Sri. C. Rajagopalachari (1878-1972) called as Rajaji, is mostly well-known for his English books on “The Ramayana” and “The Mahabharata.” He worked in various important positions and showed his efficiency and mettle as the leader of Congress Party, as the first Indian Governor-General of free India, as the Governor of West Bengal and as Minister for Home affairs of the Indian Union and as the Chief Minister of Madras State. He founded the Swantantra party in 1959.He was also one of the founders of the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. He wrote both in Tamil and English on various topics. In 1951 Rajai wrote an abridged version of the Mahabharata and translated Kambar’s Tamil Ramayana into English in 1961. He wrote more than thirty books in English. Some of the famous books are: The Bhagavadgita, Socrates, Marcus Aurelius, Ramakrishna Upanishad, Hinduism, Doctrine and Way of Life, Our Democracy and other essays, Our Culture, Stories for the innocent etc., Many of the books were published by Bharatiya Bhavan. He was awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award for his works in the Tamil languiage for his re-telling of the Ramayana in 1958. He was the first recipient of Bharat Ratna in 1954. Rajagopalachari often regarded his literary works as the best service he rendered to the people.
In "Stories for the innocent” (1964) consisting of thirty-seven short stories, we can see his realistic portrayal of middle class and lower-class sections of society of Tamil Nadu during his time.
In
“Ardhanari”, a pariah boy from Kokkali in Salem District lied about his caste as a Saiva Mudaliar thinking
that he might be ill-treated if he revealed about his caste. Govinda Rao, his senior, impressed by his disposition and manners, decided to marry his sister, Pankaja, with Ardhanari though he knew that he belonged to
another caste. Ardhanari neglected his parents thinking that his would-be bride
would reject him if he took her to his native village. He lied that there was a
severe epidemic of cholera in his village. Unexpectedly Cholera broke out in
his village, and he lost his mother and brother. Only his father, a drunkard,
remained alive. He delayed deliberately his trip to his village. He refused to
take his father with him. Later he felt guilty, and he went back to Salem. By
that time his father committed suicide by drowning himself in a well. he did
not go to see his father’s dead body. He went back to Bangalore and confessed
to Pankajam about his real caste and told her that he was a liar and was a
murderer and asked not to marry him. ‘You do not mind my caste, I know. But I am a
murderer. I have killed my father and mother.” He resigned his job, became an
ascetic (Samiar) and conducted a school in the Mariamman temple.
In the story “The Fatal Cart” the writer portrays the evil effects of drinking and its impact on domestic and economic status. Karuppan, not satisfied with his humble cottage and field, planned to buy Veeran’s cart and earn more money though his wife, Parvati, was against his plan. He borrowed money and spent all his savings in buying the cart. Along with other drivers he also became addicted to drinking. As his bullocks became old, he sold them and bought a new pair of bullocks with the money saved by Parvati. The zamindar took away one of his bullocks as Karuppan did not pay back his loan. He was forced to take loan from Qadr Khan to pay the debt to Zamindar. He became addicted to drink again. Parvati’s only child died of fever suddenly. She was forced to work as a laborer at the site where Qadr Khan was building a new house. Qadr Khan’s son attracted by Parvati, tried to seduce her. He threatened her to pay back the loan. She yielded to him at last in a weak moment. Karuppan saw them both in his house. In a fit of rage, he wounded Qadr Khan with his sickle. Parvati and Karuppan were arrested by police. Karuppan’s father and brother sold away his cart to meet legal expenses. They also pawned Parvati’s buffalo. To go to sessions court, they sold his bullocks also. Parvati was looked down by all an unchaste woman who cheated her husband. Qadr Khan won the case, and Karuppan was imprisoned for six years. Parvati was released bur she had nowhere to go. Her sister-in-law drove her away when she sought shelter. To end her ignominy and her troubles she climbed the temple hill and jumped from there. “The soul of Parvati escaped from its cage of misery.”
In the story “Guilt wiped off “the writer shows the character of Ramakrishnaaiyar, a high court official, who forgave a servant boy for stealing two silver tumblers and a cup. He did not even file a complaint to the police. When his wife asked the reason, he confessed that he had also committed theft when he was a poor boy staying in a rich man’s house to pursue his studies in Kumbakonam. He stole cash from the rich man’s coat to satisfy his hunger. The rich man suspected his servant boy and dismissed him from service after thrashing him severely. Ramakrishnaiyar felt ashamed of his theft and felt sorry for the poor servant boy who suffered for no fault of his own. He decided not to steal anything further. After so many years he found an opportunity to atone for his sin by forgiving the poor boy who might have committed theft to quench his hunger. He thought that Goddess had heard his prayer and wiped of his sins after thirty years.
