"Where are they from?" "They have colorful carts." "We have to find out." "Who is that young boy with the long hair?" "Leave alone the village council, I can't even see a farmer around." "Ask them where the meeting place is." "Greetings, elders..." "where is the meeting place?" "There it is?" "Who are you folks?" "We are a dance group." " We intend to camp here." "We'll hold some shows for a few days and then be on our way." "Then you've come to the wrong place." "Dance and drama is forbidden in this village." "Good Lord!" "Chandrakala!" "Hear what they say!" "Tell them that we've come here... after reading about their village, in the newspapers." "Maybe." "Our village is considered to be the best in the whole region." "We are to be given an award." "These people have read about it in the papers and come here." "All right." "But there can be no dance and drama in our village." "Why not?" " Those are the rules." "What harm has our song and dance done?" "You wait here, sis." "I'll deal with this." "There comes the younger headman." "What is going on?" "These people want to stage dance and drama in our village." "Greetings, Sir, we are a group of dancers and performers." "That's okay." "But we do nothing without the priest's approval." "But you are the headman yourself." "With you around here..." "My father's a religious man." "He does nothing without the priest's approval." "Let's go; we might find the priest in the school." "Praise be to God." "Who is that!" "She isn't just young!" "She has a beautiful face too." "Where is your school?" " There it is." "Greetings!" "Who are you?" "A school inspector." "I've come to inspect the school." "Really?" "I bow to you, in that case!" "Celibacy is the essence of life." "Now say your daily prayers." ""The one who denies education, is not to be called wise"" ""Telling everyone that you are donating, is not to be charitable"" ""Eyes that look with sin are not eyes"" ""The one who forgets his parents, is not to be called a son"" ""The one which sinks you in the rivers, is not be called a boat"" ""A village that is devoid of ideals is not to be called a village"" ""A song that does not touch your heart..." ""is not to be called a song"" ""The one who has not a performance is not to be called learned"" "Who are you?" "Greetings, teacher." "Have you forbidden street plays in your village?" "Yes, they've been stopped." "Why?" "Has our street play killed any of your cattle?" "I have stopped street plays because... because musical groups, in the garb of entertainment... sing vulgar and cheap songs." "They make monkeys out of men." "We want to live like humans." "Do you think we want to live like animals?" "Are we not human?" "How are we artists to survive?" "Are you we to tie stones on our tummies to suppress hunger?" "What do you do for a living?" " I till my land." "How about you...?" "I'm talking to you!" "I am a potter." "So, Sir, like them I too have a job to do!" "There is no restriction on their profession." "Why target us?" "A thief will say the same thing, that stealing is his profession." "Do you mean to say that you count artists like us, among the thieves?" "I don't know." "But this is a model village with certain traditions." "We will not permit street plays here." "And what if we still perform?" "You will be wiped out!" " The village head man!" "Take your bag and baggage and get lost." "I have told you once." "So don't argue." "Just get lost!" "Good Lord!" "The old man is furious!" "Let's go, Chandrakala!" "What are you doing here?" "I showed them the way." "Them?" "You showed them the wrong way!" "Instead of sending them away, you brought them here." "Left to him, he'll turn the entire village into a street play." "Teacher!" " Keep quiet!" "Go away." "Why are you staring like that?" "He's told you that no street play can be held here." "So go away!" "Very well." "We will go away." "But don't forget." "The name is Chandrakala." "We know all that." "Just go away from here." "Greetings teacher." " Greetings headman." "That ironsmith's wife is expecting and is not being able to deliver" "She's screaming a lot." "Please come and see her." "You go ahead, I'll come with some herbs." "Please don't be late." "Stop the cart." "Let's pitch our tents here." "Good Lord!" "How will we perform here?" "The guardians of society couldn't be bothered." "They're causing trouble!" "Who is going to see our performance in this place?" "Some villagers did not want us." "But those who want to come, will definitely come." "By the time they come here, their legs will be worn out." "Their legs, not yours..." "Why are you worried?" "We will pitch tents right here." " But, my dear..." "They are afraid of the teacher." "I'm not." "Just watch if I don't hold my street play there." "What are you waiting for?" "Pitch the tents." "What's up?" "Now that teacher is here, we the poor have some support." "Her husband, Kallua, is not bothered whether she lives or dies!" "Where has he gone?" " Who knows!" "You must set him right when he returns." "It's a baby-boy, really healthy." "Every year its like this." "It's your magic, or else who knows what would have happened." "In my opinion, you should've been a doctor." "Oh no." "Herbal medicine has been a family tradition." "I'm pursuing it." "What fell?" "You're really fast asleep, aren't you?" "!" "Wake up!" "I want to eat right now." "Do you hear me, Sundriya?" "I'll show you!" "I'll break your back!" "I'll beat you and kick you..." "if you get up or sit down." "Son of a..." "The village chief...?" "I could not recognize you." "Shall I tell you the truth?" "I've eaten just a little of opium." "Just a little!" "You come to the village drunk!" " Where did you eat the stuff?" "We have forbidden everyone in the village from drinking." "We destroyed all the hooch dens." "We staked our lives." "It's a matter of shame that liquor is still available here." "Where did you drink it?" " Speak up!" "Why are you beating me?" "Ask Ramdin, the cycle dealer." "The cycle dealer?" " That's right." "Check out what he sells..." "and what he doesn't." "Are you telling the truth?" " Of course." "I've had to drink..." "so I won't lie." "We'll go and crosscheck." "Come along, headman." "Open the door, Ramdin!" "What business have you