 struggle of Asian nations for freedom can be traced to the mid-twenties
0280J58 of this century. ^The Indian nationalists, more especially
0290J58 Nehru and Gandhi, believed that the struggle for India*'s freedom
0300J58 was part and parcel of the wider struggles of the Asiatic peoples for
0310J58 freedom from colonialism. ^*India, thus, repeatedly expressed her
0320J58 solidarity with Vietnamese nationalists struggling for their independence.
0330J58 ^At the Brussels congress held in 1927 Nehru met Vietnamese
0340J58 nationalist, Duong Van Gieu, who later attended the Indian National
0350J58 Congress session at Calcutta in 1928. ^*Indian leaders welcomed
0360J58 the establishment of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (\0DRVN)
0370J58 in 1945. ^*Nehru condemned British military action of using Indian
0380J58 troops for re-imposing colonial rule in Indo-China after the
0390J58 Second World War. $^It is interesting to_ note some changes in
0400J58 India*'s Indo-China policy. ^After assuming office in the Interim
0410J58 Government in 1946, neither the repeated appeals of the Vietminh
0420J58 leaders at the Asian Relations Conference of March-April, 1947
0430J58 nor the vociferous support extended by Indian nationalist leaders
0440J58 like Sarat Chandra Bose and Acharya Kripalani could persuade Nehru
0450J58 to_ give up the policy of non-involvement in Indo-China. ^He
0460J58 underscored India*'s policy towards Indo-China as one "of watching
0470J58 events there" and "not jumping into the fray". ^In sharp contrast
0480J58 was India*'s policy towards Indonesia which was also struggling for
0490J58 Independence. ^Unlike in Indonesia, the situation in Vietnam was more
0500J58 complicated as two Governments, one led by Ho Chi Minh and the
0510J58 other led by Bao Dai, were claiming to_ be the spokesmen of Vietnamese
0520J58 nationalism. ^Under such circumstances, intervention would
0530J58 lead to supporting one group or the other which would not be in conformity
0540J58 with India*'s policy of non-alignment. $^*India began to_ take
0550J58 an active interest in the developments in Indo-China from early
0560J58 1954. ^There were indications of direct \0U.S. intervention in Indo-China
0570J58 and the internationalisation of war in the closing months
0580J58 of 1953 and early 1954. ^This was a serious matter for India, as
0590J58 peace in an area so close to her, was running dog," "a stooge of Anglo-American
0600J58 bloc" and "the Chiang Kai-Shek of India", and Nehru*'s
0601J58 policy of neutrality as a camouflage." ^But India*'s successful
0610J58 mediation in the Korean dispute further confirmed the view of
0620J58 both Soviet Union and China that non-aligned countries had a positive
0630J58 role to_ play in world affairs. ^Friendly relations between India
0640J58 and China reached a high water mark with the signing of the Pancha
0650J58 Shila Agreement in April 1954. ^*Russia, under the leadership
0660J58 of Malenkov, shed off some of her aggresive postures and pursued
0670J58 a policy of peraceful co-existence and adopted new policies towards
0680J58 India, Burma, Indonesia and other countries. ^The longing for peace
0690J58 was not confined to the communists. ^It was noticed also in the
0700J58 west. ^If France considered an honourable settlement of the Indo-China
0710J58 issue the minimum requisite to_ satisfy the French public,
0720J58 so did Britain fear of being dragged into the Indo-China
0730J58 war, and for promoting trade with the communist world. ^But the \0U.S.
0740J58 wanted the war to_ continue with the ultimate objective of
0750J58 nipping communism in southeast Asia in the bud. $^The general
0760J58 desire for peace manifested itself in the Berlin conference, (January
0770J58 25 to February 18, 1954). ^Attended by the "Big Four", it decided
0780J58 to_ call the Geneva conference to_ resolve Indo-China (also
0790J58 Korean) issue. ^*Nehru welcomed the Berlin declaration as an attempt
0800J58 to_ solve international problems through negotiations rather
0810J58 than by military means. $^*Nehru felt that the time was ripe for
0820J58 India*'s "involvement in some way" and suggested "some kind of cease-fire"
0830J58 as a first step. $^The \0U.S. attitude to the Indo-Chinese
0840J58 dispute at this time was an obstacle to India*'s diplomatic initiatives.
0850J58 ^*John Foster Dulles, the \0U.S. Secretary of State proclaimed
0860J58 the doctrine of massive and instant retaliation on January
0870J58 12, 1954. ^Shortly afterwards he warned the Chinese that communist
0880J58 intervention would have "grave consequences which might not be confined
0890J58 to Indo-China." ^Again on March 29, Dulles said that the
0900J58 imposition of the communist political system on Southeast Asia "should
0910J58 not be passively accepted but shall be met by United action."
0920J58 ^To_ render the situation more difficult, military aid was stepped
0930J58 up by the \0USA to the French and China to the \0DRVN. ^There
0940J58 were reports in the western press that the \0USA was contemplating
0950J58 the use of hydrogen bomb in case China participated directly
0960J58 in the Indo-China war. ^*Nehru immediately reacted to these developments
0970J58 and said: $the Government of India deeply regret and are much
0980J58 concerned, that a conference of such momentous character, obviously
0990J58 called together because negotiation was considered both feasible
1000J58 and necessary, should be preceded by a proclamation of what amounts
1010J58 to lack of faith in it and of alternatives involving threats of Sanctions.
1020J58 $^*Nehru considered this an acid test for India*'s foreign
1030J58 policy and put forward the Six-point peace plan on April 24, 1954
1040J58 in the parliament "to_ help resolve some of the difficulties and
1050J58 the deadlocks" in the negotiations. ^The suggestions included the promotion
1060J58 of a climate of peace and negotiation" for the realisation
1070J58 of which he appealed to all concerned to_ discard threats top; priority
1080J58 for ceasefire in the Geneva deliberations; granting of independence
1090J58 to the Indo-China states by France; direct negotiations between
1100J58 the actual belligerents; bringing about a solemn agreement among
1110J58 the \0USA, the \0USSR, the \0UK and people*'s Republic of
1120J58 China "denying all direct and indirect" aid to the formulation of
1130J58 a convention by the \0U.N., and seeking \0U.N.*'s good offices
1140J58 for purposes of conciliation. $^There was generally a positive reaction
1150J58 to Nehru*'s peace move. ^The *3Economist wrote that the Churchill
1160J58 Government "was not opposed to Nehru*'s proposals and on the
1170J58 other hand appeared to_ agree with most of them." ^The \0U.S., as
1180J58 was to_ be expected, opposed India*'s move as "untenable and unacceptable."
1190J58 ^*Hoang Van Haan, member of Vietminh delegation to the
1200J58 Geneva Conference, on the other hand, welcomed Nehru*'s proposals.
1210J58 ^Encouraged by the favourable response, Nehru took further measures.
1220J58 ^A meeting was convened in Colombo where five Asian Prime Ministers,
1230J58 those from Burma, Ceylon, India, Indonesia and Pakistan,
1240J58 met on April 28, 1954. $^The Geneva Conference, which commenced
1250J58 on April 26, 1954 devoted the first few days to the Korean issue.
1260J58 ^As the situation in Indo-China was deteriorating day by day, the
1270J58 Conference (with the \0USA, \0U.K. \0U.S.S.R *FRANCE, \0*P.*R.*C.
1280J58 THREE *ASSOCIATED *STATES OF *INDO-*CHINA AND THE \0*2DRVN
1290J58 as members) took up the Indo-China issue the day after the fall of
1300J58 Dien Bien Phu to the Vietminh. $^*India was not invited. ^Even
1310J58 the fact that India*'s security was linked with that_ of Indo-China did
1320J58 not help her to_ participate in the crucial talks. ^*Menon Said:
1330J58 $^We were not taken into the conference because the Americans would
1340J58 not have us. ^Everbody would have welcomed us including Canada. ^The
1350J58 British would not take initiative. $^*Nehru was naturally piqued.
1360J58 ^He gave expression to his anger by highlighting the non-Asian character
1370J58 of the principal participants (with the exception of China) and
1380J58 the non-Asian venue of the conference. ^He resolved to_ involve India
1390J58 in the negotiations at Geneva in some form. ^*Nehru*'s choice
1400J58 for the crucial role to_ be played at Geneva fell on *(0V.K.*) Krishna
1410J58 Menon, who, as India*'s representative at the \0U.N. had an
1420J58 intimate knowledge of Asian problems. ^He had already associated
1430J58 himself with the Korean armistice talks, with the Colombo Conference
1440J58 and with the drafting of the six-point plan. ^In fact Britain desired
1450J58 India*'s participation in the talks behind the scenes. $^*Menon
1460J58 arrived in Geneva at a time when Geneva talks had deadlocked. ^He
1470J58 directed all his energy towards promoting an east-west understanding.
1480J58 ^This endeavour was facilitated by the private talks in hotel room
1490J58 and villas which outnumbered the talks at the conference table and
1500J58 which at times turned out to_ be even more important than the talks
1510J58 at the restricted sessions. ^*Menon turned this peculiar situation to
1520J58 advantage and "just stood on the doorstep and tried to_ be helpful."
1530J58 ^*Menon maintained close and cordial relations with the participants.
1540J58 ^*Chou-En-Lai, on whom all the eyes were concentrated at Geneva,
1550J58 was very kind to Menon. ^Of Britain and India, who played mediatory
1560J58 roles at Geneva, it was India that_ was fully taken into confidence
1570J58 by China and not Britain who was in the ultimate analysis a
1580J58 partner in the western alliance. ^*Menon held the Vietminh as the
1590J58 "real parties to_ negotiate with" and he "appeared to_ strike upon
1600J58 a good friendship with Pham Van Dong, leader of the Vietminh delegation
1610J58 at Geneva". ^In view of the hostile relations in the past,
1620J58 Chinese and the Vietminh were not so close as they appeared to_ be.
1630J58 ^Therefore the Vietminh took Menon, representative of truly neutral
1640J58 country, more into confidence. ^*Mendes-France, an opponent of
1650J58 "old-fashioned Colonialism" who got elected on June 18, 1954 as
1660J58 the Prime Minister of France as a sequal to the fall of Dien Bien
1670J58 Phu to the Vietminh on a promise "peace in one month or I quit",
1680J58 was so cordial to Menon that Menon advised Mendes-France to_
1690J58 fix a time limit for arriving at a peace settlement on the model of the
1700J58 Mountbatten plan for India. ^As the representative of India, "a
1710J58 a key member of the Commonwealth", Menon had no difficulty in
1720J58 influencing Britain. ^*Menon found Molatov,
1730J58 Russian Chief delegate, "easier to_ handle than even the Brritish.
1740J58 ^This was possible because of the changed attitude of Russia
1750J58 towards India. ^*Menon*'s diplomatic efforts were such that soon
1760J58 the whole complexion of the Conference changed and Mendes-France
1770J58 was so much impressed that he considered the Geneva Conference as
1780J58 the "ten-power conference-- the nine at the table and India." $^The
1790J58 *3Hindu wrote that it was mainly due to Menon*'s efforts that
1800J58 the communists accepted, at a time when they were militarily on top,
1810J58 an agreement which the French could consider honourable. ^A French
1820J58 spokesman told \0PTI that India*'s contribution was specially
1830J58 reflected in the personal activities of India*'s unofficial representative
1840J58 \0Mr. Menon, "who played the useful role of a connecting
1850J58 link among the various delegations." $^An analysis of the terms
1860J58 of the Geneva agreement would enable us to_ appreciate better India*'s
1870J58 services to the cause of world peace. ^The Conference not only
1880J58 agreed on the cease-fire but also took steps for its effective implementation
1890J58 by creating a machinery called the International Supervisory
1900J58 Commission (\0ISC). ^*Eden was the first to_ give serious
1910J58 thought to the question of guaranteeing the settlement that_ might
1920J58 be reached at Geneva. ^He wanted the supervisory body to_ be composed
1930J58 of Colombo powers and had ascertained their views even before the
1940J58 Conference took up the Indo-China issue.*#
        **[no. of words = 02023**]

        **[txt. j59**]
0010J59 ^Having thus, discussed the positions of Upendra and Vakpatiraja *=1
0020J59 in the genealogy of the Paramara rulers of Malwa, as referred to in
0030J59 the Udayapur Prasasti, we now proceed to_ consider the historicity
0040J59 of the other two rulers namely Vairisimha *=1 and Siyaka *=1, who
0050J59 come between Upendra and Vakpati *=1 in the same epigraphic record.
0060J59 ^The mere fact, that they stand between the two historical personages
0070J59 goes a long way to_ disprove the view that they are imaginary
0080J59 kings. ^It is true that their descriptions in the Udayapur Prasasti
0090J59 are conventional and devoid of any definite historical fact but we
0100J59 fail to_ understand how this evidence can help those, who emphasise
0110J59 their fictitious character. ^To my mind, the only natural and logical
0120J59 inference, that_ can be drawn is that they were unimportant rulers
0130J59 of the dynasty and that_ is why Padmagupta did not mention them
0140J59 expressly by names but summarily disposed them of by stating that between
0150J59 Upendra and Vakpati *=1 there came a number of rulers. $^We
0160J59 have stated earlier, that both the Navasahasanka-Carita and the Udayapur
0170J59 Prasasti testify to the fact that Upendra was the first king
0180J59 of the Paramara dynasty of Malwa. ^Giving an account of his Padmagupta
0190J59 says, "this sacrificer, (before whom Indra was afraid lest
0200J59 by performing hundred *4yajnas, Upendra should usurp Indra*'s throne),
0210J59 whose body was rendered holy by (many *4avabhrta) baths \0i.e.
0220J59 those taken at the end of sacrifices, decked the earth with golden
0230J59 Yupas." ^The Udayapur Prasasti describes him as, "Upendraraja,
0240J59 whose fame was proclaimed by the immortals, satisfied by the multitude
0250J59 of all sacrifices, who was a jewel among the twice-born and gained
0260J59 high honour of kingship (Knighthood, according to Buhler) by his
0270J59 own valour". ^An important fact, which can be gleaned from this evidence
0280J59 is that Upendra performed a number of sacrifices, as we find
0290J59 this information in two different records, which were written at different
0300J59 periods and by different writers. ^On coming to the throne,
0310J59 it appears, that Upendra, in order to_ stablize his position, realised
0320J59 the prime necessity and importance to_ canvass support, among
0330J59 the indigenous population of his realm, for an alien rule. ^He ensured
0340J59 the cooperation of the *4Brahmana hierarchy to the new monarchy
0350J59 by performing a 'multitude of sacrifices' and thus proved himself
0360J59 as the champion of that_ sacred institution. ^But as he was equally
0370J59 anxious to_ secure the cooperation of the masses, he reduced
0380J59 the burden of taxes borne by his subjects. ^He was a singular warrior
0390J59 and also a patron of the learned. ^It appears that he extended his
0400J59 patronage to one poetess Sita, who, as can be inferred from a verse
0410J59 of the Navasahasanka-Carita, composed a certain eulogy in honour
0420J59 of him. ^But the *3Prabandhas, namely the Prabandhacintamani
0430J59 and the Bhojaprabandha, both of which contain the same verses by her,
0440J59 refer to a poetess named Sita, who had the privilege of seeking
0450J59 the audience of king Bhoja. ^Out of these two, the evidence of Padmagupta
0460J59 deserves more credence than that_ of the Prabandhas and there
0470J59 is a possibility that the two ladies would have been identical.
0480J59 ^Following *(0D. C.*) Ganguly the period of reign, which we may provisionally
0490J59 allot to Upendra, would be from \0A.D. 809-810 to 837.
0500J59 $^Before we proceed further with an account of Vairisimha *=1, the
0510J59 immediate successor of Upendra we propose to_ discuss an event
0520J59 of resounding importance, which in years to_ come not only changed
0530J59 the political status and affinities of the Paramara kingdom of Malwa
0540J59 but also contributed much to_ draw a new political map of northern
0550J59 India. ^That_ event was the accession of Mihira Bhoja to the
0560J59 Pratihara throne of Kanauj in or shortly before \0A.D. 836 (=
0570J59 \0V.S. 893), which almost synchronised with the death of Upendra,
0580J59 the founder for the Paramara dynasty of Malwa. ^As we are primarily
0590J59 concerned with the history of Malwa, we will mainly devote our
0600J59 attention to that_ aspect of Mihira-Bhoja*'s reign. ^In the early
0610J59 part of his reign, Bhoja faced no threat or danger from the Rastrakutas,
0620J59 either of the Manyakheta or of the Gujarat. ^On the contrary,
0630J59 their distracted condition offered him a golden opportunity for
0640J59 the westward expansion of his empire. ^The Rastrakuta emperor Amoghavarsha
0650J59 had already too many irons in the fire and being preoccupied
0660J59 with problems or difficulties nearer home, he had no time to_ thwart
0670J59 the imperialistic designs of his Northern adversary. ^In fact,
0680J59 it was during a long period of thirty years from \0A.D. 830 to \0A.D.
0690J59 860 that he struggled hard to_ put down rebellions and other
0700J59 disruptive or disintegrating forces in different parts of his empire.
0710J59 ^His life and death struggle with the Eastern Calukyas, which
0720J59 commenced in \0A.D. 817, proved to_ be a protracted one and the
0730J59 Vengi ruler Vijayaditya *=2 suffered a crushing defeat at his hands
0740J59 in \0A.D. 830. ^But this reverse did not break the backbone of
0750J59 the East-Calukyan resistance, with the result that the victor,
0760J59 in order to_ maintain his authority over there, had to_ station an
0770J59 army of occupation at their capital for no less than about fifteen
0780J59 years to_ come. ^Even these drastic measures proved of no avail to_
0790J59 suppress an insurrection which had possibly touched hearts of the
0800J59 people, and shortly before \0A.D. 845, Panduranga, a general of
0810J59 the deposed ruler Vijayaditya *=2 liberated the city of Vengi from
0820J59 the Rastrakutas. ^Almost simultaneously, during the first two decades
0830J59 of his reign, Amoghavarsha conducted a continuous war against
0840J59 the Gangas, which eventually went almost in favour of the latter
0850J59 and in desperation the Rastrakuta emperor abandoned any further serious
0860J59 effort to_ bring back that_ province under his supremacy. ^The
0870J59 feud continued for a long time and it was only in 860 \0A.D., that
0880J59 it was terminated by a matrimonial alliance between the two houses.
0890J59 ^There is also evidence to_ show that with the death of Karkka
0900J59 in \0A.D. 830 the cordial relations between the Rastrakutas of Manyakheta
0910J59 and Gujarat came to an end and with the accession of his
0920J59 son and successor Dhruva *=1 to the throne of Gujarat, an era of
0930J59 hostility was inaugurated between him and his cousin Amoghvarsha,
0940J59 the Rastrakuta emperor. ^The struggle was both protracted and a bloody
0950J59 one, in which Dhruva *=1 ultimately perished and which lasted
0960J59 for about twenty five years. ^The supreme sacrifice of his father to
0970J59 his cause inspired Akalavarsha, who succeeded Dhruva *=1 in \0A.D.
0980J59 845 to_ carry on the tragic war to the end of his life and which
0990J59 only came to an end in \0A.D. 860, when he was succeeded by his son
1000J59 Dhruva *=2. ^The Rastrakutas of Gujarat, whose kingdom lay contiguous
1010J59 to that_ of the Paramaras of Malwa, had naturally, almost
1020J59 completely exhausted themseives in their long-drawn struggle with Amoghavarsha
1030J59 and were also not in a position to_ prevent Mihira-Bhoja
1040J59 from his conquest of Malwa and Saurastra. ^Moreover as their
1050J59 relations with their kinsmen at Manyakheta continued to_ be enemical,
1060J59 they possibly, now had no desire to_ fight for the integrity of
1070J59 the Rastrakuta empire and to_ bear the brunt of the attack of the
1080J59 Pratihara arms. ^In view of these circumstances, it can reasonably
1090J59 be presumed that sometime between \0A.D. 836 and \0A.D. 860 the
1100J59 kingdom of Malwa slipped out from the suzerainty of the Rastrakuta
1110J59 emperor Amoghavarsha and accepted the Paramountcy of the Pratihara
1120J59 ruler of Kanauj, Mihira Bhoja. ^*Amghavarsha remained a silent
1130J59 spectator to the dissolution of the northern provinces of his empire,
1140J59 as none of his records suggests that he undertook any campaign
1150J59 in the north. ^It was not only Malwa, which laid prostrate before
1160J59 the advancing armies of Bhoja but it is clear from the evidence of
1170J59 the Una Copper plates that Cutch and Kathiawar were also included
1180J59 within his empire. *(0^*H.C.*) Raychaudhari has tried to_ infer
1190J59 from a passage in the Vastrapathamahatmya of the Skandapurana that
1200J59 Bhoja*'s authority extended upto Saurastra, a piece of literary
1210J59 evidence, which is in conformity with facts known from the above epigraphic
1220J59 records. ^*Sulaiman, an arab, whose account of India was
1230J59 composed in \0A.D. 851 describes Bhoja*'s empire as 'a tongue of
1240J59 land,' an expression, which allows us to_ draw an inference as to the
1250J59 inclusion of Saurastra within his realm. ^It appears, that Mihira
1260J59 Bhoja, following the traditions of a 'Dharmavijaya' allowed the
1270J59 Paramara rulers of Malwa to_ rule the country as his feudatories,
1280J59 as there is not the slightest evidence to_ suggest any other conclusion
1290J59 to the contrary. ^If there had been any break in their continuous
1300J59 rule, as a result of the Pratihara conquest of Malwa, it would
1310J59 not have been possible to_ get a complete genealogy of the Paramara
1320J59 rulers in the Udayapur Prasasti. ^The political significance
1330J59 of the extension of the Gurjara-Pratihara empire in the west, may
1340J59 be understood in this light that it not only immensely increased the
1341J59 power of Bhoja *=1, but also contributed much to_ disturb the
1350J59 balance of power in the North after the death of the Pala emperor
1360J59 Devapala in \0A.D. 850. ^The tripartite struggle for power ended,
1370J59 giving place to a direct dual contest, between the Gurjara-Pratihara
1380J59 and the Rastrakuta empires, which ultimately paved the way for
1390J59 the destruction of the both. **[sic**] $*(0^*D. C.*) Ganguly does not
1400J59 ascribe to our view and holds that in no case Malwa was annexed to the
1410J59 kingdom of Kanauj before \0A.D. 914. ^The Sirur inscription refers
1420J59 to the kings of Anga, Vanga, Magadha, Malava and Vengi, who
1430J59 worshipped Amoghavarsha. ^As far the reference to Vengi is concerned,
1440J59 it is easily intelligible. ^The first three countries in the list,
1450J59 which lay farther east in the direction of Bengal, were included
1460J59 in the Pala empire and as such the above assertion may be treated
1470J59 merely as a poetic hyperbole. ^It is true that Malava was a bone
1480J59 of contention between the Rastrakutas and the Pratiharas, but its
1490J59 reference too in this epigraphic record is surpising and may not be
1500J59 relied upon, if we compare the rising power of Mihira Bhoja on one
1510J59 hand with the declining fortunes of Amoghavarsha on the other. ^It
1520J59 further appears that Bhoja consolidated his conquests of western
1530J59 India by \0A.D. 860, which alone could enable him to_ interfere
1540J59 into a war for the throne of Gujarat between Dhruva *=2 and his younger
1550J59 brother sometime before 867 \0A.D. ^It is on the basis of the
1560J59 evidence of verses 37 and 38 of the Broach inscription of Dhruva
1570J59 *=2 that Dasharatha Sharma has drawn the inference of a war of
1580J59 succession in which Bhoja interfered on behalf of the younger brother
1590J59 of Dhruva *=2 and led a cavalry raid into Gujarat. ^It may be
1600J59 pointed out that Bhoja*'s interference into the Gujarat affairs was
1610J59 entirely due to political motives and his subtle diplomatic move to_
1620J59 bring that_ kingdom under his supremacy is understandable in view
1630J59 of the brilliant success, which his policy of aggrandisement had
1640J59 already achieved in Malwa and Saurastra. ^On this occasion Amoghavarsa
1650J59 perhaps came to the rescue of his clansmen against the Northern
1660J59 invader. ^This piece of information is an important one as it helps
1670J59 us to_ determine the approximate period of this conflict. ^The
1680J59 cordial relations between the two houses of the Rastrakutas of Manyakheta
1690J59 and Gujarat were only restored back in \0A.D. 860, with
1700J59 e accession of Dhruva *=2 to the throne of the latter, and as such
1710J59 Amoghavarsha*'s help would have come only after that_ date. ^We are,
1720J59 therefore, inclined to_ suggest that_ Bhoja invaded Gujarat
1730J59 sometime between \0A.D. 860 and \0A.D. 867 and not between \0A.D.
1740J59 845 and 860 as believed by *(0R. C.*) Majumdar. ^The event
1750J59 is mentioned for the first time in the Bagumra grant dated \0A.D.
1760J59 867 and the relevant verses have been quoted by scholars, as referring
1770J59 to dhruva *=2. ^It is evident from this grant that Bhoja, whom
1780J59 it refers to by his *4biruda 'Mihira' suffered a defeat at the hands
1790J59 of Dhruva *=2. ^It can not be denied that it was a splendid achievement
1800J59 of the Rastrakuta arms and the verse 41 of the inscription
1810J59 compares that_ achievement, to that_ of a cloud which overcasts
1820J59 the sky and darkens the midday sun.*#
        **[no. of words = 02016**]

        **[txt. j60**]
0010J60 **<IMAGERY IN ELIOT*'S EARLY POETRY**> *=1 $^INTUITION IS the
0020J60 key to all artistic creations. ^By an act of intuition the artist is
0030J60 required to_ place himself within his subject to_ unravel the mystery
0040J60 of the unique and the inexpressible or what can be better described
0050J60 as the very intention of life itself. ^*Bergson contends that
0060J60 human language is incapable of expressing this intuition. ^For this,
0070J60 however, the poet can very well rely upon the suggestive power of
0080J60 his images and compelling power of rhythm. $^He is unable to_ communicate
0090J60 his experience directly, since the knowledge attained through
0100J60 intuition is hardly precise and does not properly lend itself to
0110J60 intelligence. ^Only by an association of certain selected images out
0120J60 of a landscape the poet is able to_ suggest or evoke the emotional
0130J60 state he himself experiences. ^Indeed the problem of communication
0140J60 is the greatest hurdle to any artistic process. ^*Bergson has tried
0150J60 to_ solve this problem in terms of imagery or analogy. ^Though he
0160J60 does not believe that images can express reality fully or largely, though
0170J60 he does not admit that the image is any substitute for intuition,
0180J60 he is convinced that images can approximate language to reality or
0190J60 provide the only means to it. ^In 'An Introduction to Metaphysics'
0200J60 Bergson says: "No image can replace the intuition of duration,
0210J60 but many diverse images, borrowed from very different orders of things,
0220J60 may, by the convergence of their action, direct consciousness to
0230J60 the precise point where there is a certain intuition to_ be seized."
0240J60 $*(0^*T. E.*) Hulme emphasizes the importance of the purely physical
0250J60 aspects of the image and the desired effect upon the reader*'s
0260J60 feelings. ^Though his arguments are in favour of sensuous verse, his
0270J60 theory holds no brief for poetry that_ is commonly understood as
0280J60 sensuous. ^He is more inclined to_ treat poetry as a visual and concrete
0290J60 language than as 'counter words'. ^He believes that the 'imaging
0300J60 process' is inherent in any good writing and visual signification
0310J60 must precede its execution. ^To him imagery is the only plausible
0320J60 language of poetry, since the poet is called upon to_ express the
0330J60 individuality and freshness of things. ^In his famous essay Bergson*'s
0340J60 theory of Art he says: "Ordinary language communicates nothing
0350J60 of the individuality and freshness of things. ^As far as that_ quality
0360J60 goes we live separated from each other. ^The excitement of art
0370J60 comes from this rare and unique communication. ^Creation of imagery
0380J60 is needed to_ force language to_ convey over this freshness of impression."
0390J60 $^The image, visualised as the representation of a physical
0400J60 object, creates in the reader an emotion which he feels as his own
0410J60 with pleasure. ^In fact Hulme wants to_ create through poetry a
0420J60 new world of reality, set apart from the humdrum life and its reasonable
0430J60 attitudes of existence. ^So he feels constrained to_ say that
0440J60 poetry "must have analogies, which make another-world-through-the-glass
0450J60 effect, which is what I want." $^Both Bergson and Hulme, in their
0460J60 eagerness to_ solve the problem of communication through imagery
0470J60 have left the issue of internality and externality of images out
0480J60 of their theories. ^In 1915, Ezra Pound, the leader of the Imagist
0490J60 movement in poetry, while arguing that emotion or energy, the material
0500J60 of all art, has quite often to_ present itself to the mind in
0510J60 the form of an image, considered for the first time the two-fold aspects
0520J60 of imagery-- the subjective and the objective. ^Shaped by the mind,
0530J60 an image may either develop into something that_ has no equivalent
0540J60 in the physical world and thus be entirely subjective, or it may
0550J60 be clearly recognizable as an external object stripped of everything
0560J60 but its dramatic or dominant qualities. $^*Pound defines image as
0570J60 'an intellectual and emotional complex in an instant of time.' ^This
0580J60 theory serves to_ indicate a sense of sudden liberation which the
0590J60 nature of the modern man*'s experience affects in poetry. ^The fast
0600J60 moving life in this era offers a series of disparate experiences,
0610J60 that_ can be only emotionally reconstructed and intellectually patterned
0620J60 into a scheme of imagery. ^Quite often this pattern of imagery
0630J60 incorporates much that_ is symbolic, since concrete and external
0640J60 images fall short of the requirement of proper communication. ^In a
0650J60 sense, the 'Imagistic' principle of poetry betrays a short-sightedness,
0660J60 as it stresses too much the physical aspect of poetic experience
0670J60 and leaves out all that_ is introspective and metaphysical. ^Though
0680J60 Eliot has a great deal in common with the Imagists, his poetry
0690J60 takes stock of the internality and externality of the 'imaging process'
0700J60 and presents an almost comprehensive vision of reality. ^While
0710J60 communicating the meaning to the reader, he sets the tone of a poem
0720J60 through a succession of images, carefully selected and arranged into
0730J60 a pattern that_ assumes a symbolic range. ^Unlike much of Imagist
0740J60 poetry, his poems are evocative rather than descriptive. $^In the
0750J60 absence of a common bond of faith and centrality of human experience,
0760J60 life is bound to_ grow complex, and hence difficult for artistic
0770J60 communication. ^Perhaps, in no time in history did poets ever feel
0780J60 so insecure in their grasp of artistic material, more so in their
0790J60 attempts at direct communication. ^Intuition, the *8sine qua non*9
0800J60 of all artistic creations, is more than ever importunately pressed
0810J60 upon him today to_ serve as his only refuge in a world of conflicting
0820J60 experiences. ^*Bergson*'s attempts at resolving the problem of
0830J60 communication through images has only partially helped the poet to_
0840J60 be convincing to the reader. ^To_ communicate his meaning, the modern
0850J60 poet has either to_ create his personal myth and rely solely on
0860J60 symbols, or evolve a pattern of images which would evoke the requisite
0870J60 emotion in the people. ^*Eliot has chosen the golden mean, and
0880J60 his poetry is a perfect combination of images that_ are also sufficiently
0890J60 symbolic. ^To_ be more precise, there is a marked tendency
0900J60 in his poetry to_ drift towards an imaginative awareness of the vague
0910J60 and shadowy life that_ lies beyond the external reality. ^In the
0920J60 earlier phase, his poetry almost adheres to Imagist aesthetics
0930J60 and makes use of the precise and concrete images that_ concur with the
0940J60 objective world. ^*Eliot*'s poetry gradually incorporates various
0950J60 symbols chosen from diverse fields of knowledge, and in the latter
0960J60 phase his metaphors become more subjective than objective, more symmbolic
0970J60 than descriptive. $^As Eliot*'s imagination is essentially dramatic,
0980J60 he believes in the objectification of the emotional contents
0990J60 of the multiplicity of experiences. ^Since the present generation has
1000J60 very little to_ share on the emotional plane directly, the poet
1010J60 must find the proper equivalents for poetic feelings. ^This idea owes
1020J60 its origin to Pound, who defines poetry as a "sort of inspired
1030J60 mathematics which gives us equations, not for abstract figures, triangles,
1040J60 spheres, and the like, but for the human emotions." ^*Eliot
1050J60 holds emotions as the only personal element in the poetic process.
1060J60 ^He, however, thinks that the artistic success or greatness of a poet
1070J60 very much depends on how he communicates these emotions 'impersonally'
1080J60 through equations-- a method he himself characterizes as 'objective
1090J60 correlative.' ^In presenting the equivalents for diverse emotions
1100J60 the artist has to_ undergo a process of 'continual self-sacrifice'
1110J60 or depersonalization. ^Almost like a dramatist the poet has to_
1120J60 choose a pattern of events, situations or objects which by their very
1130J60 association evoke the requisite emotions. ^In his essay, '*3Hamlet
1140J60 and His Problems', Eliot says, "The only way of expressing
1150J60 emotion in the form of art is by finding an 'objective correlative',
1160J60 in other words, a set of objects, a situation, a chain of events
1170J60 which shall be the formula for that_ particular emotion; so that when
1180J60 the external facts, which must terminate in sensory experience,
1190J60 are given, the emotion is immediately evoked." $^Though the idea of
1200J60 the 'objective correlative' equates the poetic process to a geometrical
1210J60 pattern, there is much left to poetic intelligence to_ improve
1220J60 upon it. ^In his essay, *3Shakespeare and the Stoicism of Seneca,
1230J60 Eliot admits the importance of intellectual power in shaping a
1240J60 work of art: "To express precise emotion requires as great intellectual
1250J60 power as to_ express precise thought." $^The 'objective correlative'
1260J60 of most of Eliot*'s poems is nothing short of a structure of
1270J60 images that_ indicates a fullness of the expression and
1280J60 comprehension of poetic feelings. ^Hence imagery in his poetry is
1290J60 no mere assortment of the intellectual and emotional complex that_
1300J60 serves as poetic decoration; it is an integral part of the total
1310J60 process. $*<*=2*> $^In *3Prufrock poems Eliot offers the most ironical
1320J60 sketches of urban life. ^Here we come across men and women mostly
1330J60 distracted by their overbearing passion for love and companionship,
1340J60 irritably disposed to_ find an opening for their inhibited selves.
1350J60 ^The claims of sophistication are inordinately pressing, and hold
1360J60 out little prospects for adjustment of the inner and outer compulsion.
1370J60 ^Hence the greatest dilemma for all these people is the difficulty
1380J60 of self-expression in the hopeless void created by their own
1390J60 conflicting desires. ^A sense of incapacity, boredom and loneliness
1400J60 overcomes their enthusiasm and vitiates their purpose. ^Hence the images
1410J60 mostly chosen for these poems are drawn from dreary evening scenes,
1420J60 vacant rooms, animal existence and wayside restaurants. ^Indeed,
1430J60 right through the scheme of these images, variously applied in the
1440J60 poems, an underlying note of irony is ever present. ^There is
1450J60 much that_ is Laforguian in the sharpness of irony that_
1460J60 outlines these images. ^The ruling principle of imagery in most
1470J60 of these poems is the contrast between the monotony of present life,
1480J60 its vacancy and indecision and the instinctive simplicity of primordial
1490J60 existence. ^Indeed, Eliot*'s idea of tradition which involves
1500J60 not only the pastness of the past but also its presence strikingly
1510J60 asserts itself in the pattern of images that_ sets the tone of *3Prufrock
1520J60 poems. $^Except for a few details, a number of these poems
1530J60 are, apparently imagist in their designs. ^The concreteness of outlines,
1540J60 freshness of novelty, that_ characterise the imagist verse are
1550J60 clearly present in most of the images. \0^*Mr. Stanley Coffman says:
1560J60 "The 'Preludes' especially are reminiscent of one aspect of Imagism:
1570J60 they treat their subjects directly by depending upon the image
1580J60 to_ communicate meaning to the reader who sees, feels, or even
1590J60 smells for himself." ^But \0Mr. Coffman admits the difficulty of identifying
1600J60 Eliot*'s poems with those of the Imagist School. ^Though
1610J60 'Preludes' and some other poems of the groups are descriptive,
1620J60 they contain a selection of images so careful and representative that
1630J60 they become analytical, almost symbolic. ^*Eliot took poetry more
1640J60 seriously as a mission than did Hulme, and hence \0Mr. Coffman contends
1650J60 that "even this verse cannot be too closely associated with
1660J60 Imagism or an Imagist aesthetic." $^In *3Preludes is exhibited
1670J60 the novel method of stringing together a number of disparate images
1680J60 which unfold like a film and produce upon the spectator the impact
1690J60 of a sequence of emotions. ^In this connection we are reminded of
1700J60 Eliot*'s essay on Dante where he refers to the great poet*'s 'visual
1710J60 imagination.' ^The ideas that_ take shape in the poet*'s mind have
1720J60 been properly visualized here as concrete and sensuous experiences.
1730J60 ^*Eliot*'s imagination adopts the primitive mode of thinking in
1740J60 terms of images. ^*Elizabeth Drew characterizes it as "that_ method
1750J60 of perceiving inner realities through their reflection in concrete
1760J60 images, and all the discipline which has to_ accompany its translation
1770J60 into language, was what Eliot was in particular 'battling to_
1780J60 recapture' in the practice of poetry." (*(0^*T. S.*) Eliot--
1790J60 *3The Design of his Poetry.) $^The different parts of *3Preludes
1800J60 present in close succession a sense of waste and boredom and
1810J60 a glimpse of horror, corruption and tragic yearning, for adjustment.
1820J60 ^The imagery in Part *=1 symbolically suggests a peculiar sense
1830J60 of waste through constant reference to such objects as have no immediate
1840J60 value in life. ^The striking imagery that_ comes almost at
1850J60 the beginning, "The burnt-out ends of smoky days", quite successfully
1860J60 translates an abstract idea into a quite decidedly mundane and
1870J60 commonplace experience. $^In the second part of *3Preludes images
1880J60 mostly culled from the pub-life in the city evoke a feeling of boredom.
1890J60 ^There is, however, an image that_ is richly suggestive of a sense
1900J60 of horror and disgust.*#
        **[no. of words = 02011**]

        **[txt. j61**]
0010J61 **<*3THE DOMESTIC DRAMA*0**> $^The agonising curse of the poor helpless
0020J61 sailor is the last straw. ^His boundless avarice could be an adequate
0030J61 poetic justification for his wretched death. ^All the sinners
0040J61 are punished and the author in his epilogue particularly draws our attention
0050J61 to the fact that: **[verses**] $^*Porter*'s *3The Two Angry
0060J61 Women of Abingdon*0, which may be called the first domestic comedy
0070J61 , deals with the efforts of Master Barnes and Master Goursey to_
0080J61 re-establish the 'neighbour amitie' and the broken friendship between
0090J61 their two families. ^The men are endowed with patience and good sense
0100J61 but their wives are cantankerous women governed by petty jealousies.
0110J61 ^The old happy relationship is restored by the marriage of Mall,
0120J61 the daughter of Barnes, with Frank Goursey. $^*Porter, 'the most
0130J61 truly English of all dramatists', took the village of Abingdon near
0140J61 Oxford as the setting of his play. ^The play is a faithful transcript
0150J61 of English rural life. ^The fun of the play has at once a Chaucerian
0160J61 shrewdness and something of the careless guffaw. ^Its realism
0170J61 throws back to *3Mak*0 and *3Johan, Tom Tylor*0 and *3Gammer
0180J61 Gurton*0. ^As a comedy of unadulterated native flavour, breathing rural
0190J61 life and manners and the modern spirit, constructed with knowledge
0200J61 of the stage and without affection or constraint, it has no foregoing
0210J61 analogue except perhaps *3The Pinner of Wakefield*0. ^No play
0220J61 preceding or contemporary yields an easier conversational prose, not
0230J61 even the *3Merry Wives*0. $^*Haughton*'s *3Englishmen for my Money*0
0240J61 is a comedy of London middle-class life very much resembling Porter*'s
0250J61 play in its style and technique. ^*Pisaro, a city merchant
0260J61 and usurer, wants to_ wed his three daughters to three rich foreigners,
0270J61 Delian, a Frenchman, Aluro, an Italian and Vandalle, a Dutchman.
0280J61 ^His daughters, already in love with three Englishmen who mortgaged
0290J61 their properties to Pisaro, join hands with their lovers in outwitting
0300J61 their father and the three foreigners, and get married to their
0310J61 native lovers. $^Certainly these plays mark the beginnings of the
0320J61 Domestic drama. ^But the presentation of the middle-class life and
0330J61 customs betray the authors*' lack of the complete mastery of the material.
0340J61 ^At best these plays may be said to_ be successful attempts.
0350J61 ^It is only in the domestic plays of Dekker and Heywood that we find
0360J61 a deeper and more acute understanding of the middle-class life, its
0370J61 *3milieu*0 and *3ethos*0 and a genuine attempt at "the expression of
0380J61 social problems and the portrayal of real characters". $^*Dekker*'s
0390J61 *3The Shoemakers*' Holiday*0 combines three important themes of the
0400J61 middle-class life: the material and social advancement of Eyre, the
0410J61 'unequal' marriage of Rose and Lacy and the separation and reunion
0420J61 of Jane and Rafe. ^All the three aspects, based on Deloney*'s *3The
0430J61 Gentle Craft*0, are closely connected with the house of Simon
0440J61 Eyre. ^The rise of Eyre from a shoemaker to the Lord Mayor is
0450J61 a dramatic presentation of a dream cherished by many a hardworking and
0460J61 ambitious apprentice, and such cases were quite common. ^*Eyre achieves
0470J61 nothing traditionally impossible for a man of his birth and nature.
0480J61 ^He owes his position, prosperity and power to his men and craft.
0490J61 ^Despite the occasional reproofs he gives to his men, he never ignores
0500J61 their advice and always readily considers their claims. ^He knows
0510J61 his mind and moves with uninhibited freedom and talks with his natural
0520J61 spirit of lighthearted gaiety. ^He is free with his sovereign but
0530J61 he never violates the traditional social hierarchy. ^He is careful enough
0540J61 not to_ allow his familiarity to_ exceed the limits of decency
0550J61 and social etiquette and his freedom does not blind him to his duties
0560J61 of loyalty and obedience: $...everie haire I assure thy maiestie that
0570J61 stickes in this beard, *3Sim Eyre*0 values at the king of Babilons
0580J61 ransome, *3Tamar Chams*0 beard was a rubbing brush toot: yet he
0590J61 shave it off, and stuffe tennis balls with it to_ please my bully king.
0600J61 $^The inter-class marriage of Rose and Lacy meets with the expected
0610J61 disapproval from all quarters. ^All the others in both the families
0620J61 try their level best to_ 'prevent' it. ^Even the king who pardons
0630J61 the lovers does not do so as an advocate of the best democratic
0640J61 social ideas, but as a champion of the laws of love and the sanctity
0650J61 of marriage. ^*Dekker approves the inter-class marriage based on love
0660J61 and understanding; for he says, 'where there is much love, all discord
0670J61 ends'. $^The separation of Jane and Rafe on account of wars
0680J61 of France gives an opportunity for Dekker to_ introduce the domestic
0690J61 virtues of conjugal chastity, obedience, patience and constancy. ^The
0700J61 picture of Jane working and managing her shop is an example of
0710J61 an ideal citizen wife for emulation, which recurs in the domestic plays.
0720J61 ^*Jane*'s reply to the pestering Hammond reminds us of the traditional
0730J61 constancy of citizen heroines like Greene*'s Beltris and
0740J61 Heywood*'s Bess. ^All these three strains are closely fused together
0750J61 and the play as a whole gives a true and accurate picture of the everyday
0760J61 life of London middle-class and this happy comedy is also a
0770J61 perfect domestic play, the best of its class. $^The constancy of Grissil
0780J61 had been a stock domestic theme from the beginning of the English
0790J61 drama, not to_ mention its popularity in other forms of literature.
0800J61 ^In *3Patient Grissil*0 Dekker and his collaborators, Chettle
0810J61 and Haughton, have not even attempted to_ reproduce the deep note
0820J61 of pathos of Chaucer; but in freshness and straightforwardness,
0830J61 in frankness and simplicity of treatment, the dramatic version is not
0840J61 generally unworthy to_ be compared with the narrative. $^The play
0850J61 is essentially English in its thought, sentiments and setting and
0860J61 there is nothing alien except the names of the characters and the places.
0870J61 ^The close-knit family of poor Janicola, the basket maker, assisted
0880J61 by his obedient children and the trusty servant, is a typical
0890J61 replica of an ideal family of a contemporary 'handicrafts man'. ^This
0900J61 self-sufficient family has a peculiar idyllic charm of its own. ^They
0910J61 lead an honest and contented life, singing and working, untainted
0920J61 by the cankerous thoughts of anxiety, jealousy or ambition. ^*Janicola
0930J61 consoles his frustrated son: **[verse**] $^The peace of the family
0940J61 is disturbed by Gwalter who marries Grissil incurring the displeasure
0950J61 of his courtiers and subjects. ^In order to_ silence them he puts
0960J61 her to extreme trials of patience and forbearance. ^The trials reach
0970J61 the climax when Grissil is separated from her young babes by force
0980J61 and is asked to_ make all the necessary preparations for her husband*'s
0990J61 second marriage. ^Obeying her husband*'s command she departs
1000J61 from her children, grief-stricken and tongue-tied. ^But the mother in
1010J61 her soon dominates; she enters stealthily and suckles her children.
1020J61 ^At her husband*'s order she decks his bride, puts the embroidered slippers
1030J61 on her feet and adorns her 'rival*'s' hand with her own wedding
1040J61 ring. ^She endures everything with a saint-like patience and her
1050J61 husband proudly reclaims her. $^The episode of Julia is presented as
1060J61 a contrast to Grissil*'s endurance of all the trials. ^*Julia*'s preference
1070J61 for monastic holiness appears more like a ruse to_ run away
1080J61 from the realities of married life than her wholehearted dedication
1090J61 for divine virginity. ^She takes an active part in the repartee with
1100J61 her three docile suitors-- too fawning for any woman to_ care for. ^None
1110J61 of them is as 'desperate an amarato' as Dekker*'s Orleans in *3Old
1120J61 Fortunatus*0 to_ win her. ^The entire episode looks like a parody
1130J61 of wooing. $^*Gwenthyan comes of a distinguished company of low
1140J61 comedy shrews starting with Noah*'s wife and culminating in Katherina
1150J61 in *3The Taming of the Shrew*0. Sir Owen*'s repeated attempts
1160J61 to_ tame her are doomed to perpetual failure. ^He is perplexed and
1170J61 unnerved for it would be "a shame eyther to_ run away from a woman
1180J61 or to_ strike her". ^The shrew herself, looking at the example of
1190J61 Grissil, volunteers to_ be obedient, and thus solves the puzzle.
1200J61 ^All the three situations have a relevance to the middle class life
1210J61 and the play was intended for an audience ready to_ believe Grissil*'s
1220J61 incredible patience. ^There is something mechanical about Grissil*'s
1230J61 patience and obedience, but this is something inherent in the theme
1240J61 itself. $*3^*The Honest Whore*0 as a whole can be called a four-fold
1250J61 domestic play concentrating on different types of private problems:
1260J61 the reciprocal love of Hippolito and Infelice thwarted by family
1270J61 feud, the varying fortunes of Bellafront in the hands of Hippolito
1280J61 and her gallant husband, the problem of Candido 'a patient man
1290J61 linkt with a waspish shrew' and the silent suffering of Orlando Friscobaldo,
1300J61 watching and protecting his daughter without her knowledge.
1310J61 $^For all purposes it would be better to_ take the two parts of *3The
1320J61 Honest Whore*0 together. ^Otherwise, the cycle of problems which
1330J61 each character faces and the experiences it undergoes will not be complete.
1340J61 ^*Hippolito, the idolatrous lover who reclaims Bellafront from
1350J61 her incorrigible ways of sin, turns in the second part, into an unfaithful
1360J61 husband and the arch tempter of the same woman whom he saved.
1370J61 ^His wife, whose problem was to_ overcome parental opposition, strives
1380J61 now to_ turn her husband*'s thoughts from adultery. ^*Bellafront,
1390J61 who succeeds in relinquishing her evil ways, has to_ withstand the
1400J61 rigours of poverty coupled with the luring temptations of luxurious
1410J61 life from Hippolito, 'a bait enough to_ choake a Nun'. ^*Candido*'s
1420J61 domestic troubles are renewed by a second marriage. ^It is in the
1430J61 second part of the play that the slow conversion of Orlando Friscobaldo,
1440J61 from a frustrated cynic to a loving father, is presented. ^Therefore,
1450J61 it is hardly possible to_ separate the two parts without doing
1460J61 much damage to the thematic unity of the play. $^The troubles of
1470J61 Bellafront before and after her conversion form the main part of
1480J61 the play. ^Her first seducer Matheo brings disappointed Hippolito
1490J61 to Bellafront to_ relieve his mind from the thoughts of his Infelice.
1500J61 ^Thus , for the first time, the courtesan *8par excellence*9 is brought
1510J61 face to face with a man who could scorn her and open her eyes
1520J61 to the horrifying sins and filth of her trade. ^The real feeling behind
1530J61 the 'offensively crowded speeches' between Hippolito and Bellafront
1540J61 is not mere derision and contempt against prostitution. ^It is Dekker*'s
1550J61 humane understanding of the problem, his compassionate realism
1560J61 and kindhearted concern to_ reform the fallen that_ gives the real
1570J61 strength for his speeches. ^*Bellafront had her moments of introspection,
1580J61 and she is not completely lost. ^There is some measure of inherent
1590J61 honesty in her. ^Therefore, her conversion after her encounter
1600J61 with Hippolito is quite expected and it need not puzzle us. $^*Dekker
1610J61 subjects Bellafront to a piece of persuasive oratory from Hippolito
1620J61 that_ turns her, as an audience would expect it to_, to repentance
1630J61 and reformation of life. $^*Dekker himself anticipated the common
1640J61 reaction to such a change and, perhaps, he meant these words as a kind
1650J61 of explanation: **[verse**] $^One of the reasons for his over-emphasis
1660J61 on the filth and horrors of whoredom may be to_ provide a strong
1670J61 ground for her conversion. $^The episode of Orlando Friscobaldo
1680J61 is another domestic incident of an affectionate father disillusioned
1690J61 by an indiscreet daughter on whom he cherished all his hopes. ^Being
1700J61 a 'respectable gentleman' he takes it to heart and acquires tinges
1710J61 of misanthropy. ^Again,it is Hippolito who rekindles the burnt wick
1720J61 of this aged father*'s hope. ^All his anger, accumulated shades of cynicism
1730J61 and misanthropy melt into silent tears when he listens to his
1740J61 daughter*'s spontaneous words of love at the mere mention of his
1750J61 name: **[verses**] $^He provokes her intentionally, perhaps, more to_
1760J61 derive a secret pleasure from her strong protests than to_ test her.
1770J61 ^The whole scene is an example of Dekker*'s superb constructive skill
1780J61 with which he telescopes a number of conflicting emotions and creates
1790J61 a domestic situation of unparalleled tenderness. ^He watches her
1800J61 in her poverty and heartrending miseries amidst constant temptations
1810J61 from Hippolito. ^After enduring everything with the resolution of a
1820J61 stoic, he throws off his disguise with an apparent harshness which
1830J61 gives way to an aside expressing his inner torture: **[verse**] $^The
1840J61 episode of Orlando is one of the happiest instances of the triumph
1850J61 of Dekker*'s art, his gifts of moral imagination and his subtle
1860J61 dramatic execution.*#
        **[no. of words = 02017**]

        **[txt. j62**]
0010J62 **[begin second marrgin**] $"^*I want ta look at her." ^The grain-fields
0020J62 golden in the morning, and the willow lines, the eucalyptus trees
0030J62 in rows. Pa sighed: "I never knowed there was anything like her."
0040J62 ^The peach trees and the walnut groves, and the dark green patches
0050J62 of oranges. ^And red roofs among the trees, and barns-- rich barns. ^*Al
0060J62 got out and stretched his legs. ^He called: "Ma-- come look. ^We*'3re
0070J62 there!" $^*Ruthie and Winfield scrambled down from the car, and
0080J62 then they stood, silent and awestruck, embarrassed before the great
0090J62 valley. ^The distance was thinned with haze, and the land grew softer
0100J62 and softer in the distance. ^A windmill flashed in the sun, and its
0110J62 turning blades were like a little heliograph, far away. Ruthie and Winfield
0120J62 looked at it and Ruthie whispered: "^It*'1s California."
0121J62 **[end second margin**] $^*Steinbeck
0130J62 confronts the Joads with a reality even harsher than that_ of
0140J62 being dusted off and tractored off: they are not welcome in this land
0150J62 of eternal fruitfulness. ^Yet these tribulations, which destroy the
0160J62 illusion of a promised land, liberate them, under the guidance of Jim
0170J62 Casy and Tom, from the shackles of a greater illusion, namely,
0180J62 that it is only what happens to their family that_ matters. ^Even at the
0190J62 moment of their first glorious sight of California, Ma Joad*'s
0200J62 statement is: "'^Thank God! ^The fambly*'1s here.'" ^And through this
0210J62 movement of the Joads towards a larger universe Steinbeck introduces
0220J62 modes of treating reality which correspond to the Oriental. $^The
0230J62 opposite of "reality" is "illusion" or "*4maya", but *4maya also means,
0240J62 in Hindu philosophy, energy. ^It is both the cause and the effect,
0250J62 the creative power and the cosmic flux. *4^Maya is the energy through
0260J62 which an artifact or appearance is produced. ^In Hindu myths and art,
0270J62 *4maya is symbolized by water since water is believed to_ be the
0280J62 source as well as the grave of all creation. ^To_ bathe in the waters
0290J62 of a river (the Christian counterpart is baptism) is to_ delve into
0300J62 the secret of *4maya. ^Water may symbolize death it may equally appropriately
0310J62 symbolize birth, and by extension meaning, spiritual birth.
0320J62 ^*Steinbeck significantly uses water as an ambiguous symbol in several
0330J62 of his novels: the old Chinaman who represents Vishnu and who symbolizes
0340J62 both death and birth (as I have pointed out in an earlier chapter)
0350J62 sleeps on the waters; it rains heavily at the moment of Joseph
0360J62 Wayne*'s death; but it is also the moment of self-realization. ^*Junius
0370J62 Maltby (*3The Pastures of Heaven*0) ruminates sitting on the
0380J62 branches of a sycamore tree with his feet dangling in water; and George
0390J62 (*3Of Mice and Men*0) shoots Lennie on the bank of a pool,
0400J62 an act which marks the end of all their dreams. ^*Steinbeck uses water
0410J62 as one of the controlling metaphors in *3The Grapes of Wrath*0.
0420J62 ^When the Joads start on their journey to California, Steinbeck
0430J62 makes them forget to_ take water with them, suggesting thereby that
0440J62 the Joads lack spiritual values, that their interests do not extend
0450J62 beyond the family. ^The first service-station they come to marks
0460J62 for them the initial step in their progressive disillusionment and spiritual
0470J62 evolution. ^The attendant looks at them with suspicion and
0480J62 invites them to_ make use of the water there only after he learns that
0490J62 they have cash with them with which to_ purchase gas. ^They meet
0500J62 the Wilsons shortly after and Grampa Joad dies in the tent of
0510J62 the Wilsons. ^But all this is not without some spiritual significance,
0520J62 for the Joads and the Wilsons begin to_ travel as one unit.
0530J62 ^At the next camp where they stay for the night and where there are
0540J62 water facilities, the Joads meet a man who is returning from California
0550J62 and who tells them that the migrants are not at all welcome there.
0560J62 ^This information is the first step in their progressive disillusionment
0570J62 about their dream of prospering in California. ^Later, at
0580J62 Needles the Joads have a whole river in which to_ bathe and they
0590J62 are only further disillusioned by another person who is returning
0600J62 from California. ^Later still, Casy is shot while wading a river,
0610J62 but Tom takes his place-- it is the physical death of one person and
0620J62 the spiritual birth of another. ^The most significant episode for this
0630J62 kind of ambiguous symbolism is the concluding part of the novel.
0640J62 ^It is highly significant that the scene of the rains and the flood
0650J62 precedes the scene of Rose of Sharon*'s breast-feeding an unknown
0660J62 starving old man, an act which is symbolic, as we have seen, of accepting
0670J62 the whole of humanity as one*'s family. $^Further Steinbeck protests
0680J62 against the illusion that material things are real and therefore
0690J62 indispensable. ^He directs his attacks against the absorption of man
0700J62 in material things to the exclusion of spiritual values. ^Here his
0710J62 thought is an echo of Transcendenal thought. ^*Emerson had warned against
0720J62 a preoccuption with material things: "I find men victims of illusion
0730J62 in all parts of life. ^Children, youths, adults and old men, all
0740J62 are led by one bawble or another." ("Illusions") ^So, too, had Thoreau:
0750J62 "^Most of the luxuries, and many of the so-called comforts of life,
0760J62 are not only not indispensable, but positive hindrances to the elevation
0770J62 of mankind." (Walden) $^Like the writers of the *4Upanishads
0780J62 and the Transcendentalists, Steinbeck posits that there are two
0790J62 kinds or levels of reality, one represented by the empirical objects
0800J62 which appear diversified and separate from each other, and the other
0810J62 by the reality which underlies these empirical objects. ^These two
0820J62 together form the universe. ^He writes: **[begin second margin**]
0821J62 $^The whole is necessarily everything,
0830J62 the whole world of fact and fancy, body and psyche, physical
0840J62 fact and spiritual truth, individual and collective, life and death,
0850J62 macrocosm and microcosm (the greatest quanta here, the greatest synapse
0860J62 between these two), conscious and unconscious, subject and object.
0870J62 ^The whole picture is portrayed by *3is*0, the deepest word of deep
0880J62 ultimate reality, not shallow or partial as reasons are, but deeper
0890J62 and participating, possibly encompassing the Oriental concept of *3being*0.
0900J62 **[end second margin**]
0901J62 $^Reality, Steinbeck appears to_ be saying, does not consist
0910J62 of matter alone; nor does it exclude matter as mere illusion. ^Physical
0920J62 facts and spiritual truths together make one whole and the purpose
0930J62 of religion is to_ make one comprehend the relationship of men to
0940J62 the whole. "^It is a strange thing that most of the feeling we call
0950J62 religious, most of the mystical outcrying which is one of the most prized
0960J62 and used and desired reactions of our species, is really the understanding
0970J62 and the attempt to_ say that man is related to the whole
0980J62 thing, related inextricably to all reality, known and unknowable."
0990J62 ^The man who has a glimpse of spiritual reality is not likely to_
1000J62 be deceived by, or satisfied with mere actuality, in the same way as
1010J62 the man who knows the desert is not likely to_ be deceived by a mirage.
1020J62 ^*Steinbeck describes such a situation in *3The Log:*0
1020J62 **[begin second margin**] $^*Tony
1030J62 [the skipper of the boat] grew restive when the mirage was working,
1040J62 for here right and wrong fought before his very eyes, and how could one
1050J62 tell which was error? ^It is very well to_ say, "The land is here
1060J62 and what blots it out is a curious illusion caused by light and air
1070J62 and moisture," but if one is steering a boat, he must sail by what
1080J62 he sees, and if air and light and moisture-- three realities-- plot together
1090J62 and perpetrate a lie, what is a realistic man to_ believe? ^*Tony
1100J62 did not like the mirage at all. **[end second margin**]
1101J62 $^*Steinbeck does not state explicitly
1110J62 that the reality of spiritual truths is of a higher order than
1120J62 the reality of empirical things, but that he appears to_ imply the
1130J62 higher reality of the former I shall shortly demonstrate from his
1140J62 novels. ^He sees more than one order of reality. ^The less substantial
1150J62 the reality, the more easily does it dissolve and fade at the touch
1160J62 of something relatively more real, though each level of reality has
1170J62 a certain validity. ^A dream, for example, is less real than life
1180J62 and life less real than absolute reality, but the validity of the dream
1190J62 is real on that level of reality. ^*Shark Wicks*' pleasure in his
1200J62 imaginary wealth is, as I have shown above, real. ^The difficulty
1210J62 is that his imaginary wealth cannot stand the test of empirical reality.
1220J62 ^When he is put under a ten thousand dollar bond by the deputy
1230J62 sheriff in the belief that he is rich, he cannot produce the amount.
1240J62 ^He is forced to_ give up the dream-reality he has been indulging
1250J62 himself in and face the empirical reality that he is a poor person.
1260J62 $^Empirical reality cannot stand the test of absolute Reality any
1270J62 better than dream reality can empirical reality. ^*Steinbeck demonstrates
1280J62 the idea of various levels of reality through the agency of
1290J62 the Munroes who act as a touchstone to_ test the depth of reality
1300J62 in each episode of *3The Pastures of Heaven*0. ^In a letter to his
1310J62 agents which he wrote when he was still writing *3The Pastures of
1320J62 Heaven*0, Steinbeck referred to the Munroes as having "a flavour
1330J62 of evil," but as the writing progressed, a change appears to_ have taken
1340J62 place in his conception of the Munroes. ^They cease to_ act as
1350J62 a curse on the people with whom they come into contact. ^In some of
1360J62 the stories, they come to_ be, as suggested above, a touchstone to_
1370J62 destroy the illusion of certain of the characters. ^The more insubstantial
1380J62 the reality, the less is the interference required on the part
1390J62 of the Munroes to_ destroy it. ^In the story of ^*Shark Wicks*'
1400J62 an adolescent kiss given by Bert Munroe*'s son to Wicks*' incredibly
1410J62 beautiful and incredibly stupid daughter is enough to_ set in motion
1420J62 the events that_ end in Shark*'s disillusionment. ^In the story
1430J62 of Molly Morgan discussed above, Bert*'s reference to his hired
1440J62 hand is enough to_ disillusion Molly. ^In both these cases, Steinbeck
1450J62 implies, the illusions are so airy that the merest touch of empirical
1460J62 reality is enough to_ destroy them. ^In the story of Richard
1470J62 Whiteside, Steinbeck makes it clear that the illusion to_ be destroyed
1480J62 is more substantial than dreams. ^*Richard believes that empirical
1490J62 things are ultimately Real and his building a magnificent house of
1500J62 redwood for his descendants is his way of assuring immortality for
1510J62 himself. ^He tells his wife about the new house, "'It*'1s the new soul,
1520J62 the first native of the new race.'" ^The house also becomes a status
1530J62 symbol: "^It embodied authority and culture and judgement and manners."
1540J62 ^*Richard begets one son, John, who "did not think of the house
1550J62 exactly as his father had. ^He loved it more. ^It was the outer shell
1560J62 of his body." ^*John, in turn, begets one son Bill, who marries Bert
1570J62 Munroe*'s daughter, Mae. ^*Bill and Mae leave the ancestral mansion
1580J62 and go to_ live in town. ^After Bill has left, Bert Munroe suggests
1590J62 to John that the brush around the house should be burnt and offers
1600J62 him help to_ do it. ^The fire, however, spreads from the brush
1610J62 to the house and it is burnt down to the ground. ^That the burning
1620J62 down of the house is meant to_ be more a ritualistic act of purification
1630J62 than an act of destruction, Steinbeck makes it clear. ^The house
1640J62 had been a body to John*'s soul and he says, "'I think I know how
1650J62 a soul feels when it sees its body buried in the ground and lost.'"
1660J62 ^He has seen through the illusion of empirical reality and hence has
1670J62 no regrets. ^As may be expected of any person who discards the flesh
1680J62 and retains only the spirit, he says, "'I don*'4t think I want to_
1690J62 save any of it [the house].'" $^The story is clear evidence that
1700J62 Steinbeck makes a distinction between the soul and the body and that
1710J62 he holds the soul to_ have the greater reality. ^Here Steinbeck*'s idea
1720J62 of the reality of the soul corresponds to that_ of the *4Upanishadic
1730J62 concept.*#
        **[no. of words = 02009**]

        **[txt. j63**]
0010J63 **<*3Theoretical and Practical Studies in Indo-English Literature
0020J63 *0**> $^We return the reader*'s attention to our earlier statement that
0030J63 Shakespeare*'s induction of complexity and unpredicability into
0040J63 human personality (which became a dominant characteristic of Renaissance
0050J63 Humanism, and set the model for all serious drama later) was more
0060J63 owing to Shakespeare*'s unconscious genius, and that his conscious
0070J63 effort could not but have been directed toward becoming a worthy part
0080J63 of the existing tradition. ^We have also stated that such a view
0090J63 may be a simplification but not an over-simplification. $^The main philosophical
0100J63 basis for a generalised classification of personality with predictable
0110J63 and cognizable outward traits, characteristic of the Medieval
0120J63 perception of personality, is to_ be found, strangely enough, in
0130J63 the theological faith that all personality is holy and therefore un-analysable.
0140J63 ^It is too much to_ say that subtle differentiated individualised
0150J63 minds did not exist at all during the Medieval age or any
0160J63 other age. ^No age can be without its maladjusted introverted men, shy
0170J63 and submissive. ^But their shyness, submissiveness, or other individualising
0180J63 traits were held not worth artistic attention. ^A living
0190J63 faith acting like a furnace for mass sublimation, and awaiting patiently
0200J63 near every human heart, permissive and yet available for any human
0210J63 need, was the more interesting subject for contemplation than the
0220J63 variety of human personality. ^In God all differences in human beings
0230J63 could be purified and sunk, and the soul so purified could hardly boast
0240J63 of individuality. ^The only worth of individuality was in its
0250J63 surrender. ^The Medieval age simply did not care for subtle shades,
0260J63 or any shades for that_ matter, because all shades would vanish before
0270J63 the luminous Body of Christ. ^This certainly does not mean that
0280J63 all Medieval men had a vision of the deity. ^But what it does mean
0290J63 is that the Medieval man valued this more than subtle variety of individuality.
0300J63 ^In other words, the aesthetic model was different. ^Greater
0310J63 aesthetic attention was paid to what made men saints than to what
0320J63 made men men. ^Therefore the age was able to_ group all human interests
0330J63 into generalised categories like virtue and sin, and men themselves
0340J63 into saints and sinners; the variety was given only a secondary
0350J63 attention. ^There is little in common between Mary Magdalena, \0St.
0360J63 Anthony and \0St George, or for that_ matter, \0St. Thomas Aquinas.
0370J63 ^Within a religious framework, the ability to_ generalise had
0380J63 been rendered so powerful that what unified them, \0viz. their loyalty
0390J63 to the Lord, was paid greater attention to than their individualities.
0400J63 ^The same perception (strictly aperception) marked the attitude
0410J63 to common people too. ^Even the aim of art could only be the preservation
0420J63 of this framework. ^Or else it had no special function. $^Thus,
0430J63 what, to us, from this distance, might appear an undifferentiated mass,
0440J63 out of which, we claim, the Renaissance released individuality,
0450J63 is actually an expression of an aperception, a deliberate overlooking,
0460J63 so as to_ render classification and generalisation possible. ^The
0470J63 Medieval man was so keen on perceiving the angel and the devil that
0480J63 he paid little attention to the details of the human landscape on which
0490J63 the two warred. ^He did not even bother about his own individuality
0500J63 because even that_ was only a setting for the war of the angel and
0510J63 the devil; Shakespeare*'s mockery of this in the speeches of Launcelot
0520J63 Gobbo in *3The Merchant of Venice*0 is a recognition of this
0530J63 widespread mental habit of considering one*'s good and bad thoughts
0540J63 as the work of the angel and the devil. ^In fact, Savonarola*'s writings
0550J63 are filled with this internal dialogue. ^Thus the Seven Deadly
0560J63 Sins which beleager men, and the virtues that come to their rescue,
0570J63 became themes for art expression more than their differentiation.
0580J63 ^Summatory 'over-sight' was the main insight. $^It is wrong to_ suppose
0590J63 that the Medieval age lacked tolerance and permissiveness. ^On
0600J63 the contrary, its pluralism in behavioural matters was more extensive
0610J63 than is realised. ^It was so extensive that little attention was paid
0620J63 to the socially deviant. ^It was only when its theological tenets were
0630J63 held in question that the entire machinery of the Church and the
0640J63 State came down upon the individual and destoryed him. ^The Medieval
0650J63 age punished the heretic intellectual, not the aberrant citizen. ^The
0660J63 Medieval age was quite tolerant of sin, for instance. ^*Dad Cenci*'s
0670J63 purchase of the Papal pardon shocks Shelley, but would not have
0680J63 shocked the Medieval man. ^It was only after the efficacy of the
0690J63 sacrament and the ritual began to_ be held in doubt that men began to_
0700J63 develop so pathological a fear of Sin as to_ attempt eliminating
0710J63 it from conduct altogether; and thus was born the dream of Puritanism,
0720J63 firm judgment of conduct in its various forms. ^The impossible norm
0730J63 of pure conduct in 17th century puritanism brought into the world
0740J63 terrible moral reactions in terms of secret licentiousness and open Satanism,
0750J63 periodically. ^During the Medieval age itself, people had
0760J63 a freer attitude to sin, because the efficacy of the pardon and unction
0770J63 was believed in, and they were readily available. ^The profession
0780J63 of a Pardoner could thrive only on the publicly tolerated sin. ^The
0790J63 medieval intolerance of witchcraft is irrelevant to this discussion.
0800J63 ^The more relevant fact that_ Man is made in the image of God
0810J63 and cannot be subjected to moral judment except by himself, seems to_
0820J63 be the basis of Allegory as art. ^Though personality was not individualised,
0830J63 all institutions, art and thought made man observant of his
0840J63 inner subjective conflict, and was encouraged to_ exercise his choice.
0850J63 $^The traditions of such impersonalised subjectivity has to_ be
0860J63 preserved at the collective level jealously and with great care.
0870J63 ^We have remarked that a Plato or a Savonarola always will spring
0880J63 up to_ raise an anti-Art movement at the right time, which need
0890J63 not therefore mean that they are insensitive to Art. ^The case of
0900J63 Kierkegaard, a man born too late, and too lonely to_ lead a movement
0910J63 is still more significant. $^*Kierkegaard, according to Sir Horbert
0920J63 Read (than whom there could be no better analyser of the romantic Existentialist,)
0930J63 became anti-Art precisely because of his susceptibility
0940J63 to Art, which brought him only spiritual death. (^See the last
0950J63 section of Read*'s *3The Contrary Image*0). ^To_ say that Plato
0960J63 himself was a poet is to_ evade the issue. ^The Greek individualism
0970J63 as seen in the Socratean circle was more an exception than a rule.
0980J63 ^The Greek collectivism expressed itself in bringing hemlock to Socrates;
0990J63 and Plato commends Socrates*'s nobility in his submission
1000J63 to law rather than in his individualist revolt. ^It was this Plato
1010J63 who condemned poets and rightly so. ^Since they worked upon people*'s
1020J63 emotions, the Greek orthodoxy did not even notice the decadence that_
1030J63 was soon to_ set into life, not through Socrates but through the
1040J63 tragedians. ^*Euripides brought to head a long and silent revolution,
1050J63 so unnoticeable as to_ be swallowed whole before knowing what had
1060J63 happened. ^If the Greek life could throw up a Plato*'s protest, one
1070J63 can easily understand the Age of Faith throwing up a Savonarola.
1080J63 (^*Savonarola was not only anti-Clergy and anti-Entertainment, but
1090J63 anti-Art also.) ^He has been described as a Medieval born in the
1100J63 Renaissance. ^He may also be described as the last mourner for the
1110J63 break-up of the Medieval pattern of life. ^We must clearly distinguish
1120J63 between the anti-Art thoughts of a Plato and Savonarola and the
1130J63 Reformationist revolt of a Luther and a Calvin. ^What the former were
1140J63 dreading was the loss of a carefully balanced collective state of
1150J63 mind, brought about by artistic individualism, which though had its
1160J63 valid appeal to individuals, could not form the basis for a collective
1170J63 existence. ^All the former cultivated sensibilities would vanish under
1180J63 the impact of an intellectual anarchy. ^The Bacchanalians did not
1190J63 question the existence of Zeus. ^They ceased to_ think of him in
1200J63 an orgy of tragic drunkenness. ^*Plato, within his frame of reference,
1210J63 was right. ^He suspected the break-up of a collective impersonal
1220J63 subjectivity and its replacement by an individualist anarchical subjectivity.
1230J63 ^*Aristotle tried to_ answer Plato by positing the idea of
1240J63 an individualist katharsis of emotion as the justification of poetry.
1250J63 ^This might have given the world its first psychological explanation
1260J63 of Tragedy*'s appeal. ^But the very irrelevancy of Aristotle*'s
1270J63 polemic shows that the battle had already been lost. ^How an individual
1280J63 can remain healthy in mind in spite of Tragic Art is no answer
1290J63 to the loss of the delicately held balance named an Age of Faith,
1300J63 which is a collective subjectivity. ^*Aristotle gave a right answer
1310J63 to a wrong question. ^What horrified either Plato or in his own way
1320J63 Savonarola was the replacement of a beautifully organised iife by
1330J63 the anarchical, individualist, divided consciousness promoted by the
1340J63 beauty of individualist art. $^For this reason, we notice that during
1350J63 the Medieval period, Art not only had to_ take second place but
1360J63 also serve a secondary function. ^Art was bound to_ become a servile
1370J63 profession followed for wages and not attracting the best intellects.
1380J63 ^Only a rare coincidence in which a great artist combined in himself
1390J63 the best thought which the collective faith could offer, could also
1400J63 become a real artist, say, some one like Dante. ^*Dante*'s greatness
1410J63 is also the greatness of the collective faith. ^This does mean that
1420J63 the professional drudge who scribbled a play for the Lent did not
1430J63 produce artistic emotion in his audience. ^The play may have been crude;
1440J63 but both the actor, himself a believer, and the audience full of
1450J63 believers, met half way to_ create a riot of thrills and tears. ^We
1460J63 may assert vehemently that what these simple people got was not art
1470J63 experience at all, because it was not Pure Poetry, but very much
1480J63 adulterated with religious feeling; but this assertion might also prove
1490J63 that we live in an age that_ has made us more familar with adulteration
1500J63 than art. ^We may say that their enjoyment of *3Abraham and Isaac*0
1510J63 was filled with 'stock responses' and therefore medieval men were
1520J63 unfit to_ sit in \0Dr. *(0L. A.*) Richards*'s Meaning of Meaning
1530J63 classes. ^Very true. ^But building up carefully cultivated stock
1540J63 responses itself was the main Art-Life of the Age of Faith. ^There
1550J63 cannot be a collective cultivation without stock responses. ^To
1560J63 what finesse, profundity and sincerity these 'stock' responses could
1570J63 reach is the main question to which our critical traditions have not
1580J63 paid much attention. ^The last scene in which little Isaac tells
1590J63 his father: **[verse**] $might have been heard with streaming eyes
1600J63 and a wild laughter suddenly bursting forth. (^Our more civilised 'laughter
1610J63 verging on tears', seen by the literary critics in insipid essayists
1620J63 like *(0A. G.*) Gardiner, *(0et al.*), and demonstrated by
1630J63 Charles Boyer in the final reel of a Hollywood tragedy, by gazing
1640J63 into the fireplace with a 'sad smile' does not seem to_ be known
1650J63 in the Medieval days when people were clear on what they did! $^And
1660J63 who knows how many penitents repeated these words themselves and what
1670J63 strength they gained to_ bear the cross of their self-imposed punishment:
1680J63 **[verse**] $^As for Abraham*'s solemn prayer which any
1690J63 priest could have uttered, still moves us with its dignity: **[verse**]
1700J63 $^These lines may be described as artistic or artless; solemn prayer
1710J63 or mere cliche. ^But both epithets are wrong. ^They do not move
1720J63 us merely at the literary level, but we have to_ meet them half way.
1730J63 ^So did the Medieval people too, and whenever they witnessed plays
1740J63 which were not so well-written, they went the whole hog and earned
1750J63 art experience entirely based upon shared cultivation of faith.
1760J63 ^We cannot dismiss this as piotistic hypocrisy; the tears that_ fell, the
1770J63 pulses that_ beat, were very real. $^On the contrary, those who know
1780J63 anything of pietism would agree that the purely man-centred tears provoked
1790J63 the Renaissance or post-Renaissance Tragedy lost something
1800J63 of the elevating quality of the earlier pietistic myth and allegory. ^The
1810J63 difference between a Miracle or a Morality play and a modern Tragedy
1820J63 is simply stated. ^The Tragedy requires two intervening conditions
1830J63 to_ communicate itself. ^First, a willing suspension of disbelief,
1840J63 (since all humanist Tragedy must necessarily portray 'life' and draw
1850J63 unncessary and self-defeating comparison with life in irrelevant
1860J63 details which cannot satisfactorily be avoided even with the most meticulous
1870J63 stage realism).*#
        **[no. of words = 02028**]

        **[txt. j64**]
0010J64 **<*3moving focus*0**> $^But the need for critical writing became larger
0020J64 when traditional situations broke down, and art forfeited its social
0030J64 sustenance forcing the artist to_ be on his own, self-dependent and
0040J64 individual, and there was an opening up of the global art spectrum.
0050J64 ^The great variety of artists and art audiences as constituted this
0060J64 spectrum called for intermediaries of a kind, who could lay channels
0070J64 of contact between them through studied exposition of each other*'s
0080J64 positions. ^This involved a many-sided effort comprising the identification
0090J64 of the functional components of works of art, the rationale of
0100J64 their articulation, their generic factors, their alignments in terms
0110J64 of style, history, psychology \0etc. ^The need became larger and more
0120J64 insistent as the scene proliferated and started to_ seethe with
0130J64 aggressive individualities, the artists vying with each other to_ break
0140J64 new ground, and the public unequal to_ receive their transformations
0150J64 with understanding and sympathy, while, ironically enough, it was this
0160J64 understanding that the new artist solely depended on. ^So the stage
0170J64 was set for a versatile intermediary combining the virtues of scholar,
0180J64 educator and promoter. ^Though the situation did not yield many
0190J64 super-individuals of their kind, it did produce a large number of smaller
0200J64 specialists-- art scholars, art historians, art grammarians, art researchers,
0210J64 art journalists, art promoters, art appraisers and salesmen,
0211J64 each with his own special kit
0220J64 of verbal and conceptual gadgetry or his own special techniques of
0230J64 encirclement or seduction. $^Consequently there are many categories
0240J64 of art criticism today, some painstaking and scholarly, some journalistic
0250J64 and volatile, some speculative or iconoclastic, some in the nature
0260J64 of blatant promotional copy, some watching the scene from a distant
0270J64 time perspective, some involved with it in immediate proximity, and
0280J64 their uses have to_ be studied and assessed within their purposes and
0290J64 contexts, if we want to_ avoid seeking in them what they are not
0300J64 designed to_ hold and thus doing them injustice. ^Unfortunately all
0310J64 these categories assume a uniform air of oracular profundity and invite
0320J64 similar consideration; though in most cases (especially in journalistic
0330J64 criticism) this is little more than an eye-catching device and its authors
0340J64 are quite prepared to_ retract or revise their statements without
0350J64 the slightest fuss if circumstances force them to_ do so. ^This is
0360J64 not as execrable as it seems if we realise that no art criticism, even
0370J64 that_ which is raised on meticulous scholarship, can aspire to perennial
0380J64 validity. ^A certain fragility is inherent in the nature of all
0390J64 art criticism, as it is a secondary activity, concerned with the bringing
0400J64 together of a specific public with a specific area of art; its value
0410J64 and quality are contained by the value and quality of this confrontation
0420J64 and however pressing such a confrontation might seem at one moment
0430J64 it is bound to_ change in emphasis through time. ^So the contextual
0440J64 features of any piece of art criticism are not likely to_ be of longstanding
0450J64 interest and if any piece of criticism continues to_ be provocative
0460J64 through time it is rarely because of these, but because of
0470J64 other peripheral insights. $^In one of his Bageswari lectures captioned
0480J64 '*5mat O Mantra*6' Abanindranath points to this fact. ^According
0490J64 to him most art writing presents two kinds of thoughts and ideas, one
0500J64 that he would characterise as '*4mat' (**[printed in devanagari**]) or
0510J64 dogma, time-bound formulations of limited import, the other which he
0520J64 would characterise as '*4mantra' (**[printed in devanagari**]) or timeless
0530J64 and fundamental insights. ^But how a certain piece of criticism
0540J64 can cultivate these insights is a matter for speculation and controversy.
0550J64 ^It certainly would depend on the stature and sensibilities of
0560J64 a critic but it would probably also depend on his sense of perspective.
0570J64 ^What this sense of perspective should be construed as is also controversial--
0580J64 whether as the focal clarity a critic gains on an art scene
0590J64 through the passage of time, or as a special psychological virtue
0600J64 by which he levitates himself to a position of objectivity with regard
0610J64 to artistic facts, irrespective of whether they are temporally near
0620J64 or distant. $^We would probably decide for the latter rather than
0630J64 the former. ^The question of the necessity of a time-perspective on a
0640J64 particular art scene has been debated amongst art critics often and
0650J64 some of them have held that it would be hard to_ write any valid criticism
0660J64 of the contemporary scene as it is moving and fluid, while others
0670J64 have argued that if any criticism is to_ be of value to the artist
0680J64 it has, perforce, to_ be contemporary; this has gone on. ^Although
0690J64 we should admit that it is hard to_ make a valid comment on an unstationary
0700J64 scene and that a time-perspective will allow us to_ see the
0710J64 various strata of a scene in clearer relationship, this cannot rush us
0720J64 into thinking that such a perspective will always result in critical
0730J64 formulations of permanent value, for generation to generation views
0740J64 and values change, and the existing facts reconstellate themselves
0750J64 on the mind*'s horizon leading to new readings and new interpretations.
0760J64 $^So the discovery of the absolute meaning of a work of art or an
0770J64 unalterable rationale of its function will be outside the reach of any
0780J64 kind of art criticism. ^Although a tentative hypothesis about the intentions
0790J64 of a work of art is an inescapable starting point for any critic,
0800J64 it will be hard to_ estabish finally the objectivity and authenticity
0810J64 of any hypotheses, even the one an artist confesses to. ^It
0820J64 should not be a matter of surprise to us if a work of art lends itself
0830J64 to various interpretations at the same time, and the artist himself
0840J64 enjoys, as William Faulkner the novelist is reported to_ have enjoyed,
0850J64 to_ encourage such interpretations by contradictory or unspecific
0860J64 statements on the subject, because even the most deliberate artist
0870J64 cannot claim to_ be the conscious author of a work*'s emergent qualities
0880J64 and formulates its rationale only post-facto, and may be willing,
0890J64 therefore, to_ concede other interpretations a parallel status.
0900J64 ^In any case it is undeniable that there are various critical interpretations
0910J64 of the same areas of art, coming from the same period, each
0920J64 with its special stress or emphasis. ^We have only to_ review the
0930J64 body of expository writing that_ has grown around a specific phase in
0940J64 art as Impressionism or Cubism, inclusive of the statements of
0950J64 artists, art historians, critics and promoters, to_ notice that they
0960J64 do not necessarily concur with each other or, together, have the same
0970J64 relevance and reasonableness to us as they had in their own time.
0980J64 ^Besides, even if we continue to_ react to any of these phases with
0990J64 undiminished enthusiasm, the terms of this enthusiasm are not exactly
1000J64 the same as theirs, although they are hardly a century behind us.
1010J64 $^Talking about Cubism, Picasso is supposed to_ have stated that
1020J64 he was primarily concerned with 'form', Braque that his preoccupation
1030J64 was with 'space', Gleizes and Metzinger that theirs was with the
1040J64 sense of 'infinite liberty' through which they could fashion the real
1050J64 in the image of the mind, while Apollinaire, their friend and spokesman,
1060J64 and various enthusiasts after him, had their own personal explanations
1070J64 and points of view. ^Their differences were so considerable
1080J64 that Picasso was provoked to_ declare later with some irritation,
1090J64 "Mathematics, trigonometry, chemistry, psychoanalysis, music and everything
1100J64 else that_ has been connected with Cubism in order to_ make
1110J64 it easier to_ explain are nothing but a literary explanation if not
1120J64 downright nonsense, and have done nothing but harm because people have
1130J64 been blinded by a lot of noisy theories... drawing, composition and
1140J64 colour were understood and treated in the same sense and the same
1150J64 manner in Cubism as in any other school of painting." ^Coming, as this
1160J64 does, from "the horse*'s mouth", this could as well be true. ^But
1170J64 for all that_, when we look back on the Cubist scene from where we are
1180J64 we probably are able to_ see certain tendencies in it that_ align it
1190J64 with other cultural facts of the age, which its illustrious progenitors
1200J64 were not able to_ see from their position inside it. ^So theirs
1210J64 is not necessarily the last word. ^This predicament is not peculiar
1220J64 to contemporary assessments alone; assessments of a historical scene
1230J64 can also suffer from the same limitation. ^*Ananda Coomaraswamy was
1240J64 without peer in his time for his learning and perspicacity, and his contribution
1250J64 to the clarification of the working premises of Medieval and
1260J64 Oriental art is monumental. ^But despite this we cannot fail to_
1270J64 notice today that a large part of his formulations are delimited by the
1280J64 nature of the questions as arose in his time and the then current concepts
1290J64 and terminology; he had to_ go to tiresome lengths to_ explain
1300J64 the symbology of ancient art to a public used to looking in art for
1310J64 mimetic correspondence to nature, and its functional multiplicity
1320J64 to people used to considering art in much simpler terms, which he
1330J64 would not have had to if he faced a different public at a different time,
1340J64 and could have in that_ case saved himself from certain doctrinal
1350J64 rigidities he ran into. ^So today we find certain of his arguments laboured
1360J64 and certain conclusions lopsided, though a large body of his
1370J64 writing still continues to_ be remarkably provocative, and rakes up
1380J64 many fundamental questions relating to the nature of art, its use
1390J64 and function, the nature of the society that_ nurtures it and so on,
1400J64 proving thereby that a piece of art criticism can have continuing value,
1410J64 even if its main arguments have lost edge and utility. $^So, if
1420J64 we do not want to_ pass by all criticism whose points of view have
1430J64 dated and lost their immediacy and overlook the valid peripheral insights
1440J64 they may have in spite of their main arguments going awry, we
1450J64 must not expect too much from a piece of art criticism. ^The most we
1460J64 should expect from it is to_ expound a work within the available facts
1470J64 and terminology of a time and, at a further step, to_ clarify
1480J64 the whole art situation. ^This clarification would need insight and
1490J64 a sense of history, not of history as a static immutable entity but
1500J64 as a continuous organic growth which with the addition of each novel
1510J64 artistic fact undergoes a configurational change, transmuting the meanings
1520J64 of its component stages in the process, in a genealogical work-back
1530J64 as it were. ^Such a piece of criticism would manage to_ forge
1540J64 a bridge (if only momentary) between the art work and the onlooker,
1550J64 and enlarge the latter*'s awareness and receptivity. ^Modest as this
1560J64 may sound, if a piece of art criticism is able to_ accomplish this
1570J64 much it is fairly close to what a work of art itself seeks to_ accomplish--
1580J64 namely a leavening of sensibility-- and lags behind the work
1590J64 only to the extent that it is its agent and accessory, and can, therefore,
1600J64 easily entitle its author to the status Gregory Battcock
1610J64 hints at. $^But there are very few pieces of art criticism of this order
1620J64 in our time. ^This is partly because the new art situation itself
1630J64 does not accomodate reflective writing due to its brisk pace of change,
1640J64 and our numerous art critics find themselves pushed into the
1650J64 fleeting world of journalistic and promotional writing instead. ^In a world
1660J64 where the artist is on his own and has to_ seek his public through
1670J64 gallery shows, it is not surprising that these are the two main
1680J64 prevalent modes of art criticism, one designed to_ enliven the passing
1690J64 day with wafer-snacks of culture, the other designed to_ project the
1700J64 art-work as a coveted commodity. ^The main purpose of such writing
1710J64 is to_ attract, not to_ educate, to_ spotlight the commodity traits
1720J64 of an art object rather than explain their presence, and sometimes
1730J64 a critic manages to_ fulfil this to an artist*'s satisfaction even
1740J64 with a piece of unfavourable writing. ^It is tied, besides-- as most
1750J64 things are today-- to a notion of irreversible progress and an attitude
1760J64 of rejection toward history, and has both its eyes fixed on
1770J64 the novelty of a development. ^So today*'s art critic lays greater store
1780J64 by his instinctive reaction to a work of art than its reasoned
1790J64 analysis and uses a language which has more picturesqueness than precision.*#
        **[no. of words = 02024**]

        **[txt. j65**]
0010J65 **<*32 Painted Pottery of the Indus Civilization*0**> $*3^ACCORDING*0
0011J65 to the revised carbon-14 dates, the Indus civilization did not
0020J65 start all at once, in about 2000 \0B.C., or even in 3000 \0B.C.
0030J65 ^There was a long period of gestation in Sind, Punjab, and the north-west
0040J65 frontier and perhaps also in northern Rajasthan, as indicated
0050J65 by the small excavations at Kot Diji, Harappa, Gumla and Kalibangan
0060J65 respectively, and the intensive explorations in Sind by \0Dr
0070J65 Rafique Moghul. $^As is becoming increasingly evident, one of
0080J65 the sources, if not the only source of this cultural development in
0090J65 northwest India, was Iran and the countries of western Asia. ^Cultural
0100J65 influences such as the tradition of painted pottery, spread
0110J65 from here through Afghanistan and Baluchistan to India. ^It is not
0120J65 a coincidence that this tradition still survives in an attenuated form
0130J65 in Sind, Punjab, and Rajasthan, and still less in Gujarat-Saurashtra
0140J65 and madhya Pradesh, Bengal, Orissa; and that it is almost absent
0150J65 in Maharashtra, Andhra and Karnataka. ^In the west, perhaps
0160J65 the best and one of the earliest productions of painted pottery was
0170J65 documented before 1939, at Tell Halaf in Syria, then at several
0180J65 places in Iraq and Sialk in Iran. ^Nearer home, besides painted
0190J65 sherds from Kill Gul Mohammed, the best specimen to my knowledge
0200J65 would be the goblet or cup from Rana Ghundai. ^Equally distinctive,
0210J65 though not very artistic is the buff ware from Nal and the Grey
0220J65 Ware from Shahi Tump. ^Both bear paintings in mauvish-black. $*<*3Harappan
0230J65 Pottery*0*> $^Compared to the later painted pottery from
0240J65 Navdatoli and sites in Madhya Pradesh, the Indus artist loved
0250J65 to_ cover up the entire surface of his object, whether it be a dish,
0260J65 bowl, a globular pot or an elongated vase. ^Since in all these, the
0270J65 surface of the pot was very large compared to the small cups, bowls
0280J65 and *4lotas from Navdatoli, the artist was obliged to_ fill up
0290J65 the surface with repetitive motifs, or such motifs as tree foliage
0300J65 which would enable him to_ achieve his purpose. $*<*3Story-telling
0310J65 Scenes*0*> $^More important, the availability of the large "canvas"
0320J65 induced or stimulated him to_ compose a picture or a narrative
0330J65 scene. ^This feature is later repeated in the Cemetery-H pottery,
0340J65 but it is completely absent in the much earlier Baluchi pottery.
0350J65 ^The effect of this is no doubt gorgeous, and it would certainly appeal
0360J65 to those who appreciate large pottery with overall patterns. ^When
0370J65 such a vase, as the one with a gentle profile and inter-laced palms
0380J65 painted over a dark red surface, is kept either in the centre of
0390J65 the large, brick-built drawing room, or even the kitchen at Harappa,
0400J65 Mohenjodaro, Lothal or Kalibangan, the effect produced on the visitor
0401J65 can be easily imagined. ^We really do not know whether each family
0410J65 possessed one or many of such large painted vessels, *3though this
0420J65 can still be ascertained by a very careful plotting of the sherds*0 and
0430J65 vessels found at Mohenjodaro and Harappa. ^In comparison with
0440J65 Navdatoli, the amount of painted pottery at all sites of the Indus
0450J65 Civilization is said to_ be less, probably one-fourth or one-eighth
0460J65 of the entire collection at any one site. ^At Navdatoli, as will
0470J65 be noticed below, the painted pottery formed the bulk of the collection.
0480J65 $^This point can be taken up while studying the pottery from Kalibangan.
0490J65 ^How much painted pottery did each house possess, and what
0500J65 were the main forms, and where do these normally occur? ^This means
0510J65 where exactly or where approximately were the pots kept in the house.
0520J65 ^With regard to the nature of paintings, these are usually painted
0530J65 in monochrome, in black over a bright red surface; but there are examples
0540J65 of biochrome or even polychrome pottery. ^No percentages have
0550J65 been worked out, though this could be done perhaps at Kalibangan.
0560J65 ^It would appear that the geometric motifs dominate in number over the
0570J65 animal, and human motifs, the last indeed being negligible in number.
0580J65 $^As for the nature and quality of the paintings, as Marshall noted
0590J65 long ago, the designs were executed in black over a dark red slip.
0600J65 ^They consisted ordinarily of foliate and geometric designs, among
0610J65 which the most striking were the "interlocking circle," "vase,"
0620J65 "bangle," "comb" and "scale" motifs. ^Animal motifs are rare. ^As
0630J65 compared with Baluchistan, the dsign on the Indus ware are characterized
0640J65 by a certain boldness and careless freedom in the patterning.
0650J65 ^The former pottery from Baluchistan is said to_ betray "more precise
0660J65 and lighter" decoration. $^However neither Marshall nor Mackay
0670J65 thought much of the Indus potter*'s art, nor did Marshall deprecate
0680J65 it. ^He regarded it as traditional craft. ^Though it was not of
0690J65 great merit in respect of either form or decoration, behind it lay
0700J65 centuries of history. ^Unfortunately the motifs became stereotyped
0710J65 and lifeless by countless repetitions, which evidently went on century
0720J65 after century without any perceptible change. ^*Mackay has elaborated
0730J65 upon the brief reference to the design motifs in Indus pottery
0740J65 given by Marshall. ^He tells us that the colour most commonly
0750J65 used in decorating pottery was black, a manganiferous haematite. ^Most
0760J65 of the painted pottery is monochrome: excluding the slip, only one
0770J65 colour was used in painting the designs. ^This colour, though generally
0780J65 warm, dense black, sometimes has a brownish or distinctly purplish
0790J65 hue. ^The surface is always dull except in two cases, where a slight
0800J65 polish suggests the possible admixture of some medium. ^Rarely was
0810J65 the surface of the vessel rubbed down or polished after it had been
0820J65 painted. ^The lines of the designs are always flush with the surface,
0830J65 showing that the paint was applied in sufficiently liquid state to_
0840J65 permeate a little below the surface. $*<*3Monochrome Painting*0*>
0850J65 $^Monochrome painting was the rule, and biochrome and polychrome
0860J65 painting were exceptions. ^Of the former, one example is here cited.
0870J65 ^Here the ground colour of the vessel is cream, and on it the decoration
0880J65 was done in two colours. $^Another still rarer example is a very
0890J65 graceful jar, first coated with a thick, smooth slip. ^On this was
0900J65 painted a conventional floral design, the petals outlined black,
0910J65 with the body bearing the background of cream colour. ^The intervals
0920J65 were then filled with red paint. $^A minute pottery stand and an
0930J65 offering stand are also painted in this medium. $*<*3Polychrome Painting*0*>
0940J65 ^*Mackay thought that these two or three vessels also bore
0950J65 decorations in a green paint, which having become powdery, was easily
0960J65 rubbed off. ^At Harappa were found four vessels, all originally
0970J65 bearing a polychrome decoration. ^Only one now survives, which is
0980J65 described by Vats. $^The design consists of four highly conventionalized
0990J65 foliate plants each with leaves bifurcating obliquely on either
1000J65 side of the vertical stem. ^Interspersed between the leaves are triangular
1010J65 motifs pointing downwards. ^The leaves are all dark red, and
1020J65 the triangles green. ^*Vat*'s comment (*=1, \0p. 288) seems justified
1030J65 that this decoration, though simple, must have looked quite effective
1040J65 on the white background.
1050J65 $^These few specimens of polychrome pottery were found in deposits
1060J65 of the late level both at Mohenjodaro and Harappa. ^Hence we may
1070J65 conclude with Vats and Mackay that only during the end phase of
1080J65 this civilization, a stimulus was received or self-generated, to_
1090J65 attempt decorations in three or four colours on pottery. $*<*3Technique
1100J65 of Drawing*0*> $^There is some indication how these paintings
1110J65 were executed. ^A brush possibly made of donkey hair, as used in
1120J65 Sind today, was used. ^*Mackey later said that hair brushes might
1130J65 be of varying fineness. ^He also thought that, owing to the extreme
1140J65 regularity in width of the fine lines used to_ hatch the leaves,
1150J65 a reed-pen was used for certain details. ^This is clearly implied
1160J65 when the paint is applied on the natural surface of the pottery. ^The
1170J65 lines are thick at first owing to the fullness of the brush, and
1180J65 thin out later as it dried. $^*Mackay later adds that when a manganiferous
1190J65 paint is applied in "sufficiently fluid state to a slip and
1200J65 especially to a wash, it readily penetrates to and stains the surface
1210J65 of the pottery below. ^When so applied it has a thick opaque appearance,
1220J65 and is sometimes raised a little above the level of the slip."
1230J65 $^When compared to the large areas excavated the forms or types
1240J65 of vessels on which the painted motifs appear are so far few. ^Hence
1250J65 it appears that mostly shoulders of large jars were decorated; or
1260J65 occasionally the entire surface, as in the case of medium sized, elongated
1270J65 and globular vessels. ^The lower portions in the case of large
1280J65 jars were left plain, because these probably remained hidden from
1290J65 view, being buried in the ground or in pottery racks, as at Ahar
1300J65 in \0S.E. Rajasthan. $^It is also noticed by Mackay as well as
1310J65 Vats that the tendency of the Indus potter is to_ arrange the motifs
1320J65 in horizontal registers, rather than in the vertical panels as
1330J65 was so common in Iran and Mesopotamia. ^The common motifs consist
1340J65 of a few animal designs, still fewer plant designs, and mostly geometric
1350J65 designs. ^Among the few animals shown are the ibex, antelope,
1360J65 snake, lizard, and the dove, but never the bull, elephant, rhinoceros
1370J65 and the tiger so realistically portrayed as on the faience, steatite
1380J65 and copper seals. $^The bird most frequently depicted is the peacock,
1390J65 which is but natural as this forms and once formed a conspicuous
1400J65 feature of the shrubby sandy landscape of Sind, Rajasthan and
1410J65 Saurashtra. $^How are these animals drawn? ^Unlike the few later Chalcolithic
1420J65 specimens in the representation of the ibex, antelope and
1430J65 doe, some kind of natural environment is shown here. ^In the three examples
1440J65 cited by Mackay, bushes or trees are also represented. ^The remaining
1450J65 five specimens are fragmentary. $^Stylistically, one of these
1460J65 examples in my opinion does not belong to the Indus civilization or
1470J65 the Harappan culture complex. ^*Mackay had noted only the thickness
1480J65 of the ware, and its light red colour, but not the method of representing
1490J65 the animal. ^In fact both are unusual of the true Mohenjodaro
1500J65 pottery. ^Firstly, the ware is not Harappan in form, texture and
1510J65 colour. ^Secondly, the animal is shown in an impressionistic bough
1520J65 or trees, the latter just depicted by a column of horizontal lines
1530J65 before and above the animal. ^Thirdly, the body of the animal is thinly
1540J65 hatched. ^All these point to the non-Harappan character of the
1550J65 vessel, which is also indicated by the fact that it was found just
1560J65 four \0ft. below the surface. $^As far as the animal itself is concerned,
1570J65 it may be said to_ be drawn fairly accurately, but not quite
1580J65 realistically. ^No attempt is made to_ show the muscles, but the animal*'s
1590J65 body is shown just by oblique strokes, and the outline is
1600J65 not so well drawn. ^According to Mackay, two animals are depicted,
1610J65 the main one according to him being some kind of antelope with long
1620J65 curved horns, and the smaller one with a very long thick tail, perhaps
1630J65 a jackal. ^Whatever these might be, they are not works of art.
1640J65 $^A goat seems to_ have been depicted in an elaborately composed jungle
1650J65 or village scene where there are human beings, shown in one register.
1660J65 ^A cock or hen is shown seated on the back of the goat. ^The
1670J65 animal is well drawn, though no attempt is made to_ show the muscles.
1680J65 ^*Vats seems to_ infer that at Mohenjodaro the animal figures
1690J65 were hatched without exception, all belonging to the late period as
1700J65 later pointed out by Mackay. ^At Harappa he refers to examples
1710J65 where the bodies are completely blocked,
1720J65 whereas in others these are hatched. ^Now all these were found up to
1730J65 a depth of 17 \0ft. of the then prevailing method of stratification,
1740J65 and these belong to all the three periods-- early, middle and late.
1750J65 $^This fact requires much closer study than done in 1921-31 or
1760J65 in 1947-74. ^The collection of pottery should not be recorded merely
1770J65 as depthwise but housewise, at Kalibangan, Gumla, or Kot Diji.
1780J65 ^Only then could more meaningful conclusions be drawn not only about
1790J65 the artistic styles, but the differences among the potters, or sections
1800J65 of the population which favoured one or the other method of showing
1810J65 the animal*'s body.*#
        **[no. of words = 02012**]

        **[txt. j66**]
0010J66 **<*3THE ART OF SOUTH INDIA-- TAMIL NADU & KERALA*0**> $*<*3The Chera
0020J66 cave art phase*0*> $^The passes in the Western Ghats which link Kerala
0030J66 with Tamil plains, should have relieved the relative isolation of
0040J66 the Chera tract even in the past and towards the north, it allowed
0050J66 Karnataka to_ influence its art, though it did develop certain distinct
0060J66 mannerisms of its own. ^The Chera (Kerala) cave-temples of
0070J66 which about ten exist, are distributed accordingly in three groups,
0080J66 the southern most, across the Aramboli (Aralvaymoli) pass in Venad
0090J66 or the erstwhile Travancore region, being at Bhutapandi, Tirunandikara,
0100J66 Vilinjam and Tuvarankadu, the central group at Kaviyur,
0110J66 Kottukal and Airurpara (or Madavurpara), all north of Trivandrum
0120J66 across the Ariyankavu pass, while the northern group, found at Irunilamcode,
0130J66 Trikkur and Branthanpara are relatable to the Peermade-Munar
0140J66 pass. ^Of the last mentioned, Trikkur (Ernakulam District)
0150J66 is the most important and the largest. ^Its outstanding features
0160J66 are its detachable *4linga on a monolithic square *4pitha, the orientation
0170J66 of the water-chute of the *4pitha to the north-- the entrance
0180J66 direction of the cave-temple-- thus making the *4linga itself face
0190J66 properly east, the carving of *4dvarapala in three quarter relief
0200J66 on the side walls of the cella chamber and not on the outer walls flanking
0210J66 the door, the cella being entlaed not by a single door but by
0220J66 a pillared facade with three bays, whose pillars have a *4taranga or
0230J66 wavy corbel of the voluted type, the Ganesa sculpture in the north-west
0240J66 wall niche in the cella, all these eke out its nexus clearly
0250J66 with the early Chalukyan usages, making the cave-shrine ascribable
0260J66 to the early 8th century \0A.D. if not slightly earlier. ^The other
0270J66 example at Irunilamcode (Trichur District) is distinguished by
0280J66 double opposed shrines for Siva and Vishnu, although these two are
0290J66 no more than niches, Siva being represented by a *4linga and the back
0300J66 wall having Dakshinamurti image in unconventional and lively pattern.
0310J66 ^The cave-temple is facing north but the Dakshinamurti on the back
0320J66 wall is made to_ imply its location on the south wall of the shrine
0330J66 (and seemingly oriented south also). ^It is datable to the last quater
0340J66 of the 8th century \0A.D. ^The third example at Branthanpara
0350J66 near Shoranur was just commenced and shows the technique of rock-scooping
0360J66 similar to the Pallavas and the provision for niches of Saptamatrika
0370J66 and Ganesa on the outer flanks. $^The examples of the
0380J66 central Kerala group have strong Pandyan influence except for two
0390J66 factors: the *4linga is often of the *4arsha type with a tapering
0400J66 top and the *4pitha is of multiple cut stone masonry blocks, which we
0410J66 see at Tirunandikara also. ^The provision for *4pitha in two or three
0420J66 parts to_ be assembled inside the cella during the consecration
0430J66 is essentially a 9th century practice, of the peripheral regions of
0440J66 Tamil Nadu. ^However, three distinctive features link them closely
0450J66 and directly with Pandyan country. ^These are: the carving of ascetic
0460J66 like figures on the side walls of the *4mandapa, compared to that_
0470J66 at Tirukkalakudi, Kunnandarkoil and Virasikhamani in Tamil
0480J66 Nadu; the provision of a separate pedestal for the niche carving is,
0490J66 however, original to Kaviyur. ^The Kottukal type is the most impressive
0500J66 correlation of themes-- represented in the depiction of Hanuman
0510J66 as *4dvarapala-- seemingly assumed by Nandi, a feature which
0520J66 occurs in a more impressive size on the door flanks of the cella at
0530J66 Kunnattur cave near Madurai. ^The corbel type at Kottukal is of the
0540J66 simple bevel type. ^It has further a monolithic *4nandi also. ^The
0550J66 hanuman *4dvarapla seemingly as a reflection Nandi*'s location, is inspired
0560J66 by Hanuman having been considered as a manifestation of Nandi,
0570J66 as recalled by Ravana when Hanuman visits his court before the burning
0580J66 of Lanka. ^At Airurpara, the *4linga is an *4arsha or archaic
0590J66 type and Vishnu and Ganesa carvings are shown on the wall, recalling
0600J66 similar usage at Sevilipatti, and Tirumalapuram. ^The southern
0610J66 group again shows an archaic *4linga at Bhutapandi (now in Tamil
0620J66 Nadu) which is rather a diminutive cave excavation. ^But its architectural
0630J66 details like the jointly cut lintel and side corbels of wall pilasters
0640J66 in the front *4mandapa are of interest, while the example at
0650J66 Tirunandikara-- an excavation of the time of Vikramaditya Varaguna
0660J66 the Ay king is satisfying, with a composite masonary *5linga pitha*6
0670J66 and detachable *4linga as at Kaviyur, a side-facing shrine and
0680J66 ceiling in the *4mandapa whose back walls carried extensive mural paintings
0690J66 in the past, coeval with the excavation, of which only the bare
0700J66 outer lines of a Dakshinamurti is now visible in parts. ^The third
0710J66 example of the southern group is the niche cave on a boulder at
0720J66 Vilinjam, a seaport town 8 miles (14.8 \0Km.) south of Trivandrum,
0730J66 a scene of battle between Pandyas and Ay kings and containing some
0740J66 beautiful figures of Siva as Tripurarimurti and a dancing form
0750J66 on either flank of the front face respectively. $^The key note of the
0760J66 Kerala group of cave temples is its variability, heterogeneity, originality
0770J66 and differential impacts from the Chalukyan and the mainland
0780J66 Pandya zones on its art-matrix. $*<*3B. Early Structural Stages*0*>
0790J66 $*<*3Pallava period*0*> $^The range and gamut of structural
0800J66 temple design under the Pallavas may now be briefly documented. ^They
0810J66 were all confined to Tondaimandalam. ^They were almost all of them
0820J66 rendered in sandstone except those at Mahabalipuram of the early Pallava
0830J66 stage of Rajasimha and those on the western periphery like
0840J66 Tiruttani, Nenmeli, Velakanampudi, \0etc., which, having come under
0850J66 the influence of the Banas, Vaidumbas and the aggressive Cholas
0860J66 who involved them all, could dabble in the granite medium. ^Such a
0870J66 rendering in granite, in Tondaimandalam until the 9th-10th or even
0880J66 11th century \0A.D. should have been rather out of the ordinary,
0890J66 the norm being either sandstone or a mixed medium (*4misra) of some
0900J66 type of local stone for the ground floor and stucco and brick for the
0910J66 superstructure. ^This is well brought out by the fact that inscriptions
0920J66 of builders and donors who employed the hardstone make a special
0930J66 reference to this, as in the case of the Virattanesvara temple at
0940J66 Tiruttani recorded therein as built by Nambi Appi in the 18th year
0950J66 of the Aparajita Pallava, in granite stone, or in the case of
0960J66 the reconstruction of the apsidal temple at Tiruvorriyur on the outskrits
0970J66 of Madras, which is recorded as having been built by Rajendra
0980J66 Chola in '*5krishna sila*6' or black granite stone. $^That the most
0990J66 early structural experimentation was for a *4mandapa type, there
1000J66 can be no doubt. ^The analogy was available in cave and monolithic art
1010J66 also and is the safest for first faltering stages. ^Our evidence,
1020J66 in this regard, for the Pallavas, is eloquently brought out by the
1030J66 Chittoor Copper plate grant of Nripatunga. ^This mentions that Narasimhavarman
1040J66 *=1 Mamalla built a sleeping chamber shrine for Vishnu
1050J66 on the fringe of the sea there, out of stones (*4asmabhih) seemingly
1060J66 to_ emphasize by the plural employed, the structural character of
1070J66 the temple as contrasted, with monolithic art, where such 'plural'
1080J66 might be singularly inapt. ^We know that the Talasayana shrine, sandwiched
1090J66 between the twin Shore Temples should be the one referred
1100J66 to here. ^This God has been carved on the rock in monolithic technique
1110J66 but above the plinth the temple should have contained a pillared
1120J66 chamber for the God, the superstructure being yet in brick thus urging
1130J66 Rajasimha to_ restore the chamber for this God, while building
1140J66 his larger Shore Temple, around its *4pradakshina circuit where
1150J66 this Vishnu was located. $^After this landmark of Mamalla, the next
1160J66 important structural enterprise was the apsidal temple at Kuram
1170J66 by Paramesvaravarman *=1, as mentioned in his Kuram Plates,
1180J66 and called as Vidyavinita Pallavesvaragriham. ^This temple again
1190J66 was of stone in the plinth and ground floor but was seemingly of
1200J66 wood and tile for the superstructure. ^What more, the plinth was itself
1210J66 of a 'boxed' technique, with solid brick masonry core and veneering
1220J66 with slabs cut in small pieces, course by course, and boxed around
1230J66 the brick hearting. ^This was a technique that_ was seen prevalent
1240J66 in the Ikshvaku structures at Nagarjunakonda, as in the apsidal
1250J66 Pushpabhadraswami temple, built by Ehavala Chantamula in the 4th
1260J66 century \0A.D. ^This composite temple plinth is extant till today,
1270J66 but the wall and superstructure has been renovated in later times.
1280J66 ^The use of tiles (and by implication timber also) is inferred by
1290J66 the reference in Paramesvara*'s copper plate to an endowment of land
1300J66 for a specific kiln which will make brick and tiles necessary for
1310J66 the temple. $^The first confident creations in all stone structural
1320J66 style, though yet in coarse granite or sandstone interleavened with
1330J66 granite plinth to_ help in recording inscriptions and to_ bear the
1340J66 stress which might pulverise the sandstone material as time passed, belong
1350J66 only to Rajasimha*'s time, when we have a spurt of structural activity.
1360J66 ^As many as four major temples were constructed at Mahabalipuram
1370J66 besides six or seven more at Kanchipuram, including the Rajasimhesvara
1380J66 or Kailasanatha temple complex and one more at Panamalai,
1390J66 during his rule. ^The later Pallavas, beginning with Nandivarman
1400J66 *=2 Pallavamalla, were responsible for an equally large number of temples,
1410J66 of which Vaikunthaperumal temple, Muktesvara and Matangesvara
1420J66 at Kanchi are of Nandivarman *=2, and Sundaravarada temple at
1430J66 Uttiramerur and perhaps the Pundarikaksha temple at Tiruvellarai
1440J66 in Tiruchchi District, and the Aivarkoil at Kodumbalur under the
1450J66 Irukkuvel vassals, all of the time of Dantivarman. ^We have also
1460J66 inscribed evidence that_ might ascribe a temple at Tiruchanur (near
1470J66 Tirupati) to the latter, probably the Panchavira temple of Venugopala
1480J66 near the Padmavati Tayar temple at that_ place. ^Of the time
1490J66 of Nandivarman *=3, we have the Kailasanatha temple at Tiruppattur
1500J66 (near Perambalur in Tiruchchi District) built of sandstone in
1510J66 four *4talas and with a *4dharalinga in the *4sandhara sanctum. ^*Nripatunga,
1520J66 Kampavarman and the latter*'s son Aparajita have their basic
1530J66 temple munificences noticed at Bahur, Tiruchchennampundi, Narttamalai,
1540J66 (Paliyiliccuram) Kavantandalam, Uttiramerur, Tiruvorriyur,
1550J66 Kaveripakkam, Sumangali, Natteri, Tiruttani, Nenmeli, Velakanampudi
1560J66 and Takkolam. ^Some of these temples have been repaired
1570J66 or rebuilt during the Chola times. ^The last two appear to_ have been
1580J66 by the Bana feudatories of the Pallavas. $^We should note that
1590J66 the early Pallava structural temple, until the close of the time of
1600J66 Rajasimha, did not use a *4linga, had only a Somaskanda panel on
1610J66 the back wall for worship, did not have any exterior projecting water
1620J66 chute for *4abhisheka water on the top of the plinth, there was no
1630J66 *4upapitha, as a rule, until the time of Nandivarman *=2, both *4sandhara
1640J66 (with inner covered ambulatory circuit) and *4nirandhara (without
1650J66 such a device and to_ be circumbulated only on the open outer court)
1660J66 were common, the former device, largely for the principle of *4Kadalikakarana
1670J66 or corbelling through the cellular wall base, for the
1680J66 support of the heavy superstructural load. ^Both *4arpita (applique)
1690J66 and *4anarpita (separated) *4hara parapets of the successive *4prastaras
1700J66 (entablatures) were common, the former indicative generally
1710J66 of the latter stage already having been gone through and conventionalised
1720J66 for structural purposes in the former. ^The *4sikhara shape had
1730J66 already got variegated into the *4Dravida (octagon), *4Nagara (square)
1740J66 and *4Vesara (circular or apsidal) shapes in that_ order of
1750J66 introduction. ^The first circular *4sikhara came only in the period
1760J66 of Nandivarman *=2, as at Muktesvara, *4^Upapitha also started only
1770J66 in his reign, as a rule. ^A *5dhara linga*6 (or faceted *4linga
1780J66 in increasing multiples of four from the base or multiple flutes all
1790J66 through) gets introduced from \0*3C*0. \0A.D. 725 and continues
1800J66 for almost the entire later Pallava period upto the end of the 9th
1810J66 century \0A.D., whereafter they get superseded by regular Chola type
1820J66 *4lingas everywhere as the only object of worship. ^Simultaneously,
1830J66 there is also a *4pranala or projecting water chute on the plinth edge
1840J66 on the exterior for ritual bath water. ^*Somaskanda figure gets modified
1850J66 into Umamahesvara and finally disappeared along with this stage. ^*Umamahesvara
1860J66 panel on back wall are **[sic**] seen at Tiruvadigai and Velakanampudi,
1870J66 while all the temples outside Kanchi or Mahabalipuram do
1880J66 not show any Somaskanda or other image, after the time of Nandivarman
1890J66 *=2. ^In Cholamandalam under the Pallavas, as at Kodumbalur
1900J66 (Aivarkoil) or Narttamalai, *4linga had been introduced, mostly with
1910J66 square *4pitha below it, from the time of Dantivarman and circular
1920J66 later on.*#
        **[no. of words = 02021**]

        **[txt. j67**]
0010J67 **<*3Transition: A complete process*0**> $^Viewed from such a historical
0020J67 perspective of Indian music, we find that only during the period
0030J67 just preceding that_ of Bharata, \0i.e., in the second stage of development,
0040J67 there was an attempt at systematization, because it was
0050J67 Bharata who, for the first time, referred to and dealt exhaustively
0060J67 with the *4jatis and its subdivisions on the one hand, and the *4dhruva,
0070J67 the earliest form of *4geetis on the other. ^That the *4jatis
0080J67 were themselves *4ragas or contained in them rudiments of *4ragas,
0090J67 is a matter of debatable discussion; but studying the ten characteristics
0100J67 (*5dasa lakshamanas*6) of the *4jatis as mentioned by Bharata,
0110J67 there is left little doubt that these were the actual forerunners
0120J67 of the proper *4ragas. ^The *4svara structure, through a process of
0130J67 steady progression since the time of the early *4Vedas, came to a
0140J67 proper system with specific characteristics just referred to and took
0150J67 a more or less concrete shape so as to_ be termed *4ragas. ^As a
0160J67 parallel development, the song-- the *4geeti as it was then called--
0170J67 took a proper shape in the form of *4dhruva. ^Besides dealing exhaustively
0180J67 with *4srutis, *4gramas, *4murchhanas, voice-registers \0etc.,
0190J67 Bharata treated, with the greatest importance, the *4jatis (*5jati ragas*6)
0200J67 and *5dhruva geetis*6 in the twentyeighth to thirty-second chapters
0210J67 of the Natyasastra respectively. ^In fact, the entire thirty-second
0220J67 chapter is devoted to the discussion of *5dhruva geetis*6, with
0230J67 the few exclusion of twenty-five *4slokas where he discussed some
0240J67 other aspects relating to the characteristics of the *4veena player
0250J67 and the qualities of a musician, teacher, \0etc. $^The discussion on
0260J67 the various aspects of Indian music then prevalent is quite systematic
0270J67 in the Natyasastra and one can easily guess to what maturity
0280J67 and emotive height the music reached at that_ time. ^Before the discussion
0290J67 on *4jatis, Bharata treated the seven notes, the two *4gramas
0300J67 and the *4srutis in the *4sadja and *5madhyama gramas*6, *4murchhanas
0310J67 and *4tans. ^Thus it may be seen that the constituents that_
0320J67 led to the formation of *4jatis are discussed in a chronological sequence.
0330J67 ^That the emergence of *4jatiragas is caused due to the mutual
0340J67 relation of notes as well as the development of such constituent
0350J67 elements, is quite evident from the nature of the description. $^The
0360J67 base of all Indian music rests on the seven notes and Bharata named
0370J67 the notes *4sadja, *4rishava, *4gandhara; *4madhyama, *4pancama,
0380J67 *4dhaivata and *4nishada, as *5sapta ca svara*6 and in the very next
0390J67 *4sloka he mentioned the notes as belonging to four classes, \0e.g.,
0400J67 *4vadi, *4samvadi, *4anuvadi and *4vivadi where the question of
0410J67 assonance and dissonance of notes has been discussed. ^This seems to_
0420J67 be a very important point. ^*Indian music, specially its classical
0430J67 forms, is based on melody-types, but the harmonic relationship between
0440J67 the notes is an integral part of the structural constituents
0450J67 of *4raga pattern. ^The very conception of *4vadi *4samvadi on the
0460J67 one hand and *4vivadi on the other rests on the principle of assonance,
0470J67 which relates to the essential harmonic nature of the constituent
0480J67 notes forming a *4raga pattern. $^Along with the discussion on assonance
0490J67 and dissonance, the question of *4sruti becomes inevitable;
0500J67 because, it is only in the discussion of the interval of notes that
0510J67 their relational aspects may be determined. ^It has been seen that
0520J67 the notes resting at a distance of eight and twelve *4sruti intervals,
0530J67 the assonance becomes most congenial and harmonic. ^That_ is why
0540J67 *4sadja is assonant with *4madhyama and *4pancama, and *4rishava with
0550J67 *4pancama, and so on. ^*Bharata has admitted the existence of twenty-two
0560J67 *4srutis resting on the notes as follows: **[verses in sanskrit**]
0570J67 $^This is true in respect of *4sadjagrama only. ^But in the *4madhyamagrama,
0580J67 the position of *4sruti has changed, *4dhaivata taking
0590J67 four and *4pancama three *4srutis. ^This is quite evident now, as
0600J67 *4madhyamagrama has become obsolete and the current practice of singing
0610J67 in *4sadjagrama having the above *4sruti intervals quite justifies
0620J67 the harmonic relationship that_ was established long ago. ^The
0630J67 relationship may be mathematically tabulated as follows: more precisely,
0640J67 to_ put in mathematical proportion as follows: $^Leaving aside the
0650J67 *4sruti interval from *4ma, or considering the entire gamut as composed
0660J67 of two tetrachords, the entire sequence is found to_ be quite
0670J67 harmonic. $*4^Murchhanas have been described in detail and these are
0680J67 of fourteen kinds in the two *4gramas, the *4gandharagrama being obsolete
0690J67 during the time of Bharata. ^The *4sadjagrama has seven *4murchhanas
0700J67 as **[table**] $^*Manomohan Ghosh, in the Introduction
0710J67 to his translation of the Natyasastra, has observed a striking resemblance
0720J67 of the first six of these with the Greek modes Ionian, dorian,
0730J67 Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian and Acolian. ^The *4madhyamagrama
0740J67 has similiarly given rise to seven *4murchhanas as *4Sauviri, *4Harinasva,
0750J67 *4Kalopanata, *4suddhamadhya, *4Margavi, *4Pauravi and
0760J67 *4Hrishyaka, but in later years even the *4madhyamagrama became obsolete,
0770J67 the *4sadjagrama remaining the only *4grama for all practical
0780J67 purposes with definite *4sruti intervals as mentioned earlier. ^That
0790J67 the other two *4gramas became obsolete was due perhaps to their non-harmonic
0800J67 *4sruti divisions. ^The *4murchhanas in the *4sadjagrama
0810J67 were of four kinds according to the distribution of notes as *4sampurna,
0820J67 *4shadava, *4audava and *4sadharanikrita, the last one depending
0830J67 on the overlapping notes. $^The modern concept of *4raga system,
0840J67 broadly described as melody-type, is the result of a long process
0850J67 of *4svara combination since the time of Bharata or even earlier.
0860J67 ^The successive discussion on *4svara, *4sruti, *4gramas and *4murchhanas
0870J67 and then on *4jatis clearly indicates that Bharata was conscious
0880J67 of the process which led to such a system resulting in the formation
0890J67 of melody-types. ^In the description of the Natyasastra, *4jatis
0900J67 and their subdivisions, sentiments and other attributes were focussed
0910J67 in every detail and one could guess that *4jatiragas might have
0920J67 been a living form of systematic music; more than eleven centuries
0930J67 later when Sarangadeva discussed the *4ragas in the chapter on *4Ragadhyay,
0940J67 he stressed importance on the *4jatiragas and their subdivisions
0950J67 no doubt, but that_ aspect was dealt with from a historical perspective.
0960J67 ^This is an indication of a prolonged and steady development
0970J67 of *4raga system that_ underwent many changes, fusion and intermixture.
0980J67 ^While Bharata mentions the term '*4raga' only as associated
0990J67 with *4jatis, Sarangadeva devoted an exclusive chapter on the *4raga
1000J67 system. ^It is obvious therefrom that the term *4raga had found
1010J67 its constant and generalised use during his time and that *4jatiragas
1020J67 were a matter of a distant past. ^*Bharata did not assign any definition
1030J67 to *4jati but mentioned how *4srutis led to the *4jatiragas.
1040J67 ^*Catura Kallinatha, in his commentary on the *4Sangitratnakara,
1050J67 refers to the origin of *4jatis as $*5Gramadyavajjayata iti jataya*6
1060J67 $^While Bharata attached more significance to *4srutis, Sarangadeva
1070J67 to the *4gramas. ^The word *4jati might have more than one significance
1080J67 of which two are vital for the determination of its character
1090J67 while discussing *4jatiragas. ^The first connotation relates to 'birth'
1100J67 when it might be assumed *4jatis to_ be of pure origin while
1110J67 the second connotation as 'classification' might refer *4jatis to_
1120J67 be of certain broad classes from which later *4jatis originated.
1130J67 $^In the Natyasastra Bharata did not treat *4ragas separately though
1140J67 he mentioned the term on more than one occasion. ^In the *4slokas
1150J67 from 38 to 151 he had dealt with *4jatis quite exhaustively and assigned
1160J67 their origin, mentioned their characters, classification and
1170J67 finally gave description of the eighteen *4suddha and *4vikrita *4jatis.
1180J67 ^It is obvious, therefore, that the term *4raga did not find any
1190J67 generalised use during his time. ^In the 29th chapter where he discussed
1200J67 the *4alamkaras and *4rasas, there even *4ragas were not mentioned
1210J67 in relation to evocative sentiments. ^There are good number of
1220J67 reasons that_ might lead one to_ guess that *4raga was not something
1230J67 different from the *4jatis. ^Not only the *4ragas were later development
1240J67 of the *4jatis, *4jatiragas and *4gramaragas but also the
1250J67 characteristics which go to_ define a *4raga were the same that_
1260J67 were ascribed to the *4jatis. ^The following reasons might prove that
1270J67 the *4ragas were the same as the *4jatiragas of earlier periods if
1280J67 certain characteristics are taken into consideration: $^*Bharata mentions
1290J67 as tenpoint characteristics of a *4jati $*5 dasabidham jatilakshmanam*6
1300J67 it is further mentioned $*5Grahamsau taramandrau ca nyasapanyasa
1310J67 eba ca alpatvam ca bahutvam ca shadavauduvite tatha*6 the characteristics
1320J67 are *4graha, *4amsa, *4tar, *4mandra, *4nyasa, *4apanyasa,
1330J67 *4alpatva, *4bahutva, *4shadava and *4audava. ^These characteristics
1340J67 are still assigned to the *4raga in the modern period while determining
1350J67 its quality. ^*Bharata then explained all these characteristics
1360J67 in separate *4slokas. $^The *4jatis have been classified as *4suddha
1370J67 and *4vikrita. ^In modern times even *4ragas have three broad
1380J67 categories as *4suddha, *4shalaga and *4samkirna. ^The *5vikrita jatis*6
1390J67 have been originated by a process of fusion and mixture, so have
1400J67 the *5samkirna ragas*6 been derived that_ way. $^The *5shadava audava*6
1410J67 characters of the *4jatis are also the specific characters
1420J67 of the *4ragas in modern times. ^The hexatonic or pentatonic notes
1430J67 used in certain *4ragas determine their characters as *4shadava or
1440J67 *4audava. $^The *4ragas used to_ tinge or colour and to_ evoke corresponding
1450J67 sentiments in human mind and so also the *4jatis. ^*Bharata
1460J67 describes in detail in the 29th chapter of Natyasastra all these
1470J67 emotive attributes. ^The erotic, comic, heroic, furious, marvellous,
1480J67 pathetic, terrible, odious, \0etc., are the sentiments that_ the
1490J67 *4jatis can evoke. ^He further mentions 'only the *4sadjamadhya is
1500J67 the *4jati which can accommodate all the sentiments'. $^The *4ragas,
1510J67 in modern times, are applied to songs and so were the *4jatis. ^The
1520J67 usage of four *4varnas could also be found in the Natyasastra: $*5Arohi
1530J67 cabarohi ca sthaisancarinau tatha*6 $while discussing the relation
1540J67 between *4jati and *4raga, the above points should be considered.
1550J67 ^As Swami Prajnanananda has stated, the term *4raga was used
1560J67 though only on a few occasions, yet these eighteen *4suddha and *4vikrita
1570J67 *4jatis were perhaps nothing but *4ragas with powers to_ excite
1580J67 emotion and pleasing sentiments. $^It was a long process of fusion,
1590J67 mixture and separation until we arrive at the modern concept of
1600J67 *4raga. ^The process elaborately categorises such terms as *4jatiragas,
1610J67 *4gramragas, *4bhasa, *4bibhasa, *4antarabhasa \0etc., but this
1620J67 long chain had certain permanent aspects common to them and the modern
1630J67 concept of *4raga ingrained within it the basic constituents that_
1640J67 went into its complete and artistic blending. $^The *4jatis, before
1650J67 and at the time of Bharata, were divided into two classes, *4suddha
1660J67 and *4vikrita (pure and modified). ^In the *4sadjagrama, there were
1670J67 four pure *4jatis as *4sadji, *4arshavi, *4dhaivati and *4naishadi
1680J67 while in the *4madhyamagrama those were *4gandhari, *4madhyama and
1690J67 *4pancami. ^The pure *4jatis consisted of all the notes having *4amsa,
1700J67 *4graha and *4nyasa. ^The modified *4jatis were eleven in number
1710J67 and grew out of combinations from the pure *4jatis. ^These were *4sadjakaisiki,
1720J67 *4sadjadicyava, *4sadjamadhya, *4maktagandhari, *4gandharodicyava,
1730J67 *4gandharapancami, *4madhyamomicyava, *4undhri, *4nandayanti,
1740J67 *4karmaravi and *4kaisiki. ^The description and characteristics
1750J67 of each of these *4jatis were elaborately give in the \0N.S.
1760J67 An English rendering by Manomohan Ghosh reads as: *4Sadji, 'In
1770J67 the *5sadji jati*6, the *4amsa is of five notes (of the *4grama),
1780J67 *4nishada and *4rishava being excluded. ^Its *4apanyasa is *4gandhara
1790J67 and *4pancama, and *4nyasa, *4sadja; and *4nishada should be dropped
1800J67 from it. ^Its hexatonic treatment should exclude *4nishada. ^In it,
1810J67 *4dhaivata and *4nishada should be reduced; and *4sadja and *4gandhara
1820J67 as well as *4dhaivata and *4sadja should move together, and *4gandhara
1830J67 should be amplified. ^These *4jatis with ten characteristics
1840J67 should be applied in the song (*4pada) with dance movements (*4karanas)
1850J67 and gestures suitable to them. ^The four kinds of songs or *4geetis
1860J67 in which the *4jatis were applied were *4magadhi, *4ardhamagadhi,
1870J67 *4sambhavita and *4prithule. $^While the above kinds of *4geetis considered
1880J67 the *4pada and *4tala more than anything else and applied to
1890J67 *4jatis, the five kinds of *4geetis that_ developed at a later period
1900J67 as *4suddha, *4vinna, *4goudi, *4besara and *4sadharani considered
1910J67 the *4raga element more systematically and were applied to the *4gramaragas.
1920J67 ^*Sarangadeva referred to the *4jatiragas from the historian*'s
1930J67 point of view, but treated *4gramaragas and their offshoots in
1940J67 all detail as the existing order of the day. ^*Rajyeswar Mitra,
1950J67 in his commentary on the Ratnakara has made the following observation:
1960J67 the *4raga based itself on the *4geetis and in the process, the *4geetis
1970J67 have emerged from the poetic to the musical world [\0tr. by the
1980J67 author]. $^The *4gramaragas, thirty in number, based themselves on
1990J67 the above *4geetis in both the *4gramas; as seven in the *5suddha
2000J67 geeti*6, five in the *5vinna geeti,*6 three in the *5goudi geeti,*6
2010J67 eight in the *5besara geeti*6 and seven in the *5sadharani geeti*6.*#**[no.
        of words = 02006**]

        **[txt. j68**]
0010J68 **<*3A Study of Dattilam*0**> $^The notion of *4anuranana-- 'resonance'--
0020J68 is not very clear in this context, but apparently it was a notion
0030J68 connected with the laws of accoustics: the harmonic relations existing
0040J68 naturally between certain sounds. ^After making a sound if there
0050J68 arises another sound which has any harmonic relation with the first,
0060J68 then the two sounds will acquire a resonant quality. ^This seems
0070J68 to_ be what Abhinava meant by *4anuranana. $^The octave itself is
0080J68 born of the harmonic principle and has many possible graded intervals,
0090J68 the *4srutis, but not all of these have the resonant qualities inherent
0100J68 in *4svara. ^Only intervals separated from each other by a certain
0110J68 measure of *4sruti-interval have a naturally pleasing effect:
0120J68 these are the *4svaras. ^Thus some theorists in Abhinava*'s days
0130J68 opined that "when the intervening *4srutis (between two sounds) consist
0140J68 of a certain definite number, then on the final *4sruti if a sound
0150J68 is made through the friction of the breath (in singing), this results
0160J68 in *4svara; this consists of the quality of charm and pleasingness
0170J68 **[sic**] which belongs to that_ particular *4sruti position.
0180J68 *4^Svara imparts colour \0i.e., 'musical significance' (in this context)
0190J68 to the *4sruti on which it rests (*4tasyasrayabhutayah Sruteruparanjakah)".
0200J68 *4^Svara according to this view, was the pleasing quality
0210J68 that_ certain *4sruti positions naturally possessed. ^*Abhinava
0220J68 was in favour of somewhat amending this view and himself considered
0230J68 *4anuranana as the basic characteristic of a note: "the sound, consiting
0240J68 of *4anuranana, charming and sweet, which is produced as an effect
0250J68 of that_ sound which results on striking a (specific) *4sruti position,
0260J68 is *4svara". ^Thus *4svara according to Abhinava was not just
0270J68 a sound but an echo-like resonant, secondary sound which was the
0280J68 characteristic of certain *4srutis and it was this resonance which
0290J68 produced the pleasant and charming sensation that_ the musical notes
0300J68 arouse in us. $*4^Srutis according to this view were secondary to
0310J68 *4svara (they were *4svarasrayah: \0i.e., 'dependent upon *4svara');
0320J68 they were pitch-gradations within the interval of a *4svara: "*5srutayo
0330J68 hyuccanicataya api svarasraya eva pratiyante*6" (\0^*A.B. on
0340J68 \0N.S. 28, 21). $^Though, doctrinally, Matanga has given primacy
0350J68 to *4sruti over *4svara (believing as he did that *4srutis gave rise
0360J68 to *4svaras) yet in his view, too, *4svaras and not *4srutis were of
0370J68 primary musical significance. *4^Sruti he defines as a sound that_
0380J68 is audible \0Br. 26-27), but *4svara is much more. *4^Svara, Matanga
0400J68 says, has the quality of *4dipti-- 'splendour', 'beauty', 'illumination'.
0410J68 ^Etymologically analysing and defining the word *4svara,
0420J68 he further says that *4svara is an entity which shines forth on its
0430J68 own: this is another way of saying that *4svaras are '*4svayambhu'
0440J68 entities, born of the very laws of sound: **[sanskrit verse**] ^The
0450J68 Vrtti on these lines comments that "*4svara is the sound which produces
0460J68 *4raga" (*5ragajanako dhvanih svarah*6). ^Taking the pun on *4raga
0470J68 to_ be intentional, the meaning would be that *4svaras are sounds
0480J68 that_ arouse our affections or emotions and also are the basis of
0490J68 organised melodic structures. ^The Vrtti quotes Kohala who had defined
0500J68 *4svara as an 'affective sound' (*5dhvani raktah svara*6; Vrtti
0510J68 on \0Br. 64A). ^A *4sruti does not have this significance. $^The
0520J68 nature of *4svara-- like that_ of *4sruti-- had given rise to some
0530J68 metaphysical questions: was *4svara, in the ultimate analysis, one
0540J68 or many ('*5eko*'3neko va*6)? ^Was it perishable or perennial (*5nityo'nityo
0550J68 va*6)? ^The Vrtti on *4brhaddesi raises these questions and answers
0560J68 them by stating that *4svara is both one and many; it is pervasive
0570J68 and perennial. *4^Svara, it says, in its indivisible-- *4niskala--
0580J68 form is one, but becomes many in the form of individual notes
0590J68 like *4sadja \0etc. *4^Svara, the Vrtti continues, is perennial because
0600J68 it is indestructible; in other words, the Vrttikara thought that
0610J68 *4svara was not a 'thing created' and thus could not be destructible
0620J68 like created things. ^It was something which existed in the very
0630J68 nature of things and was *4nitya-- without a beginning and end. ^Man
0640J68 did not create *4svara but only perceived this ever existent phenomenon
0650J68 and with its help created music. $*4^Svara is also pervasive because
0660J68 it is universal (*4sarvagatah). ^This perhaps means that *4svara
0670J68 is not a mere subjective phenomenon perceived differently by different
0680J68 people but a universal entity perceived the same by all. *4^Svara
0690J68 is, indeed, basically dependent upon the laws of accoustics and
0700J68 its perception has therefore an objective, universal basis. ^The Vrtti
0710J68 quotes a verse by Kohala which describes *4svara as *4vyapaka
0720J68 which in the context, evidently, means 'universal'. $^In *4gandharva
0721J68 there were seven *4svaras in
0730J68 an octave (*5svarah sadjadayah sapta;*6 Datt. 11) : *4sadja, *4rsabha,
0740J68 *4gandhara, *4madhyama, *4pancama, *4dhaivata and *4nisada. ^There
0750J68 were in addition two intermediary or auxiliary-- *4sadharana--
0760J68 notes, namely, *5antara gandhara*6 and *5kakali nisada*6. ^These latter
0770J68 two were not accorded the full status of svara: *5antara gandhara*6
0780J68 was a subsidiary of *4gandhara and *5kakali nisada*6 that_ of
0790J68 *4nisada. ^*Abhinava, commenting on \0N.S. 28, 21 where the seven
0800J68 notes have been named, says: "notes are declared to_ be seven in
0810J68 number; by this statement Bharata reveals that *4kakali (*4nisada)
0811J68 and *4antara (*4gandhara) are not separate notes--. $^In tuning the pitches
0820J68 of the *4svaras were apparently arrived at through the ear as
0830J68 in current practice. *4^Sruti the minute interval within a *4svara
0840J68 could not be thus arrived at. ^It required a more elaborate procedure.
0850J68 ^*Bharata has described the process of tuning at some length through
0860J68 which *4sruti could be determined. ^The process involved two *4vinas
0870J68 equal in all respects: in size, in the number and thickness of
0880J68 strings, in *4upavadana (the '*4mizrab' or plectrum for striking them?)
0890J68 and the succession of notes. ^The two *4vinas were then identically
0900J68 tuned to the sadja-grama: **[sanskrit quotation**] ^*Bharata gives
0910J68 no method or process for arriving at this initial tuning. ^Evidently,
0930J68 it was done through the ear and not through a process employing
0940J68 mathematical ratios (such as is given by later theorists like Ahobala,
0950J68 Srinivasa \0etc.) ^*Bharata*'s attitude was in this respect
0960J68 empirical. ^It was an attitude which prevailed in all early musical
0970J68 thinking. ^No early text makes an attempt to_ numerically assess the
0980J68 magnitude of the *4svaras in any way; all assume their positions as
0990J68 given. ^The Vritti on *4brhaddesi in describing the measure (Mana)
1000J68 or magnitude of a *4sruti also assumes the position of the *4svaras
1020J68 themselves as known and merely reproduces Bharata*'s passage on this
1030J68 subject with minor changes (\0Br. Vrtti on 28). $^In ancient
1040J68 Greece, early theorists, chiefly Pythagoras (6th Century \0B.C.)
1050J68 had arrived at numerical ratios for the position of various notes:
1060J68 tonal intervals were demonstrated on a single stretched string in terms
1070J68 of spatial divisions. ^However, other theorists, especially Aristoxenus
1080J68 (born 350 \0B.C.) favoured the empirical method. ^Introducing
1090J68 the subject of harmonics (the study of musical sounds) he observes
1100J68 that the subject of the study is the question: "in melody of every
1110J68 kind what are the natural laws according to which the voice in ascending
1120J68 and descending places the intervals?" ^In reply he asserts
1130J68 that the voice (meaning, of course, the musical voice) spontaneously
1140J68 arrives at the right interval according to an inexorable law of sound.
1150J68 "^For we hold", he says, "that the voice follows a natural law in
1160J68 its motion and does not place the intervals at random." ^Further,
1170J68 he observes that the ear is a judge which cognises the measure of true
1180J68 musical intervals. ^He states: "our subject matter being all melody,
1190J68 whether vocal or instrumental, our method rests in the last resort
1200J68 on an appeal to the two faculties of hearing and intellect. ^By
1210J68 the former we judge the magnitudes of intervals, by the latter we contemplate
1220J68 the functions of the notes." ^Recognising that an inexorable
1230J68 natural law is the basis of '*4svara', Aristoxenus remarks that
1240J68 "there is a certain marvellous order which belongs to the nature of
1250J68 harmony in general; in this order every instrument, to the best of
1260J68 its ability, participates under the direction of that_ faculty of
1270J68 sense-perception on which they, as well as everything else in music,
1280J68 finally depend." $^In tuning an instrument, too, it was this sense-perception,
1290J68 the sensitive ear, which was to_ act as the guide. "^No
1300J68 instrument", he asserts, "is self-tuned and that the harmonizing of
1310J68 it is the prerogative of sense-perception is obvious and requires
1320J68 no proof." ^A student of musical science according to Aristoxenus
1330J68 was not like a physical seientist who has to_ depend upon extraneous
1340J68 measures for judging his observations. ^A geometrician, for example,
1350J68 uses phrases such as 'let this be a straight line', but he makes
1360J68 no use of his faculty of sense-perception in judging a straight line
1370J68 as such: "^He does not in any degree train his sight to_ discriminate
1380J68 the straight line, the circle or any other figure." ^Such a discriminative
1390J68 training belongs rather to the craftsman, the artist: people
1400J68 such as "the carpenter, the turner or some other such handicraftsman",
1410J68 whose vocation involves the actual construction of geometric
1420J68 figures made through the trained sense of sight. ^The student of music,
1430J68 too, has to_ be similarly perceptive. ^*Aristoxenus says: "for
1440J68 the student of musical science, accuracy of sense-perception is a
1450J68 fundamental requirement." $^Though Bharata and other early Indian
1460J68 theorists have not explicity stated the idea in so many words, they,
1470J68 too, were evidently empiricists when it came to judging musical intervals.
1480J68 ^They had the same student in mind whom Aristoxenus considered
1490J68 as ideal: a student with a developed and descriminatively trained
1500J68 ear for musical intervals. ^Manuals such as those of Bharata, Dattila,
1510J68 Matanga and others were written and studied within *4samparadayas--
1520J68 schools of musical training-- and a basic knowledge of intervals
1530J68 as well as a trained faculty for perceiving them was, evidently,
1540J68 taken for granted in such students or musicians as were considered
1550J68 fit to_ study the writings of the great *4acaryas. $^It was quite
1560J68 late in the history of *4sangita literature that musical intervals were
1570J68 given in terms of spatial measures on a string. ^*Sarngadeva is
1580J68 the first to_ speak of Svara-vinas, on the cross-bar (*4danda) of
1590J68 which the location of each *4svara was marked and the magnitude of
1600J68 the intervening *4srutis was similarly indicated.
1601J68 *4^Vinas such as the *4ekatantri, *4nakula, *4tritantrika,
1610J68 Citra, *4vipanci, *4mattakokila, \0etc. were all *4svara-vinas.
1620J68 ^They seem to_ have been both of the lute and the harp varieties.
1630J68 ^In describing the construction of *4^Vinas Sarngadeva notes distances
1640J68 between frets on the basis of spatial intervals between svaras
1650J68 at different string points (see \0S.R. \0ch. 6); but the measurements
1660J68 and the *4svaras they represent are not very clear. ^The matter is
1670J68 more clear in works like the *3Rasakaumudi*0 of Srikantha (\0C.
1680J68 16th-17th century) which gives exact numerical ratios. ^Other such
1690J68 works are the *3Ragatattvavibodha*0 of Srinivasa (see verses 36-49
1700J68 of this work) and the *3Sangitaparijata*0 of Ahobala. $^Let us now
1710J68 return to the two identically constructed *4vinas of bharata. ^Both
1720J68 were tuned to the seven notes arranged according to *4sadja-grama.
1730J68 ^One *4vina was taken as the constant *4vina and was left untouched
1740J68 (this was the *4dhruva or the 'still' *4vina) while the *4pancama string
1750J68 of the other *4vina (termed the *4cala-vina) was loosened so that the
1760J68 string now sounded just a little lower than the *4pancama string of the
1761J68 *4dhruva-vina; this lowered pitch was tuned to the *4pancama of the
1770J68 *4madhyama-grama which was on the third *4sruti from the *4madhyama.
1780J68 while the *4pancama of the *4sadja-grama lay on the fourth *4sruti from
1781J68 the *4madhyama. ^This gave one the measure of a *4sruti. ^Then with this
1790J68 lowered *4pancama as the fulcrum, all other strings of the *4cala-vina
1800J68 were also lowered so that they were returned to the *4sadja-grama, but
1810J68 at a pitch one *4sruti lower than the *4dhruva-vina. ^This process has
1820J68 been outlined by Bharata for giving the magnitude of a *4sruti interval:
1830J68 **[sanskrit quotation**] $^One cannot but conclude that the *(*4sruti-interval*)
1840J68 like the *(*4svara-interval*) was also arrived at through
1850J68 the ear. ^The basis for lowering the *4pancama of the *4sadja-grama
1860J68 so as to_ make it the *4pancama of the *4madhyama-grama was clearly
1870J68 an empirical one in which the musician relied upon his ear. ^Only
1880J68 a person who could empirically distinguish the two *4gramas could have
1890J68 applied Bharata*'s process. $^There were, however, certain distinct harmonic
1900J68 properties of the slightly different octaves of the two *4gramas,
1910J68 which must have aided a musician in applying the process.*#
        **[no. of words = 02018**]

        **[txt. j69**]
0010J69 **<*33*0*> **<*3Circuits For \0D.C. Measurement*0**> $^In this chapter
0020J69 we will describe various circuits for \0d.c. measurements. ^Our
0030J69 starting point will be potentiometers which is basically a device
0040J69 for the comparison of voltages. ^After discussing the simple type of
0050J69 slide wire potentiometer, modification of \0R.E. Crompton will
0060J69 be explained. ^The limitations in performance due to slide wire is
0070J69 removed in Vernier potentiometer. $^The potentiometers described above
0080J69 are for general purpose in the sense they are used for variety
0090J69 of measurements. ^In addition to these potentiomerers there are some
0100J69 other potentiometers for special purposes. ^One of such potentiometers
0110J69 is Brook*'s deflection potentiometer specially designed for calibration
0120J69 and checking of \0d.c. ammeters, voltmeters and wattmeters.
0130J69 $^The potentiometers we have been talking about are referred as
0140J69 \0d.c. potentiometers as they are used for \0d.c. measurements. ^Likewise
0150J69 there are \0a.c. potentiometers also which will be discussed
0160J69 in the subsequent chapter of \0a.c. measurements. $^After describing
0170J69 various types of \0d.c. potentiometers, we shall study their use
0180J69 for measurements of voltage, current and resistance. ^As stated above,
0190J69 potentiometer is basically an instrument for the comparison of
0200J69 voltages. ^If one of the voltages is a known standard voltage, the
0210J69 potentiometer can be used for measurement of voltages. ^By measuring
0220J69 the voltage drop across a shunt of known resistance, it can also
0230J69 be used for the determination of current with the help of Ohm*'s
0240J69 law. ^Potentiometer is a ratio instrument. ^An unknown voltage is measured
0250J69 in terms of a reference voltage by means of the ratio of resistances.
0260J69 ^If the voltages and one of the resistances is known potentiometer
0270J69 can also be used for measurement of resistance. $^The potentiometers
0280J69 we have been talking about are referred as \0d.c. potentiometers
0290J69 since they are used for \0d.c. measurements. ^Likewise there are \0a.c.
0300J69 potentiometers used for \0a.c. measurements. ^They will be discussed
0310J69 in the subsequent chapter on circuits for \0a.c. measurements. $\0^*D.C.
0320J69 potentiometers are used for measurement of low resistance. ^For
0330J69 precision measurements of resistance bridge circuits are used. ^The
0340J69 basic bridge circuit is a Wheat stone*'s bridge. ^After describing
0350J69 Wheat stone*'s bridge, Cary Foster Bridge will be explained which
0360J69 eliminates the error due to contact and leads resistances. ^*Kelvin
0370J69 double bridge is another modification of the Wheat Stone*'s bridge
0380J69 to_ secure an increased accuracy in the measurement of low resistance.
0390J69 ^In general, bridge circuits are used for measurement of medium
0400J69 resistances. $^The bridge circuits described above are called \0d.c. bridges
0410J69 likewise there are \0a.c. bridges. ^They will also be discussed
0420J69 in the subsequent chapter on circuits for \0a.c. measurement. $^As
0430J69 explained above, the precise measurement of resistance involves the
0440J69 use of potentiometer or bridge circuits. ^Direct methods are also
0450J69 available and are more convenient where the accuracy requirements
0460J69 are not severe. ^Such methods are catagorised as direct deflection
0470J69 methods. ^These methods are very much suited for measurement of high
0480J69 resistances or insulations. ^Measurement of very high resistances,
0490J69 such as resistance of porcelain and glass is achieved by loss of charge
0500J69 method, which will also be explained in this chapter. ^In the end
0510J69 voltage-ammeter method for measurement of resistance will be described.
0520J69 ^This is generally abbreviated as \0VA method. ^However \0VA
0530J69 method is used for measurement of low and medium resistances and
0540J69 is rarely used for high resistances. $^For clarity and better understanding,
0550J69 low resistance refers to the resistance of the order of one
0560J69 ohm and below. ^While medium resistance includes resistances from
0570J69 1 to 100 \0k ohms. ^High resistance means resistances of the order
0580J69 of 100 \0k ohms and above. ^However these classifications are not
0590J69 rigid. $*<*33-1. Potentiometers*0*> $^A potentiometer is an instrument
0600J69 for measuring an unknown \0e.m.f. or potential difference produced
0610J69 by the flow of a known current in a network of circuits of known
0620J69 characteristic. ^Potentiometers are extensively used in measurements
0630J69 where the precision required is higher than can be obtained by deflection
0640J69 instruments, or where it is important that no current be drawn
0650J69 from the source under measurement, or where this current must be
0660J69 limited to a small value. $^As already stated, there are two catagories
0670J69 of potentiometers \0d.c. potentiometers and \0a.c. potentiometers.
0680J69 ^In this chapter we will describe only \0d.c. potentiometers.
0690J69 \0^*A.C. potentiometers will be taken up in the subsequent chapters.
0700J69 $^There are various forms of \0d.c. potentiometers that_ are used
0710J69 in practice. ^The simplest and basic type of potentiometer is a slide
0720J69 wire potentiometer shown in \0Fig 3-1. ^A battery \0B*;1**; sends
0730J69 a current through a slide wire AD of uniform section. ^*R is a
0740J69 regulating resistor to_ limit the slide-wire current. \0B*;2**;
0750J69 is the battery whose \0e.m.f. is to_ be measured. ^A galvanometer
0760J69 ^*G is connected in series with the battery along with a switch S.
0770J69 $^Let *Yr be the resistance per unit length of the slide-wire AD
0780J69 and I the current flowing through it when switch S is open. ^Then
0790J69 if the length AC is *3l*0 the voltage across V*;AC**; across AC will
0800J69 be $*Me. $^If now switch S is closed a current will flow through
0810J69 the galvanometer in the direction A to C if V*;AC**; is greater than
0820J69 \0e.m.f. of \0B*;2**;. ^It may be mentioned here that the \0B*;2**;
0830J69 is connected so as to_ oppose this current. ^If these \0e.m.f.
0840J69 are equal no current will flow through the galvanometer. $^Suppose
0850J69 the the \0e.m.fs of two batteries \0B*;2**; and \0B*;3**; are to_
0860J69 be compared. ^Then \0B*;2**; is connected as shown in \0Fig 3-1
0870J69 and the sliding contact is adjusted such that no current flows through
0880J69 the galvanometer. ^Let this length of AC*1**; be l*;1**; \0cms.
0890J69 \0^*B*;2**; is then replaced by \0B*;3**; and the contact C is
0900J69 again adjusted until no current flows through G. ^Let this length of
0910J69 AC*;2**; be l*;2**; \0cms. $^If E*;1**; and E*;2**; are respectively
0920J69 the \0e.m.fs of batteries \0B*;2**; and \0B*;3**; we have from \0Eq
0930J69 (3-1) $*Mes So that *Me $^If one of the batteries is a standard cell
0940J69 of known voltage E*;2**;, the \0e.m.f of the battery \0B*;2**; is given
0950J69 by $*Me $^The accuracy of measurement depends to large extent upon
0960J69 the accuracy with which *Mn, can be determined. ^Thus the longer the slide-wire
0970J69 the less is the percentage error. ^In modern potentiometers designed
0980J69 for precise measurements, the effect of a very long slide-wire is
0990J69 achieved by connecting a number of resistance coils in series with
1000J69 a comparatively short slide, as described in \0Art. 3-3. $*<*33-2.
1010J69 Standardisation of the Potentiometer*0*> $^The process of adjusting
1020J69 the working current so as to_ match the voltage drop across a portion
1030J69 of the sliding wire against a standard reference source is known
1040J69 as *3standardisation*0. ^The standardisation of the basic slide-wire
1050J69 potentiometer described in the preceding articles is achieved as follows.
1060J69 $^The battery B*;2**; in \0Fig 3-5 is replaced by a standard cell.
1070J69 ^Its \0e.m.f. will be 1.0186 \0V. ^Let the total length of the slide-wire
1080J69 AD be 200 \0cms whose resistance is 200 ohms. ^The switch S
1090J69 is closed and the sliding contact C is placed at 101.86 \0cm mark
1100J69 on the slide-wire scale. ^The resistance R is now adjusted till
1110J69 there is no deflection in galvanometer G. ^Under these conditions,
1120J69 the voltage drop along the 101.86 in portion of the slide-wire is equal
1130J69 to standard cell voltage of 101.86 since 101.86 \0cms portion
1140J69 of the slide-wire has a resistance of 101.86 ohms, the working current
1150J69 in fact has been adjusted to, $*Mes $^The voltage at any point
1160J69 along the slide-wire is proportional to the length of the slide wire.
1170J69 ^This voltage is obtained by converting the calibrated length into
1180J69 the corresponding voltage, simply by placing the decimal point in
1190J69 the proper position, \0i.e., 133.7 \0cm = 1.337 \0V. ^If the potentiometer
1200J69 has been calibrated once, its working current (adjusted by
1210J69 \0R.) is never varied. $*<*33-3. Crompton Potentiometer*0*> $^As
1220J69 mentioned in \0Art. 3-1, the longer the slide-wire the less is the
1230J69 percentage error. *(^*R.E.*) Crompton achieved the effect of a very
1240J69 long slide-wire by connecting a number of resistance coils in series
1250J69 with a comparatively short slide-wire. ^This modifed version of a
1260J69 basic slide-wire potentiometer is called Crompton potentiometer and
1270J69 is shown in \0Fig 3-2. $^A graduated slide-wire AC has a resistance
1280J69 usually of the order of 10 ohms. ^It is connected in series with
1290J69 fourteen (or more) coils, each of which has a resistance exactly equal
1300J69 to that_ of the slide-wire. ^There are two moving contacts C*;1**;
1310J69 sliding over the wire AC and C*;2**; sliding over the studs of
1320J69 the resistance coils. \0B*;1**; is the battery of 2 volts and \0R*;1**;
1330J69 and \0R*;2**; are two variable resistors. \0^*R*;1**; consists
1340J69 of a number of coils for coarse adjustment of the potentiometer current,
1350J69 while the \0R*;2**; takes the form of a slide-wire for fine adjustment.
1360J69 $^The galvanometer \0G is connected in series with a switch \0S*;1**;
1370J69 and double throw switch \0S;2**; by means of which either
1380J69 the standard cell \0B*;2**; or the \0e.m.f. to_ be measured can be
1390J69 connected in the galvanometer circuit. ^In one position, the switch
1400J69 \0S;2**; connects galvanometer with standard cell \0B*;2**;. ^This
1410J69 position is usually referred as *3calibrate position*0 and is shown
1420J69 by solid line arrows. ^In other position, the switch \0S;2**; connects
1430J69 galvanometer to the unknown \0e.m.f. ^This position is called
1440J69 as *3operate position*0 and is shown by dotted arrows in \0Fig.
1450J69 3-2. ^Proper polarity must be observed while connecting the batteries,
1460J69 \0etc, to_ avoid the damage to the potentiometer. $^First of
1470J69 all the galvanometer is heavily shunted and then the potentiometer
1480J69 is standardized by putting the double throw switch \0S;2**; in calibrate
1490J69 position the potentiometer will then read directly the \0e.m.f.
1500J69 of the standard cell. ^If the standard cell is Weston type, its
1510J69 \0e.m.f. will be 1.0186 volts contact C*;2**; is placed on stud 1.0
1520J69 and contact C*;1**; on 0.0186 on the slide-wire Resistors. ^\0R*;1**;
1530J69 and \0R*;2**; are then adjusted until no deflection of the galvanometer
1540J69 is obtained with the galvanometer shunt adjusted to_ give maximum
1550J69 senstivity. $^Now put the double throw switch \0S;2**; in operate
1560J69 position which will bring the battery (with unknown \0e.m.f.)
1570J69 in the galvanometer circuit at the same time removing standard cell \0B*;2**;
1580J69 from the circuit. ^Again contacts C*;1**; and C*;2**; are
1590J69 adjusted until the potentiometer is again balanced, \0i.e., no deflection
1600J69 is observed in the galvanometer. ^The reading of the potentiometer
1610J69 will then give the \0e.m.f. to_ be measured directly. $^This
1620J69 potentiometer has two main disadvantages $(**=1) it is not possible
1630J69 to_ arrange for the contacts C*;1**; and C*;2**; to_ coincide and
1640J69 a true zero reading cannot be obtained. $(**=2) ^It is desirable to_
1650J69 check the standardization regularly during series of measurements.
1660J69 ^Since it involves resetting the main dials it is incovenient. $^These
1670J69 disadvantages are overcome in the vernier potentiometer to_
1680J69 be described now. $*<*33-4. Vernier Potentiometer*0*> $^As explained
1690J69 in the preceding article, the disadvantages of the slide-wire
1700J69 type is removed in this vernier potentiometer. ^Its simplified diagram
1710J69 is shown in \0Fig. 3-3. ^The instrument has two ranges: the normal
1720J69 range of 1.80100 volt down to *Mf volts; and a lower range of 0.180100
1730J69 volt down to *Mf volt. ^This potentiometer is based on the principle
1740J69 of the Kelvin-Varley slide shown in \0Fig. 3-3. $^There are
1750J69 three measuring dials in this potentiometer. ^The first dial measures
1760J69 upto 1.0 \0V. on x 1 range in steps of 0.001 \0V. ^The middle
1761J69 dial has 102 studs and reads upto 0.1 \0V in steps of 0.001 \0V.
1762J69 ^The third dial also has
1770J69 102 studs and reads from -0.001 \0V. to 0.001 \0V. in steps of 0.00001
1780J69 \0V. \0i.e., *Mf volts. ^There is no slide wire B is the working
1790J69 battery connected in series with the rheostat \0R*;1**;. ^The resistances
1800J69 of the second dial shunt two of the coils of the first dial
1810J69 as shown in \0Fig. 3-3. ^The moving arm of the second dial carries
1820J69 two arms spaced two studs apart. ^In practice, the resistance of
1830J69 second dial is greater than that_ between two studs in the first dial,
1840J69 so that the voltage drop across the second dial is greater than
1850J69 0.1 \0V. ^This is to_ avoid voltage drop in switch contact resistances
1860J69 and leads which would render the coverage of middle dial to less
1870J69 than 0.1 \0V.*#
        **[no. of words = 02003**]

        **[txt. j70**]
0010J70 **<*3Prospects of reducing electric energy requirements in the production
0020J70 of some metals and metallic compounds*0**> $*<*3ABSTRACT*0*> $^An
0030J70 outline is given of the possibilities of reducing electric energy
0040J70 requirements in the conventional electrolytic processes through the
0050J70 use of more efficient electrodes and diaphragms; better design of electrolytic
0060J70 cells; use of better conducting electrolytes with reduced inter-electrode
0070J70 gaps in some aqueous and fused salf electrolysis besides
0080J70 the possibilities of reducing electric energy requirements in the
0090J70 production of some metals and metallic compounds through the use of
0100J70 alternative procedures where cheap carbonaceous, gaseous fuels combusted
0110J70 in by-product oxygen could serve as a very efficient substitute
0120J70 for electricity by supplying the necessary high temperatures thereby
0130J70 avoiding the steps involved in the production of electric energy from
0140J70 such fuels for the production of metals and metallic compounds. ^An
0150J70 outline is also given of the attractive procedures for employing nuclear
0160J70 heat and or concentrated solar heat with special reference to obtaining
0170J70 hydrogen and oxygen from water and their utilisation in future.
0180J70 $*<*3RECOVERY OF METALS BY FUSED SALT ELECTROLYSIS*0*> $^Aluminium,
0190J70 magnesium, sodium and misch metal are produced in large quantities
0200J70 by fused salt electrolysis in which electric energy is utilised
0210J70 both for electrolysis and for maintenance of required temperatures.
0220J70 by keeping the loss of heat from the electrolytic cells a minimum, by
0230J70 choosing a proper low melting electorlyte composition and by supplying
0240J70 the necessary heat through the utilisation of a cheap source of
0250J70 fuel, considerable economies can be effected in the recovery of metals.
0260J70 ^While choosing a highly conducting and low melting electrolyte,
0270J70 care must be taken to_ avoid as far as possible any complicated cell
0280J70 design and arrangement of electrodes with minimum inter-electrode distance
0290J70 and or sophisticated operation of the cell. ^The cost of make-up
0300J70 losses or replacement of one or more costly component of such electrolyte
0310J70 composition must also be taken into account. $^Metals like
0320J70 calcium, barium, manganese, chromium, carbon-free ferro-alloys, niobium,
0330J70 tantalum, vanadium, \0etc, are produced by alumino-thermic reduction.
0340J70 ^Potassium, sodium-potassium alloys, titanium, zirconium, hafnium,
0350J70 \0etc., are produced by sodium reduction of their respective anhydrous
0360J70 chlorides. ^Magnesium or mixtures of magnesium with sodium
0370J70 can be utilised in the production of zirconium and titanium sponges
0380J70 from their anhydrous chlorides. ^Calcium or magnesium is used in the
0390J70 production of uranium and thorium from their oxides or fluorides. $^Niobium
0400J70 and tantalum obtained by alumino-thermic reduction, can be
0410J70 purified by vacuum dealuminizing and further with respect to nitrogen
0420J70 and oxygen by pyro-vacuum technique. ^Vanadium metal obtained by alumino-thermic
0430J70 reduction can be purified by electro-refining, through
0440J70 its use as an anode in a bath containing proper amounts of anhydrous
0450J70 sodium chloride, potassium chloride (or lithium chloride) and vanadium
0460J70 dichloride. ^Vanadium dichloride for this purpose can be obtained
0470J70 in situ by the chlorination of vanadium metal. ^Molybdenum metal
0480J70 produced by alumino-thermic reduction of molybdenum sulphide or calcium
0490J70 molybdate can be refined to_ get high purity metal by using it as
0500J70 anode in a bath containing suitable proportions of *Mn. ^Molybdenum
0510J70 metal in-situ can be chlorinated to_ form *Mn which reacts with potassium
0520J70 chloride to_ form *Mn. $^Zirconium, titanium, vanadium and
0530J70 molybdenum can be extracted by employing their carbides as anodes in a suitable
0540J70 molten bath. ^For zirconium, a bath containing suitable mixtures
0550J70 of *Mn, *Mn and *Mn is used. ^The bath for vanadium is *Mn; for
0560J70 molybdenum is *Mn and for titanium *Mn, *Mn, *Mn or *Mn. $^It
0570J70 is therefore clear that any procedure which can reduce electric energy
0580J70 requirements in the production of aluminium, sodium and magnesium
0590J70 metals will also help in reducing the electric energy requirements
0600J70 in the recovery of many other metals. $*<*3Aluminium metal*0*> $^Increasing
0610J70 the size of the individual cells producing aluminium, by
0620J70 the electrolysis of calcined alumina dissolved in a bath of cryolite
0630J70 containing suitable amounts of calcium fluoride, in order to_ approach
0640J70 a diabatic operation more closely, will reduce the heat losses.
0650J70 ^This procedure has resulted in considerable energy savings in aluminium
0660J70 metal production. (^In 1952, the consumption was 8.5 \0d.c. \0kwhr/lb
0670J70 of aluminium produced. ^Whereas in 1977, it was 6.5 \0t.c. \0kwhr/lb
0680J70 by introducing this change only). ^The use of permanent cathodes
0690J70 such as titanium and zirconium carbides and borides operating
0700J70 with only a thin layer of liquid aluminium would permit the use of smaller
0710J70 inter-electrode distances as opposed to thick aluminium layer
0720J70 used in conventional cells which is often subject to erratic oscillations
0730J70 by the magnetic fields relating to changes in current density. ^High
0740J70 amperage cells fitted with the said cathode materials can have
0750J70 advantageously silicon oxy-nitride bonded silicon carbide side walls.
0760J70 ^In such cells, to_ maintain the electrolyte composition almost constant
0770J70 so as to_ obtain maximum benefit from the electric energy supplied,
0780J70 a continuous feed of alumina dissolved in proper electrolyte
0790J70 composition should be attempted by continuously withdrawing a required
0800J70 portion of the depleted electrolyte from the electrolytic cell and
0810J70 fortifying it with alumina outside the cell. ^Suitable amounts of
0820J70 calcium fluoride, lithium fluoride, magnesium fluoride, sodium chloride
0830J70 \0etc., can be added to sodium cryolite to_ have the benefit of comparatively
0840J70 low melting electrolyte with better conductivity and
0850J70 easy separation of aluminium. $^It is not out of place to_ mention
0860J70 here, that economies can be effected in carbon anode consumption by
0870J70 surrounding the pre-baked carbon anodes with carbon monoxide gas. ^It
0880J70 is also possible to obtain oxygen as anode product instead of mixtures
0890J70 of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide through the use of diaphragm
0900J70 materials made of zirconium oxide doped with oxides of calcium
0910J70 or yttrium which are oxygen ion-conduction materials and which are at
0920J70 the same time resistant to the attack by electrolyte at the temperature
0930J70 of electrolysis. ^Oxygen ions diffuse through the layer and get
0931J70 discharged at the anode which can be constructed
0940J70 out of semi-conducting oxides of metals such as \0e.g. 93 to 94% *Mn,
0950J70 with 2 to 6% *Mn, 3 to 7% *Mn and 1 to 4% *Mn. $^Utilising bauxite
0960J70 as a raw material for the extraction of alumina by the Bayer
0970J70 process greater economies can be obtained by extracting vanadium, gallium
0980J70 and indium from sodium aluminate liquors. ^While it is well established
0990J70 that sodium vanadate can be recovered from sodium aluminate liquors,
1000J70 (when sufficient concentration of gallium is built up as sodium
1010J70 gallate in sodium aluminate liquors) by proper progressive cooling sodium
1020J70 vanadate can be removed. ^Any vanadium and chromium not removed by
1030J70 this step is removed as vanadium and chromium oxides through addition
1040J70 of aluminium scrap to the liquor. ^Then the sodium gallate-sodium
1050J70 aluminate solution containing gallium in proper concentrations is electrolysed
1060J70 to_ obtain gallium metal. ^A solvent extraction technique
1070J70 can be employed for the recovery of gallium and indium. ^The solution
1080J70 is contracted with a kerosene solution of tertiary saturated aliphatic
1090J70 acid to_ extract gallium and indium into the organic phase. ^The
1100J70 organic phase is separated and stripped with a mineral acid and the
1110J70 acidic strip solution is contracted with isopropyl ether to_ selectively
1120J70 extract gallium from the acid solution.
1130J70 ^The remaining acid solution is contracted with tributyl phosphate
1140J70 to extract indium. ^The organic solvents are used in the cyclic
1150J70 processes. $^The voluminous by-product red mud left after leaching
1160J70 out sodium aluminate from bauxite is first reduced with a cheap source
1170J70 of hydrogen to iron powder and then separated out by magnetic concentration.
1180J70 ^The nonmagnetic portion is mixed with carbon and chlorinated.
1190J70 ^The vapours are condensed at different temperatures under suitable
1200J70 conditions to_ obtain valuable anhydrous aluminium chloride, vanadium
1210J70 oxychloride and also gallium values. $^The use of anhydrous aluminium
1220J70 chloride to the extent of 5% in a bath containing 45% lithium chloride
1230J70 and 50% sodium chlorite at 700*@ \0C with bipolar system of
1240J70 carbon electrodes can produce aluminium and chlorine by electrolysis.
1250J70 ^This process works with a very small inter electrode distance (less
1260J70 than 1.3 \0cm) and employs a highly conducting electrolyte. ^It is
1270J70 stated that the electrolyte is also continuously pumped. ^Under these
1280J70 circumstances, a reduction in 30% electric energy is claimed. ^This
1290J70 method involves the use of costlier lithium chloride and also requires
1300J70 very careful control of operations. ^As an alternative to this,
1310J70 even without minding the extra energy required, the following two-stage
1320J70 electrolytic process, in the opinion of the author, would be preferred.
1330J70 ^Employing molten aluminium as cathode, magnesium metal is discharged
1340J70 on to aluminium from a bath containing anhydrous potassium carnallite.
1350J70 ^The aluminium-magnesium alloy is reacted with anhydrous
1360J70 aluminium chloride outside the cell and aluminium metal is produced. ^A
1370J70 required portion of the molten aluminium metal is sent back for serving
1380J70 as cathode in the cyclic process. ^The anhydrous magnesium chloride
1390J70 formed in the reduction outside the cell is also sent back to the
1400J70 electrolytic cell. ^A simple electrolytic cell without any diaphragm
1410J70 is employed to_ obtain aluminium-magnesium alloy and the chlorine
1420J70 is easily sucked off and utilised in the production, of anhydrous
1430J70 aluminium chloride from a variety of cheap non-bauxitic raw materials
1440J70 like clay. $^Aluminium silicide can be produced from clay or fly
1450J70 ash or mixtures of these by reacting them with carbon monoxide at very
1460J70 high temperatures. ^The carbon monoxide for this purpose can be
1470J70 obtained even from high ash coal by gasifying **[sic**] the powdered
1480J70 high ash coal in by-product oxygen in a fluidised bed. ^A portion of
1490J70 the carbon monoxide is burnt in by-product oxygen and the heat
1500J70 thus obtained is utilised to_ heat the rest of carbon monoxide to very
1510J70 high temperatures necessary for converting the aluminium silicate
1520J70 to aluminium silicide. ^The aluminium silicide containing small percentages
1530J70 of iron and titanium could find applications. ^Crude silicon
1540J70 containing small percentages of iron and titanium can be had from aluminium
1550J70 silicide by employing molten zinc in a cyclic process. ^In this
1560J70 process the aluminium from aluminium silicide gets dissolved in
1570J70 molten zinc leaving behind crude silicon. ^The zinc is removed from
1580J70 aluminium by distillation and returned to the leaching stage. ^By cooling
1590J70 an alloy containing about 60% aluminium, 33% silicon and 3% iron
1600J70 from 1000*@ \0C to 580*@ \0C, a solid iron silicon phase crystallises
1610J70 out. ^A molten layer with a composition containing 87.5% aluminium,
1620J70 11.7% silicon and 0.8% iron is left out. ^This enriched alloy
1630J70 is reacted with molten zinc in a Soxlet type extractor.
1640J70 ^By a careful control of operation or by again leaching the aluminium
1650J70 containing 1.5% silicon and iron plus titanium upto 0.2%, with zinc,
1660J70 in a cyclic process, high purity aluminium can be produced. $^Employing
1670J70 anhydrous aluminium chloride in a cycylic process, the aluminium
1680J70 from aluminium silicide can be removed as aluminium sub-chloride
1690J70 at high temperatures and when cooled to about 700*@ \0C in a bath of
1700J70 molten lead, it disproportionates to aluminium and anhydrous aluminium
1710J70 chloride for reuse in the process is obtained. ^In this process
1720J70 also crude silicon is obtained as a by-product. $^Compared to the
1730J70 above two procedures, the production of anhydrous aluminium chloride
1740J70 from bauxitic or non-bauxitic sources followed by its reaction with
1750J70 manganese metal in a cyclic process as in the Tooth process, would
1760J70 be very costly although this process is claimed to_ be the attractive
1770J70 process for obtaining aluminium metal without employing electricity.
1780J70 $^It is not out of place to_ mention in this connection that recently
1790J70 Mitsui Alumina Company and Mitsui Mining & Smelting Company
1800J70 of Japan have successfully utilised clay containing 32% alumina
1810J70 in test blast furnaces for the production of aluminium metal and
1820J70 claimed that electric power necessary for aluminium smelting can be
1830J70 reduced to 1/15th (one fifteenth) the amount required by conventional
1840J70 technology \0viz., 1000 \0kwhrs/ton by this procedure compared to
1850J70 15,000 \0kwhrs/ton by conventional process. ^Even the improved Alcoa
1860J70 process which produces aluminium metal from anhydrous aluminium chloride
1870J70 melts requires 10,000 \0kwhr/ton. $*<*3Sodium Metal*0*> $^Through
1880J70 the use of *Mn alumina diaphragms doped with lithium oxide or zirconium-silicate-phosphate
1890J70 diaphragms for electrolysing suitable molten
1900J70 mixtures of zinc chloride and sodium chloride at about 300*@ \0C in a
1910J70 divided cell, high purity sodium and chlorine can be produced economically.
1920J70 ^In comparison with the Down*'s cell operations, the electrolysis
1930J70 temperature is very much lowered (300*@ \0C instead of 590*@ \0C).
1940J70 ^Such a cheap source of sodium can also produce caustic soda and hydrogen
1950J70 economically and this procedure can compete with aqueous electrolysis
1960J70 of sodium chloride solutions for the production of caustic soda,
1970J70 hydrogen and chlorine even in improved types of cells employing (1)
1980J70 titanium anodes containing precious metal oxide coatings substituted
1990J70 for graphite to_ bring out at least 15% reduction in electric energy;
2000J70 (2) nafion diaphragms having better performance than asbestos diaphragms
2010J70 and (3) fuel cell type oxygen electrodes as cathodes for preventing
2020J70 the evolution of hydrogen and effecting a reduction in electric energy
2030J70 to the extent of 20% (thus it can be claimed that by employing
2040J70 all the three devices, a net savings of 35% of the electric energy
2050J70 can be effected in aqueous electrolysis of alkali metal chloride solutions
2060J70 to_ produce alkali and chlorine).*#
        **[no. of words = 02120**]

        **[txt. j71**]
0010J71 **<*3The Role of Toxicological Research in Environmental Air Quality
0020J71 Control*0**> $*<*3INTRODUCTION*0*> $^Toxicology
0030J71 is the science of poisons, taken up accidentally or deliberately
0040J71 and also the side effects of compounds taken in for other purposes.
0050J71 ^As such, the study of the harmful effects of compounds
0060J71 foreign to living systems-- Xenobi0tics is an important area of this
0070J71 science. ^Among such agents, the undesirable effects of drugs
0080J71 and forensic chemicals have received considerable attention due
0090J71 to their immediate concern to human health. ^However, in
0100J71 the case of occupational and environmental xenobiotics, the effects
0110J71 are less obvious and takes greater period of exposure to_
0120J71 manifest the full implications. ^As such our understanding
0130J71 of the biological effects of such agents is not sufficiently well
0140J71 developed. ^Recently the undesirable effects of such
0150J71 agents are becoming more and more obvious day by day and considerable
0160J71 concern is expressed in many quarters regarding the consequences.
0170J71 ^Therefore, a multidisciplinary branch of occupational
0180J71 and environmental toxicology has emerged. ^This is the branch
0190J71 of biomedical science where pathologists, physiologists, pharmacologists,
0200J71 biochemists, biologists, chemists, biophysists and
0210J71 epidemiologists work hand in hand towards the common aim of safeguarding
0220J71 living systems against man-made maladies.
0230J71 ^The fruit of this labour is becoming visible, as evident from the general
0240J71 concern about pollution hazards. ^Therefore, the role of
0250J71 toxicologist in environmental science is becoming important day
0260J71 by day and a general assessment of it is attempted in this article.
0270J71 ^Among such pollutants, those present in polluted air, both
0280J71 in the community air as well as in the work room atmosphere are of
0290J71 paramount importance, since one has to_ breathe the surrounding
0300J71 air, be it clean or polluted. ^Thus the study of toxicology
0310J71 of air-borne pollutants is a prime requisite in the humanitarian
0320J71 approach to the global problem of preserving the quality
0330J71 of the life-giving and life sustaining air. $*<*3NEED
0340J71 FOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY MAINTENANCE*0*> $^Man is just one species,
0350J71 of course, one with a conscience, in the whole eco-system.
0360J71 ^Though he might have conquered nature he is still a part of
0370J71 it. ^Life originated from its environment and higher forms
0380J71 evolved as a natural process in the normal environment. ^Only
0390J71 man has attempted to_ disturb the balance of nature in the earthy
0400J71 environment to_ suit his immediate needs. ^The present
0410J71 status of environmental degradation accompanying the so-called
0420J71 improved living standard achieved as a result of rapid strides made
0430J71 by agriculture and industry in recent years is also associated
0440J71 with certain harmful secondary effects. ^One of these secondary
0450J71 effects is the problem of environmental pollution, a major
0460J71 man made malady, that_ now threatens the existence of life on
0470J71 this planet. ^Since man himself is responsible for polluting the
0480J71 environment, it is his moral responsibility not only to_ rectify
0490J71 the situation but also to_ keep a guard against creating any further
0500J71 damage, keeping the environment in a healthy form for all forms
0510J71 of life, present or future. ^Many sad experiences of the past
0520J71 have taught man the dangeres of threatening the environment
0530J71 by introducing harmful chemicals. ^In fact, the environmentalists
0540J71 have now extrapolated the present pollution figures
0550J71 to the future and have started worrying for a possble doomsday
0560J71 caused by man-made environmental destabilization. ^Such
0570J71 a pessimistic outlook is not warranted nor is the cry to_ pull down
0580J71 factories fully justified. ^We can have a compromise situation
0590J71 wherein industrial and agricultural revolutions can lead
0600J71 us to prosperity and welfare without affecting the environment.
0610J71 ^This is possible through concerted efforts in environmental quality
0620J71 control along with industrialization. ^In arriving
0630J71 at such an ideal situation of safe environment amidst industrial
0640J71 progress, the maintenance of air quality is important.
0650J71 $*<*3SERIOUSNESS OF THE HEALTH HAZARDS DUE TO AIR POLLUTANTS IN
0660J71 INDIA*0*> $^Considerable information has accumulated regarding
0680J71 the various air pollutants and the undesirable effects on human, **[sic**]
0680J71 animals and plants. ^Most of the available information
0690J71 is from advanced countries. ^If countries on the threshold
0700J71 of industrial development like ours take proper notice of the situation
0710J71 and do **[sic**] proper steps timely
0720J71 in the right direction, our industrialization will be free from
0730J71 machine made maladies. ^A major problem of air pollution in India
0740J71 is that_ of particulate matter evident from the magnitude of
0750J71 cases of silicosis due to inhalation of silica dust in various
0760J71 mining and ore-processing trades. ^Similarly dusts of asbestos,
0770J71 mica iron and manganese ores, clay, talc \0etc. are a matter
0780J71 of grave concern causing the well characterized toxic diseases.
0790J71 ^Since over a million workers are engaged in mineral
0800J71 based industries, the harmful effects of the noxious substances
0810J71 on the health of workers is a great malady which has to_ be combated
0820J71 to_ promote welfare and productivity. ^The emanations
0830J71 from various factories and thermal power plants, especially particulate
0840J71 matter and sulphur dioxide and many others like solvent
0850J71 fumes, carbon monoxide, aromatic compounds, nitrogen oxides
0860J71 and oxidants are also of grave concern. ^This is evident
0870J71 from the various reports from our major industrial centres. ^The
0880J71 harmful effects of these agents are well known though there are still
0890J71 many areas of lacunae. ^The effects of emissions on agricultural
0900J71 crops and an overall fauna and flora are also a grave concern
0910J71 to India, evident from the many reports. ^With the advent
0920J71 of green revolution, the large amounts or pesticides, sprayed
0930J71 are also polluting air and further they pollute waters too and
0940J71 undergo biological enrichment. ^Automobiles are also causing
0950J71 degradation of our atmosphere by agents which produce grave
0960J71 health effects. ^Since in India, consciousness regarding
0970J71 pollution has come to_ stay only recently and that_ too only in
0980J71 limited areas, concerted effect of various agencies, institutions
0990J71 and individuals is needed in assessing the graveness of the
1000J71 pollution. ^Therefore, it is heart warming to_ note the steps
1010J71 being done **[sic**] in this direction and defining and maintaining
1020J71 of air quality is one of the initial steps in this approach.
1030J71 $*<*3SEQUENCE OF ARRIVING AT ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY*0*>
1040J71 $^Environment is a man*'s surrounding which includes all
1050J71 the circumstances, influences, events and factors that_ encounter
1060J71 him in his life time. ^According to the \0U.N. declaration
1070J71 on the human environment, man*'s fundamental right and freedom
1080J71 to healthy environment for today and tomorrow has to_ be safeguarded.
1090J71 ^Science and technology, as part of their contribution
1100J71 to economic and social development must be applied to the identification,
1110J71 avoidance and control of enviornmental problems for the
1120J71 common good of mankind, present and future. ^In order to_ study the
1130J71 problems of environment it is first and foremost **[sic**] to_ define
1140J71 which is the ideal environment and try to_ achieve and maintain
1150J71 it. $^Environmental contaminants can be put into
1160J71 four levels. ^The first one is the concentration and exposure
1170J71 time at or below which no direct or indirect adverse effect is
1180J71 known. ^The level two is the concentration and time at and
1190J71 above which irritation to senses, damage to vegetation and reduction
1200J71 in visibility are known. ^At the third level, those concentrations
1210J71 and times specified, the pollutants are known to_
1220J71 cause vital physiological changes and chronic diseases, decreasing
1230J71 life expectancy. ^Acute symptoms of health risks are
1240J71 observed at the fourth level. ^By continuous monitoring and
1250J71 intense biomedical research all the four levels of each
1260J71 pollutant have to_ be arrived at and the approach towards it involves
1270J71 toxicology. $^Standards developed for air quality on the
1280J71 basis of the above should be such so as **[sic**] to_ reflect the
1290J71 relationship between intensity and composition of air pollution and
1300J71 its effects on human **[sic**] farm animals, agriculture and overall
1310J71 ecosystems. ^As such air quality standards prescribe pollution
1320J71 levels that_ cannot be legally excluded during a specific time
1330J71 in a particular area. ^To_ arrive at such a practically feasible
1340J71 standard the following steps have to_ be followed: $^Firstly,
1350J71 on the basis of available information on adverse effects
1360J71 of various
1370J71 pollutants, that_ is toxicological data, air quality criterion have
1380J71 to_ be defined. ^From this air quality goals, the level of pollutant
1390J71 within which we can live without any harmful effects arearrived
1400J71 at. ^The next step is to_ see whether the above goal
1410J71 can be achieved without economic stress. ^If it is not so, then
1420J71 a compromise standard has to_ be worked out. ^Towards this aim
1430J71 it is very essential to_ formulate standards for factory design,
1440J71 raw materials, fuel, emission, chimney height, ventillation, recovery
1450J71 and recycling processes, \0etc. and implement them. ^Considerable
1460J71 thought has to_ be given to the location of the factory
1470J71 vis-a-vis population, vegetation and climate. ^Further an efficient
1480J71 system for monitoring pollution, follow up measures and media to_ create
1490J71 public awareness are to_ be developed. ^Above all, since standards
1500J71 may always undergo revision in the light of new information and
1510J71 situation, research and developmental activities on all aspects
1520J71 of environmental sciences have to_ continue in greater detail.
1530J71 ^Such research is the backbone of environmental quality control.
1540J71 $^The basis to_ prescribe standards for community
1550J71 air quality is the long-term effects of different concentrations
1560J71 of pollutants, alone or combined, on flora and fauana along with
1570J71 field surveys. ^Air quality level of the country before industrialization
1580J71 set in, or that_ of a healthy rural community in a day
1590J71 of good ventilation could also be useful. ^Standards set by
1600J71 other countries in a modified form in view of the local conditions,
1610J71 also help in fixing air quality standards. $*<*3SPECIAL
1620J71 FACTORS TO_ BE CONSIDERED IN THE INDIAN CONTEXT*0*> $^The rapid
1630J71 strides made by the country towards industrialization should not
1640J71 lead to a catastrophic situation. ^Due to economic and employment
1650J71 needs, cost and foreign exchange problems, we cannot abandon
1660J71 or alter factories to_ reduce pollution. ^Being a predominently
1670J71 agricultural and rural oriented country, we have to_ protect
1680J71 our rural masses and crops from pollution hazards even after prolonged
1690J71 exposure. ^Also to_ achieve desired air quality, we
1700J71 have yet to_ expand work on monitoring of pollution, reduction of
1710J71 pollution at source, know-how for recycling and recovery and follow
1720J71 up measures and indigenous facilities. ^Again factors such
1730J71 as climate, nutrition, infectious diseases and social pattern affect
1740J71 the course of the toxicity caused by a particular pollutant.
1750J71 ^These conditions are not so important in developed countries.
1760J71 ^Therefore, we just cannot blindly follow their know-how. ^Instead
1770J71 we have to_ develop standard suitable to our requirements.
1780J71 $^The combined effect of different pollutants also is more serious
1790J71 in a country like India, due to the high content of dust in most
1800J71 Indian city air. ^In view of the climatic variations and other
1810J71 meteorological factors in the country, the same compound may have
1820J71 different degree and magnitude of effect in hot humid days
1830J71 and dry cold days. ^The extent of natural radiation also may affect
1840J71 pollution. ^Our density of population and the recent trend
1850J71 of urbanization also create problems in fixing air quality standards.
1860J71 ^However, once we fix the standards, it may serve as helpful
1870J71 guidelines for other developing countries. $*<*3SOME
1880J71 SUGGESTIONS FOR MAINTAINING AIR QUALITY*0*> $^Among the
1890J71 various common air pollutants, particulate matter (dust) and sulphur
1900J71 dioxide are the most important ones, needing an alarm at this
1910J71 stage in India. ^The main sources are burning of coal, firewood
1920J71 and refuse. ^Since both sulphur dioxide and particulates
1930J71 separately and together produce a large variety of toxic
1940J71 effects on man, animals and vegetation, the levels of these have
1950J71 to_ be within the safe limits even on continuous exposure.
1960J71 ^In fact, it is advisable to_ have the Indian standards as the
1970J71 lowest in the world. ^We can achieve it because we have learnt
1980J71 from the experience of other countries and so we can give
1990J71 more thought on pollution control at source level itself.
2000J71 ^Improvement of design, fuel and stacks of thermal power plants in
2010J71 cities also will help to_ reduce pollution. ^Another major source
2020J71 of air pollution in Indian urban settlements is the large number
2030J71 of ill-designed domestic stoves used in cooking food, using
2040J71 inefficient and smoking fuels especially in poorly ventilated
2050J71 and narrow lanes and crowded areas, with buildings on either sides.
2060J71 **[sic**] ^This could easily be controlled by providing better
2070J71 facilities. ^Our traditional methods of mining and quarrying
2080J71 and loading transport and unloading of mineral could very well be
2090J71 modified without compromising productivity, to_ reduce environmental
2100J71 deterioration. ^Likewise, the large multitude of village
2110J71 level small industries have to_ be provided with cheap yet
2120J71 efficient pollution abatements techniques.*#
        **[no. of words = 02004**]

        **[txt. j72**]
0001J72 *3Free standing groups in loose sand*0
0002J72 ^In the case of loose sand, the load-settlement
0010J72 curves are not found to_ be characterised by two, initial and
0020J72 final, linear portions with a non-linear section in between. ^But the non-linear
0030J72 behaviour is observed from the very beginning. ^Hence, the method
0040J72 of computing slope values is not possible here. ^In order to_ evaluate
0050J72 the settlement behaviour the settlement values at a pile load of 56.7
0060J72 \0kg have been considered. ^This particular load chosen is within the range
0070J72 of the ultimate load of the piles and pile group. ^The observed
0071J72 settlement values
0080J72 indicate that in loose sand the resistance to penetration or settlement
0090J72 is in general more for the latter installed piles whether immediately
0100J72 after installation, or after construction of group or after group load
0110J72 tests. ^Similarly computations for the influence of installation operations
0120J72 and also that_ of installation operations and group tests on the
0130J72 original settlement behaviour of piles have been made. ^These ratios can
0140J72 be considered to_ be similar to the *3Influence Ratio (in settlement)
0150J72 due to Installation, \0I*;RI**;*0 and Influence Ratio
0160J72 (in settlement) due to Group* tests, \0I*;RT**;*0 respectively.
0170J72 ^The results show that there is a marked increase in the settlement response
0180J72 of a pile after the installation of adjacent piles. ^Though the
0190J72 group loading tends to_ narrow down the differences between the settlement
0200J72 that_ occurs in the test immediately after installation and that_
0210J72 in the test after construction of group, there is still a considerable
0220J72 increase in the settlement of a pile over its initial value. ^Values of
0230J72 settlement ratio for the first and second group load tests have been calculated.
0240J72 ^The settlement ratio specially for the first group load test
0241J72 should be
0250J72 considered approximate, since the reload tests conducted on each pile
0260J72 after installation of the group but prior to group loading could have
0270J72 counteracted substantially the installation effects on the settlement of
0280J72 the group. ^However, it is evident from the observations that prestressing
0290J72 of sand mass brought about by first loading of the group considerably
0300J72 reduces the settlement of the pile group during its subsequnt reloading.
0310J72 $^The above observations in the case of pile groups in loose sand
0320J72 should be interpreted with great caution when pile installation in the field
0330J72 practice is done by driving or vibration. ^Such procedures are likely
0340J72 to_ effect greater compaction of the loose deposit which might modify
0350J72 the observations and results. $*3Groups with
0360J72 pile cap resting on medium dense sand:*0 ^The pile cap has a large
0370J72 influence on the load-settlement behaviour of a group. ^The load-settlement
0380J72 curve (\0Fig. 15) for the first load test on a group test on
0390J72 a group consists of two, almost linear portions before reaching the
0400J72 ultimate load even which is not pronounced. ^The failure pattern corresponds
0410J72 to that_ of local shear failure. ^On the other hand a general shear
0420J72 failure type of load-settlement curve is obtained for the second load
0430J72 test on the group. ^For groups whith pile cap resting on sand the
0440J72 prestressing of sand underneath the pile cap and in the pressure bulb
0450J72 beneath the pile tips seems to_ control settlement behaviour considerably.
0460J72 ^The effect in reducing settlement is so pronounced that the settlement
0470J72 ratio with respect to second group load test becomes less than 1.
0480J72 ^Whereas for free standing groups in medium dense sand, group loading
0490J72 tends to_ bring back the settlement behaviour of the individual piles to
0500J72 their initial behaviour (counteracting the installation effects) no such
0510J72 tendency could be observed in the case of groups with pile cap resting
0520J72 on sand. ^The high values of \0*3I*;RT**;*0 (ranging from 2.5 to 6)mean
0530J72 that even after load tests on groups with pile cap resting on sand,
0540J72 the settlement response of individual piles continues to_ be as high as
0550J72 or even higher than that_ after the installation of the group. ^In other
0560J72 words, the group load tests on this series have no doubt made the pile-soil
0570J72 interaction state for all the piles uniform without necessarily making
0580J72 them more resistant to penetration. ^Contrary to the order of
0590J72 settlement response behaviour of piles after group installation, the
0600J72 the settlement response of the piles increases with the order of reload
0610J72 test on individual piles after group load tests.
0620J72 $*<*3Discussions*0*> $^*Beredugo (1966) from his studies on free standing
0630J72 groups concluded that installation order and pile positions are
0640J72 the most inportant factors governing the distribution of load among the
0650J72 individual piles in a group. ^He observed that for the first loading of
0660J72 the group initially the amount of load taken by each pile increases with
0670J72 the order of installation of the piles but as the load increases the pile
0680J72 position tends to_ govern the load carried by each pile. ^For the
0690J72 second,
0700J72 third and subsequent loadings of the group the manner in which the individual
0710J72 piles build up their loads is similar to the first loading except
0720J72 that the influence of installation order progressively diminishes.
0730J72 ^The findings of the present investigations are in conformity with the
0740J72 observations of Beredugo, though the load in each pile of a group has
0750J72 not been directly measured during group loadings. ^However, the behaviour
0760J72 could be inferred from the results of the two series of tests on 2*:2**:
0770J72 groups (A-and B-series). ^It is seen from the results of A-series
0780J72 that during the first loading of the group (immediately after
0790J72 construction of the group) the resistance to settlement and the ultimate
0800J72 load of individual piles increase from the first pile to the last pile
0810J72 in the order of installation. ^Since a rigid pile cap imposes the same
0820J72 settlement for each pile, initially for a load on the group the load
0830J72 shared by each pile tends to_ be in the order of installation of the
0840J72 piles. ^As the load on the group increases, the latter installed piles
0850J72 would build up rapidly their ultimate load after which readjustment has
0860J72 to_ take place within the group. ^The first group loading brings
0870J72 about changes in the soil-pile interaction state tending to_ make them
0871J72 uniform for all the piles in the group. ^This would decrease the influence
0880J72 of the installation effects on the load distribution among the piles
0890J72 even at small levels of load on the group during reload tests. ^The
0900J72 change brought about in the soil conditions by group loading is evident
0910J72 from the second load tests carried out on piles (after group tests) in
0920J72 the B-series of tests, where it is found that the group loading tends
0930J72 to_ make the settlement behaviour of all the piles in the group more or
0940J72 less the same corresponding almost to that_ of the test pile. ^A similar
0950J72 phenomenon of installation effects on the settlement behaviour of
0960J72 already installed piles is observed in the case of loose sand also.
0970J72 ^Thus
0980J72 pile installation operations have been found to_ cause an increase in the
0990J72 settlement response of the piles in both loose and medium dense sand
1000J72 deposits. $^For the first loading of a group with pile cap
1010J72 resting on sand, the load-settlement curve has been found to_ have two
1020J72 approximately linear portions (the slope of the latter being such as to_
1030J72 yield greater settlement) and it is also found to_ be indicative of the
1040J72 local shear type of failure. ^In the absence of detailed
1050J72 instrumentation to_ separate the load borne by the piles and the pile
1060J72 cap, an explanation of the phenomenon as a logical conjecture is
1070J72 attempted. ^During the first loading of the group, initially the load
1080J72 is carried primarily by the piles as the sand immediately below the
1090J72 pile cap is in a loosened state due to the earlier installation
1100J72 operations. ^As the load on the group increases the piles reach their
1110J72 normal ultimate load (\0i.e. as if the pile cap is not effective) and
1120J72 additional load is then resisted by the pile cap. ^These two parts of
1130J72 the mechanism are probably characterised by the two approximate linear
1140J72 portions of the load-settlement curve. ^The increase in the levels of
1150J72 normal stress in sand around the piles due to load transferred through
1160J72 the pile cap makes the piles proportionately more resistant to
1170J72 penetration. ^This is possibly why the pile group with pile cap
1180J72 resting on sand does not register a distinct peak during the first load
1190J72 test on the group. ^But during the subsequent reloading of the group, the
1200J72 sand within the pressure bulb of the pile cap and within the pressure
1210J72 bulb below the pile tips is in a prestressed state. ^Since the resistance
1220J72 to settlement of piles compared to that_ of the pile cap would also
1230J72 be low at this stage (as is evident from the load tests on individual piles
1240J72 after group tests), the major share of the load even during the initial
1250J72 stages of the subsequent reloading of the group will be taken up by
1260J72 the pile cap. ^However, since these direct and indirect effects are
1270J72 governed by the plan dimensions of the pile cap and the relative depth
1280J72 of embedment of piles, the load-settlement behaviour of such a piled
1290J72 group is found to_ differ from test results in quantitative terms as
1300J72 affected by these factors. $^In the light of the above
1310J72 discussions, it might be said that the Skempton*'s theory of settlement
1320J72 of pile foundations in sand, which considers that the greater
1330J72 settlement of a group compared to that_ of a single pile is primarily
1340J72 due to differences in the magnitude and compressibility characteristics
1350J72 of sand mass in their respective pressure bulbs, accounts for a part of
1360J72 the settlement mechanism of piled foundations with driven piles, since
1370J72 the influence of installation operations and the interaction of pile cap
1380J72 have not been explicitly given expression to. ^The caution with which
1390J72 the results of the earlier investigations on piles and pile groups,
1400J72 either installed as a whole unit or buried should be extrapolated for
1410J72 use in field practices becomes self evident now. ^Where the pile group
1420J72 has been installed as a whole, apart from the sand inside the pressure
1430J72 bulb of the group becoming prestressed, the influence of installation
1440J72 operations on the load-settlement behaviour of individual piles in the
1450J72 group is totally eliminated. ^These two factors consequently lead to a
1460J72 prediction, lower than the actual settlement value for the pile group.
1470J72 ^When the piles are buried, there is no zone of prestressing for single
1480J72 pile as well as for the group. ^As a result, the settlement of a
1490J72 buried single pile is more than that_ of a driven pile, other conditions
1500J72 remaining the same. ^*Vesic (1967) reports that buried single piles
1510J72 require a settlement as much as 27 per cent of their diameter in order
1520J72 to_ reach their ultimate bearing capacity whereas for driven piles a
1530J72 settlement of less than 10 per cent of the pile diameter is all that_ is
1540J72 required. (^It is observed to_ be about 8 per cent in the investigations
1550J72 reported here). ^But, for a buried pile group the settlement is likely
1560J72 to_ be less than that_ of a pile group constructed by individual
1570J72 driving of piles, since the influence of installation operations have
1580J72 been totally eliminated and the soil condition and the load-settlement
1590J72 behaviour for each pile are the same. ^Thus an increase in the
1600J72 settlement of a comparative single pile and a possible decrease in the
1610J72 group settlement give rise to a smaller than actual settlement ratio
1620J72 values. ^Hence designs based on the results of such investigations
1630J72 (installed as a whole or buried) will have a tendency to_ err on the
1640J72 *3unsafe*0 side in cases where piles are installed individually by
1650J72 driving. $*<*3Conclusions*0*> $^The following
1660J72 conclusions are drawn based on the research studies reported in
1670J72 the paper. $1. ^Installation of an adjacent pile has significant
1680J72 effect on the behaviour of already installed piles. ^The effect is more
1690J72 marked for groups in loose sand than for groups in medium dense sand.
1700J72 ^In both these types of deposits, installation of a pile considerably
1710J72 increases the settlement of already installed piles. ^For free standing
1720J72 pile groups in medium dense sand, group loading tends to_ counteract the
1730J72 installation effects with respect to settlement whereas for piled
1740J72 groups in medium dense sand such a tendency is not clearly observed.*#
        **[no. of words = 02006**]

        **[txt. j73**]
0010J73 **<*3The Role of Nutrients in Sugarcane and Signs of their
0020J73 Hunger*0**> $*<*3Introduction*0*> $^Underfeeding and starvation
0030J73 of plants constitute the basic reason for low yield of sugarcane in
0040J73 India. ^Even high yielding strains fail to_ yield to capacity,
0050J73 unless they are adequately nourished. ^Malnutrition stands
0060J73 at the base of majority of controllable ills afflicting the crop
0070J73 and hidden hunger poses a serious problem, which need be solved
0080J73 by bringing the *3nature*0 and *3nurture*0 closer together to the
0090J73 mobilizing of adequate nourishment to plants, if yield must go up
0100J73 and quality improve. ^Efficient culture of crop is one of the
0110J73 most complex occupation, **[sic**] much more tough than any other task of
0120J73 production. ^Even the results of research in this field are absorbed
0130J73 slowly and imperceptibly and the progress creeps but slowly.
0140J73 ^The age old concept that agriculture is an art, no longer holds
0150J73 true in this era of technological advancement in crop production
0160J73 and raising of healthy crop is recognized as a highly skilled
0170J73 job. ^It has well been established that lack of planned production
0180J73 and growing of sugarcane crop on the already depleted soils, at low
0190J73 farming cost regularly has cost nation dearly and laid the foundation
0200J73 for malnutrition and maladies of the magnitude, never experienced
0210J73 before. ^There is, therefore, the obvious need to_ have
0220J73 a correct appraisal of the role of nutrient elements and signs of
0230J73 their hunger. $^When any of the essential elements go out of balance,
0240J73 the plants slow down in the rate of their growth, and exhibit other
0250J73 signs of trouble, which vary from element to element. ^But
0260J73 the characteristic symptoms of the deficiency of individual elements
0270J73 remain almost constant in a crop. ^These, however, appear quite
0280J73 late when crop has already sustained severe loss due to hidden
0290J73 hunger for considerable periods. ^It is, therefore, essential
0300J73 that the deficiency is detected at the very outset, when crop slows
0310J73 down in growth and exhibits other signs of hidden hunger. ^The
0320J73 information presented hereinafter may be quite helpful in understanding
0330J73 the role of different elements in sugarcane feeding and detecting
0340J73 their hunger signs. $*<*3The role of nutrient elements symptoms
0350J73 of their deficiency:*0*> $*<*3Nitrogen*0*> $^Nitrogen is the mosst
0360J73 important element of plant nutrition, as 40 to 60% of the total dry
0370J73 weight of the protoplasm contains nitrogenous compounds. ^It enters
0380J73 into the composition of aminoacids, amides, alkaloids and proteins.
0390J73 ^The chlorophylly-- green pigment of leaves also contains nitrogen
0400J73 in the chloroplasts. ^It is, therefore, needed by
0410J73 sugarcane crop in relatively large amounts. ^A healthy crop at fourth
0420J73 month stage has more than 2% nitrogen in first fully expanded leaf
0430J73 blade on dry basis. ^It declines slowly with advancement in age and at the
0440J73 harvest time reaches to the minimum level of about 0.5 per cent.
0450J73 ^Specific deficiency symptoms of this element appear, when
0460J73 its level in the leaf blade declines below 0.5 per cent. $*3Deficiency
0470J73 symptoms:*0 ^Lack of adequate supply of nitrogen becomes quickly
0480J73 apparent in the yellowing of plants, reduced growth of tillers
0490J73 and stalk. ^The internodes reduce in size and leaves become
0500J73 smaller than normal. ^The colour of the leaves turns lighter
0510J73 green and then yellow due to lack of chlorophyll and the intensity
0520J73 depends upon the extent of deficiency. ^The symptoms
0530J73 first appear in the older leaves due to the translocation of
0540J73 nitrogen from them to growing point. ^Young leaves show signs
0550J73 of gradual loss of chlorophyll and development of yellow pigments
0560J73 in them. ^Yellowing generally starts from the tip and
0570J73 proceeds downwards along the two margins and covers the entire
0580J73 surface gradually. ^When the deficiency continues unchecked,
0590J73 the death of leaf tissues also ensues in similar pattern
0600J73 starting from the tip and the leaf dries prematurely. ^As
0610J73 nitrogen deficiency leads to cessation of growth, sugar synthesized
0620J73 in leaves is stored in the stalk and crop matures early.
0630J73 $*<*3Phosphorus*0*> $^Phosphorus is the next
0640J73 important and major element of plant growth. ^It enters into
0650J73 the composition of organic compounds like phytin, phospholipids,
0660J73 hexose phosphate, nucleic acid and some amino acids which make up
0670J73 phoshpoproteins that_ are utilized in new growth. ^It plays
0680J73 important role in nitrogen uptake, respiration, and synthesis
0690J73 of fats but sugar metabolism seems independent of its supply.
0700J73 ^It has been observed that due to deficient supply of phosphorus,
0710J73 rate of cell division is reduced, new growth slows
0720J73 down and both roots and tops become stunted. ^Sugars accumulate in
0730J73 abnormal quantity as these are not converted into starch and cellulose
0740J73 required in growth. ^Phosphorus is found more in the
0750J73 tissues of maximum growth activity, in the meristems and in the
0760J73 elongating canes. ^A healthy crop at fourth month stage contains
0770J73 about 0.2% phosphorus in the lamina of first fully expanded
0780J73 leaf, which declines gradually with age of the crop and reaches
0790J73 to the lowest level of about 0.1% by harvest time. ^Specific
0800J73 symptoms of deficiency appear when phosphorus content declines
0810J73 below 0.05% in the leaf blade. $*3Deficiency symptoms:*0
0820J73 ^Reduced tillering and inhibited growth of both stalks
0830J73 and leaves are the initial symptoms of phosphorus shortage. ^The
0840J73 length and diameter of cane is greatly reduced, internodes
0850J73 become short and the stalk tapers towards the growing tip. ^The
0860J73 leaves become narrow due to larger reduction in their breadth
0870J73 as compared to length. ^They exhibit greenish blue colour
0880J73 due to increase in anthocyanin pigments. ^A phosphorus is
0890J73 also translocated from the old leaves to new ones, deficiency symptoms
0900J73 first appear in these. ^Young plants that_ have a large
0910J73 demand show signs of hunger more than the mature plants. ^Soils
0920J73 capable of meeting the crop need upto elongation growth period
0930J73 of cane seldom prove deficient and plants rarely show signs of
0940J73 deficiency during sugar accumulation phase. ^Phosphorus deficiency
0950J73 symptoms become more severe during drought and dry seasons.
0960J73 $*<*3Potassium*0*> $^Potassium is the third essential element,
0970J73 which is required in large amounts. ^A fertile soil
0980J73 may have about 2% potassium on oven dry basis in contrast to 0.24%
0990J73 of nitrogen and somewhat less phosphorus. ^It is, therefore,
1000J73 rarely found deficient. ^Potassium does not form part of any
1010J73 structural tissue like nitrogen and phosphorus but plays equally
1020J73 important role in nutrition. ^It is generally found associated
1030J73 with protein activity and in a complementary fashion with
1040J73 calcium plays role **[sic**] in cell organization, hydration, and
1050J73 permeability. ^It influences many enzyme systems and carbohydrate
1060J73 and protein synthesis. ^Plant*'s ability to_ resist disease,
1070J73 cold and other adverse conditions is enhanced by it. ^A crop
1080J73 of about 100 tons removes about 3/5 \0kg of potasssium, which
1090J73 exceeds in quantity of nitrogen and phosphorus removed for similar
1100J73 yield. ^Healthy crop of sugarcane at the fourth month stage possesses
1110J73 about 2.5% potassium in the first fully expanded leaf on oven
1120J73 dry basis as against 2% of nitrogen and 0.2% phosphorus. ^It also
1130J73 diminishes with advancement in the age of the crop and reaches
1140J73 to the level of about 1.0% by the harvest time. ^Specific symptoms
1150J73 of its dificiency have been observed, when its content has
1160J73 declined below 0.5% in the leaf blade. $*3Deficiency symptoms:*0
1170J73 ^Plants suffering from potassium deficiency exhibit depressed
1180J73 growth, slender stalks, yellowish leaves and their marginal
1190J73 drying. ^The symptoms of deficiency first appear in old leaves.
1200J73 ^As the length of stalk is greatly reduced due to reduction
1210J73 in the elongating internodes for want of potassium supply, a
1220J73 bunchy top appeaarances is **[sic**] caused in the stalks. ^Old leaves
1230J73 exhibit orange yellow colour and possess numerous chlorotic spots
1240J73 that_ later turn brown and have dead centres. ^After the spots
1250J73 coalesce, general browning is causedd in leaves and the mid rib
1260J73 on the upper surface exhibits reddish colouration. ^Later
1270J73 the leaves die from the tip and the two margins. $*<*3Calcium*0*>
1280J73 $^Like nitrogen and phosphorus, calcium also enters into
1290J73 the composition of plant constituents. ^It is found in proteins
1300J73 of the nucleus, protoplasm, plastids and in the middle lamella
1310J73 of the cell wall in the form of calcium pectate, which prevents
1320J73 the leaching out of organic materials and mineral salts and
1330J73 acts as a cementing force between the walls of adjoining cells
1340J73 to_ hold them together. ^Calcium is found in highest concentration
1350J73 in meristematic tissues and in younger leaves. ^Some of
1360J73 the calcium absorbed by the plants is used for neutralizing the organic
1370J73 acids formed as by product and accordingly oxalic acid
1380J73 is converted to calcium oxalate. ^Calcium appears to_ exist
1390J73 in balance with magnesium, potassium and boron, as deficiency
1400J73 of any of these results in the accumulation of excessive
1410J73 amounts of calcium. ^Similarly excess of any of these elements
1420J73 results in calcium deficiency. $^Sugarcane grows well,
1430J73 if about 200 \0kg of calcium in exchangeable form is available per
1440J73 hectare. ^A healthy crop possesses between 0.1 to 0.2 per cent calcium
1450J73 in the blade of first fully expanded leaf and deficiency
1460J73 appears when its content declines below 0.1 per cent. ^In general,
1470J73 content of calcium remains low in acidic soils and varies
1480J73 inversely with phosphorus content. $*3Deficiency symptoms:*0
1490J73 ^Calcium deficiency is seldom encountered in sugarcane under normal
1500J73 field conditions but whenever occurs, **[sic**] it results in the
1510J73 retardation of growth. ^New cell walls are not formed with the
1520J73 result stalks become weak and possess soft rind. ^The leaves
1530J73 of sugarcane exhibit chlorotic spots with dead centers that_ later
1540J73 turn dark and reddish brown in colour. ^The intensity of spotting
1550J73 increases with age of the leaf and older leaves exhibit a
1560J73 rusty appearance. ^When deficiency persists, during the elongation
1570J73 growth period, meristematic growth almost completely ceases
1580J73 and death of the meristem is later caused, as it is not translocated
1590J73 from older leaves. $*<*3Magnesium*0*> $^Magnesium is the
1600J73 key element of chlorophyll and the beauty of green world largely
1610J73 depends on it. ^It is essential to plants, as a constituent of chlorophyll
1620J73 and important component of many plant enzymes. ^It is also
1630J73 regarded as a carrier of phosphorus, since phosphates move to
1640J73 their destination after combining with it and forming magnesium
1650J73 phosphate. ^Owing to its high mobility, deficiency symptoms
1660J73 first appear in older leaves. ^It is found in abundance, where
1670J73 nucleoproteins are formed in plant. ^A healthy crop of sugarcane
1680J73 contains in its first fully expanded leaf about 0.5% magnesium
1690J73 at the fourth month stage, which declines gradually with age and
1700J73 reaches to the level of about 0.2 per cent by the harvest time.
1710J73 ^Specific symptoms of deficiency appear when its content drops below
1720J73 0.1% in the leaf blade. ^A 100 ton sugarcane crop removes about
1730J73 160 \0kg. of magnesium per hectare. $*3Deficiency symptoms:*0
1740J73 ^Magnesium deficiency is often encountered in crop grown under
1750J73 acidic conditions of sandy soils. ^The first symptom appears on
1760J73 the lower leaves as general yellowing due to loss of chlorophyll and
1770J73 increase in carotin and xanthophyll pigments. ^The interveinal
1780J73 areas lose greenness in the initial stage with the result stripes
1790J73 are often formed in leaves. ^After the persistence of deficiency,
1800J73 however, veins also lose the green colour and entire leaf turns
1810J73 light green and then yellow in colour. ^Small dark brown spots
1820J73 also appear in these leaves which coalesce gradually and leaves exhibit
1830J73 rusty appearance. ^The stalks also exhibit anaemic condition and show
1840J73 internal browning. $*<*3Sulphur*0*> $^Sulphur is also an important
1850J73 major element, which enters into the composition of cystine-- an amino
1860J73 acid that_ forms protein. ^Thiamin and biotin, which are important
1870J73 hormones and certain volatile compounds are formed by it.
1880J73 ^Since it is available to plants as sulphate, fertilizers such
1890J73 as ammonium sulphate, calcium sulphate and potassium sulphate, which are
1900J73 commonly applied for the supply of nitrogen, calcium and potassium,
1910J73 supply this element in adequate quantity. ^It, therefore,
1920J73 finds a free ride to the soil. ^Rain water also supplies about
1930J73 10 \0kg of sulphur annually. ^Sulhpur deficiency is, therefore, rarely
1940J73 found in sugarcane. ^A healthy crop possesses in the leaf blade
1950J73 at the fourth month stage about 0.2% sulphur, which declines with age.
1960J73 ^The deficiency appears when its content falls below 0.01 per
1970J73 cent. ^A crop of about 100 tons/ \0ha requires about 65 \0kg of sulphur.
1980J73 $*3Deficiency symptoms:*0 ^Sulphur deficiency symptoms are characterized
1990J73 by stunted growth and general yellowing of the crop.
2000J73 ^The length and girth of the stalk are greatly reduced and leaves exhibit
2010J73 yellowing similar to that_ observed is case of nitrogen deficiency.*#
        **[no. of words = 02006**]

        **[txt. j74**]
0010J74 **<*3A REVIEW OF NICKEL-SULPHIDE AND ASSOCIATED BASEMETAL MINERALISATION
0020J74 IN GREENSTONE TERRAINS OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA AND SOUTH INDIA WITH EMPHASIS
0021J74 ON EXPLORATION*0*>
0030J74 $*<ABSTRACT*> $^A brief appraisal of geology, nature of mineralisation
0040J74 and geochemical methods of exploration on some of the recently
0050J74 discovered nickel-sulphide deposits within the granite-greenstone terrain
0060J74 of the Yilgarn Block, Western Australia together with some copper
0070J74 sulphide occurrences having minor nickel in South Indian green schist
0080J74 belt has been made. ^Most of the nickel sulphide deposits of Western
0090J74 Australia have a close affinity with the komatiitic type of synvolcanic
0100J74 bodies. ^The exploration of these deposits was generally initiated
0110J74 around the airborne anomalies by means of geochemical techniques almost
0120J74 always in conjunction with ground geophysical work by magnetic survey.
0130J74 ^Case histories on exploration of Kambalda, Ora Banda, Redross-Widgeimooltha
0140J74 Perseverance and Mount Keith deposit illustrate how various problems
0150J74 of geochemical exploration have been tackled in these areas. ^In this
0160J74 context, possibility of locating similar nickel and other basemetal sulphide
0170J74 deposits within the Archaean schist belt of South India has been
0180J74 highlighted. ^The rock associations in some of the reported occurrences
0190J74 of \0Cu-sulphides with minor \0Ni association around Nuggihalli,
0200J74 Kaiga, Belgumba of Karnataka and Virupakshi, Godepalaiyam of Tamil
0210J74 Nadu resemble the synvolcanic bodies containing both high and low magnesian
0220J74 magmatic suites as noted in Western Australia. $^The granitoid-greenstone
0230J74 terrain of the Yilgarn Block contrasts with the migmatite
0240J74 gneiss high grade metamorphic terrain lying in the southeastern part
0250J74 of this Block in their tectonic style, lithological association, metamorphic
0260J74 features and radioactive age. ^The latter is characterised by large
0270J74 areas of magmatic, migmatitic and gneissic granitoids that_ contain
0280J74 enclaves of high grade schists and gneisses. ^The regional contrast
0290J74 of these two types of terrain points out to the existence of a protonucleus
0300J74 in this part of Western Australia, now represented by the high grade
0310J74 migmatitic gneiss-granulite terrain to the south-west. ^Such a tectono-geological
0320J74 set up has some resemblance with the Dharwar
0330J74 craton of South India, characterised by rocks of early to middle
0340J74 Precambrian age which constitutes mostly the granite-greenstone belts.
0350J74 ^The high metamorphic facies rocks comprising charnockite-khondalite suite
0360J74 occurring at the southern fringe of the cratonic block, and the peninsular
0370J74 gneiss together form the gneiss-granulite province that_ separates
0380J74 the former belt along a longitudinal fracture system. $^In the Yilgarn
0390J74 Block of Western Australia, presence of true-gossans has been found
0400J74 to_ be an useful tool for locating the concealed \0Ni-sulphide mineralisation.
0410J74 ^Besides, the anomalous presence of certain indicator/ pathfinder
0420J74 elements like \0Cu, \0Zn, \0Cr, \0Au, \0Pt, \0Pd, \0Ir, \0etc,
0430J74 could be successfully used to_ delineate the primary and secondary
0440J74 halos of \0Ni, where sub-surface drilling subsequently established the
0450J74 presence of \0Ni-sulphide below such halos. ^It appears from the geological
0460J74 characters of the Archaean greenschist belt of South India that
0470J74 thorough search for \0Ni-\0Cu sulphides with special emphasis on platinoid
0480J74 group of elements should be carried out, not only along the extension
0490J74 zones of the reported occurrences but also in other suitable areas
0500J74 for the possible concealed deposits through identification of true-gossans,
0510J74 if any, followed by detailed geophysical ground surveys and geochemical
0520J74 exploration using suitable pathfinder elements. $*<INTRODUCTION*>
0530J74 $^A critical review of the history of mineral exploration in the
0540J74 Yilgarn Block of Western Australia reveals that most mineral discoveries
0550J74 in this area, prior to 1965, were of weathering resistates such as
0560J74 gold and tin, or weathering products such as iron-ore and bauxite.
0570J74 ^Since then, the exploration strategy changed radically in this part and
0580J74 with the proper recognition of gossans (distinguishing it from the other
0590J74 surface ironstones), a good number of nickel and basemetal sulphide
0600J74 deposits have been discovered around the famous gold mining areas during
0610J74 the last decade with the help of geophysical and geochemical methods
0620J74 (Smith *(0et al.,*) 1976). ^Some of these new prospects have already
0630J74 started production and the others are undergoing
0640J74 detailed exploration or exploratory mining. ^During the 25th International
0650J74 Geological Congress held in August, 1976, the senior author had
0660J74 the opportunity of visiting some of the prospects in course of a post-session
0670J74 excursion organised by the Congress, in which an introduction to
0680J74 certain aspects of the weathering and geomorphology of the Archaean Yilgarn
0690J74 Block of southwestern Australia with a stress on their importance
0700J74 to the application of geochemical techniques for basemetal exploration
0710J74 was provided. ^This informative excursion inspired him to_ make a
0720J74 comparative study of the overall geological set-up and the geochemical features
0730J74 of this area with that_ of the Archaean green schist belt of South
0740J74 India, since, in this part of India, almost similar elongate belts
0750J74 of greenstone exists in close association with granitic rocks of early
0760J74 to middle Precambrian age. ^Moreover, we have the gold occurrences
0770J74 as well as ultramafic rocks having some indications of \0Ni and other basemetal
0780J74 sulphide mineralisation in this area. ^Accordingly, a critical
0790J74 review of reports and literature on these two widely separated areas of
0800J74 the two different continents along with some field observations made by
0810J74 the junior author during a short tour on some of the South Indian occurrences
0820J74 and those made by the senior author in course of his tour in Western
0830J74 Australia, has been outlined in this paper. $*<GEOLOGY
0840J74 OF THE YILGARN BLOCK*> $^This block has been sub-divided into southwestern
0850J74 Province, Murchison Province and Eastern Goldfields Province,
0860J74 based upon zones of contrasting tectonic style, lithological association,
0870J74 metamorphic features and geochronology (Plate 1). ^The granitoid-greenstone
0880J74 terrains of the Murchison and the Eastern Goldfields
0890J74 Provinces are basically similar. ^They, however, contrast with
0900J74 the magmatic, migmatitic and gneissic granitoids of the southwestern Province
0910J74 that_ contains enclaves of high-grade schists and gneisses.
0920J74 ^Metamorphosed mafic and ultramafic rocks occur here as small pods.
0930J74 ^Scattered occurrences of granulite facies rocks within the metasediments
0940J74 are also reported. ^Isotopic ages from the gneiss and schist of this
0950J74 province are the oldest known from the Yilgarn Block, ranging from
0960J74 2.8 to 3.1 \0b.y. ^The magmatic granitoids that_ intruded the gneissic
0970J74 terrain gave ages ranging from 2.6 to 2.7 \0b.y., similar to those
0980J74 granitoids in the granitoid greenstone terrain. $^By contrast, the
0990J74 granitoid-greenstone terrain tends to_ lie peripherally to the old segment
1000J74 and are composed of elongate, generally synclinal keels of volcanogenic
1010J74 greenstone belts within voluminous granitoids of different types.
1020J74 ^Pre-metamorphic rocks include tholeiitic, types, commonly pillowed, and
1030J74 comagmatic gabbro; a high magnesian komatiitic type volcanic suite ranging
1040J74 from periodotite (upto 50% \0MgO, volatile-free) to high magnesian
1050J74 basalt (down to 10% \0MgO); ultramagnesian intrusive peridotite and
1060J74 dunite dykes; felsic volcanics consisting of lava, tuff, agglomerate,
1070J74 and breccia (dacite to rhyodacite in composition); chemical sediments such
1080J74 as chert and banded iron formation; and clastic sediments such as arkose,
1090J74 greywacke, and polymictic conglomerate. ^Within the greenstone
1100J74 belts, nickel-sulphide deposits are associated with ultrabasic extrusions
1110J74 and intrusions, and massive copper-zinc sulphide deposits are associated
1120J74 with basic to felsic volcanogenic settings. ^The simplest regional
1130J74 structure displayed in most of the areas involves synclinal keels of
1140J74 greenstone flanked by domal granitoids that_ rose diapirically. ^However,
1150J74 on the regional scale, there is evidence of polyphase deformation
1160J74 giving rise to superposed cleavages and mesoscopic folds (Smith *(oet
1170J74 al.,*) 1976). $^Thus, the regional contrast of the provinces
1180J74 point to the existence of a protonucleus, now represented by the south
1190J74 western Province, which was extensively affected by the later granitic
1200J74 plutonism. ^The granitoid-greenstone terrain appears to_ have evolved
1210J74 on primitive crust adjacent to the sialic protonucleus.
1220J74 $*<GEOLOGY OF THE ARCHAEAN COMPLEXES OF SOUTH INDIAN SHIELD*>
1230J74 $^*South India comprises mainly Archaean to Proterozoic rocks belonging
1240J74 to the Dharwar Super Group and the Peninsular gneissic complex.
1250J74 ^The Central part forms the granite greenstone belt (2.6 to 2.1 \0b.y.)
1260J74 consisting of rock formations of Dharwar Super Group characterised by
1270J74 green-schist to amphibolite facies (\0Pl. 2). ^These are surrounded
1280J74 by migmatitic gneisses charnockite-khondalite suite of rocks, granulites
1290J74 and other high grade metamorphic rocks of peninsular gneissic complex
1300J74 (3.0 to 2.1 \0b.y.) that_ form the gneiss-granulite province.
1310J74 ^An intervening area between the two regions in some parts contains high
1320J74 grade rocks showing amphibolite to lower granulite facies of metamorphism.
1330J74 $^The rocks belonging to Peninsular gneissic complex are essentially
1340J74 represented by migmitites (often after charnockites) of both
1350J74 diatexitic and metatexitic types associated with charnockite and khondalite
1360J74 groups of rocks. ^The occurrences of quartzites, crystalline
1370J74 limestones and metapelites in some areas as enclaves or restites within
1380J74 the Peninsular gneiss suggest a narrow platformal paleo-environment.
1390J74 ^Along the median fractures of these platformal areas, high magnesian ultramafic
1400J74 sequence of rocks of komatiitic affinity such as those reported
1410J74 from Nuggihalli area had extruded with common association of chromite,
1420J74 vanadiferous-titaniferous magnetite and \0Cu-\0Ni sulphides.
1430J74 ^Besides, the Peninsular gnessic complex is full of inclusions of amphibolite
1440J74 and basic schists, representing the igneous rocks and sediments
1450J74 of a period probably older than the Dharwars (Radhakrishana, 1964).
1460J74 ^An older group of lavas and associated metasedimeents occurring in small
1470J74 linear belts have been identified for which the name 'Sargur schist
1471J74 complex' (3.5 to 3.0 \0b.y.) has been given (Swami Nath *(0et al.,*)
1472J74 1976, Viswanatha
1480J74 and Ramkrishnan, 1975). ^It is composed essentially of extensive meta-ultramafics
1490J74 and meta-basalts with associated quartzitic carbonate
1500J74 and aluminous sediments showing upper amphibolite to lower granulite facies.
1510J74 ^These represent the older greenstones of South Indian Shield.
1520J74 $^The bulk of the Dharwar Super Group are consitituted by
1530J74 the younger greenstone sequence composed of platformal, geosynclinal and
1540J74 intramontane basin accumulations volcano-sedimental sequences resting
1550J74 unconformably over the older migmatitic gneisses traceable continuously
1560J74 along the strike for over 500 \0km. ^The platformal sequence is represented
1570J74 by the Bababudan Group composed of pyrite and gold bearing oligomictic
1580J74 conglomerates to orthoquartzites, sub-aerial tholeiite lava
1590J74 and magnetite quartzite with an younger cycle consisting of orthoquartitic
1600J74 shale and carbonate. ^These rocks are locally intruded by ultramafic
1610J74 rocks carrying subordinate chromite, vanadiferous-titaniferous
1620J74 magnetite and copper-nickel sulphide mineralisation. ^The rocks of
1630J74 the Chitradurga Group belong to the geosynclinal sequence, probably developed
1640J74 along fracture bound elongate basins, comprising basic volcanics,
1650J74 interbedded with polymictic conglomerates, greywakes, banded iron-formations
1660J74 of oxide, sulphide and carbonate facies (Srinivas & Sreenivas,
1670J74 1976). $^The Widgiemooltha region is part of a north-west trending belt
1680J74 of metamorphosed volcanic sedimentary and ultramafic rocks which correlate
1690J74 with the rocks of Kambalda area. ^*Widgiemooltha is about 30 \0km
1700J74 south of Kambalda and Redross is 23 \0km \0SSE of Widgiemooltha.
1710J74 ^This belt contains a number of domal structures with intrusive
1720J74 granitic cores. ^Three ultramafic units have been located here around
1730J74 the diapiric granite core. ^The lower unit is barren. ^The central
1740J74 unit is mineralised in the northern half of the dome and is quite prospective
1750J74 further north. ^The uppermost unit is mineralised at Redross
1760J74 along the eastern flank of the dome. ^The nickel mineralisation
1770J74 generally occurs in this area along the contact of talc-altered dunite
1780J74 or peridotite sills and flows within a tholeiitic basalt pile. ^At
1790J74 Redross, massive or brecciated re-mobilised nickel sulphide ores are
1800J74 present at the base of an altered ultrabasic sill against a basalt foot-wall,
1810J74 controlled by a shear, sub-parallel to the contact. ^Inferred
1825J74 ore reserves upto a depth of 280 \0m in 1973 were one million tonnes, wth
1830J74 average grade at 3.5% \0Ni and 0.25% \0Cu primary ore minerals are
1840J74 essentially pyrrhotite and pentlandite with minor amount of chalcopyrite.
1850J74 ^The supergene ore assemblage consisting of violatite, pyrite, chalcopyrite
1860J74 and chalcocite, assays upto 18% \0Ni and 0.2 to 1.0% \0cu, occurring
1870J74 between 25-150 \0m (Smith *(0et al.,*). 1976). $^Regional
1880J74 geochemical survey for basemetals started in this area during 1965 using
1890J74 minus 80 mesh drainage samples wherever suitable. ^Follow-up procedures
1900J74 consisted of gossan search, colluvium and soil sampling, costean
1910J74 cuts, auger-pereussion and finally diamond drilling. ^Gossan search
1920J74 and soil sampling were used in areas of exposed residuum, and weathered
1930J74 bed rock sampling by costeaning and drilling were used in areas of poor
1940J74 outcrop and transported cover. ^Exploration, in areas of limited exposure
1950J74 was greatly aided by aerial and ground magnetics which accurately
1960J74 delineated the concealed ultrabasics. ^Exploratory drilling was generally
1970J74 carried out on \0Ni, \0Cr, \0Zn anomalies and \0Pt & \0Pd
1980J74 worked as distinct indicators of true gossans in this area.
1990J74 $*<*3Lateritic Nickel of Ora Banda*> $^The Ora Banda area,
2000J74 60 \0km \0NW of Kalgoorlie consists predominantly of a very thick sequence
2010J74 of intrusive and extrusive mafic and ultramafic rocks, bounded by
2020J74 batholithic granites. ^Metamorphic grade is generally not higher than
2030J74 greenschist facies.*#
        **[no. of words = 02007**]

        **[txt. j75**]
0010J75 **<*3Metabolism of *3n-Alkane in *8Endomycopsis lipolytica*9 (*8Saccharomycopsis
0020J75 lipolytica*9): Part *=4-- Characteristics of Lipid Formation
0030J75 from *3n-Alkanes by Non-proliferating Cells**>
0040J75 $^Fatty acids and fatty acid esters are the most significant direct
0050J75 products of *3n-alkane metabolism in microorganisms. ^Hence,
0060J75 numerous reports have appeared describing qualitative and quantitative
0070J75 aspects of cellular lipids in microorganisms grown on *3n-alkane in
0080J75 an attempt to_ obtain specific metabolic relationship between the alkane
0090J75 substrate and lipid products. ^Quality and quantity of cellular lipids
0100J75 formed from *3n-alkanes, however, are greatly influenced not only
0110J75 by the type of organism and alkane substrate used but also by the conditions
0120J75 of culture. ^In most of the reported studies,
0130J75 cellular lipids were analyzed after cultivation of the organism on *3n-alkanes
0140J75 without careful delineation of the culture conditions.
0150J75 ^As pointed out by Hug and Fiechter, in such cases it is hazardous to_
0160J75 read any meaningful relationship between the alkane substrate and the
0170J75 lipoidal products. ^Besides, in growing cells, considerable proportions
0180J75 of the alkane carbons go *3via fatty acids towards formation of
0190J75 non-lipoidal constituents (70-80% of dry biomass) of the proliferating
0200J75 cells. ^Evidently, the changes in the quality and quantity of
0201J75 cellular lipids do not necessarily reflect any particular
0210J75 relationship with the alkane substrate under these conditions. ^The problem
0220J75 is compounded by the general practice followed by many investigators
0230J75 in expressing lipid fractions such as fatty acids as relative percentage
0240J75 of total fatty acid or total lipid which may lead to fallacious interpretation.
0250J75 $^It is anticipated that under growth limiting conditions
0260J75 the pattern of changes in cellular lipids will be more directly related
0270J75 to the alkane substrate. ^Accordingly, this paper presents the
0280J75 pattern of changes in cellular lipids, particularly fatty acids, when
0290J75 cells of *8Endomycopsis lipolytica*9 were incubated with *3n-alkanes
0300J75 under conditions which did not promote the proliferation of cells.
0310J75 ^The possible significance of these cellular lipid and fatty acid patterns
0320J75 is discussed and a hypothetical metabolic scheme for the transformation
0330J75 of *3n-alkanes into long-chain fatty acids in yeasts is advanced.
0340J75 $*<*3Materials and Methods*> $*3Organism-- ^The characteristics
0350J75 and maintenance of the ascosporogenous yeast, *8Endomycopsis lipolytica*9
0360J75 (*8saccharomycopsis lipolytica*9)
0361J75 Y 13, used in these studies, have been described elsewhere.
0370J75 $*3Cultivation-- ^A sufficient amount of inoculum of yeast cells
0380J75 was prepared by growing the organism on nutrient broth containing 1%
0390J75 peptone, 1% yeast extract, 1% malt extract and 1% glucose in a 5-litre
0400J75 capacity New Brunswick Fermentor. ^After cultivation for 20 \0hr
0410J75 at 28*@ \0C and \0pH 5, the cells were harvested by brief centrifugation
0420J75 and washed thrice with 0.06 \0*3M0 \0Na*;2**:HPO*:4**:-- \0KH*:2**:P:o*:4**:
0430J75 buffer (\0pH 7). ^About
0440J75 600 \0mg (dry \0wt) of washed cells were suspended in 25 \0ml sterile 0.06
0450J75 \0*3M \0Na*:2**: HPQ*:4**: -\0Kh*:2**:PO*:4**: buffer (\0pH7)
0460J75 containing 10% (\0vol./\0vol.) *3n-alkane substrates and 0.07% \0MgSO*:4**:
0470J75 in 250 \0ml conical flasks. ^The
0480J75 flasks were incubated for 4, 8, 12, 24 and 48 \0hr at 28-30*@ \0C on a
0490J75 rotary shaker. ^Cells were separated by centrifugation and washed
0500J75 once in phosphate buffer. ^The washed cells were
0510J75 used for the analysis of lipids and carbohydrates. ^Cell-free
0520J75 medium and the washings were collected for the estimation of residual alkanes.
0530J75 *3Assay methods-- ^Lipids were extracted from wet cells
0540J75 by the method recommended by Vorbeck and Marinetti. ^About 1 \0g
0550J75 (dry \0wt) of cells was heated with 20 \0ml methanol at 65*@ \0C for 5
0560J75 \0min followed by cooling and stirring with 40 \0ml chloroform for 20
0570J75 \0min. ^The solvent extract was collected. ^The extraction procedure
0580J75 was repeated thrice using 10 \0ml methanol and 20 \0ml chloroform
0590J75 and finally the cell debris was refluxed with 50 \0ml chloroform-methanol
0600J75 mixture (2 : 1, \0v0l./\0vol.) for 2 \0hr. ^This was followed
0610J75 by another extraction with 25 \0ml chloroform-methanol mixture.
0620J75 ^Finally, all the extracts were combined and repeatedly washed with distilled
0630J75 water. ^The lipid extract was dehydrated with anhydrous
0640J75 \0Na*:2**:SO*:4**: and then brought to a definite volume (10 \0ml)
0650J75 by evaporation under reduced pressure. $^For the estimation of total
0660J75 lipid, an aliquot (5 \0ml) of the lipid extract was evaporated at 60*@
0670J75 \0C for 20 \0hr and weighed. ^The value of the total lipid was corrected
0680J75 for the presence of *3n-alkane which was estimated in a small aliquot
0690J75 (2 \0*Yml) of the extract by gas-liquid chromatography as described
0700J75 elsewhere. ^For the estimation of fatty acids, the lipid extract
0710J75 was saponified and fatty acids were extracted from the saponifiable
0720J75 fraction, methylated with diazomethane and analyzed with gas-liquid chromatography
0730J75 as described previously. ^Absolute values of fatty acid
0740J75 methyl esters were obtained by comparison with standard samples.
0750J75 ^Phospholipids were estimated in the lipid extract after separation through
0760J75 thin layer chromatography and by comparison with standard phospholipids.
0770J75 $^Sterols were estimated in the non-saponified fraction according
0780J75 to the method described by Rodnight using cholesterol as standard.
0790J75 ^Total lipid and individual lipid fractions were expressed as
0800J75 per cent of dry biomass. ^The residual *3n-alkane in the cell-free
0810J75 incubation medium and washings was repeatedly extracted with *3n-heptane
0820J75 and the alkane in the heptane extract was estimated by gas-liquid
0830J75 chromatography as described previously. $^Carbohydrates in the cells
0840J75 were estimated by using anthrone reagent. $*<*3Results*>
0850J75 $^Cells actively growing on nutrient broth were used for inoculation
0860J75 into the incubation medium in sufficiently large amount to_ ensure rapid
0870J75 consumption and oxidation of *3n-alkane substrate so that the observed
0880J75 pattern of the oxidation products reflected the characteristics of the
0890J75 substrate. ^Nutrient broth grown cells were found satisfactory because
0900J75 of the low lipid content and reproducible profile of the cellular
0910J75 lipid fractions. ^These cells also possessed good capacity to_ utilize
0920J75 *3n-alkane. $^Conditions of non-proliferation of the cells were
0930J75 achieved by the absence of assimilable nitrogen, specific inorganic ions
0940J75 and growth factors, such as vitamins, in the incubation medium.
0950J75 ^Some cryptic growth on the lysed cells could be possible but it was considered
0960J75 negligible in terms of the total cell biomass. \0^*Mg*;2+**;
0970J75 was included in the incubation medium because of its essential role in
0980J75 metabolism. $*3Pattern of cellular lipid formation from *3n-alkanes
0990J75 by non-proliferating cells-- ^When nutrient broth-grown
1000J75 cells were incubated in a non-proliferating medium containing *3N-dodecane,
1010J75 a rapid linear increase in total cellular lipid and fatty acids
1020J75 was observed in the initial 12 \0hr of incubation concomitant with the
1030J75 rapid consumption of the alkane (\0Fig. 1). ^At this period, the
1040J75 total lipid reached a peak level of 16% of dry biomass which was double
1050J75 the initial value and this high level was maintained throughout the rest
1060J75 of the period of incubation for 48 \0hr. ^Total fatty acid likewise
1070J75 reached the peak level of 9.9% which was about three-times the initial
1080J75 value after 12 \0hr of incubation, followed by a decreasing trend.
1090J75 ^Cellular phospholipids and sterols, however, increased at slower
1100J75 rates to_ reach peak levels after 24 and 12 \0hr of incubation, respectively.
1110J75 ^Alkane consumption, after the initial rapid increase, slowed down
1120J75 after 12 \0hr of incubation. $^Similar patterns of cellular response
1130J75 were also observed by using alkanes other than *3N-dodecane, (\0Fig.
1140J75 2). ^A rapid increase of the total fatty acid was observed in
1150J75 the initial hour of incubation when *3n-tridecane, *3n-pentadecane
1160J75 or *3n-hexadecane was used as substrate. $^*Hug *(0et al*), found
1170J75 a rapid increase in total cellular lipids without concomitant consumption
1180J75 of *3n-hexadecane following a substrate change from glucose to
1190J75 hexadecane in continuous culture experiments. ^It was contended that
1200J75 the synthesis of lipid, presumably from nonhydrocarbon sources, in the
1210J75 cells was activated by the presence of alkane in the initial period.
1220J75 ^In th present experiments with non-proliferating cells, it was possible
1230J75 to_ demonstrate that non-hydrocarbon cellular constituents did not play
1240J75 any major role in initial lipogenesis. $\0^*Fig. 1 shows that
1250J75 cellular carbohydrates, specially glycogen which may be regarded as
1260J75 the most probable alternate carbon source for lipid synthesis, also increased
1270J75 in the initial period of incubation along with the increase in cellular
1280J75 lipids, indicating that cellular carbohydrates were unlikely to_
1290J75 serve as precursor for initial lipid synthesis. ^The possibility
1300J75 of cellular proteins serving as carbon source for lipid synthesis was
1310J75 also unlikely as it is generally known that proteins are used only in the
1320J75 absence of other assimilable carbon sources. ^It thus appears possible
1330J75 that the initial response of non-proliferating cells was to_ hasten
1340J75 up the conversion of the alkane substrates into lipids. ^Consequently,
1350J75 an analysis of these lipids and the pattern of their changes
1360J75 may throw light on the primary metabolic transformations of the alkanes.
1370J75 $*3Cellular fatty acid profile-- \0^*Figs. 3-6 show the
1380J75 changes in the profile of major cellular fatty acids during the incubation
1390J75 of the nutrient broth-grown cells with *3n-alkanes in the range of
1400J75 *3n-dodecane to *3n-hexadecane in a non-proliferating medium. ^The
1410J75 changes in total fatty acid corresponding to these figures are given in
1420J75 \0Fig. 2. ^A unique feature of these fatty acid profiles was the predominance
1430J75 of the \0C*:18**: and \0C:16**: fatty acids and the rapid increase
1440J75 of these acids in the initial period of incubation (8-12 \0hr).
1450J75 ^When even chain alkanes, *3n-dodecane and *3n-hexadedane,
1460J75 were used as substrates, \0C*:18**: and \0C*:16**: fatty acids constituted
1470J75 more than 90% of the total fatty acid throughout the incubation period.
1480J75 ^The unsaturated \0C*:18:2**: fatty acid was the most predominant
1490J75 fatty acid followed by \0C*:18:1**: acid. $^*Dodecanoic
1500J75 acid (\0C*:12:0**:) the fatty acid corresponding to *3n-dodekane, was
1510J75 conspicuous by its low level throughout the incubation period with this
1520J75 alkane (\0Fig. 3). ^On the other hand, with *3n-hexadecane as the
1530J75 substrate, the corresponding fatty acid, hexadecanoic acid (\0C*:16:0**:),
1540J75 gradually increased until it reached a peak after 24 \0hr of incubation
1550J75 (\0Fig. 6). $^Incubation with odd-chain alkanes, *3n-tridecane
1560J75 and *3n-pentadecane, resulted in a fatty acid profile (\0fig. 4 & 5),
1570J75 in the initial period of incubation, similar to that_ observed in incubation
1580J75 with *3n-dodecane. ^Only after prolonged incubation, odd-chain fatty
1590J75 acids appeared. ^In cells incubated with *3n-tridecane \0C*:18:2**:
1600J75 and \0C*:18:1**: fatty acids constituted the largest fractions of
1610J75 total fatty acid and these acids rapidly increased in the initial 12
1620J75 \0hr of incubation followed by decline. ^The second largest fraction
1630J75 \0C*:16:0**: and \0C*:16:1**: fatty acids, also behaved similarly but
1640J75 to a lesser degree. ^Tridecanoic acid (\0C*:13:0**:), the fatty
1650J75 acid corresponding to *3n-tridecane was barely perceptible in the initial
1660J75 12 \0hr of incubation and then suddenly increased concomitant with
1670J75 the decline of \0C*:18**: and \0C*:16**: fatty acids and continued to_
1680J75 increase until the end of 48 \0hr of incubation at which period it
1690J75 constituted 12% of the total fatty acid (\0Fig. 3). ^Other odd-chain fatty
1700J75 acids, \0C*:15:0**:, \0C*:17:0**:and \0C*:17:1**: acids, also rose
1710J75 along with trideconic acid but to a much lesser degree. ^In cells
1720J75 incubated with *3n-pentadecane a similar pattern of changes in fatty
1730J75 acids was observed except that \0C*:18**: and \0C*:16**: fatty acids
1740J75 reached the peak level after 8 \0hr of incubation followed by decline
1750J75 and concomitant sharp rise of the corresponding fatty acid, pentadecanoic
1760J75 acid (\0Fig. 5). \0^*C*:17:0**: and \0C*:17:1**: fatty acids also rose
1770J75 along with \0C*:15:0**: acid at a lesser degree, but \0C*13:0**: acid
1780J75 was barely perceptible. ^After 48 \0hr of incubation, \0C:15:0**:
1790J75 acid constituted 22.4%, \0C:18:1**: acid 21% and \0C:18:2**: acid
1800J75 30.8% of the total fatty acid. ^As shown in \0Figs. 3 and 4, the
1810J75 relative percentage of fatty acids showed a pattern different from that_
1820J75 of absolute values (\0g% of dry biomass) of these acids. ^For
1830J75 example, in \0fig. 4, the absolute value of \0C:18:2**: fatty acid showed
1840J75 a sharp increase in the initial hours of incubation, but the relative
1850J75 value showed a decline. it is obivous that absolute values will
1860J75 give a true picture of the fatty acid pattern. ^Most of the published
1870J75 works in this field, however, presented fatty acids as relative
1880J75 percentage of the total fatty acid and did not bring out the true sequence
1890J75 of events. $^It was reported by many investigators that the
1900J75 major fatty acids in the microorganism utilizing long-chain *3n-alkanes
1910J75 (\0C*:13**:-\0C:18**:) as carbon source reflect the chain length of
1920J75 the alkane substrate and were believed to_ be incorporated intact into cellular
1930J75 lipids. ^The results obtained in the present studies seemingly
1940J75 contradict these observations. ^This may be attributable
1950J75 to the fact that earlier results were obtained from cells grown on *3n-alkane
1960J75 without due consideration of the stage of growth and the initial
1970J75 fatty acid profile of the cells in response to the presence of the
1980J75 alkane substrate might have been masked by later developments in metabolism
1990J75 in these studies. ^As shown in \0figs. 4-6 identical chain
2000J75 length fatty acids did constitute significant proportions of the total
2010J75 fatty acid in the later period of incubation.*#
        **[no. of words = 02015**]

