24 Dec Champa’s Curse Came Correct
Mythological works are full of stories depicting the materialisation of curses. Shravan’scurse of Ramayana fame is a glaring case in point.
Thoughts are creative forces. Our thoughts and its emitted energy can do good or cause damage not only to us, but its subtle effects can work for the welfare or for the ill of others also.
Just as loveful thoughts of full – measure good feelings, springing from the depth of our being, can bring into effect auspicious conditions in the lives of others, so also, the concentrated thought forces of ill-will, released in an intense state of utmost anguish, can create bad situations for others. People with absolute deadened feelings don’t gain or lose through blessings or curses. This category of human – beings are too very rare.
Blessings or curses operate more effectively and rapidly on persons so blest or cursed, depending upon the quantum of their qualitative openness and receptivity. Said otherwise, good or bad wishes of others react upon our lives commensurate with the degree of our acknowledgement of the mental powers of the persons who have fine or foul feelings for us. The emotionally sentimental people, in whom the cerebro – spinal system happen to work clearly, are easily affected when blessed or cursed. Our own self- blessing or self-curse aids or mars the force of others’ healsome or harmful will – power.
Presently, you will read in these pages the shockful details of how an ideal Doctor was effectively cursed by a woman.
My friend Dr. Sukumar lived alone. Like the rare good medicos, he didn’t enjoy a good practice. As lie was a propertied man enjoying an even economic security, the money – making craze of the medical line didn’t touch him.
A Sanskrit verse portrays the Doctors as surpassing the cruelty of ‘ Yama ‘, the God of death. The verse says that Yama only takes one’s life. Whereas, the Doctors take away both the money and the life of a patient.
The professional Physicians and Surgeons are not only expensive, they are exacting, too. When the patients go to them, most of these Doctors generally put on a very grave face and colour even our very ordinary illness as something very serious and force the sick to run round to the doors of the various so called specialists and laboratories with whom they have vested interests. Coming as most of them do, from wanting stocks of our poor Country, their avarice for a good flow of quick money and the lure for a gay life, may’hap doesn’t merit grousing on our part. But their professional tricks are certainly condemnable.
Excepting in very special circumstances where surgical or medical treatment is really necessary, to place ourselves in the hands of these Doctors would be the most foolish and harmful thing to do. For, because they are making a living out of diseases and are always complaining of slack season, they can’t be and aren’t genuinely interested in the promotion and preservation of health of the society.
Our Dr. Sukumar was very different. Whenever the sick went to him, he first traced the cause of their ailments to their own faulty living instead of blaming the belligerent bacterias. With his cheerful bearing and visible interest in his patients, he lightened their sufferings and fears. His diagnosis never read ‘CONDITION CRITICAL, CAUSE CLUELESS CUM CONFUSING.’ It is however true, that in some very complicated cases, the discerning Doctors doubtlessly declare that delitescent diseases do defy definite diagnosis.
Dr. Sukumar’s advice to his patients always centered around asking them to avoid hungerless and excessive eating, late hours, alcohol, narcotics and drugging; the need for moderation in sex, physical exercises, clean living, regular habits, harboring of thoughts that promote health and other initial preventive measures.
He never got up to greet his rich patients nor did he shrug his shoulders at the sight of the poor ones and remain rooted to his revolving chair. He treated greeted all his patients as a benevolent brother and not as a dictating Doctor. His very presence cheered the patients. His words consoled and created for them, confidence in themselves and faith in him and his treatment. He never dis-eased his patients by first talking to them about fees or expenses. He patiently listened to their cases and then did the needful thoughtfully. A seasoned Doctor that he was, he knew wrong emotions to be at the root of all causes of diseases. Where home remedies would usher in a cure, he never indulged in the professional tactics of prescribing expensive or harmful antibiotics. His emphasis was more on nature’s effective way of healing. Whether to prescribe pills or the painless pricks, he reserved for his own decision. He always told his patients that he was not there to give them what they wanted, but only what was needed to do them good. In curing pains, he employed painless techniques. Where pain was inevitable, if possible, he did his best to minimise it.
