CAME THOMAS
Chapter _ 9
A Novel in
Thamizh by KA.NAA.SUBRAMANIAN
Translated into English by Latha
Ramakrishnan
Whatever
the case may be, it should be said that the Brahmins are indeed fortunate, at least
to some extent, for, they are considered important by the society. Whatever one
should say, only rarely does rain or thunder and lightning cause damage to
their houses; unsettle those people. Their houses built by ‘Kaarai’, sand and
stone stand unshakable, posing challenge to cyclone and the onslaught of wind
and down–pour. In this area the Brahmin
Street
That the
thunders and lightening are cause by Lord Indhira and that when lightning plays
deliriously across the sky and when the thunder roars frighteningly, if we are
to chant the name of Indhira’s son Arjuna neither thunder nor lightning would
harm us, so as not to be attacked by devils and evil forces, if they, without
fail, chant mantras daily, holding their sacred – thread and its knot in the
order 108 – 64 – 32 and so on, that would act as their shield and protect them
from harm – so they say and believe. These appear to be foolish, superstitious
beliefs only. Is this really my weakness? Whether superstitious beliefs or not,
they do seem to be of some use and solace, aren’t they?
That night,
cyclonic winds raged and lifted the sea waves as high as the coconut–tree. It
looked like the sea–water would enter the streets any moment. All those who
lived around the temple – there was no great distance between the sea–shore and
the temple – were frightened to the core, and with the hope that Lord Kapali
would save them they spent most of the later half of that night, there. In that
area, many of the cows and calves did not suffer much damage. For, as soon as
the symptoms for the oncoming storm surfaced, cows were taken to the eastern
part (Keezhandai Saarugam) of the temple and were tied to the Mandap
there.
Those who
worked in the temple and earned their livelihood in the name of God – the
temple employees most of whom belong to that category considered ‘inferior–Brahmins’
– even among them there does exist these differences indeed – found asylum in
the temple.
The houses
of Mylapore merchants – with the exception of some, were soundly built with
stone and concrete (Kaarai). In those streets where they lived there were not
many trees. Generally all the thirty, forty houses were built with their walls
touching one another. Either as Mandap or fashioned as a flat plate-like shape
mostly all the houses had one or two upper floors. And, the doors and windows
of the houses too _ as it was an affluent area _ were strong. These houses suffered
no damage at all.The only possibility was that those small little things and
clothes lying outside could have been lost, carried away by the wind. But, for
the merchants that is not a great loss.
Apart from
that, in the Brahmin street there were some fifty coconut trees standing tall
and mighty in a row. Of them some ten or twenty came crashing down at a
shocking speed. The plantain–trees at the backyard suffered heavy damage. One
or two neem trees – in the Brahmin street they always grow neem trees on
purpose – for, the wind produced by the trees is good for health – had fallen
down. The tiles of many of the roof–tops had gone with the wind. It seemed like
almost all houses needed a new roof. Leaving that, even in those timeworn
houses, only dampness that remained as a sign of the storm and heavy downpour,
and no damage as such. Even those coconut–trees that had fallen – had not
fallen on any rooftops. That itself was a wonder indeed. But then, I have heard
that the coconuts too possess three eyes – like Lord Siva. And, don’t they say
that it would never fall on anybody’s head!
All of them
– the Brahmins, merchants, and the temple–staff and the affluent ones are the
bigwigs of the local society. But, it is also not wholly correct to claim that
the storm has left them unscathed. Many of those merchants owned small ships
and boats. They were – those standing in the Port – not to be seen and their
whereabouts not known. Some of them could have been drowned. Some would have
been taken away by the force of the wind mid-sea. They should be found and
brought back. They said that the twelve boats and three ships of Ezekiel had
disappeared without leaving a trace behind. The fate of those boats and ships
which were voyaging in mid-sea and had been caught in the wind, and of the men
in them, would be known only after several days.
Should say that
all these put together formed only one fourth of the total population of our
place. The rest, the remaining three–fourth were those living in huts, having
nothing much by way of possessions and belongings. They lived on the outskirts
of our village with several of them living in the region adjacent to the beach,
building huts there. There were very many who, unable to protect and save, had lost
their kith and kin and also their cattle comprising cows, and sheep, pigs,
hens, dogs, and the like.