        **[txt. j76**]
0010J76 **<*3Some Aspects of Feeding of \0S.G. Iron Castings**> $*<*3introduction*>
0020J76 $^The mechanism of freezing of \0S.G. Irons governs
0030J76 their feeding behaviour. ^The resulting micro- and macro-morphologies
0040J76 of solidification structure in the casting are fundamental to_
0050J76 the origin of shrinkage cavities in these irons. ^Besides, the shrinkage
0060J76 behaviour of these irons is also influenced by such foundry
0070J76 variables as chemical composition, pouring temperature and mold rigidity.
0080J76 ^All the above variables affecting the feeding behaviour
0090J76 of \0S.G. Iron castings are discussed below. ^Also the investigations
0100J76 carried out by the authors on feeder dimensioning of \0S.G.
0110J76 Iron plate and bar castings are discussed. $*<FREEZING MECHANISM*>
0120J76 $*<*3Volume changes*> $^Volume changes taking place
0130J76 in an \0S.G. Iron casting from the pouring temperature down
0140J76 to the solidus temperature can be discussed as follows. ^Rapid elimination
0150J76 of superheat takes place between the pouring temperature
0160J76 and the liquidus temperature. ^During this temperature drop, liquid
0170J76 \0S.G. Iron contracts in volume like any other metal. ^*White
0180J76 reports a value of 1.6% of liquid contraction for every 100*@ \0C
0190J76 of superheat. ^*Sinha and Kondic have reported that liquid contraction
0200J76 may vary between 1.0 and 4.8% per 100*@ \0C the average values
0210J76 for eutectic irons lying between 1.0 and 2.0%. $^At the liquidus
0220J76 temperature, hypereutectic nodules of graphite are precipitated
0230J76 in the liquid. ^As the solidification
0250J76 progresses with the drop in temperature, there coexist both liquid and
0260J76 proeutectic graphite. ^While the liquid contracts, the precipitation
0270J76 of graphite leads to expansion of the liquid since graphite
0280J76 has a high specific volume. ^Austenite-graphite eutectic cells
0290J76 are nucleated at the eutectic initiation temperature. ^While
0300J76 the precipitation and subsequent growth of austenite in the
0310J76 eutectic cells leads to contraction, that_ of the graphite spheroids in
0320J76 the eutectic cells leads to expansion. ^The interplay between
0321J76 contraction and expansion leads to the final volume
0330J76 changes in the casting. $^*Shnay and Gertsman have reported
0340J76 a pouring temperature range between 1275 and 1300*@ \0C as being critical
0350J76 in the case of hypereutectic irons. ^However, Devaux
0360J76 and Jeancolas report no significant influence of pouring temperature
0370J76 range on their studies on feeding of these irons.
0380J76 $^Two types of shrinkage are normally encountered in \0S.G. Iron
0390J76 castings. ^They are: **=1) gross shrinkage and **=2) interdendritic
0400J76 dendritic shrinkage or known also as sponge shrinkage.
0410J76 $^Gross shrinkage occurs between the time the mold is poured and
0420J76 the time the metal solidifies. ^It can be compensated by having
0430J76 a minimum amount of superheat, which in turn reduces the amount
0440J76 of liquid contraction. $^Sponge shrinkage occurs in the
0450J76 last stages of solidification. $*<*3Microscopic mechanism of solidification*>
0460J76 $^The bulk of published research on solidification
0470J76 of \0S.G. Irons deals with two microscopic problems. (^**=1) the mechanism
0480J76 of formation of spheroidal graphite rather than flake graphite
0490J76 and **=2) the morphology of nodule growth. ^The latter influences the
0500J76 shrinkage of nodule growth. ^The latter influences the shrinkage
0510J76 behaviour of \0S.G. Irons during freezing. ^Morphology of nodule
0520J76 growth is currently believed to_ develop in two stages.
0530J76 ^In the first stage, proeutectic nodules of graphite form in and are
0540J76 surrounded by, the liquid in which they grow by direct diffusion
0550J76 of carbon. ^Austenite grains form independently and continue
0560J76 to_ grow during the eutectic solidification. ^During this
0570J76 stage, the liquid is Continuous throughout the volume of the casting
0580J76 and the expansion due to the growth of the spheroid is transmitted
0590J76 directly to the whole of the
0600J76 liquid. ^In the second stage of
0610J76 nodule growth, spheroids become surrounded by an austenite envelope,
0620J76 through which carbon has to_ diffuse so that the spheroids can
0630J76 continue to_ grow. ^From the view point of shrinkage behaviour
0640J76 of the irons, the second stage of nodule growth, which occurs in
0650J76 the latter stages of freezing is important. ^At this stage, the
0660J76 liquid in contact with the austenite-graphite eutectic cells is
0670J76 not connected with those portions in the casting, passing through the
0680J76 first stage of freezing. ^Consequently, any expansion due to
0690J76 graphite growth in this second stage can cause macroscopic expansion
0700J76 of the casting, leading to mold dilation. ^The number
0710J76 of graphite-austenite eutectic cells per unit area, known as the
0720J76 nodule count, also affects the shrinkage behaviour of the irons considerably.
0730J76 ^The nodule count in \0S.G. Iron is about two to three
0740J76 orders of magnitude higher than in grey irons of identical
0750J76 composition. ^Increase in nodule count decreases the casting soundness
0760J76 through **=1) increased mold wall movement and **=2) resistance
0770J76 to feed metal flow through intercellular flow channels. ^Nodule
0780J76 count affects the structure of the iron in that, if it is too
0790J76 low, graphite degeneration and occurrence of intercellular carbides
0800J76 will result. ^The latter aggravates the problem of shrinkage
0810J76 in the iron because **=1) carbides represent a shrinkage phase
0820J76 and **=2) they choke intercellular feed channels. $*<*3Macroscopic
0830J76 mechanism of solidification*> $^The macroscopic mechanism
0840J76 of solidification relates to the growth sequences within the casting.
0850J76 \0^*S.G. Iron solidifies in a pasty manner. ^*Reynolds
0860J76 *(0et al*) determined the solidification sequence of \0S.G. Irons,
0870J76 by estimating the amount of solid and liquid throughout the casting
0880J76 at various time intervals during solidification. ^Three distinct
0890J76 zones have been observed in an \0S.G. Iron sand casting.
0900J76 (^**=1) the first zone appearing during freezing is largely liquid with
0910J76 some graphite spheroids and austenite grains dispersed throughout
0920J76 it; (**=2) this is followed by a predominantly pasty zone consisting
0930J76 of a continuous network of austenite interspersed with the
0940J76 liquid containing graphite spheroids and (**=3) finally, a solidified
0950J76 zone of austenite and graphite with isolated liquid pockets.
0960J76 ^Zones (**=1) and (**=2) correspond to the first stage of freezing
0970J76 which is relevant to the feeding of these irons. ^Each of these
0980J76 three zones proceeds from the surfaces of the casting inward. $^Under
0990J76 non-equilibrium conditions of freezing, \0S.G. Irons of
1000J76 eutectic or of hypereutectic composition, freeze as if they were
1010J76 of hypoeutectic composition and in such an event, show austenite
1020J76 dendrites in their microstructure. ^There can be resistance
1030J76 to the supply of feed metal whenever austenite dendrites form.
1040J76 ^It has been reported that whenever the casting developed the dendritic
1050J76 structure, the internal shrinkage defects were concentrated
1060J76 and comparatively larger. ^The eutectic freezing in \0S.G.
1070J76 Irons being less progressive, there is the resistance to the flow
1080J76 of feed metal in the zones (*=1) and (**=2) described above. ^The
1090J76 eutectic and the dendritic resistances to the feed metal lead to shrinkage.
1100J76 $*<*3Chemical composition*> $^Chemical composition
1110J76 of the iron exerts a profound influence on the feeding requirements
1120J76 and the solidification behaviour of the iron. $^The major
1130J76 elements present in \0S.G. Iron may be grouped into two categories,
1140J76 **=1) graphite stabilizing elements and **=2) carbide stabilizing elements.
1150J76 $^Those elements which stabilize the graphite, like carbon
1160J76 and silicon, enlarge the temperature gap between the solidification
1170J76 of stable (graphitic) and metastable (carbidic) eutectics,
1180J76 thus increasing the possibility of the graphite eutectic being formed
1190J76 under a given set of freezing conditions. ^Carbon is the
1200J76 source of graphite in the cast iron. ^If carbon in the iron
1210J76 is high, the graphite available for precipitations is also high.
1220J76 ^Carbon content influences both graphite shape and size through
1230J76 its influence on carbon equivalent. ^Silicon is a graphitizer and
1240J76 a powerful chill-reducer. ^It generally increases the nodule count
1250J76 and improves the spheroidal shape. ^These elements thus aid the
1260J76 feeding in \0S.G. Irons through their role in promoting graphitization
1270J76 during solidification.
1280J76 ^Sponge shrinkage, which occurs during the last stages of solidification
1290J76 can be minimized by having adequate graphite available, and this
1300J76 can be ensured by having total carbon + 1/7 silicon equal to or greater
1310J76 than 3.9%. $^Carbon in \0S.G. Irons is maintained in the
1320J76 range of 3-3.8% and silicon in the range of 2-2.8%. $^Carbide stabilizing
1330J76 elements like manganese, chromium, vanadium, molybdenum,
1340J76 \0etc. increase the feeding requirements of \0S.G. Irons. c
1350J76 ^These elements segregating into the intercellular liquid, which is
1360J76 the last portion to_ solidify, stabilize the carbides and thus promote
1370J76 shrinkage. ^In the production of \0S.G. Irons, the level of
1380J76 manganese should be kept below 0.5%
1390J76 and those of the other carbide stabilizing elements below 0.05% (unless
1400J76 required for some specific purpose). $^Phosphorus increases the freezing
1410J76 range of the iron by the formation of phosphide eutectic. ^Phosphide eutectic
1420J76 freezes at a temperature of about 150*@ \0C below that_ of the eutectic
1430J76 temperature and increases the solidification shrinkage of the iron.
1440J76 ^The shrinkage is of the sponge type. ^Phosphorus is normally
1450J76 kept below 0.04%. $^Nickel is a mild pearlite stabilizer whereas tin is
1460J76 a very powerful pearlite promoter. ^From the view point of solidification
1470J76 shrinkage of the iron, it is immaterial whether the iron has
1480J76 pearlitic or ferritic matrix, since pearlite formation is essentially
1490J76 a solid state reaction. ^However, in an unsound castitng, the shrinkage
1500J76 porosity inherited during freezing,
1510J76 is known to_ get aggravated because of the
1520J76 pearlite formation, due to the presence of these pearlite promoting
1530J76 elements. $^Undesirable elements such as antimony, arsenic, lead,
1540J76 bismuth \0etc. when present even in trace amounts exert detrimental
1550J76 influence on the iron, by altering the growth characteristics of
1560J76 the graphite nodules and or structure of the iron. ^The influence
1570J76 of these elements on the feeding characteristics of \0S.G. Iron is not
1580J76 known. $*<*3Mold rigidity*> $^The primary cause of mold wall
1590J76 movement is heat absorption and the resultant behaviour of sand grains
1600J76 and binders. ^In the case of \0S.G. Irons, apart from the pouring
1610J76 temperature contributing to mold wall movement, the mechanism
1611J76 and sequence of solidification also influence the
1620J76 mold wall movement. ^Mold cavity deformation thus plays a vital
1630J76 role in regulating the incidence of shrinkage and the self-feeding characteristics
1640J76 of \0S.G. Irons. ^Depending on whether it is rigid, the
1650J76 mold wall is subjected to movement, directed either outward or inward,
1660J76 during freezing of the iron. ^The problem of mold dilation has been
1670J76 exhaustively reviewed by Engler *(0et al*) and by Levelnik *(0et al*).
1680J76 \0^*S.G. Irons freeze by pasty form of growth, characterized by
1690J76 the presence of isolated liquid pockets, wherein expansion due to graphite
1700J76 precipitation can lead to mold cavity enlargement if the mold
1710J76 is non-rigid. ^Green sand molds are rated inferior to sodium
1720J76 silicate bonded or cement bonded sand molds. ^While it has been shown
1730J76 that both \0S.G. Iron and flake graphite cast iron can cause
1740J76 mold dilation, it has been proved that \0S.G. Iron does so more
1750J76 predominantly. ^In addition, it has been established that a higher degree
1760J76 of nucleation as in \0S.G. Irons, also leads to significantly
1770J76 higher values of mold wall movement. $^It has been reported that
1780J76 mold wall movement is also influenced by section thickness of the
1790J76 casting, with increased mold enlargement in thicker sections. ^Besides,
1800J76 the shape or casting geometry also influences mold cavity deformation
1810J76 in \0S.G. Irons. ^Flat shape of plate castings is more
1820J76 sensitive to mold wall movement than cylindrical-spherical shape
1830J76 of feeders. $*<*3Authors*' own investigations and findings*>
1840J76 $^Experiments have been carried out to_ arrive at feeder dimensioning
1850J76 equations for \0S.G. Iron plate and bar castings, cast in \0CO*:2**:
1860J76 molds. $^Normally, \0S.G. Irons of hypereutectic compositions
1870J76 find extensive use in industries. ^Hence, an iron having the
1880J76 basic composition: 3.6% \0C 2.8% \0Si and carbon equivalent of 4.53% was
1890J76 used in the investigation. ^The cooling curve method, which gives
1900J76 good indication regarding solidification characteristics and feeding
1910J76 ability of metals and alloys, was used to_ arrive at feeder
1920J76 equations. $*<*3Variables studied*> $Plate dimensions: 150
1930J76 \0mm wide, 225 \0mm long with thickness varying from 12.5 \0mm to 50.0
1940J76 \0mm. $Bar dimensions: 225 \Mm long, width to thickness ratio of 2,
1950J76 with thickness varying from 20 \0mm to 50 \0mm. $^Casting modulus range:
1960J76 5.5 \0mm to 16.0 \0mm for plates, 8.0 \0mm to around 12.0 \0mm
1970J76 for bars. $Feeder shape: Cylindrical with hemispherical bottom and
1980J76 height to diameter (\0H, \0D) ratios of 1.0 and 1.5. $Feeder size:
1990J76 40 \0mm to 120 \0mm in diameter. $*<*3Soundness of castings determined
2000J76 by:**> $**=1) visual observation for surface sinks $**=2) X-
2010J76 and gamma radiography $**=3) Tensile strength measurement along casting
2020J76 length for both plates and bars. $^A casting was considered
2030J76 sound, if it passed all the three criteria mentioned above. $^Based
2040J76 on the above considerations, the following feeder equations have been
2050J76 obtained for both plates and bars. $For plates $*Mes $For bars$*Mes
2060J76 where \0FR = freezing ratio and \0VR = volume ratio.*#
        **[no. of words = 02002**]

        **[txt. j77**]
0010J77 **<*3Remote Sensing from Space and its Applications in Hydrology
0020J77 and Water Resources Development**> $^MAN*'S quest for knowledge,
0030J77 his spirit of adventure and his capacity for innovation have no apparent
0040J77 limits and all the three together have contributed to his efforts at
0050J77 exploring, understanding and conquering the mysteries of outer space.
0060J77 ^It was not very long ago that the first space probe 'Sputnik', carrying
0070J77 an earthling, the ill-fated dog 'Laika' sent out by man was splashed
0080J77 in banner headlines in the world*'s press; but already the very many space
0090J77 exploits of man since then, such as the series of Apollo and Soyuz
0100J77 missions, the joint Apollo-Soyuz venture, the Voyager and the Mariner
0110J77 series of probes have not only eclipsed the first Sputnik, but have
0120J77 almost obliterated its memory from the public mind. $^Exploration of
0130J77 outer space by man continues unabated, to what end or ultimate result,
0140J77 it is difficult to_ say. ^However, one off-shoot of
0141J77 man*'s space exploits has been the opportunity they
0150J77 provided him to_ look at his habitat, the earth, from the distance of
0160J77 his platform in space, several hundred kilometers away from earth*'s
0170J77 surface and the accelerated development of the practically new technology
0180J77 of remote sensing for the discovery and management of earth*'s vast natural
0190J77 resources, a large part of which, especially in the developing countries,
0200J77 still remains uncharted. $*<*3Development of Remote Sensing Techniques*>
0210J77 $^Major advances in the gathering of data about the earth*'s
0220J77 resources over large areas and from a considerable distance came first
0230J77 with the invention of the photographic camera and later, of the aeroplane.
0240J77 ^Although aerial photography was developed and refined for military
0250J77 purposes in the course of two world wars, it began to_ be employed half
0260J77 a century ago to_ provide visual data needed for a variety of peaceful
0270J77 purposes in cartography, geology, agriculture, forestry, land-use planning,
0280J77 hydrology \0etc. $^The contributions of the photographic camera and
0290J77 the aeroplane to the task of gathering data about the earth and its resources
0300J77 have by no means been exhausted and they still have highly valuable
0310J77 functions to_ perform. ^However, in the face of greatly increased
0320J77 need for detailed information about the earth*'s resources, both visual
0330J77 photography and aircraft platforms have their limitations. ^For various
0340J77 important resource data objectives, especially those related to vegetation
0350J77 water, geology and mineral exploration, the dynamic range of conventional
0360J77 photographic film is too narrow to_ gauge other needed physical parameters,
0370J77 such as temperature, magnetism, moisture or chlorophyll content.
0380J77 ^In recent years, therefore, airplanes have been outfitted with "sensors"
0390J77 such as radar, magnetometers, infra-red cameras and multi-spectral
0391J77 scanners
0400J77 to_ gather data to_ complement those obtained with conventional photographic
0410J77 film. $^The aircraft as a platform, for all its numerous advantages,
0420J77 is limited by the area it can cover in any one photographic scene,
0430J77 by the costs it involves in covering very large areas, and by the degree
0440J77 of uniformity it offers either in its repetitive coverage of the same
0450J77 scene at different times or in its coverage of different scenes at the
0460J77 same sun-time (\0i.e., with the same sun-angle). $^With the coming of
0470J77 the space programme, orbiting spacecraft were recognised as a potential
0480J77 means of overcoming these limitations and of providing advantageous platforms
0490J77 for data gathering cameras and sensors. ^The combination of
0500J77 new types of sensors with a space platform has proved to_ be more than a
0510J77 high altitude extension of aerial photography. ^Remote sensing from space
0520J77 represents a major technological advance in the gathering of data about
0530J77 the earth*'s resources. $^The recording of observations of the
0540J77 earth*'s surface from an orbiting spacecraft began in 1960 with the first
0550J77 \0U.S. meteorological satellite, TIROS-1. ^Photographs taken
0560J77 by astronauts in the Gemini and Apollo flights increased recognition of
0570J77 the potential usefulness of photographs from space. ^The most significant
0580J77 experiments in earth resources sensing were initiated with the launching
0590J77 of the first Earth Resources Technology Satellite (now called LANDSAT-1
0600J77 in july 1972 and the placement of sensor packages on three
0610J77 missions of the manned SKYLAB Satellite in 1973 and 1974. $^The
0620J77 experimental sensor packages on SKYLAB which orbited the earth at 425
0630J77 \0km altitude, consisted of conventional photography, near infra-red photography,
0640J77 a 13-channel multispectral scanner and microwave sensors. ^These
0650J77 provided data that_ will be useful in designing future resource sensing
0660J77 systems. $*<*3Remote Sensing from Landsat*> $(a) <*3Spacecraft*>
0670J77 $^Since 1975, two experimental LANDSAT spacecraft have been
0671J77 circling the globe,
0680J77 sensing the earth*'s surface and transmitting to ground receiving stations
0690J77 the data acquired by the Satellites*' sensors (\0Fig. 1). ^The
0700J77 \0U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (\0NASA)
0710J77 placed LANDSAT-2 in orbit in January 1975 to_ assure continuity of
0720J77 data after the equipment on the first satellite ceased to_ acquire all the
0730J77 data desired and to_ supplement the coverage of LANDSAT-1 as long
0740J77 as the latter*'s sensors are still operating. $^The LANDSAT travels
0750J77 at an altitude of about 920 \0km in a circular near-polar orbit and crosses
0760J77 the equator at a 99 degree angle. ^It makes 14 orbits a day (103
0770J77 minutes per orbit) and repeats its coverage of any specific point on the earth*'s
0780J77 surface at about 9.30 \0a.m. local time every 18 days (\0Fig.
0790J77 2). ^This uniformity of passage times in the sun-synchronous orbit
0800J77 results in the uniformity of the sun illumination conditions and simplifies
0810J77 their interpretation. $^The 14 strips of the earth*'s surface covered
0820J77 each day by LANDSAT are successively 2800 \0km apart at the
0830J77 equator. ^On each satellite pass, the strip viewed by the sensors is
0840J77 185 \0km wide. ^A day later, the satellite passes over a point at the
0850J77 equator 170 \0km west of that_ same strip and senses a contiguous strip
0860J77 also 185 \0km wide. ^This provides a 14% overlap at the equator with at
0870J77 least 15 \0km at the edge of each strip viewed twice on consecutive days
0880J77 in each 18 day cycle. ^The image overlap increases with latitude.
0890J77 $^The launch of LANDSAT-2 was timed to_ provide 9-day coverage as
0900J77 long as LANDSAT-1 continues to_ function.
0910J77 $*<*3The On Board Instrument Package*> $^The instrument package
0920J77 on LANDSAT-1 and 2 consists of two sensor systems-- a Multispectral Scanner
0930J77 (\0MSS) and three Return Beam Vidicon (\0RBV) Cameras
0940J77 plus two Data Collection System (\0CS) receivers and two video tape
0950J77 recorders. $^The \0MSS is a four-channel radiometer which scans
0960J77 the surface of the earth and registers the intensity of energy reflected
0970J77 by the features and objects on the earth*'s surface. ^These are sensed
0980J77 by the \0MSS in each of four distinct wave length bands of the electromagnetic
0990J77 spectrum. $^All objects, inanimate or animate, reflect,
1000J77 absorb, transmit or radiate electromangetic energy in the form of electro-magnetic
1010J77 waves or radiation.
1020J77 ^The energy radiated or reflected may be characterised by its wave length,
1030J77 which ranges from smaller than an atom to hundreds of kilometres.
1040J77 ^The human eye is sensitive to radiation only in a small region (the visible
1050J77 region) of the electro-magnetic spectrum. ^The main regions
1060J77 of the spectrum in order of decreasing wavelength are radio (including
1070J77 microwave), infra-red, visible, ultraviolet, X-ray and gamma ray.
1080J77 $^Every object, bombarded by the sun with radiation having a broad
1090J77 range of wavelengths, reflects or reradiates different proportions of each
1100J77 wavelength received. ^The physical properties of the object itself
1110J77 esthablish how much of the solar radiation of each wavelength is
1120J77 reflected and thereby determine the spectral distribution of the radiation
1130J77 reflected by the object. ^This reflected energy with its distinct
1140J77 spectral or wavelength distribution for each object (referred to as
1150J77 the spectral signature of the object) is selectively observed by the \0MSS
1160J77 in four small portions or bands of the electromagnetic spectrum.
1170J77 ^The use of multiple spectral bands increases the capacity to_ identify
1180J77 or classify features on the ground. $^LANDSAT sensors are
1190J77 sensitive to radiation only in the visible and a part of the infra-red regions
1200J77 with wavelengths in the order of a micrometer (*Ymm). $^The two
1210J77 LANDSAT sensors-- the \0MSS and the \0RBV use seven bands
1220J77 in the visible (0.4 to 0.7 *Ymm) and near-infra-red (0.7 to 1.1 *Ymm)
1230J77 portions of the spectrum (near-infra-red is the portion of the infra-red
1240J77 region nearest the visible region). ^The three bands in the (\0RBV)
1250J77 (Bands 1, 2 and 3) cover parts of the spectrum that_ are included
1260J77 also in the \0MSS (bands 4, 5, 6 and 7). $^The four bands in the
1270J77 \0MSS and examples of earth features to which they are particularly
1280J77 sensitive are as follws: $^Band 4 (0.5 to 0.6 *Ymm) has the best
1290J77 capability to_ penetrate water and to- determine turbidity in water bodies,
1300J77 to_ distinguish between green vegetation from other surface cover
1310J77 and to_ identify geologic structures. $^Band 5 (0.6 to 0.7 *Ymm)
1320J77 is useful for defining cultural and topographic features and for
1330J77 classifying different types of green vegetation with full ground cover.
1340J77 $^Band 6 (0.7 to 0.8 *Ymm) is particularly suited to_ identify differences
1350J77 in land use and to_ sense the amount of green biomass in vegetation.
1360J77 $^Band 7 (0.8 to 1.1 *Ymm) is effective for land-water
1370J77 boundary delineations and soil-crop contrasts. $^Within each
1380J77 \0MSS band are detectors whose function is to_ receive the energy reflected
1390J77 from ground feartures and to_ convert this radiation into electrical
1400J77 signals that_ can be recorded on a magnetic tape on the spacecraft
1410J77 or telemetered back to earth. ^These signals are ultimately reproduced
1420J77 in the LANDSAT imagery product as a series of "picture elements"
1430J77 or "pixels" each representing an area of about 80 metres square
1440J77 on the earth*'s surface. ^In other words, ground features or objects
1450J77 less than 80 metres square in size are not likely to_ be detected by
1460J77 the current LANDSAT sensors. $^What distinguishes one radiation
1470J77 signal from another as it reaches the detectors is its level of
1480J77 intensity. ^Each 80 by 80 metre area of the earth*'s surface has
1490J77 a variety of components with different wavelengths. ^Some pixels,
1500J77 such as those pertaining to extensive features like oceans, forests,
1510J77 deserts, wheatfields, \0etc. will have a high degree of uniformity.
1520J77 ^Others for example, coastlines, suburbs, mixed, croplands,
1530J77 may be highly varied in composition. ^Depending on the nature
1540J77 of each 80 by 80 metre area and the wavelengths reflected by its various
1550J77 components, the level of intensity of the composite signal emanating
1560J77 from that_ area will be stronger or weaker as it reaches the detectors.
1570J77 ^Because of the different sensitivities of the four \0MSS bands
1580J77 to the various wavelengths represented within each signal, the intensity
1590J77 level of that_ signal will be "sensed" and recorded differently
1600J77 in each of the four bands. ^The full range of intensities sensedby
1610J77 the \0MSS detectors on LANDSAT-1 and 2 can be transmitted
1620J77 to the ground in 64 distinct intensity levels. ^It is the recording
1630J77 and analysis of these different levels of intensity and their identification
1640J77 with the features and areas they represent on the ground that
1650J77 provide the basis for remote sensing of earth resources. $^The
1660J77 \0RBV cameras operate on a different principle. $^Three
1670J77 television cameras simultaneoulsly photograph the same portion of the earth
1680J77 in three different spectral bands, which are: $^Band 1
1690J77 (green) 0.46 to 0.60 *Ymm. $Band 2 (red) 0.57 to 0.68 *Ymm.
1700J77 $Band 3 (near infrared) 0.66 to 0.82 *Ymm. $^While operating,
1710J77 the cameras photograph a 185 by 185 \0km area every 25 seconds.
1720J77 ^Because the satellite moves only about 165 \0km in 25 seconds, every
1730J77 185 \0km square scene has an overlap of 18.5 \0km with the next scene.
1740J77 $^In the early orbits of LANDSAT-1 the \0RBV system generated
1750J77 data of excellent quality. ^However, as a result of a
1760J77 circuit failure within weeks after launch, the \0RBV system ceased
1770J77 to_ function. ^Although the \0RBV on LANDSAT-2 is in working order,
1780J77 it is being held in reserve for possible special or emergency use.
1790J77 $^The LANDSATS also serve as communication satellites to_ relay
1800J77 hydrological, meteorological, seismographic and other environmental
1810J77 data from remote unmanned data collecting platforms on the ground to central
1820J77 receiving ground stations elsewhere. ^The function of these
1830J77 in-situ ground platforms is to_ provide continuous readings of phenomena
1840J77 such as water level, streamflow, tide, rainfall, snow depth, temperature
1850J77 \0etc. in areas where direct and frequent human observation
1860J77 is difficult or uneconomic. ^The platforms can be situated in
1870J77 rarely frequented places on land and water, and equipped with upto ten
1880J77 sensing devices.*#
        **[no. of words = 02009**]

        **[txt. j78**]
0010J78 **<*3Nearer to the Fusion Switch-on**> $^Nuclear fusion promises
0020J78 us a new, inherently safe source of energy using cheap, readily available
0030J78 fuels. ^Believed to_ be the source of the Sun*'s energy, it has
0040J78 been demonstrated on Earth in a violent and uncontrolled way in the
0050J78 hydrogen bomb. ^But to_ benefit mankind, fusion must be controlled and
0060J78 contained in coveniently sized reactors. $^Fusion of two light atomic
0070J78 nuclei to_ form a heavier nucleus releases binding energy, but the problem
0080J78 of making them fuse together is extremely hard. ^They each
0090J78 have a positive electric charge, so there is a repulsive electrostatic
0100J78 force between them which increases as they get closer together. ^One
0110J78 way of giving them sufficient energy to_ overcome this is to_
0120J78 heat the fuel to very high temperatures of 100 million or more kelvin.
0130J78 ^Well below these temperatures all matter is in the so called plasma
0140J78 state, that_ is, a mixture of positively-charged nuclei, or ions
0141J78 and negatively charged electrons.
0150J78 $^To_ obtain an overall gain in energy from fusion reactions, the number
0160J78 of nuclei present in a given space and the time for which they are maintained
0170J78 at the necessary temperature must exceed certain minimum values.
0180J78 ^The simplest fusion reaction involves the nuclei of the two hydrogen
0190J78 isotopes deuterium and tritium (diagram 1). ^The amount of deuterim
0200J78 in ordinary water is so enormous that there is enough to_ last
0210J78 mankind thousands of millions of years. ^Tritium, however, is not
0220J78 a naturally occurring element, and it has to_ be manufactured in a
0230J78 secondary reaction which involves surrounding the plasma region with
0240J78 lithium. ^The reserves of lithium in the crust of the Earth will
0250J78 last for several thousand years. $^Long-term availability of
0260J78 these cheap fuels is the main inducement for many countries to_ undertake
0270J78 fusion research programmes. ^In all of them, devices of the
0280J78 so-called tokamak type are receiving most attention. ^The tokamak
0290J78 pioneered in the \0USSR became prominent in 1969, and in the following
0300J78 year a joint Anglo-Soviet experiment confirmed that the system
0310J78 holds the most promise of achieving a dense enough high-temperature
0320J78 plasma, confined in such a way as to_ isolate it from the walls of the
0330J78 apparatus for relatively long times. $^The tokamak is simple. ^In
0331J78 it plasma is heated and confined in a toroidal vacuum chamber, known as
0340J78 the torus. ^The main way of creating and heating the plasma is to_ pass
0350J78 a large current through the chamber, typically between several thousand
0360J78 and a few million amperes. ^This is done by linking the torus with
0370J78 a transformer core, the plasma itself forming a single turn secondary
0380J78 winding. $^A much more difficult task is to_ isolate the heated
0390J78 plasma from all surrounding matter, for such contact would rapidly cool
0400J78 it and prevent fusion reactions. ^Magnetic fields seem to_ provide the
0410J78 best means of isolating the plasma but the main difficulty has been to_
0420J78 find the shape and strength of magnetic field needed. $^In the tokamak
0430J78 system the field has two components (diagram 2): the current in the plasma
0440J78 produces one field, called the poloidal field, while coils encircling
0450J78 the torus produce a much stronger toroidal field. ^Together they
0451J78 produce a helical field which prevents the plasma particles
0460J78 from rapidly escaping to the container walls. ^At first, tokamaks
0470J78 were small and could not be expected to_ develop the conditions
0480J78 needed in a fusion reactor, but more recent ones have produced
0490J78 a consistent pattern of encouraging results; with their increasing size,
0500J78 hotter and denser plasmas have been confined for longer times.
0510J78 ^To_ see whether they can be scaled up to reactor size, a series
0520J78 of progressively larger machines is being built and each step produces
0530J78 plasma conditions closer to those required to_ get energy out.
0540J78 $^At Culham Laboratory, the \0UK centre for fusion research,
0550J78 the largest tokamak in western Europe has recently started operating.
0560J78 ^In this device, known as \0DITE (standing for Diverter and Injection
0570J78 Tokamak Experiment) the toroidal vacuum chamber, with a
0580J78 major diameter of 2.2 metres and a minor one of 0.56 metre is linked with
0590J78 a large transformer core. ^By passing a current through the transformer
0600J78 primary windings, a current of 250,000 amperes is induced in the
0610J78 hydrogen gas in the torus, creating a high-temperature plasma. ^This
0620J78 current also produces one component of the confining magnetic field,
0630J78 and the field from 16 coils spaced evenly around the torus completes
0640J78 the magnetic trap. $*<*3More Heat*> $^Temperatures
0650J78 of more than 10 million kelvin have been obtained in \0DITE for about
0660J78 5 milliseconds, but the main attribute of \0DITE is its versatility.
0670J78 ^In addition to producing hotter and denser plasma, Culham
0680J78 scientists are investigating areas crucial to future large tokamaks.
0690J78 ^They are studying the practicability of providing more heat by injecting
0710J78 energetic neutral
0720J78 atoms into the plasma. ^This is needed because the heating current
0730J78 becomes less effective at very high temperatures, for the resistance
0740J78 of the plasma goes down as the temperature goes up. ^It is
0750J78 done by injecting beams of energetic neutral hydrogen atoms through the
0760J78 magnetic field. ^These atoms are ionized in the plasma and the
0770J78 ions impart their energy to the cooler plasma ions. ^Injectors
0780J78 now in use on \0DITE are designed to_ double the plasma temperature;
0790J78 two more powerful injectors will be installed later to_ raise the
0800J78 temperature even more. $^It is essential to_ keep plasma free
0810J78 from impurities, because they can cause serious losses of energy.
0820J78 ^*Culham scientists will study this problem using the diverter, a unique
0830J78 feature of the \0Dite apparatus. ^Two coils produce a field
0840J78 which locally distorts the main toroidal field so that field lines
0850J78 are diverted into a special pumping chamber and then returned to the torus.
0860J78 ^Plasma from the outer surface of the heated gas in the torus follows
0880J78 the field lines. ^It contains impurities from the torus walls
0890J78 and is 'scraped off' by the diverter and pumped away before the impurities
0900J78 can drift into the main plasma and poison it. ^The \0Dite
0910J78 diverter has markedly improved the plasma without upsetting its equilibrium.
0920J78 $^The major cost of the fusion reactor is likely to_
0930J78 lie in the confining magnetic field, so the efficiency with which
0940J78 the fields are employed is an important factor. ^The ratio, B of
0950J78 the pressure in the plasma to the pressure exerted by the magnetic
0960J78 field, is a measure of this effciency. ^A second, much smaller
0970J78 tokamak has been built at Culham to_
0980J78 study ways of increasing B either by compressing the plasma by rapidly
0990J78 increasing the toroidal magnetic field or by the use of plasmas that_
1000J78 are not circular in cross section. ^This machine, known as TOSCA,
1010J78 has produced a range of plasma densities at temperatures of
1020J78 5,000,000 \0K. ^During compression experiments, the plasma density,
1030J78 temperature and confinement time all roughly double. $*<*3Alternatiive
1040J78 field Arrangements*> $^There are several other fusion experiments
1050J78 at Culham besides the tokamaks, including devices known as the reversed-field
1060J78 pinch and stellarators. ^The former is similar to the tokamak
1070J78 but makes more efficient use of the magnetic field. $^In tokamaks
1080J78 the toroidal magnetic field is much greater than the poloidal
1090J78 field, but in the reversed-field pinch the two fields have about the same
1100J78 magnitude and the toroidal field is reversed in the outer regions
1110J78 of the plasma. $^Plasma confinement in the reversed-field pinch
1120J78 arrangement is studied in the \0HBTX *=1 apparatus. ^In this
1130J78 device, plasma is heated and confined in a quartz glass torus which
1140J78 has major and minor diameters of 2 metres and 12 centimetres.
1150J78 ^To_ produce the poloidal magnetic field and to_ heat the plasma we
1160J78 pass a current of about 100,000 amperes through the plasma.
1170J78 ^The toroidal field outside the plasma is in the opposite direction to that_
1180J78 trapped within the plasma, and is produced by external coils.
1190J78 ^High density plasmas at temperatures of 400,000 to 500,000 \0K are
1200J78 obtained. $^From studies carried out on the design of a reactor
1210J78 based on the reversed-field pinch, it appears to_ be fully practicable
1220J78 alternative to the tokamak. ^Design studies are well advanced for
1230J78 a large experiment as a successor to \0HBTX *=1 to_ confirm the way
1240J78 that_ plasmas more like expected in a reactor can be confined.
1250J78 $^In the stellarator arrangement the toroidal magnetic field is produced
1260J78 in the conventional way while the second field is developed
1270J78 by passing a direct current through another set of external conductors
1280J78 arranged to_ allow continuous instead of pulsed operation.
1290J78 ^The complex field that_ this produces forms a set of nested,
1300J78 closed magnetic surfaces that_ twist around the plasma axis. ^The
1310J78 direct current operation offers a big advantage in a reactor.
1320J78 $^The stellarator at Culham, known as \0CLEO, can be operated as
1330J78 a tokamak when the six helical conductors are not energized and enables
1340J78 us to_ compare, in the same torus, the way the plasma is confined
1350J78 in a stellarator, with ohmic heating, and in a tokamak. ^These
1360J78 experiments show that the confinement properties of the stellarator
1370J78 are two to three times better than in the tokamak for the same gas
1380J78 current; this is a very favourable result for stellarators without ohmic
1390J78 heating currents. $*<*3Large Scale*> $^In the next
1400J78 generation of experiments the main objective will be to_ produce
1410J78 plasma conditions much nearer to those needed for a fusion reactor.
1420J78 ^The experiments will therefore be on a much larger scale and
1430J78 consequently much more expensive. $^Fusion research conducted within
1440J78 the European Economic Community is co-ordinated by Euratom,
1450J78 and it has been agreed that a large tokamak capable of reaching near-reactor
1460J78 conditions should be built as a joint European venture. ^Accordingly,
1470J78 an international design team has been working at Culham
1480J78 Laboratory since September 1973 on the design of a device known as
1490J78 \0JET (Joint European Torus). ^Both the size of \0JET
1500J78 and its plasma current of 3,800,000 amperes are about 10 times greater
1510J78 than present designs, the toroidal vacuum chamber being 6 metres
1520J78 in major diameter with an elliptical cross-section of 4.2 metres
1530J78 by 2.5 metres. ^The whole apparatus measures about 10 metres
1540J78 cube, weighs about 2,000 tonnes and will take five years to_ build.
1550J78 $^Apparatus of similar size is proposed for the American,
1560J78 Russian and Japanese fusion programmes. ^The \0JET
1570J78 design has been accepted by all the partners of Euratom and the
1580J78 project now awaits approval by the Council of Ministers. ^However,
1590J78 there have been difficulties in reaching agreement on where
1600J78 \0JET will be constructed and the project cannot proceed until
1610J78 this situation is resolved. ^*Culham Laboratory is one of
1620J78 the four proposed sites for this vitally important project.
1630J78 $*<*3Fusion Reactors*> $^In parallel with the plasma heating
1640J78 and confinement research programme, studies are being made on the
1650J78 design of fusion reactors for producing electricity. ^They
1660J78 embody the latest technology, of course, and identify the most promising
1670J78 and feasible prospective system. $^Some 80 per cent of the
1680J78 nuclear energy released by a fusion reactor using deuterium-tritium
1690J78 plasma will appear as energetic neutrons that_ are not confined by
1700J78 the magnetic field. ^These must be attenuated in a 'blanket'
1710J78 surrounding the plasma. ^A second but equally important requirement
1720J78 is that the neutrons be used to_ breed tritium for fuelling the reactor,
1730J78 so the blanket will contain lithium. ^A blanket of lithium
1740J78 one metre thick is enough to_ absorb most of the neutron energy,
1750J78 which will heat it up; this heat will then be transferred to_ operate
1760J78 steam turbines to_ produce electricity. $^The cofining
1770J78 magnetic field will account for a large part of the reactor.
1780J78 ^Magnetic fields approaching 10 tesla will be needed and economic considerations
1790J78 indicate that superconducting magnets must be used.
1800J78 ^Because they will operate at an extremely low temperature, around
1810J78 4 \0K it will be necessary to_ have another shield outside the
1820J78 blanket. ^It could be made of lead and borated water, in which
1830J78 case it would need to_ be about 0.8 metre thick. $^A general
1840J78 design for a reactor to_ produce 2,000 \0MW of electrical power, based
1850J78 on the tokamak and with an elliptical cross section plasma similar
1860J78 to that_ envisaged for \0JET, has already been produced at Culham.
1870J78 ^A lot of attention has been paid to the problem of providing
1880J78 access for maintenance and repair particularly difficult with a torus.*#
        **[no. of words = 02003**]

        **[txt. j79**]
0010J79 **<*3CHAPTER*0 *=7**> $**<*3SURVEYING: VERTICAL MEASUREMENTS*0**>
0020J79 $7-1. *3Levelling*0: ^This branch of surveying deals with
0030J79 determining the relative heights of various points on the surface of the
0040J79 earth. ^Various terms used in levelling are explained in figure 7.1 and
0050J79 are shortly discussed below. **[figure**] $1) ^Level surface is any
0060J79 surface parallel to the mean spheroidal surface of the earth. ^It is always
0070J79 a curved surface. ^Each point on such a level surface is equidistant
0080J79 from the centre of the earth. $2) ^Level line is any line lying
0090J79 in a level surface. ^It is a curved line. $3) ^Horizontal surface
0100J79 or plane is a plane tangential to any level surface. ^All points on
0110J79 it are coplanar. $4) ^Horizontal line is a line lying in any horizontal
0120J79 plane. ^It is a straight line; and is tangential to the level surface
0130J79 or line. $5) ^Vertical line at any point is a line normal to level
0140J79 surface through that_ point. ^Any vertical line passes through the centre
0150J79 of the earth. ^Stretched position of the string of a plumb bob gives
0160J79 the vertical line. $6) ^A datum surface or line is any arbitrary
0170J79 assumed level surface or line from which the vertical heights are related.
0180J79 ^It is a reference surface or a reference line. ^It is a particular
0190J79 level surface or line. ^The mean sea level (\0M.S.L.) at
0200J79 Karachi (then in the undivided country) has been chosen as datum for all
0210J79 important levelling work in India. $7) ^The elevation of a point
0220J79 is vertical distance from the datum to that_ point. ^It may be plus or
0230J79 minus depending upon, whether the point is above or below the datum.
0240J79 ^It is also known as 'reduced level' (\0R.L.) of that_ point. $8)
0250J79 ^The difference in elevation or height between any two points is the vertical
0260J79 distance between level surfaces passing through those points.
0270J79 $9) ^Bench mark (\0B.M.) is a fixed reference point whose elevation
0280J79 is known. $7-2. *3Instruments*0: ^The instruments used in levelling
0290J79 work consist some levelling instrument and the levelling staff.
0300J79 ^Many types of levelling instruments (many a times referred to as 'level'
0310J79 only) are available. ^These are dumpy level, Wye level, Cooks level
0320J79 Cushings level, Indian Office Pattern (\0I.O.P.) level \0etc.^Dumpy
0330J79 level is in general use and we shall discuss about this level in
0340J79 more detail. $^A photograph of a dumpy level is shown in figure 7.2
0350J79 (A). Figure 7.2 (B) shows the various details of the dumpy level. $^The
0360J79 dumpy level consists mainly of a telescope (2) which can be rotated
0370J79 in a plane. ^The requirement is that it should rotate in a horizontalplane.
0380J79 ^At one end of the telescope, eye piece (3) is situated and the
0390J79 other end carries the object glass (11). ^Near the eyepiece is situated
0400J79 a diaphragm (4). ^It consists of horse hairs in vertical and horizontal
0410J79 positions and form a cross. ^It is also known as cross hairs.
0420J79 ^Telescope can be directed towards the levelling staff and focussed on
0430J79 it by the focussing screw (5) situated on it. ^The levelling instrument
0440J79 can be fixed on to the tripod stand through the bottom plate (1).
0450J79 ^There are three foot screws (10) forming an equilateral triangle in
0460J79 plan. ^The inclination of the telescope with the plate can be changed
0470J79 if desired, by means of these foot screws. ^A longitudinal bubble tube
0480J79 (7) **[figure**] is mounted on to the telescope and is parallel to it.
0490J79 ^By noting down position of the bubble in this tube, the telescope can
0500J79 be brought in a horizontal plane, and thus the instrument can be levelled.
0510J79 ^The inclination of this tube can be relatively changed with the telescope
0520J79 by means of capstan headed screw (8). ^This is necessary while
0530J79 carrying out the permanent adjustments of the level. ^Similarly a
0540J79 cross bubble tube (9) is also provided on the telescope. ^A ray shade
0550J79 (6) can be slided on to the object glass to_ avoid glare. $^Other terms
0560J79 in levelling work as related to the instrument and noting the observations
0570J79 are shortly discussed below. $1) ^The line of collimation is the
0580J79 line joining the intersection of the cross-hairs of the diaphragm to
0590J79 the optical centre of the object glass, and its continuation. ^It is also
0600J79 known as the 'line of sight.' ^The observations on levelling staff
0610J79 along this line are to_ be taken. $2) ^Axis of telescope is the line
0620J79 joining the optical centres of the eye piece and the objective. ^Line
0630J79 of collimation and telescopic axis should be colinear. $3) ^Axis
0640J79 of the bubble tube is an imaginary line tangential to the curved bubble
0650J79 tube at its centre. ^It is also termed as the bubble line. ^When the
0660J79 bubble is in centre, this line is horizontal. ^Line of collimation
0670J79 and the bubble tube axis should be parallel to each other. $4)
0680J79 ^The axis of rotation is the centre line through the levelling instrument
0690J79 about which it rotates. ^It should be vertical; so that the telescope
0700J79 rotates in a horizontal plane. $5) ^Back sight (\0B.S.) or
0710J79 the back sight reading is the first reading taken after the instrument
0711J79 is positioned and the work is started from that_ position. ^It
0720J79 is usually taken on a bench mark or a change point, whose \0R.L. is
0730J79 known. ^It is considered as plus reading. $6) ^Fore sight (\0F.S.)
0740J79 or the fore sight reading is the last staff reading taken from a particular
0750J79 position of a level. ^It is treated as a minus reading. ^It
0760J79 is usually taken on a change point or the bench mark. ^It generally
0770J79 denotes the shift of the instrument. $^Apart from these definitions at
0780J79 5 and 6 above, even though the levelling work from the same position of
0790J79 the level is being continued; but the levelling page gets fully entered;
0800J79 then merely for sake of convenience last reading there should be entered
0810J79 as fore sight on that_ page. ^Same reading should be entered as the
0820J79 back sight on the new page and the work continued. $7) ^Intermediate
0830J79 sight (\0I.S.) is any other staff reading on point of unknown elevation.
0840J79 ^Thus all staff readings, other than \0B.S. and \0F.S. are the
0850J79 intermediate readings. ^These are treated as minus readings. $8)
0860J79 ^Change point (\0C.P.) is a point (on ground or so), which denotes shift
0870J79 of instrument. ^On this point two readings must be taken; one of
0880J79 them being the \0F.S. from the old position of level and the other being
0890J79 the \0B.S. from the new position of the instrument. ^The change
0900J79 points are inevitable when the sight distance is very large, so that reading
0910J79 can not be seen clearly and also when the ground is undulating.
0920J79 ^A well defined object like boundary stone, rail \0etc. should be chosen
0930J79 as a change point. $9) ^The height of the instrument (\0H.I.) is
0940J79 the elevation or \0R.L. of the plane of collimation, when the instrument
0950J79 is perfectly levelled. $10) ^The sight distance is the distance between
0960J79 the instrument and the levelling staff. $11) ^A station is a
0970J79 point whose elevation is to_ be determined. ^The staff should be therefore
0980J79 placed on that_ point. ^It should not be misunderstood to_ be the
0990J79 point where the level is set up. $^The other important item used in levelling
1000J79 work is the levelling staff. ^The metric staff is now in common
1010J79 use. ^Usually it is 4 to 4.5 \0m. long and is made in three lengths
1020J79 being folded in each other to make it compact and handy. ^Such a levelling
1030J79 staff as seen through the telescope is shown in figure 7.3. ^It
1040J79 is seen inverted, and the readings go on increasing from top to bottom
1050J79 as shown in the figure. ^A few readings are marked on the staff for the
1060J79 sake of understanding the use. ^Have yourself enough practice of reading
1070J79 the staff correctly. ^The divisions on staff are 5 \0mm wide and
1080J79 each alternate division is painted black on white background. $7-3.
1090J79 *3Temporary adjustments of dumpy levelO: ^The tripod stand is placed
1100J79 on firm ground at convenient place, wherefrom large number of points canbe
1110J79 sighted. ^The dumpy level is taken out from the box and is fitted
1120J79 on to the top of the tripod stand. ^We have to_ carry out certain adjustments
1130J79 before taking observations. ^These are called as the 'temporary
1140J79 adjustments'. ^These are necessary at each setting of the level.
1150J79 ^There is no need of centering the level at any station, and should be
1160J79 placed at any commanding position. $^Following are the adjustments--
1170J79 $(1) Levelling of the instrument-- (A) Leg adjustment-- ^Two legs are
1180J79 firmly placed in ground. ^The third leg is moved both, radially and circumferentially,
1190J79 to_ make the plane of the instrument roughly levelled.
1200J79 ^This can be checked by observing the main bubble and the cross bubble coming
1210J79 roughly near to centres of their run. ^If a circular bubble tube
1220J79 is provided, this bubble should be brought roughly to its centre by the
1230J79 leg adjustment. ^When this is properly done, a lot of time is saved
1240J79 while correctly levelling the instrument. $(B) levelling by foot screws--
1250J79 ^The principle is that, when the instrument is levelled on any two
1260J79 mutually perpendicular lines, it will remain in a horizontal plane at
1270J79 any of its position. ^All the foot screws should be initially brought
1280J79 to centre of their run. ^The telescope is made parallel to any two foot
1290J79 screws. ^These foot screws are turned both inwards or both outwards,
1300J79 till the longitudinal bubble on telescope comes to its centre. ^Then
1310J79 the telescope is rotated on to the third foot screw. ^In this position,
1320J79 it will be perpendicular to its first position. ^Turn this foot
1330J79 screw alone to_ bring the bubble in centre. ^Move back to original position
1340J79 and have a few repetitions, so that bubble remains in centre at
1350J79 both the positions. ^Then, if the instrument is in perfect condition
1360J79 (\0i.e. the level is in permanent adjustments), the bubble will remain at
1370J79 the centre for any position of the telescope, and thus will revolve in
1380J79 a horizontal plane. $(2) ^Focussing the eye piece and object glass--
1390J79 A white paper is held in front of the object glass at about 15-20 \0cm.
1400J79 ^The eye piece is rotated to and fro, till the cross hairs of the diaphragm
1410J79 are distinctly seen. ^Each person may have separate position
1420J79 of the eye piece for this purpose. ^The instrument is now ready for taking
1430J79 observations. ^Focussing of the objective is to_ be done for each
1440J79 of the observations. ^The telescope now is directed towards the object
1450J79 (levelling staff). ^Look to it through the two aimers provided on telescope.
1460J79 ^This is very much essential, otherwise a lot of time is usually
1470J79 wasted for sighting the staff. ^Turn the focussing screw on the telescope;
1480J79 while looking through it. ^Usually the staff will now be in
1490J79 the vision. ^Make this habit to_ save your valuable time. ^It helps
1500J79 a lot. ^A slight rotation of telescope may be found necessary till you
1510J79 get enough pratice. ^When the focussing is carried out, the staff divisions
1520J79 are seen distinctly and clearly. ^In this case the parallax
1530J79 gets removed. ^Then, the relative displacement between the reading and
1540J79 the diaphragm wire is absent, when the eye is moved up and down. ^The
1550J79 reading can be observed and recorded properly. $7-4. \0*3I.O.P.*0
1560J79 *3Level*0: ^In an Indian Office Pattern level, the telescope is
1570J79 provided with a screw at the bottom near the eye piece. ^When this
1580J79 is moved up or down, the inclination of the telescope gets changed. ^Hence
1590J79 it is a form of a tilting level. ^The footscrews are generally replaced
1600J79 by the ball and socket arrangement. ^With its aid the instrument
1610J79 is roughly levelled, by observing the bubble in a round tube coming
1620J79 at its centre. ^The main bubble then may come near to its central position.
1630J79 ^Each time, while taking reading this bubble is to_ be brought
1640J79 to centre. ^For this, turn the telescope to the object. ^Turn the above
1650J79 mentioned screw up and down and bring the main bubble at the centre.
1660J79 ^Focus the object glass and take the reading. ^Each time this operation
1670J79 is necessary. \0^*I.O.P. level can also be used to_ determine the grades
1680J79 betweem points.*#
        **[no. of words = 02005**]

        **[txt. j80**]
0010J80 **<*3DIGITAL LOGIC*0**> $^It was India that_ gave the world
0020J80 ingenuous method of expressing all numbers by means of ten symbols, each
0030J80 symbol receiving a value of position as well as an absolute value.
0040J80 ^This decimal system for counting has been so widely adopted throughout
0050J80 our present civilisation that we rarely consider the possibilities of other
0060J80 number systems. ^Early atttempts to_ design electronic calculating
0070J80 machines were, therefore, based on this system but the problem of defining
0080J80 and maintaining ten distinct levels proved to_ be so great that the
0090J80 decimal system was soon replaced by a simple binary system with only
0100J80 two levels or digits called 0 and 1. ^In binary arithmetic a quantity
0110J80 either exists (1) or does not exist (0) and this type of decision making
0120J80 is relatively easy and fast. ^For example, it is easy to_ decide whether
0130J80 a lamp is ON or OFF despite wide voltage variations in the
0140J80 supply line. ^Since the transistor can change from fully conducting
0150J80 to cut off condition in less than one millionth of a second, it can
0160J80 make at least a million such decisions per second. $*<*3The Binary
0170J80 System*> ^In the decimal system, we first count units upto
0180J80 9 and then for the next order we go back to unit 0, but insert a 1 in the
0190J80 second order column to_ indicate that we have counted through all the
0200J80 units once. ^This gives us 10. ^To_ count with the binary scale,
0210J80 we follow exactly the same procedure using only the numbers 0 and 1.
0220J80 ^After count 1, we have used all our units and must move to the second order
0230J80 column to_ indicate that we have counted through our scale once.
0240J80 ^Thus the number 2 in the decimal system is indicated by 10 (called one-zero
0250J80 and not ten) in the binary scale. ^The next count 3 will be 11
0260J80 (one-one). ^Now we have again used all our units and so for the next
0270J80 count, we go back to 0 and put a 1 in the third order column, giving
0280J80 100 (one-zero-zero) as the binary equivalent of 4.
0290J80 $^Table 1 gives the equivalent binary nembers for decimal numbers from 0
0300J80 to 15. ^Note that the binary number 10 is equal to decimal 2 which is 2*;1**;;
0310J80 binary 100 equals to decimal 4 or 2*;2**;; binary 1000 equals decimal
0320J80 8 or 2*;3**;. ^Similarly decimal 64 will be equal to binary 2*;6**;.
0330J80 every additional order of binary nembers corresponds to an additional
0340J80 power of 2. ^This fact is used in converting a binary number to
0350J80 its decimal equivalent. ^For example take the binary number 11010.
0360J80 ^This is equivalent to 2*;4**;+2*;3**; + 0 + 2*;1**; + 0 or 16 + 8 + 0
0370J80 + 2 + 0, which equals 26. ^Conversely, a decimal number can be converted
0380J80 to binary by repeatedly dividing it by 2; $26 *Ms 2 = 13 + remainder
0390J80 of 0 $13 *Ms 2 = 6 + remainder of 1 $6 *Ms 2 = 3 + remainder of 0
0400J80 $3 *Ms 2 = 1 + remainder of 1 $1 *Ms 2 = 0 + remainder of 1
0410J80 1 *Ms 2 = 0 + remainder of 1 $*Ms 26 (decimal) = 11010 (binary).
0420J80 $^All digital equipment, simple or complex, is constructed from
0430J80 just a few basic circuits called logic elements. ^There are two basic
0440J80 types of digital logic circuits, decision-making and memory.
0450J80 ^Decision making logic elements monitor binary inputs and produce outputs
0460J80 based on the input states and the operational characteristics of the l0gic
0470J80 element.. ^Memory elements are used to_ store binary information.
0480J80 ^To_ make logic decisions, three basic logic circuits (called gates)
0490J80 are used. ^These are the OR circuit, the AND circuit and
0500J80 the NOT circuit. $*<*3The OR Circuit*>
0510J80 ^This basic circuit has two or more inputs and a single output. ^The
0520J80 inputs and the output can each be at any one of the two states 0 or 1.
0530J80 ^The circuit is so arranged that the output is in state 1, when any
0540J80 of the inputs is in state 1, \0i.e., the output is 1 when the input A or
0550J80 input B or input C is 1. ^The circuit can be illustrated by the
0560J80 analogy shown in \0Fig. 1a. ^A battery supplies a lamp L through
0570J80 three switches in parallel. ^The switches are the inputs to the
0580J80 lamp; the light from the lamp represents the circuit output. $^If
0590J80 we define an open switch as a 0 state and a closed switch as a 1 state
0600J80 for the inputs and no light as 0 state and a glowing lamp as a 1 state
0610J80 for the output, we can list the various combinations of switch states and
0620J80 the resulting output states. ^This list is called a "truth table"
0630J80 or a "function table" and is shown in \0Fig. 1(c).
0640J80 ^From the truth table it can be seen that all switches must be open (0
0650J80 state) for the light to_ be off (output 0 state). ^The lamp will be
0660J80 on (1. state) if switch A or switch B or switch C is on (1 state).
0670J80 $^This type of circuit is called an OR gate and its symbolic representation
0680J80 is shown in \0Fig. 1(b), which shows an OR gate with 3 inputs.
0690J80 ^The OR function is expressed mathematically by the equation:
0700J80 ^*L = A+B+C (read as L equals A or B or C). ^Thus, the OR
0710J80 gate is used, to_ make logic decision on whether or not at least one
0720J80 of several inputs is in 1 state. $*<*3The AND Circuit*>
0730J80 $^This circuit also has several inputs and only one output, but in this
0740J80 case the circuit output is at a logical state 1 only if all inputs are
0750J80 in the logical 1 state simultaneously. ^This is illustrated in \0Fig.
0760J80 2. which also gives the symbol and the truth table. ^Here, lamp
0770J80 L lights (1 state) only if switch A and switch B and switch
0780J80 C all are closed (1 state) at the same time. ^The lamp does not light
0790J80 if any of the switches is open. ^Thus the AND gate makes the logic
0800J80 decision, on whether or not several inputs are all in 1 state at the
0810J80 same time. ^The mathematical expression for an AND function
0820J80 is L = A.B.C. (read as L equals A and B and C).
0821J80 $*<*3The NOT Circuit*> ^This circuit
0830J80 has a single input and a single output and is arranged so that the
0840J80 output state is always opposite to the input state. ^It is illustrated
0850J80 in \0Fig. 3 which also gives its symbol and the truth table. ^If
0860J80 the switch is open, (0 state) the lamp is on (1 state); if the switch is
0870J80 closed, (1 state), the lamp goes off (0 state). ^This operation of making
0880J80 the output state opposite to that_ of the input is called *3inversion
0890J80 and a circuit designed to_ do that_ is called an *3inverter.
0900J80 ^The mathematical expression for an inverter function is L *Ms A
0910J80 (read as L equals not A). $*<"*3NOR*0" and "*3NAND*0" *3Gates*0*>
0920J80 $^A "NOT" circuit can be combined with an "OR" gate or
0930J80 "AND" gate so that inversion occurs together with the gate function.
0940J80 ^These are illustrated in \0Fig. 4 and 5, which also show the truth tables
0950J80 and the schematic symbols. ^Because of ease of fabrication and convenience
0960J80 of use in practical circuits the "NOR" and "NAND" gates
0970J80 are much more common than the "OR" and "AND" gates. 3*<*3Fan-in
0980J80 and Fan-out*> ^The number of inputs to a gate is called the *3fan-in.
0990J80 ^In the above examples, the gates have a fan-in of three.
1000J80 ^In actual use, the output of a gate may be required to_ drive gates of
1010J80 following circuits. ^The number of subsequent gates that_ the output
1020J80 of a particular gate can drive is called its *3fan-out capability.
1030J80 \0^TTL logic gates have fan-out of eight to ten gates. $*<*3Types
1040J80 of Logic*> $^A number of circuit techniques have been evolved
1050J80 to_ make logic circuits. ^Although their functions may be identical,
1060J80 logic families can be distinguished by how they perform these functions.
1070J80 ^Some of these are: $1. Direct Coupled Transistor Logic (\0DCTL)>
1080J80 $2. Resistor-transistor Logic (\0RTL). $3. Diode-Transistor
1090J80 Logic (\0DTL)> $4. Transistor-transistor
1100J80 Logic (\0TTL). $5. Emitter-Coupled Logic (\0ECL).
1110J80 $^Though each one of these has its own advantages, the Transistor-Transistor
1120J80 Logic (\0TTL or \0T*;2**;L) has by far become the
1130J80 most popular and is used widely. ^Its popularity is primarily the result
1140J80 of its extremely low cost and off-the-shelf availability of a wide
1150J80 variety of circuits. $^In most logic system, logic 1 and 0 are represented
1160J80 by voltage levels. ^If the most positive voltage level is defined
1170J80 to_ be the logical 1 state and the most negative voltage level is defined
1180J80 as 0 level, the system is known as positive logic. ^Negative logic
1190J80 is just the opposite, \0i.e., the most positive voltage is 0 and the
1200J80 most negative voltage is 1. $^The \0TTL is a positive logic system.
1210J80 ^An input voltage of 0.8 \0V or less is read as LOW (0) and an input
1220J80 voltage greater than 2 \0V but less than 5.5 \0V is read as HIGH
1230J80 (1). $^The circuit configuration of a typical NAND gate of the
1240J80 type used in popular 74 series is shown in \0Fig. 6. ^A multi-emitter
1250J80 transistor, which can be economically fabricated in monolithic form, isused
1260J80 as the input stage. ^An output stage using an active pull-up transistor
1270J80 (also known as Totem-Pole output) is added to_ give current gain
1280J80 and drive for switching in both directions. ^This output configuration
1290J80 results in faster switching speed and higher fan-out capabilility.
1300J80 $^In \0Fig. 6 input terminals A and B are normally at a HIGH (1)
1310J80 level if there are no external connections. ^When the voltage level
1320J80 at A or B is less than 2 \0V, the current supplied by R1 will flow
1330J80 out of the low input terminal, keeping transitor T2 and T4 turned off.
1340J80 ^Transistor T3, being forward biased by R2, conducts freely and the
1350J80 output voltage rises to supply voltage minus voltage drop across T3 and
1360J80 D. ^In other words when any of the input goes LOW (0) the output
1370J80 goes HIGH (1). ^If both inputs A and B are raised to a HIGH
1380J80 voltage level (or left unconnected) the base-emitter diodes of the
1390J80 input transistor T1 will be reverse biased. ^The current supplied by
1400J80 R1 will then flow through the base-collector diode of T1 turning on
1410J80 transistors T2 and T4 and turning off the transistor T3. ^The output
1420J80 is, therefore, LOW (0). ^In this state, the output can conduct
1430J80 through load via T4 to ground (or sink) a reasonable amount of current
1440J80 (\0approx. 16 \0mA). ^For this reason, \0TTL is sometimes referred
1450J80 to as "current sinking logic". $^In the regular \0TTL family,
1460J80 a current of about 1.6 \0mA flows through any input grounding circuit.
1470J80 ^In the event that grounding is done through a resistor, the value
1480J80 of this resistor should not exceed 500 Ohms to_ limit the voltage drop
1490J80 between the input terminal and ground below 0.8 volts. ^In practical
1500J80 circuits a resistance greater than 220 Ohms is seldom used to_ achieve
1510J80 an adequate safety margin from noise, spread in characteristics and variations
1520J80 of temperature. $^In some \0TTL devices, a protective diode
1530J80 is connected from each input to ground to_ protect the gate if the same
1540J80 is accidentally connected to a voltage of reverse polarity. ^The protective
1550J80 diodes also prevent high frequency ringing when long connecting
1560J80 leads are used with pulses of sharp rise time. $*<*3Open Collector
1570J80 Gates*> $^The type of output stage shown in \0Fig. 6 is called
1580J80 a Totem Pole output. ^It has the advantage of low output impedance
1590J80 in both logical states; but this circuit configuration is not well suited
1600J80 to the wire-AND logic connection. $^Wire-ANDIng simply
1610J80 means tying gate outputs together (\0Fig. 7) to_ obtain the AND
1620J80 functions. ^In this configuration there is a very good possibility that
1630J80 a single gate will have a LOW (0) output and all others will be HIGH
1640J80 (1). ^If the wire AND connections were implemented using gates
1650J80 with a Totem-Pole output stage, this single output stage in LOW
1660J80 (0) state would be required to_ sink the outputs of all other gates which
1670J80 may result in poor circuit performance and damage to the transistors.*#
        **[no. of words = 02022**]


        **[txt. k01**]
0010K01 ^*Kunchunni had not studied history, only language. ^Tried to_ discover
0020K01 who had baptized Malayalam. ^Calculated the horoscope of the land of Parasurama
0030K01 in ant-eaten palm leaves. ^Got a degree in the *4Vedas of
0040K01 the white men-- the gods of *4kalikala. ^Repeated the *4mantras till they
0050K01 attained perfection. ^*Ezhuthachan, Kannassan, Shaw, Keats, Shakespeare,
0060K01 Valmiki, Vyasa, Kalidasa. ^They slept in his mind. ^Woke when
0070K01 needed. ^Protected him; walked before and after. $^Should have learnt
0080K01 history. ^Should learn about every foreigner who defiled the chastity of
0090K01 the Arabian Sea. ^Vengeance. ^At least in the next life. $^*Kunchunni
0100K01 Namboodiri, \0M.A., \0L.L.B., of Pullasseri Mana, sat alone on
0110K01 the
0120K01 seashore on the day of *4Uthratam and drank illicit *4arrack. ^Drowsed.
0130K01 ^No one is going to_ take that_ down. ^History will not remember it.
0140K01 ^But the ominiscient Father will see that_ also. ^It will be entered
0150K01 in Chitragupta*'s daily accounts. ^And some day, in some other birth,
0160K01 it will attain its fruition. $^The people of the shore are famous not only
0170K01 for smuggling, but for illicit liquor, too. $^The shrill voices of the
0180K01 fisherwomen, flirting behind the big boats which rested halfway between
0190K01 the sea and the shore, disturbed his penance. $^An Onam without him
0200K01 for the first time in twenty-eight years. ^Tomorrow. ^The bananas will
0201K01 be tasteless; the chips will be burnt. ^The curry will
0210K01 taste of smoke. ^His father and mother will look for him. ^His wife will
0220K01 worry. ^Worry is a part of Ittichiri. ^She will be standing, leaning
0230K01 against the worm-eaten pillars of the inner quadrangle, bent and broken.
0240K01 ^Her eyes which are bigger than her face will be gazing out through the
0250K01 front room. ^She will stand without a word while his father tries to_
0260K01 console her. ^She will go inside straight upstairs. ^Take that_ heavy
0270K01 *4veena on to her lap, meditate for a moment, sing a song or two in a
0280K01 very soft voice. ^Wipe away her tears and busy herself in the kitchen.
0290K01 $^In another two days the whole place will know that he has run away.
0300K01 $^Before that_ his father will get two lines scribbled on a postcard. "^Got
0310K01 a job in Persia. ^The rest after I reach there." $^Tomorrow, Tiruvonam.
0320K01 ^At dusk, when all the bad planets unite, when all ill omens wait
0330K01 to_ welcome him, at the worst possible moment, he will start from
0331K01 this shore,
0340K01 in a small smuggling boat. ^Let Valiedath Namboodiri have peace.
0350K01 ^He is one of the richest people in the place, the head of the Valiedath
0360K01 family! ^A real aristocrat. ^The people of Pullasseri are his dependants.
0370K01 $^*Kunchunni*'s father was a priest. ^*Kunchunni had also done
0380K01 *4pujas. ^Had carried the little daughter of the Valiedath family; kicked
0390K01 her, too. $^The cloudless sky scintillated in the sea. ^That_ unearthly
0400K01 sight stormed Kunchunni*'s agitated brain. $^*Unyema, the beloved
0410K01 child, born after innumerable prayers and penances. ^*Valia Namboodiri*'s
0420K01 life. ^The only heir to all that_ wealth. $^*Kunchunni had made palm-leaf
0430K01 serpents and birds for Unyema, the darling child of Valiedath
0440K01 Mana, the aristocrats. ^Given flowers and sandal-paste to her mother
0450K01 with special care. ^Stood humbly before her. ^Covered the idol with sandal-paste
0460K01 for her birthday. ^Cooked with great care on the days of important
0470K01 *4pujas. ^And climbed trees and plucked flowers for the little
0480K01 girl, played with stones, and grown up. ^*Unyema saw the bullock-races
0490K01 and the ploughing contests in the temple, hanging on to Kunchunni*'s
0500K01 finger. ^The bottle is still not empty. ^Good things should not be wasted.
0510K01 $^When the rest also flowed through the mouth made pure by the recitation
0520K01 of divine words, Kunchunni attained a sudden realization. ^He
0530K01 got up, looked at the clean sea. ^With love; felt like touching it. $^A
0540K01 small diseased boy with his clothes flying in the wind came dancing
0550K01 along.
0560K01 ^*Kunchunni felt a sudden affection for him. $"^Hey, you come here." ^The
0570K01 boy did not listen. ^*Kunchunni did not like the expression on his face.
0580K01 $"^*I called you. ^Come here!" $^Pretending to_ be scared, he came.
0590K01 ^Stood in front of Kunchunni. ^Digging into his nose, he ate the dried
0600K01 snot. $"^You dirty rascal! ^Take your hand away from your nose." ^*Kunchunni
0610K01 raised his hand. ^The boy must have been sure that he would be
0620K01 hit, or he would not have removed his hand so fast. ^He must have grown
0630K01 up on a diet mainly of blows. $"^What*'1s your name?" $"^*Suku." $"^*Suku!
0640K01 ^Who named you Suku? ^Your mother? ^Or your father? ^Or, do you have
0650K01 a father?" $"^No." $"^Wrong! ^No one is born without a father. ^You
0660K01 can have more than one. ^Or he might be dead." $"^Dead." $"^Who else lives
0670K01 at home?" $"^Sister." $"^Good! ^You have a sister. ^Great! ^But is
0680K01 she also like you, a dirty creature! ^Or, what did you say your name was?"
0690K01 $"^*Suku." $"^*Suku, how old is your sister?" $"^*I don*'4t know."
0700K01 $"^Pah! ^Rascal! don*'4t know your sister*'s age. ^Run! ^You, run from
0710K01 here!" $^Watching the scared boy run away, he laughed. ^Regretted his
0720K01 laughter. $^The leeches started hissing through his nerves, ammonium sulphate
0730K01 started burning in his brain, Kunchunni had to_ know the age of
0740K01 Suku*'s sister. ^An irresistible need. $^The boy ran away. ^Too far to_
0750K01 hear him calling. ^Cannot even be seen. ^He is so small. ^Seen things
0760K01 also refuse to_ register. ^The eye-ball dances with the sea. ^The tongue
0770K01 runs on with *4Upanishads and bawdy songs. ^His sister is perhaps
0780K01 eighteen... a young, fresh, beautiful eighteen. ^A lovely, moist eighteen.
0790K01 ^Must see her... $^*Kunchunni walked. ^Careful not to_ disturb the
0800K01 shore, rapturous in the embrace of the sea. ^Suddenly he remembered.
0810K01 ^If you write "\0*4Sri Rama" near the sea, it rubs it out. ^An old feud.
0820K01 ^Centuries old and still smouldering. ^*Ravana stole Sita away. \0*4sri
0830K01 Rama built a bridge. ^Through Rameswaram to Lanka. ^Divided the
0840K01 sea into two. ^The mutilated sea-god was angry. ^That_ anger has not
0850K01 cooled yet. ^If you write "\0*4Sri Rama" huge waves come, rub it out.
0860K01 ^That_ old feud destroys the serenity of the sea-god. $^When he first
0870K01 brought Unyema to_ show her the sea, they wrote it many times. ^Then she
0880K01 was a child. ^Not yet a girl. ^A chatter-box hanging on to his fingers,
0890K01 for the bullock-race and the ploughing contest. $^*Kunchunni is a
0900K01 dependent. ^A dependent by heritage. ^The cold blood of slavery flows through
0910K01 his veins. $^The temple at Kunnathur. ^*Valiedath Namboodari in
0920K01 a decorated pandal. ^All round, his dependents. ^With them, Kunchunni
0930K01 and his father. ^And Unyema, shining like a brass lamp rubbed with ashes.
0940K01 $^*Kunchunni studied, got a degree. ^His younger brothers did not do
0950K01 *4puja. ^They too studied; could give up their slavery. ^But Kunchunni
0960K01 is immortal. ^*Aswathama. ^A lost soul screaming and wandering from forest
0970K01 to forest for thousands of years, dirty with the caked blood and
0980K01 pus from his sores. ^Born into a good family, acquired a good education.
0990K01 ^Fell step by step, until finally, he became immortal for his crime.
1000K01 ^He did not die; will not die. $^He felt that his journey through the shore
1010K01 belonged to one of his past lives. ^A seen and forgotten feeling.
1020K01 ^When he gazed into that_ infinite distance where the sea and the sky meet,
1030K01 he could see the Origin and the Destruction. $^Where would that_ boy*'s
1040K01 sister be? ^Where? ^Wherever she was, he had to_ search. ^You will
1050K01 find, so it is said. ^He started walking fast. ^Must see her at once.
1060K01 ^That_ eighteen year old sister of the eel-like boy. ^Exactly eighteen.
1070K01 ^That_ lovely, fresh girl... $^When he saw a woman approaching, Kunchunni
1080K01 asked, "^Which is Suku*'s house?" $^The crumpled forty-year old
1090K01 was startled. $"^*I*'3m asking you, which is Suku*'s house?" $^When she
1100K01 understood the question, the answer came, "Suku? ^Which Suku?" $"^Don*'4t
1110K01 you know? ^Damn fool. ^Our Suku. ^The brother of that_ lovely
1120K01 eighteen year old girl. ^Younger brother. ^That_ diseased eel, Suku, who
1130K01 eats snot." $^The woman who had understood him, if not the question,
1140K01 left him. $^*Kunchunni felt that he must have made some mistake. ^Must
1150K01 have said something wrong. ^Grammatical mistake? ^Never. ^Then? ^The sun
1160K01 on the shore is hot. ^Definite. ^Or he would not be sweating. ^When
1170K01 he understood this much, Kunchunni walked with the elation of a scientist
1180K01 who has discovered a new principle. ^A discovery made after research.
1190K01 ^The reason for sweat: heat of the sun. $^Long ago, he had intended
1191K01 to_
1200K01 do research. ^He had found a subject also. ^A really good one. ^One with
1210K01 originality. "^The role played by alcohol in poetic imagination." ^He
1220K01 had suggested it to the University Head, too. ^But by then... $^Drops
1230K01 of water scattered from the broken waves, and fell on him; purified
1240K01 him. ^Crabs which crawl sideways emerged from their lairs and hunted for
1250K01 food. ^Prayed to Mother Sea to_ send them the tiny creatures the waves
1260K01 carry. $^If only he could see that_ boy. ^Let him eat snot. ^That_
1270K01 is excusable. ^He must be hungry. ^And, can someone who drinks crushed
1280K01 leeches garnished with old batteries, scold Suku who eats only snot?
1290K01 ^Doubtful. ^No, that_ is not unforgivable. ^But a fool who does not know
1300K01 the age of his own sister! ^How can that_ be excused? ^*Kunchunni*'s
1310K01 nose perspired. ^Can enquire in the next hut, they will know. ^*Suku is
1320K01 famous on the shore. ^Or, he will be made famous. ^*Kunchunni Namboodiri,
1330K01 \0M.A., \0L.L.B., of Pullasseri Mana will make him famous. $^*Seagulls
1340K01 circled the shore. ^Searched for left-overs on the nets spread
1350K01 on the sand. ^They flew low over his head, blessed him. ^Looked at
1360K01 the pilgrim with love. $^When his nerves woke, his speed also increased.
1370K01 ^The smell of drying fish. ^He felt sick. ^Is there any *4arrack, available
1380K01 nearby? ^*Kunchunni walked quickly past the Muslim girl looking
1390K01 after the drying fish, in search of *4arrack, on this day of *4Uthratam.
1400K01 $^The sand rubbed against his feet. ^Like his hand in the lap of Raghavan*'s
1410K01 wife, Ammini. ^Kicking away the groundnut shells, journeyed
1420K01 on, gesturing while he walked. ^While learning the *4Vedas he had learnt
1430K01 these gestures to_ memorize easily and to_ control his voice. ^What
1440K01 if he recited the *4Vedas now? ^He wanted to_ chant in time. ^He gave
1450K01 in to that_ terrible longing. ^Wonderful. ^He still remembered, "*3*5Agnimeele
1460K01 purohitam...*6*0" ^And in the same tone, "*3*5Adupinu mel pulinkaree**6*0"....
1470K01 (^Curry over the fire...) $*<2*> $^A house with four quadrangles
1480K01 inside and a gate-house. ^Fields which brought in ten thousand
1490K01 *4paras of rice, one of the Big Eight. $^He was married to Ittichiri
1500K01 with fire as witness in the dark hall. *4^*Panigrahnam, *3*5Grihnami
1510K01 te soubhagatwaya hastam*6*0... ^Said with the proper intonation. ^The
1520K01 women behind the screen wept. ^Their muted sobs mingled with the *4mantra
1521K01 of the
1530K01 wedding: he knows the *4mantras even if he is a lecturer in a college
1540K01 and has a moustache. $^As if it could be otherwise. ^*Thethi*'s luck,
1550K01 all her sons in big positions. $^First night, the second floor. ^A room
1560K01 divided by wooden boards, perfumed with scattered jasmine flowers. ^The
1570K01 brass mirror and the filled measure. ^*4Ashtamangalyam. ^An atmosphere
1580K01 thick with scented smoke. ^Time stood still. ^The double-bed spread
1590K01 with a white sheet, the canopy hung with fresh flowers. ^Decorations
1600K01 as old as generations. ^Lighted on lamps with five wicks. ^And she, shivering
1610K01 in a corner. ^Must be the sweet, indescribable fear of a new bride.
1620K01 ^Anxiety. ^The shivering increased. ^She started foaming at the mouth,
1630K01 collapsed on the ground, bent like a bow. ^Crawled like a worm whose
1640K01 back had been crushed, shuddered, and fell asleep, tired out and lathered
1650K01 in sweat. $^The first night was wonderful. ^*Ittichiri, with her hysteria,
1660K01 only child of the aristocrats who possessed a house with four
1670K01 quadrangles inside and a gate-house, and received ten thousand *4paras
1680K01 of rice a year, became the wife of Pullasseri Kunchunni. $^The love-songs
1690K01 that_ had been scribbled in his mind swelled and spread in the wetness
1700K01 of tears. ^The letters disappeared, and dreams about the first night
1710K01 became nightmares. ^The grapes that_ were meant for the honeymoon rotted.
1720K01 ^Instead he kept a stock of medicines for hysteria, learnt first-aid.*#
        **[no. of words = 01998**]

        **[txt.k02**]
0010K02 "^Yes, he is a dangerous man," said Manson to himself, ironically. "^Without
0020K02 a word, he has disclosed a system I can no longer approve." $^Why
0030K02 had he been so obtuse for so many years! ^When he had first come to
0040K02 India, he had been astonished at the small prices paid to Indian merchants
0050K02 for their fine muslins and silks, and had compared those prices
0060K02 with the fabulous sums for which the same goods was sold **[sic**]
0061K02 in England.
0070K02 ^He had then dismissed the thought with a tradesman*'s answer, "Business
0080K02 is business." $^That_ did not compare with the callousness and
0090K02 incomprehension of human personalities around him that_ was shown by the
0100K02 first Resident as recorded in the old files. "^Stupid," his wife
0110K02 had called it. ^And how could the officials in Calcutta not understand
0120K02 the effect this dismissal of Vinayak Shastri would have on the thousands
0130K02 of people who admired him! ^More stupidity. ^His countrymen were
0140K02 fit only to_ rule people more ignorant than themselves! $^*Manson pushed
0150K02 back his chair. ^If he resigned his post, perhaps he could teach
0160K02 Indian languages to the fools whom the Company would be sending to
0170K02 India in the future. ^He went to the verandah and saw his son and Ramkrishna
0180K02 chatting under a tree. ^*Manson called them into his office and
0190K02 asked Ramkrishna, "What would your father do if he were not in Brahmavarta?"
0200K02 $^*Ramkrishna was taken by surprise. "^We would be with our
0210K02 own family in Pune." ^If he had been less reticent toward a person older
0220K02 than himself he would have asked the reason for the question but
0230K02 he kept silent. $^*Manson, too, was silent. ^After a space he said, "You
0240K02 might request your father to_ call in here." $^Presently Vinayak
0250K02 Shastri stood in the door. ^*Manson*'s neck grew red as he greeted his
0260K02 tutor and motioned him to a chair. ^The two men each vainly tried to_
0270K02 detect what was in the other*'s mind. $^Finally, in a soft voice Vinayak
0280K02 Shastri said, "When does the government desire me to_ leave here?
0290K02 ^*I am quite ready to_ go, I anticipated it." $"^Who told you?" asked
0300K02 Manson. $"^No one. ^From your question to my son I knew that the
0310K02 time had come. ^*I had surmised for some time it
0320K02 would happen. ^*I don*'4t mind going, but, you see, your government believes
0330K02 that I will thus be taught to_ lay my turban at their feet. ^Many
0340K02 others will do that_ very thing, but hatred will grow in them-- and
0350K02 grow. ^For Truth cannot die." $"^Hatred will not grow in you." $^*Vinayak
0360K02 Shastri shook his head. ^They sat quite still, neither looking
0370K02 at the other. ^At last, his head bowed over the Malacca walking-stick,
0380K02 Vinayak Shastri said, "We had an emperor, Asoka, who, after inheriting
0390K02 a small kingdom, also became greedy and fought king after king
0400K02 until he ruled many of our lands. ^Then he was converted from that_ way
0410K02 of life by Gautama, the Buddha, and ceased making war, sending messages
0420K02 to his neighbours that they need fear him no longer. ^This deed
0421K02 brought
0430K02 the motherland to her greatest days when prosperity covered her with
0440K02 garments of beauty from the Himalayas to Cormorin because the people
0450K02 could live in peace. ^This is the moral way of life and its inevitable
0460K02 reward, if material reward is desired by a man." $^*Manson moved uncomfortably.
0470K02 $^*Vinayak Shastri looked up at him. "^You yourself have
0480K02 been hurt by this act of your government more than I have. ^You have
0490K02 been forced by your employer to_ be a party to both a stupid act which
0500K02 insults your intelligence, and to an immoral act which will leave a
0510K02 mark on your soul unless you can do it impersonally as a spade is forced
0520K02 to kill a worm by another*'s act." $"^*I shall resign from the service
0530K02 of the Company--" $^*Vinayak Shastri interrupted him. "^That_ isolated
0540K02 act will not change the Company-- but you may plant the seed of
0550K02 its future change. "$^After Chintamani Shastri had returned from hiding
0560K02 and declared his guilt, he had sat in the court-room holding his head
0570K02 in his hands or staring straight before him. ^When the magistrate did
0580K02 not proceed against him, he wiped the sweat from his face, drew a long
0590K02 breath and, throwing his scarf round his head, left the court room quietly.
0600K02 ^Thereafter he was not seen outside of his house for many days.
0610K02 ^His servants reported that he lay all day on his bed, eyes closed,
0620K02 or staring at the ceiling. $^Before Vinayak Shastri*'s dismissal. while
0630K02 Ramkrishna was at Manson*'s Residency, a servant from Chintamani*'s
0640K02 house brought in a silver tray piled high with pomegranates and
0650K02 oranges. "^He has been sending gifts daily since the end of the trial,"
0660K02 Manson said. "^Can*'4t think what he*'1s up to. ^*I sent them back
0670K02 as they were valuable. ^Now he sends fruit-- I return that_, too. ^Contemptible
0680K02 fellow!" $^The evening of the day on which the news of Vinayak
0690K02 Shastri*'s dismissal was made known, Chintamani Shastri came out
0700K02 on the verandah of his house for the first time since the trial. ^The
0710K02 following day his wife called upon Sarja Bai, and Chintamani*'s family
0720K02 was again moving among the affairs of Brahmavarta. $^Prior to Vinayak
0730K02 Shastri*'s departure, the residents of Kanpur invited him to_
0740K02 speak to them, and a great crowd gathered. ^*Clifford Manson accompanied
0750K02 Vinayak Shastri and his sons, and the priests gave the Resident
0760K02 a seat of honour near the speaker. ^After Vinayak Shastri had been
0770K02 garlanded and had ascended the dais to_ speak, Chintamani Shastri walked
0780K02 in and sat beside Manson. $^*Vinayak Shastri thanked his hosts
0790K02 for honouring him and in a warm intimate voice began to_ speak. $"^You
0800K02 and some others give me the title of 'Shastri' meaning, one learned in
0810K02 the scriptures. ^*I am even called '*4guru', 'one who dispels darkness
0820K02 from those following him.' ^But it would be better to_ call me '*4shishya',
0830K02 pupil, or disciple. ^There may have been a time in my younger days
0840K02 when I felt some pride in the title 'shastri', but now I have for
0850K02 the third time in my life become a pupil again. $"^Can an old man learn
0860K02 new things? ^God has not yet finished teaching me, and when He has,
0870K02 my soul will give up this body and go to its eternal home, my home,
0871K02 to the River
0880K02 whence it came-- God. ^Then I can be at peace as the scriptures
0890K02 promise, with no more desires, because my soul shall have accomplished
0900K02 that_ for which it was born into a body. $"^In my childhood my
0901K02 father chose my *4Guru
0910K02 Ram Shastri. ^Then a day came when Ram Shastri laid his hands
0920K02 on me and told me to_ return to my home and take a wife. ^That_ I did,
0930K02 and one thing followed another until I became a disciple again-- of our
0940K02 Maratha saint, Dnyaneshwar. ^He was only nineteen years old when he
0950K02 left his body and found release in God, but during the twenty or more
0960K02 generations since his writings have made clear to millions of people
0970K02 the fundamental truths of our religion. ^From him I learned the meaning
0980K02 of the unity of life. ^He said of God: **[verses quoted**] $"^These
0990K02 are not meaningless words as when a quarrelsome woman opens her mouth
1000K02 and lets tumble out whatever may be there: these are the words of God.
1010K02 $"^Then, next, God sent me to Brahmavarta. ^*I understood he had
1020K02 sent me to_ be the preceptor of *4Shrimant, the Ruler; but that_ was
1030K02 not god*'s will: I misread it. ^*He sent me here because I had
1031K02 been mistaken in my
1040K02 progress. ^*I still had lessons to_ learn." $^*Vinayak Shastri looked
1050K02 down from the dais. "^Here is Chintamani Shastri, a brother-priest;
1060K02 when I found out that he shared in the wrongful accusation against me
1070K02 I was tempted to_ think that he was not part of the unity of the universe.
1080K02 ^He has not disclosed why he suddenly appeared from hiding during
1090K02 the trial and testified that I had not participated in the proposed
1100K02 revolt. ^*I understand it. ^His moral sense conquered his fear for his
1110K02 security in life. ^His moral sense demanded that he not allow
1111K02 **[sic**] an innocent
1120K02 person to_ suffer for him. ^Although he strayed for a time, lost
1130K02 his way , his soul is of God as yours or mine is. ^*Dnyaneshwar said
1140K02 of God: **[verses quoted**] $^*Vinayak Shastri looked at Clifford
1150K02 Manson. "^Here at Brahmavarta I*'3ve learned about God that_ which
1160K02 perhaps even saint Dnyaneshwar did not comprehend fully. ^It is not
1170K02 only we who were born in this our motherland, but all men everywhere,
1180K02 whether the colour of their skin is dark or light-- the one Life is in
1190K02 them all. ^How foolish we have been! ^How small we have made God! ^Before
1200K02 me sits the honourable Manson *4Sahib. ^*I formerly classed all
1210K02 White men with the ones it had, unfortunately, been my lot to_ know.
1220K02 ^But it was this white-skinned gentleman, one of our conquerors, who rescued
1230K02 me from the arms of death and disgrace which some of my own countrymen
1240K02 proposed for me! ^At the possible cost of his career, he, Manson
1250K02 *4Sahib, reached out and rescued me, and Shrimant as well." ^*Vinayak
1260K02 Shastri waited for his words to_ be comprehended. **[verses quoted**]
1270K02 $"^Need I say more? ^When it is day we do not need to_ remind one
1280K02 another of it. "$^He paused again and looked over the people." ^*I
1290K02 now go from here. ^*I do not know when my soul will be ready for its Home
1300K02 but when I shall desire no more, my soul will be at peace. ^It will
1310K02 be at home in God." $^As Vinayak Shastri joined his palms, bowed,
1320K02 and stepped from the dais, Chintamani Shastri came toward him and
1330K02 fell upon his feet. ^His face was wet with tears. ^The former Chamberlain
1340K02 raised him up. and as one hand rested on the shoulder of the unhappy
1350K02 man, Vinayak Shastri addressed him. "^Fear is one of the toughest
1360K02 snares that_ pin a man to earth-- we Indians are now caught in it.
1370K02 ^Now that we are a conquered people, fear for our own security will set
1380K02 us against one another, will drive us to_ curse one another, and lay
1390K02 traps for one another. ^Fear will divide us, and we will go lower and
1400K02 lower until we reach the bottom of the pit of the degradation of our souls--
1410K02 when we will forget our relationship with God." ^He grasped the
1420K02 priest*'s shoulder more warmly and Chintamani Shastri*'s soul for an
1430K02 instant was purified by the fire in the former Chamberlain*'s words.
1440K02 $^*Clifford Manson and Vinayak Shastri walked back to Brahmavarta,
1450K02 Manson*'s attendants going before them, and Vinayak Shastri*'s sons
1460K02 following. ^Heavy night-blooming flowers scented the air as the men
1470K02 walked in the moonlight; bats flew from tree to tree winging across
1480K02 the silver ribbon of road. $^When they had gone some miles and were approaching
1490K02 Brahmavarta, Manson spoke. "^*I had not thought much about
1500K02 God until I came to this country. ^At home one went to church not primarily
1510K02 to_ seek God but because it kept one in touch with the neighbours."
1520K02 $"^The temple and religion do not always speak of God," remarked
1530K02 Vinayak Shastri. $"^*I knew a man at home like you," continued Manson.
1540K02 "^He taught me Greek. ^*I thought he was talking nonsense when
1550K02 he spoke of God, and wished he would keep to the Greek lesson. ^But
1560K02 I got to liking poetry, our English poetry, and then there was a fellow
1570K02 who came to the college-- he read poetry which he had found in this
1580K02 country, your poetry. ^That_*'1s one reason why I came out here-- the
1590K02 poetry. ^When I learned the Bengali language I found a whole treasure-house
1600K02 of it. ^Then I went on to Sanskrit, and"-- Manson laughed
1610K02 nervously-- "like you, I found I was only at the beginning of wisdom."
1620K02 $^*Vinayak Shastri thought to himself that no one, even of his own children,
1630K02 were so untouched with guile as this man. ^By accident, rather
1640K02 than because it is his nature, he has authority over us. ^By reason of
1650K02 his pure heart he saved us.*#
        **[no. of words = 02018**]

        **[txt.k03**]
0010K03 $^*Friday arrived. $^*Manuel would be back next day; Choma should either
0020K03 pay him twenty *4rupees or leave for the plantation. ^Who knows whether
0030K03 his debt was true or false? ^The world would trust Manuel*'s words
0031K03 rather
0040K03 than his. ^The idea of selling the oxen haunted him again. ^He had
0050K03 paid them no price and whatever money they fetched would all be his profit.
0060K03 $^Once he was walking along a jungle trail when he saw two calves
0070K03 sauntering around. ^There was no human habitation nearby, and he thought
0080K03 that the calves, if left there, would fall prey to marauding panthers.
0090K03 ^So he drove them to his hut. ^No claimants came and he began to_
0100K03 bring them up gradually growing fond of them. $^Both Chaniya and Guruva
0110K03 implored him to_ sell the oxen, while Belli suggested that he pawn
0120K03 them to the landlord for twenty *4rupees. ^*Choma did not agree: money
0130K03 borrowed had to_ be repaid, whatever the source of borrowing. ^How
0140K03 would he be able to_ earn and repay so much money? $^There was only one
0150K03 way out: he would go to the plantation and work there till the debt
0160K03 was redeemed. ^He again wavered. ^No one had ever cleared a debt by working
0170K03 in a plantation. ^Once a person joined a plantation he helplessly
0180K03 went on borrowing. ^Plantation debts were like plantation malaria:
0190K03 once in their grip no release till death. $^Every year thousands of coolies
0200K03 from the district went to the plantation, drudged and slaved for
0210K03 months and returned as impecunious as when they went. ^He had himself
0220K03 been there more than once but could never reconcile himself to the kind
0230K03 of life there. ^If it were merely a question of living a bare hand
0240K03 to mouth life, one did not have to_ go to the plantation; one could as
0250K03 well live such a life in one*'s own village. ^But all these were vain thoughts.
0260K03 ^*Manuel would be before his hut tomorrow, implacable like *4Yama*'s
0270K03 messenger. ^There was not much time left to him to_ deliberate.
0280K03 $"^*Belli," he called. "^It is no use going on thinking. ^*I shall
0290K03 go to the plantation and return after four months." $^*Belli was thunderstruck;
0300K03 the idea of her aged father toiling in the plantation was unacceptable.
0310K03 ^Besides, from a practical point of view, his sojourn in the
0320K03 plantation would serve no purpose. ^He would waste all his earnings
0330K03 on toddy and leave the debt to_ grow. $^Seeing his daughter lost in thought,
0340K03 Choma added: "What is the way out? ^If I don*'4t go, we will
0350K03 have to_ send Chaniya and Guruva. ^They are still children." $^Children!
0360K03 ^Yes, they would always remain children in their father*'s eyes.
0370K03 ^*Chaniya and Guruva, on the other hand, resented being treated as fledgelings
0380K03 even after they had sprouted moustaches, and were eager to_
0390K03 go their own way. ^The prospect of working in the plantation, which daunted
0400K03 Choma, appealed to them. ^They were loth to_ lose the opportunity
0410K03 of earning a monthly cash wage of eight to ten *4rupees and be stayput
0420K03 to_ earn half a *4seer of paddy a day. $^She said: "Father, you are
0430K03 getting on in age. ^You shouldn*'4t think of leaving your family and
0440K03 home. ^What will become of Kala and Neela if you go away? ^Not only
0450K03 that_. ^Who will fulfil our obligations to the landlord?" $^*Choma*'s
0460K03 face blanched. ^*Belli had spoken the truth. ^The landlord would
0470K03 not let him go. ^He could not for the life of him think of wounding Sankappayya*'s
0480K03 feelings. ^There was no option but to_ send Chaniya and
0490K03 Guruva. ^To_ send one alone would be unwise; in case of illness one
0500K03 must have some one to_ help. ^To_ send both would not be wise either.
0510K03 ^What if the two fell into bad company and drank their earnings? $^*Belli
0520K03 began to_ reason: "Are they still children? ^They must know their
0530K0G responsibilities. ^You must put them in the way of earning. ^They have
0540K03 already attained the marriage age. ^Today or tomorrow, they must go
0550KY3 their separate way and live with their wives. ^It isn*'4t proper that they
0560K03 should be made to_ stay here much longer." $^*Choma*'s worry immediately
0570K03 shifted to another subject-- Chaniya*'s marriage. ^He was the same
0580K03 age as Sankappayya and the landlord had been married almost six years.
0590K03 ^Because he was poor should he neglect to_ perform his son*'s marriage?
0600K03 ^He decided on the spur of the moment that Chaniya should wed
0610K03 before his departure! ^But he was to_ leave tomorrow! ^Well holding
0620K03 forth the hope of marriage might be an inducement to his son to_ save
0630K03 money. $^His thoughts then strayed to Belli*'s marriage. ^She should
0640K03 have been married already. ^True. ^But the thought of her leaving him
0650K03 after the marriage was frightening. "^She is a child," he thought to himself.
0660K03 "^There is no need to_ hurry." $^He realized he had been discussing
0670K03 his own affairs for far too long, forgetting all about his work.
0680K03 ^He had not walked a hundred steps when he heard Sankappayya call out
0700K03 "O Choma". ^He had been waiting for him. $^*Sankappayya confronted
0710K03 him on the courtyard, his eyes glowering. ^Other workers, armed with
0720K03 spades and baskets, were waiting for him. ^Sensing the landlord*'s mood,
0730K03 he hurriedly and silently left for the work site. $^During the previous
0740K03 monsoon, a torrent had changed its course, and filled up a field
0750K03 with mountain soil. ^Unless the silt was cleared and the torrent reverted
0760K03 before the onset of the monsoon in another three or four days, there
0770K0G was no hope of cultivating the field. $^*Choma worked with exceeding
0780K03 enthusiasm, digging mud, filling the baskets and hoisting them on to
0790K03 the heads of the coolies. ^The coolies carrying the mud watched him in
0800K03 surprise. ^He worked like a man possessed, never pausing for breath or
0810K03 gossip or a little rest. ^Even Sankappayya, who came to_ see the progress
0820K03 of work, was pleasantly surprised. "^Old Choma*'1s being seen
0830K03 to_ brim with vigour today," he commented and left. $^The workers were
0840K03 panting when the first session of work ended in the afternoon. ^Wiping
0850K03 his sweat with his fingers, Choma went to the landlord*'s house and
0860K03 squatted on his toes on the edge of the courtyard. $^*Sankappayya, having
0870K03 just finished his lunch, was sitting in the outhouse, his face glowing
0880K03 with contentment. ^As he began to_ chew betel, he tossed a quid of
0890K03 tobacco to Choma. ^*Choma, who loved tobacco next only to his life,
0900K03 was beside himself with joy, the more so because the piece was the very
0910K03 one which the landlord had intended to_ use. ^He began to_ knead the
0920K03 piece on his palm with lime. $"^Hey, Choma." ^*Sankappayya asked, "have
0930K03 you consecrated the oxen to God?" $^As Choma smirked, Sankappayya
0940K03 continued, "^Look, my bullocks have grown old and I can*'4t rely
0950K03 on them for ploughing this season. ^Why not harness your oxen?" $^Not
0960K03 a word escaped Choma*'s lips. $"^You may either sell them to me or leave
0970K03 them in my shed as your own." $^*Choma did not know what to_ say.
0980K03 $"^Why are you mum? ^Have you taken any sacred vow not to_ put them to
0990K03 the plough?" $"^Are they for show, if not for ploughing?" $"^If so, will
1000K03 you harness them this monsoon? ^*I need not look for any other pair,
1010K03 I presume. ^*I shall pay you cash, if you desire. ^You may fix the
1020K03 price; if not we may ask a third person to_ do that_." $"^*I have no
1030K03 mind to_ sell them, nor do I deny you their use. ^*I have long cherished
1040KU3 a dream. ^*I wish you would help me achieve it." $^*Sankappayya did
1050K03 not understand what could Choma be dreaming about. ^He went in on some
1060K03 work. ^After waiting for some time, Choma went to the field and pitched
1070K03 into his work. ^The whole work was over by the evening, and the
1080K03 landlord was happy. $^As dusk fell, the landlord himself measured out
1090K03 the rice to each labourer and they all left. ^Only Choma stayed on.
1100K03 $"^How come Choma hasn*'4t yet betaken himself to Biruma*'s shop?" the
1110K03 landlord asked in an ironic vein. $"^*I won*'4t go there today." $"^But
1120K03 why are you still here? ^Why not go home and beat that_ drum? ^You
1130K03 seem determined to_ banish sleep from this village." $^The joke set
1140K03 Choma laughing. ^The landlord knew that he was hesitating to_ tell him
1150K03 something. $"^Why are you still sitting here?" $"^Nothing, nothing much
1160K03 really. ^Just wanted to_ say a few words about the oxen." $"^What is
1170K03 that_? ^Don*'4t hesitate." $^"master, you have so many tenants. ^If
1180K03 you could lease me a piece of land, even barren land, I shall revere your
1190K03 name for the rest of my life." $^*Sankappayya*'s first reaction was
1200K03 one of surprise. ^How could a *[5Holeya*] ever be a farmer? ^But he
1210K03 did not spurn the idea. ^He had a lot of barren land and he might well
1220K03 lease a part of it to Choma. ^He went in to_ consult his mother. $^*Choma,
1230K03 waiting outside, was flushed at the thought that the great day
1240K03 was probably about to_ dawn in his life. ^His heart thumped. $^In a few
1250K03 moments, the landlord came out. "^Our ancestors," he said "never leased
1260K03 a field to any untouchable and it is not possible for me to_ do so."
1270K03 $^That_ settled the matter. ^*Choma heard the landlord*'s mother curse
1280K03 from inside the house: *[5Abba,*] the insolence of these *[5holeyas*]!"
1290K03 $^Dejected, Choma was about to_ leave for his hut, when Manuel
1300KW3 arrived there like an evil portent. $"^*Swami," Manuel said even as he
1310K03 stepped into the courtyard, "this servant of yours owes us some twenty
1320K03 rupees, I don*'4t know when, in which aeon, he would pay that_."
1330K03 $"^*Choma," Sankappayya said in anger, "didn*'4t you tell me you had
1340K03 no debts?" $^*Manuel would stay for his dinner. ^A crest fallen Choma
1350K03 dragged himself along, not to his hut but to Biruma*'s shop. $^The toddy
1360K03 shop was about a mile off. $^*Choma moved on mechanically, oblivious
1370K03 of the outside world. ^His mind was in a turmoil, thoughts storming
1380K03 into it. ^Many a time an officer had called at his hut and offered to_
1390K03 secure for him a piece of government land just outside the village.
1400K03 ^If he had accepted the offer, he could have by now dug and hoed the
1410K03 land into a field, a token of his self-respect. $^He did not accept the
1420K03 offer and perhaps not wrongly. ^What would he have gained by having a
1430K03 small field or a separate bungalow as it were? ^To_ have that_ land, he
1440K03 would have had to_ tear himself asunder from Sankappayya and this
1450K03 would have meant his forfeiting even the assured daily wage he now received
1460K03 from the landlord. $^When he reached the shop, Biruma was about
1470K03 to_ close it and leave for home, but he tarried on seeing him. ^*Choma
1480K03 sat down in front of the shop, stretched out his legs and poured out
1490K03 the rice which he had tied into a bundle in his cloth. ^There was one
1500K03 *4seer, two days*' wages. $^*Biruma measured the rice and took it inside,
1510K03 saying, "Half a *4pav short of one *4seer." ^From Sankappayya*'s
1520K03 measure to Biruma*'s half a *4pav of rice had just vanished somewhere.
1530K03 ^Soon Biruma came out and placed a bottle of diluted toddy before Choma,
1540K03 who downed it in just one gulp. $"^Anything to_ bite?" ^*Choma asked.
1550K03 "^Is this all for three and a half *4pavs of rice?" $"^*I haven*'4t
1560K03 mixed water," was Biruma*'s reply. ^He knew it was no good arguing with
1570KZ3 Choma. ^He went in again, washed the inside of the empty, toddy drum
1580K03 filled a bottle with the water and gave it to Choma. $^"a little
1590K03 more," Choma demanded. ^But Biruma shut the door and walked away. $^*Choma
1600K03 flew into a rage. ^He jumped to his feet shrieking "kay hey!" and
1610K03 began to_ prance about, mumbling a song. ^How long he danced he did not
1620K03 know. ^It was past midnight when he woke up, doused by a sudden downpour.
1630K03 $^Cursing the uninvited rain, he started for home.
1631K03 ^A drizzle was still falling, accompanied by thunder and lightning.*#
        **[no. of words = 02007**]

        **[txt. k04**]
0010K04 **<*3Orthodox family*0**> $*3^*Nathuram*0 Godse was born into an orthodox
0020K04 *4Brahmin family which came from a small village called Uksan,
0030K04 which is ten miles from the wayside railway station of Kamshet, on
0040K04 the Bombay Poona line. ^*Nathuram*'s father, Vinayak Godse, was a
0050K04 minor official in the Postal Department. ^In 1892, when he was seventeen,
0060K04 he was married to a girl who was barely ten years old. ^*Vinayak*'s
0070K04 first child was a boy, and the second a girl. ^This first son died
0080K04 before he was two years old. ^After that_ there were two more sons, both
0090K04 of whom died in their infancy. $^At the turn of the century, to families
0100K04 such as Vinayak Godse*'s, the fact that three sons had died one
0110K04 after the other while a daughter had survived held a clear warning: their
0120K04 male children bore a curse. ^One remedy, which had often proved effective,
0130K04 lay in offering to_ bring up the next boy as though he were a
0140K04 girl. ^That_ might appease the Fates. $^So Vinayak and his wife offered
0150K04 prayers. ^The next child, if it were a boy, would be brought up as
0160K04 though he were a girl. ^His left nostril would be pierced to_ take a
0170K04 *4nath or nose-ring. $^The next child was a boy, born on 10 May 1910.
0180K04 ^Even though he was named Ramchandra, which name is customarily shortened
0190K04 to Ram, because his nose was pierced to_ take a *4nath the pretence
0200K04 that he was a girl was taken a step further by his parents, who began
0210K04 to_ call him Nathuram, or 'Ram who wears a nose-ring'. ^The name
0220K04 stuck. $^As far as placating the evil spirits was concerned, the artifice
0230K04 was wholly successful. ^*Nathuram lived through infancy and grew up
0240K04 to_ be a strong child, and so did three other brothers, who followed
0250K04 him, among whom only Gopal, who was born in 1920, figured in the assassination
0260K04 of Gandhi. ^Psychologists may find some explanation for
0270K04 his warped mental processes in the fact that Nathuram was brought up
0280K04 as a girl. $^The family was large-- four sons and two daughters-- and poor.
0290K04 ^The father was constantly transferred to_ be Postmaster in small,
0300K04 out-of-the-way townships all over the Bombay Presidency. ^After Nathuram
0310K04 had finished primary schooling in his mother tongue, Marathi,
0320K04 he was sent to Poona to_ study for the matriculation examination. $^As
0330K04 a child, his parents and brothers believed that he possessed oracular
0340K04 powers. ^He would sit before the family goddess, staring fixedly at
0350K04 a spot of soot smeared in the exact centre of a copper tray, and soon
0360K04 fall into a trance. ^While in trance, he would see some figures or writing
0370K04 in the black spot before him, much as a crystal-gazer is supposed
0380K04 to_ see in his glass ball. ^Then one or other member of the family would
0390K04 ask him questions. ^His answers were believed to_ be those of the
0400K04 goddess, who spoke through his mouth. $^His brother Gopal, who saw several
0410K04 of these performances, writes: '^He would recite parts of scriptures
0420K04 or Sanskrit hymns which he never remembered to_ have memorized...
0430K04 and nor, when the trance was over could he repeat them, or indeed remember
0440K04 what he had recited.' $*<*3Other interests*0*> $*3^It was*0
0450K04 not till he was nearly sixteen that nathuram gave up the practice of serving
0460K04 as a medium between the family deity and the family. ^He had become
0470K04 more worldly and less devout, his brother Gopal laments, and his powers
0480K04 of concentration must have been diminished. **[sic**] $^There
0481K04 were other interests.
0490K04 ^Despite this early upbringing as a girl, he had grown into
0491K04 a
0500K04 strapping youth who was fond of physical exercise and who took speciaal
0510K04 pride in his prowess as a swimmer. ^His instincts were almost abnormally
0520K04 wholesome. ^He revelled in being the neighbourhood do-gooder, devoting
0530K04 himself to such chores as might have been taken on by an eager boy
0531K04 scout.
0540K04 ^He was always being called upon to_ fish out lost vessels from village
0550K04 wells, rescue cats, run errands for the sick, serve at temple functions
0560K04 and in the marriage festivities of the poorer neighbours. ^While
0570K04 the family lived in Lonavla, he rescued an untouchable child that_ had
0580K04 fallen into a well. ^When later in the day he told his parents about
0590K04 it, he was scolded for having come into the house without first taking
0600K04 a purifying bath-- he had been polluted by the touch of the child!
0610K04 $^At the time, such sentiments in a *4Brahmin family were quite normal,
0620K04 but Nathuram himself was not bothered by them. ^Later, much to the
0630K04 distress of his parents, he was to_ come out as a fierce protagonist for
0640K04 the removal of untouchability. $^He read voraciously, but only in subjects
0650K04 which interested him, such as mythology, scriptures and history,
0660K04 and only in the Marathi language. ^He neglected his normal schoolwork
0670K04 and found the English language difficult to_ learn. ^The consequence
0680K04 was that he failed to_ pass the \0matric. $^The matriculation examination
0690K04 was, in those days, an essential qualification for the lowest grades
0700K04 of clerical jobs in government offices, and Nathuram*'s father, who
0710K04 was now close to retirement himself, was anxious to_ get his son employed
0720K04 in his own department. ^He implored Nathuram to_ sit for the examination
0730K04 again, but Nathuram, who by this time had already come under
0740K04 the influence of Gandhi*'s movement for non-co-operation with the British
0750K04 Raj, shrank at the thought of taking a government job. ^He was
0760K04 fed up with schoolwork anyway and wanted to_ start earning his own living.
0770K04 ^He left Poona and came to_ live with his father, who was then
0780K04 in Karjat. ^There, for a year or two, he tried his hand at learning
0790K04 to_ be a carpenter, but just as he was getting to_ be proficient, his
0800K04 father was transferred, and the family had to_ move again. $^The year was
0810K04 1929, and Nathuram was nineteen years old. ^This time they were going
0820K04 to Ratnagiri, a sleepy town on the west coast, so obscure that it
0830K04 was not even listed in Murray*'s exhaustive *3Guide to India.*0 ^*Ratnagiri*'s
0840K04 principal claim to a place in history was that the British
0850K04 had exiled the last ruler of Burma, King Thibaw, there. ^*Thibaw
0860K04 had died thirteen years earlier, and Ratnagiri had lapsed into what it
0870K04 had always been-- a backward place where minor government officials
0880K04 were sent to_ mark time for their pensions. $^*Nathuram had rejoiced.
0890K04 ^He had heard that Ratnagiri now housed another political prisoner, an
0900K04 Indian brought back from the penal station in the Andamans to_ serve
0910K04 out the remaining years of his sentence of fifty years*' imprisonment.
0920K04 ^Here the British had given him a bungalow and the freedom to_ move
0930K04 about within the confines of the district; he was required to_ abstain
0940K04 from all political activities, but was permitted visitors. $*3^He was*0
0950K04 Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, the man who had burst suddenly on to
0960K04 the Indian political scene and had been despatched by the British to
0970K04 the penal colony in the Andamans; scholar, historian, poet, religious
0980K04 reformer, a trained barrister, but, above all, a firebrand patriot who
0990K04 had galvanized the youth of his generation by his open advocacy of
1000K04 an armed uprising against the British. $^Within three days of his arrival
1010K04 in Ratnagiri, Nathuram went to_ see Savarkar. $^Once he had come
1020K04 under Savarkar*'s influence, Nathuram was never the same man again.
1030K04 ^The high school dropout who would have been willing to_ live out his
1040K04 days as a village carpenter was transformed into a fiery champion of
1050K04 all the causes that_ Savarkar stood for, political, social, religious;
1060K04 freedom from British rule, the inviolability of the motherland, the
1070K04 purification of the Marathi language, the abolition of the caste system,
1080K04 the emancipation of the depressed classes and, a hitherto unheard-of
1090K04 thing, the reconversion of Hindus who had been enticed into Islam
1100K04 or Christianity. $^*Nathuram venerated Savarkar as a *4guru, as
1110K04 someone who bore a touch of divinity. ^And it was his blind devotion to
1120K04 the potent preachings of the master, and his shattering disillusionment
1130K04 at the way everything in Savarkar*'s scenario had gone wrong, that_
1140K04 ultimately led Nathuram to the insane expedient of murder and self-immolation.
1150K04 $^But conversely, it is also true that, while his meeting
1160K04 with Nathuram Godse could not have made much difference to Savarkar*'s
1170K04 life at the time, nineteen years later, Nathuram*'s continuing attachment
1180K04 to him was to_ provide the excuse to the police (and possibly
1190K04 to his political enemies) for dragging him into the Gandhi murder case.
1200K04 ^The strain of the trial, and the year spent in prison while it lasted,
1210K04 wrecked Savarkar*'s health and finished him as a force in India*'s
1220K04 politics. $^*Vinayak Damodar Savarkar was born in 1883 in a small
1230K04 village near the town of Nasik; in 1910, he was shut up for life in
1240K04 the penal colony in the Andamans. ^It is difficult to_ think of anyone
1250K04 else who has crammed so much activity into the twentyseven years that_
1260K04 he had lived as a free man, or of anyone who had lived them more
1270K04 dangerously. $^He was only twelve when he organized a gang of his schoolmates
1280K04 to_ fight off the village bullies. ^At sixteen, while he was kept
1290K04 in Nasik for his higher schooling, he formed a revolutionary society
1300K04 to_ overthrow the British Raj. ^He barely made the grades at school
1310K04 but knew far more than his teacher about Indian history and the Sanskrit
1320K04 classics, and gave regular talks on these subjects at local functions.
1330K04 ^In 1901, when after passing his matriculation examination he
1340K04 left Nasik to_ join a college in Poona, the leading men of the town
1350K04 joined together to_ give him a hearty send-off. $^As a college student
1360K04 in Poona, he became 'a notable figure in political gatherings', and
1370K04 thus inevitably came under police surveillance. ^In his final year, he
1380K04 flung himself with gusto into the *4Swadeshi movement which, among
1390K04 other things, required the burning of British-made articles of clothing
1400K04 in public bonfires. ^For these activities he was rusticated from his
1410K04 college and thus became the first Indian student to_ be sent down from
1420K04 a college for political reasons. $^When, however, the time for the
1430K04 \0BA examination came, the authorities relented and let him sit for
1440K04 it. ^He managed to_ pass and immediately set out to_ try to_ bring his
1450K04 various organizations together and to_ win converts to his movement for
1460K04 an armed revolt against the Raj. ^He went from village to village,
1470K04 giving rousing talks, composed and sang patriotic ballads, and published
1480K04 a stack of pamphlets propounding his views on the problems facing the
1490K04 Indian people. ^These publications were summarily proscribed and their
1500K04 possession made an offence. $^Thus, at the age of twenty-two, Savarkar
1510K04 had made himself one of the most intrepid opponents of British rule
1520K04 in India. ^At this stage, realizing that he did not possess a broad
1530K04 enough base of knowledge for the role he had taken on, and anxious to_
1540K04 equip himself more adequately for it by a few more years of study and
1550K04 travel, he decided to leave India and go to England to_ qualify as
1560K04 a barrister. $^The Indian Government, which was on the point of arresting
1570K04 him on a charge of sedition, must have breathed a sigh of relief
1580K04 at this turn of events. ^*Savarkar could now be written off as a troublemaker.
1590K04 ^It was almost certain that England would transform him
1600K04 into a '\0wog', a Westernized Oriental Gentleman. $*<*3Brown *4sahibs*0*>
1610K04 $*3^That_*0 was the general pattern of the times. ^*Indian boys
1620K04 went to_ study at the great colleges of England, goggled at the wonders
1630K04 of the western world and were tamed by the civilizing influences
1640K04 of their environment. ^They invariably returned as brown *4sahibs. ^Many
1650K04 fell in love with English girls, and some brought back white wives.
1660K04 $^*Savarkar conformed to the pattern only by falling in love with an
1670K04 English girl, whose name was Margaret Lawrence. ^Otherwise he remained
1680K04 defiantly Indian. ^He joined Gray*'s Inn and four years later qualified
1690K04 to_ practise at the Bar. ^Throughout his time in England, he
1700K04 pressed on with his political activities at the same relentless tempo.
1710K04 ^He started what was called the Free India Society, whose weekly meetings
1720K04 were conducted quite openly.*#
        **[no. of words = 02014**]

        **[txt. k05**]
0010K05 $^*Gertrude Das was even older than Michelle. ^Married when she was just
0020K05 past thirty, she was the one who had adapted herself least to conditions
0030K05 in India. ^In all her years in the country she had never once
0040K05 worn a *4sari-- all the others, including Michelle, were unable to_ resist
0050K05 the gorgeous silks, chiffons and brocades presented by their in-laws.
0060K05 ^Many of them wore *4saris (with varying degrees of success) on special
0070K05 occasions. ^But Gertrude never. ^Now in her mid-sixties, her lean
0080K05 speckled arms, her lined skin and faded blonde hair, had all been affected
0090K05 by the harshness of the Indian sun. ^She dressed in impeccably cut
0100K05 tweed skirts or slacks, with silk shirts or twin-sets in the winter and
0110K05 scarves elegantly tied around her withered neck to_ hide the sagging
0120K05 skin. ^She never wore sandals as the others did, but always shoes and
0130K05 stockings. ^She walked very straight and upright and often little boys
0140K05 who had never seen such an apparition would run after and shout rude
0150K05 remarks. ^She never displayed the slightest reaction to these insults.
0160K05 ^Her hatred of India and all things Indian, including her husband George,
0170K05 was too deep for surface reactions. ^She would have run away long
0180K05 ago if there had been anywhere to_ run. ^There was nowhere to_ go. ^She
0190K05 must stay here in this savage and unfriendly country, till the day she
0200K05 died. ^She was a prisoner, dependent on memories, as all prisoners
0210K05 are. ^She was on terms of mutual tolerance, but hardly friendship with
0220K05 the others. ^Her whole life was based on an elaborate charade, the pretence
0230K05 that she alone existed, an explorer in a savage country. ^Her habit
0240K05 of wearing white gloves when she walked down the street, struck even
0250K05 her own people as eccentric. ^She played a game with herself. ^From
0260K05 behind her dark, tinted glasses she would stare at the children, the
0270K05 dark crowds, the people so alien still after thirty years, and imagine
0280K05 she had with her a secret weapon that_ could annihilate anyone at
0290K05 whom it was pointed. ^This weapon went with her everywhere. ^The urchins
0300K05 who danced around her yelling rudely-- bang-- they disappeared in a
0310K05 puff of smoke. ^Those young men who stared and sniggered-- the fat woman
0320K05 in the *4sari who gaped after her as she went her prim way-- one after
0330K05 the other they disappeared-- bang, bang, bang, bang. ^She smiled, her pale
0340K05 blue eyes slightly mad. $^The others were in awe of her-- they never
0350K05 referred to her as anything but \0Mrs. Das, only Michelle called
0360K05 her Gertrude. ^Sometimes they wondered if she drank in private, but they
0370K05 were too intimidated by her manner to_ refer to this in any way at
0380K05 all. ^Her connection with this group too was on her own terms. ^They
0390K05 all met in order to_ air their latest grievances, but \0Mrs. Das never
0400K05 made any complaints. ^She listened, she smiled, she said nothing. ^They
0410K05 would much rather she didn*'4t come, but no one knew how to_ stop
0420K05 her. $^*Michelle wheeled in a trolley laden with sandwiches, a luscious
0430K05 chocolate torte, cheese and bacon pastries and her own special walnut
0440K05 fudge. ^She passed around cups of steaming coffee and even those who
0450K05 were on diets, forgot and helped themselves greedily to all the goodies.
0460K05 $^Outside the verandah, the milky November morning smelt of jasmine
0470K05 and some other unidentifiable flower. ^The hills in the distance
0480K05 were fleecy with clouds. ^The yellow bougainvillaea in the porch filtered
0490K05 the light and made it soft and opalescent. ^Although all five were
0500K05 together in the same room each of them remained isolated. ^Loneliness
0510K05 is the central and most inescapable fact of all human existence. $^It
0520K05 was Sandy who broke the silence. ^She was extroverted, outspoken and
0530K05 highly intelligent. ^Her thin, angular face contrasted strangely with
0540K05 her light brown hair, curling girlishly on her shoulders. ^She wore outrageous
0550K05 clothes, necklines that_ plunged wildly, very short skirts or
0560K05 pants so tight that her bottom was sharply defined. ^She liked to_ wear
0570K05 very high heels too so that, already tall, she towered over
0580K05 everyone
0590K05 in the room. ^She had a loud, rather harsh voice. "^Listen girls-- I*'3ve
0600K05 got news. ^*Janson*'1s back. ^He got back last evening." $^Instantly
0610K05 every face turned towards her with anticipation, pleasure, even hope.
0620K05 ^*Jason Skinner had somehow come to_ mean a great deal to each one of
0630K05 them. ^He was their safety valve-- confidante, accomplice. ^His job with
0640K05 the United Nations took him on trips all over the world every few
0650K05 months or oftener, from where he brought back for them bottles of scotch,
0660K05 vodka, cherry brandy, perfume, cosmetics, cigarettes and even clothes.
0670K05 ^They just told him what it was they wanted and like a perennial
0680K05 Santa Claus, he turned up with everything. ^He was one of those unattached
0690K05 males of indeterminate age, who shed their not inconsiderable
0700K05 charm on all women, old or young. ^He genuinely liked women and he was
0710K05 also extremely good-natured. ^He liked to_ please people and it was
0720K05 by pure accident that he found himself in the special position that_ he
0730K05 occupied today, *8vis-a-vis*9 the girls. $^It was at a party, dancing
0740K05 with Jane, that he told her how much he liked the perfume she was wearing.
0750K05 ^*Jane, either by instinct or intent, led a life so full of drama
0760K05 that she seemed always to_ exist midway between one crisis and another.
0770K05 ^If anyone had worked out her bio-rhythm it would surely have shown
0780K05 only ups and downs with no plateaux between. ^She could build up the
0790K05 most innocuous situations into a full-fledged crisis. $^She looked
0800K05 at Jason with a tragic air and said, "^Oh, I*'3m so glad you like it.
0810K05 ^It*'is my last bottle. ^*I didn*'4t know I couldn*'4t get French
0820K05 perfume here. ^It*'1s one of those things one never thinks about before
0830K05 coming out to India. ^Sometimes I could cry," and real tears instantly
0840K05 sprang up to her eyes. $^*Jason said at once-- "^But I go abroad
0850K05 frequently. ^*I could bring you any little thing you want at duty-free
0860K05 prices. ^Just say the word." $^The next time he came he brought her
0870K05 a huge bottle of Rocha*'s *3femme*0, and she flung herself into his
0880K05 arms with delight while he patted her shoulder and laughed. ^Of course
0890K05 Jane boasted about it to the others and in no time at all Jason found
0900K05 himself bringing them all little imported things-- sometimes as a gift,
0910K05 sometimes allowing them to_ pay for it. ^Their gratitude was passionate.
0920K05 ^Nowhere in the world are foreign luxury goods so sought after
0930K05 as in India. ^The Government*'s policy of banning imports of luxury
0940K05 goods, resulted in an enormous smuggling trade; but smuggled goods were
0950K05 expensive and not easily available in a small town like Dehra Dun.
0960K05 ^Thanks to Jason, all five of them had unlimited supplies of perfume,
0970K05 scotch, pantyhose, French bras and lipsticks. ^He often brought them
0980K05 in addition, cheese, biscuits and chocolates. ^With each of them, even
0990K05 with Gertrude (or perhaps especially with Gertrude) he had a very special
1000K05 relationship. $^They confided in him, complained about husbands
1010K05 and relations, and sometimes, slept with him. ^He was their very special
1020K05 friend, a foreigner like themselves, with whom they were safe, at ease.
1030K05 ^He was far from good-looking. ^Bearded and rather tubby, with twinkling
1040K05 blue eyes and a deep voice, he was younger than all of them except
1050K05 perhaps Louise. ^None of them questioned his relationship with the
1060K05 others. ^They guarded their own, and were content that it did not collide
1070K05 with that_ of the others. $^Now each one sipped the fragrant coffee
1080K05 and thought about Jason with pleasure. ^*Gertrude looked forward
1090K05 to the vodka he would bring her and the chocolate and cheese, both almost
1100K05 unavailable in India. ^She thought of Jason*'s visit to her and
1110K05 how she would tell him, as she had told no one else, of the hatred she
1120K05 felt for India and all Indians. ^He was never in a hurry-- never seemed
1130K05 to_ have anything else he wanted to_ do. ^He puffed away at his pipe
1140K05 and listened and consoled her. ^He was the son she had never had and
1150K05 if he was sleeping with the other girls, she buried the thought deep
1160K05 within her, where it would never surface. ^She simply did not want to_
1170K05 think about it at all. $^The girls began to_ chat over their second
1180K05 and third cups of coffee. ^*Sandy began to_ tell them a new story about
1190K05 her mother-in-law, known universally as *4Mataji. ^Four foot ten inches
1200K05 high and seventy-three years old, Sandy*'s mother-in-law lived with
1210K05 them, or indeed they, Sandy and Dilip her husband, lived with her,
1220K05 for it was her house-- a rambling, spacious bungalow, built on colonial
1230K05 lines. ^*Dilip Singh, Sandy*'s husband and *4Mataji*'s son, was
1240K05 the *4Raja of Dilawar*'s cousin. ^Each of the seven bedrooms had its
1250K05 own dressing-room and bath. ^When Sandy arrived she had modernised
1260K05 the whole house, putting in running hot water and long baths, lowering
1270K05 the towering height of the rooms with false ceilings and using all the
1290K05 stored family furniture and carpets-- many of them priceless Kashmiri,
1300K05 Persian and Tibetan, for the rooms. ^Her mother-in-law*'s room however
1302K05 had remained untouched except for the new plumbing in the bathroom.
1310K05 ^The old lady was an ardent practitioner of *4yoga and at
1311K05 seventythree
1320K05 was supple, and agile with the quick, abrupt movements of a bird. $^*Sandy
1330K05 said, "^*I went out on the back verandah and there she was, sitting
1340K05 in the lotus posture, bending backwards and forwards and twisting about
1350K05 as though she had no bones. ^When she saw me she said, "^*Sandy come
1360K05 here. ^You said you had studied ballet. ^Now let me see you do this'.
1370K05 $"^But of course ballet doesn*'4t teach you to_ tie yourself up into
1380K05 knots and it is impossible for me to_ sit cross-legged with my knees
1390K05 down on the floor. ^*I tried and my knees stuck up in the air and she
1400K05 laughed. $"^The trouble is, you eat all the wrong foods" she said. "^All
1410K05 that_ dead meat instead of fresh fruit and vegetables and milk and
1420K05 nuts. ^Look at me". ^She tucked her sari between her legs and with the
1430K05 greatest of ease stood on her head. ^When we went down later for breakfast
1440K05 I felt positively like a cannibal eating bacon and eggs while she
1450K05 munched her nuts and raisins and sipped her glass of milk with honey.
1460K05 ^You know it*'1s a funny thing. ^*I always imagined that Indian women
1470K05 were terribly possessive about their sons but *4Mataji really doesn*'4t
1480K05 care much about Dilip, although he dotes on her. ^She has such a
1490K05 detached critical attitude towards him as though he amuses her. ^And so
1500K05 much energy. ^When I rest in the afternoon she is sitting on the verandah
1510K05 dishing out homoeopathic remedies to all the neighbouring servants,
1520K05 and when I left this morning she was busy in the garden, inspecting
1530K05 her bees. ^It is the first time I am beginning to_ get a slight
1531K05 inferiority
1540K05 complex." $^They all laughed, except Gertrude. ^They knew the
1550K05 old lady and liked, even admired her. ^She took such an interest in them,
1560K05 was always ready with a remedy for whatever ailed them and she petted
1570K05 and spoiled their children. ^As they all knew, Sandy was, in fact,
1580K05 extremely fond of her. $^*Jane groaned. "^You just don*'4t know how
1590K05 lucky you are, Sandy. ^My mother-in-law detests me and has a positive
1600K05 passion for Sunil and is so fat and frowsty that I get aileurophobia
1610K05 or whatever phobia it is when mothers-in-law enter rooms. ^She uses
1620K05 a bottle of mustard oil every day on herself and if I don*'4t watch out
1630K05 very sharply, she plasters the stuff all over the boys. ^She sits in
1640K05 the kitchen frying up things for Sunil to_ stuff himself on when he
1650K05 gets home in the evening, and he has put on weight-- thanks to her. ^She
1660K05 picks up a *4pakora or a sweet and puts it into his mouth with her
1670K05 fingers. ^It is positively incestuous.
1671K05 ^They should do a psycho-analytical study of indian mothers.*#
        **[no. of words = 02009**]

        **[txt. k06**]
0010K06 $\0^*Mr and \0Mrs Raghunath Sahai felt extremely elated when Manmohan
0020K06 Babu accepted their invitation to_ attend the birthday party of their
0030K06 eleven-year-old daughter, Durga. ^In fact, her birthday had already
0040K06 been celebrated privately six weeks ago but they decided to_ celebrate
0050K06 it once again publicly. ^How else could the Minister*'s visit be justified?
0060K06 $^The bungalow was colour-washed again though it had already
0070K06 been white-washed eight months ago. ^Never mind. ^When the Minister visits
0080K06 the house of a Joint Secretary, it is an event. ^For the sake
0090K06 of efficiency the job had to_ be done departmentally. ^The approach road
0091K06 was
0100K06 laid out in red *4murrum panelled with white cut-brick. ^Buntings and
0110K06 festoons in multicoloured papers, green-leaves and flowers decorated the
0120K06 house as also the beautiful lawn where tables were laid for the party.
0130K06 ^Electric bulbs of different colours-- blue, green, yellow, violet
0131K06 and
0140K06 red-- hung all around like huge lemon drops falling from heaven. $\0^*Mrs
0150K06 Taramati Sahai was, of course, at her ravishing best. ^Encouraged
0160K06 by her first encounter with the Minister and convinced that he was
0170K06 susceptible, she was now more bold and aggressive. ^She wore a sea green
0180K06 nylon *4sari and a thin blouse which barely covered her brassiers, and
0190K06 paraded her breasts provocatively. ^The too-transparent
0200K06 apparel revealed rather than covered her voluptuous thighs
0210K06 and buttocks and the *4pallu of her *4sari would often slip, revealing
0220K06 her neck and half-naked breasts. \0^*Mrs Sahai today seemed to_ be
0230K06 more sure of herself. ^Yes, definitely more so. $^*Durga was her only
0240K06 daughter which explains why her mother, unlike other women who waste
0250K06 themselves out in too much child-bearing, had preserved her beauty. ^She
0260K06 was in her late thirties-- dangerous years! ^But by her punctilious
0270K06 make-up and beauty culture, she looked ten years younger. ^Unquestionably,
0280K06 her charm was her greatest asset, and in turn she was the greatest
0290K06 asset for her husband. ^Her friend from Delhi, the wife of a Deputy
0300K06 Secretary in the External Affairs Ministry had once remarked that
0310K06 she would make an excellent wife for a diplomat. ^Pity her husband couldn*'4t
0320K06 be a diplomat. ^He was rotting in the \0PWD of a distant
0330K06 State, wasting his fragrance in desert air. $^*Taramati however, was
0340K06 a practical woman. ^She realized that from \0PWD to the External Affairs
0350K06 Ministry would be a hopeless dream. ^Why cry for the moon? ^And
0360K06 therefore she had set a limited goal before her-- that her husband should
0370K06 be promoted as a Secretary, a key post in the government, controlling
0380K06 huge funds, which had swollen to enormous proportions on account
0390K06 of the Five Year Plans. $^*Taramati had chosen her guests well. ^She
0400K06 hurriedly looked at the list-- a dozen road and building contractors
0410K06 with their wives, the Chief Engineer of the \0PWD and, of course,
0420K06 the Secretary, Lala Kirpa Ram, an elderly person in his typical Punjabi
0430K06 turban and loose pyjamas and his old-fashioned wife who felt uncomfortable
0440K06 in the midst of these well-groomed, pretty ladies. ^Let them
0450K06 see how close and intimate were her relations with the Minister. ^It
0460K06 was ultimately the Secretary*'s chair which she expected her husband
0470K06 to_ occupy. ^There were a few other officers also, including a Deputy Secretary
0480K06 of the General Administration Department. ^He was important
0490K06 because he handled inter-departmental service files before they went
0500K06 to the Chief Secretary and the Chief Minister. $^*Hatim Bhai,
0510K06 the top contractor, was of course there-- a short, lean man with an ochre-coloured
0520K06 beard, who wore his black skull-cap to_ match his coat of black
0530K06 alpaca. ^His dark teeth betrayed the habit of constant chewing of
0540K06 betel and tobacco. ^He dressed simply, careful not to_ show off his riches,
0550K06 thought Taramati. ^He could pass for an owner of a cycle repairing
0560K06 shop. ^But those who knew him well were not deceived. ^The enormous
0570K06 influence he wielded with government, both alien and Indian, was obvious
0580K06 from the major contracts his firm had bagged-- the massive High
0590K06 Court building with its spectacular dome reminiscent of Moghul architecture,
0600K06 the huge Medical College and Hospital, one of the biggest
0610K06 in Asia, the twenty-four span road bridge across the turbulent Ramganga,
0620K06 and the two-mile rail-road tunnel through the rugged mountain ranges.
0630K06 ^A shrewd businessman, he was quick to_ recognize the nexus of power
0640K06 and got on its right side earlier than anyone else. ^He was particularly
0650K06 friendly with Girdhari, the nephew of the Chief Minister, whom
0660K06 he called "*4bhai". ^In fact, Girdhari wouldn*'4t trust his new double-storied
0670K06 house to anyone except Hatim Bhai, and it was a tribute
0680K06 to the genius of the contractor that he got it so cheap. ^Of course,
0690K06 Hatim Bhai had submitted a formal bill, but whenever Girdhari made
0700K06 a show of paying, he would strongly protest: $"^No *4bhai, there*'1s no
0710K06 hurry about the payment. after all you are my brother." $^*Hatim Bhai
0720K06 was a must at all government parties. ^*Raghunath Sahai and his intelligent,
0730K06 ambitious wife realized that he was almost a "king-pin" in
0740K06 all their plans and projects, personal or otherwise. $"^Our women-folk
0750K06 do not come out to such parties", he said to the Minister apologetically
0760K06 when he was introduced. "^They observe *4purdah... backward people,"
0770K06 he added with a flattering smile which revealed the gap between his
0780K06 two upper front teeth. ^But his uncouth appearance made no difference to
0790K06 his socializing and in fact the Minister was surprised to_ see that a
0800K06 group of four or five smart ladies who had surrounded him were engaged
0810K06 with him in animated conversation. $\0^*Mrs Sahai introduced the ladies
0820K06 to Manmohan Babu, one by one. ^One of them, she said, was a Social
0830K06 Welfare Officer in the women*'s branch, another a captain in the
0840K06 National Cadet Corps for girls, another a hostess at the local posh
0850K06 Princess Hotel. ^All these were attractive and vivacious young ladies,
0860K06 but the one who stuck in the memory of the Minister was \0Miss
0870K06 Sheila Patterson, an Anglo-Indian beauty who was introduced to him
0880K06 as "Durga*'s English teacher." ^The Minister kept looking at her luscious,
0890K06 smiling lips and the soft blue eyes which were so ravishing. ^Why,
0900K06 he thought, the girl could well pass for a screen star. $^*Durga,
0910K06 who was the excuse for this party and was supposed to_ be its star attraction,
0920K06 was a plain-looking girl, rather plump, and seemed more so
0930K06 in her tight-fitting frock. ^But, of course, her mother had tried to_
0940K06 compensate her lack of charm with cleverly applied make-up. ^She was born
0950K06 when the British rulers were firmly in the saddle and nobody
0951K06 imagined
0960K06 that they would quit. ^She was therefore christened "Dolly" and sent
0970K06 to a convent for an excellent grounding in the English language and
0980K06 manners, which were an asset under the alien rule. ^But with the transfer
0990K06 of power, the whole atmosphere changed. ^*Taramati changed her daughter*'s
1000K06 name to the typical, orthodox Indian name "Durga," a Hindu
1010K06 goddess of power and valour, which seemed quite suited to her tomboyish
1011K06 appearance. $^*Durga was introduced to the Minister
1020K06 by her mother in the same ceremonious manner as a courtier is presented
1030K06 to the king. $"^Hearty congratulations on your birthday," said the
1040K06 Minister, all smiles. $"^Thank you very much, sir," she said curtsying
1050K06 a little, as she had been taught in the green room. $"^What present
1060K06 would you like to_ have?" the \0VIP asked, suddenly remembering etiquette.
1070K06 $"^Nothing, sir. ^*I just want your blessings." $"^Very smart
1080K06 girl," said Manmohan Babu, turning to her mother. ^Very well brought-up.
1090K06 ^He noticed that she spoke English with a perfect accent, better
1100K06 than his own. $"^Studying in a convent?" $"^Yes, sir. ^Wonderful you
1110K06 guessed so right, sir," said Taramati with her scintillating smile.
1111K06 "^Isn*'4t
1120K06 it remarkable, dear, that the Minister Sahib could recognize where
1130K06 Dolly gets her education. ^What an intelligent guess..." she said
1140K06 to her husband, though the remark was made for the dignitary. $^Everybody
1150K06 around nodded in admiration. $^Of course, the party went off splendidly,
1160K06 and everyone flattered the Minister and made much of him, as
1170K06 if it were his birthday. ^Poor Durga with her two school companions was
1180K06 eating her birthday cake in an obscure corner, forgotten by guests
1190K06 and parents alike. $^*Manmohan Babu felt on top of the world, enormously
1200K06 pleased with his own importance. ^Yes, it was terribly exciting to_
1210K06 be a Minister in Government, and he was enjoying it thoroughly. $^When
1220K06 the guests had departed, \0Miss sheila Patterson lingered a little
1230K06 and was seen in a secretive, intimate conversation with \0Mrs Sahai.
1240K06 ^She spoke more with suggestive gestures and smiles than with words.
1250K06 ^Their warm handshake with a meaningful smile indicated that they had
1260K06 reached a perfect understanding. $^The quiet and even tenor of Dhananjay*'s
1270K06 life went through a radical change as a result of the merger.
1280K06 ^He floated a new company and issued shares for sale. ^He had to_ tour extensively
1290K06 in the State, collecting capital. ^The influence of Chief
1300K06 Minister Joshi was, of course, completely behind him, but the actual
1310K06 contacting, canvassing and collection of money had to_ be done by him.
1320K06 ^He travelled widely-- by bullock carts to_ reach distant villages,
1330K06 by bus, rail-road and sometimes by air also. ^His tact and energy were
1340K06 as much responsible for the success of his mission as the Chief Minister*'s
1350K06 influence. ^The ruling princes, whose small principalities were
1360K06 merged into the State contributed to the share capital willingly
1370K06 in the hope that this would induce the Chief Minister to_ be generous
1380K06 in the settlement of their personal financial claims and privy purses.
1390K06 ^The Chief Minister enjoyed the full backing of the Central Government
1400K06 and had enormous discretion. ^His frown or smile could make a
1410K06 difference of hundreds of thousands of *4rupees. ^They knew that he was
1420K06 directly interested in the *3Yug Samachar*0 Company. ^The *4Raja of
1430K06 Nanpur, the *4Nawab of Hakimganj, the *4Rani of Ramnagar, all came
1440K06 in one by one. ^But the largest single block of stocks was purchased
1450K06 by the *4Maharaja of Jagpura, the biggest State in the area, who had
1460K06 the largest amount of stakes in the merger. ^He had three legal wives--
1470K06 and some others not quite so legal-- and he had to_ support a large
1480K06 progeny and a big retinue. ^He purchased shares worth \0Rs 100,000 and
1490K06 advanced another loan of \0Rs 50,000 on a promissory note. $"^How shall
1500K06 the Company repay the loan?" ^*Dhananjay asked Pandit Joshi. "^It
1510K06 will take some years before the Company starts making profit." $"^Don*'4t
1520K06 worry, we will get it converted into shares at a suitable
1521K06 opportunity.
1530K06 ^The *4Maharaja wants to_ feel that he is parting with one *4lakh
1540K06 only, and the rest would come back to him. ^But it won*'4t. ^He has
1550K06 lots of things pending with government." $^The *4Maharaja wasn*'4t as
1560K06 simple as he looked. ^A seasoned old man of 70, a renowned big game hunter
1570K06 in excellent health, he had handled successfully many an English
1580K06 officer-- and his wife-- of the political department. ^He knew that he
1590K06 would get back the fifty thousand advanced as loan, but he wanted to_
1600K06 use it as a lever to_ get things done at government level. ^Perhaps that_
1610K06 fellow of an editor would prove handy as middleman, he thought shrewdly.
1620K06 ^He understood the Chief Minister quite well. ^But the Chief
1630K06 Minister also understood his tactics fully. ^Each thought himself to_
1640K06 be cleverer than the other. ^Under the cloak of sweet courtesies, they played
1650K06 a hard and ruthless bargaining game. $^*Dhananjay worked hard. ^After
1660K06 he sold sufficient stocks, he formed a board of directors of the Company
1670K06 with a former High Court Judge as its Chairman. ^A new two-storeyed
1680K06 building came into existence, linotypes and flat bed machines
1690K06 were installed, staff was appointed and a thousand and one odd jobs
1700K06 had to_ be handled before the whole thing got going. $^*Dhananjay worked
1710K06 almost round the clock to_ push things hard so that they could launch
1720K06 the project publicly on the next anniversary of independence. ^He
1730K06 slept barely three hours at night. ^He couldn*'4t keep to regular timings
1740K06 for his meals. ^He often got his lunch packed from home and ate it at
1750K06 the office. ^He would stand in the sun supervising the construction
1760K06 of the factory, watch the erection of machines, go to the market to_ make
1770K06 purchases, arrange for cement permits \0etc.*#
        **[no. of words = 02025**]

        **[txt. k07**]
0010K07 $*4^*Swami Yogananda*'s 'hundredth' birthday started with an inauspicious
0020K07 prelude in the early hours of the morning. ^As he lay asleep, he was
0030K07 in the act of making love. ^That_ act possessed him. ^Awakening in sweat
0040K07 and shame he sat up in bed a long while, then staggered off to the
0050K07 bathroom. ^The splash of a cold shower. ^He filled the tub and lay down,
0060K07 brooding. $^This was a recurrence after many months-- six, perhaps
0070K07 more. ^He had come to the belief that he was at last rid of the fantasy.
0080K07 ^That_ cozy belief was gone in a minute. $^Always it had been the same
0090K07 creation of fantasy: faceless, without an image, and yet recognizable.
0100K07 ^The touch of her had become all-too-familiar, filling his mind as much
0110K07 as his senses even in his twilight state of awareness... ^Later, he
0120K07 would be tempted to_ relive those moments with hate-love, while fighting
0130K07 to_ keep them away. $^That_ was the measure of his chastity! ^But
0140K07 he had no pretensions whatever. ^The process of sublimation had its own
0150K07 rules, he would point out to himself. ^His submerged mind could not
0160K07 be controlled, nature*'s compulsions could not be denied. ^He did not
0170K07 even know what to_ control. ^Had a fantasy of this kind any relevance
0180K07 in actuality? ^Not in this instance anyhow, he was certain. $^What was
0190K07 it like with others? ^If he had a living *4guru, he could have found
0200K07 out. ^But *4Swami Vivekananda was only a biography! $^He could feel
0210K07 consoled that of late the experience had become infrequent and it could
0220K07 well be that he was not far from release. $^Half an hour later, hairbrush
0230K07 in hand, he flung his question to his strained face in the mirror:
0240K07 *3^How old are you today? Eighty?... Ninety?.... Hundred?*0 ^And the
0250K07 answer oscillated between the myth and the real. $^The real? $^You could
0260K07 not flout Nature*'s laws: or alter that_ mirror image proclaiming
0270K07 your youth. ^Even so, couldn*'4t you with your hard-won self-discipline
0280K07 transcend youth? ^Couldn*'4t you, passing in one overlong stride to
0290K07 your hundredth year make the myth truer than the true? $*3^Couldn*'4t you?*0
0300K07 $^Later, a phone call answered. ^*Yogananda went back to his grass
0310K07 mat on the lanai floor. ^His first opportunity in this alien city to_
0320K07 be on his own from dawn to sunset. ^No visitors. ^No visitors. ^No
0321K07 summons to a lunch
0330K07 where he must speak words of wisdom. ^The telephone would not ring
0340K07 again, the receiver kept apart from its stand. ^He was skipping the morning
0350K07 meal provided by room service, and the noon meal also. ^A rare chance
0360K07 to_ make this his day of fast and of uninterrupted *4dhyana. ^Fast
0370K07 days, woven into the fabric of his life, were out of place here, hard
0380K07 to_ fit into the set schedules, all his time and energy tied to a
0390K07 purpose. ^And the purpose turned into a programme under Stella*'s firm
0400K07 guidance. ^*Stella had her roots deep in the Western value system;
0410K07 one or two of the roots had loosened in the undersoil, but the others
0420K07 held tight. $^Seated in *4padmasana, the lotus position, legs crossed
0430K07 with feet rested on the thighs, straight-backed and eyes closed, he passed
0440K07 into *4dhyana, a sinking into the depths of inner consciousness
0450K07 attained with the aid of controlled breath. ^In that_ state of bliss,
0460K07 you set sail as it were on a crystalline stream, gazing down at the sand
0470K07 bed while you listened to the enchanted words: *[11aham Brahma asmi!*]
0480K07 ^In that_ state, time stopped and hours went by like moments.
0481K07 $^He
0490K07 could not say what length of time had passed when a knock on the outer
0500K07 door stirred him out of his trance. ^He gave no heed at first. ^The
0510K07 knocking went on. ^He had to_ walk over and see. $^A Filipino bellhop,
0520K07 whose quick glance darted to the telephone. ^With a muted exclamation
0530K07 he strode across the room, replaced the receiver where it belonged.
0540K07 '^Operator got worried. ^Calls, more calls for nineteen-zero-eight. ^Busy
0550K07 signal all the time.' ^He raised a pointing finger. '^That_*'1s why?'
0560K07 $'^That_*'is why.' *4^*Swami Yogananda agreed. $^The bellhop seemed
0570K07 to_ understand. ^He nodded to himself. '^Operator can keep your line busy,
0580K07 sir. ^You ask her. ^You *5Hare Krishna*6 Hindus don*'4t like a
0590K07 telephone-- right?' $'*5^*Hare Krishna?*6' $'^*I see a bunch of them outside
0600K07 the Market, down Kalakaua. ^Singing, dancing, through a half-day.
0610K07 five men, three women, all young, all *7haolee.' $'*7^Haolee?' $'^You
0620K07 don*'4t know that_ word, sir? *7^Haolee-- Hawaiian for American.
0621K07 ^Three
0630K07 American girls in Hindu dress. ^Five American guys, heads clean; only
0640K07 a thick tuft at the back of the head.' $*4^*Swami Yogananda knew
0641K07 about
0650K07 the *5Hare Krishna*6 movement. ^He had met its founder, *4Swami
0660K07 Bhaktivedanta, who lived abroad and travelled all over the world, returning
0670K07 to India once in a while. ^Aged, thickset, strings of large beads
0680K07 around his throat. ^A simplistic person, unlike the sophisticated
0690K07 Maharishi, and almost as renowned. ^Strange, how he had come to America
0700K07 and established his power over the alien youth. ^Groups of the devotees
0710K07 appeared at street corners in many cities and chanted together in
0720K07 rapt ecstasy, arms up-flung with hand cymbals clanging, bodies swaying
0730K07 in rhythmic abandon: $*5^*Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna,
0740K07 Hare Hare,*6 $*5^*Hare Rama, Hare Rama Rama, Hare Hare!*6
0750K07 $^'people stop, look, take pictures. ^Some want to_ know about *5Hare
0760K07 Krishna*6, so they try to_ date the girls.' $'^And the girls...?'
0770K07 $^The bellman grew morose and his head shook under the peaked red-and-blue
0780K07 cap. '^Those girls date God only! ^Yes, sir, I tried!' $^When
0790K07 the door had closed behind the attendant, *4Swami Yogananda returned
0800K07 to his grassmat and wanted to_ sink back into tranquillity. ^But
0810K07 the experience grew elusive. ^Boulders were churning up the stream, and
0820K07 the surface was thick with froth. ^Unhappy, he gave up the effort, rose
0830K07 to his feet, and bent again over the lanai rail, gazing down at the
0840K07 beach. ^The sands of Waikiki were thick with countless figures in
0841K07 repose,
0850K07 lustrous with hard sun. $^He felt a curious urge for close exposure
0860K07 to all that_ physicality. ^How would he react? ^He had to_ know.
0870K07 $^Deliverance was never the reward of an escapist. ^It had to_ be won under
0880K07 the stressful impact of actualities on the scene of life. ^Even if
0890K07 he was hardly midway in his self-preparation.... ^Now that the severance
0900K07 from *4Sadhana, however brief, was an accomplished fact, the challenge
0910K07 of change had to_ be met. ^Otherwise this American journey would
0920K07 be futile. $^He could not let that_ happen. $^Feet thrust into his
0930K07 slippers, he left the room and emerged a few minutes later from the
0940K07 hotel*'s rear entrance onto the beach. ^When he had picked his way between
0950K07 the sunbathers to the water*'s edge, an advancing wave swirled momentarily
0960K07 to his feet and raced back fast. ^He waited for its return.
0970K07 ^The wave came, splashing frothily. ^He took a palmful of the water and
0980K07 spilled it over his head while he spoke under his breath a *4Vedic
0990K07 prayer to *4Varuna; even though there was no *4Varuna-- the sea-god, a
1000K07 poet*'s fancy, was reckoned as one among the hundred thousand aspects
1010K07 of the Absolute Reality. $^Eyes lost on the steel rim of the ocean*'s
1020K07 end at the curving horizon, he stood still for some minutes,
1030K07 then turned round and began picking his way back until he reached
1040K07 a foot-high stone ridge across the sand. ^This was more inviting than
1050K07 the cement benches farther away. ^Dropping down on the ridge he discarded
1060K07 his wet slippers, dug with his bare heels till the sand covered
1070K07 his feet up to the ankles. ^Now he was ready to_ look around. $^This
1080K07 was the right moment, the right mood, to_ turn from the ocean and bring
1090K07 the human scene into his uninhibited vision. ^His eyes did not have
1100K07 to_ move far. ^They stopped barely ten paces ahead, transfixed. $^The young
1110K07 woman in her scanty apparel was busy smearing herself with oil or
1120K07 cream from a tube, her breasts exposed in their lush loveliness. $*4^*Swami
1130K07 Yogananda gazed, enchanted. ^For the first time in his life he
1140K07 saw a woman in the full beauty of bareness. ^His eyes moved over the
1141K07 smooth flow of grace-- the
1150K07 flat stretch of belly ending in a slight rise, the sharp slope to the
1160K07 hips, the long smooth legs. ^Presently she turned over as if to_ reveal
1170K07 more of herself; the sun-bronzed back slightly marred with red peeling
1180K07 skin; the well-rounded bottom. $^The shock of pleasure that_ went through
1190K07 him was partly surprise. $^A quarter-hour was gone. ^The impact
1200K07 was gone. ^Serenity filled him. ^His thoughts were lucid. ^It was time
1210K07 to_ ask himself a pressing question. ^This experience amounted to--
1211K07 what?
1220K07 $^One answer was clear. ^All through the experience he had felt no
1230K07 ache of desire, no wish for possession. ^He might as well have been gazing
1240K07 at a painted canvas. $^From the height of Plaza-Waikiki*'s nineteenth
1250K07 floor he had cast his eyes over the sands and seen one enormous
1260K07 canvas overlaid with numerous works of brush-and-paint, each somewhat
1270K07 like the others but not quite. ^And that_ beach, he knew, was a true microcosm
1280K07 of this island city with its heavy stress on the body*'s bareness,
1290K07 evident on the streets and even in the university. $^How to_ account,
1300K07 then, for the night*'s happening? ^His experiment with himself on
1310K07 the beach sands had brought an answer that_ was no answer! ^Could it
1320K07 be that something other than the mere physical activated his sense-involvement?
1330K07 ^He did not know. ^He had no way of knowing. $^All through this
1340K07 fortnight Devjani was often in his thoughts. ^Why did she have to_
1350K07 leave Hawaii? he brooded. ^If only she would return! ^Why should she?
1360K07 $^During the long flight from India he had been taut with the joyous
1370K07 expectation of seeing her again. ^He would give her what she had asked
1380K07 for-- initiation. ^What stupidity to_ have turned her down! ^The unique
1390K07 opportunity to_ make amends. ^But it was too late. ^*Devjani
1391K07 would
1400K07 see no reason to_ return from Harvard. $^Yogananda withdrew from his
1410K07 unhappy musings. ^He closed his eyes and controlled his breath, freezing
1420K07 into the solace of *4dhyana. ^Hours passed before he opened his eyes.
1430K07 ^The sun was stooping over the skyline. ^The sunbathing woman was gone,
1440K07 replaced by a fat man with an enormous paunch. ^*Waikiki Beach was
1450K07 almost deserted. ^Mats, clothes were still scattered about; many of
1460K07 the sunbathers were apparently in the water for their last dip of the
1470K07 day. $^Time to_ get ready for the evening. ^His 'hundredth' birthday!
1480K07 ^How had Vincent Swift reacted to what he was told on the phone?
1490K07 ^He might have checked with Stella. ^Easy to_ imagine Stella affirm
1500K07 with a qualifying addition, 'Metaphorically speaking'. $^That_ was Stella*'s
1510K07 way. ^To_ mix up facts with metaphors. ^Strange contradiction
1511K07 in such a competent person.
1520K07 ^Her delusion, since his lecture at Kennedy, that she had discovered
1530K07 a second Maharishi! ^She was excited about the roused interest
1540K07 of her socialite friend, Jennifer. ^The tall woman stooping to_ touch
1550K07 the *4guru*'s feet in salutation; an awkward gesture for any American
1560K07 and much more so for a woman of Jennifer*'s height: '^Please don*'4t.
1570K07 ^This is the way I prefer'-- ^He had brought his folded hands together
1580K07 to his chest saying *4namaskar. ^She had copied the gesture, repeated
1590K07 the word. ^In the course of her two months in India she had not
1600K07 known that_ all-too-common word of greeting. ^Like most foreign tourists
1610K07 she had seen temples and caves and products of handicraft but not men
1620K07 and women, not Indians anyway! $^How account for her interest in his
1630K07 visit? ^For that_ matter, how explain Stella*'s interest? ^It could
1640K07 be that both were motivated by the current lostness in American life,
1650K07 acutely felt but hardly comprehended. ^Yellow-robed men from the
1651K07 East
1660K07 held out the bright promise of inner adjustment and peace; a promise
1670K07 that_ dramatized their appearance on the Western scene as an advent.
1680K07 $^He had no such capacity, Yogananda knew. ^He did not have the
1681K07 simplistic beliefs of *4Bhaktivedanta; or the
1690K07 splendid audacity of Maharishi.*#
1700K07 **[no. of words = 02000**]

        **[txt. k08**]
0010K08 ^All through the first year, Chandran had made no fuss. ^He was new here,
0020K08 and a rank 'junior' was unlikely to_ find support from the older
0030K08 boys, least of all when the effort was to_ establish a new precedent.
0040K08 ^If such a thing was called for at all, and there was still no majority
0050K08 opinion on this, the seniors would not have relished the leadership of
0060K08 a newcomer. ^Their own prestige would have been at stake then. ^With
0070K08 a total understanding of human nature Chandran acquiesced. ^Nothing would
0080K08 be gained by premature action. $^He struck when the time was right,
0090K08 which was during the latter half of his second year in the hostel.
0100K08 ^And the manner in which he organised and directed the attack, as well
0110K08 as the diplomacy with which he handled the post-victory phase demonstrated
0120K08 that Chandran was a natural leader. ^This was only a minor side
0130K08 issue, but it paved the way for his career in the college union and explained
0140K08 his rapid rise to power. $^The person cast against him in this drama
0150K08 was Krishnan Nair, the canteen manager who ran the business independently
0160K08 on a contract basis. ^He was there even now, standing behind
0170K08 a counter of wood and glass, smiling a little uncertainly, his eyes
0180K08 narrowed and roving idly over the hostel quadrangle which lay in bright
0190K08 sunlight in glaring contrast to the late afternoon haze of the deserted
0200K08 dining hall. ^He knew that the warden would not come this side
0210K08 at this time of the day, but there could be some stray tutor who might
0220K08 be rash enough to_ have an exaggerated idea of his own authority and
0230K08 an ill-advised desire to_ prove it. ^Not that Krishnan Nair could foresee
0240K08 any great trouble for himself. ^Perhaps nothing more than a moment
0250K08 of embarrassment, even if he did not choose to_ withdraw from the scene
0260K08 at the approach of danger. ^If he felt apprehensive about anyone,
0270K08 it could only be about the hapless tutor. ^The boys had a 'thing' about
0280K08 tutors, invariably youngsters promoted to a position of authority
0290K08 after the final year and undergoing apprenticeship under professors. $^*Krishnan
0300K08 Nair personally did not feel in the least vulnerable. ^After
0310K08 nearly twenty years, he considered himself a permanent fixture at
0320K08 the hostel. ^And he was proud of it. ^He had seen boys come and go,
0330K08 even as he had seen wardens come and go. ^Some of his old customers were
0340K08 now out in the wide world and held high positions in Government
0350K08 and commercial firms. ^A former student who was an ambassador in a distant
0360K08 country still sent him new year cards. ^In a reminiscent mood Krishnan
0370K08 Nair would bring them out and show them to the present crop
0380K08 of boys. ^It was again through similar contacts that he had obtained
0390K08 jobs for two of his sons and a nephew... ^No, he was not on the 'staff'
0400K08 but his position in the institution was unassailable. ^Even Father
0410K08 Joshe, on those rare occasions when he visited the hostel, always stopped
0420K08 by to_ exchange a word with him, or enquire about him from one of
0421K08 the server boys if Krishnan Nair was not at his post. ^Both of
0430K08 them, at different levels, felt the same way about the college-- an
0440K08 integral part of the institution and proud of its great traditions. $^*Krishnan
0450K08 Nair did not particularly care for Chandran, though one would
0460K08 not have noticed it in his manner or speech. ^Outwardly he treated
0470K08 all the boys equally. ^He listened with patience to their complaints
0480K08 about food, reprimaned a server boy if he showed signs of inefficiency
0490K08 or impertinence, kept the place in reasonably good order and was secretly
0500K08 proud of the condition of the furniture and crockery. ^He had
0510K08 obtained special permission to_ put the counter, behind which he stood
0520K08 now; the glass front displayed an assortment of things inside: toiletry,
0530K08 stationery, envelopes and postage stamps, shirt buttons, shoe laces
0540K08 and tins of boot-polish, steel keychains and razor blades and various
0550K08 other items which the boys needed from time to time and considered
0560K08 too much trouble to_ buy at the *4bazzar. ^He maintained, with a self-satisfied
0570K08 smile, that his prices were more than reasonable as he got his
0580K08 goods from the wholesalers. ^He sold cigarettes, too, but these were
0590K08 stored away from sight in a bottom drawer to which only Krishnan Nair
0600K08 had the key. $^He would have liked cash dealings, particularly with
0610K08 some of the boys, but the greater part of his business was made on
0620K08 a credit basis. ^He ran no great risk in this, because the college collected
0630K08 a security deposit from each student at the time of enrolment,
0640K08 meant to_ cover breakage of furniture, laboratory equipment, loss of
0650K08 library books and so on; but after Krishnan Nair had had a few distressing
0660K08 experiences with some deliberate defaulters among the boys, the
0670K08 college authorities had kindly raised the deposit and checked whether
0680K08 each outgoing student had cleared his canteen dues before returning
0690K08 the amount. $^*Chandran was one of the boys, Krishnan Nair would have
0700K08 predicted with a by-now infallible judgment, who was destined to_ forfeit
0710K08 a large part of the deposit. ^Not that he was dishonest or wilfully
0720K08 negligent. ^It was also apparent that he was from a well-to-do land-owning
0730K08 family from whom sizable money orders arrived with punctuality
0740K08 at the beginning of the month. ^*Krishnan Nair suspected that the
0750K08 boy liked to_ break things-- rules as well as property **[sic**]
0751K08 whether it belonged
0760K08 to him or not. ^*Chandran never grudged payment. ^It was as though
0770K08 he just could not be bothered with such trivial matters. ^He was a free
0780K08 spender, generous when he was in a good mood, and it earned for him
0790K08 the awe and devotion of the poorer students as well as habitual scroungers.
0800K08 ^It was rarely that he was seen without hangers-on. ^*Chandran
0810K08 never demeaned himself by stealing, or perhaps he was too careful about
0820K08 his reputation. ^The glass flask in his room in which he kept drinking
0830K08 water or the beakers he used when serving his friends, all belonged
0840K08 to the college laboratory but were not 'flicked' by him. ^They were
0850K08 all presents from fawning admirers. ^He used them, though he felt a
0860K08 secret contempt for those delinquents. ^It was utterly adolescent, the
0870K08 way some boys stole chemicals and other usless things purely on a dare.
0880K08 ^*Krishnan Nair also was wary of kleptomaniacs. ^But there was no
0890K08 way of reaching his goods without his knowledge, except by breaking the
0900K08 glass front of the counter. ^They had done it only once-- and it was
0910K08 mania of a different kind. ^It was a riot. $^At that_ time, though Chandran
0920K08 had been in the hostel for more than a year, Krishnan Nair
0930K08 did not know him very well. ^The boy did not look any different from
0940K08 others and he was courteous and well-mannered, and a good customer. ^There
0950K08 was a little aloofness about him; Krishnan Nair had, wrongly as
0960K08 he discovered later, taken it to_ be the natural shyness of the newcomer.
0970K08 ^It was nothing of the kind. ^It was more the instinctive feeling
0980K08 of alienation of the leader from the common fold. ^His followers did
0990K08 not notice it, but many of his detractors considered it arroFance, though
1000K08 not one of them, after the first few months, would have bothered
1010K08 to_ raise the issue with him. $^One day, without any preliminaries, Chandran
1020K08 had lighted a cigarette in the dining hall after finishing lunch.
1030K08 ^It created a stir, surprise and amusement among the students present,
1040K08 and annoyance in Krishnan Nair. ^He went up to Chandran without
1050K08 much fanfare and told him to_ put out the cigarette. ^When Chandran
1060K08 ignored him, he quoted the hostel rule, at which he was asked to_ mind
1070K08 his own business. ^*Krishnan Nair did not fancy getting into a scuffle.
1080K08 ^He could have, if it came to that_, handled Chandran alone but
1090K08 not a crowd of boys. ^He announced loudly that he would not any longeer
1100K08 sell cigarettes to Chandran. $'^*I shall settle this without any intervention
1110K08 from the warden,' he said to those nearby. ^What was at stake
1120K08 was his own dignity and prestige. ^He would not put up with any nonsense
1130K08 from any of the boys. ^Right was on his side. ^He did not have the
1140K08 least doubt about his own victory. $^Nothing spectacular happened in
1141K08 the
1150K08 next two days. ^But no student came to_ buy anything at the counter, and
1160K08 on the third day Krishnan Nair was a little worried and nervous.
1170K08 ^His dealings were now confined to a few of the really bad credit customers,
1180K08 and even they seemed to_ be in a great hurry to_ make their purchases
1190K08 and disappear at the earliest opportunity. ^The fourth day, it seemed,
1200K08 things returned almost to normal, but later there was trouble
1210K08 in the hostel. ^Four of the boys who had bought things from him found
1220K08 their rooms in a shambles and most of their possessions strewn in the
1230K08 corridor when they returned from their classes. ^Without bringing in
1240K08 Krishnan Nair or the origin of the controversy, the matter was taken
1250K08 up with the warden. ^*Chandran, however, had a cast-iron alibi: he was
1260K08 having some personal doubts relating to his studies cleared by a professor
1270K08 at the time that the incident had taken place. $^Business slumped
1280K08 again. $^It was not so much the loss of business as the indignity of
1290K08 it that_ worried Krishnan Nair. ^In the long run, he knew he would win;
1300K08 the boys would find it impossible to_ boycott him. ^He could ignore
1310K08 the sniggers and provocative remarks that_ he overheard during meal times.
1320K08 ^What really irked him was the elaborate courtesy, the tongue-in-cheek
1330K08 politeness that_ Chandran and his immediate friends showed him.
1340K08 ^They alone came to the counter and made lengthy enquiries about the
1350K08 price and quality of various things. ^They never bought anything; they
1360K08 handled the goods with great care, almost reverence, and returned everything
1370K08 to him intact. ^Then they would walk away, apparently unaware
1380K08 of the laughter and hootings that_ came from other students sitting
1390K08 at the tables and watching the proceedings. $^At the end of ten days,
1400K08 Krishnan Nair announced a drastic cut in prices. ^It was madness,
1410K08 he knew... but things were going too far for his comfort. ^The warden
1420K08 was aware of what was going on but he refused to_ interfere in the absence
1430K08 of any specific complaints or untoward incididents. ^When Krishnan
1440K08 Nair himself had met him, he did not bring up the subject, and he
1450K08 noted the amused smile on the warden*'s face, and as a matter of personal
1460K08 pride, hinted that if things were left to his own discretion, he
1470K08 would bring matters back to normal in no time. $^He publicised the price
1480K08 cuts. ^He got pieces of white cardboard and displayed the new rates
1490K08 in bold letters written in black and at some places underlined in red.
1500K08 ^He was not displeased with the effect on the students. ^There was
1510K08 apparently a clear division of loyalties and open signs that the boycott
1520K08 would end. ^The stocks were finished in no time. ^If Chandran himself
1530K08 noticed the rush at the counter, he gave no indication whatever. ^The
1540K08 familiar, self-satisfied smile came back to Krishnan Nair*'s face;
1550K08 it lasted exactly two days. $^Trouble-- real trouble-- started early one
1560K08 morning. ^*Krishnan Nair, thinking the cold war was at an end, had removed
1570K08 the price reduction card and had gone back to the old rates. ^*Mathew
1580K08 sidled up to the counter as soon as it opened and gingerly picked
1590K08 up three family-size tubes of toothpaste; a friend of his asked for
1600K08 six packets of razor blades. ^Then two more boys came and after a
1610K08 quick survey selected three jars of hair-cream and four toothbrushes of
1620K08 very fine quality. ^*Krishnan Nair was considerably surprised, but
1630K08 felt this might be one of his good days. ^The items were packed, and idly
1640K08 he noticed that there was a small crowd gathering at the counter. ^He
1650K08 was just entering these purchases in his account book when Mathew
1660K08 announced to a bystander that with prices so reasonable now, he was really
1670K08 stocking up for the rest of the year.*#
        **[no. of words = 02026**]

        **[txt. k09**]
0010K09 $^While many things had changed after independence, one of the institutions
0020K09 that_ did not change was the office of the district collector. ^The
0030K09 'collector' started his life in the days of the East India
0031K09 Company
0040K09 as a collector of revenue. ^Understandably, it was considered the most
0050K09 important function and he was given every support in the form of the
0060K09 police, the judiciary, and even the army. ^But as time went on, his
0070K09 functions expanded. ^In the heyday of the British Raj he was the representative
0080K09 of the viceroy and the first citizen of the district. ^He
0090K09 was looked up to by others, Indian as well as British businessmen and
0100K09 officials. ^In independent India, he was in charge of law and order,
0110K09 development projects, and various other odds and ends in addition to
0120K09 the collection of land revenue. ^Apart from all these duties, he was
0130K09 the president of the prohibition committee, the Red Cross, the district
0140K09 development council, the prisonrs*' aid society, the international
0150K09 service league, the boy scouts association, and a lot of similar organisations
0160K09 including the \0S.S.S. ^This was supposed to_ ensure that these
0170K09 organisations functioned efficiently and to_ bring about cooperation
0180K09 among all of them. ^But all it succeeded in doing was to_ ensure the
0181K09 survival of each and everyone of them. ^Surely, you could not wind
0190K09 up an organisation when the collector of the district was the president.
0200K09 ^Used as they were to official 'direction and guidance' during
0210K09 the British Raj, most people accepted it cheerfully and tried to_ get
0220K09 into the good books of the collector to_ get what they wanted. $^The
0230K09 Society had in its membership a cross-section of the people interested
0240K09 in social service as well as many others who were not. ^Most organisations
0250K09 were represented because the society was supposed to_ coordinate
0260K09 the work of all of them. ^But the membership itself was a variable factor
0270K09 since the subscriptions were collected sporadically. ^The names
0280K09 of important people in the town were often included as members or even
0290K09 as committee members without their knowledge or consent. ^As a result,
0300K09 it sometimes happened that there were more committee members than the
0310K09 total membership, since committee members, when once elected, were never
0320K09 dropped. ^This created an awkward situation for all concerned and in
0330K09 the interests of constitutional propriety, \0V.P. suggested that
0340K09 those who were on the committee without paying their subscription should
0350K09 be elected as honorary members. ^In the course of a few years, almost
0360K09 the entire membership became honorary and the small matter of the
0370K09 subscription was superfluous. ^However, in order to_ have some funds
0380K09 for expenditure, the committee resolved to_ collect only donations in
0390K09 the future. $^The \0S.S.S. was composed of several types of members.
0400K09 ^There were those who during the days of the British Raj had furthered
0410K09 the cause of social service by collecting money for the war fund,
0420K09 attending receptions in government houses, and occasionally receiving
0430K09 governors and other high officials. ^They hoped to_ carry on that_ tradition
0440K09 though a few adjustments in their dress and conversation had
0450K09 become necessary in view of the changed circumstances. ^For such trouble
0460K09 and sacrifice they were rewarded in the British days by titles such
0470K09 as Rao Bahadur, Dewan Bahadur, \0O.B.E., \0M.B.E., and, occasionally,
0480K09 even a knighthood. ^The most important factor in such achievements
0490K09 was the ability to_ please the collector of the district and
0500K09 be brought to the notice of the governor of the state. ^A knighthood of
0510K09 course depended on political influence in higher quarters. ^But each vied
0520K09 with the other according to his ability and influence in the lower
0530K09 spheres of social service. ^Since 1974, the titles had gone out of usage,
0540K09 but the Indian government had introduced a new set of awards with
0550K09 Bharat Ratna at the top and Padma Shri at the bottom. ^And people
0560K09 kept discussing about their English equivalents. ^Was a Padma Bhushan
0570K09 equivalent to a knighthood? ^It was just like getting used to a
0580K09 new currency; one tended to_ convert everything into the old currency before
0590K09 judging the value. ^But as status symbols, the new awards were not
0600K09 as useful as the old ones since they were not supposed to_ be used either
0610K09 as suffixes or prefixes to one*'s name. ^One couldn*'4t print one*'s
0620K09 award on one*'s letterhead for example. "^What is the use of giving
0630K09 you an award if you cannot display it? ^How would people know that
0640K09 you are an award holder?" was the general feeling. ^Further, the Indian
0650K09 government was not as generous in the conferment of titles as the previous
0660K09 government had been. ^All sorts of unexpected people got them too.
0670K09 ^In the British days, factors such as wealth, position, \0etc., were
0680K09 primary considerations. ^In spite of these handicaps, there was no
0690K09 harm in hoping for an award and getting the satisfaction of having served
0700K09 one*'s fellow creatures at the same time. $^Then there were the ones
0710K09 who wore handspun *4khadi and who were beginning to_ find out that
0720K09 service to the poor and the needy could be promoted by attending tea parties
0730K09 and it was certainly a more pleasant diversion than being locked
0740K09 up in British jails for the same objective. ^But having inherited the
0750K09 mettle of Mahatma Gandhi on their shoulders, they talked of service
0760K09 to the nation as if it was their monopoly and tended to_ treat others
0770K09 in a slightly condescending manner and with the superior air of people
0780K09 who had suffered for the cause of freedom while others shone in the
0790K09 reflected glory of the British Raj. ^They spoke of village uplift, rural
0800K09 reconstruction, and moral regeneration in the same way as others
0810K09 discussed their friends and acquaintances. ^Before 1947, they had boycotted
0820K09 organisations such as the Society, but had made up for it
0821K09 since, much
0830K09 to the annoyance of veterans like *(0V. P.*) Iyer. $^Some joined
0840K09 the Society because it provided an outlet for their talents for speech-making
0850K09 and airing their views on all sorts of subjects irrespective
0860K09 of the matter under discussion. ^Others joined it because it was one way
0870K09 of getting to_ know the collector in a more or less informal manner.
0880K09 ^Strangely enough, there were quite a few who either through religious
0890K09 compulsion or socil conscience wished to_ serve their fellow human beings
0900K09 and the only avenue open to them was the Society. ^There were also
0910K09 some young men who were fired by the enthusiasm of their age for service
0920K09 and joined such organisations until cynicism and a sense of frustration
0930K09 drove them to_ take up either bridge or billiards. $^The annual general
0940K09 meeting of the Society had been announced to_ take place at 5 \0P.M.
0950K09 at the collector*'s office. ^That_ did not mean that the meeting
0960K09 commenced at 5 \0P.M. sharp. ^In fact, at the appointed time, there
0970K09 was no one there except the peon who was adjusting the ink-stand and the
0980K09 paper weights on his boss*'s desk for want of something better to_
0990K09 do. ^The secretary, \0Miss Kaveri, arrived five minutes later and told
1000K09 the peon to_ bring in more chairs. $"^Nobody turns up for these meetings,"
1010K09 said the peon, as he brought in some more chairs from the outer
1020K09 office reluctantly. $"^There will be more people today," Kaveri assured
1030K09 him. $^Then the collector*'s camp clerk arrived to_ say that his
1040K09 superior had been held up at another meeting and he would arrive shortly.
1050K09 $^As far as the Society was concerned, the annual general meeting
1060K09 was not always an annual affair. ^Normally it was held only when a collector
1070K09 was transferred and a new one took over. ^Since he was the president,
1080K09 he had to_ be formally elected and the occasion was availed of
1090K09 to_ elect other office-bearers and committee members. ^In the years when
1100K09 there was no transfer of the collector, accounts were circulated, and
1110K09 it was recommended that the same office-bearers might continue. ^Since
1120K09 no one thought of raising any objections to this procedure, it worked fairly
1130K09 smoothly. $^But Kaveri had been secretary for about seven years
1140K09 and some people felt that there ought to_ be a change. ^She was gettig
1150K09 too powerful and domineering and had annoyed many people in one way
1160K09 or another. ^So far she had always had the president on her side, but
1170K09 this time it was rumoured that the new collector*'s wife was a distant
1180K09 relative of \0Mrs. Jayalakshmi and some people aware of the situation
1190K09 had been able to_ 'poison her mind' against Kaveri; or at least
1200K09 so Kaveri thought. ^But she was not going to_ give in without a fight.
1210K09 ^In such organisations it was generally found that one person held sway
1220K09 for a long time with no opposition and when she was dethroned, it
1230K09 led to convulsions in the entire organisation and even to its winding
1240K09 up. $^By about 5.15 \0P.M. people began to_ drift in, in ones and
1250K09 twos. ^*Kaveri greeted them all as if they had come to her house at
1260K09 her personal invitation. $"^How is the *4ashram, *4Swamiji?" she asked
1270K09 a saffron-robed monk, as she walked on to_ greet the others. $"^It is
1280K09 still waiting for that_ donation you promised from the \0S.S.S."
1290K09 said the *4Swamiji, but Kaveri was already beyond earshot. $"^Welcome,
1300K09 \0Mr. Ramayya," she smiled benevolently at the rare visitor. "we
1310K09 never see you at our meetings; I wish you would come more often. ^We
1320K09 depend on people like you so much in our work." $\0^*Mr. Ramayya was quite
1330K09 flustered when ladies spoke to him and he mumbled a very embarrassed
1340K09 'thank you'. $"^*I know why you don*'4t come to our meeting," she
1350K09 taunted him, wagging a finger. "^It is because you think we will ask you
1360K09 for a donation. ^But if we don*'4t ask the leading businessman and
1370K09 philanthropist in town, who are we to_ ask?" she smiled coyly. "^*I know
1380K09 what we will do; we will elect you as a vice-president. ^Then you will
1390K09 have to_ take more interest. \0^*Mr. Iyer, you propose his name." $"^That
1400K09 is not a bad idea, Kaveri," said \0Mr. Iyer. $"^*Kaveri is turning
1410K09 on her charm this evening." whispered Sunderam, who had been
1420K09 listening to the conversation. "^Pity, she is not good-looking; then she
1430K09 might get somewhere with Ramayya. ^*I suppose she thinks that if her
1440K09 name is proposed along with Ramayya*'s, she will get elected without
1450K09 opposition." $"^No doubt our eminent lawyer friend will do all the
1460K09 proposing and ensure a smooth election merely by his powers of oratory",
1470K09 responded \0Dr. Rajan. "^And things will go on or not go on exactly
1480K09 as before." ^Then he changed the subject. "^Talking of the Rao *4Sahib,
1490K09 did you see the current *3Weekly Gong?*0 ^You are a journalist and
1500K09 must know the inside story of everything that_ appears in the papers."
1510K09 $"^You mean the article about Khan *4Sahib Karuppiah?" $"^Yes."
1520K09 $"^*I had seen it before it was published," said Sunderam. $"^You are
1530K09 not the author by any chance, are you?" the doctor wanted to_ know. $"^No,
1540K09 but the editor sent it to me to_ make sure that fiction is not stranger
1550K09 than truth." $"^*I think it is wrong," said the *4Swamiji who
1560K09 had joined them. "^It is morally wrong that a man*'s private life should
1570K09 be exposed in this manner by people who are perhaps no better, if not
1580K09 worse." $"^But *4Swami, don*'4t you think that social wrongs should
1590K09 be set right?" asked Sunderam. "^It is the duty of the press."
1600K09 $"^If so, you should have had the courage to_ publish it not as fiction,
1610K09 but as biography and face the consequences." $"^We write what the public
1620K09 wants to_ read. ^And if it can only be done through fiction, we don*'4t
1630K09 hesitate to_ do it. ^Our duty is to the public and to no one else."
1640K09 $"^Then, what is the difference between you and a tooth-paste manufacturer?"
1650K09 asked the *4Swami. "^Don*'4t think you are going to_ harm
1660K09 him by such articles. ^Very soon people will begin to_ sympathise with
1670K09 him." $"^We, the gentlemen of the press, are true *5karma yogis*6,
1680K09 *4Swami", laughed Sunderam. "^We do our duty and do not bother
1690K09 about the ultimate result."*#
        **[no. of words = 02002**]

        **[txt. k10**]
0010K10 **<*3Unemployment Statistics*0**> $*3^A change of scene did not help solve
0020K10 his problems. \0^*Dr Chand not only faced a new crisis on his domestic
0030K10 front, his professional reputation was also in jeopardy.*0 $^WHEN
0040K10 Sumit Chand returned to India from the United States he had earned
0050K10 several degrees. ^The \0BS and \0MS and \0PhD naturally, as well
0060K10 as a *(oD Phil*), a degree held in considerable awe in academic circles.
0070K10 \0^*Dr Chand*'s post-doctoral work in the field of sub-atomic particles
0080K10 reacting to divided neutrons transmitted through an electronic
0090K10 oscilloscope had virtually transformed the science. $^He taught for several
0100K10 years at a famous university near Boston, establishing a deserved
0110K10 reputation for lucidity and eloquence, as well as brilliance. ^His work
0120K10 contributed significantly to human knowledge. ^His theory, for instance,
0130K10 proved invaluable in creating the inexpensive, synthetic substitute for
0140K10 milk, which has had such far-reaching and beneficial consequences for
0150K10 the poor of the world. $^Life, in short, was good to \0Dr Chand. ^He
0160K10 loved his work. ^His salary was more than adequate. ^His wife was happily
0170K10 occupied with the little export-import agency she managed. ^His fourteen-year-old
0180K10 daughter was busy with her schoolwork. ^His eight-year-old
0190K10 son was not a problem. ^All was well with his world. $^One day, while
0200K10 teaching, he suddenly felt dizzy. ^Cutting the class short and cancelling
0210K10 the others for the day, he got into his blue Ford station wagon--
0220K10 his wife had taken the Cadillac that_ day-- got on to the expressway and
0230K10 headed home. "^*I*'3ve been pushing myself too hard," he thought. "^*I
0240K10 need some rest." ^He drove into the garage of his house in a Boston
0250K10 suburb and saw that the Cadillac was not there. "^Good," he thought, "I*'3ll
0260K10 have the house to myself." $^He started up the green shag carpeting
0270K10 of the split level house when he heard a sound from his daughter*'s
0280K10 bedroom. ^Curious, he retraced his steps and opened the door. ^Fourteen-year-old
0290K10 Kusum, he saw with a strange sense of detachment, lay sprawled
0300K10 on the bed, her blue-and-white panties around her ankles, while a young
0310K10 man (\0Dr Chand shut his eyes momentarily here, searching for a phrase)
0320K10 took unpardonable liberties. $^Just then Kusum opened her eyes
0330K10 and saw her father standing at the door. ^With a faint look of exasperation
0340K10 she said distinctly, "^Oh shit." $^THE day after the semester
0350K10 ended, the Chand family was gathered at the Air-India departure counter
0360K10 at Kennedy Airport. \0^*Dr Chand and his wife Sonia, though drawn
0370K10 closer by this crisis, felt strangely alienated from each other by
0380K10 their mutual feelings of guilt. "^It*'1s my fault," each thought, "I
0390K10 should have watched her more closely." ^Little Robert Chand-- "he*'3ll
0400K10 be more easily accepted here with that_ name," Sonia had insisted-- ran
0410K10 around going *3bang-bang at the other passengers. ^*Kusum sat sulking
0420K10 in a corner, looking bored. $"^Ever since *3that_ morning," she thought
0430K10 disgustedly, "life has been impossible." ^After her mother had returned
0440K10 home Kusum had gone to confront her parents and they merely sat there
0450K10 and barely said anything, just gazed at her with eyes full of hurt,
0460K10 guilt and a strangely stricken look. ^Like it was the end of the world.
0470K10 $^She had felt a little defiant at their obvious pain. "^*I like Jim,"
0480K10 she tried to_ explain. ^Her mother burst into tears. $"^It*'1s no big
0490K10 deal really," Kusum had insisted. "^Everybody does it." ^Her father
0500K10 had come over then and slapped her, his glasses misty. ^The next day they
0510K10 had told her they were going back to India "so that she couldn*'4t
0520K10 run wild". $"^*India," Kusum thought desolately as their flight was announced.
0530K10 "^Cows on the road, the country stinking of cowdung, people
0531K10 who
0540K10 yell all the time. ^It*'1s going to_ be a real pain." $^They chose to_
0541K10 settle in Delhi. \0^*Dr Sumit Chand*'s parents were thrilled that they
0550K10 were back for good. ^They fussed over Kusum and Robert, bursting
0560K10 into excited laughter at their Americanised Hindi. ^Other relatives,
0570K10 many of whom hadn*'4t been seen for years, miraculously appeared and the
0580K10 place was in a constant uproar. ^Old friends came by and the house that_
0590K10 had been silent all these years, filled only with the slow movements
0600K10 of two old people, again erupted with shouts of laughter and the fragrance
0610K10 of huge platters of food as in the kitchen the harassed cook raced
0620K10 from pot to pot to_ keep pace with the demands of the perennial feast.
0630K10 $*3^WHEN*0 he finally had a little time, \0Dr Chand sent a letter
0640K10 of application to an institute that_ was doing the kind of research he
0650K10 was interested in. ^Within days he received a deferential reply urging
0660K10 him to_ join the organisation as soon as he could. "^*I always thought the
0670K10 Government was slow in replying," he said to Sonia with amused pride.
0680K10 $^They put their money into bonds and calculated that they would have
0690K10 more than enough to_ live on from the dividends together with the salary
0700K10 and perquisites his job would provide. ^They packed, ready to_ move
0710K10 as soon as they heard that the Minister had given his approval, which,
0720K10 they were assured, was a mere formality. $^The Secretary of the Ministry
0730K10 was quite excited at the quality of the new recruit. ^He personally
0740K10 carried the file to the Minister *4Sahib for his signature and regaled
0750K10 him with the benefits to India that_ would accrue from the
0751K10 research
0760K10 of such a genius. ^The Minister, too, was impressed. $"^What*'1s the
0780K10 practical application of this fellow*'s theory?" he asked. $"^Synthetic
0790K10 milk," said the Secretary excitedly. "^Can you imagine, sir, what we can
0800K10 now do to_ supply it cheaply to the very poorest segments of our society
0810K10 and to..." his voice trailed off as he saw with a sinking feeling the
0820K10 flushed features of the Minister *4Sahib. $"^Milk," said the Minister
0830K10 thickly, his voice rising. "^Synthetic milk!" ^He pounded the desk.
0840K10 "^Are you telling me this fellow makes synthetic milk?" $^The secretary
0850K10 nodded dumbly, shocked into silence. $"^What kind of Indian is this
0860K10 who would perpetrate this insult on our *5go mata*6?" roared the Minister.
0870K10 "^The cow is as our mother! ^Only she has the right to_ give milk,"
0880K10 he shrieked, "not some foreign upstart of a scientist! ^Only she, you
0890K10 hear me. ^Only she. ^It is written in the *4shastras!" $^He swept the file
0900K10 off his desk. "^Never will I sign this, you understand? ^Never!" $^The
0910K10 Secretary staggered out of the room, clutching the file as the Minister
0920K10 drank water noisily from a glass to_ cool his outraged nerves. $\0^*Dr
0930K10 Chand looked at the cyclostyled letter form stupidly. ^It stated
0940K10 that his qualifications had not been found adequate. ^He shook his head
0950K10 vigorously to_ clear it of the nightmare, but it was still there. ^His
0960K10 qualifications were not deemed satisfactory. ^Slowly the shock turned
0970K10 to disbelief, t<anger, then to anxiety. ^Rapidly he thought of the alternatives.
0980K10 ^He could teach at a university, he could work for a private
0981K10 company
0990K10 or a research group. ^Surely his talents would be recognised. ^Relieved,
1000K10 he sent off some more applications. $^MEANWHILE a member of the
1010K10 Opposition party heard of the strange scene and tantrum in the Minister*'s
1020K10 office. ^Discreetly he made his own enquiries and one day he rose
1030K10 in Parliament during an unemployment debate: $"^The Government can
1040K10 hardly pretend to_ be concerned at a white-collar unemployment," he thundered,
1050K10 "when they refuse a job to the greatest scientist India has ever
1060K10 produced, \0Dr Sumit Chand, an outstanding genius, a glittering star
1070K10 in the galaxy of scientists." $^The Hon*'3ble Minister rose wrathfully
1080K10 to his feet to_ answer and the battle was joined. $"^Symbol of our
1090K10 unemployment statistics!" roared the Opposition. $"^Cow killer!" yelled
1100K10 the Treasury Benches. $"^*Government incompetence!" taunted the Opposition.
1110K10 $"^Preservation of our glorious culture!" defended the ruling
1120K10 party. $"^Colossal idiots!" $"^*Hindu *4dharma!" $^All over India the
1121K10 battle
1130K10 was enacted. $^There was a riot in Agra and the police had to_ resort
1140K10 to a *(lathi-charge*). ^In Calcutta a violent crowd was teargassed
1141K10 but
1150K10 not before it had set fire to two trams. ^In Bombay a rampaging mob compelled
1160K10 the police to_ resort to firing in which three persons were killed.
1170K10 ^Consequently a crowd demanding a judicial inquiry into the firing also
1180K10 turned violent, was fired upon and four more persons were killed. ^Seven
1190K10 universities went on strike to_ protest the Government*'s decision
1191K10 **[sic**]
1200K10 to_ permit the manufacture of synthetic milk. ^Five universities went on
1210K10 strike to_ protest the Government*'s assurances not to_ permit the manufacture
1220K10 of synthetic milk. $^In Madras several hundred workers courted
1230K10 arrest to_ protest the arbitrary decision of the Government. ^Four *4sadhus
1240K61 went on a hunger strike till death to_ force the Government to_
1250K10 reverse its decision allowing synthetic milk. ^Three labour organisers went
1260K10 on an indefinite fast to_ force the Government to_ double the quota
1270K10 for synthetic milk. ^*Indian Airlines went on a wildcat strike to_ press
1280K10 their demand for a wage increase. ^A delegation of student leaders from
1290K10 Bareilly staged a sit-down strike and a relay fast outside the residence
1300K10 of the Minister for Tourism. ^When contacted, the mystified Minister
1310K10 could offer no reason for their action. $^A venerable spiritual leader
1320K10 condemned the rising tide of lawlessness and immorality and urged a
1330K10 return to Gandhian philosophy. ^A prominent spokesman denied before a
1340K10 citizen*'s group that there was any disorder and assured them in the same
1350K10 breath that the Government was investigating if \0Mr Sanjay Gandhi*'s
1360K10 role during the Emergency was responsible for the present lawlessness.
1370K10 "^No one who is guilty howsoever mighty," he is quoted as having said,
1380K10 "will go unpunished." $^A group of students stoned the American Embassy
1390K10 for the alleged role of the \0CIA and multinationals in instigating
1400K10 the disturbances. ^After handing over a memorandum for President Carter--
1410K10 which a spokesman assured them would be communicated to him--
1411K10 they
1420K10 left. ^Later a visa application was found hidden in the memorandum. ^Another
1430K10 spokesman said it was being processed. $^A group of *4sadhus demonstrated
1440K10 outside \0Dr Chand*'s house demanding that he confess that he
1450K10 had been converted to Islam. ^They also demanded food as they were *4Brahmins
1460K10 and threatened to_ set fire to his house. ^A police officer reverently
1470K10 touched their feet before personally leading a
1471K10 *(lathi-charge*). $^*Kusum
1480K10 Chand peeped at them from the balcony. "^Weird," she giggled. "^Just
1490K10 weird." ^Just then the new servant rushed up to her and dragged her
1500K10 inside. $\0Dr Chand meanwhile found all the private organisations reluctant
1510K10 to_ hire him because of the controversy such an appointment would
1520K10 inadvertently invite. ^He read of the violence and the mounting death
1530K10 toll with anguish and disbelief. $^ONE day, after Delhi had been
1540K10 placed under curfew, an official car took him to the Minister *4Sahib
1550K10 who reluctantly informed him that, under orders from above, his Ministry
1560K10 was appointing him Director of the Institute he had initially applied
1570K10 to, provided he gave an undertaking not to_ conduct any research in synthetic
1580K10 milk but to_ work in other fields and administer the Institute.
1590K10 ^The previous Director had been asked to_ resign for his incompetence
1600K10 in not hiring \0Dr Chand initially. $\0Dr Chand accepted the offer,
1610K10 thrilled at having his own institute where he could experiment with his
1620K10 organisational ideas and do some research. ^Smiling to himself, he returned
1630K10 home, pleased that India hadn*'4t let him down and both his filial
1640K10 and professional impulses could be satisfied. $^Nobody was home, so he
1650K10 decided to_ get his old books out to_ see what other branch of research
1660K10 might interest him. ^His books and other baggage had arrived by sea and
1670K10 had been put in a room next to the servants*' quarters over the garage.
1680K10 ^Engrossed in his dreams for the future, he went up the stairs and absent-mindedly
1690K10 pushed open a door. $^There was a terrifying familiarity about
1700K10 the scene, he thought, as his mind raced back to that_ morning in B
1710K10 oston. ^Only this time the other convulsing body belonged to the new servant
1720K10 boy.*#
        **[no. of words = 01972**]

        **[txt. k11**]
0010K11 *<*3Five*> $^*Shyam*'s thirty-first birthday fell on the twenty-third
0020K11 of December. ^Of this fact he was brought to mind immediately on
0030K11 awaking in the morning. ^Not yet out of bed and with sleepy eyes, he
0040K11 hummed many times under the cosy warmth of his quilt, "^Ah, it*'1s my
0050K11 birthday today!" ^Until now he had ignored his birthdays, having had
0060K11 the notion that it reduced his speed. ^If, for example, you were reminded
0070K11 of the advance in your age while negotiating stairs, or while holding
0080K11 out your hand to_ open or close the door of a lift, or while tying
0090K11 or untying your shoes or while pouting your lips to_ give a kiss
0100K11 or while applying the razor to the upper end of your beard at the start
0110K11 of the ritual of shaving-- your limbs grew slowly relaxed, you felt
0120K11 depressed and you started yawning. ^You unnecessarily thought, what*'1s
0130K11 the good of doing all this? ^Nothing*'1s going to_ last unto the
0140K11 end. ^*Shyam*'s birthdays had therefore been without any celebration
0150K11 and he had ignored the twenty-third of December altogether. $^*Shyam
0160K11 left his bed later than usual, washed himself and studied his
0170K11 face in the mirror. ^Nowadays he looked somewhat a holy person. ^His
0180K11 overgrown hair was starting to_ curl in ringlets down the nape of
0190K11 his neck. ^He walked over to the window with the mirror in his hand.
0200K11 ^The sun was streaming down the southern window. ^There was a mango
0210K11 tree just in front; dewdrops still hung on a spider*'s web in the
0220K11 shade of some foliage. ^He turned the mirror as soon as the reflected
0230K11 sunlight fell on that_ web. ^The light streaked to the window on the
0240K11 second floor of the house across the road. ^He noticed with a faint
0250K11 curiosity that the light had fallen on an oil painting of an old face
0260K11 and remarked with a frown, "^Blackmarketeer!" ^He deflected the
0270K11 light which fell on three pups snooping around a dustbin in front of
0280K11 a garage with red doors. ^But the light did not show much because the
0290K11 road was bathed in bright sunshine. ^He leant out to_ look for a shady
0300K11 spot. ^This game of light-throwing was one Shyam had played many
0310K11 times in his boyhood. ^Now, however, he had grown up and was crossing
0320K11 his thirty-first year today. ^The thought made him smile slightly--
0330K11 in the manner he used to_, when he was a child. ^Craning his neck
0340K11 forward, he saw a *4rickshaw coming up slowly past the crossing on
0350K11 the left, carrying a girl with a guitar. ^*Shyam moved the mirror
0360K11 away carefully, for who knew but that the girl would stop the *4rickshaw
0370K11 and come upstairs and say with a coy smile, i came up because
0380K11 you beckoned to me! ^*Shyam also let go of a girl in a saffron *4sari and
0390K11 a handbag, who walked straight ahead quite a long way. ^He played
0400K11 the reflection on the wall of the house of the Duttas a few times:
0410K11 the enclosed bit of lawn had crows prancing on it, and a white cat,
0420K11 emerging from a hole under the steps, was making genuflections. ^He
0430K11 threw the reflection on the cat*'s face, without any effect, however;
0440K11 it climbed up the steps and entered the house through the door, turning
0450K11 its head with the contemptuous indifference of a queen. ^As he
0460K11 turned the reflection a crow flew away. ^A careless flick of the
0470K11 reflection on a window on the far side of the lawn lighted an array
0480K11 of glistening cups and plates. ^With the progress of his exercise
0490K11 Shyam was gradually mastering control of handling the mirror. ^He
0500K11 let go of the old father of the Mitters who was returning from the
0510K11 *4baazar with a servant following behind. ^He expertly threw the reflection
0520K11 on a non-Bengali boy sitting at the window of a speeding taxi and
0530K11 for a while held it steady in line with the movement of the vehicle.
0540K11 ^The boy looked back at him, shielded his eyes with his hand and finally
0550K11 departed, making faces at him. ^*Shyam began wearying of the game.
0560K11 ^He directed the reflection successively on a cow, an old woman
0570K11 and the heroine on a cinema poster. ^Just as he was withdrawing into
0580K11 the room to_ keep the mirror aside he heard the noise of a motorcycle
0590K11 approaching from the other side of the crossing. ^His muscles tautened
0600K11 at once. ^For a long time-- he did not know how long-- he nursed
0610K11 a grudge against motorcyclists. ^He quickly turned round and went
0620K11 to the window. ^The motorcycle was due to_ take a left turn any moment,
0630K11 it being a three-way crossing. ^*Shyam noticed a cow leisurely crossing
0640K11 the main avenue. ^The moment the vehicle and the black head of
0650K11 the driver swung into view the reflected light from Shyam*'s mirror
0660K11 flashed right on the face. ^The vehicle was taking the turn with a thundering
0670K11 roar: Shyam had a momentary glimpse of the man leaning to one
0680K11 side to_ avoid the flashing light. ^There was nothing else to_ be
0690K11 seen but the panicky leap of the cow. ^*Shyam dropped to the floor in
0700K11 a lightning motion and heard the loud metallic crash of the motorcycle
0710K11 on the asphalt. ^He crawled away from the window inside the room,
0720K11 threw the mirror on the bed and went out quickly, locking the door.
0730K11 $^*Shyam avoided the fast gathering crowd on the street. ^He left
0740K11 the neighbourhood behind. ^It was a beautifully sunny, though very
0750K11 cold, day. ^He sought and found an unfrequented, very cheap tea shop
0760K11 and took a seat in a corner. ^He could not recollect precisely why he
0770K11 cherished a grudge against motorcyclists. ^The effort at recollection
0780K11 made his head feel like an eddy of dirty water. ^He bent down and picked
0790K11 up a newspaper sprawling on the floor. ^He had not read one in
0800K11 many days. ^He pored over the newspaper in an attempt to_ divert his
0810K11 mind and found he had lighted on the sports page. ^A batsman had remained
0820K11 ninety-eight not out overnight. ^Poor fellow! ^He certainly
0830K11 couldn*'4t have slept a wink last night! ^Had he been out for fewer runs
0840K11 he*'1d have been able to_ sleep peacefully. ^Still a couple of runs...
0850K11 an awful nightmare of just a couple of runs... ^Just a matter of twice
0860K11 twenty-two yards. ^*Shyam had a whim to_ run a forty-four yard race
0870K11 at once for the sake of the man. ^It was quite likely, for this small
0880K11 thing for one to_ lose one*'s sleep, to_ lose one*'s appetite, to_ be
0890K11 cold to a woman. ^Poor fellow! without those two runs... ^Thinking
0900K11 of what would happen otherwise, Shyam*'s eyes wandered helplessly.
0910K11 ^Nothing except the hand of Providence, he concluded. ^No man could
0920K11 be positive that those two runs would come. ^The process of thought
0930K11 made him feel a bit restless. ^He threw down the paper, got up, paid and
0940K11 went out in the sunshine and air of the open road and walked aimlessly
0950K11 down one street after another. $^Later at noon Shyam gave himself
0960K11 a grand feast in his own honour. ^He chewed through the bones of meat
0970K11 with relish and licked his bowl of curd dry. ^He could not meet Subodh
0980K11 Mitra who had had his meal earlier, at nine, before leaving for
0990K11 office, but decided he would treat Mitra to a feast when they met
1000K11 at night. ^Today he was not content with a pinch of aniseed but had a
1010K11 roll of betel and a packet of very high priced cigarettes from the shop
1020K11 outside and got small change for half a *4rupee for distribution among
1030K11 beggars. ^He had no worries although it was nearing the end of the
1040K11 month: he still had about two and a half thousand *4rupees in the
1050K11 bank, and was thus able to_ convert any day of the month into the
1060K11 grand first day. ^He felt free on this thirty-first anniversary of his
1070K11 birth and hoped the day would end happily. ^But the very next moment
1080K11 he corrected himself: it was thoughts of the future as well those
1090K11 of the past that_ formed the biggest obstacles to personal freedom.
1100K11 ^He therefore, dismissed from his mind the incidents of the morning,
1110K11 ceased to_ think of the afternoon and concentrated on the current,
1120K11 beautiful noon with its fine sunshine and northerly breeze. $^It
1130K11 was near Christmas, the shops flaunted banners of red cloth with inscriptions
1140K11 of "Happy Christmas". ^The showcases displayed an array of
1150K11 assorted cakes, snowfields made of flaked cotton and figures of old
1160K11 Santa Claus. ^Right in front of him stood a bread van whose open rear
1170K11 door disclosed stacks of loaves piled from floor to ceiling. ^It
1180K11 appeared as if a great season of prosperity had come upon earth; perhaps
1190K11 the fields had yielded a big harvest and the farmers*' wives were
1200K11 big with child, and official announcements were going round the villages
1210K11 exhorting women to_ produce more children and the men to_ till
1220K11 the fallow ground and fill the land with good children-- for there weren*'4t
1230K11 enough people to_ enjoy the rising production in factories, fields
1240K11 and mines. ^Whilst whole schools of *3hilsa fish swim down to
1250K11 sea because we hadn*'4t enough people to_ consume them, milk was dripping
1260K11 from the swollen udders of our milch cows because their calves
1270K11 were incapable of sucking up the plentiful outflow, we let herds of
1280K11 buffaloes into our fields with their rich ripe harvest and we allowed
1290K11 honey to_ drip from overbrimming combs in the forests. ^Fill the
1300K11 land with people, mothers! ^Beget good children, fathers! ^*Shyam, replete
1310K11 with good food and smiling softly, was ambling in the wholesome
1320K11 sunshine of winter without any thought of a face from the past or anything
1330K11 of the future. ^He felt very contented and mollified. ^A beggar*'s
1340K11 brat had crawled out of its tenement of rags behind the postbox
1350K11 into the middle of the pavement. ^*Shyam lightly vaulted over the child.
1360K11 ^He was startled when a street hawker cried at him, "Vests!" in a
1370K11 grave, unhurried voice, and quickly went past him. ^It almost brought
1380K11 the past to his mind. ^He took the first turn ahead into a nearby
1390K11 deserted street. ^The sight of a weary man slowly pushing a handcart
1400K11 made him hastily close his eyes. ^And instantly he saw visions of
1410K11 shops running in a row, of honest shopmen sitting with guiltless eyes,
1420K11 of beautiful, tastefully draped young women walking the streets,
1430K11 of happy, fair children toddling, of unavaricious, courteous and healthy
1440K11 young men hurrying to their business and of able-bodied and wise
1450K11 old men with smiling eyes spending happy days of retirement sitting on
1460K11 verandahs and balconies. ^From every side blared an unspoken advertisement--
1470K11 keep on living, your life is valuable to us. $^*Shyam*'s right
1480K11 foot sank unawares up to the heel in a pool collected around a street
1490K11 hydrant. ^He opened his eyes and smiled. ^He was feeling a bit tired.
1500K11 ^The unaccustomed heavy meal was a load on his belly. ^Yet he had
1510K11 no wish to_ return home. ^Walking on, he turned into the main road again.
1520K11 ^Not a bad idea to_ go to Chowringhee, which was the most splendid
1530K11 on Christmas Eve. ^At the bus stop there were several whimpering
1540K11 beggars of all ages, a lady with dark glasses waiting for a bus with
1550K11 averted face and a handkerchief to her mouth and a pair of youngsters
1560K11 in terylene leaning back on the railing. ^The bus arrived. ^*Shyam
1570K11 let himself drift into the slight melee of passengers alighting
1580K11 and boarding and, just a moment before grasping the door handle, collected
1590K11 in his fist all the loose coins in his pocket and threw them
1600K11 on the road. ^For a moment the jingle of the coins drowned all
1610K11 other noises in the street. ^It was so loud that it startled everyone about
1620K11 and many people forgot to_ get down or up in their surprise. ^Smothering
1630K11 a smile, Shyam noticed an old man on the footboard letting go of
1640K11 the door handle, tottering and slapping his pockets in grave suspicion.
1650K11 ^Coins!*#
        **[no. of words = 02005**]

        **[txt. k12**]
0010K12 **<*3*4KAADU*0**> $*3^AT NIGHT,*0 after everybody had eaten, Kitti*'s
0020K12 uncle wore his *4jirki (special noisy) slippers, took his flashlight,
0030K12 and went out as usual. ^*Kitti opened his cupboard, anxious to_
0040K12 burn all the crackers at once. ^*Kamalamma opening the door of the
0050K12 *4kirumane (inner room) called, "^*Kitti, come here." ^She filled
0060K12 his pockets with sugarsweets and whispered, "^Come with me now. ^*I*'3ll
0070K12 show you something." ^Quite excited, Kitti forgot the crackers,
0080K12 and biting the sugar-sticks followed his aunt. $^As they came out
0090K12 of the back door Lompi was waiting with a lantern. ^Before Kitti could
0100K12 ask where, he heard his aunt saying, "^To Hanumantaraya*'s temple";
0110K12 he was frightened. "let*'3s not go there, *4Atte. ^There are
0120K12 snakes and devils there at this time, it seems"-- he looked pleadingly
0130K12 at her. ^Hugging him close, she coaxed, "^No Kitti. ^Don*'4t
0140K12 you see Lompi and I are with you? ^Don*'4t be afraid." ^As they came
0150K12 to the turning of the lane Lompi said. "^Everything is ready. ^*I
0160K12 have even given the chickens." ^*Kitti didn*'4t understand. $"^Truth!
0170K12 ^Look at this wretched dog still hanging on. ^It will keep barking
0180K12 there and be a nuisance," cursed Lompi and threw a stone chasing
0190K12 Monna away. ^*Lompi was striding along out in front with his lantern.
0200K12 ^As the long shadows of the coconut trees seemed to_ be following
0210K12 him, Kitti was scared; he clung to his aunt*'s legs and walked.
0220K12 ^Unnoticed, Monna had gone ahead. ^As they approached the bamboo
0230K12 clump behind the temple, Kitti was terrified and wanted to_ scream.
0240K12 ^Even when his aunt reassured him-- "^Don*'4t be frightened,
0250K12 Kitti"-- and drew him close, he was trembling. $^A fearful clay image
0260K12 in the light of a big clay lamp-- tongue hanging out as if trying to_
0270K12 vomit blood. ^Small pandal of green leaves. ^In front of the image a
0280K12 heap of red rice-- coconut smeared with *4kumkum-- a glinting knife-- a
0290K12 dark man, semi-naked; his forehead daubed with *4kumkum-- Kitti shut
0300K12 his eyes, horrified. ^It was the same person he had seen while returning
0310K12 that_ evening with the flowers. $^He remembered what Silla
0320K12 had told him. ^He started sobbing. ^Not till he found himself covered
0330K12 in his aunt*'s *4sari did he dare open his eyes. ^The magic-man chanting
0340K12 continuously, signalling to Lompi to_ hold the chicken, pressed
0350K12 the knife once on his eyes, severed the chicken*'s neck, and poured
0360K12 the blood on the hanging tongue of the image. ^As he broke the coconut
0370K12 at one stroke, and intoned loudly, Kitti shrank further into his
0380K12 aunt*'s *4sari. ^His thighs felt warm for a moment-- and then wet. "^*Kitti:
0390K12 how scared you are! ^You have piddled"-- Kamalamma helped him up.
0400K12 $^As they were preparing to_ leave, the sorcerer said, "*4Amma, I
0410K12 have laid a proper spell. ^Your man can never again approach that_ woman."
0420K12 ^He tied up the chicken, the fruit and the coconut in a bundle.
0430K12 ^*Kamalamma took out a *4rupee from her *(sari-folds*) and gave it to him.
0440K12 ^As they reached a bypath the sorcerer parted from them. ^*Monna went
0450K12 after him, and then ran back to them. $^*Kitti felt his pockets
0460K12 gingerly. ^And when his aunt asked him if he was frightened, he said
0470K12 "^Yes", biting at his sugar-sticks. ^But when Lompi sniggered, Kitti
0480K12 was angry and cursed him silently. ^When they reached home, Silla
0490K12 was snoring wrapt up in his mat. ^Saying something to Lompi, Kamalamma
0500K12 looked at her husband*'s room and found it still closed. ^Washing
0510K12 her hands and feet, she lit a lamp in front of her pictures of the
0520K12 household gods, and bowed. ^*Monna was barking outside. $*<*3CHAPTER
0530K12 TWO*0*> $*3^IT WAS*0 early dawn when his aunt woke Kitti, reminding
0540K12 him of the festival. ^He bustled to his feet, though still sleepy
0550K12 as his aunt took him to the bathing room for a bath. ^He felt unusually
0560K12 shy when she took off his clothes. ^She poured water on his head,
0570K12 scrubbed him with *4sikai (soapnut powder) asking him to_ keep
0580K12 his eyes shut, poured water again, and rubbed him dry. ^He blinked his
0590K12 eyes open-- and felt very relaxed. ^As she dressed him in his *4khaki
0600K12 shorts and blue shirt (specially bought for the festival, and touched
0610K12 his cheek with a dot of the soot from the cauldron to_ ward off the evil
0620K12 eye, he thought she was lovely-- lovelier than his mother. ^Herself
0630K12 undressing, preparing to_ bathe, Kamalamma said, "^Go, Kitti, keep
0640K12 threading flowers in the verandah; i*'3ll come soon." $^*Kitti sat
0650K12 to_ work among the red and gold flower heaps. ^He was still feeling
0660KA2 drowsy as he picked up one by one, red flowers, after pushing the heaps
0670K12 away. ^Sleep fled, as he saw his uncle come out of his room yawning
0680K12 and stretching, and order the servants about in a loud voice. ^He
0690K12 was somehow scared to_ look at his uncle standing there-- like a hill.
0700KI2 ^Even yesterday he had felt scared when uncle called him to_ buy him
0710K12 crackers. ^It was always so. ^As he sat still, burrowing his eyes into
0720K12 the flower heaps, Kitti couldn*'4t quite understand why he was
0730K12 so scared. $^He thought it was the same with aunt also-- she hardly spoke
0740K12 when uncle was around. ^How often hadn*'4t he thrashed her for trivial
0750K12 things? ^*Kitti was wild... Chandregowda got down the verandah
0760K12 steps and wearing his *4jirki (noisy) slippers, started out towards
0770K12 the village pond. ^*Kitti saw Lompi and Silla working intensely
0780K12 with their breaths held, till the thunderous and frightening footfalls
0790K12 of uncle died away. ^*Kitti resumed threading the flowers when Lompi
0800K12 chivvied the bullocks. $^Finding that his aunt broke into sobs whenever
0810K12 he asked her where uncle went out at night, Kitti had given up
0820K12 asking her. ^Sometimes he had even seen aunt weeping through the night,--
0830K12 as he thought of it he felt like crying himself. ^Uncle was very
0840K12 wicked. ^*Kitti remembered everything-- from the moment of his coming
0850K12 here. $^Uncle came out of his bath, worshipped the bullocks, and sat
0860K12 to_ eat *4kadubu (sweet made out of flour and coconut) in the verandah.
0870K12 ^*Silla and Lompi stood talking in low tones in the cattleshed.
0880K12 ^Aunt gave *4kadubu to them also. ^Uncle untied the bullocks, and
0890K12 led them off himself to the *4kavalu (grazing field). ^*Lompi followed.
0900K12 ^*Kitti watched his aunt coming out from behind the door and stand
0910K12 on the edge of the verandah, gazing after the figure of uncle disappearing
0920K12 beyond the field. ^Her eyes were moist and tears dropped down.
0930K12 ^*Kitti was disturbed and went and tugged at her *4sari. ^She continued
0940K12 to_ gaze at uncle. ^He disappeared beyond eye sight, with the bullock.
0950K12 $"^Why do you cry *4Atte?" $"^No, why should I cry, Kitti?"--
0960K12 aunt wiped her eyes with her *4sari and walked in. $^Memories-- $^Uncle
0970K12 who nagged fiercely on any small matter-- aunt whose eyes filled with
0980K12 tears as soon as uncle left home-- how he wiped her eyes with his shirt
0990K12 hem: "*4^Atte, don*'4t cry, I*'3ll cry if you cry"-- and she would
1000K12 stop crying then. ^But today-- uncle didn*'4t scold or beat. ^In fact,
1010K12 he smiled and ate *4kadubu before he left. ^Even then why was
1020K12 aunt like this? ^*Kitti didn*'4t understand. ^Couldn*'4t understand
1030K12 why uncle, who was such a good man when he bought him sweets (as Kitti
1040K12 passed by Hosur Shetty*'s shop where uncle played cards, or Basakka*'s
1050K12 verandah, where uncle sat gossiping with Puttachari and Devanna)
1060K12 became such a bad man when he scolded and thrashed aunt. $^He remembered
1070K12 uncle*'s blood-red eyes when a few days ago he beat aunt. ^And
1080K12 where did he go every night? ^Aunt would break down if he even as
1090K12 much as mentioned it. ^And Lompi had always the same answer "^Why are
1100K12 you bothered with all that_? ^Children shouldn*'4t talk about such
1110K12 matters." ^And Kitti used to_ feel furious. $^When he went back into
1120K12 the kitchen to_ finish eating a half-eaten *4kadubu, aunt said, "^*Kitti,
1130K12 you shouldn*'4t tell anyone about our going out last night."
1140K12 ^And he asked why. ^He was anxious to_ tell Silla. ^*Silla was
1141K12 only a little
1150K12 older than him, and was very vain about it. "^*I have roamed the
1160K12 whole forest and seen the pups of the tiger, and once I saw a python
1170K12 wound round a mango tree. ^And it was I who drove out the fierce
1180K12 stag from our scrub-land...." as he listened to Silla describing
1190K12 things seen and unseen, Kitti felt envious, disappointed that he hadn*'4t
1200K12 seen all that_ or done anything. ^*Silla had often frightened
1210K12 him about the devils near Hanumanta*'s temple. ^Now that he had been
1220K12 there the previous night and found nothing, Kitti had looked forward
1230K12 to snubbing Silla. $^Not understanding why aunt forbade him to_
1240K12 talk about the previous night*'s outing, he asked her why. $"^You
1250K12 won*'4t understand all that_, Kitti. ^Remember, even if you mention
1260K12 it to anybody, I*'3ll die." $"^*I won*'4t tell anyone, *4Atte."
1270K12 ^And he gazed at her face. ^As she sat in front of the kitchen fire,
1280K12 he could see the flames in her eyes. $*3^*Kitti*0 was still in a
1290K12 festive mood when he got up the next morning, reluctant to_ go to school.
1300K12 ^Trying to_ find some excuse for not going, without washing his
1310K12 face he sat with a book pretending to_ read. ^*4chawadimane (house
1320K12 near the village temple) Nagi started for school and approached
1330K12 their house. ^*Kitti was in trouble. ^Didn*'4t know what to_ do.
1340K12 ^Meanwhile uncle said, "^It*'1s late, hurry up, Kitti." (this
1350K12 was so everyday. ^*Kitti would start only after Nagi came on her way
1360K12 to school.) $^Helpless, he washed his face, ate in haste, and started.
1370K12 ^Aunt filled his pockets with the remaining sugar sweets. ^*Kitti
1380K12 opened, once more, his cupboard bursting with things and took out carefully
1390K12 his matchbox from under the pile. ^He had forgotten his beetle
1400K12 in the bustle of the past two days. ^The shining green beetle stayed
1410K12 bunched up, even when he had it flat on his palm. ^Deciding it
1420K12 was dead, he carried it to_ throw it away. ^Stared angrily at Nagi
1430K12 standing near the bed. $^Uncle again: "^Isn*'4t it late, Kitti?"
1440K12 ^*Kitti stared again at Nagi, and slinging his worn out school bag
1450K12 on to his shoulders and clenching his teeth in fury, started. $^When
1460K12 the school got over in the evening it was cloudy. ^A little thunder.
1470K12 ^Since it looked like rain, the Gowalli boys started running even
1480K12 as they were crossing the *4neem tree near the Hosur common. ^*Kitti
1490K12 said: "^Let*'3s also run, Nagi." ^*Nagi said yes and started running
1500K12 with him. ^As she was running, her foot got caught in her
1510K12 long skirt and she fell and grazed her knee. ^*Kitti put some spittle
1520K12 on it. "let*'3s run slowly." ^Thick clouds were gathering overhead.
1530K12 ^It seemed to_ be already dusk. $^Overhead thick clouds were piling
1540K12 up. ^They were startled when it thundered loudly. ^Coming nearer the
1550K12 Hanumanta temple it began to_ drizzle. ^The dark of the evening
1560K12 was closing in. ^*Kitti suddenly remembered the *4kare fruit which he had
1570K12 left to_ ripen under the *4kare bush-- "^They will have ripened nicely,
1580K12 Kitti?" ^Seeing the rain drops, Kitti said, "^We*'3ll take them
1590K12 tomorrow, Nagi. ^It*'1s starting to_ rain now." "^If they get
1591K12 washed away?"
1600K12 ^*Kitti remembered that this had happened once before and went behind
1610K12 the temple. ^He couldn*'4t quickly make out under which bush the
1620K12 fruits lay. $^While searching he saw the *4lakki plants near the stream
1630K12 shaking. ^Thinking that it was a rabbit or something he whispered
1640K12 to Nagi to_ be quiet, and getting down into the sandy stream bed
1650K12 bent to_ see. ^*Nagi watched Kitti who seemed to_ be himself watching
1660K12 something intently and silently. $^*Kitti thought it must
1670K12 be a devil. ^His hair stood on end-- two days ago that_ magic-man had
1680K12 laid his spell somewhere here. ^He stared intently. ^He saw figures
1690K12 lying down. ^Unable to_ stand the suspense, Nagi yelled out, "^What
1700K12 is it, Kitti?" ^The reclining figures sprang up adjusting their clothes.
1710K12 ^And when Kitti, jumping away from there ran dragging Nagi along
1720K12 ("*4^Thu! *4^Issi!") she asked puzzled, "^What is it Kitti?"*#**[no.
        of words = 02001**]

        **[txt. k13**]
0010K13 **<*3THE VOID*0**> $*3^HAVE*0 you ever seen a band of multicoloured
0020K13 archers aiming their arrows at the same mark with inclined backs
0030K13 or with heads a bit bent down? a quiver of colourful arrows-- red, blue,
0040K13 green, yellow, orange or golden. ^Or, could it be a flock of multi-coloured
0050K13 birds picking up grains from the same pot? $^There is
0060K13 a similar slanting posture of an archer in their profiles, a similar
0070K13 chirping of birds in their voice. ^Have they wrapped themselves
0080K13 in colours-- variegated colours-- red, blue, green, yellow, orange
0090K13 and golden? ^And with so many decorations on them of flowers, dots
0100K13 and stripes of various designs and fashions. $^It is really a
0110K13 wonder that there are so many colours and designs in this world
0120K13 and an equal number of customers for them. ^Two girls are seldom seen
0130K13 wearing dresses of the same colour. ^Among a gathering of, say,
0140K13 a hundred girls, no one will resemble another in dress because
0150K13 everybody tries to_ find out that_ particular colour which has
0160K13 never been worn by anybody else. ^Is it likely that they try to_ compensate
0170K13 the vacuum of their inner being by filling it up with superficial
0180K13 elements? ^Otherwise why should there be so much fuss about
0190K13 colours and decorations? $^Just observe these colourful figures. ^There
0200K13 is no brightness in their eyes, no loveliness on their lips-- only
0210K13 a touch of frustration and a greyish pallor. ^The pot from which
0220K13 all these colourful birds had been picking grains was a familiar
0230K13 magazine and the birds were the six friends-- Bela, Swagata, Chandrakala,
0240K13 Runu, Mintu and Swapna. ^They only knew what mystery
0250K13 and charm lay hidden in that_ yellowish paper printed in small, faded
0260K13 out, indistinct types. $*3^THE*0 other girls in their
0270K13 college criticise them, taunt them, call them "six seasons",
0280K13 "six sirens" and by many other names because these six girls are the
0290K13 naughtiest in the whole college-- disobedient, illmannerly and impolite.
0300K13 ^They provoke the Students*' union with stormy disputes and arguments
0310K13 and often criticise even the professors. ^It was they who
0320K13 compelled \0Prof. \0Mrs. Chakravarty to_ beg pardon for having
0330K13 scolded them for their indecent and scanty dress. ^The authorities of
0340K13 this ladies*' college are well known for their traditional outlook;
0350K13 they buy books with their eyes and ears open and feel proud of
0360K13 maintaining the sanctity of the college library by getting books
0370K13 of the honest and conservative writers. $^But they are penny-wise pound-foolish,
0380K13 the minute hole in the iron wall is missed from their views.
0390K13 ^While they try to_ keep the college at a safe distance from the
0400K13 infection of modernity, the plague spot escapes their sharp eyes.
0410K13 ^The contemporary magazines go uncensored and enter the Reading
0420K13 Room without any obstruction. ^The authorities are contended with
0430K13 the idea of safety whereas the living bombs
0440K13 are being supplied by the innocent-looking publishers. $^The magazine
0450K13 the six friends had been trying to_ devour so greedily is a popular
0460K13 one, so there is no question of prohibiting its circulation in
0470K13 the college library. ^*Mintu pinched the rib of Swapna and
0480K13 exclaimed enthusiastically: "^What language! ^Wish I might now
0490K13 die in peace!" ^*Runu finished the whole page in breathless excitement,
0500K13 then said, "^Can*'4t understand how the writer could learn
0510K13 such a slang jargon! ^And remember he is regarded as an epitome of culture.
0520K13 ^Not only that_ this gentleman is respected as one of the wisest
0530K13 scholars of Bengal and is a much experienced traveller." $"^*God
0540K13 knows," Chandrakala turns over her palm, "I also feel in the same
0550K13 way. ^Whence could he learn these nasty things?" $*3^RUNU*0 contributes
0560K13 further, "^*I had an old great grandmother-- indecent number one.
0570K13 ^She could never restrain her tongue, used to_ utter these slang
0580K13 terms. ^Perhaps this writer also had such a grand-mother." $"^Oh no,
0590K13 rather this writer could be the father of such an old grand-mother"
0600K13 -- Bela remerked disparagingly. $"^But still you find interest in
0610K13 reading his novels". ^The girls all burst into a devilish laughter
0620K13 and turned over the pages. "^Let us go back to the age of Methuselah
0630K13 and forget about the decorum of language"-- one of them said laughingly.
0640K13 ^*Mintu gave a strong slap on her neighbour*'s back and remarked
0650K13 mischievously "^These magazines are kept away from our reach
0660K13 to_ protect our purity and innocence. ^What an irony!" $"^Is it?
0670K13 ^How strange! ^The same method is adopted in our home also"-- Runu
0680K13 convulsed with laughter. $"^Now, don*'4t remind me of home, it
0690K13 infuriates me. ^They have sent us to the college and expect we would
0700K13 remain like delicate flower buds under severe restriction and control."
0710K13 ^*Mintu twisted her lips in a bitter laugh. "^My mother is
0720K13 always apprehending the danger of my falling in love. ^*I have to_
0730K13 face cross-examination if I am a bit late in the evening." $^*Bela
0740K13 raised her voice in anger. "^Why can*'4t you realise there is only
0750K13 one preventive to_ stop this cross-examination? ^Just shout on
0760K13 their very face and declare-- 'yes, I am free to_ do what I feel best,
0770K13 I do have a lover and spent the whole evening with him'-- "^Poison!
0780K13 ^The whole atmosphere of my home is vitiated" Mintu curved her
0790K13 mouth in disgust. $*3^*RUNU*0 continued in a sour voice: "^The same
0800K13 is the case at home. ^They think to_ love someone is to_ go to hell,
0810K13 because to them all love is illicit, the expression of carnal desire."
0820K13 $^*Bela released a sigh and said "^Yet there are lenient parents
0830K13 as well. ^Those 'goody goody' girls who are the objects of pride
0840K13 in our college, who do not have the capacity to_ retort to the teachers,
0850K13 put on civilized dress with three-quarter sleeves, and prepare lessons
0860K13 diligently at the time of examinations-- I don*'4t think they
0870K13 have got homes like us." $^*Runu remarked laughingly, addressing Bela,
0880K13 "^But why do you worry, Bela? ^You are an honourable 'guest' at
0890K13 your sister*'s place, entirely free to_ come and go as you please,
0900K13 attend your music class, and come to the college and chat to your
0910K13 heart*'s content--" $"^Hm, apparently it seems so" Bela replied
0920K13 with a sigh, "but do you know even a toad*'s hole can be the dwelling
0930K13 place of a snake?" $"^*I see, then you mean you are already
0940K13 bitten by a snake?" $"^Do you ever notice how the other girls in our
0950K13 class look at us? ^As if we are the dirtiest worms of hell." $"^Not
0960K13 only they, the teachers also do the same. ^Only because they
0970K13 are afraid of us, are we not driven away from the college." $"^*God
0980K13 forbid, if it really happens what would become of us! ^After all
0990K13 we are girls, we cannot gossip on the verandah of our neighbours like
1000K13 the wicked *4mastans." $"^Aha, therein lies our sorrow. ^The boys
1010K13 have eternal claim over the balconies. ^It is really a crime to_ be
1020K13 born a girl in Bengal." $"*3^WHY*0 do you say in Bengal? ^This is
1030K13 true about the whole of our traditional India. ^The condition of
1040K13 the girls is the same everywhere." $"^Oh, no, it is not proper to_
1050K13 say so. ^You have all forgotten what our Sanskrit professor had been
1060K13 saying in her lecture on the emancipation and advancement of the
1070K13 Indian women. ^She started with Gargi, Maitrayee, Khana and
1080K13 Lilabati of two thousand years back and swooped down straight on
1090K13 this modern age!" $"^We know, we know *4baba, she need not teach
1100K13 us all these. ^But just tell me what real advancement is achieved by
1110K13 the females of our country despite all these precepts?" $"^Of
1120K13 course, there are improvements in the outside world, legal rights have
1130K13 been granted at various levels." ^The girls went on discussing
1140K13 the problem of women*'s rights. $"^Yes, that_ is quite clear. ^But
1150K13 the point is, whenever they eulogise on the progress of the Indian
1160K13 women, they can show no other example beyond Gargi, Maitrayee,
1170K13 Khana and Lilabati who lived two thousand years back. ^Those famous
1180K13 words of Maitrayee pronounced in the olden times to her bigamous
1190K13 husband the thing that_ does not bring me heavenly ambrosia, has
1200K13 no value for me,-- we are tired of hearing them over and over again.
1210K13 ^Why don*'4t the pulpit lecturers show any other example from
1220K13 the middle periods? ^Because there is only vacuity, no progress,
1230K13 no attainment for the women." $"*3^AND*0 if there is some progress
1240K13 nobody, cares to_ mention it. ^Only if one can achieve fame in
1250K13 this conservative and backward country her name is branded eternally
1260K13 in gold. ^She is paid respect again and again as symbol of idealism
1270K13 always to_ be placed on a pedestal worship. ^Damn your Indian
1280K13 women. ^Century after century have **[sic**] elapsed and not a single
1290K13 woman has emerged who has the courage to_ repeat 'what would I
1300K13 do with the worldly possessions that_ do not give me heavenly
1310K13 nectar? ^Fie, fie." $"^Hear, hear, Chandrakala is dealing with the
1320K13 highest metaphysical questions. ^But one thing you forget dear, the
1330K13 girls who are not considered even human beings, how could they even
1340K13 dream about their claim over ambrosia? ^Do the animals or birds
1350K13 ever think of heavenly blessing? ^Let go all these 'tall talks' about
1360K13 sublimity. ^When I was a little girl I used to_ have the feeling
1370K13 these writers and poets were the direct ancestors of God but this
1380K13 idealism began to_ evaporate as I grew up until it died down
1390K13 completely. ^Now it is quite clear to me that these writers are nothing
1400K13 but shrewd businessmen, selfish shop-keepers out in the world
1410K13 of commercialism with their eyes fixed on material gains. ^Otherwise
1420K13 they could not have written such slang stories." $"^Oh, no no,
1430K13 don*'4t call it business. ^Rather say, 'an ardent search for the naked
1440K13 truth of life'." $^The girls read the story in between their conversation
1450K13 and then suddenly became silent. ^After a pause Mintu opened
1460K13 her mouth-- "^Another thing torments me. ^The brilliant boys, they
1470K13 say, are going astray only because of their affliction of the age,
1480K13 as if they are the only victims of the generation gap. ^As a reaction
1490K13 their minds are polluted, hence as an outburst of their mental agony
1500K13 they use dirty language, do base deeds and as a compensation
1510K13 they gain all the sympathy of the writers!" $*3^*Chandrakala*0 remarked
1520K13 "^Rightly said, that_ day I went to a picture the same attitude
1530K13 was reflected in the story. ^The good natured boys are transformed
1540K13 into vagabonds due to the degeneration of the times." $"^And the
1550K13 girls-- they have no misery, no agony, they are not passing through the
1560K13 transitional age! ^But who is going to_ feel for us? ^Where do we
1570K13 find a single line of sympathy for us from these writers? ^No, not
1580K13 for the unfortunate girls." $"^Hm, that_ is what I was saying" Swagata
1590K13 added. "^The fact is that these modern writers who are in search
1600K13 for **[sic**] so called truth, they may achieve popularity by
1610K13 revealing the worthlessness of this unreal world, their mentality is
1620K13 still imprisoned in the darkness of ignorance of the ancient age.
1630K13 ^They do not have the little bit of broadness to_ consider the females
1640K13 as 'human beings'-- they are only women. ^Otherwise for once at
1650K13 least they could have voiced the agony of the girls of the persent age.
1660K13 ^And even when they do feel about our problems they consider only
1670K13 our sufferings in relation to love or torture by the husbands. ^As
1680K13 if we don*'4t have anything more important in our lives." $^*Chandrakala
1690K13 raised her voice "^Exactly. ^Isn*'4t it also true that this society,
1700K13 our homes, in fact the whole atmosphere are repulsive to us?
1710K13 ^Don*'4t we realize that_ hollowness of this insincere age? ^The hypocrisy,
1720K13 dishonesty and artificiality of the people? ^Nobody feels
1730K13 that we also have a sensitive mind which bears the torment of an
1740K13 imprisoned soul. ^Everyone is sympathetic with the sorrow for the
1750K13 darling boys. ^Sometimes there is a strong wish in me to_ burn
1760K13 the whole world with fire." ^*Bela supported her "^That_ is why we
1770K13 are regarded as subverted women, nobody tries to_ analyse our sorrow."
1780K13 $*3^*Swagata*0 said bitterly "^But the boys enjoy freedom at least.*#
        **[no. of words = 02008**]