He recommended to his patients the warfare strategy of stopping of the food supply to the enemies to force them to retreat, i. e., to starve the bacterias to death by methodical fasting.
He was a mobile model in health and habits. He radiated health and charmed his patients with his winsome ways. He was a dedicated whole-timer with no time for the trifles like the Rotary, the Lions or the Juniors, where the members gather to become chummy and the tables treat the tummy. He never made money out of the free samples of medicines, tablets and tonics he received from the various manufacturers.
The Chemists and Druggists who deftly adulterate medicines for profittering, pay fat commissions and handsome gifts to the devillish doctors who send their patients to them to purchase their requirements. Our Dr. Sukurnar not only abstained from this dirty practice, but he has successfully exposed some such crooked Chemists and landed them in prisons.
He asked his patients to be carefully careless about the causes of their complaints. His patent advice in verse was:—
When you sigh over your illness,
It grows and worsens every day.
Learn to laugh over your sickness,
And get the disease – dust blown away.
Unlike other Doctors who force their patients on false grounds of exigencies to call on them too very frequently to knock-out more money, Dr. Sukumar called his patients to him or visited them only when really necessary. Once they were cured, he told them. “I beg of you to take sufficient care to see that you don’t come to me again as a patient.” He even mildly threatened them with non – treatment.
Our Country needs such dedicated Doctors and not those who exploit the sick, perpetrate diseases and ruin the health of the nation.
Now let us come to the main incident.
Many years back a poor collegian from Layola college in Madras approached Dr. Sukumar for a little monetary help. The generous Doctor promised the young man Rs. 100/- and asked him to call on him at 7 a. m. on the morrow.
On the following day morning Dr. Sukumar took out one hundred rupees note from the amount of Rs. 700/- which he had withdrawn from his bank on the previous day and folding it, placed the note on the table to be given away when the collegian called.
Dr. Sukumar had in his employ a Gurkha Servant named Vir Bahadur. As usual, on that day also, he went to the Doctor’s bunglow at six in the morning to tidy the things therein and give a cup of coffee to his employer. At about seven or so, when the Doctor was preparing for an electric shaver, Vir Bahadur left.
Little after, the doorbell rang. Dr. Sukumar opened it to let in the collegian. When he looked for the hundred rupees note which he had himself placed on the table, it was not there. After a short search here and there, the Doctor took out twenty fivers and gave it to the young man and sent him away.
After that, he did a little more searching and thinking. However he thought it only struck him that Vir Bahadur alone could have taken it away. Even a little before Vir Bahadur left, the Doctor had seen the note. Next, he heard the servant leaving, closing the self-locking door. No one else did or could have come in. All the barred windows were well closed and the note itself was securely placed under a paper weight. Only the day before, Vir Bahadur had asked for a loan of Rs. 50. Viewed and summed-up in the light of the above facts, all the circumstances clearly led the Doctor to hold, beyond all reasonable doubts, his servant alone as the culprit responsible for the theft. Anyone would have felt and done so.
Vir Bahadur had been in the service of the Doctor for the past one year and the Doctor had always been very good to him. It was he who got Vir Bahadur’s wife Champa also employed as a ward-maid in a hospital. As such, he did not expect to be repaid that way. The Doctor saw no use in calling Vir Bahadur for an interrogation. Because, having surreptitiously taken the amount, no one would admit having theived. Continuing Vir Bahadur any more in the service would mean exposing himself to further losses thought the vexed Doctor. He also felt that Vir Bahadur shouldn’t be allowed to get away with the theft. So, Dr. Sukumar rang up the suburban Police Station and reported the case to Inspector Rudrappa, asking him to investigate. He told the Inspector that he would soon send in the written complaint.
