Voice of the hounding shadow - Wind through Black-Palm 1

Chapter 1

“ The palm trees stand rooting in the ground firmly, keeping a stiff upper head over the sky, as if a toiled, blackish, solidified, effete human body. Vengeance filled moanings emitted forever from those tall structures. Like a palm tree climber the palm trees do not communicate much. On rare occasions, they turn maniac, that too resembling a liquor guzzled up palm tree climber. Lashing out their head, they violently tremble and howl. The lower trunk would appear firm like a base of stone tower during those wild moments. If you happen to touch the base, when the wild storm passes through its head, you would feel a mild tremor in your hands. I imagine what would happen one day if they decided to express their hardships through a medium of language with the same intensity. If you look down from the top of the pavala hills, you would notice these palmtree heads filled up till the horizon. These scattered palm trees would get a chance to coalesce together and march ahead in unison at some glory day in future. “

“ The palm trees stand rooting in the ground firmly, keeping a stiff upper head over the sky, as if a toiled, blackish, solidified, effete human body. Vengeance filled moanings emitted forever from those tall structures. Like a palm tree climber the palm trees do not communicate much. On rare occasions, they turn maniac, that too resembling a liquor guzzled up palm tree climber. Lashing out their head, they violently tremble and howl. The lower trunk would appear firm like a base of stone tower during those wild moments. If you happen to touch the base, when the wild storm passes through its head, you would feel a mild tremor in your hands. I imagine what would happen one day if they decided to express their hardships through a medium of language with the same intensity. If you look down from the top of the pavala hills, you would notice these palmtree heads filled up till the horizon. These scattered palm trees would get a chance to coalesce together and march ahead in unison at some glory day in future. “ Arunachalam closed the book. Bending his head behind, reclined back in the chair. The words he just read were buzzing inside his head. M. Veerabadra Pillai B.A the printed letters by the erstwhile type metal antimony produced from lead alloy was visible inside his closed eyes. The stories belong to that old era, and the titles too. Writer had a zealous urge to cover all the facades like poverty ridden lifes of the palm tree laborers, determinations they acquired from the attachment with soil, their high tolerance level. When the moments of story were not complied with writer’s motive, the writer began to express his monologue. Yet those words filled with life and the story background detailing effervescent with strength of imagination. Arunachalam was surprised by the influence of Leo Tolstoy in that prose. In the pre 1960s, both the Tamil and Malayalam writers seldom influenced by Leo Tolstoy. The left progressive writers were predominantly influenced by Marxim Gorky. This writer must had been an ardent reader of Russian literature, especially fond of Leo Tolstoy’s works. This spirited writer had an unsuppressed desire to manifest eminent words of wisdom standing infront of whole humanity. Undoubtedly, this is an exciting piece of work written by an undeniable creative mind. But there is no such name found in the party documents, rubber union estate’s historical event’s records, the journals released by party and union, the magazines, collective books. Even in the so called 188 lengthy chapters of auto-biography written by KKM in the “Rubber Worker” monthly magazine, no-where this name was registered. What would have happened? Even in case this was a highest possible treason, that should had been registered in history. That should be passed as a lessons learned to the next generations. His name was totally disappered from the history. Like Orwell’s novel’s words, a personality lived with blood and bone has slipped through the memory hole of history. Similar news of disppearnance keep on coming to light from the Russian history. If you think on what might have happened, you would be scared. All the people who were associated to those disappeared personaliies were also wiped out from memory of history. Everything they touched was destroyed without trace. The books were re-written eliminating the reference of them. Even the photos were morphed. Thousands of peopled eliminated from the history irrevocably. Only random few out of them, blessed by the attention of the the next generation. Those too happened accidentally. Yes, Authoritarion government was in power. The colossal government machinations and the government controlled medias, without any sort of alternate truth speaking oppositional sides. But here? Oftentimes, it occurred to Arunachalam that in order to escape from the aftermath chagrin nights of KKM’s expulsion from the union, he forced himself to engage in this issue as a diversion. He was reading the party magazines and documents in continuously in nights without respite. He was terrified by this complete erasing. He was not able to conclude even after utmost thinking , that why he is identifying himself along side of the victim? That mystical thought hooked further into that issue more intensely. At some stage, Arunachalam lost grip in the real time progress of KKM’s issue. Narayanan handled the post events of KKM’s expulsion craftily based on higher authorities orders. Narayanan created an image of himself as a KKM’s foremost criticiser and the ardent supporter of Arunachalam in the stage. The silence of Arunachalam was translated as his loyalty towards his Guru by Narayanan. It was projected as a highly civilised trait of Arunachalam. Arunachalam felt that he was not in a state to deny the identify slowly and surely fictionalized by the words of