        **[txt. k14**]
0010K14 **<*3Before it happened*0**>
0020K14 $^*I wish to_ tell you about that_ thing. ^It is no great event,
0030K14 though. ^But you know, I have hardly any interest in events,
0040K14 especially ordinary ones. ^Is*'4t it ridiculous that life should
0050K14 be spent in an ordinary way, in a very ordinary way, as if it is just
0060K14 a prelude to death? ^You too might be thinking that I*'3m a real eccentric
0070K14 to_ have plunged into a discourse without a preface or introduction.
0080K14 ^Perhaps you have been waiting here for a long time.
0090K14 $^*I have been watching you from a distance. ^There is an ugly rogue
0100K14 shadowing me, and I haven*'4t the least idea about his designs.
0110K14 ^Of course, I have often told myself that certain actions have no obvious
0120K14 reasons. ^But is it possible that you don*'4t bother to_ know
0130K14 the reasons if you are shadowed by a singularly ugly man?
0140K14 $^Not that I am afraid of him. ^Even in the usual course, if someone
0150K14 walking parallel to you keeps pace with you for a time, and looks at
0160K14 you pointedly, you*'3ll have the feeling of being haunted. ^You*'3ll
0170K14 feel that a plot was being hatched against you. ^What greater fear
0180K14 is there than the feeling of infringement upon your freedom? ^That_
0190K14 fellow might be shadowing me because he wants to_ pry into the most personal
0200K14 and secret moments of my life. ^*I am always terribly frightened
0210K14 at this idea. $^Oh, you*'3ve begun to_ laugh. ^All this to you
0220K14 is meaningless talk. ^While I was coming here I glanced back
0230K14 to_ see what the fellow was doing, and found that he too had just turned
0240K14 his head back. ^Whenever he finds me looking at him, he pretends
0250K14 as if he has nothing to_ do with me. $^Fear has haunted me
0260K14 for the past few days both while I was awake and asleep. ^*I have
0270K14 had headaches, and at times felt a slight pounding on my temples.
0280K14 ^Then I called on a physician; he advised me to_ become friends with a
0290K14 wrestler. ^He said that I was immune to any reasoning, and only a
0300K14 good beating would cure me. ^Or, alternatively, I should develop
0310K14 an interest in murder tales so that the eeriness of the events described
0320K14 in them might cathartically shock me out of my malaise. $^Since
0330K14 then I haven*'4t missed an occasion to_ mix in a crowd or stand next to
0340K14 a policeman. ^Only the other day, in order to_ give me a "shock"
0350K14 treatment, a friend of mine brutally killed two of his pet white rats
0360K14 right in front of me. ^*I stand transfixed in horror. ^*I saw
0370K14 the thin, terrible line between life and death. ^It was wrong
0380K14 on the part of my friend to_ have killed the rats. ^He ought not to_
0390K14 have done that. ^It is a vicious deed; we have no right to_ kill
0400K14 others in order to_ have a "taste" of death. ^What effect such grisly
0410K14 deeds have on our lives is hard to_ guess. ^For all I know, I
0420K14 might recover even without such "treatment". $^Of late, the same
0430K14 friend has been doing some very strange, cruel things, weird enough
0440K14 to_ startle anyone. ^*I have a feeling that he is a barbarian born
0450K14 into this century by mistake. ^Only recently he cut off all the legs
0460K14 of a dog just to_ know what difference it would make in the dog*'s daily
0470K14 life. ^His beautiful wife has often told me how afraid she is
0480K14 of her husband. ^She fears that one day he might drive her away from
0490K14 her own children. ^This friend of mine used to_ call his wife a
0500K14 foolish woman. ^He doesn*'4t any longer refer to her even in those terms.
0510K14 ^He thinks it a waste of energy to_ talk about wives. ^*I fail
0520K14 to_ understand why he treats her so, for she is beautiful. ^*I
0530K14 don*'4t know why I am interested in beauty. ^*I saw a beautiful young
0540K14 girl in a park recently seated among little babies. ^Actually
0550K14 I was looking at the bench there, but when I saw the girl*'s face,
0560K14 I fixed my gaze on her. ^The girl was very pretty and everyone near
0570K14 turned to_ look at her. ^She certainly received her beauty*'s worth.
0580K14 ^*I thought: Foolish to_ imagine that one of these men is in love
0590K14 with her. ^Is it possible to_ love in this fast-moving age,
0600K14 I would like to_ ask you. ^Leave it there. ^The girl was fixedly
0610K14 staring at me, though that_ is no new experience for me. ^You won*'4t
0620K14 believe me if I said that the girl looked beautiful because her nose
0630K14 was so thin and her nostrils so narrow that even the tip of my "ballpen"
0640K14 couldn*'4t be pushed in them. ^What would happen if I pushed
0650K14 my thumb inside her nostrils? ^The girl was lovely. ^You might say
0660K14 I*'3m being mischievous. ^But I am so engrossed in beauty that I can*'4t
0670K14 think in any other way. $^In this context I remember an
0680K14 old event. ^This perhaps is the result of our meeting. ^*I shouldn*'4t
0690K14 be remembering it though, for I am not much interested in my
0700K14 past. ^Everything belonging to the past is so meaningless to me
0710K14 that I wonder what I have to_ do with it. ^One might explain recollections
0720K14 from the past in terms of purposelessness, but then, one must
0730K14 be prepared to_ put up with the terror consequent on purposelessness.
0740K14 ^*I view the recollection of this old event in the background of similiar
0750K14 recollections which enter into and form our present life. ^This
0760K14 is a recollection about a strange experience with a woman. ^If that_
0770K14 woman exists somewhere this day, I won*'4t be able to_ recognize her.
0780K14 ^She stood before me exactly as you stand now. ^It was down by
0790K14 the sea-shore. ^She was obviously waiting for someone to_ turn up.
0800K14 ^*I don*'4t like the idea of anyone waiting for another, but it was
0810K14 difficult to_ explain to her the futility of waiting. ^There was the sea
0820K14 before me, and it was my biggest challenge. ^The sea is unassailable.
0830K14 ^You can*'4t do a bit of harm to it. ^On the contrary, it
0840K14 can wipe us out of existence. ^It was a frightening thing and any
0850K14 way I spend my evenings along the sea-shore. ^The woman moved closer
0860K14 and asked, "Are you available?" $^Though I don*'4t remember it
0870K14 well, I feel that she decided to_ live with me because of the peculiar
0880K14 answer I gave her. ^*I can*'4t now remember whether the girl was
0890K14 pretty or ugly. ^We remained together for a long time, but it never
0900K14 occurred to me to_ ask where she came from or what her name was. ^How
0910K14 stupid it is to_ ask someone*'s name! ^It is like asking for a personal
0920K14 mark of identification. ^If someone asks my name, I feel as
0930K14 if someone is holding me by my throat or ripping open my shirt in the front
0940K14 to_ smell the sweat on my hairy chest. ^When that_ woman left me,
0950K14 I felt greatly relieved. $^The first day I met her I was in a
0960K14 terrible fear, and I continued in that_ state as long as she remained
0970K14 with me. ^When I bent over her in the usual position one day, I noticed
0980K14 a shadow on the wall. ^*I walked up to the wall in that_ darkness
0990K14 to_ see what it was of. ^It was like the shadow of someone bending
1000K14 over a woman. ^What*'1s it? ^What*'1s the matter?" ^She
1010K14 asked. ^*I explained to her my apprehensions. ^She laughed wildly
1020K14 and said, "It was your own shadow." ^*I should have belived
1030K14 her, but I didn*'4t. ^*I was terribly frightened, as was sure that
1040K14 the shadow was not mine. ^From then on, I changed my position
1050K14 and continued to_ observe the movements of the shadow. $^One day
1060K14 she suddenly parted from me leaving behind a number of her belongings.
1070K14 ^These things I gave away to the wife of a friend of mine. ^My
1080K14 friend*'s wife remarked that they spoke of the fine taste of the person
1090K14 who had them. ^*I wanted to_ tell her that they were not to my taste,
1100K14 but I don*'4t like to_ go about explaining things. ^Whenever I
1110K14 have a splitting pain in my temples, I feel that the shadow haunting
1120K14 me has shrouded itself in another shadow. ^During those moments,
1130K14 I can*'4t recollect the past. ^*I have yet to_ meet people who are
1140K14 fascinated by the past. ^There might be such people, of course.
1150K14 ^But there aren*'4t any among my friends. ^Even if someone
1160K14 is emotionally excited at times, he behaves more like a clown.
1170K14 $^Perhaps you too don*'4t think much about the past. ^But I am sure
1180K14 no one can get over the pressures of the past. ^Our present is in
1190K14 a way shaped by the past, and when we recollect the past we find it to_
1200K14 be no more than a kind of manifestation of the present. ^One can
1210K14 understand these things more easily at the personal level. ^You must
1220K14 have experienced events which especially affect the personal level.
1230K14 ^For instance, an executioner might be said to_ be performing a purely
1240K14 social function, but his act has a profound effect on the lives of the
1250K14 family members. ^The executioner*'s profession is a dirty one,
1260K14 but it still is a profession. ^In modern times his occuption has become
1270K14 suspect and the methods of execution have changed. ^Even if
1280K14 he discards the tricks of the trade, he would be no better in his personal
1290K14 life. $^*I think you turned your head that_ way because my talk
1300K14 had grown meaningless for you. ^Of course, your turning away
1310K14 has no effect on me anyway. ^Meaningful or meaningless, I believe
1320K14 in talking. ^A murderer commits a murder for no obvious reason
1330K14 than failure to_ find a reason for not committing a murder. ^It
1340K14 first occurs to him that he should commit a murder, not because he thinks
1350K14 he will get any pleasure out of it, but because murder is an act that_*'1s
1360K14 compulsive or attractive. ^We call him a murderer, but for him
1370K14 there is no way out other than doing the deed. ^Do you know who he murdered?
1380K14 ^He killed his own wife. ^When questioned by the police
1390K14 he admitted the crime, but said that there was no reason or motive behind
1400K14 it. ^Further, he demanded that he should be properly punished
1410K14 for the crime. ^His lawyer told him to_ lie to the court that his
1420K14 wife had a bad caracter, so that he might get a more lenient sentence,
1430K14 but he refused to_ do so saying that he wouldn*'4t be able to_ live a
1440K14 free life without his wife. ^Or was that_ a way of repenting?
1450K14 ^Perhaps repentance is the God-given gift for the weak and the reflective
1460K14 type of people. $^You may get the impression that the world
1470K14 we live in is a frightful one. ^It is true. ^Every new step
1480K14 in the realm of science sends a shock up my spine. ^Every
1490K14 piece of news I hear makes me think whether there is anything called
1500K14 extraordinary. ^What significance does this have for a society that_
1510K14 is economically backward and socially depraved? ^You think that I
1520K14 am suffering from some kind of neurosis. ^It would be a relief to_
1530K14 suffer so. ^But I have no such ailment. $^You may have by now forgotten
1540K14 the incident I referred to at the beginnig. ^But, then,
1550K14 it was no incident after all. ^It was no incident because it didn*'4t
1560K14 "incite" any thing or anybody. ^*I wanted to_ tell you about something,
1570K14 and without any obvious reason. ^Please look at my palm,
1580K14 as ordinary man would, and not as a palmist would. ^Surely you can
1590K14 feel that my hand has not dried up. $^You may say that it is not
1600K14 my hand that_ has dried up, but my flesh. ^All right, if you want it
1610K14 that way. ^But I am slowly dring up, and that_ man, that_ ugly
1620K14 fellow, is still chasing me. $^No, no. ^Don*'4t blame my
1630K14 friends or society.*#
        **[no. of words = 02002**]

        **[txt. k15**]
0001K15 **<*3The Aerial*0**>
0010K15 $^No, I won*'4t ask you who you are. ^*I*'3m not in a mood to_ ask
0020K15 anyone anything. ^*I*'3m not even in a mood to_ tell anyone anything.
0030K15 ^But you*'3re the one who came here and sat with me.... so sit.
0040K15 ^No, I don*'4t mind. ^Really... sit down if you like. ^You
0050K15 don*'4t need to_ ask. ^Oh you*'3re not alone? ^Those people
0060K15 over there. ^They*'3re with you? ^They*'3re looking over here.
0070K15 ^Don*'4t worry; they*'3ll wait for you. $^What did you say?
0080K15 ^They want to_ come over and sit down? \0^*O.K. call them; I don*'4t
0090K15 mind. ^But one thing: I really do think you*'3ve misunderstood
0100K15 me. ^*I sense it from the way you*'3re smiling. $^You*'3re taking
0110K15 me for some kind of broken-down lover in tattered clothes. ^No
0120K15 I*'3m not a mad lover.... not mad at all. ^*I have all my senses.
0130K15 $^You pointed to that_ grave. ^You want to_ know who*'1s buried
0140K15 there, you say? ^Yes, it*'1s Melody*'s tomb. ^A tomb doesn*'4t
0150K15 have to_ be for a dead body only; it can be for silence, or for
0160K15 unknowing, or sadness, or for fatigue, or for many things... $"^A
0170K15 pretty girl is like a melody...." $^Yes sir, you*'3re right.
0180K15 ^How can a melody die? ^Sometimes it*'1s so loud that it*'1s heard very
0190K15 clearly; other times it*'1s so soft that it can*'4t be heard at all.
0200K15 $^If you listen carefully, you might be able to_ hear it....
0210K15 but pay close attention. ^Maybe the wind won*'4t drown it out.
0220K15 ^What did you say? ^You don*4't hear anything?... well then, stop.
0230K15 .. I*'3ll do something about it.... $^Listen closely. ^You don*'4t
0240K15 hear anything even now? ^You*'3re smiling. ^You think I*'3m
0250K15 mad. ^Nothing*'1s mad here, mister... and I*'3m not drunk either.
0260K15 ^You*'3re wrong. $^But I would like a cigarette, if you
0270K15 don*'4t mind. ^Let me see if I have one somewhere. $^*I have one...
0280K15 if I had more I*'1d offer you one. ^But then you*'3re not alone,
0290K15 so one cigarette wouldn*'4t be enough for you. ^What*'1d **[sic**] you
0300K15 say? ^*I shouldn*'4t bother about you?... you don*'4t need a cigarette?
0310K15 ^Well, all right... I can*'4t do anything about getting you
0320K15 one right now. ^So I take it that you don*'4t want this last one?
0330K15 $...^Now, what exactly do you want to_ know. ^When intoxication is
0340K15 over, the first puff of a cigarette seems to_ be the best thing in
0350K15 the world. ^*I didn*'4t have a smoke all day. ^By talking to you,
0360K15 I*'1d feel that I*3'm not drunk... but I*3'm all right now.
0370K15 ^There*'1s no question of madness.... $^Melody? ^Well, listen
0380K15 carefully. ^You can hear the tune with your own ears. ^Who am I
0390K15 to_ say.... no, I didn*'4t play the melody. ^You*'3re right when
0400K15 you say that there always has to_ be some musician to_ play any melody.
0410K15 ^*I don*'4t deny it. ^*I was only saying that I*3'm not singing
0420K15 or playing this tune. $^What did you say? ^Who am I? ^*I*3'm
0430K15 nobody. ^*I*3'm just a feeling hanging in the air.... no, not
0440K15 even a feeling .... only a piece of wire... just an aerial. $^*I
0450K15 can*'4t interfere with any sound ever... and I can*'4t change the
0460K15 tempo, or the words. ^*I can*'4t interfere with anyone who has a song
0470K15 in his throat, or with a song that_ must be sung. ^All I can do
0480K15 is adjust the sound when someone can*'4t hear it; I can tune it in better.
0490K15 ^Yes, I can hold it in my hand and send it on. ^What more
0500K15 can an aerial do? $^What did you say? ^A man is, after all,
0510K15 a man? ^How can he change an instrument by putting his hand forward?
0520K15 ^Can he advise anyone to_ change the burden of the song? ^You*'3ve
0530K15 said something very naive and strange, mister. ^*I think you
0540K15 haven*'4t seen many human beings. ^If you have, they must be machines
0550K15 standing and giving orations in meetings. $^There are two types
0560K15 of people in this world. ^*I mean real people. ^*I'3m not talking
0570K15 about machines and the like. ^One kind is the lover; the other is the
0580K15 type who have themselves loved. ^Only two types. ^One type
0590K15 of human beings turn into instruments. ^Yes, mere instruments with
0600K15 wires that_ can be pressed and plucked and tuned to whatever key you like.
0610K15 ^You can get any *4raga **[foot note**] you want out of them.
0620K15 ^Yes, very happy and laughing tones... crying ones too... these
0630K15 people are the ones who love. ^*I*'3ve called them melodies. ^She
0640K15 was one of these. ^*I*3'll call them instruments instead. ^But
0650K15 when I saw her for the first time, she was so slim and beautiful that
0660K15 without thiking I found myself calling her "Melody." ^A vibration
0670K15 in her body like the wires of an instrument; I think that she wasn*4't
0680K15 meant to_ play upon her own instrument. ^*I mean, she could
0690K15 only become an instrument and she couldn*'4t be the hand that_ would pick
0700K15 out the tune on it... she couldn*'4t become the sound coming out of
0710K15 it. $^She was very beautiful... and foolish too. ^People who love
0720K15 generally are very foolish. ^They hand over the key to their treasury
0730K15 to some stranger and then because he might spend a single small coin
0740K15 from it, they look about to_ give the key to someone else. ^They never
0750K15 take their own wealth as wealth; this is the secret of their beauty....
0760K15 this foolishness of theirs makes others love them. $^The other
0770K15 type of human beings I mentioned a minute ago are the ones who
0780K15 make themselves loved. ^They are the emperors of other people*'s riches.
0790K15 ^If I didn*'4t want to_ say this in such a delicate way, I
0800K15 could have simply told the bitter truth: these people are real snakes.
0810K15 ^Snakes sitting upon the treasury. ^They don*'4t spend the riches
0820K15 of anyone*'s mind or body, and they don*'4t let others do it either.
0830K15 ^It*'1s the truth, and a very bitter one, I agree. ^You
0840K15 may be shocked by this, so let me put it a different way. ^Yes sir,
0850K15 these other types of individuals are the hands which play tunes upon
0860K15 the instruments. ^Whenever they like, they dust the instruments,
0870K15 take them in their hands and tune them. ^Then they touch them delicately
0880K15 with their fingers and get sweet, sweet notes out of them. ^And
0890K15 if they like, they don*'4t need to_ play happy tunes, but draw out
0900K15 tragic notes... yes, if they like, they don*'4t even have to_ look
0910K15 at those instruments for years. ^They just keep them in some dusty
0920K15 corner and forget them. ^Well, the poor instrument... it lies like
0930K15 a corpse. ^But there*'1s a difference between an ordinary corpse and
0940K15 this instrument. ^One may cry and weep, but the ordinary corpse
0950K15 doesn*'4t come back to life. ^But this corpse is very unlucky; unlucky
0960K15 because it can*'4t die only once. ^It has to_ die again and again.
0970K15 ^Even after the neglect of days, months or even years, if the
0980K15 owner just touches it, calls it with kindness, this corpse comes back
0990K15 to life.... $^Now you must have understood what I mean when I mentioned
1000K15 two types of persons. ^It*'1s a different matter that these persons
1010K15 sometimes change their roles or fate changes their roles... what did
1020K15 yoy say? ^*I? ^*I*'3m not either of these types. I wasn*'4t
1030K15 meant to_ be an instrument nor even a hand to_ touch it. ^What about
1040K15 you and me? ^We*'3re all human beings, just like so many machines:
1050K15 you, who are listening at your leisure to the story of someone*'s
1060K15 past, and I who am just an aerial to_ adjust and amplify someone*'s
1070K15 sound.... I*'3m right when I say that you and I are different
1080K15 types of machines, like men... you leisurely listen to somebody*'s
1090K15 reminiscences, and I an aerial to_ help tune in some notes coming
1100K15 out of instrument.... I*'3m right in saying that you and I are human
1110K15 beings, just a couple of kinds of machines. $^You might become
1120K15 sad while listening to someone*'s story, or you might spend a sleepless
1130K15 night tonight... but tomorrow you*'3ll busy yourself with your
1140K15 work. ^To_ forget this whole incident, you*'1d take it off like
1150K15 a scratchy shirt. ^And I... whenever you like or anyone else likes....
1160K15 I*'1d raise the volume and let you hear this story. ^But
1170K15 I can never change the end of the story; when you listen and go away--
1180K15 or whenever anyone listens and goes away-- this melody will become
1190K15 silent after embracing the fate of all these notes. and I*'3ll
1200K15 be hanging in the air like an aerial wire... $^Well, as you say. ^Please
1210K15 listen to what Melody has to_ say... what objections could I
1220K15 have?.. $^Once there was an Annie and an Anwar. ^One day Anwer,
1230K15 looking into Annie*'s dark eyes, thought that she was the shore
1240K15 of his life*'s ocean. ^A shore is always a secure place... a person
1250K15 can sit in the sun on its wet sand for hours, play with shells,
1260K15 and by planting a bamboo pole, he can make a roof over his head for
1270K15 protecting himself against storms and showers. ^The shore is the wife;
1280K15 the roof is the home; the shells are the children. $^*Anwar had
1290K15 all of these: Annie was his wife; a three-room flat in Worli, Bombay;
1300K15 and a son, age seven, named Salaam. ^But Anwar had been
1310K15 seeing something in the ocean of life, and it had filled him with such
1320K15 a feeling of adventure that even if he were to_ come near the shore,
1330K15 he wouldn*'4t want to_ come ashore. $^As Anwar was about to_ leave
1340K15 the bed of his secretary, Liz the color of her blue eyes rose and
1350K15 spread on the curtians of the room in such a way that he felt a strange
1360K15 sensation of swimming and drowning in the ocean-- a feeling of the
1370K15 unfathomable, dreadful depth of water. $^While sleeping in Liz*'s
1380K15 bed, Amwar did not have the feeling of sleeping in a woman*'s bed.
1390K15 ^Whenever her white slim arms or the prominence of her breasts
1400K15 touched his body, he felt that the soft fish swimming in the sea were
1410K15 touching him. ^He didn*'4t want to_ bring these fish to any shore: probably
1420K15 in his mind, either consciously or unconsciously, he knew that
1430K15 when fish reach the shore, they die. $^When with Annie, Anwar
1440K15 didn*'4t hate the shore, but he had little envy for it. ^At
1450K15 that_ time, he felt that even though he was coming near the shore,
1460K15 he still didn*'4t want to_ come ashore. ^And then just as someone might
1470K15 touch the shore and joke with it, he stood in the sea water and
1480K15 wanting to_ return ashore, tried to_ tickle it-- that_ is, he asked
1490K15 Annie, "Supposing I leave you..." $^*Annie lay quietly, as
1500K15 unmoved and fixed as the shore. ^*Anwar felt that she wasn*'4t listening
1510K15 to what he was saying, and even if she were, she hadn*'4t understood
1520K15 the seriousness of what he*'d said. ^There*'1s no fear on the
1530K15 shore, but there is for the person who goes beyond the shore, Anwar
1540K15 argued to himself. ^But he knew the truth was bigger than this argument:
1550K15 Woman is the shore of life: the shore is afraid of the traveler
1560K15 who wants to_ take shelter.... the traveler doesn*'4t fear as much
1570K15 as the shore does. $^*Anwar had spent ten years of his life with
1580K15 Annie. ^She was between fifteen or sixteen when she fell in love with
1590K15 him. ^He was just an ordinary, good-looking college student, but
1600K15 her love turned him into an extraordinary person, and his boyishness
1610K15 was elevated into manliness. ^*Anwar knew that Annie*'s well-placed
1620K15 parents would never accept him, so he challenged her love. "^You*'3ll
1630K15 never have courage enough to_ leave your parents and come to me
1640K15 on the sly." ^Her mind had advanced beyond her physical charms to
1650K15 the extent that she*'1d never refuse a challenge, or ever admit that
1660K15 she couldn*'4t meet any danger. $^Consequently, one night Annie
1670K15 knocked at his door in the dormitory and said, "Anwar, you said I*'1d
1680K15 never come." ^Then it was Anwar, not Annie, who became frightened.*#
        **[no. of words = 02004**]

        **[txt. k16**]
0010K16 **<*3ON BANKS AND SHOALS*0**> **[leader comment begin**]
0020K16 $^Time does not stand still. ^It moves forward relentlessly. ^But the
0030K16 essential human dilemma is the same. ^It stands suspended in the infinitude
0040K16 of time. **[leader comment end**] $*3^AN*0 episode flowing
0050K16 down River Time-- got stuck on the bank of an Era: exactly
0060K16 where and when the Rishi Veda Vyasa had once sat in meditation in a forest.
0070K16 $^The moment his power of concentration was disturbed, he opened
0080K16 his eyes and saw Rani Satyavati standing-- as ravishingly charming
0090K16 as ever, but deeply sorrowful. $^Like the leaves of the tree
0100K16 under which he sat, he bent in salutation: "^My eternally beautiful
0110K16 Mother, why this sorrow writ on your face-- tell me?" $^The
0120K16 mother drew him lovingly to her breast. "^You*'3re from the Rishi
0130K16 Dynasty. ^You*'3ve no idea what agony love can cause in a human heart.
0140K16 ^*I*'3ve inherited the love of ruling in right royal manner from
0150K16 Raja Santanu himself..... for to_ continue with the dynastic line
0160K16 of descent, I gave birth to you from the same womb I brought
0170K16 forth the other two of the *4Raja*'s sons. ^But alas, one of the princes
0180K16 got killed in battle; the other fell victim to an incurable
0190K16 disease. ^What happens to the two inconsolable *4Ranis? ^Mustn*'4t
0200K16 their destinies run their courses-- I ask you?" $^All the withered
0210K16 leaves of the trees clustered down to_ look searchingly into Veda
0220K16 Vyasa*'s face. $^*Rani Satyavati*'s mind began flowing with the
0230K16 gentle waves of the Ganges River. "^*Maha Rishi Parasher had taken
0240K16 me to him like these waters. ^You are a pearl from the bay of the same
0250K16 stream. ^Playing on the sands and shoals, you wandered freely
0260K16 in and out of these groves and bushes you made all yours. ~you*'3ve
0270K16 no notion what the love for a gem in a crown can be." $*3^LIKE*0
0280K16 the rays of the sun enamelling the softly-swaying green foliage around,
0290K16 a smile hovered around Veda Vyasa*'s lips. "^True, I*'3ve no notion
0300K16 of what love for a kingdom can be; yet I can conjecture some what
0310K16 a mother*'s love....." $^*Satyavati bent low down like the ends
0320K16 of the creeper climbing the tree. "^The gem in a crown needs must
0330K16 have a throne, the throne needs must have a ruler. ^Both my daughters-in-law
0340K16 are widows today, I come as an emissary of theirs to_ ask the
0350K16 boon of a son each from you." $^*Veda Vyasa raised his eyes to the
0360K16 tree spread overhead, and the branches and leaves all bent low down
0370K16 as if in search of their seeds on the earth. $^The *4Rishi's lips
0380K16 parted in a knowing smile. "^The commands of both Mother and Earth
0390K16 shall be obyed." $^*Veda Vyasa fulfilled his promise. ^He bequeathed
0400K16 a son each to Ambika and ambalika. $^Like the shrill delight
0410K16 of children in play, when the waters cascaded down the locks, the same
0420K16 Episode moved along in and out the creeks and bends of Time until
0430K16 it came to a halt at the bank of *5Kali Yuga,*6-- right there where
0440K16 Baldev*'s simple, little hut stood: there where on a rough wooden
0450K16 table lay Camus, Kafka and Pasternak; the Mahabharata drew a
0460K16 conspicuous blank. $^And right in front, his friend Kashinath came
0470K16 and stood like a broken leaf fluttered to a spot on the ground. "^My
0480K16 prayer-- the Lord Almighty has not been able to_ grant; the herbal
0490K16 medicine from a *4Vaid has not been of any use. ^*I*'3ve come to_ ask
0500K16 therefore the boon of a son from you." $*3^THERE*0 was no tree
0510K16 overhead. ^But Baldev*'s ears got filled with sounds as from rustles
0520K16 of leaves. $^*Kashinath was saying. "^The healthful body of my wife
0530K16 has been yoked to a cursed diseased man. ^Rid her of this affliction
0540K16 for a fleeting moment, my Friend!" ^*Baldev*'s entire frame
0550K16 became as knotted and gnarled as the roots of a giant tree. ^Like a leaf
0560K16 fallen with the driff of the wind, Kashinath fell at his feet.
0570K16 "^This secret shall remain sealed in my heart, yours and hers! none
0580K16 else would know, I vow." $'^This little shoot sprouted from the knotted
0590K16 and gnarled body of Kashinath*'s-- Perhaps as the Chronicle
0600K16 of Time ascribes..... I am perhaps a Veda Vyasa... a Rishi...'
0610K16 $^Thus the Episode travelled down from Era to Era. ^And from
0620K16 the broken, fluttering leaves, a Dynasty of flowers sprung forth.
0630K16 $^A son was born to Kashinath. ^Friends and relations came with
0640K16 their blessing and good wishes. ^And when Baldev bent and took a
0650K16 look at the new-born in the cradle, his lips got sealed like Veda
0660K16 Vyasa*'s. $"^No, no.. no! ~I*'3m no Veda Vyasa!" ^With that_
0670K16 fierce denial, Baldev*'s dream broke and he woke up. $^The unfinished
0680K16 bottle of drink still stood on his bedsids table. ^With trembling
0690K16 hands he poured some more into the glass and gulping it down,
0700K16 madly muttered: "^Your line of descent was from the Gods, Veda Vyasa...
0710K16 not from that_ of Common Man. ^And that_ makes some diffence,
0720K16 doesn*'4t it?" $*3^*BALDEV*'S*0 imagination drifted far into
0730K16 the Forest of Centuries. ^And with an uncommon Wail from the Deep,
0740K16 he lamented: '^*Rishi Raja! ^You have the power of Meditatin....
0750K16 of Maditation undefiled I have dreams, only dreams. ^A
0760K16 medley of fantasies....' $^The words from Baldev*'s lips echoed
0770K16 with the winds passing through the trees. "^Look Rishi! ^Look at
0780K16 me! ^Here... see... here is my Ambika. ^You had stopped recognising
0790K16 your Ambika soon enough... ^Mine is defferent. ^To
0800K16 me, she is a living reality... she is my very own Ambika: a part of
0810K16 my existence.... ^Wherever I go, she is with me." ^And laughing
0820K16 heartily, he continued: "^Look Rishi! ^You have no shadow.
0830K16 ^People speak the truth when they say that the *4Devtas... The
0840K16 Divinities above have no shadows. ^Man alone has the curse of having
0850K16 them following him. ^See for yourself-- mine, in fact, is larger
0860K16 than life...." $^His resonately rising voice clashed against
0870K16 the Silence of Centuries and subsided like tidal billows sadly into a
0880K16 deep stillness. "^Your period of meditation was over the moment Satyavati
0890K16 called out to you. ^Why does my voice not penetrate your ears?
0900K16 ^Why must it be so? ^You never picked your boy from Ambika*'s
0910K16 lap into your arms. ^*I have held him close to my heart. ^You
0920K16 do not know what it means to_ break away from one who is flesh of
0930K16 one*'s flesh..." $^*Baldev*'s body got bathed in streaming, steaming
0940K16 blood. "^You do not know the odour of blood, Rishi! ^Man*'s
0950K16 blood has it more pronouncedly when he is wounded to the depths.
0960K16 ^And blood has a pleasant enough aroma too when tender lips open in innocent
0970K16 laughter. ^That_ is when one discovers the common scent between
0980K16 father and son." $*3^AND*0 a stronger, more powerful scent flowed
0990K16 down the bulging veins of Baldev*'s forehead. ^Stupefied he spoke.
1000K16 $"^No matter where my Ambika takes her fragrance with her, I can
1010K16 find her out. ^*I feel her spasms and sighs resting on my arms....
1020K16 against my shoulders... lingering on my neck like a precious trust
1030K16 reposed in me. ^Don*'4t you see that I had quaffed deeply at her lips
1040K16 once?..." $^A vein in his forehead stood out with the strain of
1050K16 an indefinable pain. ^He bit his lower lip and said. "^You knew
1060K16 only to_ give, Rishi. ^You could never have known what it was to_
1070K16 receive... to_ accept feelingly. ^*I have lived through it all:
1080K16 through that_ unique experience. ^When I descended into the various
1090K16 depths of my Ambika, those very depths had taken me tightly into
1100K16 their grip, and when they unfolded again like the petals of an effoliating
1110K16 flower, I brought back with me their varying shades of odours.
1120K16 ^That_ was an intense moment when I awakened to the give-and-take
1130K16 strands entwining a tie. ^*I have lived through that_ intensity
1140K16 of experience, Rishi... ^You have not. ^There is not half as
1150K16 much pain in giving as there is in receiving. ^You do not-- you
1160K16 cannot know what that_ pain is, Rishi!" $^A stillness reigned all around.
1170K16 ^Around... far away... he could envisage the Future through
1180K16 the deep stillness. ^He could see it containing the remaining years
1190K16 of his life.... just an endless... a darkness of impenetrable
1200K16 silence. ^But in that_ darkness, Baldev shut himself up and sank
1210K16 to a deeper spot of darkness. ^Once settled down to the Region of
1220K16 Darkness, his lips began quivering.... as if with them the layers
1230K16 of darkness.... were beginning to_ be distubed. $"*3^SHE*0 had
1240K16 come for a spark of fire from me. ^For the sake of that_ spark
1250K16 I had to_ burn. ^And burn I well did . ^But I did not know,
1260K16 nor did she for that_ matter, that we would--- each of us go through that_
1270K16 Ordeal of Fire. ^She had shivered when touched by it, and
1280K16 for support had yielded herself entirely to one as if embarrassed by
1290K16 the flame that_ had arisen from her. ^And now I find she has felt
1300K16 the ashes of her burnt-out fire mingled in mine. ^See for yourself
1310K16 Rishi Raja! $^An apparition of a sort took shape (from my state
1320K16 of consciousness): a sort of a stone idol out of the darkness. ^Perhaps
1330K16 time had really turned it into stone... or so it appeared perhaps
1340K16 because it was still in a state of deep meditation." ^*Baldev stretched
1350K16 his arm out in the darkness to_ touch the feet of the form reverently.
1360K16 ^And his voice shook like his groping arm. "^*I crave your pardon,
1370K16 Rishi Raja! ^*I forgot myself when I a mere human tried
1380K16 to_ imitate you. ^For a fleeting moment, I tried identifying myself
1390K16 with you. ^For a fleeting moment only I stole your prayer-mat,
1400K16 only to_ realize that I am I and that I cannot be you. ^The serenity
1410K16 of your all-pervading presence can still be felt in the forest; I
1420K16 am in utter contrast, tossing about in my state of restlessness; and
1430K16 that_ is because I have to_ bear the burdensome curse of being at
1440K16 both giving and receiving ends-- I want my Ambika as well as my child
1450K16 by my side. ^My eyes can see not only ahead but far back to the
1460K16 time when Ambika was with me: leaning against my side... and I was
1470K16 getting a new span of life in and trough her." $^*Baldev nodded from
1480K16 his comatose state of consciousness back into sleep. ^The silence
1490K16 in the room took a breath of relief. ^Only the soft wind blowing in
1500K16 from the open window shook the pages of the open book on the table as if
1510K16 Canto Five of the Mahabharata were establishing rapport with
1520K16 Camus*' Outsider and as if Pasternak*'s Zhivago were rubbing eyes
1530K16 on learning from Maharishi Parasher the secret of converting the
1540K16 offensive *4Matsya (fish) odour into pleasnt aroma. $^Suddenly the
1550K16 silence of the room shivered and looked intently at Baldev. ^With feeling
1560K16 fermenting literally to a point of torment, he rose up from his
1570K16 bed murmuring. '^What is this curse, Veda Vyasa. ^*I seem to_
1580K16 be burning whenever I go to sleep. ^Not only I Ambika too. ^And
1590K16 I wake up always to a heap of ashes. ^How on earth will my boy
1600K16 trace out his genealogy from ashes, I ask you?' $^And the river flowed
1610K16 on as before. ^Only the ripples flowing on sadly witnessed the Episode
1620K16 being reduced to handful of dust and ashes on a bank.
1630K16 $**<*3The ommiscient stars*0**>
1640K16 $^THE astrologer*'s tuft, quivering with a life all its own,
1650K16 waggled up and down on the back of his head with every movement he made.
1660K16 ^Indeed, whenever he gestured forcefully, as he often did, his
1670K16 hands cleaving the air with authoritative whirls, it untied itself
1680K16 completely and hung down behind him, an absurd little twisted rope of grey.
1690K16 $^Heroically stifling a growing temptation to giggle, Ammu
1700K16 watched him help himself generously from the tray before him, and was lost
1710K16 in admiration for the expert way in which he tucked an enormous roll
1720K16 of well-filled betel leaves into a corner of his mouth, opening it wide
1730K16 to_ reveal discoloured teeth. ^Chewing meditatively on the succulent
1740K16 wedge, he flipped through a sheaf of palmyra leaves covered with minute
1750K16 squiggles and embarked with all due gravity on the business of the
1760K16 day.*#
        **[no. of words = 02024**]

        **[txt. k17**]
0010K17 **<*3Maluka**> $*<*32. The School*> $*3^*Maluka was a school
0011K17 dropout.
0020K17 ^It was the stimulus provided by his illiterate countrymen in British
0030K17 Columbia that_ made him go back to school. $^In December 1920 Mahatma
0040K17 Gandhi had come to the Punjab to_ promote the non-violent non-cooperation
0050K17 campaign against the British Government. ^He advocated the
0060K17 boycott of British goods and institutions, including the schools, which,
0070K17 he said, had instilled a slave mentality. $^Much water had flown
0080K17 down the rivers in the Punjab since Sir Michael O*'3Dwyer, the Governor,
0090K17 had crushed the Ghadr movement in 1915. ^The war to_ save democracy
0100K17 for the world had been won; India*'s aspirations for a share of
0110K17 its blessings effectively thwarted; suppressive legal measures adopted;
0120K17 and the 'natives' taught a lesson through the Amritsar massacre. ^And
0130K17 he was still there to_ show that where the strong rule obedience is best,
0140K17 little dreaming that in time he too was to_ receive the wages of sin
0150K17 through the pistol of a Punjabi in London. ^But Sir Michael and the
0160K17 impregnable imperial might were now faced with a different phenomenon.
0170K17 ^A saint had arisen to_ defy Caesar and millions rose to_ join him.
0180K17 ^The very soul of India was now in revolt; its success was no longer doubted,
0190K17 for the conviction had grown that the Government, having betrayed
0200K17 its *4Dharma, was drifting fast to its doom. ^And a quiet assurance
0210K17 came from the crumbling ruins of old empires that those whom the gods wish
0220K17 to_ destory they first make mad. $^The day the Mahatma was to_ pass
0230K17 through Maluka*'s village, people from near and distant hamlets had
0240K17 started with the dawn to_ gather along the road from Jullundur to Hoshiarpur
0250K17 for a *4darshan-- a communion of their souls with the Great
0260K17 Soul, the Mahatma, in silence. ^All the denominational schools in Hoshiarpur--
0270K17 the Islamia, the Arya Samaj and the Sanatan Dharam-- were
0280K17 closed for the day. ^Only the Government High School had insisted
0290K17 that the staff and the students must keep out of mischief and attend to
0300K17 the business of education as usual. $^As Maluka and his village schoolmates
0310K17 walked the three miles to the school through happy crowds in eager
0320K17 expectation, they felt a sense of futility in their pursuit of learning.
0330K17 ^The vast exhilerating tide of old and young, women and children, surging
0340K17 towards Swaraj, tugged at their hearts. $^The bright sun rose high
0350K17 in the clear blue sky and the chilly atmosphere of the school warmed
0360K17 up a little, but the silence remained ominous. ^The headmaster of the school
0370K17 was a learned Anglo-Indian; he dressed like a Sahib and ruled
0380K17 like a martinet. ^In the heavy silence he sensed a suppressed rumble of
0390K17 storm, and he rushed about in the long, wide verandas swishing his cane.
0400K17 ^But the exaggerated assertion of authority betrayed a lack of assurance.
0410K17 ^The teachers appeared to_ be busy teaching, and the students, their
0420K17 books open in front, looked out through the windows. $^Soon the students
0430K17 from the other high school arrived with a band. ^Many stood on the
0440K17 low school boundary walls and shouted repeatedly: $^Leave the cage. ^Fight
0450K17 for freedom. $^*India calls! ^The Mahatma calls! $^Most of Maluka*'s
0460K17 class-fellows were *3*4jat boys from the neighbouring villages;
0470K17 they didn*'4t need school education to_ earn a living. ^They were, in
0480K17 fact, better at sports than in studies, and enjoyed the rough and tumble
0490K17 of life in the fields more than the quiet and systematic acquisition
0500K17 of book knowledge. ^And the headmaster had rightly suspected trouble to_
0510K17 break out in that_ class. $^More students joined the crowd outside and
0520K17 the calls to freedom became louder. ^Within the school, the atmosphere
0530K17 became more tense, and the boys in Maluka*'s class more restless. ^They
0540K17 left their seats and looked out impatiently from the windows. $^The
0550K17 headmaster rushed into the room. $'^Sit down!' he shouted. $^All took
0560K17 their seats. ^They resented the stern command, but obeyed out of habit,
0570K17 and they felt not a little ashamed of their unthinking obedience. $'^Who
0580K17 among you wishes to_ leave the school?' he asked fiercely. '^*I want
0590K17 him to_ stand up.' $^In the oppressive silence the boys looked at
0600K17 each other, partly in fear and partly for encouragement, but none stood
0610K17 up. $'^If no one stands up,' he added triumphantly, 'I want you to_
0620K17 continue with your lesson in a disciplined manner. ^Pay no heed to the
0630K17 rowdies on the road barking out nonsense.' $^Provoked by the challenge
0640K17 and annoyed by the insulting references to the students from other schools,
0650K17 Maluka rose slowly from his seat, his heart pounding, and stood
0660K17 up holding the edges of his desk firmly in his hand. $'^So *3you wish
0670K17 to_ leave?' asked the headmaster threateningly. $'^Yes, sir', replied
0680K17 Maluka, and the affirmation relieved the tension in his body. $'^Did
0690K17 you ask your parents for their permission?' $'^No. sir.' $'^Did you ask
0700K17 your class teacher?' $'^No sir.' $'^My cane has the permission to_ correct
0710K17 you.' $^One, two three... the strokes came hard and fast. $^With
0720K17 lightning speed his classmates leaped out of the low windows, shouting,
0730K17 '^Come out, come out,' to_ join the exuberant crowd of students on the
0740K17 road. ^The band struck up a martial tune. ^In a few minutes the entire
0750K17 school was empty. $*<*=2*> $'^It was foolish of Gandhi to_ call
0751K17 the boys
0760K17 out of the school,' said Ganda Singh. '^What were they to_ do?' $'
0770K17 ^It was a mistake', agreed Gian Chand, 'but Gandhi was consistent.'
0780K17 $'^Consistently foolish!' jibed Ganda. $'^The *3*4jat boys never liked
0790K17 the school,' observed the cook shrewdly, 'and Gandhi gave them a patriotic
0800K17 reason for leaving it.' $'^And I am told,' added Banta Singh,
0810K17 'that they persuaded, even forced, the good *4Brahmin and *4Khatri students
0820K17 to_ leave. ^Is that_ right, Maluka?' $'^Well,' confessed Maluka
0830K17 with a faint smile, 'many among us felt that if some bright boys can*'4t
0840K17 see straight with Gandhi, their vision needs to_ be corrected.' $'^So
0850K17 you boys used violence to_ get the unwilling students out, so that
0860K17 they may practice non-violence with Gandhi,' chuckled Gian Chand,
0870K17 himself a *4Khatri. '^There*'1s *3*4jat logic for you!' $'^At least
0880K17 the schoolboys got the benefit of the freedom movement right away,' added
0890K17 Jugga, 'and poor India is still waiting.' $'^Anyway, you didn*'4t lose
0900K17 much time, Maluka', consoled Banta Singh. '^And you*'3ve gained
0910K17 a lot. ^You saw a great man. ^You heard him speak. ^You felt the glow of
0920K17 a great burning. ^The school would mean more to you now.' $'^But you
0930K17 must go back to school,' emphasized Gian Chand. $'^Yes, you must, Maluka,'
0940K17 added Natha Singh softly, 'or you*'3ll become an ignorant beast
0950K17 of burden like us.' $^The summer holidays were coming to an end, and Maluka
0960K17 began to_ think about the school. ^The three young boys, who had
0970K17 taken jobs in the planer mills, had already left. ^They had to_ help
0980K17 with fruit picking at home. $^The colourful season of fruitfulness had
0990K17 indeed begun. ^The tall rows of raspberry canes were wine red at the tips,
1000K17 and the gooseberry bushes had more fruit than leaves. ^The plums
1010K17 had ripened purple-blue and reddish-yellow; the pears were turning pale
1020K17 and the apples deep red. ^Across the Fraser on Lulu Island, the rectangular
1030K17 fields of barley and oats looked like bright patches of gold
1040K17 on a quilt of green. ^The days were still warm, but the evenings brought
1050K17 a touch of the autumn, and an odd yellow leaf parted sadly from the poplars.
1060K17 $^The mellow days of soft sunshine, like early winter days in
1070K17 the Punjab, when the sugarcane sweetened and the citrus fruit harvest gleamed
1080K17 yellow and orange on the round green trees, made Maluka very happy.
1090K17 ^The thought of going back to school made him happier still. $'^It*'3ll
1100K17 be good to_ join the Kitslano High School,' advised Natha Singh.
1110K17 '^It*'1s not far from the Gurdwara. ^Many of our people live in that_
1120K17 area, and you can stay with them.' $'^A beautiful beach is nearby,'
1130K17 added the cook, 'and you can walk across Granville bridge to the heart
1140K17 of the city.' $'^And you*'3ll be able to_ listen to *3*4Gurbani
1141K17 **[foot note : the voice of the *4Guru.**]
1150K17 regularly at the Gurdwara,' said Bhai Tara Singh ardently,
1160K17 'and meet many good people.' $'^And when you wish to_ see us,' observed
1170K17 Prem wistfully, 'the interurban car will bring you here in half an
1180K17 hour.' $^Soon after the schools opened Maluka presented himself at
1190K17 Kitslano High School. $^The principal, a neatly dressed energetic man
1191K17 of medium
1200K17 size with sharp features, received him with half-concealed suprise.
1210K17 $'^Let me see your school certificate,' he asked authoritatively, and his
1220K17 thin lips closed tight as he examined the creased document. $'^It seems,'
1230K17 he observed hesitatingly, 'that you are qualified to_ join grade *=10.'
1240K17 $^The coldness of his words widened the distance between the two.
1250K17 $'^How long have you been here?' $'^Five months, sir.' $'^And what have
1260K17 you been doing?' $'^Working in a lumber mill.' $'^Don*'4t you like your
1270K17 work?' $'^*I do, sir, but I*'1d like to_ finish my schooling.' $'^Well,
1280K17 you are the first Sikh boy to_ come to this school. ^Do you think,
1290K17 you*'3ll pull along with the students?' $'^*I shall do my best, sir.'
1300K17 $'^Come with me to the class teacher,' he said with a sharp gesture
1310K17 as he got up from his chair. $^The class teacher, a balding man of mild
1320K17 manners, looked very surprised to_ see a turbaned teenager wanting to_
1330K17 join the school. ^He too felt that Maluka*'s qualifications were in order,
1340K17 but doubted whether he would find it easy to_ make the necessary
1350K17 adjustments. $^The interview, conducted more like a police inquiry than
1360K17 an educational guidance session, crowned with doubt, made Maluka feel
1370K17 very uneasy. ^He wondered whether he was really wanted there. $^Suppressing
1380K17 his feelings, he followed the principal through the quiet corridor,
1390K17 the classroom doors closed on both sides, to his office. ^He felt
1400K17 very confused and not a little dejected. ^Wouldn*'4t it be better to_
1410K17 have the confusion cleared even if it meant a greater dejection? ^He didn*'4t
1420K17 understand things in the New World too well, but he understood
1430K17 his feelings thoroughly. ^And his lack of knowledge made him rely more
1440K17 upon his courage. $'^Would you be glad to_ have me in the school, sir?'
1450K17 he ventured to_ ask the principal, looking him full in the face. $'^Not
1460K17 particularly,' came the clipped reply, and the plastic face remained
1470K17 immobile. $^*Maluka had no desire to_ join Kitslano High School.
1480K17 $^Depressed in spirit, his heart turbulent, he decided to_ walk back to
1490K17 the small wooden interurban car station on False Creek at Granville
1500K17 Bridge via the Sikh Temple on Second Avenue West. ^Soon he was
1510K17 able to_ see from a distance the familiar *5Nishan Sahib,*6 the
1520K17 yellow Sikh flag bearing the militant emblem-- swords crossed around
1530K17 the *3*4chakra-- in black, fluttering on a white mast over the roof of
1540K17 the Gurdwara. $^The sight of the flag stirred him and he walked more
1550K17 energetically, hardly noticing the pedestrians on the cement sidewalk. ^Many
1560K17 episodes from Sikh history flashed through his mind. $^Yes! under
1570K17 this flag the Sikhs had shown amazing courage in adversity. ^Holding
1580K17 it high, they had often challenged the dark fate and fought it to victory.
1590K17 ^What determination it had aroused! ^What a spirit of sacrifice! $^Soon
1600K17 he was at the Gurdwara. ^He walked up the high flight of broad steps
1610K17 to_ pay homage to the *5Granth Sahib*6 for Guru Gobind Singh,
1620K17 the tenth and last guru of the Sikhs, had ordained, to_ guard against
1630K17 personality cults, that after him the Scripture was to_ be the only
1640K17 *4guru of the democratic *3*4Khalsa for all times. ^All guidance and
1650K17 inspiration, all that_ was needed to_ strengthen faith and galvanize
1660K17 courage was to_ be found in it. $^There appeared to_ be nobody in
1670K17 the Gurdwara. ^The *3*4Granthi (Priest) was in fact considered more
1680K17 like a caretaker than a scholar versed in the musical reading of the
1690K17 Scripture and its meaningful interpretation. ^*Guru Gobind Singh, moreover,
1700K17 had also abolished priesthood among the *3*4Khalsa, so that
1710K17 any knowledgeable Sikh could take charge of the religious service and
1720K17 lead the congregation in prayer.*#
        **[no. of words = 02004**]

        **[txt. k18**]
0010K18 *<9*> **<*3Bovine Bugles**> $^The cluster of slums rigged up in tin
0020K18 and gunny bags stood quarantined in a smudge in the rural expanse, way
0030K18 down the circular road that_ held the city in a ring of concrete. ^Opposite
0040K18 the anti-septic urban stretch of the highway were the three-storeyed
0050K18 apartment blocks in a rectangle. ^The lofty, residential area was called
0060K18 Sundar Nagar and, maybe cross at the loveliness across them, the
0070K18 slum dwellers retaliated by naming their place Shaheed Nagar the city
0080K18 of martyrs. ^The city of beauty and the city of martyrs stood menacingly
0090K18 poised against one another for the ultimate conflict of Payyan*'s dreams.
0100K18 $^Television antennae, quite the status symbol of the times sprouted
0110K18 from the terraces of Sundar Nagar. ^*Shaheed Nagar had an answer
0120K18 for this too. ^A great number of tricolour in tatters flapped atop poles
0130K18 pitched all over the place. ^Power lines had not been pulled into the
0140K18 slums nor was there a system of protected water supply in them. ^Nature
0150K18 took care of whatever problem in sanitation there was with the Yamuna
0160K18 flowing close by. ^The yearly floods burst the banks of the river and
0170K18 surged into the slums and gave it a wholesome, holy wash before receding
0180K18 back into stream. $^The Minister*'s car turned into the narrow dirty
0190K18 road of the slum and inched its way a few yards when it halted, mobbed
0200K18 by the crowd. ^The Minister and Sunanda got down. $^*Payyan asked the
0210K18 Mercedes to_ be parked under a tree on the ring road and walked into
0220K18 the jostle along with Bhandari. ^*Sunanda and the Minister*'s white
0230K18 cap showed now and again as the mass of humanity rose and fell like a tide.
0240K18 $^An earthern lamp flickered on a blanket spread across the lane between
0250K18 the rows of hutments on either side. ^*Sunanda and the Minister
0260K18 stood before the holy light with the slum dwellers in tolerably clean rags,
0270K18 specially washed for the event, milling round them. ^A girl in her
0280K18 early twenties walked up to the Minister with a garland of white roses
0290K18 in her hands. ^*Payyan was stunned. ^A smasher! $^She looked a Rajasthani
0300K18 in her peasant skirt and blouse in dark green. ^A rash of silver
0310K18 ringlets crowded her ear lobes. ^She moved erect and unwavering like a
0320K18 flame and the Minister, like Payyan, stood in a trance. $^She raised
0330K18 the garland in her hands and looked at the Minister. ^As he bowed his
0340K18 head, happy to_ be garlanded like a groom at a wedding, Sunanda whispered
0350K18 something in his ear. ^He straightened himself shaking with laughter
0360K18 and took the garland in his hands. $^The mob clapped and the girl flashed
0370K18 the Minister a smile that_ could have melted metal. $^*Bhandari clicked
0380K18 at his flash. $^The young thing then garlanded Sunanda and gave
0390K18 her a bouquet. $^*Payyan clapped vigorously. ^He was getting drunk with
0400K18 the girl. $"^Who*'1s she?" ^*Payyan asked Bhandari. $"^*I don*'4t know,"
0410K18 he said rather innocently. $^The distinguished guest and Sunanda
0420K18 moved forward in the direction of the dais at the end of the lane and Payyan
0430K18 had considerable difficulty in keeping abreast of them with the
0440K18 crowd shoving him about. ^The Minister was talking animatedly to the girl
0450K18 by his side all the time and the accomplished one was laughing away
0460K18 like a bell pealing. ^*Payyan wished she wouldn*'4t squander all her charm
0470K18 on the Minister but keep some of it back for himself and the rest of
0471K18 the
0480K18 insulted and the humiliated who might go on the line after the *3*4tamasha
0490K18 was over. $^The procession stopped some distance short of the stage.
0500K18 ^*Sunanda pointed to a shack on her left to the Minister and turned
0510K18 back and motioned Payyan and Bhandari to_ follow her. $^Showing \0VIPs
0520K18 inside the shacks of slums was a great ritual in the art of slumming.
0530K18 ^They bowed their way into the shack after Sunanda, the Minister,
0540K18 the girl and the headman of the slum. ^It was out of bounds for the
0550K18 mob outside. $^Everything was spit and polish inside the single room, the
0560K18 size of a bath in a governmental colony for peons. ^The headman had
0570K18 pulled off the trick at tweny four hours notice. ^The floor was paved with
0580K18 cow dung, and a calendar of Lord Krishna with his horde of milkmaids
0590K18 from nearby Mathura adorned the tinned wall. ^The fumes of camphor from
0600K18 a brass cup beneath the photo curled up the Lord*'s face. ^A string
0610K18 cot with a mattress neatly folded upon it stood at one end. ^Washed linen
0620K18 hung from a clothesline above the cot. ^A couple of *3*4moodhas--
0630K18 cane stools-- were in the centre and the ancient *4hookah reared its head
0640K18 like a cobra in a corner. ^There was no kitchen in the shack. ^Obviously
0650K18 the headman was no great believer of eating. ^The place was so simple
0660K18 and cosy and neatly turned out that Mahatma Gandhi and his goat
0670K18 could have lived there in princely splendour. $^*Payyan took a second look
0680K18 at Lord Krishna, the Don Juan of pre-history. ^No one else in recorded
0690K18 history had excelled the scale in mass orgy he had organised with
0700K18 sixteen thousand and eight teen age girls in the cast. ^The stamina is
0710K18 beyond you by all means and so forget it, Payyan told himself and offered
0720K18 a prayer to the great he-man on the wall. $"^*Mahatman," said the turbaned
0730K18 headman addressing the Minister with folded hands "please be seated."
0740K18 $^The Mahatman looked the dove of a girl with an enhanced sense
0750K18 of lust in his eyes and asked: "^How is this young one related to you?"
0760K18 $"^*Chameli is my niece, Mahatman. ^She is the younger daughter of my
0770K18 only sister." $"^But I didn*'4t see her the last time I was here," ^*Payyan
0780K18 said. $^The headman looked round to him: "^Ah, it*'1s our
0781K18 *4Sab.
0790K18 ^You*'3re right, *4Sab. ^*Chameli had been to the village and
0791K18 returned
0800K18 only last week." $"^Dont*'4t send her back any more," said the Minister.
0810K18 $^*Chameli with her chiselled face threw Payyan a defiant look. $"^Where
0820K18 are the newsmen?" ^*Sunanda asked him, watching his attention flitter.
0830K18 $"^The Managing Editors and the Board of Directors must be on
0840K18 their way," he said still sizing up Chameli. $"^And our distinguished
0850K18 foreign guests, Bhandari?" $"^They*'3ll be here any moment now." $^The
0860K18 minister put his hand on Chameli*'s shoulder and asked the headman: "^How
0870K18 many childern do you have?" $"^None, Mahatman. ^The gods have been
0880K18 unkind to me. ^That_*'1s why I adopted Chameli as my daughter." $"^Where
0890K18 is your wife?" $"^She is with the women outside, Mahatman." $"^Now
0900K18 I know why the place looks so neat," the Mahatman said. "^There*'1s
0910K18 no place like home, more so without children." $"^All the rooms in the
0920K18 colony are as clean as this one here," Sunanda protested. $"^Is that_
0930K18 so?" the Minister said "^Then I am very happy about it." $"^It is so."
0940K18 $"^It*'1s ideal village atmosphere here," the Mahatman said pumping
0950K18 Chameli on her shoulder. "^*I feel as if I am back in my village." $(^Or,
0960K18 not having started from there, to put it the better.) $"^Please be
0970K18 so kind as to_ visit us again, Mahatman," the headman said as they were
0980K18 filing out. $"^Most certainly," said the Minister. "^Each time I
0990K18 get some respite from my offical work, I*'3ll make it a point to_ go here
1000K18 **[sic**] and meditate in the divine peace of the slum with the
1001K18 Jamunaji flowing
1010K18 close by." $(^Won*'4t it do if Chameli goes to your place and does
1020K18 the meditation?) $^The first cars bearing diplomatic number plates came
1030K18 roaring up the road. $"^They*'3re here," said Sunanda. $"\0^*Prof.
1040K18 Mac, too," said Bhandari hurrying off to_ welcome the lot. $^A dozen folding
1050K18 chairs had been put in a row directly below the dais for the distinguished
1060K18 guests and as the Minister was coasting along with Chameli
1070K18 to the stage, Sunanda said: "^Let us wait for the diplomats, please."
1080K18 $^The man in charge of manure slumped in a chair pulling down Chameli
1090K18 next to him. ^He drummed with his fingers on her shoulder. $^The thousand
1100K18 strong populace of the slum squatted on the ground behind the row of
1110K18 chairs, men first, women next and children last. $^*Bhandari came up piloting
1120K18 the foreigners including \0Prof. Mac. ^*Sunanda greeted them
1130K18 with folded hands. ^They shook her by the hand and returned the greetings
1140K18 in accents varying from pidgin to Oxford. ^An African diplomat thumped
1150K18 Sunanda in the back with an affection that was all too demonstrative.
1160K18 $^Oh, my throbbing symbol of black power, Payyan muttered to himself.
1170K18 ^Easy on the old girl. ^She is delicate and past her prime as Lolita.
1180K18 $^She introduced them one by one to the Minister. $-- ^*His Excellency
1190K18 \0PQR from the land of the copper mines. $-- ^The High Commissioner
1200K18 of Boland. $-- ^The Consul General from the Continent of tuna
1210K18 fish. $--\0^*Prof. Mac from the States. ^Philanthropy is in his
1220K18 bones. $^The professor with his pigmented face, crew-cut hair and round
1230K18 blue eyes looked like an intelligence agent from the pages of a penny thriller.
1240K18 $"^Yes, yes, Sunandaji was telling me about you," the Minister
1250K18 told the professor. $^*Mac stood smiling at Sunanda. ^It seemed that
1260K18 he was waiting for some clue from her and seconds later when it was
1270K18 still not forthcoming, he asked her with considerable embarassment: $"^Could
1280K18 you please translate the Minister for me?" $"^But the Hon*'3ble
1290K18 Minister was speaking English!" ^*Payyan exclaimed. $"^Oh, I*'3m terribly
1300K18 sorry," Mac said going redder in the face. "^Please excuse me. ^Maybe
1310K18 I was not listening properly...." $"^Not at all," ^*Payyan said.
1320K18 "^The Minister was speaking in his private accent of *5Poorva Pradesh*6
1330K18 and...." $^The Minister ignored Payyan and made a fresh start and
1340K18 a polite Mac kept on nodding most knowledgeably, and on it went until
1350K18 Sunanda steered the heap of manure, Chameli and all on stage. $^*Payyan
1360K18 watched the rest of the show at leisure from behind the last row of
1370K18 the open air theatre. $^Invocation by Chameli. ^She had the voice of
1380K18 an angel. $^*Sunanda was indignant in her welcome speech. $^The slums
1390K18 were as old as the moghul ruins that_ littered the place, she said. ^But
1400K18 the Government was not spending on them not even a hundredth of what
1410K18 it was lavishing for the upkeep of the monuments which nobody ever
1420K18 visited. ^This was something about which the Government should be ashamed
1430K18 of. $"^Shame," chanted the crowd. ^The Minister joined in with eclat.
1440K18 ^*Chameli sat in a corner of the stage like a lamp with its wick burning
1450K18 low. $^The slums did not have a system of protected water supply,
1460K18 Sunanda went on, electricity or family planning. ^Social service had its
1470K18 limitations and unless the Government bestirred itself in time, she
1480K18 warned, the last of the urbanites was going to end up in the slums. $^The
1490K18 distinguished guests in the front looked at one another and nodded gravely.
1500K18 $^*Payyan was all praise for Sunanda for acting it out in the
1510K18 most natural manner as in a new wave film before the fierce camera of the
1520K18 sun. ^Her sari of French material fluttered in the wind that wheeled
1530K18 across the slum revealing a strip of her belly which he had tickled earlier
1540K18 in the morning and was the colour of a faded rose now. ^Her lovely
1550K18 figure looked harsh in the sunlight. $^It was the Minister*'s turn
1560K18 now. $^He took off his cap, wiped his grey head with a handkerchief and
1570K18 rose with an effort from the chair but when it came to delivering the
1580K18 presidential chatter he was in his element. $^There was no harm in democracy
1590K18 taking its own time in steaming in, but socialism had to overtake
1600K18 the former and thunder in like the Frontier Mail, he said. ^His party
1610K18 had made it clear in its Fathepur resoultion. ^Like Bapu before him
1620K18 he got peace of mind only when he was in the midst of *3*5daridra narayans*6
1630K18 as at the slum. ^The place looked like his own village and he
1640K18 wouldn*'4t have returned to the dirt of New Delhi, a couple of miles
1650K18 away, after the function, but for the backlog or manure he had to_ clear
1660K18 single-handed in the Secretariat.*#
        **[no. of words = 02020**]

        **[txt. k19**]
0010K19 **<*3Something he hated to_ know**> $**[leader comment begin**]
0011K19 ^Death
0020K19 did occur as old \0Mr. Mahadevan had foretold, but why did he flee from
0030K19 his grand-daughter*'s wedding? **[leader comment end**] $*3^*Chempara
0040K19 had never witnessed such a large gathering. ^Even in the most exciting
0050K19 days of the Civil Disobedience movement, all India leaders could
0060K19 not collect so many of the village population to_ hear their message. ^The
0070K19 occasion in the present case was not of any extraordinary importance,
0080K19 either. ^It was only the sixtieth birthday of a man of the village.
0090K19 ^Hundreds and thousands of men had had their sixtieth birthday celebrated,
0100K19 but certainly not on this scale. $^But, the man whose sixtieth birthday
0110K19 it was, was Mangaappuram Neelakanthan Swayambhu. ^That_ explained
0120K19 both the number and the spirit of the congregation. ^To_ be mathematically
0130K19 accurate, eleven men over ninety, seven women past the age of eighty,
0140K19 22 children below four, three young men undergoing medical treatment
0150K19 and two young women lying in the village maternity home-- these were
0160K19 the only people of Chempara who did not attend the function to_ felicitate
0170K19 \0*4Shri Swayambhu. $^Having commenced exactly at the stroke of
0180K19 four in the afternoon, the meeting was still going on in full swing at
0190K19 seven. ^Speaker after speaker rose up in quick succession to_ eulogise
0200K19 the goodness and greatness of the sexagenarian in the choicest words in
0210K19 Malayalam, Tamil, Sanskrit and English. ^The *4panchayat
0211K19 president,
0220K19 Panamoottil Kannan Kunhiraaman had to_ stare each speaker into winding
0230K19 up his speech. ^At eight o*'3clock, \0*4Shri Kunhiraaman rose up
0240K19 and said there was to_ be no more speech-making. ^He presented to Swayambhu
0250K19 a silken purse containing fresh currency notes amounting to
0260K19 sixty-six-thousand-six-hundred-and-sixty-six *4rupees. ^He spoke just a few
0261K19 dozen
0270K19 words and then requested Swayambhu to_ address the audience. $^*Swayambhu,
0280K19 everybody knew, was a man of few words. ^He bowed to the people around
0290K19 and before him, and said: $"^*I am very grateful for all the kindness
0300K19 I have received today, and for many days before, from all of you. ^*I
0310K19 wish you every prosperity and happiness in the coming years. ^*I have
0320K19 served you as well as I was able to, for the last forty years, as Head
0330K19 Master of the High School, President of the *4Panchayat Board,
0340K19 Manager of the Co-operative Bank, Chairman of the Agricultural Association,
0350K19 President of the Social Club, Founder-Leader of the *5Bhajan
0360K19 Mandali,*6 \0etc. ^*I am laying down all these offices because I
0370K19 wish the responsibilities attached to them to_ be taken up by younger and
0380K19 stronger shoulders. ^But, needless to_ say, I shall always be happy to_
0390K19 be of any use to any of you, personally. ^You know me well enough. ^So
0400K19 I will not say more on this point. $"^*I request for **[sic**] your
0401K19 indulgence to_
0410K19 speak a few words on a subject dear to my heart. ^There are many young
0420K19 women in the audience. ^They were all my students once and will not,
0430K19 I hope, mind my giving them just one more lesson in morals. ^All that_
0440K19 I have been, am and will be, I owe to the support given to me by my wife
0450K19 Savitri. ^The *4Shastras say that it is a sin to_ praise one*'s wife
0460K19 to others. ^Today I am tempted to_ commit that_ sin. ^*I will only
0470K19 say that the woman has been everything that the ideal wife is defined to_
0480K19 be in all the books I have read. ^*I pray that it may be given to each
0490K19 and every young woman here to_ live as Savitri has lived. ^*Savitri
0500K19 is not here; that_ just bears out what I have said of her. $"^Thank you
0510K19 all, again, from the bottom of my heart. ^May Lord Guruvaayoorappan
0520K19 shower His choicest blessings on you all, always!" $^Two months after
0530K19 Swayambhu*'s retirement from Chempara*'s active public life, an important
0540K19 matter concerning his personal life came up-- the marriage of his only
0550K19 daughter Manjula. ^*Manjula*'s three elder brothers had gone out of
0560K19 the village and secured good jobs in Madras, Bombay and Calcutta; two
0570K19 younger brothers were in college at Palghat. ^*Manjula was twenty, a
0580K19 *(0B. A.), and charming. ^From the day he retired, Swayambhu had been
0590K19 trying hard to_ give the girl away in marriage. ^He was able to_ find
0600K19 a fine boy whose horoscope agreed and settled the points of negotiations
0610K19 with the boy*'s people. ^The ceremony was fixed for January 20, the
0620K19 first auspicious day of the marriage season. $^*Swayambhu*'s father-in-law,
0630K19 Mahadeva Iyer by name, had been a high officer of the Central
0640K19 Government and had settled down in Delhi after retirement, because
0641K19 all his
0650K19 three sons were employed there. ^Past seventy-two and a widower, Mahadevan
0660K19 felt that_ year*'s Delhi cold too much for his weak chest. ^He was
0670K19 thinking of staying in Chempara for a couple of months to_ take the
0680K19 very efficacious *4Ayurvedic treatment for which the village was famous.
0690K19 ^And, just then he got Savitri*'s letter announcing the coming marriage
0700K19 of her only daughter. ^The old gentleman was only too glad to_ be at
0710K19 Chempara for the happy event. $^The arrangements for the marriage were
0720K19 going apace. ^*Swayambhu naturally wished the occasion to_ be a grand
0730K19 one, and did not spare effort or expenditure. ^The Chempara people, men,
0740K19 women and children, all placed themselves at his disposal. ^*Manjula*'s
0750K19 marriage promised to_ become the finest festival of the year-- even
0760K19 grander than the annual *4mela in honour of the Mother Goddess. $^*Mahadevan
0770K19 watched the progress of the marriage preparations with pride and
0780K19 satisfaction. ^*Savitri was his only daughter, and Manjula was Savitri*'s
0790K19 only one. ^It did the old man good to_ see that the dear little child
0800K19 was to_ be given away in such fine style. $^*Mahadevan was an erudite
0810K19 Sanskrit scholar and highly learned in astrology. ^So one evening
0820K19 when there was no important work on anybody*'s hands Swayambhu showed him
0830K19 the horoscope of Manjula and her prospective husband. ^*Mahadevan studied
0840K19 the two documents most carefully, Savitri and Swayambhu watched
0850K19 him with immense interest. ^It was obvious that the learned old man
0851K19 had come
0860K19 across some complication, his facial expression changed frequently as
0870K19 he scanned the positions of the various planets in the horoscope and
0880K19 made calculations on his fingers. ^After a long time, Mahadevan said:
0890K19 "^The percentage of agreement between the two horoscopes is ninety-nine,
0900K19 whereas the maximum agreement so far known is only ninety-seven." ^*Swayambhu
0910K19 was beyond himself with joy. $^Not so Savitri. ^She had studied
0920K19 her father carefully and understood his mind perfectly during the twenty
0930K19 years she had been in his care. ^Something in his face while he was
0940K19 looking into the horoscopes and when he gave expression to his finding
0950K19 made her feel that he had not said everything be had to_ say in the matter.
0960K19 $^*Savitri was right in her conjecture. ^In the evening, when Swayambhu
0970K19 had gone out and she was thinking of speaking to her father about
0980K19 her feeling, Mahadevan himself came to her and said: "^Well my girl,
0990K19 must you give Manjula away so soon? ^*I know I sound inauspicious and,
1000K19 seeing that the arrangements have gone so far you may even think me stupid,
1010K19 but, really..." $"^Not at all, father," Savitri interrupted. "^*I
1020K19 guessed you found something in the horoscopes which you did not disclose
1030K19 to us. ^Tell me, now, please. ^*I can take it, whatever it is. ^It
1040K19 is still quite possible to_ cancel the marriage, if necessary." $^*Mahadevan
1050K19 said: "^What I told you about the agreement between the horoscopes
1060K19 is the truth. ^But , Manjula*'s own horoscope shows, clearly and incontrovertibly
1070K19 that her *4janayitaa, that_ is progenitor, will die the
1080K19 very moment her marriage is solemnised. ^*I got so worried when this was
1090K19 revealed to my eyes! ^*I could not say this before Swayambhu. ^Equally,
1100K19 I cannot hide it, so I am telling you now. ^Perhaps you can tell
1110K19 this to Swayambhu tactfully and get him to_ postpone the girl*'s marriage
1120K19 for as long as possible. ^*Manjula is only twenty, and can remain unmarried
1130K19 for another five or six years. ^If this boy will not wait, we can
1140K19 get some other, later. ^Your husband is just turned sixty: it would be
1150K19 awful to_ lose him now, and that_ knowingly!" $^That_ night, Savitri
1160K19 did tell Swayambhu about her father*'s finding and advice. ^*Swayambhu
1170K19 had great respect for his learned father-in-law, but he thought he had
1180K19 entered into a contract with the boy*'s family and considered it sinful
1190K19 even to_ think of backing out of it. ^As for the risk to his life, it was
1200K19 his firm conviction that he would live just as long as Lord Guruvaayoorappan
1210K19 willed Savitri*'s *4mangalasootram to_ stay around her neck.
1220K19 ^The marriage was to_ be conducted as planned in spite of what his father-in-law
1230K19 had said. $^*Manjula*'s three elder brothers reached Chempara
1240K19 in the first week of January and ably assisted their father. ^On the
1250K19 seventeenth of the month all the three sons of Mahadevan too arrived
1260K19 with their wives and children. ^*Swayambhu*'s house became gay and brilliant,
1270K19 with well-dressed and bedecked ladies moving about briskly and
1280K19 the little ones boisterous in playful mirth. $^The marriage day came.
1290K19 ^The ceremonies started. ^Everything was going in perfect order and magnificent
1300K19 style. ^The congregation of people was, if anything, slightly larger
1310K19 than at Swayambhu*'s birthday function, because of the addition of
1320K19 so many relatives from both sides. $^*Manjula*'s graceful neck was graced
1330K19 with the *4mangalasootram. ^The *4Vedic chants appropriate to the
1340K19 rite sanctified the air of the marriage *4pandal, while the playing of the
1350K19 *4naadaswaram and *4tavul enriched it with the sound of music. ^*4Saptapadi,
1360K19 the ritual seven steps together, which confirms the boy and girl
1370K19 as man and wife, was going on. ^The men and women around the *4mandap
1380K19 craned their necks forward as the youthful bride, attired in gorgeously
1390K19 embroidered silk and bedecked in brilliant jewellery, splendorous in
1400K19 the bashful confusion of her new status, lifted up her shapely ivory feet
1410K19 behind her husband-- one, two, three, four, five, six... $^Just when
1420K19 Manjula had put her right foot down and the presiding priest called
1430K19 out "seven", someone cried out, "Oh, God!" ^All eyes turned in the direction
1440K19 of that_ inauspicious cry. ^Then there was a rush of men and women
1450K19 this way and that_, and a lot of confused shouting. $^*Mahadevan was
1460K19 sitting in a low easychair, some distance from the *4mandap. ^For one
1470K19 thing, his legs were giving trouble; for another, the smoke from the
1480K19 *4homa-kunda burned his weak eyes. ^Seeing and hearing the confusion, he
1490K19 got up slowly and walked towards the main gate of the *4pandal, where
1500K19 people had collected thickly. ^Everyone was speaking, and nothing was
1510K19 clear to Mahadevan. ^He strained his ears and racked his brain to_ understand
1520K19 the sense of all the talking. ^At last, he was able to_ make out
1530K19 the gist of what was said. $^Adjacent to the compound on which Swayambhu*'s
1540K19 house stood was a tiny plot with a shed on it. ^A carpenter lived
1550K19 in the shed with his family. ^While the marriage ceremonies were going
1560K19 on, the man was perched on a tree and watching them with great interest.
1570K19 ^At the very moment when Manjula put down her right foot after the presiding
1580K19 priest had called out "seven", the man fell off the tree and on
1590K19 the tools he had left under the tree. ^A large chisel had pierced through
1600K19 his left side and into his heart; the man was dead when Swayambhu*'s
1610K19 servants standing near the *4pandal gate lifted him up from a pool of
1620K19 blood. $^When the *4Vedic rites of the marriage were over, and Manjula
1630K19 and her husband were to_ prostrate themselves before their elders for
1640K19 their blessings, Savitri and Swayambhu looked for Mahadevan. ^They
1650K19 looked in vain. $^*Savitri*'s very learned father Mahadevan, was at that
1660K19 time walking on his weak legs towards the railway station two miles away--
1670K19 because he knew something he hated to_ know.*#
        **[no. of words = 01970**]

        **[txt. k20**]
0010K20 **<*3The Living and the Dead**> $**[leader comment begin**] $^The
0011K20 man
0020K20 slung his camera over his shoulder and got back into the train with a
0030K20 satisfied air. ^The flood victims were a pathetic lot, but they made front
0040K20 page news. **[leader comment end**] $*3^They came to Chirala five
0050K20 days after leaving Tili. ^A band of twenty men and women who had risen
0060K20 from the dead and walked over the floating corpses, so that their eyes
0070K20 were now dead too. $^They came to Chirala and squatted by the railway
0080K20 track on the slush and on bits and pieces of stone that_ had been left
0090K20 of the station. ^They sat about and began to_ wait for the train. $^The
0100K20 men shook out their turban clothes and, coaxing a light out of pieces
0110K20 of flint, lit a pile of damp sticks. ^When the small, smoking fire
0111K20 began
0120K20 to_ throw up desultory sparks, one of them took out a couple of sodden
0130K20 *4beedis from his shirt pocket and lit them. ^The *4beedis began to_
0140K20 pass hands, each man inhaling deeply of the smoke before passing it on to
0150K20 the other. $^The women rummaged through the single cloth bag they carried
0160K20 among themselves and found a packet of cooked rice that_ had been
0170K20 thrown down from a helicopter near Tili. ^It was a polythene-wrapped
0180K20 packet and the rice had by now gone bad. ^But the women tipped it into
0190K20 a tincan and put the can over the fire. ^Old Gowri sat by the fire, stirring
0200K20 the rice with a stick from time to time. $^There were no families
0210K20 in that_ crowd. ^Only men and women who were strangers to each other.
0220K20 ^They sat huddled, the men with the men, the women with the women,
0221K20 and
0230K20 none dared guess the other*'s thoughts. ^There were no children among
0240K20 them, save one a baby. ^The babe had his mother with him, a young woman
0250K20 who sat apart from all the others, holding her child against herself. ^She
0260K20 neither looked at the child, nor comforted him when he cried, nor attempted
0270K20 to_ feed him. ^She merely held him and looked straight ahead. $^She
0280K20 was a slight creature, this woman, with a, ale skin and delicate features,
0290K20 like a high-class lady. ^But her clothes were coarse, a peasant*'s.
0300K20 ^The baby nuzzled against her breasts instinctively, whimpering. ^The
0310K20 milk had run dry on the second day of the journey, but the child nuzzled
0320K20 from habit, and Narasingu, watching them from the men*'s group,
0321K20 felt
0330K20 a horrifying stir in his loins. ^He looked away, sweat beads breaking
0340K20 out on his forehead. ^The woman noticed nothing, saw nothing. ^After a
0350K20 while, the baby stopped whimpering and nudging and drifted into semi-conscious
0360K20 sleep. $^Old Gowri called out from near the fire: "^We*'d better
0370K20 eat this rice now. ^It*'1s not going to_ get much better." $^They
0380K20 got up then and went to her and the old woman put a fistful of cooked rice
0390K20 into each outstretched hand. ^When everybody had eaten, she looked
0400K20 around and noticed the young woman. ^She clucked her tongue impatiently
0410K20 and, scraping up the rice from the can, took it over to the girl. $"^Eat,
0420K20 my dove," she cooed gently, pressing rice into the girl*'s unresisting
0430K20 hand: "^Eat, else how will you feed your little one?" $^She made to_
0440K20 take the child, but the girl only tightened her hold on him. $^*Gowri laughed
0450K20 shortly and said: "^Well, keep your baby. ^*I don*'4t want him.
0451K20 ^Only
0460K20 eat your rice." $^The girl put the rice into her mouth and began chewing.
0470K20 ^*Gowri left her and went back to the other women. $*3*^There was
0480K20 a large ditch of water a little to the left of where they sat. ^It was
0490K20 muddy and infested with mosquitoes. ^But some of them went over and
0500K20 drank handfuls of it. "^It doesn*'4t taste too bad," they came back and
0510K20 reported. ^Then all the others rose too and went over and the girl with
0520K20 the baby also followed them. ^But, when they reached the ditch and some
0530K20 of them had begun to_ drink the water, she began to_ scream. $^It was
0540K20 a terrible, unearthly sound, the woman*'s screaming. ^She stood there
0550K20 at the edge of the ditch, staring at the other women with horrified eyes,
0560K20 and her mouth was a round hole from which the piercing wail rang on and
0570K20 on... ^The men came rushing to_ see what the matter was and the women
0580K20 choked on the water they had drunk. $^For the next few seconds, as they
0590K20 all stood there like statues and stared at the screaming girl who held
0600K20 her startled baby tightly in her arms, they all saw the waves rise
0610K20 up and crash over them again; they saw trees fall, their houses, their
0620K20 brethren and their children float soundlessly away, like motes on a beam
0630K20 of light. ^They saw again the corpses jamming the way, felt the squelch
0640K20 of rotting flesh under their feet and the stench of it, that_ would
0650K20 never again vanish from their nostrils, rose up and choked them. $^They
0660K20 were all very quiet after that_ incident. ^Most of them slept. ^But the
0670K20 girl with the child sat on, her eyes fixed unblinkingly on the grey horizon.
0680K20 $*3^Towards evening it began to_ rain a little. ^They shivered
0690K20 uncontrollably as the drizzle touched them, but it stopped soon after.
0700K20 ^Old Gowri said: "^Once we get to Repalle, we will be all right... ^Somebody
0710K20 will help us there..." and they all murmured something to_ break
0720K20 the monotony. $^By now, hunger had become a constant, twisting pain
0721K20 in their
0730K20 stomachs, but they had stopped talking about it, for the talking only
0740K20 made it worse. ^Suddenly, one of the women said: "^Look at the baby,there*'1s
0750K20 something wrong with it." ^They crowded round the girl and saw
0760K20 that the baby was jerking its limbs in spasms. "^It*'1s going to_ die,"
0770K20 one of the women said. $"^She doesn*'4t even look at it!" another
0780K20 woman wondered, staring at the girl. $^*Gowri pushed her way through the
0790K20 crowd and snatched up the baby. ^The girl immediately lifted up her hands
0800K20 to_ take him back and kept them lifted, as if in supplication, while
0810K20 Gowri rubbed the infant*'s limbs and rocked him. ^A little later, the
0820K20 spasms stopped and the the baby began to_ whimper. ^Unexpectedly, the
0830K20 woman lifted her upper cloth and held her babe close. ^As the infant
0831K20 sucked hungrily at the barren breast, women
0840K20 walked away, as if ashamed. $^Night came down on them in swift strokes.
0850K20 ^The sick-sweet smell of death rose up from the wastes of
0860K20 water beyond and with it came a stinging cloud of mosquitoes. ^As they
0870K20 twisted and turned and slapped at themselves on the ground, a woman cried:
0880K20 "^Ah, suppose a train never comes!" $^They froze at her words, then
0890K20 a babble of voices broke out as they reassured her: "^No, no *4Amma! ^There
0900K20 *3are trains running. ^They are late. ^That_ is all. ^See how clear
0910K20 the tracks are? ^Why should not trains be running?" $"^But suppose...?"
0920K20 the woman began again, sobbing, but they all hushed her and let her
0930K20 speak no more. $^Later that_ night, when they had dropped off into an
0940K20 uneasy slumber, a train did come to Chirala. ^Those of them that_ were
0950K20 not asleep heard its rumble, full ten minutes before it came, and woke
0960K20 up everybody else. ^They watched the glaring lights approach and rushed
0970K20 up. ^But there was no getting into that_ train. ^There were people hanging
0980K20 out of it, sitting on its roof, on its steps... ^And they pushed
0990K20 and struck maniacally at those who tried to_ get in. ^In spite of this,
1000K20 two of the men managed to_ get in. ^The rest could not. $"^Brothers!
1010K20 ^Brothers! ^Let us in!" cried one of the women and the passengers answered:
1020K20 "^There are no brothers or sisters left, woman. ^The storm has taken
1030K20 them all away!" $^Someone laughed loudly and the train moved on.
1040K20 $"^When*'1s the next train?" ^*Narasingu yelled, running alongside the slow
1050K20 moving coaches. $"^Tomorrow... in the morning," someone yelled back.
1060K20 $^And, in the morning, the whole thing seemed like a dream and
1070K20 they did not even suffciently miss the two men who had left by the train.
1080K20 ^Pale, grey shafts of light had broken through the clouds that_ day.
1090K20 ^At a distance, vultures and crows could be seen settling down on the carcasses.
1100K20 $^The baby*'s condition had turned worse. ^It had begun to_ gasp,
1110K20 face and body heaving at each breath. ^The mother held him on her
1120K20 lap now and looked down at him, expressionless as usual. ^Old Gowri sat
1130K20 near by and kept her head averted. ^*Narasingu came close to her. ^He
1140K20 looked uncertainly at the baby and went back silently to the other men.
1150K20 $*3^The South-bound train came at midday. $^They heard it and gathered
1160K20 themselves up as before. ^Those who were old were helped by the
1161K20 young and they all stood close to the track.
1170K20 ^When the train steamed down to a halt, they rushed madly towards it,
1180K20 determined not to_ be left behind this time. ^This train was as packed
1190K20 as the earlier one but the passengers were not so hostile. ^Some stared
1200K20 out at them curiously, some apathetically, and some opened the doors
1210K20 to_ let them in. $^*Gowri was on the point of getting into the train with
1220K20 the rest of them when she remembered the young woman and looked back.
1230K20 ^She saw her sitting in the same place, the child on her lap. ^*Narasingu
1240K20 was standing before her, looking down curiously still. ^*Gowri went
1250K20 back, crying: "^*I*'3ll take the child, Narasingu. ^You help the girl
1260K20 up... ^Hurry!" $^She stopped short by the girl and only then noticed
1270K20 the dead baby. ^She caught her breath and looked wildly at the young man.
1280K20 $^Someone yelled from behind her: "^Get in! ^Get in, old woman! ^Do you
1290K20 want to_ get left behind?" $^The old woman bent and lifted the infant*'s
1300K20 body from the girl*'s lap. ^She met with none of the usual resistance.
1310K20 ^Then, placing the body on the ground, she covered it with Narasingu*'s
1320K20 turban cloth, which he handed over to her silently. ^They both looked
1330K20 up and saw a curious sight. $*3^A man had got off the train and was
1340K20 now standing next to it. ^In his hands he held a camera. ^He was photographing
1350K20 them. ^As Narasingu and the old woman watched, he shut down
1360K20 his camera with a satisfied air and, slinging it over his shoulder, got
1370K20 back into the train. ^*Narasingu cursed loudly and hoisted the sitting girl
1380K20 roughly up to her feet. ^Then Gowri and the young man pushed her into
1390K20 the train. ^The old woman got in after her and, last of all, Narasingu.
1400K20 $^The train resumed its slow journey to the land of the living.
1410K20 $**<*3SUNDAY*'S PERFORMANCE*0**> $"*3^SIR*0, could you manage without
1420K20 me just for this Sunday*'s performance?" she repeated her request.
1430K20 ^It wasn*'4t exactly a request and the voice disguised carelessly a certain
1440K20 swagger and indifference. ^He understood it all. ^He would have to_
1450K20 seek out a new leading lady for his drama troupe instantly. $^She continued
1460K20 to_ smile and her eyes shone with a peculiar innocent playfulness.
1470K20 ^Her lips were red and full and allowed a streak of a delightful set
1480K20 of teeth sparkle between them. ^She was absolutely certain she would
1490K20 have her way. $^He groaned unintelligibly. ^He had never seen her so
1500K20 ravishing and confident in all the three years he had been her master, tutor,
1510K20 career-shaper and on numerous occasions a man to the woman. ^It was
1520K20 three years ago that Indra, then leading girl of the troupe and all
1530K20 the things that_ went with that_ position had gently enquired of him
1540K20 whether he could manage without her just for that_ coming Sunday*'s
1550K20 show and he knew he was in need of a new leading lady and that_ within
1560K20 a week*'s time. $^He was then staging a play which had become a popular
1570K20 hit. ^Everybody who worked in it and for it was doing fine. ^He had become
1580K20 a big name in the contemporary social life, magazines began devoting
1590K20 a few column-inches to_ write of his services to the stage, the radio
1600K20 people invited him to a seminar, some amateur drama associations held
1610K20 their shows under his presidentship, an orphanage correspondent wrote
1620K20 to him for a donation, and all of a sudden Indra musters up courage to_
1630K20 ask him in his face whether he could manage without her just for that_
1650K20 Sunday.*#
        **[no. of words = 02069**]

        **[txt. k21**]
0010K21 **<*3The Secretary Makes Three*0**> $*3^SINCE*0 the day her better
0020K21 half had joined the ranks of senior management graduating from having
0030K21 a *(dhoti-clad*) individual as personal stenographer to acquiring a
0040K21 *(sari-clad*) one as personal secretary, Sujata had been hearing about
0050K21 this paragon named Arlette. $^*Suresh*'s daily eulogy had often caused
0060K21 her to_ wonder if this unparalleled prodigy had any human qualities. ^Why
0070K21 she was still on earth was a mystery. ^With her qualifications, she
0080K21 ought to_ have sprouted a pair of wings by now, and graduated
0090K21 with honours with both harp and halo. $^However, Sujata did not let
0100K21 this worry her. ^It was only when Arlette began to_ invade the sacred
0110K21 realms of her home life, in a sort of neck-to-neck competition, that
0120K21 she felt her hackles rise. ^She decided to_ put her foot down firmly--
0130K21 size seven: she had big feet. $^The culminating coals had been heaped
0140K21 on the proverbial fire by Suresh, naturally. ^They had just returned
0150K21 from a rather boisterous party and Sujata*'s head was still reeling
0160K21 under the impact of a single unhabituated martini when Suresh had taken
0170K21 it upon himself to_ announce: "^Be home late tomorrow evening. ^Going
0180K21 to a painting exhibition with Arlette." $"^Painting exhibition with
0190K21 Arlette! ^Would you kindly tell me is this boss secretary relationship
0200K21 also for after office hours?" asked Sujata tartly. $"^The boss secretary
0210K21 relationship is an ever-expanding one," answered Suresh smoothly.
0220K21 "^As with most things in advertising, the sky*'1s the limit. ^Besides,
0230K21 it is necessary to_ inculcate in Arlette an appreciation of the
0240K21 aesthetic." $"^*I thought she had that_ already." mumbled Sujata, though
0250K21 as he didn*'4t reply and as her head was aching she did not pursue
0260K21 the topic. $^However, it was only when she woke next morning, her faculties
0270K21 the wiser for the surfeit of martini, that the true import of
0280K21 his not returning early that_ evening struck home. ^He had forgotten.
0290K21 ^Today was the third! ^The date of their monthly anniversary! $^From
0300K21 the time they*'d been hitched about three years back, celebrating the monthly
0310K21 anniversary of their wedding had become a tradition. ^It was customary
0320K21 on such days for Suresh to_ return from the office his arms
0330K21 loaded with flowers. ^It was customary on such days for her to_ turn out
0340K21 the most delectable in cuisine. ^It was customary on such days for
0350K21 romance to_ follow the customary recipe: plenty of lovey-dovey, spiced
0360K21 with radiogram music and a candle-light dinner. $^However, since Arlette*'s
0370K21 arrival, Suresh*'s enthusiasm for this ritual seemed to_ have
0380K21 waned. ^Why! recalled Sujata, only just recently he had hinted with
0390K21 words to the effect that wasn*'4t it time they returned from cloud nine
0400K21 to good old terra firma? $^For which of course Arlette was to_ blame.
0410K21 ^*Arlette had turned his head. ^It was about time she took a look
0420K21 at this Arlette, decided Sujata, though she felt she knew what to_
0430K21 expect. $^*Arlette would run true to type-- a combination of body beautiful
0440K21 with limited brain power. ^With the former making up for the deficiencies
0450K21 of the latter. ^Bacause men were men, after all. $^And as she
0460K21 conjured up a mental image of Arlette, Sujata shuddered. ^In her
0470K21 mind*'s eye she saw a *(hipster-sari-clad*) female revealing an expanse
0480K21 of midriff and sufficient cleavage to_ divert any man*'s thoughts from the
0490K21 official. $^And having been a secretary herself once, Sujata felt
0500K21 she knew what the trouble with girls like Arlette was. ^Besides, being
0510K21 poor secretaries, physical distractions included, they took their secretaryship
0520K21 beyond the pales of the office desk. ^Which became encroachment,
0530K21 if there happened to_ be a wife in the boss*'s home department.
0540K21 $^In any case, since she had made up her mind to_ give Suresh an anniversary
0550K21 gift, in spite of there being no anniversary celebration, Sujata
0560K21 now thought it would be a good idea to_ deliver her gift to the
0570K21 office that_ morning. ^That_ way she could meet Arlette. $^And Suresh
0580K21 was surprised when she arrived at the office a couple of hours later,
0590K21 all tarted up for Arlette*'s benefit. $"^Say, what brings you here?"
0600K21 he asked light-heartedly. $"^Just to_ hand over my small anniversary
0610K21 gift. ^*I forgot to_ give to you before you left home this morning,"
0620K21 she explained sweetly, sliding a gaily wrapped package across to him,
0630K21 at the same time casting covert glances at the secretarial table in
0640K21 the corner. ^But the table at that_ moment was devoid of the human aspect.
0650K21 ^*Sujata however was determined to_ sit it out till her reason for
0660K21 coming appeared. $"^Sweet of you to_ remember, dear," Suresh was saying.
0670K21 "^But you needn*'4t have troubled. ^It could have waited till evening."
0680K21 $"^But you*'3ll be late this evening." she reminded him gently
0690K21 "^You*'3re going to a painting exhibition with your secretary." $"^Darn
0700K21 it! ^*I am!... ^But look! ^If you like I could put it off in view
0710K21 of this anniversary thing." $"^Oh, don*'4t worry!" said Sujata with
0720K21 the air of a martyr, though inwardly she bristled at that_ 'thing.' "^The
0730K21 anniversary thing can wait. ^There*'is always a next time. ^Besides
0740K21 you did say it was time we took the lift down to good old terra firma,
0750K21 or some such thing." $^Before he could answer the door opened and a
0760K21 girl walked in. ^She was pretty all right, but not in a robust way. ^A
0770K21 subdued type of beauty, Sujata had to_ admit grudgingly. ^And sensibly
0780K21 dressed too, in a smart tailored suit. ^This Arlette was quite unlike
0790K21 what she had anticipated. $^And as Suresh introduced them Sujata
0800K21 didn*'4t know whether to_ be pleased or disappointed at Arlette*'s
0810KK1 inability to_ conform. ^As she took Arlette*'s proferred hand in greeting,
0820K21 and as Arlette*'s eyes swept over her assessing, it was difficult
0830K21 to_ decide whether she came up to Arlette*'s expectations of a suitable
0840K21 domestic partner for her boss. $^Within the next few minutes Sujata
0850K21 had further proof of Arette*'s not running true to type. ^For it
0860K21 was clear that Arlette was efficient, even if she did tend to_ drool
0870K21 over Suresh a bit. ^And was such proximity necessary as when she had
0880K21 her letters signed? $^Back home again, as her thoughts returned to the
0890K21 anniversary, Sujata found further cause to_ seethe. ^He*'d only made
0900K21 a feeble attempt to_ cancel his date, she recalled. ^As the day progressed,
0910K21 anger gave way to coldness. ^So much so that by the time he returned,
0920K21 bubbling over his evening with Arlette, expressed in terms of art
0930K21 appreciation, Sujata felt quite indifferent and not one bit interested
0940K21 in what Suresh had to_ say. $^Next morning Suresh was up early
0950K21 and in a tremendous hurry. $"^An important meeting today, dear," he announced,
0960K21 "would you get out my brown suit, please?" ^And shortly after,
0970K21 "Sujata, there*'is a coat button loose! ^Would you tighten it, please?"
0980K21 $^Could be it was because she was tossing the breakfast eggs in the
0990K21 pan at the time! ^Or could be it was perverse human nature at work, she
1000K21 wasn*'4t sure, but Sujata found herself answering: "^Sorry, dear!
1010K21 ^Busy at the moment. ^That_ button ought to_ hold. ^If it doesn*'4t refer
1020K21 to your secretary." $"^And what do you suppose my secretary would do?"
1030K21 he poked his head round the kitchen door to_ ask. $"^Every good secretary
1040K21 keeps an emergency work box," she informed him with great patience.
1050K21 $^However, that_ evening she learnt that this was one aspect where
1060K21 Arlette failed to_ qualify. ^Not only did she fail to_ maintain an
1070K21 emergency work box, but to Suresh*'s ill-luck, the offending button
1080K21 had dropped off during an important speech he made. $^As it plopped on
1090K21 the board room table the chairman had retrieved it and handed it back
1100K21 straignt-faced. ^Though the others in the room had pretended not to_
1110K21 notice, Suresh had suffered humiliation. ^He was hopping mad, blaming
1120K21 it on his better half. $"^Now that_*'is unfair," Sujata retorted hotly.
1130K21 "^Why don*'4t you blame her? ^Every good secretary..." $^But she
1140K21 didn*'4t get a chance to_ continue, for already he had marched out of
1150K21 earshot. $^So it had reached the pitch where she was shouldering the
1160K21 blame for Arlette, thought Sujata savagely, as she put the finishing
1170K21 touches to their dinner that_ same night. $^And in the days to_ follow
1180K21 matters grew worse. ^For it would seem that the ever-widening scope
1190K21 of the boss secretary relationship in advertising would appear to_ call
1200K21 for more and more of what in any other area would perhaps be termed
1210K21 extra-marital activity. $^As Arlette*'s secretarial tentacles spread
1220K21 from floral exhibitions to visiting libraries, Suresh began coming home
1230K21 late night after night. ^Finally Arlette was invading the home front
1240K21 even in the physical, as next Suresh started to_ bring her home evening
1250K21 after evening to_ work in the comfort of his study, as he said.
1260K21 ^Though from the giggling that_ went on Sujata felt it was both work
1270K21 and play-- more play than work. $"^Can*'4t you two finish whatever you
1280K21 have to_ at the office?" she asked peevishly one night. "^Must that_ woman
1290K21 come daily to this house?" $"^Well, you did complain that I leave
1300K21 you alone so often, so I thought this a better idea," he answered smugly.
1310K21 $^It was not so much the working at home that_ she minded. ^*Sujata
1320K21 discovered, as the days progressed. ^What drove her to distraction
1330K21 was the way Suresh kept ordering her about. ^One would think she was
1340K21 a glorified domestic! $"^Some tea, please!" "^Sandwiches, dear!" "^Omelettes
1350K21 and toast!" ^That_*'1s how it went from the moment they arrived
1360K21 till Arlette went home. ^And that_ expression on Arlette*'s face
1370K21 each time she carried a tray in was sufficient to_ bring out the worst
1380K21 in Sujata. $^When she felt she*'d had enough, Sujata decided to_
1390K21 be out one evening. ^A calculated risk, she was aware. ^Like inviting
1400K21 trouble by leaving dynamite and a box of matches in close proximity. ^Still,
1410K21 better that_ than an explosion within herself. $^However, when she
1420K21 returned late that_ same night, instead of finding traces of marital
1430K21 arson, she encountered an aggrieved spouse. $"^Where do you think you*'3ve
1440K21 been?" he demanded, the moment she stepped into view. $"^Just visiting
1450K21 my mother. ^*I haven*'4t seen her all week." she answered, all
1460K21 innocence. $"^A fine time for you to_ visit your mother." he grumbled,
1470K21 "here were we needing coffee and sandwiches! ^And not a soul around to_
1480K21 arrange a thing!" $"^So sorry, dear!" she apologised, feeling no such
1490K21 sentiment. "^But you should have asked the servant or your secretary.
1500K21 ^Everything*'1s available. ^Just a matter of preparation." $"^My secretary
1510K21 comes here to_ work, not to_ prepare meals. ^That_*'1s my wife*'s
1520K21 duty." ^He spoke with spirit. $"^Then confine your secretary to her
1530K21 domain and I*'3ll take care of mine," she retorted with equal spirit.
1540K21 $^However this ultimatum would appear to_ fall on deaf ears. ^The situation
1550K21 continued unchanged and she felt the need for sterner measures.
1560K21 ^So the day he phoned from the office to_ announce he*'1d be bringing
1570K21 the boss home to dinner, she soon formulated what measures she should
1580K21 take. $"^Short notice, I know, dear, but do rustle up something!" he
1590K21 requested. $"^Of course!" she agreed. "^Just the two of you?" $"^And
1600K21 Arlette." $"^*Arlette!" $"^Well Arlette*'1s my secretary. ^Must have
1610K21 her around in case of emergency." $^Emergency! ^Talk about lame excuses,
1620K21 she thought, furious as she slammed the receiver. ^And at that_ precise
1630K21 moment the idea came. ^If there was to_ be an emergency she*'1d
1640K21 create one. $^Spirits uplifting, she set to the task at once. ^First
1650K21 she shopped to_ get in the raw materials for the menu. ^Next, to_ lend
1660K21 credence to the emergency, as well as to_ prevent it being excuse for
1670K21 going out to dinner, she made sure to_ partly prepare each item, like
1680K21 the Chicken Maryland which remained to_ be fried, the vegetables all
1690K21 pared and ready to_ boil. ^The salad she diced but left untossed, with
1700K21 the custard pudding just short of being popped into the oven. ^Finally,
1710K21 neglecting to_ lay the table, and after giving the servant the rest
1720K21 of the day off, she headed for bed with a simulated headache. $^When
1730K21 Suresh arrived, both boss and secretary in tow, he came upon a situation
1740K21 quite unforeseen.*#
        **[no. of words = 02012**]

        **[txt. k22**]
0010K22 **<*3Amitabh*0**> $^He hugged her from behind. ^She turned round surprised,
0020K22 perplexed. ^She saw him but could not figure out who he could be.
0030K22 ^She had not known anybody twenty-five years old, six-foot-tall, with
0040K22 broad shoulders, robust body, long brownish hair. ^He beamed a smile
0050K22 and said: "*_^Did you recognize me?" ^She concentrated on his face
0060K22 to_ find a cue or clue which may remind her of who he could be. ^She
0070K22 scanned her memories, turned over her reminiscences and mentally pictured
0080K22 all men she had met in the past. ^But no, she couldn*'4t recall him.
0090K22 ^He shot another smile, improving through his eyes, "^Recognize me
0100K22 Madam! he wanted to_ open his mouth too, to_ say, these words but
0110K22 was so much overwhelmed with respect, affection and several other emotions
0120K22 that he felt a lump in his throat. ^He mumbled, "^Ma... Madam".
0130K22 ^That very moment she could recall him. ^She said, "^*Amitabh. ^It
0140K22 is you?" ^Her face lit up. ^Her eyes twinkled. ^A warm shudder ran through
0150K22 her body, originating from the inner-most recesses of her heart.
0160K22 ^She held his hands between hers and asked him. "^How have you been?
0170K22 ^What are you doing these days?" $"^*I am an engineer with Sammier*'s International
0180K22 Corporation... a firm that_ manufactures electronic goods"
0190K22 $"^How have you all these years, Madam?" **[sic**] $"^Very well. ^You
0200K22 have grown so big and important". $^Before Amitabh could say anything,
0210K22 Mrinalini Mukherjee-- that_ was her name-- took leave of him.
0220K22 ^She had to_ hurry up to_ attend a conference with the Chairman of her
0230K22 School Management Committee who was a high-brow-- a stiff-necked
0240K22 person. ^She did not want to_ offend him by getting late, though she really
0250K22 desired to_ spend a little more time with Amitabh. ^She had met
0260K22 him after ten long years. ^She walked first, somewhat haltingly not being
0270K22 able to_ decide whether she should know more about Amitabh or rush
0280K22 up for the conference. ^However, her feet carried her forward towards
0290K22 her school for her unconscious deference to duty overpowered her conscious
0300K22 desire to_ know more about Amitabh. $^No sooner had the conference
0310K22 with the Chairman been over than Mrinalini ordered tea. ^She relaxed
0320K22 in her chair, now looking at the fumes arising from her tea, now
0330K22 listening to the beats of her heart, now looking out through the window
0340K22 glass. ^She saw that the tops of the cedar trees in the glen opposite
0350K22 her were playing with clouds, swinging like small girls in a children*'s
0360K22 park. ^She was attracted by them, by the freedom with which they
0370K22 were now swinging, now dancing. ^She yearned for freedom. ^She wanted
0380K22 to_ be a cloud, to_ scud in the air freely, to_ rain over parched lands
0390K22 to_ burst upon deserts. ^She wanted to_ make the entire world green
0400K22 and full of vegetation, trees, orchards and happiness. ^But she could
0410K22 not do that_ for she was tethered to_ the Principal*'s post. ^Resignation
0420K22 from it would mean starvation not for her but for her rheumatic father
0430K22 and her young, very young, brothers and sisters. ^She had longed
0440K22 for freedom many a time before also, but had ultimately decided to_
0450K22 give the society whatever she could, by serving it from her official
0460K22 position only. ^This partial fulfilment left such a wound in her heart
0470K22 that it ached with the floating of clouds, with the blowing of breeze,
0480K22 with the chirping of birds, with the weeping of hungry children, with
0490K22 the shouting of angry mothers, with adolescents taking hashish, with
0500K22 vice brow beating virtue... $^All of a sudden, Mrinalini felt she slipped
0510K22 back in her memory by a decade. ^She saw a fifteen year-old Amitabh,
0520K22 emerging from yonder clouds, coming toward her along with his mother,
0530K22 who was a real beauty, a Venus, a lady having Frecian nose, chiselled
0540K22 lips, Indo-Iranian face, Cleopatran figure, and a soft and
0550K22 supple body. ^She was known as Julia. ^She requested Mrinalini to_ admit
0560K22 Amitabh in class *=11 of her school. ^*Mrinalini, seeing Amitabh*'s
0570K22 long flowing hair, Hippie trousers, and unkempt appearance felt a
0580K22 little annoyed. ^She was about to_ say 'no', when she saw a beseeching
0590K22 look in Amitabh*'s liquid eyes. ^She did not know why it touched her
0600K22 so much that she could not utter 'no'. ^She did not say 'yes' either.
0610K22 ^She said that she would examine the case and would give a final reply
0620K22 after two days. ^*Amitabh left, Julia trudged behind, and still behind
0630K22 lingered on the fragrance of the perfume worn by her. ^The fragrance
0640K22 entered into Mrinalini*'s nostrils. ^She found it repulsive, repugnant.
0650K22 ^She blew it out, as though it was polluted... polluted by the inner
0660K22 dirt of its wearer. $^She soliloquised, "^Is Julia as dirty from
0670K22 within as tidy she is from outside? ^Is her soul as ugly as beautiful
0680K22 her body is? ^Is she a Tajmahal converted into a demon*'s den? ^Is
0690K22 she the one who has put Shankracharya, Buddha, Mahavira and all other
0700K22 Indian saints and sages to shame? ^Is she the defiler of Indian
0710K22 culture, traditions and morals? ^Is she her namesake a contemporary of
0720K22 Ovid? ^Did Ovid*'s Julia not put Augustus to ignominy? ^Is she the
0730K22 kind of Julia*'s daughter. ^*Julia minor? ^Is she....? $^*Mrinalini
0740K22 hated to_ be reminded of any Julia, the one she had seen or the ones
0750K22 she had read about. ^She tried to_ dispel all Julias from her mind
0760K22 by diverting her attention to something else, something more palatable,
0770K22 something more enjoyable. ^She sipped hot tea, and looked at the clouds.
0780K22 ^She saw in them the man, the \0VIP, a leading luminary of
0790K22 the country who had told her on telephone ten years ago in a very authoritarian,
0800K22 intimidating and harsh tone to_ admit Amitabh. ^She was
0810K22 also reminded of one other pressure put on her by a great political
0820K22 personage who used the charms of his honey-and-milk voice to_ persuade
0830K22 her to_ admit Amitabh. ^She had said 'no' to both the \0VIPs, for
0840K22 she did not want to_ admit a Hippie in her school, and create bad company
0850K22 for other students. ^She did not want to_ act against the information
0860K22 given her by her Vice-Principal who had told her that Amitabh
0870K22 had been rusticated three years ago from a high school for committing
0880K22 theft, and that he had been hauled up a month before in a college for
0890K22 eve-teasing. ^She knew that the \0VIPs would create problems for
0900K22 her. ^She knew that Julia had a very powerful lobby and could create
0910K22 hell for her. ^But she would prefer to_ live in hell rather than succumb
0920K22 to pressure, admit wrong children, spoil her school and in return
0930K22 seek promotion, power and money. ^She was not a selfseeker. ^Earlier
0940K22 also, she had sacrificed her personal interests for the welfare of her
0950K22 students. ^She decided to_ do the same again. $^Two days later, Amitabh*'s
0960K22 mother attired in a maxi, got down from a car, escorted by an
0970K22 elegantly dressed man. ^She went straight to Mrinalini*'s office. ^*Amitabh
0980K22 and the escort followed suit. ^The escort was known as Sagar.
0990K22 ^He spoke chaste English and appeared an aristocrat. ^He requested
1000K22 Mrinalini to_ tell him her decision about Amitabh. ^*Mrinalini expressed
1010K22 her inability to_ admit him. ^She said that the boy had been rusticated
1020K22 from \0St. Martin High School. ^He had been hauled up for
1030K22 eve-teasing at Barons*' College. ^He was a drug addict. ^He smoked
1040K22 marijuana and hashish. ^*Mrinalini added that she had never allowed anybody,
1050K22 even a teacher to_ smoke a cigarette in her school, what to_ speak
1060K22 of marijuana or hashish. $^*Amitabh heard all these things being said
1070K22 about him. ^He looked at Mrinalini with his entreating liquid eyes.
1080K22 ^*Mrinalini was again touched. ^Something inexplicable happened to
1090K22 her. ^She experienced the message which Amitabh was transmitting to her
1100K22 silently. "^Madam, you must not reject me. ^*I am not what I am,
1110K22 I have been made what I am. ^*I have been a hated dog. ^*I have been
1120K22 treated like a football and given kicks by one and all and in all directions.
1130K22 ^So I have become a football, a football kicked into a dirty
1140K22 ditch. ^*I have been polluted. ^Will you not purify me? ^*I beseech you.
1150K22 ^Will you not? ^*I am your supplicant. ^Please admit me for mercy*'s
1160K22 sake. ^Mercy is said to_ be twice blessed. ^It blesses him that_ gives
1170K22 and him that_ takes." $^*Mrinalini looked at Amitabh*'s sallow face
1180K22 and pallid cheeks. ^She entered his bruised heart through his sad eyes
1190K22 and read the message which his inner wounds were revealing. ^The message
1200K22 shook Mrinalini*'s heart, blew the wind out of her. ^She felt
1210K22 her energy sapped and marrow dried. ^She felt very weak before Amitabh*'s
1220K22 strong entreaty. ^She felt that her spirit was lacerated and would
1230K22 remain so, if she did not admit Amitabh. ^But she would not, unconditionally...
1240K22 $^She asked Amitabh "^Do you smoke cigarettes?" $"^*I do,
1250K22 Madam, ^Everybody smokes at home. ^My mother does it." $"^All right.
1260K22 ^But you will not smoke in the school". $"\0^*O.K." $"^You will also
1270K22 not bring marijuana and hashish to the school". $"\0^*O.K." $"^You will
1280K22 come to the school in the uniform prescribed by us". $"\0^*O.K." $^*Amitabh
1290K22 was admitted. ^He came to the school regularly, but was now and
1300K22 then found under the influence of drugs. ^*Mrinalini noticed that_
1310K22 herself, as she was keeping a close eye on him. ^She felt initially perturbed
1320K22 but later thought that she could perhaps help Amitabh by speaking
1330K22 to him personally. ^Accordingly she started calling him to her office
1340K22 every Monday morning and chatted with him informally for ten minutes.
1350K22 ^During these chatting sessions, she discovered that Amitabh*'s
1360K22 mother had divorced his father and had lived for some years with a big
1370K22 shot, and then had deserted him too and had started living with Sagar.
1380K22 ^*Sagar often passed sarcastic remarks at Amitabh. ^He would taunt
1390K22 the latter for being Julia*'s darling... a doll. ^He would scold
1400K22 Julia too for being soft to Amitabh. ^He said that she had spoiled the
1410K22 boy by pampering him. ^He forbade her from speaking to Amitabh just
1420K22 as David Copperfield*'s stepfather, Murdstone had forbidden David
1430K22 Copperfield*'s mother from speaking to David Copperfield. $^*Sagar
1440K22 would beat Amitabh on the pretext of being firm with him. ^He would
1450K22 lock the latter in a solitary room on the second storey of his house
1460K22 and get food served him once a day. ^During these spells of solitary
1470K22 confinement, Amitabh missed his mother most and felt so estranged, neglected
1480K22 and emotionally choked that he would often burst into tears and
1490K22 cry incessantly. ^One day while crying he saw a match box lying in
1500K22 a corner and a few stumps of cigarettes strewn over the floor. ^He picked
1510K22 up a stump and smoked it. ^He saw in the haze of the smoke his mother
1520K22 approaching him to_ free him from the lock up but she was intercepted
1530K22 by Sagar who hit her so hard that she was flung upon the floor.
1540K22 ^*Amitabh wiped his tears, shook his head. ^His mother was not there.
1550K22 ^He lit another stump. ^He again saw in its haze his mother approaching
1560K22 him but she was again intercepted by Sagar. ^He lit a third stump,
1570K22 and then a fourth to_ see his mother again and again in the haze of the
1580K22 smoke. ^He repeated this to_ see his mother in the haze of his cigarette-smoke
1590K22 whenever he was in the lock up and thus picked up the habit
1600K22 of smoking. ^He would steal cigarettes, smoke them and would see behind
1610K22 the smoke his mother. ^He would smoke cigarette after cigarette and
1620K22 talk to his mother, who was inaccessible to him in real life. ^When he
1630K22 could not steal or buy cigarettes, he would steal the domestic servant*'s
1640K22 *4bidis. ^One day he couldn*'4t get even *4bidis. ^He then wrapped
1650K22 a paper and smoked leaf, later marijuana and hashish. ^In this way
1660K22 Amitabh became a drug addict. ^But drugs could not drown his tears.
1670K22 ^When alone he would miss his mother and cry. ^He would also sometimes
1680K22 burst into tears and sob incessantly while describing his predicament
1690K22 and misery to Mrinalini during the informal chatting sessions.*#
        **[no. of words = 02011**]

        **[txt. k23**]
0010K23 **<*3THE TREE*0**> $^Right from the time the season was on the brink
0020K23 of monsoon the village elders had begun to_ look grave. ^The sinister cloud
0030K23 formation on the mountains several miles away, and a wide ring of
0040K23 uncanny aura around the moon had informed them that there were terrible
0050K23 days ahead. $^The flood came at a little past midnight. ^Although the village
0060K23 abounded in quality sleep the jackals, with their long moaning howls,
0070K23 managed to_ wake up several people who called out to each other and,
0080K23 reassured of a collective awareness, soon gathered on the river bank
0090K23 with lanterns, or torches of dry twigs. ^The flames danced in the gusts
0100K23 making their faces alternately appear and disappear. $^The moon was
0110K23 fully draped in clouds and the stars looked pallid as the eyes of dead
0120K23 fish. ^Nothing much could be seen of the river, but one could feel it
0130K23 bulging and hear it hissing like a thousand-hooded cobra. ^The wind carried
0140K23 the smell of crushed raw earth. $^Flood waters never entered this village,
0150K23 although hardly a season passed without the river playing havoc
0160K23 with the villages a couple of miles downstream. ^The people down there
0170K23 knew when to_ go over to their roofs or perch on the trees. ^After three
0180K23 or four days they descended and took root again. $^But even though flood
0190K23 did not enter this village, it nibbled at the high ridge and once in
0200K23 a while gobbled up a chunk of the grassland stretching along the bank.
0210K23 $^The villagers felt scandalised every time their familiar tame river
0220K23 expanded and looked alien and began hissing. ^It gave the sort of shock
0230K23 which one experienced when a domestic animal suddenly went crazy, behaving
0240K23 wildly and not responding to any amount of endearment. ^One just looked
0250K23 on helplessly. $^And that_ is what the villagers were doing, when
0260K23 they suddenly realised that the situation was much more grave than they
0270K23 had imagined. ^They heard a chugging and the faint sound of voices already
0280K23 tired and cracking. ^They raised their lanterns. ^At that_ the voices
0290K23 grew more plaintive. ^The villagers strained their eyes to_ see through
0300K23 the darkness and the mist. ^A few of them could make out the black
0310K23 lump passing on the ashen waters and shouted the only sensible advice that_
0320K23 could be given to a boat caught up in the first rush of a flood: "^Have
0330K23 patience. ^As soon as it is dawn the villagers downstream will throw
0340K23 ropes and save you. ^Keep on shouting. ^*God be with you." $^Such boats
0350K23 generally came from the forest at the foot of the mountains where they
0360K23 went to_ collect timber. ^Sometimes they were given another stock advice:
0370K23 "^Throw away the load and make the vessel lighter, but do not go too
0380K23 light." ^A too light vessel became a plaything for rollicking waves.
0390K23 $^The sound from the darkness became fainter and remote, random syllables
0391K23 blown away
0400K23 by the erratic wind. $^And the wind grew stronger and colder and was
0410K23 soon accompanied by a thin shower. ^All ran to_ take shelter under the
0420K23 *4banian tree. ^The wicks of the lanterns had to_ be turned low so that
0430K23 the glass cooled down enough not to_ crack at the splinters of raindrops.
0440K23 $^The leaves chattered incessantly their familiar language of hope and
0450K23 courage. ^The innumerable boughs that_ spread overhead had been the
0460K23 very symbol of protection for generations, affording shelter not only to
0470K23 those who bore love and regard for the tree, but even to such people
0480K23 who had been impudent towards it, of course, so far as the latter were
0490K23 concerned, only after humbling them to their knees. ^The elders would point
0500K23 at a mound covered with grass and shrubs, not far from the tree, while
0510K23 citing the ancient-most proof of this fact. ^The mound had decayed through
0520K23 centuries, but it was still "as high as two men." ^They did not expect
0530K23 anyone to_ ignore a fact so solid and as high as two men. $^The mound
0540K23 contained the ruins of a certain king*'s palace. ^It was neither possible
0550K23 nor necessary to_ recall the name of the king who had built it, or
0560K23 whether he had been of the solar or the lunar dynasty. ^What was frequently
0570K23 recalled was that he had dared to_ cut down a few branches of the
0580K23 tree to_ make room for his palace. ^Perhaps he had planned to_ cut more,
0590K23 perhaps even to_ totally destroy the tree, but before he could do so
0600K23 a terrific storm had broken out. ^The palace collapased. ^The king and
0610K23 his family took shelter under the tree and were saved. ^The king clasped
0620K23 the tree and wept. ^The storm subsided. $^Further back in time, it
0630K23 was said, the tree had taken off and flown to the Himalayas or other such
0640K23 meaningful places, at the behest of a certain great soul who lived under
0650K23 it. ^But that_ was in the Era of Truth, and in the absence of
0651K23 some
0660K23 concrete evidence like the mound to_ support this legend, elders of the
0670K23 present generation spoke relatively less about it than had their predecessors.
0680K23 $^The trunk that_ had once been clasped by the king had decayed
0690K23 and disappeared since time immemorial, after sending down numerous shoots
0700K23 which had formed new trunks. ^The tree with its branches spreading over
0710K23 an acre resting on these trunks had become an institution long ago.
0720K23 $^At the foot of one of the trunks rested the tiny '*4banian goddess.'
0730K23 ^She had no regular priest attached to her. ^Whoever so desired could
0740K23 approach her and sprinkle vermilion on her. ^In the course of generations
0750K23 the vermilion crust had come to_ account for the greater part of the
0760K23 goddess*'s body. ^Devotees ordinarily did not prostrate themselves to
0770K23 her, but everybody, while passing before her, bowed enough for her to_
0780K23 take cognizance of his or her devotion. ^In matters complex and formidable
0790K23 in nature, the villagers prayed for the intervention of famous deities
0800K23 of distant temples. ^But small issues were referred to her from time
0810K23 to time. ^Children in particular found her quite helpful in regard
0811K23 to crises
0820K23 arising from undone homeworks **[sic**] or the ill humour of the
0821K23 *4pandits of
0830K23 the primary school. $^The area before another trunk was the usual site
0840K23 for the village meetings. $^Relaxing beside a neighbouring trunk, eyes
0850K23 shut and jaws moving in a leisurely rhythm, could be found the much revered
0860K23 sacred bull of the village. $^In the afternoons of the bi-weekly market
0870K23 days, an old woman coming from a village on the horizon sat leaning
0880K23 against another trunk with a sack half filled with greens and/ or
0890K23 drumsticks. ^The market, still two miles distant, was her goal, but her
0900K23 knees, she would declare with a quiet toothless laugh, had refused to_
0910K23 serve her any more, obliging her to_ sell her wares sitting there. ^At
0920K23 sunset she would rise and offer a handful of whatever still remained in
0930K23 her sack to the sacred bull. $^In a hollow at the foot of another trunk
0940K23 resided a family of snakes which had earned the reputation of being conscientious
0950K23 and harmless and, in the branches above, rested a legion of
0960K23 birds. $^The tree was taken to_ be immortal by all without anybody having
0970K23 to_ be told about it. ^Immortality being an attribute of the gods,
0980K23 it was godly. ^Nobody would easily flout a decision that_ had been arrived
0990K23 at in a meeting under the tree, for even when the decision was unpalatable
1000K23 to a party, it knew that behind it there was the seal of some
1010K23 power, invisible and inaudible though. $^The rain stopped though not the
1020K23 wind. ^The first touch of awe and excitement passed. ^They could all go
1030K23 back to their homes now-- to_ return again in batches in the morning.
1040K23 ^It was more out of the respect for the river-- to_ show that they had
1041K23 taken
1050K23 due note of her changing mood-- than from any fear of the flood that
1060K23 some people must always gather at her edge. $^A crashing sound stunned
1070K23 them. ^Suddenly the earth seemed to_ rock. ^A few who were nearest the river
1080K23 were splashed; had they been standing a few feet farther they would
1090K23 have been gone forever. ^In the dark no one had observed the crack that_
1100K23 had developed on the ground before the huge chunk of the bank slipped
1110K23 into the water. $^*Nirakar Das, the retired *(head-*4pundit*) of the
1120K23 primary school, shouted, "^Come away, come away, you all!" ^The authoritative
1130K23 voice was instantly obeyed. $^A few snakes crept out of the hollow
1140K23 under the tree and wriggled away towards the mound. ^Some saw only
1150K23 one snake, some saw two and some three, but to all it appeared the exodus
1160K23 of a thousand snakes, a stream of life abandoning its ancient body.
1170K23 $^It was now about dawn. ^*Nirakar Das advanced near the tree and looked
1180K23 up for a long time. "^My eyes are gone," he declared again as he had
1190K23 on countless occasions during the past decade, and scanning the people
1200K23 who were now beginning to_ extinguish their lanterns and torches, called
1210K23 one of his ex-pupils, Ravindra, the founder-proprietor of the village*'s
1220K23 sole grocery, and asked him to_ look up and see if there were any
1230K23 birds on the tree. $^*Ravindra and others gazed up into the branches for
1240K23 a while and reported their finding: "^No, not a single feather can be
1250K23 traced!" $^*Nirakar Das looked glum. "^Can any of you recollect another
1260K23 instance like this?" he asked the people of his age-group. "^No."
1270K23 ^They too looked grave and shook their heads. $"^Far from a good sign,"
1280K23 Nirakar Das observed, "snakes and birds fleeing this great shelter!"
1290K23 $^Not long after this Ravindra and others with better eyesight detected
1300K23 an extensive crack, in the shape of a sickle, with both its ends pointing
1310K23 towards the river. ^The semi-circle embraced the tree. $"^If the tree
1320K23 falls, it will carry this whole huge chunk along with it into the river,
1330K23 for its innumerable roots have made this much of earth like a single
1340K23 cake," a young man explained to his two friends. ^They were the only
1350K23 boys from the village studying in a college in the town. ^This was their
1360K23 first visit to the village after they had grown long hair and side-locks.
1370K23 $"^What! ^The tree fall? ^How dare you say so? ^How much do you know
1380K23 about this tree?" an old *4Brahmin notorious for bad temper shouted
1390K23 at them. $"^They have developed bones in their tongues," commented Ravindra.
1400K23 "^You are studying in the college, aren*'4t you? ^Come on, save
1410K23 the tree with your English, algebra and all that_ abracadabra," he challenged
1420K23 them. $"^Why should we?" the spokesman of the trio said sniffily.
1430K23 $"^Why should you? ^As if you could, only if you pleased! ^Is this what
1440K23 you imply? ^Well, please do it out of pity for us, out of pity for fourteen
1450K23 generations of our forefathers! ^Whould you?" ^This time Ravindra
1460K23 was supported by a number of people. ^The young man blinked and muttered,
1470K23 "^What I meant was, how can we save the tree?" $"^Now it*'1s how
1480K23 can we! ^If this is the limit of your capacity how dared you grow such
1490K23 obscene hair?" demanded the bad tempered *4Brahmin tauntingly. $"^Look
1500K23 here, my young fathers! ^Just promise, not loudly, but silently within
1510K23 your hearts-- let none but the spirit of the tree know-- that if the
1520K23 tree is saved you will shorten your hair! ^Please, my fathers, make a
1530K23 solemn promise," implored ^Shrikanta Das, the meek and mild *4Vaishnav,
1540K23 his palms joined in the shape of a lotus bud, out of humility. $^As
1550K23 the sky in the East grew brighter it was observed that the ground between
1560K23 the tree and the river had already tilted towards the river. $^The
1570K23 young men tried to_ appear engrossed in discussing some thing highly
1580K23 sophisticated among themselves. ^*Shrikanta Das raised his voice and whimpered,
1590K23 "^Hearken, you all! ^Not only these boys but we all have our shares
1600K23 of sin. ^And if the tree is going to_ collapse, it is because it
1610K23 cannot bear the burden of our sins any more.*#
        **[no. of words = 02008**]

        **[txt.k24**]
0010K24 **<*3Just A Matter Of Time*0**> **[leader comment begin**] ^With
0011K24 three generations living under
0020K24 the same roof, a valiant attempt was made by Naniji, aged seventy,
0030K24 to_ bridge the communication gap. **[leader comment end**] $*3^Each*0
0031K24 member of the household
0040K24 was undergoing a crisis of sorts, from Naniji, aged seventy, to her grandson
0050K24 Ravi, aged nineteen. $^*Naniji had for many years enjoyed a stimulating
0060K24 relationship with God, praying to him, scolding him, appeasing
0070K24 him and bribing him, as the occasion demanded. ^The fervour and length
0080K24 of this already elaborate and noisy ritual (for she wanted God to_
0090K24 hear her) had mounted with the years. ^Now it had reached its climax,
0100K24 for Naniji felt the time had come for her to_ depart to the next world.
0110K24 ^After all, she had done her duty, produced three sons and three
0120K24 daughters, married them all off, been a devoted wife, a loving mother and
0130K24 a generous grandmother. $^Only one more bargain remained to_ be made
0140K24 with God. ^Her eldest grandchild, Meena, a girl of twenty-one, had
0150K24 to_ be settled in life. $"^Please let me become a greatgrandmother,
0160K24 God," she begged, "before you decide to_ take me." ^The thought that
0170K24 He might decide to_ extract payment for His many blessings before the
0180K24 event could take place worried her, causing sleepless nights. ^Even
0190K24 her blood-pressure rose alarmingly. $"^Less sugar and sweets," the doctor
0200K24 said, looking shrewdly over her flushed but nevertheless hearty countenance.
0210K24 $"^Has my time come, doctor?" she asked in her weakest voice.
0220K24 $"^No." $"^Ah, may God let me live for another two years at least,"
0230K24 she sighed and leaned back against the chair, smiling bravely at the
0240K24 doctor. $"^*God helps those who help themselves," was the uncompromising
0250K24 reply. $^Then there was her son, with whom she was living. ^He was
0260K24 due to_ retire in another few months. ^His future seemed bleak. ^A daughter
0270K24 to_ marry off, a son to_ educate and few prospects of getting another
0280K24 job at his age. ^He worried in silence, staring into space and
0290K24 refusing to_ talk it over with anyone-- no, not even with his own mother.
0300K24 $"^All right, all right, you don*'4t have to_ tell me," she conceded.
0310K24 "^But *3pray,*0 my son, pray. ^What is God for? ^Tell Ganesh you will
0320K24 have a *3*4puja*0 for him if you get another job, he will surely
0330K24 grant your wishes. ^After all, hasn*'4t he granted mine?" $"^Bribery,"
0340K24 said Ravi succinctly. $"^Do not say such a thing, God will punish
0350K24 you," said Naniji automatically. ^She did not understand English but
0360K24 the word sounded sarcastic and uncomplimentary to the Almighty. "^What
0370K24 did you say? ^Say it in Hindi." $"^Bribery," repeated Ravi in English,
0380K24 "whether at the altar of the Almighty or the politician, is a
0390K24 matter of deep belief in their respective abilities to_ succumb. ^Qualitatively
0400K24 similar and quantitatively merely a difference of coconuts and
0410K24 cash." $"^Don*'4t use big words," his mother said. "^Just because you*'3re
0420K24 doing your \0BA doesn*'4t mean you know everything. ^Show some
0430K24 respect to your grandmother, even if she doesn*'4t understand you. ^You
0440K24 don*'4t even make an effort to_ learn your own mother tongue. ^Think
0450K24 how happy it would make her if you did. ^Learn to_ give happiness to
0460K24 people, all you modern children are so selfish." $"^The whole concept
0470K24 of happiness, mother dearest, is outdated. ^Your philosophy is disarmingly
0480K24 simple, but I guess that_*'1s the sort of thing that_ sustains
0490K24 you in your utopia of household bliss. $"^Be quiet," she said in exasperation.
0500K24 ^She would never understand him. ^Why was he always so sarcastic?
0510K24 ^Half the time she could not understand what he said. $*3^Once,*0
0520K24 determined to_ bridge the "generation gap", she had asked him what exactly
0530K24 was troubling him, why he was so moody and withdrawn and why he
0540K24 spent all his spare time shut in his room, listening to that_ terrible
0550K24 music. ^Of course she didn*'4t tell him it was terrible-- he would have
0560K24 gone off into one of his eulogies on the "beautiful lyrics". ^What
0570K24 lyrics? ^They couldn*'4t even be *3heard*0 with all that_ wild drumming
0580K24 and even wilder shrieking. ^Cacophonia, her husband called it. ^It drove
0590K24 everyone mad, Naniji in particular, who said it interfered with
0600K24 her *4puja. ^When his mother told him this, he shrugged his shoulders
0610K24 in that_ infuriating way and said: "^Well, her *4puja*'2s been waking
0620K24 me up every morning at 5 \0a.m. for the last six years." $^*Naniji was
0630K24 shocked and hurt by his reply. "^How can you compare the two, *4beta?"
0640K24 $"^How? ^Well, you*'3re devoted to your music, I to mine. ^Your music
0650K24 disturbs me, mine disturbs you. ^*I can*'4t understand your kind of
0660K24 music and you can*'4t understand my kind." $^He was severely reprimanded
0670K24 for his rudeness by his father and with less severity but as much
0680K24 feeling by his mother. ^So, when she asked him what was wrong, he
0690K24 drew in a deep breath and hissed: "^Have you ever heard of alienation?"
0700K24 $^She looked at him blankly. $"^Or of an identity crisis?" $^She looked
0710K24 even blanker. $"^Or of someone trying to *3find*0 himself?" $^Here
0720K24 she sat up and eagerly said: "^Oh I know, like all those hippies you
0730K24 read about in *3Time*0 magazine." $^Her son*'s expression was unfathomable.
0740K24 "^A penetrating observation," he said. ^She countinued looking
0750K24 expectantly at him but he returned to his book and her desire to_ bridge
0760K24 the generation gap ebbed immediately. $^Being a mother had its problems.
0770K24 ^What did they know of her burdens, these children? ^They were absorbed
0780K24 in themselves and their own problems (if one could call them that_)
0790K24 were of their own making. ^Alienation-- was that_ something concrete?
0800K24 ^How would they know how much she had struggled in the first few years
0810K24 of her marriage, skimping and saving and stretching her husband*'s
0820K24 salary as far as possible. ^They had it all now, the comforts and security
0830K24 of a house, the best of education, food, clothes, books and music.
0840K24 ^They didn*'4t have to_ start from scratch. ^Why, Ravi even had
0850K24 a motorcycle, given to him on his eighteenth birthday and he*'1d go roaring
0860K24 down those crowded roads with some silly giggling girl clutching
0870K24 hold of him. ^He brought them home sometimes, attractive things with
0880K24 flyaway hair and tight shirts. ^He should be thankful she was modern.
0890K24 ^Why, how many mothers would give so much freedom to their children? ^All
0900K24 they gave in return were high-sounding words. $^*Meena was no better
0910K24 than her brother. ^She spoke of Women*'s Liberation and equality
0920K24 and lost her temper at the slightest provocation. ^That_*'1s what came
0930K24 of educating a girl so much. ^She became too independent and assertive.
0940K24 ^It was all right for a boy but a girl should be pliant. ^She said
0950K24 so to Meena and almost retreated at the force of her outburst. ^It
0960K24 was all a matter of social conditioning, her daughter said furiously,
0970K24 there was no such thing as different domains biologically determined for
0980K24 men and women. $"^Look at Ravi and me," she pointed out. "^We *'3re
0990K24 different because of the different ways you*'3ve brought us up, the
1000K24 different values you*'3ve ingrained in us, the different expectations
1010K24 you have of us." $"^In short, we*'3ve brought you up wrongly. ^Yes,
1020K24 yes, please go on! ^So it has come to this, when our own childern accuse
1030K24 us of bringing them up badly--" $"^Mummy, I didn*'4t--" $"^No, no, don*'4t
1040K24 say anything, I know what you young people are like. ^This is the
1050K24 gratitude you show us. ^O God, after all these years--" $"^Forget it,
1060K24 you*'3ll never understand. ^You insist on going off on a tangent. ^You
1070K24 haven*'4t got the point at all." $"^Oh yes," her mother said, goaded.
1080K24 "^*I haven*'4t got the point. ^Just because I haven*'4t done my \0MA
1090K24 like you doesn*'4t mean I know any less. ^*I have experience. ^All
1100K24 your knowledge is theoretical. ^Remember that_, *3I*0 have experience."
1110K24 $"^Your experience, Mummy," said Meena, "is limited to the narrow
1120K24 confines of your home, husband and children. ^And before your marriage,
1130K24 to your parents and their home. ^What do you know of *3life?"*0 $"^And
1140K24 what do *3you*0 know, pray?" asked her mother, infuriated. "^What
1150K24 can you do now that I couldn*'4t at your age? ^*I could do everything
1160K24 and more than you!" $"^Like?" $"^Like cooking and needlework and flower
1170K24 decorations-- look at you-- twentyone years old and you can*'4t even
1180K24 sew a button, let alone cook a meal. ^You should be--" $"^You*'3re
1190K24 being obtuse, Mummy. ^That_ isn*'4t *3experience."*0 $"^The point, my
1200K24 child, is that your kind of experience means shirking work. ^Look at
1210K24 your room, it*'1s in such a mess, books, books everywhere, all very intellectual
1220K24 maybe, but I want tidiness. ^*I*'3ve had enough of your intellectualness--"
1230K24 $"^Intellectualism." $"^Intellectual-- whatever-it-is,
1240K24 don*'4t keep correcting me. ^How will you ever look after your husband
1250K24 at the rate you*'3re going?" $"^*I don*'4t plan to_ marry so don*'4t
1260K24 talk about husbands." $"^You don*'4t plan to_ marry?" $"^At least, not
1270K24 in the near future." $"^What did she say, what did she say?" Naniji
1280K24 had abandoned her *4puja as the voices rose, she couldn*'4t bear to_
1290K24 miss a family fight. $^Mother told her. $"^My child," said Naniji,
1300K24 going to Meena and patting her cheek. "^What are you saying? ^This is
1310K24 no way for a girl to_ talk. ^Never mind, everyone is shy in the beginning.
1320K24 ^It is only natural--" $"^SHY!" shrieked Meena. $"^Shhhh... not
1330K24 so loud." $"^*I am not shy! ^*I shall marry *3when I please, whether
1340K24 twenty-one or thirty-one--' $"^No, baby, no," her mother sounded anguished.
1350K24 "^One has difficulty bearing children at that_ age, why \0Mrs
1360K24 Varma told me--" $"^And I shall marry *3whom I please, Hindu,
1370K24 Muslim or Christian."
1380K24 $"^No, no, no," wailed her mother. "^Not a Muslim
1390K24 or a Christian, don*'4t, please don*'4t, you don*'4t know what they
1400K24 are like. ^They*'3ll convert you and all your children will have to_
1410K24 be Muslims or Christians and--" $"^What did she say, what did she say?"
1420K24 asked Naniji. $^Mother repeated it. $"*5^Chee, chee, chee*6," Naniji
1430K24 looked positively sick. "^Don*'4t even talk of it. ^Do you know
1440K24 what the Muslims did to us during the partition, do you know?" $"^Yes,
1450K24 I know and I don*'4t care. ^You needn*'4t get so worked up Naniji,
1460K24 I was just speaking hypothetically, I don*'4t have anyone in mind,
1470K24 don*'4t worry." $"^Maybe, maybe, but," Naniji folded her hands and
1480K24 closed her eyes fervently, "don*'4t even *3think of such a possibility.
1490K24 ^And child," here she exchanged a glance with Meena*'s mother,
1500K24 "this is the time to_ tell you, we have someone in mind for you, *3very
1510K24 nice boy, handsome-- fair and tall-- a reputable family and earning so
1520K24 well--" $"^And," her mother interrupted her, "it isn*'4t as though we
1530K24 aren*'4t bothered about what you want. ^*I*'3ve found out that the boy
1540K24 is very intellectual, he reads *3Time, Reader*'s Digest and all
1550K24 those magazines." $^At this point Meena burst into tears. "^Talking
1560K24 to you people," she said thickly, "is like banging my head against a
1570K24 stone wall. ^*I can*'4t go through such a thing. ^*I*'3ll be betraying
1580K24 myself if I do. ^*I want a natural, honest relationship with a man--"
1590K24 $"^Oh yes, honest relationship," her mother began to_ cry too. "^You modern
1600K24 girls and boys are all the same-- for you honesty means living together
1610K24 in sin and then boasting about it to the whole world! ^Is that_
1620K24 your honesty-- like that_ Kabir Bedi and Parveen Babi and his terrible
1630K24 wife Protima with their successive beautiful relationships!" $"wow!"
1640K24 said her son, admiringly, having entered the room at this point. "^Your
1650K24 general knowledge is improving. ^The advantages of a wide reading,
1660K24 no doubt." $"^Be quiet," his mother wept with greater abandon now.
1670K24 "^All that_ you modern people care about are the pleasures of the flesh--"
1680K24 $"^What a quaint term." $"^BE QUIET! ^That_ is all that_ you
1690K24 understand by honesty-- doing such things in the open, saying it is natural,
1700K24 you might as well shit in public-- that_ is natural too." $"^Definitely.
1710K24 ^But most unhygienic." $*3^The next few days were difficult.
1720K24 ^*Meena refused to_ speak to anyone and made it clear that she had no
1730K24 intention of meeting any prospective bridegroom, however eligible. ^*Ravi*'s
1740K24 remarks became more barbed and less comprehensible.*#
        **[no. of words = 02004**]

        **[txt. k25**]
0010K25 **<*3Rats**>
0020K25 $**[ leader comment begin **] ^Desperate for food, the
0030K25 rats were at their silent work and Hiru could not picture the future
0040K25 with all his grain gone. ^But one thing he was sure of: Nothing would
0050K25 induce him to_ leave the village of his forbears. **[leader comment
0060K25 end**] $*3^*Hiru knew the squiggles in the dust. ^He stooped and
0070K25 frowned. ^The rats had arrived while he lay dazed with pain, perhaps
0080K25 muttering to himself. ^The last time, too they had come in the summer.
0090K25 ^Through the tunnels in the fields. ^He had had a hard time jamming
0100K25 the holes with dirt and stones only to_ discover the next morning what
0110K25 a fool he had been. ^He knew they would nuzzle through the fillings
0120K25 and, when they wanted it, make new holes. ^Afterwards he had found some
0130K25 mortar in the house but the rats had already depleted his grain, his
0140K25 hoard of gold. $^When they found nothing in the fields the beasts turned
0150K25 to the homes, risking death. ^Once they had nibbled off a string
0160K25 bag from the town. ^Another time they couldn*'4t even resist the bristles
0170K25 on Hiru*'s shin. ^He had woken up, folding his leg, startling them
0180K25 away. ^It was only after they had fled that he knew, rubbing his eyes
0190K25 in disbelief. ^He climbed out of bed and relit the hurricane lantern.
0200K25 ^But there was nothing to_ be found, except sticky droppings where
0210K25 black ants were crawling. ^The rats, desperate for food, had landed on
0220K25 him by way of the tin boxes along the wall. ^He waited on the edge
0230K25 of the cot, the light turned low, but they didn*'4t reappear. ^That_
0240K25 year the village had a bad drought. $*3^*Hiru couldn*'4t remember when
0250K25 he had last stepped into the store room. ^Maybe a month ago or more.
0260K25 ^He had been ill, scarcely leaving his crumbling room. ^So he was unprepared
0270K25 for what met his eyes now. ^Bits of straw and jute; mounds of
0280K25 fire grass smelly with rat dirt; the wicker-basket tilting on its side
0290K25 and empty of the maize seeds he had gathered to_ sow the patch where
0300K25 little else sprouted in the monsoon. ^Two other bags were sagging and
0310K25 the earthen floor was strewn with grain. ^Gone, too, were the onions
0320K25 and peppers and the heap of oilcake from the corner. $^His foot crackled
0330K25 and he dredged up a fistful of crushed shells. ^He had kept the
0340K25 chicken eggs in a nest of hay protected by bricks, wanting
0350K25 them to_ hatch into chicks. ^He was devoted to his lame, ancient
0360K25 layer. ^Now he had himself to_ blame. ^*I should have known better, he
0370K25 thought. ^His lips twitched; he could chew up Asha. ^The bitch! ^*It
0380K25 was her duty to_ look after the stores. $^*Hiru was still fuming when
0390K25 Asha returned after dusk. ^He was waiting to_ yell at her. ^She called
0400K25 from the porch, as she often did when she had been out, perhaps to_
0410K25 ease her conscience. ^Today she had alarming news. $"^Know something?"
0420K25 she said, stepping in. "^The headman has called a meeting tomorrow."
0430K25 $^And she began her anxious chatter. ^The famine had grown worse and there
0440K25 was talk of leaving the village. ^One family already had, milkmen
0450K25 who lost three cows in one month. ^Piled into their cart, the old father
0460K25 had said they weren*'4t coming back to the cursed place. ^The headman
0470K25 was going to_ refer the incident to the village council. ^All were
0480K25 expected to_ be present. $^*Asha brought a light, placed it near Hiru*'s
0490K25 cot and sat down. ^He lay in silhouette, his head caught awkwardly
0500K25 in the dip of his greasy pillow. ^She described the happenings from
0510K25 day to day; he listened, his eyes on her grotesque shadow from floor to
0520K25 ceiling. $"^Where have you been all this time?" he demanded at last.
0530K25 $^She opened her small mouth, with its upcurved lip, but couldn*'4t speak.
0540K25 ^Only her fingers moved instead, signifying quiet admission. $"*^I
0550K25 know," he said, prickly with insinuation. ^He knew this needled her
0560K25 in spite of herself. $^A lively, young widow, she was a relation who
0570K25 had come in to_ look after the household when he decided that he wouldn*'4t
0580K25 get married again. ^His wife had died after giving birth to a
0590K25 dead child. ^*Asha used to_ be a great help, daubing the mud floor with
0600K25 cowdung, fetching water from the well, washing his few clothes and cooking
0610K25 meals. ^Later, courted by her secret lovers, she changed in no
0620K25 time. ^*Hiru knew about her every affair, in the end stopping to_ care.
0630K25 ^When reports filtered in, he would snarl at the face of the informant,
0640K25 eyes flashing, "^The bitch!" $^Only once did he nearly throw her
0650K25 out. ^There had been buzzing gossip that one night she had visited the
0660K25 cobbler who had driven out his pregnant wife in a fit of drunkenness.
0670K25 ^Three days later Asha had returned, fallen at his feet and prevailed
0680K25 on the headman to_ plead for her. $"^Why didn*'4t you tell me about
0690K25 the rats?" $"^*I did-- a month ago." $"^*I don*'4t remember." $"^Old men
0700K25 forget easily." $"^*I remember my boyhood clear as daylight." $"^Do
0710K25 you really?" $"^Perhaps I didn*'4t believe you." $"^I*'3m not to_ blame
0720K25 then." $"^You should*'3ve reminded me." $^And so they argued, as
0730K25 usual. ^But Asha cut the argument for she was suddenly anxious and asked
0740K25 Hiru, "^What about the rats?" ^When he told her she was astounded.
0750K25 ^She dreaded the implications. ^The rats were at their silent work while
0760K25 she traipsed from one secret meeting to another. $"^You have*'4t
0770K25 looked into the storage in a long while," he almost shouted at her. ^He
0780K25 couldn*'4t picture the future with all that_ grain gone. ^His jaws stiffened
0790K25 with despair. ^The damned illness, otherwise he would have cared
0800K25 for the grain himself! $*3^The village council was called in front
0810K25 of the Siva temple, a stone structure with a conical top on a high
0820K25 masonry plinth. ^Nothing quite like it had ever taken place at the sacred
0830K25 spot. ^Intense faces huddled in crooked rows on the ground, fringed
0840K25 by dusty trees with frail shadows. ^At their head, near the steps
0850K25 of the shrine, sat the speakers, a bunch of elders exchanging whispers.
0860K25 ^Only the children were unconcerned and in their element, chasing one
0870K25 another noisily around and taking to their heels whenever an angry adult
0880K25 appeared to_ wave them away. $^The first to_ speak was the priest.
0890K25 ^A thin dyspeptic with a caste thread snaking across his chest, he began
0900K25 with a nasal chant to Siva. "^The One with matted locks Who creates,
0910K25 preserves and destroys all will save us..." ^He repeated the words
0920K25 like magic *4mantra over and over and asked for faith in His Grace
0930K25 but couldn*'4t proceed much further. ^His voice trailed off and he
0940K25 began to_ blink heavily, then ended by wiping his eyes with the corner
0950K25 of his filthy *4dhoti. ^There was at once a drone of murmurs. ^Nobody
0960K25 had anticipated such a scene. $^Next rose the headman, straight and strong,
0970K25 scowling in the harsh light, hushing his audience into silence.
0980K25 ^He plucked at his moustache, realigned his turban and scratched his
0990K25 neck. ^Everybody waited in suspense for him to_ open his mouth. ^And he
1000K25 did, all at once, as though the rock blocking his path had rolled aside.
1010K25 $"^There is no worry, let me tell you all," he said in his loud voice
1020K25 pointing to the hunched figures on the ground. "^Famine will pass."
1030K25 he carried on with his pep talk like a deft speaker until he felt, from
1040K25 the repeated chorus of agreement, that he had worked his old magic.
1050K25 $^*Hiru listened, cross-legged, hugging his knees. ^He was thinking up
1060K25 his speech. ^Finally, after the grocer had talked, demanding that the
1070K25 town must send relief supplies to the village, he began in his slow
1080K25 appraising drawl. $"^Help from the town? ^Is that_ it?" he said, bitter,
1090K25 scornful, for such pleas in the past had drawn empty assurances from
1100K25 cocky government officials. ^He had a distrust of townspeople and his
1110K25 distrust had grown. ^For him, the stories of their deception, of their
1120K25 contempt for village folk, were confirmed. ^So, like the headman before
1130K25 him, he urged everyone to_ have courage and faith. ^He came down
1140K25 hard on the family who had fled at the first signs of famine. ^An ugly
1150K25 thing to_ do, leaving the roof of their forbears. ^He asked each home
1160K25 to_ save grain and warned of the rats, telling his listeners what he had
1170K25 found in his storage. ^And voices, sharing his experience, chorused,
1180K25 "^Bastards! ^Must be wiped out..." $^The response was strangely moving.
1190K25 ^That he could thus hold an audience point by point was quite a revelation.
1200K25 ^He was bathed in sweat and his temples throbbed. ^He felt that
1210K25 he could have gone among those seated men and greeted them with joined
1220K25 palms. $^The meeting had shored up flagging spirits for a while then,
1230K25 like a wave making its steady retreat, they wore away. $*3^*Hiru
1240K25 mused in the shade of a peaceful tree, his back against the scarred
1250K25 trunk, filled with forebodings. ^Things weren*'4t as he had expected
1260K25 and the famine had clearly gained. ^The wind growled, driving hot eddies
1270K25 of dust, and the scrubby fields erupted into nervous motion. ^Arching
1280K25 before him, the road faded into nothingness. ^The crow which looked
1290K25 down at him from its perch was dazed, its beak agape. ^Behind the burnt-out
1300K25 copse was his house, mud and brick and thatch standing back from
1310K25 the irregular straggle of roofs. ^The dust spread, obliterating everything,
1320K25 but moments later, when the wind was a whisper again, contours
1330K25 would float as before, vague and unreal. $^The desert is creeping, he
1340K25 thought. ^And there was proof. ^The fields that_ yielded even three
1350K25 rains ago had run to malicious brush, the soil going sandy. ^The wells
1360K25 were giving up and the new ones ran only at greater depths. ^He had been
1370K25 to villages where desert had won and man had lost, where the houses
1380K25 were ghostly because most of the people had left after their last try.
1390K25 $^He was distressed but the desert wasn*'4t the only reason. ^He had
1400K25 gone off this morning to_ check a report and was amazed. ^How could
1410K25 he ever have suspected the priest? ^He had arrived to_ find the hut, at
1420K25 the end of the village, forsaken, doors yawning, spooky. ^The courtyard
1430K25 fluttered with lint from the forgotten bolt of cotton, and the bamboo
1440K25 cradle on its triangle of coir ropes stirred gently. $^The family
1450K25 had left in the night, spreading panic! ^Whoever knew how many more were
1460K25 planning to_ steal away? ^*Hiru recalled the priest at the village
1470K25 council: ^The prayer to Lord Siva, the faith in His goodness, the
1480K25 tearful eyes. ^He couldn*'4t have looked into that_ man*'s mind. ^*Hiru
1490K25 was astonished at the turn of events. $^He stood up, clutching a bottle
1500K25 of thin, reddish liquid. ^He had been to the village of his doctor
1510K25 who had charged him three handfuls of grain. ^*Hiru regretted such
1520K25 a loss of grain but could do nothing about it. ^In almost all the villages
1530K25 of the region food was fast becoming a medium of barter. $^The only
1540K25 gladdening bit about his visit to the doctor was that the latter had
1550K25 ridiculed his doubts about his ailment. ^He wished the old man was right.
1560K25 ^*Hiru used to_ treat himself, with his knowledge of herbs and instant
1570K25 medicines, but when the pain increased he had sought the doctor*'s
1580K25 help. ^Now, trudging along the dusty road, he shook the bottle in
1590K25 his hand hard and held it against the glare of sunlight: ^The cloudy potion
1600K25 seethed into froth, clinging to the sides. ^An odd exhilaration
1610K25 came over him. $*3^*Asha was asleep, her
1620K25 head in a corner of his cot, legs draped on the dirt floor. ^As Hiru
1630K25 crept in she opened her liquid eyes, edged with faint shadows, stared
1640K25 blankly at him awhile, then went back to_ sleep with an expression of
1650K25 deep annoyance. ^Then she stirred into life, yawning and throwing up her
1660K25 hands. $"^You are back?" she said, now pleasantly surprised, and set
1670K25 out to_ serve the meal.*#
        **[no. of words = 02011**]

        **[txt. k26**]
0010K26 **<*3Bats**> **[leader comment begin**] $*3^The droppings of seeds
0020K26 and rind under the *4litchi tree told Loknath the whole story: that in
0030K26 the night bats had preyed on the fruit, and that those who were supposed
0040K26 to_ guard it were too absorbed in each other to_ attend to their task.
0050K26 **[leader comment end**] $*3^A FEW*0 spikes around the stalk
0060K26 of the *4lichis had begun to_ redden. ^During the day crows sat on the
0070K26 tree, at night many bats circled above it. ^Every year, around this time,
0080K26 Loknath thought of terminating this business of keeping a nightly
0090K26 vigil to_ chase away the bats; he would sell the tree itself to a fruitseller
0100K26 for a lump sum. ^Whether the buyer chased away the bats or not,
0110K26 was his lookout. ^All that_ Loknath wanted was the cash and about
0120K26 five hundred *4litchis for himself and to_ distribute to a few neighbours.
0130K26 $^Keeping watch all night for thirty to forty days picking the ripe
0140K26 *4litchis to_ sell in the market every day-- all this was terribly irksome
0150K26 work. ^But every year it so happened that Loknath would take turns
0160K26 with his daughter and son at chasing crows and bats away from the
0170K26 tree, plucking bunches of *4litchis with a long bamboo split at one end,
0180K26 and in the afternoon sitting with a basket of *4litchis in the market.
0190K26 $^Even this year the wholesale buyers had come; one, two, three of them.
0200K26 ^The haggling for prices went on: forty, forty-five, at the most
0210K26 fifty rupees for the entire tree. ^Fifty rupees for this tree? ^Rather
0220K26 than let you have the tree for fifty rupees I would call ten children
0230K26 from the neighbourhood and just give away the *4litchis to them. ^That_
0240K26 would at least earn me some virtue. ^Go away. $^Actually Loknath did
0250K26 not send away the buyers with any thought of virtue. ^He wanted at least
0260K26 thirty rupees more than what they offered. ^Besides, losing sleep
0270K26 and watching over the *4litchis for this one month had become a sort of
0280K26 intoxication for him. ^Like the way they celebrated Durga Puja every
0290K26 year at Saradindu Babu*'s house. ^What was more, this year*'s April
0300K26 storm had not brought down quite as many blossoms from the tree. ^As
0310K26 a result, there was more of the fruit than in previous years and even
0320K26 the size was bigger. ^In the market they would fetch at least a hundered
0330K26 rupees if they could be saved from the bats. $^So once again Loknath
0340K26 made bamboo clappers; sounds reverberated all over the neighbourhood--
0350K26 *3clap, clap, clap!*0 ^He got a leaky tincan for four *4annas, hung
0360K26 a couple of old iron bolts inside and got his son Rajani to_ suspend
0370K26 the tin from a high branch right in the middle of the tree. ^He then
0380K26 tied the other end of the string attached to the can to one of the posts
0390K26 of the thatched verandah-like shed near the courtyard. ^When the string
0400K26 was pulled, the sound reached beyond three neighbouring colonies--
0410K26 *3clang, clang, clang!*0 $^But these days the bats did not seem to_
0420K26 scare too much at the sound of clappers and tincans; at the first opportunity
0430K26 they landed somewhere on the tree and right through the din peeled
0440K26 the skins of ripe *4litchis one by one. ^Hence the other unfailing
0450K26 prescription: Rajani repaired the old catapult. ^The old fork remained;
0460K26 from Rafiq*'s workshop he brought two bits of rubber and from Gokul*'s
0470K26 house the tongue of an old shoe. ^He fixed the bit of leather to
0480K26 the catapult. ^*Loknath got some slimy clay from the bank of the stream
0490K26 and dried the pellets made from them on a bamboo platter. $*3^AFTER*0
0500K26 that_ the work of guarding the *4litchis began. $^*Loknath slept
0510K26 lightly towards the small hours. ^It was therefore arranged that between
0520K26 midnight and the crack of dawn Loknath would keep watch, Rajani
0530K26 taking care of the earlier part of the night. ^Some of Rajani*'s friends
0540K26 dropped in after supper. ^Sitting in the courtyard, with a lantern
0550K26 nearby, they would play ludo. ^On the other side of the ludo-board, there
0560K26 was snakes-and-ladders. ^Whenever they got bored with one side
0570K26 they played the other. ^Not only Rajani but his friends as well would
0580K26 beat the clappers, pull the string of the tincan and shoot the catapult
0590K26 at the probable location of the bats in the tree. $^When it came to
0600K26 detailing the share of duties, Rajani*'s older sister Hemaprabha was
0610K26 given hardly any work, but it was she who had to_ keep awake practically
0620K26 all night. ^*Rajani and his friends would take turns at bringing
0630K26 *4bhujiya and roasted gram, and Hemaprabha had to_ brew them tea without
0640K26 milk around eleven at night. ^At one O*'3clock Loknath would come
0641K26 out to
0650K26 the courtyard. ^She would then have to_ make him a glass of strong,
0660K26 salty tea with ginger and bay leaves. $^After drinking the glass of tea,
0670K26 Loknath would say, "^Go, get some sleep now." ^But the way he leaned
0680K26 on the wooden chair and stretched out his legs on the bench just as
0690K26 he said this made Hemaprabha realise that the poor man could do with
0700K26 another hour*'s sleep. ^Having to_ shake himself out of a deep sleep
0710K26 was evidently irksome for him. $^At that_ moment there would be a crunching
0720K26 sound of bats landing on the tree and Hemaprabha would beat the
0730K26 clappers, drum the tincans and, not hearing the sound of bats flying
0740K26 away, she would pick up the catapult. ^She would shoot with great care
0750K26 to_ ensure that the shots did not land on the corrugated iron roof of
0760K26 Sada*'s house nearby. ^After that_ she would tell her father, "^Go and
0770K26 sleep a little longer, I*'3ll wake you up when I feel sleepy." $^Her
0780K26 father would ask, "^What was it you were saying about a dress? ^Would
0790K26 you rather buy the cloth or shall I get you the yarn?" $"^What made
0800K26 you remember that_ now?" $"^No, I was just thinking. ^As soon as I
0810K26 get the money for the *4lichis...." $"^Well, get it first. ^But then
0820K26 you said something about buying a sewing machine for Rajani." $^That_
0830K26 was true. ^If Rajani had a sewing machine, he could start earning
0840K26 a tidy bit on his own. ^As a tailor*'s assistant he did all the work from
0850K26 cutting to making button-holes, but when it came to wages all he got
0860K26 was eight *4annas today, nothing tomorrow and four *4annas the day after--
0870K26 according to the shopowner*'s whims. ^Yes, it was time the sewing
0880K26 machine... $^On the whole, with her clappers, tincans, catapults and
0890K26 conversations, Hemaprabha had to_ keep Loknath company; only then
0900K26 could he watch over the *4litchis. ^When her eyelids weighed down, Hemaprabha
0910K26 would sleep on the bench on her side, her legs tucked in. ^And
0920K26 gazing at the undulations of her plump body Loknath would say to himself,
0930K26 "^The poor girl is going through a hard time." $*3^THEY*0 had guarded
0940K26 the *4litchis for three days, when one night a long-drawn note of
0950K26 a whistle was heard-- tw-e-e-t. ^*Hemaprabha was serving Rajani and the
0960K26 others their eleven O*'3clock tea. ^Almost in chorus they all asked
0961K26 her, "^Whatever
0970K26 is that_, sister?" $"^God knows! ^A constable, I suppose." $^And
0980K26 so it was. ^The constable had passed their house and gone away, but
0990K26 had returned a little later. ^He entered the courtyard just as one of
1000K26 Rajani*'s friends had thrown a six of the dice. ^The game stopped.
1010K26 ^*Hemaprabha went inside, Rajani got up from his chair and offered it
1020K26 to the constable. $"^Where have you come from? ^Was there anything you
1030K26 wanted to_ tell us?" $^No, no. ^He had no business with them at all.
1040K26 ^He was on duty. ^Only the other day there had been a theft at Doctor
1050K26 Manik*'s house. ^Since then the doctor had been quite steamed up.
1060K26 ^He had himself gone to the \0SP*'s bungalow. ^After all he was a man
1070K26 who had seen the war and his temper was something to_ reckon with. ^Nobody
1080K26 knew precisely what he had said to the \0SP, but the outcome
1090K26 of it all was that there was to_ be police patrolling henceforth on that_
1100K26 street. ^Not a sensible idea at all. ^After all, how many houses were
1110K26 there in this neighbourhood that_ were fit to_ be burgled? ^Would
1120K26 any thief stick his neck out again in this area? $^So the constable had
1130K26 come to_ find out what Rajani and the others were doing and to_ kill
1140K26 time with conversation. ^It was very boring to_ pace up and down the
1150K26 streets all alone without rhyme or reason. $^The next day the constable
1160K26 came around midnight. ^When the game in progress came to an end, Rajani
1170K26 and his friends asked him to_ join them. ^He sat down to the game
1180K26 with the green counters to his share. ^They were late in waking up Rajani*'s
1190K26 father. ^Actually they had been so amused at the constable joining
1200K26 them that they had continued playing until the very end of the game.
1210K26 $"^The boys have been telling me about you," Loknath said to the constable
1220K26 as he emerged from the house. "^Do sit down," ^Then he picked
1230K26 up the lantern and inspected the patch beneath the *4litchi tree, just
1240K26 to_ see if there were any rinds-- the one unmistakable evidence of bats
1250K26 having preyed on the *4litchis. ^Who knew what the bats might do over there
1260K26 while the boys were rapt in their game! $^*Loknath went in, leaving
1270K26 the lantern with the constable. ^In the meantime Hemaprabha had put
1280K26 some water to_ boil. ^*Loknath asked her, "^A little tea for the constable
1290K26 also? ^Have you got milk? ^Salt will do for me, but a bit of sugar
1300K26 for our friend here..." $^At this unearthly midnight hour Hemaprabha
1310K26 changed her *4sador and turned her *4mekhela **[foot note**] around
1320K26 so that the torn patch was covered by her *4sador. ^Then she came out
1330K26 with the tea-- a glass for Loknath and a cup for the constable. ^Leaving
1340K26 the tea on the bench, she had moved away from the light of the lantern
1350K26 when Loknath called out, "^Go to bed." ^At once Hemaprabha
1360K26 went in. $^*Loknath drew his feet up on the bench. "^Tell us where you
1370K26 are from and all the rest," he said. $^Above the occasional sounding
1380K26 of clappers, the tugging of the tincan string and the shooting of the
1390K26 catapult, Loknath made out that the constable*'s name was Mathura
1400K26 and that nothing was known of his true ancestral home. ^Apparently
1410K26 his grandfather*'s grandfather was someone important from somewhere near
1420K26 the great river island, Majuli, and had been an evacuee during the
1430K26 Burmese invasion to the foothills this side. ^From there his grandfather
1440K26 had migrated to the bank of the big river. ^The floods drove them
1450K26 out to_ squat on the reserve land where they had to_ fight wild elephants.
1460K26 ^So his father had moved to Kadamguri village. $^It was at Kadamguri
1470K26 that his parents had died. ^According to Mathura, the story that
1480K26 his grandfather*'s grandfather was someone big from around
1490K26 Majuli must have been all lies, but that his parents had died because
1500K26 they couldn*'4t get enough to_ eat was absolutely true-- something
1510K26 he had seen himself. $^Who was there at his village home now? $^None;
1520K26 no one at all. ^He no longer had a home in that_ village. ^Not to_ speak
1530K26 of his own homestead, now he would be happy if the entire village disappeared.
1540K26 $^Why, why? $^A long story. ^Well, to_ put it in a few words,
1550K26 age, illness and hunger had taken their toll of his parents. ^This
1560K26 he could try to_ bear. ^But he found it very hard to_ put up with the
1570K26 way the villagers took the life of his young sister who had no reason
1580K26 to_ die. $^One day a man had come to their house. ^At first he endeared
1590K26 himself to everyone in the house; then he endeared himself to the entire
1600K26 village; and then the only one alienated from him was Mathura*'s
1610K26 sister. ^Joining the police service had placed Mathura within restrictions,
1620K26 or else he would even now have dogged that_ man*'s steps and made
1630K26 sure that his sin did not go unpunished.*#
        **[no. of words = 02015**]

        **[txt. k27**]
0010K27 **<*3Transactions*0**> **[leader comment begin**] $*3^They meet over
0020K27 a pot of tea in a series of inconclusive encounters, the lawyer who practises
0030K27 conceit, his unemployed nephew and the pious station master.*0
0040K27 **[leader comment end**] $*3^THE*0 first rays of sunlight penetrate
0050K27 the sick-looking opaque glass of the train windows about the same time
0060K27 as it lurches into Moradabad Station. ^The usual crowd of black-coated
0070K27 lawyers, from as far afield as Amroha and Kanth, alights, eagerly
0080K27 anticipating the day*'s takings like a flock of vultures on the roof
0090K27 of a slaughter-house. ^*I am sometimes apt to_ go into raptures over
0100K27 this imagery-- indelicate though it is. ^Whenever I have occasion to_
0110K27 pass an abattoir, I make it a point to_ watch the birds flying in
0120K27 lazy, well-bred circles, their black feathers outstretched, like so many
0130K27 pairs of hands. ^They would tempt their prey into them, I am sure,
0140K27 if only they could manage it. $^*I don*'4t know why I*'3m saying this.
0150K27 ^*I too wear the same uniform. ^Of course, my coat is better tailored.
0160K27 ^The crease of my trousers is renowned as far off as Lucknow. ^My
0170K27 shirtfront is as fluffy and starched as that_ of any England-returned
0180K27 *4sahib. ^In fact, I look more the lawyer than those birds of prey hunched
0190K27 up in pairs on the *(cycle-rikshaws*) pedalled to the courts by
0200K27 cadaverous-looking men. ^Or those you see going along the road with a vulture*'s
0210K27 ungainly gait looking around to_ see what pickings they can
0220K27 corner on the way. ^*I am a lawyer too. ^But I usually walk the platform
0230K27 to the Railway Restaurant, where a pot of boiling tea waits for me
0240K27 every morning. $^Here I am joined by my nephew, Kamleshwar Singh,
0250K27 a young man of refinement, who has spent the last three years looking
0260K27 unsuccessfully for a suitable situation in life. ^However, it is to
0270K27 his credit that his search for a suitable situation has not forced him
0280K27 to_ acquire the unspeakable vulgarity that_ we choose to_ call "common
0290K27 sense". ^He always has enough time to_ pass the day with an older
0300K27 bird like me. $^Our third, and regular companion, is Afzal Khan, the
0310K27 Assistant Station Master. ^But a look at his uniform is enough to_
0320K27 inform you that he is a man of better stock than his station in life.
0330K27 ^It is always freshly laundered and ironed, without as much as a speck
0340K27 on it. ^And the shine of the metal buttons in it would put the most
0350K27 finicky Sergeant to shame. ^*I need not tell you he is from Rampur,
0360K27 of proud Rohilla stock. ^And the fourth? ^The fourth is anyone who has
0370K27 the time to_ drink with us, and order another pot of tea as he leaves.
0380K27 $^*I HAVE been coming here regularly for the past ten years. ^The
0390K27 staff know me as do the proprietors who have owned the establishment
0400K27 during this period. ^*I always have them waiting for me every morning
0410K27 with my pot of tea. ^But there has been a slight change lately. ^Some
0420K27 of them appear to_ pity me. ^*I find that_ strange. ^*I am a landed
0430K27 proprietor and, while it is true I am no longer physically in control
0440K27 of my estate, I am still the legal owner. ^My brother, the local Block
0450K27 *4Pramukh who controls my share as well, gives me enough for my daily
0460K27 needs. ^That_ suits me fine. ^*I have only two daughters and my
0470K27 wife, dear lady, deserted me before she could bear me an heir; but it
0480K27 was considerate of her to_ have taken the girls with her and spare me
0490K27 the trouble and unnecessary expense of bringing them up myself. $^*I
0500K27 regard myself as a fortunate being. ^*I am a landed proprietor without
0510K27 any of the problems that_ bedevil those who farm their lands themselves.
0520K27 ^*I am married but I don*'4t even have to_ look after a wife and
0530K27 children. ^*I am given an allowance by the man who is my heir. ^*I
0540K27 do not see anything pitiable in all this, but still the feeling persists
0550K27 that they feel sorry for me at the restaurant. $^It is not obvious,
0560K27 of course. ^Sometimes I sense it in the eye of the proprietor as I
0570K27 come in, sometimes in the exaggerated solicitude of the waiter as he pours
0580K27 the milk or adds sugar to my tea, sometimes in the glances exchanged
0590K27 by two waiters. ^At other times I merely sense it in the air. ^Yet
0600K27 it is there unmistakably. ^It even seems to_ be growing over the years.
0610K27 ^Every dog has his day, I say. ^There was a time when we reserved
0620K27 such glances for those who had been forced by circumstance to_ work.
0630K27 ^Then civil servants reserved them for businessmen and now anyone who
0640K27 earns a living seems to_ have acquired the right to_ pity us. $"^The world
0650K27 has come to an ugly pass, Kunwar Sahib," Afzal Khan intones while
0660K27 my nephew pours out the first cup of the morning. "^They*'3ve even
0670K27 driven women mad with their talk of equality. ^There*'1s a *4dhiwar
0680K27 woman who got chopped to bits by the Mail at Lodipur last night. ^She
0690K27 had tried to_ run away from her husband that_ morning, but they managed
0700K27 to_ bring her back and gave her a sound thrashing to_ put her in
0710K27 her place. ^In the old days, that_ would have been enough. ^But no,
0720K27 she goes out at night and throws herself across the railway track. ^*I
0730K27 ask you now, whatever is the world coming to?" $"^She did not actually
0740K27 commit suicide, Khan Sahib," my nephew adds with the deferential
0750K27 attitude proper for a young man of his age and upbringing towards his
0760K27 elders. "^That_ is only a way of covering up the matter. ^There*'1s a
0770K27 quarrel going on between *4dhiwars and *4chamars-- and the *4chamars came
0780K27 running to father even before daybreak to_ complain that the man had
0790K27 done away with his wife. ^After that_ he and his relatives had thrown
0800K27 her body across the railway line. ^They had a political axe to_ grind,
0810K27 so Father ignored them. ^But he didn*'4t let on, of course. ^It might
0820K27 come in handy later as they*'3ve both got their eyes on our land."
0830K27 $^Of course I pull out another tale from my own repertoire. ^*I am not
0840K27 sure they haven*'4t heard it before, but they appear to_ have, judging
0850K27 by their expressions. $^*I tell them of the barber*'s boy from Fatehpur
0860K27 who tried to_ kill himself at Hakimpur Station. ^*I first saw
0870K27 him when I was waiting for the morning train to Delhi. ^There was
0880K27 nothing notable about him: the same unprepossessing long hair, tight
0890K27 trousers, hero-cut shirt. ^The only reason I noticed him was that he
0900K27 was to my left and I had to_ look past him whenever I glanced towards
0910K27 the lines to_ see if I should make my way up the platform. ^He was
0920K27 in a group of four or five, when all of a sudden he sprinted over the
0930K27 embankment towards the track. ^The three or four people with him were
0940K27 in hot pursuit, shouting and gesticulating madly. ^At the same time,
0950K27 a goods train was now visible, going on to Moradabad. ^*I thought
0960K27 he was a thief trying to_ cross the track and foil his pursuers so I
0970K27 asked a couple of our stalwart farm-hands to_ give him chase. ^It did not
0980K27 take them long to_ catch up with him, and soon they had him pinned
0990K27 to the ground. '^Let me die!' he cried out, 'Let me die!' $"^When it
1000K27 dawned on me what he was up to," I continue, "I admit I was a little
1010K27 disappointed that he had been caught. ^*I have always considered it
1020K27 unwise to_ tamper with the stream of life. ^That_ is why I am a strict
1030K27 vegetarian. ^My mother told me it was very dangerous to_ tamper with
1040K27 the stream of life." ^Then I go on to_ tell them that I recalled
1050K27 the incident of the barber*'s boy because my wife left me a week after
1060K27 that_, exactly at the same time, by the Delhi train. ^After all, in
1070K27 our area many people get killed every year and normally only those are
1080K27 remembered whose deaths are to_ be avenged. ^Otherwise we would require
1090K27 a priesthood, as at Haridwar, to_ remember everyone who happened to_
1100K27 die. $"^Fortunately," I muse aloud, "our people are well versed in
1110K27 the lore of the ancients, which teaches us that life sustains life. ^If
1120K27 you want a child, offer someone else*'s to the *4devi you can most
1130K27 conveniently propitiate. ^This is quite a normal thing in our area. ^You
1140K27 can always pick up a copy of the *3Bijnor Times and regale yourself
1150K27 on kidnapping incidents reported with an eye for every minor detail.
1160K27 ^Every now and then someone lynches a *4sadhu or a stranger under
1170K27 suspicion. ^But we don*'4t take these things very seriously as one is
1180K27 never quite sure when one would have to_ resort to such practices oneself."
1190K27 $^Then I go on to_ tell Afzal Khan how in our family, too, we
1200K27 owe our existence to a kidnapped child, who is worshipped along with
1210K27 the family deity as a minor god, represented by a small pebble at the
1220K27 feet of the *4devi. ^It happened some six generations back when the British
1230K27 first took over from the Nawabs of Avadh. ^Our ancestor, Kunwar
1240K27 Suraj Pal Singh, had lost his only son in a hunting mishap, it
1250K27 is said; and he was already well past the age of forty. ^Nothing seemed
1260K27 to_ enable him to_ beget another son, not even two fresh marriages
1270K27 to young girls. ^When he was contemplating yet another new wife, his latest
1280K27 father-in-law suggested the cure of the *4devi and even offered
1290K27 to_ procure a victim for him. ^*Kunwar Suraj Pal consented, and lo
1300K27 and behold, a son was born to him! ^And he was well over sixty then. $"^It
1310K27 is not surprising," I conclude, "that we find it hard to_ change
1320K27 with the times. ^Families like ours that_ live by tradition owe their
1330K27 very existence to it." $"^The pious are always well-rewarded for their
1340K27 pains," intones Afzal Khan. "^Even the pilgrimage to Mecca has a
1350K27 profitable side to it if you are sharp enough to_ bring back gold and
1360K27 watches. ^*I ask you what is it apart from Providence that_ makes rare
1370K27 metals cheap in Mecca and expensive here? ^You can*'4t get gold or
1380K27 watches cheaply at Rajabpur or Fatehpur Sikri. ^And you can get things
1390K27 at Delhi and Agra that_ you can*'4t at Rajabpur. ^It*'1s all
1391K27 God*'s will.
1400K27 *4^*Inshallah, I too will become a Haji one day with my own import-export
1410K27 business." $^Thus it has become our custom to_ pass the day.
1420K27 ^Each one of us sketches out the possibilities before him in fine detail,
1430K27 like the embroiderers of Kashmir who create gardens of formal birds,
1440K27 flowers and landscapes and are too busy to_ go out and appreciate
1450K27 them. $^*I hear, too, that the precision and detail required of them eventually
1460K27 makes them blind. ^Perhaps it is so, but we are wedded to our
1470K27 embroidery. ^*Kamleshwar went for an interview once and it totally
1480K27 upset our routine. ^Even the tea proved to_ be too much for the two of
1490K27 us and went cold in the pot. ^This upset the waiters no end as they
1500K27 took it as a reflection on the quality of the tea they had served. ^As
1510K27 a result they poisoned the atmosphere with disapproving glances. ^In
1520K27 fact, it proved to_ be such a bad day that we decided that none of us
1530K27 should be allowed to_ absent himself like this ever again. $^Every day
1540K27 at about eleven or so, when the heat becomes oppressive and the station
1550K27 is deserted, when even the waiters are forced to_ concentrate on the
1560K27 flies in the room to_ overcome their boredom, our thoughts, like those
1570K27 of the legendary Majnun in the monotony of his desert, turn to the
1580K27 one great passion of a man*'s life. ^*I, for my part, think of my wife,
1590K27 dear lady. ^She has enormous influence over me by her absence.*#
        **[no. of words = 02004**]

        **[txt. k28**]
0010K28 **<*3THE LAST FLICKER*0**>
0020K28 $*3^HE*0 walked down the long by-lane with a sense of mild excitement.
0030K28 ^In the glare and heat of the afternoon people passed him like indifferent
0040K28 images. ^He told himself that he should not walk too hurriedly,
0050K28 for the indifferent images might notice him. ^But he wonddered
0060K28 why he should care at all for anyone, though he continued to_ walk
0070K28 with the same methodical slowness and knocked on the door. ^There
0080K28 was no immediate answer. ^Perhaps in trying to_ be very deliberate
0081K28 he had knocked too softly?
0090K28 ^He was about to_ put his hand again to_ knock when the chain
0100K28 inside dropped with a clank and one half of the door was opened. ^The
0110K28 moment she saw him, she withdrew behind the curtain asking him to_ come
0120K28 in. $^It was a small room he entered, to one corner of which stood
0130K28 a table with two sides to the walls and chairs on the other two. ^A
0140K28 few dog-eared notebooks with the first pages gone long ago littered a
0150K28 portion of the table, while a set of six fat, bound books, obviously belonging
0160K28 to the mother, stood at the other end. ^From his chair in
0170K28 the opposite corner he could not tell what their names were, but he
0180K28 already felt the friendly feeling towards them that_ he had always felt
0190K28 towards her. ^She sat to a side facing him but he had found it necessary
0200K28 to_ look at all the harmless, meaningless details that_ surrounded
0210K28 him before he turned his eyes to her. ^He did not know what to_ say;
0220K28 he did not know how to_ begin. ^And then he found her looking
0230K28 steadily at him with those bold black eyes, her lips screwed in an almost
0240K28 imperceptible smile. $"^She*'1s not home yet but it won*'4t be long
0250K28 before she is," she said to_ see him so painfully stranded. $"^Yes,"
0260K28 he agreed without much hope and hesitated to_ cross his legs for
0270K28 comfort. $"^You must be firm with her and teach her just a little at
0280K28 least. ^She just won*'4t listen to me. ^And she can be very stubborn."
0290K28 $^He was on the point of saying that she must be very much like
0300K28 her when he stopped and said instead: $"^*I'*'3ll do my best."
0310K28 $^Then without relevance she said: "^*I think she will like you", and
0320K28 he was almost pleased. $"^She likes anybody I like," she added.
0330K28 ^All at once he was wildly hopeful but when he saw her smile he was again
0340K28 profoundly disturbed. ^He wanted to_ thank her but just as the words
0350K28 formed inside him there was a reckless knocking on the door. ^When
0360K28 it was opened the child made a dash across for the inside room yelling
0370K28 "my tea," and flinging her satchel on the table on her way. ^The
0380K28 mother looked at him and said: $"^My daughter," and she smiled again
0390K28 and he knew how proud she was of the child. ^She went in herself.
0400K28 $^Almost at once there was the sound of the child shouting again for
0410K28 its tea. ^He was then aware of a silence in which the child was
0420K28 listening to something her mother was saying. ^An interrogatory grunt
0430K28 followed and then silence again and then impatiently the child shouted,
0440K28 "What-a-a-t?" $^He heard the soft rustle of the woman*'s voice
0450K28 and the child ask in a harsh whisper, "Where?" $^The mother*'s voice
0460K28 rustled again and all was dead still. ^He felt tense and uncomfortable
0470K28 and his eyes were fixed expectantly on the inside door. ^One
0480K28 of its sides moved and a small round face with unmistakable eyes stretched
0490K28 out inquiringly. ^It stayed there long and undisturbed and slowly
0500K28 withdrew. ^The clink of tea things, the dropping of a spoon on
0510K28 the floor continued and he wondered at the silence. ^Only the mother*'s
0520K28 voice no longer whispering came steadily conveying instructions.
0530K28 $"^You finish it and come," she said at last and came out with a cup
0540K28 of tea and some hot *4pakoras for him in a saucer. $^For a few moments
0550K28 while he took the cup and she talked about hours of work and the cooking
0560K28 she had to_ do herself, he almost forgot the child. ^He chewed
0570K28 the *4pakora and sipped his tea, hot and strong, listening, allowing
0580K28 her voice to_ seep into him in a sustained thrill, wallowing as
0590K28 it were in its warmth and friendliness. ^Her voice had always given
0600K28 him the feeling of being in the presence of colour which kept vibrating
0610K28 towards him. ^When she laughed-- always short and broken off in
0620K28 the middle of its length-- the colour became momentarily vivid, burning
0630K28 bronze before it went out. $^He lifted the cup to his lips and
0640K28 his eyes went over the edge to the inside door and he saw again the
0650K28 little face stretched out looking at him intently. ^But when the
0660K28 mother said, "Come in," it swiftly vanished behind the door.
0670K28 $"^She will not come herself; I must go and bring her," she said and
0680K28 went in. $^Dragged by the mother, she came in resisting like a
0690K28 little mule. ^He was favourably impressed to_ see that she hadn*'4t
0700K28 washed her ears and elbows, that her fingers were still stained
0710K28 with ink and that her skirt had gone a size too short. ^She stood by
0720K28 the mother*'s chair, looking at him with undisguised curiosity and
0730K28 twisting her wrist out of her mother*'s grip. $^He smiled and asked,
0740K28 "what is your name?" $^She did not reply, took her eyes off his
0750K28 face and made violent efforts to_ free herself. $"^Go on, tell him
0760K28 your name," the woman insisted. $"^Let go my hand," she replied
0770K28 shortly, but no sooner was her arm released than she was gone in a
0780K28 falsh. $*3^FOR*0 the first few days a kind of neutrality prevailed
0790K28 between the teacher and the taught. ^He could see from the serious
0800K28 aspect of her face and the way in which those bold eyes looked at him,
0810K28 with more curiosity than anything else, that she was still assessing
0820K28 him. ^But she had relented: she had told him her name when he asked
0830K28 her. '^*Kamala,' she had said very matter-of-factly. $'^That_*'1s
0840K28 a very pretty name,' he said with overwhelming approval.
0850K28 '^*I wish I had been given a name like that_.' $^In reply the child
0860K28 only looked at him with unsmiling eyes. $^Each evening he taught
0870K28 her while the mother was still out, and the child*'s manner seemed
0880K28 to_ fill the room with loneliness and silence and he waited for the
0890K28 ten minutes before he finished when the mother would arrive and
0900K28 the child would run away to_ have her supper and he would sit and
0910K28 talk carefully and politely as always till it was nine and it was
0920K28 time for him to_ leave. ^And for those first few days he wondered
0930K28 as he walked back if he had not made a mistake in accepting to_
0940K28 teach Kamala, for he taught her with a stained painful earnestness
0950K28 and with a feeling of no participation at all from the child.
0960K28 ^What worried him even more was the strained attention of the child
0970K28 and her tiredness when she finished for the evening. ^He tried to_ tell
0980K28 himself that it was the best way things were for serious work but
0990K28 he could not quite get over the impression of buoyancy and spirit
1000K28 that_ he had seen on the first day. $"^She*'1s so dreadfully serious
1010K28 about her lessons these days," the mother said approvingly. $"^*I
1020K28 know," he replied gloomily. $"^You have almost made her into
1030K28 a lady," she continued and now he did not know whether she was making
1040K28 fun of him or being truthful and when he looked up those eyes were
1050K28 the same, a little teasing, a little affectionate. $*3^ABOUT*0 a
1060K28 week had passed since he had started when he arrived one evening to_
1070K28 find the child already sitting at the table, thoroughly absorbed.
1080K28 ^He startled her by his entry, but the moment she saw him, she jumped
1090K28 off the chair and hugging the notebook to her breast screamed. "^*I
1100K28 have done it, I have done it." ^He was momentarily non-plussed
1110K28 and disabled from reacting by the child*'s excitement as her words
1120K28 came pelting over one another and her eyes were bright and eloquent.
1130K28 ^And she laughed as she spoke in same way as her mother did again
1140K28 and again, her words still tumbling out pell-mell and without
1150K28 following their drift he felt himself moved out of his neutrality
1160K28 into amusement and relaxation and then into that_ frank, free laughter
1170K28 of hers till he himself laughed with her. $^When the burst of
1180K28 laughter had subsided he asked, "^What have you done?" $"^Have I
1190K28 done anything wrong?" the child asked suddenly worried. $"^No. ^No.
1200K28 ^But I don*'4t know what you are talking about," he confessed.
1210K28 ^And the child watched him as he spoke and then when she understood
1220K28 his perplexity she laughed again and he joined in. ^She finally
1230K28 threw down her book and showed him the red ink writing of the school
1240K28 teacher. '10/10. \0^*V. Good,' it said in the margin and he looked
1250K28 pleased and smiling at her, saying in feigned wonder that he had
1260K28 never thought she could do so well and he saw her eyes dance for joy.
1270K28 ^As he watched, it struck him how much like the mother she
1280K28 seemed at certain moments. $^She was now a bundle of excitement.
1290K28 ^Her nostrils stiffening a little, she kept talking about her plans
1300K28 for the future. ^She confided that she had hated arithmetic so long,
1310K28 but now it was her best loved subject. ^And she was going to_
1320K28 do better and better every day, never shirking or neglecting her home-work
1330K28 as she had done before. ^As her spirits rose with her plans
1340K28 she forgot he was her teacher and putting on a serious face warned him
1350K28 against absenting himself because if he did she would never again
1360K28 speak to him. ^She improved upon her statement and added that he
1370K28 should not be late either because as she put it with mock sense of
1380K28 drama, "If we don*'4t do these sums, who will do them? ^Do you
1390K28 think the birds and the cows will do them?" "^O, no," he agreed.
1400K28 ^He was so thoroughly captivated by her behaviour that he hardly
1410K28 taught her that_ day and hurried away home before the mother returned,
1420K28 but not before the child had got him to_ promise that he would come
1430K28 a little earlier the next day. ^On his way back he realised that
1440K28 for the first time he had called her 'Kamo' as her mother did instead
1450K28 of Kamala. $*3^THE NEXT DAY*0 he remembered that he was
1460K28 to_ be early. ^He was surprised at himself that he had taken her
1470K28 so seriously as to_ think of it hours before it was time to_ start.
1480K28 ^All the same he turned into the by-lane with a sense of anticippation.
1490K28 ^He told himself that he must get some work done-- all that_
1500K28 excitement was alright **[sic**] in itself, but it should not
1510K28 be allowed to_ spoil the child*'s study as it did yesterday. ^If
1520K28 it went on like that_ soon he would have no more authority over her
1530K28 than her mother__ and he had been warned too! ^Yet as he walked
1540K28 down he was happy that he was early and happier that he could tell her
1550K28 that he had kept his word with her.... ^There was patter of feet
1560K28 behind and he turned round. ^Instantly there was a burst of laughter
1570K28 and Kamo rushed up to his side crying out, "You thought *3I*0
1580K28 would be late isn*'4t it?" "^No," he replied truthfully but she would
1590K28 not believe him. "^Yes,yes," she insisted. "^You did.
1600K28 ^*I know you did." ^Then she calmed down and holding his hand she
1610K28 walked beside him; her face was grave and her eyes were on the street and
1620K28 he felt a wave of some forgotten emotion rise from the finger she held
1630K28 and flood him and he wondered how he would be able to_ hold his defences
1640K28 before the child*'s disarming ways.*#
        **[no. of words = 02006**]

        **[txt. k29**]
0010K29 **<*3Peacocks*0**> **[leader comment begin**] $*3^He was still seeking
0020K29 something. ^If he had not felt compelled to_ reach beyond his wife,
0030K29 his career, his cheerless judgements, he would not have undertaken the
0040K29 painful journey into his past to_ watch the peacocks dance.*0 **[leader
0050K29 comment end**] $*3^*I HAVE*0 built a house in Bangalore, managed
0060K29 to_ secure a telephone and put both my childern in a good school. ^But
0070K29 because of these encumbrances I cannot throw up my job as my father
0080K29 used to_ whenevr he felt enraged. ^It was because of his independence
0090K29 and his habit of having his own way that my mother hadn*'4t seen
0100K29 a silk sari until I found a job; and we grew up knowing what it was
0110K29 never to_ have your pangs of hunger fully satisfied. ^Ultimately, my
0120K29 father forfeited our respect. $^*I have my father*'s looks, but in temperament
0130K29 I am very different. ^Whenever I have a row with my wife
0140K29 I praise my father*'s self-respect and make light of his faults. ^It
0150K29 is my way of making her feel that she is responsible for my abandoning
0160K29 my father*'s virtues. ^*I expatiate on my sacrifices for the sake of
0170K29 giving reasonable comfort to my family and proclaim that the social
0180K29 status she so values is dirt in my eyes. ^And my conscience feels cosy.
0190K29 $^In reality I am a skunk and by clever manoeuvres I prompt my wife
0200K29 to_ blame me. ^The slim and tall girl I married did not ask for any
0210K29 of these comforts; few women do. ^Truth to_ tell, she has not taken
0220K29 advantage of me as much as I have taken advantage of her to_ make me
0230K29 do all this. ^The capacity of the human mind for treachery is infinite.
0240K29 $^*I know all this. ^Knowing, I continue as I am and do not change.
0250K29 ^No one changes merely by knowing. $^Sometimes I suspect I was
0260K29 pure and innocent when I was a boy and want to_ find out whether this
0270K29 is true or false. ^But I cannot discuss it with my wife. ^All her
0280K29 energy is spent in ensuring that I do
0290K29 not waste my money, that I do not drink every evening, that my health
0300K29 is cared for. ^Even as I have been using my tongue to_ taunt her by
0310K29 insisting that without her I would have been a man of note, a poet,
0320K29 an achiever and thus deceive the sorrow of the demon within, she has
0330K29 been losing her girlish vivacity. $^We quarrel endlessly and as we
0340K29 quarrel we become impossible. ^We both get exasperated with the house,
0350K29 the car, the telephone. ^She knows that I quarrel with her only to_
0360K29 torment myself. ^*I shudder to_ think of the day when she might begin
0370K29 to_ pity me, for then I would be a burnt-out faggot. ^*I suppose I
0380K29 would have respected her had she loved someone poorer. ^But we have made
0390K29 each other too insufferable for anyone else*'s love. $^Didn*'4t I
0400K29 say that I sometimes want to_ find out if I was innocent in my childhood?
0410K29 ^Do you know when I feel like that_? ^When my wife sings. ^Her
0420K29 singing has become less frequent, but she sings beautifully, and makes
0430K29 me miserable. ^*I ask myself why we have so dirtied each other. ^She
0440K29 has a good voice and the voice utters sounds and these sounds reach my
0450K29 ears as songs-- but if she does not have within her that_ which makes
0460K29 music, who is to_ blame? $^Could it be that my regret that nothing is
0470K29 happening to_ shake the roots of life is a trick to_ hide the drabness
0480K29 of my routine or to_ keep alive the ego that_ is necessary to_ achieve
0490K29 something? ^But even this rationalisation is of little help. ^For
0500K29 I continue to_ be what I am. ^*I keep doing what I do. ^In the office
0510K29 everyone takes me for a gentleman, so conscientious, so kind to
0520K29 the orderlies-- but all this is a cheap trick for moving up. $^What is
0530K29 wrong in moving up? ^*I don*'4t feel any self-disgust, any compunction,
0540K29 when I digest a good meal. ^Yet I am not happy. $^So I want to_
0550K29 know whether this devious and hypocritical me could have been whole
0560K29 and innocent at least as a boy. ^Father died six years ago. ^*I went
0570K29 to the village again for his annual rite. ^Mother lives in the village.
0580K29 ^She didn*'4t want to_ stay with us. ^My wife pretended to_ be hurt
0590K29 when mother said she was happier in the village and manipulated her in
0600K29 such a manner as to_ make her say that she didn*'4t wish to_ come in
0610K29 the way of our happiness, at which she, my wife, pretended to_ be more
0620K29 hurt. ^So to all appearances mother stayed in the village of her own
0630K29 free will. $^My wife must have learnt all this cleverness from me.
0640K29 ^It is in this way that she manages to_ secure whatever I inwardly
0650K29 want but outwardly pretend to_ abhor. ^To_ go up I must invite the
0660K29 top people to dinner, give them drinks. ^And all this would become
0670K29 difficult if mother came to_ live with us. $^My wife knows it, mother knows
0680K29 it and I know that both know. ^*I have grown to_ be more and more
0690K29 of a blackguard. ^Even this self-knowledge does not lead anywhere.
0700K29 ^My boss admires me for my introspection. ^He and I exchange self-analysis
0710K29 as we sip whisky at the Golf Club. $*3^WHEN*0 I went to
0720K29 my mother*'s village with my wife and children for father*'s annual
0730K29 rite, I drove alone to another village fifteen miles away. ^*I was in
0740K29 no hurry and took it easy at the wheel, taking in the dust, the bare
0750K29 trees and red flowers of winter and the forest that_ had not greatly
0760K29 changed. ^*I remembered an incident that_ had taken place when I was
0770K29 eight or ten years old and it brought on a pain of the kind an old song
0780K29 evokes. $^My mother was ill. ^She was always ill and was surrounded
0790K29 by medicine bottles and bowls of drying porridge. ^One Sunday she
0800K29 whispered weakly to me: "^Kittu, run and see what your father is doing."
0810K29 ^Grandfather and grandmother were with us then. ^Every evening grandfather
0820K29 wrapped a cloth round his head and sat down to_ play the drums.
0830K29 ^*I put on a washed shirt and shorts and scampered away. ^To_ find
0840K29 father meant to_ go to Halasina Ooru. ^Father looked after the accounts
0850K29 of \0Mr Govinda Rao of Halasina Ooru. ^Father and he were friends.
0860K29 ^Father had just thrown off the postmastership of Kumsi after
0870K29 one of his numerous quarrels. $^*I kicked pebbles with my toes as I walked
0880K29 on. ^*I clearly remember that I passed the school on the way. ^Fine
0890K29 dust had gathered on the school verandah. ^Insects which we called
0900K29 sparrow-bugs had made tiny little holes in the dirt. ^We used to_ dig
0910K29 them out and place them on our forearms and as they crawled up and
0920K29 down we were pleasantly tickled. ^We scratched with our nails around
0930K29 the holes where the sparrow-bugs made their home, chanting, "^Show me
0940K29 the way to Banaras, show me the way to Banaras" and felt thrilled every
0950K29 time a brown, hard-skinned sparrow-bug peeped out and retreated.
0960K29 $^After playing with sparrow-bugs I crossed the patch of forest. ^There
0970K29 was a well with a wide mouth. ^*I gazed at its bottom. ^Then I came
0980K29 upon paddy fields. ^Next to the fields was the crag of peacocks. $^Although
0990K29 the screams of the peacocks were heard day and night where we
1000K29 lived mother had never let me go there. ^A man who sold peacock feathers,
1010K29 who belonged to the caste which ate peacocks, had told me they danced
1020K29 beautifully. ^*I made up my mind to_ hide under a tree on my way
1030K29 back from \0Mr Govinda Rao*'s house and wait for the peacocks to_
1040K29 dance and if possible pick up a feather and, without mother coming to_
1050K29 know, keep it in my book so that it multiplied itself. $*3^TODAY*0
1060K29 I stopped my car along the same road. ^*I wore my favourite blue shirt
1070K29 and trousers and had a silk scarf loosely knotted round my neck. ^*I
1080K29 decided to_ halt near the peacock crag on my way back after meeting
1090K29 \0Mr Govinda Rao*'s widow Janakamma. ^It didn*'4t matter if my wife
1100K29 nagged me for being late. $^*I crossed the hedge. ^The hill-hibiscus
1110K29 plants were still there with huge bunches of red flowers. ^These,
1120K29 I knew from boyhood, ripen into tiny red berries. ^*I also saw a
1130K29 large number of *3*4kakey*0 bushes laden with their blackish, exceedingly
1140K29 sweet berries. ^The fact that the branches bore so many berries meant
1150K29 that there were no children around. ^Yes, where should children come
1160K29 from, when Janakamma had none herself? $^The tiled house which now
1170K29 looks a moderately large one seemed huge in my childhood. ^It suited
1180K29 the Vikramaditya stories that_ Janakamma used to_ tell me when I slept
1190K29 there now and then. ^It was a house of lofts and attics, many dark
1200K29 corners and carved beams, all of which made the fairy tales come true.
1210K29 ^The room upstairs in which Janakamma slept, with its Ravi Varma
1220K29 pictures, its broad high bedstead with thick, strong legs and its aroma
1230K29 of incense-sticks and sandal, conjured up for me the bedrooms to which
1240K29 princesses invited handsome princes with rope ladders and hid away
1250K29 their secret lovers transformed into pet parrots. $*3^ON*0 the day
1260K29 I was asked to_ fetch my father, I went with eager steps to the courtyard
1270K29 and was taken aback by the deformed deaf-mute I saw. ^She had
1280K29 hanging cheeks, a broad face with a nose which was too small for it,
1290K29 a large vermilion mark, a head of tousled hair. ^She jabbered something.
1300K29 $^*I knew she was always there and yet I was a little scared. ^She
1310K29 was Kalyani, Janakmma*'s sister-in-law. ^She had been born deformed
1320K29 and dumb and had been married off for appearance*'s sake to_ a cripple
1330K29 as his second wife. ^Her clothes were always wet and she always had
1340K29 a bucket. ^Either she was cleaning and wiping the courtyard, or she
1350K29 lay coiled in the corner, like a snake. ^From her labour, the cement
1360K29 floor of the courtyard shone like a mirror. ^The reason for her jabbering
1370K29 that_ day was the dust on my feet. ^*I went back, washed my feet
1380K29 outside the door and returned. $^*Kalyani crawled up to me. "^Where
1390K29 is father?" ^*I asked her. ^She must have understood although she
1400K29 could not hear. ^Her pallid face reddened, like a chameleon*'s. ^Contorting
1410K29 her lips in some kind of mirth, she pushed me towards the bathing
1420K29 room. ^*I went where she pushed. ^*I could not make out why father should
1430K29 be having a bath in the afternoon. $^When Kalyani and I were a
1440K29 few feet from the door of the bathing room she stopped crawling and gestured
1450K29 as if to_ say that now I was on my own and she turned back after
1460K29 making sure that I had understood. ^She probably wiped the floor
1470K29 where my feet had left wet prints. $^*I heard sounds of a pitcher being
1480K29 filled and water being poured out. ^*I also heard father*'s laughter.
1490K29 ^*I had never heard him laugh at home. ^He was curt and rough when
1500K29 he spoke to mother. ^*I peeped in from the door. $^Father was naked and
1510K29 was bending down. ^*Janakamma was rubbing his back with soapnut powder.
1520K29 ^Seeing me Janakamma came out. ^She hugged me and took me to the
1530K29 kitchen and gave me *3*5rave unde*6*0 and *3*4kodubale. ^She filled
1540K29 both my pockets with *3*4kodubale. ^She said that since my mother was
1550K29 ill and could not give father his oil bath, she had to_ do so. ^She took
1560K29 me to her room upstairs and showed the peacock crag through the window
1570K29 and asked me, "^Darling, do you want to_ go there?" ^She told me
1580K29 not to_ tell mother that father was having an oil bath because mother*'s
1590K29 fever would increase. $^*I said *3*4huh*0 to everything and when
1600K29 I ran back Kalyani shouted at me. ^She was coiled in the corner like
1610K29 a snake and she called to me.*#
        **[no. of words = 02019**]


        **[txt. k30**]
0010K30 **<*3Train Ride*0**> **[leader comment begin**] $*3^What in the King*'s
0020K30 name was an Indian doing in a first class compartment? ^It was a
0030K30 mistake. ^It was outrageous. ^The fellow had to_ be evicted at all costs.*0
0040K30 **[leader comment end**] $*3^OF*0 all the incidents that_ I
0050K30 can recall from my travels, the one that_ sticks out the most in my mind
0060K30 occurred two years ago while I was in the Transvaal. ^*I had been
0070K30 entrusted with papers outlining our troop movements and I was to_
0080K30 deliver these papers to the Governor in Johannesburg. ^It was exactly
0090K30 at this time, you will recall, that we were involved in teaching the
0100K30 recalcitrant natives-- or Zulus, as they prefer to_ be called-- the finer
0110K30 points of living, and behaving, under the generous rule of His Majesty.
0120K30 $^At any rate, I decided to_ take a train for the last stage
0130K30 of my journey from Pretoria to Johannesburg. ^*I travelled first class,
0140K30 of course. $^One obtains so many services and facilites in first
0150K30 class: shower and toilet space; comfortable seating; a bed; room service;
0160K30 and, most important of all, privacy. ^The latter I particularly
0170K30 cherished because a lady friend, the wife of a fellow passenger (a
0180K30 rather dull, insipid sort), had taken quite a fancy to me and she would
0190K30 drop in from time to time, if you know what I mean, when her husband
0200K30 would retire for the night. ^Besides, second and third class were
0210K30 always crowded with the coloured Asian folk, especially Indians. ^The
0220K30 Transvaal was simply infested with them and it was really a relief
0230K30 when we introduced legislation to_ limit their entry into South Africa.
0240K30 $*3^WELL,*0 I was preparing for my afternoon nap soon after the
0250K30 train had pulled out of Malweo when a rapping sound on my compartment
0260K30 window caught my attention. ^A small, brown face was staring into
0270K30 the compartment. ^*I had not asked for room service; thus, I was not
0280K30 expecting an Indian at my door. ^To my astonishment, and without a
0290K30 by-your-leave, he entered and deposited himself on the sofa. ^He did
0300K30 not stop there. ^He proceeded to_ remove his shoes and socks, which
0310K30 had turned a sour yellow with improper care, and crossed his legs. ^*I
0320K30 was simply shocked at his actions. ^What in the King*'s name was an
0330K30 Indian doing in a first class compartment? $^*I recovered sufficiently
0340K30 to_ pull the room service cord and a servant promptly appeared.
0350K30 ^Another coloured. (^Frankly, I was getting increasingly irritated
0360K30 with the breed at this stage.) ^*I told him in pidgin English, which
0370K30 he understood rather well, to_ call his supervisor. ^Waiting for the
0380K30 supervisor gave me an opportunity to_ observe, for the first time, my
0390K30 intruder. $^He was not badly dressed, for an Indian. ^In fact, taking
0400K30 into account most Indians I know, it was a surprise to_ find him
0410K30 dressed at all. ^He had on black trousers, a white shirt and a black
0420K30 coat. ^Nothing very stylish or smart. ^The collar of his shirt was so
0430K30 heavily starched that the starch was dripping out, leaving white flakes
0440K30 on his coat. ^His bare feet sported toenails that were horribly chipped,
0450K30 and in the short time I had been observing him, he had dug into
0460K30 his nose twice, quite oblivious of my presence. ^He was not terribly
0470K30 dark though; probably a North Indian. $^The timely arrival of the supervisor
0480K30 interrupted my thoughts. ^*I explained my plight to him and
0490K30 he assured me the matter would be immediately rectified. ^The supervisor,
0500K30 a decent soul of Welsh origin, had spent some time in India and
0510K30 he proceeded to_ try out his frugal command of various Indian dialects
0520K30 on this troublesome character in an effort to_ communicate with
0530K30 him. ^Apparently they managed to_ hit some common point after several
0540K30 attempts because they began to_ jabber and gesticulate. $^The Indian
0550K30 removed a piece of paper from his coat pocket and gave it to the supervisor,
0560K30 who returned it after examining it closely. ^*I noticed that it
0570K30 was a first class ticket, very similar to mine. ^The supervisor straightened
0580K30 his back and sighed. ^He gestured to me to_ go outside into
0590K30 the corridor with him. ^*I complied, making sure to_ keep one eye on
0591K30 the Indian
0600K30 in my room. $^The supervisor explained that the Indian was in
0610K30 my compartment because he had a first class ticket issued in Malweo
0620K30 and that the coach he had been allocated happened to be the same as mine.
0630K30 ^*I would have to_ share my compartment with him all the way to Johannesburg,
0640K30 another two days in the train! ^*I was incredulous. ^Did not
0650K30 the Transport Authority always, without exception, refuse to_
0660K30 issue first class tickets to coloureds, I asked. ^He nodded assent,
0670K30 but perhaps the authorities in Malweo had made a mistake, or perhaps
0680K30 the Indian was an important dignity of his country. ^*I thought
0690K30 the latter unlikely. $^Could nothing be used to_ evict the unwelcome
0700K30 passenger? ^Perhaps a little physical force to_ help him on his way?
0710K30 ^No, replied the supervisor; his ticket was legitimate. ^He did advise
0720K30 me to_ check with the authorities at Kubai, our next stop. ^Perhaps
0730K30 they could help. $^*I was at my wits*' end. ^*I did not really care
0740K30 why the Indian was in my compartment. ^*I just-- understandably so--
0750K30 wanted him out of it. ^*I had no intention of having some Bengali
0760K30 or Gujarati or whatever as a roommate for two days. ^*I cringed
0770K30 when I wondered what my friends at home would think if they got to_
0780K30 hear about it. ^*I would never live it down. ^Besides; it would mean
0790K30 no company (and affection) from my lady friend. ^She was a very proper
0800K30 woman and would not particularly care for this Indian*'s presence.
0810K30 $*3^DURING*0 this time, the Indian had stretched himself out on
0820K30 the sofa. ^When I re-entered the compartment his eyes were shut
0830K30 and he appeared to_ be dozing. ^*I shook him and woke him up. ^My plan
0840K30 was to_ irritate him sufficiently so that he would leave on his own
0850K30 accord. ^However, he smiled at me and said "gud morrning serr,"
0851K30 **[sic**] although
0860K30 it was mid-afternoon. ^Oh, how I despise that_ heavy Indian
0870K30 accent! ^*I gestured to him to_ leave the room by repeatedly pointing
0880K30 to him and then pointing outside. ^He nodded his head and said, "gud
0890K30 morrninng, serr!" **[sic**] ^So I took his shoes and socks, his
0891K30 only portable
0900K30 property, and placed them outside. ^He got up, retrieved his things,
0910K30 returned and said, "dank you, serr." **[sic**] ^Needless to_ say,
0911K30 I was getting
0920K30 quite exasperated now. $^*I took his things again and this time
0930K30 threw them way down the corridor, quite viciously too, I am not sorry
0940K30 to_ add. ^When he went to_ get them, I locked the compartment from
0950K30 the inside and drew the curtains. ^*I had my fingers crossed that
0960K30 he would get the message that he was not very welcome. ^But he was
0970K30 an absolute ignoramus. ^He started knocking incessantly on my window
0980K30 I could not bear the noise and was forced to_ open the door for him.
0990K30 ^He said, "dank you, serr." **[sic**] $^*I had no choice now but
0991K30 to_ wait until
1000K30 we arrived at Kubai. ^*I was doubly irrited because I had missed
1010K30 my afternoon siesta and I was certainly in no mood for tea. ^*I could
1020K30 not even visit any of my friends travelling with me for fear that the
1030K30 Indian would run off with my belongings. $*3^IT*0 seemed an eternity
1040K30 before we arrived at Kubai. ^Fortunately, the Indian chose
1050K30 to_ leave the train, ostensibly to_ get a breath of fresh air. ^This gave
1060K30 me the opportunity to_ look up and contact the station master. $^*I
1070K30 explained the matter to him; he expressed grave surprise that I had
1080K30 an Indian in my first class compartment. ^He told me he occasionally
1090K30 had cases when coloureds would try to_ sneak into first class compartments
1100K30 just to_ spite the authorities. ^*I was assured that it did not
1110K30 matter that the Indian had a first class ticket; if he did not leave
1120K30 peaceably, he would be forcibly evicted. ^The goodly station master
1130K30 called two men to his side, fine strong fellows they were, and we walked
1140K30 back together to the train. $^Imagine our disgust when we returned
1150K30 to_ find, not one Indian, but FIVE in my room-- my Indian, two
1160K30 other males and two females. ^All were barefoot and all were squatting
1170K30 on the carpeted floor. ^And do you know what they were doing? ^They
1180K30 were all eating, out of some circular tray, a totally unappetising mixture
1190K30 of thick, brown, congealed, cold beans and rice. ^And they were
1200K30 eating it, believe it or not, with their hands. $*3^*I HAVE*0 never
1210KK0 seen men move as fast and as efficiently as the station master and his
1220K30 aides. ^They took the tray of food and threw it out of one of the corridor
1230K30 windows. ^The two aides then seized two of the males and ushered
1240K30 them out of the room. ^My Indian merely sat down on the sofa. ^It
1250K30 did not take much to_ encourage the females to_ exit as rapidly as they
1260K30 possibly could. $^The two aides returned and proceeded to_ "persuade"
1270K30 the Indian to_ remove himself. ^But he clung to the arm of the
1280K30 sofa and refused to_ comply, all the while shaking his head. ^One of
1290K30 the aides gave the Indian a generous clout on the head; he still clung
1300K30 on. ^He desperately produced his first class ticket and gave it to
1310K30 the station master, who glanced at it and tore it into two. ^There went
1320K30 the Indian*'s right to my room. ^The aides then bodily picked up the
1330K30 Indian-- he was very slight in build-- and transported him away. $^*I
1340K30 felt quite relieved that the matter was resolved and thanked the station
1350K30 master warmly for his assistance. ^Any time, he replied. ^A very
1360K30 good sort. $^*I called room service to_ clean up the mess made by
1370K30 the coloureds in my room. ^*I was sorely tempted to_ request another
1380K30 compartment from the supervisor. *^I felt sort of grubby staying where
1390K30 I was. ^Perhaps a shower would help, I thought. *^I took one; it
1400K30 thoroughly refreshed me and put me in the proper frame of mind for dinner.
1410K30 $^Dinner was an entertaining affair; it was topped off when my
1420K30 lady friend, who was sitting at another table with her husband, winked
1430K30 at me. ^It was her signal that she would be by that_ night. ^Excellent,
1440K30 I thought. $*3^*I WALKED*0 back to my room feeling a lot better
1450K30 than I had in quite a while. ^My gaiety was short-lived, however.
1460K30 ^As I turned into my corridor, I was confronted by the depressing
1470K30 sight of my Indian rapping furiously on my compartment window. ^Luckily,
1480K30 he did not notice me. ^He must have climbed back into the train before
1490K30 we pulled out of Kubai. *^I realised that I would have to_ do something
1500K30 quite drastic in order to_ keep the pest out of my room. ^At
1510K30 any rate, I was struck with a brainwave, the sort of divine inspiration
1520K30 that_ enlightens one in times of great stress. $^As you know, I am
1530K30 in the habit of carrying a cane which has a gold knob for a head. ^Well,
1540K30 I crept up on the Indian and, as hard as I possibly could, brained
1550K30 him with it. ^He collapsed without a sound. ^*I then dragged him,
1560K30 to the best of my abilities, to the freight box which adjoins the first
1570K30 class carriage. *^I slid open the door of the freight car, no mean
1580K30 task, and pushed the Indian over the side! ^We must have been travelling
1590K30 at a clip of at least twenty miles an hour!*#
        **[no. of words = 01936**]

        **[txt. k31**]
0010K31 **<*3The Steelmaker*0**> **[leader comment begin**] $^He had seen his
0020K31 enthusiastic ideas for improving production vetoed, laughed at or simply
0030K31 ignored by those higher up. ^But the sense of purpose and achievement
0040K31 enjoyed by his team of workers made up for everything-- or did it? **[leader
0050K31 comment end**] $^*AJAY woke up exactly at a quarter to five
0060K31 and stretched a hand towards the telephone. ^Before he could lift
0070K31 the receiver off the hook, it began to_ ring. $"^Morning, Rajan. ^How
0080K31 are things?" asked Ajay. ^It was a routine question. "^Good morning,
0090K31 Sir. ^The slag pot has gone through!" ^There was an apprehensive squash
0100K31 in the voice at the other end of the wire. "^What! ^How did it
0110K31 happen?" exclaimed Ajay. ^He was wide awake now. $^A lengthy description
0120K31 of the disaster followed. $^As he was listening to the phone, Ajay
0130K31 was aware of Priti, his thirteen-year-old daughter, who was trying
0140K31 to_ catch his attention. $^Into the telephone he said, "^Very well,
0150K31 then. ^*I will be there in a few minutes!" ^He waved away his daughter
0160K31 saying, "^Some other time, Priti. ^*I have no time to_ teach you
0170K31 maths now." $"^Papa, please... I have been up since 4 o*'3clock."
0180K31 ^*Priti*'s eyes were full of tears. ^*Ajay knew his daughter*'s fear
0190K31 of maths. ^He also knew that she had her maths examination that_ day, and
0200K31 that he should speak encouragingly to her. ^But his own anxiety about
0210K31 the breakdown in the Steel Melting Shop made him snap at her.
0220K31 $"^Get away from me, Priti! ^You wasted a whole year and now you want
0230K31 me to_ teach you maths! ^You can*'4t learn one year*'s maths in one
0240K31 hour!" $^Feeling ashamed of himself, he shouted to his wife to_ get him
0250K31 a cup of tea. ^He pulled on his *4khaki trousers and shirt hurriedly,
0260K31 wore his socks and shoes and shouted for his helmet. ^By the time
0270K31 he had finished dressing, the coffee was ready. ^He drank the scalding
0280K31 potion at one go and ran to_ get his scooter. $*3^AMONG*0 the daily
0290K31 hazards of a Steel Melting Shop, the worst is when the slag pot
0300K31 gives way. ^To_ make steel, the red hot pig iron from the blast furnaces
0310K31 is fed into the converters, where it is refined to the required
0320K31 specification by adding lime and blowing oxygen. ^Whether it is the tougher
0330K31 steel meant for the railway line, or the more malleable steel required
0340K31 for household tin cans, the technician can produce it to the exact
0350K31 requirement by controlling the oxygen and lime. ^The molten white
0360K31 hot iron bubbles and froths in the converter, which looks rather like
0370K31 a giant witches*' cauldron. ^The impurities bubble angrily to the top.
0380K31 ^The witches*' potion they form are swiftly decanted into the waiting
0390K31 muck-dressed iron pots mounted on their own cars with attendants,
0400K31 and carted away electrically on rails. ^The remaining pure steel at
0410K31 the bottom of the cauldron is tapped into ladles with alloys and cast
0420K31 into ingots the size of minibuses which are later rolled into sheets
0430K31 or rails. ^Sometimes the slag is too hot even for the slag pot to_ hold
0440K31 it and the pot cracks: the red hot molten slag runs out all over the
0450K31 rails and solidifies in a matter of minutes. $^This is the nightmare
0460K31 of the steelmaker. ^When this happens, the engineers have to_ waste
0470K31 a lot of time and energy putting everything back into working order.
0480K31 $^*Ajay*'s wife Veena, who was holding the gate open for him, said,
0490K31 "^*Ajay, I am worried about Priti." $"^Don*'4t be. ^It is all an act
0500K31 she*'1s putting on. ^She*'3ll be \0OK... ^Bye!" he cried and raced
0510K31 away. $^When Ajay reached the Steel Melting Shop he saw that
0520K31 the situation there was as bad as he had feared. ^The molten slag which
0530K31 had spilled out on the rails was solidifying rapidly. ^The slag
0540K31 pot car was stuck fast under the cable drum. ^There were intermittent
0550K31 muffled explosions. ^A number of people were there, keeping a safe distance
0560K31 from the converter. ^*Ajay beckoned to the slag pot car attendant,
0570K31 whose job was to_ move the car on the rail track. $"^Why have
0580K31 you not moved away the car, Khan?" $^The attendant was a dour man, but
0590K31 good at his work. "^Can*'4t you hear the explosions?" he mumbled sullenly.
0600K31 $*3^*AJAY*0 looked at the water collected around the converter.
0610K31 ^He and other engineers had long recognised the dangers of this seepage
0620K31 water right under the 1,600 degrees centigrade converter and had
0630K31 repeatedly warned the management. ^But the management, beset with more
0640K31 urgent and taxing problems had done nothing about it so far. ^When
0650K31 the converters were first built 12 years ago, due to some faulty engineering,
0660K31 water leaking from the water-cooled stacks trickled down to_
0670K31 collect under the converters. ^In the course of years, the amount of
0680K31 water leaking had collected in such quantities that it was like a bomb
0690K31 ready to_ explode under their noses. $^Something had to_ be done about
0700K31 it, resolved Ajay. ^But first the work on hand. ^He told Rajan, the
0710K31 foreman, to_ tap the heat. ^The steel in the converter was tapped out
0720K31 into the steel ladles and sent away to the pit site, to_ be made into
0730K31 ingots. ^The converter was now empty. ^The Fire Brigade, which had
0740K31 been called in, started action promptly and began dousing the car and
0750K31 the cable. $^Converter \0C would be down for 24 hours Ajay calculated.
0760K31 ^But the other two converters would go into action despite the
0770K31 breakdown, thanks to a simple invention of his which isolated the broken
0780K31 down converter from the others and enabled them to_ carry on production
0790K31 as usual. ^This was not the case a year ago. ^Then, when a breakdown
0800K31 occurred-- as it did all too frequently-- all the converters had to_
0810K31 stop work until the fault was set right. ^*Ajay thought with pride
0820K31 that this improvement has been achieved solely throught his ingenuity.
0830K31 ^It was a very simple thing he had done, but it saved the steel plant
0840K31 *4lakhs of *4rupees every year. ^He wondered when he would get the
0850K31 five hundred rupees reward announced for his invention. ^Perhaps a
0860K31 small function would be organised, with photographers and all, and
0870K31 the General Manager would say a few words before presenting him the
0880K31 cheque. ^*Ajay glowed for a moment in happy anticipation. $*3^HE*0
0890K31 was one of the hundreds of whiz kids who were recruited from reputed
0900K31 universities into the nation*'s service during the first Five-Year
0910K31 Plan and trained abroad. ^His American experience he regarded as a
0920K31 dream. ^He had been described as "a black-haired, bright-eyed young engineer
0930K31 from India" by a girl reporter when he landed in America for
0940K31 his training. $^Now, at 40, he looked slightly undernourished and his
0950K31 eyes had dimmed somewhat. ^Though his hair was still black, little of
0960K31 it was left. ^This he attributed to the frustrations he felt. ^Early
0970K31 in his career he had recognised the fact that his American training
0980K31 was suitable only for American conditions and had no relation to the
0990K31 haphazard Indian way of making a steel plant run. ^That it ran at all
1000K31 was a miracle. $^He had opted for the most exciting and prestigious
1010K31 of departments, by his American trained standards, the Steel Melting
1020K31 Shop. ^He had not regretted it, though he had seen his enthusiastic
1030K31 ideas for improving production vetoed, laughed at or simply ignored
1040K31 by those higher up, with typical Indian fatalism. ^He had seen his
1050K31 less industrious but more shrewd colleagues in less exacting departments
1060K31 rise higher and higher, while he was still a General Foreman in
1070K31 his own demanding section. ^But the sense of achievement, of adventure,
1080K31 and the *8espirit de corps*9 enjoyed by the officers and workmen
1090K31 in his department were unique. ^It made up for everything. $^*Ajay
1100K31 now turned to his counterpart in Mechanical Maintenance: "*5^Kya,
1110K31 Jain Saab*6, how long will it take?" $"^At least six to eight hours,
1120K31 *4Saab. ^We have only one dozer." $"^What happened to the other one?"
1130K31 $"^It is under preventive maintenance," was the laconic reply. $^*Ajay
1140K31 knew that they had to_ have two dozers to_ release the car which
1150K31 had got stuck. ^He would have to_ telephone other departments and somehow
1160K31 manage to_ get another dozer or else the breakdown could go on for
1170K31 20 hours or more. ^A 45-minute delay in production cost the steel plant
1180K31 50 tonnes of steel. ^To_ counter this, a young engineer had come up
1190K31 with a simple but brilliant idea; but nothing had been done about it.
1200K31 $^*AJAY telephoned the Blast Furnace Control. ^He had to_ inform
1210K31 them about the off-take for hot metal; that he could not consume
1220K31 hot metal meant for the converter. ^He knew he would be precipitating
1230K31 a minor crisis in the Blast Furnace Department by his action and
1240K31 smiled wryly. ^After informing Blast Furnace and listening grimly
1250K31 to the ensuing tirade for ten minutes, he telephoned other departments,
1260K31 begging for a dozer. ^All the dozers seemed to_ be either busy or
1270K31 under repair. ^His efforts at last had some success when he contacted
1280K31 the Scrap and Salvage department. ^He arranged a dozer operator to_
1290K31 be brought from his quarters immediately. ^He would then bring the
1300K31 dozer to the spot. $^*Gupta, a foreman, came to him. "^Your wife had
1310K31 phoned the Control. ^She told me to_ convey a message to you. ^Your
1320K31 daughter is not well." $"^Where was she speaking from?" $"^From hospital."
1330K31 $"^Thanks. ^*I shall contact her later." $^Men had started clearing
1340K31 the hot slag accumulation on the rails with shovels, crowbars and
1350K31 hooks. "^Thank God the car has not been derailed!" thought Ajay.
1360K31 ^Derailment of the 80-tonne slag pot car in that_ area, where no crane
1370K31 facility was available, would only mean hours of agonising labour
1380K31 and loss of production which could run into hundreds of tonnes. ^In the
1390K31 18 years of his service in the Public Sector Undertaking, there
1400K31 was not a single month when everything went on smoothly. ^Sometimes the
1410K31 hot metal from the Blast Furnace was not of the required quality,
1420K31 sometimes it was the cranes or the locos that_ stalled, more often it was
1430K31 simple human error. $*3^TWO*0 hours after he had phoned Scrap and
1440K31 Salvage department, the dozer had still not come. ^*Ajay telephoned
1450K31 his house. ^There was no reply. $^When the dozer finally arrived at
1460KL1 1 o*'3clock the operator was evidently in a bad mood. ^The shift would
1470K31 change at 2 o*'3clock. ^The job could certainly not be done in one
1480K31 hour. ^*Ajay sent one of his workmen running to_ fetch a bottle of Fanta
1490K31 for the irascible dozer operator. ^Then he remembered the other
1500K31 dozer operator and also got him a bottle of Fanta, looking ruefully
1510K31 at his depleted wallet. $^The cold beverage had its effect, and the
1520K31 grumpy operator became almost friendly. ^The workers and officers
1530K31 fixed the slings from the dozers on to the car and positioned the dozer
1540K31 for simultaneous pushing and pulling. ^The dozers were started and
1550K31 there was an earsplitting roar from the machines. ^After ten minutes
1560K31 of pandemonium, the slag pot gave a perceptible lurch. ^There were
1570K31 shouts of excitement and cries of "*5^Hil gaya--*6 it moved!" $^The
1580K31 dozers started again. ^Abruptly the dozer operator from Machanical Maintenance,
1590K31 who looked like a dormouse, stopped pulling and folded his
1600K31 arms across his chest. $"^What happened?" shouted a dozen voices. $"^This
1610K31 won*'4t take any more load!" said the operator, getting down from
1620K31 the dozer. $"*(^Try karo*) *4yaar only ten minutes," cried Ajay frantically.
1630K31 ^He was only dimly aware of a man shouting in his ear, "Ajay
1640K31 *4Saab, phone from your wife-- the daughter is serious." $"^Yes, yes.
1650K31 *(^Try karo*) *4yaar!" ^After much cajoling, the man got into the
1660K31 machine again and the dozers started their roar again. $*3^*AJAY*0 looked
1670K31 at his watch. ^Five to three. ^If he was lucky, the breakdown would
1680K31 be rectified soon and he would be able to_ go home. ^The car moved a
1690K31 few reluctant inches more. ^Suddenly, there was a sickening thud. ^A wail
1700K31 went up from the crowd. ^There could be no mistaking this sound.
1710K31 ^The slag car had got derailed.*#
        **[no. of words = 02006**]

        **[txt. k32**]
0010K32 **<*3"Fortune*'s Darlings*0"**> **[leader comment begin**] $*3^They
0020K32 were very rich, very discontented and convinced that the world owed
0030K32 them privileges not granted to the lower orders.*0 **[leader comment
0040K32 end**] $"^WHAT awful weather for a holiday!" ^*Roopali exclaimed
0050K32 petulantly as she and her mother, \0Mrs Prasad, trudged in a cold
0060K32 drizzle to their hotel in Gulmarg. $^In Gulmarg it rains suddenly
0070K32 and as abruptly clears up, but the roads had become slushy and the two
0080K32 women found walking an unpleasent experience. ^They were decidedly
0090K32 out of temper by the time they reached the hotel. $^An elderly man in
0100K32 a grey uniform, with the silver badge of the room bearer pinned to his
0110K32 turban, showed them to their room. "^Welcome, *4memsahib," he said.
0120K32 "^*I am Khizir Muhammad, your room bearer. ^*I hope you have a
0130K32 comfortable stay." ^He took the duster he carried over his shoulder and
0140K32 began flicking the dust from the tables and the chairs. $\0^*Mrs Prasad
0150K32 threw herself into a chair. "^Get tea and toast and be quick about
0160K32 it!" ^Her voice had a bark in it. $^*Khizir Muhammad trotted off
0170K32 to the kitchen and Roopali said, "^It has been a terrible day." ^Then,
0180K32 brightening up, she added, "^But we got the better of that_ fellow
0190K32 at Delhi Airport." $\0^*Mrs Prasad was a rich widow who felt herself
0200K32 threatened by high prices, high taxes and the Land Ceiling Acts
0210K32 which were eroding her wealth and position. ^Her daughter thought as
0220K32 she did and both were dissatisfied with life. ^But they were happy
0230K32 when they managed to_ wrest some special dispensation for themselves,
0240K32 concessions they were not entitled to in the normal way. ^It made them
0250K32 feel superior to the common herd of people, a feeling they relished.
0260K32 $^*Roopali had suddenly decided to_ accompany her mother to Kashmir
0270K32 and had no reservation on the Delhi-Srinagar flight. ^But she knew
0280K32 a bigwig with influenece and he had said, "^Come to the airport with
0290K32 your baggage and join the queue for the flight to Srinagar." $"^Are
0300K32 you trying to_ be funny?" ^*Roopali had asked. "^You know I*'3m
0310K32 twenty-third on the waiting list." $"^Don*'4t worry about that_, Roopali.
0320K32 ^*I*'3ll be there to_ help you. ^Stand in the queue and behave as
0330K32 if you are one of the regular passengers. ^If somebody happens to_
0340K32 cancel his ticket, I*'3ll see that you get his seat." $^*Roopali
0350K32 was near the counter when a young man brushed past her and asked the
0360K32 clerk excitedly, "^Is there a cancellation? ^*I am Sharma and my name
0370K32 is at the top of the waiting list." $^Out of long practice, the clerk
0380K32 said, "^We*'3ll inform you if there is a cancellation. ^Please wait
0390K32 in the lounge, Sir." $^The young man left and when there was a cancellation
0400K32 the seat was quietly given to Roopali. $^Fortified by the memory
0410K32 of this, and after bathing and changing, \0Mrs Prasad and Roopali
0420K32 went down to the hotel*'s dining hall which was huge and furnished
0430K32 in an old-fashioned style. $"^It is chilly," \0Mrs Prasad remarked,
0440K32 occupying a table near the fireplace. ^She slipped a five rupee
0450K32 note to the waiter. "^*I want this place every time I come down to
0460K32 the dining hall," she told him. "^*I can*'4t stand this cold." $^The
0470K32 waiter pocketed the money and nodded understandingly. $"^Get the menu,"
0480K32 Roopali ordered. $"^Vegetarian or non-vegetarian, *4memsahib?" $"^Get
0490K32 both the menus," Roopali commanded. $"^We have orders to_ inform
0500K32 the kitchen in advance whether guests will have vegetarian or non-vegetarian
0510K32 food, *4memsahib." $"^Oh, is that_ so? ^Ask the manager to_ come
0520K32 here at once." \0^*Mrs Prasad spoke in an offended tone. $*3^THE*0
0530K32 Manager was middle-aged and harassed, but he listened attentively
0540K32 while \0Mrs Prasad and Roopali spoke at length about their need and
0550K32 desire to_ choose from both the menus. ^When he tried to_ protest he
0560K32 was deluged by a fresh spate of words. ^At last he gave in, leaving
0570K32 the women the victors. $^But that_ did not mean the end of the poor man*'s
0580K32 ordeal. \0^*Mrs Prasad or Roopali would frequently send for him
0590K32 to_ ask authoritatively, "^Why is there no chicken soup today?" (^Or
0600K32 vegetable curry, or mixed grill or fried rice or whatever else.) $^He
0610K32 would look apologetic and they would say, "^We pay so much and don*'4t
0620K32 get satisfactory food!" $^They would then proceed to_ give the Manager
0630K32 detailed instructions about their preferences and he would promise
0640K32 to_ get them what they wanted. ^Then \0Mrs Prasad would rummage
0650K32 in her handbag and take out a twenty rupee note. "^Here is some money
0660K32 for fruits. ^See that you arrange to_ get mangoes and bananas from Delhi.
0670K32 ^We are fed up with the strawberries and cherries that_ you have
0680K32 been giving us every day since our arrival here." $^In Delhi, of course,
0690K32 \0Mrs Prasad and Roopali paid exorbitantly for strawberries and
0700K32 cherries, but it was different in Gulmarg. ^In Gulmarg, they wanted
0710K32 mangoes and bananas. $^Every morning after breakfast \0Mrs Prasad
0720K32 and Roopali went for a walk. ^As soon as they left the hotel compound
0730K32 they were mobbed by the owners of ponies. "*4Memsahib! *4Memsahib!
0740K32 ^Hire my pony for a ride to Khilanmarg." $"^We don*'4t want to_ visit
0750K32 Khilanmarg. ^Out of our way!" $^Olive green army jeeps drove past
0760K32 and \0Mrs Prasad frowned. "^They don*'4t allow honest holiday
0770K32 makers to_ bring their cars here, but allow these ugly jeeps to_ drive
0780K32 round inconveniencing everybody." $^*Roopali said,
0790K32 "^Mother, did you notice how haughty the men in the jeep looked?" $^If
0800K32 they met friends they discussed these and other grievances, but mostly
0810K32 they kept to themselves. "^Nowadays, you don*'4t meet the right
0820K32 kind of people. ^*I detest the *8nouveau riche*9
0830K32 who..." ^They would shudder and leave the sentence unfinished. $^When
0840K32 \0Mrs Prasad and Roopali reached the little *4bazar they were invariably
0850K32 surrounded by hawkers selling fruits, by shopkeepers selling Kashmir
0860K32 curios, silks and embroidered *4shawls, carved woodwork and precious
0870K32 and semi-precious stones. \0^*Mrs Prasad would ask one of them,
0880K32 "^Do you have woollen socks?" $"^No, *4memsahib, but here is a beautifully
0890K32 embroidered *4shawl. ^All done by hand." $"^We don*'4t want a *4shawl.
0900K32 ^Do we, Roopali?" $"^No, mother. ^But I want cells for my torch."
0910K32 $^The cells were not available and cursing Gulmarg where they could
0920K32 not get the ordinary amenities of civilised life, they would return
0930K32 to the hotel feeling hot and bothered. ^There they would find Khizir
0940K32 Muhammad sitting in the sun. $"^Had a nice walk, *4memsahib?" he would
0950K32 ask with unfailing politeness. $"^No. ^It*'1s impossible to_ walk
0960K32 without being beseiged by people trying to_ sell us things we don*'4t
0970K32 want. ^It*'1s most annoying." $^*Khizir muhammad would smile and
0980K32 say mildly. "^What can they do, *4memsahib? ^Soon the season will
0990K32 be over and the tourists will stop coming. ^In winter there will be snowfall
1000K32 and blizzards and nothing will grow. ^This is the only time they
1010K32 can earn." $"^Does that_ mean that they must try to_ skin us?" \0^*Mrs
1020K32 Prasad*'s voice rose belligerently on such occasions. $"^No no,
1030K32 of course not." $"^You may go, Khizir Muhammad." ^*Roopali would royally
1040K32 dismiss him. $"^Insolent fellow! ^He*'3ll have to_ be put in his
1050K32 place," \0Mrs Prasad would look after him with righteous indignation.
1060K32 $^But it was not easy to_ put Khizir Muhammad in his place. ^He
1070K32 had been in the hotel for nearly half a century and was very proud of
1080K32 the fact that the smart and sophisticated hotel guests could not get
1090K32 on without his help. ^Also, he was something of a philosopher-- which
1100K32 they soon found out. $*3^ONE*0 afternoon there was a heavy downpour
1110K32 and it turned cold. \0^*Mrs Prasad had a fire lit in her room and
1120K32 stayed there. ^*Roopali urgently needed some face cream and walked down
1130K32 to the *4bazar. ^It was bitterly cold and she shivered in spite of the
1140K32 sweater and coat she wore. ^On her return, she took a short cut, lost
1150K32 her way and found herself in the servants*' quarters at the back of
1160K32 the hotel. $^A few men sat huddled in the long verandah in front of their
1170K32 rooms and one of them called out, "^Turn left for your room, *4memsahib.
1180K32 ^The right turn will take you to the other block." $^*Roopali
1190K32 found the voice familiar and looked sharply at the speaker only to_
1200K32 find that it was Khizir Muhammad. ^He appeared quite different without
1210K32 his uniform and turban-- older, frailer and emaciated. ^In the bitter
1220K32 cold he and the others wore nothing but the capacious robes the poorer
1230K32 Kashmiris wear, and they did not look too warm. $^As a rule Roopali
1240K32 was not interested in the problems of what she called "the lower
1250K32 orders" but she noticed Khizir Muhammad*'s fingers swollen with chilblains
1260K32 when he brought in her tea the next morning. "^It was very cold
1270K32 yesterday, but I suppose you are used to it and don*'4t feel it
1280K32 as much as we do," she observed. $"^Oh, *4memsahib, I feel the cold
1290K32 because I am no longer young. ^It is the *4kangri-- the brazier--
1300K32 which helps me to_ manage." $^*Roopali remembered how old and vulnerable
1310K32 he had looked the previous day and she asked, "^How will you manage,
1320K32 Khizir Muhammad, when you can no longer work? ^Will your sons take
1330K32 care of you?" $"^*I have no sons. ^No children." $"^Then perhaps you
1340K32 have some property on which you can fall back?" ^*Roopali asked. $"^*I
1350K32 have nothing, *4memsahib, but I will manage." $"^How?" ^*Roopali
1360K32 was curious. $"^*God will take care of me, as he takes care of all His
1370K32 creatures," Khizir Muhammad said confidently. $"^You seem to_ be
1380K32 very sure of that_!" $"^*I am uneducated and ignorant, *4memsahib,
1390K32 but I observe life. ^When a child is born the mother*'s breasts are
1400K32 full of milk to_ feed it, but when it grows up, her breasts dry up. ^Isn*'4t
1410K32 it wonderful how God provides for the new-born child? ^We are
1420K32 all His children and He will provide for us too. ^That_*'1s why I
1430K32 don*'4t worry." $^*Roopali said, "^But it*'1s unwise not to_ worry
1440K32 about the future. ^It is careless not to_ plan for it." $^A crow cawed
1450K32 outside and Khizir Muhammad said, "^That_ crow and other birds like
1460K32 it eat maunds of food. ^But do they sow or harvest or store grain?
1470K32 ^They don*'4t but God provides for them because He created them.
1480K32 ^*I am sure He will provide for me, too. ^*I have faith." $"^If all of
1490K32 us thought as you do where would we be?" ^*Roopali asked, smiling tolerantly.
1500K32 "^But I can see that you are something of a philosopher." $"^*I
1510K32 don*'4t know what that_ means, but I enjoy life. ^*I have enough
1520K32 to_ eat, a house to_ live in and clothes to_ wear. ^In my younger days
1530K32 I visited Delhi, Bombay and Calcutta. ^*I soon wished to_ leave
1540K32 the hot, noisy and crowded streets and return to the cool, beautiful
1550K32 valleys and mountains of my home. ^There is something about Kashmir
1560K32 which makes people spend thousands of rupees for a short visit here, but
1570K32 I have my home here. ^Am I not lucky, *4memsahib?" $^*Roopali laughed
1580K32 and \0Mrs Prasad, who came into the room just then, said, "^It
1590K32 doesn*'4t do to_ get too friendly with this class of people." $*3^A
1600K32 FEW*0 days later Roopali*'s fiance, Dhiraj, arrived from Delhi.
1610K32 ^He was rich and \0Mrs Prasad thought him to_ be a very suitable
1620K32 match for her daughter. ^She was overjoyed to_ see him, but Roopali
1630K32 greeted him with restraint. ^She found him boring. ^But since everyone seemed
1640K32 to_ think him a very suitable husband for her, she had agreed to_
1650K32 marry him. $^*Dhiraj was a solidly built young man, fond of sports and
1660K32 outdoor life. ^He started organising outings and picnics and, one morning,
1670K32 Roopali found herself astride a pony, accompanying Dhiraj to
1680K32 Khilanmarg. ^*Khizir approved of young love and gave them their packed
1690K32 lunch with a benevolent smile. $^At Khilanmarg the sky was very
1700K32 blue and the nearby hills white with snow. ^In spite of the crowds of
1710K32 holidaymakers it was very peaceful and Roopali threw herself on the short,
1720K32 green grass and closed her eyes. ^A raucous voice said, "*4Sahib!
1730K32 *4Memsahib! ^We will take you sledging in the snow."*#
        **[no. of words = 02007**]