Acting on the written complaint of Dr. Sukumar, a prominent Medical Practitioner, Inspector Rudrappa sent his Head Constable to inquire and bring the accused to the Police Station. The Head Constable couldn’t get anything out of Vir Bahadur whom he traced in a chawl’s room. Vir Bahadur was however, roughly treated, handcuffed and dragged to the Police Station.
All the neighbours of the chawl where Vir Bahdur lived, collected there to watch the whole show. Some were surprised, some pitied him and some shameless sluggards stared and sneered sarcastically. Vir Bahadur went through it all with his head held high, reminiscent with the trait of an honest man. But his wife and the seven year old daughter who could not stand the blame and the brusque behaviour of the police, kept on weeping intermittently and blowing their nose.
When at about 8 a.m. I called on the Doctor, as I daily used to do whenever in the city, I found the Doctor somewhat sombre and sullen. I had never seen him that way. Without in any way exhibiting my surprise, however, I took my seat beside him and remained silent.
As I had expected, Dr. Sukumar poured himself out. He first gave me the details of the theft, the search and the complaint which he lodged with the police, and then he began. “Swamiji ! you know Vir Bahadur my servant. Last year I told you how, when he first came to me, I instantly employed him without asking for any references and how again, I later on, also get his wife a ward-maid’s job in the General Hospital here. I have always treated him gently, helping him also with extra moneys now and then. Inspite of all this, he has now proved to be ungrateful. The common expedience is, these fellows when first they come to us, they put on a long-drawn, wry face and introduce themselves in such other ways as to enlist our sympathy. And once their foot-hold in service and the city gets strong, they show their colours and commit breach of trust. Such being the general situation, I don’t see how, when we who want and can’t do without a servant, can ever be able to select an honest one and remain assured that such an one would stick to be so. Can you, swamiji, point out some practical way?. “
Argumentally replying, I said, “Now listen, Doctor, even on the face of what you have told me, I cannot help but feel that you have acted a bit in haste. You ought to have given Vir Bahadur a chance to explain himself before contacting the cops and complaining to them. May be, the hundred rupees note you speak of, got placed somewhere or even misplaced by your man while he was cleaning and dusting the table. On few occasions I have myself seen big amounts lying here open. And according to your own admission, there has never occurred any thefts at your place till now. What I want to affirm is, Vir Bahadur had opportunities to thieve bigger amounts in the past. But he hasn’t done so. You have yourself praised his sense of honesty, always pointing out Vir Bahadurs sparkling eyes, reminding the people Harendra- nath’s following verses in praise of honesty :—
” There is RED light in the ruby
And blue light in the sky,
But nothing is more beautiful
Than the light in the honest eye. “
As such, just because a small amount of Rs. 100/- is now missing, in the tight circumstances, exclusively pointing him alone as a culprit, I am inclined to assert, called for a little rethinking and restraint on your part. Just place yourself, for a moment, in his place and reflect how you yourself would have wanted to be dealt with in a similar situation. It would be well for us to remember that runaway conclusions can cause loss and lamentation.
This aside, assuming that Vir Bahadur did take away the money, even then, in a stray lapse like this, and in the case of a person like Vir Bahadur, quick recourse to police and prosecution, without attempting to find out as to what could have made him to steal, isn’t at all a wise move. For, by the rash step, you do him injustice, harm and hurt his innocent near and dear ones. Said differently, everything unjust is certainly worthy of condemnation cum check. But it should be so brought about as to do good and justice to all. We shouldn’t make our love for law lame by our lacking loveful leniency towards the lay lawbreakers. Your following versified conviction that:—
“He who wilfully betrays a friend true,
By his conduct who does ungrateful prove;
And he who commits breach of trust,”
Upon these three, troubles should be thrust.
-isn’t just and as such not commendable. At least, it is not the proper way of dealing with casual offenders.
Now, as for being able to confidently choose an honest servant, we must know that life is a gamble, a game of chance. We must go about it with trust and in good faith. If we careered through life suspecting and mistrusting at every time, everyone and everything, our this short sojourn on earth will become most unpleasant. And that wouldn’t be nice.
