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

Seated on the bench in front was a thin old man, leaning on his walking stick giving her a crooked wrinkled smile.

‘Yes. My friend is just parking his car right now.’

‘Impossible to get parking here now, it is a working day. Where are you from? Japan?’

‘No. Corea.’

‘Corea? Oh, wonderful country. I have been to Seoul many times, taught a semester at Seoul National University. I used to teach at Madras University, retired 10 years ago.’

‘Wow. What subject did you teach?’

‘Development Economics. Where do you study? Madras University?’

‘No sir. Corea University. I am doing my Ph.D, and came here for research.’

‘Ummm… in Pyongyang? I know a professor from there. He was my student here a long time ago, just when the Civil war broke out. You remind me of him.’

‘Don’t all Coreans look the same to you? Most Dravidians do to me.’

‘Ha, ha, you are right. Anyway, what is your research on?’

‘Contradictions in capitalist societies born out of civil war.’

‘That is interesting. I actually wrote a paper on it 20 years back. It may need updating.’

‘Sir, can I have a copy of it?’

‘It should be available in the University library. As I told you, I am retired now. I visit the library every afternoon between 1 and 4, maybe I can help you locate a copy.’

‘Thank you sir, I am sure it will be helpful. Hope I can discuss my research with you. Oh, there is Naga,’ she said spotting him on the sidewalk.

‘Sir, nice meeting you, I will come to the library,’ she said hurriedly, bowing her head deeply.

‘Naga! Naga!’ she shouted, turning around and running towards the sidewalk frantically waving the newspaper.

Noticing her, Naga waved his arms, gesticulating to hurry up.

‘Naga, you just won’t believe whom I met,’ she said, panting as she approached.

‘Sorry I am late. No parking spots. Maybe we have to come back later. Hurry, I just parked it on the shoulder,’ he cut her short. They rushed towards the car, just as a police patrol car slowed down behind them.

‘Sorry. Engine trouble. We are on our way,’ Naga told the cops, who waved and continued.

Maya just stared. If it were Corea, the cops would have definitely demanded a bribe before letting them go.

‘That was close,’ he said. ‘So who did you meet, another Corean?’

‘No, an economics professor who can help me in my research, he wrote a paper on my topic years ago. He also taught in Seoul.’

‘What’s his name?’

‘Uh-oh. I forgot to ask.’

‘Are you sure it was not someone hitting on you?’

‘A seventy year old man? I don’t think so,’ she laughed.

‘Then how will you find him? Want me to go and ask, if he is still around?’

‘No, that’s OK. He said he goes to the university library everyday between one and four. I am sure I will recognize him. Moreover, I don’t want to sit in the car alone. What if the cops come back?’

‘As you say. We can meet him on the way back from lunch. By the way, did you go to that memorial out there?’

‘No. I was waiting for you. Isn’t Annadurai your father of nation?’

‘We call him Anna, which also means elder brother. Yes, he is the father of my nation. When my dad was on the drafting committee of our constitution, he realized that the original Indian constitution did not permit any titles except educational and military ones, so he included a special provision. Although Hindustan claims that Gandhi is their father of nation, it is not constitutionally valid. That was the spot where Anna addressed all the students, and gave the first cry for Independence. As a mark of respect the eternal flame burns on the same spot.’

‘You mean Gandhi was never legally the father of nation?’

‘No, of course not, it is a myth perpetuated by the Hindustani school textbooks. After independence in 1965, Dravidians wanted a local father of nation and made sure that it is legally tenable. Globally, Anna may not be as popular as Gandhi, but he commands the same respect here,’ he said. ‘You know the irony? Gandhi is famous for his non-violence, and he is supposedly Hindustan’s father of nation, one of the most violent regimes in the world today.’

‘Naga. Can I meet anyone who fought in the Civil War?’

‘I will try, have to ask around. If my father were here, he would have been the best man to give you insights. You know, he arranged Anna’s meeting here that night. Let’s ask the old man you met today. Hey, time to go now. Mathew must be waiting.’

Chapter 4: DAZED AND CONFUSED

Moon woke up with a jolt as he felt something crawling up his right arm. It felt light and soft with small sticky paws. He narrowed his gaze, to see a brown gecko staring right into his eyes. He shook his arm furiously, and gave a loud scream, as it jumped off and darted behind the closet.

As usual, he was sleeping on the floor of his friend’s dormitory, still tired from the late night action on Marina Beach. The meeting ended at around 2 am, and he was exhausted.He looked around the room. It was 10 am already, and his friends had left for class.

Aigoo! Missed the first two classes.

He grabbed his shirt, closed the door and hurried to his own room down the corridor.

Surprisingly, the door to his room was slightly ajar. He peeked inside to find his roommate Vinay sitting on the bed, sweating profusely.

‘Hey, not well? Didn’t go to class?’

‘What do you mean? There won’t be any more classes. I saw you at Marina Beach with the other chinkies yesterday night. Don’t you know?’

‘Know what?’ Moon replied, not wanting to pick up a fight with him for using the derogatory word.

‘I told pitaji that I wanted to study in Delhi. Forced me to come here just because of that stupid scholarship, stingy old man. I hate these rakshash… dark low caste people,’ he mumbled to himself in Hindi.