        **[txt. k33**]
0010K33 **<*3The Woollen Coat*0**> **[leader comment begin**] $*3^He desperately
0020K33 needed a new coat for winter, but just to_ keep his family going
0030K33 a poor clerk like him had to_ scrape and scrounge.*0 **[leader comment
0040K33 end**] $^*I SEE many attractive suits hanging in Master Tailor
0050K33 Mirajuddin*'s showcases. ^They make me painfully conscious of my wornout
0060K33 wollen coat. ^Even if I am hard up for money, this winter I
0070K33 must have a new coat made for myself. ^If I avoided passing the tailor*'s
0080K33 shop or did not go to the recreation club I would remain blissfully
0090K33 oblivious of my threadbare coat. ^But when Sant Singh and Yazdani
0100K33 turn up at the club in smart worsted suits, I become worked up about
0110K33 the ragged condition of my coat and it hurts my ego. $^Just to_ keep
0120K33 the family going, a poor clerk like me has to_ scrape and scrounge
0130K33 and do without many necessities of life. ^To_ protect his family from
0140K33 freezing in the biting cold he must content himself by wearing woollen
0150K33 of a coarse variety. ^*I had bought this coat last year from a shop
0160K33 outside Delhi Gate, dealing in second-hand clothes. ^The dealer had
0170K33 bought coats by the bale from a certain Miranja, Miranja & \0Co
0180K33 of Karachi. ^The label, Miranja, Miranja & \0Co, stitched on the
0190K33 artificial silk lining below the inside pocket, gave away the game, but
0200K33 I consoled myself with the thought that I had bought the coat at
0210K33 a throwaway price. ^But as the saying goes: ^Buy high, cry once; buy
0220K33 cheap, cry for ever. ^My coat constantly threatened to_ fall apart.
0230K33 $*3^ONE*0 December evening the same year, on my way back from the recreation
0240K33 club, I decided to_ walk through Anarkali. ^After laying
0250K33 in the monthly stock of flour, *4dals, fuel-wood and paying the electricity
0260K33 bill and the insurance premium, I was left with a fifty *4rupee
0270K33 note. ^It sounded like a lot of money. ^If one has money in one*'s pocket,
0280K33 one should not mind "doing" the Anarkali. ^It makes one feel important,
0290K33 elated. $^As I passed through the *4bazar, I saw the shop-windows
0300K33 crammed with wollen suit-lengths and, of course, *4saris. ^Or maybe
0310K33 I had an eye for these things only. ^It was said that, during the past
0320K33 few years, tons of gold had gone out of the country and, with the
0330K33 consequent glut of foreign imported stuff, even the most inconsequential
0340K33 people had taken to wearing suits. ^They thought that this sort
0350K33 of sartorial embellishment did them proud. ^Little do we realise that
0360K33 to_ preen ourselves in costly suits and live in style is only a cover-up
0370K33 of our poverty. ^Those who are rich take themselves for granted
0380K33 and never need to_ flaunt their riches. $^In the drapers*' shops the
0390K33 counters were piled high with bolts of fine worsted. ^As I cast
0400K33 covetous looks at them I suddenly found my mind in a quandary: ^Would
0410K33 it behove me to_ spend money on a coat length of worsted and starve
0420K33 my wife and children? ^After a brief struggle, I set my mind against
0430K33 the unholy desire of going in for a new coat. ^Grimly fingering the
0440K33 buttons of my decayed woollen garment, I set off at a clipping pace,
0450K33 with every step increasing the distance between me and the shop.
0460K33 ^The brisk walk was a real warm-up. ^The dreary cold failed to_ goad
0470K33 me into giving my desire a tangible shape. ^For that_ matter, now even
0480K33 my old coat seemed a superfluity. $^As I walked I kept arguing with
0490K33 myself, trying to_ put my mind at ease. ^Didn*'4t I know that the
0500K33 rich did not believe in ostentation? ^Not to_ talk of a tattered
0510K33 coat, they wouldn*'4t mind going without a shirt. ^Well, by that_
0520K33 token, maybe I already belonged to the category of the rich! $^This
0530K33 exercise in self-introspection, however, only added to my confusion.
0540K33 ^Hastily dismissing all further thoughts on the subject, I managed to_
0550K33 reach home with the fifty *4rupee note still intact. $*3^MY*0 wife,
0560K33 Shami, was waiting for me. ^She was kneading the flour and at the
0570K33 same time blowing into the *4chulha to_ get the fire going. ^The wretch
0580K33 Mangal Singh had supplied damp firewood. ^The wood would not come
0590K33 to the point of bursting into flames. ^The harder Shami blew into
0600K33 the *4chulha the thicker the smoke became. $^*I cursed Mangal Singh.
0610K33 ^The cheat! ^For the sake of my wife*'s beautiful eyes, I was
0620K33 prepared to_ take up arms against the whole world, let alone Mangal
0630K33 Singh. $^After much fretting and fuming the woods at last crackled
0640K33 into flame and my wrath subsided. ^Resting her head against my shoulder
0650K33 Shami playfully patted my coat and found her delicate finger coming
0660K33 out through a hole. $"^The coat has outlived its life," she said.
0670K33 $"^Yes," I readily agreed with her. $"^*I think I must put in a few
0680K33 stitches," she said pointing towards the gaping hole. $"^It requires
0690K33 some darning too," I said, trying to_ be helpful. $"^But the lining
0700K33 is all gone," she said, turning over the coat. "^Moths have been at
0710K33 it. ^Artificial silk, you know!" $"^Forget about it." ^*I snatched
0720K33 it away from her. "^Instead of sitting before the sewing machine sit
0730K33 by my side, Shami. ^*I had a hard day at the office. ^Don*'4t you
0740K33 see how fagged I look? ^You*'3ll have all the time in the world for
0750K33 the machine when I*'3m asleep." $^Her engaging smile and my tattered
0760K33 coat! $^*Shami smiled. "^*I*'3ve had enough of it. ^The blessed thing
0770K33 is past mending. ^It*'1s worse torture than blowing into damp wood.
0780K33 ^Why don*'4t you go in for a new coat?" $^Lo, she had me thinking again.
0790K33 ^To_ throw away money on a piece of cloth-- it*'1s sheer indulgence,
0800K33 a sin. ^But Shami*'s eyes, those beautiful, smiling eyes. ^*I could
0810K33 fight Mangal Singh to_ save those eyes from pain. ^*I could defy
0820K33 the whole world for her, buy up all the cloth in the world. $^*I had
0830K33 just started thinking of a new coat when Pushpa Munni, my young daughter,
0840K33 came running into the house and started dancing on the verandah.
0850K33 ^Her antics were more bewitching than the movements of a *3kathakali*0
0860K33 dancer. $^Seeing me she stopped dancing. $"^Papa, so you*'3ve
0870K33 come! ^Tomorrow our teacher is going to_ teach us how to_ make a tablecloth.
0880K33 ^She has asked us to_ bring a piece of casement cloth. ^And
0890K33 also an inch-tape to_ measure the cloth with. ^Besides, I also require
0900K33 a piece of woollen cloth to_ learn cutting woollens." $^*Shami gave
0910K33 Pushpa a slap. "^The wretch is always ready with one demand or the
0920K33 other," she fumed. "^She has mucked up the whole thing just when I was
0930K33 trying to_ persuade you to_ get a new coat made." $^Poor Pushpa*'s
0940K33 tears and my new coat! $"^*Shami!" I raised my voice, which is against
0950K33 my grain. ^*Shami trembled. "^*Shami go and mend my coat!" I barked,
0960K33 my eyes blazing with anger. "^Yes, right now! ^*I don*'4t care whether
0970K33 you do it willingly or with a whimper. ^You must take pains over
0980K33 it as you do with Mangal Singh*'s damp wood. ^Don*'4t you see Pushpa
0990K33 is crying? ^*Popi darling, come here. ^Come here, my pet. ^What
1000K33 was it that_ you wanted? ^Tell me, my child. ^Casement cloth, wasn*'4t
1010K33 it? ^And an inch-tape to_ measure cloth with. ^Where*'1s Bachchu?
1020K33 ^He must have fallen asleep, crying for a tricycle and a balloon. ^What
1030K33 good is a coat to me if that_ deprives him of a mere balloon? ^*Shami,
1040K33 whre*'1s Bachchu?" $"^He*'1s sleeping," Shami said, overawed.
1050K33 $"^If you*'3re ruthless with the children just because of my coat,
1060K33 then don*'4t expect me to_ love you because of your beautiful eyes."
1070K33 $^Then I asked myself, why all this play-acting? ^Was I behaving
1080K33 in this manner for the sake of the coat? ^On whose side lay the truth,
1090K33 anyway? ^Hers or mine? ^Or was it both? ^But one who*'1s in the right
1100K33 has an edge over the other. ^*I felt subdued. $"^The other day you
1110K33 said something about a pair of light green enamelled earrings, didn*'4t
1120K33 you?" I asked. $"^Yes, I did, but... " $^*I imperiously brushed
1130K33 aside her unvoiced objection. ^The fifty *4rupee note in my coat pocket
1140K33 was to me like a vast treasure. $*3^THE*0 next day I found that
1150K33 Shami had mended my coat at the elbows. ^But in spite of her skilful
1160K33 darning ugly wrinkles had appeared at the places where the cloth had
1170K33 completely given way. $^And that_ reminded me of Mirajuddin, the Master
1180K33 Tailor. ^*I have a lively imagination and that_ is my undoing;
1190K33 it often lands me in serious trouble. ^To_ buy or not to_ buy a coat:
1200K33 I was undecided. ^At Mirajuddin*'s there were suits, exclusive
1210K33 and elegant, which cost as much as five hundred *4rupees, inclusive of
1220K33 stitching charges. ^But I was an ordinary clerk and it was futile on
1230K33 my part to_ pin hopes on such costly suits; they were beyond
1240KG3 my means. $^Finding me free from work, Shami came and sat by my side
1250K33 and we began to_ make a list of things we could buy with the fifty
1260K33 *4rupee note. ^When father and mother get into a huddle, the children also
1270K33 flock round them. ^*Pushpa and Bachchu burst upon us like a tornado.
1280K33 $^Call it a quirk of imagination-- or was it that I wanted to_ humour
1290K33 Shami? ^*I began the list with a pair of light green enamelled
1300K33 earrings. ^*I looked towards the kitchen. ^The firewood was blazing away
1310K33 merrily and Shami*'s eyes were twinkling like stars. ^*I learnt
1320K33 that Mangal Singh had taken back the damp firewood. $"^He has sent
1330K33 us mulberry sticks and slivers of packing cases," Shami came out
1340K33 with the information. $"^And cowdung cakes?" $"^Yes, those too!" $"^*Mangal
1350K33 Singh is God incarnate, a saint," I said effusively. "^*I
1360K33 must buy a piece of worsted for my coat to_ keep your eyes shining. ^Not
1370K33 from this month*'s salary. ^Maybe next month." $"^Yes, when the
1380K33 winter is gone," Shami laughed. $^*Pushpa had a long list of things
1390K33 she wanted-- cotton cloth, inch-tape to_ measure cloth with, a yard length
1400K33 of green blazer cloth, \0DMC thread balls, gold piping. ^And,
1410K33 of course, *5gulab jamuns*6 and *4imartis. ^*I suffered from chronic
1420K33 constipation and wanted to_ buy a tin of *3Trifla Zamani*0 from
1430K33 the *4hakim*'s shop-- a laxative to_ be taken with a cup of milk,
1440K33 the last thing at night. ^But Pushpa*'s formidable list edged out
1450K33 the laxative from the list. *5^Gulab jamuns*6, I said to myself,
1460K33 must have top priority. $^*I decided that I would hide the *5gulab
1470K33 jamuns*6 under the stairs where the milkman often kept his milk can.
1480K33 ^*I would tell Pushpa that I had forgotten to_ buy them. ^Oh, how
1490K33 she would miss them! ^It would be great fun to_ see her mouth watering
1500K33 at the thought of *5gulab jamuns*6 and then to_ produce them for
1510K33 her. $^And what about Bachchu? ^Since morning he had been pestering
1520K33 me for balloons and a tricycle. ^No, the tin of laxatives was out! $^*Shami
1530K33 was trying to_ appease Bachchu. "^*I*'3ll buy Bachchu a tricycle
1540K33 next month. ^My darling son will ride it the whole day. ^*Popi will
1550K33 get nothing. ^*Bachchu will ride while Popi will gape." $^*I swore
1560K33 by Shami*'s beautiful eyes that till I had put by some money for
1570K33 the tricycle I would not venture near Nila Gumbad. ^To_ pass through
1580K33 Nila Gumbad and have no money to_ buy the machine! ^What abject
1590K33 helplessness. ^*I may even start hating myself. ^Attired in white, Shami
1600K33 was standing before the oval Belgian mirror. ^*I went up and stood
1610K33 behind her. $"^*I know what you*'3re thinking," I said. $"^*I bet
1620K33 you don*'4t". $"^You*'3re thinking that if you visited the District
1630K33 Officer*'s wife in this white *4sari and light green enamelled
1640K33 earrings her eyes would pop out in surprise." $"^No, you*'3re miles
1650KL3 off the mark." ^*Shami laughed. "^You admire my eyes, don*'4t you? ^*I
1660K33 was wondering what makes you admire them so much. ^In fact, if you
1670K33 really loved my eyes you would have bought a wollen coat long ago." $^*I
1680K33 put my hand on her mouth.*#
        **[no. of words = 02009**]

        **[txt. k34**]
0010K34 **<*3The Silver Plate*0**> **[leader comment begin**] $*3^Hungry
0020K34 and haggard, he gazed at the five *4rupees in his palm, aware that any
0030K34 protests to Gopal Das for cheating him of the plate*'s true value would
0040K34 only draw forth a string of abuses.*0 **[leader comment end**] $*3^*I
0050K34 AND*0 my younger brother, who is always a stupid fool and whimpers
0060K34 for every little thing, had hardly covered half the distance of five
0070K34 miles to the shop of the silversmith when he began to_ limp like
0080K34 a lame dog and cried that he wouldn*'4t walk any further. $"^Shut
0090K34 up, Nagu," I said, tweaking his ear till it reddened. "^We don*'4t
0100K34 have money for the bus. ^And don*'4t make a noise in the middle of
0110K34 the road." $^He paid no attention to me, but squatted on his haunches,
0120K34 dirtying the seat of his half-pants in the dust, crying and groaning.
0130K34 $^*I was furious at my brother, the stupid goose. ^Here he was, full
0140K34 eight years old, and two months more, to_ be exact, because I very
0150K34 well remember how, two months ago in June last, we had amused ourselves
0160K34 on his birthday when Mother had borrowed a little wheat-flour
0170K34 from Somaben, our neighbour at the sanatorium, and had made a pudding
0180K34 of it sweetened with jaggery; and now imagine this grown-up boy,
0190K34 full eight years and two months old, crying like a little baby in the
0200K34 street because he had to_ walk just five miles! ^Why, to_ think
0210K34 of it, at his age, I would walk six miles to the river bank to Karim
0220K34 Miya*'s fuel-depot because he charges less than others and return
0230K34 on foot with *(half-a-maund*) of charcoal or firewood on my head; I
0240K34 would even draw water from the deep well at the entrance to the sanatorium
0250K34 compound and carry several giant copper-potfuls to the house,
0260K34 unaided and all by myself. $^Of course, I don*'4t expect Nagu to_
0270K34 do much exacting labour, but he could at least trot along a distance
0280K34 of five miles in silence. ^But, possibly, he can*'4t even do this much;
0290K34 and I am sorry and hurt within me for the poor stupid fool, because
0300K34 I remember Mother often saying that he hasn*'4t got much strength
0310K34 or stamina because he was in her stomach when she first got the
0320K34 fever and cough that_ has now eaten her and wasted her healthy body
0330K34 and made her spit blood. ^And I have observed that Mother sighs
0340K34 and pities him and gives him extra helpings of sugar, milk or curd, whenever
0350K34 we come by these dainties. $^*I do not grudge poor Nagu Mother*'s
0360K34 attention; but only wish he were strong. ^And dainties and sweetmeat,
0370K34 I must tell you, are not to my taste; I am not delicate like Nagu
0380K34 and can keep strong on plain coarse rice with a little chilli powder
0390K34 and salt. ^*I often wonder if Nagu will, when he comes to my present
0400K34 age of fourteen, be half as brisk or hardworking or intelligent as
0410K34 I am. ^But to_ come to the point, what really made me angry at the moment
0420K34 was that he should be a hindrance to me on this errand and make
0430K34 me drag my steps at his slow pace for I am no snail and can cover a
0440K34 mile in ten minutes even on an empty stomach. ^And to_ think
0450K34 that he pestered Mother so to_ send him along with me! $^If, therefore,
0460K34 full of anger, I dragged Nagu by the collar of his shirt with
0470K34 my left hand and tugged him along with me, I shouldn*'4t be blamed.
0480K34 ^His shirt, an old one, gave a little rent at the back as I pulled
0490K34 him and I felt sorry for him and eased my hold. ^In my other hand
0500K34 I held the ochre bag Mother had made from the worn-out counterpane,
0510K34 in which I, for so many years, bought vegetables or rice whenever Father
0520K34 sent us money from Bombay. ^In the bag lay the cause of the errand
0530K34 I was now on-- the silver plate, wrapped in an old newspaper like
0540K34 an aged man in winter. $*3^THE*0 plate, my mother told me as she
0550K34 drew it out of the green trunk, was the one that_ my grandfather,
0560K34 her father, had given me as a present on my first birthday. ^For many
0570K34 years the plate had kept company with the bundle of letters Father
0580K34 had written from Bombay, the silken skull-cap which Mother bad embroidered
0590K34 for Nagu, a prayer-book which one of her uncles had given her
0600K34 and her bridal wear; and it was only this morning that it had seen
0610K34 the light of day after a long period of imprisonment. $"^*Muthu," Mother
0620K34 had said, handing me the plate, "sell it in the town. ^*I think there
0630K34 is a silversmith*'s shop right at the turning of the main road before
0640K34 you enter the vegetable market. ^It*'1s the only thing in this house
0650K34 for which we can get some money." $"^*I can find the shop," I said,
0660K34 recollecting its location very vaguely. $^We hadn*'4t eaten anything
0670K34 for the whole morning except for the meal of green-skinned tamarind
0680K34 I had brought down to the hot floor of the tar-road by aiming stones
0690K34 at them. ^The tamarind was very sour, but I have a liking for acid
0700K34 things, especially tamarind just before they begin to_ brown and ripen
0710K34 and form rusts. ^*Nagu and I ate quite a good lot, but Mother could
0720K34 chew very little because the sourness hurt her teeth as we didn*'4t
0730K34 have any salt to_ go with it. ^We had then filled our stomachs with
0740K34 the fresh, cool water from the well, smelling of earth and moss.
0750K34 $^Mother had given me a list of things to_ buy after getting money for
0760K34 the plate: a little rice, vegetables, salt and a garland of flowers
0770K34 for Narasimha, the fierce-faced family deity, whose printed picture
0780K34 in a glass-frame was installed in a niche of the kitchen wall. $^As I
0790K34 and Nagu left the house, I wondered how much I would get for the
0800K34 plate. ^It was of a circular shape, about eight inches in diameter,
0810K34 with thick sides about an inch in height, darkened a little by age and
0820K34 rather heavy in weight. $^As we approached the town, the sun had lifted
0830K34 its face from the bald heads of the hills beyond and was beginning
0840K34 to_ scorch our heads; and the road, cobbled here and tarred there,
0850K34 also began to_ burn the soles of our feet. $^We crossed the old bridge
0860K34 where the women sat selling curds and butter stored in black earthen
0870K34 pots and dishes and entered the lane where, on both sides, women with
0880K34 flowers in their hair stood at their windows and balconies, ogling
0881K34 and calling the
0890K34 men passing below. ^This was a short, narrow lane and soon we were out
0900K34 of it. $*3^*I HAD*0 been dragging and pulling and tugging my stupid
0910K34 fool of a brother all the while; but I couldn*'4t stand his whimpering
0920K34 any longer and an idea came to my mind when my eyes fell upon a couple
0930K34 of sweetmeat shops on the opposite side of the pavement. ^We had
0940K34 still about a mile to_ go, but with Nagu squealing at my side I felt
0950K34 I could get to the silversmith*'s only by sundown. $^*I crossed the
0960K34 street pulling my brother by the arm and stopped at one of the sweatmeat
0970K34 stalls where the sweets lay arranged in gay-coloured tiers upon tiers.
0980K34 ^*I pointed to a yellow mountain of *4pedhas. "^How much?" I
0990K34 asked, putting on as grave and serious a face as possible. $"^How much
1000K34 do you want?" asked the shopkeeper in reply. $"^If it*'1s good Mother
1010K34 has asked me to_ buy a whole *4seer," I said. $"^Good!" exclaimed
1020K34 the shopkeeper, twirling his mustachios, "it is the best in town."
1030K34 ^He gave me a sampling of one of those circular, flat yellow pieces
1040K34 to_ taste. $^*I bit a little of the *4pedha so that the remainder appeared
1050K34 in my palm like the moon a few days before becoming full. "^Cha!"
1060K34 I cried, spitting out what I had eaten, "^Stale and sour! ^If I
1070K34 take such sweetmeat home, my mother will give me a good beating." $"^Come
1080K34 on," I said to Nagu, who was whimpering for the sweets, dragging
1090K34 him along to the adjoining shop. ^And here also I managed to_ get
1100K34 a free sample to_ taste, but, as you will understand, I made a grimace
1110K34 of being disgusted with the *4pedha which I spat out and declared
1120K34 to_ be fit for giving people a painful purge. ^The shopkeeper drove
1130K34 us away in anger, and with my clutch on Nagu*'s arm we disappeared
1140K34 into the turning of the street by the betel-leaf seller. $^*I stopped
1150K34 at the corner. "^Now, don*'4t weep, idiot," I said to Nagu and gave
1160K34 him the two pieces of *4pedhas which were a little moist from the
1170K34 sweat of my closed palm. ^*Nagu, very pleased, swallowed them in
1180K34 a minute. ^*I took a good look at his weak face and his swollen eyes
1190K34 and I felt sorry that I couldn*'4t control my temper and said, "Nagu
1200K34 when we get money for the plate, I*'3ll buy you something to
1210K34 eat and you*'3ll have a cup of tea." ^With this promise in mind, Nagu
1220K34 now followed me silently. $*3^WE*0 were almost at the silversmith*'s;
1230K34 and I saw a great street tap where women were busy filling water
1240K34 in their shiny copper pots. ^At the tap Nagu and I drank as much
1250K34 water as an elephant would and thought that our stomachs would burst.
1260K34 ^When Nagu had finished his drink, his face began to_ wear an idiotic
1270K34 and strained expression from which I knew that he wanted to_ urinate.
1280K34 ^*I pointed to him a recess off the lane, and said, "^There, against
1290K34 the wall and don*'4t soil your pants." ^Like a little dog, Nagu
1300K34 ran, almost on one leg towards the brick wall on which were written huge
1310K34 signs in black and red telling everybody what gripe-water to_ give
1320K34 their babies and what cough pills to_ give thair grandfathers. $^The
1330K34 silversmith eyed us very suspiciously, as I unpacked the plate
1340K34 from the bag. ^He bent towards me, almost put his mouth to my ear,
1350K34 and in a stealthy, muffled tone asked: "^Where have you two stolen this
1360K34 from?" $^My face was livid with anger. "^My mother has given this
1370K34 plate to_ be sold," I said, "because we have*'4t anything to_ eat."
1380K34 $"^If I find that it*'1s not stolen property, I can give you ten
1390K34 rupees; but let me first find out. ^Yesterday somebody stole a silver
1400K34 plate from a house in the town. ^The police were here and warned
1410K34 me to_ let them know if anybody came with a silver plate," he said
1420K34 and sent a servant to the police station which didn*'4t seem to_ be
1430K34 far away, because, in a few minutes a policeman arrived, and was
1440K34 questioning us. ^He forced Nagu and me to_ follow him to the police
1450K34 station saying that if we were really honest we shouldn*'4t be afraid
1460K34 to_ go there. $*3^AT*0 the police station, we were asked a hundred
1470K34 questions by a burly, mustachioed man sitting at a table in a very tiny
1480K34 room. ^Where did we live? ^What did we do for a living? ^Who were
1490K34 our parents? ^Why had we, and not somebody older, brought the plate
1500K34 to the silversmith? ^Why? ^What? ^Again, why, what? $^*I became sick
1510K34 of answering the endless interrogation and repeating that we came
1520K34 to_ sell the plate, the only thing of value in our house, because we
1530K34 were starving, but I don*'4t think the man was convinced. ^Poor Nagu,
1540K34 I observed, was dumb with fright, staring like a wild animal.
1550K34 ^The burly man summoned the policeman who had brought us from the silversmith*'s
1560K34 shop and whispered into his ear. ^The policeman saluted and
1570K34 quickly went out of the station. $^The burly man then ordered us out
1580K34 of his room and made us sit on a long wooden bench placed against
1590K34 the wall, telling us that we had to_ wait for some time more.*#
        **[no. of words = 02010**]

        **[txt. k35**]
0010K35 **<*3BONDAGE*0**> **[leader comment begin **] $*3^*Shiva was now a
0020K35 "free" man. ^The Collector had pronounced him so before a large audience.
0030K35 ^Free to_ do what he liked, go where he liked... only he had
0040K35 nowhere to_ go.*0 **[leader comment end**] $*3^IT*0 had been so for
0050K35 generations. ^The Patil family had been landowners without being
0060K35 cultivators. ^Except for the small orchard that_ surrounded the house,
0070K35 all its land had been farmed out among a dozen or so tenants. ^Neither
0080K35 landlord nor tenant had ever felt that there was anything particularly
0090K35 reprehensible about the arrangement. $^Then the Government
0100K35 had brought in the law to_ abolish tenancy farming. ^All land that_
0110K35 was cultivated by tenants was to_ be taken away from the landlords
0120K35 and given to the tenants. $^The new law had made Ramsa Patil a poor
0130K35 man. ^The money that_ he was to_ be paid for his land barely added
0140K35 up to a year*'s income from it and, in any case, it was to_ be paid
0150K35 at some future date which was not specified. ^In the ten years since
0160K35 he had lost his ancestral fields, Ramsa still had not received the
0170K35 money. $^*Ramsa did not himself believe that the tenancy law had improved
0180K35 the lot of the tenants. ^Their new landlord was the state, which
0190K35 meant its numerous officials were mainly townspeople who could not
0200K35 be expected to_ be as sympathetic towards the villagers as people like
0210K35 himself who always had to_ live among them. ^Besides, many of the officials
0220K35 were corrupt and looked upon the ignorant villagers as fair game
0230K35 for their malpractices. ^His own relations with his tenants and indeed
0240K35 with the other villagers had always been fairly amicable and many
0250K35 of them had continued to_ bring their troubles to him just as they
0260K35 used to_ before the new law had come into force. $^At the time of
0270K35 the border war with China, a dozen or so had gathered one evening
0280K35 in his frontyard. "^What*'3re we going to_ do at the meeting called
0290K35 for tomorrow?" one of them asked. $^*Ramsa Patil knew exactly what
0300K35 they had in mind, but chose to_ pretend he didn*'4t. "^They*'3re
0310K35 collecting a fund for the war," he said. "^We must all go-- pay whatever
0320K35 we can to the fund." $"^Fund for the Deputy *4saab*'s daughter*'s
0330K35 dowry?" someone questioned. $"^There was a titter of laughter. ^The Deputy
0340K35 Collector, a man called Godambi, was reputed to_ be the most corrupt
0350K35 official the district had ever seen. "^Half the money will disappear,"
0360K35 someone said. $"^Half! ^Huh! ^Not a pice will reach the fund." $^For
0370K35 a time they talked about instances of official graft before Ramsa Patil
0380K35 came out with the plan he had thought out. "^It*'1s a public meeting,"
0390K35 he explained. "^There*'3ll be many people present. ^If, in the presence
0400K35 of everyone, we ask for receipts for what we pay, then our money
0410K35 will not go into anyone*'s pocket." $^Some of them had been doubtful
0420K35 about the efficacy of the plan but had agreed to_ go along with
0430K35 it-- and that_ was what they had done at the meeting. ^*Ramsa had announced
0440K35 that he was going to_ contribute a hundred rupees to the fund and,
0450K35 when he was called to the platform to_ pay it, he had shocked the
0460K35 officials by demanding a receipt. ^After a little whispered consultation,
0470K35 one of the men on the dais had come out with the explanation that
0480K35 the receipt books had not been received from the printers. $"^We*'3ll
0490K35 accept temporary receipts," Ramsa had said within everyone*'s
0500K35 hearing. "^Or we*'3ll announce our contributions now and pay them
0510K35 when the receipt books become available." $^The stratagem had worked.
0520K35 ^Every *4rupee that_ was paid had been receipted for. ^But Godambi
0530K35 had never forgiven Ramsa Patil for what he often spoke of as a "slur"
0540K35 on his character. $*3^THREE*0 years later there had been another
0550K35 war; this time with Pakistan. ^But by that_ time Ramsa Patil had
0560K35 no money to_ give to any fund and had not even attended the fund-raising
0570K35 meeting. ^Later that_ same week, one of his former tenants, Ayappa,
0580K35 had come to him to_ ask for a loan. $"^But, Ayyu," Ramsa told
0590K35 him, "^I have no money. ^*I*'3m as poor as you are." $"^But there*'1s
0600K35 no one else I can ask for money from, Patil-baba. $"^That_
0610K35 too was true, but so was the fact that Patil-baba did not
0620K35 even have ten *4rupees in the house. ^*Ayappa needed four hundred. $"^They
0630K35 say they*'3ll do the operation free. ^The money is needed for going
0640K35 and coming-- and staying there, and for the medicines." $"^Yes, you*'3ll
0650K35 need all of four hundred," Ramsa agreed. "^Possibly more." $^*Ayappa
0660K35 had cancer of the tongue and spoke with a pronounced slur. ^He
0670K35 had been advised by the District Medical Officer to_ go to vellore
0680K35 for an operation. ^*Vellore was a whole day*'s journey by train.
0690K35 $^Everyone in the village knew that Ayappa was a good and hardworking
0700K35 farmer, but had been dogged by bad luck. ^Within a year of becoming
0710K35 the owner of the field which he and his forebears had tilled for the
0720K35 Patil family, his wife had been gored by a bullock. ^The wound had gone
0730K35 septic and she had suffered agonies for months before she had died.
0740K35 ^Afterwards, many people said how her life might have been saved
0750K35 if she had been removed to a good hospital in time. ^Now it was Ayappa
0760K35 who had been told by the \0DMO that he would die unless he went
0770K35 to the hospital at Vellore. $^*Ramsa Patil, nagged by the guilt
0780K35 of the healthy in the presence of the stricken, smiled encouragingly
0790K35 at Ayappa*'s seven-year-old son, Shiva, who squatted beside
0800K35 his father, adding the appeal of his staring black eyes to_ move the
0810K35 heart of the village godfather. "^And even if you did get the money
0820K35 from someone," Ramsa asked, "how could you go? ^Where will you leave
0830K35 the boy?" $"^With Bai," Ayappa answered without hesitation, and
0840K35 pointed to the inner door. "^From the time of my grandfather and before,
0850K35 you have always looked after us, Patil-baba. $^*Ramsa*'s
0860K35 wife was known as Bai as Ramsa was known as "Patil-baba".
0870K35 ^*Bai brought out two brass cups of water and two small
0880K35 lumps of jaggery and placed them before Ayappa and his son. ^*Ayappa surreptitiously
0890K35 passed on his jaggery to his son. $"^In this house,"
0900K35 Ramsa said with a forced laugh, "I can hardly feed my own two boys
0910K35 and Bai. ^You forget that now, after the new law, I*'3m just as poor
0920K35 as any of you, Ayyu." $"^No," Ayappa shook his head. "^You have this
0930K35 house, your cattle, the pots and pans in the house. ^To me you*'3re
0940K35 a rich man. ^*I have nothing." $"^But no money, Ayyu. ^If I
0950K35 had any, I*'1d never say no. ^You know that_." $^After that_ no one
0960K35 spoke. ^*Ayappa and his son sat for a while and left. ^*Ramsa came out
0970K35 with them and leaned over the low mud wall that_ separated his house
0980K35 from the field that_ was no longer his. ^He could see a longish stretch
0990K35 of the path before it disappeared into the trees. ^From the back,
1000K35 Ayappa and his son looked strangely like a photograph he had seen
1010K35 of Gandhi and a young girl, and because he knew that if he went on
1020K35 staring at them his eyes would begin to_ water, he turned and walked
1030K35 into the house. "^*Ayyu and I played as children in that_ field," he
1040K35 said to his wife. "^We used to_ catch crabs." $"^You played with
1050K35 all the people in the village as children," she reminded him. $"^But this
1060K35 one especially," he answered, slightly hurt by her indifference.
1070K35 ^As though in self-justification, he added, "I don*'4t know anything
1080K35 about why people make laws, taking from some and giving to others.
1090K35 ^But I can tell you this. ^If the lands had still been mine to_ sell,
1100K35 this would never have happened. ^*I*'1d have mortgaged or sold a
1110K35 field to_ raise the four hundred. ^It*'1s just that now-- now there*'1s
1120K35 nothing to_ sell." $"^What about these," his wife asked, thrusting
1130K35 out her wrists before him. ^Each had a thin gold bangle on it. ^Tears
1140K35 suddenly welled in Ramsa*'s eyes, and to_ hide his embarrassment
1150K35 he ran out of the house, yelling, "Ayyu! ^*Ayyu, come back. ^*Ayyu!"
1160K35 $*3^TWO*0 days later, Ayappa went to Vellore. ^During the next
1170K35 two weeks, two postcards came from Vellore, almost certainly written
1180K35 by a nurse because they were in English. ^*Ramsa had to_ take them
1190K35 to the village schoolmaster to_ be read. ^The first said that they
1200K35 were not going to_ operate but hold him for observation, and the second
1210K35 that they had decided to_ operate. ^After that there was no news and
1220K35 because even after two months there was still no news, they surmised
1230K35 that Ayappa had died. $^Before going, Ayappa had entrusted his field
1240K35 to a man from another village and thus had created what the law regarded
1250K35 as a "tenancy". ^The result was that, after he had cultivated
1260K35 the field for two seasons, the new tenant was able to_ persuade the village
1270K35 Revenue Assistant to_ put his name down in the records as the
1280K35 real tiller and hence the owner of the field. $^*Shiva, Ayappa*'s
1290K35 son, had nothing. ^He had become an inmate of Ramsa Patil*'s house.
1300K35 ^*Ramsa did not send him to school because he needed his help in the
1310K35 house, but then he had not been able to_ send his own younger son to
1320K35 school either. ^*Shiva lived as the two Patil boys did, ate the same
1330K35 food, slept on a blanket on the floor in the back verandah and took
1340K35 his turn at milking the buffaloes. $^IN 1969, the elder of Ramsa
1350K35 Patil*'s sons, the one who had gone to school, joined the army.
1360K35 ^Two years later, there was another war with Pakistan. ^In the fighting
1370K35 near Khemkaran, Ramsa*'s son was killed. $^The news had come
1380K35 in a telegram which, a week later, was followed by a cyclostyled communication
1390K35 in English signed by some official or the other. $^For three
1400K35 days after the telegram, Ramsa had not come out of his house even
1410K35 though every single man in the village had come and sat in the courtyard
1420K35 in front of it for the customary half-hour to_ show how sorry
1430K35 he was. ^From the fourth day onwards, he had gone about his chores
1440K35 as though nothing had happened, but for several weeks, he could be
1450K35 seen stopping in the middle of whatever he was doing, as though he
1460K35 heard someone calling out his name, and to_ stand gazing at the rise
1470K35 in the hill where the path snaked towards the railway station. $^But
1480K35 he had got over it quite soon. ^The buffaloes were his living and
1490K35 had to_ be milked and watered and bathed; their sheds swept, their troughs
1500K35 filled with fresh hay. ^And there was his house where a lamp was
1510K35 lit every night and a cooking fire burned, and there was his wife
1520K35 and his son Bahiru and the boy Shiva who now belonged to his family.
1530K35 ^It was enough, something to_ be thankful for in a world of shifting
1540K35 values. $*3^THAT_*0 was how it was till 1974. ^Eight years had
1550K35 passed since Ramsa Patil*'s wife had sold her gold bangles to_ be
1560K35 able to_ send an ex-tenant to_ be treated in a hospital. ^*Ramsa had
1570K35 not been able to_ buy back the bangles. ^During those eight years, the
1580K35 country had made vast strides towards true socialism. ^New laws had
1590K35 been passed, laws which were designed to_ protect the interests of
1600K35 the poor and the exploited, including a law about which Patil knew
1610K35 nothing. ^It was called the Bonded Labourers*' Freedom Act.
1620K35 $^*Deputy Collector Godambi had now become the Collector, and thus
1630K35 the head of the district. ^He was close to retirement and it was said
1640K35 that he had given up taking bribes because he was desperately trying
1650K35 to_ get an extension of his tenure. ^His reputation had been such
1660K35 that the Chief Minister had indicated that there was little hope
1670K35 of his request being granted. $^One day, as the Revenue Clerk from
1680K35 Ramsa Patil*'s village had come to the district town, the Collector
1690K35 casually asked him: "^*What about that_ mischief-maker of
1691K35 yours?*#
        **[no. of words = 02029**]

        **[txt. k36**]
0010K36 **<*3FREEDOM LOST*0**> $*3^BEHIND*0 the leafy trees, the
0020K36 sombre grey of the sky had started turning bright. ^The yellow walls
0030K36 of the houses across the road still lay steeped in darkness. ^The
0040K36 yellow leaves lying on the tarred surface of the road and the
0050K36 lines of sand which had criss-crossed into weird patterns owing to
0060K36 gusts of wind had started assuming a clearer shape. ^Insects had
0070K36 come out on the branches, looking for food. ^Somewhere a swallow twittered.
0080K36 $^*Nandu took a deep breath, filling his lungs with the
0090K36 fresh morning air. ^The hoof-beats of the carriage horse that_ had
0100K36 brought Nandu here died in the air elusive like a horrid dream.
0110K36 ^Pulling out the tarpaulin from under him, he smoothed out its edges.
0120K36 ^He felt fine. ^There was the firm earth under him, the
0130K36 vaulting sky above and a gentle breeze stirring against his cheeks.
0140K36 ^There was nothing to_ disturb the harmony of these blissful moments--
0150K36 no discordant note, no Khudabuksh, no Seth Sant Ram, no Jalaludin,
0160K36 no Chamru, the carriage driver, and no \0Dr. Chand Ram
0170K36 either. ^For a moment he seemed to_ be unaware of his own existence.
0180K36 $^The image that_ he still carried with him, embedded in some
0190K36 remote recesses of his mind, was that_ of the child Nand Kumar,
0200K36 whom his father had beaten, for he had asked for *4roti. ^His mother
0210K36 , sitting under the dim light of a kerosene lamp by the side of a
0220K36 cold hearth, had watched him being thrashed, while a cockroach
0230K36 slowly crawled across the mud-plastered wall of the hut towards a lizard.
0240K36 ^Then the child had lain down on the bare floor and kept turning
0250K36 in his mind the snatches of conversation between his father and
0260K36 mother. $"^Why didn*'4t you give Nandu *4roti?" $"^There was no
0270K36 flour in the house." $"^Why didn*'4t you tell me that the flour was
0280K36 finished?" $"^But I did. ^*I told you in the morning." $"^Trying
0290K36 to_ bandy words with me, eh?" $*3^FATHER*0 drew near mother
0300K36 with a menacing step. ^She was a strong, loose-limbed woman.
0310K36 ^Father was short and thin, with six toes on one of his feet. ^But
0320K36 mother was always scared of him. ^She watched him warily as he stood
0330K36 there drunk, tense with rage. $^He gave her two blows and fell back,
0340K36 muttering, "how dare you bandy words with me!" $^On the wall
0350K36 the cockroach had almost disappeared into the mouth of the lizard.
0360K36 ^Lying on the floor, Nand Kumar saw that mother had again sat down
0370K36 by the side of the hearth, hiding her face with her hands, while father
0380K36 stood at the door glaring at mother. ^Then he disappeared through
0390K36 the door. $^Lying on the bare floor, Nandu tried to_ sleep, but
0400K36 something kept gnawing at the pit of his stomach, driving sleep away.
0410K36 ^He was always afraid of his father and mother and tried to_ keep
0420K36 out of their sight. $*3^*NANDU*0 had a very hazy memory of what
0430K36 happened afterwards. ^The only thing he remembered was that he had
0440K36 found himself on a road, flanked by trees laden with red flaming flowers.
0450K36 ^Then his tiny foot had struck a stone, drawing a blob of red
0460K36 on his toe. ^It hurt. ^He had sat down on the road and putting
0470K36 his foot in his lap he had held his toe under his gaze and had felt
0480K36 like crying at the sight of blood. ^But he had left his mother behind
0490K36 in the hut. ^She was too far away to_ hear him crying. ^He
0500K36 wiped away his tears and resumed walking. $^He kept walking till the
0510K36 sun became too hot for him to_ bear. ^Where the road would lead
0520K36 him Nandu did not know. ^But he kept walking. ^The overnight
0530K36 hunger had become a torment. ^The shops along the road had started
0540K36 opening. ^They were taking out the merchandise and putting it out on
0550K36 display. $^Then he saw a man sitting on a cot, eating *4puris, and
0560K36 he stopped to_ watch him. ^He had a plate before him, filled with
0570K36 potato curry, and another leaf-plate heaped with *4puris. ^The
0580K36 smell wafted to him over the breeze. ^*Nandu did not have the courage
0590K36 to_ step forward. ^He just stood there, fascinated by watching the
0600K36 plate of *4puris. $^The man took a cursory look at Nandu. ^Then he
0610K36 suddenly stopped munching, surveyed Nandu from head to foot and smiled.
0620K36 $^The man*'s red moustache and big fierce eyes struck fear in Nandu*'s
0630K36 heart. ^He wanted to_ walk off but the sight of *4puris seemed to_
0640K36 have shackled his feet. ^If his mother had been there she would have
0650K36 dragged him away. ^But mother was not there. ^*Nandu stood there
0660K36 watching. $^The man with the red moustache raised his head and
0670K36 looked at Nandu. ^He tore off a piece of the *4puri and leisurely
0680K36 put it into his mouth. ^He again looked at Nandu. "^Hungry, eh?
0690K36 ^Want to_ have a bite?" $^*Nandu nodded his head. ^Within
0700K36 two minutes a leaf-plate was before Nandu. ^The plate contained two
0710K36 *4puris and potato curry. ^As to when he started eating, when the
0720K36 *4puris vanished and when he started licking his fingers-- Nandu
0730K36 remembered nothing. $^The man with the red moustache looked around
0740K36 and smiled at Nandu indulgently. ^*Nandu made to_ go. $"^Where
0750K36 are you off to?" $^*Nandu turned round and looked at the man.
0760K36 ^He was no longer afraid of him. "^*I don*'4t know," he said.
0770K36 $"^Where do you live?" $"^*I don*'4t know." $"^Where*'1s
0780K36 your mother? ^Your father?" $"^*I don*4't know." $^The man
0790K36 suddenly got to his feet. ^In one breath he gulped down the glass
0800K36 of buttermilk he had been holding in his hand. ^Handing back the glass
0810K36 to the shop-boy he advaced towards Nandu. *5^Bap re!*6 ^How
0820K36 hefty and powerful he looked. ^And he was no longer smiling.
0830K36 $^*Nandu never got a chace to_ think. ^He found his tiny palm tightly
0840K36 held in the man*'s gnarled, rough hand. $*3^AFTER*0 that_
0850K36 Nandu had only a vague memory of a hazy procession of disjoined pictures.
0860K36 ^The man*'s eyes, he remembered, were so fierce that they
0870K36 could have ripped him apart. ^*Nandu had felt terribly scared of him.
0880K36 ^But he had lacked the strength to_ release his tiny hand from his
0890K36 powerful grip. ^Then there was a hut and a woman who was not his mother.
0900K36 ^And a night, dark and unending. ^A carriage moving on an
0910K36 iron track with an engine in front of it, belching smoke. ^*Nandu
0920K36 lay huddled in a corner of the crowded carriage, the woman who was
0930K36 not his mother by his side. ^She had shifty eyes and a cunning smile.
0940K36 ^And then, after much travelling, eating and sleeping, a railway
0950K36 station, a town, a *4tonga, and a house (which was not his house).
0960K36 $^No, not a house, but a large hall, packed with small boys. ^Dark,
0970K36 dank and eerie, it seemed to_ have doors, but no windows and no
0980K36 corners. ^Only eyes turned upon him-- eyes watching him, peering
0990K36 at him, glaring at him. ^And hands and legs galore. ^And the whip.....
1000K36 its lacerating sharpness cutting through the shirt, over the skin,
1010K36 down to the bare bones. ^When the thick, nailed shoe mounted the
1020K36 thigh an agonized shriek swept over the mind like thick fog, and
1030K36 the teeth bit into the tongue, filling the mouth with blood. ^The
1040K36 thud of a heavy blow on the jaw flashed like lightning from one end of
1050K36 the brain to the other, making the eyes, ears and the nose a red
1060K36 blob of jelly. ^There was no escape from them. ^How calm and
1070K36 peaceful it was outside the hall. ^One could breathe there freely
1080K36 in spite of the sun, the sweat and the dust. ^One had only to_ walk
1090K36 behind a woman as if he were her son, asking passers-by for a *4paisa.
1100K36 "^*Babu, one *4paisa. "^*Babu, one *4paisa to_ buy food
1110K36 with." ^If his attention was distracted by the child astride the
1120K36 woman*'s hip and forgot to_ whine for a *4paisa, a resounding slap
1130K36 from the woman he was walking behind fell upon his cheek. "^A *4paisa!"
1140K36 he whined again. "^*Babu, a *4paisa!" $^It*'1s not Nandu*'s
1150K36 town. ^It*'1s some other unknown place. ^If an inmate of the
1160K36 hall makes a bid to_ escape he is given a severe beating. ^He has seen
1170K36 what happened to his companions when caught in the futile attempt.
1180K36 ^But where will Nandu go even if he escapes? ^He doesn*4't even
1190K36 know the name of his town and the location of his house. $*3^THIS
1200K36 *0 was many years before. ^How many years Nandu does not clearly
1210K36 remember. ^For that_ matter he does not even know his age. ^May be
1220K36 he is 20, or 25. ^He could even be 30. ^With the return of winter
1230K36 or summer he would realise that another year had gone by. ^The
1240K36 period between when he came here as a child and the present day was
1250K36 so long that, for an illiterate man like him, it was impossible to_
1260K36 keep track of. ^What really mattered to him were the few men who
1270K36 directly impinged upon his life. ^Every fibre of his body recognised
1280K36 them. ^He knew them so well that in their presence his tongue
1290K36 stuck to his palate, his mind stopped thinking and his limbs became
1300K36 dead like wood. ^If only he could shrink into a small creature
1310K36 and wriggle out through a crevice in the door. $^There was Khudabuksh,
1320K36 the man with the red moustache and fierce eyes, who had regaled
1330K36 Nandu with *4puris at the sweetmeat shop and then, holding his hand,
1340K36 had brought him to this God-forsaken place. ^He never missed an
1350K36 opportunity to_ cane any child who failed to_ beg his alloted quota
1360K36 of alms or was suspected of hiding money. ^They urinated out
1370K36 of fright on seeing the cane trembling in his hand. ^In that_
1380K36 dungeon-like hall, the smell of urine mixed with the smell of sweat
1390K36 produced such a stench that it became impossible to_ stay there even
1400K36 for a minute. ^The children wished that Khudabuksh would have a
1410K36 stroke of paralysis so that he could not lift the cane or put a morsel
1420K36 of food in his mouth. ^But their curses had no effect on him; rather,
1430K36 they seemed to_ do him good. ^He never fell ill, his limbs remained
1440K36 healthy and whole. ^He didn*4't even know what stomach-ache was.
1450K36 $*3^HOW*0 he wished that Kalu drowned in the big black cauldron
1460K36 in which he cooked *4dal for them. ^He would have loved to_ duck
1470K36 Kalu*'s head into the *4dal gruel till the grains of *4dal and
1480K36 the stone chips clogged his nostrils, suffocating him to death.
1490K36 ^The kind of *4dal that_ Kalu cooked was not found anywhere in the
1500K36 world. ^And those half-baked *4chapatis. ^Even criminals who
1510K36 were lodged in jail had a better deal. $^He had equal abhorrence
1520K36 for Jalaluddin, who always carried a *4lathi, and Chamru, the carriage
1530K36 driver, and wished that they would come to a sad end. ^How nice
1540K36 if their carriage fell into a ditch and their skulls split open
1550K36 under its wheels! ^Nobody had been able to_ keep count of the number
1560K36 of children Jalaluddin had beaten with his *4lathi, broken the
1570K36 bones of or forced into delivering packets of contraband at unknown
1580K36 addresses. ^When caught by the police, Jalaluddin shamelessly
1590K36 disowned them and they were left to_ fend for themselves, generally
1600K36 ending in jail. ^Every morning, as the dawn broke, Chamru drove
1610K36 the children and others to their respective places of begging. ^He
1620K36 was very harsh on them but kind to the horse. ^He showed his love
1630K36 for the horse by indulging with him in baby-talk-- the animal assisted
1640K36 him in his job. $^And of all persons, how could he ever forget \0Dr.
1650K36 Chand Ram? ^The doctor would have easily got a place at the head
1660K36 of a procession of the ignominious and the damned. ^His old and
1670K36 weather-beaten bag was crammed with surgical instruments with which he
1680K36 deformed healthy children. ^Every Saturday night he came with his
1690K36 bag and stationed himself in a small room, no bigger than a cubby-hole
1700K36 where he did his job.*#
        **[no. of words = 02013**]

        **[txt. k37**]
0010K37 **<*3CRUCIFY ME*0**> $"*3^*I SUPPOSE*0 you*'3re in college," he said.
0020K37 ^He supposed wrong. ^*I had left college a year ago and had been
0030K37 working since. ^His exaggerated British accent gave me quite a shock.
0040K37 ^But then he was a bit of a shock altogether, waist too narrow, shirt
0050K37 too pink and ruffled, hair too Afro. ^*I can tell you he
0060K37 looked a sight in a Delhi drawing room. ^Maybe he looked all right
0070K37 in London, though what a brown man would want to_ live in London
0080K37 for these days I wouldn*'4t know. $"^*I finished college last year,"
0090K37 I told him. $"^Oh reallah? **[sic**] ^*I should never have thought
0091K37 it."
0100K37 $^*I was about to_ make a getaway. ^Two minutes of him was an overdose.
0110K37 ^But Mummy was looking at me across the room with her jaw set, as
0120K37 she looked when the servants passed things wrong and she had to_ convey
0130K37 it to them without a word. ^*London-returned Satish would have to_
0140K37 be put up with for appearance sake a bit longer. $"^*I meant you
0150K37 look so frightfullah young," he said. $^Well, it wasn*'4t all that_
0160K37 distance from seventeen or whatever he thought I was to twenty.
0170K37 ^And he probably didn*'4t even know, having been in England so many
0180K37 years, that in *3this*0 country we finish college at nineteen.
0190K37 ^*I told him my age. $"^Oh reallah!" **[sic**] $^More of this and I
0191K37 leave, mother
0200K37 or no mother across the room. ^*God, how pointless these parties
0210K37 to_ be shown off were, the fourth this month. ^At this time of year
0220K37 there seemed to_ be a flood of eligibles Returned from wherever
0230K37 they had been-- England, Canada, America. ^*I had been shown to
0240K37 a doctor, an engineer and a bank apprentice so far, all of whom
0250K37 were going back to_ jobs in the United States, maybe to_ settle. ^And
0260K37 now this. ^My aunt Kamala, whose party this was, thought him a catch
0270K37 with an industrialist father, an Oxford degree, and
0280K37 Prospects. ^And what my aunt thought, my mother thought. $"^Are
0290K37 you back for good," I asked, "or are you planning to_ go back to England?"
0300K37 $^Not that I cared. $^He didn*'4t know. ^He*'d come back
0310K37 to_ look round reallah, **[sic**] to_ get the feel of things after
0311K37 years away
0320K37 at school and university abroad. ^And now he found he felt a simply
0330K37 tremendous kinship with the Left in this country. ^There were so many
0340K37 Lefts here, I wondered which. $"^Not the Communist Party,"
0350K37 he explained, "I mean the Government." $^And with the elections
0360K37 coming he*'d decided to_ stay on for a while and work for the Government
0370K37 campaign, and then decide finally what he wanted to_ do. $^*I
0380K37 had seen some electioneering. ^Aunt Kamala*'s husband belonged
0390K37 to the new breed of committed civil servant, very popular with his political
0400K37 bosses, and my aunt, furiously political-minded, had volunteered
0410K37 to_ help with the Government candidate*'s campaign in a constituency
0420K37 in Old Delhi. ^Where I*'d been it was all alleys and gutters
0430K37 and crammed buildings leaning across twisted lanes. ^But maybe
0440K37 England-returned Satish would electioneer beside the fountains
0450K37 and gardens of New Delhi. ^*I resisted asking him in what language.
0460K37 $^*Mummy was fidgety and discontented when we got home. ^She always
0470K37 was, after a party at Aunt Kamala*'s. $^She told Papa straightaway,
0480K37 "Kamala says if you write one more disgruntled article criticizing
0490K37 the Government, you*'3ll just have to_ retire like a nobody
0500K37 next year. ^No new job ahead, nothing. ^Look at the journalists who
0510K37 end up ambassadors." $"^*I don*'4t want to_ be an ambassador," said
0520K37 Papa reasonably, "I *3want*0 to_ retire. ^*I*'3ve been looking
0530K37 forward to_ retirement for years. ^*I want to_ write my book." $"^Oh,
0540K37 for heaven*'s sake. ^There are half a dozen wonderful possibilities,
0550K37 Kamala says, provided you don*'4t keep sticking your neck out, criticizing
0560K37 the Government." $"^Just think," continued Papa, playing deaf,
0570K37 "we have a house of our own now to_ move into when I retire. ^What
0580K37 could be more wonderful?" $"^We could get a big rent for it." $"^And
0590K37 live where ourselves?" he demanded. $"^You darling dimwit, Papa."
0600K37 ^*I bent over his chair to_ kiss his bald patch and put my cheek against
0610K37 it, cradling his face in my hands. "^You and Mummy would go abroad,
0620K37 of course, on a glorious dollar job that_ Aunt Kamala would
0630K37 arrange. ^Poor darling Papa." $"^Anyway, that_*'1s all beside the
0640K37 point," said Mummy restlessly, "First we have to_ see Munni settled.
0650K37 ^*Munni, how did you like Satish?" $^*I was looking for something
0660K37 tactful to_ say but I caught Papa*'s eye and we started to_ laugh
0670K37 hilariously. $*3^DON*'4T THINK *I*0 enjoy selling organza and
0680K37 brocade and gold-embroidered silks at prices per meter that_ a whole
0690K37 family could live on for a week. ^But the diplomats buy it, and the
0700K37 tourists. ^The boutique is very well known. ^*I wanted a job because
0710K37 it was hateful sitting at home doing nothing and this one fell into
0720K37 Mummy*'s approved category. ^So there I was next morning measuring
0730K37 the Italian ambassadress for a silk *4kaftan when Satish strolled
0740K37 in with a "hellaoh" **[sic**] and began a languid examination of
0741K37 the gifts
0750K37 counter. ^He looked even more amazing in the daytime. ^*Ramesh,
0760K37 the salesman who worked under me, couldn*'4t take his eyes off him.
0770K37 $"^*Ramesh," I said, louder the second time, "would you please fetch
0780K37 the order book?" $^*Ramesh came slowly to. ^But he was still dazed
0790K37 when he handed me the order book. $"^Is that_ how they look Over
0800K37 There?" he whispered. $"^How should I know? ^*I*'3ve never been."
0810K37 $"^But you move in Society," he insisted, "among the people who come and
0820K37 go." $^My protest stuck like a fishbone in my throat. ^Belonging
0830K37 to Society was one of the troubles with my life. $^*Satish waited for
0840K37 the customer to_ leave. ^He put down the miniature topaz-studded
0850K37 dagger he had been toying with and said, "^Your aunt told me I*'1d
0860K37 find you here. ^Charming little boutique. ^The fact is, I wonder
0870K37 if you*'1d care to_ join the group I*'3m going campaigning with
0880K37 this afternoon. ^Your aunt thought you might like it." $^With aunt
0890K37 playing destiny he must be a better catch than most. ^Maybe there*'1d
0900K37 be less dowry involved. ^Sometimes I wondered who was more cynical,
0910K37 Mummy or me. ^We both were-- she about money and getting somewhere,
0920K37 me about people. ^*I didn*'4t believe in a single person I knew.
0930K37 ^They were all alike, the successful ones I met, whether they were
0940K37 big businessmen or politicians. ^So alike, that I wondered why
0950K37 they were supposed to_ be enemies. ^Thick as thieves, they were. ^*Left
0960K37 or no Left. ^And all this mud-wash about socialism and the common
0970K37 man that_ the college crowd fell for was silliest of all when you
0980K37 could see for yourself what the politicians were up to. ^It just went
0990K37 to_ show that young people were as gullible as old ones. ^Everything
1000K37 was a mess and distilled twice over it still wouldn*'4t have
1010K37 made sense. "^A spiritual vacuum", Papa called it in his articles,
1020K37 a vacuum in which the wrong things got rewarded. ^That_*'1s why
1030K37 even if I had been old enough to_ vote I wouldn*'4t have known
1040K37 who for. ^And that_ was why there was no one I met whom I could
1050K37 remotely think of marrying. ^And nothing, absolutely nothing to_
1060K37 make me *3feel*0. ^There were days when I felt so paralysed I could
1070K37 have stuck pins into myself just to_ get a response, or begged my
1080K37 parents to_ nail me to the wall so I could *3feel*0. $^*Satish said
1090K37 warmly, "^D*'3you know your eyes are quite hazel in this light." $^To_
1100K37 prevent him travelling downward and noticing more, I quickly said
1110K37 I would take leave for the afternoon. $^At three o*'3clock I was
1120K37 in a jeep with Satish and two other men, grinding along to Old
1130K37 Delhi, Satish in the same kind of ruffled outfit. ^But it jarred
1140K37 me less. ^If you have ever known a post-winter afternoon in Delhi,
1150K37 you*'3ll understand why. ^No gaudy blossoming summer trees yet,
1160K37 and the heartbreaking beauty of winter all gone. ^This in-between
1170K37 magic depended only on the air. ^It was delicious as we drove,
1180K37 something *3clean*0 to_ identify with. ^*I forgot all about Satish
1190K37 until he spoke to one of the men. $"^By the way, what sort of constituency
1200K37 is this?" he asked. $"^Oh, crowded, urban, poor. ^Mostly small
1210K37 shop and stall keepers and vendors. ^But they*'3re very alert and
1220K37 political." $^Also, the man explained, this was a stronghold of a conservative
1230K37 Opposition party, implacable foe of Government. $"^You
1240K37 can*'4t reallah **[sic**] get anything done in a country like this as
1241K37 long as
1250K37 there*'1s an Opposition," observed Satish. $^*I forced myself to_
1260K37 keep quiet or I*'1d have said something rude, like telling him what
1270K37 I thought of Returned know-it-alls who saw India as shades of
1280K37 backwardness needing the heavy hand of Authority. $"^This election
1290K37 may do the trick," said the man, "wipe out the Opposition altogether.
1300K37 ^That_*'1s what we*'3re hoping. ^Then we can start getting things
1310K37 done." $"^Ideallah," **[sic**] commented Satish, "what*'1s
1311K37 required here
1320K37 is a period of dictatorship." $^That_ follow-the-fuehrer stuff turns
1330K37 my stomach and I had heard plenty of it at my aunt*'s commitment-and-cocktail
1340K37 parties. ^People without pity was what I thought of her
1350K37 guests, everyone of them a hard shiny showpiece, not the way ordinary
1360K37 people are. $^There must have been only three or four hundred collected
1370K37 for the meeting, nothing for a Delhi crowd, but they looked
1380K37 like more, mostly squatting jammed together on the bare ground,
1390K37 and the rest standing in tiers around the the squatters. ^No microphones
1400K37 were needed but there was one anyway to_ carry the meeting lanes
1410K37 and balconies away. $^The programme, as it turned out, was not
1420K37 going to_ be speeches at all. ^It was a short rehearsed skit in Hindi
1430K37 written by one of the men with us, a clever piece about the price
1440K37 rise and taxes and what the Government was going to_ do about them--
1450K37 and Satish had memorized his lines. ^His Hindi accent was as
1460K37 peculiar as his English one, but he could act, and the audience, expecting
1470K37 speeches, was happily surprised. ^*Satish got lots of laughs.
1480K37 ^It was quite a triumph for him. ^The three of them were so busy
1490K37 guessing how many votes they*'d cornered, and congratulating
1500K37 each other on the way home, they paid no attention to me. ^Then we were
1510K37 near my house and Satish asked if he could pick me up later for
1520KO7 dinner. ^The answer should have been I*'3ll have to_ ask my mother.
1530K37 ^But I knew very well how eager she was for me to_ like Satish.
1540K37 ^*I, on the other hand, didn*'4t want to_ have dinner with him.
1550K37 ^So I don*'4t know why I said yes. ^*I suppose I thought it
1560K37 would be better than a long evening at home, with Papa out of sight
1570K37 in his study and Mummy fussing. ^And what really decided me was
1580KT7 Satish saying he had something rather important to_ talk to me about.
1590K37 ^Let*'3s get it over with and him out of the picture, I thought.
1600K37 $^But when he came to_ pick me up, I couldn*'4t go. ^*I just couldn*'4t
1610K37 make myself. ^When I told him, we had a small tense scene
1620K37 that_ turned grim when Mummy butted in and apologized for my rudeness.
1630K37 ^*I burst into tears and ran out into the garden, and Satish drove
1640K37 away. $"^She*'1s becoming impossible," I heard Mummy says, **[sic**]
1650K37 "alienating every man she meets..." $^And patient Papa replying,
1660K37 "^Don*'4t force the pace, my dear, leave her alone..." $^*I fled
1670K37 further from their voices into the shadows behind the high hedge.
1680K37 ^He was standing there in our usual place. "^Hello," he said
1690K37 gently in the voice people trusted, and drew me to him, shielding me.
1700K37 ^He was wearing something rough and handspun. ^*I had never imagined
1710K37 his face clearly but I was sure it looked like many people-- faces
1720K37 I saw in crowds or passed in the street. ^He was somewhere very
1730K37 near if only I could meet him. ^And his hands could have felled a
1740K37 tree or comforted a cripple with equal grace. "you haven*'4t
1750K37 come for a long time," he said.*#
        **[no. of words = 02018**]

        **[txt. k38**]
0010K38 **<*3**<*3*2TIGER, TIGER*0**> $*3^IT WASN*'4T LATE,*0 but my wife
0020K38 and the children were already asleep. ^And even if it were late, I
0030K38 would still have gone out. ^*I had an urge to_ eat a *4paan.
0040K38 ^Of course there were *4paans and the makings at home, but at that_
0050K38 moment I wanted one from the shop. ^*I took care not to_ disturb
0060K38 the sleepers as I got my bike out and locked the door behind me
0070K38 as usual before I started. $^And then the night closed above my head.
0080K38 ^The dark I had vaguely sensed from inside the house became utterly
0090K38 real, I wore it right next to my skin. ^Just as well I was on
0100K38 the bike, my feet never touching the ground. ^Otherwise I might have
0110K38 got bogged down in the darkness flowing along the street, might
0120K38 have tossed on it helplessly. ^*I pushed at the pedals with a will
0130K38 as though some unknown terror stalked me on that_ all too familiar
0140K38 road. ^By now even this feeling had become all too familiar, but
0150K38 still the terror held me and made me push on faster and faster. ^But
0160K38 then I suddenly slowed down, thinking, who knows, that_ fear too
0170K38 may rush headlong after me. ^But nothing really happened so I
0180K38 was forced to_ go along as if indeed nothing much was happening. ^*I
0190K38 couldn*'4t even begin to_ understand why I was so afraid. ^All I
0200K38 understood and all I knew, was the dark, the thickly gathering darkness.
0210K38 ^Why was I afraid of the dark, I wondered. ^Then suddenly I
0220K38 thought I knew why I was afraid. ^*I had no shadow. ^*I had
0230K38 lost it. ^Nowhere was it to_ be seen. ^*I couldn*'4t bear to_ be
0240K38 without it. ^*I went faster and faster looking for it towards the edge
0250K38 of the city and the lights I could see there. ^And while concentrating
0260K38 on getting to my shadow I quite forgot that in the first place
0270K38 I had come out to_ eat a *4paan. ^For a long while my search for the
0280K38 lost shadow occupied my whole being. $^As I approached the outskirts
0290K38 of the city, the light from the *4paan shops crept nearer, reached
0300K38 my toes, lapped gently about me. ^My shadow slipped in behind me, so
0310K38 once again my urge for a *4paan stretched itself in my mind. ^Only
0320K38 three or four *4paan shops were open at that_ hour, and they too, quite
0330K38 deserted. ^*I stood before my usual man and he smiled, "^Here you
0340K38 are, then!" and started on my *4paan. ^He cut off the ends of the
0350K38 *4paans, sheared their veins and spread them with lime and *4kaath.
0360K38 ^There was an air about his gestures, a style, as though he were bestowing
0370K38 upon me a priceless rarity. ^Responding to it, I accepted the
0380K38 *4paan and slid it in my mouth with a flourish. ^After chewing and
0390K38 spitting out the juices I asked, "^And what did you put in that_,
0400K38 Radheshyam?" $"^But didn*'4t you like it?" $"^Some new tobacco?"
0410K38 $"^Something special for the late night customer who comes this
0420K38 far for my *4paan." $"^But what is it?" $"^How*'1s its taste?"
0430K38 $"^A bit rough, but nice." $"^Nice? ^It*'1s the best *4saab! ^Very
0440K38 special." $"^And what*'1s it called?" $"^Bed-breaker." $"^Hmm? ^Bed-breaker?
0450K38 ^That_*'1s a grand name!" $"^And a grand notion!" $^Soon I
0460K38 saw why he called it a grand notion. ^At first I felt a bit hot, sweated
0470K38 a bit, but then a strange ripple shimmered in my mind. ^It pleased
0480K38 me, soothed me, and-- suddenly I stopped short. ^My glance alighted
0490K38 and fixed itself on the edge of the road, some distance away. ^*I
0500K38 was a bit scared, but more startled. ^*I took it, at first, to_ be a
0510K38 large tabby. ^But that_ yellow colour, that_ black stripe. ^No. ^It was
0520K38 a tiger. ^No doubt. ^Instinctively I edged a little closer to Radheshyam.
0530K38 ^Asked him a little huskily, "^*Radhe what*'1s that_?" $"^That_?
0540K38 ^A tiger. ^Only a cub." $"^But still, a tiger." $"^'oh, he doesn*'4t
0550K38 do any harm." $"^Who does he belong to?" $"^Nobody. ^Tigers don*'4t
0560K38 belong to anybody. ^He just came along. ^He*'3ll sit here as long
0570K38 as it pleases him and then go on his way. ^Isn*'4t he splendid?"
0580K38 $"^Splendid, yes! ^But he is a tiger!" $"^That_ he is!" $"^You people
0590K38 aren*'4t afraid?" $"^Well of course we are! ^But what can one
0600K38 do? ^There*'1s the tiger, there*'1s the fear, and here*'1s me. ^Each
0610K38 in its place. ^You want another *4paan?" $^He started on it before
0620K38 I could say yes or no. $^*I was still staring at that_ yellow-black,
0630K38 powerful bundle, its coiled, suppressed motion and the fiery green
0640K38 eyes that_ advertised, shouted the still but fluid energy. ^*Radheshyam
0650K38 noticed my intent stare. ^He said, "^Go on *4saab! ^What*'1s
0660K38 there to_ stare at? ^It*'1s just a tiger. ^Like any other tig
0670K38 er. ^Just a small kitten, really. ^You want him? ^Take him!" $"^Oh!
0680K38 no, no!" $"^You really are scared, aren*'4t you! ^You take this
0690K38 *4paan now. ^Chew it right through. ^Then you wont be afraid of anything.
0700K38 ^You*'3ll see!" $^*I shoved the *4paan in my mouth and began
0710K38 quietly chewing it. $"^Well, you go on now. ^There*'1s no danger.
0720K38 ^No need to_ be afraid. ^He*'1s as scared of you as you are of
0730K38 him." $^As Radheshyam waxed eloquent I lapsed into silence. ^All desire
0740K38 to_ talk left me. ^Without a word I turned the bike homeward.
0750K38 ^There was now a real terror pushing me on, a terrror much vaster
0760K38 than the fear of the dark which had pursued me on the way out.
0770K38 ^This terror had swallowed up that_ one like a serious fever does a
0780K38 cold. ^Yes, exactly like a fever. ^Feverishly I pushed and pedalled
0790K38 at top speed. ^*I saw neither the night, nor the dark, nor anything
0800K38 else. ^Like the bicycle I too had become insensate. $^*I got
0810K38 home; unlocked the door, wheeled the bike in, and locked the door
0820K38 behind me. ^And only then did I realise this last *4paan of Radheshyam*'s
0830K38 had a special flavour. ^Relieved, at last I put the light
0840K38 on, began to_ enjoy it-- the light of my home. ^And suddenly stopped
0850K38 short. ^There, right next to me stood that_ compact little tiger. ^*I
0860K38 never even knew how he had slipped in. ^Not that it mattered now.
0870K38 ^There was the tiger. ^In my house, standing next to me. ^How was it
0880K38 I didn*'4t shout? ^Or did I? ^Who knows? ^*I turned towards
0890K38 the bedroom. ^Perhaps I thought first of saving my wife and children.
0800K38 ^*I say 'perhaps' because I had no real idea of what was happening,
0910K38 what I should do. ^*I was not thinking any more. ^*I was only acting.
0920K38 $^As I put my foot in the bedroom, the animal was there before
0930K38 me. ^*I couldn*'4t make out when and how he moved. ^*I was breathing
0940K38 fast. ^He stood there looking quietly at my children, my wife.
0950K38 ^Would he growl now, or straightaway jump? ^But he did neither. ^*I
0960K38 thought he stood and looked on them as one looks at a sleeping baby.
0970K38 ^Before I knew he had left the bedroom, returned to the other
0980K38 room. ^*I followed him. ^Then he began to_ growl in his throat. ^Growling,
0990K38 he edged away from me. ^*I realized that he had seen our cat and
1000K38 he was now angry. ^His whiskers stood on end, his hackles were raised,
1010K38 his eyes shone like fire and his growls deepened. ^It looked as
1020K38 though he would pounce on her any moment. ^She sat bunched up on a narrow
1030K38 beam. ^*I stared at both their stances with stone cold eyes. ^And
1040K38 just then the cat jumped and scuttled out through the skylight. ^He
1050K38 seemed confused, upset when she disappeared. ^*I quickly shut my
1060K38 eyes tight. $^When I opened them again, he was standing at the door
1070K38 facing out, lashing his tail. ^*I shivered. ^Each lash of his tail seemed
1080K38 to_ leave black and yellow welts in my back. ^How long was he going
1090K38 to_ stand there? ^How much longer could I bear this? ^Finally I
1100K38 gathered all my courage, or maybe I could stand the tension no
1110K38 longer, and I said, "^*I don*'4t mind your coming, but now you*'d
1120K38 better go. ^You didn*'4t do anything to annoy me. ^You even looked
1130K38 kindly upon my wife and children. ^*I don*'4t know why you don*'4t
1140KL8 like the cat, but whatever it is, it*'1s better that you go now."
1150K38 ^And I leaned across him and opened the door. $^He left. ^*I shut
1160K38 the door quickly, switched off the light and stood by the window,
1170K38 quite humbled. ^Relieved to_ be breathing in the fresh air from
1180K38 the window. ^The breeze soon blew away a suggestion of tiger-smell.
1190K38 ^Should I wake up the others and tell them? ^Oh! ^What*'1s the use?
1200K38 ^They slept on while the tiger stood right next to them. ^There
1210K38 was hardly any point in waking them up after he had left. ^In the
1220K38 morning again I thought of telling them but gave it up. ^There was
1230K38 no sense in telling them all this. ^No way of making them understand.
1240K38 ^They wouldn*'4t have believed me. ^Might have laughed at me.
1250K38 ^My experience would have got glossed over with irony. ^There was
1260K38 no proof at all. ^He had left no traces. ^His smell had blown away.
1270K38 ^Even that_ *4paan on my lips had faded. ^Even if I could show its
1280K38 red it wouldn*'4t have mattered, my lips were always *(paan-red*)
1290K38 anyway. ^There was no way I could tell that the colour of that_
1300K38 one *4paan was different from any other. ^The tiger was an experience
1310K38 utterly mine. ^Only mine. ^*I couldn*'4t share it with others. ^*I
1320K38 had not moved far enough from it. ^*I had to_ keep it to myself for
1330K38 a while yet. ^It must travel away from me before it could reach others.
1340K38 ^*I had to_ make it known to my near ones, but the tiger too had
1350K38 grown close to me now. ^*I needed time to_ see who was near and who
1360K38 far. ^*I did not want to_ pester those near me with my proximity. ^*I
1370K38 wanted just to_ be near. $^Then for a long time I did not go to
1380K38 Radheshyam*'s shop for a *4paan. ^And then one night again I got
1390K38 the yen to_ go to him. ^*I had to_ go there that_ night come what may.
1400K38 ^When I started out I thought, just as well I had said nothing
1410K38 to my wife about the last time. ^Then there would have been endless
1420K38 trouble about my going out again. ^Not that that_ would have stopped
1430K38 me. ^*I had profited by my policy of silence. ^Of course I hadn*'4t
1440K38 kept quiet thinking of that_, but it had all worked out to my
1450K38 advantage anyhow. ^*I got out when all the family were deep in sleep
1460K38 and this time I took along the flash-light, but as I got out and
1470K38 locked the door behind me I realized that it really wasn*'4t
1480K38 needed. ^The night was brightly mooonlit. ^*I could see the road clearly.
1490K38 ^*I went pretty fast: ^Though I could see clearly, I didn*'4t
1500K38 look for anything. ^*I didn*'4t even think of anything in particular.
1510K38 ^Soon enough I was at Radheshyam*'s shop. $^And I regretted
1520K38 it immediately. *^Radheshyam didn*'4t greet me. ^He was in no state
1530K38 to_. ^He was drunk. ^And all the other *4paanwallas were drunk
1540K38 too. ^They all smelt rankly of the liquor. ^Couldn*'4t be bothered
1550K38 about anything. ^Made up the *4paans somehow, anyhow, and shoved
1560K38 them in the customers*' hands. ^Garbled something obscene to the
1570K38 others, mumbled disjointed sentences. ^That_ senseless talk, those
1580K38 meaningless gestures, that_ rank smell-- I could hardly bear to_ stand
1590K38 before the shop. ^*I stared around while I waited for the *4paan.
1600K38 ^Searched the place where I had last seen the tiger. $*3^THERE WAS
1610K38 NO TIGER.*0 ^*I felt, maybe, there*'1s tiger-smell somewhere. ^But
1620K38 even if there were, it had got lost in the rotten liquor smell. ^*I
1630K38 certainly didn*'4t see the tiger. ^*I put the money in Radheshyam*'s
1640K38 hand. ^He managed somehow to_ take it and push the two *4paans
1650K38 at me.*#
        **[no. of words = 02011**]

        **[txt. k39**]
0010K39 **<*3MISFIT AMIDST A MIDDLE CLASS MUDDLE*0**>
0020K39 $*3^ME.*0 $^With a postgraduate grin on my lips for a greeting, nervous
0030K39 fingers casually concealed in the gaping pockets of my blue corduroy
0040K39 trousers. ^A Penguin classics edition of Gide*'s "^The Immoralist"
0050K39 dangles underarm whilst sweat streaks congeal at the corners of
0060K39 my mouth. ^Unread as yet. $^Behold the intellectual beyond compare,
0070K39 the poet extraodinaire. $^Me. ^The nobody in the system.
0080K39 $^Middle-class means self mockery. $^So we look at each other and say
0090K39 "Hi", mechanically making our wayward pilgrimage to college classroms
0100K39 and the cheerless open-windowed atmosphere of lectures. ^Till I
0110K39 wondered about her. ^Is she beautiful? $^*Shobha has the best
0120K39 things in life, riches and expensive, sober clothes. ^And she*'1s
0130K39 good to me. ^Her folks are broad-minded traditionalists-- the kind
0140K39 with ready gestures and sweet words always in their aristocratic mouths.
0150K39 ^But an unfailing apprehension of changing norms resides within
0160K39 them, lurking suspiciously behind the doorways of their eyes. ^By kind
0170K39 permission of fate, we are friends. $^You did your schooling at
0180K39 Lovedale, a public school, is it? $^Ah yes, my brother*'s little
0190K39 children are there too. ^Bright little kids. $^Oh, really?
0200K39 $*3^*I did*0 my studies on a scholarship. ^Do they know that_?
0210K39 ^*Shobha does. ^How much I have learnt.
0211K39 ^Oh yes, my worldly-wise erudition is perhaps what enables
0220K39 me to_ survive. ^Knowledge includes knowing how to_ eat with a knife
0230K39 and fork and forgetting the taste of food laid out on a plantain leaf.
0240K39 ^The spit and polish of formality. $^*I*'3m a progressive and
0250K39 rapidly-communist. ^Ah, but I*'3m well versed in Marx and Che. ^*Bader
0260K39 Meinhof ideology interests me too, although it would be insanity on
0270K39 my part to_ walk around proclaiming their strategies. ^A self-made,
0280K39 self-taught connoisseur of the subtleties of art, that_*'1s who I am.
0290K39 ^A secret poet who does not believe in publishing, except for his
0300K39 secret readers. ^Yeah, the public school savant, par excellence.
0310K39 $^No, I*'3m no human being. ^Human beings consist of those who
0320K39 are non-public school products and the middle class crowd. ^The rich are
0330K39 beyond humanity and the poor, why, they*'3re unclean and ignorant.
0340K39 ^Despicable. ^*I would classify them right beside household pets on the
0350K39 rungs of the ladder of social evolution. $^How about the thinkers
0360K39 among them? $^What are they but pirouetting pawns in the hands of deranged
0370K39 social revolutionaries who will not distinguish between the Bible
0380K39 and the Red Book if it turns out to their advantage. $^*Ha Ha
0390K39 Ha!!!! $^Interlude when everybody beams at one another, having
0400K39 exhausted a certain useless quantum of conversation. $^No Shoba, you
0410K39 can*'4t go out with him. $^What will people say? $^Oh daddy!
0420K39 $*3^SHE*0 sits beside her window, throwing biscuit crumbs through the
0430K39 bars at the flitting *4mynas outside, listening enraptured to the wind
0440K39 sighing through the skirts of the mango trees and her hair. ^She reads
0450K39 my poetry and dreams of a cage whilst asleep. ^Sometimes she repeats
0460K39 Gibran*'s heart-felt verses to herself and weeps over Tagore, afraid
0470K39 to_ accept. ^Art makes one seek purity, but few realise that stalking
0480K39 down her alleys does not mark the seeker or the quarry different enough
0490K39 for all others to_ notice. ^A sad irony. $^Dear Shoba, don*'4t
0500K39 forget. ^*I*'3m middle class and expendable like the fireworks
0510K39 at Christmas. $^*I play the guitar and harmonica too when I*'3m
0520K39 alone, which is most of the time. ^*I listen to rock music on the battered
0530K39 old record player at home. ^And the blues Jazz too. ^Some
0540K39 Ravi Shankar. ^*I wish I could set Plato*'s "phaedrus" to
0550K39 music. ^*I smoke dope. ^Which public school product doesn*'4t?
0560K39 ^It*'1s cool. ^Helps in the expansion of cognition, man,
0570K39 like puts you on a different frequency. ^Some evenings I come home
0580K39 smashed to_ leer obscenely at parents who are afraid to_ chastise the
0590K39 quick-tongued serpent they*'3ve spawned. ^Then I lie down on a
0600K39 spinning hard bed to_ fall asleep murmuring, "Middleclass shits," to
0610K39 myself. $^Dad, I need some bread to_ get a copy of Dante*'s
0620K39 "Divine Comedy". $^You don*'4t need some books now, son.
0630K39 ^Have you bought yourself those text books on economics? ^Humph!
0640K39 $^No sophistication. ^No class. ^That_*'1s the crux of the middle
0650K39 class problem. ^No aesthetic sense. ^No aspirations.
0660K39 ^Total resignation to mediocrity and, Jesus, how much satisfaction is
0670K39 gained out of it. ^Why can*'4t the old goat tell me he does not have
0680K39 the money or the whim to_ help me build up my own library? ^Contented
0690K39 hypocrite. $*3^SHOBA*0 dances. ^*Bharathanatyam.
0700K39 ^Oh she*'1s lovely in that_ classical sense. $^Teach me your Hindu
0710K39 values, Shoba, please. $^So I read the Gita. ^And the Panchatantra.
0720K39 ^Thence to the book of Tao. $^Oh Mum, I can*'4t
0730K39 go to church anymore. ^There is no God for me to_ believe in.
0740K39 $^*God is not concerned with the righteousness or sin of man, to_ quote
0750K39 Sri Krishna. ^*I*'3m God. ^*I*'3m the all. ^What can
0760K39 you learn from Christianity Shoba? ^They crucified the only Christian
0770K39 and fed me a lot of bull. ^How I hate the Church.
0780K39 $^Before falling asleep, I toss about beneath a starry sky and write
0790K39 a poem about falling in love. $^Like you I have learnt-- how to_
0800K39 hurt-- and not cry. $^*I have friends. ^A lot of them.
0810K39 ^Some of them look up to me, some of them look down upon me. ^Many
0820K39 of them swear Levis and rave about The Grateful Dead, *(0J.*) Krishnamoorthy
0830K39 and Carlos Casteneda. ^How bored I am with these vegetables.
0840K39 ^*I have two, perhaps three, very good, close friends.
0850K39 ^We talk sometimes. ^At other times, with them I learn to_ appreciate
0860K39 the worth of silence. ^What do I do in this stagnant desert
0870K39 but hum meaningless tunes to myself and be on the alert for faded, second
0880K39 hand pairs of Levis I might buy, so as to_ be able to_ fit into their
0890K39 grove. $^Hey Mum. ^*I*'3m off to a party! $^She*'3ll
0900K39 never understand. ^How can I expect her to_ when all she really cares
0910K39 about or understands in life is washing clothes, nagging my dad and cooking
0920K39 boring food and praying. ^She does not even think of attempting
0930K39 Chinese recipes. ^*I wish I had her patience and fortitude
0940K39 and still wage a war of independence and attrition. ^*Shoba, will you
0950K39 ever understand the darkness in my life, my abhorrence of the family
0960K39 crutch? $*3^HOME*0 ^What*'1s home? ^She has her silken
0970K39 cushioned sofas and foam mattresses to_ loll upon. ^How much softer
0980K39 are dreams couched upon feather pillows than those strewn haphazardly
0990K39 on hard wooden beds! ^*I wish I could carpet my floors, like hers are.
1000K39 ^*I wish my mono record player would suddenly become a stereo system.
1010K39 ^Oh, how I wish for the time when music will echo among the
1020K39 thousand books I want to_ adorn my lowly hiding place with. ^*I wish
1030K39 my brother didn*'4t share my room with me. $^Middle class means
1040K39 a longing to_ find comfort and solace in selfishness. $^Why are
1050K39 you on drugs? $^Because I can*'4t afford beer, stupid!
1060K39 $^Until I know, euphoria is no substitute for ennui. ^So I
1070K39 stop smoking and turn a clear head to deeper thoughts that_ lurk in the
1080K39 dark crevasses of the mind, chirping wanly for attention. $^Why
1090K39 don*'4t I commit suicide? $^A query addressed to her in a sly manner,
1100K39 perhaps maliciously. ^Oh, how non-committal and irritable these
1110K39 women are at important times! ^*Camus, on his part, would probably
1120K39 clap his hands in glee at my suicide. ^If only I could decide
1130K39 with finality upon it. ^But there I lack courage of conviction perhaps.
1140K39 $^No one consciously forgets to_ laugh. ^Still that_*'1s
1150K39 what I do when Shobha asks me in round-eyed, serious fashion....
1160K39 $^Am I mad? ^Are we mad? $^Then it*'1s time for me to_
1170K39 discover that sanity is what makes middle-class nobodies like me take
1180K39 to middle of the road attitudes running around like headless chickens aiming
1190K39 to_ reach somewhere. ^*God knows where, amidst the howling
1200K39 traffic of daily life. ^So exorcism of such thoughts from her pretty mind
1210K39 must consist of vague, mumbled, inconsistent words such as, "^Don*'4t
1220K39 be crazy, Shoba!" ^It*'1s not easy to_ drag my slovenly, cloven-footed
1230K39 carcass up the steps towards home to_ find Dad back from office
1240K39 work, tired and drawn, slumped in his chair and growing elder before
1250K39 me each lengthy minute. ^There are grey streaks of death in his sideburns
1260K39 and moustache, land marks of worry*'s age. $^Oh Daddy.
1270K39 $^But I can never tell him the secret pains of youth. ^Only the
1280K39 bile roars torrent-like into my throat, lunging outwards in an angry
1290K39 howl. $^You silly slaves, you simple, toiling, silent!!!
1300K39 $*3^SOMETIMES*0 when you lie on your bed and want to_ cry the tears
1310K39 do not flow and you know your heart*'s turning to stone. ^You don*'4t
1320K39 care anymore. ^So you stare into the mirror and play games with
1330K39 yourself. $^Dear self, promise to_ be a nihilist now and for
1340K39 ever more. ^Promise to_ roam those heights where none can touch you
1350K39 ever. $^*I promise. $^Yet when you alight from your reverie
1360K39 and look at somebody with love in your eyes, you wonder if you*'3ve been
1370K39 lying to yourself. $^So we stand together again *'3neath the rusty
1380K39 bus stop sign and talk of understanding, is it? ^Where an ocean
1390K39 separates us? ^We look at each other through the sieve of our doubts,
1400K39 tossed about on the mumblings of wagging tongues. $^Are we friends
1410K39 then, she asks. $^Do I smile or cry now? ^Should I turn
1420K39 away and run, rending myself with piercing cries desolation? ^*I
1430K39 shudder, shot to doll rags, caught in a cross-fire of warring minds.
1440K39 $^Yes. $^But what else can I say or do? ^Her eyes are
1450K39 screaming black holes in the sky in the corners of which tremble illusions
1460K39 dressed as stars. ^*I have my selfish freedom, and her friendship
1470K39 too. ^A sea of loneliness laced with the salt of helpless sadness
1480K39 to_ drown in, beyond the legend "middle class" stamped across my heart--
1490K39 the great status symbol of our times, the down-to-fetid earth,
1500K39 living God. $^Hellelujah! ^*I*'3m middle class and tutored
1510K39 in confusion*'s ambiguity-- the eternal oppressed faith. ^Efface me
1520K39 and mine!
1530K39 $**<*A CHILD*'S COMPOSITION**>
1540K39 $*3^GRADE*0 Ninth had a bright idea for Mother*'s Day.
1550K39 ^Instead of traditional Greeting Cards which they bought year after year
1560K39 for the occasion, the children hit upon the idea of preparing pretty
1570K39 little folders with a special feature thoughtfully composed and styled
1580K39 MY MOTHER: WHAT MAKES HER DIFFERENT. ^It was no doubt meant to_
1590K39 be a grateful assessment of Mother*'s worth and this opportunity of
1600K39 making Mother*'s Heart tingle with joy was excitedly seized by all the
1610K39 children. $^All except Sheen who sat in her corner disinterested
1620K39 and aloof. ^This seemed strange for as everyone knew Sheen had
1630K39 a facile pen and could compose readable little pieces for any occasion.
1640K39 ^Such indifference was no doubt puzzling and the Teacher hoped
1650K39 it would pass but when in fact it did not she couldn*'4t help telling
1660K39 the child how ungrateful she was and how unappreciative of a Mother*'s
1670K39 Worth. ^What effect the words had on Sheen it was hard to_ tell.
1680K39 ^She listened impassively as if she had turned to_ stone.
1690K39 $^The next morning Sheen*'s father approached the Teacher and told
1700K39 her that on seeing the light burning in Sheen*'s room long after midnight
1710K39 he had entered it to_ find the child fast asleep at her table.
1720K39 ^Beside her were a few sheets of paper on which she had poured out her
1730K39 heart. "^If you go through this," he told her handing her the papers,
1740K39 "You will perhaps find an explanation for her behaviour. ^But
1750K39 please remember," he continued, "she is a very sensitive child.
1760K39 ^Do not on any account make it known to her that I*'3ve given you this."
1770K39 $^WHEN Sheen*'s father had left, the Teacher opened the
1780K39 tear-stained pages and read what Sheen had written. "^How can I
1790K39 tell my Teacher that_ everyone has something wonderful to_ say about her
1800K39 Mother because Everyone*'s Mother is wonderful and good and loving?
1810K39 ^How can I make her understand that only I have nothing to_ say
1820K39 because my Mother is...... IS DEFFERENT. ^MY MOTHER IS AN ALCOHOLIC.*#
        **[no. of words = 02014**]

        **[txt. k40**]
0010K40 **<*3A Japanese pen**> $*3*^2that_ evening a farewell party was
0020K40 to_ be held in honour of Shastriji. ^*I had slept badly the previous
0030K40 night, seeing visions of Shastriji holding our class and dreaming
0040K40 of past events which took grotesque shapes. ^In the morning I got
0050K40 up earlier than usual and hurriedly got ready for the school. ^*I wore
0060K40 a *(dhobi-washed*) shirt and a new pair of shorts. ^Then I opened
0070K40 the box and examined the new fountain pen which I had importuned with
0080K40 father to_ buy for me. ^It was meant to_ be a present for Shastriji.
0090K40 ^A shining black pen, I kept looking at it intently. ^*I liked
0100K40 it. ^Taking a small piece of paper I wrote on it in beautiful letters:
0110K40 ^A humble present for Venerable Shastriji and put down my name
0120K40 and date under it. ^*I would have liked to_ expand my message into an
0130K40 epistle which would have given me greater scope to_ vent my feelings
0140K40 but then I realised that a solemn occasion such as this demanded brevity.
0150K40 $^On my way to school my mind was filled with thoughts of Shastriji.
0160K40 ^True, that when a boy failed to_ learn declensions he was in
0170K40 for a good thrashing at the hands of Shastriji. ^He would ask the
0180K40 erring boy to_ bend down on his knees, making a 'cock' out of him
0190K40 and asking another boy to_ perch himself on his back. ^Or, when a
0200K40 boy could not split a Sanskrit compound, he would graze a prickly
0210K40 stem of a nettle against his bare leg. ^But even then we liked Shastriji
0220K40 more than the other teachers. $^His *4pyjama was always crumpled
0230K40 and sometimes torn at the back. ^His body smelled and on one side
0240K40 the frame of his glasses was held with a string coiled round the
0250K40 ear. ^Before entering the class-room he drank a glass of milk from Shambhu*'s
0260K40 tuck shop and we could see the foam clinging to his thick
0270K40 moustache which sent us into titters. ^The students of the Science
0280K40 Stream mimicked his ways and never missed an opportunity of
0290K40 making fun of him. ^But in spite of his oddities we were greatly devoted
0300K40 to Shastriji and were always ready to_ join issues with the Science
0310K40 boys. $^That_ afternoon time hung heavy on me and playing truant
0320K40 I slipped out of the school after the sixth period and climbing
0330K40 the cliff at the back of the school I sat down under a tree. ^*I
0340K40 had been Shastriji*'s student from the fifth standard onwards. ^During
0350K40 the months of November and December, before the winter vacation
0360K40 started, he used to_ take the Sanskrit class on the roof
0370K40 of the school under the winter sun. ^After giving us some work he would
0380K40 recline in his chair, stretch out his legs and start dozing. ^Closing
0390K40 our exercise books we would sit there hearing him snoring and
0400K40 laughed. $*3^*I SAW*0 my class-mate, Anoop coming up. ^Finding me
0410K40 there he sat down by my side. $"^They should have declared today as
0420K40 a holiday," I said. $"^Why? ^Oh yes, I know. ^They are having a farewell
0430K40 function for Shastriji." $^*I felt angry at Anoop. ^How
0440K40 could he forget such an important event? ^Did Shastriji*'s going
0450K40 away mean nothing to him? ^To_ hide my anger I kept gazing at the
0460K40 building of the Longwood Hotel on the opposite cliff. ^*Anoop took
0470K40 out his mouth organ and started playing a film tune. $"^*I hear Shastriji
0480K40 will go away next month and settle down in his village near
0490K40 Almora," I said. ^*I was feeling piqued at Anoop*'s indifference.
0500K40 $"^Have you seen the new Shastriji?" Anoop asked. "^He wears
0510K40 coat and trousers." $^*I looked at Anoop startled. "^Have you seen
0520K40 him?" I asked. $"^Yes. ^Three days ago as I was passing along
0530K40 the corridor I saw him sitting in the Head-master*'s room. ^The
0540K40 peon told me that he was our new Sanskrit teacher. ^He did not look
0550K40 old. ^His hair is all black." $^*Anoop*'s talk made me angrier.
0560K40 ^There was no point in his talking about the new teacher; it sounded                    e
0570K40 so **[sic**] out of place. ^He should have talked about Shastriji
0580K40 who was leaving us for good. ^To_ add to my anger, Anoop lay down
0590K40 under the tree, resting his head on his elbows. $"^*Shastriji is
0600K40 altogether a different type of man," I said, holding a brief for
0610K40 my old teacher. "^His gray moustache looks beautiful when he sits
0620K40 in the sun." $"^And even more beautiful after drinking milk!" Anoop
0630K40 added with a mischievous glint in his eyes. $^*I felt like hitting
0640K40 him. ^How could he be so callous? $"^Aren*'4t you giving him a present?"
0650K40 I asked, anxious to_ score over him. "^A present?" Anoop looked
0660K40 at me, surprised. "^What for? ^Even if I had the money I wouldn*'4t
0670K40 give him one." $^*I took out the fountain pen from my satchel.
0680K40 $"^Here, have a look," I said. "^A fountain pen. ^It*'1s foreign.
0690K40 ^Father bought it for me from Rama & Sons, who have their shop
0700K40 on the Mall." $^*Anoop took the pen from me and examined it carefully.
0710K40 ^*I thought he was admiring the pen or even feeling jealous of
0720K40 me. ^*I felt truimphant and smiled to myself. $^He suddenly sat up
0730K40 and edging forward held the pen before me. "^It*'1s a Japanese pen!"
0740K40 he said. "^Look, it*'1s written here: '^Made in Japan'." ^He laughed
0750K40 out loud. $^*I was stunned. ^Snatching away the pen from Anoop,
0760K40 I turned it over in my hand. ^Yes, it was there all right. ^Written
0770K40 on the barrel of the pen. $^This time my wrath turned to father.
0780K40 ^He had cheated me. ^He shouldn*'4t have passed on a Japanese
0790K40 pen for an English one. ^*I regretted having shown the pen to
0800K40 Anoop. ^*I would have quietly presented it to Shastriji at the function
0810K40 and no one would have been the wiser for it. $"^What if it*'1s
0820K40 a Japanese pen?" I said working up a false bravado. "^It*'1s
0830K40 an expensive pen. ^It costs five rupees." $*3^*ANOOP*0 scowled at
0840K40 me. "^Bet, I can buy it for you for five *4annas from the Lower
0850K40 Bazaar. ^Now stop being smart or I*'3ll tell every boy you*'3re
0860K40 giving Shastriji junk." $^At last I extracted a promise from
0870K40 Anoop at the cost of a cinema show that he would keep silent over
0880K40 this affair. $^*I felt reassured but it still irked me that though
0890K40 it was Shastriji*'s last day in the school, the routine of the
0900K40 school had gone on as usual; the boys were studying playing and indulging
0910K40 in boyish pranks without any compunction. ^The Head-master should
0920K40 have at least declared a half-holiday. ^*Shastriji had taught in
0930K40 the school for thirty years. ^When he first joined it, the school was
0940K40 housed in a small, non-descript building in a *4khud below the
0950K40 Cart Road and had only about two dozen students on its rolls.
0960K40 ^At that_ time they used to_ have three classes at same time in one
0970K40 room. ^We found Shastriji*'s stories very diverting and they often
0980K40 made us laugh. $^The students started coming into the Hall
0990K40 at four. ^*I and Devdutt who was the best student of our class, sat
1000K40 down in the front row so that we could watch the proceeding without
1010K40 missing anything. ^They had placed two chairs behind a table at the
1020K40 end of the Hall. $"^It*'1s all the doing of our Head-master," Devdutt
1030K40 whispered in my ear. "^He has forced Shastriji to_ retire. ^*Shastrjij
1040K40 can still teach and is good for many more years." $"^But
1050K40 he*'1s nearing seventy," I said. $"^So what?" Devdutt said. "^*Dubey
1060K40 *4saheb is so young and yet he looks so lethargic." ^The noise
1070K40 in the Hall increased as more boys came in bustling and jostling
1080K40 one another. ^But Devdutt was not looking at the boys. ^Lost in thought,
1090K40 he was looking through the window at the mountain range beyond
1100K40 Sanjoli. $^Four days ago he had gone to Shastriji*'s house
1110K40 and seen his wife crying. ^They were worried about the education of
1120K40 their son, Dhannu, as there was no school in their village. $^The Durand
1130K40 Football Tournament would soon start at Annandale. ^The boys
1140K40 sitting around us were hotly debating the prospects of Mohan Bagan.
1150K40 ^*I turned and looked at the back of the Hall. ^*Anoop was sitting
1160K40 on one of the back benches in the midst of his friends. ^*I shuddered.
1170K40 ^For the last few days word had gone round that I was going
1180K40 to_ present a pen to Shastriji. $^Had he told his friends about
1190K40 the pen? ^*I could never trust him. $*3^SUDDENLY*0 a hush fell over
1200K40 the Hall as the Head-master strode into the Hall, followed
1210K40 by Shastriji. ^They took their seats behind the table. $^*Shastriji
1220K40 was in the same musty woollen coat that_ he had been wearing for the
1230K40 last five or six years. ^In summer he would keep its five top buttons
1240K40 open, exposing his shirt, making it the target of our jest. ^In
1250K40 winter he wore the coat fully buttoned up and wrapped a red muffler round
1260K40 his neck. ^*Shastriji*'s chin shone which he must have freshly
1270K40 shaved for the occasion. ^His gray moustache also looked tidy; it appeared
1280K40 he had trimmed it at the ends. $^The Head-master got up and
1290K40 spoke in an authoritative tone, saying that Shastriji had been
1300K40 with the school since its inception and this farewell would go down
1310K40 as a landmark in the history of the school. $^As the Head-master
1320K40 sat down Devdutt whispered in my ear that the Head-master should have
1330K40 spoken in Hindi. ^Poor Shastriji had not understood a word of
1340K40 what had been said. ^*I felt sorry for him. $^After the Head-master
1350K40 two more teachers spoke. ^The boys of the tenth class presented
1360K40 Shastriji a farewell address inscribed on a scroll, after which a
1370K40 boy recited a poem written by someone else in honour of Shastriji.
1380K40 ^The Head-master presented Shastriji a tea kettle and the teachers
1390K40 a woollen coat length. ^When my name was called, I went forward
1400K40 with a dead-pan expression, handed Shastriji the box containing
1410K40 the pen and hurried back to my seat to_ the sound of clapping. ^*I
1420K40 could*'4t even look into Shastriji*'s face while shaking hands
1430K40 with him. ^*I felt as if every one was laughing at my present. $^When
1440K40 Shastriji got up to_ speak my gaze first travelled to the box
1450K40 containing the pen which lay on the table in front of him. ^*Shastriji
1460K40 spoke in a voice thick with emotion and said that he had never calculated
1470K40 his age. ^In fact he had felt no need for it for he thought that
1480K40 he would keep teaching till he breathed his last. $^The farewell over,
1490K40 I and Devdutt walked part of the way together as our way home
1500K40 lay through Kalibari. ^The evening was descending over us and the
1510K40 office folk were returning home, carrying vegetables in shopping bags.
1520K40 ^For some distance we walked in silence. ^Then Devdutt said: "^If
1530K40 I had the money I would have also given Shastriji a present. ^Your
1540K40 pen will always remind him about you. ^But he has nothing to_ remember
1550K40 me by." $*3^*I LOOKED*0 intently at Devdutt. ^Did he know the
1560K40 secret of my pen? ^But his tone or gestures gave no indication of
1570K40 it. $"^*Shastriji will not forget you," I said. "^He will remember
1580K40 you as the boy who always stood first in his class." $"^But there*'1s
1590K40 always one boy or the other standing first every year," Devdutt
1600K40 countered. "^*Shastriji can*'4t remember every one of them, year after
1610K40 year." $^His argument silenced me but I felt all the more proud of the
1620K40 fact that I had given Shastriji a pen. $^A few days after, in the
1630K40 afternoon when I came out of my class at half-time I found Devdutt
1640K40 waiting for me. ^He walked upto me with great alacrity. $"^*Shastriji
1650K40 is leaving for his village by the 3 o*'3clock train. ^Care
1660K40 to_ come to the station to_ see him off?" he asked me. $^It was two-thirty
1670K40 when we reached the station and the train was already standing
1680K40 along the platform. ^As Devdutt and I ran along the train looking
1690K40 for Shastriji we saw him peeping out of a third class compartment.*#
        **[no. of words = 02020**]

        **[txt. k41**]
0010K41 **<*3The Exile*0**> $*3^*MAHENDRA*0 frowned and asked, "^Mother,
0020K41 was it necessary to_ go out in this rain?" $^*Rukmini stood guiltily,
0030K41 clutching her dripping umbrella. ^She muttered, "I had to_ go to
0040K41 Vimala*'s place." $"^But why, Mother? ^Why must you visit Vimla
0050K41 so often? ^Don*'4t you realise that her husband is a clerk in my office
0060K41 and that I have a position to_ maintain?" $"^*Vimla belongs to
0070K41 our village. ^*I knew her mother and father and her brothers and sisters
0080K41 too," Rukmini said, as if that_ explained everything. $^"we have
0090K41 gone into all that_ several times," Mahendra said impatiently.
0100K41 "^*I am a Class **=1 officer and it doesn*'4t look nice your being
0110K41 so friendly with the wife of a clerk of my office." $^*Rukmini said,
0120K41 "^She invited me for a special '*4pooja'. ^*I couldn*'4t refuse
0130K41 her invitation, could I?" $"^Mother, why can*'4t you make friends
0140K41 with the people of my class? ^The other day I took you to_ visit my
0150K41 colleague, Mehra*'s mother, but you sat silent the whole time. ^She
0160K41 tried to_ be friendly but not a word could she get out of you, in
0170K41 spite of her best efforts." $*3^*RUKMINI*0 remembered that_ visit
0180K41 which resembled other visits to the houses of her son*'s friends.
0190K41 ^Their wives were smart and well-dressed and they seemed to_ have
0200K41 mothers or mothers-in-law who were equally smart and well dressed.
0210K41 ^*Mehra*'s mother was a social worker. ^She talked knowledgeably about
0220K41 the population problem, the Family Planning Drive and other subjects
0230K41 of a like nature. ^The conversation flowed round Rukmini--
0240K41 the quick give and take of hard, brittle voices, while she sat silent
0250K41 and ill at ease. ^Suddenly, Mehra*'s mother turned to her and shot
0260K41 out, "^You must see the Kuchipudi dance at the Fine Arts Club.
0270K41 ^It*'1s wonderful! ^Really wonderful!" ^*Rukmini stared, wondering
0280K41 if she had heard right. ^What was the Kuchchi-*4puri dance?
0290K41 ^Could there be a dance about *4puris which had not been cooked?
0300K41 ^Before she could ask, a small, white furry dog rushed into the room
0310K41 and jumped on her lap. ^*Rukmini got up in consternation, while the
0320K41 younger \0Mrs. Mehra called out fondly, "^Come here, Puff! ^Come
0330K41 here, you naughty boy!" $^Her husband said to Rukmini, "^You are sitting
0340K41 on Puff*'s chair. ^That*'1s why he jumped on you." $^*Rukmini
0350K41 shuddered. ^She would have to_ bathe again when she returned home.
0360K41 ^She was relieved when the visit ended. ^*Rukmini never felt comfortable
0370K41 in the company of her son*'s friends and their families and,
0380K41 at last, she stopped visiting them. ^When Mahendra*'s friends or
0390K41 his wife, Gita*'s friends dropped in, Rukmini muttered an excuse
0400K41 and slipped out. $*3^*MAHENDRA*'S*0 flat, though well furninished and
0410K41 in a good locality, was small. ^It had two tiny bedrooms and a combined
0420K41 drawing and dining room. ^*Mahendra and Gita had one bedroom
0430K41 while Rukmini shared the other with her two grandsons. ^The sharing
0440K41 meant that she put her few clothes on the top shelf of the built-in
0450K41 cupboard and kept her Ramayana and two or three pictures of gods
0460K41 and goddesses on the narrow window sill. ^At nights, she slept on
0470K41 the 'divan' in the drawing room. $^*Rukmini could not get used to
0480K41 living in the town. ^She knew nobody and had nothing to_ do. ^She felt
0490K41 miserable cooped up in the tiny flat. ^She wished she could go back
0500K41 to her village home. ^By leaving it, she felt she had lost control
0510K41 of her life, of the way she wished to_ live. ^She missed her old home,
0520K41 with the tiny courtyard where the cow had been tied and where she
0530K41 used to_ hang out the washing to_ dry. ^*Rukmini had been fond of
0540K41 cooking, but now if she showed any desire to_ make anything Gita said,
0550K41 "^Oh, *4Ma-ji, let it be. ^It isn*'4t worth the trouble." $^*Gita
0560K41 did not wish to_ be bothered with cooking though she spent hours arranging
0570K41 and re-arranging the furniture and polishing it. ^She just managed
0580K41 to_ cook the breakfast and two meals a day with the help of the
0590K41 slipshod servant girl, she had. ^With that_, she thought, her duties
0600K41 as a housewife ended. ^If Rukmini tried to_ make any of the dishes
0610K41 which Mahendra had loved as a child, Gita said, "^Times have changed,
0620K41 *4Ma-ji. ^Ghee and sugar are so expensive. ^Besides, fried
0630K41 things aren*'4t good for the health." $*3^NOT*0 good for the health,
0640K41 indeed! ^*Rukmini thought. ^If that_ was so how had Mahendra grown
0650K41 up to_ be so tall and straight and handsome? ^But there was no
0660K41 point in arguing. ^*Mahendra agreed with his wife and uncomplainingly
0670K41 ate what she made. $^Living in the flat had other disadvantages
0680K41 for Rukmini. ^She was the mother of three daughters, all of whom were
0690K41 married and had several children. ^As long as Rukmini*'s husband
0700K41 had been alive and they were living in the village, the daughters
0710K41 visited them regularly. ^Now Rukmini hardly saw them. ^The tiny flat
0720K41 just did not have enough accommodation for them and their children
0730K41 and as they did not feel very welcome they stopped visiting their mother.
0740K41 $^A hunderd times in the day, Rukmini told herself that she
0750K41 should not have left her village home. ^There she had been busy and
0760K41 respected; she was an important person, the wife of the headmaster
0770K41 of the village school. ^Sometimes she spoke about it and Mahendra
0780K41 said, impatiently, "^Oh, Mother! ^How could you have lived on your
0790K41 own after father died?" $*3^IN*0 her heart, Rukmini knew that she
0800K41 could not have managed on her own. ^She was getting on in years and
0810K41 besides, she had very little money. ^Her husband had not earned much
0820K41 and what little he got had gone towards the marriages of their daughters
0830K41 and the expensive education they had given their only son, Mahendra.
0840K41 ^Their lives had been hard but they had comforted themselves
0850K41 with the thought that they would live well when Mahendra grew up
0860K41 and had a good job. ^But the reality had been otherwise. ^*Rukmini*'s
0870K41 husband had died soon after Mahendra got a job and she had been
0880K41 forced to_ leave her village home. ^*Mahendra earned well, much
0890K41 more than his father had ever done, but Rukmini found the circumstances
0900K41 of her life uncongenial. ^They lived on the second floor, in
0910K41 a small flat, and there was no place where Rukmini could have some privacy,
0920K41 except by going out. $^During the mornings Gita*'s friends
0930K41 dropped in-- smartly dressed young ladies who gave Rukmini sidelong
0940K41 glances and talked in whispers if Rukmini was in the house and
0950K41 whose high pitched giggles followed her down the stairs. ^In the afternoons
0960K41 her grandsons returned from school and their friends rushed
0970K41 in noisily, talking an incomprehensible language of their own. ^*Rukmini
0980K41 had been very close to them when they were small, but now they
0990K41 had grown away from her. ^She blamed it on the posh English school
1000K41 they attended, an institution quite unlike the village school
1010K41 of which their grandfather had been the headmaster. $^Since Rukmini
1020K41 was not in sympathy with her son*'s and his family*'s way of
1030K41 life, she spent much time away from the house. ^She would pick up her
1040K41 umbrella and go out, if Mahendra saw her leaving, he would say,
1050K41 "Mother, where are you off to?" $"^*I am going to the temple."
1060K41 $"^*I have yet to_ see a person as fond of visiting the temple as you
1070K41 are. ^Must you go out in this rain?" (^Or heat, or cold, or dark
1080K41 as the case was) $*3^THE*0 temple was a kilometre away. ^Here came
1090K41 the sort of people Rukmini had known all her life and in whose company
1100K41 she felt comfortable. ^Not that the well to_ do and the sophisticated
1110K41 did not visit the temple. ^They did but they were hard pressed
1120K41 for time and they offered '*4pooja' in a businesslike way
1130K41 and left briskly. ^But the others, the people of Rukmini*'s
1140K41 type did their '*4pooja' in a leisurely fashion. ^Afterwards, they
1150K41 sat on the platform in front of the temple, listening to the discourses
1160K41 of holy men, taking part in the '*4kirtans' and '*4bhajans'
1170K41 or just discussing the everyday problems of their lives. $^Here,
1180K41 during a festival when there was a large crowd, Rukmini met Vimla
1190K41 whom she had known as a little girl in the village. ^*Vimla invited
1200K41 Rukmini to her place and here the older woman felt instantly at home.
1210K41 ^*Vimla and her family lived untidily with all their belongings
1220K41 scattered about their two room house. ^But Rukmini liked it that_
1230K41 way; she found none of the emphasis on orderliness and tidiness which
1240K41 so intimidated her in her son*'s house. $^Two or three string cots
1250K41 lay in the courtyard and here Rukmini was invited to_ sit. ^The
1260K41 washing flapped about her and there was even a little cow and her
1270K41 calf tied in a corner. ^The neighbouring women dropped in to_ meet the
1280K41 visitor and the atmosphere was friendly and informal. ^They looked
1290K41 on Rukmini with respect and asked her for advice and guidance. ^It
1300K41 was just as it had been in the village. $"^My little son cried the
1310K41 whole night and I am thinking of taking him to the doctor," a woman
1320K41 would say. $"*3^LET*0 the doctor be," Rukmini advised. "^Boil
1330K41 a little '*4ajwain' in water, cool the water and give it to your
1340K41 child to_ sip. ^That_ will cure the stomach ache from which he is suffering."
1350K41 $^Everyone praised Rukmini for her advice. ^There was no talk
1360K41 here of sterilization and *4kuchchi-*4puri dances and Rukmini felt
1370K41 at home. ^Sometimes Vimla handed round hot cups of over-sweetened
1380K41 tea, but more often there was just '*4saunf' and betel nuts. $^What
1390K41 was the harm in visiting Vimla? ^*Rukmini wondered. ^But Mahendra
1400K41 said, "^Mother, you must give up this friendship with the wife
1410K41 of a clerk of my office." $"^Why? ^What*'1s the harm in meeting Vimla?"
1420K41 ^*Rukmini asked. "^Oh, Mother! ^You don*'4t understand these
1430K41 things but sooner or later they will take advantage of you." $"^Take
1440K41 advantage of me? ^In what way?" ^*Rukmini asked. $"^Her husband
1450K41 will request you to_ ask me to_ do something about the promotion, transfer
1460K41 or posting of people in whom he is interested." $"^*Vimla and
1470K41 her husband aren*'4t like that," Rukmini said indignantly. $"^People
1480K41 of their class always take advantage of one. ^*I know it," Mahendra
1490K41 said pompously. "^If you are in need of company I will take
1500K41 you to_ visit some friends. ^Today we are going to *(0D. P.*)
1510K41 Singh*'s house. ^If you like you can come with us and meet his mother.
1520K41 ^She*'1s a very nice lady. ^*I am sure you will like her."
1530K41 $*3^BUT*0 Rukmini said hastily, "^Thank you. ^But I would rather
1540K41 not come with you." $"^But why, Mother?" **[sic**] $"^Your
1550K41 friend*'s mother must be like Mehra*'s mother and all the other mothers
1560K41 I have met. ^*I am not interested in them." ^*Mahendra*'s lips
1570K41 tightened while Gita, who had heard the last part of the conversation,
1580K41 looked disapproving. ^*Mahendra said, "I try to_ be helpful
1590K41 but it seems you are determined to_ be difficult. ^You don*'4t seem
1600K41 to_ realise that I have a position to_ maintain." $^*Rukmini agitatedly
1610K41 knotted and unknotted the ends of her faded blue *4sari. ^She
1620K41 said, "^If you think there is some harm in visting Vimla, I shan*'4t
1630K41 go to her place. but I don*'4t want to_ meet any of your friends
1640K41 either. ^That_*'1s final." $^With that_, Rukmini stamped out
1650K41 of the house. ^She thought: ^It is back to trudging the streets, back
1660K41 to a boring and meaningless existence, back to being lonely and friendless,
1670K41 but I shan*'4t visit any of my son*'s friends. ^*I don*'4t
1680K41 like them and I have nothing in common with them. ^*Kuchchi-*4puri
1690K41 dances, indeed! $^The thought came to Rukmini that it would have
1700K41 been better if Mahendra had been a low paid employee living in the
1710K41 village rather than a Class **=1 officer living in a posh flat in the
1720K41 town. ^Then, perhaps, they could have lived as they had always done
1730K41 and she would not have felt like a fish out of water in her son*'s
1740K41 house. ^Then she dismissed the disloyal thought and told herself
1750K41 that her son was happy in his job and the position it had brought
1760K41 him and she had no business to_ wish otherwise.*#
        **[no. of words = 02032**]

        **[txt. k42**]
0010K42 **<*3MANY HOLLOWS*0**> $*3^MANY*0 hollows-- in Tamil Pallaankuzhi--
0020K42 is a game which mostly girls of the Tamil region play. ^It is made
0030K42 of wood and sometimes of brass or other metal and consists of two
0040K42 rows of shallow hollows seven to each row. ^The hollows are filled
0050K42 with usually twelve or less number of tamarind seeds or small *4cowries
0060K42 and played by transferring seeds or *4cowries from one hollow to
0070K42 another one at a time. ^It is an intricate and interesting game played
0080K42 with many variations. ^The players are usually two; (sometimes three
0090K42 and four players can play but never more than four.) $*3^THE*0
0100K42 *4harijan peasant took his stand near the bamboo thorn fence and called
0110K42 out "Saami!" $^In the kitchen, Dharmaambaal the lady of the house
0120K42 was straining the boiled rice of its gruel. ^She scalded her fingers
0130K42 and, shaking them, observed: "^No sooner does the master begin
0140K42 his *4puja with making an image of wet turmeric than the peasant comes
0150K42 and calls out. ^If master is not informed he would take an hour
0160K42 to_ finish his *4puja and Kutumban the peasant will cry out 'Saami,
0170K42 Saami' every ten minutes. ^*Devi, go and tell him that your father
0180K42 would come in an hour*'s time." $^*Devi was the last but two
0190K42 of her daughters. ^She was a charming girl of seven. ^By the time
0200K42 she gathered her skirts and leisurely stood up, Dharmaambaal remembered
0210K42 another thing and laughed aloud. "^It is surprising. ^No sooner
0220K42 does this *4Brahmin begin his *4puja than Kadavul
0230K42 appears in the street." ^The peasant*'s name was Kadavul (God)
0240K42 Kutumban. (^Literally of the family of God). $^*Sundara Sastrigal
0250K42 was a deeply religious man who lived for his daily *4puja. ^*Kadavul
0260K42 Kutumban was the peasant farmer by hereditary right who cultivated
0270K42 the few acres of land which Sastrigal had inherited from his
0280K42 forefathers on the banks of the River Vennaar which is about three
0290K42 miles to the north of the town of Thanjaavur. ^The peasant had come
0300K42 on some urgent business to_ talk to his master and was crying out,
0310K42 "Saami, Saami!" $^It was a Sunday. ^*Sundara Sastrigal did not
0320K42 have to_ attend office on that_ day. ^He had to_ hurry through his
0330K42 *4puja on weekdays and he found the haste unsatisfying. ^Seeing that
0340K42 he had no office that_ day he had started a little late and was intent
0350K42 on doing the *4puja without hurrying through with it. ^On other
0360K42 days he had to_ start for his office in Thanjaavur Junction as a goods
0370K42 clerk and begin work by nine in the morning. ^His house was in the
0380K42 South Alangam and he had to_ walk a mile to the Junction after
0390K42 his morning meal. $*3^HIS*0 devotion to the Railway gods was
0400K42 no less than his devotion to the religious gods of his heritage. ^Being
0410K42 devoted equally to both gods, he would get up very early in the
0420K42 morning before the sun was up, take his bath winter or summer in
0430K42 cold water, and sit for his *4puja by the time the sun was visible.
0440K42 ^His *4puja was an elaborate affair with many gods and goddesses
0450K42 in small and distinct idols in his *4puja room. ^Hardly any Swamiji
0460K42 passed through Thanjaavur without bestowing on him a new image of
0470K42 bronze or copper and a new item of *4puja, specified to its minutest
0480K42 details. ^He found a satisfaction in this *4puja-- as much as he
0490K42 did in his railway service for which he was paid thirty-seven-*4rupees
0500K42 and twelve *4annas-- his salary being forty but two *4rupees four
0510K42 *4annas being deducted monthly to_ be returned as a lump sum when
0520K42 he retired. $^He was goods clerk in Thanjaavur Junction which
0530K42 was a busy goods station. ^Other goods clerks in other railway stations
0540K42 made extra money by illegitimate means. ^*Sundara Sastrigal was
0550K42 not unintelligent man; he knew all the ways there were of making extra
0560K42 money; but being the pious man he was, he thought that money made
0570K42 by illegitimate means would not be helpful to him in times he needed
0580K42 help. ^He was content to_ be known as a man of integrity satisfied
0590K42 with his legitimate salary. ^His salary was small but his family was
0600K42 large. ^In addition to members of his family he took care of a couple
0610K42 of relatives also-- boys who were studying in High School. ^Evidently,
0620K42 as Sundara Sastrigal claimed, God did take care of him. $^If it
0630K42 had not been a Sunday he would have been on his way to the Railway
0640K42 Junction by now. ^It was very nearly nine in the morning and the
0650K42 sun was hot and high in the sky. $*3^THE*0 girl of seven, Devi whom
0660K42 her mother had bid go and tell Kutumban that master would appear
0670K42 an hour later, took the latest addition to the family, a girl of
0680K42 about eleven months, on her hips and set out to_ tell Kutumban the news.
0690K42 ^She had had never needed lifeless toys in all her childish days;
0700K42 she had enough living dolls to_ mind-- she needed no toys. ^*Kutumbban
0710K42 was beginning to_ call "Saami" for the twelfth time when she told
0720K42 him that her father would be coming an hour later. ^She said "^Kadavul,
0730K42 wait. ^*Father would finish his *4puja and come." $"^*I
0740K42 am in a hurry. ^Will it be some time before master comes?" $"^Father
0750K42 has begun with Vinayaka just now. ^He has to_ go through the
0760K42 others. ^It will take an hour, wait," said Devi. $"^*Vinayaka? ^What
0770K42 is Vinayaka?" $"^You dont know Vinayaka-- the potbellied god with
0780K42 an elephant trunk in front and riding a rodent. ^Even this baby knows
0790K42 him." laughed Devi surprised at Kadavul Kutumban*'s ignorance.
0800K42 $"^After Vinayaka....?" $"^There are a number of them. ^*Rama, Annapurani,
0810K42 Krishna, Balaji, Shiva, Hanuman. ^But next to Vinayaka
0820K42 comes Subramanya. ^*I don*'4t know the order after that_ myself
0830K42 nor do I know the names of all of them. ^To_ each one of them father
0840K42 would offer worship and rings the bell many times before he finishes."
0850K42 **[sic**] ^She added "*Mother asked you to_ wait. ^Sit down and
0851K42 don*'4t call
0860K42 out." $^*Kadavul Kutumban sat where he had stood in the hot sun.
0870K42 ^There was the shade of a tree a few feet away but he did not seek
0880K42 the shade. ^In a few minutes the sun being higher in the sky the
0890K42 shade seemed to_ have moved to_ shield him. ^He sat on the sandy earth
0900K42 near to the thorn fence and with his fingers he began to_ dig hollows
0910K42 before him in a row. $*3^*SUNDARA SASTRIGAL*0 did not know that
0920K42 Kadavul Kutumban was waiting for him. ^Even if he had known, he might
0930K42 not have hurried his *4pujas. ^As soon as he had sat down, he remembered
0940K42 that even though it was not his birthday, it was the day of
0950K42 his birth star and took a delight in pronouncing each item of the
0960K42 *4puja and conducting the service in as leisurely a manner as possible.
0970K42 ^He rang the bell each time he ended the *4puja of a particular
0980K42 god and by the time the final bell was rung it was nearly ten thirty.
0990K42 "^There is nothing like this sort of unhurried *4puja once in a
1000K42 while. ^It is satisfying. ^It is more satisfying than even a good mark
1010K42 in your service register" he said. $^He was accustomed to taking his
1020K42 daily food at eight, never later than eight ten, and he was hungry.
1030K42 $^*Dharmaambaal who had overheard him remarking on the satisfaction
1040K42 that the unhurried *4puja brought him replied: "^After all you can
1050K42 serve only for another four five years. ^After that_ you can conduct
1060K42 your daily *4puja in an unhurried manner." ^She knew he would
1070K42 be hungry and forgetting that the *4harijan peasant was waiting, she
1080K42 spread the plantain leaf and began giving him his food. $^Seating
1090K42 himself before the leaf, Sundara Sastrigal said: "^The Swamiji
1100K42 whom I visited last week says that offering *4puja to too many gods
1110K42 is no good. ^He asked me to_ cultivate one deity intensively. ^Though
1120K42 I find this more satisfying somehow." $^*Devi who was the favourite
1130K42 of her father came in and, leaving the child in the cradle, sat near
1140K42 her father and called for her food. ^She remembered Kadavul Kutumban
1150K42 waiting outside and said to her father "^Our Kadavul is waiting
1160K42 for a long time. ^He said, there was something urgent." $"^He came
1170K42 within a few minutes of your sitting for your *4puja" said Dharmaambaal.
1180K42 "^Let him wait another ten minutes. ^Don*'4t hurry your meal.
1190K42 ^Daily you have to_ hurry your meal. ^Another ten minutes won*'4t
1200K42 matter." $"^If you had told me before I sat for my meal I would
1210K42 have attended to him. ^Now in spite of myself I shall have to_ hurry.
1220K42 ^And he added "Kadavul is not like others of his kind. ^He would
1230K42 not have come unless it was something urgent." $^*Dharmaambaal was angry
1240K42 with herself for having forgotten about Kadavul. "^Eat and go
1250K42 and see him. ^He has waited two hours; let him wait for another ten
1260K42 minutes. ^Enough of Kadavul *4puranam. ^*I know him as well as you
1270K42 do." $^*Sundara Sastrigal was not accustomed to unhurried meals.
1280K42 ^And now he knew that Kadavul Kutumban had come a couple of hours
1290K42 ago saying it was an urgent matter. ^Anything might be the matter. ^He
1300K42 finished his meal with his usual haste and without waiting to_ chew
1310K42 the betel and *4supari that_ were ready for him after the meal
1320K42 and which he needed as much as his food, he went out of the house.
1330K42 $*3^*KADAVUL KUTUMBAN*0 sat where he was. ^The shade of the tree
1340K42 had moved beyond him and he was in the hot sun. ^He did not seem
1350K42 to_ mind the sun which shone straight down on him. ^His dark body was
1360K42 freely perspiring, giving to rivulets of sweat on his bare torso.
1370K42 ^The rays of the sun fell on the drops of sweat and broke into colours.
1380K42 $^*Sundara Sastrigal standing outside his house in front of
1390K42 his door looked at the *4harijan farmer of his, Kadavul Kutumban.
1400K42 ^He had not noticed him and squatted doing something. ^*Sundara Sastrigal
1410K42 noticed what he was doing. $^He was making hollows before him
1420K42 with his fingers digging deep in the earth before him at the foot of
1430K42 the *4bamboo thorn fence. ^It looked as if he was preparing many hollows
1440K42 for a game that_ girls play. $^*Sundara Sastrigal stood, watching
1450K42 him for a full minute. ^How peaceful and benign Kutumban*'s face
1460K42 was! ^He had a dignity which few persons of Sastrigal*'s acquaintance
1470K42 had. $^*Kadavul Kutumban noticed his master noticing him.
1480K42 ^Without any haste he threw aside the last fistful of earth from the
1490K42 hollow before him, rubbed his palms to_ get rid of the earth sticking
1500K42 to them and stood up patiently. $"^What is the matter Kadavul? ^What
1510K42 brings you here this morning? ^*I was busy and could not attend
1520K42 to you before" said Sastrigal realising, even as he uttered the words,
1530K42 the irony of it. ^He was asking Kadavul (God) why he had come
1540K42 while for the hour before had been seeking Him in *4puja in sonorous
1550K42 Sanskrit. $^*Kadavul Kutumban made a hopeless gesture; he scratched
1560K42 his unruly head of hair with one finger and said grinning "^Nothing
1570K42 particular but...." $"^But what....?" ^While he hesitated to_ reply
1580K42 Sundara Sastrigal asked facetiously, "^Were you playing many hollows
1590K42 with yourself?" $"^You mean the hollows?" ^*Kadavul asked and
1600K42 hesitated before answering the question. "^*I was thirsty and tried to_
1610K42 dig a well trying to_ see whether I could find some water." $"^What!"
1620K42 laughed Sundara Sastrigal. "^You were digging a well in the
1630K42 high place of South Alangam in Thanjaavur. ^Could you dig a well
1640K42 with your hands and discover water here?" $*3^FINDING*0 that he did
1650K42 not reply Sundara Sastrigal went on after a minute: "^Even if you
1660K42 dig a single well deep you may not find water here; but you were digging
1670K42 many hollows before you." $^*Kadavul Kutumban stood staring
1680K42 at him. ^He lowered his eyes to_ take in the many hollows he had dug
1690K42 with his fingers in two rows.*#
        **[no. of words = 02006**]

        **[txt. k43**]
0010K43 **<*3THE CHESS PLAYERS*0**> $*3^IT*0 was in the times of Wajid
0020K43 Ali Shah. ^*Lucknow was given to gaiety and conviviality. ^The young
0030K43 and the old the rich and the poor-- they were all steeped in the
0040K43 pleasure of the flesh. ^To_ make the best of the time, some organised
0050K43 *4nautch and music parties and others held sessions of opium-smoking.
0060K43 ^In every walk of life self-indulgence was the order of the day.
0070K43 ^Even social conduct, art and literature, business and industry were
0080K43 not immune from it. ^The government officials behaved like rakes, the
0090K43 poets sang of the pangs of love and the artisans and craftsmen could
0100K43 not think of anything better than making articles of luxury, such as
0110K43 *4chikan work, sequined cloth, perfumes, collyrium, powder and paints.
0120K43 $^In short, they were voluptuaries of the deepest hue, oblivious
0130K43 of what was going on in the world. ^They bet on quail and partridge
0140K43 fights, and killed the day by playing cards, chess and games of dice.
0150K43 ^From the prince down to the pauper, everyone was caught up in these
0160K43 vices, so much so that even a beggar spent his alms-money on opium
0170K43 or liquor. ^They argued with great conviction that chess sharpened
0180K43 the mind, improved the power of thinking which helped in solving
0190K43 the most intricate problems of life (such people are galore even today).
0200K43 $^In such a social milieu no one could take exception to Mirza
0210K43 Sajjad Ali and Mir Roshan Ali if they spent the bulk of their
0220K43 time on sharpening their wits by playing chess. ^Both of them had inherited
0230K43 huge landed properties and being affluent, they were not worried
0240K43 about earning a livelihood. ^Being men of leisure, they diverted
0250K43 their minds by playing chess. ^Every morning, after breakfast, they
0260K43 would take out the chess board and get the game going, playing it with
0270K43 such absorption that they even lost count of time. ^The morning merged
0280K43 into noon and the afternoon wore off into the evening but they
0290K43 were still at it. $^From the inner apartment a call would come repeatedly,
0300K43 announcing that the food was ready and every time the servant
0310K43 would be instructed to_ lay out the food. ^But when no one turned
0320K43 up, the cook, his patience having reached the breaking point, would
0330K43 bring the food into the room where the two friends sat playing. ^They
0340K43 ate while playing. ^There was no elderly member of the family, living
0350K43 with Mirza Sajjad Ali, so he had no compunction in holding chess-sessions
0360K43 in his outer room. ^Not that the other members of the
0370K43 family were happy with Mirza*'s conduct. ^For that_ matter, even the
0380K43 servants of the house and neighbours looked upon chess as something
0390K43 ominous, which they thought would spell ruin for the family. ^Many
0400K43 had succumbed to the game and Mirza, they said, would not meet
0410K43 a different fate. ^It was an obsession which made a person utterly useless.
0420K43 $*3^OF*0 all the persons *4Begum Mirza hated the game most
0430K43 and she missed no opportunity to_ rile her husband for being an addict
0440K43 to the game. ^To her chagrin, she did not get many opportunities
0450K43 to_ run him down for this besetting sin of his, for in the morning she
0460K43 was still asleep when Mirza took out the chess board and sat down
0470K43 to_ play with his friend. ^At night he set foot in the women*'s apartment
0480K43 long after the *4Begum had gone to sleep. ^It was the poor
0490K43 servants upon whom her wrath fell. "^Does Mirza want betel-nuts? ^Tell
0500K43 him to_ take the stuff himself." "^Has he not eaten? ^Fling the food
0510K43 at his face or throw it to the dogs!" $^In fact, she was not so angry
0520K43 with her husband as with Mir *4Saheb whom she had nick-named,
0530K43 'Mir Miscreant'. ^She was convinced that he had led her husband
0540K43 astray. $^One day the *4Begum had a headache. ^She asked her maidservant
0550K43 to_ go to Mirza *4Saheb and tell him to_ get some medicine
0560K43 from the *4hakim, the family physician. ^*Mirza *4Saheb seemed to_
0570K43 be in no hurry to_ attend to her and he dismissed the maid-servant
0580K43 with a perfunctory, "^Go in, I*'3m just coming." *4^*Begum *4Saheba
0590K43 was feeling distraught. ^She had a headache and here was her husband
0600K43 having a game of chess. ^She grew red in the face and asked the
0610K43 maid-servant to_ go and remind the master to_ come in or she would
0620K43 have to_ go to the *4hakim herself. ^It appeared the game had reached
0630K43 a crucial stage and Mirza was loathe to_ tear himself away from
0640K43 the chess board. ^Two more moves and he would have inflicted a crushing
0650K43 defeat on Mir *4Saheb. $"^Is she dying?" he said in a huff.
0660K43 "^Can*'4t she wait a moment longer?" $"^You go and look her up," Mir
0670K43 *4Saheb said. "^Women can be very touchy in such matters." $"^So
0680K43 you want me to_ go?" ^*Mirza said testily. "^It is because you are on
0690K43 the point of losing the game?" $"^Don*'4t take things for granted,"
0700K43 Mir *4Saheb said, "I*'3ve a move in the offing which will
0710K43 send your game crashing. ^Anyway, attend to her first. ^You mustn*'4t
0720K43 hurt her feelings." $"^*I*'3ll not budge from here till I*'3ve
0730K43 defeated you." $"^In that_ case I refuse to_ play. ^*I say, attend
0740K43 to her first." she wants me to_ go to the *4hakim. ^Her headache
0750K43 is just a ruse. ^She wants to_ harass me. ^As if I don*'4t know."
0760K43 $"^Whether it*'1s a ruse or a fact you must humour her." $"^All
0770K43 right, I*'3ll go. ^But let me make one more move before I go." $"^No,
0780K43 you won*'4t! ^Not till you have attended to the *4Begum. ^*I*'3ll
0790K43 sit tight over the game and not touch even a piece." $*3^PERFORCE,*0
0800K43 Mirza *4Saheb had to_ go in. *4^*Begum *4Saheba was looking
0810K43 very sullen. "^Is this wretched game so dear to you that you have
0820K43 no care whether one lives of dies," she groaned with pain. "^It would
0830K43 be good riddance if people of your ilk depart from this world."
0840K43 $"^*Mir *4Saheb wouldn*'4t leave me alone," Mirza *4Saheb said.
0850K43 "^*I had a tough time getting away from him." $"^Himself a drone, he
0860K43 thinks you also as one," the *4Begum said. "^Has he no children? ^Or
0870K43 has he made short work of them?" ^He*'1s a door-crasher, if there
0880K43 was ever one. ^Once he has forced himself in, he remains glued to
0890K43 his seat. ^He wheedles me into playing." $"^Why don*'4t you pack
0900K43 him off from the door?" "^Oh, no, I can*'4t do that_. ^He*'1s a
0910K43 gentleman and enjoys the same status as I-- he may be a rung or two
0920K43 higher on the social ladder. ^And older than me in age. ^*I*'3ve to_
0930K43 be nice to him." "^Well, if you*'3re not upto it, I*'3ll hound
0940K43 him out next time he calls. ^Let him rant and fume for all I care.
0950K43 ^He can*'4t do a thing to us. ^We*'3re not dependent on him, are
0960K43 we? ^*Hiriya, go and bring the chess board from that_ room. ^Tell Mir
0970K43 *4Saheb Mirza *4Saheb has called it a day. ^And that_*'1s that_.
0980K43 ^He may as well go away to his house." $"^No, no, no!" Mirza
0990K43 *4Saheb looked at his wife, alarmed. "^You*'3ll not do anything of
1000K43 the sort. ^Do you wish to_ see me disgraced? ^*Hiriya, I forbid you
1010K43 to_ go out." $"^You may stop the maid-servant but you can*'4t stop
1020K43 me. ^Let me see how you stop me? ^*I defy you to_ stop me!" $^In a
1030K43 huff, the *4Begum walked towards the outer room. ^*Mirza*'s face fell.
1040K43 "^By Hussain, by God, please don*'4t go!" he pleaded with his
1050K43 wife. "^You*'3ll see my coffin if you go in that_ direction." $^But
1060K43 the *4Begum paid no heed to Mirza. ^She went upto the door of te
1070K43 outer room and then stopped as if her feet had suddenly been shackled.
1080K43 ^She didn*'4t have the courage to_ appear before a stranger. ^She
1090K43 just peeped in. ^To her surprise, no one was there. ^In Mirza*'s
1100K43 absence, Mir *4Saheb had shifted two pieces from their actual position
1110K43 on the chess board. ^To hide his misdemeanour he was now pacing
1120K43 outside the room, looking very innocuous. $^Finding the land clear,
1130K43 the *4Begum upturned the chess board. ^She threw some pieces under
1140K43 the board and flung some of them outside the room. ^Then closing
1150K43 the door she bolted it from inside. ^*Mir *4Saheb, who had stopped
1160K43 near the door, saw the pieces flying through the door and then he
1170K43 heard the jingle of the *4Begum*'s bangles. ^He knew she was in a
1180K43 temper and thought it discretc to_ slink away from the place. $"^How
1190K43 outrageous of you!" Mirza moaned. $*4^BEGUM *4*SAHEBA steadily
1200K43 looked at Mirza*'s face. "^If Mir *4Saheb comes again I*'3ll
1210K43 have him thrown out," she fumed. "^If you had loved God half as much
1220K43 as you love that_ wretch and your game you would have been canonised
1230K43 as a saint by now. ^You play chess the whole day while I drudge for
1240K43 you to_ keep you in comfort. ^Now will you give up your cussedness
1250K43 and go to the *4hakim?" $^*Mirza, looking very sheepish came out
1260K43 of the house but instead of going to the hakim he went to Mir *4Saheb*'s
1270K43 house and explained him the whole situation. $"^When I saw
1280K43 those pieces flying out of the door I knew what was coming," Mir
1290K43 *4Saheb said. "so I took to_ my heels. ^She seems to_ be the mercurial
1300K43 type. ^But you shouldn*'4t allow her to_ have her way like this.
1310K43 ^It*'1s none of her concern what you do outside the *4zenana
1320K43 apartments. ^Her job is to_ keep house for you and not poke her nose
1330K43 in your affairs." $"^Well, cut short your twaddle and tell me what
1340K43 rendezvous should we fix up now?" $"^That_*'1s no worry. ^You*'3ve
1350K43 the full run of my house. ^If you feel like it we can settle down to
1360K43 a game right now." $"^But how am I to_ get round my *4Begum? ^She
1370K43 creates such a rumpus when we play at my house. ^And if she comes
1380K43 to_ know that now I*'3ve started playing here she will flay me alive."
1390K43 $"^Let her bark. ^Take no notice of her and she will start behaving
1400K43 herself in no time. ^And one more thing: ^You must learn to_ be
1410K43 stern with her." $^For some inscrutable reason Mir *4Saheb*'s *4Begum
1420K43 liked her husband to_ stay away from home as much as possible.
1430K43 ^As such, she let him indulge his passion for chess. ^If he was late
1440K43 in having a session she would remind him about it. ^This led Mir
1450K43 *4Saheb to_ think that his wife was well-meaning, considerate and gentle.
1460K43 ^But when she saw her husband and Mirza *4Saheb entrenched
1470K43 in the outer room day after day, having sessions of chess that_ seemed
1480K43 to_ be unending, she started grumbling, specially because it restricted
1490K43 her freedom of movement in the house. ^She couldn*'4t stand
1500K43 in the door of her house, as she used to_ before, and divert her mind
1510K43 by seeing the world going by. $^Even the servants began to_ whisper
1520K43 among themselves about the change in the order of things. ^Accustomed
1530K43 to spending the time in slothful ease, not caring who came and who
1540K43 went, now they had to_ remain on their toes all the time. ^They had
1550K43 to_ run out to the *4bazaar to_ buy betel-leaves at odd hours,
1560K43 keep the *4hukka going, like the passionate glow in a lover*'s heart
1570K43 and constantly replenish the plates with eats. $^THEY would
1580K43 often complain to the *4Begum that their Master*'s obsession
1590K43 for chess had become the bane of their lives. "^We have to_ go out
1600K43 on errands so frequently that blisters have formed on our feet," one
1610K43 of the servants said. "^It wouldn*'4t matter if they played for
1620K43 an hour or two to_ divert their minds but the game goes on and on from
1630K43 morning till evening. ^We*'3re your servants and shall carry out
1640K43 your orders but you must know that chess is an ominous game; it brings
1650K43 ill-luck. ^No chess player has ever prospered. ^It has blotted street
1660K43 after street out of existence. ^Nowadays they have become the talk
1670K43 of the town.*#
        **[no. of words = 02017**]

        **[txt. k44**]
0010K44 **<*3Musk Deer**> $*3^WAKING UP*0 one morning he felt a kind of wetness
0020K44 in his navel. ^He lifted the tail of his shirt and peered down. ^Indeed
0030K44 his navel was filled with a liquid, topped by a thin film. ^He dipped
0040K44 a finger in the liquid and held it close to his eyes. ^Then he sniffed
0050K44 at it. ^It had the peculiar smell that_ the dirt in the navel possesses.
0060K44 ^Disgusting if you like, but also exhilarating in a way. ^He sniffed
0070K44 again. $^He didn*'4t of course know what had happened. ^But he was
0080K44 amused rather than intrigued. "^Good God, am I turning into a musk
0090K44 deer or something?" he asked himself. **[foot note**] $^He wiped the
0091K44 liquid
0100K44 with the tail of his shirt. ^Later, he forgot about the whole matter.
0110K44 ^He had to_ finish a book rewiew by evening, and that_ kept him preoccupied.
0120K44 $^Getting into bed at night, he had another look at his navel;
0130K44 liquid had welled up again. ^Now he seemed annoyed. "^*Musk Deer, Musk
0131K44 Deer",
0140K44 he muttered as he wiped the liquid. $^Next morning the level of liquid
0150K44 in the navel had risen. ^There was a crust on the edges. ^The liquid
0160K44 was yellower than the day before. ^He also noted that his navel hurt
0170K44 slightly. "^This is too much. ^Better go and see a doctor", he decided.
0180K44 $^The doctor cast a glance at his navel and announced, "^Well, that_*'1s
0190K44 an umbilical abscess." $"^Umbilical abscess", Musk Deer said to himself.
0200K44 "^What*'1s that_?" he asked the doctor. $"^It*'1s like this", the
0210K44 doctor said. "^When you are born, they cut the umbilical cord. ^The
0220K44 wound heals after some time. ^But in some rare cases the wound does not
0230K44 quite heal. ^Later at some time it may get infected. ^Pus begins to_ come
0240K44 out." $"^But doctor, I*'3m twenty-six years old", Musk Deer said
0250K44 incredulously. "^How could the wound remain unhealed for such a long period?
0260K44 ^That_*'1s hard to_ believe." $"^Yes, it*'1s hard to_ believe",
0270K44 the doctor said. "^But such things do happen." $^It seemed to Musk Deer
0280K44 as if he were seeing all his twenty-six years in a new light. ^Hell,
0290K44 he thought, I finished school, graduated from college, began to_ work
0300K44 for a living, and all these years my umbilical cord has never been severed.
0310K44 $^He remembered Karwar, the place where he was born. ^His father
0320K44 had left Karwar soon after his birth and he had never gone back there
0330K44 himself. ^So he carried no memory of his birthplace. ^Not even a blurred
0340K44 picture of a house, or a street, a scene with trees or water, nothing.
0350K44 ^His birthplace was just a name. $"^So what do we do now?" he asked
0360K44 the doctor. $"^*I*'3ll give you antibiotics", the doctor said. "^Then
0370K44 we*'3ll see. ^Perhaps the abscess will dry out. ^But if it grows and threatens
0380K44 to_ burst, it*'1s better to_ get into a hospital." $"^How many
0390K44 days will this take?" $"^Can*'4t say. ^Maybe two or three weeks. ^Maybe
0400K44 more. ^But you do this-- take as much rest as you can. ^Don*'4t move around
0410K44 much." $^He left the doctor*'s room with a packet of sulphonamides.
0420K44 $^After lunch that_ day he went to_ see Waghmare. ^*Waghmare lived
0430K44 on the top floor of the building. ^He owned the building, and had kept
0440K44 the entire top floor for his own use. ^He had given Musk Deer a small
0450K44 room on the ground floor of the building. ^In lieu of rent, Musk Deer
0460K44 performed the duty of collecting Waghmare*'s share of the money earned
0470K44 by his beggars. ^*Waghmare had twenty-seven beggars. $*3^NOT MANY*0
0480K44 of Bombay*'s citizens know that the countless beggars in Bombay are
0490K44 under the thumb of a few bosses. ^The bosses keep beggars in their power
0500K44 by threat and force, and by protecting them from the police. ^In return
0510K44 each beggar gives a cut of his earnings to the boss. ^With two or three
0520K44 dozen beggars under his wing, a boss can make good money. ^At one
0530K44 time, one or two newspapers had planned to_ expose this racket, but the
0540K44 bosses had foiled the attempt. $^*Waghmare*'s servant opened the door
0550K44 and Musk Deer went in. ^*Waghmare*'s face was hidden behind a newspaper
0560K44 but, sensing the arrival of a visitor, he closed the newspaper and threw
0570K44 it on the table. ^He took off his spectacles and placed them upon
0580K44 the newspaper. ^He looked up. "^Ah well, it*'1s you", he said. $^*Musk
0590K44 Deer noted that Waghmare had kept his spectacles right side up. ^One
0600K44 shouldn*'4t keep spectacles in this way if they are open, for it causes
0610K44 the frame to loosen. ^It*'1s always a good idea to_ keep spectacles upside
0620K44 down. ^It bothered Musk Deer every time he saw Waghmare put down
0630K44 his spectacles the wrong way. ^But he could never get up enough courage
0640K44 to_ suggest to Waghmare that he keep his spectacles correctly. $^*Musk
0650K44 Deer told Waghmare about the umbilical abscess. "^Well", he said,
0660K44 trying to_ sound jovial, "I*'3ve become a kind of a musk deer." $^*Waghmare
0670K44 showed much interest in Musk Deer*'s malady. "^The kind of illnesses
0680K44 a man may have!" he marvelled. "^So you are a musk deer now, eh?
0690K44 ^That_*'1s a delightful idea. ^You read a lot of books, I know. ^That_*'1s
0700K44 how you get such imaginative ideas." $^As he talked, Waghmare kept
0710K44 pushing a finger up one of his nostrils. ^There didn*'4t seem to_ be
0720K44 any dirt inside. ^It was simply a hibit. ^Over the years this habit had
0730K44 made Waghmare*'s large nostrils even wider. $"^Good", said Waghmare.
0740K44 "^From now on, I*'3l call you Musk Deer. ^It sounds nice. ^But tell
0750K44 me, Musk Deer, where*'1s your doe?" ^He laughed expansively. "^Now
0760K44 you*'3ll have hordes of does following your scent, Musk Deer!" $^*Waghmare
0770K44 was now scraping hard at the inside of his nostrils, which were beginning
0780K44 to look red. ^Then Waghmare wiped his finger on his loincloth
0790K44 and, with the same finger, began to_ feel the hair inside his nose. ^The
0800K44 moment he found a somewhat long hair he held it between two fingers,
0810K44 shut his eyes, and gave a pull. ^Opening his eyes he was observing the
0820K44 hair, when he had a sudden fit of sneezing. ^The hair slipped from his
0830K44 hand. ^Wiping his nose he bent down and began to_ look for the hair on
0840K44 the carpet. ^He couldn*'4t see it. ^So he got out of the chair and, kneeling
0850K44 upon the carpet, searched for the hair. ^*Musk Deer stared at the
0860K44 soles of his feet pressing against his buttocks. ^The soles of Waghmare*'s
0870K44 feet were pink and delicate. $^At last Waghmare found the hair.
0880K44 ^He carefully dropped it into the dust-bin. $"^What else, then, Musk Deer?"
0890K44 Waghmare asked. $"^It*'1s like this", Musk Deer said. "^If this
0900K44 abscess gets worse, I shan*'4t be able to_ move around much. ^The doctor
0910K44 has told me not to_, anyway. ^So I doubt if I can make my visits
0920K44 to the beggars for some time." $^Thoughtfully, Waghmare stroked his thigh
0930K44 for a minute or two. ^Then he said, "^All right, I*'3ll send someone
0940K44 else on the round till you get well. ^But if we aren*'4t able to_ locate
0960K44 a shirker, you*'3ll have to_ go and find him. ^Okay?" $*3^RETURNING
0970K44 TO*0 his room Musk Deer thought over things. ^Since he wouldn*'4t
0980K44 be able to_ do his job for Waghmare, he decided to_ devote more time to
0990K44 his other job. ^The work he did for Waghmare had solved the problem of
1000K44 accommodation, but he still needed other work for a living. ^Fortunately,
1010K44 this happened to_ be a sedentary job. ^The Literary and Cultural
1020K44 Academy had launched the gigantic project of making a *3Literary Encyclopedia*0,
1030K44 and Musk Deer did assignments for it. ^He had some reputation
1050K44 for his knoweledge of Western literature, and he wrote articles
1060K44 in this field for the *3Encyclopedia.*0 ^Besides this, he wrote book
1070K44 reviews for the Sunday edition of *3People*'s Power.*0 ^On the whole,
1080K44 he was doing pretty well. $^*Musk Deer began to_ work on an article upon
1090K44 Georgian poetry for the *3Encyclopedia.*0 ^He swallowed sulphonamides
1100K44 at proper intervals. ^The abscess remained a mild irritation; some
1110K44 pus came out. $^Three days later there was a message from Waghmare: the
1120K44 cripple at the Bombay Central Station had vanished; also, Bansi
1130K44 Lal of Breach Candy was missing. ^Could Musk Deer go looking for them?
1140K44 $^It was not particularly painful to_ walk, not yet anyway. ^So Musk
1150K44 Deer said yes. $^Next morning he headed towrards Bombay Central.
1160K44 ^The cripple who was known simply as the cripple used to_ sleep in a
1170K44 shelter beside the State Transport bus station. ^He used to_ beg in
1180K44 the lanes around the bus station. $^First Musk Deer checked the cripple*'s
1190K44 shelter. ^Then he began to_ go over the streets around the shelter
1200K44 one by one. ^Here and there he asked petty shopkeepers if they had seen
1210K44 the cripple lately. $^When a beggar is missing, three possibilities
1220K44 arise: he may be working for another boss, or he may be begging on his
1230K44 own, or he may have left Bombay. ^Hardly anything could be done in the
1240K44 third type of case, but it seldom arose. ^From all over India, from obscure
1250K44 villages in distant regions, people came to_ beg in Bombay. ^Why
1260K44 should they leave of their own accord? ^With the other types of cases,
1270K44 one could usually trace a beggar by getting in touch with the men of
1280K44 the other beggar bosses. $^And then, this was the case of a cripple. ^How
1290K44 far could a cripple go on his own? ^A beggar women called Bhagi used
1300K44 to_ live in a shelter near a street-corner. ^The cripple sometimes visited
1310K44 her late in the night. ^*Musk Deer questioned her, and learned that
1320K44 she hadn*'4t seen the cripple for four or five days. $^Searching wider
1330K44 and wider, Musk Deer found himself near the Mahalaxmi area. ^It
1340K44 was past three in the afternoon. ^*Musk Deer was fatigued. ^Earlier in
1350K44 the day he had spent half an hour in an Irani restaurant over a cup of
1360K44 tea. ^That_ was all the rest he had had. ^But now a *3*4paanwalla*0 **[foot
1370K44 note**] told him that he had seen a cripple who crawled on his back
1380K44 go past his shop a few hours ago. ^*Musk Deer*'s face brightened. ^And
1390K44 indeed, turning a corner, he saw in the distance a figure stretched on
1400K44 the pavement. ^The figure appeared to_ be moving in Musk Deer*'s direction.
1410K44 $^Musk Deer walked a little further and waited near a shop. ^On
1420K44 the opposite pavement the cripple moved forward. ^The cripple had lost
1430K44 both his legs up to the buttocks. ^He moved on his back. ^His method
1440K44 was to_ move his head and shoulders in the desired direction, and then
1450K44 to_ drag his backside. ^He placed his small aluminium begging-bowl on
1460K44 the side on which he progressed. ^Before moving his head and shoulders,
1470K44 he pushed the bowl ahead. ^Then he dragged himself up to the bowl. ^Then
1480K44 he pushed the bowl further. ^The aluminium bowl rattled on the pavement.
1490K44 ^Passers-by dropped coins. ^The cripple was also mute, but he made
1500K44 a kind of nasal sound. ^Making what noise he could, he stretched his arms
1510K44 towards people passing in the street. ^When someone walked behind his
1520K44 head, his eyes rolled upward. ^When someone passed below his body, his
1530K44 eyes rolled downward. ^His stretched figure took up most of the
1540K44 pavement, and people had to_ find a way above or below it. $^IN A
1550K44 SHORT WHILE the cripple had moved to the point where Musk Deer stood.
1560K44 ^He was, of course, on the opposite pavement, and therefore did not see
1570K44 Musk Deer. ^Being close to the ground, his field of vision was naturally
1580K44 limited. ^He kept moving on. $^Musk Deer decided not to_ go up
1590K44 to the cripple, but instead to_ keep a watch on him from a distance. ^He
1600K44 wanted to_ see where he went at evening. ^Then he would know if the
1610K44 cripple had joined some other people. $^*Musk Deer shadowed the cripple.
1620K44 ^The cripple*'s pace was slow, and Musk Deer had to_ make frequent
1630K44 pauses. ^When the cripple was at the beginning of a street, Musk Deer
1640K44 walked to the end of the street and waited for the cripple to_ catch
1650K44 up.*#
        **[no. of words = 02019**]

        **[txt. k45**]
0010K45 **<*3The Wheel Of PROGRESS**> $*3^*NAMDEV*0 watched his broad,
0020K45 *(chappal-shod*) feet and said nothing. ^They were large brown feet,
0030K45 shod with *4chappals manufactured by the local shoemaker. ^*Namdev*'s
0040K45 feet were so large that his *4chappals had to_ be made extra
0050K45 strong and large. $^In a deep, sonorous voice, the *4sarpanch
0060K45 delivered his speech. ^*Dada heard the *4sarpanch*'s voice
0070K45 as if he spoke from another world. "^All our lives our ancestors have
0080K45 toiled and achieved nothing. ^But this is the twentieth century;
0090K45 the age of science and technology. ^We are not as ignorant as
0100K45 our ancestors were. ^The government has realised that our village
0110K45 has potential. ^The hills, for instance, have a large deposit of
0120K45 manganese. ^The river-side fields are very fertile. ^So the well-meaning
0130K45 *4sarkar has decided to_ modernise our village". $^*1Modernise*0
0140K45 was too big a word for the villagers to_ grasp. ^They were
0150K45 simple, credulous souls not used to urban speech. ^They looked
0160K45 at one another in consternation. ^What was this *4sarpanch trying
0170K45 to_ say? $"^That_ means", said the *4sarpanch kindly
0180K45 as if understanding their difficulty, "that we shall not have
0190K45 to_ use the old-fashioned tools." ^He opened the book that_ he had
0200K45 previously placed on the table and showed them a few pictures in
0210K45 it. ^There was that_ monstrous thing they called a tractor. ^The villagers
0220K45 were all agog with curiosity: how did that_ giant work?
0230K45 ^Patiently, he satisfied their questions. $^He banged his fist
0240K45 on the table. "^Just think of it", he said, "your sons and their
0250K45 children will not have to_ work at the useless plough any longer,
0260K45 they shall not have to_ pray to the gods for rain to_ make your crops
0270K45 abundant. ^You will be a second God." $^*Dada Namdev drummed
0280K45 with his broad *4chappals on the floor a dull lifeless tune.
0290K45 ^Music didn*'4t suit his feet. ^Uneasiness tightened around
0300K45 him as the *4sarpanch concluded his speech. ^*Namdev, in spite of
0310K45 the uneasiness and the desire to_ express himself, failed to_ say
0320K45 anything. ^The words stuck in his throat like dry, stale morsels
0330K45 of *4chapati. $*3^THE*0 *4sarpanch*'s speech having come
0340K45 to an end, the villagers shuffled out of the shabby *4panchayat
0350K45 *4ghar. ^They were rough folk, representative of their village woes.
0360K45 ^Their own life had been hardened by suffering and pain. $^*Dada
0370K45 began to_ walk towards his home. ^The cold, unfeeling wind lashed against
0380K45 his face. ^For once he didn*'4t mind its bitterness and chill.
0390K45 ^It kept him alive. ^He wished desperately that it would make him
0400K45 think. ^But his mind was like a dead reed down by the river. ^He
0410K45 stopped, dusted his feet and passed his tongue over parched lips. ^He
0420K45 felt thirsty all of a sudden. $^In the dim perceptibility of the
0430K45 road, he could see the kerosene lamp buring at the *4chai shop. ^The
0440K45 open laughter of the village labourers reached out to him. ^He walked
0450K45 on, conscious of a maddening thirst and the desire to_ communicate.
0460K45 ^*Modhu was at the shop. ^He was so easily recognisable, this
0470K45 son of his, with his chocolate brown, stalwart physique towering
0480K45 above those of the others, as did his voice and laughter.
0490K45 $^They greeted him as he went up to the *4chaiwalla and ordered
0500K45 a cup of tea. ^He was known in his village as Dada; hardly anyone
0510K45 knew him as Namdev. ^That_ name had died with childhood. ^He
0520K45 was their Dada now, their protector and defender. ^Was he not the
0530K45 chosen one? ^A man who knew the plans of the Indian *4Sarkar
0540K45 and communicated them to others. ^Did he not plead their woes before
0550K45 the Catholic *4sarpanch? ^As for them, they were a submissive
0560K45 lot, surrendering to their fate with an attitude that_ expressed
0570K45 verbally would be, "^We knew it would happen, it is God*'s
0580K45 wish." $*3^THE*0 steamy liquid glided down his throat, quenching
0590K45 partially his thirst. ^For once he didn*'4t listen whole-heartedly
0600K45 to the peasants*' woes. "^*Dada *4Sahib, our fields
0610K45 are dry again. ^*Dada *4Sahib, we need fertilisers to_ make our
0620K45 plants grow so that our people may be fed contentedly." $^A turmoil
0630K45 raged within him, threatening his inner calm. ^He could not smoke
0640K45 his *4cheroot in their company nor could he watch the stars light
0650K45 up the sky. ^Once again he wended his way homeward. ^*Modhu ran up to
0660K45 him as he walked on, hopeless, gasping and frustrated. "^*Dada,
0670K45 is something the matter? ^You look pale and tired as though you were
0680K45 sick." $^*Namdev stopped. ^*Madhu was standing in front of him,
0690K45 demanding an answer. ^His face was a blob in the growing darkness.
0700K45 ^His body naked, except for a loin cloth which was like.... a mountain--
0710K45 he decided at last-- unshakable and trustworthy. ^The anxiety was
0720K45 clearly etched on his face. $^For a moment, a tender look came to
0730K45 Dada*'s eyes. ^In the shadowed regions of thought he saw Modhu riding
0740K45 a tractor-- the monstrous machine that_ the *4sarpanch had shown
0750K45 in the book. ^Sadness now suffused his face. ^He passed his hand
0760K45 over his thinning hair, coughed to_ hide a sigh and said, "^Nothing
0770K45 son; go back". ^Then, without turning, he walked on, watching his
0780K45 feet again. $^*Nira was cooking in the kitchen when he entered through
0790K45 the low, *(bamboo-thatched*) verandah. ^She looked up from chopping
0800K45 the mint leaves and smiled. ^The smile softened the otherwise sharp
0810K45 featurs of her face and added a peculiar glow to it. ^But even her
0820K45 smile failed to_ cheer him. $*3^THERE*0 was hectic activity in the
0830K45 village. ^People flocked to_ see the *4sarpanch*'s sumptuous villa.
0840K45 ^For, it was all over the village that the *4sarpanch had introduced
0850K45 electricity in his villa and inserted water tubes as well. ^These
0860K45 had been conveyed to his house by a special truck full of objcts
0870K45 alien to the people. ^They fiddled with the various switches in the
0880K45 backyard. ^Being commoners, they did not have access to the other parts
0890K45 of the house. ^But the daily procession of visitors never ended.
0900K45 ^And when they went away they carried back with them the hope that
0910K45 their homes could be similarly decorated. $^The villagers helped transport
0920K45 the giant reels of wires, poles and pipes. ^*Mahesh, the laziest
0930K45 in the village, worked hard for the first time in his life. ^The
0940K45 village hoped they would work faster; Lata was tired of pulling water
0950K45 from the well. ^Of late her hands had begun to_ ache. ^At last, thank
0960K45 God, they could seek relaxation without having to_ worry about
0970K45 the work that_ was piling up. ^*Lakshmi smiled blissfully. ^At last
0980K45 she was going to_ get rid of these nasty kerosene *4deeyas. ^Their
0990K45 tiny mud cottage would have the light of the sun at night-- a man-made
1000K45 sun that_ they could command. ^*Raghunath was going to_ have
1010K45 his fields ploughed by 'trucktons', **[sic=tractors**] was that what
1011K45 they were called?
1020K45 ^And the harvesting would be 'otometic'. **[sic**] ^Blissfully she
1021K45 added extra
1030K45 *4ghee to the *4chapati she was frying. $^Only Dada accepted
1040K45 these changes indifferently. ^He was not swayed by the feverish enthusiasm
1050K45 as the other villagers were. ^He helped them when duty made
1060K45 his intrusion unavoidable. ^He rarely stopped at the *4chai shop
1070K45 now. ^They didn*'4t miss him; they were too busy. ^Children began
1080K45 to_ fear him, for his countenance, sober and unsmiling, became almost
1090K45 fearful to_ behold. ^His moroseness made Nira afraid... ^She knew
1100K45 that he fought something within himself and that it was a losing battle.
1110K45 $^Being a *4Panchayat member, Dada was put in charge of hiring and
1120K45 repairing the tractor. ^No matter how irksome the job was, duty came
1130K45 first. ^News about the tractor and the harvesting machine went everywhere.
1140K45 ^It was the main point of discussion at the pulse centres of
1150K45 the village-- the *4chai shop, the well and the field. ^The village
1160K45 was alive with praise for the Indian *4Sarkar. ^The Portuguese
1170K45 hadn*'4t done anything at all. $^People were trying their best
1180K45 to_ get their house wired. ^But only a few managed to_ do it; with
1190K45 the others, money was a problem. ^Even the government couldn*'4t
1200K45 supply them with money. ^*Dada did not wire his house. ^People
1210K45 were astounded. ^Was this old man crazy? ^Why was he making such a
1220K45 beastly fuss? $^*Dada travelled alone in his personal hell. ^The
1230K45 men who represented the government had taught Modhu to_ operate the
1240K45 tractor. ^A year later his foot was completely chopped off. ^He was
1250K45 rushed to the city hospital miles away. $^*Dada went to_ visit him
1260K45 on the third day after the accident. ^He took the train to Margao,
1270K45 then travelled by bus up to Cartalim, caught a ferry and boarded
1280K45 the bus to Panaji. ^He walked to the hospital. ^A uniformed nurse
1290K45 ushered him into the men*'s general ward. ^*Dada scanned the white-robed
1300K45 faces avidly. ^He saw the face he wanted to_ see and advanced
1310K45 to the bed at the right end of the room. $^*Modhu regarded the
1320K45 white sheet that_ covered him. ^*Dada looked at his feet and noted their
1330K45 largeness and tan. $"^How is *4Ayee", Modhu asked in a tight
1340K45 voice. $"^Worried, son". $^They understood and said nothing. ^It lay
1350K45 on them like a crushing weight. ^*Dada looked at his son, pride
1360K45 mingled with sadness. ^He belonged to the fields. ^How large and
1370K45 bronzed he was! ^*Dada managed to_ come to the point. "^How is your
1380K45 foot?" ^He was afraid and dared not hope. ^He never could fool
1390K45 himself-- conditions were bad. $*3^SLOWLY*0 ever so slowly, Modhu
1400K45 withdrew the bandaged stump of his foot from under the bedsheet.
1410K45 ^He looked away towards the wall and Dada at his feet. ^Their hearts
1420K45 were crushed and their eyes full. ^*Dada fumbled in the cloth-bag
1430K45 that_ he carried in his hand. ^He brought out a roll of *4chappatis
1440K45 wrapped in banana leaves. ^The *4chappatis had turned stale and
1450K45 dry, so he put them back in his bag again. ^They dared not look
1460K45 at each other. ^The nurse came to_ lead him away. ^Had he stayed
1470K45 too long? $"^Nurse, nurse", he called as he ran after her into the
1480K45 corridor. "^Will he need crutches, nurse?" ^His voice was the cry of
1490K45 an anguished soul. ^She looked at him and drew her eyebrows together
1500K45 in a frown. ^But the lips held an amused half-smile. ^How quaint this
1510K45 *(dhoti-clad*) old man was! "^Yes, he*'3ll be on crutches for sometime
1520K45 but he will get used to it by and by". ^Then she was gone. ^*Dada
1530K45 was left alone in the white cold and empty corridor. ^He felt
1540K45 the chill, shivered and found his way out again. $^*Nira was
1550K45 cooking rice when he reached home. ^She wept when she heard the news.
1560K45 *4^*Dev! ^What sins had her ancestors committed that_ she should deserve
1570K45 this? ^She drew her face close to the fire. ^The fire dried her
1580K45 tears with bristling yellow tongues. $^*Modhu returned home after a
1590K45 week on crutches, maimed in spirit and body. ^A sickly pallor covered
1600K45 his chocolate tan. ^Every tick-tock of his crutch was like
1610K45 a dagger in Nira*'s heart. ^How could she bear to_ see him now,
1620K45 her beloved first born, as hopelessly broken in spirit? ^He tried
1630K45 to_ hide it from her but with a mother*'s sense she knew. ^The lights
1640K45 flickered and died in the eyes when he looked across the fields
1650K45 and a nostalgic sadness took their place. ^He suffered and he suffered
1660K45 alone. $^The village was decorated for the grand feast, to_
1670K45 be held the next day. ^The villagers believed it to_ be the greatest
1680K45 day in the village. ^*Dada walked through the unlit rustic
1690K45 paths for the first time. ^He stopped at the place where the path was
1700K45 blocked by the railway track. ^He stood in the middle of it, his legs
1710K45 wide apart, his shoulders sagging. ^The moon came out, shone
1720K45 on him, and then was lost in the clouds again. ^He began to_ feel dizzy.
1730K45 ^He sat down on the rail tracks. ^His head began to_ spin. ^He
1740K45 stretched his body and lay prostrate. $*3^HE*0 was walking on a crowded,
1750K45 garishly-lit road. ^The people were new to him like faces
1760K45 in the city. ^To them he was like a man from another planet. ^The fieldswere
1770K45 full of strange monsters.*#
        **[no. of words = 02013**]

        **[txt. k46**]
0010K46 **<*3THE AWAKENING*0**> $"*3^THINK*0 it over." $^*I opened my mouth
0020K46 to_... what? ^Yell? ^Protest? ^Cry? ^Nothing seemed appropriate,
0030K46 so I closed it again, while he went on unnoticing. $^Happy are the
0040K46 blind for... $"^You don*'4t have to_, you know. ^You can always refuse.
0050K46 ^But think over first. ^You know all the facts anyway." $^Yes,
0060K46 I do. ^A father who brought into this world more children than he
0070K46 can support on a small salary. ^A daughter to_ be married;
0080K46 a son stricken by polio; another daughter yet in school. ^And I, who
0090K46 will soon be passing my \0SSC. ^The conclusion is inescapable.
0100K46 $"^*Iphigenia," I muttered. $"^What?" he asked. $^You had to_
0110K46 shout to_ be heard in that_ room. ^The noises... the stove hissing loudly;
0120K46 the onions spluttering in the oil; Rekha*'s radio on at full
0130K46 blast as usual; and Shirish and Shobha squabbling... also as
0140K46 usual. ^Hell! $"^Nothing," I shouted back. ^What would any of
0150K46 them know about Iphigenia, Agamemnon*'s sacrificed daughter, anyway?"
0160K46 ^Why must we have so much noise? ^It*'1s like a zoo. ^But
0170K46 even the animals love one in a cage! $"^Go and live there yourself."
0180K46 Shirish retorted gleefully. $"^To_ call your family animals!
0190K46 ^Mind your tongue, Alka." ^That_ was Mother. ^*God made
0200K46 mothers because he couldn*'4t be everywhere himself.
0210K46 $*3^WHAT*0 nonsense! ^There are mothers and mothers and mothers. ^Mine
0220K46 is a woman with a heavy, sullen face (but when she looks at Shirish?)
0230K46 and a tongue like a serrated knife (but when she talks to Shirish?).
0240K46 ^A woman who can turn all my ideas into foolishness, all
0250K46 my enthusiasm into sawdust. $"^*I don*'4t know how you put up
0260K46 with her impudence!" ^She cast a venomous look at poor Baba. ^The
0270K46 man whose one aim in life is to_ avoid conflicts. $"^Oh, Baba is
0280K46 a saint," I said lightly. "^He can put up with so many things."
0290K46 ^Like you, for example. "^Why not with my impudence?" ^A saint?
0300K46 ^Does being an unthinking, unfeeling, walking zombie make you
0310K46 a saint? ^No, he*'1s not a saint, but a fool. ^A blind fool. ^And it
0320K46 isn*'4t optimism, but idiocy. ^If only he hadn*'4t been so smugly
0330K46 content with what he is, with what he has, maybe we*'1d have got
0340K46 out of here sometime. $^*I can*'4t forgive him for being what he
0350K46 is; I*'3ll never forgive him. "^She should be thankful for what
0360K46 we*'3ve done for her. ^After all, Rekha left school after the 9th
0370K46 standard. ^She*'1s finishing her \0SSC." '^She'.. doesn*'4t my
0380K46 mother know my name? $"^You know Rekha was different, Manda. ^She
0390K46 was never very interested in studies. ^But our Alka is a brainy
0400K46 girl..." he looked apologetically at me. $"*3^WHAT*'1S*0
0410K46 the use of talking now? ^You know I can*'4t go on. ^You know I have
0420K46 to_ give up studies and take the precious typist*'s job your precious
0430K46 Patkar has offered. ^You know you*'3ve ruined my life." $"^No
0440K46 one can ruin your life except yourself, Alka. ^Don*'4t exaggerate."
0450K46 $*4^*Ma? ^Exaggerate? ^That_*'1s the one thing I never do. ^That_*'1s
0460K46 for kids." ^Where have I read the words... ^*I am 25 unfulfilled
0470K46 dreams old? ^*I am 17 and feel a million unfulfilled dreams
0480K46 old. what*'1s the use?" ^*I threw down the book I was trying
0490K46 to_ read. "^What*'1s the use of anything?" $^The scene ended,
0500K46 as always, with my walking out of the house. $^House? ^One room.
0510K46 ^*I stood in the gallery, my elbows on the faded, decaying wooden
0520K46 railings, my face propped on my palm. ^On either side of me people
0530K46 stood in an identical pose. ^Watching what? ^The same meaningless
0540K46 jumble of people milling round. ^With a gesture of impatience
0550K46 I moved away. ^A boy walking past me saw me and stopped. ^He smiled
0560K46 at me. ^*I smiled back. ^You can*'4t antagonise anyone in a place
0570K46 like this. ^Specially boys. $"^When are your results?" $"^Next week."
0580K46 $"^Going to_ get a first class, eh?" $^His eyes roved over me as
0590K46 he spoke and finally settled down where I knew they would. ^*I felt
0600K46 myself getting hot as though he was touching me there with his hands
0610K46 instead of his eyes. ^But what can you expect when you live in
0620K46 a *4chawl? $*3^*I REMEMBERED*0 how it had been when I had first
0630K46 come here from Nana*'s. $^*I had thought... how will I live here?
0640K46 ^Six of us in one room. ^The sounds that_ came from beyond the curtain
0650K46 behind which Baba and Mother slept. ^The common toilets. ^The
0660K46 smell, as if the whole building was one vast sewer. ^And everyone
0670K46 looking as complacent and satisfied as if life could offer nothing
0680K46 better. ^If only I hadn*'4t known anything better! ^If only
0690K46 Nana hadn*'4t taken us away! $^*I had been three and Rekha six when
0700K46 we had gone to_ live with Nana in Poona. ^*Nana had a chemist*'s
0710K46 shop and lived... ^Oh, it was Heaven compared to this *4chawl. ^We
0720K46 had gone to a good school where we wore beautiful uniforms of white
0730K46 with coloured sashes and black shoes. ^Now it all seems a dream.
0740K46 $"^How could you have married Baba and got into this mess?" ^*I
0750K46 had asked Mother in one of our rare moments of cordiality. $"^*I
0760K46 mean, look at the way Nana lived and look at this!" $^Mother*'s face
0770K46 had closed up even more than usual and she had said nothing. ^But
0780K46 my question had been purely rhetorical. ^*I had learnt the answer long
0790K46 back. ^Unlikely, improbable, and fantastic though it now seemed,
0800K46 Baba, that_ dull man, and Mother that_ bitter, angry woman had
0810K46 fallen in love and got married in spite of Nana*'s disapproval. $^And
0820K46 then there was one daughter. ^And then another. ^And Baba, who had
0830K46 started as a postal clerk, continued to_ be a postal clerk. ^And
0840K46 then, when a third child, a son, was born, Nana had relented and
0850K46 taken Rekha and me away. ^But, of course, he had to_ die, and we had
0860K46 to_ come back to this hell. ^Where you open the door and everyone
0870K46 anyone can look inside. ^Where nothing is private, not even
0880K46 your thoughts. ^Where the boys and girls, stupid, mindless robots
0890K46 are interested in nothing but movies, clothes and each other*'s
0900K46 bodies. ^And God knows if we*'3ll ever get out. ^And Rekha says,
0910K46 "What*'1s wrong?" $"*3^*YOU*'3LL*0 never get out, Rekha," I had
0920K46 told her pityingly, confident I would get out myself. "^Look at the
0930K46 kind of husbands they*'3re trying to_ get for you. ^All the same sort.
0940K46 ^All clerks. ^And you*'3ll marry one of them and live in another
0950K46 *4chawl like this all your life and have three or four children.
0960K46 ^Like Mother. ^And one day, they*'3ll become clerks too, by the
0970K46 grace of God. ^Oh God!" $^And then Rekha, dull, stupid, slow Rekha
0980K46 had said something that_ had shaken me. "^But Alka, why do you
0990K46 think of them as clerks? ^They*'3re also people." $^And I had cried
1000K46 out, "^You don*'4t understand. ^*I don*'4t mean they*'3re no good
1010K46 because they*'3re clerks. ^*I mean their type. ^*I mean, look
1020K46 at them! ^How dull they are! ^How dull they look!" $^It had been
1030K46 a despairing cry because I had known no one would understand. ^Surely
1040K46 there is something more to life than this; something beyond
1050K46 and above this shoddy way of living? $"^The trouble is," Mother had
1060K46 said scornfully, "you don*'4t know what you want. ^You only know
1070K46 what you don*'4t want." $^It*'s not true. ^*I do know what
1080K46 I want. ^*I want to_ go to college. ^Attend lectures and take down
1090K46 notes. ^And read and read and read. ^Pass exams with distinction.
1100K46 ^Go abroad for further studies. ^Come back and take up a job.
1110K46 ^Put up my hair and wear glasses and crisp ironed sarees like the
1120K46 girl I see at the bus stop every day. ^Marry (what kind of a man? the
1130K46 face is a blur.) and never quarrel with only a curtain between
1140K46 us and the children. ^And live in a house with a room of my own. ^A
1150K46 house that_ smells nice. ^And have clothes of my own, not wear things
1160K46 out of a general pool... $^All dreams. ^But more real than reality
1170K46 itself. ^Now... they were not even dreams. ^Only bubbles, like
1180K46 the ones children blow out of soapy water. ^Rainbow coloured, ethereally
1190K46 beautiful when they go up in the air. ^Then in a moment... nothing.
1200K46 ^Just nothing. $*3^*I LOOKED*0 back not with regret, but with
1210K46 shame. ^*I*'d been childish. ^Dreaming of impossible things. ^*I*'3ve
1220K46 got to_ be more realistic. ^Keep my feet on the ground. ^No,
1230K46 on the cracked cement floor of this dirty *4chawl. ^Where I belong.
1240K46 ^And where I*'3m trapped for ever and ever. ^*I*'3ll be a
1250K46 typist now. ^Nothing more. ^*I*'3ll never be like that_ girl on the
1260K46 bus stop. $^In any case how could I have been like her? ^*I, with
1270K46 my dark complexion, my long nose, my flat figure? $^*I often looked
1280K46 at myself in the mirror, in stealth of course, willing myself to_
1290K46 look like the girl on the bus stop. ^But the face that_ looked back,
1300K46 sullen and dark, was Alka*'s and no one else*'s. ^*Alka with
1310K46 better brains than all the rest of the family put together. ^*Alka
1320K46 who was to_ become a typist.
1330K46 $"^*I can*'4t force you, Alka, I know that_. ^But jobs
1340K46 like these are hard to_ get. ^It*'1s Patkar*'s goodwill that_
1350K46 has given us this chance. ^He knows how hard pressed I am, specially
1360K46 since Shirish fell ill. ^*I wish I could send you to_ college..."
1370K46 $^*I could feel the pit yawning in front of me. ^Just a week more
1380K46 for my results. ^And then... $^And then the world has shattered, with
1390K46 a shocking impact. ^Breaking, not into pieces, but into dust. ^Into
1400K46 nothingness. $^The door opened. ^Two men. ^*Baba*'s colleagues,
1410K46 entered awkwardly, with shocked faces. ^And then, pandemonium and
1420K46 hysteria. $^How old was he? ^Only 45? ^Too young to_ die. ^It
1430K46 was the first heart attack. ^No, the second. ^It seems he had one
1440K46 before and never told. ^Poor man to_ go so fast. ^What about the family?
1450K46 ^Isn*'4t there anything for them? ^So little? ^Three girls
1460K46 to_ get married? ^And the boy... how sad! ^How irresponsible to_
1470K46 have a large family in such circumstances. ^*Baba.. what*'2s
1480K46 happened to my Baba? ^Hush, Shobha, don*'4t cry like that_
1490K46 or you*'3ll start Mother all over again. ^*Shirish, let me do that_
1500K46 for you. ^No, I want Baba. ^*I don*'4t want you. ^Thank God.
1510K46 ^*Alka*'1s taking up a job. ^Imagine he was thinking of sending her
1520K46 to college! $*3^A FAILURE,*0 I thought. ^A failure.
1530K46 ^He couldn*'4t even struggle with death. ^Just went out meekly.
1540K46 ^He lived and he died a failure. ^What*'1s left? ^Nothing.
1550K46 ^Only duties incompleted, **[sic**] responsibilities badly shouldered
1560K46 and empty tears. ^There was no pity in me for him. ^Only contempt. ^*God,
1570K46 let me not live like that_. ^Let me not die like that_, having
1580K46 achieved nothing, been nothing. ^Not even knowing that
1590K46 your life was nothing. ^There was nothing left of him afterwards.
1600K46 ^Not even thoughts and words. ^Not once that_ I could say..
1610K46 ^My Baba said this. ^He said nothing that_ was not trivial, did nothing
1620K46 that_ had any meaning. ^*I searched and searched the whole
1630K46 of his life for any meaning and didn*'4t find it. ^And what I
1640K46 felt was a cold fear... will this happen to me too? $^When all
1650K46 the noise had died down, I realised what had happened. ^My last way
1660K46 of escape had been closed up. ^*I would never get out of the trap
1670K46 now. ^*I had to_ shoulder his burdens. ^*I would go on doing it till
1680K46 I died. ^A huge anger filled me. ^He wronged me by dying. ^He continued
1690K46 to_ wrong me even after his death. ^There was no help for me.
1700K46 ^There are no fairy godmothers and rich uncles in real life. ^Not even
1710K46 a God. ^It makes me laugh when people talk of a god. ^How childish...
1720K46 a benign, bearded figure up there who looks after all of
1730K46 us. ^All nonsense, there*'1s no God. ^Only us. $*3^IT*0 was a
1740K46 month later that I came upon his battered briefcase I had seen him
1750K46 carry to_ work everyday of his life.*#
        **[no. of words = 02015**]

        **[txt. k47**]
0010K47 **<*3The Carnival*0**> $*3^IT*0 was the hour before sunset when
0020K47 all things appear golden. ^The crowded streets and buildings, greying
0030K47 with age, took on a mellow look. ^It was closing time for the
0040K47 large offices of the business and commercial area. ^As the great metropolis
0050K47 lining the sea straddled north to south, the traffic now
0060K47 was all towards the north. ^The cars and buses filled with people
0070K47 wending their way home, crawled towards the north-- towards the
0080K47 residential areas of the city, and the distant, far-flung suburbs.
0090K47 ^The red buses, doubledecker and trailer, were overheavy with passengers,
0100K47 some hanging on straps-- balancing and hanging on to dear
0110K47 life as long as the leather or rexin straps held their weight. ^Motor
0120K47 cycles and scooters flashed by like exotic red, yellow, blue and
0130K47 green birds winging and picking their perilous way in between
0140K47 the moving mass of bigger vehicles. ^*Nature*'s roar, the
0150K47 sea dashed its restless waves against the tetropods curbing it, with
0160K47 little chance of being heard against the manmade, frenzied welter
0170K47 and confusion of traffic. $^Old Amai Hormusjee sat at the window
0180K47 of her apartment on the fifth floor of a tall, dingy building, looking
0190K47 at the distant horizon where the sky and sea met. ^The old
0200K47 lady was listless and the beauty of the scene made her more sad.
0210K47 $^The noise and clatter of crockery being washed in the sink,
0220K47 filtered through the kitchen door to her room. ^The children were
0230K47 all excited as they were being taken to the carnival that_ evening.
0240K47 ^It was being held a couple of miles away along the seashore.
0250K47 ^Every year it was held-- a vast open-air celebration-- at the end of
0260K47 the monsoons. ^How gaily the children chattered while dressing
0270K47 to_ go out with their mother. ^They reminded old Amai of a flock
0280K47 of bright birds gathering together to_ peck corn. ^The youngest,
0290K47 a boy of six, peeped into the room and said, "^Why don*'4t you come
0300K47 with us grandma? ^*I*'3m sure you*'3ll enjoy yourself there." ^Enjoy--
0310K47 of course she would. ^Didn*'4t she always like carnivals?
0320K47 ^How exciting to_ watch the children on the merry-go-round and the
0330K47 giant-wheel! ^What joy to_ share ice-cream candy floss and popcorn
0340K47 with them! $^Before she could reply, her daughter-in-law*'s
0350K47 voice could be heard. "^Don*'4t ask grandma, Bomi," Hilla was telling
0360K47 the child. "^She gets tired easily. ^We should not drag her
0370K47 to the carnival." $^What cheek! she had not even been asked whether
0380K47 she would like to_ go with them. ^She felt angry at being ignored.
0390K47 ^How frustrating old age was! ^One could not go out anywhere
0400K47 alone. ^One had to_ depend on someone always-- someone younger
0410K47 and stronger. ^Two drops of tears pricked her eyes, but she wiped
0420K47 them quickly, before the child could see. ^*Bomi would be startled
0430K47 and tell his mother who would then tell her version to his father.
0440K47 ^Arguments and counter arguments would snowball into recriminations
0450K47 and resentments which would make everyone unhappy. $^Soon
0460K47 the children were ready. ^*Hilla too was dressed in one of
0470K47 her better pantsuits-- the one she wore for the parties at the office
0480K47 where she worked. $"^You can heat up the morning*'s leftovers
0490K47 for dinner. ^Don*'4t wait for us. ^We will eat a lot up there," she
0500K47 said carelessly as she left for the front door, dragging her youngest
0510K47 son who had lingered to_ wave a farewell to his grandma. ^The child
0520K47 kept looking back, unable to_ comprehend the current of hostility
0530K47 between the two women. ^The older children had adjusted themselves
0540K47 to the situation. ^Both did not question or protest at the old
0550K47 woman being left out of most family outings and visits. $^The door
0560K47 banged shut. ^The tears now flowed freely. ^She gazed with glazed,
0570K47 unseeing eyes, the crowds of people hurrying to the carnival. ^It
0580K47 was indeed a glorious evening. ^It brought back sharply to her mind
0590K47 a similar evening years back, when she had been a gay, young bride.
0600K47 ^Amai had been a very pretty girl with charming manners. ^At the
0610K47 *3*4navjot*0 ceremony of her elder sister*'s son and daughter, she
0620K47 had met her future husband. ^*Albless Baug, where the function
0630K47 was being held, had not seen a more elegant crowd. ^The whole place
0640K47 was decorated with palm leaves and fern. ^The fragrant smell of burnt
0650K47 sandalwood permeated the air. ^The old *3*4agiary*0 was well
0660K47 attended by all the leading Parsi families. ^This was during the halcyon
0670K47 days of the Parsi community whose members guided the destiny
0680K47 of the city and controlled its trade, commerce and industry. ^They
0690K47 were influential eldermen and important members of the municipal
0700K47 council whose hands were seen in all the good works of the city.
0710K47 ^The many statues of these able philanthropists, still standing,
0720K47 are a testimony to those palmy days. $^*Jamshed had attended the function
0730K47 with his parents. ^He had been captivated by her good looks
0740K47 and had sent his parents, much against their will, to_ ask for her
0750K47 hand the very next day. ^*Amai*'s family had made a big fuss. $"^He
0760K47 is not a Dastur," her father had objected. "^No Dastur should marry
0770K47 outside." $^The old man*'s word was law to his five older children
0780K47 who held him in awe and were terrified of disobeying him. ^So
0790K47 much so, that Dorab and Tehmurasp had remained bachelors. ^*Freny
0800K47 had long ago resigned herself to being a spinster, having found
0810K47 no suitable Dastur for wedlock. ^Only Cawas and Naju had been
0820K47 able to_ marry Dastur spouses. ^And it was Naju*'s children*'s
0830K47 *3*4navjot*0 ceremony. ^*Amai, the sixth child and youngest daughter
0840K47 of her father, looked ravishing in her pink and gold sari with
0850K47 its scallopped border of intricate *4zari embroidery. ^She had
0860K47 always been wilful and longed to_ get away from her father*'s control.
0870K47 ^In spite of protests and threats, she came away from her parents*'
0880K47 house and married the waiting Jamshed. ^For this action,
0890K47 she was cut off by her parents, brothers and sisters. ^Alone in the
0900K47 world, having made history and caused a flutter in many a Parsi
0910K47 dove-cote, she clung to her adoring husband like an exotic orchid drawing
0920K47 upon the life blood of the host tree for its sustenance. ^*Jamshed
0930K47 was a willing slave to all her whims and fancies. ^How she had lorded
0940K47 it over him and what a charming life they had led! $^Her husband*'s
0950K47 mother had been a fiercely independent woman. ^She had ruled the
0960K47 roost and her father-in-law was a mere figurehead. ^When he died,
0970K47 the old lady had tried to_ find solace in the companionship of her
0980K47 only son. ^On one such sunny day as this, Jamshed had suggested
0990K47 going to the carnival. ^He had asked his mother to_ accompany them.
1000K47 ^At the last moment Amai had whispered that she did not want the old
1010K47 lady to_ come. ^He had been annoyed, but, being very much in love
1020K47 with her, had made some excuse to his mother. ^His mother at once understood
1030K47 that her son had been tutored by his wife. ^From that_ day
1040K47 she never came with them anywhere. ^She was rich enough to_ have a car
1050K47 for her own use and a chaffeur to_ drive it. ^As she had a few close
1060K47 friends, she looked to them for company. ^*Jamshed had always
1070K47 been a gay fellow, Amai recollected ruefully. ^Too fond of entertaining,
1080K47 too fond of rich food and drinks. ^They had been perpetually
1090K47 involved in a social whirl of teas, lunches and dinners. ^She had hardly
1100K47 found time to_ be with her small son who came on the scene later
1110K47 on. ^*Rustom had been a sweet, amiable child. ^*Jamshed had resented
1120K47 his arrival. ^She remembered how irritated he had been when
1130K47 he found that she could not accompany him to all the parties or entertain
1140K47 at home during the later stages of her pregnancy. $^Somehow
1150K47 he had blamed it all on the child. ^As soon as she was up and able
1160K47 to_ go about, he saw to it that the child did not interfere in their
1170K47 activities. ^He appointed a nurse and an *4ayah and kept the child
1180K47 apart in a different wing of their mansion. ^She saw her baby only
1190K47 once in a while, Amai recollected. ^The only true affection the
1200K47 boy received was from his grandmother, who often went and coddled him
1210K47 in his room. ^Unfortunately the old lady had died when the boy
1220K47 was four years old. ^The next two years had been sheer misery
1230K47 to him, Amai thought now with regret. ^She should have given him the
1240K47 mother*'s love that_ he missed. ^He had looked so lost and lonely.
1250K47 ^He threw tantrums and disobeyed the servants. ^It was then
1260K47 that Jamshed decided to_ take action. ^He had sent Rustom away
1270K47 to a boarding school. ^They rarely had time to_ see him. $^Old
1280K47 Amai continued sitting bunched up at the fifth floor window,
1290K47 looking at the past and hardly aware of the noise and clamour of
1300K47 the present, in the street below. ^The happenings of a bygone day
1310K47 seemed more real to her. ^How Rustom had protested when despatched
1320K47 to that_ school in the hills. ^Luckily he had been a clever, hardworking
1330K47 boy, scholarly and interested in his lessons. ^He grew
1340K47 up into a diligent and earnest young man in spite of his parents*'
1350K47 neglect. ^It was a good thing that the boy grew into such a man,
1360K47 because in course of time, her husband, who had always lived too well,
1370K47 squandered away all his wealth. ^The high living told on his
1380K47 health. ^He suddenly suffered an apoplectic attack and died, leaving
1390K47 his wife and son in straitened circumstances. $^*Amai recalled
1400K47 how difficult it had been to_ dodge their creditors in the early
1410K47 days of her widowhood. ^*Rustom had been in the final year of his
1420K47 studies. ^She had had to_ sell all the treasures which the family had
1430K47 acccumulated. ^The palatial mansion in which the family and
1440K47 its ancestors had lived for more than half a century was heavily
1450K47 mortgaged and there had been no means to_ redeem it. ^The society
1460K47 in which they had whirled about in such gay abandon, had been
1470K47 all agog with excitement. ^Was it really true that Jamshed Daruwalla
1480K47 had left his wife high and dry? ^Was she really so broke that
1490K47 she had to_ part with all her personal jewellery? ^She had felt so
1500K47 ashamed. ^The pendulum had swung. ^She had had to_ face poverty. ^If
1510K47 only she had been wise and conserved some of her resources....
1520K47 if only she had not been such a giddy butterfly.... if only.... if
1530K47 only.... ^Her thoughts went round and round, hounds chasing their tails.
1540K47 $^Somehow they had scraped through and Rustom had got a job. ^Now
1550K47 he earned just enough to_ keep them all in this small, cramped
1560K47 flat. ^Her daughter-in-law always seemed to_ be accusing her of squandering
1570K47 away their ancestral wealth. ^She did not actually say
1580K47 so, but the subtle hints she threw now and then, made Amai feel
1590K47 uncomfortable. ^She seemed to_ say, but for your foolishness, we
1600K47 could have lived in a bigger apartment. ^*I could have stayed at home
1610K47 and looked after the children. ^*I need not have been compelled to_
1620K47 work. $^*Rustom had met Hilla in his office. ^She was a stenographer.
1630K47 ^He had been impressed with her efficiency and neat personality.
1640K47 ^When he decided to_ marry her, he told his mother and brought
1650K47 her home to_ meet her. ^*Amai had been pleased that her son was
1660K47 marrying a working girl. ^They would be able to_ live a little better
1670K47 now. ^But things did not happen that_ way. ^*Hilla was a very careful
1680K47 girl and did not indulge in luxuries. ^She held a tight rein on
1690K47 the household budget. ^She knew enough of her husband*'s mother
1700K47 to_ be extra careful with what they both earned. $^As she recollected
1710K47 the various incidents of her long life, Amai felt extremely
1720K47 sorry for herself. ^What was the use of dwelling on past glory? ^Memories
1730K47 only brought regrets. ^Today*'s disappointment was a fitting
1740K47 denouncement to her past. ^She chided herself for her weakness.
1750K47 ^Didn*'4t she deserve what she got?*#
        **[no. of words = 02012**]

        **[txt. k48**]
0010K48 **<*3THE SUMMER I WAS SEVENTEEN*0**>
0020K48 $*3^SIXTEEN*0 summers were over. ^Just as my grandmother had predicted
0030K48 I was beautiful and happy. ^There was nothing that_ I wanted; Pretty
0040K48 clothes, a lovely home, warm hearted people around me and plenty of
0050K48 everything. ^*I was acutely aware of a commotion in the English
0060K48 class. ^It was because of me. ^Someone had come to_ fetch me. ^But
0070K48 why?..... ^My mother was dead.... $^At home the house was crowded.
0080K48 ^Getting over the initial shock I lay crumpled in a heap on my bed
0090K48 and wept. ^People fussed over me and consoled me. ^In a short while
0100K48 I was forgotten. ^Ladies were sitting in groups and whispering.
0110K48 ^What I heared seemed unbelievable at first. ^They said that my
0120K48 mother had died of a broken heart due to neglect on my father*'s part.
0130K48 ^They said that she had come as a vivacious bride bubbling with youth
0140K48 and health and she had faded away day by day, year by year. $^*I told
0150K48 myself that they were all mad. ^They knew nothing about us. ^Dad had
0160K48 doted on us, on my mother and we his three children. ^They did not know
0170K48 of the happiness we shared-- the exciting excursions, the tender humour
0180K48 filled meal times, the wonderful sense of togetherness that_ prevailed
0190K48 our home. ^*I didn*'4t mind the gossiping, I turned aside and sobbed
0200K48 some more. $^Something was still wrong. ^People came
0210K48 and went, frantic phone calls were being made. ^When I asked my sister
0220K48 what it was all about, she told me very tenderly that daddy was not
0230K48 at home. ^They could not locate him. ^He was out with a team of social
0240K48 workers surveying a flood stricken area. ^Dad was a political
0250K48 figure. ^Had been one for many years. ^Unstintingly he gave himself
0260K48 to the poor, the jobless, the backward classes. ^He presided over
0270K48 functions, addressed gatherings and arranged meetings. ^We were held
0280K48 in high esteem because of him. $*3^THE*0 bishop gave a grand
0290K48 funeral oration. ^The food minister also made a speech. ^*I did
0300K48 not know then, but such things did wonders to daddy*'s ego. ^Grandfather
0310K48 made a speech too. ^He spoke of mummy*'s unstinting love for
0320K48 her home and her family, of her humility and her patience. ^She
0330K48 had nothing else to_ be credited for. $^The days that_ followed
0340K48 cannot be described. ^*I think none of us had realised how mother
0350K48 had kept the love light shining in our home. ^Daddy was lucky.
0360K48 ^He had his meetings and his social work to_ keep him busy. ^He
0370K48 did not notice the yawning void that_ filled our home, gnawed at our
0380K48 hearts and tormented our minds. ^We missed our mother as we never
0390K48 dreamt we*'1d miss her, but we missed daddy too. ^We missed him
0400K48 to distraction. $*3^IT*0 was then that I realised the heart
0410K48 breaks that_ my mother bore in silence. ^*I couldn*'4t understand
0420K48 it. ^This wander lust. ^Daddy was restless unless he was on
0430K48 the move. ^His family did not matter to him or why else did he see
0440K48 so little of us? ^There was no togetherness in our relationship.
0450K48 ^It was mother who had kept us together with her love and gentleness.
0460K48 $^For days I would weep for my father*'s company. ^Why
0470K48 didn*'4t he understand that we needed him? ^Why did it not occur to
0480K48 him that his first duty was to us and not to the people in the slums?
0490K48 ^Was his public image so important? ^Precious time was slipping.
0500K48 ^How long could we belong to one another? ^What if death came
0510K48 to_ claim him as mummy was claimed? $^*Asha tried to_ reason
0520K48 with me. "^Look Kiran" she said. "^Social service to him is
0530K48 what painting is to me and writing is to you". ^That_ pacified me
0540K48 a great deal. ^But the image that_ my mother had carved for me of
0550K48 my father gradually chipped away and lay in a crumpled mess on the floor
0560K48 of my mind. $*3^ONE*0 morning months after mummy was laid
0570K48 to rest daddy stayed home for breakfast with us. ^It gave us great
0580K48 happiness, though he was not his cheerful old self. ^During the
0590K48 meal he broke the news. ^He was getting married again for our sake.
0600K48 ^He couldn*'4t bear to_ see us wilting from lack of love (some concern
0610K48 that_). ^He felt that Asha was burdened with house management.
0620K48 ^He said little Rajeev was getting too self-willed. ^The
0630K48 rest of the meal was finished in silence. $^*I was the difficult
0640K48 one. ^*Asha said it wouldn*'4t do to_ behave so. ^Daddy was furious
0650K48 with me, she said, because I had not accepted his wife.
0660K48 ^He stayed home more often than before. ^*I stuck to college and my
0670K48 room. ^He smote me, this new daddy. ^He had not had time for
0680K48 my mother. ^He took his wife to the movies. ^We accompanied them
0690K48 sometimes. ^It hurt to_ see her next to him. ^When had he last
0700K48 taken my mother to the movies? ^Her lot was cooking, washing
0710K48 scrubbing and minding the old homestead. ^Now we had a cook, a gardener,
0720K48 an odd job boy and a washer-woman. ^Oh, the irony of it all!
0730K48 $^One nihgt my stepmother came to my room. ^*I was reading.
0740K48 ^Her shadow fell across my book. ^*I looked up, she was gazing
0750K48 at me kindly. "^You must not grieve so," she told me. ^In that_
0760K48 moment I do not know what got into me but I held her hands and wept.
0770K48 ^*I wept for my mother. ^*I wept as I had never wept before.
0780K48 ^*I wept to_ think that my mother never had the courage to_ ask
0790K48 for what she longed. $^Not grand things.
0800K48 ^Just little of Dad*'s companionship; for a little more of his
0810K48 love, for rest when she was tired, for recreation when she was bored, for
0820K48 togetherness when she was all alone. ^*I wept with wonder at her
0830K48 simple faith in my father and her hope that he would change into a home
0840K48 loving person. ^Step-mother stroked my hair. ^She was a good
0850K48 woman, I thought, and a clever one, I do not know when I fell asleep.
0860K48 $*3^MY*0 seventeenth summer was coming close. ^*I had grown
0870K48 up in leaps and bounds that_ year. ^Many of life*'s realities became
0880K48 easier to_ grasp. ^Then I met Rahul. ^As our acquintance grew and
0890K48 blossomed into love, my distrust in men vanished into thin air. ^Life
0900K48 became exciting, meaningful, beautiful. ^*I had told him all my problems,
0910K48 my heartaches for my mother my numbness towards my father, my fear
0920K48 of life itself. ^*Rahul revealed a great many human traits to me.
0930K48 ^He seemed to_ know so many things about human behaviour. ^Though
0940K48 a large part of me was still not willing to_ forgive father I promised
0950K48 to_ try and forget. ^The world belonged to the '*3GO GETTERS*0'.
0960K48 ^Those who stand and wait may have to_ wait for ever. ^We planned
0970K48 our future, our fidelity, our mutual understanding. ^We didn*'4t
0980K48 have the same interests but we agreed to_ respect our diferent pursuits
0990K48 and we also promised that each would put the other first above all
1000K48 other things and everyone else. $"^It will work darling"
1010K48 Rahul told me tenderly "we*'3ll make it work together." $^*I sighed
1020K48 contentedly and rubbed my cheek against his collar. $"^*Tom
1030K48 cat" he whispered. ^*I laughed, then hand in hand we went in to_ tell
1040K48 Asha. ^It would be a double wedding for Asha too had found her
1050K48 true love.
1060K48 **<*3THE SCHOLAR*0**>
1070K48 $*3^IN*0 the morning *4Ma forgot to_ make my breakfast. ^So I ate
1080K48 two butter creams and a ginger biscuit. ^Later *4Didi remembered and
1090K48 made me a super omelette with cheese inside and she kissed me and said.
1100K48 "^Sorry Nitu, are you very hungry?" $^*I didn*'4t tell her
1110K48 about the biscuits because you can*'4t always trust *4Didi. ^She
1120K48 sometimes scolds and acts just like *4Ma. ^So I had my second breakfast
1130K48 and thought about Ammu. ^*Ammu is my grandma. ^She*'1s
1140K48 awfully old, has grey hair and chews *4paan and gives me *4prasad every
1150K48 morning after her *4Puja. ^But that_ morning she just lay in bed
1160K48 and *4didi who slept in her room was looking scared. *4^*Ma was boiling
1170K48 water and washing Ammu*'s face. ^Then *4Baba gave her an injection.
1180K48 ^*I closed my eyes when he pushed the needle in. ^Then *4didi
1190K48 turned and saw me and took me outside. ^She brought out my crayons
1200K48 and said. $"^Hey Nitu draw a sailboat for me." $*4^*Didi
1210K48 hadn*'4t gone to college though Miki had gone to school. ^*Miki is
1220K48 my elder brother and *4Ma wants me to_ call him *4Dada. ^*I don*44t.
1230K48 ^He keeps teasing me when I look at his comics and say I
1240K48 can*'4t read anyway. ^*I haven*'4t told him that I*'3m teaching myself
1250K48 to_ read. ^If I hadn*'4t got jaundice I would be going to the
1260K48 Nursery school by now. $*3^WHEN*0 Aunty and Uncle came, *4Baba
1270K48 and Uncle carried Ammu to his car and everyone left except *4didi
1280K48 and me. ^*I asked *4didi where they had gone but all she said was,
1290K48 "have you had breakfast?" ^Eating the omelette I asked, I*'3m
1300K48 four and I don*'4t like it when people don*'4t answer my questions.
1310K48 ^So I ask them again and again. *4^*Didi looked at me and said.
1320K48 $"^To the hospital." $"^Why?" $"^*Ammu is ill and
1330K48 the hospital has doctors. $"*4^*Baba is a doctor."
1340K48 $^She was silent for a minute and then said, "*4^*Baba doesn*'4t have
1350K48 all the medicines." $*4^*Didi moved around dusting the drawing room
1360K48 but she was very restless. ^She kept walking out to the *4verandah
1370K48 to_ look at the road. ^She didn*4t eat any breakfast. ^She
1380K48 gave me Miki*'s comics to_ look at. ^*Miki would truly kill her when
1390K48 he came back. ^*I drew a pink flower in one of his fighter bomber
1400K48 comics. $^Uncle and aunty came back. ^We heard the taxi and
1410K48 *4didi rushed to the gate. ^Uncle said it was a "crisis but don*'4t
1420K48 worry" and that it was a heart attack." ^*I asked him what an
1430K48 "attack" was and he frowned looking down at me and said. "^What are
1440K48 you doing here? ^Go play in the garden." $^Later after lunch
1450K48 when *4Ma came back I asked her about the attack. ^She said it
1460K48 was chest pain and that Ammu had them. ^*Miki came back and *4Ma
1470K48 talked to him in the bedroom. ^He looked terribly serious and was
1480K48 asking *4Ma a lot of questions. *4^*Ma said, "^*I don*'4t know.
1490K48 ^You*'3ll have to_ ask *4Baba". $*3^THAT_*0 afternoon Miki
1500K48 did not go out on his special speed bike. ^At night I told him
1510K48 about the flower I drew in his comic book. ^He said I could take
1520K48 the comic if I wanted to_. ^*I thought Miki was scared too, like
1530K48 *4Didi. *4^*Baba and Ammu did not come back that_ night.
1540K48 ^*I slept with Miki as *4Ma was sleeping on the sofa near the telephone.
1550K48 $^Then every morning *4didi made the breakfast for Miki and
1560K48 me. ^She is pretty good with eggs but I think *4Ma is better.
1570K48 *4^*Didi*'s cooking took awfully long and Miki would keep jumping
1580K48 around outside the kitchen and saying, "*4^*Didi I*'3m late.
1590K48 ^O God the bus*'3ll go," and *4didi would get angry. *4^*Ma was always
1600K48 rushing to the hospital and to the shops and cooking lunch.
1610K48 *4^*Baba was hardly ever home. ^Twice we had baked beans for dinner.
1620K48 ^*Miki says baked beans are "cowboy grub" and "real good stuff."
1630K48 ^Sometimes aunty came with food but we didn*'4t like them much.
1640K48 $^Aunty can*'4t cook and one evening Miki ate the vegetables she*'d
1650K48 made and said "^Yetch" and *4didi hit him. ^Aunty said, "^*I
1660K48 know it*'1s awful but you*'3ll have to_ eat it." $^People would
1670K48 ring up all the time and *4Ma would say, "^She*'1s still in crisis."
1680K48 ^*I spent a lot of time in the garden reading Miki*'s comics.
1690K48 ^*I was teaching myself to_ read but no one knew of it. *4^*Ma had
1700K48 taught me upto the cat, rat and bed, get page in the spelling book.
1710K48 ^But now I could read much more. ^The sun on the page sometimes
1720K48 made me sleep. ^It was a nice sleepiness. ^There were words
1730K48 I could read but didn*'4t understand like 'alibis' and 'spy' and how
1740K48 does one say 'blistering bernacles' or 'thundering typhoons'?*#
        **[no. of words = 02036**]

        **[txt. k49**]
0010K49 **<*3A Living Death*0**> $*3^IN*0 this place too Suman
0020K49 does not feel quite at home; she feels drained out all the time.
0030K49 "^You should put on weight," the doctor tells her. "^*I find
0040K49 you*'3re instead losing weight day by day. ^Go out for a walk
0050K49 ^Others do, ^Why don*'4t you? ^You don*'4t take your medicine on
0060K49 time, nor do you chat with others. ^A little gossip now and then
0070K49 should help to_ divert your mind." $^But she never pays any heed
0080K49 to what the doctor says. ^There is a letter from mother almost
0090K49 every week, each letter saying the same thing over and over again.
0100K49 ^Her father writes long letters to her, making a critical probe
0110K49 into the state of her health and extensively dwelling on the line of
0120K49 treatment. ^It beats her completely how, not being a doctor
0130K49 himself, he can analyse the doctor*'s findings. ^His being rated
0140K49 high as a lawyer does not entitle him to_ encroach on another*'s
0150K49 profession. ^Every month Ajju sends her some money from his
0160K49 allowance and warns her not to_ tell father about it. ^In his letters
0170K49 he frequently mentions that with her going away, the house feels
0180K49 lonely and forlorn and assures her that he will visit her at least
0190K49 once during his vacation. ^Would she like him to_ send her some
0200K49 interesting books? $^Her eyesight has become dim and everything
0210K49 looks hazy to her. ^She keeps counting on her fingers. ^How much
0220K49 more time must pass before the year runs out? $^When the year
0230K49 is over, Thakur *4Saheb, whom she calls uncle, will hold
0240K49 the death anniversary and make oblations to the shades of the dead
0250K49 while Aunt Kosi will take her holy bath before sunrise and make
0260K49 the offering of a *4chappati to the cow. ^In her eyes there will
0270K49 be the fading red of the evening sky. $^One hand resting upon
0280K49 the other, Thakur *4Saheb heaves a deep sigh and keeps looking
0290K49 into the distance as if searching for something there. "^*Anant*'s
0300K49 mother, by dying he has become immortal," he says. "^Why do you
0310K49 trouble his soul by shedding tears over his passing away?" ^Then
0320K49 he mumbles, as if talking to himself, "^The wretch, he has
0330K49 betrayed me in my old age. ^He must have settled scores with me
0340K49 for some misdeeds of my past life." $"^*Anant, don*'4t tell lies.
0350K49 ^Tell me the truth. ^Do you ever get hiccups? ^Do you have to_
0360K49 do parade every day?" $"^Yes, everyday." $"^And you have to_ do
0370K49 mountain climbing too?" $"^Yes, that_ too." $"^It must be awfully
0380K49 tiring, making your knees wobbly with pain?" $^He looked
0390K49 at her and nodded. $"^And when you*'3re tired, I mean, when
0400K49 you*'3re exhausted with fatigue..." she abruptly stopped speaking.
0410K49 $"^Yes?" $"^Oh, it*'1s nothing" $^She started laughing though
0420K49 he could see no reason for it. $"^Sometimes I seem to_ go nuts,"
0430K49 she said. "^*I sit alone and keep brooding for hours till I
0440K49 feel like crying. ^You*'3re heartless. ^Why did you call me 'cat'
0450K49 in your last letter? ^Care to_ have a *4paan?" $"^No." $"^Why
0460K49 not? ^When you were here you used to_ take *4paan everyday." $"^*I*'3ve
0470K49 given up *4paan chewing. ^It*'1s bad for the teeth. ^Cadets..."
0480K49 $"^Are cadets not human beings?" $"^Yes, that_*'1s what I really
0490K49 mean. ^They are human beings, not animals. ^They don*'4t chew
0500K49 the cud." $^*Suman did not feel peeved at being vanquished: she
0510K49 felt rather pleased. ^How clever he had become! ^He had
0520K49 come after a long time and in his absence she had also changed
0530K49 a lot. ^Sometimes when she lapsed into a thoughtful mood she
0540K49 looked mature beyond her years. $^She held out a *4paan before
0550K49 him. "^Please..." $^Without further ado Anant took the *4paan
0560K49 from her and put it into his mouth. $"^Are there no *4paan shops
0570K49 in Dehra Dun?" $"^Of course, there are," Anant laughed. "^Lots
0580K49 and lots of them. ^Why not come to Dehra Dun and have a look for
0590K49 yourself?" $"^*I like Dehra Dun." $"^Have you ever been there?"
0600K49 $"^No but I know I*'3ll like it. ^Sometimes one likes a place
0610K49 even without having visited it." $^They moved away from the *4paan
0620K49 shop. $"^Last month someone mailed me a love letter," Suman
0630K49 said, as if speaking to herself. $"^Really? ^Who?" $"^A classmate of
0640K49 mine." $"^What did he write?" $"^A lot of interesting things." $"^They
0650K49 must have done your heart good. ^*I mean you must have felt
0660K49 fine." $"^No, I didn*'4t like the letter." $"^Did it make you angry?"
0670K49 $"^No, not angry either. ^In fact, I felt nothing. ^Believe
0680K49 me, it*'1s God*'s truth." $"^You*'3re indeed a strange creature--
0690K49 that you should feel nothing." $^Subsequently, Anant visited
0700K49 Delhi two or three times. ^But on completion of his training, when
0710K49 he passed through Delhi on a week*'s joining time she happened
0720K49 to_ be away at Pushkar with her grandfather. ^It was in Rajasthan
0730K49 that she saw camels running on sand for the first time. $^When
0740K49 she returned, her mother told her that Anant had called in her
0750K49 absence and shown her a camera which took coloured photographs. ^He
0760K49 had fixed some coloured photographs in her album. ^When she
0770K49 took out the album to_ examine the photographs, she found that one of
0780K49 her passport size photographs was missing. $^A few months later
0790K49 she received a letter from Anant, which said little to any purpose,
0800K49 but was loaded with such inanities as that she should apply her mind
0810K49 to studies, that she should try to_ do without *4paan if she could,
0820K49 and what she proposed doing after her examination, and so
0830K49 on. ^She remembered that he had also written her a letter on her passing
0840K49 her Matriculation. ^Then there had been a long gap followed
0850K49 by another letter. $^She counted on her fingers. ^Yes, that_ was
0860K49 the one. $"^*I*'3ll complete one year*'s duty in December
0870K49 and then come home on leave. ^*I*'3m thinking of going to Nainital
0880K49 to_ see the winter snow. ^Why don*'4t you come along? ^It will
0890K49 be such fun. ^*I*'3ve already made up my mind. ^Tell me, if
0900K49 I make you a lieutenant*'s wife without any effort on your part,
0910K49 how will you reward me for it?" $^When Anant came home on vacation
0920K49 and bragged about the Army people, she said that she did not
0930K49 like Army folk. ^They were so rough. $"^Maybe," Anant had replied
0940K49 in a matter of fact voice. "^But tell me, why do you keep your
0950K49 hair unkempt-- like a lunatic? ^Why don*'4t you tie it in a bun like
0960K49 a civilised girl? ^You should wear a matching blouse with your
0970K49 *4saree. ^The lieuienant I*'3ve been telling you about has an aversion
0980K49 for untidy persons. ^You must pay heed to what the future
0990K49 \0C-in-C of India says. ^Go and spruce yourself up. ^We*'3re
1000K49 going to the pictures." $^She lingered at the door and looked
1010K49 back. "^*I also keep persons of such type at arm*'s length,"
1020K49 she said. "^*I*'3m cut out to_ be a school mistress. ^You*'3ll
1030K49 help me to_ get a teacher*'s job, won*'4t you?" $"^If it*'1s
1040K49 a job you*'3re hankering after, what stands in your way of serving
1050K49 a lieutenant? ^Ten rupees a month. ^Food and clothing free!"
1060K49 ^*Suman made a face at him. "^You think that_*'1s all a nice girl
1070K49 like me deserves to_ get? ^You should feel ashamed of yourself."
1080K49 $"^You call yourself nice?" ^*Anant ran to her and pulled at her unkempt
1090K49 hair. "^Leave me alone you brute! ^You*'3ve messed up my
1100K49 hair. ^Is this what they teach you at the Academy?" ^Her face
1110K49 had turned the colour of *4sindoor. ^She wiped it with the *4anchal
1120K49 of her *4saree and ran away. $^*Suman has brought that_
1130K49 old album with her and keeps her eyes glued to it, unaware of the
1140K49 passage of time. ^Her mind feels cramped between the narrow walls.
1150K49 ^The medicine bottles lie on the table by her side in complete
1160K49 disarray and their smell makes Suman feel uneasy. $^She rises
1170K49 from her bed and, walking to the verandah on her bare feet, leans
1180K49 against a pillar. ^The rain which has been falling incessantly
1190K49 for the past seven days has ceased, but the sky is still murky like
1200K49 a muddy pool and the day is foggy. ^She can see puddles of water
1210K49 all over the place. ^The verandah looks soggy and her clothes have
1220K49 gone limp and smell of dampness. ^And yet people say that she is
1230K49 living in a nice place! $"^Sister, does the weather here never
1240K49 improve?" $^The ward sister walks past her on measured steps, without
1250K49 stopping to_ talk to her. ^After walking a few steps she looks
1260K49 back and smiles. ^*Suman has never liked her smile. $^*Suman*'s
1270K49 left foot has started swelling. ^She walks shakily with a limp and
1280K49 squirms with pain if she happens to_ put her weight on the swollen
1290K49 foot. ^Pulling up a cane chair she gingerly lowers herself into
1300K49 it as if fearing that she would sink into it, and would never be
1310K49 able to_ rise again. $^The postman seemed to_ have turned hostile
1320K49 to her, for he never brought her a letter from Anant. ^Uncle
1330K49 always looked dejected. ^In the afternoon when Aunt came to_ sit
1340K49 with mother, she suddenly burst out crying for no apparent reason.
1350K49 ^For that_ matter, Suman also felt out of sorts again for no reason
1360K49 that_ she could understand. ^Then mother*'s voice came floating above
1370K49 Aunt*'s crying: "Suman, where are you? ^*Inder has been clamouring
1380K49 for tea. ^You know the maid servant has not come today. ^All
1390K49 right clean up the kitchen, instead, I*'3ll boil the water for
1400K49 tea." $"^Mother, you keep on harping about the kitchen, while
1410K49 one military post after another is slipping out of our hands,"
1420K49 Suman said in a sharp voice. "^We are being beaten back all the
1430K49 time. ^The nation*'s prestige is at stake and you..." $^Mother
1440K49 suddenly retired into her shell, and as was her habit, she got
1450K49 down to her chores without demur. $^A babble of sounds came floating
1460K49 down to them from the other end of the road. ^Then she saw some
1470K49 people together, as if tied up in a knot, blocking the traffic
1480K49 on the road. $"^*Dhola outpost!" ^They all listened with
1490K49 bared breath. "^In spite of night long heavy shelling our *4jawans
1500K49 are holding on to this post by the skin of their teeth." $^Uncle*'s
1510K49 pupils suddenly seemed to_ disappear; only the whites showed.
1520K49 ^*Aunt swallowed hard at her food. $^Father looked lost all the
1530K49 time. ^Sitting cross legged he absent-mindedly pulled at his cigar.
1540K49 "^Today I took up a wrong line of defence," he said in a listless
1550K49 voice. "^The judge gave a decision against my client. ^*Suman,
1560K49 why do you keep clinging to the radio set day in and day out?
1570K49 **[text mutilated**]
1580K49 $"^Oh, God!" $"^What*'1s wrong with you,
1590K49 Summi? ^Why don*'4t you eat?" $"^Why do you sit alone?" $"^Your
1600K49 looks cause a scare in my heart. ^What*'1s eating you!" $"^You
1610K49 run a temperature day and night. ^The doctor says that..." $"^Why
1620K49 don*'4t you speak?" ^Doctor Ghoshal asked in his pidgin Hindustani.
1630K49 "^If you don*'4t want to_ speak, then laugh, cry, do
1640K49 anything. ^If you don*'4t it*'3ll have a bad effect on your heart."
1650K49 $^Mother clung to her and wailed. "^What*'2s happened to you,
1660K49 child?" $^*Suman*'s tongue was parched and stuck to her palate.
1670K49 ^She sat there looking utterly lost. ^Her eyes remained wide
1680K49 open and yet she seemed to_ see nothing. $^A pall of gloom seemed
1690K49 to_ be hanging over the crowd on the road. ^The windows of the house
1700K49 in front were open again through which one could see Thakur
1710K49 *4Saheb, his hand resting on his balding head. ^His interest seemed to_
1720K49 be centered on his radio set. $"^*Anant*'s mother," he said.
1730K49 "^*I*'3ve a hunch that the telegram was wrong. ^In a big battaalion
1740K49 there can be many persons of the same name. ^There can be
1750K49 some mix-up in conveying the news." $^*Aunt made no reply as if she
1760K49 had lost her power of speech. "^You*'3ve even cast away my son*'s
1770K49 clothes," she said at last in a plaintive tone. "^You should
1780K49 have left something for me to_ remember him by."*#
        **[no. of words = 02009**]

        **[txt. k50**]
0010K50 **<*3CAGES*0**> $*3^IT*0 is impossible to_ find Azad
0020K50 Maidan empty of humanity at any time. ^At 5.30 \0p.m. on a Monday
0030K50 evening, it is literally packed with a constant stream
0040K50 of people, wearily fighting their way to Churchgate station or to
0050K50 any of the Hutatma Chowk bus stops. ^Offices all around the
0060K50 Fort area vomit out their employees, and the commuters*' daily
0070K50 struggle to_ get home begins. $^The old woman tottered, hunchbacked,
0080K50 towards the 84 express queue. ^Her rheumy old eyes peered
0090K50 forward, looking for the end of the seemingly endless line.
0100K50 ^With her hunchback and her scanty grey hair slicked back with
0110K50 oil into a tight little walnut of a bun, she looked a bit like
0120K50 a tortoise, peering out of its shell with hooded eyes. ^At least so
0130K50 some smart Alec in the queue thought. ^He expressed his thought
0140K50 aloud to his miniskirted companion. ^The comparison reduced
0150K50 her to helpless giggles. $"^*Ashok, you*'3re too screamingly
0160K50 funny!" she squealed. $^It was terribly hot. ^*Sharad fanned
0170K50 himself energetically with the evening paper. ^Listlessly
0180K50 he stared at the antics of a small band of urchin children,
0190K50 trying to_ collect money by getting up a miniature circus
0200K50 on the pavement. $^He looked in irritable distaste at the old
0210K50 woman who came and stood behind him. ^She put the cloth
0220K50 bag she was carrying heavily on the pavement, took the *4pallu
0230K50 of her nine-yard *4sari in her wrinkled, age-spotted hand and
0240K50 wiped the sweat off her face. ^She groaned and muttered "Ram,!
0250K50 Ram *4deva!" ^Her joints creaked as she picked up the bag again.
0260K50 ^Her brown checked *4sari was wet across the back. "^She must have
0270K50 sweated clean through her blouse," Sharad thought, repulsed. ^She
0280K50 exuded the strange smell of age, musty and caged in.
0290K50 ^Nostrils flared, he turned away, remembering. $^He had a horror
0300K50 of old age. ^Associated it with salivating senility. ^His father
0310K50 had been like that_ until his death five months ago. ^He involuntarily
0320K50 grimaced as he remembered the quarrels he and Lila had
0330K50 had about the old man, whose doddering dependence infuriated the
0340K50 young wife. $"^Always goes on and on... complaining of this, complaining
0350K50 of that_... I tell you I cannot stand it. ^Must have his
0360K50 prayer corner separate, can*'4t eat normal food, must have
0370K50 milk... do you think this is a palace, this mingy two room
0380K50 hole, or do you get a king*'s salary that you can throw it around
0390K50 like water?" she would yell. $^Tears would fill her eyes when
0400K50 Sharad said, "^But Liloo, what am I to do? ^He brought
0410K50 me up after all." $"^Yes, and you want to_ turn me into an old hag looking
0420K50 after him," she would sob. "^Day in and day out, slaving
0430K50 away in that_ furnace of a kitchen making mashes and
0440K50 soft foods for him to_ suck at. ^You cannot even take me out to_
0450K50 see a movie-- money will flow to_ buy him expensive fruits and even
0460K50 *4pooja *4prasad. ^He is my father-in-law and I respect his
0470K50 age, but he must know the old times have passed... and I will
0480K50 not be a slave in my own house." $^Torn between the two, Sharad
0490K50 had ended up venting his irritation on both. ^He acknowledged
0500K50 that his wife should not be so impatient and intolerant, but also
0510K50 knew that the fault did not lie entirely with her. ^It was true
0520K50 that the old man still seemed to_ live in a bygone age when the daughter-in-law
0530K50 was a possession, obedient, humble and meek. $"^A merciful
0540K50 release," Sharad thought. ^Of course, he assured himself,
0550K50 he had loved the old man, but... he*'d been like a baby that_ last
0560K50 year. ^Mumbling at his food with toothless gums, overhasty
0570K50 in his childish greed, saliva dribbling over his loose lips,
0580K50 folds on his neck wobbling. $^When Sharad*'s cronies used to_ come
0590K50 over of an evening, the old man would totter to where they sat,
0600K50 and, grinning a wide toothless grin, would try to_ enter
0610K50 into their conversation, ignoring Sharad*'s hints that his presence
0620K50 was not strictly necessary. ^He used to_ love nothing better than
0630K50 for Sharad to_ sit and listen to him while he talked about
0640K50 his youth and his village and Sharad*'s mother. ^The light
0650K50 would go abruptly from his eyes when Sharad stood up and said,
0660K50 "^Yes, yes, Dada. ^Another time. ^Now I must go. ^We are going out.
0670K50 ^Your dinner is ready. ^You can eat it when you want to_." $^His
0680K50 face would then fall into lines of disappointed old age and he would
0690K50 mumble: "^Yes... yes, Sharoo. ^You go. ^You go. ^Then tomorrow
0700K50 you tell me how it was." ^But Sharad would already have left
0710K50 the room and the old man would heave a sigh and strain his dim eyes
0720K50 at his *4sloka book and, champing his loose lips, mumble his *4slokas
0730K50 in a singsong voice. $^When the old man died, Sharad thought
0740K50 proudly, I didn*'4t stint on money. ^Like an emperor*'s funeral
0750K50 it was, all the neighbours had agreed. ^He had held his head
0760K50 high, pretending not to_ hear the admiring whispers, "^Look at
0770K50 Sharad Kulkarni. ^Such a man. ^In this *4Kaliyug, see how he
0780K50 still loved his father. ^Only a clerk, like any of us. ^But see the
0790K50 incense and the flowers and all. ^Easy to_ see how much he loved the
0800K50 old man." $^*Lila too had cried aloud, so that the neighbouring
0810K50 women had hurried to_ comfort her. $"^*Oh... it is my own father who
0820K50 has died," she wailed. "^How can I stay happy now that he is gone!
0830K50 ^How empty the house will seem now without him. ^Oh Vishnu, how
0840K50 could you snatch him away?" $^Yes, it had been quite a funeral,
0850K50 Sharad thought. $^The queue inched sluggishly forward in a long,
0860K50 weary crocodile. **[sic**] ^*Sharad calculated that he might be able
0870K50 to_ catch the next bus. ^He was near the head of the queue now. ^He looked
0880K50 forward to having a nice wash, followed by an invigorating cup
0890K50 of tea once he got home. $^The urchin children had finished their
0900K50 circus act. ^Faces gleaming with tiredness they moved up and
0910K50 down the queue, with outstretched hands. ^Most people looked
0920K50 away, or pretended immense absorption in their newspapers. ^A few
0930K50 yelled at the kids. ^One or two tried to_ tease the girl. ^She dropped
0940K50 her dull, brown eyes to her inadequate *4choli, and a flush
0950K50 crept up her thin cheeks. ^He felt an impulse to_ drop a small
0960K50 coin into the girl*'s rough hand. ^But he checked the impulse
0970K50 firmly. ^He was no *4maharaja after all, that he could fling money
0980K50 around carelessly. $^The girl moved flat-footedly. ^She looked
0990K50 at the hunchback. $"*4^*Mai Mother," she pleaded. ^The old woman
1000K50 motioned her away. ^The girl bent and touched her feet. "*4^*Ma, just
1010K50 two *4paise. ^*I have not eaten the whole day." ^The old woman
1020K50 moved back as if she had been stung. "^How dare you touch me! ^Get
1030K50 away from me!" $^The girl looked at her for a moment with mournful
1040K50 cow eyes, then moved slowly away. ^*Sharad felt a flame of anger
1050K50 burn up in him. ^He had at least thought of giving the girl something.
1060K50 $"^*I didn*'4t insult her like that_ old hag," he thought.
1070K50 $^Just then a gleaming 83 drew up at the stop. ^The head of
1080K50 the queue broke into a disorderly jostle. ^First come, first
1090K50 served. ^Yells, shouts and obscenities filled the air. ^People
1100K50 standing further back yelled at people in front and the conductor yelled
1110K50 impersonally at everyone. $^A ponderous woman clcutching
1120K50 two fat children waddled in. "^Any more grandmothers, aunties,
1130K50 uncles..." the conductor queried facetiously. ^Abruptly his
1140K50 *(paan-stained*) mouth parted alarmingly in a snarl. "^No more,
1150K50 I said," he roared, then rang the bell so suddenly that the jerk of
1160K50 the bus threw all the human sardines in that_ overpacked sardine
1170K50 can helplessly together. ^Leaning over at a crazy angle, the bus wheezed
1180K50 off like a monster with asthma. $^The next bus is bound to_ be
1190K50 an 84 express, Sharad thought. ^He tapped the shoulder of the man in
1200K50 front of him. ^Fixing him with an ingratiating smile, Sharad
1210K50 murmured, "^What is the time please?" $^With a stylish flick of his
1220K50 light blue shirt cuff, the man bared a black-dialled watch. "^Seven,"
1230K50 he said distantly and, without acknowledging Sharad*'s thanks,
1240K50 turned away. $^*Sharad felt a glow of anger. ^The old woman
1250K50 had heard his question. ^Now she ventured to_ say, "*4Beta."
1260K50 ^*Sharad pretended not to_ hear her. ^He enmeshed himself in the cocoon
1270K50 of his directionless irritation. ^The voice came again, weakly insistent.
1280K50 ^A claw-like hand prodded his back. ^He turned sharply, a
1290K50 frown wrinkling his face. $"^Yes?" he asked. $"*4Beta, what is the
1300K50 time? ^When will the next bus come?" $^The wrinkled face turned
1310K50 painfully upward to_ look at him. ^Fleetingly he registered
1320K50 the thought that it must be hellishly difficult looking up when
1330K50 you couldn*'4t straighten your back. ^Ungraciously he gave her the
1340K50 time. ^The second part of her question he ignored. $^Hunger gnawed
1350K50 at him now. ^He beckoned a boy carrying a tray of nuts. ^There
1360K50 were roasted *4masala nuts and peanuts and the little yellow
1370K50 shelled nuts and the brown-jacketed tiny nuts. ^The boy kept moving
1380K50 a pot containing two sticks of wood burning in a mass of ashes
1390K50 from place to place on his tray, to_ keep the nuts warm. ^*Sharad
1400K50 ordered 30 *4paise worth of peanuts. ^With deft movements,
1410K50 the boy rolled a paper cone and filled it with two bottle-capsful
1420K50 of the nuts. ^*Sharad handed over the money and took the cone,
1430K50 ignoring the rings of dirt under the boy*'s fingernails. ^Hungrily
1440K50 he crunched the nuts, rolling their flavour around his mouth. ^The
1450K50 old woman behind him groaned softly, "^Oh Rama. ^Let the bus come.
1460K50 ^*I am so tired." $^An 84 express drew up at last. ^By the time
1470K50 Sharad entered, there was standing room only. ^The old woman tried
1480K50 to_ hoist herself onto the bus. ^Always that_ sea of jostling
1490K50 people thwarted her slow attempts. ^She clutched her cloth bag and
1500K50 tried to_ gain a foothold. ^Her back felt as if it was breaking.
1510K50 ^She was being suffocated against the gleaming red side of the bus
1520K50 by the elbowing, pressing mass of people. ^With a laugh, the conductor
1530K50 hauled her in. ^She was profuse in her thanks, but he grew impatient
1540K50 for she was blocking the entrance. $"^Now move on, move on,"
1550K50 he shouted. ^One or two people laughed. ^She muttered, painfully
1560K50 embarrassed. $"^Yes, yes *4baba, I am moving. ^*I am moving," and
1570K50 she tottered up the aisle. $^Standing room only. ^Her bent figure made
1580K50 it impossible to_ reach the deep green hanging straps. ^The jerk
1590K50 of the starting bus banged her knee painfully against a seat. ^She
1600K50 lurched, the cloth bag flying out of her grip and falling with
1610K50 a dull thump on the floor. ^Two or three potatoes rolled out of
1620K50 it. ^She bent to_ pick up the bag and almost lost her balance
1630K50 again. ^The conductor yelled from near the exit of the bus,
1640K50 "^Hey there! ^Who*'1s holding up that_ empty space? ^Move forward,
1650K50 move forward. ^This isn*'4t your house. ^Come on, now. ^Fill
1660K50 that_ gap." $^Another stop. ^The conductor turned his attention
1670K50 to the pressing mob. ^Tired commuters, faces strained with the
1680K50 weariness of a long working day, mulled around
1690K50 the entrance of the bus. $^A man picked up the old woman*'s bag
1700K50 and thrust it into her hands. "^Now move on in front. ^Don*'4t
1710K50 you see there are people outside who could come in if you*'1d fill
1720K50 this gap?" $"^My potatoes," she weakly gasped. $"^Get on," the
1730K50 passengers barked. "^Move you old one. ^Why must one so old come
1740K50 by bus?" $^She moved forward, head bent. ^She saw one of the pota
1750K50 toes kicked by a careless foot. ^Part of the skin was ripped off.
1760K50 ^The pale yellow inside showed for a minute. ^The next instant
1770K50 it was bruised black by a trampling foot. $^Standing room only. ^The
1780K50 people sitting on either side of her pretended not to_ see her. ^Else
1790K50 they*'1d feel duty bound to_ give up their seats. ^They looked
1800K50 out of the windows; they pretended to_ sleep; they stared straight
1810K50 ahead; only their fingers, beating a nervous tattoo on
1820K50 their knees betrayed their unease.*#
        **[no. of words = 02037**]

        **[txt. k51**]
0010K51 **<*3Paradise Lost*0**>
0020K51 $*3^THE*0 mid-summer heat permeated the hot upstairs lobby as Mary
0030K51 stood immobilised with despair. ^Thre was a large wet stinking patch
0040K51 of sweat covering her armpits. ^Her torn and tattered *4sari barely
0050K51 managed to_ cover her nakedness. ^Her uncouth and wild jet blackhair
0060K51 was jutting out over the edges of her dark-skinned face. ^She felt
0070K51 sick and dizzy as she helplessly witnessed the imminent collapse of
0080K51 her recently acquired paradise. $^*Suki*'s harsh words of dismissal
0090K51 buzzed through her empty head. "^Pack up things... and leave.
0100K51 ^*I can*'4t stand it anymore. ^You are doing fine.
0110K51 ^It*'s not that_. ^It*'1s the kids. ^They are driving me mad.
0120K51 ^*I am plagued with headaches-- day and night. ^Five kids running
0130K51 around, eating, sleeping, changing, bathing, in front of my house.
0140K51 ^*I wish I could keep you. ^But I just can*'4t take the brood
0150K51 any longer." $^*Mary felt like a drowning woman as the meaning
0160K51 of the forthright words pierced her desperate heart. "^Please, please
0170K51 *5mem sahib*6," she begged. "^Don*'4t send me away. ^Please,
0180K51 don*'4t send us off. the quarters are not yet ready. ^There
0190K51 is no place for the childern to_ sleep and eat. ^Once ready, things
0200K51 will be different. ^*I promise. ^*I*'3ll keep them out of your
0210K51 way. ^Just wait and see. ^After I save some money. ^*I*'3ll
0220K51 send two of them to their father in Jabalpur." $^*Suki was relentless.
0230K51 "^*I mean no ill will," she repeated as her soul was enveloped
0240K51 with anguish and pain. "^It*'1s not you who are to_ blame," she
0250K51 repeated "^It*'1s the kids. ^They are the problem." $^With these
0260K51 words Mary put her hands together piteously and cried out as though she
0270K51 would die of weeping and fear. ^Then she stooped down and touched
0280K51 Suki*'s feet. ^Her frail body was all trembling with her fear and
0290K51 anxiety. $^Her mournful beseeching touched Suki*'s heart. ^Her pathetic
0300K51 words had won. "^All right," she said condescendingly as she
0310K51 motioned for Mary to_ rise. "^Let the quarters be finished. ^Then
0320K51 I*'3ll see how things go." $^*Mary*'s swollen face and red eyes
0330K51 beamed with love and gratitude as she wiped her glistening tears with her
0340K51 dirty *4sari. "^Thank you, *5mem saheb*6. ^Thank you," she repeated
0350K51 with a grateful voice. ^The blood resumed its course through
0360K51 her thin veins. "^You won*'4t, you won*'4t, I am sure regret your
0370K51 decision." $*3^*MARY*0 was happy and elated. ^She had survived
0380K51 the first difficult crisis of her new job. ^*Suki had seriously
0390K51 threatened to_ fire her, but that_ threat had been averted, thank God.
0400K51 ^Even the thought, itself, of leaving was dreadful. ^All her
0410K51 privileges and perks gone-- money, quarters, water, food, clothes.
0420K51 ^She had been living on the road-- destitute and hungry when Suki had rescued
0430K51 her and taken her home. ^She was determined to_ never again deteriorate
0440K51 to that_ filthy state. $^Dismissing all such dire thooughts
0450K51 from her mind, she concentrated on her triumphant victory.
0460K51 ^Yet, she was filled with an ominous sense of foreboding. ^Hidden
0470K51 fears and inescapable anxieties reared their evil heads. ^How long
0480K51 would it be before she faced the next guillotine? ^Had she only succeeded
0490K51 in delaying the fatal firing squad? ^As these doubts and fears
0500K51 plagued her, she grew more and more determined to_ prevent the inexorable
0510K51 hands of fate from destroying her joy and peace. ^She would
0520K51 inveigle Suki with her hard work and utter faithfulness. ^Gradually,
0530K51 she would become indispensable. ^*Suki would grow utterly
0540K51 dependent on her and lose the will to_ escape from her wily clutches.
0550K51 $^In the coming months, Mary worked hard and laboriously to_
0560K51 ensure self-survival. ^She cooked almost all the meals and picked up
0570K51 many of Suki*'s favourite dishes. ^The children grew fond of her
0580K51 and would voluntarily hand her their hand-me-downs for her needy brood.
0590K51 ^She became a well-known figure in the area and neighbourhood
0600K51 maids often came to_ chat. ^*Suki grew generous and kind-- often bringing
0610K51 her blouse piece, *4pan and *4supari from the *4bazaar. ^When
0620K51 Suki was dressing for a special occasion, Mary would pluck jasmines
0630K51 and weave a hair-piece to_ decorate her hair-do. ^When *4Holi
0640K51 came, she brought two money plants for Suki and wished her prosperity
0650K51 and wealth in her new home. $^Yet, the initial feelings of insecurity
0660K51 and fear grew like a cancerous sore in her weary breast. ^The
0670K51 uncontrollable fear was accentuated by the occasional appearances of
0680K51 a sad and gaunt woman-- Lakshmi, Suki*'s old and trusted maid
0690K51 of six years who had been dismissed beffore Mary had been hired.
0700K51 ^Whenever Mary saw her thin undernourished body approach the,
0710K51 black wicket gate in front of the bungalow, her heart skipped a beat
0720K51 and her body filled with fear. ^Displaced and jealous, Lakshmi
0730K51 threatened her job, existence and life style. ^She continually sang
0740K51 the same tune-- a desire to_ return to her former *4mem-sahib.
0750K51 ^*Mary would literally cringe in the kitchen when she heard the two
0760K51 of them chatting-- her body trembling and shaking with fear.
0770K51 ^Thump... thump... thump... her heart beats pounded frantically.
0780K51 ^She faced a horrifying and agonizing trauma that_ threatened to_
0790K51 devour her. ^Finally, Suki would refuse her request and she would
0800K51 leave-- a disappointed and angry woman. ^Only after her departure
0810K51 could Mary breathe a sigh of relief and resume her comfortable life.
0820K51 $*3^JUST*0 when a few peaceful undisturbed weeks had passed,
0830K51 Lakshmi returned and stealthily scattered a small bag of brown
0840K51 seeds inside the servants quarters and on the ground leading to the
0850K51 bungalow. ^*Mary had finished her work, gone home and was sitting
0860K51 on the cement floor of her quarters when she chanced to_ glance down.
0870K51 ^Suddenly she sprang up like a lion. ^She carefully examined
0880K51 the tiny brown seeds that_ resembled mustard seeds. ^Their presence
0890K51 symbolished an evil and portentous omen. ^Its significance was apparent--
0900K51 she wouldn*'4t long remain in the sprawling quarters. ^She
0910K51 was stunned. ^Her superstitious instincts gripped her and she fled
0920K51 like a mad woman to Suki for comfort and reassurance. $^*Suki behaved
0930K51 casually and dismissed the whole affair with a wave of her hand.
0940K51 "^Don*'4t be silly," she had retorted. "^It*'1s nothing to_ worry
0950K51 about-- just-- some tiny specks. ^Forget it. ^Means nothing."
0960K51 ^But Mary was not in a position to_ be so carefree . ^Try
0970K51 as she would, she couldn*'4t elude the twin demons of fear and insecurity.
0980K51 ^Unconsciously, she perceived the incident to_ be another
0990K51 nail in her coffin of destiny. $^Her life with Suki continued to_
1000K51 be like the waves of a mighty ocean. ^One day calm and placid-- the
1010K51 next day ferocious and angry. ^She tried her best to_ mollify Suki
1020K51 but events were often beyond her control. ^Small unpleasant incidents
1030K51 sporadically reared their annoying heads. ^She was often scolded
1040K51 for leaving the geyser on, cleaning haphazardly or for wetting the teak
1050K51 bathroom doors when she cleaned. ^Once a nearby *4chowkidar came
1060K51 to the bugngalow complaining that her kids had stolen some wood.
1070K51 ^She entangled her self with the people from the near by *4bastee,
1080K51 and they came to the house fighting and screaming vociferously.
1090K51 ^Her daughter, Kaneez had been accused of stealing money and toys.
1100K51 ^All these erruptions weighed heavily on her unconscious mind.
1110K51 ^Whenever Suki was in a good mood she would casually broach the
1120K51 topic of a rise in salary; but Suki cleverly put her off by saying she
1130K51 wasn*'4t fully satisfied with her work. $^In spite of the frequent
1140K51 unpleasant incidents, most of the time the days rolled on and
1150K51 the ugly events were soon forgotten. ^*Mary*'s sun gradually
1160K51 began to_ rise. ^Her run away husband had returned and was earning
1170K51 a good salary plus food. ^The three youngest children had been
1180K51 enrolled in a Government school. ^The eldest daughter had got
1190K51 a job. ^She had plenty of running water, three solid meals
1200K51 a day and a safe roof over her head. ^There was plenty of time
1210K51 to_ chew *4pan and roam the nearby hills and valleys.
1220K51 ^The former days of poverty and want rapidly receded from her conscious
1230K51 mind. ^The comforts and conveniences were taken for granted.
1240K51 ^Privileges became transformed into rights and expectaions.
1250K51 ^The initial excitement and joy of finding home slowly
1260K51 receded and disappeared into the distant past. $*3^MARY*0
1270K51 had just finished her lunch when she saw her mother, sister and
1280K51 childern walking towards her quarters. ^They had come for
1290K51 an overnight visit. ^They washed clothes together and had family picnic
1300K51 on the rocks in front of the quarters.
1310K51 ^The next morning Mary woke up and left for work while her family
1320K51 members were still sleeping. ^Arounnd tenthirty, when they
1330K51 were ready to_ depart, she asked Suki if she could go for a short
1340K51 while and leave them at the bus stand '^Absolutely not,' Suki
1350K51 replied firmly. "^Don*'4t leave in the middle of the work.
1360K51 ^Finish and then go... freely.' ^Mary readily agreed to the suggestion.
1370K51 ^She decided to_ just go and say good-by. $^While
1380K51 leaving the bungalow, she was overwhelmed by a feeling of safety and security.
1390K51 ^Her mother had cleaned the quarters and washed all
1400K51 the dirty clothes. ^She had even cooked lunch for the kids before
1410K51 leaving. $^A few weeks ago, at Christmas time, Suki
1420K51 had bought her a green cotton *4sari with a matching blouse. ^The
1430K51 children were attending school very regularly and most of her days were
1440K51 peaceful and quiet. ^The twin demons were held in abeyance
1450K51 captive and weak. ^When her mother requested her to_ come along
1460K51 and carry her niece to the bottom of the road, it seemed like the most
1470K51 logical thing to_ do. ^She didn*'4t bat an eyelid or hesitate--
1480K51 even for a split second. ^Carried away by a wave of confidence and
1490K51 euphoria. ^She felt like a goddess on a golden throne. ^Hadn*'4t
1500K51 her mother been highly impressed by the large quarters and never-ending
1510K51 supply of water? ^The many praises rang loudly in her ears.
1520K51 ^She had finally achieved success and prosperity. ^Even her lost
1530K51 husband had returned. ^She had a man by her side to_ protect and
1540K51 love her. ^The quarters was situated on a majestic rock with a commanding
1550K51 view of the city and its light. ^What more could she desire?
1560K51 ^The goddess of happiness and mirth had visited her. $^Forty-five
1570K51 minutes later she returned from her walk. ^*Suki was pensively
1580K51 sitting outside on the *4verandah waiting for her return.
1590K51 "^Why did you go?" she asked gravely. $^*Mary sensed danger.
1600K51 ^She was upset. "^*I... I... I didn*'4t go to the bus stand,"
1610K51 she answered nervously. $"^But you were away for forty-five minutes
1620K51 when you were distinctly told not to_ leave." ^*Suki sternly said.
1630K51 $"^*I never went." ^*Mary stupidly repeated. $"^Look,"
1640K51 ^*Suki replied firmly. "^*I am not concerned with where you went.
1650K51 ^*I am only concerned with the undeniable fact that you were away
1660K51 without leave for forty-five minutes. ^That_, in itself, is sufficient
1670K51 reason for dismissal. ^*I*'3m giving you two days*' notice.
1680K51 ^Pack up and leave on Friday." $^*Mary*'s eyes went wholly
1690K51 blank as the full meaning seeped into her confused head. ^She had no
1700K51 will or desire to_ plead her case. ^She was flying too high for that_.
1710K51 ^The chapter was closed. $^She stood-- silent and shocked--
1720K51 on the wide steps. ^With downncast eyes and a heavy heart, she
1730K51 slunk away. ^Her dreams-- hopes-- comforts-- all blown up in smoke.
1740K51 ^The deadly demon of fate had wrapped its serpentine coils around
1750K51 her impulsive body. ^She was too small and insignificant to_ resist
1760K51 its tight clutches. ^Distraught and upset, she sauntered to the
1770K51 quarters and began to_ think about the unknown future. ^As she carelessely
1780K51 opened up a tin trunk that_ Suki had given her, she was suddenly
1790K51 hypnotised. ^Two cursed brown seeds appeared in front of her
1800K51 blurry eyes. ^Bang-- the heavy cover fell with a sharp thud-- landing
1810K51 painfully on her weak and vulnerable hand. ^The victorious hands
1820K51 of fate caught her and sucked her into its bosom.*#
        **[no. of worrds = 01967**]

