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| Tuesday, 6 January 2004 |
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Importance of being Sakalasena Prof. Sunanda Mahendra With apologies to the great dramatist Oscar Wilde, I write this variation of his theme 'Importance of being Earnest' by just substituting Sakalasena instead of Earnest. Sakalasena was a good old professor who was not only kind-hearted to his fellow sufferers but also was an altruist in the field of academic activities, who by way of sympathy bestowed promotions to helpful undergraduates. By and by he came to know that the academic career that he possessed was so parochial that he should try his best to go abroad to take up some of the so-called modern studies like sociology of literature, post modernistic studies etc. Having successful attempts with his go-getter nature he managed to obtain a scholarship to America where he was wonder struck by the new methodologies of creative writing as against the age old puritan's and didactic studies he had gone through during his salad days. Anyway to cut a long story short, he returned from America pregnant with new ideas to commence a new writership course which will produce a galaxy of creative writers. 'Who is this Sarachchandra? What does he know of creative writing? He should go to America and not Japan' declared our old professor. By and by, true enough a galaxy of writers, were produced and some were instant poets, others were instant novelists and teleplay writes. Some others too were transformed into literary critics. But the stance of the good old professor was also challenged by a 'gang' known to him. The gang consisted of a translator, a publisher, a journalist and a lackey who will do any lip service to him. 'America is not the place for you! We see that you talk too much of Hemingways and Arthur Millers. You should now start talking (if not jabbering) on great literary giants like Tolstoy, Chekhov, Gorky and Turgenev'. 'Yes that's an idea! But I must first of all go to that country, or else I will not feel the pulse beat of that great nation!' 'Oh that's simple'. said the journalist who had just formulated a new scheme to gather literary personalities of the country. He also had prior experience of going to Russia. He had adequate experience with people connected with the said embassy.' 'If that's so simple, why don't you make arrangements for me to go there?" The journalist made arrangements for both the professor and the publisher to go there, not only to see the country as tourists, but also to make the best of everything possible. The professor was so elated that even before going to Russia he hailed the country to sky high that some of his followers looked disillusioned. 'What's wrong about this professor?' They asked each other. On his return from Russia with the publisher friend all the background was made for more and more incessant visits, as individuals and as groups. The old professor was nearing retirement, but for his credit he had churned up several books which also saw the light of the day as prescribed texts at public examination level. This brought him quite a sizeable amount of money and fame. He knew that he could do more for the society. But the retirement should not be a hindrance. 'Why don't you contest a seat?' asked the journalist who had good connections with the forthcoming political party which was destined to get a landslide victory. 'Oh that's brilliant idea! You are a man of ideas! We scholars are just duds' said the professor, to the publisher sipping some refined Vodka he had stored in the corner of his study. 'You just contest. It's just a matter of campaigning in cluster for, I will look after the poster campaign' said the publisher friend. How lucky the professor was! He was elected narrowly and he had the good fortune to become a deputy minister. But as soothsayers say, it is not the good relations that matter, but also the planetary combinations too matter in politics. But as he had gone to Russia he did not believe too much in Astrology or what soothsayers say. But he was found a miserable minister, as regards his ministerial functions. But the gang that helped him to become a politician were shrewd enough to collect pots full of gold coins, sufficient for several generations. The good old professor tried to contest for the second time. But he lost miserably. He suffered as he was a sort of a sensitive person. The artiste and the scholar within him made him feel that he is one of the lost persons in this wide world. What did he do? He started writing notes on his life by way of reminiscences, where he attacked left and right all the gangsters who were around him. His publisher friend refused to print it. So he got the manuscript to another publisher. The contents of the book were not discussed widely when it came out of the press, as a mark of respect for his lost post. All of a sudden the old Russian proverb came to his mind, "You never know a man until you've eaten a whole sack of salt together". |
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