Nayarayanan. When he began to act according to the character written by Narayanan, the play was almost over. Gossiping was the main weapon used against KKM. KKM directly met the union workers immediately after his expulsion. He rejected the verdict of election. His claim was that he was elected directly by workers, not by the party representatives. Only if workers dismiss him from union, he was ready to go. He was not ready to accept the consquences of an orchestrated conspiracy. The crowd KKM was managed to gather in the beginning, caused fear to the party. Kolappan was the one instrumental in gathering the supporters crowd. Party members came to know that, Kolappan mortgaged his house for that expenses. Arunachalam and Nararayan met Kolappan in person and mollified him to join back. Kolappanwas in hostile state, boling hot in anger. But as days passed, he slowly realised nothing would happen. Even the workers expressed tearful sorrow in the beginning never turned against their union secretaries. After a month and half from the expulsion day, KKM launched his new union. Immediately , Party circulated a notice informing revoking of KKM’s basic membership of party. In the followed days, there was an intense campaign against KKM carried out in full swing. Party released a notice explaining, how maladaptive KKM was working against the welfare workers, in the important junctures for the past 20 years. Internally he was given serious warning many times. He was forgiven many times considering his age and experience. But in the end the capitalist regime managed to bribe and buy him. When he tried to pass the bill prepared by the capitalist regime, with no other option, party decided to expel him. The dangerous repercussions of his proposed bill is explained separately. In case if that bill passed, the capitalist forces would have got hook to totally destroy our Union. The union and party is respecting the leaders for their sacrifices. But how could the union tolerate a double-crossing? After ensuring the successful spread of that notice in public, the second notice was prepared promptly with more backing details. In that notice, KKM’s infamous personal life incidenets were divluged such as, KKM was holding a personal grudge towards the specific higher political bureau members. He tried to bribe few of of the secreteries to stand in his side during disputes. He indeed sold some of the party secrets to the government as well as the opposite forces. To maintain the social manners, party do not want to dig further deep into the personal affairs of KKM. The trumpet of gossiping campaign blown loudly and highly by Narayanan and his comrades. The concupiscent nature of KKM had been the biggest stumble block for the party and union. Stitching up his weakness many third rated people attained monetary gain exploiting the union. When KKM was seeking sexual favours from the union’s worker woman, union had to warn him sterny many instances. The complaining letters from eight workers belongs to Marathadikonam branch was released as a separate bit notice. It insisted upon investigating the hartal spearheaded by the KKM in 1972. It was clear as bell, the profit the dunlop rubber company gained and the loss of the salary in the worker side as the result of the strike. Every suckers of the labours blood should be punished mercilessly. Mudhalaru branch secretaries undertook single day symbolical hunger strike requesting to re-evaluate the union accounts of KKM’s tenure. In the Betlegam garden’s record there was a news registered which stated KKM stuck a deal with the rubber estate owners to fetch the jobs for the sons of his lady lovers. Narayanan wrote in the “Rubber world” letter that Since we decided not to cross the norms of society, even if it is apparent truth the personal details should be refrained from registering in any printed articles. KKM bited the dust in the first few blows itself. When a group of the workers started raising the down slogans in his gatherings, he began to reduce the gatherings. Even after few months of KKM decided to go into full mute, the anti-compaigns went on full intensity. Meanwhile the annual bonus time arrived. Due to increase in the rubber price, when the owners associations decided to reduce the bonus allowances for the laboueres, the workers unity fostered. All the unions setting the differences aside, announced the protests in unison. Slogan shouting protest, Hunger strikes, hartal , Street meetings followed up by a compromise with owners. When the bonus cover was dispatched, everyone forgot KKM. Till then, KKM was staying in a small room arranged by Kolappan in Thadikaarankonam. One day, he disappeared vacating that room. After few days hoping that he is settled, Narayanan invited Kolappan to join back his mother union. Kolappan was yet to boil down. In the meantime, Narayanan and his team of workers did their best to spoil the work oppurtunities of Kolappan. There were few police cases registered due to scuffling incidents. Indirect life threat was issued to Kolappan. Narayanan promised him that he would even promote him to the district post if he joins back. Nayarayanan believed If he manage to fetch Kolappan back to union, that would give more influential power as it would be a final nail in the KKM’s coffin. With this in mind, he crossed border of blackmailing. Enraged Kolappan along with his supporter went straight and joined the right-wing Bharathiya rubber union. Making use of this, Narayanan succeeded in corroborating all the allegations against KKM and their supportars. Narayanan released a letter labeling KKM a traitor in disguise, truly he was an acting spy from the religious forces. But no one interested in KKM when the letter was released. When Arunachalam re-emerged to stage from the self-imposed seclusion, the union went under the complete control of Narayanan. Arunachalam forced to perform union activities