Kanyasulkam

Beginning a series of extracts from Indian language texts in English translation, which despite being more than a century old, retain their relevance in the new millennium. This series will be coordinated by Meenakshi Mukherjee, well known literary critic who is currently working on 19th Century texts in India. In preparing this column, she will be helped by experts from different Indian languages. The first piece is from Gurazada Appa Rao's Telugu play 'Kanyasulkam' (1897) which continues to be popular even today. This extract has been selected and translated by

C. Vijayasree and T. Vijay Kumar - both of the Osmania University.

Gurazada's Telugu play "Kanyasulkam" was first performed in 1892, and published in 1897. This enormously popular play was made into a successful film (directed by P. Pullaiah with N. T. Rama Rao and Savitri in the lead roles) in 1955. The first Telugu play to use colloquial language, "Kanyasulkam" continues to be read and performed today, more than a century after its first publication, not so much for its primary theme of social reform, but for its humour and vivid rendering of contemporary life. The play's critical engagement with western models of education, administration and the Judiciary retains some relevance even at the beginning of the 21st Century. The following excerpt from Act I presents Girisam, pretentious social reformer who claims to be English-educated.

(The italicised words in the passage were in English even in the original Telugu text).

GIRISAM: Who is coming? Looks like my favourite disciple Venkatesam. "Kismis" holidays may have begun today. It seems he has failed in the exams. If I console him a little, and run away with him to his village on the pretext of teaching him in the holidays, many of my present problems will be solved. Let me work on him from that angle.

(Venkatesam enters).

What my dear Shakespeare! Why this long face?

Venkatesam: Please don't talk to me. My teacher told me not to talk to you. He said I failed my exams because of your company.

Girisam: Nonsense! I suspected this all along. Your teacher can't stand me. That's why he failed you. Otherwise, how can a student like you fail? Do you know why we fell out? His teaching is all wrong and I flayed it in the newspaper. And since then he hates me.

Venkatesam: All that I learnt from you is smoking cigars. Except gossiping, have you ever taught me a word?

Girisam: Damn it! That's what angers me. This is base ingratitude. Talking to me itself is an education! Come to think of it, does your teacher have the mastery of language that you have? How many lectures I have given you on the subject of widow marriage, and on the "nautchi question"! Not one student of mine has turned out worthless! While studying at Poona Deccan College, when I gave a three-hour, non-stop lecture on "The Eleven Causes For The Degeneration Of India", the professors were dumbstruck. The other day, when the Bengali fellow lectured here, did any one of our people open his mouth? Our people are pure idiots. Instead of thanking me for teaching you how to smoke, you are finding fault with me? I am very surprised that you haven't yet grasped the pleasure of smoking. It is smoking that makes the White masters so great. Have you ever seen an Englishman who doesn't smoke? The White man invented the steam engine etc. only on the basis of smoking. Otherwise, could he have done it? ... let that be. But I am furious with your teacher for failing a bright fellow like you. I will catch him alone, and give him a lesson. Will you stay here in the holidays, or go home?

Venkatesam: I want to go home, but my father will skin me alive if he gets to know that I have failed.

Girisam: I can find a way out of that danger. But will you promise to listen to me?

Venkatesam: (falls at Girisam's feet) Have I ever disobeyed your command? My father is very short tempered. He will break my bones if I tell him that I haven't passed.

Girisam: That is tyranny! If it were a Bengali boy, you know what he would do? Whether it is a father or a grandfather, he would cane him properly. Any other boys from your agraharam studying here?

Venkatesam: None.

Girisam: Then listen to my plan. I will also come with you to your village and tell your people that you have passed your exam. You tell them that I have come to teach you. At the end of the holidays, I will admit you in the higher class in the town school.

Venkatesam: If you come yourself, I will be saved. Even during the last holidays my mother had asked me to bring you along.

Girisam: All right, but I stand to lose on several counts here. I was offered Rs. 50 for teaching the munsif's children during the vacation. But for your sake, whatever be the loss, I don't care. However, I have one apprehension. Your people are barbarous people. Will they treat me well? You will have to recommend my case strongly to your mother. Take down a list of new books. Unless there is some money in hand, it would be difficult for the cigars. Open the note book and write: 1. Royal Reader 2. Manual Grammar 3. Ghosh Geometry 4. Bose Algebra 5. Srinivasa Ayyar Arithmetic 6. Nala Charitra 7. Rajasekhara Charitra 8. Shepherd General English 9. Venkata Subba Rao Made Easy. How many is that?

Venkatesam: Nine.

Girisam: Write one more, that will make it ten: Kuppusami Ayyar Made Difficult. That's enough. If your people ask you to speak in English, rattle out boldly whatever you remember from your books. Have you any coppers on you? I have only currency notes. Get me a seer of Kasi sweets, I won't have anything else for dinner. Go to the market, hire a cart, put my travelling trunk on it, and wait for me at the steps. I'll settle a few important matters here and join you, however late. Go at once, my good boy! If you listen to me and do what you say I will make you as great a man as Surendranath Banerjee ...

Kanyasulkam, Gurazada Appa Rao (1861 - 1915).

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