hi,
following link takes you to a research work we did as a part of college assignment. the topic is stress at work in garment industry. hope you like it.
contributed by himanshu sukhwani, tusshar kumar, vinayak sharma, chandan kumar (NIFT, New Delhi)
http://www.oppapers.com/essays/Stress-At-Work-In-Garment-Industry/404564?read_essay
when my friend Samradhi asked me to translate this story for her project (well she is trying her hands at a graphic novel), i thought it to be a simple job, it was only when i sat down and started with it that i realised how difficult as well as important it is to preserve the flavour and originality and not loosing the charm of the story and above all not getting lost in translation.
following is the translation of a Short story called Sadgati by Premchand. the copyright belongs to the authors and publishers (i dont want to get involved in IP issues), following is my heartiest attempt at translating a hindi masterpeice…
Deliverance
Dukhi Chamaar was sweeping at the door and his wife Jhuria was mopping house with cow-dung. When they were done with their chores, Chamaarin said – you should go and ask Pandit Baba, before he leaves.
Dukhi – yes, I shall go. But think where will he sit?
Jhuria – won’t we get a cot from somewhere? Ask Thakurs for the same.
Dukhi – you sometimes say things which burns my soul. Thakurs will give me a cot! I wont even get a mug of water if I go to kaithana and ask for it. Who will give a cot! It’s not our dung-cakes, chaff or even firewood that anyone comes and takes away. Take this stool and wash it. Its midsummer. By the time he will reach, it will dry.
Jhuria – he won’t sit on our stool. Haven’t you seen the conduct and devotion he lives with.
Dukhi gets worried and says – yes, you are right. If I make a pattal of mahua leaves it will be alright. Rich people eat in pattal. It is holy. Give me the stick I will gather some leaves.
Jhuria – i shall make the pattals, you should go. And yes, we do have to give him reciprocation. Should I keep it in the thali?
Dukhi – no no don’t do such a blunder, we will loose both reciprocation and respect! Baba will throw it. he is short tempered. He doesn’t even leave his own wife in anger. Don’t even touch the topic. Jhuri, take the Gaur’s daughter along to Sah’s shop and get everything. Reciprocation should be in good quantity, one ser flour, half ser rice, quarter of cereals and and half-quarter of ghee, salt, turmeric and keep four ana in a corner of the pattal. If you don’t get Gaur’s daughter request Bhurjin to come along. Don’t you touch anything, otherwise it will be a blunder.
After discussing the whole matter Dukhi picked up firewood and a sack of fodder to go and meet Panditji. How could he have asked for the services of Babaji empty-handed. He had nothing else than fodder to offer. Had he gone empty-handed babaji wouldn’t have even looked at him.
Pandit Ghasiram was a devout follower of god. He used to start with daily prayers early morning. By eight o clock in the morning, after washing face and hands, it was time for the real prayer, whose first part was preparing bhang. After that half an hour was spent in making chandan paste, then he would stand infront of mirror and put tilak on his forehead with a twig. Between the two lines of chandan, a red rori dot completed it. Then on chest and arms he would make round holy marks of chandan. It was followed by bathing the statuettes of Thakurji, applying chandan and offering flowers during the arti alongwith the ringing of the holy bell. By the time it was ten he would get over with it and come out while filtering the bhang. By that time few of his patrons would come to the door, like god just payed him the fruit of his prayers. This was his only harvest.
Today when he came out of the temple, he saw Dukhi Chamaar sitting with the sack of grass. As soon as Dukhi saw him, he got up, paid him respects and stood there with folded hands. Seeing his powerful bright image, Dukhi’s heart was overflowing with adulation! So bright was his face. Stout, healthy man with bald head, and plumy chicks and eyes filled with mighty fire. Rori and chandan was making him look like a divine being. Seeing Dukhi, his-holiness spoke- how are you here today Dukhiya?
Dukhi bent his head and said – maharaj, I am enaging my daughter. Ceremony and shagun has to be planned. when shall I expect you?
Ghasi – I am not free today. I might come in the evening.
Dukhi – No maharaj, I was expecting you sooner. I have arranged everything. Where should I keep the grass?
Ghasi – Feed it to the cow and take a mop and wipe the door. This drawing room has not been wiped for many days. Do wipe it with cow-dung paste. By the time I will have food. Then I shall come, after resting for a while. And yes, cut this firewood also. In barn four sacks of fodder are kept. Bring those also and keep them in store room.
