Barathidasan ***

Singarajapuram. Belying its majestic name, a small village of docile peasants. Among them, the exceptional Ponnayyan. Ponnayyan was a rich landlord. His ancestral property encompassed the village, and there was not a soul in Singarajapuram who was not in some way indebted and therefore subservient to Ponnayyan.

Ponnayyan was not an evil man. He had inherited his fortune from his father, and grandfather, who had been cunning businessmen in their own right, engaging in money lending and assorted businesses, not all above board. Ponnayyan continued dabbling in business, but he was a more ethical person. But he was ambitious. And when it came to ambition, he had no compunctions about stretching his ethics.

Barathidasan. A proud young man from the temple town of Thiruchi. He insisted that everyone address him by his full name. “My father named me Barathidasan in the hope and expectation that people would call be Barathidasan. So that’s what people should call me.” He would declare. Barathidasan had just been posted as the sub-inspector in the Singarajapuram Police Station.

Barathidasan was an honest and dedicated officer. His parents had died when he was a teenager, and growing up in the Ramakrishna Ashram in Thiruchi, he had worked hard and become a Police officer. It had been the realisation of his dream.

Barathidasan would stroll around the village of Singarajapuram. At times he would ride his motorcycle. The listless docility of the villagers appalled him. “You all are human beings like me. You can be something better. It is in your hands, he would exhort them. Most would smile politely, “சரி அய்யா." (ok, Sir). But he saw no life in their eyes. Barathidasan saw Ponnayyan as the exception. He had more ambition and vision that the rest of the Singarajapuram villagers put together.

And then there was Thenmozhi. What a woman. She looked divine. She moved with such elegant grace. Her voice was mesmerising. And when she looked directly at Barathidasan, her eyes were so deep and penetrating that Barathidasan was often rendered speechless momentarily. Barathidasan knew that one day, Thenmozhi would be somebody. He urged Ponnayyan to send her to college. Ponnayyan laughed. “பொட்ட புள்ளக்கி காலேஜ் எதுக்குப்பா ? (What does a girl need college for?) ” And dismissed the topic summarily. Barathidasan would smile and shake his head. Thenmozhi reminded him of his sister, who had died of cholera as a teenager.

Thenmozhi would stand behind the door of her house. Waiting for that moment. When Barathidasan would pass by on his motorcycle. Her heart would flutter. Shyly she would follow his form until it disappeared in a cloud of dust into the horizon. All day long she would lie on the mat in her room, dreaming of Barathidasan. Her mother sensed something was wrong. But even the perceptive Thangamma could not associate her daughter’s unusual behaviour to Barathidasan’s arrival in Singarajapuram. .

***

The news reached Barathidasan in a cable that morning. Police Chief Lieutenant Charles Taylor would be visiting Singarajapuram. And he planned to stop the night at the village.

Charles Taylor was the British Police Officer garrisoned at Theni. He commanded the British Police force in the Theni area, comprising more than a thousand men. It was rumoured that Lieutenant Charles Taylor had the ear of the British Resident in Madras. Which made him a very powerful man indeed. Lieutenant Taylor was a good man. He was still single, and loved all things Indian.

Barathidasan gave instructions to his men. A posse of policemen will meet the Chief’s party at the main road from Gopalanpatti, and accompany them to the village Police Station. The station was to be given a thorough cleaning, and decorated suitably. The village elders, particularly Ponnayyan and a few others will meet the Chief, and entertain him at a dinner. And after that, Lieutenant Taylor will spend the night at Ponnayyan’s mansion.

There was a flurry of activity over the next few days as Singarajapuram prepared to receive the VIP.

Ponnayyan’s eyes sparkled. He knew that the Chief’s visit was going to be a golden opportunity. He laid careful plans.

***

The dinner reception at Ponnayyan’s house was lavish. Lieutenant Taylor insisted on sitting cross legged on the floor for the meal, just like the locals. This endeared him to everyone. “துறை பாருங்க . தரையில உக்காந்து சப்பிடறாரு !” (look at the Chief. He is eating sitting on the floor).

Barathidasan sat next to him, talking to him, in English. The Chief spoke to the gathering in a smattering of Tamil. Ponnayyan beamed.

***

“Barathidasan,” Lieutenant Taylor pronounced the name immaculately. Who is that demure girl we saw at Ponnayyan’s house?”

Barathidasan looked at the Englishman for a moment. “It is Ponnayyan’s only daughter Sir. Her name is Thenmozhi”.

“Hmmm…. She’s a real beauty.”

He was quiet for a long moment. Barathidasan looked at him.

***

Hardly a week had passed when Lieutenant Taylor arrived in Singarajapuram again. This time unannounced, all the way from Madras. Everyone was curious why the Chief had come again, so soon after his first visit. He went straight to the Police Station, and asked Barathidasan to take him to see Ponnayyan.

