Translated from the Original Hindi by
Kanwar Dinesh Singh
It was an annual day function at the school. I was also invited there. The only son of the headmaster, who was eight years old, was shown in great pomp as Mr Hadi’s kolhu (oil mill). His face was pallid, his eyes were white, and his vision did not rise from the ground. People were asking him questions. He was answering them. He described the ten characteristics of religion. He gave examples of nine rasas. He gave a satisfactory explanation about the cold water below four degrees of temperature and the survival of the fish in it. He gave the scientific reason behind a lunar eclipse. He gave arguments for accepting or not accepting something invisible as matter. He recounted well the names of the queens and the king of England, Henry VIII. He also told the story of the coronation of the Peshwas very well.
He was asked what he would do in life. The child tacitly replied that he would do philanthropy for his lifetime. The assembly was listening to the applause; the father was elated.
An elderly gentleman put his hand on his head and blessed him, “You will get a prize―whatever you ask for.” The child started thinking of something. His father and teachers were worried to see which book this mannequin of learning would ask for.
There was an alteration of brilliant colours on the child’s face. The clash of artificial and natural emotions was visible in his eyes. After some coughing, clearing his throat, and being surprised by the removal of the fake screen, the child said softly, “Laddoo.”
His father and teachers got disappointed. I felt like my breath had been choked for so long, but then I breathed in relief. They all had done their best to strangle the child’s innate tendencies, but the child survived. He was expected to survive because he was the sweet whisper of the green leaves of a living tree, not the sickening rattle of the deadwood of my almirah.
–0-Dr Kanwar Dinesh Singh, Poet, Storyteller, Translator (English/Hindi),Associate Professor of English & Editor: Hyphen
#3, Cecil Quarters, Chaura Maidan, Shimla: 171004 HP Email: kanwardineshsingh@gmail.com
