Translated into English by Saravanan Karmegam.
Chapter
19: Nee Soon training camp.
Pandian joined Military Officers’ Training school at Nee Soon, learnt war tactics and participated in field assessment trainings with great interest. Under the short term courses, some school teachers, Colonels, Majors and Captains taught the cadet Officers as much as they could the importance of weapon training, leadership qualities, taking decisions at the time of crisis, solution finding and precision task execution.
It was in the Nee Soon camp, Pandian came to get acquainted with his dearest pals K. K. Resan alias Kathiresan, son of Karmega Konar and R. C Masanam. While the former one was born in Malaya, brought up, studied and employed there, the latter came to Malaya to take up a work arranged by his elder brother just a week before the war in south Asia began. Resan was erudite and a man of sharp intellect. Though he was unable to read Tamil, he had known a lot about Tamil Nadu through English books and magazines. Masanam was just opposite to the former. He had a worldly understanding which had deeply crept into his mind that he would remain educated only to a level that could help him meet the very basic requirements of life. But he was as intrepid and competent as Resan.
During his stay in Nee Soon, Pandian used to have hot discussions with Manikkam and Resan. They would deeply examine the principles of freedom, democracy, equality, duties, and conduct in their debates. In the very prime of their youth, they fancied that they were going to change the Indian society and strongly believed that they were fit enough and had possessed every skills that were required of them to do that. They examined all the possibilities of its execution with great interest and empathy- What could be the best method of casting votes in a country like India where number of illiterate masses is more? Vote per head or vote per eligibility? What are the parameters based on which ones’ eligibility could be defined? Which is the best suited jurisprudence for our country where the number of litigation- infested masses is more? They discussed such topics at length as if the destiny of India had been handed over to them. They examined…lived in fantasy. It was the time the hope in youths was overriding. It was the time the tendency to fancy grew dominant due to the exigencies of war.
India’s independence and making food, cloth and shelter available to everyone after that remained their aim closer to their heart. Talking about it and devising plans for executing it were their only hobby they loved. They believed that these three basic needs of people would be readily available to everyone without any hassles immediately after independence. A single order would suffice: Everyone would get food, cloths, and shelter. It was the time their youth was filled with the dreams of hope.
They were permitted to visit the city once in a week. The name of Singapore had then been changed as Siyonan Tho-then Sea town. Shiny girls and new vehicles were not seen in Rafles Square. Prostitutes were on prowl with their lurking eyes. Gone were the days of British lords. Now the Japanese army men were provided separate lodges and different whores to enjoy.
The procession of Tamil students would end in Kachi Moideen restaurant in Sirangoon Road.
The ‘half’ vegetarian Chellaiya digs the food stuff in the plate and the ‘full’ vegetarian Mani mixes rasam with rice, and eats it.
“Mani”, Pandian called him out holding a piece of chicken in his hand. “Do you know what the Janagan’s Guru Yagjavalyan had told about eating beef?”
“Don’t know”
“Eating beef may be a sin. But if my teeth don’t get hurt, I would eat it for sure. This is what that pure Brahmin had told”
Four or five lungi shop owners, and some men from Puducherry entered the hotel busy talking among themselves. The chairs were moved here and there. The sound of preparing fresh food rose.
“Manikkam, is it true what Pandi says. Or is it just a scheme cooked up?”
“I am not quite sure whether Yagjavalyan had eaten beef or not. But what he is said to have told is being believed true. Those stuff which is not soft while chewing must be out of our menu. This is what he meant. The Brahmins of Vedic period wouldn’t relish feast if beef was not served. Beef was abhorred later as it was known that it didn’t suit to climatic conditions of our country”
“In Tamil Nadu, our ancestors had also eaten beef” Pandian remarked.
“What?”
“My dear
Tamils!” Pandian spread his palms wide. Listen to this now to know what
Kudavayil Keerthan had mentioned about beef eating habits of our ancestors
boasted of.
“Kalserbu
irunthu kathuvaai kurambai
Thaazhi
muthal kalitha kozhilai paruthi
Pothi
vayitril ilangaai pedai ootti
Pokil
pilandhitta pongal venkaal
Nalkoor
pendir alkal koottum
Kalanku
munai siroor kaithalai vaippa
Kozhuppaa
thindra kuurm padai mazhavar”
Do you understand the meaning of this verse? It happened during Sangam period”
“I don’t understand its meaning. But what you say is untrue. Tamils….eating beef. It is just impossible.” Abdul Khader wrinkled his face. “Those men must be from the northern side” he said.
“What Keerthan had mentioned is about Tamil soldiers. Koorm padai mazhavar”
“Before that our ancestors had eaten elephant meat too. Here is the evidence. Thondiyamur Sathan mentions it.
…Puli tholaithunda perum kalirtrozhi oon
Kali
kezhu maravar kaazhkkol ozhinthathai
Gneli
kori siru theemaatti olithirai
Kadal
vilai amizhthin kanam saal umanar
Sunai
kol theem neer sotrulai koottum…
This is a part of that verse. We understand that soldiers and salt vendors ate elephant meat”
“Some idiot must have written this nonsense under the inebriation of toddy. Abdul Khader remarked. “Beef …elephant meat…don’t you think that these could be something called ‘insertion of false things’? These verses must be one of them. Mustn’t they?”
“This verse has been accepted by our great literary men as the purest form of our literature. You can imagine now what all else those who ate elephant meat could have done in the society”
“This is what you are very good at. You would dig some nonsense out of some garbage and cook up your stories. Now it gets late. Let’s take leave”
“Pandi! A Saivaite from Tirunelveli is running an idly shop near Karaikudi Keezhaiyoorani. Have you ever gone there to have it?” Nagappan asked.
“Why? Is it that good sort of an idli? I think they make it in earthen utensils. Right?”
“You are only good at this kind of spoofs. You have it once. It is soft like sponge”
“O.K. Once I land up in my village, my first job is to go to Karaikudi keezhiyoorani.”
From the
southern end, one of the tragic melodies of Thangavelu who was washing his
hands was heard in soft voice.
“In
karaikudi, on Kallukatti Street
Amidst
the crores of people, at the entrance of Koppathal shrine
While
putting Mavilakku, my son came running
And handed over a telegram to see my Thali broken.”
A complementary
song to it emerged from Nagappan.
“Adiye!
No matter it is karaikudi
No
matter it is Kallukatti Street
No
matter it is amidst crores of people
No
matter it is the entrance of Koppathal shrine
When
the king of death comes
Who are we to stop him?
They left Kachi Moideen hotel. It got dark. Passers-by were seen here and there. The dim light as if wearing masks were seen in the buildings.
The cadet- officers strode fast towards the training camp.
***Chap 19: “Nee
Soon training camp” ended***
Chapter
20: “Kota Baling” will be published shortly.
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