There were
also some who died, with the walls, unable to bear the weight of the heavy
down–pour, falling on their heads. Many died, caught under the heavy trees that
swayed and fell down. In the huts along the seashore, when the sea–waves leapt dangerously
and on their return entered the hutments – there were many elderly ones, men
women and children who were carried off by the current, to some unknown land.
In the slums where the people who worked in the fields, lived, not even a
single hutment could withstand the onslaught of the cyclone. Next to that, the
huts of those who worked as carpenters and building constructors, were also either
wiped off by the rain or torn to shreds by the wind.
When the
storm began its attack in full splendour, it was well over mid-night. Though
signals for the oncoming storm appeared in the early hours of the night – a
windless, sweaty and suffocating atmosphere, dark clouds in the sky - though it
was a full-moon day the sky was cloudy with no trace of the moonlight – people
were only intent on whiling away the hours, lying down safely in their houses –
and none had a thought of those who would suffer and none felt like going out
and do something to alleviate their distress.
When the
storm started raging and screamed from under the roof, the thought of Valluvan
came to me. Though he lived in the slum only, his house was a strong, storeyed,
mandap–like building made of hard stones (Karungal) and bricks and with
cement applied on them. That would not have succumbed to any kind of storm. Still,
the area in which he dwelt was exposed and wide–opened for wind and sea–water.
All the houses in its surroundings are huts only. When those who lived in the
huts would be suffering, leaving their cattle, house and belongings, Valluvan
or his father Baghavan would not stay idle. ‘They would bring home those
who would be suffering, and would be
struggling hard to save their cattle, pigs, and hens and console the children’
– thought I.
I asked my
own self whether it was fair on my part to be lying down safely at home, with a
bed–sheet covering myself from head to foot comfortably, while the storm was
raging outside. When I got up, and sitting on the bed, started thinking as to
what I could do and whether I could go out to help those in distress, hearing the
noise caused by a coconut–tree falling all over the street, my father and
mother too woke up. ‘Hereafter, even if I say that I am going out they will
not allow me. But then, in this storm what can anyone do even if he has access
to go out?’
It looked
like, in my thirty years of life on Earth neither in Mayavaram nor in Mylapore had
I ever seen such a storm.
“In my
sixty–five years of age I have never seen such a severe storm. It goes to show
that the world is going from bad to worse, day by day. The time of “Total
Annihilation” is fast approaching. Such natural calamities arise because
justice and virtue are becoming rarer and rarer and their opposite multiply” –
said father as if he knew something solid. Why ‘as
if..?” indeed he does know! For, isn’t he aware of all the wrongs that he
keeps doing?
Neither mother nor myself
answered him. He himself continued : “Those in the slum–dwellings and in
fishermen colony they alone would suffer the most. God! How many cattle, houses
and human – beings would be devovoured by this storm!” – said he.
That father
too could entertain such thoughts proved indeed a surprise to me. Thinking that
it was the right moment I said, “I feel like going out and seeing whether we
can help some of the distressed”.
“What
possible help can we render? Let the storm subside and you can go out and help
in the morning. If you or your father venture out, the very thought of what would befall you would
worry me to death,” his mother pleaded in fear and despair.
“Can’t we
accommodate in our home those who have lost their houses?” – asked I.
“How can
that be possible, I say? However great the danger or calamity will be, will
they allow fishermen and other community people to enter our area – the
Agraharam? Won’t the rest of the Brahmins blame us for it?” exclaimed
father.
If the rest
of the Brahmins too give shelter to at least ten or twenty in their houses we
can easily weather the storm – can’t we? “ – I argued.
“That is
out of question” said
father. “You are Valluvan’s friend… that’s why, caring a damn about our
caste and religion, it seems you visit even Ezekial’s house, What is there that
draws you like a magnet? Last week Ramachandra Sasthrigal went to the extent of
asking me suspiciously whether you eat something in that household. I answered
him firmly that you wouldn’t do such a thing” – he went on, as if teaching
me a lesson.