Same sense of guilt and repentance is seen in “Judge
Jayaraman Ayiar’s penance”. The judge sentenced Veeran, a twenty-year old young
man, to four years of rigorous imprisonment for commiting a small theft for the
second time. The judge’s wife, Kanakambal, asked her husband why he gave such a
severe punishment to such a young boy for a small crime. The judge defended his
act saying that an old offender must be awarded a severe sentence. His wife
reminded him that the judge had also stolen money when he was staying at the
house of Miradar Ramaswami Aiyar, a rich friend of his father, in Mayavaram. As
he was a poor boy, he had no money to buy anything to quench his hunger. He stole
a ten-rupee note form the coat pocket of Raswami Aiyar’s son-in-law. Ramaswami suspected
that his servant boy or the sweeper might have stolen the money. But Kanakambal
thought both were innocent. She noticed a new penknife and a new pen in
Jayaraman’s pocket and asked him from where he got money to buy those things. He
gave an evasive reply. He wrote a letter to his father that he was not treated
properly and was suspected when someone has stolen the money. His father
shifted Jayaraman to a rented room. Jayaraman felt guilty on remembering his
crime. He dreamt that he was charged with theft and was being taken to jail
while his wife was weeping. He got up and thanked God that he was saved from
punishment. He thought that he was not fit to act as judge. He sent in his
resignation letter and decided to go to Rishikesh and stay there to atone for
his sin. He went to Samiyar, his spiritual teacher, and told him about his
theft and his decision to quit his job. Samiyar advised him to go back to duty
and it was not right to grieve over a past crime. The Govt did not accept his
resignation as he had a good reputation in service. Jayaraman frankly told the
officer about his crime. The Govt transferred him from the magistrate to Civic Judiciary.
Jayaraman used to send fifty rupees every month as a treat to the prisoners
guilty of theft in the local jail as a penance for his past crime till his retirement.
This story shows how no one is perfect in this world and criminals should be
judged in a sympathetic manner.
In the story “Muttandi” the writer explored the loyal and selfless nature of a cook who worked in Kandasami Chettiar’s house for decades. As an unmarried person he lived a simple life and invested his savings in his village. After his master’s demise, his son Sankaran, a highly educated person employed him and increased his monthly salary. As a sub-collector Sankaran was transferred to Trichy where he fell in love with Radhamaniammal, a Naidu girl and married her. She did not like Sankaran treating Muttandi as a close family member. She used to find fault with Sankaran and treated him with contempt. Muttandi put up with her harsh treatment out of affection for Sankaran. She compelled Sankaran to dispense with Muttandi’s sevices on the pretext that he had become too old to work in their house. Sankaran gave Muttandi two hundred rupees and advised him to go to his village and settle down there. Radhamaniammal became furious when she came to know that Sankaran gave a large amount to Muttandi. Sankraan somehow pacified her. Meanwhile Sankaran’s wife became pregnant. After one year a son was born to them. One day Muttandi came suddenly to Sankaran’s house in Madurai. He was overjoyed to know about the birth of a son to his master. He took child in his lap and put two golden bangles on his wrists. Then he took leave of his master without eating anything. Radhamaniaamal realized Muttandi’s loyal and good nature and said, “The old man is a good fellow after all.” This story also shows that goodness is seen in all irrespective of their status and caste. One should not look down on others based on their low birth and poverty.
In "Swamiyar Nalli" the character of a selfless rickshaw-puller is described. Unlike his friends he did not drink or smoke. He was satisfied with what he earned. Every day before going for work, he used to pray before the portrait of Lord Hanuman on the neem tree. He used to take sick and pregnant people to hospital free of charge. His friends used to call him "Swamiyar Nalli". The news of his selfless service to sick people spread far and wide. Even Europeans used to come and see him. Nalli did not accept a single pie from them as a gift. Nalli's mother used to look with pity on him as he had to earn his living by pulling rickshaw like a bullock. Nalli believed that he was serving people who could not walk by taking them in his rickshaw. When hand-pulled rickshaws were banned by the Government, Nalli left the village. no one heard any news of him. Some said that he went to Polur to work in his uncle's farm. the story concludes with the message that goodness is seen even among the humblest people.
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22nd August, 2024 Somaseshu Gutala
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