And in the following months, Lieutenant Taylor became a common face in Singarajapuram. He came almost every week.

***

“Ponnayyan,” Lieutenant Taylor began uncertainly, on one occasion.

“Yes Saar?”

“I guess you are perceptive enough to realise that I am smitten with your daughter, Thenmozhi. …” Taylor paused, and looked down.

The emotions washed over Ponnayyan. His only daughter Thenmozhi… how could he marry her off to this white man? Would Thangamma agree? What would the villagers say? Would Thenmozhi agree?

On the other hand, Lieutenant Taylor was a fine gentleman. And he was a powerful man. He could move things in Madras. How is he inferior to any of the young men here in Singarajapuram? Or Theni? Or Thiruchi or Chennai? Or anywhere for that matter? He had to convince his wife and Thenmozhi.

Ponnayyan reached out and caught hold of the Lieutenant’s hand. Lieutenant Taylor looked up at Ponnayyan. They smiled into each other’s eyes. It had been too easy, thought Taylor.

***

“Appa, I won’t do it,” Thenmozhi screamed. Amma please tell him. I hate the white man.” She was in tears.

Ponnayyan was furious. ”What’s wrong with you? Where can you find such a fine gentleman? He is handsome, rich and powerful. You are so lucky.”

“Appa… I can’t…. I … I… I am in love with Barathidasan…” Thenmozhi ran away into the house.
Ponnayyan sat down stunned. He stared at his wife. She was equally in shock.

****

Lieutenant Taylor heard the news within days. He was crushed. Devious thoughts appeared in his mind.

****

Barathidasan was stunned to receive the telegram. A transfer? So soon? He had been in Singarajapuram for hardly two months! The order was signed personally by Lieutenant Taylor. He was to report to the Police Outpost in Gummidipoondi. The following week.

****

Barathidasan waited in the verandah outside the Police Captain’s house. The Police Chief was George Mc Clough. As he waited, he heard muffled voices. A woman’s voice. He looked inquisitively at the sentry. “The Captain’s wife, Lizzie. A stunning beauty,” the old man whispered, winking mischievously. Barathidasan looked at him quizzically.

Soon the Captain stepped out, followed by Lizzie. The Captain was a tall gaunt Scot in his late fifties. But he looked haggard, with bloodshot eyes. His walk was unsteady too. He was obviously inebriated. And Lizzie, a copper skinned redhead, with flashing dark eyes. Barathidasan could not take his eyes off her. And she in turn, smiled at him, invitingly. She couldn’t be more than 30. Barathidasan was repulsed by this loose behaviour. Lizzie moved quickly towards Barathidasan and grabbed his hands.

“Hi, you must be Barathidasan. Welcome.”

She stood uncomfortably close. Barathidasan could hardly breathe. And then the Captain lurched forward, and grabbing Lizzie by her arms, pulled her away roughly. He glared at Barathidasan.

“You …. You stay away from my wife. Or I’ll skin you alive. You understand?”

“Yes Sir.”

****

Barathidasan was alone in his tiny quarters. It was almost dusk, and he was lying on the coir rope cot, reading the newspaper. There was a soft knock. And then the door flung open, and against the orange evening sky stood a shapely figure. It was Lizzie. Barathidasan scrambled to his feet, and pulled on a shirt.

“Maam. You should not come here maam.” Barathidasan stammered nervously.

Lizzie giggled hysterically. She was obviously drunk. She lurched towards him and as he tried to stop her fall, they both rolled on to the coir cot. Lizzie hugged Barathidasan closely. She was giggling.

“Maam. Please maam. You have to go.” Barathidasan was terrified. And then they both heard the heavy footsteps. And in a split second, Captain Mc Clough was at the doorway. And in the next moment, a deafening blast. And a second one. The Captain’s revolver exploded in quick succession. The room was splattered with the remains of Barathidasan and Lizzie.

****

Ponnayyan sat in the corner, his head hung low. His face was stony. His wife’s high pitched wail broke the silence. The villagers rushed to the house, and stood in shock. Thenmozhi lay lifeless in a heap, the rope still wound tightly around her neck.

“படுபாவி பய. கிளி மாதிரி இருக்குற இந்த பொண்ண விட்டுட்டு அந்த வெள்ளகார சிறுக்கிய போயி துரத்தி .....கடைசில செத்து போயிட்டானே ?” (What a rogue. He left my pretty daughter and went after that white slut… and died in the process.”) Thangamma wailed.

***

Lieutenant Charles Taylor rushed to the scene. As he saw Thenmozhi’s lifeless body, he staggered. He stood uncertainly for a few moments. Then he turned, and walked out.

Then the shot rang out. The villagers and Ponnayyan rushed out. Lieutenant Charles Taylor lay on the ground, face up. A large gaping hole marked where his face had been.