‘The boy is not upset, is he?’
Sukhlal said nonchalantly, ‘I don’t care a fig about this darned BA! My boy’s not going to be a clerk or a petty accountant, you know!’
After the Second World War, the British government had sent three emissaries in 1946 to arrange the handover of power to Indians. The Cabinet Mission was meeting at Simla with the representatives of the Congress party and the Muslim League. The future of the country hung on the outcome of the possibility of an understanding between the former and the latter, between Hindus and Muslims. The people of Lahore seemed oblivious of the fateful moment in their preoccupation with the Senate Hall affair, the quarrel between a Muslim professor and a Hindu student. The matter of cheating at an exam had grown into a matter of religious tension betweentwo communities. At the time of the legislative elections two months earlier, Lala Sukhlal had campaigned vigorously for Dr Radhey Behari. He was also Dr Radhey Behari’s right-hand man and his chief lieutenant in the Hindu Mahasabha and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh organizations. Doctor Saheb’s advice to Chief Minister Khizr Hayat Khan was that since the affair had become a sectarian issue the Hindus would be distrustful of his government unless the matter was hushed up.
Sir Khizr, the chief minister of Punjab, was in an uncomfortable position. After the 1946 elections, the number of Congress party and Muslim League members in the House had increased while that of his own Unionist Party had gone down. He could stay in power only with the support of the Congress members. The League’s behind-the-scene machinations were to bring his ministry down. He also had to deal with the question of undisciplined behaviour, and upholding the prestige of the university. The registrar of the university, Madanmohan, was bent upon moving the high court unless an equitable solution of the Deen Mohammed affair was found. Any agitation at this time could worsen the already delicate situation; the Congress party faction too had to be appeased. The government decided to appoint a committee to investigate the matter.
Puri told his family that he had learned from reliable sources that Professor Deen Mohammed had been posted away from Lahore as the principal of Peshawar College. The professor was apparently satisfied, and had accepted the promotion as a testimonial to his diligence. Members of the investigative committee wanted to put off any decision indefinitely.
The elder sister-in-law chided Tara’s mother, ‘What’s the use of sending your daughter to college? Her education is already equal to her fiancé’s! Is she going to work as a clerk or a schoolteacher after her marriage? Will she sing lullabies to her children in English? Only those living on Mall Road and in Gwal Mandi send their daughters to college. You know, we got our Sheelo married off right after high school. See how nicely she’s settled in at her in-laws! One’s daughter is like another’s property. When the boy’s not a BA graduate, letting Tara study for her BA would make a laughing stock of you.’
Tara’s mother agreed with her. Masterji had no recourse but to agree. ‘How can anyone go against God’s will?’ he said. Tara had been allowed to join the BA programme only at Puri’s insistence. She could now be persuaded through her elder brother.
When Puri sat down for his meal, his mother called Tara over before broaching the subject, ‘You tell her, son! If her in-laws don’t want it, what’s the point of continuing her studies? We can’t afford to displease them!’
Tara sat silently facing the wall.
‘Let them be displeased,’ said Puri, disappointing his mother’s expectations.
His mother gasped and looked at her boy whom she had regarded as serious-minded, ‘And what if they call off the engagement?’
‘That’ll be better. We’d be saved the trouble of doing so.’
‘Who’ll care for the poor girl all her
Sukhlal said nonchalantly, ‘I don’t care a fig about this darned BA! My boy’s not going to be a clerk or a petty accountant, you know!’
After the Second World War, the British government had sent three emissaries in 1946 to arrange the handover of power to Indians. The Cabinet Mission was meeting at Simla with the representatives of the Congress party and the Muslim League. The future of the country hung on the outcome of the possibility of an understanding between the former and the latter, between Hindus and Muslims. The people of Lahore seemed oblivious of the fateful moment in their preoccupation with the Senate Hall affair, the quarrel between a Muslim professor and a Hindu student. The matter of cheating at an exam had grown into a matter of religious tension betweentwo communities. At the time of the legislative elections two months earlier, Lala Sukhlal had campaigned vigorously for Dr Radhey Behari. He was also Dr Radhey Behari’s right-hand man and his chief lieutenant in the Hindu Mahasabha and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh organizations. Doctor Saheb’s advice to Chief Minister Khizr Hayat Khan was that since the affair had become a sectarian issue the Hindus would be distrustful of his government unless the matter was hushed up.
Sir Khizr, the chief minister of Punjab, was in an uncomfortable position. After the 1946 elections, the number of Congress party and Muslim League members in the House had increased while that of his own Unionist Party had gone down. He could stay in power only with the support of the Congress members. The League’s behind-the-scene machinations were to bring his ministry down. He also had to deal with the question of undisciplined behaviour, and upholding the prestige of the university. The registrar of the university, Madanmohan, was bent upon moving the high court unless an equitable solution of the Deen Mohammed affair was found. Any agitation at this time could worsen the already delicate situation; the Congress party faction too had to be appeased. The government decided to appoint a committee to investigate the matter.
Puri told his family that he had learned from reliable sources that Professor Deen Mohammed had been posted away from Lahore as the principal of Peshawar College. The professor was apparently satisfied, and had accepted the promotion as a testimonial to his diligence. Members of the investigative committee wanted to put off any decision indefinitely.
The elder sister-in-law chided Tara’s mother, ‘What’s the use of sending your daughter to college? Her education is already equal to her fiancé’s! Is she going to work as a clerk or a schoolteacher after her marriage? Will she sing lullabies to her children in English? Only those living on Mall Road and in Gwal Mandi send their daughters to college. You know, we got our Sheelo married off right after high school. See how nicely she’s settled in at her in-laws! One’s daughter is like another’s property. When the boy’s not a BA graduate, letting Tara study for her BA would make a laughing stock of you.’
Tara’s mother agreed with her. Masterji had no recourse but to agree. ‘How can anyone go against God’s will?’ he said. Tara had been allowed to join the BA programme only at Puri’s insistence. She could now be persuaded through her elder brother.
When Puri sat down for his meal, his mother called Tara over before broaching the subject, ‘You tell her, son! If her in-laws don’t want it, what’s the point of continuing her studies? We can’t afford to displease them!’
Tara sat silently facing the wall.
‘Let them be displeased,’ said Puri, disappointing his mother’s expectations.
His mother gasped and looked at her boy whom she had regarded as serious-minded, ‘And what if they call off the engagement?’
‘That’ll be better. We’d be saved the trouble of doing so.’
‘Who’ll care for the poor girl all her
Similar Books