Dukhi immediately started following the orders. He cleaned the door, wiped drawing room with cow-dung paste. By then it was noon. Panditji too went for lunch. Dukhi didn’t have anything since morning. He too was very hungry; but there was nothing to eat. His home was a mile from there. If he goes to his place to have food, panditji will get angry. He stopped himself and started splitting the firewood. There was a big nod in the wood which seemed to have fought the iron of other patrons also. He also started to fight that piece with the same strength. Dukhi used to cut grass and sell it in market, he wasn’t used to ripping firewood. Grass always used to loose the battle with his chopper. Here, he time and again held the axe and targeted the nod but there was not even a scratch to be seen. Axe used to recoil. He was bathing in sweat, huffed, sat down and then started again. He was not able to lift his hands, his legs were shaking, his back wasn’t getting straight, darkness was befalling infront of his eyes, his head was spinning, butterflies were dancing on his eyes, and his heart was throbbing restlessly. Some tobacco and hukka could have brought some energy to him. He thought for a while – where could he find tobacco and hukka here. The place belongs to Brahmins. Brahmins don’t smoke tobacco like us – the people of lower castes. Soon he remembered that Gaur lives in the village. He must have hukka and tobacco. He immediately ran to his place. His hardwork finally paid. He gave him tobacco and hukka, but there was no fire to light up the hukka. Dukhi said – don’t worry about the fire brother. I shall ask for fire from Panditji’s home. They are still cooking food.
After saying so he took both things to Panditji’s place. He stood at the door of the drawing room of Panditji’s home and said – malik, if I could have some fire, I will smoke.
Panditji was having lunch. Panditain asked – this fellow is asking for light?
Pandit – oh, he is Dukhiya Chamaar. I asked him to cut some firewood. Fire it is, give him.
Panditain said with anger – you have forgotten the traditional values amidst the paperwork you do. Either he is Chamaar, Dhobi or Paasi, whoever can come here. This is not a hindu home, it’s an inn now. Tell him to leave immediately, otherwise I will burn his face with the fire he wants.
Pandit tried to explain – what if he came inside. He hasn’t touched any of your things. Your land is pure. Why don’t you give him some light, afterall he is working for us. Had you asked some wood cutter to do the same, he would have asked for atleast four ana.
Panditain bursted again – why did he come here?
Pandit defencelessly says – because he was unlucky enough to be here right now. That’s why!
Panditain – alright, I will give him light this time, but next time if he enters my home like this, I will burn his face.
Dukhi was hearing everything. He was feeling sorry for coming like this. She was right. How can a Chamaar enter Pandit’s home. They are pure. Chamaar grew old in this village, still he didn’t have sense enough to understand this, when panditain came out with the burning wood, he felt like his wish for the heaven got fulfilled. With folded hands he bent on the ground and said – panditain mata, I made a huge mistake that I entered your home. I still have the brains of a Chamaar. Had I been intelligent enough I wouldn’t have been the disgraced one. Panditain was holding the wood with tongs. From a distance of five hands panditain who was behind a veil threw the fire towards Dukhi. A firesparks landed on the head of Dukhi. Dukhi instantly started wiping his head. In his heart he thought – this is what happens when you ruin the holiness of a Pandit’s home. God pays you for your sins there and then. This is the reason why whole world is afraid on holy pundits. Everybody steals from everyone, but nobody can steal from a pundit, all the curses will land on you.
He came out to smoke hukka and started on his work again with the axe. It made noise.
Because Dukhiya got burnt, Panditain developed a soft corner for him. When Panditji stood up after having food, she asked him to give some food to Chamaar also, the poor fellow must have been hungry.
Panditji found the question to be far from practicality and asked- are there any chapattis?
Panditain – around four chapattis are left.
Panditji – what will happen in four chapattis, he will require atleast a ser.
Panditain held her ears and said- oh god! Atleast a ser! Leave it then.
Panditji suggested – add some flour to bran and make bake two thick chapattis. This will fill his stomach. These paper-thin chapattis wont fill his stomach. They need thick chapattis of oat.
Panditain said – leave it then, who will make it in such heat.
Dukhi again held his axe after smoking. Hukka brought life into his hands. For another half an hour he worked. Then he sat down holding his head lifelessly.
Meanwhile, Gaur came and said – don’t spend your life on this old man, you won’t be able to split this nod. It’s worthless to work on it.
Dukhi wiped sweat off his forehead and said – I still have to shift a cartful of fodder!
Gaur- did they give you anything to eat or they only how to get the work done. Why don’t you ask for it?
Dukhi – what are you talking Chikhuri, I can’t eat Brahmins food.
Gaur – you can eat but first get it. they had food and then they slept, giving you orders to chop the firewood. Even a Hakim and Jamindar offers food. they are godsmen, they haven’t surpassed the almighty.