through the surveillance of Narayanan. Narayanan treated Arunachalam with exessive deference. This respect and deference was reflected in the behaviours of the other union members. As a result there was a wall raised between him and other union workers. Noone dared to talk with Arunachalam in person. Everytime he appeared in the crowd, they dispersed in silence. At one point, Arunachalam could talk only with Nayarayanan directly. He despised this set-up. He began the fear Narayanan internally. But he could do nothing to change it. The way Narayanan subtly and surely installed his supremacy amazed Arunachalam. Narayanan was originally joined as an everyday worker in the Theradi garden. He was initially known someone who reads all types of news paper and rambles loudly in clumsy manner. His raggedness appealed to Arunachalam. He assigned him as his assistance immediately. Nayarayanan began to copy the mannerisms of Arunachalam. Initially it looked funny and amusing. But as time passed on, it helped Narayanan to establish the status next to Aranachalam in the union. Arunachalam introduced him to the other union leaders. During that time Narayanan had no idea about philosophy , Idealogy, functioning of the union. He would be entertaining the leaders converting this ignorance as halfwitted comedy. Frequently, he would project him as a deliberate idiot. With this behaviour he managed to spread his contact with the leaders. The leaders treated him as a feeble, good for nothing country man who could never challenge them. On the other side, Narayanan was learning the philosophy, stage speaking, behavioral manners and situation demanded becalmness assiduously. He began to showboat english words in this conversations. But KKM neither believed nor accepted Narayanan. He saw Narayanan as a despicable sample of the new trend. The representive of the generation which treat the union activeity as just a gambling without any historical consciousness. Vice verca, Narayanan internal hated KKM. Is this pent-up vengeance is converted as this exaggrated humility towards him? Arunachalam would suspect Narayanan, oftentimes. There was a huge change in Narayanan’s attitude once Arunachalam raised to top in the union. By relinquishing his mimicking mannerisms of Arunachalam, Narayanan started intentionally speaking in the core countrystyle which is the reflections of the Nadar community acccents. When he was alone with Arunachalam, that polished tamil would be apparently spoken . That would lead the other Nadar crony workers to speak in the same manners unbeknownst to them. They would be confabuating among themselves without any hindrance. Arunachalam would be let alone with his language. Soon, with the waylaided mind, Arunachalam started restricting his natural conversation only to the Nayar or Pillaimar community workers alone with his apparently visible accent. At some point, he felt like he was directed to travel in a long path with no go back choice. He has turned as a rubber stamp post in the union. He has been coming to union just to sign few papers and make few calls daily. That seclusion state forced him towards that book more and more severly. When he visited the address where that book was originally published, he found only the serial buildings built by the dioseasan. No one had any knowledge about that publisher. The elder workers whom he managed to track after a much of searching had no memory of Veerabadra pillai. At one point, he felt like that book lead him to a dead end. Yet he was unable to get rid of that. He was not able to understand why he was captivated towards the book? Yes he was identifying himself closely with that writer. He was like a right-handed apostle to KKM. KKM has replaced Arunachalam in the place of him. His traceless disappearance is a forewarning to the possible future of Arunachalam. That was a most horrendous end. At the end of the day, what he gets with his contribution to union? There is no monetary benefit. There is no chance of power or influence. When you are a puppet to the commands of party higher members, power and influence are joke. Yes, to some extent there is a pseudo-power . What is remaining, fame? . It cannot be said as fame, just notable place in history. When he realise that If history denies memories of that gained little notability, it shuddered him completely. All this for nothing? Possibility a glorious sacrifice. But no one would notice that. Clemenciness. But it wont be recognized. Yah, high likely at the end a worthless voidness. Getting discarded in to that fathomless void, every public activist nightmare. Veerabhadra pillai must have been hunching in some nooks of that abyss. There is chance of he could find and pull him out from there. He could bring him to the center of history’s spotlight. That would be an moment of epic justice. The claim of no one could delete the gloriousness. No one should lose the memories of greatest sacrifices. That bedrock moment would install his own deserved place in the history. That was the self-lifting assurance that he gives to himself. Arunachalam smiled. What a rush of absurd thoughts. That too fully selfishness coated. So the the deep inside down in every human, there is a possibility of such absurd and self-centered thoughts alone remaining. He read those lines again. Writer had an unsuppressed endearment on the stone tower like base of the palm-trees which stays rooted unwavered when the storm crosses its head. This is the longing for resoluteness. Relentless yearning of an every irresolute mind. He found that desire in himself too. This is why Arunachalam chose to respect and follow KKM. Very same resoluteness. The is the cause of fear in his minds over Narayanan. Is he liking Narayanan from his deep down like he was despicing KKM from his deep down? By closing his eyes Arunachalam tried to reign the thoughts over and over again which kept on erupted from him.

