Advocate Ansari : Professor! What is your opinion about the proposal of the Tamilnad Government, for encouraging inter-caste marriages...

Doctor Damu : Oh! That! That is just to cajole Periyar I think ...

Prof. Pandu : Why do you jump to conclusions Doctor! Is it to cajole Periyar that this scheme of encouragement is adopted? It is most unfair, uncharitable, I should say. Why do you think that eminent men other than Periyar are not interested in inter-caste marriages. What about Rajaji? Did Rajaji frown or fret when his daughter married Mahatma's son..... and is not Rajaji today being almost nursed by Kalki Sadasivam whose marriage came as a bomb-shell to the orthodox section of society. Let us be fair to the Government; its intention is to encourage an idea, advocate a cause, further a reform - not to cajole anybody.

Doctor Damu : I was not making any serious stricture, Professor! I was but placing before you what the ordinary people might say....

Prof. Pandu : Even they, Professor, do not now defend the caste system ...! They too accept the fact that it is outmodee. None today advocates perpetuation of the caste system. There is only a difference of opinion about the method to be adopted, the speed and the like. About the necessity for the annihilation of caste, all are almost agreed.

Advocate Ansari : But prominent leaders of the Congress Party do not come forward to boldly speak against caste ...

Prof. Pandu : Some of them do that, Mr.Ansari. I have read somewhere a striking passage attributed to Mr.Asok Mehta .... A bold statement too I should say. Mr. Mehta has stated thus: "Let us make a quick job of ending our caste system, our caste surnames, our caste occupational structure, our caste practises, rites and rituals. Already these are showing sigh of going as sociological studies of many of our villages indicate. There is a discernible mobility among our rural folk towards non-caste and non-traditional occupations although the great majority of them still follow the traditional pattern. Let us put an end to this quickly." That was what Mr.Asok Mehta spoke....

Advocate Ansari : A brilliant talk I should say .... and where was the discourse delivered Professor?

Prof. Pandu : At the Dr.Ambedkar Institute of Social Studies...

Doctor Damu : Oh! That explains the talk. It was exactly because Mr.Mehta was before the Dr.Ambedkar institute, such a radical speech was made. Dr.Ambedkar was the pioneer in that field - a revolutionary... almost alone he started the crusade against the caste system, and has won remakable success. And so what Mr.Mehta spoke was best fitted for the occasion and place ... None could talk otherwise while addressing an institute bearing the name of that noble soul...

Prof. Pandu : Sir, I admit there is much truth in your reading ... Most of our leaders attempt only to make their speech palatable to the audience they meet ... not robust sincerity or zeal makes them talk radicalism or any other 'ism'. You know the old saying, when in Rome do as the Romans do. That seems to be their motto. When addressing the Dr.Ambedkar institute they become crusaders against the caste system, when in an Yagasala, they wax eloquent about the ancient modes and moods...

Doctor Damu : That is their attitude, Sir, and that is the reason why the practical results are so poor ....

Prof. Pandu : I am one with you Doctor? in that, When in Trombay our leaders rise sky high in extolling modern science, and when in the company of Astrologers or Sadhus, they become all-enthusiastic about our ancient heritage ...

Advocate Ansari : And how is it we do not hear much about Mr.Nanda of Sadhu Samajam fame ....
Doctor Damu : He has become frustrated I think; eminent men when out of office suddenly become small and silent....

Prof. Pandu : Sir! It is all our fault. We do not correctly measure eminence. You cannot get the correct measurement of a statue, if you measure the pedestal too and add it up. Eminence due to high office is an illusion in most of the cases. About Mr.Nanda, though there seems to be a lull in his activities, I found sometime ago that he has announced his intention to start a new organisation for reforming society and rejuvenating the Congress..

Advocate Ansari : Whoever prevents Mr.Nanda to utilise the Congress itself for that purpose.

Doctor Damu : For that, Mr.Ansari, he should have robust faith and optimism about the future of the Congress party. Mr.Kamaraj exhibits that mood. Some days ago he has declared that defeat and difficulty cannot destroy the Congress party.

Pro. Pandu : But, whoever desires that the Congress should be destroyed. I don't think leaders of other political parties are of that opinion. They only want that the Congress should be cut to size... and that has been done. None wants the party to be destroyed... at any rate none outside the Congress party...

Advocate Ansari : ..... which mean Professor, that some inside the Congress want that party to be destroyed ... finished once and for all.....

