DUSKY DICEY DAWN
{ Editor notes in March 2023:
Long ago, around 2005--2006 I had promised you a story Ur Bangalore. I did finish; it was longer than assumed. I guess you would call it a novelette, though the author likes very short stories that we call chulki. It's a Bengali slang.
The story was really written; but was lost while the author was evicted in Bangalore. The author made a very difficult effort to rewrite the story, primary obstacles being the strong emotional reactions to his own situations. Deplorable.
Here he publishes the first story that would be included in Ur Bangalore. It is about Ganguly. In the story he is dead very young, and the rest of the story is being told by his associates.}
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DUSKY DICEY DAWN
POSTED MARCH 22, 2023.
Soft spoken, taciturn, but had known how to infuse enthusiasm among his students. It was his strength, and it was his weakness. It was his boon, it was his curse. Students liked him, but took him for granted -- as they got manipulated by other's private interests.
***Sample Excerpts from the story for my friends at the Den***
Dusky Dicey Dawn
{ Excerpts from the Prof Ganguly story. It would be eventually published as part of Ur Bangalore}
Soft spoken, taciturn but ha known how to infuse enthusiasm among his students..
......
...
"Go to hell", was the answer from the chorus of students. And Ganguly really went to hell, he died.
Ganguly's death was not an obituary in any newspaper. He ha no influential relationship listed in Bangalore. He perhaps went to heaven not hell, some of his critics opined then. They would that he would enjoy eternal peace there.
..
...
... .
Ganguly was at his community hall talking with the participants at a workshop .. when German Devil confronted him. He came with escorts........
Exactly that's what you are doing. And that's why I am here. You are brainwashing our kids ruining the future of our nation" German Devil yelled.....
......
"Now look guy, " the escort intervened " why cannot you go back to Russia or China to enjoy your freedom of thought?"......
...
......
"Let's make a gentleman's deal. We say you are becoming Irish Lecturer in a community development cell as part of this neighborhood around Harvard".....
..
"You just go back to Kolkata and start your new model" German yelled.
.
......
.......
..........
German gestured at the security staff at the hall, made Ganguly look guilty of causing an intimidating brawl threatening with a physical fight and Ganguly was kicked out. ...
....
....
" Look kids, we don't take personal on you get another acceptable mentor. He was no good for you". The victors declared
........
.............
..........
He was banished to Bangalore for ever .. He had known that he had to loose his ancestral properties.....they became possession of the victors now......
Ganguly accepted his new predicament. His rise was meteoric and the fall was like a meteorite showers. The uninitiated never understood him. And he could not have explained any better.
Bangalore became his new home. That's how this story started. Bangalore is his village.
THE UR BANGALORE.
------------- POSTED MARCH 22, 2023 ----------
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BEGINNING SO SO
{Editor notes in March 2023:
The following story introduced Kabita, Sabita and Malayali Babar. They are part of Ur Bangalore.
It's an old story but rewritten after about 15--18 years, as already mentioned.}
"Excuse me"
"Yeah" as he noticed the two girls, looked younger than him, with a few of their boys in a gang, he stopped by them on the roadside pavement guide rails near the main bus terminus at the City Market, Bangalore.
"Would you please guide us to the cinema theatres nearby." Kabita asked with some confidence in this gentlemanly looking young man.
"Surely. You are just looking the wrong way. There are two of them, behind your back. At this junction that road goes towards Jaynagar and you get the English cinema theatre by the roadside. And if you turn that way the road goes to BMS College. You find the Hindi theatre just round th corner." He answered assuringly.
"You know a lot " Sabita applauded.
Kabita was to say 'thank you' but wanted to drag the conversation.
"If my English is intelligible to you. I am here to be of help. I live in a lodge nearby." The youngman really dragged noting the approval in their eyes.
***** Excerpts from the story for my friends at the Den *******
Excerpts from my story
BEGINNING SO SO.
The story introduced Kabita and Malayali Babar to the readers. It would become part of Ur Bangalore eventually.
*********** Posted March 22, 2023 *****
....
....
You speak English well. I am Sabita. And she is Kabita, my elder sister."
"Are you real sisters or cousins? "
"No we are sisters, of the same mother" Kabita replied.
"It's called sahodora in Bengali. It means born out of the wombs of the same mother".
"You know Bengali too.."
....
....
"How nice. And your name please?" Kabita smiled.
"Malayali, Malayali Babar" it came out as he struggled to clear out his throat......
..........
"So you are Muslims".......
......
"But how come you are here?" Malayali was in a mood to talk.
..
"Our professor used to live here. In Chandrima Lodge near the City Market.....
......never mind. But with your dress and English don't you look foreigner to the local business people?"
"Yeah I do..... Then once in a while we find Irish here with a bunch of little little Anglo-Indian kids."
"Who is Irish?"
He comes with his friend John. Irish is a writer...... John teaches in a nursery school. That's how he gets so many little kinds...once in a while they form like a long rope with hands in hand ....
...
.....
"And what do you do?"
Iam also a writer.. . But couldn't find any news paper yet. "
.....
.......
....
Are you waiting here for Ganguly?..
.....
He died quite sometime ago in his room in the Lodge. We were so scared that we couldn't come this side for months.
. ....
"We are not late. But one of us have to stand in the queue to get the tickets for entry to the movie hall."
...How will you see us if we don't give you our numbers?...
"This is my number, and this her number. " Sabita scribbled on a chit.
"But both the numbers are same. Do you live together."