Chapter 2

There was a motorcycle sound heard from outside. Narayanan pulling the bike behind, put on the center stand of his new Yamana Bike near the porch. By taking out his black glass, he said “ Vanakkam Comrade” . “Vanakkam Narayanan” Arunachalam said. Narayanan dabbed the handkerchief his face to wipe out the sweat. He sat in the platform. “Have you arrived early?” “No, Just now” “There was a dispute in the Edakkatu. A bloke belongs to menon community prepares the muster roll. One of the worker took a half day off to attend his mother’s unwellness. It seems he left early for consecutive four or five day. This guy remarked those days as half day work. The worker came to know about this only on the salary day. There was a scuffle. He was standing firm that the permission was not obtained. Worker replied what is there to ask permissiont for leaving just 2 hours early. How could you remark that as half day leave without any leave notifying letter. For that he said, I found the worker absent. So I marked it as half day work. “ “He is right, legally” “Oh” said Narayanan. “What happened then?” “Full day Salary otherwise we will go on strike” “Strike? For this incident sake.” “It is not really a strike. Kind of non-coperation. We will not do work. But we wont say explicitly that we wont work. Some random recalcitrant events may block the work progress. Sudden breaking of the knife, untimely rift in the rubber tree bark, unintentional spilling of the rubber milk in the dry leafs may occur. Then its upto you to decide. Finally he relented. He said that the complain letter was already sent forth, which cannot be rolled back. I gave an idea. Arrange one day of over-time work instead. That day, he will not attend. I asked him whether he is ok with the plan. He agreed. The issue got resolved. “ Arunachalam looked at Nayarayanan in amazement. Narayanan lit a cigerate and inhaled it unhurriedly. The confident manner he let it out the smoke caused discomfort to Arunachalam. “Did you happen to notice the circular notice sent by D.P.Mohammed. ? asked Narayanan “Regarding the over-time” “Yes, I noticed” “What do you think on that?” “What?” “Is it even possible? Would any worker would listen if someone says not to go for over-time work? All these pushed rules will work only in the paper” “No Comrade. There is an another angle to this issue. Every industry has opened the door for the machines. Any factory must reach the certain level of production to buy these machine. If not the same level of capital should be invested. In the meantime, how to address the ever increasing demand? If company appoints the new worker, in the highly possible future of machines arrival, these men will be laid off. Instead they are giving over-time to existing worker to meet the demand. This is actually not good for workers community. In future this is going to be pain for union. So we should not accept the offer of over-time work. Instead We should support appointment of the new workers” “Would any worker refuse this additional salary?” “We must talk and educate them in this regard. Anyway there is less and less new workers are picked. All the existing workers are aging. If it goes like this, at some time, there will be only elders in the union. In future, when the machines arrived, if factory decided to send the workers back to home, we won’t have the head count to fight against it. There won’t be collective will power neither. In every instance of machines replacing the workers, we lose our bargaining power.” “Some workers are asking how could the machines replace us in our business” “No business will be spared. If a worker decided not to act, assuming machines are going to replace some other business not their own, that is a blunder. If they think there is no chance of machines replacing the human in their business, so need not care about that. This is the general assumption. Every wave of phenomenon will affect each one. If the unions turn weak during that time, loss is only for ours isnt it? We the workers have the upper hand in current case of our work method of which is making cut in the rubber tree barks, only because the milk gets solidified in few minutes. In case there is an invention of a chemical which delays this process, what would happen? The plan for installing the conveyor belt to collect the rubber milk is already in progress. “ Narayanan wagged the cigeratted indifferently. “You are over-imagining, comrade.” said. He let out a sudden laughter and pausing it “ We will be in the post for maximum 10 more years. These predictions won’t be realised during that period. After that, its the fate of the upcoming folks. Who knows, there may be a complete changeover in how the union functions” Arunachalam infuriated. But he did not reply. “Whatever may be the long term or short term reason, worker will never relinquish the over-time money. He is always in