        **[txt. k52**]
0010K52 **<*3'MAIMOOD'*0**>
0020K52 $*3^WHEN*0 Mahmood again strained at his leash, Jaddan twisted
0030K52 his ear, making him turn his face in her direction. "*4^Sala,
0040K52 how he wags his beard!" she said, giving him a playful slap on his snout.
0050K52 "^Feeling important, eh? ^Who you think you are? ^One blow
0060K52 and it*'3ll send you reeling! ^O, Suleman*'s mother!" she
0070K52 said turning to the woman sitting by her side, "^Stop staring at me and
0080K52 bring me something to_ eat-- a *4chapati or two and some meat. ^Your
0090K52 job*'1s done. ^Your goat*'3ll deliver beautiful kids-- beautiful and
0100K52 strong. ^The same colour as my billy goat." $^*Jaddan stopped
0110K52 tweaking the animal*'s ear and patted his neck. ^Drawing closer
0120K52 to her, the goat raised his head and put his mouth to her ear. "^O,
0130K52 Suleman*'s mother," Jaddan cried. "^Just look at what this beast*'1s
0140K52 doing! ^The rascal! ^He*'1s taking it out on me for twisting
0150K52 his ear. ^O, Maimood, stop nibbling at my ear. ^Or you*'3ll
0160K52 be in trouble. ^So, you have brought the *4chapatis. ^Made
0170K52 from rationed wheat? ^No, I don*'4t think so. ^They look so
0180K52 coarse. ^But I*'3ll eat them, all the same. *4^Harami, stop
0190K52 it. ^You*'3re hurting my ear. ^*Rahiman, you won*'4t believe
0200K52 it. ^This pet of mine is very touchy-- like humans."
0210K52 $"^*Sharafat*'s *4amma, a goat is no doubt a dumb creature but it
0220K52 has many human traits," Rahiman said. "^No mother could take better
0230K52 care of her child the way you pamper this animal." ^Seeing the *4chapatis
0240K52 in Jaddan*'s hands Mahmood rushed forward and started nibbling
0250K52 at the *4chapatis. ^After taking a big bite he would playfully butt
0260K52 Jaddan*'s head with his horns and then stop to_ swallow the food.
0270K52 $"^Poor thing! ^*God forgot to_ dole out some patience to him," Jaddan
0280K52 said, turning to Rahiman. "^When a man grows old he wants someone
0290K52 to_ be always at his beck and call. ^The fellow should come when
0300K52 he says, 'come' and go away when he says 'go'. ^*Suleman*'s *4amma,
0310K52 I don*'4t know about others, I can only tell you about Maimood.
0320K52 ^The dear wretch, if I stand at the corner of the 9th lane of Khuldabad
0330K52 and the skunk is hovering round the garbage heap of *4nakkhas, I just
0340K52 shout 'Maimood, Maimood!' and he comes running to me at a canter,
0350K52 bleating like a lamb. ^It*'1s like a child running up to his mohter.
0360K52 ^But when this scoundrel is busy with his 'mothers' he doesn*'4t
0370K52 have an eye for anything else. ^He even forgets his *4Allah.
0380K52 ^He just throws a sidelong glance in my direction and scampers off in
0390K52 the direction of those wicked 'females'." $^*Jaddan smiled at her
0400K52 crude joke, showing her *(paan-stained*) teeth which had rotted down
0410K52 to the gums. ^Through the upturned flap of her musty, patched-up
0420K52 *4burqua, her wizened, weather-beaten face showed like a witch*'s.
0430K52 $"^*Sharafat*'s *4amma, how interestingly you talk about this butcher*'s
0440K52 morsel! ^*I can even see a saintly gleam flitting across
0450K52 your face." ^*Rahiman watched her goat walking away from them and
0460K52 laughed. $"^*Rahiman, you*'3re no longer young, either," Jaddan
0470K52 said. "^But you make up for lack of youth by your rich experience.
0480K52 ^Of course, you know that a dumb animal and a child don*'4t go by
0490K52 a person*'s age or looks. ^They only distinguish between love and hatred,
0500K52 good and evil. ^You*'3ve seen Sharafat*'s wife. ^You can*'4t
0510K52 find her peer even in Haji Lal Mohammed *4biri merchant*'s family
0520K52 or among the Sherwanis. ^But my Maimood starts looking the other way
0530K52 when she tries to_ catch his eye. ^He dislikes her for he knows that
0540K52 that_ woman often complains that he stinks to the skies. ^She also
0550K52 feels jealous of me. ^She says that I can desert my own child
0560K52 but not my goat. ^*I say to her: '^*God*'s curse on your delicate
0570K52 body and good looks. ^You may put a thick coat of powder on your face
0580K52 and bathe your body with scent and yet my Maimood would not deign to_
0590K52 look at you.' ^Animals and children go by their insticts.
0600K52 ^They don*'4t care for the colour of one*'s skin. ^They are only swayed
0610K52 by one*'s intentions. ^Yes, one*'s intentions. ^That_ exalted
0620K52 woman who considers herself to_ be a girl of high lineage has never cared
0630K52 to_ dangle even a blade of grass before Maimood*'s face.
0640K52 ^There*'1s no love lost between the two. ^*Rahiman, may God have mercy
0650K52 on you, your goat will bear at least two, if not three kids.
0660K52 ^*I swear by God, the *4chapatis he has nibbled on have as good as gone
0670K52 into my belly. ^People take Maimood for granted. ^They think
0680K52 his only job is to_ serve their goats. ^After he has finished with
0690K52 a goat he wilts like a child who has been playing in the sun. ^Only
0700K52 I and God above can see the poor shape he*'1s in. ^You remember he
0710K52 was born last year nearabout Bakar-Id. ^If I remember aright
0720K52 it was a Friday or may be a Thursday. ^Due to age my wretched memory
0730K52 has started failing me. ^That_ makes one year and three and a half
0740K52 months. ^That*'1s how old he*'1s now." $^*Jaddan got up from the
0750K52 cot. "^*Suleman*'s *4amma, I must go now," she said fondling Mahmood*'s
0760K52 back. "^It*'1s time for Sharafat*'s *4abba to_ say his afternoon
0770K52 *4namaz. ^*I*'3m told Shahnaz*'s *4abba and her people will be arriving
0780K52 from Rae Bareilly in the afternoon." $^*Rahiman was still
0790K52 thinking of Jaddan*'s billy goat. "^You say he*'1s one year and three
0800K52 and a half months old," she said. "^But looking at his solid
0810K52 body and thick thighs no one would take him for less than three years.
0820K52 ^If anything, he must have about twenty-five *4seers solid flesh
0830K52 on him. ^It seems all his life he has been fed on grains and no grass."
0840K52 $^Although Rahiman had only emphasised the animal*'s plus
0850K52 points and there was no trace of rancour in her voice yet Jaddan*'s
0860K52 face tingled with rage. "^Rahiman, may God singe your tongue," she
0870K52 cried. "^Now that your goat is done with you have the temerity to_
0880K52 weigh the flesh on my Maimood*'s haunches. ^Your husband is a carpenter,
0890K52 isn*'4t he? ^Then where did you manage to_ learn this butcher*'s
0900K52 lingo? ^Twenty-five *4seers of flesh indeed! ^Oh, God, why
0910K52 have people lost all sense of shame? ^These days even the gaze of
0920K52 a flesh-eater has become as menacing as the edge of a butcher*'s knife.
0930K52 ^O, Rahiman, I warn you, don*'4t talk such sacrilege in future.
0940K52 ^And listen, next time take your goat somewhere else. ^My Maimdood
0950K52 does not hold the exclusive right to mounting all the goats of
0960K52 Khuldabad." $"*4^Arree Jaddan, don*'4t talk big like those
0970K52 *4^Begums living in palaces," Rahiman blazed forth. "^Your Mahmood
0980K52 is just an ordinary animal and not king Hatimtai. ^Haven*'4t
0990K52 you heard the saying: a goat*'s mother cannot keep her son from the
1000K52 butcher*'s knife for long. ^And listen one must take note of what
1010K52 others say and learn from them. ^The truth is you*'3ve no child
1020K52 of your own-- only step-children whom you have always kept at arm*'s length,
1030K52 much less offered them your 'teats' if ever there was any milk in
1040K52 them. ^That_*'is why you always keep saying, 'Mahmood, my Mahmood'
1050K52 all the time. ^Don*'4t I know? ^You do it to_ hide your frustration."
1060K52 $^*Jaddan who had started to_ go suddenly stopped and
1070K52 squirmed as if she had been stung by a scorpion. $"^*Rahiman,
1080K52 you*'3ve hurt my feelings," she cried. ^"but I*'3ll keep
1090K52 quiet over it for God will punish you for it. ^As for that_
1100K52 adage relating to the goat*'s mother, you know that a mother*'s prayer
1110K52 does not go far. ^If it did, your eldest son Suleman would
1120K52 not have died an early death. ^By this time he would have grown
1130K52 into a hefty young man and you would not have been Suleman*'s mother
1140K52 only in name. ^*Rahiman, hold your peace for a moment. ^Just
1150K52 let me finish. ^May God forgive me, for I assure you, I don*'4t
1160K52 want to_ make fun of your suffering or join issues with you. ^*I
1170K52 only want to_ tell you that one feels only for those whom one loves.
1180K52 ^*Suleman*'s *4amma, I know that one day my goat is going
1190K52 to_ be butchered for no one has ever been able to_ save a goat from
1200K52 the butcher*'s knife. ^*I always pray to God that I should be spared
1210K52 the agony of watching Maimood being butchered. ^*I*'3m at one with
1220K52 you that before *4Allah the prayer of a goat*'s mother is like
1230K52 a muzzein*'s call falling on deaf ears. ^All I know is that I love
1240K52 this animal like my own child." $^Not knowing how to_ cope with
1250K52 Jaddan*'s rhetoric Rahiman sat there watching Jaddan wiping her tears
1260K52 with the flap of her *4burqua and then patting the goat before driving
1270K52 it off towards her house. $*3^WHEN*0 she reached
1280K52 home Ashraf Mian had already sat down to his *4namaz. ^She shut
1290K52 up the goat in the small room adjacent to the lavatory. "^This is
1300K52 no time for you to_ knock about in the open," she mubmled. "^This year
1310K52 the *4loo has started early." $^His *4namaz over, Asharaf Mian
1320K52 sat down to_ eat his afternoon meal. "^*Sharafat*'s *4amma,
1330K52 of course, you must be aware of the message from Rae Bareilly."
1340K52 he said. "^Our financial condition is not hidden from you but we
1350K52 must keep up appearances before them. ^It*'1s a question of our
1360K52 prestige. ^*I talked it over with Sharafat and Zahir and I*'3m
1370K52 inclined to_ agree with what they say. ^Mutton sells at ten *4rupees
1380K52 a kilo in the *4bazaar. ^There will be half a dozen people coming
1390K52 over from Shahnaz*'s family and courtesy demands that we should also
1400K52 invite eight or ten people from among our neighbours to_ join us.
1410K52 ^It will mean a tidy sum of money. ^But when Rae Bareilly people
1420K52 can be so lavish in entertaining us, it*'1s incumbent upon us to_
1430K52 reciprocate in the same manner. ^*Sharafat said "I must sound you about
1440K52 it. ^If we cut up your goat it will make a sumptuous pot
1450K52 of meat and no harm done. ^In fact, it would be an easy way out of
1460K52 our predicament. ^Mutton from the *4bazaar wouldn*'4t cost less
1470K52 than fifty-sixty *4rupees. ^We can*'4t make do just with *4roghanjosh
1480K52 . ^We must also have *4koftas and *4kababs. ^Last year when
1490K52 we went to Rae Bareilly, Shahanaz*'s father had two goats slaughtered
1500K52 in our honour, not to_ count the large number of hens. ^How
1510K52 he feted us all the five days that_ we stayed with him. ^The way we
1520K52 downed the food our bellies swelled with eating. ^And the flatulence
1530K52 it caused! ^Of course, we*'3re no match to them now that we
1540K52 have fallen on evil times but we must not give them an inkling of it."
1550K52 $^The more Asharaf Mian dwelt on the preamble the more Jaddan*'s
1560K52 face became strained. ^They knew it was no easy task to_ coax *4Amma
1570K52 into parting with Mahamood. ^While Ashraf Mian was on the subject,
1580K52 Shahanaz was sitting in the next room, feeding her child,
1590K52 apprehensive that *4Amma might burst upon her like a tornado. ^Though
1600K52 trying to_ look unconcerned her ears were attuned to what was going
1610K52 on between Ashraf Mian and *4Amma. ^Then she heard *4Amma
1620K52 saying in a voice taut with bitterness that Sharafat*'s wife, Shahnaz,
1630K52 was determined to_ have Maimood slaughtered to_ regale her guests
1640K52 with his meat. $"*4^*Amma, I*'3m not to_ blame," she said
1650K52 rushing into the other room. "^Ask him. ^*I*'3m dead set against
1660K52 it. ^*I know how sentimental you are in this matter. ^But
1670K52 I equally know how things are going to_ turn out in the end. ^Your
1680K52 sons will commit the sacrilege and I*'3ll come in for censure."
1690K52 $^*Shahnaz*'s tone was so self-defacing and her behaviour so subdued that
1700K52 Jaddan was deeply moved. $"^*Sharafat*'s *4abba," she said.
1710K52 "^Do you think I*'3ll carry away this goat, tied to my chest when
1720K52 I depart from this world? Rahiman was right when she said that a
1730K52 goat*'s fate is sealed from the beginning. ^Alas, this wretched
1740K52 animal has become a part of my life. ^You*'3ll recall that when he
1750K52 was a kid I made him sleep in the bed with me and this made you laugh.
1760K52 ^But I was helpless.*#
        **[no. of words = 02035**]

        **[txt. k53**]
0010K53 **<*3The Final Blackout*0**> $*3^MY*0 eyes flew open to_
0020K53 collide with the darkness. ^For one mad moment I thougnt I had
0030K53 gone blind. ^A frenzied groping towards the night switches--
0040K53 they were on. ^My luminous dial said quarter of 10.
0050K53 ^*I had dozed off at some \0TV commercial point and had
0060K53 woken up to a power failure. ^Sounds, four storeys down--
0070K53 muffled and sharp explosions of pandemonium. ^*I rushed towards
0080K53 the kitchen with a vague memory of a torch in one of the cupboards.
0090K53 ^My fumbling hand circled over it and I pressed the
0100K53 button. ^Nothing happened. ^If the previous girl couldn*'4t leave
0110K53 a couple of battery cells in her torch, chances of finding
0120K53 a candle were even more remote. ^In desperation I turned on the
0130K53 gas. ^The usually inpersonal blue flame carved a tiny
0140K53 island of comfort in the blackness. ^*I wretchedly remembered
0150K53 the phone having been disconnected a couple of days ago. $"^Sorry
0160K53 miss, the bills have to_ be paid first." $^They were not even
0170K53 my bills! ^It hadn*'4t perturbed me too much as there were a
0180K53 couple of pay phones around-- one in the drugstore just opposite
0190K53 my apartment. $^It had shocked a couple of people to_ know
0200K53 that I was moving into this part of Brooklyn. ^What was a single
0210K53 Indian girl doing in such a sleazy area? ^*They wouldn*'4t
0220K53 have known my relief at getting a place to_ burrow into
0230K53 after the run of luck I had been through. ^Moved in just
0240K53 five days ago-- knew no neighbours, had no need to_ know. ^If only
0250K53 that_ wretched phone were working. ^If only I could
0260K53 talk to someone in this sweltering darkness. $^Sinister
0270K53 pockets of sound kept knocking on the windows constantly.
0280K53 ^*I played a terrifying game of identifying them and stopped
0290K53 at once. ^This was an all-Black area. ^*I had noticed some others
0300K53 too but had spent little time placing them. ^My struggle in the
0310K53 quagmire of day-to-day existence had wiped out my natural curiosity
0320K53 about my surroundings long ago. ^*I hadn*'4t been to work the
0330K53 last two days. ^*I was assailed by a constant fear of being
0340K53 raped or mugged when I returned at night from the other side
0350K53 of Brooklyn, where I worked. $^*I wondered for the hundredth
0360K53 time whether this nightmare was a local event or had encompassed
0370K53 the whole city or country or what? ^My fear and the mugginess
0380K53 were wedded in a sadistic union of torture. ^On the one hand
0390K53 I was dying to_ open the windows-- I always shut them at
0400K53 night for fear of I wasn*'4t quite sure what-- on the other hand I
0410K53 was afraid of exposing myself to the raw reality of all
0420K53 those sounds and flare-ups. ^At this moment the heat reminded me
0430K53 of Calcutta when granny*'s airconditioner silently mocked us
0440K53 during the day-time power cut. ^No such useless luxury in this
0450K53 flat, but I at least had a portable fan. ^*I eased my
0460K53 aching joints, pulled together like individuals rallying around
0470K53 me in my distress. ^Whom did I have? ^If only that_ blasted
0480K53 phone.... "^Hi Telly. ^Your area knocked out too? ^What*'1s
0490K53 going on? ^Ya, I know it is a blackout; but
0500K53 why? ^In god*'s name why?" ^How safe I*'1d feel if
0510K53 Telly was here now. ^My leg jerked down suddenly. ^*I
0520K53 stood up and groped my way to the bedroom-- how impressive
0530K53 that_ sounded-- what bed? ^*I had a mattress on the floor.
0540K53 ^The bed in the corner had obviously seen some very heavy activity
0550K53 and its protruding springs squeaked out some story in metallic
0560K53 idiom every time I sat on it. ^*I laid down for a while
0570K53 on the floor and felt around for the radio. ^Some logic told me
0580K53 that the cut, local or nationwide, wouldn*'4t exactly shut
0590K53 off radio broadcasts. ^A human voice at last-- even if it came through
0600K53 a conglomeration of wires and cells. ^Five minutes later
0610K53 I lay still as a corpse. ^Power failure in the world*'s most
0620K53 pulsating city. ^By now the 'light effects' had steadied themselves
0630K53 outside and I noticed that there was a cascade of light which
0640K53 rose steadily above the others. ^A glow like a bonfire. ^Surely
0650K53 this bonfire could not have much good cheer attached to it. ^Then
0660K53 I heard some words scattered in the open. "^*Christmas". ^Why
0670K53 Christmas? ^That_ word did it. ^*I couldn*'4t keep away from
0680K53 it any longer-- let the ghosts of darkness get me, but I shall
0690K53 see for myself! ^With pounding insides I opened the living room
0700K53 window and looked out. ^The scene below was so grotesque, I was transfixed.
0710K53 ^Such intense movement. ^Hundreds of marionettes manipulated
0720K53 by a freak disaster. ^That_ 'bonfire' was the drugstore, and here
0730K53 I had hoped to_ call up Telly first thing in the morning. ^What
0740K53 would I make the call with? ^Gutted rafters? $^My first reaction
0750K53 was a hopeless feeling of disgust. ^What a scene! ^Switch off the
0760K53 mains for one bloody moment and a million year*'s of belaboured
0770K53 'civilisation' burned out. ^A total blackout of reason which left
0780K53 behind a charred residue of ignoble savages. ^Why did man persist
0790K53 in building when it took so little to_ demolish? ^Why did he
0800K53 bother? ^Just then my curtain of resentment parted to_ reveal a scene
0810K53 which had occurred a few months ago. ^It was at Macy*'s, in
0820K53 the Village. $^*I had wandered in with a half idea of getting out
0830K53 of the biting cold outside when suddenly I was consumed by an urge
0840K53 to_ swipe. ^All those pickable articles lying around seemed to_
0850K53 extend a wanton invitation: lingerie, nightwear, jewellery, cosmetics,
0860K53 chocolates... ^No carefully inculcated 'value' held my hands
0870K53 back, but the fact that I might make some store detective*'s
0880K53 day did. ^*God, I was so broke those days. $^*I had rushed out of
0890K53 Macy*'s that_ evening resolving never to_ enter another departmental
0900K53 store till I had some green in my wallet. ^That_ wallet-- always in
0910K53 a state of shameless want. ^*I then wondered how many of those on
0920K53 the streets below had wallets like mine. ^As I watched those freshly
0930K53 incubated 'thieves' charging in and out of tragedy stricken
0940K53 stores, I could slowly rationalise their actions. ^You spend your
0950K53 lifetime seeing others. always others, getting what you want. ^They
0960K53 always seem to_ be making it to the top, middle or even just one
0970K53 notch above you, but you never seem to_ get there yourself. ^The resentment
0980K53 which insidiously takes over your consciousness later proves
0990K53 the futility of neatly drawn blueprints of ethical conduct!
1000K53 $^Tragic little Pamela Bannerjee. ^Always contrasted unfavourably
1010K53 against two talented older sisters and a brilliant brother. $"^This
1020K53 child is the limit! ^So irritating. ^Look at her staring at me as
1030K53 though she hasn*'4t done a thing." $^Faint memories of a strong
1040K53 anti-mother image. ^Granny jumping to my defence. "^Leave her alone
1050K53 Smita, concentrate on your children for a change." $^The unfathomable
1060K53 confusion created in the mind of a seven-year-old due to one carelessly
1070K53 uttered possessive pronoun. ^The further hurt and confusion
1080K53 when I had asked. "^Granny am I not mummy*'s child?" ^And she
1090K53 had replied, "^Of course you are but--" and the vacuum of that_ incomplete
1100K53 reply, causing a feeling of total rejection which a dozen grandmothers
1110K53 could not obliterate. $"\0Ms. Pam has been meddling with my
1120K53 stamps again. ^Look at the mess she has made?" ^That_ palm against cheek--
1130K53 not in gentleness but in fury. ^One person who seemed above and
1140K53 uninvolved in all this was grandpa. ^So many years in the company of
1150K53 his writing and books and he had become something of a leather-bound
1160K53 tome himself. ^There were moments of awareness, of vibrations between
1170K53 him and me but they came from such a distance. ^He had become
1180K53 a figure of awe and very remote. ^Then that_ ghastly incident when
1190K53 I was 10. ^The accident when my brother was driving with my sisters
1200K53 and mother in the car. ^She alone survived and was paralysed waist
1210K53 downwards. ^She blamed everything on a heartless god while she
1220K53 looked at me with a strange mixture of accusation and hatred. ^She
1230K53 never forgave me for being her only surviving child. ^Sometimes
1240K53 I would knot up with pity for her agony-- a paralysed widow having
1250K53 seen three of her children die-- but I would be forced out of
1260K53 my finer sentiments by her, with some word or insinuation. $^Horror
1270K53 shivers at the recollection of those bleak years in boarding school,
1280K53 granny*'s desperate attempt to_ give me a normal childhood
1290K53 or girlhood or whatever, with a hope of improving the relationship
1300K53 between mummy and me. ^My withdrawal from normalcy as I became
1310K53 more and more enwrapped in the big question, Why does she hate me?"
1320K53 ^Tragic report cards with crucifying remarks like "^Is inteiligent
1330K53 but dreams all the time" or "^Refuses to_ participate in group activities",
1340K53 ^Later college, with its aimless infusion of art subjects
1350K53 and hopelessness. ^Post-graduation in sociology because there was little
1360K53 else to_ do. ^And then the desire, which had been steadily building
1370K53 up-- to_ get away. ^Where? ^How? ^When? ^Questions which spun
1380K53 around with an intensity which kept my desire alive instead of killing
1390K53 it. $"^Granny I want to_ go to the States." $"^Okay darling,
1400K53 we will find you a boy who is settled there." $"^*I don*'4t want
1410K53 to_ get married." ^And a sudden jumble of words--" ^Who would want to_
1420K53 marry someone like me?" $"^Anyone would Pamu. ^You are a very pretty
1430K53 little girl you know." $"^Is that_ enough to_ get married granny?"
1440K53 $^The vexation on that_ dear, lined face. ^The eloquent compassion
1450K53 in her deep, grey eyes. ^All my questions lying unanswered in
1460K53 her silence. $"^Sorry granny. ^*I just brought that_ in out of the
1470K53 blue. ^*I am not thinking of marriage. ^*I want to_ go to_ study
1480K53 further and I feel I*'3ll do well." $"^With your academic record?"
1490K53 ^A gentle question but a mordant one. $"^Worse records have been
1500K53 accepted," I had countered. ^Soon atter, luck entered my life
1510K53 for better or for worse. ^*I saw the professor*'s ad while
1520K53 cutting out the crossword. ^He was prepared to_ offer a year*'s tuition
1530K53 in New York State University in return for "assistance in research
1540K53 work" which he and his wife were conducting. ^*I pleaded for
1550K53 one-way fare. ^Granny*'s refusal to_ comply, mummy*'s calculated
1560K53 indifference and finally grandpa, of all people, stepping out of
1570K53 his wordy world and applauding my spirit with the overwhelming
1580K53 gift of a return ticket. $"^Just in case things don*'4t work
1590K53 out as you plan, you can hop on to_ a return fight." ^And he calmed
1600K53 granny into acceptance. $^Two months later I was staring at
1610K53 the somewhat sacred aloofness of Kannedy Airport. ^To my intense
1620K53 relief the professor was there to_ receive me. ^*I would never
1630K53 forget the total disorientation which engulfed me. ^The jet
1640K53 lag was only a part of it. ^The professor and his Indian wife were
1650K53 very strategic in their behaviour with me. ^It took me exactly
1660K53 six weeks to_ realise that I was less of a research assistant
1670K53 and more of a domestic and nursery in-charge. ^*I had liked their
1680K53 two little kids and had felt rather mean leaving one Saturday
1690K53 night, while the parents were out and I was baby-sitting.
1700K53 ^*I knew they*'1d be safe. ^*I had sanguinely hoped to_
1710K53 get a scholarship before the semester was over. ^My fees had been
1720K53 paid for that_ semester........ $^Rivulets of stickiness were
1730K53 tracing fresh paths all over my body. ^Fear or no fear, light
1740K53 or not, I just had to_ douse myself under the shower. ^*I covered
1750K53 the 10 odd steps to the bathroom in a second and turned on the
1760K53 fawcet-- nothing happened. ^What had the mains to_ do with the water
1770K53 supply? ^Of course! ^The damn pumps must*'3ve stopped. ^Five teasing
1780K53 drops wet my palm and dripped into the tub below. ^Then I broke
1790K53 down. ^My sobs were compounded of salt and anguish. ^Huge,
1800K53 loud, racking sobs. ^*I reached the living room unaware of
1810K53 any movement on my part. ^My past-- hard, mean, and uncompromising,
1820K53 kept whipping me into further heaves of despair. ^My life!*#
        **[no. of words = 02008**]

        **[txt. k54**]
0010K54 **<*3The Exorcism*0**>
0020K54 $*3^IN*0 the state of Kerala, between the two busy and fairly prosperous
0030K54 trading centres of Ernakulam and Alwaye, lies the sleepy little
0040K54 hamlet of Edappilly. ^In the early 1950s, when the incident I am going
0050K54 to_ narrate took place, its straggling little community consisted mostly
0060K54 of Hindu Malayalees, ranging from Namboodiris (Malayalee *4brahmins)
0070K54 to Nairs, with various castes and sub-castes ranging in graded degrees
0080K54 of importance between them. ^There were also a few outsiders-- Tamil
0090K54 *4brahmins. ^They were a highly orthodox group, marrying off their daughters
0100K54 at the age of 10 and 12. ^A girl had to_ be married off before she
0110K54 was mature or else slanderous tongues would start wagging about 'house-filling'
0120K54 females. $^So it was that Balamani Ammal found herself without
0130K54 a house of her own and with no money and no male protector at home
0140K54 after the death of her husband. ^The fine, brick-and-concrete house in
0150K54 which she had lived for many years had to_ be sold off soon after her
0160K54 husband*'s death to_ marry off the elder daughter. ^The elder son found
0170K54 himself a job in the distant city of Madras. ^The poor widow moved into
0180K54 a mud hut and lived on the \0Rs. 40 sent by her son-- paid her rent,
0190K54 bought food and clothing, paid for the education of the younger son and
0200K54 daughter and even saved up a few *4rupees for the emergency of bringing
0210K54 forth the first baby of her married daughter. $^It was in this none-too-enviable
0220K54 position that we found Balamani Ammal and family when we moved
0230K54 into a house close to them. ^Father was in government service as middle
0240K54 school teacher and he had been transferred to the school at Edappilly.
0250K54 ^And soon after moving into the neighbourhood, my parents, do-gooders
0260K54 both, took the hapless family of Balamani Ammal under their protection,
0270K54 though goodness knows we were not rich, not even well-to-do. $^*Balamani
0280K54 Ammal then in her late 30s, was a short brown-skinned woman
0290K54 tending to plumpness. ^Her hair had been completely shaven off, widow-style,
0300K54 and she wore dull grey or ochre-red robes passing the end of her
0310K54 nine-yard sari modestly over her shaven head. ^She had a plain, heavy
0320K54 face devoid of any claims to beauty, but there was something about it that_
0330K54 spoke of good breeding and womanly modesty. $^There was a public tank
0340K54 some distance away from where we lived. ^It was just a gigantic bowl-shaped
0350K54 pit, scooped out of the powdery sand with pieces of logs fixed
0360K54 here and there to_ serve as steps. ^It was Balamani Ammal*'s custom to_
0370K54 go to this public tank to_ bathe after finishing her morning round.
0380K54 $^It was a Friday. ^*Balamani Ammal had the additional work of redoing
0390K54 the floors of her four rooms with cowdung and powdered charcoal. ^It
0400K54 was nearly 12 when she had finally scraped off the excess cowdung from
0410K54 her back verandah with the sharp edge of a piece of the pod of an arecanut
0420K54 frond. $^Father had just come home for the midday break when Kaveri
0430K54 and Krishnan bore down on us yelling and screaming, "^O *4mama, *4mami,
0440K54 come and see what *4amma is doing." ^Father was seated on a raised
0450K54 plank of wood with a stainless steel plate in front, full of rice and
0460K54 curries. "^You finish your meal," mum said "I*'3ll go and see what is
0470K54 wrong. $^The sight that_ met her eyes was shocking beyond description.
0480K54 ^*Balamani Ammal sat on the side of her narrow front verandah, swinging
0490K54 her legs with tomboyish abandon. ^She was dripping water and her stare
0500K54 was vacant but bold. ^As mother approached her, she broke out into uncontrollable
0510K54 laughter and bellowed. "^Hey, Raman Nair." ^Then, as the
0520K54 poor children and mother watched in agonised horror, Balamani Ammal
0530K54 jumped down onto the front yard pretended to_ tie up her shaven hair into
0540K54 a coquettish knot and plucked a bunch of exotic jasmines to_ put around
0550K54 it. ^Her swarthy lips were humming an old bawdy folk song in Malayalam--
0560K54 all about Nairs and namboodiris in heat, in mad frenzied pursuit
0570K54 of voluptuous Nair women. ^Soon the song grew louder and Balamani Ammal
0580K54 broke into a *5kai kottikkali*6, a folk dance of Malayalee women,
0590K54 literally a dance with clapping of hands, to_ suit its rhythm. ^Her stout
0600K54 body, with its swollen leg, moved through its twists and turns and
0610K54 gyrations with lyrical grace and the gnarled and knotted hands looked almost
0620K54 lovely as they fell limply on each other. ^The voice that_ sang the
0630K54 bawdy songs was sweet and musical, though Balamani Ammal had never
0640K54 been known to_ have had any music in her. ^As the song and dance proceeded
0650K54 and grew in tempo, Balamani Ammal grew from coquettish to flirtatious,
0660K54 from flirtatious to voluptuous in her gesticulations and behaviour.
0670K54 $^Meanwhile, a crowd had gathered silently around. $^Father said to
0680K54 mother, "^You get help and lock her up in a room. ^*I shall bring the
0690K54 *4vaidyan along when I come back from school." $^The *4vaidyan, Ashan,
0700K54 nodded the small grey tuft on top of his head dubiously. "^*I can*'4t
0710K54 say if it is a case for the *4thantri or me. ^Anyway, I shall make the
0720K54 first try." $^He poked his lean stooping figure into Balamani Ammal*'s
0730K54 room and peered at her over his thick glasses. ^*Balamani Ammal sat
0740K54 on the bare floor in a corner, singing sweetly to herself and smiling occasionally.
0750K54 ^At the sight of Ashan, she threw her head to one side and
0760K54 met him with a silvery peel of seductive laughter. ^Then, suddenly changing
0770K54 her mind, she bore down on him like an infuriated sow, yelling,
0780K54 "^Hey, Ramettal" (Rametta means 'elder brother Raman'). $^*Ashan drew
0790K54 his tufted head back in a hurry and bolted the door, a look of visible
0800K54 worry on his lined face. $"^You had better see the *4thantri. ^This is
0810K54 something beyond my skill." $^*Kaveri stopped her studies in which she was,
0820K54 in any case, not interested. ^She knew she was to_ be married off
0830K54 to_ keep house for a young man of her dreams. ^But Krishnan was a boy,
0840K54 a bread-earner. ^So he was sent to school. $^*Ponnamma was with child
0850K54 and so her parents-in-law would not send her to_ visit her mother. ^*Mani
0860K54 wrote to_ say he could not come down immediately; he would try and
0870K54 get leave within a month or so. ^He was sending \0Rs. 100, but, "mind
0880K54 you," he warned, "the money has been borrowed and my future remittance
0890K54 may be affected. ^Be careful when spending it." ^So the task of looking
0900K54 after Balamani Ammal was shoved back on to my parents. $^The *4thantri
0910K54 was a stalwart man in his early 50s, dark or even black from top to
0920K54 toe. ^His head was completely shaven except for a thick patch in the middle,
0930K54 which he grew into a tuft and tied up in a black knot. ^He had a
0940K54 hawk-like nose and piercing eagle eyes. ^He listened to father*'s story
0950K54 carefully and promised to_ come next Friday. $^Next Friday afternoon,
0960K54 all of us were present to_ see the *4thantri perform his *4prasnam to_
0970K54 determine the nature of the problem. $"^The problem has come from the
0980K54 east," he said, holding a sprig of *4tulsi between his thumb and forefinger
0990K54 and fixing his piercing eyes on father. "^The evil spirit is of a
1000K54 young woman who died in this same tank 77 years ago. ^She was very attractive,
1010K54 and belonged to a good family but was a victim of jilted love
1020K54 and took her own life. ^She is still full of love, alternating with fits
1030K54 of mad thirst for revenge against the offending lover. ^That_ is why
1040K54 she has to_ wander about like this without finding salvation. ^Her desires
1050K54 hold her down to the earth without letting her drop her astral body
1060K54 and go to the next stage." $"^We shall fix up a *5devi puja*6 for next
1070K54 Friday," said the *4thantri. $"^You can take down a list of things required.
1080K54 ^With the help of the goddess, we shall drive away this spirit.
1090K54 ^*I shall keep her at bay for 41 days in the first instance and then we
1100K54 can have another *4puja and a *4homam. ^That_ will exorcise her once and
1110K54 for all." $^Father nodded gravely and asked us to_ bring pencil and paper
1120K54 to_ write down the list. $^Mother had slept in Balamani Ammal*'s
1130K54 house ever since the calamity had struck. ^On Thursday night, more tired
1140K54 out than usual, mother went off to sleep early. ^The Ganapathy *4homam
1150K54 (the sacrifice for Lord Ganapathy) is performed in the early hours
1160K54 of the morning. ^Mother wanted to_ get up at three o*'3clock, so she
1170K54 might get things ready for the *4puja which would start at four. ^As a
1180K54 matter of habit she went and peeped into Balamani Ammal*'s room. ^*Balamani
1190K54 Ammal was not there! ^Wondering where she might have gone, mother
1200K54 made bold to_ enter the room, expecting Balamani Ammal to_ pounce on
1210K54 her from some dark corner. ^But there was no sign of the patient anywhere.
1220K54 ^Taking the hurricane lantern in her hand, mother went up and down
1230K54 the whole place and all round the house. ^The light drizzle outside was
1240K54 deepening into a heavy shower. ^Mother struggled to_ force down her rising
1250K54 panic. ^Then, through the rain and dark, she came running to our
1260K54 house to_ call father. $^Father grunted in irritation but got up immediately.
1270K54 ^Where was he to_ go at three o*'3clock in the morning in the pouring
1280K54 rain looking for this woman? ^How could a man go alone looking for
1290K54 a women and a widow at that_? $^The answer came from the neighbouring
1300K54 house, where the bronze lamp for prayer had already been lit. "^*Narayana,
1310K54 narayana". ^The elderly Ambalavasi couple in the neighbourhood were
1320K54 already up. ^They did not wait to_ hear the full story from father. ^The
1330K54 woman dropped the broom with which she was sweeping and washed her
1340K54 hands. ^The man drew out two old and discoloured bathing towels from the
1350K54 clothesline and threw one on his wife*'s head and one on his own. ^They
1360K54 were ready to_ accompany father. ^They found Balamani Ammal seated
1370K54 near the public tank, making frenzted efforts to_ pull out her breasts.
1380K54 $^All of us were dragged out of bed to_ be bathed and ready for the *4puja
1390K54 by five o*'3clock. ^The *4thantri, fresh from a bath and wearing a
1400K54 new *4mundu, with its two lower ends drawn between the legs and tucked
1410K54 at the back, sat on a raised plank ready for the *4homam. $^The *4puja
1420K54 started at three o*'3clock in the afternoon and went on late into the night.
1430K54 ^There was no sacrificial fire this time, but there were three big
1440K54 bronze lamps lighted. ^Behind the middle lamp was a large framed picture
1450K54 of the goddess Durga in her infuriated aspect, out for the destruction
1460K54 of evil. ^A yellow thread was tied round the middle lamp and a short
1470K54 dagger-shaped knife was placed in front of the lamp. $^The *4thantri began
1480K54 with the usual prayer of self-purification. ^Then chanting glory to
1490K54 each of the 10,008 names of the goddess, he offered flowers at the feet
1500K54 of the lighted lamps at the end of each line. ^When all the 10,008 names
1510K54 had been chanted once, an offering was made. ^This round of rites was
1520K54 repeated seven times, with a different offering at the end of each round.
1530K54 ^There was an *4arthi at the end of each, with an invocation to the
1540K54 goddess, the destroyer of evil, to_ invest the knife and the thread with
1550K54 her own power, so he, her servant might, with her divine will and blessing,
1560K54 carry out the task of driving away the spirit that_ possessed
1570K54 the poor Balamani Ammal. $^The prayers and rites went on till 11 in
1580K54 the night. ^But when the *4puja proper was over, father ordered us out
1590K54 of the room. ^The spirit, in its forced and frenzied exit from one body
1600K54 might try to_ find asylum in some other body, especially that_ of a
1610K54 sensitive person. ^So only my parents and a few Ambalavasis were present
1620K54 at the great moment.*#
        **[no. of words = 02011**]

        **[txt. k55**]
0010K55 **<*3Remembrance*0**> $*3^THE*0 lunchbox! ^Forgotten completely!
0020K55 ^Wouldn*'4t matter if it were the lunchbox alone. ^The lunch
0030K55 can be wrapped in a piece of paper tomorrow. ^Her fingers, so
0040K55 used to the slippery, circular stainless-steel lunchbox would
0041K55 feel differently. ^They would gratefully clutch the soft paper-wrapped
0050K55 packet. ^None of the metalness of the box. ^The wrapping
0060K55 paper could be a sheet from an old issue of The Hindu.
0070K55 ^Or the launderer*'s paper bag. ^Or a page from a Telugu or
0080K55 Malayalam daily, still smelling of the asafoetida or cumin the
0090K55 grocer wrapped in it last time. ^Could bind the packet with
0100K55 some twine; or a rubber-band lying hidden among hairpins and gap-toothed
0110K55 combs. $^A lunch-packet instead of the lunchbox. ^It
0120K55 was bound to_ raise some fun in the bus and at the office.
0130K55 ^Good, nice fun. ^What about those faces encountered only in the
0140K55 bus, the faces sticking in the memory as belonging to a certain
0150K55 shirt and a certain pair of trousers all the time? ^How
0160K55 many of those would notice the change? ^There should be a few
0170K55 keeping track of other*'s changing nailpolish or snapped sandals
0180K55 or the watch-strap switching colours. ^They would know the
0190K55 replacement of the lunchbox with a lunch-packet. $^The thrill
0200K55 of getting all this attention was well worth the lunchbox left
0210K55 behind in the office. ^But the box contained a wrist-watch.
0220K55 ^Not hers, but her younger sister*'s. ^Just got back from the
0230K55 watch repairer. ^With the watch was also some money. ^Money
0240K55 keeps missing in the office. $^Someone had left his pay-packet
0250K55 in the table drawer for a little while and a good part of
0260K55 the amount was gone. ^Another lost a tiffin-carrier he had kept
0270K55 in his scooter basket. ^There was someone there with overlong
0280K55 hands. ^Mighty men had exploded in the office, 'I*'3m going
0290K55 to_ raise hell! ^The long blades of the ceiling fans, the simpering
0300K55 bluish glow of the tube lights, the olive-green steel *4almirahs,
0310K55 fat calico-bound ledgers-- they had all seemed to_ tremble
0320K55 at the imprecations screamed, but those overlong hands had
0330K55 gone untraced. ^Now those hands shouldn*'4t reach out for her
0340K55 lunchbox. ^She must go and get it back at once. ^At once?
0350K55 ^Isn*'4t it already two or three hours too late? $^She and Uma
0360K55 had set out at five in the afternoon. ^In their delight
0370K55 at the doctor*'s observation that Uma was all right for being
0380K55 six months in the family way, they lingered looking at the
0390K55 pictures of chubby smiling babies on the walls, took leave privately
0400K55 of a nurse who looked like a cross between a mother and
0410K55 a sister, then got lost in the small piles of fabrics heaped
0420K55 on the sidewalks, visited the medical store for some tablets,
0430K55 then scampered for shelter with the sudden burst of shower
0440K55 putting off buying some of the fluffy beans going rather cheap, and at
0450K55 last succeeded in getting an auto-rickshaw for Uma-- all this had indeed
0460K55 taken a long, long time. $^But can*'4t say too long. ^Just didn*'4t
0470K55 know how time flew. ^One could spend hours with Uma, one of the three
0480K55 girls working in that_ enormous office. ^*Uma knew to_ love without
0490K55 being wordy. ^She gave me her copy of the "*3Weekly"-- won*'4t you
0500K55 want to_ read this? ^No, she won*'4t. ^But still she took it from Uma.
0510K55 ^The magazine smelt fresh and new, its pages not yet turned over. ^Long
0520K55 afterwards, rolling the magazine to_ make it compact, she thought of
0530K55 the lunchbox. $^She was used to carrying magazines and lunchbox together,
0540K55 one snuggled into the other, and so the holding of a bare magazine
0550K55 gave her an odd feeling. ^In a moment of deprivation, as when looking
0560K55 at a spot just cleared of a tree, the thought of the lunchbox occurred.
0570K55 ^Then in a flash, the lunch-box, the wristwatch, cash, all at once. $^Why
0580K55 didn*'4t it strike her before boarding the bus? ^The bus came in the
0590K55 rain, with all flaps down, as though being chased, and it seemed to_
0600K55 growl at her, get in quick without getting drenched, and that_ she did
0610K55 hurriedly. ^Get into a bus in a flurry and the lunchbox was sure to_
0620K55 knock against the shiny chromium-plated seat. ^It didn*'4t today and so
0630K55 she remembered. $"^My..." she gasped. ^She bit her tongue for exclaiming
0640K55 aloud. ^Let me get down at the next stop... ^Even as she decided
0650K55 to_ do so, the bus speeded past the next stop, splashing water all the
0660K55 way. ^At least the next stop... ^She looked for the conductor. ^He
0670K55 was far away, up in the front. $^The bus, 58 seats and 25 standees long,
0680K55 the conductor right in the front and she in the very last row, looking
0690K55 down the entire length of the bus. ^There were no standing passengers
0700K55 at that_ time and the passengers looked like an audience in a cinema
0710K55 hall or a gathering at a wedding reception. ^It was nice not having to_
0720K55 squeeze herself into the bus. ^It felt like going on a journey with
0730K55 some 50 or 60 intimately known folks. ^Even the dull yellow glow of the
0740K55 lights inside didn*'4t seem too offending. ^She could read all the letters
0750K55 and names scratched on the backs of the seats. ^Would someone have
0760K55 scrawled her name too on the mellow green surface of a seat in the days
0770K55 when she was still at college? ^The thought made her chuckle. ^How
0780K55 was one to_ be sure that all the names and letters now scratched on these
0790K55 seat-backs belonged only to boys and girls at college? ^Could be of
0800K55 grown-ups too, men with a tangle of hair around the wrist, men in
0810K55 employment. ^If she pulled out a pin from her hair, she could scratch a
0820K55 letter or two on the seat right in front of her. $^Someone sat beside
0830K55 her, with an enormous load of fragrant flowers on her head. ^A fragrance
0840K55 so becoming of the rainy season. ^A fragrance mingled with dampness.
0850K55 ^The conductor came all the way along the gangway and, as he tore out a
0860K55 ticket for the new passenger, he inquired for hers too, as though she
0870K55 had boarded anew, and before she unfurled the orangish bit of paper in
0880K55 her hand, he realised she had already got her ticket and he walked away
0890K55 with a smile. ^A conductor who smiled, one who didn*'4t keep shouting
0900K55 for tickets, one who wouldn*'4t keep on bullying the standees to_ move
0910K55 forward in the bus... she thought, why get down midway, why not go the
0920K55 entire distance and return in the same bus? $^She had to_ call out
0930K55 to_ have the bus stop at the office. ^In the mornings, with all the crowds
0940K55 travelling, there would be at least 10 people getting down at that_
0950K55 place. ^The conductor would announce the stop and order the passengers
0960K55 to_ alight. ^The driver would be clutching the steering wheel impatiently
0970K55 for the last man to_ get off. ^But now the bus stopped just for
0980K55 her. ^As though to_ take advantage of the bus halting, a factory worker
0990K55 at the stop threw away his *4beedi and boarded the bus. ^She saw the
1000K55 crimson glow of the discarded *4beedi roll on the ground. $^Across the
1010K55 street, up there, dazzled the neon-sign of her office. ^She had noticed
1020K55 it on occasion, when returning home from a visit to the cinema. ^The
1030K55 sign had a cool bluish image, like sunset following a rainy afternoon.
1040K55 ^Would the lunchbox be there in the office? ^Even if it were, would the
1050K55 other things also be there? ^She had rushed to the place, holding her
1060K55 breath at the late hour of eight-thirty-- would it be worth all the trouble?
1070K55 $^The gate was not locked. ^Would screech awkwardly only when
1080K55 pushed gently. ^The steel hook raised a clang. ^As she entered the premises,
1090K55 with her tongue thrust between her teeth, she could see the light
1100K55 burning in the main hall. ^The front doors were locked, all three of
1110K55 them. ^Tall doors with shiny brass patches, looking so enchanting on
1120K55 places where the light fell. ^Doors so tall and massive-- all these days
1130K55 she hadn*'4t as much as looked at them; always dashed in pulling her
1140K55 *4sari close over her shoulders, or hastily exchanging a few words with
1150K55 Uma or the other girl, and hurrying in to_ sign the attendance
1160K55 register... $^*I can go round the building and enter through the back
1170K55 door, she thought. ^There was the car park on the left side. ^The scooters
1180K55 on the right side. ^But right now the whole place was clean and
1190K55 clear like a temple corridor. ^From somewhere came a faint fragrance of
1200K55 a tree. ^Could be a *4sirissa tree. ^The unbrella-like *4gulmohur
1210K55 flowers don*'4t have any fragrance. ^They possess a fantastic colour
1220K55 though. ^Colour is their fragrance. ^Somehow these things escape the
1230K55 eye during daytime. $^The despatching section smelt of sealing wax and
1240K55 spirit lamp and bottles of gum; there was a humid scent from the records
1250K55 section; then the smell that_ wafted out when the head-clerk pulled
1260K55 his drawer and opened his ink-bottle-- with all these smells, there was
1270K55 now the fragrance of a flower also! $^There was an open courtyard
1280K55 between the main office room and the dining hall. ^And there was the
1290K55 sky to_ see. ^Cleared of all the rain. ^Like a bird that_ had shaken
1300K55 off all the wet from its feathers. ^No stars. ^Somewhere in a corner,
1310K55 the moon flickered, like a defaced circle on a child*'s writing slate.
1320K55 $^She stood there feeling she had been rolled into a sphere, secure
1330K55 under the all-encompassing feathers of darkness. ^How long since had
1340K55 she taken a good look at the sky? ^She could never think of the sky and
1350K55 its blue during daytime. ^Always numbers. ^Addition, subtraction, credit,
1360K55 debit, product, and so on and on and on and the sky was never
1370K55 anywhere near her mind. $^The watchman*'s bicycle stood in the verandah.
1380K55 ^Very tidily wiped, very tidily used. ^No dust, no mud-smear. ^Unlike
1390K55 father*'s bicycle which always had a dirty wiping cloth stuffed underneath
1400K55 the seat. ^But the watchman*'s wasn*'4t as nice to_ look at as the
1410K55 bunch of bicycles parked in the mornings. ^There wasn*'4t now the
1420K55 rhythm of the hurried downward swinging of the legs between a quarter to
1430K55 10 and 10 o*'3clock, alighting from the bicycles and seeking out a proper
1440K55 place to_ park the vehicles. ^But this lone bicycle was charming
1450K55 too. ^A different kind of charm. ^Something like a single temple elephant,
1460K55 a chain around its leg, a pile of palm leaves in front of it, its head
1470K55 decorated with flowers and the religious smear-mark. $^The watchman
1480K55 sat on a stool in the row of doors at the back. ^A torchlight stood
1490K55 upright near him on the floor, a gun leaning against the wall. ^He stood
1500K55 up on seeing her. ^He saluted her. ^He smiled. ^He held a book in his
1510K55 hand. ^She told him. $"^Is that so?" he asked. $^It actually sounded
1520K55 like, "^My god! ^Hurry up and see!" $^Hers was the last seat on the
1530K55 left. ^The hall was already too full of tables and chairs when talk came
1540K55 up of another section. ^They accommodated it in the corridor. ^If she
1550K55 had entered the building from the other side, her seat would be right
1560K55 in the front, but now it was at the very end. $^She stood vaguely aghast
1570K55 in the middle of the hall. ^Daytime saw all the lights and fans switched
1580K55 on but now there were only two flickering tube-lights. ^None of the
1590K55 bustle of a hundred people. ^No shouts. ^No scraping screech of the
1600K55 records room trolley. ^No thuds of dropped ledgers. ^No noise of rubber
1601K55 stamps. ^No shuffling of feet and shoes.
1610K55 ^No screaming exchanges of office jargon across tables, those
1620K55 men not bothering to_ move out of their seats. ^Now it was like, standing
1630K55 on the banks of a quietly flowing water. ^Has she really been
1640K55 working in such a lovely place all these days? $^There were numerous oblong
1650K55 blocks of chairs and tables and *4almirahs, standing around her in
1660K55 silence.*#
        **[no. of words = 02012**]

        **[txt.k56**]
0010K56 **<*3A Trip to Pakistan*0**> $*3^IT*0 seems quite strange to me
0020K56 now, this adventure. ^Almost a dream, a dream full of joy and sorrow,
0030K56 bitterness and wonderment. ^*I cannot believe it; nor do I dare tell my
0040K56 people what has happened. ^When I seem to_ have a far-away look,
0050K56 they can*'4t understand. ^Adolescence! ^That_ is their diagnosis, and
0060K56 their cure is time and love. ^If my mother were living, I could tell her
0070K56 and unburden myself. ^But could I? ^Would I have dared to_ cast
0080K56 the shadow of sadness on her? ^And yet I must tell it to somebody.
0090K56 $^Three months ago, as I stood in a class smiling foolishly at the
0100K56 cheers around me, I thought I was the happiest, luckiest girl alive.
0110K56 ^All the colleges in South India had competed for a place in a student
0120K56 exchange programme. ^*I had won the place and now looked forward to a
0130K56 dizzy month of air-flights, new places and of course the inevitable
0140K56 shopping. ^*I had been selected for a visit to Pakistan. ^*I was to_ tour
0150K56 a few select colleges and observe life there, even as my Pakistani
0160K56 counterpart would tour some colleges here. ^This was the last year of
0170K56 my teenage and life seemed full of joy and laughter. $^How shall I describe
0180K56 my first aerial flight? ^The farewells to my numerous friends who
0181K56 were a mass of swaying kerchiefs near the fence at Menambakkam. ^Most
0190K56 of them were Madrasis and it was a pleasure to_ know that they were so
0200K56 friendly with a girl from the Punjab. ^*I am a Punjabi, but my parents
0210K56 had settled down in Madras for nearly two decades. ^*I looked a
0220K56 Madrasi in my dress, my complexion and even my speech. ^*I waved them
0230K56 goodbye and settled down in my seat. ^The plane rose like a happy bird
0240K56 and I patted my face with the scented kerchief that_ the hostess gave
0250K56 me. ^There was a change at Palam, and soon I was racing towards Pakistan.
0260K56 $^My first impression was: ^How different from India! ^Of course
0270K56 the veiled ladies were the first to_ catch my eye itching to_ note the
0280K56 differences. ^The dress and the bearing of men were somewhat unfamiliar
0290K56 too-- but then I was no doubt struck by this because I hadn*'4t seen
0300K56 my own Punjab! $^Soon the strangeness vanished and I found that Pakistan
0310K56 was the same as India as far as the common man was concerned.
0320K56 ^My hosts were pleasant. ^*I was the guest of many families, mostly belonging
0330K56 to the middle class. ^My month was coming to a close. ^The last
0340K56 college in my itinerary was in \0R-- district and here my accommodation
0350K56 had been arranged in the palatial residence of a local landowner whose
0360K56 daughter was also a student. ^*Saleema was my age, and since we were both
0370K56 students of history, we formed a strong bond of friendship. ^Daily we
0380K56 would go to the college in the morning. ^*I would either attend a class
0390K56 or take part in a seminar specially arranged for me. ^This went on
0400K56 for four days. ^The fifth was my last day there, and it was noon when Saleema
0410K56 and myself returned home after a farewell tea at the college. ^It
0420K56 was suffocatingly hot, and on Saleema*'s suggestion we both set out
0430K56 on a short walk in the vast acres surrounding the palace. ^Some parts
0440K56 had been cordoned off for citrus and orange plantations; the rest of
0450K56 the land was dotted with small houses. ^Some of them were dilapidated.
0460K56 ^*I was attracted by a neat white building, for it seemed a recent addition--
0470K56 perhaps ten or fifteen years had elapsed since it was built whereas
0480K56 the palace and its main outhouses must have seen eight or nine decades.
0490K56 ^As we were passing that_ house I saw a middle-aged lady lounging
0500K56 in an easy chair and doing some embroidery. ^One or two books lay beside
0510K56 her chair. ^There was an air of serenity about her. ^She hadn*'4t
0520K56 veiled her face as I had seen ladies do here. $^*Saleema must have noticed
0530K56 my repeated glances, for she said; "^Oh, that*'1s my Indian aunt".
0540K56 "^What do you mean, Indian aunt?" ^*I said, "^Would you like to_ meet
0550K56 her? ^*Saleema asked. "^Of course", I replied. ^So we both went up to
0560K56 her. ^She glanced up. ^A gentle smile lighted up her face, "^*Saleema,
0570K56 *4bete, I haven*'4t seen you for ages. ^Come dear. ^Is this your friend?"
0580K56 ^While speaking she motioned us to two small chairs that_ were near
0590K56 her. "^Not ages aunty. ^Only five days. ^Because of this friend from
0600K56 India", said Saleema and introduced me to her. ^It was only then that
0610K56 the lady saw me face to face. ^She seemed to_ register some shock but
0620K56 quickly she controlled herself. ^"so your name is Latha? ^May evil never
0630K56 come near you," she sighed. ^*I bowed. ^*Saleema said, "^Aunty, I
0640K56 see that you are happy to_ meet Latha, probably the first person from
0650K56 your land you are meeting after many, many years. ^*I think you would
0660K56 like to_ have her to yourself for a while. ^*I will go and have a game
0670K56 of tennis." $"^*I know who is waiting for you there. ^Don*'4t blush,
0680K56 and hurry up", the lady smiled, Saleema blushed and vanished. $^It was
0690K56 rather awkward for me to_ have been left with this strange lady and my
0700K56 mind had already raced to the last-minute packing I had to_ do. ^*I
0710K56 sat there still, watching a goat that_ was chewing a leaf and wondering
0720K56 what I would buy for my daddy from this place. $^Suddenly the lady*'s
0730K56 voice broke upon my thoughts. "^Ah, you are thinking of your place and
0740K56 your people. ^Soon you will be with them. ^You are a lucky child".
0750K56 ^Did the lady sigh again? ^Probably it was my imagination. "^From which
0760K56 part of India do you come, child?" she asked. ^*I replied, "Madras".
0770K56 "^You are a Madrasi then?" ^Did I resent her probings in my subconscious
0780K56 or was it just the environmental effect? ^*I answered automatically,
0790K56 "^Yes". "^Ah a Madrasi. ^Yes my child, no wonder you are lucky.
0800K56 ^Aren*'4t all Madrasis lucky, comfortable and far away from the tragedies
0810K55 of the frontier?" ^*I didn*'4t know what to_ say to this. ^The lady
0820K56 went on. "^May evil never befall you, my child. ^And when you return to
0830K56 India never be lured to a frontier area. ^*Saleema will be away for an
0840K56 hour. ^Shall I tell you a story to_ spend the time?" $^She started
0850K56 on her fourth rose in the bunch of tiny flowers she was embroidering.
0860K56 ^It seemed the gilding of a *4duppattah. ^*I nodded, and she began: $"^Once
0870K56 upon a time there was a country called Bharat Mata. ^People said
0880K56 that red foreigners were ravishing her and that she was chained and shackled
0890K56 and so she should be freed. ^Like Saleema you study history, so
0900K56 perhaps you know all about it. ^She has talked to me so much about you
0910K56 and your likes. ^She is very proud of having a foreign friend like you.
0920K56 ^Now where was, I... yes. ^There was a happy family. ^The parents
0930K56 were loving and the two daughters, Suvarnalatha and Ashalatha, had all
0940K56 that_ they desired. ^The elder was married to a doctor and had come
0950K56 to her parents*' home for her confinement. $^Partition-- my child, my
0960K56 *4bete, how much blood flowed! ^Today you and Saleema walking towards
0970K56 me together, laughing in abandon-- but those days!". ^The lady jabbed
0980K56 at a rose and the rose became awry. ^Immediately she cut out the red threads
0990K56 and began carefully reembroidering the space. ^This process must
1000K56 have enabled her to_ control her emotion. ^Without looking up she went
1010K56 on: $"^Where was I? ^Yes the partition. ^The father didn*'4t return in
1020K56 the evening and the mother who had gone to the other part of town also
1030K56 didn*'4t return. ^The two girls were in the house and right around it
1040K56 raged hell. ^Soon the ruffians were outside the door. ^You don*'4t read
1050K56 that_ in history. ^History is all lies. ^They dare not write the truth.
1060K56 ^Oh god, god, where were you then? ^*Suvarna was pale and the burden
1070K56 was heavy. ^But Asha was always the leader. ^There was a fierce argument.
1080K56 ^One of them must be saved-- but who should be the sacrifice? ^*Suvarna
1090K56 would not accept Asha*'s proposal for she was a virgin with all her
1100K56 life before her. ^But Asha was determined. ^*Suvarna was with child,
1110K56 and Vikram must not lose his wife and child. ^No, Asha should be the
1120K56 sacrifice. ^*Suvarna wouldn*'4t give up. ^But Nature helped Asha, ^Just
1130K56 then the 'burden' started moving and Suvarna swooned. ^Heaven-sent
1140K56 opportunity or hell-sent? ^*Asha quickly dragged the prostrate Suvarna
1150K56 and locked her in a room, covering her with all that_ she could get hold
1160K56 of-- rags, pieces of firewood and even blocks of coal. ^There was but
1170K56 breathing space for the lips, should she come out of the swoon. ^And
1180K56 after her exertions she was ready with the kerosene tin, in the front room.
1190K56 ^But-- these buts in life! $^The front door gave way just then and
1200K56 in came a ravenous group. ^My child, may such evil never befall anybody
1210K56 in this world any time! $^Bloodshot eyes were looking into hers and the
1220K56 words scorched her along with his rough hands-- "^They did this to my
1240K56 young wife yesterday and you must repay." ^The leader was given the girl
1250K56 and he had her in his grip and led her out into the twilight of a
1260K56 vanishing day. ^Did she hear a water-thin voice calling for Asha? ^No,
1270K56 it was but the harmless wind. ^She was soon dragged into a big car and
1280K56 when she woke up she was in a strange room, in a strange bed with a stranger
1290K56 beside her. ^It was the leader and he was sleeping peacefully. ^Peace!
1300K56 $^*Asha*'s world was gone. ^*Suvarna*'s teasing of Asha*'s bridal
1310K56 veil and *4mehndi *4haath-- ^No, no more for her! ^How could cold words
1320K56 convey the anguish in her heart? ^My child, may your days never darken
1330K56 like those days of Asha! $^Having destroyed her, the stranger had come
1340K56 to his senses and was pleading with her for her forgiveness. ^True,
1350K56 his wife could not come back from the dead. ^He had been maddened for
1360K56 the moment. ^But let that_ pass. ^This young woman was living. ^Could
1370K56 she not marry him and be a mother to his child of two months? ^Or would
1380K56 she like to_ go back to her people? ^Should he contact the refugee
1390K56 organisations? ^He had money, he had political power. ^So the dialogue between
1400K56 the two went on, and there seemed no end to it. ^No, she couldn
1410K56 *'4t be his wife. ^Having burst into his house in this violent manner,
1420K56 it would do no good to her soul. ^Nor could she go back. ^What was there
1430K56 to_ go back to? ^Far better that her people think of her in a loving
1440K56 heroic self-sacrificial stand. ^The best was to_ die. ^A dagger, a cup
1450K56 or kerosene. ^He wouldn*'4t have that, and she must assure him that
1460K56 she would live. ^Was he not repenting? ^Must she overburden him with another
1470K56 sin? ^She assured him that she would live but live alone with her
1480K56 memories. ^Time was a great healer and she might come to_ love his child
1490K56 as her own. ^He wouldn*'4t marry again and would remain celibate all
1500K56 his life. ^Rather a tame ending to my story, isn*'4t it, child? ^Not romantic
1510K56 at all. ^But such individual acts must atone for the sins of the
1520K56 multitude. ^And so the young man and woman lived apart in the same
1530K56 world, and time healed the wounds somewhat. $^My child, do you think
1540K56 they were foolish? ^Or that Asha was a coward? ^Should she have committed
1550K56 suicide? ^How could she, when true repentance stayed her hands?
1560K56 ^And when love came to her in the guise of a strange baby?" $^*I had
1570K56 actually been noticing her deft fingers embroidering that_ fourth red
1580K56 rose as I didn*'4t wish to_ embarrass her by staring at her face.
1590K56 ^Suddenly the red rose changed colour.*#
        **[no. of words = 02019**]

        **[txt. k57**]
0010K57 **<*3Back Seat*0**> $*3^MANU*0 was my cousin. $^Still, we grew up in
0020K57 the village more as friends than as relations. ^We played together a
0030K57 great deal, horsed about, quarelled, cried and made each other cry. ^A
0040K57 story as old as the hills.... $^Then, at some point, I started disliking
0050K57 the company of girls. ^This is old too.... Manu also hesitated
0060K57 to_ join the company of boys. ^Not as much as most girls do; still,
0070K57 she was becoming different. $^When a tomboy approaches adolescence, she
0080K57 becomes less of a tomboy. ^At any rate, she is made less of a tomboy.
0090K57 ^It is expected of her. ^The elders have ideas about a girl*'s 'femininity'.
0100K57 $^Then we grew further apart. ^*I reached man*'s estate and was
0110K57 sent to Bombay for further education. ^In subsequent years I had to_
0120K57 visit the old village off and on to_ see my folk, and on such occasions
0130K57 Manu would be seen somewhere or other. $^Years later I was told by
0140K57 people that even in the 'femininity' thrust upon her one could sometimes
0150K57 see the hussy. ^An unwonted boldness, even a touch of diablerie,
0160K57 would at times peep out from under her downcast eyes. ^The set of her
0170K57 mulish lips would suddenly speak a strange language; wordless, yet eloquent.
0180K57 $^*I suppose it must have been obvious to most people that Manu*'s
0190K57 'feminity' was only skin deep, but somehow I missed seeing it at the
0200K57 time. ^Maybe I saw it but it did not quite register because I wasn*'4t
0210K57 sufficiently interested. ^After all, she was my cousin. ^Moreover
0220K57 in Bombay, I was used to seeing colourful girls and some popular actresses--
0230K57 tarted up sirens beckoning tantalisingly from the silver screen.
0240K57 $^The glimpses into the delights of sin which they provided kept me
0250K57 happy. ^Soon Manu became not much more than a muffled memory. $^Apart
0260K57 from that_, it is also true that when you have played with a girl in
0270K57 your childhood, you cannot play with her in the same way in adulthood.
0280K57 ^The difference between play and play-- that*'1s what I call it. ^Adjustment
0290K57 to the change is slow and not easy. ^And then one fine day one
0300K57 sees the difference in a sudden flash of illumination. $^*I had a similar
0310K57 flash; a letter from Anna, Manu*'s father, triggered it. $^*Anna*'s
0320K57 letter brought startling news.... Manu has piled up mischief in the
0330K57 village.... matter gone far.... bringing her over.... have
0340K57 not slept for seven days.... propose to_ stay with you.... rest
0350K57 in person.... \0P.S. keep absolutely secret.... matter of family
0360K57 honour \0etc. $^It was all so strange and yet, somehow, expected too.
0370K57 ^With a flash of hindsight I recalled that Manu had been 'different'
0380K57 after all. ^A hussy, bold, rambunctious. ^The indications were all there.
0390K57 $^So Manu had gone and.... hmm! (^In our childhood games I used to_
0400K57 experience a strange, but not unpleasant sensation in slapping her buttocks).
0410K57 ^*I could hardly wait to_ hear the whole story. $^*I replied to
0420K57 Anna*'s letter with enthusiasm. $^*Manu came. ^That_ is to_ say, Anna
0430K57 came and someone came with him. ^By inference, I decided she must be
0440K57 Manu. ^She looked somewhat blowsy and shapeless, lack-lustre, dried up,
0450K57 mute. ^And sour too, as if something had curdled inside her. $^*I composed
0460K57 my lips into a ritual smile, but she did not smile back. ^*Anna looked
0470K57 as if he invited ridicule; a 'nature*'s natural' as I have heard
0480K57 someone say. $^So we came to my *4kholi in Girgaum. ^*I had taken pains
0490K57 to_ get it shipshape in honour of Manu*'s visit. ^After all, I had
0500K57 known her intimately in childhood. (^The 'childhood intimacy' motif was
0510K57 rearing its head....) ^Moreover, Manu had had an 'affair' and the affair
0520K57 business made her daringly different in my eyes. ^And, yes, good looking
0530K57 too.... a bit like one of those something-or-other *4devis from the
0540K57 cinmea.... vaguely, of course. $^*I personally made a cup of tea for
0550K57 Manu. ^Of course Anna got one too, but he qualified for it only by association
0560K57 as some of the political people say. $^*Manu swallowed the tea
0570K57 in one gulp. ^Like a dose of castor oil. ^Then she took the cup and saucer
0580K57 to the wash place down the passage. ^*I told her not to_ bother,
0590K57 but she did not seem to_ hear me. ^As if my presence had glanced off
0600K57 her awareness without making any impact. ^This was to_ become more noticeable
0610K57 as time went on. $^Meanwhile Anna, between loud and appreciative
0620K57 sips, was narrating the 'story' in some detail. ^It was the umpteenth
0630K57 rerun of an ancient story. $^When the story was finished Manu came
0640K57 back. ^Of course she had come back earlier, but had immediately gone
0650K57 out to the verandah and stood with her back to us, bent low over the railing
0660K57 and engrossed in watching the passing show in the street below.
0661K57 ^Running
0670K57 buses. ^Speeding cars. ^Blaring horns. ^Hurrying men and women. ^Screaming
0680K57 vendors. ^All this would naturally be new to a person newly arrived
0690K57 from a village. ^But Manu watched the scene with the deep engrossment
0700K57 of a child. $^Perhaps it was for this reason that Manu, with her
0710K57 back to us, seemed to me to_ be getting smaller and smaller. ^Regressing
0720K57 into childhood is, I believe, the expression for the phenomenon. $^From
0730K57 the next day we started our wanderings. ^*Manu had to_ be 'rescued'.
0740K57 ^*I was a novice to the whole business; hearing about such things is
0750K57 one thing and getting them done is another. ^Fortunately, our efforts--
0760K57 Anna*'s efforts, that_ is-- were blessed with success without too
0770K57 much delay. ^The place and the person were located, and the day fixed.
0780K57 ^*Anna was delighted. ^In fact, he felt so light that on our way home he
0790K57 suddenly dived into Kulkarni*'s hotel, declaring his intention to eat
0800K57 a dish of *4misal. ^That left Manu, and, of course, me. ^We walked the
0810K57 rest of the way in silence. $^Back in my room, I thought I would
0820K57 cheer up Manu a bit with bright conversation. ^Rubbing my hands together
0830K57 like Anna, I said to her heartily, "^Your visit has not been in vain.
0840K57 ^Your problem will be solved tomorrow. ^A good thing in a way!" $"^Good
0850K57 thing, you so-and-so," Manu barked back. ^Good grief, the same old
0860K57 virago! ^Not regressed or something into childhood at all. $^*I felt
0870K57 properly diminished. $^After a while, apropos of nothing, Manu said, "Bapu,
0880K57 if one falls through that_ aperture between the verandah railings
0890K57 into the street below, what do you think will be left? ^Just a piece
0900K57 or two of carcass and a pool of blood! ^Nothing more." $^*I deftly shifted
0910K57 the conversational gears and plunged into a long, reminiscent prattle....
0920K57 our childhood tricks.... Ramu*'s stammer.... Lakhu*'s discomfiture....
0930K57 even the beatings at school.... one thing and another. ^*I tried
0940K57 every conversational gambit. $^*Anna returned at last, wiping bits of
0950K57 *4misal from his moustache. ^*I was still blabbing on and on, and Manu
0960K57 was quite silent. ^Like a graven image. $^Anyway, the main 'work' was
0970K57 accomplished next day according to schedule. ^It was pronounced a success.
0980K57 ^A hair-trigger situation was retrieved. $^Early that_ fateful morning,
0990K57 I remember, Anna and I competed endlessly with each other in
1000K57 being attentive. ^*Anna woke up Manu and I made tea for her. (^Tea-making
1010K57 was becoming my main hobby....). ^*I heated the water for her bath
1020K57 and Anna hastened to_ take out a fresh *4sari from the bag. ^While Anna
1030K57 searched for and took a towel to her, I arranged a bottle of hair oil
1040K57 and a comb, complete with mirror, on the table for her use. ^And so
1050K57 on. $^*Manu was admitted to the hospital as a patient suffering from a
1060K57 womb ailment. ^It was true in a way. ^When it was all over, she was still
1070K57 unconscious. $^*Anna looked pleased as a cat with two tails. "^At least
1080K57 half the battle is won, Bapya," he said thumping me on the back.
1090K57 ^His face wore the triumphant look of a man who had performed the whole
1100K57 deed all by himself. ^*Manu stayed on in the hospital. $^Come on Bapya,"
1110K57 Anna said, "^We shall give you dinner and show you a movie today."
1120K57 $^So we ate to the point of stupefaction, topped it up with *4paan, and
1130K57 saw a movie. ^That_ is, I did the seeing while Anna snored right through,
1140K57 and I woke him up after the hero and heroine had done the slow fade
1150K57 out at the end. $"^Now Bapya," he said, plunging at once *8in medias
1160K57 res*9 as it were. "^Once I get her married I shall be free of this
1170K57 millstone round my neck. ^A tough proposition though." ^So even in his
1180K57 sleep Anna had been thinking of the same subject.... the millstone and
1190K57 how to_ shed it. $^When Manu came back from the lazar house a few
1200K57 days later, she looked like a woman after delivery, but benumbed and joyless,
1210K57 drained out and left without virtue; she seemed to_ be depleted
1220K57 of all desires and even of any interest in life-- lacking a focus or
1230K57 organising principle of existence. ^Just like the picture of a female
1240K57 saint I once saw in some coloured advertisement. ^Only very pale and colourless.
1250K57 ^And, of course, real. $^Now Anna*'s behaviour with her underwent
1260K57 a complete change. ^He smothered her with affection, with endearments
1270K57 like 'child', 'girlie' \0etc. ^He bent over backwards to_ anticipate
1280K57 and take care of every little need of hers. ^*Manu continued to_ be remote
1290K57 and uncaring. $^Came the night before their return to the village.
1300K57 $^We were sitting up after dinner, discussing politics. ^In the middle
1310K57 of a heated discourse, Anna suddenly veered off and said: "^Look Bapu,
1320K57 the past is past. ^One question, however, keeps frightening me. ^What
1330K57 about my girlie*'s future?" $"^What do you mean by future?" ^*I asked,
1340K57 tilting my head slightly sideways with the air of one asking an intelligent
1350K57 question. $"^She is now a Problem isn*'4t she?" ^*Anna*'s tone
1360K57 was heavy with capital letters. "^She is a Deceived Woman." $"^Not at
1370K57 all," Manu barged in angrily. ^Her lifeless eyes were now emitting sparks.
1380K57 $"^Very well. ^Deceived with your full knowledge, if you want it
1390K57 that_ way." Anna said, backing off a bit. "^But what about her future
1400K57 life. Bapu? ^Who in our society will accept a woman with an irretrievably
1410K57 flawed reputation? ^No matter how much we try to_ keep this a secret,
1420K57 how are we going to_ de-fuse the scandal in the village? ^Her marriage
1430K57 is definitely going to_ be a problem. ^We shall have to_ make the
1440K57 best bargain in a bad market. ^We may have to_ settle for a widower or
1450K57 someone looking for a third wife. ^Or else go straight for a handicapped
1460K57 person, a blind man perhaps..." $"^Leave my future alone! ^*I shall not
1470K57 marry. ^*I shall live alone." ^*Manu thundered. $"^That_ too is very difficult,
1480K57 very difficult," Anna said with the air of a person who would
1490K57 have to_ undergo the penance himself. "^After all, a woman needs a home
1500K57 and a family. ^These are her basic needs. ^What do you say, Bapu?"$"^Of
1510K57 course," I said. "^No doubt about it." $"^*I don*'4t need anyone
1520K57 or anything." ^*Manu said, "^Not even anything basic." $"^How can you
1530K57 say such a thing?" asked Anna. $^To_ avoid further controversy I chipped
1540K57 in with. "^An idealistic young man, perhaps," and was squashed by
1550K57 a single look from Manu. $^Next day Anna and Manu took their departure.
1560K57 $^On the railway platform Anna did not forget to_ thank me profusely,
1570K57 but Manu was quite expressionless. $^*Manu reached home safely and
1580K57 a letter to that_ effect was duly received from Anna. ^It contained
1590K57 a further expression of gratitude. $^*Anna*'s letters started tapering
1600K57 off after a while and then stopped. ^For a long time I did not hear from
1610K57 him and I inferred that nothing untoward was happening. ^Apparently
1620K57 there was nothing doing about Manu*'s marriage either, since there was
1630K57 no reference to it in the letters from my own family. ^These letters
1640K57 usually had a wide coverage, even including tidbits like Sudha*'s Satish,
1650K57 at the other end of the village, cutting his second upper tooth last
1660K57 Wednesday.*#
        **[no. of words = 02014**]

        **[txt. k58**]
0010K58 **<*3The Matchbox*0**> $^*I COMPARE women to match boxes. ^Why? ^Because,
0020K58 like match boxes with their calm and collected exterior, they may
0030K58 be seen in the living room, in the bedroom, in the kitchen and just like
0040K58 a match box, they have within themselves a supply of explosive that_
0050K58 could start a hundred forest fires. ^Women, I consider to_ be like
0060K58 match boxes. ^Do you want an example? $^Alright **[sic**] then look at
0070K58 that_ huge, three-storeyed house across the road. $^It is Sunday isn*'4t
0080K58 it? ^The time, morning. ^The washerman has arrived with his weekly wash.
0090K58 ^*Nomita was emptying out the pockets of Ajit*'s shirts and trousers
0100K58 before handing them to the washerman when suddenly she discovered that_
0110K58 letter. ^A crushed and crumpled envelope, but open. ^The envelope was
0120K58 addressed to her. $^*Nomita*'s whole system seemed to_ be on fire.
0130K58 ^She sat down on the bed and took the letter out of the envelope, her
0140K58 eyes riveted **[sic**] on the date. ^It indicated that the letter had arrived
0150K58 at least three days ago. ^She turned the envelope over and checked
0160K58 the postal seal. ^It confirmed the date. ^There was not the slightest
0170K58 shadow of a doubt that the letter did arrive three days ago. ^*Ajit had
0180K58 opened it, read the letter, and then, crumpling it, shoved it into his
0190K58 pocket. ^He did not think it necessary to_ let her know about it.
0200K58 $^The fire within her had reached a blazing point by then, and pervaded
0210K58 every nook and corner of her very being. ^This was certainly not due to
0220K58 forgetfulness; it was a deliberate act. ^This was Ajit*'s habit.
0230K58 $^*Ajit kept the key of the letter-box with him, although they were a joint
0240K58 family with fifty pairs of hands-- pardon a little exaggeration.
0250K58 ^Usually, he read Nomita*'s letters first and then passed them on to
0260K58 her. ^Sometimes he did not care to_ do that_ even! ^At least, that_
0270K58 was her firm conviction. $^To_ tell the truth, however, uptil now Ajit
0280K58 had not been able to_ claim that he had discovered any letter that
0290K58 was suspect. ^Still, he couldn*'4t get rid of this despicable habit of his.
0300K58 ^*Nomita had tried losing her temper with him, had said harsh things,
0310K58 had castigated him in unmistakable terms-- but to no avail. ^Nothing
0320K58 had worked. ^She had even tried talking gently to him-- but it had fallen
0330K58 on deaf ears. $^In the beginning, he used to_ make light of the whole
0340K58 thing and when that_ failed, he pretended to_ lose his temper! $^*Nomita
0350K58 sat quietly for a few seconds in order to_ calm herself, then
0360K58 read the letter. ^It was from her mother, nothing serious. ^In her usual
0370K58 manner, her mother had listed all her troubles and difficulties, adding
0380K58 that the ceiling of her room was leaking and needed repairs urgenly, or
0390K58 else it would give way and she would die under the debris. ^However, she
0400K58 felt assured that her 'queen of a daughter and her noble, generous son-in-law'
0410K58 would not allow that_ to_ happen, therefore, \0etc., \0etc. $^*Nomita*'s
0420K58 mother was poor and a widow. ^She was able to_ get her daughter
0430K58 married into a rich family because of her daughter*'s beauty. ^But
0440K58 the mother never failed to_ take credit for arranging such a match and always
0450K58 took advantage of her now-prosperous daughter. $^Whenever her mother*'s
0460K58 letter came, Ajit would comment: "^Don*'4t waste your time reading
0470K58 it. ^*I better fill out a money order form!" $^*Nomita wanted to_
0480K58 die of shame. ^Only the other day she had written to her mother telling
0490K58 her not to_ write on a postcard. ^She had decided to_ send money to
0500K58 her mother secretly, without Ajit*'s knowledge. ^Now, here was the result
0510K58 of a letter sent in an envelope! $^Suddenly, Nomita grew terribly
0520K58 angry with her mother. ^Why, why, does she behave like a beggar? ^Why does
0530K58 she put her in this awful position all the time? ^No, this time she was
0540K58 going to_ let her mother know that she would not be able to_ help
0550K58 her any more. ^Please do not expect anything from me from now on. $^At
0560K58 that_ moment, Ajit entered the room. ^He had just had a bath and looked
0570K58 refreshed. ^*Nomita*'s simmering rage found its victim now. ^She roared
0580K58 like a tigress; "^When did this letter arrive?" $^Looking askance at
0590K58 her, Ajit realised the seriousness of the situation. ^Actually, he had
0600K58 decided to_ tear that_ letter because otherwise it would mean some
0610K58 money wasted. ^As a matter of fact, he did not want Nomita to_ know that
0620K58 a letter had arrived from her mother. ^What a mistake! ^He had completely
0630K58 forgoten about it! $^But Ajit wasn*'4t going to_ give in that_
0640K58 easily. ^He pretended to_ remember, and, of course, failed to_ remember,
0650K58 "^Letter? ^Which letter?" ^And then, suddenly as though seeing a light,
0660K58 he added, "^Why of course, a letter did arrive from your mother. ^*I
0670K58 didn*'4t find time to_ give it to you. ^Sorry!" $"^Why not? ^Why? ^Why?
0680K58 ^Tell me why you didn*'4t give me my letter?" $"^For goodness sake--
0681K58 I
0690K58 forgot that_*'1s why." $"^Liar," hissed Nomita, like a snake. $"^Why are
0700K58 you calling me names? ^Don*'4t! people forget?" $"^No they don*'4t! ^Why
0710K58 did you open my letter?" $^*Ajit tried to_ make light of the issue,
0720K58 "^So what? ^My own wife*'s letter...." $"^Shut up, I repeat don*'4t lie.
0730K58 ^How dare you open my letter. ^Haven*'4t I asked you a thousand times
0740K58 not to_ do it?" $^*Ajit wasn*'4t so afraid of Nomita*'s temper as
0750K58 much as he dreaded a scene, so he smiled weakly and said, "^What if you
0760K58 forbade me to_? ^Don*'4t I have to_ check if anyone is writing love-letters
0770K58 to you?" $"^Stop it. ^You are mean, you are despicable." $^It would
0780K58 not be fair to_ expect Ajit to_ continue smiling, even after this!
0790K58 ^He held out his knife of poison now and said, "^Why indeed? ^Only those
0800K58 who write whining letters to their sons-in-law are well-born. ^A poor
0810K58 girl has become a queen I suppose......" $"^Shut up," shrieked Nomita.
0820K58 $^It was a blessing that their room was in the third storey-- there
0830K58 were many in that_ house who would have enjoyed eaves-dropping. $"^Shut
0840K58 up?" growled Ajit, "^Why should I shut up? ^*I shall say it again.
0850K58 ^What I say goes. ^*I was to_ do it-- that_ is all. ^What can you do? ^Can
0860K58 you do anything?" $"^Can*'4t I do anything-- nothing at all?" Nomita
0870K58 panted, breathlessly. "^Do you want to_ see what I can do?" ^Forthwith,
0880K58 in almost a flicker of an eyelid, she did an unbelievable thing. ^She
0890K58 picked up the match box that_ was lying on the table, the one Ajit
0900K58 used for his cigarettes and, lighting a stick, set fire to the end of her
0910K58 sari. ^The muslin caught fire in a second. $^*Ajit jumped towards her
0920K58 instantly and put out the flame with his hands-- crumpling the burning
0930K58 end between his palms. $^And, to_ tell the truth, he became quite nervous
0940K58 as he looked at Nomita stealthily. ^He saw her flushed face-- red hot
0950K58 with a raging fire. ^He did not dare put out *3that fire with his hand,
0960K58 so he tried to_ pour some water over it. ^He forced himself to_ speak
0970K58 in a natural voice, "^Really, you do lose your senses when you become
0980K58 angry. ^How can a woman lose her temper so? ^Oh!" $^What Nomita would
0990K58 have said in reply I cannot say because right at that_ critical juncture,
1000K58 her niece, Rini, came on the scene. ^*Rini did not wait to_ take a
1010K58 breath and recited excitedly, "Aunty, how long will the washerman wait?
1020K58 ^If you aren*'4t going to_ give any clothes this time, then tell him
1030K58 so." $^*Nomita paused for a second and tried to_ visualise the scene
1040K58 downstairs. ^Then, she picked up the dirty clothes and calmly replied,
1050K58 "^Tell him that I am coming down in a minute to_ give him the clothes."
1060K58 $^*Nomita is not placid by nature, so nobody meddles with her directly.
1070K58 ^They attack her as much as they can through indirect hints. ^The second
1080K58 sister-in-law was upto her neck with a hundred chores. ^Seeing Nomita,
1090K58 she forced a smile to_ hide her frown, "^Thank the lord, at last
1100K58 you found time to_ come down-stairs. ^Really! ^Any excuse to_ be with
1110K58 your husband. ^Aren*'4t you two ever tired of your love talk?" $^*Nomita
1120K58 took in the situation. ^She saw the family gathered together in the morning--
1130K58 crowded with relations, friends. ^She mustn*'4t allow her voice
1140K58 to_ waver! ^So she also smiled archly and said breezily, "^Oh, indeed!
1150K58 ^Watch us from a hidden corner and eavesdrop. ^When we talk it is always
1160K58 a battle of words, believe me!" $^The second sister-in-law laughed a
1170K58 little, "^Please Nomita, don*'4t play with words. ^We don*'4t eat grass,
1180K58 do we? ^We don*'4t have to_ spy or eavesdrop. ^What we see, we see right
1190K58 before us-- twentyfour hours." $^*Nomita blushed and then she smiled
1191K58 happily,
1200K58 "*4^*Didi, you are not being nice!" $^The eldest sister-in-law e
1210K58 ntered the scene and asked anxiously, "^Have you finished preparing the
1220K58 vagetables? ^Or are you chatting all the time?" ^And then she exclaimed,
1230K58 agitated, "^What is that_ Nomita? ^What happened? ^How did you burn
1240K58 the end of your *4sari like that_?" $^*Nomita grew nervous, but only
1250K58 for a moment. ^She tucked in the end of her *4sari and laughed heartily,
1260K58 "^See what happens if we don*'4t obey you? ^*I was trying to_ take the
1270K58 kettle off the stove with my *4sari. ^This is the result." $^She pulled
1280K58 the basket of potatoes towards her and started to peel them. ^She began
1290K58 thinking about how she could send some money to her mother. ^She couldn*'4t
1300K58 really write to her mother saying that she would not be able to_
1310K58 help her any more: "^Please do not expect anything from me from now on!"
1320K58 $^The whole village knows that Nomita is a "queen" and her husband is
1330K58 "noble and generous." $^See, that_ is why I compare a woman to a match
1340K58 box. ^Although they have enough within them to_ start a hundred major
1350K58 fires, they never flare up and burn the mask of nobility of their men.
1360K58 ^They never explode their own colourful, calm exteriors either. $^That
1370K58 they will never burst into flames in reality-- the men know well. $^That_*'1s
1380K58 why men let them be, without any apprehension, in the kitchen,
1381K58 in the
1390K58 living room, in the bedroom. ^Here, there, everywhere. $^And they also
1400K58 put them into their pockets without any fear at all.
1401K58 $**<*3Empty Canvas**> $*3^THEY*0 were both
1410K58 sitting on the broad parapet of the terrace. ^No conversation passed
1420K58 between them but they were used to such silences. ^Often their friends
1430K58 and acquaintances made fun of their queer quiescence. $^They could catch
1440K58 a glimpse of the sea in front of them, behind a house. ^The sea sparkled
1450K58 bright though it was growing dark. ^The wind that_ evening was strong
1460K58 and puffs of cloud were hovering in the sky. ^Suddenly he broke into
1470K58 a boisterous laugh that_ reverberated through the calm of the evening.
1480K58 $"^How long shall we continue to_ sit like this? ^Won*'4t you go
1490K58 home today", he wondered aloud. $"^*I don*'4t feel like going home today.
1500K58 ^*I want to_ keep sitting like this-- I could pass the night this
1510K58 way", she said, in a subdued voice. "^Light me a cigarette, I can*'4t
1520K58 in this strong wind." $"^You are smoking too much. ^Yesterday I noticed
1530K58 an ash-tray in your studio full of half-burnt cigarettes," he said, reaching
1540K58 for the cigarettes in the pocket of his trousers. $"^It*'1s not
1550K58 such a bad habit, though. ^It makes it easier to_ idle away the hours,"
1560K58 she replied. $^He began pacing from one end of the terrace to the other.
1570K58 ^He was quiet. ^She smoked, sitting as before. ^She had been feeling
1580K58 exhausted a while ago in her studio. ^Now here, on the terrace, her weariness
1590K58 seemed to_ have disappeared altogether. $"^Want to_ listen to
1600K58 a record?" he asked. $"^Alright, **[sic**] but don*'4t play it too loud."
1610K58 $^He went towards his studio, which stood at the other end of the terrace.
1620K58 ^A light shining from its open window. ^There was a large canvas inside,
1630K58 fitted on the easel. ^He stopped for a brief moment in front of the
1640K58 canvas as he passed.*#
        **[no. of words = 02032**]


        **[txt. l01**]
0020L01 **<*3Nothing but the Truth*0**>
0030L01 ^*I had a feeling that he had a terrific grudge against his father. ^This
0040L01 was brought to light by a very trifling incident. ^The following
0050L01 morning Aditi, content and happy at last told me, 'Will you come
0060L01 here? ^*I want to_ show you something.' ^She took me to the kitchen
0070L01 and pointed to the tiny bundle on a shelf, surrounded by hordes of
0080L01 ants. ^Obviously, the sweets had still not been eaten. $^We never
0090L01 told his father about it, though. ^The old man used to_ visit at
0100L01 regular intervals. ^He would talk to his son, pat him fondly on the
0110L01 back and depart with the money. ^He had brought one of his daughters
0120L01 along on one of his visits. ^*Palan had a long chat with his sister.
0130L01 ^The old man always heaped a lot of advice on the son before he left.
0140L01 ^Once Palan had showed his father his new shirt, dancing with delight.
0150L01 ^How happy he had been to_ have it! $^Yet we were not mourning
0160L01 for him now, we were only concerned for Tukai lest he be taken ill,
0170L01 fretting for his companion. ^Right now, more important thoughts are
0180L01 occupying my mind, such as my visit to the police station. ^What
0190L01 did the \0S.I. have in mind when he asked me to_ come down, I wondered.
0200L01 ^*Aditi must be feeling apprehensive, too, though she did her best
0210L01 not to_ show it. ^But she did forget about cooking, didn*'4t she?
0220L01 ^If Mili*'s mother had not asked us for lunch we would have gone without
0230L01 food. ^But it did not matter really, for I had absolutely no appetite.
0240L01 $^After Mili left I told Aditi 'I think I should consult
0250L01 a lawyer, Sukhen or someone. ^They asked me to_ go to the police station
0260L01 in the afternoon. ^*I must be sure I do not make a fool of
0270L01 myself.'
0280L01 $^*Aditi seemed to_ think it over. '^Didn*'4t father have a lawyer friend,
0290L01 who used to_ live in Keyatola? ^He was a very good advocate.'
0300L01 $^By 'father' she meant my father. ^The advocate she referred to
0310L01 was Parameswar *4babu. ^As a matter of fact I had been wondering about
0320L01 going to him myself. ^*I had no doubt that he would give me all
0330L01 the legal help I needed. ^But he was a busy man. ^Besides, he
0340L01 wouldn*'4t be available before the evening. ^And I had to_ go to the
0350L01 police station before that_. ^Even though the \0S.I. seemed quite
0360L01 a gentleman I didn*'4t trust the police. ^They are well known for
0370L01 their habit of complicating a simple issue. $^After lunch I left
0380L01 the house. ^So many things needed to_ be attended to. ^Where should
0390L01 I start? I must ring up my office first, but keep the reason for my
0400L01 absence a secret. ^*I did not want everybody to_ know. ^I was particularly
0410L01 sceptical of Jatin, one of my colleagues, who has turned into
0420L01 my bitterest enemy since I got a raise. ^But was Jatin the reason,
0430L01 really? ^*I tried to_ analyse myself. ^As a matter of fact I
0440L01 was feeling rather embarrassed and ashamed, and putting the blame squarely
0450L01 on myself. $^Then, I must look for Ganesh, the servant who used
0460L01 to_ work at Mili*'s house. ^*Palan*'s old father must be informed.
0470L01 ^But suppose the old man created trouble? ^Should I inform him
0480L01 now? ^Would that_ be wise? ^Of course I can offer him some money as
0490L01 compensation but where is the guarantee that money will silence him? ^He
0500L01 might want to_ see the dead body, he might ask to_ be taken to the police
0510L01 station. ^If the \0S.I. told him about the marks of injury on the
0520L01 body the old man might think that we had beaten his son to death. ^He
0530L01 must have had a fall the night before, otherwise why should there be
0540L01 bruises and clotted blood on his body? ^No, on second thoughts I
0550L01 decided not to_ look for Ganesh. ^*I could go back and tell Aditi
0560L01 that I did not find him. $^She had jotted down their address somewhere,
0570L01 but couldn*'4t find it. ^It was her suggestion that I find out
0580L01 Ganesh*'s whereabouts. ^Poor man, let him have a last look at his
0590L01 dead son. ^He doesn*'4t have long to_ live, poor thing! $^It was
0600L01 all very well for Aditi to_ indulge in such noble sentiments. ^She
0610L01 couldn*'4t know the consequences. ^But the trouble is I could not very
0620L01 well admit to her that I was afraid, afraid of the man too. ^And
0630L01 I could not bear the thought of going down in her esteem, either.
0640L01 $^*Palan*'s death had aroused all kinds of self-doubt in me. ^Yes, I
0650L01 am inferior. ^*Aditi was genuinely sorry for the old father and her
0660L01 grief for the poor boy is real, whereas I am reluctant even to_ look for
0670L01 Ganesh in case the old man comes and makes trouble. ^He might tell the
0680L01 police that he had left his son in the care of this *4Babu, who should
0690L01 be responsible for the consequences. $^But how can the old man shirk
0700L01 his own responsibility? ^Would it be fair to_ put all the blame on me?
0710L01 all I wanted was a young servant. ^But hadn*'4t this greedy old man
0720L01 given away his own son for twenty rupees a month?
0730L01 ^Didn*'4t he try to_ bribe him by giving him a couple of *4jalebis? ^*I
0740L01 don*'4t pretend to_ sit in judgment on him. ^But is there not a true
0750L01 judge anywhere? ^If there is, then a just enquiry into the death will prove
0760L01 that I am blameless. $^But I must phone my office. ^*I stepped
0770L01 into a chemist*'s shop and asked if I could use their telephone.
0780L01 $^The man shook his head rudely, waving me out. ^There was no alternative
0790L01 but to_ walk up to the post-office. '^Who is speaking? ^*Jaydeep
0800L01 here, yes, Jaydeep, I am in a bit of a soup, *4dada. ^Won*'4t
0810L01 be able to_ come-- yes. ^Did you say Ghose *4Saheb? ^He
0820L01 was asking for me? ^What for?.. ^Oh yes, yes, it is in the left hand
0830L01 drawer. ^Of course I am coming tomorrow. ^Most certainly. ^Please
0840L01 do try to_ manage today. ^Bye now.' $^*I wondered why Ghose
0850L01 was asking for me. ^In the short time that he had been at the office
0860L01 he succeeded in making himself a thorough nuisance. ^Finding fault
0870L01 with others as though he were a paragon of efficiency himself. ^All
0880L01 *3he*0 knows is how to_ hold a spoon and a fork. ^That_*'1s all
0890L01 he is good for. ^Bribes are a part of his daily routine.
0900L01 ^Of course, your ability is judged by the amount of bribes taken. ^Times
0910L01 have changed, but I still value some old-fashioned virtues such as
0920L01 honesty and a hatred for the corrupt. ^But who knows-- in all likelihood
0930L01 I, too, might be forced to_ offer bribes. ^Wouldn*'4t that_
0940L01 be a tragic irony? ^But one has to_ survive. ^It might be my last
0950L01 resort. ^Though the \0SI. did appear to_ be a gentleman.
0960L01 ^I wouldn*'4t even know how to_ offer a bribe. ^Suppose the man I
0970L01 offered money to happened to_ be straight? ^Then the whole thing would
0980L01 turn against me. what would I do then? $^Time was hanging
0990L01 heavy. ^It was still some hours before they expected me at the police
1000L01 station. ^I couldn*'4t think of anywhere to_ go and pass the time.
1010L01 ^*Parameswar *4babu would not be available before early evening.
1020L01 ^It now seemed as though my peace of mind depended on my visiting him.
1030L01 ^He alone would be able to_ put me at ease. $^For a moment I thought
1040L01 of going home. ^But what would I do there? ^*I would be restless.
1050L01 ^*I walked along the footpath till I came to a tea-shop. ^*I
1060L01 asked for a cup of tea and lit a cigarette. ^Absentmindedly, I
1070L01 gazed at the thin line of smoke coming out of my cigarette. ^*I felt
1080L01 vaguely suffocated. ^Suddenly, I noticed the smoke was not floating
1090L01 up, but seemed to_ be dissolving. ^*I realised my hand was shaking
1100L01 . $^Suppose my hands continued to_ shake before the \0S.I.? ^*I
1110L01 began to_ sweat. ^That_ would give him the wrong impression.
1120L01 ^If a man is innocent why should he look scared? ^Oh no, that_ would
1130L01 not do at all. ^On the contrary, I must act in an off-hand, casual
1140L01 manner. ^But there was one other point to_ consider. ^After
1150L01 all, there is a tragic aspect to the whole thing. ^If I make a show
1160L01 of nervousness and grief they might feel sorry for me. ^My face must
1170L01 wear a suitably helpless expression. ^They would probably let go
1180L01 out of pity. $^As it turned out, I had been worrying unnecessarily.
1190L01 ^*I came out of the police station and jumped onto a tram.
1200L01 ^*I was feeling very free. ^Now for Parameswar *4babu at Keyatola.
1210L01 ^*I needed the advice of someone wise and experienced. $^The \0S.I.
1220L01 was not in his office when I went to_ see him. ^He had gone
1230L01 out on some enquiry, I was told. ^Four or five tables filled up the
1240L01 spaces in the room. ^Two people were busy writing. ^*I had to_ repeat
1250L01 my question before one of them looked up. '^Please sit down.
1260L01 ^He will be coming any minute now,' he said absentmindedly. ^*I could
1270L01 overhear the \0O.C. in the next room. ^He was shouting at
1280L01 someone with enough venom in his voice to_ strike terror in the bravest
1290L01 heart. ^The lock-up rooms were on the other side of the door where
1300L01 some people in dirty rags sat huddled together. ^They gazed at the
1310L01 people coming and going with vacant expressions. ^The entire setting
1320L01 was most depressing. $^Presently the \0S.I. hurried back to
1330L01 the station. ^He began to_ relate with relish the amusing enquiry
1340L01 he had just conducted, to his colleagues at the other tables. ^Then
1350L01 he concentrated on putting the files on his table in order. ^While
1360L01 still at it, he spoke to me. '^The body has been sent for post-mortem.
1370L01 ^*I am sure you will want a cremation of some sort. ^Please go
1380L01 and find out tomorrow.' ^He gave me the address. ^After a pause
1390L01 he added, "^Did the child have any relation? could you get in
1400L01 touch with them?". $"^*I am still looking for them," I said which
1410L01 was a lie. ^*I had no desire to_ trace his relations. ^*I must
1420L01 find out from Parameswar *4babu whether the old father would mean more
1430L01 trouble for me or if his coming would be to my advantage. $^*Parameswar
1440L01 *4babu had a trim and modern house in the quiet neighbourhood of
1450L01 Keyatola. ^*I liked both the house and the locality. ^*I had been
1460L01 to this house a couple of times when my father was alive. ^The lawyer
1470L01 used to_ be a good friend, one whom my father held in great regard.
1480L01 $^But I could not locate it at first, because other houses of
1490L01 the same type have come up, giving the place a different look. ^The
1500L01 gulmohar tree next to his house had grown, adding to the unfamiliar effect.
1510L01 ^*I was not convinced till I saw his name-plate on the gate.
1520L01 ^His chamber was to my right as I walked in. ^*I could see him
1530L01 reading in the light of a table lamp; his hair had thinned and turned
1540L01 grey. ^He has a strikingly fair complexion, even the bald patch gave
1550L01 off a pink glow. ^His serge *4kurta was fresh and crisp and buttoned
1560L01 up to the neck. ^A lot of clients crowded the seat facing him.
1570L01 $^*I opened the gate and tip-toed in, trying my best not to_ prevent
1580L01 my shoes from creaking. ^*I did not want to_ desturb him when he was
1590L01 concentrating on complex legal tangles. ^*I stood by silently,
1600L01 hoping to_ catch his eye, but he did not look up. $^*I looked around.
1610L01 ^The clients were clutching impressive-looking files. ^His clerk
1620L01 was typing away with gusto in another part of the room. ^A girl in
1630L01 a dazzling white *4sari with a black border sat by him, her head bent,
1640L01 writing something. ^Her white blouse had a collar like a shirt. ^*I
1640L01 noticed that_.*#
        **[no. of words = 02013**]

        **[txt. l02**]
0020L02 **<*3Trail of Evil**0**> $^*Damodar had recovered enough to_ cover the
0030L02 twin apartment buildings as a salesman of contraband goods. ^His
0040L02 friends would not have recognized him in his special outfit of clothes,
0050L02 turban and heavy moustache. ^He carried a small box on his head, and
0060L02 twirled in his hand a walking stick. ^The stick he explained later,
0070L02 was to_ ward off urchins and other troublesome characters. $^He
0080L02 had carefully watched the activities going on in some of the so-called
0090L02 garages. ^He saw boxes, packed and crated, ready for a voyage by
0100L02 sea. ^He noticed the crates were being wrapped in oil cloth.
0110L02 ^One garage held empty wooden boxes. ^They had been brought with goods
0120L02 in a large truck, covered with oil cloth. ^The watchman, whose palm
0130L02 had been generously greased, described the large crates that_ looked
0140L02 like little rooms. ^When he was asked to whom the goods belonged the
0150L02 man simply raised his eyes to the flats above. $^*Damodar had no
0160L02 difficulty in gaining access to the flats where the watchman had assured
0170L02 him he would find ready customers. ^He was directed to a third floor
0180L02 flat in Shanti Bhavan. ^He carried cosmetics, foreign
0190L02 perfumes, foreign cigarettes and lighters. ^He was eagerly invited
0200L02 into the sitting room where half a dozen teenage girls, fair and pretty,
0210L02 sparsely clad in flimsy robes, began to_ snatch at the aricles.
0220L02 ^The man drew back, alarmed, and the girls laughed. ^He was
0230L02 prepared to_ beat a retreat, but someone from inside rebuked the girls.
0240L02 ^Their merriment subsided. ^One of the girls said loudly,
0250L02 "Kamlajee, it*'1s all right. ^We want money to_ pay the man." $^*Kamlajee,
0260L02 a plump woman in her forties, pleasant of countenance, came
0270L02 out dragging her loose *4saree along, pleating and trying to_ tuck in
0280L02 the folds. ^She looked at the man with alarm in her eyes as her fingers
0290L02 were busy hooking the front of her *4choli. ^The man*'s eyes were modestly
0300L02 averted. ^He was more concerned about his wares, being frightened
0310L02 of the harpies surrounding him. ^The bargaining began, the
0320L02 girls trying to_ beat down the prices. ^The man said he must consult
0330L02 his boss. ^One girl said she would like to_ talk to his boss. ^The
0340L02 man shook his head, but he was careful to_ note the number of the telephone
0350L02 which happened to_ be near by. $^At this point Kamlajee said
0360L02 she would call Meerajee, and ask her to_ come over. ^She might like
0370L02 to_ buy some things for her girls. ^The man had time to_ study
0380L02 the room. ^It was large, and the floor was covered with thick
0390L02 carpets. ^The girls were lolling or siting idly on the carpets which
0400L02 were strewn with pillows and cushions that_ had silk covers. ^There
0410L02 were a few chairs, but nobody seemed to_ be interested in them.
0420L02 $^Soon Meerajee arrived. ^Fair, slender, tall, and looking younger
0430L02 than Kamlajee, she glided in gracefully. ^She smiled all around.
0440L02 ^One of the girls brought a chair for her. "^Thank you, Sita,"
0450L02 she said. $^The merchandise was spread out, and carefully examined.
0460L02 ^*Meerajee agreed with the man that the prices were moderate.
0470L02 ^She wanted to_ buy the whole lot, and asked Kamlajee to_ bring
0480L02 the money. ^Kamlajee quickly brought a large purse, and gave it to
0490L02 Meerajee. ^The total amount was calculated and rounded off to seven
0500L02 hundred rupees, in favour of the seller. ^The money was paid in
0510L02 ten and five rupee notes, most of the notes marked by stains and holes.
0520L02 ^*Damodar did not object. $^*Meerajee said, "Let the man go
0530L02 now. ^*I shall take some of these things." $^The man could not help
0540L02 noting that the girls looked dejected, resigned. ^Nobody presented
0550L02 a picture of health. ^Nobody was bursting with happiness; there
0560L02 was no expectation of sharing in the articles bought. $^So reported
0570L02 Damodar to Major Murthy, after divesting himself of his disguise.
0580L02 ^He appeared in his shirt and pants, but his mind was still in Kamlajee*'s
0590L02 flat. "^What a fate for such young girls! ^Not one of
0600L02 them had any jewels, not even glass bangles. ^*Major, I wish you
0610L02 could do something to_ rescue those unfortunate girls. ^Can*'4t
0620L02 you get them back to their parents?" $"^It is possible for them to_
0630L02 have been abducted. ^Also possible the parents sold them to the highest
0640L02 bidder." ^He paused, trying to_ remember something. "^*I
0650L02 know what you could do. ^*Damodar, forget the girls. ^Perhaps
0660L02 we can bell the cats-- Kamlajee and Meerajee. ^Do you remember
0670L02 their faces? ^*I want you to_ sketch them. ^We need pictures for
0680L02 identification of Kamlajee and Meerajee." $^*Hari carefully took
0690L02 down Damodar*'s report on the twin buildings. ^He put aside the
0700L02 file, and turned to the telephone. ^He had been calling the Gupta*'s
0710L02 residence now and then to_ ask how everybody was. ^Now Baby
0720L02 answered, "^You have not been to_ see us. ^When are you coming?
0730L02 ^We are waiting for Kumar. ^*Priya is depressed, do come." $^He
0740L02 said he would like to_ talk to Priya. ^*Baby called her to the
0750L02 phone, and sitting away, watched her sister*'s face. ^*Baby remarked,
0760L02 "^Blushes, blushes! ^He is proposing to her!" ^*Priya threw
0770L02 a book at her. ^*Baby snorted, "Fairy tales-- all fairy tales,"
0780L02 and ran away. $^*Hari had to_ stop, "^Please excuse me, Priya.
0790L02 ^Inspector D*'3Souza is here, just come in. ^*I will call
0800L02 you later." $^*Hari saw his father taking the Inspector into the
0810L02 study, and he followed them. ^As they settled down in their chairs,
0820L02 he sat at the table, ready with paper and pen.
0830L02 $^The Inspector began, "I*'3m afraid I don*'4t have much information.
0840L02 ^*I realize the cave site is the most important target to_ concentrate
0850L02 on, to_ start with. ^Well, I was able to_ make two trips,
0860L02 one by day and the other by night. ^The police patrol launch,
0870L02 camouflaged of course, was used both times. ^There were three men with
0880L02 me. ^We were all in plain clothes, but armed, and carried our identity
0890L02 cards as well as warrants, in case they were required. ^You never
0900L02 know how situations may develop, and you have to_ be prepared for all
0910L02 emergencies". ^He paused, "^We managed to_ get some photographs".
0920L02 ^Taking them out of his pocket, he spread them in two separate
0930L02 lots on the table for Major Murthy and Hari to_ study. ^He
0940L02 explained, "^This set shows the day pictures; the other lot was taken at
0950L02 night. ^All show the coastal areas north and south of the cave
0960L02 site. ^We have some idea of the distances from Bandra and Mahim
0970L02 Creek." $"^The boats we saw going into the cave operated
0980L02 mostly at high tide, and when the wind was favourable. ^The movement
0990L02 outward was at night. ^At low tide the rocks are bared over large
1000L02 areas. ^There was no fishing going on, nobody was around."
1010L02 $"^All this is for background information. ^Now for our plan,
1020L02 I suggest that armed with arrest warrants we carry out official raids
1030L02 to_ seize the persons behind the racket and confiscate the goods that_
1040L02 are carried in and out. ^We must cover from the top, sides and front;
1050L02 get into the tunnels, and find out what activities are going on there.
1060L02 ^*Priya*'s description of glass jars with foetuses, of screaming
1070L02 girls, rows of beds, smell of spirit and either-- all point to some
1080L02 kind of laboratory work with diabolical intent." $^*Major Murthy
1090L02 said, "Congrats, Inspector, you have explored quite a good bit.
1100L02 ^You have only to_ go ahead with the rest of the plan as you have
1110L02 just outlined." $"^You will be interested to_ know that information
1120L02 collected in town links the cave activities, specially with
1130L02 regard to the white woman; and Sam is somehow in the background too.
1140L02 ^The cave is also linked to a network of illegal activities going on in
1150L02 two high-rise buildings on Malabar Hill. $"^Rumour has it that Sam
1160L02 and his so-called wife, Helen, the white woman in the picture, spend
1170L02 weekends in Juhu, and reside in Marine Drive during the week; also
1180L02 visiting Poona now and then. ^*Sam is Managing Director of 'Moulded
1190L02 Plastics and Chemicals'. ^There is a foreigner, Victor Richardson,
1200L02 a collaborator." $^Inspector D*'3Souza explained his
1210L02 plans. "^*I shall be conferring with police officials in town-- in
1220L02 Greater Bombay-- perhaps Poona as well. ^*I am in no hurry to_
1230L02 bring in Customs. ^The crime of kidnapping has to_ be
1240L02 investigated first." $^They were silent for a while, thinking.
1250L02 $"^*Major Murthy, I would appreciate you giving a little
1260L02 time in explaining to me some of the facts you have collected."
1270L02 $"^Why don*'4t you glance through the files that_ Hari has prepared?
1280L02 ^The material is all there under different categories. ^Can you
1290L02 do it now?" $"^*I can do it now, if I may sit right here,
1300L02 and study the files. ^You go ahead with your own work." $"\0^*Mr
1310L02 Gupta*'s son, Kumar, who rushed home from his studies abroad, has
1320L02 gone to Nagpur to_ see his aunt. ^She is \0Mrs Gupta*'s sister,
1330L02 married to Sam. ^Apparently they are now awaiting Kumar*'s return,
1340L02 hoping his aunt will come with him. $"^By the way, Jimmy, I wish you
1350L02 could get Ganga to_ confess. ^You know she is in police custody.
1360L02 ^She has knowledge of the Nagpur aunt. ^She had told \0Mr Gupta*'s
1370L02 servant that Priya and Baby should take lessons in dancing, that
1380L02 the dance teacher was a white woman." $"^Yes, Major, I
1390L02 shall certainly see about Ganga*'s confession. ^She did have a hand
1400L02 in the Kidnapping. ^She has to_ be told what kind of punishment to_
1410L02 expect for her share in the crime. ^She can be dragged to court to_
1420L02 give evidence. ^Only we don*'4t want publicity till we can get the criminals
1430L02 into our net. $"^You did mention the Bonn business.
1440L02 ^We have to_ know how these foreign characters entered the country.
1450L02 ^Appearently no passport or visa was needed by them." $^*Hari observed.
1460L02 "^They must have been smuggled into the country by sea-- into
1470L02 the cave." $^Inspector D*'3Souza scanned the files, muttering to
1480L02 himself at times. ^He took out his pocket book, and scribbled his notes.
1490L02 after a while he turned to Major Murthy, "^There*'1s something
1500L02 on my mind. ^The party at Blue Heaven." $"^Inspector, I*'3ve
1510L02 got some men to_ cover that_. ^They are trying to_ get the details--
1520L02 date, time, list of guests, host or hosts, food items \0etc. ^*Jimmy,
1530L02 please alert your colleagues. ^We need to_ smuggle in some of our own
1540L02 people. ^*Hari is looking forward to being a waiter, carrying drinks.
1550L02 ^*Ashok, \0Dr Gopal*'s son, will carry a tray of tidbits. ^And
1560L02 Kumar as the young scientist returned from abroad, all with different
1570L02 names, of course, and suitably disguised." $"^What about you and
1580L02 me,Major? ^We must get on to the list of invitees. ^Please telephone
1590L02 me. ^We must get in more of our boys." ^He paused. "^*I won*'4t
1600L02 forget about getting Ganga*'s confession. ^*I*'3ll see to
1610L02 it immediately." $^As the Inspector was about to_ leave the Major
1620L02 asked. "^There must be someone pulling the strings. ^What do you
1630L02 say?" $^When the police raid the residences of the suspects and get
1640L02 some confessions, they usually find a *4dada or two in the background.
1650L02 ^In my investigations I have come across such. ^*I can tell you
1660L02 they are mighty powerful fellows-- and dangerous customers." $^As a
1670L02 result of Inspector D*'3Souza*'s move in the matter, the police officer
1680L02 in charge of the lock-up where Ganga was held telephoned Major Murthy
1690L02 to_ come over. ^When Major Murthy hastened to the place, he was
1700L02 given a paper. ^It was the signed confession of Ganga, attested by
1710L02 two witnesses. $^The confession read: "^My name is Ganga.
1720L02 ^My husband is Tulsi Ram. ^He is cook in Jaswant *4Sahib*'s
1730L02 house in Poona. ^*I was doing *4ayah*'s work in the house. ^About
1740L02 a year ago a foreign woman came on a visit. ^She said *4Memsahib*'s
1750L02 sister had given the Poona address. ^She would come suddenly, and
1760L02 stay on. ^At first she was nice to *4Memsahib and the children.
1770L02 $"^Then she began to_ shout at everybody. *4^*Sahib would be in the
1780L02 office, or in Bombay. ^At night she would call me from my room,
1790L02 and weep.*#
        **[no. of words = 02009**]

        **[txt. l03**]
0020L03 **<*3The Isaac Docket*0**>
0030L03 $^It took me a long time to_ find a path... such as it was... but it
0040L03 helped. ^*I trudged up the rain-drenched forest, slipping, grazing
0050L03 my ankles, bumping against trees and over-hanging branches, once dislodging
0060L03 a stone which went crashing down the hill and sent a bird squawking
0070L03 in protest. $^The rain was quite a downpour and it had begun to_
0080L03 soak through my clothes: my collar was drenched and the waist-band of
0090L03 my trousers was soaked with a tiny runnel of cold water trickling into
0100L03 my groin. ^But the homer still beeped steadily and I knew that I was
0110L03 going in the right direction. $^And then I didn*'4t need the homer
0120L03 any more. ^Before me, cutting a swathe across the trees, was a
0130L03 stretch of clearing slicing around the hill. ^And all down the middle-line
0140L03 of the clearing, barring my way, was a barbed-wire fence: four
0150L03 feet high, three feet broad, neatly stretched between two rows of steel
0160L03 posts. ^Every seven meters or so a mercury-vapour lamp threw
0170L03 a glaring light over the entire scene. $^*I had expected something
0180L03 of the sort. ^*I stepped back into the shadow of the trees and
0190L03 began to_ walk through the forest parallel to the illuminated barrier.
0200L03 ^*I was certain that there was a way in: I only hoped I would find
0210L03 it soon, before the cold got to me again. $^*I located it after
0220L03 seventeen minutes. ^The ground had been getting increasingly rocky,
0230L03 rising slightly and the rain was pelting down so heavily that the
0240L03 roar of it on the leaves drowned the sound of the stream. ^If I
0250L03 hadn'4t been keeping my eyes on the ground because of the uncertain terrain,
0260L03 I might have slipped down the ravine and wrenched a muscle.
0270L03 ^As it was I just managed to_ grab onto a tree in time to_ prevent myself
0280L03 from sliding down the bank into the gushing water. $^*I gripped
0290L03 the trunk and looked at the angry rivulet. ^The stream arose somewhere
0300L03 up the hill, well within the estate, and had cut a deep course
0310L03 for itself in its mad race to the valley. ^The fence builders had
0320L03 known that this was one of their weakest points and they had put two
0330L03 of the lamps close together on either side of the stream as it passed
0340L03 under the fence; they had even stretched some strands of wire across the
0350L03 1 1/2 meter gorge the stream had cut for itself under the fence, but
0360L03 they couldn*'4t fence the entire depth of the ravine. ^Below the last
0370L03 strand there was a good 3/4 of a meter of clear space above the foaming
0380L03 water. $^*I didn*'4t wait to_ think. ^*I let go of the tree
0390L03 and leapt into the stream and started slogging up towards the fence
0400L03 before the cold could hit me. ^But that_ didn*'4t take long.
0410L03 ^The water was calf deep but it kept rising as the sides of the gorge got
0420L03 higher and higher and though the lights were bright above, here, in
0430L03 the icy stream, the shadows were deep and, after the glare outside,
0440L03 I found it difficult to_ see where I was going. ^The rocks were
0450L03 slippery underfoot and the force of the water tore at me as it roared down.
0460L03 $^My feet were numb with cold when I paused at the edge of the
0470L03 clearing. ^The rain was a curtain before me, haloed in the brightness
0480L03 of the two lights. ^*I couldn*'4t see beyond the fence and I
0490L03 imagined goons with guns waiting there in the darkness. ^And then
0500L03 I realised that it was my imagination and if I stayed any longer I*'1d
0510L03 be too numb to_ move. $^*I bent my head against the driving
0520L03 rain and trudged across the open stretch, walking knee-deep in foaming
0530L03 water. ^And then I took a deep breath, ducked, and plunging
0540L03 neck-deep into the roaring torrent, crawled crab-fashion under the broad,
0550L03 barbed-wire, fence. $^*I don*'4t know how I got through.
0560L03 ^The water squeezed the air from my lungs like a huge icy fist and the
0570L03 spray flicked frigid slivers at my face and hands. ^*I gasped with the
0580L03 crippling cold and the tearing spray and felt as if the blood had left
0590L03 my body and I was too numb and lifeless even to_ shiver. ^*I began
0600L03 to_ feel sleepy and fought that_ with all the strength I could muster,
0610L03 while the water roared and pounded at me and the spray sliced across
0620L03 my face, blinding with its lacerating chill. $^And then I was
0630L03 through. ^The awful fence was behind me and the violence of the stream
0640L03 had abated as it spread out between sloping banks to_ stretch into a
0650L03 rain-dimpled expanse of marsh. $^*I wanted to_ rest, to_ lie down
0660L03 and sleep in the pouring rain, but I knew I must not give in.
0670L03 ^*I drew the damp air into my tortured, frozen lungs and bending forward
0680L03 forced my legs to_ move, to_ stumble, to_ run awkwardly up the slope
0690L03 away from the revealing fence. $^How long I ran I do not know,
0700L03 or in what direction. ^*I stopped only when my legs couldn*'4t
0710L03 take it any more and my lungs felt as if they were soggy bellows squelching
0720L03 in my throat. ^But feeling had returned and there was even a thin
0730L03 film of sweat mingling with the cold rain on my drenched skin. ^*I
0740L03 leant against the bole of a tree, breathing in great gulps of damp air.
0750L03 $^*I realised then that I was out of condition. ^That_ damned
0760L03 enforced rest that_ the plastic surgeon had imposed on me had made me
0770L03 soft. ^*I thought of the *4Kumbh affair and my insane leap across
0780L03 the howling vortex with the steel cable cutting into my face and my chest
0790L03 and my hands as I slid down it to the vicious Projectile...
0800L03 $^Through the vivid scar of these memories I heard the guard-dogs barking
0810L03 and I shook my head and roused myself. ^Adrenalin pumped into my
0820L03 system releasing the reserves of strength and I began to_ run again:
0830L03 but this time I had the homer to my ear and was directing my feet
0840L03 by its call. $^The rain had slowed to a drizzle and the moon was
0850L03 trying, fitfully, to_ seep through the scudding clouds. ^*I thought
0860L03 only of running and of Sonia and not of my own tiredness or of the cold
0870L03 or the dogs that_ barked somewhere in the darkness. ^Instictively
0880L03 I headed for the stream again and was running along its bank: a memory
0890L03 dredged from my childhood when I hunted pheasant in the Himalayas
0900L03 and streams were the easiest way through the forests. $^The dogs
0910L03 had stopped barking for some time and I thought they had lost my scent
0920L03 when I stepped into another clearing. ^The stream had spread into
0930L03 a rocky pool... an irregular stretch, four meters across with the
0940L03 moon shining down on it... when the man and the two dogs stepped into sight
0950L03 at the other end. $^*I don*'4t know who was more shocked, the
0960L03 gun-carrying guard or I, but the dogs were quick off the mark.
0970L03 ^They growled, barked, and came after me. $^Fear jolted through me
0980L03 again. ^*I spun round and stumbled back the way I had come but I
0990L03 could hear the animals crashing through the undergrowth behind me and the
1000L03 man was blowing his whistle furiously, trying to_ pin me in the beam
1010L03 of his torch. ^The rain had stopped and the moon was bright in the
1020L03 forest but my heart was thudding in my throat and the damned hounds were
1030L03 gaining on me. $^And then I stumbled on a tree root and fell and
1040L03 the lead dog growled once and leapt at me.
1050L03 $^Self-preservation is a matter of reflexes: the fitter you are the quicker
1060L03 the response. ^*I wasn*'4t very fit now but I had honed my reflexes
1070L03 by grinding discipline and so I reacted without thinking. ^*I
1080L03 rolled as the beast growled and it overshot me and landed in the undergrowth
1090L03 ahead and then I was on my feet. ^The stream was a broad *8exe
1100L03 panshere*9... at least four meters across... and it was more instinct
1110L03 than reasoning that_ caused me to_ drag out the sandwiches from the
1120L03 thigh pocket, tear the grease-proof paper so that the aroma of the hamburgers
1130L03 escaped, and fling them as the second hound emerged and the first
1140L03 came crashing back at me. ^And then I turned and plunged into the
1150L03 stream, high-stepping through the ooze and slime at the bottom, urging
1160L03 myself forward. ^The man yelled and then there was the crack of
1170L03 a rifle and something smacked into a tree ahead. ^*I gasped and then
1180L03 my feet touched firm ground again. ^*I threw myself forward on the
1190L03 damp turf and crawled into the concealing dark of the underbrush.
1200L03 $^*I lay there with my face on the wet, loamy-smelling ground, drawing
1210L03 the air into my exhausted lungs, trying to_ stay as quiet as possible.
1220L03 ^My head was swimming and my eyes were heavy but I forced
1230L03 them open and peered through the bush. ^The man had reached his animals
1240L03 and he was shining his torch on them, his voice sharp with annoyance.
1250L03 ^But the dogs... surly mastiffs both of them... were growling and
1260L03 snapping at each other, intent on eating the food I had thrown.
1270L03 $^*I crawled slowly out of sight of the clearing, got to my feet and
1280L03 began to_ run again. ^The homing signals were coming in loud and clear
1290L03 now so I knew Sonia must be close. ^The trees were thinning
1300L03 out too and I got an occasional glimpse of light ahead. ^Somewhere
1310L03 behind me a whistle blew and, sharply, another answered on my left.
1320L03 ^That_ one was close. ^*I slowed to a walk and moved cautiously
1330L03 through the wet, moon-dappled, forest. $^The factory leapt into
1340L03 view very suddenly. ^One moment I was walking through the trees,
1350L03 the next I was looking across a moon-reflecting lake to a spread
1360L03 of white buildings beyond. ^Between me and the lake... a thirty meter
1370L03 wide cement reservoir... there was a vertical fence, three meters high,
1380L03 with twelve tautly-stretched strands of barbed wire. $^If I
1390L03 had more time, or if I was less tired, I would have waited. ^But
1400L03 time was running short and the beep-beep-beep of the homer told me that
1410L03 Sonia was in one of those buildings beyond. ^Besides, the sounds
1420L03 of the whistles and the barking of the dogs was closing in. ^*I
1430L03 made a rough calculation: there couldn*'4t be more than five guards
1440L03 on duty and of these, two were this side of the fence. ^It was a little
1450L03 past four in the morning and the chances were that the rest of the
1460L03 goons were asleep. $^The whistle blew again and its companion answered
1470L03 it and the dogs barked, nearer this time. ^That_ decided it.
1480L03 ^*I reached into the hip pocket of my trousers, pulled out a pair of wire
1490L03 cutters and stepped upto the fence. $^The cutters were good: they
1500L03 worked on an ingenious lever-ratchet system and I had to_ press twice
1510L03 only for the strand to_ snap and go winging back. ^*I could have
1520L03 squeezed through then but I wasn*'4t taking chances. ^*I snipped
1530L03 through a second and a third strand and then I stepped through.
1540L03 $^And I put my foot on a trip wire and the whole damned place began
1550L03 to_ yowl and hoot with blaring sirens. $^The impact after the stillness
1560L03 was shattering. ^One moment my ears were attuned for the crack
1570L03 of a twig, the next they were being battered by the barrage of sound
1580L03 that_ buffeted me from all sides. $^*I crouched and began to_ run
1590L03 round the cemented edge of the lake-reservoir when I saw doors opening
1600L03 and men tumbling out of the nearest building. ^*I had no option.
1610L03 ^*I kicked off my shoes, slipped them into the lake, and let myself
1620L03 slide gently into the water. ^It was warmer than I had expected;
1630L03 probably used for cooling machines in the factory. ^It buoyed
1640L03 me up and soothed me and for a moment I forgot my anxiety in the luxury
1650L03 of the warmth.*#
        **[no. of words = 02021**]

        **[txt. l04**]
0020L04 **<*3SNAPPED*0**> **[leader comment begin**] $*3^Why was the furtive
0030L04 Englishman so keen on photographing a nonentity from India? ^It was
0040L04 a baffling question.*0 **[end leader comment**] $*3^THE*0 first time
0050L04 that_ unknown Englishman took my photograph was in Innsbruck, Austria,
0060L04 where I had gone to_ witness the Winter Olympics. ^*I remember
0070L04 I was skiing down a lonely slope when suddenly a man in a bright red
0080L04 sweater and yellow cap darted out from behind a pine tree, knelt on the snow
0090L04 and focused a camera on me. ^After he had taken a couple of shots
0100L04 he sprang back behind the tree and disappeared into the forest beyond.
0110L04 $^*I shook my head, unable to_ understand this sudden photographic
0120L04 interest in a wobbly, shaky, incompetent skier like myself. ^Possibly
0130L04 the man wanted a human figure to_ complete his picture of the landscape
0140L04 and I just happened along. ^But why this furtiveness? $^My
0150L04 curiosity and perplexity heightened the following morning as I stood on
0160L04 my hotel balcony cleaning and testing my binoculars for use at the Olympics
0170L04 that_ day. ^As I scanned the sprawling alpine valley below, a
0180L04 distant glint caused by the reflection of sunlight on glass disturbed
0190L04 me. ^*I ran my binoculars along the snow and stopped where the figure
0200L04 of a man in a bright red sweater and yellow cap came into view. ^The
0210L04 glint was being caused by a camera fitted, no doubt, with a telephoto
0220L04 lens. ^The camera was focused in the direction of my balcony and
0230L04 the man was clicking away in great haste. ^When he lowered his equipment
0240L04 momentarily I knew for certain that it was the same Englishman who
0250L04 had snapped me the day before on that_ lonely ski slope. $^*I was,
0260L04 to_ say the least, baffled. ^Why on earth was the Englishman so keen
0270L04 to_ get my photograph? ^What was his motive? ^He was certainly
0280L04 taking a lot of trouble to_ snap me, because not only had he managed to_
0290L04 trace the hotel I was staying in, but also the number of my room.
0300L04 ^And he must have stood quite a while in the snow waiting for me to_ make
0310L04 an appearance on my balcony. $^Unable to_ understand the whole thing
0320L04 I slowly turned and entered my room and drew the curtains. ^Through
0330L04 a slight parting I focussed my binoculars on the mysterious Englishman
0340L04 and found him staring intently in the direction of my balcony.
0350L04 ^For the first time I began to_ get a slightly uneasy feeling. $^Was
0360L04 he a member of some intelligence agency or something of the kind?
0370L04 ^But what possible interest could anybody have in a simple, law-abiding
0380L04 and drab Indian like myself who was on a visit to Austria for no other
0390L04 reason than that he had some money to_ spare-- and wanted to_ fulfil
0400L04 a long-standling ambition to witness the Olympics? $^Was the man a Hollywood
0410L04 talent scout on the lookout for potential star material? ^But
0420L04 it was my belief that the only person who found my looks appealing was
0430L04 my wife. ^Perhaps I had the sort of face that_ some Hollywood
0440L04 producer wanted for a particular role... ^Still where was the need for
0450L04 all this surreptitious photographing? ^All he had to_ do was come
0460L04 up with a proposal and I would have signed along the dotted line.
0470L04 $^*I was in for a bigger surprise later that_ day at the venue of the Olympics.
0480L04 ^*I had managed to_ get a ringside seat at the huge ice-skating
0490L04 rink where the world*'s top figure-skaters were competing. ^A
0500L04 few minutes after the competition had begun my attention was diverted towards
0510L04 the \0VIP enclosure where a sudden flurry of activity had erupted.
0520L04 ^As I watched, the Prime Minister of Switzerland was ushered
0530L04 in accompanied by the Shah and Empress of Iran and their three children,
0540L04 the Aga Khan and his Begum, Senator Edward Kennedy and his wife
0550L04 and an unidentifiable middle-aged Englishman. ^It was the sight
0560L04 of this Englishman that_ almost took my breath away-- he was none other
0570L04 than the mysterious photographer who had been taking such pains during
0580L04 the last two days to_ take my picture! $^*I stared hard at him but failed
0590L04 to_ place him. ^There was little doubt, however, that he was a
0600L04 man of consequence. ^This was evident from the august company he was
0610L04 found in. ^It only added to the mystery: why should a man of his
0620L04 importance bother to_ photograph a nonentity from India? ^Once again
0630L04 I shook my head in total bewilderment. ^*I just didn*'4t know what
0640L04 to_ make of the whole thing. $*3^*I WAS*0 to_ run into the Englishman
0650L04 once more before leaving Austria for home. ^*I remember it was
0660L04 my last evening in the country. ^The Olympic meet was over and I
0670L04 was taking a stroll down Innsbruck*'s main street before dinner at my hotel,
0680L04 when I suddenly saw a camera pop up before me through an opening
0690L04 in the crowd of people ahead. ^There was a sudden explosion of a flashbulb.
0700L04 ^*I was blinded momentorily and when I recovered
0701L04 I saw the Englishman striding hurriedly through the crowd
0710L04 , clutching his camera. ^*I rushed after him determined to_ get the
0720L04 bottom of the whole thing, but he was soon swallowed up by the crowd.
0730L04 $^Slowly I made my way back to the hotel. ^*I felt unnerved.
0740L04 ^After all nobody likes to_ be followed and photographed in the middle
0750L04 of a street in a foreign country for no earthly reason. ^But I consoled
0760L04 myself with the thought that I would be leaving for home the next
0770L04 day and that_ would mean the end of the Englishman*'s interest in me.
0780L04 ^In all probability I would never set eyes on him again. $^How wrong
0790L04 I was. $^After leaving Austria the following morning I found
0800L04 myself in Paris. ^*I spent two riotous days in this glorious city,
0810L04 then made for the south of France to_ do a spot of gambling in the
0820L04 casinos of Cannes and Nice, then pushed on to Monaco*'s gaming tables.
0830L04 ^*I made a neat packet which I finished off at Rome before catching
0840L04 the non-stop Air-India flight to Bombay. ^After a brief halt
0850L04 there to_ attend to some business matters, I flew to Delhi and
0860L04 cought the overnight Kalka Mail which finally deposited me at my
0870L04 home in Simla . $*3^AT*0 this point I must digress a bit. ^*I
0880L04 happen to_ belong to one of the former princely families of India, though
0890L04 personally I have never held a title or anything of the kind as
0900L04 I have a deep aversion to all such things. ^It suited me therefore,
0910L04 when all princely privileges were abolished by the Government of India
0920L04 as part of their progressive reforms. ^This spared me the embarrassment
0930L04 of having an unwanted title and all such trappings thrust on
0940L04 me on the passing away of my dear father. ^*I was happy to_ be plain
0950L04 \0Mr Chopra. $^But I could do nothing about the sizeable fortune
0960L04 that_ I had inherited by law. ^This included real estate and other
0970L04 very valuable possessions like tiger skins, elephant tusks, antique
0980L04 furniture, precious paintings, first editions, rare statues, clocks
0990L04 and the kind. ^My father had been a great collector as well as a traveller.
1000L04 $^After his death it became a problem for me to_ care for
1010L04 all the collector*'s items. ^*I hold the view that one should go through
1020L04 life*'s journey as lightly as possible, but for sentimental reasons
1030L04 I did not have the heart to_ sell off the things so lovingly collected
1040L04 by my father. ^*I finally decided to_ allow my children to_ inherit
1050L04 the treasure and do what they pleased with it after I was dead and gone.
1060L04 $^With this in mind I had everything transported to my huge Simla
1070L04 house. ^The entire lot was neately labelled, catalogued and
1080L04 packed into a series of iron safes. ^*I had these safes placed in
1090L04 the attic and once I locked the attic door I swept them out of my mind
1100L04 and, I hoped, out of my life. $^To_ continue with the story, it
1110L04 so happened that soon after my arrival in Simla, I received an urgent
1120L04 call from my apple orchard at Kotgarh, some 75 \0km away. ^It was
1130L04 on the second day of my stay at Kotgarh that I got a lightning trunk call
1140L04 from Simla. ^The caller was a neighbor of mine, a retired Major
1150L04 General of the Indian Army. $"^*I say, \0Mr Chopra," said
1160L04 the General in his gruff voice," you had bettr rush back to Simla.
1170L04 ^Your house was broken into this morning, but your *4chowkidar
1180L04 caught the bloke inside. ^The police chaps would like to_ have you over
1190L04 immediately to_ check if every thing is in order." ^WITHIN
1200L04 an hour I was zooming back to Simla in my sports car. ^A police
1210L04 officer was waiting for me at the gate. ^Two constables stood on the
1220L04 lawn with a young, smart-looking youth, presumably the house-breaker.
1230L04 ^Within minutes I was given the lowdown on what had happened.
1240L04 ^Apparently the young man, who happened to_ be an Anglo-Indian
1250L04 whose name was Michael, had been caught in the early hours of the morning
1260L04 by my Nepali *4chowkidar who, while taking his rounds, had noticed
1270L04 an open window on the ground floor. ^He roused the other servants
1280L04 and together they had nabbed the intruder in the attic. $^*I hurried
1290L04 into the house accompanied by the police officer and my *4chowkidar.
1300L04 ^*I noticed that the attic door had been forced open but everything
1310L04 else seemed to_ be intact. ^*I then strode over to the row of iron safes
1320L04 and tried the door of each one in turn. ^The safe containing my
1330L04 father*'s priceless paintings was open! ^*I looked in and made a quick
1340L04 check with the catalogue. ^Nothing seemed to_ be missing.
1350L04 ^Apparently the thief, Michael, had been surprised soon after he had
1360L04 opened the door. $^But the question that_ arose was: how did Michael
1370L04 get the key to the safe? ^All the keys of the iron safes in the
1380L04 attic were kept in the safe in my bedroom. ^To_ get to them the thief
1390L04 would first have to_ break open my bedroom safe. ^*I hurried down to
1400L04 my bedroom and immediately noticed that the safe door was open! ^My
1410L04 heart gave a big thud because I had placed a substantial amount of money
1420L04 in that_ safe along with all my other documents and securities. $^A
1430L04 quick scrutiny showed that absolutely nothing had been touched here,
1440L04 except that Michael had removed the keys of the safes in the attic.
1450L04 ^That_ could only mean one thing-- that Michael*'s chief aim had been
1460L04 to_ get at the keys to the safes in the attic. ^Otherwise why hadn*'4t
1470L04 he made a clean sweep of the bedroom safe which contained a virtual fortune?
1480L04 $^Another intriguing question arose here: how did Michael
1490L04 get the key to this-- the bedroom safe? ^*I took pains to_ hide the
1500L04 key in what I consider to_ be a perfectly safe and burglar-proof place.
1510L04 ^Between you and me, I always hide this key inside the false heel
1520L04 of a dirty old shoe I keep in my wardrobe. ^It was the last place
1530L04 anybody would dream of searching, unless everything in the bedroom was
1540L04 taken apart and ransacked. ^But not a thing in the bedroom was out of
1550L04 place. ^It was as though Michael had known precisely where the
1560L04 key was to_ be found! $*3^*I WAS*0 in for a greater surprise later
1570L04 that_ day when the results of the police interrogation of the thief were
1580L04 made known to me. ^Apparently Michael was not an Indian citizen
1590L04 but held a British passport. ^He had come from England on a return
1600L04 air ticket the day before and had made a beeline for Simla by hiring
1610L04 a taxi from Delhi. ^Here he had headed straight for my house,
1620L04 fished out my safe key from my old shoe in the wardrobe and gone right up
1630L04 to the attic where he had been caught. ^By the look of things, Michael
1640L04 had come from England with the sole purpose of burgling my attic.
1650L04 ^The police were, to_ put it mildly, considerably mystified by the
1660L04 whole thing.*#
        **[no. od words = 02014**]

        **[txt. l05**]
0020L05 **<*3The Garden*0**> **[leader comment begin**] $*3^How*0 he detested
0030L05 that_ foreign woman with her craze for cats, rogs, lizards and her lush
0040L05 balcony garden!*0 **[end leader comment**] $"*3^I DO*0 not understand,
0050L05 \0Mr Chopra! ^*I simply do not understand!"
0060L05 ^*Lucy Singh stood in the doorway, her green eyes alive with fury, her
0070L05 entire body rigid with barely controlled rage. ^Only the loosely folded
0080L05 newspaper she cradled in her hands seemed to_ restrain her from
0090L05 reaching over and slapping him. $\0^*Mr Chopra surveyed her coldly,
0100L05 a matching anger rising in his chest. ^*Lucy Singh! ^How
0110L05 he detested Lucy Singh! ^He couldn*'4t imagine how Jasbir Singh,
0120L05 with his immense wealth, his huge factories, his family name, could
0130L05 have chosen this foreign woman as his wife. ^Nor how his family
0140L05 could ever have permitted it. ^But he had gone abroad, received a
0150L05 foreign degree and come back with Lucy. ^One might even have put
0160L05 the whole thing down to an unfortunate temptation had Lucy been blonde,
0170L05 voluptuous and alluring. ^But she wasn*'4t. ^*Lucy was thin,
0180L05 brown-haired and-- eccentric! $^He looked at the infuriated woman
0190L05 with her ridiculous newspaper parcel and his head swarmed with absurd images.
0200L05 ^*Lucy talking to her plants, murmuring to the bougainvillaea
0210L05 as she tied it up over the wall. ^*Lucy threatening a neighbouring
0220L05 *4mali with castration if he so much as poked the tip of a pair of
0230L05 hedge clippers through the fence and nipped even a single precious bud.
0240L05 ^*Lucy answering the door with not one, but five cats of various
0250L05 sizes in her arms. $^Even the cats were eccentric. ^Not ordinary
0260L05 cat-type cats such as you see every day on the roadside, but strange
0270L05 elongated creatures with the colouring of *4langurs, weird black faces
0280L05 and paws, cream bodies and turquoise eyes. ^And she loved those
0290L05 cats. ^A dozen times a day, into the late evening he could hear
0300L05 her calling the cats, "Kittyittyittyittyittyitty". ^And every time
0310L05 the faint ululation drifted downstairs, he felt his teeth grind.
0320L05 $*3^AND*0 the frogs! ^To_ be sure, \0Mr Chopra had never actually
0330L05 seen the frogs. ^He was hardly on good enough terms with
0340L05 Lucy to_ be included in her dinner parties or even a casual cocktail
0350L05 evening. ^Not at all. ^So he*'d never actually seen more of her
0360L05 upstairs flat than the front hall. ^But he had heard about the frogs.
0370L05 ^A dozen or so of the horrid things who lived in her balcony
0380L05 garden and, so the story went, came out at night, and merrily hopped
0390L05 through the house. ^His cook had been told by Lucy*'s cook that
0400L05 one fat fellow liked to_ take a nightly bath in the cat*'s water dish
0410L05 and regularly sat there, slowly blinking his bulging eyes and looking
0420L05 every inch a Member of Parliament. ^Eccentric! ^And Jasbir
0430L05 actually tolerated all this nonsense! $^And now Lucy was on another
0440L05 rampage. $"^Just look at it-- just look what they*'3ve done!"
0450L05 ^She swept by him into his drawing-room, pausing only to_ lay the
0460L05 newspaper bundle gently on his dining table and then rushed out on to
0470L05 his balcony. ^Not even a "please" or "pardon, may I?" $\0^*Mr
0480L05 Chopra clenched his fists and took several deep breaths. ^She was,
0490L05 after all, the Director*'s wife.
0491L05 ^Her husband and his family owned the entire building and \0Mr Chopra*'s
0500L05 being given a flat at all was just a company perk to a high-level,
0510L05 but employed, executive. $^He followed her out on to the balcony
0520L05 and looked over at the tree to which she was pointing. ^Several
0530L05 of the large branches had been snapped, mounds of bruised leaves lay in
0540L05 heaps on the grass below and bits of bark, half torn off the trunk,
0550L05 hung in spiralling strips. $"^How could you permit two small girls
0560L05 to_ do so much damage?" $^He began to_ defend his children with,
0570L05 "^But children don*'4t know any better and--", then realised that this
0580L05 argument had been used before and held no authority with Lucy. ^So
0590L05 he stood there and waited for the avalanche of angry words to_ ease up.
0600L05 $^*Lucy moved towards the table and her parcel, but stopped on catching
0610L05 sight of his little prayer room and pointed to it angrily.
0620L05 $"^You, \0Mr Chopra are a religious man. ^You are, I understand,
0630L05 a vegetarian. ^Presumably because you reverence life. ^For
0640L05 me that_ reverence includes life in all forms, botanical as well as zoological.
0650L05 ^*I see God in green living things." ^Her jaw began
0660L05 to_ tremble and she reached over and started to_ unfold the parcel.
0670L05 $"^Do you know why your daughters tore that_ tree to pieces?
0680L05 ^Do you know what they were doing?" ^She paused and said very softly,
0690L05 very fiercely, "^They were *3hunting*0, \0Mr Chopra."
0700L05 $^She folded back the last sheet of newspaper. ^Lying in a bloody stain
0710L05 was a lizard. ^Not the common house *4korkellee but its garden
0720L05 cousin, a larger animal with a body nearly a foot long. ^Its slender
0730L05 tail flipped feebly across the paper and dangled over the edge of the
0740L05 table. ^A deep gash extended along its back and it peered up at
0750L05 Lucy with its odd half-hooded eyes, the pulse in its throat quivering
0760L05 rhythmically. ^Without a word she gently closed the paper over
0770L05 the creature and picked it up. ^Then she turned and walked out.
0780L05 $*3^HE*0 could hear her climbing the stairs to her flat and he realised
0790L05 with horror that she had the ugly wounded reptile with her and would
0800L05 probably put it in her balcony garden to_ recover. ^His rage
0810L05 overcame him. ^He roared for the servant to_ disinfect the table,
0820L05 he seized his cowering daughters from behind the almirah in their room
0830L05 and slapped them both and he firmly closed the doors of his little
0840L05 *4mandir. $^How he hated Lucy Singh. ^And he had to_ just stand
0850L05 there and tak  all the abuse she chose to_ heap upon his head.
0860L05 ^It was too much to_ bear! ^Not only a foreigner but a woman as well.
0870L05 ^Women had no right to_ talk to any man that_ way, no right
0880L05 to_ make a judgement on any man. ^These foreign women had lost all their
0890L05 respect for their men. ^They were loose, immoral. $^And all
0900L05 those parties! ^Nearly every night, the flat above reverberated with
0910L05 gusts of laughter and sudden bursts of conversation and every once in
0920L05 a while, the distinctive, ear-shattering shriek of Lucy. ^And
0930L05 he had the vague uncomfortable feeling of an outsider and suspected that
0940L05 all that_ laughter wasn*'4t directed at Lucy, her frogs, her cats
0950L05 or her humanised bougainvillaea. ^He had nasty visions of Lucy with
0960L05 her clever imitations, reducing him along with half the government officials,
0970L05 bank officers and customs bigwigs to objects of ridicule.
0980L05 ^Loose woman! ^Drunken parties! ^But even as he thought of more
0990L05 derogatory terms, he realised that the mirth upstairs wasn*'4t out of
1000L05 a bottle. ^The only bottles that_ ever clattered into Lucy*'s
1010L05 waste bin were squash and beer bottles. ^A whisky bottle appeared only
1020L05 after a space of months. $^Well she *3was*0 immoral. ^He
1030L05 rememberd what she had told his wife. ^That the sex of a child depends
1040L05 on the *3man*0. ^Can you imagine it? ^And his wife had
1050L05 promptly come and told him that Lucy had said it was quite useless to_
1060L05 drink litres of almond milk, that the sex of the child was already decided
1070L05 from the first day and that it was he, \0Mr Chopra, who had
1080L05 decided it! ^And when the new baby proved to_ be a girl, his third
1090L05 daughter, he could have sworn that Lucy had somehow cursed him.
1100L05 ^Even when he tried to_ push the blame on to his wife for not having
1110L05 consumed enough *4badam milk, the look in her eyes clearly told him
1120L05 that she suspected Lucy might be right. $^Hateful woman.
1130L05 $*3^SO*0 \0Mr Chopra felt a keen sense of relief when he heard several
1140L05 months later that Lucy and Jasbir were leaving for Africa to_
1150L05 set up a new business there. ^Since the Emergency showed no signs
1160L05 of being lifted, everyone expected that their departure would be permanent
1170L05 and that, eventually, the flat upstairs would be sold. ^*Lucy
1180L05 began distributing her crockery and linen to friends, her cats found homes
1190L05 and large steel trunks were brought empty upstairs and then carried
1200L05 down, packed and labelled for Africa. \0^*Mr Chopra watched
1210L05 the departure preparations with considerable satisfaction. $^Then one
1220L05 day, a week or so before she left, Lucy appeared at his door.
1230L05 ^She handed him a key to her flat and told him that he should allow the
1240L05 gardener in every afternoon to_ water her balcony garden. "^The
1250L05 flat will probably be sold, but the garden is unique and it will add
1260L05 a great deal of value to the property", she said. $*3^THE*0
1270L05 garden was unique! ^It, like Lucy, was eccentric. ^Constructed
1280L05 on the large back balcony of her flat, it reputedly had a small lawn,
1290L05 a *4papaya tree, a so-called \0Xmas tree and dozens of full grown
1300L05 bougainvillaea. \0^*Mr
1310L05 Chorpa had never seen the garden from upstairs but he noticed it with
1320L05 distaste almost daily as he drove out of the front gate. $^Vines extended
1330L05 from the roof of the building a good three storeys up, dangled in massive
1340L05 twisted ropes across a wire mesh erected over the garden and then plunged
1350L05 down the building walls to the ground. ^Bougainvillaea surged over
1360L05 the balcony walls and great orange and magenta flowered spikes swung on
1370L05 the ends of incredibly long stems. ^One of the plants drooped a good
1380L05 fifteen feet over the wall and he could see several clusters outside his
1390L05 bedroom window on the floor below. ^He had grown almost to_ hate
1400L05 the little bunches of fiery blooms for no other reason than that Lucy
1410L05 loved them. $^A *4mali had been hired with the instructions to_
1420L05 maintain the lawns downstairs and in the balcony garden, to_ water everything
1430L05 lavishly and not to_ cut a leaf without Lucy*'s permission.
1440L05 ^And Lucy rarely gave permission. ^So the well-watered greenery
1450L05 thrived through the long hot Bombay dry season and grew to jungle
1460L05 dimensions. $^From the back road, the three-storeyed house looked
1470L05 like a huge green box. ^It was ridiculous and the building had become
1480L05 something of a landmark in the community. ^More than once, \0Mr
1490L05 Chopra had overheard directions being clarified with, "two blocks down
1500L05 from that_ house covered with all the vines. ^You can*'4t miss
1510L05 it". ^Even some *(filmwallahs*) had been entranced by the sheer mass
1520L05 of growth and used the house as a backdrop for several street scenes
1530L05 shot on the road behind. $^It was ridiculous and outrageous!
1540L05 $^But realising that he couldn*'4t very well refuse to_ take the key,
1550L05 \0Mr Chopra accepted it, made some mumbled assurances and, as quickly
1560L05 as possible, closed the door. ^He put the key under a pile of his wife's
1570L05 old *4sarees in a rarely opened *4almirah and made a silent prayer that
1580L05 that_ would be the last he would see of Lucy. $^Within a week, Lucy
1590L05 and Jasbir were on their way. ^The flat upstairs seemed strangely
1600L05 silent. ^Gone were the loud, laughing parties, gone were the
1610L05 assortment of cars and scooters sprawled along the road outside, gone
1620L05 too was the incessant "^Kittyittyitty" that_ had so irritased \0Mr
1630L05 Chopra. $^The gardener arrived the day after their departure and
1640L05 asked for the key to the flat. \0^*Mr Chopra told his wife to_
1650L05 come back the next day. ^The next day, he was told to_ come back
1660L05 the following week. ^The following week, he was told that the key
1670L05 had been mislaid and that he should merely attend to the grounds around
1680L05 the house. $*3^THEN*0 one day \0Mr Chopra looked out over his
1690L05 balcony and noticed that the tree in the courtyard had spread out over
1700L05 the lawn and that one of the branches nearly touched the balcony wall.
1710L05 ^It would have to_ go. ^So he called the *4mali and told him
1720L05 that the tree must be trimmed. ^But the gardener, showing a completely
1730L05 unexpected recalcitrance, absolutely refused to_ touch the tree.
1740L05 ^Threats moved him not a bit. ^He had promised the *4memsahib not
1750L05 to_ cut her plants and cut them he would not.*#
        **[no. of words = 02010**]

        **[txt. l06**]
0010L06 **<*3The Silver Knife*0**>
0020L06 $*3^SHE*0 had come to India in her bridal year, full of the idealism
0030L06 of youth. ^Everything, including her own domestic world, had
0040L06 been new and strange-- the huge old bungalow with high ceilings, its
0050L06 windows shuttered against the intolerable heat; the long absences of
0060L06 her husband as he toured the vast area of his district; perhaps hardest
0070L06 of all to_ accept, the necessity of servants. $^Servitude had shocked
0080L06 her deeply. ^Coming from a family of modest income she had been
0090L06 accustomed to housework from her earliest years, and to_ sit idle while
0100L06 others cooked, washed and scrubbed for her was not an easily acquired
0110L06 discipline. ^She felt abashed at the care and solicitude lavished
0120L06 upon her by these people who were complete strangers to her. ^In
0130L06 her enthusiastic way she determined to_ do her best for them. ^She
0140L06 would be a *4memsahib above all *4memsahibs, known for her loving
0150L06 concern for her houshold. ^As they were faithful to her, so would
0160L06 she prove solicitous in return. $^The first year passed uneventfully
0170L06 enough. ^She had succeeded in making the house her own.
0180L06 ^Each wedding gift stood in its rightful place, the brass and copper ornaments
0190L06 were burnished to perfection, the marble-chip floors shone with
0200L06 a lustre acquired only from daily scouring. $^Her dinner parties
0210L06 were renowned for their elegance. ^The brilliance of her wit and youthful
0220L06 gaiety were rivalled only by the sparkle of her table where each crystal
0230L06 glass and silver spoon reflected the willing cooperation of her domestic
0240L06 staff. ^Her friends congratulated her on her happy adjustment
0250L06 to this totally foreign way of life. $^If the chief cook,
0260L06 Bhopal Singh, had not been such an unscrupulous rogue, or perhaps if
0270L06 his mistress had not discovered him to_ be unscrupulous, her naive trust
0280L06 would have remained unchallenged. $*3^*BHOPAL*0 Singh came from
0290L06 a long line of cooks. ^His family had served under the British
0300L06 *4Raj and had acquired a reputation for faithfulness. ^But
0310L06 Bhopal Singh, himself a proud nationalist who hated servitude, was of
0320L06 a different generation and was determined that his children should not
0330L06 serve foreigners in free India. ^Although he waited on his mistress
0340L06 with all the charm and attention to detail demanded of the polished
0350L06 servant, beneath the impassive face he was full of cunning and each
0360L06 week he contrived some new way of cheating in his accounts.
0370L06 $^Month by month the bills rose higher, and small saleable articles, such
0380L06 as newspapers and tins, were not to_ be found in the house. ^At length
0390L06 he asked for, and received, from the *4memsahib (her husband was absent
0400L06 at the time) a "loan" of several hundred rupees for an allegedly sick
0410L06 relative back in his village. ^But his luck was not to_ last.
0420L06 $^Strangely enough, it was her best friends who planted the
0430L06 tiny seed of distrust. ^They had always gossiped together about
0440L06 their servants and, indeed, it often seemed to_ be their chief topic of
0450L06 conversation. ^She had always felt, as her friends endlessly bemoaned
0460L06 the shortcomings and wiles of their various domestics, that she was
0470L06 so fortunate in having Bhopal Singh. $"^Why not inquire in
0480L06 the *4bazar?" her friends prompted. "^See if he has paid all your
0490L06 bills up to date." $^No, she would not, and indeed could not.
0500L06 ^Why should she, when the man was so patently honest? $^But
0510L06 the tiny seed of suspicion grew, and during the long days and longer nights
0520L06 spent alone, previously unrelataed incidents began to_ form a pattern
0530L06 in her mind. ^Had she not seen one day, quite by chance,
0540L06 the vegetable-seller give a whole armful of apples to_ Bhopal Singh*'s
0550L06 children-- apples, in this season, much too expensive for servants.
0560L06 ^One day she mislaid her fountain-pen; and a few weeks later a ten-rupee
0570L06 note, left absent-mindedly in a vase, was no longer there.
0580L06 $^Her husband was too preoccupied with his affairs to_ take these trivial
0590L06 matters seriously. ^He would kiss her cheek lightly and murmur,
0600L06 "^My dear, servants are all the same none better or worse than any other.
0610L06 ^Their morals are different from ours. ^You must
0620L06 not take them too seriously." ^But her suspicions continued to_
0630L06 grow. $*3^IT*0 was one dull, humid morning in the early monsoon
0640L06 when she accidently discovered the absence of the silver knife.
0650L06 ^The silver knife was one of her greatest treasures. ^It was a carving
0660L06 knife with a richly decorated silver handle which had been in her
0670L06 family for many generations. ^Her father had presented it to her
0680L06 on her wedding day and since her arrival in India it had been used only
0690L06 on the most important of occasions. $^With trembling
0700L06 hands she emptied the contents of the silverware drawer on to the table
0710L06 . ^It was undoubtedly gone. ^Feverishly she searched the
0720L06 rest of the house and then with pounding heart approached the kitchen
0730L06 . ^*Bhopal Singh was intent upon making bread and did not discern
0740L06 the pent-up emotion in her face. "^*Bhopal Singh, I
0750L06 wish to_ see your house at once." ^There was no mistaking her
0760L06 tone. ^This was an order. ^*Bhopal Singh*'s
0770L06 black eyes flickered momentarily, then without a word he wiped the dough
0780L06 from his hands and followed her to the servants*' quarters. $^His
0790L06 room was small, dark and unspeakably dirty. ^Just inside the
0800L06 door hung one of her best towels and her eyes found it immediately.
0810L06 ^It was as if the monsoon storm had broken within her suddenly, stripping
0820L06 her with one lightening shaft of all self-restraint. ^Panting
0830L06 with anticipation and the sudden release of weeks of suppressed suspicion
0840L06 she tore his room to pieces. $^Unbelievably there it was
0850L06 the silver knife, falling with a clatter to the grimy floor among all
0860L06 his other pitifully meagre and worthless possessions. $^*Bhopal
0870L06 Singh*'s mask fell momentarily. ^He snatched up the knife
0880L06 and with an obscene oath flung it at the wall, barely missing her head.
0890L06 ^The next moment he was gone. $*3^THE*0 silver knife
0900L06 was returned to its place in the dining room, but the house was not
0910L06 the same. ^A succession of cooks came and went, some of them efficient,
0920L06 some merely mediocre, but none of them deserving the blatant
0930L06 distrust which burned in the *4memsahib*'s eyes. $^She was a
0940L06 changed creature. ^Her whole day was filled with a strict routine
0950L06 for the protections of her possessions. ^Everything possible
0960L06 was put behind locked cupboard doors and each morning she meticulously
0970L06 weighed and measured the necessary food stuffs in the kitchen for the day.
0980L06 ^At her waist she wore a heavy ring of keys which she clutched
0990L06 tightly to herself in sleep. $^Her husband looked on with pain in his eyes,
1000L06 hoping that the end of her pregnancy would terminate this strange neurosis,
1010L06 and that the arrival of their child would permit her normally affectionate
1020L06 and happy nature to_ find outward expression once again. ^Her
1030L06 friends began to_ find her company embarrassing and emotionally exhausting,
1040L06 as she could think and talk of nothing but her servants and their
1050L06 deceitfulness, while her whole energy was directed towards possible ways
1060L06 of outwitting them at their own game. ^She was completely obsessed,
1070L06 a prisoner in her own personal domestic hell. $*3^WITH*0
1080L06 September and the last of the monsoon showers came another new cook,
1090L06 Kishan Lal. ^He was not an experienced cook, but his limited
1100L06 references were good and his sunny smile and happy disposition were
1110L06 in themselves beyond price. ^He lacked the polish and the easy graces
1120L06 of older men trained in British households, but he was young and
1130L06 eager to_ please. ^He was extremely grateful to_ obtain work as his
1140L06 young wife, after several miscarriages, had just given birth to their
1150L06 first child, a son. ^He considered himself blessed indeed,
1160L06 and with the prospect of several years of steady work ahead of him he could
1170L06 provide well for the child who, he fervently hoped, would thrive
1180L06 and grow strong, and be his father*'s support in later years. $^But
1190L06 the new *4memsahib would obviously be difficult to_ please. ^He
1200L06 had seen from the first that there was no tenderness or trust in her cold
1210L06 eyes. ^He determined to_ work with all his ability to_ please
1220L06 her. $^Each day Kishan Lal thought out new ways to_ win her
1230L06 approval. ^When the vases were empty he hunted the jungle undergrowth
1240L06 for wild flowers. ^Every morning he rose conscientiously
1250L06 at five so that he would be early enough to_ polish the woodwork and
1260L06 clean the brass before breakfast. ^He carved the butter into
1270L06 crisp white rosebuds and moulded the mashed potatoes into lotus blossoms.
1280L06 ^With each week her bills grew conspicuously less as he haggled
1290L06 doggedly with the *4bazar vendors. ^His one desire was to_
1300L06 please and to_ be accepted. $*3^HER*0 friends all insisted that
1310L06 she had at last found a gem, truly fine servant, but she, feeling nothing
1320L06 of their assurance, her eyes still blinded by suspicion, badgered
1330L06 him mercilesslly. ^Each tiny error on his part became for
1340L06 her the battleground of a major war. ^He spent his days in terror
1350L06 of making a false move and of bringing down the force of her anger on
1360L06 his head. ^At nights he tossed uneasily, unable to_ relax for
1370L06 fear of oversleeping and perhaps losing the coveted position. ^She had
1380L06 been known to_ dismiss servants for the most paltry of reasons. ^He
1390L06 lived frugally and at the end of the first month, with great pride and
1400L06 contentment, was able to_ send a substantial sum of money to his wife
1410L06 and baby son. $^During the second month, however, news came
1420L06 from his village that his son was ill. ^He was quite overcome with
1430L06 anxiety and hurried at once to_ ask the *4memsahib for leave. ^It
1440L06 had not occurred to his simple, honest mind to_ doubt that leave would
1450L06 not be granted, and her unqualified refusal left him, at the time, speechless.
1460L06 ^Howerver, he tried again to_ impress upon her in his slow,
1470L06 guileless manner the urgency of the situation and the necessity of
1480L06 taking the child to a hospital as soon as possible. $^Nervously, but
1490L06 with determination, he looked straight at the *4memsaheb*'s face.
1500L06 ^Her strangely foreign and, to him, colourless eyes were completely without
1510L06 expressions. ^She scarcely seemed to_ hear what he was saying.
1520L06 ^She looked detached, as if she had heard his pleadings a
1530L06 thousand times before. ^Her "no" was quite final and nothing he
1540L06 could say would move her. $*3^THREE*0 days dragged by with
1550L06 Kishan Lal in an agony of indecision. ^At last, in desperation,
1560L06 he went back to the *4memsahib. ^Would she, from the kindness
1570L06 of her woman*'s heart, lend him a small sum of money so that his
1580L06 wife and child could travel by bus to the nearest hospital.
1590L06 ^Surely this she could not refuse. ^Since his boyhood he had heard
1600L06 of the unpredictable deeds of the foreign *4memsahibs but he had also
1610L06 known them to_ be scrupulously fair in their dealings. ^Surely
1620L06 his was the most worthy and pressing of causes. ^But her fortress
1630L06 of suspicion was by now quite impregnable. ^When she refused
1640L06 even this request he felt the sudden impact of physical pain as if
1650L06 his fists had battered themselves against a brick wall. ^His decision
1660L06 now was plain. ^He must leave his position, find some money-lender
1670L06 still willing to_ advance him a small sum and leave for his village
1680L06 as soon as possible. ^With a heavy but still humble heart Kishan
1690L06 Lal returned to his lonely room. $^Inside the great bungalow
1700L06 the young *4memsahib retired early, as was her custom when the *4sahib
1710L06 was away from home. ^Once alone she flung herself on her bed and
1720L06 let the tears come. ^The ability to_ cry came as an immense relief
1730L06 after months of dry-eyed tension. ^Her true disposition gradually
1740L06 began to_ re-emerge and as she relaxed between bouts of uncontrollable
1750L06 sobbing she felt her child kick against her body with insistent staccato
1760L06 beats. $"^*I have been dying" she told herself incredulously.
1770L06 "^*I have been slowly killing myself with suspicion and hate. ^What
1780L06 if this man is telling the truth and his baby is seriously ill? ^He is
1790L06 part of my household and I am responsible for him.*#
        **[no. of words = 02018**]

        **[txt. l07**]
0020L07 **<*3Shalimar*0**> $^THERE have been two tragedies in my life.
0030L07 ^Convulsions might be the right word. ^The first was within
0040L07 a day or two of my twelfth birthday. ^The second only a few months
0050L07 ago. $^For my birthday, my father had given me a single pearl for
0060L07 a present, a pearl as large as a match-head, perfectly round and with
0070L07 a dull, off-white sheen. "^It is for what they call add-a-pearl
0080L07 necklace," he told me. "^*I*'3ll give you one for each birthday
0090L07 and then an extra one every now and then for being a good daughter, dutiful
0100L07 daughter, clever daughter and things like that_." $^And then
0110L07 it happened. $^*I was a day student in \0St Joseph*'s Convent
0120L07 in Rangoon, but that_ day I had been kept back from school.
0130L07 ^Presently a police car had come and in it I was taken to the morgue behind
0140L07 the New General Hospital to_ identify my father*'s body.
0150L07 $^*I knew it was my father*'s body that_ lay on the low table, covered
0160L07 with a dirty white rubber sheet. ^My mother had been crying her
0170L07 heart out all morning and I had seen the screaming headlines in the morning*'s
0180L07 *3Rangoon Times: $*<*ROBBER SHOT DEAD ALERT GUARD FOILS
0190L07 BANK ROBBERY*> $^*I had not known that my father was a burglar,
0200L07 but somehow I was not surprised. ^There was a mystery about
0210L07 how he earned his living and I was old enough to_ know that he did not
0220L07 have a regular job like the fathers of other girls at school. ^But
0230L07 I respected him, as most children respect their fathers, and I suppose
0240L07 I was a little infatuated with him, as most girls of my age were
0250L07 supposed to_ be with their fathers. ^He spoilt me shamelessly, never
0260L07 scolded me and I loved him more than anyone else in the world.
0270L07 $^Suddenly he was reduced to a thing under a rubber sheet, lying in
0280L07 a small pool of yellow ooze. $^FOR days my mother and I did
0290L07 not stir out of the house and for weeks only ventured out to the market
0300L07 when it became dark. ^We had no friends and the people with whom
0310L07 we had been on visiting terms shunned us. ^Our only visitors seemed
0320L07 police officers, who came at all odd hours to_ ask questions.
0330L07 $^Late one evening, the door bell rang. ^On the steps stood a man
0340L07 dressed in holy robes and a sort of skullcap: a large man with an ample
0350L07 beard and an air of serenity. ^His shoulders were slightly bent,
0360L07 as though carrying an invisible burden, and his large eyes gave the
0370L07 impression that they were cavities covered with blue glass. ^It was
0380L07 only later that I discovered they gave that_ impression of depth becasue
0390L07 he could not see very well. $"^*I*'3m \0Dr Dubari," he
0400L07 announced, as though expecting that I should have known who he was.
0410L07 "^Please go and tell your mother that Uncle Dubari has come."
0420L07 $^*I had never known I had an uncle and never inquired whether he was
0430L07 related to my mother or to my father. ^But Mother seemed to_ know
0440L07 the name. ^Even at the time I suspected that, relative or not,
0450L07 he was an accomplice of my father*'s. ^Later I became convinced
0460L07 that he and my father must have made some sort of a pact: whoever survived
0470L07 would look after the other*'s dependants. $^He came in and installed
0480L07 himself in the spare room and after that_ things began to_ happen.
0490L07 ^The policemen*'s visits ceased suddenly. ^He had a few influential
0500L07 friends who only came to_ see him at night. ^Between them they
0510L07 managed to_ sell our car to a General in the Burmese Army and the
0520L07 house to a discredited Minister of the Government, both at a good
0530L07 profit. ^He even managed to_ get a certificate from the Reverend
0540L07 Mother at \0St Joseph*'s that Sheila Enders, who had been studying
0550L07 in the fourth form and was one of the most promising students in the
0560L07 class, was leaving school because her family was going to India.
0570L07 $^That_ was how I learned that we were going to India. $^Leaving
0580L07 Burma was easy enough; almost anyone who wanted to_ could go.
0590L07 ^But no one was allowed to_ take any money out. ^How Uncle Dubari
0600L07 managed to_ send out our money to India I shall never know.
0610L07 ^The fact is that when we reached our destination in India, which
0620L07 was the small hill-resort of Panchgani, Mother already had a nice little
0630L07 nest-egg which was invested in shares and fixed deposits. ^There
0640L07 was enough coming in every month to_ enable the two of us to_ live
0650L07 in modest comfort in the cottage that_ had been bought for us on Cliff
0660L07 View Road. $^*Uncle Dubari, who had accompanied us, had arranged
0670L07 that I should go to school and had already seen the Reverend Mother
0680L07 of \0St Joseph*'s Convent. $"^There*'1s not even a change
0690L07 in the name of the school," he told me. "\0St Joseph*'s Convent
0700L07 in Rangoon, \0St Joseph's here." $^*I had no words to_
0710L07 tell him what I felt. ^I went up to him and hugged him close, and
0720L07 he touched the top of my head gently, as though in blessing. $^When
0730L07 I returned from school that_ evening, I found him gone; gone just
0740L07 as mysteriously as he had come. ^But, luckily, not gone out of
0750L07 my life, even though I did not know it till my next birthday, my thirteenth.
0760L07 ^*Jhaveri Brothers from Bombay sent me a single pearl which
0770L07 was the exact twin to the one my father had given me. ^With it there
0780L07 was a card which read: BLESSINGS FROM UNCLE DUBARI. $^After
0790L07 that_ the pearl came every year. ^*I now have exactly a dozen.
0800L07 ^Another six, and perhaps there will be enough for a necklace.
0810L07 ^And yet I know I shall never have them strung. ^*I am superstitious.
0820L07 ^Because the man who began my necklace had died, I am obsessed
0830L07 by the fear that this other man who has gone on adding to my necklace
0840L07 will not survive its completion. $^*I PASSED my teens in the
0850L07 house of Cliff View road in Panchgani in which my mother still lives,
0860L07 but which I never learned to_ think of as home. ^*I suppose
0870L07 there must be something of my father in me, which rejects the humdrum,
0880L07 the conventional. ^*I could not bring myself to_ conform to my
0890L07 mother*'s ever-narrowing middle-class morality. ^*I longed to_ be on
0900L07 my own, without anyone in authority to_ tell me what to_ do and what
0910L07 to_ wear; live in my own room, carry my own latchkey. $^*I passed
0920L07 Matric and after that_ the Senior Cambridge examination, and my
0930L07 mother made me enrol for a course of nursing in the Panchgani Hospital.
0940L07 ^*I did not want to_ be a nurse. ^*I had no wish to_ become
0950L07 trapped in the discipline of a profession. ^But it was better than
0960L07 sitting at home, listening to Mother grumbling. $^Just as I
0961L07 was due to_ finish the course, I heard that the Cama Nursing Home
0970L07 in Poona needed a receptionist. ^The receptionist had to_ live on
0980L07 the premises and feed in the nursing home canteen. ^The salary wasn*'4t
0990L07 much but I slipped away to Poona for the interview one morning
1000L07 and was back before dark. $^On the day I was twenty years old,
1010L07 I broke the news to my mother that I had found myself a job-- and walked
1020L07 out of her house. ^After that_, oddly enough, our relationship
1030L07 became much more amicable. ^*I visited her at least once every
1040L07 month and telephoned every Sunday. $^*Poona, I soon discovered,
1050L07 was something of a bachelor girl*'s dream town, with literally hundreds
1060L07 of well-placed and unattached young men to_ pick from; right from
1070L07 teenaged youths in the Armed Forces Academy to up-and-coming, smart
1080L07 young doctors in the Armed Forces Medical College. ^But if you
1090L07 did not want to_ get tied down to anyone for more than a couple of dates,
1100L07 there were military officers constantly coming to_ attend courses which
1110L07 did not last for more than a couple of months or so. $^*I had
1120L07 three free evenings every week and I was never without a date. ^It
1130L07 was a gay and carefree life, lived from one mess dance to another.
1140L07 ^*I never went out with the same man more than a couple of times.
1150L07 $^UNTIL I met Kumar. $^And that_ brings me to the second tragedy
1160L07 of my young life. $^*I fell in love with Kumar the moment I set
1170L07 eyes on him. ^It took me nearly a whole year to_ fall out of love.
1180L07 ^Between falling in and falling out of love was that_ dream-like interlude
1190L07 of being in love, blindly, ecstatically, which lasted for nearly
1200L07 two years. ^*I should have known, known it as an immutable lesson in
1210L07 life, that it was too good to last. $^If there is one man I know--
1220L07 knew-- with whom it would be almost unnatural for a girl not to_ fall
1230L07 in love, it is Kumar. ^Six feet tall and built like a Greek god,
1240L07 with not an extra ounce of flesh but not muscle-bound either, more
1250L07 like an athlete, really, with the easy fluidity of movement that_ I have
1260L07 privately associated with racehorses. ^And the face... but
1270L07 how can one describe the face of a man one has loved, covered with
1280L07 countless kisses? ^*I had gone to a dance at the \0RSI, which is
1290L07 what they called the Services*' Club in Poona. ^We were a party
1300L07 of four, the other two being an artillery officer and his fiancee.
1310L07 $^We had a table on the lawn well away from the dance floor where the light
1320L07 was very dim. $^The man I had gone with, Major Samson, was
1330L07 telling the gunner about some new-fangled missile. ^He was not drunk
1340L07 or anything, nor was he talking very loudly, but in his normal voice.
1350L07 ^*I remember he had said something like: "Oh, the \0SE2 is the
1360L07 perfect answer to *3SAM*0.
1370L07 ^*I saw the trials. ^We can search
1380L07 out the sights and blow them to bits. ^There*'1s a homing device
1390L07 and a proximity fuse. ^You do need launch pads though, but they
1400L07 can be forty miles from the target". $^That_ was when this man who
1410L07 had been sitting at an adjoining table had come up. "^Ah, Kumar!"
1420L07 Major Samson said as he rose to_ greet him. ^They shook hands
1430L07 and, as Indians who have met after a long time often do, put their arms
1440L07 round each other*'s shoulders. $^And the next moment Major Samson
1450L07 was being gently lowered into his chair as though he had dropped off
1460L07 to sleep. $"^My name is Kumar," the newcomer introduced himself.
1470L07 "^Captain Kumar. ^Shall we dance?" $^*God, the nerve,
1480L07 I thought. "^Having knocked out..." I began. "^Oh, but he was
1490L07 asking for it," he said. "^Anyway, I didn*'4t knock him out...
1500L07 nothing so crude. ^Well, just put him to sleep... you might say."
1510L07 "^Just because he was talking about \0SAM?" "^*Sam happens
1520L07 to_ be the name of our Army chief," he explained, very solemnly,
1530L07 and that_ had made me laugh. "^Your ex-chief," I corrected.
1540L07 ^After we had circled the floor once, I said, "\0SAM happens to_
1550L07 be the abbreviation for the surface-to-air-missile, doesn*'4t it?"
1560L07 $"^*I see that you*'3re very well versed in services*' lore. ^Our
1570L07 security is not very tight, is it?" $"^That_*'1s no reason to_ hold
1580L07 *3me so tight," I countered. $^Without saying anything, he relaxed
1590L07 his hold. $"^You mean, you can... put someone to sleep just like
1600L07 that_?" ^*I had to_ ask. $"^Um-hum. ^It*'1s a trick, really.
1610L07 ^You press a nerve. ^Nothing to it if you know the exact spot.
1620L07 ^Want me to_ try it on you?" $"^Not on your life!" ^*I
1630L07 said, and pushed myself away a little. $^*CAPTAIN *KUMAR had come
1640L07 to_ do a course in the Intelligence School. ^He wore a parachute
1650L07 badge and a single medal ribbon, which his best friend, Squadron-Leader
1660L07 Devdas, told me was the *5Veer Chakra. ^They had both just finished
1670L07 a commando training course and Devdas seemed to_ regard him with
1680L07 a mixture of envy and admiration.*#
        **[no. of words = 02016**]

        **[txt.l08**]
0020L08 **<*3Open Season**> $"^Now? ^We could easily go and collect
0030L08 it". $^She shook her head. "^Not now. ^Now we*'3ll have
0040L08 to_ hurry. ^But could you bring it when you come to_ call for me?
0050L08 ^*I*'1d like to_ read them myself first, to_ see if they are really suitable
0060L08 for American children." $^It seemed that \0Mr. Webber
0070L08 had gone to Chicago on business, and it was the maid*'s night out, being
0080L08 Saturday. \0^*Mrs. Webber, who was active in politics,
0090L08 had to_ attend a dinner in town that_ the Republican party was giving for
0100L08 Governor Walker, and the chauffeur was driving her over. $^As soon
0110L08 as they had finished their coffee and donuts, they had driven to the
0120L08 Webber house. ^And then it had happened, right on the Webber doorstep.
0130L08 ^Just as she was about to_ press the doorbell, Kate had
0131L08 turned back and kissed him on the cheek. ^She had
0140L08 done it with so little self-consciousness, as though it was the most natural
0150L08 thing in the world to_ have done, that he was totally unprepared for
0160L08 it. ^And then, just before the door opened she had said: $"^Don*'4t
0170L08 forget to_ bring the fairytale book!" $^He had felt a little
0180L08 dazed, and it took him some time to_ recover. ^But afterwards,
0190L08 he felt light and gay, as though with that_ first kiss, he had surmounted
0200L08 some invisible barrier. ^The feel of the kiss lingered against
0210L08 his cheek, creating a little glow of its own; and there was a
0220L08 pleasurable, tingling sensation all over his body. $^He paused in
0230L08 the doorway for a long time, looking at the opulent house. ^Then
0240L08 he got into his car and drove away, singing to himself.
0250L08 **[song**] $^He had barely come out of the drive on to Millbank
0260L08 Lane when he saw a women on the road, bundled up in a raincoat and
0270L08 wearing a pulled-down hat, carrying a heavy suitcase. ^She was
0280L08 waving frantically for him to_ stop. ^*Jaikumar pulled up the car
0290L08 . $"^*I*'3m Nancy, the Webber*'s maid, from down there", she
0300L08 panted. "^Could you give me a ride down the road-- I missed the bus".
0310L08 $^She had a pleasant, somewhat bovine face, but her voice
0320L08 was hard, almost metallic. ^She looked about thirty, and had a trim,
0330L08 if sturdy figure, and she wore some heavy cloying perfume.
0340L08 $"^Certainly," Jaikumar said, opening the door for her, "I am going
0350L08 down to the campus-- drop you anywhere you like". $"^Bless you,
0360L08 dear," she said with relief. ^She climbed into the seat beside him
0370L08 and pulled her bag after her. "^If you could just pull up beside the
0380L08 bridge the other end of Garden Reach, Bert-- that_*'1s my young man,
0390L08 said he*'1d wait there for me. ^Then if you could drop both of us
0400L08 at the bus-stop at the end of Nassan street... if you don*'4t mind".
0410L08 $"^Not at all", Jaikumar assured her, releasing the clutch. $"^Bless
0420L08 you", Nancy said again. $^The road went straight for more than
0430L08 a mile, and right enough, the moment he had passed the small bridge,
0440L08 he saw a man standing under one of the trees, smoking a cigarette.
0450L08 ^A tall and broad-shouldered man wearing a fur-collared overcoat and a turned-down
0460L08 hat. "^There*'1s Bert," the woman beside him beamed.
0470L08 "^Just where he said he would be." $^*Jaikumar pulled the car to
0480L08 the right and stopped. ^The man threw away his still-burning cigarette
0490L08 and came up to them. $"^Hi, Bert" Nancy called out to him
0500L08 in a high-pitched voice. $"^It*'1s me, honey. ^Get in; the young
0510L08 gentleman is taking us to the bus stop." $"^Why, thanks," Bert
0520L08 said. "^Much obliged." $"^You*'3re welcome," Jaikumar told
0530L08 him. "^One of you will have to_ get in at the back." $"^*I*'3ll
0540L08 go over," Nancy offered. ^She climbed nimbly over the back of
0550L08 the front seat and sat at the back showing a lot of her legs. ^*Bert
0560L08 handed her her suitcase and then came and sat in the front seat beside
0570L08 Jaikumar. "^Nice little bus, this," he commented, as he shut the
0580L08 door. $^*Jaikumar started the car going before he spoke.
0590L08 $"^She*'1s all right." ^He patted the side of the car fondly. $"^*I
0600L08 had a Rambler myself, one time," the man said. $"^Good cars,"
0610L08 Jaikumar said. "^This one belonged to an African." $^As the
0620L08 man bent forward, Jaikumar thought that he had seen him before,
0630L08 "^Say, aren*'4t you the man I nearly ran over the other evening?" he
0640L08 asked. $^*Bert shook his head vigorously. "^Oh, no!" $"^You
0650L08 sure? ^*I could have sworn... hey, what*'1s come over you!" $^The
0660L08 man had suddenly turned in the seat and was pressing down with both hands
0670L08 on his shoulders, and pushing him against the seat. "^Slow down,
0680L08 willya," he ordered, "and bring her to a stop... steady, now...
0690L08 gently..." $"^Are you... you some kind of a nut or something! ^Stop pushing..."
0700L08 $"^You heard me! ^Pull her to one side and stop.
0710L08 ^*I*'3m taking over," the man rasped. $"^This is a hold-up, Mac,"
0720L08 the woman said from behind." "^And what I*'3m pressing into your
0730L08 neck is the little old Colt-- automatic. ^You*'d better do as
0740L08 Bert says." $^He suddenly realized that besides Bert*'s hands gripping
0750L08 his shoulders, there was another point of pressure behind his collar.
0760L08 ^His limbs felt weak from the sudden rush of cold sweat all over
0770L08 him, and his heart thumped. ^He took his foot off the accelerator
0780L08 and applied the brake. ^The car came to a jerky halt. $"^Move
0790L08 over, willya," Bert ordered. $"^Stop shoving," Jaikumar protested.
0800L08 "^Is this a joke of some kind?" $"^You*'3ll find out, soon
0810L08 enough, dear," the lady called Nancy said, very gently. $"^But
0820L08 aren*'4t you... aren*'4t you the Webbers*' maid?" $^*Nancy laughed."
0830L08 ^Gwan with ya! ^*I*'3m no maid, but I hope to_ take good
0840L08 care of the child, ha, ha. ^And don*'4t do anything foolish, Bert*'2s
0850L08 got a knife." $^He glanced down and saw the flash of the blade
0860L08 that_ had suddenly appeared in Bert*'s hand, and even as he was staring
0870L08 at it, he felt his face being violently pushed back and the pressure
0880L08 of a silk scarf being tightly pulled around his mouth and nose,
0890L08 drawing tighter and tighter. $"^Don*'4t strangle him honey," he heard
0900L08 Bert warn. "^We have to_ keep his vocal chords working."
0910L08 $"^Just to_ make sure he won*'4t go hollering," Nancy told him. ^She
0920L08 tied the knot of the scarf behind his head. "^Now put your hands behind
0930L08 your back, will you; no, no; help him Bert, please; ah, that_*'1s
0940L08 right; hold it, with the wrists crossed; please hold still so you
0950L08 don*'4t get hurt... there." $^His eyes were open, and he could
0960L08 see. ^He could see the headlights of the cars passing them on the road,
0970L08 hear the distant swish becoming an angry roar and then recede, and
0980L08 the lights become swallowed up by the darkness. ^In the distance he
0990L08 could see the faint glow in the sky cast by the lights of the town,
1000L08 and the red and green neon signs winking into the night. ^He wanted
1010L08 to_ lash out at Bert with his legs and feet, but the thought of the
1020L08 knife he held and also the Colt that_ Nancy carried made him change his
1030L08 mind. $^*Bert opened the door and pushed Jaikumar to one side
1040L08 and got into the driver*'s seat. ^He had obviously driven a Rambleer
1050L08 before, for he was fully at home with the controls. ^The wheels began
1060L08 to roll gently at first, and then with a steady swish. ^At the
1070L08 first crossing, he took a smooth U turn, and began to_ amble back along
1080L08 the road they had come. ^When they reached the gates of the Webber
1090L08 house, he halted the car and put out the lights but kept the engine running.
1100L08 $"^Over there," Bert said to Nancy. "^*I cased it the
1110L08 other day. ^If you would just walk in front and guide me." $^*Nancy
1120L08 got out and went looking behind the trees. ^Then she came back and
1130L08 spoke to Bert. $"^You are right. ^There*'1s room to_ park
1140L08 there behind that_ elm." $^*Bert put on the parking lights and followed
1150L08 Nancy*'s stockinged legs which led them behind the trees. ^The car
1160L08 went bump-bump-bump over the uneven grass, and then stopped. ^From
1170L08 where they were, they could see the open gate of the Webber house and
1180L08 driveway going in. ^And at the end, the house itself, lonely and
1190L08 vulnerable. $^*Bert and Nancy lit cigarettes. ^She had a
1200L08 fancy cigarette lighter with a gas flame which was like a fountain pen,
1210L08 only shorter. ^For a time, they sat smoking, and then Bert said:
1220L08 "^You tell him, Nancy." $"^Listen," nancy began. "^No harm
1230L08 will come to you if you only listen carefully and do what you are
1240L08 told." $"^But you*'3ll be shot through the head, if you make a false
1250L08 move," Bert added. "^You want to_ be shot through the head?"
1260L08 $^*Jaikumar shook his head vigorously. $"^Then listen,"
1270L08 Nancy said. "^We*'3ll go in just as soon as we find the coast is clear.
1280L08 ^When the woman drives off, we know that the Harding girl is
1290L08 the only one in the house, besides the brat. ^We know you take out
1300L08 the girl. ^She knows your car and is expecting you. ^So she can
1310L08 look out **[sic**] the window and know it*'1s you come back..."
1320L08 $"^With your book of bedtime stories," Bert taunted.
1330L08 $^He found himself tensing, straining at the tight bandages. ^So they
1340L08 had been following Kate and him earlier in the evening, listening
1350L08 to them and observing them. ^It gave him a feeling of intense disgust
1360L08 to_ think that their friendly talk should have been overheard by this
1370L08 vile pair. $"^Then we go and wait at the door, all three of us,"
1380L08 Nancy was saying. $"^*I*'3ll be holding the knife sticking
1390L08 against your throat, and Nancy will have the gun pressed into your back,"
1400L08 Bert added. $"^And your hands will be still tied-- and so
1410L08 will your legs. ^*I shall press the bell and wait. ^When she
1420L08 comes down the stairs-- we know the bedrooms are upstairs-- if she opens
1430L08 the door, you have nothing to do. ^If she doesn*'4t, Bert will
1440L08 tell you to_ call out to her. ^Just say it*'1s you Jake-- we know
1450L08 what she calls you. ^Get her to_ open the door, that_*'1s all."
1460L08 $"^She must open the door. ^You see to that_... understood!"
1470L08 $^*Jaikumar remained rigid, then he shook his head: negative.
1480L08 ^He flinched as he saw the blow coming. ^*Bert brought the back of
1490L08 his hand across his face. "^You bastard... sonofabitch!" he hissed,
1500L08 and then he began to_ slap him alternately on both cheeks so that
1510L08 his head lolled from side to side with the impact of Bert*'s hand.
1520L08 $"^Easy Bert!" the woman snapped. "^You don*'4t want him knocked
1530L08 senseless. ^Let me handle this. ^She took out her pistol
1540L08 and held its barrel between the first and second fingers of Jaikumar*'s
1550L08 hand. ^Then she began to_ press his fingers together, tighter and
1560L08 tighter, watching his face all the while. "^No harm is going to_ come to
1570L08 you or the girl, understand?" she was saying very softly. "^But you
1580L08 gotta call her out-- get her to_ open the door if she doesn*'4t do it on
1590L08 her own. ^Yes." $^Again Jaikumar shook his head. $^The
1600L08 pressure on his fingers increased. ^The pain was excruciating and
1610L08 his body squirmed with it and his limbs began to_ sweat. "^Now do
1620L08 you understand, dear." ^*Nancy was whispering in his ear. "^Yes?
1630L08 ^Yes?" $^He nodded his head, this time up and down, and the
1640L08 pressure instantly relaxed. ^He felt faint with pain. ^He took
1650L08 a deep breath, filling his lungs, trying to_ drive out the giddiness
1660L08 with gasps of fresh air. ^The pain had been so acute that he went
1670L08 on nodding, so that it should not come back, even though he now realized
1680L08 what they were going to_ do. ^The headlines he had seen in the
1690L08 papers on his first Sunday in Princeton flashed through his mind.
1700L08 "^Killers still at large! ^*Svenson kidnappers get away with
1710L08 fortune!" $^In the dark, he tried to_ peer at their faces.
1720L08 ^So they were the Svenson kidnappers. ^The man and woman called
1730L08 Bert and Nancy had kidnapped a five year old girl and held her to ransom
1740L08 and then, having collected the ransom, had murdered her.*#
        **[no. of words = 02036**]

        **[txt. l09**]
0020L09 **<*3The Traumatic Bite**>
0030L09 $*<*3CHAPTER *=20*0*> $*<3Revisiting Melody*0*> $^When Bees
0040L09 Hop finally got acclimatised to the inebriated and high strung hysteria
0050L09 of Inspector Roy*'s voice he held the telephone more tightly; his
0060L09 own face became loose with surprise until he presented a portrait of
0070L09 slack jawed wonder. ^It was morning, a grey dull morning, a sorry
0080L09 transition from the soggy darkness of night. ^*Calcutta has a nominal
0090L09 division of the hours into night and day, but day makes little
0100L09 difference to the moods of men and animals. ^The malevolence of sordid
0110L09 nights lingers far into the day, and if there is any real change,
0120L09 it exists on the tarred road surfaces, which having had an uneasy respite
0130L09 from trams, trucks and carts are now subjected to the bone crushing madness
0140L09 of morning traffic. ^The roads in Calcutta are the most weary
0150L09 in the world. ^Neglected, undernourished and unrested, they groan
0160L09 not merely with the infirmity that_ has been inflicted on them, but also
0170L09 from the gashes, cuts and festering sores that_ they have to_ bear,
0180L09 the gaping wounds which receive no treatment. $^On finally replacing
0190L09 the receiver, Bees Hop*'s eyes were shining, like a dog with rabies.
0200L09 ^He went out of the flat and picked up the newspaper, lying there
0210L09 mimicking a flabby fish. ^Returning in haste to the room he settled
0220L09 down in the manner of a man about to_ relish *8hors d*'3oevers*9,
0230L09 and went quickly through Lyar*'s news story, punctuating the activity
0240L09 with a series of sharp hyena like howls of derision. ^When he finished
0250L09 he was bending over doubled up like a man with stomach cramps, gasping
0260L09 soundlessly in feverish amusement, and the others who*'d been awakened
0270L09 by his animal yells were staring at him with a mixture of exasperation
0280L09 and curiosity. ^*Dass looked swollen eyed. $^Synchronicity.
0290L09 ^Between the arrival of the hearse at the hospital and a false preliminary
0300L09 dawn lightening the sky, turning dullness to slate shades.
0310L09 ^Medical orderlies, dirty and disgruntled, resenting everything that_
0320L09 stole their sleep, carried the body into a side room and forgot all about
0330L09 it. ^In the cafe upstairs nurses drank coffee to_ keep themselves
0340L09 from crying. ^The third floor was full of young interns relivening
0350L09 the tedium of post operative vacuums by injecting minor doses of government
0360L09 controlled cocaine into each other*'s veins. ^Pathologists,
0370L09 notorious everywhere for their hatred of the absolute, took refuge in sleep
0380L09 and the body forgotten, continued its metaphysical process of sublime
0390L09 change, undisturbed by the chill interference of surgeons*' scalpels,
0400L09 pathologists*' microscopes. $^No one appears concerned about
0410L09 anything inside a hospital. ^Three horse bite cases were neighing,
0420L09 having contracted a mutation of equestrian rabies. ^Rootless non
0430L09 entities poured from an endless vat. ^The reek of unreality overwhelms
0440L09 any visitor entering at night. ^At four in the morning while
0450L09 Simmer and the others were drowned in groggy exhaustion at \0APV*'s
0460L09 flat, a thin miserable orderly wheeled the body into an adjoining, room
0470L09 where a largish and rotund man, \0FRCS, with horn rimmed glasses
0480L09 sat eating a big green apple. ^Slowly, from other entrances, auxiliary
0490L09 pathologists, lawyers and policemen filtered in crisply, careful
0500L09 to_ preserve their identity in this room where death would expose its
0510L09 inner putrefaction. ^The pathologist got to his feet and sighed--
0520L09 routine behaviour for a routine job to_ make the interns feel more at home
0530L09 a dash of role distance, a process of demystification, a job like any
0540L09 other boring and dead. $^The horn rimmed dissector applied the
0550L09 scalpel lightly to the skin below \0APV*'s breast bone, and an assertive
0560L09 trickle of blood pulsed out, its passage in exact concord with the
0570L09 doctor*'s look of horrified and amazed stupefaction. ^Frozen as if
0580L09 by an attack of encephalitis lethargica, the pathologist, in concert
0590L09 with the other spectators, watched as \0APV*'s body underwent a sinous
0600L09 tremor, his throat emitted a groan of satisfaction and his eyes opened
0610L09 with a delicate flutter. ^He paused, once again motionless and then,
0620L09 like a butterfly emerging from a cocoon, shook himself to his feet and
0630L09 looked around only a trifle dazedly, a slight smile in his chin, completely
0640L09 in control of his faculties. $^Agitated pandemonium, intense
0650L09 yet played down, broke loose as the constable fell into a faint (two
0660L09 hours later he died without once recovering consciousness).
0670L09 ^*Sub Inspector Guha too had fainted and the others were looking at \0APV
0680L09 as at a unique building or beauty-- as at a miracle. ^In that_
0690L09 atmosphere of tension \0APV laughed, unconsciously sinister cynicism,
0700L09 causing the two nurses to_ jump on to the constable*'s inert body.
0710L09 ^In the excitement, people hurrying here and there, scurrying like live
0720L09 rats, the luckless policeman (poor but named *5Dhani Ram*6) was forgotten,
0730L09 trampled, mauled crushed and pulped to death. ^For him there
0740L09 was no reprieve. ^Only the pathologist, a man deadened by years
0750L09 of repetition remained unaffected. ^He picked up his fast oxidising
0760L09 apple and dug his fangs into it, reminding Nurse Periera a nervous
0770L09 young lass, of a vampire manufacturing the living dead. ^His rotting
0780L09 teeth left big blood stains on the flesh of the fruit. ^Shuddering
0790L09 deliciously with self induced fear, she stepped back sending the
0800L09 long stem of her high heel grinding into the motionless cop*'s neck.
0810L09 $"^Well gentlemen," announced \0APV cockily, "Why was I disturbed
0820L09 during my yoga? ^Who brought me here thus unceremoniously, and
0830L09 why this cut on my chest? ^Nurse!" he roared, "Some tincture of iodine--
0840L09 the devilish work of my apple eating friend hurts." ^He looked
0850L09 around in the manner of a man who has drunk too much wine and perceives
0860L09 everything differently, with audacity and confidence. ^A commotion
0870L09 started up in the passageway and Inspector Roy arrived in the \0path.
0880L09 \0lab. glaring without comprehension at \0APV who, naked under a
0890L09 sheet *7toga was gazing around him with the complacence of a glutton.
0900L09 $"^What is this?" ^*Inspector Roy splutterred mechanically.
0910L09 $"^Precisely my question," rejoined \0APV suavely, a schoolboy
0920L09 enjoying hugely the discomfiture of his despicable teachers. $"^But
0930L09 you... you... you were dead," expostulated the harassed Inspector.
0940L09 $"^Be so good as to_ correct yourself on points of minor importance Inspector.
0950L09 ^As you see, I*'3m not dead-- and logically speaking, that_
0960L09 implies I never was dead. ^Right? ^Unless you think of course
0970L09 that I was dead but am alive now, which would be a theological debate
0980L09 of rather limited relevance. ^That_ resurrection business belongs strictly
0990L09 to the Bible. ^The only other alternative is that I was
1000L09 dead and am dead now-- but that_ really does seem a bit far fetched Inspector,
1010L09 you won*'4t get me to_ believe it, lovely though it sounds."
1020L09 $^The stream flew past Roy, but it served to_ give the Inspector
1030L09 his bearings. ^He became once again rational and sensible, the
1040L09 model police officer, "^How was it," he wondered aloud, "that you*'d
1050L09 stopped breathing for so long? ^The doctors could detect no heart
1060L09 beat, no pulse, no sign of life whatsoever. ^What happened?
1070L09 ^Do you know how it took place?" $"^*Inspector, Inspector," cooed
1080L09 \0APV chidingly, "there are mysteries too deep for mortal man to_
1090L09 fathom. ^Tricks like levitation and akinesia are regarded with
1100L09 total disbelief. ^Phenomenon of this order then, as you*'3ve just witnessed,
1110L09 are far beyond human understanding. ^Your criminal training
1120L09 renders you unfit for comprehending mysterious processes. ^Perhaps only
1130L09 a physicist can really know. ^But I must get home now, what
1140L09 time is it? ^Four forty four? ^That_*'1s about five and a half
1150L09 hours hmnn... an improvement of over an hour. ^Excellent. ^And
1160L09 if that_ scalpel hadn*'4t cut me it might have lasted longer. ^Induced
1170L09 catatonia doc, maybe you*'3ll understand that_ huh? ^Now!
1180L09 ^What about my clothes? ^*I don*'4t want to_ be picked up for exhibitionism
1190L09 at this odd hour of day ha hah." ^He was in high spirits.
1200L09 $"^Excuse me sir" almost lisped Roy, "I*'3m afraid you*'3ll
1210L09 have to_ come to the police station and clear up all this business.
1220L09 ^*I*'3m sorry to_ harass you at this critical point, but it*'1s essential
1230L09 to_ expunge the entire episode from our files-- well, not expunge but
1240L09 clear up. ^You know..." he ended weakly. "^Certainly, certainly,"
1250L09 agreed \0APV expansively, "certainly I*'3ll come.
1260L09 ^But lend me a pair of *7togs if you*'3ve already burnt mine. ^*I don*'4t
1270L09 fancy this third rate Roman costume. ^How could Cicero make his
1280L09 speeches in such ridiculous accoutrement? ^Ha ha anyway let*'3s hurry
1290L09 before they pronounce me dead. ^Oh ho I see a reporter trying
1300L09 for a *7toga shot. ^Well well I may as well oblige you young chap.
1310L09 ^You*'3re struggling and when you get big, these days of struggle
1320L09 will surface and make you a malicious reporter. ^Only the easy road
1330L09 to fame can change that_, possibly by killing you altogether take the
1340L09 picture... another pose? ^What*'1s your name? ^Let*'3s go
1350L09 Inspector, I*'1d like to_ get home and do my *4asanas of reentry into
1360L09 the phenomenal world". $^They went off in a jeep rather needlessly
1370L09 wailing its siren. ^In the police station they conversed on various
1380L09 matters of minor importance. Roy*'s mystification was complete.
1390L09 ^Never before had such an extraordinary case come before him.
1400L09 ^Later when reporters questioned him he would say that \0APV was the
1410L09 sanest and most responsible of men he*'d ever met. $\0^*APV was brilliant--
1420L09 he charmed, laughed, conversed, with an elegance and lack of
1430L09 condescension which overwhelmed the level headed Inspector, used to
1440L09 interaction with the harder elements of humanity. ^The Inspetor would
1450L09 never plumb \0APV*'s careful act, to what an extent the entire
1460L09 show was planned, \0APV*'s subtle command of psychology. ^He would
1470L09 never know how \0APV mastered chess, his abstract intelligence
1480L09 and the moves he*'d stored anticipating far in advance the effect and
1490L09 reactions to his crafty wielding of pawns. ^Two tight hours, the
1500L09 prevention of an official press release. \0^*APV was playing his
1510L09 hand close, a desperado with nothing to_ lose, a daredevil scheme.
1520L09 ^The tension in him manifested itself through razor sharp alertness,
1530L09 the taut sensitivity he displayed which so impressed Roy. $^At
1540L09 half past six when a constable brought in the papers, \0APV leaped
1550L09 like a hungry beast-- yet he did this with dignity and restraint, the
1560L09 acrobatics were internal while a watching eye would have seen a causal and
1570L09 mechanical gesture to a familiar stimulus. ^With eyes devouring
1580L09 the words and heart thumping, he raced through Lyar*'s story, relaxing
1590L09 completely only at the last word. ^He fell back with a smile exulting
1600L09 like a sprinter who has just won a race prepared for months.
1610L09 "^Here, read this Inspector," he murmured, "and then call up Simmer
1620L09 if you think he*'1s still at my apartment". $^*Inspector Roy had
1630L09 dialled \0APV*'s number and agitatedly, confusedly, garbled out an
1640L09 account of the night*'s events to Bees Hop. $^For minutes after
1650L09 he hung up Bees Hop stumbled around the room, choking with laughter.
1660L09 ^And then he couldn*'4t reconcile the ludicrous combination of reality
1670L09 and Lyar*'s article. ^It epitomized the huge, beer swilling
1680L09 smoky press clubs. ^Only in the post shock of comedy, did incredulity
1690L09 filter through, ciderlike. ^Mirrored by the crew as he related
1700L09 the tale, their stunned nerves communicated with him. ^He perceived
1710L09 the fantastic in the sequence. ^The truth was beyond; \0APV's
1720L09 manouevres, each one of which had been planned diabolically, masterstrokes
1730L09 of gaming. $^*Dass and Simmer were talking rapidly, their
1740L09 amazement expressed in physiological terms, a perfect picture of connections.
1750L09 ^The General in his own martial way was invaded by auditory
1760L09 hallucinations. ^He felt unreal, nothing in the room seemed familiar;
1770L09 momentarily he wondered if it was fatigue or the news that_ induced
1780L09 this febrile miasma. ^He was groping for support, turning to
1790L09 history, the precedent for everything. ^A stilted film sequence began
1800L09 sputtering within him, a college of battle scenes, other wonders wrapped
1810L09 in a dreamlike sensibility. ^Things of beauty and grace, overpowering
1820L09 in their aura of superhuman splendour. ^Ah those mystics
1830L09 in Baltistan, controlling lizards, commanding snakes. ^Single glances
1840L09 withering leaves on trees, turning stone to dust. $^In the midst
1850L09 of a silence \0APV walked in. $"^*I*'3ll tell you some awkward
1860L09 facts for Lyar. ^In reviewing his pivotal and ridiculous story
1870L09 how often is the important absurd!*#
        **[no. of words = 02004**]

        **[txt. l10**]
0020L10 **<*3The Ecstatic Embrace*0**> $*<6*> $*<*3Villages Don*'4t
0030L10 Burn*0*> $*3^IT HAD*0 moved zig-zagging through his belly,
0040L10 then rested within a coin-like spot between his eyes, tickling gently
0050L10 at first and then settling into a honeyed, glowing ecstasy, where
0060L10 all energy was whistling in a regular indescribable sound. $^*Nids
0070L10 left Siddiqui*'s hideout early one morning, a few days after Parasarananda
0080L10 and Surichi had departed. ^One of the visitors to the
0090L10 house had informed him of a new 'Treat Yourself' happening which was
0100L10 being held on the outskirts of the city. ^The details had left Nids
0110L10 bewildered. $"^All who want to_ attend must get there, and
0120L10 post a letter. ^In that letter must be written clearly what one wants.
0130L10 ^Then one must post the letter in one of the post houses within
0140L10 the boundaries of the happening. ^And without doubt, one will get
0150L10 whatever one has wished for in the letter." ^The visitor, whose credentials
0160L10 Nids had not gathered had departed after giving him the information
0170L10 needed to_ get there. $^He left the meadows behind, and
0180L10 turned towards a rail track which appeared to_ move in the 'right' direction.
0190L10 ^He dozed a while and was woken by the sound of a train passing
0200L10 him by. ^He leapt up and gave chase to it. $^The train, a brown
0210L10 sluggishly elegant machine moved smoothly on. ^It made no sound
0220L10 whatever, and there appeared to_ be no people in it. ^How was it running?
0230L10 ^*Nids had little time for irrelevant queries; he knew what
0240L10 he wanted to_ do and did it. $^He ran beside the train attempting
0250L10 to_ gain purchase, on one of the doors or windows all of which were
0260L10 flung open; he was not getting tired. ^Yet the train seemed to_ be
0270L10 moving just a bit faster than what could be considered a 'safe' speed
0280L10 for boarding it. ^Then to his agony, it began imperceptibly moving
0290L10 faster than him and after a while he was chasing behind it on the tracks
0300L10 themselves. $^When all hope had evanesced the train slowed and he
0310L10 was able to_ heave himself onto the guard*'s van which like the rest
0320L10 of the train was empty. ^The country he was traversing was covered
0330L10 with huge billowy meadows, across which oceans of wind would impetuously
0340L10 burst cleaving floraic clouds of pollinated spray, which smashed explosively
0350L10 upwards, held still, and then crashed down all around him.
0360L10 ^The train moved smoothly on. $^He slept, and was woken by the
0370L10 sight of another train which ran parallel to the one he was riding.
0380L10 ^He noticed that it had no engine and that it comprised three small
0390L10 bogeys which ran speedily by themselves. $^The people in it were
0400L10 seated facing across each other, and the bogeys had no sides.
0410L10 ^In the pleasantly sultry weather of the afternoon it seemed so much pleasanter
0420L10 to_ be in. ^*Nids shook himself up and then leaned over until
0430L10 his right leg touched the engineless train. ^Both his hands and his
0440L10 left leg were still on the guard*'s van. ^He rode that_ way for some
0450L10 distance. ^Then he moved into the 'autonomous bogeys'.
0460L10 $^The train he had departed from increased its speed and soon chugged out
0470L10 of vision. ^The afternoon sun glinted upon the tracks as they whizzed
0480L10 on. ^Comfortably ensconced, Nids looked around him. ^One
0490L10 of the ladies who sat next to him had a slim body that_ 'faded out' at the
0500L10 neck, and this gave her a headless appearnce. ^She was dressed
0510L10 in a red shirt and a checked skirt. ^The lady*'s body comprised only
0520L10 two legs which were draped over the seat and wore shoes and gray stockings.
0530L10 $^There was one man across him who consisted of an outline
0540L10 which had a bluish hue; the rest of him appeared to_ have been 'cut out'.
0550L10 ^*Nids could see the meadows right through him. ^Beyond this
0560L10 person was another gentleman whose sole signifier was a tuft of
0561L10 untidy hair, which floated as if a whole body rested securely under it.
0570L10 $^*Nids, while keen on conversing, and finding out whether he was nearing
0580L10 his destination, felt that these entities would have to_ be approached
0590L10 concretely. ^The abstractions of 'everyday conversation' would
0600L10 not suffice. $^*Nidhagha spoke: $"*3^*I*'3m not very sure $that
0610L10 you*'3re there, $^Can*'4t conjecture $whether you breathe air,
0620L10 $^*I don*'4t know if I am alone..."*0 $^The 'cut out' man replied:
0630L10 $"*3^If he knew $that he thought he was sure, $^Then he would know
0640L10 $that he thought he was sure. $^Then he would know he would never
0650L10 know, $ever again $what it meant $to_ think he knew what he was $sure
0660L10 he didn*'4t know, $for sure, $but thought he did $not very surely."*0
0670L10 $^The bogeys soon approached country bizarrely different from
0680L10 the kind they had been moving through: the land had turned sandy and swamps
0690L10 were clearly visible. ^*Nids climbed the roof of the carriage
0700L10 and looked. ^The rail tracks were descending straight into the midst
0710L10 of a horrific quagmire about a mile off from where they rolled.
0720L10 $^There was little choice. ^He looked out for a place to_ leap off
0730L10 on. ^Then he ran, pulled the chain, and as the carriages slowed he
0740L10 grabbed a walking stick that_ lay near him and jumped. ^He landed upon
0750L10 a bit of land that_ gurgled, and swayed but held till he had crossed
0760L10 over into a dusty path. $^He turned and saw the carriages go smoothly
0770L10 till where the tracks ended and then they rose into the air, and continued
0780L10 their journey about four feet off the ground. $^He proceeded
0790L10 along the dusty path and found himself traversing a route which wound ever
0800L10 upwards. ^The weather grew cooler, and the sun seemed to_ have stood
0810L10 stationary overhead. $^Having crested the hilly path he sat himself
0820L10 upon a rock and rested. ^When he looked beside he saw Ribudh.
0830L10 "^Let*'3s move on," said Ribudh, "it*'3ll be evening soon."
0840L10 $^Around them were incredible mountains catching the sun in their collective
0850L10 bosom. ^The path they followed led into a cobbled street which
0860L10 inclined downwards sharply. ^As they walked they heard the tread
0870L10 of steps behind them. ^An old man and his half-grown son were following
0880L10 them. ^They stood aside. ^As they passed the old man said,
0890L10 "The country is being overrun by longhaired hooligans." ^The remark
0900L10 was obviously directed at them. $^The path cut into an incredibly
0910L10 steep hillside and soon became a ribbon. ^Traversing it required
0920L10 great presence of being. ^Then it widened once again and shot downwards
0930L10 becoming cobbled with white stones. ^It ran in and out the houses
0940L10 of people, who had now hostilely lined up at their windows and were
0950L10 staring at them pass by. $^Across the houses the path ran into a
0960L10 disused graveyard, which had jungle written all over it. ^One of its
0970L10 tall bounding walls had a hole. ^They went towards it and looked
0980L10 through. ^Huge luscious meadows spread out afore them. ^Beneath
0990L10 a tree sat a man dressed in saffron with two women in jeans in front of
1000L10 him. $^The man in saffron picked up a metal ball and threw it.
1010L10 ^It sailed smoothly and fell a huge distance away. ^They crept through
1020L10 the hole. $^The women in jeans looked their way. ^*Ribudh
1030L10 ran over and gathered the metal ball and hurled it out of sight, into
1040L10 the air. "^Don*'4t worry," he told the women, "it won*'4t come down."
1050L10 $^They left the trio in the fields and hired a scooter-rickshaw
1060L10 to_ take them into town. ^They drove along a narrow but clean path,
1070L10 which had been tarmaced. ^They stopped as they were intercepted
1080L10 by a prayer procession. $^Amidst the procession was a tulip-like
1090L10 woman who glanced straight at Nids and smiled. ^He felt himself being
1100L10 sucked in by the void, whorling, zigzigging, then coming back.
1110L10 ^When he looked a second time she had gone. ^Later a woman in white
1120L10 invited them to_ spend the night at her house. $^They entered her
1130L10 house, which was built along medieval Mogul lines, and were ushered
1140L10 to a table that_ had been laid for the family. ^As the table filled
1150L10 Nids noticed that the woman he had seen earlier in the evening was
1160L10 present. ^She did not look at him. ^They ate the food, which was
1170L10 not extraordinary, then retired to the room that_ had been assigned to
1180L10 them. ^It was on the roof, and well ventilated. $^Being tired
1190L10 they slept. ^Later Nids heared a noise, but dismissed it as unimportant.
1200L10 ^Then someone beckoned to him in a dream. ^He opened
1210L10 his eyes and saw the woman in a flowing nightgown calling to him.
1220L10 ^Moving out of bed he went up to her. $"^Look," she said pointing
1230L10 out to the sky. ^A huge propellered plane was slogging its way beneath
1240L10 the stars. ^Suddenly its constant drone turned upon itself and
1250L10 became a piteous whine. ^A flame shot out into the heavens and the
1260L10 plane came straight towards the roof they stood upon, wreathed in luminescent
1270L10 glory. ^Then as they thought it would shoot them it overbalanced
1280L10 dashing a hundred yards ahead of the turrets on the roof.
1290L10 ^It fell apart and Nids ducked to_ evade the splinters from the kamaic
1300L10 splurge that_ followed instantly. $^Dawn was breaking, and the
1310L10 woman looked Nids in the eye once again, sending him reeling into the
1320L10 depths of ecstasy. ^Then she was gone. ^*Ribudh had rushed
1330L10 off to_ help evacuate the people caught in the accident. ^He dressed
1340L10 and hitched a ride on some army vehicles convoying down an endless tarmac
1350L10 road. ^There were no drivers, no occupants. ^The convoy stopped
1360L10 at midday and Nids saw two men hail a taxi, near a railway crossing.
1370L10 ^The hills had been left behind and they were back among the sweltering
1380L10 plains. ^Clutching his white cloth hat upon his head Nids
1390L10 followed a sign; then he knew he was there. ^The 'Treat Yourself'
1400L10 happening was somewhat deserted. ^Clearly very few had believed
1410L10 that their wishes would come true: they could not imagine such a thing.
1420L10 ^It was 'impossible,' they felt. $^*Nids pulled out a letter
1430L10 form and wrote his wish; then moved towards a post box and slid it
1440L10 in. ^Behind him a queue had sprung up. ^Then he moved sultrily
1450L10 around waiting for his dreams to_ materialize. ^As he gave hope up
1460L10 **[sic**] and abandoned desire, he saw by the wayside a stick.
1470L10 ^Picking it up he smacked stones with it. ^A man walked up to
1480L10 him. "^Look, my friend says I*'3ve got a fixation. ^*I*'3ve
1490L10 been coming to_ see you too often." ^It was Kalki who had recaptured
1500L10 Kesini. ^She stood in the distance. $"^*I*'3ve never
1510L10 met you before. ^Explain that_ to her. ^Tell her it*'1s okay."
1520L10 ^With that_ Kalki sped away. ^*Nids walked to Kesini.
1530L10 "^Are those called clothes?" he said looking at her bra and panties.
1540L10 $"^They*'3re still after me," she said. $^They went into
1550L10 a bungalow and Kesini introduced Nids to her new-found friends among
1560L10 whom were the people who had travelled with him earlier in the bogeys.
1570L10 $"^*I can see through you" said the 'cut out' man. $"^Let*'3s
1580L10 play footer," said a voice above the stockinged shoes. $"^Impeccable
1590L10 taste," said Nids looking at Kesini. $^The 'man' with
1600L10 the tuft of hair floating over his 'body' spoke. "^Let*'3s go," he
1610L10 said. ^Moving towards the centre of the room he lifted open a trapdoor.
1620L10 ^They spiralled downwards upon the gilded stairway endlessly,
1630L10 until they emerged next to the three bogeys Nids had travelled upon
1640L10 earlier. $"^Race you to the seat," said the 'boy' with stockinged
1650L10 feet. $"^Feel me," said the headless woman, "touch my aspiration."
1660L10 $^*Nids watched as the bogeys began to_ move away smoothly.
1670L10 ^He yelled: $"*3^Are you, you? $^Am I, I? $^Are we, we?
1680L10 $^Is he, he?"*0 $^The 'cut out' man said. $"*3^As you wish,
1690L10 $it is."*0 $*<7*> $*<*3Gyrations in a Lacerated Landscape*0*>
1700L10 $*3^IT HAD*0 come in chortling with delight as if, for once,
1710L10 the world was just right. ^An unusual luxury. $^*Kalki, wearied
1720L10 of journeying the charts set out by his ontology walked down the seedy
1730L10 stairway gazing deeply at the grains. ^Across two doors, round
1740L10 one corner, knock at the door; wait for an answer; step in.*#
        **[no. of words = 02012**]

        **[txt. l11**]
0020L11 **<*3The Case of the Caddie*'s Ring*0**>
0030L11 $^My first major case took place in Mahabaleshwar. ^It came to_
0040L11 be known as the Case of the Caddie*'s Ring. $^*Abdul Rahman
0050L11 was a fine old caddie and a more unique person than his name conveys,
0060L11 for Abdul Rahman is a very common name in India and indeed in all
0070L11 the East. ^What was obviously unusual about him at first sight was
0080L11 that he wore a large red fez. ^Now the fashion of wearing a fez has
0090L11 faded in most Eastern countries but Abdul Rahman wore it with the
0100L11 same quaint individuality that_ marks out a man who still affects a solar
0110L11 *4topee. $^*Abdul Rahman was a dark, polite, toothless man who
0120L11 somehow always managed to_ have a grizzled face. ^The stubble on his
0130L11 chin was white, of course, and it seemed as if he never shaved, though
0140L11 a bit of grizzly stubble can hardly be called a beard. ^He dressed in baggy
0150L11 clothes, not by choice but by necessity. ^They were usually
0160L11 old coats and trousers given to him as parting gifts by golfers who had
0170L11 stayed in the Mahabaleshwar Club. $^It was outside this sedate institution
0180L11 that he could be seen most often, that_ is when he wasn*'4t
0190L11 out on the links teaching someone to_ play or behaving generally like
0200L11 the best caddie this side of Bombay. $^The family and I saw him
0210L11 almost every day, and we would often stop to_ talk. ^He was a little
0220L11 afraid of me but that_ was because he sometimes watched me at my training
0230L11 exercises and regarded me with a mixture of respect and awe.
0240L11 ^He didn*'4t realise how much I liked him. ^He was kind and good
0250L11 and gentle and he was courteous in all his conversations with Woof.
0260L11 $^Being a detective dog, it had become second nature to me now to_
0270L11 observe and sniff as many people as I could. ^*Abdul Rahman smelt
0280L11 of *4beedies-- of which he smoked a vast number-- and slightly damp warm
0290L11 clothes, with a touch of coconut hair oil, a dash of the scent of leather
0300L11 from the handles of golf clubs, with a pinch of garlic and the faintest
0310L11 aroma of spiced meat and salted cucumber. ^There was more to
0320L11 the smell of Abdul Rahman but suffice it to_ say that I could identify
0330L11 him with my eyes shut from among the numerous other caddies who stood
0340L11 around by the road waiting for the tourist or visitor who might wish
0350L11 to_ play. $^But, as I said, even at first sight, he stood out.
0360L11 ^And that_ is probably why he made a little more money than the
0370L11 others and was able, by scrimping and saving, to_ put by five hundred
0380L11 *4rupees for the marriage of his only daughter. ^He was a trusting,
0390L11 talkative man and as the wedding day approached everyone knew that he went
0400L11 about with all his savings in the pocket of his baggy coat. $^Then
0410L11 one afternoon he was assaulted and robbed and left for dead on the golf
0420L11 course. $^Most people on holiday take a little nap after lunch.
0430L11 ^The sun is hottest at that_ time and only a sports fanatic would
0440L11 think of golfing at that_ hour. ^So it was that_ afternoon, and
0450L11 Abdul Rahman, being free, had taken the opportunity of going down to
0460L11 the links, by the fifth hole, near the old cemetery, to_ find a ball
0470L11 that_ had been lost. ^The tee is up on a wooded hillock and the cemetery
0480L11 sprawls in the clearing below along the nearer edge of the green.
0490L11 $^*I knew this place well, as indeed I knew the entire golf course,
0500L11 for I had often been sent out by Woof to_ help old Abdul Rahman
0510L11 and his *4agewallahs. *4^Agewallahs mean **[sic**] literally
0520L11 "forward men" and perhaps the term is unique to Mahabaleshwar for it
0530L11 signifies the three or four men who stand to the fore watching where the
0540L11 ball has gone. ^The golf course is an adventurous one with all sorts
0550L11 of obstacles and difficult terrain. ^Two or three balls are lost
0560L11 on each round. ^And, of course, whoever finds them later stands
0570L11 to_ gain. ^So the caddies and the *4agewallahs scrounge the
0580L11 terrain each afternoon for the balls that_ were declared lost in the morning.
0590L11 ^And that_ is what Abdul Rahman was about that_ afternoon.
0600L11 $^He was thrashing the undergrowth with a putter hoping the ball
0610L11 would pop out, when someone with a bandage wrapped all over his face
0620L11 and only a slit left open for his eyes, stepped from behind a tree and
0630L11 swung at Abdul Rahman with a stick. $^The old man was quick enough
0640L11 to_ duck but he was so shocked by the sight of the masked face that
0650L11 he failed to_ avoid the second blow. ^It struck the centre of his
0660L11 fez. ^That_ probably softened the blow but it was enough to_ knock
0670L11 him unconscious. ^When he revived, he found himself bleeding from
0680L11 a gash in the head. ^His money was gone and along with it his watch,
0690L11 his hardly-usable pen and his ring. ^The ring was not precious
0700L11 and it was not much of an ornament, either. ^He had bought it
0710L11 in place of his wedding ring which he had sold many years before.
0720L11 ^This cheap ring which he had now taken to wearing was like hundreds of
0730L11 others sold in the *4bazar; and it had a red stone that_ could have passed
0740L11 for a ruby. ^*Abdul Rehman*'s watch, too, had been an inexpensive
0750L11 one that_ hardly ever kept correct time. ^He felt nothing for the loss
0760L11 of these things but the loss of the money was a disaster. ^He almost
0770L11 died of heart failure as the thought came to him that his daughter*'s
0780L11 marriage might not now take place. ^Most of the money was to_ have
0790L11 been her dowry. ^The tailor from Bombay who was the groom had sent
0800L11 his uncle to_ say that he would not be satisfied with anything less than
0810L11 three hundred rupees. ^The rest of the money would have gone in the
0820L11 celebrations and a big meal for the relatives. ^By other people *'s
0830L11 standards it may not have been a large amount but to Abdul Rahman it
0840L11 was a fortune. $^Now he cried and bled and struggled painfully up
0850L11 the hillside. $^It was his eldest son, Mohammed, who came to the
0860L11 house and informed Woof. ^*Abdul Rehman had asked for help.
0870L11 ^He had some sort of faith in me. ^He wanted me to_ be brought
0880L11 there to_ track the attacker. $^You must not think that I am some
0890L11 sort of genius among dogs and that I understood at once all that_ had
0900L11 happened. ^Oh no, I had to_ piece the whole thing together, bit
0910L11 by bit, and what I have related already I came to_ know only gradually
0920L11 by reconstruction from all that_ I heard and saw and smelt.
0930L11 ^All that_ was immediately clear to me was that Mohammed had arrived and
0940L11 spoken to my master and I was being put in the harness. ^Now, for
0950L11 the first time, I was going into the proper tracking harness.
0960L11 ^At last I was big enough for it. ^*I knew already, though, that
0970L11 straps going loosely round my belly and neck meant that I was about to_
0980L11 track. ^It excited me. ^*I was rested and fresh. ^*I was ready.
0990L11 ^*I was eager. $^When we arrived at the spot, I knew it was
1000L11 Abdul Rahman*'s blood I smelt. ^He had been taken to the doctor,
1010L11 but I immediately understood that Abdul Rahman had been struck.
1020L11 ^As I sniffed around, I knew he had been struck with the stick, the
1030L11 stick that_ lay there on the ground. $"^Have you informed the police
1040L11 yet?" Woof asked. $^*Mohammed said, "My father would rather
1050L11 not till we are sure who the culprit is. ^You see, he suspects a
1060L11 distant cousin of his, a man called Suleiman who sells strawberries.
1070L11 ^*Suleiman wanted to_ marry his own daughter to the tailor from
1080L11 Bombay. ^My father suspects that Suleiman got someone to_ do this
1090L11 so that the wedding of my sister would be called off." $"^But that*'1s
1100L11 no reason not to_ go to the police. ^He can*'4t shield a criminal
1110L11 simply because he is a cousin." $"^That_*'1s not it, *4sahib.
1120L11 ^You see, if my father goes to the police he will have to_ state his
1130L11 suspicions. ^Then they will question my uncle and if, after all
1140L11 that_, my uncle turns out to_ be innocent, it will leave a terrible rift
1150L11 in the family. ^My father doesn*'4t wish to_ go to the police till
1160L11 he is sure it isn*'4t his cousin. ^It would be a public scandal,
1170L11 you see. ^That_*'1s why I haven*'4t been allowed to_ tell anyone
1180L11 else about this yet. ^My brothers would go and beat up my uncle and,
1190L11 after all, he*'1s an old man, too. ^We are only wanting to_
1200L11 know if the trail of the attacker leadsa o my uncle*'s hut and farm.
1210L11 ^If that_ is so, then we know that the attacker went back to him to_
1220L11 report." $"^All right," Woof said. "let*'3s go."
1230L11 $^Then he had a second thought. ^He said, "But others must have
1240L11 seen your father bleeding and hurt." $"^Yes," said Mohammed, "but
1250L11 he told them he fell down the hillside and gashed his head on a gravestone."
1260L11 $^*Woof said, "All right," again and holding my nose to
1270L11 the stick he said, "Ranjha, scent, track, catch!" $^The smell
1280L11 on the stick was clear. ^If I subtracted the smell of the wood itself
1290L11 and the sugary sap in it, for this part of the branch had obviously
1300L11 been hacked recently from a tree, I arrived at the undiluted smell of
1310L11 the man who had wielded it. ^The man*'s smell was quite intricate and
1320L11 carried within it the essence of aniseed, beetlenut, lime, tobacco, toddy,
1330L11 perspiration, old clothes, pickled mango, stale *4chappatis, onions
1340L11 and, most dominant of all, the odour of the fleece of sheep. ^The
1350L11 trail was as forceful as a mountain stream; it went straight down the
1360L11 hill in a panic. ^The man must have slithered down, holding on to the
1370L11 trunks of trees, grasping at branches, stumbling on immoveable rocks.
1380L11 ^On the ground, his scent was compounded with that_ of the odours
1390L11 on his footwear and the old hide of which it was made. ^He was obviously
1400L11 wearing a common type of lace-less shoes known as *4mojris.
1410L11 $^All the way down the hillock the trail held good, for the scent
1420L11 was caught in the windless woods and held by the leaves and shrubbery.
1430L11 ^On the green, too, the trail remained clear. ^*I had only to_
1440L11 subtract the smells of the different types of grass. ^Sometimes I
1450L11 would pause and take a second sniff at one spot, just to_ be sure, and
1460L11 then I would become aware again of Woof*'s gentle encouragement and
1470L11 his holding on to the long lead, and Mohammed standing keenly behind
1480L11 him. ^But much of the time I was absorbed in my own calculations.
1490L11 $^Two miles later we were crossing a cart-track of rubble when I
1500L11 went straight ahead and almost lost the trail. ^*I doubled back a few
1510L11 yards and examined the ground air again. ^Ah, he took the left fork;
1520L11 he had decided to_ stick to the rubble road. ^He must have been
1530L11 running for though the body scent hung clear, pushed slightly to the
1540L11 side by the wind, the ground scent lay in sporadic breaks. ^He was
1550L11 a man with a big stride. $^The trail led down to the lake.
1560L11 ^Then the man had clambered up the hillside by the public park and walked
1570L11 casually down the tarred main road. ^At the toll post, with its
1580L11 crowds of holidaymakers, honeymooners, hawkers, vegetable sellers and
1590L11 curio vendors, the trail became disturbed and hazy. ^*I lost it a number
1600L11 of times and found it again. ^Some people were quite rude.
1610L11 ^They shouted at Woof to mind his dog and not let it get in the way.
1620L11 ^*Woof and Mohammed, both absorbed in the tracking, answered them
1630L11 as best they could and we continued.*#
1640L11 **[no. of worrds = 02011**]

        **[txt. l12**]
0010L12 **<^THE AVENGER**>
0020L12 $^The Madathipathi, the powerful head of a *4Mutt, which controlled
0030L12 a number of South Indian temples, was pacing restlessly in
0040L12 his room. ^That_ room, meant as it was for the public, was
0050L12 deliberately made to_ look simple. ^But behind it were several secret
0060L12 chambers which would have been the envy of Maharajas. $^The
0070L12 Madathipathi stopped abruptly and, looking at the man guarding the
0080L12 entrance, ordered, "Call Nagappan." ^Within a few minutes, a
0090L12 tall, fat, dark man in his forties entered and bowed before the Madathipathi.
0100L12 "^*Nagappan," said the Madathipathi, "has everything
0110L12 been arranged for our visit to Kumbakonam for the Mamangam festival?"
0120L12 $"^Yes, Swami...." Nagappan hesitated and looked around.
0130L12 $"^Yes..." prompted the Madathipathi. $"^A special team had
0140L12 been put on the job to_ trap any unwary girl". $"^Not any girl, you
0150L12 fool," the Madathipathi exploded. $"^Of course not... I know
0160L12 that_ Swami is very selective... ^Only the beautiful will be picked
0170L12 up... but...." $"^But what?" $"^The local stuff may not be
0180L12 available." $"^Why not?" $"^Hee-hee." ^*Nagappan scratched his
0190L12 head. "^Our reputation there is such that no local beauty will stir out
0200L12 of her house during our stay there." $"^Who cares... ^Warn your
0210L12 men to_ be alert." ^The Madathipathi waved his hand to_ signify
0220L12 that the interview was over. $^The Madathipathi smiled cynically
0230L12 as he thought of the religious lecture he had to_ deliver that_ evening.
0240L12 ^The topic was Morality as envisaged in our *4Puranas. ^He went
0250L12 into his study to_ jot down a few points on that_ exalted subject.
0260L12 $^That_ evening the Madathipathi was thundering at the crowd.
0270L12 "^Life is impermanent," he exhorted them. "^So, give up all sensual
0280L12 pleasures and surrender yourself unconditionally at the lotus feet of
0290L12 the Almighty. ^It is desires that_ cloud the pristine glory
0300L12 of the immortal soul and detachment alone can pave the way to spiritual
0310L12 salvation. ^Our country, our religion, our traditions are the
0320L12 first to_ recognise the greatness of celibacy. *4^*Bramacharya
0330L12 helps to_ awaken the most potent *5kundalini shakti*6 which
0340L12 would be otherwise lying dormant at the base of the spine..."
0350L12 ^He went on and on like that_ and the people nodded their heads in
0360L12 appreciation of his masterly oratory.
0370L12 $^That_ same evening, in distant Madras, lovely Deepa was dressing her
0380L12 self to_ receive Arvind, her young and handsome husband. ^It
0390L12 was only three months since their marriage. ^Every evening, while
0400L12 returning from the office, Arvind would buy flowers for his beautiful
0410L12 wife. $^That_ day also he had brought flowers for her. ^But
0420L12 when he extended his hand to_ place the fragrant white Jasmine on her
0430L12 head, she withdrew from him and pretended to_ be angry. $"^Why is
0440L12 my gossamer-lovely-sweety angry with me?" ^He said. "^Ah... now I
0450L12 know. ^Is it because I haven*'4t agreed to_ take you to Kumbakonam
0460L12 for the Mamangam festival? ^But Deepa it will be very crowded there
0470L12 and..." $"^We*'3re not children to_ get lost" she intervened.
0480L12 "^It is the same excuse that_ my parents also gave last time when they
0490L12 went to Kumbakonam, leaving me at home. ^This festival comes only
0500L12 once in twelve years and we may not get another opportunity". $"^All
0510L12 right," Arvind conceded reluctantly. "^*I*'3ll make arrangements
0520L12 for our stay there." $^Then only did she allow him to_ place the
0530L12 flowers on her head. ^He then tried to_ kiss her.
0540L12 $"^Ishhh..." ^She restrained him, pointing to the open door. $^As
0550L12 soon as they alighted from the bus, Arvind commented sourly, "You
0560L12 were so adamant about visiting Kumbakonam. ^Now look at the crowds...
0570L12 ^That_*'1s why I had warned you..." $"^But this festival
0580L12 comes only once in twelve years," Deepa tried to_ pacify him.
0590L12 "^No wonder everyone is eager to_ see it." $^As they were leaving
0600L12 for their lodge, Nagappan pointed out Deepa to his henchmen and whispered,
0610L12 "Mark that_ girl in the red sari. ^Follow her and somehow
0620L12 manage to_ bring her to our place." $^Even on normal days Kumbakonam
0630L12 cannot be described as a clean town. ^The buses and lorries
0640L12 that_ frequently ply there billow up great choking clouds of dust. ^Layer
0650L12 after layer of finely filtered dust settles on your clothes and gets
0660L12 into nostrils. ^And on that_ festival day when *4lakhs of people
0670L12 had thronged there the town was overflowing with filth and grime.
0680L12 $^As they were walking towards the temple, Deepa felt disillusioned and
0690L12 uneasy. ^She couldn*'4t get into the festive mood. ^Though she
0700L12 had spoken bravely to Arvind, the crowds made her nervous. ^While
0710L12 they were being jostled by the unmanageable crowds, Nagappan*'s
0720L12 men were closely following them. ^Suddenly two of them feigned a
0730L12 brawl and in the melee that_ followed, Deepa was carefully separated
0740L12 from Arvind. $"^*Arvind, Arvind..." Deepa wailed, but the
0750L12 crowd pushed her farther and farther away from him. $^As Deepa
0760L12 was pathetically wringing her hands not knowing what to_ do, an
0770L12 old woman gently patted her on her shoulder and smiled at her.
0780L12 $"^My child," said the old woman, "have you lost your way?" $"^Yes
0790L12 *4patti, I*'3ve been separated from my husband..." ^With great difficulty
0800L12 Deepa tried to_ restrain her tears. $"^Oh, poor child...
0810L12 don*'4t worry. ^Tell me where you*'3re staying." $"^In the
0820L12 K-Lodge." $"^*I know that_ place. ^*I*'3ll take you there.
0830L12 ^Your husband is bound to_ come there after searching for you."
0840L12 $"^Please do..." $^The old woman took her through narrow lanes.
0850L12 $"^But *4patti," Deepa said, "I*'3m afraid this is not the way we
0860L12 came by..." $"^Don*'4t worry," the old woman assured her.
0870L12 "^This is the shortest route to your lodge. ^*I*'3ve been in Kumbakonam
0880L12 for the last forty years. ^*I should know better." $^As
0890L12 they were going through a deserted lane, a car stealthily approached them
0900L12 from behind. ^Before Deepa knew what was happening two men jumped
0910L12 out of the vehicle, gagged her and pushed her into the car. ^With
0920L12 a triumphant smile, the old woman also got into the car. $^*Nagappan
0930L12 dragged Deepa into the Madathipathi*'s well-furnished bedroom. ^The
0940L12 Madathipathi bolted the door from inside after Nagappan*'s departure.
0950L12 ^He then ungagged Deepa. ^Despite his ochre cloth and three
0960L12 stripes of *4vibhuthi and a large mark of *4kumkum on his forehead,
0970L12 his face and eyes betrayed the raging lust within him. ^To Deepa,
0980L12 he looked like the Rudraksha cat of the fables. $"^Who are you?...
0990L12 ^And why have they brought me here?" ^*Deepa asked weakly. $^The
1000L12 Madathipathi didn*'4t bother to_ reply. ^He sprang at her and started
1010L12 to_ pull off her *4sari. ^*Deepa shrieked and defended herself.
1020L12 ^She scratched his face with her nails ^But that_ only infuriated
1030L12 him and made him attack her with renewed vigour. ^Finally, the
1040L12 Madathipathi managed to_ pin her down to the cot and brutally raped her.
1050L12 $"^You will pay for it... ^My husband will avenge this..." ^*Deepa mumbled
1060L12 while sobbing and adjusting her dress. $^The Madathipathi
1070L12 greeted her threat with blood-curdling laughter. "^Look here," he
1080L12 said in a harsh tone, "^*I*'3ve a soft corner for you. ^That_*'1s why
1090L12 I*'3m allowing you to_ go out alive. ^Many other girls were not that_ fortunate.
1100L12 ^And if you tell anyone about what happened here, your husband
1110L12 will pay for it with his life. ^And don*'4t think the police will help
1120L12 you. ^They are on our payrolls." $^Observing Deepa*'s
1130L12 stunned silence he continued. "^Apart from endangering your husband*'s
1140L12 life, you will also force him to_ throw you out into the streets when
1150L12 he learns that you have been ravished. ^So be a good girl and keep
1160L12 mum. ^The old woman will take you to the lodge. ^If you don*'4t
1170L12 divulge anything to anyone, no harm will come to you or to your husband."
1180L12 $^The Madathipathi*'s words were ringing harshly in her ears
1190L12 as the car carrying her was speeding towards her lodge. ^Her whole body
1200L12 was aching from the savage treatement she had received at the hands of
1210L12 the Madathipathi. ^But her mental agony was much more than her physical
1220L12 pain. ^She wished that she had heeded Arvind*'s advice and
1230L12 not come to Kumbakonam. ^She had now become polluted-- a moral untouchable.
1240L12 ^It would be impossible for her to_ carry on with the gay and
1250L12 innocent life she had so far led with Arvind. ^In her despair,
1260L12 she even contemplated suicide by flinging herself out of the speeding
1270L12 car. ^Yet, somehow, she couldn*'4t bring herself to_ do it.
1280L12 ^Again and again she asked herself whether she should tell the truth to
1290L12 Arvind. ^Finally, the fears of her husband*'s safety and her own fate
1300L12 if the facts were disclosed made her decide to_ keep the incident a
1310L12 secret. ^The car dropped Deepa and the old woman near the lodge.
1320L12 $^As soon as he saw Deepa, Arvind heaved a sigh of relief and hugged
1330L12 her. ^*Deepa wept. $"^*Deepa, how did you manage to_ reach the
1340L12 lodge? ^And who is this old woman?" ^*Arvind asked. "^It*'1s
1350L12 this *4patti who helped me to_ locate the lodge." ^*Deepa replied.
1360L12 "^But for her I would have been lost." $^*Arvind thanked the old
1370L12 woman and sent her away with a ten-*4rupee note. $^After their return
1380L12 to Madras, things seemed to_ get to normal except that Deepa was
1390L12 feeling morose, guilty and nervous. ^Under one pretext or other she
1400L12 tried to_ avoid Arvind*'s advances. ^She would yield to him only
1410L12 when she thought that she would be mentally hurting him by offering any
1420L12 more resistance. $^*Arvind didn*'4t fail to_ notice the change in
1430L12 her. ^He was perplexed by her frigidity and sullenness. ^He finally
1440L12 decided to_ ask her about it. $"^*Deepa," he asked one day,
1450L12 "^*I*'3ve been observing you for some time. ^Why is it that you*'3re
1460L12 not your old sprightly self?" $"^Oh, nothing... ^*I*'3m feeling
1470L12 a bit bored. ^That_*'1s all..." ^She gave an evasive reply. ^From
1480L12 that_ day onwards she was more careful in hiding her feelings. ^She
1490L12 pretended to_ be jovial whenever Arvind was home. ^During his absence,
1500L12 she wept. $^Soon afterwards, Deepa developed some rash on
1510L12 her skin. ^As the affliction persisted, Arvind took her to a doctor.
1520L12 $^After examining her, the doctor handed over a note to Arvind
1530L12 and said. "^Please have these tests done in a lab and bring the test
1540L12 report." $^As Arvind had some urgent work in his office, he
1550L12 couldn*'4t accompany Deepa when she took the test report to the doctor.$^The
1560L12 doctor looked glum as he studied the report. ^After some hesitation
1570L12 he said. "\0^*Mrs. Arvind, I*'3m sorry... I*'3ve some bad
1580L12 news for you... ^You are ... er... you are suffering from \0VD."
1590L12 $^*Deepa sat stunned. $"^Don*'4t worry," the doctor tried to_ console
1600L12 her. "^It*'1s curable. ^You must have got it from your husband.
1610L12 ^As I have to_ check him also will you please ask him to_ see
1620L12 me at the earliest." $^*Deepa mechanically nodded her head and
1630L12 left the clinic. ^She was still in a dazed condition when she reached
1640L12 home. ^Though the doctor had put the blame on Arvind for her disease,
1650L12 she knew that he was innocent. ^Yet she couldn*'4t defend him before
1660L12 the doctor as that_ would have exposed her. ^She was sure that
1670L12 she must have contracted the disease from the man who had ravished her.
1680L12 ^She had thought that she could hide the facts from Arvind.
1690L12 $^*Arvind would demand an explanation from her and then the truth would
1700L12 be out. ^He would react violently when he realised that but for the
1710L12 chance occurrence of the disease he would have been completely kept in
1720L12 the dark about the whole affair. ^Perhaps he would have treated her
1730L12 magnanimously if she had then itself told him everything. but now
1740L12 it was too late she had no right to_ expect any mercy from him.
1750L12 ^*Deepa feared that Arvind would drive her out. ^Tears rolled down her
1760L12 cheeks and she shuddered when she thought about the shame and ignominy
1770L12 if the world came to_ know the truth. ^The more she thought about
1780L12 her predicament, the more desperate she became. $^As usual Arvind
1790L12 had brought flowers for Deepa. ^He was surprised not to_ find her
1800L12 at the entrance though the door was not locked. ^So far she had
1810L12 never failed to_ receive him with her bewitching smile. ^What was
1820L12 wrong today? ^He called her several times, but there was no respone.*#**[no.
        of words = 02010**]

