THE SIXTY FIRST BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS

K. CHANDRASEKHARAN

The office-bearers of the Thiruvottiyur Welfare Association were making enthusiastic preparations for celebrating the sixty-first birthday of Sivaprakasa Mudaliar.

The president of the Association, Murugesa Naicker, evinced a keen interest in the arrangements, as he was fond of such functions. Himself a good speaker, he never missed opportunities for displaying his talents. Moreover such ceremonial occasions as entailed presentation of souvenirs and addresses of felicitations were near his heart. He always drew willing audiences to his harangues, which generally contained sallies of wit and pun, so much enjoyed by the crowds. There were some among his hearers who habitually came to listen to him because of his funny remarks and clownish behaviour.

Naicker was particularly looking forward to such an opportunity to make known to the public of the unostentatious services of Sivaprakasa Mudaliar to the community and country. The man, he felt, was hiding his light under a bushel. His merits needed broadcasting by all means.

The secretary of the Association, Kuppuswami, was driven mad by the chairman in carrying out his behests for the forthcoming function. Every minute he was reminded of all the details to be attended to; nothing, according to him, should be left wanting at the nick of time and people made to remark about the shortcomings of the day.

“Have you placed orders for the lace garland? Why do you look blank? Have I not warned you of your forgetfulness about such details? I told you that a lace garland should be offered while the chief guest is, at the entrance, received; and that the rose garland can be afterwards used when actually he takes his seat on the dais. Well, well; evidently you have been sleeping over all these injunctions of mine.” Poor Kuppuswami! he was spared no moment of peace as the day of the function drew near.

Frankly, Kuppuswami did not share the enthusiasm of the chairman in the matter. He had his own misgivings regarding Sivaprakasa Mudaliar’s acquiesence in the preparations. For he was aware of Mudaliar’s aversion to any fuss regarding personal affairs of his. Further, he would not approve of any expense of public money in functions of the kind arranged. Above all, the fact that Mudaliar had no previous inkling of the way the whole thing was getting done might disgust him and drive him to cancel everything, causing unnecessary wastage of both energy and funds. Therefore was Kuppuswami a bit lukewarm in his allotted duties.

But there was another side to the picture. Sivaprakasam’s wife, Devasena, was already made aware of the approaching event through some source. She became really proud of it and sought to find out how her husband would take it. She was also a bit doubtful of her husband’s agreement to any showy function of the kind intended. So she began sounding him cautiously: “Are we having any religious ceremonies in the house? If there is any idea of entertaining a few guests, we may have to plan everything in time, lest a last minute attempt to get things done should land us in difficulties. You know, my dear, everything is not only costly now-a-days but also very difficult to get. Unless we are in advance able to secure things, we may not at all be sure of having satisfaction in what we do.”

“What is the function you are contemplating, may I know?...You said of religious ceremonies. May I know for what?….My birthday! Who told you of ceremonies in connection with my birthday? What is there special about one’s birthday? When everything is going up, natural for one’s age also to go up. Let it go up as it pleases. None need stop it. should we worry for what cannot be helped.” His tone betrayed his sarcastic approach of the whole thing. There was also lurking underneath his remark a strong resolve not to yield to any sentimental reason for going on with the celebrations.

Devasena did not remain silenced by his contempt or caustic remarks. She started again: “So, you think you should make yourself the laughing-stock of people. Everyone here will deem you stingy and unsocial of behaviour. It is silly that anyone could be objecting to the observance of the sixty-first birthday–an event which is sure not to happen again in one’s life!” She stood before him, holding her chin in the cup of her right hand, expressing real amazement at his total want of common-sense.

“Why should it matter to you what I feel about it so long as you are sure of going in for a fine saree for the occasion! You can have one for the Deepavali, my dear. Do not try to create an occasion earlier for it. Do you follow me?” Saying this, Sivaprakasa Mudaliar wanted to appease her by change of his tone and persuasive arguments. He assumed a softer voice and added: “Don’t you realise the times we are passing through are hard? None should spend any more than absolutely necessary. Food and raiment are getting scarcer everywhere for people. We must set a better example by completely avoiding all these extra expenditure. Look here, don’t get angry. If you are eager about one more knot to your thali, I shall do it with all my heart, here and now. But that does not require all this commotion and hubbub.” He paused, revolving within as to how best to find out a way to end all this extravagance.