debt. Home loan, Televisions installment loan, Home appliance loans, Dress loans. We cannot make him understand our stand. If we force it on him, he would go and join the opposite union. You mentioned that day right, for its core trait of instance profit the capitalism would destroy itself. The workers are also the same. Infact it is the nature of human” “Even after knowing the future, should we allow him to self-destory?” “What could we do? These workers junta are the one who is driving us all, arent they? If he chooses what is needed for him. He is responsible for the consequences right?” “We must explain him the repercussions right? “ Arunachalam felt his argument getting absurd. “ What is his purpose here? What gain he gets in defeating this rogue with these arguments? Every word he utters, he is making him look like more and more idiot. Making me appear someone who is not adaptable with the change of time. He felt that his desire to prove himself as a visionary and an intellectual in front of Narayanan is driving him. Only with that attitude he is trying to surpass Narayanan. But Narayanan playing the characters more compellingly. Projecting him as the one has more practical knowledge and an active field worker, he is deftly outdistancing Arunachalam in the race. Arunachalam had a glance at his wrist watch. It was 10o clock. He must start to office. “Are we the pillars whom hold the entire world? What are we responsible for? Off late, you have been behaving like KKM. The world is working its is own way. We are just a minute part of that. Kadhir once told Workers are the history. Let the history choose its own course. What could we do ?” “Every marxist duty is to change the coure of history. Thats what Marx said” “What have they managed to change in these century long years of power? In the name of change, revolution, they imolated half of the population of that country. That era is bygone. Those leaders are gone.” “We are not leaders, we are mere lawyers, right?” “Yes, As Kadhir said, true and correct” “The lawyers who charge a hefty fee” with the intention to hurt Narayanan said Arunachalam. “So much for for this penniful fee and the respect we get. Masimalai is a owner of a Tata suma car. That too was gifted by the workers. When the creased shirt cladded our erstwhile leaders met the factory owners, they were confronting leaders with the disapproving face. Now a days, if Masilamani meets them, they will come till the threshhold and will receive him with a embrace. “ “Let us buy a car too” said Arunachalam. Narayanan brushed aside that mocking retort. “ We are in the need of a good diesel ambassador car. That would be handy in all the occasions. Including for the workers energency” Arunachalam smiled. “Our 58th union anniversary is approaching. We have just a month of time” “Yes, I thought about that too” “There is no meaning in conducting in the the typical conference style. The other unions are celebrating the anniversary as festival. We must follow the same” “What is the plan in your mind?” “Let us conduct inner branch stage play competition. Followed by a singing and sports competitions. One for worker memerbers and another one exclusively for their children. Let us include couple of professional stage play and a musical orchestra. If possible we can invite the movie stats to participate. Actors Mammooty, Mohanlaal , Prabhu, Karthick are already in the wish list of some of the worker. “ “Our budget will cross the lakhs” “Yes, we will be able to collect it” “How much the workers can afford?” “He can pay whatever he could. For the rest, we can talk with the factory owners. Also we can collect from the rubber vendors” “But” “Why?” “No” “You doubt whether they would pay or not. If we manage to expand our pie, he would have no other choice. He must give the amount we quote. “ Arunachalam noticed the confident filled laughter in the face of Narayanan. This is a recurrent newfound laugh of Narayanan noticeable recently. Arunachalam just observed that without words. “This does not mean our surrender to owners. We will never going to submit our share. This is totally different aspect. As Kadhir said once, the owners are not our enemy, just the opposite side in the bargaining table. “ “You are possessed by Kadhir’s words” “Kadhir is always so up himself. But his words are sharp” “Another suggestion. Let us also include a cultural event in our conference. We can invite prominent writers to these events” “Don’t worry. We will pull out all the stops” “We must release a good souvenir. So far we had been releasing the party magazine as a bundle binders. Ours should be the important one. Must comprised all of Art, Literature, Politics. I am planning to write an important article in that. The growth history of our union and memoir of some of the legendary leaders” “Sure, We will rock the stage, Comrade. Did you get call from A.K.R?”