        **[txt. l13**]
0010L13 **<*3Lal Mahal**> $*3^RAJA*0 Ram Charan*'s Lal Mahal was hers
0030L13 at last. ^The High Court had passed the decree in her favour after a mammoth
0040L13 battle lasting for over fifteen years. ^There were tears of joy
0050L13 in Sumitra*'s eyes as she walked through the spacious courtyard garden
0060L13 of the Lal Mahal. ^Today the Mahal showed signs of decay and neglect.
0070L13 ^This very Mahal had been a luxurious palace in the good old days when
0080L13 her father had been ruling the State. $^*Sumitra had been a little
0090L13 girl then. ^She used to_ spend hours in the *4zenana balcony overlooking
0100L13 the courtyard, watching wide eyed with intense interest, all the
0110L13 happenings there. ^Her father used to_ leave at eleven every morning
0120L13 to_ attend the *4durbar. ^*Moti, the elephant, used to_ be draped with
0130L13 the most expensive of gold cloth and decorated with ceremonial
0140L13 trappings. ^*Moti*'s forehead and trunk
0150L13 used to_ be adorned with intricate designs in sandalwood. ^The Raja
0160L13 looked so regal, sitting in the silver *4howdah behind the *4mahout.
0170L13 ^Thereafter the courtyard used to_ be cleared of all males and the
0180L13 Rani and other ladies of the household used to_ come down to_ pray to
0190L13 Lord Shiva in the family temple, which was built of sparkling white marble
0200L13 in one corner of the courtyard. $^The temple was still there, but
0210L13 the white marble was covered with a green, slimy moss. ^No one had
0220L13 bothered to_ pray at the family shrine for years now, after the Raja*'s
0230L13 demise. ^The family *4pujari had informed Sumitra that the
0240L13 Raja had returned to the Mahal as a king cobra after his death. ^He
0250L13 had himself seen the cobra wrapped around the Shiva Linga. ^*Sumitra
0260L13 had laughed away the *4pujari*'s talk, but now she wondered if he
0270L13 had been telling her the truth. ^Hadn*'4t he told her that good would
0280L13 triumph over evil in the end and she would get back the Lal Mahal?
0290L13 ^He had been right after all. ^It was a pity that he had not lived
0300L13 to_ see her victory. $^*Sumitra was reminded of her wedding day.
0310L13 ^It was over thirtyfive years ago that she had been a bride. ^A
0320L13 lifetime had passed by, but she could still remember the crowded events
0330L13 of that_ day in minute detail. ^The Mahal had been decorated for
0340L13 a fortnight with thousands of marigold and mango leaf garlands. ^At
0350L13 night these garlands used to_ be replaced with garlands of twinkling lights
0360L13 of various colours. ^A portion of the huge courtyard had been converted
0370L13 into an open air kitchen. ^A host of cooks had laboured day
0380L13 and night to_ prepare mountains of delicious sweetmeats... *4laddus,
0390L13 *4jalebis, *4barfi and *4halwa of various types. $^On the wedding
0400L13 day, they had prepared delicious *4rabdi. ^The guests and relatives
0410L13 had feasted for over a week. ^At night the lush green lawns of the
0420L13 Mahal had glittered with and resounded to the sparkle and explosions
0430L13 of fireworks specially ordered from abroad for the occasion. $^*Sumitra*'s
0440L13 trousseau was laid out in a large room on the first floor of the
0450L13 Mahal for all the guests to_ see. ^There were *4sarees galore with
0460L13 heavy gold borders and sequin work in gold and silver, jewellery of every
0470L13 dazzling variety and household goods of every conceivable type.
0480L13 ^The Raja had provided his only child with everything. ^Everyone envied
0490L13 the good fortune of Sumitra. ^*Devendranath, Sumitra*'s husband
0500L13 to_ be, was a handsome Army officer. ^He was a captain in the cavalry
0510L13 and was posted at Ahmednager near Pune. ^His grandmother was
0520L13 a descendant of the royal family of Jodhpur and they were a well-known
0530L13 family of Bombay. $^The wedding was celebrated in royal style.
0540L13 ^The traditional rites were held late at night, and the next day, a huge
0550L13 banquet was held for the distinguished guests which included the Rajas
0560L13 from various neighbouring states, the Viceroy*'s special representative
0570L13 from Delhi, the British Resident and other important foreign and
0580L13 Indian guests. ^A number of Devendranath*'s friends and fellow officers
0590L13 from the Army were also present and there was a lot of boisterous
0600L13 fun and frolic. $^After the wedding, Sumitra and Devendranath left
0610L13 for Bombay, where Devendranath*'s parents lived. ^It really
0620L13 broke Sumitra*'s heart to_ leave her father and the Lal Mahal. ^After
0630L13 her mother*'s death, the Raja had been both father and mother to
0640L13 her and the Lal Mahal had been like a cradle to her. ^The Raja wept
0650L13 like a child when Sumitra left in the traditional *4doli. ^*Sumitra
0660L13 was very dear to him and parting from her was a sorrow he had dreaded
0670L13 all the time, but how long could he keep her with him? ^A daughter
0680L13 was after all a borrowed pleasure and one couldn*'4t afford to_ live in
0690L13 debt for long, even if one was a Raja. ^The sooner the debt was paid
0700L13 back the better it was. $^Still the Raja had held on to Sumitra
0710L13 for far too long a time. ^He had encouraged her to_ study and, whenever
0720L13 the question of her marriage was brought up by anyone, he had shrugged
0730L13 it away by saying that she had to_ graduate first. ^Thus, when
0740L13 he began looking for suitable matches for Sumirta, he found that all
0750L13 the eligible boys from royal families had already been betrothed.
0760L13 ^The Raja did not consider Devendranath inferior in any manner to_ wed
0770L13 his daughter, but he did feel pangs of sorrer when he thought that Devendranath
0780L13 was not a prince from a royal family. ^To_ appease his own
0790L13 conscience and to_ keep the babbling tongues of his relatives from wagging,
0800L13 he always referred to Devendranath as the grandson of Rajkumari
0810L13 Neela Devi of Jodhpur. $^*Sumitra got a rude shock when she entered
0820L13 her father-in-law*'s flat at Bombay. ^If not a *4mahal like her
0830L13 fathers*'s she had expected at least a rambling bungalow like the ones in
0840L13 which her father*'s courtiers lived. ^A three-bedroom flat overlooking
0850L13 a busy thoroughfare in the heart of the city was a far cry from the
0860L13 Lal Mahal that_ she had been used to. ^She experienced a feeling
0870L13 of claustrophobia in the flat. $^The Bombay stay was mercifully short
0880L13 and Sumitra and Devendranath soon left for Ahmednagar, where they
0890L13 settled down to a peaceful, gracious and happy life in a sprawling bungalow
0900L13 in the cantonment area. ^*Sumitra had a host of servants at her
0910L13 beck and call and she was soon visiting the wives of Devendranath*'s collegues
0920L13 for the inevitable morning coffee sessions. ^She made friends
0930L13 fast and was soon an established member of the ladies*' club. ^Her
0940L13 princess status drew the ladies to her and she was soon taught how
0950L13 to_ play rummy, bridge and mah-jong, the absolute essentials of an Army
0960L13 officers*'s wife*'s training. $^*Devendranath*'s pay was not very
0970L13 much but they never had any dearth of spending money thanks to the Raja*'s
0980L13 generous cheques that_ arrived unfailingly before the numerous Hindu
0990L13 religious festivals. ^In addition to these, the Raja sent huge
1000L13 hampers of sweetmeats, dried fruit, whisky bottles and other goodies
1010L13 every month for his daughter and son-in-law. ^*Sumitra and Devendranath
1020L13 entertained regularly and their parties were always big hits because
1030L13 of the lavish flow of drinks and good food. ^*Sumitra soon discarded
1040L13 her heavy *4sarees and jewellery and took to wearing cool French chiffons
1050L13 and pearls for parties. $^Then Sumitra became pregnant.
1060L13 ^When she informed the Raja, he sent her a message that she was to_ return
1070L13 to the Lal Mahal forthwith. ^*Sumitra was not keen on leaving
1080L13 Devendranath alone, but she could*'4t also deny her father the pleasure
1090L13 of spoiling and looking after her during her period of confinement.
1100L13 ^The six months that_ she spent at the Mahal were a dream. ^*Devendranath
1110L13 came down on leave for a month and there was a lot of wining and
1120L13 dining. ^*Sumitra delivered a son and the Raja was overjoyed. ^He
1130L13 lavished money and food on friends and *4Brahmins alike. ^He celrbrated
1140L13 the event as if he had himself begotton a son and heir. $^The
1150L13 fact that he had no son was a big void in his life. ^His family had
1160L13 descended from the Sun God and it was a pity that it would end with
1170L13 him. ^His State would be annexed by the Britishers after his death.
1180L13 ^The Raja*'s numerous requests to the Viceroy to_ allow him to_
1190L13 adopt a son were all turned down. ^He tried heaping expensive presents
1200L13 on the British Resident in the hope that he would put up his case favourably
1210L13 to the Viceroy, but it had all been in vain. ^His State
1220L13 was his till his death. ^Thereafter his saffron flag, with the rising
1230L13 sun embroidered on it with gold thread, would be hauled down and the Union
1240L13 Jack would take its place. $^After the naming ceremony of Sumitra*'s
1250L13 son was over, Sumitra had to_ go and spend a fortnight with her
1260L13 in-laws in Bombay. ^It was a miserable fortnight, Sumitra felt
1270L13 like a caged bird after her life of freedom in the Ahmednagar cantonment
1280L13 and in the Lal Mahal. $^Days passed into years. ^*Sumitra
1290L13 and Devendranath*'s family grew. ^They now had three children.
1300L13 ^The Second World War had begun. ^*Devendranath had been sent to_
1310L13 fight on the Burma front. ^*Sumitra and the children had gone to_
1320L13 live with the Raja in the Lal Mahal. ^Those had been very trying
1330L13 days with the tension of war all around them. ^*Sumitra used to_
1340L13 wait for the occasional and terribly delayed letters from Devendranath.
1350L13 ^The Raja spent his time listening to the war news on the radio.
1360L13 $^*Sumitra*'s children just loved the Lal Mahal. ^They spent their
1370L13 time looking for buried treasure in the grounds of the Mahal!
1380L13 ^The Raja*'s retinue of servants regaled them with stories of ghosts that_
1390L13 were supposed to_ haunt the Mahal. ^*Sumitra prayed every morning
1400L13 and evening in the family shrine for Devendranath*'s safety. ^The
1410L13 Raja contributed generously to the Government*'s War Fund. ^He
1420L13 was amply rewarded by the government with a string of titles. ^The war
1430L13 had made him give up quite a few of his lavish ways and become austere.
1440L13 ^He hated doing this and cursed the Japanese and the Germans.
1450L13 $^Then one day, the war was over and Devendranath returned home in glory
1460L13 as a war hero. ^The Raja got an opportunity to_ throw a lavish
1470L13 party. ^It was like old times again. ^Then the independence movement
1480L13 began. ^Before the Raja could realise what had happened, India
1490L13 was granted independence and he had to_ give up his State in return
1500L13 for a modest privy purse. ^The Raja was shocked... ^How could this
1510L13 have happened? ^He rushed to Delhi and took an active part in the
1520L13 meetings of the Princes. ^However, nothing much was achieved by this
1530L13 and the Raja returned to the Lal Mahal a broken-hearted and lonely
1540L13 man. ^All the pomp and glory were literally lost overnight.
1550L13 $^*Devendrnath was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel a year
1560L13 after independence. ^He had benefited from the country*'s independence,
1570L13 Sumitra was happy for her husband but sad for her father. ^The
1580L13 Raja began keeping indifferent health and he wouldn*'4t listen to anyone
1590L13 in the Mahal. ^One day he visited Sumitra in Pune for a few hours
1600L13 on his way to Bombay. ^He had to_ go and consult his solicitors regarding
1610L13 some monetary settlements on account of his estates that_ had been
1620L13 handed over to the Governemnt. ^*Sumitra was shocked to_ see the
1630L13 condition of her father. ^She tried to_ persuade him to_ consult a
1640L13 good doctor in Bombay, but it was of no avail. $^As the years went
1650L13 by presents from the Raja became rare. ^The needs of Sumitra*'s family
1660L13 grew and there was not enough money coming in. ^For the first
1670L13 time in her life Sumitra had to_ economise and deprive her family
1680L13 and herself of luxuries in order to_ be able to_ make both ends meet.
1690L13 ^Even her entourage of servants had to_ be reduced to a bare minimum
1700L13 of two, a sweeper and a cook-cum-bearer. ^*Sumitra found herself spending
1710L13 a lot of her time in the kitchen. ^The Sumitra who had grown up
1720L13 in the lap of luxury was now like any other Army officer*'s
1730L13 wife.*#
        **[no. of words = 02016**]

        **[txt. l14**]
0010L14 **<*3TRAPPED*0**>
0020L14 $^*I worked in a department store owned by Navneet Tandon. ^He was
0030L14 a very rich man becuase his father had left him a tidy packet when he
0040L14 died. ^*Navneet and I had been in the same college and we were in
0050L14 Inter Commerce when news came of his father*'s death in Hong Kong.
0060L14 $^*I thought the event would come as a shock to young Navneet, but contrary
0070L14 to expectations he resigned himself at once to the loss and left
0080L14 college to_ manage the family business. ^He asked me to_ join him assuring
0081L14 me of a job in his establishment.
0090L14 ^But I pursued my studies at the insistence of my old father
0100L14 who believed that the only lasting asset in the world was a good education.
0110L14 $^After I finished my *(0B. Com.*) with a First Class,
0120L14 Navneet renewed his offer. ^My father wanted me to_ become a Chartered
0130L14 Accountant because that_ would give me more scope. ^But I was
0140L14 having none of it. ^*I was sick of studies and the past few months
0150L14 had been gruelling. ^Besides, I felt that with a foothold in a big
0160L14 organisation like Navneet*'s I would rise to the top through sheer dint
0170L14 of hard work. $^My father had his own reservations about my accepting
0180L14 the assignment and he voiced them to me now. ^He was dead set
0190L14 against the idea of working under either close relations or extremely good
0200L14 friends. ^He felt this fouled up the relationship. $"^Are you
0210L14 implying that Navneet will treat me shabbily?" ^*I cried incensed.
0220L14 $"^Not at all", said my father puffing at his *4bidi. "^But
0230L14 just remember the relationship between an employer and his employee is
0240L14 quite different from that_ between two close friends. ^What*'1s more
0250L14 here*'1s no meeting ground between the two. ^However, you*'3ll find
0260L14 that_ out for yourself." $^*Navneet had a shop in Hong Kong and another
0270L14 one in Bombay. ^He stocked everything from pounded spices
0280L14 to exotic silk *4sarees, and did roaring business by the looks of it.
0290L14 ^He had two Indian cars and a chauffeur-driven Mercedes Benz.
0300L14 ^The day I joined, he shook hands warmly and talked nostalgically of our
0310L14 college days. $"^*I thought you*'1d ditch me, old fellow," he said.
0320L14 $"^How could you ever imagine that_," I cried, "after our close
0330L14 association all these years?" $"^You never know," he said "Friends
0340L14 change." $"^Not I," I said. "^Anyway what kind of job
0350L14 did you have in mind for me?" $"^Selling bras," he said. ^Then,
0360L14 when I looked startled he laughed and slapped my back. "^What did
0370L14 you think I*'1d give you, some ramby pamby salesman*'s work? ^*I want
0380L14 you to_ take complete charge of the Bombay department store, because
0390L14 I*'3ll have to_ keep hopping between here and Hong Kong. $"^You
0400L14 mean," I began suddenly afraid of the immense responsibility. $"^Don*'4t
0410L14 be afraid, Chander," he said. "^*I know how brilliant you
0420L14 are! ^It will take you just a couple of months to_ pick up the work.
0430L14 ^There*'1s a middle aged man looking after the show. ^*Pritam
0440L14 Sinha is his name. ^But I detest that_ man. ^As soon as you learn
0450L14 the ropes from him, out he goes," $^*I was wary. "^No, Navneet,"
0460L14 I said. "^*I*'1d feel terrible if I deprived a man of his
0470L14 job. ^He must have a wife and children... commitments... responsibilities."
0480L14 $"^What does it matter to you, old chap?" he asked. "^You
0490L14 will be getting a fabulous salary of 2000 *4rupees. ^Are you going
0500L14 to_ throw that_ away for some seedy looking accountant with one foot in
0510L14 the grave?" $^*I was silent. ^Two thousand *4rupees was a lot of
0520L14 money. ^Nothing to_ be sneezed at. $"^All right," said Navneet.
0530L14 "^If you feel so badly about it, I*'3ll keep him on too for
0540L14 as long as you like. ^A few years more hardly matter. ^During this
0550L14 time you will learn the ropes and also the confidence to_ shoulder so
0560L14 much responsibility." $^*I went home, telling myself it was all
0570L14 right. ^The fact that Navnnet had agreed to_ keep on Pritam Sinha
0580L14 for as long as I liked was balm to my uneasy conscience. ^But when
0590L14 I told my father what had happened he said: "^You better look out.
0600L14 ^*I don*'4t like the sly tactics of your stinking-rich friend."
0610L14 $"^Father!" I almost shouted. "^*I won*'4t have you slander Navneet.
0620L14 ^He*'1s a fine man. ^*I*'3ve known him all these years...."
0630L14 $"^All right, all right," he said. "^Please yourself. ^*I
0640L14 only wonder what your mother would have said, had she been alive."
0650L14 $^*I didn*'4t reply. ^Mother had been a God fearing soul, with an
0660L14 even more sensitive conscience than my father*'s. ^*I remembered the
0670L14 time she had stopped father from accepting a bribe, even when father told
0680L14 her you couldn*'4t escape this sort of thing in the police force.
0690L14 ^Perhaps he remembered the event too. ^He puffed on his *4bidi more
0700L14 violently, no doubt recalling his hectic days in the police force.
0710L14 $^*I was relieved he didn*'4t try to_ stop me **[sic **] accepting employment
0720L14 with Navneet, but I had a thousand qualms when I went to_ meet
0730L14 Pritam Sinha in the department store on my first day of work. ^He
0740L14 was younger than I had imagined. ^When Navneet had spoken of a doddering
0750L14 old man with one foot in the grave, I had been led to_ expect
0760L14 a greying man with a slight stoop and spectacles. ^On the contrary,
0770L14 I stood face to face with a hefty, broad shouldered man, whose hair
0780L14 was jet black and whose face exuded warmth and virility. $^As we shook
0790L14 hands, I said: "^*I thought you*'1d be much older, Sir." $"^Who
0800L14 told you that_?" he asked, "The boss?" $"^Yes" I confessed.
0810L14 $"^Well, any man on the wrong side of forty must look so to a youthful
0820L14 boy in his twenties." $"^Are you forty, Sir ?" ^*I asked
0830L14 amazed. $"^Forty-two to_ be exact. ^And don*'4t call me Sir,
0840L14 please. ^It sounds... ^*I don*'4t know... so formal. ^Call me Pritam.
0850L14 ^We*'3re all one big family here." $"^Yes Sir," I
0860L14 said involuntarily. ^We both laughed and that_ kind of laughter broke
0870L14 the ice between us. $^The shop had several departments selling varied
0880L14 items grouped under different categories-- electrical goods, furniture,
0890L14 hosiery, *4sarees, furnishings, toilet articles and perfumes. ^At
0900L14 the end of the day, bills from all the different sources totalled up on
0910L14 the cash register and we had to_ tally the cash in the drawer with the
0920L14 grand total. ^It seemed quite easy to me. ^When I told Pritam
0930L14 Sinha this, he laughed and said cryptically, "that_*'1s what you think
0940L14 now." $"^You mean there*'1s more?" ^*I asked. $"^You bet,"he
0950L14 said. $^After the late shoppers had departed and the department store
0960L14 was about to_ close, two rough looking men came in with a bulging bag.
0970L14 $"^How much is it?" asked Pritam Sinha. $"^Four thousand
0980L14 and sixty two," said the man, with the scarf knotted round his head.
0990L14 $"^Right," said Pritam. "^Close the doors and dump it on
1000L14 the table." $^The men did as they were told. ^*I had never seen
1010L14 so much cash in my life. ^It was in ten-*4rupee, five-*4rupee, two-*4rupee
1020L14 and one-*4rupee notes and some loose change. ^There were
1030L14 a few hundred-*4rupee notes but they were negligible. ^*I helped Pritam
1040L14 Sinha count the cash while the two men looked on. ^It took us a
1050L14 long time to_ do it. $^When we had finished strapping notes of each denomination
1060L14 separately in neat bundles with rubber bands, Pritam Sinha gave
1070L14 the two men hundred *4rupees each and they went off. $"^Don*'4t we
1080L14 have to_ tally this with the bills?" ^*I asked. $"^There are no
1090L14 bills for these," said Pritam with a wry smile. $"^Why,"?
1100L14 $"^Becuase this stuff is sold on the pavements," $"^Oh, but isn*'4t that_
1110L14 illegal?" $"^A lot of things go on around the city that_ are against
1120L14 the law, but that_ doesn*'4t mean people stop doing them." $"^*I
1130L14 don*'4t like it," ^*I said. $"^You*'3ll like the reward that_
1140L14 comes at the end of it," he said. ^*I thought he meant the pay
1150L14 I*'1d get from Navneet at the end of the month. ^But he handed me
1160L14 ten ten-*4rupee notes like he had done to the two men. $"^What*'1s this?"
1170L14 ^*I asked. "^Your cut," he said. "^After all if you
1180L14 stay here till ten o'*3clock counting currency notes you*'3re entitled
1190L14 to_ be paid for it," $"^*I don*'4t like it," I said. $"^Please yourself,"
1200L14 he replied. "^But believe me, you*'1d be a damn fool to_
1210L14 refuse." $"^Does Navneet know what*'1s going on?" $"^Of course,"
1220L14 he said. "^Everything*'1s done under his instructions."
1230L14 $"^How long has this been going on?" $"^For donkey*'s years. ^Here,
1240L14 dump this black money in a separate place, inside the panelling in
1250L14 the hosiery section. ^We don*'4t want trouble with the audit."
1260L14 $^When, I went home with the hundred rupees, father asked, "Well
1270L14 how was the first day and why are you so late?" $"^We had a celebration,"
1280L14 I lied. $"^Oh, then I suppose you*'3re not going to_ have
1290L14 any dinner?" $"^No," I had to_ say. ^*I had no other alternative.
1300L14 $^That_ night I could*'4t sleep. ^It may have been my hunger
1310L14 or it may have been my conscience. ^*I decided to_ talk to Navneet
1320L14 about it the next day. ^The idea of deception bored holes in
1330L14 my conscience. ^*I kept the hundred *4rupees in a safe place in a box
1340L14 in the kitchen loft where I was sure father wouldn*'4t find it.
1350L14 ^As I stepped off the stool, I upset some utensils which rolled helter
1360L14 skelter on the floor. ^The noise was deafening becuase it was an unearthyly
1370L14 hour of the night and everything was dead still. ^Father came
1380L14 into the kitchen and switched on the light. ^Fortunately I had
1390L14 put the stool back in its place under the window so he was not wise to my
1400L14 tricks. $"^What the hell are you doing?" he cried, "I got the start
1410L14 of my life imagining thieves had broken in." $"^*I wanted to_ drink
1420L14 some water," I lied. $"^For God*'s sake why didn*'4t you switch
1430L14 on the light, instead of groping in the dark?" $"^*I didn*'4t want
1440L14 to_ wake you, father," I said. ^He grunted and said with some
1450L14 sarcasm. "^Well you woke me anyway." ^Then he turned away from
1460L14 me and hobbled off to bed. $^*I went back and lay down in bed.
1470L14 ^That_ was when I had the strangest feeling. ^*I felt mother*'s spirit
1480L14 hovering near in an almost diaphanous state. ^*I sat up at once but
1490L14 it vanished. ^*I felt sure she had come to_ warn me about something.
1500L14 ^Surprisingly I was not afraid. ^The living now posed more
1510L14 danger to me than the dead. $^The first thing I did the next morning
1520L14 was go to Navneet*'s air conditioned cabin. ^He looked up and smiled.
1530L14 $"^Oh, hello, Chander," he said. "^You*'3re right on time.
1540L14 ^*I want you to_ meet Lila. "^She turned round in her chair. ^*I
1550L14 found myself looking into the quiet grey eyes of the most beautiful girl
1560L14 I had seen. $"^*I*'3ve told Lila so much about you," Navneet
1570L14 went on, "that she feels she*'2s known you for ages. ^Don*'4t you
1580L14 Lila?" $"^Hello," said Lila, sticking out her hand for a greeting
1590L14 as they did abroad. "^*I*'3m Navneet*'s sister," $"^Just back
1600L14 from finishing school in Switzerland," he said. "^Do you find
1610L14 her finished, Chander? "I*'3ve been telling her she still looks a trifle
1620L14 under-baked." $"^Oh go on," said Lila "^Don*'4t be a tease."
1630L14 $"^She*'3ll soon get right under a hot tropical sun," I said
1640L14 with a smile. ^*I was thinking how much more becoming her beauty would
1650L14 look if she were draped in a russet *4saree with a *4bindi on her forehead
1660L14 and her hands folded in a politely coy *4namaste. ^She had an
1670L14 affected mannerism about her which needed Indian modes of behaviour to_
1680L14 round off. ^Her two piece suit and white blouse made her look like
1690L14 a mannequin from the pages of Vogue. ^Her hair was long and coiled
1700L14 into a coiffure on the nape of her neck. $^Her eyes had an innocence
1710L14 about them and an unguarded chasteness.*#
        **[no. of words = 02000**]

        **[txt. l15**]
0020L15 **<*3The Secret Door*0**> $^*I*'3M STANDING in front of a strange
0030L15 mansion. ^Empty handed. ^Uncertain. ^Like a ruined stranger. ^Who
0040L15 may have returned, after a lifetime of wandering around, to where
0050L15 his village used to_ be. ^Ages ago. ^Perhaps. ^Swathed in sun
0060L15 and dust. ^Self-absorbed. ^Uncertain. ^Like me. $^*I fling
0070L15 my withered arms out. ^In imitation of the outstretched wings of
0080L15 the ancient mansion. ^Like an idle urchin mimicking a crazy old woman.
0090L15 ^So that she may curse him. ^So that he may amuse himself by
0100L15 spitting and throwing stones at her. $^*I fold my arms. ^Now I
0110L15 look like an old eagle. ^Perhaps. ^For whom flying has become
0120L15 impossible. ^Almost. ^Or improper. ^Or unnecessary. ^More
0130L15 or less. $^Now I*'3m standing headbent. ^Like a culprit.
0140L15 ^Who may have returned, after a lifetime of running around, to where his
0150L15 home used to_ be. ^Ages ago. ^Perhaps. ^Lost in filth and
0160L15 darkness. ^Like a ruined tomb. ^Surrounded by few broken huts.
0170L15 ^Whose doors are swinging loose. ^Like the jowls of sick or senseless
0180L15 old people. ^Whose mudwalls sport stains of dungcakes.
0190L15 $^*I raise my eyes and see dirty patches all over the facade of the mansion.
0200L15 ^Like thin dungcakes. ^Plastered ineptly by a bride. ^In
0210L15 homesickness and anger. ^Perhaps. $^*I*'3ve an old and deep
0220L15 familiarity with dungcakes. ^It has survived years of estrangement
0230L15 and distance. ^Like a memory. ^Like a scar. $^*I wonder why
0240L15 this mansion seems so friendly. ^Despite its strangeness. ^To
0250L15 me. ^To whom for ages nothing has seemed friendly. ^Perhaps it
0260L15 is because of the light. ^Which is pouring down like rain. ^In which
0270L15 even I may seem friendly. ^Perhaps. ^Despite my strangeness.
0280L15 $^Perhaps it is also because of the light that_ the mansion seems
0290L15 to_ be still and soaring. ^Simultaneously. ^Like a remote mountain.
0300L15 ^Or a cloud. ^Drenched in light. ^Uncertain. ^Like
0310L15 me. $^*I wonder about the mansion. ^Standing still and soaring.
0320L15 ^Simultaneously. ^In this luminous desert. ^Its arms outstretched.
0330L15 ^Its innumerable doors all closed. ^Apparently.
0340L15 ^Looking more like a reflection or an enormous sketch of a mansion than
0350L15 a mansion. $^Perhaps it is empty. ^Empty or not it can*'4t
0360L15 be real. ^Real or not it is there. ^Or seems to_ be. ^And
0370L15 I*'3m standing in front of it. ^Uncertain. ^Like a meek monk.
0380L15 ^Gaping. ^Through eyes not his own. ^With curiosity not his
0390L15 own. ^Wondering about the mansion. ^Wondering. $^*I*'3m wondering
0400L15 what I*'3m doing here. ^Standing in this light. ^In front
0410L15 of this strange but friendly mansion. ^*I*'3m wondering what I
0420L15 did and where before coming to_ stand here. I*'3m wondering whether
0430L15 I*'3m standing here on my own or under orders, whether I*'3ll be able
0440L15 to_ move away from here on my own. ^*I*'3m wondering why I*'3m
0450L15 wondering about all this. $^*I*'3m afraid if I don*'4t stop
0460L15 wondering this spell will break. ^And so may I. ^*I*'3m afraid
0470L15 I can*'4t stop wondering. $^*I think I should keep standing here.
0480L15 ^Waiting for a sign. ^Or a change of light. ^Uncertain but
0490L15 open. $^If this mansion is real, these doors too are real. ^Perhaps
0500L15 one of them at least is open. ^Or will be opened. ^Or
0510L15 can be opened. ^Or will open. ^Of itself. ^But why only one?
0520L15 $^Had this mansion been real, it wouldn*'4t have had so many doors.
0530L15 ^It wouldn*'4t be standing in this desolate silence in this
0540L15 luminous desert. $^*I*'3m afraid if I don*'4t stop thinking this
0550L15 light will change into darkness, this silence into screams, this mansion
0560L15 into a desire for this mansion. ^And I into restless dust.
0570L15 ^Doomed once again to another lifetime of wandering around. ^*I
0580L15 want to_ stop thinking. $^*I raise my eyes again and see two eyes
0590L15 studded in each of the innumerable doors. ^Like two luminous hornets.
0600L15 ^Like a magic trick for children. ^*I want to_ shout what
0610L15 is going on! ^*I*'3m afraid I won*'4t be able to_ produce a sound.
0620L15 $^*I blink my eyes and look again. ^Now I see a wall of dark
0630L15 doors. ^The mansion has changed into this wall. ^Another magic
0640L15 trick. ^*I*'3m amazed and angry. $^*I fly over to one of the
0650L15 innumerable doors in front of me. ^There in no lock or keyhole anywhere.
0660L15 ^*I try to_ push it open. ^It is like pushing a wall.
0670L15 ^*I knock without producing a sound. ^*I shout. ^Nothing but air
0680L15 issues out of my mouth. ^*I put my forehead against the door and close
0690L15 my eyes. ^Like a child. ^Who is sobbing. ^Because his mother
0700L15 is dying behind that_ door. ^Or giving birth to another child.
0710L15 ^Perhaps. $^*I see my entire dark past narrowed to a point.
0720L15 ^Beneath my closed eyes. ^Twinkling. ^Like pain. ^Acute enough
0730L15 to_ kill me. ^Body and soul. ^*I see myself dancing to that_
0740L15 twinkling point of pain. ^For a long time. ^Then I see myself falling
0750L15 asleep. ^Or dying. ^Perhaps. $^*I straighten myself with
0760L15 a start. ^Like a puppet. ^Who doesn*'4t know he is one. ^Who
0770L15 doesn*'4t know anything. ^Who hopes to_ be rewarded for his total ignorance.
0780L15 ^By the closed door in front of him. ^Or by an angel or
0790L15 a demon behind it. ^Who is unaware of his existence. $^*I sit
0800L15 down and close my eyes again. ^The mansion is empty. ^But if it
0810L15 is, why all these doors? ^It is not real. ^But if it is not,
0820L15 what is it that_ I see? $^*I can*'4t think any further without
0830L15 assuming that this mansion is real. ^That these doors are real.
0840L15 ^That I*'3m not being tricked by a master mason or painter. ^*I*'3ve
0850L15 assumed this. ^So that I can concentrate on these doors.
0860L15 $^Because the door in front of me is closed, I assume all the rest are
0870L15 also closed. ^Because I*'3ve failed in opening this, I assume
0880L15 I*'3ll fail in opening all the rest. ^But even if it had turned
0890L15 out to_ be open, or had opened, I might have assumed all the rest
0900L15 would be closed, that I*'1d fail in opening them. ^Or I might have
0910L15 assumed that many, or several, of them would be closed and many, or
0920L15 several, would be open or would open under my pressure. ^*I*'3ll
0930L15 not be sure before I*'3ve made all possible attempts at opening all
0940L15 the doors. ^I haven*'4t made all possible attempts to_ open the
0950L15 one in front of me. ^That_*'1s why I assume I won*'4t be able
0960L15 to_ make all possible attempts at opening all the rest. ^It will be
0970L15 impossible to_ make all possible attempts. ^That_*'1s why I feel
0980L15 I shouldn*'4t make any. ^It will be impossible for me not to_ make
0990L15 any. ^That_*'1s why I think I should get up, walk up to each
1000L15 door, push it, knock on it, shout even if I fail to_ produce any sound,
1010L15 and see if I can open one or find one open or opened. ^But such
1020L15 half-hearted attempts won*'4t satisfy me. ^*I shouldn*'4t desire satisfaction
1030L15 but I do. ^*I*'3m thankful my desire for satisfaction
1040L15 is not strong enough to_ push me into a reckless battering of all these
1050L15 doors. ^Perhaps that_*'1s why I imagine that if I persist this
1060L15 session of silly thoughts will change into a trance. ^Sooner or
1070L15 later. ^And then I*'1d be rid of the desire to_ open any door, or
1080L15 to_ find it open. ^But then I remember I*'3ve tried to_ induce these
1090L15 trances before. ^By sitting in silence with my eyes firmly closed.
1100L15 ^And I remember how every time as soon as I opened my eyes
1110L15 I was pounced upon by all my suspended desires. ^That_*'1s why
1120L15 I think this session too will be futile. ^Then I remind myself that
1130L15 never before have I sat in front of mansion so strange and friendly
1140L15 as this, in a light so strong and ceaseless as this, confronted by doors
1150L15 as numerous as these. ^And I begin to_ think that if I succeed
1160L15 in opening even one of these innumerable doors, or in finding it open,
1170L15 I*'3ll rush into this mansion without a thought about the rest of
1180L15 them and spend my remaining life in roaming and rummaging about in this
1190L15 ancient mansion. ^But then I think I won*'4t be able to_ resist
1200L15 the temptation or the challenge of the other doors. ^Particularly
1210L15 if the door that I succeed in opening, or finding open, opens
1220L15 a mystery or a monster or a radiance or a rot or a terror or a void
1230L15 whose refuge is unacceptable to me. ^No refuge will be acceptable
1240L15 to me for ever. ^That_*'1s why I think I*'3ll not be satisfied
1250L15 until I have tried all the doors. ^That_ is why I think I*'3ll
1260L15 never be satisfied. ^Not even if I succeed in opening all the
1270L15 doors, or in finding all of them open or opened. ^Not even if
1280L15 all of them open on the same terror of treasure or whatever. ^Not
1290L15 even if all of them open on revelations that_ are entirely different from
1300L15 one another. ^*I will never be satisfied. ^*I should have no
1310L15 desire for any satisfaction. ^For even if I come upon a rare glory
1320L15 or gift behind each door I*'3ll wonder whether that_ glory or gift is
1330L15 the ultimate end of my quest. ^And even if I try all the doors and
1340L15 fail in opening even one, or in finding even one open or opened, I*'3ll
1350L15 wonder if I missed one or many. ^Then I*'3ll have to_ start
1360L15 all over in search of the one or many I might have missed. ^And I
1370L15 won*'4t be sure I didn*'4t miss one or many in the second round.
1380L15 ^And I*'3ll detect innumerable defects in each attempt. ^And I*'3ll
1390L15 discover innumerable flaws in each attempt to_ remove each defect.
1400L15 ^And I*'3ll imagine perhaps each door responds to a pre-determined
1410L15 pressure or a call or a concentration. ^And I*'3ll imagine perhaps
1420L15 the intensity of each pressure or call or concentration is also pre-determined.
1430L15 ^And I*'3ll imagine perhaps the intensity of each pressure
1440L15 or call or concentration is also subject to change every moment according
1450L15 to a pattern also pre-determined. ^And I*'3ll conclude that
1460L15 if all this is true I*'3ll never succeed in opening any door that I
1470L15 am not pre-determined to_ open. ^And I*'3ll of course discover innumerable
1480L15 cracks in this conclusion. ^And I*'3ll conclude that if all
1490L15 this is true I*'3ll never succeed in opening any door that I am not
1500L15 pre-determined to_ open. ^And I*'3ll of course discover innumerable
1510L15 cracks in this conclusion. ^And I*'3ll feel like shouting: ^Who is
1520L15 responsible for all this pre-determination? ^And I*'3ll wonder if shouting
1530L15 is forbidden. ^And I*'3ll feel like shouting: ^Who is the
1540L15 forbidder? ^And I*'3ll wonder if this question is forbidden. ^And
1550L15 I*'3ll think perhaps thinking too is forbidden. ^And I*'3ll feel
1560L15 like inquiring if it is. ^And I*'3ll inquire without producing a sound.
1570L15 ^And I*'3ll think perhaps I can*'4t hear my own voice. ^And
1580L15 I*'3ll conclude I won*'4t be able to_ hear any answer even if I get
1590L15 one. ^And I*'3ll wonder if.... $^And then I can*'4t say when or
1600L15 how my thinking comes to an end. $^*I close my eyes a little
1610L15 more firmly. ^And I see a human being standing on either side of
1620L15 each door. ^Torn between dread and desire. ^Expectant and hopelss.
1630L15 $^*I close my eyes a little more firmly. ^And I
1640L15 see an endless line of human beings standing on either side of each door.
1650L15 ^Torn between dread and desire. ^Expectant and hopeless.
1660L15 $^*I close my eyes a little more firmly. ^And I see that the eyes
1670L15 of each human being in each line are wide open but blind. ^Oblivious
1680L15 of other human beings in the same line. ^Oblivious of all other
1690L15 human beings in all other lines. $^*I close my eyes a little more
1700L15 firmly. ^And I see myself reflected in all other human beings standing
1710L15 in every line on either side of each of the innumerable doors.
1720L15 ^Torn between dread and desire. ^Expectant and hopeless.*#
        **[no. of words = 01970**]

        **[txt. l16**]
0001L16 **<*3THE RED SUITCASE*0**> **[leader comment
0010L16 begin**] ^They were told to_ keep a watch for the murderer, but had they
0020L16 caught the wrong guy? **[end leader commment**] $*3ON*0 Sunday
0030L16 morning, Shamsher Bahadur*'s headless body was found. ^His
0040L16 was the fifth murder in Dehra Dun district, and each time, the murderer
0050L16 took away the victim*'s head with him, leaving behind the headless
0060L16 body. ^The police had convinced themselves that only a madman could
0070L16 be responsible for such gruesome acts. ^All the murders took place
0080L16 within a radius of five or seven miles from Dehra Dun. ^A
0090L16 reward was announced-- \0*4Rs. 10,000-- for the murderer, dead or alive.
0100L16 $^Seven miles west from Dehra Dun,in the Premnagar suburb,
0110L16 Vir Bahadur*'s wife Sheelprabha was saying as she closed the
0120L16 front door of her small restaurant, "What luck if the criminal comes
0130L16 this way and we catch him. ^*I*'3m tired of washing the filthy cups
0140L16 and saucers day in and day out. ^With \0*4Rs. 10,000 we could go
0150L16 back to our village and live in bliss." $^*Vir Bahadur was busy
0160L16 with the day*'s accounts. ^Irritably he said, "Heck, we could, but
0170L16 right now open the door, will you, for I can hear someone knocking."
0180L16 $^*Sheel went towards the door. ^Opening it, she saw a man
0190L16 standing outside, drenched to the skin in the rain. ^In his hand were
0200L16 two small suitcases, one red and the other black. ^The red suitcase
0210L16 drew Sheel*'s attention at once because it was circular in shape.
0220L16 ^It was ideal to_keep a hat in, or somebody*'s head! ^A wave
0230L16 of flutering excitement ran through Sheel*'s body. $^The man came
0240L16 inside and lowered himself into a chair. ^Keeping both the suitcases
0250L16 beside the chair, he said, "Rum? ^It*'1s cold." $"^Yes, yes,
0260L16 certainly," replied Sheel, collecting herself. $"^Bring it quick.
0270L16 ^*I*'3m in a bit of a hurry." $^On her way towards the drinks
0280L16 cabinet, Sheel paused by Vir Bahadur*'s table and whispered, "have
0290L16 you seen the red suitcase?" $"^Well?" he asked. $"^You fool,
0300L16 it*'1s ideal for carrying a severed head." $^*Vir Bahadur spoke
0310L16 stiffly, "That_ reward has turned your head. ^Give him rum and
0320L16 hurry." $^*Sheel kept the rum bottle and soda on a tray and havingcarried
0330L16 it to the customer*'s table, returned to her husband*'s side.
0340L16 $"^Why don*4't you do a bit of thinking? ^At this time, and in this
0350L16 rain, that_ man could only have come from the direction of the jungle.
0360L16 ^*Shamsher Bahadur*'s head must surely be in that_ suitcase. ^Let
0370L16 us ask him to_ allow us to_ look into that_ suitcase. ^If it is empty--
0380L16 well and good. ^Otherwise, the \0*4Rs. 10,000 are ours."
0390L16 $"^Why do you insist on talking like an idiot?" $"^You*'3ve got
0400L16 your gun under the table, just near your legs. ^You show him the
0410L16 gun and I*'3ll look through the suitcase. ^Simple." $"^Rifling
0420L16 through a customer*'s belongings could get us into trouble." $"^No
0430L16 trouble at all, and then the \0*4Rs. 10,000!" $"^*I think we should
0440L16 summon Thakur Singh from the police *4thana nearby." $"^Silly,
0450L16 we would have to_ part with half the reward. ^You wait, I*'3ll
0460L16 do the asking." $^*Sheel went up to the stranger and asked, "^Can I
0470L16 bring you anything more?" $"^No nothing else." ^He took out
0480L16 \0*4Rs. 2 and placed them on the table. $"^Something to_ eat, perhaps?"
0490L16 ^*Sheel cast an entreating glance towards her husband.
0500L16 $"^No, I am in a bit of a hurry." ^He bent down to_ pick up the
0510L16 suitcases, but stopped midway in straightening up because Vir Bahadur
0520L16 was standing in front with his gun cocked. $^*Vir Bahadur had
0530L16 picked up the gun and in trembling tones said, "^Sir! ^Kindly open
0540L16 that_ red suitcase." $^The stranger looked at Vir Bahadur, then at
0550L16 Sheelprabha, and asked scathingly, "Is this a robber*'s den which
0560L16 robs customers?" $^"Vir Bahadur, who was faltering anyway, replied,
0570L16 "No sir, do not misunderstand us. ^We merely wish to_ see what
0580L16 you have in that_ red suitcase." $"^This suitcase contains nothing
0590L16 besides my clothes," retorted the stranger, lifting the suitcase from
0600L16 the floor. $^*Vir Bahadur thought he detected a hardness in the
0610L16 stranger*'s tone. ^He said, "If it contains nothing besides clothing,
0620L16 what holds you from showing us its contents?" $^The man answered
0630L16 with finality, "I will not open this suitcase." $^These words were
0640L16 hardly out when the room reverbated to a gun shot, and with the sound
0650L16 the suitcase he was holding fell from the man*'s hand. ^A second later,
0660L16 the man also toppled to the ground. ^*Vir Bahadur did not know
0670L16 how it came about, but he now saw that the gun*'s trigger was pulled
0680L16 back-- perhaps he had thought the man was going to_ make a run for it.
0690L16 ^Perhaps it was something else. $^*Vir Bahadur was shocked.
0700L16 ^What had he done? ^*Sheel meanwhile had picked up the red suitcase
0710L16 and put it on the table. "^Quick," she said, "fetch me a knife--
0720L16 the suitcase will have to_ be slit open." $"^*I have murdered this
0730L16 man--" $"^Bring the knife quickly." $"^But I did not pull
0740L16 the trigger at all--" $"^Oh, forget it, for heaven*'s sake!
0750L16 ^There is sure to_ be a head inside this. ^There can*'4t possibly
0760L16 be anything else," Sheel kept muttering as she struggled to_ open
0770L16 the suitcase. $^The suitcase fastener flew open with a snap, Vir Bahadur
0780L16 too came and stood by. ^In the suitcase were some clothes and
0790L16 a pair of shoes and below them, a bag. ^The bag contained some
0800L16 gold biscuits. $"^The poor guy must have been smuggling them. ^That_
0810L16 is why he was scared of showing us the contents. ^He must have
0820L16 thought we would rob him of this gold and he wouldn*4't even be able to_
0830L16 report it to the police." $^*Sheelprabha was now standing in a
0840L16 state of shock. ^But as their precarious position struck her, she
0850L16 gathered herself and ran to_ lock the door and pull down the shutters.
0860L16 ^She switched off all the lights, leaving only one. $"^There*'1s
0870L16 no need to_ be nervous," she said. "^Let us take advantage of
0880L16 the stillness of the night and leave the body on the roadside. ^So many
0890L16 murders are taking place, this will be just one added to the list."
0900L16 $"^We should report the matter to the police." $"^Don*'4t be stupid.
0910L16 ^What will you say?" ^Sheel put back the clothes and the shoes into the
0920L16 suitcase, but hesitated over the gold. "^Don*'4t you dare," Vir
0930L16 Bahadur thundered. "^Robbing a dead man-- aren*'4t you ashamed?"
0940L16 $^*Sheel shut the suitcase and said, "let us go and leave him a little
0950L16 distance up the road. ^If anybody makes enquiries we shall just
0960L16 have to_ say that we don*'4t know anything." "^Why not tell the police
0970L16 the truth?" ^*Vir Bahadur suggested, "that it was an accident,
0980L16 that we had no intention of killing him?" $"^You talk like a child;
0990L16 once the police have you in their clutches, you will have to_ sell
1000L16 your house and home to_ get away." $^Frantically, they half carried,
1010L16 half dragged the dead body up the road to where a path branched
1020L16 off into the jungle. ^Both the suitcases they placed besides the corpse.
1030L16 ^*Vir Bahadur carefully removed any traces of the corpse being
1040L16 dragged. ^Coming back to the room he scrubbed the floor equally
1050L16 carefully and then they both went to_ sleep. $^They couldn*'4t have
1060L16 got much sleep, because a little before dawn, there was a banging on
1070L16 the door. ^They both looked at each other. ^*Sheel got up and
1080L16 looking scared, opened the door. $^*Thakur Singh was standing
1090L16 outside in plain clothes. "^There is a body lying down the road,"
1100L16 said the constable, "You will have to_ come with me and see the body,
1110L16 for you may be able to_ tell us if that_ man had any food or drinks at
1120L16 your restaurant." $^They both accompanied him, ^Seeing the body set
1130L16 them both trembling. "^What is the matter, why are you two so nervous?"
1140L16 $"^No, no," replied Sheel. "^Anybody would be nervous looking
1150L16 down at a murdered man." ^After a slight pause, she said: "We
1160L16 haven*'4t seen this man before. ^Never, in fact. ^Isn*'4t that_ correct,
1170L16 Vir Bahadur?" $^*Vir Bahadur merely shook his head. $"^Are
1180L16 you sure neither of you have seen this man before" $"^Absolutely
1190L16 sure," they both answered together. $^Turning to_ leave, Thakur
1200L16 Singh said, "That_ is a good thing because I warrant that before
1210L16 the morning is through a dozen people will be saying that they killed
1220L16 him and will claim a part of the reward." $^Started, Sheel said:
1230L16 "Reward? $^What sort of reward?" $"^Of \0*4Rs. 10,000" replied
1240L16 Thakur Singh. "^There are two suitcases with this body and the
1250L16 black suitcase contains the head of that_ Shamsher Bahadur who was murdered
1260L16 yesterday. ^So now I shall receive the \0*4Rs. 10,000 for
1270L16 apprehending the murderer." $^After remaining silent awhile, he
1280L16 said, "It was an old dream of mine, that I leave the police service
1290L16 and go back to my farm. ^Now that_ dream looks like coming true--
1300L16 now I shall get the reward." ^And he walked away slowly, leaving
1310L16 Vir Bahadur and his wife Sheelprabha glued to the spot.
1320L16 $**<*3BUS ENCOUNTER*0**> $"*3*HE*'1S*0 a super person," Sujata
1330L16 said happily. "^*I know you*'3ll like him. ^We*'3re planning to_
1340L16 get married soon." ^*Priya smiled. ^*Sujata hadn*'4t changed much in
1350L16 the two years since they*'d left college. ^Bumping into her on Janpath
1360L16 took Priya right back to evenings in the hostel. ^*Sujata bubbled
1370L16 over with joy at the chance meeting and with eager questions about what
1380L16 Priya was doing. ^*Priya smiled and told her all about her job and
1390L16 her trials of fighting her way on to the crowded Delhi buses and the
1400L16 horrible lecherous men she had to_ contend with on the buses. "^But
1410L16 it*'1s worth it," she smiled, "^*I*'3m enjoying every minute of my job."
1420L16 ^She turned to Sujata with a quick shake of her head, "^But now
1430L16 tell me what you*'3re doing." $^*Sujata smiled widely. "^Cooking
1440L16 classes," she said. "^We*'3re planning to_ get married next year as
1450L16 soon as my fiancee finishes college and gets a job." $"^We must
1460L16 get together sometime," Priya said, with an anxious glance at her
1470L16 watch. "^Got a bus to_ catch," she murmured. ^She hitched her bag
1480L16 more firmly onto her shoulder and prepared to_ leave. $"^No don*'4t
1490L16 be so vague," Sujata said. "^Let*'3s have lunch together. ^*I haven*'4t
1500L16 seen you for so long. ^How about tomorrow at the Parlour?"
1510L16 $^*Priya nodded. "^See you tomorrow. ^Around one?" ^And she hurried
1520L16 off to_ get her bus. $^It was past five o*'3clock and the bus stop
1530L16 was already crowded. ^*Priya joined the queue and bought an evening
1540L16 paper. ^Behind her the queue grew longer and longer, snaking back and
1550L16 forth on the arleady crowded pavement. ^*Priya felt the familiar
1560L16 irritation rise. ^How she hated the bus queues and the people in them.
1570L16 ^She glanced at the clotted spit on the ground and the weary faces
1580L16 around her, and the irritation grew. $^The bus arrived with its cloud
1590L16 of smelly diesel. ^The queue surged forward, coins clinking in
1600L16 sweaty fists. $^*Priya bought her ticket from the conductor at the
1610L16 door and went to the front of the bus. ^A sudden flicker of joy rose
1620L16 to_ meet the empty seat that_ lay in front of her. ^She sank down
1630L16 oblivious of the person sitting at the window seat. $^With its
1640L16 usual roar and shudder, the bus started off. *^Priya stared out of the
1650L16 window, past the man beside her. ^As the trees swirled by, she noticed
1660L16 the man*'s hands on the railing in front of them. ^Nice-shaped fingers,
1670L16 and with a sigh of relief, she saw the clean fingernails, cut short.
1680L16 ^This one was unlikely to_ be a lecherous swine, she decided.
1690L16 ^She relaxed, and pulled a book out of her bag to_ read. $^The conductor
1700L16 came by. ^*Priya*'s companion reached into his pocket, pressing
1710L16 against her in his attempt to_ get to his change. ^*Priya shifted
1720L16 slightly and continued to_ read. ^It wasn*'4t deliberate, Priya
1730L16 said to herself, trying to_ concentrate on her book. $^The man
1740L16 got to his change and reached over Priya to_ hand it to the conductor.*#

        **[txt. l17**]
0020L17 **<*3FEAR*0**> $*3^IT*0 was a routine with Ram Singh to_
0030L17 get up in the darkness before dawn and, chewing one end of an acacia or
0040L17 margosa twig to_ brush his teeth, go into the bushes across the village.
0050L17 ^Back home later, chanting the morning prayer, he would pour
0060L17 water over his body from a bucket with a round-bottomed waisted brass
0070L17 jug before going on to the *4gurdwara. $^This morning he took his
0080L17 bath as usaual, but then wandered over to the outhouse and lay down on
0090L17 a stringbed. ^His intent eyes, fastened on a crossbeam, seemed
0100L17 to_ stare right through the timber and ceiling out into the open sky.
0110L17 $^Two days back, Ram Singh*'s wife had died, and to his utter grief he
0120L17 discovered that prayers and hymn-singing held no solace. ^Years
0130L17 ago he had turned to the *4Granth-- the Holy Book-- and found it to_
0140L17 be a fountain head of joy. ^At his baptism as a Khalsa he had sipped
0150L17 in humility the prescribed sanctified sugared water. ^He had come
0160L17 to_ recognise death as an opportunity to_ attain absolute bliss in the
0170L17 Lord. ^Whenever anyone passed away in the neighbourhood, Ram Singh
0180L17 was called upon to_ recite *5Kirtan Sohila*6-- the bedtime prayer-- over
0190L17 the pyre before it was lit. ^He would quote generously from the scriptures
0200L17 to the kinsfolk who sat crosslegged on the ground away from the consuming
0210L17 flames; and later also, on the way back along the fields to
0220L17 the village, and at nights at the house of the deceased when the assemblage
0230L17 sat on *4Durries spread on the floor, he would comfort the bereaved.
0240L17 $^Death was, he would say, a bridge which led man to the Supreme
0250L17 Being. ^He had not been afraid of death-- till today.
0260L17 $*3^Until*0 a fortnight ago when his wife, Bachint Kaur, was taken ill--
0270L17 although not seriously as to_ cause alarm-- death had been to him
0280L17 no more than a plaything. ^He was not perturbed even when it seemed
0290L17 her end was near. ^As she sank into stupor, Ram Singh sat reciting
0300L17 prayers by her head with dry eyes. ^At the sound of the rattle
0310L17 in her throat, he hurried to_ put a spoonful of consecrated water from
0320L17 the *4gurdwara between her lips; it trickled out along her cheek.
0330L17 $^Cool-headed even then, he spoke in an even voice to his nephews sitting
0340L17 by the bedside: "^Look here, boys, I think your aunt is no more."
0350L17 $^The boys burst into loud wails, the neighbours rushed over, but Ram
0360L17 Singh sat composed by the deathbed urging them all to_ keep quiet, declaiming:
0370L17 $*5^Jo aiya so chalsi...*6 $^All that_ are born $Shall
0380L17 depart $When it is their turn. $^*Ram Singh himself said the
0390L17 prayers when the logs had been piled on the pyre and lit it with a steady
0400L17 hand. ^Back home, he set a large pan on the hearth and cooked a
0410L17 batter of flour, sugar and clarified butter. ^He distributed portions
0420L17 of it as a token of divine blessings among the mourners who had accompanied
0430L17 him from the cremation ground. $^At night when the men came
0440L17 again and sat with him on the floor, he launched into an exposition of
0450L17 passages from the scriptures which deal with our transitory existence.
0460L17 ^He quoted: $*5^Chinta taki kijiye...*6 $^Grieve not for what
0470L17 is commonplace. $^This is the way of the world; $Sayeth Nanak
0480L17 nothing lasts. $^Neverthless, lying dazedly on his cot in the outhouse
0490L17 in the morning two nights later, Ram Singh realised how he had been
0500L17 fooling himself all along. ^Death had, obviously, more to it than
0510L17 what had met his eye. ^The day before yesterday and the better part
0520L17 of the following night had passed in the kindly company of his friends
0530L17 and relatives who had come to_ condole him. ^Later, he had fallen
0540L17 into an exhausted sleep. ^He woke up in the small hours though, the
0550L17 next morning. ^After the bath, he ceremonially lifted the wrapped up
0560L17 *5Adi Granth*6 to his head from its overnight resting place in the prayer
0570L17 room, placed it on cushions on a low cot under an awning, opened and
0580L17 draped it. ^He continued to_ read the Holy Book till it was noon.
0590L17 ^Discourse with the callers took up the rest of the day. $^But
0600L17 at night, when he was left alone, he could not sleep well. ^It was
0610L17 a troubled and fitful sleep. ^*Bachint Kaur appeared to him in his
0620L17 dreams. ^He saw her standing quietly by his cot or soaring away into
0630L17 the vast open sky. ^He could almost feel her tangible presence beside
0640L17 him; next moment, flames engulfed her and instantly reduced her to a
0650L17 heapful of ashes. ^A wind scattered the ashes..... $^The dream
0660L17 recurred, and every time a shaken Ram Singh turned on his side mumbling
0670L17 *5Wahiguru! Wahiguru!*6 ^Hail the Wondrous Teacher.
0680L17 $^The day had dawned early today with its insufferable burden. ^He
0690L17 lay on the cot quietly but his mind was in turmoil. ^He wished desperately
0700L17 to_ blank out all memories. ^But his mind lingered on page after
0710L17 page of the book of his past. $*3^*Ram*0 Singh had tilled his
0720L17 joint family holding in the vigorous years of his youth. ^Religiously
0730L17 inclined, he sought to_ be initiated a Khalsa within years of his marriage.
0740L17 ^Given his devotion to the Word of the *4Gurus, his advancing
0750L17 years and the fact that_ no child was born to him ever, it was natural
0760L17 that he should begin to_ question himself as to why and for whom he should
0770L17 slog like a bull. $^He reckoned he could lease out his part of
0780L17 the land, after he had talked his brothers and nephews into separating,,
0790L17 to a sharecropper and he and his wife could live adequately on the
0800L17 just levies. ^Consequently, he quit farming. $^*Ram Singh now
0810L17 devoted his days to the service of the Lord. ^Up and about while it
0820L17 would still be dark, he bathed reciting the morning prayer, ate his breakfast
0830L17 which Bachint Kaur would have prepared meanwhile, and went
0840L17 to the *4Gurdwara for the rest of the morning. ^He returned home at
0850L17 mealtime. $^Afternoons, he read out to Bachint Kaur stories from
0860L17 the *3Janamsakhi*0-- biography of Guru Nanak-- or passages from
0870L17 some religious text or the Sikh history. $^Towards evening, before
0880L17 the sunset, he walked over to his fields for a little exercise;
0890L17 he could thereby keep an eye on his crops to_ boot. ^On reaching home,
0900L17 he washed up, said his evening prayer, and sat down with his wife for
0910L17 a chat before they turned in for the night. $^They had known neither
0920L17 any great sorrow nor exceptional pleasure. ^Day followed night,
0930L17 and between these two banks their contented life flowed on calmly,
0940L17 without any rush or roar. $^*Ram Singh had read in the scriptures
0950L17 that all living creatures had to_ suffer the cycle of rebirth through the
0960L17 eighty-four *4lakh forms, and of these man was the culmination. ^After
0970L17 man had sojourned for the ordained period on earth, his spirit left its
0980L17 confines to_ mingle in the Lord. ^He had learnt to_ detach himself from
0990L17 all things worldly. ^Neither cloying love nor blistering hate
1000L17 had the power to_ touch him. $^In the evening of his life, he had almost
1010L17 stopped visiting his relatives, although they were always welcome
1020L17 in his home and none of them had ever disappointed him in his hour of
1030L17 need. ^His world had shrunken now to_ contain only the two of them.
1040L17 $^*Ram Singh*'s eyes hazed over, and the beam overhead blurred.
1050L17 ^He rubbed his eyes with his thumb and middle finger, and two teardrops
1060L17 oozed out to_ stain his fingertips. ^He shut his eyes tight and blinked
1070L17 them open. $^He got up and splashed water into his face. ^He
1080L17 washed his hands and feet and went into the prayer room. ^He sat down
1090L17 by the Holy Book and willed himself to_ read it. ^He had hardly
1100L17 read two or three pages when he reached out his hands to the drape
1110L17 folded back and tucked under the Book, spread it again in position, and
1120L17 dragged himself out. $*3^In*0 another room, Ram Singh came upon
1130L17 his wife*'s reading glasses on a shelf. ^In spite of himself, he removed
1140L17 the pair of glasses from the metal case, wiped the lenses with his
1150L17 shirtfront, and put them back in the case before returning it to its place.
1160L17 $^On the shelf also stood, next to the reading glasses, a smallbottle
1170L17 of powdered black pepper and sugar. ^Whenever Bachint Kaur
1180L17 had a coughing attack, she would take a pinch of the powder on her palm
1190L17 and lick it. ^On a stool nearby were the other medicine bottles,
1200L17 still partly full, which had done Bachint Kaur little good.
1210L17 $^*Bachint Kaur*'s clothes still hung on the opposite wall. ^Some two
1220L17 months ago, she had spread cattle dung paste in a rectangle low down on
1230L17 the right-hand wall and ornamented it with drawings of nondescript plants
1240L17 and creepers above a legend in *3Gurmukhi, Satnam Wahiguruji
1250L17 Maharaj*0 hail the True and Wondrous Teacher and Great Emperor--
1260L17 carefully done in her pious but unlearned hand. $^Looking at it now,
1270L17 Ram Singh had a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. ^He
1280L17 reminded himself though that whatever happened was the will of the Lord,
1290L17 and walked back to his cot. ^With a heavy heart, he tried to_ sing
1300L17 aloud. $*5^Jis marne te jag dare...*6 $^Death mankind fears
1310L17 $Fills me with joy; $Through it alone $One attains absolute bliss.
1320L17 $^But Ram Singh could not go on; words stuck in his parched
1330L17 throat. ^He cleared it and, unawares, struck on another hymn: $*5^Jis
1340L17 piyare seo neh...*6 $^*'3Tis better to_ die $Before the beloved;
1350L17 $Life is an unremitting woe $When bereaved. $^Some time later,
1360L17 Ram Singh washed his face and went out into the street. $^Everyone
1370L17 in his brothers*' joint family got worried when Ram Singh did
1380L17 not return for his midday meal. ^When the elder son in the family went
1390L17 looking for him, he found that his uncle had not been to the *4gurdwara
1400L17 at all. $^It then occurred to him that he might have gone to the
1410L17 cremation ground. ^He strode past a pit overhung with *4peepul branches,up
1420L17 and past the plum trees-- and there he saw Ram Singh lying face down
1430L17 by the spot where the pyre had stood two days before, his fists clenched
1440L17 round his wife*'s ashes.
1450L17 $**<*3THE APPEASEMENT OF *4RAHU*0**>
1451L17 $*3^THE WOMAN*0 sat, her eyes fixed to the man*'s face; her
1460L17 whole stance one of deep interest. ^Her body was taut with expectation
1470L17 and hope, she was oblivious to the rush of people around her in the
1480L17 temple where she sat. ^She was a middle aged woman, not too old, and not
1490L17 too poor. ^The wife of a clerk. ^A housewife, herself, who had
1500L17 once taught in a small private school. $^Her voice, when she spoke,
1510L17 was strident and clear. "^For the past month I have been plagued
1520L17 by theft," she said, making the statement for the third time. "^Tell me
1530L17 why." $^The man, dressed in a spotless *4dhoti and shirt, his hair
1540L17 well oiled, sat cross-legged before her. ^He had been looking at the
1550L17 woman, taking stock of her capacity, her stature. ^Now he turned
1560L17 his eyes downward, and peered shortsightedly into the book before
1570L17 him. ^The woman waited, expectant. ^Slowly, with ponderous care and
1580L17 deliberation, the man drew a few lines, and wrote some figures. ^Then
1590L17 he looked into the distance again, long and steadily. ^At last he spoke.
1600L17 $"^Your time is bad," he said. "*4^*Shani is strong, *4Rahu is
1610L17 against you. ^This is why you are losing money." $^The woman chimed
1620L17 in, her voice sharp with excitement and impatience. "^*I lost money twice
1630L17 this week. ^Once I had kept thirty *4rupees in my tin box and it disappeared.
1640L17 ^Yestereday I had a five *4rupee note in my purse. ^This
1650L17 morning, nothing. ^Who is the thief?" $^The man wavered. "^The thief?"
1660L17 he repeated, "what does it matter who the thief is, all your loss
1670L17 is but an expression of *4Rahu*'s anger." $"^But tell me the thief,
1680L17 and I will get my money from the person," the woman insisted.*#
        **[no. of words = 02012**]

        **[txt. l18**]
0020L18 **<*3TERESA*0**>
0030L18 $^*I WAS very much in love with Teresa. ^*I met Teresa in
0040L18 the month of June. ^And like the lovely June rose, she grew into my
0050L18 life, becoming a vital part of it. $^The very first time I met Teresa
0060L18 was at the grave-yard. ^Rather peculiar, but true all the same.
0070L18 ^It was my father*'s second death anniversary, and I had gone to_
0080L18 place some flowers upon his grave. ^*I stood there, my mind working
0090L18 into the past, when Dad had been so full of fun and merriment; a kind of
0100L18 living power in the house, upon whom we all leaned. ^Always understanding,
0110L18 never harsh; always gentle and full of love, and ready
0120L18 to_ come down to our level in any matter. ^How a sudden, sinister illness
0130L18 had eaten him up; even those last days, when he had smiled cheerfully
0140L18 at us inspite of knowing that life was slowly dribbling away from him,
0150L18 and the end was pretty close. ^How a sudden cloud had fallen upon
0160L18 our house when Dad left us quietly one morning. $^As I stood
0170L18 there reminiscing and living the past over again, I felt something brush
0180L18 past my back, like a gust of gentle breeze and turning, I saw a dark
0190L18 girl in a green dress go past me, amongst the graves towards the right
0200L18 corner of the yard. ^She stood there near one of the graves for a long
0210L18 while, in deep thought; and I continued to_ stand near Dad*'s grave,
0220L18 watching her dark back against the green of her dress, tapering into
0230L18 a slim, pretty waist. $^When after a while, she turned to_ go as suddenly
0240L18 and abruptly as she had come, I gasped. ^She had one of the
0250L18 most beautiful faces I had ever seen. ^Her dark skin had the soft lusciousness
0260L18 of dyed sueds, her features chiselled to perfection, her eyebrows
0270L18 finely arched, her lips a shade darker than the face, with a softness
0280L18 all their own. ^The big almond eyes reminded me of a gazelle. ^Her
0290L18 silky brown hair, parted in the middle of her forehead, framed her heart-shaped
0300L18 face and fell loosely over her shoulders and back. ^This is
0310L18 the first picture of Teresa and this same image is, even today, chiselled
0320L18 in my memory. ^We stared at each other for just a split of a second
0330L18 and then as I cleared the path for her, she went past me, on her
0340L18 way out flitting away like a pretty little butterfly. $^After this meeting,
0350L18 I went to the grave-yard almost everyday, just to_ get a glimpse
0360L18 of this marvellous girl. ^Poor Dad-- he must have thought me a real
0370L18 dutiful son; but I knew it was not duty that_ drove me to the grave-yard
0380L18 everyday. ^It was Teresa. ^By the end of the first month we
0390L18 were already courting, and very much in love. $^WE were courting
0400L18 each other for nearly three months now. ^It was the end of August.
0410L18 ^My mother was very keen to_ meet Teresa. ^She wanted to_ see
0420L18 me happily settled by the end of the next year, by which time I would have
0430L18 finished my final exams, in college, and would be doing some suitable
0440L18 job. ^But Teresa refused to_ meet her. $"^No," she would say,
0450L18 almost uneasily. $"^Not now. ^Such affairs often fizzle out into
0460L18 nothing. ^*I don*'4t want to_ get involved with too many of your
0470L18 people. ^First let us know each other and make sure about ourselves."
0480L18 $^*I reassured her quite often that I loved her, and my intentions
0490L18 were honest. ^But it required much effort to_ convince her. ^This
0500L18 was one peculiar point about Teresa that_ often troubled me. ^Whenever
0510L18 I so much as mentioned my family, or even my friends, she always
0520L18 looked upset and even suspicious. ^This was something about her which
0530L18 I just could not understand. $^*I naturally wanted to_ show her
0540L18 off to my other friends, to_ introduce her to them as my future wife,
0550L18 for God knows I loved her and wanted to_ marry her. ^But Teresa could
0560L18 not be persuaded. ^The only places we ever went were a corner
0570L18 of the park, the sandy coves by the seaside, and sometimes if these two
0580L18 places were crowded according to Teresa*'s standards, then the small bench
0590L18 in the grave-yard. ^She hated crowds. ^She hated people.
0600L18 she hated noise. ^Initially I felt it was natural that she wanted
0610L18 to_ be alone with me in some quiet, place she being timid and diffident
0620L18 and very much in love. ^In fact it was her lack of showiness and her
0630L18 timidity which also much attracted me.
0640L18 $"^Why are you so uncertain about me?" ^*I asked her one day.
0650L18 "^Why do you think I may leave you some day and go away?" $^We were
0660L18 sitting by the seashore, she with her head against my shoulder, so I could
0670L18 not see her face; but I felt the distinct shiver that_ travelled down
0680L18 her body. $"^Why do you ask me such things?" she asked me, turning
0690L18 suddenly to_ face me. $"^It upsets me sometimes," I told
0700L18 her in a troubled voice. "^It upsets me to_ know that you need so much
0710L18 reassurance all the time. ^Why don*'4t you believe me when I tell
0720L18 you?" $"^Because I am unsure." ^She kept chewing her underlip
0730L18 contorting her face. "^*I don*'4t know how soon it will be that you
0740L18 will leave me!" $"^*Teresa!" ^My voice was pained, and she sensed
0750L18 it. ^The next moment she was in my arms, tears raining down her face
0760L18 and I was caressing her, soothing her, kissing her, like you would
0770L18 a small child. $^This was how it was. ^Moments of extreme joy...
0780L18 heights of ecstasy... pits of despair. ^And yet I relished every
0790L18 moment of it becuase she was one of the most wonderful things that_ had
0800L18 happened to me. $^SOON the year was over and I was preparing
0810L18 for my exams in March. ^Even at the end of this long period I knew
0820L18 very little about her. ^She had a brother called Brian, who worked
0830L18 at the garage down Ballary Street. ^She herself was working in some
0840L18 company as a receptionist, but where, she did not tell me. $"^You
0850L18 will meet my brother one day," she promised me; "but not now."
0860L18 $^We met everyday at the park in the evenings, and I left her at
0870L18 the 252 bus route from where she took a bus home. ^But where she got
0871L18 off she never told me.
0880L18 ^And I had learnt not to_ ask. ^Becasue questions about herself always
0890L18 upset her. $^The place where she loved to_ go to was the seaside.
0900L18 ^One day we were sitting there upon the sands, holding hands.
0910L18 ^The sun was setting and the sky had turned a pretty orange. ^The
0920L18 shadow of the dipping sun was falling upon the waters, turning them a
0930L18 brilliant gold. $"^*Teresa," I whispered her name softly, and the
0940L18 breeze carried it off my lips across the sea. ^She sat gazing at the
0950L18 sea, her head against my knees. "^*Teresa, we must get married soon."
0960L18 ^The urgency in my voice startled her and she sat up suddenly.
0970L18 $"^Why must you spoil these beautiful moments by such statements!"
0980L18 she exclaimed with some annoyance. $"^This is the present; let*'3s
0990L18 enjoy it," her lips moved angrily. "^Why do you keep talking of
1000L18 things which are a long way off?" $"^But isn*'4t our future important?"
1010L18 ^*I protested, now feeling quite angry myself. $"^*I can*'4t
1020L18 understand you, Teresa; don*'4t you want the security of marriage?
1030L18 ^Don*'4t you want to_ be known as my wife? ^Why do you always jump
1040L18 out of your skin when I talk of marriage?" $"^But why must you always
1050L18 talk of marriage? ^Leave me in peace for the moment. ^Love
1060L18 me..." she suddenly clung to me like a hungry child. "^Love me... love
1070L18 me as much as you can... now..." and as I looked into her eyes I found
1080L18 they bespoke some great tragedy.... ^And I kept quiet pulling her
1090L18 close to me, my mind very disturbed. $^My exams came and went.
1100L18 ^*I could not put in all the hard work I had intended to_ do. ^*I asked
1110L18 Teresa to_ come and meet me outside the college after the exams everyday
1120L18 that_ week. ^But she declined. $"^Not there," she told
1130L18 me flatly. "^We will meet at the usual place." ^*I did not argue.
1140L18 ^But I was worried. ^How long could this sort of a hide-and-seek
1150L18 game last. $^After the results my uncle helped me secure a fairly
1160L18 good job in a firm of one of his friends. ^*I began to_ work, doing
1170L18 my post-graduation course alongside. ^*I worked for three months...
1180L18 July, August, September. $^By this time my mother and my brothers
1190L18 were naturally anxious to_ meet Teresa. ^Mother was getting old,
1200L18 and not keeping good health, and I knew she wanted to_ see Teresa very
1210L18 much. ^And I was at the end of my tether... ^*I had to_ speak
1220L18 to Teresa once again about it, however much she may dislike it.
1230L18 $^IT was a cool evening, and we were sitting in the park. $"^*Teresa,"
1240L18 I took her hand in mine. "^*Teresa, mother wants to_ meet
1250L18 you very much," I came straight to the point. ^Once again I
1260L18 felt that_ shiver sweep through her body. ^Her face suddenly became
1270L18 livid. $"^Why must you torment me!" she shouted in my face, flinging
1280L18 my hand away breathing heavily. $"^Stop screaming," I cried
1290L18 in a loud voice unable to_ control myself any more. "^What*'1s so
1300L18 terrible about meeting my mother?" ^*I tried to_ pull her down on the
1310L18 bench beside me, but she would not sit down. ^Her eyes were fuming,
1320L18 her face flaming with anger, as she stood before me. ^She stared at
1330L18 me for a moment, and then suddenly turned on her heel and walked away.
1340L18 $"^*Teresa!" ^*I called hoarsely, "don*'4t be mad!" but to no
1350L18 avail. ^She did not even once turn round and look at me. ^She
1360L18 simply walked out on me. ^*I only found a number of heads turned in
1370L18 my direction. ^Somehow I was glued to my seat. ^*I do not know
1380L18 why I did not get up and go after her. ^*I just sat there; feeling
1390L18 very weary. $^*I never saw Teresa again. ^Like a crazed man,
1400L18 I walked the park, the grave-yard, the sandy sea-shore, the familiar
1410L18 coves, the 252 bus stop. ^But Teresa was not to_ be found anywhere.
1420L18 I knew nothing about her. ^In desperation I remembered one
1430L18 thing: her brother Brian worked at the garage down Ballary Street.
1440L18 $^It was close to eight in the evening as I walked down to the garage.
1450L18 ^Nobody was in sight. ^As I went nearer, I saw a man bent near
1460L18 the side door, as if he was searching for something. ^On hearing my
1470L18 step he straightened. ^He was a rough sort of chap, the kind you would
1480L18 find amongst mechanics at a cheap shop. "^What do you want?"
1490L18 he asked me in a deep, guttural voice. $"^*I*'3ve come to_ see a man
1500L18 called Brian." ^*I said, "Brian Sherwood." $"^Yes," he replied,
1510L18 "I am Sherwood; what do you want?". $"^OH," I said, taken aback.
1520L18 ^The dissimilarity between brother and sister was so shocking, that
1530L18 I could not get myself to_ say anything besides "oh". $"^What do you
1540L18 want?" he repeated, his narrow eyes moving up and down my face.
1550L18 $"^Are you Teresa*'s brother?" ^*I asked, my voice hoarse at the mention
1560L18 of Teresa*'s name. $^He suddenly looked at me more severely
1570L18 and his face sort of closed up into a very bland appearance. $"^Yes,
1580L18 I am" he replied, his tone making me uneasy. "^What has that_
1590L18 got to_ do with you? $^*I looked at him steadily now. "^*I want
1600L18 to_ know about Teresa," I said. $^He laughed showing all his dirty,
1610L18 stained teeth. "^What do you want to_ know about her?" his voice
1620L18 was harsh and uncanny. "^Where is she?" ^*I asked simply.
1630L18 $"^Listen young man," he was very serious now, and his eyes narrowed into
1640L18 slits as he focussed them rigidly on my face, "Teresa*'1s dead and
1650L18 gone now, since long."*#
        **[no. of words = 02014**]

        **[txt. l19**]
0010L19 **<*3the VOW**>
0020L19 $*3^THOSE*0 of us who are not familiar with the intricacies of
0030L19 the post-office may not be aware that slightly higher in rank than the
0040L19 post-master, is a busy-body known as the Inspector of post-offices.
0050L19 ^The very nature of his work demands that he should meddle in and among
0060L19 the post-offices within his jurisdiction. ^He has a free access to
0070L19 all the records of the little and not so little post-offices. ^He
0080L19 also has the duties to_ check the cash and stamps in every post-office he
0090L19 goes to, just in case the post-master had not been able to_ resist the
0100L19 temptation and, started treating postal cash as his own. ^The post-masters
0110L19 did not resent this intrusion into their territories, in fact especially
0120L19 in rural areas the Inspector*'s visit was looked forward to with
0130L19 eagerness. ^*Inspectors were usually in touch with everyone else in
0140L19 the division and were able to_ fill the isolated *(0P. M.*) with the
0150L19 latest gossip going on, about what type of a man the new superintendent
0160L19 was, \0etc. $^*Ramasamy was the post-master at Karatadipalay
0170L19 a little town, in south Tamil Nadu. ^He had been there for four
0180L19 years now, and hopefully looked forward to being there for at least three
0190L19 years more. ^He was a hopelessly inefficient little post-master.
0200L19 ^It was with grave doubts that his Superintendent had set him in
0210L19 independent charge of a single-handed post office. ^It was only because
0220L19 Ramasamy*'s innate honesty was well known that it was thought that
0230L19 no great harm would come of sending him to this remote little town.
0240L19 ^Of course Ramasamy made quite a few blunders. ^Every second day his
0250L19 cash did not tally. ^Every other day he found three to four *4rupees
0260L19 missing which he had to_ make good from his own pocket.
0270L19 $*3^RAMASAMY*0 was so absent minded that he was quite capable of shelling
0280L19 out ten *4rupees to a savings bank account holder, instead of the
0290L19 five *4rupees asked for. ^If the account holder was thus inclined he
0300L19 would point out Ramasamy*'s mistake and restore the extra cash.
0310L19 ^But more often than not, the village people were not that_ way inclined.
0320L19 ^Probably, they considered the extra payment their due for being
0330L19 made to_ wait so long. (^For Ramasamy was also maddeningly slow).
0340L19 ^Umpteen complaints had gone from the towns-folk to the inspector,
0350L19 to the superintendent, both who in their hearts of hearts had a secret
0360L19 liking for this little man who tried so hard. ^What they did when
0370L19 any particularly vituperative complaint was received, was to_ scratch their
0380L19 heads, say "Oh God, not again!" and forget about the whole
0390L19 matter.
0400L19 $^*Ramasamy was also a man who was financially very hard-pressed.
0410L19 ^It was to_ be expected that a man who in his work, could be so incompetent,
0420L19 would also make a mess of his personal financial affairs. ^*I
0430L19 stress on the 'financial' aspect, because Ramasamy*'s personal life
0440L19 otherwise was close to perfect. ^He had a wife who loved him very
0450L19 much. ^Her husband*'s haphazard ways, his inability to_ provide either
0460L19 her or their sons, with anything but the bare essentials of living
0470L19 didn*'4t bother her a jot. ^She brought up their little boy, solemn
0480L19 little Balaji, (his name), to_ respect his small bespectacled father,
0490L19 who in return adored both of them openly and unashamedly. $*3^IT*0
0500L19 was in the month of December, that the incident I wish to_ relate
0510L19 occurred. ^At first, it had all the aspects of a major and catastrophic
0520L19 disaster. ^The little Post Office at Karatadipalaya was inspected
0530L19 once every year, in December. ^*Ramasamy was a great crony
0540L19 of the inspector. ^The day the inspector was due to_ come, \0Mrs.
0550L19 Ramasamy made a special visit to the market. ^A special lunch
0560L19 was prepared, with *4payasam at the end of it. ^It must be mentioned
0570L19 at this juncture that all the trouble for the Inspector*'s sake
0580L19 was not taken in the hope that the Inspector would overlook the innumerable
0590L19 mistakes that_ Ramasamy had made. $^It was typical of Ramasamy*'s
0600L19 character that such an idea had never entered his mind. ^It had,
0610L19 however, entered t38 minds of the various inspecting officers, who at the
0620L19 start of their acquaintance with Ramasamy, had viewed the hospitality
0630L19 with suspicion, especially in the light of Ramasamy*'s notorious
0640L19 incompetence. ^But gradually the suspicion had died down as it became
0650L19 clear, that Ramasamy was putting himself out for no ulterior reason
0660L19 whatsoever. $^During the four years of Ramasamy*'s tenture at Karatadipalaya
0670L19 his inspector had been a fat jovial, easy going youngster
0680L19 named Jaganathan, whom Ramasamy and his wife now familiarly referred
0690L19 to as Jaggu, and little Balaji as *4mama. $^Then early in December
0700L19 Ramasamy received a phone call, from the divisional head-quarters.
0710L19 ^That it was not the Superintendent*'s office, that_ was calling never
0720L19 occurred to Ramasamy. ^Why should it? ^His was not a suspicious
0730L19 nature. ^The voice over the phone told him concisely that
0740L19 Jaganathan, Inspector of post-offices has since been transferred, and
0750L19 one Manoraj was taking his place. ^*Manoraj would be taking up the
0760L19 inspection of Ramasamy*'s office tomorrow, so would Ramasamy keep all
0770L19 the records in order. $*3^IT*0 did not even occur to Ramasamy
0780L19 to_ question. ^It did not even occur to him to_ ask how he would know
0790L19 this new man. ^All he did was to_ say "Yes sir, yes sir," and
0800L19 scuttle around in worried circles afterwards, wondering where on earth
0810L19 he had placed the previous sub-office account. ^And also hope that
0820L19 the new man would be as easy-going as Jaggu had been. $^It would
0830L19 not have occurred to Ramasamy in a million years that he had been selected,
0840L19 for a clever and cruel hoax. $^The call he had received, had
0850L19 not been from the divisional office. ^*Jaganathan far from having been
0860L19 transferred was on long leave, due to a intense bout of flu.
0870L19 ^The man who had called him was Jaganathan*'s elder brother, Ranganathan.
0880L19 ^*Ranganathan was as serious as Jaganathan was merry; as hardworking
0890L19 as Jaganathan was carefree; as loving of his young wife and child
0900L19 as Jaganathan was neglectful of his family*'s welfare. ^*Jaganathan
0910L19 had three robust sons and two noisy daughters; Ranganathan had after
0920L19 ten and a half years of marriage, a little girl born to him. ^His
0930L19 wife in her late thirties, had had to_ undergo a caesarian operation.
0940L19 ^The child now only three months old was ailing. ^The doctor had
0950L19 said that something was the matter with her liver. ^*Ranganathan
0960L19 had become desperate. ^He had grown to_ love with desperation the
0970L19 little scrap that_ had come into his life. ^He also knew that if anything
0980L19 untoward should happen to the child, Sheela would lose her mind.
0990L19 ^As it was she had become so emotional, so unbalanced.
1000L19 $*3^THEY*0 tried everything within their means. ^*Ranganathan had
1010L19 always been a careful spender. ^Now he used his savings to_ take his
1020L19 daughter from doctor to doctor, hospital to hospital. ^Nothing seemed
1030L19 to_ work. ^Nobody could cure her. ^Only God, said Sheela,
1040L19 "it is in His hands now." ^Always a religious woman, she now
1050L19 grew fanatical. ^*Ranganathan watched her with deep compassion,
1060L19 for he had long since resigned himself to losing his little daughter.
1070L19 ^His only question was why had she been born at all? ^The unfairness
1080L19 of it used to_ gnaw at him. ^Such a small thing, so much suffering...
1100L19 $^One day, Sheela broke her new habitual silence to_ inform him in quite
1110L19 measured tones that she had taken a vow. ^He was silent.
1120L19 ^He had realised that it was far better not to_ attempt to_ reason with
1130L19 Sheela anymore. ^She tended to_ get hysterical if thwarted in the
1140L19 smallest degree where the little one was concerned. ^He personally
1150L19 did not believe in vows and considered them nothing but sordid bargaining.
1160L19 ^But now, like Sheela he was ready to_ try anything.
1170L19 ^But when he heard what the vow was to_ be, he blanched. ^*Sheela
1180L19 had promised Lord Venkateswara two gold sovereigns. ^*In return
1190L19 he was to_ make the child well. $^*Ranganathan was shocked. ^He
1200L19 had absolutely no money left. ^How could she be so irresponsible?
1210L19 ^But as he looked at her, the words of protest died on his lips.
1220L19 ^With a sense of shock he realised that he would be blamed, if the vow
1230L19 was not fulfilled. ^Without a word she made it clear that by thus
1240L19 failing, their marriage too would be at an end.
1250L19 $^Overwhelmed by grief and despair he had journeyed to Jaganathan*'s
1260L19 home, 20 kilometers away. ^With futile hopes he asked his younger
1270L19 brother for the money. ^*Jagoo*'s reply was a snort of laughter,
1280L19 which turned into a racking cough. "^Damn this fever," roared Jaganathan,
1290L19 now I*'3ll be behind in all my inspections, "I wonder what
1300L19 kind of a mess that_ fool Ramasamy will make by the time I get to_
1310L19 take up his inspection!" $*3^DISINTERESTEDLY,*0 Ranganathan
1320L19 asked, "^Who is Ramasamy?" $"^*I have mentioned him to you," said
1330L19 Jagoo. "^The most innocent gullible fool in the world; it*'1s a wonder
1340L19 he has managed to_ get along these four years without losing too
1350L19 much of money. ^When I think of the amount coming into that_ Post
1360L19 Office everyday, I shudder." ^*Ranganathan raised his head.
1370L19 "^He is at Karatadipalaya, is he not? ^How can there be lot of
1380L19 money, when the town is so small?" $"^There are no banks there" explained
1390L19 Jagoo, and especially now that it is harvest time the Office
1400L19 must be having its maximum balances." $"^How much is that_?" asked
1410L19 Ranganathan casually. ^*Jagoo yawned "5000/- or so", he said "God,
1420L19 I feel ill." ^*Ranganathan got up "I better be going" he said.
1430L19 ^*Jagoo waved him farewell. "^Don*'4t worry about the child. ^You
1440L19 can always have another," and laughing at his own joke he went to_
1450L19 sleep. $^*Ranganathan went to a public park and sat down in the sun.
1460L19 ^My child and my wife are the most important things in the world
1470L19 to me. ^What I am planning to_ do is evil; no doubt I shall be punished
1480L19 in my next birth. ^But at least in this life I shall be happy.
1490L19 ^My wife has faith in Lord Venkateswara. ^If I fulfil her
1500L19 vow perhaps he will reward her, and spare the child. ^Today is
1510L19 the last day. ^Tomorrow the week will be over. $^His mind made
1520L19 up, he arose. ^He found a public phone booth and made his call to
1530L19 the little Post-master, who seemed every bit as gullible as Jaganathan
1540L19 had said he was. ^Within half an hour he was at the Post-Office.
1550L19 ^A small man with a worried expression came out. ^*Ranganathan
1560L19 had from his brother picked up a smattering of postal terms. ^But even
1570L19 if he hadn*'4t there would have been no problem. ^The little fellow
1580L19 accepted him commpletely. ^He trustingly opened up the cash chest.
1590L19 ^He placed all the currency notes denomination wise in front of the
1600L19 imposter who had a strange way of not meeting his eyes. $*3^THE*0
1610L19 opportunity Ranganathan had been hoping for and fearing came. ^*Ramasamy
1620L19 got up. "^My missus is preparing some tiffen for you sir," he
1630L19 explained shyly, "I shall go and see if it*'1s ready." $^For a wild
1640L19 moment Ranganathan had an impulse to_ hold his arm and tell him not
1650L19 to_ go. ^But he said nothing. ^But in his mind he thought. "^Oh
1660L19 you fool, you fool!" $^It was a matter of minutes to_ pocket
1670L19 the three thousand and odd *4rupees scattered on the table, to_ walk out
1680L19 casually, to the bus-stop, where, thank-god a bus was just leaving,
1690L19 to_ get into it and be on his way home to Sheela and the child. $^As
1700L19 things happened he did not get home as early as he expected. ^His
1710L19 bus broke down, and he had to_ wait for over two hours for the next one.
1720L19 ^He was not particularly worried. ^It had been mid-after-noon
1730L19 when he had entered the Post-Office. ^None but the Post-Master
1740L19 had seen him. ^If Ranganathan had read his character correctly Ramasamy
1750L19 by this time would be in such a mental state that none would be able
1760L19 to_ get anything coherent from him.*#
1770L19 **[no. of worrds = 02003**]

        **[txt. l20**]
0010L20 **<*3SWAMIJI AND TWO BOTTLES OF BEER*0**> $*3^THE DOCTOR*0 pronounced
0020L20 my son as completely cured. ^Happiness flooded my heart. ^Silently I
0030L20 held my wife*'s hand. ^Words were quite unnecessary. ^There were tears
0040L20 in her eyes but behind them I could visualise the glow of ecstasy.
0050L20 $^It was only six months ago that the doctors had pronounced my son
0060L20 as incurable. ^An operation was ruled out in view of the area of brain
0070L20 damage. ^Medicines, we were told, would achieve nothing-- except the
0080L20 drugs to_ dull the terrible spasm of pain. ^The end was to_ be swift
0090L20 and all that_ we were expected to_ do was to_ try to_ relieve, as far
0100L20 as possible, the suffering of our son. $^Now that this miracle had
0110L20 occurred and my son was to_ have a new lease of life, one of my first
0120L20 thoughts was to_ visit the *4Swami who had wrought this miracle. ^Wordlessly
0130L20 my wife nodded, understanding fully what was passing through my
0140L20 mind. $*<*3Two*0*> $^Our first journey to *4Swamiji, I remember,
0150L20 had been sheer agony. ^A series of tests by specialists and a succession
0160L20 of doctors had convinced me that my son could not live. ^*I was resigned
0170L20 to_ face the inevitable. ^My wife was not. ^She persuaded me that
0180L20 we should visit the *4Swami who had an *4Ashram thirty miles away,
0190L20 in the hills. ^The doctor was aghast and doubted if our son would live
0200L20 through the rigours of the journey. ^*I saw the look of disgust on his
0210L20 face, when my wife told him that the decision to_ visit the *4Swami
0220L20 was unalterable. $^During the journey, my son*'s condition had grown
0230L20 worse. ^We gave him drugs to_ relieve the pain but he was visibly
0240L20 growing feebler. ^Late in the evening, we reached the *4Swami*'s *4Ashram.
0250L20 ^The questions of the Manager of the *4Ashram about how much
0260L20 we could pay for the accommodation, irritated me. ^The Manager was far
0270L20 more concerned with our names, status and financial condition than with
0280L20 the condition of my son. ^Ultimately, he gave us accommodation in a poorer
0290L20 quarter of the *4Ashram. ^Appointment with *4Swamiji? ^The Manager
0300L20 almost sneered when we asked for an appointment for the next morning.
0310L20 ^Why, there were people of name, substance, worth and wealth who
0320L20 had been waiting for weeks! ^My wife pleaded. ^He shrugged his shoulders
0330L20 and explained that every night it was his duty to_ submit the list
0340L20 of applicants to *4Swamiji. ^The decision of who and when to_ call,
0350L20 was not his but *4Swamiji*'s. ^With that_ we had to_ remain content.
0360L20 ^We put our son to sleep in the small room allotted to us. ^Soon we learned
0370L20 from the neighbours in the next room that what the Manager had
0380L20 said was not incorrect. *4^*Swamiji decided each night at 9 \0p.m. who
0390L20 were to_ see him the next morning. ^Those who were so favoured were informed
0400L20 by 9.30 \0p.m. to_ be ready. ^The rest remained in hope and it was
0410L20 not uncommon when days passed without an interview with *4Swamiji.
0420L20 ^Of course those accommodated in the rich quarters were called more rapidly--
0430L20 and invariably, a large donation helped. $^*I looked at my son
0440L20 in his fitful sleep and wondered if he would last until *4Swamiji chose
0450L20 to_ summon him. ^*I avoided looking into my wife*'s eyes. ^She too,
0460L20 it seemed to me, was vainly struggling to_ keep her hopes alive. $^It
0470L20 was at 9.15 \0p.m. that the Manager of the *4Ashram came to my room.
0480L20 ^He had obviously come in haste. ^He had in hand the form I had filled
0490L20 in, showing my personal details-- full name, address, designation \0etc.
0500L20 ^The Manager asked a few questions-- strangely enough, about my
0510L20 age. and the educational institutions I had been to. ^Through mounting
0520L20 irritation I kept telling him that I needed a cure for my son and
0530L20 nothing for myself; still I answered his questions with all the politness
0540L20 I could muster. $^The Manager reappeared within 15 minutes, accompanied
0550L20 by a few attendants. ^Apologising for the poor room in which
0560L20 he had placed us, he asked us to_ move to another. ^My son was placed
0570L20 on a stretcher and we found ourselves in a suite of rooms with exquisite
0580L20 interior decoration, heating and complete with a refrigerator, radio,
0590L20 record-player and tape-recorder. ^Attached to the suite were also
0600L20 two bathrooms, with running hot and cold water, luxurious bath tubs
0610L20 and large mirrors stretching from the marble floors to high above my
0620L20 head. ^*I pleaded with the Manager that I was not worth the trouble
0630L20 and could not afford the luxury. ^He waved away my protest saying we were
0640L20 the guests of the *4Ashram and that *4Swamiji would see my son
0650L20 the next day. ^When I tried to_ tip him with a hundered *4rupee note,
0660L20 he declined. $^Early in the morning, the attendants came again. ^My
0670L20 son was taken on the stretcher to *4Swami*'s presence. ^We followed.
0680L20 ^The stretcher was placed at his feet. ^My wife and I bowed. ^From a
0690L20 distance, the *4Swami waved a hurried blessing at us and began concentrating
0700L20 on my son. ^*I watched the *4Swami. ^There was little of him
0710L20 visible to the eye. ^A saffron robe of rich silk covered his entire
0720L20 body. ^His long silvery hair and beard covered his face and even his
0730L20 eyes were masked by dark glasses with gold frames. ^With theatrical
0740L20 gestures, as if invoking unseen gods, he waved his arms and bobbed his
0750L20 head from side to side. ^Behind him sat his disciples, many of whom
0760L20 were women who were reputed to_ have left their homes and husbands for
0770L20 his sake. ^Soon he motioned to us to_ leave, while our son remained with
0780L20 him. ^In the afternoon my son was brought back to us. ^My wife saw
0790L20 some improvement in him. ^*I did not. $^For the first seven days that_
0800L20 we remained in the *4Ashram, our son was sent for each morning and remained
0810L20 with the *4Swami till afternoon. *4^*Swami never spoke to us and
0820L20 we were told that he does not speak to anyone except his own disciples
0830L20 and the sick who are brought to him for healing. ^True, he spoke to
0840L20 God sometimes, we were told, but rarely on his own, for generally
0850L20 it was God who spoke to him. $^Meanwhile the choicest foods and fruits
0860L20 were being served to us with all the amenities of room service. ^Sumptuous
0870L20 food and affluent surroundings notwithstanding, I ate but little
0880L20 and was not enjoying myself. ^Perhaps it was the worry over the bills
0890L20 I would have to_ pay or the donations I would have to_ make at the
0900L20 end of the stay or more probably it was lack of faith in the recovery
0910L20 of my son that_ kept me worried. ^Each day, my wife saw tremendous
0920L20 improvement in my son while I could discover none. ^On the eighth day,
0930L20 it began to_ dawn on me that my son was really improving. ^Thereafter
0940L20 his recovery was rapid. ^He could talk to us without coughing and panting.
0950L20 ^He even smiled. ^The bouts of pain had ceased. ^The special diet
0960L20 for him-- personally supervised by the Manager and a senior nurse--
0970L20 and consisting of fruit juices, soups, ground almonds, honey and syrups,
0980L20 was discontinued and he was encouraged to_ eat normal food with us.
0990L20 ^On the tenth day he could walk unaided and for the next three days he
1000L20 went into the presence of *4Swamiji without the need of a stretcher.
1010L20 ^On the fifteenth day, the Manager informed us that the *4Swami had
1020L20 left that_ morning for another Ashram-- as he had to_ divide his time
1030L20 amongst the many *4Ashrams he had established-- and that since our son
1040L20 had fully recovered, arrangements had been made for our return journey.
1050L20 ^*I brought out all the ready cash I had and was about to write
1060L20 a large cheque but the Manager refused, adding that it was an honour
1070L20 for the *4Ashram to_ have distinguished guests like us. ^*I was certain
1080L20 that it was a case of mistaken identity for no one-- not even my wife
1090L20 and I-- had seen in us any distinction before. ^*I told the Manager
1100L20 so and even told him of the humble position I enjoyed in life as a
1110L20 Government servant of minor consequence, but he merely smiled with a
1120L20 knowing look and then, to_ cap it all, he brought out gifts for us from
1130L20 *4Swamiji-- a large silver dish, intricately carved and a set of twelve
1140L20 heavy gold bangles for my wife. ^Even our son shared in our astonishment
1150L20 that *4Swamiji should be giving gifts instead of receiving them.
1160L20 ^It was common knowledge that this *4Ashram tried to_ entertain only
1170L20 the rich clientele and encouraged everyone to_ part with generous
1180L20 donations. ^The notices all over the *4Ashram also left no doubt of its
1190L20 desire to_ seek more and more funds. ^But from us, the Manager accepted
1200L20 nothing. ^Obviously we could not refuse the gifts, having accepted
1210L20 much more-- the restoration of our son*'s health. $^Transportation
1220L20 for our return journey was also arranged for and paid by the *4Ashram.
1230L20 ^Besides, the Manager had loaded us with baskets of food, dry fruits,
1240L20 sweets, and cakes. ^We left mystified but elated over our son*'s
1250L20 glowing condition. ^Throughout the return journey, he was lively, spirited
1260L20 and interested in his surroundings. $^The doctor-- he was also a
1270L20 family friend-- was waiting at our home as we arrived. he was surprised
1280L20 to_ see our son looking so well and bubbling with excitement. ^The doctor
1290L20 saw in my wife*'s face the ecstasy of faith and turned to me. ^His
1300L20 eyes answered the question in mine. ^He seemed to_ say that it was all
1310L20 temporary and that this miracle could not last. ^*I feared so too.
1320L20 $^But we were wrong, the doctor and I-- at least that_ is what his instruments
1330L20 seemed to_ indicate the next day. ^He and his specialist colleagues
1340L20 then went into a series of tests, followed by consultations, conferences,
1350L20 further tests and observations. ^The crowning insult came to
1360L20 them from a renowned foreign specialist visiting the country who, after
1370L20 a detailed scrutiny of the results of tests and x-rays, gave his view
1380L20 that my son could not at any time have suffered from the disease attributed
1390L20 to him. ^When they showed him the earlier x-rays and tests, he
1400L20 shrugged his shoulders and lifted his eyes to the sky. $*<*3Three*0*>
1410L20 $*3^THUS*0 was my son pronounced completely cured and thus began my
1420L20 second journey to *4Swamiji who saved our son for us. ^My wife and son
1430L20 had returned from the first journey full of faith. ^*I alone had doubts
1440L20 and misgivings. ^These were now set at rest. ^Somehow I realised
1450L20 that something in me would be missing, until I bowed at the feet of *4Swamiji
1460L20 not only in gratitude but to_ apologise silently for those doubts
1470L20 and misgivings. $^The Manager of the *4Ashram received me with
1480L20 profuse joy as an honoured guest and escorted me once again to a luxurious
1490L20 suite. ^He took it for granted that my son had fully recovered and
1500L20 did not show a trace of surprise at the news. ^Early next morning I
1510L20 was taken to *4Swamiji. ^There was as usual a large crowd of people
1520L20 around him. *4^*Swamiji looked in my direction, and waved at me to_ come
1530L20 near him. ^The crowd parted to_ make way for me. ^*I bowed at his
1540L20 feet, with a prayer in my heart and thanks on my lips. ^He knelt to lift
1550L20 me and, as I rose, he placed both his hands on my shoulders and looked
1560L20 at me for a full minute as if he was reading something in my face.
1570L20 ^Imperceptibly, then, he lifted his right hand from my shoulder and
1580L20 said: "^Go in peace, Motu, none will harm you or yours." ^*I looked at
1590L20 him hypnotised and he smiled. ^He removed his dark glasses, looked me
1600L20 full in the face, and then winked with his left eye, as if sharing
1610L20 a joke with me. ^He replaced his glasses. ^The smile remained and then
1620L20 he appeared not to_ notice me any more, while he motioned for the sick
1630L20 to_ be brought to him.*#
        **[no. of words = 02020**]

        **[txt. l21**]
0010L21 **<*3DEATH BY HANGING*0**> $*3^TWO MEN ARE*0 to_ be hanged in our
0020L21 prison tomorrow morning. ^If you want to_ see it-- $-^*I do! ^*I
0030L21 answer eagerly, without a moment*'s hesitation. $^Why such eagerness?
0040L21 ^Why such haste? ^It isn*'4t that hanging has no connection with
0050L21 my work under the Nehru Fellowship. ^But this eagerness is of a different
0060L21 origin. ^And the haste, too, is quite different, so much so that
0070L21 I have to_ make efforts to_ hide it. $-^Why are they being hanged?
0080L21 ^Who are they? ^*I ask next, my face and voice as bland as if I
0090L21 am asking about the weather. $-^Two farm labourers who committed
0100L21 a murder together. ^Their last appeal for mercy has just been
0110L21 turned down. ^The problem just now is that since this morning,
0120L21 we haven*'4t been able to_ find the rope we use for hanging. ^We haven*'4t
0130L21 had occasion to_ have a hanging in our prison for the last year
0140L21 and a half. $-^Buy a new one, is my (judicious) advice. $-^We*'3ll
0150L21 have to_ order it from Dacca! ^It*'1s a special kind. $-^Wah! ^If
0160L21 the rope isn*'4t found, it*'3ll be a problem for you to_ hang those
0170L21 two tomorrow! ^My somewhat quaint thought. $^My friend-- the prison
0180L21 Warden-- looks a little worried. $-^*I have heard that the ceremony of
0190L21 hanging takes place at the crack of dawn. ^My worry now is how to_ get
0200L21 here at that_ time. ^Hard to_ find transport. ^And, moreover, I have
0210L21 no certainty of waking up so unreasonably early. $-^Stay the night
0220L21 at my place, says my friend. ^Even while relieving my anxiety, his own
0230L21 face remains a little anxious-- ^Come for dinner. $^*I accept at
0240L21 once. ^Not that dinner is important. ^But getting to_ watch a hanging
0250L21 is a rare opportunity. ^Not just one, but two hangings, at one time.
0260L21 $^My earlier fatigue has vanished. ^*I feel crisp and fresh. ^For
0270L21 no reason, the day seems a very significant one. ^A chance one rarely
0280L21 comes across. ^Hanging-- in a double bill, too. $-^To_ tell the truth,
0290L21 this execution seems an unnecessary one. ^My friend, the Warden*'s
0300L21 face still looks ill at ease. ^Of course, these days the tendency
0310L21 of the courts is not to_ give sentences of death. ^And these men
0320L21 aren*'4t professional killers. ^They are from the poorer classes. ^One
0330L21 is fifty-five, the other, a liittle older. ^Even if they have to_
0340L21 spend their lives in prison how much longer have they got to_ live?
0350L21 ^*I expected them to_ be reprieved. ^But they
0360L21 weren*'4t. ^My friend sighs. ^Come over in the evening then. ^Come at
0370L21 your convenience. ^*I*'3ll be expecting you. $^*I definitely will,
0380L21 I promised him. ^*I am so eager, I surprise myself. $^*I finish the
0390L21 day*'s work somehow, feeling new and different even as I do them.
0400L21 ^*I have read and heard descriptions of hangings. ^Now I shall become
0410L21 the maker of such a description. ^A witness in person of two
0420L21 ceremonies of hanging. ^At a time when hanging is in the process of being
0430L21 abolished. ^So, even in the future, I shall have an 'experience'
0440L21 to_ talk about. $^*I*'3m going to_ see a hanging tomorrow at dawn.
0450L21 ^*I make this advance advertisement in one or two places, my face a
0460L21 little extra serious.-- ^They*'3re going to_ hang two men together. $^My
0470L21 chest out, as if I am going to_ hang them myself. $^The inner excitement
0480L21 is growing. ^*I have a faint, fleeting thought
0490L21 that at this rate, when I see the hanging the next day, 'my
0500L21 joy will be complete', and so on. ^Absurd. ^A hanging must be a grisly
0510L21 occurrence... its special time, its place, its ritual. ^Black
0511L21 darkness
0520L21 all around. ^Dead silence. ^Two lives will end. $*3^*I REACH*0 my
0530L21 Warden friend*'s house that_ night. ^The *4rickshaw passes the prison
0540L21 on the way. ^Shadowy barriers. ^Barbed wire. ^Armed guards. ^Lamps
0550L21 spewing out a sickly light. ^Today, somewhere, two living beings, hoping
0560L21 that the next day will never break. ^Being dragged by every moment
0570L21 into the maw of eternal night. ^*I shudder. $^Come on in, says my
0580L21 friend. ^*I was waiting for you. ^Wondered whether or not you*'1d come.
0590L21 $^Why so? ^*I said I would. $^A one-man drinking session is in full
0600L21 swing inside. $^What will you have? $^Nothing. $^Have something. $^All
0610L21 right; some whisky. $^We drink the whisky. ^He has started drinking
0620L21 his some time ago. ^He takes more. $-^We*'3ve found the rope. $-
0630L21 ^Good gracious! ^Then your problem*'1s solved. ^Who does the job of
0640L21 the hangman? $-^No special person. ^Just a prison employee. ^But he
0650L21 has some experience of the work. ^We have no hangman in our jail. ^We
0660L21 have called one from another jail. ^He reached here this afternoon.
0670L21 $-^Well! ^So you*'3ve got the rope, and you*'3ve got the hangman.
0680L21 $-^And we*'3ve got the men to_ be hanged. ^Today they asked for chicken
0690L21 and icecream and ate it. $-^What does the hangman earn? $-^It
0700L21 used to_ be ten rupees a hanging. ^But it*'1s going up a little
0710L21 since then. $^That*'1s very little. ^Hanging means killing someone.
0720L21 ^And a strenuous job, what*'1s more. ^If you make a little mistake,
0730L21 there could be a horrible incident. ^Do they rehearse it? $-^The day
0740L21 before. ^They tie up a sack the same weight as the prisoner. ^It
0750L21 has to_ be the prisoner*'s exact weight. $-^Will they hang them simultaneously,
0760L21 or one after another? $-^Simultaneously. ^We have the facilities
0770L21 for it. ^They*'3re both hardened criminals. ^Rascals. $-^But
0780L21 you yourself said this morning that the hanging was unnecessary. $-^*I
0790L21 read the judgement again carefully. ^It was a horrible murder.
0800L21 ^They slashed his throat from ear to ear. ^Besides a prisoner*'s appetite
0810L21 usually dies the day before he*'1s hanged. ^He asks for food,
0820L21 but can*'4t eat it. ^Both these ate their chicken and icecream with
0830L21 relish. ^*I think they deserve this... ^He takes another great gulp
0840L21 of whisky.-- ^Of course, they*'3re both old men. ^It*'1s three
0850L21 years since they were sentenced by the lower court. $-^Whom did
0860L21 they murder? $-^The man who owned the land next door. ^Even the
0870L21 judge called it 'hair-raising'. $-^You mean they owned land? $-^No,
0880L21 no. ^Hardly. ^They were labourers. ^They worked on someone else*'s
0890L21 land. ^They are brothers-- or more probably cousins. ^No one*'2s
0900L21 been to_ visit them for nearly two years. ^That_*'1s another indication.
0910L21 ^Must be really terrible characters... $^Another gulp. $^Touching
0920L21 stories now of one or two prisoners hanged previously. ^The mildness
0930L21 of their crimes in comparison. ^Their singular pathos. ^Some further
0940L21 gulps of drink. ^An increasingly disturbed expression. $--^Let*'3s
0950L21 eat. ^We must sleep early. ^We*'3ll have to_ get up at two. $^Much
0960L21 silence at dinner. ^The whisky glass beside the dinner-plate. ^Instead
0970L21 of a glass of water. $^A variety of topics. ^But growing inner
0980L21 tension. ^Sudden questions. ^How does it begin? ^What happens next?
0990L21 ^And after that_? ^Do they pull the rope or is there a different arrangement?
1000L21 ^And then? ^What if he doesn*'4t die at once? ^What about
1010L21 the body? ^Does the doctor have to_ be from the prison, or will
1020L21 an outsider do? $^After dinner, my friend takes a pill from his wife.
1030L21 ^He swallows it with some water. ^A tranquillizer of some kind.
1040L21 $^*I ask him to_ lend me the judgement. ^*I am shown where I am to_ sleep.
1050L21 ^We are going to_ sleep in the same room. ^It is at one side of
1060L21 the house, and has a separate door and window. $-^The guard will
1070L21 call me through the window tonight. ^*I*'3ve given instructions. ^*I*'3ll
1080L21 wake you up, he says. --^Good night. $^My friend goes within
1090L21 his mosquito-net. $^Silence. $*<*3The Judgement*0*> $^*I GLANCE
1100L21 through the judgement. ^A discussion of the original crime. ^The word
1110L21 'hair-raising' in quotation-marks. ^At first, pursuit. ^Then stabbing.
1120L21 ^Again and again. ^His attempts to_ run away. ^Their throwing
1130L21 him to the ground, and stabbing with all four hands. ^Then his death.
1140L21 ^Then the slashing of his throat. ^Clothes soaked in blood. ^No
1150L21 attempt to_ run away. ^Just standing there at his side, lighting *4beedies.
1160L21 ^Asking a passer-by, going across a nearby *4bund, for a box
1170L21 of matches. $'^Hair-raising..' ^And hardened. ^They didn*'4t run
1180L21 away; didn*'4t even try to_. $^Why did they murder him? ^Notorious characters.
1190L21 ^The murdered man had made several complaints to the police
1200L21 that they were annoying, obstructing and threating him. ^That his
1210L21 life was in danger. $^But why this enmity towards him? ^Even searching
1220L21 through the judgement provides no answer. ^One passing reference:
1230L21 the owner of their land and this neighbouring landowner had been at
1240L21 odds for a very long time. ^But what connection had that_ enmity with
1250L21 this murder? ^No enquiry had been made. ^It wasn*'4t thought necessary,
1260L21 perhaps. ^The murder was openly and incontrovertibly proved,
1270L21 the murderers established. ^The motive was not very important. ^The
1280L21 law had been satisfied. '^Hair-raising.' ^A death sentence was the
1290L21 very least punishment appropriate to it. ^Signed, sealed and delivered
1300L21 in the upper court. ^All pleas for mercy disallowed. ^For the crime
1310L21 was 'hair-raising.' $^*I put the judgement aside, switch off
1320L21 the light, and go within the mosquito-net. ^There is absolute silence
1330L21 within the mosquito-net by the far wall. ^Then a sudden turning
1340L21 on one side. ^Then on the other. $^*I, too, lie absolutely quiet, turning
1350L21 occasionally to one side or another. $^There are many sounds in
1360L21 the grounds of the jail. ^They die away. ^No sleep. ^No specific discomfort,
1370L21 either. ^A small and queer disquiet, as if at a mystery story
1380L21 left hanging in mid-plot. ^What happened originally. ^How did
1390L21 it happen? ^My god. ^The pursuit of a lone man at the height of noon,
1400L21 catching up with him, stabbing him to death and then slashing his
1410L21 throat. ^How had they pursued him? ^What was the stabbing like? ^He
1420L21 must have shouted. ^He must have screamed. ^Who was there to_ hear him?
1430L21 ^Only these two devils. ^Blood, only blood, spreads in front
1440L21 of my closed eyes. ^Eastmancolor blood. ^Seen often in the cinema. ^Even
1450L21 when I open my eyes, I see blobs of blood in the dark. ^Another
1460L21 turning over to one side. ^Slashing his throat-- that_ was unnecessary,
1470L21 excessive. ^And they did not even run away. $^Why didn*'4t they
1480L21 run away? ^After committing a murder or any other crime, the natural
1490L21 tendency is to_ run away, to_ get as far away as possible. ^These
1500L21 two stayed right there, calmly lighting *4beedies. ^While people
1510L21 passed by. ^They must have been beasts in human form. $*<*3Everything
1520L21 Ready*> $*3^UNWITTINGLY,*0 I doze off. ^At some stage, I dream.
1530L21 ^A shadow has come and stood across the feeble moonlight coming
1540L21 through the window. ^It is calling out hoarsely,-- *4^Sahib! *4^Sahib!
1550L21 ^It*'1s two o*'3clock, *4sahib! $^My eyes are open. ^The calls
1560L21 are real. ^*I sit bolt upright within the mosquito net. $^In the
1570L21 opposite net, the gentle snores suddenly break off. ^A sound of someone
1580L21 suddenly sitting up. ^My friend comes out from behind the netting.
1590L21 $-^Huh? ^Oh. ^Is everying ready? $-^Yes, *4Sahib. $-^Has the *(magistrate-sahib*)
1600L21 come? $-^Yes, *4sahib, in a jeep. ^And the *(dctor-sahib*)
1610L21 has come, too. $-^All right, you can go. ^We*'3re coming.
1620L21 $^A hasty swallowing of water direct from a *4lota. ^The table-lamp
1630L21 goes on. ^The door opens. ^Outside, the sound of a mouth being rinsed
1640L21 out. $^*I have left the mosquito net and am standing. $-^Are you
1650L21 up? $-^*I was awake. ^The amusing thing is, I woke of my own accord,
1660L21 a little bit before. ^*I thought I was dreaming. ^But it was really
1670L21 happening. ^The man calling us, and so on. ^Did you sleep well?
1680L21 $--^When I did sleep, it was well. ^Come on, let*'3s finish. ^We*'3ll
1690L21 have our tea, and go. $^In the darkness of the hall, I put on my
1700L21 clothes and he puts on his *4khaki uniform. ^Tea has been brought
1710L21 and put on the dining-table. ^We drink our tea. ^Neither of us speaks.
1720L21 ^It feels as if anything worth saying is over and done with. $-^Shall
1730L21 we go? $^Outside, it is very dark. ^Dim moonlight surrounds us.*#
        **[no. of words = 01980**]

        **[txt. l22**]
0010L22 **<*3SUSPICION*0**> $^*Leela*'s cheeks were flushed. $^Apart from
0020L22 that_, it was a perfectly normal evening-- a Tuesday. ^*Anil poured
0030L22 brandy and soda simultaneously into a glass full of crushed
0040L22 ice, a trick he had picked up at the Playboy Club in London. ^He
0050L22 liked to_ show through gestures rather than words that he had
0060L22 been about a little in his time although he had given up most of the
0070L22 travelling part of his business when he married. ^*Leela had
0080L22 not wanted him to_ do this-- she knew how much he had enjoyed his
0090L22 jet setting life-- but he had been adamant. ^He had seen
0100L22 what happened to the most trusting of western married couples when
0110L22 one or the other of the partners was absent a great deal. ^His under-graduate
0120L22 life at a British University had made him, in a strange
0130L22 way, more Indian. ^He disliked what he termed decadent western
0140L22 habits, particularly in women. ^For instance, he would never
0150L22 have married Leela if she had short hair, smoked or drank an
0160L22 occasional gin and tonic. $^*Leela sat opposite him on the sofa,
0170L22 her evening face ready with concern. ^In three years he had never
0180L22 come home to_ find her anything but full of concern, welcome and
0190L22 interest. ^She had learnt from her old fashioned mother, who followed
0200L22 Indian customs meticulously despite her fashionably
0210L22 cosmopolitan appearance that a man is entitled to_ be selfish at the
0220L22 end of the day. ^He needs to_ come home to a wife who casts aside
0230L22 the petty cares of her own day and is all sympathy for his. ^After
0240L22 all, the man is the bread winner. ^On this score she never ever let
0250L22 him down. ^She was always there in a freshly draped *4saree,
0260L22 *4chevda in little bowls and with her supervision of the evening meal
0270L22 completed. $^In the warm glow of their sitting room, designed by the
0280L22 most sought after interior decorator in Bombay, he studied
0290L22 her face. ^She appeared so innocent! ^A sharp burst of suspicion
0300L22 passed through him. ^She had not been in when he had phoned to_
0310L22 check whether they were going out for dinner that_ night. ^He
0320L22 usually rang her up at that_ time. ^He tended to_ be a person of
0330L22 habit. ^He had rung again at a quarter past five and half past.
0340L22 ^There was still no answer and he had left for home. $^Then of
0350L22 course, the traffic had never been so heavy, and she was waiting
0360L22 for him on the settee, her crisp mauve *4saree immaculate. ^He had
0370L22 managed not to_ ask her where she had been. ^Now he studied the
0380L22 familiar patterns of the room; aware that he was seeking
0390L22 something as he looked at the framed prints on the stark white walls
0400L22 plump, geometrically printed cushions on leather upholstered
0410L22 chairs, the vases full of intricately arranged flowers-- their
0420L22 sitting room which he was so fond of! ^For a moment, he found that
0430L22 every object in the room was backed by a strong light making them
0440L22 appear strange, and unreal. ^He struggled with the illusion,
0450L22 fighting it like the end of a nightmare and pressed his fingers against
0460L22 the icy glass until the room returned to normal. ^First signs
0470L22 of flu, he thought, or perhaps, as Leela had said so often
0480L22 just recently, he worked too hard. $"^So what have you been up to
0490L22 this afternoon?" $^*Leela looked surprised. ^She shrugged. "^Nothing
0500L22 much, the pest control people came this afternoon." ^There
0510L22 was a lift in her voice, an unusual brightness. ^She paused. "^We
0520L22 had better hurry up. ^They asked us to_ be there by half past."
0530L22 $^The brandy had melted the feeling of unease that_ he had had,
0540L22 replacing it with warmth. ^He asked Leela what she was going to_ wear.
0550L22 ^She smiled and said that it was to_ be a surprise. ^He felt
0560L22 much better. ^*Leela*'s smile, with its power to_ reassure,
0570L22 had become a part of his existence. ^The spell of black fantasy,
0580L22 the signs of flu were over. $^She surprised him in a delicate, gauzy
0590L22 moon coloured chiffon *4saree that_ he had not seen before. ^*Anil
0600L22 frequently suggested that she should buy new clothes, but with
0610L22 a highly developed sense of economy when it came to other people*'s
0620L22 money, Leela rarely took advantage of his encouragement.
0630L22 ^When she did, Anil was always pleased. $^They drove through
0640L22 a faint drizzle to Bandra. ^At dinner, Anil was aware of every
0650L22 movement his wife made at the other end of the table. ^She was
0660L22 listening carefully to the man on her left who was talking about Satyajit
0670L22 Ray*'s latest film. ^*Anil heard the words "evocative"
0680L22 and "significant" several times and saw Leela smile brightly. ^Ah!
0690L22 ^She was intent on self-education. ^For someone who hadn*'4t
0700L22 been too enthusiastic about coming to this business dinner party she
0710L22 was now revelling in the young engineer industrialiast*'s company.
0720L22 ^Smiling, smiling almost constantly. $^*Anil sharply pushed back his
0730L22 plate. ^The lobster thermidor suddenly sickened him. ^The pain
0740L22 of suspicion stabbed at him again. $^*Anil was a man of instincts,
0750L22 as he often claimed. ^Several years back, when he was
0760L22 in England, he had suddenly had a strong feeling that the train he
0770L22 was about to_ catch would crash and he had waited for the next
0780L22 one. ^The train he should have caught had been involved in one
0790L22 of the worst crashes of the decade. ^Another time, while on a
0800L22 game reserve in Ceyion, he had heard with alarming clarity, a
0810L22 voice telling him to_ turn the Landrover around because a rogue
0820L22 elephant was about to_ charge it. $^Now his instinct was at work
0830L22 again, gripping him in its dreadful conviction. ^*Leela after only
0840L22 three years of marriage was being unfaithful to him. ^To_
0850L22 make matters worse, she was being as blatant about it as any
0860L22 western woman! ^The previously innocent, once embarked upon deceit,
0870L22 usually have the most skill. ^Here she was not six feet away from
0880L22 him, putting on a fantastic show. ^No one would guess that she and
0890L22 Ranjit-- the arrogant engineer-- had spent afternoons, and
0900L22 days and months for all he knew, together not just talking about
0910L22 the relative merits of Indian film directors either.
0911L22 **[sic**]
0920L22 ^What a fool he had been not to_ have suspected it before? $^*Anil*'s
0930L22 mind jerked back to other occasions when they had met Ranjit
0940L22 with mutual friends in Bangalore. ^*Leela had always made it a
0950L22 point to_ pay him special attention asking him questions and listening
0960L22 to his answers with attentive eyes. ^She had said, he remembered,
0970L22 that Ranjit was shy. ^Shy! $^*Anil refused the dessert,
0980L22 the coffee and the brandy. ^The heat of the room constricted him
0990L22 and made him feel distinctly claustrophobic: the candle flames
1000L22 irritated his eyes. ^Only years of training in the art of politeness
1010L22 enabled him to_ get involved in a discussion about a new
1020L22 play, with the couple at the end of the table. $^After dinner, he
1030L22 muttered his excuses to their host and dragged a surprised Leela
1040L22 to their car. ^She was extremely concerned about his uncharacteristic
1050L22 rudeness, but it was raining, raining hard and the wind-screen
1060L22 wipers had been stolen, so Anil had to_ concentrate on the driving.
1070L22 $^The next morning, the feeling of unease had died. ^On his
1080L22 way to work Anil convinced himself that he was being ridiculous.
1090L22 ^It had been his imagination, again perhaps owing to overwork. ^He
1100L22 spent two hours contentedly reading through a long report, able to_
1110L22 give it his full attention. ^At eleven thirty, Leela phoned.
1120L22 ^This was unusual. ^There was some minor problem regarding
1130L22 the servicing of her car. ^The conversation was brief. ^*Leela ended
1140L22 by saying, "^See you at the usual time then." $^It was only when
1150L22 he had put down the receiver that Anil realised what Leela had done.
1160KW8 ^By ringing him then, she was making sure that he would not discover
1170L22 her absence. ^She would have no need to_ lie. $^*Anil*'s
1180L22 afternoon passed in a turmoil of disbelief. ^At five, hand shaking,
1190L22 he rang her. ^No answer. $^*Leela*'s cheeks were flushed again,
1200L22 and again, apart from that_ it was a perfectly normal evening.
1210L22 ^They watched television and had dinner at nine. $^The next day Anil
1220L22 spent a great deal of time telling himself that there was nothing
1230L22 to_ worry about; that his imagination was getting the better
1240L22 of him: that he was a suspicious idiot. ^He phoned Leela at five,
1250L22 but again there was no answer. ^This went on for a fortnight.
1260L22 ^*Anil was a nervous wreck. ^The canker of suspicion had spread
1270L22 until he could neither eat nor sleep, yet the basic habit of maintaining
1280L22 appearances kept him going. ^Though within him a devil
1290L22 voice shouted continuous accusations at Leela, outwardly he was
1300L22 calm and friendly. ^They continued to_ lead their lives in a more
1310L22 or less normal manner, but Anil had acquired the habit of leaping
1320L22 up and answering the telephone each time it rang. $^Then one morning,
1330L22 after a particularly bad night, he went into the living room
1340L22 early to_ find Leela talking animatedly on the phone. ^When
1350L22 she saw him she cut short the conversation quickly, but Anil distinctly
1360L22 heard her say "see you later then." $^They had breakfast.
1370L22 ^*Anil refrained with great difficulty from asking her whom
1380L22 she had been speaking to, but could scarcely gulp down his coffee.
1390L22 ^He drove to his office in a dream to_ attend a meeting at which
1400L22 he took no active part. ^His colleagues gave him uneasy looks. ^It
1410L22 was obvious that they thought there was something physically wrong
1420L22 with him. $^When he got home that_ evening, Leela showed him a
1430L22 card. ^It was an invitation to a cocktail party given by Ranjit.
1440L22 ^*Anil thrust it aside hastily. "^We are not going to it."
1450L22 $^*Leela seemed surprised. "^Why not? ^It should be fun." $"^Well,
1460L22 I*'3m not going. ^*I don*'4t like Ranjit and I detest his
1470L22 friends. ^They all drink too much and talk even more." $"^Oh, Anil,"
1480L22 Leela did not say anything else but she looked disappointed.
1490L22 $^*Anil swore loudly. ^*Leela smiled up at him. "^There is
1500L22 no need to_ shout. ^*I don*'4t really mind not going." $"^Don*'4t
1510L22 lie to me Leela!" $^The roar of Anil*'s voice shook the room.
1520L22 "^Go to the damn party if you want to_, I don*'4t care!" ^He shook
1530L22 violently and hit her hard, badly bruising her face. ^Then he
1540L22 shut himself up in the study for the rest of the evening. $^The next
1550L22 morning he apologised to her. ^All she said was, "I really think
1560L22 you ought to_ see a doctor". ^There was a purple bruise on her face.
1570L22 ^*Anil was conscience stricken. $^A few weeks later, Anil was
1580L22 sitting at his desk trying hard to_ concentrate on the work before
1590L22 him, when the phone rang. ^It was Leela. ^She sounded breathless.
1600L22 $"^*I*'3m sorry to_ bother you, but could you possibly take
1610L22 the afternoon off?" $"^Well, I suppose so, but why?" $"^It is
1620L22 quite important to me, but I don*'4t want to_ tell you about it on the
1630L22 phone." $"^All right, be mysterious if you want to. ^*I*'3ll
1640L22 see you at one." ^He put away his work. $^*Leela greeted him at the
1650L22 door. ^They had their lunch in silence. ^Afterwards, Leela asked him
1660L22 to_ drive her to one of the large hotels in town. ^He did so in
1670L22 silence and followed Leela into the hotel and down endless corridors
1680L22 until they came to the hall where exhibitions were held. ^She
1690L22 led him into the room. ^The walls were covered with paintings--
1700L22 abstracts. $^Someone tapped him on the shoulder. ^It was Ranjit.
1710L22 $*^Anil was startled. "^Aren*'4t you proud of Leela? ^Her paintings
1720L22 are so unusal." $^*Anil*'s head swam. ^He looked at the
1730L22 brochure that_ Ranjit had pressed into his hand. ^It read "^A One
1740L22 Woman Exhibition of Abstract Paintings By Leela Mehta."
1750L22 ^*Anil*'s stunned mind registered the fact that the proceeds of
1760L22 the exhibition were to_ aid a charitable organisation the President
1770L22 of which was Ranjit. $^People crowded round him, congratulating
1780L22 him on his talented wife. ^*Leela came up to him. "^Is it really
1790L22 such a surprise?"*#
        **[no. of words = 02007**]

        **[txt. l23**]
0010L23 **<*3Suddenly Last Summer*0**>
0020L23 $^Usually she sensed a stage in every dream when she became aware
0030L23 that she was dreaming. ^At this point she commanded herself to_
0040L23 wake up. ^Instinctively she was aware of the fine dividing line
0050L23 between dreams and nightmares, the presence of this voluntary
0060L23 point of no return. ^It was now, when she realised that she could
0070L23 not direct herself to_ wake up, but had to_ see this through to its
0080L23 fixed conclusion, that the dream developed into nightmare proportions.
0090L23 ^Familiarity did nothing to_ lessen the helplessness with which
0100L23 she felt the black lake swim into her dream consciousness. ^*In
0110L23 the dream she found herself on the lake in a small rounded boat
0120L23 with one oar, some distance from the shore. ^Suddenly, as though
0130L23 they feared some obscure threat, the huge creatures swam up in a sillent
0140L23 body to the surface, their opaque eyes clearly visible in the dark
0150L23 water. ^Frantically she would try to_ avoid those eyes, rowing
0160L23 as hard as she could with the one oar she had. ^But the eyes followed
0170L23 her boat with silent concentration, hundreds of them. ^And the
0180L23 harder she rowed the bigger the lake became, until it was a lake
0190L23 no longer, but a great inland sea. ^And it would become quite clear
0200L23 to her that there was no shore to_ go back to. $^She had been bewildered
0210L23 by that_ dream then, because for her the pool had spelled
0220L23 contentment, peace, sanctuary. ^She had felt a vaguely disquieting
0230L23 sense of betrayal, but on her next visit, it beckoned with
0240L23 the same limpid green bliss; the reeds seemed to_ welcome her
0250L23 as they did always, tossing in the breeze; the lilies trembled
0260L23 on their slim stalks, drops of water scurrying on glossy leaves.
0270L23 ^Normalcy seeped in with a quiet ambience. ^Gingerly she stepped in.
0280L23 ^No undergrowth, but a silky clay, deliciously oozy and messy.
0290L23 ^She sat on the lower step and stared at her reflected image like a
0300L23 latter day female Narcissus. ^Once, she had even seen a water snake, its
0310L23 flat green head cutting the surface with a smooth zigzag movement.
0320L23 ^*Trishna had not been afraid of snakes then. ^She had been nine
0330L23 years old. $^The pool belonged to old Kunti, a widow, who
0340L23 reputedly ate flesh surreptitiously. ^*Parul had even claimed that she
0350L23 left a line in the pool at night and pulled it up at dawn. ^*Trishna
0360L23 took up the matter with Dimama, but her grandmother told her not
0370L23 to_ pay any attention to servant gossip; besides, Parul herself
0380L23 was no better than she ought to_ be. ^At this Dadabhai, who was
0390L23 generally the most tolerant person on the farm, looked up from his
0400L23 *3Bhagwad Gita*0 to_ quote in Sanskrit, something to the effect
0410L23 that when *4adharma overwhelms the family, O Krishna, the women
0420L23 of the family become corrupt, and that Kunti could stand no comparison
0430L23 with her namesake in the *3Mahabharata*0. $^After that_
0440L23 Trishna made up her mind to_ catch old Kunti red-handed during the
0450L23 weeks she spent on the farm with her grandparents. ^The memory of a
0460L23 previous encounter still rankled. ^She had staked out as her exclusive
0470L23 property the pool and its surrounding land. ^It had been a rude
0480L23 awakening. ^From the vantage point of the last step, she could see
0490L23 the thatched porch where the old woman cooked her daily meal. ^*Trishna
0500L23 had often wondered how she managed to_ survive, and had even
0510L23 tried it once, only to_ be asked by everyone whether she was sickening
0520L23 for something, and having to_ take a dose of magnesia, much as
0530L23 she loathed it. $^The dung fire smoked steadily and then settled
0540L23 down to a red heat which was shortlived and diffcult to_ manage.
0550L23 ^Having tended to it, old Kunti came to the pool for water, to_ find
0560L23 Trishna crouching near the steps. ^In tones fit to_ call the cattle
0570L23 home, she had delivered a diatribe on her dubious parentage,
0580L23 her unprepossessing appearance, and other minor matters. ^She could
0590L23 clearly remember that old Kunti had expressed a heartfelt wish to_
0600L23 be present at her cremation feast, and the belief that she, Trishna,
0610L23 would surely see her husband to his death on the wedding day.
0620L23 $^*Dimama had been justly indignant, and called Kunti a childless
0630L23 old *4harridan. ^The upshot of it all was that she was now warned
0640L23 not to_ go anywhere near the pool. ^Marked out as forbidden territory,
0650L23 the pool acquired a fascination where before it had been merely
0660L23 a favourite haunt. ^For some days she had tried to_ play in the cowshed,
0670L23 where the milch cow reigned supreme. ^The kitchen cat had
0680L23 taken refuge from her predatory mate, who was rather too fond of dining
0690L23 on his own offspring. ^Four adorable squirming kittens nestled
0700L23 inside the feeding box, where they were indistinguishable from
0710L23 the straw. ^That_ summer she had learnt to_ milk the splendid
0720L23 white beast, and it was fun squirting a jet of hot foaming milk straight
0730L23 into the mouths of the dappled kittens. ^The painful tenderness
0740L23 at the sight of the kittens greedily tearing at their mother*'s
0750L23 belly swiftly turned to irritation with their fragility. ^They could
0760L23 be killed so easily! ^She felt a panic rising, together with
0770L23 the sly desire to_ see if she could kill one. ^Nothing could really
0780L23 compensate for the pool. $^Old Kunti*'s plot of land marched
0790L23 side by side with the farm. ^A stunted mango tree drooped into their
0800L23 yard and it was tacitly understood that they were entitled
0810L23 to the mangoes on their side of the fence. ^She gorged herself one
0820L23 afternoon, and was violently sick during the night. ^Under pressure
0830L23 she admitted to having tasted a few mangoes from Kunti*'s tree.
0840L23 ^How many? ^Well... nine raw, one just turning yellow, and one
0850L23 which had been perfect. ^Oh... ^The scheming *4harridan! ^For one
0860L23 startled moment Trishna thought Dimama was referring to her;
0870L23 after all, the figures had been approximate. ^But no, it seemed
0880L23 the crazy old bat was casting her evil eye on other people*'s
0890L23 children out of sheer spite. ^Here, Dimama did a strange thing.
0900L23 ^She bit Trishna*'s right little finger gently, and spat out
0910L23 into the yard. $"^There. ^She can*'4t do a thing to you now." $^Just
0920L23 to_ prove that_, she ate some more mangoes the next day, and
0930L23 this time was forbidden on pain of having the matter mentioned in
0940L23 the next letter to her mother, ever to_ touch raw fruit again.
0950L23 ^*Dimama*'s magic was not proof against 20 raw mangoes. $^Chastened
0960L23 in spirit and with a definitely queasy feeling in her stomach,
0970L23 she retired to the cowshed, only to_ find that the cow had somehow
0980L23 got loose and wandered out. ^The calf gazed at her in a forlorn
0990L23 fashion. $^*Dimama took the news calmly, merely asking her to_
1000L23 put a lamp in the shed. ^In the shed the kittens were asleep, curled
1010L23 into tight doughnuts, with a smell of sour milk about them.
1020L23 ^The cat had disappeared. ^It was nearly dark when she gave up
1030L23 waiting for the cow and went indoors. $^*Dadabhai sat on the bed
1040L23 talking in low heated tones with Dinesh Doctor, who was the
1050L23 only vet in the area. ^His face was grave. $"^You don*'4t know what
1060L23 you are saying... monstrous-- I don*'4t want to_ hear another word.
1070L23 ^It*'1s sacrilege!" ^*Dinesh Doctor, as he was called by
1080L23 everyone, stemmed the floodtide of indignation to_ speak in soothing
1090L23 tones, rather as if the older man were a sick animal. ^She
1100L23 could hear and see quite clearly from the verandah outside the room.
1110L23 $"^She won*'4t last the night, you know that_. ^The hind legs
1120L23 can*'4t be set, the state they*'3re in. ^*I can*'4t do a thing now.
1130L23 ^*I don*'4t have the equipment. ^What I want to_ do is not unreasonable,
1140L23 it*'1s the only thing that_ can be done now. ^Please. ^It*'1s
1150L23 a question of mercy. ^She*'1s in dreadful pain... she won*'4t
1160L23 feel a thing, I promise you." $^Whatever he was asking, Dadabhai
1170L23 was becoming progresssively more furious. "^Mercy, mercy, the cant
1180L23 you people pour out is enough to_ drive one mad! ^One would think
1190L23 it was something that can be doled out when fancied by you or me.
1200L23 ^If it is the animal*'s fate to_ have a lingering death, then
1210L23 it will die slowly and in pain and no power on earth can stop it.
1220L23 ^Why should I court sin by interfering with what is ordained?" ^He
1230L23 finished triumphantly. ^The younger man*'s face looked defeated.
1240L23 ^She sensed that something had gone wrong with a vengeance, and
1250L23 it had to_ do with the cow. ^*Dinesh had finished talking, he was
1260L23 putting on his slippers. ^She caught him outside the gate and gripped
1270L23 his hand. ^What had happened? ^Why was her grandfather so angry?
1280L23 $"^*I think you can guess, little girl. ^The cow was run over
1290L23 by a lorry, near the highway. ^*I think she*'d loosened her rope
1300L23 somehow." ^She nodded vigorously, fear gripping her. $"^Yes,
1310L23 she did, she does that_ sometimes, and comes back when it*'1s dark.
1320L23 ^But how did you know, and where is she now?" $"^Right there
1330L23 by the highway. where the buses stop. ^*I*'3m going there now
1340L23 again." ^He pulled his hand free, but she caught at it again, quickly
1350L23 making up her mind. "^*I*'3ll come too. ^*I want to_ come with
1360L23 you Dinesh Doctor." ^She pulled at his hand and he started
1370L23 to_ walk rapidly towards the field. $^There was a small crowd around
1380L23 the wounded animal. ^Some of the returning labourers stood by watching,
1390L23 and she had to_ push her way through. ^The great white cow lay
1400L23 there silently, its hide twitching as though shaking off flies. ^The
1410L23 large eyes looked up blindly. ^The hind legs did not look right;
1420L23 they were crumpled, like a wet hanky. ^She wished the animal
1430L23 would cry out, show some reaction other than the senseless twitching.
1440L23 $"^Can*'4t you do anything for her?" she pleaded. ^*Dinesh looked
1450L23 up furiously. $"^Yes. ^There is something I can do, the only
1460L23 thing, in fact. ^But this cow happens to_ belong to your grandfather,
1470L23 and he has to_ say I can... oh, what*'1s the use," he murmured
1480L23 to himself, "you wouldn*'4t understand anyway." ^She was hurt
1490L23 to the quick. ^Whatever her faults, no one had ever accused
1500L23 her of not understanding something she wanted to_. $"^*I can understand,
1510L23 if only you*'1d tell me." ^He seemed glad to_ have someone
1520L23 to_ talk to; anyway, he did tell her. $"^Both the hind legs are crushed
1530L23 they can*'4t be set. ^Gangrene will set in with this heat and
1540L23 it will die a lingering, painful death... do you follow?" ^She nodded.
1550L23 ^He must have believed her, for he continued. $"^We can do
1560L23 something that_ would be only human, we can ease her out of life painlessly."
1570L23 $"^How?" $"^By giving her an injection. ^She*'3ll just go
1580L23 to_ sleep... and not awake." ^Automatically, they had switched to
1590L23 English, as though realising that their thoughts would have been
1600L23 equally incomprehensible to their audience in any language.
1610L23 ^She knew Dadabhai would never consent to the doctor*'s plan.
1620L23 ^There was really nothing more to_ say. ^It was pitch dark and she
1630L23 would be missed at the farm. ^She had to_ go back. ^*Dinesh said
1640L23 he*'1d stay. ^He would not be alone. ^Some of the men stayed with him.
1650L23 ^The nights were long and there was really nothing else to_
1660L23 do. ^She ran all the way back, skirted the pool and slipped into
1670L23 the house by the back gate. $^*Dadabhai was having his evening
1680L23 meal. ^Bent over the table top, he pushed bits of vegetable around
1690L23 his plate. ^Silently she took her place. ^For once her grandmother
1700L23 forgot to_ begin the usual catechism on her whereabouts since
1710L23 after lunch. ^Instead she sighed and launched into a panegyric
1720L23 on how many litres of milk the poor cow had given, how docile
1730L23 she had been, how undeserved her end. $"^To_ think that she had
1740L23 this in store! ^Everything ends with the awful unseen...
1750L23 some more pumpkin?" ^*Trishna shook her head. ^*Dimama took this refusal
1760L23 as a slight on her housekeeping, then revived sufficiently to_
1770L23 sigh.*#
        **[no. of words = 02007**]

        **[txt. l24**]
0010L24 **<*3Holier than thou*0**> $^When Vadilal asked, sadly, what time it was,
0020L24 Multekar said in a low voice: "^An inquest might be necessary, sir."
0030L24 ^Until then Vadilal had not given a thought to all these irksome formalities
0040L24 that_ had to_ precede the disposal of the body. $"^Go ahead and
0050L24 do what is necessary," he said in a tone that_ was hardly audible and
0060L24 then asked Multekar to_ leave the room. $^The mention of an inquest brought
0070L24 back to Vadilal*'s memory in a surging, uncontrollable tide all
0080L24 that_ was endearing, lovable, beautiful and pure about Jyoti who was no
0090L24 more. $^There was painful lump in Vadilal*'s throat. ^He buried his
0100L24 face in his hands and wept bitterly. ^The entire life of Jyoti-- her infancy,
0110L24 childhood, girlhood and, now, womanhood-- flashed before his
0111L24 mind*'s
0120L24 eye. ^She had been a bonny little infant, so very pretty when she cut
0130L24 her first two lower teeth. ^The way she used to_ lisp when she made her
0140L24 initial effort to_ speak. ^She couldn*'4t pronounce the "K*'3s". ^She
0150L24 used to_ say "Tanta" for "Kanta." ^She was precocious; learnt to_ walk
0160L24 unsteadily when she was barely 11 months old. ^She was so eager to_ go
0170L24 to school-- unlike her brother, Ramlal, who was a dullard. ^Always tops
0180L24 in her class. $^Oh! ^The memory was so excruciatingly painful and sweet.
0190L24 ^*Vadilal sobbed like a child, tears streaming down his face. ^The
0200L24 aching lump in his throat brought images of Jyoti before him like a movie.
0210L24 ^A lovely, brilliant child, she had blossomed into a beautiful damsel.
0220L24 ^The sari was so becoming of her-- such a delicate and comely angel.
0230L24 ^The books she had won as prizes in her school and college were all
0240L24 over the place. ^Oh, burn them. ^He had flogged her once, when she was
0250L24 ten years old. ^She had insisted on sipping his coconut juice before she
0260L24 had her meal. ^He did not let her only because that_ would smother her
0270L24 appetite. ^She had insisted. ^She was stubborn. ^Then he had flogged
0280L24 her. ^He could see the welts on her body. ^Did he have to_ punish her that_
0290L24 way only because she wanted to_ drink coconut juice? ^He could have
0300L24 given her all the coconut juice that_ she wanted. ^If only God would
0310L24 bring her back to life. $^*Vadilal sobbed. ^He had now knelt before his
0320L24 bed and had buried his face in the sheet. ^Why on earth did he say no
0330L24 to her marrying Ashiq? ^If only he was given another chance he would
0340L24 have blessed the couple-- whose image he saw before his mind*'s eye. ^They
0350L24 would have made an ideal pair. ^And yet he had refused. ^Why? $^It was
0360L24 too late now. ^Far too late. ^The realisation made him aware of his
0370L24 surroundings-- that he had to_ go on his inspection visit to Tokraj.
0380L24 ^*Vadilal slowly raised himself from his kneeling position. ^Accidentally
0390L24 he saw his own image in the mirror-- how his eyes were red and swollen and
0400L24 his face tearstained. ^He dabbed cold water on his face and eyes and rubbed
0410L24 them with a towel... $"^*Multekar," he called. "^*I am ready to_
0420L24 go now." $"^But, sir, the coroner is here. ^*I requested him to_ come here
0430L24 for the inquest rather than our going to the morgue. ^The formality
0440L24 of the inquest will be gone through quickly," Multekar said. $^*Vadilal
0450L24 did not say anything. $^The coroner was a 60-year-old man, a retired
0460L24 magistrate. ^He had already recorded the evidence of Multekar, the cook,
0470L24 Stella and the other servants. ^He did not insist on interrogating
0480L24 Kanta Ben because her statement would be merely corroborative. ^*Stella
0490L24 had broken down several times while she was narrating what she saw,
0500L24 and her brother John, who had come after hearing the sad news, comforted
0510L24 her. $^*Vadilal meanwhile had written out his statement. ^He gave it
0520L24 to Multekar and told him that if the coroner wanted to_ ask any
0521L24 questions he
0530L24 could do so. ^But there were no questions. $^The whole procedure seemed
0540L24 so unreal. ^*Jyoti*'s charred body was still lying in the kitchen, and
0550L24 here was the coroner holding an inquest and Vadilal preparing to_ go
0560L24 on his scheduled trip. $^The coroner referred the evidence to a jury later,
0570L24 and the verdict was: "Jyoti Vadilal, female, 19 years old, daughter
0580L24 of Vadilal Bachchubhai, chief minister of Surbal State, died of
0590L24 burns received while she was in the kitchen for reasons unknown." $^It
0600L24 was daylight now. ^There was a sepulchral silence in the Vadilal home
0610L24 despite the numerous people who had come there. ^When he clutched his
0620L24 crocodile-leather portfolio, Multekar said: "I have already *'3phoned
0630L24 the district magistrate in Tokraj that we might not be coming today, sir."
0640L24 $^*Vadilal said nothing for a while. ^After a pause he said: "^You
0650L24 should not have done that_. ^*I will go. ^We may be late. ^But we must
0660L24 go." $^There wasn*'4t anything pressing or urgent in Tokraj. ^But Vadilal*'s
0670L24 sense of duty had the better of his domestic commitments. ^*Multekar,
0680L24 who was sleepy-- he hadn*'4t had a 555 for the previous couple of
0690L24 hours-- was about to_ say that a cremation had to_ be done. ^Instead,
0700L24 he said: "^The chief *4purohit from Lakshminarayan temple will be here
0710L24 presently. ^*I had sent for him." $"^He will take care of all that_," Vadilal
0720L24 said simply. $"^There are some foreigners and consular officials
0730L24 in the drawing room, sir. ^Wouldn*'4t you like to_ meet them?" Multekar
0740L24 asked. $^*Vadilal wiped his face with a handkerchief, came into the drawing
0750L24 room and nodded to them. ^Then he was out, looking for his Ford
0760L24 Galaxie. ^The chauffeur had meanwhile gone away, thinking that the Tokraj
0770L24 trip was off. ^He was summoned, the gardener and cook having gone after
0780L24 him. $^In the car, Multekar mentioned that he had sent a cable to
0790L24 Ramlal in Europe... $^It was a simple Hindu funeral. ^The crowds outside
0800L24 had hung on. ^Amidst them was Ashiq. $*<*311*> $^It was just as
0801L24 well that
0810L24 Vadilal went away to Tokraj to_ inspect the construction of the dam.
0820L24 ^*Kanta Ben was taken by close relatives to her brother*'s home in Dania
0830L24 just about 100 miles from Surbal. $^One of the pall-bearers at the
0840L24 funeral was Prithvi Raj who, despite his militant nature and gruff exterior,
0850L24 had a heart of gold. ^He was one of the first to_ arrive at the
0860L24 Vadilal home on hearing the tragic news, though he studiously remained
0870L24 in the background, amidst the crowds. ^He did not wish to_ attract attention
0880L24 or be mentioned in the press as one of those who called at the chief
0890L24 minister*'s residence. ^His grief was genuine. ^He was himself a
0891L24 batchelor,
0900L24 but could well understand what it means to lose one*'s own child. ^But
0910L24 personal sympathy was one thing; political conviction quite another.
0920L24 ^He had tried to_ console Kanta Ben after Vadilal had left. ^Although
0930L24 he did not believe in God, he was prepared to_ concede that there
0940L24 were circumstances beyond human control. "^When your time is up, your
0950L24 time is up," as he said. $^He had a word of sympathy for
0960L24 everyone around. ^He patted Stella affectionately on her back and told
0970L24 her not to_ cry. ^He said that perhaps it would be advisable for her
0980L24 to_ go to her village for a while until the tragedy was effaced from
0990L24 her memory. ^He told her brother, John, so. ^For the cook, too, Prithvi
1000L24 Raj had a word of sympathy. ^What is life, after all? ^It is all
1010L24 *4maya, he said. ^It is divine mystery. (^He reminded himself that there
1020L24 is no such thing as God). ^You are alive, hale and hearty, ebullient,
1030L24 full of life, bouncing, happy one day; the next day you are no more. ^It
1040L24 could happen while you crossed the street; a car could knock you down.
1050L24 ^At the same time you could survive an earthquake, a shipwreck, an aircrash,
1060L24 or even shooting and bombing. $^See how the people of Viet Nam
1070L24 are braving guns and bombs! ^His mind went off at a tangent now. ^Amidst
1080L24 death, destruction, callousness, merciless killing, massacre, rape,
1090L24 pillage, brigandage-- amidst all this life went on. ^The spirit of the
1091L24 *3people*0
1100L24 could not be crushed. ^And yet here were people who were sorrowing
1110L24 over the death of a girl. ^Not that he was surprised at their grief;
1120L24 neither did he feel that the grief was misplaced or uncalled for. ^But
1130L24 what was life, and what was death, after all? ^These were relative terms.
1140L24 ^If people had to_ die so that others may live and build a glorious
1150L24 future for themselves, so it must be. ^But why should a girl put an end to
1160L24 her life-- a life so full of promise and beauty-- for the sake of a boy?
1170L24 ^And why should a father object to his daughter falling in love with
1180L24 a boy of her choice? ^What was love after all? ^It was a chemical reaction.
1190L24 ^And what was religion? ^It was just a label. ^Would Ashiq have
1191L24 been different
1200L24 if his religious label was different? ^*Prithvi Raj was not quite
1210L24 prepared to_ say that religion is the opium of the people. ^Religion
1220L24 was a personal matter. ^It should not destroy people*'s lives; it should
1230L24 enrich them; make people militant and daring just as Marxism had done
1240L24 to him. $^It was like a funeral oration-- a silent, self addressed one.
1250L24 ^When he had come through the reverie as it were, the priest was chanting
1260L24 *4mantras and symbolically bathing the body by sprinkling water
1270L24 over it. ^In a corner of the compound bamboos were being cut to make a
1280L24 bier-- a sort of ladder on which, in accordance with Hindu custom, the
1281L24 body
1290L24 was placed, wrapped in a white shroud. ^Heaps of wreaths and flowers
1300L24 had been brought by sympathisers and relatives. ^They were strewn over
1310L24 the body which was borne shoulder-high, as mourners chanted *4bhajans
1320L24 to the accompaniment of cymbals. $^It was a long way to the cremation
1330L24 *4ghat; the route was lined by crowds who looked on. ^There was a whisper
1340L24 that Vadilal had gone off to Tokraj even before the cremation of his
1350L24 daughter and the subsequent obsequies. ^Some commented derisively; others
1360L24 appreciated his sense of duty. ^After all, personal matters and family
1370L24 occurrences should not come in the way of the affairs of state. ^*Vadilal
1380L24 himself had not argued in this manner with himself. ^He was a
1390L24 man of principles; with him duty came first. ^He had programmed to_ go
1400L24 to Tokraj; he had to_ fulfil his engagement. ^And he did it. $^Anyway,
1410L24 it was a welcome change, after all the happenings of the past few days--
1410L24 the fulminations in the legislative assembly, the accusations that
1420L24 had been hurled against him, the demonstrations, the *(lathi-charges*),
1430L24 tear-gas attack, firing, and, as if these were not enough, the demise of
1440L24 his only daughter. ^Why was God being so unkind to him? ^What wrong
1450L24 had he done? ^But the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
1460L24 ^He had read the Bible, as much as the Bhagavad Gita and the
1470L24 Holy Quran. $^Then there was that_ outrageous, flippant little rag
1480L24 called *3Zoom*0 which had made a full-time occupation of denigrating him
1490L24 and his son. ^Yes, his son would be back soon if the cable would reach
1500L24 him. ^He had given his last address as somewhere in Cite Bergere in
1510L24 Paris. ^*Multekar knew it. ^If he couldn*'4t be traced, the cable would
1520L24 be delivered to the Indian embassy in Paris. ^They would surely locate
1530L24 him. ^He must have left his address there. $^People in Tokraj weren*'4t
1540L24 quite sure whether Vadilal would keep his engagement and visit the
1550L24 site of the dam. ^Nevertheless, they had not dismantled the arches
1560L24 and bunting that_ they had erected. ^The streets were swept and washed--
1570L24 at least those along which Vadilal*'s motorcade was to_ pass. ^All the
1580L24 stray dogs and cattle had been driven away, although mongrels on the
1590L24 route to Tokraj had barked at and chased Vadilal*'s motorised procession.
1600L24 ^Those stupid things. $^The district magistrate, the contractor,
1610L24 officials, liveried flunkeys, a native pipe-band, decorated bullocks,
1620L24 and the inevitable crowds-- though much smaller than in sprawling Surbal--
1630L24 were all there to_ welcome the chief minister.*#
        **[no. of words = 02020**]


        **[txt. m01**]
0010M01 **<*3THE CROOKED MIRROR*0**>
0020M01 $*3^THERE*0 is an interesting person. ^He seems to_ be half mad,
0030M01 or that_ is at least what we take him to_ be. ^He goes around the
0040M01 streets, writes a few illegible words and moves ahead. ^But before
0050M01 I tell you more about this person, I have an interesting story to_
0060M01 narrate, and here it is... $^Yes I am sure you can also hear the
0070M01 resounding echoes of laughter coming from a cottage in this dense jungle.
0080M01 ^Its sole resident \0Prof. Gill is so happy that he is unable
0090M01 to_ hold back his pleasure. ^He is happy with his success.
0100M01 ^His has been an uphill task. ^He has worked in this lonely cottage
0110M01 away from the world for the last twelve years. $^Five feet ten inches
0120M01 of \0Prof. Gill had a chin showing determination, a wrinkled face
0130M01 and a beard which has grown grey. ^He shut himself up in this den in
0140M01 1979. ^He had thought his invention would be in a position to_ dispel
0150M01 the clouds of war which were then hovering over the world. ^In 1985
0160M01 as we all know, came the third world war. ^It was the most destructive
0170M01 thought: it lasted only five months or 142 days, to_ be exact.
0180M01 ^Even during this period the professor had been busy with his invention.
0190M01 $^The war resulted in a world government. ^After the war all
0200M01 the forces of mankind were devoted to resurrection at a speed never seen
0210M01 or heard before. ^In 1991, today man does not run, he flies.
0220M01 ^Man has marshalled atomic energy and is using the same to its fullest.
0230M01 $^The joy of achievement the Eureka twinkle of \0Prof. Gill*'s eyes
0240M01 has gone. ^It is clear that he is in thought again. ^His immediate
0250M01 problem is to_ give this invention to someone who may use it for the
0260M01 benefit of humanity, someone who may use it to_ end all misery and want
0270M01 in the universe. ^He scribbled a few names, erased the same,
0280M01 added a few more, until he had only three on the pad. ^The names
0290M01 were: $1. \0Mr. Jwalinman-- the first premier of the world government.
0300M01 $2. \0Rev. Abarshi-- one of the spiritual heads of
0310M01 the world government. $3. \0Mr. Daltafeller-- the bili-billionaire.
0330M01 **[sic**] $*3^IN*0 the morning he summoned the first
0340M01 person on the list.
0350M01 ^Yes, the news was received with astonishment, because he was a very
0360M01 prominent scientist. ^Nobody had known about his whereabouts.
0370M01 ^Naturally his request for keeping his name from the press was agreed to.
0380M01 ^The premier, seeing the urgency of \0Prof. Gill*'s call cancelled
0390M01 all engagements and rushed in his '*(Wayukaptor*)'-- the plane invented
0400M01 in 1990 meant for solo flying at the speed of 1300 \0m.p.h.
0410M01 $\0^*Prof. Gill received \0Mr. Jwalinman and took him to the Tele-Actual--
0420M01 his invention. ^This Tele-Actual consisted of a huge opaque
0430M01 screen with the outline of a world map on it. ^On a panel in front
0440M01 of this screen were numerous push-buttons. ^Behind the screen of course
0450M01 known only to \0Prof. Gill are innumerable valves, wires with connections
0460M01 as intermingled as a dish of Chinese '*7Chop-Sue'.
0470M01 $^Standing before the Tele-Actual the professor tried
0480M01 to_ explain its working to the political leader. ^He said, "\0Mr.
0490M01 Jwalinman suppose we wish to_ know the immediate happenings in Melbourne,
0500M01 all we have to_ do is to_ place this attacher on the word 'Australia'
0510M01 on this map on the screen." $^So saying, he placed the flat end
0520M01 on the screen. ^It stuck on as if glued. ^The other end of this
0530M01 attacher was lost in the intricate network of wires behind the screen.
0540M01 $^The professor then pressed a button. ^The map on the screen gradually
0550M01 faded and for a split second the screen was milky white. ^Then
0560M01 came a detailed map of Australia. ^Once again the professor detached
0570M01 the attacher and placed it on Melbourne. ^He pressed a couple of
0580M01 handles and finally switched on a flash light. ^Gradually the map of
0590M01 Australia faded and a photograph of Melbourne was on the screen.
0600M01 ^It was like an aerial photograph as if the camera was actually hovering
0610M01 over Melbourne. $^On closer scrutiny one could see the central
0620M01 thoroughfare. ^A twist of a handle brought the sea-port into view.
0630M01 ^One could see the cargo being loaded and unloaded and hear the hum
0640M01 and bustle and even the voices of the people for \0Prof. Gill now had
0650M01 his hand on the volume control. ^The professor said that he could
0660M01 as easily project any particular room, a particular car or a particular
0670M01 cabin on this screen and overhear and see what was going on.
0680M01 $*3^THE*0 professor gave some more performance. ^The attacher was
0690M01 placed on a building. ^The screen presented a big hall. ^The meeting
0700M01 was on, a speaker was on his feet and they listened to his speech,
0710M01 saw the audience, heard their murmurs and applause. ^The professor
0720M01 pushed the big red button and everything vanished and the map of the world
0730M01 was on the screen again. $\0^*Mr. Jwalinman rubbed his eyes in
0740M01 wonder. ^Was he dreaming? ^Even in his day when science had achieved
0750M01 so much, this was surely a miracle. \0^*Prof. Gill handed
0760M01 him the attacher and said, "^It is quite simple. ^Try it yourself".
0770M01 $\0^*Mr. Jwalinman took the attacher and with trembling hands
0780M01 placed it on Driskoten, the capital of the world. ^The aerial photograph
0790M01 came to view. ^The attacher was now placed, with steadier
0800M01 hand, of course on the house of \0Mr. Mego Park, the renowned leader
0810M01 of the opposition. ^A close-up of the drawing room was now visible
0820M01 on the screen. ^There were eight people reclining in chairs. ^With
0830M01 the turn of the volume-control the conversation became audible. ^One
0840M01 of them was saying, "^But \0Mr. Park you must be careful.
0850M01 ^Your friend Jwalinman is shrewd and can do anything to_ win the elections.
0860M01 ^He holds the reins of government and commands its mighty resources.
0870M01 ^He has his men in all the ministries of the world." $^This
0880M01 was addressed to a middle-aged hawk-eyed man seated in front.
0890M01 ^He was smartly dressed. ^He waved his hand majestically as he
0900M01 said, "^Do you mean to_ say that I have overlooked all these factors?
0910M01 $^People of Europe will back me. ^*I have similar assurances
0920M01 from China and Australia. ^*I am confident to_ succeed at the
0930M01 polls this time. ^*Jwalinman will see how he is let down by his own
0940M01 men. ^You know his pal Kal Daph well, she is in the palm of my hands!"
0950M01 ^He clenched his fist as if to_ emphasise that he had that_ damsel
0960M01 in the hollow of his hand and laughed aloud. $\0^*Mr. Jwalinman
0970M01 immediately turned off the big red button. ^It was evident that he was
0980M01 in anger. ^He, through the Tele-Actual got Miss Kal Daph*'s
0990M01 drawing room on the screen. ^*Kal was in deep conversation with her
1000M01 friends. ^She was in high spirits and giggled as she said, "^Thus
1010M01 I will befool both of them-- poor Jwalinman and Mego Park and become
1020M01 the premier myself." $*3^AS*0 if to_ applaud her, a friend interjected
1030M01 "^Quite right, the two fools they deserve it." $^The
1040M01 map of the world appeared on the screen for the infuriated Jwalinman had
1050M01 switched off in his temper. ^With an effort he controlled himself
1060M01 and was as humble as humility itself when he addressed the professor,
1070M01 "^*I am overjoyed at having seen your Tele-Actual. ^Your invention
1080M01 will fulfil a long-felt want. ^*I feel sure. ^*I will be able
1090M01 to_ use it to the best advantage. ^*I will immediately detail a platoon
1100M01 to_ guard your laboratory. ^Arrangement to_ transport the Tele-Actual
1110M01 to the capital will be made with the least possible delay.
1120M01 ^Of course you shall be suitably rewarded." $"^No sir", said the
1130M01 professor. "^You need not send the platoon yet. ^No one knows
1140M01 about it yet. ^As there are a few things still left in the completion
1150M01 of this, I shall inform you as soon as I have completed it. ^Seeing
1160M01 the importance of this, I am sure, you will keep it to yourself
1170M01 only for the time being." $^After a little conversation and assurances,
1180M01 the premier left. ^The professor was dejected. ^There
1190M01 had been a severe earth quake in Japan. ^There were fires ablaze
1200M01 in Prairie Forests. ^There had been floods in Hindustan. ^But
1210M01 Jwalinman did not care two hoots for the misery of the people.
1220M01 ^What worried him above all was the election, his sweetheart*'s attitude
1230M01 towards him and his candidature! '^Does he deserve the Tele-Actual?'
1240M01 thought the professor. $^Within the next hour \0Rev.
1250M01 Abarshi the chief priest of the world religion, was there before
1260M01 the Tele-Actual. ^The professor demonstrated the Tele-Actual.
1270M01 '^*Hare Jandev' 'Hare Jandev' chanted the priest as he saw the
1280M01 screen perform the miracles. ^The high priest saw the havoc wrought
1290M01 by the fire in Prairie and as he saw half-burnt people, recognised
1300M01 some by their attire as the devotees of the Pragod temple working there
1310M01 as missionaries. ^He turned to the professor and said, "Well professor
1320M01 can I talk to people by the Tele-Actual? ^*I would like
1330M01 to_ tell my people to_ send three-times the number of people sent by Pragod
1340M01 temple. ^This way we are sure to_ lose a number of our devotees."
1350M01 $^Professor Gill thought for a minute and nodded his head declining
1360M01 "^You can go on my *(wayu-kaptor*) and give your order personally."
1370M01 $^As he dashed out in his zeal, he thought of the Tele-Actual
1380M01 and turning to Professor Gill said, "^Your Tele-Actual fulfils a
1390M01 great want. ^*I am sure I will be able to_ use it fully. ^*I will
1400M01 be back just now." $*3^AS*0 professor Gill escorted him outside
1410M01 he said, "^There are still some adjustment in this. ^*I shall let
1420M01 you know as soon as it is ready. ^Meanwhile, please do not breathe
1430M01 a word about this to anyone." ^After the priest had left, \0Prof.
1440M01 Gill sat down tired and perspiring. ^The chief priest of the world
1450M01 too is only anxious about his sect, and unconcerned about the suffering
1460M01 humanity! \0^*Prof. Gill had high hopes on this priest. ^Those
1470M01 were shattered. $^With a heavy heart he summoned \0Mr. Daltafeller
1480M01 the last and final on his list. ^The billionaire was a renowned philanthropist.
1490M01 ^He was a great patron of art as was evident from the
1500M01 numerous temples and art museums he had dedicated to Pragod. ^His
1510M01 wife had dedicated as many to Jandeva. ^Rumour had it that this was
1520M01 to_ please the followers of both the rival sects. ^But rumours are rumours,
1530M01 and everybody knows that_! $^Within an hour, the billionaire
1540M01 was before the Tele-Actual using the same. ^The magnate used
1550M01 the attacher to_ see the godowns of Beh Kapoo in Eden and then connected
1560M01 himself to the offices of his rival in business. ^*Beh Kapoo was
1570M01 barking orders over his ebiphone for the purchase of cloth. ^*Daltafeller,
1580M01 who was accompanied by his secretary, beckoned to him and said,
1590M01 "^From my *(wayukaptor*) get busy on ebiphone and tell all my branches   ^
1600M01 the world over to_ sell all the cloth. ^*I have seen the godowns
1610M01 of Beh Kapoo. ^They are all full. ^He is only bluffing to_ raise
1620M01 the market price. ^*I shall have him where I want him. ^Look sharp."
1630M01 $^As the secretary dashed out to the *(wayu-kaptor*) the billionaire
1640M01 turned to \0Prof. Gill, who was ignored all this while. ^The professor
1650M01 gaped as he saw the joy in the eyes of Daltafeller the philanthropist.
1660M01 ^Turning this side, he said, "Congratulations, Professor.
1670M01 ^This Tele-Actual puts all the invention of science in the background.
1680M01 ^But why this secrecy? ^Why this privation like a Buddhist
1690M01 monk? ^You could have sent a word to me and I would have made
1700M01 things comfortable for you. ^You must accompany me. ^*I will instruct
1710M01 my manager to_ pay 3,000 dollings (world currency) per month. ^All
1720M01 expenses incidental to your research will also be met by him."
1730M01 $\0^*Prof. Gill listened with downcast eyes and clenched fists.
1740M01 ^But \0Mr. Daltafeller believed in the divine right of dollings. ^He
1750M01 patted the Professor on the back and said, "^We pay you for the Tale-Actual
1760M01 also. ^Will half a million do?" $*3^WITHOUT*0 a word
1770M01 the professor picked up the attacher. "^Never mind, professor
1780M01 I shall make it a full million.*#
        **[no. of words = 02027**]

        **[txt. m02**]
0010M02 **<THE EXPERIMENT THAT_ FAILED**> $\0^*Dr *(0B.*) Das was very
0020M02 senior to me. ^Yet, in spite of his position and age, he considered
0030M02 me a very dear friend. ^Similarity of temperament was the basis of our
0040M02 frendship. ^He was a remarkable personality. ^He lived a simple life,
0050M02 avoiding luxury and vice, and he loved seclusion. $^At the age of 35,
0060M02 he had conducted several reserches in the surgery line and had established
0070M02 himself as one of the most capable researchers of India. $^Yesterday,
0080M02 he passed away, owing to heart failure. ^His death came as a shock
0090M02 but it was no surprise. ^He was not a heart patient. ^But I alone understood
0100M02 why he died. ^Let me recall what happened to_ cause his death.
0110M02 $^It was while I was doing my \0M.D. in the Lucknow Medical College
0120M02 that I first met \0Dr *(0B.*) Das. ^Though a great surgeon
0130M02 even then, he carried on reaserches in enteric viruses. $^Within a few
0140M02 days, I came very close to him. ^At the very first meeting, his personality
0150M02 made a deep impact on me. ^*I never saw him sitting idle, even
0160M02 for a minute. ^Thanks to him, I became adept in monkey kidney drypsinisation,
0170M02 virus innoculation, blood serum titration and mice-harvesting
0180M02 innoculation. ^His cooperation and my earnest efforts enabled me to_ generate
0190M02 many new viruses within a week. $^He came to the virus laboratory
0200M02 at nine in the morning and **[text mutilated**]
0201M02 he took his tea, lunch, \0etc, in the
0210M02 laboratory itself. $^One day, while we were conducting an experiment in
0220M02 monkey innoculation (making a monkey sick by injecting viruses through
0230M02 its veins), he said to me: "Sen, I have to_ discuss something with you
0240M02 today. ^It is rather confidential. ^Can you come to my bungalow?"
0250M02 $"^But you stay on in the laboratory till very late at night," said I.
0260M02 $"^No, today I shall leave a little earlier." $^*I went to his bungalow
0270M02 in the evening. ^The bungalow was very near the virus laboratory.
0280M02 ^There, I saw him strolling in the lawn. ^As I approched him, he called
0290M02 out, "Come along! ^Come with me." $^We went through several doorways,
0300M02 and reached a room that_ was rather big. ^It served both as a
0310M02 laboratory and a library. ^In the room lay many essential apparatuses,
0320M02 including a stretcher, a long table and two microscopes. $^As soon as
0330M02 we were seated, he said, "Listen, Sen, today I am embarking on a new
0340M02 experimental research. ^This is not an investigation conducted on
0350M02 mice, monkey, guinea pig, or rabbit or any other small animal. ^It shall
0360M02 be conducted on a man." $"^On a man!" I expressed my surprise. "^What
0370M02 is the nature of the research, Doctor?" ^*I inquired. $"^Yes,
0380M02 Sen," said he. "^On a man, a living man. ^*Ram Singh will be here in
0390M02 a short while. ^*I am going to_ experiment on him. ^You will, perhaps,
0400M02 wonder why I am telling you all this. ^But you*'3ll understand it all
0410M02 later." $"^But Doctor," I interrupted him, "what is the nature of this
0420M02 experiment?" $"^Exchange of hearts and modification of the brain."
0430M02 $^*I was amazed. ^What a grand idea! ^But would he be able to_ demonstrate
0440M02 it successfully? ^*I was not quite convinced. ^But I had full faith
0450M02 in him. $"Sen, do you know," he told me, "I shall begin my experiment
0460M02 tomorrow at eight at night." $"^Then, I shall come here
0470M02 tomorrow at eight," I assured, as I got up from my chair. $"^Leaving
0480M02 so soon? ^Why? ^Take coffee, and then go," said the Doctor, as he switched
0490M02 on the heater and placed a saucepan full of water on it. $^There
0500M02 was silence for a short while. ^Then he spoke thus, "^Listen, Sen, you
0510M02 have to_ help me in this experiment. ^That_ is why I have told you all
0520M02 about it. ^*I cannot say, at this stage, how far I shall succeed.
0530M02 ^But I plan to_ operate tomorrow night upon Ram Singh and change his
0540M02 heart. ^As a result of the change of heart, he*'3ll acquire inordinate strength
0550M02 and he will experience unusual agility. $"^His life expectancy will
0560M02 increase. ^But then, the problem will be: if this person possesses
0570M02 uncommon energy, physical strength and agility, and his brain, too, functions
0580M02 very well, it is possible that he may then hinder our further experiments.
0590M02 ^So I have decided to_ cause an aberration in his brain."
0600M02 $^The revelation dazed me. ^*I was overwhelmed by the thought because
0610M02 causing an aberration in the brain meant ruining the cerebellum and the
0620M02 cerebral hemisphere, with the result that the man would lose the faculty
0630M02 of remembering. ^He would cease to_ think by himself. ^He would not
0640M02 be different from a domesticated animal. $\0^*Dr Das removed the pan
0650M02 from the heater, and began preparing coffee. ^He soon handed me a
0660M02 cup and then said, "Sen, I shall conduct the experiment here itself."
0670M02 $^*I was quite unable to_ say anything to him. ^There was a peculiar charm
0680M02 about his voice, and a sort of firm conviction spread over his face.
0690M02 ^But along with it, I also perceived the shadow of Satan clouding
0700M02 it. $^As I sipped coffee, there was stillness all round. ^The Doctor
0710M02 too, became silent. ^His eyes appeared hardly human, but a diabolic
0720M02 ruthlessness appeared to_ be dancing in them. ^*I felt I must get away
0730M02 from him. ^*I got up. ^*I promised to_ reach his bungalow the next
0740M02 night at eight, and took leave of him. $^The next day, I reached
0750M02 his bungalow exactly at eight at night. \0^*Dr Das and Ram Singh were
0760M02 present in the room. ^*I took pity on Ram Singh. ^*I wondered why
0770M02 he had yielded to the Doctor*'s request for conducting an experiment
0780M02 on him. ^Had he no family ties? ^Was he an orphan? ^Would the Doctor
0790M02 be successful in changing the heart? ^My mind was haunted by these
0800M02 thoughts. $\0^*Dr Das bolted the door of the room from within.
0810M02 ^*Ram Singh was asked to_ lie down on the stretcher. ^When he lay down,
0820M02 Doctor Das asked me to_ make him unconscious. ^My heart beat fast.
0830M02 $^This was the first occasion that I had to_ help in doing an experiment
0840M02 on a living man. ^The experiment was like a tough test for me
0850M02 . ^To me, \0Dr Das appeared to_ be a man without a human heart. ^He
0860M02 instructed me: "Sen, anaesthetize him quickly." $\0^*Dr Das himself
0870M02 performed the operation as Ram Singh lay unconscious. ^He took out
0880M02 a bottle with a heart preserved in it. "^*Sen," he called out to me,
0890M02 "make the temperature in the cubicle 'minus'-- let it be 20*@ centigrade".
0900M02 $^*I put the switch on and reduced the temperature to 20*@ \0C.
0910M02 ^The Doctor immediately cut off two trumbells from above, and joined them
0920M02 to the other trumbell. ^Then it was the turn to_ join the lower sinus
0930M02 vinosus. $^All of us were at that_ time in a room with a temperature
0940M02 of only 20*@ \0C. ^It was impossible for us to_ remain for long in that
0950M02 excessively chilly atmosphere. $\0^*Dr Das lifted the sinus vinosus
0960M02 with great care. ^For a split second, even his well-experienced hands
0970M02 seemed to_ shake. ^But the next moment, Ram Singh*'s heart was
0980M02 taken out, and the heart that_ had been preserved in the bottle was
0990M02 fitted therein. $^Then \0Dr Das turned towards me. ^*I experienced
1000M02 a feeling, quite akin to amazement and awe. ^He took me out of the
1010M02 room. ^Despite my amazement, my mind was disturbed by the thought that
1020M02 there was no beating at all in the other heart. ^But I did not venture
1030M02 to_ ask \0Dr Das about it. ^*I simply gazed at his face. ^There
1040M02 were beads of perspiration on his forehead. $"^The operation has
1050M02 been successful," said he, with an expression of satisfaction. $"^But,
1060M02 Doctor," I ventured in the end, "what about heartbeat?" $"^*Sen,"
1070M02 said he in a tone of great confidence, "don*'4t you know that it was
1080M02 for this very reason that I had asked you to_ reduce the room temperature
1090M02 to minus? ^If we keep a person immediately after his death under
1100M02 super-cooling atmosphere, his bodily sacs and glands stop all their
1110M02 functions for a while. ^But soon aferwards, they resume their functioning.
1120M02 ^Now, after half an hour, we shall increase the temperature
1130M02 in the cubicle to 30*@ \0C. ^Thereafter we can cause an aberration
1140M02 in the patient*'s brain." $^After half an hour, \0Dr Das went in
1150M02 and damaged the cerebral hemisphere and a part of the cerebellum.
1160M02 $^For a few days following this operation, I did not see \0Dr Das
1170M02 in the virus laboratory. ^*I came to_ know that he had taken a week*'s
1180M02 leave. ^*I was anxious to_ know further details about his experiment.
1190M02 $^*I could not resist the inner urge to_ rush down to his bungalow.
1200M02 ^His servant, Ramu sat hunched up in a corner of the front verandah.
1210M02 ^*I stepped in, "Is Doctor *4Sahib in?" $"^Yes, sir," said Ramu,
1220M02 waking up from his day-dream, "he is in the research room." $"^*I
1230M02 hope there is nothing very special." $"^What shall I say, *(Doctorji*)?"
1240M02 said Ramu in utter desperation and with a feeling of resignation.
1250M02 "^*I am fed up. ^Doctor Das *4Sahib has not stirred out of that_ room
1260M02 for the last one week. ^He wants me to_ serve his food there. ^He
1270M02 prepares his tea there itself. $"^What is most surprising is that he
1280M02 asks me to_ take in two plates of food and side dishes. ^All his clothes,
1290M02 too are kept in the room itself. ^*I am unable to_ understand what has
1300M02 become of my master," complained the servent. $^*I thought to myself
1310M02 '^Has the experiment been successful? ^Is Ram Singh alive? ^Must
1320M02 be so. ^That is why food is being served in two separate plates, and
1330M02 the Doctor continues to stay therein.' $^Suddenly, I realised that
1340M02 Ramu was eagerly awaiting some sort of consoling words. "^No need
1350M02 to_ worry, Ramu," said I, "the Doctor is engaged in a very important
1360M02 experiment. ^*I shall now go in there." $^*I pressed the buzzer at
1370M02 the entrance to the research room. ^After a couple of minutes. \0Dr
1380M02 Das opened the door. ^He was very delighted to_ see me there. "^Welcome,
1390M02 Sen," said he smilingly, "you have come at the right moment.
1400M02 ^Step in. ^*I shall show you the miracle." ^*I followed \0Dr Das
1410M02 into the room. ^*Ram Singh, who had been no better than a corpse on
1420M02 that_ day, was seemingly in an easy chair. ^There were bandages on his
1430M02 heart and chest. ^*I was amazed at the success of \0Dr Das*'s experiment.
1440M02 ^Even then, I could not believe my eyes. "^*Ram Singh, this
1450M02 is \0Dr Sen," said the Doctor to Ram Singh, "salute him." $^*Ram
1460M02 Singh joined his palms together and greeted me. ^Immediately, the
1470M02 Doctor said in a tone of irritation. "^*Ram Singh keep the saucepan
1480M02 with water in it on the heater for making coffee." $^*Ram Singh got
1490M02 up mechanically. ^As he was about to go, \0^*Dr Das shouted: "Further,
1500M02 return immediately and take your food." $^*Ram Singh went away.
1510M02 \0^*Dr Das told me, "Sen, I never expected that my experiment would
1520M02 be so successful. ^You see in front of you the benefit of having damaged
1530M02 the cerebral hemisphere. $"^Now, this man cannot think anything
1540M02 by himself. ^He will do exactly as I ask him to_ do. ^He has become
1550M02 exactly like a pet animal. ^But his physical strength has increased fourfold.
1560M02 ^If he wishes, he can toss up persons like you and me." $^*I
1570M02 remained silent. "^*I shall be on duty at the virus lab from tomorrow,"
1580M02 said the Doctor. $"^Doctor ," I began to say, "I am much delighted
1590M02 at the success of your experiment. ^*I....." $^By that_ time, Ram
1600M02 Singh came back with the hot water for coffee. \0^*Dr Das prepared
1610M02 three cups of coffee. "^Tell me, Ram Singh," I said while drinking coffee,
1620M02 "how are you?" $"\0OK Doctor *4Sahib. ^*I am quite well."
1630M02 $"^Well! ^Do you remember anything about your previous life?" $"^No,
1640M02 Doctor," was his reply. $^*I got up and said, "well Doctor, I
1650M02 shall be off. ^We are meeting again at the virus lab tomorrow, aren*'4t
1660M02 we?" $"^Yes, yes, I shall resume my duty tomorrow," said the Doctor.*#
1670M02
        **[no. of words = 02020**]


        **[txt. n01**]
0010N01 **<*3ORDAINED TO_ LIVE*0**> $^Dear *4dada, $^You are not likely to_
0020N01 know who I am, but that_ is unimportant. ^The important point is
0030N01 why I address this letter to you. ^This will become clear by the
0040N01 time you finish reading it. ^Perhaps, this may cause a shudder in
0050N01 your heart over what might have happened. $^*I may begin by pointing
0060N01 out that, even though you do not know me, I know you very well.
0070N01 ^Indeed, you are not a stranger to me at all. ^From your early
0080N01 boyhood, until now when you are a respected "elder statesman" of this
0090N01 township, I am familiar with the course of your story. $^This is
0100N01 because my friend Kukri, my guide, philosopher, my mentor and comrade,
0110N01 closer to me than a brother, often used to_ speak about you. ^This was
0120N01 curious because you were his enemy, the arch-enemy as we all know, to
0130N01 our party. ^In this little town, you represent everything we are committed
0140N01 to_ destory. $^Let me be more explicit. ^To the revolutionary
0150N01 party, to which I belong and of which my friend Kukri was
0160N01 a top leader you have not only been the symbol but the muscle and teeth
0170N01 of the vested interests. ^You are the bulwark which protects the
0180N01 local capitalist society and organisation. ^*Kukri was sent here
0190N01 by our \0G.H.Q. as a local man to_ build a bridgehead for our party
0200N01 in this growing industrial area. ^For nearly three years, we were
0210N01 active here in our own way, which means that you were not aware of
0220N01 our existence. $^*Kukri made it clear to our Committee that you
0230N01 were in command here not only over the capitalist but labour and trade
0240N01 union interests. ^You were something of a business tycoon and
0250N01 trade unionist rolled into one. ^This made our job all the more difficult
0260N01 and delicate, because any open combat with you would alienate
0270N01 rank and file workers which we did not want to_ do. ^*I am the junior-most
0280N01 of the diehard members of our party who constitute our local committee
0290N01 with Kukri as our chief. ^We call him Kukri, but you know
0300N01 him only by his official name. $^Our frantic efforts to_ create a
0310N01 dent in the workers*' camp here did not meet with any success. ^We
0320N01 tried every weapon in our armoury beginning with trained infiltrators,
0330N01 but these failed. ^Not that workers in your giant factory were
0340N01 satisfied that they had all they wanted. ^But they swore their
0350N01 loyalty to you. ^We also tried in other establishments, but
0360N01 came to the conclusion that, so long as you were there, as proprietor
0370N01 as well as the patron-saint of the trade unions, we had to_ write
0380N01 off this township from the area of our operations, which we just
0390N01 could not afford to_ do because we wanted to_ spread our arms into
0400N01 certain more sensitive political nerve-centres of which this township
0410N01 was a vital spring-board. $^Word came from our High Command that
0420N01 there was no alternative in the circumstances to your being removed
0430N01 from the scene. ^When the matter came up before our Committee, we
0440N01 went into it in detail and agreed that we could make a big headway if we
0450N01 could get rid of you. ^There was no second to you in your leadership
0460N01 ranks and, once you were out, we could surge in effectively.
0470N01 ^It was accordingly decided that you should be removed. $^The decision,
0480N01 let me say, was unanimous, though some of us felt Kukri had grown up
0490N01 in this town and knew you and might not, therefore, vote for any drastic
0500N01 action. ^So, when the question came about who among us had to_
0510N01 undertake the operation, it was suggested that Kukri should be left out.
0520N01 ^*I have never seen him in a more angry mood when the discussion
0530N01 turned this way. ^*Kukri asked straightaway whether they suspected
0540N01 his loyalty to the party and whether all his golden record of nearly three
0550N01 decades had been nullified by his so-called acquaintance with their
0560N01 arch-enemy. "^You people have given me the nickname 'Kukri' because
0570N01 I have always held it as a symbol of the people*'s weapon for the cause
0580N01 of the revolution." ^Now that the point had been raised, he
0590N01 said, none but he should be entrusted with the job of disposing you off
0600N01 and it should be left to him entirely. $^It was a job indeed for
0610N01 us, younger men, to_ appease him, and finally, force him to_ pass on the
0620N01 task to one of us. ^But he declared that he would be the master of operations
0630N01 and see the job through. ^This was ultimately agreed upon and
0640N01 Kukri was left to_ choose the time, manner and place to_ execute the
0650N01 sentence-- on you, *4Dada! ^How could you know how near you were to_
0660N01 death at that_ time? ^That_ is why I said earlier in this letter that
0670N01 you would shudder when you read this. $^*Kukri and I had a common
0680N01 lodge with one room and a kitchen in the upper story of a small house
0690N01 in a crowded street, mainly made up of small shops where no one had
0700N01 any time for anyone else. ^*I was his Man Friday, many years younger
0710N01 to him. ^He had several books, mostly party literature, and correspondence
0720N01 with his friends in the country and abroad. ^We were known locally
0730N01 as journalists who were trying to_ make a living and were generally
0740N01 left alone in our attic room with an attached alcove which passed for our
0750N01 kitchen where all we did was to_ make tea several times a day in our
0760N01 gas stove. ^*Kukri used to_ show his age-- after all, he was in his late
0770N01 fifties-- and appeared weary in the evenings despite conscious efforts
0780N01 to_ hide it with his gusto and sporting gestures. $^Evenings especially,
0790N01 he would sit in his canvas chair, with me squatting on the ground,
0800N01 and be gerrulous and it was on such occasions he used to_ talk about
0810N01 his early years in this town where his father had been a handyman to
0820N01 the rich folk making some money through odd jobs he did for them.
0830N01 ^You were both, he would tell me, as under-tenners, going to the same school.
0840N01 ^The most intersting point I used to_ note about his references
0850N01 to you was that, while he was generally cynical about everyone and
0860N01 everything, he had always a kind word for you. ^He would say that,
0870N01 in those years, he had not known anything like affection or fellow-feeling
0880N01 from anyone except you. ^You were a rich man*'s son and
0890N01 was way up the social ladder, but Kukri being noted as a bright and sparking
0900N01 lad, he won your regard and you would not only befriend him but show
0910N01 genuine affection despite the social gap, even ignoring your classy high-brow
0920N01 friends. ^You had come to his house many a time and
0930N01 you had forced him to_ go to your place and introduced him to your parents,
0940N01 though he was ill-dressed and noticeably a poor boy. ^You had
0950N01 once in fact forced him to_ stay at your house and had persuaded your lofty
0960N01 parents to_ see his bright future rather than his then poverty-stricken
0970N01 background. $^That_ chapter of Kukri*'s life was brief, however,
0980N01 for his father could not educate him and he sent him to Calcutta
0990N01 to_ find a job and study further if he could or cared. ^*Kukri
1000N01 was practically lost to genteel society when his father died soon
1010N01 after and his mother moved to her village where she found some shelter.
1020N01 ^It was then Kukri came under the influence of *(0M. N.*) roy and
1030N01 joined the first band of the young hopefuls of our Revolutionary Party.
1040N01 ^He evolved in course of time and, scraping through many bloody
1050N01 incidents, came to_ be a party veteran. $^The question of implementing
1060N01 our decision regarding you was hanging fire. ^One day Kukri
1070N01 came to our familiar *4verandah seat with a pink wedding invitation card
1080N01 and passed it on to me with a smile. ^Then he fell into a reverie
1090N01 and I did not interrupt him. $"^This is the invitation for his daughter*'s
1100N01 marriage" he said, adding "^Why can*'4t we make our project spectacular
1110N01 and draw suspicion away from us?" $^*I stared at him unable
1120N01 to_ understand what he had in mind. ^He remained silent for a
1130N01 time and then continued: $"^*I shall attend this wedding," he said,
1140N01 "and I feel that we should bring in our Executive so that he can operate
1150N01 at a suitable moment and disappear". $^*I told him that it was
1160N01 up to him to_ manage and he had to_ be his own guide. ^He looked
1170N01 at me and smiled enigmatically. "^Yes, you are right." $^Later,
1180N01 Kukri put the idea to our comrades and they said, as I had done, that
1190N01 he had taken it upon himself to_ complete the project and he had his
1200N01 lieutenant, picked and chosen, who, Kukri should know, could be relied
1210N01 upon not to_ flinch under my circumstances. $^On the appointed day,
1220N01 Kukri had a long talk with this young fire-brand who, by the look of
1230N01 him, nobody could suspect what a bloody devil he could be. ^The plan
1240N01 was that, at a suitable opportunity when you got away from the crowd for
1250N01 something, you should be followed and shot. ^Crowds would gather
1260N01 thereafter and the assailant should mix with them and escape. ^The
1270N01 idea was a jarring one, but that_, Kukri said, was what he precisely
1280N01 wanted. $^*Kukri accordingly briefed the youth to_ watch for his direction
1290N01 so that he could proceed to_ act sharply. ^*Kukri dressed with
1300N01 special care that_ morning with his silk *4achchkan and cap. ^A tall
1310N01 figure, he could be a picture of grace and dignity. ^The other man
1320N01 was dressed simply in a decent *4pyjama and *4Kurta covering himself
1330N01 with a thick dark shawl to_ hide the lethal weapon he carried. $^*Kukri
1340N01 was received enthusiastically by you, although both of you knew you
1350N01 had mutually hostile political loyalties. ^He actually embraced you,
1360N01 which you warmly reciprocated. ^*I was with him and, also, the other
1370N01 young chap whom Kukri introduced as his friend whom he had brought
1380N01 along. ^You welcomed us all charmingly and we were soon mixing freely
1390N01 with the huge crowd in the *4shamiana. $^Our young friend,
1400N01 who, as arranged previously, sat away from us and near the side entrance
1410N01 which led to the off-side of the bungalow. ^The wedding ceremony had
1420N01 not started and Kukri, as he had explained earlier, was to_ make it
1430N01 appear as some kind of a personal vendetta by a thwarted young man who had
1440N01 wanted to_ marry your good-looking and wealthy daughter. $^It was
1450N01 not long after that we saw you break away from a group and cross the entrance
1460N01 to the rear side of the house. ^*Kukri immediately gave a
1470N01 gentle nod to our watchman and he followed. ^*I was expecting that,
1480N01 in a few seconds, we would hear the shot and bedlam would break out.
1490N01 ^*I was getting ready to_ rush, but found Kukri calm and he even smiled
1500N01 at me. ^Then all at once I Found that you were standing behind
1510N01 us shaking hands with some guests and saluting with folded hands some
1520N01 distinguished women guests. ^*I looked at Kukri somewhat stupefied,
1530N01 because he had given the signal earlier for our young friend to_ follow
1540N01 the man who was going out and do his job. $^A few moments later,
1550N01 we saw the man who had gone out, re-enter the *4pandal, followed
1560N01 by our friend. ^*I stared at Kukri and he smiled at me again.
1570N01 ^Thereafter, the wedding ceremonial began and, being the bride*'s father,
1580N01 you were right in the midst of the crowd all the time. ^The rush
1590N01 and turmoil was such that all of us got separated. ^*Kukri and
1600N01 I silently returned to our abode. ^Both of us were too full of our
1610N01 thoughts to_ say anything. ^Finally, I said, it seemed we had committed
1620N01 a bloomer and he replied throwing up his hands: "^That is all
1630N01 in the game. ^We must be grateful it has not been worse."*#
        **[no. of words = 02011**]

        **[txt. n02**]
0010N02 **<*3A Summer Adventure**> $^How did you know I was coming?"
0020N02 $"^Didn*'4t I bring you to the station when you went to Bombay?
0030N02 ^And when I saw these children here, I told myself: their mother
0040N02 is coming. ^And they*'3ll go home in my *4tonga, no one else*'s.
0050N02 ^Come on, come on. *4^Hamal, this way." $^The horses which
0060N02 drew the *4tongas lay in the shade of a tree, contentedly munching hay.
0070N02 ^*Abdul led them to one of them. ^He gathered the hay that_ lay
0080N02 in front of the horse and stuffed it under the seat of his *4tonga.
0090N02 $"^Up with you kids," he said. $"^Are we going in this?" ^*Ravi
0100N02 asked in a disgusted voice. $"^Yes, darling," Mother told him gently.
0110N02 $^*Dinu sniffed at the 'darling'. "^Must be eleven or twelve,
0120N02 I bet. ^And lets himself be called 'darling'!" $"^*Dinu!"
0130N02 Mother said sharply. ^"why are you sniffing. ^Have you got a cold?"
0140N02 $^*Dinu hurriedly got into the *4tonga. ^He and Ravi
0150N02 sat in the front with the driver. "^Can I hold the whip, Abdul?"
0160N02 he asked. ^*Abdul grinned and gave it to him. $"^Hey, hey,"
0170N02 he called out, clicking his tongue just like Abdul and flicking the
0180N02 whip over his own head and the horse*'s back. ^But the horse didn*'4t
0190N02 budge. $"^Ho ho ho!" ^The girls laughed loudly. $"^Ho ho
0200N02 my foot!" ^*Dinu retorted. "^What do you expect with fatty
0210N02 Minu sitting there weighing a hundred kilos at least! ^No wonder the
0220N02 poor horse can*'4t move!" ^And then "Ouch!" as Minu clouted him on
0230N02 the back of his head. $"^Now, now, children," Mother warned in a
0240N02 stern voice which meant she had to_ be obeyed. ^The children settled
0250N02 down quiety after that_, Ravi still looking glum and morose. $^All
0260N02 of them had so much to_ tell their mother that it seemed no time at all
0270N02 before they were home. ^*Sitabai, the servant who had been with them
0280N02 since Dinu was born, and looked after them while their mother was away
0290N02 'like a policeman' as Polly grumbled, came running out at the jingle
0300N02 of the horse*'s bells. ^She was grinning happily from ear to ear.
0310N02 ^They wondered whether she would tell Mother all the things she*'d threatened
0320N02 them she*1'd "tell your Mother when she returns, see if I don*'4t!"
0330N02 ^They all wanted Mother. ^*Dinu wanted to_ tell her about
0340N02 the fifty runs he had made in his last match, Minu wanted to boast
0350N02 about all the cooking she had learnt from Sitabai, and Polly was impatient
0360N02 for the gifts she was sure Mother had brought for them. ^But
0370N02 Mother was busy talking to Sitabai, poking in all corners of the house,
0380N02 and fussing over Ravi. ^*Ravi was to_ share Dinu*'s room. "^Help
0390N02 him to_ unpack," Mother ordered * minu. $^But, no, Ravi didn*'4t
0400N02 want to_ unpack, he didn*'4t want Minu*'s help; in fact, he didn*'4t
0410N02 seem to_ want to_ do anything at all! ^He didn*'4t seem to_ approve
0420N02 of their large, rambling house, nor did he like their untidy, friendly
0430N02 little garden with its huge *4neem and mango trees and jumbled up flower
0440N02 beds the children had planted themselves. ^He trailed behind them
0450N02 when they went to the vegetable garden at the back, but refused to_
0460N02 taste the sour green tomatoes they all loved, or the gooseberries they enjoyed
0470N02 so much. ^At last, in disgust, they gave him up and wandered
0480N02 away by themselves. $^Mother was annoyed. "^Mummy, he*'1s so
0490N02 sulky," they complained. $"^Oh, no. ^He*'1s just miserable, lonely
0500N02 and homesick. ^That*'1s why I want you all to_ be extra nice to him.
0510N02 ^Never mind if he doesn*'4t want to_ join in at first. ^How would
0520N02 you all feel if Daddy and I went away for a long visit and you were pumped
0530N02 in a strange place with two plump, giggling girls and a sniffy boy
0540N02 for company?" ^They laughed at that_ and promised to_ be nicer to Ravi.
0550N02 $"^Playing cards?" Dinu asked him later after he had refused
0560N02 to_ play anything in 'that_ nasty mud' in their garden. $"^We don*'4t
0570N02 have dirt like this in Bombay" he had declared. $"^Then what do
0580N02 you have?" the astonished Polly had asked. $"^We have cement," Ravi
0590N02 had loftily announced. $"^No cards," Minu burst out. ^"Polly can*'4t
0600N02 play, and, if she does, she cheats." $"^No, I don*'4t!" Polly
0610N02 said angrily. "^You*'3re the cheater." $"^Stop it, you two," Dinu
0620N02 ordered. ^*Dinu was the eldest and never let the girls forget it.
0630N02 $"^Let*'3s go swimming," Minu suggested. $"^*I can*'4t swim."
0640N02 ^This from Ravi. $"^Oh, God! ^What can you do?" $"^*I know,"
0650N02 Polly cried out, as Ravi glowered angrily at Minu. "^Let*'3s go to
0660N02 the college and watch the big clock being wound up. ^Today is Thursday,
0670N02 winding up day." $"^Good idea!" Dinu thumped Polly on the back.
0680N02 $^The college where the children*'s father taught was just ten minutes
0690N02 walk from their house. ^Everyone there knew the children and they
0700N02 loved the gracious old building made of red stone. ^It was their
0710N02 favourite place. ^Now, in summer, with no classes, it was all theirs.
0720N02 ^They could clatter up and down the corridors to their hearts*'
0730N02 content. ^Race up and down the staircases as much as they liked.
0740N02 ^There was a huge clock on top of the building. ^You could hear it
0750N02 announcing the time almost throughout the whole town. ^If you went
0760N02 up a spiral staircase which seemed to_ go on forever, you came up to a
0770N02 small room that_ contained the insides of the clock. $^But they disliked
0780N02 the couple, though they were always smiling and friendly. ^They
0790N02 never let the kids get away without making them a gift of something.
0800N02 "^Only," Minu explained to Ravi, "they always seem to_ give us only
0810N02 rotten things. "^They*'3re the meanest people." $^As usual, the
0820N02 couple started fussing over them as soon as they went there. ^*Ravi
0830N02 had to_ be introduced. "^My, my, what a lovely boy!" said \0Mrs Pear,
0840N02 who was sprawling in a broken-down cane chair. ^*Ravi blushed.
0850N02 ^He was afraid she might kiss him. ^Of all the soppy things! ^And,
0860N02 he was nearly eleven, too! $"^How many mangoes does Mummy want,
0870N02 eh?" the man asked. ^He was busy cracking nuts for his *4paan (betel).
0880N02 ^Snap, snap, the nutcracker went. ^And pieces of *4supari (betel-nut)
0890N02 fell down. ^*Ravi watched fascinated. $"^You can*'4t carry
0900N02 all those mangoes," he said. $"^Of course, we can" Dinu was offended.
0910N02 $"^Oh, no, it*'3ll be too much for you." ^They glared at
0920N02 him. ^Too much indeed! ^Did they think they were babies? ^*Dinu
0930N02 was confident he could carry hundreds and thousands of mangoes by himself.
0940N02 $"^Where*'1s Sadu?" the man asked his wife. $"^Don*'4t know,"
0950N02 she replied, without moving from her chair. "^Shout for him."
0960N02 $"^*Sadu...uu...uuuu," the man bawled in a loud voice without moving
0970N02 either. $"^No wonder they*'3re pear-shaped," Ravi whispered.
0980N02 ^A very dirty little face peeped round the door. ^It was a girl in
0990N02 torn clothes. ^She looked a real scarecrow. ^Her eyes were big and
1000N02 timid. ^Her hair was not combed and not tied up, either. $"^Hey,
1010N02 you," the man shouted at her. "^Did I call you? ^Is your name Sadu?
1020N02 ^Get out of here!" $^But the girl was watching the children, specially
1030N02 the girls, with fascinated eyes. ^She slowly edged into the room.
1040N02 ^The man suddenly turned to her and raised his huge hand. "^Will
1050N02 you get out of here?" he shouted in a fierce tone. ^With a scared
1060N02 look, the girl scooted. $^The kids felt very sorry for the girl. ^They
1070N02 looked angrily at the man, but he was smiling at them as if nothing
1080N02 had happened. ^He even pinched Polly*'s cheek as he shouted again
1090N02 for the servant. ^*Polly was rubbing her cheek hard when they saw a
1100N02 smiling Govind walk in. $"^*Govind," Polly squealed. "^What are
1110N02 you doing here?" $"^Buying mangoes like you," he smiled. "^Shall
1120N02 I carry your mangoes home for you?" $^They happily agreed. ^As
1130N02 they were leaving, the girls went to_ look at the big well. ^Then...
1140N02 "^Look!" Polly pinched Minu*'s arm. ^They saw the little girl peer
1150N02 at them from the other side of the well. $"^Oh, the poor thing!" said
1160N02 soft-hearted Polly. $^THERE was no time to_ discuss this exciting
1170N02 thought any more as Anand called to them from the house. ^*Anand
1180N02 and Charu readily agreed to_ spend the day with them. ^They all looked
1190N02 forward to a day of fun and games, though the girls didn*'4t really
1200N02 like Charu, a fussy girl, engrossed in her clothes and looks. ^*Mother
1210N02 promised them *4gulabjamuns and *4bhajias for lunch and Minu could hardly
1220N02 stay away from the kitchen. ^But they had a disappointment in store.
1230N02 ^*Anand turned up the next day much earlier than expected and
1240N02 alone! ^He went straight to their mother and announced in an important
1250N02 voice, ^"auntie, *'i*'3m sorry, Charu and I can*'4t come today."
1260N02 $"^Why, Anand, what*'1s the matter?" $^*Mother liked Anand because
1270N02 he was a well-mannered, polite boy. ^At least, he was that_ when
1280N02 grown-ups were around. ^Mother would find it hard to_ believe it was the
1290N02 same Anand when they were by themselves. ^He plagued and bullied
1300N02 Charu to tears, and drove even Dinu and Minu crazy at times. $"^Our
1310N02 house was almost robbed last night," said Anand proudly. $"^What!"
1320N02 the children screamed and even Mother looked round-eyed in wonder.
1330N02 $"^Not really!" she exclaimed. "^When did this happen? ^Oh dear,
1340N02 what*'1s happening to this place? ^It was so safe, always." $"^They
1350N02 didn*'4t actually come into the house," Anand confessed. $"^Then
1360N02 don*'4t call it a robbery, Anand," Mother corrected him. "^You really
1370N02 scared me. ^You call it a robbery only when things are stolen by
1380N02 force." $"^What happened? ^What happened?" ^*Ravi, Dinu and Minu
1390N02 danced round Anand impatiently. $"^Wait, *'I*'3ll tell you."
1400N02 ^*Anand was enjoying his importance. ^And Mother didn*'4t make things
1410N02 better by saying, "^Don*'4t crowd him, children." $"^Well," Anand
1420N02 began, "we heard about the robbery in that_ big house and Mummy was
1430N02 scared. ^Specially as Papa is away." $"^*I can imagine that_,"
1440N02 Mother nodded. $^*Anand*'s family was quite rich and their mother took
1450N02 care to_ see that everyone knew about it by wearing lots of gold and
1460N02 other valuables. ^Even Charu went around wearing gold things. ^*Mother
1470N02 called it most unwise. $"^Then, yesterday our *4mali said there was
1480N02 an awful looking man hovering round our house the whole day. ^And Mummy
1490N02 got nervous. ^And she told me to_ come and tell you about it."
1500N02 "^Mushy stories about love!" the boys scoffed. ^The boys played cricket
1510N02 in their long hall, and table tennis on the ground, with books and
1520N02 slippers acting as the net. $^One day Mother had to_ go visiting
1530N02 an old family friend and took the girls with her. ^The boys saw them
1540N02 off, both Minu and Polly dressed in their best. ^*Minu hadn*'4t worn
1550N02 that_ dress for ages and she had to_ struggle to_ get into it. ^*Mother
1560N02 had watched her in silence, then told her, "^That_ does it! ^No
1570N02 more second helpings, no more sweets, no more fried things, and a good mile
1580N02 run every morning!" ^*Minu had listened in horror. $^The boys
1590N02 stayed at home and had a wonderful time polishing and oiling Dinu*'s cycle
1600N02 and Father*'s too, which he rarely used. ^They took parts out
1610N02 and put them back again and made themselves so dirty that they just had
1620N02 to_ have a bath. ^When Mother and the girls returned, they were having
1630N02 it-- under the garden tap. ^*Mother saw them and screamed. ^They
1640N02 hadn*'4t removed any of their clothes. $"^What are you two doing?
1650N02 ^Go inside and have a clean bath, change your clothes. ^Where are your
1660N02 towels? ^Where are your clothes?" $^*Minu and Polly were both screaming.
1670N02 $"^News, news," Minu screamed.
1670N02 "^News, news," Polly chimed in. $"^Guess whom we met?" ^*Minu
1680N02 asked. $^Guess whom we met?" ^*Polly repeated. $"^Get out from
1690N02 under that_ tap. ^*Minu, get Dinu*'s towel." $^"yes, Munny, I*'3ll
1700N02 do it. ^Guess whom we met?" $"^Yes, guess." $^*Humpty Dumpty,"
1710N02 said Dinu, sloshing water over Ravi. $"^*Billy Bunter," said ravi.
1720N02 $"^Ha ha ha. ^*Minu and good old Billy.*#
        **[no. of words = 01996**]

        **[txt. n03**]
0010N03 **<*3Flashpoint**>
0020N03 $*<*3Chapter 6*>
0030N03 $^The terai in the morning is unreal and incredibly beautiful. ^It
0040N03 lies in a broad sweep at the base of the mightiest mountains in the world:
0050N03 receiving the first spread of the mountain torrents, capturing the first
0060N03 rains, holding the first mists. ^Thus, it is always damp and green
0070N03 and lush. $^*Batra sat beside the driver, his long legs stretched
0080N03 out under the dashboard, being warmed by the heat of the engine. ^Beside
0090N03 him sat one of the guards, dressed in the *4khaki of the Forest
0100N03 Department. ^In the rear of the Jonga, under the canvas canopy, the
0110N03 rest huddled: Rustom smoking his eternal pipe; Subramaniam almost invisible
0120N03 in heavy grey trousers, a dark sweater and a balaclava, Roy in a
0130N03 lightweight American battle-jacket and tough *4khaki trousers; the guards
0140N03 in the forest *4khaki. ^Their backpacks, 30 \0kgs. of evenly
0150N03 distributed supplies and equipment, rested on the floor of the bouncing
0160N03 vehicle. $^They had been woken early, made a substantial breakfast,
0170N03 and been given their last briefing. ^*Batra had been nasty again:
0180N03 "^We should have had two briefings yesterday, and left Delhi only
0190N03 last night. ^Remember?" $^*Rustom had taken the pipe out of his
0200N03 mouth. "^You*'3re a day ahead of schedule, Batra. ^Which means
0210N03 you can return a day earlier." $"^And do your job a day earlier too.
0220N03 ^You*'3re not hustling us for our benefit." $^*Rustom smiled
0230N03 coldly at him. "^*I assure you Batra that I would not lift a finger
0240N03 to_ help you. ^You*'3re quite capable of helping yourself... at everyone
0250N03 else*'s expense. ^Now let*'3s get into the Jonga." $^*Roy
0260N03 thought about the conversation as he sat in the back of the Jonga and
0270N03 watched the forest unreel behind him. ^*Batra was a self-centred unscrupulous
0280N03 bastard. ^But he was also strong, tough and agile.
0290N03 ^He hoped that Rohan Batra would learn the virtue... the survial value...
0300N03 of co-operation before it was too late. ^But he realised that
0310N03 the habits of a lifetime die hard. ^*Batra would become one of the
0320N03 team only if his life were in danger. ^*Roy smiled grimly to himself:
0330N03 he had done this journey once before, when Ranadesh was still loyal to
0340N03 the Nepalese crown. ^At that_ time he had come over the isthmus-
0350N03 the flattened ridge that_ served as the main highway between Nepal and
0360N03 Ranadesh-- and even then he had found it tough. ^He thought of tomorrow
0370N03 (or was it the day after?) when they would face the Belly of the
0380N03 Goddess, and shivered. ^*Rohan Batra would learn the virtue of team
0390N03 work only then, if he ever did. $^The jeep stopped suddenly
0400N03 and they were all thrown forward. ^*Batra began to_ curse but
0410N03 Rustom snapped, "^Shut up!" and then they saw the creatures.
0420N03 $^There, at the far edge of the clearing they had just entered, were dark,
0430N03 massive grey shapes, moving ponderously. ^They couldn*'4t distinguish
0440N03 them at first, so well did they merge with the deceptive light
0450N03 and shade of the jungle. $^And then one of them broke away and
0460N03 stepped into the clearing and a ray of sunlight caught it: a towering,
0470N03 suspicious, cow-elephant. $^Slowly, Rustom removed
0480N03 his pipe from his mouth, left it lying on the seat. ^The wind was
0490N03 blowing from the jeep towards the herd and the herd leader was worried.
0500N03 ^The tension settled on the jeep and Roy licked his suddenly-dry lips.
0510N03 $^*Rustom spoke, keeping his voice very low. "^If
0520N03 she charges, jump out of the Jonga and scatter. ^Head for the densest
0530N03 part, where the trees are thickest and stay very still." $^The
0540N03 elephant raised its trunk and lifted its huge head, sniffing the air
0550N03 for the unfamiliar smell of man. ^Her little pig*'s eyes glinted in the
0560N03 early light. ^Behind her the herd had stilled, calves pushed between
0570N03 the legs of the adults, all heads facing outwards the threat. ^If the
0580N03 leader charged and the herd followed, there would be little hope for the
0590N03 jeep, or any of its passengers. $^*Subramaniam*'s throat and mouth
0600N03 went dry and he said a silent prayer to his deity with all the intensity
0610N03 at his command. $^The gentle breeze that_ had been carrying their
0620N03 scent to the herd stopped, changed direction, began to_ blow from the
0630N03 herd to them. $^For five minutes more the herd stood still, massed
0640N03 behind its suspicious leader. ^And then the leader lowered her trunk
0650N03 and turned. ^The entire herd broke rank and began to_ lumber into the
0660N03 jungle. ^Soon there was only the sound of crashing branches and the
0670N03 occasional squeal of the calves, and then even that_ was still.
0680N03 $^A peacock cried its plaintive mew, another answered and a resplendent
0690N03 cock and three dowdy hens picked their way into the clearing, saw the
0700N03 jeep, and went running away with a heavy tread like turkeys. $^The
0710N03 driver started the Jonga and began to_ drive down the forest path,
0711N03 but more cautiously now.
0720N03 ^*Batra seemed to_ be subdued for the moment because even
0730N03 he did not comment on their hairsbreadth escape. ^The driver shifted
0740N03 into 4-wheel drive as the land became soft under his treads and there
0750N03 was the smell of stagnant water and decaying vegetation. ^*Rustom
0760N03 leaned forward and said, "^Are you coming to the edge of the *4Dulduliya,
0770N03 driver?" $"^Yes, sir." $"^Then drive slowly. "^And then to the
0780N03 rest of them he said, "^*I would like you to_ look out to the left,
0790N03 carefully." $^The smell of rotting vegetation and another smell,
0800N03 stronger, sharper, with the cutting nausea of rotten eggs, was settling
0810N03 on the forest. ^The mist was thicker too, and more viscid. ^Large
0820N03 patches of the jungle were hidden behind the coiling mist as if they
0830N03 were swathed with giant cobwebs. ^The jeep slowed, whined, and broke
0840N03 through the jungle. $^The scene that_ met their eyes was unbelievable.
0850N03 ^As far as they could see on the left was a uniform bank of unmoving
0860N03 mist. ^And yet, at ground level and for about six feet above
0870N03 it was reasonably clear. ^The mist hung as a dirty-white, impenetrable
0880N03 canopy above a horizon-reaching vista of green pools and spiky
0890N03 sedge, bursts of water-lillies, red and pink, yellow, white and blue,
0900N03 and long stretches of acid green that_ looked like an incredibly fine lawn.
0910N03 ^But when the mist caught it, it moved and heaved and swelled in
0920N03 slow waves. $^But in all this primeval scene not a bird flew, no insect
0930N03 hummed, no fish moved. ^It was a world before time, before moving
0940N03 creatures rose out of the slime. ^And over it all
0960N03 was the heavy stench of rotting vegetation and dampness-- and something
0970N03 else. $"^What the hell is this?" ^*Batra*'s voice was hoarse.
0980N03 $^*Rustom said, "^This is the *4Dulduliya." ^The Jonga hugged the
0990N03 jungle edge but even so its deep-treaded wheels had difficulty in getting
1000N03 traction on the soggy mud. ^It is the only environment in the world
1010N03 where only plants grow. ^They*'3ve examined the water and the slime and
1020N03 the under-surface of the leaves: there*'1s not a fish, not a leech,
1030N03 not even the tiny, single-celled amoeba. ^No animal at all. ^It is almost
1040N03 as if all animal life had been destroyed here and only the plants
1050N03 rule." $^*Roy saw Subramaniam shiver and he felt uneasy
1060N03 himself. $"^What*'1s that_ bloody awful smell?" ^*Batra rasped. $"^Sulphur,"
1070N03 Rustom said. ^The Jonga swerved, shuddered and was bogged
1071N03 down. ^The driver wrestled with the controls, slammed
1080N03 it into reverse and, with a great churning of mud, managed to_ bring it
1090N03 on firm land again or what passed for firmness in this place. ^*Rustom
1100N03 said something to the driver and the Jonga swerved away from the
1110N03 silent marsh and into the living jungle again. ^*Rustom lit his pipe and
1120N03 blew out a plume of smoke. ^The Jonga was bucketing along a jungle
1130N03 trail down a tall avenue of trees. $"^*I personally feel that the *4Dulduliya
1140N03 is fed by underground sulphur springs and that, towards the centre,
1150N03 the water gets really hot. ^Even at these distant edges it is warmer
1160N03 than usual." $^*Subramaniam bent forward and asked, "^Are there
1170N03 any elephants in the... in that_ thing? ^Eh? ^Any elephants?"
1180N03 $^*Roy looked at him sharply. ^*Rustom removed the pipe from his mouth.
1190N03 "^Why do you ask, Doctor?" $^*Subramaniam shrugged.
1200N03 "^Simply inquisitive. ^When I was looking into the mist I thought
1210N03 I saw an elephant*'s trunk plucking some leaves. ^But no. ^It was
1220N03 too far away. ^No elephant is twenty metres high. ^No, I was mistaken."
1230N03 $^The Jonga swerved past a fallen log and came back on to the
1240N03 jungle path. ^A brace of wild fowl exploded out of the bushes at the
1250N03 side of the road and went rocketing away, the cock a brilliant flash of
1260N03 colour. $"^You thought you saw an animal twenty metres tall, Doctor?"
1270N03 ^*Rustom asked. $"^*I thought. ^Simply I thought. ^The
1280N03 mist cleared and there was this thing like a trunk feeling around at the
1290N03 top of the tree. ^*I thought I saw an eye on it, too. ^It is very
1300N03 deceptive, this mist. ^No? ^Eh?" $^*Rustom looked at Roy and nodded
1310N03 silently. ^*Roy remembered tales the people of the terai had told
1320N03 him but he did not want to_ reveal his unease, and so he closed his eyes.
1330N03 $^The driver jerked to a stop again, reversed hurriedly, and stopped
1340N03 at the entrance of another path. ^*Rustom and Roy looked down the
1350N03 bright jungle trail. ^There, at the end of the trail, standing quite
1360N03 clearly in a shaft of sunlight, was a man in *4khaki with a gun carried
1370N03 in the crook of his arm. $^The driver turned to Rustom, "^Should
1380N03 we give chase, sir?" $^*Rustom shook his head. "^Drive on."
1390N03 $^The man with the gun stepped into the darkness of the bushes and vanished.
1400N03 $"^Who was that_?" ^*Batra asked. $"^A dacoit,"
1410N03 said Rustom. "^Or an insurgent. ^Or perhaps a smuggler."
1420N03 $^*Roshan Batra threw back his head and guffawed. "^What is this?"
1430N03 he bellowed, "jungle thrills for tourists? ^First you show us
1440N03 a herd of tame elephnts, then you get all spooky about a puddle of dirty
1450N03 water. ^And finally you weave a tale around a harmless forest guard
1460N03 standing in a fire-break. ^Come off it! ^Whom*'3re you trying to_
1470N03 fool?" $^*Rustom kept his eyes on the path ahead for a while
1480N03 and then he said, "^*I*'3m glad you have a sense of humour, Batra.
1490N03 ^You certainly have no feel for the wilderness. ^Tame elephants do
1500N03 not go around in herds unescorted by mahouts. ^Do you think I could
1510N03 organise the birds, the fish and the insects to_ disappear from a
1520N03 living marsh? ^And as for fire-breaks: that_ path where the man with
1530N03 the gun stood was one meter wide. ^Would a one-meter wide fire-break
1540N03 serve any purpose?" ^He looked ahead of him for a moment and
1550N03 then he added, "^Your first opportunity for testing your theories is right
1560N03 ahead of you: we*'3ve come to the border. ^This is as far as
1570N03 I go. ^And now if you*'3ll strap on your backpacks, my guides will
1580N03 lead into Ranadesh. ^Let*'3s get out...."
1590N03 $*<*=ii*>
1600N03 $^The Soviets tried the 'planted story' ploy. $^Using the vast sums
1610N03 of money made available to their embassy for 'cultural purposes' they
1620N03 financed, and oversaw, a weekly magazine. ^The ostensible editor
1630N03 and publisher came from an old political family which, in India, is
1640N03 often a certificate of immunity. ^He had been feted, sent
1650N03 around the Warsaw Pact countries as an honoured guest and shown how to_
1660N03 boost a small inheritance into a sizeable fortune by the manipulation
1670N03 of exchange rates and the sale of licences. ^Now, comfortably settled
1680N03 in a multi-storeyed building and with his name prominently displayed
1690N03 on the centre page, he lent his name to the paper as a benign, and
1700N03 virtually absentee, editor. $^The paper was run by a small
1710N03 and dedicated band of idealists who spouted the current Soviet line with
1720N03 *4Swadeshi accents. $^Their editorial page feature *3Probe carried
1730N03 the headline, *3MISSILE DIPLOMACY.*0 $^The warlords of
1740N03 Cathy, Chairman Ho and his henchmen, have taken a feather from the
1750N03 erstwhile Imperialistic cockade of Queen Victoria and Teddy Rooster-felt.
1760N03 ^But with typical Sino double-stink, they*'3ve up-dated
1770N03 the gambit. $^With the jingoistic Imperialists it was gun-boat
1780N03 diplomacy.*#
        **[no. of words = 02017**]

        **[txt. n04**]
0010N04 **<*3Ashes and Petals*0**> $^At 0430 hours, well before first
0020N04 light, the regiment moved out. ^In the \0CO*'s office the adjutant
0030N04 pulled out the inch and metre coverage of the international border.
0040N04 ^Minutes later the \0CO*'s \0O group trooped in. ^The
0050N04 squadron commanders, the \0QM, the technical adjutant, adjutant,
0060N04 the regimental 2\0IC, the \0RMO, \0OC \0LAD. ^They
0070N04 were all there in their dungarees, woollen balaclavas, black ammunition
0080N04 boots, each with a .38 pistol in his holster. ^Those who were
0090N04 not going in the tanks carried 9 \0mm sten guns in olive green slings.
0100N04 ^The two \0RT*'s, or religious teachers, were also summoned.
0110N04 ^Their presence was in itself an indication that this time it was
0120N04 for real. ^The Panditji and the *4granthi, who had earlier always
0130N04 worn spotless white, were today dressed in \0OG uniform.
0140N04 ^Tea was being served in mugs when the \0CO entered. ^He was also
0150N04 in dungarees and carried his famous wooden walking stick. ^The old
0160N04 man*'s *4danda they called it. every one stood to attention.
0170N04 $"^At ease, gentlemen, and please be seated. \0^Adj. please
0180N04 see that all the *4altu-faltu lights are put off immediately." $^The
0190N04 lights were put out and a sentry positioned outside to_ take care of
0200N04 any snoopers. $"^Right, gentlemen, I am just back from the bridge.
0210N04 ^It*'1s on. ^We are to_ concentrate soonest but not later than
0220N04 1100 hours in the area of the mango grove astride village Malian. ^You
0230N04 all know where that_ is, I am sure. ^The order of march will be Alfa,
0240N04 Charlie, Barvo and \0RHQ. ^The echelons with all the "\0B"
0250N04 vehicles will move out centrally under brigade bando. \0^*QM, liaise
0260N04 with the \0DQ on this and \0OC \0HQ squadron. ^You also go along
0270N04 with the \0Q.Alfa, Charlie and \0RHQ will move on track. ^Start
0280N04 time for you all, 0300 hours sharp. \0^*OC for the move, Tiger Alfa.
0290N04 ^*Bravo, you will move on tank transporters. ^These chaps are expected
0300N04 in the lines in another two hours*' time. ^Get the hell out of
0310N04 here as soon as you can. ^Don*'4t want you all caught out in the open
0320N04 in broad daylight. ^*I have another briefing with the commander so will
0330N04 join up in the conc area in my Rover. ^Tanks to_ be fully topped-up
0340N04 for fuel, ammunition and dry rations. \0^*Q. issue tinned substitutes
0350N04 for seven days. \0^*RM *4sahib, send all the rum up with \0OC
0360N04 \0HQ sequadron. ^Further orders will be in the conc area on my arrival.
0370N04 \0^*Int officer, have all the abando ready for my orders \0^*RM
0380N04 *4sahib, you hold on. ^*I will give you the orders for the rear
0390N04 party and the families. ^Sparrow, tune up all the radio sets and keep
0400N04 listening watch thereafter. ^No transmissions by anyone. ^Any questions?"
0410N04 $^There were none. ^Just before the officers left the \0C*'s
0420N04 office, the old man addressed the two \0RT*'s. $"*4^Sahibs, the
0430N04 time has come. ^*I want every man to_ go into battle with top morale.
0440N04 ^Once the squadrons are loaded up, get everyone together in the
0450N04 *4mandir and the *4gurdwara. ^Only then will the regiment move out.
0460N04 "^Right *4sahib," they said and went out. $^The scene in the barracks
0470N04 and the cookhouses was somewhat disorderly. ^The squadron quartermasters
0480N04 were making a great deal of noise, although they couldn*'4t be
0490N04 blamed, what with all the work they had to_ do in two hours of darkness.
0500N04 ^In their eagerness to_ be fully war-minded, the local electricity
0510N04 board had switched off all the connections for the town, and even the divisional
0520N04 commander*'s frantic calls made no difference. ^The city and
0530N04 the cantonment were plunged into darkness, yet the Army had to load up
0540N04 and go. $^In the "\0B" squadron *4langar all was chaos. ^The \0SQMD,
0550N04 the \0NCO in change of the entire administration was visibly
0560N04 annoyed. $"^Come on, Banta Sangh **=1 troop. ^Start loading up
0570N04 the cooking utensils. ^You have*'4t got the whole month with you.
0580N04 *5^Chalo, chalo, jaldi karo*6." $"^One would think the bloody war
0590N04 had already begun the way you are shouting," retorted Banta Singh, the
0600N04 *4langar *4jawan. $"^And what do you think has happened, General Banta
0610N04 Singhji? ^If you ate less opium and kept your bloody eyes and
0620N04 ears open, you would know. ^Haven*'4t you heard the \0RDM? ^The
0630N04 Colonel *4sahib wants us to_ move out first so we can shake hands with
0640N04 the Pakistanis before the others come. ^Now load up and fast. ^Before
0650N04 I give you a kick up your pants." $^With that_ the \0SQMD
0660N04 moved on but didn*'4t go far. ^In one corner of the *4langar, a *4sowar
0670N04 was messing up the room with the drinking water he was trying to_ put
0680N04 into the water containers. ^The squadron *4langar lorry had to_ carry
0690N04 at least two days of water for cooking and drinking purposes. $"^And
0700N04 Sardar Phula Singhji, what the hell do you think you are doing?
0710N04 ^Can*'4t you do anything properly for once?" $"^*Majorji, I am loading
0720N04 up the drinking water. $"^That_ I can see. ^But why water everywhere?"
0730N04 $"^Because I am trying to_ pour the water from this big
0740N04 drum into these smaller containers. ^That_ is why." $"^And will you
0750N04 give me one good reason why you are doing that_? ^Why the hell don*'4t
0760N04 you just put the containers under the tap and fill them up. ^Or is
0770N04 this holy nectar you are taking with you?" $"^*Majorji, you yourself
0780N04 have often said we are to_ only drink water that_ has been treated with
0790N04 bleaching powder. ^*I am doing just that_." $"^You blithering idiot,
0800N04 do you think you are going to your fucking marriage? ^This is war,
0810N04 child. ^Damn the bleaching powder. ^Top up and soon, man. ^The
0820N04 echelon commander is already getting wild. ^He will murder me if our
0830N04 *4langar is not ready for the convoy in twenty minutes." $^In the squadron
0840N04 barracks, the men had lit torches, hurricane lamps and candles.
0850N04 ^In semi-darkness, they packed their belongings, only the absolute
0860N04 necessities. ^The tank crews took a padded quilt each and discarded the
0870N04 blankets. ^In war you could disobey such orders. ^The inside of
0880N04 a steel tank can be pretty cold and blankets didn*'4t help much then.
0890N04 ^The non-Sikhs took a razor and some blades. ^The regimental barber
0900N04 would never come to the battle and give them a quick shave. ^Those
0910N04 who had woollen balaclavas and their own transistors, took them along
0920N04 in the tanks. ^The radio was essential, otherwise one was totally cut
0930N04 off from the world. ^A small mirror, *4sarson oil and plenty of *4gur
0940N04 were the only other items they carried. ^The rest of the tank was
0950N04 loaded up with maps, binoculars, rations, small arms and the ammunition.
0960N04 ^All the men*'s other possessions were locked up in wooden boxes
0970N04 and stowed away in the heavy baggage stores in the regiment. ^This would
0980N04 only be opened up after the war, when the regiment returned. $^There
0990N04 appeared to_ be quite a rumpus going on in the \0C squadron barracks.
1000N04 ^The duty officer was already there, trying to_ sort out matters.
1010N04 ^The squadron mascot, a well-bred goat, had been stolen. ^Actually
1020N04 the right word was misplaced. "\0C" suspected "\0B," who were moving
1030N04 off first. ^But the duty officer felt that it couldn*'4t be "\0B,"
1040N04 because bleating goats can*'4t be carried off noiselessly on tank transporters.
1050N04 ^A quick search was made and as suspected, the goat was
1060N04 found tied, with its mouth muffled, in the *4dhobi colony of the rear party.
1070N04 ^The *4dhobis said that the stray goat had eaten up some of the
1080N04 clothes and had nearly suffocated to death. ^They were only trying to_
1090N04 give it enforced rest and medical aid. ^In any case, they said, they
1100N04 were all vegetarians. ^The mascot was restored and Charlie was ready
1110N04 to_ move. $^The supply types as usual weren*'4t aware of the flap
1120N04 that_ was going on around them. ^The \0NCO on duty wanted to_ know
1130N04 why he was being woken up at this unearthly hour by all these rowdies.
1140N04 ^Somebody asked him whether he hadn*'4t heard that there was a war
1150N04 going on. ^He replied that his guard commander hadn*'4t told him yet
1160N04 and so he was going back to_ sleep. ^The chap was given a kick by the
1170N04 \0QMJ. ^The gate was forcibly opened and the three tonners filled
1180N04 up with vegetables, meats, tinned stuff, oils and kerosene drums. ^The
1190N04 next day a strong protest was lodged but by then the brigade commander
1200N04 was not really bothered about brinjals, tomatoes and *4ghee tins.
1210N04 $^Back in the regimental lines, the tanks were nearly ready. ^In the
1220N04 half dark, half moonlight of the awakening dawn, they stood naked, silent
1230N04 and strong. ^Their camouflage nets had been taken off and stored away
1240N04 because these nets always caught fire when there was a direct hit, strafing
1250N04 by air or indirect artillery shelling. ^By now the tanks had
1260N04 been topped up with thousands of litres of petrol and the empty drums clanged
1270N04 to the ground as the tank crews pushed them off from the tops of the
1280N04 engine compartments. ^The first casualty of the war occurred in charlie
1290N04 where a half-full barrel slipped from the top of a tank and landed
1300N04 smack on top of Onkar Singh*'s big toe. ^It was smashed beyond repair
1310N04 and the pain was unbearable. ^The boy was told to_ go to the military
1320N04 hospital and get admitted. ^These orders were promptly disobeyed.
1330N04 ^A shot of morphia, a big clean bandage did the trick, and minutes
1340N04 later Onkar the gunner was all set to_ move off with the squadron. $^The
1350N04 regiment intelligence officer wasn*'4t feeling happy. ^He and his
1360N04 intelligence *4Daffadar had issued maps to the squadrons and some of the
1370N04 maps weren*'4t of the area that_ they were supposed to_ be going to.
1380N04 ^The issues had been made at night when the electricity board had switched
1390N04 off every light. ^The squadron intelligence \0NCO*'s had been
1400N04 so keen they had literally snatched the sheets away from their hands and
1410N04 in the circumstances it had been impossible to_ check the sheet numbers
1420N04 and the scales. ^The officer thought of getting all the maps back
1430N04 from the squadrons and re-issuing them but there was no time. ^Instead
1440N04 he made out another correct set for each squadron commander, and sent
1450N04 these off to the commanders with his compliments. ^Anyway, at least
1460N04 everyone knew the way to the conc area. ^There would be enough time
1470N04 to_ sort out the confusion there in daylight. $^The piggery in-charge
1480N04 was abusing everyone. ^He had been put in charge of the forty odd
1490N04 pigs and sucklings only a month earlier and he wasn*'4t relishing the appointment
1500N04 one bit. ^Everyone called him a swine and no one ate with
1510N04 him at the *4langar table. ^With this appointment his social status had
1520N04 gone down considerably and he had been thinking of going on two months*'
1530N04 annual leave the next day, but then this flap had started. ^The
1540N04 *4Risaldar Major had summoned him at two in the morning, told him to_
1550N04 carry out a muster parade of all his pigs and report to him all correct
1560N04 in exactly twenty minutes. ^The \0RM also wanted to_ know the age,
1570N04 weight and gender of each pig, because some of the younger ones were to_
1580N04 go with the regiment as meat-on-hoof. ^It was dark and cold outside,
1590N04 the pigs were grunting and making a mess everywhere, and his leave had
1600N04 been ruined. ^He yelled for his assistant but "\0B" squadron had taken
1610N04 him away to the *4langar to_ load up their pots and pans. ^The piggery
1620N04 commander was left by himself. ^Grumbling away he lit a match and
1630N04 was just going to_ count his pigs when the \0RM sent him a message
1640N04 to_ stand down. ^The *(supply-*4wallas*) had delivered the fresh meat.
1650N04 ^The pigs weren*'4t going to the war. ^At least not yet. $^Down in
1660N04 the \0MI room, the doctor had checked all the first-aid kit boxes
1670N04 and returned them to the tank operators to_ stow away inside the tanks.
1680N04 ^Doctor \0AO was an extremely proficient soldier as well as an excellent
1690N04 doctor.*#
        **[no. of words = 01995**]

        **[txt. n05**]
0010N05 **<*3Mohan*'s Story**> $*3^*I saw her from a distance in a crowd
0020N05 of people. ^She was, as far as I could judge, a woman of twenty or
0030N05 so, with a vivacious face and a figure nature could not have improved upon.
0040N05 ^Her long plaited hair hung forward on her shoulder, partly making
0050N05 up for the *4sari that_ had slid down her arm. ^She was strangely
0060N05 beautiful, and I stood transfixed for serveral moments with the air bag
0070N05 in my hand. ^Then I hurriedly moved up to_ the check-in counter.
0080N05 $"^Have you checked your luggage, Miss Paranjpye?" ^The voice
0090N05 was that_ of an Englishman. ^He was addressing that_ beautiful girl
0100N05 who had earlier attracted my attention. ^*Paranjpye! ^The same name as mine,
0110N05 but not a Southerner like me. ^*I decided that the name must be
0120N05 an accident. ^We had no relatives in Bombay. $^Her voice rang
0130N05 out: ^"yes, thank you, \0Mr Bannerman. ^You*'3ve been such a help.
0140N05 ^*I*'em afraid we are all going to miss you in London." ^So she
0150N05 was going to London too. ^At the first opportunity I introduced myself
0160N05 to the group of students as \0Dr Paranjpye, on his way to London.
0170N05 $^She looked a little startled. ^Someone exclaimed. "^But we have
0180N05 a Miss Paranjpye with us in our group. ^Are you cousins by any chance?"
0190N05 $"^No such luck," I remarked. $^She blushed as she
0200N05 said: "^Indeed, this is a surprise. ^*I don*'4t know of any cousin in
0210N05 Bombay. ^And in Surat, which is the place I come from, we were
0220N05 the only Paranjpyes. ^Are you a member of the Commonwealth group
0230N05 too?" $"^No. ^*I*'3m a doctor from Mangalore on my way to London
0240N05 for higher studies." $^The call came through for us to_ board our
0250N05 buses. ^*I offered to_ carry her heavy bag but she smilingly declined.
0260N05 $^In the plane, we were seated far from each other. ^*I
0270N05 began fidgeting and looking back and finally asked my neighbour, an eldearly
0280N05 foreigner, whether he could do me a favour. ^Introducing myself
0290N05 as \0Dr Paranjpye from South India, I told him that a cousin of mine
0300N05 had also boarded the plane from Bombay for London. ^Could I request
0310N05 him to_ exchange his seat with hers? $^This girl looked started
0320N05 when he approached her with his bag and overcoat. ^But she got up
0330N05 smiling, thanked him and came farward to_ join me where I sat. "^
0340N05 you seem to_ be a most designing young man," she told me in a chiding tone,
0350N05 then added with a smile: "^*I*'3m glad, though." $"^Now what
0360N05 shall I call you?" ^*I began. "^It will be absurd to_ be addressing
0370N05 each other as \0Dr Paranjpye and Miss Paranjpye. ^My full
0380N05 name is Ram Mohan Paranjpye and can it be Mohan to you?" $^She
0390N05 nodded. ^"and I am Abhilasha." $"^What a name! ^*I exclaimed ^"desire!
0400N05 ^That_ could be the final philosophical verdict of man on woman.
0410N05 ^Tell me something about yourself." $"^There is not much to_ tell,
0420N05 really." ^She spoke of her parents, her studies and the fellowship.
0430N05 "^Now tell me about you." $"^My father is a doctor with his own
0440N05 nursing home which opens its doors only to those who can afford it. ^He
0450N05 is stinking rich, I*'3m afraid. ^He is sending me to England to_ specialise
0460N05 in neurosurgery." ^*I laughed. "^The other reason is that
0470N05 he feels I am becoming a disciple of Vinobha Bhave who lives on curds
0480N05 and *4padayatra. ^What I really want to_ do," ^*I went on more
0490N05 soberly, "is to_ evolve some kind of low-cost system of medical care which
0500N05 could work in our Indian villages." $"^An idealist, eh?" quipped
0510N05 Abhilasha. "^*I am not one. ^What I want to_ do most in life
0520N05 is to_ please my parents who have spoilt me sufficiently. ^*I know how
0530N05 much it has hurt them to_ let me go and I mean to_ make it up to them.
0540N05 ^They are not rich, but they have denied me nothing, nothing."
0550N05 ^She spoke with a strange fervour. $^When we parted at Heathrow.
0560N05 I told Abhilasha I would get in touch with her. ^The next few days
0570N05 I was busy meeting eminent men in my profession to whom my father had given
0580N05 me lettrs of introduction. ^I finally ended up in a college in Sheffield
0590N05 with a big hospital attached to it. $^My thoughts kept returning
0600N05 to Abhilasha. ^*I was reluctant to_ appear to_ be chasing her
0610N05 because, friendly as she had seemed, there was a certain reserve about her
0620N05 which I knew would not be easy to_ breach. ^But one day I went
0630N05 to the Commonwealth Association and introduced myself as Miss Paranjpye*'s
0640N05 cousin__ the name was a help__ and learnt her London address.
0650N05 $*3THE*0 hostel where I located her in London housed some sixty scholars
0660N05 from different parts of the world, including Canada, Australia and
0670N05 the African countries. ^My name was easily identified at the Reception
0680N05 office. ^The clerk rang her room immediately and gave me the
0690N05 reply that Miss Paranjpye would come down for tea and her "cousin" was
0700N05 requested to_ wait and join her. ^*I took a seat in the lounge.
0710N05 $"^Hello, cousin," Abhilasha greeted me with her hand extended. ^*I
0720N05 took it in both mine and looked into her eyes. ^"well, well, Doctor,"
0730N05 she exclaimed, withdrawing her hand. ^"what is the future for the poor
0740N05 people of India waiting for their neurosurgeon?" $^*I remained
0750N05 silent for a while, then said: "^Very little hope for them, I*'3m afraid.
0760N05 I have found a big distraction here which makes me neglect my work.
0770N05 ^How are you faring?" $^*Abhilasha, it appeared, had to_ stay in
0780N05 London for three months so that the group could have an opportunity to_
0790N05 "mix" with other Commonwealth students and get to_ know them. ^There
0800N05 were orientation lectures and tours to national institutions to_ attend,
0810N05 the groups being split up according to their interests and their faculty
0820N05 background. ^But her week-ends were free. $"^Excellent," I said,
0830N05 "^We shall spend them together." $^As I was leaving she gave
0840N05 me a big unstamped envelope to_ post__ a letter to her parents. "^*I promised
0850N05 to_ write every day, but "^*I*'3m finding that_ impossible. ^So
0860N05 I*'3ve decided that an occasional bulky letter with lots of titbits would
0870N05 be more welcome than two-line health bulletins. ^Will you be so
0880N05 kind as to_ have it stamped and posted at the \0P.O. just round the corner?
0890N05 ^*I*'3ll reimburse you when we meet again." $^*I waved that_
0900N05 aside and took leave of her with the letter, arranging to_ meet her the
0910N05 following Saturday. $^*I felt strangely alone after leaving her and,
0920N05 hoping to_ forget myself, made a long tour of the city by changing from
0930N05 one bus to another. ^Only late in the night in my hotel room did I
0940N05 remember Abhilasha*'s letter to her parents. ^Not only had I forgotten
0950N05 to_ post it, I had carried it in my hand and must have dropped it somewhere.
0960N05 ^In utter consternation, I realised I had lost it. ^There
0970N05 was no particular place where I could look for it since I had covered
0980N05 a lot of ground that_ day. ^There was no chance of somebody finding it
0990N05 and putting it in a post box as the letter was unstamped. $^*I was
1000N05 in great distress and wanted to_ ring up Abhilasha immediately, but it
1010N05 was too late in the night to_ wake her up. ^The next morning the mood
1020N05 passed. I decided that Abhilasha would be writing many more letters
1030N05 to her parents and the loss of one would not matter much. ^*I thought
1040N05 of sending a cable to her parents as I had done mine, but I had not
1050N05 noted the address. $*3ON*0 saturday, when I met Abhilasha, I made
1060N05 no reference to the loss of the letter. ^*Abhilasha was in very high
1070N05 spirits. ^We roamed around just as we pleased, doing a lot of window-shopping.
1080N05 ^We had a cheap lunch at a cafeteria of her choice. ^*I
1090N05 dropped her back at the hostel after an evening movie. ^The next day
1100N05 she promised to_ come to_ lunch at my hotel. $^On Sunday I persuaded
1110N05 her to_ do a tour of the more famous London landmarks by taxi and
1120N05 Abhilasha was famished by the time we reached the Savoy for lunch.
1130N05 $^She was again in a great mood and we enjoyed the lunch, which included
1140N05 two choice Indian curries. ^High on wine, she spoke freely of love
1150N05 and marriage and the right of men and women to_ live as they pleased.
1160N05 ^*I could never have imagined that Abhilasha entertained such advanced
1170N05 views and encouraged the turn of conversation. $^We went up to my cosy
1180N05 suite on the fourth floor. ^The maroon sofas and chairs with carpets
1190N05 and curtains to_ match made Abhilasha exclaim, "This looks like a
1200N05 scene from *3The Arabian Nights!"*0 she looked round and walked into the
1210N05 bedroom saying, "Gorgeous! Fantastic!" ^She was irresistible, so naive
1220N05 and artless. ^*I kept her in my bedroom and, through age-old guiles,
1230N05 introduced her to the "free life" she had spoken about with such enthusiasm
1240N05 at lunch. $^Later, she sat on the bed with her hair and dress
1250N05 all in disarray, looked at me and burst into tears. ^My God, I had
1260N05 never seen such weeping in my life and I never want to_ see it again.
1270N05 ^She was shaking all over. ^She was hysterical without making much
1280N05 noise. ^Gasping for breath, she covered her face with her hands and
1290N05 sobbed and cried. ^*I tried to_ console her. ^She pushed me
1300N05 away so violently that I lost my balance and fell, hitting my head against
1310N05 the wall. $^Now I was a little angry. ^How could I have guessed
1320N05 that this girl, who seemed to_ know all about the ways of the world,
1330N05 was basically an ignoramus? ^*I said nothing, however, and sat on the
1340N05 edge of the bed silently. ^Her sobs slowly eased and finally, with
1350N05 a heave, she checked herself and asked me to_ get out of the room.
1360N05 ^In a few minutes she came out. ^She had made up her face, tidied her
1370N05 hair and arranged her *4sari. ^She went to the mirror and placed a
1380N05 daub of vermilion on her forehead. $^Then abruptly she sat down in
1390N05 a chair while I stood leaning against the opposite wall. $^She began
1400N05 in a husky vioce. ^"do you know what you have done to me? ^*I
1410N05 can never be the same again-- *3cousin!*0. ^Never the same again.
1420N05 ^How can I ever face my parents? ^How can I write to them? ^Let
1430N05 them ever know what has happened to me. ^You, a doctor and a man
1440N05 of the world, took advantage of my innocence. ^Now you can brag to the
1450N05 world, \0Dr Ram Mohan Paranjpye!" $^She stared at me as I stood
1460N05 there speechless, her eyes dilated in horror, the beautiful face clothed
1470N05 in silent agony. ^Her lips were firmly closed, her hands clenched.
1480N05 ^We were both silent, it seemed, for many, many minutes. ^Finally,
1490N05 she took her bag and, without a look at me, opened the door and walked
1500N05 out. $^She left me in a state of stupefaction. ^Everything
1510N05 she had said was true, every word of it. $*3^THE*0 two of us did
1520N05 not meet alone after that_ for several days, though I did go to her hostel
1530N05 a number of times and made friends with others from her group.
1540N05 ^She would introduce me as \0Dr Paranjpye who had travelled with us from
1550N05 Bombay, taking care to_ mention that though we bore the same name,
1560N05 we had not known each other before. ^She appeared quite relaxed and
1570N05 I wondered whether she was getting over it. $^In a way she was, but
1580N05 it was in a most incredibly stupid way. ^One night, after a gay dinner
1590N05 and many drinks, an Australian who clung to me told me that my namesake,
1600N05 "Paranchpay" was a feast, and he had had her in his room for
1610N05 two nights during the week. ^*I shuddered, pushed him away to his great
1620N05 surprise, and dashed out of the hostel. $^Early next morning I
1630N05 rang up Abhilasha.*#
        **[no. of words = 02002**]