started?" "Why do you drink that poison?" "Talk softly." "The teacher may hear you." "Where has all this liquor come from?" "I made a mistake, I'll never bring it again." "You wait here, headman." "Let me go, teacher..." "or you will regret it." "You drink and run away like a thief." "Come and face your father." "If you expose me before my father, we will be enemies for life!" "I will surely take revenge!" "Try those threats on someone else!" "I've staked my life for this village, not to be scared of guys like you." "Is that so?" "Wait till I fix you too." "It's easy to touch a smoldering piece, but... it's difficult to hold on to it." "You'll get burnt." "You rascal!" "How dare you raise your hand on the teacher!" "You've shamed us by drinking." "Get the hell out of here!" "Go on!" "Scoundrel!" "Do we have any audience today?" "At least pray to the stage." " We did that long ago." "See the flowers there and the empty auditorium." "There's not a soul..." "How can we perform like this?" "How will we do it?" "Chandrakala insists that the performance must be held today." "Greetings teacher." " Greetings." "Is everyone here?" "Please sit down." "Please take out your slates." "Read what is written, Thakur." "Me?" "In a moment!" "Isn't this 'B' for brinjal?" "What are you saying?" "It is the alphabet for melon." "What difference does that make?" "It's the same thing." "Now you read this, lady." "You've added a symbol to it which makes it BHO." "The rice you cook has this alphabet." "The alphabet for boiled rice." "It's not easy to recall." "If you place that symbol, the rice will boil at once." "Now I'll write two words which each one will have to read in turns." "What's going on?" "What are you staring at out there?" "He's counting the stars." "Pay attention here." "What's happening out there?" " That's a fantastic female!" "What shall we do now?" "Teacher..." " What is it?" "My stomach is rumbling..." "May I go home?" "Go on." "I don't see Bhairon here today." "What is the matter?" "Nothing..." "He has gone to see the street play." " And we're stuck here." "What's the whispering for?" "You're not interested in studies today." "We'll wrap up for the day." "Come on time tomorrow." "Welcome!" "Please sit down." "Yes, Sir!" "The Lord has answered our prayers." "They are all here!" "Now where is Chandrakala...?" "Where are the artists?" "Hey, guys... play the cymbal and some music." "Greetings..." "Where to, so early in the morning?" " I thought I'd take a walk." "Thought you might need a shave." "No, this is how we like to remain." "This is the one really fond of a shave..." "Not her, it's him." "Wonderful!" "What a thing to say!" "You are incomparable!" "Who'll pay me if I don't look presentable?" "Isn't it?" "Oh yes!" "You must look clean shaven." "Then why stand and stare?" "Go ahead..." "Wait... won't you lay a mat?" " No, I'll do it without that." "Really?" "So let's get started!" "Well?" " I'm simply taking a look." "That's enough..." "that's too much of lather." "Good God!" " What happened?" "Is that a blade or a saw?" "!" "Watch it..." "I might bleed." "The teacher is coming here!" "What are you doing?" "You're leaving me halfway through it!" "If I'm spotted here, I'll get beaten up!" "But you can't leave me in this half-shaved condition!" "Once they go away, I'll finish my job." "Let go..." "Break everything." "Sister!" "Come here!" "Look at what they're doing!" "What are they doing?" "Well?" "What have you come here for?" "You drove us out of the village and now you're hounding us!" "We won't let you camp here." " We don't need permission from you." "No need for arguments." "Our village has a right over this land." "Oh yes, I know that!" "Is he an animal?" "Is this your principle?" "You have already banished us." "What have you come here for?" "I've come to tell you to remove your camp." "We will not let you stay here." "Why not?" "We're your guests." "Don't act too smart." "Go away, if you know what's good for you." "What if we don't?" "I'm not in the habit of talking too much." "In that case, we are not leaving." "Let's see what you will do." "Watch your tongue!" "Do you know whom you are talking to?" "We revere the teacher." "And you talk arrogantly with him!" "Who do you think you are?" "And who is he?" "A celibate?" "Shut up." "You think you are the" "My God!" "Is this that way to talk to a woman?" "Just tell him that I've dealt with many celibates like him." "Don't you dare!" "Had you not been a woman..." "Go on..." "uproot their tents." "Uproot their tents!" "What have you done?" "!" "I worship my dancing bells... and you fling it to the ground!" "Such an insult!" "This is all we do now." "If you don't leave, we'll burn down everything." "He will one day stand in attendance, as part of our troupe." "Else, my name is not Chandrakala." "What's this music for?" "We have been given an award." " Award?" "Yes, our village has been chosen the ideal village." "We lead in spreading education and in the development of the village." "The government has therefore given our village this award." "I have understood." "But what for?" "Moron!" "It's the villagers who have brought about the improvement." "I have understood." "No need to taunt me anymore." "It's teacher who has done everything." "It's he who deserves the honour." "Hey!" "Come here." " What is it, my lord?" "You keep tabs on everyone in the world." "How about her?" "Who's that?" " That girl in the dance troupe." "Where is she?" " Where will she go?" "She got thrown out from here, but went and set up camp elsewhere." "Across the river." " Really?" "She's really fantastic!" " You fool!" "You're telling me?" "How can I dare?" "Well?" "Can't you shut up?" " What have I done?" "Why are you whistling?" " Is whistling forbidden too?" "I use my mouth to whistle." "Not yours." "Why whistle at me?" "Try it on your mother and sister." "You dare insult my family?" "I'll fix you." "Let me see how you do that." "To begin with, I'll see how you go any further." "Get out of my way." "Or else, it won't be good for you." "No." "You will do as I say." "What's happening here?" " Don't interfere." "It's between us." "Let her go." " No, I won't." "Quietly get out of the way." " I will not." "I tell you again..." "get out of the