Arunachalam felt that he was filled with sense of excitement. He realised the reason for the excitement only after few moments. The article he is planning to write. How those words came out of his mouth? He had no idea of an article until that second. But he disclosed through words. Is he going to write about Veerabhadra pillai in that article? What sort of madness is that? A well known dangerous game he is about the play. He had a little hesitations. But the surge of excitement overcame that. Crigningly boiling down, followed by a waves of excitement. He took out his diary and rummaged the pages of it with meaninglessly.

Chapter 3

Slightly losing the skirt, bundling up hairdo, Nagamma unwinded herself. She threw herself into the sleeping mat and uttered“Phew '' . Her sweaty warmness smelled pleasant. He had an urge to hug her by turning to the other side. But his recalcraint body remained motionless. Nagamma uttered a few words like prayer and got closer towards him. When she noticed Arunachalam was awake “ You did not get into sleep”? “No” “You got into mat 9 pm itself” “Not feeling sleepy” “Is your stomach upset?” “No, dear” By tenderly caressing his neck, pulling his head towards her “ I have been noticing you for a while. Your mind is not well” “Nothing like that.” “Yes. I know" Nagamma hesitated a bit. “ Why do you strain yourself in a work which you don’t seem to like? For this position sake, do you really need to spoil the peace of mind?” “No, not at all. Dont keep expanding your imaginary worries'' “Did you meet KKM afterwards?” “No” “Where has he been?” “I enquired but no information about his whereabouts” Nagamma let out a sigh. “Do you want me to check? If I ask, their associates may reveal it. Shall we go together with the kid ? KKM has a fondness towards me. He may break his ice upon the sight of our kid” “If we go, ?” “If we go. Everything will be solved. KKM would be overwhelmed with emotions. He is not capable of holding a grudge. If you face him with contrite heart in person, he will melt like ice.” “Nagam, You are mistaken here. I don't feel guilty in removing KKM and capturing his post. I passed over that long back ago. This is different” “What then?” Arunachalam gave an abbreviated explanation. “There must be a valid reason behind KKM’s actions. Otherwise he would not have said that he was not aware of such associate” “Whatever may be the reason, a person once lived with bone and blood should not have vanished as thingummy. This not a normal sin” “What are you going to do for that now?” “His abnegation was an injustice. I have been fretting over that. Let the lid over the truth be taken off. Let the upcoming generation decide whose fault it was. If Veerapadhra pillai is a sinner, let that be a crucial lesson for everyone. If the party committed a mistake, it should ask forgiveness and amend for those missteps.” “Every alive person indebted to the souls left the earth. We all are living over the foundation of their sacrifices. We the ones reaping what they sowed” Nagamma did not reply to him. The ticking sound of the clock was heard clearly in that silence. By emitting the radium green lights, that night was chugging ahead slowly. “So far, I don’t have any evidence to support me. Ayyappan pillai will never turn as a witness against the party. His business is entirely depends on the party” Nagamma was silent. Arunachalam thought she must have slept. “Have you slept?” “No” “Then?” “Who am I to comment here? I am good, If you are alleviated” “What alleviation?” “You said you were fretting” “There should be some way. No one can bury the truth that easily” “As you wish. I have been keep on reminding you about the silver anklet for our child” “Why? What happened to the old one?” “I told you on that day right. It was broken” “Why can’t you exchange a new one with that..” “Ah ha. How on earth? We would not even get half the price after the making charge and damage cost deducted” “Hey, Did we not already pay the damage cost and make charges while buying ?” “So, what?” “Why should we pay twice? After all, the jewel was made only once right?” “It is the rule of the goldsmiths. What could we do about that?” “ No one there to question that? They are coming up with the rules at their whim.” “It is the case with all the jewelry shops. If you need to buy gold and silver jewels you should accept their terms and conditions'' “This is nothing but a daylight robbery” “Goldsmiths have their own union. Nowadays, every group has their own union. Only the fisher women do not have union. We can afford to bargain solely with them and buy half the price. “ “All you do is waiting for right moment to throw bricks at the union” “Well, You can form a group and threaten others. Why can't others do the same?” “Let us stop our talk here. It is not going good” “Very well,” said Nagammai, showing her back. Arunachalam had a look at her back in the semi-darkness. What is she thinking now? Why is she avoiding him?. “Nagam” “Hmm” “Look here” “Yah tell me” “Turn here “ he turned her towards him. He looked at her face intently. “ Why should we fight now?” “Everytime we talk, it ends in a fight” “Do you think I am not in love with you?” “You love meee..” “Why? You don’t believe it?” “Men always chase after something. The success he gets at the end of the chase is the primary driving force for men. Women and love comes next to that only” Arunachalam was unable to give a reply to that. “That driving force is union for you” He reckoned that she is expecting his earnest denial to that claim. In case he does not deny, she will be turn furious. Eventhough she knows that denial is not genuine. Yet she expect his denial in strong manner. “ It just purely your imagination” said Arunachalam without the serious tone he expected to contrive. “You don’t think so. Do you?” “There is noone and nothing can replace your exalted place in my heart” “Even the