        **[txt. l06**]
0010N06 **<*3Golden Gloves I*'3m going to wear till my wedding day*0**>
0020N06 **[leader comment begin**] $^He did not know how to_ use his right hand
0030N06 when he came to me. ^He was a born southpaw. ^And a southpaw could not
0040N06 beat up the left side of a man*'s face. **[end leader comment**]
0050N06 $*3AS*0 superintendent of the jail at Colombo I made it a point
0060N06 to_ be present whenever a fresh batch of prisoners arrived. ^A
0070N06 guard, irritated by the long wait that_ day, pounded an open palm with
0080N06 his baton and began: "^Sir, shouldn*'4t we...?" $^The blare
0090N06 of a double klaxon drowned his voice and the restless murmur that_ always
0100N06 floated in the prison air. ^The guard on the watch-tower signalled
0110N06 the "all clear". ^Motors whirred as the steel doors edged open.
0120N06 $"^What are they waiting for?" the driver of the Black Maria bared
0130N06 betel-reddened teeth. $"^*Christmas!" the guard smirked and motioned
0140N06 him in with his baton. ^The black Maria rumbled in on balloon tyres,
0150N06 two guards stuck like limpets on the outside of its rear doors.
0160N06 ^When it stopped they checked with the jailor inside the vehicle before
0170N06 they stepped down and swung the rear doors open. $^The head guard
0180N06 thumbed a yellow file and barked out names; each prisoner grunted an acknowledgement
0190N06 of identity, alighted, then blinked and adjusted eyes to the
0200N06 brightness of the day. ^Wiry bodies acquired the stoop of humility
0210N06 and scarred faces flickered half-smiles of ingratiation-- which low cunning
0220N06 spiked off at the sight of the burly jailors. $"^Eight? ^*Sardiel?"
0230N06 the head jailor demanded of the guard in the Black Maria.
0240N06 ^Gasps and thumps alternated and Sardiel appeared at the open door.
0250N06 ^Narrow eyes swivelled in a tight, trapped-animal face, aggressiveness
0260N06 humped the muscles of his body. ^The jail guard shoved him down the
0270N06 steps of the Black Maria, he stumbled, but did not fall. $"^A trunk!"
0280N06 the guard in the Black Maria indicated to the head jailor.
0290N06 ^The head jailor tucked the yellow file under his arm and slipped his baton
0300N06 out of its frog. $"^*Sardiel!" the baton pointed at Sardiel and
0310N06 then at the trunk. ^Eyes met and weighed each other. ^Two more
0320N06 jailors closed in. $"^*Sardiel!" the head jailor*'s unquestionable
0330N06 authority demanded that he carry the trunk. ^*I moved into view to_
0340N06 make my presence felt. ^The prisoner, neck and shoulders gawky with
0350N06 the swell of developing manhood, seemed bent on taking his time. ^When
0360N06 at last he moved, the appeased head jailor motioned two other prisoners
0370N06 to_ help him. $^*Sardiel climbed back into the Black Maria.
0380N06 ^The trunk screeched as he dragged it to the door. ^It was a heavy
0390N06 wooden trunk. ^The helpers*' hands sought a grip on it; he brushed
0400N06 them aside. ^The two jailors closed in again. ^He turned about,thrust
0410N06 his shoulders under the burden; left hand went over his right shoulder
0420N06 to_ grip the handle and he heaved the trunk on to his back and shoulders.
0430N06 ^He staggered, half bent, towards the line of prisoners.
0440N06 ^The guard turned them right and they shambled off. $^*I went back
0450N06 to the office and to the dockets stacked before me, but a tight face with
0460N06 narrow eyes intruded: *3^He will be put through the routine of depersonalisation;
0470N06 stripping, de-lousing, medical inspection; the prisoner*'s haircut,
0480N06 the prisoner*'s garb. ^Guards will brook no challenge; will
0490N06 he brook the indignity?*0 $^*I checked his past: ^A farmer*'s son
0500N06 who left the village for the city at eighteen. ^Of no fixed abode;
0510N06 suspected member of a gang of house-breakers recruited by a notorious
0520N06 gangster-- but no previous convictions. ^Apprehended when the gang raided
0530N06 the offices of a Tourist Bureau. ^A night-watchman murdered
0540N06 -- the left side of his face and head battered with a knuckle-duster.
0550N06 ^Knuckle-duster found in the building fitted the prisoner*'s right hand.
0560N06 $^His defence: ^Heard the night-watchman crying out for help and
0570N06 went to his aid. ^Police arrived and he was arrested.
0580N06 "^*I*'3m not a member of any gang." ^Even under police persuasion the
0590N06 same story. ^The charge: ^Murder! ^The sentence: ^Death by hanging!
0600N06 ^Age: 20. ^*I studied the 3*" x 2*" identity photographs. ^He
0610N06 had eyebrows that_ met across the eyes. ^The saying in prison was:
0620N06 "^One whose eyebrows meet is born to_ be hanged"-- and they had statistics
0630N06 to_ prove it. $^*I took a clinical interest in him and found, as
0640N06 the weeks went by, that he had volunteered for the toughest jobs-- working
0650N06 in the quarry, breaking road metal; that his output was three times
0660N06 as much as any other prisoner*'s; and that he was gracious enough to_ pass
0670N06 the surplus on to other infirm prisoners who could not produce the
0680N06 quota. ^In the evening he was in the gymnasium exercising on the parallel
0690N06 bars, horizontal bars or weightlifting. ^This was all he lived
0700N06 with-- physical effort. $*3^AS*0 a rule, I spent my evenings at
0710N06 the Officers*' Club playing tennis but, with the boxing term coming on,
0720N06 the organisation of the Prison*'s Boxing Meet was my commitment.
0730N06 ^In addition to organising the meet, I also trained boxers for it.
0740N06 ^My evenings I now spent in the gymnasium. $^*Sardiel was always
0750N06 the first in the gymnasium. ^He would begin with the weights and go
0760N06 through a strenuous routine. ^His body did not acquire the muscle-
0770N06 bound, sinew-taut ungainliness of the weightlifter; instead, rippling stomach
0780N06 muscles flared up to his dorsals, and muscles in the arms and shoulders
0790N06 flowed with liquid ease. $^On the parallel bars his coordination
0800N06 had a musical dexterity. ^He performed on the Roman rings to the
0810N06 *3oohs*0 and *3aahs*0 of a wide-eyed circle of prisoners, but he never came
0820N06 near the boxing ring nor did he even pause to_ watch. ^*I tried to_
0830N06 coax him into coming over but he just shook his head. ^*I needled
0840N06 him with the taunt of cowardice; belittled him for garnering
0850N06 strength which had no practical purpose; called him a show-off exulting
0860N06 in the acclamation of ignorant prisoners.
0870N06 $^His reply: What*'1s the fun in punching each other with pillows tied
0880N06 to your fists? ^It*'s a game for children, not men." $^*I challenged
0890N06 him to_ box me. ^His admirers crowded us. ^*I turned to them:
0900N06 "^You tell me that Sardiel did 150 dips. ^Did the lions
0910N06 crawl on the parallel bars fifty times? ^Lifted so much. ^What
0920N06 use is all this when he won*'4t fight? ^He*'1s afraid to_ fight.
0930N06 ^Muscles give strength but to_ box you need guts." $"^Fight him,
0940N06 Sardiel! ^Show him, Sardiel!" $"^Don*'4t let him talk like that_
0950N06 to you!" $^At last he faced me with antagonism. "^Gloves?" he
0960N06 asked. $^*Sardiel was a featherweight and I a middleweight going to_
0970N06 seed. ^*I said: "^Good. ^Let*'3s see if you*'3ll make a boxer."
0980N06 ^*I had been keeping fit, my science was always rated as good.
0990N06 ^Anyway, how good was I if I could not keep a novice at bay? $"^Go
1000N06 on, Sardiel, finish him off! ^He*'1s asking for it!" ^*Sardiel
1010N06 lifted his hands to_ quell their boisterous urging, but they would not
1020N06 stop, they knew they were backing a winner. $"^*I*'3ll box," he
1030N06 said, wariness lining his face. $^He came to me, gritted teeth, body
1040N06 square, fists held before his face. ^*I weaved, sidestepped, danced
1050N06 out of his way and out of the corners. ^He grunted when his fists flayed
1060N06 the air. ^My left stung him over and over again, I drew blood.
1070N06 $^When the round ended I was panting and he was ready to_ go on.
1080N06 ^*I went across to his corner and showed him the boxing stance, told
1090N06 him a square two-fisted attack was suicidal. ^He adopted the standard
1100N06 stance, left foot out left hand out, and sprang at me when the gong struck.
1110N06 ^*I kept clear of those hate-driven fists. ^*I crossed his
1120N06 left with a right. ^*I saw him wince, he had no counter and began to_
1130N06 bleed from the nose. *^I eased off to_ ask whether he was okay.
1140N06 ^He redoubled his efforts to_ pulverise me. $^Suddenly he stopped,
1150N06 pushed his right foot out, cocked his right hand before him, crouched and
1160N06 came at me. *3^A southpaw!*0 before I could get over my surprise,
1170N06 a left hook slipped under my right and caught me on the right side of
1180N06 the jaw. $*3^WHEN*0 I came to, I was being rocked by Sardiel, but
1190N06 the jail guards shouldered him aside. ^When I got to my feet, he was
1200N06 facing me, a trapped animal awaiting humiliation at the hands of the
1210N06 guards. ^He backed away from my outstretched hand, then, realising
1220N06 I wanted only to_ shake his, put his gloved hand to mine; but immediately
1230N06 dived under the ropes, jumped out of the ring and was gone. $^He
1240N06 never came to see me, did not even come to the *4gymkhana for the next two
1250N06 weeks. ^Then one evening, when the gymnasium emptied, I found him
1260N06 at my side. "^*I want to_ box," he said. $"^Why?" ^*I asked.
1270N06 $^Anger flushed his eyes and died out. ^It must have cost him a lot
1280N06 to_ ask this favour. ^Now, instead of being appreciated for it, he
1290N06 was being teased. ^There must have been so many whys to which he had
1300N06 no answer. ^*I did not await his answer.
1310N06 $"^*I*'3ll teach you," I said and took him over to the punchbag, but I
1320N06 had to_ drive a bargain. "^On one condition," I held the punchbag for
1330N06 him, "that you box in the prison*'s Meet." ^He stepped away from
1340N06 me, as though I had stung him, then, halting pushed his right foot out
1350N06 and crouched in the southpaw*'s stance. $^That left of his was soon
1360N06 able to_ hit from any angle. ^The right was feeble and I put in a
1370N06 lot of work to_ give it the semblance of a punch. ^The footwork, the
1380N06 body sway, the ringcraft did not come naturally, but he worked like a roman
1390N06 soldier to_ acquire proficiency. $^The prison*'s Boxing Meet was
1400N06 a cake-walk for him, he had two fights and each did not go one-half of
1410N06 the first round. ^He was too good a fighter to_ lose. $^*I entered
1420N06 him for the Ceylon Novices Meet and applied for the necessary permission
1430N06 from the prison authorities. ^It was granted, provided I was
1440N06 personally responsible for him. ^He flattened out the Novices and
1450N06 I sent him in for the Intermediates. ^He got through on a narrow
1460N06 points*' victory. ^But in the dressing-room, when the reporters came
1470N06 in for his story, he tensed again with that anxiety which I had not seen
1480N06 in him for long. ^He lashed out when they fired their first question:
1490N06 "^From what village do you come?" $^The seconds and I brought
1500N06 him under control and a disgruntled press filed out, muttering against
1510N06 the impropriety of matching convicts against amateurs. ^He would not
1520N06 explain, remained sullen and silent. $^A week later I brought down
1530N06 a one-time American coach who was then at the \0USIS and had him watch
1540N06 Sardiel in the ring. $"^Boy, oh boy!" the American gushed.
1550N06 "^This guy*'2s got a mule kick in his left hand! ^Six months I*'3ll
1560N06 make him a Golden Gloves champ!" ^Then he drew his index finger
1570N06 across his throat, made a wry face and said: "^In six months it*'3ll
1580N06 be all over for him." $^The next day I put it to Sardiel: "^The
1590N06 National Championships! ^If you win through, you will qualify
1600N06 for the Asian Games. ^You know what that_ means to you? ^Maybe
1610N06 your sentence... the public... "^He did not allow me to_ go on. $"^No!"
1620N06 he stamped on the idea. "^*I can*'4t! ^*I won*'4t! ^Nomore
1630N06 boxing. ^Not outside." $"^Your life!" ^*I protested "^Here*'1s
1640N06 a chance to_ live. ^A chance to_ begin again with hundreds of
1650N06 fans to_ help you." $^He weighed me with cold eyes, his face lined
1660N06 by the conflict within him. "^*I can *'4t! he said with a finality
1670N06 that_ hurt and walked out on me. $*3^EACH*0 evening he went through
1680N06 the training routine of skipping, exercising, shadow boxing and bag-punching
1690N06 and even started to_ teach others to_ box, but he never came close
1700N06 to me again. ^*I passed the word round to the jailors, the prisoners,
1710N06 that Sardiel had a heaven-sent opportunity of showing the world
1720N06 outside that people inside prison could be champions too.*#
        **[no. of words = 02021**]

        **[txt. n07**]
0010N07 **<*3The Swimmer*0**> $*<*3Nine*0*>
0020N07 $*3*^2khitish*0 yelled in anger, "You must, you have to_ do it. ^*I won*'4t
0030N07 listen to any excuses. $^He picked up a stone lying at his feet
0040N07 and threw it at Koni. $"^*I beg you Khidda*'3, I can*'4t any
0050N07 more." $"^*I*'3ll break your head.... drop dead, drop dead, you...."
0060N07 ^*Khitish couldn*'4t find another stone. ^Looking around he noticed
0070N07 a thin bamboo pole which stood against the wall of the *4Mali*'s room.
0080N07 $"^*Khidda*'3, I can*'4t carry on any longer." $^*Khitish
0090N07 jumped over the railing and picked up the pole. ^*Koni had swum to the
0100N07 side. ^*Khitish held the pole in both hands and struck out at the
0110N07 water. ^It hit the water about three feet from Koni*'s face.
0120N07 ^He struck out again. $"^*I*'3ll break your head. ^You*'3re
0130N07 dead if you get out of the water. ^Two hundred metres still remain."
0140N07 $^To_ get out of the water Koni swam towards the starting platform
0150N07 on the western side. ^*Khitish followed her with the pole in his hands.
0160N07 ^*Koni stopped and peered from behind the platform. ^*Khitish
0170N07 couldn*'4t get on the platform since it was twelve feet from the water*'s
0180N07 edge and there was no bridge in between. $"^*Khidda*'3 Khidda*'3,
0190N07 let me go now. ^*I*'3ll make it up in the afternoon," Koni whimpered.
0200N07 $"^*I don*'4t want to_ hear any thing. ^*I must have work
0210N07 as per my routine. ^And till I get it, you shan*'4t leave the water."
0220N07 $^Putting her head between the arms holding the platform, Koni wept.
0230N07 ^*Khitish waited, his face turned to stone. ^It was nine O*'3clock
0240N07 in the morning. ^There was nobody else in the water there.
0250N07 ^But people sat around on the benches and pedestrians strolled through
0260N07 Kamaldighi. ^Many were curious and stopped and stared at Khitish.
0270N07 $^*Koni swam from the western to the eastern platform. ^*Khitish
0280N07 walked alongside, the pole still in his hands. ^He didn*'4t trust
0290N07 her. ^Maybe she would get out of the water on reaching the other side.
0300N07 $^It seemed as though her tired arms were being pulled out of the
0310N07 water and then being dropped back. ^She turned her head and swallowed
0320N07 gulps of air. ^Her eyes seemed overcome with sleep. ^The stop
0330N07 watch slung round his neck was in Khitish*'s fist as he kept muttering
0340N07 to himself. "^*I know. ^*I know you are in pain. ^Your arms and
0350N07 legs are coming apart and your lungs are bursting. ^Let them burst.
0360N07 ^You must push aside pain and get ahead. ^You know how it feels
0370N07 when hunger strikes and gnaws at your insides. ^You will understand
0380N07 pain. ^Fight, Koni, fight.... $"...^You must be hammered into tempered
0390N07 steel. ^Understand pain, put it to your use, vanquish it....
0400N07 ^Come on Koni, harder, harder still.... $"....^You must train and get
0410N07 ahead, Koni. ^When pain and suffering come, ask them whether they
0420N07 think they can frighten you, make you cry. ^And say to me, 'Khidda*'3
0430N07 I*'3ll kill you. ^You*'3re a monster, I*'3ll tear you apart.'
0440N07 ^Make Kamaldighi waters boil over with your anger. $"^Man*'s abilities
0450N07 are limitless. ^Those others think I am mad; let them prattle
0460N07 on. they are fools, all of them. ^They dream of producing champions
0470N07 after an hour*'s gentle shaking of arms and legs.... $"...^Another
0480N07 fifty metres to_ go. ^Let repeated rubbings of pain tone the muscles
0490N07 of your body. ^And that_ body will surprise you one day. ^What
0500N07 you think is impossible today, will be easily possible. ^Gold medals
0510N07 by themselves are nothing, merely discs of metal. ^But what they
0520N07 imply is important. ^Man can do anything, anything." $^*Koni finished
0530N07 her swim. ^She held the platform in both hands and panted for
0540N07 breath. ^She looked around at Khitish. ^There was hatred and anger
0550N07 in her eyes and Khitish noticed that_. ^Putting the pole away
0560N07 he went into the club and took out a thick notebook. ^That_ was Koni*'s
0570N07 log book. ^All details of her training, her timings, weight, pulse
0580N07 rates, her diet, the vitamin and iron tablets \0etc. were recorded in
0590N07 the book. $^*Khitish noticed as he wrote that koni had hurriedly left
0600N07 the club. ^On other days she would speak to him before leaving.
0610N07 ^Today she didn*'4t. ^From the club she usually went to Khitish*'s
0620N07 house where she ate. ^Exactly at ten she would go across to 'Prajapati'
0630N07 to_ unlock and roll up the shutters. ^She would then sweep the
0640N07 floor of the shop, clean the counters, fetch water and perform other
0650N07 small jobs. ^She would return from the shop for her mid-day meal.
0660N07 ^Then she slept for a couple of hours and after fifteen minutes of exercise
0670N07 go on to Apollo. $^After another swimming session she would return
0680N07 to 'Prajapati'. ^After shutting shop she returned with Lilavati.
0690N07 ^She would go back home to her mother and brothers after the evening
0700N07 meal. ^*Koni was paid forty *4rupees a month. $^*Koni was late
0710N07 today. ^Instead of going to Khitish*'s home, she ran on to 'Prajapati'.
0720N07 ^*Lilavati had opened the shop herseelf. ^The boy from
0730N07 the photographer*'s shop next door had helped her pull up the heavy shutters.
0740N07 ^Seeing Koni, Lilavati had pointed towards the street and said.
0750N07 "^You can get out. ^*I don*'4t need you any longer." $^*
0760N07 koni went pale. ^She stood with her face lowered. ^Since a customer
0770N07 had arrived, Lilavati said no more. ^*Koni finished her chores
0780N07 one by one. ^Hunger and fatigue made her eyes bleary, her feet trembled.
0790N07 ^She felt terribly sleepy, but in the shop there was no place
0800N07 for her even to_ sit. ^After a while she spoke with fear in her voice,
0810N07 "Baudi, can I go home for a while?" $^*Lilavati was writing the
0820N07 measurements of a frock in a thick notebook. ^She replied roughly,
0830N07 "^No". $^*Koni moved aside and stood by the door. ^If she resigned
0840N07 the job, the family would be deprived of forty *4rupees. $^On leaving
0850N07 Apollo, Khitish had been going round tailors*' shops with a large
0860N07 bag in his hand. ^He would buy cut pieces of cloth. ^He had made
0870N07 arrangements with three laundries to_ buy these pieces of cloth which
0880N07 were used by them to write numbers on articles of clothing before they were
0890N07 sent for washing. ^*Khitish sold about three kilos of scrap cloth
0900N07 daily. ^He made six or seven *4rupees out of this. $^Having collected
0910N07 a bagful of scrap, Khitish turned up at Koni*'s place at about
0920N07 one o*'3clock in the afternoon. ^*Khitish spoke angrily to Koni*'s
0930N07 mother when she appeared, "^At what time did Koni sleep last night?"
0940N07 $"^Why, at the same time as on other days," Koni*'s mother replied
0950N07 nervously. $"^Is that_ the truth?" ^*Khitish looked at her sharply.
0960N07 "^Then why did she tire so quickly this morning? ^Look,
0970N07 you will be found out if you try and hide things from me. ^Now tell me
0980N07 correctly, at what time did Koni sleep?
0981N07 $"^No, no, I shan*'t lie to you. ^*Koni had gone to a
0990N07 '*4jatra' party last night. ^It was about one o*'3clock before she
1000N07 went to bed." $"^Hum", Khitish handed over the bag and said, "Cut
1010N07 these pieces today itself. ^Send them to the Club with koni tomorrow
1020N07 morning." $^Handing over five *4rupees to Koni*'s mother, Khitish
1030N07 spoke sadly, "She*'1s young, she is bound to_ want some fun. ^But
1040N07 for her own good you*'3ll have to_ be firm. ^Any sport is a matter
1050N07 of dedication. ^To_ succeed you need to_ lead the life of a hermit.
1060N07 ^There are many small things which are bad for you when in training
1070N07 ^There*'1s absolutely no harm in a '*4jatra', but not at the cost of
1080N07 much needed rest when undergoing training. ^You must understand these
1090N07 things." $^On returning home Khitish found Lilavati waiting for him.
1100N07 ^He sat down to eat. ^In the middle of the meal he asked, "^Has
1110N07 Koni eaten?" $^*Lilavati was quiet for a while. ^Then she
1120N07 replied, "^She*'1s of no use to me. ^She*'1s sleeping all the time.
1130N07 ^*I didn*'4t let her sit today, she was asleep on her feet." $"^*I
1140N07 made her work very hard today." $"^What good is that_ to me?
1150N07 ^You saved me five thousand, but you are taking it away in other expenses."
1160N07 $"^But I am paying you fifty *4rupees for her food."
1170N07 $"^She has eggs and milk and honey every day. ^How can one manage on
1180N07 fifty *4rupees?" $^*Khitish got up on finishing his meal.
1190N07 ^Going into his room he found Koni fast asleep on the floor. ^Instead
1200N07 of a pillow she had placed her two hands under her head. ^*Khitish
1210N07 sat down beside her and gently stroked her head. ^*Koni stirred
1220N07 after a while and moved closer to Khitish. ^She muttered something
1230N07 under her breath. ^*Khitish leaned forward to_ listen. $"^*Dada!"
1240N07 $"^Yes." $^A thin smile flitted across her face.
1250N07 "^You told me you*'1d show me a crocodile." $"^Yes, I*3ll take you
1260N07 to the zoo," ^Khitish whispered. "^And we shall go to other
1270N07 places too-- Belur Math, Bandel Church, Diamond Harbour, the
1280N07 Museum and many other places. ^And then you shall go to Delhi,
1290N07 Bombay and Madras. ^And then to places even further away, Tokyo,
1300N07 London, Berlin, Moscow, New York." $^Even in her
1310N07 sleep Koni*'s face brightened. $"^*Khidda*'3 makes me suffer. ^Dada.
1320N07 ^But I shall definitely bring you that_ medal." $^With that
1330N07 smile on her face, Koni sank back in deeper sleep. ^Stroking her
1340N07 head, Khitish whispered, "I shall make you suffer more, even more".
1350N07 $^*Prajapati was closed on Sundays. ^*Koni too
1360N07 had a holiday from training on that_ day. ^A bag was slung across
1370N07 Khitish*'s shoulder. ^In that_ he carried some *4chapatis,
1380N07 a potato curry, *4gur, boiled eggs and bananas. $^They had left
1390N07 home at ten o*'3clock. ^They had gone round the zoo for about
1400N07 three hours and then sat on the grass by the side of a tank. ^Taking
1410N07 out the packets of food Khitish said, "^Drinking water will be a problem.
1420N07 ^*I should have brought the water bottle." $^A
1430N07 little distance from them, a group of about thirty girls in school uniforms
1440N07 arrived noisily. ^There were four teachers with them. ^Two
1450N07 *4durwans carried baskets of food. ^They sat down in a circle to_
1460N07 eat. ^*Koni munched her *4chapatis but kept glancing curiously
1470N07 at the group. $"^*Khidda*'3, they have water. ^Shall I ask
1480N07 them?" $"^How do you know?" $"^There*'1s that_ big drum.
1490N07 ^They are giving out water from it." $"^Okay, go and
1500N07 ask." $^*Koni went upto the teacher standing by the drum.
1510N07 ^*Khitish saw that on being asked by Koni, the teacher looked her up and
1520N07 down and turned her face away after saying something to Koni.
1530N07 ^*Koni looked put off when she came back. $"^She didn*'4t give any
1540N07 water?" $^*Koni*'s face was set in anger. ^She said ,
1550N07 "^It*'1s a rich people*'s school." $"^Is that_ why they didn*'4t
1560N07 give water," Khitish joked. $"^The rich despise the poor."
1570N07 $^*Khitish was a little surprised. ^How had such notions
1580N07 entered her little head! $"^Who told you the rich hate the poor?"
1590N07 $"^*I know. ^*Dada told me. ^If you have money,
1600N07 everybody respects you." $"^Let*'3s go and drink water from the
1610N07 tap." $^They had started moving away when a girl came running
1620N07 towards them. ^In her hands she held two plastic tumblers full of
1630N07 water. $^They stopped and turned round. ^Both recognised the
1640N07 girl with plastic glasses to_ be Heea Mitra. $"^You wanted some
1650N07 water? ^Our Miss Nundy is very bad tempered. ^*I apologise for
1660N07 her behaviour." $^*Heea held up one of the tumblers to Koni.
1670N07 ^But Koni behaved strangely. ^She struck out with her hand at the
1680N07 tumbler. ^The tumbler flew out of Heea*'s hand and fell on the grass.
1690N07 ^Not only Heea, but Khitish too was astonished.
1700N07 $"^*I don*'4t want your water. ^Tap water is good enough for us."
1710N07 $^*Koni walked away briskly on her own. ^*Khitish was embarrassed.
1720N07 $"^It*'1s my turn to_ apologise to you." $^*Heea looked pained.
1730N07 $"^Then you take the tumbler of water." $"^Certainly, certainly."
1740N07 $^*Khitish thought he should scold Koni. ^But he had
1750N07 said nothing. ^He understood that Heea was Koni*'s future rival.
1760N07 ^He had gone to the Ballygunje Swimming Club on four days,
1770N07 on the pretence of looking up old friends. ^But he had observed
1780N07 Heea*'s training. ^And not only that_, hiding a stop-watch in his
1790N07 pocket, he had timed her at full speed.*#
        **[no. of words = 02020**]

        **[txt. n08**]
0010N08 **<*3COUSIN SHIV AND THE FLOWER CHILD*0**>
0020N08 $*3^WHERE WAS SHE GOING?*0 ^*Shiv wondered, always careful
0030N08 to_ keep his mind off some of the possibilities of the situation in
0040N08 which he found himself. ^But he regarded himself as too much of a
0050N08 gentleman to_ take advantage of her extreme youth. ^Didn*'4t she
0060N08 have people who cared for her? ^Worried about her? ^Did she
0070N08 expect to_ find the answers she was looking for in the kind of life she
0080N08 lived? ^And was that_ why she travelled so hopefully? ^Perhaps,
0090N08 she, too, was searching for the Valley of Flowers-- a kind of
0100N08 El Dorado. $^This idea so intrigued him, that he wanted to_ wake
0110N08 her there and then and ask her. ^But he knew that if he woke her it
0120N08 would not be to_ ask that_ kind of question. ^In any case she would
0130N08 not be able to_ understand his language, though she might have no difficulty
0140N08 understanding another kind of sign language. ^Somewhat guilty about
0150N08 this momentary lapse on his part, he turned his back to where she
0160N08 lay and tried to_ sleep. $^He was always up and about before her, and
0170N08 after completing his toilet, he had a glass of tea downstairs before
0180N08 the shopman*'s fire and settled their account for board and lodging.
0190N08 ^It was when he discovered that she was getting *4charas on his account
0200N08 that he grew indignant. ^It had not even occurred to him that they
0210N08 were sojourning through the land of *8cannabis sattiva*9, and the people
0220N08 were in fact preparing their fields on the uplands for sowing the new
0230N08 crop of hemp. ^He believed she had taken advantage of his goodness.
0240N08 ^Besides, he had not budgeted for keeping a *4hippie female in *4charas
0250N08 and *4ganja. ^So one morning he gently rolled her off his bag,
0260N08 packed his belongings and walked out on her. $^He thought the
0270N08 peasants very stupid. ^None of them had heard of the Valley of Flowers.
0280N08 "^Which peak is Deoban?" he asked, and each pointed out
0290N08 a different one. ^*Jaskar Valley? ^*Badyar Pass? ^Where were they?
0300N08 ^They shrugged their shoulders and went back to breaking clods
0310N08 in their terraced fields. $^They had no sense of distance either.
0320N08 ^They told him a village was just over the hill. ^And when
0330N08 he went on, he found another hill. ^He found himself walking more
0340N08 than he had ever intended to_ in a lifetime. $^One evening at the
0350N08 top of a steep climb which took him to eight thousand feet, he came across
0360N08 a police check-post and was stopped by the two men on duty there because
0370N08 he did not have a permit to_ proceed further. $"^*Restricted Area,"
0380N08 they said. "^Not even Indian nationals can go beyond this
0390N08 second frontier without a permit from the District Magistrate."
0400N08 $^Where then was the Valley of Flowers? ^Had he indeed walked almost
0410N08 to the border of Tibet? ^Perhaps China lay only a few more
0420N08 days*' journey ahead. ^He felt rather pleased about that_ possiblity.
0430N08 ^The family would be terribly impressed. $^The policemen were
0440N08 kind and despatched a man to the district town four days*' journey away,
0450N08 they said, with ten *4rupees and Shiv*'s application for a permit.
0460N08 ^They arranged for a small room for him over the shop on the ridge
0470N08 where the proprietor provided him meals. ^The fare was poor, but
0480N08 it was cheap. ^He lay about in the sun a great deal within view of
0490N08 a marvellous view of the snow ranges, and waited for his permit to_ arrive.
0500N08 $^In the evenings peasants always dropped in at the shop after
0510N08 driving their bullocks home and hanging up their ploughs. ^They sat
0520N08 round on plank benches or the low courtyard wall and gossiped. ^It was
0530N08 chilly on the ridge for a sharp wind always blew across it, so the shopman
0540N08 always had a fire burning in the centre of the circle.
0550N08 $^Everyone was curious about Shiv. ^He came from far-away *3Dilli.*0
0560N08 ^To them it was like another planet. $^Though Shiv did not
0570N08 know it there was much speculation about his presence at the post.
0580N08 ^His appearance has never been one to_ inspire any confidience.
0590N08 ^And he now had more than a week*'s growth of beard. ^The rumour in
0600N08 the village was that he was a notorious Pakistani spy, and the policemen
0610N08 were waiting for instrucitions from the District Magistrate. $^The
0620N08 two men were hoping that Shiv would get tired of waiting and leave,
0630N08 because the ten *4rupees he had given them, along with his application,
0640N08 had been used to_ purchase two bottles of brew in the valley. ^On the
0650N08 other hand, if he insisted on going further without a permit, they
0660N08 would allow him that_ privilege for a tidy sum of money. ^Meanwhile,
0670N08 they were glad to_ drink his tea. $^One evening while Shiv was holding
0680N08 forth about a certain scandal which, he told them, had rocked the
0690N08 capital, they heard the sound of a cow-bell coming up the road to the ridge.
0700N08 ^They all peered into the darkness. $"^Whose bullock is out
0710N08 at this time of night?" asked the shopman. ^The bell jangled as though
0720N08 the creature were running. ^Then the sound of thumping footsteps
0730N08 came up the road, and out of the darkness emerged a wild figure, making for
0740N08 the firelight with hair flying and robes blowing in the wind.
0750N08 $^*Shiv*'s heart sank and he drew back quickly out of the light, partially
0760N08 concealed behind the shoulders of the policeman sitting beside him
0770N08 on the bench. $^For a moment everyone was too surprised to_ speak
0780N08 but stared at the Flower Child as she crouched panting before the fire,
0790N08 frightened out of her wits. ^Who was this white woman? ^And how
0800N08 came she to_ be running about at this hour of the night on the mountain
0810N08 road with a cow-bell round her neck? ^What had so frightened her?
0820N08 "^Probably the leopard that*_'2s been prowling about lately," one man
0830N08 suggested. "^It must have followed the sound of the bell thinking someone*'s
0840N08 cow was loose." $"^Foreigner?" demanded the more
0850N08 senior of the policeman of the girl. ^She looked up at him standing over
0860N08 her and gave no reply. $"^She probably doesn*'4t understand,"
0870N08 said the shopman. $^Neither of the policemen knew English. ^The
0880N08 only other person in the village who did was the schoolmaster who had studied
0890N08 up to the fourth book. ^But he was away since school was closed
0900N08 for the monsoon sowing season. ^This left only Shiv, and they turned
0910N08 to him where he sat wishing he could vanish into thin air. $^Following
0920N08 the direction of their gaze, the Flower Child recognised his legs
0930N08 clad in jeans, and she jumped up with a glad cry. ^Sobbing with
0940N08 relief, she fell on his neck. ^Overcome with the smell of her, and
0950N08 entangled with gumnuts, cowbell and rosaries, Shiv hastily unclasped
0960N08 her arms, and turned away in disgust. ^She sat down at his feet,
0970N08 chattering.
0980N08 $"^What does she say?" asked the policeman. $"^*God knows,"
0990N08 replied Shiv, genuinely mystified. $"^Foreigner?" $^*Shiv studied
1000N08 her as though he were seeing her for the first time. "^She looks
1010N08 as if she might be," he replied. $"^Do you know her?" $"^No!"
1020N08 $"^But she seems to_ know you--" $"^There was someone like her on the
1030N08 bus going up to Joshimat," Shiv replied, creasing his forehead and
1040N08 trying hard to_ remember. $"^Has she a permit?" $"^How should
1050N08 I know? ^Ask her." $^The man addressed the girl. "^Per-meet?
1060N08 ^Per-meet?" he said. $she ignored him, and sat hugging
1070N08 her knees as she gazed into the fire. ^The policeman began to_ feel
1080N08 something less than a god, and he was annoyed with Shiv for making
1090N08 him appear silly. $"^We*'3ll have to_ detain her. ^Foreigners
1100N08 entering the Second Frontier without a permit can be jailed," he said
1110N08 severely. $"^Suit yourself. ^It*'1s not my business," Shiv
1120N08 replied. $"^And anyone aiding and abetting a foreigner to_ enter the
1130N08 Restricted Area will also be sent to jail." ^*Shiv shrugged and
1140N08 made no reply. $"^Come upstairs with us," he said nastily, and Shiv
1150N08 had to_ follow the two men to their room over the shop. ^They
1160N08 grilled him till late into the night before they allowed him to_ retire
1170N08 to the smaller room he occupied on the other side of a partition of planks.
1180N08 ^And they put the Flower Child in with him. $^*Shiv could
1190N08 hear clearly every sound that_ came from the other side of the partition
1200N08 where the Law removed its trousers and lay down on creaky cots each night.
1210N08 ^He could imagine the two men lying with ears cocked for some
1220N08 slight sound that_ might prove that he was indeed "aiding and abetting"
1230N08 the foreigner. ^Not until five days had passed did it dawn on him that
1240N08 he was in the middle of The Paradox. $^He took the two policemen aside
1250N08 the following morning, determined not to_ give in too easily.
1260N08 "^*I know the chief of the Criminal Investigation Bureau in Delhi,"
1270N08 he said severely. "^In fact he lives in the same street-- right across
1280N08 from my house--" $"^Good! ^You must tell him about us when
1290N08 you go back, and how we are doing our duty in the best interests of the
1300N08 country," replied the senior policeman. $"^All right, how
1310N08 much?" ^*Shiv asked, giving in. $^They settled on eighty *4rupees
1320N08 to_ allow him to_ proceed without a permit. ^But the girl would
1330N08 have to_ go back because that_ would be a serious breach of the law.
1340N08 ^*Shiv paid; but the following morning, while it was still dark, he took
1350N08 his pack and the Flower Child and crept away leaving a large bill--
1360N08 which he hoped the shopman would be paid from the money he had given
1370N08 the policemen. $^They walked steadily and got onto the motor road again
1380N08 on the second day. "^We*'3ll wait here for a bus to_ pick us up,"
1390N08 Shiv said to the girl who looked her usual blank self. ^A small stream
1400N08 rushed down the mountain-side at this point and was spanned by a stone
1410N08 culvert. ^Climbing over the rocks higher up, Shiv came upon a clear
1420N08 blue pool of water, and decided to_ take a quick bath. $^The icy water
1430N08 made him tingle all over, and he splashed about and became rather noisy
1440N08 as he shouted. ^When he emerged he wrapped a small towel about his
1450N08 waist and stood for some time enjoying the warmth of the sun.
1460N08 $^He wondered where the Flower Child was, and peering over the large
1470N08 boulder behind which he had been bathing, he saw her lying on a small
1480N08 stretch of sands. ^She had thrown off her ochre robe and sandals, and
1490N08 lay with her face buried in her hands, taking the sun on her back.
1500N08 $^What drew him forward was pure curiosity. ^Flowers decorated her
1510N08 back, faded and smudged now with sweat and grime-- flowers and graffiti
1520N08 in strange scripts and languages. ^Her lumbar vertebrae were spelled
1530N08 out with the English word "Love." ^He crept closer, fascinated by
1540N08 the great variety of theme, and intrigued by the circumstances under which
1550N08 all this art work must have been executed. ^Even the backs of her
1560N08 thighs had been decorated. $^Putting out a tentative finger, he
1570N08 gently traced the figure *4Om*0 on the small of her back. ^He was now
1580N08 on all fours in the sand, his towel forgotten. ^At his touch she
1590N08 started and turned over quickly. ^He saw that sand and pebbles had
1600N08 left other patterns on her pale skin. ^She had also been busy freshening
1610N08 the flowers on her front with red and blue pencil. ^Petals encircled
1620N08 her breasts and her navel. ^Flowers grew on her stomach, their
1630N08 stems reaching downwards where they were rooted in her sex. ^There
1640N08 too, he could see the word "Love" over-written. ^She had carefully
1650N08 filled in again the slogans on her thighs: "^*God is love,
1660N08 and Love is God"-- a theme often displayed on trucks and cabs in Delhi.
1670N08 $^*Shiv found himself suddenly flooded with innocent astonishment
1680N08 at the childlike naivete of it all. ^He was filled with a kind of childsh
1690N08 happiness. ^He wanted to_ scamper over the rocks, splash in
1700N08 the water, roll on the sand, and shout in his naked innocence.*#
        **[no. of words = 02017**]

        **[txt. n09**]
0010N09 **<*3The Sunday Cricket Match*0**>
0020N09 $*3^WHEN*0 Patwardhan was called in to the Chairman*'s office
0030N09 at the uneasy hour of seven in the evening, he prepared himself for
0040N09 the worst. ^Summons after office hours usually presaged something
0050N09 quite unpleasant. $^The Chairman looked up briefly as Patwardhan
0060N09 opened the door, and went back to the complex ritual of lighting his pipe.
0070N09 $"^*Pat," said the Chairman when he had his pipe going, "high
0080N09 time we had a get-together of the staff, don*'4t you think?"
0090N09 $^*Patwardhan groaned inwardly. ^Staff get-togethers held pride of
0100N09 place on his list of corporate hazards. ^The last one, for instance, had
0110N09 been a total disaster. ^Organised under the guise of a Christmas
0120N09 party, it had gone out of hand after the fourth round of drinks.
0130N09 ^The following morning Pat had, quite reluctantly, fired two of his best
0140N09 men for telling the Chairman what exactly they thought of him.
0150N09 $"^Not a booze party this time," said the Chairman, as if divining
0160N09 Patwardhan*'s thoughts. "^Something healthier. ^Something outdoorsy.
0170N09 ^A game of cricket, shall we say?" $^A game of cricket.
0180N09 ^*Pat considered. ^True, one could collapse of sunstroke, but otherwise
0190N09 quite harmless. $"^A superb idea, sir," he said unctuously,
0200N09 and rose from his chair. "^And if you*'3re free this Sunday, I can
0210N09 have it organised right away." $^The Chairman nodded, and
0220N09 went back to tending his pipe. $^*Sunday morning was warm and breathless.
0230N09 ^The staff and their families trickled into the club grounds by
0240N09 car and scooter, the men clad in gleaming white flannels, the ladies
0250N09 in wild splashes of colour, hair piled high, outsize goggles perched on
0260N09 their noses. $^At the stroke of ten a cream coloured Mercedes swerved
0270N09 imperiously into the club premises and slithered to a halt. ^The
0280N09 car doors swung open to_ disgorge the Chairman, his wife and their ten
0290N09 year old son. ^*Patwardhan disengaged himself from his group and surged
0300N09 forward to_ welcome them. $"^All set, Pat?" asked the Chairman,
0310N09 rubbing his palms together and winking, waving, smiling at the assemblage
0320N09 with a bonhomie that_ fooled nobody. $"^All set sir," replied Patwardhan.
0330N09 $^The Chairman strode briskly towards the pitch, inspected
0340N09 it critically and flipped a coin in the air. ^He won the toss
0350N09 and elected to_ bat. ^He then went to his car, promptly extracted a couple
0360N09 of chilled bottles of beer from the boot and headed towards the pavilion.
0370N09 $^The ladies positioned their lush bottoms on frilly white handkerchiefs
0380N09 and settled down to_ watch their middle-aged, unathletic husbands
0390N09 flex their arms, leap into the air, and waddle onto the field.
0400N09 ^The friendly cricket match had begun. $\0*3^MR*0 Screwalla, Director
0410N09 of Sales, was an awkward, incompetent batsman. ^The first two
0420N09 balls whizzed perilously past the stumps, leaving him flustered and quaking.
0430N09 ^He mopped his brow and composed himself to_ face the next
0440N09 ball. $^*Mehta, the bowler, thoughtfully ambled up to the top of
0450N09 his bowling run. ^To_ get Screwalla out was going to_ be as easy as
0460N09 falling off a log, but Mehta dared not even contemplate the outcome of
0470N09 such an action. \0^*Mr Screwalla, true to his name, was a spiteful
0480N09 little man endowed with the memory of an elephant. ^And Mehta*'s
0490N09 sales figures that_ season left a lot to_ be desired. $^*Mehta
0500N09 made a quick decision and turned around to_ bowl. $^The next four balls
0510N09 drifted harmlessly past \0Mr Screwalla*'s flailing bat. ^*Screwalla
0520N09 was promptly out the next over, sparing Mehta the agony of having
0530N09 to_ bowl with his eyes shut. $^The score was eight runs for the loss
0540N09 of one wicket. $^*Shanta Kanoria, seated at the boundary line,
0550N09 seethed in impotent rage as she watched Rao hit yet another four off her
0560N09 husband*'s bowling. ^Eighteen runs in five balls-- this was the kind
0570N09 of stuff that_ club gossip thrived on! ^She would be the laughing
0580N09 stock of those geese for weeks! ^*Shanta regarded her husband balefully.
0590N09 $^*Kanoria on the field swabbed at the sweat streaming down
0600N09 his fat cheeks and neck. ^A soft chuckle caught his ear-- that_ would
0610N09 be Prasad sniggering at long on. ^*Kanoria wished he could sink
0620N09 out of sight, or disintegrate, or have a coronary, anything, anything
0630N09 at all to_ avoid the ignominy of having to_ see ball after ball sail over
0640N09 the boundary. ^He glanced helplessly towards where his wife sat,
0650N09 stiff and accusing. $^*Kanoria took a deep breath to_ steady his
0660N09 quivering body. ^He gripped the ball like a vice. $^Down the
0670N09 pitch he lumbered, his momentum snowballing with each step, every nerve,
0680N09 every fibre of his being strained in a savage determination to_ wipe
0690N09 Rao*'s smug face right off the landscape. ^He hurled the ball with
0700N09 all his might. ^He saw Rao move forward confidently, hesitate, and
0710N09 swing wildly-- and all at once Rao*'s face exploded in a blaze of scarlet,
0720N09 like poppies bursting into bloom. ^*Shanta Kanoria heard \0Mrs
0730N09 Rao scream. ^She turned, and saw her scramble to her feet and
0740N09 run out on the pitch towards her husband. \0^*Mrs Kanoria made sympathetic,
0750N09 clucking noises. ^Behind her stove lid sunglasses, her eyes
0760N09 gleamed with devious satisfaction. $^The sun climbed relentlessly
0770N09 towards its zenith. ^The cricketers broiled and sweated and gasped
0780N09 for breath. ^All except the Chairman, who relaxed with his wife
0790N09 in the pavilion, a tall cool glass of beer beside him. $\0^*Mr
0800N09 Patawardhan shuffled his feet and made a silent plea to heaven.
0810N09 ^Perspiration bubbled and steamed off his back. ^He watched listlessly
0820N09 as the batsman blocked yet another ball and sent it dribbling to short
0830N09 leg. ^The scorching earth seemed to_ melt and swim and dissolve
0840N09 before his aching eyes. ^*Patawardhan imagined how wonderful it would
0850N09 have been if his boss were Chinese: then he may have had to_ play only
0860N09 ping pong. $^The dull ache in his abdomen increased and he knew it
0870N09 was time for his pills. ^He searched his pockets and realised he
0880N09 had left them in the car. ^*Patwardhan waddled off the field,
0890N09 waving absently at the ladies. ^He rounded the corner of the pavilion
0900N09 and made for the car park. ^The murmur of familiar voices stopped
0910N09 him in his tracks. ^*Pat hesitated, then tiptoed towards his car
0920N09 and peered over the bonnet. $^The sight that_ met his eyes made
0930N09 his head reel. ^The ache in his abdomen seemed to_ spread itself and
0940N09 clutch at his heart. ^He turned back and tottered the way he had
0950N09 come. $^Meanwhile, Ajit Kejriwal, the company*'s hot shot \0PR man
0960N09 and a gorgeous hunk of male, continued his charming but innocent conversation
0970N09 with Sheila Patawardhan, murmuring sweet nothings into her shell
0980N09 pink ear. $^*Patwardhan leaned against the pavilion and mopped
0990N09 his brow with a shaking hand. ^His brain was numb with shock.
1000N09 ^Not since the recession in *'368, when the bottom had fallen out of the
1010N09 stock market, had he faced a situation fraught with such awesome implications.
1020N09 ^He climbed slowly up the pavilion steps and entered its
1030N09 cool recesses. ^The Chairman, beer glass afroth, beckoned to him.
1040N09 ^*Pat dragged up a deckchair and sat beside him. $"^Hot
1050N09 day, what?" said the Chairman. ^*Pat nodded, mournfully.
1060N09 $"^You aren*'4t looking too well, Pat," said the Chairman, after a
1070N09 pause. $"^It*'1s the heat sir," explained Patwardhan. "^*I*'3m
1080N09 not as fit as I used to_ be." $^And so they fell to talking; their
1090N09 conversation drifted away from the weather and the game and domestic
1100N09 affairs, into the boardroom where it belonged. ^At the appropriate
1110N09 moment, Patwardhan slipped in his proposal. $"^Our Calcutta
1120N09 office is at a loose end at the moment, sir," he said. "^We need a
1130N09 smart man out there." $"^H*'3m?" said the Chairman. $"^And I
1140N09 think we have just the right man for the job in Ajit Kejriwal. ^He*'1s
1150N09 doing very well, and he*'1s due for a promotion, anyway."
1160N09 $"^H*'3m." said the Chairman. $^*Patawardhan relaxed in his chair,
1170N09 knowing that he had successfully paved the way for official approval
1180N09 when the time came. ^It was true that the Calcutta office needed
1190N09 a smart young man like Ajit Kejriwal to_ pull it together. ^And
1200N09 maybe it was just a happy coincidence that Calcutta was a few hundred
1210N09 miles away. $^The innings, meanwhile, had petered to a close,
1220N09 and the staff retired to the outfield for a breather. ^*Pat excused
1230N09 himself from the Chairman*'s presence and made towards the makeshift
1240N09 table where Mehta was busy opening bottles of Coke and setting them down.
1250N09 $"^Hello, sir," said Mehta, extracting a bottle from the bottom
1260N09 of the icebox and handing it to Patwardhan. $"^Hello," said
1270N09 Pat, his mind far away. $"^How*'1s the game going, dear?" said
1280N09 a voice behind him. ^*Pat turned, and met the guileless grey-green
1290N09 eyes of his lovely wife. $"^Why, haven*'4t you been watching?"
1300N09 he asked. $"^It*'1s this splitting headache I*'3ve got," said Sheila.
1310N09 "^*I*'3ve been relaxing in the car. ^*I missed most of the
1320N09 game." $^*Pat nodded thoughtfully. ^His wife*'s brazen confidence
1330N09 only confirmed that her dalliance with \0Mr Kejriwal had been going
1340N09 on for longer than he suspected. $"^Have a Coke, darling," he
1350N09 said, and guided her towards Mehta and the fizzing bottles.
1360N09 *3^PATWARDHAN*'S*0 team went in to_ bat at 3.15 in the afternoon.
1370N09 ^From his vantage position as leg umpire, Patawardhan observed the
1380N09 hapless cricketers shuffle around like robots in the enervating heat.
1390N09 ^What a colossal waste of a Sunday, he reflected. ^One precious
1400N09 holiday ruined by this inane game. ^He only hoped his side would get
1410N09 out soon so that he could pack up and go home early. ^Ah, there was
1420N09 the Chairman, going in to_ bowl the next over. $^*Srinath, the batsman,
1430N09 despatched the first three balls to the boundary. ^The Chairman
1440N09 eyed him grimly and walked to the top of his bowling run for the fourth
1450N09 time, the ball shuttling between his hands like a glob of dough.
1460N09 ^*Srinath watched him uneasily. ^His batting record that_ season
1470N09 was impeccable, and he wanted to_ keep it that_ way. ^On the other
1480N09 hand, Patawardhan*'s alternating looks of outrage and beseechment made
1490N09 him jittery. $^*Srinath made a show of being beaten by the fourth ball.
1500N09 ^The Chairman*'s grin of triumph stung him to the quick.
1510N09 $^Throwing discretion to the winds, Srinath timed the next ball with
1520N09 cold blooded precision and sent it soaring over the Chairman*'s head
1530N09 for a six. ^The Chairman*'s face went white as pumice stone; the fielders
1540N09 glanced nervously at each other. ^This was suicide.
1550N09 $^*Srinath felt curiously watery at the knees. ^Crazy thoughts flashed
1560N09 past in his mind. ^He had a family to_ support; instalments to_ be paid
1570N09 on his fridge and his \0TV. ^To_ antagonise the Chairman was pointless,
1580N09 especially while he was still on probation. ^To hell with his batting
1590N09 average; he was going to_ get out. $^The Chairman thundered
1600N09 down the pitch for the last time, heaving and blowing like a dray horse.
1610N09 ^*Srinath shut his eyes and swung mightily. ^He heard the full
1620N09 rich thunk of willow strike leather. ^He opened his eyes in horror,
1630N09 and saw the ball sailing languidly over the pavilion. ^*Patwardhan,
1640N09 regretfully aware of the consequences, composed a short little speech
1650N09 to_ be delivered to \0Mr Srinath the next morning. $^*Ravi,
1660N09 the Chairman*'s stenographer, sat on his haunches in the outfield, thoroughly
1670N09 sick of the game. ^He had fielded in that_ position for over
1680N09 two hours, and not a single ball had come his way. ^And so Ravi
1690N09 amused himself with a little game of his own. ^He wiggled and knotted
1700N09 his fingers, held them up against the sun and studied the strange shapes
1710N09 they made on the grass. $^He was thus engrossed when a stone struck
1720N09 him with stinging force on his neck. ^*Ravi whipped around, murder
1730N09 in his heart, and found the Chairman*'s son taking potshots at him.
1740N09 ^*Ravi grinned feebly at the boy and went back to his artistic efforts.
1750N09 $^A blob of shadow abruptly blacked out his creation,
1760N09 and Ravi*'s head shot up in annoyance. ^It was that_ kid again!
1770N09 ^He untangled his fingers slowly, glaring at the freckled pest.
1780N09 "^Shoo!" he hissed. $"^Hey!" bellowed a voice from the infield.
1790N09 ^*Ravi reared like a startled antelope and saw the ball hurtling towards
1800N09 him, blood red, menacing, chest high.*#
        **[no. of words = 02009**]

        **[txt. 10**]
0040N10 **<3Umsoshun*'s Way*0**> **[leader comment begin**]
0050N10 $^The son of a carpenter, Umsoshun was a fisherman in a class by
0060N10 himself. ^He fished only for the legendary monster fish that_ claimed
0070N10 many lives but had never been caught. **[end leader comment**]
0080N10 $^*Umsoshun threw back the quilts and sat up in his warm and comfortable
0090N10 bed, wondering what had awakened him from his sound sleep.
0100N10 ^For a fleeting moment his dulled mind dwelt on Maya and instantly he
0110N10 was wide awake and acutely embarrassed at his mental lapse.
0111N10 $^He gave a nervous laugh and slapped his arms till the embarrassment
0120N10 wore off enough to_ allow him to_ think properly.
0130N10 ^Swinging his legs off the bed, he adroitly sidestepped
0140N10 the large tureen-shaped iron charcoal warmer on the floor. ^After a
0150N10 few yawns, stretches and face rubs, he crossed the dark room to_ open
0160N10 the window for a quick check on the weather conditions outside and to_
0170N10 gauge accurately the time of the day. $^The night was brilliantly
0180N10 clear with stars shining brightly in the brittle cold. ^He quickly
0190N10 shut the window and returned to_ sit on his bed. ^Quickly he cleaned
0200N10 and filled his hand-carved pipe in the darkness for the first smoke
0210N10 of the day. $^The pungent, unblended "country" tobacco the hillmen
0220N10 used always brought on a prolonged fit of coughing at the first pipeful,
0230N10 which would pass with his second inhalation. ^Then he would
0240N10 be able to_ think his secret thoughts, in an almost trancelike state,
0250N10 his mind still as a sheet of water without a ripple, wave or splash
0260N10 to_ mar its shining surface. ^In a few minutes he would be ready to_
0270N10 cope with whatever problems the day held in store for him. $^But
0280N10 today was different. $^For today was the day! ^He was quite sure
0290N10 of it. ^Now he knew why he had woken up so suddenly-- and so early.
0300N10 $^*Umsoshun felt thrilled at the prospect of his long quest coming
0310N10 to an end at last. ^His excitement bordered on a state of bitter-sweet
0320N10 euphoria. ^For Umsoshun was a fisherman in a class by himself.
0330N10 ^He fished only for the legendary monster fish that_ many claimed
0340N10 to_ have seen, hooked even, but never caught. ^Many good
0350N10 fishermen, including Umsoshun*'s father, had met their doom by being
0360N10 dragged to the bottomless depths of the large, lake Barapani, by the monster
0370N10 fish. $^Such was the fearsome legend of the monster fish that only
0380N10 the bravest of the brave dared to_ fish in the lake-- and then always
0390N10 in a large gang, ready to_ help one another to_ get away quickly should
0400N10 the monster fish ever take up the challenge of their light hook and
0410N10 line, which were really meant for far smaller fish. ^In spite of
0420N10 all these precautions, there was always a hue and cry about someone*'s
0430N10 line being snapped, rod broken or even swept away by the monster fish.
0440N10 ^Some fishermen began carrying loaded double-barrelled shotguns at
0450N10 the ready while fishing in the Barapani. $^Strangely enough, in
0460N10 all the years that_ Umsoshun had been seeking the legendary monster
0470N10 fish, he had never seen it, let alone fought it. ^But he knew it
0480N10 was true. ^His father, a carpenter by trade, had told him of his
0490N10 struggles with the monster, before his mysterious disappearance while
0500N10 fishing in the Barapani. ^*Umsoshun could not, and would not,
0510N10 believe that the monster fish had overcome and destroyed his father.
0520N10 ^He had always felt that there must be another explanation: in fact,
0530N10 he was quite sure that there was another reason for his father*'s death.
0540N10 $^Many fishermen hinted that it was a certain type of bait alone
0550N10 that_ drew the legendary monster fish. ^But, as each of them guarded
0560N10 the secret of his bait better than he guarded his life, the exact
0570N10 ingredients in the composition that_ seemed to_ attract the fish was
0580N10 never made known to Umsoshun. ^And Umsoshun, as an outsider,
0590N10 appreciated the added challenge of finding the exact bait for the monster
0600N10 himself. $^Over the years, he had tried every conceivable bait
0610N10 from the live, dead and the long dead to liquor mash (which attracted
0620N10 the deadly cobras for miles around!) and certain berries and herbs, singly
0630N10 and in every combination that_ he could imagine. ^His only clue
0640N10 was a distant memory of a certain smell that_ had come from his father*'s
0650N10 creel, before it was deliberately disguised by other false baits,
0660N10 on the day his father had disappeared so long ago. ^In desperation,
0670N10 when everything he tried had failed, Umsoshun sat down and thought,
0680N10 till he managed to_ dredge up the exact smell for his senses.
0690N10 ^At last he was sure he had the same remembered smell coming from his bait
0700N10 and knew that the legendary monster fish would be forced to_ accept his
0710N10 challenge. $^The sky was still dark and coldly lit by stars when
0720N10 Umsoshun, clad in an old navy-blue suit and a roll-neck pullover of
0730N10 the same colour, left his four-roomed wooden house, built with his own
0740N10 hands for Maya. ^Along with the neatly constructed house, he
0750N10 had made every single article of furniture in the house as well, for he
0760N10 was a carpenter by trade-- as his father before him. ^An honoured
0770N10 and well-paid trade in Meghalaya, where most homes were built of wood.
0780N10 $^Ever since Maya had run away with a truck driver from the plains,
0790N10 he had stopped the habit of looking back at his house perched on
0800N10 a hill from the main Gauhati Road. ^Today, for some reason,
0810N10 he looked back at the empty and unlocked building, before hurrying on
0820N10 with quick hillman*'s strides to the workshop at Mawlai to_ catch a
0830N10 truck going past the Barapani on its way to Gauhati. $^The sky was
0840N10 a faint grey when the truck dropped him off about a mile from the lake.
0850N10 ^After the warmth of the crowded vehicle, the cold seemed even
0860N10 more intense, Umsoshun quickly left the road and plunged into the tangled
0870N10 undergrowth that_ was for him a familiar path which led to a secluded
0880N10 area of the Barapani, and his secret fishing spot, near the big
0890N10 white notice-board that said in black: NO FISHING, TRESPASSESRS WILL
0900N10 BE PROSECUTED. ^It looked like a big white cross expectantly waiting
0910N10 for a victim to_ be nailed to it. $^The spectacular Shillong
0920N10 dawn was just breaking over the still waters of the Barapani when
0930N10 Umsoshum happily completed the mysterious rituals of the dedicated
0940N10 fisherman. ^He sat back to_ enjoy a well-earned pipe and the lovely
0950N10 dawn, while he waited for his adversary, the legendary monster fish,
0960N10 to_ show himself and accept the challenge of Umsoshun, the master
0970N10 carpenter and great fisherman of the Garo, Khasi and Jaintia Hills.
0980N10 $^The red orb of the sun had nearly cleared the low, pine-wooded
0990N10 hills in the east, when Umsoshun*'s antagonist struck suddenly and
1000N10 without the slightest warning. ^The blow was delivered with such speed,
1010N10 force and stealth that it almost proved to_ be fatal. ^The reel
1020N10 screamed in loud protest at the magnitude of the attack before the rod
1030N10 flew out of umsoshun*'s hand. ^Only his amazing hillman*'s reflexes
1040N10 saved the situation. $^He catapulted himself forward in a magnificent
1050N10 dive ater the flying rod and snatched it in mid air. ^The
1060N10 sizzling speed of the heavy-duty line cut the fingers of his left hand
1070N10 to the bone, but his grip on the rod never loosened for an instant,
1080N10 even when his dive ended in the cold waters of the Barapani. $^His
1090N10 long battle to_ reach firm ground again was of heroic proportions
1100N10 with the outcome always in doubt. ^Again and again, all seemed
1110N10 lost, but somehow Umsoshun hung on to his rod with one hand while he
1120N10 desperately grabbed at the weak weeds, floating twigs, branches and
1130N10 anything else that_ came within his flailing reach. ^The end of this
1140N10 unequal struggle did not seem far off-- anyone who has ever had the
1150N10 humiliating and completely demoralising experience of falling into deep
1160N10 water with a hooked fighting fish at the end of his line, even a
1170N10 small fighting fish, will never forget the terrifying helplessness of
1180N10 his situation. ^And this was the legendary monster fish of the
1190N10 Barapani! ^Older than Man, it was said, and infinitely more
1200N10 cunning-- and dangerous. $^*Umsoshun seemed to_ be fighting an
1210N10 eternal fight with an adversary with all the power and force of his
1220N10 accumulated memory and will. ^Refusing to_ give up hope or to_ accept
1230N10 defeat in this new round of a very old fight. $^His adversary
1240N10 could have easily won the battle by first dragging Umsoshun into the
1250N10 middle of the huge lake, then down into the bottomless depths of the
1260N10 Barapani, instead of around the shallow edge of the lake; but maybe
1270N10 the monster fish didn*'4t want to_ win such an easy victory....
1280N10 ^Maybe he wanted to_ taunt Umsoshun first to_ make him better understand
1290N10 the enormity of the conflict, so that he would be crushed in spirit
1300N10 long before the end... $^*Umsoshun perceived that he was being taunted.
1310N10 ^In utter desperation he prayed for a miracle. ^And his grasping
1320N10 hand fastened on a thick leafless branch, just as his legs came
1330N10 into hard contact with the long-submerged trunk of a giant tree still
1340N10 solid and firmly rooted. $^After recovering his breath, and offering
1350N10 his thanks for the miracle, he slowly began to_ fight his way, inch
1360N10 by precious inch, along the wide but slippery tree-trunk to the far
1370N10 shore. $^Once on the shore, the battle was far more furious. ^It
1380N10 raged for hours, or maybe it was days, for Time stood still and watched
1390N10 the old, old struggle. ^Even the sun seemed to_ delay his descent
1400N10 when Umsoshun, bone-tired and soul-weary, victoriously hauled the
1410N10 almost dead monster fish ashore. $^Resting his shaking limbs for a few
1420N10 minutes, Umsoshun approached the monster fish with caution, but it
1430N10 was quite dead now. $^Taking a thick rope from his haversack, he
1440N10 secured it to the monster*'s tail. ^Slowly he dragged it to the white
1450N10 notice-board and, after a great deal of manoeuvring, he managed to_
1460N10 lay it at the foot of the white cross, like an offering, which it
1470N10 really was. ^Then Umsoshun knelt in earnest prayer till the setting
1480N10 sun threw a ray of brilliant light upon him, the monster fish and
1490N10 the white cross. $^When the light slowly disappeared, Umsoshun got
1500N10 to his feet and took a long look around. ^His job was over. ^He
1510N10 picked up his rod and wound in the line, then picked up his creel and
1520N10 haversack, and went to the water*'s edge. $^In quick succession,
1521N10 he threw rod and reel, creel and haversack, as far as he
1530N10 could into the Barapani. ^Then, at a firm and dignified pace,
1540N10 he entered the Barapani. ^It was time to_ go his way and only
1550N10 the ripples marked his going. $**<COUSIN SHIV AND THE FLOWER
1560N10 CHILD**> $^Cousin shiv*'s experience with the hippie girl is
1570N10 one of the jokes in the family which he has not been able to_ live
1580N10 down. ^It happened in those earlier days when the hippies called themselves
1590N10 the Flower People. ^*Shiv was thirtyfive, a confirmed
1600N10 bachelor and very set in his ways. $^Everyone agreed he needed to_
1610N10 do some walking, for he was terribly out of condition. ^His shoulders
1620N10 sloped, and his midriff sagged. ^Someone at his office had talked
1630N10 of the fabulous Valley of Flowers and he suddenly announced his decision
1640N10 to_ spend his summer holiday hiking there. $^None of the family
1650N10 thought he seriously intended to_ go until he began hunting in the
1660N10 house for his father*'s old scouting gear. ^In a tin trunk he found
1670N10 a leather belt with the brass buckle badly tarnished, and he set to
1680N10 polishing it up. ^It had a small clasp knife with three blades, all
1690N10 blunt, and a clip for hanging a mug. $^His old mother was worried.
1700N10 "^Is it safe?" she asked. $"^What do you mean, mama? ^*I*3'm
1710N10 not an adolescent girl!" he said indignantly. $"^No-- but I
1720N10 was thinking about leopards and wild beasts," she replied. $^He regarded
1730N10 her blankly. ^His right eye is always slower to_ move than his
1740N10 left, and because both of his eyes are seldom aligned, he often
1750N10 looks very blank.*#
        **[no. of words = 02024**]

        **[txt. n11**]
0010N11 **<*3MANY A SMILE*0**> $"*3^*DELHI*0 without the *4Badshah, eh?
0020N11 ^Next you will think of a-a-a," Latbar*'s bright look eagerly flitted
0030N11 around for a smile. ^To Bapi who had raised the question, his eyes
0040N11 seemed like a pair of buzzing bees in search of honey. $"^Of a cat
0050N11 without a tail!" advanced Ravi. $"^A *4Badshah cannot be compared
0060N11 to a tail, you see," observed Badal. "^It should be rather a tail
0070N11 without a cat!" $^But the cat is not the only creature to_ carry
0080N11 about a tail! ^You could as well say a tail without a monkey, a donkey,
0090N11 a...." $"^Stop!" shouted Latbar. ^His face had brightened up.
0100N11 "^If you can think of Delhi without the *4Badshah, you can as well
0110N11 think of Bapi without a weeping face!" $"^Ho ho ho!" laughed Ravi,
0120N11 Badal, Dhumal, Jay, Shiv and Saboo, all six and all at once. $^*Bapi,
0130N11 on the verge of weeping, got up and walked away, although most certainly
0140N11 he did not want to_. ^It was a wonderful morning and no doubt
0150N11 the outing was going to_ be a great experience with Latbar leading,
0160N11 telling the exciting story of his life all the while. $^It was true
0170N11 that Bapi wept at the slightest pique. ^And he secretly wondered how
0180N11 Ravi, Badal and the rest kept their facial muscles and the waters
0190N11 behind their eyes under check even when the teacher made them stand
0200N11 on the bench for hours at a stretch. ^Once Bapi went without drinking
0210N11 water for three days so that the eyes had nothing to_ shed even
0220N11 when provoked to_ weep. ^But the experiment failed. ^Tears flowed
0230N11 all the same. $^*Bapi looked over his shoulder after taking a few steps.
0240N11 ^*Dhumal signalled him to_ return. ^*Bapi was too glad to_ obey
0250N11 him although his face continued to_ look slightly bigger than its
0260N11 usual size. $^The boys were listening to Latbar with rapt attention.
0270N11 ^That_ was natural, for, he was the only one from the village to_
0280N11 live in the city and he had a pair of moustaches the like of which the
0290N11 kids had seen only in mythological books-- robust, thick, and majestically
0300N11 curled upward at their edges. $"^So, as soon as the *4Badshah
0310N11 saw me, he hollered to_ say that I could not sport such wonderful
0320N11 moustaches which his father or even grandfather never sported. ^*I
0330N11 revealed to him that these were not my moustaches, but of the demon
0340N11 that_ lived on the Peacock hill on the outskirts of my village.
0350N11 ^On my defeating the demon in a wrestling bout, he surrendered them
0360N11 to me as was the custom with the demons, and since then they have been
0370N11 mine," Latbar said with a chuckle. $"^How?" ^*Bapi interjected.
0380N11 "^If they were not originally yours, they won*'4t sit on your skin
0390N11 biting it so tightly, I suppose!" $"^You suppose, do you? ^*I
0400N11 suppose you are the greatest blockhead this side of the river,"
0410N11 Latbar growled. $^*Bapi*'s
0420N11 lips twisted like a plastic spoon held on an oven and two drops
0430N11 of tears flowed down his cheeks incredibly fast. $"^Your face will
0440N11 make even a laughing hyena melt away in tears," observed Latbar.
0450N11 $^And no sooner had he said this than Bapi*'s eyes were leaking
0460N11 again. $"^Pity, you will damp the place wherever you go," said Jay
0470N11 with a sigh. $"^Pity, indeed," agreed the others. $^*Bapi too
0480N11 nodded his agreement while wiping his eyes. ^There was no use disputing
0490N11 the fact that_ people always frowned on him for his readiness to_
0500N11 draw a face as long as a cucumber. $^*Latbar threw away his half-burnt
0510N11 *4bidi and went on: $"^The *4Badshah was willing to_ give me
0520N11 a thousand gold *4mohurs should I agree to_ cut only the twirled edges
0530N11 of my moustaches." $"^But nobody uses gold *4mohurs nowadays!"
0540N11 ^*Bapi cut in. $"^Shut up!" bellowed Latbar. $"^You don*'4t expect
0550N11 a *4Badshah to_ handle your rusted coins and dirty notes, do you?"
0560N11 asked Shiv. ^Others looked at Bapi with contempt. $^*Latbar continued:
0570N11 $"^But I refused to_ be tempted. ^Then, do you know what he did?
0580N11 ^You don*'4t, I bet, though it had appeared in all the newspapers
0590N11 of the world," Latbar dared his listeners to_ say that they
0600N11 knew! $"^We don*'4t know, we must admit!" said Jay. ^Others nodded
0610N11 and clucked in agreement. $"^Not in all the newspapers," Bapi
0620N11 honestly tried to_ correct Latbar. "^My father receives by post
0630N11 the weekly *3Lion*'s Roar.*0 ^Had anything about you and the *4Badshah
0640N11 appeared in its pages he should have told mummy and I should
0650N11 have heard!" ^*Bapi observed again. $"^Shut up, I say!" screamed
0660N11 Latbar. "^*I will be the last man to_ take you with me."
0670N11 $^The cart had already arrived. ^*Latbar ordered the boys to_ get in,
0680N11 but he barred entry to Bapi. $"^But I am interested to_ know what
0690N11 the *4Badshah did to you! ^Really!" ^*Bapi pleaded, his voice
0700N11 cracking at every other word. $^But the cart started, leaving him behind.
0710N11 ^He stood stunned. ^He could feel that his friends kept looking
0720N11 at him from the receding cart, with eyefuls of sympathy-- even one
0730N11 or two of them with mist in their eyes perhaps. ^But, for his sake
0740N11 they could not have given up the chance of going to_ see the other
0750N11 side of the Peacock hill. ^That_ was a beautiful valley from which
0760N11 could be seen the sweet little river flowing down the hill. ^Who ever
0770N11 offered to_ take the boys on a ride there? $^The summer vacation
0780N11 was coming to a close. ^The day was not far when the two *4pandits
0790N11 of the primary school would return from their faraway homes, bringing
0800N11 with them glistening new canes, eager to_ try them on the backs of
0810N11 the boys. ^The mighty Latbar too would be back in his city soon,
0820N11 where his chief preoccupations, as he confided to the boys, was to_
0830N11 eat lollipops and give company to a certain princess. $^Crossing the
0840N11 hill would have been a short-cut to the valley. ^But who was not afraid
0850N11 of the demon on the hill? ^Almost the first thing every infant in
0860N11 the village knew, after knowing its *4ma and *4ba, was all about the
0870N11 demon, his shovel-like teeth, long lolling tongue, a tummy that_ put
0880N11 an elephant to shame, and an infinite appetite for such tots who cried
0890N11 a lot or pestered their fathers with too many queries. $^*Latbar
0900N11 who had for his trophy the demon*'s moustaches could of course slay
0910N11 the creature, but, as he declared, he was not sure how many of his hapless
0920N11 little companions the demon would gobble up before he had the
0930N11 time to_ hack him to pieces. $^The cart disappeared at the distant bend.
0940N11 ^*Bapi now turned to_ look around. ^Not a soul was nearby. ^He
0950N11 broke out into a wail, but took care not to_ allow it to_ grow too loud.
0960N11 $^A little bird tittered and flew off the tree. ^It once circled
0970N11 above Bapi*'s head and darted straightway towards the Peacock
0980N11 hill. $*3^*BAPI*0 stopped wailing. ^In his aloneness he felt a new
0990N11 strength. ^No, there was no question of his going back home. ^His face
1000N11 would easily betray him and he would become a laughing stock before
1010N11 his younger brother and sister. ^The latter, too young to_ understand
1020N11 the meaningfulness of an excursion, nevertheless realised
1030N11 that her elder brother was going, to_ do something which was a
1040N11 grown-up*'s privilege. $^On the top of the Peacock hill the trees
1050N11 swayed in the breeze. ^*Bapi fixed his gaze on the hazy scene for full
1060N11 five minutes. ^The scene, seemed quite amicable, even inviting.
1070N11 $^And, in a lightning flash, a fantastic question disturbed his mind:
1080N11 ^Could he not cross the hill and reach the riverside, all alone?
1090N11 ^That_ should be exciting, wonderful, only if he could make it!"
1100N11 $^But that_ would also mean daring the demon. ^That_ was unimaginable.
1110N11 $^But suppose he could give the demon the slip? ^He had even
1120N11 a faint notion that a man*'s night was a demon*'s day. ^This
1130N11 hour of the morning was perhaps early evening for the demon and he might
1140N11 be just preparing to_ fall asleep! $^*Bapi was surprised-- and no
1150N11 less thrilled-- to_ see that he had already started walking in the direction
1160N11 of the hill. ^It was the first ever time in his life that he
1170N11 was going anywhere alone, guided by nothing but the sheer spirit of
1180N11 his own. $^Every step through the bushy meadow was sensational, every
1190N11 sudden movement of a squirrel here and a mongoose there, every
1200N11 sound made by a sparrow or a partridge was titillating. $^He had hardly
1210N11 covered half a mile when what should he see but a real rabbit! ^It
1220N11 stood on its hind legs and watched him till he had enough time to_ say,
1230N11 "^Yes, yes, I know you. ^You should know that right last year I
1240N11 finished my alphabet book, the cover of which shows you writing the
1250N11 first letter of your name!" $^And all his hair stood on end when he
1260N11 began climbing the hill. $"^Is it not amazing that I am really
1270N11 doing this?" he would ask himself again and again. "^But why?" he
1280N11 would ask next, "^If a squirrel, a rabbit-- and there goes a jackal-- could
1290N11 do it, why on earth should Bapi fail?" $^It was all right so
1300N11 far as squirrels and rabbits and even jackals were concerned. ^But they
1310N11 were not the only creatures to_ inhabit the hill and the forest.
1320N11 ^He did not know what exactly a laughing hyena is. ^But he was sure
1330N11 it would be fun to_ see it melt away in tears, looking at him-- as
1340N11 Latbar said it would. $^But there were also wolves and tigers, and
1350N11 to_ top all, the demon himself! ^For a moment Bapi*'s legs seemed
1360N11 paralyzed. ^But just then he caught sight of Latbar*'s cart crawling
1370N11 like a caterpillar along the road far away. ^He forgot the wolves
1380N11 and the tigers and the demon. ^He climbed the upper half of the hill,
1390N11 on all fours, as fast as a spider. $^He was on the top at last!
1400N11 ^He had heard from several elders of the village that it pays to_
1410N11 be cautious. ^So, he hid behind a rock and peeped out. ^And what
1420N11 he saw made him disbelieve his own eyes for a while. ^A little girl
1430N11 sat leaning against a boulder, munching a guava, her legs stretched
1440N11 in his direction. ^Beside her was a sack full of ripe guavas. $^It
1450N11 would have been difficult for Bapi to_ say whether it was the sweet
1460N11 little girl or the sweet round guavas which drew him out. $"^Hey!"
1470N11 he exclaimed. ^She started. ^The half-eaten guava was between her teeth.
1480N11 ^But her jaws were still. $"^Are you by any chance the demon*'s
1490N11 daughter?" ^*Bapi asked. $"^No," the girl answered plainly. $"^Neither
1500N11 am I the demon*'s son," Bapi assured her, fixing his gaze
1510N11 on the guavas. $^The girl immediately picked up a big guava from the
1520N11 sack and offered it to him. ^Her jaws were active again. $^By and
1530N11 by Bapi understood that she-- her name was Malli-- came from a small
1540N11 hamlet that_ was situated on the hill itself, nor far below the slope
1550N11 leading to the valley on the other side. $^*Malli soon got over her
1560N11 shyness and guided Bapi to various parts of her little world on the
1570N11 hill. ^Nearby was the stream that_ grew broader and broader as it
1580N11 flowed down. ^Sweet was its murmur. ^A number of tiny birds frolicked
1590N11 over it, dipping their beaks and wings in the shallow flow and spraying
1600N11 the water around themselves, scattering numerous tiny rainbows.
1610N11 $^The sky itself seemed so close to the peak that Bapi felt he could
1620N11 blow at the frothy clouds! $^He could also see the road that_ spanned
1630N11 the hill, with the cart still dragging on. $"^*I must go," he said
1640N11 after playing hide and seek with Malli for a few minutes. ^He must
1650N11 be down in the valley before the cart. $"^Take some guavas," said Malli.
1660N11 $"^*I have six friends in that_ cart yonder. ^Do you think you
1670N11 can afford as many guavas?"*#
        **[no. of words = 02006**]

        **[txt. n12**]
0010N12 **<*3THE UNENDING SEARCH*0**> $^It was announced from the cockpit of
0020N12 the aerofloat that we were 5,000 \0ft. above the Halang Bay, 165 \0kms.
0030N12 from Hanoi and that the plane was likely to_ touch down within half
0040N12 an hour at the International Hanoi Airport known as Gia Lam Airport.
0050N12 ^Incidentally that_ was the first Russian passenger plane to_ land
0051N12 after
0060N12 29th March 1973 when the last *(0G. I.*) left Vietnam. $^Momentarily
0070N12 my thoughts went back to those days when I and Hai, an intimate name
0080N12 with which I often used to_ call her, spent some days and relaxed in that_
0090N12 island and in Lake Ba Be mountain resort 175 \0kms. from Hanoi and
0100N12 also paid visits to the But Thap Pagoda where the one-thousand-eyed
0110N12 armed Bodhisatwa was located at a distance of only 20 \0kms. away from
0120N12 Hanoi. ^During those memorable days when there was some respite from
0130N12 the severe strain undergone, after continuous working with the revolutionaries
0140N12 fighting agaist the French colonial aggressors, we used to_
0150N12 manage to_ keep some time to ourselves and to_ visit those beautiful places.
0160N12 $^Fortunately there was no bombing and no snipers then. ^Moving
0170N12 round rowing in an yacht round the Halang Bay Island and the mountain
0180N12 resort, going hand in hand round the Buddha, we spent time, all to
0190N12 ourselves, which passed unnoticed and made us forget for a while the troubles
0200N12 and tribulations we underwent in fulfilling the tasks entrusted to
0210N12 us with the revolutionary forces. ^It was then for the first time Hai
0220N12 (her full name is Nguven Din Hai), had narrated with tears in her eyes
0230N12 the sorrowful tale of woe of her family and how like many other families
0240N12 in Vietnam the family had become a victim of the French colonialists
0250N12 and got hardened with sufferings which emboldened them to_ stand the
0260N12 strain of facing the aggression against their freedom and to_ defend their
0270N12 country. ^Those were the days just before the final battle of Dien
0280N12 Bien
0281N12 Phiew situated 600 \0kms. from Hanoi in a valley surrounded by mountains
0290N12 when on 20-11-*'353 the French colonialists supported by mercenaries
0300N12 supplied by other colonialist powers finally suffered a humiliating defeat
0310N12 by **[sic**] the Vietnamese revolutionaries and the bulk of their
0311N12 forces with
0320N12 all officers surrendered which resulted in the birth of a free Vietnam.
0330N12 $^*Hai*'s mother was working in a hospital run by the revolutionaries
0340N12 as a volunteer. ^Flouting international law the French colonialists
0350N12 mostly consisting of *7Gendermare and mercenaries from South Africa,
0360N12 Thailand and South Korea attacked the hospital in a surprise raid,
0370N12 killed all the patients, attacked doctors, nurses and other volunteers
0380N12 who were rendering medical aid to patients and savagely raped some of
0390N12 the nurses and young girl volunteers. ^*Hai*'s father was killed in that_
0400N12 raid and her mother was raped by three French soldiers one after another
0410N12 on a hospital bed from which a patient killed earlier was removed.
0420N12 ^She could not bear the barbarity of the attrocities and humiliation.
0430N12 ^Like a true revolutionary, in a savage fight, she killed three French
0440N12 soldiers with a knife and killed herself before she could be caught. ^*Hai
0450N12 was at that_ time only 15 years. ^She managed to_ escape with some
0460N12 Guerillas and joined the revolutionaries behind the lines of battle. ^She
0470N12 was attached as a volunteer as she had some training as a nurse from
0480N12 her mother to a ramshackle of a hospital built with rags behind the trenches
0490N12 dug by the revolutionaries to_ prevent the French from marching forward
0500N12 at a distance of 15 \0kms. from Dien Bien Phiew where the main
0510N12 battle was raging to_ decide the fate of Vietnam. $^*I met her for the
0511N12 first
0520N12 time in that_ hospital. ^*I was attached as a doctor to that_ hospital
0530N12 in the front line. ^That_ was my 4th hospital in the front line. ^Earlier
0540N12 I had served in three other hospitals situated at a distance of 200
0550N12 to 300 miles from Hanoi; all the time, working with squads of
0551N12 Guerillas
0560N12 and revolutionaries, attending to the wounded in make shift shelters
0570N12 and in villages nearby where the patriotic villagers gave them shelter
0580N12 and provided all amenities. ^We were like one family. ^We were also attending
0590N12 to the sick and injured in the villages who often became victims
0600N12 to shelling and bombing. $^My first visit to Vietnam was in December
0610N12 *'352 when along with Chikovasky, another Russian friend, I volunteered
0620N12 to_ serve with the revolutionary forces to_ help them in their fight
0630N12 against the French colonialists. ^He was a pilot and immediately after
0640N12 arrival helped in arranging defences against air raids manning anti-air-craft
0650N12 guns, preparing the population against air raids and providing the
0660N12 necessary expertise to_ build an air defence which later on became a vulnerable
0670N12 force. ^*I was a doctor by profession. ^My parents gave me the
0680N12 name of Furmanov, after a great Russian writer, though I had taken to
0690N12 the medical profession, because of my father*'s great interest in literature.
0700N12 $^*Hai when I first met her was very shy. ^She had school education
0710N12 in the local language and also knew French. ^She could write and
0711N12 read both
0720N12 the languages fluently. ^By the time I met her I had already lived
0730N12 in Vietnam for about an year and already had working knowledge of the
0740N12 local language. ^*I could talk to her in broken Vietnamese. ^*I knew also
0750N12 a little of French. ^*I could speak to her in French in a way she
0760N12 could understand. ^*I had not known how to_ write the languages. ^She, however,
0770N12 preferred to_ talk only in Vietnamese which I reciprocated knowing
0780N12 her sentiments. ^Within two months she taught me how to_ read the Vietnamese
0790N12 language. ^*I could read as well as write to some extent. ^*I
0800N12 also taught her Russian which she briskly picked up. ^Thus our intimacy
0810N12 grew. $^*I still remember the day when two soldiers of the revolutionary
0820N12 army were injured and brought to our hospital. ^She was attending to
0830N12 them and was in tears, while cleaning their wounds. ^On my questioning
0840N12 she took me aside and with deep sorrow narrated that there were no medicines
0850N12 even to_ wash the wounds and no dressing materials and that she
0860N12 was using a local decoction with some leaves which were commonly used for
0870N12 anti-biotic purpose in the area. ^*I could understand her feelings but
0880N12 could do nothing. ^*I gave her some rags which were disinfected by boiling
0890N12 and used for dressing. ^*I learnt later that the decoction used by
0900N12 her was medicinal and served as a good anti-biotic. ^It was during that_
0910N12 period she received a sharpenel in the back of her right shoulder and
0920N12 though blood was oozing out she still insisted to_ serve the patients.
0930N12 ^*I had to_ forcibly remove her to bed, remove the sharpenel and bandage
0940N12 her wound. ^She had to_ be confined to the bed **[sic**] for a week,
0941N12 thereafter, during
0950N12 which period our intimacy grew further. $^Suddenly my thoughts stopped
0960N12 when the airhostess announced that the plane would land at the Hanoi
0970N12 airport within 10 minutes and instructed us to_ fasten our seat belts.
0980N12 ^Within minutes our plane landed smoothly at the airport. $^Everything
0990N12 was peaceful there. ^The damage done during the bloody fighting had been
1000N12 repaired. ^There were three formal sentries at the gate. ^The airport
1010N12 and customs staff going about their duties normally. ^The baggage checking
1020N12 was done efficiently and briskly though in a formal way and with courtesy.
1030N12 ^Within twenty minutes I entered the passenger lounge where I
1040N12 met Sister Michael of the Swedish Red Cross, Squadron Leader Quang
1050N12 Dinh and Doctor Phoung. ^They took me to the Red Cross Centre situated
1060N12 in the heart of Hanoi where I was accommodated in one of the staff
1070N12 rooms. ^It was noon by then. ^Without my asking, Sister Michael narrated
1080N12 to me the details of the enquiries made by her and wanted me to_
1090N12 get ready within half an hour to_ follow her. $^*I was ready even in the
1100N12 plane. ^However, I got tidy to_ be presentable within 10 minutes and
1110N12 sat down waiting, brooding over the past. $^*Hai, again came to my mind.
1120N12 ^Just before a fortnight of the final battle at Dien Bien Phiew,
1130N12 I and Hai were detained to_ work in the forward post in the hospital
1140N12 attached to the First Brigade of the \0D.R.V.N.M. which was taking
1150N12 the main brunt of the battle with the French forces. ^The very first
1160N12 night we had to_ attend to about 1,000 wounded. ^We had of course enough
1170N12 supplies and equipment. ^As the war gained intensity, we were shifted
1180N12 to a place 5 \0kms. from the main battle front to_ take charge of a major
1190N12 hospital there. ^We had to_ do work almost round the clock and had no
1200N12 time to_ think of anything else. ^It was all over within 10 days and the
1210N12 great heroic people of Vietnam won the battle and the French colonialists
1220N12 suffered a humiliating defeat. ^*French army in thousands surrendered
1230N12 including several thousands of officers; lots of ammunition, vehicles
1240N12 and armaments were surrendered and there was celebration all over Vietnam
1250N12 of the great victory won by the gallant people of the republic under
1260N12 the indomitable leadership of the great Ho Chi Minh. $^In spite
1270N12 of the success of the Vietnamese people there was all round gloom and the
1280N12 leaders of the top knew that they had to_ get ready to_ face another
1290N12 bloody war to_ fight the American colonialists and the stooges set up
1291N12 by
1300N12 them in South Vietnam under the then reactionary Nge Dinh Diem. ^Political
1310N12 leaders compared the situation to the period immediately after
1320N12 the declaration of Independence of United Vietnam on September 2, 1945,
1330N12 by the Great Ho Chi Minh who declared that "^All people on earth
1340N12 are equal from birth and have a right to_ live to_ be happy and free"
1350N12 when on 6-3-*'346 the French landed at Haipong and waged a fresh
1351N12 colonial
1360N12 war of reconquest from 1946 to 1954. ^It was only after their defeat in
1370N12 1953 at Dien Bien Phiew that the Geneva Agreement was arrived at
1380N12 accepting the Ben-Hai river near the 17th parallel, north of Hue as the
1390N12 line of demarcation between South and North Vietnams. ^The Americans
1400N12 used South Vietnam as a base for their colonialism contrary to the
1410N12 Geneva spirit. ^The same suspicion prevailed everywhere. $^It was decided
1420N12 by the \0DRVNM in January 1955 that many of the untrained nurses
1430N12 who had experience and served **[sic**] with the revolutionaries in
1431N12 the war should
1440N12 be sent for regular training to_ undergo short-term intensive courses
1450N12 in nursing to friendly countries. ^*I undertook to_ take a batch to
1460N12 Russia for imparting to them such training. ^The arrangements were made
1470N12 within a week and a group of one hundred was organised, whom I had taken
1480N12 to Russia. ^*Hai was included in the group and was its leader. $^The
1490N12 three months we stayed together in Russia were memorable. ^All the girls
1500N12 completed the course with dedication. ^They also got some working knowledge
1510N12 of Russian. ^It was then that we decided to_ marry. ^The representative
1520N12 of the \0DRVNM in Russia was contacted and in his presence
1530N12 and in the presence of all the nursing sisters, my parents and friends and
1540N12 some representatives of the foreign ministry of \0U.S.S.R. the marriage
1550N12 was celebrated in April, 1955. ^*I remember the day when like all
1560N12 new-weds in Moscow we paid our homage at the tomb of the unknown soldier
1570N12 where the ever-lasting flame was burning in the Lenin square. ^We
1580N12 also paid our homage to the great Lenin at the Lenin *7Mosaliem where
1590N12 his dead body lies in state for all people of the world to_ pay homage.
1600N12 ^*I remember the Red Square we visited. ^The hot water baths we had in
1610N12 the hot water swimming pools and our visit to the Soviet circus, Soviet
1620N12 theatre and the Soviet ballet where we had the unique privilege of
1630N12 seeing the dance of the dying swan. $^We were honoured with bouquets and
1640N12 citations of honour and presented on our return to Hanoi to Uncle Ho
1650N12 Chi Minh, the founding-father of Vietnam, who blessed us.*#
        **[no. of words = 02007**]

        **[txt. n13**]
0010N13 **<*3THE FISH-EYED GODDESS*0**> $^The South beckons to me; the temple-town
0020N13 of Madurai, which means "delicious", and its goddess Meenakshi,
0030N13 the "fish-eyed one." ^Twenty years ago, I had a classmate in Madras. ^He
0040N13 hailed from Madurai. ^His ambition was to_ converse with me in chaste
0050N13 Telugu. ^His ancestors having migrated to the Tamil country, he spoke
0060N13 a corrupt form of Telugu. ^He loved to_ hear me speak the language
0070N13 and wanted to_ reply like one born to the manner. ^We used to_ meet frequently,
0080N13 apparently on account of linguistic affinity. ^But I am not
0090N13 sure what motives really brought us together. ^Perhaps we just liked each
0100N13 other. ^We corresponded for a while after leaving college and then
0110N13 forgot each other. ^After the linguistic division of Indian states, we
0120N13 live within the bounds of our separate spheres and seldom meet. ^Now this
0130N13 call from the Tamilian South, I wonder whether it has anything to_
0140N13 do with my college friend Gurumurti! ^Yea, that_ was his name. ^But I
0150N13 don*'4t think so... $^People from all over India go on pilgrimage to
0160N13 Madurai. ^*I am not religious enough to_ think of pilgrimages. ^*I want
0170N13 to_ go perhaps just for the sake of going: to_ get away from the everyday
0180N13 faces and their worn-out phrases, both of which I have lately come
0190N13 to_ feel as a constraint and an unmitigated burden. ^A bid for freedom.
0200N13 ^Going places where nobody knows me... $^With my wife dead and my three
0210N13 children at school, during the last two years, I*'3ve relished my loneliness,
0220N13 which perhaps has brought about in me some imperceptible change,
0230N13 I have not cared to_ identify or analyse. ^*I keep busy round the
0240N13 clock. ^*I make money. ^*I have no time to_ think of my loneliness. ^Occasionally
0250N13 certain absent-mindedness seizes upon me. ^Then I forget my
0260N13 surroundings. ^*I am gone. ^Unknown to myself. ^After a while I come back
0270N13 with a start and don*'4t remember anything in particular about the experience,
0280N13 if it can at all be called an experience. ^One evening at a
0290N13 *4Bharatanatya recital, it happened. ^From nowhere it came, a mood of
0291N13 melancholy,
0300N13 and emptiness and then forgetfulness. ^*I was nowhere, I lost
0310N13 my moorings. ^When I got back, I felt I was none the worse for it.
0320N13 ^Another time I had to_ get up abruptly from bridge, unable to_ concentrate
0330N13 as the mood seized upon me. ^Excusing myself I went into the toilet,
0340N13 delayed there, and returning, sat at a window looking blankly at the
0350N13 sky, my mind bereft of all thought. ^It was something I couldn*'4t talk
0360N13 about to others. ^There is indeed nothing to_ talk about. ^The "seizure"
0370N13 has been something queer, but nevertheless pleasurable. ^*I haven*'4t
0380N13 thought of avoiding it. ^And now this impulse to_ travel South, I
0390N13 suspect, is a seisure too. ^*I want to_ go... ^Should I go?... ^Yea,
0400N13 for a few days... ^Somewhere into the Southern country?... ^No, to Madurai,
0410N13 the delicious city of the fish-eyed goddess! $^Once I boarded
0420N13 the train, I told myself, the questioning would cease, the insistent questioning
0430N13 in the mind. ^But the mind doesn*'4t want to_ relinquish its responsibility.
0440N13 ^Why am I going to Madurai? ^What is this meaningless excursion?
0450N13 ^Would any sane person undertake a journey like this? ^What is
0460N13 happening to me? ^Why am I going at all?... ^The mind keeps on and on.
0470N13 ^Granted Madurai is delicious in meaning, in sound and in imagination
0480N13 too, nevertheless in actuality, it is only a city, like any other city,
0490N13 and what would you do there in that_ city? ^Of course, I am not at
0500N13 all sure. ^Before entraining, I had a vague idea, or the mind had it,
0510N13 that there would be all the time in the world to_ think, formulate and
0520N13 plan. ^Now that I am in the train the mind is unable to_ make any headway.
0530N13 ^*I say to it in answer, "^Well, then, I will go and have a look
0540N13 at the city of Madurai, visit the temple of goddess Meenakshi, go round
0550N13 the palace of Tirumala Naik, the Telugu king who ruled the city
0560N13 long ago; and after that_ return home with the satisfaction of being a tourist."
0570N13 "^You would have enjoyed it better in the company of friends"
0580N13 counters the mind. ^Friends? ^Ah, there is the rub! ^It is friends I want
0590N13 to_ avoid, it is my language I don*'4t want to_ hear, it is my life
0600N13 I want to_ forget; and forgetting enter freedom, the freedom of Being.
0610N13 ^*I say this firmly to_ silence the mind. ^But there is a lurking
0611N13 doubt
0620N13 whether I am not being foolish!... ^Be that_ as it may, well, why
0630N13 should I not search for my lost friend Gurumurti? ^*I dig up his memory
0640N13 again; but the mind says laughingly, "^You don*'4t have even his old
0650N13 address; where do you start your expedition?" ^Well, I give up... $^Tired
0660N13 of its questioning I ask the mind to_ watch the outside world for
0670N13 a change. ^The men and women and things around me. ^*I am surprised at
0680N13 what I see. ^Being always busy with our own affairs, we look at people
0690N13 with labels across their faces; labels of status, relationship, \0etc.,
0700N13 and within a framework of preconceived notions and ideas. ^Such a procedure
0710N13 is inevitable and necessary too to_ get on in the world. ^But when
0720N13 you have all the time and the freedom of being purposeless, you see
0730N13 people differently and a wholly new vision of human beings unfolds! ^Look
0740N13 at man for instance, as a machine or a marionette, or a strange animal,
0750N13 oh, you observe a lot of fascinating things, things that_ make you
0760N13 laugh and weep... ^There is a family seated on the opposite berth-- husband
0770N13 wife and their six-year-old daughter. ^The relationship is so obvious
0780N13 that I decide to_ ignore it and look at them individually as separate
0790N13 entities. ^What do I see? ^Each one is alone, each one is an island,
0800N13 desperately trying to_ get across; making a lot of sounds and gestures,
0810N13 which all the time fail to_ build bridges. ^What is communicated among
0820N13 them, what is supposed to_ be known to one another, is superficial and
0830N13 unreal merely creating an illusion, an endless deceit! ^Of course it
0840N13 works, the make-believe, till something happens. ^Not a catastrophe, not
0850N13 even a quarrel, some little thing will do to_ show up the nature of this
0860N13 surface world... ^The husband goes into the bathroom. ^His absence
0870N13 in a few moments brings an electric change in the wife, a change in her
0880N13 face, movements and gestures. ^She glances at me, then gives me a frank
0890N13 look, inquiringly, curiously and searchingly; fidgets looking for something--
0900N13 does she really want anything?-- meddles with the newspaper,
0901N13 the
0910N13 napkin and the thermos flask; and says something in her language to her
0920N13 daughter, who is indifferent, lost in her own world of fancy, looking out
0930N13 of the window. ^The woman certainly tries to_ communicate something
0940N13 as a human being to me, which I shall never understand with my intellect.
0950N13 ^This is the gap of civilization. ^The husband returns and she lapses
0960N13 into her wifehood. ^She ignores my existence. ^The presence of her
0970N13 husband is a restraint on her being. ^What she is, what she wants to_ be,
0980N13 he can never know! ^Being a husband! ^No simulation on her part; and
0990N13 no imposition on his part; they look a normally adjusted couple. ^And yet
1000N13 there is this gulf between them. ^In all relationships, perhaps, this
1010N13 is so. ^One \0Mr. Rama Rao is a gentle person with infinite patience,
1020N13 as far as I am concerned. ^He is deep, silent, uncommunicative and hence
1030N13 untrustworthy in the eyes of my colleague. ^The truth of Rama Rao
1040N13 neither of us knows; nobody ever knows. $^No end to this way of thinking
1050N13 if this can be called thinking at all! ^These are questions of a different
1060N13 kind, for which there can be no sure answers... I tell the mind
1070N13 let the questions be! ^*Don*'4t try to_ find answers. $^It is six *(0a.
1080N13 m.*) at Madurai. ^*I leave it to the *4jutkawallah to_ take me to a
1090N13 good hotel. ^*Raya Lodge is evidently named after the Telugu King Krishna
1100N13 Deva Raya, whose viceroy Tirumal Naik had been at Madurai. ^*I
1110N13 am to_ be the paying guest of the great Raya himself! ^As breakfast is
1120N13 served, I inquire of the bearer about the time appropriate to_ visit
1130N13 the temple. ^From the window I see the temple-towers of goddess Meenakshi.
1140N13 ^The morning worship concludes at 8 *(0a. m.*), I am informed.
1150N13 ^So I decide to_ visit the Naik*'s palace instead. ^It is a little away
1160N13 from my lodge, at the other end of the town. ^*I am shocked to_ find
1170N13 Government offices housed in the historical monument. ^*I can*'4t go in.
1180N13 ^Desolate I climb up the stairs and walk on the terrace. ^A bird*'s-eye-view
1190N13 of the city reveals nothing to me. ^The *4Mahal no doubt is
1191N13 sturdily
1200N13 built, but that_ is neither here nor there! ^No sign of the ghost of
1210N13 Tirumal Naik! ^The Government clerks and their clientele have driven
1220N13 him out! ^Is it for this you came to Madurai? ^The question again comes
1230N13 up. ^Avoiding it, I hastily return to_ have my lunch and a midday nap.
1240N13 $^When I get up it is 5 *(0p. m.*) ^After a cup of nice South Indian
1250N13 coffee, I walk straight to the temple. ^At the entrance, I buy the
1260N13 "worship material" by way of good manners. ^As I walk in, the melody
1270N13 of *4Shahnai greets my ears. ^There is a pleasant lake inside, beautiful
1280N13 and serene. ^The sculptures are exquisite. ^It is a different world.
1290N13 ^An American couple is admiring the sculptured figures. ^A fourteen-year-old
1300N13 boy, their guide, talks to them rapidly in English. ^*I proceed
1310N13 to the abode of the deity. ^There is a painted board: "^*Hindus only"
1320N13 non Hindus are not permitted to_ go beyond the lake and the sculptures.
1330N13 ^Further on there is yet another limit. ^If I intend going into the
1340N13 presence of the deity, I have to_ remove my clothing at that_ point.
1350N13 ^*I find many visitors have only an upper-cloth on them, which they twist
1360N13 round the waist as a sort of belt and proceed with naked torsos. ^The
1370N13 rule doesn*'4t apply to women. ^My shirt is my problem and I stop at the
1380N13 limit to_ gaze at the deity from that_ distance. $^The worship proceeds
1381N13 with
1390N13 the recital of Sanskrit hymns. ^*I fail to_ get a satisfactory view
1400N13 of the goddess. ^*I like the atmosphere and the solemnity. ^In the abode
1410N13 I get an extraordinary sensation of frozen time. ^*I seem to_ plummet
1420N13 deep into timelessness and get lost. ^It is like receding in the corridors
1430N13 of history to an obscure point of no return. ^It is awesome and yet
1440N13 blissful. $^The worship over, walking back to the temple entrance, impulsively
1450N13 I look behind. ^*I see a woman and our eyes meet for a fleeting
1460N13 moment. ^*I walk on and after a few steps deliberately slow down. ^*I
1470N13 expect her to_ pass me by. ^She doesn*'4t. ^She too must have slowed;
1480N13 or stopped! ^*I look. ^The distance is maintained. ^*I pause at the temple
1490N13 entrance to_ return the bamboo-container of the worship material to
1500N13 the shopkeeper, pay him and retrieve my footwear left in his custody. ^*I
1510N13 turn to_ look at the woman as she approaches and encounter a straight,
1520N13 inquisitive look from her. ^She is gone and keep wondering whether she
1530N13 smiled to_ greet me, or is it my imagination! ^In a few moments I hurry
1540N13 into the street and look for her. ^The stretch of road in both directions
1550N13 bears no trace of her. ^She is gone. ^*I walk up and down looking
1560N13 into the open doors of houses in a vain attempt to_ find her. ^The feeling
1570N13 gains strength that she greeted me. ^*I desire to_ meet her. ^As the
1580N13 urge to_ see her grows, I regret bitterly my delaying at the shop for
1590N13 the sake of a pair of shoes! ^What wrong priorities!*#
        **[no. of worrds - 02002**]

        **[txt. n14**]
0010N14 **<*3The Secret*0**> $^Once more, the vehicles were on the road, traversing
0020N14 the highway, passing through the variegated landscape, on their way
0030N14 to Trivandrum, in the southernmost part of Kerala, almost at the 'tip'
0040N14 of India. ^Once more, Howard was on the move, in pursuit of the
0050N14 rope trick; or, was it only the rope trick he was looking for. $^Sure
0060N14 enough, Mason was also on the move, following Howard in the manner of
0070N14 a private eye. ^On a bend, Sharma looked back, and finding Mason*'s
0080N14 car, kept staring at it, with a worried look. ^*Howard appeared
0081N14 unconcerned
0090N14 and said, "Sharma, never look back-- always look ahead." $"^Yes, sir,"
0100N14 said Sharma and turned round. ^The ways of the boss were beyond him.
0110N14 $^*Mason, following the caravan, was thinking about Joan. ^Why had she
0120N14 come to this poor country and what was there to_ learn here, he thought.
0130N14 ^She could have gone to Europe. ^To Switzerland. ^Once, while passing
0140N14 through one of the Swiss villages, he had seen some pretty-- yes,
0150N14 very pretty-- girls singing some songs. ^Of course, it was good that this
0160N14 beautiful girl *3had*0 come here, otherwise, he may never have met her.
0170N14 $^*Joan had grown interested in Indian art ever since she had seen
0180N14 a dance recital by Balasaraswati, on a weekend visit to Wesleyan University.
0190N14 ^She had been thrilled by the experience, particularly by the
0200N14 dancer*'s varied and subtle expressions, and her intricate footwork, which
0210N14 revealed a mastery of rhythm. $^After that_, Joan paid frequent visits
0220N14 to Wesleyan University, which had a faculty of Indian music, and
0230N14 attended *4sitar and *4tabla lecture-demonstrations by Indian musicians.
0240N14 ^On Friday evenings, she attended 'Curry Concerts'-- programmes
0250N14 of music by visiting Indian musicians, followed by dinner with Indian
0260N14 curries. ^She heard Ravi Shanker*'s *4sitar, Ali Akbar*'s *4sarod,
0270N14 Ram Narain*'s *4sarangi and Taranath Rao*'s *4tabla, and was especially
0280N14 delighted by some folk songs which she heard-- the *4Baul and
0281N14 the
0290N14 *4Lavni. ^Later, in a cultural show, she saw a film on Indian folk dance
0300N14 which she enjoyed immensely. $^Thus grew Joan*'s fascination for
0310N14 Indian art. ^She desired to_ go to India and make a study of it. ^She
0320N14 discussed the idea with visiting musicians at Wesleyan, who advised her
0330N14 to_ go in for folk art-- folk and traditional songs and dances which,
0340N14 they said, had great variety, and were full of verve, grace and colour.
0350N14 ^They were also easy to_ learn. $^And so it was, that after her
0351N14 graduation,
0360N14 Joan secured a fellowship from the American Institute of Indian
0370N14 studies, for one year, to_ study Indian folk art; gathering whatever information
0380N14 she could from the Tourist Office in New York, she came to
0390N14 India in september. $^On reaching Bombay, she first went to the Bharatiya
0400N14 Vidya Bhavan and then State Information Centres and collected
0410N14 more information. ^She was told that dances like the *4garba and
0411N14 the *4Ras,
0420N14 and songs, were available in plenty in Bombay, but they were sophisticated
0430N14 and stylised. ^The simple, authentic variety was to_ be found
0440N14 only in a few villages. $^*Joan went to Bhavnagar, in Saurashtra, which,
0450N14 she learnt, was a cultural centre. ^From the town, she went to the
0460N14 village of Sihor and decided to_ stay there, despite the advice of well-wishers.
0470N14 ^She wanted to_ imbibe the atmosphere and background of the
0480N14 place and the people, which alone, she felt, would enable her to_ enter
0490N14 into the spirit of her work. $^The villagers, including her hosts, went
0500N14 out of their way to_ help her and make her feel at home. ^*Joan donned
0510N14 the bright clothes of the region-- *4ghagra, *4cholni and *4odhani and
0520N14 thereby became the centre of attraction wherever she went. $^A retired
0530N14 post master offered to_ act as Joan*'s liaison and accompanied her to
0540N14 various places. ^She recorded and filmed the *4garba, *5dandia ras*6,*4tippani
0550N14 and other dances in Sihor and the surrounding villages. ^She
0560N14 recorded many folk songs like '*5Lagnani geeto*6', '*4Simantini',
0561N14 '*4Halardu',
0570N14 and '*4Doha', some of them sung by old women. ^She especially
0580N14 remembered the '*5Viday geet*6'-- song of separation-- when the
0581N14 daughter
0590N14 is leaving for her husband*'s house: "*5Tamere biladu van ni charakali,
0600N14 Udijasho Pardeshyo*6"-- "you are the swallows of this green pasture,yet
0610N14 your fate is to_ fly away to another world." $^In her spare time, Joan
0620N14 helped the womenfolk in the kitchen, despite their protests, making
0630N14 *4rotlas, pressing them into shape with her hands. ^The meal, with rice,
0640N14 Rotlas, *4dungalenu, *4shak and *4chhas tasted mighty good. ^The very
0650N14 novelty of it all, was great fun for her, but she also did not fail
0660N14 to_ observe the simple life of the people around her. $^Once, after a hard
0670N14 day*'s filming in the hot sun, Joan had a headache. ^Her hostess prepared
0680N14 a home remedy-- roots and leaves made into a paste on the grinding
0690N14 stone-- and applied it to her forehead. ^The headache vanished in minutes.
0700N14 ^*Joan learnt a few home remedies for common ailments like colds,
0710N14 indigestion and mild fever. $^*Joan*'s idea was to_ stay at the house
0720N14 as a paying guest, and so, when the time came for her to_ leave, she took
0730N14 out a wad of notes and offered it to her hostess. ^At this, the entire
0740N14 household was aghast. accepting money "*5mehman paseti hoi? ^Nare na!*6"
0750N14 exclaimed the hostess, emphatically. ^It is just not done, they said.
0760N14 ^*Joan felt embarrassed, and at the same time, grateful. ^She wanted
0770N14 to_ pay them at least in kind, but there was no time. "*5^Moto abhar*6,"
0780N14 she said again and again, and left the place with a heavy heart. $^After
0790N14 visiting Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Assam and Manipur, Joan came
0800N14 down to Bombay, on her way into Maharashtra. ^In Bombay, she filmed
0810N14 the fishermen*'s Koli dance at Worli village, and recorded some of
0820N14 their old songs. ^Just before leaving for Kolhapur, she attended a Bharata
0830N14 Natyam performance by Janaki, at the Tejpal Auditorium. ^At the
0840N14 end of the recital, she hurried backstage and heartily complimented
0850N14 Janaki and said that she reminded her of Bala-- Bala-- "Balasaraswati?"
0860N14 asked Janaki "^That*'1s right," said Joan. ^*Janaki*'s face beamed
0870N14 with happiness at the comparison. ^From that_ day, Joan and Janaki were
0880N14 drawn to each other and they found that they had much in common, in
0890N14 the realm of art. $^When Janaki heard about Joan*'s assignment and
0900N14 her plan to_ go South, she was excited. ^She had, for long, desired to_
0910N14 acquire a knowledge of folk music and dance, and here was a splendid opportunity.
0920N14 ^She wished that she had met Joan at the very beginning. ^Now,
0930N14 she decided to_ accompany her for the rest of her tour. ^*Joan was very
0940N14 glad when Janaki offered to_ go with her. ^In the South, she could
0950N14 be of real help to Joan, said Janaki. $^And now, here they were,
0960N14 camping at Sangaude, recording folk songs. ^*Joan, somehow, could not
0970N14 forget Mason, ever since he had left the village. $^On hearing that a
0980N14 '*4phoren' girl had come to Sangaude and was collecting folk songs, womenfolk
0990N14 from the surrounding villages and even from nearby Kolhapur town,
1000N14 came to her and sang many traditional songs. ^Some brought old manuscripts
1010N14 containing songs written by their grandmothers. ^A common theme
1020N14 of the songs was *4Sasar-Maher-- ^In-laws*' house-- ^Parents*'
1021N14 house.
1030N14 $*5^Sasari jati leka, tichya dolyat ala pani*6-- ^The beloved daughter
1040N14 is going to her In-laws*' house, and she has tears in her eyes. ^Again,
1050N14 the newly married girl, living at her husband*'s house, pines for her
1060N14 *4maher and sings: **[song**] $^There were songs of '*4Gondhala',
1061N14 '*5Vaghya Murli*6',
1070N14 '*4Vasudev', '*4Gaulani' and '*5Angai geet*6'. ^Many songs were
1080N14 about Lord Krishna*'s childhood-- his endearing pranks and playful activities.
1090N14 ^The '*4Lavni' of the *4Tamasha fascinated Joan most. ^To
1100N14 the accompaniment of the '*5tun tun*6', '*4dholki' and '*4halgi', the men
1110N14 sang very sweetly on an extremely high pitch. $^*Joan was delighted
1120N14 to_ find such a wealth of material in the folk art of the region. ^She
1130N14 noticed that the songs had a high musical content. ^She now seemed more
1140N14 interested in folk music than in folk dances. $^Completing their work
1150N14 in Maharashtra, Joan and Janaki left for Kerala and reached their destination
1160N14 in two or three days, whereas Howard*'s caravan was still jogging
1170N14 along the highway, travelling by day and camping by night. $^After
1180N14 a brief halt at Bangalore, where Howard sent the Cadillac for servicing
1190N14 and also purchased a few books, the journey was resumed. ^The party
1200N14 reached Mettur in the afternoon and camped there for the night, on the
1210N14 outskirts of the town. $^Howard had promised Sarah that he would keep
1220N14 in touch with her. ^At night, at the Mettur post office, he got a connection.
1230N14 ^But the traffic was, again, one way. $"^Oh, darling, why don*'4t
1240N14 you come home? ^How are you now? ^Why did they tie your hands?" $"^What
1250N14 hands, darling?" $"^There was a picture of you in *3The New York
1260N14 Tribune*0, yesterday," said Sarah. ^Her voice betrayed her distress.
1270N14 "^You are on some sort of a cart being pulled by cows. ^Oh, I*'3m fed
1280N14 up. ^And they have tied your hands together and..." $"^Oh no, they didn*'4t.
1290N14 ^That*'1s only a form of greeting. $"^How*'1s bessie, darling?" $"^Don*'4t
1300N14 change the subject. ^You could at least have ridden an elephant.
1310N14 ^And that_ indecent looking man, Sharma-- oh, why don*'4t you hire a
1320N14 Maharaja as a guide? ^What*'3ll I tell my friends?" $"^*I was on the
1330N14 way to a reception given by the village people." $"^But the picture says,
1340N14 'Millionaire going in search of the rope trick'. ^How can I face people?
1350N14 ^And please don*'4t mix with natives. ^Please come home, dear."
1360N14 ^*Sarah gave an audible sigh. $"^*I will, darling. ^But tell me, how*'1s
1370N14 Bessie?" $"^Poor Bessie has insomnia. \0^*Dr Romanowski has prescribed
1380N14 a wonderful remedy for her. ^*I have an appointment with him now.
1390N14 ^Please phone me after three or four days. ^Bye, dear." $^*Howard was
1400N14 relieved to_ hear about the treatment but the next moment, he was anxious
1410N14 to_ know what the outcome of the treatment would be. $^The anxiety about
1420N14 Bessie, drove Howard to_ put in another call to Sarah, from Trichur,
1430N14 the next day. $"^Hellow darling," he said, cautiously. $"^Before
1440N14 mastering rope trick, one has to_ learn the trick of walking on water.
1450N14 \0^*Mr Harrington will learn the latter, first. ^It needs practice, but
1460N14 he seems to_ have a lot of patience'. ^This is what today*'s paper says,
1470N14 dear," Sarah said, reading from the morning paper, and immediately
1480N14 added, in a pleading tone, "^Please give up this adventure of yours
1490N14 and come home, dear. ^*I can*'4t stand it any longer. ^At the race yesterday,
1500N14 people were looking at me and whispering..." $"^Oh, don*'4t believe
1510N14 those reports, darling..." $"^Promise me, you*'3ll come back." $"^Okay.
1520N14 ^*I promise." $"^When?" $"^Very soon. ^Now, please tell me about that_
1530N14 wonderful treatment for Bessie, darling." $^*Sarah immediately brightened
1540N14 up, at the mention of Bessie. $"^Oh yes. \0^*Dr Romanowski, in
1550N14 collaboration with the famous composer, Bresson, has written a lullaby
1560N14 specially for Bessie..." ^Nothing but the best for our Bessie, Howard
1570N14 thought. "... and I got Jerci Rashcholovitch to_ sing it, accompanied
1580N14 by the Boston String Quartet. ^*Jerci is so busy, dear, and it was
1590N14 so kind of him to_ take time off his European tour and fly to New
1600N14 York just for this. ^The lullaby is being broadcast on the weekly "Getting
1610N14 To_ Know Your Pets" programme, and Expressions \0Inc.
1611N14 ^Records have
1620N14 promised to_ release it..." $"^That_*'1s wonderful," Howard
1621N14 gushed.
1630N14 "^Did it work?" $"^What work, dear?" $"^*I mean, did the lullaby work on
1640N14 Bessie?" $"^Oh, that_? ^Well, \0Dr Ramanowski said it was a partial
1650N14 success." $"^What do you mean by 'a partial success', dear?" $"^Uhh...
1660N14 while that_ fantastic tune was being sung, I fell asleep. \0^*Dr Romanowski
1670N14 said it was an encouraging sign. ^He was sure that Bessie would
1680N14 also fall asleep in the next session. ^*I*'3ve to_ take her to him now.
1690N14 ^Bye, dear". $"^Bye, darling," Howard said and hung up. ^He sat there,
1700N14 thinking. ^With difficulty, he pushed Bessie out of his mind, only to_
1710N14 find himself pondering over a far-from-pleasant subject-- Mason. $^So,
1720N14 Mason was concocting stories and Howard Harrington was getting into
1730N14 the news, back home.*#
        **[no. of words = 02008**]

        **[txt. n15**]
0010N15 **<*3THE SEAJACKERS*0**> $^THE MOTOR Vessel *3Shampen had
0020N15 been in port for two days. ^Taking into consideration the loading
0030N15 rate at Madras, it would take at least another two days for her to_
0040N15 complete loading and leave. $^It was about eight \0p.m. and
0050N15 Second Officer Ramesh Pathak was on usual cargo watch. ^Heavy cases,
0060N15 all securely packed, were being loaded into the four hatches of the
0070N15 ship by the shore cranes of the Port Trust. ^The cases were marked
0080N15 'Explosive material' and below that_ were the words, 'Handle with
0090N15 care'. $^Though he had iinstructions to_ ensure fast and careful loading
0100N15 of the cargo, Pathak had no idea as to what the cases actually contaiined.
0110N15 ^Mercifully, the dock labour seemed to_ be handling the
0120N15 cargo carefully. ^It surprised him as the dock labour were hardly
0130N15 known for their sense of responsibility. ^Obviously, their supervisor
0140N15 too, had similar instructions which had been handed down.
0150N15 $^On the other side of the town, in the dimly lit Pals Hotel, sat *(0J.F.*)
0160N15 Cutinho, the chief steward or \0MV *3Shampen. ^He
0170N15 had ordered his sixth peg of whisky and the cabaret artiste was coming
0180N15 in for the second act of the evening. ^Not that her act involved much
0190N15 acting. ^The large, life-sized posters outside the hotel billed her
0200N15 as 'Sexiting Sheila'. ^*Cutinho could recall her as 'Bombshell
0210N15 Bina', last year at Cochin. $^THE cabaret Artistes keep changing
0220N15 like the seasons and at each new place take a new name, till after a
0230N15 few years, they fade out. ^What happens after that_ is anybody*'s guess.
0240N15 ^Maybe they get married and settle down or may be some drift into
0250N15 the oldest profession, he thought. $^In any case Cutinho did not
0260N15 waste much time thinking because neither was he worried about the social
0270N15 security of ex-cabaret artistes nor about sex for that_ matter. ^His
0280N15 wife had left him three years ago, as he preferred the bottle to her and
0290N15 since then he had no other problem and had kept to the bottle faithfully.
0300N15 $^*Sheila did one turn and before the music took on a faster
0310N15 beat, her bra had come off and some guests, seeing a floor show for
0320N15 the first time, gasped. $^Quietly, a group of young men came around
0330N15 to Coutinho*'s table. ^They were looking for a place to_ park
0340N15 themselves in the hall which was crowded. ^He nodded his assent.
0350N15 ^They were four in all; they spoke in low tones in bengali. $^One among
0360N15 them, a tall bearded man, was silent for the most part. ^They ordered
0370N15 drinks and by the time they finished their first round, Coutinho
0380N15 had completed his eighth peg and Sheila*'s panties had slowly come off.
0390N15 ^More gasps all around. $^*Cultinho did not seem to_ bother, except
0400N15 to_ cast a concerned look at his diminishing drinks. ^His table
0410N15 companions also did not seem to_ take much interest in Sheila though the
0420N15 lights had dimmed and now she was in her birthday suit and had reached
0430N15 the climax of her act, seductively pushing her torso up and down and around
0440N15 in time with the music. $^By the time Sheila finished her act,
0450N15 Cutinho had become friendly with the group and was having his tenth drink.
0460N15 $^AROUND a dinner table in another restaurant, where the
0470N15 food was reputedly better than Pals but had no cabaret, Ranjit Kumar
0480N15 Moitra, the Captain of \0MV *3Shampen was keeping his dinner date
0490N15 with \0Mr Kalra, a Defence Minitry official. ^Also present was
0500N15 the local representative of the Shipping Corporation that_ owned the
0510N15 ship. $^Over dinner \0mr Kalra explained to the captain how important
0520N15 the cargo was, especially in view of the prevailing conditions in
0530N15 Bangladesh. ^He requested the captain on behalf of the government
0540N15 to_ ensure quick and safe delivery at the port of Chittagong as the Bangladesh
0550N15 Government was pressing him. $^Next evening, Ramesh Pathak,
0560N15 Second Officer, noticed four well-dressed men boarding the ship.
0570N15 ^He asked the duty Quartermaster to_ check who they were and whom they
0580N15 wanted to_ see. $^On learning that they had come to meet the Chief
0590N15 Steward, \0Mr Cutinho, he lost interest in them and continued with his
0600N15 work. $^A few hours later when the ship was ready, to_ sail, the Chief
0610N15 Officer of the vessel, Issaq Abdulla Kazi returned, drunk as usual.
0620N15 ^Though 61 years old, his papers showed that he was only 57.
0630N15 ^Even this, he kept telling his shipmates was wrong due to some error
0640N15 in the past and that he actually was only 52. ^His recent marriage,
0650N15 the fourth, was to a girl, 23 years old. $^If his friends
0660N15 teased him on this score, he got out of it by saying that in fact his
0670N15 religion allowed him to_ marry seven times and therefore he could marry
0680N15 three more times. ^He had joined the ship only two months ago and
0690N15 was of no use to anyone. ^*Captain Moitra had taken up the matter of
0700N15 getting him transferred to some other ship, but the Corporation was silent.
0710N15 $^Due to the shortage of certified personnel and the need to_
0720N15 comply with regulations, shipping companies appointed people more for
0730N15 their certificates, and as a result of this, the work was either done by
0740N15 others or not at all. $^Now, as usual, prior to sailing, Captain
0750N15 Moitra asked the chief officer to_ let him know whether everything
0760N15 was *k. ^The chief officer confirmed without even bothering to_ step
0770N15 out of his cabin. $^By about 11 \0p.m., after having taken the ship
0780N15 out of the harbour, Pilot Captain *(0B.J*) Abraham wished Captain
0790N15 Moitra a *8bon voyage*9 and disemberked into the pilot boat which quickly
0800N15 sped back to the harbour. $^*Captain Moitra then, with the
0810N15 help of Pathak, set course to Chittagong while the radio officer sent
0820N15 out a message on the wireless informing both Madras and Chittagong of
0830N15 their estimated arrival time which was at about 14 \0hrs three days later.
0840N15 $^THE SWELLS off the harbour caught the ship on her starboard
0850N15 and she started rolling gently. ^The wind was blowing from
0860N15 the southeast and its speed could not have exceeded five knots, a calm
0870N15 sea by any standard. ^Ten miles off the harbour even the lights of fishing
0880N15 boats started growing faint. $^In a cabin below the main deck, the
0890N15 four 'friends' of \0mr Cutinho had gagged him. ^The tall bearded chap,
0900N15 worked quietly and when he had finished with the Chief Steward, Cutinho
0910N15 was neatly tied up. ^Beforer that_, two knocks with a sand filled pouch
0920N15 had made him unconscious. ^From a porthole in his cabin, the leader
0930N15 made sure that the ship was clear of the harbour. ^Then he instructed
0940N15 the others on the parts they had to_ play in the take-over operation.
0950N15 $^It was a well-oiled drill they had earlier practised to perfection
0960N15 , but one more trial before the final act did no harm. $^According
0970N15 to the plan, two of them raced to the engine control room and
0980N15 the other two to the bridge. ^Brandishing loaded pistols and grenades,
0990N15 they forced Captain Moitra to_ change his course to 135 degrees and
1000N15 proceed on a course due south east. $^After this one of the seajacckers
1010N15 from the bridge joined one from the engine room party and ordered
1020N15 the radio officer and the ship*'s remaining personnel into separate cabins,
1030N15 putting only three or four in each. ^Then the cabins were securely
1040N15 locked . $^The terrorists apparently were familiar with the ship*'s
1050N15 operations and one of them, referred to_ as Bakshi, was clerly a merchant
1060N15 navy officer. ^Before locking up Captain Moitra and other
1070N15 officers, he announced that their group, 'The Revolutionaries For Democracy
1080N15 in Bangladesh', more popularly known as *3REFODIN*0, were fighting
1090N15 a people*'s war against the current Government of Bangladesh which,
1100N15 accoding to them, was oppressive. $^*Captain Moitra warned
1110N15 the terrorists that they were committing piracy by sezing a vessel angaged
1120N15 in legitimate trade. $^BUT HIS warning did not get him anywhere.
1130N15 ^They were in no mood to_ listen to the arguments of Captain
1140N15 Moitra pertaining to the legal aspect of their action, or the Geneva Convention
1150N15 covering international maritime trade . $^The tall bearded
1160N15 leader of the terrorists replied by saying that whether they were engaged
1170N15 in piracy or patriotism would be determined not by the Geneva Convention,
1180N15 which they did not recognise, but by the Bangla people, whom
1190N15 they claimed to_ represent. $^When the captain started arguing,
1200N15 the leader replied with a firm slap. $^*Pathak who was with the captain,
1210N15 surged forward but was quickly brought under control with two solid
1220N15 punches that_ took the wind out of him and kept him still for some time.
1230N15 ^With that_, all resistance ended. $^Another hour went by
1240N15 . ^Then, using the Bay of Bengal Chart, Bakshi checked the approximate
1250N15 position of the ship. ^He seemed satisfied. ^From the chart
1260N15 room he went on the bridge, empty now save for himself. ^The ship was
1270N15 steering itself on auto-pilot. ^He put on the \0VHF set and as
1280N15 it warmed up started calling on channel 23. $'*3Kingfisher,
1290N15 Kingfisher, this is *3Seagull calling, come in please over.'
1300N15 $^Immediately came the reply, '*3Kingfisher answering *3Seagull.
1310N15 ^What is your position?' $^*Bakshi, after giving *3Kingfisher
1320N15 the position of \0MV *3Shampen, now codenamed *3Seagull
1330N15 asked her to_ meet the ship in half an hour*'s time. ^Hardly much
1340N15 time had elapsed when an ordinary-looking fishing boat was seen approaching
1350N15 the ship from the port side. ^Bakshi rang the engine telegraph
1360N15 to_ reduce ship*'s speed and the gun holding terrorist there ensured
1370N15 that the Duty Engineer, \0Mr Jose complied. $^The fishing boat
1380N15 that_ came along side quickly transferred another eight persons on to the
1390N15 ship . ^They were given instructions by the leader, the tall bearded
1400N15 terrorist. ^They were fully armed. ^Two of them obviously
1410N15 knew about ship*'s engines and from then on one of them was always present
1420N15 in the engine room to_ ensure that the duty engineers did not try to_
1430N15 create trouble for them. $^After the transfer was over, the fishing
1440N15 boat headed towards Madras, and indeed, it looked like an innocent
1450N15 fishing trawler, one of the hundreds that_ dot the indian coast, returning
1460N15 with a poor catch. ^The ship now had 12 terrorists. $^By
1470N15 noon next day, the seajackers seemed relaxed. ^The ship was heading
1480N15 towards Car Nicobar and the Ten Degree Channel and their actual
1490N15 position was about 300 miles due south east of Madras.
1500N15 $\0^*MV *3Shampen maintined complete radio silence but the terrorist
1510N15 radio operator kept a faithful watch on her receiver. ^However,
1520N15 he had not heard anything that_ could be termed alarming for them.
1530N15 $^No one suspected, neither the Indian authorities nor their Bangladesh
1540N15 counterparts, that \0MV *3shampen, was in the hands of terrorists
1550N15 or that she was off course. ^If one calculated her actual distance
1560N15 from the position she should have been at this time, she was at least
1570N15 500 miles away. $^In the morning, two of the terrorists changed the
1580N15 ship*'s name from *3Shampen to *3Seagull. ^Other terrorists
1590N15 changed the markings on her funnel by removing the two orange bands on
1600N15 both sides of the *4chakra and repainting a white square encompassing
1610N15 it. $^The registration markings of the vessel were also changed from
1620N15 Bombay to Hongkong. ^With this, an outsider would never suspect
1630N15 that the \0MV *3Seagull, registered at Hongkong, was in fact the
1640N15 \0MV *3Shampen, an Indian vessel registered at Bombay. $^Soon
1650N15 after this , a radio message went out on the distress frequency, 500 \0kcs,
1660N15 from the ship. ^Ships in the area and several coastal stations picked
1670N15 up the message from \0MV *3Shampen, '...taking water hatch three...
1680N15 four after explosion, ballast pumps unable cope up... listing heavily
1690N15 starboard ...send immediate assistance... my position lat... long...
1700N15 Master 0*3Shampen. $^Though the position given by the terrorists
1710N15 was a false one to_ give an impression that she was on course to
1720N15 Chittagong, those who had heard the distress signal had no idea that she
1730N15 was not at the position indicated. ^Or that she was under the control
1740N15 of terrorists. $^The two ships that_ were about 70 miles and 110
1750N15 miles away from her indicated position, soon radioed back that they were
1760N15 heading towards her at full speed
1770N15 for rendering help and rescue.*#
        **[no. of words = 02018**]


        **[txt. p01**]
0010P01 **<*3REALITY*0**> $*3^*The*0 music puised through her veins. ^She
0020P01 wanted to_ weep, laugh, dance and indulge in a medley of emotions
0030P01 simultaneously-- but such things were not done at a wedding! ^Her gaze
0040P01 intensified itself on Dalip. ^He looked-- resigned? ^Frustrated?
0050P01 ^Fatigued? ^She tried to_ catch the right expression as he prostrated
0060P01 in traditional style to a continuous stream of elderly feet.
0070P01 $^She was sorely tempted to_ tap him on the shoulder and say, "Hey
0080P01 what thoughts are you tussling with now?" ^But that_ was impossible under
0090P01 the present circumstances. ^He was the groom; looking absolutely
0100P01 splendid in the traditional white, gold and red Coorgi garb. ^Suddenly
0110P01 her heart called out, to the beat of the throbbing drums, "^*Dalip
0120P01 my love." ^And the music continued to_ set her on fire. ^She
0130P01 flushed with the effort of restraining herself from undulating to the intoxicating
0140P01 music. ^*Dalip had termed it very well when he had called
0150P01 this tribal music "the best jazz in the world." $^The subject had
0160P01 come up at her cousin*'s wedding in Hyderabad. ^She had met him there
0170P01 for the first time. ^Knowing hardly anyone besides the groom himself
0180P01 , Dalip had earnestly asked her not to_ desert him. ^She had obliged
0190P01 willingly, ignoring the waves of raised eyebrows as they stood talking
0200P01 on the "no man*'s land" between the *4zanana and *4mardana sections.
0210P01 ^The groom had been called away just then to_ perform some particular
0220P01 salutations. $"^Don*'4t you have music at your weddings?" he had
0230P01 asked. $"^Normally we don*'4t," she had replied. $"^But you should!
0240P01 ^What better expression of celebration than clarion calls and drums?"
0250P01 $"^That_ sounds more like a battle than a wedding," she had retorted.
0260P01 $"^Well, in a way I suppose it is also that_, "he had agreed with
0270P01 a smile and then with a far away look added "a battle of personalities--
0280P01 his and her*'s." $^Her attention at that_ moment, had been drawn
0290P01 to his eyes. ^They were the colour of dark honey and when the light
0300P01 caught them there was a reassuring warmth there. ^A sketch imprinted itself
0310P01 on her mind-- tall, wiry, and elegantly dressed. ^A broad forehead
0320P01 over a slightly beaked nose. ^Lips that_ smiled often with
0330P01 an endorsement in his eyes. ^She had a weakness for square jawed
0340P01 men with dark rough hair! "^Handsome? ^No, not really. ^Attractive?
0350P01 ^Yes, very," she thought. $^As a result of a mutual exchange of
0360P01 addresses they got in touch with each other when they returned to Bangalore.
0370P01 ^They met again. ^And again. ^Their backgrounds were very
0380P01 different. ^She had this all-consuming desire to_ rediscover herself
0390P01 in his company. ^Her super rich world floated down to_ meet
0400P01 his humble but meaningful world. ^She had so far been aware of only the
0410P01 rich, the rest were a vague "others." ~but the "others" took on a definite
0420P01 form when she was with him. ^He was a free lance writer and
0430P01 literary critic in his spare time, and the occasional pieces of writing
0440P01 he chose to_ show her assailed her with pain and pleasure. ^Then she
0450P01 had begun to_ write verse. $"^Hmmm, it*'1s good enough for
0460P01 someone who never tried writing poetry before, but tell me Shanu do
0470P01 you really feel these words? ^When did you have the chance to_ observe:
0480P01 "^The raw pain dripping from her eyes as her ripe body beckoned yet
0490P01 another?" $"are you trying to_ make me out as some sort of a pseudo?"
0500P01 she had flared up. $"^No, but I*'1d like to_ tell you how
0510P01 gorgeous you look in a temper," he had soothed her covering her small
0520P01 hands with his palm. $"^Well, \0Mr. critic, let me tell you it*'1s
0530P01 far easier to_ free-lance as a critic than to_ write verse and have
0540P01 the guts to_ show it to one." $^He laughed at her jibe,
0550P01 but realised how much it cost her to_ expose her inner core to him, not
0560P01 because he was a critic but because he was Dalip. $"^Sorry Shanu,
0570P01 I*'3m humbled," he apologised. ^Then with unexpected temerity he
0580P01 had said, "When may I have the supreme honour of devouring your dairy,
0590P01 Lady Shaneela Zaheer?" $"^What presumption! ^*I haven*'4t
0600P01 shown it even to my closest pal, are you....." $"....something
0610P01 more than your closest pal, perhaps?" he had interrupted with his captivating
0620P01 smile. ^Why did he have to_ smile like that_? ^It crumbled
0630P01 her well stocked arguments to dust. $"^Look here, Dalip Somiah.
0640P01 you are stuffing ideas into my innocent head," she said in the sternest
0650P01 tone she could manage. $"^No, my love, I*'3m only helping you
0660P01 to_ articulate what is already there." ^Though she couldn*'4t help
0670P01 laughing at his wit she had to_ get her mind clear on this. $"^*Dalip,
0680P01 I hope all this is a joke." $"^Is that_ all this relationship
0690P01 means to you?" $^He definitely wasn*'4t light-hearted then.
0700P01 ^The profound implication of that_ question had shaken her up. $"^Well,
0710P01 not a joke exactly but... oh, Dalip, what is it then?" she had asked,
0720P01 more confused than before. $"^Shanu, how many ways are there of
0730P01 saying, I love you?" $^Silence. $"^Tell me, Shanu,"
0740P01 he persisted. $"^Really Dalip I feel quite reluctant to_ carry
0750P01 on this discussion till I*'3m absolutely sure of myself and a few
0760P01 other people concerned." ^Was that_ her voice? ^What on earth had made
0770P01 her say such a thing? $"^*Shanu, I*'3m an ordinary person, and not
0780P01 particularly imaginative at the best of times. ^That_ is probably why I
0790P01 can*'4t think of anything to_ substitute the over worked words,
0800P01 'I love you,' but by God, I mean it." $^His look, that_ warm and
0810P01 intense light of passion, love and respect had bowled her over completely.
0820P01 $^She had murmured something incoherent as she looked at him
0830P01 with a mute appeal in her eyes to_ change the topic. ^She was overcome
0840P01 with emotion and felt herself on dangerous ground. ^Suddenly, all those
0850P01 young men in the past who had passionately expressed their love for
0860P01 her seemed like pathetic caricatures. ^She relaxed somewhere deep, deep
0870P01 inside and for that_ moment he was oblivious of every other thought save
0880P01 that_ of loving Dalip with all the abandon of her twenty-two years.
0890P01 $^Time froze them into a welcome isolation from the world around.
0900P01 ^A waiter hovered somewhere in the background. ^He was an entity
0910P01 they could accept without acknowledgement. ^A jarring greeting
0920P01 tore in from somewhere and everything was set in motion again.
0930P01 $"^Hi Dalip, long time no seeing and the rest of the conversation had
0940P01 been in Coorgi. ^*Shaneela was introduced to the young couple at
0950P01 once and Dalip made a valiant effort to_ steer the conversation into
0960P01 English, but his acquaintances seemed to_ derive a sadistic satisfaction
0970P01 out of sticking to their native tongue while throwing sly looks of
0980P01 curiosity at Shaneela. ^She had borne it with admirable calm, but that_
0990P01 incident had spot-lighted the implications of falling in love with
1000P01 someone who belonged to a different setting. $"^*I hope they didn*'4t
1010P01 put you off? ^These tribal folk have a long way to_ go before they catch
1020P01 up with common decency," he had apologised profusely. ^Suddenly
1030P01 she had felt the irritating incident melt into nothing. ^To her
1040P01 all that_ mattered was his sensitivity to the situation. ^He had
1050P01 understood! ^She dazzled him with a brilliant smile as she flippantly
1060P01 remarked. "^My kinsfolk are no better, let*'3s forget about them and
1070P01 return to our own world." $"^Super idea, but let*'3s take our little
1080P01 world somewhere else, this place is getting too popular for any comfort,"
1090P01 he agreed and called for the bill. $^*Dalip could never resist comparing
1100P01 any scenic spot they went to with Coorg. ^He never tired of
1110P01 telling Shaneela of its seductive setting. "^*Shanu, it*'1s out of this
1120P01 world you*'1d flip over. ^There*'1s this incredible place I know
1130P01 just made for a couple of love smitten souls. ^It*'1s a gem.
1140P01 ^Nature at her generous best. ^Fields and meadows embracing each
1150P01 other, magnificent forests and hills surrounding them. ^There
1160P01 are wild flowers and fruits I don*'4t even know the names of. ^Everything
1170P01 seems carefully planned to_ erase the ugliness of everyday sights.
1180P01 ^Its*'1s so beautiful you could go crazy......" $"^And
1190P01 when will you take me there?" she would ask enraptured. $^Why did he
1200P01 always evade a direct answer? ^All he had to_ say was, "When we get
1210P01 married of course." $^It had disturbed her. ^She had often asked
1220P01 him to_ come and visit her parents. ^He had obliged her once, taken
1230P01 a great liking to her father and only brother, Arun, but had never
1240P01 repeated the visit. ^He hadn*'4t ever invited her to_ return the visit.
1250P01 ^He called her over the phone only when it was absolutely necessary.
1260P01 ^He had always insisted that she carry on with all her social
1270P01 commitments and friends sparing time for him only when she could. $"^*I
1280P01 think it is wrong to_ become distant and aloof from your former circle
1290P01 just because you have found someone special. ^It displays an unsavoury
1300P01 selfishness." $^She had understood his point. ^Time flew
1310P01 on. $^She had sometimes wondered if her parents and her very close
1320P01 uncle suspected anything. ^At a community engagement celebration her mother
1330P01 had pointed across the room to a rather obese and vulgarly bejewelled
1340P01 lady and said, "See that_ lady there? ^She has asked us to_
1350P01 visit her tomorrow-- I hope you haven*'4t got anything particular to_
1360P01 do? $"^Yes Mama, I have to_ meet a friend tomorrow." $"^Can*'4t
1370P01 you postpone meeting her for another day?" $"^I can*'4t," Shaneela
1380P01 replied calmly, ignoring the gender part of the conversation. $"^You
1390P01 go, why must I tag along?" $"^She was very keen that you come
1400P01 along too. ^*I*'3ll tell her you have some work for tomorrow and we*'3ll
1410P01 go some other time." $"^No, I won*'4t come. ^*I don*'4t like
1420P01 her looks one bit, and why this sudden insistence on my coming with
1430P01 you?" $"^They are new in town and I suppose she wants some company
1440P01 for herself and her daughter." her mother reasoned calmly enough.
1450P01 $"^Looking at her I have very little reason to_ believe her daughter and
1460P01 I will get along." $^*Shaneela thought the matter closed.
1470P01 $"^Oh, but they are very well off with most of their relations abroad--
1480P01 very good connections," her mother had persisted. $"^Pity she cannot
1490P01 use her wealth and connections to better advantage," Shaneela
1500P01 had retorted. $"^Why are you being so rude and irritable? ^Is something
1510P01 bothering you?" $"^Yes Mama, that_ woman!" $"^Don*'4t be
1520P01 difficult Shaneel. ^We must look her up." $^She had acceded finally,
1530P01 more to_ end the argument than anything else. $"^Hmmm so you have
1540P01 to_ visit some poor rich lonely lady and her daughter. ^Tell me, isn*'4t
1550P01 there some poor rich lonely son lurking behind the scenes?" ^*Dalip
1560P01 had asked when she narrated the argument to him the next day. $"^You
1570P01 Sherlock Holmes! ^*I never thought of that_. ^Of course, I shan*'4t
1580P01 go!" $"^Don*'4t be a spoil sport. ^You must go. ^Who knows
1590P01 you might miss out on King Midas *=2," dalip quipped. $"^*Croesus
1600P01 wouldn*'4t drag me from you," she had declared with uncharacteristic
1610P01 exuberance. ^Another moment of uncertainty. ^An uncomfortable pause.
1620P01 ^Suddenly he had looked at her with an expression totally
1630P01 incomprehensible to her. ^The magic of the evening vanished irrevocably.
1640P01 ^Inconsequential conversaion followed and one more question mark
1650P01 settled itself on the pile in Shaneela*'s mind. $^The invitation
1660P01 for Taraki Sen*'s party had arrived out of the blue. ^*Taraki was a well
1670P01 known playwright whose parties were very popular. ^Both Shaneela and
1680P01 Dalip knew the type of people who would be there. ^*Dalip had
1690P01 decided not to_ go as he was firmly convinced that most of the people
1700P01 at such parties were poseurs whom he found intolerable. ^*Shaneela had
1710P01 wanted to_ go because she liked Taraki and was not cynical about the
1720P01 crowd there. $"^Okay, you don*'4t like most of the types there, but
1730P01 am I not enough incentive for you to_ come?" she had asked, slightly
1740P01 hurt by his obstinacy. $"^It may be your scene Shanu but it is definitely
1750P01 not mine." $"^Okay, let*'3s strike a deal. ^If you find
1760P01 the place a drag we*'3ll leave," she pleaded, still wondering at the
1770P01 unreasonable attitude he had taken.*#
        **[no. of words = 02015**]

        **[txt. p02**]
0010P02 **<*3The Tree is taller than the mountain*0**> $*3^*Was*0 it possible
0020P02 to_ be in love with two men at the same time? ^*I had found it necessary
0030P02 to_ give serious thought to the question in August of *'371-- my final
0040P02 year at college. ^In most of the love stories_ that I*'d read, the
0050P02 heroine was always the determined type who knew from the start which man
0060P02 she wanted. ^Naturally, the heroines of the story book world are stunningly
0070P02 beautiful women with special talents for seeing to it that things
0080P02 always work out their way. ^With people like me, it*'1s an altogether
0090P02 different game. $"^Say, weren*'4t you at the Kofee Korner last
0100P02 night?" $"^Not unless you believe in trans-materialisation." ^That_*'1s
0110P02 the kind of thing that_ happens to me. ^So when I confided in my
0120P02 best friend that not only was I in love with two men but that they were
0130P02 in love with me too. ^*I couldn*'4t really blame her for looking skeptical.
0140P02 $"^You worked out a special act or what?" ^*Villie demanded
0150P02 at an instant reflex when I told her about Runni and Ronnie.
0160P02 $"^Nyel!" ^When I want to_, I can say NO in six different
0170P02 languages. "^*I pay for it." $^It wasn*'4t one of my cleverer
0180P02 repartees. ^*Ville was tempted to_ believe me. ^Couldn*'4t say
0190P02 I blamed her either. ^My pronouncements must have knocked out Villie*'s
0200P02 ego. ^There had to_ be a catch. $"^They couldn*'4t be from
0210P02 around here," Villie sniffed. $^*I*'3m not sure why she sniffed but
0220P02 around here meant the hallowed precincts of \0St. Sebastian*'s
0230P02 College of Arts where both of us were taking our Bachelor*'s degrees
0240P02 and this conversation was being conducted in the usual place for such
0250P02 conversations-- lecture room \0No. *=5. $^While \0Prof. Mantri,
0260P02 a wizened old monkey of a man with atrocious pronunciation and hair
0270P02 sticking out of his ears, made *4Vedantic philosophy more incomprehensible
0280P02 than it already was, I unfolded the Runni-Ronnie phenomenon
0290P02 to Villie. $"^They sound like a comedy set," she cut in.
0300P02 $^The comment (to_ put it mildly) was disconcerting. ^Hadn*'4t I
0310P02 explained that the two chaps were as yet unaware of each other*'s
0320P02 existence. ^*Villie*'s dumping them together showed that either she
0330P02 hadn*'4t paid sufficient attention to my whispered bulletins or that
0340P02 she was being deliberately obtuse. ^The adverb is intentional because
0350P02 Villie is good looking and bright. $"^They don*'4t know about
0360P02 each other." ^*I hissed irritably at her. $"^Yeah to you said.
0370P02 ^One is an accountant type who juggles your tax returns and the other
0380P02 fellow came along to_ sell you insurance. ^One kiss and it was instant
0390P02 combustion. ^Both times." ^After this recital I shut up.
0400P02 ^*I had done Villie an injustice. ^The ball was back in my court,
0410P02 only I wasn*'4t sure how to_ tackle it. $^Before proceeding in
0420P02 the matter I decided it would be wise to_ line up the pros and cons
0430P02 in a mental debate on Villie-- would she be discreet \0vs.
0440P02 would she blab it all over town. $^We were the same age, which is to_
0450P02 say nineteen, and we had known each other for three years. ^*Villie
0460P02 and I had also selected the same subjects-- philosophy and
0470P02 psychology-- so we had common interests. ^Socially we were on
0480P02 the same level-- upper-upper-middle, whatever that_ means. ^And
0490P02 we did get on rather well. ^*Villie is also an only child, but
0500P02 there was one big difference in our lives. ^*Villie*'s comings and
0510P02 goings were under the strict surveillance of an eagle-eyed mother
0520P02 whereas I was over eighteen and answerable only to myself. ^*Ma
0530P02 and Pa Rattanshaw-- my progenitors-- had been killed in a motorcar
0540P02 crash four years earlier. ^They*'d been en route to Marguerita*'s-in-the-South
0550P02 where I*'d been a boarder, when their brand new
0560P02 Fiat Millicento succumbed to a fatal attraction for the rear end of
0570P02 a delivery van in front of it. $^After I took up psychology, I discovered
0580P02 that it would*'3ve been quite, okay for me to_ erupt in all
0590P02 manner of guilt complexes over "that_ God-awful tragedy" as sundry
0600P02 other Rattanshaws still called it. ^But the way I had seen
0610P02 it at the age of fifteen (which was when it all happened), if Ma
0620P02 and Pa Rattanshaw had cared enough about me in the first place, they
0630P02 wouldn*'4t have packed me off eight hundred miles from home. ^So
0640P02 that (in the second place) the necessity to_ visit me needn*'4t ever
0650P02 have arisen. ^Naturally, this is an opinion I normally keep to myself.
0660P02 ^To_ say it out loud would be irreverent and, whatever else
0670P02 we Indians may shrug off, irreverence of one*'s forebears is not *8comme
0680P02 il faut.*9 ^The Rattanshaws had made a very handsome couple
0690P02 and I guess I*'d never really forgiven them for failing to_ cast me
0700P02 in the same mould. $^After I turned eighteen and free-- sole beneficiary,
0710P02 \0etc., of the Rattanshaw estate-- I moved into my very
0720P02 own ownership flat. ^And this independent bachelor-girl status was
0730P02 perhaps the only thing my friends envied me. $^By the middle of
0740P02 the next lecture-- the Psychology of Religion-- I was still wondering
0750P02 about the extent to which I could confide in Villie when she prodded
0760P02 me with her elbow. $"^You aren*'4t even listening," she remonstrated.
0770P02 "^It*'1s all about the sex instinct in religions. $^*I sighed.
0780P02 "^It turns up to the oddest places, doesn*'4t it?" $"^You should
0790P02 know," Villie replied. ^There was no rancour in her tone and this
0800P02 induced me to_ tell her all. $"^It has its disadvantages," I began.
0810P02 $"^What has?" $"^Sex." $"^Oh? ^Like what?" $"^Like
0820P02 little babies..." I forgot to_ complete the sentence as Villie*'s
0830P02 eyebrows arched up a good quarter inch from their usual mooring. $"^You
0840P02 mean the howling shrieking variety which don*'4t come wrapped in
0850P02 cellophane?" $^*Villie was making doubly certain of what I*'d said.
0860P02 ^A sure sign that she was interested in knowing more. $"^Which
0870P02 one*'1s the proud papa?" ^He whispered. ^She had no business looking
0880P02 awed, but she did. ^Which made me forget what I had started
0890P02 out to_ say. $"^You want a name?" $"^For the baby?" $"^No
0900P02 stupid! ^A good *(0K. O.*) man." $^Since this was in the
0910P02 days before abortion was legalised I knew that Villie was only
0920P02 trying to_ be helpful. $"^That_ won*'4t be necessary," I told her
0930P02 though I really appreciated the offer. $"^You mean you*'3re getting
0940P02 married? ^She persisted. $^*Villie*'s logic was commendable
0950P02 but since that_, more or less, was the crux of the problem, I hedged.
0960P02 $"^Well, you see, I*3m not quite sure...." I started, groping for
0970P02 the right words, but Villie, well-read as she was, obviously hadn*4t
0980P02 got around to Dale Carnegie. ^She had this terrible habit
0990P02 of cutting people off mid-sentence. $"^You *'3re doing a Vanessa
1000P02 Redgrave!" ^She interrupted. $"^No, I*'3m not!" $"^Listen,
1010P02 you moron,"-- idiot, imbecile and moron, in that order, are Villie*'s
1020P02 favourite forms of address-- "you have no other choice!" $^*I was
1030P02 about to_ launch into a graphic description as to the precise nature of
1040P02 my dilemma when my in-built antenna vibrated. ^Something in the
1050P02 classroom was amiss. ^*I looked in the direction of the lecturer*'s
1060P02 podium to_ find him pointing a finger at me and saying what sounded
1070P02 like, "You! ^Get out of the lecture room!" ^Rather than
1080P02 argue with a man whose vocabulary I knew to_ be more comprehensive than
1090P02 mine, I quietly gathered up my books and, with a mumbled, "See
1100P02 you later," to Villie I made for the exit. $^Fifteen minutes later
1110P02 Villie joined me in the Cat House-- a 20 x 20 waiting room on the
1120P02 second and storey of \0St. Sebastian*'s east wing with the myth LADIES
1130P02 ONLY stencilled on its door. $"^Right," said Villie pulling
1140P02 up a chair next to mine, "Let*'3s hear it. ^And don*4't dream of
1150P02 sparing me any of the gory details." $^It was two hours before
1160P02 I finished telling her what it was about. ^Two hours might seem
1170P02 like a lot of time merely to_ confide in a friend that you were in trouble
1180P02 and not certain as to which of two contenders for your hand was
1190P02 responsible. ^But that_ I guess depends on the friend. ^Someone
1200P02 like Villie insists on interrupting a steady flow of words with
1210P02 idiot question like, "Haven*'4t you heard of the pill?"
1220P02 and offering unhelpful advice like, try my brand. ^It works like a charm."
1230P02 $"^Well?" ^Asked Villie, when I finally stopped talking. $"^That_*'1s
1240P02 it," I replied. ^There really was nothing more. ^*Villie
1250P02 remained uncharacteristically silent. $"^Any suggestions?" ^*I prodded.
1260P02 $^*Villie pulled a face. "^What would you do in my place?" $^*I was
1270P02 certain that_ would get her going. $"^*I don*'4t know.
1280P02 $^Was that_ possible? $^A moment later Villie perked up visibly.
1290P02 ^That*'1s not a girl anyone*'s advised to underestimate. $"^If I
1300P02 were you I*'d get married," she said brightly. $"^Sure, but to
1320P02 which one?" $"^The one I like more. ^Natch." $"^But suppose
1330P02 you liked both. ^Equally?" ^*I persisted. $"^Then to the
1340P02 one responsible for the knock-up." $^We were back to where we*'d
1350P02 begun and by the end of the month-- on Parsi New Year*'s Day to_
1360P02 be exact-- I had to_ say "yes" to one and "no" to the other.
1370P02 $^Forty-eight hours later when I still hadn*'4t made up my mind, Villie
1380P02 decided that a "second opinion" on the two candidates was necessary.
1390P02 $"^Even the specialists need one every now and again." "^Her
1400P02 father, an eminent *(0C & P*) man (Villie*'s) interpretation of
1410P02 genitourinary surgeon), had told her this on several occasions.
1420P02 ^So who was I to_ say differently? $"^And I can substantiate that
1430P02 from my own experience," she added, as I flexed my brains to_ absorb
1440P02 a Villie-type story, meaning the sort which has a moral to it.
1450P02 ^*Villie has a fund of stories to_ back up her theories except that they
1460P02 all begin with the words: "Did I ever tell you?" $"^Did I
1470P02 ever tell you about the time my mother took me to Kashmir?" she asked.
1480P02 $^*I hadn*'4t heard this one before. $"^No," I replied,
1490P02 truthfully. $^Even if I had heard it before, I wouldn*4t have
1500P02 admitted to it. ^During the three years that I*'d known her, I
1510P02 had observed very marked tendency in her to_ become instantly disinterested
1520P02 in people with retentive memories. $"^*I was just ten, see?"
1530P02 $^To_ be quite honest, I found it hard to_ visualise Villie as a
1540P02 ten year-old but I conceded that I saw. $"^And one day," she continued,
1550P02 "I was looking out of our hotel window and there was this pine
1560P02 tree in the garden which was blocking my view of Shankaracharya Hill.
1570P02 ^How tall is that_ tree, I asked my mother. ^About sixty,
1580P02 eighty feet, she said. ^And that_ hill in the back? ^A couple
1590P02 of thousand, she thought. ^Then how come the tree looks taller?
1600P02 ^*I asked her." $^Had my \0I.Q. been somewhat higher than it is,
1610P02 at this juncture I would*'3ve applauded the moral in Villie*'s tale.
1620P02 ^Since it wasn*'4t I was still waiting for the punch line.
1630P02 $^*Villie tsk-tsked impatiently. $"^It*'1s an optical illusion--
1640P02 see? ^A matter of perspective." $"^And problems closer to
1650P02 home seem bigger than they really are," I finished for her. $"^Right."
1660P02 $^My \0I.Q. had caught up with Villie's. $^The
1670P02 big question was WHO to_ consult. ^We discussed the possibility
1680P02 of Villie herself screening the two candidates, but for a variety of
1690P02 reasons I decided against that_ course of action. $^Another week
1700P02 passed before Villie came up with a really good idea. ^We would refer
1710P02 the Rumi-Ronnie question to \0Dr. *(0V. D.*) Dikshit, *(0M. A.*),
1720P02 \0L.L.B., \0Ph.D., Astro-Palmist of international repute.
1730P02 $^A small insert in the Personal Column of the morning paper had
1740P02 attracted Villie*'s attention. ^She showed me the clipping. $"^Worried?"
1750P02 ^Asked the adlet. "^Your future foretold through astrology
1760P02 and scientific palm reading. ^Full guidance given to_ remove all troubles
1770P02 regarding health, wealth, business, finance, enmity, friendship, love,
1780P02 marriage and children." $^After taking up psychology I*'d given
1790P02 up believing in God but as I dialled \0Dr. Dikshit*'s number I
1800P02 felt immensely grateful to Him whose existence I*'d doubted.
1810P02 $^The voice which answered the phone didn*'4t sound like it belonged to
1820P02 an \0M.A., \0L.L.B., \0Ph.D. Astro-Palmist of international
1830P02 repute.*#
        **[no. of words = 02006**]

        **[txt. p03**]
0010P03 **<*3The Song of Anusuya**> ^*I first saw her from the window of
0020P03 Priti*'s bedroom. ^*I was in the habit of spending my afternoons there.
0030P03 ^It was a hot summer. ^It had been a hot summer the last seven
0040P03 years, but Priti and I seldom stirred out of Delhi; we were too lazy
0050P03 to_ travel. ^The only effort I felt capable of was to_ wash and change
0060P03 at my house in Maharani Bagh after office, and go to Priti*'s flat.
0070P03 ^It was cool, large and comfortable. ^And Priti herself was a
0080P03 cool, calm and comfortable woman. ^Not that she wasn*'4t beautiful.
0090P03 ^*I had got to_ know her in the first place because she was one of the
0100P03 most beautiful women I had ever seen, and those days I was certainly
0110P03 particular about my women. ^But she was very relaxed, and laughed easily.
0120P03 ^It made her look warmer but it also drained away the tension of
0130P03 sex. ^Perhaps that_*'1s why we never... ^But of that_ later. $^That-
0140P03 afternoon, as I lay in a bed next to Priti, gazing up at the ceiling,
0150P03 my hands on my stomach, I suddenly felt as embarrassed as an adoring
0160P03 but grown-up son sleeping with his mother, who realizes all at once that
0170P03 he is no longer a child. ^*I even let my eyes harden as I saw Priti
0180P03 gazing affectionately at me. ^*I felt cloyed with a friendship which
0190P03 had all the complications but none of the consolations, of passion.
0200P03 ^*I wished desperately for an excuse to_ blame Priti for the ridiculousness
0210P03 of our situation, but it angered me even more to_ think that she
0220P03 was blameless, and utterly, impossibly good. ^So I turned my back
0230P03 to her and tried to_ sleep. ^*I heard her call the servant. "^Hey,
0240P03 Chinta, bring me some tea. ^Not for *4Sahib. *4^*Sahib has gone
0250P03 to_ sleep." $^Even the servants took me for granted. ^But what was
0260P03 I? ^*Priti was a married woman, but I was not her lover, though
0270P03 all the world thought so. ^*I was a friend. ^And yet the demands of
0280P03 our friendship were greater than those of a liaison or marriage. ^Did
0290P03 I not feel guilty about even thinking of sleeping with another woman,
0300P03 and did I not prevent Priti from ever looking at another man? ^*I made
0310P03 scenes. ^*I would tell her I had sacrificed my youth for her, and
0320P03 was this how she was going to_ repay the sense of mission with which
0330P03 I had undertaken to_ keep her from doing anything rash, that_ is, have
0340P03 affairs and become known as a loose woman? ^*I didn*'4t care so much
0350P03 for what people said of us. ^*I had a clear conscience: I hadn*'4t
0360P03 ever touched her. ^*I was scrupulously discreet-- I didn*'4t ever
0370P03 stay the night at her flat, no matter what the provocation, not even
0380P03 when her aged father came to_ stay with her, or any one of her innumerable
0390P03 cousins. ^She had a French mother, who died, what remained was
0400P03 all Indian. ^Indeed, they all took me as a member of the family, and
0410P03 there were moments when I felt a surge of pride in my role, more effective
0420P03 than theirs, as this woman*'s protector. ^As long as I was there,
0430P03 I thought, no harm physical, emotional or moral, would
0440P03 I allow to_ come to her. ^And yet, would I say that I loved Priti?
0450P03 $"^*Jagat, I say, get up. ^Let*'3s go and see a film." $^"what?"
0460P03 $"^It is 5.30 if you*'1d only rouse yourself a bit, we can
0470P03 make it there by 6.30." $^There again. ^We shall have a quarrel,
0480P03 I*'3m sure. ^*I hated being rushed into anything, while Priti lived on
0490P03 gay impulses. ^Besides, how could you enjoy anything if you hadn*'4t
0500P03 prepared yourself for it, savoured it in deliberate anticipation? ^*I
0510P03 know I made a fetish of planning, but it seemed to me the only desirable
0520P03 base for living. ^*Priti would keep telling me how much I must
0530P03 have missed in life because of that_-- perhaps she even had our relationship
0540P03 in mind; perhaps, indeed, it was my fault that it hadn*'4t reached
0550P03 a natural culmination-- but that_*'1s the way I looked at things, and
0560P03 that_*'1s the way I wished those around me to_ accept me. $^In the
0570P03 end I nearly always fell in with Priti*'s wishes: ^If it*'1s a little
0580P03 thing like this that_*'3ll make her happy, well, why not do it.
0590P03 I*'1d think. ^Besides, I*'1d recall of a sudden the circumstances of
0600P03 her estrangement with her husband, her brave defiance of a perfidious lover,
0610P03 her essential vulnerability, and it seemed to me that I shouldn*'4t
0620P03 deny her anything that_ was in my power to_ give. ^*I*'1d do what
0630P03 I could to the limit of my capacity; the rest was God*'s will. $^Of
0640P03 course, I believed in God. ^Anyway, I hadn*'4t much to_ say for my
0650P03 life. ^*I wasn*'4t a genius or anything, nor was I planning
0660P03 to_ set out on the path to becoming one. ^*I mean, I was not even engaged
0670P03 in the pursuit of an art. ^*I had a smattering of everything,
0680P03 from being able to_ recite Urdu poetry-- and I was told I had quite
0690P03 the style for it-- to producing programmes for radio and conducting interviews,
0700P03 talks and discussions. ^*I had written several articles and some
0710P03 poems-- in English. ^In fact a book of my poems had been published,
0720P03 but that_ was about all. ^Unless you could take the seeking of women
0730P03 to_ be a valid pursuit, and the conquest of them, an art. ^In that_
0740P03 I had been eminently successful. ^That_ had not only been my dominant
0750P03 interest, but my sole obsession. ^Until I met Priti. $"^*Jagat, please."
0760P03 $"^Oh, alright." **[sic**] $^*I lumbered out of bed. ^To_ tell
0770P03 the truth I wasn*'4t feeling quite up to it but it was better not to_
0780P03 say that_ than risk a fracas, the sulkiness, and the evening spent
0790P03 in cussed silence. ^For I knew also that in such circumstances when
0800P03 I would exclaim, howsoever quietly, that the best thing for me to_
0810P03 do would be to_ go back home, Priti wouldn*'4t hear of it. ^We would
0820P03 get into such a round of arguments that it would ultimately be too late
0830P03 to_ go anywhere except for dinner. ^When finally I would suggest
0840P03 that we do so, Priti would at once taunt me: "^You*'3re very clever,
0850P03 aren*'4t you? ^That_*'1s what you wanted all along." ^Then
0860P03 her face would break into a tolerant smile and Chinta would be told
0870P03 to_ keep the dinner that_ had been cooking, in the fridge, and not to_
0880P03 wait for *4Memsahib. $*<*37*> $^*I don*'4t think I heard her properly
0890P03 then, you know. $^Love? ^Was Anasuya in love with another?
0900P03 ^The idea didn*'4t penetrate my consciousness. ^It almost didn*'4t
0910P03 matter. ^*I must confess that the physical limitations it entailed
0920P03 affected me more. ^What a strange pattern began to_ unfold! ^*I
0930P03 could make love to Anusuya and what an ecstatic condition that_ was,
0940P03 but only to an extent! *3^Only to an extent. ^Always, behind
0950P03 those sharp moments with her, hovered the presence of a vague shadowy
0960P03 third figure... apart from Priti. ^Who was he? ^Did it matter?
0970P03 ^Had she been to_ bed with him? $"^Yes," she answered
0980P03 unequivocally. $^*I almost loved her for that_. ^For her frankness.
0990P03 ^You know the simpering blushes with which the most sophisticated
1000P03 of our women still try to_ hide a sexual secret. ^We just
1010P03 haven*'4t got to the point where we can take sex for granted, or a lapse
1020P03 as human, have we ever, indeed? ^*I had always met with prevarication.
1030P03 ^A few married women would tell me they had had affairs,
1040P03 but seldom an unmarried girl, out of a fear ingrained, I suppose, that
1050P03 if the information were to_ get around, their chances of marriage
1060P03 would diminish. ^And then-- oh, the shame of having to_ hear that
1070P03 I was the first-- "I don*'4t know how it happened," they would say,
1080P03 "I must care a lot," sort of thing-- when all evidence pointed
1090P03 to a tried, experienced past.... And then the excuses. "^It must
1100P03 be because I have always played a lot of games. ^It breaks because
1110P03 of that_, doesn*'4t it? ^Doesn*'4t it?" "^Yes, sure," I
1120P03 would say. ^*I never cared, anyhow. ^Not fundamentally.
1130P03 ^As I said I was concerned only with the immediate experience of physical
1140P03 reciprocation, and the accompanying, lustful sighs which were a recurrent
1150P03 balm for my ego. ^And the fact that they should never forget.
1160P03 ^Well. ^*Anasuya was different. ^*I was thrown off balance
1170P03 by her pride. ^She was not ashamed of anything, least of all of what
1180P03 she had told me. ^Nor was she boastful-- you know, the way some
1190P03 women are of an attitude of careless morality. ^*Anasuya did not pit
1200P03 sex against morality, or the other way round. ^But she had reservations,
1210P03 as I discovered later. ^That_*'1s where I came up against
1220P03 a blank wall. ^She wouldn't go to bed with me because there must be
1230P03 a final point left for the state of love. ^Can you believe it?
1240P03 ^*I tried many arguments to_ persuade her of the illogical premise of
1250P03 her argument, the principal one being that the manner in which I made
1260P03 love to her was or could be considered to_ be of a greater intensity
1270P03 than even the actual act of sex, but she remained adamant. ^Anything
1280P03 but that_, she said, and there were no tears, no hysteria, no change.
1290P03 ^She was like a rock. ^*I might even have told myself that
1300P03 she was cold at the core, had I not had the repeated evidence of her
1310P03 blissful, exuberant, spontaneous and yet deliriously climacteric love-play,
1320P03 though it was only up to the limits she had set upon me, and
1330P03 upon herself. $^But who was he? ^*I began to_ feel a current of
1340P03 resentment, as the days went by. ^Was it because of him that I
1350P03 couldn*'4t reach her? ^*I couldn*'4t get out of her, even in her
1360P03 wildest moments of surrender, an indication of my own victory. ^The
1370P03 sort of thing I was used to. ^The experience of conquest. ^She
1380P03 eluded me, and I began to_ fret. ^Who was he? $"a lawyer."
1390P03 $"^So?" $"^A Muslim." $"^What?" $"^Settled in New York
1400P03 though, and not a bigoted believer!" ^She smiled ruefully. $"^Well,
1410P03 then?" $"^They got me to_ come back, to_ prove to them that
1420P03 I could want him even after a separation and a cold appraisal, and now
1430P03 I can*'4t get out." $"^What do you mean you can*'4t get out?"
1440P03 $"oh-- there are ways. ^*Hysteria, threats, emotional blackmail."
1450P03 ^She was unwilling to_ discuss details. $"^Who are they?"
1460P03 $"^Family." $"^Can*'4t he come here?" $"^That_*'1s not the point.
1470P03 ^*I want them to_ agree." $"^Get letters?" $"^Yes."
1480P03 $"^What are you going to_ do?" $"^Wait." $"^What*'1s the use?"
1490P03 $"^Use? ^It*'1s not a quesion of use. ^Something is bound to_
1500P03 happen." $"^You*'3re very optimistic." $"^*I love him," she
1510P03 said simply. $^*I took her in my arms, so tenderly that_ day that
1520P03 she broke down. ^Almost. ^But quietly. ^Just eyes full of tears.
1530P03 ^But she began to_ kiss me passionately, till the pressure of the
1540P03 physical began to_ throb in me with fury, and it cleared the spell of sentiment.
1550P03 ^Or so I thought. ^For there remained throughout that_
1560P03 frenetic evening, a special feeling of warmth between us. ^Instead
1570P03 of making me uncomfortable, as it would have with Priti, it made me
1580P03 unaccountably elated, and there was a split second in which I saw within
1590P03 myself the lifting of a vacuum. $^*I was not in love with Ana.
1600P03 ^Oh no. ^How could I be, with my planning ways and my careful
1610P03 heart? ^And my whole strategic interests? ^But I met Anasuya
1620P03 every evening for the ten days that_ Priti was away. ^*I talked to
1630P03 her at length, made love to her at leisure, all within the accepted
1640P03 limitations, but the misture of an exchange of confidences and a basic
1650P03 restraint in sex started a yearning within me. ^*I told her about
1660P03 Priti, analyzing the eternal permutations of such a relationship with
1670P03 a detachment and clarity that I had never felt before, while Anasuya
1680P03 told me about Saadat, and the circumstances that_ led to her temporary
1690P03 renunciation of him, and her coming away.*#
        **[no. of words = 02030**]

        **[txt. p04**]
0010P04 **<*3MOLLY*0**>
0020P04 $*3^FOR*0 fifteen long years I lived on the things they served me in
0030P04 all those hotels. ^Morning, afternoon, evening, night: breakfast, lunch,
0040P04 tea, dinner, at all times I had to_ depend on 'eating homes' which catered
0050P04 to my appetite and in doing so ruined it slowly, completely. $^*I
0060P04 had came to a stage when I firmly believed that I was eating only because
0070P04 I had to_ and I knew that eating good food was synonymous with
0080P04 a good marriage to a good girl who would ultimately (with some luck) make
0090P04 a good wife, a good cook. ^My problem was finding a good girl first.
0100P04 $^For one whole year I suffered from consistent stomach upsets, till
0110P04 I could no longer bear it. ^All the remedies, those suggested by friends,
0120P04 interested relatives, doctors, nurses and to_ be **[sic**] doctors
0130P04 proved of no avail. $^Then one day, in sheer disgust, I called on the
0140P04 elderly doctor who was my family doctor when I had a family. ^He was
0150P04 surprised to_ see me. ^*I had never seen him or any other doctor for
0160P04 that_ matter for nearly twelve years. ^Whenever there was something
0170P04 minor, like a cut or a headache I went to my neighbour, a pretty nurse
0180P04 in a local municipal hospital, who for some mysterious (to me) reasons
0190P04 stayed a spinster. $^*I told the doctor (who had aged and was trembling
0200P04 slightly) about the plight of my stomach. ^He rubbed his hand
0210P04 round my stomach then looked up and quietly asked. $"^What do you eat?"
0220P04 $^*I knew he would ask me that_ question and had my answer ready,
0230P04 on the tip of my tongue, as they say. $"*3^WHATEVER*0 they
0240P04 serve in the hotels where I have been eating for years," I said and
0250P04 before I could proceed he said "Why don*'4t you get married?
0260P04 ^What you need is good home-made food and that_, only a woman can give
0270P04 you. ^You know your parents were my friends. ^So if you care for
0280P04 my advice it is high time you found a good girl to_ go home with you
0290P04 as your wife... ^A girl who could take care of you, cook for you?
0300P04 ^Anyway, if you continue eating in those hotels you are in for trouble
0310P04 my boy," he said while he wrote out a long prescription. ^*I
0320P04 thanked him for his sane advice (knowing fully well that I would never
0330P04 take it) and walked out worried. $^The next three days I spent most
0340P04 of my time thinking seriously about things like marriage and food and the
0350P04 imminent danger that_ was ahead. ^*I thought of the number of girls
0360P04 who came into my life at various times, girls whom I was tempted to_
0370P04 propose to, girls who said they loved me and relations who brought proposals
0380P04 of girls whose fathers were willing to_ offer me dowries varying from
0390P04 fifty thousand to a *4lakh of *4rupees. ^*I imagined all of them
0400P04 as wives and ruled them out like I always had. $^Then I thought of
0410P04 Molly, the girl whom I loved even more than I had loved my mother and
0420P04 I knew I worshipped her and therefore could never marry her. ^And
0421P04 the mental debate went on till one night I was sitting alone nursing
0430P04 my drink and the solution came like a brainwave.
0440P04 ^*I decided to_ work on it the next day and had a peaceful
0450P04 night*'s sleep. $*3^THE*0 next day I woke up fresh, shaved, washed,
0460P04 got into my best clothes, (a rarity with me) called a taxi and drove
0470P04 to Saint Catherine*'s home, my destination, the hope for my salvation.
0480P04 ^*I rang the bell on the door leading to the parlour. ^A young
0490P04 woman smiled and said "yes". ^*I said I wanted to_ see Mother Superior,
0500P04 Sister Marceline. ^She led me in, made me comfortable and
0510P04 went to_ look for Mother as I took in the details of the parlour which
0520P04 was to me a picture of tidiness at its best. ^There was a row of frames
0530P04 from which Jesus Christ and some other saints looked down benevolently.
0540P04 $^*Mother Superior was also a friend of the family, (when it
0550P04 was there) a counsellor, a mother and much more. ^It was nearly seven
0560P04 or eight years since, I had last seen her and I was visualising
0570P04 the changes that_ could have taken place when she gracefully swept into
0580P04 the room. $^For a minute I couldn*'4t say a word. ^*I just looked
0590P04 at her and she smiled through her eyes. ^She had not changed.
0600P04 ^She recognised me and I was surprised. $^Then over cups of tea we
0610P04 talked about my problems. ^*I told her I wanted an elderly woman,
0620P04 an inmate of her home, to_ work for me, to_ stay with me. ^The
0630P04 important thing is she must know how to_ cook, I said. ^*Mother looked
0640P04 at me closely and asked me if I was still a bachelor. ^*I said
0650P04 yes. ^And she asked me what work I was doing and the salary I was
0660P04 drawing and the kind of house I had. ^*I answered all her questions
0670P04 as if I were facing an interview. $"*3^PLEASE*0 see me after three
0680P04 days and I*'3ll do something," she said. ^And I knew she
0690P04 would do something... for me. $^Those "three days" I continued eating
0700P04 in those hotels which I began to_ loathe and dreamt of the day of my
0710P04 deliverance. ^On the fourth day I went to_ see Mother Superior
0720P04 ^She received me with a pat on my back and smiled that_ benign smile.
0721P04 ^*I knew all was well. ^She pressed a button, the bell
0730P04 rang and a little girl came running. ^*Mother asked
0740P04 the girl to_ call Molly, (this name has charmed me all my life).
0750P04 ^And again I was lost in the world of imagination, imagining this
0760P04 being called Molly who would be about forty or forty-five, with no one
0770P04 in the world and eager to_ serve with a smile and all that_. $^*Molly
0780P04 came in and I could not believe my eyes. $"^This is Molly"
0790P04 Mother Superior said and this is \0Mr.... ^*Molly smiled and shook
0800P04 hands. ^*I could not understand what Mother Superior was upto.
0810P04 $^Then she said: "Molly is a very good cook and she has a good
0820P04 background and she will give you no cause for complaint." $^*I was
0830P04 listening to all that_ and looking at Molly who was looking at the floor
0840P04 all the time. $*3^MOLLY*0 was hardly twenty, had a fully formed
0850P04 body with her hair flowing right down to her knees. ^Her eyes
0860P04 were full of life and she had one of the sweetest smiles I had seen.
0870P04 $^*I tried to_ tell Mother Superior what I felt about Molly. ^But
0880P04 before I could even try she read my thoughts and said: "Don*'4t
0890P04 worry my son, I know what*'1s worrying you, everything will be alright
0900P04 **[sic**] by the grace of God." $^Then looking at Molly she said:
0910P04 $"^*I hope you have got your bags ready." ^She sent for a taxi.
0920P04 ^The taxi came, her bags were put in and Mother Superior came to_
0930P04 see her off. ^*Molly put her arms round mother, and cried. ^*Mother
0940P04 consoled her, then looked at me and said: $"Molly is one of
0950P04 my best girls, look after her and whenever there is any problem, remember
0960P04 me." $^All the way home Molly tried to_ control her tears or so
0970P04 it seemed and the taxi driver looked at me from time to time, his eyes full
0980P04 of suspicion. $^The previous evening I had tried my best to_ keep
0990P04 my two rooms a little more neat. ^A woman was coming home for the first
1000P04 time in seven years. $^*I had nearly lost that_ feeling, the feeling
1010P04 of having a woman at home. ^The last woman was my mother. ^And
1020P04 Molly was just twenty. $^And all the while I looked out of the
1030P04 window of the taxi and was immersed in thought. ^What would my orthodox
1040P04 neighbours say? ^How would I adjust to Molly? ^What were her
1050P04 likes and dislikes? ^How long would she stay with me? ^Would
1060P04 she tolerate my habits, late comings, drinking, smoking, working till late
1070P04 in the night? ^*I was nervous. ^*I wanted the cab to_ go on and
1080P04 on. ^It did not. ^*I asked the driver to_ stop. ^We had reached
1090P04 home. ^*Molly looked relieved and I was tense as all the neighbours*'
1100P04 wives and even their children looked at me as if I was a new man,
1110P04 a stranger. $*3^*I WALKED*0 ahead carrying Molly*'s luggage,
1120P04 she followed and soon we were in my house. ^*I asked her to_ relax,
1130P04 brought her a glass of water and the expression on her face changed.
1140P04 $"^*I didn*'4t ask for it" she said with that_ sweet smile on her face.
1150P04 $"^*I knew you would be tired and right now that_ is the only thing
1160P04 I can offer you," I said. $"^But I am going to_ work for you
1170P04 to_ relieve you of such trivial things," she said. $"^So what?"
1180P04 ^*I said. "^No one works for no one," I stammered senselessly
1190P04 as I took in her whole self and suddenly found she was more beautiful
1200P04 than I thought she was. $^She settled down, went round both my rooms,
1210P04 surveyed the things that_ were there and said: "I am going to_
1220P04 give this place a new look. ^Just you wait and see." ^Then she
1230P04 gave me a list of the things she would need. ^*I asked her to_ make
1240P04 a list assuming that she was literate. "^*I am not very educated"
1250P04 she said with an accent that_ reminded me of Mother Superior. $"^Just
1260P04 seventh standard and that_ year I failed#" she continued but made
1270P04 a small list with some faulty spellings. ^Then she had one look at
1280P04 the books strewn all over the place and asked. "^What do you do with
1290P04 all these books?" $"^What does anyone do with books?" ^*I asked
1300P04 and told her. $"^Most of them I have read, some of them are still
1310P04 to_ be read and one I am reading". ^*Molly wanted to_ know the worth
1320P04 of reading books. ^*I said I would explain that_ some other time.
1330P04 ^In just one day I lost all my complexes and fears of adjusting to
1340P04 her. ^*Molly became a friend. $"^It would be nice to_ work for you,
1350P04 to_ cook for you" she said and I said, "I hope so." ^*I told
1360P04 her to_ take charge of the other room where there was a bed which had
1370P04 not been slept on for years. "^It is all yours", I said, and she
1380P04 looked pleased. ^Days passed like they always pass... fast. ^*Molly
1390P04 got used to my whims and fancies. ^She cleaned the house, looked
1400P04 after my needs and she gave me what I needed most then... good food.
1410P04 $*3^FOR*0 the first time I felt like coming home (now that it
1420P04 was a real home) straight from office because of Molly.
1421P04 ^*I took a liking for her differnt kind of liking, bordering
1430P04 on love but not really love. ^It was a strange relationship. $^For
1440P04 some days she never interfered in the work I did, reading or writing,
1450P04 till late in the night. ^Then one day, she woke up at two, came straight
1460P04 to my table put off the table lamp and said: "^*I cannot stand
1470P04 this... working in the office, working here, and that_ too at this time
1480P04 of the night. ^Whom are you working for so hard? ^What is it that_
1490P04 is driving you to_ work like this?" $^*I put on the light again
1500P04 and said, Molly. ^She was taken aback. $^It was only the next
1510P04 morning that I told her about the other Molly who occupied my thoughts
1520P04 my whole being. ^She was touched. ^For some unknown reason, tears
1530P04 welled up in my eyes and trickled down my cheeks. ^She put her hand
1540P04 on my shoulder and said. "I am sorry." "^*I never knew why she
1550P04 said that_, but those three words were like caresses to me. $^More time
1560P04 passed and people began talking, the women specially, I was told.*#**[no.
1570P04 of words = 02002**]

        **[txt. p05**]
0010P05 **<*3A PRIVATE SUNDAY*0**>
0020P05 $*3^IT*0 had stopped raining. ^The clouds had cleared to_ show
0030P05 a blue sky on a radiant evening. ^The cluster of multicoloured lights
0040P05 which hung from the branches of a tree in the public square gleamed
0050P05 clear and bright. ^People who had scurried under shop awnings or had
0060P05 slipped into hotels for an unwanted cup of tea to_ buy their protection
0070P05 against the rain now came out in great relief. ^It was Sunday.
0080P05 ^The rain had come as a damper but now the holiday spirit revived and the
0090P05 street was crowded again. $^*Naresh and Sushma had left their
0100P05 children-- the eldest was ten-year-old Kavita-- with their grandmother
0110P05 and come out for an evening stroll. ^At first the children had
0120P05 balked at being left behind. ^They insisted on accompanying their
0130P05 parents. ^But the couple seldom enjoyed privacy in their small two-roomed
0140P05 quarter **[sic**] in the mill workers*' *4chawl and had wanted to_ be
0150P05 free from all constraints. ^True, this was their own brood. ^But
0160P05 they had their own lives, too, to_ take care of. ^So when Kavita
0170P05 wouldn*'4t listen to reason and started crying, Naresh gave her a
0180P05 resounding slap after which he and Sushma made an agitated exit. ^It
0190P05 began to_ rain as soon as they alighted from the bus and they had to_ run
0200P05 for shelter under the cement roof of the petrol supply station.
0210P05 $"^Quite a send-off Kavita gave us," Naresh muttered resentfully, looking
0220P05 at Sushma for an agreeable response. ^She heaved a long sigh.
0230P05 ^*Naresh was disappointed at her silence but said nothing. ^He
0240P05 knew that in the grim world in which he lived, his wife alone provided
0250P05 him the emotional anchor he needed. ^But Sushma was thinking of
0260P05 Kavita. ^With great difficulty she deflected the waves of sympathy
0270P05 and pity that_ troubled her soul. ^*Naresh had hit their daughter
0280P05 unusually hard in a fit of anger. ^But if Sushma at all revealed
0290P05 her disquiet, it would jeopardise the entire Sunday evening which
0300P05 Naresh valued like religious people their gods and dogmas. $^The
0310P05 difference between the two was that while Naresh viewed every incident
0320P05 in isolation, Sushma took even the most minor occurrence as part of
0330P05 the whole murk that_ enveloped them in the mill workers*' *4chawl.
0340P05 ^Obviously if their living accommodation had been adequate, Naresh would
0350P05 not have carried his longing for a few private hours with her to the
0360P05 point of beating an innocent child who, too, wished to_ escape the hell
0370P05 that_ was their home-- permeated as it was by oily and rancid cooking
0380P05 smells by the sound of drunken brawls and nasty and vulgar exchanges
0390P05 in the adjacent rooms. ^*Sushma felt a deep sympathy for both Naresh and
0400P05 Kavita. ^*Naresh himself never analysed a problem but burst into
0410P05 temper every time something irritated him. $*3^ONCE*0, on
0420P05 a rainy night, Sushma had left Kavita*'s bed and just crossed that_
0430P05 of her two sons on her way to Naresh. ^Her movement had woken up
0440P05 Kavita, who was used to sleeping with her. ^Many times the child
0450P05 instinctively got up the moment her mother rose to_ use the toilet.
0460P05 ^So that_ day, too, she was disturbed in her sleep and cried, "I knoow
0470P05 what you are up to!" $^The unerring insight and accusation of the
0480P05 precocious child had stunned the parents for a few minutes and their faces
0490P05 had coloured with shame in the darkness of the night. ^Even Sushma
0500P05 was tempted to_ box her little girl, but desisted when she realised
0510P05 that the punishment would declare their nocturnal intentions to the entire
0520P05 neighbourhood. $^In fact, such incidents happened quite often
0530P05 in the colony, but the residents accepted them as part of their normal
0540P05 life. ^Each family had a vast number of children who swarmed everywhere
0550P05 like irritating flies during the rainy season. ^*Naresh and Sushma,
0560P05 lower middle class themselves-- Sushma worked as a teacher in a primary
0570P05 school and received two hundred *4rupees though she signed for four
0580P05 hundred-- often wondered how the mill workers succeeded in producing
0590P05 their litters **[sic**] year after year. ^But their own arrangements were
0600P05 far from satisfactory. ^They hung an old *4sari as some sort of a curtain
0610P05 between two cots. ^That_ veiled the scene from curious eyes but
0620P05 could not possibly stifle the sighs and groans. ^The old men and women
0630P05 who lived with their earning sons and daughters were, of course, used
0640P05 to this time-honoured practice which they themselves had piously followed.
0650P05 ^They generally slept in the kitchen and were awake when the lovers
0660P05 went for a wash into the bathroom attached to the kitchen.
0670P05 $^*Naresh and Sushma often discussed the traumatic effect such revelations
0680P05 could have on their children. ^Would they carry a sense of resentment
0690P05 and grievance against their parents into adulthood? ^Probably
0700P05 this was one reason why children from the locality took to black-marketing
0710P05 in cinema tickets or pickpocketing. ^Once Sushma had heard a fifteen-year-old
0720P05 boy answering his mother. "^Why lecture me when you were
0730P05 up all night yourself?" ^The middle-aged mother had blushed in the
0740P05 presence of several other women who had burst into laughter. $^What
0750P05 would happen to the children if they continued to_ live here? ^They
0760P05 had already been exposed to the worst kind of abuses. ^And no matter
0770P05 how aloof one kept from the neighbours, one could not possibly prevent
0780P05 things from happening within their own four walls. ^They had three
0790P05 children, Kavita slept with Sushma, two sons on a cot by themselvs
0800P05 and Naresh himself on a small string cot. $^His own experience was
0810P05 bitter. ^Once he had gone to the bathroom in the night. ^What
0820P05 he had witnessed in the kitchen had almost maddened him. ^He found
0830P05 his mother and father locked in a passionate embrace, rustling against each
0840P05 other. ^He was filled with violent revulsion. $^It took Naresh
0850P05 many days to_ get rid of that_ hangover, which took its toll of him
0860P05 in the small newspaper office where he worked. ^His mind was in such
0870P05 turmoil that during night duty he had given a wrong headline to a lead
0880P05 story which had made the paper ridiculous in the whole city. ^The editor
0890P05 had taken him to task and branded him as an incompetent sub-editor.
0900P05 ^The reprimand had wounded him like an arrow. ^His agony was boundless,
0910P05 for journalism was to him a vocation. ^He could neither explain
0920P05 the whole situation to the editor nor could he accept his rebuke.
0930P05 $^For a brief moment he had thought of writing out his resignation and
0940P05 throwing it in the face of the editor. ^But the next moment his anger
0950P05 vanished. ^Sushma brought home only two hundred *4rupees, while he
0960P05 himself earned a total of two hundred and fifty. ^It did not help matters
0970P05 that the management of Sushma*'s school, at the time of every annual
0980P05 social, issued supplements to the newspapers applauding the virtues
0990P05 of honesty and dedication which were inculcated by the school. ^It made
1000P05 him want to_ tear his hair. ^Many of his own friends, unlike him, **[sic**]
1010P05 had stuck to the steel plant job and were now earning more than a
1020P05 thousand rupees a month. ^But now there was no alternative for him.
1030P05 ^He had to_ hang on to his job. ^And it was perhaps fortunate that
1040P05 his father had died, for a repetition of that_ night*'s incident would have
1050P05 driven him completely mad and he would have been forced to_ resign
1060P05 for repeated instances of incompetence. $^Things could have been worse,
1070P05 he supposed. ^The tragedy could be compounded if the school management
1080P05 suddenly decided to_ terminate Sushma*'s services: she had been kept
1090P05 on as a temporary hand despite five years at the job, though her colleagues
1100P05 had been confirmed in three! ^Wasn*'4t it said that disasters
1110P05 seldom came singly but in battalions? ^He was prepared for anything.
1120P05 $*3^WHEN*0 the rain stopped they came out of the petrol supply
1130P05 station. "^Let*'3s go to Rasvanti," Naresh suggested. ^It
1140P05 was an open air restaurant which had not yet closed though summer was over.
1150P05 ^The old wooden benches that_ lay in the open courtyard would
1160P05 be drenched with rain. ^*Sushma looked at him curiously, questioning
1170P05 his choice, but walked along with him. $^In the restaurant she sat
1180P05 opposite him. ^That_ was the proper thing to_ do. ^But Naresh insisted
1190P05 that she sit beside him. ^Embarrassed, she obeyed him. ^She
1200P05 didn*'4t want to_ disturb his composure which he had regained with great
1210P05 difficulty. $^Within a few minutes of her shifting to his side
1220P05 the city lights went off. ^Power failure due to rain. ^*Naresh
1230P05 moved his hand on her thigh and with the other he began to rub her shoulders,
1240P05 reaching for her breasts. ^There was nothing to_ fear because there
1250P05 was total darkness and they were the only pair in the restaurant.
1260P05 ^But he was disconcerted and pulled himself together when he saw the
1270P05 bearer coming towards the table with a candle. $"^Damn!" he muttered
1280P05 under his breath. ^But Sushma felt relieved with the arrival of the
1290P05 bearer with the light and gave a wan smile. ^They soon finished their
1300P05 tea. $^Once again the question arose: where should they go?
1310P05 ^It was Sushma who asked the question, smiling a little satirically
1320P05 at Naresh*'s discomfiture. ^He didn*'4t seem to_ mind it, for the
1330P05 few moments of closeness with Sushma had lightened his mood. "^Let*'3s
1340P05 go to Maharaja Baug," he suggested. $"^What do you mean!
1350P05 ^The park in such heavy rains? ^Where will we sit? ^The grass will
1360P05 be terribly wet and the whole place slushy. ^Only imbeciles go there
1370P05 in the rain," Sushma replied, amused and surprised. $"^Nonsense!"
1380P05 ^*Naresh was not prepared to_ accept the wisdom of her words
1390P05 and they walked a furlong towards the garden. ^Though the lights had
1400P05 returned, the evening had deepened and Sushma was thinking how odd it
1410P05 would look to_ go to the park. ^Hardly anyone visited it at this time
1420P05 of the season. $^When they entered the garden they had to_ walk through
1430P05 puddles and pools which had welled up in the ground. ^On both sides
1440P05 of the mud trail tall blades of rain-sodden grass smelt dank and depressing
1450P05 and chilled the soul. ^There was no one in sight. ^Under
1460P05 a large banyan tree, where the darkness had folded deeper, Naresh wiped
1470P05 the water off a bench and they sat together. ^He suddenly pulled
1480P05 her on his knees. $"^Oh no, somebody will see," Sushma cried out.
1490P05 $"^Don*'4t be such a fool!" ^*Naresh said huskily his voice strained
1500P05 and struggling through clenched teeth, while his eyes burnt with
1510P05 desire. ^*Sushma felt nervous. ^Why was he behaving in this manner
1520P05 in a public place? ^They were not hippies, after all! ^He drew
1530P05 his face resolutely close to hers, and began imprinting kisses on her
1540P05 lips when a shrieking whistle rode over the damp air, followed by the
1550P05 gardener*'s grim voice: "^The time for sitting in the garden is up!"
1560P05 $"^Oh hell," groaned Naresh and tried to_ hold her hand but
1570P05 she snatched it away. ^The gardener came nearer. ^He seemed a decent
1580P05 sort. ^It was not unheard of that unscrupulous watchmen blackmailed
1590P05 lonely couples by accusing them of fornication in public places.
1600P05 $^For the third time the question arose: where could they go? "^Home",
1610P05 Sushma replied. $"^Nonsense," Naresh retorted. "^Why
1620P05 not go to a late night movie? ^We can choose one which is not likely
1630P05 to_ be crowded." ^*Sushma had to_ yield. $*3^THEY*0 went to_
1640P05 see a very old film which was running for the fifty-second week. ^They
1650P05 bought tickets for the balcony seats where fortunately, they found
1660P05 themselves alone. ^*Naresh became more and more aggressive. ^Even
1670P05 Sushma lost her self-control and began to_ respond to his urgent hands
1680P05 in the security of darkness. ^And when nobody appeared on the balcony
1690P05 even half an hour after the commencement of the film, Naresh decided
1700P05 to_ have what was denied him at home. $^When the film was over it was
1710P05 1 \0a.m. ^The buses which carried them to their colony at 30 *4paise
1720P05 each had stopped plying at 10 \0p.m.*#
        **[no. of words = 01991**]

        **[txt. p06**]
0030P06 **<*3The Duel*0**> $**[leader comment begin**]
0040P06 $*3^Her resistance had been inexplicable, her surrender made even less sense.
0050P06 ^Why had she come to him that_ night?*0 **[end leader comment**]
0060P06 $"*3^OH,*0 come on," I said brusquely. ^We were sitting
0070P06 on the porch of her house. ^The setting was so picturesque as
0080P06 to_ be almost banal. ^Tendrils of bougainvillaea were trailing down
0090P06 the roof of the porch. ^Its flowers looked, in the moonlight, unabashedly
0100P06 artifical. ^A full moon had just risen and hung low in the sky,
0110P06 a large orange dollop, stagey and unreal. ^The fragrance of various
0120P06 flowers was wafted to us from the garden. ^The right setting for
0130P06 a declaration of love. $^Yet, as a writer, I wouldn*'4t have used it.
0140P06 ^*I*'1d have chosen instead a dingy restaurant, a crowded bus or
0150P06 train. ^Anything to_ move away from the cliches. ^But here we were,
0160P06 trapped in this romantic milieu to which, I felt, neither of us really
0170P06 belonged. $"^Well?" ^*I Waited impatiently for her response.
0180P06 ^*I*'3ve met with a variety of them in my time. ^This one was an
0190P06 almost total lack of response. $"^No, thank you," she said matter-of-factly.
0200P06 ^As if I had offered her something to_ eat. ^But it
0210P06 was she who had fed me to repletion about an hour ago. ^So that I should
0220P06 have been lazily content. ^Instead, I was all on edge. $^*I
0230P06 picked up an apple from the table between us. "^Why not?" ^*I
0240P06 asked savagely. "^Surely you don*'4t believe in all this morality
0250P06 business? ^A bourgeois concept like that_?" ^A good thrust, I thought.
0260P06 ^Nothing needles a person as much as being called a bourgeois.
0270P06 ^But she didn*'4t stir. $"^Or maybe you believe in a husband*'s
0280P06 monopoly?" ^*I drawled. $"^Monopoly?" ^The retort was sharp.
0290P06 ^"what am I?" ^After a pause she spoke again. ^And it
0300P06 was as if she had sheathed her sword. "^No, it has nothing to_ do with
0310P06 morality. ^It*'1s more simple. ^*I don*'4t feel like it."
0320P06 $^Her voice had a kind of soft huskiness that_ added an odd significance
0330P06 to her simplest words. ^Now they lingered between us while I
0340P06 took another bite of the apple. $"^Tchah!" ^*I flung it angrily
0350P06 away from me. "^Flat!" $^It gave me a thrill, an ecstacy almost,
0360P06 like effortless writing on a clear sheet of paper. ^Or was it
0370P06 more like fighting a duel? ^*I did*'4t really know. "^Why not?"
0380P06 ^*I now reiterated with maddening insistence. $"^*I just
0390P06 told you. ^And besides," she suddenly roused herself out of her somnolence
0400P06 and retorted with spirit, "if I did, what would you do but
0410P06 make use of me in your writing? ^Wouldn*'4t you?" $^*I laughed
0420P06 lazily. "^Perhaps. ^And what*'1s wrong with that_? ^*I get
0430P06 you out of my system that_ way and you get out of your frustrations."
0440P06 $"^Frustrations? ^*I*'3m not frustrated." $"^If you aren*'4t,
0450P06 you should be," I said impatiently. ^What was the use of all this
0460P06 verbal sparring? "^*I mean, everyone is." $"^*I*'3m not.
0470P06 ^*I*'3m just bored. ^Utterly bored. ^There was a time when
0480P06 I tried to_ find a meaning in everything. ^Now I feel everything
0490P06 ends in absurdity. ^No, I can*'4t believe in anything."
0500P06 $"^You don*'4t have to_ believe in anything, do you, to_ go to bed
0510P06 with me?" ^*I brought her firmly back to the point. $^She moved
0520P06 suddenly. ^*I could see the stone on her ring flash in the dark.
0530P06 ^But I had an illusion that it was not her ring but her eyes that
0540P06 flashed fire at me. ^Now, I thought, we will see the outraged female.
0550P06 $"^What!" she exclaimed. "^Not even in you?" $^Her voice
0560P06 was unexpectedly rough. ^Was there a hint of laughter in it?
0570P06 ^Certainly, there was no shock or outrage in her tone. ^*I tried
0580P06 to_ see her face, while she went on with her own thoughts, "And anyway,
0590P06 that_*'1s so commonplace as to_ be almost a cliche, isn*'4t it?
0600P06 ^If you can call an idea a cliche...?" $"^What idea?" $"^That a
0610P06 woman who is bored needs to_ have a child. ^Or lover. ^Or a Mission
0620P06 In Life." $^Strange... I couldn*'4t see her face, but I could
0630P06 almost see those capital letters. "^Sometimes, cliches are true.
0640P06 ^Most often they are. ^That_*'1s how they become cliches," I said
0650P06 somewhat lamely. $"^You fool," she suddenly flashed at me. "^And I
0660P06 thought you were perceptive." $"^*I am. ^*I guessed you were
0670P06 bored. ^*I*'3m offering you a panacea for it." $"^Like a doctor
0680P06 with a prescription. ^So many doses of sex for this woman."
0690P06 ^Her voice rose. "^Is life lived only on the physical plane?"
0700P06 $"^What else?" $"^Yes, what else?" ^She moved restlessly in her
0710P06 chair. "^Which means my existence ends with my body*'s dissolution.
0720P06 ^When I*'3m gone....." she said the words thoughtfully, lingering
0730P06 over them, "when I*'3m gone, I leave no trace behind. ^*I could
0740P06 see her ring gleam in the dark as she rippled her fingers lightly
0750P06 in the air. "^So what*'1s it all about?" $^*I checked my impulse
0760P06 to_ laugh. ^This was a new line to me. ^You ask a woman for her
0770P06 body and she tries to_ lead you into metaphysics. $"^Why do you want
0780P06 me?" she asked me abruptly, as if she had read my thoughts. $"^Why?
0790P06 ^For one thing, I find you sexually exciting." ^That_
0800P06 wasn*'4t strictly true. ^*I found the thought of arousing her out of
0810P06 her placidity exciting. $^She met this calmly. "^What do I
0820P06 get from you that_ I don*'4t get from my husband?" $^Now I was outraged.
0830P06 ^It was all right for me to_ be cynical. ^Not for her.
0840P06 "^*I bet you he*'1s dull." ^*I said, deliberately coarse. $"^And
0850P06 you promise me you won*'4t be?" ^She moved forward into the moonlight.
0860P06 ^*I could see that her eyebrows were raised. ^Her face,
0870P06 absolutely pale in the moonlight, looked not beautiful, but intimate.
0880P06 ^And I saw her for the first time as a human being, not as a
0890P06 woman. ^It was like a door opening and the room inside was very familiar.
0900P06 ^And suddenly, most unwillingly, I knew why. she had the
0910P06 same look of innocence my mother had had. ^To me, my mother had been
0920P06 pure and undefiled. ^Until that_ night. $*3^WHY*0 had I been
0930P06 in their room-- I don*'4t remember. ^But I can distinctly remember
0940P06 that I woke up to hear odd sounds coming from the dark. ^*I had
0950P06 been terrified, more so when I recognised my mother*'s voice. ^Hoarse,
0960P06 unrecognisable, saying something incoherent. ^And there had
0970P06 been another sound too. ^My father breathing loudly. ^Panting almost.
0980P06 $^When do children lose their innocence? ^*I was, I suppose,
0990P06 eight or nine then. ^But I knew what it was. ^*I have never
1000P06 believed in the innocence of women since. $^*I thrust the memory
1010P06 away resolutely. "^Yes," I said, feeling I was closing a door.
1020P06 "^*I promise you I won*'4t be dull." $"you don*'4t talk of love."
1030P06 ^She settled back in her chair. ^Had she realised I had
1040P06 closed the door? $"^Love!" $"^What would you writers do without
1050P06 love? ^And you say *3love*0 like that_." $"^*I*'3m being honest
1060P06 with you. ^*I don*'4t wrap up my desire in fancy wrappings and coloured
1070P06 ribbons." $"^What you really mean is that to_ escape the pointlessness
1080P06 of my life, I should drift into an equally pointless affair with
1090P06 you." $"^Drift? ^No, I ask you to_ choose with deliberation."
1100P06 $"^Choose?" ^Now she repeated the word and she seemed to_ be mocking
1110P06 me. "^*I*'3ve never done that_ in my life. ^*I*'3ve always
1120P06 drifted." $^At this point her husband came out. "^What are you
1130P06 two discussing so seriously?" he asked, taking a chair on the other
1140P06 side of the table. ^He was like the third point of a triangle.
1150P06 ^Which wasn*'4t there. $"^Nothing," she replied calmly. "^Just
1160P06 the reason for existence." $"^But why in the dark?" ^He switched
1170P06 on the light. ^*I blinked. ^*I was furious with him. ^And
1180P06 her. $"^Actually," I spoke slowly, "I was making love to your
1190P06 wife." ^He laughed. ^She gave him, and me too, an odd look I
1200P06 couldn*'4t fathom. $*3^*I WENT home nettled. ^This was almost
1210P06 the first time a woman had put me off. ^And for no reason at all.
1220P06 ^It was like brushing off a cobweb. ^Her resistance added spice
1230P06 to the affair, though. ^*I had to_ go on. ^What was she?
1240P06 ^An enigma? ^No, no woman is ever that_. ^*I was certain she
1250P06 would come to me. ^And then I would know again that strange mixture
1260P06 of anger, disappointment and contempt which is always for me the beginning
1270P06 of the end. $^*I proved right. ^She walked in one day.
1280P06 ^Casually, nonchalantly. ^*I treated her the same way. ^The next
1290P06 move was up to her. ^*I could see she had come prepared for something.
1300P06 ^There was a quality of stillness about her, different from
1310P06 her usual indolence. ^It was as if she was simmering behind that_
1320P06 placid facade. ^And there was something else. ^A kind of rigiditty
1330P06 that_ reminded me of a frightened child. $^Then she spoke.
1340P06 "^Well?" that_ was all. ^That_ and a queer smile. ^She had dark
1350P06 circles, I noticed almost like bruises, around her eyes. ^But her mouth
1360P06 was soft and full like that_ of a young girl in her teens. $"^Well?"
1370P06 ^*I looked at her questioningly, determined not to_ help her.
1380P06 $"^What next?" she said, as naive as a child. $^And that_ was
1390P06 that_! ^Her resistance had been inexplicable. ^Now her surrender
1400P06 was unexpected. ^But I had no desire to_ probe. ^Just to_ take
1410P06 what she offered me. $^She let me do what I wanted with her.
1420P06 ^She seemed totally unconcerned and detached as I went on. ^It annoyed
1430P06 me. ^*I*'3m no connoisseur of female beauty. ^They all look
1440P06 good to me. ^So did this one. ^But her face puzzled me. ^It
1450P06 was so expressionless, it looked like the sketch of a face with the eyes
1460P06 left out. ^As if she wasn*'4t there at all. $"^Is life lived
1470P06 only on the physical plane?" her own question came back to me. ^And
1480P06 suddenly I was filled with a savage fury. ^Why had she come if she
1490P06 was so disinterested? $^And, all at once, she was not. ^Disinterested,
1500P06 I mean. ^There was a frantic quality about her that_ belied
1510P06 her usual indolence. ^There was nothing passive about her now.
1520P06 ^Nothing. $^It was much later, when the euphoria that_ had overcome
1530P06 me was passing away, that I said, "So you decided to_ try the
1540P06 cliche, after all?" $^She sat up abruptly in bed with a magnificent
1550P06 disregard for her nakedness. ^A kind of startled pain leapt into her
1560P06 eyes. ^It was like something filling a vacuum. ^For a second,
1570P06 I found myself submerged in that_ pain of hers. ^Then she lay back
1580P06 again, silent, refraining from saying what she had wanted to_.
1590P06 $^After a while she spoke in a normal tone. "^You were right."
1600P06 $"^Right?" ^*I lay drowsily drifting between sleep and waking.
1610P06 $"^Bodies.... that_*'1s all we are. ^There*'1s nothing else."
1620P06 $"^Did I say that_?" I was idly incurious. $"^Yes. ^But if that_*'1s
1630P06 true, why is this.... all this... so meaningless? where*'1s the
1640P06 meaning, then?" $*3^*I was suddenly drowsy no more. ^*I ignored
1650P06 the angry despair of her tone and concentrated only on her words.
1660P06 ^So the duel was still on, was it? ^And she would wallow in guilt,
1670P06 enjoying it, and expect me to_ enjoy it too. ^But I had my own way
1680P06 of dealing with that_ kind of masochism. "^What kind of a meaning
1690P06 did you expect?" ^And I chuckled loudly. $"^What was that_ for?"
1700P06 $"^*I was thinking of the wronged husband. ^*I*'3m sure he*'3ll
1710P06 tell what this means." $"^Wronged husband?" ^The high note
1720P06 of interrogation expressed genuine surprise. ^Didn*'4t she know
1730P06 whom I meant? ^*I turned to her. ^She was lying utterly still,
1740P06 arms folded on her breasts, immovable as a corpse. ^And then, with
1750P06 a swift movement, she turned to me, propped her face on her fists and
1760P06 said. "^*I haven*'4t wronged anyone." ^And for the second time
1770P06 there was a crack in the glazed surface. ^Emotion seeped through
1780P06 it. ^*I refused to_ meet it. ^Or recognise it. $"^Haven*'4t
1790P06 you?" ^*I asked, smiling lightly. ^And now, I thought, she
1800P06 will tell me how unworthy he is, how unloving, unreceptive....*#
        **[no. of words = 02014**]

        **[txt. p07**]
0020P07 **<*3The Salesman**>
0030P07 $*3^*I think I am a born salesman. ^*I am very grateful to god to_have
0040P07 found a job to my liking, because job satisication means a lot in
0050P07 one*'s life. ^*I know for instance, that my friend Mani works only
0060P07 for the sake of his daily bread. ^He comes to the shop not out of
0070P07 choice. ^Given a choice he would chuck up this job for any other.
0080P07 ^He does nothing to_ promote the sales. ^Sometimes he even goes out
0090P07 of the way to_ spoil a customer*'s mood by criticising his taste, or
0100P07 displaying the goods most unwillingly. ^*I am often so irritated
0110P07 by his rude, stand-offish, indifferent behaviour, that I find myself
0120P07 at his counter doing his work also. ^He does not mind it and I rather
0130P07 like it. ^The management of course notices my enthusiasm, good
0140P07 humour and polite behaviour and I am commended for these qualities at
0150P07 the general body meetings of our staff association. $^*Mani
0160P07 is not a happy man at home either. ^He is always complaining about
0170P07 his wife. ^Yesterday, he said, she was not home when he returned
0180P07 after a hard day*'s work. ^Still worse, she had not prepared dinner
0190P07 for him. ^She came half an hour later, saying she had gone to her sister*'s
0200P07 house to_ help her take her little son to hospital. ^*Mani
0210P07 lost his temper and had a big fight with her on account of this.
0220P07 $^Such a thing could never happen in my house. ^What if Manju is
0230P07 not at home when I get back in the evening? ^Why should I fret
0240P07 and fume till she returns and then pounce on her as soon as she steps into
0250P07 the house? $^Am I not supposed to_ help her? ^Had I been in
0260P07 Mani*'s place, I would have carried on the household chores from where
0270P07 she*'d left off; maybe prepared dinner. $^Why, that_ is precisely
0280P07 what I do most of the time. ^*Manju does a part-time job during
0290P07 the day. ^She leaves at 10 in the morning and returns at lunch.
0300P07 ^Often I find her so tired when I return, that I don*'4t hesitate to_
0310P07 help her with the cooking and cleaning. ^After all, what are we
0320P07 married for if not to_ help each other and live happily? $^At the shop
0330P07 we have some regular customers. ^We like them and they like our
0340P07 *4saris. ^They just have to_ indicate the occasion for which they are
0350P07 shopping, and we show them the *4saris of their choice. ^Usually, when
0360P07 such a party enters the shop, I am called in to_ do the selling.
0370P07 ^*I don*'4t like selling inferior quality to my regular customers, and
0380P07 so I always take the liberty of advising them. ^Mostly they end up
0390P07 overshooting their budget, but they do so because they are convinced of
0400P07 the quality and uniqueness of the *4sari they have bought. $^*I like to_
0410P07 sell to a difficult, new customer. ^To me it is hardly a challenge
0420P07 to_ discover someone*'s taste in *4saris. ^First of all, one only
0430P07 has to_ find out for whom the *4sari is intended. ^This can be deduced
0440P07 easily enough if one listens to their conversation. ^If the
0450P07 person concerned is in the shop, the job becomes very easy indeed.
0460P07 ^*I merely pay a great deal of attention to that_ person and give my impressions
0470P07 unobtrusively, tuning them to his or her choice. ^If a large
0480P07 group arrives, it is important to_ find out who makes the decisions.
0490P07 ^As it happens, there is usually one among them to whom everyone
0500P07 turns for final approval. ^It may be the mother, father, sister,
0510P07 brother, husband or a friend. ^From my experience, I find that the
0520P07 way a woman is dressed tells me all I need to_ know about her taste
0530P07 in clothes. ^A fashionable upper class woman will receive new designs
0540P07 with appreciation and might sometimes be interested in really old-fashioned
0550P07 *4saris. ^Her choice of colours will be generally unusual.
0560P07 ^Contrast borders and gaudy patterns are not her cup of tea. ^The
0570P07 opposite is true about the taste of a woman from the lower middle class.
0580P07 $^It is the middle class women we have to_ be very careful about.
0590P07 ^They may have a remarkably refined taste or incredibly common
0600P07 things can appeal to them. ^*I have to_ watch their dress closely to_
0610P07 gauge their preferences. ^If a woman wants to_ see how a *4sari
0620P07 looks when worn, I do not hesitate to_ model it before her. ^*I
0630P07 even like it. ^*I firmly believe that a *4sari has to_ be appreciated.
0640P07 ^Some of the salesmen don*'4t like to_ show our cotton *4saris,
0650P07 especially if the customer came in to_ buy a silk *4sari. ^But I think
0660P07 all *4saris have their beauty and use. ^Though ours is mainly
0670P07 a silk *4sari shop, we do not lose anything by promoting the sales of
0680P07 cottons, chiffons, georgettes and other kinds of synthetic stuff.
0690P07 ^Of course it is more difficult to_ fold and put away these *4saris than
0700P07 the silks, because they crease easily. ^Still, I love folding
0710P07 them up. ^Actually I do most of the folding and arranging in the shop.
0720P07 ^*I do not like to_ fold up a *4sari right in the face of a customer;
0730P07 after all a woman needs time to_ make up her mind. $^The work-load
0740P07 is very heavy in the marriage and festive seasons. ^You will
0750P07 not believe me if I tell you that we do not get back home on such days
0760P07 before 11 \0p.m. ^The shop remains open until 8 o*'3clock.
0770P07 ^After the customers leave we have to_ settle the day*'s accounts and clean
0780P07 and arrange the shop for the next morning. $^It was here
0790P07 in the shop that I first met my Manju. ^She walked into our shop
0800P07 all by herself one afternoon. ^*I noticed her because she was all
0810P07 alone. ^She was the only customer at the time. ^*I thought she
0820P07 might go in for a printed silk *4sari or even some synthetic variety.
0830P07 ^But no, I had made a mistake. ^She wanted a good, heavy,
0840P07 Kanjeevaram silk. ^*I showed her *4saris of various colours and
0850P07 designs, with borders and without, ones with elaborate *4pallus and others
0860P07 with *4zari embroidery, till I came to a point when I had to_ bring
0870P07 out those "special" *4saris. ^These are the *4saris
0871P07 I like best, and I show them only to
0880P07 customers I like; sometimes the customer spots them on his own if he
0890P07 has a discriminating eye. ^As I spread out one such "special",
0900P07 Manju went into raptures. ^That_ is when I knew that we were kindred
0910P07 souls. ^She picked up the sandal-wood coloured *4sari with a deep
0920P07 maroon border. ^It was a jewel of a *4sari that_ could be worn at
0930P07 any time during the day or at night and for any function. ^She
0940P07 paid the bill and went home happy.
0950P07 $^Many months went by after this brief encounter. ^She came to the
0960P07 shop once again. ^*I never forget customers*' faces, so I recognised
0970P07 her instantly. ^Most of the time I even remember the *4sari
0980P07 they bought from me. ^Nowadays when I spot either a customer or one
0990P07 of our *4saris on the street, Manju gets irritated and says: "Don*'4t
1000P07 you ever think of anything else besides your shop, your work, your
1010P07 *4saris?" $^She came in with her mother, and came directly to my
1020P07 counter. ^She wanted a *4sari for her mother. ^*I had no trouble
1030P07 selling the right *4sari to her, because I knew that she and I had
1040P07 the same taste in *4saris. ^In addition to a *4sari for her mother,
1050P07 I was also able to_ make Manju buy a new, attractive cotton *4sari
1060P07 for herself. ^While paying the bill, she fell short of a few *4rupees.
1070P07 ^*I made up the difference out of my pocket and packed up the
1080P07 *4saris. $^From then on our friendship grew. ^Soon we got married
1090P07 with the blessings of the elders.
1100P07 ^How happy I was now that I had someone to_ buy *4saris for! I wanted
1110P07 her to_ possess the most beautiful *4saris. ^She too enjoyed wearing
1120P07 them to her office where many envied her secretly while some admired her
1130P07 openly. $^*Manju and I set up a nice comfortable home for ourselves.
1140P07 ^We always shared the house work. ^And since I was
1150P07 by nature prone to tidiness, I would spend all my spare time cleaning
1160P07 up the house and putting things in their proper place. ^We were an
1170P07 ideal couple we have never had even a single quarrel. ^*I believe
1180P07 that quarrels erupt only between immature people who don*'4t try to_
1190P07 understand each other. ^If Manju disagreed with me, I always saw her
1200P07 point of view, and therefore took no offence. ^If she failed to_
1210P07 fold up her *4sari, I folded them up. ^After all, it does not matter
1220P07 who does what. ^The only thing is that the work should be done.
1230P07 $^My daughter Pattu, as I affectionately call her, has started
1240P07 going to school. ^Before long she will be old enough to_ wear
1250P07 *4saris. ^And then you should see her... ^So many young men after her
1260P07 lured by the sheer beauty of her *4saris which I shall buy for her.
1270P07 ^*Manju doesn*'4t like the name Pattu. ^But I think nothing
1280P07 suits her better, because she is my *3Pattu. *3^*Pattu in our language
1290P07 means silk. $^These days I feel exhausted when I return home.
1300P07 ^*I just don*'4t find the energy to_ tidy the house. ^Maybe my age
1310P07 is telling on me. ^No. ^*I am not all that_ old. ^*I feel like
1320P07 running away from the house. ^But where can I go, and what will happen
1330P07 to my Manju and Pattu? ^What will they do without me? ^Last
1340P07 night when I asked Manju to_ fold up her *4saris lying on the sofa,
1350P07 she said it was not her job and added that it did not matter to her whether
1360P07 they were lying on the sofa or hanging neatly in the *4almirah.
1370P07 ^Maybe I hurt her by trying to_ teach her to_ take care of her *4saris.
1380P07 ^*I really shouldn*'4t have done that_. ^In the shop also I feel that
1390P07 I do most of the work. ^Yesterday, when I asked Mani to_ help me,
1400P07 he too said something similar to what Manju said. $^It is the
1410P07 *4Deepavali season now. ^*I will be very busy. ^*I don*'4t know
1420P07 how I am going to_ cope with the work. ^And this year our sales
1430P07 target is twice that_ of last year. ^The bulk of the work will be in
1440P07 my hands. ^The manager has already mentioned several times that a lot
1450P07 depends on me. ^If I suddenly feel unwell, I shall have to_ take
1460P07 leave. ^But what will I do sitting at home? ^At home also I have
1470P07 no rest; I have to_ help Manju. ^Perhaps it will be a good idea
1480P07 to_ take a gift for Manju as a surprise. ^*I shall take the most
1490P07 gorgeous *4sari for her, one to which she won*'4t have the heart to_
1500P07 say no. ^For the last five years she has been saying that she doesn*'4t
1510P07 want any more *4saris, because she doesn*'4t like them. ^How
1520P07 strange! ^But this rust colour *4sari, no woman in her right mind will
1530P07 refuse to_ accept. ^And the money I am paying is well worth it.
1540P07 ^*I shall make a parcel of it and take it home the night before
1550P07 *4Deepavali. $^When I return home late at night after these
1560P07 exhausting days I find it difficult to_ cook and eat my dinner. ^*I
1570P07 don*'4t mind Manju going to the movies. ^Only, I feel like asking
1580P07 her if she couldn*'4t have gone to an afternoon show. ^Did she have
1590P07 to_ choose the night show, and that_ too with Pattu? ^As always,
1600P07 I find their clothes-- new *4saris, dresses, blouses and skirts-- jumbled
1610P07 up together. ^*I put them in their place. ^*I separate the
1620P07 dirty clothes from the pile and wash them. ^Only rarely do I have
1630P07 the energy to_ iron them. ^They could at least help me, or thank
1640P07 me.*#
        **[no. of words = 02005**]

        **[txt. p08**]
0005P08 **<*3JOB CHARNOCK AND HIS LADY FAIR*0**>
0010P08 $^*Seth Shewchurn paid him a handsome commission. ^The jingling
0020P08 of those gold *4mohurs in his pocket was sweet music to his ears.
0021P08 ^The shiny new yellow coins gave him a sense of power and a feeling of
0030P08 great satisfaction was there in merely running his fingers through
0040P08 the coins.
0050P08 ^He could very well picture himself now, placing some of these coins on
0060P08 the *(mehndi-red*) palm of *4nautch girl with great confidence in himself,
0070P08 feeling proud of himself. ^And why should he not take a commission,
0080P08 pray? ^The Company suffered no loss if he did. $^Yet somehow,
0090P08 after accepting the commission, Job Charnock slept uneasily for two
0100P08 consecutive nights. ^His conscience kept bothering him and no amount
0110P08 of logic could erase the feeling that somehow he was being unfaithful
0120P08 to his employers. ^He began to_ get restless; after all this sum had
0130P08 accrued as a result of a deal between a trader and the Company and as
0140P08 such must rightfully belong to the latter. ^The touch of a gold coin
0150P08 became a pinprick to his conscience. $^Finally he walked up to
0160P08 \0Mr chamberlain and handed over the coins to him. \0^*Mr chamberlain
0170P08 looked astonished: "^Whatever*'1s the matter, Job?" $"^You*'3ll
0180P08 have to_ forgive me, Sir. ^*I*'3ve been guilty of a great folly.
0190P08 ^*I*'3ve accepted a commission from Seth Shewchurn on account of the loan
0200P08 he got from us. ^*I*'3ve been trying to_ hang on to it but find
0210P08 that I can*'4t. ^*I think this money should rightfully belong to
0220P08 the Company and so I*'3ve come to_ refund it." $"^Your honesty is
0230P08 exemplary, my boy, and I am greatly pleased. ^But how do you think
0240P08 you*'3re going to_ manage to_ live in this country on twenty pounds a
0250P08 year?" $"^But surely I can*'4t be disloyal to the Company on that_
0260P08 account." $"^Well spoken, son, and so you have refunded the commission.
0270P08 ^Now let me suggest what you should do for yourself.
0280P08 ^Start a private business of your own in a line where your interests will
0290P08 not clash with those of the Company. ^There*'3ll be no harm done then.
0300P08 ^*I*'3ll introduce you to a few native businessmen and provide you
0310P08 with the capital if you like. ^You may return the money whenever you
0320P08 can." $^With a letter of introduction from \0Mr Chamberlain, Job
0330P08 Charnock started his business in *4attar and tobacco, with one Janab
0340P08 Mohiuddin. ^Very soon he began to_ make profits.
0350P08 $^The new ruler Alamgir turned out to_ be more than a devout Muslim...
0360P08 a fanatic. ^Every one must stop drinking alcoholic beverages, he proclaimed,
0370P08 and orders prohibiting sale and consumption of liquor went out
0380P08 to cities, settlements and villages. ^How far this policy of prohibition
0390P08 actually succeeded was a moot point, but taking advantage of it
0400P08 the local *4Kotwal unleashed a reign of terror. $^*Pattana city was
0410P08 thoroughly ransacked for liquor shops and dealers in liquor. ^In this
0420P08 there was no discrimination between Hindus and Muslims. ^Whoever
0430P08 was suspected of dealing in liquor was rounded up. ^To_ show that
0440P08 he was faithfully obeying the Royal Command the *4Kotwal rounded up
0450P08 an equal number of Muslims and Hindus and charged them with selling
0460P08 wine. ^Every one of the victims pleaded 'not guilty' to the charge
0470P08 but all their vehement protestations of innocence went in vain; there was
0480P08 no investigation of any kind and no trail. ^In the centre of the
0490P08 *4bazar and right in front of Charnock*'s eyes, one arm and one leg of
0500P08 each person were amputated with razor sharp swords. ^Blood flowing
0510P08 down the market alleys congealed in dust and mud. ^The decapitated victims
0520P08 were thrown in gutters and left there to_ die of bleeding. ^Sheer
0530P08 terror was the order of the day. $^Yet another Royal Command was
0540P08 soon issued-- this had to_ do with the trimming of beards. ^No Muslim
0550P08 would henceforth be allowed to_ grow beards more than four fingers in
0560P08 length and those having longer ones now must cut them down to size.
0570P08 ^To_ enforce this Command Government officials began to_ roam the streets
0580P08 armed with scissors. ^They would catch hold of men with flowing beards
0590P08 and forcibly snip the beards off down to the prescribed length.
0600P08 ^Some had dyed their beards in so many hues, some had nurtured their growth
0610P08 with tender care over so many years... but off with all such beards!
0620P08 ^It was actually stated officially that longer beards prevented the
0630P08 correct pronunciation of the name of *4Allah. ^There was a great to_ do
0640P08 in Pattana city. **[sic**] $^*Charnock*'s orderly Noor Mohammed did
0650P08 not venture out of doors for days for fear of losing his beloved beard.
0660P08 ^*Muslim men took to coming out on the streets with their heads and
0670P08 faces draped in veils in the fashion of married *4Gentoo women.
0680P08 $^What a strange land was this *3Hindustan!*0 ^So many races lived
0690P08 here, so many different religious communities, different in their ways
0700P08 of living, different rituals followed by each. ^*Christianity
0710P08 was just another of these religions in this land. ^The natives refused
0720P08 to_ confer any special status on Christianity. ^The *4Gentoos
0730P08 actually hated the Christians. ^Take that_ Seth Shewchurn.
0740P08 ^He mingled so freely with Charnock for the sake of business, but never
0750P08 would he condescend to_ accept even a bowl of water from his hands.
0760P08 ^Now Shewchurn was a *4banyan. ^So many other castes the *4Gentoos
0770P08 have, *4brahmins, *4Rajputs... well pagans, that_*'1s what they really
0780P08 were, pagans. ^Strange were the gods and goddesses they worshipped.
0790P08 ^*Charnock had often tried to_ explain his own religion to
0800P08 some of them. ^The baptists had converted at lot of *4Gentoos to
0810P08 Christianity by force but these converts, it was said, still worshipped
0820P08 their old gods and goddesses in secret. ^Untouchability was observed
0830P08 in matters of food even by Muslims; they would never dine at the same
0840P08 table with Christians nor touch what was cooked by them. ^And
0850P08 there were so many taboos about the food they would eat. ^The *4Gentoos
0860P08 would not eat beef and the Moors would not touch pork. *4^*Gentoos
0870P08 fasted during their religious festivals and the Moors fasted during
0880P08 their month of *4Ramazan. ^One day Charnock was turning the pages
0890P08 of Thomas Browne*'s *7Religio-Medicii. ^There was a passage in
0900P08 it which he had almost come to_ know by heart. $"^*I could never
0910P08 divide myself from any man upon the difference of an opinion, or be angrry
0920P08 with his judgement for not agreeing with me in that_ from which perhaps
0930P08 within a few days I should dissent myself. ^*I have no genius to_
0940P08 dispute in religion, and have often thought it wisdom to_ decline them--".
0950P08 $^*Charnock would sit with the *4Gentoos and silently listen
0960P08 to tales about their gods and goddesses.^Orderly Noor Mohammed would
0970P08 tell him the story of Hassan and Hussain and the Karbala. ^They were
0980P08 all interesting tales to_ hear. ^*Charnock would not enter into any argument
0990P08 with them, or judge them on account of their belief. ^But
1000P08 he made it a habit to_ write these tales down on paper and mail them occasionally
1010P08 to the Directors of the Company back home. $^*Charnock
1020P08 liked it here at Pattana and Singee. ^Rules and regulations were not
1030P08 so rigid here as they were at Cassumbazar. ^It was easier to_ mix
1040P08 freely with people. ^He regarded himself as an experienced old hand by
1050P08 now. ^He had developed self confidence, acquired a working command
1060P08 over the local language and had learnt something of the Hindustani way
1070P08 of life. ^He preferred wearing garments worn by the gentry of this
1080P08 country for he considered them best suited for the climate out here.
1090P08 $^*Shewchurn invited him over to his place on the occasion of the *4Holi
1100P08 festival. ^The *4Gentoos of Pattana become greatly excited on that_
1110P08 day. ^It was held on a full moon day in early spring. ^No one
1120P08 knew for how many thousand years this annual festival of colour was being
1130P08 held in this country. ^In *3Brindavan,*0 it seems, Radha and Krishna
1140P08 had played *4Holi. ^So the *4Gentoos also played *4Holi.
1150P08 ^Whole day long men and women paraded the streets, smeared with coloured
1160P08 power and *4kumkum. ^They would sing, dance and enjoy themselves,
1170P08 the rich fraternising with the poor. ^*Shewchurn dragged Charnock
1180P08 to his place to_ join in the festivities. $^*Charnock had raised
1190P08 an objection at first: "^But I am a Christian." $^So what if yoy*'3re a
1191P08 Christian? ^There*'1s no difference between Hindus and Christians
1192P08 when it comes to having a good time." $^So Charnock got
1200P08 dressed up in his native clothes and joined the throng.
1210P08 $^Soon he too got smeared all over with *4abeer and *4fag and drenched in
1220P08 coloured water which the natives sprayed on him, using brass syringes.
1230P08 ^There were many ladies participating too, so it seemed that this
1240P08 festival brooked no difference between the sexes either. $^A woman
1250P08 dressed in colourful festive costumes rushed up to Charnock and smeared
1260P08 his face with *4fag. ^*Charnock rose fully to the occasion,
1270P08 chased the girl, caught her in his arms and smeared her face and breasts
1280P08 with *4fag in return. ^He was then reminded of what Elliott had
1290P08 said: the skins of these native girls were soft as petals of roses, smooth
1300P08 as silk muslin. ^A pleasant shiver of thrill ran down his spine.
1310P08 $"^*Motia has taken a fancy for Charnock *4saheb", exclaimed
1320P08 Shewchurn. "^How marvellous!" $^The girl, so befittingly attired
1330P08 in a brilliant costume, retorted jauntily: "I am in love with
1340P08 every one today, including the pot-bellied Shewchurn." $^Then
1350P08 she began to_ dance with great gusto, whirling faster and faster with
1360P08 the maddening beat of a *4dholak, singing a stray line or two from a
1370P08 song and then pausing to_ recover breath, the brief interludes being filled
1380P08 in by her audience, who repeated the last words of her line in a
1390P08 chorus. ^Against a background of swaying heads, with *(abeer-red*)
1400P08 dishevelled hair, her face stood out as she danced and as her black eyes
1410P08 danced to and fro, he stood spellbound by an irresistiblse charm.
1420P08 ^Alluring was the look in those eyes, which quivered like lightning and
1430P08 danced faster than her feet. ^Again and again amid all the swaying and
1440P08 whirling those eyes would frequently become locked with Charnock*'s.
1450P08 $^*Charnock had always liked the eyes of these native women.
1460P08 ^They were invariably black, deep and large. ^He had never forgotten
1470P08 the look in the eyes of the *4Gentoo woman who was bathing and sun-worshipping
1480P08 in the river *4ghat. ^Enchanting now was the look in the
1490P08 eyes of this *4Gentoo girl, drenched in the red waters of *4Holi.
1500P08 $"^Who is this Motia?" ^He asked Shewchurn in an aside. $"^A
1510P08 daughter of Hiru Kahar. ^Was there ever a father who could keep on
1520P08 a leash at home, a daughter who had a figure like that_? *4^Goondas
1530P08 kidnapped her one night and brought her to the brothels at Pattana.
1540P08 ^She now charges one *4rupee for an hour in bed." $^So she was just
1550P08 a common whore. ^She could be had and enjoyed at a price of just
1560P08 one *4rupee. ^Yet she looked soft as a flower and her skin was as smooth
1570P08 as silk muslin. $^Suddenly there came to their ears a crushing noise
1580P08 of drums and bugles. ^Dancing and singing ceased abruptly.
1590P08 $^The *4Nabob*'s troops had arrived on the scene. ^The party consisted
1600P08 of a number of horsemen and two elephants carrying armed soldiers on
1610P08 their backs. ^They were out on a patrol informing the *4kaffirs that
1620P08 all this singing, dancing and merry-making will have to_ stop.
1630P08 ^Those were the *4Nabob*'s orders. ^Emperor Aurangzeb did not approve
1640P08 of this sort of levity on the part of the *4Gentoos. $^*Motia
1650P08 strode out from the crowd to_ demand: "Has the Emperor himself issued
1660P08 a signed *4phirmaund stopping the *4Holi festival?" $"^Are you
1670P08 trying to_ check on us?" $"^For thousands of years at the beginneng
1680P08 of every spring we Hindus have been celebrating the festival of colours.
1690P08 ^No other Moghul Emperor ever dreamt of stopping us. ^That_*'1s
1700P08 why we can*'4t believe that our now *4Badshah Aurangzeb will
1710P08 wish to_ stop us holding this festival."*#
        **[no. of words = 01995**]

        **[txt. p09**]
0010P09 **<*3Heat and cold*0**> $^According
0020P09 to his physics and geography, it should be freezingly cold in
0030P09 Delhi when he came out of the plane on a January night. ^While coming
0040P09 out, he pulled up the collar of his light overcoat. ^But ahead
0050P09 of him was walking a middle-aged man wearing a sleeveless pullover
0060P09 on a half-sleeved sports shirt, open at the neck. ^Behind him a
0070P09 young hippy was coming with a duffle-coat carrying his sleeping-bag
0080P09 on his shoulder. ^Beside him was his girlfriend who was wearing a
0090P09 matching jacket over her ragged jeans. "^Must be whiskey-- or *4hashish--
0100P09 that_ is keeping her warm!" he thought, as he sneezed at
0110P09 the first contact of the cold wind that_ was blowing through
0120P09 the draughty entrance. $^But as he came out of the airport he
0130P09 noticed that his porter had only a thread-bare sweater to_ protect him.
0140P09 ^The taxi-driver had a warm woollen *4shawl to_ cover him but,
0150P09 under that_ he was wearing cotton *4pyjamas and no shoes or
0160P09 socks, only *4chappals. $"*5^Kiyon, bhai,*6 how is the cold
0170P09 in Delhi this year?" he asked as the taxi started. $"^This year*'s
0180P09 cold is chilling, Sir," he replied and yet he rolled down the
0190P09 glass of the window. ^A blast of cold air blew in and slid down
0200P09 through his upturned collar, like an icy dagger, to his chest. ^He
0210P09 sneezed again, violently this time, and he told the driver to_
0220P09 close the window. $^The driver was apologetic. "^What are we to_
0230P09 do, Sir. ^We have to_ signal the policeman with the right hand at
0240P09 the cross-roads." $^*Ramesh was prone to catching cold. ^For this
0250P09 reason, he always travelled with a flat little bottle of brandy
0260P09 in his brief-case. ^This time he took it out and put about a peg
0270P09 of it down his throat. ^A wave of heat suffused him. ^What is
0280P09 heat? ^Heat at that_ moment was a peg of brandy which was cold
0290P09 itself, but it helped to_ warm his blood. $^*Ramesh Chandra had
0300P09 come to Delhi to_ participate in a Science Congress where
0310P09 he had to_ read a paper on "Heat And Cold". ^According to the
0320P09 laws of physics, he knew the difference between the two extremes--
0330P09 and that_ was the theme of his paper. ^*Science is the ultimate
0340P09 reality-- let one be muffled in an overcoat, or have a cotton *4shawl
0350P09 wrapped round his shoulders-- like that_ coolie at the airport.
0360P09 ^Let a peg of brandy give a sensation of warmth to the interior
0370P09 of your body, or let a closed window keep out the blast of cold
0380P09 air. ^The temperature was the same-- or was it? $^The taxi came
0390P09 to a stop in the portico of the hotel. $^The hotel-porter opened
0400P09 the taxi-door. ^He was wearing a woollen uniform. $^The bell-boy
0410P09 who carried his suitcase inside was wearing a white cotton uniform.
0420P09 ^Perhaps he had a sweater inside, next to his skin. ^Outside
0430P09 in the portico it was very cold, but the next moment as he stepped in
0440P09 through the double glass-doors, it was pleasantly warm. ^The heaters
0450P09 were lighted, and warm air was flowing out of the air-conditioners.
0460P09 $^The Reception clerks were all dressed in ties, shirts and slacks.
0470P09 ^No jackets. $*3^THE*0 receptionist was wearing a flower-patterned
0480P09 silk *4sari-- and a permanent air hostess smile!
0490P09 $^And Ramesh despite his woollen suit and light overcoat, despite
0500P09 the one peg of brandy inside him, was sneezing again and again. $"^Sorry,"
0510P09 he said to the lady receptionist with an embarrassed smile when he
0520P09 sneezed for the third time while filling the personal details in the register.
0530P09 $"^It is very cold," said the receptionist draping her *4sari
0540P09 over her prominent breasts, "many of our guests are suffering from
0550P09 cold and even flu," she reassured him. $"^Maybe I am going to_
0560P09 get the flu, too" thought Ramesh as he put his signature in the register,
0570P09 and slammed it shut. $^By the time he was in his room and had
0580P09 dismissed the "boy" with a tip, he had, indeed, got fever.
0590P09 $"^This is really a paradox," he thought. "^The colder it
0600P09 becomes the higher goes the temperature of the human body. ^He was now
0610P09 shivering. ^But, according to the thermometer he had 102 degrees
0620P09 fever. ^He took pills of aspirin and one quinine pill, gulped them down
0630P09 with another swig of brandy, then he crawled under the cold sheets covering
0640P09 the warm blankets. $^When did the cold and the fever start?
0650P09 $^This cold he had felt in Bombay itself, where the temperature was
0660P09 much warmer. $^But when he thought of the "cold" attitude of his wife,
0670P09 he had the shivers again. $"^*Sushila, my dear!" $"^What
0680P09 is it?" ^Her voice came out of the freezer. $"^*I have to_ go to
0690P09 Delhi tomorrow." $"^Then go, by all means. ^Who am I to_ forbid
0700P09 you?" $"^*I can feel from your attitude that you don*'4t approve
0710P09 of my going-- or my going *3alone!"*0 $"^What do you care about
0720P09 my feelings?" $"^Why shouldn*'4t I care?" $"^But you don*'4t."
0730P09 $"^Then you don*'4t want me to_ participate in this important
0740P09 conference, not to_ read the paper on Heat And Cold. ^It
0750P09 has taken me weeks to_ prepare the paper!" $"^Do participate and
0760P09 read your paper. ^Who am I to_ tell you not to_?" $"^It will
0770P09 take only two days, my darling." $"^Not two days-- you can stay in
0780P09 Delhi for three days, even four days. ^But don*'4t 'darling' me.
0790P09 ^*I don*'4t like hypocrisy." $"^Why? ^What*'2s happened?"
0800P09 $"^Nothing has happened. ^Only I know now that I am not your
0810P09 'darling'." $"^How have you come to that_ conclusion?" $"^A woman
0820P09 knows these things. ^One thing more. ^You can write a paper on
0830P09 Heat And Cold. ^But what do you know about heat and cold?"
0840P09 $"^You seem to_ be bent on quarrelling with me today, Sushila! ^*I
0850P09 don*'4t know why?" $"^You are an eminent physicist. ^You are concerned
0860P09 with problems of temperature. ^Why should you be concerned with
0870P09 the heat and cold of emotions?" $*3^THERE*0 was something behind
0880P09 it all. ^But what was it, he had not been able to_ think out even now.
0890P09 $^Aspirin, quinine and brandy and the heat of the blankets brought
0900P09 his fever down, even as they induced sleep. ^When he got up in the
0910P09 morning his temperature was normal. ^So he filled up the bath-tub with
0920P09 warm water and soaked himself in it. ^It was quite refreshing. ^But
0930P09 when he came out, he was shivering. ^The problem of heat and cold,
0940P09 again! ^But when he rubbed himself with the big bath towel, the heat returned
0950P09 to his body. ^The temperature of the bathroom, as he could confirm
0960P09 from the thermometer on the wall, was the same. ^The water in
0970P09 the tub was warm. ^Outside it was cold. ^The towel had room temperature.
0980P09 ^So how could rubbing the cold towel generate heat? ^The
0990P09 laws of physics said it was the friction that_ generated heat.
1000P09 ^So the heat was not in the towel, but in its friction! $^He changed
1010P09 into fresh clothes, then he ordered breakfast in the room, took two cups of
1020P09 hot coffee, had toast with fried eggs. ^Then, with his warmth and
1030P09 energy restored, he took a taxi to Vigyan Bhawan where he had to_
1040P09 read his paper. $^The moment he came out of the taxi, he remembered
1050P09 the cold indifference of his wife. ^And immediately he sneezed.
1060P09 ^What the psychological attitude of his wife had to_ do with the membranes
1070P09 of his nose was beyond his knowledge of physics. ^His paper, according
1071P09 to the programme, was seventh on the order paper. $^While the first
1080P09 six scientists read their papers, he kept on thinking about his wife,
1090P09 Sushila, and what perverse devil got into her the previous day?
1100P09 ^What was wrong with his coming to Dehli that_ had so infuriated her?
1110P09 $"^*Delhi........?" $"~coming to delhi......?" $"^*Heat and Cold.....?"
1120P09 $^Suddently he remembered the cold weather of Delhi ten years
1130P09 ago when he was an \0M.Sc. student and had gone from Bombay, along
1140P09 with a group of collegians, to_ participate in the Republic Day
1150P09 Festival. ^All the girls and boys, from all over India, were staying
1160P09 in tents in the Talkatora Gardens. ^He would always remember
1170P09 that_ year*'s Republic Day Parade. ^The huge colourful crowds.
1180P09 ^The marching battalions of Army, Navy, Air Force, \0N.C.C.
1190P09 ^The March Past of the students. ^The boys in white shirts
1200P09 and white slacks. ^The girls in white *4shalwars, white shirts and
1210P09 green pullovers. ^*Ramesh who had gone to_ watch the parade, wearing
1220P09 an overcoat that_ day, was wondering why these boys and girls did
1230P09 not feel cold? ^Perhaps the patriotic fervour of that_ day and the
1240P09 "heat" generated by the tramp-tramp-tramp of hundreds of booted feet
1250P09 was the secret. $^In this parade, he had seen Sushila for the first
1260P09 time. ^An oval, olive-complexioned face which had left an indelible
1270P09 impression on his heart and mind. ^Even now when he remembered it, he
1280P09 felt the surge of the original emotion. ^Then he knew what is called
1290P09 "Love At First Sight"! $^That_ night he saw her again at the
1300P09 "Camp Fire" at the Talkatora Gardens. ^Various groups of students
1310P09 were presenting the folk-dances of their respective states. ^The
1320P09 Punjabis danced the *4bhangra in which Sushila was playing the female
1330P09 lead. ^She was small like a child, but her face had the innocent sweetness
1340P09 of an angel and the impish mischief of a devil. ^While watching
1350P09 the dance, Ramesh was just looking at that_ face. ^After the dance
1360P09 was over, she also came and sat on the grass in the same row as Ramesh.
1370P09 $"^Don*'4t you feel cold?" ^*Ramesh asked her, looking
1380P09 for an excuse to_ open the conversation. $"^No, really! ^*Chandigarh
1390P09 is even colder than Delhi. ^And we go to Simla in winter to_ skate
1400P09 and ski in the snow," she replied with pride and enthusiasm, and then
1410P09 naively asked. $"^Where do you come from?" $"^From Bombay--
1420P09 the Institute of Sciences!" $"that_*'1s why you are wrapped-up
1430P09 in so many sweaters and mufflers. ^Then please have this." ^Half-seriously,
1440P09 and half-jocularly, she placed her own *4pashmina *4shawl
1450P09 over his shoulders. $^The *4pashmina was soft and warm, and it
1460P09 was fragrant with the perfume of Sushila*'s young body. $^*Ramesh liked
1470P09 talking to Sushila. ^She was so intelligent, so free so much
1480P09 alive and interested in everything-- including him! ^Within a short time
1490P09 they were talking so casually, as if they had known each other for years.
1500P09 "^How wonderful is the warmth of friendship!" he thought. ^He
1510P09 only permitted himself to_ think of "friendship" but he meant "love"!
1520P09 $^They kept on talking all through the night! $^The songs and dance
1530P09 programme was over. ^The bantering boys and the giggling girls retired
1540P09 to their respective tents. $^But Ramesh and Sushila continued
1550P09 to_ talk. $^The flames of the camp fire dimmed then died down. ^It
1560P09 was cold and dark. $^Ramesh put back the *4pashmina *4shawl over Sushila*'s
1570P09 shoulders. ^He felt very protective towards her. $^She
1580P09 took him in her *4shawl, snuggling against his chest. $^And his whole
1590P09 being was filled with a fragrant warmth. $^*Ramesh remembered that that_
1600P09 was their first meeting. ^Then he remebered that it was the 24th of
1610P09 January. ^The day after is the 26th January, the 10th anniversary
1620P09 of their first meeting. ^And he had forgotten it! that_*'1s
1630P09 why Sushila was so irritable and cross with him. ^*That_ explained
1640P09 the coldness of her attitude. ^He should have brought her with him
1650P09 to Delhi so that they could be together in Delhi to_ remember that_ 26th
1660P09 January of ten years ago. $^Somehow he finished reading his paper,
1670P09 and gave the answers to the questions that_ were raised indifferently
1680P09 and mechanically. ^Then he took a taxi and raced to his hotel.
1690P09 ^Hardly had he reached his room that he dialled the Hotel Exchange to_give
1700P09 him his Bombay number. $^Within minutes he was talking to his wife.
1710P09 $"^Hello, Sushila." $"^Hello, how are you?" ^She still
1720P09 sounded very cold, very remote. "^Last night, when I arrived here,
1730P09 I had fever." $"*5^Hai Ram!*6" Suddenly there was a warmth
1740P09 of concern for her husband*'s health. "^Took aspirin and quinine and
1750P09 brandy to_ bring it down. ^But it can come up again."*#
        **[no. of words = 02013**]