Devasena was unable to think of anything else except the birthday function. She thought of catching him otherwise, by mentioning how there were public functions to be had in his honour. Unable to restrain any longer her feelings, she blurted , out: “You can stop, if you please, my mouth. But can you ask the public to cease their preparations to honour you? I know it is the easiest thing for you to accomplish at home, your sway. But can you dare to control outside the home any being who will not be so docile and abjectly allowing herself to be led as I am?” She ceased, and for a second looked triumphantly at him for what she thought was an unanswerable argument of hers.

Sivaprakasam was really taken aback by the news of a public celebration for him. He lowered his voice and enquired of her: “Who told you of a public function? Are arrangements getting ready?”

Devasena realised her own folly. It was only a day previously that she had got the information from a confidential source, which she was asked to keep secret and not to let out before the actual day of the celebration. She had thrown all such cautions to the winds with the result that now her husband became exercised over it. She feared the consequences of her indiscretion.

There was no point thereafter in concealing facts. She was in a dilemma. Nevertheless she tried to be vague. “Pray, do not get uneasy at what I thought I could guess. Nobody has actually given me any information. I felt that in the natural course of events, your Association may also arrange for a function to felicitate you. You are an important member of the Welfare Association, and the rest of your colleagues and friends are not fools to be sitting quiet when an important occasion like a sixty-first birthday for a friend has to be treated with at least the normal greetings that it should elicit from them.” She vainly attempted to make it all appear insignificant and not a serious affair. She tried to retrace her steps from an awkward situation.

Sivaprakasam was no longer to be deceived of the real situation brewing behind him.

Poor man, he was completely absorbed in another matter which gave him little room for anything else. For nearly a week, he was caught up in the agitation started by the fisher-folk over the Government’s action in forming a highway for motor traffic along the sea-shore which meant that their huts on the sands of the beach had to be removed. They were very much disturbed over the matter, as it would dislocate their long habitation near the sea which in every way secured their fishing trade from being adversely affected. The promise of better dwellings in the interior did not in the least satisfy them as they were considering the nearness of the sea as the only advantage for their fishing activities. Sivaprakasam felt their objections as legitimate, and so he was for a strong agitation on their behalf against the Government, in case the Government was not likely to listen to their protests.

He was, therefore, thinking of meeting Murugesa Naicker in connection with the pending question whether to allow the Government to have their own way or to prevent it at the earliest possible moment by concerted action on the part of a sympathetic public. He was contemplating the convening of a meeting of the members of their Association to discuss the matter and draft some resolutions in that behalf. Time was precious for him and the attention of the Association should not be distracted by any other activity. So he wished to delay no longer in approaching the chairman.

Seeing him enter his office, Murugtsa Naicker warmly extended a welcome to him with the words: “Please come in, Mudaliar. What an agreeable visit in the morning!” He was effusive of his speech.

“I have an important matter to discuss concerning our Association,” said Sivaprakasa Mudaliar, anticipating a change of look in Murugesa Naicker’s face the moment there was any mention of serious business. He knew from long association with Naicker that the chairman would be the last person for any quick action to be taken or decision to come to. On the other hand, if it were mere conversation with little purpose of a useful nature, he was sure to be happy at the enjoyable prospect.

“May I know what the matter is?” Murugesa Nafcker queried with some alarm already in his manner.

“Nothing particular to cause you worry, Sir, but at the same time we cannot afford to lose time in prevarications of any kind. Anyhow, it is just the type of work that an Association as ours has to take up and do in the interests of the community in distress. Rather, We have to congratulate ourselves on a splendid opportunity for our Association to justify itself and be useful!” He thus started relating the purpose of his visit in a round-about way.

Murugesa Naiker sensed trouble for himself. He was not in the habit of appreciating anything which was likely to disturb him in his complacency. He was rather quick of avoiding any situation for his active participation in a work not calculated to be smooth or insecure of consequences. He was at the outset a bit feeling it all irksome though, without much betraying himself, he began: “You talk of a splendid opportunity for service. What kind of service? How could anything prove of useful service if it would entail unnecessary waste of time and trouble for everyone concerned?” he thus made it clear that his reactions were not completely favourable to Mudaliar’s problem.

“I know that you will be a bit unwilling at the beginning, but when you are made aware of the plight in which the fishermen of the place are, you may not be disinclined to rush to their help. Poor fellows! they are not allowed to pursue their time-honoured trade in peace. Because the Government wants a road to be laid for the industrial estates to be reached by motor vehicular traffic, it ignores the right of a community as the fisher-folk to live where they have been accustomed to ply their profession all these years. The Government in taking the decision have not consulted these people at all. We should not allow this violation of a fundamental right to go unchallenged. Unless in time we start an agitation and check the work of laying the road, the matter will become an accomplished fact, which we may not be able to prevent, even if justice were to be on our side. It is an urgent matter, and so I enquired of the secretary of our Association whether we can have a meeting the coming Saturday and pass resolutions with you in the chair. We can stand also in deputation on the ministers after we have obtained the General Body’s approval...You look perturbed!...Why?...Am I creating any insoluble problem?” Sivaprakasam ceased, seeing disturbance on the face of the chairman.

