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TAMING OF THE TOUGH

The train stopped at THANJAVUR with the puff of a marathoner having traveled all the way from RAMESWARAM. The emission of charcoal powder mixed fumes was irritating and also made the vision blurred.

It was but natural as it was drawn by a steam engine and the story relates to pre-independence days. Advocate SRINIVASA IYER entered the 1st class compartment with a few pieces of luggage ably assisted by the porter. There were lot of empty seats for occupation as only very few could afford the luxury of that class in those days. Actually that created the problem of selecting the best. At last he made the choice of the seat with good ventilation and more moving space. He did not notice the 2 pieces of luggage that was above the opposite seat.

In a few moments came a BRITISH making it clear that our friend was destined to travel with him for the rest of the journey. The Brit seemed fully aware that his co-traveler would not be a worthy companion and may also create problems. However he was reluctant to move away to another seat out of his in-built stubbornness and confidence. His glance over IYER was not encouraging and receptive. To put it straight, his body language and posture was radiating animosity and hatred. Indirectly he was expressing his anger at the audacity of Mr. Iyer for not moving somewhere else.

Mr. Srinivasa Iyer was a leading criminal lawyer of KUMBAKONAM having his jurisdiction spread through out the state of MADRAS. At present his assignment was to attend a tricky criminal case at MADRAS and also to visit his daughter’s family. Mr.Iyer (50+ age) was well dressed as per the standard of a wealthy educated Brahmin of those days. To start with, his turban was well folded with a golden border. His forehead adorned by 3 stripes of VIBUTHI and at the centre kumkum lay over sandal paste. He was wearing golden framed glasses and through them his eyes were generating a hidden smile and mischief. A slight dimple was visible over the well shaven cheek and the fair colour of the skin complimented his intellectual look. His nose was prominent and sharp, typical of quick wit and sharp reaction. He was wearing a brown coloured coat with high neck and white full hand shirt inside. Occasionally the golden couplets of the shirt were inviting attention. Every now and then he was drawing out his pocket watch with chain to confirm whether the train was running as per schedule.

He was wearing his DHOTI in PANCHAKACHCHAM style with remarkable symmetry on both sides. The texture was very nice which is called MULL veshti, and it was also sparkling white. But again there was one flaw in this gentleman. He was picking his silvery tiny box frequently and inhaling a pinch of snuff and in those moments his face was glowered communicating his pleasure in no uncertain terms. The British man must have been in his 40's, fully dressed with coat, suit and tie and also well polished shoes. He had however removed his shoes and was wearing only the socks. It is a different thing that not only his socks but also his suit was giving out a pungent odour. It was the month of March and this man was no match to the south Indian cleanliness.

Mr.Iyer ignored him and made himself busy with the papers of the case he had to attend to on the next day. The BRITISH Could not tolerate the indifference of Iyer as he was denied the chance of snubbing him. On his part he took out a British journal and pretended to read. He was however all the time focused on Mr.Iyer and his activities. As if just to irritate him, he took out his cigar and started puffing until the entire compartment was filled with the smell of burnt tobacco. Even in those days smoking was strictly prohibited inside the train, which was violated all the time only by the whites it seemed. Mr.Iyer understood the intentions of his companion and after a long thought on the pretension of going to the toilet he crossed his seat and liberally sprinkled and also emptied the box of snuff without being noticed.

On his return from the toilet, he glanced at the white man and much to his relish saw him rubbing his eyes with great pain and irritation and the fool couldn’t even guess from where it could have come from. A cold war was being played between them and many instances could be noticed in those few hours. Let me describe the last one which I am sure the readers will relish.

The British took out a shining Australian apple from his bag and with his pocket knife cut it into pieces and started gobbling up with the calculated intention of insulting Mr.Iyer as elementary courtesy demands offering to your only co-traveler. Over and above these acts, he was teasingly fixing his eyes on Mr.Iyer suggesting that he was not considering him as a human being at all. Iyer was the last person to be humiliated by any body and least of all by a British.

His fertile brain was working at a brisk pace to reciprocate in a more direct manner so that he would not forget it till the rest of his life. In his bag, he was carrying a few kilos of KARUNAIKIZHANGU – a variety of root grown under the soil. He had specially taken it from his vegetable garden to be cooked and enjoyed by his daughter at MAMBALAM in MADRAS. It is a highly nutritive vegetable-root available only at Thanjavur district having medicinal qualities and also widely used in AYURVEDIC preparations. It has a thick black skin with the mud of the soil to be removed carefully and elaborately treated with washing and processing before making it palatable. But once it is cooked the taste is matchless and anybody would take more than one helping. Any mistake in processing is disastrous in taste leading to itching in the mouth up to throat and beyond. You can only well imagine the condition of a person taking it raw.

Iyer selected one nice piece and started peeling off the skin very carefully with all fondness of skinning off a MALGOVA MANGO. The British was amazed by the rosy color of the strange edible once the skin was removed. He was wondering what it could be. Having treated Iyer shabbily all along his self respect prevented him to quench his curiosity. Mr.Iyer had timed his operation of KARUNAIKIZHANGU so well that it would be completed just when he was getting down at MAMBALAM railway station - one station short of EGMORE station where the BRITISH was bound for. Iyer made it into tiny pieces - all the time covering his hand with handkerchief to avoid itching. Perhaps our white mistook it for cleanliness. Mr.Iyer collected them in a clean piece of paper and just when the train was slowing down, he gave signs of throwing some of the pieces into his mouth, but withdrew his hand suggesting that there was no time to take it as the station had already approached.

While the porter was carrying his luggage, Mr.Iyer for the first and also the last time spoke to the British offering those tempting rosy pieces claiming as there was no time for him requesting him to taste that rare fruit. Naturally the white refused the offer with contempt and pretended his disinterest. But Iyer was damn sure that the idiot would try his hand on them once he was out of sight permanently.

Iyer waited stealthily outside and was observing his opponents movements. The British sheepishly looked around and greedily threw not one but 2 to 3 pieces at a time into his greedy mouth, while Iyer was gleefully awaiting the plight of him. I need not describe the torture suffered by the white with his eyes continuously in tears and the extreme irritation in his food canal system that was a tell tale story from the expressions of his face. He rushed to the gate and shouted at Mr.Iyer in the most filthy language, and this time Iyer came out from his hiding in full view to the British causing uncontrollable rage, but the train had already picked up its speed unmindful of the suffering of one of its passengers.

BY J.PANCHAPAGESAN FLAT-11,130 GILL NAGAR EXTN STREET CHOOLAIMEDU CHENNAI PH-044 23744963 EMAIL id- jpanchapagesan@yahoo.co.in