        **[txt. p10**]
0020P10 **<*3THE BRIDGE IN THE MOONLIT NIGHT*0**>
0030P10 *3^AT*0 times the moon appeared so big and so close to Ashok*'s
0040P10 balcony that he thought he could hello it and even reach it in a few
0050P10 bounds and shake hands with it. ^But since it evidently had no hands,
0060P10 he wondered if it would do to_ plant a kiss on it. $^Relaxing
0070P10 in his easy chair Ashok loved to_ chitchat with the moon, particularly
0080P10 when it shone bright. ^He had just told it. "^*I crossed eighty
0090P10 some years ago. ^What about you?" $^There were moments on such
0100P10 moonlit nights when he could see young fairies of both sexes-- he was surprised
0110P10 that they never aged-- playing hide-and-seek amidst the milk-white
0120P10 clouds and atop the star-lit trees on the dusky horizon. ^He enjoyed
0130P10 their frolic to his heart*'s fill, but often dozed off in the process,
0140P10 and, what is intriguing, still continued to_ see them. ^His
0150P10 only problem was, he could not say how much of those gamesome beings he
0160P10 saw while awake and how much in sleep. $^He was aware of the fact that
0170P10 his queer brand of forgetfulness had slowly begun to_ cover his other
0180P10 activities too, even those purely physical in nature. ^For instance,
0190P10 this is what had happened that_ very evening: he had been delighted at
0200P10 the alluring colour of his cup of tea reflecting the sunset sky. ^He
0210P10 had had a warm sniff of its steam. ^But his happiness drove him into one
0220P10 of those sudden snoozes and he sipped the tea in a dream. ^A little
0230P10 later, upon being reminded that his tea was going cold, he felt amazed
0240P10 to_ find that his satisfaction at having drunk the tea in a dream was
0250P10 not a whit less than the satisfaction he derived from actually drinking
0260P10 it. $^But whatever the condition of his memory, he was proud of the
0270P10 fact that age had not dimmed his vision to any considerable extent.
0280P10 ^He attributed this to his feeding at his mother*'s breast till the age
0290P10 of five, being her last child. $^But he had suddenly developed doubts
0300P10 about his vision and that_ was a while ago. ^The bridge on the
0310P10 small river two furlongs away, where he often spent his evenings in the
0320P10 company of his friends, was no longer visible to him. ^Every time he
0330P10 woke up he rubbed his bleary eyes and tried to_ locate the old familiar
0340P10 bridge, but failed. ^Was the moon playing any trick with him, withholding
0350P10 its beams? ^He glared at the moon. ^He then looked at
0360P10 the clump of bushy trees on the horizon in which he was accustomed to_
0370P10 see the silhouette of the Taj. ^He could see that_ all right. ^This
0380P10 was an annoying problem. ^He solved it by quickly dozing off.
0390P10 $^But the footfalls dragging up the stairs were enough to_ rouse him.
0400P10 ^They were Sudhir*'s-- as familiar to him as the thwacks of his own walking
0410P10 stick. ^Although younger to him by a decade, Sudhir gasped for
0420P10 breath while climbing. ^But to Ashok the feeling was hardly different
0430P10 from that_ of normal walking. ^Not only that_ he had lately begun
0440P10 to_ have most unusual experiences while climbing the staircase. ^For
0450P10 example, on the last occasion he had fallen asleep in the middle of the
0460P10 stairs, although for not more than a minute. ^But that_ was sufficient
0470P10 for his mind to_ become devoid of the entire sequence of events.
0480P10 ^He had just returned from a delightful ride in his son*'s car. ^But on
0490P10 reaching the balcony he had concluded that he had just got down to the
0500P10 portico. ^He had looked for the car and had mistaken the grandfather
0510P10 clock for the chauffeur. ^However, he had succeeded in rapidly recovering
0520P10 his sense of the situation and complimented himself on that_ score.
0530P10 ^It was no hallucination of any formidable nature to_ mistake ascent
0540P10 for descent and vice versa-- he assured himself.
0550P10 $"*3^COME,*0 Sudhir, shouldn*'4t we go out for a stroll?"
0560P10 ^*Ashok offered his hand to Sudhir to_ help him stand up. $"^Where on
0570P10 earth to_ go? ^The bridge was the only place, "Sudhir lamented
0580P10 looking in the accustomed direction. $"^Yes, yes, the bridge.
0590P10 ^Let us go there". $"^Look here, Ashok *4bhai, you must fight off
0600P10 this forgetfulness of yours-- what they call amnesia. ^Where is
0610P10 the bridge? ^Why do you think we haven*'4t gone out for a stroll
0620P10 since a month? ^They have pulled down each brick of the dear old
0630P10 bridge. ^They plan to_ erect a new one-- a fashionable one with a
0640P10 number of jetties on both the sides-- for the tax-payers to_ enjoy their
0650P10 evenings around flower plants, cracking nuts and sucking at ice-cream
0660P10 sticks in the summer. ^In no time it will turn into a fish market,
0670P10 I*'3ll bet," Sudhir spoke with anguish. $"^Say that_! ^The
0680P10 bridge is just not there! ^That_ explains why I cannot see it.
0690P10 ^No doubt, my memory is playing tricks with me. ^Your case is
0700P10 different. ^You are young!" commented Ashok. $"^Not as young as
0710P10 you think, Ashok *4bhai, I will be eighty in a year or two."
0720P10 $"^Well, at your age I could....." ^*Ashok*'s muttering grew feebler
0730P10 and he fell into his snooze halfway through his observation.
0740P10 $"^You are under an exaggerated impression about your age, Ashok *4bhai.
0750P10 ^It is so common to_ read about centurions **[sic**] nowdays! ^What
0760P10 are you before them? ^A bare octogenarian! ^*Ashok *4bhai, are
0770P10 you falling asleep?" $"^Oh no Sudhir, I must confess though that
0780P10 I doze off from time to time. ^But that_ keeps me fresh. ^Now,
0790P10 should we make a move-- towards the bridge?" $"^Ashok *4Bhai,
0800P10 did I not tell you for the umpteenth time that the bridge has
0810P10 disappeared? ^You forget everything!" ^*Sudhir sounded disappointed.
0820P10 $^From the restless doddering of his limbs it was obvious that
0830P10 Ashok felt embarrassed. ^But he soon regained his composure and
0840P10 said, "^You are right, Sudhir, I keep forgetting much of what people
0850P10 tell me. ^There was a time when it was necessary to_ forget a
0860P10 lot of things. ^But then the mind proved too diligent to_ let even a
0870P10 single item slip from ones*'s memory. ^And now, when it is imperative
0880P10 for you to_ remember at least a few things-- who else would care
0890P10 to_ remember for you when you are old and out of tune with the rest--
0900P10 the mind betrays you." $"^But you lack no care, Ashok *4bhai,
0910P10 you are in fact placed amidst a host of kind souls who would remember
0920P10 on your behalf all you need to_!" $"^A host of kind but colourful
0930P10 souls. ^Despite all their goodwill for you they must dab your affairs
0940P10 with their tint and tone, so much so that you will fail to_
0950P10 recognise what was yours. ^No, Sudhir, others cannot remember for
0960P10 you, just as others cannot forget for you!" $"^*Ashok *4bhai, after
0970P10 a long time you are talking as sparkingly as you used to_ when
0980P10 you were our professor. ^What drama there was in your speech!"
0990P10 $"^Drama, was there? ^*I don*4't remember. ^And look here, Sudhir,
1000P10 on second thought, there is no much peace in forgetting things!
1010P10 ^*I am in peace, believe me, with my-- what do you call-- amnesia.
1020P10 ^My instant snoozes of which you complain are nothing but a
1030P10 symptom of my peace. ^If death could prove gracious enough to_ close
1040P10 in on me while I was in one of those snoozes!" $^*Sudhir understood
1050P10 from the volume of Ashok*'s voice that he would not feel sleepy for
1060P10 some time to_ come. ^He dragged his chair closer to him and, after
1070P10 a little hemming, said, "Ashok *4bhai, I am trying over a long
1080P10 time to_ make a confession to you. ^No longer can I keep the anguish
1090P10 bottled up in my heart. ^Will you kindly bear with my babbling for
1100P10 a few minutes?" $"^Go on, Sudhir." $*3^SUDHIR*0 hemmed
1110P10 again and rolled up his sleeves and readjusted his position. ^He paused
1120P10 a few more seconds making sure that there was nobody in the
1130P10 vicinity to_ overhear him, except for the cat on the sofa. ^He wagged
1140P10 his stick at it and it walked away more in disgust than in
1150P10 fear. $"^*Ashok *4bhai, you remember Meera, don*'4t you?" $^There
1160P10 was no response from the listener. $"^You remember her, don*'4t
1170P10 you? ^*Meera, my distant cousin, two or three years older than
1180P10 me, the beautiful Meera! ^Wasn*'4t she a student when you were the
1190P10 star of our college-- a young lecturer? ^Who could have outshone
1200P10 you in gait and style and that_ spick and span look you carried
1210P10 about yourself! ^But let me go back to Meera. ^We had put her
1220P10 up in our house. ^To_ cut the story short, I mean the very Meera
1230P10 you were in love with. ^*Ashok *4bhai, you have not fallen asleep,
1240P10 I hope?" $"^How can I, Sudhir? ^Go on..." $"^But will
1250P10 you first tell me whether you remember Meera or not?" $"^Didn*'4t
1260P10 you say that I loved her? ^How then do you ask such a question?"
1270P10 $"^Thank God. ^Yes, Ashok *4bhai, you loved her and you
1280P10 grew thin yearning for her." $"^And I never grew fat again!"
1290P10 $"^But you fattened me-- and I have remained fat all my life-- feeding
1300P10 me like a pig because you used me as the courier of your love letters
1310P10 to her-- and how wonderful those letters were! ^*I have hardly
1320P10 ever come across such galvanizing sentiments in any fiction or even
1330P10 poetry!" $"^*Sudhir, don*'4t you tell me you were unkind enough
1340P10 to_ read my private letters to Meera!" $"^Pardon this sinner,
1350P10 Ashok *4bhai, I did read them. ^*I read not only your letters but
1360P10 also the one-- the solitary one-- she had written to you in reply.
1370P10 ^That_ was of course how I learnt that she too had come to_ set
1380P10 her heart upon you." $"^No Sudhir, she had not. ^And she never
1390P10 wrote to me." $"^She did, Ashok *4bhai! $^*Ashok sat silent
1400P10 without taking his eyes off the moon which had grown brighter, emerging
1410P10 from behind a fragile scrap of cloud. ^The lone eucalyptus that_
1420P10 stood touching the balcony persisted in its monologue in the steady
1430P10 breeze. ^The grandfather clock rang out a resonant halfpast seven.
1440P10 $^*Ashok suddenly spoke out in a vibrant tone, "I am lucky.
1450P10 ^*I don*'4t care to_ call for any proof of the veracity of your statement,
1460P10 Sudhir, but I wish you had told me of her love for me earlier.
1470P10 ^*I could have considered myself lucky over a longer period, that_
1480P10 is all." $"^There lies the knot, Ashok *4bhai!" ^What
1490P10 do you think I am feeling so awfully guilty about? ^You certainly remember
1500P10 how shy Meera was. ^But she had at last yielded to your entreaties.
1510P10 ^She had written a small but sweet reply to your epic love letters.
1520P10 ^In fact, she had agreed to_ meet you at the bridge." $^*Sudhir
1530P10 paused for a moment and then continued, "And she had come, but
1540P10 had to_ go back feeling humiliated, for you did not turn up." $"^How
1550P10 do you say so, Sudhir, I received no letter from her!" ^*Ashok
1560P10 asserted in a trembling voice. $^How could you have received the
1570P10 letter, Ashok *4bhai?" ^*Sudhir faltered and tried to_ clear his
1580P10 choking throat. "^*I was bringing that_ letter to you. ^But while
1590P10 I was crossing the bridge it flew away in a sudden gust of wind."
1600P10 $"^Flew away? ^Let us go and look for it!" ^*Ashok made an effort
1610P10 to_ get up. $"^After sixty years?" ^*Sudhir laughed nervously.
1620P10 "^*Ashok *4bhai, I must confess that the letter flew away only after
1630P10 I had read it and torn it to shreds. ^In fact, I let the pieces
1640P10 fly into the rolling flood of the monsoon under the bridge. ^*I can
1650P10 still see them flying away like butterflies." $*3^ASHOK*0 kept
1660P10 quiet. ^*Sudhir hung his head and muttered on: "I do not know
1670P10 why I did such a thing. ^You will certainly agree that I was not a
1680P10 mischievous boy as such. ^No doubt, I had a deep affection for Meera.
1690P10 ^*I could not have wished for anything but her welfare.*#
        **[no. of words = 02003**]

        **[txt. p11**]
0020P11 **<*3Odour*0**>
0030P11 $^The monsoons had come again. $^Raindrops pattered on the
0040P11 *4peepul leaves outside the window. ^Inside was the bed where Randhir
0050P11 had slept with her. $^In the dark the rain-washed *4peepul leaves
0060P11 quivered like beautiful earrings. $^Here on the bed she had clung
0070P11 to him in frenzy. ^The low caste *4ghatan girl, whom he had sheltered
0080P11 from the torrid rain outside. $^Perhaps she worked in the
0090P11 factory nearby. ^*Randhir had watched her from his balcony-- seeking
0100P11 shelter under the tamarind tree. ^He had read the same newspaper
0110P11 several times over and had come out to the balcony, bored, and in quest
0120P11 of some fresh rain-washed air. $^He had cleared his throat.
0130P11 ^And this had drawn her attention. ^He had then called her up.
0140P11 $^For days he had been lonely and dejected. ^The war had drawn out
0150P11 of his reach those beautiful Anglo-Indian girls, who came for the evening,
0160P11 and often even for the night. ^They were not expensive-- and
0170P11 because of his English school education he preferred them to the common
0180P11 tarts he found in the usual brothels. ^When the war came, most
0190P11 of them joined the Women*'s Auxiliary Corps; others joined the new
0200P11 dancing schools in the Fort area. ^And only whites were admitted
0210P11 to these schools. $^*Randhir was frustrated. ^His favourite
0220P11 girls had gone off the market-- or were just inaccessible. ^And Randhir
0230P11 was annoyed becasue he considered himself better educated, more
0240P11 refined, and more handsome than the average Tommy. $^Before the
0250P11 war, Randhir had dated many of these girls and he knew more about their
0260P11 physical attributes than the Christian boys with whom they flirted,
0270P11 and the most gullible of whom they invariably married. $^He remembered
0280P11 the *4ghatan girl. ^He had called her over because of the airs
0290P11 Hazel had put on before joining the corps. ^Every morning he would
0300P11 see her walk out of her flat, just beneath his own, her khaki cap
0310P11 set at a rakish angle, with an arrogant self conscious stride.
0320P11 $^*Randhir wondered why he was always attracted by girls like Hazel.
0330P11 ^Was it their lack of inhibitions that_ drew him? ^Or was it
0340P11 their sheer physical magnetism? ^Or was it because they spoke so
0350P11 openly of their menstrual irregularities, their past indiscretions, their
0360P11 lusts and their loves? ^In bed they were like patent medicines
0370P11 with instructions for use marked. $^When Randhir had called the
0380P11 *4ghatan girl he had no intention of seducing her. ^He was concerned
0390P11 only because she was so wet. ^And that_*'1s why he had asked her
0400P11 to_ change out of her wet clothes. $^She understood him without even
0410P11 knowing his language. ^Bright gossamers of shame had floated in
0420P11 her eyes. ^And when he handed her a fresh white *4dhoti to_ wear,
0430P11 she had hesitated slightly before taking off her filthy coarse clothes,
0440P11 made filthier by the rain and the wet mud. $^As the soaked garment
0450P11 slithered down her thighs, she quickly covered herself with the *4dhoti.
0460P11 ^And then tried to take_ off her tight *4choli by opening the small
0470P11 knot embedded in the deep cleavage between her breasts. $^When her
0480P11 broken nails tried to_ loosen the knot and failed several times, she
0490P11 had despaired. ^And then Randhir had lost his patience-- and gripping
0500P11 the strings on either side, pulled hard-- and the knot had given way
0510P11 suddenly. ^His hands brushed over her breasts, which had trembled
0520P11 and come into view. $^Her breasts had the softness and cool warmth
0530P11 of vessels that_ had just come off the potter*'s wheel. ^They were
0540P11 moist in a rough and sensuous way, and yet cool and pliable. ^They
0550P11 shone dully, in a strange sensuous way-- and an ardour came up from
0560P11 within her translucent skin: uplifted, they looked like two beautiful
0570P11 glowing lamps. $^The monsoons had come again. $^Outside the window
0580P11 the *4peepul leaves were dripping. ^The *4ghatan girl*'s soaked,
0590P11 two piece dress was on the floor in a filthy heap. $^She had
0600P11 clung on to Randhir. ^The warmth of her naked, unwashed body had
0610P11 reminded him of a hot bath in winter in a filthy public bathing place.
0620P11 $^All night they made love-- with a strange ardour that_ was all-consuming.
0630P11 ^Neither spoke-- but the braille of their lips and hands
0640P11 was eloquent. ^They panted deep into the night. ^*Randhir
0650P11 fondled her breasts softly-- like the caress of the storm. ^Her dark
0660P11 areolas with their tiny nipples stiffened and trembled in strange unison,
0670P11 as the dams of passion broke. ^*Randhir had known such tremors
0680P11 before. ^He had held many women to his chest before and fondled their
0690P11 breasts, and played with their nipples till they were taut and bruised.
0700P11 $^He had slept with many girls. ^Some were simple and quiet;
0710P11 others talkative. ^Then there were the aggressive ones who did
0720P11 everything themselves-- Randhir just had to_ lie still on his back till
0730P11 the climax came. $^But this girl was unique. ^She was totally
0740P11 different. $^All night the strange odour from her body entranced
0750P11 him. ^It was a strange odour truly: it was both pleasant and
0760P11 filthy, commonplace and unique. ^It was in her armpits and breasts,
0770P11 in her filthy hair, in her navel, and in every nook and crevice of
0780P11 her body-- wherever he searched for it. ^That_ odour still remained--
0790P11 a distinct, indelible memory. $^Their bodies were fused together
0800P11 by this smell. ^They had merged into each other in that_ simple
0810P11 act of sex, and had delved down in fathomless depths-- sharing an unknown
0820P11 ecstasy that_ could never come back. ^Like a bird that_ flies into
0830P11 the azure-- higher and higher, till it become **[sic**] a dot. $^That_
0840P11 odour was like the fresh smell of earth after the rains: natural and eternal,
0850P11 like the relationship between man and woman since primeval times,
0860P11 ultimate lust. $^*Randhir hated sweat. ^After a bath he always
0870P11 used talcum powders or deodorants. ^And yet he had kissed her
0880P11 hairy sweating armpits a million times, and discovered a strange, bewildering
0890P11 pleasure. ^The sweat of her hairy armpits had smelt the same
0900P11 way. ^It was this unique, memorable odour that_ he alone understood
0910P11 and recognised. ^It was his very private world of experience.
0920P11 $^The monsoons had come again. $^*Randhir watched from his window
0930P11 the swaying *4peepul leaves bathed in rain. ^He listened to their
0940P11 rustle in the dark. $^The night was not black. ^A subdued brilliance
0950P11 came, washed down from the stars by the steady drizzle.
0960P11 ^It was the same season-- only there was another bed beside his inside the
0970P11 room. ^In the corner stood a new dressing table. $^It was again
0980P11 the season of rains, the season of marriages. $^The raindrops
0990P11 flushed the stars of their milky light-- and there was the strong fragrance
1000P11 of henna in the air. ^One of the beds was empty; on the other
1010P11 lay Randhir looking out of the window into the dark. $^The girl
1020P11 beside him was fair and beautiful. ^She was asleep, naked. ^Her
1030P11 red silk garment lay on the other bed its dark red cord dangling from
1040P11 the edge. ^Beside it lay her green shirt with matching red flowers,
1050P11 her brassiere, panties, and chiffon *4dupatta. ^All in flaming marriage
1060P11 red, scented with henna. $^Gold dust flecked her long dark
1070P11 tresses. ^The make-up on her face had blurred: the powder and rouge
1080P11 was like a pale mask of death. ^Her cream white breasts were blotched
1090P11 by her red brassiere. $^There were scratches on her body-- as if
1100P11 she had just come out of a packed crate. ^When Randhir had unknotted
1110P11 her tight brassiere, he had felt its marks on the soft flesh of her
1120P11 breasts and back. ^The cord of the *4salwar left a creased imprint
1130P11 around her waist. ^A heavy and sharp-edged gold necklace had bruised
1140P11 her breasts as if they had been scratched in wild passion.
1150P11 $^The monsoons had come again. $^Raindrops were falling on the *4peepul
1160P11 leaves outside. ^*Randhir heard the soft patter of night.
1170P11 ^A cool breeze was blowing-- and there was the fragrance of henna in
1180P11 the air. $^For a long time he stroked the girl*'s breasts, as white
1190P11 as fresh milk. ^His fingers brushed the nipples gently and played
1200P11 with them. ^They roved over her soft milky body, traced strange
1210P11 designs. ^His lust quickened. ^And as he drew her to his chest
1220P11 and her breasts filled the gap between them, every pore of his body
1230P11 heard the strumming of her awakened passion. $^But suddenly came back
1240P11 that memorable octave: the call of that_ *4ghatan girl*'s odour,
1250P11 a cry which had gone beyond the limits of sound, that_ nameless fragrance
1260P11 from her hairy armpits which screamed in his memory. $^*Randhir
1270P11 looked out of the window. ^Beyond the rustling *4peepul leaves he
1280P11 watched the luminous grey clouds. ^They had a strange glow like the
1290P11 one that_ had lurked in the *4ghatan girl*'s breasts. ^A secret
1300P11 glow that_ only few can see-- and, that_ even, only rarely. $^Beside
1310P11 him lay the girl whose complexion was as white as flour kneaded with
1320P11 milk and ghee. ^Her sleeping body had the fragrance of henna.
1330P11 ^A fragrance Randhir suddenly found distasteful and insipid-- a peculiar
1340P11 tang, like the taste left in the mouth after belching.
1350P11 $^*Randhir looked at her. ^Her skin was like curdled milk: lifeless,
1360P11 unpleasant. ^The odour came back: the smell of the unwashed,
1370P11 earthy, *4ghatan girl-- lighter and more penetrating than henna.
1380P11 ^*Randhir rallied and again turned to_ stroke her milk white body.
1390P11 his hands were numb; there was no responsive tremor. ^His new bride,
1400P11 a magistrate*'s daughter, a graduate, a heart throb at college,
1410P11 had failed to_ stoke the dying embers of his lust. $^In the dying
1420P11 fragrance of henna, he groped again for the odour of that_ *4ghatan girl--
1430P11 that_ unwashed smell, that_ fragrance which returns with each monsoon,
1440P11 when the *4peepul leaves flutter in the rain.
1450P11 $**<*3A Love Story*0**>
1460P11 $^When Ashley first walked into my home, and my life, I was 13
1470P11 years old and just beginning to_ get pimples from impure thoughts.
1480P11 ^Thirteen years old and beautifully ugly, as little girls are apt
1490P11 to_ be-- little girls who are destined after a few years to_ be inexpressibly
1500P11 lovely and bring no end of misery to a great number of men.
1510P11 ^*I was on the garden swing when I saw him walk through the gate with
1520P11 my brother Chris, and I began to_ swing a little faster.
1530P11 $^*Ashley was tall and lean and pensive, and wore spectacles with huge,
1540P11 circular lenses. ^But he had a wonderful, crooked smile.
1550P11 ^And one hell of an intellect. ^He just knew and knew and knew about
1560P11 things. ^He would lean back lazily in our armchair, his long legs
1570P11 ensconced in blue denims and discus Kahlil Gibran, vegetarianism
1580P11 and planchette with Chris. $^*I would sit across the room, my
1590P11 skirt falling neatly over my knees, my legs crossed intelligently, leaning
1600P11 forward seriously as they talked about existentialism. (^Later
1610P11 I looked it up in the dictionary). ^Apart from his friendly "Hi!"
1620P11 Ashley almost never spoke to me. ^And, although I longed to_,
1630P11 I could never gather the gumption to_ enter his world of clever conversation
1640P11 and witty repartee. ^Once, when they were discussing telepathy,
1650P11 I did think of something to_ say; but by the time I finished
1660P11 rehearsing it, it was too late, and Ashley was onto the subject of
1670P11 robots visiting this earth and demanding audience with kings, queens,
1680P11 water hydrants and whatnot. $^*Ashlyn (as my mother used to_ call
1690P11 him) had non-conformist views on religion and god. ^He*'1d say
1700P11 things like, "Religion is an illusion from which we all sometimes
1701P11 suffer," and, "God is an
1710P11 excuse that_ we use too often." ^All this would upset my mother
1720P11 and she*'1d start wringing her pudgy hands. ^But I would feel a
1730P11 little foolish, thinking of all the wooden crucifixes over our beds and
1740P11 the pictures of various saints ascending to heaven printed on slick magazine
1750P11 paper. $^*Ashley liked music. ^Often he would strum a careless
1760P11 chord on Chris*' guitar, and sometimes he would sing. ^A
1770P11 lot of his music was sad, and some of it constituted a "message" and
1780P11 echoed a generation*'s disillusion and protest calling for the love of man
1790P11 for man.*#
        **[no. of words = 02010**]

        **[txt. p12**]
0020P12 **<*3come fly with me*0**>
0030P12 $*3^THIS*0 is the story of Dadabhoy Pesi Eduwala known to his
0040P12 friends variously as "Egghead" and "Dada". and it is also about
0050P12 a carpet and a girl and a villain named Cassius, but we*'3ll come to
0060P12 them later. $^To_ get back to our hero; there were good reasons for
0070P12 each of his appellations. ^*Egghead was not only a pun on his name...
0080P12 "Edu" is the Parsi word for egg... it was aslo a description because
0090P12 our protagonist was as bald as one. ^And, finally, it referred
0100P12 to his hobby which was the collection and sale of rare carpets about
0110P12 which subject he waxed erudite. $^As for "Dada", though he was
0120P12 a mild-mannered man most of the time there was a certain quality in him
0130P12 that_ surfaced under great emotion. ^For instance, there was the
0140P12 time a rich and Mercedes owning client swore at him before the beauteous
0150P12 Miss Tootsie D*'3sa. ^*Pesi took it all without a flicker
0160P12 of emotion but he did make gentle enquiries with a chemical engineering
0170P12 colleague about the destructive powers of a mixture of Nitric and Hydrochloric
0180P12 Acid also known as Aqua Regia. ^A week later the affluent
0190P12 client suffered a considerable heart attack when his prize car was
0200P12 irreparably damaged by criss-crossing lines of corrosive liquid.
0210P12 ^But such aberrations, as I have said, were rare. ^He was, generally,
0220P12 a soft-spoken, self-effacing young man who preferred to_ pursue
0230P12 his esoteric-- though profitable-- hobby alone. $^And then the inevitable
0240P12 happened. ^*Pesi fell madly in love with Tootsie.
0250P12 ^It was the classic thing, soulful looks and sighs: the works. ^Every
0260P12 morning he went down from the Parsi Colony in Dadar to Santa
0270P12 Cruz... which is where girls like Tootsie live; waited with hang-dog
0280P12 spaniel eyes on the platform; allowed his heart to_ thump hard when she
0290P12 hoved in sight like a racing yacht... sleek lines built for speed,
0300P12 her spinnakers bursting with promise; and then trotted behind her to_
0310P12 enter the next compartment where he strap-hung in a rosy glow till the
0320P12 local slid into echoing Churchgate Station. ^But never once, not
0330P12 a single time in the first two weeks, did he dream of speaking to his
0340P12 vision of delight. $^It was what might have been referred to as a
0350P12 stale-mate if the word "mate" had not been so terribly inappropriate.
0360P12 $^And then one day, when Pesi was being carried along with the crowd
0370P12 streaming up over the Churchgate overbridge, Cassius Fonseca
0380P12 shouldered his way through and kept pace with him in the surging crowd.
0390P12 ^*Cassius was a live-wire salesman, all flashing teeth and knife-edge
0400P12 creases and brittle staccato bonhomie. ^And Cassius said:
0410P12 $"Say, Dada, what gives? ^How*'1s tricks?" ^He spoke in a dated
0420P12 slang compounded of movies, James Hadley Chase, and Byculla which
0430P12 is where he lived when he was not travelling. $^*Pesi stepped
0440P12 back to_ avoid a thrusting, double-chinned dowager smelling of Chanel.
0450P12 $"^Oh, good evening, Cassius," he said precisely. "^*I*'3m
0460P12 very fine. ^How are you?" $^*Cassius grabbed his arm and
0470P12 propelled them through a break in the crowd, three downward steps at
0480P12 a time. "^Fine. ^Top of the world. ^A-- \0OK." ^They
0490P12 stepped onto the pavement and Cassius grabbed his arm again and they
0500P12 ran into the station, down the platform, swung into a waiting train.
0510P12 $"^Oh dear!" said Pesi. "^This is a First Class compartment.
0520P12 ^*I never travel First." $^*Cassius grinned, pulled him down
0530P12 on the upholstered seat. "^No sweat. ^More comfort. ^But do tell:
0540P12 what*'1s with you and the Tittsie Bird? ^Eh?" $^*Pesi looked
0550P12 around embarrassed. ^There were at least ten other people in the compartment
0560P12 but they were all engaged in the "Evening News," the "Economic
0570P12 Times" or "Imprint"... but he blushed all the same. $"^*I..."
0580P12 he felt hot under the collar, "I don*'4t know what you mean," he mumbled.
0590P12 $"^Ye gods!" ^*Cassius slapped his thigh with a crack like
0600P12 a pistol shot. "^Don*'4t say you haven*'4t whispered sweet nothings in
0610P12 her shell-pink ear..." the train started and flashed out of Churchagate.
0620P12 "^Or kissed those juicy lips. ^Or squeezed those..." another
0630P12 train rushed past and mercifully, drowned Cassius*' words, but Pesi
0640P12 blushed again. ^However, beneath the blush, something else had
0650P12 begun to_ stir. $"^No," he said and his voice was not as gentle
0660P12 as it had been. $"^Hah!" exploded Cassius, after he had assessed
0670P12 the potential of a red *4salwar-kameez walking with a cheese-cloth top
0680P12 and patched jeans at Marine Lines. "^Then why don*'4t you?" $^The
0690P12 thing within Pesi moved with greater determination and he frowned.
0700P12 "^Why don*'4t I what?" he asked, his voice edged with hardness.
0710P12 $"^Why don*'4t you whisper sweet nothings in her shell-pink ears,
0720P12 kiss those juicy lips and squeeze..." Cassius caught the steel-edge
0730P12 flash in Pesi*'s eyes and he paused, shivering inwardly,..... those
0740P12 lovely hands," he finished lamely. ^And then he stood up to_ leave
0750P12 at the approaching Grant Road which was a station before his
0760P12 destination. ^He was surprised to_ see his victim rise with him
0770P12 and come to the door. ^The train slowed, stopped. ^*Pesi said
0780P12 softly: "What were you saying?" there was no doubt about the menace
0790P12 in his voice and expression. ^He also seemed to_ be much bigger now.
0800P12 $^*Cassius stepped away, allowing other passengers to_ alight.
0810P12 ^He looked at Pesi and hesitated, and then he said: "No hard feelings,
0820P12 eh? ^No offence. ^Brotherly advice, huh? ^Why don*'4t you
0830P12 try and date her, eh? ^Just try, eh? \0^*OK goodbye then. ^Goodbye."
0840P12 $^And he stepped off the train just as it began to_ move, so
0850P12 perhaps it was an accident. ^Perhaps. ^But when he landed on
0860P12 the platform his teeth hit first, then his nose, then his lips and then
0870P12 his forehead which immediately opened in a two inch slash and made a
0880P12 gory mess on the concrete. $^But the train had already rushed
0890P12 out of the station and Pesi was resting back on the seat, his eyes
0900P12 veiled in thought so that even the ticket checker passed him by respectfully.
0910P12 $*3^SOMETHING*0 emerged out of all that_, the Dada personality
0920P12 began to_ take over. ^*Pesi bought orchids from Apollo
0930P12 Florist, cakes from Bombellis and, with considerable courage presented
0940P12 them to the beauteous \0Miss Tootsie D*'3sa and said: $"^\0Miss D*'3sa...
0950P12 Tootsie... accept these as a birthday present. ^From me."
0960P12 $^*Tootsie was surprised and not a little flattered. "^But...
0970P12 it*'1s not my birthday. ^Is it?" she looked at him under lowered lashes
0980P12 (she was that_ sort of girl)... "^Is it your birthday?" $"^No,"
0990P12 said Pesi, with considerable vehemence which surprised even him.
1000P12 "^It is not my birthday. ^But then the chances are that one million
1010P12 seven hundred and thirty-seven thousand Indians are celebrating
1020P12 their birthdays today... or they should be celebrating their birthdays
1030P12 today... so why don*'4t we join them? $^*Tootsie did a swift calculation,
1040P12 for she was secretary to the Chief Accountant, and regarded
1050P12 Pesi with new respect. ^Any man who could pull such a line, calculate
1060P12 so fast, and work with so much panache... or was it eclat?... must have
1070P12 something in him. ^She decided to_ find out. \0^*OK, she
1080P12 said, deciding to_ break her date for that_ evening. ^And thus did
1090P12 the friendship blossom. $^And blossom it did for Pesi was generous,
1100P12 unusual... any man with such a young face and such a glistening bald
1110P12 head is unusual... dressed well and was interesting when he got onto
1120P12 his favourite topic. $"^How did you first get interested in carpets?"
1130P12 she asked, when they dined in the Golden Dragon. $"^Through
1140P12 the Arabian Nights," he said, helping her to a liberal measure of
1150P12 prawns in garlic sauce. $"^The Arabian Nights?" she repeated, wondering.
1160P12 $^He nodded but did not elaborate. ^They sat close in the
1170P12 taxi but he did not hold her hand or try any "funny stuff" as
1180P12 she termed such activities. $"^What do you mean "Arabian Nights'?"
1190P12 she asked, gently disengaging her hand when the interval lights came
1200P12 on in *3Star Wars*0 on their next date. $"^*Flying Carpets," said Pesi,
1210P12 looking at her lovingly. ^And then they went out to_ buy slabs
1220P12 of Amul chocolate. $^That_ night they held hands in the taxi but
1230P12 that_ was all. $^During a Sunday lunch at the Outrigger she said:
1240P12 "You still haven*'4t told me about the carpet thing." $"^What
1250P12 carpet thing?" he asked, delighting in her cool, lime-green dress that_
1260P12 seemed to_ light up her tawny skin. $"^That_ tie up with the Arabian
1270P12 Nights and all that_. ^What*'1s so secret about it?" $^He looked
1280P12 into her amber eyes and said: "This is the wrong time and place.
1290P12 ^Can I come across this evening or will your two nursemaids be around?
1300P12 $^She frowned. ^*Pesi had kissed her once on the steps of the flat
1310P12 she shared with two nurses and once in a taxi but she had never let him
1320P12 into the flat. ^And then she said: "\0OK." ^This evening.
1330P12 ^At 6.30. ^The nursemaids... as you call them... return at 9." $^He
1340P12 nodded and smiled. "^That_*'3ll be enough," he said and then added,
1350P12 "for the story." $^She knew what to_ expect, of course, and she
1360P12 was ready. ^*Tootsie was a girl of her age and so she carried out all
1370P12 her flight checks... as they are sometimes referred to_... shooed
1380P12 away her room-mates, dabbed perfume on all the usual places and a few
1390P12 unusual ones and was all set for take-off when the bell rang and he was
1400P12 at the door with a huge bunch of roses. $^Well, of course, that_
1410P12 wasn*'4t quite in the programme. ^Men don*'4t come around with
1420P12 roses nowadays, not on such a promising date: a bottle of perfume would
1430P12 be more appropriate and far more rewarding. ^So that_ was the first
1440P12 disappointment. ^And then, when they got settled on the sofa, and
1450P12 soft music played, and the lights were just right, he said: "I*'3ll
1460P12 tell you about Flying Carpets," and he did. ^So these were the
1470P12 second and third disappointments. ^She tried to_ appear interested for
1480P12 the first ten minutes but after that_ her attention waned and she made
1490P12 the appropriate noises for a while but, then, when he still went on
1500P12 she didn*'4t even try to_ seem interested. $^So she missed all the
1510P12 fascinating details about the ancient Bokharo carpets created by
1520P12 the wandering Turkomans. ^*Little carpets that_ glowed like jewels
1530P12 with cleverly woven silk threads in geometrical designs. ^And his
1540P12 theory that some of them incorporated ancient lore from the lost civilization
1550P12 of Mu where strange circuits were threaded into the little rugs
1560P12 the way electronic circuits are printed now. ^And how these circuits
1570P12 were powered by that_ mysterious force called gravity which was really
1580P12 the warp of space around matter. ^And how all they required was for
1590P12 a man to_ sit on the appropriate spot and *3will*0 the movement of the
1600P12 carpet... for what was will but the focused projection of the mind-force?...
1610P12 and the carpet would rise and flow along the gravitic lines
1620P12 of power. ^A forward slant of the body and the carpet would go down,
1630P12 a backward lean and the carpet would rise, right and left tilts would
1640P12 make it bank and turn. ^Of course this was all legend and lore but if
1650P12 he could find such a carpet... for he was certain that they existed...
1660P12 then he would make a fortune and.... $^He paused there, brought
1670P12 back to reality by the silence around him. ^The cassette had switched
1680P12 itself off, his voice had stopped, and Tootsie was quiet.
1690P12 ^In fact, she was fast asleep. $^He arose, terribly ashamed and confused,
1700P12 and tiptoed slowly out of the door. ^On the way down he met
1710P12 the two nursemaids coming up and blushed when they gave him knowing smiles.
1720P12 $*3^THAT_*0 was the end, of course. ^No budding affair can
1730P12 take that_ sort of beating. ^His assertive Dada personality submerged
1740P12 itself in shame. ^He had his desk shifted to an obscure corner
1750P12 of the office and timed his arrivals and departures so that they would
1760P12 not meet, even accidentally. $^She was a little hurt, at first.
1770P12 ^But then she rationalised it, as all women can. "^*I can*'4t marry a
1780P12 carpet seller, can I?" she asked herself in the mirror. "^And
1790P12 he has no future in the office, does he?"*#
        **[no. of words = 02020**]

        **[txt. p13**]
0010P13 **<*3The Lost Rapture*0**> **[leader comment begin**] $*3^Talk of the
0020P13 town she was. ^Everyone had his own little story to_ relate. ^How she,
0030P13 a woman of 49, had smiled at him like an adolescent, how the fake gypsy
0040P13 woman had spat on her face, how her fancy man on the motorbike had blown
0050P13 her a sly kiss... **[leader comment end**] $*3^*MONIKA CHANDA*0
0060P13 keeps a beautiful house off one of the wide tree-lined avenues of imperial
0070P13 Delhi-- New Delhi, as it is properly called by those with an
0080P13 ear for historical accuracy, the seat of the newest empire-builders. $^As
0090P13 one sweeps up the wide sweeping drive-- what else can one do but sweep?--
0100P13 past the flaming bougainvillaea and the strategic laburnum that_
0110P13 periodically lets fall over the freshly raked gravel a spray of yellow
0120P13 blossoms, one comes upon a discreetly hedged-in rose-garden, set in
0130P13 a lawn as near as you can get to emerald in an unfortunately tropical
0140P13 climate. ^Delicately worked cane-chairs, the finest Darjeeling in a silver
0150P13 service, and you*'3re beginning to_ get the picture. $^The drapes
0160P13 in the sitting-room are a modest raw silk, pale cream to_ set off
0170P13 the pale pastels of the upholstery. ^Eye-level lighting from assorted
0180P13 beautiful lamps and a mildly incongruous studio light permanently trained
0190P13 upon a large antique Rajasthani print. ^But this is tiresome. ^The
0200P13 beautiful Monika Chanda keeps a beautiful house and, for someone
0210P13 who has been in and out of the cocktail circuit for the past quarter
0220P13 of a century, it would be surprising if she didn*'4t. ^And she
0230P13 does*'4t like to_ give big surprises. $^Everything, in fact, accords with
0240P13 the dignity and-- what is that_ horrid word the lower middle-classes
0250P13 use with such anxious frequency?-- *3status*0 of her husband*'s office.
0260P13 ^He is a faceless bureaucrat and rumour has it that the more faceless
0270P13 they become the more inscrutably powerful. ^Well, \0Mr Chanda is
0280P13 nearly invisible. $^Through this pastel dream compounded from Beautiful
0290P13 Homes and Cottage Industries *3bric-a-brac*0, Monika Chanda moves
0300P13 effortlessly like some weird fawn, her slim waist the envy of all
0310P13 the knitting pachyderms with whom she dutifully associates. $^A photograph
0320P13 on the bedroom shelf reminds the whirring air-conditioners of the
0330P13 doe-eyed, startlingly innocent beauty who drove so many young men into
0340P13 careers and worse. ^But the years have been kind to our heroine and,
0350P13 at forty-nine, Monika Chanda is even more charming. ^There is about
0360P13 her a kind of softness, a cool civilised invitation that_ is the
0370P13 very opposite of the nervous tight aura teenagers carry around. $^There
0380P13 is a touch of mischief about her I must tell you of. ^Nothing *7outre,
0390P13 mind you. ^She is terribly correct and does all the things she
0400P13 ought to_ do-- even coffee mornings with "official wives"-- with quite
0410P13 improbable grace. ^But I sometimes think she goes through it all with
0420P13 the barely concealed smile of a playful little girl. $^Once-- and this
0430P13 is only hearsay but I*'3m prepared to_ believe it-- she served up underdone
0440P13 spaghetti at a *3terribly*0 important buffet lunch. ^Oh! she
0450P13 was frightfully apologetic what with the spectacle of spaghetti strewn
0460P13 silks and long loops of live *4pasta curling down from important mouths,
0470P13 but it nearly cost her husband, the invisible \0Mr Chanda, a \0UN
0480P13 assignment he had worked long for. ^Yet-- and this is where she is
0490P13 incomparably exquisite-- I don't think she could really have given the
0500P13 teeniest unladylike damn. $^There are lots of other little things I
0510P13 could tell you about except I think I won*'4t. ^*I*'3m not prudish or
0520P13 anything, but I don*'4t trust my intuition about such things any more.
0530P13 ^My imagination, oh well, my imagination. ^*I*'3ll tell you what a
0540P13 friend of mine once said-- when a girl smiled at him in the library one
0550P13 day he feared it might be no more than his figment of an imagination
0560P13 gone wild. ^Well, my figment is going round the bend. $*3^IN*0 the
0570P13 manner of husbands who have beautiful wives they can but faintly comprehend,
0580P13 Ashwin Chanda-- Ash to his friends and to many others besides--
0590P13 is devotedly, anxiously and sometimes dismissively solicitous of Monika*'s
0600P13 well-being. ^When last October he coudn*'4t get away for even
0610P13 as much as a week-- an emergency, no less-- he arranged accommodation
0620P13 for his wife and two sons in a picturesquely rustic but quite comfortable
0630P13 "hut" on a fir-clad mountainside in Kulu so that they, at any
0640P13 rate, could get away from the metropolitan metronome. ^Move to a different
0650P13 rhythm or something like that_. ^Air tickets, persons to_ contact
0660P13 in case of difficulty, he felt happy. ^A dutiful man, he had done his
0670P13 duty. ^And after he had seen them off at Palam he confessed to
0680P13 himself, discreetly and in the strictest confidence, that he felt, actually,
0690P13 relieved. $^*October clouds are rare in Kulu, so when dark masses
0700P13 of menacing rain-cloud began creeping up from behind the mountains,
0710P13 darkening the valley skies, the superstitious local people found a
0720P13 ready explanation in the impending visit of important personages for the
0730P13 official inaugural of the autumn festival. ^But \0Mrs Chanda was
0740P13 in the valley already, comfortably ensconced, with her two sons-- Abhijit,
0750P13 aged twenty, and Arup, who had just turned eighteen. $^As they
0760P13 came down the hillside that_ morning the air was heavy with the threat
0770P13 of rain. ^And that_ wasn*'nt all. ^The kind of enervating, sterile tension
0780P13 that_ dogs all official celebration like a mocking halo, that_ makes
0790P13 all state festivities feel like state funerals and, in all fairness,
0800P13 *8*3vice versa*0*9, was splashed all over the strained faces that_
0810P13 were busily rushing around. $^Some persons were putting up a pavilion
0820P13 detailing all the magnificent progress made by the state and the nation,
0830P13 the inevitable handloom stall was hawking Kulu *4shawls and ridiculous
0840P13 caps, and an \0FP booth was issuing megaphonic calls to all and
0850P13 sundry to_ come and get themselves sterilised for the nation. ^On the
0860P13 other side of the road-- the other side belongs to the people-- lime-filled
0870P13 borders marked the area allotted to each stall. ^There were some
0880P13 sweetmeat sellers doing a dull trade and the inevitable plainsfolk selling
0890P13 the tawdry woollens that_ are the lasting gift of the shoddy to the
0900P13 pavements of India. $*3^DEPRESSING.*0 ^It is unlikely that either
0910P13 Monika Chanda or her sons even noticed the ramshackle structure
0920P13 of corrugated tin and cheap wooden planks that_ was being put up quite
0930P13 some distance behind the sweetmeat shops and the piles of Ludhiana
0940P13 rubbish. ^And when the two young men said that they would rather go
0950P13 on up the valley to Manali and beyond, she felt it would be cruel not
0960P13 to_ let them. ^She herself would stay up at the hut, unwinding. ^Read
0970P13 a book, take a walk, watch the colts at play, pick flowers. $^And that_
0980P13 is just what she did-- or most of it, most of the day, anyway. ^She
0990P13 was reading a novel about a lot of people living together in some fantastic
1000P13 mountain sanatorium where they seemed to_ do nothing all day except
1010P13 talk intelligently of life and love and other momentous matters.
1020P13 $^But by late afternoon she was beginning to_ feel gently, unassertively
1030P13 bored. ^And when the harsh voice came grating over the public address
1040P13 system-- the well of death, ladies and gentlemen, come to the well
1050P13 of death... a daring young man... flower of his youth... risk his life
1060P13 for you, only fifty *4paise...-- she could no more resist it than a
1070P13 romantic hero the call of a flute playing across shadowy waters. ^She
1080P13 would stretch her limbs, take the air-- for the clouds had miraculously
1090P13 dispersed. $^The rest is not very pleasant, so I*'3m going to_
1100P13 get it over with as briefly as I can. ^What she saw for her fifty *4paise
1110P13 was a young man in a printed artificial silk shirt that_ was unbuttoned
1120P13 almost all the way down to his sternum-- it*'1s where the floating
1130P13 ribs are, in case you didn*'4t know *3that_*0-- his long hair slicked
1140P13 down with brilliantine so they glistened, standing beside a stripped
1150P13 down motorcycle-- naked, if you see what I mean, nothing but the action.
1160P13 ^Also on the platform was a gypsy-looking woman in a tight-fitting
1170P13 blouse and a long printed skirt in some absurdly clinging material, with
1180P13 a bright silk scarf round her neck which she tied on the wrist of
1190P13 our hero in a theatrical gesture before he began his descent into the
1200P13 well of death. ^But I don*'4t think she noticed her. ^Not then. $*3^As*0
1210P13 far as I*'3m concerned, if you*'3ve seen one motorcycle act, you*'3ve
1220P13 seen them all. ^The motor starts reluctantly-- suspense-- and, when
1230P13 it does, the rider just slips down the slope and keeps going on and on,
1240P13 up and down with the accumulating momentum of his whirling machine
1250P13 for as long as he thinks his viewers*' interest will hold. ^The motor
1260P13 coughs and splutters, but they always come out all right. ^And the suckers
1270P13 go away thinking they*'3ve had their money*'s worth. ^Well of death
1280P13 indeed! $^The point is that no one, but no one, goes back. ^Except
1290P13 Monika Chanda. ^Not that_ very afternoon, in all fairness-- she went
1300P13 for a walk in the mountains, vaguely agitated. ^Something had moved.
1310P13 $^But the next morning she was there. ^When the small-time impresario
1320P13 put up his shutters, coughing to_ clear his throat before he began barking
1330P13 his invitation into the crackling system, he was surprised to_ find
1340P13 the elegant \0Mrs Chanda, radiant in silk, waiting. ^And she was
1350P13 there for the rest of the day, she must have spent a small fortune watching
1360P13 that_ ridiculous young man going round and round on his silly motor-cycle.
1370P13 $^Talk of the town she was. ^Everyone had his own little
1380P13 story to_ relate. ^How she had smiled at him like some moistening adolescent--
1390P13 I can believe *3that_*0-- how the fake gypsy woman had spat
1400P13 on her face, how her fancy man had blown her a kiss during a slack period
1410P13 on the fourth afternoon when no one was looking-- or so he thought...
1420P13 $*3^LATER*0 that_ afternoon, when she went on her walk to_ still
1430P13 her agitated spirit, to_ stroke and soothe the ruffled garish thing
1440P13 that_ was thrusting itself into life within her, he followed her. ^He
1450P13 caught up with her in a secluded part of the wood and must have said
1460P13 something as hysterically banal as "^*I love you" because she laughed.
1470P13 ^But at once she began to_ feel guilty. ^The pain, the raw hurt, the
1480P13 simple sense of injury in his eyes as he flinched, his hands bereft of
1490P13 the reassurance of his stripped motorcycle, fingering the empty air--
1500P13 that_ really got through to her. $^Oh I don*'4t really think it was
1510P13 love. ^It was something far deadlier. ^It was pity, pity for him, for
1520P13 his desperate vulgarity, for herself, immured behind pastel shades of
1530P13 raw silk. ^But, from that_ day on, Monika Chanda behaved as irresponsibly
1540P13 as if she were a flower-child on Anjuna and not a respectable
1550P13 mother of two fine strapping sons now exploring the monastery at Keylong,
1560P13 impeccable hostess, wife of the equally impeccable Ash Chanda,
1570P13 senior civil servant. $*3^THE*0 townspeople, of course, say she flirted
1580P13 outrageously, but you can discount some of that_. ^Yet it is certainly
1590P13 true that the scandal grew to such proportions that the impresario,
1600P13 aforementioned, thought seriously of moving his show to some place
1610P13 where viewers were not likely to_ get quite so involved as to_ watch
1620P13 *3every*0 trip down into the well of death with lips half-open, eyes
1630P13 tense with ecstasy and, I*'3m afraid, rather superfluous concern. ^They
1640P13 say they even saw them walking hand in hand, her head on his shoulder,
1650P13 her silvering hair falling softly over his artiflcial silk shirt...
1660P13 $^When her sons returned, they did not find her where they had expected
1670P13 to_ find her, curled around a book. ^And it soon became evident
1680P13 from the servant*'s faces that something was the matter. ^The well of
1690P13 death, one of them blurted, then turned away to_ conceal the smile of
1700P13 vicarious delight that_ was suffusing his countenance. $^Both of
1710P13 them started down the hillside but it was the younger son, Arup who flung
1720P13 a *(rupee-note*) at the bewildered impresario and clattered up the
1721P13 rickety wooden
1730P13 stairs just as that_ particular descent was approching fulfilment.*#
        **[no. of words = 02031**]

        **[txt. p14**]
0010P14 **<*3the path of sidney carton*0:**> $*3^*DINESH*0 smiled wryly when
0020P14 the advertisement 'Made for each other' appeared on the screen. ^He
0030P14 then looked at Kalpana through the corner of his eye. "^Only the
0040P14 horoscopes matched," he grumbled to himself. "^Certainly we*'3re not made
0050P14 for eacth other. ^Oh, if only I had met Lavanya before I got
0060P14 hitched up to this plain-looking Kalpana....." ^He couldn*'4t help
0070P14 comparing Lavanya*'s beauty, her charm, her poise.... $^Why
0080P14 was Kalpana so insistent in dragging him to the picture?-- he wondered.
0090P14 ^Never had she been so stubborn and insinuating. ^Does she suspect
0100P14 his affair with Lavanya? "^*I feel neglected," she burst out that_
0110P14 morning. ^You always come home late... and you don*'4t seem to_
0120P14 care for me." $"^Oh no, Kalpana," he had protested. "^Work is heavy...."
0130P14 $"^This evening we*'3re going to a picture," she had suddenly announced
0140P14 and stared at him as if to_ ask: "^Any objection," $"^Why not
0150P14 some other day?" ^He tried to_ stall her, remembering his appointment
0160P14 with Lavanya. $"^Why? ^Do you have any important appointment
0170P14 with anyone?" ^The way in which she had stressed 'important' and 'anyone'
0180P14 made him wince. ^She was so adamant that he had to_ finally yield.
0190P14 $*3^*LAVANYA*0 also was giving him trouble. ^She was pestering him
0200P14 to_ marry her soon. ^At their last meeting at the Marina Beach,
0210P14 she had almost delivered an ultimatum. "^*Dinesh, how long do you
0220P14 think we can carry on like this? ^Vicious tongues have already started
0230P14 wagging. ^You may not care.... but I do. ^And what*'1s the difficulty
0240P14 in getting a divorce from Kalpana?" $"^Well" he had replied, "do
0250P14 you think it*'1s going to_ be that_ easy?" $"^*I don*'4t care,"
0260P14 she had said. "^You*'3ve to_ somehow manage it. ^If you really love
0270P14 me, you*'3ll do anything.... and when I say any **[sic**] anything..."
0280P14 $^The harsh way in which she had put it, made him shudder. ^He wondered
0290P14 whether Kalpana would agree to_ easily or would she give him
0300P14 endless trouble? ^Anyway he*'1d have to_ face it. ^But how to_
0310P14 open the topic? ^*Dinesh sighed deeply. $^His deep sigh made Kalpana
0320P14 glance at him. "^No doubt he*'1s sighing for that_ Lavanya!,"
0330P14 she told herself. ^Her friend Jaya had already told her about his affair
0340P14 with Lavanya. ^She had seen them together at several places. ^And
0350P14 Jaya was no gossip. ^When Kalpana learnt that Lavanya was a
0360P14 ravishing beauty and that she was working as a steno in Dinesh*'s
0370P14 office, her heart sank. ^*Jaya didnt leave before delivering a pep
0380P14 talk. "^Look here Kalpana," she had said, "^It*'1s all your fault.
0390P14 ^You should keep him to yourself. ^Never allow him an opportunity to_
0400P14 roam about as he pleases. ^Insist on his taking you out often... and
0410P14 why not start with a picture to-morrow itself?" $*3^AS*0 they
0420P14 came out of the theatre and were settling in the car, Kalpana asked.
0430P14 "^Why not go via Marina?... ^The sea breeze will be refreshing....."
0440P14 ^*Dinesh silently turned the car towards Marina. $^As the car
0450P14 was cruising along the broad beach road, Kalpana broke the uncomfortable
0460P14 silence by asking, "^Did you like the picture?" $"^So-so," he
0470P14 answered indifferently. $^Kalpana couldn*'4t contain herself any longer.
0480P14 "^Perhaps you*'1d have liked it if Lavanya had come with you,"
0490P14 she blurted. ^She then bit her lip when it occurred to her that she
0500P14 had been tactless in having opened the subject so bluntly. ^The
0510P14 car swerved a bit off the centre of the road as her words hit him.
0520P14 ^*Dinesh steadied himself and then threw a quick glance at
0530P14 her. ^He then brought the car to a sudden halt near the kerb. ^Despite
0540P14 the cool breeze, beads of perspiration had suddenly sprouted
0550P14 on his forehead. $"^Who told you? ^He asked while wiping the sweat
0560P14 with a kerchief. "^Does it really matter?.... ^*I wish it were untrue....
0570P14 please assure me that there*'1s no such woman called Lavanya
0580P14 in your life...." $^Though sweating, his feeling was one of relief.
0590P14 ^After Lavanya*'s ultimatum, he was wondering how to_ broach the
0600P14 subject. ^*Kalpana had saved him the embarrassment. $"^*I*'3m sorry
0610P14 Kalpana," he said, "I myself thought of telling you everything.....
0620P14 but someone has forestalled me." $"^Then.... then.... it*'1s
0630P14 true?" $"*3^YES*0 ^And I couldn*'4t help it. ^*Lavanya draws me
0640P14 like a magnet.... ^She*'1s eager to_ marry me and asked me to_ divorce
0650P14 you...." ^He knew that he was putting it very bluntly but he was
0660P14 anxious to_ spill out everything. $"^And what was your reply?" she
0670P14 felt like asking, but kept mum as she dreaded to_ hear the unfavourable
0680P14 reply. ^She had never expected things to_ have gone that_ far.
0690P14 ^And the suddenness of the blow stunned her into silence. $^*Dinesh
0700P14 had expected her to_ erupt like a volcano and was preparing himself
0710P14 to_ face the onslaught. ^Her silence surprised and perturbed him.
0720P14 ^He decided to_ leave it there for the time being and switched on
0730P14 the ignition. $^As soon as they reached home, he told her, "^*I*'3ll
0740P14 skip dinner... I don*'4t feel like taking anything..." $^Though
0750P14 she felt he had wronged her, she couldn*'4t help asking, "^Why not
0760P14 atleast have a little of rice with *4rasam *4pappad or pickle?" $^The
0770P14 genuine concern in her voice made him feel ashamed of himself.
0780P14 ^A faint 'No' escaped from him as he hurried into the bed-room. ^As
0790P14 she also didn*'4t feel like taking anything, she shoved the dishes
0800P14 into the fridge. $^When she came back, he had already gone to bed.
0810P14 ^It hurt her to_ see him facing the wall. ^Had he turned his back
0820P14 on her once and for all? $*3^SHE*0 slumped on the bed and tears started
0830P14 running down her cheeks. ^However, she suppressed her sobs-- she
0840P14 was too proud to_ let him know that she was crying. ^Even while weeping,
0850P14 she racked her brain to_ find a way out of the impending crisis.
0860P14 ^Everything looked bleak. ^She felt that her whole future was going
0870P14 to_ crumble like a house of cards swept by a swift wind. $^When
0880P14 she got up the next morning, she was running a temperture. ^She didn*'4t
0890P14 take it seriously. ^She thought that it must have been brought
0900P14 about by the previous night*'s shocks, sweating and crying and took
0910P14 some patent medicines. ^But the fever continued even after three days
0920P14 of self-medication. ^And all these three days Dinesh had not
0930P14 spoken to her. ^In a way, his deliberate silence suited her for it helped
0940P14 her to_ avoid the dreaded topic-- divorce. "^No, I can never agree
0950P14 to_ divorce." she told herself. "^But what*'1s the way out? ^Things
0960P14 can*'4t go on like this....," ^She also reminded herself. ^She
0970P14 didn*'4t feel like telling Dinesh about her fever. ^When he had not
0980P14 cared for her love, why should she bother him about her body? $^*Kalpana
0990P14 always had a delicate constitution. ^The fever and lack of proper
1000P14 treatment had made her very weak. ^On the fourth night, she collapsed
1010P14 on the floor while coming out of the bath-room. ^*Dinesh reached
1020P14 her on the cot. ^As soon as he placed his hand on her forehead,
1030P14 he cried out, "^My goodness, it*'1s pretty hot. ^How long have you
1040P14 been suffering like this?" $"^For the past four days," she replied
1050P14 weakly. $"^Then why didn*'4t you tell me... ^Or at least you could
1060P14 have called the doctor....." $^There was more anguish than reproach
1070P14 in his voice. ^He then rushed to the phone and contacted the doctor.
1080P14 $*3^THE*0 doctor put her on powerful drugs. ^*Dinesh had applied
1090P14 for a week*'s leave. ^He could have easily saved himself the botheration
1100P14 by dumping her in a nursing home. ^But he preferred to_ stay
1110P14 beside her and give her his personal attention. ^That_ mellowed her
1120P14 attitude towards him. "^*I know that he*'1s basically good," she told
1130P14 herself. "^Though he doesn*'4t love me, he hasn*'4t failed in
1140P14 his duty as a husband." ^But if he didn*'4t love her what could she
1150P14 do about it? ^Love is something that_ cannot be forced on anyone-- it
1160P14 has to_ gush out spontaneously... ^*Kalpana felt bored lying down.
1170P14 ^She got up and rummaged the shelf and took out her favourite book:
1180P14 '^A Tale of Two Cities'. ^Though she had read it several times,
1190P14 she never got tired of reading it again and again. $^As she was
1200P14 going through the book, several questions crowded her mind. "^What*'1s
1210P14 the depth of my love for Dinesh?", she asked herself. "^Is it
1220P14 as deep, abiding and self-sacrificing as Sydney Carton*'s? ^Have
1230P14 I always placed Dinesh*'s happiness above mine? ^Am I not selfish
1240P14 and possessive? ^Shouldn*'4t I follow the path of Sydney Carton--
1250P14 to_ sacrifice myself so that Dinesh and Lavanya could live happily?"
1260P14 $^As she deeply pondered over these things, a certain calmness
1270P14 and serenity descended on her. "^Divorce, no," she told herself.
1280P14 ".....but death, yes." ^She wished that the fever would push
1290P14 her into the jaws of death. ^That_ would solve all problems-- her*'s
1300P14 Dinesh*'s and Lavanya*'s. ^She wanted to_ be like camphor-- to_burn
1310P14 out her life to_ brighten Dinesh*'s. ^That_ decision made her
1320P14 lose all interest in life. ^And with that_ went out her will to_
1330P14 combat the disease. $*3^*DINESH*0 was alarmed by the sudden deterioration
1340P14 in her condition. ^He urgently summoned the doctor. $^After
1350P14 completing his investigation, the elderly doctor slowly shook his
1360P14 head in despair. "^*I*'3m afraid it*'1s more psychological than
1370P14 physical," he told Dinesh. "^She seems to_ have lost all zest for
1380P14 living.... she looks so depressed..... something seems to_ be tormenting
1390P14 her mind... ^And you know, the dominance of the mind over the body
1400P14 is something that_ can*'4t be ignored. ^Once the mind loses the desire
1410P14 to_ live, a seriously afflicted body*'s defence crumble very quickly.
1420P14 ^Then even the most potent drug may not be effective...." ^He
1430P14 then looked straight into Dinesh*'s eyes and said, "^Of course,
1440P14 you must be knowing better.... ^It*'1s for you to_ infuse in
1450P14 her the will to_ live... the will to_ fight back..." ^*Dinesh averte
1460P14 the doctor*'s probing gaze. ^He felt guilty. ^He also felt that the
1470P14 shrewd doctor must have somehow guessed their estranged relationship.
1480P14 ^Otherwise why should he talk like that_ and look at him in that_
1490P14 peculiar way? $^After the doctor*'s departure, Dinesh, started
1500P14 brooding over his pregnant words. ^He wondered whether Kalpana
1510P14 was deliberately finding a way out through death. ^His thoughts were
1520P14 jarred by the sharp ringing of the phone. $\0^*Mr. Sharma, the
1530P14 Chief Accountant, was on the line. $"^How*'1s your missus?" he
1540P14 asked. $"^Still not out of danger," Dinesh replied. $"^Oh, I*'3m
1550P14 so sorry \0Mr. Dinesh. ^In that_ case I shouldn*'4t trouble
1560P14 you....." $"^What*'1s it?" $"*3^WELL...*0 you know that the
1570P14 audit is going on. ^They want some clarification which we feel you
1580P14 alone can give.... ^As the General Body meeting is fast approaching
1590P14 the audit has to_ be completed quickly.... ^*I was wondering
1600P14 whether it would be possible for you to_ go over here for just
1610P14 an hour.... ^But don*'4t bother... ^We*'3ll somehow manage...."
1620P14 $"^Please hold on.." Dinesh cupped the mouthpiece of the phone with
1630P14 his hand and looked at Kalpana. $"^Who*'1s it?," she asked feebly.
1640P14 $"^It*'1s the Chief Accountant. ^He wants to_ know whether
1650P14 I can be there for an hour... some urgent work...." $"^Please do
1660P14 go..." $"^But...." $"^Don*'4t worry about me... ^*I won*'4t die
1670P14 so soon. ^Even if I have to_ die early, I*'3ll hold my life till
1680P14 you return...." $"^No, Kalpana, you shouldn*'4t talk like that_...."
1690P14 $"^Please tell him you*'3re coming," she told him impatiently. $^*Dinesh
1700P14 mumbled some reply into the phone. ^Before leaving, he called
1710P14 the maid servant and asked her to_ look after Kalpana. $^It didn*'4t
1720P14 take much time for Dinesh to_ satisfy the auditors. ^While
1730P14 he was in his room, putting back the papers, Lavanya sailed in. ^She
1740P14 was overflowing with exuberance. $"^So she*'1s sinking...," she
1750P14 said gleefully. ^*Dinesh felt uneasy. "^Who told you," he asked.
1760P14 $"^The Chief Accountant, of course... ^And if she croaks that_*'3ll
1770P14 solve our problem.... there won*'4t be any need for a divorce...."
1780P14 $*3^HER*0 words left a bitter taste in his mouth. ^He looked
1790P14 deep into her eyes. ^Behind her beautiful mask, he could now clearly
1800P14 see a selfish and ugly mind-- a mind that_ would have no scruples
1810P14 to_ even suggest murder to_ achieve its end.*#
        **[no. of words = 02018**]

        **[txt. p15**]
0010P15 **<*3Phulwa*0**> $*3^THE*0 Mahatma Gandhi market of our town is
0020P15 no different from any other municipal market. ^You find the same
0030P15 row upon row of stalls selling vegetables, fruits, various kinds
0040P15 of pulses and dry chillies. ^In summer, however, the brilliant
0050P15 heaps of artistically arranged *4narangis will catch your eye.
0060P15 ^We are proud of this fruit of ours-- and justly so-- since it has
0070P15 few peers anywhere in the country. ^Indeed, it has become synonymous
0080P15 with the name of our town. $^What makes our market unique, however,
0090P15 is the presence of the Chattisgadhi women, whom you find
0100P15 near the stalls, holding their wicker baskets. ^In looks, apparel
0110P15 and bearing they are poles apart from your sophisticated city
0120P15 women. ^For one thing, they have no use for a *4choli. ^Toplessness
0130P15 has always been *8de riguer*9 amongst them. ^It is a toplessness
0140P15 with a difference though, since their magnificent bosoms are
0150P15 always demurely hidden behind the *4anchal of their *4saris. ^They
0160P15 are professional 'carriers', these Chattisgadhi women. ^In
0170P15 modern parlance, one could call them shipping and forwarding agents,
0180P15 since they deliver at your doorsteps the tomatoes and brinjals,
0190P15 cabbages and cauliflowers, potatoes and onions, *4narangis
0200P15 and apples, you have bought at the market. ^You don*'4t have
0210P15 to_ go looking for them. ^The moment you have paid the man at the
0220P15 stall, one of them will emerge from somewhere and ask you,
0230P15 "*4boza (load to_ carry) *4babuji?" $^Before the woman has so much
0240P15 as uttered those innocent words, people around you-- the vegetable
0250P15 and fruit vendors, your fellow shoppers, the other Chattisgadhi
0260P15 women-- will have been all eyes and ears. ^You will sense a certain
0270P15 tension in the atmosphere. ^If you decline the offer, the
0280P15 tension will disappear as mysteriously as it crept in and you will instantly
0290P15 cease to_ be of any interest. ^If however, you should conclude
0300P15 that the load is far too heavy and decide to_ let the woman carry
0310P15 the stuff, you will be in for a lot of unwanted publicity. ^In
0320P15 a way, you will have given yourself away. ^The fat *4marwari
0330P15 in front of you, sitting crosslegged behind a mound of *5tur dal*6,
0340P15 will then look askance at you; the fruit vendor at your right will
0350P15 wink at his colleague across the passage dividing the rows of
0360P15 stalls; the vegetable woman will toss her head contemptuously;
0370P15 the *4lungi clad eggseller will let out a distinctly vulgar
0380P15 whistle and the woman*'s *4sahelis will giggle and nudge each
0390P15 other knowingly. ^You mustn*'4t lose your cool. ^Just stand there
0400P15 unconcerned, while the woman is filling her basket and then turn
0410P15 straight homewards with head held high. $^On the way, you might
0420P15 encounter a friend of yours who will first give the woman the
0430P15 glad eye and then raise his eyebrows at you. ^Don*'4t make
0440P15 the mistake of wincing at the mischievous glint in his eyes. ^If
0450P15 the fellow happens to_ be an old fogey, he is likely to_ pull
0460P15 a long face and shake his head in disgust. $^*I am no chicken where
0470P15 women are concerned. ^No sir, not me! ^*Nurse Rosa will testify
0480P15 to that_. ^So also \0Ms. Shirgaonkar and, of course, comrade
0490P15 Kamala, with whom I have spent many a delightful evening
0500P15 unravelling the puzzle of dialectical materialism. ^And of
0510P15 those faceless society ladies, who have rewarded me in ample measure
0520P15 for the pleasure and happiness my stories and novels have
0530P15 brought into their idle lives, I have lost count. "^With a
0540P15 book of yours, I don*'4t have to_ worry about how I am going
0550P15 to_ pass the afternoon. ^No matter what you write, it always
0560P15 puts me in a frivolous mood for the evening party at the club,"
0570P15 is a refrain I never tire of hearing. $^Believe me, not once
0580P15 have I suffered the lewd glances of passersby when I
0590P15 have escorted one of these good ladies on an evening
0600P15 out. ^Far from it, I have noticed only admiration, mixed
0610P15 perhaps with a tinge of envy. ^It is apparently the done
0620P15 thing for a writer to_ satisfy his intellectual cravings by
0630P15 hobnobbing with readers of the fair sex. ^A Chattisgadhi
0640P15 woman is, however, another matter. ^She makes you "come
0650P15 down in the social scale." $^Till yesterday, I had scrupulously
0660P15 adhered to this code. ^If only Mohini had kept her appointment!
0670P15 ^Her administrator husband had after all gone to Buenos
0680P15 Aires-- or was it Lima?-- as leader of an Indian trade delegation.
0690P15 ^But I waited in vain. ^*I fumed and fretted. ^For well
0700P15 over a month I had been leading her gradually and systematically
0710P15 up the ladder of amour. ^*I had used the subtle tricks,
0720P15 which had been the undoing of so many maidens. ^*I rather pride
0730P15 myself on my *7finesse in this matter. ^It would not have been long
0740P15 before Mohini too went their way. ^*I had planned to_ take
0750P15 her that_ day. ^In honour of the occasion, I had banished
0760P15 the last speck of dust from my two-room bachelor flat.
0770P15 ^The bookshelves had been dusted. ^A bouquet of fresh roses
0780P15 awaited her on the small table near the fourposter bed. ^The
0790P15 foam mattress on it was covered with a freshly laundered pink
0800P15 bedsheet. ^And yet, she didn*'4t turn up. $^After a three-hour
0810P15 wait, I reached the end of my tether. ^No woman had made me
0820P15 look so ridiculous. ^*I looked at myself in the full length
0830P15 mirror behind the fourposter. ^My temples were throbbing with passion,
0840P15 my eyes were bloodshot and lips quivering. ^Never before had
0850P15 I felt so compulsive an urge to_ squeeze the bare shoulders
0860P15 of a woman. $^*I locked my flat and came out on the street.
0870P15 ^*I knew my destination. ^The one mile which lay between my flat
0880P15 and the market seemed to_ stretch endlessly. $^*I hardly
0890P15 noticed the fresh vegetables and fruits piled in the
0900P15 stalls and I was oblivious of the crowd of shoppers. ^For
0910P15 I had located, in the group of Chattisgadhi women, an exquisitely
0920P15 proportioned female who literally took my breath away.
0930P15 ^She had the kind of figure an *4apsara from a Khajuraho
0940P15 temple might have envied. "^*God is great," I told myself.
0950P15 "^*Mohini be damned. ^The old hag is no patch on this
0960P15 luscious creature." $^As I stood there staring at her
0970P15 fixedly, she probably guessed what was going on in my
0980P15 mind. $"*4^Boza *4babuji?" $^Those two words sent a shiver
0990P15 through my body. $"*5^Chalo, hamare saath*6," I commanded
1000P15 her. $^Next moment she was following me with her empty
1010P15 wicker basket. ^We had almost reached the outer gate
1020P15 of the market when she asked me, "^And what about the vegetables?"
1030P15 $"^Oh, the vegetables?" ^Though I was dying to_
1040P15 reach home as early as possible, I retraced my steps
1050P15 and bought some *4narangis and apples. ^*I admonished myself.
1060P15 ^It was unbecoming of a veteran hunter like me, after all the
1070P15 prey was now within my grasp! $^Once on the road, I
1080P15 became my usual debonair self-- the gallant, urbane charmer with
1090P15 the polished manners that_ many of my lady loves had found
1100P15 irresistible. $"^What*'1s your name?" I asked her. $"^*Phulwa." $"^Oh,
1110P15 how romantic!" ^She just shrugged her shoulders at this
1120P15 compliment. $"^How long have you been in this town?" ^*I asked
1130P15 her. $"^Four, maybe five years." $"^And how old are you, Phulwa?"
1140P15 ^*I was sure a country lass would not take such a question
1150P15 amiss. $"^No idea *4babuji. ^Around twenty-two, I reckon!"
1160P15 $"^Nonsense! ^You can*'4t be more than eighteen!" $"^Could be!" she
1170P15 answered with complete indifference. $"^You married?" $"^Yes."
1180P15 $"^Where is your master, then?" $"^He has left me." $"^Tut.
1190P15 ^Tut." $^She ignored my expression of sympathy. "^It is all
1200P15 part of life." she exclaimed blandly. ^Her voice was utterly devoid
1210P15 of emotion. ^*I had a feeling she was trying to_ console me!
1220P15 $"^How much do you make in a day?" $^The question seemed to_ touch
1230P15 her on the raw. ^She looked at me with those large, clear eyes of
1240P15 hers and said, "^Hardly enough to_ buy two meals." $"^A
1250P15 couple of *4rupees, perhaps?" $"^We don*'4t get to_ see a *4rupee
1260P15 for days together, *4babuji." ^On reaching home, she asked me,
1270P15 $"^Where shall I put the basket?" $"^Put it over there in the
1280P15 corner." ^As I said that_ I pinched her bare back. ^It was moist
1290P15 with perspiration. $^This is a favourite ruse of mine. ^It
1300P15 has never failed to_ evoke a feigned expression of annoyance
1310P15 from my lady friends. ^But Phulwa remained unresponsive.
1320P15 ^She quietly walked across the room and lowered the basket
1330P15 in a corner. ^*I was furious with her. ^It was the first time
1340P15 a woman had given me the cold shoulder in so unmistakable a fashion.
1350P15 ^*I was certainly not going to_ let a mere country lass
1360P15 treat me like dirt. ^*I quickly ran towards the door
1370P15 and banged it shut. $"^Are you afraid?" ^*I asked her teasingly.
1380P15 $"^Afraid? ^Why should I be afraid, *4babuji?"
1390P15 $"^*I have locked the front door, that_*'1s why." $"^Don*'4t
1400P15 the locked doors ever get unlocked?" $^My God! ^What a thing
1410P15 to_ say! ^Her complete lack of feeling for the niceties made
1420P15 me mad with rage. ^*I looked at her with flaming eyes. ^But
1430P15 she wasn*'4t looking at me. ^Her gaze was riveted on those
1440P15 *4narangis and apples I had bought. ^She was behaving
1450P15 as if I were an impotent man. ^That_ inflamed me all the
1460P15 more. ^*I seized her by her bare shoulders, and shaking them violently,
1470P15 shouted her name. ^That_ jolted her out of her reverie.
1480P15 ^She said meekly, "^Where shall I empty the basket *4babuji?"
1490P15 $"^In that_ cupboard, over there. ^And clean the glass
1500P15 jars in it while I change my clothes," I said sternly.
1510P15 $^*I went into my bedroom. ^*I was now practically swooning
1520P15 with desire. ^As I took off my shoes and got into a *4kurta
1530P15 *4pyjama, I could feel the blood coursing through my veins.
1540P15 ^One more minute and I would crush that_ young, fleshy,
1550P15 female body with my bare hands. ^*I barged into the drawing
1560P15 room... and stopped in my tracks. ^*Phulwa had her back towards
1570P15 me. ^She was so busy gobbling the *4burfi from one of the
1580P15 jars in my cupboard that she was completely lost
1590P15 to the world around her. "^*Phulwa," I screamed. $"*4^Babuji,"
1600P15 she panicked at being caught, red handed. ^She stood
1610P15 there holding the jar, trembling with fear. $"^Aren*'4t you ashamed
1620P15 of stealing like a petty thief?" $"*5^Maaf karana, babuji*6.
1630P15 ^*I was famished. ^*I have not eaten a morsel since yesterday."
1640P15 she said apologetically. $"^So what? ^That_ does not give you the
1650P15 right to_ steal." $"^*I know. ^*I have sinned, but I am helpless.
1660P15 ^People like us are forever hungry. ^That_ is what drives us out
1670P15 of our villages into the big cities." $"^To_ steal,
1680P15 eh?" $^She dropped down on her kness and touched my feet. ^Her *4anchal
1690P15 fell from her shoulders baring her shapely bust but she did not
1700P15 seem to_ notice it. $"*5^Maafi chahti hoon, malik*6," she held
1710P15 fast to my feet. ^*I took both her hands in mine and raised
1720P15 her to her feet. ^The palms of her hands were hard and rough
1730P15 to the touch. ^As I tried to_ drape her exposed bust with her
1740P15 *4anchal my fingers touched its firm contours. ^While my
1750P15 heart missed a beat, it left her completely cold. ^My
1760P15 spirits sank at her utter insensitivity. ^She was still eyeing
1770P15 the jar of *4burfi longingly. $"^*Phulwa," I was surprised
1780P15 at the hoarseness in my voice, "finish up all that_
1790P15 *4burfi first." $"^No no, *4malik, I can*'4t do
1800P15 that_!" $"^Why not? ^Quick, eat it." ^She still hesitated.
1820P15 "^Do you think I am now going to_ eat those half eaten pieces of *4burfi?"
1830P15 $^She understood what I was driving at. ^To that_ simple, unlettered
1840P15 woman, it was perfectly logical that I should want to_ make love
1850P15 to her and yet regard as unclean the pieces of *4burfi she had already
1860P15 half eaten. $"^You really want me to_ eat the *4burfi?" $"^Not only
1870P15 the *4burfi, but all those apples and *4narangis as well!" $^*I spread
1880P15 the fruits before her and stood watching her from the corner of my eyes.*#
        **[no. of words = 02004**]

        **[txt. p16**]
0010P16 **<*3flower of gold*0**> $*3^*Shankari*0 usually lingered in the hospital
0020P16 even after her shift was over; but that_ day she left immediately
0030P16 after she attended to Kamakshi. \0^*Dr Parvathi was puzzled. "^What*'1s
0040P16 the matter? ^What happened?" she asked Meenakshi, the nurse who
0050P16 assisted Shankari in the labour ward. "^The doctor looked agitated
0060P16 and left the hospital in a hurry." $^To Meenakshi it was an unforgettable
0070P16 day; the case was a strange new experience to her. ^She naturally assumed
0080P16 that it was so for \0Dr Shankari also. "^The doctor virtually fought
0090P16 with Yama (the god of death) for the life of that_ baby. ^It was
0100P16 perhaps fatigue that_ made her go home in such haste," she told \0Dr Parvathi.
0120P16 ^The Superintendent sat up. "^*I am told that the baby weighed
0130P16 12 \0lbs!" "^Yes doctor," affirmed Meenakshi. "^Our patient is a rich
0140P16 lady. ^She would not have done even the normal chores of the home. ^She
0150P16 must have spent her days lounging in sofas and swallowing as many tonics
0160P16 and vitamin tablets as she could these past ten months. ^Naturally
0170P16 the baby was overgrown!" she ended. $"^Twelve pounds! ^Wonderful!" exclaimed
0180P16 \0Dr Parvathi. ^Babies born there were generally five to seven
0190P16 and a half pounds. ^Occasionally there was a baby that_ weighed ten or
0200P16 eleven pounds. ^But twelve pounds? ^This baby had set a new record.
0201P16 $"^How
0210P16 \0Dr Shankari struggled for those two lives!" exclaimed Meenakshi.
0220P16 "^*I thought we could save only the mother. ^Every moment the child*'s
0230P16 condition grew worse! ^It became blue. ^But it was \0Dr Shankari*'s firm
0240P16 faith and determination that_ saved both mother and child." $\0^*Dr
0250P16 Parvathi felt proud of Shankari. ^She telephoned Shankari. "^*Shankari?
0260P16 ^*Parvathi here. ^You went home in such a hurry last evening. ^Just
0270P16 now Meenakshi told me why." $^*Shankari*'s hand trembled. ^Her face
0280P16 went pale. ^What does Meenakshi know? ^What could she have told the Superintendent?
0290P16 ^She was getting very flurried and uncomfortable. $\0^*Dr
0300P16 Parvathi continued, "Congratulations! ^With your faith and determination
0310P16 you have won a victory over Death. ^Your confident, able handling
0320P16 of this case is a credit to our institution." $^*Shankari sighed with relief.
0330P16 ^*Parvathi*'s affectionate voice would normally have brought tears
0340P16 of joy to her eyes but just then the face of the man she met at the
0350P16 hospital kept haunting her. $^*Shankari went to her bedroom and bolted
0360P16 the door. ^She opened the lower drawer of her wardrobe, took out a photograph
0370P16 the size of a postcard, threw herself into the easy chair and sat
0380P16 gazing at it. $^It was the picture of a handsome young man of twenty-four,
0390P16 holding a brand new cycle. ^He had a round chubby face with
0391P16 bright eyes.
0400P16 ^His lips were a little thick. ^*Shankari looked at the face very critically.
0410P16 ^She tried to_ read through that_ face. ^He was very handsome
0420P16 indeed but... $^*Shankari tried to_ imagine that_ young man ten years
0430P16 older. ^Once again she recollected the face of Kamakshi*'s husband. ^She
0440P16 tried to_ picture him ten years younger and looked at the face in the
0450P16 photograph. $^Self-confidence, determination, perseverance! ^These were
0460P16 qualities the Superintendent of the nursing home mentioned while congratulating
0470P16 her. ^The young man in the picture had them all. ^He was determined
0480P16 to_ possess her and he was confident he would. ^The thousand ways
0490P16 he used to_ win her over! $^She was her father*'s only daughter, the
0500P16 apple of his eye, a young girl happy and innocent and free like the winged
0510P16 birds of the air because she knew not the wiles of the world. ^She
0520P16 was like a beautiful flower in bloom, and her beauty was a wonder to those
0530P16 who saw her. ^Even now, \0Dr Shankari*'s natural beauty made many
0540P16 a man sigh in despair! $^During her school days her friend Sarasu would
0550P16 tell her, "Shankari, I wish I were born an artist. ^*I would paint
0560P16 a portrait of you-- or if I were a poet, I would compose poems on your
0570P16 beauty. ^You are so lovely!" $^While at school in Tiruchi and later
0580P16 at the Medical College in Madras, many were the young men who had
0590P16 sighed for her hand but in vain. ^How did Murthi alone succeed where so
0600P16 many had failed? ^He was very persevering. ^He was a student then, staying
0610P16 in a college hostel. ^Accidentally, one morning he saw Shankari,
0620P16 and did all he could to_ attract her attention. ^He spent a whole year in
0630P16 his pursuit. $^This was not the normal, average young man chasing a young
0640P16 girl. ^*Murthi was very wealthy and was determined to_ win her. ^He
0650P16 wrote to his parents that hostel food was very bad, and took up a house
0660P16 in the very street Shankari was in, engaged a cook and lived like a
0670P16 lord. $^At the end of the year his perseverance bore fruit. ^*Shankari
0680P16 was the only child of a doting father who was very indulgent to her because
0690P16 she had lost her mother while yet a child. ^He was a poor clerk in
0700P16 the railway. ^And Murthi*'s confidence, self-assurance and power were
0710P16 founded on money. $^But Shankari did not know the secret of Murthi*'s
0720P16 success. ^As a poor man*'s daughter, she had not realised the value
0730P16 of money. ^At that_ tender age Murthi filled her head with sweet dreams
0740P16 of a wonderful future with him. "^Why do you waste money in this manner?"
0750P16 remonstrated Shankari one day. "^This is nothing, Shankari. ^You
0760P16 will understand me only when you come and live with us at our place. ^*I
0770P16 could give you your weight in gold for the mere pleasure of gazing at
0780P16 you." $^*Shankari*'s head would begin to_ swim. $"^*I would get money from
0790P16 mother without my father*'s knowledge and I would get a lot more of
0800P16 it from my uncle without the knowledge of either. ^Uncle has no children
0810P16 and he has set all his hopes on me. ^Father, mother, uncle and all at
0820P16 home are very anxious that I should pass. ^Of course I will. ^*I know
0830P16 the result already." $"^How?" asked Shankari. $"^You will be one of
0840P16 the first to_ congratulate me," he said. $^*Shankari was puzzled. ^He whispered
0850P16 something into her ears. ^He enumerated the accomplishments of
0860P16 one of his tutors who was paid handsomely by his parents. "^To_ get me
0870P16 a pass is his responsibility." $"^Could one who occupied the revered position
0880P16 of teacher behave so?" she wondered. $"^Won*'4t you be proud that
0890P16 I would possess not only riches but also a university degree?" asked
0900P16 Murthi. $^Yes, Murthi passed. ^Not only did he pass out of his college;
0910P16 he passed out of Shankari*'s life as well. $^*Shankari turned the
0920P16 picture over. "^For ever yours, Murthi" was inscribed on it. ^Her eyes
0930P16 blurred with tears. "^Could this be the same man?" thought Shankari
0940P16 and leaned back with a deep sigh. $*<*34*> $*3^IT*0 was dawn. ^The
0941P16 sun*'s rays
0950P16 pierced through the clouds, dispelling gloom and darkness. $^*Shankari
0960P16 looked through her window. ^The garden was in bloom, a riot of colours
0970P16 beneath the smiling skies. $^On such a morning could Shankari sit brooding
0980P16 over bygone days! ^There were no more tears to_ shed. ^She tucked
0990P16 away her thoughts into the recesses of her mind. ^The sunshine came
1000P16 tripping cheerily through the window. ^She greeted the day with a resolve
1010P16 to_ do her part in the scheme of life. ^There was no time to_ brood.
1020P16 ^Life passes by those that_ sit bewailing. ^She would *3live*0 every moment
1030P16 so bountifully given her. ^She was filled with a new zest for life.
1040P16 $^She sat in front of her mirror after a bath and attended to her hairdo
1050P16 and make-up with meticulous care. ^She did everything possible to_ enhance
1060P16 her looks. $^There was once a time when she made herself attractive
1070P16 only for Murthi. ^Now her loveliness became an end in itself, a source
1080P16 of her own pride and joy. ^When with a confident smile she stepped
1090P16 into the wards, the patients felt that the goddess of Beauty herself
1100P16 had come to_ visit them. ^Word went round that \0Dr Shankari had the
1110P16 magic touch of healing. ^She alone knew the secret of her success-- knew
1120P16 it was her radiant looks that_ had this happy effect on her patients.
1130P16 ^She thanked God most humbly for this. ^*His wonderful gift. $^She attended
1140P16 on Kamakshi and her child with the same care and devotion that_ she
1150P16 bestowed on all her other patients. ^But Kamakshi and her mother thought
1160P16 her a godsend **[sic**]. ^They did not know how to_ thank her.
1161P16 ^They spoke
1170P16 only of \0Dr Shankari to anyone who came to_ see Kamakshi. ^There was
1180P16 no one like the doctor. $^*Kamakshi*'s husband who came to_ see her every
1190P16 evening was most anxious to_ meet the doctor once again. ^But he was
1200P16 very much disappointed that he did not see her even once in those four
1210P16 days. $^On the morning of the fifth day Shankari was walking up the
1220P16 stairway leading to Kamakshi*'s room. ^The nurses started tidying up
1230P16 the place when they heard her footsteps. ^Just as she entered the ward,
1240P16 she saw Kamakshi*'s mother pouring something into the ounce glass. ^The
1250P16 moment they saw her, both mother and daughter exchanged glances and looked
1260P16 guilty. ^Wondering, Shankari walked up to the elderly lady and stretched
1270P16 out her hand. "^What is it?" she asked. ^There was silence. $^When
1280P16 she smelt the liquid, annoyance appeared on her face. ^But she spoke
1290P16 very gently, "So, not satisfied with our treatment you give your own
1300P16 medicines!" $"^We usually give this," faltered the mother. $"^Where did
1310P16 you get this from?" asked Shankari. $^Again, silence. ^*Shankari slowly
1320P16 put the bottle and the ounce glass back on the table. $"^Nothing in
1330P16 excess," said Shankari. "^Not even medicine. ^Please take this bottle
1340P16 away. ^These things must not be brought into the hospital." $^*Shankari
1350P16 was very angry. ^When they were being looked after so well in the nursing
1360P16 home, where was the need for this bottle of brandy? ^And after enforcement
1370P16 of prohibition, how dare they bring it in here? ^But there was
1380P16 no use wasting her time talking to women who would not be frank. ^As she
1390P16 was getting ready to_ go, she heard a child*'s voice cry out "Mamma!"
1400P16 ^She turned round to_ find a little girl of five clinging to Kamakshi.
1410P16 ^The child*'s sweet, innocent face made her forget all else. ^She seemed
1420P16 to_ forget that she was the doctor on duty. "^Hello! won*'4t you
1421P16 come
1430P16 here?" she invited the little girl. ^The child looked at her, decided
1440P16 Shankari was quite trustworthy, ran up to her and lowered her head shyly.
1450P16 $^*Shankari took her up in her arms, kissed her and asked, "What*'1s
1460P16 your name?" $"^*Radha," said the child. $"^What a fine name! ^Did you
1470P16 see your little sister? ^How do you like her?" $"^No. ^*I do not want
1480P16 a little sister. ^*I want a little brother," said Radha very emphatically.
1490P16 ^Everyone in the room laughed. $"^Next time you will have a little
1500P16 brother," said the doctor. ^*Radha nodded, wisely satisfied that she
1510P16 would soon have a little brother. $"^Good morning, doctor," came a sweet
1520P16 voice. ^*Shankari kissed the child, gently put her down, and looked
1530P16 up. ^A sophisticated young woman of twenty was standing in front of her.
1540P16 "^My sister-in-law. Rajeswari," said Kamakshi. ^She told the doctor
1550P16 that everyone at home spoke of nothing else but Shankari and was proud
1560P16 and happy to_ have her as their doctor. $^*Shankari suddenly remembered
1570P16 Radha had already taken up ten minutes of her time; she patted the child
1580P16 affectionately and left the room. $^When Shankari reached home, Muniammal
1590P16 served her a simple tasteful lunch. ^*Shankari stretched herself
1600P16 on a sofa and took up a book she had been reading. ^Books were her only
1610P16 hobby. ^To books she turned for advice as if they were her friends.
1620P16 ^But that_ afternoon she could not read. ^When she opened the book she
1630P16 saw only Radha*'s smiling face. ^It was like Murthi smiling. ^The little
1640P16 girl was the very image of her father. $^How many children she met
1650P16 every day! ^But this child! ^Why was she so drawn to her? $^It was a puzzle.
1660P16 ^She had looked up the name of Kamakshi*'s husband in the hospital
1670P16 register.*#
        **[no. of words = 02022**]

        **[txt. p17**]
0010P17 **<*3LOVE ME, LOVE*0**> $*3IT*0 was delicious. ^The
0020P17 desperation in your voice. ^*I hug my knees, savouring the sweetness
0030P17 of your distraction in the upturned corners of my lips. ^Your voice,
0040P17 a month old in my ears, had never been so urgent. ^Always a trifle
0050P17 complacent, a trifle contented. "^Always a trifle complacent,
0060P17 "^*I just wanted to_ speak to you, just wanted to_ hear your voice..."
0070P17 ^Nothing else? ^*I was the impatient one then. ^Impatient of this
0080P17 nameless faceless existence. ^Wanting to_ see you, know you...
0090P17 "^Will you come?" ^*I asked again and again, and you never did.
0100P17 ^Your answering 'Hmmmm' was the most elusive sound I*'d ever heard on
0110P17 this earth. $^And today.... today you were the impatient one.
0120P17 "^*I can*'4t help it... I just can*'4t-- God knows I*'3ve tried--
0130P17 I*3ve got to_ see you. ^No, don*'4t say that_ again-- I *3can*'4t*
0140P17 come to your house. ^Come to Regal-- quarter to eight. ^You*'3ll
0150P17 come...." $^*I rub my cheek against my drawn knees.
0160P17 ^Oh, the delicious desperation of your voice! $^Quarter to eight.
0170P17 ^Quarter to eight? ^*I jumped suddenly, my heart lurching terribly
0180P17 against my ribs. ^That_ damned timepiece. ^It had stopped.
0190P17 ^*I snatched it off the mantlepiece and put it to my ear. ^It ticked
0191P17 away in injured tone. ^*I shook it.
0200P17 ^Could it be? ^Just quarter to six-- two hours still to_ go.... $"^Quarter
0210P17 to eight. ^You*'3ll come...." ^A statement. ^A month has
0220P17 infused confidence in your voice. ^The first time it was so hesitant.
0230P17 ^Tongue-tied you would not answer my 'Hello-hello, 489....,'
0240P17 till puzzled, I cradled the receiver. ^A second time tongue-tied
0250P17 still, then a third time-- "^*I just wanted to_ speak to you, hear your
0260P17 voice... because I like you... ^No I can*'4t tell you my name because
0270P17 I don*'4t know how you*'3ll take it." ^So diffident.
0280P17 $"^You*'3ll come?" ^Was it a question? ^Why? ^Didn*'4t you know
0290P17 I*'1d come? ^For the briefest, starkest, barest moment of love that_
0300P17 *3was*0 love, I*'1d come. ^From the ends of the earth.
0310P17 ^Alone. ^Stark. ^*I*'1d come... $^Because I*'3m the same
0320P17 person who*'2s believed that the moment to_ die is when the flower is in
0330P17 full bloom. ^One moment there, in the ecstatic fulfillment of perfection,
0340P17 the other-- nothing. ^It*'1s the fading I can*'4t bear.
0350P17 $^Because I*'3m the same one who*'2s told Vijay time and again that
0360P17 the day I find love that_ *3is*0 love, I*'3ll go, I*'3ll float free.
0370P17 $^Because it was all pre-ordained. ^That_ day when the mysterious
0380P17 alchemy that_ makes humans, made me. ^That_ day it was ordained.
0390P17 ^That_ love would suck me into death. $^That_ day made me vulnerable
0400P17 . ^So utterly, helplessy vulnerable. ^To any lips that_
0410P17 form the words 'I like you'. ^Two, three, four-- I could love them
0420P17 all, as long as they loved me. ^There is that_ in me which is so bottomless.
0430P17 $^There is that_ in me which is so desperately hungry--
0440P17 to_ be approved, to be_ liked. ^Oh, I love myself. ^It*'1s not that_.
0450P17 ^It*'s just that that_*'1s not enough. ^And I don*'4t always
0460P17 like what I see in the mirror. ^The gnawing still persists in me--
0470P17 the aching void.... like a child eats chalk because of a nameless hunger,
0480P17 so I could devour you and your 'I like you very much'.
0490P17 $*3*^2there was*0 this clawing eternal hunger in me, and Vijay was like
0500P17 a douche of cold water. ^He didn*'4t love me when we married.
0510P17 ^But he had calculated that I would make him a good wife, that he would
0520P17 grow to_ love me and I would grow to_ love him. $^On a fleeting
0530P17 honeymoon he delivered me a homily that_ started with, "This is a contraceptive,"
0540P17 and ended with "... respect and honour my parents."
0550P17 ^*I*'3ve learnt to_ honour his parents and respect contraceptives but
0560P17 there was this spitting, raging fire inside me that_ was hungering for an
0570P17 answering rage in him, only glimpsed in passing, a tiny glow-worm sitting
0580P17 in a corner of his heart.... $^Somewhere a dog barked. ^Sharp,
0590P17 aggressive. ^Chasing the cat under the flower-burdened bougainvillae.
0600P17 ^*I started. ^The time? what was the time? ^Quarter
0610P17 past seven. ^Already? ^And I hadn*'4t dressed yet! ^Oh I*'d
0620P17 bathed and done my hair, but I still had to_ change. ^Crimson chiffon.
0630P17 ^No jewellery. ^Only a single pearl at my throat. $^Into
0640P17 your arms... ^You knew I*'1d come. "you*'3ll come...."
0650P17 ^So sure. ^Into your arms.... are they dark, hairy, long, dangling,
0660P17 strong, short, supple? ^*I do not know. $^Your face-- handsome,
0670P17 indifferent? ^Dark, fair? ^Thickset, delicate? ^Bearded, cleanshaven?
0680P17 ^*I do not know. $^*I do not know your name even. ^*Trilok
0690P17 chandra, Rahul, Karodi Mal or Alok? ^*I do not know. ^*I do not
0700P17 care. $^But your eyes.... those I do know. ^They are liquid eyes.
0710P17 ^Liquid with love. ^And I am lost, lost, lost.... ^The
0720P17 earth is a spinning wheel-- am I on this earth, of this earth? ^A leaf.
0730P17 ^Delicately attached to the tree. ^Spinning. ^Grey green,
0740P17 wantonly. ^Thousands of grey green wantonly spinning leaves. ^Flowers.
0750P17 ^Riotous flame. ^Yellow. ^Recklessly squandering. ^Flinging
0760P17 against a frantic sky. ^A raptured universe, crazily lurching. ^*I
0770P17 do know you. ^Here. ^At this moment. ^This moment for loving-- this
0780P17 moment for dying.... $^*I like you very much. ^From the moment
0790P17 I saw you, I.... $^That_ day I asked Vijay! "^Did you love me
0800P17 the moment you saw me?" $^*Vijay considered. "^You want me
0810P17 to_ speak the truth?" he said. $^*I was stung. "^Of course,"
0820P17 I cried. $^He shook his head. "^*I liked you, but I didn*'4t
0830P17 love you. ^*I wasn*'4t made to_ love that_ way. ^Love, I knew, would
0840P17 come after marriage." $"^And you were perfectly willing to marry
0850P17 without love?" $"^Of course." $"*3YOU*'3LL
0860P17 COME....*0" ^You were right. ^To_ be so sure I*1'd come. ^*I had
0870P17 to_ come. ^*I couldn*'4t have survived this. ^That_ I hadn*'4t redeemed
0880P17 the pledge to myself. ^That_ I*'d lost out-- intuitively I*'d
0881P17 lost out. ^When we
0890P17 married Vijay hadn*'4t loved me. ^We hadn*'4t been united together even
0900P17 though I had believed it with all my heart. ^Only I had been united
0910P17 alone. $^And intime to_ come the pledge I*'d made to myself, love-- at
0920P17 first sight, love-- two stars compulsively seeking each other out in the
0930P17 firmament, love-- two earthly elements uneasy until inextricably intermingled,
0940P17 love-- such as never had been before and never would be again,
0950P17 that_ pledge had drifted away like the palm leaf lamps people reverently
0960P17 set afloat on the Ganga, each an act of faith drifting uselessly, until
0970P17 somewhere, somehow, the spent flame falters and sighs into extinction.
0980P17 $^Now do you understand why I have to_ come to you? ^To_ redeem a
0990P17 pledge. ^From the moment I set my eyes on you.... ^The day you
1000P17 said those words I knew. ^*I knew that one day I*'1d come. ^One
1010P17 day, I*'1d float free, ^Fulfilled. ^Redeemed. $^You know
1020P17 its funny-- the first day you rang up I told Vijay of your call.
1030P17 ^*I needn*'4t have, but I told him. ^Every word. "^*I just wanted to_
1040P17 speak to you, hear your voice, because I like you very much. ^His eyes
1050P17 hooded. ^Shutters coming down, one by one. ^Fast. ^Hiding. ^Fear?
1060P17 ^Envy? ^What had I wanted? ^What had I expected? $^It could
1070P17 have alienated. ^The telling. ^It didn*4t. ^It cemented. ^It*'1s
1080P17 funny, isn*'4t it? ^That_ night he was more tender, more warm.
1090P17 ^His voice took on a dreamy, faraway quality such as Vijay*'s voice seldom
1100P17 does take on. $"*3^Do you remember.....*0" $^We had quarrelled.
1110P17 ^One of those brief, quick, passionate quarrels we have at
1120P17 times. ^We were walking along the beach, away from the crowd of picknickers
1130P17 we had come with. ^He stooped. ^Straightened. ^Pressed
1140P17 a twisted, broken sea-shell into my palm. ^A peace offering.
1150P17 ^Suddenly joy was like a swift, April shower upon us. ^We were refreshed,
1160P17 born anew. $"*3^Do you remember....*0" $^He was depressed.
1170P17 ^A nameless sorrowing. ^Something in the office? ^Something in the
1180P17 home? ^Just something humans are born with. ^We took a boat. ^*I rowed
1190P17 him out. ^Far. ^Into the heart of the setting sun. ^The glow licked
1200P17 at us. ^He was soothed. $"*3^Do you remember....*0" $^*I
1210P17 was heartbroken. ^Sobbing. ^Tears lashing out, tempestuous in unseemly
1220P17 rage. ^*I had received a rejection slip. ^He swathed me in
1230P17 a new *4sari. ^Pink. ^Sheer chiffon. ^Picked me up on the road.
1240P17 ^Carried me in his arms. "^Someone will see...." "^Let them."
1250P17 ^*I was laughing like a babe. $"*3^Do you remember....*0"
1260P17 $^Yes! ^Oh yes, I remember. ^*I*'d almost forgotten there had been
1270P17 such joy in our marriage. $^Inside me the raging, spitting fire had
1280P17 died down, but in his heart the glow-worm was still alight. $^Between
1290P17 us too often joy is clouded. ^By my thoughts. ^The irremediable
1300P17 regret it wasn*'4t that_ springtide love of first sight. ^That_
1310P17 day too it had clouded. ^Love-spent, he had turned his back. ^In
1320P17 two minutes flat he was snoring. ^*I lay awake, thinking....
1330P17 $^What is marriage? ^Why marriage? ^What do I want from marriage?
1340P17 ^Marriage they say is no longer made in heaven. ^It*'1s done for,
1350P17 finished. ^An outmoded relic of an outmoded era. ^Family is out.
1360P17 ^The commune is in, where you love and kiss and copulate as the whims
1370P17 of the moment dictate. ^But inside me whims don*'4t satisfy.
1380P17 ^Not fully. ^Inside me there is a more compulsive need. ^To_ fuse. ^For
1381P17 ever. ^*I need marriage for the same reason men need
1390P17 a God-- something to_ fuse with. $^Fusion and fisson-- they are the
1400P17 systole and diastole of life. ^Maybe when I have united, when I
1410P17 have fused, all the fissiparous tendencies will set to_ work. ^*I*'3ll
1420P17 want to_ break, separate. ^But now-- now that I am individual, separate,
1430P17 alone, so very alone, there is this compulsion in me to_ unite with something,
1440P17 someone, anything, anyone. ^Permanently, forever.
1450P17 ^And not having a God here on this earth I must perforce seek fusion
1460P17 with a human. ^One human-- I can*'4t very well throw away violin after
1470P17 violin just because my fingers will not pluck out that_ one perfect soul
1480P17 satisfying note, can I? $^And maybe it*'1s all an impossibility
1490P17 anyway-- this fusion business-- a fond illusion merely. ^Maybe there is
1500P17 that_ inside me, an ultimate loneliness which cannot be surrendered here
1510P17 on this earth, which I must return intact to my maker, which,
1511P17 once squandered, I must but return empty handed.
1520P17 $^Maybe there is this inbuilt holding back, that_ precludes a fusion here
1530P17 on this earth. ^But I am impatient. ^*I cannot wait for life after
1540P17 death. $^*I dare not wait, dare not take the chance. ^Suppose there isn*'4t
1550P17 any? ^*I want it. ^Here. ^On this earth. ^Fusion. ^Love. ^And
1560P17 so must I go on, compulsively seeking. $^And the soul knows, always
1570P17 knows when the fusion is coital deep or legal paper deep only, knows
1580P17 when love is complete, whole, a thing of beauty, a joy forever... ^This
1590P17 I have believed. $^And yet... yet... ^With Vijay. ^*I have not
1600P17 known that_ complete thing. ^That_ joy forever. ^Always it was
1610P17 a making and breaking, a continuous , conscious putting together, bit
1620P17 by bit. $^Moments of happiness are such fleeting things. ^Maybe
1630P17 they always are. ^Happiness-- maybe it*'1s just the burden of a big word
1640P17 on human shoulders ill-shaped to_ bear it. ^Maybe.... $^*Vijay always
1650P17 says, "if you can love me just for ten minutes a day. ^*I*'3ll be
1660P17 happy." $"^Don*'4t you want more?" $^Always he shakes his
1670P17 head. $^But I want more. ^More, more, more! ^*God, there*'2s
1680P17 got to_ be more. ^This isn*'4t enough. ^Love me, love. ^*God, what
1690P17 an unquenchable thirst is this in me! $^That_ is why I had known.
1700P17 ^Even on that_ first day I had known that I would come to you.
1710P17 ^One day. ^One day there would be nothing to_ hold me back. $^What could
1720P17 hold me back....? ^The fact that when I was three, grown ups taught
1730P17 me how to_ be scared of the dark and the unknown? ^The fact that when
1740P17 I was twelve, my mother gave me chest bands to_ wear and told me I
1750P17 mustn*'4t let a male so much as touch me? ^The fact that every day,
1760P17 step by step, the world taught me to_ be mortally afraid of failure?*#
        **[no. of words = 02018**]

        **[txt. p18**]
0030P18 **<*3The Door Watcher*0**>
0040P18 $*3^Friday*0 night he sat for hours on the sea-front, steeped in despair.
0050P18 ^If he closed his eyes, he could see them dredging out his corpse
0060P18 from the sea. ^Even in their sea-battered state, the mortal remains
0070P18 of Vikram *(0R.*) Rao had a debonair urbanity about them. $^His pimples,
0080P18 for once had miraculously vanished. ^A scornful yet forgiving smile
0090P18 played about his lips. ^There was his mother sobbing brokenly:
0100P18 desperately sorry for all the times she had got after him. ^And Meeta?
0110P18 ^*Meeta when informed about his tragic suicide had fallen in a dead
0120P18 faint. ^Doctors shook their heads sadly. ^No one could tell if
0130P18 she*'1d recover. $^On Saturday night he sought catharsis in lying awake
0140P18 till 1 \0p.m., composing a twenty-line verse elegy. ^Come
0150P18 Sunday morning all he could remember of that_ painful effort was *3lead
0160P18 weight, dead weight, call the vultures, the carrion wait, something
0170P18 something something.*0 ^It did not matter, because by then he had already
0180P18 determined the course of action he*'1d take. $^He read the letter
0190P18 again. $"*3^Dear \0Mr Naresh Kumar Pai, $Are you aware of what
0200P18 goes on behind the closed doors of your flat while you are slogging
0210P18 away in office? ^Your wife has secret rendezvouses with a male who
0220P18 comes in a white Ambassador \0MRX 3319. ^He comes after you leave
0230P18 and leaves before you are expected home. ^Someday, why don*'4t you come
0240P18 home earlier and catch them redhanded*0 in *3BED?*0 $*3Your Friend.*0
0250P18 $^That_ was a great touch, that_ bit about "behind the closed doors
0260P18 of your flat". ^Obviously he had unsuspected talents as a writer of
0270P18 anonymous letters. ^He pondered for a few minutes on the feasibility
0280P18 of adding a dramatic skull and cross-bones and signing it "Black
0290P18 Shadow" instead of the tame "Your Friend". ^He decided against
0300P18 it. ^It would not do to_ have Naresh Kumar Pai treating the letter
0310P18 as a joke. ^And he was dumb enough to_ do just that_. $^He scrutinised
0320P18 his handwriting again. ^It didn*'4t look much like his usual scrawl.
0330P18 ^The lines flowed straight instead of crawling upwards as they usually
0340P18 did. ^His father said it showed ambition if your handwriting slanted
0350P18 upwards. ^Good. ^He needed all the ambition he could lay his hands
0360P18 on to_ reach the very top. ^One of these days he was going to_ buy up
0370P18 the controlling shares of the steel firm *(0N. K.*) Pai worked for and
0380P18 hound him to penury and subsequent suicide. ^It was his master plan
0390P18 for getting Meeta. $"^You had better start being polite to me fromnow,
0400P18 Pai," he told the envelope between licks. ^Then he remembered that
0410P18 Naresh and he were not sworn enemies any more. ^They were, in fact,
0420P18 allies against the common enemy-- Jelly Belly. $^He addressed the
0430P18 envelope, carefully writing *3confidential*0 on top. ^Then he added
0440P18 *3top secret and privateO under it, just to_ be on the safe side. ^If
0450P18 Meeta was anything like his prying mother, the missive would never
0451P18 reach its destination unprotected by the warning.
0460P18 $"*4^*Ma, have you a...." he stopped himself just in time. ^Ask
0470P18 for a stamp and all the questions in hell would come hurtling down on his
0480P18 defenceless head. ^Who? ^What? ^When? ^How? ^Women! ^Hassles... that_
0490P18 was all they were good for. ^Catch him, Vikram *(R.*) Rao, ever getting
0500P18 married. ^Born naggers when they were not outright hypocrites.
0510P18 ^His mother-- nag nag nag. ^*Vikram was strong minded. ^He could
0520P18 tune her out at will. ^But his father-- the poor coot was a nervous wreck,
0530P18 burrowing into his work as if there was nothing else in the world.
0540P18 ^Then that_ Meeta bitch. ^Betraying Vikram and her husband both
0550P18 in one shot. ^Cuckolding them. ^He snorted to_ cover up for the twinge
0560P18 of pain that_ shot through him. ^He*'1d show her. ^Just you wait.
0570P18 ^He*'1d show her. $^He shoved the envelope in the front pocket
0580P18 of his jeans. "^*Ma, I am going down for a minute," he shouted, slamming
0590P18 the door shut before the fusillade of questions could catch up with
0600P18 him. $*3^On*0 the landing he kept his eyes haughtily averted from
0610P18 The Door, while nobly resisting the impulse to_ aim a kick at it.
0611P18 ^For six whole months of his life the opening and closing
0620P18 of this door had played a stellar role in his happiness. $^Day after
0630P18 day, he had sat there like a bloody fool, his eyes glued to
0640P18 the door. $^His imagination had pierced it in a hundred
0650P18 places. ^Now she was waking up in that_ frilly gown thing she wore in
0660P18 the mornings. ^It never failed to_ put a wobble in his knees. ^Now she
0670P18 was in front of her dressing table running a brush through that_ dark
0680P18 mane of hair which streamed behind her when she walked. ^Now she was
0690P18 stretched out on the sofa languorously, reading a magazine. $^His
0700P18 remarkable \0X-ray vision-- lucky he was born with one-- followed her
0710P18 every move behind the door. ^Once, but only once, it had reached her
0720P18 when she was taking a bath. ^It left Vikram quite shaken up for days.
0730P18 ^So beautiful she was in the altogether, even from the back. $^Sometimes
0740P18 the door opened, jolting him out of his \0X-ray visions. ^And
0750P18 Meeta in person came out to_ say no to a salesman, or to select vegetables
0760P18 from the vendor. ^How Vikram longed to be a bright purple
0770P18 brinjal then... just to_ feel her fingers glide over his skin... Jeeeeeze!
0780P18 ^She was just too much! $^And never more beautiful than when
0790P18 she, noticing him in his room, threw that_ melting chocolate smile across.
0800P18 ^It crossed the landing in a wide parabola and smote him in that_
0810P18 particular spot on his chest which went *3ping*0. ^The room suddenly
0820P18 brightened up. ^Even that_ beat-up old poster of Muhammed Ali forgot
0830P18 to_ look menacing and smiled a beautiful smile. ^*Vikram got this
0840P18 instant urge to_ dash out and climb the Everest and bring her a white
0850P18 rose from the very top. ^Well... if a white rose chose not to_ grow there
0860P18 a snowflake then, or a yeti*'s tooth. ^Anything. $*3^For*0 six months
0870P18 he had carried Meeta*'s invisible presence everywhere he went.
0880P18 ^She smiled at him when he topped the class in English Grammar. ^She
0890P18 averted her eyes when he shared a cigarette with Duffy behind the
0900P18 school wall. ^Every time his mother started off on a tangent, Meeta*'s
0910P18 warning glance kept him from getting entangled in a hot argument.
0920P18 ^Admiration kindled in her eyes for his about-to-ripple biceps
0930P18 when he picked up the bullworker every morning. $^He hadn*'4t cared
0940P18 a hoot when the gang dropped him cold. ^All they wanted to_ do was
0950P18 to_ hang around near the park and ogle girls. ^He was too busy watching
0960P18 Meeta*'s door for childish pastimes like that_. ^Besides, he was in
0970P18 love. ^And if ever a man was faithful to his woman, he was. ^To
0971P18 Meeta. ^Not once did he look up at the balcony of
0980P18 Hari Nivas where Kamala of the fried-eggs-boobs fame hung around giving
0990P18 him the glad-eye. ^Not once. $^Every time he sat down to_ study
1000P18 a new scenario featuring him, Meeta sneaked into his mind. ^She, opening
1010P18 the door: "^It*'1s you, Viks! ^Come in. ^*I have been thinking
1020P18 of you the whole day". ^She always called him Viks breathily in his
1030P18 scenarios. ^Never Vicky. ^Never never Vikraaam, like his
1040P18 mother*'s typical battle-cry..... ^He striding in authoritatively
1050P18 and handing her the single orchid which was worth a small fortune and
1060P18 that_ one litre bottle of perfume he had picked up on his last trip to
1070P18 Paris... $^But somehow his imagination always boggled and gave up when
1080P18 it was time for him to_ take her in his arms masterfully and make passionate
1090P18 love to her. ^He could look at a nude and zapppp... there he was
1100P18 with her on the tiger skin couch or wherever. ^He had this marvellous
1110P18 virility that_ left those dames panting for more. ^The more the merrier.
1120P18 ^Any girl, any time. ^*Vikram *(oR.*) Rao-- they didn*'4t call him
1130P18 stud bull for nothing. ^Expect when it came to Meeta. ^She was
1140P18 special. ^One couldn*'4t treat her the way one would an ordinary dame.
1150P18 ^She was innocent, untouched. ^Like a fresh white flower. $^All
1160P18 right. ^So she was married, sharried and all the rest of it. ^But
1170P18 all married folks didn*'4t have to_ have sex? ^Besides Meeta hadn*'4t
1180P18 ever had a baby even. ^Didn*'4t that_ prove that she knew nothing
1190P18 about that_ stuff? ^Someday he, Vikram, would gently teach her all
1200P18 about it. ^It was destined. ^Mean-while if that_ bastard Naresh Kumar
1210P18 laid a finger on her body..... "^*I*'3ll kill him. I*'3ll kill
1220P18 him!" $"^Kill whom dear?" said his mother from the back. ^That_ was
1230P18 another damn thing he hated about his mother. ^Who did she think she
1240P18 was? ^*Chief Apache Softfoot or someting? ^Sneaking up on a man like
1250P18 that_. $"^Nothing," he mumbled into his badly mauled pillow. ^The
1260P18 pillow was the most versatile of its kind in the world. ^It alternated
1270P18 rapidly between playing Meeta and being snuggled up to and playing
1280P18 Naresh Kumar Pai and being vigorously pummelled. ^It suffered the
1290P18 biggest indentity crisis since Jekyll and Hyde. $^Now he dug his fist
1300P18 into the pillow. ^It was all so blasted unfair. ^Why did Naresh
1310P18 have to_ have such a bushy moustache? ^His own as of date was a soft
1320P18 stringy affair in spite of all those secret ministrations with his father*'s
1330P18 razor. ^Not one pimple not one crater on Naresh*'s face. ^And
1340P18 all his teeth were so criminally even. $"^*I bet Naresh Kumar Pai
1350P18 is never at a loss for words when he is face to face with Meeta," he
1360P18 told the pillow bitterly. ^Once his mother had asked him to_ borrow two
1370P18 eggs from \0Mrs. Pai. ^The chance of talking to her at close quarters
1380P18 fought it out with the sheer indignity of borrowing eggs. ^Eggs!
1390P18 ^But the former won by several points and Vikram found his finger trembling
1400P18 as he rang the bell. $^The door opened but the greatest lover
1410P18 boy of them all just stood and stared, getting redder by the minute.
1420P18 ^She smiled and she smiled. ^Then tired of waiting for him to_
1421P18 speak, she said, "Yes, Vikram, is there anything
1430P18 you want?" $^A million fantastic answers sped through
1440P18 his brain but he mumbled something about his mother wanting a couple of
1450P18 eggs and came back with two of them in his hands and a terrible sense of
1460P18 failure in his heart. ^Someday he was going to_ tell her all about it.
1470P18 ^His silent love. $^His most cherished memory was of course
1480P18 of the day the lift broke down. ^For 45 and three quarters of a
1490P18 minute he had hung about in the compound making conversation with the
1500P18 watchman with his eyes glued to the road. ^She had gone out shopping
1510P18 and was due back any second. ^She came back laden with parcels
1520P18 which she handed over to him with a smile. ^The climb up the dimly lit
1530P18 staircase with its stale smell had encompassed the most exciting minutes
1540P18 of his life. $^He wished the parcels had weighed a few hundred tons.
1550P18 ^He would carry them aloft like helium-filled balloons. ^He
1560P18 wished the staircase went on and on and both of them lived on the six hundred
1570P18 and forty-fourth floor (preferably in the same flat.) ^He wished
1580P18 she would go on talking and never mind the subject. ^Even if she sopke
1590P18 about recipes they*'1d become as interesting as a breath taking thriller.
1600P18 $^And then like a star-spangled climax had come the moment on
1610P18 the landing. ^In front of his old pal, The Door. ^The parcels changed
1620P18 hands and her hand brushed his. ^A fleeting touch.... and a score
1630P18 of firebrigades, clanging for all they were worth charged up his spine
1640P18 and through his veins and arteries. $^He had been blind. ^A bloody
1650P18 fool to_ boot. ^Like her dumb husband Naresh. ^He had known of
1660P18 this white Ambi bloke for a long time. ^The guy came almost every
1670P18 day. ^And only when the husband was not around. ^A cousin, thought
1680P18 Vikram the inveterate door-watcher.*#
        **[no. of words = 02010**]


        **[txt. r01**]
0020R01 **<*3AUNT PAN AND THE MAESTRO*0**> **[leader comment begin**]
0030R01 $^*Aunt Pan was a boxfull of human ills. ^She was clumsy, could never
0040R01 do anything right. ^Then, one Christmas, she met the Maestro,
0050R01 Don Alcindo..... **[leader comment end**] $*3^*I*0 don*'4t know
0060R01 why they named her Pandora. ^Reminds me of a character out of
0070R01 a Tennessee Williams play. ^*I*'3ve been reading a few of late,
0080R01 unknown to Mum of course. ^*Mum says \0Mr. Williams is not suitable
0090R01 for fifteen-year-olds. ^That_*'1s me; and I must tell you,
0100R01 I*'3m a Williams, too. ^Though no relation to the playwright.
0110R01 ^*Lynette is my first name-- Linny, for short. $^Isn*'4t Pandora
0120R01 that_ mythical character who kept a box of human ills, or some such
0130R01 thing? ^Well, if that_ be so, then my grandparents chose right.
0140R01 ^*Aunt Pandora is a box of human ills. $^*Aunt never seems able
0150R01 to_ do anything right. ^If she crosses the sitting room, for instance,
0160R01 nine chances out of ten she trips over the carpet, or bumps into
0170R01 the furniture. ^If she pours tea she either drops the teapot or upsets
0180R01 a cup. $"^Don*'4t ask Dora! ^She*'1s sure to_ make a mess
0190R01 of it," is something Mum says, whenever Aunt is called upon to_
0200R01 help. $"^Trust Aunt Pan," is what I always say, when something
0210R01 goes wrong. $^But Mum prefers to_ call her Aunt Dora because,
0220R01 as she says, it is more in keeping with Aunt*'s age and generation.
0230R01 ^Actually I think Mum*'1s a wee bit jealous. ^For at 35
0240R01 Aunt*'1s not all that_ old, I feel. ^In fact she*'1s rather glamorous.
0250R01 ^She*'1s a snazzy dresser-- quite a looker too. ^It*'1s
0260R01 only her Panlike qualities, I guess, that_ make her the way she is.
0270R01 ^Which is why, I suppose, she*'1s still unmarried, and continues
0280R01 to_ teach little girls music in that_ convent school in North India.
0290R01 $*3*^*I*0 guess all this was enough to_ make Mum go all neurotic
0300R01 that_ morning, when she received Aunt*'s telegram announcing Aunt*'s
0310R01 arrival on December 17 to_ spend Christmas with us.
0320R01 $"^It*'1s time you got ready for that_ piano lesson of yours," she
0330R01 reminded me coldly. "^And you have not practised." $^My mind
0331R01 flew to the lesson, due in less than an hour.
0340R01 ^*I love my piano lessons. ^After all, it*'1s
0350R01 my latest fad, as Dad says. ^Though he says it won*'4t last long,
0360R01 it*'2s already lasted almost a year and I hope will last for many more.
0370R01 ^Can*'4t understand why Mum and Dad have so little faith in
0380R01 me! $^*I must tell you, my music teacher, he*'1s quite dishy!
0390R01 ^Oh he*'1s old, all right! ^About 40 perhaps! ^Not married,
0400R01 but tall, and with the most romantic of names. ^He calls himself Don
0410R01 Alcindo Roberto Huberto Antonio Gomeze. ^He says he*'1s
0420R01 Portuguese; he*'1s very musical. $^Mum too agrees that he*'1s musical.
0430R01 ^But she says he*'1s no more Portuguese than she is. ^*Mum
0440R01 says he*'1s Goan. ^She says that at home he*'1s just Tony Gomes.
0450R01 ^Trust Mum to_ pull the skeletons out of anyone*'s cupboard!
0460R01 ^Trust her to_ destroy the most romantic of illusions! $^He*'1s
0470R01 a thorough gentleman, Mum does admit, in spite of her assessment
0480R01 of his antecedents. (^That_*'1s what Mum calls it. ^Presume
0490R01 antecedents are to humans what pedigrees are to dogs!). ^But I tell
0500R01 you, Don Alcindo can be a bore-- at times. ^Chiefly when he*'1s
0510R01 on at me about those wrong notes. ^And when he drags a half-hour lesson
0520R01 into an hour. $^DON Alcindo arrived as usual-- on the dot.
0530R01 ^As the clock struck 10, he appeared, striding up the driveway.
0540R01 $"^Good morning, Miss Linny!" he greeted me. (^He always says
0550R01 Miss Linny. ^So respectful!) $^In any case we sat down to our
0560R01 lesson; and because I had not practised, I suppose, those wrong notes
0570R01 kept coming all the time. $"^*I*'3m sorry, Sir!" ^*I apologised,
0580R01 when there were more wrong ones than right. (^*I always say
0590R01 'Sir'. ^Since he respects me I respect him.) "^Truth is, I
0600R01 haven*'4t practised." $"^Why not?" $"^Well, my favourite aunt is
0610R01 due for Christmas, and I*'3ve been all excited." $^Well, that_
0620R01 wasn*'4t really the truth. ^But what are a few white lies, after
0630R01 all, between teacher and pupil? $^And because I did not want to_
0640R01 upset him further, I began to_ talk about Aunt Pan. ^Certainly not
0650R01 about her special qualities. ^*Don Alcindo would never appreciate
0660R01 those, I was positive. ^But I told him about Aunt Pan, and how
0670R01 she taught music to little girls in a convent school in North India.
0680R01 $"^This aunt of yours," he said, when I ran out of information.
0690R01 "^She sounds interesting. ^*I should like to_ meet her."
0700R01 $^So I promised to_ introduce him to Aunt the moment she arrived.
0710R01 $^AND it was into the business of Christmas that Aunt stepped
0720R01 that_ December 17 morning. ^For there was Dad busy putting up streamers
0730R01 in the sitting room, Mum busy sorting through the box of Christmas
0740R01 tree ornaments. ^Juicy aromas coming from the kitchen said that
0750R01 our cook was busy with his Yuletide baking the *4culculs and Rosie
0760R01 cookies I*'3m so crazy about. $^As for me, there was I at the piano
0770R01 busy having a lesson. ^Enough to_ drive me truly crazy.
0780R01 ^All because Don Alcindo does not believe in Christmas holidays.
0790R01 $^*Aunt Pan came bustling in-- a suitcase in each hand, a shoulder bag
0800R01 swinging from each shoulder. ^Not to_ mention a bulging handbag tucked
0810R01 under one arm, and a rolled umbrella tucked under the other. ^Clutching
0820R01 all that_, she managed to_ embrace Mum and Dad, then staggered
0830R01 across to the piano where we were. ^On the way, of course, she
0840R01 toppled a peg table and knocked over a vase. ^Unworried, she went
0850R01 about landing a sound kiss on my head, as I swung round on the piano
0860R01 stool to_ greet her-- and that_ Musk perfume she was smelling of.
0870R01 $^As I glanced at Don Alcindo next, I couldn*'4t quite understand that_
0880R01 look on his face. ^Could be it was amazement? ^At Aunt*'s
0890R01 Pan-like qualities. ^Or perhaps admiration? ^For Aunt herself.
0900R01 ^She was looking pretty good, I must say, in spite of that_
0910R01 perfume and that_ gear, which she seemed so reluctant to_ part with.
0920R01 $^But no time to_ think. ^No time to_ even introduce them.
0930R01 ^For, next moment, plop went a suitcase, and Aunt seized Don Alcindo
0940R01 by the hand. ^As she pumped away at his hand, she said how nice
0950R01 it was to_ meet him, how she*'d heard so much about him from Linny,
0960R01 how she*'1d love to_ hear him play, how she*'1d love to_ play for him,
0970R01 and all that_. $"^And Maestro!" she ended with a giggle. "^May
0980R01 I say, you are dishy, as Linny says." $^*Maestro! ^*I almost
0990R01 choked. ^Talk about overdoing it! ^Even I*'d never thought
1000R01 of calling him that_. $^Now it was Don Alcindo*'s turn. ^And
1010R01 talk about laying it on! ^You should have heard him, as he bent
1020R01 low over Aunt*'s hand, planting noisy kisses on it! $"^Ah, Mees
1030R01 Pandora eet ees a pleasure! ^*I hear so much from Mees Linny about
1040R01 you. ^And may I say, you are very preety." **[sic**] ^Of course,
1050R01 he talks that_ way when he*'1s trying to_ impress people. ^He was going
1060R01 overboard with his Portuguese bit. ^But impress he did. ^At
1070R01 once she told him he must play for her. $^As I vacated the stool,
1080R01 Don Alcindo sat down and began to_ play. ^But as Mum now looked
1090R01 as if she would explode I suggested, very tactfully, "^Why not get
1100R01 organised, Aunt Pan?" $^She didn*'4t want to, I could tell,
1110R01 but she dragged herself away-- luggage and all. "^Well, that_
1120R01 was certainly very kind of you, Maestro!" she said to Don Alcindo
1130R01 before she left. "^Such a pleasure! ^*I hope we meet again!"
1140R01 $^To which Don Alcindo replied, to my complete amazement: "But,
1150R01 of course, Mees Pandora! ^We meet tomorrow. ^*Mees Linny*'2s
1160R01 **[sic**] another lesson." $^Well of all the...! ^*I swore. ^*I
1170R01 could have killed him. ^*I wasn*'4t due for a lesson till the day
1180R01 before Christmas, and then I was expecting a holiday. ^How dare
1190R01 he? ^But, of course, anything for Aunt Pan. ^No doubt about it.
1200R01 ^They*'d flipped for each other. $*3^BUT*0 as I lay in bed that_
1210R01 night, think it over, I wondered if anything would come of it.
1220R01 ^After all, except for music, what did they have in common? ^He
1230R01 so perfect. ^She so the opposite. ^Not to_ mention the waste
1240R01 of time for me-- an additional lesson, when there was so much to_ do for
1250R01 Christmas. $^However, I should not have worried about the lesson.
1260R01 ^For the next day it was very clear that the lesson was an excuse
1270R01 for him to_ get close to her. ^Why, I had hardly played six
1271R01 bars when he was already asking where my
1280R01 charming aunt was! $^And do you know she came in, bang on cue?
1290R01 $"^Well, here I am Maestro!" she answered, materialising from
1300R01 somewhere in the background-- all dressed and done up to the nines.
1310R01 ^One would think she was to_ dine at Government House, or something!
1320R01 ^And as you*'3ve guessed, that_ was the end of the lesson--
1330R01 for me, that_ is. ^For her it was a beginning. ^For him, too,
1340R01 I suppose! ^You know-- romance, linked with music. ^As I proceeded
1350R01 to_ make my exit and she took my place at the piano, they went
1360R01 straight into it. $^And at the end of it all, he had the nerve to_
1370R01 tell me: "Well, Mees Linnny, a loverly **[sic**] lesson! ^Another tomorrow.
1380R01 ^One every day till Christmas. ^Special treat." $^For
1390R01 whom? ^*I was dying to_ ask. ^In any case, I got the message.
1400R01 ^So I answered, "^Thank you, Sir!. ^Very kind of you."
1410R01 $^And next day*'s lesson followed the same pattern. ^There*'1s not
1420R01 much to_ report on the days that_ followed. ^Except that soon there
1430R01 was parental reaction to the goings-on. ^On the twenty-second night
1440R01 I heard Mum declare to Dad. "^Seems like he*'1s using Linny*'s
1450R01 lessons as an excuse!" $^On the twenty-third morning Mum said
1460R01 something about their being besotted. (^*I presume that means 'saturated
1470R01 in love'). ^On the twenty-fourth morning heard Mum confirm
1480R01 it. "^Certain he*'1s serious about her, Terence! ^Think anything
1490R01 will come of it?" $"^Come of what?" ^*I asked, poking my head
1500R01 round the door, before Dad could answer. $^But Mum grew quite hot."
1510R01 ^*I tell you, Terence, this girl*'1s an eavesdropper!" she
1520R01 declared. $"^But I only asked an innocent question," I protested.
1530R01 ^Well, not innocent, I admit. ^But how else was I to_ find
1540R01 out how they felt about the matter? $^In any case there was another
1550R01 matter, as the day progressed. ^*Rajesh phoned, asking if I*'1d like
1560R01 to_ go to the Christmas dance at his Dad*'s club on Christmas
1570R01 evening. ^*I said I*'1d love to, but I*'1d have to_ ask Mum.
1580R01 ^*Rajesh said I could bring a chaperone, if need be. $^Small incentive
1590R01 that_! ^Knowing Mum, she*'1d say no in any case. ^Still,
1600R01 I had a small hope, though I lacked the courage to_ ask. ^With
1610R01 a Mum like mine, can you blame me? $*3*CHRISTMAS*0 morning,
1620R01 and the problem loomed large. ^So much so, it rather robbed me of
1630R01 that_ spirit of Christmas. ^However, gift-giving time made me feel
1640R01 a lot better as Santa had fulfilled all my wishes. (^Figuratively
1650R01 speaking, that_ is. ^You don*'4t think at my age I believe
1660R01 in Santa do you?). ^As we sat there in the sitting room after breakfast,
1670R01 with Dad playing Santa, distributing all those gaily-wrapped
1680R01 packages stacked at the foot of the Christmas tree, I soon got the
1690R01 ice skates I was waiting so anxiously for. ^Among many other things,
1700R01 a smashing Granny *4shawl from Aunt Pan. $^It follows, of
1710R01 course, that Mum, Dad and Aunt deserved the gifts which I had for
1720R01 them, as well as those sound kisses which I gave all three. ^And,
1730R01 do you know Mum looked pleased? $^But with gift-giving done with,
1740R01 I noticed, here remained one packet under the tree. "^And who
1750R01 is that_ for?" ^*I asked, pointing. $"^Oh, that_*'1s for Tony!"
1760R01 answered Aunt, going a shade of pink, like the lipstick I use sometimes.
1770R01 "^Do you know Iris, he*'2s asked me to_ the New Year*'s
1780R01 Eve ball," she turned to Mum to_ say quickly.*#
        **[no. of words = 02017**]

        **[txt. r02**]
0010R02 **<*3A MODEL *VILLAGE*0**>
0020R02 $^IT was a Progressive Village. ^The Winds of Change blowing
0030R02 over it had swept everyone off his feet. ^In every nook and corner
0040R02 you could feel the desire for improvement. ^Unmistakable. ^Reassuring.
0050R02 ^Effusive. ^Enthusiasm was so boundless it was gaily bubbling
0060R02 over and the atmosphere was benevolently infected with Generosity.
0070R02 $^The simple village folk seemed to_ be suddenly struck with
0080R02 the Magic of Ambition. ^Determined to_ make their village the most
0090R02 talked of in the whole Country they shook themselves out of their age-old
0100R02 lethargy with activities and achievements that_ tantalized their neighbours.
0110R02 ^Who knows, the more vain-glorious among them boasted,
0120R02 they may even be honoured with the distinction of being the Best Village
0130R02 in the whole Country. ^Enthusiasm soared sky-high and Spirits
0140R02 sparkled effervescent. $^It all started when a treacherous gust
0150R02 of Wind blew off the roof of the School building and the devastating
0160R02 rains crumbled down its walls, leaving the children to_ play helter-skelter
0170R02 along the roads. ^One of the well-meaning elders rightly
0180R02 concerned about the future of the Village magnanimously donated his unused
0190R02 farmhouse and a few hectares of adjacent land for a new School Building.
0200R02 ^Stung by such unexpected generosity, his Rival immediately
0210R02 donated ten hectares of his own, for a Hospital. $^STRANGE
0220R02 though it may seem, the munificent donations shattered the peace of
0230R02 the Village and gave rise to discord. ^The friends of the First
0240R02 Donor belittled the generosity of the Second contending that the ten
0250R02 hectares situated on the top of a hill served no useful purpose.
0260R02 ^The supporters of the Second stoutly maintained that what the land lacked
0270R02 in Utility it certainly made up for in extent. ^Tempers ran alarmingly
0280R02 high and as arguments were bowled and batted across the Village
0290R02 it looked as if the splendid cause espoused by both would be scorched
0300R02 in the flame of offended feelings. ^But Good Sense was not quite
0310R02 dead in the Village. ^Reason prevailed. ^The secret and timely
0320R02 intervention of Local Development Officials was so tactful that
0330R02 it couldn*'4t help being successful. **[sic**] ^As suddenly as he had given
0340R02 it, the Second Donor withdrew his gift and donated another plot of
0350R02 land which by any standard was the Best in the Village. ^This gesture
0360R02 triggered off not only lavish praise but also other equally lavish
0370R02 gifts quietly engineered by enthusiastic Officials who saw in such a
0380R02 conducive atmosphere endless opportunities for the furtherance of their
0390R02 own ambition. ^Every occasion became reason enough to_ contribute
0400R02 something to the new ever-expanding Village Betterment Schemes.
0410R02 \^WHEN one little tot gave away all her pocket money for the New
0420R02 School Building and won a great deal of praise, another young man
0430R02 donated all of his First Month*'s salary for the Hospital and earned
0440R02 deeply-felt Gratitude. ^While one of the Village-folk donated
0450R02 thousands of stones from his quarry, another gave truck-loads of timber
0460R02 from his land. ^While one grateful Father donated a large sum of
0470R02 money in gratitude for his Son*'s recoverey from a dangerous illness,
0480R02 another irate Parent gave away his whole estate disinheriting his only
0490R02 Son who had crossed his paternal wishes. $^Thus Philanthropy
0500R02 vied with Rivalry Generosity with envy and Gratitude with Offended
0510R02 Pride to_ swell the Village Betterment Funds. ^Nobody bothered
0520R02 who gave or why for it was to the good of all. ^Those who had no
0530R02 cash gave in kind and those who had neither, contributed a day*'s labour
0540R02 every week for no cause as noble as theirs should be allowed to_ suffer.
0550R02 $^As proof of the earnestness and enthusiasm of the determined
0560R02 little village, rose the buildings, one by one, steadily and surely,
0570R02 concreted against the serene sky of the hither-to unheard of hamlet.
0580R02 ^First to_ rise **[sic**] its head was the school building which though
0590R02 meant to_ be a Primary School held promise of soon growing to the
0600R02 Secondary Stage. ^So too was the Hospital Building quickly rising
0610R02 to_ hold all of the 30 beds it was meant for. ^In addition were
0620R02 the Community Hall, the Library, the Radio Pavilion and the
0630R02 Children*'s Park quickly growing and waking the village to life.
0640R02 ^While linking them all were the roads, carefully and neatly laid out,
0650R02 the many arteries of activity and progress. ^And sprouting up between
0660R02 all of these were the provision stores and the shops, the stalls and the
0670R02 coffee-houses, all humming with activity and business. ^Every bit
0680R02 of it as it should be. ^For what does progress connote except that
0690R02 the people have increased chances of earning and spending money?
0700R02 $^WITHIN a couple of years, with the Government lending a commodiously
0710R02 helping hand the Schemes were all complete and the several structures
0720R02 were standing there in testimony of the hard work and the single-minded
0730R02 ambition of the unsophisticated people who had surpassed everyone in
0740R02 the neighbourhood. ^Everywhere, everybody was speaking about it
0750R02 and no wonder! ^They deserved it all: the Applause, the Appreciation,
0760R02 and everything else it was possible to_ give. ^They had no
0770R02 doubt earned it. $^The Praise and Adulation which the simple
0780R02 village-folk received, the like of which they had never tasted in
0790R02 the past, went straight to their heads. ^They longed for more of it.
0800R02 ^They wanted to_ earn it by making the Inauguration of the New
0810R02 Projects the most talked of event of the Year. ^The Committee
0820R02 in charge of it was planning everything in detail. ^This, more than
0830R02 anything, should be provocative and unusual. ^The Committee met and
0840R02 talked, talked and argued, argued and debated but couldn*'4t move a
0850R02 step further from where they had started. ^They wanted to_ do something
0860R02 sensational. ^Out of the Ordinary... ^What could it be?
0870R02 $^Numerous ideas were put forward but were as easily voted against.
0880R02 ^All of them seemed to_ lack Imagination. ^There was
0890R02 no Originality. ^They all seemed to_ be moving in the same old
0900R02 rut. ^Thinking of the same old things. ^Some Minister or
0910R02 Head of State or Celebrity for the Inaguration. ^They did not
0920R02 dream that here was a chance to_ create a stir, to_ whip up a Sensation.
0930R02 ^What was needed was merely an idea, the idea of Ideas, to_ whizz
0940R02 them into Fame. ^But no one could think of it. ^The aspiring
0950R02 among them sighed with Frustration and Annoyance. $^AND
0960R02 suddenly someone thought of it. ^Why not get a *4Harijan to_ inaugurate
0970R02 the School and Hospital? ^Why not break all conventions and shoot
0980R02 themselves into Publicity? ^The few murmurs of dissent were quickly
0990R02 hushed into silence by the voices of the liberals that_ were loud enough
1000R02 to_ shout them down. ^It would be the very thing to_ show the
1010R02 World how Progressive they were. ^Progressive not merely economically
1020R02 and educationally but also socially. ^Theirs would be the
1030R02 First Village in the Country to_ so boldly and fearlessly cast aside all
1040R02 shackles of Caste. ^It was just what they were looking for.
1050R02 ^The idea of the Year! ^The Young Blood in the village would be chilled
1060R02 neither by Opposition, nor by Disapproval. ^They jubilantly
1070R02 wound up the proceedings.
1080R02 $^By general agreement Guruva and Thukra were singled out for the honour
1090R02 of inaugurating the Projects, their right to distinction being based
1100R02 on the fact that they were the oldest members of the Class looked down
1110R02 upon as Untouchable. ^One belonged to the *4Madiga and the
1120R02 other to the *4Holeya community. ^The lowliest of the low no doubt
1130R02 but that_ would be the very thing to_ raise the status of the village
1140R02 in everyone*'s eyes. $^When the invitation reached the two
1150R02 Guests of Honour they seemed bewildered and nonplussed. ^Seated
1160R02 outside their huts with only a loin-cloth covering their nakedness they
1170R02 listened as though in a daze. ^What had happened to everyone.
1180R02 they wondered. ^In this age when Man had wandered to the Moon
1190R02 was it possible that the whole village was Moonstruck? ^What were the
1200R02 learned men saying? ^Had they understood them correctly? ^Or were they
1210R02 losing their hearing as they were getting on in age? $^PATIENTLY
1220R02 the members of the Village Betterment Committee explained to the two
1230R02 lowly men how they wanted to_ show the whole country that theirs was a
1240R02 Casteless Society, that they had changed not merely the face of the village
1250R02 but also revolutionised the hearts of the villagers and that they
1260R02 were out to_ prove to the World that they had wiped out caste distinctions
1270R02 in their village. $^But the old men who had spent their whole
1280R02 lives squirming at the feet of the great lords and *4Brahmins of old
1290R02 could not understand it at all. ^They had always been taught that
1300R02 Caste differences did exist and said so but the great men who had approached
1310R02 them shouted them down with words that_ could make no sense to
1320R02 them. ^So they tried a different mode of approach. ^They
1330R02 pleaded their ignorance, their poverty, their lack of manners but the
1340R02 learned ones were not to_ be pushed aside so lightly. $^At
1350R02 last the plainly frightened and confused souls pleaded their lack of clothes.
1360R02 "^We do not even have decent clothes to_ wear," confessed Thukra.
1370R02 $^The members of the Village Betterment Committee were
1380R02 instantaneously generous. "^We shall present you both with a complete
1390R02 set of clothes," they promised "^A shirt, *4dhoti and *4shawl. ^There*'1s
1400R02 nothing to_ worry about that_." $"^But... but..."
1410R02 stuttered Guruva, "We don*'4t know... how... how... to_ wear it." $"wear
1420R02 what? $"^A *4dhoti" $"^You see, we*'3ve never worn a
1430R02 *4dhoti in our lives," explained Thukra. "^We*'3ve gone mostly without
1440R02 clothes." $^Here was a problem indeed! ^The Members of
1450R02 the Village Betterment Committee retired to a safe distance and conferred
1460R02 among themselves. $^IF these two men didn*'4t know
1470R02 how to_ wear a *4dhoti what could be done about it? ^They were Caste
1480R02 Hindus. ^Could they touch these Untouchables and defile themselves?
1490R02 ^It might even mean losing their places in Society. ^Asking them
1500R02 to_ inaugurate the Projects was a different matter. ^They could stand
1510R02 at a respectable distance and wouldn*'4t be called upon to_ touch
1520R02 them. ^But helping them wear a *4dhoti involved physical contact. ^This
1530R02 was far too grave a problem than **[sic**] they had bargained for. ^The
1540R02 more mature minded among them shook their heads. ^The younger few
1550R02 whistled with perplexity. $^At last one of them had a brain
1560R02 wave. "^Why wear a *4dhoti traditional style? ^Let them just wrap
1570R02 it round their waists *(Mundu-Style*). ^That_*'1s respectable enough!"
1580R02 he suggested and the others breathed a sigh of relief. $^The next
1590R02 day brought fresh cause for apprehension. "^We have never sat on chairs.
1600R02 ^We don*'4t know what it feels like to_ sit on one," said the
1610R02 now very nervous and troubled guests of honour. ^By this time they
1620R02 had already been informed that they would have to_ sit on a dais, that
1630R02 they would have to_ be photographed, that all eyes would be focussed on
1640R02 them and that the newspapers the next day would carry an account of it
1650R02 all. ^This information, far from leaving them pleased, left them in
1660R02 a frenzy of nervousness and fear. "^What are we to_ do?" they wailed.
1670R02 "^How are we to_ act? ^We do not want to_ ape our betters,"
1680R02 they protested. "^We are satisfied with our own lowly place in society."
1690R02 $^The Village Betterment Committee was quick to_ act.
1700R02 ^A team was sent to_ boost up the morale of the two men and a couple
1710R02 of chairs were made available to them so that during the day they might
1720R02 rest their limbs in them to_ rehearse the roles they were called upon
1730R02 to_ play and at night set at rest the fears that_ haunted their sleepless
1740R02 hours. $^WITHIN a few days the two guests of honour had learnt
1750R02 to_ sit, stand and carry themselves about with dignity and decorum and
1760R02 everything seemed to_ be going on as it should. ^Until somebody tried
1770R02 to_ improve upon their best and flashed a last-minute idea A Dinner
1780R02 at the end of it all with the members of the Village Betterment
1790R02 Committee dining in the company of the two guests of Honour to_ show
1800R02 everyone that they had no inhibitions about dining with Untouchables,
1810R02 that Untouchability was really and truly a thing of the Past in the
1820R02 Village.*#
        **[no. of words = 02015**]

        **[text. r03**]
0010R03 **<*3FUEL X*0**> $^*I COULD SEE a helicopter waiting, its
0020R03 rotor-blades idling. $^*I waited for all the passengers to_ disembark
0030R03 from the Jumbo. ^Like our honourable prime minister, I too don*'4t
0040R03 believe in the wasteful practice of special \0VVVIP charter flights.
0050R03 ^As I set foot on *8terra firma*9, a man, clad in a *4lungi and
0060R03 with two ears strung together by the most complete set of teeth I had
0070R03 ever seen, grabbed me in a bear hug and said: 'Welcome, *7bhappe!'
0080R03 $^When I recovered I was already airborne in the helicopter.
0090R03 $^The man in the *4lungi shoved a fistful of peanuts into his mouth.
0100R03 ^He said: 'I always wear this to_ receive our most honoured guests
0110R03 from your great country. ^But the guy who presented me with this *4lungi
0120R03 taught me how to_ tie it but not how to_ handle it while standing
0130R03 under the whirling rotor-blades of a chopper. ^Can be awfully embarrassing.
0140R03 ^Makes me feel like Marilyn Monroe standing over the
0150R03 grille of a subway manhole'. $'^*I remember the famous photograph!
0160R03 ^*I responded. '^The thing to_ do,' I added helpfully, 'is to_
0170R03 gather the *4lungi and grip it between tightly clenched knees!'
0180R03 $'^Thanks pal!' he said. '^*I*'3ll remember it. ^Now,
0190R03 let*'3s get down to brass tacks, you said you could solve the most major
0200R03 problem that_ faces us and therefore the whole of mankind.' $^*I
0210R03 nodded. ^The helicopter landed. ^We walked into the White House.
0220R03 $'^We*'3re faced,' he said, 'with a gruellingly severe winter.
0230R03 ^And we*'3re still far from having solved our fuel shortage problem.
0240R03 ^Well that_*'1s what you are here to_ solve. ^Right?' $'^As
0250R03 a consultant' I reminded him . '^A consultant with a blank cheque
0260R03 as a fee, subject to a gentler income tax than they wield in my country.'
0270R03 $'^Yes,' he confirmed. $'^Pensionable? ^With six-month
0280R03 vacations thrown in each year, all expenses paid, at all the holiday
0290R03 resorts of the world?' ^*I asked. $'^Yes.' $'^And you*3'll
0300R03 give me American citizenship and a secret Swiss bank account?'
0310R03 $'^Yes, yes!' he answered impatiently. ^But what*'1s your solution
0320R03 to our problem?' $^*I smiled indulgently. '^*I*'3ll answer that_.
0330R03 ^But first let*'3s get all the terms and conditions of my consultancy
0340R03 straight'. $'^Shoot,' he said, leaning back in his swivel chair.
0350R03 $^*I amost ducked involuntarily, but checked the impulse realising
0360R03 he didn'*4t mean it as an order-- only as a figure of speech. '^You*'3ll
0370R03 bear all the expenses.' $'^Yes,' he confirmed. $'^You
0380R03 undertake to_ set up a plant, at your cost, to_ process and package Fuel
0390R03 X in each and every town in our country, leaving the equity holding
0400R03 entirely in the hands of our country*'s tiny, small, medium, large
0410R03 or public sector industry, as the case may be?' $'^Yes,' he answered.
0420R03 $'^You*'3ll supply at your cost all the cylinders that_ will
0430R03 be needed-- super-reinforced to_ withstand super-hi pressures?' ^*I asked.
0440R03 $'^Yes,' he answered. $'^*I need one gas cylinder for my kitchen,'
0450R03 I said. ^It*'is impossible to_ get one, in Bombay'. $'^*I*'3ll
0460R03 give you dozen.' $'^It*'is just that_ my wife*'2s been complaining.
0470R03 ^It*'is impossible to_ cook a meal on a kerosene stove, more
0480R03 so since even kerosene is not so easy to_ come by. ^Electric cooking
0490R03 ranges are of course out of the question because of \0BEST*'s steal-you-blind
0500R03 power-rates.' $'^*I understand,' he said patiently,
0510R03 smiling to_ keep his ears apart. ^He added: 'I*'3ll even give you-- er.
0520R03 ^*I mean-I*'3ll talk to someone in your country who*'3ll arrange for
0530R03 you to_ get the sole all-India distributorship for \0HP cooking gas,
0540R03 as well as for Burshane, Indane and Calgas.' $'^Err-- err--,' I
0550R03 said. $'^Yes?' he asked. $'^*I also want-- while I*'3m
0560R03 here-- to_ see 'The Godfather', 'The Last Tango in Paris', 'Behind
0570R03 The Green Door', 'The Devil in Miss Jones', 'Deep Throat',
0580R03 in fact all the movies I can*'4t hope to_ see in India. ^All
0590R03 of them, uncensored. ^*Unrevised, if you please. ^And aslo a
0600R03 few visits to Playboy Clubs as well as to your friendly neighbourhood
0610R03 massage parlours'. $'^Okay,' he said. '^You realise, of course,
0620R03 that as a Godfearing man I can*'4t accompany you.' $'^That_*'1s
0630R03 perfectly alright', I assued him 'as long as you get someone else
0640R03 to_ fill in for you. ^*Raquel Welch for instance.' $'^That_ I
0650R03 don*'4t promise. ^But I do promise to_ try.' $'^Thanks,' I
0660R03 said. ^And to_ prove that you*'3re serious, you*'3ll also throw in
0670R03 a lifetime membership of the Breach Candy Swimming Pool?'
0680R03 $'^Okay. ^*I think I might be able to_ swing it. ^And I promise
0690R03 to_ love you forever.' $'^Then it*'1s a deal!... ^Pal!' I said.
0700R03 $'^Now will you get on with it? ^How do you plan to_ help us
0710R03 solve our fuel shortage problem? ^But first I want to_ know what
0720R03 *3is this mysterious Fuel X?' $'^Hot air,' I said. $'^Huh?'
0730R03 he asked. $'^Oh,' I responded, 'you don*'4t believe we can
0740R03 give you a sufficient and ongoing supply of hot air to_ meet your needs.
0750R03 ^No way, pal! ^You can have it till it comes out of your ears.
0760R03 ^Our resources are limitless. ^So limitless we can even launch
0770R03 our own \0AID program-- Assistance to the Industrially Developed--
0780R03 though Dependent nations.' $^His eyes bulged and had a blank
0790R03 glaze to them. $^*I felt it necessary to_ spell it out for him.
0800R03 ^*I said, slowly: 'We have prime ministers and ex-prime ministers.
0810R03 ^*Chief Ministers and deputy chief ministers. ^*Officials and
0820R03 ex-officials. ^*Ministers and ex-Ministers, including health ministers.
0830R03 ^Also businessmen. ^We have no ex-businessmen! ^And
0840R03 many more, including editors and ex-editors. ^They all constantly
0850R03 hold forth at public meetings, press conferences, enquiry commissions
0860R03 and private gatherings. ^All we need is the equipment to_ tap all
0870R03 the mikes being used and to_ bottle the stuff in cylinders. ^You
0880R03 can*'4t *3burn Fuel X. ^But you can certainly let it gently waft
0890R03 out of the cylinders to_ keep your citizens warm during the longest
0900R03 of nights in the severest of winters. ^And there will be plenty of it
0910R03 to_ spare for the people in Greenland.' $'^Huh?' $'^Right,' I answered.
0920R03 '^And if we can bottle all this hot air under sufficiently high pressure,
0930R03 it can be used in automobiles, aircraft and space rockets to_
0940R03 provide the required propulsion to_ move you from Point A to Point
0950R03 B.' $^*I paused, to_ let it sink in, smiled and added: 'It*'1s
0960R03 not that you, and others in your vast democracy, don*'4t produce
0970R03 a lot of Fuel X. '^It*'1s just that our resources are vaster and we
0980R03 are more advanced in the technology of producing Fuel X...' $'^Cough...
0990R03 splutter... choke...' he said, as he stumbled across to the door,
1000R03 swung it open violently and imperiously pointed the way out. $^*I am
1010R03 an Indian. ^Sensitive to the niceties of true hospitality and ready-as-ever
1020R03 to_ take umbrage at the slightest of slights. $^*I rose
1030R03 from my chair with dignity. ^*I gathered my four-foot-something-five-feet-nothing
1040R03 height to its full imposing stature and said: 'Okay,
1050R03 I can take a hint. ^But before I take your humble leave, let me,
1060R03 most humbly, set you straight on a few facts of life. ^For instance,
1070R03 you may or you may not choose to_ supply us with the heavy water we
1080R03 need, but there are plenty of others who might. ^And if they don*'4t,
1090R03 we are self-sufficient enough to_ manage with what our prime minister
1100R03 can produce for us.' $'^Glub-huh-' he said. $^But I*'3m
1110R03 not one to_ be interrupted-- who is, in our country? ^So I just
1120R03 continued: '^Similarly. ^You may or may not have any use for my
1130R03 brilliant, life-saving proposal for Fuel X. ^But there are plenty
1140R03 of fish in the petroleum-starved pond. ^That_*'1s not all. ^*I
1150R03 can always go back to my country and sell it there. ^Our-very-own-George
1160R03 the-giant-killer has already killed most of the dragons. ^To him
1170R03 my Fuel X proposal won*'4t be just a lot of hot air. ^He*'3ll
1180R03 buy it to_ keep the windmills moving so he can continue to_ tilt at them.'
1190R03 $^With that_ this Indian moved out of the Oval Room with a
1200R03 measured stride, his head held high. $^*I made it a point to_ swing
1210R03 the door shut behind me-- with gentle but firm dignity.
1220R03 $**<*3A MATTER OF PRESTIGE*0**>
1230R03 $"^COME on, hurry up," \0Mr. Patel told his wife impatiently.
1240R03 "^Yes dear, please wait," \0Mrs. Patel motioned her hands,
1250R03 and arranged her *4saree for the last time. ^She sighed in satisfaction
1260R03 and looked rather solicitously at her husband. \0^*Mr. Patel was
1270R03 dressed in a well-cut suit and donned a red, striking tie. ^Though only
1280R03 38, he had begun to_ lose hair. ^His brain mechanism for reception
1290R03 of advice was now fully at his wife*'s disposal. ^He had also used
1300R03 a soap as suggested by his wife, which was utilised by women to_ stimulate
1310R03 hair growth. $^Anyone observing this couple would have immediately
1320R03 and automatically come to the conclusion that they hailed from a wealthy
1330R03 family. \0^*Mr. Patel*'s suit and his wife*'s *4saree and
1340R03 all the jewels that_ adorned her gave that_ impression. \0^*Mrs. Patel
1350R03 locked the door of their 3-room flat in the Chembur Suburbs.
1360R03 \0^*Mr. Patel, who was already out on the road, hurriedly hailed a taxi.
1370R03 $^He could see his wife*'s silhouette against the building walls,
1380R03 dimly lit by the road lamps. ^He waved his hand impatiently and \0Mrs.
1390R03 Patel was slightly out of breath when she reached the taxi.
1400R03 ^The cabbie thought it was his lucky day when he saw the sparkling jewels
1410R03 around \0Mrs. Patel*'s neck. ^He thanked his stars for having
1420R03 given him such a passenger today. ^The taxi surged forward bouncing
1430R03 along the road. ^Once it bounced so much that \0Mr. and \0Mrs.
1440R03 Patel almost crashed together. ^The cabbie instantly apologised,
1450R03 though there was really no need for an apologly, as the couple had made
1460R03 good use of their opportunity. ^The cabbie could hear them talking
1470R03 in low tones, but it was not his habit to_ eavesdrop. ^He concentrated
1480R03 on driving them to Sion. $\0^MR. Patel said in a low voice:
1490R03 "Dear, I hope you are sure that no one knows the truth about your
1500R03 jewels." "^Yes, Hari, no one knows their authenticity except the
1510R03 owner of the shop in our society stores that_ sells such bangles,"
1520R03 \0Mrs. Patel reassured him. "^Owner of the shop..." \0^*Mr. Patel
1530R03 looked up anxiously. "^Don*'4t be so stupid," \0Mrs. Patel admonished.
1540R03 "^He has gone back to Gujarat." $\0^*Mr. Patel was
1550R03 relieved. ^They were silent for a few moments. \0^*Mrs. Patel
1560R03 then asked. "^*I forgot how much you paid for the jewels?"
1570R03 "^Only \0*4Rs. 25, dear," \0Mr. Patel assured her. "^But still
1580R03 we cannot deceive the public about the suit," \0Mrs. Patel said resignedly.
1590R03 "^Yes," agreed \0Mr. Patel. ^For a few seconds, they
1600R03 concentrated on the buildings flying behind them. $"^How much money
1610R03 do you have with you now?" \0^*Mrs. Patel queried. "^About \0*4Rs.
1620R03 14." \0^*Mr. patel said. "^How much then are we going to_ give
1630R03 the wedded couple?" \0^*Mrs. Patel raised the question. "^About
1640R03 \0*4Rs. 4-5, I guess," \0Mr. Patel said airily. $^Just then the
1650R03 wedding hall came into sight. ^As his passengers got out, the cabbie
1660R03 thought joyously. "^This couple looks very generous. ^*I guess
1670R03 they*'3ll give me \0*4Rs. 2 at least as a tip." ^Just then \0Mr.
1680R03 Patel asked, "what*'1s the bill?" "\0*4^*Rs. 3.10, sir," the cabbie
1690R03 replied at once. ^He was astonished when he saw exactly \0*4Rs. 3.10
1700R03 land on his hand. "^No tip, sir?" he asked, puzzled. "^What
1710R03 tip? ^No tip, nothing," \0Mr. Patel said and the two left.
1720R03 $^The cabbie shook his head sadly. $*3^AN*0 hour later, the wedding
1730R03 reception was over. ^The Sion railway station was not very far
1740R03 away from the wedding hall and \0Mrs. Patel*'s fat made the walking
1750R03 uncomfortable for her body. ^Soon they were at the station. ^They
1760R03 went and purchased their tickets for the Thana station. "^Had your
1770R03 mother not told us to_ come today, we would have already been home
1780R03 by now," \0Mr. Patel complained. ^The train was late. ^25 minutes
1790R03 had passed since they had bought their tickets. $"^Had she not
1800R03 called us, we would have had to_ waste more than \0*4Rs. 5 to_ keep
1810R03 up our impression of being rich," \0Mrs. Patel retorted. \0^*Mr.
1820R03 Patel flinched, and just then a 16-year-old boy standing near them
1830R03 caught their attention. ^The boy was dressed in simple clothes and
1840R03 wore rubber slippers. "^Poor boy," \0Mr. Patel thought with pity.
1850R03 "^Must be going by *=2 class." $^The same thoughts flitted
1860R03 through the boy*'s mind.*#
        **[no. of words = 02016**]

        **[txt. r04**]
0010R04 **<*3LOVE AND LIBERATION*0**> $^SUMIT CHATTERJEE had pretty set
0020R04 views about life. ^About love. ^About females: and the type of
0030R04 female he would wish to_ choose for his lifetime partner. ^Liberated
0040R04 to a degree, as he considered himself, Sumit*'s ideas naturally centred
0050R04 around liberation. ^*Having such scope in his home environment,
0060R04 which meant being the product of not too strict parents. ^*Sumit had
0070R04 ample opportunity to_ pursue his ideals. ^Being also the dashing Romeo
0080R04 at a co-ed college provided him with a wide canvas of liberated females
0090R04 to_ choose from. ^By the simple laws of elimination, that_ is
0100R04 by weighing the pros against the cons in respect of each candidate, Sumit
0110R04 had arrived at Lita Chakravarti as his ideal choice. ^However,
0120R04 there was a problem. ^For lita, being liberated to a degree, would
0130R04 seem to_ prefer not to_ be any male*'s choice. ^Which meant, that
0140R04 Lita did not appear in favour of becoming anyone*'s life-time partner,
0150R04 not that Sumit could afford to_ think on such lines at the present,
0160R04 pursuing a degree as he was and being unemployed as he was, too. ^Yet
0170R04 there was always the future to_ be provided for. ^And Sumit believed
0180R04 in that_ 'choose today for a partnership of tomorrow' theory. $^Needless
0190R04 to_ say Lita*'s attitude was no little surprising. ^Surprising,
0200R04 because Lita and he were so much alike. ^They shared almost
0210R04 identical views on life. ^Like, for instance, where politics were
0220R04 concerned, they firmly believed that no Indian could rule India.
0230R04 ^Where the relation of the sexes was concerned, they did not believe
0240R04 in arranged marriages. ^The idea of matching horoscopes was a lot
0250R04 of hooey, as far as they were concerned. $^IN matters of dress,
0260R04 too, they shared an appreciation for unisex garments; though they
0270R04 did not wear them. ^And in the more refined regions of gastronomy,
0280R04 besides sharing a typical Bengali preference for fried *4hilsa and
0290R04 '*4khichori' on a rainy day, they had a mutual, rather un-Bengali,
0300R04 passion for Scottish shortbread, Stilton cheese and Italian macaroni.
0310R04 ^Of course, these last-mentioned, being rare items on the Indian
0320R04 scene they had sampled them perhaps just once in their lives, and remained
0330R04 content, to_ talk about their palate-tickling values thereafter.
0340R04 $^The trouble with Lita was that she couldn*'4t make up her mind, Sumit
0350R04 felt. ^If she said 'Yes' to having coffee with him today, she said
0360R04 'No' tomorrow. ^*Sumit refused to_ interpret such behaviour
0370R04 as 'so far and no further'. ^Indecision was the word he preferred to_
0380R04 term it. $^However, term it what one may, Lita*'s behaviour was
0390R04 the stumbling block which prevented him from getting truly close to her.
0400R04 ^Not only close in the figurative sense, but in the literal, as
0410R04 well. ^*Sumit well remembered the evening he had attempted the last
0420R04 mentioned. $^They had been seated on the Strand, in the gathering
0430R04 dusk, watching life on the Hooghly slowly drift past. ^When of
0440R04 a sudden he had pointed to a launch, cruising along with the tide.
0450R04 $"^Now that_*'1s what I call harmony!" he had said. "^Launch and tide
0460R04 moving in the same direction." $^SHE hadn*'4t answered, which
0470R04 of course made him feel that their thoughts were in harmony. ^As such
0480R04 he had reached out and clasped her hand, hoping to_ give harmony a
0490R04 further dimension. $^However harmony had been shattered the next instant.
0500R04 ^For she had quickly withdrawn her fingers, with the comment:
0510R04 $"Sumit, I'*'3m surprised at you! ^Are you afraid of the dark?"...
0520R04 $^*Sumit felt at times that Lita was a man hater. ^If
0530R04 so, why did she say 'Yes' to coffee at times then? he would ask himself.
0540R04 $^Those coffee sessions were the things that_ were responsible
0550R04 for his feelings, he knew. ^Seated facing each other, their cups
0560R04 of steaming beverage between them, he would listen with respect to all
0570R04 she had to_ say. ^At the same time he would keep admiring those eyes,
0580R04 which he had long since decided were dark, intense and ensnaring.
0590R04 $^On occasions he would turn his attention to those lips, as they moved
0600R04 in speech. ^No doubt he hated himself for his weakness.
0610R04 ^He called himself a hundred kinds of fool for being lured by physical charm.
0620R04 $^BUT there was no getting away from Lita, Sumit decided,
0630R04 as he dressed for college that_ morning. ^Still, he must try.
0640R04 ^And he began to_ console himself with allegorical phrases like: 'Many
0650R04 a crow to_ be found flying in the sky!'. '^Many a leaf to_ be
0660R04 found on a tree!'. $^Later, when he got to college, Sumit found
0670R04 he was already late for the English literature lecture. ^As he slipped
0680R04 into a vacant set beside Lita, he noticed that the sea-green *4sari
0690R04 she was wearing did things to_ stir his insides. ^He could hardly resist
0700R04 the temptation to_ ask her out for coffee that_ evening. ^This,
0710R04 in spite of his allegorical exhortations to the contrary. $"^Sorry,
0720R04 can*'4t today!" ^*Lita apologised. $"^Busy!" $"^Busy?
0730R04 doing what?" he whispered, as the professor delved deep into the essays
0740R04 of Charles Lamb. $"^Tell you later," she whispered back,
0750R04 furiously scribbling in her notebook. $^During the morning break she
0760R04 told him. $"^Well, I*3've joined a group-- a sort of civic sense
0770R04 social service group. ^We are a band of girls who go round giving talks
0780R04 on the necessity for keeping Calcutta clean." $"^You mean, throw
0790R04 no garbage. ^No banana peels, or green coconut shells!" he said.
0800R04 $^She nodded. "^That_, and more! ^We intend to_ teach the
0810R04 Indian male to_ respect his city. ^For example, he must learn that
0820R04 every street corner is not a loo." $"^Why only the male?" he asked,
0830R04 slightly ruffled. $"^Have you ever seen a woman act that_ way?"
0840R04 $^Well he hand*'4t so he could not argue. ^Still, it was ridiculous
0850R04 for Lita to_ waste her time on such fruitless occupation,
0860R04 when there were better things, like dating him, to_ engage her, Sumit
0870R04 felt. $^THOUGH it was obvious Lita did not share this view, he
0880R04 realised. ^For on the next three occasions the answer to coffee was
0890R04 'No' 'No,' in favour of some duty to_ be performed, concerning the
0900R04 necessity for inculcating a sense of the civic in the avarage Calcuttan.
0910R04 $"^Look!" he said finally, quite hot under the collar. "^If
0920R04 this is a brush off, I can take it." $^But her response was simply
0930R04 to_ turn those deceptively-dark, innocent eyes on him in mute-- 'appeal'.
0940R04 ^That_ was the only interpretation he could give it. $"^*I*'3m
0950R04 sorry!" he added quickly, because of that_ 'appeal'. $"^But let
0960R04 me know when you are free." $"^Well, after tomorrow I*'3ll be free.
0970R04 ^Tomorrow is to_ be our last in our current lecture programme,"
0980R04 she explained. "^And for tomorrow we have chosen a particularly
0990R04 nauseating spot near Sealdah Station to_ deliver our talks." ^And
1000R04 then: "^But why don*'4t you come tomorrow evening? ^See how we go
1010R04 about things!" $^Some invitation! thought Sumit in disgust.
1020R04 ^Still, something was better. ^At least, it would provide him with
1030R04 an opportunity to_ be near her. ^In the circumstances, that_ was as
1040R04 close as he could expect to_ get, he realised. $^WHEN he got there
1050R04 the following evening, Sumit did so more by instinct. ^Which
1060R04 meant, that olfactory organ was mostly responsible for locating the place.
1070R04 ^*Lita and her band of civic-minded angels had chosen a bus stop
1080R04 close to an overflowing dustbin. ^*Sumit found them holding forth
1090R04 to a crocodile of rather apathetic male bus waiters. ^And if facial
1100R04 expressions could be used as a yardstick, Sumit concluded that the
1110R04 consensus of opinion was, that the civic-minded angels needed to_ have
1120R04 their heads examined. $^However, apathy soon gave way to restlessness.
1130R04 ^Nothing to do with the speeches, everything to_ do with the
1140R04 non-arrival of the buses. ^The bus waiters soon began to_ grumble.
1150R04 ^Next tempers began to_ fray. ^Finally, the arrival of a bus,
1160R04 already crammed to overflowing, brought tempers up to boiling point.
1170R04 $^As the crocodile of humanity attempted to_ board the bus, there
1180R04 was violent protest from the sardine-packed humanity in it. ^Hot
1190R04 verbal exchanges were followed by a scuffle or two. ^Which finally
1200R04 ended in a free for all. ^As fists began to_ fly, accompanied by
1210R04 missiles selected from the dump. ^*Lita and her gang found themselves
1220R04 in trouble. $^Before they could even contemplate flight, the
1230R04 angels of cleanliness were rudely jostled and pushed. ^Shredded saris,
1240R04 lost footwear and dishevelled coifures became the order of the day.
1241R04 $^*Sumit was obliged to_ play Sir Galahad
1250R04 by the time he was able to_ battle his way to his damsel in distress,
1260R04 the damage had already been done. ^A torn sari, a lost slipper,
1270R04 an uncoiled bun, and a considerably shaken miss awaited him on the
1280R04 garbage dump. ^She was seated there, quite unregally, on a throne
1290R04 of discarded green coconut shells. $^As he helped her to feet, he
1300R04 said: $"Thank goodness, I came! ^Otherwise I dread to_ think
1310R04 of what might have happened to you." $^For answer she began to_ sob.
1320R04 $^Which was surprising. ^Because Sumit had by this **[sic**]
1330R04 reached to the conclusion that she was devoid of feeling.
1331R04 ^Still this reaction would appear to_
1340R04 point to a female of the species with a ticker made of flesh and blood,
1350R04 not granite, as he had begun to_ think. $"^*Lita, don*'4t worry!"
1360R04 he comforted, as she continued to_ sob. "^*I*3m here. ^*I*'3ll
1370R04 take care of you." $"^Oh, Sumit! ^Please do. ^Please do."
1380R04 she mumbled, and to his surprise she snuggled close, as his
1390R04 arms went round her. $^It was hardly
1400R04 a romantic figure that_ Sumit led away from the scene of battle.
1410R04 $^Minus a slipper, she was certainly not a barefoot Contessa.
1420R04 ^The uncoiled bun, torn sari, and a slightly clinging, distinctive pong
1430R04 could hardly qualify her as a Venus risen from the waves. $^Still,
1440R04 she was his, Sumit decided. ^The other half of that_ partnership
1450R04 of the future. ^And because he was liberated, and a typical
1460R04 male, he couldn*'4t help but conclude: $'Females! ^All alike!
1470R04 ^Liberated or not, they can*'4t do without us males.' $*3^It
1480R04 was one of those days when every thing seemed to_ go wrong. ^To_
1490R04 begin with, the cook burnt the lunch. ^Then Suresh, my small
1500R04 brother, smashed a vase; and Father spilled coffee on the sitting-room
1510R04 carpet. ^Next Aunt Deepali*'s letter came, announcing her
1520R04 arrival for a fortnight*'s stay. ^And to_ cap it all, the urchins
1530R04 appeared once more on the front lawn-- to_ fly their kites, oblivious
1540R04 to all requests or entreaties to_ withdraw. $^The urchins, or
1550R04 the hoodlums as they were known were the acknowledged terrors of the neighbourhood.
1560R04 ^Terrors, not in the accepted sense, though it was terrorism
1570R04 of a sort. ^Numbering an uneven three-- approximate age ten,
1580R04 approximate height three foot plus-- it had been proved that the
1590R04 trio was more than a match for any, be it child or adult. ^And it was
1600R04 not so much what they did that_ bothered, more how they went about
1610R04 it. $^Their line of strategy was quite simple. ^If the three
1620R04 decided on a certain location for their play they used it. ^No permission
1630R04 sought. ^The word trespass did not figure in their thinking.
1640R04 ^And no pleas or threats of physical violence could get them to_
1650R04 withdraw. ^Even bodily removal was of no use, for they would be back,
1660R04 within moments of being ejected. ^While what was most disconcerting
1670R04 was, that silence was ever the response to any form of vocal communication
1680R04 addressed to them. $^With such background, understandably,
1690R04 the family was anxious. ^*Mother more so. ^The lawn was her
1700R04 pride, its velvety greenness her special joy. ^To_ trample on
1710R04 the grass was in the nature of a desectation. ^And this, aided by
1720R04 those domestic calamities not to_ forget Aunt Deepali*'s expected
1730R04 visit, were all responsible for transporting maternal anxiety to its
1740R04 peak point. $^AUNT Deepali is Mother*'s eldest, and spinster,
1750R04 sister-- the first in line of my maternal grandparents*' nine
1760R04 offspring. ^With mother registering eight on the list, there is a wide
1770R04 disparity in age between Aunt Deepali and herself-- something
1780R04 like almost two decades. $^The disparity is even more pronounced in
1790R04 other aspects. ^*Mother*'s usually gentle nature is the antithesis
1800R04 of Aunt*'s.*#
        **[no. of words = 02008**]

        **[txt. r05**]
0010R05 **<*3The *4Yoga and the Bus**>
0020R05 $*3^*I have a sixth sense that_ enables me to_ smell impending trouble.
0030R05 ^It has never let me down, but once, misled by this canine power,
0040R05 "like the base Indian" I almost "threw the pearl away". ^It
0050R05 happened when Gyaniji, our all-knowing neighbour, barged into my drawing-room,
0060R05 planted himself on the sofa with his irritating informality and
0070R05 began a long discourse on *4yoga. $^My wife was all ears to Gyaniji
0080R05 and, seeing this, my super sense began to_ ring warning bells.
0090R05 ^Punctuating his speech with the crunching sound of *4pakoras, Gyaniji
0100R05 said that *4yoga was a universal panacea, that it could counteract the
0110R05 adverse effects of low blood-pressure and high economic pressure, that
0120R05 it was equally efficacious in boosting sagging morale and a sagging bustline.
0130R05 $^*I shifted uncomfortably in my seat because, of late, there
0140R05 had been so much *4yoga talk in our town that it had assumed the nature
0150R05 of an ecological crisis. ^Now that it had come to our drawing-room and
0160R05 found a true devotee in my wife, I feared that even our little nest
0170R05 would turn into a *4yoga clinic. ^And it did. ^*Gyaniji went away
0180R05 but *4yoga stayed on. $*4^Yoga entered our bedroom where my wife cleared
0190R05 some space for her regular *4yogic practices. ^Her new routine
0200R05 was so full of *4yoga that it had little room for a husband. ^*I
0210R05 became an outsider in my own house. ^There was *4yoga in the morning
0220R05 and *4yoga in the evening. ^The noon was given to *4yoga talk when
0230R05 scores of her friends would troop in, drink gallons of tea and talk *4yoga.
0240R05 $^One of the most regular visitors was \0Miss Bimbo who was determined
0250R05 to_ demolish her extra flesh with *4yogic practices. ^One day a
0260R05 trial session was in progress in my drawing-room when, unable to_ support
0270R05 her enormous bulk on her head, \0Miss Bimbo crashed like an uprooted
0280R05 *4peepul tree upon the radiogram, terminating its musical career for ever.
0290R05 ^Seeing what *4yoga had done to the fruit of a long instalment-purchase
0300R05 scheme, I muttered something anti-*4yoga and that_ started a mini
0310R05 *4mahabharat between my wife and myself. $^Every morning I woke up
0320R05 to_ find her sitting like a stone Buddha or trying to_ stand on one leg
0330R05 like Nataraja in great pain. ^Often I saw her writhing and
0340R05 twisting on the floor. ^Sensing something wrong, I would spring
0350R05 to her aid and she, in turn, would accuse me of disturbing her *4asana
0360R05 or *4dhyana. $^Once I was woken up by strained hissing sounds.
0370R05 ^Fearing that my dear wife had developed breathing trouble, I made anxious
0380R05 husbandly enquiries, but gathering all the acid on her razor-sharp
0390R05 tongue she paid me back with: "Don*'4t behave like an old fool!
0400R05 ^I am doing breathing exercises." $^Early or late, one must submit to
0410R05 fate. ^With everyone aspiring to_ be immortal or cent per cent happy,
0420R05 I alone was content with all the ills the mortal is heir to (including
0430R05 the menace of *4yoga). $*3^It was at the bus-stop (where I
0440R05 have spent about one-tenth of my life in waiting) that I discovered the
0450R05 tragic flaw in my attitude towards *4yoga. ^One morning, after I had waited
0460R05 for an hour in the blazing sun with not even the mirage of a bus in
0470R05 sight, almost mechanically I fell into a couple of *4yogic stances.
0480R05 ^Exhausted, I threw the entire weight of my body on one leg and then
0490R05 on the other and felt somewhat relaxed. ^From looking in one direction
0500R05 for the bus the muscles of my neck and eyes were strained.
0510R05 ^So I looked in the opposite direction for ten minutes and got more
0520R05 relaxed. ^Encouraged by the results, I raised both my arms (holding
0530R05 my briefcase in the one and the tiffin-carrier in the other) like a policeman
0540R05 directing traffic. ^But, before I could select another posture
0550R05 from the long repertoire of my wife*'s *4yogic *4asanas, I was thrown
0560R05 off balance by the jostling crowd. $^Collecting my belognings and
0570R05 wits, I came back to temporal time and got panicky. ^It was well
0580R05 past the office time. ^*I had the uncomfortable vision of our Section
0590R05 Head (whose only virtue is punctuality) reporting me late or my boss
0600R05 (whose punctuality always coincides with my unpunctuality) growling
0610R05 at my empty chair. ^My discovery of *4yogic powers had certainly put me
0620R05 on the highway to eternal happiness but it could do nothing about my
0630R05 immediate worries and anxieties. ^No amount of *4yoga could transport
0640R05 me physically to my office or create a bus. $^The sun scorched the
0650R05 bald patch on my head and fears and anxieties crawled beneath that_
0660R05 patch. ^Then I remembered the penultimate *4yogic formula of Gyaniji:
0670R05 *3Retreat. ^When the unavoidable strains become unbearable
0680R05 simply retreat into *4dhyana. ^Holding my briefcase tightly,
0690R05 I retreated into nothingness. ^Soon the world vanished and I was
0700R05 floating in complete vacuum (*7sans bus, *7sans boss, *7sans everything).
0710R05 $*3^When I woke up from the *4yogic trance, I had
0720R05 missed one bus and the second one had begun to_ crawl away. ^*I sprang
0730R05 aboard the moving vehicle and found myself wedged between unyielding slabs
0740R05 of human flesh. ^It was as if the entire crowd was bearing down
0750R05 on me. $^*I made a quick *4yogic experiment and saved myself from
0760R05 the black consequences of a black-hole tragedy. ^*I inhaled and exhaled
0770R05 so as to_ harden my chest into an impregnable rock and then the advancing
0780R05 wall of pressure advanced no more. ^Thus by inhaling and exhaling
0790R05 I created enough space for my survival between the two stops.
0800R05 $^From this experience I deduced certain facts of great scientific interest.
0810R05 ^If all the passengers on board a crowded bus deflate their lungs
0820R05 in unison even for a minute, some more waiting passengers could be
0830R05 sucked in. $*4^Yoga is relevant to a bus passenger in many other
0840R05 respects as well. ^For instance, the crowded buses of *4Aryavarta
0850R05 make impossible demands on the God-made human frame. ^Trapped
0860R05 between irregular masses of flesh, nearly crucified by a lady*'s umbrella
0870R05 and a gentleman*'s walking-stick, I*3've often cried out: "Oh
0880R05 if these too, too solid bones could bend..." $^Precisely. ^If
0890R05 the bones were made of plastic or rubber, they would be easier to_ bend,
0900R05 fold, double up or squeeze. ^And, judging from my wife*'s impossible
0910R05 acrobatics and postures, I can say that *4yoga gives plasticity
0920R05 to the human frame. ^In other words, if all the passengers take regular
0930R05 *4yogic exercises, they can come out unharmed even from the most
0940R05 crowded buses of *4Aryavarta. $^Finally, one can escape
0950R05 inescapable mental and physical pain by taking the ultimate *4yogic step--
0960R05 *4samadhi. ^Hanging on to the strap, with my toes barely touching
0970R05 the floor, when I can no longer bear the elbow thrusts at half a dozen
0980R05 places, I simply sneak out of my body. ^My body travels to my
0990R05 destination suspended between the earth*'s gravity and the pull of the
1000R05 planets, supported by friendly shoulders, elbows, sticks and umbrellas.
1010R05 $^On reaching my destination that_ morning, I took charge
1020R05 of my body and patted and smoothed out my ruffled garment the way a child
1030R05 fondles her battered plastic doll. ^*I sent telepathic apologies
1040R05 to Gyaniji and my much better half and even thought of contesting one
1050R05 of the municipal seats on a *4yoga ticket. ^*I resolved to_ take the
1060R05 opposite stand on all popular issues. $^Why must we ever try to_
1070R05 change a situation when with the help of *4yoga we can so change ourselves
1080R05 as to_ endure any situation? ^For instance, even if filth cannot
1090R05 be removed, why can*'4t we learn to_ live in filth? $^Recently
1100R05 *3CROB*0 (Committee for Reducing Overcrowding in Buses) celebrated
1110R05 its silver jubilee. ^But the overcrowding continues. ^*I propose
1120R05 to_ change the strategy so that people armed with *4yogic powers will
1130R05 travel through life in peace and happiness in spite of delays, discomfort
1140R05 and suffocation. $**<*3Mother of Ganesh*0**>
1160R05 $^*3I AM*0 a veterinary surgeon. ^You might wonder as to how
1170R05 I can earn my living as a veterinary surgeon when the majority of the
1180R05 sick population in the country is deprived of minimum medical amenities
1190R05 even in times of crises. ^*I should, at the very onset, make it
1200R05 clear to them that I am employed by the animal husbandry department
1210R05 of the government and my responsibility includes proper care of the commissioner*'s
1220R05 horses, the district magistrate*'s dogs, the police superintentendent*'s
1230R05 cows and the like. ^*I am also required to_ certify
1240R05 the fitness of horses for hackney carriages. ^Unfortunately, I
1250R05 do not enjoy the benefit of private practice like my friends who treat
1260R05 human beings. ^That_, you will admit, is not possible in this
1270R05 land of ours, where two square meals a day are considered luxury.
1280R05 ^Yet, fortune favours me occasionally with unxpected private calls.
1290R05 ^Such an invitation came to me recently. $^The other day I received
1300R05 a telegram: "^My elephant is indisposed. ^Please come sharp."
1310R05 ^This, to_ say the least made me happy and I was sure of a fat
1320R05 fee. ^The place, quite far from my place of work, demanded a journey
1330R05 of seven or eight hours by a passenger train. ^*I was lost in
1340R05 speculation: "^*I am to_ cover this distance to_ treat an elephant... a
1350R05 fee of \0Rs.200 is the minimum I expect... ^The festive season is ahead.
1360R05 ^This is an act of the merciful god!" ^With a feeling of elation
1370R05 I left for my destination by the first available train. $^In
1380R05 the early evening, I alighted from the train at the station, an insignificant
1390R05 one, in a small village in the remotest rural area. ^Hardly
1400R05 any other passenger disembarked. ^*I was the only person to_ come
1410R05 out of a first class compartment. (^*I travelled first class expressly
1420R05 to_ emphasise my special status. ^*I was greeted by a middle-aged
1430R05 man. ^He asked politely, "Are you the veterinary surgeon
1440R05 from the district hospital?" $"^That_*'1s right," I replied.
1450R05 $^He took my bag and asked me to_ follow him. ^This man, dressed
1460R05 in a dirty *4dhoti and an equally shabby *4kurta and torn canvas shoes,
1470R05 looked like a servant of the landlord*'s family, the owner of the
1480R05 elephant addressed him as such in my conversation with him. ^Outside
1490R05 the station, I was expecting a car to_ drive me to my destination
1500R05 but no automobile was visible. ^The man hired a hackney carriage
1510R05 for me while he rode a bicycle. $^It took hardly an hour for the carriage
1520R05 to_ reach its destination and come to a halt in front of the house.
1530R05 ^Peeping through the window I had a look at the place.
1540R05 ^It was the residence normally occupied by a middle class family and not
1550R05 a big building as I had anticipated. ^It was surprising that the
1560R05 owner of this house could afford to_ maintain an elephant. ^*I was
1570R05 about to_ put this embarrassing question to the coachman when the man
1580R05 who had come to the station to_ receive me appeared on the scene with
1590R05 a lantern in his hand. ^The glass covering the flame was partly black
1600R05 with a deposit of soot. ^Welcoming me warmly, he said, "Please
1610R05 come in doctor *4sahib... please step in." $^*I was escorted to
1620R05 the sitting room where I sat down on a rickety chair. ^It was a
1630R05 typical village room with a cot, a table, another equally dilapidated chair
1640R05 and a couple of calendars carrying pictures of deities, torn and disfigured.
1650R05 ^Placing my bag in one corner, the man said with a smile,
1660R05 "^Please rest a while. ^You are tired after the long journey.
1670R05 ^Let me see if tea is ready." $"^Where is my patient?" ^*I
1680R05 inquired. $"^He*'1s here... my elephant..." $^The gentleman
1690R05 hastened inside. ^*I mused. ^Was the man cutting jokes?
1700R05 ^To_ maintain an elephant is not an easy job and beyond the most optimistic
1710R05 expectations of a person like him. ^What was the matter? ^He
1720R05 reappeared soon with a cup of tea and the handle of the cup was missing.
1730R05 $"^Please have your tea. ^Then you can examine the patient.
1740R05 $"^What*'1s wrong with him?" $"^Nothing serious I believe.
1750R05 ^He has just stopped eating..."*#
        **[no. of words = 02001**]

        **[txt. r06**]
0020R06 **<*3Raman the Jester*0**>
0030R06 $"^*Raman, I now believe you. ^Though you are innocent, the law
0040R06 of the land has to_ be obeyed. ^Both of you have to_ be punished.
0050R06 ^You have both got to_ lose your heads-- Kannan for trying to_
0060R06 steal the crown jewel and you for carelessly bringing him into the court."
0070R06 ^The king felt sorry for Raman, for he loved and respected him.
0080R06 $^*Raman was shocked by the king*'s announcement. ^He became
0090R06 sad and thoughtful. ^Then he said, "My lord, I know the law has
0100R06 to_ be observed. ^But can you grant me a last wish before I leave
0110R06 this world?" $"^Certainly, Raman, anything you ask."
0120R06 $"^Will you allow me to_ choose the way I must die, my lord?"
0130R06 $"^Tell me and it shall be done," said the king with tears in his eyes.
0140R06 $"^Then, my lord, I wish to_ die of very old age!"
0150R06 $^The king and everyone assembled were surprised by Raman*'s request.
0160R06 ^Then the king realised what the request meant and started laughing,
0170R06 greatly relieved that Raman was going to_ live. "^*Raman,"
0180R06 he exclaimed with joy, "it shall be so. ^Here is a bag of gold for
0190R06 cleverly saving your life and making me happy." $^*Kannan stood blinking
0200R06 when the king addressed him, "^Since this is indeed a joyous moment
0210R06 for me, I will show mercy on you and spare your head now. ^But
0220R06 your face must be seen nowhere again in my kingdom. ^So run from
0230R06 here at once before I change my mind." ^Grateful that his head still
0240R06 belonged to him, Kannan fled from the room without losing a moment.
0241R06 $*<*3RAMAN AND THE HUNTERS*0*>
0250R06 $*3^ONE DAY*0 the king and his men returned to the palace after
0260R06 a good day*'s hunt in the forest. ^The king enjoyed nothing better than
0270R06 the thrill of going into the jungle and chasing wild animals. ^He
0280R06 always invited a few close friends in his court to_ join him.
0290R06 ^He had special chariots built for this sport. ^He usually spent
0300R06 the whole day in the forest and returned to the palace late in the evening.
0310R06 ^By then he would be very hungry and tired. ^So, after taking
0320R06 a hearty meal, he would retire to bed early. $^On this day, before
0330R06 parting with his friends he said "You must all be tired. ^Go
0340R06 home and have a good night*'s sleep. ^Be fresh when you come to the
0350R06 court tomorrow, for I want to_ hear the stories of today*'s hunt from
0360R06 every one of you." ^All of them, including Raman, bowed and
0370R06 left. $^The next morning the court assembled at the appointed time.
0380R06 ^The courtiers were eagerly waiting for the king. ^Each of them
0390R06 had an adventurous incident to_ tell and they wanted the whole court
0400R06 to_ know how brave and courageous they were. ^The king entered the
0410R06 hall and took his seat. ^The courtiers wondered who the king would
0420R06 call first to_ tell the story. "^*Nanda," the king called out.
0430R06 "^Come here and tell us your story." ^*Nanda proudly went forward
0440R06 and stood in the middle of the court and bowed to the king.
0450R06 $"^My lord, what I am going to_ tell you is about a very strange happening,"
0460R06 he began, "and only I could have faced it. ^It requires a
0470R06 lot of courage. ^Luckily, I have plenty of it." $^It pleased
0480R06 the king immensely to_ hear he had such a brave man in his court.
0490R06 ^He smiled and said, "Go on with your story for I am eager to_ hear
0500R06 it." $"^My lord," continued Nanda, "I was roaming in the forest
0510R06 hoping to_ catch some animal. ^*I was alone. ^*I was hungry.
0520R06 ^There was nothing to_ eat. ^Not even wild berries.
0530R06 ^*I was feeling weak and tired and finding it extremely difficult to_
0540R06 walk. ^The sun was hot and I was feeling thirsty. ^But there
0550R06 was no water to_ be found anywhere nearby. ^As I was wondering what
0560R06 to_ do suddenly I heard a terrific roar behind me. ^*I turned and
0570R06 saw one of the largest lions in the jungle waiting to_ pounce on me!
0580R06 ^*I was terrified! ^But I gathered courage and picked up a huge
0590R06 stone. ^Then, without waiting a moment more, I thrust it into the
0600R06 open mouth of the lion. ^The lion was bewildered and ran for its
0610R06 life with the huge stone between its teeth. ^And, as you see, I
0620R06 came back alive to_ tell you my story, my lord." $"^Well done,
0630R06 Nanda," applauded the king, patting him on his back. "^It is not
0640R06 at all an easy thing to_ put a stone in a lion*'s mouth. ^Only a
0650R06 very brave man like you could have done it." $^The others in the
0660R06 court looked at Nanda in great admiration. $^The king asked the
0670R06 next person, "Ranga, now tell us about what you had been doing yesterday.
0680R06 ^*I am sure it will be as interesting as what we heard just
0690R06 now." $"^Your highness," began Ranga humbly, "you may not believe
0700R06 what I am going to_ tell you now. ^But I swear, every word
0710R06 is true. ^Even now I cannot imagine I did it. ^Only my cleverness
0720R06 helped me and I am glad I have the chance now to_ tell you how."
0730R06 $"^Yes, yes, let me hear first your story. ^Get on with
0740R06 it." said the king impatiently. $"^O king, I had strayed away
0750R06 from all of you. ^The forest was vast and I did not know where
0760R06 to_ find you. ^*I became frightened because it was becoming dark.
0770R06 ^*I shouted your names but no one heard me. ^*I leaned against
0780R06 a tree to_ rest my tired body. ^Then I heard a sharp hissing sound.
0790R06 ^*I looked around and to my horror I found two enormous pythons
0800R06 crawling towards me. ^Each one was as large and long as a coconut
0810R06 tree. ^You can imagine how fierce they must have looked! ^They
0820R06 would have swallowed me in one gulp if I had moved. ^But I could
0830R06 not wait there for ever. ^The sun had set and it was becoming dark.
0840R06 ^*I had to_ act quickly. ^So, without giving it a second
0850R06 thought, I caught hold of the tails of the pythons and knotted them
0860R06 together tightly, so that they were unable to_ move in any direction.
0870R06 ^Then I could safely walk away from them. ^*I shudder even now
0880R06 to_ think what my fate would have been." $"^Marvellous!" cried
0890R06 the king greatly excited. "^*I had never heard of anybody knotting
0900R06 together two deadly snakes before." ^*Ranga appeared very satisfied
0910R06 with himself and sat down. $^The third courtier called Soma was
0920R06 asked to_ tell his story. ^He stood up proudly and said, "My lord,
0930R06 there is a big lake in the middle of the jungle. ^*I do not know
0940R06 whether you have seen it. ^*I happened to_ find my way there yesterday.
0950R06 ^It appeared so cool and inviting. ^Since it was a hot day
0960R06 I felt like having a good swim. ^*I jumped into it and swam to the
0970R06 other bank. ^Just as I was swimming back I felt some thing pulling
0980R06 at my leg. ^What do you think it was? ^A large, ugly crocodile!"
0990R06 $^The king and the court gasped. "^What happened,
1000R06 what happened then?" everyone asked anxiously. $"^*I just thrust
1010R06 these two fingers into the creature*'s nostrils, jumped on its back,
1020R06 and made it carry me to the shore." $"^You did that_? ^You had
1030R06 the wits and courage to_ plug the crocodile*'s nose?" all of them enquired,
1040R06 in great amazement. $"^Of course, I did it!" ^*Soma
1050R06 replied with a great deal of pride. "^These things do not frighten
1060R06 me at all. ^*I have done bigger things in my life." ^And
1070R06 he thumped his chest to_ show off his strength. $"^You are a remarkable
1080R06 person. ^Fancy being so calm and collected when a crocodile
1090R06 had caught hold of you! ^Any one else would have died of fright!"
1100R06 said the king, complimenting Soma. $^On being called by the
1110R06 king, Subba came and stood before the court at attention. ^He
1120R06 began his adventure. "^My lord, I was taking a quiet nap in the afternoon
1130R06 under the cool shade of a tree. ^After a while I was suddenly
1140R06 awakened by a strange noise. ^*I was too scared even to_ open
1150R06 my eyes. ^But when I slowly did, I was horrified to_ find an
1160R06 enormous wild boar with its white fangs and red eyes staring at me.
1170R06 ^What could I do? ^Fortunately, the animal suddenly turned its
1180R06 head to_ look at a squirrel which jumped from a bush. ^At that_ moment
1190R06 I took to my heels and ran for my life. ^The boar chased me
1200R06 wherever I ran without giving me time even to_ think of a way to_ escape
1210R06 from it. ^To_ add to my misery I realised I was nearing the
1220R06 edge of a cliff. ^*I had no way to_ go but to_ jump down into the
1230R06 deep valley below. ^*I would surely have died. ^But as I
1240R06 jumped I saw an eagle flying past me close by. ^*I stretched my hands
1250R06 as far as I could and caught hold of its legs. ^Then the bird
1260R06 lifted me high into the sky and flew away, thus saving me from the wild
1270R06 boar. ^*I felt like a bird. ^After flying for a long time
1280R06 I saw a sand dune below and let go my hold. ^*I fell on the soft
1290R06 sand without hurting myself. ^Then I rushed home, had a good meal
1300R06 and went to_ sleep. ^That_ is all, my lord." $^These stories
1310R06 made the king very happy and he said, "It gladdens my heart to_
1320R06 have such brave men in my court-- men who could face danger like soldiers
1330R06 in a battlefield! ^*I am proud of you all!" ^Then he suddenly
1340R06 asked, "^*Raman, where are you? ^You seem to_ be very quiet
1350R06 today. ^Surely you too have something to_ tell us. ^Come on,
1360R06 out with it." $^*Raman stood up and said quietly, "^My lord,
1370R06 what can I tell you after hearing the tales of such brave and daring men
1380R06 as these? ^*I am after all a meek and humble man." $"^No,
1390R06 no, Raman," said the king, "you are as courageous as any of these men.
1400R06 ^*I know it. ^So please let us hear your story." $"^Since
1410R06 you are so keen to_ listen to me, my lord, I will tell you what
1420R06 happened. ^It is hardly worth talking about. ^*I was just chased
1430R06 by a rogue elephant." ^*Raman looked around and saw that everyone
1440R06 was anxious to_ hear the rest of the adventure. $"^*I caught it
1450R06 by its tail," he went on, "and flung it into the sky. ^*I am sure
1460R06 it*'1s still going up and up." $^The court applauded Raman with
1470R06 shouts of joy. ^Only the king seemed thoughtful. "^*Raman!"
1480R06 he said rather angrily, "I do not believe a word of what you say.
1490R06 ^You are lying. ^No one can catch an elephant-- and that_ too
1500R06 a mad one-- by its tail and fling it into the sky." $"^But, my
1510R06 lord, have mercy on me. ^You believed that a stone could be thrust
1520R06 into a fierce lion*'s mouth by Nanda. ^You never doubted the truth
1530R06 of Ranga*'s story that he knotted together two gigantic pythons.
1540R06 ^You accepted without question what Soma told you about riding on
1550R06 the back of a crocodile and plugging its nose. ^In the same way you
1560R06 believed Subba*'s story about his flight, clinging to an eagle when
1570R06 he was chased by a wild boar. ^What offence have I caused you,
1580R06 my lord, that you should suspect only my adventure with the wild elephant?
1590R06 ^Does it sound any more fantastic than the other stories you have
1600R06 just heard, my lord?" $^Everyone was startled to_ hear what Raman
1610R06 said. ^No one spoke a word. ^Then the king broke the silence
1620R06 saying, "Friends, I now realise that you have not been telling me
1630R06 true stories. ^*Raman is right; they were all made up and I
1640R06 was a fool to_ have believed them. ^*I am going to_ reward Raman
1650R06 for showing me what is true and what is false."*#
        **[no. of worrds = 02009**]

        **[txt. r07**]
0010R07 **<*3The Gentle Art of Articulation*0**>
0020R07 $*3^THEY*0 stood in the middle of a busy flyover, impervious to the
0030R07 screaming horns and swearing drivers. "^She told me," insisted
0040R07 one to the other, "that you told her what I told you not to_ tell
0050R07 her." $"^But," replied the first, "I told her not to
0060R07 _ tell you that I told her." $"^Well, anyway, don*'4t tell her
0070R07 that I told you what she told me" continued the first.... and
0080R07 so on till everybody is telling somebody what nobody needs to_ know.
0090R07 $^As an incorrigible nation of natterers, we are fast
0100R07 acquiring that_ sort of noisy reputation once enjoyed by loquacious
0110R07 Gauls and Latins. "^A Frenchman must be always talking
0120R07 whether he knows anything or not," said \0Dr. Samuel Johnson,
0130R07 the eighteenth century observer, whereas "an Englishman is content
0140R07 to_ say nothing when he has nothing to_ say." \0^*Dr. Johnson--
0150R07 whose British sensibilities might otherwise have made
0160R07 this observation suspect-- was here reporting on a Gallic phenomenon
0170R07 as firmly ensconced as the Eiffel Tower. ^For some
0180R07 races (like the French, the Italians and the Spanish) have
0190R07 always been more verbal than others (like the Germans, the
0200R07 Japanese and the Chinese) and we are giving sound proof of having
0210R07 joined their ranks. $^We talk everywhere, on everything
0220R07 and our great national preoccupation with prattle resounds in the guttural
0230R07 tones of the Punjab, the muted sibilants of Bengal and the
0240R07 pronounced labials of Trivandrum and Nagapattinam. ^Nothing is more
0250R07 native than the impulse to_ give *4bhashan and no issue raises
0260R07 as many decibles as quickly and as surely as the language one.
0270R07 ^Not surprisingly, there is little that_ escapes the attention
0280R07 of the great gasbags-- including sensitive government information,
0290R07 often marked 'top secret'. ^So, when reports of the
0300R07 nuclear implosion in Rajasthan first appeared in the press, the unanimous
0310R07 reaction, after a glow of patriotic pride, was:
0320R07 "How did they manage to_ keep it a secret?" ^That an event of
0330R07 such magnitude had occurred without the faintest whisper of a rumour,
0340R07 was almost as awesome as our sudden nuclear capability.
0350R07 $^While everyone loves a natter now and then, there are some
0360R07 whose habit is a national nuisance. (^This is not to_ mention
0370R07 the more serious aspects of time as money, for the loss to our
0380R07 exchequer from workers talking on the job must be considerable
0390R07 in itself.) ^First amongst the habitual offenders is the compulsive
0400R07 phone fanatic. ^He hogs public booths for hours
0410R07 on end, oblivious to the lengthening queues outside. ^His
0420R07 office number is impossible to_ get and is residential lines are
0430R07 perpetually busy. ^Anyone trying to_ get through with an
0440R07 important message just has to_ keep trying. ^Meanwhile the conversation
0450R07 meanders from the next door neighbours brother-in-law*'s
0460R07 sexually liberated younger daughter to the comparative prices of
0470R07 cauliflower. ^A recent survey conducted by the Bombay Telephones
0480R07 revealed a staggering loss of thousands of *4rupees from
0490R07 telephone lines that_ remain interminably engaged. $^Yet
0500R07 nowhere is our tendency to_ twaddle quite as irritating as at public
0510R07 meetings-- when good manners force you to_ listen. ^A typical
0520R07 meeting begins with "a few words about our honoured guest"
0530R07 delivered by a shy, nervous individual, the introductory speaker.
0540R07 ^His few words turn out to_ be a lengthy paean of praise interspersed
0550R07 with bits and pieces from the celebrity*'s bio-data.
0560R07 ^When Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw was asked to_ preside over the
0570R07 convocation of Chandigarh*'s *(0D.A.V.*) College, he was
0580R07 faced with just such an embarrassing situation. ^Apart from
0590R07 being praised mercilessly in the superlative throughout, the speech
0600R07 was so full of the intimate details of his personal life that a
0601R07 blushing *4Bahadur finally remarked,
0610R07 "^You have forgotten to_ mention that I am married and that I
0620R07 have only one wife!" $^Few speakers, however, are gifted
0630R07 with that_ type of humour. ^Most have trouble just being
0640R07 coherent. ^It is usually a case of "I don*'4t have much
0650R07 to_ say... I only want to_ say.... how can I say... and
0660R07 in the end I*'1d like to_ say...." all the while saying things that_
0670R07 are better left unsaid. ^Bloomers like the one made
0680R07 by a prominent scientist who asked his audience to_ "stand until
0690R07 \0Ms. Gandhi passes away," or the one by the wife of a Bombay
0700R07 politician, who feared that "increasing pollution is killing our fish
0710R07 and other organisations in the sea," are not uncommon. ^It
0720R07 is the obscure, meandering thoughts of self-styled experts and
0730R07 dedicated social workers that_ tax even the most patient listener.
0740R07 ^Like the speech delivered at a recent public meeting on
0750R07 family planning: "^The reason I am here today," began the honorary speaker,
0760R07 **[sic**] "is that, ladies and gentlemen, there is much to_
0770R07 be said about family planning... er..... this means that we should
0780R07 not have our babies by accident but...... er.... by design.
0790R07 ^What I mean is that we must plan them and plan for them."
0800R07 ^At another gathering, a prominent social worker was busy expounding
0810R07 the need to_ grow more trees. "^Trees belong to all
0820R07 of us," she said, "they are neither yours nor mine. ^They
0830R07 are beautiful when they are in flowering. ^So why should we cut
0840R07 them down?" ^She was obviously barking up the wrong tree
0850R07 but no matter. $^No speaker, however, matched the ingenuity
0860R07 of the minister who inaugurated a seminar on construction technology
0870R07 in 1975, in Bombay. "^I don*'4t wish to_ bore you all by reading
0880R07 out my speech. ^*I have therefore taken the liberty of
0890R07 preparing copies of my speech which I will distribute amongst you.
0900R07 ^All I want to_ say is..." ^And he went on talking extempore
0910R07 for the next 45 minutes. "^We got a double dose this time,"
0920R07 grumbled the men," not only did we have to_ read the prepared speech,
0930R07 we also had to_ listen to an unprepared one." $^Yet
0940R07 perhaps the most pathetic figure of all is the gentleman who closes
0950R07 the evening with his "hearty vote of thanks". ^Adjectives
0960R07 fly as he praises the speaker*'s gift of the gab, the organiser*'s
0970R07 capacity to_ convene such a splendid gathering and ironically,
0980R07 the audience*'s 'patience' in listening so quietly.
0990R07 $^Somewhere at the beginning of this lengthy thanksgiving, the 'patient'
1000R07 audience gets up noisily to_ make for the buses, trams
1010R07 and trains that_ will take them home. $^Is there no way, short
1020R07 of physical gagging, by which we can curb the inveterate chatterer?
1030R07 ^*West Germany*'s postal minister in 1964, \0Mr.
1040R07 Strecklen, invented a novel device he termed the 'speech limiter'.
1050R07 ^Based on the old fashioned timer, it contained four sand filters
1060R07 placed within a wooden frame. ^Each ran for three
1070R07 minutes. ^The first one said 'introduce yourself' the second,
1080R07 'keep to the point', the third reminded the speaker to_ 'hurry
1090R07 up' while the fourth warned, 'time is up'. ^So successful
1100R07 was this device that he has presented several to his colleagues
1110R07 over the years. $^*India*'s statesmen leave much to_ be desired.
1120R07 ^Even seasoned ones come armed with lengthy, typed
1130R07 speeches and then go through the most extraordinary difficulties just
1140R07 reading them out. ^While no one needs to_ rival Krishna
1150R07 menon*'s famous Security Council performance, there would
1160R07 be nothing wrong in giving some of our ministers crash courses in
1170R07 the gentle art of articulation. ^Even Sir Winston Churchill,
1180R07 that_ glorious orator, addressed his historic speeches to
1190R07 the bathroom mirror before going public with them. $^How
1200R07 important speaking right is, can be guaged by watching newsreels and
1210R07 telecasts of international summits and meets. ^During the
1220R07 1971 war with Pakistan the then defence minister, Sardar
1230R07 Swaran Singh was interviewed on the \0B.B.C. along with his
1240R07 Pakistani counterpart. ^So tremendous was the difference
1250R07 in coherence and pronunciation that most viewers came away with
1260R07 a distinct feeling of sympathy towards the \0Pakis who, they were
1270R07 convinced, were being bashed by the Indians this time.
1280R07 $^There is, we must admit, much to_ commend Gandhiji*'s
1290R07 belief that silence is the better part of speech. ^His days
1300R07 of *4maun remained unchanged despite the cataclysmic events that_
1310R07 shook the country. "^We find so many people impatient to_ talk"
1320R07 he said. "there is no chairman of a meeting who is not beseiged
1330R07 with notes asking for permission to_ speak. ^And whenever
1340R07 permission is given, the speaker generally exceeds the time limit,
1350R07 asks for more time and keeps on talking without permission. ^All
1360R07 this talking can hardly be of any benefit to the world. it
1370R07 is so much waste of time. ^My (silence) has been in reality my
1380R07 shield and buckler." ^Few politicians today would respect that_
1390R07 sort of thinking. ^There is, after all, only one thing
1400R07 worse than being talked about-- and that*'1s not being talked about.
1410R07 $**<*HUSBANDS ARE SO OBVIOUS**> $*<*3Judge a man not by his, but
1420R07 by his wife*'s clothes*> $^A husband, they say, is what remains
1430R07 of a lover when the nerve has been killed. ^And how true it is!
1440R07 ^It is hardly necessary for a husband to_ wear a ring round his finger
1450R07 to_ proclaim the fact that he is married. ^The rope round his neck,
1460R07 though invisible, can be seen yards away by an experienced eye, and
1470R07 if the married man thinks he can masquerade as a bachelor, he is only
1480R07 fooling himself. ^Young ladies don*'4t need a sixth sense to_ know the
1490R07 presence of a married man. ^They can detect a wolf in sheep*'s clothing.
1500R07 ^In fact it is a very apt simile. ^The married wolf, always on
1510R07 the prowl, eyeing all females, suddenly becomes a sheep who goes about
1520R07 lying to all females that he is foot-loose and fancy-free.
1530R07 $^That_ is why, honey, I pen these few words of advice on how to_
1540R07 recognise husbands and understand their intentions. ^There are of
1550R07 course, among husbands the super-smart alecks who manage with their
1560R07 wiles and camouflage, to_ take innocent young girls up the garden path.
1570R07 ^Other husbands-- the large majority-- get the sympathy of females by
1580R07 using the time-old line: "^My wife does not understand me." ^If you
1590R07 meet the wife, honey, you*'3ll realise that she has in fact understood
1600R07 him and seen through his game. ^That_ married man is a past-master
1610R07 in hiding that_ all important piece of information-- the fact that he
1620R07 is married. ^A wife proudly wears her marriage ring, often the reason
1630R07 is to_ show off her pearls or diamonds, depending on how much he
1640R07 is skinned. ^The husband either stores his ring at home or sells it.
1650R07 ^The bachelors, however, sometime wear king-size rings indicating
1660R07 that they are on the look-out for a queen. $^You girls are fools.
1670R07 ^Any young thing having enough sense and knowledge to_ boil an egg
1680R07 can recognise a married man a mile off. $^Watch a married man*'s
1690R07 clothes. ^They are a dead give-away, they give you an idea of the
1700R07 fashions of yesterday. ^They are either too tight or too loose. ^His
1710R07 suit even gives away his date of marriage, because generally that_*'s
1720R07 the only one he has. ^His trousers are tight when the fashions
1730R07 have moved to bell-bottoms and they are bell-bottoms when they have
1740R07 moved to elephant flares. $^A married man wears loose bush-coats
1750R07 to_ hide the bulging central provinces. ^The elastic of his socks
1760R07 have long ago stretched to the stage of never-return, and his shoes
1770R07 have been resoled twice over, with re-enforcements in vital places.
1780R07 ^In short a married man often looks as if he is dressed by his mother.
1790R07 $^Look at the tie a man wears. ^If it*'1s choking him it is informing
1800R07 you loud and clear that he is a hen-pecked husband. ^If it*'1sloose,
1810R07 in a great big knot, it indicates that he is making frantic
1820R07 efforts to_ be free. $^A married man generally carries a diary with
1830R07 entries to_ remind him of the groceries he has to_ purchase, or
1840R07 the laundry he has to_ bring back. ^His wallet gives him away too.
1850R07 ^It*'1s always too old and normally bulges, not with cash but
1860R07 memos, laundry receipts, cut-outs from old magazines \0etc.
1870R07 $^If a young lady has doubt about her paramour being married or not,
1880R07 all she has to_ do to_ confirm her doubts is to_ check on his
1890R07 cigarettes. ^A married man seldom smokes the foreign brands.*#
        **[no. of words = 02007**]

        **[txt. r08**]
0010R08 **<*3A Tailor*'s Tale**>
0020R08 $*3^IN*0 the old days, there were always tailors who would, for a negligible
0030R08 sum, sew a button on or repair a frayed collar or restitch a lining.
0040R08 ^But things have changed now and no tailor, big or small, is prepared
0050R08 to_ do such minor jobs and considers them below his status. $^That_
0060R08 leaves one with only four alternatives when a button on a shirt breaks:
0070R08 (**=1) ^You stitch it yourself: (**=2) you get your wife
0080R08 to_ stich it: (**=3) you throw away the shirt, or (**=4) you do
0090R08 what I did. $^Two of the buttons on my shirt front were missing and
0100R08 since everybody kept asking me why I did not fix new ones I went
0110R08 to a leading tailoring establishment specialising in gentlemen*'s wardrobe
0120R08 and accessories and with a clientele which included *(0J. R. D.*)
0130R08 Tata, Manoj Kumar and Vinod Mehta. $^Having been warned about
0140R08 how they felt about sewing buttons, I had worked out a strabegy. ^*I
0150R08 asked for the master-cutter. $^The master-cutter came out of his air
0160R08 conditioned executive cabin, a measuring tape round his neck (like a
0170R08 garland of *5gul mohurs*6), and looked at me as if he was the manager of
0180R08 a five star hotel, considering whether to_ give me a room or not. ^*I
0190R08 said I wanted a terylene suit. $"^It will not fall properly on your
0200R08 body," he said. "^*I suggest you go in for a light Australian
0210R08 wool suit. ^Our drapers*' department on the first floor will guide
0220R08 you." ^*I wondered if I should broach the topic of the buttons, but
0230R08 decided to_ postpone it until the material was bought. $^The material
0240R08 cost quite a lot and along with it, they sold me a special lining for
0250R08 the jacket that_ they had received during the last war from England
0260R08 and which they had sold over the years to only their most exclusive clients.
0270R08 ^The lining was patterned like the Union Jack. $^The master-cutter
0280R08 then got an assistant to_ take my measurements while two other
0290R08 assistants noted them down in large red ledgers. ^The master-cutter
0300R08 himself supervised the whole operation. ^At this stage, I once again
0310R08 considered whether I should mention the buttons, but decided to_ wait
0320R08 till the three trials were over and I had received the suit and paid for
0330R08 it. $^Paying for the suit was, of course, a bit of a problem.
0340R08 ^But I managed after borrowing money. ^And then, as I was about to_
0350R08 request him to_ stitch the buttons for me, the master-cutter asked me:
0360R08 "What ties are you going to_ use with the suit?" ^*I thought of
0370R08 telling him that any old tie would do, but decided it may go against me,
0380R08 and allowed him to_ select six hand-painted ties for me, each one an exclusive
0390R08 design and guranteed to_ be the only one of its kind in the world.
0400R08 ^He also made me buy socks, shoes, two diamond tie pins, shirts,
0410R08 underwear and a leather case to_ carry my suit in when travelling. $^After
0420R08 I had paid for all that_ I asked him: "Do you think you could
0430R08 sew a couple of buttons on this old shirt? ^It is in quite good
0440R08 condition and if it has buttons, I could give it to some poor man to_ use
0450R08 it." $"^An excellent idea," said the mastercutter and promptly
0460R08 sewed the buttons on for me. $^Now, when my friends see the shirt and
0470R08 I tell them who sewed the buttons on they invariably remark: "It
0480R08 must have cost you the earth." $^And I tell them: "No, it was
0490R08 absolutely free."
0500R08 $**<*3WHEN THE PRESS CLUB GOES DRY*0**>
0510R08 $^NOW that the Press Club in Delhi has gone dry, I do not think I
0520R08 will ever again visit that_ city. ^Which is a pity, because I like
0530R08 this city of government clerks and handicraft emporia and Emergency
0540R08 books. $^*Delhi*'s whole population looks like it has just arrived from
0550R08 the countryside around and is trying to_ appear like it has been city
0560R08 born and bred. ^The people are divided into two classes, those who
0570R08 are known by the initials of their names (like \0T.T.K.) and those
0580R08 who are known by the initials of their postings (like \0P.A. to
0590R08 \0P.M.). $^A large number of them travel on cycles, which they
0600R08 lock up and leave in cycle parks like people in other cities do with their
0610R08 cars. ^Others travel in crowded buses, hanging on the sides, as if
0620R08 they were suburban trains. $^Actually, Delhi has no suburbs. ^Since
0630R08 the whole of Delhi is a suburban town. ^Everybody who visits it
0640R08 from Bombay or Calcutta says that it is a city of vast distances, which
0650R08 is another way of saying it is a city with a poor transport system.
0660R08 ^People from Madras do not pass any such comments about Delhi.
0670R08 ^Since, when they visit Delhi, they stay there and work as clerks.
0680R08 $^All Delhi (except for ministers and members of parliament) stays in separate
0690R08 community blocks, with such names as Patel Nagar East and Defence
0700R08 Colony. ^The only area that_ reminds one of Bombay is Daryaganj,
0710R08 where people from Bombay go when they feel homesick. $^Most of
0720R08 the houses are like suburban cottages that_ one sees in Santa Cruz and
0730R08 similar suburbs in Bombay. ^They are one-storeyed structures, with
0740R08 the owner staying on the ground floor and the tenant on the first floor.
0750R08 ^On summer nights, owners and tenants all sleep on coir beds in the
0760R08 courtyards and advise their guests to_ do the same. $^*Delhi*'s summer
0770R08 attire is the bush shirt, which seems to_ be specially designed for
0780R08 government clerks. ^In the winter, all of them take out their suits
0790R08 from mothballs and wear them. ^Therefore, if you visit Delhi in the
0800R08 winter, there is a distinct smell of mothballs in the air. ^The rest
0810R08 of the year, Delhi smells of government files, which is also not an unpleasant
0820R08 smell. $^Life in Delhi, for both young and old, moves around
0830R08 politics. ^On certain days, the young gather in different groups
0840R08 to_ demonstrate in front of courts and inquiry commissions. ^The old
0850R08 gather on the lawns of houses of ministers, sometimes for work, at other
0860R08 times for *4darshan. ^This practice is so widely followed that ministers
0870R08 have permanent *4shamianas, erected in their compounds for their visitors.
0880R08 ^And there is a constant supply of tea to them. $^At cocktail
0890R08 parties, mostly given by Western diplomats (though these also are
0900R08 likely to_ become rare in \0Mr Morarji Desai*'s Delhi), the talk
0910R08 is invariably about political developments and, to a newcomer, the conversation
0920R08 sounds like a series of newspaper headlines. $^Every Delhi
0930R08 resident, of any little importance has his own private source, who keeps
0940R08 him constantly fed with information. ^The bigger the source, the
0950R08 better the information. $^In fact, so important is political news
0960R08 in Delhi that each reporter is attached to a minister, as if he is his
0970R08 steno-typist. $^When he is not with the minister, he is in the Press
0980R08 Club. but all that_ is finished now with the Press Club going
0990R08 dry.
1000R08 $**<*3Getting your work done by boy scouts........**>
1010R08 $^YOU have, no doubt, heard of the *5khari kamai*6 week, business
1011R08 where little boy scouts go from house to house looking for odd jobs
1012R08 and earn some money for their scout organisations. $^One morning, during
1013R08 the *5khari kamai*6 week, I was visiting
1020R08 my friend who lives on the 21st floor and had 74 servants to_ do his
1030R08 odd jobs, when a full platoon of boy scouts, led by their scoutmaster,
1040R08 arrived at his house. $^When the scoutmaster had explained what it
1050R08 was all about, my friend said that he was most impressed and would try
1060R08 and find all the little boy scouts some jobs to_ do around the house so
1070R08 that they could earn a little money for their organisation. $^So he
1080R08 gave all his 74 servants half a day off and sent two of the scouts to
1090R08 the scullery to_ wash the breakfast dishes. ^He explained to them:
1100R08 "There is nothing to it. ^You press this green button and the dishes
1110R08 will get washed dried and put back in their proper racks."
1120R08 $^One of the scouts he sent to the kitchen and told him to_ prepare lunch.
1130R08 ^He said: "I will be having my lunch exactly at 1 \0p.m.
1140R08 ^So, at 12.59 \0p.m. you press this yellow button and automatically
1150R08 soup, fish, meat, rice, vegetables and dessert will be prepared, dispatched
1160R08 to the dining room and placed on the table and the lunch gong will
1170R08 start ringing. ^After that_, all you have to_ do is pull down this
1180R08 blue switch." $"^What is the blue switch for?" asked the scout.
1190R08 $"^That_ is for the salt and peper," my friend explained. $^A
1200R08 very tiny scout, who looked like a dot of *4khaki on my friend*'s ermine
1210R08 carpet floor, was given the task of sweeping the cobwebs in the 38-
1220R08 bedroom flat. $^My friend told him: "I am sure you will be able
1230R08 to_ handle your assignment. ^All you have to do is turn this knob.
1240R08 ^Then all the windows in the flat will open and the wind will rush
1250R08 in and sweep away the cobwebs. ^If you can*'4t reach the knob, you
1260R08 can stand on a chair." $^Another scout he gave the task of taking the
1270R08 previous day*'s clothes and household linen to the laundry. ^He told
1280R08 him: "^You pick up this phone and the laundry will reply. ^You
1281R08 do not have to_ dial any number, because
1290R08 this is a direct hot line to the laundry." "$^What happens then?"
1300R08 asked the scout. $^My friend replied: "Your job is over.
1310R08 ^The laundry will send its helicopter, which will land on the terrace,
1320R08 collect the dirty clothes, bring in the fresh clothes and leave."
1330R08 $^Three more scouts were assigned to_ drain the old water from the swimming
1340R08 pool on the mezzanine floor and fill it with new water. $^My
1350R08 friend said: "I am assigning three scouts for this job so that one
1360R08 can pull out the plug for draining out the old water, one can turn on
1370R08 the tap for pouring in the new water and one can turn off the tap when the
1380R08 pool is full. ^The tap, incidentally is directly linked to the Mediterranean
1390R08 and the water is brought through underwater and underground
1400R08 pipes." $^The rest of the scouts were given different jobs, including
1410R08 polishing shoes on automatic machines and stitching buttons with the
1420R08 assistance of computers. ^At the end of it all, my friend gave the
1430R08 scoutmaster a cheque for \0Rs. one *4lakh for their services. $^After
1440R08 they left, my friend told me: "^It is so much cheaper having these
1450R08 scouts to_ do your odd jobs than keeping servants. ^*I have therefore,
1460R08 decided to_ enroll all my servants in the scout movement."
1470R08 $**<*3Go-slows or working-to rule..........**>
1480R08 $^ONE of the secret ambitions of my life is to_ go on a strike.
1490R08 ^And I am ashamed to_ admit that I have never been on one. $^The
1500R08 fault is not mine. ^It is that_ of all our trade union leaders, for
1510R08 they have never asked me to_ go on a strike. ^And in a country where
1520R08 all sorts of people from Air India pilots who get \0Rs.8,000 a month
1530R08 and stay in five-star hotels, to medical consultants who get nobody knows
1540R08 how much, keep going on strike, I feel very left out. $^And I
1550R08 know nothing of the pleasures of striking and taking long and unscheduled
1560R08 holidays and putting my pen down and going slow and working-to-rule and
1570R08 staging sit-downs and *4dharnas. ^And I have never walked down the
1580R08 main road shouting slogans and demanding the most impossible things and
1581R08 ended up by sitting in the middle of the road stopping all
1590R08 the traffic north and south-bound. ^And it is
1600R08 always the bus or taxi that_ I am in that_ other people stop and never
1610R08 the bus or taxi that_ other people are in that_ I stop. $^And I
1620R08 have never waved a red flag or black flag or picketed a gate or gone in
1630R08 a deputation to_ see the chief minister or the labour minister or attended
1640R08 a workers*' rally or been taken in a truck to_ attend a workers*'
1660R08 rally or signed a memorandum or had the opportunity to_ carry the memorandum
1670R08 around and ask others to_ sign it or gone on a hunger strike (though
1680R08 I do not think I would like to_ do that_).*#
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        **[txt. r09**]
0010R09 **<*3HOW MUCH I*0 *3gave up for her sake!*0**>
0020R09 $^Honey, I am an unhappy man. ^Life for me is no longer the gay,
0030R09 free do-as-you-please time it was as a bachelor. ^*I am what some
0040R09 may term neurotic. ^*I became neurotic only after my marriage.
0050R09 ^*I don*'4t know what happens to men who marry a second or a third time.
0060R09 ^How can they? ^They never learn, but just live to_ regret it.
0070R09 ^*I think the only persons who benefit from marriage are the bride and her
0080R09 parents, especially her scheming mother. $^*I am now aware of
0090R09 this caged-in atomosphere wherever I go. ^*I remember how
0100R09 as a bachelor I would walk into a party and before the first whisky found
0110R09 its way down, I was surrounded by a bevy of beautiful girls.
0120R09 ^*I would talk to them, laugh hug or kiss them, depending upon their
0130R09 looks and size, without even a thought in the world. ^What is more, I
0140R09 would go home happy and free as a bird, to_ fly to pastures new the next
0150R09 evening. $^Today, when I walk into a party, ladies who would
0160R09 have normally hovered around me, slink into corners to_ avoid me,
0170R09 occasionally coming up with a quick hello if the wife is not looking.
0180R09 ^The fun of the party, if any is further damaged by the thought that some
0190R09 petty movement or look might start the usual implications in the wife*'s
0200R09 feeble mind, resulting in a silent drive home and separate beds.
0210R09 $^Wives seldom seem to_ realise the things we husbands had to_ give up
0220R09 on that_ fateful day. ^In my own case, my mother-in-law insisted
0230R09 that I give up the motor bike. ^No, she was not interested in my
0240R09 safety but "what will happen to my daughter if you have an accident?"
0250R09 ^*I have given up late parties, burnt beautiful pictures of girl friends.
0260R09 ^*I have now to_ wear ties and matching socks and put back clothes
0270R09 when I return no matter how tired I am. $^*I have given up
0280R09 the company of young and pretty girls, females with a sense of humour
0290R09 who think nothing of being kissed and hugged on special occasions.
0300R09 ^*I now keep the company of mature women with false teeth and other parts
0310R09 to_ match. ^*I haven*'4t seen a pretty, wrinkleless face for years.
0320R09 ^In the past, my female friends kept our secrets. ^Today if
0330R09 I so much as wink at \0Mrs. D'3Costa she will immediately report
0340R09 it to my wife, just to_ prove that she is young and winkable.
0350R09 $^*I have not had the pleasure of a dance with a 36-24-36 for a long time
0360R09 now. ^Today I have to_ dance with females who are mature in more
0370R09 ways than one. ^They cannot concentrate on the dance what with having
0380R09 to_ keep the eye lashes stuck and rubber attachments in places.
0390R09 ^*I generally end up dancing with females who weigh on the better side of
0400R09 200 \0lbs and whose prime necessity is rearrangement of the flesh.
0410R09 $^In the early days of my marriage, it was okay. ^She was interested
0420R09 in me. ^*I remember those days. ^When I returned from office,
0430R09 she used to_ ask, "How was the day in the office dear?" ^*I
0440R09 knew then that she was interested in me and my work. ^Today the same
0450R09 question could well mean, "How much time did you spend with Yasmin?"
0460R09 $^As a bachelor, I was full of youth and vitality. ^My eyes
0470R09 were alert, and I could observe pretty girls anywhere without even
0480R09 moving my head. ^Today, due to constant surveillance, my eyeballs
0490R09 are stationery and even if I chance to_ see a pretty female, a message
0500R09 from my brain, actuated by fear is immediately dispatched to the eyes,
0510R09 "Drop the view and proceed." $^Burdened by all these thoughts
0520R09 I don*'4t have the time for exercise. ^*I want to_ look young
0530R09 and trim, but then she will want to_ know why. ^My waistline is
0540R09 beginning to_ bulge and this sends me into periods of depression.
0550R09 ^In the past, sweet young things used to_ address me as "Hi there handsome!"
0560R09 ^Or, "Where have you been lately? ^Missed you terribly."
0570R09 ^This would activate all the 16 muscles in the face and I would have
0580R09 the smile of a happy man. ^Today teenagers have begun to_ address me as
0590R09 "uncle" and 59 muscles take complete charge and I begin to_ frown.
0600R09 ^*I have a grouse against the world. ^*I am a neurotic husband.
0610R09 $^Until next time then.
0620R09 **<*3MY HUSBAND*0 *3a man of rare gifts*0**>
0630R09 $^If I said, "My husband is a bit of a miser," it would probably
0640R09 be the understatement of the year, perhaps of the century.
0650R09 ^Most of the scenes in our house revolve around money-- the money I spend.
0660R09 ^What he spends gets the Nelson eye. ^Money means nothing
0670R09 to my husband. ^When I ask him for some, I get nothing.
0680R09 $^Once he told the parish priest, "My wife bothers me all the time for
0690R09 money. ^It*'1s always give me \0Rs 200, give me \0Rs. 300."
0700R09 $"^Yes," said the parish priest. "^And what does she do with the money?"
0710R09 $"^*I don*'4t know." said the twirp. "^*I never give it
0720R09 to her." $^In the first six months of marriage, I used to_ give him
0730R09 a detailed account of the money I needed and he used to_ say, "Don*'4t
0740R09 give me details darling, just give me the total and I*'3ll give
0750R09 you the money." $^Then he changed. ^Every time I presented the
0760R09 tab, he would act as if he were raving mad. ^He would walk up and down
0770R09 repeating in a high-pitched voice, "Who do you think I am, Aristotle?"
0780R09 **[sic**] $^Nowadays, I write out the cheques. ^In the past he would
0790R09 lock himself in the room with his drinks and bills and come down two
0800R09 hours later looking pale. ^Whenever he received bills he spent time
0810R09 and money checking the prices with at least two other dealers before issuing
0820R09 the cheques. ^The sound of a cheque being torn from his cheque
0830R09 book makes him cry. $^*I saw that he was slowly losing his health
0840R09 over these bills and in order to_ save him high blood pressure, I
0850R09 undertook to_ write out the cheques. $^Of course, I cook the food
0860R09 in the house. "^My wife is a good cook and no one can cook like she
0870R09 does," is not meant to_ compliment me but to_ save on the cook*'s salary.
0880R09 ^You cannot expect anything better from a husband who talks through
0890R09 his nose to_ save wear and tear on his teeth. $^The children
0900R09 get weekly pocket money, but they would not accept it from their father
0910R09 even if it was double. ^Before he actually gave away any money, the
0920R09 children would be subjected to a lecture on how spoilt the modern generation
0930R09 is and how he himself got pocket money only on birthdays and Christmas.
0940R09 ^He would even insist on a detailed expenditure chart.
0950R09 ^He stopped demanding it only when daughter Bernice added 50 Paise as
0960R09 expense for writing it. $^*I do not invite friends over for drinks.
0970R09 ^He does. ^If and when I do, he walks up and down the kitchen
0980R09 floor while I wash up, muttering how he could not understand why Shankar
0990R09 drank three straight whiskies in our house and only half a peg in
1000R09 his. "^And do you have to_ invite Madhu and his talkative wife?
1010R09 ^She*'1s pretty, I know, but while she talks to me, her husband sees
1020R09 the bottom of the bottle." $^In the beginning he had a theory that
1030R09 money wasn*'4t a thing you worried about until someone came and worried
1040R09 you about it. ^Now nothing worries him except money.
1050R09 $^At mass on Sundays, you cannot get him to_ be interested in the prayers.
1060R09 ^His roving eye, like a spotlight, covers the entire congregation
1070R09 only to_ rest on a mini or a low neck, but when the collection plate
1080R09 comes around, he is deep in conversation with God, and nothing
1090R09 can disturb him. $^When on rare occasions he accompanies me to the
1100R09 stores, the counter salesmen duck below the counter and disappear somewhere
1110R09 else. ^Everyone of the salesmen in the A to Z or Akbarally*'s
1120R09 have some time or the other been on the receiving end of lectures on
1130R09 how to_ measure cloth, or the equation between price and quality and
1140R09 the efforts the government and especially he, was making to_ hold the priceline.
1150R09 $^*I even drive the car these days, when he drives there
1160R09 are more morons on the road, every second pedestrian is an idiot.
1170R09 $^My husband can drink for hours before he gets his own booze. ^He is
1180R09 such a miser that he won*'4t even get into a fight unless it*'1s a free-for-all.
1190R09 ^But I like him. ^He is a good man. ^He is satisfied
1200R09 to_ let the rest of the world go buy. $^Until next time then.
1210R09 **<*3Don*'4t Hit Him With Your Bare Hands. Handle Him With Kid
1220R09 Gloves*0**> $^*God, How right he is! ^He is
1230R09 neurotic and he*'1s driving me mad. ^Having lived with a neurotic for
1240R09 well over 25 years I am well qualified to_ advise wives on how to_ handle
1250R09 neurotic husbands. ^They might as well know because some day soon
1260R09 their husbands will begin to_ act funny and show symptoms that_ will
1270R09 drive them to the loony bin if wives don*'4t help them. $^A neurotic
1280R09 husband calls for extreme patience-- patience that_ men are not capable
1290R09 of. ^A neruotic husband wants his breakfast at a particular time
1300R09 and in the way he wants it. ^Not that he cares for the breakfast,
1310R09 but his ego is satisfied when his wife pampers his whims.
1320R09 $^Such a husband wants his ego fed every minute of the day. ^He wants
1330R09 to_ be told that he is the only man in your life, even if you are not
1340R09 the only woman in his. ^He wants his pleasures, even if you
1350R09 have to_ sacrifice the daily necessities of life. ^Tell your children,
1360R09 "You must be brave and strong like your father," even if he is a little,
1370R09 four-foot shrimp like mine, and he will be walking on air the whole
1380R09 day long. $^If you want your husband eating out of your hand
1390R09 and thinking the world of you, tell him loud and clear how your women friends
1400R09 think very highly of his charming ways handsome face and especially,
1410R09 his sparkling wit. ^But please, do not mention any names, or
1420R09 the next day he*'3ll be making an ass of himself ringing them up for dates.
1430R09 ^*I have lost many good friends in this way. $^When
1440R09 your children do well in school compare them with the results your husband
1450R09 brought home as a kid. ^Forget that he was an early dropout.
1460R09 ^Mine tried to_ date his teacher when he was ten. ^Praise his mother
1470R09 in his presence, even if you are guilty of blatant lying. ^Neurotic
1480R09 husbands like to_ think their family tree is something to_ be proud of.
1490R09 $^You and I know that our husbands are underworked and overpaid.
1500R09 ^We also know that when they return tired, it*'1s an excuse not to_ go
1510R09 to pictures, or to_ take you out to dinner. ^Work never tires men.
1520R09 ^What tires them is being exasperated at their ego not being
1530R09 satisfied by those who move with them. ^Listen to them tell you that
1540R09 they are cleverer than their bosses, and how better off the office
1550R09 would be, if they were the head. ^Do not remind them, please, of
1560R09 the state of affairs at home, where he is the undisputed Lord and Master--
1570R09 at least so he thinks. ^That_*'1s also part of his neurosis.
1580R09 $^Praise him, feed him, pamper his fancies; he is a good source of regular
1590R09 income however small it is. ^Life is not easy without a husband.
1600R09 ^To_ have an inferior human being in the house helps to_ boost your own
1610R09 ego. ^Besides, a husband always comes in handy in the house for
1620R09 manual work. ^When he brings home his boss, pamper him too, praise
1630R09 him too, remember he too is a neurotic husband and may not have as
1640R09 sympathetic a wife as you.*#
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