CHAPTER 22
It was unusual for the King to call on the Resident; it meant a rather drastic departure from protocol, and protocol was sacrosanct in the Raj, but this is what Preddy decided he must do when the details of the meeting between Raghavji and the oracle were placed before him by his Dewan, Colonel Somers was waiting for him, standing out in the porch to welcome him.
“This is a rare honour Preddy.” He was wondering what it was that had prompted the King to set aside the usual practice of meeting him in Badal Mahal. Something unedifying, no doubt. He noticed that the King was driving his Mercedes himself, unaccompanied by equerries or bodyguards.
“Not at all. I need your advice on an urgent matter and I thought instead of getting you out of your house I should come over myself. It was getting to be close to your mealtime and I know you British are sticklers for routine when it comes to your daily round of pleasures.”
“Kind of you to remember my dinner time Preddy. Let us go in. we can talk as we eat.”
“Too early for me to eat my dear Colonel, but you eat while I talk. I will content myself with some of your excellent whisky.”
The Colonel poured the whisky himself and handed the tumbler to Preddy as he sank into an armchair that was placed by window.
“So what is it that has caused you such concern.Something terribly important no doubt.”
Preddy took a large swig of whisky before replying.
“You can say that again. It is this young woman whom you made the oracle.”
“My dear Preddy ! I did nothing of the kind. She was chosen by the outgoing oracle, in accordance with ancient custom. We had nothing to do with it.”
“Nonetheless, it was widely known that this young woman was full of so-called progressive ideas which she got from her English teachers. It is these ideas that will now prove her undoing.”
“Oh dear, that sounds serious.”
“It jolly well is. Do you what she has been upto. She is conspiring with that seditious Brahmin Rahavji to over throw me.”
“By jingo!That sound incredible.”
Y men have heard Pandit Sewa Ram and Raghavji, discussing the very thing after Raghav had returned from the temple. He was followed all the way and my men heard everything that was said between the two men. There is no doubt about it.”
“And how on earth does she mean to overthrow you.”
“By giving her blessings to the railway agitation.’
“But you said it was going to fizzle out.”
“It won’t now. She means to make a speech supporting it on Amavasya. She thinks the railways mean progress and enlightenment.”
“And so they do.”
“It’s all very well for you say that. After all the railway stocks mean five percent interest on British capital, guaranteed by the government of India. Where else in the world would you find such a safe and sure return on your money. They also mean the British Raj can move its armies to the farthest corners of the empire within a few days to crush all opposition, whether it come from rebellious Pathan tribesmen or Bengali terrorists. I have no such compulsions to support the railways and I shall not permit this ……. This abomination to enter my kingdom.”
“My dear Preddy the railway is not such a terrible thing as that.”
“No Major, on this issue my made is made up. No railways. And if I have to remove the woman from her post I shall do it.”
“But that would be unprecedented.”
“Not really. It had been done before. In 1286, an oracle was removed for having contracted a liaison with one of the priests. It is all there in our dynastic chronicles.”
“That was a long time ago.”
“No matter. Dabbling in politics and hobnobbing with seditious congresswallahs is much worse and I mean to use my authority.”
“Perhaps she is just a well-meaning and idealistic young woman misguided by clever politicians.”
“Is she? I wonder.”
The Colonel refilled the glasses. The pale straw colour of the fine Speyside whiskey glittered in the lamplight. The two men drank in silence for a while.
“So you’ve made up your mind to get rid of the young lady.”
“I have, unless…..” Preddy did not finish the sentence. Instead he walked over to the fireplace and stood gazing at the empty grate. Like the rest of his compatriots the Major loved to keep as fire going in the grate, but this was the summer season.
“Unless what?”
“Unless you can persuade her to change her mind. That is why I have come to you. We still have a whole day before she makes her speech. Perhaps she will see the folly of her actions if you tell her so. I don’t want to take the extreme step of removing her without giving her one last chance.”
“Well, it’s certainly worth a try, but what if nothing comes of it.”