way." "Even if you tell me ten times, I won't budge." "What're you going to do about it?" " You want to know?" "Well, well...!" "Isn't that a lucky parrot?" "!" "Chandrakala..." " What is it?" "He has a funny way of washing clothes." " Funny?" "I'll show you." "He has washed Champa's sari under his own clothes!" "What the hell are you doing?" "!" "You've exposed me!" "Look who's coming, sir." "Have you finished washing?" " Sure." "Absolutely." "How about my undergarments?" "I hope you washed them well." "Of course." "I gave it a nice scrub." " It isn't just to scrub." "Why not?" " The soap's lying in the tent... and here you are, washing away." "How will the stains go?" "Of course, they will." "The water in this river is sheer magic." "Forget clothes; try washing a man..." "and he'll come out clean!" "Don't snigger." "The river belongs to the teacher in that village." "It cleanses all your sins." "Paras Kaka..." "What is it, teacher?" " Is Paras at home?" "No." "He left for school a long time ago." "He didn't come there." " No?" "So where could he have gone?" "Where did he say he was going?" " He said he was going to school." "The teacher says he isn't there." " That's what my husband said too." "But there are no classes today." " We must look for them." "Where's Gulabchand?" "Gulab!" "Hurry up and call Chandrakala." " Very well..." "What is the matter?" " What a thing to ask!" "Can't you see them waiting for it?" "So let's have something tantalizing." "Something sizzling!" "Sizzling and tantalizing, eh?" "For them?" " Of course." "No!" "Why not?" "Anybody here...?" "Anybody around?" "Greetings, teacher!" "You haven't lost your way, have you?" "I didn't lose my way." "I come here, for your sake." "For my sake?" "!" "Please come and sit down." "I'm not here to sit down." " God!" "You're drenched!" "You'll catch a cold..." "Wait." "I'll be back." "No!" "Were my people here?" " Your people?" "Yes... people from my village?" " God!" "How can they come here?" "How did they get across the river?" " How am I to say how you've gotten here?" "They must've gotten here somehow." "That reminds me..." "What of their ideals?" "Is this what you have taught them?" "That's just what I've come to see." " Go ahead." "Please yourself." "Just as dogs wag their tails when they sees a piece of bread... the people of your village are crazy about me." "And yet you call this an ideal village" "I must say, teacher..." "you do live in an ideal village!" "Do not pollute the atmosphere here." " How have I polluted it?" "I have spent all my life working for my ideals." "Why are you doing this master?" "Don't you know that when a lid is kept on boiling water, it is blown away." "Keep away..." "let me see!" "It's hurting me!" " Where did you get hurt?" "Maybe you have hurt a nerve." "Let's take her inside." "Please stay away." "Well?" "Where have you been hurt?" "Here." "Teacher... you know medicine, too?" "Can I have a piece of cloth?" "Here it is." "Don't strain that leg now." "Grind some leaves and apply it." "It will relieve your pain." "Which leaves?" "Telling you won't help." "Send someone to my place tomorrow morning." "God!" "Getting leaves, grinding them, and applying it...?" "How will I manage all that?" " In that case..." "It will be better if I come here." "Will you come for me?" "To attend to your leg, I mean." "Which means, for my sake!" "I have learnt this therapy from my ancestors." "It's my duty to cure anyone who is ill... even an enemy." "Chandrakala... have you really hurt yourself?" "Teacher, what is a street play?" "When you see a street-play, you stop and watch." "It means a dance done by a troupe, isn't it?" "Who told you that?" "That house..." " Enough." "What you will do is to write ten lines each, very neatly." "Greetings!" " Greetings." "I knew it." " What?" "That you'd come." " So what's unusual?" "I would've come anyway." "Where is she?" " There... standing on one foot." "I told you not to move around, and you're standing here." "Couldn't help it..." "I was restless." "I've been waiting for you." "Very smart!" "Go on inside!" "Planning on breaking the other leg too, are you?" "I have a feeling, teacher..." " What?" "I thought you wouldn't come;" "there was no point waiting for you." "What other feeling did you have?" "It was just quiet..." "Didn't say anything." "Honestly, I didn't think you'd come." "Believe me, I knew you were worried about me." "I hope you slept well last night?" " I could hardly sleep." "Which is why I had told you not to move at all." "Look, the swelling has increased." "Gulabia!" " Yes?" "He's really smitten!" " Yes." "Look at him drooling!" "Play it softly!" "The teacher doesn't like it." "No..." "let them continue..." "They must be practicing." "Chandrakala... could you tell me what this means?" "How can you ask me?" "I don't know how to read and write." "Ask the teacher." "Sir, I can't understand what's written here." "Could you explain the meaning, please?" "Oh no!" "We are habitual drinkers." "Give it to me in a gist." "This is Kalidasa's work." ""Shakuntala"." "Shakuntala tells her friend Priyamvada... how I pine, I feel for love." "Can you tell me why I feel thus?" "Priyamvada replies "Shakuntala, it is the fault of your youth... which is now awakening the passions in you"." "Fantastic!" "What a great expression!" "Who's this poet?" " He is the great poet, Kalidas." "Seems to be a really colorful man." "We have teachers in our troupe." "Like Bulakidas, Natharam..." "Chaurasia, and master Bajrangi." "These are the only names we all know." "Kalidas is neither a flirt nor a romanticist." "Why not?" "What you've just read can make a very good story for a play." "Now listen to this." "The knot of the dress opened." "The strings broke." "She is ripe with youthful passions." "What a cheap interpretation of Kalidas's prose!" "It's a matter of expression, teacher." "The feelings are the same." "What you do is cheap..." "Poet Kalidas's works are great." "Kalidas conveys a deep feeling of the self and spirituality." "Doesn't our style of expression carry any feeling or spirituality?" "Your songs can never reflect this." "At least listen to it." "Go on, call them!" " Sure... come here, all of you." "Wonderful!" "Do you now agree that we too express