The Loom of Time by Kalidasa

Author:Kalidasa
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Poetry, Asian, General, Ancient & Classical, Anthologies (Multiple Authors), Drama
Publisher: Penguin UK
Published: 2006-08-31T05:18:37+00:00

Chapter Six

Nikhil’s Story

VIII

A FEW days later, my master brought Panchu round to me. His zamindar, it appeared, had fined him a hundred rupees, and was threatening him with ejectment.

‘For what fault?’ I enquired.

‘Because,’ I was told, ‘he has been found selling foreign cloths. He begged and prayed Harish Kundu, his zamindar, to let him sell off his stock, bought with borrowed money, promising faithfully never to do it again; but the zamindar would not hear of it, and insisted on his burning the foreign stuff there and then, if he wanted to be let off. Panchu in his desperation blurted out defiantly: ‘I can’t afford it! You are rich; why not buy it up and burn it?’ This only made Harish Kundu red in the face as he shouted: ‘The scoundrel must be taught manners, give him a shoe-beating!’ So poor Panchu got insulted as well as fined.’

‘What happened to the cloth?’

‘The whole bale was burnt.’

‘Who else was there?’

‘Any number of people, who all kept shouting Bande Mataram. Sandip was also there. He took up some of the ashes, crying: “Brothers! This is the first funeral pyre lighted by your village in celebration of the last rites of foreign commerce. These are sacred ashes. Smear yourselves with them in token of your Swadeshi vow.”

‘Panchu,’ said I, turning to him, ‘you must lodge a complaint.’

‘No one will bear me witness,’ he replied.

‘None bear witness? – Sandip! Sandip!’

Sandip came out of his room at my call. ‘What is the matter?’ he asked.

‘Won’t you bear witness to the burning of this man’s cloth?’

Sandip smiled. ‘Of course I shall be a witness in the case,’ he said. ‘But I shall be on the opposite side.’

‘What do you mean,’ I exclaimed, ‘by being a witness on this or that side? Will you not bear witness to the truth?’

‘Is the thing which happens the only truth?’

‘What other truths can there be?’

‘The things that ought to happen! The truth we must build up will require a great deal of untruth in the process. Those who have made their way in the world have created truth, not blindly followed it.’

‘And so –’

‘And so I will bear what you people are pleased to call false witness, as they have done who have created empires, built up social systems, founded religious organizations. Those who would rule do not dread untruths; the shackles of truth are reserved for those who will fall under their sway. Have you not read history? Do you not know that in the immense cauldrons, where vast political developments are simmering, untruths are the main ingredients?’

‘Political cookery on a large scale is doubtless going on, but—’

‘Oh, I know! You, of course, will never do any of the cooking. You prefer to be one of those down whose throats the hotchpotch which is being cooked will be crammed. They will partition Bengal and say it is for your benefit. They will seal the doors of education and call it raising the standard. But you will always remain good boys, snivelling in your corners.

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