Prof. Pandu : None in his senses would say so Mr.Ansari, so bluntly. But if you carefully read the recent speeches of the Big Boss of Bombay, Mr.Patil you will find that there is a growing opinion in the Congress camp that there is no future for the party unless it forges an alliance or front with like-minded parties. Mr.Patil issued almost a warning .... looked at from another angle it was a sort of wooing .... all these go to show that some of those in the Congress are not at all hopeful about the future of the Congress.

Doctor Damu : Because of this we find now lack of unanimity of opinion on vital issues. For instance there are Congressmen who want to be just and soft towards the Princes, while V.I.P.s like Mr.Chavan openly state that privy purses to the princes, is barbarism in a new attire....

Advocate Ansari : And what would they of the princely order think....

Prof. Pandu : Think, Sir! Some of the feudal chiefs are powerful enough to make or mar the political set up in their spheres of influence. There are I think more princes in the Congress party than in the Swatanthra or the rightist parties....

Advocate Ansari : Should not the Congress realise that the entry of princes and plutocrats into the Congress fold is but a negation of democracy itself.......

Prof. Pandu : Perhaps Sir, the Congress bosses might turn round and say, that since elections have become costly, purse has become a necessity and who but the princes and plutocrats do have a big and bulky purse ...!

Doctor Damu : That is not political ethics, Professor! No.

Prof. Pandu : And who is there today to preach about political ethics to these people. The Mahatma has gone...

Advocate Ansari : Gone? Professor! bit by Bit we are getting news about that fatal day when the Mahatma was shot down dead.... and a genuine apprehension is slowly arising, that the Mahatma was allowed to be shot down....

Prof. Pandu : If that were to be established Mr.Ansari, then it would become a blot of the worst type.... none in the world will have the least respect for our country in general and Congressmen in particular....

Advocate Ansari : But cannot the Congress leaders correct the mind of those in the party.... even if they be princes or plutocrats...." Don't be avaricious, power-mad, do not hunt after permits and licenses, do not indulge in smuggling, black-marketing and antisocial deeds..."

Prof. Pandu : And Mr.Ansari, you expect that such a sermon will have effect! You seem to be over-optimistic.... Do you know what these patrons of the Congress party will do, if such 'prohibitions' are introduced... I am reminded of a funny anecdote. Sir! An young man with a broad smile, heavy purse, and loose morals, picked up a damsel for an evening drive. The car was brand new.... with many embellishments.... and she got in ... That young man whistled merrily and from time to time gave his smiles and winks, ....! Well, the damsel realised the truth.... and so said, 'Before we drive any further, Mr.So an So, I want you to understand that I don't first, so don't try to hold my hand or try to kiss me. Is that clear?' And having issued this warning the damsel asked,'Well, now that is settled. Where shall we go.' "Home" came the answer from that young man. Where else!! The moment, Sir, there is sermonising in the Congress camp, these patrons would 'walk out'.
Doctor Damu : Money after all is most alluring .... very very difficult to resist its charm ..... its temptation.....

Prof. Pandu : In ancient Sparta, Doctor, they thought that they should make money heavy and less attractive and so minted their coins in iron... the glitter of the gold, the sparkling of the diamond, the radiance of the gems are of course alluring, but to know the reality about money... its baneful effects, you should read, O' Henry....

Advocate Ansari : O' Henry was a story teller.... not an economist.....

Prof. Pandu : And that was exactly why, he presented the dry economic theory in a sweet story and made people realise the truth about money.

Doctor Damu : Professor! Why not you just give a gist of the story.

Prof. Pandu : Gist, Sir? O' Henry did not write volumes about that subject; just a short simple but sweet piece... 'Tale of a Tainted Tenner' is the title of this brilliant piece...

Doctor Damu : Can you not Professor, give us a short summary of that story....

Prof. Pandu : Well, it is in the form of a talk - by the ten dollar note - its journey from one place to another, the company it found for itself from time to time; the uses to which it was put to .... a fine narration.

Advocate Ansari : Professor! May I request you to lend O' Henry .... just for this night......

Prof. Pandu : Of course, if you are desirous of reading O'Henry. But the proper thing to do is to purchase a copy for yourself. O'Henry would be a delightful companion..... I would be glad to accompany you to the book seller this very moment.... I too have to be there ..... having ordered a Pearl Buck Volume.
Doctor Damu : Let us then move along.... the breeze is invigorating.
(Home Rule - 23-7-1967)