feeling?" "True." "Hearing of Lord Krishna, one is lost in the songs." "That's okay, sir." "Could you do something to make her eat?" "Why?" " She hasn't eaten since last night." "How can she live without eating?" "I don't feel like eating..." "it's as if my taste-buds are dead." "Here's what you will do." "Give her some gooseberry pickles." "Making pickles is a big problem!" " What's the problem?" "I'll make it and fetch it for her." "Yes, that would be right." "You've made a proper fool of him!" "He is so very innocent." "Teacher..." "Parvati?" "What have you brought?" " Pickle." "I just prepared it." "My husband wanted you taste some first." "Very well." "Keep it there." "Why are you cutting so many raw mangoes, teacher?" "Someone's ill." "I'm preparing something..." "Teacher..." " Coming" "Keep a watch on this." " Yes..." "Of course." "Greetings, teacher." "Today we will learn about the alphabet 'E'" "Kaka, what's this?" "You have used "A" and..." " "E"." "That makes it "bhai"." "Let's form another similar word." "One moment..." "I've added some salt to it." " Right quantity, I hope?" "Not much...?" " Teacher!" "Yes, I'm coming..." " We've found another word, sir." ""Mai" (mother)." "Brother..." "Now think of another word." " A woman." "Use some oil." "The spices are all kept there." "I've already done it, teacher." "Why are you so worried?" "No." "I am not worried." "Who's ill, teacher?" "Someone pregnant?" "She wants sour things?" "Not at all." "I simply made it..." " I see." "What did you say?" " Nothing at all." "It's all ready." "Let it boil a little, it'll be ready." "May I leave?" " Sure, go on." "I'll see to it" "We'll stop today, okay?" "We'll take extra time tomorrow." "The Village Council meets tonight, sir." "Yes... at 9:00 tonight." "Tell them that I'll be slightly late." "I've to go and see someone ailing." "Don't you forget..." "tell them that I'll be delayed." "Hey listen..." "Mahadeo isn't to be seen nowadays." "Has he gone away somewhere?" " What is it to you?" "Who's milking the buffaloes?" " Why are you worried?" "My buffalo is dead and I need milk everyday." "Will you supply it?" "See this slipper?" "I'll set you right!" "Bloody scoundrel!" "Hello..." "listen...?" "Teacher?" "!" "My God!" "What a dream!" " A dream?" "What did you see?" "The dream... you'd better not ask, and I'd better not tell." "I mean..." "What was it?" "What was it...?" "I feel shy." " Shy?" "Mustn't I feel shy?" "Strange." "I saw you in the dream... and here you are." "Our union takes place... see?" "What did you dream about?" " I'll tell you." "You must look away." "Go on." " What for?" "Turn your face, or else I won't..." " All right." "Now tell me." "In my dream, I go to the river and bathe." "I let my hair loose and just when I am about to wear my clothes... someone embraces me from behind." " Who was that?" "Who else could it be?" " Me?" "I don't know if the dream will come true." "But never mind..." "Have you brought the syrup?" " Yes." "You have tears in your eyes?" "Master, you take so much of trouble for me." "You are so very nice and I'm such a..." "Why the tears?" "Drink this." "How's your leg now?" "So the cure has worked." " Thanks to you." "There's no news of the teacher." " Where could he have gone?" "I've finished my drink." "It's 10." "I must leave now." " What for?" "What's the hurry?" "Sit down." " No." "I didn't realize what time it was." "I have to go now." "I thought you would stay tonight." "I felt so nice that you came here, sat down with me and talked to me." "The Village Council is meeting tonight." "No... do not stop me with such words." "I don't want to fall in love and end up in a cage." "A cage?" "It's made of gold." " Gold, all right." "But a cage it is." "Who has been able to escape the cage, teacher?" "Everything is a cage." "A man's home is a cage too." "A home?" " Yes, that's a cage too." "A person always wants a home, and longs for it." "It is this wish that makes him want to live." "Even birds that fly around, return to their nests." "The moth closets himself in a cage after sunset, doesn't he?" "May I ask you something, teacher?" "Where is your heart?" " My heart?" "Isn't your heart held captive in your body too?" "You live, so long as there is a cage." "Without that, there's nothing." "Well said." "You have said a wonderful thing, Chandrakala." "I once saw lightening strike..." "and I was mesmerized." "That's just what I have felt today." "Where did you get such wisdom from?" "To tell you the truth, I spoke what I did, because you are here." "Teacher... the Village Headman is coming here." "I'm sunk!" " Don't worry." "I'll hide you." "Lie down here on my bed." " On your bed?" "Yes, lie down here." "Don't worry." "Nobody will look here." "Lie down... quick." " Greetings, Headman." " Greetings." "Has the teacher come here?" " Teacher?" "You come here looking for him?" "!" "It's the wrong place." "Impossible." "I was told that he had come here." "Someone told you..." "and you believed him?" "What have you brought me here for?" "To have me publicly humiliated?" "I saw him come here, with my own yes." " What nonsense are you talking!" "I speak the truth!" "I swear by God!" "Let's see what truth you speak." "Do you know the truth now?" " Yes." "Tell me, Jagdev..." "where is the teacher?" "Have your eyes tested first and don't talk such rubbish again!" "You falsely accuse a nice man, and then swear it on God!" "The teacher is no lesser than a saint." "You throw mud at him!" "How will you atone for this?" "What will you be in your next life?" "A crow or an ass?" "Disgusting man!" "Shame on you!" "Go on... you pretend to be a smart chap!" "Teacher, they've gone..." "Where is the teacher?" "Teacher!" "Where are you going?" "They're looking for the teacher." "But no one knows where he is." "There he is." "Teacher..." "Let's go and inform the headman." " Yes..." "Come on." "Did you ask the teacher?" " Sure, we did." "But he was quiet." "He just sat before God's idol." "He wouldn't utter a word." "Naturally." "We have accused such a saintly man." "And what an accusation..." "he must have been very hurt." "You're right." "We have humiliated him." "We made a mistake by going there, without giving it a second thought." "It must've hurt the