Now the boys in the gang laughed loudly and one of them said "you got only one number for the ladies."
Malayali was taken aback but soon recovered.....
.....
"Bye now" and they took the road towards the Hindi movie theatre.
Malayali was pleased, but could speak for quite sometime. It was soo so to begin with. And only said to himself "Hindu girls; Beginning So So".
SG
Posted March 22,2023 Wednesday.
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THE OLDEST STORY
{Editor notes in March 2023:
This short story was included in the novelette Das Original. The novelette is part of the collection Elo Melo 2023 that had appeared in Amazon. Com as a Kindle ebook.
Thank you AuthorsDen for saving this page for such a long time.}
American Bengali
"Sir, do you remember me? I am from Little Rock, Arkansas."
Yes I do. I named you Bengali.
"True. You did not believe that I was raised in Little Rock."
True. I assumed that FBI or CIA was giving me therapy for ego-mania.
"Why"
I assumed that I was on somebody's list.
"Hit list?"
Not like that. You may call it love list!
"You are on my list also. I remembered you after a long time"
True. What brings you here?
"I feel sorry for you. I don't want you to die so young."
So many people die younger than me. What's so special about me?
"Sir, I like you. You are not just another fellow. "
Why do you feel sorry for me? What is between me and you?
"You named me Bengali."
True; otherwise my God would say that I do not know how to raise a family.
"I want to become a reader in politics."
That's interesting. Why not in Catholicism?
"True. But I am not sure."
Why not in Hinduism?
"True. But I am not sure"
If you cannot be Hindu professor I am no good.
"Why?"
My God would say that I do not know how to raise a family.
"But you can be American."
What's so big about me being an American?
"Sir, you are Angry. you do not like me, you do not like my mother. And you do not like UIC"
Why should I be angry?
"We have bad attitude. We are arrogant. They say Americans are like that. That's why you are not interested in coming back to Arkansas."
What is wrong in Americans being arrogant? They are rich and powerful. Why should they listen to me?
"Sir I do not want to argue. But I feel sorry. You should not die so young."
Why should you be sorry? No body cares about me.
"I am angry. No body married you in USA. No body married you at the Den. You know so many people. Why people are so stupid?"
I know more people in Kolkata, Delhi, Bombay and Bangalore also. Did I become any body?
"Why? Party management?"
Perhaps.
"You know so many big people. You are also big."
I am no big man. But I know big people.
"I am so angry. Big people you know did not make you big. They are jealous."
Why are you angry? Who says that big people are jealous?
"Most big people are Congress or BJP. That's why they call you Naxal."
Now you know more than me. You can join SFI.
"Why cannot you be CPIM?"
CPIM in Delhi and Kolkata are also rich and big. They know how to run government; how to manage money, and how to organize srtikes and protests. Many trade Union issues were dealt by them. They are succcessful. They are not me.
"Why cannot be you be Congress?"
They are very powerful and successful men. They think that I am "foreign".
"Why"
My behaviour and appearance may not appeal to their constituency. So I cannot be successful.
"Why cannot you be Naxal?"
They are revolutionaries. Make enormous sacrifices for their party. Sometimes they live in jungles. Sometimes they organize protests; carry arms and bombs; take violent action against thier enemies. How can I Naxal?
"Why cannot you be American Communist"
They have their own organization. They came to Delhi and danced with Prakash Karat. Did they care about me?
"But you are no ordinary man."
What's so special about me? I want to live like ordinary men, raise family, buy house and firmland. And was not succesful. Those who are successful they are better.
"Why cannot you be small town Republican? You can marry any bad girl an raise a family"
Did it happen like that? Would I become a professor if I were to marry a bad girl of your choice?
"True. But you are a Professor. They used to say that you were an llinois Professor."
True. But it was more than hundred percent gas. Difference is money and house.
"And of course the girls. Party mangement!"
Perhaps.
"Why party people do not like you?"
"Because they think that I cannot fight, cannot organize srtike, cannot get vote and money"
"If people of your qualification were partymen, it would become a better world."
Good idea. Now you are talkg like SFI. But what is so special about my education?
"IIT, UIC etc. "
What's the point having such labels? Others are better in managing money, vote and girls.
"True. I do not what is wrong."
Me neither.
"Can you become Professor in the USA?"
Absolutely zero percent chance. I have to have twenty good papers at this age to become Professor.
"We are stupid"
Why?
"We don't listen. We mesh around."
It is not you fault. My physical fitnes is not good. Appearnce and voice not good. I do not know how to manage money better. I waste money and time.
"We are worse than you."
Perhaps. Is that why you are feeling sorry?
"Sir please pray that I become better. Please pray that I become equal to Hindu".
Why.
"Then you would become Professor"
I would become rich then; but I do not know if I could become Professor.
"Sir, I do not yell. I can eat in soup kichen like you. I can eat idli like you. We were not used to spicy food."
You can eat plain rice like me. Sometimes I add chutney powder and salt and ghee. And sometimes I do'nt . Just steamed rice is simple and good for you.
"Sir I waste too much money. I want to become better."
Me too. I also had to learn. It took a long time. I was too slow. They say my Professors were slower.
"Sir slower is better. We waste too much energy."
I feel sorry for your guilt trip.
"Nice talking with you. We should do better next time."
I feel sorry for you. There would be no next time for most of us.
"Sir you forgive me."
I shall pray so that you become better.
"I shall feel happier then."
And I would die happy as a bokachoda.
SG,
Banglore,
March 16, 2010.
