Western influence

Catherine was French. She spent 35 years in Kolkata; although heavily accented, she could speak Bengali with a native comfort; because she spoke in the language of Rabindranath and Bankim, her register made us listen to her as though we’d listen to a song we lost through the years. We loved listening to her, most of all because what she spoke at various conferences and seminars on social reformation and transformation also made sense. Her core competency is Bengali; she has read all the classics and also the contemporaries. More than a writer, she calls herself an activist.

It’s over to Catherine now. Catherine?

Thank you all very much. Yes I have been asked to talk about the ills of western influence; we see the younger generation dressing and talking like the West, partying and drinking like them; indeed it was never our culture (she stresses on the possessive adjective). I have promised to make this session more interactive, I will not speak much. I will ask you two questions, maybe uncomfortable I don't know (she seemed so authentically French here) and then ask you to respond; with an open mind. So please 'lend me your ears'.

She looked serious and sad. 

Q.1 Who is ensuring the accessibility and why?

Q.2 Why does India encourage night shifts for children to work at a time they should rest? When these children get tired and want to enjoy at pubs drinking, partying to communicate something stark to the adulterated world, who criticizes them? Does the western world also get influenced and do night shifts?

Her questions dropped as pins in the middle of the silent audience.

Negotiation

‘I have constipation. Bowels come in bits and pieces you know. Shapes are like nuts, sometimes like sausages. Even after being in the bathroom for hours I feel I have not fully cleared; even if I go now, something will come out. Weird sounds (puckered face). Bad smell! What about you?’

‘Oh I have loose motion you know. All the time I have sound in my stomach. See. (He takes his hand and lets him feel the sound.) Did you feel that? (He nods his head as if to say yes yes I do, and smiles) When I look at it before flushing, it looks like yellow kind of drinks, with bubbles.’

It was futile to interrupt the jugalbandi of two grandpas, mine and hers, who became instant friends. How they initiated the conversation I don’t remember. But I do remember my parents brought me to visit the girl’s house to finalize the date of marriage. The atmosphere became weird as far as I could smell; the two mothers were sternly looking at their spouses who were escaping gazes, looking at the wall, the ceiling. The most senior members were smiling and looking at the delicious plates on the table; they looked eager to take their bites and sips on the foods and drinks that were served.

Note:
Jugalbandi – is a performance in Indian classical music, especially in Hindustani classical music, that features a duet of two solo musicians. The word jugalbandi means, literally, "entwined twins."