teacher so very much." "Yes, we have made a mistake." " It was a crime, I'd say." "Come, let's go to him and beg for his forgiveness." "Teacher... you must at least tell me the truth." "I saw you!" "Say something!" "You did go her tent, didn't you?" "And what a farce you've enacted." "You're sworn silence, because you don't want to be exposed." "I must say!" "I didn't know you are such a hypocrite." "You're the one who can be a hypocrite." "What have you come here for?" "And what are you asking him?" "He was there, I say!" "And he's lying!" "At least care for yourself, shameless man!" "I saw him going there." "With my own eyes!" "With God as witness, tell us that you didn't go there, teacher." "But I say I saw you going there!" "Oh, shut up!" "I know how honest you are!" "And I know how honest he is!" "He pretends to be a celibate... and seduces that whore!" " Shut up!" "I will have my revenge, teacher." " Oh get lost!" "I'll break your legs if you accuse the teacher again!" "Teacher... we have wronged you." "We shouldn't have gone there." "We are illiterate village folks..." "you must forgive us, teacher." "Teacher... do you hear me?" "Who's this crossing my path?" " Your mother!" "Paro!" "It's you!" " Try that on your sister." "Get lost!" "You are really angry." " Go your way, or else..." "Let me go!" "Leave me alone, you swine!" "Look at this..." " What happened?" "He tried to rape me." " Who was it?" "The headman's son." "He followed me into the house and..." " Has he run away?" "Yes." "He heard your voice and escaped out of the backdoor." "The scoundrel!" "Either he lives now... or I do!" "Hello!" "How about a game of cards?" "No cards for me..." "I'll show you a game today." "Ramdin!" "Give me all the the liquor you have." "Aren't you drinking too much today?" "Right." "I've got to slay a chicken today." "You?" "!" "How could you come here at this hour?" " I had to come." "How did you get wet?" " I swam across the river." "Swam across the river?" " Yes." "But why do something mad like this?" " For you, teacher." "Only for you." "For me?" "But why?" " "Why"?" "You ask me "why"?" "You are my life." "How could I have lived without you?" "No, Chandra..." "No!" " But why?" "The teacher you intended to meet is long dead." "Teacher..." " It's true." "That teacher, the day I hid in your house." "I'm not the teacher..." "and the teacher isn't like me." "I've lost everything." "It's all over." " Why do you speak like this?" "Teacher!" "Open the door." "I know who you're talking to in there." "The world will now know who is a liar, and who speaks the truth!" "I'll awaken the whole village!" "How can you escape now?" "God!" "His head has been smashed." "He can't even be recognized!" "Murder!" "The teacher has been murdered!" "The teacher has been killed!" "What now?" "If people come here, we'll land in trouble!" "Go away, Chandrakala." " I will not leave you like this." "No." "Listen to me, teacher!" "He can't even be recognized." "You heard that man scream that you have been killed, didn't you?" "So make him wear your clothes..." "they'll think you have been murdered." "Make him wear your clothes." "Go on!" "We can run away after that." "Or else, both of us will be caught." "And you'll get a bad name." "Just listen to me, teacher!" "Don't waste time, thinking!" "Let me fetch your clothes." "Here you are..." "Come, let's make him wear it." "Headman!" "We have a calamity!" "There's been a murder!" "What has happened?" " A murder has taken place!" "Murder?" "Who has been the murdered?" " The teacher!" "God Almighty!" "The teacher has been murdered!" "Now hurry up and come with us." " Yes, let's go." "Where's my son?" " He hasn't returned tonight." "Teacher...!" "Whom have you killed?" "Was it Jagdev or the teacher?" "What are you saying?" "!" " That's what the villagers say." "They say it's the teacher who has been killed." "What?" "It can't be!" " You must've erred in the darkness." "The teacher has been murdered?" "!" "Lmpossible... how can that be?" "!" "Step aside... move!" "You must find the killer, Inspector." "My son killed this saintly man..." "and ran away someplace." "So what if he's my son?" "He must be caught." "Show no leniency!" "Well said!" "You are a just headman." "I will try my best to catch him." "I'll stand testimony!" "I see that he is hanged!" "Even assuming that this is Jagdev's knife... it wouldn't be right to view this crime from a single angle." "We'll have to see it from various angles... and explore all possibilities to arrive at the truth." "God!" "It's the police..." "Turn your head away, teacher." "God!" "This is a new problem." "Wait there..." "Halt, I say!" " What's the matter, constable?" "Park the carts on the side." "Hurry up." "What's all this about, constable?" "Didn't you see the Minister's entourage?" "You may leave now." "Let's wait here for a while and have something at the inn." "All right." " So come on." "Excuse me..." " Yes, ma'am?" "What can we have to eat?" " What are we offering, feller?" "Everything!" "Sweets of all kinds and various snacks." "Stop ranting off!" "You don't have a tiger chasing you, do you?" "Repeat that slowly." "What should we have?" " Ask the teacher." "What would you like, teacher?" "Stuffed puffs and purls?" "I want nothing." " Will some fritters do?" "I want nothing." " He doesn't eat fried stuff." "In that case, give him rice and milk." "With lots of sugar." "Get that?" "Stuffed puffs and purls for everyone, except him." "A cup of tea, please." "What is it?" " Hush..." "Read this." "I can't read." "You tell me what it says." ""Idealistic teacher is murdered." "The killer is at large"" "Date-lined October 17, Madhopur." "The popular teacher Vidhyadhar Sharma was mercilessly murdered last night." "The police found a knife near the body." "Which is supposed to belong to Jagdev, who is missing." "The police suspect him" "This is really good." "It's turned out just the way I said it would." "People are talking about your murder which is very good." "Very good?" " Isn't it really?" "Why must you worry?" "You have got a new lease of life." "Everyone's going to assume that the teacher of Madhopur is dead." "You can now be the teacher of our troupe!" "Sister..." "Henceforth, he shall be the teacher for our