Fresh as the case is still and not past the possibilities of amends and withdrawal, you may yet consider cancelling your careless complaint, concluded I.
The experienced Dr. Sukumar, who was quick in grasping and open to reasoning, heard me reflectively and without interrupting me. He seemed to agree and welcome the sifting I gave to his earlier thoughts. I then rose to make use of the privy.
As I came out of it, at the corner end of the wall’s bottom, near the bathroom, my eyes caught a rat-hole and protruding from it was what appeared to be a piece of some colored paper. At second thoughts, I went near and saw it clearly. Lo! it was a partially nibbled hundred rupees note. Without disturbing it, I called the Doctor. When he came, I pointed it out to him.
Dr. Sukumar picked it up, fizzed and stood flabbergasted for a few seconds. After that, we went to the main room where the meticulous medico checked-up the number of that currency note with the written details from his pocket-diary. He became visibly repentant and with his open palm he smacked his forehead. He then picked – up the receiver of the phone and dialed a number. On getting connected, he spoke thus, “Hullo, is it Inspector Rudrappa? Good-morning to you, Inspector, this is Dr. Sukumar here. It is with hurt feelings that I have to inform you that I have found the hundred rupee note in a rat-hole near the bath-room in my bungalow. Now, who could have thought that a rat might have carried it to its place? Had I allowed myself a little more time before lodging the complaint, I could have not only saved you all the trouble you must have by now taken to investigate the case; but would have also obviated unnecessarily scandalising my good and innocent Vir Bahadur. Please release him right away, if you haven’t as yet registered the cognizable charge. Oh! you haven’t eh ! – that’s fine. Thank you. I now needn’t bother the District Magistrate over this. I am sending my car to pick-up Vir Bahadur. My driver will hand in my formal application withdrawing the case. Had I not taken a purgative, this morning, I would have myself come over personally. Once again, Inspector, please forgive me for the trouble.” Dr. Sukumar replaced the receiver, jotted down on his letter – head his request to quash the case against his servant and ordered his chauffeur to race to the police station with that application.
That done, wrapped in uneasiness, Dr. Sukumar was pacing in the room while I looked on leisurely. In the meantime, the door-bell rang. I rose and opened it. Champa, the literate wife of Vir Bahadur and their little daughter had come. Her presence startled the doctor. With remorse and rushing tears, he invited her to come in. Her eyes were swollen and wet In an inimitable tone and gesture, Dr. Sukumar began, “Please hear me, sister! I honestly feel sorry for what has happened. I didn’t know when I reported to the police that a rat could and had in fact removed the hundred-rupee note to its hideout. I know, the degree of mental pain I caused you has been great. Now that it is all over and your husband will very soon be with us, I beg you to forgive me for my hasty action.”
No sooner did Champa hear all this, with contempt surging all over her. she paced out of the room in a state of fury and standing, near the door, excitedly shouted out aloud. “I was right, my husband would never stoop to do anything so low. But you, Doctor, in the pride of your well – being heartlessly involved my husband in a police case and caused him to be dragged to the Police Station, like a dog. You big people, in your false love for fairness, under estimate the ethical get-up of the poor.”
When I tried to cairn her, she brushed me aside and leashed out saying, “Keep out, Maharaj, you ochre-robed parasites shadowing the company of these relentless butcher like richmen needn’t pose to be wise.”
The commotion she caused summoned quite a many neighbors to the Doctor’s bungalow. We all had to helplessly witness the dismal drama. The Doctor himself was colourless and shuddering.