Naicker never encouraged any idea of agitation for any matter. He was totally averse to protests and demonstrations against the Government. He was not convinced in this instance that a road along the sea-shore was such an evil as reported by Mudaliar. On the other hand he began to entertain satisfaction that a long-felt amenity for the public was in the process of preparation. After all, the fisher-folk also will benefit by a better housing arrangement for them on the pretext of a road being laid along the beach and forcing them to change their mode of habitation which would be safer in the long-run against the risks of fire. More than any other thing, why should at once an agitation be thought of? Was there no other method by which the Government could be made to reconsider any action determined upon by them?

Murugesa Naicker had, no doubt, much respect for Siva-prakasam. So he began to speak in a persuasive manner to his friend. “Well, my dear friend, where is the need for you to start an agitation? Can we not find out whether by knowing the mind of the minister concerned, we can settle things without resort to violent actions like agitation and demonstrations? In the first place, we require correct information, which we can obtain when during interpolation time in the Assembly the minister concerned will be asked to answer relevant questions pertaining to the formation of this road!”

Sivaprakasam was not the person to rush into any activity without previous inquiry and full information of the kind which would be useful for furthering his actions. So he replied quickly: “There is no need for further inquiries. The hut-dwellers have been issued notices to quit as early as they can. It is indeed so harassing to them to clear the place without adequate arrangements for their nearness to the sea. They are anxious to be near the sea; for they have to be watching the elements all the time for the favours they expect of them.” He spoke with some amount of warmth rising in him.

Murugesa Naicker, without in the least disclosing any concern for Sivaprakasam’s anxieties or his insistence upon urgent action, remarked calmly: “Sivaprakasam, you are now-a-days getting too much involved in all sorts of agitations and direct action. I would advise you not to rush to any such heedless action. Please entrust the matter to a member of the Assembly, who will elicit the necessary replies from the Treasury Benches about the road to be laid, whether it will be against the fisher-folks’ interest and so on. After obtaining correct information from their own mouth, if it is useful to further contradict them, we can think of any action; not now, when we have many other urgent matters requiring our attention;” he expressed the last sentence with a wink. Sivaprakasam was already glowing inside like a pent up volcano. His impatience grew more at the way Naicker took no care to conceal his lightheartedness regarding the whole affair. So he burst out: “Well, sir, what is that wink of yours signifying? May I have some intelligence of it?”

“Everything will be soon out. Our fellows are contemplating the celebration of your sixty-first birthday in an adequate fashion. They are themselves subscribing for the function. No paisa of the Association funds will be utilised for the function, which will be a very well-attended one. So please postpone this matter of yours to a later day, when we will have some leisure to devote to it. This is neither the propitious time nor the occasion for people getting diverted of their attentions to other things.” He thus wound up the talk with a certain amount of justice in what he felt needed saying.

Sivaprakasam had no other choice except to remain silent. He was mentally driven to an exhausting indignation at the callous way the chairman was behaving, and he was depressed that he should happen to be the cynosure of a function which he totally was against. Anyhow, he was for not letting go the occasion from disclosing what he felt really in his heart of hearts. He protested in severe language: “Where is the need for celebrating birthdays? Everyday is as good as any other day. To me, at any rate, every morning of my waking happens to be a birthday, when I have to be thankful to the Giver of another day for me to be useful to others. I ask you, sir, are we sure when we go to sleep in the night that we will wake up in the morning from the sleep? So all days are as precious as the birthdays. Then why the fuss over a day for which we are not responsible at all? I have no feeling to mark anyone day as in any way superior to any other. So spare me the humiliations you are all thinking of heaping upon me.”

He was not heeded; none seemed to appreciate his feelings. So the public function was getting nearer and nearer.