Outside, it
looked like the wind had slightly calmed down and it had started raining. “In
such times where people are in need of help, Valluvan won’t be sleeping inside
the four walls of his house, like us. Even the merchant Ezekial would be busy
giving shelter to those who have lost their house and belongings, keeping the
doors of his mansion wide–opened,”– I observed. That both of them are of
that nature is of course a well – known fact.
“Even the
merchant Ezekial or your Valluvan can do nothing by way of help, by venturing
out. Within taking two steps he himself would land in trouble and need help” – said father.
It sounded
true only. “Why does Nature play havoc in such a manner, causing sorrow to
the people?” – I asked.
It was
mother who answered first: “This is Nature’s Game. God’s whims and fancies”.
“Why can’t the whims of God aim at doing
good to Humanity?” Asked I.
“How can
anyone say for sure that out of this storm nothing good would come to nobody,
nowhere?” countered
mother.
True, the
good fortune that was to come to me the next day was not known to me then.
Somehow my mother had sensed it instinctively.
“In our
‘dharma sasthras’ it is said that the sea-water stands one feet (Muzham) above
the surface of the Earth and that it is the bounty and the good–deeds of man
that prevents the sea–water from flooding the Earth and destroy all” – said father.
“It doesn’t
look like that the fairness and bounty of man reign so supreme today to save
the Earth from being devoured by the sea-water,” I pointed out. Then, a bit boldly, I said
sarcastically and deliberately – let father start a quarrel, I won’t mind – “Those
who are known to us, all of them have in some way or other upheld the unfair
and the immoral only.”
Outside,
once again the wind was swirling round and round deliriously. In the uproar of
the storm the noise of the downpour went unheard. ‘Or else, has the rain
stopped?’ The noise of another tree falling down reached my ears. That didn’t
sound like that of the coconut tree. Must be the neem tree. It might be of
Mangalampatti’s household.
Only
yesterday did she refer to it with pride, telling me that it was seventy years
old and still going strong.
“Though
the foul deeds of individuals stand out and appear as very many, still, by and
large, there are more righteous men among the human species on Earth.”
opined father.
Pausing for
a while, he continued: “Can’t say that generally this is inclusive of
Brahmin concept of morality and righteousness. Valluvan’ s father, though
considered low by accident of birth, is still a noble man by way of
righteousness and integrity. It is no surprise if Valluvan is also like him.
But the jew Ezekial who, having come from some alien land earns money without
deviating from fair means is also a righteous person only. Because of being
born a Brahmin I am not able to move with them on an equal footing. If I am to
be so, my livelihood itself will be gone. As you are not earning your livelihood
as an orthodox Brahmin, performing rites and rituals, you are able to move
freely with Valluvan and Ezekial. Sometimes I fear that your activities should
endanger my means of livelihood. So, I try to reprimand you. But, truly
speaking, the fact that you are friendly with them gives me great
satisfaction.”
Listening
to him it was indeed a surprise to hear him speak so. ‘Not bad…beyond the
narrow straight-line drawn by the Brahmins father is able to think even on
these lines, I wondered. ‘Seems like I can feel a little proud of even my
father...’
“The
Brahmins are kept under narrow boundary lines. That very same fences would – if
not today, then on some other time, definitely prove to be their undoing” –
observed my father.
By then I
was wide awake. ‘I should myself tell this to Valluvan, and should listen to
what he has to say about this.’
Father
continued:“The way Ezekial conducts himself, as the very personification of
righteousness and integrity, is no surprise to me. It is the fact that even his
sons and daughters have taken after him in this regard – being righteous is
what surprises me greatly” said he.
“Ezekial
will be allowing inside his house all those who have suffered due to the storm
and his daughters Lizzath and Miriam will be either giving treatment to the
wounded or consoling those who have lost their near and dears ones – so it
seems to me.”
“Both
Lizzath and Miriam are good girls. I had apprehensions about them and their
behaviors as they are from a different land. But, indeed how good they are! – said mother, half asleep.
The
cyclonic winds went on dancing devilishly, with a fury unleashed. Joining the
wind’s uproar, the roar of the sea–waves was producing a frightening music.
Good if one could get sleep. But sleep proved elusive. Shouldn’t blurt out
something about Miriam under the influence of feeling sleepy.