union?” “Definitely no. I plunge into union work as it gives me an adrenaline rush. That's the main reason why I chase after that. That's all. There is no day passing without your thoughts'' “Thats a lie” “No, it is true. Look here. I always think about you amidst the union work. But I never even think wee little about union when I am with you” “My Sweet Raja” She embraced him. Her tender face found a cozy spot in the middle of his chest hair. She breathed balmy. “I wish only the happiness for you. Thats what I pray everyday with god. I don’t seek nothing else” said she in an affectionated voice. “What do you pray?” “God, Bless my Raja with success and peace of mind” “Are you happy with my recent success?” “Yes. I am glad” “It is a lie. You are fond of KKM” “Yes. Thats true. KKM himself knows it well. He never talks about union affairs with me” “Then. What else does he talk?” “He would ask about the home food. He would ask me to cook something without salt. He would share about his health condition” “Do you think what I did to him was wrong?” “No” “Speak out without hiding anything” “May be initially I thought it was wrong. But I dropped judging as was not able to conclude anything out of it. Outset of new generation and end of the older generations is natural in every field. My own brothers after forcing my father to split the property share, ejected him out of the house to porch. For that, I cannot afford to abandon my dear brothers . Who am I to pass judgement here?” “It is nothing but a ploy” “If you feel in that way, let it be” said Nagam without feeling wounded. “A woman sustains over as many as dodges in her life. I need every relatives in my life. I wont hate anyone. But these men, go behind each other by holding the hidden dragger. A woman can never understand what these man seek. So I stopped thinking over it long ago” Arunachalam was just cuddling her cheeks without any words. Every word came from Nagamma was true as rain, he cant agree more. Those real words were manifestation of her real self. “Why you are quite?” “Nothing” “Shall I tell one thing? You should get not angry” “I won’t tell me” “Promise me, you wont get angry” “I promise” “Please drop the plan of this Balabadhra pillai story. “ “Why?” “Even after you done, it wont calm you down. “ “What are you saying?” “Yah thats what I am saying. Instead I request you to go to KKM and seek his blessings. He is like father to you. You are a son to him. It is normal to have a fall out between a father and son. There may be a wall of misunderstandings raised between them. All you need is single forgiving word, which could break that wall. Each moment you delay the word, the wall will get unbreachable. At someday, one or other may not be alive to ask the forgiveness.” “I dont have a clue about what you ramble” “Thats fine then” “What fine then?” “I just shared what I thought. Its upto you” Arunachalam with squinted eyes, saw through the layers of darkness towards the Marx’s wall photo. The dreamy eyes appeared to have attained some clarity. “Nagam” “Hmm” “Can I share what I think now? You think that I am in chagrin because I committed great mistake on KKM. Thats why I am restless. So I am trying to find out the biggest mistake that KKM committed in his life to square off” “I did not say that” “No, you meant that only” “According to what you think, even If I prove that KKM is not an angel by finding his blunder, It wont make any impact to that mistake that I did. So my feel of guilt will be aggravated. “As you think” “Do you think, I did not think in way it occurred to you. Yes Indeed I thought in that angle you just said. But again and again, I could only conclude that It is not because of KKM. There is no doubt in that regard.” “Then what?” “Still I wonder. Sometimes I feel like someone casted a spell upon me. This unrestrained thoughts recurrently occurring beyond my control. It is leaving no place of other thoughts in my mind. Even your thoughts or union thoughts are not finding place” Nagammai placed her palm in his chest. “Yes indeed. I agree that” “Someone must have done some black magic spell on you. Some jealousy one who dont like you in power. Someone like competition to you.” “Don’t blabber” “No, We should not rule out that possibility” “Do you think, I am possessed by some spirit?” “Not like that, some sort of jinx” “Jinx, very well. Look over there some apparition” “Yes, that apparition is what you said some time ago, Mark” “Gospel of Mark. You dumb lady. Marx. Spell it correct. Marx” “Yes” “What yes” “What you said just now” “Marx” “Thats correct” “Tell me, Marx” “Leave me” she said angrily. “Leave it alone. If you lose it, it is great deal for Marx. This Marx wrote in a book. That a goblin is whipping up the entire Europe. The name of that goblin is communism. The greatest ever goblin that earth produced. No monster has a stand against this goblin.” “After all that is an english monster. Our country giants would smash them to pieces.” “You are good only in freaky retorts” “Listen to me. We will visit Achuthan Aasan priest. He would give a talisman string. Please tie it on your hip. No one can notice that” “But I know it well right. How can I speak Marxism with the talisman string in my wrist” “May be little louder than how you talk usually to make that up. “ Said She. “ No more argue on that. Let me go and get that string for you. It has been a month since you started this humbly dumbly. No sleep. No good food” Arunachalam felt a jolt in his mind. Yes thats true. His mind was not stopping even for a second. When this restlessness started? I believe, the day KKM was defeated soundly. Yes” “Do you need a medicine for your sleep” She uttered in a whispery voice, coming closer to his ears. It was filled with the unique enchantic tone that only Arunachalam could perceive. In the next second, She evoked that idiosyncratic sensual laughter in the middle of darkness.