On the dais Sivaprakasam sat with no comfortable feelings. Wreaths of poetry and flowers were wound round him and a full-size enlargement of his photograph was unveiled with him sitting beside it in flesh and blood. An address couched in flambuoyant language and printed on white silk and inscribed in letters of gold was presented to him by the chairman, who added his own words ringing with fulsome praise of the merits of the head and heart of Sivaprakasam, thus: “Need we try to enumerate the many acts of social work that our dear friend has been performing? It will be vain effort and satisfaction vain, if we attempt to list his activities. The time is short; still I cannot allow the occasion without mentioning one or two of his memorable services. You may remember that when the scavengers of the city wanted a day of rest in the week, who came forward to espouse their legitimate cause but our friend, who spared no moment of his energies till he wrested the boon from the unwilling hands of the city fathers. Again when the milk supply for the children in schools during midday recess was needed, who but he came forward with a determination to see the little ones did not suffer?

“Well, I may go on at this rate the entire evening, mentioning his deeds of beneficence to the community at large. It is indeed our great misfortune that in no other substantial way can we express our gratitude to him than in mere words. If only you knew how much of persuasion was required to make him agree to such a poor function as that we have got up for him, you would only consider the man imbued with the true spirit of a Sanyasin, never requiring anything in return for his services to the world. Let us therefore pray to the Almighty to give us an opportunity to return to him, in however small a manner, our gratitude for all that he has been to us.” The speech was greeted with resounding applause. The very waves of the sea seemed for the moment subdued under the deafening sound.

Sivaprakasam rose to reply. He was not only speaking in subdued tones but startlingly brief:

“I have unfortunately some work today which requires my reply to the address to be unceremoniously short. You have all wished me well, and the chairman has spared no epithet of praise for my humble work. I only wish that I have more days instead of birthdays for allowing me freedom from the necessity to make speeches. Excuse me, friends, for having to leave you all so abruptly, as I fear the fisher-folk are in distress and want me at this hour to lead them to the residence of the minister for representing their grievances. I cannot delay a minute more. So, farewell to you all.” He waved his hand and jumped out of the dais and was in haste to reach his home.

Murugesa Naicker was discomfited at the way the guest behaved, showing no regard to him for his words of felicitation, which were happy of language and adequate of form. He was very much hurt by the discourtesy shown not only to him but to the rest of the audience in Sivaprakasam leaving the meeting without even waiting for the function to come to a close with a proper vote of thanks. So he was heard remarking: “Eccentric are some people, and they know of no other way to conduct themselves except in such strange ways. Single-track souls which cannot think of any other interest in life. We have to pity them their sad plight!”

It was an unusual event to learn the next morning that all the huts were burnt down in a big conflagration and the entire fisher-folk rendered homeless Rumour was, that a woman while lighting a fire in her hut caused a spark to catch fire in her thatched roof which spread everywhere and reduced the entire place to look desolate within a few hours. Sivaprakasa Mudaliar’s terrace had a thatched construction, which also caught the raging fire, and but for a timely caution, he and his wife would not have been saved from the flames. The shelves in the thatched enclosure contained some of his articles in Tamil on Kamba Ramayanam, which also met with the same fate as had engulfed the rest of the poor peoples’ possessions. Standing in the street with his wife he was saying in low tones: “Look at our own folly! We are deploring the loss of a few sheets of writing which perhaps deserved no better fate than the flames. But what a loss to these poor people who have lost their everything, and yet try to come to us for helping us. God is not living in vain in our midst.”

Friends and neighbours of Mudaliar were suggesting to Naicker to see to the couple who were temporarily rendered shelterless and accommodate them in his house. For, despite the fire-fighting squads and their effective controlling of the fire from spreading further, the heat to subside would take normally a day or two more. Hence people were anxious that Sivaprakasam and his wife should be accommodated for a day or two in Naicker’s house, which was a commodious one.

Naicker felt a strange sensation, as it were, in the pit of his stomach. No doubt, he had expressed only the day previous of the lack of opportunity to return in an adequate manner the services of Sivaprakasa Mudaliar to the community. He had openly prayed to God to provide them an opportunity to recompense in a substantial way for all the kind offices of Mudaliar.

It seemed God heard his prayers. But instead of consulting his own conscience, Naicker sought the counsel of his partner. Without a moment’s hesitation she said: “You are utterly thoughtless. Mudaliar has a number of friends and relatives who would compete with one another to rush to him for providing accommodation. He may himself decline any proffered help. He is a man of principles. You please keep quiet without poking your nose in other peoples’ affairs.”

The timely admonition of his wife stifled even the stray spark he received from within. So, he had to comfort himself with the philosophy that some never get the opportunity in their lives to return good for good, even though a right occasion might arise for it. Indeed, Mudaliar gave him no opportunity to substantiate his heartfelt indebtedness for all that he had done to both the community and the country.

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