KARMA - KUSHWANT SINGH

 

Kushwant Singh (1915-2014) was a renowned Indian author and journalist celebrated for his sharp wit, secular views and bold commentary on society and politics.  His most acclaimed works are, 'Train to Pakistan (1956) 'I shall not hear the nightingale' and 'The Company of women'.  He was awarded Padma Vibhushan in 2007.  'Karma' is one of his best short stories published in 1989 in 'The Collected Stories'.  It is a satirical tale that examines themes of identity, colonial mentality and irony.

Sir Mohanlal, a barrister was in abroad for five years and acquired the manners and attitudes of the upper class.  He rarely spoke Hindustani.  When he did, he used to anglicize it like an English man.  He was fond of conversation and could talk on politics, people and books.  Moreover, he never showed any sign of eagerness to talk to the English as most Indians did.  He used to wear his Balliol tie while travelling and with his gold cigarette case filled with English cigarettes.  He valued more his five years life in England than his forty five years in India.  When the story begins, he was waiting for his train in a first class waiting room in a railway station.  His wife Lachmi was sitting outside, chewing a betel leaf and fanning herself with a news paper and talking to a coolie.  As she couldn't understand English and didn't know the ways of English men, she used to travel in zenana compartment.  That was the nature of both.  Even in their home, she stayed in the upstairs.

When the train arrived Lachmi found a seat in the zenana compartment next to the Guard's van.  Sir Mohan wondered not to see anyone there in the first class compartment.  But his face lit up on his finding two English soldiers entered his compartment with their haversacks.  Unexpectedly, they yelled at Sir Mohan, "Janta-Reserved.Army-Fauj. Ek dum jao-get out".  Moreover, they picked up Sir Mohan's suitcase and flung it on to the platform.  Though Sir Mohan shouted, "I'll have you arrested-guard, guard", the soldiers caught Sir Mohan by the arms and flung him out of the train.  Sir Mohan's feet were glued to the earth and he lost his speech.  The train moved in quickening tempo.  Lachmi spat the betal saliva then, as the train had cleared the station.  Thus Kushwant Singh criticizes the social snobbery and colonial mentality, Anglophile nature of Sir Mohanlal that made him an "Odd man out" in this story, "Karma"

-----Thulasidharan V