Chapter 4

When Arunachalam arrived at the office, he found that it was locked. He opened the door with the key he had and went in and sat down. The moment he realized that there was no imminent pressing task, he felt tired and relieved at the same time. The newspaper was lying unevenly on the floor. One of them was Red-Ray daily. While rummaging through that daily, the article by Jagajith Singh caught his attention. Coalition government is the need of the hour for India. The communists are in power, in several countries, by forming alliance with the left sympathizing parties. Soon, even in Russia, it is favourable scenario for them to recapture power with this strategy.  The pluralist nature of India is against any sort of centralization of power. India is a huge integrated gallery. It is essential that all the types of representatives of these diverse people must find a place in the government of India, to reflect its plurality.  Any government that advocates the centralization of power, inherently destroys the sub-cultural elements. These elements will become a force if oppression is exercised on. As a result, the emerging regional powers would be the biggest threat to national integrity. 

In the middle of reading, Arunachalam dropped the daily paper over the table. He stretched his limbs.  These types of articles are regularly published in Red-Ray. It seemed, Jagjith Singh himself turned as a pacifier, to be more  blatant a political power broker. Every party member is fretting over only one question for which no leader has clarifying answers so far.  Have the left parties become a central party consisting of all the diverse elements or just a single representative of left ideologies? Which leader will answer?  If they take the stand of the National party, they talk about inclusion of all the sub-cultural elements, pivoting around a centralized party. If the single party representative role is encouraged then it is very well considered that the revolutionary dreams are abandoned. Including the dream of social change. The party would no longer be the proletariat party which originally  producer of  revolutions. It would be just a system which fights for the cause of proletraties. It has  already been functioning like the labor union’s co-operative political system. It has no action plan to uplift humanity. It would no longer be a communist party. I suppose, apart from the label in the name, it would have no connection with Marx.

He felt that the literary mind which vehemently wrestles with such stultifying questions has lost its resolve. Has he lost faith in the progress? Has he lost faith in his intelligence? There is always a loss in progression. No logic can hide that indistinct agonizing loss. That may be the reason behind him clinging on to Veerbhadra pillai. It occurred to him that even this cannot fill the agonizing gap he is feeling.

He took another daily in hand. Dinamani. Useless suburban news around Nagercoil. Donations to Durga devi goddess temples. Government officers victory speech in the growth scheme conferences. One lonely column for a literary meeting. Another one for a mourning event. His swift eye scroll was knocked by a single word. M.N.Roy. “According to R. Neelakanda Pillai M.N.Roy was not only a legendary leader but also a debatable opponent. Their relationship was fostered by genuine friendship.” Speech of S.M.Ramasamy in the mourning event for R.Neelakanda Pillai who rested in peace at the age of ninety. R.Neelakanda Pillai was in the post of state vice-chancellor for the duration of 10 years until the official dissolution of the Radical Humanist party.  He was associated with the likes Malayalam writer M.Govindan. He was a close friend of late Malayalam socialist Srikandan Nayar. Till the day he passed away, he was associated with Lohia. He found M.N.Roy in his quest from Travancore Congress via Tamilnadu Socialist party. He was an author of three books. Two of them about Roy. Another one related to ancient brass lamps. Pillai was a barrister. But he never practiced law. In his last days, he was passionate in his research about the history of Kanyakumari. He published several articles. An old picture of Pillai’s expressionless face was published. 

“Without considering the native circumstantial delicacies, Marxists attempted to practically  implement the western ideologies here. Although Gandhism originated in this soil, it was unwilling to comply with the fundamentals nature of the universe. Gandhism identified that science as the primary tool of the greedy consuming nature of humans . As an alternate solution,  It promoted the individual’s altruism. But the post-independence Indian era evidently exposed the failure of Gandhism.  Right in the middle of these two, Roy was able to put forth a practically feasible ideology.  Perhaps the intellectual inadequacy of Nehru and Lohia must be the reason for M.N.Roy’s rejection.  Book bigotting nature of the Marxists was the main opposition force against him. This is the right time  to re-evaluate Roy and critically analyze his contributions. The time Gandhi and Marx faltered in the practical sense, if we access M.N.Roy closely, he may surprise us by lighting new pathways. When onwards S.M.Ramaswamy turned as Royist, Arunachalam had a thought with a smiling face. He is aware about M.Govindan’s influence on him. In his earlier, “KaalaNizhal” magazine , there were few articles about Roy. But he did not read those attentively. Had he met Neelakanda Pillai, he must have shared some inside information about Veerabadra Pillai. Those might have turned as the solid evidence he is seeking. He might have guided Veerabadra pillai towards Roy. 

Still there is a slight chance, if he managed to get access and review the notes of Neelakanda Pillai.  Some of them must be saved. He scribbled a note and set out to meet S.M.Ramaswamy.