Champa continued, “For a paltry sum of Rs. 100/- you harassed us, not in the least caring to weigh our past good conduct. You didn’t pause to think of our honour, home and hearts, which you have broken and damaged by the false charge of theft on us. We from the hills, who value self- respect and fine behavior more than anything else, can never forget the ignominy Inflicted on us, You, who first received us kindly and kept our milk-like lives in a silver vessel, have now ruthlessly transferred it to a brags one, to be spoilt; all for a mere hundred rupees. Fie upon you! Now hear it clearly, you who are the cause of this unjust action against us will soon become a physical wreck even as you have wrecked our peaceful lives. These words springing as they do from the wounded heart of a troubled woman shan’t go in vain. My this curse will surely come to pass before the close of the seventh sun – set from today. Don’t laugh it away. You will loathe fully languish and leave. “
She then banged her head hard to the wall, collected little blood that oozed out of it, and splashed it at the doctor. She finally sealed her curse, cracking the knuckles by joining her hands clenched, and speedily walked away.
Dr. Sukumar slumped himself on a sofa and buried his face in his open palms. He remained that way for a while. Some well-meaning neighbors consolingly told the Doctor to forget it all and left us.
The driver, who returned with the empty car, told us that Vir Bahadur was released by the police and that he has gone home.
With a sorrowful voice the noble doctor told me, “Swamiji ! you have seen how the unusual twist of the situation has snatched away my mental peace and caused great sufferings to Vir Bahadur, his wife and their little daughter. It would have been better, if this day hadn’t dawned. At least not for the Bahadurs whom it has shaken, shocked and saddened. Now, Swamiji. what do you say to our going to his house to bring home to him my very sincere regrets and persuade him to rejoin me ? I have also in mind to give him Rs. 1000, as damages. “
Placing my suggestions, I said. “Immediate treatment of all physical wounds is necessary and it certainly gives relief and does good, But we shouldn’t forget that the wound, which you now propose cleaning and dressing, happens to be a mental one, one that will grow and swell if attempted to treat right away, when still fresh. With the passage of time, all mental wounds heal and get erased off. The honour-loving Bahadurs will spurn all offers of money, especially, if given now, to compute the disgrace they have suffered. Our immediate going to them, can however, do one good, and that is, it will raise them to the original estimation in which the chawl people have held Vir Bahadur. So, let’s go with this end alone in view. “
The driver took us to an obscure chawl. We entered Vir Bahadur’s room. He was lying on a cot with the effects of over-reception by the police and his weeping wife was giving him hot-water fomentation to the affected parts. We weren’t welcome. They ignored our presence. The doctor spoke to Vir Bahadur first, expressing his heartfelt regrets and then implored him to forgive. Vir Bahadur kept quiet. I also put in some words and failed to get him round; he couldn’t be persuaded. We had to return back.
After few days, Dr. Sukumar sent one of his colleagues to go and enquire about Vir Bahadur’s health and to pay him the thousand rupees as damages in fulfilment of an earlier resolve. The Doctor’s friend found Vir Bahadur quite o. k. But the offended Gurkha refused to touch or take the thousand rupees. He only claimed his dues and that was paid to him in full.
Another visit of ours also failed to coax Vir Bahadur. After that, the humanist Dr. Sukumar who was genuinely upset over the affair, renewed his attempts through other Gurkhas in the city. But unfortunately, the adament Vir Bahadur couldn’t be persuaded by anyone to change his decision.
No more wanting to continue in the post which she got through the good offices of the doctor, Champa resigned her job and they three took the train to Delhi to go to Almora where they had some relatives.
From the very day of the incident, Dr. Sukumar couldn’t apply himself to his routine work. He became morose and broody. The good doctor had taken the whole unfortunate incident too much to his heart. On the second day, he developed migraine and cramps. On the third morning the doctor complained of loss of appetite, vomiting, weakness and sleeplessness – all essential symptoms leading to flaccid paralysis. Best treatment failed to show signs of checking the attack. Perhaps, the excessive mental tension which increases adrenal secretion, giving rise to high-blood pressure had damaged one of the arteries that was ready to burst. He began to reduce and on the sixth day he became a paralytic unable to get-up from his bed. He hasn’t been able to do so till today. It chills me writing that CHAMPA’S CURSE CAME CORRECT.
Just like fire, which can cook or kill and warm or wreck, so also, expressed thoughts can heal or harm, bless or blast. THERE CAN BE NO DOUBTING THIS.
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