A tribute

My grandfather, Shri Bachchu Singh Shastri passed away last November. He was a freedom fighter (revolutionary), an author of few books, a socialist, a social worker, a teacher. In those times, my grandmother was a working woman, salute to him. He was a person who commanded respect in life and went into the pyre covered with the national flag.

I have translated few portions of his play ‘Manzil Dur Nahi’(Destination not far) written in 1951. I have tried to pick various aspects of his deeds and thinking. It is interesting to know what were the priorities and mindset of people some sixty years ago. He had written with the pen name of Suresh.  

Few lines from the foreword done by Shri Ramvriksha Benipuri (one of the legends of Hindi literature)

My friend Bachchu Shastri had actively participated in the do or die movement of 1942 and I am happy that he has given his experiences a form of a play. Not only this, he has also shown us the direction in which society will move in future based on the incidents of the movement. There is a poem by Rabindra – the sun was setting, world was stunned, who will now give light; even stars and moon were afraid. The small ‘diya’ then came up – till then this burden on my small shoulders. This creation of friend Bachchu jee must be seen in this way.   

Few lines from preface

We are not concerned whether we are independent or subservient. The only thing we know is that we are hungry, we are bare and we are dying in suffering for lack of grains. Not only this, we are looking with our shrunken eyes, a bulldog’s puppy feasting upon milk-rice in front of a big bungalow, and beside it two living skeletons standing with stretched hands.

Living skeletons! People may say whatever they want, but nobody can deny the fact that these living skeletons have stopped considering themselves as human. They are ready – to sell their self-respect for few juggling coins, to strip their dignity, to destroy themselves. Because demonic politics have made these structures of bones to drink strong venom of frustration and have pushed them from hope of life towards deep ocean of depression.

Background of scene one

The arms room of mandapam police station is locked. An armed constable is dozing at door. Two other armed constables are walking in front of the door. A sign board of ‘mandapam police station’ is hanging in front. Suresh wearing the clothes of constable enters and attacks a walking constable. Diwakar attacks another one. The sleeping constable suddenly gets up to shoot Suresh. But Suresh is quick and kills that constable with revolver and blows whistle. From the other side five other revolutionaries enter running. The two constables are tied up. All revolutionaries then vanish. The tied up constables and a dead body remain there. By the time, SP and collector enter the scene.

From Fifth scene

Special court. Judge, two lawyers. Few onlookers including Suresh’s mother. Suresh, Lila and Prema standing in front of judge.

Judge – (1)You killed a constable at mandapam police station and looted its arms room, (2)killed SP, (3)helped escape of Lila from house arrest, (4)helped Prema to escape jail, (5)tried to overthrow a government of justice and law, (6)burned three stations and (7)blew 6 railway bridges. The punishment of these crime is ‘kalapani’ and death penalty. Do you want to say something?

Suresh – Why will I acknowledge a court of the government whom I want to overthrow? I have nothing to speak.

On death

Universe is a sum total of all changes. The processes of creation, development and destruction carry on every moment. Movement is the only truth in this fragile world. What is life? Slowly moving towards death is life. Then why to be sad for the compulsory death? I will not be there tomorrow, but my works will remain forever.

Conversation of Lila and Suresh over love, lust and marriage

 Lila – What is the relation of love with revolution?

Suresh – The relation among humanity, beauty and revolution can be termed as love.

Lila – What is the relation between love and lust?

Suresh – Even great intellects are divided on this matter. Great like Freud considers lust as the prime motivator of human efforts. There are such intellects also who find no place for lust in pure love. But this is the ultimate truth that lust is satisfied in our life in some form or other.

Lila – Is marriage necessary?

Suresh – Man is social being. A system developed to protect basics of the society as well as to satisfy lust took the form of the institution of marriage. Marriage is not necessary but satisfaction of lust is necessary. And being social while satisfying lust is even more necessary.

On socialism

We can produce more crops when land belongs to people who till it. There should be cooperative farming, advanced farming tools, better seeds, fertilizers and scientific methods of agriculture must be adopted. Drought can be managed only when means of production are socialized. The rebuilding of the country must be based on socialism.