Dukhi – lower your voice if anyone listens it will only bring trouble.
After saying this Dukhi again started with the axe. Chikhuri felt sorry for him. He took the axe from his hands and for around half an hour he tried to cut the piece of wood with full strength, but there was not a crack to be seen. Then he threw the axe and went while saying – you won’t be able to split it, even if you loose your life on it.
Dukhi was thinking that this wood is hard to cut. It doesn’t even crack. Till when he will keep hitting it. there are hundred tasks left at home. There are so many things in their home, one or other will keep missing, how do they care. he should first shift the fodder. he will tell him, Baba, I will do it tomorrow.
He picked the sack and lifted the fodder. Farm was atleast two furlongs from their. Had he overfilled the sack, he could have finished the work early, but then who will lift it. Alone he couldn’t have done it. So he lifted the fodder in little quantities. By four in the evening he finished the fodder job. Panditji too got up. He washed his hand and face, ate a Pan and came out. He saw Dukhi sleeping with the sack on his head. He said loudly – Dukhiya are you sleeping? Firewood is lying uncut. What were you doing all the time? It took you whole day to shift handful of fodder! And you were sleeping in that too. Pick up the axe and split the wood. You can’t even split this small piece of firewood. Don’t blame me afterwards if I work for you in the same way! That’s why it is said you eat in the house of a Chamaar and he will sit on your head.
Dukhi again picked up the axe. Whatever he was thinking earlier, he forgot. His stomach was empty, he didn’t even had water since morning. Didn’t get a break for that. Getting up had become a big task. His heart was sinking, but still he consoled himself and got up. He is a Pandit, if he dint perform the ceremony well then it will all go waste. That’s why he is honoured by the world. Its all about performing the ceremonies right. If he wishes he can do it all wrong. Panditji came and stood next to the firewood and started encouraging – yes, hit it, one more time – try harder –more harder- don’t you have strength in your hands, hit it, what are you thinking – yes, almost done! Hit in the same crack.
Dukhi lost his senses. Some mysterious hidden energy was working through his hands. That tiredness, hunger, weakness everything was gone. He was amazed on his own strength.
Every strike was stronger than the last. For half an hour he kept moving his hand in same way with same energy, the wood split from the middle – and axe fell down from Dukhi’s hands. And he also fainted and fell down. His hungry, thirsty and tired body gave up.
Panditji said – get up and finish it. cut it into thin slices. Dukhi dint get up. Panditji decided not to disturb him anymore. He went inside and filtered his Bhang, went bathroom, had a bath and got out in his trademark ensemble. Dukhi was still lying there. He screamed – will you keep lying this Dukhi, let’s go to your place. You have everything ready at your place? Dukhi still didn’t move.
Panditji got suspicious. He went near, Dukhi laid frozen. Panditji lost his senses and ran to Panditain and said – Dukhiya seems to have died.
Panditain said worriedly – wasn’t he cutting wood?
Pandit – he died while doing that. What now?
Panditain spoke calmly – nothing, send someone to his family to ask them to take away the dead body.
In a moment everybody in the village knew. The whole locality was of Brahmins. There was only one Gaur living in the area. People stopped coming this way. The way to well was from there, how to get water from well! The body of Chamaar was lying there, nobody wanted to cross it. An old lady asked Panditji – Why don’t you get done with this body? No one in the village wants to die thirsty.
On the other side, Gaur informed Chamaars about the matter and said – Don’t you dare get the body from there. Police will look into the matter. It has been said that a poor has been murdered. Panditji might be a pandit in his home. If you displace the body from there, police will take you too.
After this Pandit reached to Chamaars place; but nobody came to take the body, heavy hearted lady and her daughter with other Chamaarins started mourning and reached the place. They cried, tried to make others understand but there was not a single soul who approved. Panditji threatened Chamaars, even pleaded, but Chamaars wanted police to handle everything. He came back disheartened.
Women kept mourning till mid-night. It became impossible for even demi-gods to sleep. But no Chamaar came to take away the body and Brahmins couldn’t touch the stiff! The know-hows of doing this by a Brahmins were not mentioned in any of the religious texts.
Panditain got irritated and said – These witches have eaten up our heads. Even their throats don’t get sore.
Pandit said – let the witches cry, till when they will do it. When he was alive, nobody cared for him. And now he has died everyone is here to mourn.
Panditain – crying of a Chamaar is inauspicious.
Pandit – yes, indeed
Panditain – It has already started smelling.
Pandit – Because he was a Chamaar. They don’t know right from wrong.