Father too
didn’t sleep. He was plunged deep in some thought. Mother said: “That Miriam
said a thing which surprised me. One day, in their house, Valluvan was arguing
with her father against preparing and eating non-vegetarian food in their household, condemning the habit
of killing animals, birds, deer and the like, to further our growth, and hence,
from then onwards she had stopped relishing meat, it seems. Now, she is a
pure vegetarian only!” – said she! Having a separate kitchen for her, she eats
only rice and vegetables, you know! When she said that, I felt greatly
surprised” – said mother, yawning sleepily.
I didn’t
say anything. Father too didn’t reply, Mother alone continued : “If only
that girl were a Brahmin..”
“Why?
Will you marry her to your son?” – asked father sarcastically. “They are
rich people; business–folk. Even tomorrow they might leave this place itself.
Deekshidhar is willing to marry his daughter to Vaadhoolan.”
“Who, the gambling Deekshidhar?”
asked I.
“What if he
plays cards and gambles? His daughter won’t do that.”
“Which
daughter? He has got five daughters. Only the eldest daughter is married,” enquired mother.
“Mangalam
is the name he mentioned. I think it is the second daughter,” – said father.
“Oh no, she
is just a dud; good for nothing girl, don’t you know!” – exclaimed mother. ”She would always say
something stupid when the elders would be busy discussing some important
matter. The third one at least is, to some extent, an intelligent girl. Abayam
is her name.”
“It is good
to marry a stupid and foolish girl only. For, that would stay dumb whatever the
husband does, being ignorant,” – said I.
Mother
laughed. She was afraid that, as it was a straight hit, my father would become
angry.
But, by then
father was fast asleep.
Storm went
on raging with a vengeance, using all its might.
Added to all
that wind and rain, when thunder and lightning too started, only then, when it
was only two hours for dawn – did I wake up. I myself didn’t know when I
plunged into sleep.
Mother was
still sleeping. When I woke up and looked around father was not to be found in
the place where he was lying down. Seemed like, he had gone out. For a moment the thought that
whether he had gone to enquire after the safety of one of his numerous darlings,
crossed my mind. But then, the goodwill resulted out of his words uttered in
the night, prevailed and I consoled myself thinking that he would have gone
only to help someone in distress.
When I hurriedly
approached the doors that were not closed, mother too woke up. “The storm
has gone, but there is thunder and lightning still. If you are going outside,
please go carefully. Go with someone. Don’t go alone, – were the words of
caution uttered by her, first and foremost.
“First,
I am going in search of Valluvan. Only then, the rest” – so replying when I
came out. I looked up and down at the havocs caused by the storm in the
Agraharam. Some houses there looked damaged. The opposite house – but they had
made a roof, one with thatch for the time–being – stood there with its roof–top
gone and the wall on the eastern side lay there, the storm having uprooted it,
and the inhabitants of the house, though crowded in a corner of the hall,
looked as though they were standing outside, on the streets. ‘They at least
could have been given shelter in my house while the storm was raging’ – so
I felt.
Before I
could say anything, mother, who had followed me and saw the pitiable condition
of the house said. “Ask them to come here for shelter, Vaadhoo. Here, there
is enough space, “ – so saying to me, she, without wasting time, went down
the street and brought home the lady of the opposite house along with her two
daughters and a child, speaking something to them.
There was
not even much to save and rescue out of their household. When Seetharama Iyer
and myself brought home what little they had, and after placing them in the
hall of my house safely, when I was about to leave, saying, “I’ll also come.
God knows what all they suffer. He who fails to render help in such times of
need is not at all human,” Seetharama Iyer also accompanied me.
For me, his
company seemed a hindrance. For, he wouldn’t come to the place where I was
going. ‘Further, he would prevent me also from going there’ thought I.
But,
midway, when someone who proved a good match for him came along, enquiring,‘Hello
Sharma? How is your place? Heavy loss?” he just went off, leaving me to myself.
That of course suited me too.
The storm
had indeed caused severe damage to our area. That which they call ‘The Dance
of Destiny’ (Oozhikoothu), Oorthuva Thandava ‘Is it this? But then, this is
Nature’s Game only – Not God’s.
‘When the
result of this itself is such, what would be that of the ‘Dance of Destiny!’.
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