Nil Darpan; or, The Indigo Planting Mirror, A Drama.: Translated from the Bengali by a Native.Mitra, Dinabandhu
History
Nil Darpan; or, The Indigo Planting Mirror, A Drama.: Translated from the Bengali by a Native.
Mitra, Dinabandhu
Indigo industry -- India -- Bengal -- Drama
_Priest._ Oh God, hast thou killed such a man! Hast thou stopped
the provision of so many men! We do not find any such symptom that
our eldest Babu will sit up again.
_Sadhu._ God’s will. He can give life to a dead man.
_Priest._ On the third day, Bindu Babu, according to the Shastras,
celebrated the offering of the funeral cake (_pindadán_) on the
banks of the Ganges; it is only through the entreaties of his
mother that preparations are being made for the monthly ceremony
(_shradh_). It was determined that after the celebration of the
ceremony, their dwelling place is to be removed; and I also heard
that they will no more meet with that cruel Saheb; then why did he
go there to-day?
_Sadhu._ Our eldest Babu has no fault, nor has he any want of
judgment. Our madam and the eldest Bou forbad him many times. They
said, “During the days we are to remain here, we will bathe with
the water of the well, or Aduri will bring the water from the
tank; we shall have no trouble.” The eldest Babu said “With a
present of 50 Rupis, I shall fall at the Saheb’s feet, and thus
stop the cultivation of the Indigo on the side of the tank, and
shall speak nothing of the dispute in such a dangerous time.” With
this intention our eldest Babu took me and Torap with him, and
going there with tears in his eyes, said to the Saheb, “Saheb, I
bring you a present of 50 Rupis; only for this year, stop the
cultivation of the Indigo in this place: and if this be not
granted, take the money, and delay that business only till the
time when the ceremony is to be performed.” There is sin even in
repeating the answer which the wretch gave, and the hairs of our
body stood on an end. The rascal said, “Your father was hung in
the jail of the Yabans[52] with thieves and robbers; therefore
keep your money for the sacrifice of many bulls which are
necessary for his ceremony.” Then placing his shoe on one of the
eldest Babus knees, he said “This is the gift for your father’s
ceremony.”
_Priest._ Narayan! Narayan.[53] (_Placing his hand on his ears_).
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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