The Colonisation ***

The land looked lush. The mist hung like an eerie curtain. Krishnarayan looked out from the bow of his ship. It was more than 3 months since he left India. He missed the balmy humid climate. Here it was perpetually grey and cold.

Krishnarayan’s sturdy mothership Thoothukkaval berthed off the busy port of Southampton, in England, which was then ruled by a weak ruler, Milton Cabot the younger. Only two of Krishnarayan’s four ships had managed to reach Southampton. Southampton was the port for London, a thriving city where Arabs, Chinese and Hindu merchants from all over Asia and East Africa came to trade in pepper, ginger as well as gold, ivory and silk. The ships had twenty cannons mounted prominently on it. Soon Milton Cabot the younger was willing to sign a peace treaty.

The landing party was ashore. The locals were awed. Pale skinned and tall, they cowered, seeing the brash invaders and their fearsome weapons. The year was 1448. This single event was to portend a race for supremacy in trade in the next century between the Indians and the Chinese, with the Turks and Arabs also taking more minor roles. During the earlier half of the fourteenth century England was dominated by the Turks, who controlled the sea routes on the western shores of Africa, effectively blockading any ships belonging to other nations. Only in the second half of the century, after the fall of Kefturk Akabira, did the Turk power begin to fade, making way for the Indians to be more active in the area.

***

Krishnarayan ruled England for over 20 years. He built the first Indian factory in London in 1451. From then till 1470, he went on a perennial campaign, attacking and capturing swathes of land all the way to Scotland to the north and Wales and Ireland on the west. London was renamed New Chennai in 1460. In 1468 it was proclaimed as the capital of Indian Britain.

***

The British Isles had been under Indian colonial occupation for over 500 years. But recently there had been sporadic rumblings of discontent among young Englishmen.

John Henry Montgomery was an intense young man. He spoke passionately to the motley group of listeners in the open square of London. “இது நம் நாடு . இந்திய ஆக்கிரமிப்பாளர்கள் நம்மை பல வருடங்கள் ஆண்டுவிட்டர்கள். நம் நாட்டை சூறை ஆடி விட்டார்கள். அவர்கள் நாடு செழிக்க நம் நாடு வாடுகிறது . நமக்கு சுதந்திரம் உடனடியாக வேண்டும் . சுதந்திரம் கிட்டும் வரை போராடுவோம் . அது நமது உரிமை." (This is our land. The Indian oppressors have ruled us for far too long. They have plundered our country and exploited us to the hilt, enriching their own people and country. We demand Independence. We will fight until we get it. It is our God given right.)

The group of Indian soldiers watched attentively from the sidelines.

“இந்திய ஆக்கிரமிப்பாளர்கள் மிக வலிமை வாய்ந்தவர்கள் . வலிமையால் அவர்களை நாம் வெல்ல முடியாது . நம் வழியில் அவர்களை போராடுவோம் . அஹிம்சை தான் நம் வழி . அவர்களின் வலிமைக்கு நாம் அஹிம்சை வழி பதில் அழிப்போம்."
(We know the Indian colonial imperialists have brute strength. We cannot win them on their terms. We will fight our way. We will adopt non-violence as our weapon. We will reply to their force by turning our other cheek.)

No Escape ***

Varun felt an intolerable throbbing in his head. He paced up and down the space. The pacing somehow helped. The to and fro movement hypnotized and somehow dulled his senses. Occasionally he looked up at the others. They seemed happy. Some frolicked around, chasing each other. Others lay lazily in the corners, in a stupor. Some sat and contemplated. Sometimes they quarreled and fought. But they were contented. But Varun could not take it. Not anymore.

Initially he too had relished the life. He had not noticed the loss. He enjoyed the frills. He accepted the ups and downs. He was happy. He was thankful. But not anymore.

Varun stopped pacing. Someone was jabbering away incessantly near his ears. The voice was maddening. He wanted to continue pacing. He wanted some relief. He had to get out. Once and for all. He looked around. For a moment there was silence. Everyone stopped whatever they were doing. They all looked at him. Somehow they all sensed that Varun was coming to a momentous decision. They looked at him. Varun turned slowly to the bars. He could do it. He paused. And then the jabbering and the activity resumed. That did it. Varun made a mad dash at the bars. He crashed against the bars. But they were unyielding. He fell in a heap.

“What’s the matter with you?” Shoba was looking over him. Vasan and Swathi were nearby, looking at him disinterestedly.

“Oh, I’m ok. I think I just fell off the sofa.”

And the nagging resumed. Vasan continued shouting at his mom. Swathi was sobbing. And Shoba was heaping scorn on him.

“Its all your fault. Look at what you have made them into.”

And it all came crashing down. The problems at the office. His bank trouble. Swathi's problems....

Varun lay back and closed his eyes. There was no escape. The bars were too solid.

Change of scene ***

Sunil sauntered along the cobbled sidewalk. He was exhilarated. All around him were the sights and sounds of a magical fairyland. The whole area was resplendent in the Christmas decorations. The young people moved in groups, laughing and happy. Expensive cars cruised by, the occupants looking bright and happy. Flashing multicoloured lights and booming music. Sunil smiled. He moved to the music. He looked across the road. His friend Rajesh stood near the bus stop, waving to him happily. Sunil waved back. A group of girls saw Sunil, and waved back, giggling. Sunil grinned, and smoothed his hair.

And then he saw Mathavan alighting from the van. Mathavan had obviously seen him, and was heading his way. Sunil pretended not to have seen him, and moved along in the opposite direction. Now the group of girls were around him. One of them nudged him playfully, as the whole group burst into giggles. Sunil looked at them and smiled. And at that moment Mathavan caught up with him.

“What the hell do you think you are doing?” He bellowed. Some of the people around them stopped and turned. The group of girls too stopped and looked back. Sunil cringed, and smoothed down his hair, looking down.

Mathavan caught Sunil by his neck. “You are supposed to be working, not merry-making. Now get going, and don’t let me catch you slacking again.” He shoved Sunil forwards roughly. Sunil stumbled. He moved on, straightening his orange uniform. He walked quickly along the edge of the cobbled sidewalk, sweeping bits of paper with his broom. The group of girls watched him for a few seconds, and then moved along, giggling and laughing. Soon the scene was back to normal.

Sunil looked across the road. Rajesh too was diligently sweeping his side of the road. He looked around. Suddenly, the scenery looked bleak and grey.