In the Shadow of Freedom by Laxmi Tendulkar Dhaul

Author:Laxmi Tendulkar Dhaul
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: feminism, women, gender, love, two countries, berlin, gandhi, india, independence, history, journalist, germany, thea von harbou, hitler, non-cooperation, british india, gandhian activist, prison, marriage, nazi, documents, letters, photographs, newspaper articles, non-violence, fascism, colonialism, non-fiction
Publisher: Zubaan Books
Published: 2013-04-24T16:00:00+00:00

Wardha

Six months had passed since Indumati had left her family home, and her father missed his favourite child immensely. He missed their evenings together, which had assumed the form of a ritual. First the oil lamp in the temple was lit, this was followed by the evening Sandhya, a short daily prayer, and then the lighting of joss sticks. Indumati’s mother would place freshly plucked jasmine and hibiscus around the idols. After this, the kerosene lamps were lit and one was placed in every room. Indumati would carry a lamp to her father’s study, and would then spend hours there chatting with her parents.

Evenings at home were no longer the same. Her parents, especially her father Nagesh Gunaji, could not stop worrying about her. He had too much pride to visit her in the village, even though it was barely sixteen kilometres away. He was still hurt that his daughter had rebelled against him and the family. However, when he heard that Tendulkar had been detained by the British for his long stay and association with Germany, he became genuinely distressed. Indumati would not come back home even now, and Gunaji struggled with a strategy, a tactful way in which he could approach her. He knew for certain that this was not the right time to go to her and say, ‘I told you so’ He spent several sleepless nights worrying about what to do, before finally deciding on sending his youngest son, Narender, by bicycle to Belgundi to meet with Indumati.

It was a long cycle ride, but Narender had sensed the panic in his father’s request and had agreed immediately. He carried with him a letter from his father asking how his daughter was faring and urging her to come back and live with them, at least until Tendulkar’s release from prison. Gunaji believed that the British would detain Tendulkar until the war ended, and no one knew for how long the war would go on. It could be years. It was unthinkable that Indumati wait out her time for him in those village conditions. Along with the letter, Narender carried a package put together by Indumati’s mother containing a new sari and some home-made delicacies.

“Narender, how nice to see you,” said Indumati, thrilled to see him, but a little puzzled at his unexpected appearance. “I hope all is well at home.”

Before hearing his news, she insisted that she cook him lunch. Narender was amused to watch his elder sister light the wood stove, the black soot staining her pretty face. Her hair was tied in a knot and she was wearing an old sari. He silently ate everything that she served him, trying hard not to make faces at the acrid taste of the slightly burnt chapattis and vegetable curry.

“Indu Akka,” he began when they were done eating. “Everyone is saying that you are wasting your life in this village. They all say that Tendulkar will go back to Germany after the war is over, that he will leave you.

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