Scattered Fates by Ram Garikipati (best affordable ebook reader txt) 📕

Moon bowed his head respectfully. He recalled studying about the Treaty of Rome, signed by France, West Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg. It led to the creation of the European Economic Community in 1957.

‘Imagine that the European Federation expands to become one country, and includes dozens of other member states.’

‘That is not possible sir. They are so different from each other. They cannot even understand the others language, and they are constantly fighting. The two world wars were started by them.’

‘Exactly. India was in the same situation, till the British came. Only, now, there is no talk. It is a reality.’

‘I understand.’

‘So next, if Europe becomes one country, German is made the official national language and everyone is forced to learn it for national integration, do you think the others will keep quiet?’

‘Of course not, there are only around 56 million people in West Germany, the population of the other countries combined must be much more.’

‘True, there are 52 million people in UK, 50 million in Italy, 45 million in France and 30 million in Spain. None of them would have had any incentive to learn German. But now, if they do not know, they will be discriminated in their own country. They will be forced to learn a new language and follow a new culture, just because the biggest ethnic group in the new country will be Germans.’

Moon nodded.

‘Similarly, in India, out of the population of 440 million, only around 134 million speak Hindi as their mother tongue. That is just 30 percent of the population. If you add 23 million who speak Urdu, the Muslim’s language that is similar to Hindi, it becomes 36 percent.’

‘So you mean 74 percent of the Indian population does not speak Hindi or Urdu?’

‘Absolutely. Now, if you make Hindi the national language, the others have a legitimate right to be upset. They will be kept out of government jobs. They cannot write national competitive exams. They will be treated as inferior citizens in their own country.’

‘Yes sir, the same thing happened in Corea during Ilje sidae. In 1939, the Corean culture was quashed, and we were forced to speak Japanese, even take Japanese names. The use and study of Corean language, literature, and culture was banned.’

‘So you see, our central government, which is mostly made up of North Indians, wants to use the same methods that imperial Japan imposed on Corea. If they have their way, we might even have to convert our names, because they cannot pronounce it.’

‘I heard that there was some language issue, even before Independence. Is it something different?’ Moon interrupted.

‘No it is the same. Tamils began protesting against Hindi as early as 1938, during the time Japan was imposing Japanese on Coreans. The British had allowed for some devolution of powers in the Indian provinces. The Congress Party, which is ruling even now, made Hindi compulsory in schools. After protests, the order was withdrawn, but over the next ten years, they tried imposing Hindi many times, always unsuccessful.’

‘It seems like a reasonable agitation to me. Why are you against it now?’

‘As I told you, it has become a purely political issue. Before 1947 a popular leader Periyar convinced everyone that the South Indians should form their own nation and get independence from North Indian Aryans. The present leaders Anna and Karunanidhi have given a new twist to this demand saying that the Congress Party represents Brahmins seeking to impose Hindi, Hindu supremacy and caste hierarchies on our national identity. It is rubbish to bring caste into the equation. While they claim they are against the division of India, their actions show that they want to do just that.’

Moon had heard about the caste system in India, it was even mentioned in his history textbook in school. He was pretty sure that Professor Ganapathy was a Brahmin.

This is not the time to ask.

‘What happened in yesterday’s meeting?’

‘I was not there and have no clue. There is nothing in the newspapers, even Subbaiah did not mention anything to me in the morning. I came to give my lecture and saw the deserted campus.’

‘Professor Subbaiah was mentioning something about Shastri making Hindi the national language.’

‘Not again! Shastri promised us that English would continue to be an official language. He never breaks his promise and is a man of integrity, I don’t trust the DMK politicians; they must be spreading these rumors. Where did you meet Subbaiah?’

‘He is with students at the fort sir.’

‘Really, at the fort? Then it is more serious than I thought. Maybe there is some news on the radio, I have to talk to Damodaran in Delhi. Have to go home.’

Ganapathy sprang up from his seat and hurried towards the residence quarters, leaving the confused exchange student grappling with half-baked information behind.

I better go back to the hostel and ask Vinay, he must surely have more information.Why did he say I have to go back to Corea?

Hoping to find his roommate still around, he walked at a brisk pace, sweating profusely in the humid weather, reaching in less than 10 minutes.

Vinay was still sobbing and grunting in an alien language. He had just finished packing his bags.

‘Hello, where are you going?’ he asked, noticing the suitcase.

‘Home. Where else?’

‘Are you dropping out? It is only the beginning of the term.’

‘What is the use? Saala madrasis won’t allow us to study.’

‘Can you tell me what happened? I tried asking people, but there is no one in the university. Everyone has gone to the fort.’

‘Of course, no one wants to study, they only want to protest and eat idli-sambar, and what for? They do not want to learn Hindi. Ridiculous, it is our national language and they do not want to learn it.’

‘I heard that your Prime Minister gave his word that English will continue as the official language.’

‘Yes, he is a very weak man, a pygmy compared to Jawaharlal Nehru. A few stones are thrown and he backs down, I wish Indira was our Prime Minister.’

‘Who is Indira?’