Panditain – don’t they get disgusted by it
However, the night went, but nobody came in the morning also. Even the Chamaarins left after mourning. The stench started spreading.
Panditji took out a rope. He tied its one end to the feet of the dead and tightened it. It was still foggy outside. Panditji held the rope and started pulling the body and took it outside the village. He immediately took a bath after coming back, offered prayers and sprinkled holy water in his home.
On the other side, Dukhi’s remains became food for jackals and vultures, dogs and crows. This was his trophy for his life-long service, discipline and prayers.
came up with this one during one of my boring lectures:
mujhey khana hain santri santra
yehi hain meri life ka one and only mantra…
remember sitting in exams and desperately trying to figure out the life-saving answers. following is the list of comments from test papers, essays, etc. submitted to science teachers by elementary, junior high, high school and even college students (this is one thing i copied down long time back in my personal diary, i hope you will enjoy this post).
“nitrogen is not found in Ireland because it is not found in a free state”
“h20 is hot water, co2 is cold water”
“when you smell an odourless gas, it is probably carbon monoxide”
“water is composed of two gins- oxygin and hydrogin. oxygin is pure gin and hydrogin is gin and water.”
“three kinds of blood vessels are arteries, vanes and caterpillars”
“blood flows down one leg and up the other”
“the moon is a planet just like earth, only it is even deader”
“artificial insemination is when the farmer does it to cow instead of bull”
“dew is formed on leaves when the sun shines down on them and makes them perspire”
“mushroom always grow in damp places and so they look like umbrellas”
“the skeleton is what is left after the insides have been taken out and the outsides have been taken off. the purpose of skeleton is skeleton is something to hitch meat to”
“the tides are a fight between the earth and moon. all water tends toward the moon, because there is no water in the moon, and nature abhors a vacuum. i forgot where the sun joins in this fight”
“a fossil is an extinct animal. the older it is, the more extinct it is”
“equator- a menagerie lion running around the earth through africa”
“germinate- to become naturalised german”
“liter- a nest of young puppies”
“magnet- something you find crawling all over a dead cat”
“momentum- what you give a person when they are going away”
“planet- a body of earth surrounded by sky”
“vacuum- a large, empty space where the pope lives”
“to remove dust from eye, pull the eye down over the nose”
“for a nosebleed- put the nose much lower then the body until the heart stops”
“for dogbite- put the dog away for several days. if he has not recovered, then kill it”
“for head cold- use the agonizer to spray in the nose until it drops in your throat”
“to keep milk from turning sour- keep it in cow”
” for fainting- rub the person’s chest, or, if a lady, rub her arm instead. OR put the head between the knees of the nearest medical doctor”
this is what i do during boring lectures
well all i want to say right now is: i am sitting in Computer lab as my flash class is going on, not at all interested in class. for last one hour i have been trying to right a post and i have edited this post three time the first time i was writing about how boring the classes and college gets sometimes. then i deleted the whole thing and started writing about how my assignments go haywire at last moment (this one is interesting i will write a post for it again in a good mood). then again i deleted it started with jotting out my anger on the college rules and how idiotic the college administration is getting with time and how corruption is getting into educatio specially taking example of my own institute, then it came to my mind that writing all this can get me into trouble because of writing a ‘DEFAMING’ article while all i was trying to do was to discuss the truth. and after all this mind-boggling session and a boring flash demo in the background the deleted the whole 500 word article and starting with this final thingy. anyways still i want to say a few things, my assignments go haywire everytime i try to finish them well in advance, attendance rules and other submission related rules are absolutely absurd and of no use, and i am getting too bored and yawning after every two minutes (i just did it again!). i hope the evening class gets better! one more thing NIFT administration needs to understand that we the students here are not in school anymore, we are in college. Putting us under some rules forcibly for the sake of making us disciplined, wont work- jisne jaisa mindset karna tha hum already school mein kar chuke hain. plus we are in a creative feild we are supposed to have breaks during the classes anytime we want to, you cant make new things sitting in the confinements of four walls….
ciao
few more sketches that i made during my skool days…
the day i shifted my blog to this place, i promised myself that i will post atleast an article a day and exactly after four days i got disconnected…. and now its been a month since last posted stuff. i have been collecting things to post it here and i will as soon as i get my internet connection again. plus work and deadlines are getting over me, cant help it, i think i will go mad sometime soon. till then visit www.raushan.in and see how freshers week went at NIFT new delhi (the little secret: this time me and my friend himanshu werehandling the stage and juniors too)……. ciao til then…
following are some of the prints i recently made for one of my final submissions. the theme i took was roadsigns. hope you like these