troupe." "Forget the past." "The teacher is dead." "His ashes have been immersed in the Ganges." "Here's 200 bucks!" "Give it to me!" " Not you, let her take it." "Not like this..." "take it from my mouth." "What is all this?" "Aren't you ashamed?" "Are you crazy, teacher?" "!" "The crowd is getting angry!" "At this rate, we will have nothing left." "So this is what your plays are all about!" "Those vulgar dances and the lustful look in people's eyes!" "You let people fondle you and take money from their mouths!" "Aren't you ashamed of yourself?" " That's enough." "Have you come with us so you can insult and humiliate us?" "If you can't see all this, then go elsewhere!" "Teacher..." "Where's the teacher, Birju?" " He was sleeping here a while ago." "I don't know where he has gone." "Teacher..." "are you angry with me?" "No, I am angry at myself." "It was my mistake." "Hadn't it been for the mess of the murder, I could've gone anywhere." "But I am trapped here." "I don't know what I am to do." "But what has happened to make you so angry?" "Don't you dare touch me!" "Greedy, fallen woman!" "You mean my hands, don't you...?" "Not me, I hope." "Why not?" "You dance only for money, without shame or dignity." "You have no respect nor morals." "I possess all that." " You?" "Yes." "I have not sold myself." "I must act for my survival." "To make a living." "All that was just a pretense..." "What you saw was not the truth!" "I saw how you held that strangers hand!" "My heart harbors no sin." "So how does it matter if someone touches me?" "How, indeed!" "What is a hand without feelings?" "It's a lifeless stick." "If I don't do all this, who will come to see our song and dance?" "Who will shower money on us?" "When the need arises, isn't even a snake allowed to change its skin?" "Answer me." " What will I say?" "When you start speaking, a confused man" "So you do the talking and I'll listen." "Shall I speak in plain language or in poetry form?" "What you say sounds like poetry." " Really?" "Yes." "In the depths of what you say lies the truth of life." "May I say something?" "When you start speaking, I feel something." "What do you feel?" ""Don't go away, my love"" "A wild boar!" "Sister..." "A wild boar!" "What nonsense you talk!" "That's your wild boar." "Are you sleeping or waking up the whole world?" "Go on!" "No matter what I do, I don't snore." "My earlier wife used to wake me up and ask me... if I was really asleep, then why am I not snoring?" "Stop praising your earlier wife." "Am I crazy to praise her in your presence?" "I'm blowing my own trumpet." " Go to sleep and don't snore." "Why hasn't Chandrakala returned?" " She's gone to pacify the teacher." "She talks so much in riddles nowadays!" "Be careful, lest something untoward happens." "What can happen?" " What I mean is..." "I mean, what if she gives her hand in the teacher's?" "Shut up." "It was I who brought her up and taught her to dance and sing." "I've spent so much of money on her." "You think I'll let her go away with someone?" "What are you doing?" " You heard me snoring again?" "Just wait and see how I make that master dance!" "Oh certainly!" "You must!" "Just watch how I humiliate him." "What the hell is he here for?" "Just watch... how I drive him out!" "Did you say something?" "The name is Champakali!" "This man won't get the message!" "He insists on hanging around!" "You're not going to understand until I get nasty with you, teacher!" "Don't you hear what I am saying?" "Are you a man or an animal?" "Get lost." "All right." "I'm getting off." " I know your pretenses!" "Why did you kick the dog?" " Just like that." "He won't go away just because you kicked him." "He's belongs to the troupe." "He won't leave whatever you do." "Don't take offense, this sort of thing will keep happening." "Want to chew some tobacco?" " Tobacco?" "Put it in your mouth." "Your head will cool down." "Go on... take some." "Where is this troupe headed to?" "To the fair at Chandanpur." "We go there every year." "Will you go away without staying here?" "It's still 4 days for the fair." "Why don't you perform here first?" "He appears to be a rich man." "I own sugar-mills." "Come and enjoy our hospitality." "What is there to see?" "A sugar cane is bound to be sweet." "What are you thinking of?" "We are going somewhere else, so how can we stop here?" "No looking London and going Tokyo, sir." "We looked for a rabbit and found a lion!" "So why let go the chance?" "What if the lion attacks us?" "Since they are insisting so much, how can we refuse them?" "Turn the carts around." "Greetings." " Greetings." "What brings you here?" "No, that can't be true." "Wait till I'll introduce you." "That's Chandrakala." " Greetings, sir." "What made you raid this place?" "We need the names and fingerprints of all the people in your troupe." "Sure." "Go ahead." "Your name?" " Murli Shankar." "Father's name?" " Girja Shankar, Kanpur." "Age?" " 35." "Shall I ask you something, sir?" "Why were our fingerprints taken?" "You play the cymbals so well." "The government will send your fingerprints to London." "What say, teacher?" "We've been called." " Let's go." "Watch it!" "Have you no sense?" "This seat is for the landlord, and this one for Chandrakala." "You must know your place!" "Go on outside." "There's a bench for you." "What a strange man!" "Come on in, girls..." "sit here." "Sit here, teacher and eat with us." "Please begin." "Eating to your heart's content." "We have a long way to travel." "Who's that!" " Do you have any manners?" "The landlord has given me a gift." "Look, how it shines." "You greedy and shameless woman!" "What is the matter with you?" "!" "Have you lost your senses?" "Why are you doing all this?" "Stay with us, if you can remain quiet." "No one is going to mourn your departure." "Bloody pest!" "You always make fun of me and humiliate me!" "Why?" "You have hit me, teacher." "Which means you are still angry." "But I feel no anger." "All my emotions are dead." "Stop that nonsense, or else...!" "Now point in getting worked up." "You can't escape now." "We are like trapped birds in a cage." "Where will we go?" "Our own people will tear us to pieces." "I once used to be a decent man like you." "I had wealth, a wife and children." "One day