“Then it’s curtains for the oracle of Antara.”
“Is there nothing that would dissuade you from this drastic step.”
“Nothing. And for once Colonel, I would urge to keep your hands off the matter. I know you stand for the Paramount Power, but this is a purely internal matter. To the Raj the whole matter may look faintly absurd, but to me it is a matter of life and death. Never, in all the thousand years of our existence, has the authority of the king ever been challenged so seriously and I mean to crush this challenge. If you can’t come down on my side, at least keep your hands off….. that is all I ask of you.”
“You needn’t worry Preddy. I don’t think the Raj can legitimately interfere in a matter that looks, on the face of it, to be nothing more than a lot of native mumbo-jumbo. But I do mean to have a word with the young lady tomorrow.”
Next day the Major was at the temple. He was struck, as he always was, by the beauty of the young woman when he was ushered into her chamber. If she had inkling of what lay in store for her, she certainly didn’t seem to show it. Those wide brown eyes, so guileless and innocent, looked out on the world with the same slightly startled expression. And her smile, that radiant and joyous smile, was as charming as ever.
“You look very serious Colonel.”
The Colonel made a valiant attempt to smile. “Well, it is rather a serious matter that has brought me here.”
“Is it. I think I can make a guess about it. It has something to do with the railway agitation. Hasn’t it.”
“Well, yes. It does rather, but how did you guess it.”
Sunanda smiled her radiant smile. “I know that I am kept under surveillance. There are spies and talebearers even among the priests. I know whatever happens her becomes public knowledge sooner or later.”
“If you knew all this, then why on earth did you give audience to that scheming brahmin.”
“You mean Raghavji. Well it was he who sought to see me and I saw no reason why I should refuse.”
“But didn’t you know that he was leading an agitation that was more or less banned by the government.”
“I did.”
“Well, in that case, you are either a very wise person or a very foolish one, if I may say so.”
“I am neither Major. I only did what I thought was right. But let me ask you a question.”
“Go ahead!”
“Are the railways a good thing or a bad thing.”
“Well, if you put it like that, I would say they are a good thing. But it isn’t simply a question of good or bad. There are many other things that come into it.”
“Such as ?”
“Such as the policy of the state.”
“That only begs the question. If the railways are such a good thing for British India, how can they be so bad for the state. You can’t have one set of rules for the states and another for the rest of India.’
“My dear lady, that in a manner of speaking is precisely what we do have in fact. The states are backward, it-governed, sunk in a medievalism.”
“And you want to keep them that way.”
“No, but they must be allowed to develop at their own pace.’
“Why don’t you be honest with me Colonel. It was an Englishman, my tutor Mr Bradley, who taught me that the Raj represents progress. That the English language and liberal democracy will be the making of a new India. And now you tell me that none of this was true.”
“They are true enough in the abstract, but the reality is that the states are not yet ready for change. And to tell you the truth these quaint Rajahs with their ragamuffin retainers and gimcrack splendour are our staunchest supporters. As long as they retain their thrones, the empire is safe. That is one of the lesions of the Mutiny and we have learnt it well. But I didn’t come here to tell you all this. I came here as a friend. Dear lady, please desist from the course that you intend to follow. Do not involve yourself in the doings of these seditious politician.”
“And what if I refuse.”
“It would be most inadvisable. If you refuse you would certainly lose your position as the oracle.”
“And that is all?”
“It should have thought that would be reason enough.”
“It would not be such a big price to pay if it would help bring some progress to this state.”
“You mean to go though with it then?”
Sunanda merely smiled but said nothing. The Major continued, “at any rate I have done what I set out to do and can take your leave with a clear conscience. I do hope you will heed my advice. God bless you.”
“Wait Colonel! I am grateful for your concern and I will not forget it,” she said with a smile. “Will you do one more thing for me.”
“Gladly, if it would help you.”
“Please take this envelope and ask the king to open it before ordering my dismissal.”
The Major took the sealed envelope, put it in his pocket and walked away.