‘Jawaharlal Nehru’s daughter; she is strong, smart and beautiful. Unlike Shastri, she has more guts to thrash these dark madrasis and put them in their place. She is Nehru’s blood, and should rightfully get the position.’

‘Vinay, if you hate the South Indians, why did you come here to study for your masters?’

‘No choice yaar, my dad is a kunjoos. Madras University gave me a full scholarship. I wanted to study in Delhi with all the other intellectuals, but he said I needed to experience different cultures. My foot.’

‘I heard that there are more intellectuals in South India, and there is also uncorrupted culture here, that is why I chose Madras University. I also had an admission offer from Delhi University.’

‘You chose this place over Delhi? Big mistake, my friend, these are all fake intellectuals from the backward caste.’

‘Anyway, what exactly is the situation here now?’

‘That Anna fellow said that Shastri is likely to make an announcement today. Hindi will be made the official language, and everyone has to learn the language if they want to be Indian. If they do not want to learn Hindi, then they can leave the country.’

‘That is very unfair.’

‘Unfair? This should have happened long ago, in 1947. More people speak Hindi in India than any other language. North Indians fought for our independence from Britain and sacrificed so many lives. South Indians did not do anything; they only wrote newspaper articles and hid behind their doors, folding their lungis.’

‘That can’t be true. I read that South Indians too fought against the British. Also, I am told that less than 40 percent of the population speaks Hindi.’

‘So what? We are the majority. Why should we make English the national language?’ Vinay retorted.

Realizing that he was speaking to a North Indian prejudiced beyond redemption, Naga got up. At least he had the information he was looking for, but there were still some gray areas.

‘What did Anna ask the students to do?’

‘Complete boycott of classes, continue the agitation that was suspended in March, and if Shastri makes the announcement, South Indian states will break away from India. Just like the American civil war, when the North and South almost broke up.’

‘Isn’t that a bit farfetched?’

‘It is, but don’t worry, North India can easily thrash the madrasis. My country will never be divided, the army will break their backs.’

‘What are you going to do?’

‘I am leaving by the 2 ‘O clock train. Good excuse to get away from this hot and dirty city. You should also pack your bags, there will be a lot of violence.’

‘I don’t have any money for my return ticket. The University is paying my fees, and will give me my dues at the end of the term.’

‘Bad luck. Why don’t you ask your professors for a way out of this mess?’

‘I will do that, and hope to see you again after all this is over.’

‘I hope not. I am going to study in Delhi. My father can easily get me transferred, he just has to bribe someone.’

‘And you are OK with that?’

‘That is how it works here, I have no choice. Hey, you want to have lunch with me? I still have time for my train.’

‘Not in the hostel mess. Is there any North Indian restaurant close by? I want to try the food you eat.’

‘Sure, there are some good places in Triplicane, not far. I often go there to see Hindi movies at Star Talkies. Do you know in this damn city, there are only two cinemas Midland and Star which screen Hindi movies?’

‘Maybe that is because no one understands the language?’

‘You don’t need to understand Hindi to appreciate the movies. Have you seen Dev Anand’s Guide? It was released a few months ago. Madrasis cannot make movies like that,’ he said, humming a popular tune from the movie.

‘I read the book, written by a South Indian. Anyway, how far away is it?’

‘Just 10 minutes by walk.’

They stepped out the hostel, and could hear loud chants coming from the direction of Fort.

‘Look at those useless fellows. Let’s go this way, there is a shortcut,’ Vinay smirked.

As they made their way through narrow, congested lanes, Moon kept quite, lost in thoughts.

Hope Professor Subbaiah comes to his office. He is my last hope to get out of here.

‘Moon, although we are roommates, we never spent time together. You never sleep in our room, any problem?’

‘No, just that I chat with my friends till late in the night, and don’t want to disturb you.’

‘Those Northeast guys, eh? They are fun fellows, always singing and dancing. They have no problem with Hindi, but they eat beef, which is very unholy,’ Vinay said, dodging a stray cow on the street to avoid touching it.

The next sight completely puzzled Moon.

Spotting a garbage dump near the road, Vinay suddenly stopped, tugged at a string from under his shirt, pulled it around his left ear, and unbuttoned his trouser. With a deep sigh, he then relieved himself.

Ghe Shiki.

‘Couldn’t stop the pressure,’ Vinay said sheepishly approaching him, wiping his hand on the trouser.

‘Why did you pull that string over the ear? What is it?

‘It is the sacred thread. We call it Janeu. Only the Brahmins can wear it. I pulled it over my ear so it is not polluted. We are also not supposed to speak while doing it.’

‘Is it a North Indian thing?’

‘No. All Hindu Brahmins have to wear the Janeu. As per vedic rules, a brahmachari should wear one thread, married men should wear two threads and men whose parents have passed away should wear 3 threads.’

‘What does the thread stand for?’

‘Each thread has three strings tied in a knot. They denote the Hindu Trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. Of course, different people have different interpretations.’

‘So if a man wears this thread he can be identified as a Brahmin?’

‘Right, it protects him from all the evil eyes of the lower castes. A Brahmin is the