I met this Champakali." "After that, I lost everything." "I am now part of this troupe." "I even wash her clothes now." "But I don't feel any shame." "I'm dead within." "Which is why, all I do is laugh at what I've done." "To tell you truth, when I saw you for the first time..." "I knew that the troupe had claimed another victim." "And that is exactly what happened." "There is a simple cure to this illness, teacher." "Straight and simple..." "this bottle." "All the heat in your head vanishes." "No faith or values remain." "Man finds himself on top of the world." "In memory of the late teacher, the ideal teacher... who devoted his entire life in the service of your village... this statue you have erected in his memory, deserves praise." "I am sure, this statue of the teacher will continue to guide... all of you in the village and take you on the right path." "I now end my speech and bow my head before him." "Teacher!" "I've made a mistake!" "I've committed a grave crime!" "How could I commit this sin!" "How could I have been so blind?" "How could I kill you?" "It was at your feet that I got so much of knowledge, teacher." "And I crushed your head with a stone!" "Please forgive me, teacher." "I'll wash this sin with my blood!" "At your feet." "Teacher... please forgive me..." "forgive me!" "You've had liquor!" " It's a medicine actually." "What can I say when a man like you takes to drinking?" "How great you were..." "and what have you been reduced to!" "Forget it." "I used to be a teacher." "Now I accompany a dance troupe." "You are a flower of love I seek." "I am enamored by you." "I can do anything for you." "God!" "What are you doing...?" "You'll wake up everyone!" "Leave me alone..." "what will they have to say?" "I do not care for anyone now." "I will do as I wish!" "As you wish, my foot!" "Get the hell out of here!" "Sister..." " Keep out of this." "Those free-meals have gone to your head." "If I don't make you work and slog, just you see." "There's going to be a big crowd of audience at Chandanpur." "You will sell the tickets." "We'd better make use of your education." "Everybody does his bit, okay?" "You will now do publicity too." "Your attention ladies and gentlemen!" "Tonight at 9 pm, Chandrakala will deliver a sizzling dance program." "An explosion of the seductive Chandrakala!" "Do not regret missing out..." "buy your tickets now!" "My throat has gone hoarse, teacher." "Now you make the announcements." "Gentlemen!" "You are invited!" "A sizzling dance program tonight!" "Witness the explosion of the seductive Chandrakala!" "Come and enjoy yourselves..." "or get left out and regret it." "What's the going rate, clerk?" " Two Rupees." "Standard price." "What will the dancer charge?" "I mean, Chandrakala?" "You're drunk, aren't you?" " Who isn't, at a show like this?" "Tell us what's she like?" "Young or mature?" "Wait till I show you." "Who do you think you're hitting?" "What a madman!" "Please do not mind him." "They're our customers, teacher." "And you mess with them!" "Bloody wimp!" "We won't let an ounce of blood remain in your body!" "Bastard!" "I'll beat you to pulp!" "I beg of you, sir." "He has made a mistake." "Go on... go inside." "You need not buy the tickets." "Where are you running off to?" "Have the heavens fallen?" "Go on... take him in." "They smashed teacher's head!" " It'll be our heads now!" "The audience is getting restless." "Go on... go back!" "Listen, sit here and sell the tickets." "And who plays the instrument?" " You don't need brains for that!" "Teacher!" "Come with me..." "C'mon!" "Here's the instrument..." "Go on!" "No!" "I can't bear to see you like this." "Teacher!" "Where are you going?" "To the cremation ground to end my life." "To commit suicide." "But what's that to you?" "Get out of my way." "No... please don't say that." " Why shouldn't I say it?" "You thrust me into these cheap plays, with an instrument in my hand." "So you have won, and I have lost." "You have proved your word." "Now go and tell the whole world that I have lost and you've won." "No teacher, this is no victory..." "it's a defeat." "Your drama is not over yet?" "Your fires aren't quenched yet?" "How much more will you humiliate me?" " No... please don't say that." "That Chandrakala is dead now." "I am not the same Chandrakala." "You'd rather whip me than spit venom on me." "Have my hide!" "How did all this happen, teacher?" "How could I do such a thing?" "I snatched away a great man like you from the world." "How will I ever atone for my sins?" "I'll serve you all my life, teacher." "I shall be your servant... and wash away all my sins." "Let me remain at your feet." "My God!" "What am I seeing!" "Look at her!" "She's clutching this man's feet!" "Wretched woman!" "What are you doing?" "You guys are just watching!" "Will you watch her go away with that worthless man?" "Go on!" "Beat him up!" "No... don't anyone dare raise his hand on the teacher!" "No!" "Don't!" " Thrash him!" "No, don't beat him..." " Skin him alive!" "Give it to him..." "punch the bastard!" "Don't..." "Don't hit him." "Let me go!" "Don't anyone touch him!" "Don't just stand and watch her..." "Give it to him!" "Don't anyone dare come closer!" "Go away!" "Don't you hear me?" "Go away!" "God Almighty!" "My God!" "He's so badly hurt!" "How is he related to you, Chandrakala?" "What does he mean to me?" "So listen..." "He's the one I love!" "Love?" "!" "Now what can I say about your heart!" "You have become a toy in his hands!" "And you, teacher... why are you causing a fight between us?" "Shameless man!" "Not even a beating can make you understand!" "Enough!" "Not a word more..." "or else, I'll be worst yet!" "I couldn't care for the elder sister you claim to be!" "Look at your arrogance!" "Even your elder sister doesn't count anymore!" "Who has been feeding you all these days?" "Shut up!" "It's you who has been living off my earnings." "I've had to dance and toil to give you a square meal!" "You talk big, don't you?" "If that is how it is, give me my back my jewelry!" "Your jewelry, eh?" "I spit on such jewelry!" "Here's your jewelry." " The proud woman, aren't you?" "How's this idiot going to feed you?" "Please do not worry about me." "I will not beg at your door." "God has given me hands