‘Vinay. What should I know?’

‘You should pack your bags and go back to your country. That Anna fellow has asked everyone to boycott classes, both students and teachers. There will be violence, just like 4 months ago, the University will close.’

Moon was confused. He had heard of the violent agitation just before this term started, but everyone said it was resolved.

Last night, after Anna started speaking, he lost Professor Subbaiah in the surging crowds. No one was left to translate for him.

All he could make out was a lot shouting, jeering and whistling. Every time Anna spoke, the crowd hooted and raised their fists. It was as if they were hypnotized. MGR and the others spoke too, and got a similar reaction. Students burst crackers, played the drums and sang songs. A lot of policemen suddenly turned up and cordoned the area, but there was no violence. Moon imagined they were celebrating something. Maybe the new MGR movie that everyone on campus was talking about. He mentally made a note to watch it with his friends and left.

Have to find Professor Subbaiah now.

He got up and left a sobbing Vinay in the room without saying a word, darting towards the Economics Department on the University campus, unwashed and unbrushed, he had to find out what was happening.

It took him 20 minutes to finally reach. The hostel was situated in the new campus, while the Economics Department was in the old campus. The classrooms were empty and the staff room locked.

Where is everyone?

Spotting a few of his friends huddled together under a tree, he strode up to them and enquired, ‘What’s happening?’

‘No idea, no one is here. Even the professors are missing,’ Andy Varte replied.

‘Andy, here are your room keys. What do you mean missing?’

‘Everyone seems to have gone somewhere. We heard that there is a huge protest march. All the students and professors have gone to the fort.’

‘Then why are you sitting here? Let us go and find out.’

‘Why bother, enjoy the holiday man. Lets go to see a movie. I heard the new James Bond movie has just been released at Pilot Theatre,’ Andy said, as the others nodded in approval.

‘Goldfinger? I so want to see it. Sean Connery is my favorite actor. Can’t we go in the evening?’

‘No, the evening shows are always full. This is the best time.’

‘OK then, you guys go ahead. I have to find out what is happening here.’

#

As Moon approached Fort St. George, he heard loud chanting and shouting. Drums were beating, just like last night. As he drew closer, the noise became louder.

Students carrying red and black flags had blocked the road to the building, raising slogans. Fully armored police were guarding the entrance. There were a few water tankers around. Some students had stones in their fists others were holding hockey sticks and cycle chains. He noticed Professor Subbaiah standing at the far end talking to a few students, and rushed towards him.

‘Sir. Professor Subbaiah. Excuse me sir!’ he shouted.

‘What are you doing here?’

‘Sir, there were no classes. The university is empty. What is happening?’

‘You were there at the meeting last night.You should know. Don’t disturb me now. I am busy.’

‘Sir, I could not understand a word yesterday.’

‘Oh, sorry, I forgot. It is not safe, there is going to be violence here, meet me in my office after lunch, I will explain everything to you. They have cheated us!’

‘Who has cheated us?’ Moon asked, still trying to get some information.

‘Shastri and the Congress; they want to make Hindi the national language. We will not tolerate it. Now go. It is not safe,’ Subbaiah said pushing him away.

Shastri. Congress. Hindi. National language.

Nothing made sense. He hurried back to the university, hoping to find someone who could explain all this, impatient to wait another two hours.

Luckily, he spotted Professor Ganapathy seated in the shade on a bench in front of Senate Hall. He was supposed to teach his class a course in Development Economics next year, and they had only briefly been introduced at the fresher’s welcome party.

He gingerly walked up and excused himself. ‘Good morning, sir.’

‘Hello. Mr. Choi from Corea, right?’

‘Moon sir, my first name is Moon-kyu, and everyone here calls me Moon. Also my family name is pronounced Choi like in pay not like toy.’

‘Yes. I remember now. Subbaiah was mentioning you in the morning. He was worried about your food, and sought information on Chinese restaurants nearby.’

‘That is very kind of him to remember sir, what with all this action here now.’

‘Oh, that?’ he said pointing towards the noise ahead. ‘Don’t worry. It will last only a few days. We had the same situation four months ago, before you joined. Nothing to worry about.’

‘What is happening, sir?’

‘It is all a political game. The anti-Hindi agitations are justified, but they are only helping some of our politicians to build their careers. They are taking the help of some popular movie stars to spread mistrust among Indians and sow hatred.’

‘I’m sorry sir, it is still confusing.’

‘No, no, no. I’m sorry. I forgot that you have no knowledge of India and this is your first time outside Corea, I will try to explain in a language that you can understand.’

‘Thank you sir.’

‘Let me see. How far back do you want me to go? OK, first some basic information,’ Ganapathy said, raising his index finger. ‘You know India was ruled by the British till 1947, right?’

‘Yes, just like we were ruled by the Japanese.’

‘The British were not as cruel as the Japanese, nevertheless, they did subdue our people. Many people forget that while the British gave orders to commit many atrocities, it were the Indians who worked for them that carried out these orders. In fact I would give more credit to the British for making India one entity. Before them, it was just a number of selfish princely states and of course the Mughal dynasty which controlled large parts of North India.’

Moon nodded his head. He had perfected the art.

‘Now, take Europe. There are so many different countries, with