to work." "Can't I work in a few households and feed myself?" "Cut it!" "When realization dawns, you will come running to me." "Beg or work for a living..." "I don't care!" "Let's go..." "Where will we go?" "Someplace far away..." "where we can live in peace." "Arrest this man!" "Handcuff him." "What's his crime?" " I have a warrant in his name." "A warrant in my name?" " Yes." "You are accused of murder." "The knife with which the school teacher of Madhopur was murdered... has your finger prints on it." "No!" "He has not committed any crime!" "Step aside, lady!" " No!" "I won't let you take him away!" "Move aside, I say." " No!" "Take him away." "No!" "Please don't take him away!" "He's not a murderer!" "He's not a killer." "Surprising." "The police haven't arrived yet." "They'll arrive, all right." "It's good that the teacher's murderer has been nabbed." "But why did Jagdev run away?" " What nonsense!" "Don't you mention that rascal in my presence." "How can you say that, sir?" " I speak the truth." "This is all Jagdeo's doing." "Or tell me, how did his knife land near the dead body?" "He nursed a feud against the teacher." "He must've got the murder committed." "He must've given the killer his knife." "I know my son." "This was all planned." "Come on, let's go." "Stop there... halt the jeep!" "Now where's that killer...?" "He's the one!" "Why did you kill such a saintly man?" "!" "Get out of that jeep!" "C'mon!" "Relax, headman." "Come down here, you scoundrel!" "I'll take him to the statue!" "That's the teacher's house and the school." "Look at how we have preserved the place." "The teacher is dead." "But we haven't locked the place." "Everything is as it were..." "Look at that shield." "A trophy for the Ideal Village." "And look at the statue of that great man." "Look!" "Look at the reverence with which we have built a bust for the teacher!" "His ideals we still follow in his memory." "You sinner!" "Why are you standing with folded hands." "You have killed the spirit of this village by killing that great man!" "Even the animals in the village mourned his loss!" "As if someone in the family had died." "Everyone was in mourning." "There hasn't" "The teacher was dearer than life to the people in this village." "People have banged their heads at his bust, mourning for him." "Why weren't you dead before you killed such a noble man?" "Wait till I strangle you!" "We will offer your blood to the bust!" "Constables!" "Take him away." " No, we won't let him go away!" "We'll make him sit astride a donkey and parade him through the village!" "Yes!" "That's what we will do!" " No!" "You can't do that!" "That's just what we will do!" "Silence!" "Move aside Let the police take him away." "No way!" "This murderer will sit on the donkey!" "Yes he must!" "We will then stone him to death!" "No!" "You cannot do such a thing!" " They are incensed, Inspector." "They won't listen... and what can a handful of you do?" "But, sir..." " He'll be eventually punished," "So let them have their way." "There's no other solution." "That's right!" "Teacher..." "What has happened, teacher?" "How could all this happen to you?" "This is my destiny." "I had to face it." "But how did you have this in your destiny?" "Who has been able to defy the writ of destiny, Chandrakala?" "Such is what I am to face..." "how can you help it?" "No teacher!" "You haven't killed!" "I will not let you go to prison!" "How can you be punished for your murdering yourself?" "No!" "I will shout myself hoarse and tell everybody in the world!" "No, Chandrakala..." "it's too late for that." "Look there." "Know whose bust that is?" "Mine." "The people of this village have built it with great reverence." "One of them even gave his blood to strengthen its foundation." "If they get to know that I'm the man they built the bust for... what happens to their faith and trust?" "They will paint that statue black." "They will defile the statue and break it into pieces." "They will lose faith in all the goodness in the world." "All the ideals of the world will be destroyed." "Even if some humans be sacrificed, ideals in society must live on." "Should those who have built that bust, begin to spit on me... treat me with contempt and hate me, will you like it?" "I don't know." "But I cannot follow what you are saying." "All I know is that you ought to be acquitted." "You must live!" "If you are going to God, I will follow you all the way." "Who do I have, but you?" "Where will I go?" "Teacher... will you desert me like this, in the mid-seas?" "No..." "I will scream my lungs out and tell the whole world... that you are innocent." "You are not a criminal!" "You will not do that, Chandrakala." "I place you under oath!" "An oath?" "But how will I...?" "Time's up." "Let's go, lady." "Speak the truth!" "Only the truth, teacher!" "The verdict will be pronounced today." " I'm sure he'll get a life sentence." "No." "He deserves the gallows." " Look, they are bringing him." "You're not allowed here..." "Go away... get out!" "Would you like to say something before I deliver the verdict?" "Please don't listen to him!" "He ought to be hanged!" "Give him the noose!" "No sir!" "Don't hang him!" "Please don't hang him!" "He has committed no crime." "He is innocent!" "He is not a murderer." "He is not a killer!" "The one who is supposed to be killed..." "Strange." "She lost her speech even as she was speaking." "Do you have to say anything?" "Yes." "I have committed a grave offense." "The people loved and worshiped him." "And I have killed that great man." "I have killed an ideal." "I'm guilty indeed." "Do not show any mercy to me." "I hope you will give me the most severest of punishments." "Don't go that side." "Murlidhar, son of Girija Shankar..." "Under Section 302:of the Indian Penal Code... it is proved that you killed the school teacher, Vidhyadhar." "You are sentenced to hang till death." "May I have a word with her?" " All right." "Go ahead." "Chandrakala, do not be sad." "That you lost your voice is the will of God." "That I may at least die once and for all." "You have died before I could." "When you got to know I was going to a new place... you have gone there even before me?" "You're waiting for me, aren't you?" "I'll join you there soon."